E20: Katherine Boyle on Building a16z’s American Dynamism Practice

In this episode of Turpentine VC, Erik Torenberg speaks to Katherine Boyle, General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz leading the firm’s American Dynamism fund. They discuss why Katherine and a16z started the American Dynamism practice and what they hope to accomplish. If you’re looking for an ERP platform, check out our sponsor, NetSuite:http://netsuite.com/turpentine

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RECOMMENDED PODCAST: History 102 with WhatifAltHist

Every week, creator of WhatifAltHist Rudyard Lynch and Erik Torenberg cover a major topic in history in depth -- in under an hour. This season will cover classical Greece, early America, the Vikings, medieval Islam, ancient China, the fall of the Roman Empire, and more.

Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/36Kqo3BMMUBGTDo1IEYihm

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@History102-qg5oj

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We're hiring across the board at Turpentine and for Erik's personal team on other projects he's incubating. He's hiring a Chief of Staff, EA, Head of Special Projects, Investment Associate, and more. For a list of JDs, check out: eriktorenberg.com.

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RELATED SHOWS: The Limited Partner

If you like Turpentine VC, check out our show The Limited Partner with David Weisburd, where David talks to the investors behind the investors: https://link.chtbl.com/thelimitedpartner

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X / TWITTER:

@Ktmboyle (Katherine)

@eriktorenberg (Erik)

@Turpentinemedia

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TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Intro

(01:13) Understanding American Dynamism

(02:23) The Disconnect Between Silicon Valley and Washington

(04:10) The Importance of Investing in America and the Role of Venture Capital

(05:34) The Role of Tech in Solving Civic Problems

(16:27) Sponsor: NetSuite

(24:03) The Influence of Military Service on American Society

(33:21) The Importance of Family in American Life and History

(39:14) The Shift from Honor Culture to Dignity Culture

(42:49) The Impact of Capitalism and Individualism

(43:43) The Power of Memes and the Struggle of Young Men

(47:58) The Role of Family and Motherhood in Society

(54:23) The Power of Seriousness

(57:19) The Dilemma of Choice and the Value of Commitment

(01:08:30) The Role of Technology in Society and Politics

(01:14:31) The Importance of Public Service and the Challenges of Running for Office

(01:16:54) American Values and Opportunities

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This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at [email protected].