Casual conversations with founders, technologists, investors, and artists about building a brighter future, together. Welcome to our digital living room.
With science, technology and entrepreneurship we can *continue* to create unfathomable leaps in quality of life. We show you how to find, apply, build, and invest in technologies to change your life and the world.
When we have smart friends, we do smart things. When we do smart things, we save the world.
No matter who, where, or when you are – now you have smart friends, too.
Outside this podcast, I’m the author of The Almanack of Naval Ravikant and The Anthology of Balaji. Connect at ejorgenson.com
Laugh and learn with people like Balaji Srinivasan, Naval Ravikant, Andrew Wilkinson, Austen Allred, David Senra, Josh Storrs Hall, Ashley Rindsberg, Zach Pettet, Bret Kugelmass, Omar ElNaggar, Grace Guo, Brett Kopf, Max Olson, Chris Williamson, Shane Mac, Tim Hwang, David Perell, Jason Hitchcock, Natalia Karayaneva, Sebastian Marshall, Taylor Pearson, Mitchell Baldridge and more.
Join conversations with my partners in early-stage tech investing, Bo Fishback and Al Doan. Our Rolling Fun Episodes cover our investments and escapades as angel investors and startup helpers. We invest in startups creating the *next* industrial revolution. Learn more at rolling.fun
“Surround yourself with people who remind you more of your future than of your past.”
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Casual conversations with founders, technologists, investors, and artists about building a brighter future, together. Welcome to our digital living room.
With science, technology and entrepreneurship we can *continue* to create unfathomable leaps in quality of life. We show you how to find, apply, build, and invest in technologies to change your life and the world.
When we have smart friends, we do smart things. When we do smart things, we save the world.
No matter who, where, or when you are – now you have smart friends, too.
Outside this podcast, I’m the author of The Almanack of Naval Ravikant and The Anthology of Balaji. Connect at ejorgenson.com
Laugh and learn with people like Balaji Srinivasan, Naval Ravikant, Andrew Wilkinson, Austen Allred, David Senra, Josh Storrs Hall, Ashley Rindsberg, Zach Pettet, Bret Kugelmass, Omar ElNaggar, Grace Guo, Brett Kopf, Max Olson, Chris Williamson, Shane Mac, Tim Hwang, David Perell, Jason Hitchcock, Natalia Karayaneva, Sebastian Marshall, Taylor Pearson, Mitchell Baldridge and more.
Join conversations with my partners in early-stage tech investing, Bo Fishback and Al Doan. Our Rolling Fun Episodes cover our investments and escapades as angel investors and startup helpers. We invest in startups creating the *next* industrial revolution. Learn more at rolling.fun
“Surround yourself with people who remind you more of your future than of your past.”
#098 Danielle Strachman: What Makes a Thiel Fellow
Smart Friends
1 hour 12 minutes
2 weeks ago
#098 Danielle Strachman: What Makes a Thiel Fellow
Topics:
(00:00:00) - Intro
(00:03:46) - Deep dive into the Thiel Fellowship
(00:07:04) - Success stories and impact of Thiel Fellows
(00:11:04) - Challenges and controversies
(00:16:01) - Evolution and future of fellowship programs
(00:18:39) - Early days of building the Thiel Fellowship
(00:23:36) - Traits of a Thiel Fellow
(00:33:24) - Nurturing genius
(00:39:57) - Screen time & children
(00:40:30) - Big screens vs. small screens
(00:43:12) - Quality time and engaging activities
(00:45:42) - Emotional depth and resilience in young founders
(00:54:02) - The traits of innovators
(01:04:08) - The journey of 1517 Fund
(01:10:05) - Join the 1517 community
Links:
Rolling Fun — https://www.rolling.fun
To support the costs of producing this podcast:
>> Buy a copy of the Navalmanack: www.navalmanack.com/
>> Buy a copy of The Anthology of Balaji: https://balajianthology.com/
>> Sign up for my online course and community about building your Personal Leverage: https://www.ejorgenson.com/leverage
>> Invest in early-stage companies alongside Eric and his partners at Rolling Fun: https://angel.co/v/back/rolling-fun
>> Join the free weekly email list at ejorgenson.com/newsletter
>> Text the podcast to a friend
>> Or at least give the podcast a positive review to help us reach new listeners!
We discuss:
The founding story and long-term vision behind the Thiel Fellowship
Common traits among exceptional young founders, including curiosity, hyper fluency, and “dog on a leash” energy
Lessons from supporting early pioneers like Vitalik Buterin, Dylan Field, and Laura Deming.
How 1517 Fund backs young builders and “Wily weirdos” working on sci-fi-level ideas
Danielle’s philosophy on education, parenting, and fostering genius in children
Quotes from Danielle:
“We weren’t looking for startup founders—we were looking for people on a mission.”
“Dog-on-a-leash energy—that’s what we look for. We’re here to cut the leash.”
“Hyperfluency is the ability to geek out with geeks, and still explain your work to your grandma at Thanksgiving.”
“These people are kind of mutants—they don’t fit in typical systems.”
“All kids under five are geniuses. The system just squashes it out of them.”
“The most shocking thing? People publicly attacked the Fellows. Not just the program—the people. Teenagers.”
“Crazy, crazy awesome—we can’t tell if they’re insane or brilliant, and it’ll take years to find out.”
“Big screens good, small screens bad.”
“In the future, I want to be funding 11-year-olds. The world won’t be ready, but I will be.”
“We just want to talk to wily weirdos who want to be around other wily weirdos.”
Smart Friends
Casual conversations with founders, technologists, investors, and artists about building a brighter future, together. Welcome to our digital living room.
With science, technology and entrepreneurship we can *continue* to create unfathomable leaps in quality of life. We show you how to find, apply, build, and invest in technologies to change your life and the world.
When we have smart friends, we do smart things. When we do smart things, we save the world.
No matter who, where, or when you are – now you have smart friends, too.
Outside this podcast, I’m the author of The Almanack of Naval Ravikant and The Anthology of Balaji. Connect at ejorgenson.com
Laugh and learn with people like Balaji Srinivasan, Naval Ravikant, Andrew Wilkinson, Austen Allred, David Senra, Josh Storrs Hall, Ashley Rindsberg, Zach Pettet, Bret Kugelmass, Omar ElNaggar, Grace Guo, Brett Kopf, Max Olson, Chris Williamson, Shane Mac, Tim Hwang, David Perell, Jason Hitchcock, Natalia Karayaneva, Sebastian Marshall, Taylor Pearson, Mitchell Baldridge and more.
Join conversations with my partners in early-stage tech investing, Bo Fishback and Al Doan. Our Rolling Fun Episodes cover our investments and escapades as angel investors and startup helpers. We invest in startups creating the *next* industrial revolution. Learn more at rolling.fun
“Surround yourself with people who remind you more of your future than of your past.”
