Invest Like the Best with Patrick O'Shaughnessy

Shyam Sankar, Palantir CTO and one of its earliest builders, gets into military heretics, founder-style talent, and why disagreeable people can build what bureaucracy cannot. He explores forward-deployed engineering, reindustrialization, deterrence, China, and the fight against institutional nihilism. Plus, how Alex Karp spots superpowers and shapes culture.

John Arnold, former energy trader turned systems-focused philanthropist. He recounts China’s rapid robotics, EV and manufacturing scale. He digs into today’s energy markets, permitting and transmission bottlenecks, and the economics of nuclear, geothermal and batteries. He also discusses time-limited philanthropy and structural reforms in healthcare, criminal justice and education.

Dan Sundheim, founder and CIO of D1 Capital Partners who manages public and private stakes in companies like SpaceX and OpenAI. He contrasts public vs private market dynamics and explains why he backed Anthropic. Discussion covers LLM business models compared to Netflix and Spotify, AI’s impact on software and hyperscaler compute risks, and the firm’s GameStop stress test and strategic changes.

Josh Kushner, founder and managing partner of Thrive Capital known for early stakes in Instagram, Stripe, GitHub, and OpenAI. He discusses Thrive’s concentrated, founder-first approach. Short takes on building a tiny high-conviction team, memorable investment stories, close work with OpenAI, and the firm’s three current investment themes.

Alex Behring, co-managing partner at 3G with deep operating chops from running Brazil’s largest railroad. Daniel Schwartz, former Burger King CEO and 3G partner with restaurant operating experience. They unpack 3G’s one-investment-per-fund focus. They tell stories about turnaround playbooks, hiring young operators, zero-based budgeting, franchising, and negotiating high-stakes deals like Tim Hortons.

Ben Horowitz, co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz and former tech CEO, reflects on mentors, leadership lessons, and the firm’s ambition to keep America leading in AI. He discusses rapid AI deployment, shifting company economics, talent scarcity, policy risks, and a surprising project modernizing policing in Las Vegas. Short, candid stories punctuate big-picture thinking.

Gokul Rajaram, seasoned product builder and investor who led core product and ads work at Google, Facebook, Square, and DoorDash. He discusses how AI is reshaping product roles and the one thing he sees as future‑proof. He contrasts exposed legacy software with durable systems, explains the three ways ad businesses make money, and shares lessons from working with top tech founders.

Patrick O'Shaughnessy, an influential investor and podcaster, dives into profound themes with David Senra. They explore the joy of championing undiscovered talent and the importance of life's organizing principles over concrete goals. Discover how introspection led Patrick to prioritize meaningful work and relationships, using feelings of aliveness as a guide. They also discuss the value of storytelling, the significance of hard work, and how creating remarkable work opens doors for future opportunities. It's an insightful journey into purpose-driven living!

Tom Digan, co-founder of Ladder, and Greg Stewart, its CEO, share the rollercoaster journey of building a top fitness app. They discuss overcoming early struggles and navigating a leadership reset during the pandemic. Discover their unconventional approach to finding product-market fit through app store reviews and personalizing user experience. Learn how they crafted a TikTok growth engine from scratch and embraced AI to enhance operational efficiency. Their relentless focus on customer feedback and long-term vision positions Ladder as a category leader in health and fitness.

Reed Hastings, co-founder and former CEO of Netflix, shares his journey from DVD rentals to pioneering streaming. He discusses the importance of talent density in building high-performing teams and reflects on mistakes like the Qwikster debacle. Reed emphasizes treating content like a venture portfolio and the insights gained from his board roles at major tech companies. He also explores AI’s transformative potential in content creation and education, and shares his vision for Powder Mountain, the ski resort he acquired.