THE 2025 TWISTY AWARDS! Biggest Trends, Best Guests, Top Name Drops, and more | E2229

This Week In Startups is made possible by: LinkedIn Ads - http://linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups Squarespace -https://squarespace.com/twist Hubspot - http://clickhubspot.com/twist1 Today’s show: We’re saying goodbye to 2025 with our annual TWISTY Awards, looking back on our favorite pod moments from throughout the year. Featured clips include Jason’s message to the members of Reddit’s r/AntiWork community… Why JCal would NEVER work with Sam Altman or OpenAI… The time that Jason got doxxed and then found the guy responsible on LinkedIn… Why LA Mayor Karen Bass earned a *disgraziad*… Alex saying “Yessir!” in a weird way… And much more classic TWiST content. See y’all next year! Timestamps: (0:00) It’s the final episode of the year: The TWiSTY Awards for our favorite moments and guests of the year (2:06) The nominees for Best Name Drop (7:02) 2025 in Trends (9:52) LinkedIn Ads: Start converting your B2B audience into high quality leads today. Launch your first campaign and get $250 FREE when you spend at least $250. Go to http://linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups to claim your credit. (14:28) The best Jason anecdotes and personal stories (19:44) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://squarespace.com/twist (22:28) Our favorite 2025 guests, including Doug Leone, Coffeezilla, Anton Osika, and more (29:03) The year in Jason Rants (30:19) Hubspot: Check out the guide “How to Get Your First 100 Customers.” Download it for free at http://clickhubspot.com/twist1 (36:11) Controversial moments and the year’s hottest takes (44:11) DISGRAZIAD! Here are the most shameful people and companies of 2025 (50:50)Alex’s best/worst Dad Jokes (54:32) It’s a simple word… groceries * Subscribe to the TWiST500 newsletter: https://ticker.thisweekinstartups.com Check out the TWIST500: https://www.twist500.com Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp * Follow Lon: X: https://x.com/lons * Follow Alex: X: https://x.com/alex LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexwilhelm/ * Follow Jason: X: https://twitter.com/Jason LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis/ * Thank you to our partners: (9:52) LinkedIn Ads: Start converting your B2B audience into high quality leads today. Launch your first campaign and get $250 FREE when you spend at least $250. Go to http://linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups to claim your credit. (19:44) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://squarespace.com/twist (30:19) Hubspot: Check out the guide “How to Get Your First 100 Customers.” Download it for free at http://clickhubspot.com/twist1 Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara https://youtu.be/pvJa2pzuXWQ Eoghan McCabe https://youtu.be/9dHN4YFkgv4 Steve Huffman https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reddit-ceo-steve-huffman-on-mod-revolt-building-a/id315114957?i=1000617333424 Brian Chesky https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/airbnb-ceo-brian-chesky-on-early-rejection-customer/id315114957?i=1000611761112 Bob Moesta https://youtu.be/y2UMzSqX94Q Aaron Levie https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/box-ceo-aaron-levie-breaks-down-box-ai-and-generative/id315114957?i=1000612384545 Sophia Amoruso https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/sophia-amoruso-on-branding-raising-a-fund-portfolio/id315114957?i=1000601352978 Reid Hoffman https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/reid-hoffman-on-ais-crescendo-moment-regulation-and/id315114957?i=1000612548498 Frank Slootman https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/snowflake-ceo-frank-slootman-on-moving-the-needle-win/id315114957?i=1000602560622 Billy McFarland https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/billy-mcfarland-on-fyre-fest-fraud-failure-hacking/id315114957?i=1000610922577 * Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis * Follow TWiST: Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartups YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinstartups/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thisweekinstartups Substack: https://twistartups.substack.com/ Subscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@founderuniversity1916