Ravi is joined by Bradley Tusk to break down one of the wildest political upsets in recent memory: Zohran Mamdani’s decisive win in the New York City mayoral primary. They unpack how it happened, why Cuomo flamed out so badly, and what Mamdani needs to do next if he wants to govern the city. From campaign strategy to trash collection, rent freezes to charter schools, Ravi and Bradley dive into what kind of mayor Mamdani might be and what it will take to make the leap from activist to executive. ...
Jun 25, 2025•46 min
Are Israel and Iran on the brink of war? Ravi takes a closer look at the rapidly escalating conflict and the unsettling possibility that the U.S. is more deeply involved than most Americans realize. He also explores the growing battle within MAGA over America’s role on the global stage, the political opportunism accompanying the recent wave of political violence, and how the Trump administration’s threats to ramp up deportation efforts could upend key industries that rely on undocumented workers...
Jun 19, 2025•1 hr 12 min
Ravi opens with a deep dive into the unfolding chaos in Los Angeles, where the Trump administration has deployed federal agents and Marines to respond to the ongoing immigration protests. He breaks down what we know so far, why the deployment of federal troops may set a dangerous precedent for civilian law enforcement, and what else is at stake from a legal and constitutional perspective. Antón Barba-Kay, author of A Web of Our Own Making, then joins the show to explain how Mexican drug cartels ...
Jun 10, 2025•1 hr 1 min
Donald Trump and Elon Musk are on a collision course to all-out political war, and it's messier—and more consequential—than anyone expected. In this breaking news episode, Ravi unpacks how a once-symbiotic alliance devolved into internet warfare, with accusations flying and stakes rising by the hour. He then explores how a Musk-Trump feud could have massive ripple effects on national security, tech policy, and the future of the Republican Party. Finally, Ravi takes a step back to explain why thi...
Jun 05, 2025•13 min
Ravi kicks off the episode with a sharp take on the latest headlines, from FEMA’s alarming lack of hurricane preparedness and the fragility of U.S. supply chains to the growing indicators that the country is headed towards stagflation. He also reflects on new reports about Elon Musk’s drug use, the rising political influence of tech elites, and what the new film Mountainhead suggests about this current moment in time. Jamie Hodari, founder of Industrious and now a senior executive at CBRE, then ...
Jun 03, 2025•1 hr 2 min
Ravi sits down with Steven Wilson, founder of Ascend Charter Schools, for a candid conversation about his new book, The Lost Decade, and the current state of education reform. They discuss Steven’s controversial exit from Ascend and then step back to take a broader look at how DEI orthodoxy and anti-racist ideology have reshaped education reform. Steven and Ravi reflect on what’s changed in schools over the past decade, exploring the tension between pushing for academic excellence and navigating...
May 22, 2025•56 min
Journalist Bridget Read joins Ravi to explore the dark side of multi-level marketing schemes - and why they’re more dangerous and widespread than most people realize. In her new book Little Bosses Everywhere, Read breaks down how these so-called business opportunities often lure in vulnerable people, turning dreams of entrepreneurship into financial traps. Ravi and Bridget discuss why MLMs thrive despite dismal success rates, how they’ve reshaped American society, and what they reveal about the ...
May 13, 2025•50 min
Ravi kicks off the episode with a blistering critique of the Trump administration’s trade policy chaos, highlighting the economic contradictions, recession risks, and growing corruption tied to foreign investments and crypto schemes. He also addresses the new reports on Senator John Fetterman’s health and why it’s time for leaders to respond to questions about his ability to serve. Ravi then shifts gears to sit down with former U.S. Secretary of Education and current SUNY Chancellor John King fo...
May 08, 2025•1 hr 2 min
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and surfer William Finnegan joins Ravi for a wide-ranging conversation on surfing, storytelling, and the pursuit of mastery. They unpack Barbarian Days and how a lifetime of chasing waves has shaped Bill’s understanding of fear, discipline, and identity. They then turn to the tension between purity and accessibility in surfing and how innovations like wave pools can reflect broader social shifts. They also dig into what it means to be an adult learner in a youth...
May 01, 2025•58 min
Ravi dives into the breaking news of the day, from the Trump administration’s continued attacks on due process and the political meddling at the Fed that could tank the economy, to the latest federal funding threats facing universities. He then sits down with Dana Goldstein of The New York Times to unpack the Trump administration’s aggressive intervention in K-12 education, from targeting DEI efforts to threatening Title I funding and issue vague policies around civil rights law. They explore wh...
Apr 22, 2025•1 hr 4 min
The Branch is nominated for a Webby! Vote for Killing Justice for Best Partnership/Collaboration: https://bit.ly/killingjustice
Apr 17, 2025•2 min
What happens when the president of the United States defies a 9-0 Supreme Court ruling? Ravi is joined by The Atlantic’s Isaac Stanley-Becker to take a closer look at the case of Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man stripped of due process and deported to a Salvadoran prison, and the chilling implications the case may have for immigrants and American citizens more broadly. They then turn to the Trump administration’s escalating campaign of retribution, targeting law firms, universities, and student pro...
Apr 15, 2025•43 min
As Trump’s sweeping tariffs continue to spark chaos and backlash nationwide, Ravi delivers a blistering breakdown of the administration’s latest moves and the economic risks they’ve created. He challenges the populist rhetoric behind the trade war, exposes the political theater driving the latest policies, and explains what Trump’s getting wrong about jobs, immigration, and manufacturing. Then, Richard Kahlenberg returns to the pod to discuss his new book, Class Matters. Ravi and Richard examine...
Apr 08, 2025•54 min
Ravi dives into the history and resurgence of tariffs in American politics with economic historian Phil Magness. From the Hamilton-Jefferson debates to the possible implications of Trump’s proposed tariffs, Ravi and Phil explore the complexities of tariffs as both economic tools and political weapons, how these policies have shaped America’s past, and what their resurgence means for the future. Leave us a voicemail with your thoughts on the show! 321-200-0570 Learn more about Ravi's novel: GARBA...
Apr 06, 2025•54 min
President Trump just announced sweeping reciprocal tariffs on nearly all U.S. trading partners, sending markets tumbling and economists into a frenzy. Ravi breaks down what the news means for the economy, the political implications, and what to make of the eerie silence from former GOP free traders. Then, Ravi is joined by Sam Ashworth to talk about his debut novel The Death and Life of August Sweeney, a gripping story that blends fame, fine dining, and forensics. They unpack the misunderstood w...
Apr 03, 2025•44 min
Ravi sits down with Molly Roden Winter, author of More: A Memoir of Open Marriage, for a candid conversation about the emotional, messy, and deeply human side of nontraditional relationships. In More, Molly shares her journey through polyamory, jealousy, and personal growth, and what it really means to forge your own path in love. Molly and Ravi explore how Molly’s unconventional relationship structure evolved over time and how societal double standards have shaped our views on monogamy, control...
Apr 01, 2025•49 min
Ravi sits down with journalist and bestselling author Oliver Burkeman (Meditation for Mortals and Four Thousand Weeks) to explore what it means to live a meaningful life in a culture addicted to optimization. Together, they explore the line between healthy ambition and toxic perfectionism, the “icky middle” of mastery and why it’s important to find joy in being an intermediate, and when to embrace creative neglect. Finally, they unpack the struggles of living in the digital era and discuss how w...
Mar 27, 2025•48 min
In this special episode, Ravi is joined by Emily Lilley of The Book & Cover to discuss his new novel, Garbage Town, out today. Set in 1990s Staten Island, this coming-of-age thriller follows a group of teens who stumble upon a buried secret and find themselves in a fight for their lives. Ravi and Emily explore the real-life inspiration behind the novel’s characters and setting, the nostalgic pull of the pre-digital era, and the complicated beauty of growing up in a small community. They dig ...
Mar 25, 2025•1 hr 2 min
How do you fix a system that’s stuck? Ravi sits down with New York Times bestselling author Dan Heath to unpack the lessons from his new book, Reset, a guide to help people and businesses break free from inertia, ditch old habits, and make meaningful progress. They explore case studies from the book, including a hospital that slashed delivery times from days to hours and a school that transformed discipline with a simple shift in student movement, and discuss how these examples reveal the power ...
Mar 20, 2025•51 min
Is cognitive decline inevitable, or can we keep our minds sharp as we age? Ravi sits down with neuroscientist Dr. Tommy Wood to explore what truly drives cognitive aging, and why the science is more hopeful than most people think. They break down the differences between crystallized and fluid intelligence, the impact of physical activity, and why doing hard things could be the key to mental strength. Tommy shares research-backed strategies for maintaining brain health, from quality sleep and str...
Mar 18, 2025•49 min
What happens when schools lose their way, and how do we restore faith in our institutions? In this special crossover episode from Sweat the Technique, Doug Lemov flips the script and interviews Ravi. They start with a deep dive into Ravi’s journey from aspiring doctor to political staffer to school founder before taking a step back to explore the erosion of trust in American schools and the deep tensions shaping education today. Ravi then reflects on his own experiences founding schools, the ide...
Mar 16, 2025•1 hr 54 min
Ravi kicks off the show by unpacking the latest economic headlines, from inflation trends to the impact of Trump’s unpredictable trade policies and how they could impact businesses and consumers. He also takes a closer look at Elon Musk, explaining why unlikely voices like Bill Burr and Dave Portnoy have criticized the billionaire over the past week and what it might mean for Musk’s future at the helm of DOGE. Ravi then turns to the Department of Education, which announced earlier this week that...
Mar 13, 2025•1 hr 10 min
Ravi welcomes back Dr. Dhruv Khullar, a physician, assistant professor at Cornell, and contributing writer at The New Yorker, for a deep dive into the latest shifts in American science and nutrition. They begin with Dhruv’s latest New Yorker piece, Trump’s Agenda Is Undermining American Science, and examine how the DOGE-led budget cuts could disrupt medical innovation and public health. Next, they turn to one of the biggest but least understood threats to public health: ultra-processed foods. Dr...
Mar 11, 2025•36 min
Ravi sits down with Emily Oster, New York Times bestselling author, professor of economics at Brown University, and founder and CEO of ParentData, to discuss the measles outbreak in Texas, the rise of vaccine hesitance, and the growing influence of misinformation on public health. They also break down the failures of COVID-19 messaging and the lasting consequences for experts now struggling to regain the public’s trust. Emily and Ravi then turn to parenting and explore the illusion of control, t...
Mar 06, 2025•54 min
Is there a crisis facing young men in America? Richard Reeves, the president of the American Institute for Boys and Men and non-resident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, joins Ravi to explain why boys are falling behind in school, struggling with their mental health, and feeling more isolated than ever—and what we can do about it. Ravi and Richard explore the reasons both major political parties have largely failed to address this crisis, how their neglect has created space for figure...
Mar 04, 2025•55 min
Journalist and author Ross Barkan returns to the show to discuss why traditional media is in crisis, whether we’re living in a new romantic age, and why 2025 may be the year we resist the lure of technology. Ravi and Ross then turn to the political landscape and explain why we’re seeing a shift away from hyper-online politics. They also examine the Democratic Party’s future and what to make of the influence of figures like Elon Musk and Vice President J.D. Vance within a Republican coalition tha...
Feb 27, 2025•1 hr 1 min
The FBI is undergoing a major shift with the appointment of Kash Patel as director and Dan Bongino as his deputy. Ravi kicks off the episode by diving into both men’s backgrounds and explains what their leadership could mean for the FBI’s operations, public trust, and national security. He then sits down with Dorsey Hopson, former superintendent of Shelby County Schools, and Sarah Carpenter, executive director of The Memphis Lift, to unpack one of the most complex school mergers in U.S. history....
Feb 25, 2025•53 min
Why should we care about the legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni? Ravi takes a closer look at the deeper implications of Hollywood’s latest feud and what it tells us about the cultural and political moment we’re living in. He then dives into what we can learn from the ways traditional, alternative, and online media have shaped the story’s narrative, what it signals about the evolving legacy of social movements like #MeToo, and why the controversy should cause us to ask critical ...
Feb 20, 2025•1 hr 5 min
Is Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) actually saving taxpayers money, or is it just political theater? Ravi sits down with Zach Liscow, Yale Law professor and former Chief Economist at the Office of Budget and Management at the White House, to break down the reality behind government spending, infrastructure inefficiencies, and the myths of tax cuts. They dive into whether current fiscal policies will truly reduce the deficit or simply pass a massive bill to future generatio...
Feb 18, 2025•1 hr 5 min
Kyle Chayka joins Ravi to discuss his book, Filterworld, an exploration of how algorithms shape our world and influence culture. They dive into how algorithms dictate our tastes, homogenize cultural experiences, and replace human gatekeepers with digital ones. Using coffee shops as a case study, they unpack the concept of aesthetic memes and how algorithm-driven trends spread across industries. The conversation also delves into the evolution of taste in the algorithmic age, from the blending of ...
Feb 13, 2025•36 min
