This week, we asked a longtime friend and favorite tech journalist to join the chat: Casey Newton of Platformer and Hard Fork fame! We dig into the tech media landscape: The rise of podcasts and newsletters as formats of choice, “going direct” as a viable strategy for getting reporters’ attention, and why some startup PR agencies might be kinda screwed. We also break down Anthropic’s $1.5B class action settlement and its implications for AI training and fair use, as well as Anthropic’s do-gooder image.
Mercury is back as the headline sponsor for season two! Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided through Choice Financial Group, Column N.A., and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.
This podcast is edited by Eric Johnson from LightningPod.fm.
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39:46
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39:46
The art of quitting
This week on Great Chat, we talk about knowing when to walk away. We share our own stories of leaving at the peak of our careers to enter new industries, and unpack recent departures from Nat Friedman, Daniel Gross, and Suhail Doshi, as well as the great returns of Ryan Peterson at Flexport and Ty Haney at Outdoor Voices. We also add perspective on the "996" culture and explore how Anguilla is making $$$ from the AI boom.
Mercury is back as the headline sponsor for season two! Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided through Choice Financial Group, Column N.A., and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.
This podcast is edited by Eric Johnson from LightningPod.fm.
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37:51
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37:51
Are startups a young person’s game?
This week, we tackle a taboo topic: age. Is it harder than ever for young people to break into tech, or does it just feel that way? What does career longevity look like, especially for people who don’t hit escape velocity in their 20s? Also: we grapple with Serena Williams' Ro partnership, fantasize about the Meta and Midjourney licensing discussions, and plot a Great Chat Camp for Burning Man 2026.
Mercury is back as the headline sponsor for season two! Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided through Choice Financial Group, Column N.A., and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.
This podcast is edited by Eric Johnson from LightningPod.fm.
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37:49
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37:49
Is AI a job killer or job creator?
This week on Great Chat, we discuss some interesting findings from a newly released report from Mercury called "The New Economics of Starting Up." We learn that founders are becoming more creative with financing and team building in an AI-first world. Separately, we revisit SPVs and explore the creative ways investors are securing allocations in hot AI companies. And we have a great chat about burgers, psychedelics, and KPop Demon Hunters.
Mercury is back as the headline sponsor for season two! Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided through Choice Financial Group, Column N.A., and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.
This podcast is edited by Eric Johnson from LightningPod.fm.
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40:03
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40:03
Warm intros and hot takes: It's time to get ready for fundraising season
We’re halfway through August and there’s still no summer slowdown in sight! As fall approaches, we gear up for a peak fundraising season with a favorite group chat topic: The dos and don’ts of raising venture capital. We share our takes on some of the most divisive topics as investors and founders: Do you need a warm intro, should you take money from scouts, when does it make sense to take meetings with associates, do all co-founders need to pitch? Plus: The tech giants embrace hustle culture, GPT-5’s launch sparks public mourning for its predecessors, and the negative gross margins of coding apps bring back memories of ZIRP.
Mercury is back as the headline sponsor for season two! Mercury is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided through Choice Financial Group, Column N.A., and Evolve Bank & Trust; Members FDIC.
This podcast is edited by Eric Johnson from LightningPod.fm.
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