Turner Caldwell

Turner Caldwell, founder of Mariana Minerals and former Tesla innovator, shares his insights on the critical minerals industry. He discusses the staggering 15-year timeline for mining projects and their importance in modern technology, from smartphones to military hardware. The conversation highlights the challenges of labor shortages, slow automation adoption, and the geopolitical dynamics affecting supply chains. Caldwell envisions a software-first approach to mining, aiming to optimize refining processes and re-establish U.S. mining capacity for future needs.

Turner Caldwell, Mariana Minerals cofounder and ex-Tesla battery supply chain leader, joins Chandler Luzsicza, Galadyne founder and former SpaceX Starship propulsion engineer. They dig into flat orgs, faster decisions, critical path discipline, shared data systems, milestone setting, burnout from churn, factory-style thinking, vertical integration, and building elite engineering teams.

Joining the discussion are Chris Black, a writer and producer known for his creative consultancy, and Chris Buskirk, a venture capital expert focused on conservative-aligned companies. They dive into OpenAI's groundbreaking achievements in artificial intelligence, specifically at the International Math Olympiad. Harper Carroll emphasizes AI's transformative role in children's education. Nikita Singareddy shares insights on simplifying Medicaid enrollment with Fortuna Health, while Turner Caldwell discusses the future of mining in a tech-driven world.