The Vampire Squid

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!I just got back from a wonderful trip to Japan and Taiwan, and I\'m extremely jetlagged—it\'s 5 AM in New York right now. Unfortunately, as the podcast episode title suggests, I\'m putting the podcast on an indefinite pause due to a mix of work, learning, and side projects (including crypto and blockchain) that I\'m diving into.Looking back on this incredible journey, I can’t believe the number of episodes and the reach the podcast has achieved. That feeling of impact—of creating something from scratch—is something I\'ve truly fallen in love with and hope to replicate in my career, opening my eyes to entrepreneurship. This isn’t the end, just the closing of a chapter, and I hope you’ll stay tuned for what I’m working on next!I’m also excited to share that I’m now working on:www.fotolab.studio - Self-portrait Studio in NYC and Houstonwww.fotolabstudio.ai - AI headshot Generator for professional headshotswww.signsandmirrors.com - A Frame Sign Company for Retail BusinessesPlease continue to email me and keep me updated on your successes and journey at [email protected] love,Alan

Sponsored by www.fotolabstudio.ai (Best AI Headshot Generator) and www.signsandmirrors.com (A-Frame Signs for retail businesses)—the companies I’m working on now. This episode features Bethy Hardeman, Chief Consumer Advocate at Credit Karma. We discuss how credit scores are calculated, common myths about credit, how to improve a score quickly, and why having a solid credit profile matters for more than just credit cards.

Sponsored by www.fotolabstudio.ai (Best AI Headshot Generator) and www.signsandmirrors.com (A-Frame Signs for retail businesses)—the companies I’m working on now. Today, I explore how poker strategies and mindset can overlap with investing and finance. I break down the basics of Texas Hold’em, talk about probability, decision-making under pressure, and why playing poker can sharpen your ability to manage risk in investments.

Sponsored by www.fotolabstudio.ai (Best AI Headshot Generator) and www.signsandmirrors.com (A-Frame Signs for retail businesses)—the companies I’m working on now. Eric Friedman, Head of Expa Labs, shares valuable insights on transitioning from a finance background to tech entrepreneurship. We discuss building startup skills, why startup culture isn’t for everyone, how non-technical people can add value, and Eric’s take on networking, imposter syndrome, and the 1%/9%/90% rule for content creation.

Sponsored by www.fotolabstudio.ai (Best AI Headshot Generator) and www.signsandmirrors.com (A-Frame Signs for retail businesses)—the companies I’m working on now. Brian Wong, founder of Kiip and author of “The Cheat Code,” joins me to discuss entrepreneurship, how he graduated college at 18, pitching to investors like Kevin Rose, and how being young (and even “looking young”) can be an advantage. He also talks about discovering your superpower and building excitement around new ideas.

Sponsored by www.fotolabstudio.ai (Best AI Headshot Generator) and www.signsandmirrors.com (A-Frame Signs for retail businesses)—the companies I’m working on now. A short announcement that I’ll be taking a couple of months off the podcast to focus on work and travel. I encourage listeners to catch up on older episodes and promise exciting guests when I return.

Sponsored by www.fotolabstudio.ai (Best AI Headshot Generator) and www.signsandmirrors.com (A-Frame Signs for retail businesses)—the companies I’m working on now. Here, I give a quick introduction to term sheets, particularly in venture capital deals. I explain what a term sheet is, its purpose in equity financing, and the common terms you might see—like valuation, liquidation preferences, and voting rights.

Sponsored by www.fotolabstudio.ai (Best AI Headshot Generator) and www.signsandmirrors.com (A-Frame Signs for retail businesses)—the companies I’m working on now. Inspired by Howard Marks’ presentation “The Truth About Investing,” I share my favorite insights on making good decisions with incomplete information, contrarian thinking, and how regular investors often misunderstand market dynamics.

Sponsored by www.fotolabstudio.ai (Best AI Headshot Generator) and www.signsandmirrors.com (A-Frame Signs for retail businesses)—the companies I’m working on now. In Part II with Anthony Zhang, we talk about how he managed his startup (EnvoyNow) while undergoing intense physical therapy, getting the company acquired, and his advice for overcoming setbacks—whether it’s an accident or career challenge. Anthony also shares future startup ideas and how to harness resilience.

Sponsored by www.fotolabstudio.ai (Best AI Headshot Generator) and www.signsandmirrors.com (A-Frame Signs for retail businesses)—the companies I’m working on now. Anthony Zhang, founder of EnvoyNow, a Thiel Fellow, and Shark Tank participant, recounts the tragic accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down. He talks about the mental and physical battles he faced, the support systems that helped him persevere, and the motivation to keep building his startup.

Sponsored by FotoLab Studio AI (Best AI Headshot Generator) and Signs and Mirrors (A-Frame Signs for retail businesses)—the companies I’m working on now. Valerie Wong joins me to discuss gender diversity in finance. We explore cultural biases, how women can navigate male-centric industries, and how everyone can help build more inclusive workplaces. Valerie also shares tips on networking, finding advocates, and defining your own path to success.

Sponsored by FotoLab Studio AI (Best AI Headshot Generator) and Signs and Mirrors (A-Frame Signs for retail businesses)—the companies I’m working on now. Valerie Wong talks about moving from Panama to the U.S. for finance, discussing cultural adjustments, visa pathways, and how she found opportunities at MSCI. We also discuss Latinos in Finance, building community, and her advice for international students aspiring to break into American finance.

Sponsored by FotoLab Studio AI (Best AI Headshot Generator) and Signs and Mirrors (A-Frame Signs for retail businesses)—the companies I’m working on now. Peter Hug from Kitco joins me to explain how precious metals (gold and silver) trade. We talk about why investors hold metals, how supply/demand dynamics differ from stocks, how to hedge portfolios, and Peter’s forecast on gold’s future. He also shares practical tips for newcomers to metals trading.

Sponsored by FotoLab Studio AI (Best AI Headshot Generator) and Signs and Mirrors (A-Frame Signs for retail businesses)—the companies I’m working on now. In Part II, Scott Tindle discusses how Finimize is growing, the challenges of explaining finance to everyday people, and the biggest hurdles newcomers face (such as financial jargon and complexity). We also talk about international expansion plans, user engagement, and tips for simplifying financial news.

Sponsored by FotoLab Studio AI (Best AI Headshot Generator) and Signs and Mirrors (A-Frame Signs for retail businesses)—the companies I’m working on now. Scott Tindle, co-founder of Finimize, shares how he left a career in selling mortgage-backed securities at Barclays to launch an easy-to-digest financial newsletter. We discuss how Finimize sources content, the concept behind “Finimize My Life,” and why clarity and simplicity are essential for everyday finance readers.

Sponsored by FotoLab Studio AI (Best AI Headshot Generator) and Signs and Mirrors (A-Frame Signs for retail businesses)—the companies I’m working on now. Jacob Mullins of Shasta Ventures explains the latest in AI and VR—from what “presence” in VR means to Elon Musk’s simulation theory. We also touch on potential outcomes when AI reaches the singularity and how real-life developments compare to sci-fi portrayals like Ex Machina and Her.

Sponsored by FotoLab Studio AI (Best AI Headshot Generator) and Signs and Mirrors (A-Frame Signs for retail businesses)—the companies I’m working on now. Jacob Mullins details his journey from founding consumer product startups to working at Microsoft, VentureBeat, and eventually joining Shasta Ventures. We discuss building a CPG startup, merging it via a “reverse IPO,” launching ExitRound for M&A deals under $100M, and being an early employee at VentureBeat.

Sponsored by FotoLab Studio AI (Best AI Headshot Generator) and Signs and Mirrors (A-Frame Signs for retail businesses)—the companies I’m working on now. Continuing our conversation with valuation guru Aswath Damodaran, we explore growth stocks in tech, the possibility that some firms never make a profit, and the debate between DCF and comparables. Damodaran also shares candid thoughts on Warren Buffett and the difference between pricing versus valuing companies.

Sponsored by FotoLab Studio AI (Best AI Headshot Generator) and Signs and Mirrors (A-Frame Signs for retail businesses)—the companies I’m working on now. I interview NYU Stern Professor Aswath Damodaran, often called the “Dean of Valuation.” We discuss how finance is woven into everyday life—from the World Cup to pop culture—and examine whether valuation is an art, a science, or a craft in its own right.

Sponsored by FotoLab Studio AI (Best AI Headshot Generator) and Signs and Mirrors (A-Frame Signs for retail businesses)—the companies I’m working on now. In Part II with Patrick Curtis, we cover living in Buenos Aires while running WSO, his favorite forum stories, dealing with “fake news,” and how WSO might evolve. Patrick also shares how the site began as a resource for bankers and his perspective on finance culture in California versus New York.