Vitaliy Katsenelson
Life – 2017 Edition – Ep 39
Smoothies, family traditions, and his father's medicine box: this week's episode is a bit different as Vitaliy reflects on the year that lay ahead of him. You can read this article online at:
Tribalism in Investing Might Leave You Broke
People have a tendency to form tribes and stick to the views of that group, even if they don't agree with them. Tribalism can be dangerous in investing, as it can lead to ignoring important facts and evidence. How to avoid this?
Broadening Our Horizons with Complexity
The Santa Fe Institute takes an interdisciplinary approach to research, and is a leader in complexity theory, which looks at the economy as an organic, ever-evolving ecosystem. How can I apply this theory to my own mental models
Tribalism in investing might leave you broke – Ep 38
Humans are tribal. Our tribalism goes back to the age of cavemen. In family, sports, business, and even politics, tribalism makes a degree of sense. But when it comes to investing, tribalism might leave you broke. In this episode, Vitaliy explores the...
Nokia or Samsung? Why a First-Principles Approach Will Be Key for Developing EVs
Tesla created its cars by breaking out of the domain of existing auto manufacturers and thinking from first principles, creating vehicles with fewer parts and a more customer-friendly approach to buying and servicing.
Why We Sold Softbank – Ep 37
"If you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him" – this old Buddhist saying implies that we need to be able to destroy our most cherished beliefs. We can grow only if we are able to reassess our belief system. Softbank has been a very successful...
Why the Survival and Dominance of Car Manufacturers is Far from Certain
Traditional car manufacturers have the advantage of knowledge and experience in manufacturing cars, but can they survive the transition to EV?
Why We Sold Softbank
To understand why we sold it, you need to understand why we bought it.We bought Softbank when it was an unknown company to US investors.
Why we don’t own Tesla stock (and no, we’re not bears) – Ep 36
After writing a 37-page opus on Tesla, Vitaliy is often asked what he thinks of Tesla stock. Although he is a very enthusiastic Model 3 owner, he can equally see both sides of the argument around Tesla as an investment. This makes him neither bullish...
Are Electric Cars Good for the Environment?
Two-thirds of the electricity in the US currently comes from fossil fuels, but electric cars could cut CO2 emissions by over a third.
My Single Greatest Achievement – Ep 35
After dropping off his son Jonah at the airport for a gap year in Israel between high school and college, Vitaliy reads a letter from Jonah and reflects on what success really means. Since we only get a limited amount of time on Planet Earth, what...
Tesla’s Risky Gamble & The Future of Lithium-Ion Batteries
Tesla's batteries are more efficient but more expensive to replace and require more attention to keep them running efficiently.
This Rocky Stock Market Requires an All-Terrain Portfolio – Ep 34
The past decade has been a smooth one for the market, but the road ahead is uncertain. Listen to Vitaliy explain what kind of portfolio is needed to survive whatever the future has in store for us in the upcoming years. You can read this article...
How EV Range Anxiety Will Give Way to an EV-Charging “Gold Rush”
Range anxiety is a real concern for electric vehicle (EV) owners, but it is manageable. Charging with a 110-volt outlet can take three days, but a 220-volt outlet can charge the car in 10 hours. Capitalism will build out the charging infrastructure, creating more charging locations like grocery store parking lots.
My Crash – Ep 33
“You look horrible. You have bags under your eyes; your face has no color. Are you okay?” This is what Vitaliy's stepmother told him last week when he stopped by his parents’ house after work. Vitaliy felt worse than he looked. No, dear...
Why the Gasoline Car to the EV is Like the Horse to the Car
The engine is the most complex and important part of the ICE car, and it is one of the least complex parts of the EV and, perhaps surprisingly, the least important one.
How a Stock Market Turns Investors Into Gamblers – Ep 32
What do a degenerate gambler and a stock market investor have in common? Vitaliy discusses this question, using a real estate example. You can read this article online at:
Is Tesla Theranos or Apple? (Part 2 of “Tesla, Elon Musk, and the EV Revolution”) – Ep 31
In this podcast, Vitaliy further explores Tesla, electric vehicles, and the role Elon Musk plays in the company today and tomorrow. Can traditional auto companies disrupt themselves and catch up to Tesla? Is autopilot really viable? And is Elon Musk a...
The EV Paradigm Shift (Part 1 of “Tesla, Elon Musk, and the EV Revolution”) – Ep 30
You don't fully know a company until you buy its stock. This recently happened to Vitaliy, except he didn't buy a stock, he bought a car: a Tesla. In this episode, Vitaliy takes the listener under the hood of how electric vehicles represent a tectonic...
Tesla, Elon Musk and the EV Revolution
In late June 2019, I bought a Tesla Model 3. Most people would just enjoy driving such a car. Not me – I wrote about it for two or three hours a day.
