Podcast · 47 episodes
Great Chat, page 2
by Mackenzie Bohannon, Angela Du, Ashley Mayer, Helen Min, & Sally Shin · English
A podcast mostly about tech.
All episodes, page 2
The stories we told ourselves in 2025The season finale reflects on 2025’s tech and media shifts: AI’s rise, “go direct” storytelling, the rise of “storytellers” roles at startups, reputations under stress from viral news cycles, and…23 Dec 2025 · 42 min · 16 chapters
So what happens after AGI?Post-AGI society and the “Aquarius economy,” arguing that when AI eliminates scarcity of human labor, humans must preserve meaning through “spirit” (creativity, empathy, knowing) rather than…11 Dec 2025 · 42 min · 16 chapters
Code red: our favorite tech rivalriesTech rivalries and startup “beefs,” including how they shape public perception, incentives, and business strategy; discussion of David Sacks/New York Times controversy and Sam Altman’s “code red”…3 Dec 2025 · 44 min · 21 chapters
Thankful for the unexpectedThanksgiving-themed career gratitude, emphasizing unexpected turns, people who supported them, and the role of luck/coincidence in professional paths.26 Nov 2025 · 39 min · 12 chapters
That Portfolio Life“That Portfolio Life” (Great Chat) discusses what a “portfolio life” means in tech—unbundling a full-time role into multiple projects/income streams—plus pros/cons, transition paths, and how to…19 Nov 2025 · 32 min · 11 chapters
Turns out, there’s still a line (don’t mock the pope)The episode dissects “going direct”/building in public and how online discourse can create backlash, plus practical advice for aspiring angel investors/VC.12 Nov 2025 · 41 min · 13 chapters
Tech is getting more political—should you?Whether and how politics should show up in startups and venture, especially around Election Day; also touches on wearables, humanoid robots, and OpenAI/Elon Musk deposition drama as context for…6 Nov 2025 · 52 min · 23 chapters
The Ellisons are the new Murdochs (and we're ready for Succession round 2)The changing media landscape—traditional media companies becoming tech/media platforms; consolidation and streaming shifts; CNN’s new all-access app; sports betting changing live sports consumption;…30 Oct 2025 · 36 min · 16 chapters
Don't want to burst your bubble, but ...Whether the tech/GenAI market is in a “bubble” about to burst, what signs indicate it (valuation/attention mismatches, barbell “Planet AI” vs “Planet Earth”), and what founders/investors should do if…22 Oct 2025 · 33 min · 11 chapters
PSA: Don’t bother trying to plan your tech careerPlanning a tech career in uncertainty; whether you need a five-year plan.16 Oct 2025 · 31 min · 10 chapters
David vs. Goliath, but make it venture-backedAI “wars” framed as challenger-brand strategy; compares OpenAI vs Anthropic, plus how authenticity and positioning drive attention (e.g., Sora 2, Dev Day, Anthropic’s NYC coffee pop-up).8 Oct 2025 · 45 min · 17 chapters
Too late to AI proof your career?How to “AI-proof” a career amid changing job markets and faster startup growth benchmarks; also discusses AI’s impact on writing, hiring, and consumer “everything app” strategy.1 Oct 2025 · 44 min · 20 chapters
The state of tech media (fact check not included)The state of tech media and how journalism, newsletters, and podcasts are changing amid AI-driven traffic loss, newsroom branding pressures, and shifting PR/advertising value.11 Sep 2025 · 40 min · 14 chapters
The art of quitting“The art of quitting”—how to decide when to quit and how to communicate departures (candidate experience, founder exits, exec comms, and notice timing), amid shifting norms from layoffs and AI-driven…3 Sep 2025 · 38 min · 16 chapters
Are startups a young person’s game?Age and career timing in tech/startups—whether “young founders” are overvalued, whether it’s harder for young people to break into tech, and how older talent fits in as startups mature.27 Aug 2025 · 38 min · 17 chapters
Is AI a job killer or job creator?Mercury’s report on early-stage startups finds AI adoption correlates with hiring more (79% of AI-adopting companies with significant AI adoption hire more, not less).21 Aug 2025 · 40 min · 13 chapters
Warm intros and hot takes: It's time to get ready for fundraising seasonThe episode of Great Chat covers two threads: (1) whether “hustleculture” is back, using examples from Cognition’s Windsurf layoffs/“80 hours or buyout” messaging, plus broader signals from Meta…13 Aug 2025 · 37 min · 17 chapters
We are so back (thanks, Figma)After Figma’s blockbuster IPO, the hosts debate whether tech is “so back,” and what IPO day is really like on the NYSE.6 Aug 2025 · 35 min · 15 chapters
Does startup PR even matter anymore?Whether startup PR still matters in a “go direct” era shaped by LLMs and AI search, plus related startup news (Figma IPO, Vanta funding, and PR-style viral moments).30 Jul 2025 · 39 min · 16 chapters
The tech origin story: No straight linesFounders and operators discuss non-linear career paths into tech, plus current debates on AI in media and online discourse. They also cover whether to relocate from SF to London for an AI role.24 Jul 2025 · 39 min · 16 chapters
Windsurf: The straw that broke the camel’s backTech and media news plus a debate about a “broken social contract” in startups, sparked by the Windsurf/OpenAI/Google/Cognition acquisition-and-licensing turmoil and the resulting employee backlash.17 Jul 2025 · 37 min · 18 chapters
When startups become theatreHow “very online” founders and attention-seeking behavior create ripple effects across startup hiring and politics; plus a discussion of today’s startup job-market bifurcation, AI-driven role…10 Jul 2025 · 39 min · 16 chapters
AI is killing the summer slowdownWhether tech has a “summer slowdown” in 2024/2025, or whether AI is keeping fundraising, hiring, and dealmaking moving at full speed; includes discussion of acqui-hire trends, AI “slop,” and…3 Jul 2025 · 37 min · 11 chapters