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

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.

E41: Victor Ciardelli - Angry Kid to $500B Mortgage Empire

In this episode of Forged in America, Victor Ciardelli tells Ravin and Al didn't grow up looking like a future CEO. He describes himself as an angry kid with a chip on his shoulder, a problem with authority, and an unshakable belief that he was destined for something bigger. That mindset helped him survive near-bankruptcy, the dot-com crash, the 2008 financial crisis, COVID, and every challenge in between. Today, Victor is the founder and CEO of Rate, the third-largest mortgage lender in America. Over the last five years alone, the company has funded more than $500 billion in mortgages while remaining privately held. In this episode, Victor shares the mindset, mistakes, and principles that helped him build one of the largest financial services companies in the country. 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.

E40: Mitchell Green's $9B and Why Persistence Beats Intelligence

How does a kid with ADD, average grades, and an obsession with persistence build one of the world's most unique growth equity firms? In Episode 40 of Forged in America, Ravin Gandhi and Al Goldstein sit down with Mitchell Green, founder of Lead Edge Capital, a $9B growth equity firm built on an unconventional idea: world-class entrepreneurs and executives can be more valuable than institutions. Mitchell explains how cold calling 10,000 companies shaped his philosophy, why persistence beats intelligence, why AI may reward EQ more than IQ, and why America still remains the greatest place in the world to build something meaningful. This episode explores entrepreneurship, AI, education, wealth inequality, persistence, investing, and what young people should do if they want to succeed in the next twenty years. 00:00 Introduction to Mitchell Green and Lead Edge Capital 03:15 Building a $9B firm with entrepreneurs instead of institutions 08:45 Why persistence became Lead Edge's superpower 14:10 The cold-calling lessons that shaped Mitchell's career 19:45 What young people should do if they want to get rich 22:00 Why trades, entrepreneurship, and sales skills matter more than ever 24:30 Why AI may make EQ more valuable than IQ 30:10 Wealth inequality, manufacturing, and why many Americans feel left behind 36:20 Politics, opportunity, and preserving the American dream 41:00 Lightning round: leverage, founder optimism, AI bubbles, and investing 47:30 Why reading still matters in an AI world 51:00 Cars, skiing, persistence, and living life fully * Persistence may be the single most underrated competitive advantage * AI will likely reward communication, sales, and EQ more than raw intellect * Building networks creates enormous compounding advantages * Entrepreneurship remains one of the best paths to opportunity * Many economic frustrations in America are real—but solutions are complicated * You do not need the perfect background to build something extraordinary Mitchell Green is the founder and managing partner of Lead Edge Capital, a growth equity firm with over $9 billion under management. Lead Edge has invested across software, internet, fintech, and consumer businesses using a unique network-driven investment model powered by hundreds of executives, founders, and operators. 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.