Episode 4: The OS of Politics | Lessons Weekly

Episode 4: The OS of Politics | Lessons Weekly

I had reached out to Justin Onwenu [https://www.justinformi.com/] to ask how I could support his campaign, as he runs for State Senate. He was amenable, and invited me to join a canvass over the weekend. The team was meeting at Memorial Park in the City of Ecorse, part of Michigan State Senate District 1. I had shared that I do not drive in Detroit, and when I spoke with his campaign manager, Cal, he was more than happy to pick me up and bring me to Ecorse. It was a small logistical detail, but a make or break one, for me. In conversation with him as he dropped me back home later that day, Cal joked that there is roughly a 50% flake rate in volunteer organizing, which made him even more committed to making sure as many people as possible were able to participate. Campaigns are often narrated through the visible things: the candidate, the speeches, the endorsements, the policy platform, the fundraising numbers, the election results. But the day-to-day running of a campaign depends on the people doing the practical work on the ground: organizing volunteers, moving people, assigning turf, answering questions, solving problems, and making sure others are able to show up. For me, that was my entry point into the day. That was how the day started. Thanks for reading Lessons Conversation. Subscribe for free to receive new posts directly in your mailbox! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit podcast.lessonsconversation.com [https://podcast.lessonsconversation.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Episode 3: Rebuilding Detroit | Lessons Weekly

After a month of living in the city, I attended a Detroit Economic Growth Corporation event where the City of Detroit was awards 13 businesses with grants amounting to $300,000. The room was filled with founders, policymakers, and ecosystem builders gathered around a shared objective: increasing the probability that companies are built and sustained here. I really like how the City of Detroit is approaching their entrepreneurship programming. It is quite deliberate: municipal grants, residency stipends, coworking access, and roles like Director of Entrepreneurship are all designed to reduce friction and create density. As someone who is both an entrepreneur and a policy analyst, I find myself more than curious. From the inside, the strategy feels coherent. Capital is being deployed, networks are forming, and leadership is aligned around making Detroit competitive for builders. But the city reveals itself differently once you leave that room. Moving through Detroit with the Director of Youth Affairs, Jerjuan Howard, the layers begin to separate. Institutional support, ecosystem energy, and neighborhood reality do not fully overlap—they operate in parallel. Jerjuan’s work—through debate programs, public space, and the Howard Family Bookstore—exists at the level where rebuilding becomes physical and immediate. His question at the end of the day to me, “Do you plan to stay?” left me reflecting on what I hope to gain from and give to Detroit. Read the full post [https://byntha.com/rebuilding/] Thanks for reading Lessons Conversation! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support this work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit podcast.lessonsconversation.com [https://podcast.lessonsconversation.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Episode 2: Markets Don't Care | Lessons Weekly

Episode 2: Lessons Daily This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit podcast.lessonsconversation.com [https://podcast.lessonsconversation.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Episode 1: Run the Numbers | Lessons Weekly

Episode 1: Run the Numbers | Lessons Daily This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit podcast.lessonsconversation.com [https://podcast.lessonsconversation.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]