Lex Fridman Podcast
Technology
About
Conversations about science, technology, history, philosophy and the nature of intelligence with Lex Fridman.
Episodes
- #496 – FFmpeg: The Incredible Technology Behind Video on the Internet
This episode features Jean-Baptiste Kempf, lead developer of VLC, and Kieran Kunhya, an FFmpeg contributor, discussing FFmpeg. They cover topics such as how video playback works, video codecs, and the history and development of FFmpeg.
- #495 – Vikings, Ragnar, Berserkers, Valhalla & the Warriors of the Viking Age
Lars Brownworth, a historian, teacher, podcaster, and author specializing in Viking history, medieval Europe, and the Byzantine Empire, discusses topics such as Ragnar Lothbrok, berserkers, Valhalla, and the warriors of the Viking Age. The…
- #494 – Jensen Huang: NVIDIA – The $4 Trillion Company & the AI Revolution
Jensen Huang, co-founder and CEO of NVIDIA, discusses the company and the AI computing revolution. The episode covers NVIDIA's operations, AI scaling, and related industry topics.
- #493 – Jeff Kaplan: World of Warcraft, Overwatch, Blizzard, and Future of Gaming
Jeff Kaplan, a game designer known for World of Warcraft and Overwatch, discusses his career at Blizzard and his current project, The Legend of California, from his new studio Kintsugiyama.
- #492 – Rick Beato: Greatest Guitarists of All Time, History & Future of Music
Rick Beato, a music educator and multi-instrumentalist, discusses the greatest guitarists of all time, along with the history and future of music on the Lex Fridman Podcast. He also shares his perspectives on various musical topics and art…
- #491 – OpenClaw: The Viral AI Agent that Broke the Internet – Peter Steinberger
Peter Steinberger, creator of OpenClaw, discusses the open-source AI agent framework. He covers its rapid growth on GitHub, security aspects, and its role in modern programming.
- #490 – State of AI in 2026: LLMs, Coding, Scaling Laws, China, Agents, GPUs, AGI
Nathan Lambert and Sebastian Raschka, machine learning researchers and authors, join Lex Fridman to discuss the state of AI in 2026. Topics include LLMs, coding, scaling laws, the AI race between China and the US, AI agents, GPUs, and the…
- #489 – Paul Rosolie: Uncontacted Tribes in the Amazon Jungle
Paul Rosolie, a naturalist and author of "Junglekeeper," discusses uncontacted tribes in the Amazon jungle and his work dedicated to protecting the Amazon rainforest.
- #488 – Infinity, Paradoxes that Broke Mathematics, Gödel Incompleteness & the Multiverse – Joel David Hamkins
Joel David Hamkins, a mathematician and philosopher, joins the Lex Fridman Podcast to discuss topics including infinity, mathematical paradoxes like Russell's paradox, Gödel Incompleteness Theorems, and the mathematical multiverse.
- #487 – Irving Finkel: Deciphering Secrets of Ancient Civilizations & Flood Myths
Irving Finkel, a curator at the British Museum, specializes in ancient languages and cuneiform writing. He is known for studying a Mesopotamian flood story that predates the biblical Noah narrative.
- #486 – Michael Levin: Hidden Reality of Alien Intelligence & Biological Life
This episode of the Lex Fridman Podcast features Michael Levin discussing alien intelligence and biological life. Topics include biological intelligence, the origin of life, and mind uploading.
- #485 – David Kirtley: Nuclear Fusion, Plasma Physics, and the Future of Energy
David Kirtley, CEO of Helion Energy, is featured on the Lex Fridman Podcast to discuss nuclear fusion, plasma physics, and the future of energy. He shares insights on Helion Energy's goal to build a commercial fusion power plant by 2028.
- #484 – Dan Houser: GTA, Red Dead Redemption, Rockstar, Absurd & Future of Gaming
Dan Houser, co-founder of Rockstar Games, talks about the development of Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption. He also shares his thoughts on the future of the gaming industry.
- #483 – Julia Shaw: Criminal Psychology of Murder, Serial Killers, Memory & Sex
Julia Shaw, a criminal psychologist and author, explores human nature, including psychopathy, violent crime, the psychology of evil, police interrogation, false memory manipulation, deception detection, and human sexuality.
- #482 – Pavel Durov: Telegram, Freedom, Censorship, Money, Power & Human Nature
Pavel Durov, founder and CEO of Telegram, appears on the Lex Fridman Podcast. He discusses various topics including freedom, censorship, money, power, and human nature.
- #481 – Norman Ohler: Hitler, Nazis, Drugs, WW2, Blitzkrieg, LSD, MKUltra & CIA
Norman Ohler is a historian and author of books such as “Blitzed: Drugs in the Third Reich” and “Tripped: Nazi Germany, the CIA, and the Dawn of the Psychedelic Age.” He discusses the role of drugs in WWII and Hitler's drug use.
- #480 – Dave Hone: T-Rex, Dinosaurs, Extinction, Evolution, and Jurassic Park
This episode features a discussion with paleontologist Dave Hone about T-Rex, dinosaurs, extinction, evolution, and the movie Jurassic Park. Dave Hone is a paleontologist, co-host of the Terrible Lizards podcast, and author of scientific p…
- #479 – Dave Plummer: Programming, Autism, and Old-School Microsoft Stories
This episode features Dave Plummer, a programmer and former Microsoft software engineer, known for his work on Windows 95, NT, and XP, and for creating Task Manager. He shares stories from his career, insights on software development, and…
- #478 – Scott Horton: The Case Against War and the Military Industrial Complex
Scott Horton discusses the case against war and the military-industrial complex. He explores themes such as U.S. military interventionism and historical conflicts including the Iraq War and the War on Terror.
- #477 – Keyu Jin: China’s Economy, Tariffs, Trade, Trump, Communism & Capitalism
Keyu Jin, an economist specializing in China’s economy, discusses various aspects of China's economic landscape, including tariffs, trade, and financial policy. She is the author of "The New China Playbook: Beyond Socialism and Capitalism."
- #476 – Jack Weatherford: Genghis Khan and the Mongol Empire
Jack Weatherford, an anthropologist and historian, is featured on the Lex Fridman Podcast. The discussion focuses on Genghis Khan and the Mongol Empire, covering various aspects of its history and impact.
- #475 – Demis Hassabis: Future of AI, Simulating Reality, Physics and Video Games
Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google DeepMind, discusses topics including the future of AI, reality simulation, and video games. He is also a Nobel Prize winner for his work in protein structure prediction using AI.
- #474 – DHH: Future of Programming, AI, Ruby on Rails, Productivity & Parenting
David Heinemeier Hansson (DHH), creator of Ruby on Rails and co-owner of 37signals, is featured on the Lex Fridman Podcast. He discusses topics including the future of programming, AI, Ruby on Rails, productivity, and parenting.
- #473 – Iran War Debate: Nuclear Weapons, Trump, Peace, Power & the Middle East
Scott Horton and Mark Dubowitz debate the Iran War, focusing on nuclear weapons, US foreign policy, and the political landscape of the Middle East. The discussion covers topics such as Trump's involvement, pathways to peace, and the region…
- #472 – Terence Tao: Hardest Problems in Mathematics, Physics & the Future of AI
Terence Tao discusses difficult problems in mathematics and physics, including the Navier-Stokes equations and current mathematical conjectures. He also explores the future of AI, its role in theorem proving, and its potential impact on th…
- #471 – Sundar Pichai: CEO of Google and Alphabet
Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet, is interviewed on the Lex Fridman Podcast. The episode includes discussions on AI, leadership, and technology demos.
- #470 – James Holland: World War II, Hitler, Churchill, Stalin & Biggest Battles
James Holland, a historian specializing in World War II, discusses various aspects of the conflict, including key figures and important battles. He also hosts a podcast titled WW2 Pod: We Have Ways of Making You Talk.
- #469 – Oliver Anthony: Country Music, Blue-Collar America, Fame, Money, and Pain
Oliver Anthony, a singer-songwriter, discusses country music, blue-collar America, fame, money, and pain. He gained recognition for his song "Rich Men North of Richmond" and is known for addressing the struggles of the working class.
- #468 – Janna Levin: Black Holes, Wormholes, Aliens, Paradoxes & Extra Dimensions
Janna Levin, a theoretical physicist and cosmologist, discusses black holes, the topology of the universe, and gravitational waves. She also talks about wormholes, aliens, and extra dimensions.
- #467 – Tim Sweeney: Fortnite, Unreal Engine, and the Future of Gaming
Tim Sweeney, founder and CEO of Epic Games, discusses Fortnite, the Unreal Engine, and the future of gaming. He also covers the origins of Epic Games and the evolution of the Unreal Engine.
- #466 – Jeffrey Wasserstrom: China, Xi Jinping, Trade War, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Mao
Jeffrey Wasserstrom, a historian specializing in modern China, discusses topics including China, Xi Jinping, the trade war, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. He appears on the Lex Fridman Podcast.
- #465 – Robert Rodriguez: Sin City, Desperado, El Mariachi, Alita, and Filmmaking
This episode of the Lex Fridman Podcast features filmmaker Robert Rodriguez. He discusses his work on films such as Sin City, El Mariachi, Desperado, Spy Kids, Machete, and Alita: Battle Angel.
- #464 – Dave Smith: Israel, Ukraine, Epstein, Mossad, Conspiracies & Antisemitism
Dave Smith, a comedian and political commentator, joins Lex Fridman to discuss various topics. The conversation covers subjects such as Israel, Ukraine, Jeffrey Epstein, and antisemitism.
- #463 – Douglas Murray: Putin, Zelenskyy, Trump, Israel, Netanyahu, Hamas & Gaza
Douglas Murray joins the Lex Fridman Podcast to discuss various geopolitical topics. The conversation covers figures like Putin, Zelenskyy, Trump, and Netanyahu, as well as conflicts in Israel and Gaza.
- #462 – Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson: Politics, Trump, AOC, Elon & DOGE
Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson join Lex Fridman to discuss current political topics, including figures like Trump and AOC, as well as broader issues such as supply-side progressivism and wealth redistribution. The conversation also touches…
- #461 – ThePrimeagen: Programming, AI, ADHD, Productivity, Addiction, and God
This episode of the Lex Fridman Podcast features ThePrimeagen (Michael Paulson) discussing programming, AI, ADHD, productivity, addiction, and God. He shares insights on building software and his life story.
- #460 – Narendra Modi: Prime Minister of India – Power, Democracy, War & Peace
Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, is featured on this episode of the Lex Fridman Podcast. The discussion covers topics such as power, democracy, war, and peace.
- #459 – DeepSeek, China, OpenAI, NVIDIA, xAI, TSMC, Stargate, and AI Megaclusters
Dylan Patel and Nathan Lambert discuss advanced AI topics including DeepSeek, the AI landscape in China, and the role of major technology companies such as OpenAI, NVIDIA, TSMC, and xAI. They also explore the concept of AI megaclusters and…
- #458 – Marc Andreessen: Trump, Power, Tech, AI, Immigration & Future of America
Marc Andreessen, an entrepreneur and investor, appears on the Lex Fridman Podcast to discuss a range of topics. The conversation includes discussions on Trump, power, technology, artificial intelligence, immigration, and the future of Amer…
- #457 – Jennifer Burns: Milton Friedman, Ayn Rand, Economics, Capitalism, Freedom
Jennifer Burns, a historian of ideas, discusses her biographies of Milton Friedman and Ayn Rand. She also covers topics such as economics, capitalism, and freedom.
- #456 – Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, Trump, NATO, and Freedom
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, is featured on the Lex Fridman Podcast. He discusses topics including the war, peace negotiations, and international relations.
- #455 – Adam Frank: Alien Civilizations and the Search for Extraterrestrial Life
Adam Frank, an astrophysicist, discusses alien civilizations and the search for extraterrestrial life. The episode covers topics such as exoplanets, the Fermi Paradox, and the Kardashev scale.
- #454 – Saagar Enjeti: Trump, MAGA, DOGE, Obama, FDR, JFK, History & Politics
Saagar Enjeti, a political journalist and co-host of Breaking Points, discusses various political topics including US presidents, historical events, and current political ideologies. This episode also features book recommendations from Enj…
- #453 – Javier Milei: President of Argentina – Freedom, Economics, and Corruption
Javier Milei, the President of Argentina, is featured in this episode. The discussion covers topics such as freedom, economics, and corruption. The episode is available in both English and Spanish.
- #452 – Dario Amodei: Anthropic CEO on Claude, AGI & the Future of AI & Humanity
Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, talks about Claude, AGI, and the future of AI and humanity. He is joined by AI researchers Amanda Askell and Chris Olah.
- #451 – Rick Spence: CIA, KGB, Illuminati, Secret Societies, Cults & Conspiracies
Rick Spence, a historian specializing in intelligence agencies and secret societies, joins Lex Fridman. They discuss topics such as the CIA, KGB, occultism, and various conspiracy theories.
- #450 – Bernie Sanders Interview
Bernie Sanders, a US Senator from Vermont and a two-time presidential candidate, is interviewed. The discussion covers topics including politics, healthcare, and capitalism.
- #449 – Graham Hancock: Lost Civilization of the Ice Age & Ancient Human History
Graham Hancock discusses the possibility of a lost civilization during the last Ice Age. He also explores ancient human history and is the presenter of the Netflix series "Ancient Apocalypse."
- #448 – Jordan Peterson: Nietzsche, Hitler, God, Psychopathy, Suffering & Meaning
Jordan Peterson joins Lex Fridman to discuss Nietzsche, Hitler, God, psychopathy, suffering, and meaning. The conversation covers various topics such as power, propaganda, Nazism, religion, communism, and the hero myth.
- #447 – Cursor Team: Future of Programming with AI
Aman Sanger, Arvid Lunnemark, Michael Truell, and Sualeh Asif, creators of Cursor, discuss the future of programming with AI. They delve into topics such as code editor basics, GitHub Copilot, prompt engineering, AI agents, and scaling cha…