Due Diligence

Dulma

Deep dives to understand our world & create a more beautiful one

  1. APR 1

    Darrick Hamilton — Baby Bonds

    In this episode, I sit down with Professor Darrick Hamilton — economist, public intellectual, and founding director of the Institute on Race, Power, and Political Economy at The New School — to understand what baby bonds are, why they matter, and how they could help us expand economic freedoms for all Americans. What we cover: What baby bonds are and how they workWhy economic freedom is the precondition for all other freedomsThe case for economic birthrights Why Trump Accounts co-opt the idea The difference between a handout and an investment How wealth inequality becomes political dysfunctionWhat it takes to advocate for a bold idea and tip it into the mainstream About the guest Darrick Hamilton is a university professor, the Henry Cohen Professor of Economics and Urban Policy, and the founding director of the Institute on Race, Power and Political Economy at The New School. Considered one of the nation’s foremost scholars, economists and public intellectuals, Hamilton’s accomplishments include recently being profiled in the New York Times, Mother Jones magazine and the Wall Street Journal and being featured in Politico Magazine’s 2017 50 Ideas Shaping American Politics and the People Behind Them issue. Also, he is a member of the Marguerite Casey Foundation in partnership with the Group Health Foundation’s inaugural class of Freedom Scholars.  Hamilton has been involved in crafting policy proposals, such as Baby Bonds and a Federal Job Guarantee, which have garnered a great deal of media attention and served as inspirations for legislative proposals at the federal, state and local levels. He has served as a member of the economic committee of the Biden-Sanders Unity Task Force; he has testified before several senate and house committees, including the Joint Economic Committee on the nation’s potential policy responses to the COVID-19 pandemic-induced health and economic crises; he was a surrogate and advisor for the Bernie Sanders presidential campaign; and he has advised numerous other leading Members of Congress, as well as various 2020 presidential candidates. Follow Professor Hamilton on Twitter

    52 min
  2. 06/28/2025

    Adar Weinreb — From IDF Soldier to Peace Activist

    In this episode, I invite social & peace activist and former IDF soldier Adar Weinreb onto the show. Adar shares his thoughtful perspective on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, emphasizing the importance of humanization in creating the possibility of reconciliation. He reflects on his experiences as an IDF soldier and his evolution towards understanding the common humanity shared by both sides. We discuss the role of systemic change, his lessons from hosting debates on Israel/Palestine, and the potential of AI in facilitating civil discourse through his startup, Head On. Adar's insights offer a thoughtful approach to bridge-building based on the fundamental conviction in our ultimate oneness, a perspective we need more than ever. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to a Nuanced Perspective 02:19 The Role of Psychedelics in Perspective Shift 04:57 Understanding Trauma and Its Impact on Conflict 07:25 The Complexity of Humanizing the Other 09:56 Exploring Solutions to the Conflict 15:02 The Role of Institutions in Peace Building 19:54 Grassroots Movements and External Influences 25:10 Navigating the Narrative and Building Bridges 30:05 Criticism and Humanization in Conflict Resolution 37:40 Courageous Voices Against Terrorism 38:31 The Complexity of Criticism and Identity 39:27 Understanding Human Dignity Amidst Conflict 40:21 Rights to Critique and Human Rights Abuses 41:10 The Role of Collective Psychology in Conflict 42:47 Mastering Peace Over War 45:43 Introducing Head On: A Platform for Civil Discourse 48:01 AI as a Facilitator for Understanding 51:35 Lessons from Moderating Debates 55:10 Evolving Perspectives Through Dialogue 01:00:11 Misunderstandings Between Palestinians and Israelis 01:06:10 Understanding the Palestinian Experience 01:07:59 Finding Hope in Change Adar's YouTube Adar's Twitter If you'd like bonus material you can join the Patreon

    1h 10m
  3. 06/09/2025

    The Real History of Silicon Valley

    In this episode, I delve into the fascinating history of Silicon Valley with Margaret O'Mara, a professor of American History at the University of Washington and a leading historian of Silicon Valley. We explore the relationship between the public and private sectors that fueled the growth of Silicon Valley, debunking the myth of the lone entrepreneur and highlighting the significant role of Cold War defense spending. Margaret shares insights from her celebrated book "The Code" which tells the behind-the-scenes story of the people who built Silicon Valley and shaped Big Tech. We also discuss the impact of elections on tech policy, the evolving influence of tech in Washington, and the rise of AI. We also discuss the parallels between today's tech landscape and the Gilded Age, the importance of historical perspective, and the future of tech innovation amid increasing US-China tensions and energy concerns. (00:00) Introduction (04:18) From Politics to Tech History (06:02) The Cold War Origins of Silicon Valley (08:30) The Human Storytelling Behind Tech (11:18) Is Silicon Valley A Meritocracy? (17:38) Tech's Political Influence (22:13) The Emergence of the Tech Right (23:01) A New Gilded Age (26:47) Antitrust & Regulation (31:06) What Democrats Need (36:10) Future of AI and Crypto (36:38) The 2024 Elections (39:37) China and the New Cold War (40:23) US Government Spending and Innovation (42:01) Defense Tech (45:45) The Role of Universities and Big Tech (52:27) The Rise of AI (56:56) Energy Concerns in AI (01:03:20) The Value of History

    1h 9m
  4. 12/11/2024

    Inflation — History, Causes & Case Studies with Mark Blyth

    Mark Blyth is a political economist and the William R. Rhodes Professor of International Economics at Brown University. He is the author of several books including Austerity: The History of a Dangerous Idea (named one of the best books of the year in 2013 by the Financial Times and Bloomberg), Angrynomics, and a new book coming out in May 2025 called Inflation: A Guide for Users and Losers. His research is in international & comparative political economy and focuses on the political power of economic ideas, how institutions change, and the political economy of rich democracies. Mark is a native of Scotland and received his PhD in political science from Columbia University in 1999 and taught at the Johns Hopkins University from 1997 to 2009 before joining the Brown faculty in 2009. (04:34) What is political economy? (06:10) Mark's academic journey (08:28) How economic consensus is formed (11:01) What is inflation? (13:23) Good vs. bad inflation (17:55) The four main inflation "stories" (18:51) Which story prevails currently (20:57) How will tariffs affect inflation? (26:23) The tariff narrative (28:58) Capitalism 2.0 vs. 3.0 (29:43) The "hardware" & "software" of capitalism (34:23) The "bug" in our current system (37:13) The legacy of inflation in the 1970s (44:41) The Federal Reserve's toolkit (47:41) The Fed before the 1970s (49:27) Hyperinflation in Germany and Argentina (54:16) The structural causes of hyperinflation (56:19) Economic indicators of political unrest (59:01) The role of technological progress (01:02:40) What should capitalism 4.0 be? Pre-order Mark's book on inflation here Listen to Mark's podcast on Apple and Spotify

    1h 4m
4.5
out of 5
45 Ratings

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Deep dives to understand our world & create a more beautiful one

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