Best Jim Baer Podcasts (2025)

1
Episode 98: Kristian Rönn 1:02:16

12d ago1:02:16

1:02:16

On this episode of The Puck: Venture Capital & Beyond, Jim Baer sits down with Kristian Rönn—climate tech founder, AI ethicist, and author of The Darwinian Trap—to explore how humanity can escape destructive evolutionary forces and build a future rooted in shared values, long-term thinking, and spiritual renewal. A conversation about risk, responsi…

1
Episode 97: Michelle Goldberg 51:49

27d ago51:49

51:49

In this powerful episode of The Puck, Jim Baer sits down with Michelle Goldberg—New York Times columnist, author, and longtime voice of progressive political commentary—for a deep and timely conversation. They explore how the Trump era reshaped institutional norms, the growing influence of conspiracy thinking, and the failures of both political par…

1
David St. John Reads Larry Levis 41:30

27d ago41:30

41:30

David St. John joins Kevin Young to read “Picking Grapes in an Abandoned Vineyard,” by Larry Levis, and his own poem “The Shore.” St. John is the author of many poetry collections and the recipient of honors including the Rome Fellowship and an Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the O. B. Hardison Prize from the Folg…

1
Episode 96: Jonathan Rauch 1:03:15

1M ago1:03:15

1:03:15

What if the strongest case for Christianity’s role in democracy came from an atheist?Jim Baer sits down with Jonathan Rauch to discuss Cross Purposes: Christianity’s Broken Bargain with Democracy, and why America needs the moral backbone that Christian virtues once provided. Rauch—Jewish, gay, and secular—argues that courage, equality, and forgiven…

1
Episode #95 – Steven Teles: Class, Conflict, and the Collapse of Trust 53:04

2M ago53:04

53:04

In this thought-provoking episode, Jim Baer sits down with political scientist Steven Teles, professor at Johns Hopkins University and co-author of The Captured Economy and Never Trump. Together, they explore the shifting class dynamics fueling America’s political polarization and the deepening distrust in institutions—from higher education to publ…

1
Edward Hirsch Reads Gerald Stern 31:05

2M ago31:05

31:05

Edward Hirsch joins Kevin Young to read, “96 Vandam,” by Gerald Stern, and his own poem “Man on a Fire Escape.” Hirsch's honors include a MacArthur Fellowship, a National Book Critics Circle Award, the Pablo Neruda International Presidential Medal of Honor, and a National Jewish Book Award. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices…

1
Episode 94: Michael Lind 1:05:22

2M ago1:05:22

1:05:22

Navigating a New World with Michael LindIn this episode of The Puck, Jim Baer sits down with acclaimed writer and policy thinker Michael Lind, co-founder of New America and author of Hell to Pay: How the Suppression of Wages is Destroying America. Together, they explore the global economic shifts, the U.S. political realignment, the dangers of inte…

1
Episode 93: Aswath Damodaran 1:00:44

2M ago1:00:44

1:00:44

On this episode of The Puck, host Jim Baer sits down with Aswath Damodaran, renowned NYU finance professor and the “Dean of Valuation,” for a deep dive into the current economic landscape.Damodaran breaks down the market’s recent volatility, the looming risk of a recession, and why the U.S. has been able to defy macroeconomic gravity for so long. H…

1
Episode 92: Patrick Ruffini 45:32

2M ago45:32

45:32

On this episode of The Puck: Venture Capital and Beyond, host Jim Baer sits down with Republican pollster and political strategist Patrick Ruffini, co-founder of Echelon Insights and author of The Party of the People: Inside the Multiracial Populist Coalition Remaking the GOP. Ruffini shares his insights on the shifting political landscape, the ris…

1
Episode 91: Gary Gerstle 57:54

3M ago57:54

57:54

On this week’s episode, Jim sits down with Gary Gerstle, author, professor, and historian with a focus on “Political Orders.” His most recent book, “The Rise and Fall of the Neoliberal Order,” came out in 2022, and explores the larger trends in political thinking which make up a consensus, oftentimes a consensus we take for granted. Their conversat…

1
Jericho Brown Reads Elizabeth Alexander 36:29

3M ago36:29

36:29

Jericho Brown joins Kevin Young to read, “When,” by Elizabeth Alexander, and his own poem, “Colosseum.” Jericho Brown, who received the 2020 Pulitzer Prize in poetry for his collection “The Tradition.” He’s a 2024 MacArthur Fellow and a Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices…

1
Episode 90: Frank Furedi 54:48

3M ago54:48

54:48

On this week’s episode, Jim sits down with Frank Furedi, author, social commentator, and Emeritus Professor of Sociology at the University of Kent. Frank is a free speech absolutist and has been a longtime critic of what he and others call “The Culture Wars.” They discuss Frank’s background, his academic work, and how he formed his worldview.…

1
Episode 89: Jai Das 39:15

3M ago39:15

39:15

On this week’s episode, Jim sits down with Jai Das, President and Partner at Sapphire Ventures. They cover Jai’s history as a developer, the Sapphire origin story, and Jai’s current read of the financial landscape. Their conversation explores what sets successful companies apart, and what’s next for Sapphire, including their groundbreaking AI inves…

1
Kevin Young and Deborah Garrison Discuss “A Century of Poetry in The New Yorker” 35:48

4M ago35:48

35:48

This year, The New Yorker turns one hundred years old, and, to celebrate the occasion, we’re publishing an anthology: “A Century of Poetry in The New Yorker, 1925-2025.” Deborah Garrison, a poet and an editor at Knopf, who worked closely with The New Yorker on this exciting project, joins Kevin Young to discuss the anthology. Learn about your ad ch…

1
Dobby Gibson Reads Diane Seuss 29:49

5M ago29:49

29:49

Dobby Gibson joins Kevin Young to read “I have slept in many places, for years on mattresses that entered,” by Diane Seuss, and his own poem “This Is a Test of the Federal Emergency Management Agency Wireless Warning System.” Gibson is the author of five poetry collections, including, most recently, “Hold Everything.” He’s also the recipient of fel…

1
Episode 88: Greg McKeown 47:53

5M ago47:53

47:53

In this illuminating episode of The Puck, Jim sits down with Greg McKeown, the bestselling author of "Essentialism" and "Effortless." McKeown shares his journey from London law student to influential thought leader, revealing his groundbreaking philosophy of achieving more by doing less. Through engaging stories—ranging from Silicon Valley successe…

1
Episode 87: Sir Paul Collier Returns to the Show! 45:18

6M ago45:18

45:18

Once again, we have the privilege of hosting world-renowned economist Sir Paul Collier. Paul and Jim discuss the vast changes in the world economy since Paul was last on the show in 2022. They cover inflation, geopolitical conflict, and of course Paul’s new book, Left Behind: A New Economics for Neglected Places. Give us a listen and let us know wh…

1
Rae Armantrout Reads Dorothea Lasky 28:58

6M ago28:58

28:58

Rae Armantrout joins Kevin Young to read “Mother,” by Dorothea Lasky, and her own poem “Finally.” Armantrout’s many books include “Go Figure,” “Finalists,” “Conjure,” and “Wobble.” Her collection “Versed” won a National Book Critics Circle Award and the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices…

1
Episode 86: Demetri Kofinas Returns to the Show! 35:54

6M ago35:54

35:54

Media entrepreneur and Hidden Forces host Demetri Kofinas returns to The Puck to discuss the evolution of technology, security, and social dynamics since last year when he was on. From the siloing of our media ecosystems to the relationship between innovation and regulation, Demetri shares a nuanced perspective on how emerging technologies are resh…

1
Jim Moore Reads Jane Mead 23:12

7M ago23:12

23:12

Jim Moore joins Kevin Young to read “I wonder if I will miss the moss,” by Jane Mead, and his own poem “Mother.” Moore has published eight poetry collections, including, most recently, “Prognosis.” He is the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship and multiple Minnesota Book Awards. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices…

1
Episode 85: Shomik Dutta Returns to the Show! 38:54

7M ago38:54

38:54

Jim sits back down with Shomik Dutta, co-founder and managing partner at Overture VC, who is on the cutting edge of climate tech. They catch up and discuss how the VC and climate space has changed in the last 18 months. Don’t miss it!By Jim Baer

1
Amber Tamblyn Reads Didi Jackson 31:21

8M ago31:21

31:21

Amber Tamblyn joins Kevin Young to read “The Dahlias,” by Didi Jackson, and her own poem “This Living.” Tamblyn, a writer, director, and actor, is the creator of the newsletter “Listening in the Dark” and the editor of an anthology of the same title. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices…

1
Episode 84: Doug Holtz-Eakin 56:13

10M ago56:13

56:13

On this episode, Jim interviews economist Doug Holtz-Eakin, president of the American Action Forum, to explore the current slate of economic issues facing the United States. Drawing from his extensive experience in academia and government, Holtz-Eakin offers his perspective on topics ranging from sustainable economic growth and fiscal policy to pas…

1
Valzhyna Mort Reads Victoria Amelina and Wisława Szymborska 43:31

10M ago43:31

43:31

Valzhyna Mort joins Kevin Young to read “Testimonies” by Victoria Amelina, which Mort translated from the Ukrainian, and “Map,” by Wisława Szymborska, which was translated, from the Polish, by Clare Cavanagh. Mort’s collection “Music for the Dead and Resurrected” won the 2021 International Griffin Poetry Prize and the 2022 UNT Rilke Prize. Her othe…

1
Episode 83: Greg Lukianoff 54:24

10M ago54:24

54:24

On this week’s episode, Jim sits down with Greg Lukianoff, president and CEO of The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, an organization focused on the legal defense of free speech. Greg is the co-author of The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure with Jonathan Haidt. M…

1
Raymond Antrobus Reads John Lee Clark 39:41

11M ago39:41

39:41

Raymond Antrobus joins Kevin Young to read “A Protactile Version of ‘Tintern Abbey,’ ” by John Lee Clark, and his own poem “Signs, Music.” Antrobus has received the Rathbones Folio Prize, the Ted Hughes Award from the Poetry Society, the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award, the Lucille Clifton Legacy Award, and a Somerset Maugham Award, amo…

1
Episode 82: Devin Sean Moss 51:22

11M ago51:22

51:22

On this week’s episode, Jim sits down with non-theist chaplain Devin Sean Moss. Devin has done significant work as a podcast host and producer on the subject of death and dying. Their conversation covers belief, fundamental goodness in the world, and of course, a vast exploration of our collective understanding of death. A deeply moving conversatio…

1
Episode 81: Stephen M. R. Covey 58:12

12M ago58:12

58:12

On this week’s episode, Jim sits down with Stephen M. R. Covey, author, motivational speaker, and all-around expert on the subject of leadership. Their wide-ranging conversation covers his background, how he built his leadership practice, and, of course, his relationship with his father, the late Stephen R Covey, author of The Seven Habits of Highl…

1
Episode 80: Dr. William Li 55:50

12M ago55:50

55:50

On this week’s episode, Jim sits down with renowned physician, scientist, and author of the New York Times bestseller “Eat to Beat Disease: The New Science of How Your Body Can Heal Itself,” Dr. William Li. Dr. Li is a lab scientist and vascular biologist, who has built a career studying our relationship to food. Their conversation covers Dr. Li’s …

1
Amy Woolard Reads Charles Wright 37:45

1y ago37:45

37:45

Amy Woolard joins Kevin Young to read “Via Negativa,” by Charles Wright, and her own poem “Late Shift.” Woolard, whose debut poetry collection, “Neck of the Woods,” won the 2018 Alice James Award from Alice James Books. She is the recipient of fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Vermont Studio Center, and the Breadloaf Writers…

1
Episode 79: Frank Bruni 50:32

1y ago50:32

50:32

Frank Bruni is a contributing Opinion writer at The New York Times. He has been both a White House correspondent and the chief restaurant critic. He is the author of four New York Times best sellers: a 2022 reflection on illness, aging and optimism, "The Beauty of Dusk"; a 2015 examination of the college admissions frenzy, “Where You Go Is Not Who …

1
Episode 78: Larry Summers 44:01

1y ago44:01

44:01

Larry Summers is on the show this week!Jim sits down with renowned economist Larry Summers to talk recent US financial history, the current state of the national debt, some unintended consequences of Quantitate Easing, and much much more. In addition to serving as Secretary of the Treasury under Bill Clinton and the Director of the National Economi…

1
Special Feature: Major Jackson reads Clint Smith on The Slowdown 7:30

1y ago7:30

7:30

We have a special episode to share with you today of the daily poetry podcast, “The Slowdown.” “The Slowdown” offers a poem and a moment of reflection in short episodes, each weekday. In this episode, host Major Jackson, reads “Chaos Theory” by Clint Smith. Major writes… “Occasionally, I try to follow the series of decisions that led me to this pre…

1
Episode 77: Dr. Tommy Wood 50:52

1y ago50:52

50:52

On this week’s episode, Jim sits down with Dr. Tommy Wood, neuroscientist, researcher, and athletic performance consultant to talk about the human brain. They cover the relationship between diet and brain health, long-term cognitive function, and the real-world, practical steps you can take to keep your brain and avoid cognitive decline. You don’t …

1
José Antonio Rodríguez Reads Naomi Shihab Nye 29:03

1y ago29:03

29:03

José Antonio Rodríguez joins Kevin Young to read “[World of the future, we thirsted](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/07/29/world-of-the-future-we-thirsted),” by Naomi Shihab Nye, and his own poem “[Tender](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/08/22/tender).” Rodríguez is a poet, memoirist, and translator whose honors include a Bob Bus…

1
Episode 76: Navneet Govil of Softbank 40:18

1y ago40:18

40:18

On this week’s episode, Jim sits down with Navneet Govil, Executive MP and CFO of SoftBank Vision Fund. Their wide ranging conversation covers Navneet’s background, the history of SoftBank, the current state of the investment market, and the role of AI in today’s world. You don’t want to miss it!By Jim Baer

1
Episode 75: Ash Beckham 53:53

1y ago53:53

53:53

On this week’s episode, Jim sits down with Ash Beckham, a self-described Accidental Advocate and author of Step Up: How to Live with Courage and Become an Everyday Leader. After Ash gave a 2014 TEDx Talk focused on “coming out of your individual closet” and opening up, she became a sought-after speaker and authority on initiating difficult conversa…

1
Ada Limón Reads Carrie Fountain 44:01

1y ago44:01

44:01

Ada Limón joins Kevin Young to read “You Belong to The World,” by Carrie Fountain, and her own poem “Hell or High Water.” Limón is the current United States Poet Laureate and the recipient of a MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship. She’s the author of six books—including “The Carrying,” which won the National Book Critics Circle Award for poetry—and the e…

1
Episode 74: William Egginton 56:46

1y ago56:46

56:46

On this week’s episode, Jim sits down with Professor William Egginton, author of The Rigor of Angels – Borges, Heisenberg, Kant, and the Ultimate Nature of Reality. Their conversation covers the similarities underpinning both New Atheism and Religious Fundamentalism, accepting the reality of discomfort between different mindsets, philosophical para…

1
Donika Kelly Reads Mary Oliver 42:35

1y ago42:35

42:35

Donika Kelly joins Kevin Young to read “One Hundred White-Sided Dolphins on a Summer Day,” by Mary Oliver, and her own poem “Sixteen Center.” Kelly is the author of two poetry collections, and the recipient of an Anisfield-Wolf Book Award, a Cave Canem Poetry Prize, a Hurston/Wright Legacy Award, and a Kate Tufts Discovery Award. A founding member …

1
Episode 73: Peter Berg of M12 38:19

1+ y ago38:19

38:19

On this week’s episode, Jim sits down with Peter Berg, Managing Partner of M12, Microsoft’s venture arm. Their conversation covers M12’s history, the relationship between M12 and Microsoft as a whole, and thecurrent state of investing and AI.You don’t want to miss it!By Jim Baer

1
Richie Hofmann Reads Henri Cole 41:39

1+ y ago41:39

41:39

Richie Hofmann joins Kevin Young to read “Twilight” by Henri Cole, and his own poem “French Novel” Hofmann is the author of two collections of poetry and the recipient of a Ruth Lilly Fellowship from the Poetry Foundation and a Wallace Stegner Fellowship from Stanford University. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices…

1
Episode 72: George Bonanno 51:24

1+ y ago51:24

51:24

The word “trauma” seems to be everywhere. As part of our three-part series on mental health, we wanted to dive into the concept. George Bonanno is a Professor of Clinical Psychology at Columbia University's Teachers College and internationally recognized for his pioneering research on human resilience in the face of loss and potential trauma. On th…

1
Episode 71: Joshua Coleman, Ph.D. 52:09

1+ y ago52:09

52:09

On this week’s episode, Jim sits down with Dr. Joshua Coleman. Dr. Coleman is an author and psychologist who specializes in contemporary families, particularly on the topic of estrangement. Their conversation covers Dr. Coleman’s research history, his most recent book, Rules of Estrangement, and how to heal intergenerational divides. You don’t want…

1
Episode 70: Henry Olsen 54:47

1+ y ago54:47

54:47

On this week’s episode, Jim sits down with author and columnist for the Washington Post, Henry Olsen. Henry specializes in global politics with a particular focus on America and populism. Their wide-ranging conversation covers the roots of the modern populist movement, when Henry first noticed this shift, and where we are now. Henry’s insight allow…

1
Bianca Stone Reads Franz Wright 43:07

1+ y ago43:07

43:07

Bianca Stone joins Kevin Young to read “Learning to Read,” by Franz Wright, and her own poem “What’s Poetry Like?” Stone has published several books of poetry and poetry comics, including, most recently, “What Is Otherwise Infinite.” She runs the Ruth Stone House in Vermont, hosts the podcast “Ode & Psyche,” and serves as Editor at Large for Iteran…

1
Episode 69: Christopher Miller 49:58

1+ y ago49:58

49:58

This week, Jim has Professor Christopher Miller on the show to talk about something we all interact with but very rarely think about: microchips. Chris’ new book is called Chip War: The Fight for the World’s Most Critical Technology. Their conversation covers the history of microprocessors, the current geopolitical implications of chip technology, …

1
Evie Shockley Reads Rita Dove 39:40

1+ y ago39:40

39:40

Evie Shockley joins Kevin Young to read “Hattie McDaniel Arrives at the Coconut Grove,” by Rita Dove, and her own poem “the blessings.” Shockley is the author of six poetry collections and the Zora Neale Hurston Distinguished Professor of English at Rutgers University. Her honors include the 2023 Shelley Memorial Award from the Poetry Society of Am…

1
Episode 68: Neil Howe 58:48

1+ y ago58:48

58:48

On this week’s episode, Jim sits down with Neil Howe, author, historian, and one half of the team, along with Bill Strauss, behind the Strauss-Howe generational theory initially explored in their books Generations and The Fourth Turning. As the title of his new book suggests, The Fourth Turning is Here. We thought, what better time to have Neil on …

1
Dorothea Lasky Reads Louise Bogan 37:19

1+ y ago37:19

37:19

Dorothea Lasky joins Kevin Young to read “Three Songs,” by Louise Bogan, and her own poem “The Green Lake.” Lasky is the author of several books of poetry and prose, including her forthcoming collection “The Shining.” She’s the co-creator, with Alex Dimitrov, of Astro Poets, and she teaches poetry at Columbia University. Learn about your ad choices…

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