Best Amir V Podcasts (2025)

What happens to Silicon Valley when the world’s best founders and engineers can no longer afford to work in the US? Today, Chris and Yaniv break down why the massive new work visa fee is a tech talent crisis waiting to happen. They discuss how Trump’s surprising $100K H-1B fee could reshape startup hiring and the tech sector at large, along with th…

1
Why Every Startup Founder Should Consider B2B SaaS w/ Rob Walling (Edu) 58:29

Play Pause

1d ago58:29

58:29

Is the new age of AI agents about to kill niche B2B SaaS businesses? Many first-time founders worry that tools like ChatGPT or custom AI builders will make off-the-shelf SaaS products obsolete, but it could simply herald a new evolution of SaaS. In this episode, Yaniv is joined by Rob Walling, serial founder, investor, and author of The SaaS Playbo…

1
Insiders React: YouTube's Steady Domination + Oracle's AI Comeback, Sam Altman v. Tucker Carlson 55:08

8d ago55:08

55:08

Is YouTube quietly becoming the most powerful platform in the world? Announcements made during Made On YouTube 2025 revealed incredibly promising long-term plans, with the media giant seemingly set to dominate video, music, and podcasts with the help of Google’s AI. Too many entrepreneurs still see YouTube as ‘just’ a video host, missing the bigger…

1
Be Persistent Without Being Stupid: We Learn from YC Founder Paul Graham 41:13

9d ago41:13

41:13

Are you truly being persistent with your startup, or just being stubborn? In the new age of AI-powered founders and hyper-fast iteration, many entrepreneurs mistake obstinacy for persistence and end up running out of time, money, and morale. Too often we glorify “hustle” and “grit” without understanding when to adapt, pivot, or quit. The misconcept…

1
Christopher Golden (Alien, Predator, Hellboy, Buffy, Vampirella, The Crow, Daredevil, X-Men...) 1:21:05

12d ago1:21:05

1:21:05

Prosthetic hands, pillow-eating alligators, and ghost hunters! If you're seeing this, please leave us a review! https://linktr.ee/horrormakesushappy

1
Insiders React: Apple's Huge AI Blunder + IPO Market Heats Up, White House Tech Dinner 57:09

15d ago57:09

57:09

With Apple’s iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, AirPods Pro 3, and Apple Watch 11 now unveiled, what does this mean for the future of phones and wearable tech? And does the incredible AI of Google Pixel still blow Siri out of the water? In this episode, Chris and Yaniv delve into Apple’s newest product lineup and what it reveals about the company’s long-te…

1
TEST 1:55

13d ago1:55

1:55

TEST Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Pantheon Media

1
Growing a Pre-Seed Startup? This Is The Core Knowledge You Need w/ Ashley Smith 57:54

16d ago57:54

57:54

Pre-seed founders want explosive growth early on, but are you following the wrong playbook too soon? These days strategies, acronyms, and well-intended advice are everywhere, but today's guest argues that the path forward is a simple one: talk to customers, run experiments, and embrace rejection as part of the journey. In this episode, Yaniv Bernst…

1
Insiders React: Google Antitrust: Is The Ruling Fair? + YC’s Latest Request For Startups, Statsig Acquisition 47:43

22d ago47:43

47:43

Google’s long-running antitrust case has reached its remedy stage, and the outcome was far lighter than many expected. No breakup, no ban on default search deals, just a few constraints on bundling apps and some required data sharing, but it may not be quite as simple as it seems on the surface. Meanwhile, OpenAI dropped $1.1 billion to acquire Sta…

1
First Principles: Listen to This Before You Apply to YC 38:04

23d ago38:04

38:04

It seems like startup accelerators are everywhere these days. But what are they? What’s the point of them? And most importantly, is it worth having your startup go through one? Based on their own experience with YC and startups, Chris and Yaniv talk you through it all. In this episode, you will: Learn what startup accelerators are and how they work…

1
Jimmy Wienholz (The Horrific Network, Sinister Creature Con) 1:08:02

26d ago1:08:02

1:08:02

Lottery tickets, barking at people, and antisocial ghosts! If you're seeing this, please leave us a review!

1
Insiders React: Google Pixel 10 – Does It Finally Beat Apple at Its Own Game? 35:21

27d ago35:21

35:21

Is Apple’s dominance in smartphones starting to crack? Google’s Pixel 10 launch brought AI-first features, polished hardware, and bold marketing, signaling a new era in the iPhone vs. Android rivalry. For years, the iPhone has been synonymous with polish, hardware quality, and ecosystem lock-in. But with Google’s patient, decade-long investment in …

1
Startup Tech Stacks: Make Your Product Stand Out & Get Used w/ Joseph Ruscio 1:04:17

30d ago1:04:17

1:04:17

What makes a great tech infrastructure startup? And how do the best ones successfully navigate, and stand out from, the overcrowded market? In this episode, Yaniv is joined by Joseph Ruscio, General Partner at Heavybit and former CTO of Vibrato, to unpack the dos and don'ts of tech infrastructure startups, how open source fuels growth, and why AI i…

1
Insiders React: Meta to Shrink AI Division – Is This the Beginning of the End? 27:47

1M ago27:47

27:47

Is the AI hype cycle about to burst? For months, investors and founders have chased sky-high valuations, billion-dollar hires, and promises of superintelligence, but Meta's drastic plans to cut back its AI division seem to indicate a bleak future for LLMs and AI at large. In this episode, Chris and Yaniv unpack the latest shakeup at Meta, using the…

1
YC Founder’s 13 Timeless Startup Principles: 'Ramen Profitable’ and More 44:14

1M ago44:14

44:14

This new era of AI-driven startups has many founders still believing success is about having the perfect product roadmap. The truth, however, is far more counterintuitive. In this episode, Yaniv and Chris dive into timeless lessons from Paul Graham’s legendary essay “Startups in 13 Sentences”. Drawing from Graham’s wisdom and their own experiences,…

1
Amir Moini (Branding and Marketing Officer, Fangoria and Netflix) 1:00:44

1M ago1:00:44

1:00:44

Catwoman, Power Rangers, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Witches! If you're seeing this, please leave us a review!By Steve Becker

1
Insiders React: GPT-5 Is ‘Fast Fashion’ For Software + Apple’s $600B Commitment, Altman vs Musk (...Again) 41:37

1M ago41:37

41:37

Is AI threatening traditional subscription software models and accelerating competitive turnover? Sam Altman thinks so. In this episode, Chris and Ray discuss OpenAI’s GPT-5 release, and Altman's prediction that AI will enable a “fast fashion” era of SaaS, where applications can be created, deployed, and discarded in rapid cycles. You'll also hear …

1
Capital for Founders: Insights From Yaniv’s New Startup Raise 50:59

1M ago50:59

50:59

Raising money for your startup isn’t just about pitching but navigating egos, timing, and a flood of contradictory feedback. Why do some founders win over early believers who open every door, while others get stuck in endless “soft nos”? And how do you avoid twisting yourself into a pretzel trying to please every investor you meet? In this episode,…

1
Insiders React: Cloudflare Catches Perplexity Red-Handed + Wikipedia Adopts Anti-AI Slop Policy, AWS Losing Ground 44:26

2M ago44:26

44:26

In violation of long-standing internet norms like robots.txt, Cloudflare caught Perplexity AI scraping content from websites that had explicitly opted out. The situation begs the question: what happens when AI startups prioritize growth over digital consent? Listen as Chris and Yaniv discuss the repercussions of Cloudflare's "honeypot" traps. They …

1
Grow Your Startup Fast and Effectively w/ Roblox's Former Tech Chief, Keith V. Lucas 56:37

2M ago56:37

56:37

In the startup world, speed is everything. But too many founders confuse busyness with velocity, mistaking frantic activity for real momentum. In this episode, Chris and Yaniv are joined by Keith Lucas, former product and engineering leader at Roblox, to unpack what speed actually means—and how to build it into your startup from day one. They explo…

1
Nathan Taare (Grafted, Wolf Man, Wellington Paranormal) 1:15:44

2M ago1:15:44

1:15:44

Filming at night, homemade horror films, and scent-based horror! If you're seeing this, please leave us a review!By Steve Becker

1
Insiders React: Microsoft Launches GitHub Spark + US Govt Bans "Woke AI", YouTube to Restrict Kids' Accounts 54:45

2M ago54:45

54:45

Is GitHub Spark the future of AI software building? Startups looking to use “vibe coding” often face janky tools and broken promises. Microsoft's latest IDE, however, has serious potential to be the industry breakthrough that addresses the agonizing issues developers face. In this episode, Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein unpack Microsoft’s latest at…

1
Listener Q&A – Should You Use AI to Build Your MVP? Plus: Building Your Perfect Team, Breaking Startup Rules & More (Edu) 39:09

2M ago39:09

39:09

AI is changing how we build startups, but how can founders leverage it without their product becoming slop? Too many early-stage entrepreneurs believe that faster prototyping automatically leads to better products. In reality, rushing to “ship something” can destroy product-market fit before it’s even tested. In this Q&A episode, Yaniv Bernstein (e…

1
Insiders React: Uber's New Response to Waymo + ChatGPT’s New Super Agent & OpenAI’s Chaotic Company Culture 48:31

2M ago48:31

48:31

Is Uber’s gamble on RoboTaxis a brilliant move, or the end of its asset-light magic? And what’s really going on inside OpenAI as it races to dominate AI? Many founders assume hypergrowth companies are perfectly coordinated machines, but the reality is far messier. From billion-dollar GPU costs to chaotic product launches, there’s a lot for entrepre…

1
Two Simple Principles to Get Your Startup Noticed, and How to Apply Them (w/ Product Hunt CEO Rajiv Ayyangar) 57:17

2M ago57:17

57:17

Getting noticed is harder than ever, but Rajiv Ayyangar (CEO, Product Hunt) says most startups fail for a surprisingly simple reason: lack of clarity and velocity. In this episode of The Startup Podcast, Rajiv explains what separates breakout startups from the thousands that never gain traction. Drawing on insights from hundreds of Product Hunt lau…

1
V. Castro (Pink Agave Motel, Immortal Pleasures, Rebel Moon) 1:03:45

2M ago1:03:45

1:03:45

Love, Sex, challenge, gratitude ... and vampires!By Steve Becker

1
Insiders React: AI Chaos - Meta & Google Poach Talent from Apple & OpenAI + Elon's Grok-4 Havoc, Intel Admits Defeat 44:26

2M ago44:26

44:26

Is Apple losing its edge in the AI race? And what does it mean for startups when big tech strip-mines entire companies for talent? Many early entrepreneurs believe giant tech firms are unbeatable, but this episode reveals how even industry leaders can stumble—and what founders can learn from their missteps. In this episode, Chris Saad and Yaniv Ber…

1
Unlock Hypergrowth: How Vibe Coding Can Fast-Track Your Startup Success w/ Bolt CEO Eric Simons 58:44

2M ago58:44

58:44

Can you really build and launch a startup without writing code, or even knowing how to? As AI tools promise lightning-fast product development, many founders still fall into old traps: over-validating, under-executing, or waiting too long for a technical cofounder. In this episode, Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein are joined by Eric Simons, founder o…

1
Insiders React: Musk Launches “America Party” + YouTube Declares War on AI Slop, Sequoia's Mamdani Scandal 51:36

3M ago51:36

51:36

Is Silicon Valley building the future or just trying to rule it? From Elon Musk’s new political party to retail investors buying fake OpenAI stock, the startup world is getting weirder, faster. In this episode, Chris Saad and Shira Lazar break down a massive week in tech, politics, and startup culture. They unpack Elon Musk’s launch of the “America…

1
Top 7 Mistakes Founders Make in Raising Early Stage VC w/ Amir Shevat (Edu) 53:40

3M ago53:40

53:40

Are you sure your startup should be raising venture capital? Most founders assume VC is the goal—but for many, it's the wrong fuel entirely. In this episode, we bust that myth wide open. Join Yaniv Bernstein and Chris Saad as they sit down with Amir Shevat, General Partner at Darkmode Ventures (ex-Google, Slack, Twitter), to unpack the seven most d…

1
Sasha Rainbow (Grafted) 1:15:16

3M ago1:15:16

1:15:16

Slumber parties, stage fright, and subliminal scares!By Steve Becker

1
Insiders React: Cloudflare Makes AI Pay + Figma Files For IPO, Grammarly Buys Superhuman 46:29

3M ago46:29

46:29

What happens when the internet starts charging AI to crawl its content? And can legacy tools like Figma or Grammarly survive the AI age, or will they be replaced by smarter, faster upstarts? In this episode, Yaniv Bernstein and Chris Saad break down some of the most important shifts in tech and business right now. From Cloudflare’s launch of AI pay…

1
What If Doug Benson Was Our Guest?! 57:09

3M ago57:09

57:09

Doug Benson (Doug Loves Movies, Super High Me) joins Wayne and Jonathan for a hilarious What If?! sesh! Doug talks about getting stoned with his fans after shows, doing prop comedy with Judd Apatow in the Valley back in the day, how he almost became an entertainment journalist, and more! Watch this episode on Youtube! Follow Doug Benson on Instagra…

1
Master Your AI Prompts and Unlock ChatGPT's Full Potential w/ Jonathan Mast (Edu) 59:58

3M ago59:58

59:58

Struggling to get good results from ChatGPT or other AI tools? You’re probably prompting it wrong, and you’re not alone. Many founders assume AI just knows what you mean. Without the right prompt structure, though, even the most powerful LLMs will fail to deliver. In this episode, Yaniv Bernstein is joined by Jonathan Mast—seasoned entrepreneur, AI…

1
Insiders React: Anthropic's Huge AI Copyright Win + Speech to Text Better Than Ever, Peter Thiel's Tech Dystopia 34:37

3M ago34:37

34:37

Is training AI on copyrighted content stealing, or just learning? A major U.S. court just weighed in, and the verdict could rewrite the rules for startups using generative AI. Too many founders assume "training data" is fair game but that blind spot could cost them billions. In this episode, Yaniv Bernstein and Chris Saad, experienced startup opera…

1
New Land, New Religious Experiences? (part 2) – Judith Pajo, Zeyneb Sayilgan and Meli Solomon 29:15

3M ago29:15

29:15

Episode 101. This is the second part of my discussion with Judith Pajo and Zeyneb Sayilgan about living our faiths in America and Germany. While we have all lived in both countries, we practice different faiths, representing the three Abrahamic religions––Judaism, Christianity, and Islam respectively. In the first part released on 12 June, we discu…

1
What If Brennan Lee Mulligan Was Our Guest?! 50:09

3M ago50:09

50:09

Brennan Lee Mulligan is one of the world's most beloved dungeon masters, and he joins Wayne and Jonathan to roleplay a prison escape, talk about how his players love to sneak in Austin Powers and Kendrick Lamar references into their games, and how D&D prepared him for his eventual career... in D&D! Watch this episode on Youtube! Follow Brennan Lee …

1
Peter Atkins (Hellraiser 2/3/Bloodline, Nightbreed, Wishmaster 1) 1:20:43

3M ago1:20:43

1:20:43

Operatic horror, shared laughter, and the importance of context and tone. If you're seeing this, please leave us a review!By Steve Becker

1
Insiders React: Sam Altman’s 'Gentle Singularity' + Workplace AI at an All-Time High, Meta's $30B Scale AI Acquihire 46:39

3M ago46:39

46:39

Is AI about to transform the world… gently? Sam Altman says yes, but are we being lulled into complacency while the real risks go unchallenged? Startups everywhere are rushing to embed AI into their workflows, but few understand just how flawed that human-AI interaction can be. From broken prompting to billion-dollar power plays, the future of AI i…

1
What If Utkarsh Ambudkar Was Our Guest?! 50:30

3M ago50:30

50:30

The incredible Utkarsh Ambudkar, aka UTK (Ghosts, Pitch Perfect, Free Guy) joins Wayne and Jonathan on the Headgum couches to talk and spit rhymes about being "kinda rich", start (and end) beef with Kevin Hart and Kevin James, and dish about "Ghosts." Plus, an Andre 3000 fist bump story to remember! Watch this episode on Youtube! Follow Utkarsh Amb…

1
Apps Are Obsolete: How Startups Can Leverage the New Era of AI Agents (Spotlight) 46:43

3M ago46:43

46:43

What if your next startup competitor doesn’t have a single employee? AI agents aren’t just another software trend — they’re redefining the interface between humans, data, and execution, yet many founders still confuse basic chatbots with the true potential of these agents. In this episode, Chris and Yaniv are joined by Jeremiah Owyang, General Part…

1
Apple WWDC Breakdown + Musk & Trump's Messy Divorce, a16z's Fresh Take on AI Startups 54:12

4M ago54:12

54:12

Apple’s WWDC 2025 keynote revealed a lot – just not what you’d expect. Siri’s long-awaited AI upgrade was quietly delayed, and instead Apple rolled out a grab bag of long-overdue features, flashy design updates, and deep ChatGPT integrations. Is this a bold product reset, or proof that Apple is falling behind? Meanwhile, Elon Musk and Donald Trump …

1
New Land, New Religious Experience? (part 1) – Judith Pajo, Zeyneb Sayilgan and Meli Solomon 36:10

4M ago36:10

36:10

Episode 100. For this episode, I’ve invited two women, Judith Pajo and Zeyneb Sayilgan, for a group discussion about living our faiths in America and Germany. We each have unique patterns of immigration in addition to different religious identities and practice. Judith grew up in both countries as a Catholic, Zeyneb likewise grew up in Germany and …

1
What If James Adomian Was Our Guest?! 55:20

4M ago55:20

55:20

James Adomian (Harley Quinn, Krapopolis, Jimmy Kimmel Live!) joins Wayne and Jonathan to perform an incredible medley of improvised impressions, including a scene where Bane and Blade meet in a laundromat. Plus Jonathan's surprise character cameo, Saturday morning cartoons, an Elon Musk rap, and more! Watch this episode on Youtube! Follow James Ado…

1
Jason Stein (Dads From The Crypt, How Not to Make a Movie Podcast) 1:09:08

4M ago1:09:08

1:09:08

Jedi training, showering in snakes, and your friendly neighborhood serial killer! If you're seeing this, please leave us a review!By Steve Becker

1
Insiders React: Meta's Luckey Military Deal + Google's Plan to Split Itself, Europe Revives AI & Startups 27:20

4M ago27:20

27:20

Can consumer tech like Facebook and Oculus really help win wars? As governments get serious about AI and startups, Silicon Valley is being dragged—sometimes unwillingly—into the global military and geopolitical game. In this episode, Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein unpack how Meta is teaming up with Anduril—the military tech startup founded by Oculu…

1
What If Drew Carey Was Our Guest?! 1:01:03

4M ago1:01:03

1:01:03

Drew Carey is a TV legend for hosting shows like "The Price Is Right" and "Whose Line Is It Anyway," but he's in the guest seat today! Wayne and Jonathan talk to Drew about seeing Phish live in Vegas, what people yell at Drew on the street, feeling your feelings as a man, and more! Watch this episode on Youtube! Follow Drew Carey on Instagram Follo…

1
How the PRFAQ Made Amazon Great (And Can Do The Same for You) w/ Marcelo Calbucci (Edu) 1:00:14

4M ago1:00:14

1:00:14

Are you building a startup strategy—or just making it look like you have one? Too many founders mistake polished slide decks for actual strategic thinking, leading to misalignment, wasted resources, and failed products. In this episode, Yaniv Bernstein and Chris Saad are joined by Marcelo Calbucci, former Amazon director and author of The PRFAQ Fra…

1
Insiders React: Sam Altman's New $6B Partnership + Klarna's AI Backtrack, Bitcoin Over $111K 44:17

4M ago44:17

44:17

What does it mean when OpenAI gives away $6 billion worth of equity just to bring one man on board? In a world where design, brand, and user experience could determine AI dominance, are startups undervaluing human-centered thinking? In this episode, Chris and Yaniv unpack OpenAI’s jaw-dropping acquisition of Jony Ive's mysterious startup “io,” and …