The Nick Halaris 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 more Stay 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. 🙏 Thank you

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: 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. 🙏 Thank you

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 more Stay 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. 🙏 Thank you

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 more Stay 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. 🙏 Thank you

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. 🙏 Thank you

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. 🙏 Thank you

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. 🙏 Thank you

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. 🙏 Thank you

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 more Stay 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. 🙏 Thank you

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. 🙏 Thank you

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!

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. 🙏 Thank you

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: 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: Barb 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. 🙏 Thank you

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.