Going Direct explores the decentralization of the real economy and how new technologies can bring us closer to the products we buy and the people who make them.
goingdirect.substack.com (https://goingdirect.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)
#78 Ben Cartwright: The Second Life of AI Hardware Will Become a Big Market
I sit down with Ben Cartwright of Cirkadis to talk about a part of the AI infrastructure buildout that very few people are discussing: what happens to the hardware when it gets decommissioned?
Ben has spent his career in hardware lifecycle management, including six years living in China. We get into why the most valuable components still get shipped overseas, and how the volume and resale value of AI hardware can make reshoring electronics recycling a real possibility.
Enjoy.
Recording date: September 22, 2026
Chapters
00:00 (https://youtu.be/ruin8cddPCA?t=0&si=hIOxcGwH9t1CD2GT)Introduction
04:26 (https://youtu.be/ruin8cddPCA?t=266&si=1cemj6jyau9yamhE) Defining De-manufacturing And ITAD
08:21 (https://youtu.be/ruin8cddPCA?t=501&si=jNscvci3LekFqASh)What Cirkadis Does And How It Started
11:46 (https://youtu.be/ruin8cddPCA?t=706&si=nuio9RJPoBNwp4sZ) Current Flow Of E-Waste
15:35 (https://youtu.be/ruin8cddPCA?t=935&si=fd3yBEi5TgIsiC0I) Where Cirkadis Plays In The Supply Chain
21:05 (https://youtu.be/ruin8cddPCA?t=1265&si=welhEvldLw3d05Ui) Ben's Background And Living In China
23:22 (https://youtu.be/ruin8cddPCA?t=1402&si=eMzLCDkv78biXNmX) How Americans Misunderstand China
35:03 (https://youtu.be/ruin8cddPCA?t=2103&si=yBuLRiScQ5iCdjAk) ITAD Transitioning To AI Infrastructure
38:03 (https://youtu.be/ruin8cddPCA?t=2283&si=E6Y7a3s0ZFA8LBrf)E-Waste’s Regulatory Problem
41:52 (https://youtu.be/ruin8cddPCA?t=2512&si=v2SeMEzqgMg_-WRJ) Re-shoring The De-manufacturing Of Electronics
44:51 (https://youtu.be/ruin8cddPCA?t=2691&si=kYj2hS_YSGPj9pa3)Decentralized AI
47:13 (https://youtu.be/ruin8cddPCA?t=2833&si=R76zaPFPh9gJBU4I) Servicing Neo-Clouds
51:53 (https://youtu.be/ruin8cddPCA?t=3113&si=9JxidSHxtVVsYPzE) NeoCloud Business Model
53:07 (https://youtu.be/ruin8cddPCA?t=3187&si=Y-wRWblCEVr9RoPP) Re-shoring High-Value Components
1:01:44 (https://youtu.be/ruin8cddPCA?t=3704&si=BTaMqVLqWdGjHrf9)Rapid Fire
Follow Jordan on X:
* https://x.com/jrwolfe (https://x.com/jrwolfe)
Connect with Ben Cartwright:
* Cirkadis: https://cirkadis.com/ (https://cirkadis.com/)
* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-cartwright-738319121/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-cartwright-738319121/)
Remember to go direct!
Jordan
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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit goingdirect.substack.com (https://goingdirect.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
22 Sept 2026
#77 Nikhil Gupta: Mining Isn't the Chokepoint. Refining Is.
I sit down with Nikhil Gupta, founder and CEO of Determinant Materials, to talk about the metal refining process he’s invented to help bring back critical supply chains to America.
We discuss China’s metal refining monopoly, the need for innovation in the space, Nikhil’s vision for a refining-as-a-service model, and why silver is the next metal people will be talking about.
Enjoy.
Recording date: September 15, 2026
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
02:44 Mining vs. Refining
05:46 $200 Billion Investment From The US Government
08:09 What Is Determinant Materials?
10:24 Role Of Feedstocks In Metal Processing
11:54 How Determinant’s Refining Process Is Different
17:16 Rare Earths vs. Precious Metals
21:19 Determinant’s Initial Focus
25:01 Deeper Dive Into Determinant’s Refining Process
29:37 Unit Economics In Metal Refining
31:49 Refining As A Service Model
37:47 Determinant Materials Team
41:43 Role Of Government In Industrial Policy
50:43 Rapid Fire
Follow Jordan on X:
* https://x.com/jrwolfe (https://x.com/jrwolfe)
Connect with Nikhil Gupta:
* Determinant Materials: https://www.determinantmaterials.com/ (https://www.determinantmaterials.com/)
* X / Twitter: https://x.com/nrg91720 (https://x.com/nrg91720)
* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikhilrgupta/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikhilrgupta/)
Remember to go direct!
Jordan
P.S. Build with love
P.P.S. Be an owner
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit goingdirect.substack.com (https://goingdirect.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
15 Sept 2026
#76 Mollie Claypool: Building Affordable Housing That’s Beautiful.
I sit down with Mollie Claypool, co-founder of Automated Architecture (AUAR) to talk about their shipping-container-sized microfactories used by homebuilders. AUAR is starting with manufacturing timber structural panels on building sites.
We discuss AUAR’s roots in academia and design, how they work with homebuilders, the US vs UK housing markets, and Mollie’s vision of building thousands of microfactories to create housing abundance. Her goal is to create affordable housing that’s actually beautiful to live in.
Enjoy.
Recording date: August 24, 2026.
Chapters
00:00 (https://youtu.be/1LZhGiaVOtw?t=0&si=w-DUK_MO0tW1P4Bj) Introduction
03:54 (https://youtu.be/1LZhGiaVOtw?t=234&si=BVF6V8NEsfgNjyWm) Mollie’s Journey Into Architecture
06:33 (https://youtu.be/1LZhGiaVOtw?t=393&si=dppcwe5BKxdsFahq) Working In Academia
11:11 (https://youtu.be/1LZhGiaVOtw?t=671&si=k9mvUGAbHTE42Ier)From Academia To The Private Market
14:04 (https://youtu.be/1LZhGiaVOtw?t=844&si=LsbBTdT6OQBEwFpC) Starting As A Consultancy
17:13 (https://youtu.be/1LZhGiaVOtw?t=1033&si=KigQo-KKn7Tou45v)Breaking Down Auar’s Microfactory Model
20:26 (https://youtu.be/1LZhGiaVOtw?t=1226&si=DSVIdHPcaTEH0KT_)How Auar Works With Homebuilders
23:44 (https://youtu.be/1LZhGiaVOtw?t=1424&si=uZ7nXnwniOpcieXY) Reducing Costs For Homebuilders
27:38 (https://youtu.be/1LZhGiaVOtw?t=1658&si=vuwiTUSeeuYq1sHC)UK vs US Home Building
32:59 (https://youtu.be/1LZhGiaVOtw?t=1979&si=miw2Q1vxX6KdtzMa) Auar’s Initial Wedge
34:37 (https://youtu.be/1LZhGiaVOtw?t=2077&si=CghWx1SSsM2AAV_j) Full-Stack Approach
37:13 (https://youtu.be/1LZhGiaVOtw?t=2233&si=5lW8ZTjNo4WCjVK9) Making Construction Simple For Home Builders
38:29 (https://youtu.be/1LZhGiaVOtw?t=2309&si=ikajX1VJpjOpPWTX) Auar’s Current Operations
41:44 (https://youtu.be/1LZhGiaVOtw?t=2504&si=gexkF2ndXx2QdRnP)The Long-Term Vision
46:57 (https://youtu.be/1LZhGiaVOtw?t=2817&si=k5ZFA8z8ECMb51v0)Auar’s Investors
48:12 (https://youtu.be/1LZhGiaVOtw?t=2892&si=2cjlrrAah042uwut)Why Mollie Is Working On This Problem
51:45 (https://youtu.be/1LZhGiaVOtw?t=3105&si=uliJR1tzMt4xELAp) Imagining A World Of Abundant Housing
55:45 (https://youtu.be/1LZhGiaVOtw?t=3345&si=zWoKkk8JFJt8FJ1q) Rapid Fire
Follow Jordan on X:
* https://x.com/jrwolfe (https://x.com/jrwolfe)
Connect with Mollie:
* AUAR: https://auar.io/ (https://auar.io/)
* Email: mollie@auar.io (mailto:mollie@hour.io)
Remember to go direct!
Jordan
P.S. Build with love
P.P.S. Be an owner
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit goingdirect.substack.com (https://goingdirect.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
Who has been a guest on Going Direct Conversations
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Oren Falkowitz
Brett Bivens
Andy Hunter
Kary Bheemaiah
Nic Radford
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 35 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
70
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
0
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Jordan Wolfe and REISS host the show. Published by Jordan Wolfe.
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