EP46: Pete Kadens Round 2--USA Debate Continues

EP46: Pete Kadens Round 2--USA Debate Continues

Pete Kadens is back for Round 2. After his first appearance on Forged in America sparked such a strong response, we brought Pete back to continue the debate—and this time, we go even deeper. Pete lays out his vision for what the Democratic Party should become: builders over bureaucrats, stakeholder capitalism over socialism, children over politics, and expanded opportunity without punishing success. Ravin's response? Pete might actually be a Republican. From there, the conversation gets heated as Ravin, Pete, and Al debate whether socialism is gaining real power inside the Democratic Party, whether MAGA has fundamentally transformed the Republican Party, and whether either side can still claim the moral high ground. They also tackle education, personal responsibility, broken families, policing, criminal justice, media bias, censorship, and why Americans increasingly disagree not just about solutions—but about the basic facts themselves. Then the conversation turns to business and the future: Pete explains why he's still bullish on cannabis, why he believes the stock market could be headed for a prolonged period of pain, and why he fears AI could create a dangerous combination of massive job displacement, abundant idle time, and a shortage of money. Ravin and Al push back, arguing that technological disruption has historically created more prosperity and opportunity—and that AI may prove to be an enhancer of human productivity rather than a replacement for human beings. Pete came back because the first conversation wasn't long enough. This one picks up right where we left off. Disclaimer: The Forged in America podcast features personal stories, experiences, and opinions from hosts Al Goldstein and Ravin Gandhi. This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not investment advice, financial advice, solicitation of investments, or any form of professional recommendation.We strive for accuracy, but mistakes can happen and are unintentional. Nothing discussed should be relied upon for making financial, business, or personal decisions. Always consult qualified professionals before acting on anything you hear.Past performance or results mentioned do not guarantee future outcomes. Listeners are responsible for their own choices.

E45: A Top Surgeon on GLP-1s, Longevity, and Future of Medicine

Orthopedic surgeon and entrepreneur Dr. Ben Domb joins Ravin Gandhi and Al Goldstein for a wide-ranging conversation on the future of medicine, AI, longevity, GLP-1s, robotics, healthcare innovation, and the psychology behind healing. The discussion explores where artificial intelligence will—and won't—replace physicians, why personalized medicine may finally become reality, and why one of America's leading surgeons believes the single biggest public health intervention isn't another drug... it's eliminating refined sugar. Along the way, the conversation dives into placebo effects, statins, cancer treatment, parenting, resilience, medical research, and what separates great doctors from merely good ones. Books every physician—and entrepreneur—should read: * When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi * The Emperor of All Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee * Being Mortal by Atul Gawande * Healing Back Pain by John E. Sarno * Bad Therapy by Abigail Shrier * Range by David Epstein * The Sports Gene * Unbroken * Steve Jobs * The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Quotes: "I'd bet Elon Musk one trillion dollars that robots won't replace surgeons in three years." "The placebo worked. Maybe we should learn how to harness it." "The biggest public health intervention I can imagine? Make refined sugar illegal." "Focus on what's in your power to improve your outcome." "Healthcare is still delivered to individuals—not populations." Dr. Ben Domb is one of the world's leading orthopedic surgeons and the founder of the American Hip Institute. A graduate of Princeton University and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, he has published more than 500 scientific papers, pioneered advances in hip arthroscopy, and performed the first outpatient robotic hip replacement in the United States. He has treated elite athletes from the NBA, NFL, and around the world while remaining at the forefront of surgical innovation. Disclaimer: The Forged in America podcast features personal stories, experiences, and opinions from hosts Al Goldstein and Ravin Gandhi. This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not investment advice, financial advice, solicitation of investments, or any form of professional recommendation.We strive for accuracy, but mistakes can happen and are unintentional. Nothing discussed should be relied upon for making financial, business, or personal decisions. Always consult qualified professionals before acting on anything you hear.Past performance or results mentioned do not guarantee future outcomes. Listeners are responsible for their own choices.

E44: Pete Kadens created $4B, 7,000 jobs, and wants to fix America

Entrepreneur and philanthropist Pete Kadens joins Ravin Gandhi and Al Goldstein for one of the most candid political conversations we've had. A lifelong Democrat, Pete doesn't shy away from criticizing his own party, while also challenging conservatives on issues ranging from democracy and immigration to education, meritocracy, and the future of America. This isn't a shouting match—it's three longtime friends debating difficult issues with honesty, data, and mutual respect. Pete Kadens is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist. He co-founded Green Thumb Industries, one of the largest publicly traded cannabis companies in the United States, and previously co-founded SoCore Energy, a leading commercial solar developer. Through Hope Chicago, Pete has helped thousands of students and families pursue higher education by funding college tuition and wraparound support services. The organization has committed more than $100 million toward expanding educational opportunity in Chicago. 00:00 Introduction 02:00 Is socialism taking over the Democratic Party? 08:30 The biggest threats facing American democracy 12:00 Personal responsibility vs. victimhood culture 18:45 Can education fix America's biggest problems? 25:00 What broke public education? 33:00 Why college is losing its value 41:30 Meritocracy, DEI, and affirmative action 49:30 Immigration and America's border debate 58:30 The Supreme Court and the future of conservatism 1:02:00 Lightning Round 1:07:00 Pete predicts the 2028 election Disclaimer: The Forged in America podcast features personal stories, experiences, and opinions from hosts Al Goldstein and Ravin Gandhi. This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not investment advice, financial advice, solicitation of investments, or any form of professional recommendation.We strive for accuracy, but mistakes can happen and are unintentional. Nothing discussed should be relied upon for making financial, business, or personal decisions. Always consult qualified professionals before acting on anything you hear.Past performance or results mentioned do not guarantee future outcomes. Listeners are responsible for their own choices.

E43: Morning Consult's $1B Founder on Why Entrepreneurship Is So Painful.

Michael Ramlet is the co-founder and CEO of Morning Consult [https://morningconsult.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com], one of the world's leading decision-intelligence companies. What began with just $30,000 of angel capital has grown into a company generating more than $100 million in annual revenue, serving many of the world's largest corporations, financial institutions, and governments. In this episode of Forged in America, Michael sits down with Ravin Gandhi and Al Goldstein to discuss the realities of entrepreneurship, why most people shouldn't start a company, the future of AI-powered decision making, fundraising, political forecasting, and the lessons he's learned building a billion-dollar business over more than a decade: "The right decision for most people is don't start the business." "You have to have one or two co-founders. It is so exceedingly difficult to go that path alone." "Data doesn't replace leadership." "My biggest stress today is the same stress I had the day I started: Are we moving fast enough?" "The success isn't raising the round. The success is what you do with the money." Michael Ramlet is the co-founder and CEO of Morning Consult, a global decision-intelligence company that provides real-time data and insights to major corporations, financial institutions, and governments. Under his leadership, Morning Consult has become one of the most influential data platforms in the world, tracking consumer sentiment, brands, economic trends, and geopolitical developments across dozens of countries. Disclaimer: The Forged in America podcast features personal stories, experiences, and opinions from hosts Al Goldstein and Ravin Gandhi. This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not investment advice, financial advice, solicitation of investments, or any form of professional recommendation.We strive for accuracy, but mistakes can happen and are unintentional. Nothing discussed should be relied upon for making financial, business, or personal decisions. Always consult qualified professionals before acting on anything you hear.Past performance or results mentioned do not guarantee future outcomes. Listeners are responsible for their own choices.

E42: The Financial Guru to Billionaires On What's Coming Next

In this episode of Forged in America, Ravin Gandhi and Al Goldstein sit down with Rob Skinner, Founder and Managing Partner of IEQ Capital, a wealth management firm overseeing more than $50 billion in assets. Rob has spent decades advising founders, entrepreneurs, and some of the most successful families in America. The conversation ranges from AI and SpaceX to wealth psychology, raising motivated children, and the biggest mistakes people make after a liquidity event. Some quotes from Rob: "Stock prices follow earnings." "Concentration builds wealth. Diversification protects it." "The game changes from offense to defense." "If inheritance accelerates purpose instead of replacing purpose, it can be a tremendous force for good." "You get one chance at being great." Rob Skinner is the Founder and Managing Partner of IEQ Capital, one of the fastest-growing independent wealth management firms in the United States. Prior to founding IEQ, he co-founded Luminous Capital, which was later acquired by First Republic Bank. He has spent his career advising entrepreneurs, founders, executives, and multi-generational families on investing, wealth preservation, tax strategy, and family legacy. NOTE: Rob Skinner, a co-founder of IEQ, appeared as a guest on this podcast, which is hosted by a client of IEQ, giving rise to an inherent conflict of interest by virtue of that client relationship. Neither Mr. Skinner nor IEQ provided or received any compensation or other consideration in connection with the appearance, which was made on a voluntary basis. The views expressed by Mr. Skinner are his own and those of IEQ and do not necessarily reflect those of the podcast host or its affiliates. Nothing in this appearance should be construed as investment, legal, tax, or other professional advice, or as any recommendation, offer, or solicitation. Disclaimer: The Forged in America podcast features personal stories, experiences, and opinions from hosts Al Goldstein and Ravin Gandhi. This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not investment advice, financial advice, solicitation of investments, or any form of professional recommendation.We strive for accuracy, but mistakes can happen and are unintentional. Nothing discussed should be relied upon for making financial, business, or personal decisions. Always consult qualified professionals before acting on anything you hear.Past performance or results mentioned do not guarantee future outcomes. Listeners are responsible for their own choices.