In this very special episode of Ameritocracy, host Troy Edgar travels to Sacramento to meet with Dan Walters , one of California’s most syndicated columnists and author. He has covered the state’s political scene since 1975, spending over 33 years at the Sacramento Bee , and currently writes for CalMatters . Dan shares his insights on California’s evolution from a Republican-leaning to a solidly Democratic state, shaped by shifts in industry and demographics. He highlights the state’s heavy reli...
Dec 09, 2024•49 min•Season 1Ep. 82
This week on the Ameritocracy show, host Troy Edgar is in Washington, D.C. where he sits down with Ray Shieh, Quantum Safe Senior Product Marketing Manager at IBM for a fascinating conversation on the rapid advancement in quantum computing. Ray shares his journey from leading cybersecurity efforts at Microsoft , both in Taiwan and Washington state, to his current role at IBM where he specializes in post-quantum cryptography and quantum-safe computing. Ray also discusses how he leverages his mark...
Dec 02, 2024•45 min•Season 1Ep. 81
Welcome to our monthly series where we dive into challenging topics, current events, explore faith, and much more. Expect fresh insights from familiar faces and new voices as we engage in candid discussions. Join us for open and honest fellowship, embracing diverse perspectives. Featured guest: Anne Collier, certified executive coach and CEO of Arudia , a coaching and training firm based in Washington, D.C. Topics explored in this episode: Does a degree still have value? The importance of well-r...
Nov 25, 2024•40 min•Season 1Ep. 80
This week, Ameritocracy visits Sacramento, California where host Troy Edgar had the opportunity to meet with Cath Reheis-Boyd , President and CEO of the Western States Petroleum Associatio n, representing the industry’s interest in exploration, production, refining, and transportation across California, Arizona, Nevada, Washington, and Oregon. From her roots in natural resource management to nearly 40 years in the energy sector, Cath discusses California's evolving oil and gas landscape, the cha...
Nov 18, 2024•42 min•Season 1Ep. 79
On this week's episode of Ameritocracy, host Troy Edgar is joined in L.A. by James Bogle , the Director of the Master of Business for Veterans Program (MBV) at the USC Marshall School of Business. A seasoned Army veteran with extensive leadership experience, James shares his insights into the challenges veterans face transitioning to civilian life. We discussed the USC MBV program and how it equips veterans with the business acumen needed to thrive in corporate America or start their own venture...
Nov 11, 2024•50 min•Season 1Ep. 78
This week, Ameritocracy travels to Sacramento, California, where host Troy Edgar meets with Rob Stutzman. Rob is a veteran political strategist and communications expert with extensive experience in California politics. He is the founder and president of Stutzman Public Affairs , a leading consultancy that advises on political campaigns, media relations, and crisis communications. Stutzman is well-known for his role as the deputy chief of staff for communications to former California Governor Ar...
Nov 04, 2024•43 min•Season 1Ep. 77
In this episode of Ameritocracy, host Troy Edgar meets with JB Jaso at our L.A. studio. JB, a former US Army veteran, who made the successful transition from military service to a leadership role in the sports industry. From his Long Beach roots, to serving his country and now overseeing security for the Los Angeles Angels, we look into the challenges and rewards of his military service, including his expertise in Army’s Special Operations CBRNE (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and ...
Oct 28, 2024•57 min•Season 1Ep. 76
This week on Ameritocracy, host Troy Edgar delves into the life of automotive pioneer Henry Ford. From his humble beginning on a Michigan farm to his role in revolutionizing transportation, Ford's story is a testament to innovation. We'll explore how his development of the Model T and the assembly line made cars more accessible, transforming the way people lived and worked. However, we'll also examine the darker side of his legacy, including his controversial views and his complex relationship w...
Oct 21, 2024•41 min•Season 1Ep. 75
This week on the Ameritocracy show, host Troy Edgar is joined in Washington, D.C. by Author, Jennifer Pahlka , a leading voice in transforming government for the digital age. They discuss Jen’s New York Times-acclaimed book, " Recoding America: Why Government is Failing in the Digital Age and How We Can Do Better. " Jen also helped establish the United States Digital Service while serving as U.S. Deputy Chief Technology Officer. She is currently the co-founder of U.S. Digital Response , a non-pr...
Oct 14, 2024•58 min•Season 1Ep. 74
This week, Ameritocracy is in Washington, D.C. where host Troy Edgar is joined by Holly Mehringer, Assistant Administrator and Chief Financial Officer for the Transportation Security Administration . Holly shares her incredible journey from Massillon, Ohio, and her 18-year civil service career in the Air Force , her transition to the Department of Homeland Security , and her current role as the CFO for TSA, managing the agency’s $11 billion budget. Holly discusses the challenges and rewards of h...
Oct 07, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 73
This week, host Troy Edgar is joined in Washington, D.C. by Steve Laurance, Chief Financial Officer at the Federal Trade Commission . Steve shares his insights from a career spanning the Department of Defense, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the FTC. From his military background to his leadership roles in high-pressure federal agencies, Steve offers unique perspectives on public service, financial management, and the importance of consumer protection. He discusses the challenges of bala...
Sep 30, 2024•51 min•Season 1Ep. 72
Welcome to our monthly series where we dive into challenging topics, current events, explore faith, and much more. Expect fresh insights from familiar faces and new voices as we engage in candid discussions. Join us for open and honest fellowship, embracing diverse perspectives. Featured guest: Rev. Barry Richards is a dear friend and mentor. He currently serves the Pentecostal City Mission Church in Los Angeles, California . Topics explored in this episode: The value of a fresh perspective Impo...
Sep 23, 2024•33 min•Season 1Ep. 71
This week, host Troy Edgar is joined in Washington, D.C. by Stacy Marcott, the acting Chief Financial Officer for the Department of Homeland Security . Stacy talks about her strategies for overseeing a massive $90 billion budget, modernizing crucial financial systems, and fostering collaboration across multiple agencies. With a distinguished federal career, beginning in the U.S. Navy , Stacy brings a unique perspective and a commitment to excellence to her role. She discusses how her military ex...
Sep 16, 2024•56 min•Season 1Ep. 70
This week, host Troy Edgar examines the complex legacy of John D. Rockefeller, the oil tycoon whose business practices and philanthropic endeavors shaped the 19th and early 20th centuries. Rockefeller's story is one of ambition, innovation, and controversy. In this episode, we discuss his business strategies, including vertical integration, which led to Standard Oil's near-monopoly of the oil industry. And how he channeled his massive wealth into charitable causes that impacted education, health...
Sep 09, 2024•27 min•Season 1Ep. 69
This week on Ameritocracy, while in Washington, D.C. host Troy Edgar had the opportunity to interview Benjamin Moncarz, the Food and Drug Administration 's Chief Financial Officer. Benjamin oversees the agency's $7.2B budget, ensuring funds align with the FDA's mission to safeguard the health of over 300 million Americans and accelerate scientific innovation that drives the U.S. economy. Benjamin's previous role as the Deputy CFO of the Federal Emergency Management Agency during the COVID pandem...
Sep 02, 2024•47 min•Season 1Ep. 68
This week on Ameritocracy, host Troy Edgar is joined in Washington, D.C. by Irving Dennis, the former Chief Financial Officer of the Department of Housing and Urban Development . During his time at HUD, Irv served as the Secretary's top financial advisor and managed the Department's $48B Budget. He is also the author of "Transforming a Federal Agency" , where he shares his experience leading a comprehensive financial and digital overhaul that resulted in HUD's first clean audit opinion in eight ...
Aug 26, 2024•54 min•Season 1Ep. 67
This week, Ameritocracy is in Washington, D.C. where we explore the world of international finance. Our guest is Reginald Mitchell, the U.S. Agency for International Development 's Chief Financial Officer. Reggie oversees the agency's $25 billion budget, ensuring funds are used effectively to support development programs in over 100 countries. With a background in the Navy and senior financial roles at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission , Reggie's expertise provides a unique lens into managing US...
Aug 19, 2024•52 min•Season 1Ep. 66
This week on the Ameritocracy show, host Troy Edgar is joined in Washington, D.C. for an insightful conversation with Michael Parrish, Chief Acquisition Officer and Principal Executive Director for the Office of Acquisition, Logistics, and Construction for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Mike serves as a senior advisor to the Secretary and leads over 17,000 acquisition professionals, responsible for the Department’s $58 billion Supply Chain spend and over $100 billion in major programs....
Aug 12, 2024•50 min•Season 1Ep. 56
This week, host Troy Edgar explores the life and lasting impact of J.P. Morgan, the titan of American finance. In this episode, we trace J.P. Morgan's company transformation from a family enterprise to a global financial powerhouse. Learn how his business practices laid the groundwork for modern banking and inadvertently sparked antitrust laws such as the Sherman Antitrust Act and the Clayton Act. Join us as we examine the interplay between business, government, and public interest that is still...
Aug 05, 2024•31 min•Season 1Ep. 64
Sidebar Conversations is our monthly series where we dive into challenging topics, current events, explore faith, and much more. Expect fresh insights from familiar faces and new voices as we engage in candid discussions. Join us for open and honest friendship, embracing diverse perspectives. Featured guest: Rich Pierce, a highly respected International Surfing Association (ISA) and Head Olympic judge, returns to the Olympic stage for the 2024 Tahiti Games. The veteran judge, who played a role i...
Jul 29, 2024•31 min•Season 1Ep. 63
In this week's episode of Ameritocracy, host Troy Edgar spoke with Dr. John Zangardi, CEO of Redhorse . Dr. Zangardi is a U.S. Navy veteran and Washington DC technology leader who previously served as the Chief Information Officer (CIO) at both the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security . He has also been a mentor to Troy, and they had previously co-authored an article on the federal government's use of the Technology Modernization Fund . The discussion centers on their sh...
Jul 22, 2024•45 min•Season 1Ep. 62
This week on Ameritocracy, Troy is joined in Washington D.C. by IBM’s Federal Cybersecurity Services Leader Alice Fakir. They talk about their roles at IBM , focusing on the intersection of supply chain and cybersecurity. Alice discusses how AI is transforming cyber defense strategies and explains the concept and purpose of a " cyber range " and how it is used for training cybersecurity professionals. Lastly, Alice and Troy break down the policy role of the White House and the Department of Comm...
Jul 15, 2024•46 min•Season 1Ep. 61
Picking up from E57: "AI's Societal Shift" , Troy and Barry delve deeper into AI's evolution. They explore job losses across all sectors, the ethics of AI-generated deceased loved ones, and the need for government regulation and personal adaptation to this rapidly changing technological landscape. Sidebar Conversations is our monthly series where we dive into challenging topics, current events, explore faith, and much more. Expect fresh insights from familiar faces and new voices as we engage in...
Jul 08, 2024•32 min•Season 1Ep. 60
This week, host Troy Edgar met with Mike Burkenbine, CEO of the Becket Film Fund at the Ameritocracy L.A. Studios. Mike had recently returned from the Marché du Film - Festival de Cannes in France, who had invited him to speak about film financing on the main stage. We had a great discussion about his career and the focus of Becket Film Fund. Mike is an expert in evaluating film and TV market trends, financial projections, demographics, and marketing and distribution strategies. He has been invo...
Jul 01, 2024•52 min•Season 1Ep. 59
This week, host Troy Edgar met with Dan Nelson, Executive Director of Tax and Customs for Hyundai at the Ameritocracy L.A. Studio. Dan shared his perspective on current policies that are having a significant tax impact on all corporations and the effect of the OECD's new 15% minimum global corporate tax rate. OECD ( Organization of Economic Cooperation & Development ) is an international organization based in Paris, France and is comprised of 38 member countries, including the United States ...
Jun 24, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 58
Sidebar Conversations welcomes back Barry Richards! This episode's topic is the ethical complexity of AI and the impact we are starting to see in society and the workforce. Welcome to our monthly series where we dive into challenging topics, current events, explore faith, and much more. Expect fresh insights from familiar faces and new voices as we engage in candid discussions. Join us for open and honest fellowship, embracing diverse perspectives. Featured guest: Rev. Barry Richards is a dear f...
Jun 17, 2024•33 min•Season 1Ep. 57
This week, host Troy Edgar met with Mohammad Khan, Managing Attorney at MNK Law at our L.A. studio. Mohammad is a respected lawyer in the business world and he shares his insights on navigating the legal landscape of contract, labor, and employment law. Troy and Mohammad discuss the three situations and questions entrepreneurs should consider when selecting legal representation for their startups and how the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) is impacting California employers. If you are facin...
Jun 10, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 56
This week, host Troy Edgar traveled to Santa Monica and met with Kara Bilkiss, Vice President of Mobile Commerce at Activision Blizzard . Kara and Troy worked together at Disney in 2013 and 2014 and continued to stay in touch. At Activision Blizzard, Kara leads the mobile commercial strategy for franchises including: Call of Duty Mobile, Diablo Immortal , Warcraft Rumble , and Candy Crush Saga . In this episode, we talked about her career as a gaming executive and her previous roles at Skydance ...
Jun 03, 2024•55 min•Season 1Ep. 55
This week, host Troy Edgar dives into the life and contributions of Alexander Hamilton, one of America's founding fathers. Hamilton's life exemplifies that not everyone starts at the same place and sometimes you have to create your own opportunities. In this episode, we'll explore how Hamilton built his success from immigrant to the first US Secretary of Treasury and how he laid the groundwork for the financial systems that continue to influence our modern economy. Recommended reading: Pulitzer ...
May 27, 2024•36 min•Season 1Ep. 54
We are celebrating one year of the Ameritocracy Podcast with a special anniversary episode! Join host Troy Edgar as he delves into the podcast's mission of exploring personal and professional growth, reflects on the past 52 episodes, and unveils Producer Sarah's favorite episodes. We want to hear yours too! Share your favorite Ameritocracy Podcast moment with us in the comments on LinkedIn , Instagram , and YouTube . Ameritocracy™ is produced by Prospect House Media and recorded in studio locati...
May 20, 2024•39 min•Season 1Ep. 53
