Eric Jorgenson is back on the pod to talk about his new book, The Book of Elon, a five-year project distilling Elon Musk’s most useful ideas in his own words. Eric and I talk about why Musk is the greatest living entrepreneur, the recursive logic of ‘stacking S-curves,’ and the case for a generation of builders rather than financiers. Along the way: the 2008 split-the-money story, the toy casting that became the gigapress, and why deleting is harder, and more important, than automating.

Buy the book:

https://www.elonmuskbook.org/

Follow Eric: https://x.com/EricJorgenson

Eric’s Smart Friends podcast:

https://www.ejorgenson.com/

Music: “The Big Ship” by Brian Eno

All opinions expressed by Andrew Flattery and his guests are solely their own and do not reflect the opinions of Flattery Wealth Management, a registered investment advisor. This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be relied upon as investment, tax, or legal advice. Clients of Flattery Wealth Management may maintain positions in Bitcoin and the securities discussed in this podcast.

I dive into what I’m calling peak America, that is the Peter McAllister (Dad) character from Home Alone. Watching this at age 41 and the movie is now a meditation on what’s worth fighting for. I get into how the McAllister house functions as a ‘castle’ for the kind of multi-generational family life that Johann Kurtz writes about in Leaving a Legacy: Inheritance, Charity, & Thousand-Year Families. I look at how Kevin’s initiation by older brother Buzz embodies what Anthony Esolen describes in No Apologies: Why Civilization Depends on the Strength of Men, a rough-and-tumble world where boys learn to build, explore, and fight. There’s even the church scene with Old Man Marley that delivers a Christmas message. I contrast all of this with the so-called ‘found family’ therapeutic culture that tells you to replace rather than reconcile.

Celebrating the chaos, the legacy, the adventure of family life, and a classic movie for Christmas 2025.

Intro: The Drifters’ “White Christmas”

Credit to the Aaron M. Renn episode Why Families Are Fleeing Cities | Bobby Fijan

Outro: Mel Torme’s “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”

I speak with with the semi-pseudonymous Johann Kurtz on his terrific new book Leaving a Legacy: Inheritance, Charity, & Thousand-Year Families. Johann lays out the foundation for why it can be moral to leave an inheritance when pared with virtue. We talk how ‘Die with Zero’ misses the mark, why true charity is necessarily multi-generational, family business as a conduit for generational continuity, and what J.K. Rowling instinctively understands about the re-enchantment of the world.

Intro/Outro: Legends of the Fall Main Theme - James Horner

I chat with editors Zack Grafman and Frank Theodat about the need for aspirational books for boys. Many recommendations from the Dads here, including classics like The Hardy Boys, Treasure Island, Jules Verne but also some new stuff (Redwall, How to Train your Dragon, even some video games).

We also talk the (potential) opportunity within independent publishing to create and distribute through “underground, conspiratorial, vibes based marketing” books that counter safe, effeminate, and uninspiring mainstream offerings. ‘Based Boys Books,’ as Zack puts it.

Look out for the launch of The Boys Book of Adventure Anthology, a new collection deliberately crafted to appeal to boys, as boys. The Anthology also happens include my next ‘Leo and Henry’ Adventure.

Buy the book on Amazon - https://amzn.to/42m7C66

Intro/Outro: The Ecstasy of Gold - Ennio Morricone

In which I bring you one of the sharpest minds in fundamental equity analysis, my friend Ryan O'Connor of Crossroads Capital.

Ryan is a multidisciplinary thinker who combines rigorous fundamental analysis with a lot of of wit and wisdom. In this conversation, we dive deep into one of his ideas, none other than Nintendo. We discuss Ryan’s original contrarian thesis, how the business transformation has played out, and what to expect with recent release of the Switch 2.

If you enjoy this discussion, I highly recommend going back to listen to my 2020 interview with Ryan and checking out the Crossroads Capital investing letters, both masterclasses in thoughtful equity analysis.

Intro: Can’t Hardly Wait - The Replacements

I start the pod with some insights from the last four-year cycle in Bitcoin investing, comparing its annualized returns and drawdowns with other market proxies like the S&P 500, NASDAQ, and gold. I then welcome Wyatt O'Rourke, founder of Basilic Financial and author of 'The Bitcoinization of Finance,' to discuss Bitcoin's integration into traditional finance. Wyatt gets into private credit funds, Bitcoin-backed mortgages, and the importance of sound custody solutions. We then digress to a conversation on 'noblesse oblige' in the context of modern elites like Elon Musk and Donald Trump and emphasize the need to uphold moral and ethical standards.

00:00 Bitcoin's Four-Year Performance Analysis

06:48 Si Bheag, Si Mhor · Planxty

10:26 Financialization of Bitcoin

13:20 Bitcoin Derivatives and Loan Market

27:11 The Space: A Bitcoin Citadel

37:00 Noblesse Oblige and Bitcoin

44:19 Elon Musk and Donald Trump

I talk boys books passed down through generations, including classic adventure series like the Hardy Boys. I also examine the life and contributions of Edward Stratemeyer, the mastermind behind the Hardy Boys, Tom Swift, and the Bobbsey Twins. Inspired by these classics, I share my own venture in children's literature with my new book series, 'The Adventures of Leo and Henry.

Links:

* Buy The Quest for the Lost Sword: The Adventures of Leo & Henry

* Intro: The Rocketeer (James Horner)

* Anthony Esolen - Defending Boyhood: How Building Forts, Reading Stories, Playing Ball, and Praying to God Can Change the World

* Dave Greene - An Age of Illiteracy

* Cover art: Passage Press - The Hardy Boys: The House on the Cliff

* Edward Stratemeyer and the Stratemeyer syndicate - Deidre Johnson

* The Mystery of Edward Stratemeyer Documentary - Lucasfilm

* EconTalk - Amor Towles on A Gentleman in Moscow and the Writer's Craft 8-29-22

* Calmversations - Scary Ideas- & The Mainstream Legitimacy Crisis - with Jonathan Keeperman

* Outro: The Adventures of Tintin theme

The Adventures of Leo & Henry - The Quest for the Lost Sword

The book is now available for purchase on Amazon and Gumroad (digital version only).