Fact-Checking Mark Rober, and the Fall of TechCrunch | E2101

Today’s show: Jason, Alex and Lon break down a subreddit question: A founder builds 100% of the product, is promised equity—and now he’s being pushed out. We break down exactly what he should do next. Plus, YouTuber Mark Rober’s viral Tesla test gets fact-checked by a small creator, and the results don’t look great for Mark. Finally, TechCrunch gets quietly sold to Regent in what looks like a fire sale. Is this the end of an era for tech media?

Tesla vs. Mark Rober, Google’s $32B M&A Bet, & XRP’s SEC Victory | E2100

In this episode, Jason, Alex, and Lon dive into a viral controversy surrounding a popular YouTuber and his Tesla video, sparking debates on autopilot versus FSD and the implications of his relationship with a lidar company CEO. The trio critiques the video, discussing audience expectations and the need for accountability. They also explore the potential fallout and stock impact. Shifting gears, the episode covers the Wiz acquisition, its effects on the M&A market, and antitrust concerns. Crypto regulations come under scrutiny with updates on the XRP and SEC lawsuit, while the hosts debate crypto's legitimacy and call for clearer guidelines.

AI-Powered Coding & Space Tugboats? Inside the Future of Software & Satellites! | E2099

Today’s show: Alex interviews two incredible founders from the TWIST 500! First, Replit CEO Amjad Masad breaks down how AI-powered coding is changing software development and what the future of agents looks like. Then, Starfish Space co-founder Austin Link explains how they’re building a satellite towing service to extend missions and clean up orbit. Two deep dives into the future of tech and space.

Self-Driving Car Myths, Klarna’s Big IPO & Netflix’s $300M Gamble | E2098

Today’s show: Jason, Alex, and Lon break down a wild viral test on self-driving cars— will FSD see through fog, or does LiDAR win? Plus, Klarna is finally going public… but is "buy now, pay later" still the future or just a debt trap? And Netflix drops $300M on a Russo Brothers sci-fi blockbuster—critics hate it, but audiences love it. Was it worth it? We also dive into big tech’s crackdown on remote work, the Uber of estate managers, and why content creators might be falling into an algorithmic trap.

Europe’s Startup Future with Harry Stebbings | E2097

Today’s show: Jason and Alex break down the biggest tech stories of the moment. OpenAI is pushing to rewrite copyright laws to benefit AI companies while suing others for doing the same—hypocrisy or smart strategy? Meanwhile, European startups are fleeing to the U.S. as overregulation and weak IPO markets make scaling harder. Harry Stebbings joins to discuss whether Project Europe can reverse the trend. Plus, with AI-driven startups staying lean, angel investing is evolving—should investors wait for traction or bet on potential?

Is Project Europe a YC Riff? Nick Denton is Back! And more! | E2096

Today’s show: Europe wants to keep its founders from fleeing, AI is growing at breakneck speed, and Nick Denton is back with a spicy Twitter storm—so we had to talk about it. Jason, Alex, and Lon break down Project Europe, a new $10M fund aimed at stopping the European startup brain drain. Plus, Anthropic’s revenue just jumped 40% in a single quarter, and we debate what that means for AI’s future. Meanwhile, China’s EV makers are coming for Tesla, Saudi Arabia is building a gaming empire with a $3.5B Pokémon GO buyout, and we ask the big question: Should X and XAI just merge? Since XAI gets real-time data from X, it’s got a major advantage—so what’s stopping them from becoming one?

The Future of AI Customer Support with LiveX AI’s Jia Li | AI Basics with Google Cloud

In this episode of AI Basics, Jason sits down with Jia Li from LiveX AI to explore how human-like AI agents are changing the game for businesses. Instead of clunky bots, these AI agents engage customers in real-time, helping with onboarding, support, and even stopping them from leaving before they churn. We’ll break down how they work, why they feel more natural than traditional chatbots, and how companies can train them to eliminate costly mistakes. Plus, we’ll talk about whether AI-powered support might actually be better than human agents.

Student Roy Lee Hacks Amazon, SBF's Jailhouse Chat + more! | E2095

In this episode, Roy Lee shares his journey of navigating job offers and Amazon's reaction to his startup, InterviewCoder. The discussion kicks off with updates from South by Southwest, highlighting trends in electric vehicles, including Rivian's presence and the concept of a $20,000 electric car. The episode explores the startup potential of electric unicycles, and Roy Lee's background and his innovative coding test platform are introduced. The conversation delves into Amazon's response to InterviewCoder and Columbia's involvement, followed by a discussion on Roy's future funding strategies. The episode wraps up with insights into venture capital dynamics, SBF's legal challenges, and ServiceNow's acquisition of Moveworks.

AI’s Next Leap: Hyper-Realistic Agents & Unlimited Power | E2094

Today’s show: AI is evolving at lightning speed—smarter assistants, faster models, and now, the massive energy demands that come with it. In this episode, Alex dives into two cutting-edge companies from the TWIST 500 that are shaping AI’s future in very different ways. First, Alex interviews Zap Energy, where CEO Benj Conway explains how their breakthrough fusion power technology could provide unlimited, clean energy to fuel AI and beyond. Then, we talk to PolyAI, where CEO Nikola Mrkšić shares how their conversational AI is revolutionizing customer service with ultra-realistic, human-like voice assistants. If you're excited about where AI is headed—from hyper-realistic agents to a future powered by fusion—this is an episode you don’t want to miss!

Coreweave IPO, AVRide & Digg is Back! | E2093

Today’s show: Jason and Alex cover CoreWeave’s filing for a $35 billion IPO after explosive revenue growth. But with 77% of its revenue coming from just two customers, is it built to last? Meanwhile, AVRide is bringing autonomous Hyundai robotaxis to Uber in Dallas, pushing the self-driving revolution forward as Waymo scales to 200,000 weekly rides. And finally, Digg is back! Kevin Rose and Alexis Ohanian are reviving the iconic social news platform, using AI-powered moderation to tackle Reddit’s biggest challenge. Tune in as Jason and Alex break it all down!

AI Agents & the Future of Work with LangChain’s Harrison Chase | AI Basics with Google Cloud

In this episode: Jason sits down with Harrison Chase, CEO of LangChain, to explore how AI-powered agents are transforming the way startups operate. They discuss the shift from traditional entry-level roles to AI-driven automation, the importance of human-in-the-loop systems, and the future of AI-powered assistants in business. Harrison shares insights on how companies like Replit, Klarna, and GitLab are leveraging AI agents to streamline operations, plus a look ahead at what's next for AI-driven workflows. Brought to you in partnership with Google Cloud.

US Crypto Reserve Bombshell, Ramp’s $13B Climb, & more | E2092

Today’s show: Trump just floated the idea of a U.S. Crypto Reserve, suggesting a 10 bips transaction tax and naming unexpected altcoins like XRP, Solana, and Cardano. Jason and Alex break down what this means for crypto markets, regulation, and startups—plus the legal and political fallout. Is this a game-changer or just another pump-and-dump controversy?

Board Talk Empire with GRIN's Brandon Brown, Founder Hacks & SEC Memecoin Clarity? | E2091

Today’s show: Jason and Alex break down the latest *head-scratching* SEC ruling on meme coins—did they just *legalize* pump-and-dumps to protect Trump’s token? Plus, they dive into why venture debt can destroy startups, the rise of AI-driven companies, and how Tesla is gearing up to challenge Waymo in the self-driving car race. Then, Brandon Brown from GRIN joins the show to talk about scaling to 8-figure revenue, surviving *brutal* market corrections, and why he’s stepping down as CEO after a decade. This one’s packed with insights for founders, investors, and anyone watching the future of crypto, startups, and AI unfold.

The Incredible Double Interview: Superhuman and Robinhood | E2090

In this episode, Jason Calacanis engages in insightful conversations with Raul Vora and Vlad Tenev, exploring product market fit and the founder journeys behind Superhuman and Robinhood. The discussion delves into Jason's investment in Superhuman, examining its market positioning, AI features, and the evolution of its product development. Raul and Vlad share their philosophies on product design, scaling, and the role of customer feedback. The episode also covers Robinhood's origins, its viral waitlist strategy, and its approach to diversification and resilience. Additionally, the conversation touches on crypto regulation, investment trends, and the challenges of capital raising for startups.

Apple Drops $500B on AI while Google Gemini Eyes Your iOS Devices! | E2089

Today’s show: Jason and Lon break down the latest trends shaping AI training, the evolving job market, and the shifting landscape of social media. A tribute to Steve Jobs on what would have been his 70th birthday explores his lasting impact, Apple’s massive $500 billion AI investment, and the future of US manufacturing. The conversation dives into Outlier’s role in AI training data, its effects on journalism, and broader job market implications. Jason also shares insights on autonomous vehicles, Apple’s AI strategy, and the latest in crypto—covering meme coins, regulatory battles, and the state of angel investing. Plus, a look at Oscar season and the cultural moments making waves.

Castelion Hypersonic Missiles and Crunchbase’s AI Powered Predictions | E2088

Today’s show: Jason interviews Bryon Hargis, CEO of Castelion, about the United State’s hypersonic technology gap with China, how we’re catching up and what it will take to win the hypersonic missile race. Alex interviews Jager McConnell, CEO of Crunchbase, about their newly released, scary accurate, AI powered predictive models.

EV Truck Startup Nikola Runs Out of Juice | E2087

Today’s show: Jason and Lon Harris cover Nikola’s Chapter 11 and how founders can avoid the same mistake, Superhuman AI’s new features, Mira Murati’s Thinking Machines and where Sam Altman went wrong holding onto top talent, plus much more!

Is $LIBRA the End of Memecoins? with Coffeezilla | E2086

In today's episode: Jason and Alex break down one of the craziest crypto stories yet—a $100M meme coin meltdown, insider trading, and Argentina’s president caught in the middle. Coffeezilla joins the show to explain how meme coins are rigged, why Dave Portnoy got a $5M refund while everyone else got wrecked, and what really went down with the Libra token. Plus, we debate if crypto can be fixed or if the grift is too far gone.

IPO Shakeups, NVIDIA’s Big Bets & Must-Know Founder Hacks | E2085

Today’s show: IPO shakeups, big AI moves, and essential founder hacks—this episode covers it all. Jason breaks down Robinhood’s 6X stock surge and his strategy for $HOOD, plus the latest on tech IPOs as Turo pulls out and SailPoint surges. We dive into AI’s open-source battle, with X.ai chasing a $10B raise and DeepSeek challenging Hugging Face. And for founders, Jason shares the startup golden rule you should break for success—plus, a brand-new startup idea he’s willing to fund right now.

Slow Ventures' Creators Fund and Helion Energy's Fusion Reactors | 2084

Today’s show: Jason and Alex interview Sam Lessin from Slow Ventures to discuss the creator economy and their $60M creator fun. They also have a great interview with David Kirtley, the CEO and Co-founder of Helion Energy, about their fusion reactors and the future of energy generation. And Lon Harris hops in to discuss copyright infringement and how it will affect LLMs.