Joe Lonsdale: American Optimist

Russell Kaplan, ex-Tesla ML engineer and builder of autonomous AI agents. Scott Wu, Cognition CEO and three-time IOI gold medalist who led engineering at Addepar. They discuss Devin becoming a top code contributor. They explain engineers using English prompts and agent fleets. They explore software abundance, massive productivity gains, modernizing legacy and government systems, and AI unlocking a wave of small‑business innovation.

Geoff Woo, venture investor who backed OpenAI and Anduril, and Jake Paul, creator-turned-boxer and entrepreneur, discuss culture, AI, and building consumer brands. They talk about founding Anti Fund and early contrarian bets. They explore AI’s impact on authenticity, prediction markets like Betr, the revival of live events, and persuading the next generation to build and lead.

Kelly Loeffler, SBA Administrator and former senator and fintech CEO, shares her journey from farm life to leading small-business policy. She discusses reinvigorating U.S. manufacturing, expanding SBA lending, and turning workers into owners. She also reveals vast pandemic-era fraud uncovered and how data tools and AI with partners like Palantir are being used to detect and stop it.

Jared Isaacman, entrepreneur, pilot and commercial astronaut turned NASA Administrator, built a payments empire and a private air force before commanding civilian spaceflights. He talks about returning NASA to the Moon by 2028, ramping Artemis launch cadence, nuclear power and propulsion for deep space, and building lasting lunar bases and a thriving space economy.

JD Ross, serial entrepreneur who co-founded Opendoor and now leads AI-first WithCoverage. He talks about how AI is sparking a new invention era. Conversation covers modernizing insurance brokerage with AI and human teams, how AI reshapes software and engineering workflows, and why this moment is especially promising for new builders.

Jack Moshkovich, partner at 8VC focused on enterprise AI investments, and Alex Kolicich, 8VC partner with IT and Bio-IT engineering roots, discuss the AI wave. They cover the jump from decision support to AI doing work. They map a six-layer AI stack and argue application-layer startups will capture the last mile. They unpack frontier models, managed services, forward-deployed engineering, and risks around adoption and labor shifts.

Kevin Mandia, cybersecurity leader who founded Mandiant and now builds AI-driven defense at Armadin. He recounts early nation-state intrusions and the rise of organized cybercrime. He explains why AI agents are changing offense, how defenders must weaponize AI, and the urgent need to test and harden critical infrastructure.

America’s capital markets are the envy of the world, but in recent years, misguided policies have driven innovation offshore and stifled the number of companies going public. SEC Chairman Paul Atkins is reversing course. What’s his plan to make IPOs great again? What will it take for America to become the crypto capital of the world? And does he think we should expand access to private markets for retail investors?This week, we’re honored to feature a conversation with Paul Atkins, Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission. He also served as a commissioner at the SEC from 2002 to 2008, and worked on the staff of two SEC chairmen from 1990 to 1994. Prior to returning to the SEC in 2025, Chairman Atkins was the founder and chief executive of Patomak Global Partners, a financial services firm he founded in 2009.We begin with Chairman Atkins’ visit to Texas, the significance of Texas’ new business courts, and the importance of innovation in our financial markets. Whereas his predecessor, Gary Gensler, took an adversarial, regulation-by-enforcement approach, he’s embracing new technologies and regulatory clarity. In this vein, the Chairman lays out his strategy for making IPOs great again. Learn why the number of public companies has dropped by nearly half since 2007, and how Chairman Atkins is reforming the rules around litigation and corporate governance to deter activists from harassing America’s builders. We also discuss President Trump’s vision for making America the crypto capital of the world, and what it looks like to provide clear guidelines that promote innovation and protect investors. Finally, we explore the steps he’s taking to enable retail investors to access private markets and other alternative assets.0:00 Episode intro1:35 Texas' new business courts / evolution of U.S. markets7:20 The SEC's new approach to crypto 16:00 Making IPOs and public companies great again25:00 Weaponization of shareholder proposals and ESG32:10 National security concerns / China's bad actions36:30 New rules for retail investors & private companies 44:35 Optimism for America's future This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit blog.joelonsdale.com

Joe Gebbia, co-founder of Airbnb and America's Chief Design Officer, shares his journey into government service. He transformed the federal retirement process from months to days, making it more efficient and user-friendly. Gebbia discusses his shift in political views, inspired by safety and reform, and his mission to modernize the government's online presence. He highlights early successes with new websites and invites talented designers and engineers to join this ambitious effort, expressing optimism for improving government systems.

Emil Michael, the Under Secretary of War for Research & Engineering, shares insights from his journey at the Pentagon after a rapid rise in tech at Uber. He discusses his urgent mission to transform military innovation and apply startup speed to the Department of Defense. Topics include streamlining the Critical Technologies List to six key areas, launching GenAI.mil in record time, and exploring the implications of AI on warfighting. Emil also highlights the shift to commercially-focused procurement and the importance of recruiting talent to maintain technological supremacy.