The Nick Halaris Show

I wanted to have Dan on the show to learn more about the inner workings of the mysterious private tutor world.  When I was coming up, private tutors were hardly a thing; now, they can be a difference maker.  Access to elite educational opportunities is a key line of division in our fracturing society and, while in education we tend to look for systemic solutions, what's going on with private tutors suggests that individual intervention may be where we want to focus.  Tune in to this fascinating conversation to learn:Why parents around the world are willing to pay people like Dan upwards of $2000 per hour to help their kids do better on standardized testsWhat close reading is and why it's the secret to standardized test success Just what is being measured by standardized tests, and why should we care about itWhy, despite their issues and limitations, many schools are turning back to standardized test scores to help sort candidatesHow the best schools in the world are designed to create lifelong learners rather than for information/curriculum deliveryAnd Much, much moreConnect with Nick Halaris: Nick Halaris website and newletter (sign up!) Nick Halaris on Instagram Nick Halaris on linkedin Nick Halaris on Twitter

We are featuring my longtime friend Mack Jenkins, a public-minded lawyer and former US Attorney.  As a prosecutor, Mack was responsible for some of the highest-profile and most consequential convictions in modern LA history, including those against multiple elected officials.  Mack is now a partner at Hecker Fink, a leading law firm with a strong public interest bent and a staunch commitment to justice. Tune in to this inspiring conversation to learn:The crucial role that attorneys can play in shaping the public policy landscapeWhy the criminal justice reform movement is not dead and just needs a different focusWhy public corruption is such a big problem in American politics, and how important it is to hold these individuals to accountHow public-minded law firms like Hecker Fink are tapping into the new zeitgeist and attracting a whole generation of mission-driven attorneys Why you should never try to get out of jury duty again&Much, much moreStay tuned to the end to hear how Mack was inspired to a life of service by his father, a correctional officer in juvenile jails who went above and beyond the call of duty to be a mentor and force for good in the lives of young kids caught up in the law. As always, I hope you all enjoy this episode.  Thanks for tuning in!  Connect with Nick Halaris: Nick Halaris website and newletter (sign up!) Nick Halaris on Instagram Nick Halaris on linkedin Nick Halaris on Twitter

This week on The Nick Halaris Show we are featuring Anand Sanwal, the co-Founder of The Formidable Fellowship, a non-profit focused on sparking the next generation of young entrepreneurs, and the host of the Future Titans Podcast, a show featuring the inspiring stories of the winners of the Formidable grant.  Anand is also the co-Founder and former CEO of CB Insights, a very successful AI and data company, a writer, and working on building a national network of schools for entrepreneurship (more on this in a future episode!).Ready to dive in? Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and YouTube or on your favorite podcast platform.I wanted to have Anand on the show to learn more about the mission of The Formidable Fellowship and to explore this thinking on the future of education.  Entrepreneurship is something I've been writing a lot about here in Profit+ and near and dear to my heart.  Until coming across Anand, though, I never realized how important a role it could play in redefining (fixing) our broken education system.  As you'll see in the episode, Anand is an incredibly thoughtful and impressive individual and has some great ideas about entrepreneurship, education, and how we can best help young people prepare for an increasingly uncertain future.  I walked away from this discussion on fire with ideas and inspiration and I think you will too.As always, I hope you all enjoy this episode.  Thanks for tuning in!      Connect with Nick Halaris: Nick Halaris website and newletter (sign up!) Nick Halaris on Instagram Nick Halaris on linkedin Nick Halaris on Twitter

This week on The Nick Halaris Show we are featuring Ben Kuethe Oaks, the Vice President and General Manager at Divert, a circular economy company on a mission to prevent food from being wasted through nationwide infrastructure and innovative technologies.  We waste a staggering amount of food here in America—something like 40% of everything we produce.  Meanwhile, there are over 40M food insecure households in America alone and millions more around the world.  Something is not right here!  Ready to dive in? Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and YouTubeor on your favorite podcast platform.I wanted to have Ben on the show to learn more about Divert's inspiring mission and business and to try to understand just how our food economy evolved to such an inefficient situation.  Divert—a company building sustainable business models that prevent waste, provide more for the food insecure, and use food waste as a sustainable fuel—is an inspiring example of the power of using business as a force for good.Tune in to this important episode to learn:  What “circular economy” mean and how Divert is using circular principles to create a whole new kind of capitalistic enterpriseHow we waste such a staggering amount of food in this country and why it's such a huge problem (i.e. food insecurity, rapidly shrinking landfill capacity, methane emissions, and farming economics)What Divert is doing to try to ameliorate the situation and why they are so optimistic they can make a big difference& Much, much moreStay tuned to the end to learn how a usual childhood interest in dairy farming led Ben to his path as a mission-driven business leader focused on the food economy.  If you are interested in learning more about the history behind the evolution of this crazy food wastage situation, check out Ben's Tedx talk.Thank you for tuning in!Connect with Nick Halaris: Nick Halaris website and newletter (sign up!) Nick Halaris on Instagram Nick Halaris on linkedin Nick Halaris on Twitter

This week on The Nick Halaris Show we are featuring Mitchell Hora, the founder and CEO of Continuum Ag, a company helping farmers better understand their carbon footprint, implement regenerative agriculture practices, and take advantage of exciting new government credit programs.Ready to dive in? Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and YouTubeor on your favorite podcast platform.I wanted to have Mitchell on the show to learn more about farming and the agriculture industry.  Unless there is an egg shortage or massively higher prices at the grocery store, you don't hear much about farming in the news these days.  But it's a critical industry where a lot of things are in flux in light of climate change and rapidly advancing technology.  Mitchell, a 7th generation corn farmer and tech entrepreneur, is the perfect person to help us explore this fascinating world.Stay tuned to the end to learn what Mitchell thinks about GMOs, the organic movement, and the proper role of government in farming and the food supply chain.  You'll also learn why Mitchell believes promoting healthy soil is the single most important issue in global agriculture.  As always, I hope you all enjoy this episode.  Thanks for tuning in!      Love this episode? Please rate, subscribe, and review on your favorite podcast platform to help more users find our show.

This week on The Nick Halaris Show we are welcoming back Darius Dale, the founder and CEO of 42 Macro, a leading Macro Risk Management serving investors around the world!  Check out his first episode here for a master class introduction to the art of macro risk management in investing.  Ready to dive in? Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and YouTube or on your favorite podcast platform.I wanted to have Darius on the show for a deep dive discussion on President Trump's highly anticipated Department of Governmental Efficiency initiative.  While there's been a lot of hype and hyperbole around DOGE and its massive $2T target, Darius and his team at 42 Macro have actually sat down and done some real analysis.  Of course, things are not as simple as advertised! As always, I hope you all enjoy this episode.  Thanks for tuning in!      Love this episode? Please rate, subscribe, and review on your favorite podcast platform to help more users find our show.

This week on The Nick Halaris Show we are featuring Melissa Walker, the Head of the Giving Circles Program at the States Project, an organization focused on leveraging the consistently overlooked and massively underestimated power possessed by State legislatures in our system.  On top of being a passionate civic activist, Melissa is a popular author of teen novels and an accomplished magazine contributor.Ready to dive in? Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and YouTubeor on your favorite podcast platform.I wanted to have Melissa on the show to learn more about the States Project and the role they are trying to play in improving our American democracy.  In this day and age, when hardly a citizen can even name their state representatives let alone know what policies they stand for, Melissa and her colleagues at the States Project are smart to focus here.  While the big-money players have all but captured the national scene, State legislature elections are as accessible as they are impactful.  The American Constitution grants vast power to the states and state-level laws are often much more impactful to citizens' daily lives than Federal laws.   Tune in to this inspiring episode to learn:  Stay tuned to the end to learn why Melissa set aside her thriving career as an author to work on the States Project full-time and why she believes this work is the most powerful thing she can do today.  As always, I hope you enjoy this episode.  Please like and follow The Nick Halaris Show. Thanks for tuning in!    Connect with Nick Halaris: Nick Halaris website and newletter (sign up!) Nick Halaris on Instagram Nick Halaris on linkedin Nick Halaris on Twitter

This week on The Nick Halaris Show we are featuring Poppy MacDonald, the President of USAFacts, a non-profit dedicated to empowering the American people with accessible data.  USAFacts publishes a must-read weekly newsletter with over 370K subscribers and has become an important rational, non-partisan voice in our over-polarized political world.  Its “Just the Facts” video series has over 40M views and its detailed reports are educating American citizens, political leaders, and policymakers alike on the truth about America.  Ready to dive in? Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and YouTube or on your favorite podcast platform.I wanted to have Poppy on the show to learn more about USAFacts, highlight the incredibly important work they are doing to improve democracy in America, and explore how she got involved and so committed to this mission.   Learn:  How USAFacts manages to navigate over 90K government entities to produce accessible, coherent, and often beautifully organized data on the state of America and the effectiveness of our policiesWhy American citizens should start thinking of themselves as shareholders of the governmentWhy the USAFacts Government 10-k and its America in Facts Report are must-reads for all concerned citizens  How a noble mission to reduce poverty in America led Steve Ballmer in the unexpected direction of focusing on making data more accessible to the American people What Poppy thinks of the proposal to reduce the deficit via efficiency improvementsPoppy's fascinating and transformative experiences studying abroad in Nepal and how what she learned there about community motivates her passionate civic work today.Thanks for tuning in!      Connect with Nick Halaris: Nick Halaris website and newletter (sign up!) Nick Halaris on Instagram Nick Halaris on linkedin Nick Halaris on Twitter

This week on The Nick Halaris Show we are featuring Frank Rohde, the Founder and CEO of Ownify, a company creating a new path to ownership by partnering aspiring first time homebuyers with socially conscious investors.  Frank is a serial entrepreneur with a long track record of success and someone who deeply understands the financial, social, and political barriers standing in the way of widespread, affordable homeownership.    Ready to dive in? Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and YouTubeor on your favorite podcast platform.I wanted to have Frank on the show to learn more about Ownify and its unique approach to solving the homebuying affordability problem.  Housing has become such a big deal in America, both for our economy and our democracy, and we need individuals like Frank and companies like Ownify, to help reverse the negative trend.  Tune in to this inspiring episode to learn:  How Ownify's all-equity financial structure enables people to buy a home with just a 2% down paymentWhy Frank and his colleagues at Ownify believe the all-equity approach is both fairer and better than other debt-based modelsHow dynamics in the mortgage industry have contributed to the worsening housing affordability crisisAll the ways that rising homeownership rates can improve a local community&Much, much moreStay tuned to the end to learn why, after stumbling across some concerning mortgage data in his last company, Frank decided to go all-in on the fight to improve access for first-time homebuyers.As always, I hope you all enjoy this episode.  Thanks for tuning in!  Connect with Nick Halaris: Nick Halaris website and newletter (sign up!) Nick Halaris on Instagram Nick Halaris on linkedin Nick Halaris on Twitter

Hi Everyone and Welcome Back!This week on The Nick Halaris Show we are featuring Daniel Dorfman, the co-founder and CEO of Roots, a socially conscious real estate company dedicated to helping renters build wealth alongside investors and property owners. Ready to dive in? Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and YouTubeor on your favorite podcast platform.I wanted to have Daniel on the show to learn more about the Roots Investment Community, explore their innovative business model, and shine a big spotlight on all the great work they are doing.  A lot of companies want to be or claim to be socially conscious but Roots actually is!  I met Daniel and some of his colleagues at Roots a few months ago when we sold some of our Metros Capital properties to them and walked away not only thankful for an incredibly professional and drama-free transaction but also inspired to share their story.  Tune in to this important episode to learn:  How the Roots Investment Community ecosystem works to make housing more affordable and helps renters build wealth Why Roots' innovative “Live In It Like You Own It” model encouraging responsible renting has the potential to transform what it means to be a renter in America How Roots discovered the secret to dramatically improving lease renewal rates and driving down operational costsWhy it's so important to focus on financial education and community engagement to improve economic equity in America & Much, much moreStay tuned to the end to learn why Daniel and the team at Roots are so motivated to level the playing field in real estate investing and hear their bold vision to make their model accessible to a million Americans by 2028.As always, I hope you all enjoy this episode.  Thanks for tuning in!      Love this episode? Please rate, subscribe, and review on your favorite podcast platform to help more users find our show.

This week on The Nick Halaris Show we are featuring Yasmina Zaidman, the Chief Development and Partnerships Officer at Acumen, a pioneer and global leader in social impact investing.  Acumen—probably the coolest, most inspiring organization I've ever come across—is dedicated to using the power of entrepreneurship and patient capital to solve some of our world's most intractable issues.  Over the last several decades, they have invested $250M in over 200 companies and have materially improved the lives of an estimated 650M people all over the world. Ready to dive in? Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and YouTube or on your favorite podcast platform. I wanted to have Yasmina on the show to learn more about Acumen's inspiring work, unpack her experiences working at the forefront of this incredible movement and see what lessons we can find to improve our own mission-driven efforts.   As you'll see in the episode, Yasmina is quite a passionate and inspiring leader and has a wealth of knowledge about what works and what doesn't when it comes to trying to solve big issues.  Our conversation left me wanting to drop everything and join the team at Acumen.   Tune in to this inspiring episode to learn:  • Why Acumen is so focused on supporting entrepreneurship as a way to engage in philanthropy • Why promoting agency and dignity is so important in the fight to eliminate poverty• How Acumen uncovered the secret to building entrepreneurial capacity in the most economically disadvantaged communities in the world• What patient capital is and how it can play a crucial role in the broader philanthropic and capitalist ecosystem• Why Acumen is so focused on building sustainable businesses that promote energy access, education, and sustainable agriculture • & Much, much more Stay tuned to the end to learn why Yasmina is calling for a new paradigm for global leadership, one that prioritizes collective needs over individual desires, and discover why she believes that the key to true and lasting success is to find ways to merge your values with your aspirations. 

This week on The Nick Halaris Show we are featuring Sean Devlin, the founder of Nice News, a daily newsletter read by over 840,000 people.  Each day, Nice News offers readers a different and decidedly more optimistic window into what's happening in our world than traditional media.  Through carefully curated stories from science, health, and culture, uplifting human interest stories, and inspiring, entertaining links, Nice News presents the positive, inspiring, and hopeful side of modern life.     Ready to dive in? Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and YouTube or on your favorite podcast platform. I wanted to have Sean on the show to help shine a big spotlight on Nice News and all the good it's doing in the world.  I've been a reader for several months now and have come to really enjoy and appreciate the newsletter.  It is indeed nice to wake up and see all the good happening in the world.  For those who aren't readers yet, you definitely should be!  Tune in to this important episode to learn:   • Just what “nice news” is and why it's so important • Why legacy media business models evolved to prioritize fear and violence instead of progress, positivity, and optimism • How Nice News figured out how to find a steady stream of uplifting stories in a sea of negativity• Some interesting tactics for newsletter growth and monetization• & Much, much more Stay tuned to the end to learn why Sean thinks we should all be really mindful about our content diet and how his unique upbringing prepared him perfectly for his mission with Nice News. As always, I hope you all enjoy this episode.  Thanks for tuning in!       Love this episode? Please rate, subscribe, and review on your favorite podcast platform to help more users find our show.

This week on The Nick Halaris Show we are featuring Nate Helbach, the founder and CEO of Neutral, a regenerative development company.  Neutral's mission is to develop financially responsible, sustainable living spaces that foster healthy lifestyles and friendly neighborhoods.Ready to dive in? Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and YouTube or on your favorite podcast platform.I wanted to have Nate on the show to learn more about Neutral and its incredibly ambitious socially conscious business strategy.  While many developers have dabbled in sustainability, few have gone all-in like Nate and his colleagues.  The real estate industry is one of the biggest contributors to climate risk, producing an estimated 40% of annual CO2 emissions, so, making progress here is essential.  Tune in to this inspiring episode to learn:How Neutral is using mass timber to dramatically improve the embodied carbon in its developmentsWhy it's so important for real estate developers to consider the environmental impact of on-going operationsStrategies for real estate owners to consider for reducing on-going carbon emissions  Why consumers are willing to pay a premium for sustainable living spacesWhat Neutral is doing to try to democratize real estate investing& Much, much moreStay tuned to the end to learn why Nate thinks nuclear power could play such a crucial role in decarbonization and hear how his faith inspires his passionate commitment to pursue profit and good at the same time.  As always, I hope you all enjoy this episode.  Thanks for tuning in!      Love this episode? Please rate, subscribe, and review on your favorite podcast platform to help more users find our show.

This week on The Nick Halaris Show we are featuring James Fishback, the Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Azoria Partners and the Founder of Incubate Debate.  James, a rising star in the investment world, has become a passionate advocate for meritocracy and open debate. Ready to dive in? Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and YouTube or on your favorite podcast platform. I wanted to have James on the show to hear his latest thinking on markets and the global economy and learn more about his mission to foster more open, constructive debate.   Tune in to this fascinating episode to learn:• How narrative volatility is driving global market returns• Why there's been a K-shaped recover in the economy and what that means for most Americans• Why James decided to build a financial product focused on restoring meritocratic principles in American business• How a disturbing decline of openness and constructive dialogue in high school debate inspired James to start Incubate Debate• & Much, much more Stay tuned to the end to learn just how closed and polarized high school debate has become and hear why James is so passionate about fighting to change that. As always, I hope you all enjoy this episode.  Thanks for tuning in!       Love this episode? Please rate, subscribe, and review on your favorite podcast platform to help more users find our show.

This week on The Nick Halaris Show we are featuring prominent legal scholar and free speech expert, Eugene Volokh.  Eugene is a Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, the author of The Volokh Conspiracy, a widely read legal blog, and a co-host of the Free Speech Unmuted Podcast.  For thirty years, he has been a professor at the University of California – Los Angeles School of Law, where he has taught First Amendment law, copyright law, criminal law, tort law, and firearms regulation policy. Free speech debates are all the rage today and I wanted to have Eugene on the show to lay some important groundwork for this often misunderstood topic.  Constitutional free speech law is a complicated and most commentators online, especially the loudest voices, don't have a clue.  After decades of teaching and high-level legal scholarship, Eugene has a way of explaining very complex matters in digestible ways.  Tune in to this important episode to learn:   • What public universities can and cannot do when it comes to limiting speech• The difference between viewpoint and content-neutral restrictions• The rare instances where free speech can actually be restricted• The relationship between free speech law and state power over public school curricula • Why free speech is so critical to democratic governance • & Much, much more Stay tuned to the end to learn why Eugene thinks free speech absolutism is a misnomer and to understand how free speech law applies to the public produces of social media companies. As always, I hope you all enjoy this episode.  Thanks for tuning in!        Love this episode? Please rate, subscribe, and review on your favorite podcast platform to help more users find our show.

Hi Everyone and Welcome Back!This week on The Nick Halaris Show we are featuring Dmitri Mehlhorn, the Founder and Executive Director of Oakland Corps, an organization dedicated to standing in solidarity with Oakland-born Kamala Harris.  Dmitri is a prominent Democratic donor and strategist.  Previously, he served as co-founder of Investing in US, a novel group that has deployed venture capital principles to political investing.   I wanted to have Dmitri on the show to learn more about the emerging new field of political investing and get his insider's take on just how seriously we should take the threats to our democracy.  As you'll see in the episode, Dmitri thinks we have a ton of reasons to be concerned but remains optimistic that the fight for freedom can be won.  Whether you agree with Dmitri or not, this a must-listen episode for understanding the true nature of big-money politics in America.  Tune in to this fascinating episode to learn:The surprising role that Dmitri played in the evolution of Profit+ and the Nick Halaris ShowHow it is even possible for someone to be an undecided voter in today's polarized landscapeWhy the urban youth vote in 7 swing states will probably determine the outcome of the Presidential electionWhat political investing is and how applying venture capital principles to it has made such a big difference for the Democratic partyThe historical origins of the urban versus rural divide and why we shouldn't discount the notion that the tech and finance elite are actively pursuing oligarchical control/influence& Much, much moreStay tuned to the end to learn how Dmitri is finding courageous voices from unexpected places to help the Harris campaign and to hear why a famous scene from “The Dark Knight Rises”—which has already been featured once before on the podcast!—is relevant to the current political moment.As always, I hope you all enjoy this episode.  Thanks for tuning in!      Love this episode? Please rate, subscribe, and review on your favorite podcast platform to help more users find our show.

This week on The Nick Halaris Show we are featuring Deb Otis, the Director of Research and Policy at FairVote, a nonpartisan organization seeking better elections in America through two key reforms: 1. Ranked choice voting and 2. Proportional representation in Congress.  Deb is a passionate and experienced civic activist and an expert on comparative electoral systems.  I wanted to have Deb on the show to learn more about FairVote's two big ideas for reforming American elections and understand why she and her colleagues think they are so crucial for our democracy.  Whether it's extreme voter dissatisfaction with Congress, low voter turnout in local elections, gerrymandered partisan primaries, or debates about the efficacy of the Electoral College and mail-in voting, there's no shortage of concern about our democratic processes these days.  Fortunately, reformers like Deb and previous Nick Halaris Show guest Nick Troiano of Unite America, are stepping forward with practical reforms designed to make our elections more adequately reflect the actual will of the people.  Tune in to this important episode to learn:  How ranked-choice voting works and why it might be a better optionWhat proportional representation is and how it could improve Congressional function by changing the incentive structures of politicsWhy we should also pursue both primary reform and campaign finance reform are necessaryIdeas for improving voter engagement& Much, much moreStay tuned to the end to learn how an early interest in politics and experiences working on the ground in campaigns inspired Deb to commit her life to protecting and improving our democracy.  As always, I hope you all enjoy this episode.  Thanks for tuning in!      Love this episode? Please rate, subscribe, and review on your favorite podcast platform to help more users find our show.

This week on The Nick Halaris Show we are featuring fintech educator, investor, and financial literacy advocate, Dara Albright.  Dara is a Board Member of Worthy, a fintech company providing unique fixed-income products for retail investors.  She's also a newsletter author, podcaster, and frequent media contributor.Ready to dive in? Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and YouTube or on your favorite podcast platform.I wanted to have Dara on the show to learn more about Worthy's innovative fixed-income product and to highlight her important work around improving financial literacy and leveling the playing field in the investment business.Tune in to this important episode to learn:  • How Worthy managed to sell almost $250M in Worthy Bonds yielding 7% and priced in $10 increments • How Worthy's innovative “roundup” feature is helping investors save and invest more• Why the current regulatory framework for investment disadvantages a large number of Americans • Ideas for how we might create a fairer playing field for investors and entrepreneurs  • & Much, much moreStay tuned to the end to learn how working in high finance exposed Dara to the unfairness and inequity in our financial system and sent her on a mission to innovate, advocate, and fight for a fairer world.  Dara also shares how she uses stoicism as a framework for personal growthnavigating difficult situations.  As always, I hope you all enjoy this episode.  Thanks for tuning in!      Love this episode? Please rate, subscribe, and review on your favorite podcast platform to help more users find our show.

This week on The Nick Halaris Show we are featuring Pablo Arredondo, the Vice President of CoCounsel at Thomson Reuters, an AI-driven legal service that is revolutionizing the industry.  Pablo, one of my closest friends from Stanford Law School, is a legal tech entrepreneur with an incredible track record of success.  He's been at the forefront of the industry for fifteen years, co-founded Casetext in 2013, which sold to Thompson Reuters earlier this year, and has played a huge role in the development of AI tools for the legal world.       Ready to dive in? Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and YouTube or on your favorite podcast platform.I wanted to have Pablo on the show to explore just how powerful these new AI technologies are, see where the industry is headed, and examine their potential impacts on our economy, society, and culture.  As you'll see in the episode, Pablo is a very dynamic thinker, has thought deeply about these issues, and is ideally positioned as a thought leader in the burgeoning AI legal tech world.  Tune in to this fascinating episode to learn:  What Co-Counsel's Legal AI can do and why we should all be so excited by itWhy AI should improve issues of access and affordability in legal services and potentially address other systemic issues plaguing the industry/justice systemWhy AI technology is fundamentally deflationary but not necessarily destructive when it comes to jobsWhat “slop” is and why we should care about it& Much, much moreStay tuned to the end to hear some highlights from Pablo's entrepreneurial journey and learn why he thinks that people losing the ability to write could be one of the biggest downsides of the rise of AI.  As always, I hope you all enjoy this episode.  Thanks for tuning in!Love this episode? Please rate, subscribe, and review on your favorite podcast platform to help more users find our show.

This week on The Nick Halaris Show we are featuring my friend Sarah Dusseault, a prominent local civic activist and the lead strategist at LA4LA, a first-of-its-kind government, philanthropy and private sector alliance formed to unlock affordable housing options in Los Angeles at scale and speed.  She's also my colleague at the Angeleno Project and one of the most dedicated, passionate, and professional civic activists I've ever come across. I wanted to have Sarah on the show to shine a big spotlight on all the important work she's doing in the region and to get her insider perspective on some of the big issues we've been covering here like the housing affordability crisis, homelessness, and the substance abuse and mental health crises.  As someone with decades of experience in policy and activism, who has worked in and out of government at the highest levels, and served on a bunch of high-profile commissions, I knew Sarah would have a lot to share.  Tune in to this inspiring episode to learn:  Why innovation is urgently needed to spur affordable housing production and how LA4LA's unique alliance can make a difference Why Los Angeles has struggled to develop a cohesive civic identity and its implications on city politics and functioning Why dramatic improvements in access to care for mental health and substance abuse services is crucial to solving the homelessness crisisHow a holistic approach that prioritizes early intervention, community building, and peer-driven resources can dramatically improve outcomes with mental health and substance abuse& Much, much moreStay tuned to the end to learn the redemptive story of Sarah's decades-long struggle to help her own brother, who has struggled with mental health, substance abuse, and homelessness, and hear how it has inspired her impressive track record of community work and still fuels her passionate commitment to making Los Angeles a better place for everyone today.    As always, I hope you all enjoy this episode.  Thanks for tuning in!      Love this episode? Please rate, subscribe, and review on your favorite podcast platform to help more users find our show.

Hi Everyone and Welcome Back!This week on The Nick Halaris Show we are featuring Francis Barry, the author of “Back Roads and Better Angels,” an important and inspiring new book examining the heart and soul of the American democracy.  Francis, a Bloomberg Opinion columnist and member of the editorial board there, is a sought-after voice for those seeking more rational and civil discourse and has an impressive track record working to make America a better place as a journalist, speechwriter, and advisor to former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.  I read “Back Roads and Better Angels” recently and walked away feeling both inspired and invigorated.  Francis does a masterful job weaving together important, often untold, stories from our history with interesting stories, perspectives, and ideas from real Americans he met on his journey across the country and examinations of the critical cultural and political questions of the day.  For anyone interested in understanding what's really going on in America, the book is a must read.  I wanted to have Francis on the show to highlight this important new book and unpack some of his key findings.  Tune in to learn: Why Francis decided to drive across America in a Winnebago in search of the keys to our national identity and our democracyThe true cause of our feelings of disunity and the secret forces holding us together Why there is so much about American history that we are still reckoning with and why it is our willingness to do so that makes us so specialHow our shared commitment to the ideals of freedom, democracy, and equality provides a cultural glue powerful enough to hold us together even in our darkest hoursWhat President Lincoln can teach us about how to keep a democracy together in times of great strife& Much, much moreStay tuned to the end to learn why Francis thinks it's a shared belief in our resiliency that ultimately holds us together and to hear his passionate plea for a return to civility in our political discourse.As always, I hope you all enjoy this episode.  Thanks for tuning in!      Love this episode? Please rate, subscribe, and review on your favorite podcast platform to help more users find our show.

This week on The Nick Halaris Show we are featuring Barry Lynn, the Executive Director of the Open Markets Institute, an organization dedicated to using competition policy to build stronger democracies, more just and equitable societies, and more innovative and sustainable economies.  Barry, a highly-regarded journalist, is also the author of 3 important books and a sought-after advisor for politicians on both sides of the aisle concerned about things like supply-chain fragility and the extreme concentration of economic power.I wanted to have Barry on the show to highlight the important work he's doing at the Open Markets Institute and to try to get a sense of what we might do to improve the competitive landscape in our economy.  You don't have to do much looking around to realize that we have a monopoly problem in our economy.  A few very large and powerful companies have come to dominate economic life in almost every major industry.  This concentration of power has introduced fragility into our system—as we saw during the COVID lockdown era—and has contributed to other problems like labor market stagnation and wealth inequality.  It's even harmed our democratic processes as well.  Tune in to this important episode to learn:  How the 1999 Earthquake in Taiwan and the subsequent disruptions in the semiconductor industry woke Barry up to the concentration risks in the global economyThe huge risks to our economy and our democracy from the extreme concentration of economic power in the age of AIHow it came to be that, until very recently, there wasn't a single antitrust case filed in the US in several decadesWhy anti-monopoly enforcement is so crucial for creating a better, more efficient, and more equitable economy The positive steps taken by the Biden administration, with the support of many prominent Republicans, in stepping up antitrust enforcement& Much, much moreStay tuned to the end to learn why Barry remains optimistic in the face of these challenges and believes that just by relearning how to use the tools of the past we can make a huge difference in shaping a more competitive future. As always, I hope you all enjoy this episode.  Thanks for tuning in!      Love this episode? Please rate, subscribe, and review on your favorite podcast platform to help more users find our show.

This week on The Nick Halaris Show we are featuring Daniel Hettwer, founder and CEO of Hidden Worlds Entertainment, an innovative company responsible for pioneering the Impactainment industry, where businesses try to do good while having fun.  Daniel, a perfect example of a socially conscious entrepreneur, has an inspiring vision for how to merge our ever-present desire for fun experiences with our deep human needs for meaning, connection, and purpose.      Ready to dive in? Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and YouTube or on your favorite podcast platform.I wanted to have Daniel on the show to highlight his inspiring vision for building the first impactainment business, learn more about what motivates him to care so much about doing good in the world, and unpack the important philosophical and psychological truths that are at the core of his mission.  Tune in to this inspiring episode to learn:All about Daniel's vision for using immersive dining and art experiences to inspire a whole new generation of impact-oriented individualsHow it's possible to design a dining experience that is not only delicious and super fun but also completely Ocean-positive with every bite and sip Why good storytelling is the true key to inspiring change in the world How he came up with the idea for impactainment and the huge potential he sees for the industry Why it's so important for those seeking big social change to move beyond strategies involving shame and blame and focus more on fun, hope, and inspiration& Much, much moreStay tuned to the end to learn how Daniel fell in love with Nature while fishing as a kid and hear why he got so motivated to go all-in on the idea of doing good while having fun.As always, I hope you all enjoy this episode.  Thanks for tuning in!      Love this episode? Please rate, subscribe, and review on your favorite podcast platform to help more users find our show.

This week on The Nick Halaris Show we are featuring Cristian Ahumada, the Executive Director of Holos Communities, one of the leading non-profit affordable housing developers in Southern California.  Cristian, my friend of many years, is one of the most passionate, impact-focused leaders I've ever come across and has a decades-long track record of making a positive difference in the world.  He's developed over 2000 units of affordable housing, is completely dedicated to ending homelessness, and is a highly respected civic leader. Cristian is someone who has been working at the forefront of the housing affordability crisis for decades and has an incredible depth and breadth of knowledge of the problems and opportunities there.  I wanted to have him on the show to get his insider's take on why we've gotten ourselves in such a mess when it comes to homelessness and housing affordability and what we might do to right the ship.  As a for-profit multifamily developer who has barely survived the buzzsaw that is Los Angeles, I can attest firsthand just how impressive it is that he's been able to have such a big impact on the world as a non-profit developer.  Tune in to this inspiring episode to learn: Cristian's compelling holistic vision for addressing homelessness, housing affordability, climate change, and racial inequity  How the current system inadvertently creates a welfare state rather than providing economic mobility for individuals experiencing homelessnessWhy public transit investment and big zoning changes are the core of the solution to the housing crisis How economic segregation has come to replace racial segregation and what that means for the American DreamWhat we can learn from Vienna on how to create a country where housing is affordable for everyone& Much, much moreStay tuned to the end to learn how Cristian's experiences growing up in Chile with a mom who believed in a life of service and a grandmaster father, who taught him resiliency through chess, fueled his passion for trying to make the world a better place and taught him the skills necessary to thrive as a non-profit leader in the very competitive world of real estate development.  As always, I hope you all enjoy this episode.  Thanks for tuning in!

This week on The Nick Halaris Show we are featuring Nathan Labenz, a founder of Waymark, a company using AI to help businesses easily make compelling marketing videos, and the host of a very popular AI-focused podcast called Cognitive Revolution. As you all know by now, Nathan is a gifted thinker and communicator, the world's best AI scout, and one of the most sought-after voices and thought leaders in the industry. In part one of this interview, which dropped last week, we learned about the incredible positive potential of AI technology.  Nathan shared with us a compelling vision for a future with less drudgery and suffering and vastly greater and more widespread material prosperity.  This week we examine the other side of the coin and ask what could go wrong here.  Tune in to this fascinating and sobering episode to learn:Why Nathan and many other AI scientists believe we shouldn't underestimate the potential dangers of AIThe theoretical basis behind the fears that AI systems might develop their own ideas, optimize against humans, or deceive us for their own benefitWhy Nathan thinks we would be better off focusing on implementing AI in its current state across our economy than racing to develop ever more powerful systemsWhy we need to give time and resources for scientists to catch -up and understand how these systems are actually workingHow close we might be to Artificial General IntelligenceWhy the stakes couldn't be higher in our race with China to develop the best, most useful AI and how that's problematic in the context of our AI safety concerns& Much, much moreStay tuned to the end to learn Nathan's compelling ideas for establishing a better path for our economic relations with China and hear his vision for a global AI governance structure.As always, I hope you all enjoy this episode.  Thanks for tuning in!Love this episode? Please rate, subscribe, and review on your favorite podcast platform to help more users find our show.

This week on The Nick Halaris Show we are featuring Nathan Labenz, a founder of Waymark, a company using AI to help companies easily make compelling marketing videos, and the host of the Cognitive Revolution podcast.  Nathan, our first guest on the show who went to my high school, has carved out a niche for himself in the crowded online world as an AI scout and is fast becoming one of the most sought-after voices in the industry.  I have been thinking a ton about AI lately and wanted to have Nathan on the show to get some intelligent insider perspectives on what's really going on in the space.  What you are about to hear is part one of a two-part interview where Nathan delivers a tour de force on the AI landscape.  We explore the big questions everyone wants to ask about AI, the good, the bad, and the ugly of the AI world, and what's trending and why.  In this episode, we learn what led Nathan down the path of AI, what motivates his important work as a thought leader, and why AI has the potential to be a force for great good in the world.  Tune in to this fascinating episode to learn: How a paper by prominent AI scientist Eliezer Yudkowsky opened Nathan's eyes to the potential and dangers of AIHow an experience at Waymark, while serving as CEO, helped Nathan realize the revolutionary potential of AI Why Nathan believes AI, if handled responsibly, has immense potential to dramatically improve our world, reduce human suffering, and usher in an unprecedented era of human prosperity What a post-AI world might look like and why we might need to start thinking about a new social contract  & Much, much moreIn part two of the interview, which will drop next week, we get into the other side of AI story and explore what could go wrong and why.  We also examine disturbing trends already at play in the industry and discuss ideas on what we could/should do to make things safer.  This is another fascinating conversation that you will not want to miss!As always, I hope you all enjoy this episode.  Thanks for tuning in!Love this episode? Please rate, subscribe, and review on your favorite podcast platform to help more users find our show.

This week on The Nick Halaris Show we are featuring Yuen-Li Chan, the COO of Phoenix Waste Solutions.  Yuen-Li and her business partner Tamara Webb have patented a zero-fuel waste disposal apparatus that turns trash into ash and energy. The Phoenix can thermally degrade unsorted municipal solid waste without using any fuel and produce 98% less greenhouse gasses than landfills or incinerators. It can process 5 to 8 tons per day at less than half the cost of landfill tipping fees. I wanted to have Yuen-Li on the show to learn more about our global garbage problem and shine a spotlight on the incredible potential of her innovative new product.  Yuen-Li came to our interview prepared not only to discuss the Phoenix but also armed with a whole of bunch of eye-opening facts, figures, and trends about garbage, recycling, and the environmental impact of rising global mass consumerism.  In this fascinating episode, we discuss:Just how big the trash problem really is and why landfills and traditional incineration technologies are just too costly for the environment to continue doingWhy, as much as we love Amazon Prime and the thrill of unboxing, packaging materials are becoming a major problem for our landfill capacityWhy the rise of single-source recycling has actually led to a decline in recycling rates in America Why the centralization of waste management has produced such a huge negative climate impact  How the Phoenix uses a patented process involving plasma-assisted combustion to burn garbage in a much cleaner, more energy-efficient way.Why the US Department of Defense is showing interest in the Phoenix and the idea of decentralized waste management& Much, much moreStay tuned to the end to learn how an experience on a bike ride in a remote jungle in Malaysia opened Yuen-Li's eyes to our global trash problem and redirected her focus towards a new mission.  Yuen-Li also discusses how her love of the outdoors and her work as an eco-tourism entrepreneur inspired her passionate commitment to serving as a steward of Nature.  As always, I hope you all enjoy this episode.  Thanks for tuning in!      Love this episode? Please rate, subscribe, and review on your favorite podcast platform to help more users find our show.

This week on The Nick Halaris Show we are featuring Tracy Gray, the Founder and Managing Partner of The 22 Fund.  Tracy is an innovator and visionary leader passionate about justice and dedicated to building a more equitable world.  Her fund is incredibly unique, not only in its socially conscious intent but also in its investment strategy. I wanted to have Tracy on the show to shine a big spotlight on the important work she's doing with The 22 Fund and get her views on what it's really going to take to create a fairer, more equitable world.  Tracy and her colleagues at The 22 Fund are working on the frontlines of three very important missions—one aimed at expanding access to entrepreneurial opportunities for underrepresented groups, another aimed at building the clean tech economy, and another supportive of the American Dream in a broader sense by working to create sustainable manufacturing jobs.  Whatever our politics, these are missions we can all get behind!  Tune in to this important episode to learn:Why Tracy believes clean tech manufacturing companies with export potential represent such a unique growth opportunityWhy it's so important to get serious about fixing the racial and gender disparities in the investment industryHow the strategic use of capital can play such a crucial role in the effort to create a more equitable worldWhat's working and not working in the social impact investing world& Much, much moreStay tuned to the end to learn how growing up in a military family inspired Tracy's lifelong commitment to justice and civic engagement and still motivates her work today.  You will also hear how Tracy plans to use The 22 Fund as a platform to create a whole new center of power in the investment world for women and people of color. As always, I hope you all enjoy this episode.  Thanks for tuning in!      Love this episode? Please rate, subscribe, and review on your favorite podcast platform to help more users find our show.

This week on The Nick Halaris Show we are featuring Zach Rausch, an Associate Research Scientist at NYU-Stern School of Business and the lead researcher for social psychologist Jonathan Haidt's new book “The Anxious Generation.”  Zach's research for the book, both convincing and frightening, marks a major contribution to an ongoing conversation about the health of our kids and, ultimately, our nation.I wanted to have Zach on the show to highlight the important ideas outlined in “The Anxious Generation” and dive deeper into the story.  I've become increasingly concerned that technologies like smartphones and social media, things we just accept and take for granted these days, might not actually be all that good for us.  Tune in to this important lesson to learn:What the data is telling us there's been a shocking decline in mental health for kids and young people around the world Just why things like push notifications and the like-button work so well and why that's a problem, especially for kids What the hook formula is and how social media companies used it to design incredibly addictive productsWhy not all screen time is created equal and parents should be very careful with smartphones and social mediaWhy it's imperative that technology companies be accountable for the damage caused by their productsHow parents, schools, and government can work together to make things better for kids by pursuing 4 simple strategies: no smartphones until high school, no social media until 16, phone-free schools, and fostering more unsupervised play and childhood independence & Much, much moreZach and I also discuss why there might be an even bigger problem here, one that impacts our communities and our democracy itself.  Stay tuned to the end to hear why, despite all the bad data, Zach remains optimistic we can right the ship. As always, I hope you all enjoy this episode.  Thanks for tuning in!      Ps.  For more information about “The Anxious Generation” click hereFor more information about Let Grow and the play-based childhood movement click hereLove this episode? Please rate, subscribe, and review on your favorite podcast platform to help more users find our show.

This week on The Nick Halaris Show we are featuring Evan Armstrong, the author of the popular Napkin Math newsletter and the lead writer for Every, a technology publication focused on the intersection of AI, finance, and business.  Evan regularly writes thought-provoking, extensively researched, original articles on the most important trends and issues in the tech world.  His Napkin Math newsletter has become a must-read for executives, venture capitalists, technologists, and investors around the world and something I always look forward to reading.I wanted to have Evan on the show to highlight his important and compelling writing and get his take on how technology is impacting our civil society, both for good and bad.  Evan stands apart from many writers because he's willing to explore beyond the usual boundaries of technology and business and seriously consider things like morality, society, and culture.  He's also someone who is not afraid to put forth challenging opinions and hypotheses.  Tune in to this fascinating episode to learn:- Just how hard it is to find an example of a moral billionaire and why- What you can learn about a person from the way he/she earns and spends money - Why the fatal flaw of the crypto industry is its over-reliance on retail investors- How technology companies came to rely so much on deliberately addictive products - Why the incentive structure of the internet produces ever greater moral promiscuity- Why AI and advanced robotics could shape a whole new world and way of being- & Much, much moreStay tuned to the end to hear Evan's take on why, in a world where we've already reached peak screentime (i.e. we're already spending 12 hours a day in front of screens), competitive forces are incentivizing companies to brew up a toxic storm of addictive, attention-grabbing, and often morally dubious content, products and services.  As always, I hope you all enjoy this episode. Thanks for tuning in!      Love this episode? Please rate, subscribe, and review on your favorite podcast platform to help more users find our show.

This week on The Nick Halaris Show we are featuring Danielle DiMartino Booth, the CEO and Chief Strategist at QI Research.  She is an economist, thought leader, and former Federal Reserve insider, the author of Fed Up: An Insider's Take on Why the Federal Reserve is Bad for America and The Daily Feather newsletter, and one of the most widely followed, most respected voices in global economics and finance.  I wanted to have Danielle on the show to get her take on what's happening in the economy and explore her provocative ideas on why the Fed may be bad for America.  As I've been interviewing investors and economists on the show, I keep hearing over and over how it's the Fed that is responsible for many of our big problems, whether it's the debt itself, our wealth inequality problem, or inflation.  I've been following Danielle, who is a former Fed insider, for years so I knew she would have a lot to say about all this and she did not disappoint.  Tune in to this eye-opening episode to learn:- Why there is a growing disconnect between the stock market and the real economy - Why the Fed may be in the midst of yet another policy mistake - The role that (perhaps, deliberately) inaccurate economic data plays in distorting incentives and impairing the health functioning of our capitalist system- How the Fed's desire to pass regulatory reforms aimed at the shadow banking sector may be influencing its current higher-for-longer policy stance- How the Fed has become more and more politicized and why we should care about that- & Much, much moreStay tuned to the end to hear why Danielle believes that the key first step to right the ship is for ordinary Americans to focus seriously on personal financial literacy and responsibility (i.e. living within our means instead of relying more and more on debt to fuel consumption).  Danielle also discusses why Chair Powell deserves our respect for his steadfast commitment to Fed independence and why we should be cheering him on to stay the course.As always, I hope you all enjoy this episode.  Thanks for tuning in!      Love this episode? Please rate, subscribe, and review on your favorite podcast platform to help more users find our show.

This week on The Nick Halaris Show we are featuring Erin Hughes, the co-founder and Executive Director of Solidarity Engineering, an organization dedicated to using engineering to protect the public health of communities in crisis.  They got their start back in 2020 by providing clean water and sanitation facilities at asylum-seeker camps that formed as a result of the controversial Remain in Mexico policy.  Now, they are providing humanitarian support at camps across the US-Mexico border and around the region.  Their primary focus is on water, sanitation, and hygiene programs, but they also build playgrounds, provide STEAM education, and engage in data-driven advocacy. I wanted to have Erin on the show to highlight her incredibly courageous story and get the perspective of someone who has actual on-the-ground experience at the border.  The news coverage of the border situation seems so rife with hyperbole and untrustworthy information, I really wanted to talk to someone who is actually there and see what's happening firsthand.  I had high hopes for this conversation and it did not disappoint.  Please tune in to this important episode to learn:How an award-winning This American Life podcast episode inspired Erin to drop everything, quit her job, and head down to Mexico to try to make a differenceWhy she spent the pandemic building water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure for some of the most vulnerable people in the worldHow the asylum system used to work, what's happening now, why it's so broken, and what we should do about itThe surprising demographics of asylum seekersThe terrible role that drug cartels play in the migration ecosystem and how they are using dangerous conditions along the way, like in the Darian Gap, to their advantage& Much, much moreStay tuned to the end to hear why Erin believes that pressure from climate change, failed States, drug trafficking, and global conflict means that large-scale migration is here to stay.As always, I hope you all enjoy this episode.  Thanks for tuning in!      Love this episode? Please rate, subscribe, and review on your favorite podcast platform to help more users find our show.

This week on The Nick Halaris Show we are featuring Robin Hanson, an economics professor at George Mason University, the author of several fascinating books and the popular “Overcoming Bias” newsletter, and a true maverick, polymath thinker.  He has an incredible body of work and has studied and written about everything from AI and aliens to the psychology of bias and decision-making to how we can use betting markets to improve our society.  As you'll hear in the episode, he's even envisioned provocative ideas on how we might reimagine the idea of money itself and has proposed alternative ways to conduct democracy in light of all that we've learned about human psychology. I wanted to have Robin on the show to get some unique perspectives on how we can improve our complex, messy world.  As I've gotten more into big political and policy issues this year on the show, I've become more convinced that we are in desperate need of some new ideas and maybe even some radical ones.  As you'll see in this episode, Robin is the perfect person for this.  Not only is he a wide-ranging and very critical thinker, but also, he's not afraid to upset the status quo, even if it means challenging the very core of our existing power structures. Tune in to this fascinating episode to learn:The fascinating relationship between the idea of the sacred, society, culture, and our institutions of powerRobin's provocative idea of Sacred Money and how it could work to improve the way we pursue endeavors that have meaning beyond the profit-motive of capitalismHow we can use betting markets to improve both our ability to aggregate information and to make decisions Robin's fascinating idea of Futarchy and why Robin thinks we might even be able to fix democracy itself by using voting on matters on values and betting markets to help us make the best decisionsWhy the rise of a global culture is potentially problematic for humanity  & Much, much more  Stay tuned to the end to hear Robin's thoughts on the foundational premise of this show and learn how he would use small-scale experimentation to fix America if given the power to do so.As always, I hope you all enjoy this episode.  Thanks for tuning in!      Love this episode? Please rate, subscribe, and review on your favorite podcast platform to help more users find our show.

This week on The Nick Halaris Show we are featuring Katherine Schweit, a former FBI agent and one of the most influential gun violence advocates in the country.  She conducted the first mass shooter study while at the FBI, is the founder and co-host of the Stop the Killing Podcast, and is the author of two really important books—“Stop the Killing” and “How to Talk About Guns With Anyone.”  And she's just getting started.  With a Ted Talk coming soon and a forthcoming book aimed at helping parents navigate this difficult-to-discuss issue, Katherine is determined to make a difference.  I walked away from this discussion feeling not only more knowledgeable about the issue but also more optimistic that this is something we can actually solve.  I wanted to have Katherine on the show to put a big spotlight on all the important work she's doing and to get her take on what practical steps we might take to start solving this frightening, intractable crisis.  As a father of two young boys, I've thought way more about gun violence than I care to admit.  My heart shatters every time one of these incidents occurs and I find myself increasingly angry at our collective inaction on the issue.  This is a policy area where we just have to do something.  Please tune in to this critically important episode to learn:Why it's so important to really understand the facts when discussing the gun violence problem in AmericaWhy, in a country like America where there are 400M guns in circulation and a long history of Constitutionally protected gun ownership, it's better to focus on other solutionsHow a profound lack of funding in law enforcement and education is making the crisis worseHow investments in things like mental health and anonymous reporting systems can make a big impact in preventing mass violenceWhat the “run, hide, fight” framework is and why you should care about it& Much, much moreStay tuned to the end to learn why Katherine believes it's so important for you to speak up when you observe any disturbing behavior (in almost every case, shooters make mistakes and reveal their plans) and to learn what you should do to prepare yourself and your family for the potential of mass violence.  As always, I hope you all enjoy this episode.  Thanks for tuning in!      Love this episode? Please rate, subscribe, and review on your favorite podcast platform to help more users find our show.

This week on The Nick Halaris Show we are featuring Dee Smith, the Founder and CEO of the Strategic Insight Group, a global intelligence firm with a decades-long track record investigating the most important issues in the world.  Dee is a geopolitical expert, author, educator, and entrepreneur who advises some of the world's most influential investors and business leaders.  He's also one of the most fascinating people I've ever met and a very kind and humble individual. I wanted to have Dee on the show to get his perspectives on a whole bunch of big issues.  With the US election drawing ever closer, the wars raging in Ukraine and Gaza, and tensions escalating throughout the world, this is the perfect time to start getting serious about understanding the geopolitical situation and considering what we should do about it all.  Tune in to this fascinating, timely, and rather important episode to learn:Why Putin may be more vulnerable than he'd like to admit and why it's absolutely critical for the West to continue to support Ukraine What we are learning in Ukraine about the frightening realities of modern warfareHow technology has unleashed scary new potentials for asymmetric warfareWhy the situation in Gaza is so complex and a solution so intractable How the global migration crisis around the world is stressing systems of power and challenging political leaders in unique waysHow climate change and rapid technological progress are challenging the post-WWII global governance framework and why we need to get busy designing something new & Much, much moreStay tuned to the end to hear why Dee believes it may be time to rethink the entire post-WWII global order and why now is such a pivotal moment in world history.  Dee also challenges us to start looking for and supporting a new generation of leaders who aren't so afraid of change.  As always, I hope you all enjoy this episode.  Thanks for tuning in!      Love this episode? Please rate, subscribe, and review on your favorite podcast platform to help more users find our show.

This week on The Nick Halaris Show we are featuring Matt Murphy, a former Green Beret and the President of the Sentinel Foundation, an innovative non-profit working to save kids from the horrors of child trafficking.  Matt, a warrior, patriot, father, and now non-profit leader, exemplifies everything we care about here at Profit+ and The Nick Halaris Show.  After courageously serving America on the front lines of the war on terror, he has now dedicated himself to the hard work of the fight against child trafficking. I have to warn you that what you are about to listen to is both dark and disturbing.  I was so emotionally moved recording this episode that it took me quite some days to regain my equilibrium.   But I think the truth here is one we just have to confront.  There's too much at stake, too many innocent children caught up in a kind of evil so dark, it's hard to even contemplate.  I wanted to have Matt on the show to shine a big spotlight on the incredibly important work that he and his colleagues at the Sentinel Foundation are engaged in day in and day out.  I wrote last week that to be indifferent to suffering in the world somehow damages the soul.  Well, the suffering involved here is monstrous and, as such, we simply must do what it takes to eradicate this evil from our world. Tune in to this important, sobering episode to learn:Just how big of a problem child trafficking is in the world The disturbing role that the US plays in the child exploitation and trafficking ecosystemHow predators are using modern technology to attack the most vulnerable kids and avoid law enforcementHow the vicious combination of chronically underfunded, understaffed law enforcement agencies and powerful new technologies have enabled criminals to operate with increasing impunity  What the Sentinel Foundation is doing to take the fight to those who exploit the helplessHow this work compares to the war on terror& Much, much moreStay tuned to the end to hear why Matt almost went vigilante after the tragic loss of his own sister, a victim of trafficking herself, and how a last-minute intervention by his mom completely altered the trajectory of his life.  We also discuss the ways you can join in on this important fight.  As always, I hope you all enjoy this episode.  Thanks for tuning in!Love this episode? Please rate, subscribe, and review on your favorite podcast platform to help more users find our show.

This week on The Nick Halaris Show we are featuring Julius Krein, the founder and editor of the American Affairs Journal.  Julius is an incredibly deep thinker, a patriot, and someone who has dedicated his life to advocating for a better America.  He launched the American Affairs Journal to provide an antidote to the dumbed-down, overly partisan forums of conventional media.  On account of his eloquence and the quality of his thinking, Julius is fast becoming one of the most important public policy voices in the world today.  I wanted to have Julius on the show to highlight his important ideas about the decline of the neoliberal order and its impact on our domestic politics and the broader geopolitical landscape.  He argues convincingly that we made a huge mistake in abandoning our productive capacity in the pursuit of ever-greater corporate profits and executive pay packages and is concerned that we are running out of time to right the ship.  In this fascinating episode, we discuss:What motivated Julius to start American AffairsHow the combination of extreme civic apathy and rampant corruption among the global elites has created a toxic, existential problem for global democracy Why the neoliberal order (think globalization and outsourcing) is a failed policy with potentially disastrous long-term consequencesWhy we lost the war on terrorWhy reindustrialization is just part of what we have to do to get America back on track& Much, much moreStay tuned to the end to hear Julius' take on why our nation-building efforts in Afghanistan proved to be so disastrous and learn what you can do to advance the cause of pragmatic, practical policy reform in America.As always, I hope you all enjoy this episode.  Thanks for tuning in!      Love this episode? Please rate, subscribe, and review on your favorite podcast platform to help more users find our show.

This week on The Nick Halaris Show we are featuring Wolf Richter, the publisher of the Wolf Street Website.  Wolf is an incredible financial mind and his site has become one of the go-to sources for those on global Wall Street seeking sophisticated, in-depth, and independent analysis of economic trends and market dynamics.  I stumbled across Wolf Street several years ago and was blown away both by the quality of Wolf's content and the sheer volume.  Every single day, Wolf releases several articles with detailed analysis, helpful charts and table, and useful insights.  For those interested in trying to understand what's really going on in the global economy and markets, regular time on Wolf Street is a must.I wanted to have Wolf on the show to unpack his latest thinking on the state of the economy, see what he thinks of the investment landscape today, and learn more about what motivates him to do this important work.  As you'll see in the episode, Wolf is a very humble and thoughtful individual and someone who is inspired by a unique mission-driven message.  Tune in to this fascinating episode to learn:Why the government's response to the Great Financial Crisis made Wolf feel compelled to start speaking out and still motivates him todayHow the banking bailouts during the GFC created an alarming lack of accountability across corporate America and laid the seeds for the growing wealth inequality we are seeing todayHow government intervention in the economy through Quantitative Easing and interest rate repression has not only distorted the economy but also has been the major cause in rising wealth inequality and increasing political polarization Why there is a pressing need for greater transparency, accountability, and competition across our economy& Much, much more We also discuss interesting things like why it's so frustrating and annoying to buy a car in America and why Silicon Valley has become a hub for monopolistic practices, and to get into the details of how wealth affects policies like QE actually work in practice.  Stay tuned to the end to hear how Wolf's incredible 3-year journey to over 100 countries and every continent on Earth changed his life and still motivates his work today.As always, I hope you all enjoy this episode.  Thanks for tuning in!      Love this episode? Please rate, subscribe, and review on your favorite podcast platform to help more users find our show.

This week on The Nick Halaris Show we are featuring non-profit leader, Ibert Schultz.  Ibert is the Executive Director of Black College Success, an organization committed to increasing opportunities through college access and career success for Black high school students.  He's a dedicated activist and public servant with a long, diverse track record of success working to create a better world.  He's also a great friend.  We met a few years ago while volunteering for our kids' school and became fast friends, bonding over many things, especially our shared values around citizenship and public service.  I wanted to have Ibert on the show to highlight the important work he and his colleagues at Black College Success are doing and to get his perspectives on some of the pressing issues of our day.  As you'll see in the episode, Ibert is someone who's thought very deeply about our society, culture, and government and has a ton of really compelling ideas.  In this fascinating episode, we discuss: What it's like to grow up in an environment where racially motivated police activity is a common occurrence and how that shaped his desire to be a public servant Why education still represents the best hope for the survival of the American DreamThe implications of the post-affirmative action world and why college access is something we should be thinking very seriously about if we truly care about creating opportunities for all AmericansWhat's working and not working in the DEI movementThe demonstrated empirical benefits of diversity in business and organizational performance& Much, much more   Stay tuned to the end to hear how Ibert's mom provided a powerful example of his lifelong dedication to civic activism and public service and helped him find the courage to sign up for a stint with the Peace Corps in rural Nicaragua in lieu of the higher-paying corporate job track.  Ibert also makes a compelling argument about the relationship between economic insecurity and the decline in civic engagement and participation.  As always, I hope you all enjoy this episode.  Thanks for tuning in!      Love this episode? Please rate, subscribe, and review on your favorite podcast platform to help more users find our show.

This week on The Nick Halaris Show we are featuring immigration policy expert, Jack Malde.  Jack is a Senior Policy Analyst at the Bipartisan Policy Center, a think tank dedicated to promoting compromise and political solutions that will improve the lives of Americans.  He's also the co-host of the “This Week In Immigration” podcast, a show that is fast becoming my go-to source for real-time news and in-depth analysis of all the developments and issues of the immigration debate.  Obviously, immigration will be one of the most important and contentious issues of the upcoming election.  While these days all eyes are on the border and the situation brewing there, that's just one piece of the puzzle actually.  What we need in America is comprehensive immigration reform and we need it immediately.I wanted to have Jack on the show to do a deep dive into the question of legal immigration reform.  Jack is an expert in this area and, as you'll see in this episode, has many constructive and compelling ideas about how we could change our immigration system for the better.  Tune in to this episode to learn:The nuts and bolts of our current legal immigration framework—the numbers, how it works, and how it doesn'tWhy legal immigration reform is so crucial for our economy, national security, and international competitiveness The unfortunate reasons why we haven't gotten legal immigration reform in over 30-years despite high levels of bipartisan supportJack's compelling arguments for not only increasing the raw number of annual visa opportunities but also for shifting the allocations more toward our strategic economic needs& Much, much moreStay tuned to the end to hear how Jack's upbringing and experiences as a dual UK/US citizen have shaped his views and motivated his lifelong passion and commitment to public service.  Jack also introduces a provocative theory about the relationship between economic growth and morality and explains why it motivates his daily work pushing for pro-growth policies in America. As always, I hope you all enjoy this episode.  Thanks for tuning in!      Love this episode? Please rate, subscribe, and review on your favorite podcast platform to help more users find our show.

Hi Everyone and Welcome Back!This week on The Nick Halaris Show we are featuring civic entrepreneur, Nick Troiano.  Nick is the founder and Executive Director of Unite America, a philanthropic venture fund focused on nonpartisan election reform, and the author of a very important new book, The Primary Solution.  I had the opportunity to read an advance copy of the book to prepare for the interview and I was blown away.  For all those who are concerned about our democracy this is a must-read and a meaningful contribution to the cause.  As you'll hear in this not to be missed episode, not only is Nick an incredibly bold civic activist, he's also one of the most effective.  He and his colleagues at Unite America already have several big wins under their belts, including comprehensive primary reform in Alaska in 2019 that is already producing some rather encouraging results, and they have big plans in the works.  Animated by his noble mission, Nick is fast becoming one of the most important voices in the ongoing fight to save our democracy from extreme polarization, corruption, and autocracy.  I wanted to have Nick on the show to explore why he's so convinced that primary reform is the key to repairing our democratic function here in America.  My takeaway after reading his book and getting a chance to talk with him in-depth, is that he's on to something here!  Tune in to this fascinating and optimistic episode to learn:The history of the ever-evolving election landscape in America and why election reform has been such a constant feature of our democracy The surprising diversity in state election laws and processesHow we got ourselves into a situation where our Congress has record low approval ratings and yet we keep electing the same people over and over againHow primaries came to be weaponized by the ideological extremes of both partiesThe convincing case for why reforming primary elections, especially in the 15 states that still have closed primaries, can be such an effective way to address our extreme polarization problem& Much, much moreStay tuned to the end to hear how you can join the cause and find new meaning in your life by asking what Nick considers to be the fundamental question of citizenship: “what can we do to leave the world a little bit better off than we found it?As always, I hope you all enjoy this episode.  Thanks for tuning in!      Love this episode? Please rate, subscribe, and review on your favorite podcast platform to help more users find our show.

This week on The Nick Halaris Show we are featuring civic leader, Laura Foote.  Laura is a Founder and the Executive Director of Yimby Action, an innovative non-profit pro-housing advocacy organization.  From humble beginnings organizing pro-housing campaigns in San Francisco, Laura and her colleagues at Yimby Action have become some of the most powerful voices in the local political battles over housing that are raging across the country.   As a civic activist with an impressive track record of success, she's fast becoming one of the most important voices for those looking to make the world a better place. I wanted to have Laura on the show to learn what she's been seeing and hearing on the frontlines of the now nationwide battle against the NIMBY forces and broken/corrupt local politics that are standing in the way of progress.  Housing, a meta-issue of American politics, is fast becoming the key battleground in the fight over the future of America and Laura's story should leave us all feeling optimistic.  Turns out that passion and some innovative grassroots organizational efforts can go a long way in bringing about change in our democratic processes.  In this fascinating episode, we cover:Why engaging in local politics and forming a strong community of pro-housing activists is so crucial and effective in advocating for change.How lawsuits and legal measures can be effective tools in challenging discriminatory practices and advocating for more housing.How high housing costs contribute to the lack of opportunity and bitterness in American society, particularly in rural communities.Why the connection between homeownership and middle-class wealth has been severed, leading to a divergence in financial trajectories between generations.Why affordable housing is essential for addressing intergenerational wealth disparities and providing opportunities for financial stability.Stay tuned to the end to hear Laura's fascinating take on why the housing affordability crisis is responsible for the fracturing of American society and some bold ideas on what we should to do help, both from a policy perspective and in our individual capacity as citizens.As always, I hope you all enjoy this episode.  Thanks for tuning in!      

Hi Everyone and Welcome Back!This week on The Nick Halaris Show we are featuring civic leader, Leonora Camner.  Leonora is the Executive Director of ClimateSafe Villages, an innovative non-profit focused on helping communities build resilience, and the former Executive Director of Abundant Housing LA.  As a civic activist with an impressive track record of success, she's fast becoming one of the most important voices for those looking to make the world a better place.  When I reached out to Leonora to invite her to the show, I thought we'd have an important conversation all about housing but as we got into the episode so many fascinating topics kept coming up that we barely covered housing.  Animated by her experiences pushing for much-needed housing policy reforms, Leonora has become a passionate advocate for a whole suite of big ideas including leveraging the power of community to deal with all the potential consequences of climate change and pushing for innovative reforms to democratic processes.  In this fascinating episode, we cover:Why waking up to the true dangers of climate change is something we should be doing right nowWhat resilience looks like in the context of urban living in the age of climate disasterWhy politicians are so reluctant to talk to voters about the whole truthWhy Leonora came to believe that our big policy failures are a function of broken democratic processesWhy citizens' assemblies might be the answer to our intractable political problemsStay tuned to the end to hear how being a mother infused even more meaning into her already purpose-driven existence.  As always, I hope you all enjoy this episode.  Thanks for tuning in!      Love this episode? Please rate, subscribe, and review on your favorite podcast platform to help more users find our show.

This week on The Nick Halaris Show we are featuring civic leader, Michael Kelly.  Michael is the Executive Director of the Drucker Institute and the longtime leader of the LA Coalition for the Economy and Jobs, an innovative civic activist group here in Los Angeles.  With a long history working at the intersection of government and business, he has an impressive track record as a passionate advocate for practical, progressive solutions to the big problems of our day.     When I joined the LA Coalition back in the pre-pandemic days, Michael and I became fast friends over a shared passion and vision for what it means to be a good citizen.  I wanted to have Michael on the show to discuss how he's using his new role at the Drucker Institute to advocate for better leadership, governance, and corporate citizenship and to explore some the lessons he's learned from a lifetime of service and activism.  Tune-in to this fascinating episode to learn: ·      How companies are using insights and ideas from Peter Drucker's legendary body of work to not only achieve exceptional financial results but also become better corporate citizens·      The relationship between globalization and the decline in effective corporate citizenship ·      Why the best companies in the world are so focused on people (especially their own employees) and community ·      How ego often gets in the way of effective pro-business policy collaboration ·      Why businesses struggle to wield collective political influence and end-up relying so much on issue-specific lobbying·      How Michael's passion for working to create a better world and one simple cold-call to a campaign office led him to an entire career working at the intersection of government and business&·      Much, much more We also learn how the powerful example of Michael's father, a teacher who dedicated himself to service and citizenship, provided the impetus for Michael's own inspiring journey. 

This week on The Nick Halaris Show we are featuring relationship expert Barb Betts. Barb is a popular keynote speaker, the host of the Relationships are your Superpower Podcast, where I recently had the honor to make an appearance, and a very successful real estate entrepreneur. When I met Barb, and learned her story and the inspiring contours of her message around the immense value of relationships in business and life, I knew our discussion would make for an interesting podcast.We may live in an era where genuine connection has been de-prioritized in favor of things like friends, followers, likes and clicks, but it's relationship that moves the world. I wanted to have Barb on the show to highlight the important work she's doing to refocus our attention on the critical value of relationships, not only in the pursuit of success, but also for building a life of meaning. In this inspiring episode you'll learn:How Barb discovered the relationship superpower while struggling as a young mother trying to make it as a real estate agentHow to consistently close the gap between like and trust in your relationshipsWhy it's so important to systemize your approach to relationship-buildingWhy referring type people hold the key to your success and how to identify themThe relationship between authenticity and trustBarb also opens up and shares how her struggles with hair loss have inspired her work as a speaker, teacher, and podcast host and how her decision to embrace vulnerability and share her journey publicly not only helped her overcome her feelings of shame but also has helped countless others along the way.Finally, for those interested in the real estate market, stay tuned to the end for an interesting discussion about why now might actually be the best time to try to buy a house.Love this episode? Please rate, subscribe, and review on your favorite podcast platform to help more users find our show.

This week on The Nick Halaris Show we are featuring social entrepreneur Will House. Will is the founder and CEO of Oberit, an innovative new company using AI, neuroscience, and incentives to help people overcome addiction. When I met Will and heard his inspiring story of redemption, I knew instantly I had to have him on the show as his willingness to be vulnerable is manifesting incredibly positive results in the world. Addiction is one of these issues that we all “know about” but, for some reason, tend not to talk too much about. But it is a staggering global problem, impacting, by some estimates, over 30% of the population and is one of the leading causes of suffering in the world.   I wanted to have Will on the show to highlight the important work he and his colleagues at Oberit are doing in the fight against addiction and to share his galvanizing mission.  In this important episode you'll learn:·      How Will was able to overcome his own struggles with addiction and why that drives him in his noble mission to help others·      The sobering truth about the scale and severity of the global addiction problem·      Why what we are learning about neuroplasticity should give us all hope not only that we can beat addiction but also that we can change anything in our lives·      The surprising power that simple practices like gratitude journaling and daily affirmations can have in the recovery process ·      How Oberit's innovative product is filling a crucial gap in the market by giving people helpful tools and support in the re-entry phase of recovery&·      Much, much more We also discuss things like the frightening natural evolution of addiction, why hitting rock bottom is a necessary step in the recovery process, and why it's so important for recovering addicts to maintain a sense of agency in their lives.  Stay tuned to the end to hear why Will is so committed to proving that Oberit can play a meaningful role in preventing relapse and fill a massive void in the world of care options for those in recovery.

This week on The Nick Halaris Show we are featuring civic activist Scott Epstein.  Scott is the Director of Policy and Research for Abundant Housing LA, an innovative pro-housing advocacy group making waves here in California, a former candidate for city council here in Los Angeles, and a lifelong social justice and housing activist. I wanted to have Scott on the show to learn about what he's seeing on the front lines in the fight against NIMBY forces, explore his vision for how we might fix our broken housing market, and highlight the important work he and his colleagues at Abundant Housing LA are doing.  Scott is someone who has literally dedicated his life to causes like housing affordability, climate change, and the fight against poverty, so I had a feeling this would make for a rich conversation and it did not disappoint.  In this informative, engaging, and inspiring episode, we discuss:-       Why the NIMBY's are winning without actually representing the true will of the majority-       Abundant Housing LA's innovative 3-part strategy—policy, community organizing, & politics—and how it's working in the fight for more housing-       Why Scott's 3 big ideas—zoning reform, by-right development, and getting rid of parking and the double staircase requirement—could go a long way in solving the housing crisis-       Scott's experience with grass roots political activism in LA's Neighborhood Council System-       What it's like to run for city council in a place like Los Angeles&-       Much, much more Scott also shares how growing-up in a household of social justice advocates informed his mindset and career choices and why wanting to make LA a cooler place led him down the road of civic activism and public service.  He also recounts how his own experience as a victim of the housing affordability crisis—i.e. living in a slum—motivates and animates all the work he does today.   

This week on The Nick Halaris Show we are featuring impact investor, Debbie La Franchi.  Debbie is the founder and CEO of SDS Capital Group, an impact fund with over $1B of investments and a 20-year track record of success.  A lot of people these days talk about impact, but Debbie and her colleagues at SDS actually walk the walk as well.  They have been making strategic investments at the leading edge of two of the most important initiatives in America today.  Their funds address both the housing affordability crisis and the attempt to revitalize the manufacturing sector.        I wanted to have Debbie on the show to learn firsthand what it takes to be a genuine impact investor.  She is among the first few impact investors ever to emerge in America and obviously one of the most successful.  We met through our mutual passion for civic activism earlier this year.  I invited her to a meeting with some of my colleagues on the LA Coalition who had gathered to prepare some pro-housing recommendations for Mayor Bass here in Los Angeles and as she delivered a tour de force of understanding and insight of all the interconnections between business and government, I knew I had to have her on the show.  In this fascinating discussion we cover: ·      How SDS is working to alleviate poverty, address the housing affordability and homelessness crises and bring back manufacturing to America·      Why the pressure to generate competitive risk adjusted returns make impact investing a difficult art and distinguishes it from philanthropy·      Why Debbie believes it's so important to recruit business to the fight against poverty, injustice, and inequity·      The inspiring origin story for SDS&·      Much, much more Stay tuned to the end to learn how early experiences in Debbie's life informed her steadfast passion for making a difference in the world and how an opportunity working for Mayor Riordan's Administration in Los Angeles opened her eyes to a whole new world of possibility with impact investing

This week on The Nick Halaris Show we are featuring entrepreneur, angel investor, and the author of the P.S. You Should Know Newsletter, Pavel Sokolovsky.  Pavel has an impressive track record in business and investing and is someone I talk to regularly to compare notes on the world, expand my horizon, and challenge my assumptions.  I always walk away from our discussions with some new perspectives and ideas. Pavel is someone who has thought deeply about entrepreneurship and the art of investing and I wanted to have him on the show to highlight some of the ideas and practices that have made him so successful.  I also wanted to showcase his work as a newsletter writer as I've gotten so much out of P.S. You Should Know over the years.  In this fascinating discussion we cover:·      What it was like to grow-up in the Midwest as an immigrant from the Soviet Union·      How Pavel managed to build a successful technology company in a decidedly old school industry·      The pros and cons of managing a chronically undercapitalized startup·      What drew Pavel to pursue angel investing and how he's managed to be successful at such a difficult game·      Why he's so intrinsically motivated to help other founders be successful   Stay tuned to the end to learn Pavel's interesting take on what it means to be a socially conscious angel investor and how he prioritizes his investment decisions based on a steadfast commitment to supporting a vision of the future that he actually believes in.  You'll also learn the origin story for P.S. You Should Know and Pavel's unique daily process for curating and developing content for his writing.

This week on The Nick Halaris Show we are featuring two inspiring civic entrepreneurs—Eliana Konsker and Brigitte Canty—the co-Founders of Zero, an ecommerce marketplace for sustainable fashion brands.  Frustrated by a world that always seems to push sustainability all the way back to consumer choice, Ellie and Brigitte are working to build a product that will actually change industry standards from the inside out.  Their company Zero is focused on promoting fashion brands dedicated to holistic sustainability.    Ready to dive in? Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music and Youtubeor on your favorite podcast platform. I wanted to have Ellie and Brigitte on the show to learn more about the sustainability problems in the fashion industry and to highlight the work they are doing with Zero to improve the industry.  In this wide-ranging discussion we cover:·      Zero's innovative approach to providing consumers with genuinely sustainable choices·      Why the fashion industry has such a big ESG problem·      How labor practices in the fashion world make consumer choice a tricky affair·      Why a consumption-obsessed culture coupled with all the problems and pitfalls of tech enabled psychologically manipulative advertising creates the not-so-perfect storm for unsustainable fashion&·      Much, much more  We also explore the idea of circular economy and learn what motivated Ellie and Brigitte to dedicate their lives to sustainability.  I hope you all enjoy this episode.  Thanks for tuning-in!

Hi Everyone and Welcome Back!This week on The Nick Halaris Show we are featuring another of my old law school friends, Congressman Dan Goldman.  Dan is someone who has dedicated his life to public service and has inspiring track record fighting to preserve the rule of law in this country.  He currently represents New York's 10th District in the House of Representatives and has worked as an Assistant US Attorney in New York and as a criminal justice reformer for the better part of two decades.  For those who follow American politics closely, you'll also recognize him as the lead counsel in the 2019 impeachment of President Trump.  Whatever your politics, you have to admit that Dan's performance on such a high-profile, pressure-packed stage was incredibly impressive.  It was surreal for me to see my friend up there on that first day of the hearing so cool and so confident as he delivered a masterclass in legal oratory.  Ready to dive in? Listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music and Youtubeor on your favorite podcast platform.