Today on Open Book, we’re diving into one of the biggest questions in human history: why do civilizations rise—and why do they collapse? Cambridge scholar Luke Kemp joins me to explain why the forces shaping our future might be the same ones that brought down every empire before us.
Luke Kemp is a research affiliate at the Centre for the Study of Existent ... Show More
Mar 11
America’s Economic Divide, Global Energy Crisis, AI Job Losses, Bitcoin’s Future
The world feels like it’s unraveling—oil shocks, AI replacing jobs, and markets trying to figure out what comes next. Mike Novogratz and I break down why this economy is splitting in two, where Bitcoin and oil go from here, and how smart investors survive the chaos. Michael Novog ... Show More
32m 53s
Mar 10
March 2026 Q&A: America Going Broke, Working for Trump, Books You Must Read
In this month’s Q&A episode of Open Book, I answer questions from viewers across YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X on topics ranging from politics and global markets to career decisions, philosophy, and parenting. We cover Citizens United, the national debt, and the future of c ... Show More
30m 8s
Jul 2024
What happens when manufacturing goes away? With Amy Goldstein
<p>The GM plant in Janesville, Wisconsin, closed during the financial crisis in 2008, ending decades of production – and 3,000 steady, highly paid jobs. Journalist Amy Goldstein wrote about the town as the plant’s workers hurried to make new lives. Her book, ‘Janesville: An Ameri ... Show More
30m 7s
Dec 2024
E88: Sky Kurtz: the $300M agri-tech giant, avoiding down round disasters, founder self-sabotage, the hard truth about MENA exits, tariffs, and bad actors ruining a multi-billion dollar industry
In this episode, we dive into the hard truth about why exits in MENA are so challenging, the role of tariffs in protecting domestic production, and how bad actors have tarnished the reputation of an entire industry. Sky also gives us a masterclass on navigating capital markets, w ... Show More
1h 57m
Oct 2024
Top Money and Life Secrets from 25 Millionaires: What You Should REALLY Know
<p>We just hit our 25th episode! To celebrate, we’re doing a special recap of the best lessons from all our past conversations. Sam’s looking back at the standout advice from founders, entrepreneurs, and experts who opened up about what really happens when you hit major financial ... Show More
31m 5s
Aug 2025
Lessons from Hollywood’s Most Powerful Woman—And How They Can Help You (with Donna Langley)
If you’ve ever walked into a room and felt the weight of being the only one like you, questioned whether you could take bold risks without losing yourself, or wondered how to build a career on your own terms, this is your episode. We dive into the mindset shifts that helped Donna ... Show More
1h 16m