Hi Friends!

I hope everyone enjoyed a joyous celebration of America this week! I was able to kick back in my red, white, and blue overalls for some sun and BBQ, and had a great time catching up with friends. This week, I also finally finished a book I’ve been reading for a couple of weeks now - Bobby Azarian’s The Romance of Reality: How the Universe Organizes Itself to Create Life, Consciousness, and Cosmic Complexity. If this book was an album, I’d be saying that it’s full of bangers: each chapter had new and profound arguments that took interdisciplinary thinking to the next level. I want to give you a peek into this phenomenal book, and perhaps get you more curious about some of his main arguments and ideas.

Imagine a theory that could explain everything, from the tiniest atom to the vastness of space, and even the spark of consciousness in your own mind. That's the ambitious goal of neuroscientist Bobby Azarian, and while his proposed ideas definitely left me with some looming questions, his “Integrated Evolutionary Synthesis” is pretty much the “theory of everything” that he promises it could be. 

He proposes a radical new idea: the universe isn't just a collection of random events, it's actually evolving towards greater complexity and sentience as it maximizes energy processing and gains more and more knowledge through experience. For Azarian, these processes drive the universe to spawn complex life and push it toward higher levels of intelligence in a poetic process of pure creativity.  

Understanding why we exist and where we fit in the grand cosmic scheme is a fundamental human quest. The Romance of Reality tackles big questions head-on, asking how life began, whether we have a cosmic destiny, and if there is such a thing as “god.” By exploring the idea of a universe actively evolving towards complexity and consciousness, the book could change how you view yourself. Azarian’s complex theory might even offer clues about our purpose and the future of humanity in this ever-expanding cosmos. 

The Grand Challenge: A Theory for Cosmic Destiny

So why is it so bold of Azarian to claim he’s put together a theory of everything? In some ways, it’s the holy grail of physics that would help explain not just how life evolved but why it occurred in a universe seemingly empty of other life. Obviously, coming up with one unified theory is no easy feat. The two main scientific camps, quantum mechanics (rules explaining the very small) and general relativity (laws governing the very large), seem to contradict each other. 

Plus, how do you explain consciousness or free will, both subjective experiences, with cold, hard equations? Current scientific paradigms, like reductionism (breaking things down to their simplest parts), struggle with these big questions. It's like trying to understand a symphony by analyzing each individual note - you miss the beautiful melody that emerges from them all playing together. But The Romance of Reality proposes a new approach, aiming to bridge the gap and create a more unified picture of our amazing universe.

Enter Azarian’s game-changing theory: the Integrated Evolutionary Synthesis. It throws out reductionism and instead views the universe as a whole, constantly evolving. This theory borrows from the concept of Darwinian evolution, not just survival of the fittest, but also cooperation and self-organization. The book proposes that everything, from galaxies to our own brains, is constantly getting more complex and that this very process is what gives rise to life, consciousness, and the mind-blowing wonder of it all.

Azarian throws a curveball at the familiar idea of entropy and disorder in the universe. Yes, things tend to break down over time, but he argues there's a twist. The universe loves free energy, like a delicious cosmic snack. Living things are the ultimate free-energy guzzlers, constantly consuming and ordering it. The more complex a system is, the more it can devour this energy. So, according to Azarian, the universe isn't just succumbing to chaos; it's actually pushing towards ever-greater complexity, with life as its ultimate energy-transforming champion! And all life needs to keep going are new sources of energy–something the universe is constantly making on a cosmic level. This flips the script on the second law of thermodynamics, suggesting the universe might be wired for increasing intelligence as it consumes all that free energy.

Azarian’s Integrated Evolutionary Synthesis

From that point, Azarian gets into his radical new theory that essentially says that evolution is the successful process of converting information into knowledge and turning knowledge into energy consumption. He calls this theory his Integrated Evolutionary Synthesis, and it has some key features:

• Survival of the Best Energy Consumers (Universal Darwinism): Azarian does a neat little upgrade on Darwin’s survival of the fittest – for him, evolution is about accumulating useful information. Everything in the cosmos, from galaxies to snowflakes, "evolves" by storing knowledge about what helps it to survive or expand, as well as what prevents success. This information can be anything that helps something persist, like patterns in a snowflake's structure, cycles of planetary motion, even the knowledge encoded in our genes, or the lessons we teach in school. This isn't just about living things; the universe itself is constantly playing this information game, seeking the most efficient and enduring patterns.

• Learning from Problems (Evolutionary Epistemology): Azarian argues that evolution isn't just about blind survival, it's about actively learning and solving problems. Information is like raw data, but when we use it to overcome challenges, it becomes knowledge. Successful systems, whether living organisms or complex societies, excel at experimentation. They encounter problems, use their existing information to find solutions, and then store that newfound knowledge. This relentless pursuit of knowledge, according to Azarian, is the universe's way of becoming more intelligent. He argues, “yes, the world has some serious problems, but if we did not have problems, we would never be forced to find new solutions. Problems push progress forward.” (279) They force us to refine our information into valuable knowledge, propelling us forward in the grand cosmic game of learning. Remember the old adage that a mistake is just a lesson? Azarian has turned that idea into a whole philosophy on knowledge, and I love it.

• Building Our Internal Worlds (Universal Bayesianism): Living things, including you, are constantly constructing an internal model of the world around you. This model is a complex mental map that gets updated with every new experience you have. The more you learn and adapt, the richer and more intricate this model becomes. The most important thing in your model, of course, is you, so there’s a degree of self-reflection involved. These mental maps are on all levels, as electrons follow paths of least resistance, rivers cut repeated grooves into rock, and the universe itself constantly updates its own internal model based on new information. By excelling at building and updating these models, Azarian suggests that humans might be particularly adept at fulfilling the universe's ultimate goal: accumulating knowledge and becoming ever more intelligent.

With these three pillars in place, Azarian builds his case for consciousness. He starts with the universe constantly gathering information (Universal Darwinism), using problems to turn that information into knowledge (Evolutionary Epistemology), and building ever-more complex internal models (Universal Bayesianism). As these processes reach critical levels of complexity, particularly in biological systems like brains, consciousness emerges. This rich internal model, constantly updated with sensory information, allows us to experience and interact with the world in a unique and subjective way – the spark of consciousness that makes us who we are.

Finding Our Purpose in a Poetically Creative Universe

Azarian sees the universe as a vast and ongoing act of creation. Instead of a static, pre-programmed machine, the universe constantly evolves, experiments with new patterns, and builds ever more complex systems. This relentless pursuit of knowledge and self-organization, driven by the three pillars of his theory, mirrors the creative process itself. He finds poetry in the way galaxies swirl, life emerges from simple chemicals, and consciousness blossoms within a network of neurons. It's a universe that constantly surprises itself, pushing the boundaries of the known and birthing new wonders.

If the universe is constantly striving for knowledge and complexity, as The Romance of Reality suggests, then our purpose might be intricately linked to that. By advancing science, technology, and our overall understanding of the cosmos, we'd be actively contributing to the universe's own journey towards greater intelligence. We have a cosmic destiny to push further, build more complexly, and embrace our own transhumanist evolution. Azarian reframes human existence from a random accident to a participant in a grand cosmic game. Our ability to learn, solve problems, and build complex models positions us as key players in this cosmic dance of knowledge creation.

The Romance of Reality contains a treasure chest of intriguing ideas beyond its core theory. Azarian explores the possibility that consciousness in AI requires a physical body to truly interact with and learn from the world. He delves into the potential of psychedelics as tools to unlock new ways of thinking and expand our cognitive horizons. Azarian also ponders a cosmic destiny for humanity, urging us to explore the vastness of space. The book even ventures into the realm of free will, drawing connections to the uncertainties of quantum mechanics. Perhaps most thought-provoking is the suggestion of God as a process of increasing complexity within the universe, an algorithmic force driving evolution. While these topics might not be fully fleshed out within the book, they serve as tantalizing springboards for further exploration. Azarian's work acts as a map, sparking curiosity and left me eager to dive deeper into these fascinating possibilities.

I also think that Azarian has some brilliant things to say about the discursive process and the creation of theories and knowledge. In the book, Azarian repeatedly emphasizes "meta-awareness," the ability to be aware of our own awareness. In The Romance of Reality, this isn't just philosophical navel-gazing. With complex internal models, we can not only experience the world but also become aware of how we experience it. This self-reflection allows individuals to make conscious choices and societies to work towards shared goals. He writes, “meta-awareness must be consciously cultivated in order for it to fully emerge in an agent, and when awareness of awareness of awareness goes mainstream, the resulting synergy will take humanity to new heights.” (277) So by cultivating meta-awareness, we can become more effective participants in the universe's quest for knowledge, ensuring our actions align with this grand cosmic purpose. This, ultimately, is our way of expressing free will.

Azarian's Integrated Evolutionary Synthesis theory, with its focus on the universe as a unified whole, suggests a powerful message for humanity: global cooperation is key. If we're all part of a cosmic dance of knowledge creation, then working together becomes paramount. By sharing resources, fostering scientific collaboration, and tackling challenges as a united species, we can maximize our contribution to the universe's journey. This isn't just about competition between nations; it's about harnessing our collective intelligence to unlock the universe's deepest secrets and fulfill our potential as a species on the grand cosmic stage.

I really connected with the way Azarian argues that the universe itself thrives on problem-solving. Every challenge overcome, every adaptation made, is a victory in the grand cosmic game of knowledge creation. This echoes the spirit of moonshot thinking, where we tackle seemingly insurmountable problems and push the boundaries of what's possible. By embracing challenges and using them as springboards for innovation, we can become powerful agents of progress, aligning ourselves with the universe's own relentless pursuit of knowledge and understanding.

Obviously, I highly recommend Bobby Azarian’s The Romance of Reality: How the Universe Organizes Itself to Create Life, Consciousness, and Cosmic Complexity. It’s not an easy read, but I appreciated how thorough Azarian is with his philosophy, and the effort he put into making sure the reader always has the definitions and theories needed to follow along. In future weeks, I hope to explore some of his ideas in more depth with you, so please respond to this week’s newsletter here and tell me which ideas were most exciting for you! 

Next week, I plan on updating you on all the progress being made across Ankord Labs’ portfolio, as well as showing off some of the new media produced by Ankord Media. And don’t forget, I’m looking forward to publishing answers to questions you may have, so please shoot me your questions here, and stay subscribed for the answers! Make sure to tune in next week to catch up on Ankord, and until then, grab a copy of Azarian’s book to dive in, or check out my extended notes on the book on Medium!

Kindly,

Milan Kordestani

WHO IS MILAN?

Milan Kordestani is a social entrepreneur and CEO of AnKord Labs, a venture studio dedicated to fostering businesses that drive social impact.

Milan Kordestani is a social entrepreneur and impact-driven founder, serving as the CEO of AnKord Labs, a venture studio dedicated to incubating businesses that drive social impact. With over 6 years of experience building startups, Milan architects and invests in co-founders who are deeply ethical, and compelled to make the world a better place. He is an avid contributor to several online publications, and his first book reached #2 on the Wall Street Journal’s Bestseller List. Milan's values are to scale conscious capitalism and cultivate global cooperation to advance the species.

Hi friends,

It’s starting to feel like summer! After reflecting on how to spice up this newsletter beyond the updates from each subsidiary of Ankord, I’ve decided to dedicate three out of the four newsletters each month to deep dives into the ideas, philosophies, technologies, and stories that influence the content I create and the companies I incubate.

Don't worry, you'll still get regular updates on all the latest happenings at Audo, Nota, Guin Records, The Doe, and more! At the end of each month, I'll wrap up all the exciting developments within the Ankord Labs portfolio and the latest projects at Ankord Media. However, on other weeks, you can now expect deep dives into the issues, philosophies, ideas, and technologies that impact me—and hopefully spark thought-provoking conversations for you.

This Week’s Focus: Civil Discourse During the 2024 US Election Year

Civil discourse is the art of discussing divisive and uncomfortable issues in a way that fosters understanding and productive exchange, even when there are disagreements. American democracy is built on the principle of free and cooperative sharing of ideas: public debate is a part of who we are as a nation.

In my first book, I'm Just Saying: A Guide to Maintaining Civil Discourse in an Increasingly Divided World, I emphasize that civil discourse is a continuous process requiring hard work and a desire to find common ground. The rewards of effective communication are profound: collaboration of ideas, production of art, social progress in government, scientific and technological progress, and a more pleasant day-to-day life with people around you. Let’s discuss civil discourse in our society today and what we can do to improve it.

Civil Discourse in America Today

The past eight months have been a period of intense sorrow and escalating tensions. This past weekend marked eight months since the heinous Hamas attack on Israeli civilians. In response, Israeli Defense Forces have killed tens of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza, many of whom are women and children. Conditions in Gaza are bleak and worsening. The lack of a swift resolution to this devastating conflict is deeply concerning, and international intervention requires more discourse than ever.

The impact of this conflict extends far beyond the immediate region. Here in the United States, the highly charged nature of the issue has severely damaged civil discourse during this election year. Fear of being labeled anti-Semitic or “genocide-complicit” by people we love or in positions of power has led many to self-censor and silence their opinions. This silence is damaging for building and maintaining trust and connection in relationships with people we care about, which grows to being damaging for the social fabric of the country. Disagreements can turn into arguments that drive wedges, but silence prevents the opportunity to gain empathy and the pursuit of a common ground altogether.

Furthermore, people often make assumptions about each other's political stances at the broad level rather than being curious about specific opinions and stances on issues. This complacency can not only drive a wedge between individuals but can also lead to a lack of civic engagement and informed citizenry. Fear of inquiring about someone’s perspective and being closed off to having one’s mind changed will inevitably cause relationships to stagnate and deteriorate.

The Importance of Civil Discourse During Elections

While this letter may feel like a lecture you didn’t sign up for, reminders of the importance of civil discourse how to cultivate it in your life are especially critical during an election year. Respectful discourse facilitates the exchange of diverse ideas and perspectives, allowing for the formation of well-informed decisions and, ultimately, social progress.

It’s not that loyalists of Trump or the Democratic Party are unwilling to listen to each other, but they are often unwilling to change their perspective or collaborate in such a way to find common ground. This may be partly because our two-party system has once again chosen to back candidates who prefer to look backward rather than innovate and inspire a sense of pragmatism. Or perhaps it’s because people may be more open to backing extreme viewpoints after years of continued grooming of one’s perspective by social media echo chambers. Whatever the answer is, I believe people are tired of a bureaucratic system that offers uninspiring candidates who drive extremist policies, while the majority of Americans want moderate representatives who push for common sense laws, minimize government spending, and invest back in people and infrastructure.

The rapid spread of information, particularly through social media, damages the social fabric and the ability to conduct civil discourse. AI exacerbates this by making it easy to create misinformation, but social media allows for the instant spread of this information. People believe they are informed, but often, they are in echo chambers, becoming more extreme in their stances without reflecting on their values and educating themselves on alternative perspectives. True empathy comes from understanding someone else's different perspective, and from empathy comes cooperation, which drives progress.

Strategies for More Civil Discourse

In my first book, I'm Just Saying: A Guide to Maintaining Civil Discourse in an Increasingly Divided World, I include strategies for improving civil discourse in your daily life. Here are four strategies with examples from election season:

1. Active Listening and Understanding: When discussing a divisive issue like immigration or healthcare, focus on understanding why someone supports a different approach. Ask questions about their experiences and reasons, demonstrating a genuine interest in their perspective. This approach fosters mutual respect and can lead to more productive dialogue.

2. Using Respectful Language and Avoiding Personal Attacks: During debates about topics such as California's high taxes or Texas’ strict abortion laws, maintain a constructive atmosphere by using respectful language. Avoid personal attacks and focus on discussing the issue itself. This helps prevent discussions from becoming confrontational and keeps the focus on finding common ground.

3. Recognizing and Mitigating Personal Biases: Reflect on your own biases before engaging in discussions about contentious issues like homelessness or public safety. Acknowledge your background and experiences that shape your views, and be open to hearing different perspectives. This self-awareness can reduce defensiveness and promote more balanced conversations.

4. Acknowledging Opposing Viewpoints While Arguing Your Own: In discussions about divisive topics, such as the southern border immigration issues, openly acknowledge the validity of opposing solutions and viewpoints. Understanding someone’s vision for the future can lead to more nuanced and constructive discussions.

In an election season marked by heightened tensions and polarized opinions, fostering civil discourse is crucial for maintaining a healthy democratic process. Engaging in these strategies can contribute to a more informed electorate and a more cohesive society.

Of course, to explore these strategies in greater depth, I encourage you to purchase a copy of my book or listen to me read it on Audible. But more importantly, embrace debate and discussion during this election season. Learn about the perspectives of others and be open to having your mind changed. Many of us might be tempted to tune out, but we owe it to ourselves and future generations to be engaged, collaborative, and pragmatic.

These skills are like muscles—the more we use them, the stronger they become. Next week, I’m looking forward to unpacking the fascinating philosophy of transhumanism and bio-hacking with you. Stay tuned for a mind-bending exploration of what’s next!

Heading out for a little sunshine,

Milan

_{Milan Kordestani, a social entrepreneur and impact-driven founder, serves as the CEO of AnKord Labs, a startup incubator committed to fostering businesses that scale social impact at scale. With over 6 years of experience building predominantly technology-based startups, Milan architects and invests in co-founders who are deeply ethical, and compelled to contribute to making the world a better place. He is an avid contributor to several online publications, and his first book reached #2 on the Wall Street Journal’s Bestseller List. Milan's values are to scale conscious capitalism, and cultivate collaborative consensus to advance the species.}

Salutations and prosperity to you, friends!

I know it’s been a few weeks since you’ve heard from me; I’ve been incredibly busy creating content, working on prototypes, iterating on my book, and making time to smell my fair share of roses this lovely spring. Please make yourself comfortable because this update covers a few weeks of missed events!

In my last recap, I shared my favorite moments from Coachella, having watched it from afar. What I didn’t know at the time is that I would make it to Stagecoach Festival, the third weekend after Coachella! The long and the short is that it took me a solid month to recover from all the dust I inhaled, but it was a whole lot of fun while it lasted. Eric Church had a controversial gospel set that had people heading home (I enjoyed it). Jelly Roll, Knickleback, Post Malone, Morgan Wallen, Miranda Lamber, Elle King and Wiz Khalifa were all incredible. The undisputed highlight was watching the iconic Willie Nelson play a set.

Adding to the whirlwind of amazing experiences in my free time this month, I managed to find my way to the Seth Rogen Smokes The Bowl show at the Hollywood Bowl! The event wasn't just a night of side-splitting laughs that were highly entertaining for all. It was also an opportunity to support a fantastic cause: Hilarity For Charity, Rogen's organization dedicated to fighting Alzheimer's disease. All the performers on the bill were phenomenal, making it a truly special evening that blended entertainment with giving back.

Ankord Labs Spotlight:

Audo:

The team at Audo has been laser-focused on securing grant funding lately. One particularly exciting opportunity they're pursuing is Robin Hood's AI Poverty Challenge. This initiative seeks groundbreaking solutions that leverage AI's potential to create real results that uplift those in poverty and support organizations helping fight poverty in America. Ankord Labs is lending a hand in crafting a compelling application, including translating technical jargon into the true story of how Audo helps immigrants, veterans, at-risk youth and others find career success. Ankord’s support includes deploying our media team to capture content featuring Audo's most successful users - individuals who've secured jobs thanks to Audo's technology. These real-life stories will hopefully help share the incredible work Audo is already doing to help fight poverty and hopefully secure some funding to help us expand on that work.

Meanwhile, Ankord Labs is also helping Audo design and create assets for a new product launch and marketing push later this summer. I’m excited to share more about the exciting features Audo will release later this summer, helping to solidify Audo's position as a leader in career advancement technology.

Ankord Media:

From Milan the Author:

This past week has been focused on insightful interviews with leading figures in psychedelic research and AI development. My journey began in Baltimore, Maryland, where I had the privilege of meeting the renowned father-and-son psychedelics therapy team of Drs. Bill and Brian Richards. Bill kindly opened his home to me, where we embarked on a fascinating, multi-hour discussion that explored the energized field of psychedelic research, particularly focusing on the cutting-edge studies they're spearheading. The conversation delved into the exciting new products and treatments on the horizon, along with the crucial role of trust-building between researchers/therapists and patients. These brilliant minds are at the forefront of advocating for safe, therapeutic, and responsible psychedelic use in controlled settings. Their profound wisdom was matched by their warmth, charm, and genuine helpfulness. I'm eager to share some of these interview highlights with my audience soon, but if you want a sneak peek, check out episode 2 on Netflix’s “How to Change Your Mind” to see Dr. Bill and Brian Richards in action.

After meeting with the Richards team, I fled the rainy weather of Baltimore and headed to beautiful Ann Arbor, Michigan to meet with respected theoretical mathematician Dr. Ben Kuipers, who has been offering valuable advice on my book manuscript. During our generous interview that lasted several hours, we delved into a broad spectrum of topics related to artificial intelligence and the future of data and information. His expertise provided a fascinating perspective on data privacy, regulations, and how corporations will navigate data management as AI continues to evolve. His refreshing neutrality struck a perfect balance, avoiding both the pitfall of pessimism about technological advancement and the overly optimistic view of corporate motivations driven by profit. The insights he shared will undoubtedly have a significant impact on my manuscript.

From Milan the Content Creator:

With those interviews in hand, I headed to NYC to catch up with old friends, continue my search for the best pizza in NY, and conduct some new interviews for Narratives. Kicking things off, I'm trying to find Eddie the Fiddler in the park again to do a longer-form interview for Narratives. Next is a conversation with Eric J3ng, one of the most captivating Instagram creators I follow. His content is always thought-provoking, and I'm sure our chat will be equally engaging.  However, the interview I might be most curious about is with a former NYPD officer.  Law enforcement in a city like New York is a complex dance, and I'm eager to delve into the challenges and rewards of maintaining order from their first-hand perspective. Keep checking back to upcoming newsletters, where I’ll link you to some of these great interviews once they’re live.

Things I’m Reading:

• How I Used AI to Break Free From Gaslighting from The Doe - This absolutely fascinating story of a woman who combines ChatGPT with therapy to get out of a gaslighting situation is a must-read for anyone thinking about how AI is going to change our interpersonal relationships in the future. 

Things I’m Watching/Listening To:

• How the US is Destroying Young People's Future by Scott Galloway - I just watched Scott Galloway's recent TED Talk that brought to light many important issues and a narrative that I think is important. Galloway tells the story of how young people in the US are facing a much tougher financial reality than previous generations. He pulls no punches, calling social security benefits for all a "great intergenerational theft," and dissects the root causes and effects. Galloway doesn't just diagnose the problem; he explores solutions too, leaving everyone feeling both informed and hopeful about the future. His statistics and data were incredibly compelling, and I highly recommend checking out the talk if you have a moment.

• The Kendrick-Drake Beef - like so many of you, I’ve been following this feud since it started, but let’s ring the bell and crown the winner: Kendrick Lamar absolutely demolished Drake and proved his artistry and cultural significance is just levels beyond that of Drake. For those who want to follow the whole progression, here are the tracks:

  • Drake - First Person Shooter (ft. J. Cole)

  • Metro Boomin - Like That (ft. Kendrick Lamar & Future)

  • Drake - Push Ups

  • Drake - Taylor Made Freestyle (unavailable after Tupac Shakur’s estate filed a cease-and-desist order against Drake’s audacious use of AI to invent new content from Shakur)

  • Kendrick Lamar - euphoria

  • Kendrick Lamar - 6:16 in LA

  • Drake - Family Matters

  • Kendrick Lamar - Meet the Grahams

  • Kendrick Lamar - Not Like Us

Wrapping Up

To close this newsletter, I want to thank you all for your support of my eclectic work and this newsletter. While I can sometimes get caught up in “doing” and forget to make time to write these journal entries, it’s one of my great pleasures to get to engage with my community and receive ideas and feedback from you all. Some weeks and months, I’m just heads down building, with little to present or show, so I promise that I’ll always try to spare you all from reading empty updates when the weeks are slow. But please stay tuned, because the coming weeks and months promise to be filled with lots of exciting startup updates and exciting new pieces of content. Thank you again for your support. 

Until next time,

Milan Kordestani

Hi friends!

You may have noticed that I’ve been away from my desk the past 10 days, and that’s because I took a joyful vacation with my family to Japan, in part to celebrate my 25th birthday. My sister, brother-in-law, and I traveled alongside my father and younger siblings on a tour of Kyoto and Tokyo. There is truly nowhere else in the world that compares with the unique and beautiful culture and energy of Japan. We explored hole-in-the-wall noodle joints, wandered aimlessly through serene Buddhist temples, and ate more raw fish than I’m willing to admit. Here are some of the highlights:

• For an incredible sushi experience, don't miss Sushi Ko in Ginza, Tokyo. While we visited many sushi spots in Kyoto and Tokyo, Sushi Ko’s chefs offered a beautiful experience with fish that was flawless in flavor.

• TeamLabs Borderless in Tokyo offered a mind-bending experience, with fantastical visions at the edges of contemporary art.

• We went to a hedgehog/meerkat cafe, where my sister Misha fell hopelessly in love with a meerkat named Saburo. My younger brothers all fell in love with the hedgehogs and hamsters, so I highly recommend the experience for animal lovers!

• The myths of how good convenience store food is in Japan are all true. Onigiri from 7/11 became our delicious travel companion on every bullet-train ride.

• One of the most unique experiences was slurping ramen in a tiny Shinjuku restaurant tucked away in the Golden Gai area. 

• I loved the Kinkakuji Temple in Kyoto and Senso-ji Temple in Tokyo, and all the small Shinto shrines, rock gardens, and curated flower beds were stunning. We were especially lucky to visit during cherry blossom season - a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be wowed by the perfection of the natural world.

It was outstanding to celebrate my birthday with some relaxation with loved ones in a different time zone. And, as with any trip, I’m thankful we were safe and healthy, and that the experience went off without stress. If you have the chance to visit Japan - take the trip, it’s absolutely worth the long flight!

Of course, all good things must come to an end, and I actually spent this past Monday (both my birthday and Earth Day!) back in the office, battling jet lag and reconnecting with Ankord Labs’ CEOs and team members. I have such gratitude for my Ankord team holding down the fort while I was out, and I’m so proud of the continued efforts of all the founders, CEOs, and leaders that we work with. So without further ado, let’s talk a little about what else we’ve got cooking here at Ankord.

Ankord Media:

_{If you don’t know about my work as a writer and content creator, know that I’m a best-selling author and journalist who contributes regularly to Entrepreneur, Rolling Stone, and Forbes, championing conscious capitalism and innovation across industries. My first book, I'm Just Saying: A Guide to Maintaining Civil Discourse in an Increasingly Divided World, reached #2 on the Wall Street Journal’s Bestseller List in 2023, and I am working on a follow-up manuscript, focused on fostering moonshot moments.}

From Milan the Content Creator:

I just got back home, and I’m already gearing up to go back on the road! In May, I’ll be popping into Michigan, Maryland, and New York to create new content. I'll be meeting with several exceptional academics to not only gain deeper insights for my manuscript, but also record extensive podcast interviews for later conversion into insightful, bite-sized pieces of wisdom. 

First, I’ll be heading to the University of Michigan to meet with Dr. Ben Kuipers, my insightful theoretical mathematician mentor. In this chat, we'll delve into human destiny, trust, cooperation, and AI in a long sit-down interview. Then, Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore beckons, where I'll meet a legendary father-son team leading the field of clinical psychedelic therapy research. Dr. William Richards, a pioneer who has tirelessly championed legal psychedelic research for over 40 years, will share his expertise on using psychedelics for end-of-life anxiety and experiencing mystical and spiritual moments. His son Dr. Brian Richards, a rising star advocating for accessible psychedelic therapy, will join the conversation. Together, they'll give me a tour of JHU's cutting-edge facilities before discussing their incredible impact on the field. Talking to an icon like William Richards is a dream come true, and I'm equally excited to hear Brian's vision for the future of psychedelic therapy. This trip promises to be a profoundly enriching experience.

The following week, I’ll be swinging by New York City. I've got a packed schedule to follow up with Eddie the Fiddler for a potential Narratives interview, and if possible, snag an interview with one of my favorite Instagram creators, Eric J3ng. I'm also keeping my eyes peeled for any other intriguing Narratives stories that might pop up while I'm there. If you know any amazing people in New York City with impactful stories, please respond to this newsletter and let me know - I’m always looking to meet amazing people and hear about their experiences.

From Milan the Author:

The feedback process on my manuscript has begun! The Richards', Dr. Kuipers, and a few loved ones are diving into the manuscript now. There’s been a lot of positive feedback, and while critical reads come with the territory, I'm soaking it all in. My cold outreach efforts to find reviewers is in full swing, with subject line tweaks and availability requests each day. Even polite declines from major writers and thought-leaders like Tiago Forte and Nick Bostrom have been valuable.  Right now, it's the calm before the storm – everyone's heads-down editing, leaving me in suspense! Will they love it or send me back to writing whole new chapters? One thing's for sure, though: this book will be fueled by a multitude of perspectives, and that's incredibly exciting to me.

Do you want to be a part of the manuscript critique process? I would love for you to be a part of my development process. Respond to this email with the word “manuscript,” and I’ll send you over a draft to check out! Be a part of my creative journey, and get a sneak peak at timely topics like AI development, global cooperation, and consciousness expansion.

Ankord Labs Weekly Spotlight:

_{Ankord Labs is a private venture studio where I incubate and invest in social impact startups. We partner with visionary CEOs who share our commitment to social good. Together, we engineer impactful companies that tackle real-world challenges faced by real people.Each week, I rotate highlights of the progress made at one of Ankord Labs’ featured startups.}

• _{Audo: An AI career concierge that weighs your career aspirations against your current qualifications and current job market demand to guide you towards revenue generating jobs.} 

• _{Nota: A venture-backed content creation and distribution platform created for legacy media publishers to efficiently and affordably create content so they can focus on reporting more than editing.}

Nota: The Nota executive team returns energized from the International Journalism Festival in Perugia, Italy. Nota CEO, Josh Brandau, took center stage by participating in a thought-provoking panel, "How does implementing AI in your newsroom drive sustainability?" Click here to watch this fascinating discussion, and learn how Nota is supporting long-term stability and sustainability for publications of all sizes.

Ankord Labs: At Ankord Labs, we're busy iterating on what we're calling the "Series A" prototypes for both Audo and Nota.  These prototypes will go beyond the companies’ current offerings, serving as a comprehensive “demo-friendly'' suite of tools and features that Audo and Nota’s leadership can use to showcase the full range of functionalities and innovative ideas we have for the future of these product lines. The Series A prototypes will allow us to demo a wider array of features to potential investors and user focus groups, giving a more robust understanding of how Audo and Nota are going to evolve in the years to come. We want investors to not only see how Nota and Audo are succeeding today, but also what a future improved by Audo and Nota could look like for our customers. Even better, we’ll be able to gather feedback and continue iterating on these prototypes throughout the process - ensuring both Audo and Nota remain at the forefront of their respective industries. 

Things I’m Reading:

• The Fiasco of Iranian Diaspora Politics by Arash Azizi - During our time in Japan, my Iranian-American family watched the tense standoff between Iran and Israel unfold. This situation highlights a complex dilemma faced by the Iranian diaspora community, torn between their desire to see the current Islamic Dictatorship in Iran fall and their concern for the safety of loved ones and civilians in the country. Arash Azizi's article delves into the heart of this challenging position, shedding light on the difficult choices confronting Iranians abroad.

• I Drank and Slept My Way Through My Child’s Cancer Treatment at The Doe - I am always excited when a story at The Doe causes a lot of debate, because that means that people are stepping outside their comfort zones and reading articles that challenge their pre-existing beliefs. This article encourages us to gain empathy for those going through an experience few of us will ever be so unfortunate to live through, and seems to be helping many readers let go of shame or confusion they felt about their own challenges working through the pain of cancer of a loved one.

• Sacred Knowledge: Psychedelics and Religious Experiences by Willam Richards - Since I will be meeting in person with William and Brian Richards’ next month, I’ve been devouring all their peer-reviewed articles and books. This one, by father William, draws together many of the themes I’ve enjoyed in Huxley’s Perennial Philosophy and connects them with research on psychedelic therapies. If you are interested in spirituality, psychedelics, and finding “meaning”, this is an incredibly accessible, easy-to-read introduction to the topic from one of the absolute titans in the field of psychedelic research.

Things I’m Watching/Listening To:

• My Japan Soundtrack - I’ll admit, I spent a lot of time in Japan catching up on Coachella (see below), but I did latch onto a couple of songs that I will now forever associate with my trip there.

  • Relaxing and chilling with friends

  • A little Japanese jazz

• Nowhere, Fast by Jean Deaux - Last Friday was thrilling for the team at Guin, as Jean Deaux’s new EP Nowhere, Fast is the first female release of 2024! People are digging her sound, and the album has had a phenomenal first week, securing spots on over 30 playlists! Take some time this week and dive into Jean's journey of self-discovery and personal growth on this new EP.

• Coachella - I did not attend Coachella this year, and to be honest, the FOMO was real. All of my spare moments in Japan (mostly on bullet trains and taxis between beautiful temples) was spent tuning in to the amazing Coachella performances on my phone! So many performers brought great energy, but my sister Misha and I - as big Latin music fans - were most excited about Peso Pluma’s set and whether he’d bring out fellow performer Anitta.

  • My sister Misha’s breakdown:

    • For context, a year or two ago, Anitta had Peso join her on stage at Coachella, but his girlfriend was there, creating tension. He barely danced with Anitta and seemed to avoid her. Fast forward to now: Peso's broken up with his girlfriend and is 10X bigger than before. 

    • As Misha and I rode to the airport to come home from Japan, the big moment came: Peso brought Anitta on stage at Coachella, and absolutely owned the moment! We were losing our minds - and so was the audience, as well as those leaving Youtube Live stream comments. It was the kind of moment that you go to live shows to experience!

Wrapping Up

While a part of me was sad I missed out on Coachella, it’s a reminder that every opportunity comes with tradeoffs. My recent travels in Japan offered a powerful lesson in mindfulness. The serenity of Buddhist temples and shrines served as a tangible embodiment of the philosophy: to be present, in that space, in our bodies, and in that moment. This week, I’m challenging myself to continue to embrace that same concept. Take a breath, pause the what-ifs, and truly soak in the now. Remember, presence is about appreciating the unique experience of this very moment, exactly as it is. Thank you for taking these few moments to read this newsletter, and I’ll see you next week!

With both love and jet lag,

Milan Kordestani

_{Milan Kordestani, a social entrepreneur and impact-driven founder, serves as the CEO of AnKord Labs, a startup incubator committed to fostering businesses that scale social impact at scale. With over 6 years of experience building predominantly technology-based startups, Milan architects and invests in co-founders who are deeply ethical, and compelled to contribute to making the world a better place. He is an avid contributor to several online publications, and his first book reached #2 on the Wall Street Journal’s Bestseller List. Milan's values are to scale conscious capitalism, and cultivate collaborative consensus to advance the species.}

Good Morning from a Sunny Los Angeles,

April has sprung, and a fresh breeze of excitement blows through Ankord Labs! As we stroll into the new quarter, I can't help but feel immense pride in everything our portfolio companies have achieved so far in 2024. From Narratives' captivating first interview to great SXSW performances and new albums coming out of Guin Records, we’ve been making waves. Both Nota and Audo have grown immensely; with Nota’s strong fundraising momentum and Audo’s new suite of career tools in development, the year is off to an incredible start. Throughout this quarter, Ankord Media has also seen tremendous growth. I'm thrilled to share that I've not only finished the first draft of my new book but that I’ve managed to consistently send out this newsletter every week of this year, which has been tremendously fun. Without further ado, let’s get down to business for Q2, which promises to be even more exciting!

Ankord Media:

_{If you don’t know about my work as a writer and content creator, know that I’m a best-selling author and journalist who contributes regularly to Entrepreneur, Rolling Stone, and Forbes, championing conscious capitalism and innovation across industries. My first book, I'm Just Saying: A Guide to Maintaining Civil Discourse in an Increasingly Divided World, reached #2 on the Wall Street Journal’s Bestseller List in 2023, and I am working on a follow-up manuscript, focused on fostering moonshot moments.}

From Milan the Author:

This week marked two major milestones – first, I finally wrote the conclusion to my manuscript! It wasn't easy, believe me. Wrapping up a sprawling narrative and tying together all the threads can be a daunting task. To navigate this challenge, I sought wisdom from masters like Michael Pollan's thought-provoking conclusion in How to Change Your Mind and Robert Putnam's pragmatic epilogue of Bowling Alone. In the end, I decided to focus on crafting actionable recommendations, pulling together themes from the book and transforming them into practical advice to take going forward. I aim to leave readers not just informed but inspired to embrace a more ambitious future.

I also settled on a final title for the book…

Moonshot Moments: Ushering in the Next Human Renaissance through AI, Transhumanism, and Psychedelics

I think you’ll be blown away by all the dots I’ll be connecting in this book!

And that new and finalized title brings me to my second huge milestone this week: sending my manuscript draft to my publisher! Celebrations were had this weekend! Perhaps the only thing harder than finishing a creative task is letting it go and preparing for the first critique. But a huge shout out to my publisher, HCI, who will be helping me take this book from Google Docs to bookshelves around the world!

Last but not least, I want to extend an invitation. Reaching these milestones with my manuscript this week has me excited to share it more broadly. If you'd like to get a sneak peek and offer early feedback, I'd love to hear from you! Just reply to this newsletter to request a preview copy.

From Milan the Youtuber:

In a riveting interview this week, I had the privilege of conversing with Quan Huynh, a remarkable individual whose life story epitomizes resilience and redemption. Quan, a former inmate turned advocate, shared profound insights gleaned from his journey through gang life and incarceration. His narrative is a testament to the transformative power of self-discovery and the pursuit of purpose even in the direst of circumstances. It was a huge honor for him to trust me with his story, which was the first hour-long special coming from Narratives. 

One poignant moment in our discussion was when Quan recounted a tragic event from his past: the death of a friend during a violent altercation that ultimately led to his incarceration. From his involvement in gangs as a teenager to his eventual embrace of self-improvement and therapy, Quan’s story is a testament to the human capacity for redemption and the transformative power of second chances. Through his work with anti-recidivism non-profit Defy Ventures, he exemplifies a commitment to breaking the cycle of recidivism and empowering others to forge a new path toward a brighter future.

If you happen to know anyone with an extraordinary life story and a talent for storytelling, I would be immensely grateful for the opportunity to connect with them and bring their narrative to light. Please reach out!

Ankord Labs Weekly Spotlight:

_{Ankord Labs is a private venture studio where I incubate and invest in social impact startups. We partner with visionary CEOs who share our commitment to social good. Together, we engineer impactful companies that tackle real-world challenges faced by real people. Each week, I rotate highlights of the progress made at one of Ankord Labs’ featured startups. This week, the foci are Audo and Nota. Audo is a startup that’s built an AI career concierge that identifies the gaps between your current qualifications and your desired career outcomes to help you navigate your way to your goals. Nota is a venture-backed startup with a suite of AI-enabled tools that power content creation and distribution for legacy media publishers to efficiently and affordably create content so they can focus on reporting more than editing.}

Nota: Nota just launched a brand new landing page, and it features some stunning motion graphics videos we are proud to have had a hand in at Ankord Labs. Be sure to head over to Nota's new landing page to check them out for yourself!

Audo: In the last week, I had the opportunity to speak with Chris Ball, CEO of the education technology company Instructure. We delved into the company's groundbreaking initiatives, particularly in education and upskilling. Instructure’s innovative approaches include a digital wallet, Canvas, for students to own and manage their learning credentials, shifting the burden of access costs away from students onto educational and employment institutions. While Canvas primarily serves institutions, upcoming tools like Projects in Progress and Parchment are tailored for direct-to-consumer use, which is an exciting move. We discussed some of Instructure’s collaborations, like a project with the California Department of Corrections to overcome connectivity barriers to provide learning opportunities in prisons. 

Emphasizing the shift towards skill-based hiring, Ball predicts a future where 90% of employers prioritize verifiable skills over traditional qualifications. Ball foresees a significant transformation in higher education, with a potential 30% of institutions facing closure in the next decade, leaving only the most prestigious, state-backed, and financially secure entities. We discussed the challenge of outcome-based education spanning both K-12 and higher education, with efforts to prepare students for diverse post-secondary paths gaining traction, including dual enrollment programs blending high school and community college experiences. It was fantastic to speak with an industry leader to see how they view the same social and educational challenges we are looking to address at Audo.

Things I’m Reading:

• “A Feminist Awakening Upended Our Marriage” from The Doe - This recent article is such an interesting piece of storytelling as it tells the perspective of both a husband and wife deciding to leave the Mormon church together. 

• Bowling Alone, by Robert Putnam - In the throes of research for my book manuscript, I found myself revisiting Robert Putnam's seminal work on the social impact of the decline of civil society in America in the 1950s-1990s. Picking it up again wasn't just a refresher; it was a revelation renewed. Putnam's insights on social capital and the decline of civic engagement resonated deeply, even more so than on my first reading. This time around, the analysis felt particularly poignant, offering a fresh lens through which to examine the challenges faced by my generation - the one that grew up after Putnam's call for a return to a more connected society. His work has become a touchstone, prompting reflection on the state of civil society and its evolution since the book's original publication.

• Robo-lawyer Startup DoNotPay Did Something Almost Unheard of in Silicon Valley: It Paid a Dividend from Business Insider - Recently, I've been inspired by my friend Josh Browder's innovative approach at DoNotPay, his purpose-driven startup that helps everyday people fight back against exploitative business practices. Browder is not just making waves with his impactful products but also redefining how a company treats its employees and investors by paying out a dividend, having reached profitability, to employees and investors alike.

Things I’m Watching/Listening To:

• Cowboy Carter - Beyoncé's new album, Cowboy Carter, is excellent! Beyonce is an incredible storyteller and continues to show there's no genre she can't conquer!

• Milan’s Regaee Playlist and One Love - I’ve been listening to an absurd amount of Reggae music the past 3 weeks since watching the new Bob Marley movie, One Love. If you’re interested in exploring some good vibes this week, feel free to give my playlist a follow and hit shuffle.

Wrapping Up

As I wrap up this newsletter, I want to encourage you to embrace the spirit of new beginnings. It's the perfect season to breathe life into those projects that may have stalled during the long, dreary winter months. Whether it's reigniting a passion project, launching a new side hustle online to fund your summer antics, diving into that paused writing project, revisiting a fun hobby, or planning that long-awaited trip, now is the time to reclaim your momentum. The holidays and New Year often bring distractions and pauses, but with the fresh air of spring, it’s time to revitalize your spirits, step outside more, and allow your creativity to flow freely. If it helps you stay motivated, send me a message telling me what your next big move will be! This month, it’s time to embrace the energy of renewal and seize this opportunity to make your dreams a reality. 

A reminder, if you’d like to be a part of the early feedback process of my next manuscript, please shoot me a reply saying “Moonshot Moments Please!”

Grateful for your attention,

Milan Kordestani

_{Milan Kordestani, a social entrepreneur and impact-driven founder, serves as the CEO of AnKord Labs, a startup incubator committed to fostering businesses that scale social impact at scale. With over 6 years of experience building predominantly technology-based startups, Milan architects and invests in co-founders who are deeply ethical, and compelled to contribute to making the world a better place. He is an avid contributor to several online publications, and his first book reached #2 on the Wall Street Journal’s Bestseller List. Milan's values are to scale conscious capitalism, and cultivate collaborative consensus to advance the species.}

Happy Spring Friends!

Since my last update, I took a trip back to the Bay Area to visit family and celebrate Nowruz, the Persian New Year! This joyful holiday coincides with the spring equinox every year, marking a time of doing away with the old and freshening up to allow for new beginnings. For my family, Nowruz involves visiting extended family and eating lots of incredible home-cooked food. 

With the spring equinox has come so much pollen, thus the Bay Area's notorious allergy season threw a bit of a wrench in the festivities for me. As someone battling oak pollen allergens, the abundance of these majestic trees made for some sniffly days. The good news is, I'm actively working on allergy immunotherapy, which should offer significant relief in a few years! Until then, it's running back towards the palm trees in LA for me!

Ankord Media:

_{If you don’t know about my work as a writer and content creator, know that I’m a best-selling author and journalist who contributes regularly to Entrepreneur, Rolling Stone, and Forbes, championing conscious capitalism and innovation across industries. My first book, I'm Just Saying: A Guide to Maintaining Civil Discourse in an Increasingly Divided World, reached #2 on the Wall Street Journal’s Bestseller List in 2023, and I am working on a follow-up manuscript, focused on fostering moonshot moments.}

From Milan the Author:

Ever since Michael Pollan's book blew my mind open to the world of psychedelics in 2022, I knew I would someday explore them further in my own writing. It's not just the therapeutic applications that intrigue me – I'm especially fascinated by the potential for psychedelics to unlock new avenues of thought, the kind of connections that fuel "moonshot moments" of innovation.  This feels like a new frontier in mental healthcare and our collective human evolution, thus I'm energized to delve deeper and share where the research (and my writing!) has been taking me, soon.

The book creation journey is nearing its end, and I'm buzzing with anticipation for the next step!  Reaching out to all the experts and previewers I’ve been reading along the way is just as exciting as finishing the book itself.  I can't wait to connect with them, delve deeper into their expertise, and hopefully create some thought-provoking content to share with you on my YouTube and social media!

From Milan the Content Creator:

My creative energy is currently laser-focused on two incredible projects. First, I'm neck-deep in the exciting world of moonshot moments for my upcoming book. It’ll be a thrilling exploration of all of my favorite research topics woven together, and I’ll be creating media to share some of the philosophies and interviews with professors whose research inspired me to write this book. Second, I'm collaborating with our amazing non-profit partners at Narratives to craft what I believe will be some of the most important storytelling of my life. Sharing unique interviews that foster empathy on the internet is deeply rewarding to me, and I can't wait to see this project come to life. 

This Wednesday, I'm buzzing with anticipation for my interview with Quan Huynh, a formerly incarcerated individual who has defied the odds. Quan Huynh's journey is truly inspiring – after serving a life sentence, he's not only turned his own life around, but has also dedicated himself to helping others through Defy Ventures, a non-profit fighting recidivism with entrepreneurial training. His book, Sparrow in the Razor Wire: Finding Freedom from Within While Serving a Life Sentence, chronicles his path to self-discovery while behind bars.  My interview will delve into his experiences, from his childhood to his past as a murderer, with the aim of creating powerful content that sheds light on the possibility of redemption.

The past year since my book launch has been a rollercoaster. I've been hustling to create content, tirelessly marketing my book, and all the while, trying to figure out my niche and path as a content creator. It's been a period of exploration and experimentation, and there have definitely been moments of uncertainty. But recently, something has shifted. I feel a newfound clarity and surge of excitement for the content I'm about to create. It's like the frenetic energy of the past year has coalesced into a focused vision.  Part of this excitement stems from discovering my voice as an interviewer. I'm truly enjoying this new direction and the opportunity to delve into the stories of others.  Stay tuned, because I can't wait to share what I'm working on – I believe you'll find it refreshing and engaging.

Ankord Labs Weekly Spotlight:

_{Ankord Labs is a private venture studio where I incubate and invest in social impact startups. We partner with visionary CEOs who share our commitment to social good. Together, we engineer impactful companies that tackle real-world challenges faced by real people.Each week, I rotate highlights of the progress made at one of Ankord Labs’ featured startups. This week, the focus is Narratives: a 501(c)(3) content house and holding company, publishing a diverse set of interviews from people’s lives to showcase stories of redemption, personal growth, and struggle to create empathy online. Narratives is also a holding company of TheDoe, a publication sharing anonymous, heart-centered narratives to promote empathy across divides.}

Narratives & The Doe:

The Narratives team is excited to announce a major step forward for our non-profit! After much work behind the scenes, we're gearing up to film our first ever interview with Quan Huynh of Defy Ventures. This meaningful talk will not only be the first official shoot for Narratives, but also our inaugural bylined interview across the holding company. This signifies a sprout of new growth for the organization as we move from concept to creation, sharing powerful bylined stories that foster empathy online. 

At The Doe, we remain committed to sharing powerful narratives that spark conversation and challenge perspectives. Recently, two stories, "I'm a Woman Who's Sleeping With a Gay Man (Yes, He's Still Gay)" and "I Had an Affair While Pregnant. I'm So Grateful I Did," have ignited lively discussions on social media. These diverse experiences push boundaries of sexuality and women’s control over their sexuality. Thoughtful narratives like these encourage readers to grapple with complex emotions. We believe in the power of storytelling to foster empathy and understanding, even when the stories we share don't always provide easy answers.

Things I’m Reading:

• FDA Grants Breakthrough Therapy Status To LSD Drug To Treat Anxiety in Forbes - There's exciting news in the world of mental health! This article discusses a new potential treatment for anxiety using a form of LSD. The FDA recently granted "breakthrough therapy" status to this drug, called MM120, which is being developed by MindMed specifically for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Early clinical trials show promise, with a single dose significantly reducing anxiety symptoms that lasted for up to 12 weeks. As someone passionate about new medical advancements for mental health, I'm thrilled about the potential of psychedelics to help millions struggling with anxiety and other conditions.

• Psychedelics at The Doe: Since I’ve been focusing on delicately writing about psychedelics in my manuscript, I mined the vault of The Doe to find some of the most thought-provoking pieces. It turned into a compelling collection of open mindedness and self-acceptance worth exploring:

  • Psychedelic Therapy Is the Therapy of the Future

  • The Best Treatment for My Brain Cancer? Magic Mushrooms

  • Antidepressants Didn’t Work for Me but Ketamine Does

  • How Tripping on Acid Helped Me Embrace My Femininity

Things I’m Watching/Listening To:

• Dreamin - Jean Deaux, one of our Guin artists, has an R&B album coming out that is just so sensual you might just blush. Check out the first single, and put it on repeat until the album arrives!

• Speaking of fresh sounds, I'm always on the hunt for new music to fuel my creativity.  This week's newsletter ignited a craving for some good R&B! Whether it's classic jams or fresh takes on the genre, I'd love to hear what you're into. Hit me with your favorite R&B artists or hidden gems – what are you currently grooving to? I’ll post my favorite new finds based on your recommendations!

Wrapping Up

As I spend more and more time writing my book, it's easy to see the profound connection between curiosity and strong mental health.  Research reminds me that opening the mind to unconstrained thinking can alleviate mental illness but also awaken meaningful curiosity and joyful wonder. Much like the journey of continuous learning when writing a book, curiosity hinges on a sense of wonder and the belief that there's still so much to uncover.  In sum, the moment we believe we know-it-all is the moment curiosity stagnates and we become depressed and anxious.

To keep your flame of exploration strong, embrace the practices that ignite your curiosity.  Devour books and content, explore new ideas, and don't be afraid to embark on adventures, both physical and mental. As you delve deeper, find ways to capture your discoveries, even if it's just a simple sketch or a weekly journal entry. The universe rewards the curious, along the path of chasing your curiosity, you’ll find so many gems that you couldn’t have even dreamed of. 

Stay tuned for more explorations in the upcoming issues, and in the meantime, feel free to share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below. You all make this newsletter worth writing!

Until next week, stay curious!

Milan Kordestani

_{Milan Kordestani, a social entrepreneur and impact-driven founder, serves as the CEO of AnKord Labs, a startup incubator committed to fostering businesses that scale social impact at scale. With over 6 years of experience building predominantly technology-based startups, Milan architects and invests in co-founders who are deeply ethical, and compelled to contribute to making the world a better place. He is an avid contributor to several online publications, and his first book reached #2 on the Wall Street Journal’s Bestseller List. Milan's values are to scale conscious capitalism, and cultivate collaborative consensus to advance the species.}

Hello to all 1,600 of you friends!

It’s been a whirlwind since last week with lots to share about SXSW! But before we get started on the updates from my trip to Austin, I want to take a moment to reflect on an event I attended last week where we got to celebrate the work of my mother, philanthropist Bita Daryabari, and the work of her organization, The Pars Equality Gala. It was a night that resonated deeply with family pride and a profound sense of admiration for the organization my mother has been building for over fifteen years. Ever since its inception, I’ve always made it to this Gala, even during college when flights from Colorado to LA meant late nights and early mornings. Witnessing the Pars Equality Center blossom from a fledgling idea into a beacon of support for the Persian-speaking community in California, and now extending its reach to Afghan refugees, has been nothing short of extraordinary.  

To be present that night, surrounded by the organization's positive impact and witness to my mother's unwavering dedication firsthand, was truly humbling. I couldn't be more grateful to have such a hardworking, inspiring, and service-oriented leader as a mom and role model. The Pars Equality Center is a testament to her strength and vision, and I can't wait to see what incredible things they achieve next.

Ankord Media:

_{If you don’t know about my work as a writer and content creator, know that I’m a best-selling author and journalist who contributes regularly to Entrepreneur, Rolling Stone, and Forbes, championing conscious capitalism and innovation across industries. My first book, I'm Just Saying: A Guide to Maintaining Civil Discourse in an Increasingly Divided World, reached #2 on the Wall Street Journal’s Bestseller List in 2023, and I am working on a follow-up manuscript focused on fostering moonshot moments.}

From Milan the Author:

In my pursuit of fleshing out the transhumanism aspects of my upcoming manuscript, I've been drawn to explore the specific challenges facing Generation Z. Studies and interviews paint a concerning picture: saddled with student loan debt and entering adulthood during a time of soaring living costs, this generation feels deeply disillusioned and pessimistic. Social media bombardment with negativity further fuels their apathy, with many believing their vote holds no power to change a seemingly bleak future.  This lack of faith in older generations to create a better world is a stark reality.

This context is precisely why I'm invested in exploring transhumanism.  My book delves into the evolution of the human psyche, culture, and philosophies that will be necessary to foster collaboration and a shared vision. Psychedelics even emerge as a potential tool to help Gen Z navigate these complex emotions and chart a more positive course for the future. Ultimately, my goal is to explore avenues for creating a more unified vision for the future of our species.  

From Milan the Content Creator:

I’m incredibly humbled and excited to share that this newsletter has officially broken past 1,000 subscribers! A huge thank you to all the early readers who joined me on this journey from the beginning. You helped build this fantastic community, and I wouldn't be here without your support.

Now, for the newcomers: welcome aboard, I'll be making a conscious effort to provide more background information moving forward. Here’s a quick recap for newcomers, which seasoned vets can skip!

Ankord Labs Weekly Spotlight:

_{Ankord Labs isn't your typical venture studio. We take a unique approach, acting as a co-founder for startups that scale social impact sustainability. We partner with visionary CEOs who share our commitment to social good. Together, we engineer impactful companies that tackle real-world challenges faced by real people. We don't just invest; we offer a comprehensive suite of services designed to incubate and support these startups and propel them towards success. Each week, I rotate highlighting the progress made at one of Ankord Labs’ featured startups:}

• _{Audo: An AI career concierge that weighs your career aspirations against your current qualifications and current job market demand to guide you toward revenue-generating jobs.} 

• _{Guin Records: An artist-friendly, family-run, record label partnering and investing in artists who prioritize their ownership, longevity, and impact in music culture.}

• _{Narratives: Narratives is a 501(c)(3) content house, publishing a diverse set of interviews from people’s lives to showcase stories of redemption, personal growth, and struggle to create empathy online.}

• _{The Doe: The Doe is Narratives’ anonymous publishing platform that specializes in anonymous, personal stories with the aim of promoting empathy.} 

• _{Nota: A venture-backed content creation and distribution platform created for legacy media publishers to efficiently and affordably create content so they can focus on reporting more than editing.} 

Guin Records: SXSW was a whirlwind of incredible music, and catching live sets by Guin Records' artists Ketu and Tempest was a definite highlight. Their energy was infectious, and the crowd was electric. But beyond the music, it was even more special to share the experience with my sister, Misha Kordestani. Seeing her shine as CEO of Guin Records at SXSW filled me with immense pride. It's inspiring to witness her dedication and vision shaping the careers of such talented musicians.

Digital Brawl: Peso Pluma's SXSW show blew me away. If you don't believe me, check the Rolling Stone comments where 300 people basically agreed with my claim that he's the “Dalai Lama of Mariachi music.” Apparently, I wasn't the only one who felt like I'd witnessed musical enlightenment. The man's voice? Pure magic, perfectly suited for a unique mariachi subgenre called Corrido. His stage presence? Electrifying.  Of course, the internet being the internet, there were a few dissenters who unleashed their fury on my glowing review. "Gringo idiot" seemed to be the insult of choice, but hey, a little uncivil discourse is a small price to pay for commenting my thoughts on Peso Pluma's musical prowess in an online comment section.

Hats Off to Texas: SXSW may have had its fair share of Texas-sized bugs (flying cockroaches are something else), but the food scene more than made up for it! I kicked things off by catching up with friends in Austin at Lambert's Downtown BBQ – a hidden gem I discovered with Audo CEO Ahmad Elzahdan on my first SXSW adventure last year. The second night brought the Guin Records team together at the legendary Terry's Black's.

Things I’m Reading:

• The Geopolitics Of AI Chips Will Define The Future Of AI from Forbes - While researching asteroid mining for my manuscript, I stumbled upon a fascinating piece that explored the intersection of AI’s technical limitations and international politics. The article further highlighted the potential for international tensions as nations jockey for position to claim or regulate these valuable rare minerals used in chip production. This unexpected discovery has opened up a whole new dimension to consider when thinking about the future of asteroid mining.

• What It’s Like Being a Doctor During Ramadan from The Doe - Though this article comes from The Doe’s extensive archives, the issues it tackles are clearly still relevant today. The Doe staff's decision to re-release it on Instagram has sparked important conversations about religion and health, making it a perfect read as we enter Ramadan. 

• Funny in Farsi - I’m a huge fan of Firoozeh Dumas, so I always love coming back to this book. It's a hilarious and heartwarming memoir that chronicles her experience immigrating to America from Iran as a child. I find that Dumas's witty observations capture the cultural clashes and triumphs of growing up bicultural, and the story's core of finding humor and connection in new experiences resonates with immigrants of all backgrounds, including my own parents.

Things I’m Watching/Listening To:

• Lots of Peso Pluma! - As I mentioned above, SXSW was an opportunity to really enjoy this artist live. I have been playing his tunes in my playlist this week, but I wanted to connect you here to some of his videos, which I also find creative and energizing. Check them out!

  • Bellakeo

  • Ella Baila Sola

  • Rompe La Dompe

  • Lady Gaga

• Guin Artists - Catching an artist live can truly elevate your fandom. Here at Guin, we've been lucky to witness some incredible performances. A few personal highlights include Ketu and Tempest. Not only were they phenomenal live, but exciting new projects are brewing with both of them! Stay tuned for those, and be sure to give these talented artists a spin in the meantime.

  • Heathens by Tempest

  • Rain on Me by Ketu

Wrapping Up

As we reach the end of this newsletter, I want to express my sincere gratitude for your continued readership. Your engagement with my content is exciting, and I truly appreciate you being a part of the community. And to my newest readers, a warm welcome again! I’m thrilled to have you join me, and I hope you'll find these newsletters informative and engaging. Don't hesitate to reach out with any questions or suggestions you might have. 

This coming week includes the joyous celebration of Nowruz. Nowruz, steeped in traditions that stretch back millennia, marks the Persian New Year. Celebrated on the spring equinox, it's a vibrant festival that transcends mere celebration; it's a symbolic cleansing and renewal, mirroring nature's awakening as winter gives way to spring. I hope all my Iranian readers have a great holiday and enjoy a meal with loved ones. I want to take this opportunity to wish you all a prosperous and blessed year ahead! May the coming year be filled with good health, happiness, and success!

Kindly,

Milan Kordestani

_{Milan Kordestani, a social entrepreneur and impact-driven founder, serves as the CEO of AnKord Labs, a startup incubator committed to fostering businesses that scale social impact at scale. With over 6 years of experience building predominantly technology-based startups, Milan architects and invests in co-founders who are deeply ethical, and compelled to contribute to making the world a better place. He is an avid contributor to several online publications, and his first book reached #2 on the Wall Street Journal’s Bestseller List. Milan's values are to scale conscious capitalism, and cultivate collaborative consensus to advance the species.}

Wellll, this ain’t Texas! 

Wait, yes it is! Greetings from beautiful Austin, Texas, where I’m attending SXSW this week, checking out some live performances from Guin artists and spending time with my sister Misha and members and artists from the Guin Records team. I’ll also be catching up with some great friends (shout out to Ari Kohan, Luke Rohlen and Bailey Burrows) as well as meeting up with some of my favorite founders, including the brilliant Scott Hickle. I’ll give you a low down on the lone star state in next week’s breakdown, but for now, a lot has happened since we last spoke!

Ankord Media:

From Milan the Author:

This week, my manuscript took a turn! I decided to experiment with a "Choose Your Own Adventure" style chapter, which was a real challenge for me. Normally, I prefer storytelling rooted in facts, but this little foray into fiction definitely stretched my creative muscles.  It turns out weaving multiple storylines and keeping track of reader choices is more challenging than I anticipated. Still, it's a good reminder that pushing beyond your comfort zone can lead to unexpected growth as a writer.

From Milan the Content Creator:

I volunteered this past week with Defy Ventures, a program that equips inmates with entrepreneurial skills to reduce recidivism. I’ve been following this batch of graduates, working with them months ago to develop their entrepreneurial ideas and coming back this week to judge their pitches. It was an emotional experience witnessing the graduation ceremony. The participants, many with violent pasts and challenging backgrounds, showcased incredible growth and emotional intelligence. They even shared heartwarming messages about the "gold" they see in their loved ones who came to support them. You can see their focus and drive to become productive businessmen when they are released, and it’s so humbling to help them actualize their dreams.

Defy's program yields impressive results. Among the winning business ideas were a theft-proof catalytic converter container, a mobile barbershop, a window cleaning service, and a company that simplifies food truck setup and permitting: all practical companies offering real world solutions in innovative ways. It's particularly impactful considering all but one participant had violent offenses and grew up in environments marked by violence, incarceration, and academic struggles. 60% of incarcerated people are unemployed 12 months after release. Yet 84% of Defy graduates are employed after release, and they’ve maintained that since 2021, a testament to the effectiveness of the program and its dedicated staff. Witnessing these former felons transform is truly inspiring, and I’m looking forward to interviewing many of them to share their stories with the world soon.

Ankord Labs Weekly Spotlight:

This week, I wanted to mix it up a bit from a company update, and instead, focus on the efforts of Ankord Labs itself!

The New Ankord Labs Website: I'm excited to announce that the brand new Ankord Labs website is finally live! It's a complete overhaul – clean, fresh, and bursting with more details than ever before.  One of the things I love most is how it puts our co-founders front and center. But that's not all! We've also published a fantastic new article that dives deep into the story of founding Ankord Labs. It tells the whole tale of my journey, from the first startup idea I had, to stepping down from CEO of the various startups to build up the incubator. My mission? To empower conscious founders to build unicorn businesses that drive social impact.  If you haven't checked it out yet, head over to the new website – you won't be disappointed!

Supporting Womxn CEOs: As we celebrate Womxn's History Month, it's imperative to recognize and celebrate the achievements of women leaders within the Ankord Labs portfolio. Among these remarkable individuals is Misha Kordestani, the CEO of Guin Records, who tirelessly navigates the music industry's persistent gender disparities. Cleo Stiller, Editor-in-Chief of Narratives and The Doe, leverages her background as a journalist and activist to cultivate spaces for impactful storytelling. Finally, Rachel Ashcraft serves as the Executive Director of Narratives, spearheading the growth of a nonprofit organization with an expanding network. Every day I do my best to support these incredible womxn in running their organizations so that they can do their jobs of inspiring future womxn leaders. 

Things I’m Reading:

• My Mother Passed Along Her Body Anxieties Like a Family Curse: This recent article at The Doe has struck a chord with many, sparking powerful conversations about the burdens women carry. It delves into the complex issue of body image shame, exploring how societal pressures and our mothers' experiences can shape our own. This raw narrative has inspired many to share their own stories, fostering a dialogue about the lasting impact of these anxieties across generations. It's truly encouraging to see this article acting as a catalyst for such important discussions, empowering women to break free from these cycles and embrace a healthier relationship with their bodies.

• The Wisdom of Insecurity: A Message for an Age of Anxiety by Alan W. Watts: Since it’s been so hectic the past few weeks, I grabbed this favorite of mine that my father first introduced me to. Every time I reread it (more like listening to the audiobook), I find new gems that help me re-center myself. This thought-provoking book challenges our constant need for control and security. Watts argues that true peace comes from accepting the ever-changing nature of life. By letting go of anxieties about the future and regrets about the past, he suggests we can find meaning and fulfillment in the present moment. It’s an essential read when you’re feeling overbooked or stressed!

Things I’m Watching/Listening To:

• Guin Artist Performances at SXSW: it was amazing to see these performances here in Austin!

  • March 15, 2024 @  700 E 6TH STREET, AUSTIN, TX 78701

    • Ketu - 8PM CST

    • Tempest - 10PM CST

• President Biden's State of the Union: I watched this year’s address and was thrilled with his announcement regarding the federal reclassification of marijuana and the expungement of thousands of related convictions. As someone increasingly involved with the prison system, my learnings have underscored the urgent need for reform within our incarceration system, as well as the processes that lead to imprisonment. Biden's statement resonated deeply with me, as it signaled a bold and powerful step towards addressing these systemic issues.

• My music selections this week have been fueling my time down south!

  • Deira - Saint Levant and MC Abdul

  • The Dune II Soundtrack - Hans Zimmer

  • Texas Hold’Em - If my opening line of this newsletter was confusing, it means you missed out on Beyonce shattering all kinds of stereotypes with her new country hit.

That's a wrap for this week, folks, it's always a blast connecting with you all. Before you click off, don't forget to check out that brand new Ankord Labs website and the article about its founding. I’m so glad to share this journey with you all and the passionate co-founders that are growing purposeful startups. But enough about us – next week, we're taking a sharp turn and diving headfirst into the electrifying world of SXSW! Get ready for a jam-packed newsletter overflowing with exciting updates! Until then, stay curious, keep hustling, and I'll talk to you all next week!

Kindly,

Milan Kordestani

Hi there, curious friends,

This week across the Ankord portfolio I’ll share my insights on the Google Ed event I attended last week, updates from Audo's recent participation at Web Summit Qatar, interesting philosophical ideas about transhumanism, and so much more. So, get comfortable and please read this newsletter!

Ankord Media:

From Milan the Author:

My manuscript took a fascinating turn this week, delving into the world of transhumanism. In essence, this philosophical movement champions leveraging technology to transcend our current biological limitations, rewriting the very definition of what it means to be human. The potential for lifespan extension and cognitive augmentation, once relegated to the realm of science fiction, is now being seriously considered in the transhumanist sphere. I'm brimming with excitement to share my research and explore the potential implications of this movement with you all. It’s really been a challenge navigating the exciting, but often controversial, frontiers of transhumanism to find a balance for my readers. I think this book is shaping up to be a critical exploration that will challenge our preconceived notions and push the boundaries of human potential.

Ankord Labs Weekly Spotlight:

Audo:

As I mentioned in our last newsletter, last week I was in Mountain View at the Google Ed event, representing Audo and learning more about Google’s new AI-driven Gemini Education. At the same time, Ahmad was over in Doha (marginally better weather than the Bay Area) to network with Gulfi leadership at the Qatari Web Summit. He’s currently in Riyadh this week attending the LEAP/DeepFest, building Audo’s presence in the Middle East, where many governments are investing 10x in the education of their people compared to the United States.  

Google ED Event - Audo recently participated in a Google Education event designed for both Google Classroom sales representatives and partners who build and integrate with the platform. The event offered a glimpse into the future of Google Classroom, showcasing a range of pre-release features scheduled for public launch later this year.

One of the most exciting announcements was the upcoming release of premium tools and features for Google Classroom that enable teachers to do their jobs a bit more effortlessly. This powerful suite will allow educators to leverage AI for tasks like:

• Generating quizzes and questions directly from assigned YouTube videos, assessing student comprehension and engagement.

• Creating personalized practice sets using AI, automatically generating text, images, and video based on chosen skills or course suggestions.

• Implementing AI-powered hints and resources within assignments, offering students additional support when needed.

The event also highlighted Classroom Analytics, offering educators insights into student engagement, grade trends, and assignment completion rates. This data empowers teachers to tailor lessons to specific themes or student interests, leveraging automated prompts and suggestions to personalize learning experiences. While the focus was primarily on supporting K-12 educators, Google acknowledged the growing adoption of Classroom in higher education as well. 

Overall, the event underscored the rapid pace of innovation in the education technology landscape. Audo, with its unique AI capabilities and commitment to empowering educators, is well-positioned to play a key role in shaping the future of learning.

The Qatar Web Summit:  Ahmad's recent participation at Web Summit Qatar proved to be a whirlwind of exciting opportunities and promising connections. The event served as a springboard for Audo's potential expansion into the Qatari market, with numerous leads showcasing strong interest in our AI-powered career guidance platform.

While the first day primarily focused on networking and opening ceremonies, Ahmad established valuable connections with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and Qatar Foundation. The second and third days were all about making connections and laying the foundations for deals with various parties and governments. 

Ahmad also connected with numerous other organizations, including the Ministry of Labor, Inqbayt, and Edu You. Overall, Web Summit Qatar proved to be a resounding success for Audo. The event not only generated a wealth of potential leads but also provided invaluable insights into the specific needs and opportunities present within the Qatari market. As we move forward, Audo remains committed to forging strategic partnerships and tailoring its offerings to empower individuals in Qatar on their career journeys.

Things I’m Reading:

• I Had an Affair While Pregnant. I’m So Grateful I Did - Part of why I started The Doe so many years ago was to create a space where people can express themselves free of retribution so that people can debate and discuss in powerful personal narratives and ideas that actually move people. This piece on The Doe has really taken hold this week on Instagram, garnering a lot of discussion and debate about women’s empowerment and modern notions of marriage. As we go into Women’s History Month, I’ll be sharing more powerful narratives from The Doe showing the wide range of women’s experiences.

• Meeting Sora - The tech world is abuzz with excitement over OpenAI's recent unveiling of Sora! This groundbreaking AI model takes text descriptions and transforms them into hyper-realistic videos, up to a minute long. Imagine conjuring a late night walk through Tokyo, an undersea world of origami, or pirate ships battling in a cup of coffee  – all with a few well-chosen words. Sora's ability to translate language into such visually stunning and dynamic videos opens up a treasure trove of possibilities, from revolutionizing animation to democratizing video creation.  I, for one, have been glued to my screen, devouring the technical report, watching demos, and soaking up everything I can about this revolutionary new technology. I have a feeling Sora is going to be a game-changer!

Things I’m Watching/Listening To:

• Pins and Needles (Spotify) - Our very own Guin artist, Asha Imuno, just dropped their sophomore album, Pins and Needles! This release has been a long time coming, with some hot tracks already gaining momentum, and I'm bursting with excitement to celebrate Asha's incredible talent. The album release party was absolutely lit. Check it out and dive into a world of soulful melodies and powerful lyrics – you won't be disappointed! Great work to Misha and team Guin, subscribe to the Guin newsletter here to stay up to date with all new releases.

• The Power Of Psychedelic Therapy For Members Of The Military (NPR) - I’ve also been learning more about therapeutic and practical uses of psychedelics during my research of transhumanism, and I ran across a great NPR talk about some of the latest legislation that will allow researchers to work with soldiers to treat their PTSD. It’s exciting to think about the new therapeutic opportunities with psychedelics, and it's great to see the government stepping up and providing cutting edge support for our active duty soldiers and vets. 

• Some of my favorite music discoveries from the week:

  • Every Time - By Boogie Belgique

  • La Rumba D’el Jefe - The Rumba Foundation

  • Sincerely Yours, D.A.C - Heavy Starch

  • Always on My Mind - Marbert Rocel

  • Baltimore - Nina Simone

Wrapping Up

As this week comes to a close, I wanted to share a stat I got at the Google Ed Event that took my breath away:

• It took 68 years for 50 million people to fly on planes. 

• It took 7 years for 50 million people to adopt the internet. 

• It took 3 years for Facebook to reach 50 million users. 

• It took 5 weeks for Gen AI to reach 50 million users.

It really brings into perspective just how impactful AI has already been, how many people are a part of that - and how many will be in the future!

That wraps it up for this week's letter! As always, the Ankord family is brimming with exciting developments across all our ventures. As you reach the bottom of this letter, know that this letter has been scheduled sent because I’m currently volunteering in prison to help incarcerated people prepare their careers and resumes for life after prison! Thank you for joining me on this journey, and I look forward to sharing more with you next week. Until then, stay curious, stay inspired, and keep an eye out for further updates!

Until next week,

Milan Kordestani

Ah, sweet relief; I’m nearly 100% from the flu I had a couple of weeks ago. I spent the past week on the mildly rainy shores of the Bay Area, but I am back in Los Angeles now. This week I was thrilled to attend a Google Education event exclusive to Google Partners and startups in their accelerator. Representing Audo, I was able to spend the day getting unreleased and insider product demos of Google’s new features and products as they pertain to AI and Gemini’s integration in education. Google is building an incredible suite of tools to power educators to make education for K-12 so much more personalized by integrating generative AI tools into Google Classroom. Beyond the dreamy day at Google, visiting the Bay and seeing family is always great: lots of fun spending time with my siblings, hiking with my mom, watching the new Bob Marley movie, and more. 

Ankord Media:

From Milan the Author:

I've been working like a madman on my manuscript this week. Two whole chapters emerged from the fray, diving deep into the ethics and history surrounding moonshot moments and transformative technologies like AI and synthetic biology. I find myself revisiting history and eras like ancient Sumeria or Renaissance Italy, pondering how those pivotal technologies fundamentally reshaped their worlds back then to draw similarities and predictions for our future. This journey has spurred deep reflection on my own techno moral virtues (see my book rec below!), challenging me to consider the legacy we, as technologists today, are building for future generations. It's both profound and slightly overwhelming but in the best of ways!

Ankord Labs Weekly Spotlight:

Josh Brandau is working hard to close our funding round at Nota we’re about 70% of the way there and I can’t wait to share more details on who all invested and what’s in store for 2024 and beyond. I’ve been working on crafting a memo documenting Ankord Labs’ investment in Nota, the team, and the vision which I will share with you all in the next few weeks. For now, the team is focused on product iteration based on customer feedback, and growing revenue. 

Josh and the Nota team have also been closing so many customers that we’ve been running out of bandwidth and are looking to hire more support; check out the open roles on LinkedIn here. While the Nota team is still meeting and onboarding publishers every week, they’ve been taking a strategic approach by prioritizing larger commercial deals until the team expands. Nota has also recently signed a deal with INN, and is working on deals with publication powerhouses LION and ONA. 

Protecting the Integrity of Our Elections: Nota’s most exciting announcement this week, however, has been its involvement with the Tech Accord to Combat Deceptive Use of AI in 2024 Elections, joining 19 other major media companies like Microsoft, Google, X, TikTok, Amazon, and more. This agreement outlines how participating companies will address the risks of fake election content generated by AI on their platforms. This includes content created within their own systems, open-source models they offer, or content simply shared on their platforms. There are real concerns about AI in the upcoming elections, and companies need to proactively address the issue before and during the election process to ensure the freest and fairest outcomes for our democracy. This accord marks Nota’s commitment to electoral transparency, and shows our commitment to keeping news honest and reliable for American voters.

Things I’m Reading:

• Technology and the Virtues: A Philosophical Guide to a Future Worth Wanting, by Shannon Vallor: I’m currently so engrossed in Shannon Vallor's book, her philosophical focus resonates deeply with me, particularly her emphasis on the need for a shared ethical foundation amongst those developing and utilizing AI. Vallor's exploration of how ancient philosophical virtues can serve as a foundation for a new approach to technology is a refreshing and insightful perspective that I find both thought-provoking and necessary for navigating the complexities of our digital future.

Things I’m Watching/Listening To:

• What's something I wouldn't believe about you? (Strangers Answer), by Thoraya: Empathy building content, like these personal narrative interviews, holds a special place in my heart. I'm drawn to the raw honesty, the unfiltered essence of narratives that allow individuals to speak their own truths in their own words. There's a power and authenticity in these stories that cuts through the noise, forging a genuine connection between storyteller and listener. This is the kind of deeply human content we aspire to build at Narratives. These stories inspire me, not only as a journalist but also as a person, constantly reminding me that the most fascinating, most incredible tales often lie in the unvarnished experiences of those around us.

• Guaguansoul: Evan Young, Co-Founder and COO at Nota, put me on to an incredible album this week. It’s super funky, latin music with a modern flare and inconsistent rhythm changes like Jazz. I highly recommend adding it to any loungey playlists you have. 

Wrapping Up

That wraps it up for this week! Thank you once again for taking the time to catch up on the highlights of what I’m working on and the content I’m consuming. Next week I look forward to sharing some exciting updates from Ahmad’s adventures representing exciting developments on all the various projects across Ankord. It's truly a privilege to have you here reading my long-form writing and supporting my dynamic ecosystem at Ankord. Until next week, stay curious, and please consume some of the interesting content I linked above!

Kindly,

Milan Kordestani

Good Morning from a Snowy Montana, 

This week’s letter has been challenging to write as I’ve been battling the flu in a blur of tissues, thermometers, and enough Nyquil to tranquilize a moose. While battling the sniffles and insomnia, I managed to hallucinate a memory of one of my favorite childhood songs that I had forgotten, buried deep in my subconscious. Since I last wrote, I have had a handful of healthy days where I managed to read lots, kick off some promising partnership opportunities, launch a new site, and work on my book! Keep reading to learn more. Buckle up because we're diving in!

Ankord Media:

From Milan the Author:

Just before the flu took over, my mind found solace in working on my manuscript and exploring the concept of "moonshot moments." These transformative leaps of progress, from the moon landing to the invention of the light bulb, ignite a spark within me, inspiring awe and a profound sense of human potential. With feverish determination, I’ve been crafting the first chapters of my next book focused on Moonshot Moments (9,000 words in the last week is no small feat). While I can't say the flu hasn't slowed my progress a tad, the momentum has been significant and deeply fulfilling. 

Ankord Labs Weekly Spotlight:

Narratives & The Doe:

I’m excited to share that the team at Narratives and Ankord Media came together to launch a landing page for Narratives as we build the organization. Click here for a first peek, and join me in celebrating the power of storytelling to drive social progress! For those of you new to this newsletter, Narratives is a 501(c)(3) content organization dedicated to sharing a broad spectrum of perspectives from across all cultures, demographics, and regions. It operates two distinct publishing arms: The Doe and Narratives. The Doe is our platform for anonymous storytelling, offering a space for authors to share their experiences without revealing their identities, fostering a unique environment for diverse, impactful narratives. Meanwhile, Narratives is set to feature personal stories under the authors' real names, celebrating the storytellers' identities and experiences directly.

We’ll have a more prominent, more comprehensive brand and site launch in the coming months, but that launch requires content and partnerships (which we are crushing):

Defy Ventures: I’m excited to share that we are just weeks from conducting the first bylined interview for Narratives. Through a beta partnership with Defy Ventures, other Narratives journalists and I will interview formerly incarcerated people, sharing their stories of survival, perseverance, and empathy building. Defy Ventures helps incarcerated individuals gain entrepreneurial skills so they can break free of the recidivism cycle. I’ve met a few times with Quan Huynh, a former inmate who now helps run Defy and has published his book, Sparrow in the Razor Wire: Finding Freedom from Within While Serving a Life Sentence (highly recommended, by the way!) We’ve decided to do a lengthy interview for Narratives, discussing his triumphant life story and how Defy is helping inmates transition to a more productive lifestyle. I’m thrilled to bring his powerful voice to Narratives, and the whole team is excited to have impactful content as we build this new non-profit. 

Pars Equality Center: This month, I also met with Peyman Malaz at Pars Equality Center, a  non-profit supporting Farsi-speaking immigrants in the US. The teams at The Doe and Narratives will be working with Pars’ staff on a project to support Afghan refugees who have been granted asylum in the US after the military pullout of 2021. Those who feel uncomfortable with their identity being publicized will share their stories with me to publish on TheDoe anonymously, where we’ll create videos for viewers to see and hear the real people behind this political crisis. For those comfortable sharing their identity, we’ll publish their interviews on Narratives. I’m proud that, for many Afghan women who had experiences of trauma and fear, The Doe will offer them their first safe space to tell their stories. I will have to brush up on my Farsi skills, but I’m thrilled to have such a good reason to practice!

Finally, I want to thank the team at Narratives and The Doe (and especially Cleo and Rachel) immensely for their hard work reviving The Doe and bringing Narratives to life. We’ve had countless stories go viral in the past few weeks. Their headlines are below, and you can see tons of great civil discourse in the comments, too. Moderation is a challenge; we’re learning as we go, but we’re excited that our audience still cares to read and support our work. 

• My Sex Reassignment Surgery Left Me Feeling More Lost Than Ever Before 

  • Click here to See the Discourse on IG

• I Stayed Married Because I Was Afraid of Living in Poverty 

  • Click here to see the Discourse on IG

• I Love My ‘Tradwife’ Life 

  • Click here to See the Discourse on IG

• How Being a Queer Model Has Helped and Hurt My Self-Esteem 

  • Not live posted on IG

Things I’m Reading (Audiobooking):

• Unmasking AI: My Mission to Protect What Is Human in a World of Machines, by Dr. Joy Buolamwini: In the spirit of Black History Month, I audiobooked "Unmasking AI" by Dr. Joy Buolamwini. It's a powerful exploration of how biased data and algorithms can perpetuate societal inequalities, particularly regarding race and gender. As a founder of AI development, this book was illuminating and unsettling. Buolamwini's personal experiences encountering discriminatory AI firsthand, her research uncovering the "coded gaze," and her subsequent activism through the Algorithmic Justice League was eye-opening. It challenged me to critically examine the potential for bias in my projects, reminding me of the responsibility we hold as developers to create responsible and ethical AI that amplifies, not amplifies, existing injustice. This book is a must-read for anyone involved in AI, urging us to prioritize human values and actively work towards equitable AI solutions.

Things I’m Listening To:

• Gole Maryam: One night, while trying my best to fall into a deep sleep well tranquilized by Nyquil, I lay awake, unable to sleep for hours. In that Nyquil haze, I found myself recounting a rhyme and a couple of words of a song my mom used to play for me on the way to school in the 6th grade. It’s a genre-bending folk/pop mix from 1990s Iran called Gole Maryam. The following day, I called my mom, trying to recount the song, but I only remembered two words from the song and not the rhythm. She remembered the song situationally when I described where and when she’d play it for me, but no other specifics. The second night of my flu, again sedated with Nyquil, three more words came to me and the rhythm. This time, I voice-recorded it and then immediately called my mother. She didn’t recount it immediately; she was half asleep when I called her. But the following day, she identified the song, and I’m so excited to share it with you. Please see it linked here. Additionally, if you’re interested in tuning into any of my other favorite Iranian songs, please see my curated Persian Playlist here.

Wrapping Up

With that, I’m happy to report that I’m recovering well from the flu and enjoying beautiful skiing runs with my younger siblings and family. So much work is going on in the background at Ankord to support all of my notable startups and media ambitions; thank you to everyone helping me build this empire. Mark your calendars – the next few weeks promise big announcements you won't want to miss. Stay tuned, stay curious, and remember, every journey begins with a good night’s sleep and caring for your physical and mental self. 

Thank you again for subscribing to this little corner of my world. Until we meet again next week, may your moonshot dreams burn bright.

Stay Warm and Healthy,

Milan Kordestani

Greetings from a Warm but Cloudy Los Angeles,

Firstly, a massive thank you for tuning in once again to this newsletter. These days, I find that most of my serotonin comes from discovering new music that gives me chills, and the serenity of calm sunny days where I can spend my days reading and writing. As always, I find myself listening to more and more Cuban music, especially when the sun is shining and I get to drive down the Pacific Coast Highway with rolled down windows. As we look ahead, I can't help but feel excitement for the upcoming long weekend, with next Monday marking President's Day—a perfect opportunity to soak up more sunshine, discover some new tunes, and make some content! So please, kick back and enjoy another exciting edition of my newsletter.

Ankord Media:

From Milan the Author:

A few weeks ago, I had the incredible opportunity to sit down for an interview with Dr. Ben Kuipers, a distinguished mathematician at the University of Michigan renowned for his work in AI. Our discussion delved deep into the essence of cooperation and the imperative of cultivating win-win scenarios to propel our advancements in AI and to drive human progress. Dr. Kuipers introduced me to Robert Wright’s work on non-zero-sum progress which has profoundly influenced the current book I’m working on. As I continue crafting my work, I'm weaving in these insights, emphasizing the critical need and moonshot goal of global cooperation. Stay tuned as these transformative ideas take center stage in my upcoming book.

From Milan the Content Creator:

I recently had the opportunity to participate in an interview with Fox News, where we engaged in a discussion about President Biden's use of profanity to express frustration with his political opponents. Check out my comments here - and expect more election discourse as 2024 progresses! 

See here a video about why the DNC is going to intentionally lose this election. A solution to these problems can be found here. 

Ankord Labs Weekly Spotlight:

Audo:

Accelerating with Google StartED: We're excited to share that Ahmad Elzahdan, CEO of Audo, recently participated in the well-respected Google StartED Accelerator program. Over the course of the week, Ahmad had the opportunity to engage in insightful mentorship sessions, workshops, and networking events aimed at fostering growth and innovation in the education technology sector. The program provided Ahmad with valuable resources and guidance, which will allow him to further solidify Audo's position as a leader in the industry. He provided some insights to share. 

Ahmad enthusiastically expressed how productive and “intense” the conference was - an immersive experience, extending far beyond the scheduled times due to the abundance of valuable information and engaging Q&A sessions. The week commenced with an inspiring induction by Alisa O'Hara, Google's Global Head of EdTech Partnerships, shedding light on Google's ambitious plans for education and introducing Google's EdTech integration partner, Zazmic. Ahmad enjoyed meeting with Anthony Hernandez, Google's Strategic EdTech Partnerships Manager, to discuss funding and growth opportunities for Audo. Throughout the sessions, Ahmad focused on future partnership opportunities and ideas for fundraising strategies and investor prospecting. Overall, the conference was a rigorous yet enlightening journey, fostering collaboration, networking, and strategic planning to propel Audo towards its ambitious goals.

Progress on the Roadmap: Progress at Audo is soaring as we look to fill key hires across various critical roles, including a Data Engineer, Senior Flutter Developer, and ML Engineer. Additionally, significant strides have been made in backend development with the implementation of features for Audo’s Job Match feature and a Server Migration. On the front end, the Audo team’s focus remains sharp, with the development of native Course Pages, Design Prototypes, and intuitive user interfaces for Audo’s Course Listings, Resume feature, and Job Tracker functionalities. Audo’s executive team has also been focusing on securing grants and partnerships specifically focused on the prison system, to provide Audo to inmates looking to avoid recidivism. Stay tuned as we continue to push boundaries and bring technological innovation at Audo.

Branding Revamp and Content: In a collaboration between the Audo and Ankord Labs teams, we've pooled our expertise to create motion graphics videos showcasing the latest features of our products and undergo a new logo creation journey. With a fresh new logo and product suite set to debut later this year, we are more clear on the problems we solve and the populations we solve them for, than ever before.

Ankord Labs Job Searches:

The Ankord Labs team is working round the clock to fill new positions that open in the startups we incubate. If you know any great candidates, please help us to connect to them and grow the Ankord family! Three great positions are open at Nota:

• Director of Product Management: Come spearhead product development, collaborate closely with senior leadership, and drive innovation in alignment with Nota’s mission of revolutionizing the industry through responsible and innovative use of technology.

• Director of Customer Success and Partnerships: Come be instrumental in driving customer success, fostering strategic partnerships, and advancing Nato’s business growth through tailored solutions, strong relationships, and collaborative initiatives.

• Director of Data Science and A.I.: Lead both strategic planning and hands-on execution of our data initiatives, playing a pivotal role in developing and implementing our data strategy while actively contributing to the design, development, and deployment of AI models and machine learning algorithms.

Things I’m Reading:

• Nonzero: The Logic of Human Destiny, by Robert Wright: I've just finished Robert Wright's Nonzero as part of my quest to deepen my understanding of human cooperation and progress. Wright's compelling exploration of the interplay between cooperation, technology, and cultural evolution resonates deeply with me.  What captivated me most about the book was Wright's optimistic vision of human destiny, highlighting the potential for positive-sum outcomes and non-zero-sum progress, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges. It's a refreshing perspective that reaffirms my belief in the power of collaboration and collective action to shape a better future for humanity.

• AI and the Herculaneum Scrolls: This is a story I’ve been following this week - winners were announced in a Silicon Valley-funded competition to use AI to decipher ancient Roman scrolls preserved in lava. I am always blown away by wildly creative applications of AI, and as a fan of Roman philosophy, I can’t wait for humanity to rediscover “new” wisdom from the past.

Things I’m Watching/Listening To:

• Cuban Music: There’s just something so energetic and moving about Cuban music. Maybe it’s that I speak just enough spanish for the songs to keep me dreaming about what they’re singing about, or maybe it’s the consistency of the clave beating to keep salsa dancers on beat, but on the days when peace goes out the door and I need energy, I double down on Cuban Music. Please follow my playlist for my favorites!

• Milkshake 20 (Alex Wann Remix): With the early 2000s in the spotlight this week with Usher’s Superbowl performance, I have been blasting this remix on repeat. I love how remixes like this make something so classic feel fresh again. 

• Beyonce Goes Country: I’m all for this song, I was a big fan of her song first country song Daddy Lessons when it came out, and in general I love when artists become entrepreneurs and diversify their audiences, reach, and just generally experiment with new sounds. Maybe I’m tired of pop stars making same-sounding music; her new song Texas Hold’em feels far from “same-sounding”. 

Wrapping Up

As I conclude this edition of my newsletter, I want to thank each of you for subscribing. I hope you get to find some time this week for introspection, reflecting on the profound impact we can have when there is consensus and cooperation in our lives and communities. I’m grateful for all the progress across the Ankord portfolio, and especially Audo this week as we direct our collective efforts toward driving scalable change. Stay tuned for more updates on my book manuscript, where we delve deeper into the transformative power of cooperation and the potential it holds for launching moonshot moments of progress. Until next time, let's continue to champion progress and embrace the journey ahead with optimism and determination.

I hope you find the balance of making time to relax, while getting ahead, this upcoming long weekend.  

Kindly,

Milan Kordestani

Good Morning from a very flooded Los Angeles!

It’s been a busy couple weeks since I last wrote, but I’m so thrilled to share what’s been going on at Ankord, including progress on my next book manuscript and an inside look at what’s brewing at Nota. Thanks for joining me for this update!

Ankord Media:

From Milan the Author:

Currently immersed in the early stages of research and initial writing for my second book, I find the blank page to be both daunting and invigorating. The challenge of crafting a coherent narrative is met with inspiration drawn from the profound insights of the philosophers, physicists, and psychoanalysts whose work I’ve been exploring. Their diverse perspectives not only provide intellectual depth but also fuel my creative process. The next few months will be crucial as I put to page all the exciting ideas about AI and our future that I’ve been working on over the past few months.

From Milan the Content Creator:

I had the opportunity to interview someone who left an incredible memory and feeling that has stayed with me even months after having met. You may have seen my Eddie the Fiddler videos on social media, where I interviewed a self taught violinist in Central Park who plays under a bridge daily. There’s something so magical about how the right people fall into your world at the right time. Eddie described himself as having “Peter Pan Syndrome”, meaning that he’s an adult who never wanted to grow up and become serious. He’s jovial, light hearted, kind, and high energy. I say he came into my life at the right time because whenever I think of him, I remind myself that I have a choice of how I want to show up in the world daily, and that life is better when we show up curious and inspired like a young child. Peter Pan syndrome is an extreme of an otherwise important mental framework centered around the idea of maintaining childlike wonder, curiosity, and neuroplasticity. Eddie, and the others like him who I try to find to interview, remind me that not all heroes wear capes.

Please check out the full length interview I did with him here, and an Instagram Clip that hit over 2M views here!

Ankord Labs Weekly Spotlight:

Nota:

Fundraising Success: Any founder will tell you that the first round of fundraising is the hardest, and Nota has faced the particular challenge of fundraising in “tech winter” for the venture capital market. Yet, amidst this winter, Nota’s team has shown that for teams building real products, for real customers, who have real pain points, it’s never been a better time to build a startup. We hope to close our VC-led Seed round by the end of this month, bringing in over $3M of strategic institutional money to ensure Nota’s sustainability and growth.

I want to again applaud Josh Brandau, the co-founding team, and all the great talent at Nota for getting us through fundraising in such a competitive market. It is an exciting time to be in the startup ecosystem! And don’t worry - once Nota is ready to make the big announcement, you’ll get more detail here!

AI Tools for Publishers: Our users, from big media producers to smaller publications, have been heaping praise on us for the quality of our product. But we’ve also gotten a lot of positive - even grateful - feedback from publishers for helping them “do more with less.” With so much of the media industry suffering layoffs, many publications are being forced to ask more and more from fewer and fewer employees, and at Nota, we’ve been hearing how often our product is filling those gaps by making content generation more affordable and more user-friendly. We didn’t build for a recession, but we have always believed that publications should be focused on producing great journalism, so if we are helping outlets afford their best writers by doing away with unnecessary editors and videographers, then we know we’re doing our part to protect quality journalism and bolster the fourth estate.

New Landing Page and Promo Video: The last couple weeks I had a hand in creating a motion graphics video to show the world what the Nota team has been building. The new videos will be featured on the new website that will be launched soon - keep your eyes on this newsletter for an update when it goes live!

Going Forward: With the success of Nota’s fundraising efforts and consistent revenue growth, the team is excited to bring on a couple more team members, meaning an opportunity to enhance our customer experience and expand the capabilities of the tools we offer! I want to give you a very early sneak peek into two that have me excited:

• Nota’s upcoming Tone Builder will help users - especially media holding groups with diverse publication portfolios - train our AI to match the tone of a given publication. 

• Also in the works is a Proof tool which will allow our AI to assess and ‘grade’ users’ content for SEO quality, likelihood of virality, and more. 

Things I’m Reading:

• The Perennial Philosophy, by Aldous Huxley. -Right now, I'm diving into Perennial Philosophy for its straightforward exploration of common threads running through various religious and philosophical traditions. I like how Huxley extracts universal insights that cut across cultural and historical boundaries, providing a practical lens to understand shared human values and wisdom. In a world with diverse beliefs, this book offers a down-to-earth perspective, helping me glean practical insights applicable to contemporary life while fostering a broader understanding of the common threads that bind us all.

Things I’m Listening To:

• Milan's Guided Meditations Playlist- Lately, I’ve been in a creative mode and inspired by many of the authors I’ve been examining while working on my manuscript. This playlist includes guided meditations by some of my favorite philosophers, like Alan Watts and Ram Dass, whose insights are directing my writing and keeping me calm during the process. 

• Phonics - I’ve been listening to one of our very own Guin artist’s newest releases on repeat since I last wrote. This song, by Asha Imuno, feat. Westside Boogie and Tempest (a new Guin signee), sets the tone for a great night relaxing with friends or driving through LA on a sunny day. 

Wrapping Up

Thank you for joining me in celebrating the high-energy activities of Ankord Labs' startups, and in supporting my creative process. As we wrap up this edition, I invite you to check back in next week for more updates from the leaders we’re supporting. Their excitement is palpable, and we can't wait to share more about the innovative strides these ventures are making. Stay tuned for a deeper dive into the entrepreneurial pulse that fuels Ankord Labs, and thank you for being part of our engaged and vibrant community!

Thank you for tuning in, stay warm, 

Milan Kordestani

Good Morning from a gloomy morning in LA!

Since my last newsletter in December of 2022, a whirlwind of activities and exciting developments have taken place. I published my first book, The Doe has come back to life, Nota has gone on to fundraise a Seed round, Audo and Guin became leaner and more nimble! This edition won't be a recap of the past year; instead, it will zoom in on the present, capturing the essence of my current engagements and thoughts. Going forward, each newsletter will be segmented by each subsidiary of Ankord, featuring a rotating spotlight on an Ankord Labs startup, an Ankord Media project, what I’m listening to, what I’m reading, and anything else I’m focused on. Let's dive in!

Ankord Media:

From Milan the Author:

After a year-long hiatus from newsletters due to my foray into publishing a book, I'm thrilled to announce that my first book "I’m Just Saying: A Guide to Maintaining Civil Discourse" has not only recouped my publishers’s investment and paid dividends, reaching #2 on the WSJ BestSeller list, but also has been a tremendously fulfilling journey for me. Publishing this book and making content to market it has bolstered my confidence as a content creator, pushing me to get creative with what I want to create, and leading me to work on my next book! So much more detail is to come in future newsletters, but my second book will be a philosophical exploration of existential questions in an age dominated by AI and bio-engineering. Questions around evolution and the cultural and spiritual adaptation requirements in response to all the changes (like potential doubling of life expectancy in the next 50 years). The journey of researching and consulting with experts has been enlightening to say the least. While the book is unnamed as of now, it's slated for an April 2025 release. This new book deal has better terms for me, and builds on my last deal with my first publisher, Health Communications Inc, a division of Simon and Schuster. 

From Milan the Content Creator:

I just got back from Las Vegas this past weekend because I was at a tech conference called CES (Consumer Electronics Show). This trip was honestly a dream come true for me as I reflected on being a 13 year old who spent hours combing over CES recap videos after school when I was in middle school - with MKBHD being my tech Youtuber role model. To transition from a viewer to a recognized member of the media at CES, complete with my own videographer and engaging with global startup founders, is beyond surreal. It's a dream so grand, my teenage self wouldn't have dared to imagine it; I find myself incredibly grateful for these moments.

CES in Vegas was not just an event; but a vibrant, tech-filled playground where my creative director Josh and I unearthed some super exciting startups. Here are two of them that were incredibly intriguing to me:

Motion Pillow: AI Snoring Solution. This company has built a pillow with an airbag that gently rotates your head while you’re sleeping to open your airways and prevent further snoring. 

LexiLens: Glasses and computer screens for people with dyslexia that send waves to your brain completely eliminating your dyslexia and allowing you to read normally. 

The CES content and interviews I created last week is coming soon. Please subscribe to my YouTube Channel to see it all. If you’ve been supporting my content on social media and Youtube, a resounding thank YOU. I know the direction for where the content is going isn’t always clear, but thank you for sticking with me as I figure out what I love to make and iterate on delivering it to you in the best quality and formats possible. 

Ankord Labs Weekly Spotlight:

For those of you who are new or need a reminder, Ankord Labs is the startup incubator I created to house the costs of the services, as well as my investment, in each of the startups I’m building. Each week I’ll give a spotlight on one company, and general updates on the others that I can unpack further when rotating the spotlight.

Guin Records:

Jean Deaux and Tempest: Welcoming these extraordinary artists to our roster marks a thrilling start to 2024. Their unique talents and perspectives are set to invigorate our label. Jean Deaux is now our largest artist, symbolizing our commitment to empowering strong, female voices in music. Please hit the link to each artist and give them a follow.

"Guin Huddle" Podcast: Misha launched the "Guin Huddle” podcast, featuring Michael Bearden. This podcast offers deep insights into the music industry, reflecting on artist development, industry shifts, and personal experiences with music icons. Please click the link and give our show a follow so you are alerted to new episodes.

Guin Records Newsletter: Misha has also launched a Guin Newsletter, covering updates on Guin Records, our new signees, learnings, and industry gossip. Subscribe here. 

Ambitious Goals: This year, we aim to release 100 singles across various genres, from Farsi music to electronic, hip hop, and R&B. This goal underscores our dedication to amplifying the voices of diverse storytellers in music.

Expanding Distribution Options: We're committed to providing our artists with the best distribution partner possible, making us the first record label to tailor a different distributor for each artist’s needs.This approach empowers our artists to partner with distributors that align with their vision and market their projects effectively, a groundbreaking strategy in the music industry.

Ankord Labs General Updates:

Nota:

Currently finalizing a Seed Round of Financing, Nota weeks away from closing a 3M round at a 23M post-money valuation. With a burgeoning customer base including six publicly traded companies, this funding is a timely boost for our data science team and customer service capabilities.

Audo:

Audo is intensely focused on securing government funding for upskilling and career support for marginalized communities. We are working towards providing Audo access to individuals in half-way houses, on probation, or even incarcerated with tablet access, aiming for a transformative impact on their future careers. Alongside this, we're gearing up for a July launch of new features and product upgrades.

Narratives & The Doe:

Narratives is a new corporation I co-founded in 2023, a 501(c)(3) content house that rejuvenated The Doe in the latter half of 2023. The team at Narratives is small and focused on creating empathy on the internet by publishing content that challenges your echo chamber. The Doe, our anonymous publishing arm, specializes in anonymous, personal stories that challenge biases, evoke your emotions, and humanize major news stories, fostering real perspective change and empathy. Long term, Narratives will house personal stories from people’s lives, that aren’t anonymous.

Things I’m Reading:

• In the Shadow of the Machine: The Prehistory of the Computer and the Evolution of Consciousness 

  • This book explores the historical development of technologies leading to the computer and AI, arguing that these innovations are not sudden but the culmination of millennia of human thought and development. Naydler traces the evolution of logic, electricity, and consciousness through various historical eras, asserting that changes in human consciousness have been pivotal in technological advancement. He criticizes the mechanistic view of humans and warns against the dangers of transhumanism, emphasizing that true human distinctiveness lies in our consciousness and ability to innovate creatively. Ultimately, Naydler contends that understanding the deep-rooted history of technological developments can help us grasp their moral implications and the importance of maintaining our human essence in the face of advancing AI.

• Life 3.0: Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

  • Max is an MIT professor and President of the Future of Life Institute, explores the future of artificial intelligence and its impact on human life. Tegmark presents a range of potential scenarios, from utopian to dystopian, emphasizing the need for ethical considerations and goal alignment in AI development. The book combines technical discussions, ethical debates, and speculative scenarios to challenge readers to think critically about the future of AI and humanity's role in shaping it

• The Joyous Cosmology: Adventures in the Chemistry of Consciousness

  • This book is a vivid exploration of his experiences with psychedelics, particularly LSD, during the early 1960s, a time before these substances were banned and were being researched. Watts intertwines his psychedelic experiences with philosophical insights, examining the nature of consciousness, the illusion of the self, and the interconnectedness of all things. The book also includes perspectives from influential figures like Timothy Leary and Richard Alpert, and challenges traditional views on religion, science, and the nature of reality, suggesting that psychedelics offer a unique and profound means of exploring the depths of human consciousness.

Things I’m Watching/Listening To:

• Antinatalist Interview - I find that the more I sit and listen to people who have completely different logic from myself, the more I’m able to find empathy for people in my life when I disagree with their actions or choices. Mark Laita from “Soft White Underbelly”, the channel producing this video and others like it, is a journalist I learn a lot from and look up to.

• The Stoic Art of Stillness - Ryan Holiday continues to be one of my favorite content creators, I often listen to one of his videos and go for a walk or listen while making my breakfast.

• Chemtrails Over The Country Club - In part because Lana is headlining Coachella, but also because something about her manufactured melancholy vibe is hitting on a grey weathered day. Don’t hate.

Wrapping Up

This newsletter is just a glimpse into all the dynamic projects I’m working on. From writing a new book, to supporting my co-founders as I incubate startups, and all the content creation in between, there's always something new and impactful on the horizon. For the first time in a while, it all feels nicely organized and like all the years spent trying to figure it out, have been worth it. Thank you, family, friends and acquaintances, for being a part of this adventure. Stay tuned for more updates, stories, and insights next week!

Stay Warm,

Milan Kordestani