The Penta Podcast Channel

This week's episode of What's at Stake delves into the creation and consumption of media amid the rapid advancement of AI. Sally Shin, venture partner at Comcast Ventures, joins Penta hosts Ylan Mui and Andrea Christianson, to discuss the impact of this convergence on journalism and our daily lives. Their conversation covered: Guardrails to protect intellectual property and the accuracy of AI-generated content Partnerships between publishers and AI companies Opportunities to leverage AI within news organizations The revolution that voice technologies and no-code tools could bring to content creation

This week's episode of What's at Stake explores the evolving landscape of cryptocurrency as the industry gears up for a transformative 2025 amid strong support from both the Trump administration and Capitol Hill. Ron Hammond, senior director of government relations and institutional engagement at the Blockchain Association, joins Penta hosts Ylan Mui and Bryan DeAngelis to discuss the vibeshift in Washington and the industry's policy priorities.  Their conversation covered: Policymakers' evolving perceptions of cryptocurrency Challenges and opportunities for stablecoin legislation Crypto interest from institutional investors  Building consensus across the crypto universe

This week's episode of What's at Stake crosses the Atlantic to discuss the impact of President Trump's tariffs with Penta's experts in Europe. Rory O’Donnell, a partner in the Brussels office, and Stuart Harbinson, a senior adviser who has represented Hong Kong to the World Trade Organization, joined Penta managing director Ylan Mui to examine the motivations behind the tariffs and the implications of global retaliation. Their conversation covered: EU and Chinese perspective on trade tensions Potential economic consequences for consumers and businesses How the private sector can best navigate these turbulent times The potential end game for tariffs 

On this week's episode of What's at Stake, Axios political reporter Hans Nichols sits down with Penta Washington office lead Bryan DeAngelis and Managing Director Ylan Mui to discuss President Trump's priorities and potential pitfalls during his first 100 days in office…for the second time. The trio discussed several topics, including: Trump’s unique media strategy and how it differs from President Biden’s The effectiveness of the blitz of executive orders  The political chess game swirling around Trump’s nominees and Congress Insights on tariffs, tax reform, and potential legislative hurdles Public sentiment and tipping points on key issues You can subscribe to Hans’ newsletter, Axios Hill Leaders here: https://www.axios.com/signup/hill-leaders

On this week's episode of What's at Stake, Partner Bryan DeAngelis and Managing Director Ylan Mui speak to two special guests from the Tax Foundation, one of Washington's most influential think tanks. President and CEO Daniel Bunn and president emeritus Scott Hodge examine the complexities of the anticipated tax reform battle in 2025, and its implications for Americans and businesses, as well as the potential international ramifications. Specific topics include: Examination of proposed tax cuts and their potential effects on individuals and businesses Consideration of the balance between tax cuts and the impact on the national debt Insights on potential revenue sources and the politics surrounding them Overview of international tax discussions and their relevance to U.S. policies Keep listening to What’s at Stake to understand the political and economic shifts of the incoming administration, and check out Scott’s book “Taxocracy” for more on tax policy and how it affects everyday life.

Long waits at the DMV or when buying a car seem like a fact of life—but do they have to be? This week on What's at Stake, Penta senior partner Kevin Madden sits down with Shane Bigelow, CEO of CHAMP Titles, to discuss the company's mission to modernize DMVs and bring digital titling technology to the nation. Shane shares CHAMP's founding story and explains how their technology streamlines title transfers, reducing costs, improving efficiency, and helping DMVs better serve constituents in an age of online car dealers and autonomous vehicles. Kevin and Shane also explore the environmental benefits of going digital along with improvements in privacy and security for the auto industry. Don't miss this in-depth look at how cutting-edge technology is reshaping the future of car ownership.

On this week's episode of What's at Stake, Senior Partner Andy Whitehouse speaks with Marie Donnelly, Chair of Climate Change Advisory Council Ireland and Senior Advisor to Penta, and Director Liza McIntosh about what to expect from COP29—the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference—which begins today in Baku.  Together, they discuss the critical agenda items facing world leaders and organizations as they gather to tackle climate change. From ambitious climate finance targets to bold resilience initiatives, Andy, Liza, and Marie break down the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead for a low-carbon future. They also unpack what a second Trump presidency means for climate policy—both in the U.S. and abroad.  Tune in for this timely discussion to understand what's truly at stake as COP29 shapes the future of climate action amid new geopolitical tensions.

Former President Trump is back, and Republicans are on the cusp of a sweep after winning control of the Senate and possibly the House. Join co-hosts Bryan DeAngelis and Ylan Mui, along with Penta senior partners Stacy Kerr and Kevin Madden, as they explore the reshaping of U.S. politics. They discuss the economic concerns driving voters, Trump’s stance on trade, tariffs, and immigration, and the challenges experienced by Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign. This election could be just the beginning of a fundamental realignment of America’s social contract.

This week on What's at Stake, hosts Bryan DeAngelis and Ylan Mui talk to Chris Wheat, President of the JPMorganChase Institute, about how the pandemic has transformed America's economy. Chris breaks down recent Institute research on how a wave of new investors—particularly younger and lower-income individuals—are taking bigger risks through behaviors like dip-buying and returns-chasing. At the same time, while many households saw their savings increase during the pandemic, those cash reserves are now starting to dwindle, impacting financial health across the board.  So, what does this all mean for the economy? Chris explains how the Institute's use of real-time, anonymized data from millions of JPMorganChase customers helps policymakers stay informed and make smarter decisions. Plus, he teases an upcoming Institute report on the booming small business sector.  Read the latest retail investing reports here: JPMorganChase Retail Investing Reports and tune in to the full episode here.

In this episode of What's At Stake, hosts Bryan DeAngelis and Kevin Madden analyze the magnetism of live music. They unpack how touring has emerged as the dominant revenue stream for musicians, exemplified by the prominence of Taylor Swift's Eras Tour and the nostalgia of an upcoming Oasis tour.  Since live shows returned post-COVID, the rush for tickets has been frantic, with social media amplifying both the excitement and frustration of fans. They dive into the huge demand for ticket access and how platforms like Spotify are revolutionizing music consumption and concert access.  Tune in this week as they talk about how these shared experiences continue to unite fans and some of their favorite recent concerts.