Tesla to Sila: Gene Berdichevsky Is Building Batteries to Electrify the Future
Gene Berdichevsky is the co-founder and CEO of Sila, a next-gen battery technology company. Previously, he was the seventh employee at Tesla, where he served as Principal Engineer on the Roadster battery and led the development of the world’s first mass-produced lithium-ion car battery. In this episode, he explains how Sila's new battery chemistry innovations can improve efficiency, reduce costs, and help electrify the future. He discusses the challenges in mining rare metals, battery recycling, and what's needed to sustainably build batteries at scale. By mid-century, Berdichevsky is optimistic that EVs will become ubiquitous, and we'll be able to fully integrate renewables into the electric grid.
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00:00 Episode intro
02:42 Designing Tesla's Roadster Battery
06:12 Leaving Tesla to Start Sila
12:42 How to Scale Battery Production
22:49 Why Everyone Will Drive EVs
28:09 Why Be Optimistic About Battery Tech
If you enjoyed this conversation, check out these other episodes:
Oklo's Amazing Small Nuclear Reactor
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXbWC1mDrl4&t=1453s
Niall Ferguson: Why Great Civilizations Rise & Fall
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAdUdrDaAqA&t=471s
For permission to use any portion of this video, please contact us at info@americanoptimist.com
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The Year That Changed Medicine Forever | Francisco Gimenez Explains the Biotech Revolution.
Francisco Gimenez is Partner at 8VC and focuses on Bio-IT investments. He received his Ph.D. from Stanford in Biomedical Informatics and B.S. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences from UC Berkeley. In this episode, Francisco explains how breakthroughs in AI, gene editing, and cell therapies converged to jumpstart a new age in biology. He predicts that biomanufacturing platforms, armed with mountains of data and new tools, will bring down the costs of creating and commercializing drugs so smaller companies can treat rarer diseases and deliver more personalized cures. By decentralizing the pharma industry, Francisco is optimistic that the future of medicine will evolve from reactive care to preventative medicine that will help people fully self-actualize and lead their best, healthiest lives.
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Like this video and subscribe to the channel ➡️ http://tinyurl.com/xfjkadd4
00:00 Episode intro
04:58 The Year that transformed Medicine
12:19 Leather from mushrooms & synthetic biology
18:05 Understanding the biotech revolution
30:29 Resilience Bio and rebuilding biomanufacturing
36:54 Decentralizing the pharma industry
44:24 Optimism for the future
If you enjoyed this conversation, check out these other episodes:
Whole Foods Co-Founder & CEO John Mackey
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmZYyxKRSlk&t=1900s
Niall Ferguson: Why Great Civilizations Rise & Fall
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAdUdrDaAqA&t=471s
For permission to use any portion of this video, please contact us at info@americanoptimist.com
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Oklo's Amazing Small Reactor That Can Reuse Nuclear Waste
Jacob DeWitte is the Co-Founder and CEO of Oklo, a nuclear energy startup building small advanced reactors that can reuse spent fuel from conventional reactors. In this episode, DeWitte explains how the regulatory state has stymied new reactor designs for decades, and how he's working to break through and bring game-changing nuclear power technology to market. Shortly after the initial conversation was filmed, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) denied Oklo's application for its new small reactor design -- evidence of the persistent regulatory challenges. Stay tuned to the end of the episode where Jake rejoins the show to explain how Oklo plans to address the NRC's findings and continue the process toward final approval.
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Mark Esper: Why Russia's Invasion Is Failing & How to Bring More Innovation to the Pentagon
Dr. Mark Esper served as the U.S. Secretary of Defense from 2019 to 2020 and Secretary of the Army from 2017 to 2019. He's currently the Distinguished Chair of the Modern War Institute at West Point and sits on the Board of Directors of Epirus [a defense startup co-founded by Joe]. His forthcoming memoir is titled "A Sacred Oath: Memoirs of a Secretary of Defense During Extraordinary Times.” In this episode, he dissects Russia's military weaknesses and explains how its invasion of Ukraine may ultimately strengthen NATO and change China's calculations with regard to Taiwan. He and Joe also discuss the risk-averse, top-down management culture at the Pentagon and what needs to change to bring new, better technologies to the Department of Defense.
You can pre-order his new book here: https://www.amazon.com/Sacred-Oath-Memoirs-Secretary-Extraordinary/dp/006314431X
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Free Housing Won't Solve Homelessness. Judge Glock Explains What Will.
Judge Glock is the Director of Research and Policy at the Cicero Institute and an expert on housing and homelessness in the U.S. In this episode, Glock dissects the root causes of America's affordable housing shortage and explains how the right incentives can jumpstart development and bring down home costs for working-class families. He also exposes how policies like “Housing First” encourage the homeless to live and die on the streets while waiting for free and permanent housing, which won’t solve the root of their problems: addiction and mental illness. Instead, Glock explains how cities like San Diego combine bridge shelters with treatment and accountability to reduce homelessness -- a recipe that other state leaders can use to save lives and bring healing to hundreds of thousands of people.
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How the Renaissance Sparked an Entrepreneurial Explosion with Jeannette zu Fürstenberg
Dr. Jeannette zu Fürstenberg is Co-Founder and General Partner of “La Famiglia”, a Berlin-based Venture Capital fund, and holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy and Entrepreneurship from the Free University of Berlin. She’s also a princess of one of Europe’s oldest royal families by marriage, as well as a thoughtful leader in the innovation and business world. In this episode, she traces the birth of entrepreneurship from the Renaissance and explains how breaking down the silos of guilds led to a creative explosion -- and how we can apply those lessons today. Dr. Fürstenberg specializes in connecting old and new world industries and discusses how to transform the 21st century by moving from incremental to disruptive innovation.
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How to Fix Homelessness, Expand Telehealth, and Defeat Special Interests with Jared Meyer
Jared Meyer is the Executive Director of Cicero Action. [Joe is the Chairman of the Board of Cicero Action.] In this episode, Jared discusses how special interests stifle competition and why Cicero Action is using the special interests' playbook against them to promote innovative, bottom-up reforms. He explains the government affairs strategy that creates real policy changes in states across the country, from expanding telehealth and improving parole and probation reforms, to realigning higher education incentives and fixing homelessness. This conversation shows how transparency, accountability, and competition are possible when political leaders have the tools—and the courage—to stand up to cronyism and entrenched interests.
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Don't Ban CRT; Win With Better Ideas. Thomas Chatterton Williams Talks Race & Liberalism
Thomas Chatterton Williams is a writer, cultural critic, fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, and author of two critically-acclaimed books on race in America, most recently "Self-Portrait in Black and White:Unlearning Race." In this episode, he discusses the dangers of Critical Race Theory and how to move beyond race-first, collectivist mindsets. He also discusses his forthcoming book, "Nothing Was the Same," which traces the recent rise of illiberalism and polarization in the U.S. Even though we may find certain ideas or theories (like CRT) noxious, Williams argues for more engagement and debate, not banning or censoring materials, as the best path toward progress. He also offers positive solutions, such as expanding access to high-quality early education, as a means to reduce inequality. [NOTE: This episode was recorded before Russia's invasion of Ukraine.]
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The Entrepreneur Leading America’s Fastest-Growing Green Housing Finance Company
Hayes Barnard is the Founder and CEO of GoodLeap, one of the fastest-growing and largest financial technology companies in the renewable energy sector. In 2008, Barnard founded Paramount Solar, which was later acquired by SolarCity and then Tesla. Barnard discusses his role on the leading edge of America's solar energy expansion and what he learned working alongside Elon Musk. He also discusses his non-profit Give Power and its innovative work to bring clean water and electricity to Africa via renewable energy.
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Fast Grants, Faster Science, and Reviving a Culture of Innovation with Tyler Cowen
Tyler Cowen is a professor, best-selling author, blogger, podcaster, and one of the most influential economists of this generation. In the early days of the pandemic, Cowen launched the Fast Grants program, which funded COVID-related science in less than 48 hours -- a remarkable feat in the medical sector. He discusses his efforts to accelerate innovation, including his work to transform how investors identify and back the next generation of brilliant entrepreneurs. An all-around polymath, Cowen also reveals the technologies and breakthroughs that excite him most for the decades ahead.
You can pre-order Tyler's new book here: https://www.amazon.com/Talent-Identify-Energizers-Creatives-Winners/dp/1250275814
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EP 26: Building a New World-Class University with University of Austin President Pano Kanelos
Pano Kanelos is the President of the University of Austin (UATX), the most ambitious new university venture in America in decades. Recognizing the plight of America's higher education system, Pano stepped down as the President of St. John's College to build a new institution rooted in the pursuit of truth, open inquiry, and educating the next generation of American leaders. In this episode, Joe (a founding trustee of UATX) and Pano discuss the failures of modern academia and why it's time to take on the bold task of building a new world-class university.
Learn more about the University of Austin: https://www.uaustin.org/
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EP 25: Peng Shuai, Beijing Olympics & Holding China Accountable with Former UN Ambassador Kelly Craft
Ambassador Kelly Craft is a businesswoman, philanthropist, and former diplomat who served as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations from 2019 to 2021 and U.S. ambassador to Canada from 2017 to 2019. She played an integral role in shaping major foreign policy decisions and achievements, such as the landmark Abraham Accords and the USMCA trade agreement. In this episode, she discusses some of the most pressing U.S. challenges abroad, including speaking up for human rights during the Beijing Olympics, developing a comprehensive strategy for China, responding to Russian military threats against Ukraine, and galvanizing U.S. allies to defend our shared values.
For permission to use any portion of this video, please contact us at info@americanoptimist.com
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EP 24: Charles Koch Explains How His Love of Philosophy Built One of America's Most Successful Companies
Charles Koch, Chairman and CEO of Koch Industries, is one of the great business minds of our time. He grew a small engineering firm from $21 million in revenue to over 10,000 times the revenue. Yet in both his business and philanthropic work, he is first and foremost a philosopher. Koch explains how thinkers such as Abraham Maslow and Joseph Schumpeter shaped his outlook on the conditions for human flourishing, and why it's important to enable every employee to self-actualize. Rejecting centralized top-down systems, Koch developed Market-Based Management -- a philosophy that enables his companies to constantly reinvent themselves through virtuous cycles of mutual benefit that provide value to both employees and customers.
For permission to use any portion of this video, please contact us at info@americanoptimist.com
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EP 23: How to Defeat Special Interests & Cronyism with Florida's Speaker of the House Chris Sprowls
In Florida, Republicans and Democrats alike are standing up to special interests. Watch an inspiring conversation with Florida's Speaker of the House Chris Sprowls.
Chris Sprowls is the Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives. Under his leadership, Florida has set itself apart as one of the most innovative state legislatures in the country, slashing regulations that prop up entrenched interests and injecting true competition into the marketplace. We discuss his strategy for successfully combatting cronyism in healthcare, pioneering the biggest school choice expansion in the country, and other courageous reforms -- many of which passed on a bipartisan basis. Speaker Sprowls's success should embolden other like-minded reformers and leaders across our country.
For permission to use any portion of this video, please contact us at info@americanoptimist.com
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EP 22: Are Billionaires Bad? A Friendly Debate Over Income Inequality and Big Tech with Rep. Ro Khanna
Congressman Ro Khanna is the Democratic Congressman from California’s 17th District, which covers large swaths of Silicon Valley. A self-described "progressive capitalist," Khanna bucks the current political norms and works to advance meaningful bipartisan legislation. In this episode, we debate income inequality, wealth taxes, and other hot-button issues, but also find common ground on reasonable regulations for Big Tech, introducing more innovation into healthcare, and promoting nuclear energy. His forthcoming book is titled “Dignity in a Digital Age” and focuses on closing the digital divide in rural America.
You can find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Dignity-Digital-Age-Making-Tech/dp/1982163348
For permission to use any portion of this video, please contact us at info@americanoptimist.com
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EP 21: Forget Free College —This Texas College Is the Future of Higher Education
Mike Reeser and Michael Bettersworth are the Chancellor and Chief Innovation Officer, respectively, at Texas State Technical College (TSTC). In 2014, TSTC became the FIRST college in the country to fully align its public funding with its students' future earnings. Since then, graduates have seen their earnings increase over 100 percent! Their success is an antidote to the crisis of bad incentives in education today and should inspire other states to pursue similar reforms.
For permission to use any portion of this video, please contact us at info@americanoptimist.com
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EP 20: The Power of Suffering & Adversity with "Adventure Capitalist" Dhani Jones
Dhani Jones spent 11 seasons in the NFL as a middle linebacker, the linchpin of the defensive unit. Since then, he has become a leader in other arenas: hosting TV shows, launching charities, and investing in startups. His passion is bringing out the best in others. In this episode, he pushes back against the notion of lowering standards to minimize disparities. He explains why adversity, competition, and the pursuit of excellence are some of the best ways to lift up others and improve their lives.
For permission to use any portion of this video, please contact us at info@americanoptimist.com
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EP 19: How to Fix Dysfunctional Government with Esper CEO Maleka Momand
Maleka Momand is the co-founder and CEO of Esper, a technology platform that transforms how governments oversee the regulatory process. In recent decades, the size of the administrative state has exploded. Yet, many regulators still operate via Word, Excel, and, in some cases, pen and paper! This has led to a lack of transparency and accountability, not to mention a morass of outdated, disjointed regulations. By applying data analytics and artificial intelligence to augment regulators and regulatory processes, Esper is improving how governments function and interact with the business community.
NOTE: Esper currently has clients in 8 U.S state governments, not 11 as mentioned in the episode.
For permission to use any portion of this video, please contact us at info@americanoptimist.com
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EP 18: Force Fields & Directed Energy Are Here! Thanks to This Cutting-Edge Defense Company
Over the past few decades, the U.S. military’s long-held advantages have waned. Today, we are reliant on outdated technologies and in jeopardy of falling behind China. Bo Marr, the co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Epirus, is bucking the trend. Marr and his team invented the world’s most powerful phased array, Leonidas, that can disable drones and other electronic systems from great distances. This modern force field fills a vital technological gap for the U.S. military as it prepares for 21st-century warfare and a new era of asymmetric threats.
For permission to use any portion of this video, please contact us at info@americanoptimist.com
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EP 17: KIND Founder Daniel Lubetzky Launches New Venture to Fix America's Division
Daniel Lubetzky is the founder of Peaceworks, the OneVoice Movement, and the multi-billion dollar snack company KIND. The son of a Holocaust survivor, Lubetzky’s upbringing inspired him to use business to bridge cultural and economic divides. In this episode, he explains America’s unique role in the world and why we must work together to repair our social fabric and break out of our tribal instincts. His newest venture, Starts With Us, does just that by instilling greater courage, curiosity, and empathy in our daily lives.
For permission to use any portion of this video, please contact us at info@americanoptimist.com
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EP 16: Discovering Life-Saving Drugs from Fungi
Maureen Hillenmeyer is the Founder and CEO of Hexagon Bio, a cutting-edge biotech company whose mission is to harvest new drugs and cures from the natural world, beginning with fungi. In 1928, Sir Alexander Fleming’s accidental discovery of penicillin launched a new age of antibiotics derived from fungi. However, the process of discovery was slow and laborious. In this episode, Hillenmeyer explains how Hexagon is using genomic sequencing and artificial intelligence to analyze the millions of types of fungi on earth and uncover new drugs and cures for a host of diseases. She also issues an important warning about the looming crisis of antibiotic resistance and how Hexagon's work could avert a medical disaster.
For permission to use any portion of this video, please contact us at info@americanoptimist.com
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EP 15: Whole Foods Founder & CEO John Mackey: Conscious Capitalism and Repairing America's Division
In 1978, John Mackey co-founded his first natural foods store in Austin, Texas with only $45,000. Two years later, he and his business partners launched the first Whole Foods Market, which quickly became the nation's fastest-growing organic grocery store. In 2017, Amazon acquired the company for over $13 billion.
In this episode, the Whole Foods Founder and CEO discusses his journey from democratic socialism to "Conscious Capitalism" -- the title of his book in defense of free markets and how business, conducted properly, can elevate humanity. He also explains the cultural divide in America today as a clash of three worldviews - traditional, modern, and progressive - and describes how we can pull the best wisdom from each to bridge division and continue to move our society forward.
For permission to use any portion of this video, please contact us at info@americanoptimist.com
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EP 14: Jake Kloberdanz: Cause-Centric Commerce and the Art of Award-Winning Winemaking
Jake Kloberdanz is the CEO and Founder of ONEHOPE Wine, an award-winning vineyard located in the heart of Napa Valley. What sets ONEHOPE apart is its unique business model: every bottle of wine sold helps fund a charitable organization. Kloberdanz is a champion of cause-centric commerce, and to date, ONEHOPE has donated over seven million dollars to organizations that help disadvantaged communities break the cycle of poverty. In this episode, he describes his journey from selling wine out of the back of his car to building a world-class winery that also uplifts its community and advances the role of business in society.
For permission to use any portion of this video, please contact us at info@americanoptimist.com
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EP 13: Sal Churi, Keri Findley, and Wesley Chan: Innovators Changing Our World Right Now
This week's episode features three talented and successful innovators behind many game-changing technologies and companies. First is Sal Churi, a former law professor who is now general partner at Trust Ventures -- an Austin-based venture capital firm. Churi helps founders overcome the collision points of innovation and regulation, and explains how 3D printed houses, small modular nuclear reactors, and other breakthroughs can transform our country if we fix the outdated laws holding them back.
Next is Keri Findley, a top innovator in the finance industry who was the first female partner at Third Point, a prominent New York-based hedge fund. She discusses how technology is changing the finance sector in ways that will help working-class Americans better manage and grow their money. Finally, Wesley Chan is an engineer turned venture capitalist who was an early employee at Google. He shares some fascinating insights on the early days at Google, including how Gmail became the world’s number one email service and why it pays to think big.
For permission to use any portion of this video, please contact us at info@americanoptimist.com
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EP 12: Former D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty: Courage, Accountability, Better Schools, and Safer Cities
Adrian Fenty is currently a founding managing partner at MaC Venture Capital, a former advisor at Andreessen Horowitz, and served as the Mayor of Washington, D.C. from 2007-2011. During his tenure as Mayor, he took on special interests and the teachers' unions, fought for accountability in government and greater opportunities for children while also overseeing a dramatic reduction in violent crime. His courage reshaped the direction of the city and is much needed in our nation today.
In this episode, he discusses his bold, CEO-like approach as Mayor, why he fought to bring performance metrics into government, and how education reform can break the cycle of poverty in the United States. He also shares the companies and innovation that excite him the most as an investor and why he's focused on bringing greater diversity to private equity.
For permission to use any portion of this video, please contact us at info@americanoptimist.com
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