"Bill Gates"

Summary

SmartLess Podcast Summary: Episode Featuring Bill Gates
Release Date: February 10, 2025

Hosts: Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, Will Arnett
Guest: Bill Gates
Duration: Approximately 60 minutes

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1. Introduction and Welcome (01:11 - 04:00)

The episode begins with the charismatic hosts, Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett, welcoming their special guest, Bill Gates. The atmosphere is light-hearted as the hosts engage in playful banter, setting the tone for an engaging and insightful conversation.

Notable Quote:

• Sean Hayes (02:03): "What kind of bees make milk?"
• Bill Gates (02:08): "Boobies."
• (Both laugh, highlighting the podcast's blend of humor and serious discussion.)

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2. Bill Gates’ Journey and the Genesis of Microsoft (07:06 - 13:05)

Bill Gates delves into the origins of Microsoft, recounting his early exposure to computers at a private school in Seattle during the late 1960s. Collaborating with Paul Allen, Gates foresaw the exponential growth of microprocessors and the need for affordable software, leading to the founding of Microsoft in 1974.

Key Points:

• Early Passion for Computing: Gates became obsessed with computers at age 13, dedicating thousands of hours to learning software development.
• Strategic Partnerships: Collaborated with Paul Allen, emphasizing the importance of software over hardware.
• Collaboration with Apple: Microsoft’s software powered the Apple II, establishing a foundational partnership before eventually diverging into separate paths.

Notable Quote:

• Melinda Gates (07:41): "It was super fun. And because we were right, these computers got so popular. We made enough money. We just kept hiring more and more people and eventually built Windows and Office..."
• Bill Gates (09:15): "So the idea of the graphics interface where you use images, not just characters, that's pioneered at Xerox..."

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3. Evolution of Microsoft and Competitive Landscape (13:05 - 16:01)

The conversation shifts to Microsoft’s growth and its competitive dynamics, particularly with Apple. Gates and Melinda discuss how Microsoft maintained its edge by rapidly developing diverse software products like Windows and Office, positioning themselves as a "software factory."

Key Points:

• Partnership with Steve Jobs: Gates reflects on the collaboration and competition with Steve Jobs, highlighting mutual respect despite differences.
• Expansion Beyond Software: Introduction of products like Xbox showcases Microsoft’s diversification.
• Emergence of New Competitors: The rise of companies like Google and the proliferation of AI startups signify the evolving tech landscape.

Notable Quote:

• Melinda Gates (15:03): "Because Microsoft wasn't about any one piece of software...we were doing Xbox, which had games."

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4. Philanthropy and the Giving Pledge (05:32 - 06:17)

Bill Gates and Melinda Gates discuss their philanthropic initiatives, notably the Giving Pledge, which encourages billionaires to commit the majority of their wealth to charitable causes. They highlight the importance of collective action and the challenges of effective philanthropy.

Key Points:

• The Giving Pledge: Over 250 individuals have committed to donating the majority of their wealth.
• Challenges in Philanthropy: Navigating the complexities of non-profit work without the straightforward metrics of profit.
• Inspiration for Others: Encouraging wealthy individuals to contribute to global betterment.

Notable Quote:

• Melinda Gates (05:42): "We have about 250 people who've made the commitment to give away the majority of their wealth."

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5. Impact of Technology on Society and Concerns About AI (16:23 - 41:17)

The discussion transitions to the societal impacts of technology, including the digital divide, social media’s negative effects, and the burgeoning field of artificial intelligence. Gates expresses both optimism and caution regarding AI’s potential to revolutionize healthcare and education while addressing ethical concerns.

Key Points:

• Digital Divide: Early concerns about unequal access to technology and its implications.
• Social Media Critique: The unintended consequences of social networking on societal polarization and personal well-being.
• AI in Healthcare and Education: Potential for AI to enhance medical diagnostics, personalize education, and bridge gaps in underserved regions.
• Ethical Considerations: Balancing innovation with the prevention of misuse and addressing misinformation.

Notable Quotes:

• Melinda Gates (19:16): "Jonathan Haidt's 'Anxious Generation' points out that we're overprotecting kids in the real world and under protecting them in the digital world."
• Bill Gates (20:20): "Imagine a world where we didn't have [social media]. I personally think that we would be in a much better place."

---

6. Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change (46:09 - 54:44)

Gates and Melinda Gates explore environmental sustainability, focusing on the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources and the role of innovation in addressing climate change. They emphasize the need for global cooperation and technological advancements to make green solutions economically viable.

Key Points:

• Energy Transition: Importance of expanding wind, solar, and nuclear energy to replace coal and natural gas.
• Desalination and Water Scarcity: Innovative approaches to address water shortages exacerbated by climate change.
• Economic Incentives: Leveraging economic benefits to encourage countries and corporations to adopt sustainable practices.
• Balancing Regulation and Innovation: Streamlining environmental regulations to expedite the deployment of green technologies without compromising essential protections.

Notable Quotes:

• Melinda Gates (50:03): "We have to both do climate mitigation and climate adaptation."
• Bill Gates (52:54): "That's going to be a painful transition."

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7. Personal Insights and Lifestyle (55:08 - 57:59)

The conversation takes a personal turn as Bill Gates shares insights into his daily life, hobbies, and family. Melinda Gates discusses the influence of their parents on their philanthropic values and the upbringing of their children.

Key Points:

• Work-Life Balance: Gates balances intensive work hours with personal activities like tennis and reading.
• Family Influence: Melinda attributes her philanthropic ethos to her parents' example and her father's role in establishing the foundation.
• Next Generation: Their children are encouraged to develop their own careers and philanthropic interests without being burdened by inherited wealth.

Notable Quotes:

• Melinda Gates (44:41): "When you see your parents behave, that's more influential than what your parents say."
• Jason Bateman (56:13): "What are you excited for? What are you excited for? The next five years?"

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8. Closing Remarks and Final Thoughts (58:00 - 60:35)

As the episode winds down, the hosts and Gates reflect on the conversation's depth and the importance of addressing global challenges. Gates humorously acknowledges the complexity of the topics discussed and expresses hope for continued innovation and collaboration.

Notable Quote:

• Bill Gates (57:38): "He and I are like, on a short list of people."

---

Conclusions and Takeaways

Bill Gates’ appearance on SmartLess offers a comprehensive look into his multifaceted role as a tech visionary and philanthropist. The dialogue underscores the critical intersections between technology, society, and global challenges. Key themes include the transformative power of innovation, the ethical implications of emerging technologies like AI, and the imperative of sustainable practices to ensure a better future for all.

Overall Insights:

• Innovation as a Catalyst for Change: Emphasizing the role of continuous innovation in solving complex global issues.
• Balancing Progress with Responsibility: The need to navigate the ethical landscapes posed by rapid technological advancements.
• Philanthropy’s Evolving Role: Transitioning from wealth accumulation to impactful giving aimed at addressing systemic problems.

Final Thought:
Bill Gates' candid and thoughtful discussion provides listeners with a nuanced understanding of the responsibilities that come with influence and the ongoing efforts to make meaningful contributions to society and the planet.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Sean Hayes (02:03): "What kind of bees make milk?"
• Bill Gates (02:08): "Boobies."
• Melinda Gates (07:41): "It was super fun. And because we were right, these computers got so popular..."
• Melinda Gates (05:42): "We have about 250 people who've made the commitment to give away the majority of their wealth."
• Bill Gates (20:20): "Imagine a world where we didn't have [social media]. I personally think that we would be in a much better place."
• Melinda Gates (50:03): "We have to both do climate mitigation and climate adaptation."
• Jason Bateman (56:13): "What are you excited for? What are you excited for? The next five years?"

---

This episode of SmartLess with Bill Gates offers a blend of humor, personal anecdotes, and in-depth discussions on technology, philanthropy, and global sustainability. It serves as an enlightening resource for listeners seeking to understand the intricate balance between innovation and societal responsibility.

Transcript

[Jason Bateman]

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[Will Arnett]

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[Sean Hayes]

Good morning, everybody.

[Jason Bateman]

Or afternoon. Or evening.

[Sean Hayes]

Good afternoon. Or evening.

[Bill Gates]

You always ignore the afternoon people.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah, right, sorry.

[Bill Gates]

Good afternoon, you know.

[Jason Bateman]

Well, do people listen to podcasts in the afternoon?

[Bill Gates]

They sure do. By the way, hello to all the people who are on a jog right now. Hello, how are you?

[Jason Bateman]

Keep pace.

[Sean Hayes]

Hello, everybody at the super supermarket.

[Bill Gates]

Hello, everybody who's driving.

[Jason Bateman]

Check your mirrors on the subway. Don't miss your stop.

[Bill Gates]

Yeah, that's right.

[Sean Hayes]

Hello, everybody on a walk. Just a regular walk.

[Bill Gates]

Everybody who's at work, Come on, Janet.

[Jason Bateman]

And for everyone else, welcome to Smart, Smart.

[Melinda Gates]

Smart.

[Bill Gates]

Smart.

[Sean Hayes]

Wait, I got a quick one. I got a quick dad joke.

[Jason Bateman]

Here we go.

[Sean Hayes]

What kind? What kind of bees make milk?

[Jason Bateman]

Well.

[Bill Gates]

I don't know.

[Sean Hayes]

Boobies.

[Jason Bateman]

Boo.

[Unknown]

Boobies, Boobies.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah, I guess. Okay, I'll go with it.

[Unknown]

Sure.

[Melinda Gates]

I think it's funny.

[Bill Gates]

You wanted to say no so bad. You wanted to say no.

[Jason Bateman]

I want to say no. That's not funny. You have violated the pun law. All right. Another dad joke, please.

[Bill Gates]

Sure, go ahead.

[Sean Hayes]

Sean, my friend keeps saying, cheer up, man. It could be worse. You could be stuck underground in a hole full of water. I know. He means well.

[Jason Bateman]

Oh, I know he means well. Right. Yeah.

[Sean Hayes]

Well, I didn't hit it.

[Jason Bateman]

No, no, I know, but you might need to for some of our listeners.

[Sean Hayes]

What about this one? What about this?

[Jason Bateman]

Did that italics the well in your book?

[Sean Hayes]

No, no. You know, a good elevator joke works on so many levels.

[Jason Bateman]

Sure. Ah, he got me.

[Unknown]

He got me.

[Jason Bateman]

Nice reading.

[Bill Gates]

Pretty.

[Sean Hayes]

Come on.

[Unknown]

Okay.

[Bill Gates]

It's pretty good, guys.

[Jason Bateman]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. We three fools are incredibly lucky at times on this show to be able to ask some questions and Hear some answers from folks who wouldn't otherwise spend even a second with us. Today's one of those days.

[Sean Hayes]

Oh, I like that.

[Unknown]

Our next guest is one of the.

[Jason Bateman]

Most important people to have been born in our generation.

[Unknown]

He is responsible for some of the.

[Jason Bateman]

Most transformative ideas, technologies, and events the world has ever known and probably ever will.

[Unknown]

These discoveries, advancements, and innovations have made parts of our lives in the world around us far different than anyone could.

[Jason Bateman]

Have even ever imagined just 40 years ago.

[Unknown]

His work has brought him enormous wealth.

[Jason Bateman]

Which is enabling him to once again change and help our planet and our lives in ways that are exciting, confusing, and in some ways, life saving. Please welcome Mr. Bill Gates.

[Sean Hayes]

Oh, my gosh.

[Unknown]

Mr. Bill Gates.

[Melinda Gates]

Yeah.

[Unknown]

Hello, Mr. Gates.

[Jason Bateman]

Hey, guys.

[Melinda Gates]

Wow.

[Jason Bateman]

How lucky are we that we've got you now?

[Sean Hayes]

This is cool.

[Jason Bateman]

We've got questions.

[Sean Hayes]

Now we got questions. First of all, it looks like you're sitting in a high chair.

[Melinda Gates]

I am.

[Jason Bateman]

Oh, he's.

[Unknown]

Well, this is a guy who probably does.

[Jason Bateman]

Well, I was going to say the guy does a lot of podcasts. I was thinking, why are you. I know you've got a very. Thank God you've got a book coming out. I can't not wait to read it. But is that the only reason you're talking to us dummies? I mean, why? You've got so much important stuff to do.

[Bill Gates]

It's true.

[Jason Bateman]

Sparing an hour for us is generous, but maybe foolish.

[Melinda Gates]

It's relaxing.

[Bill Gates]

So far.

[Unknown]

So we're not making you nervous at all.

[Bill Gates]

So far.

[Unknown]

Good.

[Bill Gates]

Jason. I also can't wait for you to not read his book, but. Bill Gates, welcome to the podcast. And I say that not because he won't be interested, just he barely knows how to read. And I will say, it is so exciting having you here as somebody who has been responsible for not just innovations, but just the impact that what you have done over the years has been incredible. And not just in technology, et cetera, and really being on the cutting edge of that for years, but all the philanthropic work you've done. I didn't know you were going to be here today, but I've been a big fan of your work in the philanthropic area. You've been a leader in that. You've really set a tone. So I. I applaud you and I thank you and I wish more people would take your. Take your cue.

[Unknown]

Yeah, well, he's setting a great example. I think they.

[Jason Bateman]

I think they will.

[Unknown]

I hope they will.

[Bill Gates]

Yeah.

[Jason Bateman]

Are they. I mean, you. I know you did something. What Is it called the.

[Melinda Gates]

The Giving Pledge?

[Unknown]

Yeah, the Giving Pledge. Yes. With Warren Buffett.

[Jason Bateman]

Right. Are guys. Are men and women following along with that?

[Melinda Gates]

Yeah. We have about 250 people who've made the commitment to give away the majority of their wealth. And we get together and learn from each other because philanthropy is actually a little confusing. You don't have a rating system or profit, and it brings you into a new area. And so we can inspire each other. And hopefully anybody who's got lots of money feels like pitching in.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah. And because wasn't it. I think Warren Buffett said. Because if you can't figure out how to live off of $500 million, there's a problem. Isn't that what he's. Isn't that part of that pact?

[Melinda Gates]

That's right.

[Sean Hayes]

I think I read that.

[Bill Gates]

I know, which is funny, because I was thinking about writing him a letter and asking him if he'd give me 500 million to see if I could do that.

[Unknown]

Yeah. Just a little experiment.

[Bill Gates]

You know what I mean? As an experiment. So, Mr. Gates, I'd like to ask you if it's possible. Jason, Sorry, I don't mean to hijack.

[Unknown]

This, but be my guest. I've got some questions here. If you.

[Bill Gates]

If you run out, I'm sure at risk of you having said this a million times before, would you talk a little bit about the genesis of Microsoft? Because I don't know if I've ever really heard a clear story of how it came to be, how you had the idea for it and how it came into fruition.

[Melinda Gates]

Yeah, I was super lucky. My parents found me a little confusing in terms of I was very good at some things and not good at other things. So they sent me to a private school, and that school got a computer. So When I was 13, I had my first exposure and I got kind of obsessed with figuring it out what it could do. And so even during high school, together with a friend, Paul Allen, I got thousands of hours of time learning how to write software.

[Bill Gates]

So forgive me for interrupting. What year was that that you got first exposed to the computer?

[Sean Hayes]

And where.

[Melinda Gates]

That's 1968. I'm up in Seattle, Washington, at an excellent private school. And then Paul's reading, and he sees that a computer is going to be done on a chip, the microprocessor made by people like intel, and that those chips are going to get twice as good every year or two. And so I say to Paul that that's exponential improvement, that then computers will be almost free and they'll need a lot of software. We should do that. Software. And he follows. When I go back to Harvard because my parents wanted me to go to college, he follows me there to kind of bug me and say, well, this revolution's gonna happen. Let's get going. And finally, when the first personal computer comes out in late 1974, I drop out and Paul and I found the company.

[Unknown]

And you told Steve Ballmer to stay behind, finish his education, because you're going to need him later.

[Melinda Gates]

Yeah. In fact, he shows up about four years into the company, and he's the other person who plays an unbelievable role. I did manage to catch him in the middle of business school, so I got him to drop out of business school.

[Unknown]

There you go.

[Bill Gates]

So you see these. So these computers in this sort of the late 60s that you're first exposed to are by comparison, of course, today, but maybe even to the computers in the mid-70s. Rudimentary at best. Probably.

[Melinda Gates]

Yeah. Also. Also very expensive. And so, you know, we only big companies in the government have them. And so we would have to sneak in at night to get access. And, you know, we kept saying to people, these things are going to be cheap. But they. They didn't. They didn't agree. And so we got to be the very first people. And then you have people like Steve Jobs at Apple where they're doing the hardware, the Apple ii and we're doing the software. So the Apple computer came with our software.

[Bill Gates]

Oh, it did, yeah.

[Jason Bateman]

And was it.

[Unknown]

Correct me if I'm wrong here, but I, for some reason always thought that one of the major things that. For small brains like me, that really was like, oh. Cause I remember computers used. There was the. And then all of a sudden one day there was.

[Jason Bateman]

I think it was Windows, which was.

[Unknown]

It was just point and click stuff. And it was like, oh, this is a whole different thing.

[Jason Bateman]

Was that not you, Mr. Gates?

[Melinda Gates]

Yes, absolutely. So the idea of the graphics interface where you use images, not just characters, that's pioneered at Xerox, which made a lot of money on copying machines, and they didn't manage to make a good product. So it's actually Apple with the Macintosh and Microsoft with Windows, that takes this idea of graphics interface and takes it to the masses. And now everybody knows that's the way you use it.

[Unknown]

You just point and click. But what we don't know is that underneath what you're pointing on, underneath that is a bunch of code that you're activating when you hit a click.

[Melinda Gates]

Yeah, it's actually pretty complicated. Underneath which is why we had to hire lots of smart engineers and. Right. A lot of code.

[Bill Gates]

But. But I. But I will say. Well, I've. I kind of have two questions, which is a. So you. You learn on these rudimentary huge computers that are the only the government and, you know, educational institutions have. Etc. So then. So you and Paul Allen realized that, okay, this is the future is are there people who can teach you how to do the stuff you did or did you have to figure a lot of that stuff out yourselves as you were going?

[Melinda Gates]

We pretty much had to figure it out. I mean, we did hire a few adults who knew things like finance and accounting. But because we were at the forefront of a revolution, this idea of, okay, how do you manage these people? How do you price this stuff? And we decided we'd sell all over the world. So I have to build a team in Japan and Europe and deal with all the languages. I have to say, it was super fun. And because we were right, these computers got so popular. We made enough money. We just kept hiring more and more people and eventually built Windows and Office, which had Excel spreadsheet and Microsoft Word. And those became. So by the late 90s, we are doing well and it's kind of a standard way that people use personal computer.

[Bill Gates]

Sorry, Sean, if I just. On that last little bit of the code stuff. And you touched on so that Apple products came with your software built in and then you guys split and it became kind of like the. And forgive me for this comparison, it became like the VHS, Betamax. It was either or. It was like you either did this or you did that. Was there ever a discussion between you and Steve Jobs about, hey, let's continue in this partnership using your et cetera, et cetera? Did you guys. Or was there a moment that you split?

[Melinda Gates]

Because we're always pure software. The only competition is that they. Apple does its own operating system which competes with Windows, but we write software on the Macintosh. In fact, we had as many people as Steve Jobs did when he's doing the Macintosh because we do our word processor, we do our spreadsheet. And it was amazing because Steve did the Mac. That was wonderful. Then he leaves Apple. Apple's being very mismanaged. When he comes back, I reach a deal with him where we actually invest in Apple and commit to do our software. And then he runs that company so well that going from the verge of failure, it actually becomes the most valuable company in the world, even slightly more valuable than Microsoft.

[Sean Hayes]

That's amazing.

[Melinda Gates]

So we ended up working together and then in the last few years, when he was sick, we got to reflect on our lives and talk to each other quite a bit. We were kind of competitors. I mean, he would criticize Windows pretty brutally, but that's okay. But his skill set, which was kind of design and user interface, he was not an engineer. And so our, you know, my skill is very much as an engineer. So we, we appreciated each other. You know, of course, was, was there.

[Sean Hayes]

Was there a lot of competition though? Like, and there had to be. When you're sitting in your garage or wherever you were with Paul designing this and coming up with this and all that stuff, back then you didn't have the. People didn't know what you were doing, right? Everybody knows what everybody's doing now. And so you had this kind of secrecy so you could protect yourself. But as it grew and became the thing that it became, how do you protect yourself? And how did you protect yourself from competitors? And was Apple the only competitor?

[Melinda Gates]

Because Microsoft wasn't about any one piece of software, not just Windows, not just Office, we were doing Xbox, which had games. We thought of ourselves as a software factory and we wanted to be faster than anyone else and have lower priced software than anyone else. And so the other people doing software found it pretty intimidating that we moved at that speed. And that's why when Steve does the Macintosh, he comes to us and say, hey, are you willing to bet on this? Can we work on this together? It got quite competitive. Eventually other great companies like Google come along and they're also very good at hiring smart people. And there's been room, if you think of what are the most valuable companies in the world today. It's all these companies that ushered in this digital revolution.

[Sean Hayes]

Right? Yeah, I was gonna say, because now you have, instead of Google, Microsoft and Apple, you have 200 AI companies now. Because people see the future much more quickly now than they did then.

[Bill Gates]

Sean, tell Mr. You're an ask Jeeves guy, right? Like that's been your hole.

[Sean Hayes]

And ask Jeeves.

[Unknown]

Mr. Gates, do you remember, remember having conversations with Paul or Steve or any of your contemporaries at the time? Do you remember sitting there having conversations with them and allow yourself the imagination for what the future could bring? And were there any things that were worrisome or exciting? Like you hear about the conversations that are happening now regarding AI, where we're kind of on the doorstep of another big move. Do you remember having those concerns back then?

[Jason Bateman]

Were there any?

[Melinda Gates]

Yeah, so the digital revolution with PCs and Internet we thought of as very empowering. And so you could say we were kind of naive in thinking this was all good. In fact, when we worried, we were worried about what we called the digital divide, that having access was so valuable that we should make sure that schools in the inner city and poor countries had the Internet and the PC. It's only when social networking comes along that this kind of, oh, isn't it always for the good, to give people new capabilities? We realized, wow, the social criticism, the waste of time, that in some ways we were playing to human weaknesses, that you seek out outrage and that kind of can drive people apart. And now that we've seen that those advances aren't always good, now with AI, which is far more powerful than social network, we're going, wow, how do we shape this thing to get the good, which is definitely there, but avoid the bad stuff? And it's a little bit scary right now.

[Bill Gates]

Well, a little bit of trying to put the genie back in the bottle. A Unfortunately, with the social networks and also just with phones in general and their impacts. You know, as A father of three, three boys under the age of 16 and younger, I would ask you, and I know your kids are a little bit older and I look, I don't like answering hypothetical questions myself, but I'm going to ask you a hypothetical which is, and feel free to not answer it. If your kids, if your kids were teenagers again, if they were adolescents, if they were 11, 12, 13, 14, would you let them have access to social media?

[Melinda Gates]

Yeah. My youngest, I stopped her from having a cell phone until she was 14 and she was quite upset because the other kids had access. It works a lot better if groups of parents or even the school come in and saying, hey, during the school day. This is pretty distracting. And Australia's now trying to pass a set of rules. You know, there's a book by Jonathan Haidt called the Anxious Generation.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah, we talked about it all the time.

[Bill Gates]

I read it.

[Melinda Gates]

Okay, good, good. You know, and his point that we're kind of overprotecting kids in the real world and under protecting them in the digital world, I think he's got a super good point there and we've got to step up on that.

[Bill Gates]

I took his advice and I said to my boys, to my teenage boys, I said, I will give you a lot of freedoms in the real world that are commensurate with your reduction in your time in the digital world. And I will give you much more leeway to do stuff and spend time in real time and give you a later curfew on the weekend, sort of 11:30, if you will, or whatever that is. If you guys, if I see a market reduction in your time online. But what I dream about, this is what I'm getting to. What I dream of is six months of no social media on this planet. And what would that do in a sort of a social, in a reset. Imagine a world where we didn't have that. I personally think that we would be in a much better place.

[Melinda Gates]

Yeah. When you see how polarized we are and that even I, if there's some article criticizing somebody I don't like, I'm like, oh yeah, I want to be outraged against the people I think have shortcomings. And so, you know, you want an algorithm that brings us together and, you know, maybe a moratorium would help us get there.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah.

[Jason Bateman]

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[Unknown]

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[Bill Gates]

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[Unknown]

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[Bill Gates]

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[Unknown]

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[Bill Gates]

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[Unknown]

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[Bill Gates]

Cause that's like a clinical. But I do like doing it a lot.

[Unknown]

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[Sean Hayes]

And now back to the show.

[Bill Gates]

My. You know, as a kid who grew up in the 70s as a gen Xer, you know, your rise and your significance in the world coincided with sort of my, my teenage years and understanding that kind of thing. And it felt like the first time that we had things like the, you know, the fortuneless or the Forbes or the richest people in the world. And your name was in and out of the top of that for many, many years. And I can't imagine just how absurd that must be on a certain level. Did you have those moments of like, not even pinch me, but of like, is this me? It feels almost abstract. How bizarre. Did you have that at all or.

[Unknown]

Just leave me alone?

[Melinda Gates]

Well, it's definitely wild, you know, at a young age. You know, I was in my 30s when I become the richest person. And my parents, fortunately, you know, their values helped anchor me. And they were always saying, okay, to whom much is given, much is expected. So I did start in my 40s to really study philanthropy. Rockefeller, Carnegie, what had they done? And try and figure out could I be as careful about giving it back. And then in my 50s, I retired from Microsoft and moved over to do foundation work full time. But yes, it's bizarre. Having close friends who really know you, who can laugh about your success, I think does help keep you grounded.

[Unknown]

That transition to philanthropy, I'm sure there are many parts of it that are even more complicated than your life beforehand. Many, many challenges. Can you speak about those? I'm sure there's a lot of it that is much more enjoyable too. Probably most of it. How is that feeling, that transition?

[Melinda Gates]

Well, I loved being an individual contributor in my 20s and then managing Microsoft in my 30s, where you're just very hands on and you can say, my product is selling well, or this one is not. How do we fix that? And so it's a real switch where you're not having that immediate market feedback to go and say, hey, why do children die? How many children die? Can we reduce that? And then I had to learn about poor countries and vaccines. But I have to say it's been as fulfilling in the turn of the century. We have 10 million children dying every year, and because we got out new vaccines and worked with partners, that's now down below 5 million a year. And if we keep doing our work well, including governments caring about poor countries, we can cut that in half again to two and a half million.

[Unknown]

Sorry. Have you found a way to make it an attractive idea for countries to come on and partner with you that goes beyond just the obvious ethical and moral pull of it? Is there a, is there a GDP component that you can dangle in front of some of these more capitalistic minded countries that get them to the table a little bit better?

[Melinda Gates]

Yeah, that's a super good point. Is of course the moral argument of the Golden Rule. Helping people everywhere is our strongest argument, but that alone isn't gonna get us there. We had some of the generals in the US army saying, hey, if you don't help these countries out, then we'll have to go to war and you'll have to increase our budget so that the foreign aid budget, by creating stability, it avoids the awful war. And also, if you lift people up economically, like Asia today buys a lot of American stuff, movies, drugs, jets, software, you name it. So our mutual success has been amazing. The two countries we defeat in World War II were generous enough to them that they become the second and third biggest economy. And we engage in mutually beneficial trade. Japan shows us how to make quality products, and now we want to extend that and get. Asia's doing well, India's getting rich, and eventually they don't need aid if you help them out. And so you only have mostly countries in Africa that still really deserve this kind of support.

[Unknown]

Are you finding that you're having the same kind of messaging language success as you try to encourage them to come along with environmental adjustments as well, that it's mutually beneficial from a business standpoint, et cetera?

[Melinda Gates]

Yeah. So environmentally, a lot of these poor countries are very beautiful and we all have to deal with climate change. Sadly, it's these African countries that didn't contribute to that problem at all because they're outdoor farmers near the equator. They're the ones that are suffering the most. The countries we need to really change their emissions are these middle income countries. So China, Brazil, now India. And they expect us to help them by inventing really inexpensive ways to go green. And so the biggest hope for the environmental stuff is innovation. If the green stuff is really expensive, even the rich countries are kind of saying, hey, don't make me buy an electric car. If it costs more, don't make me buy an electric heat pump. And and so it's going to have to be all of us saying, we're in this together, it's one planet. But also a lot of innovation because nobody can agree if it's expensive, who should pay for it.

[Unknown]

Right. A friend of mine who's sort of a friend of ours, friend of the show, Willie, our buddy, he mentioned that with this big round of deregulation that supposedly is on its way, that there may be a good spin to it in that the amount of innovation that is needed to really make a big move in an environment, a part of that, it's necessary for private to be spending money there as well as just federal money. And so by deregulating, you give those companies more money to spend in R and D for these environmental things.

[Jason Bateman]

Is that just spin for the business?

[Bill Gates]

And I'll let you guess what business he's in. But he's a great guy.

[Unknown]

What do we think about that? Does that spin or is there some validity to that?

[Melinda Gates]

No, there's definitely some validity. For example, if you want to build an electricity transmission line, you often have to go through almost a decade of approvals. And of course that line, if anybody blocks it, then it doesn't work at all. And so we need to have more collective action as we try and change, you know, move away from coal, electricity to other things, which is sun and wind and nuclear and a variety of things. Yeah, we don't want to get rid of all the regulations because part of the reason the US is so beautiful, we preserve lands, we've cleaned up our waters better than any other country. But it is absolutely fair to say that many of these environmental reviews are delaying projects that we need in order to solve climate change.

[Unknown]

Gotcha. So government could get out of the way a little bit. Cause we gotta work fast. Right, but not completely.

[Melinda Gates]

Yes. So we're gonna have to strike that balance.

[Bill Gates]

Well, it's so hard not to be cynical when you have things like. And you were just touching on the idea, Jason, it was partly baked into your question, which is this, that. Yeah, of course there Is, you know, what you called the ethical or moral pull. But it always comes down to economics, right? It's always, sadly, it's the driver of everything. It's like when the government went to war on the cigarette companies. It wasn't because they wanted us to stop smoking. It's because they didn't want to pay for people who were sick. Unfortunately, it's got to be a win, win ultimately, otherwise they wouldn't, they couldn't care less. And I think that there is a societal issue in America. Mr. Gates, I haven't revealed this to you yet. I'm Canadian by birth, so. And I'm sorry to drop it on you like that, we had a reveal party. But you know, I think that there is a societal, there are some societal issues. And I, and I am American as well, and I've lived here for a number of years and I love this country. Truly, truly do. And my children are all American. It's an incredible experience. But I do think that there are some issues societally in this country that come up that have to do with that, unfortunately. And I know that, look, I'm not naive, but unfortunately, a lot of things in this country are driven by people wanting to what's theirs. And there isn't this idea that we're only as strong as our weakest link. If anything, it keeps getting reinforced in different ways in elections, etc. In the way that you look at California should have buried power lines, there's no question about it. But nobody wants to pay for that kind of thing. And so there are all sorts of things like that and people just won't do it. And I don't know how we can change minds in this country, but it is strange. And people will vote against their self interest in this country in ways that are staggering. And I'm giving you all these big picture things because I imagine, Mr. Gates, these are the kinds of things that you think about because you're dealing in macro. Am I right with that?

[Melinda Gates]

No, absolutely. The, you know, I, when I think about the health system or.

[Bill Gates]

Yeah.

[Melinda Gates]

Climate, you know, we've got to solve these problems. You know, we saw that when we weren't ready for the pandemic. Millions of people died who, who shouldn't have died.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah, go ahead, Sean.

[Sean Hayes]

I was going to say, I love, I love all the talking about medicine. I love all the medical things you're doing. Do I call you Bill? Do I call you Mr. Gates, sir?

[Melinda Gates]

Bill's fantastic.

[Sean Hayes]

Okay.

[Unknown]

William, it's a great name. Bill, I do think you should keep it. I know you've been thinking about is a great Trey.

[Jason Bateman]

We could call you Trey.

[Sean Hayes]

Trey.

[Melinda Gates]

That was my nickname. Yeah, my family still calls me that because my dad was Bill. Wait, why?

[Bill Gates]

Where'd you get Trey the third? Trey is the third.

[Sean Hayes]

Oh, hey, Trey. So, hey, Trey. I love all the medical things you're involved with. And so what's your favorite one you're working on? And how has being around all the innovation of this medical world that you're involved with changed the way you live your life? Whether that's food, diet, or whatever it.

[Melinda Gates]

Is that we don't know about, we're learning a lot. We've learned that sleep is very important. On nutrition, we're still kind of confused about, other than eating too many calories, what counts. You know, the work of our foundation is very focused on the diseases that are still huge in poor countries. So hiv, malaria. You know, we literally still have polio out there, even though we got rid of it in the US and kids aren't dying and being paralyzed, but we're down to just a few countries. And so the only disease we've ever gotten rid of is smallpox. And now polio is very close to being the second on that list. So I put a lot of effort into that. With HIV, you've got a million Americans living with it, 40 million worldwide. We'd like to make it so we can actually cure it rather than you having to take medicine the rest of your life. And so we're making good progress on that.

[Sean Hayes]

Is there any truth to the fact. Because I hear they actually. You hear these conspiracies, that there actually is a cure for hiv or there is a cure for all these things, but they suppress it because there's too much money in pharmaceuticals.

[Melinda Gates]

No, I wish that was true, because then I would take the cure and kill everybody.

[Sean Hayes]

Right, Exactly.

[Bill Gates]

Do you know about this? Gosh. Now, it just occurred to me, now that you're here, I'm gonna call you Bill as well, if that's okay.

[Melinda Gates]

Good.

[Bill Gates]

Bill. I know, because I've been reading online, and a lot of people from their.

[Unknown]

Basements say that you're putting chips in.

[Bill Gates]

Our brain, which is amazing. I love. I love when people. When I hear that, and I always. My answer to that is always, to what end?

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah, I know.

[Bill Gates]

Like, why do you. What is he.

[Jason Bateman]

Why does he want to guide my head?

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah, exactly.

[Bill Gates]

Anytime I hear somebody say the government, I'm like, all right, we're done. Right? But do you hear any of that? Does it make its Way to you. Do you laugh about it? Sometimes. Does it alarm you when you hear these people saying, bill Gates is trying to put a chip into everybody's brain?

[Melinda Gates]

Yeah. Well, I've had people come up to me on the street and yell at me that, you know, why am I tracking them?

[Bill Gates]

And I look at them like, but why are you.

[Melinda Gates]

What am I gonna do with that information? You know? So you do have to laugh about it. But it's also, at the same time tragic that millions who would have been saved by the COVID vaccine stayed away from it because of all the. The online misinformation that they were faced with. And whenever you get a pandemic saying, oh, there must be some evil genius behind this, that's not very adaptive, and we're not really ready for the next pandemic, which will come. Hard to say when it's gonna come, but I thought that would make vaccines more popular. And so there's some work to be done here.

[Jason Bateman]

So, Bill, with all the AI stuff that's being talked about, and I'm sure if you're like me, you get kind of tune out a bit because there's so much of it. Is there? Well, I'm sure there's many parts. What's the most promising use of AI that you can see coming, coming soon? I'm sure it's gonna fix a lot of things, but is there something that might be on the doorstep that you can talk about?

[Melinda Gates]

Well, I'd say the most promising work is health and education. Even today, if you get like a set of blood tests back or an MRI test back, you know, you get a confusing medical bill. You really should stick it in the AI and say, explain this to me like a sixth grader, because it is so good at doing that. Okay?

[Sean Hayes]

God, I'd use it all the time.

[Melinda Gates]

Helping people with medical things. And then in education, having a personal tutor that gets what you're confused about, the level that you're at and knows how to encourage you, whether it's in math or writing papers. And it's early days and it's being rolled out. And this will not only be profound for the United States, but in Africa, we have fewer teachers and doctors than anywhere in the world. And so a chance for us to give them access to the kind of health that we take for granted, AI in those two domains, we should push forward, get the accuracy up, and really surprise people by improving the health system a lot.

[Jason Bateman]

And this question's coming from a person who has no idea how research and development happens. Happens in medical science. But I think that you get an idea, then you got to run it through a modeling thing and you got to test it all out. But am I right in assuming that AI can make this much, much faster, such that we can track down maybe what the right equation is to fix cancer or any other of these incredibly damaging things, that maybe the process of elimination can happen much faster, where we can reasonably expect to have some cures for some of these incurable things, perhaps in our lifetime?

[Melinda Gates]

Absolutely. And medicine has made a lot of progress. I mean, heart disease is way down. Cancer, we have a lot of things in the pipeline. But AI is going to accelerate all of that. I work in Alzheimer's and there's some great tools coming along because nobody should want to have that. And even with hiv, this idea of the cure, the fact we can get it out maybe in four years instead of eight, we'll use AI to help accelerate that.

[Sean Hayes]

That's amazing.

[Jason Bateman]

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[Sean Hayes]

And back to the show.

[Jason Bateman]

Your mom was, was really influential with you for sort of planting this early seed of philanthropy and giving back and using what you're, what you're given in the right way. Is that correct? Do you want to speak about that at all?

[Melinda Gates]

Yeah, absolutely. I mean, when you see your parents behave, that's more influential than what your parents say. And so they volunteered in the community, they gave what they could. And then as my mom saw, she.

[Jason Bateman]

Was big in the United Way.

[Melinda Gates]

Yes, exactly. She put a lot of her time into that, both in our city, but also at the, the federal level.

[Bill Gates]

Wow.

[Melinda Gates]

So she was always telling me, okay, you've got to run a United Way campaign and get back. Sadly, she died pretty young about 30 years ago. And it was my dad who actually, when I was still full time at Microsoft, ran the foundation and got it going for the first 10 years and kind of set the culture in a very positive way. So he did get to see and participate in all those dictates that go back to my childhood.

[Jason Bateman]

Are your kids being as observational as you were and benefiting from it like you did?

[Melinda Gates]

Yeah. No. Well, my kids are both lucky. Although being a child of somebody well known I'm sure your kids experienced some of. It's got a lot of pluses, but some minuses as well.

[Unknown]

But are they following your great example? I guess is my question.

[Melinda Gates]

Well, I'm giving them as a percentage of the wealth, a pretty small percentage. I mean, in absolute, it's a lot. And I do believe that they'll have their own careers and they'll be very generous with what they're doing. But I didn't decide that we would take that wealth and pass it down. 95% goes out through the foundation, and yet I'm super happy with how hard they work and their values. My wife Melinda did a great job raising the kids and it's worked out well.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah, amazing. I wanna know about that gut probe in a pill. You just eat a pill. Describe that to me. Cause I just read headlines about it. I didn't really know anything about it. What is that technology and what is it used for?

[Jason Bateman]

Probing a pill?

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah, like you eat a pill and it probes your guts.

[Unknown]

Oh, boy.

[Melinda Gates]

Yeah. So digestion is super complicated. And that's why these nutritional fads come along. And the New Yorker cartoon said, you better adopt this new nutritional fad quickly before they prove it doesn't work. And what happens is that in your gut there's a lot of bicycles, bacteria they call the microbiome. And we're just. Now, as you swallow this capsule and it absorbs all of those bacteria, we see what's going on. We finally understand what's going on. And so our foundation works on malnutrition. These big pharmaceutical companies like Eli Lilly work on overnutrition. And it turns out that we work together on the research because the same complex circuitry that allows poor kids to be malnourished in the US we have horrible levels of childhood obesity. And so as we're learning that new drugs like these GLP1 obesity drugs that as they get cheaper are going to have a profound effect. That's the type of innovation coming out. And yet. But you know, we didn't understand that until very recently.

[Bill Gates]

Well, but, but we had. And Sean's still mourning the, you know, the, the new ban on red dye number three because it's such a, such a staple in his diet.

[Unknown]

As you can probably tell, he can't identify the cherry and the strawberry flavor.

[Bill Gates]

His brain is basically liquefied. But I will say, you know, you talk about that in, in this, about obesity and childhood obesity. What is it? What is the difference in this country? Again, it sounds like I've been attacking this I'm really not. I just. I'm curious about things like, about childhood obesity compared to other countries and the. And the nutrition and things that are allowed. Like, you know, you've seen those things where they compare a product that is the same, but that's sold here or. And then sold in the UK and the list of ingredients is, like, double in this country with additives and preservatives, et cetera, et cetera. I mean, is that a massive problem or.

[Melinda Gates]

No, almost certainly not.

[Bill Gates]

Oh, really?

[Melinda Gates]

Yeah. I mean, our kids sit in front of the TV more than any other kids, so lack of activity alone explains most of this.

[Bill Gates]

Wow.

[Melinda Gates]

And, you know, sadly, when your parents are obese, the likelihood that you'll be obese goes up pretty dramatically. And so the US in many respects, drug addiction, obesity, we're, you could say, as the world's richest country, all the problems of being rich are worse in the US Than they are anywhere else.

[Sean Hayes]

Yeah, for sure.

[Melinda Gates]

We're also the most innovative, though. And, you know, that's why I'm not a pessimist at all. I do think.

[Bill Gates]

Wait, so it's just. It's just apathy? Is that what it is?

[Melinda Gates]

No. Your TV shows are too entertaining.

[Sean Hayes]

Exactly.

[Melinda Gates]

It's all your fault.

[Jason Bateman]

Not mine.

[Bill Gates]

Not mine. What are you excited for? What are you excited for? The next five years? Sorry, Sean.

[Sean Hayes]

No, that's good. I just had one question about another issue, but. Yeah, sorry. Well, right before that. But I do want to get to that. I'm really passionate about this because of the fires that just happened because of the constant droughts in California. We talked to Kamala Harris about this back, like, three, four years ago when she was the senator in California is like, most of the Earth is water. And so when there's a shortage of water, I'm like, how can we not figure out how to desalinate water? And people say it's too expensive. Well, it's more expensive to not figure it out. And so what are your thoughts about that? And do you have any kind of desire to be in that world?

[Melinda Gates]

Yeah, so I'm very involved in that because, you know, we have to both do climate mitigation and climate adaptation. And adaptation is a part of that's dealing with water shortages and more difficult weather. It takes a certain amount of energy to desalinate water. And so only by bringing the cost of energy down with things like solar or perhaps nuclear fission or fusion, then you get more water availability. 80% of water is used for agriculture, so you can afford to desalinate water for human consumption. You can't really afford to do it for agriculture. So you have to end up moving your farms to the places where there's enough water. You don't want to pay to desalinate just to grow.

[Sean Hayes]

Unless you do. Unless we figure out a way to do it.

[Bill Gates]

Unless you do. But I would. And people like, you know, sadly, Jason Maimon, who, you know, obviously with his almond consumption has been destroying the planet. It's unbelievable the amount of water that goes to every one of your precious almonds that you just carelessly stuff in your mouth. But Bill, what is the. I was gonna ask you, but you're excited about the next five years. What are we gonna do about energy sources going forward? What can we do? Have we reached peak oil? What are we gonna do with fossil fuels? Can we, can we keep it going in this direction? What do you think about that?

[Melinda Gates]

Well, I'm very hopeful that between expanding wind and solar and getting both types of nuclear, nuclear fission and fusion to get safer and cheaper, that even with all this demand for energy like electric cars or electric heat pumps, AI data centers, that we'll be able to get ahead of that and still have cheap electricity, even though we'll get rid of all of the terrible CO2 emissions. So we are going to have to transition away from coal and natural gas in the decades ahead.

[Bill Gates]

I mean, that's. And that's going to be a painful transition.

[Melinda Gates]

I imagine not if we innovate the cost of these other things down. You know, electric cars are getting cheaper. Eventually you do get to the point where the substitute is as cheap as the dirty thing was. And in the long run, that's what we need to do so that we get global adoption of green approaches.

[Bill Gates]

Well, but educate me if you would, to the extent that, you know, if you get an electric car and you get all these people who get them and they're great, and then some people like to virtue signal with them and shame other people. But the components, so many of the components that go into the car are, you know, petroleum based, whether it's the actual components themselves or traveling those cars to their destinations or across oceans and stuff. Right. You know about all this. So it's all. Is there any way that we can mitigate all of those other things as well so that we're not relying on petroleum for everything, you know?

[Melinda Gates]

Absolutely. And we measure that. You know, anybody who buys an electric car, as you say, it's not zero emissions, but it is dramatically less than a gasoline car. And we're Learning to make the batteries using less energy and less environmental things like new ways of finding lithium. And so the accounting on. Okay, how do we have the most environmentally clean car? We're doing a very good job tracking that. And consumers who help create demand for electric vehicles, they deserve a little bit a sense of virtue because the more we buy, the more the price goes down and the more.

[Bill Gates]

I agree. I was playing, obviously, but I do agree, I do agree.

[Unknown]

Bill, what's the rest of your day look like?

[Jason Bateman]

Is your average day firing the person.

[Bill Gates]

Who told him to do this?

[Jason Bateman]

Is your average day split 50, 50 between sort of personal pleasure, silly stuff.

[Unknown]

And also saving the world with the other half?

[Jason Bateman]

Or I bet the ratio's not 50.

[Unknown]

50, but do you get a little.

[Jason Bateman]

Time to be stupid doing something?

[Unknown]

And if so, what is it?

[Melinda Gates]

I do. I, you know, my 20s, I was monomaniacal in my work. But now, although I work, you know, 50 hours of work week and travel a lot, I play a fair bit of tennis. I play a lot of pickleball. I love reading. I love, you know, TV shows that you guys have made. That's super fun.

[Unknown]

A little bit of golf?

[Melinda Gates]

No, I'm not, I'm not doing much golf. Tennis. I like tennis and pickleball because. Slightly better exercise.

[Unknown]

Yeah, sure, sure. Gotcha. What is the one thing that you.

[Jason Bateman]

Know how to do that everyone will.

[Unknown]

Be kind of surprised about?

[Jason Bateman]

Do you have, like a little hobby?

[Unknown]

Like, are you a great, like, draw? Or do you think.

[Jason Bateman]

Yeah, like, are you a knitter? Like what, Is there anything that's a.

[Unknown]

Sort of a sneaky little talent that.

[Jason Bateman]

That, that, that people might be surprised about or like, are you a great whistler? You know?

[Unknown]

Yeah, that's pretty good. Qualifies.

[Melinda Gates]

On cue.

[Bill Gates]

On cue. Not bad.

[Melinda Gates]

I'm, I'm good at sleeping on planes.

[Jason Bateman]

Oh, that's a great talent.

[Bill Gates]

That is a great talent. Now, are you a. Are you a savory or sweet person? Do you have a sweet tooth?

[Melinda Gates]

Yeah, no, I, I try and not have too much peanut brittle around because I would eat anything that's around.

[Bill Gates]

Wow.

[Sean Hayes]

Sugar.

[Unknown]

Sugar's a bad deal for me.

[Melinda Gates]

Very dangerous.

[Jason Bateman]

Well, it's good that you're not too.

[Unknown]

Distracted with silly things because we need you there on the stick doing whatever you are doing and what you will continue to do. We hope so.

[Jason Bateman]

Thank you so much for what you've done, what you're gonna do, and thank you for spending hour with us.

[Melinda Gates]

Yeah, that was fun. Thanks you guys.

[Sean Hayes]

Honor to meet you.

[Bill Gates]

What an absolute thrill. Thank you so much for your time.

[Sean Hayes]

Cool, thanks.

[Unknown]

Thank you, Bill.

[Melinda Gates]

All right.

[Unknown]

Thank you. Enjoy the rest of your day.

[Melinda Gates]

All right.

[Unknown]

Thank you, sir.

[Sean Hayes]

See you, buddy.

[Melinda Gates]

Super.

[Unknown]

Bye, pal.

[Bill Gates]

I felt like I was a real blowhard today. I'm sorry.

[Sean Hayes]

You have a lot of opinions, and they're good opinions.

[Bill Gates]

I felt very blowhardy. I'm so sorry.

[Jason Bateman]

Well, you know what? You get somebody like that on the show, and you, you want to talk about all the stuff that is complicated.

[Bill Gates]

Big stuff. I wanted to answer big questions.

[Sean Hayes]

I get that.

[Bill Gates]

How can we save it? Is there any way that we can change opinion in the world?

[Sean Hayes]

It's almost like everybody's looking to your point, Will. It's like everybody's looking for that guy who has all the answers. But, I mean, I wanted to ask him, people like that, do you have perspective about being one of the people that changed the world?

[Jason Bateman]

No.

[Sean Hayes]

I know, like, there's like 10. There's like 10 or 20 people like Einstein and him and like Steve Jobs.

[Bill Gates]

He and I are like, on a short list of people.

[Sean Hayes]

Back up, back up.

[Bill Gates]

I agree. No, I'm saying what you're saying, dude.

[Jason Bateman]

Well, the number smiles that Will has.

[Unknown]

Created as opposed to he and I.

[Bill Gates]

Yeah, dude, I'm making your point for you.

[Jason Bateman]

He's got it. Like, talk about, like, you know, you get to the end of your life and, like, we've talked about it before, you know, did I use my year right? Like this guy. I mean, I'm sure some people have issues with him, like, like with everybody, but my goodness, the amount of effect he has set over this world and he's still doing.

[Bill Gates]

I know, I know. He.

[Jason Bateman]

The other thing that I'm, I'm excited about, you know, is his book. He's got this new book coming out that's, that's, you know, about, like, how this all started for him, how his brain started going and how he got. Yes, I believe so.

[Melinda Gates]

Yeah.

[Jason Bateman]

It's called Source Code. It comes out February, but yeah, hopefully.

[Unknown]

There'S an audio, audio portion of it.

[Jason Bateman]

That I can listen to. Yeah, I still don't get left to right, top to bottom, right.

[Bill Gates]

You don't know what, you don't know what you're missing. I just had such a good read. I, I. Oh, God. You don't know, you guys, it would give you so many more references. You'd be so much more interesting. No wonder you're so bland. You have nothing in there.

[Sean Hayes]

Did we stop recording? Are we still rolling?

[Unknown]

No, this is part of the show.

[Jason Bateman]

Source Code is the book. Go out and read it because all the profits are going to go to me, not his pocket.

[Unknown]

Something really good.

[Jason Bateman]

I should know this, but it's all.

[Sean Hayes]

For charity so that's great as most everything he does.

[Jason Bateman]

Exactly.

[Sean Hayes]

That's so cool. Source Code I also love the work that I wanted to get more into the oh here we go.

[Bill Gates]

Jesus Christ. You couldn't even get I wanted to.

[Sean Hayes]

Get into the biotechnology. The biotechnology.

[Unknown]

Is exciting.

Smart Smart less.

[Bill Gates]

Smartless is 100% organic.

[Unknown]

And artisanally handcrafted by Bennett Barbico, Michael Grant, Terry and Rob Amjarf. Smart Less.

[Jason Bateman]

Hello friends. Jason here. We are so excited that Smartless has officially joined the SiriusXM family. We can't wait to announce new surprise guests who we we know that you'll love. And if you want to be the first to hear new episodes ad free and a whole week early, subscribe to SiriusXM podcasts plus on Apple Podcasts to start your free trial today.

[Unknown]

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