AEI Podcast Channel

Latest Episodes:

On the Cusp: President Toomas Hendrik Ilves & disinformation from Soviet Russia to Facebook Feb 12, 2021

Show notes

Today, the AEI Podcast Channel presents On the Cusp, a podcast hosted by Elisabeth Braw.

Host, Elisabeth Braw, speaks to former Estonian president and Stanford University fellow, Toomas Hendrik Ilves, about disinformation and why it has such power to destabilize our democracies.

Find On the Cusp on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

Overwatch: What Does Iran's Presidential Election Mean for Biden's Policy? Feb 04, 2021

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AEI's Fred Kagan and Nick Carl appear on the Institute for the Study of War's podcast, Overwatch, to discuss Iran's presidential election.

The results of the Iranian presidential election in June 2021 will determine whether Iran shifts toward greater cooperation or increasing conflict with the United States. This uncertainty comes as the Biden administration is trying to reboot diplomacy with Iran using an ambitious agenda that goes beyond nuclear nonproliferation to include thorny issues such as the Iranian ballistic missile program and Iran's activities in the Middle East. In this episode of Overwatch, Nicholas Heras, Director of Government Relations at ISW, is joined by Frederick Kagan, Director of the Critical Threats Project (CTP) at the American Enterprise Institute, and Nicholas Carl, the Iran Team Lead at CTP, to discuss nuances in Iran's upcoming presidential cycle that will have a significant impact on what the Biden administration can expect to achieve diplomatically with Iran.

THE INVISIBLE MEN: Wilfred Reilly on challenging ideological uniformity in academia Feb 03, 2021

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Many scholars, public figures, and activists have noted the striking divide between the economic outcomes of black and white Americans. But what lies at the root of these differences is a difficult question. In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by Dr. Wilfred Reilly, an Associate Professor of Political Science at Kentucky State University, to discuss how ideological uniformity in academia has influenced the public debate on race in America. Reilly notes that two problematic narratives have dominated the debate over what accounts for racial differences in recent years—one attributing different outcomes to structural racism and the other pointing to genetics.

Contrary to these ideologies, Reilly has been inspired by economist and public intellectual Thomas Sowell to focus on social and behavioral characteristics that can engender the uplift of a new generation. He highlights a striking diversity of outcomes between ethnic groups within the same race that suggests a more complicated picture. In other words, careful analysis reveals that family, faith, free enterprise, and hard work do still matter. Why is this viewpoint scarcely acknowledged in the public narrative? Reilly suggests that political and ideological uniformity in academia has caused a stagnation of ideas and resistance against non-traditional theories. Tune into the full episode to learn more about Reilly’s book, Hate Crime Hoax, and hear his words of advice for “Darryl.”

Note: If you would like to see all episodes of The Invisible Men, please go to: www.invisible.men

THE INVISIBLE MEN: Vernon Lee on the importance of supporting black entrepreneurship Jan 14, 2021

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In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by Vernon Lee to discuss the role of entrepreneurship as a catalyst for the uplift of black Americans. Vernon is a partner at the Marathon Fund, an organization dedicated to supporting a new generation of underrepresented entrepreneurs with high potential for growth. Vernon argues that we need stronger institutions to act as a “pipeline” for minority Americans, teaching them the skills they need to be successful in their ventures. Most importantly, Vernon contends that black entrepreneurs need more opportunities to fail. Black men and women are much less likely than their white peers to be given a second chance by investors when one of their businesses fails. But any well-seasoned entrepreneur knows that a failed business can be an incredibly valuable asset in building a successful enterprise in the future.

Later, Vernon shares how he grew into an entrepreneurial mindset in his own life. From running a paper route in middle school to being inspired by “Puppy Combs” to start a successful party-promotion venture in college, a few early touchpoints inspired Vernon to pursue entrepreneurship as a long-term career. Importantly, Vernon’s life journey has closely mirrored the characteristics of successful black men outlined in Brad Wilcox and Ronald Mincy’s “Black men making it in America” report—from following the success sequence closely to participating in a faith community and serving in the military. Watch the full episode to hear more of Vernon’s story and find out what his advice to “Darryl” is.

Note: If you would like to see all episodes of The Invisible Men, please go to: www.invisible.men

THE INVISIBLE MEN: Gervase Warner on building a culture of forgiveness Jan 11, 2021

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Are business leaders in today’s climate naturally drawn to a “cutthroat” approach to management and growth, or do the concerning behaviors often seen in large corporations stem from a misunderstanding about what is necessary to survive in the business world? In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by Gervase Warner, the President and CEO of the Massy Group—one of the largest conglomerates in the Caribbean which now holds nearly 60 companies and employs more than 12,000 people. Gervase shares how he grew to understand that businesses do not need to embrace a “mean and nasty” approach to thrive—that a company can deliver strong financial results while holding firm to its core principles and seeking to become a “force for good” in the world.

Later, Gervase shares a deeply personal and powerful story about how he found freedom by embracing forgiveness in the wake of a deeply traumatic experience. Gervase now believes widespread forgiveness is the key to generating cultural and political renewal—especially in countries with a long history of injustice like Trinidad and Tobago and the United States. Gervase holds this belief so firmly that he advocated for forgiveness on the TEDx stage just few years ago. Watch the full podcast to hear Gervase’s story and what advice he has for “Darryl” in 2020.

Please find Gervase’s TEDx talk at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQ-Nk...

Note: If you would like to see all episodes of The Invisible Men, please go to: www.invisible.men

THE INVISIBLE MEN: ShotSpotter CEO Ralph Clark on using technology to improve policing Jan 07, 2021

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Early data suggests the US is on track to see the highest year-to-year murder increase in history this year, reminding us that a majority of gun violence goes unreported and unaddressed. While reasons for this vary, the result is that a very small number of “bad actors” can cause devastating harm to underserved communities. In this episode, Ralph Clark, the CEO of ShotSpotter, joins Ian and Nique. Ralph discusses how he fused his path of serial entrepreneurship with groundbreaking technology to equip police with the tools they need to improve the safety of underserved communities while building trust through a “guardian” model of policing.

One crucial element to Ralph’s journey: having a person outside of his family—in this case, a nun teaching at a Catholic school Ralph attended—show genuine interest and investment in his success. Ralph also shares how one lunch he had in high school with a successful black executive demystified success and helped him internalize the possibility of upward mobility in his own life. Tune in to hear Ralph’s words of wisdom for “Darryl.”

Note: If you would like to see all episodes of The Invisible Men, please go to: www.invisible.men

THE INVISIBLE MEN: Bob Woodson on why 1776 Unites matter right now Dec 28, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by Bob Woodson, president of the Woodson Center and prolific champion for upward mobility, to discuss an “inspirational and aspirational” message Bob is crafting through the 1776 Unites project. Amid a popular narrative of despair and victimhood around race in America, 1776 Unites celebrates America’s long legacy of black excellence and offers a “look forward” to how all Americans can become agents of their uplift. 1776 Unites does not discount or ignore a history of injustice against black Americans, but rather chooses to focus on what we can do to generate an environment of upward mobility for future generations. Ian and Nique speak with Bob about his ten “Woodson Principles” for uplift, and they discuss how the core principles upon which America was founded will play an integral role in the movement of our nation toward greater equality and opportunity.

THE INVISIBLE MEN: Glenn Loury on the power of grit Dec 17, 2020

Show notes

How should young Americans respond to structural barriers as they seek to carve out a place for themselves in the world? In this episode, Brown University economist Glenn Loury joins Ian and Nique to discuss how a foundation of grit can shape a new generation of black excellence.

Glenn was raised on the south side of Chicago in a working-class family. Despite some obstacles in his youth, a professor at his community college discovered Glenn’s academic gifts and helped him gain admittance to Northwestern University. At Northwestern, a world of opportunity opened to Glenn, but his road to success wasn’t easy. With three children to father, a full-time class load, and a full-time job at night to balance, Glenn’s story is a testament to the power of grit in helping people surmount steep obstacles. Looking back, Glenn’s advice to similar Americans looking to build a better life is to find a spiritual foundation for their life and anchor key life decisions to the “success sequence.”

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THE INVISIBLE MEN: How the Piney Woods School is shaping a new era of black excellence Dec 16, 2020

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In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by Will Crossley—a man who not only embodies black excellence himself but is helping children build pathways to excellence in their own lives. Will Crossley is president of The Piney Woods School, a historically African-American prep school in rural Mississippi and an institution that has been empowering black Americans to pursue their vision of excellence for generations. Ian and Nique dig into Piney Woods’ unique model of forming children’s character, grit, and self-efficacy in addition to providing an outstanding academic education. An alumnus of Piney Woods himself, Will talks about how the gift of a quality education, along with the influence of his mother and a strong church community, was instrumental in helping him find his vocation and build a meaningful career.

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THE INVISIBLE MEN: 30 years later: Invisible no more Dec 14, 2020

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In the aftermath of Rodney King's assault by police officers in the 90s and his attackers' subsequent acquittal, Ian Rowe and Nique Fajors grew weary of a public narrative proclaiming that black men in America were doomed to failure under an oppressive system. A feeling of invisibleness struck both Ian and Nique who were then Harvard Business School classmates as the stories of men like them became increasingly ignored in the public eye. So they launched “The Invisible Men,” a documentary telling the stories of amazing black men at Harvard University who achieved success by leaning on the core principles of family, faith, free enterprise, and entrepreneurship.

Today, Ian and Nique have resurrected “The Invisible Men” as a video podcast. In their inaugural episode, Ian and Nique share their inspiration behind launching “The Invisible Men” documentary in the 90s and discuss why—30 years later—their message of agency and empowerment is needed more than ever.

Integral to the story of “The Invisible Men” is “Darryl,” a 16 year-old black teenager Ian and Nique imagined in the original documentary, who lives in the urban city of Forgotten, USA and desires to build a better life for himself but sometimes feels that success is out of his reach. Ian and Nique asked each of the men in their original documentary to advise “Darryl” on how he can forge a path to excellence and empowerment. Join Ian and Nique today for episodes of “The Invisible Men” every week as they hear the stories of incredible men and learn what advice they have for “Darryl” in 2020!

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