Hi there, we’re back with a new issue of the Last Week in Podcast. This week we've got the gist of the latest All-In Podcast, Huberman Lab Podcast, and The Knowledge Project Podcast. We hope you like it.

All-In Podcast

In this episode, Chamath, Calacanis, Sacks, and Brad Gerstner covered various topics in the current economic, political, and technological landscape. They delve into the recent investment in generative AI startups and the pressures and caution required in investing in this field. Then they shift to the market's response to inflation expectations, and the uncertainty and potential impact on the economy. After that they discuss the changes in attitudes toward operational excellence and automation in the tech industry, specifically focusing on Salesforce's recent financial performance. They later discuss the Chinese peace proposal in Ukraine, highlighting the importance of diplomacy and the need for the West to act in unison to defend free countries from authoritarian regimes. Here are some of the highlights in detail:

• The AI Frenzy and Investment Pressure on Startups

  In this video, the speakers discuss the recent massive fundraising and investment happening in generative AI startups. They talk about the comment of Doug Leone from Sequoia, who believes AI is the next platform shift in the same way that mobile and the internet were before. However, they also discuss the pressures of investing in these startups, with Chamath pointing out the high pressure to deploy capital and the low expected returns for most companies. Brad believes that while the investment is massive, it is still low compared to the investment for an entire platform like Meta's AR VR platform. There is a need to invest in AI but it needs to be done with caution and thoughtfulness.

• Market Response to Inflation Expectations

  They discuss the market's response to inflation expectations, as seen in the two-year bond rate relative to the fed funds rate, which has undergone an 80 basis point swing in just a month. The market is betting that interest rates will go down relative to where the Fed had it, which indicated that inflation had been conquered. However, investors are now worried that inflation is not over. The consensus now is that although the second derivative is slowing, inflation is sticky, and the market is bracing for more inflation. The fear that inflation is uncapped is less today than it was, but there is maximum uncertainty in the world. Higher rates and higher inflation do not mean that venture-backed companies cannot be invested in, but massive uncertainty could lead to everything shutting down, which would be terrible for the economy. Finally, the discussion ends with the idea that rates are going to be higher than we like and they'll stay here longer than we want.

• Chinese peace proposal in Ukraine

  The participants then discuss the idea that the Chinese peace proposal is a clever diplomatic move that aims to grab the moral high ground. They criticize the US for not acting as a mediator in the peace process and suggest that this is because the US is a co-belligerent in the American proxy war against Russia. The participants also discuss how the war in Ukraine benefits China and how the US's focus on the war is interfering with its pivot to Asia. They argue that the Marvel movie worldview of the US as the super friends against the axis of evil is problematic and that there is no natural alliance between China, Russia, and Iran. They criticize authoritarian regimes and argue that the West should act in unison to defend free countries from despots.

The Knowledge Project Podcast

In this episode, Shane has compiled a collection of 5 clips from his interview archive, providing insights on various aspects of leadership. These include the definition of leadership, distinguishing between average and great leaders, effective feedback strategies for leaders, the conflict between doing what is right and being right, and the significance of candor in leadership.

• Learning Leadership: Two Key Elements

  In this part of the episode, Jim Collins discusses two key elements in learning leadership. The first element is seeing what has to be done and not being a bystander, and the second element is taking care of your people instead of taking care of your career. He explains that leadership is an art that can be learned from others and that everyone has their own unique way of exercising it. Collins provides examples of leaders who have exercised these two elements effectively.

• The Qualities of a Great Leader

  A great leader has a presence that makes others feel bigger, smarter, and more creative. The kind of leadership needed today is not about having one person to follow but someone who can create conditions that make us all better. The qualities of a great leader include amplification and curiosity. A curious leader listens to whispers and begins to make sense of them, not necessarily believing them all but knowing that something is going on and being attuned to it.

• How to Give Feedback like a Pro

  In this part, Randall Stutman discusses the art of giving feedback. He explains that the universal of feedback is how you carry messages and that the way you offer criticism is what distinguishes great leaders. Stutman also distinguishes between a technique and a routine in terms of feedback and explains that feedback should be made into a routine. He gives an example of the balance in feedback, where one should start with some positive comments before moving on to constructive criticism. He notes that negative information carries more weight, so it's important to find a balance in feedback delivery.

Huberman Lab Podcast

In this episode, Dr. Oded Rakhavi discusses how memories can be passed down through genetics and explore the concept of genes and the inheritance of memories across generations. He talks about the theories of Lamarck and Darwin on the inheritance of traits, the controversial research of biologist Dr. McConnell, and the concept of epigenetics. He also discusses the transmission of memories across generations and looks at examples of environmental changes that can affect the next generation. Finally, he explores the groundbreaking discovery of Andrew Fire and Craig Miller on the mechanism that regulates genes. Here are some of the episode highlights:

• Genes and the Inheritance of Memories Across Generations

  Dr. Oded Rakhavi discusses how memories can be passed from one generation to the next through genetics. He explains how our environment and experiences can change our genome, which can then be passed on to our children. He also explains how certain experiences can modify our genes, such that they are passed from our parents to us and even transgenerationally across multiple generations. He emphasizes that this podcast is separate from his teaching and research roles at Stanford, but is part of his desire to bring zero-cost consumer information about science and science-related tools to the general public.

• Lamarck and Darwin on the Inheritance of Traits

  Dr. Rakhavi discusses the contrasting theories of Lamarck and Darwin on the inheritance of traits and how this has been misused in the past. Lamarck believed that traits acquired during an organism's lifetime could be passed down to its offspring, while Darwin argued that natural selection was responsible for the passing of traits.

• Epigenetics and the Inheritance of Memories

  Dr. Rakhavi discusses the concept of epigenetics, which is the inheritance of memories across generations. He focuses on how nucleotide bases, methylation, acetylation, and serotonin can affect gene expression and modify proteins that condense DNA. He also discusses epigenetic reprogramming, which is the erasing of modifications between generations so that a new slate can be created based on genetic instructions. Lastly, he touches on the concept of imprinting, which is a limited number of genes that are affected by whether they are inherited from the mother or father.