Best Speechwriting Podcasts (2025)

1
Ep. 91 Don Watson on the power of words, political speechwriting and where to from Trump. 59:43

19d ago59:43

59:43

Don Watson has spent a lifetime listening closely - to the language of politics, power, persuasion and all the spaces in between. A historian, author and master of the written word, he is perhaps best known as the speechwriter behind some of Australia’s most unforgettable words - including the iconic Redfern Speech, delivered by then-Prime Minister…

1
What Comes After Mobile? Meta’s Andrew Bosworth on AI and Consumer Tech 32:30

3d ago32:30

32:30

Are we nearing the end of the smartphone era? In this episode, a16z Growth General Partner David George talks with Meta CTO Andrew “Boz” Bosworth about what comes after apps and touchscreens. From smart glasses to AR headsets, Boz shares how AI is powering a new wave of computing—one that’s ambient, agentic, and driven by human intent. They explore…

1
The Cost of Freedom and Arizona’s Jewish Latina legislators Alma, Consuelo, and Daniel Hernandez 1:07:40

4d ago1:07:40

1:07:40

A Jew, Two Jewish Latinas, and a gay Latino mass shooting survivor walk into a podcast… and 3 of them are related! In this unique episode of Being Jewish, Jonah sits down with Arizona legislators Consuelo, Alma, and Daniel Hernandez—three powerhouse siblings shaping Arizona’s Democratic party. Together, they are living proof that representation mat…

1
The Dual-Use Founder: Vets Now Building For America 37:51

11d ago37:51

37:51

In today’s world, the battlefield extends far beyond war zones—it’s embedded in our tech stacks, supply chains, and airspace security systems. So who better to solve these modern challenges than those who’ve served on the front lines? Recorded live at the third annual American Dynamism Summit in Washington D.C., this episode features a16z’s Matt Sh…

1
REPLAY: “Bad Jews” + CNN Analyst & Activist Van Jones 1:07:22

12d ago1:07:22

1:07:22

It’s Spring Break! So this week we’re bringing you a replay of our Webby & RCC Wilbur Award-winning episode with Van Jones - with whom Jonah will once again be sitting down with for a Passover “Freedom Seder” this week, almost one year to the day from the first Seder where they met. We’ll be back with all new-episodes next week! Watch this episode …

1
The Future of Drone Warfare 40:31

18d ago40:31

40:31

War has always been shaped by technology—from steel and gunpowder to GPS and nuclear weapons. But the decisive technologies of tomorrow aren’t coming—they’re already here. In this episode, recorded live at our third annual American Dynamism Summit, a16z’s Senior National Security Advisor Matt Cronin sits down with Ryan Tseng (cofounder & CEO, Shiel…

1
All Things Passover with Author Dara Horn (PART TWO) 36:38

19d ago36:38

36:38

Shakespeare hated Jews?? In Part 2 of Jonah Platt’s fascinating conversation with acclaimed author Dara Horn, they dive deep into: 📚 The antisemitism embedded in classic literature — from Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice to Roald Dahl’s The Witches 📖 Dara’s entire body of fiction work and what inspires her stories 🍷 Her famously elaborate Passo…

1
The Yale Political Union and the Death of Debate on Campus; Jamie Kirchick on the Failure of the Media and the New Censorious Generation 48:23

20d ago48:23

48:23

One the newest episode of Pod and Man at Yale, Abhinay Lingareddy ’26, Will Flanigan ’27, and John Byler ’28 discuss the storied Yale Political Union, its conservative bent, and the state of debate on Yale’s campus: Byler ’28: “On the left, in the party of the left, the progressive party, I would be shocked to find a single trump voter. But in the …

1
Donald Trump as "The Apprentice" 1:05:11

20d ago1:05:11

1:05:11

"The Apprentice" purports to tell Donald Trump's origin story, back when the notorious Roy Cohn took him under his wing and showed him how to win at any cost. Jim and Gary take the movie on its own terms -- as a piece of history in the 1970s and 80's -- and refrain from discussing contemporary events.…

1
James Lawrence “aka” Iron Cowboy: 100 full distance triathlons in 100 days 1:15:22

21d ago1:15:22

1:15:22

James Lawrence has broken two Guiness World Records for endurance racing. He raced a full distance triathlon every day for 100 consecutive days and prior to that he raced 50 full distance triathlons for 50 consecutive days across 50 states. His latest book is titled Iron Hope: Lessons Learned from Conquering the Impossible. Summary In this conversa…

1
How to Build with the Department of Defense 51:18

25d ago51:18

51:18

When people think about startups working with the government, the phrase “black box” often comes up. But what if that box is finally being pried open? In this episode—recorded live at the American Dynamism Summit in DC—we talk with two Chief Technology Officers at the heart of American defense: Alex Miller, CTO for the Chief of Staff of the Army, a…

1
Three Passover Reflections & “People Love Dead Jews” author Dara Horn (PART ONE) 58:26

26d ago58:26

58:26

Is the world more comfortable with dead Jews than living ones? In this powerful conversation, bestselling author Dara Horn (People Love Dead Jews) joins Being Jewish with Jonah Platt to discuss the origins of antisemitism, how it manifests today—including on college campuses—and why Holocaust education may be doing Jews more harm than good. Dara an…

1
21 - How the Circus Can Re-Vitalize Your Next Event 29:47

27d ago29:47

29:47

In this episode, we’re talking with the Founder and Artistic Director of The 7 Fingers, Gypsy Snider. You may not immediately think of the circus as a way to tell a story about the human condition or to better get across your messaging, but after listening to Gypsy, your perceptions just might change and expand. So hit the download button, screw yo…

1
The Top 100 GenAI Products, Ranked and Explained 38:14

1M ago38:14

38:14

This month, a16z’s Consumer team released the fourth edition of the GenAI 100 — a data-driven ranking of the top 50 AI-first web products and mobile apps, based on unique monthly visits and active users. In just six months, the consumer AI landscape has shifted dramatically. Some products surged ahead, others plateaued, and a few unexpected players…

1
My Struggle with God & Comedian Tiffany Haddish 1:05:07

1M ago1:05:07

1:05:07

Emmy and Grammy-winning comedian Tiffany Haddish opens up about discovering Judaism as an adult and having her “Black Mitzvah” at age 40! She covers all her toughest struggles in this raw and unfiltered conversation—from growing up in foster care, her mother’s tragic accident, to fighting her way to the top of Hollywood stardom. But one of her bigg…

1
Jensen Huang and Arthur Mensch on Winning the Global AI Race 55:03

1M ago55:03

55:03

The global race for AI leadership is no longer just about companies—it’s about nations. AI isn’t just computing infrastructure; it’s cultural infrastructure, economic strategy, and national security all rolled into one. In this episode, Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA, and Arthur Mensch, cofounder and CEO of Mistral, sit down to discuss sov…

1
Ep. 90 Julia Banks on boys' clubs, Trumpist politics and personal power. 47:55

1M ago47:55

47:55

Politics is the stuff of Shakespeare. Acts of revenge, personal sabotage, falls from grace and epic power struggles have always pushed politicians in and out of public favour. As Australia heads toward a federal election, in our own political landscape we see the high drama of campaign theatre play out against the global backdrop and twisted plot o…

1
Why AI Voice Feels More Human Than Ever 43:19

1M ago43:19

43:19

AI voice technology has been around for years — think Siri or Alexa — but the magic has been missing. That’s changing, and quickly! In this episode, Anish Acharya, General Partner at a16z, and Olivia Moore, Partner at a16z, explore why AI voice is reaching a breakthrough moment, how today’s models feel more human than ever, and why voice is poised …

1
I’m Not Talking About Mahmoud Khalil & Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg 55:34

1M ago55:34

55:34

Female Business Leader Sheryl Sandberg, former COO of Facebook and VP of Google, opens up about God, grief, resilience, and ambition. She discusses her experience in Big Tech, embracing her Jewish identity, the terrifying silence from allies after October 7, and the harrowing stories of sexual violence against Israeli women in her documentary “Scre…

1
“Students… Should Not Have Oversight Over Police”: Yalies on a YPD Oversight Board 1:03:00

2M ago1:03:00

1:03:00

Yale College Council Senators Will Barbee ’26 and David Fleming ’26 join Yale Daily News columnist Joshua Danziger ’28 to talk about the new YCC call for student oversight of the Yale Police Department: Will Barbee’26: “I do think it’s important to keep it in our minds, and, you know, always make sure that we’re giving them the adequate resources t…

1
From Thesis to Meme to Fund: Building American Dynamism 42:38

2M ago42:38

42:38

For over a century, the United States has been the birthplace of world-changing innovation – from the Wright brothers’ first flight to the invention of the transistor, the moon landing, and the birth of the internet. But in recent years, belief in American progress has wavered. Three years ago, a16z General Partner Katherine Boyle wrote a bold thes…

1
Reflection from The Oscars & Wicked Producer Marc Platt 1:16:05

2M ago1:16:05

1:16:05

Watch the episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/hlknXe8OSAU Hollywood and Broadway producing legend Marc Platt (Wicked, La La Land, Legally Blonde) sits down with his son Jonah Platt for an intimate and powerful conversation on Jewish identity, Hollywood, and storytelling. In this special episode, Marc shares: 📍 Growing up Jewish in segregated Balti…

1
A Complete Unknown -- The Bob Dylan Origin Story 1:10:57

2M ago1:10:57

1:10:57

Jim and Gary discuss "A Complete Unknown," the Oscar-nominated biopic of Bob Dylan, which explores the cultural and social politics of the early 1960s. And, yes, there is a reference or two to the US President who exemplifies those years -- JFK.By Gary Holmes

1
What Founders Get Wrong About Scaling – With Carta’s CEO 40:37

2M ago40:37

40:37

Henry Ward, cofounder and CEO of Carta, has spent over a decade scaling his company from an early-stage startup to a 2,000-person industry leader. In this a16z Speedrun conversation with Games partner Josh Lu, Henry shares hard-earned lessons on: Hiring missionaries vs. mercenaries — and how to keep company culture intact as you scale The reality o…

1
2000 Years of Jew Hatred & Australian Journalist Erin Molan 1:01:15

2M ago1:01:15

1:01:15

In this powerful episode of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt, Jonah sits down with Australian broadcaster Erin Molan, an award-winning journalist, television presenter, and outspoken advocate for Israel. Known for her fearless commentary and sharp insights, Erin shares her unexpected journey—from having no Jewish friends to becoming one of Israel’s st…

1
Creativity vs Control: Where AI Fits in the Creative Toolbox 42:22

2M ago42:22

42:22

Being a creator in 2025 is tough—but building for creators is even harder. Perhaps no one understands this conundrum better than Scott Belsky. As the founder of Behance, a longtime executive at Adobe, and an advisor to companies like Pinterest and Atlassian, Scott has spent his career at the intersection of technology, design, and creativity. In th…

1
The Sound of Silence & Shoe Legend Stuart Weitzman 1:05:14

2M ago1:05:14

1:05:14

He’s a mogul, he’s a “macher” and most importantly … a mensch. Fashion designer and Jewish philanthropist Stuart Weitzman will steal your heart as he joins Jonah to discuss the two things most dear to his heart: Shoes and Jews. Beginning with an insightful conversation around career lessons and principles, Weitzman shares paramount advice on what i…

1
"Not Ready for The Real World”: Yale Students on the Pressure to Achieve and American vs Chinese Approaches to Success 30:23

2M ago30:23

30:23

In this week’s episode of Pod and Man at Yale, Tori Cook ’27 and Vanessa Li ’25 take on Yale’s busyness culture and whether China’s or America’s educational culture is the best path for societal success. Vanessa Li: “It’s good to have this kind of pressure to push you to achieve better. But make sure that you are directing the pressure in the direc…

1
Adam Galinsky: Unlocking the formula to inspiring leadership 1:04:00

2M ago1:04:00

1:04:00

Adam Galinsky is a social psychologist and a Professor of Leadership and Ethics at Columbia Business School. He has published over two hundred scientific articles on leadership, negotiations, diversity, and ethics. He has been a damages expert in numerous defamation lawsuits that have generated more than $1 billion in verdicts and settlements, incl…

1
Who Will Own the Internet? a16z’s Chris Dixon on AI and Crypto 32:55

2M ago32:55

32:55

Technology doesn’t grow in isolation—it evolves in waves. Just as mobile, cloud, and SaaS shaped the internet of the past 20 years, so too could crypto, AI, and new hardware usher in an era of the internet that’s pro-innovation, pro-startup, and pro-creator. Speaking with a16z Growth General Partner David George, a16z crypto Founder and Managing Pa…

1
The Normalization of Jew Hatred & Presidential Speechwriter Sarah Hurwitz 1:05:41

2M ago1:05:41

1:05:41

Watch this episode on YouTube @BeingJewishPodcast Like many American Jews, formal religious education for Sarah Hurwitz ended with her Bat Mitzvah at age 13. But after an unbelievable career as a Speechwriter for some of the nation’s most influential Democratic leaders (including Hilary Clinton, President Barack Obama, and First Lady Michelle Obama…

1
Random Acts of Automation - Episode 26: What Does Automation Mean for Workers? 39:33

2M ago39:33

39:33

Welcome to another exciting edition of *Next Future Today* and the reboot of the podcast, fresh for 2025! I'm your host, Dan Keldsen, Chief Innovation Officer at Infocap AI Corp, and I'm thrilled to share insights from our recent episode featuring Craig Le Clair, VP of Research at Forrester Research. If you're interested in what the impact of autom…

1
The Critical Technology in Finding Critical Materials 42:38

2M ago42:38

42:38

Critical materials like copper, lithium, and gallium have been mined for decades, but their role in core technologies, geopolitics, and the energy transition have come to a height in recent years. In this episode, a16z partner Connie Chan discusses how technology is changing the game of identification and exploration, together with leading company …

1
Going “Full Jew” & Covid Vaccine Inventor Dr. Drew Weissman 44:47

2M ago44:47

44:47

Watch the Podcast @BeingJewishPodcast One of the fundamental values in Judaism is Tikkun Olam, or “Repairing the world.” On this week’s episode, Jonah sits down with Dr. Drew Weissman, co-recipient of the Nobel Prize in Medicine for his creation of the life-saving Covid vaccine - talk about repairing the world, literally! Dr. Weissman teaches Jonah…

1
John Ford's "Young Mr. Lincoln" 1:02:04

3M ago1:02:04

1:02:04

As they look forward to Lincoln's Birthday, Gary and Jim discuss John Ford's "Young Mr. Lincoln," the 1939 classic tale of Abe Lincoln as a young aspiring lawyer in Springfield, Illinois. Henry Fonda seems to embody Lincoln's very essence in a strong performance that challenges Daniel Day-Lewis for the best impersonation of Lincoln in cinematic his…

1
DeepSeek: America’s Sputnik Moment for AI? 43:03

3M ago43:03

43:03

Two words have caught the Internet by storm. DeepSeek. The Chinese reasoning model r1 is rivaling others at the frontier with an open-source MIT license, methods that some claim may be 45x more efficient, an alleged $5.6m cost, the release of reasoning traces, a follow-on image model, and the fact that all of this was released by a hedge fund China…

1
Bringing Back The Hostages & Social Media Megastar Baby Ariel Martin 57:10

3M ago57:10

57:10

Watch this episode on YouTube @BeingJewishPodcast With over 50 million followers across platforms, “Baby” Ariel Martin is one TikTok’s first homegrown stars. Known for her high energy lip-sync videos and youthful antics, Ariel’s career took a sharp turn after October 7th, when she witnessed the explosion of anti-Jew hate around the world and the si…

1
Ben Horowitz Sharing History with Dr. Clarence Jones, MLK's Speechwriter 55:45

3M ago55:45

55:45

This week, a16z cofounder Ben Horowitz had a rare and invaluable conversation with Dr. Clarence B. Jones, a pivotal figure in American history. Dr. Jones, who served as speechwriter, attorney, and advisor to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., shared his personal insights on race, inclusion, and the lasting legacy of the civil rights movement in 2025. In t…

1
“Like an Additional Extracurricular”: Students Discuss Religion on Campus; Notre Dame’s Rick Garnett on Church and State in Modern America 1:05:58

3M ago1:05:58

1:05:58

In the newest episode Pod and Man at Yale, Will Barbee ’26, and Raleigh Adams DIV ’26, discuss being religious on campus, how Yale interacts with and teaches religion, and the ways a religious lifestyle build on and improves the campus experience: Adams ’26: “You kind of are on the back foot in being that minority of being a traditionally religious…

1
How AI Is Changing Warfare with Brian Schimpf, CEO of Anduril 35:22

3M ago35:22

35:22

How is AI reshaping modern warfare? Speaking with a16z Growth General Partner David George, Anduril cofounder and CEO Brian Schimpf discusses how AI helps humans make better strategic decisions by sorting through the enormous amount of data collected from modern battlefields. Schimpf also discusses navigating the US government’s complex procurement…

1
Redefining Zionism & Canada's Anti-Israel Problem with Liberal MP Anthony Housefather 48:25

3M ago48:25

48:25

Watch this episode on YouTube @BeingJewishPodcast Last year, Canadian Liberal Member of Parliament Anthony Housefather, a loud and proud Jewish political leader for many years, passionately denounced a virulently anti-Israel House resolution and even voted against his own party on it. His defiant and eloquent oration was the “speech heard ‘round th…

1
RIP to RPA: How AI Makes Operations Work 17:06

3M ago17:06

17:06

Intelligent automation is transforming industries by tackling messy, unstructured workflows that traditional Robotic Process Automation (RPA) couldn’t handle. In this episode, a16z partner Kimberly Tan discusses the shift from rigid RPA systems to AI-powered agents and why this evolution unlocks massive opportunities in legacy markets. Drawing on h…

1
Preserving Jewish Unity & NBA Champion Metta Sandiford-Artest 47:36

3M ago47:36

47:36

Watch the episode @BeingJewishPodcast Former NBA Defensive Player of the Year and NBA champion Metta Sandiford-Artest (formerly known as both Ron Artest and Metta World Peace) joins Jonah to delve into the complexities of what it means to be misunderstood, as Metta has been for much of his life, and as the Jewish community has been for centuries. T…

1
Dave 57:29

3M ago57:29

57:29

Gary and Jim discuss the 1993 political comedy "Dave," in which a Presidential lookalike assumes the powers of the Chief Executive when the real President has a stroke. And what do you know, the imposter starts solving the country's problems. Starring Kevin Kline and Sigourney Weaver as rough stand-ins for Bill and Hillary Clinton.…

1
“The consequences of not having free speech”: Free Speech Gains Support, Debating Shoutdowns; Alec Torres on Good Speechwriting 55:33

3M ago55:33

55:33

On the first episode of Pod and Man at Yale of the year, Hilda Barragan-Reyes ’26, Abhinay Lingareddy ’26, and Eric Arabadzhiev ’28 talk about new Yale student survey results pointing to an increase in support for free speech. They also debate the free speech value of shout downs and whether institutional neutrality really matters for free speech. …

1
Marc Andreessen: Can Tech Finally Fix Healthcare? 32:33

3M ago32:33

32:33

Healthcare is a $4 trillion industry, making up nearly a fifth of the U.S. economy—but despite having some of the best doctors and advanced technology, the system often delivers poor outcomes at skyrocketing costs. Why is this the case, and what will it take to fix it? In this episode, a16z cofounder Marc Andreessen and General Partners Vijay Pande…

1
A City on Fire and Congressman Ritchie Torres 27:36

3M ago27:36

27:36

Watch on YouTube @BeingJewishPodcast In this highly-anticipated episode of Being Jewish, Jonah speaks with New York Congressmen Ritchie Torres about a wide range of issues including anti-Israel hate, the future of the Democratic party, and the soul of America. Torres, who has devoted much of his 10+ year career in politics to fighting anti-Jew hate…

1
Building Substack: Reinventing Culture through Subscriptions 36:45

4M ago36:45

36:45

In this episode, Substack cofounder and CEO Chris Best joins a16z General Partner Andrew Chen to discuss the origins and evolution of Substack, a platform redefining media and empowering creators to connect directly with their audiences. They dive into how Substack’s early days led to over 3 million paid subscribers, why creators are moving away fr…

1
BEING JEWISH LIVE - Hollywood Stars & Jewish Advocates Josh Gad, Ginnifer Goodwin & Marlee Matlin, Live from CBS Television City 1:24:59

4M ago1:24:59

1:24:59

Watch the show on YouTube @BeingJewishPodcast We’re kicking off 2025 with a very special, first-ever LIVE episode of Being Jewish! Filmed in front of a studio audience at the iconic CBS Television City, Jonah sits down with Tony nominee Josh Gad, TV/film star Ginnifer Goodwin and Academy Award winner Marlee Matlin in a must-see, brilliantly honest …

1
Crypto Trends for 2025: Stablecoins, App Stores, UX, and More 34:54

4M ago34:54

34:54

with @sambroner @meigga @darenmatsuoka @jneu_net @chrislyons and @rhhackett @smc90 Welcome to our special end-of-year episodes -- which also look ahead to 2025 -- covering our annual Big Ideas lists, where various a16z crypto team members share what they are personally excited about. (You can see the firmwide list, also including all the trends of …

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Speechwriting Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen