The Activest Podcast

About The Activest Podcast

The people and ideas leading the way on place-based impact investing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Publisher

Activest

Category

business · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

4 Apr 2025

Latest episode

13 Jun 2025

Latest episodes

11 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   13 Jun 2025

   The Re:Construction Will Not Be Televised with Napoleon Wallace

   Napoleon Wallace discusses the Reconstruction Era and his remix of Gil Scott-Heron’s "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised," exploring Black progress and economic rebuilding in this interview.

2. 

   30 May 2025

   End Structural Precarity

   Micah, Ellen, Homero, and John examine how economic insecurity permeates American life, exploring ways local governments can rebuild communal resources in housing, education, and work.

3. 

   23 May 2025

   Moody’s and the Big Lagging Downgrades

   Homero, Ellen, and John analyze Moody's recent downgrades of Washington, D.C., Maryland, and the United States, questioning their impact and relevance while advocating for incorporating social and community risk assessments.

4. 

   16 May 2025

   The Coming Epic Epoch

   Episode 8 - The Coming Epic Epoch Join Micah, Ellen, Homero, and John as they dig into the bond market year so far: with higher ed showing up in the muni market and uncertainty stemming from potential changes to nonprofit taxes regs. Also in this episode: the hard work Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and local governments are doing with the high quality investments they issue; and the view from the ground where public investments and policies are going hard in both directions, helping and harming. Plus, Micah offers a thumbnail sketch of the next 20 years. Recorded May 14, 2025. Learn more about what we covered in this episode… Rich Get Richer, Harvard Hit: Winners and Losers in GOP Tax Plan (https://blinks.bloomberg.com/news/stories/SW7R3ZT1UM0W). Emily Birnbaum and Steven T. Dennis on the winners (Multimillionaires, Small Business Owners, Private Equity, Domestic Car Dealers, Manufacturers, Elderly and Tipped Workers, Parents, Corporations, Defense Contractors) and losers (Low-Income Americans, Residents of High-Tax States, Renewable Energy, Electric Vehicle Makers, Elite Universities, Private Foundations, Immigrants) of the GOP tax plan (you’ll need a Bloomberg subscription for this one). Ben Gose (https://www.philanthropy.com/article/tax-bill-takes-shot-at-the-largest-foundations-and-universities), of the Chronicle of Philanthropy, on the current proposed Congressional tax legislation (May 13, 2025). (Free article when you create a login.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

5. 

   9 May 2025

   Alignment, Care & Curiosity: Why We’re Here

   With the rest of the team traveling and getting some well-deserved time out, Ellen and John tune in for this week’s conversation. What’s our personal Activest origin story, how did we get here? Listen in to how it all got started for these two and how Activest fits in their view of the world. An ice-breaker topic highlights two amazing community efforts you should learn more about: the Groundbreak Coalition (https://groundbreakcoalition.org/) and the Sandhills Cooperation Association (https://www.sandhillscooperation.org/). (23:32) Recorded April 30, 2025. Further learning from this episode… Visit the Activest website (https://activest.org/social-justice-bonds-equitable-infrastructure-report/) to find the early social justice bonds white paper John references in this episode. And check out the Impact Alpha podcast network (https://impactalpha.com/podcasts/)! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

6. 

   2 May 2025

   Next World Assets, Pt 2

   Activest was created in response to police killings and the extractive nature of fines and fees in places like Ferguson, Missouri. And our theory of change springs from the critique that this sort of public financing burdens both residents and bond holders with risk and social unrest. But how often have you wondered what would happen if the powers that be used huge investments like these to make people’s lives better and easier? In this 4th episode of the Activest Podcast, we continue the origin story of Next World Assets - our neighborhood registered investment advisor. (21:05) Recorded February 19, 2025. For the Inquiring Mind... Visit Activest Website (https://www.activest.org) And check out the Impact Alpha podcast network (https://impactalpha.com/podcasts/)! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

7. 

   25 Apr 2025

   Next World Assets, Pt 1

   Activest was created in response to police killings and the extractive nature of fines and fees in places like Ferguson, Missouri. And our theory of change springs from the critique that this sort of public financing burdens both residents and bond holders with risk and social unrest. But how often have you wondered what would happen if the powers that be used huge investments like these to make people’s lives better and easier? In this 3rd episode of the Activest Podcast, we take some time with Micah, Homero and Ellen for the origin story of Next World Assets - our neighborhood registered investment advisor. (25:21) Recorded February 19, 2025. Report: Action Center on Race and the Economy (ACRE) Police Brutality Bonds (https://acrecampaigns.org/research_post/police-brutality-bonds/) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

8. 

   18 Apr 2025

   Opportunity to Shape the Future

   Another water cooler episode, recorded on April 2, 2025. The team reflects on strategies for making it through troubled times, what’s inspiring us, and the regular rundown of what’s got our attention in public finance and the bond market right now. (34:37) References from this episode… When the Revolution Doesn’t Come (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2025/mar/25/when-the-revolution-doesnt-come-documentary) (Guardian documentary featuring the children of the Black Panthers). California’s No Place Like Home Program (https://www.hcd.ca.gov/grants-and-funding/programs-active/no-place-like-home-program) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

9. 

   11 Apr 2025

   Fiscal Justice in New Jersey

   In this episode, Micah and the team catch up on the 3 phases of work we've done in New Jersey, with the support of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. This episode kicks off with a story from Asbury Park and tries hard to be nice about payments in lieu of taxes, aka PILOTS. (25:26) Recorded February 5, 2025. Take a deeper dive with the full report on fiscal justice in New Jersey... A Statewide Fiscal Justice View of New Jersey (https://activest.org/a-statewide-fiscal-justice-view-of-new-jersey/) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

10. 

    4 Apr 2025

    What Are We Up Against *This* Week?

    You'll hear a trio of formats on this podcast. Deep dives into a specific topic, like our first episode on fiscal justice. Guest episodes featuring people we think you need to know about and listen to. And informal biweekly conversations with the Activest and Next World Assets teams. In this episode Ellen Ward Owen, Homero Radway and John Killeen catch up with a few questions: what are we watching for, what's got our attention right now? What are the barriers to participating in this market that we’re encountering this week? And where's the research pointing us? (34:40) One of our weekly chats goes live! Recorded March 19, 2025. References from this episode... People Should Be Really Into Philly’s Neighborhood Protection Initiative (https://emma.msrb.org/IssueView/Details/P2433624) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

11. 

    4 Apr 2025

    Intro to Fiscal Justice

    An easy way to understand fiscal justice is to think about all the policies and practices a city can do that are both good for citizens and good for the long-term financial health of a city. In this first episode of the Activest Podcast, the team dishes up some background on what fiscal justice is, why we coined the term, plus the research and life experiences that drive our work. With a little pause for story time, of course. (27:37) Join Micah Gilmer, Ellen Ward Owen and Homero Radway for this inaugural episode! Come check out our website to learn more: https://www.activest.org (https://www.activest.org) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Podcast Authority Score: 9 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

19

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

0

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Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.