Podcast
Forged in America
Hosted by Ravin Gandhi and Al Goldstein · EN
Forged in America is a conversation between longtime friends & entrepreneurs Ravin Gandhi (GMM Nonstick Coatings) and Al Goldstein (Avant, Stoic Lane, Pangea) who have founded, built, and exited numerous businesses in addition to investing in dozens of successful startups. This podcast is about how consequential decisions actually get made under pressure—across business, investing, and the institutions shaping the USA. We break down how capital gets allocated, how leaders think in moments of uncertainty, and where smart systems—markets, companies, or political movements—develop blind spots.
24episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
E44: Pete Kadens created $4B, 7,000 jobs, and wants to fix America
1w ago01:13:34Tap to summarizeEntrepreneur and philanthropist Pete Kadens joins Ravin Gandhi and Al Goldstein for one of the most candid political conversations we've had. A lifelong Democrat, Pete doesn't shy away from criticizing his own party, while also challenging conservatives on issues ranging from democracy and immigration to education, meritocracy, and the future of America.This isn't a shouting match—it's three longtime friends debating difficult issues with honesty, data, and mutual respect.Pete Kadens is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist.He co-founded Green Thumb Industries, one of the largest publicly traded cannabis companies in the United States, and previously co-founded SoCore Energy, a leading commercial solar developer.Through Hope Chicago, Pete has helped thousands of students and families pursue higher education by funding college tuition and wraparound support services. The organization has committed more than $100 million toward expanding educational opportunity in Chicago.00:00 Introduction02:00 Is socialism taking over the Democratic Party?08:30 The biggest threats facing American democracy12:00 Personal responsibility vs. victimhood culture18:45 Can education fix America's biggest problems?25:00 What broke public education?33:00 Why college is losing its value41:30 Meritocracy, DEI, and affirmative action49:30 Immigration and America's border debate58:30 The Supreme Court and the future of conservatism1:02:00 Lightning Round1:07:00 Pete predicts the 2028 electionDisclaimer: The Forged in America podcast features personal stories, experiences, and opinions from hosts Al Goldstein and Ravin Gandhi. This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not investment advice, financial advice, solicitation of investments, or any form of professional recommendation.We strive for accuracy, but mistakes can happen and are unintentional. Nothing discussed should be relied upon for making financial, business, or personal decisions. Always consult qualified professionals before acting on anything you hear.Past performance or results mentioned do not guarantee future outcomes. Listeners are responsible for their own choices.
Transcribe →E43: Morning Consult's $1B Founder on Why Entrepreneurship Is So Painful.
2w ago00:37:24Tap to summarizeMichael Ramlet is the co-founder and CEO of Morning Consult, one of the world's leading decision-intelligence companies. What began with just $30,000 of angel capital has grown into a company generating more than $100 million in annual revenue, serving many of the world's largest corporations, financial institutions, and governments.In this episode of Forged in America, Michael sits down with Ravin Gandhi and Al Goldstein to discuss the realities of entrepreneurship, why most people shouldn't start a company, the future of AI-powered decision making, fundraising, political forecasting, and the lessons he's learned building a billion-dollar business over more than a decade:"The right decision for most people is don't start the business.""You have to have one or two co-founders. It is so exceedingly difficult to go that path alone.""Data doesn't replace leadership.""My biggest stress today is the same stress I had the day I started: Are we moving fast enough?""The success isn't raising the round. The success is what you do with the money."Michael Ramlet is the co-founder and CEO of Morning Consult, a global decision-intelligence company that provides real-time data and insights to major corporations, financial institutions, and governments. Under his leadership, Morning Consult has become one of the most influential data platforms in the world, tracking consumer sentiment, brands, economic trends, and geopolitical developments across dozens of countries.Disclaimer: The Forged in America podcast features personal stories, experiences, and opinions from hosts Al Goldstein and Ravin Gandhi. This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not investment advice, financial advice, solicitation of investments, or any form of professional recommendation.We strive for accuracy, but mistakes can happen and are unintentional. Nothing discussed should be relied upon for making financial, business, or personal decisions. Always consult qualified professionals before acting on anything you hear.Past performance or results mentioned do not guarantee future outcomes. Listeners are responsible for their own choices.
Transcribe →E42: The Financial Guru to Billionaires On What's Coming Next
3w ago00:47:51Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Forged in America, Ravin Gandhi and Al Goldstein sit down with Rob Skinner, Founder and Managing Partner of IEQ Capital, a wealth management firm overseeing more than $50 billion in assets.Rob has spent decades advising founders, entrepreneurs, and some of the most successful families in America. The conversation ranges from AI and SpaceX to wealth psychology, raising motivated children, and the biggest mistakes people make after a liquidity event. Some quotes from Rob:"Stock prices follow earnings.""Concentration builds wealth. Diversification protects it.""The game changes from offense to defense.""If inheritance accelerates purpose instead of replacing purpose, it can be a tremendous force for good.""You get one chance at being great."Rob Skinner is the Founder and Managing Partner of IEQ Capital, one of the fastest-growing independent wealth management firms in the United States. Prior to founding IEQ, he co-founded Luminous Capital, which was later acquired by First Republic Bank. He has spent his career advising entrepreneurs, founders, executives, and multi-generational families on investing, wealth preservation, tax strategy, and family legacy.NOTE: Rob Skinner, a co-founder of IEQ, appeared as a guest on this podcast, which is hosted by a client of IEQ, giving rise to an inherent conflict of interest by virtue of that client relationship. Neither Mr. Skinner nor IEQ provided or received any compensation or other consideration in connection with the appearance, which was made on a voluntary basis. The views expressed by Mr. Skinner are his own and those of IEQ and do not necessarily reflect those of the podcast host or its affiliates. Nothing in this appearance should be construed as investment, legal, tax, or other professional advice, or as any recommendation, offer, or solicitation.Disclaimer: The Forged in America podcast features personal stories, experiences, and opinions from hosts Al Goldstein and Ravin Gandhi. This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not investment advice, financial advice, solicitation of investments, or any form of professional recommendation.We strive for accuracy, but mistakes can happen and are unintentional. Nothing discussed should be relied upon for making financial, business, or personal decisions. Always consult qualified professionals before acting on anything you hear.Past performance or results mentioned do not guarantee future outcomes. Listeners are responsible for their own choices.
Transcribe →E41: Victor Ciardelli - Angry Kid to $500B Mortgage Empire
4w ago00:52:31Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Forged in America, Victor Ciardelli tells Ravin and Al didn't grow up looking like a future CEO.He describes himself as an angry kid with a chip on his shoulder, a problem with authority, and an unshakable belief that he was destined for something bigger. That mindset helped him survive near-bankruptcy, the dot-com crash, the 2008 financial crisis, COVID, and every challenge in between.Today, Victor is the founder and CEO of Rate, the third-largest mortgage lender in America. Over the last five years alone, the company has funded more than $500 billion in mortgages while remaining privately held.In this episode, Victor shares the mindset, mistakes, and principles that helped him build one of the largest financial services companies in the country.Disclaimer: The Forged in America podcast features personal stories, experiences, and opinions from hosts Al Goldstein and Ravin Gandhi. This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not investment advice, financial advice, solicitation of investments, or any form of professional recommendation.We strive for accuracy, but mistakes can happen and are unintentional. Nothing discussed should be relied upon for making financial, business, or personal decisions. Always consult qualified professionals before acting on anything you hear.Past performance or results mentioned do not guarantee future outcomes. Listeners are responsible for their own choices.
Transcribe →E40: Mitchell Green's $9B and Why Persistence Beats Intelligence
Jun 300:52:36Tap to summarizeHow does a kid with ADD, average grades, and an obsession with persistence build one of the world's most unique growth equity firms?In Episode 40 of Forged in America, Ravin Gandhi and Al Goldstein sit down with Mitchell Green, founder of Lead Edge Capital, a $9B growth equity firm built on an unconventional idea: world-class entrepreneurs and executives can be more valuable than institutions.Mitchell explains how cold calling 10,000 companies shaped his philosophy, why persistence beats intelligence, why AI may reward EQ more than IQ, and why America still remains the greatest place in the world to build something meaningful.This episode explores entrepreneurship, AI, education, wealth inequality, persistence, investing, and what young people should do if they want to succeed in the next twenty years.00:00 Introduction to Mitchell Green and Lead Edge Capital03:15 Building a $9B firm with entrepreneurs instead of institutions08:45 Why persistence became Lead Edge's superpower14:10 The cold-calling lessons that shaped Mitchell's career19:45 What young people should do if they want to get rich22:00 Why trades, entrepreneurship, and sales skills matter more than ever24:30 Why AI may make EQ more valuable than IQ30:10 Wealth inequality, manufacturing, and why many Americans feel left behind36:20 Politics, opportunity, and preserving the American dream41:00 Lightning round: leverage, founder optimism, AI bubbles, and investing47:30 Why reading still matters in an AI world51:00 Cars, skiing, persistence, and living life fullyPersistence may be the single most underrated competitive advantageAI will likely reward communication, sales, and EQ more than raw intellectBuilding networks creates enormous compounding advantagesEntrepreneurship remains one of the best paths to opportunityMany economic frustrations in America are real—but solutions are complicatedYou do not need the perfect background to build something extraordinaryMitchell Green is the founder and managing partner of Lead Edge Capital, a growth equity firm with over $9 billion under management. Lead Edge has invested across software, internet, fintech, and consumer businesses using a unique network-driven investment model powered by hundreds of executives, founders, and operators.Disclaimer: The Forged in America podcast features personal stories, experiences, and opinions from hosts Al Goldstein and Ravin Gandhi. This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not investment advice, financial advice, solicitation of investments, or any form of professional recommendation.We strive for accuracy, but mistakes can happen and are unintentional. Nothing discussed should be relied upon for making financial, business, or personal decisions. Always consult qualified professionals before acting on anything you hear.Past performance or results mentioned do not guarantee future outcomes. Listeners are responsible for their own choices.
Transcribe →E39: AI, Socialism & Ideas You’re Not Allowed To Question
May 2900:48:45Tap to summarizeThis week Ravin and Al tackle one of the most important—and uncomfortable—concepts shaping modern society: the idea of the Overton Window.Why do certain topics suddenly become impossible to discuss? Why do cultural norms seem to shift overnight? And what happens when institutions stop rewarding curiosity and start rewarding conformity?The conversation spans AI, economics, politics, media, culture, and technological disruption as Ravin and Al debate whether we are living through one of the fastest societal shifts in modern history.Topics include:• Why some AI leaders believe massive white-collar job destruction is coming—and why others think the future is far more optimistic• The OpenAI math breakthrough and what happens when machines start solving problems humans cannot solve themselves• Are companies genuinely replacing workers with AI—or simply blaming AI for overhiring?• Why productivity explosions historically create more opportunity rather than less• The rise of socialism, changing political coalitions, and whether America’s cultural center is moving• Media incentives, institutional trust, and why some stories dominate headlines while others disappear• The debate around “weaponized empathy” and whether good intentions can create bad outcomes• Affirmative action, meritocracy, and why younger generations increasingly disagree on basic facts• Why both hosts remain optimistic despite technological, political, and cultural volatilityDisclaimer: The Forged in America podcast features personal stories, experiences, and opinions from hosts Al Goldstein and Ravin Gandhi. This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not investment advice, financial advice, solicitation of investments, or any form of professional recommendation.We strive for accuracy, but mistakes can happen and are unintentional. Nothing discussed should be relied upon for making financial, business, or personal decisions. Always consult qualified professionals before acting on anything you hear.Past performance or results mentioned do not guarantee future outcomes. Listeners are responsible for their own choices.
Transcribe →E38: The Venture Capitalist Advising World Leaders
May 2200:44:35Tap to summarizeOn this episode of Forged in America, Ravin Gandhi and Al Goldstein sit down with venture capitalist, author, and entrepreneur Michael Eisenberg for a wide-ranging conversation spanning venture capital, geopolitics, entrepreneurship, parenting, and the future of America and Israel.Michael shares his remarkable path from growing up in New York to moving to Israel and building Aleph into one of the country’s leading venture firms with over 1B in AUM. He explains why he believes traditional venture capital may be entering a period of major disruption, why liquidity has changed the game, and how the rise of giant funds and AI spending could reshape the industry permanently.The conversation expands far beyond venture. Michael discusses why America and Israel have historically produced outsized numbers of entrepreneurs, introducing his concept of “agency at scale” — the idea that societies thrive when individuals are taught responsibility and encouraged to solve problems rather than wait for institutions to act.Ravin and Al also explore patriotism, immigration, education, parenting, national service, and why Michael believes modern society risks losing some of the grit that built previous generations.The episode closes with a lightning round on AI, Elon Musk, robotics, Mars, and advice for young people entering adulthood.Disclaimer: The Forged in America podcast features personal stories, experiences, and opinions from hosts Al Goldstein and Ravin Gandhi. This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not investment advice, financial advice, solicitation of investments, or any form of professional recommendation.We strive for accuracy, but mistakes can happen and are unintentional. Nothing discussed should be relied upon for making financial, business, or personal decisions. Always consult qualified professionals before acting on anything you hear.Past performance or results mentioned do not guarantee future outcomes. Listeners are responsible for their own choices.
Transcribe →E37: Billionaire Husband & Wife Traders Built an Empire at PEAK6
May 1901:01:40Tap to summarizeJenny Just and Matt Hulsizer built Peak6 from a $1.5 million trading bet in 1997 into a multi-billion-dollar fintech empire spanning trading, clearing, insurance, venture investing, esports, and AI. But this episode goes far beyond markets and money. It’s a masterclass in probabilistic thinking, founder psychology, marriage under pressure, and adapting during technological disruption.Jenny and Matt explain to Ravin and Al how a visit to Wendy’s inspired the operational architecture behind Peak6’s trading systems, why they believe AI is the greatest opportunity of our era, and how “working yourself out of a job” became a core cultural principle inside their companies. They discuss the evolution from floor trading to AI-driven markets, how poker shaped their decision-making frameworks, and why self-awareness—not certainty—has been their biggest edge as investors and operators.The discussion also dives into how they evaluate founders, what they learned from wins like Robinhood and CoreWeave, mistakes they made deploying capital outside their circle of competence, and how they navigate disagreements while running a business together as husband and wife. Along the way, they share candid insights on raising children around wealth, why they nearly took Peak6 public, what they think about today’s political and economic environment, and why they remain aggressively optimistic about the future despite widespread fear surrounding AI and markets.Disclaimer: The Forged in America podcast features personal stories, experiences, and opinions from hosts Al Goldstein and Ravin Gandhi. This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not investment advice, financial advice, solicitation of investments, or any form of professional recommendation.We strive for accuracy, but mistakes can happen and are unintentional. Nothing discussed should be relied upon for making financial, business, or personal decisions. Always consult qualified professionals before acting on anything you hear.Past performance or results mentioned do not guarantee future outcomes. Listeners are responsible for their own choices.
Transcribe →E36: Ravin & Al On Kind Lies Vs. Unkind Truths
May 1400:45:43Tap to summarizeOn this episode of Forged in America, Ravin Gandhi and Al Goldstein tackle politics and culture using this lens: the conflict between “kind lies” and “unkind truths.”The conversation spans the economy, AI, tariffs, immigration, media bias, socialism, crime, race, education, and the coming midterms. They debate whether America’s institutions, media, and political parties are increasingly rewarding comforting narratives over difficult realities — and what that means for the future of the country.They discuss why markets continue to surge despite predictions of collapse, the manufacturing revival underway in America, the growing divide between progressive and conservative worldviews, and the rise of socialism inside the Democratic Party. The episode also explores topics ranging from the Spirit Airlines collapse and California politics to voter ID laws, mental health trends among young Americans, and why capitalism has lifted more people out of poverty than any system in history.Throughout the discussion, the hosts argue that resilience, personal responsibility, free enterprise, and honest debate — even when uncomfortable — remain essential to the long-term success of both America and the next generation.Disclaimer: The Forged in America podcast features personal stories, experiences, and opinions from hosts Al Goldstein and Ravin Gandhi. This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not investment advice, financial advice, solicitation of investments, or any form of professional recommendation.We strive for accuracy, but mistakes can happen and are unintentional. Nothing discussed should be relied upon for making financial, business, or personal decisions. Always consult qualified professionals before acting on anything you hear.Past performance or results mentioned do not guarantee future outcomes. Listeners are responsible for their own choices.
Transcribe →E35: Gay, Conservative, and 2.5B: How an Outsider Won in Silicon Valley
May 700:46:45Tap to summarizeIn this episode, David Blumberg shares his wisdom about agentic AI, venture capital, and being politically discriminated not for sexual orientation in SF, but for being a conservative.The power of America, and capititalism is discussed along with breakthroughs in medical science and productivity due to artificial intelligence. Peter Thiel, Jordan Peterson, and many other luminaries are also discussed along with the power of religion and the Bible.Disclaimer: The Forged in America podcast features personal stories, experiences, and opinions from hosts Al Goldstein and Ravin Gandhi. This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not investment advice, financial advice, solicitation of investments, or any form of professional recommendation.We strive for accuracy, but mistakes can happen and are unintentional. Nothing discussed should be relied upon for making financial, business, or personal decisions. Always consult qualified professionals before acting on anything you hear.Past performance or results mentioned do not guarantee future outcomes. Listeners are responsible for their own choices.
Transcribe →