The Knowledge Project
Business & Finance
About
Shane Parrish from Farnam Street explores big ideas with smart people.
Episodes
- OpenAI Co-Founder: AI Goes Parabolic! Here's What's Next | Greg Brockman
OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman discusses the company's origins, the events surrounding Sam Altman's firing, and the future of artificial general intelligence (AGI). He also shares insights into how much of OpenAI's code is written by AI,…
- The $25B CEO: Most Leaders Are Setting Goals Way Too Small
Mario Harik, CEO of XPO, shares his leadership system, including decision-making using data and "second-derivative" thinking, hiring and developing A players, and running effective meetings. He also discusses lessons learned from Brad Jaco…
- How AI at Alpha School Makes Kids Learn 10x Faster (with Joe Liemandt)
Joe Liemandt, founder of Trilogy Software and ESW Capital, discusses Alpha School, an AI-driven educational system. He explains how Alpha School uses AI for academics, leading to accelerated learning and high standardized test scores, whil…
- [Outliers] Harrison McCain: Single-Minded Purpose
This episode recounts Harrison McCain's career, beginning with his early sales experience and mentorship under K.C. Irving. It details how he co-founded McCain Foods, built its first plant, and grew the company into an international busine…
- Brookfield CEO: AI Bubble, Opportunities, and Risk | Connor Teskey
Connor Teskey, CEO of Brookfield Asset Management, is interviewed about his approach to capital allocation, risk management, and building a business for long-term growth. He discusses minimizing losses, managing market risk, and insights g…
- [Outliers] J.W. Marriott: Building an Empire Without a Master Plan
This episode of The Knowledge Project explores J.W. Marriott's journey from a root beer stand to building a global hotel empire. It details his business expansion, including his entry into airline catering and his approach to risk manageme…
- The CEO Who Lost 80% of His Company's Value (And Built It Back): Vlad Tenev
Vlad Tenev, CEO of Robinhood, explains the decisions made during the GameStop crisis and how the company recovered from an 80% loss in market value. He also shares his views on AI integration and the future of financial markets.
- [Outliers] The Obsession That Built Nike | Phil Knight
This episode of The Knowledge Project features Phil Knight, founder of Nike. It covers the story of Nike's founding, including challenges with banks, suppliers, and government, and the struggles with insolvency. The discussion explores bel…
- The $2 Trillion Mind | Nicolai Tangen
Nicolai Tangen, CEO of Norges Bank Investment Management, discusses the management of $2.1 trillion, high-speed decision-making, and the psychological traits required for the AI revolution. The conversation explores the intersection of wea…
- The Psychology of Power | Michael Ovitz
Michael Ovitz, co-founder of CAA, shares insights on operating rules for business success and personal disciplines. He discusses building momentum, telling the truth, hiring effectively, and packaging ideas into outcomes.
- [Outliers] How McDonald’s Took Over America | Ray Kroc
Ray Kroc took McDonald's from a roadside restaurant to nearly 8,000 locations worldwide. This episode examines the role of standards, execution, franchising, and real estate in its growth.
- Morgan Housel: Wealth is What You Have Minus What You Want
Morgan Housel discusses his framework for building wealth, minimizing financial stress, and achieving contentment. He explains the difference between getting rich and staying rich, and touches on topics such as investing, financial indepen…
- The Multidisciplinary Approach to Thinking | Peter D. Kaufman [Outliers]
Peter D. Kaufman, Chairman and CEO of GlenAir, discusses multidisciplinary thinking. He shares insights on why this approach is important for understanding how the world works and for identifying business blind spots.
- How to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones | James Clear
This episode features James Clear, author of Atomic Habits. He discusses habit formation, consistency, and long-term change, including the role of identity in habits and how to design environments for good behavior.
- The Outlier Playbook: The Patterns Behind Enduring Success
This episode of The Knowledge Project delves into the mindsets and systems of successful outliers in business history. It examines the patterns these individuals used to achieve long-term advantage, featuring examples such as James Dyson a…
- Pierre Poilievre on the Role of Government, Freedom, and Affordability
This episode of The Knowledge Project features Pierre Poilievre discussing government, freedom, and affordability. Topics include the economy, media, free speech, immigration, and corporate subsidies.
- Be Your Best in 2026: The Most Important Lessons from The Knowledge Project (2025)
This episode of The Knowledge Project reflects on the most meaningful conversations of 2025. It includes insights from experts on topics such as decision-making, leadership, preparation, relationships, trust, and performance.
- [Outliers] Bernie Marcus: The Home Depot Story
This episode of The Knowledge Project features Bernie Marcus, co-founder of Home Depot. He discusses the story of building Home Depot and its culture of ownership.
- How to Think Like a World-Class Marketer | Rory Sutherland
Rory Sutherland, Ogilvy Vice Chairman, explores the principles of persuasion and human decision-making, and how psychology can be used in marketing. He elaborates on the impact of contrast, efficiency, trust, friction, and design on real-w…
- Mary Kay Ash: The Greatest Salesperson In History [Outliers]
This episode of The Knowledge Project podcast discusses how Mary Kay Ash built her company. It covers her leadership lessons, the use of incentives and recognition, and principles of human motivation.
- 7 Principles of Inner Excellence to Stay Calm Under Fire | Jim Murphy
Jim Murphy, author of "Inner Excellence," shares principles for achieving elite performance and inner excellence. He discusses overcoming fear, managing pressure, and finding purpose, drawing from his experience as a performance coach for…
- Charlie Munger: The Psychology of Human Misjudgment [Outliers]
This episode of The Knowledge Project features Charlie Munger discussing his talk "The Psychology of Human Misjudgement." He outlines 25 psychological tendencies that affect how people think and make decisions, including examples and antid…
- Panera Founder Ron Shaich
Ron Shaich, founder of Panera Bread and Au Bon Pain, shares insights on building the fast casual industry, business growth, and trend spotting. He also discusses the origins of his companies and common mistakes in growing a business, empha…
- Steve Wozniak: The Engineer Who Built Apple [Outliers]
This episode of The Knowledge Project features Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple. He discusses his approach to business and engineering, including his philosophy of open architecture and giving back to employees.
- Forensic Account: The Bubble No One is Talking About | Anthony Scilipoti
Anthony Scilipoti, President and CEO of Veritas Group of Companies, shares insights on forensic accounting and investing. He discusses patterns between past market collapses, such as Valeant Pharmaceuticals and Nortel, and the current AI e…
- Jim Clayton: Turning Competitors’ Mistakes Into $1.7B [Outliers]
This episode features Jim Clayton, who built Clayton Homes using counterintuitive strategies. He overcame bankruptcy and grew his business through vertical integration and disciplined approaches during economic downturns, eventually leadin…
- Building Great Businesses | Tracy Britt Cool
Tracy Britt Cool, co-founder of Kanbrick, discusses her experience turning around businesses and applying her knowledge to the middle market. She shares insights on evaluating business performance and creating lasting success through incen…
- Hetty Green: The Witch of Wall Street [Outliers]
This episode of The Knowledge Project explores the life of Hetty Green, known as "The Witch of Wall Street." It details how she amassed significant wealth in the late 1800s and discusses her enduring financial strategies for building lasti…
- Barry Diller: Building IAC
Barry Diller, chairman and senior executive of IAC, is featured in this episode. He discusses his experiences and observations in the entertainment industry.
- Ed Stack: Lessons from Dick’s Sporting Goods [Outliers]
This episode features Ed Stack, who discusses building Dick's Sporting Goods from a small family store into a large retail chain. He shares insights and lessons learned from his experiences in business and leadership.
- How To Build A Cult | Lulu Cheng Meservey
Lulu Cheng Meservey, an expert in communications and strategy, joins The Knowledge Project to discuss how to win attention, handle attacks, and the impact of trust and conviction.
- Fred Smith: The Story of FedEx [Outliers]
Fred Smith, the founder of FedEx, is featured in this episode. It covers the story of how he built FedEx and the lessons he learned during the process.
- Why Everyone Is Wrong About AI (Including You) | Benedict Evans
Benedict Evans joins The Knowledge Project to discuss AI. He explains why he believes AI is the biggest change since the iPhone, not the new electricity. Evans also shares his views on platform shifts and what people do with AI when nobody…
- Small Town Billionaire: How John Bragg Built 3 Empires [Outliers]
This episode of The Knowledge Project explores the story of John Bragg, who built three empires, including a wild blueberry business and a private telecom company. The discussion focuses on his business strategies, including patient capita…
- The Science of Lasting Love with Dr. Sue Johnson
This episode features Dr. Sue Johnson discussing the science of lasting love. She covers various aspects of relationships, including partner selection, emotional dynamics, and infidelity.
- Sol Price: The Retail Legend Who Taught Sam Walton, Jim Sinegal, and Jeff Bezos [Outliers]
This episode of The Knowledge Project explores the life and influence of Sol Price, who invented the warehouse club concept. He mentored and inspired retail leaders like Sam Walton, Jim Sinegal, and Jeff Bezos, shaping modern retail practi…
- Ryan Petersen: Building Flexport
Ryan Petersen, founder of Flexport, explains how to build scalable systems for complex operations. He also discusses managing growth and navigating supply chain challenges.
- Katharine Graham: The Woman Who Took Down a President [Outliers]
Katharine Graham, publisher of The Washington Post, navigated the challenges of leading a major newspaper during a tumultuous period. She made key decisions regarding publishing classified documents and pursuing the Watergate story.
- Daniel Kahneman: Algorithms Make Better Decisions Than You
Daniel Kahneman, Nobel laureate, discusses how algorithms improve decisions, the impact of invisible forces on judgment, and the misconception that more information leads to better thinking. He also shares a mental model for elite teams.
- Les Schwab: Why Real Ownership Outperforms Experience, Capital, and Credentials [Outliers]
This episode discusses how Les Schwab built a successful company by fostering a culture of ownership among employees and customers. It explores the strategies and incentives that contributed to the company's growth and legacy.
- Harley Finkelstein: You Must Requalify for Your Role, Every Year
Harley Finkelstein, President of Shopify, discusses career growth, leadership decisions, family values, storytelling, and maintaining high standards. He shares insights on requalifying for one's role annually and the importance of out-cari…
- Jimmy Pattison: Building a $16B Empire Without Connections, Capital, or Credentials [Outliers]
This episode features Jimmy Pattison, who built a $16 billion empire over 63 years without external capital or a college degree. He currently runs The Pattison Group, which includes car dealerships, grocery stores, billboards, radio statio…
- Former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi: Lessons from the Top
Indra Nooyi, former CEO of PepsiCo, shares insights from her career, discussing the intersection of ambition and personal life, strategies for corporate leadership, and advice she received from Steve Jobs. The episode explores the complexi…
- Anna Wintour: Vogue [Outliers]
This episode explores Anna Wintour's career, detailing her rise to editor-in-chief of Vogue and her strategic influence on media and culture. It covers her methods for maintaining power and adapting to industry changes over five decades.
- Netflix Founder Reed Hastings on Scaling High-Trust Culture & Bold Judgment
Reed Hastings, co-founder of Netflix, shares insights on creating a high-trust, high-performance culture without bureaucracy. He discusses his methods for evaluating talent, fostering bold judgment, and making innovative decisions, includi…
- Harvey Firestone: Men and Rubber [Outliers]
This episode of The Knowledge Project explores the life and business principles of Harvey Firestone, from his early career to his partnership with Henry Ford. The discussion covers various aspects of building and running a business, includ…
- Bill Belichick: 8x Super Bowl Champion on Winning, Leadership, and Discipline
This episode of The Knowledge Project features Bill Belichick, an 8-time Super Bowl Champion. He shares insights on winning, leadership, and discipline, discussing factors behind sustained excellence and his experiences in football.
- Andy Grove: Only The Paranoid Survive [Outliers]
This episode of The Knowledge Project explores the life and career of Andy Grove, focusing on his adaptability and leadership in building Intel. It covers his journey from a refugee to a CEO, highlighting his approach to innovation, system…
- Elad Gil: How to Spot a Billion-Dollar Startup Before the Rest of the World
Elad Gil, an investor, discusses identifying market opportunities and the geographic clustering of innovation. He also shares his views on AI and remote work in relation to startups.
- Rose Blumkin: Women of Berkshire Hathaway [Outliers]
This episode of The Knowledge Project features Rose Blumkin, who built the Nebraska Furniture Mart. Her story covers her entrepreneurial journey, the growth of her business, and her connection to Warren Buffett.