Cyan Banister | A Masterclass In Curiosity: Risk, Resilience And Betting On The Future Of Technology

Video Description

We are thrilled to present what is perhaps the most in-depth and revealing conversation yet with Cyan Banister, an unconventional thinker who went from homelessness at 13 to becoming one of Silicon Valley’s most successful angel investors, backing companies like SpaceX, Uber, DeepMind, and Niantic before they became household names. In this expansive 3.5-hour conversation, Lawrence and Cyan trace the key stepping stones that shaped her unconventional path—from teaching herself software engineering to developing an investment philosophy grounded in curiosity, experimentation, and openness to new evidence. Their dialogue reveals surprising links between her early challenges, her scientific outlook, and the dynamic way she navigates both business and life. It’s an inspiring exploration that underscores how resilience, intellectual flexibility, and a willingness to learn can transform even the most daunting obstacles into extraordinary opportunities. Connect with Cyan: https://uglyduckling.substack.com/ https://x.com/cyantist https://www.cyanbanister.com/ Subscribe for exclusive content at https://lawrencekrauss.substack.com/ Learn more and support the foundation at https://originsproject.org/ In the conversation, you'll learn: 🎲 Growing up on a Navajo reservation, where she learned to adapt, experiment, and teach herself 🎲 Becoming homeless at 13 after refusing to falsely accuse her stepfather in court 🎲 Surviving on $1.25 a day and why she believes minimum wage laws hurt the most vulnerable 🎲 How a single police officer’s belief in her changed the trajectory of her life 🎲 The chance encounter with the internet that reconnected her with her long-lost sister and led her into tech 🎲 Hacking her way into a job in IT and getting promoted instead of fired 🎲 Making a high-risk early bet on SpaceX, when most people thought it was doomed 🎲 Using randomness and dice rolls to push herself out of bias and habit in decision-making 🎲 Why skepticism, adaptability, and experimentation are just as essential in investing as they are in science Cyan defies every stereotype, and this conversation offers a rare look into the mind of someone who sees the world differently—someone who turns uncertainty into opportunity and limitations into stepping stones. Whether you're an entrepreneur, a scientist, or simply someone navigating your own challenges, this discussion will change how you think about risk, resilience, and the future. Thank you for being here, and for your continued support of the Origins Project. Our mission is to encourage curiosity about the world, connect science and culture, inspire critical exploration, and facilitate interactions with the people, places and ideas associated with the greatest challenges of the 21st century. --------------------------------------------- Chapters: 00:08 - Introduction & Guest Background 05:07 - Cyan Banister's Early Life & Childhood 06:55 - Growing Up on a Navajo Reservation 08:03 - Family Background & Grandparents' Influence 11:56 - School & Teachers Who Inspired Cyan 14:25 - Relationship with Her Sister 16:46 - Turbulent Home Life & Becoming Homeless 28:53 - False Accusations & Their Impact 32:46 - Being Homeless & Finding Support 37:31 - The People Who Helped Along the Way 42:50 - Skepticism, Critical Thinking & Life Lessons 46:20 - Experiencing Homelessness as a Young Woman 48:01 - The Lasting Impact of Being Homeless 51:35 - Learning to Survive & The Path to Capitalism 54:44 - Minimum Wage, Child Labor Laws & Economic Realities 59:16 - Becoming a Libertarian 1:00:44 - Officer Pratt & The Turning Point in Cyan's Life 1:07:24 - Becoming a Self-Sufficient Teenager 1:15:28 - Early Entrepreneurship: T-Shirts & Jewelry 1:22:14 - Risk-Taking & Major Life Changes 1:26:15 - Discovering Technology & First Jobs in IT 1:31:36 - Customer Support, Learning Unix & First Tech Job 1:37:43 - Moving to Silicon Valley & Breaking Into Tech 1:47:40 - First Big Investment: SpaceX 1:52:00 - Fearlessness & Lessons from Investing 1:59:21 - Becoming an Angel Investor & Learning the Trade 2:04:44 - The Art of Investing & Evaluating Startups 2:11:30 - Investing in Early Startups & Spotting Potential 2:17:50 - The Role of Luck & Timing in Investments 2:24:10 - Investing in Uber & The Founder’s Vision 2:30:55 - What Makes a Great CEO & Leadership Insights 2:38:15 - Evaluating Founders & The Human Element in Startups 2:45:00 - The Importance of Failure & Learning from Mistakes 2:51:40 - The Future of AI & Emerging Technologies 2:58:30 - The Role of Augmented Reality & Spatial Computing 3:05:45 - Thinking About the Future & Tech Predictions 3:12:10 - Advice for Entrepreneurs & Investors 3:18:40 - Reflections on Life, Success & Giving Back 3:25:00 - Closing Thoughts & Final Words of Wisdom Full Episodes Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXLv1PHLilU&list=PL5R87nA_A7ijBql86ZL1_PAM8GDM1M_VC