Get Unstuck

Get Unstuck

From Firewall with Bradley Tusk by Firewall

May 7, 2026 · 45 min

About this episode

Bradley Tusk discusses the concept of 'local maximum' with Judah Taub, exploring underperformance in smart individuals and companies, AI's impact on cybersecurity, and the benefits of military service in Israel for entrepreneurs.

Are you climbing the right mountain, or just getting really good at the wrong one? Bradley sits down with Judah Taub — Israeli intelligence veteran, cybersecurity investor, and author of How to Move Up When the Only Way is Down — who borrows a concept from machine learning called the "local maximum" to explain why smart people and successful companies so often underperform their potential. Plus, how AI is affecting cybersecurity, why mandatory military service in Israel produces better founders than any business school, and whether a diverse, equal society can ever agree on the collective good. This episode was taped at P&T Knitwear at 180 Orchard Street — New York City’s only free podcast recording studio. Send us an email with your thoughts on today’s episode: info@firewall.media . Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack .

People in this episode

Host: Bradley Tusk

Guest: Judah Taub

Topics covered

  • cybersecurity
  • AI
  • military service
  • entrepreneurship
  • collective good

Keywords

  • local maximum
  • cybersecurity
  • AI
  • military service
  • entrepreneurship
  • collective good
  • Israel

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: How to Move Up When the Only Way is Down

Places: Israel, New York City, P&T Knitwear

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