178: Silicon Valley Veda

5 am. Day 4 of executive plant medicine retreat. The venture capital tech bro sits on a metaverse mountaintop, immersed in deep meditation. He hears a hum—a vibration from the great beyond. A mantra rises up like kundalini gas bubbles just in front of his spine: techno-capital machine. Today we dissect Marc Andreessen’s anarcho-capitalist attempt at a Silicon Valley religious doctrine, The Techno-Optimist Manifesto. If you’ve never donated through GiveWell before, you can have your donation matched up to $100 before the end of the year or as long as matching funds last. To claim, go to GIVEWELL.ORG and pick PODCAST and enter Conspirituality at checkout. Show Notes The Techno-Optimist Manifesto The Ben & Marc Show: The Techno-Optimist Manifesto What the Techno-Billionaire Missed About Techno-Optimism When was the last time Marc Andreessen talked to a poor person? The Futurist Manifesto Marc Andreessen Is the Buyer of Serge Azria’s Malibu Home The Billionaire’s Dilemma The Summer of NIMBY in Silicon Valley’s Poshest Town 37.9 million Americans are living in poverty, according to the U.S. Census. But the problem could be far worse. Why American wages haven’t grown despite increases in productivity Post-pandemic poverty is rising in America’s suburbs The Federal Reserve says Taylor Swift's Eras Tour boosted the economy. One market research firm estimates she could add $5 billion The Surprising Poverty Levels Across the U.S. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices