The World According to Craig

We have hundreds of civic leaders focused on preaching to the choir: themselves. What they've forgotten is that it doesn't matter how many great policies you have if no one knows or cares about them.

Conversations about what we should do about our city should start with facts, not policy. Because we can't craft good policy without a shared set of common, real facts. We need to stop bending the truth in service of predisposed priorities, and instead, focus on what's real, and have honest conversations about it. The whole truth, and nothing but the whole truth.

It's ok to be angry. When we look around there's a lot we can be frustrated about. But it's not ok to stay angry. We all want a better world; we just need someone to help us all build it together. Let's meet each other in our anger, and find a way out of it to build something better.

James Ramsey, a self-described “prototypical millennial” joins us to talk about what it meant to discover himself growing up, a journey we can all identify with. At some point, you have to let everyone else's concept of “you" go, and make yourself happy at the end of the day.

We say we have a lot of support for veterans as a country and a city, but the truth is actually very different. For the billions of dollars we pump into the “system," those programs are from the top down, and fail to properly support those who need it most. We spend billions training people to be weapons, and when they come home, we do nothing to help them untrain and get the help they really need, from us or each other.

We're taught to run away from conflict, and that it's bad for us. But the reality is much different. Conflict, when approached from common ground, curiosity, and a desire to understand others, is essential to growth.

At the core of every problem in LA is one common problem: the people of this city no longer believe that their leadership cares about the issues most important to them. And the public no longer believes that anything they can do will matter. But we're going to change that. Rise Together is focused on re-inspiring voters in this city to believe change is possible, and vote only for change.

All the plans you have in life won't matter if you're not ready to see where it all goes. Join former Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences President and legendary Hollywood executive Cheryl Boone Isaacs to talk about how the journey of life if the most important part.

A lot of people ask me why I care, what drives me. The answer: empathy from having “been there.” I may not know your struggle, but I know the struggle. And because of that, every decision matters.

No matter who you are, life is a story—your story. But the question becomes how are you going to make that story? Join hit film producer Ben Everard (YES DAY, LIGHTS OUT) to learn how to craft a story…and maybe make a movie in the process.

Any discussion of crime, policing, and social justice is fraught with emotion and weighted with incredible pain for a lot of people. But on this week's “Off the Cuff,” let's start where we all should be able to agree: we want lower crime, we want a fairer and more equal system, and we want the right people at the right place at the right time helping citizens for the right reasons.

There are real, practical explanations we can all understand about what the stock market is, why it works the way it does, and why it's not evil. Let's start by asking the hard questions with Pete Singh, a hedge fund trader who's happy to share the basics.

Jobs are an essential element to a city, and businesses create jobs. So we need to stop vilifying job creators and businesses and start embracing what they bring to our city; responsible business and innovation makes a stronger city. We used to be the land where dreams were made, and we can be again. But we have to understand what it means to create a home for jobs and innovation, and create smart policies once again.

There's no world in which you can have relevant internet and complete privacy. So what's the ethical and right balance? Learn more this week with a media expert who will explain what's going on, Kevin Weisberg of Optimad Media.

The greatest power we hand to our elected officials is the power of the pulpit - the ability to speak for us, to shine a light on the issues that matter most to us. Sadly, in Los Angeles, they don't use it. Instead, we get press conferences for fluff or lies. We can do better - we must do better. So now it's time for the public to reclaim the power of the pulpit and use it for themselves.

Sometimes, the hardest, and best, lessons are what it means to be truly you. And how do you even discover “who” you really are? Justin Newman joins us to talk about a path of self-discovery, and how hard…and easy…that can sometimes be.

Affordability is a simple question: a number of people, times number of places to live, equals housing prices. And the answer is simple: we need more housing. A lot more. But more housing doesn't mean destroying neighborhoods. We can actually build all the housing we need and preserve our neighborhoods when we focus on smart decisions working together, not shouting at each other.

The world is changing, and it can feel like people are dissatisfied all the time. But if you're unhappy, all is not lost. Join executive coach, life coach, entrepreneur, and master of all feelings Chris Grimm of Aria Consulting and Avvi, to learn more about how to look at the world, how to process all the chaos coming at you, and how to find yourself.

Sometimes the smallest ideas are really the biggest ones. We just don't get the basics right in Los Angeles, but we can. Let's start with streets and sidewalks: they make our city walkable and drivable. They make our city work. But our leaders let bad streets and sidewalks get worse, when they should be prioritizing high-traffic thoroughfares over side streets that have already been repaved three times. We can do better. We must do better.

We are taught to focus on the negative and what separates us rather than what brings us together. It doesn't have to be that way. Join UCLA Scholar Vanessa Warri to talk about her own incredible journey from homeless to Ph.D. candidate, from foster youth to trans advocate, about what we can do to meet each other, rather than fight each other.

This week, in my continuing series on Los Angeles, we dive into everyone's favorite and least favorite topic: homelessness. You want the facts? I've got facts. And solutions.

We think a lot about the homes we live in, but we need to also think about the spaces that surround us in our cities. This week, learn about how we craft our cities, and what you can do about it.

All politics should be local…except in LA, where no politics is local. Our City Council hoards power for power's sake, leaving voters by the side of the road. It's time for us to take our city back.

Growing up is hard to do. You have to leave your old self behind, give up on dreams, and discover new ones--and who knows where you might end up. But in the end, we're each on a journey that is pretty unique and awesome. You can meet your other half, fall in love, and end up a proud dad to two amazing children. You don't need to be a superhero to have a lesson or a life we'd all love to hear about. Join us this week as Hadi Khatib talks about his own journey from a religious Muslim Arab upbringing to father of two and Renaissance man, in a raw, honest conversation we can all relate to.

LA's elected leaders treat public office like a game of musical chairs, cycling from one position from the next as they coast on our inattention. 2022 is an opportunity to change that, for us to rise together and focus on people who put this city, instead of their own careers, first.

There are endless amounts of sites, blogs, books, and advice on parenting, so why do so many parents feel like they're flying blind? Who better to hear from than a badass executive and everyday mom Jenny Maryasis joins us to talk about being a first-time parent.

Continuing my series on Los Angeles, today we focus on the death, and the resurrection, of the big idea. Our city leaders are focused on small things, and small things do matter. Street lamps and sidewalks are important. But we need to walk and chew gum at the same time. Our leadership also needs to do the work to address the crippling crises of this city, not just refer it to study committees and hope that motions mean progress. They don't. The first step to big thinking is building public engagement. We can and must think big, and we must engage and educate the public on our big ideas through effective public advocacy—something this city gets wrong, but which is also a simple fix. Learn more at risetogether.la and tune in every Thursday for more.

When truth becomes the extreme and the untruth is the mainstream, what are we to do? We're all subject to misinformation, pop culture stereotypes, and clickbait headlines, but there is still a truth out there. Can we find it, and what is the role of a journalist in promoting it, when everyone has their own agenda? What's entertainment, and what's news? Don't be disheartened! The truth still exists, and we're out to find it in this week's episode with BBC journalist Husam Asi.

The vast majority of these people agree on more than we disagree, and when we focus on reasonability over puritanical ideology, we find that real progress is possible, for everyone. When we talk instead of shout, we rise together. And when we rise together, we move forward. For more info visit http://risetogether.la/

Everything you do is an experience. Every building you walk into, every time you cook. But you are in control of that experience. But did you know that other people are, too? From the time you show up to the time you leave a restaurant or a party, there's a plan in place. And while COVID-19 may have kept you at home, the reality is your experience matters. Now, meet someone who's planned that experience, over and over. Expert Jeff Consoletti joins us to talk about the experience, the place, the time you show up, and what it feels like. And how it all happens. The next time you show up at a party, know that this s**t matters. Find out how inside!

Gen Z can change the world, but only if they learn from the generations who have come before just how much work is really required - and put in that work.

Did you know the art of moviegoing is based on science? And the predictions about who goes where and why live with experts like Derek McLay, a box office expert who also happens to be an expert in people and experiences. Get the serious inside baseball on the future of movies in this week's episode.

More than 90% of Americans think that 10% or more people are gay. One-third think 25% are gay. The actual number is under 5%. Why does this matter? Because gays are a minority with huge visibility and no recognition. In fact, being gay is not considered a minority to companies or the government. There's more to being a minority than the color of your skin, your ethnic background, or your religion. Diversity is also about your point of view, your geography, and your socio-economic level. In this country, however, we only count limited characteristics, and that's wrong.

Fashion is something we all experience every day. But can fashion, and the art it represents, be a compromise between a designer's vision and the public who buys it? Should it be? Tune in to find out.

Times change and our dreams should, too. It's time we reconsidered what success looks like in America—starting with our own happiness, and based on the facts of today, not of 1960.

Peace at home comes at a price. In this week's episode, we meet veteran Staff Sergeant Dustin Holcomb for an honest conversation about what it's like to be in the military, to return to society, and how we the public can actually, really support our vets. Society is filled with glossy portraits, and we wrap ourselves in flags of patriotism, but we rarely find the time to have an honest, raw conversation about what lies just below the surface for millions of people who devoted their lives to military service. Before you say "Thank you for your service” again, watch this episode.

Let's stop obsessing over Gen Z, and stop giving credit where credit isn't yet due. Gen Z will grow up someday, and they will change the world, like all generations before them. But for now, kids shouldn't run the world, and neither should Gen Z.

The world is a very different place than it was 50 years ago, and for good reason. But comedy is, too, and is that a good thing? Do old jokes work, or even should they? Are we too sensitive, or not sensitive enough? If you're creating comedy in today's multicultural world, how do you balance the needs of political correctness and comedy? Join me as I interview the CEO of a comedy empire to address these important questions, as well as his own journey as a diverse CEO in Hollywood.

MSNBC and Fox News are just noise. And the real voice of America is the silent middle - a voice that has been drowned out by the evil that is gerrymandering. Leaders should represent the people in their districts, and those districts need to be fair, balanced, and competitive.

Podcasts tell a story. Morning shows tell a story. Documentaries tell a story. But can a quality story really be told in 30 minutes, 3 minutes, or 90 seconds? In this episode, we meet Emmy-nominated producer and storyteller Steve Goldbloom, who shares with us his philosophy for capturing the perfect story in his own podcasts and videos.

Loneliness is a real crisis that isn't just about happiness. Our failures to build empathy and compassion for each other, and yes, happiness, prevent us from solving almost every challenge in front of us, from social injustice to economic inequality.

Your body is magical. Medicine is not. Real, practical advice from a man supremely qualified to give it, and easy to understand. Dr. Russell Buhr joins us to talk about your relationship to medicine and your doctor.

We are in the middle of a once-in-a-lifetime crisis that requires once-in-a-lifetime intervention to save America and its economy. Yes, the deficit is a real problem, and we should solve it eventually. But we'll never get there if we don't get out of this first.

Meg Cerone is more than just a sought-after trainer and fitness instructor. She's a former beauty queen who, after a horrific accident, rebuilt her life from the ground up. And while she might be 70% titanium now, she's 100%, badass philosopher. And her core philosophy? There's a difference between being kind to yourself and being easy on yourself. In a time when it can feel like we all need a bit more control, it turns out all we need is our own bodies and lives. In this week's episode, we'll not only discover how to hold ourselves and others accountable, but how to embrace the privilege of life choices, find joy in responsibility for others, and get schooled in a radical philosophy of kindness. Are you ready to be happy? Because Meg's ready with Step 1.

There is a difference between what is right and what the law says is right. And we have to get specific, and correct, about the two. Laws and facts matter—no matter how much our society tries to prove the opposite by shouting over each other. We can do better. There's a lot of people out there talking about what they think is right as if it were a right. But there's a difference between the two. What the law says, and what the facts are matters. When we ignore laws and facts, then we're just arguing about opinions, shouting over each other—and that gets us nowhere. Instead, no matter what challenge we confront, we need to be specific about the problem, its causes, and the law, and then methodically dissect them to discover the best possible solution.

We know more about Mars than we do the bottom of the ocean, yet what's down there is keeping us all alive. In this episode, we ask why a scientist who's spent his life studying tiny microorganisms on the seafloor would head to Washington and work in government. Is it humans vs. bacteria? Is it science vs. a government? Should we send Sean Mullin to Washington, or back to the bottom of the ocean? More importantly, there's a threat to the human race that might kill us all, and the question is, are you ready? We've got answers.

Finding common ground is the essential core of who we are as people and how we move forward. We need to stop talking about where we disagree and start focusing on the areas, however small, where we can build agreement from the ground up. In today's partisan environment, we don't spend nearly enough time focusing on what will move us all forward, together. We need to stop talking about where we disagree and start focusing on the areas, however small, where we can build agreement from the ground up. It's much easier not only to find common ground and build on it, but it's also more productive. When we stop shouting, and start talking, the world is a better place.

There are a lot of people telling us what to think and how we should think, but the reality is that we can and should take time to form our own opinions. And it's ok if that process is messy. In this episode, we meet a woman who lives a complex life - entrepreneur and influencer, friend and public figure, bi-racial, and married to a white law enforcement officer. And we realize that the tension we all feel, pulled in different directions, might just be ok. Tension doesn't have to be bad, it's just about balance. Are you ready? We've got answers.

Life can feel crazy but that's just because no one gave us the tools to understand it. In this podcast, we'll do the opposite. It's the World According to Craig. And I'm here to help you make sense of things. A half-hour of conversation and unsolicited advice on all the things that matter most. No, we're not here to give you tools on how to save money for retirement, or how to get your next job, or even how to be a better parent. We're here to help you understand why the world has gone crazy, what it has to do with you, and how to make the most of it. Fair warning: some of this may be researched, and some of it is just my opinion. And if you don't like the advice? That's ok. You didn't ask for it. And if you don't like the point of view? That's ok, too. Because it's The World According to Craig. Comment below and share with friends! You can follow Craig at Website: https://craiggreiwe.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheWorldatCraig Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheWorldatCraig #society #culture #advice – Craig is an executive who transforms businesses by redefining strategy with a consumer-first focus. And he is a citizen who looks to redefine society with changes for the good of all. The change he creates is real—and most often involves substantial and innovative shifts in how you approach the world and those around you. We can set the terms of our future if we understand how people will act and react—and what they need to know. As a result, Craig is obsessed with people, society, and culture. What we need, what we want, what we do. And how to do right by everyone. The World According to Craig is his take on the things we should all know, and how we can make the world a better place, one guest at a time.