American Optimist

In 2014, Texas State Technical College (TSTC) became the FIRST technical college in the country to fully align its public funding with its students' future earnings. That means it's able to offer money-back guarantees on certain programs if you don't land a job at least six months after graduation. It's also exploring Income-Share Agreements (ISAs) for other types of programs. TSTC's success is an antidote to the crisis of bad incentives in education today and should inspire other states to pursue similar reforms. Watch the full conversation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t57vCXW8b-w ⏩ SUPPORT THE SHOW ⏪ Like this video and subscribe to the channel ➡️ http://tinyurl.com/xfjkadd4

Jacob DeWitte explains what really happened at Chernobyl and how he's designing a new small reactor that's so safe he'd live in the same building as it. Watch Joe's full conversation with Jacob: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXbWC1mDrl4 ⏩ SUPPORT THE SHOW ⏪ Like this video and subscribe to the channel!

“The chemotherapy failed and you have six months to live.” Denise Delatorre would never forget her doctor’s words. Multiple rounds of chemotherapy could not eliminate an aggressive form of lymphoma. The cancer had won. That is, until she enrolled in Kite Pharma’s clinical trial for CAR T-cell therapy, a breakthrough technology that reprograms T cells (a type of white blood cell) to identify specific proteins on cancer cells and destroy them. Unlike the grueling process of chemotherapy, they simply drew her blood, reprogrammed the cells in a lab, and then injected them back into her body. Within weeks, Denise was confirmed as cancer free. She owes her recovery to a confluence of medical breakthroughs, notably gene editing, and a cast of entrepreneurs and scientists who have labored for decades to bring cell therapies to market. It's important to note that CAR T-cell therapy is not a silver bullet. It carries risks, like any innovative treatment, but has saved numerous lives and become an effective tool against previously incurable diseases. We are fortunate to feature one of the leaders in cell therapies in this film: Dr. Jeff Bluestone, the CEO and President of Sonoma Bio. A pioneer in the field, Dr. Bluestone explains the remarkable potential of cell therapies, which are currently effective in blood cancers and may soon work against solid tumors and autoimmune disorders. We also highlight the innovators working to bring this technology to the masses, such as Paul Dabrowski, co-founder and CEO of Synthego. Dabrowski and his team are building the bioengineering infrastructure around cell therapies so that entrepreneurs can deliver these bespoke treatments at scale and commercialize them for the general public. Finally, we feature 8VC Partner Francisco Gimenez, who explains 8VC’s role in the biotech revolution and the unique opportunity to invest in saving lives while also building companies that will reshape medicine for generations to come. America is in the midst of a renaissance in biological sciences that will transform medicine and improve countless lives. We are excited to share an important element of that story with the American public.

Jacob DeWitte is the Co-Founder and CEO of Oklo, a nuclear energy startup building small advanced reactors that can reuse spent fuel from conventional reactors. In this episode, DeWitte explains how the regulatory state has stymied new reactor designs for decades, and how he's working to break through and bring game-changing nuclear power technology to market. Shortly after the initial conversation was filmed, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) denied Oklo's application for its new small reactor design -- evidence of the persistent regulatory challenges. Stay tuned to the end of the episode where Jake rejoins the show to explain how Oklo plans to address the NRC's findings and continue the process toward final approval.

The fascinating story behind Zip2, the first company launched by Elon and Kimbal Musk. Check out Joe's full conversation with Kimbal Musk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIkY9yZSMs4

Tyler Cowen is a professor, best-selling author, blogger, podcaster, and one of the most influential economists of this generation. In the early days of the pandemic, Cowen and Patrick Collison launched the Fast Grants program, which funded COVID-related science in less than 48 hours -- a remarkable feat in the medical sector. In this clip, Cowen discusses the origins of Fast Grants and the innovation that emerged. Check out Joe's full conversation with Tyler: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnLPwI9taYA Like this video and subscribe to the channel to help us reach more people ► http://tinyurl.com/xfjkadd4

"Russia is not as good as we thought they were." Former U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper analyzes Russia's military weaknesses during its invasion of Ukraine and explains why Vladimir Putin would be surprised at the poor training and capabilities of his military. Watch Joe's full conversation with Sec. Esper: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqedig-EvaE Dr. Mark Esper served as the U.S. Secretary of Defense from 2019 to 2020 and Secretary of the Army from 2017 to 2019. He's currently the Distinguished Chair of the Modern War Institute at West Point and sits on the Board of Directors of Epirus [a defense startup co-founded by Joe]. His forthcoming memoir is titled "A Sacred Oath: Memoirs of a Secretary of Defense During Extraordinary Times.” You can pre-order his new book here: https://www.amazon.com/Sacred-Oath-Memoirs-Secretary-Extraordinary/dp/006314431X

Dr. Mark Esper served as the U.S. Secretary of Defense from 2019 to 2020 and Secretary of the Army from 2017 to 2019. He's currently the Distinguished Chair of the Modern War Institute at West Point and sits on the Board of Directors of Epirus [a defense startup co-founded by Joe]. His forthcoming memoir is titled "A Sacred Oath: Memoirs of a Secretary of Defense During Extraordinary Times.” In this episode, he dissects Russia's military weaknesses and explains how its invasion of Ukraine may ultimately strengthen NATO and change China's calculations with regard to Taiwan. He and Joe also discuss the risk-averse, top-down management culture at the Pentagon and what needs to change to bring new, better technologies to the Department of Defense. You can pre-order his new book here: https://www.amazon.com/Sacred-Oath-Memoirs-Secretary-Extraordinary/dp/006314431X

"Blockchain's turned every user into a root user." Balaji Srinivasan is a bold and forward-thinking writer, investor, and entrepreneur, who was formerly the Chief Technology Officer of Coinbase and general partner at Andreessen Horowitz. Currently, he's launching innovative ventures, such as his 1729 Project, while also advocating for cryptocurrency and the larger decentralized finance movement. In this clip, he explains how blockchain is changing the world as we know it. Check out Joe's full conversation with Balaji here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMuIyspn7s0

Judge Glock is the Director of Research and Policy at the Cicero Institute and an expert on housing and homelessness in the U.S. In this episode, Glock dissects the root causes of America's affordable housing shortage and explains how the right incentives can jumpstart development and bring down home costs for working-class families. He also exposes how policies like “Housing First” encourage the homeless to live and die on the streets while waiting for free and permanent housing, which won’t solve the root of their problems: addiction and mental illness. Instead, Glock explains how cities like San Diego combine bridge shelters with treatment and accountability to reduce homelessness -- a recipe that other state leaders can use to save lives and bring healing to hundreds of thousands of people.

Daniel Lubetzky is the founder of Peaceworks, the OneVoice Movement, and the multi-billion dollar snack company KIND. He's also a regular host on the popular TV show Shark Tank. The son of a Holocaust survivor, Lubetzky’s upbringing inspired him to use business to bridge cultural and economic divides. He explains America’s unique role in the world and why we must work together to repair our social fabric and break out of our tribal instincts.

Dr. Jeannette zu Fürstenberg is Co-Founder and General Partner of “La Famiglia”, a Berlin-based Venture Capital fund, and holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy and Entrepreneurship from the Free University of Berlin. She’s also a princess of one of Europe’s oldest royal families by marriage, as well as a thoughtful leader in the innovation and business world. In this episode, she traces the birth of entrepreneurship from the Renaissance and explains how breaking down the silos of guilds led to a creative explosion -- and how we can apply those lessons today. Dr. Fürstenberg specializes in connecting old and new world industries and discusses how to transform the 21st century by moving from incremental to disruptive innovation.

Jared Meyer is the Executive Director of Cicero Action. [Joe is the Chairman of the Board of Cicero Action.] In this episode, Jared discusses how special interests stifle competition and why Cicero Action is using the special interests' playbook against them to promote innovative, bottom-up reforms. He explains the government affairs strategy that creates real policy changes in states across the country, from expanding telehealth and improving parole and probation reforms, to realigning higher education incentives and fixing homelessness. This conversation shows how transparency, accountability, and competition are possible when political leaders have the tools—and the courage—to stand up to cronyism and entrenched interests.

Thomas Chatterton Williams is a writer, cultural critic, fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, and author of two critically-acclaimed books on race in America, most recently "Self-Portrait in Black and White:Unlearning Race." In this episode, he discusses the dangers of Critical Race Theory and how to move beyond race-first, collectivist mindsets. He also discusses his forthcoming book, "Nothing Was the Same," which traces the recent rise of illiberalism and polarization in the U.S. Even though we may find certain ideas or theories (like CRT) noxious, Williams argues for more engagement and debate, not banning or censoring materials, as the best path toward progress. He also offers positive solutions, such as expanding access to high-quality early education, as a means to reduce inequality. [NOTE: This episode was recorded before Russia's invasion of Ukraine.]

"What happens in Ukraine is watched all over the world... my fear is Taiwan will be next." Ambassador Kelly Craft served as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations from 2019 to 2021 and U.S. ambassador to Canada from 2017 to 2019.

Hayes Barnard is the Founder and CEO of GoodLeap, one of the fastest-growing and largest financial technology companies in the renewable energy sector. In 2008, Barnard founded Paramount Solar, which was later acquired by SolarCity and then Tesla. Barnard discusses his role on the leading edge of America's solar energy expansion and what he learned working alongside Elon Musk. He also discusses his non-profit Give Power and its innovative work to bring clean water and electricity to Africa via renewable energy.

Tyler Cowen is a professor, best-selling author, blogger, podcaster, and one of the most influential economists of this generation. In the early days of the pandemic, Cowen launched the Fast Grants program, which funded COVID-related science in less than 48 hours -- a remarkable feat in the medical sector. He discusses his efforts to accelerate innovation, including his work to transform how investors identify and back the next generation of brilliant entrepreneurs. An all-around polymath, Cowen also reveals the technologies and breakthroughs that excite him most for the decades ahead. You can pre-order Tyler's new book here: https://www.amazon.com/Talent-Identify-Energizers-Creatives-Winners/dp/1250275814

In 1978, John Mackey co-founded his first natural foods store in Austin, Texas with only $45,000. Two years later it became Whole Foods Market, which quickly became the nation's fastest-growing organic grocery store. In 2017, Amazon acquired the company for over $13 billion. In this clip, John takes us behind the scenes during the early days of starting Whole Foods.

Pano Kanelos is the President of the University of Austin (UATX), the most ambitious new university venture in America in decades. Recognizing the plight of America's higher education system, Pano stepped down as the President of St. John's College to build a new institution rooted in the pursuit of truth, open inquiry, and educating the next generation of American leaders. In this episode, Joe (a founding trustee of UATX) and Pano discuss the failures of modern academia and why it's time to take on the bold task of building a new world-class university. Learn more about the University of Austin: https://www.uaustin.org/

Dr. Rick Klausner gives a masterclass on the breakthroughs in cell therapies for curing blood cancers and how this technology may soon unlock cures to solid tumors and finally put an end to cancer. Dr. Rick Klausner is the former director of the U.S. National Cancer Institute, co-founder of Juno Therapeutics, GRAIL, and MindStrong Health, renowned scientist, and billionaire innovator. Check out Joe's full conversation with Dr. Klausner: https://rumble.com/vryrlr-dr.-rick-klausner-the-biotech-revolution-will-transform-the-world.html

Niall Ferguson is a renowned historian, Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, and prolific author of more than a dozen best-selling works on economics, culture, and politics. He pulls back the curtain on the Chinese Communist Party, revealing the ways in which the CCP's strengths are exaggerated -- an important perspective and reminder as the world turns its attention to the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

Ambassador Kelly Craft is a businesswoman, philanthropist, and former diplomat who served as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations from 2019 to 2021 and U.S. ambassador to Canada from 2017 to 2019. She played an integral role in shaping major foreign policy decisions and achievements, such as the landmark Abraham Accords and the USMCA trade agreement. In this episode, she discusses some of the most pressing U.S. challenges abroad, including speaking up for human rights during the Beijing Olympics, developing a comprehensive strategy for China, responding to Russian military threats against Ukraine, and galvanizing U.S. allies to defend our shared values. For permission to use any portion of this video, please contact us at info@americanoptimist.com

Bo Marr is the co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Epirus. Marr and his team invented the world’s most powerful directed energy system, Leonidas, that can disable drones and other electronic systems from great distances. This modern force field fills a vital technological gap for the U.S. military as it prepares for 21st-century warfare. Check out Joe's full conversation with Bo Marr: https://rumble.com/vryd07-force-fields-and-directed-energy-are-here-thanks-to-this-cutting-edge-defen.html

A great moment from Joe's conversation with KIND Bar Founder and Shark Tank star Daniel Lubetzky. For permission to use any portion of this video, please contact us at info@americanoptimist.com

Charles Koch, Chairman and CEO of Koch Industries, is one of the great business minds of our time. He grew a small engineering firm from $21 million in revenue to over 10,000 times the revenue. Yet in both his business and philanthropic work, he is first and foremost a philosopher. Koch explains how thinkers such as Abraham Maslow and Joseph Schumpeter shaped his outlook on the conditions for human flourishing, and why it's important to enable every employee to self-actualize. Rejecting centralized top-down systems, Koch developed Market-Based Management -- a philosophy that enables his companies to constantly reinvent themselves through virtuous cycles of mutual benefit that provide value to both employees and customers. For permission to use any portion of this video, please contact us at info@americanoptimist.com