The Puck: Venture Capital & Beyond

Home
The Puck: Venture Capital & Beyond

Technology, economics, LA, the world… Where the puck going? A podcast by Jim Baer that brings VCs,

20/06/2025

On this episode of The Puck, Jim Baer speaks with NYT columnist about the dangerous trends reshaping our politics—from authoritarian instincts at home to rising instability abroad. French offers sharp insights on the rule of law, the nature of power, and the role of faith in times of uncertainty.
If you're feeling disoriented by the headlines, this conversation offers something rare: clarity, conscience, and hope.
🎧 Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

05/06/2025

🎉 It’s our 100th episode! And we’re launching Season 9 with Jeffrey Rosen—constitutional scholar, author, and host of We the People.⁠
⁠
He shares how ancient philosophy inspired the Founders' idea of happiness—and how reclaiming that wisdom today can reshape our mornings, our leadership, and our democracy.⁠
⁠
✨ Plus, a few surprises (spoiler: songwriting is involved).⁠
⁠
🎧 New episode out now → [link in bio]⁠

22/05/2025

🎙️ Greg Walton returns to The Puck: Venture Capital & Beyond for his second appearance!
Three years after our first conversation, Greg is back to discuss his new book, Ordinary Magic, and the science of how small, intentional acts can shift perspectives and reduce division.
We explore:
- The psychology of belonging
- Why discomfort can be a path to wisdom
- How listening and grace change relationships
- A simple school intervention that reduced youth recidivism by 40%
- This one’s thoughtful, timely, and full of hope.
🎧 Listen now: Link In Bio

09/05/2025

Kristian Rönn: The Darwinian Trap and Humanity’s Crossroads
On this episode of The Puck: Venture Capital & Beyond, Jim Baer sits down with Kristian Rönn—climate tech founder, AI ethicist, and author of The Darwinian Trap—to explore how humanity can escape destructive evolutionary forces and build a future rooted in shared values, long-term thinking, and spiritual renewal. A conversation about risk, responsibility, and hope at the edge of history.

24/04/2025

🔥 New episode out now: I sat down with of The New York Times to talk about politics in the Trump era, why conspiracy thinking is on the rise, and how rebuilding local communities might be our best path forward. We covered a lot—from the failures of the Obama era to the rise of Christian nationalism, and what real Democratic leadership could look like in 2025.
This one’s candid, thoughtful, and packed with insight.

10/04/2025

What happens when religion collapses—but we forget to replace it?
Jonathan Rauch —journalist, atheist, and author of Cross Purposes—joins Jim Baer for a riveting convo on the role of Christianity in sustaining liberal democracy. They dive into how fear fuels polarization, why forbearance matters, and why even nonbelievers should care about Jesus’s teachings.

🎙️ Listen now on The Puck: Venture Capital & Beyond
📚 Guest: Jonathan Rauch ()
🔗 Link in bio

03/04/2025

In this thought-provoking episode, Jim Baer sits down with political scientist Steven Teles, professor at Johns Hopkins University and co-author of The Captured Economy and Never Trump. Together, they explore the shifting class dynamics fueling America’s political polarization and the deepening distrust in institutions—from higher education to public health.
Teles unpacks the realignment of the Democratic and Republican parties, the decline of union-based class identity, and why our government struggles to get big things done. With sharp insight and a rare ability to speak across ideological lines, Teles highlights the paradox of an economy that protects the powerful while making life harder for the working class.
If you care about the future of democracy, the role of universities, or how we might rebuild public trust—this one’s for you.
🎧 Listen now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

25/03/2025

What’s really killing the middle class? 🇺🇸
Is Cold War II already here? 🌏
Michael Lind joins Jim Baer to break down the global realignment, America’s wage crisis, and why both political parties are failing.
🔊 Listen now to The Puck: Venture Capital and Beyond.

18/03/2025

On this episode of The Puck, host Jim Baer sits down with Aswath Damodaran, renowned NYU finance professor and the “Dean of Valuation,” for a deep dive into the current economic landscape.
Damodaran breaks down the market’s recent volatility, the looming risk of a recession, and why the U.S. has been able to defy macroeconomic gravity for so long. He explores the impact of globalization’s decline, the role of risk capital, and the evolving influence of AI and Big Tech on markets. From the challenges of government inefficiency to the realities of investing in turbulent times, this episode offers a sharp, data-driven perspective on what lies ahead.
Is the U.S. government running an unsustainable economic experiment? Can AI and technology continue to carry the economy? And what should investors do in a world of increased volatility? Tune in to hear Damodaran’s take on where we’re headed—and why adaptability is more crucial than ever.
🎧 Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and SoundCloud.

11/03/2025

On this episode of The Puck: Venture Capital and Beyond, host Jim Baer sits down with Republican pollster and political strategist Patrick Ruffini, co-founder of Echelon Insights and author of The Party of the People: Inside the Multiracial Populist Coalition Remaking the GOP. Ruffini shares his insights on the shifting political landscape, the rise of a multiracial working-class coalition within the Republican Party, and what this realignment means for future elections.
They discuss why Trump’s economic populism has resonated with minority voters, how the GOP has become the party of the working class, and what both parties must do to stay competitive in an evolving electorate. Looking ahead to 2028, they explore whether figures like J.D. Vance can carry the torch and how policy, bureaucracy, and economic realities will shape the next four years.
Tune in for a data-driven, big-picture look at where American politics is heading.
🎧 Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and SoundCloud.

04/03/2025

On this week’s episode, Jim sits down with , , , and with a focus on “Political Orders.” His most recent , “The Rise and Fall of the ,” came out in 2022, and explores the larger trends in thinking which make up a , oftentimes a consensus we take for granted. Their conversation covers classical liberalism, , and… where we are right now. You don’t want to miss this clarifying discussion.

25/02/2025

On this week’s episode, Jim sits down with Frank Furedi, author, social commentator, and Emeritus Professor of Sociology at the University of Kent. Frank is a free speech absolutist and has been a longtime critic of what he and others call “The Culture Wars.” They discuss Frank’s background, his academic work, and how he formed his worldview.

Address

Website

https://www.cmbginc.com/thepuckpod

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Puck: Venture Capital & Beyond posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to The Puck: Venture Capital & Beyond:

Shortcuts

Address
Alerts
Contact The Business
Claim ownership or report listing
Want your business to be the top-listed Media Company?

Country:

City: