Firewall

Mike Pesca, host of The Gist, showcases his conversational prowess as he dives into a myriad of topics with Bradley. They debate the emotional power of the World Cup versus the Olympics and the moral implications of elite sports. The discussion shifts to the American ambivalence towards Ivy League colleges and explores the quirky traits of ambitious versus content individuals. They also humorously dissect conspiracy theories, particularly around JFK, and ponder the happiness of sociopaths while weighing the pros and cons of mushy food.

Discover the groundbreaking mobile voting system in Estonia and its potential lessons for the U.S. Delve into the political dynamics surrounding the Mamdani election, exploring the influence of wealthy donors and community needs. There's a heated discussion on age verification laws balancing privacy and protection. The podcast also compares artistic expression in music, weighing raw vs. polished artistry. Plus, insights into leadership transitions highlight the qualities necessary for effective management in an ever-changing landscape.

In this insightful conversation, Zohran Mamdani, Democratic nominee for mayor and New York State Assemblymember, shares his vision for a fairer, more functional New York. He argues that real leadership should empower experts rather than micromanage. Mamdani advocates for transformative policies like free bus services and universal child care. He emphasizes the need for a strong public sector focused on operational efficiency and community safety, while also tackling housing challenges and improving media communication for better governance.

On this post-primary bonus episode, Bradley joins Ravi Gupta's Lost Debate to break down Zohran Mamdani's historic victory and how his administration might handle key policy issues like housing, education, and transportation. Also, what about those grocery stores? Of course, before any of that can happen, Mamdani needs to win in November. Bradley and Ravi preview the wild race that starts today, as a potentially crowded field mobilizes to derail the Mamdani express.Be sure to subscribe to The Lost Debate on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.Send us an email with your thoughts on today’s episode: info@firewall.media.Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.

Breaking down an unexpected victory, the hosts delve into Zohran Mamdani's win in the New York City Democratic primary and its implications for the city's future. They discuss voter discontent with traditional politics and the need for collaboration to tackle pressing urban challenges. Concerns arise over Mamdani’s policies and their potential effects on public safety and business stability. The episode also critiques the closed primary system, exploring solutions to boost voter participation while comparing New York’s struggles with those of San Francisco in a post-pandemic landscape.

The US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities are a proper response to an untenable threat, says Bradley on this special Monday episode, and Democratic opposition to them are weak and nonsensical. Plus, he gives his final rundown of factors at play in the New York City's mayoral race, does a comprehensive analysis of how Waymo's automated taxis will fare in the city and makes a wild prediction of who the next owner of the Yankees could be. (Hint: Get ready for hot dogs delivered to your seat via drone and Katy Perry's rendition of the National Anthem.)This episode was taped at P&T Knitwear at 180 Orchard Street — New York City’s only free podcast recording studio.Send us an email with your thoughts on today’s episode: info@firewall.media.Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.

With mere days to go before the Democratic primary, the campaign to be New York City's next mayor has at last become a riveting horse race. Did Brad Lander's arrest boost him into contention, or merely blunt Zohran Mamdani's momentum? Could the Times' unendorsement of Mamdani give Cuomo skeptics permission to vote for him? How much might all the uncertainty help Eric Adams in the general election? Katie Honan of THE CITY and Sahalie Donaldson of City & State join Bradley and Tom Allon for this highly spirited final installment (for now) of The Race to Gracie Mansion.This episode was taped at P&T Knitwear at 180 Orchard Street — New York City’s only free podcast recording studio.Send us an email with your thoughts on today’s episode: info@firewall.media.Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.

Though The New York Times is refraining from making an endorsement in the New York City mayoral race, it did tell its readers which candidate NOT to vote for. Bradley breaks down the implications of this unusual editorial choice. Plus, he explains his personal criteria for responding to requests for his time and advice.Discussed on today's episode:Our Advice To Voters In A Vexing Race For New York Mayor, The New York Times, June 16, 2025.This episode was taped at P&T Knitwear at 180 Orchard Street — New York City’s only free podcast recording studio.Send us an email with your thoughts on today’s episode: info@firewall.media.Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.

While the news dwells on everything that divides us, Spencer Greenberg went the other way — he did a study of 195 issues to discover what unites us — and came to a conclusion that, in his words, "just blew my mind." Americans actually agree on a ton of things. The social entrepreneur, mathematician and host of the podcast Clearer Thinking joined Bradley at P&T Knitwear in front of a live audience for a free-wheeling conversation that might just make you a little hopeful.Be sure to follow and subscribe to Clearer Thinking on Spotify, Apple, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was taped at P&T Knitwear at 180 Orchard Street — New York City’s only free podcast recording studio.Send us an email with your thoughts on today’s episode: info@firewall.media.Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.

What would it look like if the richest man in the world and the most powerful man in the world really took the gloves off? Bradley details the specific attacks each could deploy — inflicting so much damage on each other that it makes sense for cooler heads to prevail. But who wants to bet on that happening? Plus, Bradley got around to reading Careless People, Sarah Wynn-Williams' memoir about working at Meta, and thinks you should tooThis episode was taped at P&T Knitwear at 180 Orchard Street — New York City’s only free podcast recording studio.Send us an email with your thoughts on today’s episode: info@firewall.media.Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.