Listen and Learn Volume 2
My favorite podcast episodes from Q1 2021
A few months ago I shared my favorite podcasts from 2020. It turned out that a lot of people are looking for podcast recommendations, so I’m going to make this a once-a-quarter tradition.
Rick Rubin Podcasts
Rick Rubin is my new hero so he gets his own dedicated section. Rick is a practical philosopher and legendary music producer who has worked with the likes of Beastie Boys, Jay-Z, Adele, Slayer, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Johnny Cash, Neil Diamond, Metallica, and countless other artists.
Rick’s gift is empowering artists to do their best work. He appears to do this by setting up an idyllic environment and promoting a mindset that removes any focus on the expectations of the external world. Instead, he redirects the focus on the artist simply making something that they themselves love and would be excited to share with a close friend. His coaching allows the artist to get out of their own way — he helps them clear their mind so that creativity can flow through them.
I never decide if an idea is good or bad until I try it. So much of what gets in the way of things being good is thinking that we know. And the more that we can remove any baggage we’re carrying with us, and just be in the moment, use our ears, and pay attention to what’s happening, and just listen to the inner voice that directs us, the better.
— Rick Rubin
I find all of this so fascinating because I love music and learning how it’s made, but also because I think so much of this applies to the entrepreneurial journey. The initial act of starting a company is often an artistic act. It involves creating something new for the world to share with others. In that context, I think there’s a lot founders and investors can learn from Rick’s approach. More to come on this topic in a future blog post but now to the aforementioned podcasts!
The Moment with Brian Koppelman: Rick Rubin
Brian Koppelman is a movie and TV writer and producer and does a great job exploring Rick’s creative process.
Broken Record Podcast
Rick Rubin also has his own podcast that he cohosts with Malcolm Gladwell. Below are some of my favorite episodes with Bruce Springsteen and Andre 3000.
Finally, if, like me, you can’t get enough of Rick, here’s a 4-part documentary series about Rick and his famous music studio — Shangri-La.
The All-In Podcast
Another new favorite podcast so far this year has been the All-In Podcast hosted by four extremely successful entrepreneurs and investors from the tech world — Chamath Palihapitiya, Jason Calacanis, David Sacks & David Friedberg. It’s effectively a weekly current events show focused on the tech world but from the unique perspective of some of the industry’s top dealmakers. It’s particularly enjoyable because of the friendship and rapport that they have together. Here’s the latest episode:
The Kevin Rose Show: Why track your glucose levels? — Josh Clemente, Levels Health, Ex-SpaceX engineer
Tracking glucose levels with CGMs (continuous glucose monitors) has become a popular trend in the bio-hacking and quantified-self niches of the tech world. This episode with the founder of Levels Health describes the benefits of tracking your glucose levels and how it can help with your energy levels, body composition, and longevity. This episode inspired me to sign up for the Levels’ beta-program and I’m now 3 weeks into using a CGM myself.
The Tim Ferriss Show #503: Walter Isaacson on CRISPR, Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race
Walter Isaacson’s biographies on Steve Jobs, Albert Einstein, and Ben Franklin are some of my favorite works of non-fiction and, in this episode, Walter discusses his newest book about Jennifer Doudna, the co-inventor of CRISPR. I loved hearing about Walter’s framework for the 3 great innovation revolutions of the past 100 years — breakthroughs in understanding about the atom leading to the atomic age, the bit leading to the information age, and now the gene leading to the current wave of biological innovation.
Let me know your suggestions in the responses!
Prime Movers Lab invests in breakthrough scientific startups founded by Prime Movers, the inventors who transform billions of lives. We invest in seed-stage companies reinventing energy, transportation, infrastructure, manufacturing, human augmentation, and agriculture.
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