Podcast · 84 episodes
The Knowledge Project
by Shane Parrish · English
Uncovering the timeless principles that drive success. Hosted by Shane Parrish (entrepreneur, investor, speaker, and author), the goal of each episode is simply to master the best of what other people have already figured out. Learn More: Timeless insights into business and life in 5 minutes a week: https://fs.blog/newsletter Shane's Books: https://fs.blog/books
Latest episodes
Bill Ackman: The Biggest Fight of His LifeBill Ackman discusses the life-threatening brain injury his daughter Lucy suffered, the medical and personal steps he took to maximize her recovery, and his plan to build the Ackman-Ackman Institute…29 Sep 2026 · 1 h 18 min
Tobi Lütke: The Skills AI Makes More ValuableTobi Lütke (Shopify) discusses how AI agents are changing software work and decision-making, why “pruning” and rebuilding matter, and what humans must keep owning (judgment/responsibility).15 Sep 2026 · 1 h 6 min
The 12 Years that Changed Steve JobsSteve Jobs’ “exile” after being pushed out of Apple in 1985, his failed Next Computer era (including the “NeXTcube,” investor deals, and near-bankruptcy), and how lessons from that period shaped his…1 Sep 2026 · 1 h 4 min
All episodes
Bill Ackman: The Biggest Fight of His LifeBill Ackman discusses the life-threatening brain injury his daughter Lucy suffered, the medical and personal steps he took to maximize her recovery, and his plan to build the Ackman-Ackman Institute…29 Sep 2026 · 1 h 18 min · 32 chapters
Tobi Lütke: The Skills AI Makes More ValuableTobi Lütke (Shopify) discusses how AI agents are changing software work and decision-making, why “pruning” and rebuilding matter, and what humans must keep owning (judgment/responsibility).15 Sep 2026 · 1 h 6 min · 33 chapters
The 12 Years that Changed Steve JobsSteve Jobs’ “exile” after being pushed out of Apple in 1985, his failed Next Computer era (including the “NeXTcube,” investor deals, and near-bankruptcy), and how lessons from that period shaped his…1 Sep 2026 · 1 h 4 min · 29 chapters
Make Better Decisions by Fixing Yourself FirstRoblox CEO discusses decision-making and company culture, linking it to personal health/mental health, product simplicity, reducing bureaucracy, and platform safety/civility.18 Aug 2026 · 47 min · 22 chapters
The Mindset Behind Building a Great Little Business | Brad JacobsHow Brad Jacobs builds billion-dollar companies and reduces “luck” by getting the right major trend, staying psychologically resilient, and executing disciplined M&A and operational pivots.4 Aug 2026 · 1 h 40 min · 37 chapters
John D. Rockefeller: The Principles Behind The Greatest Fortune in HistoryJohn D. Rockefeller’s rise from a Cleveland clerk to the dominant U.S.28 Jul 2026 · 2 h 56 min · 66 chapters
The Price of Excellence Most People Won’t Pay | Kaz NejatianOpendoor’s turnaround after near-bankruptcy, framed as “truth over feelings” and “change defaults violently,” plus how AI and friction reduction can rebuild execution.21 Jul 2026 · 55 min · 25 chapters
The Mindset That Unlocks Your Full Potential | Dr. Gio ValianteHow to unlock full potential by overcoming the brain’s “central governor” that biases people toward comfort, safety, and underperformance; shift from ego/avoidance to mastery, habits, presence/flow,…7 Jul 2026 · 1 h 9 min · 24 chapters
How to Repair and Nourish Your Gut | Dr. Giulia EndersHow gut health affects mental health, sleep, metabolism, weight, and immunity; myths about “fragile” guts; diet strategies (fiber types, prebiotics, resistant starch); interpreting stool; rebuilding…23 Jun 2026 · 56 min · 21 chapters
Mental Models That Change How You Think | Bill GurleyBill Gurley explains how to think using mental models—especially systems thinking (complex, multivariable, nonlinear dynamics), learning “bedrock” history of a field, and pairing it with obsessive…9 Jun 2026 · 1 h 2 min · 20 chapters
You Don’t Need To Innovate To Be Successful | FarmVille CreatorRules for product innovation, including “proven, better, new,” how to find “true signal/heat” early, and how to run “failure machines” (rapid testing) instead of building MVPs.2 Jun 2026 · 1 h 10 min · 27 chapters
The Hyundai Founder Who Put a Country on His BackThe life and business philosophy of Chung Ju Young, Hyundai’s founder, framed as a story of relentless persistence, trust, and learning-by-doing—from famine-era North Korea to rebuilding South…19 May 2026 · 2 h 16 min · 58 chapters
Speed, Stress, and Better Decisions | Winston WeinbergHow founders and leaders make faster, better decisions under stress using a “prioritization system,” and why saying no (especially to meetings) matters.12 May 2026 · 1 h 3 min · 27 chapters
Ai Goes Parabolic | OpenAI Co-Founder Greg BrockmanGreg Brockman recounts the founding of OpenAI, the technical roadmap (unsupervised learning + reinforcement learning), and the 72-hour crisis around Sam Altman’s firing and the resulting…22 Apr 2026 · 1 h 13 min · 33 chapters
The Magic of Thinking Big | XPO CEO Mario HarikHow Mario Harik (CEO of XPO’s less-than-truckload business) says an engineering mindset plus people skills can drive strategy, execution, and culture—using data, KPIs, and structured feedback loops.14 Apr 2026 · 1 h 39 min · 48 chapters
Alpha School: AI and The Future of Education | Joe LiemandtThe episode argues that education is “broken” even aside from AI, because the current time-based school model is misaligned with how learning works.31 Mar 2026 · 2 h 14 min · 60 chapters
The Potato BillionaireIn this episode, host Shane Parrish discusses the remarkable journey of Harrison McCain, co-founder of McCain Foods, and his innovative approach to creating a global empire in the frozen food market.24 Mar 2026 · 39 min · 15 chapters
Beating the Market: Connor Teskey, CEO Brookfield Asset ManagementIn this episode of *The Knowledge Project*, Connor Teskey, the new CEO of Brookfield Asset Management, discusses his strategies for capital allocation, the importance of company culture, and…17 Mar 2026 · 1 h 25 min · 33 chapters
[Outliers] J.W. Marriott: Building an Empire Without a Master PlanIn this episode, we explore the life and business strategies of J. Willard Marriott (Bill Marriott), the founder of the world's largest hotel company.10 Mar 2026 · 39 min · 19 chapters
The CEO Who Lost 80% of His Company's Value (And Built It Back): Vlad TenevInside the Mind of Robinhood Co-Founder Vlad Tenev3 Mar 2026 · 1 h 51 min · 49 chapters
[Outliers] The Obsession That Built Nike | Phil KnightThis episode features Phil Knight, founder of Nike, detailing the trials and tribulations he faced while building his company from the ground up.24 Feb 2026 · 38 min · 17 chapters
The $2 Trillion Mind | Nicolai TangenMaster the best of what other people have already figured out through deep conversations that uncover timeless principles driving success.17 Feb 2026 · 1 h 3 min · 32 chapters
The Psychology of Power | Michael OvitzIn this insightful episode, Michael Ovitz, co-founder of Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and a prominent figure in Hollywood and tech investing, shares his experiences and philosophies on building…3 Feb 2026 · 1 h 36 min · 39 chapters
[Outliers] How McDonald’s Took Over America | Ray KrocIn this episode of *The Knowledge Project*, host Shane Parrish dives deep into the story of Ray Kroc and his pivotal role in transforming McDonald's from a single roadside restaurant into a global…27 Jan 2026 · 50 min · 28 chapters