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10 Years of Acquired (with Michael Lewis)

Overview

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Highlights

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10 Years of Acquired (with Michael Lewis)

Acquired

3 DAYS AGO
Acquired

Acquired

3 DAYS AGO
OverviewShownoteHighlightsTranscriptChaptersPins

Shownote

Why has Acquired — seemingly against all odds — “worked”? It's a puzzling question: episodes are four hours long, they come out infrequently, and they usually don’t have guests or video. Hardly the standard-issue playbook for podcasting success! And yet we...

Highlights

What makes a podcast succeed when it defies every modern content rule? Acquired, with its marathon episodes and minimal output, has built a devoted global audience not by chasing trends but by embracing depth, trust, and intellectual joy. In this special anniversary episode, the hosts welcome acclaimed author Michael Lewis—not as a guest in the traditional sense, but as a curious observer trying to unravel the show’s improbable magic. Recorded at the birthplace of Google, the conversation becomes a reflective journey into how authenticity, scarcity, and long-term thinking can create something enduring in an age of noise.
02:52
The podcast’s deep, research-driven storytelling feels like academic work.
20:33
Warren Buffett tracked Michael Lewis's trades and respected his decision to sell shares for charity.
32:49
Great Acquired episodes feature a hero's journey, a hidden secret, and global importance.
40:48
After the market reset, we felt confident in our path by not chasing easy money.
51:31
Jensen Huang reached out to verify their sources after an accurate NVIDIA episode.
1:00:39
Hamilton Helmer's 'Seven Powers' provides a strategic lens for understanding business durability.
1:13:34
Editing takes about three days per cycle, usually two cycles to finalize.
1:23:12
They added an investment fund and have invested in five private-company sponsors.
1:28:09
Not all dollars are created equal—pursue only projects expected to be great.
1:40:50
If one of us is passionate about an episode, it's worth doing.
1:50:34
Costco's low SKU count drives faster inventory turnover and stronger vendor relationships.
1:58:37
Acquired helps be a better investor by studying mature businesses
2:18:20
The likely reason for Acquired to fail is losing delight in new discoveries

Chapters

How did a chance encounter at Google Camp spark a deeper inquiry into podcasting success?
00:00
What happens when you apply Buffett-style patience and craftsmanship to content creation?
15:34
Why does trusting your audience matter more than chasing viral topics?
25:19
How did moving beyond acquisitions transform the show’s storytelling power?
35:27
What does it take to uncover the truth behind iconic companies—and admit when you’re wrong?
46:27
Can a single framework reveal the hidden engines of durable businesses?
58:11
What are the invisible hours behind turning raw conversation into compelling narrative?
1:03:18
How do you build a business model where sponsors feel like partners, not interruptions?
1:15:46
Why saying no to growth might be the most powerful creative decision?
1:28:09
Where does stored potential energy lie in great companies—and great podcasts?
1:33:06
What can Costco and TSMC teach us about staying focused and shipping excellence?
1:45:51
How does studying giants make you better at spotting opportunity—even in silence?
1:55:49
What really sustains a podcast for ten years when everything else fades?
2:01:05

Transcript

Ben Gilbert: Happy 10 years. David Rosenthal: Happy 10 year anniversary, Ben. Ben Gilbert: It's crazy. It's been 10 years, I know. David Rosenthal: Here we are. Brought you down here to Silicon Valley to record our 10 year anniversary holiday special he...