In episode 41 we get a visit from Aztec’s Jon Wu to talk briefly about FTX and then former Twitter Director Ryan Sarver joins along with Fintwit Personality Compound248 to try to explain everything that’s happened with the Twitter take private. From Elon firing half the staff, desperately trying to rehire them, advertisers bailing, and paid verification leading to fake companies and celebrities. As well as explaining why this has gotten so bad so quickly, why Twitter is unique, and what could have been done differently.
(0:00) Intro
(1:54) Welcome Rashad
(4:12) “Verified” Twitter Accounts
(7:36) FTX
(10:08) Rashad’s new podcast
(12:43) Welcome back Jon Wu
(14:32) SBF, FTX, and Alameda
(21:33) What was the fraud?
(24:56) Malicious intent or the tipping point?
(30:49) What was the sentiment of SBF by people in the ecosystem?
(34:10) What’s upcoming to pay attention to?
(36:23) CZ
(38:10) Welcome Ryan Sarver and Compound248
(43:04) Recapping what’s happened since Elon bought Twitter
(45:30) Blue checks
(51:48) Why Twitter is a difficult business
(1:00:30) Brand-based advertising to subscription
(1:16:33) Who will pay for verification?
(1:26:51) Why has Twitter been advertising-based?
(1:32:12) How much was pseudonymity a feature?
(1:34:49) What changes would you focus on?
(1:41:22) Twitter’s FTC order
(1:45:40) Elon shifting blame
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Mixed and edited: Justin Hrabovsky
Produced: Andrew Nadeau and Rashad Assir
Executive Producer: Josh Machiz
Music: Griff Lawson
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About the Show
A Saturday morning podcast hosted by Logan Bartlett (Partner and Managing Director at Redpoint Ventures) covering the tech news with his friends and other people with industry expertise.