Politics Episodes
Engage with political leaders, activists, and advocates working within and beyond traditional systems.
103: Pip Lawrence on growing up on the nonprofit world, neuroscience, Wall Street in ‘08, and psychedelic therapy
Show notes: In this episode, Pip Lawrence, the co-founder and Managing Partner of Delphi VC, and Jeffrey Zucker discuss growing up in the nonprofit world, neuroscience, Wall Street in ‘08, and psychedelic therapy. Chapters: 0:00 - Intro 2:09 - Delphi VC 4:03 - What Motivates You? 8:24 - What Made You Want to Give Back? 11:30 - From College to VC 18:46 - Cognitive Neuroscience and Art 26:27 - Psychedelics 32:44 - Balancing Mission and Impact 38:26 - Delphi's Portfolio 45:38 - Toxins in Cannabis 50:48 - Women's Health 54:57 - Conservation 1:00:45 - Great Grandson of a Congressman 1:04:51 - AI & Lessons from the Holocaust 1:14:52 - Snap Your Fingers 1:16:41 - How to Support Watch this episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/hP-R3gsLeBQ Delphi VC: https://www.delphi.vc/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/delphi-vc/ https://www.instagram.com/delphi.vc/ https://x.com/Delphi_VC Host: Jeffrey M. Zucker Producer: Kait Grey Editor: Nick Case Recording date: 12/11/24
96: Skippy Mesirow on Healing Our Politics, filming in Laos, love for Aspen, importance of self-awareness
In this episode, Skippy and Jeffrey discuss his upbringing, working in the Obama campaign and other political endeavors, his time filming a travel show in Laos, his love for Aspen and the effort he’s put toward that, the importance of self-awareness and vulnerability. Watch this episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/yLq9212ki2w Learn more: Host: Jeffrey M. Zucker Producer: Kait Grey Editor: Nick Case Recording date: 8/6/24 Skippy Mesirow: https://www.linkedin.com/in/skippymesirow/ https://www.instagram.com/skippymesirow/ https://www.facebook.com/skippymesirow Business: https://www.instagram.com/electedleaderscollective/ Podcast - https://www.healingourpolitics.com/ Gone Gonzo - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbyNgfPUJTM www.electedleaderscollective.com https://aspen.skyrun.com/ https://www.healingourpolitics.com/#newsletter Bio: Skippy Mesirow is a public to his core. He is the Founder of the Elected Leaders Collective, a Natural Medicine Advisory Board member, and a former Aspen City Councilperson. His life's mission is to heal our politics. In 2007 Skippy rose from unpaid intern to Deputy Director of home state and a 5-state region for Obama for America 08'. At 23, he ran a state-wide race as Campaign Manager for Jesse White 2010. Turned off by the toxicity of politics in Chicago, Skippy left a promising career and traveled the world, often solo with a backpack and a motorcycle. His perspective began to expand. Working on an ill-fated start-up, he moved back to his favorite place on Earth, Aspen, CO., where he had previously lived as a competitive skier and collegiate national champion. Here he began to do "the work," diving deeply into his soul, connecting and healing and re-contextualized years of childhood trauma and their resulting expression. As he did, he re-engaged politically. He co-founded and Chaired Aspen NextGen to give youth a voice. He organized a successful ballot initiative to change Aspen's election day, resulting in the highest-ever voter turnout by 26%. He Chaired the APCHA housing board and the P&Z Comission, going on to serve four years on Aspen’s City Council from 2019-2023. In his term, Aspen established a net-zero-waste goal and passed a housing strategic plan. Skippy advocated for innovation to improve government function, citizen involvement, and voter turnout and t psychedelic reform. He serves on the Aspen Psychedelic Resource Center board. During his service, he observed incredible heart-centered leaders try to make change, only to drop out as they faced public hate, misinformation, conflict, and the resulting stress, anxiety, overwhelm, and other mental health challenges of our toxic culture. Integrating his mental-health journey, he founded the Elected Leaders Collective to "heal our politics." The ELC works with elected officials and public servants to reduce mental health challenges, increase performance, and connect with other heart-centered leaders. ELC's coaching addresses all five parts of the human experience – mind, body, emotion, unconscious, and spirit. Leaders cultivate awareness, remove internal blocks, and achieve aligned external action to reach their highest self in life and leadership. Skippy lives with his partner Jamie in Aspen. They travel as much as possible, still on two wheels, to unconventional places. Skippy is an ultra-marathoner, burner, skier, biker, driver, & cook w/"Citizen" tattooed on his right arm. Chapters: 0:00 - Intro 2:44 - Healing Our Politics Podcast 11:00 - What Motivates You? 17:32 - Where Did You Grow Up? 25:29 - What Drew You to Colorado? 33:44 - Growth at an Impressionable Age 35:47 - Electric Vehicle Start Up 38:02 - Gone Gonzo 45:29 - Political Origin 51:49 - Healing in Politics 1:04:28 - Public Service 1:14:08 - When Work Affected Change 1:19:49 - Ask Jeff a Question 1:22:52 - Most Grateful for 1:24:15 - Snap Your Fingers 1:27:43 - How to Support
87: David Weild IV on opportunity, a great equalizer in society
In this episode, David and Jeffrey discuss his journey from Molecular Genetics to finance, his friendships with Steve Jobs and Michael Jackson, his transformational work on getting the JOBS Act passed, and how providing financial opportunity can continue to be a great equalizer in our society Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/BcYwprEn0QQ Learn more: Host: Jeffrey M. Zucker Producer: Kait Grey Editor: Nick Case Recording date: 1/11/24 https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-weild-iv-03a597/ https://www.weildco.com/ https://www.facebook.com/WeildCo/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/weildco/ Other resources: https://www.tuesdayschildren.org/ Bio: David Weild IV is an American investment banker and financial commentator best known for holding the position as Vice Chairman of NASDAQ. He is currently the Founder, Chairman and CEO of Weild & Co. Inc., parent company of the investment banking firm Weild Capital, LLC (dba Weild & Co.) Weild is also known as the "father" of the JOBS Act, and has been involved in drafting legislation for the US Congress. Chapters: 0:00 - Intro 10:50 - Importance of Giving Back 19:44 - JOBS Act 27:17 - Education and Early Career 32:03 - NASDAQ 39:29 Issue Works 54:47 - Weird & Co 59:40 - Tuesday’s Children 1:05:17 - Michael Jackson 1:10:27 - Market Opening with Jeff Bezos 1:14:14 - Mentor 1:16:08 - Most Grateful 1:18:17 - Snap Your Fingers 1:21:18 - How to Support
75.2: Ethan Nadelmann on the state of the Middle East
Unfortunately, in this week’s episode, we really couldn’t avoid the negative while Jeff speaks with Ethan Nadelmann, founder of Drug Policy Alliance. Initially, this episode was scheduled to dig into drug policy. However, given recent events in the Middle East, Jeff and Ethan’s Jewish heritage, and Ethan’s background in politics, they just didn’t feel right discussing anything else. Join us for an impassioned and informative conversation… Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/AliPtZ8NnM4 Learn more: Host: Jeffrey M. Zucker Producer: Kait Grey Editor: Nick Case Recording date: 10/11/23 Ethan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ethannadelmann/ https://www.instagram.com/enadelmann/ https://www.ted.com/talks/ethan_nadelmann_why_we_need_to_end_the_war_on_drugs DPA: https://www.linkedin.com/company/drug-policy-alliance/ https://drugpolicy.org/ https://www.instagram.com/drugpolicyalliance https://www.tiktok.com/@drugpolicyalliance https://twitter.com/DrugPolicyOrg https://www.facebook.com/drugpolicy https://www.youtube.com/@DrugPolicyAlliance Resources for Israel: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1RbzoBNQojr7j5cEP0x5yNqppF9CiVXXgDtkuLdvnryc/edit?usp=sharing Bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethan_Nadelmann 0:00 - Intro 5:21 - Education 10:46 - Jeff's Background 13:05 - Persecution and Drug Policy 15:45 - Hamas 19:50 - People and Politics 27:11 - Missed Opportunity 31:14 - What's Happening on the Left 34:44 - Hamas vs Jihad 39:20 - How Did Israeli Government Drop the Ball? 41:57 - Vengeance 50:43 - Jews in the Arab World 53:16 - Re-shuffling of World Power 1:00:45 - United States 1:07:41 - How Do We Make the Center Loud? 1:15:15 - Future of the Middle East
S7E2 (#62): Bryan Stern on helping Americans and allies escape war zones, views from the 9/11 rubble
In this episode, Bryan and Jeffrey discuss his experience at ground zero on September 11, his long military career, how he was motivated to do all that he could to bring Americans home at any cost, and much more… Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/-Y4a7328ODo Learn more: Host: Jeffrey M. Zucker Producer: Kait Grey Editor: Nick Case Recording date: 5/2/23 https://www.projectdynamo.org/ https://www.instagram.com/projectdynamo/ https://www.facebook.com/ProjectDYNAMOorg/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/projectdynamo/ https://www.youtube.com/@projectdynamo1711 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atfZ2651_Zg&feature=youtu.be - Grey Space Video (Liam Neeson) Other resources: Veterans Crisis Hotline - 1-800-273-8255 and press 1 Bio: Lieutenant Commander Bryan Stern is an internationally renowned special operations intelligence officer. He is a proven expert in "denied area" operations, hostage rescue, and hostage negotiation. Stern is widely known for his work leading Project DYNAMO conducting on the ground daring rescues behind enemy lines in Afghanistan, Ukraine, and Russia. Rescue operations he personally led include: John Spor (LONE STAR), Kirillo (Eddie) Alexandrov (DETROIT LIONS), Terry Gately (RIO GRANDE), Robert Platt (DEVIL) PATHFINDER-Russia, TWIN CITIES, GEMINI 1 (Lenny & Moishe Spektor), and hundreds of others. He has been featured in international mainstream media including CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, BBC, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Reuters, and the AP. Stern regularly consults on films involving espionage, politics, action, military, law enforcement, and international intrigue.
S6E4 (episode #54): Mohan Sivaloganathan on the importance of young voices and troublemaking for the status quo
In this episode, Mohan and Jeffrey discuss Mohan’s moving around the world growing up, his career path to social impact, his incredible work to give young people a voice in change at OurTurn, and how he’s using music as a vehicle for impact… Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/tf-QsR3ar9U Learn more: Recording date: 4/19/23 Host: Jeffrey M. Zucker Producer: Kait Grey Editor: Nick Case Mohan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/msivaloganathan/ https://twitter.com/mdotsiva OurTurn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/our-turn/ https://www.itsourturn.org/ https://www.instagram.com/ourturnnatl/ https://www.itsourturn.org/donate Ahmen (Mohan’s music): https://twitter.com/iamahmen https://ahmen.us/about/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/6ncpPE7r020PEOEgLqzuV0 https://www.instagram.com/iam_ahmen/ https://www.youtube.com/user/Ahmenmusic https://www.tiktok.com/@iam_ahmen https://www.facebook.com/iamahmen Bio: First and foremost, I am a father, husband, son, brother, friend, and Troublemaker for the status quo. I’m known as the Batman of Social Impact, as a C-suite executive by day, and hip-hop artist + speaker by night. Throughout my career, I have led national organizations and advanced equitable solutions for systems change. I amplify my impact by channeling my voice and creativity to spark civic engagement through music and public speaking, with a footprint that has impacted thousands of students, young professionals, philanthropists, and corporate leaders across the globe. “Mohan’s passion, his bare-naked honesty, his courageous storytelling – beautifully entangled in the rhythm of his infectious music – bewitched us and set the tone for learning, inspiration, and collaboration about changing mindsets and the role that each person can play in making the world a better place.” – Kyla Shawyer, CEO of The Resource Alliance I am a first-generation American and son of Asian immigrants, and I lean into the power of identity, culture, and social innovation to move people, money, resources, and policies in pursuit of justice. As shared by Derek Humphries, Director of DTV Group, I draw on family heritage, contemporary politics, the emotions and experiences of audiences, and the deep heritage of social struggle to inspire diverse stakeholders and influence lasting positive change in the arts, education, human services, and business. “…his passionate music performances can come only from a place of deep social engagement that genuinely changes lives for the better. Mohan is the kind of constructive troublemaker that we need to see more of.” – Derek Humphries I’m grateful for the recognition I have received, such as being named a 40 Under 40 Rising Star in NY and being featured by Fast Company, Good is the New Cool, ESPN, and more. Even with those spotlights, I’m better recognized as “joyfully serious,” as coined by a friend and colleague. I am hungry to disrupt the status quo, and equally passionate about cultivating a journey with teammates that is marked by wellbeing, growth, and fulfillment. This duality isn’t common, and might even be jarring, but I’m compelled by these words from the Dalai Lama: “Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.”
S3E6 (episode 26): Alexys Feaster on the mindset of success and more
In this episode, Alexys and Jeffrey discuss her career journey, how she had to change her mindset to be successful, what it’s like being a female, black founder, and much more… Watch this episode on YouTube Learn more: Alexys Instagram Kinship Advisors website, Instagram, LinkedIn Protege website, Instagram, LinkedIn Jrue and Lauren Holiday’s JLH Fund website, donate Alexys Feaster is the Founder and CEO of The Kinship Advisors, a social impact advisory firm that partners with people of influence in sports, entertainment and business to maximize their platform for social good. The Kinship creates alliances where personal development, social justice, strategic business expansion and sustaining impact in underserved communities is the focus. The Kinship Advisors manages the $5.3M Jrue and Lauren Holiday Social Impact Fund and leads the strategic legacy building for various NBA All-Star players and other athletes who are focused on the impact they’ll leave in the community. The Kinship Advisors also advises companies like Metro Esports and is an Executive Producer for Just Women’s Sports, companies who focus on diversifying various aspects of the sports industry. Alexys is also the Managing Partner, Global Head of Sports and Entertainment at Protégé, a platform focused on democratizing access to opportunities by connecting the best experts in the world, including musicians like DJ Khaled, with everyday people looking for a breakthrough moment in life. Prior to The Kinship, Alexys spent six years at the NBA and was known as the “NBA’s other coach” for her work empowering players off the court and was responsible for the efforts that led to the increase in the NBA player voter registration rate from 26% to 96% in 2020. Before the NBA, Alexys was the mastermind behind the athlete and celebrity engagement strategy for President Obama’s reelection campaign, creating various political and social good digital campaigns including Alicia Keys’ “We Are a Powerful Force”, the NFL’s “Gotta Vote”, and Jay-Z’s “The Power of Our Voice.” Alexys is a frequent speaker on the intersection of sports, entertainment, culture and social impact and was recognized in 2021 by Forbes the Culture as a champion of business excellence and was the recipient of the Hennessy Never Stop Never Settle Black entrepreneur award. She was also recognized as one of 2020’s most powerful women in sports by Slam Magazine and by Adweek as one of the 30 most powerful women in sports. Alexys recently launched The Kinfolk Foundation, which exists to be the bridge between the needs of Black and underserved communities and people of influence who seek to build a legacy of social impact. Alexys holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications from James Madison University, a minor in music industry business and a minor in Spanish language from the Universidad de Salamanca. In 2017, Feaster earned a Certificate in Disruptive Strategy from HBX - Harvard Business School and she graduated from the American School of Professional Life Coaching, an ICF-approved school, in 2020. Alexys is a professional Advisory Board Member for the National Basketball Wives Association, a Board Member for the Hart School of Hospitality, Sport and Recreation Management at James Madison University
S2E3 (episode 13): Heidi Drauschak on changing how political policy works
In the 3rd episode of season 2, Heidi and Jeffrey discuss playing the policy game while trying to change it, crowdfunding change, RV life, and more Learn more: CrowdLobby website, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter; Heidi Instagram, In Search of Bliss blog Unaffiliated: How to get involved in local politics Heidi is a government and policy consultant with experience on the campaign trail, at the White House, and in the lobbying industry. She holds a JD and MBA from the University of Richmond. In her free time, she travels the country in an RV with her husband, two dogs, and cat!
Episode 10: Victor Nguyễn-Long on marketing for good and stopping Asian hate
In episode 10, Victor and Jeffrey discuss Victor’s Vietnamese-American upbringing, how he went from studying engineering to a career in marketing, voter turnout activism, raising millions to stop Asian hate, bridging the political divide, Web3 and NFTs, and much more... Learn more: Victor’s Instagram, Twitter; ACRONYM; Stop Asian Hate; Civics interview referenced Victor Nguyễn-Long is a Vietnamese American freelance Creative Director working at the intersection of pop culture, politics, and activism. Most recently, he spent the 2020 election as Creative Director for ACRONYM and led creative production for their $100 million digital effort to help elect President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Before jumping into politics, he spent 17 years helping some of the world's greatest brands create more meaningful relationships with their consumers, having led experience innovation at Audi, digital and social media marketing for Nike Sportswear, and collegiate marketing at Red Bull. When not consulting for consumer brands like YouTube, GoFundMe, Uber Eats, and Converse, he's in constant search of ways to inspire a new era of American civic engagement through creativity and pop culture.
Episode 9: Moe Brown on perseverance, listening, and going from athlete to congressional nominee
In episode 9, Moe and Jeffrey discuss why listening is so important, his football career, working for the SC Department of Commerce, running for Congress, his new consulting firm, and much more... Learn more: Process First website; Moe’s: Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn PFC is a strategic business development, brand & culture enhancement, public relations & communications firm based out of Columbia and Fort Mill, SC. At PFC, Moe works with clients to build winning cultures through a team approach and achieve winning outcomes by establishing processes that identify, meet, and sustain winning objectives. Moe is the former Democratic Nominee for South Carolina's 5th Congressional District in 2020. Running as a first-time candidate, Moe won a historic Democratic Primary receiving the most votes in history. Prior to his run, he worked for Dixon Hughes Goodman, LLP leading their Economic Development and Negotiated Incentives service offering. Also, he served as the Managing Director for Hill Impact, LLC, and Project Manager for the South Carolina Dept. of Commerce, at which he recruited over 5,000 jobs and nearly $1 billion of capital investment.
Episode 6: Reilly Pharo Carter on life, education, and the state of the world…
In this episode, Jeffrey and Reilly discuss life, education, and the state of the world…a little more background noise than preferred in this one, as it was the first in-person recording of PatA, and our children are playing in the room above us, but it’s a great listen nonetheless... Links: You can reach Reilly via email at reilly at rpcconsult.com; Open Systems Institute Reilly brings over a decade of experience as a leader in Colorado's education policy landscape. Over the last 10+ years she has worked to develop and advance policy, guide political strategy, build and sustain philanthropic fundraising, support a statewide ballot measure campaign and build and sustain a powerful and thoughtful coalition of partners. Reilly served as the Colorado Children’s Campaign’s Government Affairs Director from 2009 to 2011, then as the organization’s Vice President of Education Initiatives from 2011 – 2014. Reilly’s work focused on developing statewide political strategy as well as the creation and advancement of education policy. From 2015 – 2020, Reilly was the President and CEO for Climb Higher Colorado, an education nonprofit. The organization focused on advancing research-based family school partnerships, supporting a robust coalition focused on educational equity and launched an education fellowship program, the Systems Impact Institute. Reilly now provides consulting services through RPC Consulting. Reilly served as a member on The Colorado Health Foundation's Policy Board from 2015-2020, is a mentor through the Challenge Foundation and is an inaugural fellow with the Open Systems Institute. Reilly was born and raised in Colorado and lives in Denver with her husband, Brett and daughter, Gwen. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Kansas and a Master of Arts in Urban Education Policy from Brown University.
Episode 5: Kim Napoli on becoming an activist and leader in MA cannabis
In episode 5, Kim and Jeffrey discuss Kim’s journey to becoming an activist attorney, seeing her future husband speak years before meeting, Massachusetts cannabis, and much more… LINKS: Kim's Instagram, Vicente Sederberg Law Firm, Trella (winner of BU Competition 3), 5th Annual BU Competition event registration: November 10, Kim Napoli is the director of diversity, equity & inclusion at Vicente Sederberg LLP. As a member of the firm's new Impact & ESG Practice Group, she is responsible for assisting clients in the creation, implementation, and progress made towards their goals related to diversity, equity and inclusion. She also works to ensure compliance in these areas as they relate to regulations and laws at the state and federal levels, with a focus on plans to positively impact communities. Kim is a deft strategic advisor who works diligently, and with good instinct, for the benefit of her clients and the industry. Prior to this, Kim worked in a number of roles for a national cannabis company including, senior director of corporate social responsibility and director of diversity programs. Since 2017, Kim has served on the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission’s Cannabis Advisory Board as Governor Charlie Baker’s appointed expert in minority business development. In this role, she helps the Cannabis Control Commission in the development and implementation of the state’s cannabis regulations and policy. She also served as the director of outreach for the successful 2016 campaign to legalize cannabis in Massachusetts. In addition, Kim is a member of the Cannabis Trade Federation’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion Task Force. Kim holds a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Suffolk University; College of Arts and Science, and a Juris Doctor from Suffolk University Law School. She is active in her local communities and has served as an appointed member of the Roxbury Strategic Masterplan Oversight Committee and as a member of the Sudbury Public School’s Superintendents Reopening Task Force. Kim is also an elected corporator for Middlesex Saving Bank in Massachusetts.
Episode 2: Karen O’Keefe on ending the drug war
In this episode, Karen and Jeffrey discuss ending the drug war, education, human rights, and Bike advocacy… As the director of state policies at the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), Karen manages grassroots and direct lobbying efforts in state legislatures for the nation’s leading marijuana policy organization. Working closely with local allies and lawmakers, her team led the successful advocacy campaigns to pass more than a dozen medical cannabis and decriminalization measures through state legislatures. Her department also spearheaded the campaigns that made Vermont and Illinois the first two states to legalize marijuana for adults’ use legislatively (rather than by voter initiative), as well as the campaign to make Connecticut the most recent state to legalize cannabis. Karen earned her J.D. from Loyola School of Law, New Orleans, where she received the Gillis Long Public Service Award. She lives in West Hollywood, California, and has been involved in a wide array of community activism and volunteerism, including related to education, bicycling infrastructure, disability rights, peace, and human rights. She also served as an appointment member of the West Hollywood Rent Stabilization Commission from 2018-2021. Relevant links: MPP.org, whatiffoundation.org, schoolonwheels.org, wehobike.org