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What makes Elon Musk capable of building companies that attempt what others consider impossible? Eric Jorgenson, author of The Book of Elon and The Almanack of Naval Ravikant, has spent years distilling the ideas, philosophies and mental models of some of the world's most influential thinkers. Eric breaks down the principles behind Elon Musk's approach to success from thinking from first principles and questioning conventional wisdom to building exceptional teams, executing relentlessly and pursuing a mission bigger than yourself. But extraordinary success comes with uncomfortable trade-offs. Eric explores why achieving something meaningful can require upsetting people, challenging the status quo and accepting that you won't always be liked. We Discuss: The principles behind Elon Musk's successWhy first-principles thinking changes how you solve problemsWhy execution matters more than having a great ideaThe role of obsession, urgency and extreme commitmentWhy pursuing a meaningful mission sometimes means upsetting peopleElon Musk vs Naval Ravikant: wealth, freedom and ambitionWhat exceptional founders understand that others missHow AI could transform work, wealth and the future of humanity Eric's central message is that if you believe something important needs to exist, you can't wait for everyone else to agree with you. Sometimes, you have to build it yourself. About Eric Jorgenson: Eric Jorgenson is an author, entrepreneur and investor best known for The Almanack of Naval Ravikant, The Anthology of Balaji and The Book of Elon, a collection of Elon Musk's ideas on purpose, engineering, business and the future. Get in touch with Eric: Website: https://www.ejorgenson.com/ X: https://x.com/EricJorgenson Subscribe to the Sonia & Simon Show for conversations with the thinkers, founders and leaders shaping what comes next. Expand your worldview. Every Monday.

What happens when the gap between rich and poor becomes too wide? What will happen to society if AI takes our jobs? And are we forgetting the very real threat of nuclear war?Branko Milanović is one of the world’s leading economists on inequality, he unpacks the forces reshaping our world, from the concentration of wealth and the political instability it can create, to the long-term consequences of AI replacing human work.We discuss: The problem with extreme wealth, why Branko believes concentrated wealth can destabilise society and fuel political upheaval.AI taking our jobs, what happens when work disappears and with it, the identity and purpose people build around their careers.Taxing the ultra-wealthy, why the debate goes beyond economics and into the stability of society.The threat of nuclear war, why Branko fears the world is losing sight of the devastating consequences of nuclear conflict.Lessons from history, what previous periods of inequality and political instability can teach us about the future. Connect with Branko:X Substack

What if everything you know about negotiation is wrong? ⁨ Chris Voss former FBI lead international kidnapping negotiator and author of Never Split the Difference, reveals the psychological tactics used to negotiate with kidnappers, defuse high-stakes situations and influence human behaviour. We Discuss: The FBI negotiation tactics you can use in everyday lifeWhy “no” can be the beginning of a better dealHow to get people talking and uncover what they really wantThe psychology behind trust, influence and persuasionThe questions that can shift a negotiation in your favourHow to negotiate better in business, relationships and life About Chris: Chris Voss is a former FBI lead kidnapping negotiator, bestselling author of Never Split The Difference, and founder and CEO of The Black Swan Group; a negotiation, training, coaching, and consulting organization that teaches people how to achieve better outcomes in high-stakes conversations. Recognized globally as a leading authority on negotiation, Chris developed his approach through decades of experience in crisis negotiation. Today, he and The Black Swan Group apply those principles to business, sales, leadership, difficult conversations, and high-stakes communication through The Black Swan Method® and Tactical Empathy®.Never Split The Difference has introduced millions of readers around the world to Chris's negotiation methodology. Through The Black Swan Group, Chris and his team help people go beyond understanding the concepts in the book and develop negotiation as a practical, repeatable performance skill through training, coaching, practice, and live experiences. The Black Swan Group offers in-person negotiation training, live and self-paced online negotiation training, coaching, keynote speaking, and advanced negotiation experiences for business owners, leaders, sales professionals, and other professionals who want to become more effective dealmakers. Learn from Chris Voss and The Black Swan Group: ⁠Negotiation training and resources⁠ ⁠In-person and live training⁠ ⁠Online negotiation training

Why are so many people earning good money but still struggling to build wealth? Half of Australian workers say they’re living paycheque to paycheque even as wages continue to rise. Investment expert and author Ben Carlson unpack where our money is going and what it actually takes to build wealth over the long term. He reveals the biggest mistakes people make with money, why humans are so bad at investing, what market crashes can teach us, whether buying a home is still the best path to wealth, and what investors should make of the AI boom. We Discuss: Why earning more doesn’t always lead to building wealthThe biggest mistakes investors makeHow to survive a market crashWhether you should be buying a home or investing insteadThe truth about renting vs owningIs AI creating an investment bubble? Follow Ben X Website

What if aliens almost certainly exist and humans could one day live forever? Theoretical physicist Dr Michio Kaku has spent seven decades searching for the single equation that could explain everything in existence. He takes us to the edge of what we know about the universe and what could be possible next. We Discuss: Why Michio believes there is almost certainly life beyond EarthWhat UFOs can and can’t tell us about extraterrestrial lifeWhether humans could ever become immortalHow quantum computers could threaten today’s digital security and banking systemsThe possibility of multiple universesAnd the biggest unanswered questions about our universe Follow Dr Michio: X Website

What happens when we become obsessed with understanding ourselves? Jemma Sbeg is the creator of The Psychology of Your 20s, one of the world’s biggest psychology podcasts, and author of Person in Progress. Her work has helped millions of people navigate relationships, career, identity, money, loneliness and the uncertainty of being in your 20s. But in 2026, something has changed. We have more psychological language than ever. We know about attachment styles, trauma, nervous-system regulation, red flags and boundaries. We can ask AI what our feelings mean, analyse our relationships and compare our lives to millions of people online.So are we actually becoming better at understanding ourselves or are we becoming better at overthinking everything? We Discuss: Why AI could be dangerous for Gen Z and how outsourcing our thinking could weaken creativityWhy friendship breakups can hurt just as much as romantic onesWhy everyone feels behind in lifeHow social media fuels comparison and insecurityTall Poppy Syndrome and the pressure to stay humble as an ambitious AustralianWhat your 20s are really supposed to be about Connect with Jemma: Website Book Instagram

What if the life you’ve built isn’t actually the life that’s right for you? Dr James Hollis is a Jungian analyst, author and teacher who has spent decades exploring the unconscious forces that shape how we live, love, work and understand ourselves. He has written more than 20 books, including the bestselling Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life, The Middle Passage and Under Saturn’s Shadow. We Discuss: Why do we keep repeating patterns that hurt us?How much of our identity was shaped by our childhood?Why do successful people still feel lost?What happens when your career, relationship or identity no longer feels like you?Why do we project the parts of ourselves we don't want to see onto other people? And perhaps the biggest question of all: How do you know whether you're living your own life, or the life you were taught to want? Connect with James Website Join our waitlist to stay up to date on our events and connect with our community : ⁠https://boomstudio.ai/soniaandsimon

Could this be the first generation with a lower IQ than their parents? As AI becomes increasingly embedded in how we work, learn and think, are we becoming more capable or are we slowly outsourcing the very skills that make us intelligent? Professor Joel Pearson is a neuroscientist, psychologist, author and the world’s first Neuro Futurist. He is Director of the Future Minds Lab and Deputy Director of Human Readiness at the UNSW AI Institute, where he studies the human mind and how technology is reshaping the way we think, work and live. We Discuss: Could this be the first generation less intelligent than the last?What AI is doing to your brainAre we outsourcing our ability to think?Why humans struggle with uncertaintyThe future of creativity and intelligenceWhat the next generation needs to prepare for Connect with Joel  Website Instagram Linked In X Join our waitlist to stay up to date on our events and connect with our community : ⁠https://boomstudio.ai/soniaandsimon

What actually makes us happy, and why do some things we think will make us happier fail to deliver? Sonja Lyubomirsky is one of the world’s leading researchers on the science of happiness. A professor of psychology at the University of California, Riverside, her research has transformed how we understand what makes people happier. Her latest book, How to Feel Loved: The Five Mindsets That Get You More of What Matters Most, turns her research toward one of the most important parts of a happy life: feeling loved and connected. We Discuss: What really makes people happyHow to feel more loved and connectedThe five mindsets that shape how we experience loveWhy we adapt to money, success and positive life changesHow much control we have over our own happinessThe role relationships play in long-term wellbeingWhat the science says about money and happiness Connect with Sonja: Website How To Feel Loved Book Instagram Join our waitlist to stay up to date on our events and connect with our community : ⁠⁠https://boomstudio.ai/soniaandsimon⁠⁠

Why do smart, loving people keep having the same fights? Why does intimacy disappear? And why do so many men struggle to stay emotionally connected? Terry Real is one of the world’s leading relationship therapists and the founder of Relational Life Therapy. His work challenges the traditional rules of relationships, masculinity and couples therapy. We get into why the messages boys and men receive about masculinity keep shifting and why that confusion is quietly costing men their mental and physical health. We discuss: Why men need to learn vulnerability and relational skillsWhat “fierce intimacy” really meansHow to stop fighting to be right and start fighting for the relationshipAI, loneliness, and a generation craving connectionThe five losing strategies destroying relationshipsGet in touch with Terry Instagram YouTube X Website Join our waitlist to stay up to date on our events and connect with our community : ⁠https://boomstudio.ai/soniaandsimon⁠

What if the biggest warning signs of a recession are already here and we’re not paying attention? Mark Zandi is one of America’s most respected economists and the Chief Economist of Moody’s Analytics. He’s spent decades analysing the economy, financial markets, housing, jobs and the forces that drive the next economic cycle. We discuss: - Whether a recession is actually coming - What happens to interest rates next - The state of the housing market - Jobs, unemployment and the future of work - How AI could reshape the economy Follow Mark: X YouTube Website Join our waitlist to stay up to date on our events and connect with our community : https://boomstudio.ai/soniaandsimon

What if the biggest thing holding back your career or business isn't your product… it's that nobody knows who you are? Caleb Ralston is a personal branding strategist, content creator, and entrepreneur who has helped some of the world's most influential founders build their online presence. Having worked alongside industry leaders like Gary Vaynerchuk and Alex Hormozi, Caleb has seen firsthand how a strong personal brand can open doors, create opportunities, and accelerate business growth. We Discuss: - Why everyone needs a personal brand - The difference between attention and trust - How to stand out in a crowded online world - Building a personal brand without millions of followers - The content strategy that actually drives business growth Subscribe for new episodes every Monday as we sit down with the world's leading thinkers to help you expand your worldview. Follow Caleb Ralston: YouTube Instagram LinkedIn Website Join our waitlist to stay up to date on our events and connect with our community : https://boomstudio.ai/soniaandsimon

Why are some people able to overcome adversity while others struggle to bounce back?Hugh van Cuylenburg is the founder of The Resilience Project, bestselling author, and one of Australia’s leading voices on mental wellbeing and resilience.Hugh shares the science behind building resilience and the practical tools we can use to handle life’s challenges, improve our relationships, and create a more meaningful life.We Discuss:• Why resilience is a skill — not something you’re born with• Why modern life may be making us less resilient• The habits that build mental strength and emotional wellbeing• How gratitude, empathy, and mindfulness can transform your life• Why success and achievement don’t always lead to happiness• How to navigate stress, setbacks, and uncertaintyA conversation about becoming stronger, more self-aware, and better equipped for the challenges of the modern world. Connect with Hugh Website Instagram Join our waitlist to stay up to date on our events and connect with our community : https://boomstudio.ai/soniaandsimon

Most people think they're one pay rise away from financial freedom. Graeme Holm says they're wrong. Graeme Holm is a mortgage broker, financial educator and founder of Infinity Group, where he's helped thousands of Australians take control of their money and get ahead financially. He breaks down why so many people stay stuck in the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle, even on high incomes; and what it actually takes to build lasting wealth. From hidden spending habits to mortgage strategy, cash flow, debt reduction and financial psychology, Graeme shares the practical systems behind his approach to money. We Discuss: The biggest money mistakes keeping people financially stuckHow to break the paycheck-to-paycheck cycleMortgage strategies that could save you thousandsWhy knowing what you spend daily is a budgeting unlockThe habits that separate wealth builders from everyone elseHow to build a financial system that actually works Get in touch with Graeme: Infinity Group Coach The Money Mentor Book Facebook Instagram TikTok LinkedIn

Democracy feels like something we can take for granted, but few people are talking about how quickly it can unravel from the inside. Around the world, authoritarianism is on the rise, not through invasions or coups, but through the slow erosion of institutions, elections, and truth itself. It's a pattern that has repeated across countries and decades, and one that's now playing out closer to home than many would like to admit. Anne Applebaum is a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and staff writer at The Atlantic, and the author of Twilight of Democracy, Autocracy, Inc., and Gulag: A History. She has spent her career studying how democracies fall apart, and what it takes to stop them. We discuss: How authoritarianism took hold across Central and Eastern EuropeThe shared playbook autocrats use to consolidate power todayWhy democratic institutions are more fragile than we assumeWhether America is following a path she's seen play out elsewhereWhat it will take to defend democracy before it's too late Get in touch with Anne: Website YouTube X (Twitter)