It can take more than 15 years to permit and build a new mine in the United States - yet nearly every modern technology we rely on, from smartphones to fighter jets to AI data centers, depends on a steady supply of critical minerals.

In this episode, Erik Torenberg is joined in the studio by Turner Caldwell, founder of Mariana Minerals, along with American Dynamism general partner Erin Price-Wright and partner Ryan McEntush.

Turner spent nearly a decade at Tesla, working his way upstream from factory design to battery materials and mining. Now, he’s building a new kind of mining and refining company - vertically integrated and software-first- designed to meet the demands of our industrial future.

We get into why the industry is so broken, what it actually takes to turn rocks into usable materials, and how the U.S. can rebuild its capacity to mine, refine, and manufacture the things that matter most.

Timecodes:

00:00 Introduction to Critical Minerals

00:45 The Importance of Mining in Modern Technology

00:58 Meet Turner Caldwell and Marianna Minerals

03:02 The Mining and Refining Process

05:10 Challenges in the Mining Industry

07:11 Turner's Journey from Tesla to Marianna

15:31 The Role of AI and ML in Mining

22:00 Geopolitical and Talent Pool Dynamics

23:46 Challenges in Junior Mining Exploration

25:30 Mariana's Product and Approach

25:47 Leveraging Technology in Mining and Construction

28:29 Optimizing Refining Processes with AI

37:31 The Importance of Critical Minerals

41:18 Permitting and Regulatory Challenges

46:08 Future Strategies and International Expansion

46:53 Conclusion and Future Outlook

Resources:

Find Turner on X :https://x.com/tbc415

Find Erin on X: https://x.com/espricewright

Find Ryan on X: https://x.com/rmcentush

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Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.

Is AI the Fourth Pillar of Infrastructure?

Infrastructure doesn’t go away — it layers. And today, AI is emerging as a new foundational layer alongside compute, storage, and networking.

Erik Torenberg interviews a16z’s Martin Casado, Jennifer Li, and Matt Bornstein breaking down how infrastructure is evolving in the age of AI — from models and agents to developer tools and shifting user behavior.

We dive into what infra actually means today, how it differs from enterprise, and why software itself is being disrupted. Plus, we explore the rise of technical users as buyers, what makes infra companies defensible, and how past waves — from the cloud to COVID to AI — are reshaping how we build and invest.

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:49) Defining Infrastructure in the AI Era

(03:15) The Fourth Pillar: AI's Role in Infrastructure

(06:01) Historical Context and Evolution of Infrastructure

(08:20) The Impact of AI on Software Development

(10:18) Investment Strategies and Market Dynamics

(17:02) Developer Tools and AI Integration

(20:57) Defensibility in the AI Landscape

(22:16) Founders' Intuition and Industry Progress

(22:26) Defensibility in AI Infrastructure

(24:00) Expansion and Contraction Phases in the Industry

(24:35) The Role of Layers in Market Consolidation

(27:43) The Future of AI Models and Specialization

(29:27) The Decade of AI Agents

(29:54) Context Engineering and New Infrastructure

(34:23) The Evolution of Software Development

(42:13) Horizontal vs. Vertical Integration in AI

(43:54) Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Resources:

Find Martin on X: https://x.com/martin_casado

Find Jennifer on X: https://x.com/JenniferHli

Find Matt on X: https://x.com/BornsteinMatt

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Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/

Follow our host: https://x.com/eriktorenberg

Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.

Today we’re sharing an episode from American Optimist featuring Marc Andreessen in conversation with Joe Lonsdale, recorded live at the inaugural Ronald Reagan Economic Forum.

They explore one of the most urgent and complex questions of our time: Can AI and robotics catalyze a new era of American industrial strength—and how do we ensure the entire country, including rural communities, shares in the upside?

Marc walks through the history of U.S. industrialization, the lessons of tariffs and trade from leaders like McKinley, and how America’s shift to a services-based economy helped fuel our current urban-rural divide. The conversation spans immigration policy, housing, education, energy, and the path to a true AI-powered manufacturing revival—touching on what needs to change and how.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone thinking about the future of American productivity, growth, and leadership in the age of AI.

Resources:

Find Marc on X: https://x.com/pmarca

Follow Joe on X: https://x.com/jtlonsdale

You can find his writings here: https://blog.joelonsdale.com/

Stay Updated:

Let us know what you think: https://ratethispodcast.com/a16z

Find a16z on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16z

Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z

Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/

Follow our host: https://twitter.com/stephsmithio

Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.