Podcast
Onward, a Fundrise Production
Hosted by Fundrise · EN
Onward is a podcast from America's largest direct-to-investor alternative asset investment platform, Fundrise. Onward offers unique insights and perspectives from company co-founder and CEO Ben Miller and guests.
21episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
49: Data centers will be the largest investment in US history, with Kervin Pillay, former CTO of Cisco
Jul 9, 202501:00:01Tap to summarizeData-center veteran Kervin Pillay walks us through the coming AI infrastructure boom. Pillay argues the U.S. is about to sink 10x the capital it took to create the Interstate Highway System into new data center capacity, racing toward “hundreds of gigawatts” of compute—each gigawatt-scale campus drawing more power than a major city. —For a deeper dive into these insights and more, be sure to listen to the full episode of the Onward podcast.Have questions or feedback about this episode? Drop us a note at Onward@Fundrise.com. Onward is hosted by Ben Miller, co-founder and CEO of Fundrise. Podcast production by The Podcast Consultant. Music by Seaplane Armada. About Fundrise With over 2 million users, Fundrise is America's largest direct-to-investor alternative asset investment platform. Since 2012, our mission has been to build a better financial system by empowering the individual. We make it easier and more efficient than ever for anyone to invest in institutional-quality private alternative assets — all at the touch of a button. Please see fundrise.com/oc for more information on all of the Fundrise-sponsored investment funds and products, including each fund’s offering document(s). Want to see the specific assets that make up and power Fundrise portfolios? Check out our active and past projects at www.fundrise.com/assets.
Transcribe →48: Will AI Surpass Us? with Robert Nishihara, co-founder of AnyScale
May 27, 202500:53:51Tap to summarizeRob Nishihara is the co-creator of Ray, the open-source software now used by OpenAI, Amazon, DeepSeek, and Nvidia as part of the essential stack for building AI at scale. Rob offers a rare insider’s view of the bottlenecks, breakthroughs, and practical limits shaping AI today. The discussion ranges from the philosophical to the technical—covering synthetic data, future policy, career resilience, and how AI might ultimately make us think better, not just faster.—For a deeper dive into these insights and more, be sure to listen to the full episode of the Onward podcast.Have questions or feedback about this episode? Drop us a note at Onward@Fundrise.com. Onward is hosted by Ben Miller, co-founder and CEO of Fundrise. Podcast production by The Podcast Consultant. Music by Seaplane Armada. About Fundrise With over 2 million users, Fundrise is America's largest direct-to-investor alternative asset investment platform. Since 2012, our mission has been to build a better financial system by empowering the individual. We make it easier and more efficient than ever for anyone to invest in institutional-quality private alternative assets — all at the touch of a button. Please see fundrise.com/oc for more information on all of the Fundrise-sponsored investment funds and products, including each fund’s offering document(s). Want to see the specific assets that make up and power Fundrise portfolios? Check out our active and past projects at www.fundrise.com/assets.
Transcribe →47: How to break a country (and maybe save one), with Rob Johnson
May 8, 202500:55:47Tap to summarizeHe helped break the British pound and Swedish krona alongside George Soros, Stanley Druckenmiller, and now–Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Rob Johnson shares extraordinary insights into currency warfare, reflects on his time inside institutions of power, and assesses the Trump administration’s bid to rebalance the global economy.You can also listen to Rob’s first appearance on Onward episode #19:How we broke the British pound, with Rob Johnson – March 17, 2023—For a deeper dive into these insights and more, be sure to listen to the full episode of the Onward podcast.Have questions or feedback about this episode? Drop us a note at Onward@Fundrise.com. Onward is hosted by Ben Miller, co-founder and CEO of Fundrise. Podcast production by The Podcast Consultant. Music by Seaplane Armada. About Fundrise With over 2 million users, Fundrise is America's largest direct-to-investor alternative asset investment platform. Since 2012, our mission has been to build a better financial system by empowering the individual. We make it easier and more efficient than ever for anyone to invest in institutional-quality private alternative assets — all at the touch of a button. Please see fundrise.com/oc for more information on all of the Fundrise-sponsored investment funds and products, including each fund’s offering document(s). Want to see the specific assets that make up and power Fundrise portfolios? Check out our active and past projects at www.fundrise.com/assets.
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46: Trump's Trade Roadmap: From Hidden Plan to Radical Reality
Apr 21, 202501:15:15Tap to summarizeMonths before trade policy was on anyone's radar, Stephen Miran—now Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers under President Trump—quietly published "A User's Guide to Restructuring the Global Trading System." In this episode, Ben and Cardiff dive into Miran’s roadmap and assess how Trump's policies in practice have diverged from Miran’s original vision. Ben and Cardiff explore three key scenarios for the future trajectory: Best Case: International dealmaking leads to a breakthrough, reducing tariffs globally, restoring trade relations, and strengthening US manufacturing sectors. Base Case: A partial rollback of tariffs prevents catastrophic damage, yet still triggers an economic slowdown, accompanied by an interim inflation shock. Worst Case: Continued tariff escalation triggers a severe recession, persistent stagflation, and prolonged economic and geopolitical turmoil. The episode concludes with "surprise scenarios" that could rejuvenate growth despite an adverse economic environment. The hosts emphasize the high stakes and overwhelming uncertainty inherent in America's current economic trajectory. For those who want to read the full, original roadmap: Stephen Miran, A User's Guide to Restructuring the Global Trading System, November 2024 https://www.hudsonbaycapital.com/documents/FG/hudsonbay/research/638199_A_Users_Guide_to_Restructuring_the_Global_Trading_System.pdf — For a deeper dive into these insights and more, be sure to listen to the full episode of the Onward podcast. Have questions or feedback about this episode? Drop us a note at Onward@Fundrise.com. Onward is hosted by Ben Miller, co-founder and CEO of Fundrise. Podcast production by The Podcast Consultant. Music by Seaplane Armada. About Fundrise With over 2 million users, Fundrise is America's largest direct-to-investor alternative asset investment platform. Since 2012, our mission has been to build a better financial system by empowering the individual. We make it easier and more efficient than ever for anyone to invest in institutional-quality private alternative assets — all at the touch of a button. Please see fundrise.com/oc for more information on all of the Fundrise-sponsored investment funds and products, including each fund’s offering document(s). Want to see the specific assets that make up and power Fundrise portfolios? Check out our active and past projects at www.fundrise.com/assets.
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45: How tariffs will impact the economy, with Anna Wong, Chief US Economist at Bloomberg
Apr 7, 202500:52:13Tap to summarizeAnna Wong is the Chief US Economist at Bloomberg and previously worked at the Federal Reserve, White House Council of Economic Advisors, and US Treasury Department. I can imagine few people in the world better suited to analyze and forecast the impact of the tariffs. — For a deeper dive into these insights and more, be sure to listen to the full episode of the Onward podcast. Have questions or feedback about this episode? Drop us a note at Onward@Fundrise.com. Onward is hosted by Ben Miller, co-founder and CEO of Fundrise. Podcast production by The Podcast Consultant. Music by Seaplane Armada. About Fundrise With over 2 million users, Fundrise is America's largest direct-to-investor alternative asset investment platform. Since 2012, our mission has been to build a better financial system by empowering the individual. We make it easier and more efficient than ever for anyone to invest in institutional-quality private alternative assets — all at the touch of a button. Please see fundrise.com/oc for more information on all of the Fundrise-sponsored investment funds and products, including each fund’s offering document(s). Want to see the specific assets that make up and power Fundrise portfolios? Check out our active and past projects at www.fundrise.com/assets.
Transcribe →44: Rebuilding the World Trade Center, with Tal Kerret
Mar 10, 202501:01:26Tap to summarizeTal Kerret is the President of Silverstein Properties, the company behind the historic rebuilding of the World Trade Center in New York City, and on the board of directors of Fundrise. Tal provides an in-depth look into the challenges and triumphs associated with redeveloping this iconic site, emphasizing its immense logistical complexity, symbolic importance, and economic impact. He shares his journey from the tech industry into real estate, discussing lessons learned about innovation, risk management, and leadership. Tal also highlights the crucial role of supportive board dynamics and culture in business success, reflecting on personal experiences in venture capital and entrepreneurship. This conversation offers valuable insights into building enduring projects and resilient teams. — For a deeper dive into these insights and more, be sure to listen to the full episode of the Onward podcast. Have questions or feedback about this episode? Drop us a note at Onward@Fundrise.com. Onward is hosted by Ben Miller, co-founder and CEO of Fundrise. Podcast production by The Podcast Consultant. Music by Seaplane Armada. About Fundrise With over 2 million users, Fundrise is America's largest direct-to-investor alternative asset investment platform. Since 2012, our mission has been to build a better financial system by empowering the individual. We make it easier and more efficient than ever for anyone to invest in institutional-quality private alternative assets — all at the touch of a button. Please see fundrise.com/oc for more information on all of the Fundrise-sponsored investment funds and products, including each fund’s offering document(s). Want to see the specific assets that make up and power Fundrise portfolios? Check out our active and past projects at www.fundrise.com/assets.
Transcribe →43: Sell your tech company for $310M or $30B, with Auren Hoffman
Jan 16, 202501:00:52Tap to summarizeAs a serial tech entrepreneur, VC investor, and expert in data-driven businesses, Auren Hoffman has been a player in Silicon Valley for nearly 30 years. Auren reflects on the pivotal decisions behind selling LiveRamp, the evolution of data companies, and how AI is reshaping industries. From the lessons learned in entrepreneurship to predictions about the future of technology, this episode is packed with insights for business leaders, tech enthusiasts, and anyone fascinated by the intersection of innovation and strategy. - For a deeper dive into these insights and more, be sure to listen to the full episode of the Onward podcast. Have questions or feedback about this episode? Drop us a note at Onward@Fundrise.com. Onward is hosted by Ben Miller, co-founder and CEO of Fundrise. Podcast production by The Podcast Consultant. Music by Seaplane Armada. About Fundrise With over 2 million users, Fundrise is America's largest direct-to-investor alternative asset investment platform. Since 2012, our mission has been to build a better financial system by empowering the individual. We make it easier and more efficient than ever for anyone to invest in institutional-quality private alternative assets — all at the touch of a button. Please see fundrise.com/oc for more information on all of the Fundrise-sponsored investment funds and products, including each fund’s offering document(s). Want to see the specific assets that make up and power Fundrise portfolios? Check out our active and past projects at www.fundrise.com/assets.
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42: The greatest capital broker in the nation, Simon Ziff
Jan 2, 202500:43:15Tap to summarizeOver his 36-year career, Simon Ziff, President of Ackman-Ziff, has overseen more than $100 billion in transactions and witnessed the dramatic evolution of the real estate industry brought about by the Savings and Loan Crisis. Simon shares his journey from joining Ackman Brothers in the 1980s to seizing the opportunities created by the rise of CMBS and private equity in the 1990s. From personal anecdotes to expert insights, this episode is packed with an insider’s experience navigating market cycles. — Onward is hosted by Ben Miller, co-founder and CEO of Fundrise. Podcast production by The Podcast Consultant. Music by Seaplane Armada. Have questions or feedback about this episode? Drop us a note at Onward@Fundrise.com. About Fundrise With over 2 million users, Fundrise is America's largest direct-to-investor alternative asset investment platform. Since 2012, our mission has been to build a better financial system by empowering the individual. We make it easier and more efficient than ever for anyone to invest in institutional-quality private alternative assets — all at the touch of a button. Please see fundrise.com/oc for more information on all of the Fundrise-sponsored investment funds and products, including each fund’s offering document(s). Want to see the specific assets that make up and power Fundrise portfolios? Check out our active and past projects at www.fundrise.com/assets.
Transcribe →41: AI policy under the Trump Administration, with Neil Chilson
Dec 20, 202400:51:12Tap to summarizeThe most important decision President Trump may face is how to regulate artificial intelligence (AI). Neil Chilson, Head of AI Policy at the Abundance Institute, is a policy insider with nearly two decades of experience inside the halls of power. Neil walks us through how to think about the tradeoffs and approaches to capturing the enormous potential upside of artificial intelligence while protecting against the downside risks. — Have questions or feedback about this episode? Drop us a note at Onward@Fundrise.com. Onward is hosted by Ben Miller, co-founder and CEO of Fundrise. Podcast production by The Podcast Consultant. Music by Seaplane Armada. About Fundrise With over 2 million users, Fundrise is America's largest direct-to-investor alternative asset investment platform. Since 2012, our mission has been to build a better financial system by empowering the individual. We make it easier and more efficient than ever for anyone to invest in institutional-quality private alternative assets — all at the touch of a button. Please see fundrise.com/oc for more information on all of the Fundrise-sponsored investment funds and products, including each fund’s offering document(s). Want to see the specific assets that make up and power Fundrise portfolios? Check out our active and past projects at www.fundrise.com/assets.
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40: From Bootstrap to Billion-Dollar Business, with Tristan Handy CEO of dbt Labs
Nov 15, 202400:47:24Tap to summarizeThe data revolution is transforming every business in the world, and Tristan Handy sits near the center of it. Starting with a simple idea, he and his team built dbt Labs into a multi-billion-dollar tech company by understanding how technology is changing the world and what that meant for how people should change with it. This episode dives into Tristan’s journey, his thoughts about entrepreneurship, and the lessons he learned while leading one of the most central companies in the industry. From Practitioner to Pioneer Tristan Handy’s journey began with years of experience in data roles, culminating at RJMetrics. There, he encountered a transformative moment: the rise of Amazon Redshift, the first cloud-native data warehouse. This innovation disrupted traditional business intelligence (BI) tools and catalyzed Tristan’s realization that the future of data analytics lay in the cloud. He then launched Fishtown Analytics, a consultancy that helped startups implement cloud data systems. This endeavor ultimately gave birth to dbt (Data Build Tool), a revolutionary approach to data transformation and governance. Building the Foundations of dbt Dbt wasn’t initially a product; it was a tool Tristan and his co-founder created to solve a problem that they thought needed solving. However, as people adopted and expanded its use, a community began to form. The project’s open-source nature fueled its growth, with dbt becoming a core tool for data teams worldwide. Today, over 50,000 companies use dbt in production, and it serves millions of data practitioners. Scaling the Business, Preserving the Culture The journey from a bootstrapped consultancy to a venture-backed powerhouse worth over $4 billion wasn’t without challenges. Tristan shared insights on scaling while maintaining the culture and values that defined the company’s early days. He emphasized the importance of retaining long-tenured team members who deeply understand the product’s ethos. Lessons on Venture Capital and Founding Reflecting on the venture capital landscape, Tristan offered candid observations. While acknowledging the resources VC brings, he highlighted the inherent misalignment between founders’ visions and the VC focus on extreme outcomes. He underscored the importance of founders being intrinsically driven by the change they wish to create, cautioning against entering entrepreneurship solely for prestige. The Future of Data and AI The conversation touched on the evolution of data, from structured rows and columns to the vast potential of unstructured data in AI applications. Tristan acknowledged the paradigm shift AI represents, predicting that while today’s AI aids discrete tasks, its true potential lies in reshaping how we create and use knowledge. However, he remains cautious, stressing that transformative change requires time and iterative progress. Nonlinear Growth and Innovation One of the key takeaways was the importance of nonlinear growth. Both Ben and Tristan discussed how significant breakthroughs—those “10x moments”—often define the trajectory of a business. These nonlinear events, coupled with steady incremental progress, are what drive true innovation and scalability. Closing Thoughts Tristan Handy’s story is a masterclass in thoughtful entrepreneurship. From leveraging community-driven growth to balancing the demands of scaling a business, his journey offers invaluable lessons for founders and technologists alike. As dbt Labs continues to shape the data ecosystem, Tristan’s commitment to empowering practitioners and fostering innovation stands as a model for what’s possible in the rapidly evolving tech landscape. Listen to the full episode for more on Tristan’s journey, the challenges of scaling a mission-driven business, and the future of data and AI. Onward! — For a deeper dive into these insights and more, be sure to listen to the full episode of the Onward podcast. Have questions or feedback about this episode? Drop us a note at Onward@Fundrise.com. Onward is hosted by Ben Miller, co-founder and CEO of Fundrise. Podcast production by The Podcast Consultant. Music by Seaplane Armada. About Fundrise With over 2 million users, Fundrise is America's largest direct-to-investor alternative asset investment platform. Since 2012, our mission has been to build a better financial system by empowering the individual. We make it easier and more efficient than ever for anyone to invest in institutional-quality private alternative assets — all at the touch of a button. Please see fundrise.com/oc for more information on all of the Fundrise-sponsored investment funds and products, including each fund’s offering document(s). Want to see the specific assets that make up and power Fundrise portfolios? Check out our active and past projects at www.fundrise.com/assets.
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