Richard Helppie's Common Bridge - podcast cover

Richard Helppie's Common Bridge

The problems we have in the country are solvable, but not solvable the way we’re approaching them today, because of partisan politics. Richard Helppie, a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist seeks to find a place in the middle where common sense discussions can bridge the current great divide.

Last refreshed:
Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.
Download Metacast podcast app
Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more

Episodes

Episode 127- What to do with a failing Postal Service with Professor Rick Geddes

Rich welcomes back a favorite guest, Cornell Professor Rick Geddes, who talks about the history of the US Postal Service, how it was the first monopoly, and why it flourished in the last century and since the turn of this century, has floundered in the face of high costs and new technologies that threaten to make it obsolete. Support the show Engage the conversation on Substack at The Common Bridge!...

Nov 09, 202138 minSeason 3Ep. 6

Episode 126- Bias Is All Around You- With Author Erik Bean

Rich talks with Professor Erik Bean about his new book, Bias Is All Around You: A Handbook for Inspecting Social Media & News Stories which is about how to authenticate any form of information for possible bias before its used and/or shared either online, or even in normal conversation. Support the show Engage the conversation on Substack at The Common Bridge!

Oct 31, 202147 minSeason 3Ep. 5

Episode 125- The Immediate Threat of Synthetic Fentanyl, with Derek Maltz

Rich talks with retired Drug Enforcement Administration officer, Derek Maltz about the dramatic increase in counterfeit drugs being sold on the black market that contain potentially deadly doses of fentanyl. Maltz talks about how the Chinese underground and Mexican cartels are working in tandem to create a conduit for these deadly narcotics into the United States. Support the show Engage the conversation on Substack at The Common Bridge!...

Oct 22, 202146 minSeason 3Ep. 4

Episode 124- Down Route 66 and Beyond with Rich Helppie

Rich reflects on the past year, and what's ahead for America after a cross country trip down Route 66. He sets the stage for his Common Bridge Season 3 and talks about the important policy decisions ahead, and as a country, what we've gotten right and what we've gotten wrong. Support the show Engage the conversation on Substack at The Common Bridge!

Oct 18, 202135 minSeason 3Ep. 3

Episode 123- Part 2- Leaving the Extremes Behind- What News Should Be with Robert Greenfield.

This is the second of a two-part interview with Robert Greenfield, as he returns to The Common Bridge. Greenfield travels from Perth, Australia to talk about US politics, policy, elections and COVID. A favorite guest of The Common Bridge, Rich and Robert finally meet face-to-face and have a great conversation. Support the show Engage the conversation on Substack at The Common Bridge!

Oct 11, 202140 minSeason 3Ep. 2

Episode 122- Leaving the Extremes Behind- What News Should Be with Robert Greenfield.

Robert Greenfield returns to The Common Bridge, but this time in our Ann Arbor studio. Greenfield travels from Perth, Australia to talk about US politics, policy, elections and COVID. A favorite guest of The Common Bridge, Rich and Robert finally meet face-to-face and have a great conversation. This is the first of two parts. Support the show Engage the conversation on Substack at The Common Bridge!...

Oct 05, 20211 hr 2 minSeason 3Ep. 1

Episode 121- Election Integrity, Law and What Citizens Can Do with Professor Derek Muller

Rich discusses actual election law and history, without the partisan and media hype, with Iowa College Professor of Law, Derek Muller. Muller goes through the history of election law in the US, and talks about what he thinks we get right and wrong, and how we may be able to improve it. Support the show Engage the conversation on Substack at The Common Bridge!

Sep 26, 20211 hr 2 minSeason 2Ep. 54

Episode 120- A Discussion about Critical Race Theory with Rakhi Ruparelia

Rich talks with Rakhi Ruparelia, professor of Law at Ottawa University, on Critical Race Theory, and why it strikes such a chord with those who oppose its presence in public school curriculum. Support the show Engage the conversation on Substack at The Common Bridge!

Sep 19, 202150 minSeason 2Ep. 53

Episode 119- A Quick Take on Better Gun Laws

Rich does a very quick take on what he sees would be a sensible approach to gun control. Support the show Engage the conversation on Substack at The Common Bridge!

Sep 12, 20217 minSeason 2Ep. 52

Episode 118- How Detroit Beat the 2020 Summer of Unrest- with James Craig

Rich talks with retired Detroit Police Chief James Craig about his career, and how the community and police department in Detroit avoided the social chaos that tore apart other cities across the United States in the Summer of 2020. Support the show Engage the conversation on Substack at The Common Bridge!

Sep 05, 202141 minSeason 2Ep. 53

Episode 117- Is Comedy is Dead in a Woke World? with Konstantin Kisin

Rich and Russian-British comic and political commentator, Konstantin Kisin talk about the minefield of standup comedy in a world where every word can be used as ammunition to destroy the comic on social media. Support the show Engage the conversation on Substack at The Common Bridge!

Aug 30, 202148 minSeason 2Ep. 52

Episode 116- Blockchain: The Next Everything - with Author Stephen P. Williams

Rich talks about blockchain technology with the author of "Blockchain: The Next Everything," Stephen R. Williams. Williams talks about what exactly blockchain is, how it is currently being use, and what the promises of it's implementation could be. Support the show Engage the conversation on Substack at The Common Bridge!

Aug 22, 202143 minSeason 2Ep. 49

Episode 115- A Professional and Personal look at Health Insurance, with Karl Albrecht

Rich talks with the CEO of Action Benefits, Karl Albrecht about the state of Health Insurance. Albrecht also gives a candid insight to his personal fight with pancreatic cancer and how being a Health Insurance executive as well as a patient, has given him a unique perspective on how things work, and how they could improve. Support the show Engage the conversation on Substack at The Common Bridge!...

Aug 11, 202150 minSeason 2Ep. 48

Episode 114- Vaccine and Pandemic as of NOW, with Dr. James Baker

A fast- paced discussion of Delta Variant, Breakthrough Infections, Gain-of-Function, Vaccine Success & Side Effects, with Dr. James Baker of Michigan Medicine. Support the show Engage the conversation on Substack at The Common Bridge!

Aug 06, 202151 minSeason 2Ep. 47

Episode 113- Social and Political Unrest in Cuba- Our History and Policies , with Mike Eizenberg

Rich talks with the founder of the Educational Travel Alliance, Michael Eizenberg, about the history of Cuba, and the politics of the US/Cuban relationship for the last 150 years. They discuss what may be the causes of the current strife in Cuba and what might be done to help. Support the show Engage the conversation on Substack at The Common Bridge!

Jul 29, 202133 minSeason 2Ep. 46

Episode 112- Health Insurance Business Harms Doctors, Patients and Hospitals - Inside Healthcare with Nate Kaufman.

Rich brings back healthcare expert and consultant, Nathan Kaufman, Managing Director of Kaufman Strategic Advisors. Rich and Nate talk about the current policy issues surrounding healthcare, and why the United States' approach to health insurance, care, and finance, are woefully inadequate in today's landscape. Support the show Engage the conversation on Substack at The Common Bridge!

Jul 25, 202143 minSeason 2Ep. 45

Episode 111- Where Do We Go From Here? Civil War or Civil Discussion Vol 3.

Rich continues his analysis of what he considers the three flawed pillars that are driving division and misinformation in our country today; The Republican Party, The Democratic Party, and Mainstream Media. Support the show Engage the conversation on Substack at The Common Bridge!

Jul 19, 202112 minSeason 2Ep. 44

Episode 110- What to Do When Things Go Wrong- With Frank Supovitz

Rich talks with Frank Supovitz, who for over 30 years, has been the producer of some of the world's most prestigious, widely-viewed, and most well-attended sports and entertainment events. Frank is the host of the When Things Go Wrong podcast and author of What to Do When Things Go Wrong and The Sports Event Management & Marketing Playbook, the definitive textbook used by sports business professionals and universities across the globe for more than a decade. Support the show Engage the conve...

Jul 12, 202158 minSeason 2Ep. 43

Episode 109- Independence Day- with Richard Helppie

Rich releases his weekly episode a few days early this week in honor of Independence Day. He takes some time to reflect on why we still should celebrate our nation's birthday even though our history has been imperfect. Support the show Engage the conversation on Substack at The Common Bridge!

Jul 01, 202111 minSeason 2Ep. 42

Episode 108- Climatology without Politics or Pandering- with Dr. Judith Curry

Rich talks about the science of climate with Dr. Judith Curry. Dr. Curry explains how politics have clouded solid scientific-based climate policy over the last few decades, and why that needs to change going forward if we're going to rationally address hunger, clean water supply, and energy.. Support the show Engage the conversation on Substack at The Common Bridge!

Jun 28, 202139 minSeason 2Ep. 41

Episode 107- Lights, Camera, Action! Live Entertainment after Covid with Jeff Daniels

Rich talks with actor, producer, playwright, and musician, Jeff Daniels about live theater, movies, and the importance of the arts in general post Covid, and what it will take to get live entertainment back on stage in front of live audiences. Support the show Engage the conversation on Substack at The Common Bridge!

Jun 20, 202138 minSeason 2Ep. 40

Episode 106- Front Line Government - Mayor Bill Wild and Municipal Challenges Today

Rich invites Westland, Michigan Mayor, Bill Wild to The Common Bridge. They talk about issues facing local governments, and how state and federal policies can impact decision making. Westland is Michigan's tenth largest city and it's a fascinating conversation that goes from finance to policing, to Covid, and more. Support the show Engage the conversation on Substack at The Common Bridge!...

Jun 10, 202144 minSeason 2Ep. 39

Episode 105- Telehealth Benefits Everyone! with CJ Mark

Rich talks with veteran telehealth executive, CJ Mark about the growth of Telehealth in the last decade. They discuss the issues surrounding Telehealth, and how Covid has accelerated the importance of remote medical care. Support the show Engage the conversation on Substack at The Common Bridge!

Jun 03, 202125 minSeason 2Ep. 38

Episode 104- Cyber Security and the Perils Ahead, with Dan L. Dodson

Rich talks with Fortified Health Security CEO Dan L. Dodson about the landscape of cyber security today. They also cover national and personal security vulnerabilities and what is the path going forward. Support the show Engage the conversation on Substack at The Common Bridge!

May 29, 202133 minSeason 2Ep. 37

Episode 103- Pandemic Ending? How are Hospitals Doing? with Brian Peters

Pandemic Ending? How are Hospitals Doing? with Brian Peters. Rich brings back Brian Peters, the CEO Michigan Health and Hospital Association to talk about the current state of Covid-19; what we may have gotten right, what we may have gotten wrong and how to move forward. Support the show Engage the conversation on Substack at The Common Bridge!

May 21, 202138 minSeason 2Ep. 36

Episode 100- Part 2 of Populism Yesterday, Today and Now What? with Thomas Frank

Part 2 of a two-part interview where Rich welcomes veteran author Thomas Frank, whose study and writings on American history, and more specifically American Populism, has made him an authority on gauging polities from the right, left and everything in-between. Rich and Frank have a great conversation about the political climate today, and how things are repeating themselves some 140 years after the first great American Populism rage. Support the show Engage the conversation on Substack at The Co...

May 02, 202130 minSeason 2Ep. 33

Episode 99- Populism Yesterday, Today, and Then What?- With Tom Frank

Rich welcomes veteran author Thomas Frank, whose study and writings on American history, and more specifically American Populism, has made him an authority on gauging polities from the right, left and everything in-between. Rich and Frank have a great conversation about the political climate today, and how things are repeating themselves some 140 years after the first great American Populism rage. Support the show Engage the conversation on Substack at The Common Bridge!...

Apr 26, 202143 minSeason 2Ep. 32

Episode 98- A Close up View on Biden's Infrastructure Bill with Prof. Rick Geddes

Rich has Cornell Professor, Rick Geddes back on the Common Bridge to talk about President Biden's Infrastructure bill, what should be in it, what probably shouldn't and how we should be paying for it. This is a welcome return for Professor Geddes. Support the show Engage the conversation on Substack at The Common Bridge!

Apr 18, 202124 minSeason 2Ep. 31
Hosted on Buzzsprout
For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android