Angus Hervey is a political economist and a journalist specialising in the impact of disruptive technologies on society. Angus is a champion of "intelligent optimism" and co-founder of Future Crunch, a Melbourne-based think tank of sorts dedicated to informed, optimistic thinking about tech and the opportunities that it presents. Before co-founding Future Crunch, Angus was the founding community manager of Random Hacks of Kindness and was the first editorial manager for Global Policy, one of the world's leading international policy journals. He also holds a PhD in International Political Economy from the London School of Economics.
In this wide-ranging chat with Phaedon, Angus discusses the three pillars of intelligent optimism, why he considers social media a drug, what the emergence of "the passion economy" means for online businesses, and why the media can't portray what life is like for the average person. Angus also talks about the key transformative technologies he thinks will drive the next industrial revolution, diving into topics like the distinction between machine learning and artificial intelligence, the valley of death that exists for Australian biotech and the barriers and opportunities for clean energy technologies.
For a regular dose of science, tech and intelligent optimism, subscribe to the weekly Future Crunch newsletter here.
Quickfire Recommendations-Book: The Biggest Bluff by Maria Konnikova-Podcast: a16z-News source: Reddit and The Whippet newsletter by McKinley Valentine-Favourite holiday: Anywhere in South Africa-Productivity tool: Cold Turkey (it's a powerful website blocker)-Favourite founder/CEO: The founders of Tritium and Conflux Technology-Ted Talk topic: "It's Never as Bad or as Good as You Think It Is"
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Innovation Bay is holding AI and health tech-focused pitch events this May in Sydney and Melbourne for Horizon, our community of experienced angel investors. If you are the founder of an AI or health tech startup looking to network with angels who can offer advice, connections and capital, apply to pitch here: https://bit.ly/PitchHorizonMay
Women-led startups in Victoria, apply to connect with Horizon: https://bit.ly/VictorianFemaleFounders

<div>Angus Hervey is a political economist and a journalist specialising in the impact of disruptive technologies on society. Angus is a champion of "intelligent optimism" and co-founder of <a href="https://futurecrunch.com/" target="_blank">Future Crunch</a>, a Melbourne-based think tank of sorts dedicated to informed, optimistic thinking about tech and the opportunities that it presents. Before co-founding Future Crunch, Angus was the founding community manager of <a href="http://www.rhokaustralia.org/" target="_blank">Random Hacks of Kindness</a> and was the first editorial manager for <a href="http://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/" target="_blank">Global Policy</a>, one of the world's leading international policy journals. He also holds a PhD in International Political Economy from the London School of Economics.</div><div><br></div><div>In this wide-ranging chat with Phaedon, Angus discusses the three pillars of intelligent optimism, why he considers social media a drug, what the emergence of "the passion economy" means for online businesses, and why the media can't portray what life is like for the average person. Angus also talks about the key transformative technologies he thinks will drive the next industrial revolution, diving into topics like the distinction between machine learning and artificial intelligence, the valley of death that exists for Australian biotech and the barriers and opportunities for clean energy technologies.</div><div><br></div><div>For a regular dose of science, tech and intelligent optimism, subscribe to the weekly Future Crunch newsletter <a href="https://futurecrunch.com/" target="_blank">here</a>.</div><div><br></div><div>Quickfire Recommendations</div><div>-Book: <a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/Biggest-Bluff-Learned-Attention-Control/dp/0008270864/ref=asc_df_0008270864/?tag=googleshopdsk-22&amp;linkCode=df0&amp;hvadid=390724617595&amp;hvpos=&amp;hvnetw=g&amp;hvrand=9794840835764296171&amp;hvpone=&amp;hvptwo=&amp;hvqmt=&amp;hvdev=c&amp;hvdvcmdl=&amp;hvlocint=&amp;hvlocphy=1000286&amp;hvtargid=pla-917747170230&amp;psc=1" target="_blank">The Biggest Bluff</a> by Maria Konnikova</div><div>-Podcast: <a href="https://a16z.com/" target="_blank">a16z</a></div><div>-News source: Reddit and <a href="https://www.thewhippet.org/" target="_blank">The Whippet</a> newsletter by McKinley Valentine</div><div>-Favourite holiday: Anywhere in South Africa</div><div>-Productivity tool: <a href="https://getcoldturkey.com/" target="_blank">Cold Turkey</a> (it's a powerful website blocker)</div><div>-Favourite founder/CEO: The founders of <a href="https://tritiumcharging.com/" target="_blank">Tritium</a> and <a href="https://www.confluxtechnology.com/" target="_blank">Conflux Technology</a></div><div>-Ted Talk topic: "It's Never as Bad or as Good as You Think It Is"</div><div><br></div><div>__________________</div><div><br></div><div>Innovation Bay is holding AI and health tech-focused pitch events this May in Sydney and Melbourne for Horizon, our community of experienced angel investors. If you are the founder of an AI or health tech startup looking to network with angels who can offer advice, connections and capital, apply to pitch here: <a href="https://bit.ly/PitchHorizonMay" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/PitchHorizonMay</a></div><div><br></div><div>Women-led startups in Victoria, apply to connect with Horizon: <a href="https://bit.ly/VictorianFemaleFounders" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/VictorianFemaleFounders</a></div>

There is a lot of activity in the Australian startup ecosystem. Ideas, talent, and money are all flowing into this sector at an unprecedented rate. 

This weekly podcast brings in-depth interviews with the best people making the biggest difference.

It's brought to you by Ian Gardiner and Phaedon Stough, technology entrepreneurs helping to grow the startup sector in Australia and New Zealand. Ian and Phaedon co-founded Innovation Bay with a clear mission to help technology entrepreneurs succeed.

A weekly deep dive into Australia's tech and startup ecosystem. Brought to you by Innovation Bay

Open the Pod Bay Doors

The Australian and New Zealand startup ecosystem is burgeoning, exciting and filled with some of the most fascinating minds on the planet, all driven by a passion to make a positive and lasting impact. Open The Pod Bay Doors invites some of the brightest minds in the industry for deep conversations and awe-inspiring insights from their captivating journeys. Lend us your ears to gain some fresh knowledge and broaden your insights. Brought to you weekly by Innovation Bay. 

<p>The Australian and New Zealand startup ecosystem is burgeoning, exciting and filled with some of the most fascinating minds on the planet, all driven by a passion to make a positive and lasting impact. Open The Pod Bay Doors invites some of the brightest minds in the industry for deep conversations and awe-inspiring insights from their captivating journeys. Lend us your ears to gain some fresh knowledge and broaden your insights. Brought to you weekly by Innovation Bay. </p>

Angus Hervey is a political economist and a journalist specialising in the impact of disruptive technologies on society. Angus is a...

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