Six years ago we launched the Powderkeg Podcast Igniting Startups. We were featured in top publications like Entrepreneur and Forbes. Since 2017 we have interviewed over 100 execs at dynamic tech companies beyond Silicon Valley. 

We are excited to bring this Podcast back in a way that honors both the Powderkeg community and the amazing growth that we have seen in the Unvalley community over the last several years.
 
In Episode 0 we are going to catch you up on what we’ve been up to for the last two years.

#0 UNVALLEY: New Podcast Launch | How and Why We’re Relaunching the Podcast

Gary Vaynerchuk (Gary Vee) shouldn’t need an introduction. Revered as the king of content, he has an uncanny ability to spot trends in the market and skate to where the puck is going. Gary has his finger on the pulse of consumers and is one of the most forward-thinking voices in business today. He is also a prolific angel investor. His portfolio is bolstered by early positions in Facebook, Uber, Twitter, Coinbase, and his own NFT project VeeFriends.

Mickey Cloud is the Executive Director of The Sasha Group. A VaynerX company based in Chattanooga Tennessee. Mickey works with some of the biggest brands around the world helping them turn business objectives into actionable marketing plans. 

In Episode 1 we hear Gary’s thoughts on the Unvalley and his approach to building a company with a dispersed team.


#1 Gary Vee: The Unvalley “Golden Era” | Business Opportunity Beyond Silicon Valley

Arlan is the Founder and Managing Partner of Backstage Capital, a venture capital firm dedicated to minimizing funding disparities in tech by investing in high-potential founders who are people of color, women, and/or LGBTQ. Backstage has raised tens of millions of dollars, invested in 200 startups led by underestimated founders, and has been featured in Forbes, Fortune, Wall Street Journal, CNN Money, Inc., Entrepreneur, and Quartz. Arlan also founded Runner, a talent operations startup that connects outstanding operations talent with inclusive companies. She also published It’s About Damn Time, her book detailing her journey from homelessness to venture capital. In today’s episode of Unvalley you’ll hear Arlan’s incredible story and learn some of her best strategies that have helped her succeed in venture capital, startups, and tech, despite enormous challenges.

#2 Arlan Hamilton: How to Break Into Tech and Build Wealth with Startup Investing

Sam Parr retired with over $20 Million by age 31, just a few years after losing his job offer at AirBNB. In this interview, Sam goes deep into his journey to share his biggest lessons learned while creating an impressive career and company. 

Parr is the founder of The Hustle, a daily newsletter providing an entertaining delivery of the latest news in business and tech. He was born in Missouri, grew up in Tennessee, and moved to San Francisco after graduating from college. His media company The Hustle was acquired by Hubspot in 2021 for a reported $25-30 million dollars. 

In today’s episode of UNVALLEY with Sam Parr you’ll learn:

7:30 Which Midwest values lay the foundation for Sam’s successful career in tech
14:05 The simple writing technique that helped Sam create enormous opportunities in his career
28:30 How to optimize your career for success, even if you don’t have money or connections
42:30 Why Sam is investing in real estate in Unvalley tech hubs like Austin 

UNVALLEY is the show for tech leaders that want to unlock their full potential and connect with the biggest opportunities in tech beyond Silicon Valley. UNVALLEY is brought to you by Powderkeg — the only private member network focused on supporting tech companies and leaders in fast-growing communities beyond Silicon Valley. Join the community at Powderkeg.com.

#3 Sam Parr: From The Heartland to The Hustle | The Art of Business & Building a Network

This tranquil ambient track is sparse but vast easily blended with themes of technology, science, medicine and the future. With its reverb-drenched synth pads, looming drone and arpeggiator, this track ebbs and flows, keeping a steady pulse and evoking confidence and positive outcomes. Its ambiance is excellent for medical, tech, corporate videos, scientific-based podcasts, drone shots, exploration, docu-biographies, and travel.

For licensing, contact
https://www.Shockwave-Sound.com
https://www.LynnePublishing.com



Forensics & Investigation, Vol. 5

Buy/License

John Starcluster - 4D Science

(Verse 1)
In the glow of the screen, where the future is bright,
A shadow is cast in the cold factory light.
They whisper of progress, of a world redefined,
But the hands that build it are shackled, confined.

(Pre-Chorus)
Oh, the algorithms hum, but the workers don’t sing,
In the mines of the earth, where the cobalt veins sting.
The AI learns fast, but the cost is so slow,
A debt paid in sweat, where the rivers don’t flow.

(Chorus)
Silicon chains, in the land of the free,
Built on the backs of the unseen, the unpaid, the weary.
From the cloud to the code, to the blood in the ground,
The future’s a dream, but the present’s a wound.

(Verse 2)
They say it’s a marvel, this machine with a mind,
But the truth’s in the labor it leaves far behind.
In the factories where children are breaking their bones,
For a world that consumes while it deafens their groans.

(Pre-Chorus)
Oh, the data flows free, but the wages don’t rise,
In the sweatshops of progress, where the hope slowly dies.
The AI grows wise, but the workers grow thin,
A cycle of silence, where no one can win.

(Chorus)
Silicon chains, in the land of the free,
Built on the backs of the unseen, the unpaid, the weary.
From the cloud to the code, to the blood in the ground,
The future’s a dream, but the present’s a wound.

(Bridge)
Can you hear the echo, the cry in the wire?
The cost of convenience, the spark in the fire.
We’re trading our souls for a digital crown,
But the weight of the world is still pressing us down.

(Verse 3)
So what is the answer, when the system’s designed,
To keep us divided, to keep us confined?
Will we rise for the workers, will we break through the veil,
Or will we keep building this dystopian tale?

(Outro)
Silicon chains, they may bind us for now,
But the future’s unwritten, the time’s ticking loud.
From the code to the hands, to the hearts that still bleed,
The change starts with us, in the choices we seed.

(Final Chorus)
Silicon chains, in the land of the free,
We’ll break every link, for the unseen, the weary.
From the cloud to the code, to the blood in the ground,
The future’s a dream, and we’ll turn it around.

Silicon Chains

While some vegans can be really annoying, others can be brazenly homicidal. Dee and Kate explore the Zizians, an anarcho vegan cultlike group, allegedly involved in six violent deaths across three states. Listener calls in about a fecal mishap from the college days. Sign up for the Sick and Wrong Patreon to hear the Second Show, SW archives, and the bonus minisode Serial Killer Star Signs.

S&W Episode 991: Vegan Trans Death Cult

Veteran and entrepreneur Chad Grills of National Capital League discusses his experience with Big Tech and how building anything meaningful and lasting will likely not come out of Silicon Valley or places like California. He explains how Silicon Valley was seeded by DOD, the Intelligence Community, and DARPA. The culture of Silicon Valley and most major cities will not allow anything original or good for humanity to emerge. He argues we have neither communism nor capitalism, but a monopolistic system that keeps the little guy out. He stresses a need for better governance, creating good culture, maintaining personal integrity, and is optimistic about the ability of America to reinvent itself.

*Support Geopolitics & Empire!
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Websites
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Short Stories: Veterans after War https://www.amazon.com/Short-Stories-Veterans-after-War-ebook/dp/B0127DN39M
Dustin Chambers: DOGE & America’s Chance to Cut the Government Down to Size https://geopoliticsandempire.com/2025/01/02/dustin-chambers-doge-americas-chance-to-cut-the-government-down-to-size

About Chad Grills
Chad is the former founder and CEO of a company backed by Founders Fund and Sequoia.

His previous clients include companies like: Salesforce (6x business units), Dell, Splunk, Twilio, and Government entities like Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

He was selected “Best of Year” by Apple for two podcasts he hosted. He has spoken at places like the Defense Foreign Language Institute, Coast Guard Academy, Salesforce World Tour, and the Spartan Up Podcast.

He’s a U.S. Army veteran with deployments to Iraq, Egypt, and has provided security for the 56th Presidential Inauguration.

He’s the author of three books. His upcoming book is on the Texas Miracle and the economic destiny of Texas.

He founded the National Capital League as a studios and labs to build media and technology products.

*Podcast intro music is from the song "The Queens Jig" by "Musicke & Mirth" from their album "Music for Two Lyra Viols": http://musicke-mirth.de/en/recordings.html (available on iTunes or Amazon)

Chad Grills: Is a 'Golden Age' Possible for America? #537

TM Studios' Wide Open Country re-sings for the country hour special on Sunny FM.
Voice Imaging: Kyla Carrier & Deron Fahlman
Weather VT: Yours truly

Sunny FM Feel-Good Country Hour Jingles

Georgian journalist Natalia Antelava worked at the BBC for nearly ten years. But she grew tired of producing stories without deeper context. She wanted to pursue journalism that truly focused on why and how things happen. That’s why, in 2015, she co-founded the online platform “Coda Story”. Reporting and storytelling that uncover and explore the root causes of global change form the core approach of her media outlet.

One of the current focuses of Coda’s journalists is Big Tech, Silicon Valley, and its cult-like status in today’s world. Natalia Antelava points to the unhealthy relationship between the media and tech giants. She draws an analogy with personal relationships — when someone realizes they’ve ended up in bed with the wrong guy, and he’s there not for love, but for self-interest. That’s why she urges media outlets not to accept funding from tech giants and to publish more independent stories about them. Silicon Valley, she says, promotes the idea that technological progress is the only kind of progress — pushing humanity out of the equation. At the same time, tech leaders have become some of the most powerful global players. Often, they are willing to align themselves with populist politicians and go against the foundational principles around which societal consensus once existed — both globally and within individual countries.

Journalist Angelina Kariakina speaks with Natalia Antelava about the cult of Big Tech and its transformation into a new religion, her disillusionment with the media industry and passion for journalism, information noise and CNN’s role in it, Coda’s impact, and the value of freedom for Georgians.

Do you like our podcast? Support the Public Interest Journalism Lab with a Donation
https://www.journlab.online/donations


Natalia Antelava — on the Cult of Technology and the Role of Journalists in the Digital World

On a quiet Thursday evening in May, the Mission College Symphony, driven by a group of passionated Silicon Valley volunteer musicians, took on Beethoven's 7th Symphony from a gloriously resonating Mission Santa Clara. It was also a time for good bye, a place for hello, and a moment for the OGs to gather. 

Beethoven 7th - movement 4 - proc

Tim and Ted celebrate their 180th episode by denouncing everything they've ever done before and throwing all their energy into their new project: founding their new company/app/invention that is going to change the world of tep, starting with coming up with an idea for what to found.

Support Tep Talk: www.Patreon.com/TechTalkPod

180. The Founders

Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering, and Alan Dye, Apple’s vice president of Human Interface Design, are two of the most influential creative and technological leaders shaping how we experience the digital world. Together, they represent the rare combination of engineering and design at its highest level, shaping how Apple products feel and behave. They join live at the Apple Headquarters to discuss the much anticipated launch of iOS 26.

Craig Federighi and Alan Dye

As AI begins to fundamentally alter our lives, we're in urgent need of expert voices who both understand how the technology works and are capable of scrutinising its effects. In her new book, Empire of AI, tech reporter and former Silicon Valley engineer Karen Hao debunks the myths that surround AI and exposes the true costs of this global industry. She speaks to Aaron about Sam Altman’s origin story, the traumatising nature of content moderation work, and the striking similarities between Open AI and the British East India Company.

Help us build people-powered media: https://novara.media/support

Downstream: Exposing The True Costs of AI w/ Karen Hao

Palantir has emerged over the decade as a unicorn in the defense and national security space, leveraging its innovative roots to disrupt the legacy defense industrial base. As CTO and employee #13, Shyam Sankar has helped transform and scale Palantir from a Silicon Valley startup to a global leader in AI and data analytics software. Sankar joins CTRL + ALT + DEFENSE to share his vision for Palantir as it continues to cement itself as leader in the American national security space, his thoughts for how the Pentagon can continue to evolve to rapidly adopt technology at scale, what his new role as a member of the Army's Detachment 201 will entail, and much more.

Shyam Sankar: Inside Palantir's Vision to Transform U.S. Defense

#SWISS climate researcher Sonia Seneviratne awarded German Environmental Prize 2025

Here’s a summary I generated w/ GEMINI of her work on how dry soil affects large-scale climate

mp3 [3Mb] http://www.picture-poems.com/mp3/From_Swiss_Soil_to_Oregon_Fields.mp3

TEXT (German) http://www.picture-poems.com/pdfs/Prof.%20Dr.%20Sonia%20Seneviratne.pdf

The catastrophic political influence of #AI caused by the new techno billionaire Anti-Christ culture of Silicon Valley is a tragic corruption of AI’s scientific potential.

This report was generated
w/ #GEMINI. It’s not bad.
Musically, the rhythm of the
duo counterpoint is remarkable.

#ClimateBREAKDOWN

IMAGE: CAMAS Overlook at 1300m South WALLOWAS, a landscape under profound threat from a HOTTER DRIER climate. To understand the changes unfolding before our eyes, we need to monitor with great care the seasonal changes of soil moisture content. Both their rhythm, and how they are being affected by rising temperatures.

The Soil ECOLOGY of a HOTTER DRIER climate: The work of Swiss researcher, Dr. Sonia Seneviratne

We are NOIR GRIS GRIS, a music band of Fred STZ (composer) and Kipanga Cha Radi (lead vocal), passionate about pop music, world music and rock. Our music reflects the world before our eyes—its shades of beauty, pain, tenderness, and cruelty. We believe in music without borders, open to all influences from around the world. Join us for a unique and authentic musical journey!

Broadcast music composer, internet radio host, physical security subject matter expert, friend. 

Coming August 4: CTRL + ALT + DEFENSE podcast hosted by Billy Mitchell and Meagan Metzger! 
A raw, unfiltered new podcast from DefenseScoop and Dcode, exploring how cutting-edge technology, institutional barriers, and evolving national security priorities collide in today’s defense landscape.


CTRL + ALT + DEFENSE features candid conversations with leaders across defense, tech, venture capital, and policy—bringing forward diverse perspectives on the future of defense innovation.


From the front lines of government to the forefront of technology, this series examines the challenges and breakthroughs shaping tomorrow’s mission-critical decisions—with no spin, no agenda, and no filter.
⁠Stay tuned. ⁠


Follow DefenseScoop on Social Media 
• https://www.twitter.com/DefenseScoop
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/defensescoop
• https://www.facebook.com/DefenseScoop/
• https://www.instagram.com/defensescoop/
• https://www.threads.net/@defensescoop
• https://www.youtube.com/@defensescoop
• https://bsky.app/profile/defensescoop.bsky.social
• https://www.tiktok.com/@defensescoopnews


About DefenseScoop 
DefenseScoop is the premier community-driven news source dedicated to the U.S. military’s acquisition, development and use of technology as a force for modern defense. As the Department of Defense moves in the direction of Joint All Domain Command and Control and other initiatives to connect the joint force and fight future battles, DefenseScoop will deliver the latest insights, trends and analysis on this pivotal transformation and engage Pentagon and service senior leaders to discuss ways technology can be a central fixture in our nation’s ability to understand threats, make decisions and take action in a rapid manner. ⁠https://defensescoop.com/about/

The Geopolitics & Empire Podcast conducts interviews with prominent international experts on a wide-range of topics.

Past guests have included diplomats, government officials, whistleblowers, soldiers, spies, economists, academics, scientists, wealthy investors, dissidents, journalists, and musicians.

The broadcast seeks to gain insight from guests who come from the left, right, and beyond. It should go without saying that the host does not always agree with beliefs espoused by podcast invitees, but maintains an open mind, and believes it important to respectfully listen to a multitude of voices and let listeners come to their own conclusions.

*Music used in podcast intro is from the song "The Queens Jig" by "Musicke & Mirth" from their album "Music for Two Lyra Viols": http://musicke-mirth.de/en/recordings.html (available on iTunes or Amazon)

Composer. Writer. Photographer. Former conductor & founder of the ASKO ensemble.

On a bike/ski/hike trek of the Pacific Northwest studying native plants & climate breakdown 🌲 from sagebrush sea to whitebark pine. Composing off-grid the whole way.

#Sun2Sound 🌕 on Bluesky

THINKING LIKE A STONEPINE, a soundpoem manifesto https://vimeo.com/844665859

“LOVE & WATER, three thought poems w/ coda, PHAROS for small orchestra, “Nightwind”” https://vimeo.com/847079690 

CURRENTLY on mt bike/ski/climbing trek through Pacific Northwest, working on a photobook about WHITEBARK PINE COLLAPSE and CLIMATE CRISIS. BASES in the WALLOWAS | AMSTERDAM | ALPS. 

WEEKLY photo/poetry updates at www.picture-poems.com & THE CIRCLE IN THE SQUARE new music, poetry & dance performance project at www.cs-music.com

ALWAYS ON THE LOOKOUT for progressive, tech-savy, instrumental virtuosi interested in dialogue & collaborative undertakings.

CONTACT cliff@picture-opoems.com
Or on SKYPE or FACETIME @cliffcrego

MUSIC? The one thing humans do,
that makes the rest of nature jealous.

Lynne Publishing is a music label representing a library of high-quality, carefully developed and curated production music, available to license for use in your own media.We develop our own music with contracted professional composers, both young and exciting talents and experienced film- and TV composers.

All our music is available for easy licensing for use in media creations, such as videos, films, games, TV, online, social media, corporate use, etc. To obtain a Master Synchronization license for any of music, contact us via www.LynnePublishing.com

Unvalley is the show for leaders who want to unlock their full potential and plug into the biggest opportunities in Tech and Startups beyond Silicon Valley. Unvalley is brought to you by Powderkeg — the only private member network focused on supporting tech companies and leaders in fast-growing communities beyond Silicon Valley.

Design Matters by Debbie Millman features interviews with designers, artists and cultural leaders, including Lawrence Weiner, Barbara Kruger, Malcolm Gladwell, Eric Kandel, Stefan Sagmeister, John Maeda, Jonathan Hoefler and Tobias Frere-Jones, Michael Arad, Milton Glaser, Massimo Vignelli, Paula Scher, Steven Heller, Jonah Lehrer, among others.

In 2011, Design Matters received the People’s Design Award from the prestigious Cooper-Hewitt National Design Awards.

Subscribe to Design Matters for free on iTunes, where new episodes are uploaded weekly: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/design-matters-debbie-millman/id328074695

THE WORLD’S SOURCE FOR ANTI-SOCIAL COMMENTARY

Sick and Wrong is your hearing aid into the dark, depraved, and dripping abscess that is contemporary existence. An enchanting mélange of social criticism, pointed observation, and well-deserved derision; Sick and Wrong is the pepto-bismol for society’s indigestion. In their critically acclaimed weekly podcast, award-winning broadcasters Dee Simon and Lance Wackerle discuss the most vile, disquieting, and oddly amusing news items for your listening pleasure.

“The most foul thing I have ever heard. I can’t believe people listen to this shit.” — Katy Perry

“Sick and Wrong is my new favorite podcast.” — Drew Barrymore

“My mom told me about this podcast.” — Neil Patrick Harris

“These guys have seen Brokeback Mountain one too many times.” — Bruce Campbell

A tech podcast hosted by Tech Tim & Tech Ted, two regular dads who just happen to be experts in the world of tech! Each week, the guys give tips and tricks for fellow tech heads (and tech dads!) and explore exciting news, rumors and even gossip from the world of tech!

New tracks tagged #Silicon Valley