Best Speechwriting Podcasts (2025)

1
The Art of Listening 46:34

Play Pause

28d ago46:34

46:34

Former BBC journalist Steve Rawling talks about how speechwriters can learn from listening at the European Speechwriter Network conference in Oxford March 2025.

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Sam Altman on Sora, Energy, and Building an AI Empire 48:25

2d ago48:25

48:25

Sam Altman has led OpenAI from its founding as a research nonprofit in 2015 to becoming the most valuable startup in the world ten years later. In this episode, a16z Cofounder Ben Horowitz and General Partner Erik Torenberg sit down with Sam to discuss the core thesis behind OpenAI’s disparate bets, why they released Sora, how they use models inter…

1
How to Build a Real Estate Marketplace - Kaz Nejatian, Opendoor CEO 55:44

1d ago55:44

55:44

By Kaz Nejatian, Alex Rampell

1
A Seismologist 33:21

3d ago33:21

33:21

Monitoring global networks of seismometers, evangelizing for stronger buildings instead of better predictions, and measuring LA's slow crawl toward Alaska with Lucy Jones, a seismologist in Southern California. Why does she begin counting when she feels the earth start to shake? And how did a nuclear test ban treaty end up boosting the science of e…

1
Can the US Beat China’s Engineering State? 1:03:10

4d ago1:03:10

1:03:10

From high-speed rail to electric cars to batteries to AI, it’s clear that China can operate with incredible speed at massive scale. Can the US still compete? We sat down with Dan Wang, a Research Fellow at the Hoover Institution and the author of “Breakneck: China’s Quest to Engineer the Future” to discuss. Timecodes: 0:00 Introduction 1:36 Lawyers…

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Monitoring the Situation #2: Alana Newhouse 58:58

5d ago58:58

58:58

Two trends in media have been abundantly clear since 2020: legacy media is dying, and independent media is rising. a16z General Partners Erik Torenberg and Katherine Boyle sit down with Tablet founder and editor-in-chief Alana Newhouse to discuss the great media realignment, why real institutions will outlast the new “internet pirates", Alana’s dee…

1
Software is Eating Labor 26:49

6d ago26:49

26:49

Software has fundamentally changed the way we record, store, and share information. Its next act is to fundamentally change the nature of our economy, capturing trillions of dollars of value in the process. In this talk from the 2025 a16z LP Summit, a16z General Partner Alex Rampell discusses the history of filing cabinets and databases, how SaaS p…

1
The Ben & Marc Show: China Has Scale. Can America Catch Up? 57:16

8d ago57:16

57:16

Ben, Marc, and Erik Torenberg are joined by Brian Schimpf, Co-Founder & CEO of Anduril, and Chris Power, Founder & CEO of Hadrian. Together, they dig into America’s defense production gap: why the U.S. can out-innovate but not out-produce—and what it will take to turn that around. They discuss why U.S. war games show we run out of munitions in a we…

1
Cheeky Pint: Marc Andreessen, John Collison & Charlie Songhurst on Tech’s Big Questions 2:09:12

9d ago2:09:12

2:09:12

Today we’re sharing a feed drop from Cheeky Pint, where Stripe cofounder and president John Collison chats with legends in technology over a pint of Guinness. In this episode, John is joined by a16z cofounder Marc Andreessen and tech investor Charlie Songhurst for a candid conversation about bubbles, downturns, and the psychology of markets. They d…

1
Building an AI Physicist: ChatGPT Co-Creator’s Next Venture 54:20

10d ago54:20

54:20

Scaling laws took us from GPT-1 to GPT-5 Pro. But in order to crack physics, we’ll need a different approach. In this episode, a16z General Partner Anjney Midha talks to Liam Fedus, former VP of post-training research and co-creator of ChatGPT at OpenAI, and Ekin Dogus Cubuk, former head of materials science and chemistry research at Google DeepMin…

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Meta CMO: How Advertising Works Under the Hood 1:02:52

11d ago1:02:52

1:02:52

Ads pay for the internet—and they’re about to change again. a16z General Partner Erik Torenberg, entrepreneur and author Antonio García Martínez, and Meta CMO Alex Schultz dive into growth and performance marketing, privacy myths, retail media, and the AI future of “audience-of-one” advertising—plus Instagram what-ifs, WhatsApp as a super-app, and …

1
The Common Thread of All Technology: Monitoring the Situation, Ep.1 1:00:02

13d ago1:00:02

1:00:02

Announcing our new show, Monitoring the Situation, hosted by a16z General Partners Erik Torenberg and Katherine Boyle, with guest Eddie Lazzarin, CTO of a16z crypto. In this first episode, we ask how American Dynamism, consumer, games, and crypto all fit together, from Palmer/Oculus to Marc Andreessen’s Techno-Optimist Manifesto, while also explori…

1
Controversial Historian’s Grandson Shares Family and Publishing Perspective 54:35

15d ago54:35

54:35

In this episode of Eyewitness History, I speak with Adam Irving, grandson of historian David Irving and head of Irving Books, the publisher managing his grandfather’s works. We discuss David Irving’s career as an author, his legacy in historical debate, and what it means for Adam to balance family ties with the responsibilities of running a publish…

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From Vibe Coding to Vibe Researching: OpenAI’s Mark Chen and Jakub Pachocki 52:05

15d ago52:05

52:05

What comes after vibe coding? Maybe vibe researching. OpenAI’s Chief Scientist, Jakub Pachocki, and Chief Research Officer, Mark Chen, join a16z general partners Anjney Midha and Sarah Wang to go deep on GPT-5—how they fused fast replies with long-horizon reasoning, how they measure progress once benchmarks saturate, and why reinforcement learning …

1
Software finally eats services - Aaron Levie 59:33

16d ago59:33

59:33

Should the US put a price on H-1B visas, or would that block the flow of new talent? Are AI coding agents actually making teams way more productive, or is it just hype? And in the AI platform shift, will the big winners be incumbents or new AI-native startups? Erik Torenberg is joined by Box co-founder and CEO Aaron Levie, a16z board partner Steven…

1
America's Autism Crisis and How AI Can Fix Science with NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya 58:13

17d ago58:13

58:13

Dr. Jay Bhattacharya is one of the country’s top medical experts and a 24-year professor of medicine at Stanford. After being censored and deplatformed during COVID for his role in opposing harsh lockdowns, he was appointed Director of the National Institutes of Health by President Trump in 2025. a16z General Partners Erik Torenberg, Vineeta Agarwa…

1
An Executive Chef 33:53

17d ago33:53

33:53

By Dan Heath

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Dylan Patel on the AI Chip Race - NVIDIA, Intel & the US Government vs. China 1:40:00

18d ago1:40:00

1:40:00

Nvidia’s $5 billion investment in Intel is one of the biggest surprises in semiconductors in years. Two longtime rivals are now teaming up, and the ripple effects could reshape AI, cloud, and the global chip race. To make sense of it all, Erik Torenberg is joined by Dylan Patel, chief analyst at SemiAnalysis, joins Sarah Wang, general partner at a1…

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Ep. 93 Kelly Donougher on eschewing life’s “shoulds”, navigating infertility and finding healing through creativity and career change. 53:11

18d ago53:11

53:11

“How many kids do you have?” It’s a question asked so casually, often as part of small talk. Yet, for those who dreamed of parenthood but find themselves childless, these four words can land with a heavy blow. Today’s guest, Kelly Donougher, is a successful interior designer and founder of 13 Interiors, with design studios in Perth and Melbourne. B…

1
Charlie Kirk and the Rise of Political Violence 23:39

19d ago23:39

23:39

In this episode of Honestly with Bari Weiss, we share a special conversation featuring a16z general partner Katherine Boyle in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s shocking assassination. Katherine reflects on what courage means in a culture where words and debate are increasingly met with violence. Drawing on faith, history, and her own response to recent t…

1
The Death of Search: How Shopping Will Work In The Age of AI 45:22

23d ago45:22

45:22

The web is unhealthy, and AI agents are about to rewrite how we shop. In this episode, a16z General Partner Alex Rampell and Partner Justine Moore explore how AI agents will change commerce and the implications for Google’s business model, affiliate marketing, online shopping, and more. Timecodes: 0:00 Introduction 0:12 The Role of AI Agents in Com…

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Behind the Laughs of "Airplane!" with Lorna Lembeck 1:03:24

24d ago1:03:24

1:03:24

In this episode of Eyewitness History, Josh Cohen welcomes actress Lorna Lembeck, who played Randy in the legendary comedy Airplane!. Lorna shares her memories from the set, what it was like to be part of a film that redefined parody, and why the movie continues to resonate with audiences more than forty years later. See omnystudio.com/listener for…

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How OpenAI Built Its Coding Agent 1:20:12

24d ago1:20:12

1:20:12

OpenAI’s Codex has already shipped hundreds of thousands of pull requests in its first month. But what is it really, and how will coding agents change the future of software? In this episode, General Partner Anjney Midha goes behind the scenes with one of Codex’s product leads- Alexander Embiricos - to unpack its origin story, why its PR success ra…

1
Faster Science, Better Drugs 56:26

25d ago56:26

56:26

Can we make science as fast as software? In this episode, Erik Torenberg talks with Patrick Hsu (cofounder of Arc Institute) and a16z general partner Jorge Conde about Arc’s “virtual cells” moonshot, which uses foundation models to simulate biology and guide experiments. They discuss why research is slow, what an AlphaFold-style moment for cell bio…

1
Ben Horowitz: Why Hesitation is a CEO’s Worst Enemy 1:35:38

28d ago1:35:38

1:35:38

In this conversation from Lenny’s Podcast, Ben Horowitz joins Lenny to discuss the psychological muscle every founder needs, why hesitation can be fatal for CEOs, when it’s time to replace a founder, and how to normalize failure while building confidence. They also explore the Databricks founding story, investing in Adam Neumann after WeWork, wheth…

1
A Speech in Memory of Dr Max Atkinson 33:24

28d ago33:24

33:24

Simon Atkinson from IPSOS delivers a speech remembering the great public speaking consultant and speechwriter Dr Max Atkinson.

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In Praise of Populism 30:23

28d ago30:23

30:23

Professor Michael Burke from Utrecht University discusses the relationship between populism and democracy at the European Speechwriter Network conference in Oxford March 2025.

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The Demagogic Genius of Donald Trump 30:32

28d ago30:32

30:32

Journalist, Kevin Toolis, gives an analysis of the rhetoric of Donald Trump at the European Speechwriter Network conference in Oxford March 2025.

1
The Language of Evil 15:35

28d ago15:35

15:35

Guy Doza talks about his new book, The Language of Evil, How dictators manipulate the masses and wield power through words.

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Does European Speechwriting have a Future? 23:32

28d ago23:32

23:32

European Commission Speechwriter, Daniel Mouqué, provides a rousing speech in favour of the European Union.

1
Brian Jenner on AI (BBC World Service) 5:45

28d ago5:45

5:45

Brian Jenner spoke about the influence of AI on speechwriting on the BBC.

1
Inside the $13T Mortgage Machine 54:48

29d ago54:48

54:48

The $13T U.S. mortgage market serves 50M homeowners but still runs on decades-old software. In this episode, a16z GP Angela Strange hosts Tim Mayopoulos (ex-CEO of Fannie Mae and ex-president of Blend), Mike Yu (co-founder and CEO of Vesta), and Andrew Wang (co-founder and CEO of Valon) to unpack why standardization and regulation slow change, and …

1
Chris Dixon on How to Build Networks, Movements, and AI-Native Products 42:59

1M ago42:59

42:59

Why do some consumer products explode into networks that reshape the internet, while others fade away? Today on the podcast, a16z general partners Anish Acharya and Chris Dixon take on that question. Anish invests in AI-native consumer products and the next wave of consumer tech. Chris is best known for his work in Web3 and network economies, and h…

1
Mark Cuban on the NBA, Cost Plus Drugs, and How to Fix Politics 1:01:04

1M ago1:01:04

1:01:04

What happens when AI collides with salesmanship, streaming-era sports, and healthcare? In this episode, Erik Torenberg is joined by Mark Cuban, entrepreneur, Dallas Mavericks co-owner, and founder of Cost Plus Drugs. Topics include fiery group chats and how dissent sharpens thinking, the sales playbook of modern politics, and concrete fixes for U.S…

1
A Speechwriter 32:18

1M ago32:18

32:18

Writing for the ear rather than the eye, racing to meet teleprompter deadlines, and recasting lost memories as timeless advice with Stephen Krupin, a speechwriter. What was it like to write speeches for President Obama? And when can a speaker's desire for "authenticity" go too far? WANT MORE EPISODE SUGGESTIONS? Grab our What It's Like To Be... "st…

1
The Little Tech Agenda for AI 57:10

1M ago57:10

57:10

Who’s speaking up for startups in Washington, D.C.? In this episode, Matt Perault (Head of AI Policy, a16z) and Collin McCune (Head of Government Affairs, a16z) unpack the “Little Tech Agenda” for AI- why AI rules should regulate harmful use, not model development; how to keep open source open; the roles of the federal government vs states in regul…

1
Building APIs for Developers and AI Agents 26:34

1M ago26:34

26:34

Stainless founder Alex Rattray joins a16z partner Jennifer Li to talk about the future of APIs, SDKs, and the rise of MCP (Model Context Protocol). Drawing on his experience at Stripe—where he helped redesign API docs and built code-generation systems—Alex explains why the SDK is the API for most developers, and why high-quality, idiomatic librarie…

1
How to Be Free: Shaka Senghor, Oprah Winfrey, Ben Horowitz 36:33

1M ago36:33

36:33

Taken from The Oprah Podcast, this special episode brings together Shaka Senghor, a16z cofounder Ben Horowitz, and Oprah Winfrey for a powerful conversation on resilience and transformation. Shaka, a resilience expert, motivational speaker, and bestselling author of Writing My Wrongs, shares his journey from incarceration to redemption along with i…

1
Is Non-Consensus Investing Overrated? 54:51

1M ago54:51

54:51

Is non-consensus investing overrated—or the secret to venture returns? a16z General Partner Erik Torenberg is joined by Martín Casado (General Partner, a16z) and Leo Polovets (General Partner, Humba Ventures) to unpack the debate that lit up venture Twitter/X: should founders and VCs chase consensus, or run from it? They explore what “consensus” re…

1
Jack Altman & Martin Casado on the Future of VC 53:28

1M ago53:28

53:28

Jack Altman sits down with Martin Casado, General Partner at a16z, to unpack the shifting dynamics of venture capital and why media matters more than ever. They cover a16z’s evolution from generalists to specialized platforms, the rise of AI infrastructure, and why today’s fiercest battles are often for talent, not market share. Timecodes: 0:00 Int…

1
Chris Best of Substack on the Future of Media 46:23

1M ago46:23

46:23

What if the future of media isn’t controlled by algorithms or legacy institutions—but by independent voices building directly with their audiences? In this episode, Erik Torenberg is joined by Chris Best, cofounder and CEO of Substack, along with a16z general partners Katherine Boyle and Andrew Chen. We trace the origin story of Substack and its cu…

1
Katherine Boyle on Shawn Ryan 2:51:38

1M ago2:51:38

2:51:38

Venture capital has powered companies like Facebook and TikTok—but what if that same urgency fueled America’s defense and industrial base? Katherine Boyle, General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz and cofounder of the firm’s American Dynamism practice, argues this is the biggest business opportunity of our time. In this conversation from The Shawn Ry…

1
"Don't Understand...What Socialism Is": Yale Students on Capitalism; Georgetown's Jason Brennan on Young People and Socialism 48:20

1M ago48:20

48:20

In the first Pod and Man at Yale episode of the fall semester, Will Flanigan '27, Hilda Barragan-Reyes '26, and Stephen Morris '27 discuss free markets, capitalism, and Zohran Mamdani: Hilda Barragan-Reyes: “I think people don’t necessarily disagree with the premise that capitalism is the best system. I think they often don’t understand what capita…

1
Monopolies vs Oligopolies in AI 1:17:25

1M ago1:17:25

1:17:25

In this interview from the 20VC podcast, Martin Casado (a16z General Partner) joins Harry Stebbings to unpack the state of AI, the rise of coding models, the future of open vs. closed source, and how value is shifting across the stack. Martin offers a candid view of the opportunities and dangers shaping AI and venture capital today. Resources: Find…

1
I've Written a Book! 4:16

1M ago4:16

4:16

In this special episode of Eyewitness History, Josh Cohen shares the story behind his new book, William F. Buckley Jr.'s Guide to Friendship in a Polarized Era. He explores how Buckley built lasting friendships across deep political divides and why his example of decency, humor, and faith matters in today’s polarized world. Pre-order now - https://…

1
Eyewitness to India: Art, Culture, and a Life Transformed 43:41

1M ago43:41

43:41

In this episode of Eyewitness History, Josh Cohen speaks with Dr. Stephen P. Huyler — art historian, cultural anthropologist, photographer, and author of the new memoir Transformed by India: A Life. For more than five decades, Huyler has traveled across nearly every corner of India, documenting its crafts, rituals, and people while forging lifelong…