We Study Billionaires - The Investors Podcast

In this episode, Clay explores the concept of Intelligent Fanatics. Intelligent Fanatics are visionary leaders who build enduring, high-performance businesses through culture, focus, and integrity. Drawing from Ian Cassel and Sean Iddings’ book Intelligent Fanatics, Clay highlights how exceptional leaders like Herb Kelleher, Les Schwab, and Chester Cadieux created companies that thrived for decades by empowering employees, thinking unconventionally, and maintaining a long-term focus. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:02:12 - What defines an Intelligent Fanatic and how they build lasting business moats 00:26:10 - The role of incentives in motivating teams and compounding performance 00:43:32 - How exceptional leaders create cultures that empower employees and drive long-term success 00:47:09 - Why culture is the strongest and hardest-to-replicate competitive advantage 00:50:56 - How frugality, integrity, and focus shape world-class organizations 01:01:35 - How Intelligent Fanatics sustain

In this wide-ranging conversation, Preston and Seb unpack the biology of aging and the emerging science behind longevity. They take about epigenetics, sirtuins, Yamanaka factors, and how AI may accelerate regenerative medicine, offering a glimpse into the future of human health. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:05:04 - Why Aging Might Be a Disease—and What That Changes Scientifically00:07:05 - What Epigenetics Is and How It Affects Cellular Aging00:24:37 - How Yamanaka Factors Can Reset Cells and Potentially Reverse Aging00:35:43 - The Role of Fasting, Cold, and Heat in Triggering Repair Pathways00:30:22 - What NMN and Sirtuins Do in the Body and Their Role in Longevity00:42:26 - How AI Could Simplify and Accelerate Breakthroughs in Aging Science00:48:48 - The Philosophical Trade-Offs of Living Longer Versus Living Better Disclaimer: Slight discrepancies in the timestamps may occur due to podcast platform differences. BOOKS AND RESOURCES Related book: Lifespan: Why We Age―and W

On today’s episode, Kyle Grieve discusses how timeless philosophical ideas can deepen our understanding of investing and life. He explores lessons from thinkers such as Spinoza, Nietzsche, Hume, and Pascal to reveal how concepts like persistence, skepticism, and luck shape decision-making. Kyle also connects these ideas to modern investing by drawing on insights from Buffett, Voltaire, and Bruce Lee, showing how adaptability, emotional control, and inner reflection lead to better outcomes. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:02:18 - How Spinoza’s idea of eternity can guide timeless investing decisions 00:05:36 - The power of persistence and what conatus teaches us about successful businesses 00:07:56 - Why emotional self-mastery may be your greatest investing edge 00:10:19 - What Nietzsche and Buffett reveal about living with integrity in finance and life 00:16:30 - How Hume’s healthy skepticism leads to sharper questions and wiser decisions 00:26:01 - What Voltaire can teach us about challen

In this episode, Stig Brodersen speaks with Tobias Carlisle — founder and managing director of Acquirers Funds — about Warren Buffett’s timeless approach to risk. Drawing from Tobias’s new book, Soldier of Fortune, they explore how ancient wisdom, especially from The Art of War, reveals the deeper logic behind Buffett’s biggest and most misunderstood investing decisions. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:02:03 - Why the deal between General Re and Berkshire Hathaway was a masterstroke 00:16:48 - What the ancient text of the art of war can teach us about today’s financial markets 00:27:28 - Why did Buffett buy BNSF when it’s highly capital-intensive 00:36:28 - Why Apple was – perhaps – the best trade Buffett ever made 00:56:04 - Why Buffett’s investment in Japan is in total alignment with the culture of Berkshire Hathaway 01:12:36 - If Berkshire Hathaway is more or less risky than the S&P 500 And so much more! Disclaimer: Slight discrepancies in the timestamps may occur due to podcast pla

Mark Suman, co-founder of Maple AI and OpenSecret, shares his insights on how to build cutting-edge AI without sacrificing user privacy. From secure enclaves and attestation to real-world use cases in law and finance, Mark outlines the technical and ethical foundations of private AI, and why efficient inference, not just open models, is the next big frontier. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:57 - How Mark’s Time at Apple Shaped His Vision for Secure, User-First AI 00:06:06 - Why Verifiable AI Matters for Protecting User Data 00:07:38 - The Privacy Threats of Centralized AI Models 00:15:26 - What Maple AI Does That Other AI Tools Don’t—End-to-End Encrypted, Verifiable Privacy 00:17:30 - The Threat Models Maple Addresses and How Enclaves + Attestation Work 00:19:51 - Why Inference Speed and Efficiency—Not Open Weights—Are the New AI Battleground 00:24:05 - Where Decentralized AI Fits Into Today’s Landscape 00:25:12 - A Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Started with Ma

William Green chats with Jim Grant, famed editor of Grant’s Interest Rate Observer. Here, Jim warns that a major market top is forming as exuberance inflates stocks, Bitcoin, and gold. He says it echoes past bubbles and urges extreme caution. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 00:00:00 Intro 00:10:40 Why Jim Grant is fiercely skeptical about Bitcoin. 00:19:25 Why you should be wary of all the hype about Private Equity. 00:35:50 Why Jim expects the AI boom to end in “a panic & a crash.” 00:44:13 Why even the shrewdest speculators never know when it’s time to sell. 00:49:50 What the Federal Reserve is likely to do with interest rates. 00:57:53 Why the dollar seems poised to continue losing value. 01:04:28 Why inflation will persist, fueled by perennial flaws in human nature. 01:09:50 Why Jim loves gold but is starting to worry about its meteoric rise. 01:19:01 Why he owns some bonds, despite his grim prognosis for this asset class. 01:23:39 How bull markets attract sleazy salesmen & bear markets clear

In this episode, Clay shares the most important investing lessons he wishes he could tell his 18-year-old self. Drawing from more than a decade of experience, he distills twelve timeless principles that every investor should know, from the value of patience and independent thinking to understanding where long-term returns come from. Whether you’re just starting out or refining your approach, this episode offers practical insights to help you build lasting wealth and confidence as an investor. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 00:00:00 Intro 00:02:24 Why the best time to start investing is today 00:07:24 Why it’s possible for individuals to beat the market 00:14:11 How patience gives investors a long-term edge 00:18:12 The importance of focusing on great businesses 00:39:17 How surrounding yourself with like-minded investors can accelerate your growth as an investor 00:51:37 Why understanding investor psychology is essential 01:00:38 The importance of thinking independently and ignoring the market noise And so

Joe, Jeff, HODL, and Preston break down Q3 2025’s economic trends, market cycles, and BTC's performance. They dive into gold’s rise, AI's impact on capitalism, and the U.S.’s shifting global strategy, with bold Bitcoin price forecasts for 2026. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 00:01:13 Why market sentiment feels bearish despite a 67% BTC gain 00:07:58 How the S&P 500 vs. gold ratio signals a macroeconomic inflection point 00:10:39 Why Jeff Ross sees gold outperforming stocks into the 2030s 00:28:12 The stalled progress of the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve legislation 00:35:07 Central banks’ gold stockpiling and its effect on markets 00:37:09 How upcoming Fed policy could shape future rate cuts 00:46:58 The complex future of capitalism in an AI-driven economy 00:50:45 Insights into America’s $6-7 trillion infrastructure buildout 00:59:40 Why BTC treasury firms are underperforming while miners surge 01:05:35 2026 BTC price predictions and a playful nod to Peter Schiff Disclaimer: Slight discrepancies in

On today’s episode, Kyle Grieve discusses ten investing principles from legends like Warren Buffett, Peter Lynch, and John Neff. Each lesson reveals how these masters built lasting wealth through timeless thinking. It’s a crash course in investing smarter, thinking clearer, and playing the long game. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 00:00:00 Intro 00:03:02 How Buffett’s brutal honesty became a blueprint for lasting success 00:07:22 How to apply Graham’s margin of safety in an intangible world 00:14:11 How Lynch turned everyday observation into powerful investing opportunities 00:24:04 How Fisher gained an edge using alternative information sources 00:27:31 Where Templeton cast his line to find rare opportunities 00:32:18 Why Neff proved a low P/E isn’t real value 00:37:10 How Howard Marks sharpens thinking in uncertain markets 00:41:42 Why Sleep & Zakaria guard their winners to compound wealth 00:53:03 How Pabrai uncovers hidden value 00:59:48 The power of Munger’s win-win mindset, both life and investing And

In this episode, Clay explores the extraordinary rise of Tesla and how Elon Musk transformed it from a niche electric car startup into one of the most valuable companies in the world. Since its IPO in 2010, Tesla has compounded at an incredible 47% per year and completely reshaped the automotive industry through software-driven vehicles, vertical integration, and their global charging network. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 00:00:00 Intro 00:02:00 How Tesla evolved from a niche EV startup into a trillion-dollar company 00:12:53 Why Elon Musk’s bold leadership and risk tolerance shaped Tesla’s success 00:27:03 How vertical integration and software-driven vehicles give Tesla an edge 00:32:31 How competition from BYD and legacy automakers impacts Tesla’s growth outlook 00:38:27 What Tesla’s Master Plan Part IV reveals about its future in AI and robotics 00:41:08 Why the energy segment and battery innovation could rival the auto business 01:02:28 What investors can learn from Musk’s “capacity to suffer” mindse

Preston and Jevi unpack the double-edged sword of modern technology. They examine how social media, AI, EMFs, and LED lights impact our well-being, and offer real-world privacy solutions like Graphene OS and open-source photo apps. From sleep disruption to self-sovereignty, they advocate for mindful tech use and explore how AI can act as a “second brain” while respecting user privacy. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 00:00:00 Intro 00:03:50 How social media algorithms can both help and harm your mental well-being 00:07:56 The benefits of switching to privacy-respecting platforms like Nostr 00:09:32 What self-sovereignty in digital spaces really means 00:12:14 Why being intentional about digital content consumption is crucial 00:12:55 How to use AI and LLMs responsibly as personal information tools 00:18:38 Real-life alternatives to Big Tech’s data-hungry photo storage services 00:29:10 The hidden risks of EMF exposure from common devices 00:38:49 Why LED lights and blue light can disrupt your sleep

In this episode, Stig Brodersen welcomes back one of the most insightful voices in global macroeconomics, Lyn Alden. In this wide-ranging conversation, they explore the shifting landscape of the U.S. dollar and its role in a rapidly changing world. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 00:00 - Intro 02:11 - Whether we’re moving from a US dollar system to a three-polar currency system 09:14 - The relationship between the fiscal deficit and the US dollar 18:51 - Why the US dollar may not go back to the strength it had in 2022 any time soon 22:23 - How to use US dollar sanctions (if at all) to achieve your goals 37:01 - Whether the US effectively implements capital controls 41:55 - What would happen if the Fed lost its independence 50:16 - Can the fiscal budget effectively balance? 57:18 - How to think about investing in high-quality equity investing in an era of fiscal dominance Disclaimer: Slight discrepancies in the timestamps may occur due to podcast platform differences. BOOKS AND RESOURCES Join

On today’s episode, Clay is joined by Morgan Housel to discuss his newest book, The Art of Spending Money — Simple Choices for a Richer Life.  Morgan Housel is a partner at The Collaborative Fund. He's the New York Times Bestselling author of The Psychology of Money and Same As Ever. His books have sold over 8 million copies and have been translated into more than 50 languages. He also serves on the board of directors at Markel. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 00:00 - Intro 02:04 - The intersection of money and happiness 06:08 - Why Buffett’s inner scorecard can empower us to use money as a tool instead of letting money use us 20:40 - Why the happiest people we know are oftentimes the most content 28:40 - Why chasing status is a game you’ll never be able to win 30:34 - Dopamine’s role in how we spend our money 35:27 - Why not all of our big spending decisions need to be run through a spreadsheet 38:06 - The shocking story of how the Vanderbilts lost billions of dollars due to social debt 46:46 - Why Morgan

Seb and Preston analyze the book "Empire of AI," reflecting on Sam Altman’s rise and OpenAI’s transformation from a nonprofit into a powerhouse AI firm. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 00:00 - Intro 00:04 - Why Sam Altman’s early ventures shaped his leadership style 00:09 - How storytelling plays a role in securing AI funding and public trust 00:11 - The founding vision behind OpenAI and Elon Musk’s original role 00:18 - The internal power struggles that led to Altman’s firing and reinstatement 00:20 - The significance of AI governance structures in shaping future technologies 00:28 - How OpenAI evolved from a non-profit to a capped-profit model 00:33 - Why AGI poses ethical and societal challenges 00:39 - The hidden costs and global inequalities in AI model training 01:00 - A sneak peek into longevity research and Lifespan by David Sinclair 01:01 - Why ancestral health might hold keys to understanding aging BOOKS AND RESOURCES Related book: Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altm

In this episode, William Green chats with Arnold Van Den Berg, a revered investor whom he spotlighted in his book, Richer, Wiser, Happier. Against all odds, Arnold has run a highly successful investment firm for 50 years. Here, he discusses what he’s learned about how to succeed in markets & life; shares practical tools that he’s found transformative; & explains how he’s positioned to survive & thrive in the most overvalued US stock market he’s ever seen. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 00:00 - Intro 06:57 - How extreme focus saved the life of Arnold Van Den Berg’s father. 14:05 - How to develop one-pointed focus & get into a flow state. 18:50 - What Dostoevsky taught Arnold about avoiding lies & discerning truth. 40:58 - How Arnold overcame a terrible self-image & “reprogrammed” himself. 40:58 - How he taught himself to be a successful investor. 01:34:51 - What habits he practices every day, including his favorite affirmations. 01:47:53 - How he remains optimistic amid adversity. 01:51:56 - Why he’s bett

On today’s episode, Clay is joined by Derek Pilecki to discuss the current market conditions and the investment opportunities he’s finding in today’s chaotic environment. Derek is a managing member and portfolio manager at Gator Capital Management, which manages Financials sector long/short portfolios for private partnerships and mutual funds. Since its inception in July 2008, Gator Capital has compounded capital at 21.8% per annum versus 11.9% for the S&P 500 over the same time period. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 00:00 - Intro 04:33 - Derek’s process of looking for a potential 26% IRR on new investments. 07:43 - How value investing has evolved over the tenure of running his fund. 12:23 - The moves he made during the tariff tantrum earlier this year. 15:14 - How Buffett has influenced him as an investor. 19:51 - The opportunities he’s finding in the market today. 23:00 - How he expects the Fed’s interest rate cuts to impact the economy, the banking sector, and the real estate market. 45:25 - What Derek

Cern Basher joins Preston Pysh to talk about robotaxi and robo-trucking economics, Optimus humanoid robots, and Wall Street’s short-term blind spots. Cern also unpacks Tesla’s Dojo shutdown, its true data moat, the macro impacts of autonomy and deflation, and why Bitcoin may be the ultimate corporate treasury hedge in this new era. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 00:00 - Intro 02:02 - Why Tesla shut down Dojo and what that means 08:14 - How Tesla’s data advantage beats hardware competition 09:12 - Why Tesla’s future lies in AI and robotics, not just vehicles 12:49 - The deflationary effects of autonomy on labor and goods 20:55 - How investors can exploit Wall Street’s short-term bias 21:26 - How robotaxis could beat Uber’s per-mile costs by 10x 28:02 - Why robo-trucking may surpass robotaxis in profitability 40:00 - Why Bitcoin could hedge corporate treasuries in a new economy 42:09 - How Optimus robots could drive labor costs under $1/hour 45:42 - The economics of Robot-as-a-Service and Tesla’s

Each quarter, Stig Brodersen sits down with his friend and co-host William Green, author of Richer, Wiser, Happier. Together, they reflect on the lessons and stories that have made them Richer, Wiser, or Happier over the past few months. From investing insights to timeless ideas about how to live well, this conversation is an invitation to join them on the journey toward a more meaningful life. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 00:00 - Intro 05:35 - Whether universal truths about a good life really exist 07:43 - What we can — and can’t — learn about living well from other people 47:54 - Why happiness often comes more from the absence of negative emotions than from positive ones 50:24 - What William has learned about money and happiness from some of the wealthiest people on earth 01:17:33 - Why spending money on others may increase your own happiness 01:27:29 - Why Stig has deliberately constrained himself from reading new books this past quarter Disclaimer: Slight discrepancies in the timestamps may

Kyle Grieve discusses the rise and fall of legendary investor Julian Robertson, exploring how he built Tiger Fund into one of the most successful hedge funds of its era. You’ll learn about his investing philosophy, famous trades, and the lessons that shaped both his success and his ultimate downfall. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 00:00 - Intro 02:05 - How Julian Robertson turned Tiger Fund into a powerhouse with a 32% annual return over 18 years. 04:51 - The story behind his legendary $300 million copper short and what it teaches about supply and demand. 10:31 - How lessons from the Navy shaped his leadership, discipline, and global outlook. 13:10 - Why Robertson believed “the market” doesn’t really exist and what that means for value investors. 16:22 - The unconventional no-fee structure and athlete-like mentality that made Tiger different. 17:30 - Why Robertson leaned on vast information networks and even his investors to uncover new ideas. 19:31 - The crude sentiment tools Tiger used such as an early v

Preston and Seb launch their tech book review series with a deep dive into The Thinking Machine, a book about NVIDIA and its CEO Jensen Huang. They explore NVIDIA’s transformation from a gaming hardware company to a key player in AI, discussing CUDA, leadership strategy, robotics, and the speed of innovation. The episode ends with a preview of their next review, Empire of AI. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 00:00 - Intro 05:29 – How NVIDIA transitioned from gaming GPUs to leading AI infrastructure 09:26 – Why CUDA was a turning point in GPU development for AI research 15:37 – The role of NVIDIA in enabling modern AI models, including transformers 19:55 – Jensen Huang’s leadership style and strategic market thinking 20:14 – The significance of creating new markets versus competing in existing ones 24:44 – How NVIDIA trains robots in hyper-realistic digital environments 27:47 – The impact of LiDAR and simulation on robotics advancement 38:53 – Whether Jensen's success is due to luck, skill, or strat