On this episode of The Ben & Marc Show, a16z co-founders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz sit down with Erik Torenberg— General Partner at a16z and founder of the media company Turpentine—to unpack how the internet shattered the old media order and reshaped the way power works in America.

What begins as a look at the evolution of media quickly becomes something bigger: a conversation about truth, trust, and the collapse of institutional authority. They explore how social media became both an x-ray and an engine, why authenticity now beats polish, and how the rules of politics, and journalism, have permanently changed.

Together, they break down:

-Why 2017 marked a structural break between tech and the press

-Trump’s real training ground

-The tension between objectivity, activism, and “speaking truth to power”

-Why podcasters. not pundits, are setting the agenda

- How the barbell strategy is reshaping media: short-form virality meets long-form depth

With stops at Watergate, the rise of Rogan, the fall of legacy gatekeepers, and the media playbooks behind Obama, Trump, and the Kardashians—this episode explores how we got here, what’s next, and what it means for founders, voters, and anyone trying to build (or tell) a story.

Timecodes:

0:00 Introduction

0:55 The Evolution of Media: From Centralization to Fragmentation

2:34 The Internet’s Impact on Traditional Media

4:06 Unionization and Technological Change in Media

6:39 Oversupply and Competition in News Organizations

8:44 The Changing Role and Ideology of Journalism

11:46 Speak Truth to Power: Conflicts in Journalism

13:39 The 2016 Election and the Collapse of Media Trust

23:20 Martin Gurri and the Crisis of Authority

31:34 Decentralization: From the 1970s to Social Media

48:06 Trump, Reality TV, and the New Media Playbook

59:10 Drama, Authenticity, and the Barbell Effect in Media

1:16:40 Podcasts, Direct Communication, and the Future of Authority

1:34:48 Advice for Founders and the Importance of Personal Branding

1:37:35 Conclusion & Final Thoughts

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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.

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

Stay Updated:

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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.

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

Stay Updated:

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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.

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:

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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.

U.S. per capita energy usage peaked in 1973. Since then? Flat. Meanwhile, China’s per capita energy use has grown 9x.

Today, AI, EVs, manufacturing, and data centers are driving demand for more electricity than ever—and our grid can’t keep up.

In this episode, a16z general partners David Ulevitch and Erin Price-Wright, along with investing partner Ryan McEntush from the American Dynamism team, join us to unpack:

– How America’s grid fell behind

– Why we "forgot how to build" power infrastructure

– The role of batteries, solar, nuclear, and software in reshaping the grid

– How AI is both stressing and helping the system

– What it’ll take to build a more resilient, decentralized, and dynamic energy future

Whether you’re a founder, policymaker, or just someone who wants their lights to stay on, this conversation covers what’s broken—and how to fix it.

Resources:

Find David on X: https://x.com/davidu

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

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

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

01:05 Challenges and Solutions for Modernizing the Grid

01:56 Decentralized Energy and Technological Innovations

02:34 Grid Capacity and Transformer Issues

04:10 The Role of AI and Software in Energy Management

04:55 Policy and Workforce Challenges

08:44 Texas vs. New York: A Tale of Two Grids

10:31 The Importance of Battery Technology

13:11 Balancing Energy Sources: Solar, Nuclear, and More

14:54 The Future of Energy Consumption and Grid Management

19:45 Wind Power: The Forgotten Energy Source

20:53 Challenges in Grid Monitoring and Communication

22:19 Load Forecasting and Weather Impact

23:49 Nuclear Energy: Current State and Future Prospects

26:44 Small Modular Reactors and Micro Reactors

30:55 Technological Innovations in Grid Management

35:41 The Role of AI in Regulatory Processes

41:39 National Security and the Electrical Grid

Stay Updated:

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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.

In this episode, a16z General Partner Martin Casado sits down with Box cofounder and CEO Aaron Levie to talk about how AI is changing not just software, but the structure and speed of work itself.

They unpack how enterprise adoption of AI is different from the consumer wave, why incumbents may be better positioned than people think, and how the role of the individual contributor is already shifting from executor to orchestrator. From vibe coding and agent UX to why startups should still go vertical, this is a candid, strategic conversation about what it actually looks like to build and operate in an AI-native enterprise.

Aaron also shares how Box is using AI internally today, and what might happen when agents outnumber employees.

Resources:

Find Aaron on X: https://x.com/levie

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

Stay Updated:

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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.

This week on the a16z Podcast, we're sharing a feed drop from Impact Theory with Tom Bilyeu, featuring a wide-ranging conversation with a16z cofounder Ben Horowitz.

Artificial intelligence isn't just a tool — it's a tectonic shift. In this episode, Ben joins Tom to break down what AI really is (and isn't), where it's taking us, and why it matters. They dive into the historical parallels, the looming policy battles, and how innovation cycles have always created — not destroyed — opportunity.

From the future of work and education to the global AI race and the role of blockchain in preserving trust, Ben shares hard-won insights from decades at the forefront of technological disruption. It's a masterclass in long-term thinking for anyone building, investing, or navigating what's coming next.

Resources:

Listen to more episodes of Impact Theory with Tom Bilyeu: https://link.chtbl.com/impacttheory

Watch full conversations on YouTube: youtube.com/tombilyeu
Follow Tom on Instagram: @tombilyeu

Learn more about Impact Theory: impacttheory.com

Timecodes:

00:00 Introduction to Impact Theory with Ben Horowitz

01:12 The Disruptive Power of AI

02:01 Understanding AI and Its Implications

04:19 The Future of Jobs in an AI-Driven World

06:52 Human Intelligence vs. Artificial Intelligence

10:31 The Role of AI in Society

21:41 AI and the Future of Work

35:07 The AI Race: US vs. China

41:25 The Importance of Blockchain in an AI World

44:26 Government Regulation and Blockchain

45:16 The Need for Stablecoins

45:45 Energy Challenges and AI

49:53 Market Structure Bill and Token Regulation

53:51 Blockchain's Trust and Adoption

01:04:17 Elon Musk's Government Involvement

01:12:03 Historical Figures and Modern Parallels

01:18:41 AI and Creativity in Business

01:21:29 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Stay Updated:

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

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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

a16z Crypto General Partners Ali Yahya, Arianna Simpson, and Erik Torenberg break down what’s actually working in crypto today - starting with the rise of stablecoins as a real-world payments layer. They discuss how stablecoins are being adopted by companies like Stripe and SpaceX, why regulatory shifts are opening new doors for crypto startups, and how AI and crypto are beginning to intersect.

They also cover:

• The future of decentralized social networks
• Where Ethereum, Solana, and others stand today
• Misconceptions still holding the space back

A grounded conversation on what’s real, what’s hype, and where crypto’s finally finding traction.

Timecodes:

00:00 Introduction to Crypto and AI

00:16 The Rise of Stable Coins

00:40 Current State of Crypto

02:02 Deep Dive into Stable Coins

07:39 Institutional and Consumer Adoption

22:09 The Future of Crypto and AI

29:13 Misconceptions and Policy Changes

33:06 Smart Contract Platforms

36:14 Closing Thoughts

Resources:

Find Ali on X: https://x.com/alive_eth

Find Arianna on X:

https://x.com/AriannaSimpson

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://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