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A sampling of resources that I bookmarked throughout the journey to spend more time with, including how you can conduct your own walk & talk, a structure that Kevin Kelly and Craig Mod have mastered.  A public recap of some of our adventure from Craig ModHow to conduct your own Walk and Talk (downloadable version)Kevin Kelly on This American Life telling his story of living for 6 months as if he were dying. This is really incredibly moving and a must-listen.A TED Talk on Notre-Dame’s incredible reconstructionBorn to Run; the book about Mexico’s Tarahumara tribe and how humans may be literally built to run; the differentiator between us and other speciesKevin’s musings on Amish Hackers, the Whole Earth catalogInteresting museums, like the Miniature Museum in Japan or the Tile Museum in LisbonFor an even fuller list of resources, including all the questions asked and rabbitholes explored, check out Internet Pipes with code SYDLIS for 50% off 🤫 Other resources referenced throughout the episode: The Way filmMacs AdventuresKevin Kelly's storyVanishing Asia Disclaimer: This episode and all episodes of the SYDLIS podcast are not affiliated with Steph's work at Nvidia and is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice.

After an invite to walk the Camino from Kevin Kelly, Steph and Cal ended up on an unplanned month in Portugal, Morocco, France, and Spain. In this episode, we cover cruising the Portuguese coast in search of surf and the less-touristy towns beyond Lisbon and Porto, Cal's solo surf mission through Morocco, and why Basque Country, with its its world-class food, charm, and surf became one of our new favorite places. Steph's Camino trip with Kevin Kelly gets its own episode. Resources:  ✨ Basque Country recommendations ✨Corinthia (Lisbon)Costa Fria (Ericeira)Octant Duoro (Duoro Valley)Surfer's Lodge (Peniche)Taberna do Ganhão (Peniche)Graham's Port (Porto)Amouage (Taghazout)Disclaimer: This episode and all episodes of the SYDLIS podcast are not affiliated with Steph's work at Nvidia and is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice.

In Part 3 of our East Africa series, Steph and Cal walk through how they'd plan a trip to East Africa after spending 26 days across Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda. We cover when to go, how to think about safari (luxury, budget, or somewhere in between), gorilla trekking logistics in Rwanda, which non-safari stops were worth it (and which weren't), and practical tips on visas, packing, and money. If a trip to Africa feels off-limits or overwhelming to plan, this one is for you. Resources Asilia (safari company)Gorilla Family ListLensrentalsSheldrick Elephant OrphanageKiambethu Tea FarmArusha Coffee Lodge by ElewanaHabesha (Ethiopian Food Nairobi)Cultiva Farm NairobiDisclaimer: This episode and all episodes of the SYDLIS podcast are not affiliated with Steph's work at Nvidia and is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice.

After two weeks on safari in Kenya and Tanzania, Steph and Cal spent a week in Rwanda — a last-minute addition that ended up being their favorite leg of the trip. In Part 2 of our East Africa series, we cover the history and lasting impact of the Rwandan genocide, what Rwanda is like today, and a special experience visiting gorillas in Volcanoes National Park. Resources: Gorilla Families in Volcanoes National ParkMachete Season by Jean HatfieldWe Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families by Philip GourevitchHotel Rwanda (movie)Zipline (drone delivery company)Disclaimer: This episode and all episodes of the SYDLIS podcast are not affiliated with Steph's work at Nvidia and is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice.

Last summer, Steph and Cal spent 26 days traveling through East Africa, including a safari through the Maasai Mara, Serengeti, and Rubondo Island. In Part 1 of this three-part series on Africa, we cover what life on safari is actually like — from watching a fresh lion kill and getting mock-charged by an elephant to walking on foot through the bush and visiting a remote fishing village where most locals had never left the island. Disclaimer: This episode and all episodes of the SYDLIS podcast are not affiliated with Steph's work at Nvidia and is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice.

Steph and Cal spent 8 days on a boat in the Galapagos Islands with 14 strangers, a local guide, and exotic animals that barely noticed their presence. In this episode, we cover what boat life is actually like, the wildlife moments that blew our minds, a wild experience with scopolamine, and why the Galapagos Islands might be the best place on Earth to see nature as it was before humans took over. Resources: Recommended boatDisclaimer: This episode and all episodes of the SYDLIS podcast are not affiliated with Steph's work at Nvidia and is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice.

A year ago, Steph ran her first half marathon and crushed it. Five months later, she ran her first full marathon and spent seven miles puking her way to the finish line. In this episode, we cover what went wrong the first time, how she retrained, and whether she hit her goal on her second attempt — a birthday marathon in Sacramento, complete with custom rap jingles and live race-day updates. Resources: RunnaDisclaimer: This episode and all episodes of the SYDLIS podcast are not affiliated with Steph's work at Nvidia and is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice.

Steph and Cal are back to take stock of a wild 2025 — the wins, the bad experiments, the money mistakes, the obsessions that stuck, and the questions that refused to go away. From health and work to travel, marriage, and what comes next, this episode is a reset and a preview of the season ahead. Resources: Surferdiary.com 🌊Build your own apps courseQuick note: This episode was recorded in December 2025. Much has changed in that month, including that Steph is now at Nvidia! All content published on the SYDLIS podcast (past/present/future) is unaffiliated with Nvidia.

Technology has enabled more people than ever to support their lives via online side projects. Steph is one of the people who understands this world well, having created multiple six-figure projects over the last few years. In this episode, Cal interviews Steph about her perspective on bringing an idea to life, managing your psychology, maintaining a reputation, how to price projects, and doing all of this while working a full-time job. Check out Internet Pipes: https://internetpipes.com/Discount Code: SYDLISResources: Josh Pigford's project listPieter Levels’ project listPat Walls’ project list

You probably spend more time at home than anywhere else. And how you feel about that time is heavily influenced by the design and functionality of your space. But how do you create a space that you truly enjoy? Unless you're an interior designer or have the resources to hire one, you may not know where to start and default to keeping things the way they are. That's okay, but what if you could make a few simple, affordable changes to enhance your experience at home?  In this episode, Cal and Steph discuss how a trip to Japan inspired them to spruce up their home after years of not giving this topic much thought. You'll learn about what they did, how they made decisions in a world of infinite choices, how much it cost, and other ideas that may give you a head start if you take on a similar project. Items Mentioned: Affordable side table lampsMarshall Bluetooth speaker

You’ll be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t say their health is paramount, yet you'll be just as hard-pressed to find someone who knows what to do to "get there". While every person’s health journey is going to be unique, in this episode Cal and Steph share their experimentation across many of the major categories – from sleep to supplements and beyond.  Of course, this podcast is for information purposes only and is not health or medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional for any medical concerns or questions. Topics Covered: 6:53 - Foundational elements8:52 - Morning routine13:24 - Sleep24:30 - Pain and injury31:30 - Supplements38:16 - Mental health39:31 - 80/20++ (blood work, CGMs, fertility, CO2 monitors)Additional Resources: Patrick Collison’s pollution pageCasey Means on Huberman Lab on 7 indicators metabolic health (time-stamped)CGM tracking templateCal’s sleep gear: eyemask, silicon earplugs, pillow

Everybody warns you that your body slows down with age, but that deterioration so sneaky, we continue to convince ourselves that we’re doing just fine. At least, that’s what happened to Steph over the past decade, going from an athlete in her youth to waking up one day without the fitness she once remembered. This episode is a walk through that story, but more importantly, how she got back on track and just ran her first half-marathon. This year, she’ll surpass over 500 miles and next year, the aim is 1000+. The best part is? This cornerstone of all our lives – health, that is – is possible for all of us to turn around.  Steph’s training modeled after this articleWant to join Steph on her goal for 1000 miles next year? Join this Strava group. (No need to be in SF, Strava just forces me to choose a location!)

In part 2 of our series in Japan, we dive into the how behind planning a trip there, from what is worth seeing, how to navigate the epic train system, their unintuitive review system, and more. After traveling to 40+ countries each, we’ve found Japan to be a unique beast, and hope this helps you navigate one of the best countries in the world. If you missed part 1, start there! Resources discussed: Full list of Japan recommendations (in different cities) 📌Pico Iyer’s Beginner’s Guide to JapanDon’t forget to look out for takkyubin (luggage transport)!Tabelog for reviewsJR pass calculatorSuica cardAirolo e-simJapanese konbiniReddit recommendations here and hereListicle here (the custard at #7!)Kappabashi kitchen districtMount Fuji hut listNaoshima Benesse HouseRecommended ryokans: YoshimatsuYamanochayaMore city-specific recommendations in the guide This episode is not affiliated with Steph's work at a16z and is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.

We’re back with a whole new season. In our first episode back, we discuss everything from the wonderful to the wacky of Japan. You'll hear about an epic art island, specialty coffee and konbini (AKA convenience store food), 100+ year-old businesses, the philosophical ideas that make Japan such a distinct place, and much more. In our next episode, we get tactical and break down exactly how we would plan a future trip to Japan, in case that's something you've got on the horizon. Resources discussed: Full list of Japan recommendations 📌Pico Iyer’s Beginner’s Guide to JapanEpisode on Yayoi KusamaIvy’s post about JapanAkiya websites: Akiya Banks and All AkiyasGlitch coffee shop: Ginza and ChiyodaCokuun coffee omakaseCocktail omakase: Bar CacoiRecommended ryokan: YoshimatsuCattle tracking website (need ID to use) This episode is not affiliated with Steph's work at a16z and is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.

This is the 10th episode back for SYDLIS, so if you want us to continue creating new episodes for the podcast, let us know by leaving a review at ratethispodcast.com/learn.  In this episode, Steph and Cal bring a medley of half-baked business ideas to the table. They introduce the origin story of each idea, rate it on a scale of A-F, discuss modifications that would make it better, and most importantly, roast each other when the idea is a little too half-baked. This episode is a part of the broader nudge Steph and Cal push for everyone to see that there are endless ideas to pursue when you learn to see them in the world. Business ideas covered: Marketplace for premium goodsHot sauce tasting kits Long-duration gifting platformAI-powered collectible evaluatorsThe upgraded ZYN tin!Unrecordable digital spacesMaking friends as an adult workshopBidirectional poll-based newslettersHyper-localized surf guidesImmersive, animal sensory museums