David Runciman talks to Thomas Jones about Silicon Valley’s best known investor-provocateur, his prescience, his mistakes, and why, despite his ultra-libertarian ideology, he owes so much to the state.Listen without ads, and find further reading, on our website: https://lrb.me/thielpodFind details of our forthcoming podcast series, Close Readings: Encounters with Medieval Women, here: lrb.me/medievalSubscribe to the LRB from just £1 per issue: https://mylrb.co.uk/podcast20bMusic by Kieran Brunt / Episode produced by Eliane Glaser / Series Producer: Anthony Wilks See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.