Best Speechwriting Podcasts (2025)

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

22d 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
Conservative at Yale; Buckley Biographer Lawrence Perelman on William F. Buckley, Jr., The Man 49:20

2h ago49:20

49:20

On the newest episode of Pod and Man at Yale, Anshul Guha ’25 and Kevin Baisden LAW ’25 talked about what it means to be conservative at Yale: Guha: “I think the most important thing for me, as a conservative on campus at that time, was to make sure that I was continuing to speak out…and making sure that my views were heard just so that there was t…

1
The Software Crisis Behind America's Infrastructure 40:56

6m ago40:56

40:56

Today’s critical infrastructure—air traffic, logistics, defense—is powered by legacy software. And that’s a problem. In this episode, recorded live at the a16z American Dynamism Summit, a16z partner Leila Hay sits down with Phillip Buckendorf, CEO of Air Space Intelligence, and Lt. Gen. Leonard J. Kosinski (Ret.), ASI’s Chief Strategy Officer and f…

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

6d 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 Dual-Use Founder: Vets Now Building For America 37:51

14d 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
The Future of Drone Warfare 40:31

21d 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
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

23d ago48:23

48:23

On 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 F…

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

22d 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

23d 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

28d 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
21 - How the Circus Can Re-Vitalize Your Next Event 29:47

29d 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
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
“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
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
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
"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
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

3M 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
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
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
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
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

4M 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
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
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 …

1
Super Staffing Healthcare, Codifying Compliance, & Scaling Services 52:09

4M ago52:09

52:09

As we prepare to step into 2025, the possibilities for applied AI are reshaping industries in profound ways. In this episode, a16z General Partners Julie Yoo and Angela Strange, and Partner Joe Schmidt, dive into the transformative power of AI across healthcare, fintech, and traditional service sectors. We explore: Super Staffing for Healthcare: Ho…

1
The Race for AI—Search, National Infrastructure, & On-Device AI 42:45

4M ago42:45

42:45

The AI race is on, and 2025 could be its most transformative year yet. In this episode, a16z General Partners Anjney Midha and Jennifer Li, and Partner Alex Immerman dive into the trends reshaping AI and its impact on search, infrastructure, and devices. We explore: How AI-native tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity are challenging Google’s search dom…

1
Jobs of the Future, Harnessing Earth Observation, & Gaming Tech Advances 41:59

4M ago41:59

41:59

As 2025 begins, industries are evolving at unprecedented speed: robots are revolutionizing manufacturing, terabytes of earth observation data are driving new possibilities, and gaming technology is transforming how we design, train, and innovate across sectors. In this episode, a16z General Partner Erin Price-Wright, Engineering Fellow Millen Anand…

1
20 - How to Make Events More Neuro-Accessible: From Broadway to Corporate 37:33

4M ago37:33

37:33

Making events more inclusive for neurodivergent audiences In this episode, we’re talking with Partnership Strategy & Engagement Lead of Workplace Experience at Google and Founder of The Neu Project, Megan Henshall, and Co-Founder of P3 Productions and Lead Producer of the Broadway musical How to Dance in Ohio, Sammy Lopez. Accessibility is extremel…

1
Scaling Shopify: Tobias Lütke and Ben Horowitz on Building a Global Giant 45:26

5M ago45:26

45:26

In this episode of Web3 with a16z, Shopify CEO and cofounder Tobias Lütke joins a16z cofounder Ben Horowitz for a conversation recorded live at the a16z crypto Founders Summit. Together, they explore what it takes to build a breakout startup in a competitive market, the changing landscape of retail, and how to drive workplace change while navigatin…

1
Diane Boyd: Wildlife biologist and wolf conservationist 1:08:19

5M ago1:08:19

1:08:19

Diane Boyd has four decades of experience on behavior, conservation and management of wild wolf populations. In 1979 Diane moved to Montana to study wolf recovery in the Rocky Mountains, from the first natural colonizer to approximately 2000 wolves today in the western United States. Diane has worked for the University of Montana, U.S. Fish & Wildl…

1
How AI is Transforming Labor Markets 44:38

5M ago44:38

44:38

Did you know the U.S. nurse labor market is over $600 billion annually, but the dedicated software market for nurses is almost zero? In this episode General Partners Alex Rampell, David Haber, and Angela Strange discuss how AI is revolutionizing labor by automating tasks traditionally done by humans. They’ll trace the evolution of cloud eras — from…

1
Love Actually 1:11:11

5M ago1:11:11

1:11:11

In the spirit of Christmas, Gary and Jim sought out a Christmas classic that depicts a U.S. President and landed on "Love Actually," one of Gary's least favorite Christmas movies. Has he changed his mind since the last time he watched it? And what did Jim think now that he's finally seen it? Crack open a bottle of Christmas cheer and fire up the po…

1
Ep 223 | Letters from the Audience, Part 7 | Rick & Bubba University 45:42

5M ago45:42

45:42

The final episode of "Rick & Bubba University" features answers to questions that the audience has always wanted to ask. Who were the biggest influences on the show? Are there any old clips of the show that can never be aired again? What is the secret meaning behind some of the longest-running bits on the show? Find out the answers to these questio…

1
Fixing Education in America: What's Stopping Us? 38:54

5M ago38:54

38:54

Over half of Americans live in childcare deserts, while 90% of brain development happens before the age of five. All the while, education and childcare remain among the most resistant sectors to technological change. Billions of dollars have been spent, but outcomes continue to lag. Why? In this episode, we dive into the systemic issues—misaligned …

1
Prediction Markets and Beyond 1:49:49

5M ago1:49:49

1:49:49

This episode was originally published on our sister podcast, web3 with a16z. If you’re excited about the next generation of the internet, check out the show: https://link.chtbl.com/hrr_h-XC We've heard a lot about the premise and the promise of prediction markets for a long time, but they finally hit the main stage with the most recent election. So…

1
Death of a Salesforce: Why AI Will Transform Sales 16:34

5M ago16:34

16:34

Sales is evolving. AI-native systems are replacing traditional CRM tools, capturing unstructured insights from emails, Slack, surveys, and more in real time. These systems automate early-stage tasks like prospecting and qualification, enabling sales teams to focus on high-value work—while AI provides live coaching and drives decisions across sales,…

1
The Longevity Imperative: Redefining the Way We Age 40:30

5M ago40:30

40:30

What if the biggest challenge of our time isn’t living longer, but living better? In this episode, we’re tackling one of humanity’s greatest accomplishments—and perhaps its most overlooked challenge: longevity. As more people live past 100, our systems—healthcare, finance, career planning, and even our cultural perceptions of aging—need a fundament…

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