The Cas Podcast

Cassius
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  • SOCIETY & CULTURE

New episodes every Tuesday at 9 AM. Talking to people with amazing stories, knowledge, and passions. Who should I interview next?

Episodes

  1. 09/09/2025

    Music Legend Kevin Johnson on B-Side Records, Working with Mad Vibes, and Underground Hip-Hop

    Kevin Johnson, owner and President of B-Side Records, has been shaping the underground hip-hop scene since founding his label in Waterbury, Connecticut in the 1990s. In this conversation, he shares the origins of the label’s name, the records that first inspired him, and how the local Waterbury scene influenced his path into music. Kevin reflects on launching B-Side Records, his collaborations with artists like Tay Watts, and the story behind Mad Vibes’ hit track Riches to Rags. Listen to Riches to Rags: https://youtu.be/8Sfgm1MxqT0?si=7p71-CG7jK3IsLTa Buy the Mad Vibes EP: https://www.discogs.com/sell/release/3954260 Hip Hop Era Blog Post: https://hiphop-thegoldenera.blogspot.com/2020/10/mad-vibes-check-your-team-members.html Along the way, he revisits other projects from the label, updates us on where his collaborators are today, and weighs in on the current music landscape, including the role of social media and the revival of vinyl. He even shares an exclusive unreleased track and offers advice to new artists, before closing with his thoughts on his favorite contemporary talent. This is not just an interview—it’s a journey through hip-hop history, told by one of its dedicated stewards. Timestamps: (0:18) - The name B-Side Records (1:26) - Favorite Records (2:31) - Waterbury Connecticut Scene (5:23) - Starting B-Side Records (7:25) - Starting a Record Label (8:41) - Tay Woss (9:14) - The Story Behind Mad Vibes (13:14) - Other Work with B-Side (17:02) - Where is Everyone Today (17:42) - Current Music Scene (20:40) - Social Media’s Impact on Music (22:52) - Exclusive Play of Unreleased Song (24:04) - Advice for New Artists (27:33) - Return of Vinyl (28:36) - Favorite New Artists Follow The Cas Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecaspodcast/ Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecaspodcast Twitter: https://x.com/thecaspodcast

    30 min

  2. 07/29/2025

    Juventus Fan Club President – Pietro Nardone

    Juventus Fan Club President – Pietro Nardone

    34 min

  3. 07/15/2025

    Delian Asparouhov: Partner at Founder Fund and President of Varda Space Industries

    Delian is a Partner at Founders Fund and President of Varda Space Industries. Before that, he was a Principal at Khosla Ventures, and the Head of Growth at Teespring.

    27 min

  4. 07/08/2025

    Geoff Lewis: Investor in OpenAI, Lyft, and Nubank

    Geoff is the Founder and Managing Partner of Bedrock Capital, a technology investment firm with a concentrated portfolio across sectors including AI, defense, infrastructure, and digital assets.Geoff built a career that took him from humble beginnings in Calgary to the United States working at Procter & Gamble. While living in San Francisco, he leveraged his skills in advertising to help tech companies connect with major brands. He later joined Clarium Capital before founding TopGuest, a loyalty rewards software platform that was acquired by Switchfly. Geoff then became a Principal at Founders Fund, where he led investments in companies such as Lyft and Nubank. In 2017, he launched his own firm, Bedrock Capital, which has since raised over $2 billion in assets under management and backed companies including OpenAI, Rippling, and Vercel.

    22 min

  5. 07/01/2025

    Med School and Canada's Healthcare System — Daniel Scarr

    Even if you had a 4.0 GPA, were a varsity athlete, and the co-founder of the Canadian Society of Epidemiology, you still might not get into medical school. This happened to our guest Daniel Scarr. Amidst the doctor shortage in Canada, we sat down to discuss what’s really going on in the nations medical system.

    47 min
  6. Veteran and Coach Ian Kennedy on Joining the U.S. Special Forces

    06/13/2025

    Veteran and Coach Ian Kennedy on Joining the U.S. Special Forces

    In part two, we discuss Ian’s time as a Communications Sergeant in the U.S. Special Forces. Many recognize the Two Weeks in Hell documentary and assume it depicts the full path to becoming a Green Beret. In reality, it only covers the first step known as the Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS) phase. Candidates who pass SFAS then begin the much longer Special Forces Qualification Course (Q Course), which includes small unit tactics, language training, and specialized skill development. Ian shares personal highlights from this journey, including a near-death experience during a parachute exercise. We also talk about war stories from old soldiers, veteran integration, and military culture overall. As a final comment, Ian reminds us that most people in uniform are more ordinary than we imagine (even in Special Forces). It’s a reminder that service is carried out not by superheroes, but by everyday people who chose a difficult path. Thank you for your service Ian. Timestamps: (0:23) - Special Forces Recruiting (8:59) - Components of Training (10:29) - Green Beret Archetype? (13:28) - Learning Mandarin (15:06) - Work as a Communications Sergeant (17:52) - Equipment (21:28) - Near Death Experience (24:04) - Locations of Training (24:46) - Different Military Divisions (26:29) - Canadian Military (27:09) - Being Stationed Overseas (30:43) - Types of Military Bases (33:55) - Meeting Old Soldiers (37:14) - Keeping Subjects Fresh and Engaging (41:48) - Setting Expectations Correctly (46:55) - Treatment of Veterans in the United States (50:57) - The Truth of Diversity Programs Follow True Nature Coach Website: https://www.truenature.coach/ Substack: https://substack.com/@truenaturecoaching LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/true-nature-coach/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/true_nature_coach/ Twitter: https://x.com/tncoach0 Follow Ian Kennedy Website: https://www.contemplativeprimate.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/contemplative.primate/ Twitter: https://x.com/contemprimate Follow The Cas Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecaspodcast/ Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecaspodcast Twitter: https://x.com/thecaspodcast

    54 min
  7. Veteran and Coach Ian Kennedy on What It Means to Live Well

    06/11/2025

    Veteran and Coach Ian Kennedy on What It Means to Live Well

    Ian Kennedy is a professional coach who began his career in the U.S. Special Forces. After serving for 7 years, he transitioned into tech where he worked at Khosla Ventures and studied at Stanford University. We begin with Ian reflecting on what drew him to coaching after leaving a high-status finance job. A core topic was the modern crisis of meaning: as spiritual traditions have faded, they’ve been replaced by extreme individualism, leaving many feeling disconnected. For solutions, Ian highlights just how powerful reframing thoughts can be. Viewing struggles as training, and adjusting expectations can build resilience and humility. Even small mental shifts (which can be practiced through meditation) go a long way in improving everyday life.  The conversation ends with a reflection on American ideals. While chasing “greatness” and material wealth are widely celebrated, they rarely satisfy us in the end. Ian believes the explorer mindset is at the heart of American culture. It’s this spirit that gives people the freedom and courage to carve their own path. Timestamps: (0:40) - From Silicon Valley to Coaching (3:56) - Mental Health (9:39) - Zen Buddhism and Meditation (15:38) - Radicalism and The Absence of Old Religions (22:57) - Crisis of Meaning (26:14) - People's Opinions on Veterans (29:02) - The Power of Reframing Thoughts (36:20) - Types of Meditation (38:50) - Common Career Mistakes (45:59) - Following Your Passion (49:18) - Impacts of Social Media (55:25) - Negative American Ideals (1:00:06) - The Marketplace of Ideas (1:02:46) - Getting to the Bottom of Everything (1:09:31) - Positive American Ideals (1:14:56) - Future Plans (1:18:30) - Bay Area vs. D.C. (1:23:49) - The Path Less Travelled Follow True Nature Coach Website: https://www.truenature.coach/ Substack: https://substack.com/@truenaturecoaching LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/true-nature-coach/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/true_nature_coach/ Twitter: https://x.com/tncoach0 Follow Ian Kennedy Website: https://www.contemplativeprimate.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/contemplative.primate/ Twitter: https://x.com/contemprimate Follow The Cas Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecaspodcast/ Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecaspodcast Twitter: https://x.com/thecaspodcast

    1h 29m
  8. Immigrant Anna Maria on World War 2, Leaving Italy, and Coming to Canada

    04/27/2025

    Immigrant Anna Maria on World War 2, Leaving Italy, and Coming to Canada

    Anna Maria is an Italian immigrant who came to Canada after World War 2. In this episode, we follow her remarkable journey from a poor farming town to living the Canadian dream. Life in 1940s Italy was harsh. Her father was conscripted to fight, and her mother cared for returning soldiers. Sponsored by relatives through an atto di richiamo, the family endured a difficult voyage to North America, even convincing a doctor to overlook a failed medical exam. They first settled in Vancouver’s Chinatown at 462 Union Street, where Anna spent her childhood. In time, she married, moved to the west side, and fulfilled her dream of raising a family. Her story reminds us that with grit and determination, immigrants can turn even the toughest beginnings into a life of fulfillment. Timestamps: (0:29) - Growing Up (4:00) - Casa del Popolo and Atto di Richiamo (7:47) - Italians Opinion on Mussolini (13:59) - Family Stories (19:33) - Immigrating to Canada (25:40) - Arriving at Ellis Island (32:14) - Life in Vancouver (38:52) - Changing Times (41:13) - Modelling (43:42) - Meeting Her Husband (54:37) - Married Life and Family (1:07:43) - JFK Assassination (1:14:46) - 1980s Recession (1:19:46) - Expo 86 in Vancouver (1:25:14) - The World is Different Now (1:28:55) - Greatest Life Lesson (1:37:52) - Advice to Future Generations Follow The Cas Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecaspodcast/ Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecaspodcast Twitter: https://x.com/thecaspodcast

    1h 39m
  9. Economist Dr. John Rapley on Trump, Tariffs, and America’s Future

    04/10/2025

    Economist Dr. John Rapley on Trump, Tariffs, and America’s Future

    Dr. John Rapley is a political economist, author, and journalist. He writes for the Globe & Mail, and has previously held teaching positions at Oxford and Queen's University. His latest book Why Empires Fall, in collaboration with Peter Heather, was published in 2023. Buy John's book: https://www.amazon.ca/Why-Empires-Fall-America-Future/dp/030027372X Listen on Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/Why-Empires-Fall-Audiobook/B0BN6LQBYD We started with discussing the White House’s new tariff policy that looks like it was written by ChatGPT (and probably was). This included tariffing islands with no people because they share a domain name. We broke down the reverse-engineered math formula, and why investors are quietly panicking. Other topics covered include China’s soft power, Elon Musk’s ideological roots, Project 2025, and how Trump’s second term seems less like governance each day. Timestamps: (0:00) - Intro (0:26) - Chatbot Claims on Trump's Tariff List (4:49) - Breakdown of the Tariff Formula (7:52) - Stinson Dean Tweet (9:18) - South Africa's Opinion of Elon Musk (13:33) - Endgame of the Trade War (19:38) - The Authenticity of DOGE (23:49) - Inner Circle Confidence (28:00) - China's Future (38:27) - Thoughts on Project 2025 and USMCA (51:01) - Politics as a New Religion (1:04:10) - Canada's Election Follow Dr. John Rapley The Globe & Mail: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/authors/john-rapley/ Twitter: https://x.com/jarapley Follow The Cas Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecaspodcast/ Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecaspodcast Twitter: https://x.com/thecaspodcast

    1h 5m
  • 9 Episodes

About

New episodes every Tuesday at 9 AM. Talking to people with amazing stories, knowledge, and passions. Who should I interview next?

Information

  • Creator
    Cassius
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    9
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Cassius
  • Show Website
    The Cas Podcast