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Sam Bankman-Fried was sentenced to 25 years in prison after being convicted of fraud and conspiracy. Michael Lewis and Lidia Jean Kott were there in court. They talk about what happened with Judging Sam’s legal expert, Rebecca Mermelstein, a former federal prosecutor and partner at O'Melveny and Myers. See omnystudio.com/listener https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
While Sam Bankman-Fried has been on trial, the cryptocurrency exchange he founded, FTX, has been going through bankruptcy proceedings. Jonathan Lipson, a professor at Temple Law School, tells Michael Lewis that he believes the proceedings have highlighted problems with the US bankruptcy system. Jonathan Lipson’s research paper “FTX’d: Conflicting Public and Private Interests in Chapter 11” is forthcoming in the Stanford Law Review. You can read a draft here https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4760736. You can listen to our previous interview about the FTX bankruptcy with Jonathan’s co-author, David Skeel, here https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/against-the-rules/on-background-a-history-of-bankruptcy-in-the-us. See omnystudio.com/listener https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This fall we covered the trial of Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of the failed cryptocurrency exchange FTX. He was found guilty of fraud and conspiracy and could face decades in prison. Now, we are covering his sentencing. Check here for those episodes starting the week of March 25th. See omnystudio.com/listener https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
To mark International Day of Happiness and the release of the annual World Happiness Report, Dr Laurie Santos talks to fellow Pushkin podcasters Dr Maya Shankar, Tim Harford and Malcolm Gladwell about the happiness topics that would like to see raised on this day of global wellbeing awareness. The discussion ranges from how to quiet your inner monologue; though the misery of running in a Canadian winter; to the happiness lessons to be learned from a colonoscopy. See omnystudio.com/listener https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Enjoy this episode of Freakonomics Radio https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/freakonomics-radio/id354668519, where Michael Lewis sat down with Stephen Dubner to discuss his book “Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon.” * See omnystudio.com/listener https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
When a Dutch crime reporter makes an unbelievable discovery, a small-town murder case begins to look like an international assassination plot. Enjoy this episode from Hot Money: The New Narcos https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hot-money-the-new-narcos/id1621757273, a podcast from Pushkin Industries and the Financial Times. See omnystudio.com/listener https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Enjoy this episode from another Pushkin Industries podcast, Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talk-easy-with-sam-fragoso/id1100417601. Upon taking a walk with crypto billionaire Sam Bankman-Fried, writer Michael Lewis had a sense that there might be a story here. In the intervening two years, that story has taken a series of twists and turns, resulting in Lewis’ new book Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324074335. At the top, we walk through Bankman-Fried’s Manhattan trial, the subject at the center of this winding story, and why Lewis was first interested in observing him. Then, he unpacks Bankman-Fried’s belief in effective altruism, his probabilistic approach to trading, and how his Stanford law professor parents shaped his thinking. On the back-half, we discuss the ten-day period of FTX’s collapse, the scene in the Bahamas as Bankman-Fried filed for bankruptcy, and why Lewis felt a kinship with Sam’s parents in that moment. To close, Michael reflects on his own journalistic tendencies and how he managed to write this book in the aftermath of great personal tragedy. For thoughts, reflections, and guest suggestions, drop Sam a line at sf@talkeasypod.com. See omnystudio.com/listener https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Lidia Jean Kott talks to journalist Elizabeth Lopatto about what it was like to cover the trial, the similarities it shared with Elizabeth Holmes’ trial, and what this all says about millennials, fraud, and the future of the tech industry. This conversation was recorded on November 13. Questions for Michael? Submit them by clicking the link in our show notes or visiting atrpodcast.com https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/against-the-rules To access bonus episodes, and to listen to all of our coverage ad-free, sign up for Pushkin plus on the Against The Rules show page in Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/against-the-rules-with-michael-lewis-the-trial/id1455379351 or at Pushkin.fm/plus https://www.pushkin.fm/join-pushkin. See omnystudio.com/listener https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today on Other People's Pockets https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/other-peoples-pockets/id1655009015, you're going to hear what it's like to receive financial planning advice, and the person receiving the advice is... host Maya Lau! Her income, savings, and retirement goals will get scrutinized by Isabel Barrow, director of financial planning at Edelman Financial Engines and frequent guest on the podcast Everyday Wealth, along with Jean Chatzky, financial journalist and bestselling New York Times author who is also the host of Everyday Wealth. This special episode of Other People's Pockets was produced with support from the Everyday Wealth podcast. See omnystudio.com/listener https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It's all over. Sam Bankman-Fried was found guilty on all seven counts. But what now? Michael Lewis, Lidia Jean Kott, and Judging Sam’s legal expert, O’Melveny defense attorney Rebecca Mermelstein, reflect on the outcome and look ahead to sentencing, SBF's other legal troubles, and the fate of the cooperating witnesses. This conversation was recorded on November 7. Questions for Michael? Submit them by clicking the link in our show notes or visiting atrpodcast.com https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/against-the-rules To access bonus episodes, and to listen to all of our coverage ad-free, sign up for Pushkin plus on the Against The Rules show page in Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/against-the-rules-with-michael-lewis-the-trial/id1455379351 or at Pushkin.fm/plus https://www.pushkin.fm/join-pushkin. See omnystudio.com/listener https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The jury, after about 4 and a half hours of deliberation, has delivered its verdict – guilty on all seven counts. Lidia Jean Kott was in the courtroom when it happened. Her conversation with financial reporter Jacob Goldstein was recorded on November 2. Questions for Michael? Submit them by clicking the link in our show notes or visiting atrpodcast.com https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/against-the-rules To access bonus episodes, and to listen to all of our coverage ad-free, sign up for Pushkin plus on the Against The Rules show page in Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/against-the-rules-with-michael-lewis-the-trial/id1455379351 or at Pushkin.fm/plus https://www.pushkin.fm/join-pushkin. See omnystudio.com/listener https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It’s nearly time for the jury to begin their deliberations. They’ll file into a backroom at the courthouse, and SBF’s fate will be in their hands. But what goes on behind those doors? How will the jury get to its verdict? Trial consultant Ellen Leggett returns to the show to talk through the process with Lidia Jean Kott. This conversation was recorded on October 27 and updated on November 1. Questions for Michael? Submit them by clicking the link in our show notes or visiting atrpodcast.com https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/against-the-rules To access bonus episodes, and to listen to all of our coverage ad-free, sign up for Pushkin plus on the Against The Rules show page in Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/against-the-rules-with-michael-lewis-the-trial/id1455379351 or at Pushkin.fm/plus https://www.pushkin.fm/join-pushkin. See omnystudio.com/listener https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We're finally in the home stretch. Today the prosecution finished their cross examination of Sam Bankman-Fried, the defense followed up with a redirect, and then both sides rested. It’s Michael’s last day at court, but Lidia Jean will attend until the bitter end. They sit down to talk through the trial day’s events. This conversation was recorded on October 31. Questions for Michael? Submit them by clicking the link in our show notes or visiting atrpodcast.com https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/against-the-rules To access bonus episodes, and to listen to all of our coverage ad-free, sign up for Pushkin plus on the Against The Rules show page in Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/against-the-rules-with-michael-lewis-the-trial/id1455379351 or at Pushkin.fm/plus https://www.pushkin.fm/join-pushkin. See omnystudio.com/listener https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sam Bankman-Fried finishes direct and faces withering cross-examination by the government’s chief prosecutor, Danielle Sassoon. Michael Lewis and Lidia Jean Kott share notes during lunch, then Lidia Jean sits down with Pushkin financial reporter and host Jacob Goldstein to talk through the day’s events. This conversation was recorded on October 30. Questions for Michael? Submit them by clicking the link in our show notes or visiting atrpodcast.com https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/against-the-rules To access bonus episodes, and to listen to all of our coverage ad-free, sign up for Pushkin plus on the Against The Rules show page in Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/against-the-rules-with-michael-lewis-the-trial/id1455379351 or at Pushkin.fm/plus https://www.pushkin.fm/join-pushkin. See omnystudio.com/listener https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The day is finally upon us: Sam Bankman-Fried takes the stand. Michael Lewis and Lidia Jean meet up after a long day in court and discuss everything that went down. This conversation was recorded on October 27. Questions for Michael? Submit them by clicking the link in our show notes or visiting atrpodcast.com https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/against-the-rules To access bonus episodes, and to listen to all of our coverage ad-free, sign up for Pushkin plus on the Against The Rules show page in Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/against-the-rules-with-michael-lewis-the-trial/id1455379351 or at Pushkin.fm/plus https://www.pushkin.fm/join-pushkin. See omnystudio.com/listener https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Michael Lewis finishes his book tour and joins Lidia Jean Kott in court. His timing, as usual, is impeccable. The government rests its case. And then, everyone thinks Sam Bankman-Fried will take the stand. Instead, in a surprise twist, Judge Kaplan sends the jury home. LJ and Michael meet up on the courthouse steps to talk through the day’s events. This conversation was recorded on October 26. Questions for Michael? Submit them by clicking the link in our show notes or visiting atrpodcast.com https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/against-the-rules To access bonus episodes, and to listen to all of our coverage ad-free, sign up for Pushkin plus on the Against The Rules show page in Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/against-the-rules-with-michael-lewis-the-trial/id1455379351 or at Pushkin.fm/plus https://www.pushkin.fm/join-pushkin. See omnystudio.com/listener https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
After a few days off, the trial resumes tomorrow, October 26. The prosecution has said they will likely be ready to rest their case by midday. Michael Lewis, Lidia Jean Kott and Rebecca Mermelstein, a partner at the law firm O’Melveny & Myers, sit down to analyze the prosecution’s case and talk about what might happen next, including the possibility of Sam Bankman-Fried taking the stand. This conversation was recorded on October 23. Questions for Michael? Submit them by clicking the link in our show notes or visiting atrpodcast.com https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/against-the-rules To access bonus episodes, and to listen to all of our coverage ad-free, sign up for Pushkin plus on the Against The Rules show page in Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/against-the-rules-with-michael-lewis-the-trial/id1455379351 or at Pushkin.fm/plus https://www.pushkin.fm/join-pushkin. See omnystudio.com/listener https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Voices of the victims of Sam Bankman-Fried’s alleged crimes have been few and far between during the prosecution’s presentation of its case. On today’s show, Lidia Jean Kott sits down with Jake Thacker, a tech worker from Portland, Oregon who borrowed money to bet big on FTX, only to be left holding the bag. He says he’s now bankrupt and unsure whether he’ll be able to keep his home. Questions for Michael? Submit them by clicking the link in our show notes or visiting atrpodcast.com https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/against-the-rules To access bonus episodes, and to listen to all of our coverage ad-free, sign up for Pushkin plus on the Against The Rules show page in Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/against-the-rules-with-michael-lewis-the-trial/id1455379351 or at Pushkin.fm/plus https://www.pushkin.fm/join-pushkin. See omnystudio.com/listener https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Another week come and gone, and like everything SBF, it wasn’t without a healthy dose of drama. Lidia Jean Kott catches Michael Lewis and Jacob Goldstein up on all that has gone down. This conversation was recorded on the evening of October 19. Questions for Michael? Submit them by clicking the link in our show notes or visiting atrpodcast.com https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/against-the-rules To access bonus episodes, and to listen to all of our coverage ad-free, sign up for Pushkin plus on the Against The Rules show page in Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/against-the-rules-with-michael-lewis-the-trial/id1455379351 or at Pushkin.fm/plus https://www.pushkin.fm/join-pushkin. See omnystudio.com/listener https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
When nerdy gamer Sam Bankman-Fried rocketed to fame as the world’s richest 29-year-old, he pledged to donate his billions to good causes. But when Sam's crypto exchange FTX collapsed, billions of dollars went missing, and Sam was in handcuffs, those who knew him were left wondering — who was Sam really? A well-meaning billionaire who made a mistake? Or a calculated con man? From Wondery and Bloomberg, the makers of The Shrink Next Door, comes a new story of incredible wealth, betrayal, and what happens when “doing good” goes really, really, bad. Binge all episodes of Spellcaster ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts. Listen to Spellcaster https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spellcaster-the-fall-of-sam-bankman-fried/id1685258534. See omnystudio.com/listener https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today on the show, Michael talks with Matt Levine, business columnist at Bloomberg News and author of the newsletter “Money Stuff.” Matt knows more about how crypto markets work than just about anyone else. And also about how they don’t work. Like when there’s a more than eight billion dollar hole nobody seems to have been able to fill. Matt and Michael talk trial, SBF and FTX. This conversation was recorded at 2pm on October 17. Questions for Michael? Submit them by clicking the link in our show notes or visiting atrpodcast.com https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/against-the-rules See omnystudio.com/listener https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It was supposed to be a quiet Monday in court, but it turned out to be everything but. Nishad Singh, a former top executive at FTX, and a close personal friend of the Bankman-Fried family took the stand. Lidia Jean calls Michael Lewis from court during her lunch break to get his take on Singh, and updates us with the latest as the SBF trial enters its third week. This conversation was recorded on the evening of October 16. Questions for Michael? Submit them by clicking the link in our show notes or visiting atrpodcast.com https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/against-the-rules To access bonus episodes, and to listen to all of our coverage ad-free, sign up for Pushkin plus on the Against The Rules show page in Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/against-the-rules-with-michael-lewis-the-trial/id1455379351 or at Pushkin.fm/plus https://www.pushkin.fm/join-pushkin. See omnystudio.com/listener https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Week 2 of Sam Bankman-Fried’s trial is in the books. The prosecution has called witnesses, including star witness Caroline Ellison, and the defense has cross-examined. There have been dramatic, emotional moments, a secret recording and laughter in the overflow rooms. Lidia Jean has been in court, and Michael has been on book tour. In this episode they catch each other up. Michael is curious how the characters he got to know while reporting his book have come off in court. This conversation was recorded on October 14. Questions for Michael? Submit them by clicking the link in our show notes or visiting atrpodcast.com https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/against-the-rules To access bonus episodes, and to listen to all of our coverage ad-free, sign up for Pushkin plus on the Against The Rules show page in Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/against-the-rules-with-michael-lewis-the-trial/id1455379351 or at Pushkin.fm/plus https://www.pushkin.fm/join-pushkin. See omnystudio.com/listener https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Caroline Ellison, former co-CEO of Alameda Research and Sam Bankman-Fried’s ex-girlfriend, spent 3 days on the stand this week. Ellison recently pled guilty to financial fraud, and is cooperating with the prosecution. In this episode Lidia Jean Kott discusses Caroline’s testimony with Jacob Goldstein, financial reporter and author of the book Money. This conversation was recorded in the evening on October 12. Questions for Michael? Submit them by clicking the link in our show notes or visiting atrpodcast.com https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/against-the-rules To access bonus episodes, and to listen to all of our coverage ad-free, sign up for Pushkin plus on the Against The Rules show page in Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/against-the-rules-with-michael-lewis-the-trial/id1455379351 or at Pushkin.fm/plus https://www.pushkin.fm/join-pushkin. See omnystudio.com/listener https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Caroline Ellison, former co-CEO of Alameda Research and Sam Bankman-Fried’s ex-girlfriend, takes the stand and has a lot to say. Ellison recently pled guilty to financial fraud, and is cooperating with the prosecution. In this episode Lidia Jean Kott discusses what came up on Day 1 of Caroline’s testimony with Jacob Goldstein, financial reporter and author of the book Money. This conversation was recorded in the evening on October 10. Questions for Michael? Submit them by clicking the link in our show notes or visiting atrpodcast.com https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/against-the-rules To access bonus episodes, and to listen to all of our coverage ad-free, sign up for Pushkin plus on the Against The Rules show page in Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/against-the-rules-with-michael-lewis-the-trial/id1455379351 or at Pushkin.fm/plus https://www.pushkin.fm/join-pushkin. See omnystudio.com/listener https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Week 1 of Sam Bankman-Fried’s trial is in the books. The jury is seated, opening statements have been given, and witnesses are taking the stand. Lidia Jean has been in court, and Michael has been on book tour. In this episode they catch each other up. Michael wants to know what it’s like inside the courtroom, and Lidia Jean is curious about what new information Michael is learning. This conversation was recorded on October 7. Questions for Michael? Submit them by clicking the link in our show notes or visiting atrpodcast.com https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/against-the-rules To listen to all of our coverage ad-free, sign up for Pushkin plus on the Against The Rules show page in Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/against-the-rules-with-michael-lewis/id1455379351 or at Pushkin.fm/plus http://pushkin.fm/plus See omnystudio.com/listener https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
SBF’s trial has been on for three days, and a lot has happened: jury selection, opening statements, and the first witnesses. Pushkin co-founder Jacob Weisberg sits down with reporter Lidia Jean Kott and Rebecca Mermelstein, a partner at the law firm O’Melveny and Myers, to talk about what’s happened in court so far. This conversation was recorded on October 5 at 3 pm ET. Questions for Michael? Submit them by clicking the link in our show notes or visiting atrpodcast.com https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/against-the-rules To listen to all of our coverage ad-free, sign up for Pushkin plus on the Against The Rules show page in Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/against-the-rules-with-michael-lewis/id1455379351 or at Pushkin.fm/plus http://pushkin.fm/plus See omnystudio.com/listener https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The trial of former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried got underway yesterday in the Southern District of New York. First order of business? Empanelling a jury. Reporter Lidia Jean Kott was there. To get more insight into how jury selection works, Lidia Jean sat down with trial consultant Ellen Leggett. Their episode was recorded on October 2 at 6pm ET, with an update after court on October 3. Questions for Michael? Submit them by clicking the link in our show notes or visiting atrpodcast.com https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/against-the-rules To listen to all of our coverage ad-free, sign up for Pushkin plus on the Against The Rules show page in Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/against-the-rules-with-michael-lewis/id1455379351 or at Pushkin.fm/plus http://pushkin.fm/plus See omnystudio.com/listener https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Open-source innovation is the future of AI. In this episode of , Malcolm Gladwell and Tim Harford discuss the open-source AI community with Jeff Boudier, head of product and growth at Hugging Face. They chat about the history and future of open-source AI, its critical importance to AI progress, the IBM watsonx partnership with Hugging Face, and how businesses can leverage open-source AI for their specific needs. Visit us at: https://www.ibm.com/smarttalks/ https://www.ibm.com/thought-leadership/smart/talks/ Learn more about the Hugging Face partnership: https://newsroom.ibm.com/2023-08-24-IBM-to-Participate-in-235M-Series-D-Funding-Round-of-Hugging-Face Learn more about the Google DeepMind paper referenced in this episode: https://proceedings.neurips.cc/paper_files/paper/2017/file/3f5ee243547dee91fbd053c1c4a845aa-Paper.pdf This is a paid advertisement from IBM. See omnystudio.com/listener https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sam Bankman-Fried's trial starts today in the formidable Southern District of New York, with Judge Lewis A. Kaplan presiding. If convicted, the former multi-billionaire and CEO of crypto exchange FTX could spend the rest of his life behind bars. In this episode, Michael talks with court reporter and producer Lidia Jean Kott and former Southern District of New York prosecutor Rebecca Mermelstein, now a defense attorney with O'Melveny and Myers, about the charges against Sam and what we might expect as the trial gets underway. Questions for Michael? Submit them by clicking the link in our show notes or visiting atrpodcast.com https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/against-the-rules This conversation was recorded on September 26th. For a weekly bonus episode, and to listen to all of our coverage ad-free, sign up for Pushkin plus on the Against The Rules show page in Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/against-the-rules-with-michael-lewis/id1455379351 or at Pushkin.fm/plus https://www.pushkin.fm/join-pushkin See omnystudio.com/listener https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
