Pulitzer Prize winner Charles Duhigg (Super Communicators, The Power of Habit) joins James to talk about how to communicate in a polarized world. They discuss why humans are wired for connection, how to ask better questions, and how to turn arguments into understanding.

Former FBI agent Martin Suarez lived over a decade undercover inside Colombian cartels—smuggling cocaine, laundering money, and surviving assassination attempts while secretly working for the U.S. government. With co-author Ian Frisch, he reveals how he built the perfect cover, the psychological tricks that kept him alive, and the surprising lessons anyone can use about confidence, negotiation, and trust.

In this bonus episode, James and Brian talk about why success requires both humility and arrogance, how even Nobel winners face imposter syndrome, and why some quests can reshape science itself. Brian previews his next book on Jim Simons and the bold idea of Chern–Simons Theory, which may explain the very arrow of time.

Cosmologist Brian Keating joins James to talk about Nobel Prize winners, the Keating Test for AI, and how to find focus without losing curiosity. They debate “stay in your lane” advice, share lessons on communication and time management, and explore why wisdom matters more than ever in the age of AI.

James Altucher talks with Ventura Labs about obsession, AI, and building TAO Synergies into a public company. From his early AI work on Deep Blue to creating TAO Daily, James shows how obsession fuels innovation—and how decentralized AI could reshape crypto, business, and the future of work.

Rick Harrison, star of Pawn Stars, shares why the pawn business is the oldest—and best—form of banking. From Rolex watches to Civil War coins, Rick explains how stories create value, why millions of Americans turn to pawn shops, and what keeps his show fresh after 21 seasons.

Tristan de Montebello went from complete beginner to World Championship finalist in under a year. He joins James to share the mindsets and strategies that make communication powerful—from humor and vulnerability to analogies and flow. Whether you’re speaking on stage, in meetings, or anywhere else, these lessons will change the way you connect.

Astro Teller, head of Alphabet’s X, explains how moonshot projects like self-driving cars, drone delivery, and grid modernization move from science fiction to reality. James and Astro break down the mindset, systems engineering, and bold thinking that create breakthroughs — and what it means for our future.

What if college isn’t the best path to becoming who you want to be? Author Matt Smith joins James to share The Preparation—a four-year alternative built on real-world cycles like EMT training, firefighting, entrepreneurship, and even Muay Thai in Thailand. Learn why becoming an expert generalist matters in the age of AI and how young people can design their own hero’s journey.

Author and podcast host Case Kenny joins James to challenge the idea of “settling down” in relationships. They discuss the science behind attraction, why dating to be seen matters more than being liked, and how playfulness and humor create stronger connections.

Episode Description: Hosted by James Altucher (serial entrepreneur, bestselling author of "Choose Yourself," podcaster, hedge fund manager, chess master, and investor in over 20 companies, with expertise in crypto and AI) and Joseph Jacks (founder and general partner of OSS Capital, the world's first VC firm dedicated to commercial open-source software; early-stage investor in AI and open-source tech, previously Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Quantum Corporation). In the premiere episode, James and Joe explore Bittensor's decentralized AI ecosystem, contrasting it with centralized giants like xAI's Grok 4. They discuss subnets providing GPUs, datasets, and models; proof-of-useful-work mining; building custom AI agents; and Bittensor's potential to outpace Big Tech in achieving superintelligence. Plus, tokenomics, real-world apps, capitalism parallels, and bold predictions on TAO's future value. Key Timestamps & Topics:00:00:00 - Intro: Podcast overview, AI/crypto news (Grok 4, Bitcoin ATH), centralized vs. decentralized AI.00:09:00 - Proof of Useful Work: Mining datasets, models, inference on Bittensor.00:10:00 - Subnet Deep Dives: Dataverse (13) for data scraping; building trading models.00:16:00 - Chutes (64): Cheap AI inference, e.g., Bible chatbot at 1/50th OpenAI cost.00:23:00 - Agentic AI: Building owned agents, avoiding Big Tech biases/control.00:28:00 - Scaling & Future: Decentralization's infinite potential; Bitcoin compute parallels.00:33:00 - Superintelligence Path: Bittensor faster than Elon; energy/chip challenges.00:34:00 - Bittensor's Early Stage: Like 1990s internet, needs better user interfaces.00:38:00 - Chutes Economics: 10T+ tokens served, 4.4K H100 GPUs, user growth.00:50:00 - Valuation & Growth: Subnets as companies; TAO potentially 5-10x Bitcoin.01:02:00 - Bittensor as Pure Capitalism: Incentives for supply/demand; upgrading equity models.01:09:00 - Centralization Risks: Elon/Meta control; Bittensor's global solution.01:13:00 - Wrap-Up: Teasing future episodes on subnets, AI ventures.Key Takeaways:Bittensor incentivizes ~20-100K GPUs permissionlessly, rivaling xAI at zero CapEx.Subnets like Chutes (inference) and Dataverse (data) enable cheap, owned AI models for anyone.Decentralization democratizes AI talent/compute, potentially building AGI faster than centralized efforts.Quote: "Bittensor is the most expressive language of value in the history of languages of value." – Joseph JacksResources & Links:Bittensor Official: bittensor.comTaostats (Explorer/TAO App): taostats.ioSubnet 64 (Chutes): taostats.io/subnets/64Subnet 13 (Dataverse): macrocosmos.ai/sn13Akash Network: akash.networkxAI: x.aiFollow Hosts: @jaltucher & @josephjacks_ on X Subscribe for more on Bittensor subnets, AI building, and crypto trends! Leave a review and share your thoughts. #TheTaoPod #Bittensor #DecentralizedAI #TAO Today's Advertisers:Secure your online data TODAY by visiting ExpressVPN.com/ALTUCHERElevate your workspace with UPLIFT Desk. Go to https://upliftdesk.com/james for a special offer exclusive to our audience. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A Note from James: "Anatomy of a Con Artist. The 14 red flags to spot scammers, grifters, and thieves". This is a book—an amazing book—by Johnathan Walton. Check out his podcast Queen of the Con, and his new one Cocaine Air. We talk about both in this episode. But his book, Anatomy of a Con Artist, is just dead on. Johnathan shares how he got conned out of nearly $100,000 by someone posing as an Irish heiress. He breaks down not only that story but others—showing how all these professional con artists use the same tricks. The red flags are universal. And honestly, I’ve felt conned before. Reading this book really opened my eyes. The stories are incredible, and Johnathan’s a fantastic storyteller. You’ll hear it for yourself. Episode Description: James talks with Johnathan Walton—TV producer turned con artist hunter—about the psychology, tactics, and red flags of professional scammers. After being conned out of nearly $100,000 by someone posing as an Irish heiress, Walton went public, brought his scammer to justice, and began investigating other cases. Together, they unpack how emotion—not intellect—is the con artist’s favorite tool, and how even smart, skeptical people can be taken in. Walton explains the 14 red flags every scammer throws up, why victims rarely report what happened, and how shame and silence help cons thrive. Plus: the untold story of Walton’s family losing millions to a Jamaican Ponzi scheme, how Satanists helped him track a fugitive scammer, and why AI will never replace the twisted brilliance of the human con. What You’ll Learn:How professional con artists emotionally manipulate even intelligent peopleThe 14 red flags common to nearly every scamWhy victims often stay silent—and how scammers exploit shameHow “beak-wetting” creates false trust in investment scamsWhy AI can't replicate the improvisational storytelling of real-world con artists Timestamped Chapters:[00:00] A con artist doesn't outsmart you—they outfeel you[01:00] James introduces Johnathan Walton and his work[02:00] Behind the HBO show “Wahl Street” and producing during COVID[04:00] AI in storytelling: potential and limitations[07:00] Johnathan’s $100K con: the fake Irish heiress and inheritance scam[10:00] Red Flag: TMI—“too much information” and the psychology behind it[14:00] The trap of emotional vulnerability[17:00] How scammers build false intimacy[20:00] Johnathan’s early career and his resilience to shame[24:00] How she drained him slowly: death by a thousand cuts[25:00] The first lie that blew everything open[28:00] Uncovering her global scams and getting her arrested[30:00] Scamming Satanists and extradition to Northern Ireland[32:00] Psychopathy vs. regular criminals: how con artists differ[34:00] Why she targeted him: the do-gooder trap[36:00] Breaking down the red flags from his book[41:00] Ponzi schemes and beak-wetting in his own family[47:00] Wealthy victims who never go public[49:00] The story of NFL QB Eric Kramer and the con-woman wife[52:00] Talking victims out of suicide[53:00] Johnathan’s own mother was conned—by a family friend[55:00] The isolation technique and divide-and-conquer[57:00] How to protect yourself: background checks and gut checks[59:00] Spotting con artists in real life[01:01:00] Cocktail party con: the OnlyFans couple from Arizona[01:02:00] Final thoughts and how to follow Johnathan’s work Additional Resources with Working Links:Book: Anatomy of a Con Artist by Johnathan Walton Available on Apple Books: Anatomy of a Con Artist Also listed on Penguin Random House: Anatomy of a Con Artist Podcast: Queen of the Con by Johnathan Walton On Apple Podcasts: Queen of the Con (Apple Podcasts) Podcast: Cocaine Air by Johnathan Walton On Apple Podcasts: Cocaine Air (Apple Podcasts) Movie: Sharper (Neo-noir thriller) streaming on Apple TV+ Watch directly on Apple TV+: Sharper (Apple TV+) About the film and release details: Sharper (Wikipedia page) Today's Advertisers:Secure your online data TODAY by visiting ExpressVPN.com/ALTUCHERElevate your workspace with UPLIFT Desk. Go to https://upliftdesk.com/james for a special offer exclusive to our audience. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

James Altucher joins Smart Humans host Slava Rubin to talk Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tau, stablecoins, and AI’s economic impact. Hear James’s bold predictions, investing rules, and the habits that rebuilt his career after losing millions—twice.

James Altucher and Ryan Holiday examine what happens when creators get captured by their audiences. They unpack the dangers of influence, identity, and staying honest in a performative world.

James Altucher and Ryan Holiday unpack what it means to stay true as a creator in a world driven by algorithms. They explore writing, podcasting, ethics, and the power of silence in a noisy culture.

James Altucher and Doug Hill debate whether college is a smart investment or a modern-day scam. From tuition inflation to trade school alternatives, they unpack the economics—and emotions—behind higher education.

James Altucher and Doug Hill go head-to-head on whether buying a house makes any financial sense. Spoiler: James says no—and he brings the math to prove it. Learn why renting might actually be the smarter move.

James talks with Michelin-starred chef Curtis Duffy about surviving tragedy, chasing mastery, and why discipline—not motivation—is what separates the greats. A raw look at what it takes to be the best.

Former UFC champion Miesha Tate opens up about hitting rock bottom, leaving a toxic relationship, and discovering that winning doesn’t fix everything. She and James unpack what it really takes to rebuild your life—mentally, emotionally, and professionally.

Humorist Dave Barry returns to share stories from his wild career, his latest memoir, and why writing—and comedy—have changed forever. Hear how Dave built his career by doing outrageous things, engaged his readers as allies, and navigates the new landscape of Substack and social media.