Lynne Thoman
Appearances
3 Takeaways
The Hidden Pattern in Fires, Earthquakes, Stock Market Crashes, and Even Wars (#242)
Fires, earthquakes, stock market crashes, and even wars. They seem totally unrelated. But what if all these catastrophes follow the same hidden pattern? Is there a natural structure of instability which explains both natural and human catastrophes and why they happen? Hi, everyone. I'm Lynn Thoman, and this is Three Takeaways.
3 Takeaways
The Hidden Pattern in Fires, Earthquakes, Stock Market Crashes, and Even Wars (#242)
I love those three takeaways. Thank you, Mark. This has been great. I loved your book, Ubiquity.
3 Takeaways
The Hidden Pattern in Fires, Earthquakes, Stock Market Crashes, and Even Wars (#242)
If you're enjoying the podcast, and I really hope you are, please review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. It really helps get the word out. If you're interested, you can also sign up for the 3 Takeaways newsletter at 3takeaways.com, where you can also listen to previous episodes. You can also follow us on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and Facebook.
3 Takeaways
The Hidden Pattern in Fires, Earthquakes, Stock Market Crashes, and Even Wars (#242)
Mark, can you explain the new math that underlies our world?
3 Takeaways
The Hidden Pattern in Fires, Earthquakes, Stock Market Crashes, and Even Wars (#242)
I'm Lynn Toman, and this is Three Takeaways. Thanks for listening.
3 Takeaways
The Hidden Pattern in Fires, Earthquakes, Stock Market Crashes, and Even Wars (#242)
You found that fires, earthquakes, avalanches, stock market crashes, wars and other catastrophes follow the same hidden patterns. What are those hidden patterns?
3 Takeaways
The Hidden Pattern in Fires, Earthquakes, Stock Market Crashes, and Even Wars (#242)
On Three Takeaways, I talk with some of the world's best thinkers, business leaders, writers, politicians, newsmakers, and scientists. Each episode ends with three key takeaways to help us understand the world and maybe even ourselves a little better. Today I'm excited to be with Mark Buchanan. He's a prize-winning physicist and author.
3 Takeaways
The Hidden Pattern in Fires, Earthquakes, Stock Market Crashes, and Even Wars (#242)
You believe that catastrophes aren't random, that they follow essentially rules. Can you explain more?
3 Takeaways
The Hidden Pattern in Fires, Earthquakes, Stock Market Crashes, and Even Wars (#242)
Does that mean that instability isn't a glitch in the system, whether it's avalanches or earthquakes or pandemics or wars, but it's actually the system itself?
3 Takeaways
The Hidden Pattern in Fires, Earthquakes, Stock Market Crashes, and Even Wars (#242)
Mark, can you summarize the underlying pattern of instability and where you see it?
3 Takeaways
The Hidden Pattern in Fires, Earthquakes, Stock Market Crashes, and Even Wars (#242)
He was formerly editor with the international science journal Nature, and he's written for many other journals and newspapers, including the New York Times. His books and articles explore ideas of physics to better understand patterns in other fields.
3 Takeaways
The Hidden Pattern in Fires, Earthquakes, Stock Market Crashes, and Even Wars (#242)
And this idea of instability underlying so many natural and human systems really was discovered through experiments with grains of sand and building sand piles and then applying the math to other types of systems. Can you briefly summarize?
3 Takeaways
The Hidden Pattern in Fires, Earthquakes, Stock Market Crashes, and Even Wars (#242)
His wonderful book, Ubiquity, tells the fascinating story of the discovery that there is a natural structure of instability woven into the fabric of our world. I'm excited to find out more about the pervasiveness of instability and why both natural and human catastrophes happen. Welcome, Mark, and thanks so much for joining Three Takeaways today. Well, thanks for having me on. It is my pleasure.
3 Takeaways
The Hidden Pattern in Fires, Earthquakes, Stock Market Crashes, and Even Wars (#242)
And if I can summarize, it's really based on this idea of sandpiles where you're adding an additional grain of sand and where you have increasing fingers of instability and that that additional grain of sand could cause a small avalanche or a big one, that it's completely random. Is that right? Precisely. Is there anything we can do to mitigate these catastrophes?
3 Takeaways
The Hidden Pattern in Fires, Earthquakes, Stock Market Crashes, and Even Wars (#242)
And what are the three takeaways you'd like to leave the audience with today?
3 Takeaways
The Power of Leaderless Organizations: How Decentralized Groups are Changing the World (#238)
I'm going to start this episode by asking my guest today to read an excerpt from his book.
3 Takeaways
The Power of Leaderless Organizations: How Decentralized Groups are Changing the World (#238)
Thank you. So, Ori, what is a leaderless organization and can you give some examples?
3 Takeaways
The Power of Leaderless Organizations: How Decentralized Groups are Changing the World (#238)
Has the internet unleashed this force?
3 Takeaways
The Power of Leaderless Organizations: How Decentralized Groups are Changing the World (#238)
So you really have the power of the crowd involved.
3 Takeaways
The Power of Leaderless Organizations: How Decentralized Groups are Changing the World (#238)
Most people would assume that the absence of structure, of leadership and formal organization is a weakness. Is it?
3 Takeaways
The Power of Leaderless Organizations: How Decentralized Groups are Changing the World (#238)
Can you compare both centralized and leaderless organizations and give some examples?
3 Takeaways
The Power of Leaderless Organizations: How Decentralized Groups are Changing the World (#238)
And what holds these leaderless organizations together?
3 Takeaways
The Power of Leaderless Organizations: How Decentralized Groups are Changing the World (#238)
What are these leaderless organizations and how powerful are they? Hi, everyone. I'm Lynn Thoman, and this is Three Takeaways. On Three Takeaways, I talk with some of the world's best thinkers, business leaders, writers, politicians, newsmakers, and scientists. Each episode ends with three key takeaways to help us understand the world and maybe even ourselves a little better.
3 Takeaways
The Power of Leaderless Organizations: How Decentralized Groups are Changing the World (#238)
Right.
3 Takeaways
The Power of Leaderless Organizations: How Decentralized Groups are Changing the World (#238)
So these networks are incredibly resilient. Do they easily mutate?
3 Takeaways
The Power of Leaderless Organizations: How Decentralized Groups are Changing the World (#238)
So you've talked so far about groups that don't have any assets, if you will, the terrorist groups, the home church groups. What happens when there is an asset or a right to land or money or some other asset? What happens?
3 Takeaways
The Power of Leaderless Organizations: How Decentralized Groups are Changing the World (#238)
So interesting. You mentioned Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia, as a leaderless organization where unpaid volunteers curate the entries. What happens if the contributions were highly paid? Is it going to be similar to the Apaches?
3 Takeaways
The Power of Leaderless Organizations: How Decentralized Groups are Changing the World (#238)
Today, I'm excited to be with Ori Brafman. Ori is a distinguished teaching fellow at UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business and a New York Times bestselling author. His most recent books include The Starfish and the Spider, which is about leaderless organizations, and Sway, which is about the irresistible pull of irrational behavior.
3 Takeaways
The Power of Leaderless Organizations: How Decentralized Groups are Changing the World (#238)
Can you give some more examples of the largest leaderless organizations?
3 Takeaways
The Power of Leaderless Organizations: How Decentralized Groups are Changing the World (#238)
What is the potential and what is the future of leaderless organizations?
3 Takeaways
The Power of Leaderless Organizations: How Decentralized Groups are Changing the World (#238)
And how powerful do you think that leaderless organizations can become?
3 Takeaways
The Power of Leaderless Organizations: How Decentralized Groups are Changing the World (#238)
Before I ask for the three takeaways you'd like to leave the audience with today, is there anything else you'd like to mention that you have not already talked about?
3 Takeaways
The Power of Leaderless Organizations: How Decentralized Groups are Changing the World (#238)
Interesting. Ori, what are the three takeaways you'd like to leave the audience with today?
3 Takeaways
The Power of Leaderless Organizations: How Decentralized Groups are Changing the World (#238)
Today, I'm excited to learn about leaderless organizations and find out how powerful they really are. Welcome, Ori, and thanks so much for joining Three Takeaways today.
3 Takeaways
The Power of Leaderless Organizations: How Decentralized Groups are Changing the World (#238)
Thank you, Ori. This has been fascinating. I really enjoyed your book, The Starfish and the Spider.
3 Takeaways
The Power of Leaderless Organizations: How Decentralized Groups are Changing the World (#238)
If you're enjoying the podcast, and I really hope you are, please review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. It really helps get the word out. If you're interested, you can also sign up for the 3 Takeaways newsletter at 3takeaways.com, where you can also listen to previous episodes. You can also follow us on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and Facebook.
3 Takeaways
The Power of Leaderless Organizations: How Decentralized Groups are Changing the World (#238)
I'm Lynn Toman, and this is Three Takeaways. Thanks for listening.
3 Takeaways
How Your DNA Interacts With the World Around You (#246)
So interesting. Thank you, Dalton.
3 Takeaways
How Your DNA Interacts With the World Around You (#246)
If you're enjoying the podcast, and I really hope you are, please review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. It really helps get the word out. If you're interested, you can also sign up for the Three Takeaways newsletter at threetakeaways.com, where you can also listen to previous episodes. You can also follow us on LinkedIn, X, Instagram and Facebook.
3 Takeaways
How Your DNA Interacts With the World Around You (#246)
I'm Lynn Thoman, and this is Three Takeaways. Thanks for listening.
3 Takeaways
How Your DNA Interacts With the World Around You (#246)
So Dalton, why wasn't it that simple? Is there one gene for arthritis or heart disease or schizophrenia?
3 Takeaways
How Your DNA Interacts With the World Around You (#246)
And even the genes don't tell the whole story. Can you explain gene expression, what it is and how it works?
3 Takeaways
How Your DNA Interacts With the World Around You (#246)
For centuries, we've wrestled with the question of what makes us who we are. Is it our genes or our environment? Are we born with a set of traits that define us? Or is it the world around us that shapes the course of our lives? It turns out that it's not as simple as one or the other. What have we learned about nature versus nurture and what makes us who we are?
3 Takeaways
How Your DNA Interacts With the World Around You (#246)
But it's not just the genes that we actually have, it's which genes are turned off or turned on.
3 Takeaways
How Your DNA Interacts With the World Around You (#246)
So interesting. We often think of our genes and our environment as separate forces, but you believe they're actually intertwined and that there's a feedback loop. How does that work? And can you give an example? I love your example of the sprinter.
3 Takeaways
How Your DNA Interacts With the World Around You (#246)
Hi everyone, I'm Lynne Thoman and this is Three Takeaways. On Three Takeaways, I talk with some of the world's best thinkers, business leaders, writers, politicians, newsmakers, and scientists. Each episode ends with three key takeaways to help us understand the world and maybe even ourselves a little better.
3 Takeaways
How Your DNA Interacts With the World Around You (#246)
How does this apply to intelligence or personality traits that are often considered intrinsic?
3 Takeaways
How Your DNA Interacts With the World Around You (#246)
Today, I'm excited to be joined by Dalton Conley, a Princeton professor who studies the role of genes and the environment. He's the author of the new book, The Social Genome. I'm excited to rethink everything we thought we knew about the nature versus nurture debate and what makes us who we are. Welcome, Dalton, and thanks so much for joining Three Takeaways today.
3 Takeaways
How Your DNA Interacts With the World Around You (#246)
So parents might unknowingly treat their children differently based on their kids' genetic traits. Can you give some examples of how that plays out and what impact it has?
3 Takeaways
How Your DNA Interacts With the World Around You (#246)
As the parent of school-aged children, how has your own perspective on raising children changed now that you understand the interplay between genes and the environment so deeply?
3 Takeaways
How Your DNA Interacts With the World Around You (#246)
If there's one thing that you want people to understand from your research, what would it be and how can we use this knowledge to make better choices in each of our own lives?
3 Takeaways
How Your DNA Interacts With the World Around You (#246)
It's my pleasure. Can you please read aloud a great quote of yours?
3 Takeaways
How Your DNA Interacts With the World Around You (#246)
So genetics and the environment, how important are they both? Is it 60-40 genetics versus the environment? Is it 90-10? Where do you come out?
3 Takeaways
How Your DNA Interacts With the World Around You (#246)
Dalton, what are the three takeaways?
3 Takeaways
NBCUniversal Vice Chair Bonnie Hammer on AI Celebrities, Interactive TV & the Future of Content (#241)
What do you think about AI generated celebrities or actors or musicians?
3 Takeaways
NBCUniversal Vice Chair Bonnie Hammer on AI Celebrities, Interactive TV & the Future of Content (#241)
What are you most excited about in media and entertainment?
3 Takeaways
NBCUniversal Vice Chair Bonnie Hammer on AI Celebrities, Interactive TV & the Future of Content (#241)
Before I ask for the three takeaways you'd like to leave the audience with today, is there anything else you'd like to mention that you have not already talked about?
3 Takeaways
NBCUniversal Vice Chair Bonnie Hammer on AI Celebrities, Interactive TV & the Future of Content (#241)
And what are the three takeaways you'd like to leave the audience with today?
3 Takeaways
NBCUniversal Vice Chair Bonnie Hammer on AI Celebrities, Interactive TV & the Future of Content (#241)
How do you think about series and how do you choose and shape shows? Is it based on algorithms?
3 Takeaways
NBCUniversal Vice Chair Bonnie Hammer on AI Celebrities, Interactive TV & the Future of Content (#241)
Bonnie, thank you so much. This has been wonderful. Well, thank you. This has been fun and I hope we can do it again. If you're enjoying the podcast, and I really hope you are, please review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. It really helps get the word out.
3 Takeaways
NBCUniversal Vice Chair Bonnie Hammer on AI Celebrities, Interactive TV & the Future of Content (#241)
If you're interested, you can also sign up for the 3 Takeaways newsletter at 3takeaways.com, where you can also listen to previous episodes. You can also follow us on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and Facebook. I'm Lynn Thoman, and this is Three Takeaways. Thanks for listening.
3 Takeaways
NBCUniversal Vice Chair Bonnie Hammer on AI Celebrities, Interactive TV & the Future of Content (#241)
Media will change in ways that we can now only begin to imagine with the possibilities of immersive, personalized and interactive entertainment, as well as AI generated celebrities. What does this future look like? Hi, everyone. I'm Lynne Thoman, and this is Three Takeaways.
3 Takeaways
NBCUniversal Vice Chair Bonnie Hammer on AI Celebrities, Interactive TV & the Future of Content (#241)
And what did every series that you greenlit need? What makes great content and how do you shape it?
3 Takeaways
NBCUniversal Vice Chair Bonnie Hammer on AI Celebrities, Interactive TV & the Future of Content (#241)
On Three Takeaways, I talk with some of the world's best thinkers, business leaders, writers, politicians, newsmakers, and scientists. Each episode ends with three key takeaways to help us understand the world and maybe even ourselves a little better. Today, I'm excited to be joined by Bonnie Hammer. Bonnie was vice chairman NBC Universal from 2020 to 2024.
3 Takeaways
NBCUniversal Vice Chair Bonnie Hammer on AI Celebrities, Interactive TV & the Future of Content (#241)
So interesting. You mentioned Netflix, that Suits is now on Netflix. How do you see Netflix and Amazon Prime Video?
3 Takeaways
NBCUniversal Vice Chair Bonnie Hammer on AI Celebrities, Interactive TV & the Future of Content (#241)
It seems like the big blockbusters, the movies, the shows and the events are increasingly popular. How do you see big blockbusters? Do hits rule now more than ever?
3 Takeaways
NBCUniversal Vice Chair Bonnie Hammer on AI Celebrities, Interactive TV & the Future of Content (#241)
Is the strategy on producing content now bigger, fewer, better? Or what is the new strategy on developing content? I think each entity looks at it differently.
3 Takeaways
NBCUniversal Vice Chair Bonnie Hammer on AI Celebrities, Interactive TV & the Future of Content (#241)
As someone who rose from an entry-level production assistant job, whose chief charge was a dog, to vice chairman at NBC Universal, Bonnie Hammer knows all facets of the media and entertainment business. She was named vice chairman of NBC Universal in 2020, and she also led the creation of Peacock, NBC's streaming service. She has just published a new book, 15 Lies.
3 Takeaways
NBCUniversal Vice Chair Bonnie Hammer on AI Celebrities, Interactive TV & the Future of Content (#241)
Less expensive. How does digital technology and social media change the role of talent? Is power shifting to the stars?
3 Takeaways
NBCUniversal Vice Chair Bonnie Hammer on AI Celebrities, Interactive TV & the Future of Content (#241)
Is power shifting to the stars with their huge social media followings?
3 Takeaways
NBCUniversal Vice Chair Bonnie Hammer on AI Celebrities, Interactive TV & the Future of Content (#241)
Like so many things these days. Yes. We haven't yet talked about artificial intelligence. Right now, AI is mostly used to recommend what we should watch or listen to based on past behaviors. It seems on the cusp of becoming a full-fledged content creator. How do you see the future of AI as a content creator?
3 Takeaways
NBCUniversal Vice Chair Bonnie Hammer on AI Celebrities, Interactive TV & the Future of Content (#241)
Yes, I think that that's a worry that we won't be able to understand what it's recommending or what it's doing. And essentially that we'll need another AI to check an AI, which seems a fraught situation. Another impact of AI that seems to be on the cusp of happening is interactive and immersive experiences.
3 Takeaways
NBCUniversal Vice Chair Bonnie Hammer on AI Celebrities, Interactive TV & the Future of Content (#241)
It's so exciting to imagine watching a movie or maybe a sports game and being able to jump into the scene itself using virtual reality. How do you see the potential of interactive and immersive experiences?
3 Takeaways
NBCUniversal Vice Chair Bonnie Hammer on AI Celebrities, Interactive TV & the Future of Content (#241)
I'm excited to find out from her what the future of media and entertainment looks like. Welcome, Bonnie, and thanks so much for joining Three Takeaways today.
3 Takeaways
NBCUniversal Vice Chair Bonnie Hammer on AI Celebrities, Interactive TV & the Future of Content (#241)
How do you see the potential of interactive experiences where viewers can influence the show in real time?
3 Takeaways
NBCUniversal Vice Chair Bonnie Hammer on AI Celebrities, Interactive TV & the Future of Content (#241)
What role do you think that biometric data like heart rate, eye movements, or even neural feedback will play in shaping personalized and interactive entertainment experiences?
3 Takeaways
NBCUniversal Vice Chair Bonnie Hammer on AI Celebrities, Interactive TV & the Future of Content (#241)
It is my honor, Bonnie, to have you as a guest. So thank you. I was surprised to learn that TV shows are far more popular than movies and that TV shows and series account for roughly 75% of viewing. That seemed really high to me. But as I thought about it, I realized that it made sense when you consider that TV shows and series are longer and have more episodes than movies.
3 Takeaways
NBCUniversal Vice Chair Bonnie Hammer on AI Celebrities, Interactive TV & the Future of Content (#241)
Yes. And as you mentioned, double edged before that to me seems the epitome of double edged. It could make the experience so much more heightened and it could also be so much more addictive.
3 Takeaways
Whole Foods CEO on The Future of Food: More Than Taste (#237)
It is my pleasure. Are people eating differently now? And if so, how?
3 Takeaways
Whole Foods CEO on The Future of Food: More Than Taste (#237)
And so critical for any organization, whether it's a business or a school or a nonprofit or a government entity.
3 Takeaways
Whole Foods CEO on The Future of Food: More Than Taste (#237)
Thank you, Jason. This has been wonderful. And thank you for your wonderful Whole Foods stores, which benefits so many people, the consumers, your team members, and all of your suppliers and farmers.
3 Takeaways
Whole Foods CEO on The Future of Food: More Than Taste (#237)
I hope you enjoyed this conversation about the food we eat and the issues around the care of the animals, the workers, the community, and the environment. If you're interested, we have a related episode about the 200 billion animals which are raised for food each year, often in horrific conditions.
3 Takeaways
Whole Foods CEO on The Future of Food: More Than Taste (#237)
Did you know that the contribution of these animals to global warming is greater than the emissions of all the cars being driven around the world? Renowned Princeton bioethics professor Peter Singer shares on the impact of raising 200 billion animals for food on episode 224 of Three Takeaways.
3 Takeaways
Whole Foods CEO on The Future of Food: More Than Taste (#237)
If you're enjoying the podcast, and I really hope you are, please review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. It really helps get the word out. If you're interested, you can also sign up for the 3 Takeaways newsletter at 3takeaways.com, where you can also listen to previous episodes. You can also follow us on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and Facebook.
3 Takeaways
Whole Foods CEO on The Future of Food: More Than Taste (#237)
I'm Lynn Toman, and this is Three Takeaways. Thanks for listening.
3 Takeaways
Whole Foods CEO on The Future of Food: More Than Taste (#237)
What should people understand about their food choices and their impact? What is it that they don't realize yet?
3 Takeaways
Whole Foods CEO on The Future of Food: More Than Taste (#237)
we all are increasingly shopping online so why did amazon spend nearly 14 billion dollars by far the most it's ever spent on any acquisition to buy whole foods a brick and mortar national grocery chain and how are the foods we eat changing and how do the food choices we make affect the environment Hi, everyone. I'm Lynne Thoman, and this is Three Takeaways.
3 Takeaways
Whole Foods CEO on The Future of Food: More Than Taste (#237)
I'm glad that you made it more concrete. So what happens when somebody either buys or orders in a restaurant chicken breast meat? What's the impact?
3 Takeaways
Whole Foods CEO on The Future of Food: More Than Taste (#237)
On Three Takeaways, I talk with some of the world's best thinkers, business leaders, writers, politicians, newsmakers, and scientists. Each episode ends with three key takeaways to help us understand the world and maybe even ourselves a little better.
3 Takeaways
Whole Foods CEO on The Future of Food: More Than Taste (#237)
Increasingly, as you mentioned, people want to know how their food is sourced, how the animals are treated. Do you only work with suppliers that meet certain standards? And if so, what are those standards?
3 Takeaways
Whole Foods CEO on The Future of Food: More Than Taste (#237)
Today, I'm excited to be with Jason Beekle, the CEO of Whole Foods, which is the first and only certified organic national grocery store in the United States. Jason has been at Whole Foods for over 10 years, taking over from Whole Foods' amazing co-founder, John Mackey, who's also been a guest on Three Takeaways. Jason was there when Amazon bought Whole Foods in 2017.
3 Takeaways
Whole Foods CEO on The Future of Food: More Than Taste (#237)
I have to tell you, I always purchase your Vital Farms eggs. They taste different. They taste better, actually. Yeah.
3 Takeaways
Whole Foods CEO on The Future of Food: More Than Taste (#237)
And are farmers incentivized to support what's good for people or what's good for animals or what's good for the planet?
3 Takeaways
Whole Foods CEO on The Future of Food: More Than Taste (#237)
plastic contamination seems to be pervasive. Even trusted brands and organic foods are not immune. Newsweek just published an article on a new study which found that well-known brands like McDonald's, Burger King, and Starbucks were all found to have products with high levels of microplastic contamination.
3 Takeaways
Whole Foods CEO on The Future of Food: More Than Taste (#237)
And the products with high plastic levels range from cheeseburgers to milkshakes to kitchen staples like salt and even to organic products. And there was even one kind of Whole Foods organic rice. What are your thoughts?
3 Takeaways
Whole Foods CEO on The Future of Food: More Than Taste (#237)
I'm excited to learn from Jason how people's food choices are changing, how the food choices people make affect the environment, and what the grocery store of the future looks like. Welcome, Jason, and thanks so much for joining Three Takeaways today.
3 Takeaways
Whole Foods CEO on The Future of Food: More Than Taste (#237)
What does the grocery store of the future look like? How will Whole Foods be different five years from now?
3 Takeaways
Whole Foods CEO on The Future of Food: More Than Taste (#237)
And what are the three takeaways you'd like to leave the audience with today?
3 Takeaways
Why Bad Cops Stay and Schools Fail (#240)
So what you're describing essentially is that these public sector unions get benefits for their members in terms of rigid work rules and job restrictions and much higher pensions and health benefits. And in return, what do the politicians get?
3 Takeaways
Why Bad Cops Stay and Schools Fail (#240)
What do the public sector unions generally want? Where do they come out on taxpayer initiatives to limit spending and reduce taxes?
3 Takeaways
Why Bad Cops Stay and Schools Fail (#240)
Philip, can you read aloud from your book, please?
3 Takeaways
Why Bad Cops Stay and Schools Fail (#240)
Can you summarize the impact of these public sector unions and collective bargaining agreements? they've made government unmanageable and largely unaffordable. So in your view, do elected executives, presidents, governors, and mayors, or their appointees or public supervisors, such as school principals, police captains, and crew chiefs on highway repair teams, have effective authority?
3 Takeaways
Why Bad Cops Stay and Schools Fail (#240)
And what are the three takeaways you'd like to leave the audience with today?
3 Takeaways
Why Bad Cops Stay and Schools Fail (#240)
Thank you, Philip. I very much enjoyed your books, Everyday Freedom and Not Accountable. Nice to be with you, Len. If you're enjoying the podcast, and I really hope you are, please review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. It really helps get the word out.
3 Takeaways
Why Bad Cops Stay and Schools Fail (#240)
If you're interested, you can also sign up for the 3 Takeaways newsletter at 3takeaways.com, where you can also listen to previous episodes. You can also follow us on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and Facebook. I'm Lynn Toman, and this is Three Takeaways. Thanks for listening.
3 Takeaways
Why Bad Cops Stay and Schools Fail (#240)
That is horrifying. Is it the same for other government employees, such as teachers, social workers, highway crews, sanitation workers, and others?
3 Takeaways
Why Bad Cops Stay and Schools Fail (#240)
I'm going to start this episode today by asking my guest to read an excerpt from his book, Not Accountable. Philip, please go ahead.
3 Takeaways
Why Bad Cops Stay and Schools Fail (#240)
And you believe that much of the blame for this stems from public sector unions' collective bargaining. Can you explain?
3 Takeaways
Why Bad Cops Stay and Schools Fail (#240)
Can you talk more about how collective bargaining agreements in the public sector preclude and limit management choices generally? And then we'll talk about some more specific examples.
3 Takeaways
Why Bad Cops Stay and Schools Fail (#240)
Can you give some specific examples? Let's start with the police. What are some restrictions or limitations on the police?
3 Takeaways
Why Bad Cops Stay and Schools Fail (#240)
What's going on? Hi, everyone. I'm Lynne Thoman, and this is Three Takeaways. On Three Takeaways, I talk with some of the world's best thinkers, business leaders, writers, politicians, newsmakers, and scientists. Each episode ends with three key takeaways to help us understand the world and maybe even ourselves a little better. Today, I'm excited to be with Philip Howard.
3 Takeaways
Why Bad Cops Stay and Schools Fail (#240)
It's shocking to me that these contracts govern who can teach what and when they can teach. They limit the number of parent conferences, that they limit student evaluations and performance assessments. Are these contracts, these restrictions and limitations, one of the main reasons in your view that the majority of US public schools have such bad outcomes for students?
3 Takeaways
Why Bad Cops Stay and Schools Fail (#240)
Let's talk about the impact of collective bargaining and rules on a couple of other sectors. Can you talk about sanitation, for example, garbage collection?
3 Takeaways
Why Bad Cops Stay and Schools Fail (#240)
How about correctional officers, prison guards?
3 Takeaways
Why Bad Cops Stay and Schools Fail (#240)
He's a leader of government reform in America. He has advised both Republican and Democratic parties. He's also an author, and his most recent books are Everyday Freedom and Not Accountable. I'm looking forward to finding out why, no matter who is elected, government almost never changes how it works. Welcome, Philip, and thanks so much for joining Three Takeaways today. Nice to be with you, Lynn.
3 Takeaways
Why Bad Cops Stay and Schools Fail (#240)
How about the cost? What does this do to costs?
3 Takeaways
Why Bad Cops Stay and Schools Fail (#240)
You've given a couple of examples about New York. I think New Yorkers are shocked that the Second Avenue subway cost was $2.5 billion a mile, more than five times the cost of a similar subway in Paris.
3 Takeaways
Why Bad Cops Stay and Schools Fail (#240)
Yep. So far, we've talked about the impact of these rules on the ineffectiveness of government services and agencies. Let's flip and now talk about some of the examples of the benefits that government employees get. Let's start with early retirement.
3 Takeaways
Why Bad Cops Stay and Schools Fail (#240)
How about health benefits? Do public sector employees and retirees get better health benefits than private sector ones?
3 Takeaways
NBCUniversal Vice Chair Bonnie Hammer: Life Lessons for Getting Ahead (#236)
Great story. Bonnie, what is the most common piece of advice that you dole out?
3 Takeaways
NBCUniversal Vice Chair Bonnie Hammer: Life Lessons for Getting Ahead (#236)
Bonnie, before I ask for the three takeaways you'd like to leave the audience with, is there anything else you'd like to mention?
3 Takeaways
NBCUniversal Vice Chair Bonnie Hammer: Life Lessons for Getting Ahead (#236)
That is lovely. What are the three takeaways you'd like to leave the audience with?
3 Takeaways
NBCUniversal Vice Chair Bonnie Hammer: Life Lessons for Getting Ahead (#236)
Welcome, Bonnie, and thanks so much for joining Three Takeaways today. I'm delighted to be here, Lynn. It's always fun. It is my pleasure. Let's talk about your lessons learned. What do you think about Don't Sweat the Small Stuff?
3 Takeaways
NBCUniversal Vice Chair Bonnie Hammer: Life Lessons for Getting Ahead (#236)
Bonnie, this has been wonderful. I would add an interesting one word to your first takeaway, which is yet. That for people who can't do something, not to say I can't do it, but to say I can't do it yet.
3 Takeaways
NBCUniversal Vice Chair Bonnie Hammer: Life Lessons for Getting Ahead (#236)
Bonnie, thank you so much. I really enjoyed your book, 15 Lies. Thank you. It's always fun. If you're enjoying the podcast, and I really hope you are, please review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. It really helps get the word out.
3 Takeaways
NBCUniversal Vice Chair Bonnie Hammer: Life Lessons for Getting Ahead (#236)
If you're interested, you can also sign up for the Three Takeaways newsletter at threetakeaways.com, where you can also listen to previous episodes. You can also follow us on LinkedIn, X, Instagram and Facebook. I'm Lynn Thoman, and this is Three Takeaways. Thanks for listening.
3 Takeaways
NBCUniversal Vice Chair Bonnie Hammer: Life Lessons for Getting Ahead (#236)
I'm going to start this episode by asking my guest today to read an excerpt from her book.
3 Takeaways
NBCUniversal Vice Chair Bonnie Hammer: Life Lessons for Getting Ahead (#236)
And for you, your first job as a production assistant was to essentially follow around and take care of a dog. And if you hadn't done that job well, your career would not have taken off the way it did. Can you talk about that?
3 Takeaways
NBCUniversal Vice Chair Bonnie Hammer: Life Lessons for Getting Ahead (#236)
What do you think about the fake it till you make it strategy of trying to appear knowledgeable and confident?
3 Takeaways
NBCUniversal Vice Chair Bonnie Hammer: Life Lessons for Getting Ahead (#236)
I love your story about what happened when you were asked to edit four shows, including, I forget what the acronym stands for, WWE, and you'd never done an editing job in your life before, and how you were able to do that, but also how being an outsider and knowing nothing about it actually helped you. Can you talk about that?
3 Takeaways
NBCUniversal Vice Chair Bonnie Hammer: Life Lessons for Getting Ahead (#236)
So what are these rules that too many people believe that actually aren't true? Hi, everyone. I'm Lynne Thoman, and this is Three Takeaways. On Three Takeaways, I talk with some of the world's best thinkers, business leaders, writers, politicians, newsmakers and scientists. Each episode ends with three key takeaways to help us understand the world and maybe even ourselves a little better.
3 Takeaways
NBCUniversal Vice Chair Bonnie Hammer: Life Lessons for Getting Ahead (#236)
How important is being the smartest or the most knowledgeable person in the room?
3 Takeaways
NBCUniversal Vice Chair Bonnie Hammer: Life Lessons for Getting Ahead (#236)
I don't think most people appreciate enough the fact that as you become more senior, it becomes more about the other people and having the other people become stars and flourish.
3 Takeaways
NBCUniversal Vice Chair Bonnie Hammer: Life Lessons for Getting Ahead (#236)
Many children are raised today being told that they can do anything. What happens when they start their first job?
3 Takeaways
NBCUniversal Vice Chair Bonnie Hammer: Life Lessons for Getting Ahead (#236)
One of the first people that I interviewed for Three Takeaways was Joel Peterson, who was then chairman of JetBlue. And one of his takeaways, which I thought was so interesting, goes exactly to your point. It was about feedback. He called feedback the breakfast of champions.
3 Takeaways
NBCUniversal Vice Chair Bonnie Hammer: Life Lessons for Getting Ahead (#236)
Today, I'm excited to be joined by Bonnie Hammer. She rose to become vice chairman of NBC Universal by rejecting common myths about how to act in the workplace. She believes that the traditional wisdom about work hold people back.
3 Takeaways
NBCUniversal Vice Chair Bonnie Hammer: Life Lessons for Getting Ahead (#236)
And Barry Diller fell into one of those categories.
3 Takeaways
NBCUniversal Vice Chair Bonnie Hammer: Life Lessons for Getting Ahead (#236)
Having risen from an entry-level production assistant job where her chief charge was a dog to become vice chairman at NBC Universal, Bonnie Hammer challenges conventional workplace wisdom and shares the uncommon sense needed to succeed. She is the author of the new book, 15 Lies. I'm excited to find out what the rules and lies are that too many people believe that actually are not true.
3 Takeaways
NBCUniversal Vice Chair Bonnie Hammer: Life Lessons for Getting Ahead (#236)
And how did he challenge you to be better? How did he give feedback to you that was really helpful?
3 Takeaways
How to Not be Manipulated: A Clever, Crafty PR Exec Reveals Tricks of His Trade (#239)
Phil, what are some other strategies that you've used and that you see?
3 Takeaways
How to Not be Manipulated: A Clever, Crafty PR Exec Reveals Tricks of His Trade (#239)
Your media training must be fascinating. What impact has all of this had on you?
3 Takeaways
How to Not be Manipulated: A Clever, Crafty PR Exec Reveals Tricks of His Trade (#239)
And you no longer do the types of public relations that you used to.
3 Takeaways
How to Not be Manipulated: A Clever, Crafty PR Exec Reveals Tricks of His Trade (#239)
Phil, would you mind reading a quote from your book?
3 Takeaways
How to Not be Manipulated: A Clever, Crafty PR Exec Reveals Tricks of His Trade (#239)
Phil, what are the three takeaways you'd like to leave the audience with today?
3 Takeaways
How to Not be Manipulated: A Clever, Crafty PR Exec Reveals Tricks of His Trade (#239)
Thank you. Your book is certainly eye-opening. It will help us all to see what we read and hear on the news in a different way.
3 Takeaways
How to Not be Manipulated: A Clever, Crafty PR Exec Reveals Tricks of His Trade (#239)
If you're enjoying the podcast, and I really hope you are, please review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. It really helps get the word out. If you're interested, you can also sign up for the 3 Takeaways newsletter at 3takeaways.com, where you can also listen to previous episodes. You can also follow us on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and Facebook.
3 Takeaways
How to Not be Manipulated: A Clever, Crafty PR Exec Reveals Tricks of His Trade (#239)
I'm Lynn Thoman, and this is Three Takeaways. Thanks for listening.
3 Takeaways
How to Not be Manipulated: A Clever, Crafty PR Exec Reveals Tricks of His Trade (#239)
I'm excited, too. Let's start with some of your most astonishing campaigns. You ran a no-fingerprints campaign to kneecap Los Angeles's bid to host the Soccer World Cup. The campaign for Los Angeles to host the Soccer World Cup was spearheaded by Bill Clinton. Tell us about it.
3 Takeaways
How to Not be Manipulated: A Clever, Crafty PR Exec Reveals Tricks of His Trade (#239)
I'm going to begin this episode with my guest reading a quote from his book.
3 Takeaways
How to Not be Manipulated: A Clever, Crafty PR Exec Reveals Tricks of His Trade (#239)
But when you were involved with this, Los Angeles lost their bid and Qatar won.
3 Takeaways
How to Not be Manipulated: A Clever, Crafty PR Exec Reveals Tricks of His Trade (#239)
It is so shocking. And you even included Michelle Obama's words.
3 Takeaways
How to Not be Manipulated: A Clever, Crafty PR Exec Reveals Tricks of His Trade (#239)
Does that really happen? And what are some examples? Hi, everyone. I'm Lynne Thoman, and this is Three Takeaways. On Three Takeaways, I talk with some of the world's best thinkers, business leaders, writers, politicians, newsmakers and scientists. Each episode ends with three key takeaways to help us understand the world and maybe even ourselves a little better.
3 Takeaways
How to Not be Manipulated: A Clever, Crafty PR Exec Reveals Tricks of His Trade (#239)
How did you wield the power of the press to shame Saudi Arabia into releasing a Turkish barber? That, to me, was another one of your extraordinary campaigns.
3 Takeaways
How to Not be Manipulated: A Clever, Crafty PR Exec Reveals Tricks of His Trade (#239)
Phenomenal that you got him off of death row and free. Before we come back, when I ask you more about your tactics and how you invisibly influence news, let's talk about some more examples because the examples are extraordinary. Let's talk about a blue chip client. When you worked for one of the biggest public relation firms in the United States, your largest client was the U.S. Tuna Foundation.
3 Takeaways
How to Not be Manipulated: A Clever, Crafty PR Exec Reveals Tricks of His Trade (#239)
Tell us about that.
3 Takeaways
How to Not be Manipulated: A Clever, Crafty PR Exec Reveals Tricks of His Trade (#239)
Today, I'm excited to be with Phil Elwood. After working for nearly 20 years in the Washington public relations business for clients including Libya's Qaddafi and Syria's Assad, as well as many well-known blue chip companies, Phil Elwood reveals how stories literally get spun out of thin air. His job, which he was superb at, wasn't to manipulate public opinion. but to get others to do it for him.
3 Takeaways
How to Not be Manipulated: A Clever, Crafty PR Exec Reveals Tricks of His Trade (#239)
But the firm essentially paid academics to make the arguments.
3 Takeaways
How to Not be Manipulated: A Clever, Crafty PR Exec Reveals Tricks of His Trade (#239)
You mentioned the term astroturf organizations. What is that?
3 Takeaways
How to Not be Manipulated: A Clever, Crafty PR Exec Reveals Tricks of His Trade (#239)
And in the Tuna public relations, you use an AstroTurf organization. Can you share on that?
3 Takeaways
How to Not be Manipulated: A Clever, Crafty PR Exec Reveals Tricks of His Trade (#239)
And it sounds like such a, at least to a naive person, a legitimate organization, the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition.
3 Takeaways
How to Not be Manipulated: A Clever, Crafty PR Exec Reveals Tricks of His Trade (#239)
Just astonishing. You describe what you do as, quote, unobservable forces that produce effects by insensible or invisible means, unquote. Can you explain?
3 Takeaways
How to Not be Manipulated: A Clever, Crafty PR Exec Reveals Tricks of His Trade (#239)
Let's talk about some of your strategies. One of your strategies that you tell your clients is don't be a hero. Always find a better villain. Can you tell us about that and give some examples?
3 Takeaways
How to Not be Manipulated: A Clever, Crafty PR Exec Reveals Tricks of His Trade (#239)
One of your other strategies is paying people to say nice things. Can you tell us about that and give some examples?
3 Takeaways
How to Not be Manipulated: A Clever, Crafty PR Exec Reveals Tricks of His Trade (#239)
Another strategy you talk about is what you're calling the astroturf strategy. How common is that?
3 Takeaways
How to Not be Manipulated: A Clever, Crafty PR Exec Reveals Tricks of His Trade (#239)
Phil's new book, which is a great read, is All the Worst Humans, How I Made News for Dictators, Tycoons, and Politicians. I'm excited to find out from Phil how a PR operative manipulates people, facts, and the truth so we know what to be on the lookout for. Welcome, Phil, and thanks so much for joining Three Takeaways today.
3 Takeaways
We Can’t Stop the Wildfires—But We Can Stop the Disaster (#243)
Let's dive in and rethink how we approach fire. Welcome, Jack, and thank you so much for joining Three Takeaways today.
3 Takeaways
We Can’t Stop the Wildfires—But We Can Stop the Disaster (#243)
It's such a critical topic today. Jack, can you explain briefly the major causes of wildfires? Is it lightning or is it man-made causes such as sparks from power lines or is it something else?
3 Takeaways
We Can’t Stop the Wildfires—But We Can Stop the Disaster (#243)
Have wildfires changed in the 20th and 21st centuries? Are they different now than they used to be?
3 Takeaways
We Can’t Stop the Wildfires—But We Can Stop the Disaster (#243)
Wildfires are no longer just a seasonal occurrence. They've become an uncontrollable force. From the massive infernos ravaging California to raging blazes in far-flung corners of the earth, the scale of destruction is staggering. Entire communities wiped out, homes reduced to ash, lives forever changed. What was once seen as a natural part of the ecosystem now feels like an unstoppable disaster.
3 Takeaways
We Can’t Stop the Wildfires—But We Can Stop the Disaster (#243)
And when you look at the massive devastation of recent fires, such as those in L.A. and elsewhere, is the problem wildland fire management or is it urban fire management and the ways the fire spread in urban areas?
3 Takeaways
We Can’t Stop the Wildfires—But We Can Stop the Disaster (#243)
So how do fires spread in communities? Do they spread like a wall of flames that engulfs a whole neighborhood?
3 Takeaways
We Can’t Stop the Wildfires—But We Can Stop the Disaster (#243)
Is the most effective way then to fight fires more firefighting resources, more fire engines and firefighters?
3 Takeaways
We Can’t Stop the Wildfires—But We Can Stop the Disaster (#243)
So the question is, are we truly powerless against this growing threat, or is there a way for us to fight back? Hi, everyone. I'm Lynn Thoman, and this is Three Takeaways. On Three Takeaways, I talk with some of the world's best thinkers, business leaders, writers, politicians, newsmakers, and scientists.
3 Takeaways
We Can’t Stop the Wildfires—But We Can Stop the Disaster (#243)
The home ignition risk management strategies that you believe are the most effective are flame resistant materials for roofs and for sidings and the clearing away of dead brush and plants away from homes. Is that right?
3 Takeaways
We Can’t Stop the Wildfires—But We Can Stop the Disaster (#243)
It would seem that changes to zoning requiring rebuilding with fire resistant materials would be beneficial to communities, especially communities like L.A. that have been devastated by fires. To your knowledge, is L.A. implementing new zoning requirements of flame resistant materials? Yes.
3 Takeaways
We Can’t Stop the Wildfires—But We Can Stop the Disaster (#243)
Jack, is there anything else you'd like to add before I ask for the three takeaways you'd like to leave the audience with today?
3 Takeaways
We Can’t Stop the Wildfires—But We Can Stop the Disaster (#243)
Jack, what are the three takeaways you'd like to leave the audience with today?
3 Takeaways
We Can’t Stop the Wildfires—But We Can Stop the Disaster (#243)
Each episode ends with three key takeaways to help us understand the world and maybe even ourselves a little better. Today, I'm excited to be joined by Jack Cohn, a fire expert with a unique perspective, both as a firefighter and a U.S. Forest Service fire scientist.
3 Takeaways
We Can’t Stop the Wildfires—But We Can Stop the Disaster (#243)
Jack, thank you. Thank you for all your work fighting fires and mitigating damage to homes and communities.
3 Takeaways
We Can’t Stop the Wildfires—But We Can Stop the Disaster (#243)
Absolutely. It's such a critical issue now, and people just don't understand it correctly. If you're enjoying the podcast, and I really hope you are, please review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. It really helps get the word out.
3 Takeaways
We Can’t Stop the Wildfires—But We Can Stop the Disaster (#243)
If you're interested, you can also sign up for the Three Takeaways newsletter at threetakeaways.com, where you can also listen to previous episodes. You can also follow us on LinkedIn, X, Instagram and Facebook. I'm Lynn Toman, and this is Three Takeaways. Thanks for listening.
3 Takeaways
We Can’t Stop the Wildfires—But We Can Stop the Disaster (#243)
Jack co-developed the National Fire Danger Rating System and has spent years fighting and studying fires, transforming our understanding of them. His groundbreaking work on how homes ignite and fire spread is reshaping fire management. Today, we'll tackle an important question. Is the destruction we've witnessed inevitable, or can we do more to protect ourselves?