Cheeky Pint Podcast: John Collison with Founders Over a Pint

Episode Date: June 16, 2025

Episode Overview

In this informal and lively episode of Cheeky Pint, Stripe cofounder John Collison (host) sits down with a group of founders and technologists—Chris, Alex, and Ben—for a candid conversation. Gathered around a pint, they reminisce about startup journeys, schooling, and the wild ride of AI development while keeping the tone light, friendly, and joking.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Booth and Studio Setup

• The guests and hosts open with banter about the podcast booth and décor, commenting on nostalgic items and the lived-in feel.

  • Alex jokes about the booth's recent assembly and inside jokes about old-school photos on the set.

    "Like since three or four days ago. Do you recognize the booth? ...You really have some old school photos, some deep cars." [00:01]

• A running joke about "alignment" (a term both in AI and physical setups) occurs.

  • Ben quips:

    "Should we ask Ellie, sir? Sorry, Bad AI alignment." [00:09]

• The playful tone continues as small technical glitches become humorous asides.

  • Chris: "Zap." [00:12]
  • Alex: "Oh, very good." [00:13]
  • Chris: "It's gonna become a meme." [00:14]

2. Shared Student Experiences

• The conversation shifts to a shared attitude towards the school system and early ambitions to leave academia behind.

  • Ben:

    "Seems like we shared the same disdain for getting out of the schooling system as soon as possible." [00:19]

• The table turns as Chris is almost being interviewed, prompting a quick reset back to Alex's story.

  • Chris:

    "Hang on. This is your interview, not mine." [00:23]

3. Challenges in European Tech and AI

• Comments are made on the European tech ecosystem, with a wry observation about its current state.

  • Alex:

    "I think it's actually good that it's... going so bad in Europe." [00:26]

  • Chris:

    "It's almost like the patient is so sick." [00:26]

• Alex references a well-known crisis management mantra:

  "Never waste your prices." [00:29]
  (Presumably a misquote, likely meant 'crisis', a well-known business phrase.)

4. Robotics: Real-World Challenges

• The hosts joke about the difficulty of real-world environments for robots, likening it to extreme obstacle courses.
  • Alex:

    "Homes are just hor horribly difficult environment for robots. How do you solve for this?" [00:29]

  • Chris:

    "I mean, when you put it that way, it sounds like the Ninja Warrior obstacle course." [00:34]

5. AI Predictions and Pointers to the Past

• A nostalgic moment surfaces, recalling a 2017 conversation about the timeline to Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).

  • Alex:

    "Do you remember we were going to Camp YC in 2017? I asked you how far AGI was away and you said two or three years." [00:37]

  • Chris’s lighthearted response:

    "Did I say that?" [00:44]

  • Alex:

    "You did. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I don't. I don't see the recording. Cheers." [00:45]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Schooling:
  "Seems like we shared the same disdain for getting out of the schooling system as soon as possible."
  — Ben [00:19]

• On Robotics:
  "I mean, when you put it that way, it sounds like the Ninja Warrior obstacle course."
  — Chris [00:34]

• On AI Optimism:
  "I asked you how far AGI was away and you said two or three years."
  — Alex [00:37]

Segment Timestamps

• 00:00-00:15 – Set banter, booth alignment jokes, memes
• 00:16-00:23 – School system and early ambition
• 00:24-00:29 – European tech landscape, “never waste your crisis” riff
• 00:30-00:36 – Real-world robotics obstacles
• 00:37-00:45 – Recalling old AGI predictions, friendly ribbing

Tone & Takeaways

The episode flows as an informal pub chat among friends who have navigated the tech world. The group shuffles easily between reminiscence, playful teasing, and insightful looks at hard problems in tech—from the bumpy road of robotics in messy real-world homes to the famously slippery predictions of AGI’s arrival. Light-hearted jabs, running memes, and the shared camaraderie of founders who know the startup grind keep the episode warm and relatable.

Those interested in authentic founder conversations, sprinkled with both tech insights and human humor, will find this Cheeky Pint episode a breezy, enjoyable listen.