Curtis A. Smith - The Doctrine of No: Power, Identity & the Politics of Refusal

In this episode, I sit down with Curtis A. Smith, a political thinker, author, and practitioner whose journey spans the worlds of media, finance, and direct community service. From a childhood steeped in conversations that challenged liberal orthodoxies, to feeding the homeless and working with youth in recovery, Curtis has developed a rich and personal understanding of power, injustice, and resilience.

We explore his early awakening to systems that weren’t as neutral as they seemed - race, governance, democracy - and how his African American identity evolved into a broader sense of African agency. We trace his path from independent media to the corporate finance world and ask how he makes sense of power across such divergent arenas.

Curtis shares how human connection, not theory, has most shaped his understanding of justice, and how his work today aims to bridge grassroots experience with geopolitical insight.

Recorded on 25 June 2025.

Connect with Curtis on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/curtis-a-smith-30a04621a.

Instagram: @at.the.coalface

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