The Puck: Venture Capital and Beyond
The Puck: Venture Capital & Beyond showcases the innovative forethought that defines the venture capital world. Join us as we follow the puck and explore what this community has to offer. Listen as we have in-depth conversations, gaining insights and lessons from well-established VCs, entrepreneurs, and other leading technology experts. We will learn about their successes, challenges, and how they got to where they are today. Along the way we will discover what investors most look for in who they invest in and what to avoid when making your pitch. We will also follow industry leaders to understand the cutting-edge technologies and trends that continue to shape our world.
Episodes
July 24, 2025 • 59 mins
Stanford professor and financial reform advocate Anat Admati joins Jim to unpack the growing fragility in our financial system and the dangerous myths still shaping public policy. From shadow banking and corporate debt subsidies to crypto hype and post-crisis denial, Admati pulls no punches in exposing the deep structural flaws threatening American capitalism.
They discuss why financial regulations continue to fall short and what ...
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July 11, 2025 • 56 mins
Journalist and author John B. Judis joins Jim to unpack the political chaos of our time—from Trump and Sanders to shifting class loyalties, cultural divides, and the fragile state of democracy. Is a new political order emerging—or are we just stuck in a dangerous loop?
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June 20, 2025 • 57 mins
David French returns to The Puck for a wide-ranging, deeply thoughtful conversation about the state of American democracy, the risks of authoritarianism, and the spiritual costs of political polarization. A New York Times columnist and former National Review editor, French unpacks the dangerous allure of strongman politics, reflects on Israel’s evolving strategy in the Middle East, and explores how each of us can preserve trust and...
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June 5, 2025 • 51 mins
To mark our 100th episode and launch of Season 9, Jim Baer sits down with Jeffrey Rosen—President and CEO of the National Constitution Center, host of We the People, and author of The Pursuit of Happiness: How Classical Writers on Virtue Inspired the Lives of the Founders and Defined America.
In this rich and timely conversation, Rosen explores how ancient moral philosophy shaped the Founders' vision of happiness—not as pleasure, b...
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May 22, 2025 • 58 mins
Stanford psychology professor Greg Walton returns for his second appearance on The Puck to discuss his new book, Ordinary Magic: The Science of How We Can Achieve Big Change with Small Acts. Three years after our first conversation, Greg rejoins the show to reflect on how our world has changed—and how subtle, science-backed interventions can help us find common ground and foster belonging.
From reducing recidivism among formerly in...
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May 9, 2025 • 62 mins
On this episode of The Puck: Venture Capital & Beyond, Jim Baer sits down with Kristian Rönn—climate tech founder, AI ethicist, and author of The Darwinian Trap—to explore how humanity can escape destructive evolutionary forces and build a future rooted in shared values, long-term thinking, and spiritual renewal. A conversation about risk, responsibility, and hope at the edge of history.
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April 24, 2025 • 51 mins
In this powerful episode of The Puck, Jim Baer sits down with Michelle Goldberg—New York Times columnist, author, and longtime voice of progressive political commentary—for a deep and timely conversation. They explore how the Trump era reshaped institutional norms, the growing influence of conspiracy thinking, and the failures of both political parties to inspire and govern effectively.
From Goldberg’s early activism to her critiqu...
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April 10, 2025 • 63 mins
What if the strongest case for Christianity’s role in democracy came from an atheist?
Jim Baer sits down with Jonathan Rauch to discuss Cross Purposes: Christianity’s Broken Bargain with Democracy, and why America needs the moral backbone that Christian virtues once provided. Rauch—Jewish, gay, and secular—argues that courage, equality, and forgiveness are essential civic values we’re losing.
They talk fear, demagogues, pseudo-reli...
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April 1, 2025 • 53 mins
In this thought-provoking episode, Jim Baer sits down with political scientist Steven Teles, professor at Johns Hopkins University and co-author of The Captured Economy and Never Trump. Together, they explore the shifting class dynamics fueling America’s political polarization and the deepening distrust in institutions—from higher education to public health.
Teles unpacks the realignment of the Democratic and Republican parties, th...
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March 23, 2025 • 65 mins
Navigating a New World with Michael Lind
In this episode of The Puck, Jim Baer sits down with acclaimed writer and policy thinker Michael Lind, co-founder of New America and author of Hell to Pay: How the Suppression of Wages is Destroying America. Together, they explore the global economic shifts, the U.S. political realignment, the dangers of intellectual gridlock, and the implications of Cold War II with China. Lind offers a wid...
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March 16, 2025 • 60 mins
On this episode of The Puck, host Jim Baer sits down with Aswath Damodaran, renowned NYU finance professor and the “Dean of Valuation,” for a deep dive into the current economic landscape.
Damodaran breaks down the market’s recent volatility, the looming risk of a recession, and why the U.S. has been able to defy macroeconomic gravity for so long. He explores the impact of globalization’s decline, the role of risk capital, and the ...
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March 10, 2025 • 45 mins
On this episode of The Puck: Venture Capital and Beyond, host Jim Baer sits down with Republican pollster and political strategist Patrick Ruffini, co-founder of Echelon Insights and author of The Party of the People: Inside the Multiracial Populist Coalition Remaking the GOP. Ruffini shares his insights on the shifting political landscape, the rise of a multiracial working-class coalition within the Republican Party, and what this...
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March 2, 2025 • 57 mins
On this week’s episode, Jim sits down with Gary Gerstle, author, professor, and historian with a focus on “Political Orders.” His most recent book, “The Rise and Fall of the Neoliberal Order,” came out in 2022, and explores the larger trends in political thinking which make up a consensus, oftentimes a consensus we take for granted. Their conversation covers classical liberalism, neoliberalism, and… where we are right now. You don’...
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February 23, 2025 • 54 mins
On this week’s episode, Jim sits down with Frank Furedi, author, social commentator, and Emeritus Professor of Sociology at the University of Kent. Frank is a free speech absolutist and has been a longtime critic of what he and others call “The Culture Wars.” They discuss Frank’s background, his academic work, and how he formed his worldview.
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February 18, 2025 • 39 mins
On this week’s episode, Jim sits down with Jai Das, President and Partner at Sapphire Ventures. They cover Jai’s history as a developer, the Sapphire origin story, and Jai’s current read of the financial landscape. Their conversation explores what sets successful companies apart, and what’s next for Sapphire, including their groundbreaking AI investment initiative. A fascinating conversation you don’t want to miss!
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December 18, 2024 • 47 mins
In this illuminating episode of The Puck, Jim sits down with Greg McKeown, the bestselling author of "Essentialism" and "Effortless." McKeown shares his journey from London law student to influential thought leader, revealing his groundbreaking philosophy of achieving more by doing less. Through engaging stories—ranging from Silicon Valley successes to Norwegian polar expeditions—McKeown explains how success often leads to "the und...
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December 2, 2024 • 45 mins
Once again, we have the privilege of hosting world-renowned economist Sir Paul Collier. Paul and Jim discuss the vast changes in the world economy since Paul was last on the show in 2022. They cover inflation, geopolitical conflict, and of course Paul’s new book, Left Behind: A New Economics for Neglected Places. Give us a listen and let us know what you think.
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November 13, 2024 • 35 mins
Media entrepreneur and Hidden Forces host Demetri Kofinas returns to The Puck to discuss the evolution of technology, security, and social dynamics since last year when he was on. From the siloing of our media ecosystems to the relationship between innovation and regulation, Demetri shares a nuanced perspective on how emerging technologies are reshaping global politics and international conflicts. A fascinating conversation you don...
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October 22, 2024 • 38 mins
Jim sits back down with Shomik Dutta, co-founder and managing partner at Overture VC, who is on the cutting edge of climate tech. They catch up and discuss how the VC and climate space has changed in the last 18 months. Don’t miss it!
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August 2, 2024 • 56 mins
On this episode, Jim interviews economist Doug Holtz-Eakin, president of the American Action Forum, to explore the current slate of economic issues facing the United States. Drawing from his extensive experience in academia and government, Holtz-Eakin offers his perspective on topics ranging from sustainable economic growth and fiscal policy to past financial crises, monetary policy, housing markets, and potential economic risks. T...
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