Ben Cohen

Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry's and noted political activist, shares his views on the unnecessary nature of the Ukraine war. He critiques the influence of weapons manufacturers on Congress and the pro-war propaganda shaping public opinion. Cohen urges for a focus on peace advocacy rather than political polarization, emphasizing the detrimental effects of military spending on society and the need for humanitarian priorities. His unique perspectives challenge conventional thoughts on foreign policy, making for a thought-provoking discussion.

Ben Cohen, manager of the Swift team at Apple, joins John on this WWDC22 special to discuss Swift 5.7, how generics have been made more powerful and easy to use, and how the language is expected to evolve towards Swift 6.SponsorsBitrise: Rock-solid continuous integration for your Swift projects. Go to bitrise.io/swift to get started for free.NordVPN: Get an exclusive discount on NordVPN’s excellent VPN service, by going to nordvpn.com/sundell. They even have a 30-day money-back guarantee.LinksBen on TwitterJohn on TwitterSwift Async AlgorithmsSwift CollectionsUsing the new ‘some’ and ‘any’ keywordsType erasure“What’s New in Swift”, from WWDC22“Embracing Swift Generics”, from WWDC22WeatherKitRegex LiteralsRegexBuilderResult buildersApp IntentsSourceryDoug Gregor’s “Eliminate data races using Swift Concurrency” talkBen’s Swift concurrency talk from WWDC21Grand Central DispatchSwift Distributed ActorsConnecting async/await to other Swift codeThe Swift Mentorship ProgramIntro and outro music by Dariusz Dziuk

Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry's, takes a bold stance against wealth inequality, sharing his evolution from ice cream mogul to activist. He provocatively argues that billionaires should not exist and critiques corporate greed within capitalist systems. The conversation dives into the implications of socio-economic disparities, the failures of political narratives, and the wastefulness of government spending, intertwining humor with serious topics. Cohen's unique perspective also merges his love for ice cream with his call for systemic change.

Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry's, is on a mission to preserve the brand's values amid controversy. He shares insights on why the ice cream company stands firm on social issues, viewing business as a platform for activism. Cohen discusses his decision to stay with the brand despite recent turmoil, including legal battles with Unilever and the fallout from their stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict. With plans to seek mission-aligned investors, he remains committed to ensuring Ben & Jerry's stays true to its founding ideals.

In the mid-1970s two childhood friends, Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield decided to open an ice cream shop in Burlington, Vermont. Their quirky little shop packaged and sold unusual flavors like Honey Coffee, Mocha Walnut, and Mint with Oreo Cookies. In 1981, the regional brand spread across the country after Time magazine called it the "best ice cream in America." Today, Ben & Jerry's is one of the top selling ice cream brands in the world. And, like the original founders, the company doesn't shy away from speaking out on social issues. PLUS for our postscript "How You Built That", how David Stover and his team at Bureo turn fishing nets into skateboards. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry's and a passionate advocate for social justice, shares his recent experience protesting the war in Gaza, highlighting the need for civil disobedience in challenging U.S. policies. He discusses the complexities of lobbying in the U.S., particularly regarding AIPAC, and emphasizes the distinction between critiquing government actions and anti-Semitism. The conversation also touches on the role of celebrities in social change, advocating for humanitarian priorities over military spending, all while sharing some light-hearted moments about favorite ice cream flavors.

Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry's, dives into his latest initiative, DOGE vs. Blob, focusing on reducing Pentagon waste. He discusses the absurdities of U.S. military spending and emphasizes the need to reallocate funds to vital domestic issues like healthcare. The conversation touches on the role of memes in political discourse while critiquing outdated military tech. Cohen also shares creative ideas for engaging the public in anti-war messaging through meme contests, demonstrating how humor can address serious topics.

Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry's, is joined by Anson Ferex, former AB InBev executive and author. They dive into the backlash surrounding Disney's Snow White remake, critiquing casting choices and corporate activism. Cohen discusses the contradictions in social justice initiatives, while Ferex sheds light on the failures of corporate diversity efforts. They tackle the complexity of brands navigating political waters, questioning whether their activism is genuine or merely a marketing strategy. The conversation unveils the tension between ideals and financial motivations.

Swift Language Engineering Manager Holly Borla and Senior Software Engineering Manager Ben Cohen discuss topics such as data race safety in Swift 6, the evolution of Swift compiler, maintaining code quality, ensuring thread safety, transitioning to Swift Concurrency, and collaborative development of language features for Swift.

Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, the dynamic co-founders of Ben & Jerry's, share the whimsical journey of launching their iconic ice cream brand in Vermont. They discuss their innovative, quirky flavors that stood out in a crowded market and the transformative impact of a Time magazine feature that catapulted them to fame. The duo also candidly talks about navigating challenges from bigger competitors while remaining committed to their social mission, blending personal passion with a corporate identity that values community engagement.