His older interviews were good. He often had a firm grasp of the subject and was genuinely curious. It also helps that they're long form.
I really liked his conversations with George Hotz, founder of an aftermarket lane assist product [0]. I would say that was peak Fridman. It was a great conversation covering many topics like UFOs, physics, cryptocurrency and programming.
In his recent interviews he seems in over his head. He can't articulate an appropriate response and often falls back to asking people "can you steelman criticisms about your product or what you're doing". His conversations with the Pfizer CEO and Mark Zuckerberg are prime examples of this. It doesn't lead to very constructive conversation.
> I've been curious about this too, because he seems like a wet blanket of an interviewer to me.
I've tried listening to him so many times because of intersting guests. But his style is so boring and weird. I find it hard to focus more than 1/2 hr.
I like his style exactly because of that, he doesn't try to be entertaining for no reason. If I want entertainment I don't listen to a 3-hour conversation about AI.
Perhaps, for famous people, it checks the box of "being accessible to the people" but also doesn't risk being asked controversial/hard hitting questions.
Maybe he pays? I don't know how standard it is to pay for guest appearances in Youtube podcasts, but maybe he pays well to get people through the door.
It's unlikely. How much do you think Elon Musk, Jack Dorsey, Mark Zuckerberg, Ray Dalio or Eric Schmidt would charge? I don't think Lex would be able to afford it.
There is no alternative with anywhere close to the caliber of guests he gets.
Plus, like Trump is a poor person's ideal of a rich and successful person, Lex is a young impressionable person's idea of a smart person, this makes him relatable to his main audience.
Plus, Rogan moving full episodes to Spotify made the YT algorithm fill the vacuum with the next closest thing.
I really liked his conversations with George Hotz, founder of an aftermarket lane assist product [0]. I would say that was peak Fridman. It was a great conversation covering many topics like UFOs, physics, cryptocurrency and programming.
In his recent interviews he seems in over his head. He can't articulate an appropriate response and often falls back to asking people "can you steelman criticisms about your product or what you're doing". His conversations with the Pfizer CEO and Mark Zuckerberg are prime examples of this. It doesn't lead to very constructive conversation.
[0] https://lexfridman.com/george-hotz-2/