Decoder with Nilay Patel

Latest Episodes:

Recode Decode: Mike Cagney, CEO, SoFi Feb 08, 2016

Show notes

SoFi CEO Mike Cagney sits down with Kara Swisher to discuss why financial technology startups are suddenly hot and how SoFi hopes to eventually replace your bank, even though it has no permanent physical locations. He also talks about why SoFi is planning to launch a dating app (no, really) and why it ran an ad during Super Bowl 50.

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Recode Decode: Chet Kanojia, Starry CEO Feb 04, 2016

Show notes

Starry CEO Chet Kanojia, formerly the founder and CEO of Aereo, is back with another startup aimed at taking on the man. He sits down with Peter Kafka to talk about Starry, which aims to attack broadband monopolies and duopolies by delivering high-speed consumer Internet over the air. He also discusses fellow disruptor Google Fiber and what the Supreme Court didn't understand about Aereo.

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Recode Decode: Eric Weiner, Author of "The Geography of Genius" Feb 01, 2016

Show notes

Eric Weiner, author of New York Times bestseller "The Geography of Bliss" and the new book "The Geography of Genius," talks with Kara Swisher about how where we live can make us smarter and more innovative. He traces genius from Athens to Calcutta to Silicon Valley, and warns that arrogance has ended every golden age in history.

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Recode Decode: Nick Denton, Gawker Media Founder, and Jason Epstein, Investor Jan 28, 2016

Show notes

Gawker Media founder Nick Denton and new board member Jason Epstein, who just bought a minority share of the company, sit down with Peter Kafka to discuss the online media company's rapidly changing outlook. For example, Denton says he's no longer trying to fight against the growing force of Facebook. Plus: How will Gawker deal with the lawsuit from professional wrestler Hulk Hogan heading to trial?

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Recode Decode: John Zimmer, Lyft President Jan 25, 2016

Show notes

Lyft President John Zimmer sits down with Kara Swisher to talk about the company's transition from ridesharing to autonomous cars, the focus of a recently announced partnership with GM. He also discusses whether Lyft is being aggressive enough in its competition with Uber and the regulatory challenges both companies face in Europe.

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Recode Decode: Shani Hilton, BuzzFeed Executive Editor of News Jan 21, 2016

Show notes

BuzzFeed’s Executive Editor of News Shani Hilton talks with Peter Kafka about how she rose to a leadership role within one of the world's most talked-about new media companies. She discusses how the site's strategies have changed as she manages a staff of more than 100 people. Plus: Why millennials don't need special news.

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Recode Decode: Max Levchin, Affirm CEO Jan 17, 2016

Show notes

Affirm CEO and PayPal co-founder Max Levchin talks with Kara Swisher about being a serial entrepreneur and discovering more about himself in the process. He also discusses why startup founders and investors are increasingly flocking to finance, the problems with banking that tech can solve and what Marissa Mayer is doing right at Yahoo.

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Recode Decode: Chris Altchek, Mic CEO Jan 14, 2016

Show notes

Mic CEO Chris Altchek talks with Peter Kafka about building a news site for millennials and why such a thing should exist in the first place. He explores the differences among newsreading generations and explains what Mic has learned from four years of scaling from a few hundred viewers to tens of millions. Plus: Why there's no silver bullet for social media success.

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Recode Decode: Trae Vassallo and Michele Madansky, Co-Authors, "The Elephant in the Valley" Jan 11, 2016

Show notes

Former Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers partner Trae Vassallo and former Yahoo exec Michele Madansky sit down with Kara Swisher to talk about "The Elephant in the Valley," their new report on gender bias and harassment in tech. The report examines the different facets of sexism through both data and anecdotes from hundreds of women. Later on: Lauren Goode and Kara Swisher are launching a new podcast!

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Recode Decode: Albert Wenger, Union Square Ventures Partner Jan 07, 2016

Show notes

Union Square Ventures partner Albert Wenger talks with Peter Kafka about being an investor at a time of bubble anxiety and political debate about the trade-off between privacy and security. He argues that tech companies and the government should work together, and also discusses the growing class of mission-driven "benefit corporations."

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