Keep Talking

Ilya Ponomarev is an entrepreneur, a former member of the Russian duma, a political adversary of Vladimir Putin, a friend of Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, and a resident of Ukraine, currently fighting for his life and the future of his adopted homeland.During our conversation, Ilya talks about his political career in Russia, Russian vs. American culture, his assessment of the character and personality of both Putin and Zelenskyy, Russia's intelligence failure and miscalculation prior the war, the lies perpetrated by Putin to justify the invasion, his view that Ukraine is winning and will win the war, the risk of a nuclear exchange, his message for America and the free world, and his belief that Putin will be dead within one year.I met Ilya in 2015 when he was visiting San Francisco to give an interview at the World Affairs Council. He had recently been banished from Russia, best known for being the Russian Duma's lone dissenting vote - 445-1 - against Russia's annexation of Crimea. He is one heroic example out of millions in Ukraine: a man fighting for democracy and freedom, and willing to risk his life for them.------------Support this podcast via VenmoSupport this podcast via PayPalSupport this podcast on Patreon------------Show notesLeave a rating on SpotifyLeave a rating on Apple PodcastsFollow "Keep Talking" on social media and access all episodes------------(00:00) Introduction(02:18) Ilya's personal and political background(07:54) Surprise at the invasion of Ukraine(11:44) Who is Vladimir Putin?(13:47) Experiencing the invasion: February 24, 2022(17:37) Who is Volodymyr Zelenskyy?(21:31) The lies within Putin's argument for invasion(27:41) Russian soldier's beliefs about the war(32:35) How might the Russian narrative about the war crumble?(35:07) How has Ukraine succeeded in Kyiv?(40:41) What daily life is like during the war(44:16) Ilya's message for the Russian people(46:32) What Ukraine needs to win the war(49:09) The risk of a nuclear exchange(53:26) The best-case outcome for Ukraine(56:38) Putin's potential successor(1:03:54) Ilya's potential future in a future Russia(1:05:01) A cause worth dying for: "Do what you feel you need to do, and let things happen."

Walter Robinson is an investigative journalist, an editor-at-large at "The Boston Globe," and is the Donald W. Reynolds Visiting Professor of Journalism at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University.During our conversation, Robby talks about his career in journalism, the Catholic Church's historic power in America and in Boston, how and why his "Spotlight" team began to investigate the Catholic Church, the details of the internal documents showing the Church's culture of secrecy and its consistency in moving abusive priests to new parishes, and how a small team of journalists, in just a few months, shed light on the systemic abuse of power by one of the most influential institutions in the world.To me, Robby and his team best represent why free speech and a free press are crucial to a free society: they ask difficult questions, question taboos, have the power of facing disturbing facts, are relentless in determining what's true, and act as a protector to a civilization's need for honest, accurate information. And while the Church's history of abuse is utterly tragic for the crimes and the trauma it has caused, the courageous work by people like Robbie have undoubtedly saved countless children from such a fate.------------Support this podcast via VenmoSupport this podcast via PayPalSupport this podcast on Patreon------------Show notesLeave a rating on SpotifyLeave a rating on Apple PodcastsFollow "Keep Talking" on social media and access all episodes------------(00:00) Introduction(02:24) A path to journalism(12:24) The power and state of the Catholic Church during the late 80's and 90's(24:06) The Boston Globe's "Spotlight" team(30:36) The Catholic Church's reputation before the Spotlight team’s investigation(38:25) What was revealed in the church’s internal documents(43:22) The Church’s consistent strategy of protecting abusive priests(49:24) Nearly every bishop in every diocese knew about abuse and participated in a cover up(55:53) The role of the Church's celibacy vow in incentivizing abuse(01:02:02) What explains the abusive behavior of Catholic Church priests?(01:05:32) Women's second-class status and the role of a free press(01:10:21) The need for a full confession from the Church(01:18:14) The role of investigative journalism today and why it matters(01:23:09) The importance of investigative journalists to think outside the box

Ilya Shapiro is a legal scholar, an essayist, and an author who holds degrees from Princeton, The London School of Economics, and The University of Chicago. During our conversation, Ilya talks about his family's life in the Soviet Union, his journey to North America as a child, and his desire to become an American citizen.Ilya also talks about the foundational liberties of American civilization, freedom of speech, classical liberalism, the role and importance of disagreement in a free society, and his being hired as the Executive Director of The Georgetown Center for the Constitution in early 2022. In January 2022, following a tweet about his views on a Supreme Court vacancy, Ilya was placed on leave and, in public, has been heckled and shouted down.We talk about that tweet in some detail. This conversation is an attempt to provide some nuance to the controversy surrounding Ilya, and to provide a sense of humanity to a man who - whether or not one agrees with his political views - has apologized.------------Support this podcast via VenmoSupport this podcast via PayPalSupport this podcast on Patreon------------Show notesLeave a rating on SpotifyLeave a rating on Apple PodcastsFollow "Keep Talking" on social media and access all episodes------------(00:00) Introduction(03:30) Life in Soviet Union and his family's move to the West(09:34) Jewish background and thoughts on Russian-Ukrainian war(14:53) Life under an authoritarian Soviet rule(17:32) A desire to become an American(20:55) Evolving beliefs and Ilya’s desire to become an American citizen(24:07) Classical liberalism(27:48) Ilya's historical heroes(29:10) What about classical liberalists resonates with Ilya?(33:36) American ideals and contributing to American intellectual life(38:57) A Russian-Jewish immigrant in Mississippi(42:44) The Cato Institute(46:44) Transitioning to Executive Director of The Georgetown Center for the Constitution(50:23) Questioning President Joe Biden's intentions for the U.S. Supreme Court vacancy(01:00:57) His controversial tweet and an intention to oppose discrimination(01:02:01) Cultivating grace and respecting disagreements(01:05:16) Being shouted down at U.C. Hastings(01:11:18) Allegations made against Ilya by the students of U.C. Hastings(01:13:27) American free speech in 2022(01:17:25) Thoughts about the students who shouted him down

Wade Davis is an author, an ethnobiologist, and a cultural anthropologist. He was an explorer-in-residence at The National Geographic Society from 2000-2013, has helped to produce more than a dozen documentary films, has authored best-selling books, with his work focusing on indigenous cultures across the world.During our conversation, Wade talks about how he became a world-traveler and an explorer and what we might learn from cultures across the world. He talks about the importance of being the architect of your own life, giving destiny its time to find you, not expecting one's work to change the world, but rather having it be a contribution to the world, and his relationship with Richard Evans Schultes, who was instrumental in discovering psychedelics and psychedelic practices in Oaxaca, Mexico.------------Support this podcast via VenmoSupport this podcast via PayPalSupport this podcast on Patreon------------Show notesLeave a rating on SpotifyLeave a rating on Apple PodcastsFollow "Keep Talking" on social media and access all episodes------------(00:00) Introduction(02:07) Early life in Canada: family, community, and upbringing(06:46) Why creativity isn’t an innate quality(14:40) Richard Evans Schultes(26:14) Overcoming fear in the name of exploration(34:23) Having the finances to travel and explore(39:08) Determining if a life of exploration suits you(47:24) The importance of having a home(48:47) Home as an anchor and a source of stability(51:50) Wade’s wife’s support and role in leading him to success(53:00) Staying connected to family despite being away from home(58:20) Why all cultures are myopic: we’re faithful to our own interpretations of reality(1:14:12) Richard Evans Schultes and his psychedelic research(01:25:19) How psychedelics have impact on Wade’s life(01:31:40) Living a purposeful, meaningful life(01:34:47) Why contentment results from patience

Glenn Loury is an economist, an essayist, and is the Merton P. Stoltz Professor of the Social Sciences and Professor of Economics at Brown University. During our conversation, Glenn talks about his upbringing in the South Side of Chicago, his "Good Will Hunting-like" trajectory from inner-city black urban life to receiving his PhD in economics from MIT, and his becoming the first tenured African American economics professor in the history of Harvard University, at age 33.Glenn discusses the ideas in his class "Free Inquiry in the Modern World" and his article "The Case for Black Patriotism." He also provides an emphatic defense of Western civilization and Western values, speaks to what's beautiful about America, why it matters in the world, and why maintaining doubt is crucial to an examined life.Glenn is a descendent of slaves. He's one of the U.S.'s top intellectuals, and he has lived "The American Dream." What I admire most about him is his independence of thought, his willingness to affirm his beliefs, especially when they're unfashionable, his decency and his humanity, and his clarity on the importance of appreciating and honoring our cultural inheritance.------------Support this podcast via VenmoSupport this podcast via PayPalSupport this podcast on Patreon------------Show notesLeave a rating on SpotifyLeave a rating on Apple PodcastsFollow "Keep Talking" on social media and access all episodes------------(00:00) Introduction(02:37) Get to know Glenn Loury(05:48) South Side of Chicago culture when Glenn was a boy(08:03) Fatherhood at 18, working at RR Donnelley & Sons, and Mr. Andres(16:58) Opportunity launches Glenn to Northwestern and MIT(21:26) The culture and opportunity of MIT(30:40) Becoming the first African-American tenured economics professor in Harvard, at 33(39:22) Glenn's interest in politics and his heterodox political philosophy(49:36) A memorable incident with Glenn's uncle Alfred(57:27) How Glenn's conservatism informs his views on the campus(1:03:49) Glenn's defense of Western culture(1:08:35) The pushback against Western Civilization(1:16:40) "The Case for Black Patriotism"(1:25:09) An American Living "The American Dream"

Maud Maron is a lawyer, a mother of four, and a Congressional Candidate for New York's 12th District. During our conversation, Maud talks about her career as an attorney at The Legal Aid Society, her work providing legal services to poor Americans, how her views in favor of colorblindness and specialized admissions tests and against race essentialism in education resulted in her being publicly labeled a racist by members of the Black Attorneys of Legal Aid Caucus and Attorneys of Color of Legal Aid, her lawsuit against The Legal Aid Society in which she claims she was forced out of her job and “discriminated against on the basis of race," Bari Weiss's article detailing her story, and how American culture might recommit itself to its core principles of freedom of speech, tolerating disagreement while co-existing amicably, resisting ideology and creeping totalitarianism.I have wanted to talk to Maud for well over half a year. She's the first person on this show who has been personally canceled by way of fantastic lies and gross misrepresentation. She has shouldered those consequences and moved forward, refusing to shut up or apologize for having her own point of view. She is a model of how we might all want to behave if we are wrongly libeled or slandered, with our reputation and livelihood on the line.------------Support this podcast via VenmoSupport this podcast via PayPalSupport this podcast on Patreon------------Show notesLeave a rating on SpotifyLeave a rating on Apple PodcastsFollow "Keep Talking" on social media and access all episodes------------(00:00) Intro(01:00) Get to know Maud Maron(02:41) Maud’s career at the The Legal Aid Society(05:55) Maud's interest in becoming a lawyer(07:07) The people who Legal Aid Society represents(12:48) Maud’s political views and her historic alignment with the Democratic Party(14:45) The state of America's education system(23:37) Equity in public education(33:28) Maud's New York Post article on racial obsession and its consequences(38:30) The reaction of The Legal aid Society after Maud's New York Post article(45:22) Why some are apt to wrongfully ruin someone’s reputation and livelihood(49:27) Racism in schools(52:13) Education in America(59:12) The percentage of the population encouraging totalitarian attitudes(01:05:10) Rooting out totalitarianism tendencies in America(01:09:32) Maud's response to those who canceled her(01:13:44) Recommendations for trusted information sources

Wilfred Reilly is a professor and the author of "Taboo: 10 Facts You Can't Talk About." During our conversation, Wilfred talks about his early life and upbringing, taboos in American society, using empirical data to assess political claims, incentives within the media for fomenting controversy, race and racism in America, the "St. George in Retirement Syndrome," how many unarmed black men are killed by police, The 1619 Project, and political and cultural changes that might improve America.------------Support this podcast via VenmoSupport this podcast via PayPalSupport this podcast on Patreon------------Show notesLeave a rating on SpotifyLeave a rating on Apple PodcastsFollow "Keep Talking" on social media and access all episodesEmail subscribeEmail the show------------(00:00) Intro(01:01) Get to know Wilfred Reilly(01:50) Wilfred Reilly’s personal background(16:51) Race in America(27:39) Using empirical data to test political claims(38:00) The media as an ad agency and its role in amplifying social controversy(45:24) St. George In Retirement Syndrome(57:56) The 1619 Project: its claims and its falsehoods(01:09:14) The kind of policies and cultural shifts that might improve America(01:16:19) Changing your mind through exposure to facts and new information(01:21:35) Maintaining independence of thought(01:26:20) Wilfred Reilly’s recommended thinkers and resources

David Daley is a journalist, the former editor-in-chief of Salon.com, and the author of "Ratf**ked: Why Your Vote Doesn't Count." During our conversation, David talks about the watershed 2010 REDMAP initiative (short for the Redistricting Majority Project) and how gerrymandering has essentially rigged U.S. Congressional elections. He also talks about the second-order consequences of the success of REDMAP: that our political system increasingly incentivizes political extremism and disincentivizes compromise and working across the aisle.David believes that gerrymandering is an existential threat to our democracy, and I tend to agree with him. This subject reminds me of the Charley Munger quote: "Show me the incentives and I will show you the outcome." To me, gerrymandering isn't a partisan issue; we owe it to ourselves to have a republic that has fair elections. And we should rightly fear what's likely to happen to our society if we don't.------------Support this podcast via VenmoSupport this podcast via PayPalSupport this podcast on Patreon------------Show notesLeave a rating on SpotifyLeave a rating on Apple PodcastsFollow "Keep Talking" on social media and access all episodesEmail subscribeEmail the show------------(00:00) Intro(01:00) Get to know David Daley(02:55) How David got interested in gerrymandering(08:34) What gerrymandering is(18:21) REDMAP and its impact on the U.S.(25:17) The importance of electoral fairness in a democracy(34:01) How the Trump phenomenon was influenced by gerrymandering(42:01) The Republicans' and Democrats' attempt to control redistricting in 2020(45:51) Redistricting decision-making in a state controlled by one party(47:52) Who makes redistricting decisions in U.S. states?(50:30) Who you can refer to for unbiased views on gerrymandering?(58:22) The Democrats’ own gerrymandering in New York and Maryland(01:02:17) The hope for change around gerrymandering in the future(01:08:33) How gerrymandering is an existential threat to U.S. democracy(01:12:19) Pushing back against America's authoritarian tendencies(01:17:29) The future of gerrymandering in America

Anna Lembke is a psychiatrist, Chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic, and the author of "Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence." During our conversation, Anna talks about her journey to studying addiction, the downsides to dopamine surplus, modern addictions to devices and social media, what we can learn from drug addicts, the role of struggle in a healthy life, and how individuals might live wisely in our modern technological world.I think Anna is one of the most important figures in our society. Among other things, she provides us with what a good friend does: a mirror to ourselves, our habits, and what we are becoming.------------Support this podcast via VenmoSupport this podcast via PayPalSupport this podcast on Patreon------------Show notesLeave a rating on SpotifyLeave a rating on Apple PodcastsFollow "Keep Talking" on social media and access all episodesEmail subscribeEmail the show------------(00:00) Intro(00:59) Get to know Anna Lembke(02:00) Anna Lembke’s interest in studying addiction(05:37) The "gremlin" theory of addiction and how it applies to the modern world(16:35) The characteristics of a modern addict(25:04) The stigma around addictions(28:02) Characteristics of a healthy person living today(35:06) The importance and role of struggle in a good life(42:20) The impact of addictions on human interactions(48:10) The importance of intentional inconvenience to maintain balance(53:27) The pernicious pace of addictions and their unconscious build-up(01:00:01) The effective and ethical way to address addiction(01:08:41) Workaholism as an addiction(01:21:29) The connection between shame and a “never enough” attitude towards work

Peter Verstrate is a businessman and the co-founder of Mosa Meat. During our conversation, Peter talks about Mosa Meat's technical breakthrough in making the world's first cultured hamburger - a burger that was created fully in a lab - without raising and killing livestock, the promise of cultured meat to combat climate change and decrease pollution and deforestation, its enormous potential for mitigating animal suffering, the economic challenges of making cultured meat affordable, and when people might expect to be able to purchase and consume such cultivated meat.If successful, companies like Mosa Meat offer an amazing potential future: one in which people might be able to inexpensively and healthily consume high-quality meat with little to no environmental damage and minimal harm inflicted upon sentient animals. This would be a massive win for our collective wealth, ethics, and habitat.------------Support this podcast via VenmoSupport this podcast via PayPalSupport this podcast on Patreon------------Show notesLeave a rating on SpotifyLeave a rating on Apple PodcastsFollow "Keep Talking" on social media and access all episodesEmail subscribeEmail the show------------(00:00) Intro(00:56) Get to know Peter Verstrate(02:09) Getting into the meat industry(04:36) Mosa Meat creating the world's first cultured hamburger(13:43) The time it took to produce the world’s first cultured hamburger(15:13) The different stages of cultured meat production(20:02) How the idea of lab-grown meat came to be(22:17) Reducing animal suffering and the environmental benefits of clean meat(31:00) The negative impact of traditional meat production on agriculture and the Earth’s changing climate(34:32) The safety concerns around cultured meat production and consumption(42:03) The business challenges of running a clean meat production company(48:40) Economic viability and the future of cultured meat production(51:16) Assessing the quality of the meat used for producing lab-grown meat(54:05) The skills needed from people who want to work in the clean meat industry(57:04) Cultured meat production in the next few years(01:02:27) The best way to follow and support Mosa Meat