Richard Helppie's Common Bridge: Recent Episodes
Richard Helppie
The problems we have in the country are solvable, but not solvable the way we’re approaching them today, because of partisan politics. Richard Helppie, a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist seeks to find a place in the middle where common sense discussions can bridge the current great divide.
A 111-year-old Detroit institution is making one of the biggest bets in Michigan health care, and the details are more ambitious than a new building. From the Mackinac Policy Conference, we talk with Denise Brooks Williams, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Henry Ford Health System, about the “Future of Health” initiative and what it takes to modernize a flagship campus while keeping community needs at the center.
We get into Destination Grand, a roughly 1.2 million square foot, $2.2 billion hospital project on West Grand Boulevard. Denise explains how all private rooms, a redesigned emergency department with a stronger behavioral health focus, updated operating rooms, and new technology infrastructure are meant to change the experience of care, not just the skyline. Just as important, we discuss how Henry Ford worked through Detroit’s community benefit ordinance process to hear directly from residents about affordability, access, transportation, and the kinds of services that make a medical district usable in everyday life.
The conversation also widens to statewide access. With Henry Ford Health’s joint venture with Ascension and partnerships across Michigan, we talk about how specialty expertise can show up closer to home in communities like Jackson, Genesee County, and beyond, while still creating a clear path to advanced care when needed.
Finally, we tackle the policy headwinds shaping the future: the 340B drug pricing program, Medicaid reimbursement, and why “common ground” matters if we want sustainable healthcare affordability and access for Michigan patients. If you care about Detroit hospital development, Michigan health policy, and what real community-centered healthcare delivery looks like, hit subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show.
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Michigan’s biggest challenges aren’t neatly separated into “economy” over here and “health care” over there. From the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference, we sit down with Representative Bill G. Schuette of Michigan’s 95th District to connect the dots between population growth, good jobs, education outcomes, and what families experience when the health system is hard to afford.
We talk about what he’s hearing from constituents who want high-quality care without the constant worry of the bill that follows. That leads us into the real-world impact of regional health systems like MyMichigan Health: not only as a major employer and economic driver, but as a lifeline for rural communities where access can depend on whether a hospital is close enough to serve people quickly and consistently.
Then we get practical. Schuette points to medical debt as a serious problem that can put a home or car at risk after an unexpected emergency, and he shares why Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and a stronger focus on preventive care can help families manage costs before a crisis hits. We also touch on the difficulty of passing policy in divisive times and why assuming good intent is still a necessary starting point if Michigan wants solutions that last.
If you care about Michigan health care policy, hospital access, rural health, and smarter affordability ideas, you’ll get a clear, grounded perspective here. Subscribe, share this conversation with a friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find the series.
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Medicaid decisions made in a capitol building can land in a hospital waiting room fast and the ripple effects are bigger than most people realize. From the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference, we sit down with Brian Peters, CEO of the Michigan Health and Hospital Association, to talk about what Michigan hospitals are facing right now and what actually helps patients keep access to care.
We start with the MHA’s “convener” role and why it still matters even as healthcare consolidation creates bigger systems and sharper competition. Brian explains how Michigan maintains something rare: 100% hospital and health system membership, which changes the stakes when we speak with lawmakers, regulators, and the media. When we can show a united front, we can focus on solutions like quality improvement, shared learning, and practical public policy that supports communities across rural and urban Michigan.
Then we get into Medicaid funding, Medicaid eligibility, and the administrative hurdles that can quietly knock eligible people off coverage. Brian lays out the tension between a consistent national message in Washington and the reality of 50 different state Medicaid programs, including differences in Medicaid expansion and provider tax approaches. We also zoom out on healthcare affordability after COVID, why finger pointing will not reduce costs, and how technology and AI could improve care delivery if we build systems people can actually use. Brian closes with an urgent message about the rise of workplace violence in healthcare and why respect for caregivers is essential to recruiting and retaining a strong bedside workforce.
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This episode of The Common Bridge is part of a special 21‑part series of interviews recorded with healthcare leaders from across Michigan during the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference, in partnership with the Michigan Health and Hospital Association
Health care isn’t just a line item anymore, it’s the issue that keeps showing up in every hallway conversation. From the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference, we sit down with senior health care executive Rob Casalou to get a clear-eyed view of what’s pressuring hospitals in Michigan and across the country, and why the usual policy debates are starting to miss the real story.
We compare what Rob sees across multiple states, from Michigan’s purple-state gridlock to places like Iowa, where lawmakers are moving to penalize inappropriate insurance claim denials. We get specific about how “denials” can shift from legitimate documentation checks into a strategy that delays payment and inflates administrative costs. We also talk about why states as different as California and Idaho still end up wrestling with the same core topics: 340B drug pricing, site-neutral payments, hospital-based reimbursement, and the challenge of explaining any of it in plain English that connects to patients and communities.
Then we zoom out to the bigger warning lights. Rob explains why HR1 and upcoming Medicaid revenue hits, combined with simultaneous changes to 340B and site-neutral rules, could put some hospitals at real risk. We also ask the question that keeps coming up in Michigan health care finance: if Medicare and Medicaid now represent the bulk of patients, how do we modernize those programs instead of constantly cutting around the edges while carrying the administrative costs of a fragmented system?
If you care about Michigan health care policy, hospital sustainability, and what actually drives costs, listen through and share it with someone who still thinks this is just about “waste.” Subscribe, leave a review, and send us your take: what’s the first fix you’d make?
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Healthcare affordability is having a moment, and not the vague kind. From the Mackinac Policy Conference, we sit down with Dr. David Miller, Executive Vice Dean for Clinical Affairs at Michigan Medicine and President of the University of Michigan Health System, to talk about what it takes to lower the total cost of care while protecting access to top-tier clinical outcomes for patients across Michigan.
We start with timely news: Michigan Medicine will continue its partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield, easing uncertainty for people who rely on specialty care and were wondering whether they could even schedule their next visit. From there, we zoom out to the bigger policy and operational pressure points across the healthcare ecosystem: how to reduce complications in high-acuity care, why primary care and earlier intervention can prevent expensive crises later, and what “value-based insurance design” looks like when you’re serious about paying for treatments that are proven to work.
Then we get practical about AI in healthcare. Dr. Miller explains where ambient AI documentation is already reducing administrative burden, why technology-enabled medical education is becoming essential across the health professions, and how evidence from imaging and stroke triage can move innovations from promising demos into real clinical policy. We also talk about rural hospitals and lower resource environments, and how a statewide network can use technology to spread expertise beyond urban centers. We close with the financial reality of medical education and student debt, and what Michigan can do to keep the next generation of clinicians here. If this conversation helps you think differently about affordability, share it, subscribe, and leave a review so more people can find it.
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This episode of The Common Bridge is part of a special 21‑part series of interviews recorded with healthcare leaders from across Michigan during the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference, in partnership with the Michigan Health and Hospital Association
Healthcare costs keep climbing, but the most frustrating part might be how much of the system’s pain is self-inflicted. I sit down with Bill Manns, President and CEO of Bronson Healthcare Group in Kalamazoo and chair of the Michigan Health and Hospital Association board, to get specific about what’s driving affordability concerns for Michigan hospitals and the people they serve.
We talk about what independence really changes for a local health system: local governance, faster feedback from the community, and the freedom to focus on “local care for local people.” From there, we zoom out to the policy environment and why legislative volatility can be just as damaging as a bad bill. When the rules swing back and forth, hospitals cannot plan staffing, investments, or long-term community health work with confidence.
Then we tackle the heart of the affordability debate. Bill makes the case that hospitals often do not “set prices” the way people assume, because rates are typically locked in through insurance contracts or driven by government payment. We also dig into the administrative burden that quietly inflates costs, especially prior authorization, where clinicians and patients jump through hoops for services that are frequently approved anyway. If we want real healthcare cost reduction, reducing unnecessary paperwork and delays is one of the most practical places to start.
The most hopeful part of the conversation is Kalamazoo County’s progress on Black infant mortality, achieved through community collaboration, listening to moms, and a clear focus on health equity and trust. If you care about Michigan healthcare, hospital regulation, prior authorization reform, preventive care, and community health outcomes, this one delivers. Subscribe, share this conversation with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find it.
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This episode of The Common Bridge is part of a special 21‑part series of interviews recorded with healthcare leaders from across Michigan during the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference, in partnership with the Michigan Health and Hospital Association.
In these short conversations, with his guests, Rich explores regulation, cost pressures, workforce challenges, and the future of Healthcare in Michigan and around the Country.
A rule written in 1906 still helps decide what “counts” as learning in Michigan classrooms and we think it’s long past time to rethink it. From the Mackinac Policy Conference, we sit down with former Michigan Governor Rick Snyder to unpack how seat time requirements can quietly block the most practical kinds of education reform: project-based learning, competency-based credit, and interdisciplinary courses that feel like the real world students are about to enter.
We dig into what a student-centered, real-life results model looks like when districts are actually allowed to try it. That means combining subjects (like English with history), connecting math to skilled trades, and building programs where learners demonstrate mastery instead of just logging hours. Snyder explains the bipartisan push behind current Michigan legislation and why local approval matters, with educators and parents closest to students helping shape innovation plans.
We also connect education policy to the healthcare workforce pipeline. Michigan hospitals and clinics need motivated talent, and early exposure to health careers can turn school into something students want to show up for. We talk about programs already training future phlebotomists, rad techs, lab techs, and other in-demand roles, plus the “durable skills” that matter even more as artificial intelligence reshapes work: teamwork, critical thinking, and smart use of new tools.
If you care about Michigan education, career and technical education, healthcare staffing, or economic growth, this conversation delivers a clear argument for changing the rules so communities can build modern pathways. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review with your take: should schools measure learning by time or by results?
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Scotland takes over Boston, travelers flood YouTube with “America is amazing,” and suddenly a question hits hard: if the country is truly collapsing, why do so many visitors leave impressed by the people, the space, and the everyday energy? We use that contrast to dig into one of the biggest forces shaping public life right now: the gap between lived experience and the media narrative. Our goal is simple and stubbornly nonpartisan: get closer to what’s real, and stop letting outrage do our thinking for us.
From immigration protests to headline spin, we look at how incentives drive what gets covered and how it gets framed. We talk about the responsibility behind public demands, the role social media amplification can play in keeping us mad at each other, and why reflection is so rare when predictions miss. We also argue that competence still matters, especially for roles tied to national security and intelligence, where experience and judgment are not optional.
The conversation turns to bigger cultural and moral fault lines: rising antisemitism, selective outrage, and the danger of scapegoating any group. We also touch on public clashes around LGBTQ issues, respect for veterans, and how to defend human dignity without rewarding provocation. We close with a reminder that checks and balances still work, the country is more resilient than the doom loop suggests, and clear thinking is a civic skill worth practicing.
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The emergency department is where America’s healthcare system tells the truth. It’s the hospital’s front door, it can’t turn people away, and it absorbs every crack in primary care access, insurance coverage, and patient flow. I’m joined by Dr. Imamu “Mu” Tomlinson, CEO of Vituity, to talk about what actually works when the waiting room is full and the incentives are misaligned.
We start with Mu’s path from a Canadian teenager dreaming of rap and basketball to a night-shift ER physician leading a 6,000+ doctor partnership with no private equity. From there, we dig into the leadership model behind Vituity: equal physician ownership, transparency with health systems, and a focus on improving lives instead of chasing a single revenue target. Moo makes a sharp distinction between physician satisfaction and physician fulfillment, and explains why autonomy, mastery, and agency are the real antidotes to burnout.
Then we get operational. We talk about the payer mix reality in emergency medicine, why stipends are harder to secure, and why diversification across hospital medicine, anesthesia, and other specialties can keep coverage stable. Mu shares ideas for redesigning emergency department throughput, including continuity-based staffing models, plus practical inpatient tactics like reverse rounding to reduce boarding and speed discharges. We close with a big-picture take on healthcare reform that refuses to blame only hospitals or only insurers, and one word of advice for patients: agency.
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The fastest way to lose faith in your country is to let a screen tell you who your neighbors are. We take that head-on, because the gap between media narratives and real life keeps growing, and it is warping how we talk about policy, elections, and each other.
Rich Helppie shares what we are building in season seven of The Common Bridge, including the expanded set of “bridges” across healthcare, education, finance, science, and world affairs. He also brings back a fresh read from the Mackinac Policy Conference in Michigan, where he recorded 21 short interviews across party lines. The big surprise is not that people disagree; it is that plenty of serious, practical work is happening while cable news insists everything is hopeless.
Then we get specific about what is driving the disconnect. Rich frames it as two P’s: the press and polarization. We talk about why outrage coverage spreads faster than nuance, why audiences keep returning to sources that have misled them, and a simple question that cuts through the hype: how many people do you actually know who behave like the villains you are warned about?
To ground it, Rich shares a personal story about hitchhiking across the United States and Canada and meeting people from every walk of life, plus three rules he gave students in a commencement speech: work hard, look it up yourself, and take care of people. If you care about media literacy, fact checking, and healthier civic dialogue, this is a practical reset. Subscribe, share this with a friend who feels burned out by politics, and leave a review so more listeners can find The Common Bridge.
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Primary care is where healthcare either works or quietly breaks, and Dr. Harry Albers helps us say the uncomfortable parts out loud. We talk about the emotional reality of managing chronic disease without instant wins, and the operational reality that burns physicians down: EMR documentation, inbox overload, prior authorizations, and the steady creep of uncompensated work after hours. When you stack that on top of low reimbursement and high overhead, it’s no mystery why so many primary care physicians feel trapped in a system that rewards speed over relationships.
We also dig into the RVU treadmill and what it does to quality, continuity, and professional confidence. If primary care can’t get paid for time spent on prevention, lifestyle change, and complex decision-making, the incentives push referrals and volume. That has downstream effects for patients who struggle to see their own doctor, get routed to urgent care, or wait months to see a specialist. Access becomes the product, not just the outcome.
From there, we explore concierge medicine and what “high-touch” care really means, including Dr. Albers’ move into MD Squared and why a small patient panel can restore the core promise of primary care: access, advocacy, and a clinician who actually knows you. We don’t ignore the hard question either, whether concierge and direct primary care models can scale during a national primary care shortage. We close with concrete advice for young doctors, health systems considering employment models, and patients who want to choose a PCP wisely, plus where AI in healthcare may reduce administrative burden soon.
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Hunger isn’t a distant problem, it’s often a quiet one. Host Rich Helppie sits down with Angela Moloney, President and CEO of Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeast Michigan, to unpack what food insecurity looks like today and why solving it takes more than good intentions. We connect the dots between nutrition and health care, learning and school performance, and the basic dignity of having enough to eat.
Angela explains how a modern food bank actually works: sourcing food at scale, moving it through refrigerated warehouses, and getting it out through pantries, schools, churches, and direct-to-family options like community mobile distributions. We talk about the shift from “just calories” to healthy, nutritious food, including the big push for fresh fruits, vegetables, and dairy. We also dig into culturally competent food, making sure neighbors receive foods they want and know how to cook, with attention to needs like kosher and halal.
If you’ve ever wondered whether giving really makes an impact, we go straight at stewardship, transparency, and how accountability works across audits and partner checks. We also discuss uncertainty when government programs and policies shift, why local solutions matter, and how national partners fit into the picture. Angela leaves us with a challenge: hunger is complex, but it can be solved through donations, volunteering, and real collaboration across health care, food systems, and community groups.
If this conversation hits home, subscribe, share it with someone local, and leave a review so more people can find practical ways to fight hunger where they live.
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America doesn’t feel like it’s debating anymore. It feels like it’s detonating.
We sit down with Chip Webster, founder of Unity in Service Incorporated, to talk about what he saw after five long RV loops around the United States and why it convinced him the country isn’t just politically split, it’s socially disconnected. From conversations in RV parks to the simple heartbreak of seeing “No Littering” signs surrounded by trash, Chip argues we’ve started acting like we’re renting the country instead of owning it. That mindset shows up everywhere: how we talk, how we vote, and whether we feel any duty to people outside our own bubble.
Then we get practical. Chip lays out a clear framework for responsible citizenship, from voting and respect for law and order to steady volunteerism that puts you shoulder-to-shoulder with neighbors who see the world differently. The biggest idea is universal national service: a one-year commitment after high school, with options that could include the military or civilian programs inspired by the Civilian Conservation Corps. We weigh the promise against today’s obstacles, including low participation in AmeriCorps, Vietnam-era lessons about exemptions, and the steep collapse in trust in government.
We close with Chip’s poem “Microvalidations,” a reminder that big civic repair can start with small human moves: say hello, hold the door, look someone in the eye, and rebuild trust one interaction at a time. If you care about bridging divides, civic engagement, and national service as a path to unity, hit subscribe, share this conversation, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.
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The fastest way to lose a democracy isn’t one dramatic moment, it’s the slow drift from problem-solving into tribal power games. Rich Helppie sits down with writer and Substack creator Chris Armitage to ask why serious policy talk keeps getting drowned out by team identity, and what regular people can do when national politics feels locked in permanent conflict.
We start with the local level, because that’s where the leverage is. School boards, city councils, and state legislatures can either defend human rights and fair outcomes or become a pipeline for ideological capture. Chris explains why “it’s not my job” has become a surrender phrase, and why civic engagement has to be daily and practical. From there, we connect the dots to healthcare policy failures, incentive problems, and how government becomes less responsive when party machinery dominates.
Then we go deeper into democratic reform: election access and election integrity, open primaries, alternatives to first-past-the-post voting, and how changing the rules can change the quality of candidates. We also debate institutional trust through Supreme Court ethics questions, including Chris’s argument for investigating conflicts tied to Chief Justice John Roberts. The conversation turns urgent around civil liberties, state power, and the Minneapolis shooting, with a clear through-line: in a free country, the Bill of Rights has to be enforced, not just celebrated.
If you care about political polarization, local government, election reform, and defending individual rights against authoritarian drift, this one will challenge you in the best way. Subscribe, share this episode with a friend who disagrees with you, and leave a review with the one reform you think would matter most.
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Healthcare keeps getting more expensive, less accessible, and harder to navigate, and the part that drives you crazy is that it also feels familiar. We sit down with Lou Shapiro, former CEO of Hospital for Special Surgery, to talk candidly about what changes and what never changes in the U.S. healthcare system after four decades inside hospitals, consulting, and executive leadership. If you’ve ever wondered whether healthcare is really a commodity, why “cheaper” care can cost more in the long run, or why consolidation keeps happening even when it doesn’t fix the fundamentals, this conversation goes straight at it.
We dig into what makes quality actually vary in musculoskeletal care, orthopedics, and complex clinical services, and why outcomes depend on who treats you and how the organization is built to support great teams. Lou shares the leadership principles he’d give a rising hospital operations leader: keep learning, leave the office, build teamwork over individual performance, and make contributions that still show up years after you’re gone. We also get into affordability and why the system is structured to produce the results it produces, which helps explain why so many “value-based care” nudges feel small compared to the problem.
Then we shift to the “shoves” that might matter, especially redesigned primary care. We explore direct primary care models for self-insured employers, how multidisciplinary teams can reduce friction, and why primary care access may be the foundation for better cost control and better patient experience. Finally, Lou opens up about stepping away from the CEO seat, the dark stretch he didn’t expect, and his “We Me Work” framework for building a next chapter that fits real life.
If this sparked something for you, subscribe, share the episode with a colleague, and leave a review. What part of healthcare needs a shove where you live?
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AI is pushing America into a new infrastructure era, and it’s bigger than potholes and bridges. When Professor Rick Geddes from Cornell joins us, we zoom out and connect the dots between infrastructure policy, infrastructure finance, and “infretech” the technology that makes civil and social infrastructure run smarter, safer, and more efficiently. Along the way, we clear up a confusion that trips up even experienced leaders: the difference between infrastructure funding (who ultimately pays) and infrastructure financing (how projects get built and repaid), plus why operation and maintenance is where reliability is won or lost.
We also get practical about why projects stall. Environmental permitting and stakeholder engagement can protect communities, but they can also become slow, redundant, and expensive when timelines stretch for years. We talk about what states are doing to move faster, why design-build and progressive design-build procurement can reduce friction, and how AI could help agencies review applications, spot gaps early, and cut repeat work without cutting standards.
Then the conversation turns to the fastest-growing infrastructure in the country: data centers. The demand for AI compute drives massive needs for electricity and cooling water, putting real pressure on the grid and local utilities. From Micron’s semiconductor expansion in upstate New York to cybersecurity threats like pipeline hacks and even drone risks, the line between “civil infrastructure” and national security keeps fading. We close with a hopeful look at reliable power options, including small modular nuclear reactors and earth source heating, and why infrastructure careers offer something rare: tangible impact.
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Palm Beach County gets portrayed as sunshine and wealth, but that picture leaves out the families choosing between rent and groceries, seniors stretched by HOA hikes, and working parents who cannot keep up with prices. I sit down with Ruth Mageria, executive leader at Cros Ministries, to talk about the real mechanics of hunger and food insecurity and what it takes to keep neighbors fed with healthy food, not just something to fill a stomach.
We dig into how a community food pantry actually works, why a food bank is different, and how USDA emergency food assistance and local donations move through a supply chain of trucks, warehouses, volunteers, and distribution sites. Ruth shares what Cros sees on the ground: rising demand that now tops the COVID era, first-time visitors during government shutdowns, and the quiet embarrassment people feel when they never imagined needing help. We also address tough questions about nonprofit accountability, audits, board oversight, and the common misconception that “a nice car” means someone is gaming the system.
Then we widen the lens to Cros’s Caring Kitchen hot meal program, homebound meal delivery, and gleaning, recovering fresh Florida produce that would otherwise go to waste. If you care about hunger relief, community partnerships, healthy nutrition, and practical solutions that scale, this conversation will give you both clarity and a path to action. Subscribe, share this episode, and leave a review, and tell us what your community is doing to close the gap.
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Healthcare keeps getting labeled “more complex,” but that line can become a trap. When leaders accept it as truth, they stop simplifying, stop teaching, and stop making clear decisions. I sat down with Quint Studer to talk about what’s actually breaking healthcare operations and hospital finances right now and what we can do that’s practical, not performative.
Quint connects the dots between Medicare Advantage denials, the ballooning cost of fighting those denials, and the painful reality of physician enterprise losses. We talk about why independent private practice has become financially unsustainable for many doctors, why employment is now the default, and why health systems need to manage medical groups as a core part of the enterprise, not a side business with its own scoreboard. Along the way, we dig into vertical silos, matrix confusion, and the leadership blind spot that shows up when people manage isolated expense lines without understanding cause and effect.
Then we shift to the human engine of performance: experience, culture, and skill building. Quint makes a strong case that healthcare is underinvesting in leadership development and workforce training, even while spending heavily on new buildings and technology. He lays out a more effective approach he calls precision development, and he challenges us to treat physicians and other high performers with the kind of support other industries provide, not just a paycheck and a productivity target. If you care about healthcare leadership, patient experience, physician burnout, and building a culture that holds up under pressure, this conversation will give you plenty to wrestle with.
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Price caps make for great politics and terrible bedside reality when they ignore how hospitals actually survive. Nate Kaufman sits down with healthcare analyst and futurist Dr. Jeff Goldsmith for a blunt conversation about why “just cap hospital prices” can sound like reform while quietly setting up the next access crisis, especially for safety net hospitals and rural communities with heavy Medicare and Medicaid payer mix.
We dig into the “Rand fallacy,” the trap of treating hospital price transparency rankings as a proxy for sustainability or value. Jeff explains why a hospital can look like a bargain on paper and still close its doors, and why policy built on context-free datasets can mislead employers, voters, and regulators. From there, we get specific about what’s really pushing healthcare costs higher: administrative complexity, fragmented payment rules, revenue cycle overhead, and clinician time swallowed by documentation and electronic health record burdens, all layered on top of workforce shortages that make capacity harder to staff every year.
We also tackle the merger question: why would health systems pursue deals across 1,500 miles, what incentives are baked into the transaction industry, and what boards should demand before signing off. We close with practical policy takeaways on strengthening public health and primary care access, simplifying the healthcare transaction, and starting an honest national conversation about the future of employer-sponsored insurance.
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Only 35% of kids testing on grade level is not a headline, it’s a flashing warning light. I sit down with education advocate and Substack writer Shaka Mitchell to ask the uncomfortable question behind the data: if students are just as capable as ever, why are outcomes so uneven and, in some places, outright collapsing? We get specific about what the numbers mean for families, communities, and the future of the American dream, and we look at why “systemic failure” often traces back to incentives, bureaucracy, and a lack of flexibility.
From there, we dig into school choice, educational freedom, and the idea that funding should follow the student rather than automatically flowing to buildings. Shaka explains how education savings accounts can support a more customizable education model, why ZIP code zoning can function as “school choice by real estate,” and how a more student-centered approach could look a lot like the intent behind IEPs, but applied far more broadly. We also talk about international comparisons like PISA, the erosion of trust in institutions, and practical moves districts could make immediately, including getting smartphones out of the school day to restore attention and focus.
Then we shift gears to something surprisingly hopeful: music. Shaka shares his Come Together Music Project and why shared songs and shared experiences can build relationships, soften polarization, and remind us we still have common ground. We close with a look at the coming Education Freedom Tax Credit and why it could matter for millions of kids across public school, private school, charter school, and homeschooling. If this conversation challenges you, share it with a parent, teacher, or school board member, and subscribe, rate, and review so more people can find it.
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Want a real blueprint for building a modern, lean business without drowning in overhead or paid leads? We’re joined by Florida realtor and creator Sam Caudle, who walks us through how a simple, service-first YouTube channel became a steady pipeline for high-trust, high-intent buyers across Tampa’s three counties. Sam breaks down how he educates clients on real neighborhood trade-offs—proximity to water vs. airport, school zones, commute patterns—and why that clarity attracts both relocators and luxury buyers who already feel like they know him.
We get honest about the realities of entrepreneurship: there’s no clocking out, family support matters, and the early months might bring little to no income. Sam shares the guardrails that keep him effective and sane: schedule periods where you’re unreachable, run an ultra-lean operation with offshore support, and write “keep fixed costs low” where you can’t miss it. He explains how a quick reflection loop with a trusted partner fuels daily improvement—short debriefs after calls, fast lessons from wins and misses, and immediate adjustments that compound over time.
If you’re exploring real estate marketing, creator-led growth, or just trying to build a resilient small business, this conversation delivers practical systems you can use tomorrow. We dive into why attention is the new storefront, how an owned audience beats rented leads, and the precise steps Sam uses to help other agents launch YouTube-driven funnels in their own markets. The message is clear: choose your preferred hard, bet on yourself, and design a business that fits your life while still chasing big outcomes.
If this resonated, follow our show, share it with a builder who needs a nudge, and leave a quick review—your words help more listeners find practical, nonpartisan conversations like this one.
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What if the real reason care feels harder to get isn’t your insurance card or a shiny new policy, but a simple math problem: too many patients, not enough clinicians? We sit down with Scott Becker—attorney, entrepreneur, and founder of Becker’s Healthcare—to trace how a media brand grew from a legal practice, then dive into the uncomfortable truth shaping everything from ER wait times to specialty access: supply and demand.
We unpack why hospitals can’t be judged like software companies. They are labor-intensive, brick-and-mortar safety nets operating on razor-thin margins, yet expected to absorb underpayment, rising wages, and shifting risk. Scott explains how private equity, insurers, and health systems each chase solvency inside a design that often rewards denial and delay rather than throughput and access. Value-based care is no silver bullet; during COVID it “worked” for the wrong reasons as procedures paused and loss ratios dropped. Meanwhile, carve-outs and concierge models siphon capacity toward those who can pay, widening access gaps for everyone else.
So where’s the fix? We push beyond slogans to concrete steps. Expand residency slots in targeted specialties. Modernize medical education to shorten time to practice without sacrificing quality. Pay public programs closer to cost while rationalizing commercial spreads. Use technology as an amplifier—AI that supports clinicians and speeds decisions—rather than a mirage that replaces expertise we don’t have. For health systems, the mandate is clarity and depth: choose what you will be great at, align tightly with physicians, and build reliable access points that match how patients actually seek care. For patients, the playbook is proactive: organize your records, ask for second opinions, know which local centers excel for specific conditions, and advocate early.
If coverage grows but clinician supply doesn’t, equity collapses and costs climb. Join us for a candid, unscripted tour through the incentives, bottlenecks, and decisions that truly move the needle—and hear Scott’s practical advice for leaders and patients navigating a system under strain. If this conversation resonates, follow, share with a colleague, and leave a review to help more listeners find it.
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Ready to trade permission for possibility? We sit down with Kevin Green, owner of Conserva Irrigation of Ann Arbor and co-founder of Luxhaven Lighting, to unpack how he left a comfortable corporate track and built a purpose-led service business anchored in water conservation, rigorous systems, and team-first culture. Kevin shares how franchising provided proven processes and brand trust, why discipline and cash-flow awareness are nonnegotiable, and how every customer interaction becomes a real-time performance review that shapes reputation and growth.
We walk through the mindset shift from employee to owner, including the humility to admit weaknesses and hire people who are better at key functions. Kevin explains his approach to hiring in a tight labor market: competitive compensation, visible career paths, and peer interviews that create mutual fit and authentic buy-in. He also talks about leveling up leaders early, giving a 25-year-old operations manager the runway to lead, and setting a standard where employees can evolve into partners who open new locations.
Growth is more than sales; it’s alignment. Kevin outlines how he blends organic expansion with strategic acquisitions, focusing on retiring owners who want a buyer that will take great care of their teams and customers. With franchise systems to standardize operations and a mission to conserve a scarce resource, he’s building a resilient platform that serves communities while opening doors for the next generation of owners. His advice for aspiring entrepreneurs is direct: bet on yourself, build discipline, and choose a mission that matters—because impact is a stronger motivator than any paycheck.
If this conversation sparks ideas, follow the journey and support the show on Substack and your favorite podcast app. Subscribe, rate, and share with someone who needs a push to make their move—and tell us: what’s the first step you’re taking today?
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What if courage came before confidence, not after? That theme powers a candid conversation with third‑generation jeweler Blake Polizzi of Susan Blake Jewelry, who stepped into leadership after her mother’s passing and turned a beloved family brand into a modern, data‑driven business. We trace the lineage from a 47th Street workshop and a pivotal Tiffany & Co. contract to a multistore operation rooted in craft, community, and thoughtful growth.
Blake pulls back the curtain on what it takes to evolve a legacy without losing its heart. She explains how a data analyst’s mindset helped her rebuild inventory systems, streamline operations, and transform the website into a true sales engine. We dig into practical SEO strategy, human‑edited AI content, and location‑aware discovery that funnels real customers to the door. Along the way, she shares the mindset tools that keep her steady: reframing overwhelm, choosing three priorities, and accepting that confidence follows action. The result is a grounded playbook for founders who want both soul and scale.
We also look ahead to the Miami opening, her first end‑to‑end build informed by foot traffic, neighborhood dynamics, and clear unit economics. Blake’s vision is simple: keep the handmade spirit and personal service alive while using smart systems to remove friction. If you’re a builder, creator, or small business owner navigating growth, you’ll find honest insights on risk, resilience, and the daily discipline of shipping work that matters.
If this conversation sparks ideas for your own venture, share it with a friend, subscribe on Substack or your favorite app, and leave a quick review to help more entrepreneurs find the show. What leap are you ready to take next?
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When outrage becomes the default setting, thinking gets outsourced to the loudest tribe. We invited Substack writer and teacher David Dennison to help map a way back to clear thought, using real-world examples to show how independent journalism can resist the dopamine rush of instant certainty and invite deeper inquiry instead.
We start with the state of media: why partisanship sells, how predictable framing keeps audiences hooked, and what reader-supported platforms like Substack make possible. David unpacks how dissenting takes can live without an editor’s gatekeeping, and how basic tools—public statutes, Google, even ChatGPT—let anyone verify claims before a narrative hardens. A fast-moving Minnesota incident becomes a case study in how rapid storylines outpace facts, why legal context matters for public judgment, and how speed can erase nuance when lives and policies are at stake.
From there we tackle immigration and identity. We separate humane admissions from willful evasion, argue for policy that acknowledges real invitations and real risks, and push back on the false binary of open versus closed borders. On race and identity politics, we revisit the cost of insulating weak arguments with moral intimidation, and make a case for liberal principles: free inquiry, evidence-first claims, and respect for both progress made and work unfinished. Finally, we talk about classrooms as places to teach, not recruit, and why safeguarding neutral learning protects trust and helps students build durable judgment in a noisy world.
If you crave analysis that prizes clarity over team colors, this conversation is for you. Subscribe to The Common Bridge on Substack, share this episode with a friend who values nuance, and leave a review to help others find thoughtful, independent voices.
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What if the numbers that dominate headlines tell you less about the economy than the price of your groceries, your rent, and your ability to start a family? We sit with writer and analyst Amanda Claypool to unpack Main Street economics, A.I.’s shock to white-collar work, and why trust in legacy media has frayed. Amanda’s path—from near-CIA ambitions and defense contracting in DC, to cross-country pandemic travels, to building “Tomorrow Today” on Substack—offers a rare, ground-level view of how policy choices ripple through real lives.
We get candid about the post-2008 era, cheap money’s illusions, and the gap between Beltway incentives and the daily reality in deindustrialized towns. Amanda explains why she sees generative A.I. as a Gutenberg-level inflection point: it can upend tasks, compress status ladders, and force a deeper question about what remains uniquely human. That’s where judgment, relationships, and ownership of outcomes come in—and why careers built on brittle prestige need a rethink. We also explore culture and gender debates, how career-first narratives can overshoot, and what resilience looks like when jobs evolve faster than institutions.
Throughout, you’ll hear practical advice for navigating uncertainty: learn the language of economics and accounting, treat A.I. as leverage rather than a threat, and stop hunting only for “a job.” Instead, find work—concrete problems you can solve and get paid for—while investing in community, family, and skills that compound over time. If you’re looking for a grounded, nonpartisan take on media, money, technology, and meaning, this conversation cuts through the noise and gets to what actually matters.
You can further engage with Amanda:
Tomorrow Today on Substack: https://tomorrowtodaynow.substack.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@amanda_claypool
My book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FZ52SVL3/ref=sr_1_2
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If you’ve ever wondered why your deductible feels like a brick wall while insurers tout “savings,” this conversation goes straight to the source. Nathan Kaufman sits down with Mark Cuban to pull apart how PBMs and insurers shape drug prices, hide rebates, and use denials as financial float—while patients and providers pay the price. It’s a rare, unfiltered tour through the pharmacy supply chain, medical loss ratio math, and the perverse incentives that keep care costly and complicated.
We dig into the real-world fallout for physicians and hospitals: Medicare’s stagnant updates, shadow-priced commercial contracts, and the administrative churn that drives independent practices into the arms of health systems or private equity. Mark challenges the industry to think like a startup—publish prices, strip out unnecessary vendors, and pay clinicians more with transparent, fixed margins. He shares why GPOs often inflate costs, how a virtual wholesaler model can save millions on injectables and specialty meds, and what happens when leadership manages silos instead of the whole enterprise.
Then we get tactical. Imagine a standardized claim process across payers and a new financing model that replaces premium fights with unlimited HSAs plus government-backed medical loans pegged to Medicare rates. Pair that with direct contracts that pay providers quickly, no prior auth, no denials, and zero out-of-pocket for employees using posted agreements. Add agentic AI to audit thousands of contracts, verify invoices, and stop leakage dimes at a time—and a clearer path emerges: fewer middlemen, faster pay, better outcomes. Along the way, we confront uncomfortable truths about facility fees, subprime patient financing, and why breaking up insurance conglomerates or forcing divestiture of non-insurance assets could restore real competition.
If you care about practical reform—transparent pricing, direct contracting, real outcomes data, and technology that kills waste—this is your playbook. Listen, share with a colleague who manages benefits or a hospital P&L, and tell us: where should transparency and direct contracts start in your market? Subscribe for more unscripted conversations that push healthcare toward simpler, fairer, and smarter.
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What if the cure for our political fatigue is as simple as slowing down and looking at the evidence? We kick off a new series spotlighting Substack writers with journalist and historian Chris Bray, whose work strips away spin by linking directly to source documents, video and on-the-ground reporting. Together we map the contours of an epistemic crisis: the way one angle of footage becomes the entire narrative and how that snap judgment fuels outrage, policy mistakes, and deeper division.
From there we follow the money. California and Minnesota have seen explosive growth in public spending, but residents struggle to point to matching improvements. Bray walks through allegations of social services fraud in Minnesota and the telltale response from officials: attack the messenger rather than open the books. We lay out a simple test any listener can run—pull the budget, tour your streets, and compare the line items to what you can see and touch. If the numbers swell while services stall, demand receipts, logs and outcomes.
We dig into the loss of recipe knowledge inside institutions—grand goals with no workable steps. Homelessness plans multiply while encampments grow. The California high-speed rail, sold as an LA–SF link, stands today as scattered concrete in the Central Valley. Ignore the talking points and walk the site; steel either connects or it doesn’t. Yet there are bright spots: when mission and method align, defense operations and shipbuilding show what competent execution looks like. That is the path back to stewardship—leaders who measure progress, adjust, and deliver.
If you’re ready to trade hot takes for primary sources and performance politics for real results, this conversation is your starting point. Listen, share with a friend who cares about evidence, and leave a review to help more people find the show. Then tell us: what should we verify next?
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Power grabbed headlines, but the real story is law, limits, and what comes next. We sit down with Professor Anthony Colangelo of SMU to unpack the U.S. operation that seized Venezuela’s leader and to separate a clean legal argument from messy policy ambitions. From irregular rendition to universal jurisdiction, we trace why courts can claim authority even after a cross‑border capture and how treaty obligations make narcoterrorism a shared international concern.
We dive into the hard edge of immunity doctrine. Status‑based immunity protects a sitting head of state; conduct‑based immunity can persist after office, but not for acts condemned by international law. That distinction matters when a leader’s actions create direct effects across borders. We also probe the collective self‑defense rationale under the UN Charter and why strict proportionality can fail as a deterrent against rational, high‑risk actors. The takeaway: legality can be clear while prudence is not.
Then we confront the policy frontier: talk of running a country, steering succession, or taking oil turns a lawful seizure into a broader question of occupation and constitutional checks at home. What obligations follow a regime change? How do we minimize civilian harm, stabilize services, and hand control back quickly? Could trials in absentia provide accountability without escalating conflict? Throughout, we push past media echo chambers to focus on facts, precedent, and measurable limits on executive power.
If you’re tired of spin and looking for a rigorous, good‑faith analysis that respects both international law and constitutional guardrails, this one’s for you. Listen, share with a curious friend, and tell us: legal win, policy risk, or both? If our work adds clarity, subscribe and leave a review to help others find the show.
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The status quo is expensive, exhausting, and unsustainable—so we set out a practical playbook to do better in 2026. Nathan Kaufman shares ten no‑nonsense resolutions for health system leaders who want measurable outcomes, stronger teams, and smarter payer strategies without falling for vendor hype or wishful thinking.
We get specific about capital discipline and why “mission” can’t justify chronic losses that drain resources from services that actually improve patient care. We talk through what it takes to win the talent war by treating physicians as true partners, then dive into dyad leadership that cuts across supply chain, HR, and IT to remove friction and accelerate results. Culture becomes operational with real-time metrics, fast feedback loops, and leaders spending more time in the field and less time in meetings that signal low trust and unclear decisions.
Payment strategy is front and center. We explain how to use 340B responsibly to close funding gaps, why some value-based schemes are a race to the bottom, and how to negotiate Medicare Advantage so contracts yield at least 100% of Medicare after accounting for administrative burden. Affordability demands that we take significant cost out by removing layers, standardizing clinical pathways, and focusing on core services rather than chasing panaceas like provider-owned health plans or sponsored “research” that flatters a product.
If you’re ready to lead with data, align teams, and make tough calls that protect patient access and quality, this conversation is your roadmap. Subscribe, share with a colleague who needs a dose of operational courage, and leave a review telling us which resolution you’ll tackle first.
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The real fight in U.S. healthcare isn’t between doctors and patients—it’s against a financing maze that raises premiums, hides quality, and rewards middlemen. We pull back the curtain on why ACA plans look the same yet cost more, how public underpayment pushes employer premiums up, and why political fixes often fail when crafted far from the bedside. With Nate Kaufman joining from the Healthcare Bridge, we tackle the hard trade‑offs behind subsidies, health savings accounts, site‑neutral payments, and the myth that consumers can “shop” their way through complex, high‑risk care.
We share a clear framework: protect access now, then rebuild incentives. That means a short‑term patch to avoid coverage gaps, targeted funding for primary and urgent needs, and raising Medicare and Medicaid rates toward actual costs to reduce hidden cost shifting. We also explain where HSAs can help—simple, predictable care—and where they break down—leukemia, cardiac surgery, and other cases where data is scarce and choices are high‑stakes. Along the way, we confront the Fortune‑50 scale intermediaries extracting value and explore how transparency and outcome‑based accountability can shift dollars back to care.
Looking forward, we outline a path to a simpler, fairer system: consolidate taxpayer‑funded coverage into a universal base, open drug benefits broadly with smart negotiation, and end tax preferences that prop up inefficient private plans. Most importantly, bring insiders—clinicians, operators, and contract negotiators—into the room with lawmakers so policy matches reality. If you’re ready to move past soundbites and into practical steps that protect patients today while building a stronger system tomorrow, this conversation is your roadmap.
If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who battles premiums and deductibles, and leave a quick review to help others find it. Your feedback steers future episodes.
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Season Seven of The Common Bridge features host Richard Helppie in an episode that concludes with foaming mayonnaise dispensers in this lighter, story-driven talk with Tony Award–winning actor Gregory Jbara and longtime friend, designer-turned-humorist Terence Duncan, celebrating Duncan’s new book, Unfiltered Consciousness. This special episode leans heavily into Greg and Terry’s reminisces about coming-of-age in blue collar Southeast Michigan. Rich attempts to guide a conversation but mostly promotes the notion that people everywhere should purchase this book. Hear this duo talk school plays, football mishaps, Great Lakes roadtrips and shared crushes. Duncan describes his book as a collection of brief, satirical “musings” on everyday absurdities—relationships, divorce, coffee habits, T‑shirts, car ads, and aging—each rooted in truth then exaggerated for comic effect. Jbara praises the honesty, humanity, and universal relatability of the pieces, noting how Duncan turns personal pain into cathartic comedy. Helppie underscores that this is a laugh-out-loud, highly giftable read for anyone wanting a break from divisive politics. Terence and Gregory will also appear at Silvio’s Trattoria, 225 S. Canton Center, Canton, Michigan, on December 8th from 6:30–8:00 p.m for a book signing event! Great Christmas gift!
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Healthcare can feel stuck, but the ground is moving under our feet in the best possible way. We sit down with Hartford Healthcare’s CEO, Jeff Flaks, to unpack how a statewide system is using scale with purpose: pushing care into more convenient, lower-cost settings, investing in equity, and building digital experiences that actually save time for patients and clinicians. If you’re skeptical that big systems can deliver value, this conversation offers specifics instead of spin.
We start with the leadership behaviors that matter now: staying close to operations, listening to front-line teams, and measuring success by outcomes. From there we tackle the big critiques—costs, complexity, sponsorship optics—and dig into what it takes to move beyond the status quo. Jeff shares why headwinds like payer friction, tariff-driven supply chain costs, and Medicaid shifts are serious, yet not destiny. The difference comes from disciplined redesign: routing patients to the right site of care, building 24/7 primary care access, and wiring urgent care so radiology, histories, meds, and images are available in real time.
The most exciting thread is how AI and machine learning are finally making work easier instead of heavier. Think faster reads, smarter triage, and less administrative drag, all pointed at better quality and safety. We explore the compounding effect of improvement—how each layer of coordination accelerates the next—and why the pace of change in the next three to five years could outstrip the last decade. For patients, we offer practical advice on navigating benefits, choosing the right setting, and using digital tools to cut costs and waits.
If you care about access, affordability, and results, this episode gives you a clear view of what’s working and what’s next. Subscribe, share with a colleague, and leave a review with one change you want your health system to make next.
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What happens when a powerhouse research enterprise, a statewide health system, and a relentless push for access all meet at the same table? Our conversation with Dr. David Miller, CEO of Michigan Medicine, opens the door to a candid look at how precision care, digital tools, and financial reality collide—and how smart leadership turns that collision into progress.
We dig into the new map of Michigan Medicine: the academic medical center in Ann Arbor, integrated hospitals in Lansing and West Michigan, and partnerships that extend specialty expertise across the state. Then we follow the research-to-care pipeline, from NIH-backed labs to clinical trials to real-world therapies. You’ll hear how next-generation sequencing is making targeted cancer treatments more accessible, and why histotripsy—a noninvasive, ultrasound-based approach to treating liver tumors—is a model for bringing breakthroughs from engineering benches to exam rooms.
Technology is more than a buzzword here. Dr. Miller explains how generative AI is cutting documentation time with ambient notes, speeding routine approvals, and supporting clinical decisions, all while keeping a human in the loop. We talk training the next wave of physicians to be technology fluent, and how virtual visits and remote monitoring expand access without trading away empathy. On payment and policy, we confront the hard parts: Medicaid churn, prior authorization friction, and the need for value-based insurance design that lowers barriers to high-value care. The throughline is simple and urgent—make it easier for patients to get the right care at the right time, and align incentives so innovation actually reaches people.
If you care about healthcare that is precise, humane, and actually reachable, this conversation will give you a practical, hopeful blueprint. Subscribe, share with a friend who’s navigating care, and leave a review to help more listeners find the show. Your feedback keeps this community sharp—and pushes the system toward what works.
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What if blockbuster weight-loss drugs and a broken food system are two sides of the same story? We sit down with Dr. David Harlan—physician, researcher, and former NIH diabetes branch chief—to trace the unlikely path from the “incretin effect” to GLP-1 therapies that are transforming care for type 2 diabetes and obesity. Along the way, we ask harder questions about incentives, access, and why lifestyle still matters even when the medicine is powerful.
Dr. Harlan breaks down how GLP-1 receptor agonists amplify insulin release, quiet cravings, and drive meaningful weight loss—often alongside better blood pressure, improved A1C, and fewer heart events. He explains the Gila monster connection, why weekly injections replaced multiple daily shots, and what the latest safety data actually shows. We get candid about what happens when people stop these drugs, why genetics complicate the “just try harder” narrative, and how brain chemistry shapes appetite, compulsion, and energy.
Then we zoom out to the policy level: the rise of food deserts, cheap ultra-processed calories, and the paradox of publicly funding both the problem and the fix. We explore practical steps that work in the real world—SKU-controlled health savings accounts, everyday movement campaigns, healthier default options in public spaces, and community gardens and sidewalks that make active living normal again. The throughline is simple and human: use the science to help people now, and rebuild the environment so fewer need the medicine later.
If you care about diabetes, obesity, prevention, or the economics shaping our plates and prescriptions, this conversation offers clarity and a path forward. Support the show by subscribing, sharing with a friend, and leaving a review with the one insight you’ll apply this week.
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Host Nate Kaufman brings Rich Helppie back for a discussion about healthcare access. A 30-day wait for a first oncology visit after hearing the word leukemia is not an edge case—it’s the new normal in a system where demand outpaces supply and incentives reward the wrong behaviors. Nate opens with a personal story that reveals how access feels when the stakes are life and death, then pulls back the lens to explain why it happens: a 12-year training pipeline for specialists, uneven reimbursement that pushes clinicians toward concierge and direct primary care, and payer tactics that encourage consolidation rather than capacity.
Kaufman and Helppie then get specific about the economics. Medicaid rates that barely cover overhead lead practices to cap panels, while insurers play separate groups against each other until they merge, gaining leverage but not necessarily improving availability. Primary care, which should function like a straightforward retail experience, is instead forced through insurance mechanics that add friction to simple, high-value services. The result is predictable: over 40 percent of ER visits come from Medicaid patients who couldn’t access timely outpatient care, and the most vulnerable pay the highest price in avoidable emergencies.
Their conversation wrestles with the big numbers and the real trade offs. Ten percent of patients drive more than 80 percent of spending across Medicare and commercial plans. Pharma’s incentives to expand lifelong demand clash with insurers’ incentives to deny care. The federal government, the largest health benefits organization in the world, changes leadership every few years, making long-term workforce planning and access expansion difficult. They outline pragmatic moves that can help now: secure continuity with direct primary care or concierge if possible, build a relationship with a PCP who can open specialist doors, and for complex care, shop outcomes rather than prices.
If you’ve felt the squeeze—months-long waits, denials, or a scramble for appointments—this conversation gives language, data, and practical options. Listen to understand why access is collapsing, what levers could ease the pressure, and how to protect your path to timely, high-quality care today. If the ideas resonate, follow and share, and leave a review with your own access story—what worked, what didn’t, and what needs to change next.
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Politicians argue about subsidies while families face premiums that can top $26,900 and deductibles big enough to delay basic care. We step past the slogans to map how the ACA exchanges actually work today—standardized benefits that reduce real choice, narrow networks that hide access problems, and a pricing spiral that subsidies struggle to catch. Along the way, we unpack ghost networks in mental health, why out-of-network showdowns hit consumers hardest, and how pharmacy benefit manager rebates can reward drug utilization even as patients fight for approvals.
With Nate Kaufman of the Healthcare Bridge, we press on a practical blueprint: unify tax-funded programs into one baseline plan for everyone legally here, financed on a progressive scale. Then let private insurance sell optional add-ons that prove their value on access and outcomes, not marketing gloss. We argue for opening Medicare Part D-style drug purchasing to all, so payers and manufacturers compete in a fair arena. And we make a crucial point often skipped in policy talk: if clinicians aren’t paid enough to say yes, coverage is a promise that collapses at the front desk. Raise rates for high-value services, shrink bureaucracy, and hold networks to transparent, enforceable standards.
This conversation is candid, nonpartisan, and focused on patients and physicians rather than lobby talking points. If you’ve ever felt like the “chump at the table” in healthcare—paying premiums to an insurer incentivized to deny and taxes to a system that can’t align incentives—you’ll find both clarity and a path forward here. Dive in, share with a friend who’s wrestling with open enrollment, and tell us: what’s the first fix you’d make to rebuild access, quality, and affordability? Subscribe, leave a review, and help more listeners find the Common Bridge.
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One mother’s plea and a judge’s blueprint collide with a terrifying truth: the systems meant to protect people with serious mental illness—and the communities around them—often wait until harm is done. We bring Beverly Gille and Judge Milton L. Mack Jr. together to map how a 28-year struggle, from teen psychosis to homelessness and a mass stabbing in a Traverse City Walmart, reveals the exact points where policy, privacy, and practice failed.
We walk through the pivotal transitions that matter most: when minors become adults and families lose access, when court orders lapse because of rigid renewal windows, and when police lack clear authority to transport someone to a crisis center before danger peaks. Judge Mack explains the shift toward assisted outpatient treatment, why recognizing lack of insight saves lives, and how proposed Michigan bills would empower families to file petitions, broaden who can testify, and end the “seven-day trap” that breaks continuity of care.
Beverly’s story grounds the policy in lived experience—adult foster care that worked until it didn’t, ACT teams with uneven follow-through, and a release to the streets where legal access to potent cannabis accelerated psychosis. We connect outcomes to dollars and dignity: assisted outpatient treatment reduces hospitalizations, arrests, homelessness, and drug use, delivering better recovery and safer communities without demanding new budget lines. Most of all, we challenge a false choice: untreated illness is not liberty; treatment restores agency, safety, and community trust.
If this conversation resonates, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Subscribe for more evidence-based, people-first conversations, and leave a review so others can find the show. Your voice helps push these reforms over the line.
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Spine surgery sits at the crossroads of need, nuance, and noise—and few people explain that terrain better than Dr. Rod Oskouian, a high-volume neurosurgeon who has led a complex spine program and also navigated care as a patient. Dr. Oskouian and Healthcare Bridge host, Nate Kaufman pull back the curtain on how consolidation, denials, and a flood of administrative demands reshape daily practice, why “low value” labels miss the mark, and what truly predicts safer outcomes when your back—or your future mobility—is on the line.
The conversation starts with the evolution of neurosurgery from community coverage to regional referral, as smaller practices disappear and tertiary centers take on the hardest cases across multiple states. From the OR to the boardroom, Dr. Oskouian unpacks how EMRs, siloed decision-making, and repeated reorganizations increase friction (SEE NATE’S ARTICLE Nathan Kaufman: How silos undermine U.S. healthcare | HFMA). He makes a bold case for a mindset shift: treat physicians as the primary customers of health systems so they have the tools, staffing, and data to deliver better patient care. That shift informs smarter choices about enterprise tech, integrated AI, documentation, imaging, and revenue workflows that either free clinicians to practice medicine—or bury them in clicks and appeals.
Kaufman and Dr. Oskouian into the data debate around spine surgery and “low value care,” exploring how Medicare billing data, coding incentives, and risk profiles can warp conclusions. He argues for outcomes that blend patient-reported measures with wearable-driven biometrics—steps, mobility, vitals, adherence—paired with honest risk adjustment for complex cases. For patients trying to choose a surgeon, they offer a pragmatic playbook: prioritize volume, fellowship-trained teams, multidisciplinary pathways, and centers that live and breathe your specific procedure. And they get personal as Dr. Oskouian recounts a severe ski accident, the authorization gauntlet he faced despite insider knowledge, and the hard lesson that navigating networks can matter as much as medical expertise.
If you care about healthcare strategy, spine outcomes, physician leadership, or how to advocate for yourself when it counts, this conversation delivers grounded insight you can use. Subscribe, share with a friend who’s weighing surgery, and leave a review with your biggest question about choosing the right surgeon—we’ll dig into it on a future show.
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Season seven opens with a clear promise: fewer teams, more truth. We look straight at the incentives that keep America mad—legacy media chasing rage clicks, politicians swapping positions to score points, and a culture that treats every topic like a loyalty test—and we choose a different path. From the first minute, we ask whether the country is truly more divided or just more performative, and why the quiet middle is still hungry for facts, fairness, and practical wins that improve daily life.
We dig into the government shutdown without the typical theater, separate health policy myths from the calendar realities of ACA subsidies, and interrogate the state of media trust as CBS signals an editorial reset toward “news that reflects reality.” That flows into a wider conversation about borders and enforcement: rejecting both open-border slogans and heavy-handed raids, and arguing for humane, targeted systems with firm limits on executive tools. We revisit the lawfare spiral through the Comey saga and shifting intelligence narratives, making the case that equal standards and transparent testimony are the only route back to shared legitimacy. The same principle guides our take on the Epstein files: protect victims, release evidence, and be accountable—whoever it touches.
On the economy, we challenge the conflation of stock market highs and real wellbeing. AI enthusiasm may rhyme with past bubbles, while families still measure success by affordability, stability, and opportunity. We get specific about tariffs, rule certainty, and how dull-seeming policy architecture—like Canadian provincial liquor monopolies—can shape trade far more than speeches. Finally, we map the identity problems facing both parties: a GOP still orbiting Trump and Democrats stuck on questions many voters want answered in plain English. The answer isn’t new labels; it’s consistent principles. Defend civil liberties for everyone, talk policy over personality, and reward leaders who trade heat for light.
Join us as we build on a fiercely nonpartisan mission with sharper reporting, deeper policy focus, and a growing community that keeps us honest. Subscribe on Substack or your favorite app, share this episode with a friend who’s tired of outrage-as-a-service, and leave a review to help more listeners find the bridge.
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The money is already here—so why are the rules still stuck in limbo? We sit down with Tom Dieters to map how NIL evolved from booster-led collectives into university-controlled revenue sharing after House v. NCAA, and what that shift means for athletes across every sport. From donor intent getting sidelined by caps to student fees propping up compensation, we confront the uncomfortable question: if this is now a professional marketplace, who should set the rules and who should be accountable?
Tom explains the real NIL economy beyond the headlines, where most contracts land under $100,000 and often make the difference between staying enrolled and stepping away. We look at Michigan’s push to protect athlete earnings and limit external control, the growing call to recognize athletes as employees, and why a conference-level collective bargaining model may be the only way to reduce transfer chaos, guarantee health and education benefits, and provide fair floors for non‑revenue sports. Along the way, we connect donor-directed funding, transparent carve-outs, and practical contract tools—like buyouts and season-aligned transfer windows—to a more stable and honest system.
The takeaway is clear: college sports don’t need nostalgia for amateurism; they need professional governance that matches the money already in play. If you care about fairness for athletes, continuity for fans, and trust for donors and students, this conversation lays out a realistic path forward. If you enjoyed the episode, subscribe on Substack, leave a review, and share this with a friend who debates NIL at every tailgate. Your take—cap the market or bargain for balance?
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What's the secret to maintaining physician independence when 70% of doctors now work for corporations or health systems? Dr. Leo Spector, CEO of OrthoCarolina and practicing spine surgeon, offers a masterclass in healthcare leadership and strategic navigation of our complex medical landscape.
After 20 years as a spine surgeon, Dr. Spector has witnessed healthcare's digital transformation while confronting the harsh realities of diminishing physician autonomy. "The loss of autonomy has led to burnout," he explains. "Most physicians entered medicine to care for people and make decisions—not answer to checkboxes or non-peers reading from insurance criteria."
OrthoCarolina's success stems from what Dr. Spector calls their "privademic model," combining private practice independence with academic medicine's commitment to research and education. With 110 shareholders across 35 locations, they've maintained independence by rallying physicians around a greater mission while deploying effective physician leadership—what he humorously describes as "herding cats."
Perhaps most fascinating is OrthoCarolina's evolving "Switzerland strategy" for working with competing hospital systems. This neutral approach faces new challenges as Certificate of Need reforms allow independent surgery centers, creating what hospitals view as an existential threat. "Switzerland just got handed a nuclear bomb," Dr. Spector explains, "and everyone wants to know whose side we're on."
For patients navigating healthcare, particularly those with back pain, Dr. Spector offers practical wisdom: strengthen your core, maintain flexibility, consult experts rather than rely on misinformation, and view surgery as a last resort. These insights reveal why seeking guidance from healthcare insiders might be your most important medical decision.
Looking ahead, Dr. Spector sees healthcare at a tipping point—with an aging population, rising costs, physician shortages, and market forces constrained by government reimbursement structures. What's the solution? Subscribe to Healthcare Bridge for more insider perspectives on building a healthier future.
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Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson brings her vision for Michigan's future to The Common Bridge, outlining why she's running for governor in 2026 and what she hopes to accomplish for the state's citizens.
At the heart of Benson's campaign is a commitment to making Michigan "the best place to be a kid, raise a kid, and call home." As a mother raising an eight-year-old son in Detroit, she understands firsthand the challenges facing Michigan families. "The work we do over the next 10 years is going to define his future and the future of our loved ones throughout the state," she explains, highlighting the urgency behind her candidacy.
Affordability emerges as the cornerstone of Benson's platform. From cherry farmers in Traverse City who can't afford housing near their work to Detroit families struggling with utility bills, economic anxiety touches every corner of the state. Benson proposes tackling these challenges through strategic investments in affordable housing, healthcare access, and public education while making government work more efficiently for citizens—something she's demonstrated as Secretary of State by modernizing services and eliminating wait times.
The conversation explores Michigan's potential transformation from the "Rust Belt" to what Benson calls the "Innovation Belt." Her vision includes ambitious infrastructure projects like high-speed rail connecting major cities, making Michigan "the small business capital of the nation," and developing talent pipelines through education and workforce training. This economic strategy aims to reverse Michigan's population decline by creating communities where people want to build their futures.
What distinguishes Benson's approach is her commitment to collaboration across partisan lines. Having won her 2022 election by 14 points—carrying counties other Democrats couldn't win—she emphasizes the importance of listening to all voices and finding common ground. "No one party has all the ideas," she says, rejecting the polarization that dominates much of today's political discourse.
As Michigan's chief election officer who improved the state's ranking from 31st to 2nd in election administration, Benson understands how good governance builds trust. Her campaign represents an opportunity to demonstrate that politics can still be about solving problems rather than stoking division—a message that resonates in these challenging times.
Whether you're concerned about economic opportunity, education, infrastructure, or the political climate, Benson's conversation offers a thoughtful perspective on Michigan's challenges and potential solutions. Subscribe to The Common Bridge for more nonpartisan discussions exploring our shared political landscape.
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What does it take to transform a state facing serious economic and educational challenges? In this illuminating conversation, former Michigan House Speaker Tom Leonard outlines his vision for revitalizing Michigan as he campaigns for the governor's office.
Michigan's struggles are starkly quantified—ranking 49th in unemployment, near last in population growth, and facing an education crisis where only 25% of fourth graders read at grade level. But Leonard sees tremendous untapped potential in the state's natural resources, research institutions, and hardworking citizens. "This state has all the ingredients it needs for success," he explains. "We just need the right recipe, the right policy, and the right leadership."
Drawing from his experience as a prosecutor in Flint and his legislative accomplishments, Leonard presents specific solutions to Michigan's most pressing problems. His education plan draws inspiration from the "Mississippi Miracle" that transformed literacy rates through early assessment, targeted tutoring, and parental empowerment. For economic growth, he advocates reinstating right-to-work laws, implementing regulatory and licensure reform, and addressing the property tax burden that has many residents feeling "taxed out of their homes."
The conversation goes beyond standard talking points to explore innovative approaches to healthcare, environmental justice, and criminal justice reform. Leonard makes a compelling case for telehealth expansion, highlighting how tele-mental health services could reach every Michigan teenager for just $6 million—compared to $600 million for traditional in-school counselors. He also addresses environmental cleanup of the Rouge River as both an ecological necessity and a matter of social justice.
Throughout the discussion, Leonard emphasizes a positive, solutions-focused approach to governance that transcends partisan divides. "When a party is void of ideas, void of vision, and focused only on hatred of one person, they lose," he observes. His campaign offers an alternative centered on problem-solving and demonstrated success in bringing diverse stakeholders together.
Ready to learn more about a vision for Michigan that prioritizes education, affordability, and opportunity? Subscribe to The Common Bridge for more nonpartisan discussions on policies shaping our future.
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The assassination of Charlie Kirk has shaken our nation to its core, prompting a raw, emotional response from Rich Helppie in this urgent episode of The Common Bridge. Beyond expressing profound grief for Kirk's family and friends, Helppie grieves for America itself – a country increasingly torn apart by political violence and dehumanizing rhetoric.
With unflinching clarity, Helppie dissects how our political discourse has deteriorated to the point where bullets replace dialogue. He identifies a troubling pattern: public figures condemn violence while simultaneously qualifying their statements with justifications that essentially blame victims for provoking their attackers. This "it's not okay, but..." mentality reveals how deeply entrenched our tribal divisions have become.
Drawing from historical examples like the Civil War and World War II, Helppie reminds us that even the bloodiest conflicts ultimately end through conversation, not continued violence. Tribalism, left unchecked, ends only with the eradication of the opposing side – a path that leads to unspeakable suffering. Instead, he advocates for finding common ground on issues like immigration, healthcare, and free speech, emphasizing that extreme positions on either side offer false choices rather than workable solutions.
The episode concludes with a powerful call to action: turn away from rage-inducing media, abandon recycled partisan narratives, and engage in genuine conversations with those who hold different views. As Helppie puts it, "Quit thinking your tribe is going to win. All it will mean is more carnage." The path forward requires recognizing our shared humanity and working together to build the common bridge our divided nation desperately needs.
Subscribe to The Common Bridge on Substack.com or the Substack app to join this vital conversation about healing America's deepening divides. Your voice matters in creating the more perfect union we all deserve.
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What happens when healthcare experts become patients themselves? Dr. Jeff Goldsmith shares his transformative experience of undergoing five major surgeries in 29 months, revealing how it fundamentally altered his perspective after nearly five decades in healthcare. "I underestimated the degree to which patients are motivated by abject fear," he admits, noting that this fear encompasses both medical outcomes and financial ruin.
With almost a century of combined healthcare experience between them, host Nathan Kaufman and Dr. Goldsmith deliver a candid assessment of the American healthcare system at a critical crossroads. They sound the alarm on recent congressional actions they believe could create 15+ million newly uninsured Americans, expressing frustration at what Goldsmith calls a "lack of aggression" from healthcare leaders in confronting this reality. "It's the most significant threat I've seen in the industry in my 50 years," he warns.
The conversation dives deep into the structural problems plaguing healthcare: cost-shifting that threatens employer insurance, physician shortages exacerbated by administrative burdens, lengthy wait times for specialists, and Medicare and Medicaid programs that Goldsmith bluntly calls "a civic disgrace" due to their "absurd complexity." They explore potential solutions, including subscription-based payment models for chronic care, enhanced bundled payments for acute care, and the need to rethink how we fund uncompensated care.
Despite these challenges, Goldsmith concludes with unexpected optimism, pointing to scientific advances that could transform care within the next decade. "I look around and see all this cool stuff happening that nobody talks about," he says, offering a counterpoint to healthcare's prevailing negativity. As Kaufman reminds listeners, "If you have a healthcare issue, seek the guidance of an insider who truly understands how our crazy healthcare system works. Your life may depend on it."
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Drug pricing in America is a shell game where patients always lose. Healthcare Bridge host Nathan Kaufman and his guest Richard Helppie pull back the curtain on why Americans pay drastically more for the same medications than patients anywhere else in the world.
At the heart of this problem lies a fragmented system where the United States—effectively operating the world's largest health insurance company—somehow lacks the ability to negotiate bulk purchasing deals. While pharmaceutical companies claim high prices fund critical research, the conversation reveals how your money primarily finances the endless parade of drug advertisements dominating television commercial breaks.
The journey of a pill from factory to patient passes through multiple profit-extracting entities: manufacturers, wholesalers, and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). With three PBMs controlling 80% of drug distribution—all owned by insurance companies—conflicts of interest are baked into the system. Through revealing personal anecdotes, the hosts demonstrate how the same medication can cost $5 with one insurer, $330 with another, yet only $20 through Mark Cuban's pharmacy. Many Americans find it cheaper to purchase medications from Canadian pharmacies despite industry warnings about "dangerous" reimported drugs—even when those medications come from identical manufacturing facilities.
Recent policy proposals offer potential paths forward. The Biden administration's efforts to cap Medicare drug expenses met immediate legal challenges from pharmaceutical companies, while Trump's "most favored nation" pricing concept aims to standardize global medication costs. Medicare Part D represents a partial success story by forcing drug companies to negotiate with insurers, maintaining 95% subscriber satisfaction while running 40% below projected costs.
Healthcare policy requires informed leadership, but few politicians truly understand the system's complexities. If you or someone you love needs medical care, finding an insider who understands healthcare's nuances isn't just helpful—it could save your life. Subscribe to the Healthcare Bridge for more conversations that bridge gaps in our healthcare system and work toward solutions that benefit patients first.
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The college sports landscape is undergoing a revolution that few fans truly understand. In this eye-opening conversation, University of Michigan lecturer Greg Dooley breaks down the complex world of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) compensation that's transforming collegiate athletics from its century-old amateur foundations into something resembling professional sports.
Dooley expertly navigates the various ways today's college athletes receive compensation—from traditional scholarships to corporate sponsorships, booster-funded "collectives," and new revenue-sharing programs that allow schools to directly pay athletes up to $20.5 million annually. The financial implications are staggering, with even powerhouse programs like Michigan facing budget shortfalls and universities adding student fees to cover costs.
What makes this discussion particularly valuable is Dooley's balanced perspective on both benefits and concerns. While acknowledging that compensating athletes is fundamentally fair given their role in generating massive revenues, he highlights troubling consequences like the cutting of non-revenue sports and the thousands of athletes who enter the transfer portal only to end up without teams, scholarships, or educational opportunities.
Most compelling is Dooley's insight into the potential future of college athletics. Will top programs eventually break away to form professional minor leagues affiliated with universities? How will the relationship between academics and athletics evolve? And who should bear responsibility for developing future professional athletes—universities or the leagues that ultimately benefit from their training?
Whether you're a die-hard sports fan or simply interested in the changing economics of higher education, this conversation provides crucial context for understanding a transformation that extends far beyond the playing field. Subscribe to The Common Bridge for more thoughtful, nonpartisan discussions that bridge the divide on today's most important issues.
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Are you getting what you pay for with your Medicare plan? This eye-opening conversation between healthcare insiders Nathan Kaufman and Rich Helppie pulls back the curtain on what they provocatively call "Medicare Disadvantage" plans.
When something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Medicare Advantage plans tempt seniors with zero premiums, dental coverage, vision benefits, and even gym memberships. But these apparent perks mask a troubling reality: significantly restricted healthcare options when serious illness strikes. Our experts explain how insurance companies profit from delaying and denying care while creating increasingly narrow provider networks that limit access to specialists and top medical centers.
The most alarming revelation? The trap many seniors find themselves in when they discover these limitations. Once enrolled in Medicare Advantage, leaving becomes nearly impossible if you develop a serious condition, as new supplemental plans can exclude pre-existing conditions. Meanwhile, those with Traditional Medicare maintain freedom to choose providers nationwide, including prestigious research hospitals like Mayo Clinic or MD Anderson, without administrative barriers or insurance company gatekeepers.
For anyone approaching Medicare eligibility or reconsidering their current coverage, this episode provides crucial guidance. Our experts recommend a clear path: Medicare Parts A, B, and D, plus a comprehensive Medigap policy. While this combination involves upfront premiums, it offers something priceless: control over your healthcare decisions precisely when you need it most.
Subscribe to Healthcare Bridge on your favorite podcast platforms or find us at the Common Bridge on Substack to continue exploring the vital connections shaping our healthcare landscape. Your health decisions matter—make them with complete information.
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Ever wondered how a successful women's magazine writer and humor columnist became one of Substack's most incisive media critics? Jenna McCarthy never planned to write about "government corruption, health policy, and politics" - she was perfectly content crafting witty pieces about relationships and lifestyle topics for major publications. Then COVID happened, and suddenly McCarthy found herself questioning policies that "weren't making sense" and facing social media suspensions for her skepticism.
McCarthy's journey from mainstream publishing to independent journalism mirrors the broader transformation happening across the media landscape. With refreshing candor and razor-sharp humor, she dissects how traditional news outlets have abandoned objective reporting in favor of narrative advancement. "When I was growing up," McCarthy reflects, "never once did it occur to me that the news was anything other than fact." That assumption has been thoroughly shattered.
Through specific examples - from selective coverage of political scandals to disturbing revelations about organ harvesting practices - McCarthy and host Rich Helppie explore the systematic ways that important information is kept from public view. Their conversation reveals how humor can function as a powerful antidote to gaslighting, allowing audiences to process difficult truths while maintaining their sanity. As McCarthy explains, her readers tell her: "I stopped reading the news because I can't handle all that negativity. But now I don't have to watch it - Jenna will watch it and summarize it in a way that I can laugh but also know what's going on."
Whether discussing the college debt crisis, media bias in political coverage, or her upcoming books on overlooked medical treatments, McCarthy demonstrates how independent voices are filling crucial information gaps left by mainstream outlets. For anyone concerned about finding truth in a post-facts world, this conversation offers both insights and hope.
Subscribe to find more conversations that bridge political divides and explore important issues with depth, nuance, and occasional laughter.
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The fundamental flaw in American healthcare might be hiding in your benefits package. In this compelling conversation, host Nathan Kaufman and Common Bridge's Rich Helppie challenge the very foundation of how most Americans receive health coverage.
"It needs to go the route of the company car," argues Helppie about employer-sponsored health insurance. The hosts dissect how the current system creates profound inequalities – where two neighbors with similar jobs can receive drastically different coverage quality while enjoying the same tax benefits. They explore the troubling reality that when you're too sick to work or too old to remain employed, you lose your coverage precisely when you need it most.
The conversation reveals disturbing truths about healthcare economics. Insurance companies refer to spending on your medical care as a "medical loss" – highlighting a system designed around shareholder returns rather than patient needs. With family coverage now averaging $25,000 annually (before copays and deductibles) and projected to double within five to seven years, the hosts argue our current trajectory is unsustainable.
Kaufman and Helppie outline potential alternatives, from individual tax credits to consolidating existing government programs into universal coverage. They address the critical need to adjust reimbursement rates and eliminate the cross-subsidization where commercial plans compensate for underfunded government programs. Most importantly, they emphasize finding trustworthy healthcare insiders who can help navigate what they describe as an "asymmetrical market" where medical professionals possess far more knowledge than patients about necessary care.
Subscribe to the Healthcare Bridge on Substack, YouTube, or your favorite podcast platform to join this crucial conversation about reimagining American healthcare for a more equitable and sustainable future.
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When did healthcare marketing become so disconnected from the people it needs to reach? Brandon Edwards, founder of Unlock Health and a 30-year veteran in healthcare marketing, joins us for a provocative conversation about why traditional approaches are failing in what he calls "the post-truth era."
Edwards reveals a startling reality: roughly half the population deeply distrusts institutions and experts – the very foundation of most healthcare marketing. "There's about half the population that has a heavy distrust of institutions and experts, and if you're a healthcare provider, you're marketing on behalf of an institution and featuring experts in white coats," Edwards explains. This tribal division requires fundamentally different approaches to connect with skeptical audiences.
We tackle the controversial practice of hospitals sponsoring professional sports teams and stadiums – with some organizations spending upwards of $50 million on these arrangements. Are these investments justified when healthcare systems face unprecedented financial pressures? Edwards questions whether these high-profile sponsorships effectively reach new patients or merely reinforce negative stereotypes about healthcare spending.
The conversation dives deep into the increasingly adversarial relationship between healthcare providers and insurance companies. As Edwards bluntly states, "The entire healthcare system is designed for insurance companies – it's their world and we're just living in it." This power imbalance has created a system where providers struggle for sustainability while payers extract enormous profits as middlemen.
For healthcare leaders navigating these challenges, Edwards offers practical guidance: eliminate non-essential services, develop real-time measurement dashboards, and craft marketing that resonates with diverse audiences through authentic messengers they trust. Most importantly, organizations must recognize that commercially-insured patients subsidize their broader mission – making effective marketing to these groups essential for long-term survival.
With Medicare facing insolvency within 7-8 years and recent budget cuts threatening to increase the uninsured population, this conversation couldn't be more timely. What will it take for our healthcare system to evolve beyond its current dysfunctional state? Listen now to explore potential paths forward.
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The American healthcare payment system isn't just broken—it's a non-system that systematically fails providers and patients while generating enormous profits for middlemen. The Healthcare Bridge host Nathan Kaufman and his guest Rich Helppie cut through partisan talking points to expose the real impact of recent Medicaid funding changes that threaten to destabilize healthcare nationwide.
They unpack the complex provider tax mechanism that states have relied on to patch Medicaid's chronic underfunding. With Medicaid typically reimbursing only 70 cents per dollar of costs, these taxes have been lifelines, not loopholes. The new legislation's gradual reduction of this funding stream creates staggering budget gaps—$40 billion in Michigan, $226 billion in California over the next decade—with far-reaching consequences beyond just healthcare access.
The ripple effects extend to state employee health benefits, which will likely face cuts as states scramble to address budget shortfalls. Meanwhile, new work requirements for Medicaid recipients (80 monthly hours of employment or volunteer work with semi-annual requalification) will create wasteful bureaucracy that historically fails to achieve intended outcomes, potentially pushing 11 million Americans into uninsured status.
Perhaps most telling is the misguided $50 billion allocation for rural hospitals, which fails to address their actual problem: insufficient private insurance reimbursement rates. With Medicare Advantage plans already squeezing rural providers with payments 10-20% below traditional Medicare rates, these hospitals face a perfect financial storm that this Band-Aid approach cannot remedy.
This conversation illuminates the healthcare triangle—cost, quality, and access—showing how reduced funding inevitably diminishes either quality, access, or both. Want to understand what's really happening beneath the political posturing and how it affects your healthcare? Listen now and join the conversation about real solutions for America's healthcare crisis.
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Garlin Gilchrist II, Michigan's Lieutenant Governor and gubernatorial candidate, shares how his unique background as a software engineer and tech entrepreneur shapes his vision for the state's future. This fascinating conversation reveals how engineering principles can transform governance and policy-making.
"Being an engineer, you learn to be a problem solver," Gilchrist explains, drawing parallels between fixing broken systems and addressing Michigan's challenges. With experience at Microsoft and multiple tech startups before entering politics, he brings a refreshingly analytical approach to public service rarely found among elected officials.
Gilchrist outlines his major accomplishments, including a landmark $250 million investment in affordable housing and establishing 40 mental health clinics statewide through the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Program. His creation of Michigan's automatic criminal record expungement program—the Clean Slate Program—has helped over 330,000 people gain access to jobs, housing, and education opportunities previously denied them because of past mistakes.
The conversation delves into Michigan's unique assets: unparalleled engineering talent, abundant natural resources (including 21% of the world's fresh water), and the nation's second most diverse agricultural economy. Gilchrist articulates how these advantages position Michigan for leadership in emerging sectors like clean energy, agricultural technology, and creative industries—if the right leadership is in place.
Drawing from personal experience leaving Michigan after college for better opportunities elsewhere, Gilchrist speaks passionately about creating an environment where young talent stays and thrives. "I want everyone to feel, know and experience Michigan being the best place to have an idea," he shares, outlining initiatives like the Michigan Innovation Fund that support local entrepreneurs.
Ready to learn more about Gilchrist's vision for Michigan? Visit garlingilchrist.com and join the conversation about building a Michigan where everyone can stay and succeed.
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What happens when you put one of America's leading healthcare governance experts in conversation with a veteran industry insider? You get a rare, unfiltered look behind the curtain of hospital boardrooms where life-and-death decisions get made every day.
Jamie Orlikoff, renowned governance consultant and active health system board member, joins host Nathan Kaufman to reveal the dramatic transformation of healthcare governance from ceremonial volunteer boards to professionalized leadership structures. With startling candor, Orlikoff explains that what once made hospital boards work—community connections and social relationships—now often prevents them from making necessary but difficult decisions.
The conversation exposes the paradoxes at the heart of American healthcare: hospitals becoming larger yet operating on thinner margins; costs rising for consumers while systems struggle financially; everyone demanding lower prices until it affects services they personally need. "Everybody hates hospitals until they need them," Orlikoff observes, capturing the fundamental tension healthcare leaders must navigate.
Most provocatively, Orlikoff reveals that only about 5% of hospital boards currently operate at the level of "best governance practices" needed to address today's healthcare challenges. The majority function at merely "good" or "normative" levels—an approach increasingly insufficient as financial pressures mount and quality concerns persist. With medical errors remaining the third leading cause of death in America, the stakes couldn't be higher.
You'll learn why more health systems are recruiting directors from outside their communities, why board compensation has become the norm rather than the exception, and why the traditional volunteer model is giving way to professional governance structures that can make tough decisions when necessary.
Whether you work in healthcare, serve on a board, or simply want to understand how hospital decisions affect your care options, this episode provides an insider's guide to the hidden power structures shaping American healthcare. Subscribe now and join us as we build bridges toward a healthier future.
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When half the streetlights in Detroit were dark and the city led America in homicide, poverty, and unemployment, Mike Duggan stepped up to lead its transformation. Now, after 12 years of progress as Detroit's mayor, he's taking aim at Michigan's partisan gridlock with an independent run for governor.
"Every time the Republicans and Democrats switch control in Lansing, they change the rules," Duggan explains, describing how Michigan's education system has suffered through constant policy whiplash. The result? A state that has plummeted from 19th to 44th nationally in fourth-grade reading proficiency. This pattern repeats across critical issues from infrastructure to economic development, with each party undoing the other's work rather than building sustainable solutions.
Duggan's approach stands apart from the typical campaign playbook. Rather than targeting the opposing party, he's drawing crowds of voters fed up with partisan battles. At his events, Republicans and Democrats find themselves in the same room, often surprised to discover common ground with neighbors they'd previously seen only through a political lens. "You've got the only political group in the country where there are smiles at the meetings," one reporter observed.
The Detroit mayor brings substantial credentials to his gubernatorial bid. Under his leadership, the city emerged from bankruptcy to become a model of urban renewal, with rejuvenated neighborhoods, reduced crime, and even population growth after decades of decline. His administration has invested $1.5 billion in affordable housing while attracting manufacturing and technology companies back to the city. Most importantly, he's achieved these results by building consensus rather than exploiting division.
Looking toward Michigan's future, Duggan envisions a government focused on practical solutions to shared challenges: rebuilding the energy grid, improving education, addressing the housing affordability crisis, and creating an economy that keeps young talent in Michigan. His campaign represents not just a bid for office, but a test of whether voters are ready for leadership that transcends partisan lines and delivers meaningful results.
Want to hear more conversations that cut through partisan noise? Subscribe to the Common Bridge on Substack or wherever you get your podcasts.
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Get ready for two power-packed days of essential conversations when I take over hosting duties at WJR, the Great Voice of the Great Lakes! Mark your calendars for June 23rd and 24th, from 2-4pm Eastern Time, as we spotlight the critical issues shaping Michigan's communities.
We'll dive deep into healthcare challenges and opportunities with renowned expert Nate Kaufman, whose insights have guided healthcare institutions nationwide. Michigan's Lieutenant Governor Garland Gilchrist joins us to discuss his vision as he campaigns to become the state's next governor. The connection between housing policy and community wellbeing takes center stage with Greg Colburn, while Chris Allen unpacks the complex social determinants affecting health outcomes and Medicaid systems.
Our mental health focus features Judge Milton Mack, who'll provide updates on legislation moving through Michigan's chambers – a timely discussion as communities nationwide confront growing mental health challenges. Economic concerns get attention when Bill Wild breaks down how tariffs impact retailers and consumers. Education takes the spotlight with NPR's Steve Drummond and Val Orr, whose experience as both superintendent and principal brings practical wisdom to our conversation about the future of learning.
Join these essential discussions by tuning in to AM760, visiting WJR.com, downloading the WJR Player app, or streaming through iHeartRadio and Google Play. These conversations about policies and systems affecting daily life are too important to miss – be part of the dialogue as we bridge divides and explore solutions to our most pressing challenges.
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What does Michigan need in its next governor? Sheriff Chris Swanson believes it's someone who can protect, serve, and unify.
The Genesee County Sheriff joins The Common Bridge to outline his vision as a Democratic candidate for Michigan's 2026 gubernatorial race. Drawing from his 33 years in law enforcement and extensive background in education and emergency medicine, Swanson offers a refreshingly practical approach to the state's most pressing challenges.
Michigan stands at a crossroads. With declining population, housing shortages, and an education system ranked 39th nationally, the state needs leadership that transcends partisan divides. Swanson's candidacy emerges from this landscape with a focus on unity without demanding uniformity – recognizing that diverse perspectives strengthen rather than weaken our communities.
His innovative approaches to persistent problems showcase his leadership style. The "Ignite" program, which has transformed education in jails across 23% of states, demonstrates how innovative thinking can break cycles of incarceration. His proposal to expand career training to middle school addresses the skills gap plaguing Michigan's workforce. His commitment to building 140,000 new homes acknowledges the housing crisis facing families throughout the state.
Perhaps most compelling is Swanson's response to the 2020 protests, when he chose to walk with demonstrators rather than confront them. This moment exemplifies his leadership philosophy: listen first, find common ground, and work toward solutions that benefit everyone. "Nobody can convince me that unity can't be done," he asserts. "It just needs strong leadership."
As Michigan prepares for the post-Whitmer era, Swanson offers voters a candidate focused on practical solutions rather than partisan talking points. His message resonates beyond party lines: protect what matters most, serve as a servant leader, and build bridges across divides.
Want to see Michigan thrive again? Join the conversation about what leadership should look like in 2026. Subscribe to The Common Bridge for more nonpartisan discussions that challenge conventional political wisdom.
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America stands at a crossroads as Marines deploy on the streets of Los Angeles. This gripping analysis examines whether we're witnessing the early stages of a modern civil war or something else entirely. The evidence is sobering: combat-trained Marines entering densely populated urban areas, coordinated opposition with pre-positioned supplies, and definitions of conflict that match our current situation with disturbing accuracy.
At the heart of this crisis lies America's immigration dilemma. Millions entered the country under what appeared to be an open invitation, seeking better lives only to become pawns in an escalating political battle. Now, as deportation policies move forward, battle lines are drawn between federal authorities and local governments. CBS News polling reveals the stark partisan divide fueling this conflict – 93% of Republicans support current deportation efforts while 82% of Democrats oppose them. This leaves political leaders like Governor Newsom and Mayor Bass trapped by their bases, unable to compromise without significant political fallout.
Where do we go from here? The episode explores multiple potential outcomes ranging from military confrontation to diplomatic resolution. The most disturbing possibility is an endless quagmire that drains public support and creates generational conflict. A negotiated settlement between federal and state authorities offers the most humane path forward, but requires leaders willing to risk political capital for the greater good. As partisan extremes tear at America's fabric, this nonpartisan analysis offers sober reflection on how we might step back from the brink before more blood is shed. Previous episodes from 2020-2021 warned about these exact scenarios – now they're unfolding before our eyes. The question remains: can we find common ground before it's too late?
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What happens when a state that was once the crown jewel of American prosperity finds itself near the bottom in employment, education, and population growth? Former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox believes it's time for a dramatic course correction, and he's running for governor to make it happen.
The son of immigrants who chose Michigan in the 1950s because it was "the greatest state in America," Cox paints a stark picture of Michigan's decline. Today, the state ranks second-worst in unemployment, loses more young people than almost any other state, and sees its fourth-graders reading at levels only surpassed in underperformance by Alaska and New Mexico. Most painfully for Cox, three of his four children have left Michigan, with one choosing Mississippi where, surprisingly, her children now receive better education than kids in his Michigan neighborhood.
Cox's revitalization plan centers on two bold economic policies: eliminating the state income tax and reinstating right-to-work legislation. He points to compelling evidence that the eleven most prosperous states share one feature – they don't tax income. "If we're a society that values work," Cox argues, "that should be the last thing we tax." For workers, he believes freedom of choice should extend to union membership, creating an environment that welcomes all job creators, not just those creating union positions.
Beyond economics, Cox challenges conventional wisdom on education and diversity. After 50+ years of DEI programs at institutions like the University of Michigan, he notes African American enrollment has increased only marginally despite massive investment. His alternative approach focuses on fundamental educational improvements and merit-based opportunities like accepting the top 10% of graduates from every Michigan high school.
With Michigan positioned as a critical battleground in 2026, Cox brings a unique background as both successful public servant and entrepreneur. From Marine squad leader to homicide prosecutor, from two-term Attorney General to business owner who's met payroll and created jobs, Cox believes his proven leadership can restore Michigan's rightful place as a state where children can expect to do better than their parents.
Ready to see Michigan reclaim its status as the best state in America? Explore Mike's vision at MikeCox2026.com and join the movement to raise expectations for Michigan's future.
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The $84 billion question haunting American healthcare takes center stage as Nathan Kaufman returns to unpack the bombshell criminal investigation into UnitedHealthcare's alleged Medicare fraud. Drawing from his 48 years of healthcare expertise, Kaufman reveals the troubling mechanics behind how the nation's largest insurer potentially manipulated the Medicare Advantage system through aggressive "upcoding" – artificially inflating patient illness scores to extract higher government payments.
This eye-opening conversation exposes the stark reality that UnitedHealthcare somehow generated a staggering 95% of all Medicare Advantage profits in 2024, raising serious questions about their operational practices compared to competitors. We dive deep into the company's concerning denial patterns, where approximately one in ten Medicare Advantage claims gets rejected, yet when patients fight back, 70-80% of appeals succeed – suggesting many initial denials lack merit.
Beyond the investigation itself, we explore the fundamental conflict at the heart of our healthcare system: the misaligned incentives that reward denying care rather than providing it. As Kaufman aptly describes healthcare as "the largest segment of the largest economy in the history of the world," we confront the uncomfortable truth that 24 cents of every federal dollar now flows into a system that too often prioritizes corporate profits over patient wellbeing. Whether you're concerned about healthcare costs, insurance practices, or the future of Medicare and Medicaid, this conversation offers crucial insights into how the complexity and opacity of our healthcare system benefits powerful interests while leaving patients vulnerable. Subscribe now to join our growing community of listeners seeking fiercely nonpartisan analysis of today's most pressing issues.
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The global economy stands at a crossroads as tariffs reshape international trade, and few understand these seismic shifts better than Bill Michels, returning to The Common Bridge with crucial insights on what's happening at our ports, in manufacturing, and throughout supply chains worldwide.
Shipping containers sit idle at major ports like Los Angeles and Houston as businesses hesitate to import goods, unsure what tariffs they'll face. "Tariffs are breaking the shipping model," Michels explains. "We're not just paying more, we're seeing fewer goods shipped." This uncertainty creates a troubling ripple effect - customs backlogs delay product releases, truck drivers lose loads, and consumers face higher prices or empty shelves.
Perhaps most provocative is Michels' assessment of reshoring manufacturing. While tariffs might indeed bring factories back to American soil, he forcefully challenges the notion this will create significant employment: "If I'm going to reinvest in a factory, it's going to be lights out, automated. I'm going to use robots that work 24-7, don't have union problems, and I'm not going to hire tons of people." He cites GE's billion-dollar automated factory and Taiwan Semiconductor's Arizona plant as examples of modern manufacturing that creates minimal jobs despite massive investment.
The conversation takes fascinating detours into how AI is transforming business negotiations (Michels' company has developed negotiation-training avatars) and the complex interplay between immigration policies and economic outcomes. As agricultural workers face deportation amidst existing labor shortages, Michels warns we could see both inflation and reduced GDP as labor-intensive industries struggle to find workers.
Join us for this thought-provoking discussion that cuts through political rhetoric to examine the real-world consequences of trade policies. Whether you're a business owner navigating supply chain disruptions or simply curious about how global trade impacts your daily life, this episode delivers crucial context for understanding our economic future.
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Professor Jesse Kaufman returns to The Common Bridge to deliver a sobering assessment of the Ukraine-Russia war three years after the invasion began. What started as a discussion about territorial disputes has revealed itself as something far more fundamental: Russia's existential denial of Ukrainian nationhood.
Kaufman shatters common misconceptions about the conflict, explaining that contrary to popular belief, NATO expansion didn't trigger the war. Rather, Ukraine sought NATO protection only after Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. The professor offers rare perspective on both Ukrainian resilience and Russian strategic failures, drawing from his extensive regional expertise and recent visits to Poland where he witnessed the refugee crisis firsthand—notably populated almost exclusively by women and children, as Ukrainian men remained to fight.
The conversation takes a particularly revealing turn when examining President Zelensky's precarious position. "Zelensky is a dead man," Kaufman states bluntly, explaining why Ukraine's leader faces permanent FSB targeting regardless of the war's outcome. This existential threat explains why Zelensky famously declared "I'm not playing cards" during his controversial White House meeting—a statement mockingly misinterpreted by many observers.
Perhaps most concerning is Kaufman's assessment of Europe's defense capabilities. Despite pledges to increase military spending, European nations have become "thoroughly civilianized," lacking both the will and capability to defend themselves without American support. As Kaufman puts it, "I just don't see Jens from West Berlin trying to stab somebody in a trench in East Ukraine."
For anyone seeking to understand why this conflict defies simple diplomatic solutions, this conversation provides profound insights into why, for Ukrainians, this truly is a fight for "existence or annihilation." Subscribe to The Common Bridge for more nuanced, nonpartisan discussions on today's most pressing geopolitical challenges.
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A refreshing voice cuts through the noise of gender politics as Larry Shell, a self-described "TERG" (Trans-Exclusionary Radical Gay), shares his journey from recognizing his homosexuality in sixth grade to finding his authentic voice in today's complex discussions about gender and sexuality.
Larry's story begins in 1970s Chicago where, unlike many of his peers, he recognized his same-sex attraction early. "I understood what the culture was saying and I understood who I was and I chose me and decided that this is who I am, and the culture be damned," he explains. This early self-acceptance shaped his path through the Navy (until his discharge for homosexuality), his eventual 28-year nursing career, and now his writing on Substack.
What makes Larry's perspective particularly valuable is his ability to combine personal experience, medical knowledge, and careful observation. He articulates a view increasingly shared by many in the LGB community who feel their concerns have been sidelined in the rush to embrace gender ideology. Larry identifies four distinct groups currently labeled under the trans umbrella, each with different motivations and challenges that require nuanced approaches rather than one-size-fits-all affirmation.
Perhaps most striking is Larry's challenge to the modern demand for external validation. Drawing from his own experience growing up without affirmation, he questions whether constant external validation should be necessary for a secure identity. "I didn't rely on affirmation from people around me, and I still don't need affirmation," he notes, suggesting that true self-acceptance comes from within rather than from society's approval.
For anyone seeking thoughtful perspectives beyond the usual polarized debate, this conversation offers a refreshing middle ground that combines respect for individuals with recognition of biological reality. Follow Larry Shell on his Substack "Renz in the Woods" to continue exploring these important discussions.
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Fierce nonpartisanship meets listener curiosity in this mailbag episode where Richard Helppie tackles tough questions spanning economics, social policy, and political comparisons with refreshing candor.
When a listener asks whether recent stock market gyrations prove Trump's policies are "all wrong," Helppie cuts through the binary thinking to explore how markets react primarily to uncertainty rather than specific ideological positions. "The stock market doesn't like uncertainty and if one thing this Trump administration is giving the investing markets is a lot of uncertainty, they don't know how to invest," he explains, highlighting how sentiment drives current market conditions despite solid economic fundamentals.
The conversation ventures into controversial territory with questions about transgender issues, Social Security sustainability, and Trump-Hitler comparisions. Rather than retreating to partisan talking points, Helpe navigates these topics with nuance—distinguishing between adult autonomy and concerning medicalization of youth, explaining Social Security's function as an intergenerational transfer system rather than personal savings, and acknowledging political parallels that demand vigilance without indulging in hyperbole. This balanced approach exemplifies the show's commitment to substantive analysis over tribal positioning.
Perhaps most compelling is Helppie's perspective on tariffs and immigration enforcement, where he uses concrete examples like baseball manufacturing costs to illustrate complex economic relationships and acknowledges the human impact of deportation policies while questioning the wisdom of previous border approaches. The episode concludes with a powerful reminder that partisan battles in Washington distract from addressing fundamental challenges affecting everyday Americans. "No one's out there fighting for us," Helppie notes, calling listeners to engage across political divides to find common solutions on healthcare, affordability, and environmental concerns. For those exhausted by polarized discourse but hungry for thoughtful analysis, The Common Bridge continues to offer a refreshing alternative.
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Dr. James Baker delivers a masterclass in scientific clarity as he breaks down what we truly know about COVID-19, vaccines, and our healthcare system's deepest challenges. With decades of experience as a physician, immunologist, and vaccine researcher, Dr. Baker provides a refreshingly honest assessment that cuts through political noise with precision and expertise.
The conversation begins with a fascinating explanation of how vaccines helped accelerate natural immunity during the pandemic: "What the vaccines really did was keep people from being sick and dying." Dr. Baker walks us through the evidence showing how immunization drove the evolution of COVID into a more contagious but less deadly form - exactly what we'd expect as a virus adapts to a population developing immunity.
What makes this episode exceptional is Dr. Baker's willingness to acknowledge uncertainties, particularly regarding childhood COVID vaccination. "The jury is still out entirely on young children," he admits, highlighting how the scientific community must continue evaluating data rather than clinging to absolutes. This intellectual honesty extends to his critique of nonsensical pandemic restrictions that undermined public trust - from arbitrary store aisle closures to performative masking rules with no scientific basis.
Perhaps most compelling is Dr. Baker's warning about our healthcare system's fundamental flaws. He describes how unnecessary middlemen extract billions while adding minimal value, creating a Byzantine financing structure that fails patients. With RFK Jr. potentially heading HHS, Dr. Baker offers measured concerns about leadership lacking deep understanding of healthcare economics. Meanwhile, environmental threats like microplastics accumulating in human brains may ultimately prove more dangerous than the vaccine side effects that dominate public discourse.
Join us for this essential conversation that transcends partisan talking points to deliver something increasingly rare: expert analysis grounded in both scientific rigor and practical wisdom about the health challenges facing our society.
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Author and educator Paul Cumbo joins us to shed light on the contemporary challenges faced by young men in a rapidly evolving world. He offers a treasure trove of encouragement and practical advice drawn from his two decades of experience. Our conversation navigates the complex terrain of building self-knowledge, emotional intelligence, and healthy relationships, underscoring the indispensable need for strong role models and a solid moral foundation. As parents, teachers, and mentors focus on nurturing the next generation, this dialogue provides essential insights into guiding young men toward becoming their best selves amidst the shifting sands of modern masculinity.
As we explore the redefinition of masculinity in today's society, we confront the shifts in traditional gender roles and the broader cultural changes affecting young men. Acknowledging the strides made towards gender balance, we discuss the potential pitfalls of overcorrection and the disengagement some young men experience. This episode is a clarion call to recognize the importance of both emotional fluency and traditional masculine traits, which help young men navigate their identities in a world that often feels fragmented. Through this lens, the conversation aims to inspire young men to forge meaningful connections and find their place beyond outdated stereotypes.
The journey continues with an exploration of faith, fatherhood, and the transition to adulthood. Drawing inspiration from historical figures like Aristotle and Viktor Frankl, we discuss how true freedom is found in embracing responsibilities and commitments. Paul's insights into balancing affirmation and challenge in education illuminate the path to realizing one's full potential. Through personal stories and experiences, we reveal the shared aspirations that unite us and the hopeful possibilities that lie ahead, offering a beacon of guidance for young men seeking deeper fulfillment and growth.
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Ready to challenge your perspectives on government efficiency and economic resilience? Join us for a compelling conversation with Kerry Killinger, co-author of "Nothing is Too Big to Fail," as we question the true impact of federal workforce reductions on national unemployment and explore the potential fallout from dismantling entire departments like the Department of Education. With Washington, D.C. possibly facing significant consequences, we navigate the complex dynamics of federal employment and the conceivable shift of educational functions to state and local jurisdictions.
Our discussion doesn't stop there. We tackle the bureaucratic inertia plaguing the United States Postal Service and ponder how public sector delivery could learn from the private sector's efficiency models. As we explore the potential of remote work and its implications on federal agency performance, we draw intriguing parallels with industry leaders like SpaceX and Amazon. The conversation delves into the military's use of technology, reimagining education with vouchers and charter schools, and the importance of measurable outcomes in government spending.
In a broader economic context, we offer insightful analysis of current GDP growth, inflation, and the looming threat of economic bubbles. Examine the ripple effects of COVID-era federal spending, low savings rates, and rising credit card debt while considering the consequences of wealth transfer from baby boomers. We also highlight the transformative power of AI and quantum computing in driving productivity, advocating for policy decisions that foster innovation and economic growth. With a focus on staying competitive in a rapidly evolving landscape, we underscore the timeless value of marketable skills and financial prudence.
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In this conclusion of the conversation that began with Episode 262, prepare to rethink everything you know about the American healthcare landscape as we sit down with esteemed guests Dr. Barry Meisenberg and Dr. Matthew Nathan. With candid insights, they help us untangle the chaotic initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the eventual pivot towards evidence-based interventions. Discover how government programs played a double-edged role in sustaining physician practices, and why the term "heroes" for healthcare workers might need a reevaluation. Dr. Nathan passionately argues for healthcare as a pillar of national strength, calling for enhanced surge capacity to brace for future emergencies.
Journey through the tangled web of healthcare technology and communication, particularly the vaccine discourse that saved lives yet stirred fear and misinformation. Our guests help us navigate the aftermath of communication missteps that have eroded trust, potentially reigniting old foes like measles and polio. Reflect with us on the importance of clear, balanced messaging to foster a more informed public dialogue amid today's politically charged climate.
Finally, we tackle the pressing need to overhaul the healthcare system, ensuring fair access and reasonable costs. Dr. Meisenberg and Dr. Nathan challenge the adversarial dynamics between providers and insurers and highlight the demoralization of physicians caught in the crossfire. By advocating for systemic change, they outline how aligning incentives and focusing on preventative care could transform the healthcare ecosystem. Join us for a thought-provoking discussion on promoting physician leadership, enhancing healthcare equity, and creating a system that prioritizes patients over diseases.
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How can we transform the U.S. healthcare system into one that prioritizes both patient-provider relationships and equitable access to care? Join us for a compelling conversation with healthcare visionaries Dr. David Harlan, Dr. Barry Meisenberg, and Admiral Matt Nathan as we navigate the complexities of modern healthcare. Learn from Dr. Harlan's call for a shift towards chronic disease management and health promotion, while Admiral Nathan scrutinizes how business practices shape healthcare delivery. Discover Dr. Meisenberg's concept of salutogenesis, advocating for a system that fosters health creation rather than just disease treatment.
As we explore the evolving landscape of healthcare delivery, the conversation touches on emerging trends like "partialism" where new physicians seek structured work schedules, and how this intersects with the rise of concierge medicine. We critique the systemic failures that result in unequal access to care, highlighted by stark lifespan disparities in neighboring zip codes. Through a historical lens, we examine the prioritization of financial incentives over preventive care and underscore the need for aligning approaches that support equitable healthcare access.
Tune in as we scrutinize the administrative burdens of multiple insurers and consider the potential of a single-payer system. Reflect on the lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on healthcare models, from chaotic initial responses to the eventual implementation of evidence-based practices. With insights into healthcare investments and technologies, we emphasize maintaining compassionate patient care amidst technological advances. The episode concludes with a focus on the altruism of young healthcare professionals committed to driving meaningful change, advocating for a healthcare system that guarantees quality care for all.
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What if the biggest infrastructure overhaul in the U.S. since the interstate highway system is happening right now? Join us on the Common Bridge as we sit down with Professor Rick Geddes from Cornell University, a leading expert with an eye-opening perspective on the future of infrastructure policy. Professor Geddes enlightens us on the sweeping changes brought by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Chips and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act. These legislative initiatives represent a historic investment in the nation's infrastructure, reshaping sectors from transportation to energy, while also highlighting the necessity for strategic and long-term project planning.
The infrastructure landscape is witnessing a quiet technological revolution, and we explore the latest innovations shaping this transformation. From elastic concrete additives to drones revolutionizing inspections, the adoption of these cutting-edge technologies faces hurdles, particularly among smaller public entities. We dive into the concept of future-proofing procurement contracts, a strategic approach to ensure the integration of innovations and transferring risks to private partners. As these advancements unfold, we explore the promise they hold for boosting efficiency and sustainability in infrastructure management.
Our conversation also ventures into the critical aspects of infrastructure maintenance and the role of public-private partnerships in driving progress. Professor Geddes shares insights into the challenges and opportunities in renewable energy infrastructure, emphasizing the need for comprehensive lifecycle planning. We highlight the significant role of diverse career paths within the sector, encouraging a new generation of professionals to contribute meaningfully. With a mix of optimism and realism, we discuss ensuring basic services for all communities and the moral imperative of universal service, envisioning a future where infrastructure becomes a catalyst for economic growth and public well-being.
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Unlock the secrets of healthcare economics with renowned expert Nate Kaufman of Kaufman Strategic Advisors. Join us as we explore the powerful role played by UnitedHealthcare—the largest private healthcare conglomerate in the U.S. Discover how UnitedHealthcare shapes insurance coverage, pharmacy benefit management, and healthcare services. We'll examine the complexities of employer-sponsored healthcare and discuss the ethical dilemmas tied to profit incentives in healthcare spending. Nate's insights shed light on how these factors impact patient care and the broader healthcare system.
We dive into the intricacies of the Affordable Care Act, unraveling the challenges faced by health insurance companies and pharmacy benefit managers in navigating the medical loss ratio. Nate offers a critical analysis of financial manipulations that maximize profits and discusses the consequences of inflated drug prices and rebates. With a focus on the concentration of control over outpatient drug distribution, we propose potential reforms, such as standardizing billing processes and enhancing drug pricing transparency, to tackle these pressing issues.
Hear firsthand the frustrations of healthcare providers and patients as we tackle the systemic issues leading to care delays and denials. While acknowledging the complexity of the healthcare landscape, we highlight the unwavering commitment of most providers to deliver compassionate care. Explore the personal aspects of health, from lifestyle choices to genetic factors, and anticipate future discussions on social determinants of health with expert Chris Allen. Stay connected with Nate Kaufman on LinkedIn for his fearless commentary and valuable perspectives.
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I thought it might be interesting to revisit an insightful episode from The Common Bridge Vault, recorded one year ago this week, featuring prospective Democratic Presidential candidate Dean Phillips. During our fascinating discussion, Dean expressed concern about President Biden's declining cognitive health and emphasized the need for action within the Democratic Party. I believe you’ll find this conversation very interesting in retrospect. Here is the introduction in it’s entirety-
Welcome to a captivating episode of the Common Bridge, where we sit down with the three-term congressman and Democratic presidential candidate, Dean Phillips. Prepare to be inspired as Phillips shares the story of his unique journey - from growing up fatherless due to the Vietnam war to becoming a successful entrepreneur. His resolve to bridge the partisan divide in America's political landscape fuels his desire to run for president. You'll hear about his daughter's inspiring battle with cancer and her advocacy for healthcare reform and paid family leave.
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Curious about how a fascination with radio as a child can shape a career? Join us as Chris Renwick of WJR Radio in Detroit shares his captivating journey from growing up in Pennsylvania and Michigan to becoming a respected voice on the airwaves. Chris walks us through his educational background and early career, highlighting key moments that fueled his passion for broadcasting. Through his story, we gain insight into the evolving media landscape and the shifting ways people consume news and information today.
WJR Radio is taking bold steps to redefine its identity by moving away from the typical syndicated conservative talk shows and embracing a format that truly resonates with Michigan's diverse audience. We explore how the station's focus on local content and balanced viewpoints sets it apart in the industry, offering us a fresh perspective on local politics, economic issues, and community stories. Chris explains WJR's mission to engage with the audience in meaningful dialogues and the station's dedication to presenting varied political voices. This approach not only strengthens community ties but also provides listeners with the tools to form their own informed opinions.
In our conversation, we tackle the future of talk radio in the rapidly evolving digital age, considering the unique role of platforms like WJR and the Common Bridge in maintaining connection and relevance. As radio navigates editorial independence while balancing financial sustainability, we discuss the significance of varied voices and the potential for political discourse to unite rather than divide. Despite the challenges, the growth of our audience and the increasing number of downloads reflect the enduring power of engaging content and the vital role of talk radio as a community connector.
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What if the media's portrayal of presidential candidates is more fiction than fact? Rich Helpe tackles the disillusionment with the upcoming U.S. presidential election, challenging listeners to rethink the stories they consume. By illustrating a fictional scenario of media misreporting, Rich exposes how sensationalism breeds division and misinformation. He calls for a revolution in journalism, urging citizens to abandon biased sources in favor of platforms that uphold investigative integrity and factual discourse. Through this transformative approach, we can empower ourselves to hold politicians accountable and cultivate a healthier political landscape.
Continuing the discussion, Rich navigates the sensitive terrain of political and judicial issues, questioning the Supreme Court's stance on defining gender and exploring the broader implications for women's rights and free speech. Delving into cultural controversies, including the commercial impact of transvestism, he emphasizes the crucial role of consumer choice and voting in shaping society. With a commitment to nonpartisan dialogue, Rich encourages thoughtful engagement and reflection, inviting listeners to join The Common Bridge for insights that inspire a more informed and participatory democracy.
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Robert Greenfield returns with his insightful perspectives, sparking a compelling discussion that spans continents and topics. Discover how Detroit's remarkable resurgence is a testament to effective local governance and community-driven efforts, with key figures like Roger Penske and Dan Gilbert leading the charge. Explore how the city's revitalization highlights the power of strategic leadership and community resilience, offering a beacon of hope and a model for urban recovery worldwide.
On the global stage, we dive into the potential ramifications of the upcoming U.S. election and its impact on international relations, particularly in Europe. The conversation unpacks the formation of the European Quad and the rightward political movements prompted by immigration challenges, drawing parallels with American political dynamics under the Biden administration. With fears of Russian aggression mounting, particularly in frontline nations like Poland and the Baltic states, we discuss how these geopolitical tensions reverberate across the globe, influencing economic strategies and national security.
Finally, we address the multifaceted issues of immigration and equality within the U.S., alongside the complex political strategies at play. From the implications of recent Supreme Court decisions to the role of media accountability, this episode provides a thorough examination of the interconnected challenges that shape our world. Robert Greenfield's global observations add depth to our conversation, offering thought-provoking insights into the political, societal, and economic landscapes that define our times. Join us as we navigate these intricate topics with a blend of pragmatism and hope for a more inclusive future.
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Chris Bray, a distinguished voice from Substack, joins me to unravel the complex world of media, politics, and narratives. We begin by tracing his journey from the constraints of traditional journalism to the freedom of expression he found on Substack, a platform where diverse voices flourish and challenging conversations take center stage. Our dialogue paints a stark picture of the declining trust in mainstream media, highlighting how narrative-driven reporting, exemplified by interviews like Martha Raddatz's with JD Vance, can mislead audiences and skew perceptions.
Together, we dissect the tangled web of media integrity, government narratives, and the pervasive issue of misinformation. Our conversation delves into the shifting roles of political figures, such as John Kerry's journey from critic to advocate, and the impact of these transformations on public trust. We address the pressing need for credible journalism amidst biased reporting on high-profile topics, like the Steele dossier and Hunter Biden's laptop, while scrutinizing the role of censorship on social media platforms. This episode challenges listeners to critically assess the portrayal of truth in political discourse, with recent statements by Kamala Harris serving as a poignant example.
As we venture into the shifting political landscape, the episode examines the erosion of traditional left-right boundaries in favor of more nuanced insider-outsider dynamics. From the implications of the pandemic on power structures to the critique of media responses to crises like hurricanes, our discussion underscores the necessity of open, evidence-based dialogue. This episode calls for a return to respectful, fact-based conversations that transcend cultural divides and foster a more informed society, with a forward-looking glance at the future of media and politics. Join us on The Common Bridge for a thought-provoking exploration that promises to leave you with a richer understanding of today's media environment.
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This is an episode repeat from December, 2020 that we think is even more relevant today. Can blockchain technology transform the future of voting in the United States? Join us for an enlightening conversation with Khalil Byrd, a leading voice in political technology, as we explore the intricacies of the nation's voting system. Khalil breaks down the current state of voting, highlighting the system's trust-based foundation, insufficient funding, and the diverse rules across states. We tackle the perennial issue of low voter turnout and the challenge of maintaining vote integrity, all while envisioning how cutting-edge technologies like blockchain and smartphone apps can revolutionize accessibility and security in our elections.
We then navigate the promising advancements in electronic voting, spearheaded by companies like Votes, backed by Jonathan Johnson and Medici Ventures. Khalil sheds light on the unique challenges faced by disabled voters, rural residents, and military personnel stationed abroad. With blockchain technology at the core, we discuss how secure, private, and verifiable voting from personal devices is no longer a distant dream. This segment underscores the critical importance of voter privacy and the potential for biometrics to enhance the safety of electronic voting systems, setting a global standard for democratic practices.
Finally, we reflect on the lessons learned from the controversial 2000 election and the strides made since. Our discussion delves into the bipartisan efforts that have shaped today's election infrastructure and the continuous need for investment in both hardware and software. Khalil emphasizes the potential of app-based voting systems that employ biometrics, encryption, and blockchain technology to offer secure and anonymous voting. The conversation rounds off with the importance of piloting new systems, gathering feedback, and the broader implications for democracy, advocating for a more inclusive and trustworthy electoral process. Tune in to discover how we can reimagine elections and rebuild trust in our democratic institutions.
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What does it take to build a just and equitable society from the ground up in a region scarred by historical ethnic conflicts? Join us as we sit down with Jarmo Feliks Helppikangas, a member of the European Commission's team in Kosovo and a former Finnish police chief and prosecutor. Jarmo shares his invaluable perspective on the monumental task of establishing Kosovo's judicial and policing systems, reflecting on its complex history under Turkish rule, the Ottoman Empire, and as a former province of Serbia. This episode promises to uncover the intricate efforts required to advance the rule of law, human rights, and gender equality in a deeply divided society.
Mass resignation of Serb officials has thrown Kosovo's local justice and law enforcement systems into disarray, especially in Serbian-populated areas. We'll explore the multifaceted challenges faced by Kosovan authorities in their attempt to restore the rule of law and balance property rights. Jarmo sheds light on the critical importance of awareness and understanding of legal rights, and the nuanced efforts needed to ensure humane treatment for all individuals affected by this turmoil. This chapter offers an eye-opening look at the delicate processes of reinstating justice and property rights in a post-conflict society.
Kosovo's journey toward full recognition and independence has spanned over 25 years, and the road has been anything but smooth. From economic challenges to the vital role of the diaspora in supporting the local economy, Jarmo shares his insights on the visible changes shaping Kosovo today. We delve into the rising cost of living, the efforts to advance gender equality, and the significant contributions of returning expatriates. Drawing parallels with the experiences of Finnish emigrants in Sweden, we conclude by emphasizing the importance of societal unity, the rule of law, and creating opportunities for Kosovo's talented youth as the country strives for European Union membership.
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Is the media shaping your opinions more than you realize? Join us for a lively viewer mailbag session where we dissect the intricate relationship between policy, media, and public discourse. Hear our take on the actions of both Republicans and Democrats, including Trump's refusal to concede the election and the Democrats' strategic use of lawfare. We'll also unpack Mark Zuckerberg's revelations about Facebook's censorship, making a strong case for the need for honest media and independent thinking in a healthy democracy.
Why is Kamala Harris rising in the polls, and what does it mean for the 2024 election landscape? Tune in as we analyze voter fatigue with Trump and Biden and offer strategic advice for Harris's campaign. We'll navigate through the unpredictable terrain of Trump's political playbook and discuss how COVID-19 stimulus measures have influenced stock market trends. Is Biden's economic policy a driving force behind the market's performance? We've got a balanced analysis to keep you informed.
Ever wondered how media bias and vice-presidential picks affect public perception? We're breaking down the contrasting styles of the DNC and GOP and offering alternative sources for more balanced news consumption. Plus, step into the real world of the restaurant industry to uncover the truth about tipping and tax reporting. Finally, we'll explore the potential impact of RFK Jr.'s candidacy on Trump and the DNC, wrapping up with a call for more fact-based, nonpartisan discussions. Don't miss out on our latest insights and visit the Common Bridge's Substack for more engaging content.
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What happens when you combine the insights of a seasoned healthcare executive with pressing issues in U.S. healthcare policy? Join us as Brian Peters, CEO of the Michigan Hospital Association, breaks down the complexities of the Affordable Care Act, the impact of Medicaid provider taxes, and the evolving landscape of healthcare as we approach a crucial election season. Discover how Michigan's innovative policies, like allowing Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) to work independently, are transforming access to care, particularly in rural areas.
Curious about the future of telemedicine and hospital-at-home programs post-COVID? We explore their rapid expansion and the critical public policies needed to support them. Brian shines a light on the importance of adequate reimbursement and the necessity of widespread broadband access to make telehealth viable. We also delve into the often-overlooked role of grassroots advocacy, highlighting tools like the Michigan Health and Hospital Association's MyCareChampion page to keep you informed and engaged in healthcare priorities.
Dive into a discussion on Medicare and private insurance, where we tackle the growing influence of Medicare Advantage plans and the need for policies that prioritize patient care. Brian shares his thoughts on the effectiveness of the Medicare Part D program and the vital 340B prescription drug program. We wrap up with a look at recent policy changes, including capping insulin prices and allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices, emphasizing the importance of accessible, high-quality healthcare for all. Don’t miss this episode packed with actionable insights and policy analysis from one of healthcare’s leading voices.
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Is the newly signed California law by Governor Gavin Newsom protecting children or pushing a controversial transgender agenda? In this eye-opening episode, investigative journalist and author Gerald Posner returns to the Common Bridge to unpack the complexities of the transgender ideology and its impact on minors. We confront the tribalism that often taints these debates and stress the urgency of evidence-based discussions. Dive deep as we scrutinize the use of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones for minors, shedding light on the intricate risks and ethical challenges involved.
Navigate through the nuanced realms of gender dysphoria, intersex conditions, and the surge in diagnoses among children. We discuss the rapid acceleration of medical treatments, the pharmaceutical industry's role, and the delicate issue of informed consent for minors. From potential misdiagnoses in children with conditions like autism to the pressures on parents influenced by fears of suicide, no stone is left unturned. Plus, the legislative implications of California's Assembly Bill 1955 and its impact on parental rights and school policies are thoroughly examined. Join us for a candid, nonpartisan exploration into one of today's most contentious issues.
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What if a shocking assassination attempt shattered your perception of national security? Rich's discussion with his producer, Brian Kruger, zeroes in on the Secret Service's chaotic response and the shooter's seemingly amateurish execution. The episode also contrasts the divergent media narratives spun by CNN and Fox News, suggesting possible motives behind their differing coverage.
Shifting gears, they dissect the recent dismissal of the Florida records case and its far-reaching implications for both Trump and Biden. This chapter scrutinizes how each administration handled classified materials and exposes the stark inconsistencies in media portrayal and public reactions. They also confront the rampant manipulation and misinformation within political and media circles, underscoring the urgent need for more credible leadership. Drawing from insights shared by past guests like Dean Phillips, they highlight the glaring contrast between his forward-thinking approach and the current chaotic political landscape. Don't miss this thought-provoking episode that calls for a reevaluation of our leadership standards.
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Can cybercriminals paralyze a healthcare system with just a few keystrokes? Find out in this compelling episode of the Common Bridge, where Rich Helppie sits down with Dan Dodson, CEO of Fortified Health Security. We go beyond the headlines to explore the motivations driving cybercriminals to target healthcare institutions. With digital records and interconnected systems at the heart of modern healthcare, even a minor security breach can have devastating consequences. Dan sheds light on the urgent need for robust cybersecurity measures to ensure the integrity of patient care and protect sensitive data.
Discover the pivotal role Managed Security Services Providers (MSSPs) play in defending healthcare organizations from relentless cyber threats. Through comprehensive risk analysis and 24/7 monitoring, MSSPs like Fortified Health Security develop customized strategies to mitigate risks and fortify defenses. Our conversation with Dan highlights the importance of deploying advanced technologies such as multi-factor authentication and air-gapped backups. The stakes couldn't be higher, and the complexity of maintaining strong cybersecurity is a challenge that healthcare providers must prioritize to safeguard patient information effectively.
Join us as we tackle the shared responsibility of cybersecurity in the healthcare sector. Collaboration between health systems and technology providers like Epic Systems and Oracle's Cerner is crucial. Dan and I discuss the necessity for cybersecurity professionals to have a voice at the executive level and secure adequate funding. With cyber threats evolving daily, vigilance and ongoing education are paramount. From educating C-suite leaders to integrating cybersecurity into overall risk management, this episode offers practical advice for minimizing risks in an increasingly digital world. Tune in and stay informed about the latest trends and advancements in healthcare cybersecurity.
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Can autonomous vehicles really improve road safety and revolutionize our daily commutes? Join us as we tackle this fascinating question with Adam Kovacevich from the Chamber of Progress, who brings firsthand experience from his time at Google and Waymo. Adam shares his journey and unpacks the technological and policy challenges that come with creating fully autonomous vehicles. We dive into the critical need for full autonomy to avoid driver complacency and explore a variety of business models from leading companies like Waymo, Nuro, and Zoox.
Beyond the nuts and bolts of autonomous vehicle tech, we look at the broader landscape of transportation challenges and potential solutions. From the efficiency of public transit systems to the limitations of relying on human-driven ride-sharing services, we cover it all. Listen in as we discuss the cost-effectiveness of public transit options such as the Ann Arbor to Detroit Airport bus service and the Brightline train in South Florida. We also examine more controversial projects like California's high-speed rail and explore how AI-driven autonomous vehicles can enhance safety and efficiency, despite the unpredictability of pedestrian behavior.
Finally, we envision the future of autonomous vehicles and the policy landscape that will shape their success. Adam walks us through how autonomous technology can coexist with human-driven vehicles and the real-life benefits of this integration. From navigating congested urban areas to overcoming legislative hurdles, we highlight the road ahead for autonomous vehicles. Hear firsthand experiences of hailing a self-driving car in Phoenix and San Francisco, and consider the societal benefits, including reduced accidents and new job opportunities in the AV industry. This episode promises to leave you with a fresh perspective on the transformative potential of autonomous vehicles and the exciting future of transportation.
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Embark on an enlightening exploration of American politics with me, Rich Helppie, as I welcome Justin Higgins, the insightful host of Politics and Media 101, to dissect the complexities and undercurrents shaping our nation's political discourse. Together, we dissect the overshadowed, yet consequential, races and issues that slip past public scrutiny amidst the hype of presidential campaigns. We probe the perplexing inner workings of the GOP, the centrists' influence on electing the House Speaker, and the broader public dissatisfaction with the recurring Biden-Trump narrative, daring to question the reelection prospects of such polarizing figures.
Navigating through the murky waters of our two-party system, Justin and I challenge the status quo by considering the potential and pitfalls of third-party involvements, while also scrutinizing the track records of current political heavyweights. Our conversation takes you beyond the election's facade, delving into how policy decisions on COVID-19, international conflicts, and the alarming reduction of elections to mere popularity contests can sway voter allegiance. We lend particular focus to the nuanced battlegrounds of voter swing states, where the delicate balance between political messaging, policy stances, and the last weeks of campaigning could tip the scales in unexpected ways.
As we wrap our intensive session, we venture into a spirited debate on the strategic calculus behind selecting a Vice President, weighing the merits of contenders like Nikki Haley and Liz Cheney, and considering how their political dynamics could shape future campaigns. But it's not all heavy politics; we also tackle the intersection of sports and politics, expressing personal stances on controversial public funding for stadiums and the nation's divisive abortion debate, sharing poignant personal stories that illustrate the profound impact of these issues. Thank you for joining Justin and me on the Common Bridge, where we strive to offer unbiased and stimulating political discourse. Don't forget to subscribe for future episodes that promise more than just the surface-level chatter.
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Embark on a riveting exploration of the multifaceted relationship between the US and Europe as we're joined by Robert Greenfield, a seasoned world traveler with an expansive grasp of global affairs. Together, we traverse the landscape of Europe's defense autonomy, societal shifts stemming from immigration and demographic changes, and the continent's economic hurdles, all under the looming influence of US politics. Our guest's profound insights shed light on the integration challenges faced by European nations, while we analyze the significant influences that the impending US presidential election may exert on the transatlantic alliance.
Venture deeper into the heart of European sentiment on American global standing in a post-pandemic era, where we dissect perceptions of the US as an economic titan. The conversation pivots to the contentious subject of nationalism and globalism, nuclear politics, and the evolution of modern warfare tactics, touching upon the societal implications of conflicts like those in Ukraine. We untangle the complexities of European leadership roles, with particular focus on France and Germany's delicate dance within the global security theater and their internal socio-political landscapes.
To cap off our discourse, we scrutinize the cultural implications of 'woke' ideologies within European education, and the intricate entanglement of globalism, nationalism, and media portrayal in current affairs. Diving into the automotive sector, we highlight Hungary's surprising emergence as a linchpin in electric vehicle production, illuminating the broader geopolitical and economic repercussions this entails. Throughout this episode, Robert Greenfield's profound commentary illuminates the enduring partnership within the Anglosphere and its pivotal role in fostering Western unity amidst an ever-shifting global power balance.
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Discover the shadowy tactics behind sports washing as Brian Hess, from the Sports Fans Coalition, joins me, Rich Helpe, on the Common Bridge to unravel how countries ingeniously clean their image through sports. Peel back the layers of this global phenomenon, beginning with the 1936 Olympics in Nazi Germany, and witness its modern incarnation with countries like Saudi Arabia stepping into the sporting limelight. Through Brian's expertise, we examine the clout of the NFL, NCAA football, and soccer leagues worldwide, not only in the realm of sports but also in the broader context of economic might and political influence.
As the discussion unfolds, prepare to navigate the complexities of gender politics within sports, touching on the struggles and advancements of female athletes. The conversation takes a sharp turn into the current American landscape, scrutinizing recent adjustments to Title IX and debating the fairness of competition amidst changing societal norms. Furthermore, we probe into the Equal Pay for Team USA Act and what it portends for the future of sports in America. Brian's insights offer a stark reminder of the urgency for public vigilance and policy intervention to safeguard the integrity of our national sports culture from foreign exploitation. Join our mission to stay informed and contribute to these pivotal discussions by tuning into the Common Bridge.
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Are we letting tribal loyalties cloud our judgment in politics? Join me, Richard Helppie, as we confront this burning question on the Common Bridge, where I dissect the alarming repercussions of favoring party over policy. Witness a compelling examination of the dangers that lie in the heart of partisan divides and the pressing need for a paradigm shift toward policy-centric governance. From exposing media propaganda to questioning the bipolar grasp of major parties on our political system, this episode is a clarion call for reason and fairness in the political arena. I challenge you to look beyond the noise, critique the justice system’s political exploitation, and consider the absurdity of repeating history with another Biden vs. Trump tug-of-war.
Embrace the final moments of today's discussion with a nonpartisan call to arms that unites rather than divides. As we sign off from the Common Bridge, I invite you to transcend beyond mere listenership to active participation in the quest for unity. Engage with us on Substack, continue the dialogue through Mission Control Radio or the Radio Garden app, and contribute to the essential work of bridging the partisan rift. Our nation's progress is shackled by polarization, but together, we can forge ahead. Thank you for joining this critical conversation; let our collective action be the torchbearer for a more united community.
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In the conclusion of this two-part conversation with Beth Bourne, Rich and Beth talk about the harrowing decisions and ethical crossroads faced by individuals navigating gender dysphoria. Prepare to have your preconceptions challenged as we dissect the medical community's delicate dance between preventing harm and honoring the deeply personal journeys towards one's 'authentic self.' Our conversation ventures into the controversial realms of body contouring, hormone therapies, and the potentially life-altering effects of gender transition procedures. We confront the questions that arise when healthcare providers attempt to guide patients through the labyrinth of medical intervention, all while examining if true fulfillment can be attained under the surgeon's knife or through a pharmacist's prescription.
In a narrative that stretches from the intimate corridors of personal struggle to the broad stages of societal debate, we examine the hurdles faced by those seeking gender-affirming surgery. Listen as we contrast the varying paths navigated by individuals within the healthcare system, from the stringent prerequisites for surgeries like phalloplasty to the educational forums that shape patient expectations and experiences. The episode doesn’t shy away from the contentious climate surrounding transgender issues in media and politics, exploring the impact of adult decisions on gender expression over communal concerns including safety and sexual assault statistics. Join us for a critical analysis of how the stories we tell and the policies we enact reflect the values we hold and the future we envision for all members of society.
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When Beth Bourne's daughter declared her transgender identity at just 13, it sent shockwaves through their family life, challenging Beth's beliefs and opening a dialogue that few are prepared for. Join us on the Common Bridge as we navigate the turbulent waters of transgender rights and gender ideology with her. Our heartfelt conversation explores the impact of LGBTQIA+ education in public schools, the influence of early sexual and gender identity labeling on children, and the powerful societal and political forces that shape these deeply personal experiences.
The introduction of gender identity topics in school curriculums raises more questions than it answers. Can a child's mind truly grasp the complexities of biology and identity, or does it validate adult decisions about gender too soon? Beth Bourne shares an intimate recount of her daughter's coming out, facilitated by a school counselor, which highlights the influential role that educators play. We grapple with these dilemmas, looking closely at the biologically informed curriculum and its repercussions on young, impressionable students.
Our journey through the landscape of gender-affirming medical procedures uncovers startling revelations about the ease of altering medical records and the paths to treatment. Beth provides a sobering account of her family's experiences within the healthcare system, drawing parallels between gender-affirming care and cosmetic surgery in terms of psychological evaluations and informed consent. The discussion turns a critical eye toward the adequacy of mental health assessments prior to life-altering surgeries, offering an unflinching look at a family's quest to understand the intersection of appearance, identity, and well-being.
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When faith meets public square, the intersection can be complex. On The Common Bridge, we navigate these crossroads with Bill McKenzie and Chris Walsh, delving into the potency of religious pluralism in underpinning democracy. Their profound insights spring from a wealth of experience—Bill's front-row seat to George W. Bush's political ascent, and Chris's global efforts to champion democratic principles. Together, we cut through the noise around religion's role in society, examining how diverse belief systems not only coexist but enrich our democratic fabric. By reflecting on their essay, we illuminate the essence of pluralism and the importance of accommodating an array of faiths in a robust, democratic society.
This journey through the philosophical and pragmatic facets of faith in public life is both timely and timeless. We dissect the four stages of multi-faith relationships and grapple with the impact of misinformation on religious communities, all while seeking pathways to peace and progress. Our dialogue with Bill and Chris transcends the typical rhetoric, providing a space where respect and understanding among varying spiritual perspectives are recognized as cornerstones of a thriving democracy. Tune in for a compelling exchange that challenges conventions and celebrates the power of pluralism to bridge divides and bolster our collective commitment to democratic ideals.
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In this episode titled "Response to Reader-Listener-Viewer Mail" of the host, Richard Helppie, delves into a diverse range of thought-provoking questions and comments from his engaged online audience. Touching upon hot-button topics of the time, Richard fearlessly navigates the murky waters of politics, starting with an insightful examination of the Trump v Biden rivalry. With his uniquely unbiased and diplomatic approach, Richard analytically dissects the policies, achievements, and controversies surrounding both figures, encouraging his viewers to engage in respectful discourse and critical thinking.
Continuing on this riveting journey, Richard delves into the complex issue of gun control, passionately advocating for the exploration of balanced solutions that prioritize public safety while respecting constitutional rights. As the episode progresses, Helppie confronts the troubling specter of misinformation and radically dissects the role of media in fueling its dissemination, stressing the importance of reliable sources and critical media literacy. Expanding the breadth of conversation, Richard touches on topics such as Gretchen Whitmer, immigration, and more, consistently fostering an environment of open dialogue that challenges viewers to question their assumptions and seek common ground amidst divisive issues. Ultimately, "Response to Reader-Listener-Viewer Mail" serves as a beacon of intellectual discourse, enlightening viewers and reaffirming The Common Bridge's commitment to bridge the gaps that often divide us.
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Unlock the secrets behind boosting school attendance and graduation rates with Ohio's own Bill Seitz and Dani Isaacsohn. Our latest podcast episode delivers a compelling conversation on House Bill 348 and the bold, bipartisan strategy to use cash incentives as a catalyst for educational success. We're not just talking about the principles of the bill; we're diving into the stories and data that have shaped its creation, with personal insights from two legal minds passionately invested in the future of education. As we unpack the potential of these incentives, you'll understand why targeting key student groups could be a game-changer for economic growth and the health of our democracy.
Join us as we navigate the layers beneath chronic absenteeism and the pandemic's impact, revealing how financial rewards could be the bridge to a culture that cherishes education. But it doesn't stop there. We investigate the power of mentorship and the ripple effect of engaging students through individualized goals, shining a light on success stories that bridge party lines. This episode is a treasure trove for anyone keen on coming together to forge an educational system that not only addresses immediate issues but also paves the way for long-term fiscal well-being. Don't miss out on this crucial discussion that transcends partisan politics, focusing squarely on the core of educational challenges.
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Kevin Fisher's raw and powerful narrative takes center stage as he joins us for a poignant conversation about loss, love, and the drive to make a difference in the mental health landscape. His journey from business to advocacy, precipitated by his son's battle with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, is a stirring reminder of the human stories behind the statistics. In shedding light on his son's struggles and the family's relentless pursuit of help amidst a crisis, Kevin's experience underscores the need for comprehensive support systems and the harsh reality of stigma that still shadows mental health.
Addressing the critical intersection of mental health and law enforcement, we dissect the need for empathy, training, and resources to properly handle mental health crises. The heartrending tales Kevin shares highlight the urgency for change, not only for those in crisis but also for the officers who are often on the front lines without adequate preparation. This episode pushes past the misconceptions that link mental health to violence, paving the way for a nuanced understanding and fostering a society that prioritizes compassion over fear.
As our conversation turns to the broader societal implications of mental health, Kevin emphasizes the importance of destigmatization and early intervention. The division and stress fracturing our communities only amplify the need for open conversations about mental health within families and society at large. Kevin's advocacy is a clarion call to all, inviting us to join in a united effort to confront and heal the mental health struggles that affect countless lives, transcending political divides. This episode isn't just a dialogue—it's a mobilization for action and understanding in the critical arena of mental health.
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Ever wondered what happens behind the political curtains during the heated rush of primary elections? Dive into a gripping conversation with Congressman Dean Phillips as we peel back the layers of the Democratic primaries and his eye-opening campaign trail adventures. Phillips sheds light on his New Hampshire primary surprise and the DNC's delegate allocation controversy, providing a rare glimpse into the strategic intricacies of the South Carolina primary and Michigan's open primary system. As we navigate the nuances of union politics and the quest for dynamic leadership, Phillips' candid insights reveal the complex chess game of American politics.
Strap in for a heart-to-heart with Dean Phillips that transcends the mere mechanics of campaigning, touching the very soul of our democracy. We explore the critical role of voter participation, dissect the influence of third-party candidates, and ponder the transformative power of local elections. Phillips champions a vision of unity, with common ground dinners that aim to bridge divides and foster an environment where diverse voices are not just heard but celebrated. Join us as we embrace a message of hope and optimism, urging you to be an active participant in shaping a more equitable, compassionate America, and reminding us all that change begins with our collective dedication to a generous and undivided nation.
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As American voters voice their exasperation with traditional party lines, the No Labels movement emerges as a beacon of bipartisan problem-solving. Picture this: an America where the lesser of two evils is no longer the default choice at the ballot box. This episode welcomes the esteemed former Governor of North Carolina, Pat McCrory, whose rich experiences within the two-party system shed light on the potential upheaval that a third-party could bring to the political landscape. Together, we scrutinize the historical significance of third parties and debate the viability of a third-party candidate disrupting the upcoming election cycle.
The roadblocks facing third parties are no secret, with ballot access and mainstream media narratives often stacked against them. We delve into these challenges, revealing the bipartisan crusade to uphold ballot integrity and the sensible policy approaches that could reshape the immigration debate. Our discussion ventures beyond the headlines to uncover strategies that could pivot key states, and we examine the influential role of independent voters itching for change. The conversation is punctuated with the question of who might carry the banner for No Labels, emphasizing that their current chess move is securing a spot on the board before rallying behind a candidate.
In the grand finale, we explore the intriguing possibility of a third-party emerging as a safeguard within our two-party system, drawing historical parallels to leaders who have dared to defy the status quo. Governor McCrory shares his insights on the hurdles an independent executive would face and how a bipartisan coalition could craft pragmatic solutions to the myriad of issues plaguing America. We reflect on the media's influence, the grassroots movement necessary to challenge the political duopoly, and the mission of No Labels to reinvigorate the principles of American democracy for generations to come. Join us for a riveting discussion that's sure to stir the pot and may just inspire your next choice at the polls.
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Peel back the layers of history with Dr. Todd Endelman, as he joins us to dissect the complex tapestry of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. From the rise of Jewish nationalism amidst European anti-Semitism to the absence of a historical Palestinian state, we tackle head-on the misconceptions that cloud our understanding of this enduring struggle. With Dr. Endelman's expertise, gain a fresh perspective on the significant wars, the British mandate, and the evolution of Arab nationalism that have all left indelible marks on the landscape of the Middle East.
Venture further into the heart of the matter as we scrutinize the 1947-48 refugee crisis and its ramifications that echo through time. We navigate the thorny issues surrounding Arab states' reluctance to integrate Palestinian refugees and their hesitance to recognize Israel. The intricate web of regional politics is laid bare, from the motivations of Hamas and Hezbollah to the recent tragic events of October 7th—each thread unraveled presents a clearer view of the challenges to peace.
In our final act, we cast a light on the shifting sands of political and cultural perceptions that shape the conflict today. We weigh the diverse political spectrums within both Israel and the United States, and the complexities they introduce in the pursuit of peace, including the elusive two-state solution. With Dr. Endelman's insights, our discussion transcends the usual narratives and calls for an understanding that’s rooted in the nuances of history and the realities of present-day politics—inviting listeners to join us in finding common ground on the Common Bridge.
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What happens when two politically inclined podcasters, born out of the world of writing, collide? You get a riveting and insightful discussion between yours truly, Rich Helpe, and Russell Dabular from Due Dissidence. We're taking you on a journey from the bustling streets of Flushing, New York, to the global stage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and finally, landing in the heart of economics and politics.
Have you ever found yourself confused by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? It's a complex issue that often leaves many overwhelmed and retreating to the safety of ignorance. But that ends today. Society is faced with grim realities, including the tragic loss of innocent lives. We're cutting through the noise, challenging the notion that this conflict is too complicated to understand, and shedding light on the need to recognize all lives lost as equally valuable. Beyond that, we're diving into the dark depths of extremism, its impact on societies, and how it has led to the truancy of the liberal social project.
But it's not all doom and gloom; there's a silver lining. How would a Trump Presidency have shaped today's economy? What role does independent media play in upholding our First Amendment rights? Russell Dabular shares his insights on these and more, stirring up an intriguing dialogue on the future of US politics and free speech. So, pull up a seat, and let's navigate the tumultuous waters of politics and economic discourse together. Remember, this isn't just about listening. It's about finding common ground and bridging societal divides.
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Welcome to a captivating episode of the Common Bridge, where we sit down with the three-term congressman and Democratic presidential candidate, Dean Phillips. Prepare to be inspired as Phillips shares the story of his unique journey - from growing up fatherless due to the Vietnam war to becoming a successful entrepreneur. His resolve to bridge the partisan divide in America's political landscape fuels his desire to run for president. You'll hear about his daughter's inspiring battle with cancer and her advocacy for healthcare reform and paid family leave.
Get ready to unpack the essence of effective leadership and innovative housing solutions with our former vice chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus. Here's a leader who passionately believes that the key to solving our nation's issues lies in effective collaboration. Listen to how his versatile professional journey - from a CEO to involvement in healthcare and education - has equipped him for the presidency. Be prepared to learn about the importance of empathy, listening, and a diverse, bipartisan cabinet in leadership.
We then shift gears to dissect pressing issues like healthcare reform and firearm control. Hear us evaluate the prospect of a single-payer healthcare system and a capitated model for health outcomes. Tune in for our guest gun owner's perspective on the NRA, firearm safety, and the importance of dialogue in finding solutions. Our talk on gun violence and the Second Amendment will underscore the need for respectful discussions to resolve this issue. Get ready to delve into these thoughtful discussions as we strive to bridge divides and build a better America.
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Wondering how to shield yourself from the rising tide of cyber threats? Do you have a small or medium-sized business with limited resources for a dedicated IT security staff? Fret not, as we bring you insights straight from cybersecurity experts, Rick Snyder, the 48th Governor of Michigan, and Dave Bint, the co-founder and Chief Client Success Officer of SenSai. Join us as we journey through their professional sagas, discuss the inception of SenSai, and explore why cybersecurity is a concern that no one can afford to overlook.
Your business could be the next target on a cybercriminal's list. With Dave Bint at the helm, we delve into the vulnerabilities that small and medium-sized organizations face. Listen in as we dissect the tactics used by cybercriminals to breach security systems and how SenSai offers the much-needed shield. Beyond theoretical discussions, we also examine practical tips such as the use of automatic software updates, password managers, and virtual private networks that can bolster your online security.
Last but not least, we discuss the importance of incident response plans and cyber insurance. With an evolving threat landscape, having a proactive and comprehensive plan to handle potential cyber attacks is critical. As Rick and Dave explain the challenges that businesses face in securing cyber insurance and how SenSai can step in to assist, you'll gain remarkable insights on fortifying your digital world. So, tune in for a conversation that promises to change your perspective on cybersecurity.
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Highlighting the incredibly inspiring and thought-provoking journey of Adam Coleman, we engage in a powerful conversation that leaves no stone unturned. From his humble beginnings in Detroit to his passionate advocacy ignited by George Floyd's death, Coleman’s mission is to empower those who feel unheard. As an op-ed writer, public speaker, and host of Good Faith Space, he openly shares his experiences with fatherlessness, homelessness, and masculinity.
We delve into a range of gripping topics, including a deep dive into the interconnected issues of fatherlessness and mass shootings. We also explore the challenging debate around college tuition, the devastating impact of systemic racism and the need to address the remnants of discrimination. As the conversation unfolds, we touch on the concerning issue of racial inferiority complexes, the significant lack of public schooling options in major cities, and the unpleasant political barriers that restrict educational choice.
The conversation doesn't stop there, as we further unravel how progressives use black people to achieve their objectives, the ambiguity surrounding certain police shootings and the vulnerabilities single-parent homes are exposed to. Lastly, we delve into a candid discussion about the disturbing lack of regulation in university tuition fees and the disproportionate benefits reaped by the wealthy. Join us for an insightful and thought-provoking conversation that promises to engage, inform and inspire.
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Unearth the hard truths behind the housing crisis and homelessness with our distinguished guest, Professor Gregg Colburn, from the University of Washington. His perspectives from his insightful book "Homelessness is a Housing Problem" gives us more than just an academic exploration of this pressing issue - it presents us with solutions.
Ever wondered why homelessness is five times more prevalent in coastal cities like Seattle, San Francisco, and New York, compared to cities like Chicago and Baltimore? Join us on this journey as we debunk myths about weather, mobility, and housing stock, and confront the harsh reality of banishment policies. We also take a hard look at the impact of gentrification and the urgent need for affordable housing. Be ready to rethink how cities should be planned, as we delve into the importance of densification and how private developers can take the lead in solving the housing gap.
As we wrap up, we bring you the stark contrasts between short-term and long-term approaches to affordable housing, the federal and local policies at play, and the potential power of subsidies. Learn from the success stories of veteran homelessness initiatives, and understand the critical role of political willpower and resource allocation. We promise, this conversation will leave you with a fresh perspective on homelessness and the inherent challenges, plus actionable suggestions to advocate for change in your own city. Get ready to be part of the solution!
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Welcome to Season 5 of The Common Bridge as we sift through the political and media chaos with your host Richard Helppie. As we strip away the narratives, we promise to offer our growing audience of over 4 million viewers, readers, and listeners, a fiercely non-partisan perspective on the escalating tensions within the Republican and Democratic parties, the corruption tainting our media, and the looming threats to our justice system. We'll dissect key political figures, from Donald Trump to Joe Biden, to provide a thorough understanding of their roles, behaviors, and fading relevance. This isn't just another political podcast episode. It's a call to action, to tune in, join the conversation, and become part of the solution. Join us on the Common Bridge and let's navigate these turbulent waters together.
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Hold on tight as we examine the roots of tribalism in our media and question the effects of party loyalty on our political discourse. As we wrap up season four of the Common Bridge, we invite you to challenge the mainstream narratives and engage with critical societal issues. The traditional media's role in promoting tribalism is examined with a critical lens, urging you to demand better behavior from our elected leaders.
This episode takes us deep into the world of political tribalism, highlighting how it colors our view of issues and policies. We scrutinize a gripping tale of a dedicated Democrat's grandson, who, despite working on a health system for immigrants, denies the policy due to the person sitting in the Oval Office. We encourage engaging, respectful discussions and emphasize the importance of awareness about the content we consume. Join us as we confront uncomfortable truths and seek solutions for our shared problems - together, we can challenge the status quo.
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While walking through the streets of Detroit, it's hard not to be moved by the sheer resilience of its people. Yet, as we explore the city, we also find ourselves confronted with the stark realities of spiritual and material crises that plague the community. In our most recent conversation with Zoe Kennedy, he shines a light on the work of local activists, bringing forth a tale of strength, perseverance, and hope. He opens the floor to a discussion about Force Detroit, an organization tackling these issues head-on, and shares his belief that the root cause of community violence is deeply entwined with the social determinants of health.
The strength of the criminal mind is a theme we tackle in this discussion, revealing how the iron will of perpetrators often leads to a cycle of victimization and retaliation. We believe that to overcome these challenges, it's essential to empower victims and vulnerable populations, helping them make decisions that result in positive change. We also stress on the necessity of acknowledging cultural and community-based leadership, and how they can work in tandem with law enforcement to provide secondary victim services.
As we draw our conversation to a close, we find ourselves delving into the realm of self-love and its potential to build healthier relationships. Zoe Kennedy shares his insights and experiences with Force Detroit, emphasizing that understanding our own worth is the first step towards loving others. Through our in-depth chat, we aim to illustrate the power of community activism, empathy, and love in instigating social transformation. Join us for an enlightening ride through the streets of Detroit, as we explore the power of love in the face of adversity.
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Ready to decode the tangled web of big tech and government regulation? Today's episode promises to do just that, with an in-depth look at the antitrust investigations into giants like Amazon, Google, and potentially Apple. Our guest, Adam Kovacevich, leader of the Chamber of Progress, lends his expertise as we explore the intricacies of Amazon's Prime bundle, Prime label, and buy box policies. We ponder the potential effects on retailers like Walmart, Target, and Costco while considering the long-term consequences of these government actions on the tech world.
Casting our net wide, we delve into federal government lawsuits, the intriguing case of Google's geofence warrant, and the implications for civil liberties. The conversation takes a sharp turn as we scrutinize the sway of the Biden administration and Congress over platforms like Twitter. Can intelligence sharing between government and big tech yield benefits? And what about the potential shadow of government censorship on speech? We navigate through these questions, offering some food for thought.
We round off our conversation by examining the government's role in regulating businesses like GoFundMe. Here, we ask if the government actions are rooted in real consumer complaints or an ideological agenda. With Adam Kovacevich providing insights, we question what constitutes a legitimate problem for the government to solve. So, sit back, plug in, and join us for this enlightening journey as we unravel the intricate relationship between big tech and government regulation.
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Join us on an intense exploration of the US political landscape, with our special guest - Thomas Hicks, a dedicated voter from Atlanta, Georgia. Thomas brings his unique perspective on the voting process in his home state, where recent elections have been nail-bitingly close. Amid the swirling controversy around the integrity of Georgia's voting process, he stands firm in his faith in the system and passionately advocates for the implementation of secure online voting.
From the legacy of the Trump presidency to the spectre of a Trump-Biden rematch, our conversation traverses a vast political terrain. We delve into the changing dynamics of union votes, the pervasive influence of lobbyists and the dark shadow of money in politics. The repercussions of Trump’s judicial appointments and the spiralling national debt, are some of the high stakes topics we grapple with. We also contemplate how the two main political parties can truly champion the cause of the middle class and society's less privileged.
But, hold onto your seats because the ride gets even bumpier as we lay bare the recent disturbing events that have shaken the foundation of US politics. We pick apart the multiple legal troubles Trump is currently embroiled in, including the shocking attempted siege of the US Capitol. Discover how the Presidential Records Act could potentially lead to espionage charges against Trump. Lastly, we reflect on our work on the Common Bridge, a platform for productive, non-partisan dialogue, and our ongoing commitment to involving our listeners in these compelling, timely discussions. So gear up and join us in this extraordinarily riveting journey.
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Prepare to set sail on a voyage of discovery with us in the third and final part of a three-part series of conversations with our insightful guest, Robert Greenfield. We're mapping out the territories of Indigenous Peoples' rights, immigration complexities, and the landscape of digital media. We're journeying through the rich historical narratives of Aboriginal people in Australia to the ongoing debate on their recognition. As we navigate these waters, we promise you'll gain new perspectives on the global surge of Indigenous rights, highlighted by the Maori reclaiming the name Aiotera in New Zealand.
Our expedition doesn't stop there, as we examine the intricate routes of immigration in the context of the United States. Enter the debate arena as we weigh the implications of affirmative action and a recent Supreme Court decision's effect on selective universities. Finally, we're casting our nets into the vast ocean of digital media, focusing on platforms like Substack and Radio Garden. We'll reveal how podcasting has become a crucial instrument in promoting dialogue and transmitting ideas. So, join us on this journey - let's bridge the gap of understanding together!
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What if you could navigate the stormy seas of today's political climate with a non-partisan compass? Picture yourself engaging with the deep-seated narratives around election deniers and dementia deniers, the political prosecutions of Donald Trump, and the impact of age on voters' preferences. We also highlight possible alternatives to Trump, like Gavin Newsom, and the intriguing proposition of DeSantis and Christie banding together to challenge Trump. Join Richard and Robert Greenfield in the second part of a three-part conversation.
Step with us into the controversial arena of social media censorship, as we light up allegations of Democrats stifling dissenting opinions. Ponder over whether social media giants should possess the power to censor content and the implications of such control on public perception. We also explore the question of qualifications in politics, paying particular attention to the offspring of Trump and Biden. As we wrap up, we shift our focus to Joe Biden's responsibilities and Trump's conviction with a keen eye on the politicization of the justice system.
Finally, we plunge into the world of social media and blogging, emphasising the value of dialogue and open conversation. Joined by our esteemed guest, Robert Greenfield, we explore ways to cultivate meaningful dialogue and civil discourse. Introducing the Common Bridge, a platform created for non-partisan discussions, we invite you to participate and add your voice to the conversations happening there. Prepare for a thought-provoking journey as we navigate today's political landscape with a fresh, impartial perspective.
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Join us as we welcome back our favorite globetrotter, Robert Greenfield! As he navigates his recent move from Australia to Europe, he brings a fresh perspective on life, culture, and the political landscape following the pandemic. We kick off with a unique blend of sports and travel, diving into the thrill of a Detroit Tigers game, the anticipation of Detroit Lions' playoffs, and the lifestyle transition from a tropical Australian climate to chilly Europe.
Brace yourselves as we venture into the heartland of global politics, with Robert's insightful commentary on the Ukraine War. From the European perspective to China's influence and Russia's strategy, we leave no stone unturned. Not just that, we scrutinize the role of US diplomats, the Western expenditure, and the potential repercussions of NATO's presence near the borders. As the conversation unfolds, you'll witness a comprehensive examination of the crisis that has gripped the world.
But we don't stop at world politics. Back home, we delve into the profound effects of Trump's presidency on the Republican Party and the changing face of American politics. We also explore the economic implications, NATO expansion, and the role of media in political divisions. As we wind up, we turn our gaze to California, discussing the challenges faced by cities like San Francisco and the potential role of immigration in rejuvenating the city. Tune in for this enlightening conversation that promises to educate, engage and entertain!
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Join us on The Common Bridge as Rich talks with stage, screen, and television star Greg Jbara's inspiring journey from a public school system to Juilliard and his rise in the performing arts. We explore the impact of the ongoing Writers Guild strike, differences between guilds, challenges faced by actors and producers, and how automation is reshaping the industry. We emphasize supporting artists and understanding the issues driving the strike. Tune in as we navigate the shifting sands of entertainment.
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Join Rich in a thought-provoking discussions with Konstantin Kissen, a prominent comedian and YouTube sensation. They explore his journey from Moscow to England, the influence of censorship and cancel culture on comedy, and the limitations of the right versus left political paradigm. Delving into public perception versus media portrayal, they analyze hypocrisy among political leaders and the erosion of public trust. They discuss declining caliber among politicians fueled by social media and 24-hour news cycles. Konstantin's experiences in the Soviet Union highlight his passion for freedom of expression. We emphasize critical thinking, the power of ideas, and avoiding being a 'useful idiot'.
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Rich responds to selected questions and comments from his nearly four million viewers, listeners and readers of The Common Bridge. Topics range included censorship, Big Tech, First and Second Amendments, and more.
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Ever wonder how the proposed assault weapons ban might reshape our society? Or question how common sense could be applied to the Second Amendment? Join us as we welcome back Ryan Busey, author of "Gunfight", for a compelling discussion on these topics and more. We reflect on the societal norms set by the 1994–2004 ban and explore bipartisan-supported policies such as universal background checks and setting a higher minimum purchase age for semi-automatic rifles.
Exploring the intricacies of firearm regulation, we draw insightful parallels between car and gun ownership. We scrutinize the NRA's surprising history of supporting regulations akin to licensing and permit requirements for driving. Additionally, we tap into the critical subject of firearm responsibility and liability, focusing on legislation like safe storage laws. We also question whether manufacturers should bear the burden for the illegal actions of their users, especially with highly marketed weapons.
As we wrap up our conversation, we envision a potential collaboration between responsible parties in the firearms industry and regulators to mitigate firearm violence. We discuss how access to firearms can worsen violence-prone situations, especially among young men in cities like Chicago. We also emphasize the importance of firearm education and highlight Ryan Busey's work in promoting gun safety and responsibility. By the end, we hope to leave you with a deeper understanding of the complexities of firearm regulation and the potential paths towards a safer society.
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Peel back the curtain on the divisive discourse around guns and gun laws in America with my captivating conversation with Ryan Bussey, author of the book Gunfight. As an experienced outdoorsman, hunter, conservationist, and influential figure in the firearms industry, Ryan’s insights promise to reshape perceptions and prompt critical thinking. His rural upbringing on a ranch has deeply shaped his views on gun responsibility, providing him a unique vantage point to discuss the breakdown of norms within the firearms industry.
We crack open the tactical firearms market, exploring its rise and the targeted demographic — largely young men. The conversation gets particularly intense as we discuss the alarming surge in gun sales and the influx of new, often untrained, gun owners. Armed with high-capacity rifles and driven by an all-or-nothing mentality, these newcomers pose a significant threat to our democracy.
In the final act, we navigate the intricate web of political and social changes that have profoundly influenced gun sales in America. From the election of President Obama, the heart-wrenching tragedy of Sandy Hook, to the Trump era, each event has left indelible marks on the firearms landscape. Ryan sheds light on how the industry uses fear as a sales driver and the powerful role the NRA plays in this narrative. We also delve deep into the role of private firearms in a democracy and the urgency of addressing this contentious issue responsibly. Don't miss this riveting journey through the intricate world of guns and gun laws in America.
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What are the policies needed to overcome today's small business workforce challenges? Join us for an insightful conversation with our special guest, Brian Calley, President and CEO of the Small Business Association of Michigan. From automation to remote work to artificial intelligence, we discuss these changes' impact on the tax base and how they've shaped the journey of Brian's extensive career, including his time as Lieutenant Governor of Michigan.
We also dive into the vital policy work to connect housing, employment, education, and training to create an environment for robust job opportunities. We touch on various challenges and solutions in workforce development, such as providing adequate housing and childcare and addressing the impact of opioid addiction on labor force participation. Additionally, we discuss the organization's efforts in tackling criminal justice reform and benefit cliff issues on social services to ensure everyone's inclusion in the workforce. Somewhat Michigan-centric episode, and with applicability across the nation.
We wrap up with a great example of cross-border cooperation as Mr. Calley discusses the Gordie Howe International Bridge. He explains why Canada is fronting the costs, and how vital the span is to national defense and commerce of both nations.
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What if you were given a blank canvas to construct a new country from scratch - What would your ideal nation look like? Tune in as I challenge you to contemplate this intriguing thought experiment. From governance and prosperity to equality and leadership, we delve into the fundamental building blocks of nationhood and the meticulous considerations it entails. In this candid discourse, I put forth provocative questions about power dynamics, checks against tyranny, and the responsibilities you would establish in your utopian society.
Honoring the 4th of July, I also embark on a contemplative journey through America's history - acknowledging its imperfections, observing its resilience, and celebrating its progress. From the disturbing chapters of slavery and Jim Crow Laws to the ongoing quest for a more perfect union. I unravel the complexities of our national history and the balance between condemnation and celebration. So, engage your political imagination, get ready for a fascinating exploration of nationhood, and join the conversation on the constant striving for a better future.
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Was the Kennedy Assassination the beginning of conspiracy theories that spawned today’s rampant mistrust of government and the reporting industry? Renowned investigative reporter and author Gerald Posner discusses the newly-released CIA records about the 1963 murder of the president in this riveting episode. Mr. Posner is the author of 13 books, and he describes his investigative process for The Common Bridge. Investigating without an expectation of a particular outcome or conclusion has been a hallmark of Gerald Posner’s work. Listen as he delves into subjects like the murder of a president, transactivism, the pharmaceutical industry, children of Nazi leaders, and the search for Josef Mengele. At a time when curiosity, critical thinking and examining the facts before jumping to conclusions is more important than ever, you will be heartened to know of the tireless body of work of one of America’s foremost Investigative Reporters and Authors.
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World War II is often portrayed as a period of national unity and purpose in the USA. However, many of the same divisions present today existed then. As the country pivoted to a war economy and then back to a civilian economy, the opportunities for corruption and incompetence were rife. Enter an honest and capable Senator from Missouri – Harry S. Truman. NPR’s Steve Drummond, author of “The Watchdog – How the Truman Committee Battled Corruption and Helped World War II” guests on The Common Bridge. You’ll enjoy the well-researched history and be grateful for public servants like Mr. Truman.
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How do we navigate the controversial and sensitive topic of transgenderism and pediatric gender medicine? Today, we're joined by Leor Sapir, a PhD holder in Political Science, who shares his insights from years of analyzing the legal, policy, and evidence-based landscape surrounding gender affirming care. We'll explore the medicalization of young people, the concept of the transgender child, and the ethical considerations of these treatments. We discuss the contentious issue of informed consent in gender affirming medicine and how, in reality, parents are the ones providing consent. Taking a closer look at the transgender child, we question the validity of the "brain sex hypothesis" and the affirmative protocol. Who is profiting from the medicalization of young people, and is there a hidden profit motive behind this push? As we venture further into the complexities of pediatric transitions, we examine the implications of school social transitions and the potential consequences for those who may regret or change their minds about transitioning.
Join us for this thought-provoking and significant conversation with Leor Sapir as we aim to understand the ethical questions surrounding transgenderism, transsexualism, and pediatric healthcare.
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After an informative discussion on the PEPFAR program, in Part 2 of this interview Dr. Birx responds to Rich’s questions about the loss of scientific credibility in the 2020 Covid pandemic response. CDC Policies were not designed for, nor were responsive to the coronavirus pandemic, causing the CDC to fail the country and support policy actions often didn’t match the science or the data of the time. Dr. Birx casts light on herd immunity and discusses pandemic and broad health concerns in rural America as well.
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20 years ago, as HIV and AIDS threatened vast populations in sub-Saharan Africa, Haiti, Guyana and Vietnam, the US Government made the largest investment in battling a pandemic. Known as the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). May 27th marked the 20th anniversary of the creation of this bipartisan program which coordinated the work of government agencies and local governments to reduce the infections. Dr. Deborah Birx, who had a significant role in the program visits The Common Bridge to talk about PEPFAR’s renewal. Don’t be surprised when the discussion takes a turn to more current events. In part 2, Dr. Birx responds to Rich’s questions about the decline in scientific credibility.
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This week on The Common Bridge, Rich's guest is M.L. Elrick, a Pulitzer Prize and Emmy Award winning Investigative Reporter. ML leads the discussion from the intensely competitive “keep ‘em honest” role of the 4th Estate to national media degrading from reporting facts to the spread of affirmation programming. All beginning with a current story about how closure of a media room at City Hall in Detroit, Michigan thwarts the mission. The media access to City Hall helped expose the crimes of former Detroit Mayor, Kwame Kilpatrick. This ultimately led to his resignation from office and criminal conviction in 2013. Important lessons from a professional who has led the defense of our democracy as a member of the free press.
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In the aftermath of the the CNN Town Hall, Rich argues that Donald Trump lacks the skills required to be President and would not be a good choice to lead the Republican Party in the upcoming elections. Despite Trump's appeal to some voters, Helppie suggests that the country needs to move on from the Biden versus Trump narrative and choose better candidates, citing issues with the current administration, fear of censorship, and concerns over Biden's age and health as factors contributing to Trump's continuing popularity.
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How to grow successful adults of academic achievement and of good character? Listen to a woman who shows the way. Ernestine Sanders is an educational leader. Data driven model so that all kids can achieve.
Lessons for public schools, private schools and the policy-makers that govern them. Standards, incentives, mandates, compounding pandemic policies and how a Mother’s Fund brings children to grade level performance.
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In a very popular episode from Season 3, Rich welcomes Professor Emeritus of Texas Christian University to talk about society and civilization in history and how common forces or influences can affect stability today just as it did in antiquity. A fascinating conversation that involves reflections on Greece, Rome, Russia and the US.
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Upon his return from vacation, Rich addresses headlines in the news and fields a few audience queries. He sifts through topics, seeking out the ridiculous and the impactful. These include the Trump indictment, Tennessee House Expulsions, the role of guns in the nation's issues, Dominion Voting Systems & Fox News, George Santos & Congressional Circus, Majorie Taylor Green, Diane Feinstein & Senate Replacement from California, the distinction between nonpartisan public service and politics as entertainment, the position of Bud Light, the role of transgenderism in society and the search for reasonable middle ground, Ukraine War Leaks, and the 2024 Elections.
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Rich welcomes Kory to The Common Bridge, a Substack author and Twitter personality of "Show Me The Data." They cover a broad range of topics, including living partially off the grid, student debt, the ease with which porn purveyors access children, a unique take on Black History Month, and others from a data-driven and perhaps Libertarian perspective. Don't miss this episode!
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The Godfather of Supply Chain, Bill Michels, returns to The Common Bridge. Mr. Michels’ forecasts from his earlier appearances have proven accurate. Today he calls for Agility, Flexibility and Resiliency as the economy grapples with the Geopolitical situation, interest rates, stress on manufacturing companies, looming bankruptcies, the end of seeking cheap labor globally, and pandemic changes becoming permanent.
How big a role will Automation and artificial intelligence play and at what cost to good jobs? Will inventory-measuring drones,
Integrated and Competing Supply Chains mean good times ahead or more strife? Listen, watch or read this week’s episode of The Common Bridge to find out.
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Two things that are certain, death and taxes. The Common Bridge has covered tax policies from many angles. So, this week we will wade into the topic of death. In these times of great division, one thing we can agree on is that death is a certain eventuality. Today a leader from the funeral industry – a pioneer, teacher and practitioner, Martha Thayer, discusses the art, science and the law of death and funerals.
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To celebrate his 200th episode of The Common Bridge, Rich spends a few minutes reflecting on his take of modern journalism, then replays an earlier episode where he has author, journalist, and political analyst, Matt Taibbi on to talk about the circling of the drain of American journalism.
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Voters want compromise yet parties depend on partisanship...
The 50 states are said to be the laboratories of democracy...
There is widespread voter unease with the current voting system....
In our continuing series about election reform ideas, Rich welcomes to The Common Bridge Joe Kirby from South Dakota.
Could open primaries bring better candidates? Would representatives be more in touch and more responsive with the electorate? Open primaries - a way of reforming or even disintermediation the major political parties?
Have a listen to this 30-minute episode of The Common Bridge or view on YouTube or read at Substack
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Rich and former Michigan Attorney General, Mike Cox, discuss the environmental disaster, contamination, and resulting illnesses from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. For 35 years, Marines, soldiers, Navy personnel and others were infected with contaminated water. How did this happen? What’s the VA‘s role? What are the ABCs of getting justice?
Watch, Listen or Read about this and more in this week’s episode of The Common Bridge.
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Authors of the epic book, “Nothing is Too Big to Fail" Kerry and Linda Killinger return to the Common Bridge. An update on bubbles, government policy and the disconnect between United States citizens and the policies and viewpoints of their government. These Pulitzer nominated authors, have data that encompasses nearly every aspect of the economy that affects nearly every person. Don't miss this outstanding episode.
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Justin Higgins, host of the “Politics and Media 101” podcast, joins Rich on The Common Bridge for a fresh take about issues of the day and media coverage. Higgins brings first-hand knowledge from our nation’s capitol in part 2 of this 2-part series. These two rising independent journalists cover Hunter Biden’s Laptop, House Committee Assignments, Green Shoots of Bipartisanship, COVID policies, Ukraine, China, Nuclear War and end with a great look at the 2024 POTUS election.
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Justin Higgins, host of the “Politics and Media 101” podcast, joins Rich on The Common Bridge to talk about issues of the day and media coverage or non-coverage. Higgins brings the Washington insider look at what’s important In part 1 of a 2-part series, these two Independent interviewers discuss Chinese balloons, who’s got what documents, Federal Debt, Social Security with today’s demographics, Twitter files,
Disinformation about Russian Disinformation, and Hamilton 68.
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In celebration of Black History Month, Rich invites Brian Kruger to The Common Bridge to talk about his Emmy-Nominated documentary, “Black and Blue- The Story of Gerald Ford, Willis Ward, and the 1934 Michigan-Georgia Tech Football Game.”
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Rich responds to comments, emails, and reactions from Common Bridge readers, listeners and viewers.
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The old media model on its deathbed? Soon to follow the idea of profiting from political polarization? Rich sits for an interview to reflect on nearly 200 episodes. Seems there is an audience to hear, see and read about good people doing good things and learned people providing deep insight.
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Medical Assistance In Dying. Rich and Psychiatrist Dr. Nicholas Tito discuss the upcoming changes to Canada’s MAID law. A deep conversation about eligibility for assisted death, juxtaposition and conflict with mental health treatment and societal impacts. Your thoughtful comments welcomed at Substack.
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Rich and noted columnist, author and analyst Adam Coleman discuss how slanted reporting ultimately hurts those exercising the bias and those targeted by it. Adam slams fandom and team sport mentality of politics and reporting. The noise blocks policy solutions and drives division.
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Dr. Lauran Star, Ph. D, brings her practical experience with implementing measurable programs for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in enterprises of all types. Definitions and practical experience beyond the headlines and the hype.
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Rich talks about the emerging new media model and invites your participation on The Common Bridge. Follow and comment on this episode on Substack https://thecommonbridge.substack.com/
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John U Bacon joins Rich for a fun chat about this year’s bowl season, the rise of mega-conferences and the coming expanded playoff system.
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Is there an exit from lesser-of-evils, hyper partisan political polarization? Is there a way off the cliff of tribal politics? Is there a place for kindness and decency in politics? Rob Sand, State Auditor of Iowa started his career as chief public corruption officer for attorney general’s office where he busted the biggest lottery scam in American History. Matt
The only Iowa Democrat to win statewide office in the 2022 midterms, Rob joins the discussion and talks anti-partisanship, progress and goals-focused government.
Check out Rob on his website at RobSand.com
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Suppose you were an actual journalist who walked hundreds of miles all over Chicagoland, blended your first-person experience with a lot of data and then wrote a book entitled, “What Next, Chicago?: Notes of a Pissed-Off Native Son.”
You don’t have to make the walk or look up the data because Matt Rosenberg joins The Common Bridge this week to tell you all about it. Don’t miss this hard-hitting episode.
Wade in with your comments on substack at thecommonbridge@substack.com
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We’ve all heard the reports of a rising mental health calamity in America. Whether mental health matters manifest as violence, physical illness, or despair, what are the facts from the front lines? Dr. Victor Hong, M.D., is the Medical Director of Psychiatric Emergency Services of University of Michigan Medicine and brings a full picture of what’s troubling Americans. How the situation evolved, and how the increase in horrific violence, depression, and other maladies spring from insufficient availability of psychiatric health services. Dr. Hong suggests some policy solutions. Don’t miss this episode and hear the compassion and expertise of Rich’s guest who has dedicated his life to the wellness and well-being of his fellow Americans.
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In a reprised broadcast from June this year, and in response to President Joe Biden’s June 2, 2022 speech, “Remarks by President Biden on Gun Violence in America.” Rich creates a reaction video that looks for sensible gun control.
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Dr. James Baker returns to The Common Bridge to clear the conflict between politics and pandemic responses. Rich & Dr. Baker talk about whether vaccines make sense at this stage of COVID, especially for children, and why is a dangerous bio-lab located in Boston?
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In an quick and sometimes irreverent episode, Rich comments on midterm election results that saw the extremes crumbling, abortion decisions returned to the states, new voting methods employed and what may loom ahead for 2024, indictments and more.
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Rich recaps the recent campaign season of ads, debates, “reporting” and of course social media postings from candidates and the punditry. In this short episode Rich’s disgust and amusement sometimes spills over into sarcasm. We hope you enjoy this entertaining take on the midterm election.
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The same votes may result in different outcomes, depending on the election systems and laws. Rich talks with election expert Steven Hill on voting systems around the world, with an explanation of Italy’s most recent election
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Southern Methodist University’s Professor Anthony Colangelo returns to The Common Bridge to talk about Universal Jurisdiction and how it may apply to Russia and its leaders and their war against Ukraine.
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Rich and Adam Kovacevich talk about the power of big technology platforms, and whether breaking up today’s behemoths would impair chances for better lives or open risks for personal intrusions and social regimentation. You are reading or listening to this online, so this is important to you.
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Rich kicks off Season 4 of The Common Bridge, with a two-part interview with the President and CEO of FairChoice, Rob Richie. Richie has been involved in helping to develop, win, and implement ranked-choice voting in states and cities across the US. This is the second of a two-part interview.
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Rich kicks off Season 4 of The Common Bridge, with a two-part interview with the President and CEO of FairChoice, Rob Richie. Richie has been involved in helping to develop, win, and implement ranked choice voting in states and cities across the US. This is the first of a two-part interview.
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Rich wraps up a successful season three with an analysis of the media landscape and how The Common Bridge is playing its part in providing a fair, fiercely non-partisan platform for intelligent discussion of policy and solutions.
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The second of a two-part interview where Rich welcomes back Robert Greenfield, who again dropped into The Common Bridge Studios all the way from Perth, Australia to trade stories and opinions on politics, policies, and news of the day.
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Rich welcomes back Robert Greenfield, who again dropped into The Common Bridge Studios all the way from Perth, Australia to trade stories and opinions on politics, policies, and news of the day. This is the first of two parts.
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In this repeat episode from 2021, Rich sits down with Thomas Frank, the prophetic author of the now-classic What’s the Matter with Kansas? and Listen, Liberal, to talk about his book, The People, No, which explores the idea that everything we think we know about populism, is wrong.
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Renowned physician, health researcher, and first to codify benefits of aerobic exercise, Dr. Kenneth Cooper visits The Common Bridge. Dr. Cooper sets out simple guidelines for improving health status and shares lessons and data from his 50-year journey on helping people stay well.
Thirst and Goal Podcast (NFL)™
A show about NFL football, fun, friends, whiskey and beer reviews. We cover the NFL...
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
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Tax accountants Rachel Keller and Brett Bissonnette join Rich on The Common Bridge to discuss the IRS.
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Rich welcomes Eli Zupnick of advocacy group Fix Our House for this fiercely non-partisan talk about the idea of shifting from winner-take-all elections for House of Representatives to proportional representation. Mr. Zupnick explains the concept of multi-representative districts. This episode touches on how more political parties may be the way to break the two party doom loop and other ideas to unite voters and the country.
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In this fiercely non-partisan episode, Rich brings back energy expert Rich Gallagher, the CEO and Managing Director of Canadian Vitality Pathway to talk about Hydrogen Energy and its use to strive for zero emission.
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On this weeks fiercely nonpartisan discussion, Rich takes down the notion that the 2024 presidential election will be a rematch of Joe Biden versus Donald Trump. January 6th prosecution decisions aren’t a factor, but pose other risks.
Listen, read or view The Common Bridge at substack.com. Add to the discussion there , and enjoy broader content. The Common Bridge also always available on your favorite podcast outlet and YouTubeTV
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From the vault, a topic that is not only fiercely nonpartisan, it is universally nonpartisan- the immediate threat of Fentanyl. Rich talks with retired Drug Enforcement Administration officer, Derek Maltz about the dramatic increase in counterfeit drugs being sold on the black market that contain potentially deadly doses of fentanyl. Maltz talks about how the Chinese underground and Mexican cartels are working in tandem to create a conduit for these deadly narcotics into the United States.
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Rich invites CEO and Managing Director of Canadian Vitality Pathway to the Common Bridge to talk about Energy, our Carbon footprint, and what we may be getting right and what are getting wrong about Energy policy in the U.S. and around the world.
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Rich invites former New York and Detroit FBI Agent in Charge, Andy Arena to talk about the current landscape of Federal and State Law. Arena, currently the Executive Director of the Detroit Crime Commission, and Professor in Homeland Security at Thomas M. Cooley Law School, talks about how FBI investigates cases, navigates controversy and serves justice.
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This is a much-requested replaying of Rich’s 2021 honoring of Independence Day. He takes some time to reflect on why we still should celebrate our nation's birthday even though our history has been imperfect.
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Columnist and author, Adam Coleman joins Rich to talk about the impact of fatherless homes and its relationship to gun violence, and social upheaval in the United States.
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Rich invites Senior Research Fellow at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, Timo Stewart to The Common Bridge to talk about the impact of Finland and Norway possibly joining NATO.
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In response to President Joe Biden’s June 2, 2022 speech, “Remarks by President Biden on Gun Violence in America.” Rich creates a reaction video that looks for sensible gun control.
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Noted author and media figure Patricia Posner discusses language, degendered medical care, and impact on women’s progress. Provocative conversation at a time when SCOTUS nominee must feign not knowing what a woman is.”
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This is the second part of the two-part interview with Investment Strategist Beata Kirr, who joined Rich in a conversation where they talk about the stocks, bonds, investing, and the societal drivers and are currently impacting the world of finance and personal wealth.
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Political process blocks practical solutions to this preventable tragedy. Guest Justin Higgins says the GOP at fault. Rich and Justin try to work out what could be done.
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Investment Strategist Beata Kirr joins Rich in the first of two episodes where they talk about the stocks, bonds, investing, and the societal drivers and are currently impacting the world of finance and personal wealth. This is a conversation broken up into two segments, with second part posting on March 31.
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Legal scholar Anthony Colangelo returns to the Common Bridge to talk about the implications of what the overturning of Roe v. Wade would be at the state level. Rich and Professor Colangelo discuss the road bumps with various states having varying abortion laws and the legal issues that would be exposed.
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Rich invites business developer, investor, consultant, and millennial, Sam Caudle to The Common Bridge. Sam talks about the challenges he faced building successful businesses during Covid, and during the current unpredictable economy. Caudle talks about his modest upbringing from a small town in Oklahoma how working hard, taking risks, and avoiding blame, have been the foundation of his success in business, and how those values work as well today as they did for his father and grandfather before him.
Sam Caudle can be found online at, “How To Build A Real Estate Business”
Link - samcaudle.com
As well as, “Tampa Real Estate” livingintampafl.com
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Rich and former USA Today columnist Kevin Allen discuss the changes in reporting, journalism, and news coverage in that last 40 years. Their conversation compares and contrasts how newspaper reporting and delivery transitioned away from physical print to the internet. Kevin Allen is a 40-year newspaper veteran, and was elected into the journalist wing of NHL Hall of Fame.
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In this episode, the tables are turned as veteran CBS News journalist, Logan Crawford interviews Rich for his program, Spotlight TV. Rich and Logan talk about the origins of The Common Bridge, and the success of what started as a podcast and now includes, YouTube, Substack and the new digital magazine, "The Common Bridge."
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Rich gives his take on questions and comments forwarded to him on issues of the day and opportunities of the moment. Living up to the brand promise of The Common Bridge, this episode has something for everyone to not like. You can’t get that any place else. Topics as broad as new members for NATO, recent court and crime cases, merit-based testing, Twitter & Musk, Brittney Griner, Big Tech, and commentary on the 2022 midterms. Also Jeopardy champ Amy Schneider. A fast-paced episode that will stir conversation with family, friends and colleagues.
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Rich hosts legendary restaurateur, Craig Common, of the Common Grill, a five-star restaurant located in Chelsea Michigan, a tony small town in the heart of Michigan. They talk about entrepreneurship, civic pride, and what it means to build a strong business in a small town in today's business environment.
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Rich invites Professor of History, and author, Jesse Kauffman from Eastern Michigan University to the Common Bridge, to talk about The Ukraine through history, and the geopolitical impact and implications ramifications today.
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Dr. Owen Perlman comes to the show to discuss how Michigan's new auto insurance law; written by the insurance lobby, passed by legislators with no public hearing, and signed by the governor, is forcing long-term care providers to shut down, leaving the catastrophically injured, and their families, who paid for coverage over the years, with no place to go.
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Rich invites veteran attorney George Silas to the Common Bridge to talk about Michigan's recent changes in its Catastrophic Health Care law.
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Rich hosts Bill Michels, the Vice President of Operations Americas at CIPS, and authority of global supply chain issues, to talk about the current problems of getting products to market. Michels is a return guest from nearly exactly two years ago, on March 5, on Season 1, Episode 26. The differences in the global supply chain status from just 24 months ago and now, is startling. Rich and Bill discuss the issues causing the congestion, as well as some solutions going forward.
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Rich welcomes Professor Emeritus of Texas Christian University to talk about society and civilization in history and how common forces or influences can affect stability today just as it did in antiquity. A fascinating conversation that involves reflections on Greece, Rome, Russia and the US.
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Rich touches base with Robert Greenfield in Perth, Australia to talk about how Australia, and more specifically, Western Australia, imposed draconian pandemic laws that comparatively paled in comparison with what was going on in the US. Greenfield is a returning guest and we're excited to announce that he is now a contributor to The Common Bridge on Substack. Greenfield's columns will appear from time to time in our monthly newsletter, and most recently was featured as our first Guest Columnist, with his piece, "The Safest Place in the World has Surrendered"- read that at TheCommonBridge.substack.com.
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Rich invites former Republican and congressional advisor, Justin Higgins to The Common Bridge to talk about how both parties are failing Americans and instead are more concerned with promoting themselves on leading media outlets. Higgins talks about how he soured on the GOP and has since joined the Democratic Party. He, along with Geoff Browning, produce the podcast, "Politics + Media 101" which can be found on Apple Podcasts.
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Rich sits down with the former chairman, president, and CEO of Washington Mutual Bank, Kerry Killinger, to talk about the spike in inflation, and the economic perils that may be lurking if the proper steps aren't taken by the Fed and on Capitol Hill.
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Rich brings back Southern Methodist University legal scholar, Professor Anthony Colangelo to help explain the U.S. Foreign policy in the Ukraine, if there is one, and helps to untangle the political dynamics that have put NATO and the US on the brink with Russia.
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Rich invites Henry Ford Health Systems CEO, Wright Lassiter, III to The Common Bridge to talk about healthcare, hospitals, and managed care during the last chapter of the Covid 19 Pandemic.
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Rich invites legal scholar, Professor Anthony Colangelo from Southern Methodist University, to talk about how meticulously and deviously crafted Texas Senate Bill 8- , which "relates to abortion, including abortions after detection of an unborn child's heartbeat; authorizing a private civil right of action." written by Republicans, and passed 90-1 by the party. Professor Colangelo breaks down how it cleverly it was written, and how ridiculous it could be to enforce, as well illustrating the insanely large net of liability that could get cast over everyone involved.
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Rich invites Fr. Thomas Reese, who recently authored a piece entitled "Someone is Killing Republican and Trump Voters" that explores the notion that conservative media's push to downplay Covid-19 vaccination efficacy are causing the death of their very own constituencies. Fr. Reese is a Jesuit priest and Senior Analyst at Religious News Service. He also has a doctorate in political science from the University of California Berkeley.
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Rich talks about his expansion of The Common Bridge program to now include a space on Substack in addition to his successful podcast and YouTube channel. With this addition at richardhelppie.substack.com, Rich is further facilitating the growth of his popular fiercely non-partisan policy discussion as more and more people move away from the predictable divisive discussion on cable and network news.
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Rich invites U.S. Army veteran, and executive secretary of The A. Scott Foundation to the Common Bridge, to talk about his incredible efforts traveling around the world in search and recover of the remains of United States WWII missing in action, and prisoner of war soldiers. Since 2009, Mr. Schwimmer volunteers as part of the Florida-based archaeological team, History Flight, Inc., by taking numerous trips to remote islands including Tarawa, Palau and Wake Island. He's also been on search and discovery trips to the Philippines, France, Belgium, and Germany searching for the MIA and POW. Since then, he has been part of efforts to find the remains of over 120 MIA and over 20 POWs.
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In a special return episode, we reprise an earlier episode with Harvard professor, and biostatistician, Martin Kulldorff. Dr. Kulldorff, along with colleagues, Dr. Sunetra Gupta, and Dr. Jay Bhattacharya authored The Great Barrington Declaration in October of 2020 during the onset of the Covid pandemic. The Great Barrington Declaration advocated letting COVID-19 spread in lower-risk groups to promote herd immunity and concentrating on "focused protection" of older, high-risk groups. These views in retrospect, appear to have been spot-on, but at the time, were opposed by the World Health Organization and Dr. Kulldorff was kicked off of some social media platforms for his views.
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Rich welcomes back University of Michigan Professor Emeritus of Internal Medicine, and Immunologist, Dr. James R. Baker, Jr., M.D., who brings words of both encouragement and warning as the world comes to what he feels is the beginning of the final throes of the Covid-19 pandemic. Dr. Baker has been a valued guest on the Common Bridge since the beginnings of the coronavirus over a year ago, and brings thoughtful, scientific, data-driven analysis to the most significant health issue of our lifetime.
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Rich brings back the Honorable Milton L. Mack, Jr. for a discussion on Mental Health, Jury Bias, and Judicial Reform. Judge Mack has been a leading voice on how mental health issues affect over half of the court cases in the US and how this needs to be addressed in judicial reform. He has also been on the forefront of bringing cutting edge technology into the courtroom.
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Rich brings back author, journalist, and political analyst, Matt Taibbi to talk about the circling of the drain of American journalism. What used to be news has now become affirmation and entertainment programming. What used to be the search for truth, has now been replaced with glamour talking heads with no journalism background who ignore stories that don't fit that show's narrative, or just revert to outright lies in order to gain ratings and feed their audience what they want to hear. While Fox, CNN and MSNBC cultivate a national divisive war on television, Facebook, Google, and Twitter are keeping you fed the same warped messages online. All in the name of keeping you angry, and coming back for more. Rich Helppie and Matt Taibbi try to sort this out on this episode of The Common Bridge.
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Rich invites author Habi Zhang whose recent column in the Wall Street Journal regarding the ease of which children in the US are challenged at school compared to those in China, as caused some controversy. Rich and Habi discuss education, cultural differences, and social differences and how perhaps China is not only taking notice, but also will take advantage.
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Rich and Brian go through viewer mail and answer questions about the Infrastructure bill, congressional challenges, minimum wage, the Rittenhouse case and more.
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Rich talks with attorney Wolfgang Mueller about the accidental shooting on the movie set, "Rust" as well as an analysis of the Kyle Rittenhouse trial currently taking place in Kenosha, Wisconsin and how firearms rules were or were not taken into account.
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Rich welcomes back a favorite guest, Cornell Professor Rick Geddes, who talks about the history of the US Postal Service, how it was the first monopoly, and why it flourished in the last century and since the turn of this century, has floundered in the face of high costs and new technologies that threaten to make it obsolete.
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Rich talks with Professor Erik Bean about his new book, Bias Is All Around You: A Handbook for Inspecting Social Media & News Stories which is about how to authenticate any form of information for possible bias before its used and/or shared either online, or even in normal conversation.
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Rich talks with retired Drug Enforcement Administration officer, Derek Maltz about the dramatic increase in counterfeit drugs being sold on the black market that contain potentially deadly doses of fentanyl. Maltz talks about how the Chinese underground and Mexican cartels are working in tandem to create a conduit for these deadly narcotics into the United States.
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Rich reflects on the past year, and what's ahead for America after a cross country trip down Route 66. He sets the stage for his Common Bridge Season 3 and talks about the important policy decisions ahead, and as a country, what we've gotten right and what we've gotten wrong.
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This is the second of a two-part interview with Robert Greenfield, as he returns to The Common Bridge. Greenfield travels from Perth, Australia to talk about US politics, policy, elections and COVID. A favorite guest of The Common Bridge, Rich and Robert finally meet face-to-face and have a great conversation.
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Robert Greenfield returns to The Common Bridge, but this time in our Ann Arbor studio. Greenfield travels from Perth, Australia to talk about US politics, policy, elections and COVID. A favorite guest of The Common Bridge, Rich and Robert finally meet face-to-face and have a great conversation. This is the first of two parts.
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Rich discusses actual election law and history, without the partisan and media hype, with Iowa College Professor of Law, Derek Muller. Muller goes through the history of election law in the US, and talks about what he thinks we get right and wrong, and how we may be able to improve it.
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Rich talks with Rakhi Ruparelia, professor of Law at Ottawa University, on Critical Race Theory, and why it strikes such a chord with those who oppose its presence in public school curriculum.
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Rich does a very quick take on what he sees would be a sensible approach to gun control.
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Rich talks with retired Detroit Police Chief James Craig about his career, and how the community and police department in Detroit avoided the social chaos that tore apart other cities across the United States in the Summer of 2020.
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Rich and Russian-British comic and political commentator, Konstantin Kisin talk about the minefield of standup comedy in a world where every word can be used as ammunition to destroy the comic on social media.
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Rich talks about blockchain technology with the author of "Blockchain: The Next Everything," Stephen R. Williams. Williams talks about what exactly blockchain is, how it is currently being use, and what the promises of it's implementation could be.
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Rich talks with the CEO of Action Benefits, Karl Albrecht about the state of Health Insurance. Albrecht also gives a candid insight to his personal fight with pancreatic cancer and how being a Health Insurance executive as well as a patient, has given him a unique perspective on how things work, and how they could improve.
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A fast- paced discussion of Delta Variant, Breakthrough Infections, Gain-of-Function, Vaccine Success & Side Effects, with Dr. James Baker of Michigan Medicine.
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Rich talks with the founder of the Educational Travel Alliance, Michael Eizenberg, about the history of Cuba, and the politics of the US/Cuban relationship for the last 150 years. They discuss what may be the causes of the current strife in Cuba and what might be done to help.
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Rich brings back healthcare expert and consultant, Nathan Kaufman, Managing Director of Kaufman Strategic Advisors. Rich and Nate talk about the current policy issues surrounding healthcare, and why the United States' approach to health insurance, care, and finance, are woefully inadequate in today's landscape.
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Rich continues his analysis of what he considers the three flawed pillars that are driving division and misinformation in our country today; The Republican Party, The Democratic Party, and Mainstream Media.
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Rich talks with Frank Supovitz, who for over 30 years, has been the producer of some of the world's most prestigious, widely-viewed, and most well-attended sports and entertainment events. Frank is the host of the When Things Go Wrong podcast and author of What to Do When Things Go Wrong and The Sports Event Management & Marketing Playbook, the definitive textbook used by sports business professionals and universities across the globe for more than a decade.
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Rich releases his weekly episode a few days early this week in honor of Independence Day. He takes some time to reflect on why we still should celebrate our nation's birthday even though our history has been imperfect.
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Rich talks about the science of climate with Dr. Judith Curry. Dr. Curry explains how politics have clouded solid scientific-based climate policy over the last few decades, and why that needs to change going forward if we're going to rationally address hunger, clean water supply, and energy..
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Rich talks with actor, producer, playwright, and musician, Jeff Daniels about live theater, movies, and the importance of the arts in general post Covid, and what it will take to get live entertainment back on stage in front of live audiences.
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Rich invites Westland, Michigan Mayor, Bill Wild to The Common Bridge. They talk about issues facing local governments, and how state and federal policies can impact decision making. Westland is Michigan's tenth largest city and it's a fascinating conversation that goes from finance to policing, to Covid, and more.
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Rich talks with veteran telehealth executive, CJ Mark about the growth of Telehealth in the last decade. They discuss the issues surrounding Telehealth, and how Covid has accelerated the importance of remote medical care.
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Rich talks with Fortified Health Security CEO Dan L. Dodson about the landscape of cyber security today. They also cover national and personal security vulnerabilities and what is the path going forward.
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Pandemic Ending? How are Hospitals Doing? with Brian Peters. Rich brings back Brian Peters, the CEO Michigan Health and Hospital Association to talk about the current state of Covid-19; what we may have gotten right, what we may have gotten wrong and how to move forward.
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Rich brings back Dr. James R. Baker Jr., M.D., from The University of Michigan to discuss the way forward a year and 15 months after the Covid Pandemic.
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Rich takes a break from his vacation to comment on what's happening, what's being reported, and what's NOT being reported.
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Part 2 of a two-part interview where Rich welcomes veteran author Thomas Frank, whose study and writings on American history, and more specifically American Populism, has made him an authority on gauging polities from the right, left and everything in-between. Rich and Frank have a great conversation about the political climate today, and how things are repeating themselves some 140 years after the first great American Populism rage.
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Rich welcomes veteran author Thomas Frank, whose study and writings on American history, and more specifically American Populism, has made him an authority on gauging polities from the right, left and everything in-between. Rich and Frank have a great conversation about the political climate today, and how things are repeating themselves some 140 years after the first great American Populism rage.
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Rich has Cornell Professor, Rick Geddes back on the Common Bridge to talk about President Biden's Infrastructure bill, what should be in it, what probably shouldn't and how we should be paying for it. This is a welcome return for Professor Geddes.
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Rich talks about a sensible solution to gun control in America.
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Rich hosts Yale Research Assistant, Sean-Michael Pigeon to talk about his OP-ED piece in USA Today which argues that eliminating meritocratic opportunities for students to excel will cause colleges to rely on the 'soft' parts of a résumé, which will benefit the rich.
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Rich Talks with the authors Kerry and Linda Killinger, the authors of their new book, 'Nothing is Too Big to Fail,' which goes behind the scenes of the 2008 financial crisis and talks about what actions led to one of the worst recessions in history, and how, without focused action from the US government and leading organizations, we may be on track to repeat the same mistakes.
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Rich brings to The Common Bridge Immigration Expert Laura Collins. Collins and Helppie talk about the history of immigration policy, where we are today as a country, and what the future may hold. This is a departure from the dueling talking points so prevalent in our news.
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In the return of the Quick Take, Rich talks about current events half-way through President Biden's first 100 Days in Office.
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Rich has a great talk with Tamika Hamilton, who ran for a seat on the 3rd Congressional District in California. Ms. Hamilton talks with Rich about being a mother, a community advocate and Air Force Veteran, was well as the challenges of running as a Republican in a Democratic state.
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Rich has a special guest, Dr. Richard Alley, a Geologist and Climatologist from Penn State University discussing Global Warming, Climate Change and the fuzzy math in between.
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Rich talks with Stuart Taylor, co-founder of Princetonians For Free Speech about how Free Speech is being threatened on college campuses, Hollywood, and the Corporate Tech world.
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Rich discusses media polarization in the post-Fairness Doctrine era with former CBS Programming executive, and journalist, Joe Ferullo.
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Rich sits down with Rolling Stone contributing editor and author, Matt Taibbi to talk about the failure of fair news coverage on Fox, CNN, CNBC, etc., and the uphill battle to create a new media that is trustworthy and fair.
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Rich has an absolutely fascinating discussion about our nation's failing infrastructure, and provides potential solutions, with Professor Rick Geddes from Cornell University, and former Commissioner of the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission. This talk is amazing!
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Rich sits down with the Founder and and Co-Managing Partner of SkyBridge Capital, and one-time White House Communications Director, Anthony Scaramucci for some interesting discussions ranging from Trump to Biden to Bitcoin.
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Rich talks with author and consultant, Andy Vassallo of the Aspen Summit Group about his new book, "The Focused CEO- Why Some Organizations Thrive and Others Spin Their Wheels."
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Rich talks with Dr. Roseanne Paglia about the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine and the logistics surrounding that massive operation going forward.
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Rich kicks off the new year and talks about what we could do right and what could go dreadfully wrong in 2021, and where there's hope.
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Rich goes over the astonishing year 2020 was. A look back at what was happening with The Common Bridge and world news.
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Rich talks with Kahlil Byrd about making voting more accessible through smart phone apps, kiosks, online and in-person voting with Kahlil Byrd who is on the advisory board of Voatz, one of the leading developers of voting apps for the smart phone.
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Rich talks with Dr. James R. Baker, Jr., M.D., Professor Emeritus of Internal Medicine at The University of Michigan, and Director of Mary H. Weiser Food Allergy Center about the development, efficacy and safety of the various new Covid-19 vaccines, and the implications of societal acceptance.
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Rich talks with Michigan Association of Public School Academies President, Dan Quisenberry about the challenges of educating our children during Covid-19. They talk about the limitations, barriers, and myths regarding face-to-face in-classroom learning vs. online classes.
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Rich takes a look at a way forward with some quick takes that explore life after the election and life after Covid.
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Rich has a wonderful conversation with fellow podcaster, Nativo Gonzalez, the host of 'Paid the Co$t.' They discuss how Navito has met challenges in his life to become an important voice in his Santa Cruz, California community.
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Rich sweeps through the aftermath of the election, and talks about the impact on the GOP, DNC, and the reporting industry, as well as how he sees the next few weeks pan out heading up to Inauguration.
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Rich and Brian talk about the upcoming documentary, "Champions of Wayne," the story of a highly successful incentive-based mentoring program in at Wayne Memorial High School in Wayne, Michigan.
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Rich takes a look at the 2020 Election and the implications going forward with President Elect Joe Biden.
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Rich answers, in a lightning round format, many of the major issues of the 2020 Presidential Election, and how they may have played a part in this process.
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Rich has some Election Night takes. For this one, Rich opines, to put all the cards on the table and what might happen if Donald Trump was actually on trial. Now or four years from now.
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More Election Night Thoughts from Richard Helppie.
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Rich frames the 2020 presidential election. He further elaborates on an essay posted or will be posted to the website today.
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Rich talks with Trinity Heath CEO Robert Casalou about the recent surge in Coronavirus that is spreading across the country and how it is impacting the hospitals. They discuss the effectiveness of masks, social distancing, and how K-12 in person classrooms appear to not be a super spreader if normal precautions are taken.
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With the 2020 Presidential Election quickly approaching, Rich interviews experts with opposing views as to the necessity of the Electoral College. He is joined by Scott Drexel of the National Popular Vote, a group that promotes doing away with the Electoral College, and Trent England, with the Save Our States, which defends the Electoral College.
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Rich talks with one of the authors of The Great Barrington Declaration, Dr. Martin Kulldorff of Harvard University about the policy mistakes being made on the societal treatment of Covid 19.
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Rich kicks off his second season of the Common Bridge with an overview of the news events of the past week including President Trump's Covid diagnosis, the vice presidential debates, the never-ending riots in Portland, and much more.
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Rich takes a fresh and important look at President Trump's Covid 19 diagnosis and what it means going forward.
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Rich does an analysis of the first presidential debate/barroom brawl, and also covers the Comey hearings, and sets the stage for the last month before the election.
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Rich brings back Robert Greenfield and introduces Dr. Dawn Lancaster Asper in a terrific episode that's a rapid run-through of today’s topics in a civil discussion with guests speaking for Democrat and Republican POTUS candidates, including 2020 Election, Judiciary & Supreme Court, Healthcare, Immigration, Guns, Economy, Big Tech & Antitrust, Environment, Society, Law Enforcement, International Relations, other topics and some forecasts for the next few months. Don’t miss Episode 63 of “Richard Helppie’s Common Bridge” . Sample in 5-minute segments or a long listen for the entire podcast, its great.
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This is the second of a two-part interview Rich had with retired and decorated Toledo Police Officer, Bruce Helppie.
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Rich has some thoughts on the passing of Justice Ginsburg and how the country could move forward in the wake of this loss.
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Rich has an informal discussion about policing and police practice with his cousin Bruce Helppie, who is a decorated retired Toledo Police officer who was shot in the line of duty while on a domestic call in 1984. This is part one of a two-part series.
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Rich talks with Anti-Trust expert and scholar, Professor Daniel Crane from the University of Michigan about big tech, privacy, and the impact of neglecting current antitrust laws that have been on the books since the time of Taft, McKinley and Roosevelt.
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Rich takes a look at both the Democratic and Republican virtual conventions and talks about what worked, what didn't, and the road to Election Day...and a warning about what comes after.
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Rich talks with Detriot Lions President and CEO, Rod Wood about the upcoming season and all the changes and precautions that are taking place, as well as a discussion about social justice impacts going into the 20-21 season.
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In this episode, Rich is asked to break down 10 Topics from the week that amoung other things, included Biden's VP pick, Riots in Chicago, and the cancellation of much of college football.
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Rich and Dean talk about alternative ways to provide healthcare that would actually work, as compared to anything we offer today.
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Rich invites past guests, Robert Greenfield an expert in Asian commerce affairs, and Aaron Boesky, the Founder and CEO of Marco Polo Pure Asset Management, based in Hong Kong, to discuss current US-China relations business relations.
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Rich goes over civil unrest, and reaction on both sides, and as always, seeks to find solutions and a place to discuss them, on his Common Bridge. He also teases topics to come in the next two months that will complete Season One.
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Rich talks with Chris Allen, a former hospital administrator in Detroit and founder of Authority Health, which explored social determinants as barriers to good health in urban areas in our country.
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Rich talks with entrepreneur Hunter Howard about his struggles with contracting Covid-19, and the massive action he is taking to find global solutions to manage the disease until a vaccine is found.
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Rich talks with Washtenaw County (Michigan) Sheriff Jerry L. Clayton about policing, the role of police and relationship building with the community.
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Rich breaks down what could go down as one of the most historic six month periods in U.S. history, and sets up what could top that in the final six months.
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Once again Rich gets the surprise call to answer off-the-cuff questions on current events. He covers CHOP, a fun turn on things that nobody has ever said, and a whack at Trump and Biden all with same swing.
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Rich picks up on a theme started back on May 2 asking the question if we can't talk about our issues in a civil manner, are we bound for another Civil War.
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In the second and final part of Rich Helppie's interview with former US Attorney Barbara McQuade, Rich and Barb talk about George Floyd, Police reform, The Second Amendment, and policy ideas as they pertain to law enforcement.
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This is first of a two-part interview with former United States Attorney, Barbara McQuade. In part 1, Rich and Barbara talk about the conviction of Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, and the federal case of Micheal Flynn as well as the Russian collusion story.
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Rich talks with former National Hockey League enforcer turned attorney and executive, Stu Grimson about his new book, life in the NHL, and what it's going to take and look like to get the NHL season restarted this year.
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Rich talks with Biologist Michele Arquette-Palermo about the environmental effects that Covid-19 has had.
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Rich goes over his analysis of the Vice Presidential candidates as well as discusses why we need to demand better from our politicians and the media.
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Rich Interviews Dr. John Haller and they discuss COVID-19 origins, potential treatments, and the way forward.
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Rich discusses FBI responsibility in government investigations, with former Deputy Chief of National Security, Kenneth R. Chadwell.
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Rich discusses how partisan politics and a stark ideologically divided country are putting us on the brink of a major civil conflict. Rich also discuses the hypocrisy of the MeToo movement, the FBI, and Voter Integrity.
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Hon. Milton Mack Jr, discusses mental health and judicial policy challenges during the Covid era. Rich and Judge Mack talk about the spike in the suicide rate, domestic violence, bail reform and educational disparities during this trying times.
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Rich offers up an assemblage of topics related to the end of Week Four of the Corona Virus lockdown.
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Rich talks about life in quarantine, post Covid economic ramp up strategies, and tries to look at the bright side of everyone staying home for awhile.
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Rich talks with Brian Peters, CEO at the Michigan Health & Hospital Association. Peters talks about insurance claims, hospitals in financial peril and flaws in our current health care delivery and financial system, and what might be done after this crisis is over.
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Rich takes a moment to explain why both extremes want to take him to task, and how it's proof that we'll find answers, and why he started The Common Bridge.
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During this Covid lockdown, Rich reaches out to long time television and radio personality, Mort Crim to get his thoughts on how News coverage has changed over the years, and the responsibility that journalists have during times of crisis.
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Rich talks about alleged insider trading of Democratic and Republican Senators and how the media spins that. He also covers possible Biden VP picks.
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Rich takes a look at where we are now compared to three weeks ago, from an economic and policy standpoint, and tries to sift through the growing heap of rubble, to look for solutions.
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Rich talks about how our Health Care system, while uniquely strong in some areas, is not built for a pandemic like the current Covid-19
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Rich continues to break down the Covid-19 crisis, and throws a few punches at Biden and Sanders after debate 1.0... and why Tusli Gabbard should have been on that stage.
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Making it a regular weekly thing to coax Rich into firing up some quick takes on current events. These a lot of fun.
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Rich talks about the Corona Virus's impact on the market and discusses a huge opportunity governments and municipalities have to leverage the current bond market.
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This is a fun extra 10 minutes of Rich's interview with Bill Michels
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Rich Talks with Bill Michels, the Vice President of Operations at CIPS, the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply. Rich and Bill talk how companies may be ready to rethink the advantages of a supply chain that can be easily negatively impacted by world events.
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Rich takes a short break from the Common Bridge theme and does a quick half hour on the Corona Virus and the Primary Elections. Good fun!
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This is both parts of Rich's interview with health care expert and consultant, Nathan Kaufman. I put it into one podcast because I had some requests to have a single link. This interview is fantastic, and it is THE primmer on what the main issues of Health Care and Health Insurance are in the US now. Pass this link along to a friend if you've already heard both sections. It's really terrific.
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This is part 2 of a two-part interview with Robert Greenfield from Perth, Australia regarding Chinese Trade and the Trans Pacific Partnership. Very informative interview.
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Rich talks about Asian trade with Robert Greenfield, an expert in international trade. Mr. Greenfield joins Rich from Perth Australia.
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In a break from his usual policy talk, Rich talks about what happened last week in Politics. Impeachment, Iowa, and State of the Union.
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This is the conclusion of a two-part discussion Rich had with Health Care expert and consultant Nathan Kaufman, the Managing Director of Kaufman Strategic Advisors. A fascinating a frank talk about the state of our nation's Health Care policy.
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This is the first of a two-part discussion Rich had with Health Care expert and consultant Nathan Kaufman, the Managing Director of Kaufman Strategic Advisors. A fascinating a frank talk about the state of our nation's Health Care policy.
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The mics were still on after our podcast with Nate Kaufman (which airs tomorrow) and I forced Rich into talking about the Impeachment hearings that wrapped up two days ago. He wasn't ready for it, but delivered all the same.
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In the conclusion of Rich Helppie's two-part interview with Chinese hedge fund pioneer Aaron Boesky, they talk about the Trans Pacific Trade Agreement, Free Trade, Innovation, 5G technology and other things. Great interview.
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This is the first of a two-part interview Rich had with Chinese hedge fund manager, Aaron Boesky. Boesky is the founder of Marco Polo Investments and Marco Polo Pure Asset Management. Helppie's discussion with Boesky on Chinese trade is terrific.
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Rich Talks about the problems how much your privacy is being compromised by big tech.
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Rich sets the stage of a new year and new decade and launches right into polarization, the IG Report, and hits on voter identification.
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Richard recaps his four-part Health Care fix and sums up the purpose of the Common Bridge as we bring this year and decade to an end.
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As we spin down 2019, we take the next two episodes and pull a few clips from earlier podcasts. This is part one of that recap. We think you'll like hearing it.
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Rich talks about one of his favorite philanthropic endeavors, The Champions of Wayne Program at Wayne Memorial High School. It's a somewhat controversial, but highly successful incentive-based hyper-mentorship program.
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As we head into the holiday season, Richard takes a look at aspects of economic policy that might surprise you. This week is a very quick take on minimum wage. It may surprise you.
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Rich takes a few minutes to ponder what Micheal Bloomberg's entry into the 2020 Presidential race might mean.
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Rich goes off book this week to analyze the whole idea of last week's impeachment hearings. Not a blow-by-blow, but rather how we got here.
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Richard Helppie talks about the absurdity of both party's approach to the immigration problem, and begins to start a conversation about a sensible solution.
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In Episode 6, Rich proposes a few more possible solutions to the Student Debt Crisis and jumps into a simplified Income Tax structure.
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A quick overview of the Student Debt crises and a possible solution.
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Rich talks about party loyalty and it's detriment to actually solving problems, and shifts to how freedom of speech is being challenged at every turn nowadays.
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In Episode 3 of Richard Helppie's Common Bridge, Rich continues to break down the 2020 election, and teases a future discussion on the student debt crisis.
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In Episode 2 of Richard Helppie's Common Bridge, Rich talks about the 2020 presidential election one year away, and also joins in on gun control.
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The problems we have in the country are solvable, but not solvable the way we’re approaching them today, because of partisan politics. The discussions here are designed to find a place in the middle where common sense discussions can bridge the current great divide.
Richard Helppie is a is a successful entrepreneur in the technology, health and finance space. He and his wife Leslie are also philanthropists with interests in civic and artistic endeavors but with a primary focus on medically and educationally underserved children.
Brian Kruger is the show's moderator and host.
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