who I look up to
my media diet
What media you consume does affect your outlook on the world, life, people.
I’m only as good as my next video, article, memo- and I’m just a baby in this huge industry. But since many people have been asking me what I listen to, I thought to collect it here and share who inspires me, who I look up to, and who I want to “be like when I grow up” as one could say in a cheesy way.
the greats
Sarah Guo
Sarah is the GP and founder of Conviction, and the co-host of No Priors with Elad Gil. Sarah Guo’s podcast was the very first tech podcast I started listening to.
When I first discovered it about a year and a half ago- it honestly felt like a cheat code. I remember listening to industry leaders for a whole hour and thinking: wait, is this free? How is it that I have whole hour long access to the brain of this xyz beast, for free?
In all honesty, I did not know that Sarah did run a fund- and only after 10+ episodes I googled her and found out about her and her team’s incredible work.
The biggest thing that her media gave me an insight into is how tech is mission and purpose driven- I might be romanticising this and the skeptics will always point to the economics of the industry (which yes, I totally see and we can’t dismiss of course); but in all honesty: there is beauty in craft, there is beauty in enigma and unsolved engineering challenges- and I highly encourage everyone to listen to her pod to be able to have a front row seat to that.
- No Priorspodcast
Patrick O’Shaughnessy
The first time I read his media was the piece on Joshua Kushner. You might notice a thread here- the thing that made this media have a special soft spot in my heart is the romantic part of tech: on one side, the engineering challenge, the adversity to overcome- and on the other side, the people around the adversity to overcome.
Colossus gave me a window into the person behind the adversity- their personal life, their upbringing, the stories behind those. Every written Colossus piece is an editorial masterpiece. They do not have weekly drops, they have a drop when there is something meaningful to cover.
Biased again, but if you are not reading this, you are depriving yourself of the closest thing out there to fine dining in media- and the insane thing is, it’s free.
It still blows my mind that it’s free. I feel like I have been ‘cheating’ the system/the internet for the past 12 months by reading this.
- Colossuswriting
- Invest Like the Bestpodcast
David Senra
David’s work is, in this list, another step into this thread of high-quality media, but a lateral step from tech, and a step into other industries.
What I love is how he reads biographies and does deep dives into founders across industries, and provides a digested overview of decades of history for me to listen to- for free, on my earpods, at any time that I pick them up.
- Founderspodcast
growth mindset / business / beyond tech
Emma Grede
Emma Grede has been a name that has been under the radar for the past decade, building empires in silence. She is the co-founder of Good American and founding partner of SKIMS.
Prior to this, she sold her own media agency that was at the front of the social media marketing wave- that today, in hindsight, looks obvious, but wasn’t as legible to brands and celebrities back in those days. With that under her belt, she pitched Khloé Kardashian to create a brand, rather than just be the face of someone else’s brand- and the rest is history.
Her podcast, Aspire, and her book convey her powerful message that your life is actually under your control.
There is something so empowering as a woman about having the sheer belief that your work has meaning and value for your life- and focusing on that, rather than the constraints that the world wants you to focus on.
Biased take- but consuming this kind of media is really important for my media diet because it makes optimism become default in my life and mindset, and I hope it will also be the case for you.
- Aspire with Emma Gredepodcast
20VC
Harry Stebbings
Harry's hustle is like no other. Undeniably, because of my upbringing, both Emma and Harry have a sweet spot in my heart, because I see myself in them and because they manifest a reality that is tangible to aspire to, comparatively to where they started.
I understand that there are a lot of people on the way that will endorse, support, back- and that no one is truly self made beause of the help and love of dear friends and supporters: but to me, Harry is as self made as it can get.
He picked up a mic, and a camera, when he was 18 and launched the 20vc from his bedroom, with no existing contacts in the venture capital industry. What he has achieved is extremely aspirational.
Also- his hosting style is one of my favourites from this list, listening to his pod made me a better listener and more inquisitive interviewer, his questioning style is just that good.
- 20VCpodcast
the goats
pods / writeups
Dwarkesh Patel
Dwarkesh Patel is a writer and the host of Dwarkesh Podcast. His interviews explore AI, science and history, with accompanying transcripts and essays on the ideas discussed.
- Dwarkesh Podcastpodcast
Dylan Patel
Dylan Patel is the founder and CEO of SemiAnalysis, a research firm covering semiconductors and AI infrastructure. His work examines chips, supply chains, data centers and the economics behind the technology.
- SemiAnalysisresearch & writing
Claire Zau
Claire Zau is an early-stage investor at Lightspeed and a creator who explains technology online. She also co-hosts Lightwork, the firm’s podcast about AI and the companies building it.
- Zauey Talksinstagram
Marisa Chentakul
Mesh Times
Marisa Chentakul, known online as Mesh Times, is a designer and creative technologist. She shares projects that combine design, coding and art, along with videos and writing about her creative process.
- Mesh Timesinstagram
youtube
Cleo Abram
Cleo Abram is a video journalist and the creator of Huge If True, a YouTube show about science and technology. Her explainers explore how new discoveries and inventions work and how they could shape the future.
- Huge If Trueyoutube
Hope this was helpful!
Big hugs,
Vitoria
photo credits
- Patrick O’Shaughnessy: Sohn Conference
- David Senra: David Senra
- Emma Grede: Harper’s Bazaar
- Dwarkesh Patel: Derek Yarra / Mercury
- Dylan Patel: SemiAnalysis
- Claire Zau: Lightspeed
- Marisa · Mesh Times: Figma, Source Material
- Sarah Guo, Harry Stebbings, Molly O’Shea and Cleo Abram: photos selected by Vitoria.