Cited Authorities

Alexander Powell
  • 5.0 (2)
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Behind every successful legal career is a series of decisions that never made it onto a résumé. Cited Authorities features conversations with accomplished lawyers, and the leaders who shape their field, about career inflection points, professional judgment, reputation, leadership, and the real stories behind professional success. Excellent legal careers are not accidents. Hear the stories of how they were built.

  1. 14h ago

    Dr. Bryant Lin on His New Book Sunshine and From Diagnosis to Dialogue

    Dr. Bryant Lin is a Clinical Professor of Medicine at the Stanford University School of Medicine and the author of Sunshine: An Exploration of Living When You Are Dying (Crown, November 10, 2026). In this episode he describes the home visit program and diagnostic clinic he started at Stanford, the patient from Taiwan who asked him to spread the word about a drug reaction, and the Stanford Center for Asian Health Research and Education (CARE) he co-founded in 2018. He then covers the Stuck at Home concerts, the course he taught on his own stage 4 lung cancer, the New York Times profile, and what he hopes a young doctor takes from Sunshine. CHAPTERS0:00 Welcome to Cited Authorities 0:56 From engineering to Stanford Biodesign 3:19 Taking residents and students on home visits 4:10 A diagnostic clinic for medical mysteries5:17 A patient's drug reaction and the start of CARE 8:36 The Stuck at Home concerts and medical humanities 10:33 A diagnosis, and a class about his own lung cancer 13:05 The New York Times profile and the decision to write Sunshine 15:07 What kind of doctor the class hoped to create 16:40 What a young doctor should take from Sunshine 18:32 Serendipity, meaning, and purpose20:15 Kindness20:43 Why he has not quit to travel the world The full conversation continues for subscribers: citedauthorities.substack.com/subscribe Show notes: citedauthorities.com/episodes/bryant-lin Cited Authorities is independent. Support the show: https://citedauthorities.com/support Get every new episode and the show notes by email, free, every other Wednesday: citedauthorities.com/subscribeFull video editions for paid members.The Cited Authorities podcast is produced by Cited Authorities LLC, a media company. It is not a law firm. This episode is general information and commentary, not legal advice, and listening does not create an attorney-client relationship. The views expressed are those of the speakers alone and do not represent any firm, employer, or client. If you need advice on your situation, talk to a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction. Cited Authorities is a legal interview podcast hosted by Alexander Powell, a tax attorney in Washington, DC. New episodes every other Wednesday. Join Cited Authorities for the complete audio and video of eligible conversations: https://citedauthorities.substack.com/subscribe All episodes and show notes: https://citedauthorities.com The Cited Authorities podcast is produced by Cited Authorities LLC, a media and software company. It is not a law firm. This episode is general information and commentary, not legal advice, and listening does not create an attorney-client relationship. The views expressed are those of the speakers alone and do not represent any firm, employer, or client. If you need advice on your situation, talk to a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction. LISTEN: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cited-authorities/id1879396186 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0VVpaSN7rcg0jbSTbL6Jld YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CitedAuthorities Website: https://citedauthorities.com

  2. Oct 29

    Barak Richman on the Diamond Trade, Antitrust in Health Care, and ERISA

    Barak Richman, the Alexander Hamilton Professor of Business Law at the George Washington University Law School, joins Alexander Powell to talk about his years on Senate Finance Committee staff, what New York's diamond merchants teach lawyers about the limits of contract enforcement, when a reputation system becomes a group boycott, and why employers have been such passive buyers of health care. CHAPTERS 0:00 Welcome to Cited Authorities 0:45 Senate Finance staff during the Clinton health reform effort 1:13 Working for Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan 2:31 Alain Enthoven and the academics who testified 4:29 New York's diamond merchants 5:11 Berkeley, Oliver Williamson, and relational contracting 5:47 How a diamond moves on credit 7:03 The limits of formal legal enforcement 7:51 What lawyers can learn from the diamond industry 8:59 Reputation in the age of e-commerce 9:30 When reputation becomes a group boycott 10:28 Why employers are passive buyers of health care 12:37 Buying hospital care like a car company buys steel 14:02 What ERISA asks of employer health plans This is the Public Edition. The full conversation continues for subscribers: citedauthorities.substack.com/subscribe Show notes: citedauthorities.com/episodes/barak-richman Cited Authorities is independent. Support the show: https://citedauthorities.com/support Get every new episode and the show notes by email, free, every other Wednesday: citedauthorities.com/subscribe Full video editions for paid members. The Cited Authorities podcast is produced by Cited Authorities LLC, a media company. It is not a law firm. This episode is general information and commentary, not legal advice, and listening does not create an attorney-client relationship. The views expressed are those of the speakers alone and do not represent any firm, employer, or client. If you need advice on your situation, talk to a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction. Cited Authorities is a legal interview podcast hosted by Alexander Powell, a tax attorney in Washington, DC. New episodes every other Wednesday. Join Cited Authorities for the complete audio and video of eligible conversations: https://citedauthorities.substack.com/subscribe All episodes and show notes: https://citedauthorities.com The Cited Authorities podcast is produced by Cited Authorities LLC, a media and software company. It is not a law firm. This episode is general information and commentary, not legal advice, and listening does not create an attorney-client relationship. The views expressed are those of the speakers alone and do not represent any firm, employer, or client. If you need advice on your situation, talk to a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction. LISTEN: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cited-authorities/id1879396186 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0VVpaSN7rcg0jbSTbL6Jld YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CitedAuthorities Website: https://citedauthorities.com

  3. Oct 15

    Seun Williams on Moving From Prosecution to Defense and What Juvenile Court Teaches

    Seun Williams, a partner at the Law Office of Thomas E. Pyles, P.A., joins Alexander Powell to talk about moving from prosecuting cases in Prince George's County to the defense table, what juvenile court teaches a lawyer, and what he learned arguing before the Supreme Court of Maryland. This is the Public Edition. The full conversation continues for subscribers: citedauthorities.substack.com/subscribe Show notes: citedauthorities.com/episodes/seun-williams Get every new episode and the show notes by email, free, every other Wednesday: citedauthorities.com/subscribe Full video editions for paid members. The Cited Authorities podcast is produced by Cited Authorities LLC, a media company. It is not a law firm. This episode is general information and commentary, not legal advice, and listening does not create an attorney-client relationship. The views expressed are those of the speakers alone and do not represent any firm, employer, or client. If you need advice on your situation, talk to a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction. Cited Authorities is a legal interview podcast hosted by Alexander Powell, a tax attorney in Washington, DC. New episodes every other Wednesday. Join Cited Authorities for the complete audio and video of eligible conversations: https://citedauthorities.substack.com/subscribe All episodes and show notes: https://citedauthorities.com The Cited Authorities podcast is produced by Cited Authorities LLC, a media and software company. It is not a law firm. This episode is general information and commentary, not legal advice, and listening does not create an attorney-client relationship. The views expressed are those of the speakers alone and do not represent any firm, employer, or client. If you need advice on your situation, talk to a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction. LISTEN: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cited-authorities/id1879396186 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0VVpaSN7rcg0jbSTbL6Jld YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CitedAuthorities Website: https://citedauthorities.com

  4. Oct 1

    Melissa L. Wiley on Tax Controversy, Teaching, and Judgment

    Melissa L. Wiley, a partner at Kostelanetz LLP and an adjunct professor at Georgetown Law, joins Alexander Powell to talk about tax controversy, teaching, and the judgment required for effective advocacy. CHAPTERS 0:00 Welcome to Cited Authorities 0:22 Math, music, and an actuarial career 3:08 From reinsurance to Georgetown Law 4:46 Marty Ginsburg and the road to tax controversy 5:20 Why the law is so often a second career 6:26 "I fight the man" 8:03 Teaching tax research and writing at Georgetown 9:00 Legislative history and persuasive writing 10:56 Learning by watching, and never calling it "clear" 13:00 Client counseling: what newer lawyers should know 13:28 The client who wanted an apology 14:29 "What do you want out of this?" 15:05 Offering to talk to a client's wife 15:43 Setting realistic expectations 16:15 Clients who cannot sleep 16:53 Client counseling 17:21 A weight off their shoulders The full conversation continues for subscribers. citedauthorities.substack.com/subscribe Show notes: citedauthorities.com/episodes/melissa-wiley Get every new episode and the show notes by email, free, every other Wednesday: citedauthorities.com/subscribe The Cited Authorities podcast is produced by Cited Authorities LLC, a media company. It is not a law firm. This episode is general information and commentary, not legal advice, and listening does not create an attorney-client relationship. The views expressed are those of the speakers alone and do not represent any firm, employer, or client. If you need advice on your situation, talk to a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction. Cited Authorities is a legal interview podcast hosted by Alexander Powell, a tax attorney in Washington, DC. New episodes every other Wednesday. Join Cited Authorities for the complete audio and video of eligible conversations: https://citedauthorities.substack.com/subscribe All episodes and show notes: https://citedauthorities.com The Cited Authorities podcast is produced by Cited Authorities LLC, a media and software company. It is not a law firm. This episode is general information and commentary, not legal advice, and listening does not create an attorney-client relationship. The views expressed are those of the speakers alone and do not represent any firm, employer, or client. If you need advice on your situation, talk to a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction. LISTEN: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cited-authorities/id1879396186 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0VVpaSN7rcg0jbSTbL6Jld YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CitedAuthorities Website: https://citedauthorities.com

  5. Sep 16

    Andrew T. Wise on What Public Defense Teaches a Trial Lawyer

    Andrew T. Wise leads the White Collar Defense practice at Miller & Chevalier. He has tried more than 50 cases to resolution, and he started as a public defender at the DC Public Defender Service. Today's episode is about trial craft, client trust, and what public defense teaches. Andy explains how fact development and case theory carried from indigent defense into corporate investigations, how you earn the trust of a client who did not choose you, and why he tells young lawyers to find their own style. The full conversation, including the Kevin Ring trial and the Abramoff prosecution, is for subscribers. Subscribe at $12 a month or $100 a year: https://citedauthorities.substack.com/subscribe Show notes and timestamps: https://citedauthorities.com/episodes/andrew-wise Cited Authorities is independent. Support the show: https://citedauthorities.com/support Get every new episode and the show notes by email, free, every other Wednesday: citedauthorities.com/subscribe Full video editions for paid members. The Cited Authorities podcast is produced by Cited Authorities LLC, a media company. It is not a law firm. This episode is general information and commentary, not legal advice, and listening does not create an attorney-client relationship. The views expressed are those of the speakers alone and do not represent any firm, employer, or client. If you need advice on your situation, talk to a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction. Cited Authorities is a legal interview podcast hosted by Alexander Powell, a tax attorney in Washington, DC. New episodes every other Wednesday. Join Cited Authorities for the complete audio and video of eligible conversations: https://citedauthorities.substack.com/subscribe All episodes and show notes: https://citedauthorities.com The Cited Authorities podcast is produced by Cited Authorities LLC, a media and software company. It is not a law firm. This episode is general information and commentary, not legal advice, and listening does not create an attorney-client relationship. The views expressed are those of the speakers alone and do not represent any firm, employer, or client. If you need advice on your situation, talk to a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction. LISTEN: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cited-authorities/id1879396186 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0VVpaSN7rcg0jbSTbL6Jld YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CitedAuthorities Website: https://citedauthorities.com

  6. Sep 2

    Rod J. Rosenstein, Former Deputy Attorney General of the United States

    Rod J. Rosenstein is a partner at Baker McKenzie and co-chair of its national security practice. He previously served as Deputy Attorney General of the United States, U.S. Attorney for Maryland, and Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Tax Division. Today’s episode is about judgment, justice, and humility. Rod distinguishes a prosecutable case from a case that merits prosecution. He walks through the questions a prosecutor should ask before charging: “Can I?” “Must I?” and “Should I?” We talked about Justice Robert Jackson’s April 1940 speech as Attorney General, The Federal Prosecutor, and the power prosecutors hold over liberty and reputation. Rosenstein says Jackson’s call for discretion, judgment, and humility is critical for all lawyers, not only prosecutors. Subscribe to hear the full conversation: https://citedauthorities.substack.com/subscribe Cited Authorities is a legal interview podcast hosted by Alexander Powell, a tax attorney in Washington, DC. New episodes every other Wednesday. Join Cited Authorities for the complete audio and video of eligible conversations: https://citedauthorities.substack.com/subscribe All episodes and show notes: https://citedauthorities.com The Cited Authorities podcast is produced by Cited Authorities LLC, a media and software company. It is not a law firm. This episode is general information and commentary, not legal advice, and listening does not create an attorney-client relationship. The views expressed are those of the speakers alone and do not represent any firm, employer, or client. If you need advice on your situation, talk to a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction. LISTEN: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cited-authorities/id1879396186 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0VVpaSN7rcg0jbSTbL6Jld YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CitedAuthorities Website: https://citedauthorities.com

  7. Aug 20

    Ben Tompkins: From DOJ Prosecutor to Defense Counsel

    Episode 13 of Cited Authorities. A conversation with Ben Tompkins, former trial attorney in the Justice Department's Tax Division and former Assistant United States Attorney in Los Angeles. Tompkins is now a partner at Nardiello Turanchik Tompkins. We talked about why he left class-action defense for the Tax Division, a high-profile Internal Revenue Code section 6103 donor-disclosure case, and teaching trial lawyers at the National Advocacy Center. We also discussed the DOJ's recent structural changes and the National Fraud Enforcement Division, eggshell audits, the move from government to defense work, and advice to newer attorneys considering a government job. Cited Authorities is a legal interview podcast hosted by Alexander Powell, a tax attorney in Washington, DC. New episodes every other Wednesday. Join Cited Authorities for the complete audio and video of eligible conversations: https://citedauthorities.substack.com/subscribe All episodes and show notes: https://citedauthorities.com The Cited Authorities podcast is produced by Cited Authorities LLC, a media and software company. It is not a law firm. This episode is general information and commentary, not legal advice, and listening does not create an attorney-client relationship. The views expressed are those of the speakers alone and do not represent any firm, employer, or client. If you need advice on your situation, talk to a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction. LISTEN: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cited-authorities/id1879396186 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0VVpaSN7rcg0jbSTbL6Jld YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CitedAuthorities Website: https://citedauthorities.com

  8. Aug 6

    Power Is Fire: Jeffrey Pfeffer on Why Good Work Is Not Enough

    “Power is a tool. You know, it’s like fire.” Jeffrey Pfeffer is the Thomas D. Dee II Professor of Organizational Behavior at Stanford Graduate School of Business, where he has taught since 1979. He created Stanford GSB’s Paths to Power course and is the author or co-author of 16 books, including 7 Rules of Power. We begin with power, agency, self-advocacy, and why good work remains invisible unless someone makes it visible. Pfeffer also explains why relationships and distribution may become more valuable as AI makes products easier to reproduce. The full conversation then turns to employer-sponsored health care: ERISA fiduciary responsibility, conflicted intermediaries, direct contracting, cash prices, unpaid claims, prior authorization, the Bryant Lin case, and why he tells lawyers to follow the money. This is the public edition. Paid subscribers receive the complete Subscriber Edition and the private podcast feed. Subscribe at https://citedauthorities.substack.com Get every new episode and the show notes by email, free, every other Wednesday: citedauthorities.com/subscribe Full video editions for paid members. The Cited Authorities podcast is produced by Cited Authorities LLC, a media company. It is not a law firm. This episode is general information and commentary, not legal advice, and listening does not create an attorney-client relationship. The views expressed are those of the speakers alone and do not represent any firm, employer, or client. If you need advice on your situation, talk to a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.Cited Authorities is a legal interview podcast hosted by Alexander Powell, a tax attorney in Washington, DC. New episodes every other Wednesday. Join Cited Authorities for the complete audio and video of eligible conversations: https://citedauthorities.substack.com/subscribe All episodes and show notes: https://citedauthorities.com The Cited Authorities podcast is produced by Cited Authorities LLC, a media and software company. It is not a law firm. This episode is general information and commentary, not legal advice, and listening does not create an attorney-client relationship. The views expressed are those of the speakers alone and do not represent any firm, employer, or client. If you need advice on your situation, talk to a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction. LISTEN: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cited-authorities/id1879396186 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0VVpaSN7rcg0jbSTbL6Jld YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CitedAuthorities Website: https://citedauthorities.com

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About

Behind every successful legal career is a series of decisions that never made it onto a résumé. Cited Authorities features conversations with accomplished lawyers, and the leaders who shape their field, about career inflection points, professional judgment, reputation, leadership, and the real stories behind professional success. Excellent legal careers are not accidents. Hear the stories of how they were built.

Information

  • Creator
    Alexander Powell
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    20
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Cited Authorities LLC
  • Show Website
    Cited Authorities