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How does Lex Fridman pull such important guests?

2 points by mbowcut2 ↗ HN
I just don’t understand how Lex has been able to build such a successful podcast. As far as his credentials (which are frequently criticized), at best he’s a fizzled MIT post doc.

Why are all these big name people willing to go on his podcast?

7 comments

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atticora
He treats them with respect, asks them thoughtful questions, and puts their answers in front of a large audience of curious people. And how did he get such a large audience? By finding interesting guests, treating them with respect, asking them thoughtful questions, and bringing us their answers.

At best an interviewer's credentials are a poor proxy for how thoughtful their questions might be. Since you can hear the questions themselves why bother with the proxy?

mbowcut2
I've been long time listener of his show, so I don't necessarily disagree with your points. It just seems like he punches above his weight when it comes to guests.
wg0
I find his questions to be anything but thoughtful. At times, he seems not to even know what to ask or even fails to understand what's being said.

Stephen Wolfram's episode has not many rather is pretty much almost all like that. Dr. Wolfram and Lex clearly seem to be on very very different planes throughout.

I found this again to be the case about with John Carmack's session.

Questions that I would have placed would have been what would be a 3D engine look like if Carmack is commissioned to build it today that must be cross platform? What technologies he thinks have future and if then in what direction.

Only explanation could be that maybe that's not the purpose of the podcast at all. The goal is to just have aimless, low caliber, ordinary conversation to keep it approachable for a wider audience.

RGamma
First mover advantage followed by network effects?
outdig
atticora has a good answer.

In addition, he created his podcast in 2018, and a youtube channel in 2006.

"Fridman began his podcast in 2018. It was originally titled The Artificial Intelligence Podcast"

It just goes to show that with a little credentials, a little intelligence and consistent effort, after 17 years, goes a long way.

Tell me a case where someone who has all 3, after 17 years didn't have something to show for it.

mbowcut2
This makes sense. Add in that he was featured on the JRE (which is where I first learned about him) which no doubt gave him a nice audience boost.
harryquach
That's where I first learned of him as well. Since he was first featured I now listen to his podcast.