Rephonic
Artwork for "Moment of Zen"
Openai
Artificial Intelligence
Sam Altman
Politics
Economic Disruption
Elon Musk
Silicon Valley
Decentralization
Ai Safety
Regulation
Populism
Crypto
Microsoft
Environmentalism
Medicine
Liberal Arts Education
Censorship
Steve Jobs
YC (Y Combinator)
Venture Capital

Every week, Erik Torenberg, Dan Romero, Antonio Garcia Martinez and frequent special guests discuss what's happening in technology, business, politics, and beyond. Moment of Zen is part of the Turpentine podcast network. Learn more: turpentine.co

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes121Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BusinessInvestingTechnology

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for "Moment of Zen"

Latest Episodes

Erik Torenberg and Samo Burja discuss the complex relationship between Mexican drug cartels and the country's political system. Samo explains how cartels operate not as insurgencies but as business entities with deep connections to Mexican elites.

T... more

YouTube

Erik Torenberg and economist Noah Smith dissect the Democratic Party's path forward. Smith advocates for fiscal responsibility over progressive rhetoric, refocusing democracy concerns away from voter ID laws toward election integrity, and embracing p... more

YouTube

Erik Torenberg and Samo Burja examine the pervasive fascination with American political dynamics and their far-reaching impact worldwide, especially across Western democracies and European nations. They analyze how digital connectivity has accelerate... more

YouTube

This week, Erik Torenberg is joined by Dr. Victor Davis Hanson, classicist, political commentator, and Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford. Together they conduct a thought experiment: it's 2030, how can we expect to understand the leg... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Tim Urban
Writer and author of 'What's Our Problem', focusing on classical liberalism and societal challenges.
Episode: Can Classical Liberalism Survive Wokeness? w/ Tim Urban
Joshua Steinman
Former Senior Official at the National Security Council, focused on cyber policy and AI
Trump Administration
Episode: Is AI our next nuclear threat? With Joshua Steinman and Nathan Labenz
Brian Armstrong
CEO of Coinbase
Coinbase
Episode: The Future of Crypto with Brian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase
Noah Smith
Economist and writer
Episode: 2024 Election Strategy, Education Depolarization, and UBI with Noah Smith
Carlos Pereira
Partner at BITKRAFT, focusing on Web3 gaming investments.
BITKRAFT
Episode: Crypto and Gaming with Carlos Pereira
Jonathan Haidt
Social psychologist and author known for exploring the psychosocial effects of social media.
Episode: Jonathan Haidt on The Social Media Theory of Everything
Alex LaBossiere
Host of a podcast with insightful long-form discussions
Independent
Episode: The Future of Media, Institutions, and Risk
Erik Torenberg
Investor, technologist and fellow podcaster
Turpentine Media
Episode: Should We Accelerate or Decelerate Tech Progress?
Haseeb Qureshi
Investor and technologist
Dragonfly
Episode: Should We Accelerate or Decelerate Tech Progress?

Host

Erik Torenberg
Host of Moment of Zen

Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars from 337 ratings
  • Boring

    I wish they would say interesting things.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Jenna Ash Smitherson
    United States4 months ago
  • The podcast would be smarter if it didn’t succumb to so much bias

    I find myself nodding along half the time, but then that moment hits me every few minutes like, “Wait, that was just a totally unsubstantiated blanket statement about The Left or the EU or whatever and can we rewind and go a little deeper than ‘Source: Just trust me, bro?’” And then we get back to a very interesting and generative argument about history—and that makes it more confusing and frustrating. And there’s no mechanism in the show’s format to strengthen or question what’s being said. Lot... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Geoffrey D Greene
    Sweden4 months ago
  • Boring AF

    Do we really need one more wannabe tech bro podcast?

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    shul123
    India5 months ago
  • Thanks for the Jewish Perspective

    It’s the same one we always get from every media source. Stale, tired, false, and boring.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    VietSchlong
    United States6 months ago
  • Not worth it if you follow Econ 102

    I was initially very intrigued by this podcast as it had Marc Andreessen as a guest a couple of times at the beginning. The hosts were all interesting as well, but over time more and more of the feed is just episodes copy-pasted from other podcasts and Econ 102 in particular.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    smallhorse
    United States8 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

There are critiques regarding perceived biases, with some audiences expressing the desire for more balanced and intellectually diverse viewpoints.
Listeners commend the podcast for its intellectual depth and insightful discussions on technology, politics, and economics.
Reviewers have noted a variation in the quality of guests and discussions, indicating that while some episodes engage deeply, others may feel repetitive or lack rigorous analysis.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#141
Mexico/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#207
Argentina/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#215
Finland/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#223
Chile/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#228
Saudi Arabia/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#245
South Africa/Technology

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Free Speech in Europe & the Future of Western Civilization | Samo Burja
Q: How do you think the broader surging right vibe shift will carry over to Europe?
If x.com becomes much more popular among everyday Europeans, it will have a significant impact.
Victor Davis Hanson Predicts the Future: Trump, China, Russia, & Europe in 2030
Q: What is the future of the left?
Hanson describes the left as addicted to issues that are not resonating with the broader public, suggesting a need for them to pivot back to moderation.
Victor Davis Hanson Predicts the Future: Trump, China, Russia, & Europe in 2030
Q: Was the war good for us in the US in that it weakened Russia?
Yes, it did weaken Russia, as it placed strain on their resources and was seen as a way to significantly exhaust their capabilities.
Victor Davis Hanson Predicts the Future: Trump, China, Russia, & Europe in 2030
Q: How do you think Ukraine and Russia is going to resolve?
Hanson believes the key issue will be determining the DMZ and acknowledges that Ukraine lacks the ability to recover occupied territories alone.
Victor Davis Hanson Predicts the Future: Trump, China, Russia, & Europe in 2030
Q: How do you think Trump and his presidency, second presidency might be remembered?
Hanson suggests it will be seen as chaotic but also successful, especially regarding foreign policy.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About "Moment of Zen"

What is "Moment of Zen" about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Focused on the intersections of technology, business, and politics, discussions frequently feature a range of contemporary issues from immigration policies and the implications of social media influence to debates surrounding the future of American democracy. The hosts engage in nuanced conversations, often bringing in notable guests, thereby adding depth and diverse perspectives to the dialogue. The podcast stands out for its ambition to blend intellectual rigor with current events, making it appealing for listeners interested in critical analyses of pressing contemporary topics, especially those related to the tech industry and socio-political dynamics.

Where can I find podcast stats for "Moment of Zen"?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for "Moment of Zen". We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to "Moment of Zen" and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does "Moment of Zen" get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for "Moment of Zen", including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for "Moment of Zen"?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for "Moment of Zen", including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does "Moment of Zen" have?

To see how many followers or subscribers "Moment of Zen" has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to "Moment of Zen"?

These podcasts share a similar audience with "Moment of Zen":

1. "Upstream" with Erik Torenberg
2. "Econ 102" with Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg
3. Pirate Wires
4. Complex Systems with Patrick McKenzie (patio11)
5. Dwarkesh Podcast

How many episodes of "Moment of Zen" are there?

"Moment of Zen" launched 2 years ago and published 121 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact "Moment of Zen"?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for "Moment of Zen"?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for "Moment of Zen" from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for "Moment of Zen"?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of "Moment of Zen". Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on "Moment of Zen"?

Recent guests on "Moment of Zen" include:

1. Tim Urban
2. Joshua Steinman
3. Brian Armstrong
4. Noah Smith
5. Carlos Pereira
6. Jonathan Haidt
7. Alex LaBossiere
8. Erik Torenberg

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days