Best Patrick McKenzie Podcasts (2025)

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Understanding perpetual futures 26:11

Play Pause

13d ago26:11

26:11

In this episode, Patrick McKenzie (patio11) walks through how perpetual futures work, from funding rates to liquidations to the surprise of automatic deleveraging. Perps are the dominant trading mechanism in crypto (6-8X larger than spot volume) and exist primarily to let exchanges and market makers run casinos more capital-efficiently. He explains…

1
David Deutsch on the Pattern 1:26:16

6m ago1:26:16

1:26:16

A world-class physicist makes a shocking claim: across 2,500 years and every kind of society, there has been a recurring moral exception carved out just for Jews--the idea that hurting Jews is, in some sense, legitimate. Most of the time, this doesn't erupt into pogroms. Instead, it lives as a background permission: a readiness to excuse, minimize,…

1
Smart Cities & Digital Governance, with Sean Audain 38:12

9h ago38:12

38:12

Presenting a discussion with Sean Audain, the former City Innovation Lead and now Strategic Planning Manager at Wellington City Council. We covered a wide array of topics, from how Wellington is using sensors at scale to improve earthquake resilience, to the implications of narrowing information asymmetries thanks to AI combined with data collectio…

1
S7E55 - Five Security Trends That Will Force Hard Conversations in 2026 33:23

8h ago33:23

33:23

In this special episode of The Virtual CISO Moment, Greg Schaffer shares five cybersecurity predictions for 2026 grounded in real-world patterns — not hype. From the tightening of SOC 2 audits and the rise of “vibe coding” risks, to a coming shakeout in the vCISO market, influencer-driven security shaming, and the growing dangers of contractor misc…

1
Free Will Is Real (with Kevin Mitchell) 1:32:27

9d ago1:32:27

1:32:27

Are we truly characters with agency, or are we just playing out our programming in the great video game of life? Contrary to those in his field who claim that free will is an illusion, neuroscientist Kevin Mitchell insists that we're agents who wield our decision-making mechanism for our own purposes. Listen as the author of Free Agents: How Evolut…

1
Calling Out Power and Powering Up Young Men 2:55:11

12d ago2:55:11

2:55:11

Gareth Cliff opens the show with a no-holds-barred take on the ANC and President Ramaphosa’s growing disconnect from the country. Leigh-Ann jumps in with an update on her whirlwind week, while Ben’s sports report derails quickly thanks to Producer James poking his Arsenal–Liverpool opinions. Andrew Birch wraps the episode with a straight-talking ch…

1
S7E54 - Cutting Through the AI Hype: Practical Security with Logan Edmonds 34:59

7d ago34:59

34:59

In this episode of The Virtual CISO Moment, Greg Schaffer sits down with Logan Edmonds, Chief AI Officer at ScaleSight and founder of TTS Cyber, for a lively and insightful discussion on the intersection of AI, cybersecurity, and small to mid-sized business operations. Logan shares his unique journey from studying theology to becoming an AI-driven …

1
Colonialism, Slavery, and Foreign Aid (with William Easterly) 1:04:02

16d ago1:04:02

1:04:02

Can the promise of economic progress ever justify conquest, coercion, and control over other people’s lives? Economist William Easterly joins EconTalk's Russ Roberts to argue no--and to rethink what "development" really means in theory, in history, and in our politics today. Drawing on his new book, Violent Saviors: The West's Conquest of the Rest,…

1
Chasing Success, Losing Manners, and Finding Ambition 2:49:11

19d ago2:49:11

2:49:11

Gareth Clif kicks off Friday by talking about self sabotage and why people tend to quiet just before achieving success. Leigh-Ann joins the show as her and Gareth talk about the direction that society has moved in with people lacking manners, are schools to blame? And Gareth Soma jumps on the show to talk about ambition and getting yourself into a …

1
The economics of discovery, with Ben Reinhardt 47:38

20d ago47:38

47:38

In this episode, Patrick McKenzie (patio11) is joined by Ben Reinhardt, founder of Speculative Technologies, to examine how science gets funded in the United States and why the current system leaves much to be desired. They dissect the outdated taxonomy of basic, applied, and development research, categories encoded into law that fail to capture ho…

1
Auckland's Legendary Design Champion, Ludo Campbell-Reid 1:49:48

9d ago1:49:48

1:49:48

Ludo is one of the most interesting and successful public servants of the 21st Century, leading a radical transformation of Auckland’s urban design over his 13 years as the city’s ‘Design Champion’. YIMBY’s rightly celebrate the city’s upzoning successes and improving affordability, but it’s easy to forget how strong public opposition to ‘ugly’ tow…

1
S7E53 - A Conversation with Thomas Sweet 31:56

22d ago31:56

31:56

In this episode, host Greg Schaffer interviews Thomas Sweet, an award-winning CIO/CTO and 2023 Tech Titan Emerging CTO, who shares his unconventional journey from civil engineering to enterprise IT and cybersecurity leadership. Tom reflects on his early days at NEC, Microsoft, GM Financial, and more, offering key lessons learned while leading globa…

1
The Perfect Tuba: How Band, Grit, and Community Build a Better Life (with Sam Quinones) 1:00:43

23d ago1:00:43

1:00:43

Journalist and author Sam Quinones talks about his newest book, The Perfect Tuba: Forging Fulfillment from the Brass Horn, Band, and Hard Work with EconTalk's Russ Roberts. Known for his reporting on the opioid crisis, Quinones turns to a more uplifting subject--the world of tuba players and high school marching bands. What begins as curiosity abou…

1
Laughing Through the Chaos with Tumi Morake 3:04:31

26d ago3:04:31

3:04:31

Gareth and Leigh-Ann kick off Friday wondering how we’ve drifted from appreciating rare historical moments in a world obsessed with instant gratification — sparked by Gareth’s recent trip to the Free State. Ben drops in to share his new kombucha-brewing hobby, while Producer James catches strays and is “strongly encouraged” to consider a barista ca…

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The Status Game (with Will Storr) 1:01:11

21d ago1:01:11

1:01:11

Will Storr talks about his book The Status Game with EconTalk host Russ Roberts, exploring how our deep need for respect and recognition shapes our behavior. The conversation delves into how we constantly judge others and compare ourselves to them, the pain of losing status, and the freedom of escaping judgment. Storr and Roberts discuss how status…

1
S7E52 - A Conversation with Chuck Anderson 33:01

29d ago33:01

33:01

This Thanksgiving-week episode welcomes back Chuck Anderson, IT consultant at Reliant Managed Services, for a deep dive into some of the biggest shifts in cybersecurity and technology over the past year and a half. Chuck and Greg explore the rapid rise of AI (good and bad), the looming disruption of quantum computing—especially its impact on encryp…

1
Fitness Myths, Low-Desire Living & Gilli Apter Unfiltered 2:56:00

1M ago2:56:00

2:56:00

Gareth, Mash, and Leigh-Ann kick off the morning with a dose of fitness motivation — and the truth about whether breakfast really is the “most important meal of the day” (spoiler: it’s not). Dr Hanan unpacks the psychology of semigration in a society running on low desire. And comedian Gilli Apter joins the show from South Africa to chat about her …

1
Understanding equity at tech companies, with Billy Gallagher of Prospect 1:20:01

1M ago1:20:01

1:20:01

Why do billions of dollars of stock trade hands based on napkin math and vibes? Billy Gallagher, CEO of Prospect and former Rippling employee, joins Patrick McKenzie (patio11) to walk through the information asymmetry that costs less-sophisticated employees massive amounts of money. From understanding when to early exercise options to navigating 83…

1
The Wonder of the Emergent Mind (with Gaurav Suri) 1:39:40

1M ago1:39:40

1:39:40

How is your brain like an ant colony? They both use simple parts following simple rules which allows the whole to be so much more than the sum of the parts. Listen as neuroscientist and author Gaurav Suri explains how the mind emerges from the neural network of the brain, why habits form, why intuition often knows before language does, and why our …

1
Pressure, Comebacks & the GNU 3:03:22

1M ago3:03:22

3:03:22

Gareth, Leigh-Ann and Ben kick off Friday with a wild conversation about one of the most disturbing “sports” on the planet: Sniper Tourists. Dr Hanan jumps in as they unpack the pressures of modern life, and how they might spark the ultimate comeback story after the new Charlie Sheen documentary. Monwabisi Thethe and Siya Sangweni pop in to talk ar…

1
The $4,000 insurance policy designed to never pay out 28:31

1M ago28:31

28:31

Patrick McKenzie (patio11) reads his essay on title insurance, a service designed to never be performed with a "laughably low" 5% loss ratio compared to 50-80% for almost all types of insurance. The typical American moves every seven to eight years, paying a $500 annual tax for basically no good or service. This is due to a quirk about how America …

1
S7E51 - A Conversation with Dave McKenzie 43:59

27d ago43:59

43:59

In this episode of The Virtual CISO Moment, host Greg Schaffer speaks with Dave McKenzie, co-founder and director of Damn Good Security and a seasoned cybersecurity leader based in Scotland. Dave shares his fascinating journey from aspiring pilot to IT support technician, to leading security operations for major organizations, and ultimately launch…

1
Shampoo, Property Rights, and Civilization (with Anthony Gill) 1:08:19

1M ago1:08:19

1:08:19

Why is it okay to take the little shampoo bottles in hotels home with you but not the towels? And what stops people from taking the towels? Listen as political scientist Anthony Gill discusses the enforcement of property rights with EconTalk's Russ Roberts. Backing up their observations with insights from Adam Smith, Friedrich Hayek, and our everyd…

1
Impi Energy Meets Political Heat 3:04:30

2M ago3:04:30

3:04:30

Gareth Cliff and Leigh-Ann Mol kick off their Friday with a deep dive into global headlines — starting with New York’s newly elected Mayor and what his policies could mean for renters. Ben joins the conversation to celebrate Siya Kolisi’s incredible 100th Springbok cap and the legacy he continues to build. Later, the team welcomes Sibusiso “Impi” K…

1
How deposit insurance actually works 33:06

2M ago33:06

33:06

Patrick McKenzie (patio11) reads his Bits about Money essay on deposit insurance, explaining this critical financial infrastructure, with some thoughts on its performance during 2023. He covers what deposit insurance actually covers (and critically, what it doesn't), how fintech users often misunderstand their exposure to counterparty risk, and the…

1
S7E50 - A Conversation with Peter Gregory 35:27

1M ago35:27

35:27

In this episode of The Virtual CISO Moment, Greg Schaffer welcomes back cybersecurity expert and best-selling author Peter H. Gregory — who’s written over 50 books and helped shape many of today’s top security and certification programs. They dive deep into: 💡 AI Governance — how to use AI safely, ethically, and legally (and why “shadow AI” may be …

1
Primal Intelligence (with Angus Fletcher) 1:20:41

2M ago1:20:41

1:20:41

What do Shakespeare, Hollywood storytelling, and military special operations have in common? They all excel at inventing new plans, or improvising when we're facing radical uncertainty. Listen as professor of story science Angus Fletcher tells EconTalk's Russ Roberts how we've misdefined intelligence, equating it with data--driven reasoning in plac…

1
Closer Circles, Stronger Men 3:00:45

2M ago3:00:45

3:00:45

Gareth Cliff kicks off your morning with a dose of wisdom — unpacking what your circle says about you, and why keeping it tight might just be the key to growth. Leigh-Ann and Ben join the conversation to explore the fascinating 3I/ATLAS project and the possibility of visitors from our solar system. Then, author and speaker Craig Wilkinson sits down…

1
Home improvement lending with fewer bankers and more computers 30:05

2M ago30:05

30:05

In this episode, Patrick McKenzie reads his essay about the financial infrastructure that makes buying windows painless. When a window installer can originate, underwrite, and fund a $25,000 loan in 15 minutes before leaving your house, it's because four parties—window companies, facilitating platforms, specialized banks, and capital providers—have…

1
S7E49 - A Conversation with Patrick Rost 32:58

2M ago32:58

32:58

Patrick Rost, owner and advisor at InfoSecurity Blueprint, joins Greg Schaffer to discuss his journey from a technology enthusiast to an information security entrepreneur. Patrick shares insights on helping small and midsized businesses take their first steps toward better security—emphasizing that information security is about managing business ri…

1
A Mind-Blowing Way of Looking at Math (with David Bessis) 1:21:53

2M ago1:21:53

1:21:53

What if math isn't about grinding through equations, but about training your intuition and changing how your brain works? Mathematician and author David Bessis tells EconTalk's Russ Roberts that the secret of mathematics isn't logic--it's the way we learn to see. He explains why math books aren't meant to be read like novels, how great mathematicia…

1
AI Addicts, Boozy Cities & a Comet with Friends?! 2:58:05

2M ago2:58:05

2:58:05

Gareth Cliff and Leigh-Ann Mol kick off their Friday by tackling the rise of “prompt-stitutes” — people who lean a little too hard on AI. The team dives into a hilarious debate about which South African city holds the title for “drunkest,” with Joburg firmly in the spotlight. Later, Good Laws joins the conversation to unpack how AI is reshaping cre…

1
Talking to the Bank of England about systemic risk and systems engineering 1:32:54

2M ago1:32:54

1:32:54

Patrick McKenzie (@patio11) shares his remarks to the Bank of England on critical vulnerabilities in financial infrastructure. Drawing from the July 2024 CrowdStrike outage which brought down teller systems at major US banks, Patrick discusses how regulatory guidance inadvertently created dangerous software monocultures. He also examines the stable…

1
S7E48 - A Conversation with Walter Haydock 27:49

2M ago27:49

27:49

Walter Haydock, founder of StackAware, joins Greg Schaffer to discuss how AI-powered companies can manage cybersecurity, privacy, and compliance risks using the ISO 42001 AI governance framework. Learn why AI literacy matters, what organizations can learn from Amazon’s AI missteps, and how to make smarter risk decisions in the age of generative AI.…

1
Patrick McKenzie - VaccinateCA and Institutional Dysfunction 1:32:24

2M ago1:32:24

1:32:24

Patrick McKenzie (aka patio11) is a strategic advisor at Stripe, an angel investor, writes the fortnightly newsletter ‘Bits About Money’ about financial infrastructure, and was CEO of the extraordinary VaccinateCA effort in 2021. Patrick and I previously spoke on his show ‘Complex Systems’ about system dynamics, local government challenges, and org…

1
Twenty Years of Freakonomics (with Stephen Dubner) 1:42:44

2M ago1:42:44

1:42:44

Quantitative, contrarian, and nuanced: these are the hallmarks of the Freakonomics approach. Hear journalist and podcaster Stephen Dubner speak with EconTalk's Russ Roberts about the 20th anniversary of the popular-economics book Dubner co-authored with Steven Levitt. They discuss how the book came to be, how the journey changed Dubner's life, and …

1
Testosterone Trouble & Political Tantrums 2:55:44

2M ago2:55:44

2:55:44

17.10.25 - Gareth and Leigh-Ann kick off the weekend with laughs (and a few groans) as Leigh-Ann details her never-ending health saga. The team dives into South Africans’ growing frustration with self-serving politicians, before Ben and Mash jump in to unpack whether modern society is running low on testosterone — and what that means for masculinit…

1
Narrative, mastery, and character bleed in games, with Ricki Heicklen 1:32:37

2M ago1:32:37

1:32:37

Patrick McKenzie (patio11) is joined again by Ricki Heicklen to discuss Metagame 2025, a conference where 250 attendees were divided into Purple and Orange teams competing for territories across campus. Patrick built a complete roguelike RPG in 25 days using LLMs, discovering that providing minimal world-building context transformed generic fantasy…

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S7E47 - A Conversation with Students 1:44:14

2M ago1:44:14

1:44:14

Recently The Virtual CISO Moment podcast host Greg Schaffer was asked to participate in a question and answer session with students at Minnesota State University who are using his book Information Security for Small and Midsized Businesses as part of their studies. In this special and extended episode, a recoding of that conversation, they talk abo…

1351
The Magic of Tokyo (with Joe McReynolds) 1:09:23

2M ago1:09:23

1:09:23

What drives the seeming relentless dynamism of Tokyo? Is there something special about Japanese culture? Joe McReynolds, co-author of Emergent Tokyo, argues that the secret to Tokyo's energy and attractiveness as a place to live and visit comes from policies that allow Tokyo to emerge from the bottom up. Post-war black markets evolved into today's …