To give you the best possible experience, this site uses cookies. Review our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service to learn more. Got it!
Search a title or topic

Over 20 million podcasts, powered by 

Player FM logo

Rational Optimist Society Podcasts

Rational Optimist Society public [search 0]
More
Download the App!
Get it on App Store Get it on Google Play
show episodes
 
Artwork

1
Rational Optimist Podcast

Dan Steinhart

icon1
icon34
icon
Unsubscribe
icon
Unsubscribe
 Weekly
 
Say no to fearmongering and join us every Friday for the Rational Optimist Podcast. You'll discover incredible things happening that everyone should know but most people don't... from the revival of supersonic flight and nuclear power, to the revolution in biotech now underway. You'll also get authentic opinions on today's headlines from the perspective of two guys (Stephen McBride and Dan Steinhart) who unapologetically love humanity, technology, capitalism, and prosperity.
…   continue reading
 
Loading …
show series
 
Artwork

1
Ex-Anduril Green Beret: His ROBOT GUN Kills Drones in 2 SHOTS | ROP #34 32:24

Play Pause
icon
32:24
Play Pause
icon
  Play later
  Play later
  Lists
  Liked
32:24icon
 
He’s an Ex-Anduril Green Beret, and his new company's robotic gun can take down hostile drones with just two shots. In this episode, Peter Webb, Director of Mission Operations at Allen Control Systems, joins us to discuss the lightning-fast evolution of drone warfare, the tech behind their incredibly precise Bullfrog counter-drone system, and what …
…   continue reading
 
Artwork

1
He Could ONLY MOVE HIS EYES. Then Neuralink Let Him DO THIS | ROP #33 29:56

Play Pause
icon
29:56
Play Pause
icon
  Play later
  Play later
  Lists
  Liked
29:56icon
 
He was trapped, able to move only his eyes. Then Neuralink gave him an incredible new ability. In this episode, we dive into the astounding story of Brad Smith, Neuralink's third patient with ALS, who can now control computers, edit videos, and even speak with his own AI-cloned voice using just his thoughts. We explore how this brain-computer inter…
…   continue reading
 
Artwork

1
These Drones Were Banned (Now They're Saving Lives Faster Than You Think) | ROP #32 32:16

Play Pause
icon
32:16
Play Pause
icon
  Play later
  Play later
  Lists
  Liked
32:16icon
 
In this episode, we explore Zipline's incredible journey from delivering blood in Rwanda (slashing maternal mortality!) to partnering with Walmart in Dallas for 30-minute deliveries. Plus: why tariffs aren't the answer to reindustrializing America (innovation is), a look inside the cutting-edge factories rebuilding US manufacturing, and why the lat…
…   continue reading
 
Artwork

1
How CRISPR Is Defeating Genetic Disease Faster Than You Think | Rational Optimist #31 31:11

Play Pause
icon
31:11
Play Pause
icon
  Play later
  Play later
  Lists
  Liked
31:11icon
 
Discover why CRISPR technology is defeating genetic diseases faster than you think, restoring sight, hearing, and preventing conditions before birth. We explore the race for supersonic travel (Mach 9 jets?), share our real-world ride in Tesla & Waymo robotaxis, and check out AI drones preventing shark attacks.…
…   continue reading
 
Artwork

1
The Lawsuit That Could Unleash Limitless Energy | Rational Optimist #30 29:03

Play Pause
icon
29:03
Play Pause
icon
  Play later
  Play later
  Lists
  Liked
29:03icon
 
In this week's Rational Optimist Podcast, we tackle the growing lawsuit against the NRC set to unleash nuclear innovation and dive into the invisible battlefield shaping modern conflict. Plus: why small modular reactors are the future (and safer than 100 bananas), Joe Lonsdale's plan to slash FDA red tape blocking life-saving cures, how Electronic …
…   continue reading
 
Artwork

1
Why El Segundo Is Building America's Future Faster Than You Think | Rational Optimist #29 24:28

Play Pause
icon
24:28
Play Pause
icon
  Play later
  Play later
  Lists
  Liked
24:28icon
 
In this episode of The Rational Optimist Podcast, we take you to El Segundo, California - ground zero for America's Hard Tech Renaissance. Discover why this small-town atmosphere 20 minutes from LA is becoming the epicenter of aerospace, defense, and nuclear innovation. We explore revolutionary technologies from self-replicating robots for Mars col…
…   continue reading
 
Artwork

1
AI Tutors, 2-Hour Learning & The Future of Education | Rational Optimist #28 27:18

Play Pause
icon
27:18
Play Pause
icon
  Play later
  Play later
  Lists
  Liked
27:18icon
 
In this episode of The Rational Optimist, we explore how AI tutors are revolutionizing education with remarkable results. See how Alpha School students learn 2.2X faster with just 2 hours of academics daily, kindergartners scoring in the top 1%, and how this technology isn't replacing teachers—it's empowering them. Plus: why regulatory obstacles ar…
…   continue reading
 
Artwork

1
SPACEX RESCUES NASA Astronauts | Phones DAMAGE Teen Brains | 200K Self-Driving Cars NOW | Ep. 27 30:04

Play Pause
icon
30:04
Play Pause
icon
  Play later
  Play later
  Lists
  Liked
30:04icon
 
In this week's Rational Optimist Podcast, we explore SpaceX's dramatic rescue of NASA astronauts stranded in space for 9 months after Boeing's spacecraft failure. Plus: how smartphones are linked to declining intelligence and teen mental health crises, the exponential growth of self-driving cars reaching 200,000 weekly rides, and China's breakthrou…
…   continue reading
 
Artwork

1
AI Will Create Jobs Faster Than You Think | Ep. 26 29:28

Play Pause
icon
29:28
Play Pause
icon
  Play later
  Play later
  Lists
  Liked
29:28icon
 
In this week's Rational Optimist Podcast, we explore why AI will create more jobs than it destroys. Plus: why the history of technology proves optimists right, how creative destruction transforms careers rather than eliminating them, the surprising ways Chinese AI is disrupting the market, and why being more human is your winning strategy in the AI…
…   continue reading
 
Artwork

1
Is This the End of NASA? Private Companies Are Taking Over Space? | Ep. 25 28:46

Play Pause
icon
28:46
Play Pause
icon
  Play later
  Play later
  Lists
  Liked
28:46icon
 
NASA hasn't returned to the Moon since 1972. Now private companies are doing what the government couldn't for over 53 years. In this eye-opening episode, we reveal how Firefly and Intuitive Machines just landed on the lunar surface while NASA watched from the sidelines. Discover how SpaceX slashed launch costs by 96%, why private companies are buil…
…   continue reading
 
Artwork

1
This Robot Learns By Watching (The Other One Will Give You Nightmares) | Ep.24 25:38

Play Pause
icon
25:38
Play Pause
icon
  Play later
  Play later
  Lists
  Liked
25:38icon
 
In this week's Rational Optimist Podcast, we explore the rapidly advancing world of robotics. We compare Figure's groundbreaking Helix robot that learns by watching humans with Clone's nightmare-inducing twitching humanoid. Plus: why humanoid robots might be the wrong design approach, how Chinese robot dogs are outperforming American competitors at…
…   continue reading
 
Artwork

1
SUPERSONIC IS BACK! (No Boom Required) | Ep.23 29:45

Play Pause
icon
29:45
Play Pause
icon
  Play later
  Play later
  Lists
  Liked
29:45icon
 
Boom Supersonic just pulled off the impossible: they broke the sound barrier without making a sound. Wild, right? We dive into how they did it, expose the real reason supersonic flight was banned (spoiler: America was just salty about the Concorde), and why supersonic travel is about to make an epic comeback. Plus: the ridiculous story of how a few…
…   continue reading
 
Artwork

1
They Tried to Stop Innovation (It Backfired Spectacularly) | Ep. 22 30:17

Play Pause
icon
30:17
Play Pause
icon
  Play later
  Play later
  Lists
  Liked
30:17icon
 
In this week's Rational Optimist Podcast, we explore how over-regulation is finally giving way to innovation. Plus: why Starlink's new T-Mobile deal changes everything, how drone delivery is revolutionizing cities despite the NIMBYs, JD Vance's game-changing speech on AI innovation, and why we're returning to the moon sooner than anyone realizes.…
…   continue reading
 
Artwork

1
Why Big Tech is Betting $300B on AI (And It's Moving Faster Than You Think) | Ep. 21 36:36

Play Pause
icon
36:36
Play Pause
icon
  Play later
  Play later
  Lists
  Liked
36:36icon
 
DeepSeek's training costs were much higher than reported ($1.6B, not $6M) - but that's not the real story. Big Tech is doubling down on AI investment despite rising efficiency, with Google alone pledging $75B. Plus: We explore ChatGPT's game-changing Deep Research feature, transforming everything from investment analysis to teaching your kids. The …
…   continue reading
 
Artwork

1
Why AI Just Got 93% Cheaper (And It Changes EVERYTHING) | Ep. 20 26:49

Play Pause
icon
26:49
Play Pause
icon
  Play later
  Play later
  Lists
  Liked
26:49icon
 
DeepSeek's AI breakthrough sent shockwaves through tech markets, wiping $600B in value. But beyond the "$6M model" headlines lies a bigger story – how AI efficiency gains are accelerating faster than anyone predicted. Plus: Boom Aerospace makes history with America's first independent supersonic flight, bringing NY-London in 3 hours closer to reali…
…   continue reading
 
Artwork

1
$500B Project Stargate Will Change Everything Faster Than You Think | Ep. 19 25:08

Play Pause
icon
25:08
Play Pause
icon
  Play later
  Play later
  Lists
  Liked
25:08icon
 
Is The AI Boom Overhyped? Project Stargate's $500 billion moonshot and why it signals a new era of American innovation. Plus: Trump's executive orders unleashing AI development, the World Bank study showing AI tutors delivering 2 years of learning in 6 weeks, and why top tech leaders are flocking back to work with government.…
…   continue reading
 
Artwork

1
Blue Origin Takes On SpaceX (The $10B Race for Space) | Ep. 18 27:22

Play Pause
icon
27:22
Play Pause
icon
  Play later
  Play later
  Lists
  Liked
27:22icon
 
In this week's Rational Optimist Podcast, we explore how Blue Origin's historic first orbital launch signals a new era in the space race. Plus: Mark Zuckerberg's explosive revelations about government censorship on Joe Rogan, why the LA wildfire crisis could be solved by revolutionary cloud-seeding technology, and encouraging data showing a six-fol…
…   continue reading
 
Artwork

1
Zuck Won't Censor Your FB Posts Anymore (And He's Happy About It) | Ep. 17 27:32

Play Pause
icon
27:32
Play Pause
icon
  Play later
  Play later
  Lists
  Liked
27:32icon
 
In this week's Rational Optimist Podcast, we explore Mark Zuckerberg's dramatic reversal on content moderation. Plus: why fact-checkers destroyed more trust than they created, how Europe and Canada are going the opposite direction on free speech, why Tim Urban thinks 2015-2025 will be remembered as a dark period, and how community notes are becomin…
…   continue reading
 
Artwork

1
WTF Happened in 2024: How AI Got 50X More Powerful | Ep. 16 34:12

Play Pause
icon
34:12
Play Pause
icon
  Play later
  Play later
  Lists
  Liked
34:12icon
 
In this week's Rational Optimist Podcast, we explore why 2024 marked a watershed moment for technology and innovation. Plus: how OpenAI's O3 model requires 50X more computing power, why supersonic travel is finally coming back, how self-driving cars are hitting the streets faster than expected, SpaceX's incredible launch pace (outpacing NASA's enti…
…   continue reading
 
Artwork

1
America Has 5,000 Mystery Drones (And It's Actually Good News) | Ep.15 30:28

Play Pause
icon
30:28
Play Pause
icon
  Play later
  Play later
  Lists
  Liked
30:28icon
 
5,000 drone sightings in a month? In this episode, we explore why mysterious drones over the East Coast signal the start of a technological revolution, not a threat. In this week's Rational Optimist Podcast, we dive into America's drone awakening and why it's a sign of incredible progress. Plus: how Amazon and Walmart are revolutionizing delivery, …
…   continue reading
 
Artwork

1
Why Quantum Computing Will Change Everything Faster Than You Think | Ep.14 33:55

Play Pause
icon
33:55
Play Pause
icon
  Play later
  Play later
  Lists
  Liked
33:55icon
 
In this week's Rational Optimist Podcast, we explore Google's quantum breakthrough, the dawn of real quantum computing, and what it means for the future of technology. Plus: why Europe has zero trillion-dollar companies while America has eight, how self-driving cars are becoming mainstream faster than expected, and how AI is making air travel safer…
…   continue reading
 
Artwork

1
4 Ways American Innovation is Winning (Despite the Red Tape) | Ep.13 33:50

Play Pause
icon
33:50
Play Pause
icon
  Play later
  Play later
  Lists
  Liked
33:50icon
 
In this week's Rational Optimist Podcast, we explore how American innovation is thriving despite regulatory headwinds. Plus: how Anduril is revolutionizing military tech in 12 months vs. 15 years, why Bitcoin hit $100k after years of bureaucratic resistance, how cargo airships could slash global shipping costs by 75%, and why American healthcare re…
…   continue reading
 
Artwork

1
Free Speech Universities Are Winning (And It's Happening Fast) | Ep.12 32:27

Play Pause
icon
32:27
Play Pause
icon
  Play later
  Play later
  Lists
  Liked
32:27icon
 
In this special Thanksgiving episode of The Rational Optimist Podcast, we explore why America's future is brighter than the headlines suggest. A look at how the University of Austin (UATX) is revolutionizing higher education by prioritizing merit and free speech over ideology. Plus: Argentina's remarkable economic turnaround under President Mile, w…
…   continue reading
 
Artwork

1
Why America's Energy Revolution Is Happening Faster Than You Think | Ep.11 29:24

Play Pause
icon
29:24
Play Pause
icon
  Play later
  Play later
  Lists
  Liked
29:24icon
 
In this week's Rational Optimist Podcast, we explore why America's energy revolution is about to accelerate. Chris Wright, the fracking pioneer turned Energy Secretary nominee, wants to boost nuclear production by 150% while slashing regulatory roadblocks. Plus: how fracking secretly became America's biggest climate success, why the richest countri…
…   continue reading
 
Artwork

1
Why Bureaucracy Will Die Faster Than You Think | Ep.10 32:59

Play Pause
icon
32:59
Play Pause
icon
  Play later
  Play later
  Lists
  Liked
32:59icon
 
In this week's Rational Optimist Podcast, we explore why America's bureaucratic stranglehold is about to end. Plus: how a bridge rebuild in 12 days exposed government inefficiency, why environmental reviews are blocking clean energy, the absurdity of testing sonic booms on seals, and how Operation Warp Speed could revolutionize innovation across ev…
…   continue reading
 
Loading …
icon
Help/FAQ | Advertise with Us
Arts|Business|Comedy|Economics|Entertainment|News|Politics|Religion
Science|Soccer|Sports|Storytelling|Technology|True Crime
Copyright 2025 | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | | Copyright
Episode being played series thumbnail
icon icon
Speed
Series settings
1x
1x
Volume
100%
icon
icon icon
/

View Player FM in...
Player FM
Browser
Chrome
Safari
Firefox
Listen to this show while you explore
Play