Advertise on podcast: Silicon Valley Front Row

What does it cost to run a news organization that answers to no shareholders, no government, and no big advertisers? In this episode of Silicon Valley Front Row, Steve Ispas and David sit down with William Chung, CFO of The Epoch Times, to talk about the price of staying independent and telling the truth, no matter who it upsets. William explains how a nonprofit media company funds itself, with about 90 percent of revenue coming from reader subscriptions, and why The Epoch Times keeps advertising to a minimum and avoids donations from industries it reports on, such as big pharma. He describes what it is like to run a newsroom that receives frequent bomb threats by email, and what he says happens when the FBI cannot trace threats that come from overseas. He also shares how, since 2020, the company has faced restrictions on Facebook ads, lower visibility on Google search, and YouTube demonetization that he says took monthly revenue from six figures to zero overnight. William also tells his own story: growing up in a small village in China with one television channel, moving to Hong Kong at seven, joining the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests as a middle school student, and leaving for the United States at 18. We talk about how that experience shaped his belief in independent journalism, the company’s move into health content and documentaries, its international expansion, and where he sees The Epoch Times in the next ten years. Two questions for you: What do you think about big tech platforms shaping what speech gets seen in America? And when you want the news, do you go to social media and aggregators, or straight to the source? Silicon Valley Front Row brings you conversations with the people shaping business, media, and culture in the Bay Area and beyond.

Can you reach the hidden crater at Limantour Beach in Point Reyes National Park? This secret sea cave is only accessible at low tide, and we hiked three miles along the beach to find out. In this episode of Silicon Valley Front Row, host Steve Ispas meets fellow hikers in the parking lot, learns the story behind the collapsed sea cave, and races the clock across soft sand, a creek, and a river flowing into the ocean. Along the way we explore rock tunnels, a sea cave, and one of the biggest mussel beds we've ever seen. The tide had other plans. Find out how close we got, what the crater looks like from the edge, and what happened to our hiking boots. Watch the full episode for a Bay Area adventure that doesn't go quite as planned.

Silicon Valley Front Row celebrates America's 250th birthday at the Redwood City Fourth of July Parade! Steve Ispas and David Lam hit the streets to check out some truly incredible participants — from a 1929 Ford that tops out at 35 mph on El Camino Real, to a 1940 Canadian-made Chevy Master 85 with only 64,000 miles, a 1944 WWII Army Duck rebuilt over three years, a stunning 1960 Corvette, and a modified 2020 Corvette C8 from TTS Motorsports right here in Santa Clara. Along the way they talk to classic car owners about their restoration journeys, catch live music from Redwood City natives bringing sounds to the community, and meet the Falun Dafa meditation group celebrating American freedom — many of whom escaped from CCP China and never miss the chance to honor the liberty they've found here. With Epoch Times riding along as part of the parade, it's a festive, patriotic, and truly community-driven Fourth of July episode unlike anything Silicon Valley Front Row has done before. What does America's 250th anniversary mean to you? Drop your thoughts in the comments! Like, subscribe, and hit the bell so you never miss an episode of Silicon Valley Front Row. #July4th #FourthOfJuly #RedwoodCity #ClassicCars #America250 #SiliconValleyFrontRow #July4thParade #BayArea #VintageCars #IndependenceDay

Steve and David hit the crowd to talk to fans from all over the world — Guatemala, Romania, Morocco, China, Colombia, Bosnia, Wisconsin, England, and right here in the Bay Area — getting their reactions to the game, their thoughts on the controversial red card, that stunning Tillman free kick, and their predictions for the next match against Belgium on July 6. The game happened just three days before July 4th, making the win feel extra symbolic. Even the Bosnian fans we talked to were happy to be part of the experience. And as Steve noted — this was also the last World Cup game ever played at Levi's Stadium, making it a night nobody in the Bay Area will forget. Do you think the USA can beat Belgium? Who do you think wins the whole tournament? Drop your predictions in the comments! Like, subscribe, and hit the bell so you never miss an episode of Silicon Valley Front Row. #USASoccer #WorldCup2026 #LevisStadium #USAvsBosnia #SiliconValleyFrontRow #FIFAWorldCup #WorldCupFans #SantaClara #BayArea #USMensNationalTeam

Silicon Valley Front Row goes straight to the source — Apple Park, the iconic spaceship-shaped headquarters in Cupertino. In this episode, we bike around the entire mile-long campus to show you what the neighborhood actually looks like, since heavy security means getting close to the building itself is nearly impossible. Designed by Steve Jobs with over 9,000 trees and 80% green space, Apple Park feels more like a forest than the headquarters of the third largest company in the world. We visit the public Visitor Center, try out the AR experience that lets you "see" the building through an iPad, check out the Mac Café and merchandise, and walk right up to the Steve Jobs Theater entrance — even if employees politely (and very firmly) decline to chat with us along the way. From the Sunnyvale-Cupertino border to the quiet residential streets surrounding the campus, this episode gives you the closest look possible at one of the most secretive and iconic tech campuses in the world — without a drone. Have you ever been to Apple Park? What was your experience like? Let us know in the comments! Like, subscribe, and hit the bell so you never miss an episode of Silicon Valley Front Row. #ApplePark #Apple #Cupertino #SiliconValley #SteveJobs #TechCampus #SiliconValleyFrontRow #AppleHeadquarters #TechTour #SpaceshipBuilding

The World Cup has officially arrived in Silicon Valley! Silicon Valley Front Row was on the ground at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara for the opening match between Switzerland and Qatar, which ended in a 1-1 tie, keeping both teams' hopes alive for the next round. Host David Lam roamed the crowd talking to passionate fans from Switzerland, Qatar, Colombia, and Romania, getting their takes on the match, their World Cup travel plans across LA, Vancouver, and beyond, and their bold predictions for who will lift the trophy. France, Spain, Argentina, and Brazil all came up as favorites — but every fan had their own take. From a quick lesson in Swiss German to fans living their World Cup dream by hopping between host cities, this episode captures the electric, festive energy of the World Cup's first stop in Santa Clara. Who do you think is going to win the World Cup? Let us know your predictions in the comments! Like, subscribe, and hit the bell so you never miss an episode of Silicon Valley Front Row. #WorldCup2026 #LevisStadium #SantaClara #SwitzerlandvsQatar #WorldCupFans #SiliconValleyFrontRow #FIFAWorldCup #SoccerFans #WorldCupTravel #BayArea

Silicon Valley Front Row was on the ground at a major milestone — the official groundbreaking ceremony for Microsoft's new 48 megawatt data center in Alviso, right at the border of San Jose and Milpitas. Hosts Steve Ispas and David Lam took you behind the scenes of the event, featuring the San Jose mayor, Microsoft VPs, city council members, six bulldozers, and yes — they grabbed a shovel. The facility, built in partnership with HIT Construction, is designed with sustainability in mind — recycling water from a nearby plant and utilizing renewable energy sources. At 48 megawatts it's considered smaller by industry standards, especially after California regulations capped what they had originally petitioned for at 99 megawatts. The project is expected to be completed by 2027. But here's the big question Steve raises: with AI evolving at breakneck speed, will this data center even be needed by the time it's finished? It's a massive investment in a landscape that could look completely different in just 18 months. What do you think about data centers being built on unused land in Silicon Valley? Is this the right move for the region? Let us know in the comments! Like, subscribe, and hit the bell so you never miss an episode of Silicon Valley Front Row. #Microsoft #DataCenter #SiliconValley #SanJose #AIInfrastructure #Groundbreaking #CloudComputing #TechNews #SiliconValleyFrontRow #Sustainability

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt was booed repeatedly by nearly 9,000 graduating students at the University of Arizona after telling them to ""accept AI"" and ""find a way to say yes."" In Episode 49 of Silicon Valley Front Row, hosts Steve Ispas and David Lam break down the viral moment clip by clip — and ask the question nobody in Silicon Valley wants to answer: are tech executives lying to the next generation about AI and jobs? Steve and David also dive into Artisan AI's controversial ""Stop Hiring Humans"" ad campaign, the growing debate over AI use in college assignments, and whether anyone can actually tell the difference between human and AI-written content anymore. The Class of 2026 is entering one of the toughest job markets in recent memory — and they're not buying what the billionaires are selling. Are they right to be skeptical? Do you think the students' reaction was warranted? Can tech CEOs be trusted when they say AI won't take jobs? Drop your thoughts below! Like, subscribe, and hit the bell so you never miss an episode of Silicon Valley Front Row. #EricSchmidt #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #GoogleCEO #AIJobs #ClassOf2026 #SiliconValleyFrontRow #TechNews #ArtisanAI #AIDebate

The jury ruled against Elon Musk on a statute of limitations technicality — but did he actually lose? In Episode 48 of Silicon Valley Front Row, hosts Steve Ispas and David Lam break down the Musk vs. Altman trial, the explosive testimony calling Sam Altman a liar, and why some believe Elon filed the lawsuit just to expose OpenAI's inner workings. Plus — SpaceX is reportedly heading toward a $2 trillion IPO, which would make it the 6th largest company in the world by valuation. Steve and David unpack what that means for investors, the NASDAQ, and Silicon Valley at large. We want to hear from you: Do you think the statute of limitations was applied correctly? And should this case have even gone to trial? Like, subscribe, and hit the bell so you never miss an episode of Silicon Valley Front Row. #ElonMusk #OpenAI #SamAltman #SpaceXIPO #SiliconValleyFrontRow #TechNews #AINews #MuskVsAltman #SpaceX #TechTalk

In this episode of Silicon Valley Front Row, we discuss the growing concerns over alleged Chinese Communist Party influence operations in the United States, following the case involving a former California mayor accused of acting as an illegal foreign agent for China. The conversation explores the allegations against the former Arcadia official, FBI statements surrounding the investigation, and the broader concerns about espionage, propaganda, and foreign influence in American politics and institutions. We also examine several other high-profile cases involving alleged spying, military secrets, overseas police stations, and intelligence gathering tied to the Chinese Communist Party.

The battle between Elon Musk and OpenAI is now playing out in federal court—and the outcome could impact the future of artificial intelligence. In this episode of Silicon Valley Front Row, we break down the high-profile lawsuit involving Elon Musk, Sam Altman, Greg Brockman, Microsoft, and OpenAI. The discussion explores Musk’s claim that OpenAI abandoned its original nonprofit mission and shifted toward profit and corporate control. From courtroom strategy and witness testimony to questions about AI safety, open source technology, and billion-dollar investments, this case raises major concerns about who should control the future of AI. Should AI development remain open and transparent? Did OpenAI break its original promise? And could artificial intelligence eventually become dangerous to humanity? We also discuss key moments from the trial, including testimony about ownership stakes, Elon Musk’s concerns about AI safety, and the broader implications for ChatGPT and the tech industry. Watch the full conversation and share your thoughts below. #SiliconValleyFrontRow #ElonMusk #OpenAI #SamAltman #ArtificialIntelligence #ChatGPT #AI #TechNews #Microsoft #AGI

Step aside, startups — Silicon Valley has a wilder origin story than you think! In this episode, Steve takes a fun detour from the world of tech to explore the historic Woodside Store, founded in 1854 — just minutes from modern Silicon Valley. This was one of the first stores between San Francisco and San Jose, and it was basically the Amazon of its day: Dr. Tripp advertised that he could sell you anything. We tried our hand at splitting wood shingles with a fro and mallet, cranked a 100-year-old washing machine, checked out antique penny banks, listened to live bluegrass music, and got the scoop on a blacksmith shop full of tools donated by the famous Lane family of Sunset Magazine. It's hands-on, it's historic, and it's honestly a blast. Come see how Bay Area folks lived 170 years ago!

A new California bill is sparking major debate over privacy, journalism, and free speech. In this episode of Silicon Valley Front Row, we break down AB 2624—what critics are calling the “Stop Nick Shirley Act.” The bill, introduced by Assemblymember Mia Bonta, aims to protect immigration service providers and others from having their personal information, images, or workplace details posted online if they feel threatened or harassed. But opponents, including YouTuber Nick Shirley and Assemblymember Carl DeMaio, argue the law could create a chilling effect on investigative journalism and make it harder for citizen journalists to expose fraud and corruption. Where is the line between protecting privacy and protecting the public’s right to know? Could this law stop independent journalists from doing undercover investigations? Watch the full discussion and decide for yourself. #SiliconValleyFrontRow #NickShirley #AB2624 #CaliforniaPolitics #InvestigativeJournalism #FreeSpeech #CitizenJournalism #MiaBonta #CarlDeMaio #NewsAnalysis

In this episode of Silicon Valley Front Row, hosts David Lam and Steve Ispas dive deep into the mysteries of Area 51 and the legacy of whistleblower Bob Lazar. After a recent trip to the perimeter of the base, Steve shares his experience of reaching the guarded gates and the eerie atmosphere of Rachel, Nevada, a tiny town of 60 people living in the shadow of the world's most secretive military installation. We explore the heavy hitters of UFO lore and modern skepticism, including: The 20-Year Cover-Up: Why did the US Government wait until 2013 to admit a base they've operated since the 1950s actually exists? The Bob Lazar Story: We break down his claims of working at the S4 lab, the reverse engineering of nine different alien crafts, and how his story has remained remarkably consistent for decades. The Silicon Valley Connection: Did the 1947 Roswell incident trigger the semiconductor boom? We discuss the suspicious overlap between alleged UFO crashes and the rapid advancement of human technology. Alien Intentions: Steve poses a fascinating theory—are non-human intelligences leaving "tech crumbs" to make humanity dependent on their advanced systems? Low-Flying Secrets: Local reports of massive bombers flying just 40 feet above the ground near the base. Whether you're a skeptic who thinks it’s all sci-fi or a believer in the "We Are Not Alone" movement, this episode challenges you to think about how transparency—or the lack of it—affects our daily lives. What would change for you if the government officially admitted to having a UFO? Let us know in the comments!In this episode of Silicon Valley Front Row, hosts David Lam and Steve Ispas dive deep into the mysteries of Area 51 and the legacy of whistleblower Bob Lazar. After a recent trip to the perimeter of the base, Steve shares his experience of reaching the guarded gates and the eerie atmosphere of Rachel, Nevada, a tiny town of 60 people living in the shadow of the world's most secretive military installation. We explore the heavy hitters of UFO lore and modern skepticism, including: The 20-Year Cover-Up: Why did the US Government wait until 2013 to admit a base they've operated since the 1950s actually exists? The Bob Lazar Story: We break down his claims of working at the S4 lab, the reverse engineering of nine different alien crafts, and how his story has remained remarkably consistent for decades. The Silicon Valley Connection: Did the 1947 Roswell incident trigger the semiconductor boom? We discuss the suspicious overlap between alleged UFO crashes and the rapid advancement of human technology. Alien Intentions: Steve poses a fascinating theory—are non-human intelligences leaving "tech crumbs" to make humanity dependent on their advanced systems? Low-Flying Secrets: Local reports of massive bombers flying just 40 feet above the ground near the base. Whether you're a skeptic who thinks it’s all sci-fi or a believer in the "We Are Not Alone" movement, this episode challenges you to think about how transparency—or the lack of it—affects our daily lives. What would change for you if the government officially admitted to having a UFO? Let us know in the comments!

In this episode of Silicon Valley Front Row, we leave the tech world behind to journey down Highway 375, the legendary Extraterrestrial Highway in Nevada. Our goal: to see how far we can get toward the world's most famous top-secret military facility—Area 51. Inside this episode: The City of Rachel: We visit the town that borders Area 51 to speak with locals like Sebastian at the "Alien Cow Poke" store. Eye-Witness Accounts: Hear about the "zaniest" things flying over the desert, including military bombers flying as low as 200 feet. The Shapeshifter Legend: We discuss local stories about things "wandering around" and the deep-seated belief in shapeshifters in the area. The North Gate: We drive 8 miles down a dirt road to the "back gate" of Groom Lake, surrounded by barbed wire, cameras, and warning signs from the U.S. Air Force. The Black Mailbox: We visit the historic site where whistleblower Bob Lazar first brought the world's attention to Area 51 in the late 1980s. Is Area 51 just a test site for advanced military crafts, or is there truth to the rumors of reverse-engineered alien spacecraft? Do you believe the stories? Have you ever seen something you couldn't explain in the desert? Let us know in the comments below!