TSC 94: Jim Campbell, and the Truth about Bernie Madoff Episode Summary Jim Campbell, author of Madoff Talks: Uncovering the Untold Story Behind the Most Notorious Ponzi Scheme in History , returns to The Sydcast to reveal the truth about Bernie Madoff, how his mind worked, and how he came to run the most infamous Ponzi scheme in history. Jim’s direct access to Bernie and his family makes for new and never-before-heard details about this master criminal and his scheme. Get into Bernie Madoff’s m...
Jun 21, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 94
TSC 93: Reverend Leah Daughtry: A Surprising Life in Religion and Politics Episode Summary Syd and his guest Reverend Leah Daughtry break all the rules of polite conversation to discuss faith and politics, and why Rev. Daughtry has hope for America’s future. Rev. Daughtry answers questions such as should we raise a red flag when a politician visits a church, how can we believe in God in the face of evil, and how did the Black Lives Matter movement finally break through to the broader community? ...
Jun 14, 2021•58 min•Ep. 93
TSC 92: Henry Cisneros: A Life of Service, from the Barrio to the Mayor's Office to Clinton's Cabinet Episode Summary The Honorable Henry Cisneros, former mayor of San Antonio and HUD Secretary, joins The Sydcast to talk about his life’s work in politics from city council to the president’s cabinet. Mr. Cisneros speaks of the power of local government, place-based practices, and entrepreneurial thinking in politics. Hear Mr. Cisneros’s take on the atomization of our news sources, free enterprise...
Jun 07, 2021•59 min•Ep. 92
TSC 91: Tom Mendoza: Technology and Culture from a Silicon Valley Pioneer Episode Summary Tom Mendoza – NY kid who boot-strapped a career of impact; philanthropist; evangelist for building strong corporate cultures and how to do it (“Catch Someone Doing Something Right”); former senior Silicon Valley executive at NetApp; story-teller; teacher; engaging conversationalist. In other words, the perfect Sydcast guest. Syd Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management at the T...
May 31, 2021•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 91
Episode Summary Finding the right place to start when it comes to investing in companies can appear mind-boggling, especially when times are constantly changing. Eric Jackson, President of EMJ Capitol, explains the complexities of companies, how to find the best investments, and the process of how he got started. Syd joins Eric Jackson to understand how to invest in and research the up-and-coming companies, niches, and trends. Syd Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Manag...
Feb 22, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 90
Episode Summary Take a trip through time with Sid Ganis as he shares how a couple of rejection letters shaped his amazing and long career as a motion picture executive and producer. Movie buffs will revel in his stories about working closely with George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, and Francis Ford Coppola, what happens off-camera during awards shows, and how Hollywood is evolving into a more socially conscious industry. Syd Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management at t...
Feb 15, 2021•52 min•Ep. 89
Episode Summary Are you an extrovert or an introvert? Karl Moore has interviewed hundreds of CEOs and concluded that many were neither. Or, more precisely, many were both. These “ambiverts,” who were outgoing when the situation called for it, introspective at other times, adjusted to the situation they were in. Which holds a pretty powerful lesson for each of us, whether it is how to communicate more effectively or how to show up at work and at home. Syd and Karl dig into this, and more, in this...
Feb 08, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 88
Episode Summary Art has long been considered a commodity but, thanks in large part to a technologically connected world, accessibility and availability have helped turn creative genius into “cultural capital.” Chad Elias combines an art history lecture with a business seminar to provide a comprehensive lesson on the ways art adds value beyond its beauty. Syd reconnects with his former teacher to discuss Andy Warhol, Banksy, and the business of art, in this episode of The Sydcast . Syd Finkelstei...
Feb 01, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 87
Episode Summary Generational differences may seem to divide us but there is one thing that unites us all, change. Change is the catalyst that propels each new generation to make an impact and leave their mark on civilization and Moj Mahdara has secured her legacy with the launch of Beautycon, a diverse and inclusive beauty brand that aims to change the popular perception of beauty and our access to it. Moj and Syd discuss all things change; how to see it, how to make it happen, and most of all, ...
Jan 25, 2021•52 min•Ep. 86
Episode Summary Sara Mathew would describe herself as an accidental CEO, someone more lucky than good, but luck isn’t what propelled Sara from clerk to vice president at Procter and Gamble, it was because Sara gets things done. But to become CEO and Chair of Dun & Bradstreet, Sara had to overcome a singular challenge, herself. In this episode of The Sydcast , Syd and Sara talk about the benefits of feedback and failure, discomfort and self-awareness, and how everyone has the potential to mak...
Jan 18, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 85
Episode Summary Raised to believe she could be anything, Christine Spadafor has done almost everything, from competitive ice-skater to Harvard Law School to CEO. And a dozen other pretty cool things too. Which makes her an ideal Sydcast guest! While her deep background in healthcare helped her through her own personal health crisis, it has been her indomitable spirit and intellectual restlessness that has really powered Christine’s incredible journey, in this episode of The Sydcast . Syd Finkels...
Jan 11, 2021•56 min•Ep. 84
Episode Summary Powered by a voracious curiosity to learn how things work, Stephanie Mitchko-Beale blazed a trail through the world of engineering at a time when women in STEM were an anomaly. Now, as the Chief Technology Officer at Charter Communications, Stephanie brings insight to how to manage a career when fulfilling your dreams and bypassing the naysayers means everything. Syd Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth...
Jan 04, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 83
Episode Summary How many Emmy-award winning journalists working in war zones in the Middle East do you know who go on to become startup CEO of a hot new media company? That’s Jeff Kofman, the guy who got fed up spending hours transcribing interviews while on assignment and thought, there has to be a better way. And there is, and he calls it Trint. In this episode of The Sydcast , Jeff shares his story of what it took to go from one world to an entirely new one, and some of the adventures he enco...
Dec 28, 2020•56 min•Ep. 82
Episode Summary In the 1930s, when a fiery mistress decided to get her revenge, she did not serve it cold, she served it hot enough to burn and helped create the legendary Nashville-style Hot Chicken. Kim Prince carries on the family tradition with her restaurant Hotville and has been scorching tastebuds and the competition in Los Angeles. The importance of legacy and family are at the core of the conversation, in this episode of The Sydcast . Syd Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth P...
Dec 21, 2020•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 81
Episode Summary From the moment we first gazed upon the stars humans have wondered if there is life beyond our own planet. Dr. Kevin Hand, an astrobiologist at NASA, has traveled to the far reaches of our own planet, including to the bottom of the ocean with James Cameron, to learn what life might be like on another planet. Kevin talks with Syd about why we are searching for Goldilocks, how the universe is like a campfire, and the upcoming NASA mission to Europa, in this episode of The Sydcast ....
Dec 14, 2020•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 80
Episode Summary In a search to live freely, Fleet Maull made regrettable choices that caused his life to take a dramatic turn, but also provided the impetus for a spiritual awakening. That transformative journey led him to spearhead prison reform programs and mindfulness training programs for public-safety sectors that are changing and saving lives. Syd talks with the Prison Monk about how the choices we make lead us to the person we become, in this episode of The Sydcast . Syd Finkelstein Syd F...
Dec 07, 2020•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 79
Episode Summary Chez Panisse has indelibly shaped California cuisine since its inception in 1971 and Lindsey and Charles Shere were there from the beginning, helping to change the landscape for female chefs. Influenced by the politics and art of Berkeley in the 1960s, Charles and Lindsey found their niche for unconventional thinkers and doers and they continue to live their life by following their hearts. Listen in for the era-spanning experiences of a chef and a composer, in this episode of The...
Nov 30, 2020•56 min•Ep. 78
Episode Summary Rachel Feintzeig, a columnist at the Wall Street Journal who writes about work and life, has a knack for asking great questions that resonate. Whether it’s how it feels to have a partner on the front lines of COVID to how to get noticed and promoted when working remotely, her writing gets to what people are experiencing, right now. On this episode of The Sydcast, it’s Rachel that answers the questions, about her journey as a reporter, how to make people mad, and the effects of CO...
Nov 23, 2020•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 77
Episode Summary From military logistics to mega-concerts to self-driving cars, Blair LaCorte has had a seat at the head of the table. How does one person move so ably from industry to industry, and what do you learn along the way? In this episode of The Sydcast we skip the platitudes and get right to what leadership looks like in the trenches, what skills make the difference, and why curiosity is the secret sauce of business success. Syd Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor o...
Nov 16, 2020•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 76
Episode Summary When the world continues to throw new challenges your way, improv might be the most important life skill you’ve never learned. Collaboration, reading a room, dealing with failure, Kelly Leonard of legendary The Second City theater details how improvisation can benefit your life beyond creating a great sketch comedy. Kelly shares what it was like seeing John Belushi and Chris Farley on stage, working with Tina Fey and Stephen Colbert, what actor really surprised him, and more from...
Nov 09, 2020•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 75
Episode Summary If you really want to shake up a family dinner just bring up sports or politics. Pepper in a bit of business and crime and you have Jim Campbell shaking things up on talk radio. From his start in radio, to his explosive interview with Bernie Madoff, and beyond, Jim has always had a passion for providing unbiased information in a world where facts matter less than ratings. Gain perspective on why some successful people become bad at what they do, in this episode of The Sydcast . S...
Nov 02, 2020•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 74
Episode Summary As the world rages around us it may seem like there is no rule of law to keep us safe but Judge Fred Block provides us with ample evidence to be optimistic about the enduring independence of the Judicial Branch. Speaking to Syd from Greece, Fred shares his journey to a judgeship, why New York is still a great place to live, and why he doesn’t consider the infamous Gotti trial to be his most important case. In this episode of The Sydcast , get an enlightening view from the bench w...
Oct 26, 2020•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 73
Episode Summary Football is synonymous with Sundays in America and the NFL draft has become almost like a celebrity awards show. What makes it so popular? Why have other sports not achieved that status? Kevin Demoff, Chief Operating Officer of the Los Angeles Rams, not only answers that question but also talks about how data drives the draft, why defense isn’t the best offense when it comes to hiring diversity, and how the NFL is continuing to operate under COVID. Get unprecedented access to the...
Oct 19, 2020•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 72
Episode Summary Why is Bob Wallace – successful entrepreneur, advisor to senior executives, and author of multiple books on business – running as an Independent candidate for mayor of Baltimore? And why does this outsider, in a city where Democrats have dominated the political arena for decades, actually think he has a real chance to win? In this episode of The Sydcast, meet Bob Wallace and hear his story that took him from the Baltimore projects to the corner office, and now, maybe, City Hall. ...
Oct 12, 2020•57 min•Ep. 71
Episode Summary The Guggenheim Museum is one of the greatest art institutions in the United States, and in the world. Who works there? Who are these people we know as “curators?” What goes on behind the scenes in preparing exhibitions? The Sydcast goes on a road trip to the NY Guggenheim (pre-COVID) to talk to curator Megan Fontanella, who shares her passion for the stories behind the historic artworks in the collection, her journey to art and curatorship, and what it takes to create exhibits th...
Oct 05, 2020•57 min•Ep. 70
Episode Summary Coffee, cheese, chocolate, carbs. We all love to eat, but we don’t completely understand how food affects our health and that’s what Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian wants to change. A cardiologist by trade and a food scientist by necessity, Dr. Mozaffarian appreciates the complex relationship between food and health and the need to make choices based on individual health needs, not broad guidelines. Put down that diet magazine and get ready to hear the real skinny on nutrition with Dr. D...
Sep 28, 2020•57 min•Ep. 69
Episode Summary Bill Helman sits on the board of directors for some of the most influential institutions that are changing the business landscape and, as a partner at Greylock, he is helping to foster the next generation of big ideas. Internet conspiracy theories, flying cars, and a talent search for a president are among the scenery on this wild ride of an episode of The Sydcast . Syd Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmo...
Sep 21, 2020•52 min•Ep. 68
Episode Summary Listening to Oliver Kremer of Dos Toros Taqueria illustrate the beauty of the burrito, it is easy to understand how he and his brother, Leo, found success bringing Mission-style Mexican food from San Francisco to New York. Oliver and Syd discuss the ingredients that came together to launch Dos Toros and how Oliver, Leo, and Dos Toros have grown and changed along the journey, in this episode of The Sydcast . Syd Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Managemen...
Sep 14, 2020•57 min•Ep. 67
Episode Summary When taking off in an Apache helicopter you turn into the wind and face that wind head-on ... and that is how Shannon Polson takes on life. A fighter pilot, mountain climber, and author, Shannon is the embodiment of grit, whose energy and personal story inspires others to change, overcome, and transform. Syd talks with his former student about her unique military experience, family tragedy, and navigating life, in this episode of The Sydcast . Syd Finkelstein Syd Finkelstein is t...
Sep 07, 2020•50 min•Ep. 66
Episode Summary If Stuart Weitzman - storyteller, entrepreneur, impresario - had a motto it would be “stand on the shoulders of others.” That simple phrase characterizes his approach to business, branding, and advertising and has helped him create a shoe that regularly walks the red carpet while remaining affordably accessible. From his first shoe design sketches to opening the first shoe store on Rodeo Drive, Stuart shares stories of how Stuart Weitzman shoes became a coveted celebrity brand, i...
Aug 31, 2020•55 min•Ep. 65
