The Generalist

• Antimemetics: Why Some Ideas Resist Spreading | Nadia Asparouhova (Writer and Researcher)

  Some ideas spread like wildfire. Others vanish before they take root—too strange, too threatening, too forgettable. In this episode of The Generalist, I sit down with Nadia Asparouhova, author of Antimemetics: Why Some Ideas Resist Spreading, to explore the category of “antimemes”: ideas that actively resist being remembered or shared. Drawing from science fiction, epidemiology, and her own unusual cognitive wiring, Nadia maps the shadowy terrain of information that doesn’t want to be shared. We talk about taboos, group chat dynamics, and the hidden incentives shaping what spreads and what doesn’t.In our conversation, we explore:• What antimemes are and why some ideas actively resist being remembered or shared• How taboos, cognitive biases, and uncomfortable truths function as self-censoring ideas• The 2x2 matrix of ideas: memes, antimemes, supermemes, and forgettable non-memes• How group chats are changing idea evolution by acting as high-trust, high-density incubators• How internet slang terms like “vibes” and “cringe” reflect deeper shifts in how we share information• Why great innovation often comes from people willing to look foolish• The critical roles of "truth tellers" and "champions" in preserving important ideas• How memory, aphantasia, and synesthesia shaped Nadia’s sensitivity to forgotten ideas• How local knowledge (wisdom) differs from global knowledge (facts), and why it’s harder to pass down• How Nadia’s experience as a parent shifted her thinking from nurture to nature• How to protect your mental space in an age of information overload—Thank you to the partners who make this possibleWorkOS: The modern identity platform for B2B SaaS.Brex: The banking solution for startups.Generalist+: Essential intelligence for modern investors and technologists.—Timestamps(00:00) Intro(04:45) A brief overview of Nadia’s writing(06:24) Richard Dawkins’s definition of a meme(08:02) Antimemes and a brief overview of the book There Is No Antimemetics Division(11:54) Why daylight savings time is the perfect antimeme(13:13) How neurodivergence shapes Nadia’s creativity(16:20) Synesthesia explained(18:02) Solomon Shereshevsky, a case of extreme synesthesia(18:52) Why forgetting can be a superpower(22:45) Why some ideas spread and others do not(25:11) The 2x2 matrix of ideas(27:20) A warning about supermemes(29:43) Group chats and the evolution of ideas(34:44) Are supermemes organic or engineered?(40:43) The role of truth tellers and champions(45:38) What it means to have “purity of purpose”(46:48) Nadia’s experience with altered states of consciousness, and an example of a champion(51:02) How Nadia’s fear of sharing has lessened, and a case for examining your own fears(52:51) Understanding the internet slang words “vibes” and “cringe”(57:35) Global vs. local knowledge and how it shapes Nadia’s parenting(1:05:01) Where Nadia finds her ideas(1:08:40) How Nadia protects her time to allow for deep work(1:12:38) Final meditations—Follow Nadia AsparouhovaNewsletter: https://nayafia.substack.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadia-asparouhova/X: https://x.com/nayafia—Resources and episode mentions—Books—• Antimemetics: Why Some Ideas Resist Spreading: https://www.amazon.com/Antimemetics-Some-Ideas-Resist-Spreading-ebook/dp/B0F8J9HHCB• There Is No Antimemetics Division: https://www.amazon.com/There-No-Antimemetics-Division-qntm/dp/B0915M7T61\• A Primer for Forgetting: Getting Past the Past: https://www.amazon.com/Primer-Forgetting-Getting-Past/dp/0374237212• René Girard's Mimetic Theory: https://www.amazon.com/Girards-Mimetic-Studies-Violence-Mimesis/dp/1611860776...Episode resources continued at: https://www.generalist.com/p/antimemetics-nadia-asparouhova—Production and marketing by penname.co. For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email jordan@penname.co.

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  1:19:24
• Creating Stars in a Bottle: The Race to Commercialize Fusion Energy | Vinod Khosla & Bob Mumgaard

  While the world fights over chips, one company is building the power supply to run them all. In this episode of The Generalist, I'm joined by Bob Mumgaard, CEO and co-founder of Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS), and Vinod Khosla, legendary venture capitalist and founder of Khosla Ventures. With over 800 employees and $2 billion in funding, CFS has accelerated the timeline for commercial fusion from being perpetually "30 years away" to potentially just a few years out. If CFS succeeds, it will unlock limitless clean energy for humanity, powering everything from AI to water desalination.In our conversation, we explore:• How fusion could transform everything from AI to water desalination and agriculture• The fundamental science behind fusion energy and how it differs from traditional nuclear fission• The breakthrough in magnet technology that changed the timeline for fusion• The strategic approach of partnering with existing power plant operators to rapidly scale fusion deployment• Why fusion is essential for powering AI and other energy-intensive innovations• CFS’s method for creating fusion using magnetic fields• The final hurdles to completing SPARC, the company’s demonstration reactor• The six-stage roadmap for fusion development, where CFS currently stands, and when they expect to begin delivering power to the grid• What clean energy could make possible for future technologies and industries• The geopolitical implications of a world with abundant clean energy• Much more—Transcript: https://www.generalist.com/p/creating-stars-in-a-bottle—Thank you to the partners who make this possible⁠Brex⁠: The banking solution for startups.⁠Generalist+⁠: Essential intelligence for modern investors and technologists.—Timestamps(00:00) Intro(04:13) An overview of fusion energy, and why it’s so important(08:23) The connection between AI and fusion energy(10:20) How Bob became interested in fusion(13:06) The importance of entrepreneurs in bringing crazy ideas to life(14:55) The advancement in magnets that caused the leap in fusion technology(17:33) The extreme conditions required for fusion(19:46) What made Vinod interested in funding CFS(21:30) The alternatives that CFS looked at if the magnet hadn’t worked(25:18) Different methods for creating fusion(27:43) Bob’s entrepreneurial lens for fusion at scale(31:52) CFS’s strategy of partnering with existing power infrastructure(35:32) An overview of ARC and SPARC(40:03) Final hurdles to complete SPARC(42:29) The six-stage roadmap for fusion development(46:11) What clean energy unlocks(48:06) Entrepreneurial opportunities for supporting fusion power(50:43) Final meditations—Follow Vinod KhoslaLinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/vinod-khosla-65387416/⁠X: ⁠https://x.com/vkhosla⁠—Follow Bob MumgaardLinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/mumgaard/⁠X: ⁠https://x.com/BobMumgaard⁠—Resources and episode mentions—Books—• Unweaving The Rainbow: Science, Delusion and the Appetite for Wonder: ⁠https://www.amazon.com/Unweaving-Rainbow-Science-Delusion-Appetite/dp/0618056734⁠• The Intel Trinity: How Robert Noyce, Gordon Moore, and Andy Grove Built the World's Most Important Company: ⁠https://www.amazon.com/Intel-Trinity-Robert-Important-Company/dp/0062226762⁠—People—• Elon Musk on X: ⁠https://x.com/elonmusk⁠—Other resources—• Commonwealth Fusion Systems: ⁠https://cfs.energy/⁠• Sun Microsystems: ⁠https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Microsystems⁠• OpenAI: ⁠https://openai.com/⁠• Moore’s Law: ⁠https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moore%27s_law⁠• The Hunt for Red October: ⁠https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099810/⁠• Magnetohydrodynamic drive: ⁠https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetohydrodynamic_drive⁠• ITER: ⁠https://www.iter.org/⁠...Resources continued at: https://www.generalist.com/p/creating-stars-in-a-bottle—Production and marketing by ⁠penname.co⁠. For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email jordan@penname.co.

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  55:12
• The Semiconductor Century with Chris Miller (Author of “Chip War”)

  What really determines success in the age of AI? Is it better models or broader reach? Chris Miller, author of the bestselling book Chip War, explains how semiconductors have become the strategic center of gravity for global power, economics, and innovation. As a professor at the Fletcher School at Tufts University, Chris has spent nearly a decade studying how chips are reshaping geopolitics and why they're essential to understanding everything from military capabilities to artificial intelligence.In our conversation, we explore:• Why diffusion and adoption of technology are more important markers of impact than actual capabilities• What most people got wrong about DeepSeek's breakthrough, but why China's AI talent still matters• Huawei's surprising transformation from telecom giant to potential AI powerhouse• The critical role India and Southeast Asia may play in chip manufacturing• How the Trump administration's policies will impact the technological battle• Why China will likely achieve semiconductor self-sufficiency in mainstream chips within five years• Barriers to rebuilding a domestic chip industry in the US• The massive infrastructure investments being made in AI computing power• The implications of Stargate• And much more!—For a full transcript of the episode, please visit: https://thegeneralist.substack.com/p/the-semiconductor-century-with-chris-miller—Thank you to the partners who make this possibleGeneralist+: Essential intelligence for modern investors and technologists.Explo: Customer-facing analytics for any platform.—Timestamps(00:00) Intro(04:06) A brief overview of Chip War(06:10) Why Chris believes we are on the cusp of a new technological era(08:03) Why the diffusion of technology is the true marker of impact(09:29) Chris’s thoughts on enterprise adoption of AI(11:03) Chris's personal use of AI tools(12:24) The significance of DeepSeek and China's AI capabilities(17:05) The main players in the Chinese AI space(18:34) A case for Huawei as a full-stack player(20:33) LLM price trends, and why DeepSeek isn't assured to win emerging markets(22:19) Key drivers of software success, and how that might translate to AI(24:42) US AI market: Chris's insights on who will gain dominance(27:38) The concept of sovereign AI models and their viability(32:33) Trump vs. Biden on AI policy(34:52) Progress in diversifying semiconductor manufacturing(37:04) The challenges facing Intel and its future(38:55) What to watch for in the semiconductor race, and China’s move towards self-sufficiency(45:09) The advanced packaging trend(46:34) Solving for increased energy needs(50:05) The implications of the Stargate project, and what we still don’t know(52:44) The motivation behind Silicon Valley empire builders(56:10) AI's unique appeal to tech leaders' ambitions(58:03) Final meditations—Follow Chris MillerLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-miller-93004923/Twitter: https://x.com/crmiller1Website: https://www.christophermiller.net/—Resources and episode mentions—Books—• Chip War: The Fight for the World's Most Critical Technology: https://www.amazon.com/Chip-War-Worlds-Critical-Technology/dp/1982172002• Isaac Newton: https://www.amazon.com/Isaac-Newton-James-Gleick/dp/1400032954• A Brief History of Intelligence: Evolution, AI, and the Five Breakthroughs That Made Our Brains: https://www.amazon.com/Brief-History-Intelligence-Humans-Breakthroughs/dp/0063286343/For a full list of resources and episode mentions, please visit: https://thegeneralist.substack.com/p/the-semiconductor-century-with-chris-miller—Production and marketing by penname.co. For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email jordan@penname.co.

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  1:04:21
• How Anduril Is Reimagining the Defense Industry: Faster Tech, Ethical AI, and a New Kind of Deterrence | Trae Stephens (Co-Founder & Executive Chairman, Anduril)

  What happens when you apply Silicon Valley’s speed and innovation to reinvent defense technology? Trae Stephens, co-founder of Anduril, is running that experiment in real-time. His company creates software-driven, hardware-enabled autonomous systems designed to transform national security capabilities amid growing global tensions.In today's episode, Trae and I dive deep into the ethics of warfare, technology's evolving role in national defense, the complexities of Great Power conflict with China, and how Trae’s personal faith shapes his vision for responsible innovation.We explore:• An overview of Anduril's mission and platform• A look at the "Four Americas" and why we need a strong military• How Trae uncovered gaps in intelligence that led to Anduril’s founding• The “don’t work at Anduril” campaign and how transparency filters talent• A glimpse at Anduril’s reading list and the case for organizational reading lists• An overview of Lattice, the software behind every platform Anduril builds• Why too much innovation can be a problem• How Anduril took over the IVAX project from Microsoft• Why single domain defense companies won’t win• An overview of Just War Theory, and how it guides Anduril’s mission• How the U.S. is stacking up against China’s intelligence and military• How Anduril’s mission is compatible with Trae’s faith• Lessons from Peter Thiel, Alex Karp, and Palmer Luckey• And much more!—Transcript: https://thegeneralist.substack.com/p/how-anduril-is-reimagining-the-defense-industry-trae-stephens—Thank you to the partners who make this possibleVanta: Automate compliance and simplify security.WorkOS: The modern identity platform for B2B SaaS.Brex: The banking solution for startups.—Timestamps(00:00) Intro(04:33) An overview of Anduril(05:31) The surprising way Trae got into Georgetown(11:58) Trae’s work with computational linguistics(13:37) “The four Americas” and why we need a strong military(16:05) How Trae uncovered gaps in intelligence and military that prompted Anduril’s founding(20:49) Why the incentive structure in the defense industry wasn’t working(23:08) An overview of Anduril’s leadership(25:53) The first Anduril office and how they approach hiring(31:13) The Anduril reading list(34:23) Anduril’s building philosophy, and the software behind all their products(38:45) How Anduril partners with DOD to understand what to build(41:21) Why too much innovation is not sellable(45:29) How Anduril took over the IVAS program from Microsoft(47:57) The future of weaponry(51:26) Anduril’s growth strategy: buying and building(55:02) The single domain companies Trae is excited about(58:44) How the US stacks up against China(1:05:20) Trae’s thoughts on conflict resolution and the current administration’s approach(1:08:14) How Anduril’s work in Europe may change(1:09:37) Why Trae believes his work aligns with his faith(1:12:39) An overview of “Just War Theory”(1:15:38) Lessons from Peter Thiel, Alex Karp, and Palmer Luckey(1:19:05) Final meditations—Follow Trae StephensX: https://x.com/traestephensLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trae-stephens-485a811/—Resources and episode mentions—Books—• Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis: https://www.amazon.com/Hillbilly-Elegy-Memoir-Family-Culture/dp/0062300547• The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11: https://www.amazon.com/Looming-Tower-Al-Qaeda-Road-11/dp/1400030846• Impro: Improvisation and the Theatre 1st Edition: https://www.amazon.com/Impro-Improvisation-Theatre-Keith-Johnstone/dp/0878301178• The Kill Chain: Defending America in the Future of High-Tech Warfare Hardcover: https://www.amazon.com/Kill-Chain-Defending-America-High-Tech/dp/031653353X...Resources continued at: https://thegeneralist.substack.com/p/how-anduril-is-reimagining-the-defense-industry-trae-stephens—Production and marketing by penname.co. For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email jordan@penname.co.

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  1:26:33
• The Substack Playbook: Inside The $650M Platform Rewriting Media, Trust, and Creator Economics | Chris Best & Hamish McKenzie (Co-Founders)

  In a world where attention is fragmented and algorithms rule the content landscape, Chris Best and Hamish McKenzie are taking a radically different approach with Substack. Rather than chasing clicks, Substack focuses on a simple yet powerful idea: creators should own their work and make money directly from their audience through paid subscriptions. With over 5 million paid subscriptions and tens of millions of active readers, Substack has turned this model into a transformative force in media.In this episode, Chris and Hamish unpack how they’re reshaping creator economics, navigating AI’s role in creativity, and enabling a new era for writers, from serialized fiction to short-form video. Their bet? That if content adds real value—whether it educates, entertains, or helps people earn—audiences will pay for it.In our conversation, we explore:• How Substack grew from a simple newsletter tool to a multi-format media platform with 5 million+ paid subscriptions• Why the "soul connection" between creators and audiences is becoming more valuable in an AI-dominated world• The inside story of Substack's clash with Elon Musk and how it ultimately strengthened their platform• Why the ceiling for great writing and culture might be much higher than we're currently imagining• How Substack's subscription model creates dramatically better economics for creators than ad-supported platforms• Chris's "grand unified theory" for how AI will influence content creation and consumption• Why their short-form content isn't just a "sticky trick" but a pathway to deeper engagement and discovery• The future of traditional prestige media brands• Much more—Thank you to the partners who make this possibleVanta: Automate compliance and simplify security.Brex: The banking solution for startups.WorkOS: The modern identity platform for B2B SaaS.—For a full transcript of the episode, please visit: https://thegeneralist.substack.com/p/the-substack-playbook—Timestamps(00:00) Intro(05:27) An overview of Substack and its current scale(06:53) The origin story of Substack(19:20) Finding the first believers(24:17) Successful fiction on Substack, and why there’s potential for much more(29:09) The different mediums available on Substack(32:27) How Substack’s feed differs from social media(37:33) The clash with Elon Musk and Twitter/X(47:23) How Substack’s network helps creators succeed(52:07) TikTok creators moving to Substack after the ban(56:20) The future of paid media consumption(58:24) Chris's grand unified theory of AI and media(1:07:07) Substack’s AI tools(1:10:54) Why it’s hard to predict where AI is taking us next(1:13:42) Advice for traditional media institutions(1:16:48) Final meditations—Follow Chris BestX: https://x.com/cjgbestLinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/cjgbest/—Follow Hamish McKenzieX: https://x.com/hamishmckenzieLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hamishmckenzie/—Resources and episode mentions—Books—• The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness: https://www.amazon.com/Anxious-Generation-Rewiring-Childhood-Epidemic/dp/0593655036• The Canterbury Tales: https://www.amazon.com/Canterbury-Tales-Geoffrey-Chaucer/dp/0140424385—People—• Jairaj Sethi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jairaj-sethi/• Andrew Chen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewchen/• Mike Kerns on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-kerns-63219/• Patrick Collison on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickcollison/—Other resources—• Substack: https://substack.com/• Kik: https://kik.com/• Listicle: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Listicle• The dress: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_dress• Craigslist: https://www.craigslist.org/...Resources continued at: https://thegeneralist.substack.com/p/the-substack-playbook—Production and marketing by penname.co. For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email jordan@penname.co.

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  1:25:36

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