The All-in Podcast: The New Media

Started as a way for four friends to have fun, the All-In Podcast has not only accrued 357k subscribers and millions of views, but also created an entirely new playbook for media. Learn the secrets of success behind the All-In Podcast that any creator can replicate.

1. The All-In Pod is radically honest, nonpartisan, and unscripted

Every Friday, the All-In Pod dissects, debates, and contextualizes the world’s most pressing issues in politics, technology, capital markets, and more. The podcast attracts a wildly diverse audience, from college students to Washington elites, startup employees to Silicon Valley investors, CEOs to janitors, and more.

Unlike traditional media outlets (e.g., CNN, Fox, etc.) that are unabashedly partisan, the All-In crew represents the political spectrum to ensure that it’s not an echo chamber for a single point of view. For example, Sacks and Jason regularly spar on hot-button issues, including AI regulation, the state of the economy, and various social issues. While this may seem insignificant, can you name another media outlet where individuals on both sides of the aisle actually debate (rather than simply agreeing or presenting talking points)?

The All-In Pod is able to accomplish this without completely tearing each other apart because, behind all the debates and emotions, they all have an immense amount of respect for one another. Moreover, when the All-In crew debates any particular issue, they tend to attack each other’s arguments rather than the person himself. In other words, they don’t engage in petty ad hominem arguments like much of today’s presidential debates or mass media outlets.

Finally, the All-In pod is never scripted. Sure, they might plan a docket of topics, but the flow of conversation is never pre-planned. Fans tune in every Friday because they know that Chamath, Sacks, Jason, and Friedberg are not being puppeteered by some special interest forcing them to peddle certain talking points.

2. The All-In Pod makes people feel like they are “in the know” of the elite

Chamath, Sacks, Jason, and Friedberg are incredibly successful individuals — with a combined net worth of multi-billions and influence that spans their investments, their directly-owned companies, and their exclusive networks, they epitomize the caricature of the “tech elite.” By watching these four grapple over the most pressing issues in the world, you not only feel like you’re getting smarter, but you also feel like you’re consuming the same news as the “elite”. Because let’s face it — the All-In Pod would not be the same if Chamath, Sacks, Jason, and Friedberg were four nobody’s with no money or success to their name.

They are not only wealthy and successful, but also thoughtful in their own way. Friedberg is known to be the “science guy” who gives “science corners” on cutting-edge tech advancements — everything from the gut microbiome to nuclear fusion. Sacks is very knowledgeable about politics and foreign affairs (the others think that he would be a great Secretary of State). No matter who’s speaking, you will get a unique point-of-view on a pressing issue from a bonafide member of the elite.

3. The All-In Pod teaches you how to think, rather than what to think

Traditional media outlets are not only partisan, but also focused on specific narratives. These traditional media outlets know who their audience is, so their job is not to tell them “how” to think but rather “what” to think. In stark contrast, the All-In Pod has been laser-focused since their inception on showing people “how” to think about critical issues. Their key tenets are:

• Use first-principles, bottom-up reasoning

• Do not be afraid to criticize other people’s points — critiques lead to healthy debate

• Do not assume that traditional media outlets or self-proclaimed “experts” are correct — develop your own points of view

This is a subtle but important point — by focusing on teaching people “how” to think rather than “what”, the All-In Pod gives its listeners a sense of autonomy and self-determination that traditional media outlets lack. With traditional media, almost every reporter is a talking head that funnels talking points from the consensus of the organization. If you listen to these traditional media outlets enough, you might not realize that your opinions and values are being molded like Playdough without any resistance.

Conversely, the All-In Pod never pushes a single point-of-view. They engage in rigorous, heated debates that pinball your opinions from side-to-side. Your critical thinking gets battle-tested, and you feel like you have more freedom in developing your personal thoughts. This is why All-In is shaping the New Media. They are creating a movement of open dialogue, diverse opinions, and unabashed honesty. This doesn’t mean that they’re always right — and frankly it doesn’t matter if they aren’t always right. They are demonstrating that real media mustn’t be a one-sided echo chamber, but rather, an intellectually honest arena that isn’t afraid to be wrong.