Best Marshall Toplansky Podcasts (2024)

1
Why Latino Success Matters in California : New Study Reveals | Soledad Ursua | Gloria Romero | Marshall Toplansky 36:37

20d ago36:37

36:37

“Unfortunately, Latinos do worse than their Latino counterparts in other states. It’s largely due to a failing public educational system, and also due to increased regulation, mostly environmental.” Siyamak sits down with Soledad Ursua, a lead author of ‘El Futuro es Latino’, conducted with Chapman University, which looks at how Latinos are doing i…

1
Navigating South Africa's Political and Economic Changes 28:36

7d ago28:36

28:36

What if South Africa could become the next economic powerhouse? In this compelling episode of the Feudal Future Podcast, we're joined by structural engineer Hügo Krüger and analyst Bheki Mahlobo to unpack South Africa's political upheaval and its road ahead. For the first time since 1994, the African National Congress (ANC) has lost its majority, l…

1
How California Makes It Illegal to Fight Crime: Sheriff Chad Bianco 49:42

21d ago49:42

49:42

“We are hearing that the crime statistics are up a little bit. That’s what the public has been led to believe. I’m in my 31st year right now. Crime is very much higher than what it was in the past. We’re in a weird spot. It’s scary how we’ve been misled and how we’ve been lied to about these bills that they want passed.” Siyamak sits down with Chad…

1
Los Angeles Jail Turns Into the World’s Largest Homeless Shelter | Nathan Hochman 42:24

21d ago42:24

42:24

“There were 17 gangs in Los Angeles that were engaged in follow-home robberies. So you could rape an unconscious woman, and the law considers that a non-violent, non-serious offense. You can engage in human trafficking of someone 18 or older, a non-violent, non-serious offense, which has made LA County US capital of human trafficking. It changes th…

1
California Cities Facing Cartel Style Illegal Growers in Neighborhoods | David Welch | Jake Fisher 44:05

22d ago44:05

44:05

“We’ve seen people take over homes and warehouses to cultivate marijuana. People probably wouldn’t know the difference; it looks like a residential house. This is a very, very high level of sophisticated organized networks. It’s dangerous in the sense that it’s really a threat. These operations are worth a lot of money. They will do what’s necessar…

1
Los Angeles Store Owner Stopped Shoplifters Despite 81% Increase in Shoplifting | Fraser Ross 27:49

25d ago27:49

27:49

“We were just getting fed up. Our security bill was $150,000 last year. We never had that. The police aren’t going to come. So I blast someone on my Instagram, and they freak out. Very wealthy people start shoplifting. They realize, ‘Well, if everyone else can do it, and I’m paying taxes and they’re not getting arrested, so I’ll do it, there’s no c…

1
Empowering California's Future: The Latino Workforce and Socio-Economic Challenges 1:55:43

1M ago1:55:43

1:55:43

Unlock the transformative potential of California’s future as we uncover the influential role of the Latino population in our latest Feudal Future Podcast episode. With Latinos projected to make up 78% of all new U.S. workers by 2030, their impact on the state's socio-economic landscape is monumental. Join us and our distinguished guests, Soledad U…

1
Why is California’s Affordable Housing Mandate Becoming Controversial? | James Ardaiz 55:40

1M ago55:40

55:40

“I don’t think the Affordable Housing Act is about affordable housing at all. What it really is, is just an aspect of socialism. Carmel is very densely populated. It’s one square mile. There’s really no spot to put them other than taking away from existing infrastructure.” Siyamak sits down with James Ardaiz, a retired California appellate judge an…

1
Santa Monica Vice Mayor Explains How Cancel Culture Is Impacting the City | Lana Negrete 51:58

1M ago51:58

51:58

“We have a huge opioid crisis on our hands, we have a huge mental health crisis. But we’re so focused on ideology versus practicality and common sense, and who’s in what political group and who’s saying it, that we haven’t solved the problem. Organizations have spent tens of thousands of dollars to spread toxic, negative information about candidate…

1
Former Supervisor’s Honest Take on Fixing San Francisco | Tony Hall 58:10

1M ago58:10

58:10

“San Francisco was a working little town with an enormous cash flow that was right for the boys to move in and take it over. It was a tourist town, within a business town, within a high real estate town, unlike any other city in America. It never had a negative cash flow. This is why the boys came in and took it over.” Siyamak sits down with former…

1
California Owes $55 Billion on Unemployment Benefits | Will Swaim 45:52

1M ago45:52

45:52

“In the COVID era people ended up on unemployment and the federal government send out about $100 billion to California and a huge amount of it, about $55 billion, was lost to criminal gang. Fraudster show up from all over the world. We’re talking about international crime, gangs, people in California prisons and jails.” Siyamak sits down with Willi…

1
Understanding California's Recent Financial Deficit 13:50

1M ago13:50

13:50

Discover the unexpected fiscal twists and turns as California confronts its financial future, with insights from Steve Malanga of the Manhattan Institute and ex-Orange County Treasurer John Moorlach. As your guides, we, Marshall Toplansky and Joel Kotkin, promise to lead you through a landscape shaped by COVID-19 aftershocks, federal aid windfalls,…

1
Why Californians Are Losing Their Home Insurance | Rex Frazier 57:23

2M ago57:23

57:23

“Too many people are going to the FAIR Plan. Nobody should want to be in the FAIR Plan; it’s meant to be a temporary market of last resort. It’s an unvirtuous cycle. Under the law, any deficiency that the FAIR Plan has, and the amount of money it has to pay claims, it just turns around to the admitted insurance companies. That has huge cascading im…

1
Top Advisor to Los Angeles District Attorney Charged With 11 Felonies | Full Story | Alex Villanueva 42:23

2M ago42:23

42:23

“She destroyed hundreds of deputies’ careers; they used to call her the ‘badge collector.’ The effect of that was catastrophic to the organization. People started leaving in droves. No one wanted to be a deputy sheriff, and they started shrinking.” Siyamak sits down with Alex Villanueva, former sheriff of Los Angeles County. There has been an unpre…

1
LA Doctor Explains Why Homelessness Is Growing in the City | Houman Hemmati 36:44

2M ago36:44

36:44

“We’re talking about homeless housing located on some of the most expensive land on Earth, occupying what used to be a much-needed parking garage, at a cost of $2 million per unit. The value of that land was around $120 to $150 million. If they’re building 120 units on there, that’s a million dollars per unit of just land value, taxpayer land value…

1
Reviving U.S. Semiconductor Supremacy: Education, Reshoring, and Ohio's Tech Renaissance 44:10

2M ago44:10

44:10

Unlock the secrets behind the United States reclaiming its semiconductor sovereignty in the latest Feudal Future Podcast episode. Dr. John Berry and Ashwin Rangan, two trailblazers in the tech and education sectors, join us to dissect the urgent need for reshoring this pivotal industry. You'll gain exclusive insights into the CHIPS Act's role in th…

1
LA Residents Take up Homelessness Clean up by Themselves 26:40

2M ago26:40

26:40

“What we should understand about Los Angeles is that everybody complains about homelessness. Online, on Twitter, on Nextdoor... Everyone has something to say. But very few people have taken it upon themselves to try to push things along and find solutions where the city or the county falls short.” Siyamak sits down with Beige Luciano-Adams, the Epo…

1
Former Sheriff Explains Why Californians Are Mobilizing to Change Prop 47 | John McGinness 55:41

2M ago55:41

55:41

“You can literally walk into a retail store every single day of the year and steal $949 worth of merchandise and you will never do a minute in jail. No compounding consequence. The voters I believed were duped because the summary and title said it was the Safe Neighborhoods and Safe Schools Act. So that’s all you see in this Prop 47.” Siyamak sits …

1
What’s Happening on the San Diego Border? First-Hand Account | Cory Gautereaux 49:00

2M ago49:00

49:00

“I constantly see these white buses coming down full of illegal immigrants who are claiming asylum. Not through the port of entry—they’re coming through the fence, cutting the fence, around the fence, over the fence. I have found documents giving them exact instructions. This is a very regimented, professional operation. Who’s doing it?” Siyamak si…

1
The Impact of Third-Party Candidates in Tipping the Election Scale 37:02

3M ago37:02

37:02

Could the fate of an entire election hinge on the unsung heroes of American politics, the third-party candidates? Join us as Professor John Compton and Michael Barone unpack that very question, offering an electrifying discourse on the stirrings within third-party politics that could tip the scales in a nail-biter of an election. Our guests peel ba…

1
California Restaurants on Verge of Going Under With Excessive Mandates, Higher Costs | Brian Back | John Kabateck 31:15

3M ago31:15

31:15

“I’ve sent an open letter to [California Gov.] Gavin Newsom. Not only have we seen the cost of almost everything go up exponentially in the last few years, but also faced new regulations and mandates. If I were to match our increased costs with menu pricing, we would be forced to charge about $40 for a cheeseburger. We can’t explain that to the cus…

1
California’s Dam Removal Damages: Local Farmers Fear Liability for Massive Salmon Deaths | Theodora Johnson 51:48

3M ago51:48

51:48

“It really has been the biggest dam removal experiment in modern history. People who were very much in favor of dam removal are now beside themselves because they had no idea this would be the outcome.” Siyamak sits down with Theodora Johnson, a sixth-generation rancher from Siskiyou County. The Klamath Dam removal project is the largest of its kin…

1
What Californians Can’t Afford to Miss in Prop 1 | Susan Shelley 44:48

3M ago44:48

44:48

“It’s being sold to the voters as treatment. But you’ve got $2 billion going into housing that can be for people who are still using hard drugs. If you have a building with, let’s say, 40 units, and 15 of the people in them are addicted to hard drugs, that is going to have an impact on the community, and the community has no say in that land use at…

1
Former Homeless Reveals What Homelessness is Like in Sacramento | Matt King 55:21

3M ago55:21

55:21

‘It’s almost like we’re living in an open-air mental health facility. There are people walking down the streets; you don’t know if they’re going to shoot you, stab you, punch you, spit on you... And we, as parents, are kind of teaching our kids and grandkids how to be numb to the situation.’ Siyamak sits down with Matthew King, former homeless and …

1
Addressing the Housing Affordability Crisis and Protecting the Middle Class Dream 39:54

3M ago39:54

39:54

Unlock the mystery behind why securing a roof over your head has become an arduous quest in today's Western civilization. This episode promises to gift you with the perspectives of housing experts Joel Farkas, Wendell Cox, and Karla López del Río, as we navigate through the complexities of local and state regulations, fees, and the polarizing anti-…

1
Are California Housing Mandates Ending Community Involvement and Character of Cities? | Amy Kalish | Lydia Kou 49:57

3M ago49:57

49:57

“The goal is to densify every town in the state. To densify it—so that‘d be walking around, not driving. In some places, it doesn’t work. But this whole policy has been applied as ’one size fits all' with no complaining.” Siyamak sits down with Amy Kalish, with Citizen Marin. She’s been studying what the housing mandates are for different cities in…

1
Navigating the Tides of Change: How Global Politics May Shape America's 2024 Elections 1:20:15

4M ago1:20:15

1:20:15

Uncover the unforeseen ways foreign policy sways the American electoral tide with us, Marshall Toplansky and Joel Kotkin, as we host a conversation that traverses the global political landscape and its potential shocks to the 2024 elections. With luminaries like former U.S. Ambassador to Italy Ron Spogli and Asia Pacific expert Robert Koepp sharing…

1
California Parents Are Afraid of Losing Their Kids | Erin Friday 45:09

4M ago45:09

45:09

“The school adopted my daughter’s new identity, which was a boy, changed her records to be male name, called her that in class. They told me I was unsafe. So they were safer for my daughter. This is a new movement that all parents are bad until proven good.” Host Siyamak Khorrami sits down with Erin Friday, executive committee member for Protect Ki…

1
Former Prison Guard Explains Why California Prisons Are Becoming Unsafe | Hector Bravo 51:43

4M ago51:43

51:43

“It is like working at a zoo, and they’ve opened up every single cage: to the bears, to the lions, to the panthers, to the giraffes, to the elephants. And you got the correctional officers like: “Oh my god, what have they done here?” Siyamak sits down with Hector Bravo, a former correctional officer and lieutenant with the California Department of …

1
Will California Lose Its Entrepreneurial Spirit as More Businesses Invest in Other States? | Marshall Toplansky 46:14

4M ago46:14

46:14

“Who is leaving? That’s probably the most worrying aspect of all of this. The people who are leaving are the most productive, what I call the seed corn of California—people who are going into family formation stage, 30- to 50-year-old people who are mid-career, people who make $200,000 a year and above. And so what we’re left with, which is kind of…

1
From US ‘Murder Capital’ to Zero Homicides: A California City’s Remarkable Rebirth | Paul Bains 27:40

4M ago27:40

27:40

“I remember that year; there was just so much shooting going on. Kids would sleep in bathtubs to avoid stray bullets.” Siyamak sits down with Pastor Paul Baines from East Palo Alto. He will share how his city managed to turn around from being the murder capital of the state and the country to achieving zero homicides. “Believe it or not, a lot of t…

1
How Los Angeles Mansion Tax Impacts Affordable Housing | Chris Tourtellotte 41:03

4M ago41:03

41:03

“You’re going to see housing supply dropped. Investors are no longer looking at the city of LA because it’s too risky. Why would you sell a property, if you would have to give all your profit to the city?” Siyamak sits down with Chris Tourtellotte, managing director of LaTerra, a large real estate development company based in California. He'll disc…

1
Is California Still Leading the Nation? | Larry Elder 38:45

4M ago38:45

38:45

“In the last three years, we’ve had a net outflow of 1 million people. I don’t want to leave; I want to help turn the state around because I think sooner or later the voters are going to wake up, and I want to be here when that happens.” Siyamak sits down with Larry Elder, a radio and TV host, former gubernatorial candidate in California, former pr…

1
Exploring the Impact of Catholic Schools on Underserved Communities 39:14

4M ago39:14

39:14

Unlock the secrets of a holistic education that goes beyond academics as we engage with Stephannie Saroki de Garcia, Soledad Usura, and Tony Lemus, dissecting the profound effects of Catholic school environments on underserved communities in California. Discover how these institutions foster discipline, character development, and purpose, equipping…

1
Exploring the Paradox of Peace and Economics in Taiwan-China Relations and International Trade Expectations 8:02

4M ago8:02

8:02

Discover the nuanced complexities of Taiwan-China relations and the unexpected preferences of their people towards peace, as we're joined by Raymond Kuo from the Rand Corporation and Professor Robert Koepp of Chapman University. Instead of the often-presumed march towards military conflict, we uncover a deeper narrative that highlights the Taiwanes…

1
Famous Chef Explains Why It Is Hard to Operate A Restaurant in California | Andrew Gruel 51:49

5M ago51:49

51:49

“Opening a restaurant seems simple, right? You never anticipated that you would expect ... Every single restaurant owner I talked to, is in a PAGA lawsuit. None of them are less than six figures.” California is the hardest state to open a restaurant, according to a new study by Restaurant Furniture. Siyamak sits down with celebrity chef Andrew Grue…

1
Why California’s Budget Deficit Is Snowballing: Legislative Analyst | Gabriel Petek 39:57

5M ago39:57

39:57

Siyamak sits down with Gabriel Petek, California’s legislative analyst. He shares with us why California is facing such a huge budget deficit and how it may last a few more years. He also shares what it will take to solve this budget crisis. “A couple of years ago, we had a $100 billion surplus, and we heard about these big numbers. Now, we’re esti…

1
California DA Explains Which Policies Lead To Increased Crime | Morgan Gire 35:28

5M ago35:28

35:28

"As an elected District Attorney, I have people from my county being released from prison early and I don't know why." Siyamak sits down with Morgan Gire, District Attorney of Placer County, who has over 24 years of experience working in the criminal justice system. He'll discuss recent criminal justice reforms in California and share his opinion o…

1
California Lawmakers Spending $1.2 Billion on Office Renovation | Bill George 41:09

5M ago41:09

41:09

Siyamak sits down with Bill George, historian and filmmaker, who has been studying and documenting the history and culture of California. He'll discuss the changes he has observed in California’s state capital when it comes to homelessness, crime, and transparency in the legislative body. We'll also take a deep dive into California's history and lo…

1
Navigating the Future of Higher Education: Challenges, Reform, and the Role of Civic Engagement 36:17

5M ago36:17

36:17

Embark with us as we traverse the complex terrain of higher education alongside our distinguished panel—Rick Hess, Justin Dyer, and Dean Andrew Moser. Together, we scrutinize the waning public confidence in academic institutions, dissect the legislative counteracts to campus culture, and address the impending demographic shift that predicts a drop …

1
Why Oakland Police Can’t Stop Criminals | LeRonne Armstrong 40:49

5M ago40:49

40:49

Siyamak sits down with LeRonne Armstrong, a former police chief who served for the Oakland Police Department for over 25 years. He explains how it’s difficult for the police to operate because of the rules and regulations they are facing from the city. This situation in Oakland is so dire that the governor is sending 120 California Highway Patrol o…

1
California EV Mandate: 14,000 Trucks With Limited Chargers At Ports: Matt Schrap 45:19

5M ago45:19

45:19

Siyamak sits down with Matt Schrap, CEO of Harbor Trucking Association, which represents trucking companies operating at the ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Oakland. Today, he'll share his insights on what it takes for trucking companies to comply with the zero-emission mandates at the ports and how this might affect Californians. Join us as …

1
How Working From Home Is Crushing Downtown Los Angeles | Chris Cooper 35:39

5M ago35:39

35:39

Siyamak sits down with Chris Cooper, principal and regional managing director at Avison Young. He talks about what challenges downtown Los Angeles is facing today in the aftermath of the pandemic and the impact on the commercial real estate industry. “I’m a third-generation Angeleno. We have a wonderful community.“ Mr. Cooper said. ”There are compe…

1
Who's Leaving California? Is It Impacting California's Economy? | Jim Doti 41:48

5M ago41:48

41:48

Siyamak sits down with Jim Doti, president emeritus at Chapman University. Today he will talk about his latest findings on the California Exodus and provide some insights on the demographics of people who are leaving California, why they are leaving, and the outmigration’s impacts on California's job market and economy. "Over the last five years, w…

1
California Cities Are Forced to Build ‘Unaffordable’ Housing | John Cruikshank 45:15

6M ago45:15

45:15

Siyamak sits down with John Cruikshank, mayor of Rancho Palos Verdes in Los Angeles County. He will discuss the challenges facing California cities regarding the state housing mandate and the potential problems of government overreach when it comes to improving housing affordability. “Right now the policymakers up in Sacramento don’t trust the citi…

1
Secret Chinese Biolab With Viral Diseases in California Under Investigation | Steve Ispas | Kevin Kiley | Lear Zhou 31:13

6M ago31:13

31:13

In this special episode, we discuss an unlicensed Chinese biolab in California that was illegally researching viral diseases. Siyamak sits down with investigative reporters Steve Ispas and Lear Zhou from The Epoch Times. He also talked to Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.), who, along with his colleagues in Congress, has been investigating this case. “The…

1
The Top Key Issues Facing Society in 2024 14:34

6M ago14:34

14:34

Could our current education system really be churning out a generation that's less learned than the last? Joel and I grapple with this unsettling possibility as we investigate the shifting tides within educational institutions, from the revered halls of Harvard to the vibrant classrooms of primary education. As 2024 dawns, we're pulling back the cu…

1
Is Theft Causing the End of Retail Stores in California? | Juan Alanis 41:10

6M ago41:10

41:10

Siyamak sits down with Juan Alanis, an assemblymember from Modesto County and former law enforcement officer. He discusses the issue of rising retail theft in California and his insights from serving on the Assembly Committee on retail theft. He also talks about the impacts on businesses, law enforcement, and local communities. “We’re talking about…

1
The Rise of Populism in Europe: Immigration, Nationalism, and the Quest for Sovereignty 33:30

6M ago33:30

33:30

How has the mosaic of European politics been recast by the relentless waves of immigration? This pressing question takes center stage as Ambassador Ron Spogli and deputy editor Fraser Myers join me to unravel the complex tapestry of populism's ascent in the West. With the spotlight on Georgia Maloney's prime ministerial triumph in Italy, we peel ba…

1
Tax Expert Explains How High Taxes Drive Jobs Out of California | Joe Vinatieri 42:37

6M ago42:37

42:37

Siyamak sits down with Joe Vinatieri, Mayor of Whittier, California and a tax expert. He'll talk about why people are leaving California and the impact of high taxes on the state. “McDonald’s started here, Carl’s Jr. started here, Taco Bell started here, In-N-Out started here. There was just a great entrepreneurial spirit,“ said Mr. Vinatieri. ”Whe…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Marshall Toplansky Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide