The Dino Podcast
by Dino Beslic
Conversations about business, technology, & geopolitics. Hosted Dino Beslic, a tech CFO and investor. We approach topics with curiosity, critical thinking, and empathy. Support the show & get exclusive bonus episodes on Patreon: www.patreon.com/TheDinoPodcast
Episodes
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#34 - Denis Beslic, AI data center buildout in a bubble?
Spotify’s AI product manager Denis Beslic is back on The Dino Podcast. We discuss the massive buildout of data centers that provide compute for the ongoing AI boom. Big tech’s capital expenditure plans have reached staggering levels. We discuss: will the payoff ultimately materialize from all…
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#33 - Paul Biggar, tech talks Palestine
Paul Biggar founded a billion-dollar tech company. Then he became one of Silicon Valley’s most outspoken activists against Israel’s latest war crimes in Gaza. Paul joined this episode of The Dino Podcast to discuss his experience being vocal on the issue of Palestine in an industry that has...
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#32 – Arnaud Bertrand – War on Iran, & Piketty’s study on colonial extraction
Arnaud Bertrand returns to discuss the Israeli and U.S. war with Iran. The 12-day conflict settled into an uneasy ceasefire this week. Arnaud and I explore the origins of conflict with Iran. We also reflect on how successful each side was in achieving its war aims. In the second part of the...
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#31 - Professor Geoffrey Woglom on tariff wars
Economist Geoffrey Woglom is back on the Dino Podcast to discuss the Trump tariffs. We cover the administration's biggest moves, from the April 2nd (so-called "Liberation Day") reciprocal tariffs to subsequent negotiations. We explore the economic causes of trade deficits, and we ask whether...
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#30 - Iman Oubou, co-founder of Vocable.ai
The pod made it to 30 episodes! We're chatting with Iman Oubou, the co-founder of Vocable.ai, an AI-powered content marketing platform. In her incredible career, Iman has been a scientist, Miss New York pageant winner, author, content marketer, and a repeat founder. I enjoyed discussing her…
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#29 - Glenn Greenwald, Trump’s detentions & planned deportations of student activists
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Glenn Greenwald joins The Dino Podcast to discuss the Trump administration’s recent arrests of student activists across the United States. The administration has summarily canceled green cards and student visas for students who wrote op-eds critical of the war on...
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#28 - Alexsandra Guerra, attachment styles in romantic relationships
No recording this week, so we're unlocking one of the Patreon bonus episodes. Leadership coach and entrepreneur Alexsandra Guerra came on the pod to discuss attachment styles in romantic relationships. Recorded in December 2024, just getting out from behind the paywall now.
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#27 - Robert Mazzucchelli, Co-Founder, Chairman & CMO at SportsEdTV
Robert Mazzucchelli is currently the Chairman and CMO of SportEdTV, the world’s leading online platform for sports education. We discussed his journey from tennis pro to startup founder and business executive. In his career, Robert has bootstrapped a successful startup, built a $300 million...
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#26 - Tatum Brandt, fitness & wellness brand-building
Tatum Brandt is the founder of Brandt Creative Co., an agency that specializes in branding and websites for fitness, sports, and wellness brands. In this episode, we dive into the booming fitness and wellness industry, exploring how to build standout brands in this competitive space. Tatum shares...
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#25 - Denis Beslic, on DeepSeek, GenAI, and how to build great software products
Denis Beslic, AI PM of Spotify’s Personalization team, returns to the Dino Podcast. We discuss the release of the DeepSeek foundational model from China, and how it has shaken up the tech industry. Denis also lays out how to build great software products incorporating AI and generative AI – a…
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#24 - Arnaud Bertrand, The strategic decline of the West
Geopolitical analyst and entrepreneur Arnaud Bertrand returns to the pod to discuss: Is the US-led West in strategic decline relative to rising powers? We consider this question both in concrete fields, such as economic might and technological development, as well as the decline in moral…
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#23 – Alexsandra Guerra, leadership coach and founder
Alexsandra is a leadership coach who helps founders and tech executives manage their biggest challenges at work – everything from burnout to difficulties building relationships. In this episode, we dive into the biggest challenges leaders face and effective strategies to overcome them. Prior to...
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#22 - Ardalan Tajalli & Gustavo Menendez, post-election analysis: Trump defeats Harris
Our election correspondents, Ardalan Tajalli and Gustavo Menendez, are back for a post-election wrap-up. We look back at our predictions for the 2024 presidential elections vs. how it ultimately played out. We ask why Harris lost? Why Trump won? Plus we review Trump's initial appointments to his...
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#21 - Ardalan Tajalli & Gustavo Menendez, The 2024 election special: Trump vs. Kamala
Ardalan and Gus are back! We sat down to analyze the 2024 U.S. presidential election - Donald Trump vs. Kamala Harris. We looked at the polls, prediction markets, and funny campaign gaffes. Ultimately, we predict who will become the next president of the United States. The episode was recorded on...
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#20 - Glenn Diesen, is the U.S. an empire in decline?
Is the U.S. a global empire in decline? I explore this topic with professor and political scientist Glenn Diesen. On the world stage, we examine U.S.-backed conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. Are these events accelerating the decline of America's global leadership? On the home front, we…
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#19 - Bruce Sokler, “the rent is too damn high!”: The DOJ case against RealPage claims landlords use its software for illegal price collusion
Bruce Sokler is a prominent antitrust attorney. He joins the pod to discuss the DOJ’s case against RealPage, the company that sells algorithmic pricing recommendation software to landlords. According to the DOJ, the software is used by landlords as an indirect way to illegally collude to set…
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#18 - Wendy Wen, serial entrepreneur, founder & CEO of Antelope Pets
Wendy Wen is the founder and CEO of Antelope Pets. She joined the pod to discuss her journey from investment banking to private equity, and ultimately, to becoming a repeat founder.
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#17 - Valerie Tarazi, Palestinian-American Olympic swimmer
Valerie Tarazi swam for Palestine in the Paris 2024 Olympic games. In our interview, Valerie shared how her college swimming career at Auburn University led her to compete internationally – and to do so under the Palestinian flag. We explored her family’s roots to Palestine. We also discussed…
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#16 - Kristen Faulkner, from venture capital to pro cycling & Olympic gold
Kristen Faulkner won two cycling gold medals in the Paris 2024 Olympic games. In this episode, we explore her uncommon journey from venture capital analyst in New York City to professional cycling star – and ultimately, how she fulfilled her childhood dream of winning Olympic gold. Kristen also...
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#15 - Reem Edan, comedian & content creator
Reem Edan is an Iraqi-American stand-up comedian, content creator, and award-winning writer. On the pod, we chat about her upbringing as a first-generation American, and how her heritage influences her comedy today. We also explore her journey into comedy, and chat about Burning Man, cultural...
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#14 - Larry Johnson, ex-CIA analyst on geopolitics and Trump
Former CIA analyst Larry Johnson joins the podcast to discuss America's approach to foreign affairs. He recaps how he became a skeptic of U.S. interventions abroad. We also explore whether Donald Trump represents a threat to the Washington D.C. status quo, or more of the same. This is part 2 of…
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#13 - Kharay Kenyatta, on entrepreneurship, Wall Street, & community
The pod welcomes Kharay Kenyatta, a wealth advisor at Goldman Sachs and an entrepreneur. We discuss how Kharay built a successful side-business in networking and events, while working a demanding day job on Wall Street. We also explore the roles that community and family play in Kharay’s business...
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#12 – Mike Zamansky, on the tech job market, LLMs, & computer science education
Mike Zamansky is a legendary computer science educator in New York City. He has worked in industry, at Goldman Sachs and Google. For over 20 years, he built and led the computer science program at Stuyvesant High School, one of the leading math & science high schools in America. The program has...
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#11 - Ardalan & Gustavo, on EU elections, Trump, Mexico, & the US debt crisis
My brain trust Ardalan Tajalli and Gustavo Menendez return to talk politics & economics. We discuss the rise of the populist right-wing across European elections and in the US. We contrast that with the recent elections in Mexico. We debate the legal cases faced by Trump. The gang also discusses...
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#10 – Arnaud Bertrand, on the US - China relationship across geopolitics, economics, and technology
Arnaud Bertrand and I discuss the US–China relationship. It is the story of an established world power grappling with the rise of a peer competitor. We explore how this competition plays out in the realms of economics, technology, and geopolitics. Arnaud is a serial entrepreneur turned renowned...
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#9 - Zofi, on art, tattoo art, and BBL Drizzy
Zofi joins the pod to talk about her unique tattoo art. She recaps how a career in art education and painting led her to become a renowned NYC tattoo artist. We also chat about the immigrant experience in New York and our mutual love for BBL Drizzy. Follow her work on her Instagram: @zofiaart
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#8 – Denis Beslic on Big Tech, Uber, Meta, Spotify, recommendation engines, and Generative AI
Denis Beslic is a product manager at Spotify. We discuss (1) his career across Uber, Meta/Facebook, and Spotify; (2) the game-changing tech platform shifts he has experienced; and (3) the state of the tech job market and economy. Denis has worked in product and data roles at several unicorn tech...
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#7 - Wemi - DJ, producer, and fashion model
Wemi, a renowned DJ, producer, and fashion model, joins the pod. Wemi discusses her upbringing in the Bronx, her cultural roots, and all the influences that shaped her unique music.
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#6 - Ardalan Tajalli & Gustavo Menendez, on politics, Trump, ChatGPT, and the economy
Ardalan Tajalli and Gustavo Menendez join to discuss politics, technology, business, and the economy. (1) Politics: What are the prospects for Donald Trump's re-election? Where does anti-establishment political sentiment come from? (2) Technology: How significant is the platform shift represented...
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#5 - Chris Leslie, documentary filmmaker
A conversation with documentary filmmaker Chris Leslie. We discuss his upcoming documentary about the Partisan Memorial Cemetery in Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina. Built after World War 2 to honor young partisans who gave their lives fighting against fascism, the memorial is a cultural and artistic...
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#4 - Andy Jiang, comedian
Comedian Andy Jiang joins the pod. We discuss standup comedy, content creation, Congress's proposed Tik Tok ban, Chinese history, and the Three Body Problem.
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#3 - Professor Geoffrey Woglom on the US economy
Economics Professor Geoffrey Woglom joins the pod to discuss the health of the US economy. We explore how effectively the economy serves the interests of most Americans, covering topics such as wealth inequality, socio-economic mobility, and the feasibility of homeownership. Additionally, we take…
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#2 - Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez, author of "My Side of the River"
Author Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez joins to discuss her memoir “My Side of the River”. Elizabeth was born in Arizona, as the daughter of immigrants without permanent immigration status. When she was fifteen, her parents were forced back to Mexico. Left alone in the United States, Elizabeth had…
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#1 - Julian Mueller-Kaler on geopolitics
Political scientist Julian Mueller-Kaler joins for a conversation on geopolitics. We discuss America's unique position as the preeminent global power since WW2. Is this strategic position changing with the rise of peer competitors China and Russia? How should the United States grapple with a…
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About this show
Conversations about business, technology, & geopolitics. Hosted Dino Beslic, a tech CFO and investor. We approach topics with curiosity, critical thinking, and empathy. Support the show & get exclusive bonus episodes on Patreon: www.patreon.com/TheDinoPodcast
Hosted by
Dino Beslic