Uploaded September 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Pavel Durov is the founder and CEO of Telegram.
Thank you for listening ❤ Check out our sponsors: lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep482-sb
See below for timestamps, transcript, and to give feedback, submit questions, contact Lex, etc.
*Transcript:*
lexfridman.com/pavel-durov-transcript
*EXTRA FILES FOR EPISODE:*
If you need captions or videos with audio tracks for clips etc, go here:
lexfridman.com/pavel-durov-files
*HOW TO SWITCH BETWEEN LANGUAGES:*
This episode is available in English, Russian, Ukrainian, French, Hindi. To switch between languages on the main episode YouTube video, click: Settings (Gear Icon) ... Audio Track ... Choose Language.
*CONTACT LEX:*
*Feedback* - give feedback to Lex: lexfridman.com/survey
*AMA* - submit questions, videos or call-in: lexfridman.com/ama
*Hiring* - join our team: lexfridman.com/hiring
*Other* - other ways to get in touch: lexfridman.com/contact
*EPISODE LINKS:*
Pavel's Telegram: https://t.me/durov
Pavel's X: https://x.com/durov
Telegram: telegram.org
Telegram Contests: contest.com
*SPONSORS:*
To support this podcast, check out our sponsors & get discounts:
*Miro:* Online collaborative whiteboard platform.
Go to lexfridman.com/s/miro-ep482-sb
*UPLIFT Desk:* Standing desks and office ergonomics.
Go to lexfridman.com/s/uplift_desk-ep482-sb
*Fin:* AI agent for customer service.
Go to lexfridman.com/s/fin-ep482-sb
*LMNT:* Zero-sugar electrolyte drink mix.
Go to lexfridman.com/s/lmnt-ep482-sb
*Shopify:* Sell stuff online.
Go to lexfridman.com/s/shopify-ep482-sb
*OUTLINE:*
0:00 - Introduction
3:07 - Philosophy of freedom
6:15 - No alcohol
14:20 - No phone
20:16 - Discipline
41:28 - Telegram: Lean philosophy, privacy, and geopolitics
56:50 - Arrest in France
1:13:01 - Romanian elections
1:23:56 - Power and corruption
1:33:29 - Intense education
1:45:29 - Nikolai Durov
1:49:58 - Programming and video games
1:54:11 - VK origins & engineering
2:11:24 - Hiring a great team
2:20:40 - Telegram engineering & design
2:39:42 - Encryption
2:44:39 - Open source
2:49:26 - Edward Snowden
2:51:58 - Intelligence agencies
2:53:10 - Iran and Russia government pressure
2:56:19 - Apple
3:03:16 - Poisoning
3:35:31 - Money
3:44:23 - TON
3:54:13 - Bitcoin
3:57:12 - Two chairs dilemma
4:03:52 - Children
4:15:02 - Father
4:19:33 - Quantum immortality
4:26:05 - Kafka
*PODCAST LINKS:*
- Podcast Website: lexfridman.com/podcast
- Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2lwqZIr
- Spotify: spoti.fi/2nEwCF8
- RSS: lexfridman.com/feed/podcast
- Podcast Playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOdP_8GztsuKi9nrraNbKKp4
- Clips Channel: youtube.com/lexclips
*SOCIAL LINKS:*
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Pavel Durov is the founder and CEO of Telegram.
Thank you for listening ❤ Check out our sponsors: lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep482-sb
See below for timestamps, transcript, and to give feedback, submit questions, contact Lex, etc.
*Transcript:*
lexfridman.com/pavel-durov-transcript
*EXTRA FILES FOR EPISODE:*
If you need captions or videos with audio tracks for clips etc, go here:
lexfridman.com/pavel-durov-files
*HOW TO SWITCH BETWEEN LANGUAGES:*
This episode is available in English, Russian, Ukrainian, French, Hindi. To switch between languages on the main episode YouTube video, click: Settings (Gear Icon) ... Audio Track ... Choose Language.
*CONTACT LEX:*
*Feedback* - give feedback to Lex: lexfridman.com/survey
*AMA* - submit questions, videos or call-in: lexfridman.com/ama
*Hiring* - join our team: lexfridman.com/hiring
*Other* - other ways to get in touch: lexfridman.com/contact
*EPISODE LINKS:*
Pavel's Telegram: https://t.me/durov
Pavel's X: https://x.com/durov
Telegram: telegram.org
Telegram Contests: contest.com
*SPONSORS:*
To support this podcast, check out our sponsors & get discounts:
*Miro:* Online collaborative whiteboard platform.
Go to lexfridman.com/s/miro-ep482-sb
*UPLIFT Desk:* Standing desks and office ergonomics.
Go to lexfridman.com/s/uplift_desk-ep482-sb
*Fin:* AI agent for customer service.
Go to lexfridman.com/s/fin-ep482-sb
*LMNT:* Zero-sugar electrolyte drink mix.
Go to lexfridman.com/s/lmnt-ep482-sb
*Shopify:* Sell stuff online.
Go to lexfridman.com/s/shopify-ep482-sb
*OUTLINE:*
0:00 - Introduction
3:07 - Philosophy of freedom
6:15 - No alcohol
14:20 - No phone
20:16 - Discipline
41:28 - Telegram: Lean philosophy, privacy, and geopolitics
56:50 - Arrest in France
1:13:01 - Romanian elections
1:23:56 - Power and corruption
1:33:29 - Intense education
1:45:29 - Nikolai Durov
1:49:58 - Programming and video games
1:54:11 - VK origins & engineering
2:11:24 - Hiring a great team
2:20:40 - Telegram engineering & design
2:39:42 - Encryption
2:44:39 - Open source
2:49:26 - Edward Snowden
2:51:58 - Intelligence agencies
2:53:10 - Iran and Russia government pressure
2:56:19 - Apple
3:03:16 - Poisoning
3:35:31 - Money
3:44:23 - TON
3:54:13 - Bitcoin
3:57:12 - Two chairs dilemma
4:03:52 - Children
4:15:02 - Father
4:19:33 - Quantum immortality
4:26:05 - Kafka
*PODCAST LINKS:*
- Podcast Website: lexfridman.com/podcast
- Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2lwqZIr
- Spotify: spoti.fi/2nEwCF8
- RSS: lexfridman.com/feed/podcast
- Podcast Playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOdP_8GztsuKi9nrraNbKKp4
- Clips Channel: youtube.com/lexclips
*SOCIAL LINKS:*
- X: https://x.com/lexfridman
- Instagram: instagram.com/lexfridman
- TikTok: tiktok.com/@lexfridman
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lexfridman
- Facebook: facebook.com/lexfridman
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- Telegram: https://t.me/lexfridman
- Reddit: reddit.com/r/lexfridman
