The Long Game with Mehdi Yacoubi

My guest today is Patri Friedman [https://twitter.com/patrissimo], a political theorist and the General Partner at Pronomos Capital [https://www.pronomos.vc/], the world's first charter city VC fund. Patri is on a mission to increase competition in government. In 2008, Patri founded the Seasteading Institute [https://www.seasteading.org/] with a mission to create sovereign ocean colonies and “establish permanent, autonomous ocean communities to enable experimentation and innovation with diverse social, political, and legal systems.” We spend a lot of time talking about competitive governance and why we need it. We also discuss the impact of technology on government and why building new institutions should be our primary focus now. We finish the conversation talking about meditation and nutrition. Please, enjoy my conversation with Patri Friedman! You can find the show notes here [http://thelonggamepod.com/]. Topics we discuss: * How can charter cities promote progress and innovation? * How can new cities become a hub for innovation? * The place of charter cities in the developing world (the case of Africa) * The impact of technology on government * Why building new institutions should be our primary focus now * Patri's meditation techniques and how to maintain clear thinking in the digital age * Living in the mountains of Monterrey * Diversity — Why it's so important * The problem with the digital world and the importance of the physical world * Science Fiction * Nutrition * Meditation techniques Find Patri online: * Twitter [https://twitter.com/patrissimo] * The Seasteading Institute [https://www.seasteading.org/] * Pronomos Capital [https://www.pronomos.vc/] ==================================== Thank you for listening to The Long Game Podcast [http://thelonggamepod.com/]! All shares and reviews are appreciated! * If you enjoy this podcast, you might like The Long Game Newsletter [http://mehdiyacoubi.substack.com/], my weekly newsletter about health, wellness, the future, better thinking, and entrepreneurship. Every week, receive a deep dive into the challenges of our time and the ideas, technologies, and businesses that will help overcome them. * The purpose of The Long Game is to catalyze progress and innovation to make our future better. * The newsletter features the work and ideas of tech industry leaders, scientists, entrepreneurs, and thinkers. ==================================== Get early access to lifetizr [http://lifetizr.io/] - the solution to help you optimize your blood glucose levels for better health, improved energy levels, and optimized longevity. Connect with me: * Twitter: @mehdiyac [https://twitter.com/Mehdiyac] * Website: mehdiyacoubi.com [https://www.mehdiyacoubi.com/] * Newsletter: thelonggame.xyz [https://thelonggame.xyz/]

My guest today is Mwiya Musokotwane [https://twitter.com/mwiyas]. Mwiya is the co-founder and CEO of Thebe Investment Management, a Zambian private investment firm that is the developer of Nkwashi; a 3100-acre satellite town that will be home to up to 100,000 residents. Thebe Investment Management has US$1.5bn of project pipeline under development. In this conversation, we talk about building charter cities in Africa, why functioning institutions are essential for progress and Mwiya explains the thought process behind Nkwashi. After that, we discuss the African tech ecosystem, and we talk about building a Pan-African culture. Mwiya explains why Wakanda is such an inspiration for his work. We finish the conversation by talking about the books that were particularly influential in Mwiya's life. Please, enjoy my conversation with Mwiya Musokotwane! You can find the show notes here [https://thelonggamepod.com/Mwiya-Musokotwane]. Topics we discuss: * Why Mwiya is building a new city in Africa * Why charter cities lead to more progress & innovation * The African tech ecosystem * Building a Pan-African culture * Wakanda * The benefits of low tech businesses Find Mwiya online: * Twitter [https://twitter.com/mwiyas] * Nkwashi [https://nkwashi.com/][https://citizenhealth.io/] ==================================== Thank you for listening to The Long Game Podcast [http://thelonggamepod.com/]! All shares and reviews are appreciated! * If you enjoy this podcast, you might like The Long Game Newsletter [http://mehdiyacoubi.substack.com/], my weekly newsletter about health, wellness, the future, better thinking, and entrepreneurship. Every week, receive a deep dive into the challenges of our time and the ideas, technologies, and businesses that will help overcome them. * The purpose of The Long Game is to catalyze progress and innovation to make our future better. * The newsletter features the work and ideas of tech industry leaders, scientists, entrepreneurs, and thinkers. ==================================== Get early access to lifetizr [http://lifetizr.io/] - the solution to help you optimize your blood glucose levels for better health, improved energy levels, and optimized longevity. Connect with me: * Twitter: @mehdiyac [https://twitter.com/Mehdiyac] * Website: mehdiyacoubi.com [https://www.mehdiyacoubi.com/] * Newsletter: thelonggame.xyz [https://thelonggame.xyz/][http://mehdiyacoubi.substack.com/]

My guest today is Brennen Hodge [https://twitter.com/BrennenHodge]. Brennen is the co-founder and CEO of Citizen Health [https://citizenhealth.io/], a health cooperative leveraging direct care and blockchain to build a better healthcare system. He's an expert on everything related to healthcare. In this conversation, we talk about the US healthcare system's problems, but we try to focus on the solutions. Brennen explains how Citizen Health is targeting the problem through a better ownership model. Brennen also gives the best books to understand the US healthcare system from an outsider's perspective. We finish the conversation talking about his latest project to date, XBuilt, an engineering company developing zero energy-smart homes. Please, enjoy my conversation with Brennen Hodge! You can find the show notes here [https://thelonggamepod.com/Brennen-Hodge]. Topics we discuss: * The problems of the US healthcare system * The Price We Pay, by Mary Makary * What Citizen Health is doing * Decentralized ownership of health data * The cooperative model for healthcare * Building zero-energy smart homes Find Brennen online: * Twitter [https://twitter.com/BrennenHodge] * Citizen Health [https://citizenhealth.io/] ==================================== Thank you for listening to The Long Game Podcast [http://thelonggamepod.com/]! All shares and reviews are appreciated! * If you enjoy this podcast, you might like The Long Game Newsletter [http://mehdiyacoubi.substack.com/], my weekly newsletter about health, wellness, the future, better thinking, and entrepreneurship. Every week, receive a deep dive into the challenges of our time and the ideas, technologies, and businesses that will help overcome them. * The purpose of The Long Game is to catalyze progress and innovation to make our future better. * The newsletter features the work and ideas of tech industry leaders, scientists, entrepreneurs, and thinkers. ==================================== Get early access to lifetizr [http://lifetizr.io/] - the solution to help you optimize your blood glucose levels for better health, improved energy levels, and optimized longevity. Connect with me: * Twitter: @mehdiyac [https://twitter.com/Mehdiyac] * Website: mehdiyacoubi.com [https://www.mehdiyacoubi.com/] * Newsletter: mehdiyacoubi.substack.com [http://mehdiyacoubi.substack.com/]

My guest today is Samuel Gil [https://twitter.com/samuelgil]. Samuel is a partner at JME Ventures [https://www.jme.vc/], a Spanish Venture Capital firm that invested in Flywire and 21 Buttons, to name a few. He is also the founder of the excellent newsletter Suma Positiva [https://www.sumapositiva.com/] that covers technology and how innovation can be positive-sum. I discovered Samuel through his series on longevity and his interests in health. I wanted to get him on the podcast to discuss his perspectives on the craft of investing, founders, longevity, and more! We start the conversation by exploring the Spanish tech ecosystem, the opportunities and the challenges, and how it's related to international tech hubs. Then, Samuel explains his investing philosophy, how they help founders build successful companies at JME Ventures, and what makes a great founder versus a bad one. After that, we talk longevity, what got him interested in the field, and other opportunities in health optimization right now. We finish the conversation talking about the two books Samuel loved recently. Please, enjoy my conversation with Samuel Gil! You can find the show notes here [https://thelonggamepod.com/Samuel-Gil]! Find Samuel online: * Twitter [https://twitter.com/samuelgil] * Suma Positiva [https://www.sumapositiva.com/] Topics we discuss: * An overview of the Spanish tech ecosystem (the opportunities, the challenges), and more generally, how it's related to international tech ecosystems. * Underrated spaces in the Spanish Tech ecosystem. * The craft of Venture Capital and Samuel's philosophy around it. * What's a great founder, and how to spot them. * How to help founders succeed as a venture firm. * Growth loops. * Core action and aha moments. * "More questions than advice." * The field of longevity. Samuel's perspectives on the topic, the opportunities in the field right now. * How to speed up progress on healthspan & lifespan extension. * Samuel's favorite books recently. * Stealing Fire: How Silicon Valley, the Navy SEALs, and Maverick Scientists Are Revolutionizing the Way We Live and Work, by Steven Kotler and Jamie Wheal * Alchemy: The Dark Art and Curious Science of Creating Magic in Brands, Business, and Life, by Rory Sutherland ==================================== Thank you for listening to The Long Game Podcast [http://thelonggamepod.com/]! All shares and reviews are appreciated! * If you enjoy this podcast, you might like The Long Game Newsletter [http://mehdiyacoubi.substack.com/], my weekly newsletter about health, wellness, the future, better thinking, and entrepreneurship. Every week, receive a deep dive into the challenges of our time and the ideas, technologies, and businesses that will help overcome them. * The purpose of The Long Game is to catalyze progress and innovation to make our future better. * The newsletter features the work and ideas of tech industry leaders, scientists, entrepreneurs, and thinkers. ==================================== Get early access to Lifetizr [http://lifetizr.io/] - the solution to help you optimize your blood glucose levels for better health, improved energy levels, and optimized longevity. Connect with me: * Twitter: @mehdiyac [https://twitter.com/Mehdiyac] * Website: mehdiyacoubi.com [https://www.mehdiyacoubi.com/] * Newsletter: mehdiyacoubi.substack.com [http://mehdiyacoubi.substack.com/]

My guest today is Vedica Kant [https://twitter.com/vedicakant]. Vedica is a historian of South Asia and the Middle East, and she is the author of India and the First World War [https://www.flipkart.com/if-die-here-remember-me-india-first-world-war-english/p/itmdvun9yckvcy5j?pid=9788174369796&ref=63fff7a8-4e7e-486d-a1ea-8f67747c54cb&srno=t_1&otracker=from-search&query=vedica+kant]. Vedica is also the co-creator of the excellent newsletter Keeping Up With India [https://hind.substack.com/] about the Indian Tech ecosystem. Currently, she is a consultant at the Boston Consulting Group. We start the conversation talking about why Vedica started her newsletter about India; then, we talk about the specificities of the Indian tech ecosystem. We cover her series on Reliance and Jio, and Vedica explains why Reliance has become so powerful lately. We also discuss what are the most promising sectors right now in India. My favorite part of the conversation was when Vedica explains why it's so important to read fiction. You can find the show notes here [https://thelonggamepod.com/Vedica-Kant]! Please, enjoy my conversation with Vedica Kant! Find Vedica online: * Twitter [https://twitter.com/vedicakant] Topics we discuss: * Why Vedica started the newsletter Keeping Up With India * Reliance and Jio * Why business and politics always mix in India * The 4 Internets * We are Westerners consistently getting wrong about India. * India — China geopolitics * Indian immigrants in the US * Can Neobanks succeed in India? * Indian Tech Ecosystem: what is Vedica most excited about lately? * What are the underrated sectors of the Indian tech ecosystem? * What are the main problems preventing India from becoming a developed country right now? * How to get to know more India, from an outsider's perspective * How will the current state of India influence the country's future? * Why Vedica believes reading fiction is essential * The fiction books Vedica recommends ==================================== Thank you for listening to The Long Game Podcast [http://thelonggamepod.com/]! All shares and reviews are appreciated! * If you enjoy this podcast, you might like The Long Game Newsletter [http://mehdiyacoubi.substack.com/], my weekly newsletter about health, wellness, the future, better thinking, and entrepreneurship. Every week, receive a deep dive into the challenges of our time and the ideas, technologies, and businesses that will help overcome them. * The purpose of The Long Game is to catalyze progress and innovation to make our future better. * The newsletter features the work and ideas of tech industry leaders, scientists, entrepreneurs, and thinkers. ==================================== Get early access to Lifetizr [http://lifetizr.io/] - the solution to help you optimize your blood glucose levels for better health, improved energy levels, and optimized longevity. Connect with me: * Twitter: @mehdiyac [https://twitter.com/Mehdiyac] * Website: mehdiyacoubi.com [https://www.mehdiyacoubi.com/] * Newsletter: mehdiyacoubi.substack.com [http://mehdiyacoubi.substack.com/]