The Radical Moderate

Pat O'Brien
  • 5.0 (6)
  • POLITICS

The Radical Moderate cuts through the noise with sharp, practical conversations about how we move forward as a country. Hosted by businessman and author Pat O’Brien, the show brings clarity, candor, and a willingness to challenge lazy thinking. Whether in business, politics, or culture, we need a fresh approach to how we address problems—and this podcast delivers just that. Every week, in just 30 minutes, Pat explores solutions that respect ideals but measure results. This is moderation with teeth: ideas that hold up over time.

Episodes

  1. 6D AGO

    Ep. 8 – Building Up, Not Out

    Want a clearer way to fund what matters without writing a blank check? We sit down with Fayetteville Mayor Molly Rawn to break down a voter-friendly bond approach that keeps the tax rate steady while letting residents approve nine priorities one by one. The hook: a refinancing question that must pass to unlock the rest. The payoff: modern infrastructure, smarter amenities, and the capacity to grow without tripping over our own pipes. From there, we get candid about housing. “Affordable” looks different to a software hire shopping for a $325k home than to a neighbor living outdoors and waiting for a shelter bed. Both needs are urgent. We talk about the missing middle, duplexes, triplexes, and small apartments that zoning still blocks in much of the city, and why permitting should be simple, predictable, and fast. Builders want to deliver; the city’s job is to remove needless friction, align code with reality, and make room for homes that match how people live now. Capacity starts underground. Roads, water, and drainage are the foundation for any new housing. That is where the bond earns its keep, funding the systems that prevent moratoria and sprawl. We also explore solutions beyond the market: a reset at the housing authority to rehab unfit units, deeper partnerships with nonprofits serving unhoused neighbors, and a new path to put underused public land to work through transparent requests for proposals. More multifamily, not limited to student-by-the-bedroom leases, can open doors for families, teachers, nurses, and service workers who keep the city running. Culture matters, too. Fayetteville can keep its values and still embrace three-to-four-story living on corridors, corner duplexes on quiet blocks, and mixed-use places that shorten commutes and lower costs. Other university towns have found that balance; we can learn from them without losing what makes us us. If you care about bond mechanics, housing affordability, zoning reform, and restoring trust in local government, this conversation offers a practical roadmap and a hopeful tone. Subscribe, share with a friend who cares about city building, and leave a review with the one change you’d prioritize next.

    31 min

  2. OCT 29

    Ep. 7 - What Makes a City Work: A Mayor’s POV

    What if the most important part of your city is the part you never see? We sit down with Mayor Molly Rawn for a candid tour of how Fayetteville actually works, from a “strong mayor” structure that ties policy to execution, to the hidden systems that keep taps running, toilets flushing, and streets moving safely. It’s an inside look at governing without the gloss: 900 positions to coordinate, daily trade-offs to weigh, and residents to serve with clarity and humility. We dig into the 2026 sales tax bond and why timing is everything. Arkansas law now limits bond elections to primaries or general, which means Fayetteville has a narrow window to renew a continuation, without raising the tax rate, and fund projects that can’t wait. At the top of the list is the Nolan (Eastside) sewer plant, where aging components and capacity constraints make upgrades essential. Skip the bond, and the cost shifts to ratepayers through higher water and sewer bills. Approve it, and the city can invest in core infrastructure by leveraging sales tax, including contributions from visitors. Beyond pipes and pumps, we talk streets and mobility, especially long-standing east–west bottlenecks, plus park improvements and a proposed aquatic center. That pool isn’t just a splash; it’s a partnership with the school district and a strategy to keep family spending in Fayetteville rather than neighboring cities. Trails, tourism, and outdoor access remain pillars of the city’s appeal, but sustainable growth requires the less visible investments that make daily life work. If you care about local government, infrastructure funding, city planning, and practical leadership, this conversation lays out the stakes with zero jargon and plenty of candor. Subscribe, share with a Fayetteville friend, and tell us: where do you land on the bond, and what would earn your vote?

    31 min

  3. OCT 22

    Ep. 6 - Hiring Legally, Growing Locally

    Want a clear view of how legal immigration actually works on the ground? We sit down with former U.S. diplomat Dana Deree, now president of Arkansas Global Connect, to unpack the real mechanics of visas, from consular interviews and security checks to the seasonal programs that keep farms, resorts, and food plants open. Dana explains how officers weigh eligibility, why ties to home matter for tourist and work visas, and how multi-agency databases and in-person interviews filter out misuse without shutting the door to legitimate travelers. We dig into H2A (agriculture) and H2B (nonagricultural seasonal) visas, breaking down what’s capped, what’s not, and why prevailing wage rules protect local pay instead of driving it down. If you’ve wondered whether these programs take jobs from Americans, the process proves otherwise: qualified U.S. workers get priority before any foreign worker travels. The bigger issue is scale, demand outstrips supply, leaving employers in lotteries and scrambling to plan. Dana shares the practical fixes that would help immediately, including expanding H2B numbers, guaranteeing returning-worker allocations, and giving compliant employers multi-year Department of Labor certifications instead of forcing them through the same paperwork every season. We also tackle security head-on. From rigorous vetting to employer reporting, accountability doesn’t end at the airport. Ethical recruiting and a 97% retention rate show how following the rules becomes the incentive, come legally, work well, return next season. The result is a system that aligns what businesses need with what communities expect: open doors for lawful travel and firm guardrails against abuse. If you care about border security, local wages, or simply keeping your operation staffed, this conversation offers a grounded path forward. If this helped clarify the immigration noise, subscribe, share with a friend who hires seasonally, and leave a review with your biggest question for a future episode.

    32 min

  4. OCT 15

    Ep. 5 - Building Hope From Loss

    A routine scan, a rare diagnosis, and a race against the clock set the stage for one of the most honest conversations we’ve had about hope, medicine, and meaning. Angie Graves takes us inside the whirlwind of preeclampsia, a rain-soaked ambulance ride to UAMS, emergency surgery, and four and a half months living by the glow of NICU monitors—where trust with nurses is earned one careful observation at a time and “small wins” become a way of life. What follows is both heartbreaking and unexpectedly galvanizing. Angie shares how Jackson’s fight revealed the quiet gaps that make or break a family’s day: a better chair for skin-to-skin time, a phone card back when calls weren’t free, a $100 car seat to finally go home. Out of grief, she and her husband James launched the Jackson L. Graves Foundation, a small but focused charity devoted to NICU families and neonatal nurse education. Think micro-grants that remove discharge friction, holiday gift bags that say you’re not alone, scholarships to the Audrey Harris Neonatal Conference, and support for stabilization rooms and healing gardens. Across two decades and roughly $2 million raised, their north star stays the same: put resources as close to the bedside as possible and invest in the people who deliver care when seconds matter. We also look forward. Angie explains why the foundation is transitioning to an endowment with the Arkansas Community Foundation, targeting $250,000 to sustain high-impact programs without constant fundraising. It’s a practical blueprint for anyone asking how to turn loss into lasting good: start where the need is specific, keep overhead low, elevate nurse training, and build structures that outlive the founders. If you’ve ever wondered whether small, well-aimed giving can truly change outcomes in neonatal care, this story answers with a clear yes. If this resonated, help fund the endowment, and share this episode with someone who needs a model for turning compassion into action. And if you found value here, subscribe, leave a review, and tell us what small gap you’d fund next.

    31 min

  5. OCT 8

    Ep. 4 - Broken Lines: The Truth About Legal Entry

    A skilled roofer in Mexico City wants to work legally for a U.S. contractor. On paper, that should be a straightforward match. Instead, we walk through why even the best‑case path can take three to five years, and how those delays push employers and workers toward the shadows. With attorney John Yates, we unpack the real mechanics: visitor and student entries, seasonal worker programs, employer liability when a hire “absconds,” and the alphabet soup that keeps temporary intent separate from permanent status. We also confront the strange limbo of E‑Verify, a free, effective tool that remains optional for most employers. If verifying work authorization is the cornerstone of honest hiring, why do we treat it like a suggestion rather than a standard? From there, we zoom out to the economics that actually move people: the pull of open jobs and the push of instability abroad. The conversation doesn’t pretend these forces vanish with slogans; it asks how law and policy can make the legal path faster than the illegal one, so compliance wins by design. Congress hasn’t passed comprehensive reform since 1986, an era of cassette tapes and paper files. We revisit what that bill tried to do, why it stalled in practice, and what a modern reset could look like: mandatory and modern E‑Verify, right‑sized seasonal and sectoral visas, processing timelines with guarantees, and a phased plan to address those already here without rewarding fraud. We wrestle with a core dilemma: should reform come first and status later? And make the case for incremental steps that honor both fairness and reality. If you care about building homes faster, harvesting on time, and keeping the rule of law intact, this conversation offers a clear, workable blueprint. If this conversation resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review to help more curious listeners find us.

    31 min

  6. OCT 2

    Ep. 3 - Behind the Legal Immigration Bottleneck

    Think the legal path to America is a straight shot? We unpack the real map with immigration attorney John Yates, where the road begins, who can sponsor whom, and why the journey from student or spouse to green card to citizenship can stretch from years to a decade. We start by drawing the crucial line between permanent residence and naturalization, then walk through the most common legal doors: family sponsorships and employment-based routes. John explains how a spouse case actually moves, from marriage validation and bona fides to interviews and background checks, and why even the “most preferred” category still results in a green card first, not instant citizenship. From there, we dive into the employment side. You’ll hear how the three-step process works in plain English: labor certification to test the U.S. job market, the employer’s immigrant petition, and finally adjustment of status or consular processing. We make sense of H-1B and OPT as the bridge many graduates use, and we decode the monthly Visa Bulletin and 7% per-country ceiling that create multi-year queues for nationals of many countries. Pat challenges the system with a real-world trades example, a skilled roofer in Mexico who could start tomorrow, and John shows why, even with a willing sponsor, the lawful route can outlast a business cycle. The big takeaway: there’s no “just apply” button. Legal immigration relies on sponsors, categories, caps, and clocks. Family pathways dominate overall numbers, employment routes are vital but slow, and naturalization comes only after years as a permanent resident. If you want an honest, practical guide to how lawful immigration really works, and where it breaks against economic reality, this conversation gives you the details without the jargon. If it helps you see the system with fresh eyes, share it with a friend, leave a review, and subscribe so you don’t miss part two.

    32 min

  7. SEP 24

    Ep. 2 - What’s REALLY Failing Our Public Schools?

    America's primary education system stands at a critical juncture. With 55 million students across public and private schools, the approach to primary education remains frustratingly outdated despite universal agreement on its importance. Drawing on his four years of service on the Pulaski County Special School District Board, Pat witnessed firsthand the fundamental flaws that undermine our schools. The governance model, where school boards are elected in low-turnout elections, makes crucial decisions, breeds short-term thinking, and cronyism. Meanwhile, the economic structure creates a bizarre customer-service relationship where the "customers" (young students) can't effectively advocate for their needs, and funding through property taxes ensures wealthy communities have better resources than impoverished ones. The historical context reveals something fascinating: America's education system was once world-class primarily because it attracted exceptional teachers. In the mid-20th century, brilliant women entered teaching because discriminatory practices limited their professional alternatives. As opportunities expanded in law, medicine, and engineering, this captive talent pool dispersed, while our educational model remained stagnant. Today's compensation system rewards longevity over excellence. Teachers advance on a grid based primarily on years served rather than effectiveness, creating perverse incentives that discourage innovation and shield underperformance. In Pat's district, not a single teacher among more than 1,000 was dismissed for cause over five years, a statistical impossibility in any healthy organization. What we need is a radical yet sensible shift from tenure-based to results-based education. Teachers who demonstrate exceptional ability to advance student learning should be compensated accordingly, whether they've taught for three years or twenty. This isn't about being anti-teacher, it's about being pro-student and pro-excellence. The status quo is fiercely defended by entrenched interests, with attempts at innovation typically voted down and unions often prioritizing job protection over educational quality. But with millions of students spending thirteen formative years in our schools, we cannot afford to accept mediocrity defended by bureaucracy. Our students deserve better, and our future depends on getting this right.

    30 min

  8. SEP 17

    Ep. 1 - Complex Problems, Complex Answers: The Radical Moderate Way

    The political landscape has become a battleground where extreme positions dominate the conversation, leaving little room for nuanced thinking. We step into this polarized world with a refreshing alternative—radical moderation. Drawing from his diverse background as a small-town attorney, McDonald's operator, elected official, and now Sonic franchise partner,  host Pat O'Brien advocates for passionate centrism that's anything but "mushy in the middle." Shaped by parents who survived the Great Depression and World War II, his approach combines aggressive support for democracy and capitalism with a practical, evidence-based mindset. Through compelling analogies—like comparing America's national debt crisis to a man ignoring deteriorating health until it's too late—O'Brien demonstrates how radical moderation offers solutions where partisan approaches fail. The podcast challenges listeners to embrace uncomfortable truths: sometimes we need both spending cuts and revenue increases; sometimes personal freedom must be balanced with personal responsibility. What makes this perspective truly radical isn't compromise for compromise's sake, but rather its unwavering commitment to following evidence wherever it leads, regardless of ideological comfort zones. In a media landscape where entertainment value trumps thoughtful analysis, The Radical Moderate stands apart by acknowledging the complexity of our challenges while still striving for practical solutions. Join Pat weekly as he explores complex issues with nuance rather than soundbites, anchored in truth and skeptical of dogma. For those tired of false dichotomies and hungry for genuine dialogue, The Radical Moderate offers a path forward through our increasingly divided times. Subscribe now and discover how common sense with an edge can bridge the gap between left and right while moving us all forward.

    30 min
  • 8 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

The Radical Moderate cuts through the noise with sharp, practical conversations about how we move forward as a country. Hosted by businessman and author Pat O’Brien, the show brings clarity, candor, and a willingness to challenge lazy thinking. Whether in business, politics, or culture, we need a fresh approach to how we address problems—and this podcast delivers just that. Every week, in just 30 minutes, Pat explores solutions that respect ideals but measure results. This is moderation with teeth: ideas that hold up over time.

Information

  • Creator
    Pat O'Brien
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    8
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 The Radical Moderate
  • Show Website
    The Radical Moderate

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