1 00:00:15,076 --> 00:00:24,476 Speaker 1: Pushkin Solvable listeners, I want to introduce you to Ronald 2 00:00:24,556 --> 00:00:27,596 Speaker 1: Young Junior. You might be familiar with his name from 3 00:00:27,596 --> 00:00:31,996 Speaker 1: other work in podcasting, leading shows like Time Well Spent 4 00:00:32,276 --> 00:00:35,956 Speaker 1: and Leaving the Theater. He's a sometimes guest contributor around 5 00:00:36,076 --> 00:00:40,116 Speaker 1: NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour. We are really excited to 6 00:00:40,156 --> 00:00:43,036 Speaker 1: make it official that Ronald is going to be the 7 00:00:43,076 --> 00:00:46,196 Speaker 1: newest host of Solvable. Thank you, thank you for having me. 8 00:00:46,236 --> 00:00:48,916 Speaker 1: I'm so so excited to be here so publicly on 9 00:00:48,996 --> 00:00:55,236 Speaker 1: the team. Believe it or not, Hosting Solvable is not 10 00:00:55,316 --> 00:00:58,916 Speaker 1: my main job. My main job is being CEO of 11 00:00:58,956 --> 00:01:03,836 Speaker 1: Pushkin and Pushkin. Over the last year in Lockdown has 12 00:01:03,876 --> 00:01:06,876 Speaker 1: like doubled in size. We have almost fifty people now 13 00:01:07,316 --> 00:01:10,596 Speaker 1: and it's exciting. There's a lot going on, but it's 14 00:01:10,636 --> 00:01:13,396 Speaker 1: sort of crowded out the time that I like to 15 00:01:13,436 --> 00:01:18,156 Speaker 1: spend preparing and figuring out guests. And also, I'm not 16 00:01:18,236 --> 00:01:20,356 Speaker 1: really a host. I don't know if you noticed that 17 00:01:20,596 --> 00:01:24,476 Speaker 1: I think trained. I'm an untrained to host. I have 18 00:01:24,636 --> 00:01:28,476 Speaker 1: certain host qualities, mainly that I'm really interested in talking 19 00:01:28,516 --> 00:01:31,116 Speaker 1: to the guests on the show, and I have a 20 00:01:31,116 --> 00:01:34,436 Speaker 1: lot of drive to learn, But I don't have that 21 00:01:34,836 --> 00:01:38,596 Speaker 1: quality of hostliness which I hear in your voice, and 22 00:01:39,036 --> 00:01:42,196 Speaker 1: I really want to know how that's done. Well. First 23 00:01:42,236 --> 00:01:44,236 Speaker 1: of all, I don't know if that's that's the message 24 00:01:44,236 --> 00:01:47,476 Speaker 1: I want to be saying, Like we got host Steven 25 00:01:47,556 --> 00:01:51,996 Speaker 1: Kosterson coming on host Oar show. No, I don't mean though, 26 00:01:52,276 --> 00:01:54,236 Speaker 1: you know, I've always found it easy to talk to people. 27 00:01:54,556 --> 00:01:56,836 Speaker 1: I've always found it easy to connect with folks and 28 00:01:57,516 --> 00:02:00,196 Speaker 1: ask questions that I'm curious about, and mostly because as 29 00:02:00,236 --> 00:02:03,396 Speaker 1: a child I was always encouraged to ask questions, whether 30 00:02:03,396 --> 00:02:06,316 Speaker 1: it was to friends, the families, to teachers, and I 31 00:02:06,396 --> 00:02:09,196 Speaker 1: think that's what helps with being a good host and 32 00:02:09,356 --> 00:02:11,316 Speaker 1: with conducting good interviews, which you do a great job of. 33 00:02:11,836 --> 00:02:13,476 Speaker 1: Well thank you, Ronald, But yeah, no, I think that 34 00:02:13,676 --> 00:02:16,596 Speaker 1: just that basic quality of curiosity. You know, if you 35 00:02:17,036 --> 00:02:18,836 Speaker 1: if you don't want to know, you can't read someone 36 00:02:18,916 --> 00:02:21,836 Speaker 1: else's questions. I mean, the producers on the show do 37 00:02:21,956 --> 00:02:24,276 Speaker 1: suggest a lot of great questions for us, but ultimately 38 00:02:24,596 --> 00:02:26,396 Speaker 1: you ask the ones that are your questions, that are 39 00:02:26,396 --> 00:02:28,636 Speaker 1: the things you want to know. Yes, it's funny because, 40 00:02:28,676 --> 00:02:31,356 Speaker 1: like you know, working with the Solvable team, it certainly 41 00:02:31,556 --> 00:02:33,396 Speaker 1: is a team effort. But I think what makes a 42 00:02:33,436 --> 00:02:35,756 Speaker 1: good host, And what makes a good interviewer is the 43 00:02:35,796 --> 00:02:38,916 Speaker 1: ability to read the conversation and to know when it 44 00:02:39,036 --> 00:02:40,956 Speaker 1: needs to take a turn, when it's about the pivot, 45 00:02:41,276 --> 00:02:45,356 Speaker 1: or when your curiosity might push the interviewee a little 46 00:02:45,436 --> 00:02:47,756 Speaker 1: deeper into their subject matter and even make them more 47 00:02:47,796 --> 00:02:50,356 Speaker 1: comfortable and ready to answer more questions as they go. 48 00:02:50,476 --> 00:02:52,476 Speaker 1: So and I really enjoy doing that. So this is 49 00:02:52,516 --> 00:02:54,716 Speaker 1: a very exciting role for me. You do do something, 50 00:02:54,756 --> 00:02:56,996 Speaker 1: I mean, since we're on this topic, you know, I 51 00:02:57,076 --> 00:03:00,196 Speaker 1: do think being a really good host goes beyond just 52 00:03:00,436 --> 00:03:03,196 Speaker 1: the flow of the conversation asking the right questions. There's 53 00:03:03,236 --> 00:03:07,236 Speaker 1: something about creating this environment, this kind of comfort, and 54 00:03:07,316 --> 00:03:09,476 Speaker 1: even this sense of place. And here is what I 55 00:03:09,556 --> 00:03:11,516 Speaker 1: don't feel that I really know how to do. But 56 00:03:11,596 --> 00:03:13,476 Speaker 1: I hear in your voice, you know, and a lot 57 00:03:13,556 --> 00:03:16,636 Speaker 1: of the people who are just really good hosts of shows, 58 00:03:16,796 --> 00:03:18,996 Speaker 1: Terry Gross, you know, you just feel like you're at 59 00:03:19,076 --> 00:03:22,796 Speaker 1: her place. Yeah, like you're in her world, and you know, 60 00:03:22,836 --> 00:03:25,876 Speaker 1: and the guest is coming into her world, and you 61 00:03:26,036 --> 00:03:29,116 Speaker 1: feel as a listener, you're made to feel welcome and 62 00:03:29,276 --> 00:03:32,396 Speaker 1: comfortable there. How do you do that, Ronald? You know, 63 00:03:32,516 --> 00:03:34,076 Speaker 1: I wish I could say there was a trick. I 64 00:03:34,116 --> 00:03:35,636 Speaker 1: wish I could tell you, hey, do this thing and 65 00:03:35,716 --> 00:03:37,756 Speaker 1: this will this will work. But for me, it's just 66 00:03:37,956 --> 00:03:41,756 Speaker 1: it's hospitality. It's really being genuinely interested in what they 67 00:03:41,836 --> 00:03:44,676 Speaker 1: have to say. It's paying attention to them, not necessarily 68 00:03:44,796 --> 00:03:46,876 Speaker 1: thinking so far ahead that you can't be president in 69 00:03:46,916 --> 00:03:50,796 Speaker 1: the conversation, creating that warm sense of environment. It really 70 00:03:50,876 --> 00:03:54,276 Speaker 1: comes from like a genuine place inside people. And I 71 00:03:54,356 --> 00:03:55,796 Speaker 1: think most people that talk to you will tell you 72 00:03:56,676 --> 00:03:58,556 Speaker 1: that this is who I am all the time. So 73 00:03:58,796 --> 00:04:01,756 Speaker 1: it makes it easier for me to just bring this 74 00:04:01,956 --> 00:04:04,796 Speaker 1: with me to a hostly role, whereas some people I 75 00:04:04,876 --> 00:04:07,316 Speaker 1: think are very good at being a host, and then 76 00:04:07,676 --> 00:04:09,396 Speaker 1: you know in the rest of their lives are not 77 00:04:09,596 --> 00:04:12,756 Speaker 1: nearly as hospitable or friendly. And I can't say anything 78 00:04:12,796 --> 00:04:16,396 Speaker 1: about Terry Gross, but I know that good host is 79 00:04:16,476 --> 00:04:19,276 Speaker 1: being able to create that sense of hospitality in the 80 00:04:19,356 --> 00:04:21,796 Speaker 1: conversation that they're having in that moment. Yeah, I mean, 81 00:04:21,836 --> 00:04:25,796 Speaker 1: I think of the great hosts of my childhood, Dick Cabot, 82 00:04:26,196 --> 00:04:29,996 Speaker 1: who was on TV obviously long before your time, but 83 00:04:30,356 --> 00:04:33,116 Speaker 1: back in the days before cable when there are only 84 00:04:33,156 --> 00:04:36,316 Speaker 1: a few channels every night, Dick Cabot was having these 85 00:04:36,396 --> 00:04:40,356 Speaker 1: interesting people on his show, and he's charming, he's charmed 86 00:04:40,396 --> 00:04:42,716 Speaker 1: by the gas and a lot of what he's trying 87 00:04:42,716 --> 00:04:47,276 Speaker 1: to do is, of course, just inject wisecracks. I've got 88 00:04:47,316 --> 00:04:49,676 Speaker 1: a clip here that's a good example of that. It's 89 00:04:50,076 --> 00:04:53,396 Speaker 1: Cabot talking to the comedian Don Rickles. I know it's 90 00:04:53,396 --> 00:04:55,196 Speaker 1: hard for you to be serious, but it is. I 91 00:04:55,236 --> 00:04:57,716 Speaker 1: think people don't admit that deep down inside. If I 92 00:04:57,836 --> 00:04:59,436 Speaker 1: may be serious for a moment, that you do something 93 00:04:59,516 --> 00:05:02,276 Speaker 1: on the stage that all of us would like to 94 00:05:02,396 --> 00:05:06,876 Speaker 1: do if we had no class. The other host I 95 00:05:06,956 --> 00:05:08,756 Speaker 1: think about all the time as I grew up listening 96 00:05:09,156 --> 00:05:12,236 Speaker 1: the radio growing up in Chicago, the Studs Turcle here, 97 00:05:12,316 --> 00:05:15,676 Speaker 1: just as one example is Studs Turkle interviewing Muhammad Ali 98 00:05:15,756 --> 00:05:18,596 Speaker 1: in nineteen seventy five. Why do you think it is? 99 00:05:19,476 --> 00:05:22,796 Speaker 1: And Ohish in this particular theater, so many different people 100 00:05:22,836 --> 00:05:26,916 Speaker 1: are why were they rooting for you the outsider? Well, 101 00:05:27,956 --> 00:05:30,636 Speaker 1: I think the mass is root for me because they're scuffling. 102 00:05:31,396 --> 00:05:34,156 Speaker 1: They've been a persecuted and they figure them about the 103 00:05:34,716 --> 00:05:41,996 Speaker 1: haigh taxes and whatever. They've underdogs. People are basically underdogs 104 00:05:42,036 --> 00:05:44,876 Speaker 1: as the whole. And the things that I say from 105 00:05:44,916 --> 00:05:48,756 Speaker 1: black mind people and the freedom involved people and the 106 00:05:48,836 --> 00:05:50,796 Speaker 1: way I speak out in the title that they have 107 00:05:51,076 --> 00:05:53,756 Speaker 1: and the and I don't let this stop me from 108 00:05:53,916 --> 00:05:57,356 Speaker 1: recognizing everyday man, I think this is what they're wanting, 109 00:05:57,356 --> 00:05:59,476 Speaker 1: whether they'd be black or white. The mass of people 110 00:05:59,516 --> 00:06:02,556 Speaker 1: are hard working people. The amazing thing about Studs Tircle, 111 00:06:02,596 --> 00:06:05,356 Speaker 1: I mean Studs Turcle. He was so good at talking 112 00:06:05,476 --> 00:06:08,276 Speaker 1: to anybody, you know, on a day to day He 113 00:06:08,356 --> 00:06:12,276 Speaker 1: would have you know, a janitor, and then he would 114 00:06:12,316 --> 00:06:15,396 Speaker 1: have you know, an opera singer, and then he would 115 00:06:15,476 --> 00:06:20,036 Speaker 1: have you know, a former vice president or politician, and 116 00:06:20,236 --> 00:06:21,876 Speaker 1: he just part of what was great about him was 117 00:06:21,956 --> 00:06:25,196 Speaker 1: he would talk to everybody the same way. Yeah, I think. 118 00:06:25,436 --> 00:06:27,796 Speaker 1: I mean, there's a sense of empathy that comes with 119 00:06:27,916 --> 00:06:30,276 Speaker 1: no matter who's in the room. It should be able 120 00:06:30,316 --> 00:06:32,836 Speaker 1: to be extended to anyone who's sitting opposite from you, 121 00:06:33,116 --> 00:06:35,396 Speaker 1: whether they be the janitor or the president of the 122 00:06:35,516 --> 00:06:38,476 Speaker 1: United States. The other thing is not being afraid to 123 00:06:38,636 --> 00:06:41,756 Speaker 1: ask even a question that may not sound as smart 124 00:06:41,756 --> 00:06:44,236 Speaker 1: as you think it does. I think Larry King once said, um, 125 00:06:44,556 --> 00:06:46,476 Speaker 1: he was on a was on he was talking to 126 00:06:46,596 --> 00:06:49,276 Speaker 1: Jesse Thorne, my friend Herbie Cohen, who wrote, you could 127 00:06:49,316 --> 00:06:53,756 Speaker 1: negotiate anything. We grew up together. He says to me, Larry, 128 00:06:53,836 --> 00:06:58,876 Speaker 1: A secret of your success because you're dumb, and dumb 129 00:06:59,076 --> 00:07:02,356 Speaker 1: is the great road to success because you're not afraid 130 00:07:02,436 --> 00:07:06,836 Speaker 1: to say I don't know, tell me help me. That's 131 00:07:06,876 --> 00:07:09,596 Speaker 1: a lot of my interviews. Help help me. That you're 132 00:07:10,356 --> 00:07:14,476 Speaker 1: you're a brain surg You've got brain surgery tomorrow morning. 133 00:07:15,516 --> 00:07:19,396 Speaker 1: Think about it tonight when you go in, do you 134 00:07:19,516 --> 00:07:22,356 Speaker 1: check your hands if they're steady? And so then all 135 00:07:22,396 --> 00:07:24,756 Speaker 1: of a sudden you have this very poignant moment because 136 00:07:24,876 --> 00:07:27,316 Speaker 1: Larry King asked a question that it's like, wow, I 137 00:07:27,356 --> 00:07:29,076 Speaker 1: would have and even me, I was sitting there, I 138 00:07:29,116 --> 00:07:30,756 Speaker 1: was like, Ronald, do you do I do that? I 139 00:07:30,836 --> 00:07:33,356 Speaker 1: was like, I want to make sure that I do that. 140 00:07:33,556 --> 00:07:35,676 Speaker 1: But having that empathy allows you to just be in 141 00:07:35,796 --> 00:07:37,476 Speaker 1: the seat across from you, like I said, whether it's 142 00:07:37,516 --> 00:07:40,116 Speaker 1: the janitor or the president of the United States. Yeah. 143 00:07:40,476 --> 00:07:43,196 Speaker 1: So for this show, you know, we do interviews with 144 00:07:43,356 --> 00:07:48,436 Speaker 1: a particular kind of focus. How is problem solving and 145 00:07:48,556 --> 00:07:52,676 Speaker 1: how are people who have ideas about solving problems making 146 00:07:52,716 --> 00:07:55,396 Speaker 1: the world better incapable of making the world better? And 147 00:07:55,556 --> 00:07:57,796 Speaker 1: that's the thing that that can be a big range 148 00:07:57,876 --> 00:08:00,396 Speaker 1: of stuff. Yeah, if you look out there, Let's say 149 00:08:00,396 --> 00:08:02,236 Speaker 1: you're your house is near the water, and you look 150 00:08:02,276 --> 00:08:03,876 Speaker 1: out there and you're just like, the water seems to 151 00:08:03,916 --> 00:08:06,236 Speaker 1: be creeping closer and closer. And if you're only thinking 152 00:08:06,276 --> 00:08:08,356 Speaker 1: about what's going to happen when the water reaches your 153 00:08:08,396 --> 00:08:10,556 Speaker 1: house and all the horrible things that can happen as 154 00:08:10,596 --> 00:08:13,276 Speaker 1: the water continues to rise and the flooding. When you 155 00:08:13,316 --> 00:08:15,276 Speaker 1: start to think about all that, it kind of changes 156 00:08:15,316 --> 00:08:18,156 Speaker 1: your posture versus if you think, how do we stop 157 00:08:18,196 --> 00:08:20,236 Speaker 1: the water, how do we get the people out? How 158 00:08:20,276 --> 00:08:22,356 Speaker 1: do we keep my house dry? And I think in 159 00:08:22,516 --> 00:08:26,036 Speaker 1: terms of this podcast, I like that it's it's pivoting 160 00:08:26,396 --> 00:08:29,036 Speaker 1: from us talking so much about what the issue is, 161 00:08:29,076 --> 00:08:31,476 Speaker 1: because in most cases we know what the issue is. 162 00:08:31,996 --> 00:08:34,076 Speaker 1: What we really need to know is what's the best 163 00:08:34,116 --> 00:08:37,516 Speaker 1: way forward. How can we like either neutralize whatever this 164 00:08:37,636 --> 00:08:40,116 Speaker 1: problem is or at least adjust our lives so that 165 00:08:40,236 --> 00:08:41,956 Speaker 1: the problem isn't what it is. Do we need to 166 00:08:41,996 --> 00:08:44,236 Speaker 1: build a bridge, maybe we need to build our houses higher, 167 00:08:44,436 --> 00:08:46,716 Speaker 1: whatever that means in order to get out of the water. 168 00:08:46,956 --> 00:08:48,476 Speaker 1: I think it gives a bit of optimism to the 169 00:08:48,516 --> 00:08:51,796 Speaker 1: world that I think is one necessary right now. It 170 00:08:51,996 --> 00:08:54,756 Speaker 1: is optimistic. I mean, it's looking at things that are 171 00:08:55,076 --> 00:09:00,116 Speaker 1: in many cases terrible. But the show always makes me 172 00:09:00,236 --> 00:09:04,316 Speaker 1: feel really good because the people we interview believe in 173 00:09:04,676 --> 00:09:07,396 Speaker 1: positive change in a very practical way. I mean not 174 00:09:07,556 --> 00:09:10,596 Speaker 1: just in a I have faith way, but I've looked 175 00:09:10,636 --> 00:09:15,116 Speaker 1: at this and I'm working on ameliorating this thing. Yes 176 00:09:15,196 --> 00:09:17,636 Speaker 1: it is. Yes, That's what makes me feel good about listening. 177 00:09:19,236 --> 00:09:21,556 Speaker 1: There's a lot of doomscrolling over the last year. We 178 00:09:21,596 --> 00:09:23,716 Speaker 1: talked about doomscrolling, which is when you're just looking at 179 00:09:23,756 --> 00:09:26,396 Speaker 1: your phone, just looking at all the headlines that have 180 00:09:26,476 --> 00:09:28,396 Speaker 1: to do with COVID, all the horrible things that are 181 00:09:28,396 --> 00:09:30,356 Speaker 1: happening with the election, all the horrible things that are 182 00:09:30,396 --> 00:09:34,796 Speaker 1: happening with the presidents or politics in general. We're just doomscrolling. 183 00:09:35,036 --> 00:09:38,316 Speaker 1: It feels good for someone to come with you with 184 00:09:38,476 --> 00:09:42,076 Speaker 1: a problem and a solution, or at least a proposed solution, 185 00:09:42,316 --> 00:09:45,076 Speaker 1: or saying we're working towards a solution for this problem. 186 00:09:45,316 --> 00:09:48,116 Speaker 1: It makes me look at the problem as temporary rather 187 00:09:48,196 --> 00:09:50,156 Speaker 1: than as something that's going to grow and overtake us. 188 00:09:50,436 --> 00:09:53,356 Speaker 1: And that just makes me feel really good. When you 189 00:09:53,436 --> 00:09:56,116 Speaker 1: step back and get the big picture of what's been 190 00:09:56,196 --> 00:10:01,916 Speaker 1: happening globally over the last forty years been tremendous human 191 00:10:01,996 --> 00:10:06,236 Speaker 1: progress and almost everything that counts. There are billions fewer 192 00:10:06,356 --> 00:10:08,956 Speaker 1: people living in extreme poverty, that is, you know, living 193 00:10:09,276 --> 00:10:13,276 Speaker 1: less than two dollars a day. Hunger has become fundamentally 194 00:10:13,316 --> 00:10:16,796 Speaker 1: a problem in conflict zones or where you have political breakdown. 195 00:10:16,876 --> 00:10:19,636 Speaker 1: You don't have areas of the world that are subject 196 00:10:19,676 --> 00:10:24,836 Speaker 1: to famine as kind of natural disaster. There are people 197 00:10:25,036 --> 00:10:28,516 Speaker 1: dying of various communical bold diseases. You know, despite the 198 00:10:28,596 --> 00:10:33,516 Speaker 1: pandemic this year, number is getting better. And I've tried 199 00:10:33,596 --> 00:10:39,396 Speaker 1: to find interviewees who recognize the progress we've made and 200 00:10:39,996 --> 00:10:42,836 Speaker 1: are focused on accelerating it or talking about how we 201 00:10:42,876 --> 00:10:44,996 Speaker 1: can extend it to other areas. I mean, it's going 202 00:10:45,076 --> 00:10:46,796 Speaker 1: to put us all in a different mindset to say 203 00:10:46,836 --> 00:10:48,956 Speaker 1: that how can we make it even better. I think 204 00:10:49,036 --> 00:10:50,836 Speaker 1: that's the spirit of the show and it's continuing in 205 00:10:50,876 --> 00:10:54,316 Speaker 1: the right direction of optimism. Ronald, our listeners are going 206 00:10:54,356 --> 00:10:56,676 Speaker 1: to get to know you over the coming weeks and months, 207 00:10:56,876 --> 00:10:59,436 Speaker 1: but I wanted to make it a little more personal 208 00:10:59,596 --> 00:11:03,476 Speaker 1: and ask you about yourself. And you know, we've frame 209 00:11:03,556 --> 00:11:06,836 Speaker 1: it to the extent you want around problem solving, but 210 00:11:07,036 --> 00:11:09,996 Speaker 1: tell us a little bit about your career and you 211 00:11:10,076 --> 00:11:12,756 Speaker 1: know what problems you've had to face. So shortly after 212 00:11:14,596 --> 00:11:18,316 Speaker 1: Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman, they had that incident where 213 00:11:18,356 --> 00:11:21,796 Speaker 1: George Zimmerman killed Trayvon Martin. I remember I was on 214 00:11:21,916 --> 00:11:24,196 Speaker 1: Facebook and I was getting into arguments all the time 215 00:11:24,236 --> 00:11:27,916 Speaker 1: with folks about racism, about you know, the rights of 216 00:11:28,036 --> 00:11:31,276 Speaker 1: people to take the shortcut through the alley without being shot, 217 00:11:31,396 --> 00:11:33,756 Speaker 1: like to think about I was thinking through all tho scenarios, 218 00:11:33,796 --> 00:11:35,756 Speaker 1: and I was getting into these arguments over and over again. 219 00:11:35,956 --> 00:11:38,316 Speaker 1: And there were several different Facebook discussions in which I 220 00:11:38,356 --> 00:11:40,956 Speaker 1: would post this long post. People would jump into comments. 221 00:11:41,116 --> 00:11:42,876 Speaker 1: I would argue with them in the comments. We'd go 222 00:11:42,916 --> 00:11:44,796 Speaker 1: back and forth, and then people would say, Ronald, you're 223 00:11:44,836 --> 00:11:47,516 Speaker 1: being rude, You're belittling people. This isn't right. Why do 224 00:11:47,596 --> 00:11:49,596 Speaker 1: you talk like this? And I'm like, no, I'm not. 225 00:11:49,876 --> 00:11:51,676 Speaker 1: I don't think you guys can hear my voice. Like 226 00:11:51,836 --> 00:11:53,916 Speaker 1: you guys, you're just seeing my words and you're not 227 00:11:54,396 --> 00:11:56,756 Speaker 1: You're not hearing my voice. So I thought, you know, 228 00:11:56,916 --> 00:11:59,356 Speaker 1: maybe it would be easier to have these discussions if 229 00:11:59,396 --> 00:12:01,676 Speaker 1: people could hear me. So as a result of that, 230 00:12:01,796 --> 00:12:04,316 Speaker 1: I started a web show called ten Minutes with Ronald 231 00:12:04,356 --> 00:12:05,756 Speaker 1: where I talked about it. She's like this, I talked 232 00:12:05,796 --> 00:12:07,356 Speaker 1: about it. She's like, raise, I'll tell you. And I 233 00:12:07,356 --> 00:12:09,596 Speaker 1: did old Facebook Live with Facebook Live or start. It's 234 00:12:09,596 --> 00:12:13,636 Speaker 1: not talking about issues of police brutality, politics, all that 235 00:12:13,796 --> 00:12:15,916 Speaker 1: talk about even movies that I liked. We talked about 236 00:12:15,956 --> 00:12:19,116 Speaker 1: all of that, and people really responded positively to that 237 00:12:19,316 --> 00:12:22,436 Speaker 1: because instead of reading my words, they could hear me. 238 00:12:23,156 --> 00:12:25,716 Speaker 1: That led to me starting my podcast Time Well Spent, 239 00:12:26,076 --> 00:12:28,156 Speaker 1: and it really it kind of pushed me down this 240 00:12:28,276 --> 00:12:31,716 Speaker 1: path of really being able to push these types of 241 00:12:31,756 --> 00:12:34,956 Speaker 1: transformative conversations that people are having in the comment section 242 00:12:35,076 --> 00:12:38,316 Speaker 1: on the internet with no empathy, with no tone, like 243 00:12:38,516 --> 00:12:40,676 Speaker 1: one whole. And I think that's one thing. We're striving 244 00:12:40,716 --> 00:12:44,956 Speaker 1: towards a world of communication where everything is written and 245 00:12:45,156 --> 00:12:48,636 Speaker 1: everything is in text form, and people think that that's effective, 246 00:12:48,676 --> 00:12:51,836 Speaker 1: and I'm like, there are scenarios in which that is effective. 247 00:12:52,116 --> 00:12:56,156 Speaker 1: But body language and tone are important. They're very, very important, 248 00:12:56,196 --> 00:12:58,516 Speaker 1: and when we take those out of a conversation, all 249 00:12:58,556 --> 00:13:01,476 Speaker 1: you're left with is the words, and in your mind, 250 00:13:01,876 --> 00:13:05,236 Speaker 1: your imagination places the tone and the body language in 251 00:13:05,316 --> 00:13:08,676 Speaker 1: the words. So even if Jacob you said me an 252 00:13:08,676 --> 00:13:10,996 Speaker 1: email for Pushkin, that's like Ronald, have a nice day, 253 00:13:11,036 --> 00:13:12,876 Speaker 1: and I'm like, well, don't talk to me like that. 254 00:13:12,956 --> 00:13:15,876 Speaker 1: They'll tell me what you might have said it, like, hey, 255 00:13:15,956 --> 00:13:17,836 Speaker 1: ro I don't have a nice day. But I couldn't 256 00:13:17,876 --> 00:13:20,436 Speaker 1: see that. So I think this isn't necessarily a problem 257 00:13:20,516 --> 00:13:23,036 Speaker 1: that I've solved, But at least for myself, what I'm 258 00:13:23,036 --> 00:13:25,516 Speaker 1: working on solving is being able to present myself in 259 00:13:25,556 --> 00:13:27,916 Speaker 1: a way where people could hear me see that I'm smiling, 260 00:13:28,036 --> 00:13:30,236 Speaker 1: see that I'm upset, see that I'm sad, all of 261 00:13:30,356 --> 00:13:33,196 Speaker 1: that through my tone based on the media that I'm 262 00:13:33,236 --> 00:13:36,436 Speaker 1: putting forth, whether that being podcast form, video form, or 263 00:13:36,636 --> 00:13:39,196 Speaker 1: whatever other form. But most of the work that I 264 00:13:39,316 --> 00:13:41,116 Speaker 1: do is all has to do with being able to 265 00:13:41,556 --> 00:13:44,316 Speaker 1: tell people's stories, talk to people on a personal level, 266 00:13:44,396 --> 00:13:46,356 Speaker 1: talk to people one on one, or at least, you know, 267 00:13:46,516 --> 00:13:49,996 Speaker 1: give them a piece of work from a podcast. The 268 00:13:50,036 --> 00:13:52,996 Speaker 1: other thing what was interested to ask you is what 269 00:13:53,276 --> 00:13:57,556 Speaker 1: you think the biggest or most interesting problems are right now? 270 00:13:57,756 --> 00:13:59,396 Speaker 1: You know, we will have a meeting every week and 271 00:13:59,516 --> 00:14:02,156 Speaker 1: try to come up with ideas and guests for the show, 272 00:14:02,756 --> 00:14:06,516 Speaker 1: and I'm interested in what you're interested in, because inevitably 273 00:14:06,596 --> 00:14:09,156 Speaker 1: what the host cares about is going to drive a 274 00:14:09,236 --> 00:14:14,876 Speaker 1: lot of who we hear from unsolvable. I honestly, for me, 275 00:14:15,116 --> 00:14:17,996 Speaker 1: the biggest problem that I'll always loop back to will 276 00:14:18,036 --> 00:14:21,716 Speaker 1: always be around racism, and it's hard to get away 277 00:14:21,796 --> 00:14:24,956 Speaker 1: from it because the more I read about history, the 278 00:14:25,076 --> 00:14:27,076 Speaker 1: more I look at the history of the United States 279 00:14:27,996 --> 00:14:30,356 Speaker 1: from the founding to now, and the more I think 280 00:14:30,396 --> 00:14:33,116 Speaker 1: about all of the stories that have been told over 281 00:14:33,156 --> 00:14:35,236 Speaker 1: the years, some that have been forgotten, some that have 282 00:14:35,356 --> 00:14:38,916 Speaker 1: just recently been brought to light, it makes me realize 283 00:14:38,956 --> 00:14:42,996 Speaker 1: that we've really missed the mark on really bringing the 284 00:14:43,076 --> 00:14:47,036 Speaker 1: country together in a way that is actually meaningful and intentional. 285 00:14:47,636 --> 00:14:50,556 Speaker 1: And I don't know, I don't know how to solve it, 286 00:14:50,676 --> 00:14:52,876 Speaker 1: because I think for a lot of people, they just 287 00:14:53,036 --> 00:14:57,476 Speaker 1: think racism is solved by diversifying a room. Racism is 288 00:14:57,556 --> 00:15:01,556 Speaker 1: solved by, you know, acknowledging some of the hurt and 289 00:15:01,716 --> 00:15:04,636 Speaker 1: racism is solved by those things. But to me, I 290 00:15:04,676 --> 00:15:07,396 Speaker 1: think it's a multifaceted solution. I think this is another 291 00:15:07,436 --> 00:15:10,356 Speaker 1: one of those thematic problems that has like many problems 292 00:15:10,476 --> 00:15:13,276 Speaker 1: underneath that each need to be solved before we can 293 00:15:13,396 --> 00:15:16,836 Speaker 1: really get to a place of harmony in the country 294 00:15:16,956 --> 00:15:21,476 Speaker 1: and in the world. And it doesn't necessarily keep me 295 00:15:21,556 --> 00:15:24,236 Speaker 1: up at night anymore. I mean, depending on what night, 296 00:15:24,316 --> 00:15:27,556 Speaker 1: maybe it does, but it doesn't necessarily keep me up 297 00:15:27,636 --> 00:15:30,276 Speaker 1: all the time. But it's something that I constantly think about, 298 00:15:30,316 --> 00:15:33,236 Speaker 1: where I say, I know we're not there yet. I 299 00:15:33,596 --> 00:15:35,516 Speaker 1: think we're heading in the right direction. A lot of 300 00:15:35,516 --> 00:15:38,476 Speaker 1: people are acknowledging it. But I don't necessarily want to 301 00:15:38,516 --> 00:15:40,716 Speaker 1: pivot this show to be in like solve racism right now, 302 00:15:41,316 --> 00:15:43,516 Speaker 1: because I don't think it's that simple. But it is 303 00:15:43,596 --> 00:15:46,636 Speaker 1: something that I think, like, what are the aspects of 304 00:15:46,716 --> 00:15:49,436 Speaker 1: which we could be doing a better job and pushing 305 00:15:49,556 --> 00:15:54,796 Speaker 1: even more forward beyond kind of the obvious initiatives or 306 00:15:54,876 --> 00:15:58,476 Speaker 1: the splashy initiatives that we do. So yeah, that's kind 307 00:15:58,476 --> 00:16:00,036 Speaker 1: of what I think about a lot. And I would 308 00:16:00,076 --> 00:16:01,956 Speaker 1: love to hear from the listeners. I would love to 309 00:16:02,036 --> 00:16:04,796 Speaker 1: know what problems keep y'all up at night. What are 310 00:16:04,876 --> 00:16:07,836 Speaker 1: you guys thinking about? What would you like to see solved? 311 00:16:08,236 --> 00:16:12,036 Speaker 1: Go to Twitter at pushkin pods hashtag solvable and tell 312 00:16:12,116 --> 00:16:14,076 Speaker 1: us the type of problems that you'd love to hear 313 00:16:14,156 --> 00:16:16,636 Speaker 1: us talk about solving I'm really glad you said that, Ronald, 314 00:16:16,676 --> 00:16:19,676 Speaker 1: because we've always thought of this is a really participatory show. 315 00:16:19,836 --> 00:16:23,036 Speaker 1: You know, we usually and by asking our guest what 316 00:16:23,276 --> 00:16:25,476 Speaker 1: listeners can do if they want to get involved in 317 00:16:25,596 --> 00:16:28,556 Speaker 1: solving the problem we're talking about. And you have your 318 00:16:28,596 --> 00:16:30,796 Speaker 1: list of problems you're interested in. I have my list 319 00:16:30,876 --> 00:16:32,756 Speaker 1: of problems I've been interested in. We get a ton 320 00:16:32,796 --> 00:16:36,636 Speaker 1: of great ideas from our producers, but we really want 321 00:16:36,676 --> 00:16:39,676 Speaker 1: to know what listeners think we should be doing, both 322 00:16:39,756 --> 00:16:43,556 Speaker 1: specific guests and specific problems. And I'm really glad you're here. 323 00:16:44,036 --> 00:16:47,076 Speaker 1: I'm excited now to be someone who's listening to the 324 00:16:47,156 --> 00:16:49,876 Speaker 1: show with what you're going to do with it. I 325 00:16:50,076 --> 00:16:52,716 Speaker 1: appreciate you guys bringing me on. I'm really excited to 326 00:16:52,756 --> 00:16:54,276 Speaker 1: be a part of the team, and I'm excited to 327 00:16:54,276 --> 00:16:55,996 Speaker 1: see where we go, Like I mean, this is gonna 328 00:16:55,996 --> 00:16:58,316 Speaker 1: be We're we're gonna have a good year, all right, 329 00:16:58,436 --> 00:17:02,716 Speaker 1: there's that optimism. Thank you, Ronald, Thank you, Jacob. I 330 00:17:02,756 --> 00:17:08,196 Speaker 1: appreciate you. Solvable Senior producer is Jostin Fry. Booking by 331 00:17:08,276 --> 00:17:12,236 Speaker 1: Lisa Dodd, Research by David Jah. Our Managing producer is 332 00:17:12,276 --> 00:17:16,316 Speaker 1: Sasha Matthias and Meil LaBelle is the executive producer. If 333 00:17:16,356 --> 00:17:19,156 Speaker 1: you like the show, please remember to share, rate, and review. 334 00:17:19,276 --> 00:17:21,916 Speaker 1: It really helps us get the word out. You can 335 00:17:21,996 --> 00:17:25,676 Speaker 1: find Pushkin podcasts wherever you listen, including on the iHeartRadio 336 00:17:25,756 --> 00:17:30,476 Speaker 1: app and Apple podcast. I'm Jacob Weisberg and I'm Ronald 337 00:17:30,516 --> 00:17:32,716 Speaker 1: Young Jr. Talk to you more next week.