Johnathan Bi
Hosted by Johnathan Bi
A philosopher and technologist delivers solo lectures applying insights from the great books to modern problems like AI, meaning, and career building.
This is a video podcast structured as a series of solo lectures from a library setting, supplemented with interviews. Host Johnathan Bi applies core texts from philosophy (Plato, Rousseau, Girard) and sociology (Max Weber) to build frameworks for understanding contemporary issues, particularly the impact of AI on society and individual purpose. The show blends academic analysis with personal application, as Bi often connects these dense theories to his own career and investment decisions.
“Unlike conversational podcasts, Bi's primary format is the structured academic lecture, using specific books as anchors for his arguments. He uniquely blends classical philosophy with practical applications for modern careers and angel investing, grounding abstract ideas in personal, high-stakes decisions.”
Who hosts this show
Johnathan Bi is a public intellectual and former tech founder who studied Philosophy and Computer Science at Columbia University. Raised between Beijing and Vancouver, he trained in mathematics before turning his focus to continental philosophy, technology, and Buddhist thought. After co-founding the financial technology company Opto Investments, he left to dedicate himself to studying and creating content about the Great Books.
Credentials & credits
- Studied Philosophy and Computer Science at Columbia University
- Founding team at Opto Investments
- Canadian Mathematics Olympiad competitor
- 8VC Fellow (2020)
Other ventures
- greatbooks.io (Newsletter & Website)
- Opto Investments (Co-founder)
- Lonsdale Investment Technology (Founding Team)
What kind of podcast
- Country
- United States
- Region
- usa
When new episodes drop
- 01Enlightenment Undermines DemocracyJun 27, 2026 · 34s
- 02The Real Reasons We Dress UpJun 26, 2026 · 39s
- 03How to Defeat Bad IdeasJun 25, 2026 · 48s
- 04What Marx Got WrongJun 24, 2026 · 51s
- 05Why So Many Technologists Study PhilosophyJun 23, 2026 · 57s
- 06How I am AI-Proofing my CareerJun 21, 2026 · 20 min
Notable episodes
- 01How I am AI-Proofing my Career
A cornerstone lecture explaining Bi's personal framework for navigating the AI revolution by applying the philosophies of Max Weber, Aristotle, René Girard, and Jeffrey Kripal.
- 02Introduction to Mimetic Theory | René Girard
This is one of his foundational lectures on the philosopher René Girard, whose ideas on mimetic desire are a recurring theme throughout the channel.
- 03Enlightenment Undermines Democracy
A representative example of the channel's short-form content, where a provocative philosophical claim is explained in under a minute.
What you'll be asked on this show
The main format is a solo lecture from a classic library, with the key books used as physical props. The videos are polished, incorporating historical footage, paintings, and animated text to illustrate complex ideas. Bi's tone is serious and academic, but he makes it personal by sharing how these philosophies have directly shaped his own life and career choices.
Questions Johnathan Bi keeps coming back to
- “What is a thing which is intrinsically good for its own sake?”
- “How does this theory intersect with AI?”
- “Why does someone seem more attractive when we know others are competing for them?”
- “What is the origin of a philosopher's thinking?”
- “If we don't have work, how do we prove our worth?”
Signature segments
- · Solo lectures presented from a library setting
- · Using physical books as central props and conceptual anchors
- · Connecting philosophical concepts to personal career and investment decisions
- · Short-form videos distilling a single philosophical idea
- · Video essays edited with historical footage and art
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
The show is primarily a solo lecture series. When guests are featured, they are typically high-level academics and authors, such as Rice University professor Jeff Kripal, who can speak to the intersection of religion, philosophy, and modernity.
- Jeff Kripalon The Path to God is Through Sex | Rice Professor Jeff Kripal
- Thomas Pangleon The High Integrity Way Great Men Chase Fame | UT Philosopher Thomas Pangle on the American Founding
- James Liangon The Chinese Billionaire Paying People to Have Kids | James Liang on Demography
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
The podcast does not feature traditional sponsors. It is supported through a modern patronage model, including grants and a paid Substack newsletter, which directs viewers to his website, greatbooks.io.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
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People also ask
- What is Johnathan Bi's real name?
- His full name is Johnathan Bi.
- What are Johnathan Bi's credentials?
- He studied Philosophy and Computer Science at Columbia University and was on the founding team of the fintech company Opto Investments.
- What is the podcast's format?
- The primary format is a solo video lecture, often filmed in a library. He also conducts long-form interviews with academics and authors.
- Is the podcast still active?
- Yes, the channel publishes new videos, including both long-form lectures and short clips, on a near-daily basis.
- Where can I listen to the podcast?
- The lectures and interviews are available on his YouTube channel, with transcripts and additional content on his Substack and website, greatbooks.io.
- What is the main focus of the show?
- The show focuses on applying insights from the 'Great Books' of philosophy and literature to understand and navigate modern challenges like AI, career anxiety, and the search for meaning.
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
- [01]About Johnathan Bijohnathanbi.com
- [02]Johnathan Bi | O'Shaughnessy Venturesosv.llc
- [03]Johnathan Bi | 8VC Fellow8vc.com
- [04]Network Capital: Math Prodigy -> Entrepreneur ->Philosopher -> Monk - > Investor: The Case of GenZ Wizard Johnathan Binetworkcapital.tv
- [05]Why Study the Great Books? | Johnathan Bi Substackjohnathanbi.com
- [06]Other Life | From Tech to Public Philosophy: Johnathan Bi on Production Quality and Patronage Networksotherlife.co
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