Great Chat

Welcome back to year two of Great Chat. This week, the pod covers Chinese peptides, Brexit (the fintech exit, not the UK's withdrawal from the EU), Clawdbot/Moltbot/Moltbook, and contemplates whether there is a vibe shift in just one month into the new year. Does building in public work anymore? Did it ever? What takes its place? Has tech's reaction to the Epstein files proved that there is, in fact, a line for bad behavior? There were times we weren't so sure in 2025.

Mercury is back as the headline sponsor for year two of Great Chat. Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided through Choice Financial Group, Column N.A., and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.

This podcast is edited by Eric Johnson from ⁠LightningPod.fm⁠.

As we wrap up 2025, we look at the stories tech told itself—and why they worked. From the bundling of everything, knowing when to make a change yourself in a rapidly changing labor market, and a lesson that you can survive any scandal as long as you keep winning. Plus, we weigh in on the SaaS debate ("Storytelling" as a Service), those Vanity Fair photos, and whether being hot is AI-proof.

Mercury is back as the headline sponsor for season three! Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided through Choice Financial Group, Column N.A., and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.

This podcast is edited by Eric Johnson from ⁠⁠LightningPod⁠.

Aubrie Pagano, GP at Alpaca VC, joins the chat! We talk about why no one is talking about what happens after AGI, and then dive into Aubrie’s mind-bending effort to tackle the subject with The Aquarius Economy: part white paper, part science fiction, part investing thesis. We also compare our Granola Crunched results (we *are* amazing at zooms, ty), contemplate why no one seems excited about Netflix’s bid to buy Warner Bros, and discuss some shocking new stats from the NYT about the sex lives of young people.

Mercury is back as the headline sponsor for season three! Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided through Choice Financial Group, Column N.A., and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.

This podcast is edited by Eric Johnson from ⁠LightningPod.

Inspired by Sam Altman’s “code red” for ChatGPT in the wake of the Gemini 3 launch and the rumored beef between the Kalshi and Polymarket founders, we talk about legendary tech rivalries. Uber versus Lyft, Rippling versus Deel, Jobs versus Gates, and much much more. What are the different flavors, and do they make you better, or is the drama a distraction? Also: the tech industry’s response to the New York Times piece on David Sacks.

Mercury is back as the headline sponsor for season three! Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided through Choice Financial Group, Column N.A., and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.

This podcast is edited by Eric Johnson from ⁠LightningPod.

Our obligatory Thanksgiving episode, with a twist. We're sharing what we're grateful for now - even if it felt devastating at the time. The setbacks, the lucky breaks, the uncomfortable truths. Plus Nano Banana, Ryan Lizza Substack part 3, Rippling v Deel part 17, and more. Happy Thanksgiving - we're grateful for our listeners!

Mercury is back as the headline sponsor for season three! Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided through Choice Financial Group, Column N.A., and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.

This podcast is edited by Eric Johnson from ⁠LightningPod.fm⁠.