Best-selling author of The Smartest Guys in the Room and All the Devils are here, Bethany McLean, discusses how to write a story, the behaviors of CEO’s, visionaries and fraudsters and so much more. -- Want even more? Members get early access, hand-edited transcripts, member-only episodes, and so much more. Learn more here: https://fs.blog/membership/   Every Sunday our Brain Food newsletter shares timeless insights and ideas that you can use at work and home. Add it to your inbox: https://fs.blog/newsletter/   Follow Shane on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/ShaneAParrish

Bethany McLean, a journalist and author famed for uncovering the Enron scandal, joins Ravi to discuss the public's intense reaction to the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. They explore the unsettling normalization of political violence and the healthcare system's failures. The conversation shifts to the influence of private equity and the urgent need for reform to address deep-seated inequalities. McLean also critiques communication in public health, calling for transparency and a reassessment of established beliefs.

Bethany McLean, writer for Vanity Fair and coauthor of The Smartest Guys in the Room, discusses the pandemic's failures including unforced errors, lack of preparedness, disparities in per capita deaths, failures of leadership, mishandling of policies, early predictions and warnings, contrasting policies by Cuomo and DeSantis, leadership void and controversies, disparities in COVID-19 outcomes, performance of CDC, NIH, and WHO, role of the Federal Reserve, and the influence of mentors and storytelling.

Today’s guests are Jim Chanos, famed short-seller and founder of Kynikos Associates, and Bethany McLean, contributing editor at Vanity Fair and the author of multiple books, including The Smartest Guys in the Room: The Amazing Rise and Scandalous Fall of Enron.In today’s episode, Jim & Bethany cover all aspects of fraud. They share where we are in both the financial cycle and the fraud cycle, why we continue to see frauds since they first connected about Enron over 20 years ago, and the thin line between a visionary and a fraudster. We discuss the anti-short seller rhetoric that pops up every few months, the impact of social media on the rise and fall of companies, and the impact of stock-based compensation and adjusted earnings. As we wind down, Jim shares his concerns about the commercial real estate sector, and Bethany gives a preview of her book releasing this October. -----Follow Meb on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTubeFor detailed show notes, click hereTo learn more about our funds and follow us, subscribe to our mailing list or visit us at cambriainvestments.com-----Today’s episode is sponsored by Farmland LP. Farmland LP is one of the largest investment funds in the US focused on converting chemical-based conventional farmland to organic, sustainably-managed farmland using a value-add commercial real estate strategy in the agriculture sector. Since 2009, they have built a 15,000-acre portfolio representing over $200M in AUM.Today’s episode is sponsored by The Idea Farm. The Idea Farm gives you access to over $100,000 worth of investing research, the kind usually read by only the world’s largest institutions, funds, and money managers. Subscribe for free here.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this podcast, Joe Nocera and Bethany McLean discuss the lessons from their book 'The Big Fail' about the pandemic's impact on business leadership. They question the efficacy of lockdowns, explore the pros and cons of a market-based society, and draw parallels to the Enron scandal. They emphasize the importance of adapting to new information, making fact-based decisions, and avoiding panic. They also highlight the disparities and lessons learned from the pandemic.

Bethany McLean, journalist and contributing editor for Vanity Fair, joins the show to discuss her new book on America's sick healthcare system. They delve into the profit-driven nature of healthcare, the lack of transparency in pricing, and the flaws in the American healthcare system. They also explore topics such as the Enron scandal, the history of US globalization, right-wing populism, and the impact of school closures.

Bethany McLean, co-author of The Big Fail and co-host of the Capitalisn't podcast, discusses the impact of COVID on America, including snarled supply chains, school closures, poorly evaluated mask mandates, and how capitalism has jumped the rails in the 21st century.

Renowned for her incisive reporting, Bethany McLean dissects the policies, decisions, and systemic structures that exacerbated the pandemic's fallout. They analyze the failures of experts, media, and leaders in handling the pandemic, and discuss Trump's response. They explore excessive marketization and the failures of capitalism, using Rush Hospital as a case study.

Vivek Ramaswamy, a scientist, lawyer, and former venture capitalist and entrepreneur, has a new book out: "Woke, Inc.: Inside Corporate America's Social Justice Scam". In this book, he argues that "wokeism" has become a way for corporations to wrap themselves in a mantle, which then furthers the idea of crony capitalism and extends their power into spaces they were never meant to be in. Luigi Zingales and Bethany McLean sit down with Ramaswamy to discuss his perspectives on the role of virtue, ethics, and politics in business and society.

Bethany McLean, an expert in corporate scandals and author of The Smartest Guys in the Room, discusses Enron's rise and scandalous fall. Topics include Enron's deceptive practices, the influence of stock market riches, the importance of early support in career development, the value of writing for understanding ideas, the visionary idea of transforming the natural gas business, Enron's manipulation of mark-to-market accounting, reflections on earning money and justice, and the fascination with human nature.