Keen On America

Kemi Nekvapil, author of POWER, discusses redefining power, building internal strength, the role of a coach, the value of asking questions, and the connection between money, power, and women.

Daniel Ziblatt, co-author of 'How Democracies Die', discusses how constitutional reform can strengthen democracy in America. Topics include the impact of an ethnocratic minority, the transformation of the Republican Party, lessons from European democracies, strategies for strengthening democracy, the problem of gerontocracy in the court system, and exploring constitutional reform.

Brian Merchant, technology columnist for the Los Angeles Times and author of The One Device, discusses the Luddite rebellion against Big Tech, exploring its origins, cultural influence, and parallels to gig work and generative AI. The podcast touches on the impact of automation, anxieties surrounding AI and job displacement, and the need for democratic technologies and individual involvement in decision-making about AI.

Kat Calvin, author and activist, discusses the overlooked crisis of 26 million American adults without government IDs, exploring the disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations and potential solutions through digital infrastructure and proposed bills.

Michele Lamont, an influential cultural sociologist, discusses rebuilding dignity in our age of anxiety, inequality, and isolation. They explore the concept of recognition chains, the impact of neoliberalism on society, treating people as individuals, healing social divisions through mental health and homelessness, and creating inclusive institutions.

Cenk Ugyur, author of JUSTICE IS COMING, predicts the progressive takeover of America. They discuss corporate rule in politics, the influence of money, mainstream media, and the rise of progressivism. The problems in American politics, including corporate influence on both major parties and the unpopularity of Joe Biden, are also explored.

John Sargent, former CEO of MacMillan Publishers, discusses his adventures and misadventures in the publishing industry, including confronting Amazon and Google. He explores the significance of books and the role of literary agents. He also shares the challenges of providing feedback to authors and reminisces about fun and memorable moments in the industry.

Bent Flyvbjerg, renowned megaproject expert, discusses the surprising factors that determine project success. They explore defining 'big things' and the fascination with major projects. The shared interests of Steve Jobs and Elon Musk in scaling up and the Lego principle of achieving big things are also discussed.

EPISODE 1727: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Gary John Bishop, author of GROW UP,  on how to become the parent your kids deserveGary John Bishop is one of the world’s leading personal development experts, and the author of the million-copy New York Times and international bestseller Unfu*k Yourself. His no-frills, no “B.S.” approach has brought him a growing following drawn to the simplicity and real-world application of his work. His “urban philosophy” is part of a new wave of personal empowerment and life mastery that has led to miraculous results in the quality and performance of people’s lives. He lives with his family in Florida. More at https://garyjohnbishop.com Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy show. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe

EPISODE 1724: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to the author of WEB3, Alex Tapscott, who separates the signal about Blockchain, Crypto, NFTs and other technologies on the internet's next economic and cultural frontierAlex Tapscott is an entrepreneur, business author, and seasoned capital markets professional focused on the impact of emerging technologies, such as blockchain and cryptocurrencies, on business, government, and society. His latest book, Web3: Charting the Internet’s Next Economic and Cultural Frontier (Harper Collins), will be published September 19th, 2023. Alex is also the Managing Director of the Digital Assets Group at Ninepoint Partners, one of Canada’s leading investment firms, with more than $8 billion in assets under management (AUM). Ninepoint launched the world’s first carbon-neutral Bitcoin ETF, which reached over $400 million in AUM. Alex is also co-author of the critically acclaimed non-fiction best-seller, Blockchain Revolution, translated into more than 19 languages and which has sold more than 500,000 copies worldwide. His other books, Financial Services Revolution and Digital Asset Revolution were published in 2020 and 2022 respectively. Alex is sought after world-wide for his expertise by business and government audiences. He has delivered well over 200 lectures and executive briefings to business audiences at firms like Goldman Sachs (Talks at GS), Google, Allianz, IBM, Microsoft and Accenture, to name a few (Select speeches by Alex). He is consistently ranked as a top influencer in the blockchain industry. His TedX talk, Blockchain is Eating Wall Street has been viewed over 800,000 times. Alex’s writing has been featured in The New York Times, Harvard Business Review, The Globe and Mail, The Financial Post, TIME, Fortune, and many other publications. In 2017, Alex co-founded the Blockchain Research Institute (BRI), a global think-tank investigating blockchain strategies, opportunities and use-cases. Alex is a graduate of Amherst College (Cum Laude) and is a CFA Charterholder. He lives in Toronto.Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy show. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is mar This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe