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The Jordan Harbinger Show

1183: Astro Teller | How to Systematically Realize the Impossible

The Jordan Harbinger Show

Jordan Harbinger

Education, Business, Science

4.8 • 12.3K Ratings

🗓️ 15 July 2025

⏱️ 73 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

From balloon internet, drone delivery, and self-driving cars, Alphabet's X chief Astro Teller reveals how the company systematically chases the impossible!

Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1183

What We Discuss with Astro Teller:

  • Alphabet's X systematically approaches moonshots by requiring three elements: a huge problem, a radical proposed solution, and breakthrough technology that gives a chance — not guarantee — of success.
  • Prototype cheaply and fast to test assumptions. The agricultural robot started as bicycle wheels, PVC tubing, laptop, GoPro and duct tape — not expensive equipment.
  • Bring regulators into the process early as partners rather than waiting until the end. They become collaborators when included in the journey, not obstacles.
  • Detach identity from ideas. People who tie self-worth to specific concepts struggle at X. Success comes from being great at filtering ideas, not being right about yours.
  • Ask yourself: "How fast and cheaply can I get evidence I'm wrong?" Focus on rapid, inexpensive tests that provide real-world data about your assumptions.
  • And much more...

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Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

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0:53.7

It's about keeping

0:54.4

everything secure. Coming up next on the Jordan Harbinger show. To be able to suspend your

1:00.0

disbelief for a non-stupid reason to have a specific theory about the world, it's okay that

1:06.0

you're probably wrong, but that makes it testable. The next step is how fast, how cheaply can you verify that you're

1:14.1

wrong, get some evidence that you're wrong, so that we can put your idea to rest and move on

1:19.4

to the next idea. If you need to be right, you're going to hate this place.

1:28.3

Welcome to the show. I'm Jordan Harbinger. On the Jordan Harbinger show, we decode the stories,

1:32.8

secrets, and skills of the world's most fascinating people and turn their wisdom into

1:36.4

practical advice that you can use to impact your own life and those around you. Our mission is to

1:40.7

help you become a better informed, more critical thinker through long-form conversations with a variety of amazing folks, from spies to CEOs, athletes, authors, thinkers,

1:48.7

performers, even the occasional Fortune 500 CEO, Russian chess grandmaster, four-star general,

1:53.7

or Russian spy, sometimes all the same person.

1:56.1

If you're new to the show or you're looking for a handy way to tell your friends about it,

1:58.5

and I suggest our episode starter packs, These are collections of our favorite episodes on topics like persuasion and

2:03.5

negotiation, psychology and geopolitics, disinformation, China, North Korea, crime and cults, and more.

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