S4 Ep52: Bonus Episode/Crosspost: Sarah Longwell on 'Possible'

The Focus Group Podcast

#Society #Politics #News #Audioboom #Focus Group

40:50

In this episode of The Innovators & Investors Podcast, host Kristian Marquez sits down with Jonathan Lowenhar, founder and managing partner of Enjoy the Work, to explore the challenges founders face as their startups grow. Jonathan shares his perspective on why successful founders often lose control of their companies, the gap between founding a startup and effectively running one, and how a lack of structured mentorship and training puts founders at risk of being replaced by their boards. They discuss the importance of aligning expectations between CEOs and investors, founder-driven sales, and the evolving startup culture that now embraces mental health and sustainable leadership. Jonathan also recounts his own diverse career journey from casino executive to fintech leader, and how these experiences shaped his mission to empower founders to develop the skills necessary to lead long-term. The conversation highlights practical strategies for founders to navigate fundraising, scaling, and board relationships, all while maintaining control and purpose in their companies. Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of the founder’s path, the systemic issues within venture capital, and the emerging solutions that support founder longevity and success. Learn more about Enjoy the Work at: https://enjoythework.com/ Connect with Jonathan Lowenhar on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jlowenhar/ Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://finstratmgmt.com/innovators-investors-podcast/ Want to learn more about Kristian Marquez's work? Check out his website at https://finstratmgmt.com…

for ca. et år siden 1:10:56

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Sarah recently sat down with Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger on their podcast Possible to talk about the future of politics, the origins of her focus group work, and how artificial intelligence might impact that work.
https://possible.fm/podcast

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S4 Ep52: Bonus Episode/Crosspost: Sarah Longwell on 'Possible'

The Focus Group Podcast

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published for ca. et år siden

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166 episoder

#Society #Politics #News #Audioboom #Focus Group

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The Focus Group Podcast

1
S6 Ep9: Virginia: National Politics is Local (with Jeff Schapiro) 59:11

for 6 dage siden59:11

59:11

No election in 2025 has been more impacted by the Trump presidency than the elections in Virginia. This state doesn't vote for MAGA candidates anymore, but their nominee for governor, Winsome Earle-Sears, isn't really campaigning like that. So one of Sarah's favorite Democrats, Abigail Spanberger, looks poised for a solid win on Election Day. Meanwhile in the Attorney General race, the Republican incumbent, Jason Miyares could pull off an unexpected comeback, so we talked to voters who are splitting their tickets between Spanberger and Miyares. Former Richmond Times-Dispatch columnist and University of Virginia Center for Politics scholar Jeff Schapiro joins the show to put this year's election in the context of Virginia's broad political evolution. Show notes: Jeff Schapiro in Crystal Ball: The Virginia Elections: Plenty of Late Drama, Although Not at the Top of the Ticket…

The Focus Group Podcast

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S6 Ep8: New Jersey: The 'No Narc' State (with Jonathan V. Last) 1:02:07

for 13 dage siden1:02:07

1:02:07

The New Jersey governor's race is a little too close for comfort, after New Jersey had one of the largest swings toward Donald Trump of any state in the country, and the Democratic candidate, Mikie Sherrill is on track for a sub-optimal performance on Election Day against a sometimes-MAGA Republican, Jack Ciattarelli. Sarah doesn't let JVL on The Focus Group very often, but made an exception because he's one of The Bulwark's resident New Jerseyans. You don't want to miss this one.…

The Focus Group Podcast

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S6 Ep7: New Yorkers Brace for Mamdani (with Harry Siegel) 59:54

for 20 dage siden59:54

59:54

Zohran Mamdani, the young, telegenic, democratic socialist state assemblyman, looks set to be New York City's next mayor. So how are New Yorkers feeling about turning the keys over to him? We asked some of his supporters and detractors. Harry Siegel, senior editor at The City , returns to the show to give his two cents on one of the wilder New York City races in recent memory. show notes: Get free shipping and 365 day returns from Quince at https://Quince.com/THEFOCUSGROUP . Get 30% off your first order with Soul at https://GetSoul.com with promo code THEFOCUSGROUP. By Harry Siegel: FAQ NYC Podcast…

The Focus Group Podcast

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S6 Ep6: They're 'Opening the Door' (with Andrew Egger) 49:24

for 27 dage siden49:24

49:24

For the last few weeks, the Trump administration has escalated its authoritarian impulses, from pressuring ABC to cancel a late night host, to deploying the Texas National Guard to Chicago. You might call it "authoritarian," but the voters are just getting mildly queasy. The Bulwark's Andrew Egger joins the show to talk about the news, the voters, and how we're even supposed to cover it these days. By Andrew Egger: Morning Shots: The Insidious Effort to Rationalize Trump’s Lawfare Get your first three months with Mint Mobile for $15/month at https://MintMobile.com/THEFOCUSGROUP .…

The Focus Group Podcast

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S6 Ep5: I'd Do Anything To Win (But I Won't Do That) (with Dan Pfeiffer) 59:42

for 5 weeks siden59:42

59:42

We haven't caught up with Democratic voters since the summer. So, who do they see in the Democratic Party who is distinguishing themselves? And, do Democratic voters really want to shut down the government? It turns out some of them are really wrestling with how to wield power. Dan Pfeiffer, co-host of Pod Save America and author of the Substack newsletter The Message Box joins Sarah to download on how the base of the party is feeling. Get free shipping and 365 day returns from Quince at https://Quince.com/THEFOCUSGROUP . By Dan Pfeiffer: Why Everyone Should Stop Freaking Out About Gavin Newsom's Social Media The Democratic Divide That Could Decide 2026 (and 2028) New NYT Poll Shows How Dems Can Win the Shutdown - and the Majority…

The Focus Group Podcast

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S6 Ep4: The Right's 'Turning Point'? (with Will Sommer) 49:56

for 6 weeks siden49:56

49:56

Charlie Kirk was one of the most important figures in conservative media for over a decade, especially for Gen Z. We asked a couple of focus groups of young conservatives what Kirk meant to them, how they're grappling with his passing, and who else they think will take up his mantle on the right. Will Sommer, author of The Bulwark 's False Flag newsletter, joins Sarah to discuss the state of young conservatives and his reporting on Kirk's legacy. Get your first three months with Mint Mobile for $15/month at https://MintMobile.com/THEFOCUSGROUP . Get 30% off your first order with Soul at https://GetSoul.com with promo code THEFOCUSGROUP.…

The Focus Group Podcast

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S6 Ep3: 'Secure Borders...At What Cost?' (with Adrian Carrasquillo) 54:49

for 7 weeks siden54:49

54:49

Donald Trump is bleeding support from Hispanic voters, including from some who voted for him. So, we found some former Trump voters who are souring on him, and asked them why. Adrian Carrasquillo, author of The Bulwark's Huddled Masses newsletter, joins the show to discuss voter sentiments on immigration, the future of the immigration debate (especially among Democrats), and his on-the-ground reporting in cities around the country. By Adrian Carrasquillo: Trump Hasn’t Invaded Chicago, But the City Is Still Rattled Get free shipping and 365 day returns from Quince at https://Quince.com/THEFOCUSGROUP . For our friends in Canada, we added a second live show with Sarah, Tim and Sam to the schedule. Tickets are on sale now for our bonus Bulwark Live Q&A Matinee show on Saturday, September 27, here .…

The Focus Group Podcast

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S6 Ep2: You Can Ramp It Up or Ramp It Down (with Rachel Kleinfeld) 42:24

for 8 weeks siden42:24

42:24

The murder of Charlie Kirk was the culmination of Americans' long-brewing fear of political violence. First, political violence expert Rachel Kleinfeld joins Sarah to discuss the ramifications of Kirk's death on the American body politic, and then Sarah discusses voters' fears of political violence that we've heard through the years.…

The Focus Group Podcast

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S6 Ep1: Swing Voters Say Trump is "Meh" (with Ashley Parker) 56:12

for 9 weeks siden56:12

56:12

Donald Trump has run into some summer doldrums...from the uncertainty in the economy, to his Big Beautiful Bill, to his refusal to come clean about Jeffrey Epstein. We're wondering how voters are processing the last couple of months. Atlantic staff writer Ashley Parker, who's covered Trump for over a decade, joins Sarah for our season premiere. By Ashley Parker: 'I Run the Country and the World' Flattery, Firmness, and Flourishes Why Is the National Guard in D.C.? Even They Don’t Know. Inside the White House’s Epstein Strategy…

The Focus Group Podcast

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S5 Ep26: What Are Focus Groups For Anyway? 34:09

for 12 weeks siden34:09

34:09

The Focus Group Podcast will be back for real in a couple of weeks, but by popular demand, Sarah and her producer, Conor Kilgore, take on some of our listeners' frequently asked questions about how and why they do all these focus groups.

The Focus Group Podcast

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S5 Ep25: 2024 Trump Voters on the "Epstein Files" 25:15

for 17 weeks siden25:15

25:15

The Focus Group Podcast is still on hiatus, but the Trump administration's walkback of the promised "Epstein Files" this week got us curious about how voters were thinking. The Bulwark's own Will Sommer sat down with Sarah to break down a focus group we convened with 2024 Trump voters who disapprove of Trump's job performance, and discuss how Democrats can talk about this Epstein news.…

The Focus Group Podcast

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S5 Ep24: Do the Next Right Thing, Change the World (with Heather Cox Richardson) 1:01:18

for 19 weeks siden1:01:18

1:01:18

Our season finale is a bit of a pep talk. America is in a precarious place, but Americans everywhere are speaking up against the authoritarian threat. Historian extraordinaire Heather Cox Richardson joins Sarah to discuss the lessons history leaves for this moment, and Americans' role in fighting back. By Heather Cox Richardson: Letters from an American Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America…

The Focus Group Podcast

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S5 Ep23: Cuomo vs. Mamdani (with Harry Siegel) 59:30

for 20 weeks siden59:30

59:30

The New York City mayoral primary is "dumb" and getting lots of "dumb attention," at least according to our (radically candid) guest. Democratic voters face a choice between disgraced former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and the inexperienced socialist state assemblyman Zohran Mamdani. There's another candidate who was just arrested by ICE, which may shake up this race at the VERY end. The City 's Harry Siegel joins Sarah for a wide-ranging conversation about New York City's politics today. By The City : The City 's Meet Your Mayor Quiz FAQ NYC Podcast By Harry Siegel: NYC’s lousy election rules create lousy choices Mamdani’s moment for momentum: The surging socialist in the Democratic mayoral primary…

The Focus Group Podcast

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S5 Ep22: 'This Country is Effed' (with Jonathan Cohn) 53:17

for 21 weeks siden53:17

53:17

Donald Trump's Big Beautiful Bill is moving through Congress, and you may be surprised by some former Trump voters' reactions. Bulwark in-house policy wonk Jonathan Cohn joins Sarah to talk about the bill's negative consequences and why healthcare has been such a political albatross for the Republican Party. We also learn that plenty of voters are irritated by Congress only seeming to pass 'big' bills these days.…

The Focus Group Podcast

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S5 Ep21: New Jersey's (Very) Odd Year (with Amy Walter) 59:54

for 22 weeks siden59:54