'Fentanyl Capitalism': How Tech Venture Capital Is Eating the World | Catherine Bracy x Gil Duran
About this episode
This episode explores the concept of 'fentanyl capitalism' and its implications on innovation and democracy through a discussion with Catherine Bracy.
Silicon Valley sold us the dream of saving the world—but what if the system funding that dream is the real problem? In this explosive episode of the Nerd Reich Podcast, host Gil Duran sits down with Catherine Bracey, founder of Tech Equity Collaborative and author of "World Eaters: How Venture Capital Is Cannibalizing the Economy." Together they unpack “fentanyl capitalism”—the idea that if capitalism is heroin, venture capital is its far more potent and dangerous form. From the whaling origins of VC to blitzscaling, MAGA politics, and Silicon Valley’s god complex, Bracy explains how tech’s obsession with unicorns, power laws, and exits is warping innovation, democracy, and faith itself. 00:00 Intro – Why VC is Fentanyl Capitalism 04:20 The Whaling Origins of Venture Capital 09:40 Blitzscaling & the Psychology of Unicorns 17:30 VC Meets MAGA Politics 26:00 Hereticon, Antichrist & Tech’s Spiritual Crisis 28:40 Can We Fix It or Let It Burn? 33:00 Lightning Round & Final Words of Wisdom 📚 Buy "World Eaters" → https://bookshop.org/p/books/world-eaters-how-venture-capital-is-cannibalizing-the-economy-catherine-bracy/ff2a78cff5580674?ean=9780593473481&next=t 💌…
People in this episode
Host: Gil Duran
Guest: Catherine Bracy
Topics covered
- venture capital
- fentanyl capitalism
- Silicon Valley
- innovation
- democracy
- politics
Keywords
- venture capital
- fentanyl capitalism
- Silicon Valley
- innovation
- democracy
- Catherine Bracy
- Gil Duran
- World Eaters
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Tech Equity Collaborative
Books & works: World Eaters: How Venture Capital Is Cannibalizing the Economy
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