PODCAST · society
Straight to It
by Charlie Zeitlin
The Straight to It podcast hosts conversations with leaders in government, journalism, business, the arts, and beyond. Each episode shares the story of a new guest and provides listeners with an understanding of fascinating people and the work that animates them. Tune in every two weeks for conversations with guests that have included a member of the U.S. Congress, the Editor of Foreign Affairs, and an Emmy-winning film producer.
Episodes
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Ep. 93: Inside San Francisco’s resurgence and the ideas driving it forward with Missy Narula, CEO of Crankstart
Missy is the CEO of Crankstart, a San Francisco-based foundation. Crankstart has awarded over $1.6 billion in grants focused on economic mobility, education, democracy, housing, the environment, and more, mainly in San Francisco. Missy had a successful business career, including roles at TPG and...
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Ep. 92: How AI will change the workforce with Tommy Rosenkranz, Chief Product Officer at Constrafor
In this episode, I interview Tommy Rosenkranz. Tommy is the Chief Product Officer at Constrafor, building an AI-native platform for construction subcontractors' back-office work. Constrafor lets companies use AI to handle the grunt work, like the time-consuming process of organizing and tracking...
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Ep. 91: Education tailored for every student with Neeru Khosla, Founder of CK-12 and Owner of Seattle Seahawks
In this episode, I interview Neeru Khosla. Neeru is the co-founder of CK-12, an educational nonprofit that provides learning materials and AI support to millions of students worldwide. More recently, Neeru became the controlling owner of the Seattle Seahawks. We discuss the evolution of CK-12,...
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Ep. 90: San Francisco, "A more extreme version of America," with City on the Edge author Jonathan Weber - LIVE @ KALW!
In this episode, I interview Jonathan Weber at KALW's studio in San Francisco. Straight to It was recently featured on Bay Made, KALW's series highlighting local podcasts. I was lucky to be joined by such an incredible guest, Jonathan Weber. Jonathan Weber is the author of City on the Edge:...
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Promo for an in-person Straight to It episode with Jonathan Weber -- August 13th in San Francisco!
To purchase tickets and see details, look here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/city-on-the-edge-book-talk-with-jonathan-weber-charlie-zeitlin-tickets-1995878050978?aff=ebdsoporgprofile
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Ep. 89: ProPublica Reporter Alex Cuadros on a secretive oil billionaire, the easiest climate change fix, and a phone call with the President
In this episode, I interview ProPublica Climate Reporter Alex Cuadros. Alex recently published a major investigation into Hilcorp, a company owned by oil billionaire Jeffrey Hildebrand, and its relationship with the U.S. government. Alex has written for The New York Times Magazine, The New…
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Ep.88: Collecting, Selling, and Loving Books with Andy Nettell of Stellar Books & Ephemera
In this episode, I interview Andy Nettell. Andy, with his wife Marcee, founded Stellar Books & Ephemera in 2022. Based out of Sequim, Washington, Andy and his wife focus on selling rare Americana. This past February, I visited their wonderful booth at the International Antiquarian Book Fair…
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Ep.87: Fixing our Democracy through Deliberation with Dr. Alice Siu, Associate Director of Stanford’s Deliberative Democracy Lab
In this episode, I interview Dr. Alice Siu of Stanford University’s deliberative democracy lab. The lab is devoted to research on democracy and public opinion using Deliberative Polling. It is a process that includes convening a representative sample of the group, educating the group on the…
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Ep. 86: Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library Curator Lara Hall discusses LBJ and his Legacy
In this episode, I interview Lara Hall. Lara is the Museum Curator of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library. Lara worked as an archivist, organizing the over 45 million documents housed at the library, for about a decade before becoming the curator. She creates exhibits predominantly...
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Ep. 85: Dan Kurtz-Phelan, Editor-in-Chief of Foreign Affairs on Trump’s Foreign Policy, Stewarding a Legendary Institution and Creating Its Future
In this episode, I interview Dan Kurtz-Phelan. Since 2021, Dan has served as the Editor-in-Chief of Foreign Affairs, which for the past 100 years has been one of the leading publications covering foreign policy. Before his tenure as editor, Dan worked in the State Department during the Obama...
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Ep. 84: The Past, Present, and Future of the U.S. Tax Code with Professor Ray Madoff
In this episode, I interview Professor Ray Madoff of Boston College. Ray focuses on philanthropic policy, the rights of the dead (including the dead's ability to control their bodies, reputation, and property), estate taxes, comparative inheritance law, and wealth inequality and taxes. Recently…
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Ep. 83: Ethics, the Philosophy of Alasdair MacIntyre, and a Wide-Ranging Conversation with Scholar and Yale Lecturer Peter Wicks
In this episode, I interview Peter Wicks. Peter is a scholar-in-residence at the Elm Institute whose research focuses on the contemporary applications of Aristotle’s ethical and political thought, the history and philosophy of higher education, and the psychology and ethics of argument and...
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Ep. 82: Risk, Complexity, and Adventure with Tony Haile
In this episode, I interview Tony Haile. Currently, Tony is the CEO of Filament, a company that aims to revolutionize professional networking through smaller, private spaces for connection. Previously, Tony was on Twitter's Global Leadership Team, the Founding CEO of Scroll (which Twitter...
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Ep. 81: Sherri Franklin — Founder of Muttville and Hero to Senior Dogs
In this episode, I interview Sherri Franklin. Sherri is the founder of Muttville, a senior dog rescue in San Francisco. After understanding how wonderful senior dogs can be and seeing how inhumanely they are treated in the shelter system, Sherri started a grassroots dog rescue that eventually…
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Ep. 80: Addressing Rural Youth Suicide with Janet Lindow
In this episode, I interview Janet Lindow. Janet founded the Rural Behavioral Health Institute to address the startling issue of rural youth suicide. For the past 12 years, Janet's career goal has been to improve the health of populations with limited access to effective treatment, with a primary...
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Ep. 79: Rookly, The Power of Chess, and Building a Fun Future of Education with Matt Zeitlin, Co-Founder of Rookly
In this episode, I interview Matt Zeitlin, the Co-Founder of Rookly. Matt and his co-founder, Amir Moazami, have known each other since they were six. They played chess together growing up, and both eventually won National Championships. Rookly works to make school chess more fun and accessible…
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Ep. 78: Sunni Khalid — A Life in Journalism
Our guest today, Sunni Khalid, is the News Editor at KALW, a public radio station that has been broadcasting for over 80 years in the San Fransico Bay Area. He has reported from over thirty-five different countries at outlets including: TIME, USA TODAY, The Wilmington News-Journal, The Baltimore...
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Ep. 77: "The Hidden Addiction" — A Conversation with Sam DeMello, Founder of Evive
In this episode, I interview Sam DeMello. Sam founded Evive, the leading digital health platform for gambling behavior change, serving partners across the nation. They bridge the critical gap in care by reaching the 99.5% of people experiencing gambling harm who never access traditional...
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Ep. 76: The "Open Road" Ahead for the Publishing Industry--A Wide-Ranging Conversation with David Steinberger
Earlier this month, I was lucky to have an awesome conversation with David Steinberger. David has over 25 years of experience in the publishing industry. He has served as CEO of Arcadia Publishing and the Perseus Books Group, and as both President of Corporate Strategy and President of Adult…
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Ep. 75: "Your Voice, Your Vote" with San Mateo Assistant Chief Elections Officer Jim Irizarry
In this episode, I interview Jim Irizarry. Jim has been working in elections for over fourty years, and currently, he is the Asst. Assessor-Clerk-Recorder & Asst. Chief Elections Officer for San Mateo County. We had an a wide-ranging conversation covering the importance of youth civic engagement,...
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Ep. 74: "A big history for a small town" with Palo Alto Historian Steve Staiger
For the past forty years, Steve Staiger has worked as a historian at the Palo Alto Historical Society. He works in PAHS' archives, helping others research information about Palo Alto, and he promotes information about the city's history. During our conversation, we discussed Palo Alto's founding,...
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Ep.73: Won in Translation with Mark Polizzotti, Literary Translator and Editor-in-Chief at the Met
In this episode, I interview Mark Polizzotti. Mark has translated over sixty books from French to English, including works from authors such as Jean Echenoz, Gustave Flaubert, and Patrick Modiano. Mark leads publishing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. He is also the author of many books,...
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Ep.72: "Drinking from a fire hose" -- The ACLU's Shilpi Agarwal on Fighting for Civil Liberties in the Trump Era
In this episode, I interview the Legal Director of the Northern California American Civil Liberties Union: Shilpi Agarwal. Shilpi, formerly a senior staff attorney, has worked as the Legal Director for 5 years, managing litigation and advocacy. We had a wide-ranging conversation covering the case...
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Ep.71: Inside New Yorker Reporting with Micah Hauser
In this episode, I interview Micah Hauser. Micah is a Story Editor at the New Yorker, where he has worked for the past seven years. We discuss Micah's career at the New Yorker, where he started as a Fact Checker. We cover the fact-checking process and how each New Yorker issue comes together. We...
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Ep. 70: 181 Years of Journalism with Charlotte Howard, The Economist's Executive Editor
In this episode, I interview Charlotte Howard, Executive Editor and New York Bureau Chief of The Economist. Charlotte has been working at The Economist for over 20 years and co-hosts the Checks and Balance podcast. We discuss what makes The Economist special, its transformation into the digital...
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Ep.69: The Groundbreaking Debate Over AI regulation with Risto Uuk, EU AI Expert
In this episode, I interview Risto Uuk, the EU Research Lead at the Future of Life Institute in Brussels. He researches European Union Artificial Intelligence policy, including the EU Artificial Intelligence Act. Risto is a PhD researcher at KU Leuven studying the assessment and risk-mitigation…
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Ep. 68: Congresswoman Anna Eshoo: 32 years of legendary service
In this episode, I interview Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, a legendary leader in the Bay Area. In her 32 years in Congress, Congresswoman Eshoo has passed over 70 bills, benefiting not only the Bay Area but the entire country. Congresswoman Eshoo joins us on Straight To It to reflect on some of her...
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Ep.67: The Israel-Palestine Conflict with Nicole Sorger
In this episode, I interview Nicole Sorger. Nicole is head of the History Department at Crystal Springs Uplands School. An expert in the Israel-Palestine Conflict, Nicole teaches Middle Eastern History. As we explore the past and present of the Israel-Palestine conflict, we go through Israel's...
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Ep.66: Authenticity, Creativity, and an Incredible Conversation with MIT Expert Dr. Bruno Verdini
In this episode I interview Dr. Bruno Verdini, who has taught leadership, diplomacy, and communication techniques for stakeholders from over 80 countries. He created, then earned a unique Ph.D. at MIT, and then designed two MIT courses, The Art and Science of Negotiation and Leadership in...
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Ep.65: Using The Courts for Change with Nani Jansen Reventlow
In this episode, I interview Nani Jansen-Reventlow, a human rights lawyer who formerly argued free speech cases with Media Defense, a non-profit defending journalism around the globe. Now, Nani works on Systemic Justice, a non-profit she founded with the purpose of making change through…
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Ep. 64: "Get After It," with Yoav Saarony
In this episode, I interview Yoav Saarony, a tennis coach who has coached players at all 4 grand slams, over a 30-year career. Yoav grew up in Israel and immigrated into the US at eight years old. When not on the court, Yoav is also an amazing DJ! As we dig into his tennis journey, we focus a…
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Ep. 63: The promise of AI with Laker Newhouse
In this episode, I interview Laker Newhouse, an AI and Mathematics Major at MIT. This past summer, Laker taught at a program in Barcelona to teach Ukrainian high school students about AI. We discuss how AI works, its potential and risks, and his experience at MIT. Enjoy the episode!
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Let's Get "Straight To It"
I am very excited to announce, the changing of Explain It To Me Like I'm a Ten Year Old to Straight To It with Charlie Zeitlin. Listen to learn more! Also, look forward to new episodes coming out this month with an MIT AI student, a psychiatrist, and more!
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Ep.61: The Future of Telehealth with Guy Friedman
In this episode, I interview Guy Friedman, the CEO and founder of SteadyMD. SteadyMD is a telehealth service that connects patients with licensed clinicians. Guy also was the founder of HigherNext, one of the first online proctoring services. We discuss his story, what he loves about...
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Ep. 60: Profound Learning with Alex Grodd
In this episode, I interview Alex Grodd, Founder of BetterLesson, one of the first platforms for teachers to share lesson plans. Now, Alex is building Mainstem Media, a company dedicated to creating podcasts and documentaries to facilitate productive disagreement. Alex is a former teacher and…
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Introducing: Explained, a New Series
Introducing: Explained! This is the start of a new series on the podcast where we are spending a half-hour with experts breaking down an important - and complex topic. In the first episode, we're speaking with Dr. Kevin Trenberth, climate scientist and an author of the Nobel Prize Winning 2007…
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Ep.58: Acting and Equity with Ward Horton
In this episode, I interview Ward Horton, an actor who has had roles in movies and shows such as Annabelle and Pure Genius, as well as in the Broadway show, Torch Song. He has appeared in movies like Ford vs. Ferrari and The Wolf of Wall Street. We discuss the ongoing actors strike, fair...
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Ep.57: Searching for Truth with Jeff Wise, Journalist and MH370 Expert
In this episode, I interview Jeff Wise, a science and aviation journalist and MH370 expert. Jeff was featured in the Netflix documentary, MH370: The Plane That Disappeared. Jeff's writing has appeared in outlets such as the New York Times, Business Week and Popular Mechanics, and he has spoken...
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Ep.56: Parenting, Purpose and Finding your Path with Julie Lythcott-Haims
In this episode, I interview Julie Lythcott-Haims. Julie is an NYT best selling author, former Stanford dean and current Palo Alto City Council Member. Julie first was a corporate lawyer, but finding herself unfilled, she left her job to join Stanford. As a Freshman Dean, Julie noticed the effect...
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Ep.55: Adventure, Inspiration, and Passion with Barrington Irving, the Youngest Person to Fly Around the World Solo
In this episode, I interview Barrington Irving, pilot and Founder of Experience Aviation and The Flying Classroom. Barrington became the youngest person and first African-American to fly around the world solo. Barrington flew 30,000 miles around the globe, with 27 stops, moving through monsoons,...
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Ep.54: "Do something you love," with Nancy Coupal, founder of Coupa Café
In this episode, I interview Nancy Coupal, founder of Coupa Café. Nancy moved with her family from Venezuela to Palo Alto, and saw the need for an authentic, delicious café. Coupa has become a Palo Alto institution, with nine locations (and appearances in The Social Network, The Dropout and 60...
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"We Can All Win Together": Investing Sustainably, Consciously and Purposefully with Sunny Vanderbeck, Co-Founder of Satori Capital
In this episode, I interview Sunny Vanderbeck, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Satori Capital. Sunny Vanderbeck and his partner Randy Eisenman founded Satori in 2008. Satori invests into companies with outstanding leadership and sustainability practices. After serving as an Army Ranger, Sunny...
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Ep.52: Being Loyal to Our Dogs, with Celine Halioua, Founder of Loyal
In this episode, I interview Celine Halioua, founder and CEO of Loyal, a company dedicated to keeping man's best friend around for longer. Loyal is developing drugs to slow aging in large and small dogs, and has done a number of pilot studies. They aim to release their first drug in 2025. Celine...
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Ep.51: Persuading Positively with Dr. Robert Cialdini, Best Selling Author of Influence
In this episode, I interview Dr. Robert Cialdini, Emeritus Professor of Marketing and Psychology at Arizona State University. In his bestselling book, Influence, Dr. Cialdini draws on his experience studying the principles of influence and simplifies them in seven universal principles. Robert...
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Ep.50: Looking Ahead to the Next 50 Episodes
In this special (50th!) episode, I am very lucky to be interviewed by my dad, Zac Zeitlin. Zac has been my mentor and guide on my podcastsing journey and has helped me from day one! I really enjoyed being the guest this time, and Zac did a great job preparing questions. We have the opportunity to...
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Ep.49: Teaching with Passion, Love and Heart with Erin Thorkilsen, Founder of Heart in Education
In this episode, I interview Erin Thorkilsen, former teacher at Greens Farms Academy in Connecticut, and founder of Heart in Education. Erin has be teaching in the classroom for over 20 years and started Heart in Education to train and inspire teachers to fill their classrooms with joy…
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Ep.48: "They All Matter," with Josh Balk, Animal Rights Activist and Founder of The Accountability Board
In this episode, I interview Josh Balk. Josh started working at the Humane Society in 2005, and has successfully led many companies like McDonalds and Walmart to treat animals better. He also was instrumental in helping pass Prop 12 in California, which prohibits cruel confinement for mother…
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Ep.47: A Quantum Future with Pete Shadbolt, Co-Founder of PsiQuantum
In this episode, I interview Pete Shadbolt, the Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of PsiQuantum, a company working to build the world's first one million qubit quantum computer. We discuss how quantum computing works, its real world applications, and Pete's story of moving to America to…
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Ep.46: NationSwell Explained with Greg Behrman
Over the past two years, we’ve been lucky to interview over forty amazing leaders, from the worlds of sports, entertainment, food, healthcare, social impact and technology. After many conversations with these entrepreneurs and new ones you will hear from soon, I’m happy to announce a new,...
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Ep.45: Being Unstoppable - with Alden Mills, a Navy SEAL, Inventor and Author
In this episode, I interview Alden Mills, a Navy SEAL, founder of Perfect Fitness and author of Be Unstoppable and Unstoppable Teams. When Alden was diagnosed with asthma at age 12 and told he couldn't do anything athletic, he focused even more on fitness and eventually became a collegiate rower...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
The Straight to It podcast hosts conversations with leaders in government, journalism, business, the arts, and beyond. Each episode shares the story of a new guest and provides listeners with an understanding of fascinating people and the work that animates them. Tune in every two weeks for conversations with guests that have included a member of the U.S. Congress, the Editor of Foreign Affairs, and an Emmy-winning film producer.
HOSTED BY
Charlie Zeitlin
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Straight to It have?
Straight to It currently has 92 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Straight to It about?
The Straight to It podcast hosts conversations with leaders in government, journalism, business, the arts, and beyond. Each episode shares the story of a new guest and provides listeners with an understanding of fascinating people and the work that animates them. Tune in every two weeks for...
How often does Straight to It release new episodes?
Straight to It has 92 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Straight to It?
You can listen to Straight to It on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Straight to It?
Straight to It is created and hosted by Charlie Zeitlin.
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