The world's completely changing. Young people, including my five kids, are no longer planning on that one-job, one-career trajectory where you start at General Motors or Procter & Gamble and retire 45 years later with a gold watch. Instead, they’re hustling. They're building side hustles, working from home, and finding ways to make money while traveling.

And where do all these opportunities come from? Micha Kaufman, the founder and CEO of Fiverr, joins me today. Fiverr has created millions of jobs and revolutionized the gig economy. It's not just about freelancing—it’s about how you can leverage platforms like Fiverr alongside AI to create opportunities. This conversation could change your life. Let's get into it.

In this episode, James Altucher chats with Micha Kaufman, the visionary founder and CEO of Fiverr. Micha shares how Fiverr reshaped the freelance marketplace by making talent accessible to anyone, anywhere. They discuss how the gig economy has evolved, the role of AI in freelancing, and why adaptability is the key to thriving in the modern workforce. Micha’s insights reveal the strategies that made Fiverr a global platform connecting millions while changing how businesses access talent.

1. How Fiverr revolutionized freelancing by creating a catalog-based marketplace and simplifying the hiring process.
2. The impact of AI on freelancing—how it’s creating new opportunities and enhancing productivity for creatives and businesses alike.
3. The future of the gig economy and why adaptability is crucial in a rapidly evolving job market.
4. Fiverr’s viral growth strategy and what entrepreneurs can learn about building a two-sided marketplace.
5. The role of human creativity in the age of AI, and how freelancers can maintain their edge.

• [01:30] Introduction and Overview of Fiverr
• [03:42] The Birth of Fiverr: Inspiration and Early Challenges
• [05:56] Fiverr’s Unique Approach to Freelancing
• [10:18] The Gig Economy and Fiverr’s Impact
• [13:36] Adapting to Market Needs and Growth
• [20:48] Fiverr’s Viral Growth Strategy
• [25:49] AI’s Impact on Jobs and Services
• [32:23] Freelancers and AI Tools
• [40:46] Fiverr’s Evolution with AI
• [46:16] Going Public: Fiverr’s Journey
• [49:53] Conclusion and Final Thoughts

• Fiverr - Official Website
• The Gig Economy by Diane Mulcahy
• Micha Kaufman on LinkedIn
• James Altucher’s Blog

Eric Jorgenson’s story with Scribe Media is one of the rare second chances in business. In this episode, James sits down with Eric to discuss how he saved Scribe from its dramatic downfall, brought it back to stability, and is leading it into a promising future. Eric shares the inner workings of the acquisition, the lessons learned from Scribe’s collapse, and how the company is redefining professional self-publishing.

Together, they also explore why self-publishing is a vital option for authors, the evolving publishing landscape, and how to create meaningful books in today’s digital age. This episode is packed with actionable insights for authors, entrepreneurs, and anyone interested in the intersection of business and creativity.

1. The Fall and Rise of Scribe Media: What led to Scribe’s bankruptcy and how Eric Jorgenson turned it around.
2. The Future of Publishing: Why self-publishing is more relevant than ever and how it’s empowering authors.
3. Leadership Lessons: Key takeaways from managing a company through crisis and rebuilding trust.
4. The Economics of Books: Why owning your royalties and creative control can make all the difference.
5. Resilience in Business: How to find opportunity in the ashes of a failed venture.

• [01:30] Introduction: James reflects on Scribe Media’s story and his personal connection to the company.
• [03:20] Scribe’s Collapse: What went wrong under JT McCormick’s leadership.
• [09:26] Enter Eric Jorgenson: How Eric got involved with Scribe.
• [17:10] Lessons Learned: Red flags, leadership failures, and rebuilding a company.
• [24:11] Saving Scribe: Eric’s approach to reviving the company and reconnecting with authors.
• [32:14] The Future of Self-Publishing: Why the model works and its growing importance.
• [40:53] AI and Writing: How technology is shaping the future of book creation.
• [50:49] Final Thoughts: The road ahead for Scribe Media and Eric’s vision for the company.

• Eric Jorgenson’s "The Almanack of Naval Ravikant"
• Scribe Media’s Website
• James Altucher’s "Choose Yourself"
• Tucker Max’s Blog on Scribe’s Collapse

Money GPT. I mean, we've all heard about the incredible potential of AI, and I’ve shared my optimism about its future in many episodes. But today, we have Jim Rickards back on the show, and he’s here to offer a more skeptical perspective. You might remember our earlier discussion where Jim laid out a masterclass on the economy, its history, and what might unfold over the next few years. Now, he’s back with insights from his new book, Money GPT, diving into what we should watch out for when it comes to AI and its impact on the economy. Let’s get into this compelling discussion with Jim Rickards.

In this episode, James Altucher welcomes back bestselling author Jim Rickards to discuss his latest book, Money GPT. Jim delves into the transformative power of AI, highlighting both its immense benefits and the potential risks it poses, particularly to the global economy and financial markets. Drawing on his experience building AI models for the CIA, Jim explains how AI is reshaping industries and warns of its unintended consequences. The conversation spans the accelerating role of AI in finance, its vulnerabilities, and its parallels with nuclear decision-making processes. Whether you're optimistic or cautious about AI, this episode will challenge your perspective with fresh insights and historical context.

1. How AI is amplifying financial market volatility and increasing systemic risks.
2. The concept of "cybernetics" as a solution to mitigate market crashes.
3. The differences between AI's success in music and its limitations in writing.
4. Why AI’s self-referential feedback loops could worsen over time.
5. The parallels between AI in finance and its potential misuse in nuclear decision-making.

• [00:01:30] Introduction: Revisiting AI and its role in the economy.
• [00:03:24] The dual nature of AI: Power and risk.
• [00:06:50] GPT breakthroughs and the future of language models.
• [00:11:34] Why AI excels in music but struggles with writing.
• [00:19:46] The rise of passive investing and its dangers.
• [00:23:14] Cybernetics: A strategy to stabilize financial markets.
• [00:39:15] The risks of removing humans from critical decision-making chains.
• [00:47:53] Will AI replace jobs faster than it creates new ones?

• Jim Rickards’ book, Money GPT.
• Related episode: The History and Future of the Economy with Jim Rickards.

A Note from James:

If my kids asked me, "What is the one podcast we should listen to to create financial security, wealth, whatever?"—this is the one I’d recommend. Codie Sanchez is so smart, thoughtful about business, and open about her journey to success, including the failures she's overcome.

Her book, Main Street Millionaire, highlights how the most boring businesses—laundromats, car washes, and other everyday enterprises—are the true wealth creators. Codie shares her strategies for buying these businesses for little to no money down and scaling them for massive success. This episode is packed with actionable insights, so take notes, and if you have questions, hit me up on Twitter. Here’s Codie Sanchez.

Episode Description:

James sits down with Main Street Millionaire author Codie Sanchez to explore the art of building wealth through "boring" businesses. Codie explains why chasing trendy industries like AI and crypto might not be the best path to financial freedom, and instead focuses on buying, scaling, and profiting from existing small businesses. They discuss why these overlooked enterprises can be goldmines and how to find, evaluate, and acquire them—even with minimal upfront capital. This episode is a roadmap for anyone dreaming of stepping off the corporate treadmill and building sustainable wealth.

What You’ll Learn:

• The Power of "Boring" Businesses: Why laundromats, car washes, and other Main Street enterprises consistently generate wealth.
• How to Find the Right Business to Buy: Codie’s framework for identifying ideal opportunities, from seller motivations to business profitability.
• Creative Financing Strategies: Learn how to buy a business with little to no money down using seller financing.
• Scaling Simplified: Actionable tips to grow a small business by increasing visibility, average order value, and customer engagement.
• Overcoming the Fear of Entrepreneurship: How to shift your mindset and take calculated risks, even if you're starting as an employee.

Timestamped Chapters:

• [01:30] Introduction to Codie Sanchez and her wealth-building philosophy.
• [02:29] Why "boring" businesses create lasting wealth.
• [03:01] Interview begins: Codie and James discuss Belgian Malinois dogs.
• [04:29] Following your own advice as an entrepreneur.
• [06:46] The power of a good book title and its lasting impression.
• [09:33] The evolution of business self-help books.
• [11:31] The Lindy Effect: Predicting a business’s future longevity.
• [13:49] The decline of small business ownership in America.
• [14:59] Tax benefits of owning a business versus being an employee.
• [16:18] Seller financing explained: Buying with minimal upfront capital.
• [19:32] The Lindy Effect and why older businesses are safer investments.
• [22:27] Scaling strategies: Raising prices and increasing average order value.
• [29:45] Codie’s journey: From corporate employee to serial entrepreneur.
• [36:23] First business acquisition: Lessons from Codie’s laundromat.
• [38:55] Overcoming fear and ego risk in entrepreneurship.
• [44:18] Structuring deals: The balance between upfront payment and seller financing.
• [50:37] Real-life example: A flooring restoration business deal.
• [56:14] How to connect with retiring entrepreneurs for off-market deals.

Additional Resources:

• Codie Sanchez’s book: Main Street Millionaire
• Follow Codie Sanchez on Twitter:

Oh my gosh. I always feel like my IQ goes up when I talk to Jim Rickards. He has so much knowledge about so many things, but particularly, he's been there, done that when it comes to all things in the economy. Some of his stories about what he's personally seen and done are tied to some of the most famous events in the economy over the past 50 years.

Anyway, he wrote a new book, Money GPT, which is about the financial aspects of AI and how it could affect the economy. But we started off with the basics. I just wanted to ask him: What do you think is going to happen in this economy? And we go deep. So, we divided this into two parts.

Part one covers everything you need to know about the current state of the U.S. economy. This was a real education for me, and I read a lot about this stuff. So, I’m excited to share it with you. The second part, which will come out later, is all about AI and its effects on the economy.

Here's my friend Jim Rickards. I'm sure you're going to enjoy this as much as I did. And, as always, if you have any comments or questions, let me know. And, please, subscribe to the podcast if you haven't already.

In this episode, James Altucher sits down with renowned economist and author Jim Rickards to break down the complexities of today’s economy. With decades of experience and a front-row seat to some of history’s most pivotal financial events, Jim delivers sharp insights into the forces driving economic cycles. This discussion dives into historical parallels, the impact of policy decisions, and what lies ahead for the U.S. economy under potential future administrations.

Jim also shares his take on how recession cycles play out, the legacy of interest rate hikes, and why both borrower and lender psychology matter more than Federal Reserve actions. Packed with valuable lessons, this episode offers a rare look at economic trends from a perspective few can match.

1. The historical parallels between Reagan-era recessions and today’s economic landscape.
2. Why low interest rates aren’t necessarily a stimulus and the real drivers of economic growth.
3. How borrower and lender behavior impact recessions more than Federal Reserve policies.
4. The role of government and corporate partnerships in shaping modern economies.
5. What could catalyze a shift from stagnation to growth in today’s economic climate.

• [00:01:30] Introduction to Jim Rickards and his new book, Money GPT
• [00:02:17] Overview of the U.S. economy’s current state
• [00:03:16] Historical parallels: Lessons from Reagan-era recessions
• [00:07:02] Interest rates: Stimulus or symptom of deeper issues?
• [00:10:14] Depression vs. recession: How the definitions shape our understanding
• [00:18:33] The psychology of lending and borrowing in recessions
• [00:27:20] Modern banking, bail-ins, and the Silicon Valley Bank collapse
• [00:34:21] The Fed’s limits: What really moves the economy
• [00:45:21] Government-corporate partnerships: Are we living in a new era of fascism?
• [00:58:22] Can Trump’s policies truly drain the swamp and drive economic growth?

• Jim Rickards’ book: Money GPT
• Jim Rickards’ previous works: The Death of Money, Aftermath