How to show up in any room with a low heart rate: Silicon Valley’s missing etiquette playbook | Sam Lessin

Episode notes

Sam Lessin is a partner at Slow Ventures, a former VP of Product at Facebook, and a two-time founder who’s now teaching etiquette to Silicon Valley’s founders. In this unconventional episode, Sam explains why proper etiquette has become a vital skill for founders in 2026 - especially as technology becomes more central to society and trust becomes harder to build. His etiquette book and courses have become surprisingly popular, teaching founders how to “show up in a room with a low heart rate” and quickly build trust. We discuss: 1. Why etiquette matters 2. Sam’s framework for showing up confidently, with a low heart rate, in any room 3. How to navigate introductions, small talk, meetings, and meals like a pro 4. Simple hacks for remembering names and handling awkward social situations 5. 30+ specific etiquette tips -

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