“I’m glad we made it work because our conversation for the episode on misinformation became a highlight of the series,” wrote the “proud papa.”
Bill Gates learned a lot while working on his new Netflix show, but he says his conversation with daughter Phoebe was the standout moment.
To celebrate the release of *What’s Next? The Future with Bill Gates* on September 18, the Microsoft co-founder shared a post on his Gates Notes blog.
“As you might guess from the title, *What’s Next?* is a show about the future,” he explained. “Each episode tackles a different challenge: artificial intelligence, climate change, misinformation, disease eradication, and income inequality.”
“It’s hard to choose which discussion was the most enlightening, but three conversations will always stick with me: those with Lady Gaga, Senator Bernie Sanders, and my daughter, Phoebe,” Bill wrote.
While he enjoyed the chats with Gaga and Sanders, he admitted that his “favorite conversation took place last fall in New York City with my daughter Phoebe.”
The “proud papa” revealed he was initially “a little worried” about asking her to participate.
“I have two other wonderful children, and I wanted to see if either of them would like to join the show,” he wrote, referring to daughter Jennifer, 28, and son Rory, 25, who were both supportive of Phoebe taking the lead.
There were also logistical concerns.
“We had to film during Phoebe’s senior year of college. She was very busy finishing school, starting her own business, and speaking at the foundation’s Goalkeepers event that same week,” he noted of his 22-year-old daughter, who has since graduated from Stanford and is preparing to launch her digital platform, Phia.
“I’m glad we made it work because our conversation about misinformation turned out to be a highlight of the series,” he said.
During the episode, Phoebe shared specific examples of how bad actors misuse misinformation to hinder progress.
Bill wrote that she helped him understand how women online, particularly those advocating for others, often face threats that can discourage them from speaking out.
“I’m not a stranger to online negativity, but I can mostly ignore it,” he said. “Phoebe explained how these threats can have a chilling effect on women’s rights activism and offered thoughtful ideas for making the internet safer for everyone.”
“Alongside running her own company, Phoebe is an incredible advocate for women’s rights and health,” he added. “She regularly meets with activists, many of whom have faced online harassment.”
As for the other memorable conversations, Bill noted that, despite not typically being starstruck, he felt a bit nervous meeting Gaga, especially given her notable acting role.
“I’m a big fan of *A Star is Born*—especially its music—and I was aware of her larger-than-life personality. I couldn’t wait to hear her thoughts,” he wrote. “Fortunately, I had nothing to worry about. I was amazed by how insightful Gaga was, sharing humorous stories about her own experiences with misinformation and inspiring me with her perspective.”
He had similar praise for his discussion with Sanders, noting that some friends raised eyebrows when he mentioned meeting the senator, known for his stance against billionaires.
“After filming, we walked downstairs to our waiting cars. A jogger saw Senator Sanders and shouted, ‘Bernie!’ Then, noticing me, he did a double take and yelled, ‘Holy s—, Bill Gates!’ It made us both laugh. I guess we were an unexpected duo.”
Speaking with PEOPLE ahead of the show’s release, Bill said that participating in the Netflix series allowed him to discuss topics he cares about and learn from them.
“My goal for the show is to inspire more people to engage in conversations about these critical issues,” he wrote. “While there are many concerning developments, we shouldn’t underestimate the impact of collective effort in addressing problems.”
“I believe brilliant individuals—especially the youth—will step up with innovative solutions. It’s essential to engage with these issues; they are too important to ignore,” he added. “These are global challenges, and we need to communicate about them. It’s a crucial moment, but if we engage, there is a path to progress.”