Duolingo CEO: How to Brainwash Yourself to Success and Get Addicted to Learning. Follow these habits

Luis Von Ahn details the story behind Duolingo and its famous owl, how to do handle marketing in the TikTok era, hiring young talent, and using addictive habits for good. Chapters 00:00:00 Intro & The Owl 00:02:35 Unhinged Marketing 00:06:09 TikTok Era 00:08:06 Owl As the Face + Approving Risky Posts 00:10:31 Hiring New Grads and “No Assholes” 00:14:29 Making Learning Feel Delightful 00:16:57 Addictive Habit Loops 00:18:38 Expanding Beyond Languages 00:19:26 Guatemala Roots + Free Education Mission 00:23:40 AI 00:31:00 Impact 00:36:58 What's Next for Duolingo?  🔗 FOLLOW US https://www.instagram.com/phoebegates https://www.instagram.com/sophiakianni https://www.instagram.com/duolingo  🔥 FOLLOW THE BURNOUTS https://www.instagram.com/theburnouts https://www.tiktok.com/@theburnouts https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-burnouts  📲 Support What We’re Building Phoebe and Sophia aren’t just your hosts—they’re the founders of Phia, a fashion-tech app helping shoppers find the best prices across retail and resale. Download the app and help us grow → https://www.phia.com  About The Burnouts The Burnouts brings you raw, unfiltered conversations with today’s top founders, creators, athletes, and culture-shaping entrepreneurs. Hosted by Stanford roommates turned startup co-founders Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni, the show goes beyond the headlines to reveal the real stories behind ambitious careers. Past guests include Paris Hilton, Chelsea Handler, Kris Jenner, Karlie Kloss, and more. Subscribe for the insider playbook to build your dream career.