Pothole Problem Podcast

20/11/2023

As we enter another week of the Portland public school teachers' strike, the latest episode of the Pothole Problem Podcast offers some reflections on outrage and a bit of advice about navigating it. I discuss how humor, active listening, and a healthy media diet can help power down strong emotions and enable us to face complex, confusing, highly charged issues without melting down.

28/10/2023

Happy 18th birthday to the best daughter a man could ever hope to have—it would take me 100,000 words just to start talking about how amazing you are…

26/10/2023

The latest battle to choose a Speaker of the House is finally over, but there's no reason to expect that Congress will suddenly become a smooth and effectively functioning institution. In the newest episode of the Pothole Problem Podcast, Jack takes seriously the idea that Washington is broken. He discusses the rise of performative politics and examines the ways the other two branches respond to Congressional power vacuums. (Link in bio)

12/10/2023

Youthful outrage and disappointment and the controversial ideas of a 19th century philosopher… check out the latest episode of The Pothole Problem Podcast (link in bio).

03/10/2023

The Pothole Problem Podcast is back. (Link in bio) In this return episode, I reveal the set of alter egos I’ve developed over the past 2 years and reflect on the need to get back to exploring political outrage and trying to help people navigate the powerful emotions ramping up as the 2024 presidential election looms in the not-so-distant future. New episodes twice monthly on Thursdays.

12/11/2022

If you’re in Astoria next Thursday or Saturday, come see me at the Astoria Public Library as part of the 100-year commemoration of the Great Fire of 1922–author reading and history talk, a good time for all…

08/02/2022

Do you think this is why states are rushing to ban the teaching of divisive subjects in school?

10/11/2021

Republican state senator Kim Thatcher on this week's Pothole Problem Podcast -

On this week's new episode, Jack interviews Oregon State Senator Kim Thatcher (R-District 13) about her nearly two decades of experience in the state legislature. They discuss the changes the senator has seen in state politics during this time and how social media and cultural differences between pa...

03/11/2021

Portland City Commissioner Mingus Mapps appears this week on the Pothole Problem Podcast. Commissioner Mapps describes the unsustainable nature of his position in city government and the structural reasons why Portland faces extra challenges addressing the city’s problems and simply doing its job. He and Jack also discuss the need for reforming the city charter and the current effort to propose changes to that charter.
Listen here: https://www.potholeproblempodcast.com/episode-list/035

20/10/2021

The Pothole Problem Live Q&A Returns Tonight -

27/09/2021

The Pothole Problem Podcast is BACK!! -

03/11/2020

Today is a good day to believe there’s an inextinguishable light shining in the heart of America’s soul.