Why Elites Failed Us w/ Auren Hoffman [World of DaaS]

"Live Players" with Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg

Samo Burja discusses his "Great Founder Theory," in the Word of DaaS Podcast with Auren Hoffman, arguing that exceptional individuals throughout history have shaped civilization by creating influential institutions, while also exploring modern challenges around societal trust, fertility rates, and the changing dynamics between young and old generations in contemporary society.

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RECOMMENDED PODCASTS:

🎙️World of DaaS with Auren Hoffman

The podcast for all things tech, data, and VC. Cut through the noise, decode Silicon Valley shifts and expose master VC tactics – no fluff, no BS, just insights.

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/20YzRoxX3wZbrn2cZDEZ4j

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/world-of-daas/id1570644971

🎙️Check out Modern Relationships, where Erik Torenberg interviews tech power couples and leading thinkers to explore how ambitious people actually make partnerships work. This season's guests include: Delian Asparouhov & Nadia Asparouhova, Kristen Berman & Phil Levin, Rob Henderson, and Liv Boeree & Igor Kurganov.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1786227593

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5hJzs0gDg6lRT6r10mdpVg

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LINKS:

Great Founder Theory: https://samoburja.com/great-founder-theory/

Bismark Analysis: https://brief.bismarckanalysis.com/

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X / TWITTER:

@samoburja

@auren

@worldofdaas

@eriktorenberg

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HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE:

• Great founders create enduring institutions and systems that shape civilization's trajectory, not just through individual achievements but by establishing lasting frameworks like America's founding fathers or Bismarck's unification of Germany.
• Trust has eroded across most institutions since the 1950s, with only the military retaining significant public confidence, though business interactions remain surprisingly trusted in the US.
• Modern parents have become excessively protective, severely restricting children's independence and forcing youth culture to exist primarily online rather than in physical spaces.
• Global fertility rates are declining sharply across all societies, driven by factors like intensive parenting costs, delayed marriages, and career prioritization.
• Technology and longevity advances risk pushing parenthood too late in life, potentially disrupting important intergenerational connections and cultural transmission.
• Taking extended breaks from successful careers to read, reflect, and reset perspective is undervalued but crucial for leadership development and personal growth.