California Future Society

California has been the greatest economic miracle in modern history. People came here to build, to dream, and to better their lives. But today I believe we are living off the inheritance of past generations instead of building a future of our own.In this solo episode, I make the case that California has become a “trust fund society.” We are coasting on the wealth and institutions created before us while making it harder to build, harder to afford a home, and harder to run a business.I walk through the anti-growth movement, the housing crisis, and the paradox of Silicon Valley’s dominance at the same time Sacramento seems hostile toward tech. I argue that California has ignored a basic truth: prosperity depends on building. Drawing on history, economics, and culture, I explore what it means to inherit greatness and what it will take to reclaim California’s role as the world’s engine of dynamism.This episode also wraps up Season 1 of the Podcast! I am pausing the show as my wife and I welcome our second child. Thank you for all of you who have followed along with the journey so far. See you in the future. Chapters: 00:00 – Pausing the Pod02:04 – California as a Trust Fund Society04:30 – The Cyclical Nature of Wealth06:15 – California’s Past Success08:34 – California’s Stagnation12:49 – California Beats Up Our Tech Sector20:12 – European Decline22:07 – We’re Killing the California DreamKeywords:California, California Dream, trust fund society, California politics, California history, California economy, California housing crisis, California anti-growth movement, California building crisis, Pat Brown, Jerry Brown, CEQA, California infrastructure, California water, California aqueduct, Silicon Valley, California tech industry, California tech policy, California business climate, California stagnation, California GDP, California per capita income, California poverty rate, Public Policy Institute of California, PPIC, California high speed rail, California renewable energy, Texas vs California, California vs Texas economy, California companies leaving, Oracle California, Chevron California, HP California, In-N-Out Tennessee, housing affordability California, California regulation, California future, California innovation, California Future Society

Subscribe at californiafuturesociety.comEl Segundo is five square miles of extremes: a small-town beach community with Fortune 500 headquarters, a refinery, three pro sports teams, toy showrooms, rocket labs, and more PhDs per capita than almost anywhere in California. Mayor Chris Pimentel pulls back the curtain on how this tiny South Bay city became one of the most dynamic economic hubs in the state and the culture within city hall. We dig into El Segundo’s advantages, the culture that attracts global innovators, and what other cities can (and can’t) copy.Chapters00:00 – Intro05:46 – How El Segundo punches above its weight10:40 – Culture at city hall and lessons17:59 – The cultural role of startups22:15 – Reindustrializing LA25:00 – CA housing politics30:11 – Restoring the CA dream35:42 – Hope for CA's futureKeywords: El Segundo, Chris Pimentel, California cities, South Bay, Fortune 500 companies California, aerospace California, hard tech startups, deep tech startups, California innovation, LA economic development, small city big economy, red carpet not red tape, municipal governance, business friendly cities, California housing policy, industrial California, California manufacturing, Los Angeles County cities, regional collaboration California, California Future Society.

I sit down with my friend Chris Lengerich, a researcher, investor, and founder of Context Fund, to map the AI “gold-rush” reshaping California’s most important economy. After talking about how we ended up with nine-figure talent bidding wars for AI talent, we discuss how smaller teams, AI-accelerated funding, and vertically-integrated TechBio firms will upend SaaS economics and, could let us “asymptote to having no disease.” We finish by weighing whether California’s network effects keep it the epicenter of the AI boom and what get Chris most excited about the future. Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction03:47 – The AI Gold Rush06:53 – The War for Top AI Talent11:39 – Verification: The New Frontier14:12 – Automating the VC Funding Process25:37 – AI-Powered Teams and Startup Dynamics29:16 – AI in Drug Discovery & Development37:11 – Personalization & Reducing Friction40:30 – California’s Role in the AI Gold Rush45:37 – The Inner vs. Outer AI Economy48:23 – Curing Disease with AIKeywords:AI gold rush, California tech economy, talent wars, verification APIs, reinforcement learning, funding automation, Context Fund, build-vs-buy, TechBio, personalized tooling, mainframe renaissance, data-center energy, venture capital, vertical integration, disease-cure asymptote, global verification hubs, policy competition, inner-vs-outer economy, network effects.

In this solo episode, I reflect on a question I keep coming back to: How do you actually change California politics? After nearly 20 episodes of California Future Society, I’ve started to see clear themes focused around a desire for change. I walk through historical examples of movements that drove real change, from the Progressive Era to Prop 13 to modern groups like GrowSF and YIMBYs. Movements, not parties, are what shift political incentives and lead to lasting outcomes. I also lay out two buckets of reforms: foundational fixes like housing and affordability, and bold, future-oriented moonshots. Finally, I share why I think the window for change might be narrowing and why that makes building a movement around the future more urgent than ever.00:00 California's Politics are Stagnant08:19 The Role of Movements in Political Change10:29 The Progressive Movement12:25 Depression-Era Movements15:15 Taxpayer Revolt and Anti-Growth16:22 GrowSF and YIMBY17:50 Tipping Point Politics20:54 The Two Buckets of Desired Change25:46 A Future-Oriented Movement

Dick Lucas isn’t running a typical campaign. In this episode, the Assembly candidate for California’s 51st District joins to talk about housing, energy, and why California needs to rediscover its appetite for building growth. An entrepreneur turned political insurgent, Lucas argues for CEQA reform, nuclear revival, and making space for brand-new cities. We talk about California's stagnation, his viral launch video, and what it means to be the most pro-tech politician in the state.00:00 – Intro04:51 – Dick's Entrance to Politics09:01 – Who is Dick Lucas?15:53 – Technology Equals Progress22:39 – California Needs Growth – Stasis is Death28:35 – We Desperately Need More Housing34:20 – Build More Housing, Build More of Everything37:59 – The Problem with California's Politicians42:30 – Growth and Immigration49:20 – How You Too Can Become a DickYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVNumolJuKvqJScBEnhe8hQKeywords:  Dick Lucas California Assembly, Santa Monica politics, California political candidates 2025, pro-tech politician, CEQA reform, new cities California, California housing crisis, nuclear energy, housing reform, permitting crisis, tech, environmental policy, zoning reform, infrastructure, California dream, California exodus, growth vs stasis, political outsiders, abundance agenda, make no small plans, techno-optimism, tech and policy, political reform California, viral political campaigns, future of California 

California has always been a mirror—and a magnifier—of the American spirit. In this solo episode, I trace the evolution of the California Dream: from gold rush ambition to postwar abundance to modern gridlock. Drawing heavily on the work of historian Kevin Starr, I explore how California came to represent both utopia and disillusionment and ask what it would take to dream again. Chapters00:00 - The Evolution of the California Dream07:29 - The Dream is Born:1850-190018:38 - Industry, Imagination, and Infrastructure: 1900-WWII34:24 - Post-War California: Maturity and Growth46:26 - Is California Still Spectacular?Keywords: California Dream, California history, Kevin Starr, Gold Rush, California Future Society, postwar boom, California housing crisis, dynamism, anti-growth politics, American Dream, California decline, Silicon Valley, aerospace, agriculture, suburbanization, Great Depression, immigration in California, California political culture, Los Angeles, San Francisco, opportunity, mobility, American West, Grapes of Wrath, boosterism, state identity, utopia vs dystopia, California economy

Author and thinker Virginia Postrel joins me to talk about California’s past, present, and future, from anti-growth politics to the rise of AI. We get into what dynamism really means, why creative destruction is inevitable, and how housing and regulation shape everything.00:00 Intro  03:58 California's Changing Landscape: A Historical Perspective  07:43 Political Shifts: The Republican Party's Decline in California  10:27 Change in the California Ideology  16:24 CA vs. TX  22:45 The Impact of AI  27:22 AI Displacing White Collar Jobs  30:50 We've Seen This Before  37:30 Lessons for California's Future Keywords: California, Virginia Postrel, AI, housing crisis, innovation, future of work, white collar unemployment, creative destruction, economic resilience, California politics, The Future and Its Enemies, Silicon Valley, zoning laws, startup culture, bits vs atoms, California regulation, elite overproduction, laissez-faire, local knowledge

From Star Trek to Skunk Works, California once led the world in space-age dreaming. What happened? In this solo episode, I trace the roots of that generation of techno-optimism and ask what it might look like to summon it again in an era of cynicism, scarcity, and political drift to get Californians dreaming again. 00:00 Intro  03:31 Defining the First Space Age  05:28 The Twin Boosters of the Space Age  08:07 Southern California: Epicenter of the Space Age  11:19 Competing Views of the Space Age  12:47 Fostering Techno-Optimism in California  Keywords: Second Space Age, California Future Society, techno-optimism, space exploration, cultural impact, technology, innovation, aerospace industry, future vision, optimism, Southern California, space age nostalgia, Jetsons futurism, Imagineering, Elon Musk, SpaceX launch, awe and wonder, California history, Tomorrowland, Googie architecture, Burbank, Los Angeles, rocket science, NASA, Star Trek, the Jetsons, Twilight Zone, Caltech, JPL, Lockheed Skunk Works, Cold War, scientific progress, dynamic society, American frontier, abundance, clean energy, AI education, Neuralink, supersonic jets, California Forever, Solano County, hardware manufacturing, gigascale solar, belief in the future, media environment, techlash, personalized learning, postwar optimism, suburban California, futurism, storytelling, cultural zeitgeist, economic development, infrastructure, vision for California, building the future, space culture, American dream

California has the highest gas prices in the country, and they may rise even further. USC Professor Michael Mische drew attention with a projection that upcoming refinery closures could push prices past $8 per gallon. In this conversation, we explore what’s behind California’s fuel costs from shrinking in-state production and growing reliance on imports to the state’s unique regulatory structure. Professor Mische challenges the narrative around price gouging, outlines trade-offs in the state’s energy transition, and shares what better policy could look like. Newsletter: californiafuturesociety.comApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/california-future-society/id1807612672Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0zzVSVdCUCTGuZUyl8qZXAYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVNumolJuKvqJScBEnhe8hQChapters 00:00 – Intro 04:37 – California’s Petroleum Industry 09:47 – Why Is California’s Gas So Expensive? 13:49 – The Electric Transition in California 16:56 – Refinery Closures & Projected Gas Prices 30:15 – Political Reactions & Public Criticism 39:47 – Policy Ideas for a Sustainable Transition 47:26 – A Hopeful Future for CaliforniaCalifornia, gas prices, refinery closures, gasoline market, energy policy, environmental policy, energy transition, oil and gas industry, fuel supply, price projections, future gas prices, economic impact, supply and demand, market elasticity, replacement cost, production capacity, foreign oil dependency, energy imports, in-state oil production, regulatory challenges, California Air Resources Board, CARB, cap and trade, low carbon fuel standard, excise taxes, underground storage tank fee, mileage tax, emissions policy, clean air standards, climate regulation, vehicle electrification, internal combustion engine ban, refinery consolidation, maritime fuel transport, pipeline access, California-compliant fuel, Asian fuel imports, Saudi oil, Washington state refineries, energy independence, USC Professor Michael Mische, California Energy Commission, CEC, Governor Newsom gas prices, price gouging accusations, academic freedom, public data analysis, state energy policy, federal energy policy, Vision 2030 Saudi Arabia, energy forecasting, political narrative, public backlash

**Editor's Note: Dr. Sonenshein later corrected that West Altadena, not East Altadena, did not receive notifications**Despite its dysfunction, LA has always been a place where people come to live the good life. So why is it so hard to govern? Dr. Raphe Sonenshein has spent decades inside LA politics as a teacher, author, and reformer and is the leading expert on LA governance. In this conversation, we discuss the structure of LA’s governance, LA’s political culture, the rare moment of charter reform we’re living through, and why he’s cautiously optimistic about the future. From the fate of the working class to the mysteries of county power, this is a crash course in how LA really works and what might finally make it work better.As always, make sure to subscribe at californiafuturesociety.com or wherever you get your podcastsApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/california-future-society/id1807612672Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0zzVSVdCUCTGuZUyl8qZXAYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVNumolJuKvqJScBEnhe8hQChapters00:00 – Intro04:20 – Unique Challenges of LA Governance09:16 – Political Culture and Media Landscape in LA14:19 – Charter Reform: A Historical Perspective23:02 – The Tangible Impact of Charter Reform27:18 – The Future of the Working Class in LA36:17 – Addressing Homelessness in Los Angeles38:59 – Hope for the Future of CaliforniaKeywordslos angeles politics, los angeles culture, los angeles urban development, la governance, fragmented governance, charter reform, city charter reform, county charter reform, la charter reform 2025, who runs la, la government broken, los angeles politics explained, la county mayor, measure g los angeles, los angeles political scandal, city vs county power, working class in los angeles, economic inequality la, working class crisis la, la housing crisis, homelessness crisis la, homelessness in la 2025, homelessness policy, la county government, unincorporated los angeles, la political culture, los angeles media landscape, redistricting los angeles, redistricting los angeles 2025, california governance reform, california political future, california civic identity, california policy crisis, inside los angeles city hall, future of los angeles

In this episode, I sit down with Bill Fulton - urban planner, professor, former Ventura mayor, and author of one of my favorite books (The Reluctant Metropolis) - for a wide-ranging conversation on how California stopped growing and what it will take for the state to build again. We explore how the state’s postwar growth machine broke down, how laws like Prop 13 and CEQA warped local incentives, and why so many cities now chase warehouses and retail instead of housing.This is also a conversation about California’s evolving identity from the death of the suburban dream to the rise of a more urban, infill-driven future. We talk about generational divides in housing politics, lessons from Houston’s deregulated model, and why building more homes isn’t just about entitlement reform—it’s about labor, capacity, and culture. If you care about how California can remain a place where regular people can live and thrive, this episode is for you!Make sure to subscribe at californiafuturesociety.org, youtube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Chapters:00:00 — Intro02:55 — Why Did Growth Stop?08:08 — Sales Tax Dynamics and Local Government Funding12:56 — Accepting SoCal's Urban Identity16:03 — Intergenerational Perspectives on Growth and Development17:47 — State vs. Local Control22:49 — The Role of Unions26:25 — CEQA30:03 — Land-Use Lessons from Houston33:28 — SoCal After Sprawl37:23 — Demographics and the Changing Landscape of California42:09 — Hope for California’s Housing CrisisKeywords:California housing policy, urban planning, Prop 13, CEQA, NIMBY vs. YIMBY, sales tax incentives, local control, state intervention, entitlement reform, zoning, infill development, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), post-sprawl urbanism, Inland Empire, Houston vs. LA, light rail, construction labor shortage, environmental law, unions and housing, demographic shifts, affordability crisis, generational change

California’s fertility rate is near historic lows. Politicians keep proposing pro-family policies—but what if none of them actually work?In this episode, I talk with policy researcher and fellow Californian Noah Johnson about the hard truths behind declining birthrates. Why aren’t paid family leave, baby bonuses, and daycare subsidies moving the needle? What can California learn from other countries—and where is our state uniquely falling short?We also explore the cultural and economic reasons behind shrinking families, the rise of black-market daycare, and why California cities are losing their grip on the next generation of parents.Topics include: – Why family policy doesn’t increase fertility – California’s broken daycare and licensing system – How parenting shapes civic engagement – Why implementation is as important as ideas – The cultural costs of childless cities – Paid Family Leave in California: what’s working, what’s brokenChapters 00:00 – Intro 02:23 – The State of Global Fertility 07:21 – Implications of Low Fertility Rates 10:30 – California-Specific Challenges 15:51 – Cultural Norms and Their Impact on Family Size 19:11 – The Societal Implications of Fewer Children 23:00 – What Makes People Leave CA 27:45 – Paid Family Leave: Successes and Challenges 34:53 – Easy Fixes to California’s Policies 46:40 – Hope for California’s FutureNewsletter: https://californiafuturesociety.comYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVNumolJuKvqJScBEnhe8hQSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0zzVSVdCUCTGuZUyl8qZXAApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/california-future-society/id1807612672Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/California-Future-Society/dp/B0F4B2LVGJKeywords: California fertility rate, fertility crisis, family policies, parenting, childcare, childcare regulation California, paid family leave California, California governance, population decline, declining birthrates, demographics, cost of living, urban policy podcast, black market daycare, why people aren’t having kids, societal implications, cultural collapse, Noah Johnson, California Future Society, YIMBY movement California, family policy USA, urban families, California politics, affordable housing, implementation challenges, community engagement

What if building a home was as fast and seamless as assembling a car?In this episode, I sit down with Alexis Rivas, co-founder and CEO of Cover, to talk about his company's bold efforts to reinvent how homes are built and the slow-motion disaster of LA's permitting system.Alexis shares how Cover is rethinking every step of the building process—from design and engineering to manufacturing and on-site assembly. We explore how they set a new record for the fastest ADU ever built in Los Angeles (3.5 months from contract to occupancy), and why the biggest bottleneck he faces is bureaucracy.We talk about why the current permitting system is broke and why real reform means deleting entire layers of red tape, not just “streamlining” bad processes. We also talk about how much potential California has left to grow and what it would look like to house 1 billion people. We also explore the deeper political and cultural shift needed to spark a true pro-housing movement in California.Subscribe at californiafuturesociety.comYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVNumolJuKvqJScBEnhe8hQChapters00:00 – Intro05:29 – Cover’s Long-Term Vision08:23 – 1 Billion Californians14:01 – Cover and California’s Identity17:04 – Why Build in California?20:17 – LA Fire Rebuild24:17 – Policy Levers to Create More Housing32:14 – Building a Pro-Housing Movement35:00 – Hope for the Future of CaliforniaKeywordsCalifornia housing crisis, LA housing policy, permitting delays Los Angeles, ADU construction California, prefab homes California, modular homebuilding, Alexis Rivas Cover, Cover homes interview, California Forever project, Solano County new city, zoning reform California, housing innovation, homebuilding startups, pro-housing movement, building in California, factory-built homes, urban growth California, fast housing solutions, real estate development California, architecture and design innovation, housing affordability California, home permits LA, construction tech, future of home design

I sat down with Sheel Mohnot of Better Tomorrow Ventures to talk FinTech and whether a state that struggles to build can maintain its edge as the global leader of innovation. We get into why New York has an advantage in FinTech, his thoughts on SF and CA local politics, and some startup ideas he’d like to see in the world (even though they not make money!). Enjoy!Chapters 00:00 — Introduction and Personal Background 06:02 — The Vision of Better Tomorrow Ventures 08:23 — The Human Impact of FinTech 12:47 — Comparing FinTech Hubs: New York vs. San Francisco 18:54 — Challenges Facing California: Housing and Governance 26:44 — Startups You Want to See and is AI Washing 32:17 — Political Engagement and the Future of CaliforniaSubscribe to the Newsletter at californiafuturesociety.comKeywordsFinTech, Better Tomorrow Adventures, San Francisco, New York, technology, housing crisis, public transit, regulation, innovation, startup ideas, overlooked markets, AI, political engagement, talent retention, California future, network effects, simplifying complexity, human impact

Chapters00:00 Introduction04:43 The Importance of City Budgets08:10 Los Angeles Budget Challenges and Deficits14:08 The Fires on LA Budget21:35 Civic Engagement and Community Leadership30:20 Lessons From 40 Years of City Reform36:27 The Future of Local Government43:42 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsLos Angeles is facing a billion-dollar budget shortfall. But this isn’t a blip. It’s a structural crisis with lessons that apply to cities far beyond LA.In this episode, I sit down with Rick Cole, one of the most respected voices in local government. Over nearly four decades, he’s served as a mayor, city manager, and now Chief Deputy Controller for the City of LA. Few people have seen more from the inside.We talk about why LA’s budget crisis was both predictable and preventable, what most people get wrong about how city budgets actually work, and why short-term thinking is dragging our institutions toward decline. Rick explains how the city missed a once-in-a-generation opportunity around the 2028 Olympics, why infrastructure neglect is catching up to us, and what it would take to turn things around.At its core, this is a conversation about leadership, civic responsibility, and whether we’re willing to invest in the future. Rick doesn’t sugarcoat the problems, but he also hasn’t given up on what’s possible.If you care about California’s future, local democracy, or how cities actually function, you'll enjoy this conversation. Subscribe at californiafuturesociety.com to get more conversations like this.Keywordslocal government, California, budget crisis, civic engagement, city management, public policy, community responsibility, future of California, leadership, public-private partnerships

What if building better cities didn’t have to take decades?In this conversation, I sit down with Devon Zuegel of the Esmeralda Institute and Edge Esmeralda, to explore how a Solarpunk-inspired pop-up village in Northern California is creating new models for community, experimentation, and urban design.We talk about what it means to build spaces that are human-scale, how aesthetics shape culture, and why California’s future still holds enormous promise — if we’re willing to rethink how we build.Topics include:How Edge Esmeralda is shaping the design of a future permanent villageLessons learned from hosting 1,300 people in a pop-up cityThe real meaning of “solarpunk” (beyond the sci-fi aesthetics)Why California’s ‘resource curse’ demands bold experimentsBuilding communities that can evolve, not just endureIf you care about the future of California — or the future of cities anywhere — this is a conversation worth hearing.📍 Learn more about Edge Esmeralda: https://www.edgeesmeralda.com/📬 Subscribe and you could win a CFS hat!: https://www.californiafuturesociety.com/subscribeChapters00:00 Intro  08:43 What is Edge Esmeralda?  11:59 How Do You Prototype Community?  14:55 Lessons and Highlights from Year 1  22:46 Solarpunk and the Importance of Aesthetics  30:35 Come to Edge Esmeralda!  32:06 The California Identity  35:40 Escaping Stagnation in California  40:42 California's Resource Curse  43:20 Approaching Local Politics  49:44 Sources of Inspiration in CaliforniaKeywordsEdge Esmeralda, solar punk, California culture, community building, aesthetics, experimentation, local relationships, future of California, cultural identity, programming dynamics

I had so much fun talking with Sanjana Friedman from YC about the future of California and everything from SF politics to homelessness, AI, biotech, and the need for greater techno-optimism in the media. We dug into the gap between political narratives and real-world outcomes, the rise of PirateWires, and why emerging technologies could drive a new California technological renaissance. Enjoy!Sanjana on X: https://x.com/metaversehell?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5EauthorChapters00:00 Introduction07:30 The Craft of Writing and Starting to Cover San Francisco10:38 Major Themes in Her Work at PirateWires15:30 The Disconnect Between Nonprofits and Outcomes17:49 Why PirateWires' Tone Resonates27:02 The Power of Narrative in Tech29:34 How Tech Industries Should Shape Public Narratives30:57 Strategies for Telling Positive Tech Stories36:34 Political Implications of AI44:18 Biotech and Emerging Technologies Impact50:41 Optimism for California’s Tech RenaissanceKeywordsSanjana Friedman, California politics, San Francisco, Y Combinator, tech writing, PirateWires, homelessness, nonprofit effectiveness, techno-optimism, AI, biotech, media narratives

I sat down with Nolan Gray to unpack one of the biggest challenges facing California today: housing. We got into how the YIMBY movement has evolved, what’s happening on the ground in 2025, and why things still feel so stuck despite all the momentum.We talked CEQA (of course), permitting bottlenecks, and what actually needs to change to make building easier. But we also zoomed out to look at the cultural story behind California’s housing crisis, how the "California dream" has shifted, and what it’ll take to bring it back.If you’re curious about housing policy, want to understand how we got here, or are looking for ways to get involved, this episode’s for you.Follow Nolan's work here: https://mnolangray.substack.com/As always, don't forget to subscribe at californiafuturesociety.comChapters00:00 - Intro and The Evolution of the YIMBY Movement07:20 - CA YIMBY as a Basketball Program and the State of the Movement13:19 - CA YIMBY's 2025 Bills21:07 - CEQA26:17 - Permit Reform and Alexis Rivas32:34 - How Can People Help?36:52 - Where Can Californians Find Hope?40:42 - California Wasn't Always Expensive!50:31 - The Evolution of the California Dream01:02:29 - Advice for Aspiring Writers in PolicyKeywords: California housing crisis, YIMBY movement, housing legislation, CEQA, housing affordability, urban planning, housing policy, California dream, housing advocacy, legislative process

What does it take to change the politics of a city like San Francisco? In this episode, we talked to the founders of Grow SF, the leading and most innovative civic organization in San Francisco that has already had a tremendous impact on the city's politics. If you live in SF, make sure to check out their site to find ways to get involved!Chapters 00:00 - The Birth of GrowSF 03:10 - Quitting to All in on GrowSF 07:37 - Political Landscape and Opportunities 10:25 - The Gift of Perfect Opponents 12:12 - Data-driven Pragmatic Idealism 14:12 - Relying on Data and Building Trust 19:41 - Building a Talent Pipeline for Future Leaders 23:28 - How Has Your View of Politics Shifted? 29:30 - Common Sense Politics, Abundance, and a Long-Term Movement 35:54 - Visions for the Future of California 39:58 - Taking Action: Starting Your Own Movement

Casey Handmer, PhD is the founder of Terraform industries (https://terraformindustries.com/) who recently wrote about California (https://caseyhandmer.wordpress.com/2025/03/02/californias-path-to-redemption/)Find him on X (https://x.com/cjhandmer?lang=en)Get all my writing and interviews at californiafuturesociety.com00:00 Casey: The Gentleman Inventor 03:17 Casey's Path to California 04:55 "How Much Better Could California Be?"09:40 Is California's Status at Risk? 14:12 What Makes It Difficult to Build in California?17:51 Why Nothing Works and Broken Political Incentives23:25 People Aren't Evil - Large Orgs are Inefficient26:50 Does Scaling Require Leaving California? 31:30 California's Manufacturing Legacy 33:27 Casey's Unique Skill of Making Sci-Fi Real36:40 Alchemy38:48 A Vision for Transforming the Salton Sea 46:07 If Casey Was CA's Energy Abundance Czar48:45 Inspiring the Next Generation of Innovators

It's our first episode! I'm talking with Cameron Wiese, the founder of the World's Fair Company to talk about the future of California, the historical impact of past World's Fairs, and what it takes to get people excited about the future.00:00 - Intro 00:54 - The Role of World's Fairs 01:50 - 3 Ingredients Required to Get People Excited About the Future04:48 - The Importance of Stories 09:18 - Solving the Problem of Fractured Realities 12:53 - People Want to Share Inspiring Moments 14:31 - How Do You Get Builders Excited About the Future of California? 18:34 - Streets for All, GrowSF, and Reformers We Admire 21:14 - The California Dream23:09 - How Do You Make Abundance Tangible? 26:46 - Divide Between the World of Atoms and Bits 30:26 - Strengthening Public Trust in Innovation 34:11 - AI and the Future: Transforming Lives and Industries 37:15 - Dreaming Big: The Future of California and Beyond