S2 Ep51: Leaders Without Character Break Democracies (w/ Ryan Holiday)
John Avlon sits down with Ryan Holiday for a deep dive into virtue, character, and what ancient wisdom can still teach a country drowning in cynicism. They trace the Stoic roots behind Holiday’s bestselling series, unpack the dangers of America’s “wisdom deficit,” and explore how applied history can ground us in a moment when the loudest voices are often the least serious. Holiday opens up about his writing process, the influence of Robert Greene, and the books he returns to when he needs clarity. It’s a conversation about courage, justice, self-discipline, and why these old virtues feel newly urgent.
The Last Lion (William Manchester)
The Old, Weird America (Greil Marcus)
The World of Yesterday (Stefan Zweig)
Montaigne (Stefan Zweig)
The Moviegoer (Walker Percy)
The Nightingale’s Song (Robert Timberg)
Stoicism (Ryan Holiday)
The Obstacle Is the Way (Ryan Holiday)
Ego Is the Enemy (Ryan Holiday)
The Daily Stoic (Ryan Holiday)
Perennial Seller (Ryan Holiday)
The 48 Laws of Power (Robert Greene)
Mastery (Robert Greene)
The Laws of Human Nature (Robert Greene)
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40:21
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40:21
S2 Ep50: Adam Kinzinger: I Hate It, But Newsom is Right About Redistricting
Former congressman and January 6 Committee member Adam Kinzinger joins John Avlon to talk about fixing what’s broken, from using Russia’s own frozen cash to rebuild Ukraine, to confronting Trump-era corruption, to why Democrats have to “fight fire with fire” on redistricting. They also dive into the cost of moral courage, what it means to be a “good Republican” in the MAGA age, and how to break Washington’s pay-to-play cycle.
The Last Republican
How to Make Putin Pay: The $2 Billion-a-Day Plan That Could End the War
The Trump–Epstein Relationship: What We Know & Why Republicans Won’t Address It
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31:39
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31:39
S2 Ep49: Ken Burns: The Revolutionaries Were Exactly Like Us
Ken Burns joins John Avlon for a conversation that feels like a pep talk America desperately needs. From the messy, human story of the Revolution to the warning signs we’re ignoring today, Burns makes the case that our past isn’t a museum piece, it’s a manual for saving the country.
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S2 Ep48: Patrick Radden Keefe: Trump Broke Journalism’s Laws of Physics | How to Fix It
Investigative journalist Patrick Radden Keefe joins John Avlon to unpack what Northern Ireland’s “Troubles” can teach America about polarization, violence, and the fight for truth. From the lessons of Say Nothing to the perils of propaganda, they trace how societies unravel, and how we can stop it before it’s too late.
Keefe also dives into his craft, fact-checking at The New Yorker, writing like a novelist, and keeping faith in truth amid social media chaos.
The Bench Burner Article: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2001/12/10/the-bench-burner
Books Mentioned:
Say Nothing — by Patrick Radden Keefe
Empire of Pain — by Patrick Radden Keefe
A Secret History — by Donna Tartt
Presumed Innocent — by Scott Turow
Wingnuts — by John Avlon
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S2 Ep47: The Little State That Could Save Democracy ( with Larry Lessig)
Harvard law professor and democracy reformer Larry Lessig is taking on the big money machine. In Maine, he’s helping defend a ballot initiative that bans super PACs, backed by a stunning 75% of voters. If he wins, this case could crack Citizens United wide open and bring campaign finance reform to the entire country. This might just be the moment to end dark money’s grip on American politics.
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Politicians, pundits, and the media spend a lot of time talking about the problems our country faces but not enough time on how to solve them. Each week, John Avlon and his guests hash out sensible and attainable solutions for some of the most vexing issues confronting our democracy—solutions that will likely emerge from the political center.
USA