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The Optimistic American

Optimistic American
Donald Trump
Tariffs
Democratic Party
Republican Party
Israel
Arizona
Economy
Iran
Hamas
Political Polarization
Gaza
Joe Biden
Conspiracy Theories
Trump Administration
Ukraine
The Builders Program
Kamala Harris
Independent Voters
Inflation
United States Politics

The past, present, and future of the United States are full of promise. A promise sustained by the efforts of brave individuals and organizations who champion the pursuit of technology, improving the human condition, free markets, and a belief in who we are. We are losing the fact that we are a nation of dreamers, a catapult for those who have the heart to dare, a place that rewards ingenuity and ... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes202Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsNews Commentary

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Artwork for The Optimistic American

Latest Episodes

The biggest economic transformation in modern history may already be underway.

Artificial Intelligence is changing the workforce, Elon Musk could become the world's first trillionaire, and debates over capitalism, socialism, income inequality, and e... more

Is America thriving or falling behind? The answer may surprise you.

In this episode of New Frontiers, former Phoenix Mayor Paul Johnson sits down with Professor Douglas Harris of Tulane University, creator of the groundbreaking State of the Nation a... more

Arizona is running out of time.

In this episode, Central Arizona Water Conservation District Chairman Terry Goddard joins Paul Johnson and Bob Robb to discuss the growing Colorado River crisis and what it could mean for Arizona’s future.

The conver... more

Something BIG is shifting in American politics…

In this episode of the Independent, we break down the growing cracks inside the America First movement — and what it means for Trump, the economy, and the future of the country.

From rising inflation ... more

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Recent Guests

Douglas Harris
Professor at Tulane University
Tulane University
Episode: America Is Thriving… So Why Are People So Unhappy?
Terry Goddard
Chairman of the Central Arizona Water Conservation District; former mayor and attorney general of Phoenix
Central Arizona Water Conservation District
Episode: Could Arizona Run Out of Water? The Truth About the Colorado River Crisis
Henry Thompson
Professor at ASU
Arizona State University
Episode: Iran War: Lessons in Real Time — And What It Means for America
Bob Robb
Columnist with long involvement in politics
Arizona Republic/Arizona politics
Episode: Iran War: Lessons in Real Time — And What It Means for America
Hugh Lytle
Independent candidate for governor of Arizona
Candidate, Governor of Arizona (Independent)
Episode: Republicans and Democrats Are Failing Arizona | The Hugh Lytle Interview
Elliott Pollack
Economist known for predicting economic trends.
Episode: The Economy Looks Fine… So Why Does It Feel Like a Mess?
Sean Noble
Political strategist and commentator
Light Beard, Dark Money
Episode: Political Extremism, Dark Money, and Will Republicans Overturn the Next Election?
Marty Dolan
Running for City Public Advocate in New York City, with a background in finance and consulting.
Episode: Why Socialism Is Failing New York | Ft. Marty Dolan
Neil Ghosh
Author of Do More Good.
Episode: America 🇺🇸 Hero’s: Lessons For The Current Crisis

Host

Paul Johnson
Host and producer known for leading discussions on policy, innovation, and political dynamics across multiple shows.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 21 ratings
  • Water episode is must listening

    I’ve long thought Arizona has a water priesthood comprising the folks with the history, experience and brains to really understand the current crisis. That makes Terry Goddard, at the least, a cardinal. What he says about water policy and politics in our state is as close to Gospel-level wisdom as you’ll hear from anyone. In addition, Paul and Bob are exceptionally well-grounded and experienced, too, and ask great questions. Take an hour away from cable news and listen to this, instead, to gai... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PJDinAZ
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Shows depth on policy without slipping into partisan shouting.
Thoughtful, policy-forward and practical advice for decision-makers.
Well-argued, balanced perspectives with strong guests and good questions.
Great credibility from well-informed guests and hosts.
Takes complex topics and makes them actionable for business strategy.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#218
Israel/News/News Commentary

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

America Is Thriving… So Why Are People So Unhappy?
Q: How does education influence both objective and subjective outcomes in your findings?
Higher education correlates with better economic outcomes and is strongly linked to life satisfaction; gaps in educational quality across areas contribute to broader happiness disparities within states.
America Is Thriving… So Why Are People So Unhappy?
Q: What are five key measures you would track for upward mobility at the state level?
Income per capita, income inequality, life satisfaction, trust in others, and trust in government were identified as the core five measures for evaluating state performance.
America Is Thriving… So Why Are People So Unhappy?
Q: All right, so help me, you've taken the leap from the State of the Nation to the State of the States. How did you begin comparing different states and what did you find?
They expanded the framework from national to state-level metrics, showing that most measures have state-level data and that Arizona sits mid-pack overall but struggles on subjective well-being measures like life satisfaction and depression.
Could Arizona Run Out of Water? The Truth About the Colorado River Crisis
Q: So Terry, here's a question that I would have. Over the years, Arizona has really had some wonderful leadership... Is that leadership still there, and can we come together on this?
Leadership has historically been bipartisan and effective when there is a clear, urgent mandate; the speakers emphasize the need for bipartisan cooperation, stronger executive action where needed, and a willingness to adapt long-range plans to current drought realities.
Republicans and Democrats Are Failing Arizona | The Hugh Lytle Interview
Q: What makes you different from the two major candidates, and how would you govern?
I offer a vision-driven, independent approach that focuses on results and bipartisanship, backed by a plan to create a Department of Entrepreneurship, emphasize returns on investment for state programs, and recruit talent by making Arizona a technology and manufacturing hub rather than relying on partisan gridlock.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Optimistic American

What is The Optimistic American about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show consistently threads discussions on American policy, economics, and geopolitics with a pragmatic, pro-innovation bent. Episodes frequently feature policymakers, economists, and political strategists to unpack issues like water security, independent political movements, tariffs, and space/tech collaborations, often through a market-friendly, bipartisan lens. A notable pattern is the emphasis on practical governance, entrepreneurship, and leadership in a polarized environment, which can be valuable for listeners seeking actionable insights from policy and business perspectives. The format tends to mix in-depth policy analysis with contemporary political dynamics, making it suitable for decision-makers, executives, and policy-minded p... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Optimistic American?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Optimistic American:

1. The Gaggle: An Arizona politics podcast
2. All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg
3. The Journal.
4. The Daily
5. Hidden Brain

How many episodes of The Optimistic American are there?

The Optimistic American launched 4 years ago and published 202 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Optimistic American?

Recent guests on The Optimistic American include:

1. Douglas Harris
2. Terry Goddard
3. Henry Thompson
4. Bob Robb
5. Hugh Lytle
6. Elliott Pollack
7. Sean Noble
8. Marty Dolan

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