Bethany McLean - Enron, FTX, 2008, Musk, Frauds, & Visionaries

<p>This was one of my favorite episodes ever.</p><p>Bethany McLean was the first reporter to question Enron’s earnings, and she has written some of the best finance books out there. </p><p>We discuss:</p><p>* The astounding similarities between Enron & FTX,</p><p>* How visionaries are just frauds who succeed (and which category describes Elon Musk),</p><p>* What caused 2008, and whether we are headed for a new crisis,</p><p>* Why there’s too many venture capitalists and not enough short sellers,</p><p>* And why history keeps repeating itself.</p><p>McLean is a contributing editor at Vanity Fair (see her articles <a target="_blank" href="https://www.vanityfair.com/contributor/bethany-mclean">here</a>) and the author of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/Smartest-Guys-Room-Amazing-Scandalous/dp/1591840538">The Smartest Guys in the Room</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/All-Devils-Are-Here-Financial/dp/159184438X">All the Devils Are Here</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/Saudi-America-Truth-Fracking-Changing/dp/0999745441">Saudi America</a>, and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/Shaky-Ground-Strange-Mortgage-Giants/dp/0990976300">Shaky Ground</a>.</p><p>Watch on <a target="_blank" href="https://youtu.be/m3oM69YHLeo">YouTube</a>. Listen on <a target="_blank" href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/79idBisQbkXEXD1Al355M2?si=GSNC1WiJTNGrhY19fO2CyQ">Spotify</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bethany-mclean-enron-ftx-2008-musk-frauds-visionaries/id1516093381?i=1000590865940">Apple Podcasts</a>, or your favorite podcast platform.</p><p>Follow <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/bethanymac12">McLean on Twitter</a>. Follow <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/dwarkesh_sp">me on Twitter</a> for updates on future episodes. </p><p><p>If you enjoyed this episode, please share. Helps out a ton.</p></p><p>Timestamps</p><p>(0:04:37) - Is Fraud Over? </p><p>(0:11:22) - Shortage of Shortsellers</p><p>(0:19:03) - Elon Mus