Tom Bilyeu's Impact Theory

Welcome back to Impact Theory with Tom Bilyeu. In this episode, Tom sits down with entrepreneur and venture capitalist Joe Lonsdale for a thought-provoking conversation about American resilience, defense innovation, and the values shaping our future. Joe shares his journey from grappling with the ethics of building defense technology at Palantir to championing a new wave of patriot-driven innovation at Anduril. Together, Tom and Joe tackle tough questions—like the morality of maximum lethality, the changing threats facing the West, and how America can regain its competitive and cultural edge in a rapidly shifting world. Joe doesn’t shy away from controversy, offering candid insights into the dangers of “suicidal empathy,” the rise of China, and why internal dysfunction poses as great a risk as any foreign adversary. They dig deep into how to instill a culture of excellence—both in business and government—discussing what it takes to bring back courage, merit, and strong leadership in institutions. Along the way, Joe draws on personal stories, shares lessons from leaders he admires, and explains why developing advanced manufacturing and AI are crucial to safeguarding the country’s future. SHOWNOTES 00:00 Austin Tragedy: Crime and Compassion Debate 05:04 Defending Liberalism in Education 07:05 "Dysfunctional Government: Core Problem" 12:28 Geopolitical Chessboard Dynamics 15:42 Monkeys and Biosecurity Challenges 19:11 Voice of America Critique 20:08 USAID's Mixed Legacy in Africa 24:07 "Innovation Incentives in Government Acquisition" 28:48 "AI & Robotics Revolutionize Construction" 29:49 Future Costs and Government Barriers 33:36 "Essential Education: Wisdom, Courage, Philosophy" 36:38 Rethinking Schools and Media Narratives 39:30 "Marc Andreessen: Future Innovator" CHECK OUT OUR SPONSORS Vital Proteins: Get 20% off by going to https://www.vitalproteins.com [https://www.vitalproteins.com] and entering promo code IMPACT at check out Monarch Money: Use code THEORY at https://monarchmoney.com [https://monarchmoney.com] for 50% off your first year! Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at https://shopify.com/impact [https://shopify.com/impact] iTrust Capital: Use code IMPACTGO when you sign up and fund your account to get a $100 bonus at https://www.itrustcapital.com/tombilyeu [https://www.itrustcapital.com/tombilyeu]  Mint Mobile: If you like your money, Mint Mobile is for you. Shop plans at https://mintmobile.com/impact. [https://mintmobile.com/impact]  DISCLAIMER: Upfront payment of $45 for 3-month 5 gigabyte plan required (equivalent to $15/mo.). New customer offer for first 3 months only, then full-price plan options available. Taxes & fees extra. See MINT MOBILE for details. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

On today’s episode of Impact Theory, Tom Bilyeu sits down with Joe Lonsdale—the prolific tech founder and investor known for co-founding Palantir and for building solutions at the intersection of technology and national defense. As concerns mount about America’s readiness in the face of a rising China, Joe shares firsthand insights from decades at the forefront of defense innovation, higher education reform, and the struggle to revive meritocracy in our institutions. You’ll hear how Joe went from a “naive pro-China camp” to sounding the alarm about CCP crackdowns, corporate espionage, and why our bloated, slow-moving government and defense sectors are failing to keep pace with adversaries abroad. From empowering the next generation of courageous leaders to building autonomous ships and anti-drone tech, Joe reveals what it will take for the U.S. to reclaim its competitive edge. SHOWNOTES 00:00 China: Government vs. Tech Aspirations 03:02 Founding Palantir Amidst Early Challenges 09:33 Merit-Based Immigration Dynamics 11:32 Cultural Bias vs Merit Concerns 13:17 "Merit-Based Hiring Advocacy" 16:59 US-China Conflict in Biotech Innovation 22:34 Merit Ignored: SpaceX and Paler's Rise 24:49 Palantir's Unexpected Success 27:20 "China's Rising Manufacturing Dominance" 31:05 Efficient Engineering under Scarcity CHECK OUT OUR SPONSORS Vital Proteins: Get 20% off by going to https://www.vitalproteins.com [https://www.vitalproteins.com] and entering promo code IMPACT at check out Monarch Money: Use code THEORY at https://monarchmoney.com [https://monarchmoney.com] for 50% off your first year! Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at https://shopify.com/impact [https://shopify.com/impact] iTrust Capital: Use code IMPACTGO when you sign up and fund your account to get a $100 bonus at https://www.itrustcapital.com/tombilyeu [https://www.itrustcapital.com/tombilyeu]  Mint Mobile: If you like your money, Mint Mobile is for you. Shop plans at https://mintmobile.com/impact. [https://mintmobile.com/impact]  DISCLAIMER: Upfront payment of $45 for 3-month 5 gigabyte plan required (equivalent to $15/mo.). New customer offer for first 3 months only, then full-price plan options available. Taxes & fees extra. See MINT MOBILE for details. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

In this cutting-edge episode of Impact Theory, Tom Bilyeu takes center stage to confront one of the biggest questions of our era: can we actually trust the so-called "experts"? Drawing on riveting examples from history and his own journey as an entrepreneur, Tom dissects how expertise has been weaponized by elites, resulting in societal conformity—even when the experts turn out to be wrong. From the smoking doctors of the past to today's battles over pandemics, politics, and public policy, Tom lays out a provocative argument for why blind faith in authority is more hazardous than most realize. Tom invites listeners into a historical deep dive, exposing powerful stories like the persecution of Socrates and Galileo, the belittling of Linus Pauling, and the revolution started by Barry Marshall’s rogue experiment. Throughout, he constructs a compelling case for why challenging orthodoxy is not only healthy, but necessary for progress. Whether you consider yourself an expert or a lifelong learner, part 1 will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about authority, consensus, and truth. SHOWNOTES 00:00 Introduction: Who Do You Trust? 03:29 Paradigm Shifts and Scientific Dogma 04:05 Vitamin C, Ulcers, and Outsider Breakthroughs 05:17 The Wisdom of Knowing Nothing 08:43 The Illusion of Seeing All 09:57 The Scientific Method vs. Censorship 10:43 Maps, Narratives, and Oversimplification 14:42 Freedom of Speech, Control, and Tyranny 17:16 Experts Are Not Neutral—Protecting Status CHECK OUT OUR SPONSORS Vital Proteins: Get 20% off by going to https://www.vitalproteins.com [https://www.vitalproteins.com] and entering promo code IMPACT at check out Monarch Money: Use code THEORY at https://monarchmoney.com [https://monarchmoney.com] for 50% off your first year! Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at https://shopify.com/impact [https://shopify.com/impact] iTrust Capital: Use code IMPACTGO when you sign up and fund your account to get a $100 bonus at https://www.itrustcapital.com/tombilyeu [https://www.itrustcapital.com/tombilyeu]  Mint Mobile: If you like your money, Mint Mobile is for you. Shop plans at https://mintmobile.com/impact. [https://mintmobile.com/impact]  DISCLAIMER: Upfront payment of $45 for 3-month 5 gigabyte plan required (equivalent to $15/mo.). New customer offer for first 3 months only, then full-price plan options available. Taxes & fees extra. See MINT MOBILE for detail Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Fan Favorite: This episode originally aired on July 8, 2021. It’s easy to quietly go through life never really facing yourself, your struggles and your fears. There is a solution to numb the pain of reality and move towards comfort where it’s easier to accept things as they are no matter where you are. Mikhaila Peterson gracefully embodies the struggle of what it means to face yourself and all of your inadequacies and continue to push and explore through discomfort in pursuit of finding meaning while protecting what it means to be human, be a mother, be sexy and a successful business woman. SHOW NOTES: Accidental | Mikhaila talks about unplanned pregnancy at 23, career, & marriage [2:03] Anxiety & Chaos| Navigating stress from relationships and reducing chaos [7:17] Marriage | Mikhaila on the challenges of marriage before building foundation [10:12] Having Children | Is there a “right” time to have kids or only trade-offs to consider [14:54] Parenting Balance | How to balance an ambitious career and guilt free mothering [18:15] Criticism | Mikhaila on identifying where she could be wrong & being even keeled [25:28] Volatility | Mikhaila on how she’s navigating her triggers and stress response [28:32] Self-Awareness | How Mikhaila began to notice her symptoms and reactions [33:18] Sex Appeal | Mikhaila on embracing her sex appeal and growing her business [38:12] Confidence | Having confidence & the borderline of being overly self conscious [51:12] Being Hardcore | What it takes to push self-limits and see what you can achieve [56:18] Having Impact | Mikhaila on getting “greedy” wanting to help many people [1:01:39] Pushing Limits | Finding balance to push too hard or being more reasonable [1:04:34] Burnout | Mikhaila on pushing through work you don’t enjoy doing, outsourcing [1:10:18] Order & Chaos | Mikhaila on the navigating the balance of order and chaos [1:16:55] Discomfort | How to explore discomfort while building a brand vs. individual [1:19:46] Healthy Diets | Mikhaila on how she regulates diet chooses for her daughter [1:23:33] Carnivore Diet | Mikhaila on the benefits of an all beef diet on her body [1:29:00] FMT Experience | Mikhaila shares her experience with 10 FMT transplants [1:32:43] CHECK OUT OUR SPONSORS Vital Proteins: Get 20% off by going to ⁠https://www.vitalproteins.com⁠ [https://www.vitalproteins.com] and entering promo code IMPACT at check out Monarch Money: Use code THEORY at ⁠https://monarchmoney.com⁠ [https://monarchmoney.com] for 50% off your first year! Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at ⁠https://shopify.com/impact⁠ [https://shopify.com/impact] Netsuite: Download the CFO’s Guide to AI and Machine Learning at ⁠https://NetSuite.com/THEORY⁠ [https://netsuite.com/THEORY] iTrust Capital: Use code IMPACTGO when you sign up and fund your account to get a $100 bonus at ⁠https://www.itrustcapital.com/tombilyeu⁠ [https://www.itrustcapital.com/tombilyeu]  Mint Mobile: If you like your money, Mint Mobile is for you. Shop plans at ⁠https://mintmobile.com/impact.⁠ [https://mintmobile.com/impact]  DISCLAIMER: Upfront payment of $45 for 3-month 5 gigabyte plan required (equivalent to $15/mo.). New customer offer for first 3 months only, then full-price plan options available. Taxes & fees extra. See MINT MOBILE for details. ********************************************************************** LISTEN TO IMPACT THEORY AD FREE + BONUS EPISODES on APPLE PODCASTS:⁠ apple.co/impacttheory⁠ [http://apple.co/impacttheory] ********************************************************************** FOLLOW TOM: Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/tombilyeu/⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/tombilyeu/] Tik Tok:⁠ https://www.tiktok.com/@tombilyeu?lang=en⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@tombilyeu?lang=en] Twitter:⁠ https://twitter.com/tombilyeu⁠ [https://twitter.com/tombilyeu] YouTube:⁠ https://www.youtube.com/@TomBilyeu⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@TomBilyeu] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Welcome back to Impact Theory with Tom Bilyeu. In this special live episode, I’m joined by my incredible co-host (and wife), Lisa Bilyeu, for a deep-dive on the intersection of politics, world affairs, and what’s really threatening democracy today. We tackle some heavy news—like Biden’s shock cancer announcement and the implications of Bernie Sanders admitting Democrats can be a threat to democracy. Of course, with Lisa in the studio, we also bring an unfiltered relationship lens to these societal issues, exploring why humans double down on dogma, how our childhood shapes genius, and if wisdom can ever outrun calcified beliefs. Plus, we get personal on the abuse of power, MeToo fallout, female agency, and where the law should (or shouldn't) intervene in manipulative relationships. SHOWNOTES * 00:00 – Lisa joins Tom for a live hybrid show: politics, world affairs, and relationships * 01:54 – NIH controversy: Covid origins, Wuhan, and walking out on tough truths * 04:31 – The tragic story of Ignaz Semmelweis & the problem with “experts” * 15:05 – Why social innovation often falls on the young * 24:00 – Deep dive preview: Jekyll Island and conspiracy vs. incompetence * 30:07 – Weinstein, Diddy, MeToo, and navigating moral nuance * 34:31 – Abuse, power, and the line between legality and morality * 1:07:00 – Why parental bias clouds judgment—and why you must think clearly * 1:14:00 – Incentives, compassion, and the "final boss" of human nature * 1:17:06 – New show format: how to engage deeper and where to watch live FOLLOW GUEST (Lisa Bilyeu): * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisabilyeu/ [https://www.instagram.com/lisabilyeu/] * Twitter: https://twitter.com/lisabilyeu [https://twitter.com/lisabilyeu] * Website: https://www.lisabilyeu.com/ [https://www.lisabilyeu.com/] CHECK OUT OUR SPONSORS Vital Proteins: Get 20% off by going to ⁠https://www.vitalproteins.com⁠ [https://www.vitalproteins.com] and entering promo code IMPACT at check out Monarch Money: Use code THEORY at ⁠https://monarchmoney.com⁠ [https://monarchmoney.com] for 50% off your first year! Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at ⁠https://shopify.com/impact⁠ [https://shopify.com/impact] Netsuite: Download the CFO’s Guide to AI and Machine Learning at ⁠https://NetSuite.com/THEORY⁠ [https://netsuite.com/THEORY] iTrust Capital: Use code IMPACTGO when you sign up and fund your account to get a $100 bonus at ⁠https://www.itrustcapital.com/tombilyeu⁠ [https://www.itrustcapital.com/tombilyeu]  Mint Mobile: If you like your money, Mint Mobile is for you. Shop plans at ⁠https://mintmobile.com/impact.⁠ [https://mintmobile.com/impact]  DISCLAIMER: Upfront payment of $45 for 3-month 5 gigabyte plan required (equivalent to $15/mo.). New customer offer for first 3 months only, then full-price plan options available. Taxes & fees extra. See MINT MOBILE for details. What's up, everybody? It's Tom Bilyeu here: If you want my help... * STARTING a business:⁠ join me here at ZERO TO FOUNDER⁠ [https://tombilyeu.com/zero-to-founder?utm_campaign=Podcast%20Offer&utm_source=podca[%E2%80%A6]d%20end%20of%20show&utm_content=podcast%20ad%20end%20of%20show] * SCALING a business:⁠ see if you qualify here.⁠ [https://tombilyeu.com/call] Get my battle-tested strategies and insights delivered weekly to your inbox:⁠ sign up here.⁠ [https://tombilyeu.com/] ********************************************************************** If you're serious about leveling up your life, I urge you to check out my new podcast,⁠ Tom Bilyeu’s Mindset Playbook⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/show/47VE90Cittmo6TGGFqg2xf] —a goldmine of my most impactful episodes on mindset, business, and health. Trust me, your future self will thank you. ********************************************************************** LISTEN TO IMPACT THEORY AD FREE + BONUS EPISODES on APPLE PODCASTS:⁠ apple.co/impacttheory⁠ [http://apple.co/impacttheory] ********************************************************************** FOLLOW TOM: Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/tombilyeu/⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/tombilyeu/] Tik Tok:⁠ https://www.tiktok.com/@tombilyeu?lang=en⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@tombilyeu?lang=en] Twitter:⁠ https://twitter.com/tombilyeu⁠ [https://twitter.com/tombilyeu] YouTube:⁠ https://www.youtube.com/@TomBilyeu⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@TomBilyeu] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]