The GRTiQ 10: Goncalo Sa (Ep. 179)

In a recent episode of the GRTiQ Podcast, Goncalo Sa shared his thoughts and experiences during the GRTiQ 10 segment, providing listeners with personal reflections and valuable insights.

When asked about the book that had the most impact on his life, Goncalo chose “Reversing: Secrets of Reverse Engineering.” This highly technical book about Windows DLL system libraries and hacking had a profound influence on him, shaping his approach to technology and security.

Goncalo recommended the movie “Kill Bill,” describing it as an amazing film that he adores, not for any professional reason, but simply for its cinematic excellence.

For music, Goncalo found it extremely tough to choose just one album. He mentioned “Stadium Arcadium” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers as the first album he bought with his own money, but ultimately chose “Queen’s Greatest Hits” for its extensive collection of music that would provide more hours of enjoyment if it were the only album he could listen to.

The best advice Goncalo received came indirectly from his parents when he decided to drop out of school. Despite their initial disappointment, they later acknowledged the courage it took, validating his worldview and choices.

One unique lesson Goncalo has learned is the importance of understanding the incentives that drive people’s behavior. He emphasized that people’s actions can often be predicted by considering the incentives at play, a perspective he developed through his study of game theory in the context of blockchain.

Goncalo’s best life hack is a practical kitchen tip: placing a wooden spoon on top of a boiling pot of pasta to prevent the foam from spilling over. This simple trick has proven to be incredibly useful for him.

Based on his observations, Goncalo believes that kindness is the best long-term strategy for success. He referenced a game theory strategy called “tit-for-tat,” which involves starting with cooperation, reciprocating any wrongdoing, but then resetting and giving others a second chance. This approach balances kindness with not being a pushover.

In the final three questions, Goncalo completed the sentences as follows:

1. The thing that most excites him about the future of web3 is privacy. He envisions a future where he can send coins to friends privately and opt into governments rather than being born into them.
2. On X (formerly Twitter), he recommended following Seal (Security Alliance), which focuses on public goods and initiatives like Seal 911.
3. He is happiest when making music and hacking.

To hear more from Goncalo Sa and gain further insights, listen to the complete GRTiQ Podcast interview. https://www.grtiq.com/grtiq-podcast-179-goncalo-sa/