Locally Grown with Jim Fini artwork

Locally Grown with Jim Fini

54 episodes - English - Latest episode: 8 months ago -

In my book, Locally Grown: The Art of Sustainable Government, I talk about how our country's bottom up design of 20,000 zip codes, 50 states and 1 Federal government, brilliantly distributes power within that bottom-up infrastructure. Our Founders intended most governance to be done locally. And about the inherent dangers of too much centralized power. My book exposes the unsustainability of our government debt and the awful bargain we make when we exchange freedom for security. I introduce readers to Locally Grown principles like sustainability, accountability, the double-bottom line, harnessing excess capacity, simplification, and engaged citizenship. I make the case that returning to our federalist roots through Locally Grown principles is the path to sustainable, effective government that better serves the “Common Good.”

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Episodes

Episode 53: A Phoenix Rising from the Ashes: former US Rep Chris Collins

August 29, 2023 19:00 - 44 minutes - 30.3 MB

My guest today is American entrepreneur and politician, Christopher Collins. Chris served as the U.S. representative for New York's 27th congressional district (Buffalo NY area) from 2013 until 2019. Prior to his time in Congress, he ran for Erie County Executive in 2007 on a platform of smaller county government, lower taxes and operating efficiency and he defeated the Democrat incumbent with 63% of the vote in a county with 140,000 more registered Democrats than Republicans. Quite an accom...

Episode 52: Lessons in Preserving American Freedom: An interview with Laz Lopez

June 20, 2023 18:00 - 28 minutes - 19.6 MB

Laz Lopez joins me today to tell his family's story of escaping communist Cuba and achieving the American Dream as a successful business owner in the U.S. In these challenging times, it's just the reminder we need about how precious and tenuous our American freedom really is.

Activism Posing as Journalism: My Love-Hate Relationship with PBS

June 02, 2023 00:00 - 28 minutes - 19.6 MB

Elon Musk recently labeled NPR and PBS as “government-funded media” on Twitter, angering both organizations. Is he right, and does it matter anyway? For many years, I supported PBS and NPR financially. I just loved their music, movies and documentaries and their news and opinion programs, that while left leaning, were conducted in a civil tone. They at least made token attempts to cover both sides of a debate but things have changed and they are now peddling activism as journalism.  Listen ...

Episode 50 - MLK is Rolling in His Grave

March 13, 2023 06:00 - 43 minutes - 30.2 MB

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. I have a dream today.”   63 years ago, a great American, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. called out injustice and held America accountable to its constitutional principles. Now there’s a new ideology permeating all corners of our society that demands we judge “not by the content of character, but by the color of skin.” 

Elections 2022: The Threat to Democracy is Real, But It’s Not What You Think.

November 09, 2022 03:00 - 14 minutes - 10.1 MB

Inflation and interest rates are inflicting painful damage today. Yet seemingly without notice the national debt is working like a cancer sapping the nation’s long-term economic vitality. Whether we reach the “doom loop,” or just become mired in stagflation, unchecked government spending and mounting national debt will drain all growth potential from the national economy sooner rather than later. This is everyone’s problem.

Episode 48 - From a Life of Crime to a Wonderful Life

October 20, 2022 00:00 - 44 minutes - 30.5 MB

I was introduced to Larry Lawton through Congressman Bill Posey's office as someone with a compelling story that can help point at-risk kids in the right direction. Man what a story ! Larry was was one of the biggest jewel thieves in American history who ultimately spent 12 years in prison for his crimes. Upon his release in 2007, Larry moved to Florida and began his career as a successful author, motivational speaker, and You Tuber. He is also the founder of the Reality Check Program that e...

Episode 47 –America’s Absolute Most Important Priority

June 14, 2022 16:00 - 37 minutes - 25.7 MB

Climate? Guns? Abortion? Equity?  Nope. Listen Up for America’s Biggest Issue.

Episode 46 - Memorial Day

May 29, 2022 23:00 - 16 minutes - 11.6 MB

It’s been a month since my last podcast where we spoke with Florida Congressman Bill Posey. I’ve had a lot of family stuff to deal with which I will get to later.  But I wanted to get this out by Memorial Day because it is such a powerful transitional holiday, and I am definitely in a transitional point in my life. 

Episode 45 - with Florida Congressman Bill Posey

April 21, 2022 02:00 - 46 minutes - 31.6 MB

I am so pleased to have as my guest GOP Congressman Bill Posey who represents Florida's 8th Congressional District. He serves on the House Financial Services  and Science, Space and Technology committees.  Prior to that he served 8 years in the Florida State Senate and 10 years on the Rockledge, FL city council and prior to that, he was the founder of a large real estate company. Having been an entrepreneur, and then elected to all three branches of our American government, makes Bill pretty...

Episode 44 - The New Cold War

April 01, 2022 17:00 - 34 minutes - 23.9 MB

Ultimately, our freedoms and rights power the innovative culture that makes the United States the most successful political experiment in history. Even with its historical warts, America has improved the living standards of its citizens more than any human culture that has ever existed. Democracy, protection of individual freedoms, harnessing the power of diversity while creating a strong collective identity. These are strengths that China and Russia will never have without a revolution. Thi...

Episode 43 - with Retired Ukraine Diplomat David Hunter

March 09, 2022 18:00 - 37 minutes - 25.9 MB

My guest today was a guest on this podcast about 18 months ago and we talked about how rising geo-political risks threaten the 75-year-old Pax Americana where global domestic product has increased by a factor of 20 times. Well, it appears those risks are now a clear and present danger as Russia has invaded Ukraine.  Not only this, but China has also publicly stated that its partnership with Russia “has no limits.” The challenge to the US as the pre-eminent super-power is not some future even...

Episode 42 - The Health of our Oceans with Dr. Rikki Neilsen

February 03, 2022 05:00 - 37 minutes - 25.5 MB

Dr. Rikki Eriksen is a marine biologist focused on the health of our oceans. She grew up in Florida, living on the water with the amazing marine wildlife. Summers were spent on a sailboat in Denmark with her grandparents and winter school breaks sailing in the Caribbean. As a teenager, she started noticing the marine ecosystem was choking to death and that she had to do something about it. 

Episode 41 - America is only as Good as its Public Schools

November 05, 2021 19:00 - 37 minutes - 25.8 MB

The definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing and expect different results.  Much of recent American federal government policy seems to fit into this paradigm. Like let’s print a  whole lot of money then act surprised when we get inflation.  Or stop enforcing our immigration laws and be shocked when millions of foreign people including criminals, terrorists and those who don’t share our values, flood our southern border.  I hope most of would agree that hyperinflation and more d...

Episode 40 - Rome, China, the United States and the Cycles of History

September 29, 2021 06:00 - 28 minutes - 19.4 MB

History repeats and unfortunately, we are on the downhill run of the latest cycle. But remain optimistic because we have a system with a demonstrated track record of success. China has emerged as a powerful rival, but its authoritarian system will remain its Achilles Heel.  Stay vigilant and start thinking about what happens after we get through the coming hard times. And remember, United We Stand, Divided We Fall, Each One for the Other, and All for All. 

Episode 39 - on Race in America with Cecil Grant

September 13, 2021 14:00 - 34 minutes - 24.1 MB

Today my guest is Cecil Grant, the host of the new “Changing the Narrative” podcast which you can find on Apple, Pandora and other places. His podcast focuses on issues seen through the lens of a middle-aged African American man who deeply cares about his country and is alarmed by what he sees. He has the moral authority to really challenge bad government policies that hurt the people they are supposed to help. For example, his July podcast entitled, “Gun Violence versus Gang Violence: The P...

Episode 38 - Time to Wake Up to Rising Geopolitical Risks. Are You Listening Joe?

July 27, 2021 17:00 - 39 minutes - 26.9 MB

The Biden Administration is busy. Very busy. Busy making sure all we hear about is racial politics, the dreaded COVID Delta Variant, climate change, diminishing our election laws, defunding our police, and turning our schools into indoctrination centers. So I guess it's understandable that they have missed the growing threat that our adversaries pose to our place in the world.  China and Russia both hack our companies and government while invading their neighbors with impunity. We are about...

Episode 37 - Seeking Middle Ground with Author Andrew Shelley

June 08, 2021 02:00 - 50 minutes - 34.7 MB

Today my guest is Andrew Shelley, author of the book, “American Butterfly”, an excellent exploration of the roots of the American culture wars through the lens of a deep-fried southern fish out of water.  We explore Andrew’s transition from a boy born to a conservative southern family to a northern liberal living in Boston and how that has helped him empathize with and find value in the conservative voices that are increasingly shut down in our divided political environment. Don’t miss this ...

Episode 36 - Crypto with Stormborn Part 2.

May 18, 2021 16:00 - 44 minutes - 30.9 MB

Just like e-commerce internet companies in the 1990's, most crypto projects won't succeed. However, the ones that do transform our world. In the last decade, Bitcoin and Ethereum emerged as two of those transformers. If you invested $2000 in ETH five years ago, you'd be retired now. This is because the ETH improvement on blockchain architecture is the platform upon which other disrupters will build their applications. My guest Putnam from Stormborn Partners and I will try to unpack all this ...

Crypto with Stormborn Part 2.

May 18, 2021 16:00 - 44 minutes - 30.9 MB

Just like e-commerce internet companies in the 1990's, most crypto projects won't succeed. However, the ones that do transform our world. In the last decade, Bitcoin and Ethereum emerged as two of those transformers. If you invested $2000 in ETH five years ago, you'd be retired now. This is because the ETH improvement on blockchain architecture is the platform upon which other disrupters will build their applications. My guest Putnam from Stormborn Partners and I will try to unpack all this ...

Episode 35 - May You Live in Interesting Times

May 14, 2021 02:00 - 33 minutes - 22.8 MB

The fact is that middle ground in America is to the Right of where we are now, not further Left. The pendulum swings back and forth in politics but a razor thin Democrat majority in the House and an equally divided Senate, is NOT a mandate to discard the Constitution and re-do America as a socialist utopia. At best this is going to continue to alienate a least half the country and that is not unity by any definition. Doing what I say, or else, is not a negotiation. I pray that Joe Biden shak...

Episode 34 - Systemic Racism isn’t the Problem. It’s Bad Public Policy.

March 23, 2021 17:00 - 41 minutes - 28.8 MB

Anti-discrimination laws have historically targeted a company’s intent but in 2015, a Supreme Court ruling allowed certain types of outcomes to be considered discrimination even if there was no explicit intent to discriminate. This is called disparate impact and we think this is really bad policy. It has the opposite affect of what our government intends. My guest Werner Kruck talks about how this dynamic actually raises costs and limits choices in the financial services industry for poor an...

Episode 33 - Bitcoin and Crypto with Stormborn Partners

February 25, 2021 06:00 - 51 minutes - 35.2 MB

For years, really smart people sneered at Tesla and shorted its stock. Over the past 10 years, all Tesla has done is revolutionize the auto industry, deliver an 18,885 percent return for its shareholders, and make Elon Musk either the richest or second richest man in the world, depending on the day.  Bitcoin is kind of like Tesla. Here’s what Bill Gates said on 2/27/2018 when Bitcoin was $10,755: “The main feature of crypto currencies is their anonymity. I don't think this is a good thing....

Episode 32 - Biden's First 2 Weeks: a Common Sense Analysis

February 10, 2021 06:00 - 54 minutes - 37.8 MB

Jim brings in his buddies Cecil Grant and Ted Zwijacz to provide an analysis of Biden's unprecedented 50 executive actions from the perspective of "the average Joe American."

Episode 31 - with Charles Marohn of Strong Towns

February 04, 2021 03:00 - 46 minutes - 32.1 MB

I published my book, Locally Grown: The Art of Sustainable Government, in October 2019 thinking that I was at the forefront of a movement to restore America’s bottom-up constitutional design and its power to make government more responsive, holistic and sustainable. Silly me. I discovered a couple months ago that Charles Marohn has been turning grassroots principals into real action with his Strong Towns organization for more than a decade.  This is one of my favorite interviews with someone...

Episode 30 - with Lyn Alden, Economist and Investment Advisor

January 26, 2021 06:00 - 39 minutes - 27.4 MB

For those of you who have been listening to my podcast and reading my blogs, you know that I periodically focus on making a stronger more sustainable you, by bringing in interesting, smart guests who can help you make money. Last year I had Whitney Tilson to help you align your investments with the macro-trends he sees in the world.  This week I am continuing that effort focusing on you, albeit from maybe a little different direction. My guest, Lyn Alden’s investment service, was introduced ...

Episode 29 - What's Next?

January 22, 2021 07:00 - 36 minutes - 25.3 MB

Joseph McCarthy was a Republican Senator from Wisconsin from 1947 until his death in 1957. Beginning in 1950, he became the public face of anti-Communism in the midst of the Cold War by using his position as the chairman of the Senate Committee on Government Operations to identify communists, Soviet spies and sympathizers that had infiltrated the United States federal government, universities, film industry, and elsewhere. Ultimately, the smear tactics that he used led him to be censured by ...

Episode 28 - The Twelve Days of Christmas

December 25, 2020 06:00 - 18 minutes - 12.6 MB

Christmas is a joyous time that calls us all to be grateful, enjoy family, and think about others. But there is also no denying the fact that Jesus was a revolutionary who was unafraid to speak truth to power. He had the ultimate skin in the game and that is what all of us need to do more of. Get out of our comfort zones, help our fellow man, speak truth to power and keep the flame of liberty shining bright. My New Year's resolution is to put more skin in the game.

Episode 27 - Civil Disobedience

December 12, 2020 21:00 - 37 minutes - 25.9 MB

Protests are a form of protected free speech that is vital to our nation. Our founding documents were designed specifically to protect us from  government over reach and tyranny and ultimately recognized the power and duty of the people to resist  that government when it fails us. In his timeless essay "Civil Disobedience", American philosopher Henry David Thoreau exhorts us to get up off our butts and speak out lest we lose our precious liberty. America has a great tradition of using music ...

Episode 26 - What Happened to Free Speech on College Campuses?

November 30, 2020 02:00 - 18 minutes - 12.5 MB

More than 23% of our population is within the education bureaucracy. If that bureaucracy is becoming less tolerant of free speech, how can we expect the adults that emerge from that system to be tolerant of free speech?  As time goes by, it will feel increasingly normal for those adults to become intolerant of speech they don’t agree with, and that intolerance endangers our democratic republic.

Episode 25 - with Election Supervisor Leslie Swann

November 21, 2020 01:00 - 54 minutes - 37.3 MB

Those of you who have been listening to me for a while, know that I am a big proponent of de-centralized power. My book, Locally Grown: The Art of Sustainable Government, is all about that. The Constitution enshrines this decentralized power model by giving most power to the states and the people, though we have strayed frighteningly far from that model now.  One of those important state powers is to make and enforce election laws. The result is a hodgepodge of different rules that can vary ...

Episode 24 - a Brave New World

November 06, 2020 19:00 - 22 minutes - 15.1 MB

Well, here we are! It looks like a narrow contested Biden victory. We have three tumultuous months until the “swearing in” on January 20th 2021. What have we learned ? That, we are still a sharply divided nation that has voted for divided government. Feels like Americans are looking for middle ground, not radical change. We have also learned that a few swing states within a few swing counties determine federal elections. Proof that "local" still matters in the power game. Then again, who our...

Episode 23 - Raising up Disadvantaged Kids with Crossover Mission

October 28, 2020 04:00 - 40 minutes - 27.6 MB

A few years ago when my son was looking for a summer league basketball team to join, he came across a local AAU team that was really outstanding. He wondered if he was good enough even to make the team. When he inquired, he was introduced to Coach Antoine Jennings who gave him the low down on the requirements for joining his crew.  It wasn’t like other AAU teams where you just tried out and if you were good enough, you were in. Crossover was different. In order to play, you had to meet stric...

Episode 22 - with Reverend David Johnson

October 22, 2020 04:00 - 39 minutes - 27.5 MB

I have always found it ironic how spirituality is usually low on the list of priorities when times are good but when times become difficult, people turn to God for hope and solace. Who hasn’t said a prayer when something bad happens that goes something like this? “Dear God, if you just help me get through this, I promise be a better person.” Or some version of the great prayer from Saint Augustine, "Lord, help me be good and pure, but just not yet." Like insurance, cyber security and the mil...

Episode 21 - The Politics of COVID

October 15, 2020 07:00 - 20 minutes - 14.4 MB

In April of this year, I wrote a blog post entitled “Coronapocalypse.”  Back then, I suspected that the Corona virus pandemic was overblown reasoning that politicians, scientists and the media didn’t have enough data and were being super cautious with policy. Six months later, the data indicate that the pandemic is definitely overblown but the reasons for the hype have changed. For months now, certain “health” authorities, the political class and their media hand maidens have relentlessly pr...

Episode 20 - with Baggett and Bailey

October 09, 2020 14:00 - 1 hour - 42.1 MB

This one is an exciting deep dive into the future of work, the raging Cyberwar, Big Tech friend or foe and game planning for the outcome of the 2020 election. Join me as I dig in with two really smart and successful guys. Serial tech entrepreneur Dave Baggett and  S&P 500 C-suite executive and Lockheed Martin board member, George Bailey.

Episode 19 - with Whitney Tilson and Guests

September 30, 2020 05:00 - 52 minutes - 36.2 MB

As promised,  I had Whitney back to talk about a mutual passion we have: Public Education Reform.  But before we get to that, we talk about what the betting odds are for the November 3 elections and how to plan your investments for that outcome. Jim and Whitney are joined in a lively Q& A, by seven of Jim’s subscribers, that includes sales and financial professionals and school teachers. Don’t miss this one.

Episode 18 - The Notorious RBG, American Icon

September 22, 2020 22:00 - 21 minutes - 14.8 MB

In this epic time in our history when the country seems so divided, we all need to take a deep breath and recognize a great American life.  She was born Ruth Bader in Brooklyn, NY in 1933 of a Russian Jewish emigrant father and a Jewish mother from Brooklyn. Her first taste of hardship came early when her mother died the day before Ruth's high school graduation. She went on to attend Cornell University where she met her husband Martin Ginsburg who she married a month after graduation in 1954...

Episode 17 - American Pulp Fiction

September 10, 2020 04:00 - 47 minutes - 32.8 MB

I love movies that start at the end and work their way back.  One of my favorites, Pulp Fiction, is Quentin Tarantino's magnum opus. It’s a black comedy based around the criminal underworld of Los Angeles. It weaves several stories together and presents them in a non-linear story arc. The opening scene takes place in a diner, where a couple are discussing their business of robbery over lunch. They decide that the diner they are at is perfect for their next job; a conclusion that doesn't play...

Episode 16 - Let's Fix How We Vote

September 02, 2020 18:00 - 36 minutes - 25.2 MB

As is the case with several topics in my book, voting is proving to be an issue that is front and center in our politics right now.  Our country is divided, and elections are close.  The difference between winning and losing a Presidential election often comes down to a few thousand votes in a relatively few counties. Of the more than 120 million votes cast in the 2016 election, 107,000 votes in three states effectively decided the election. Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania account for ...

Episode 15 - with legendary investor Whitney Tilson

August 25, 2020 20:00 - 55 minutes - 37.8 MB

Whitney Tilson is the founder and CEO of Empire Financial Research, which provides advice, commentary and in-depth research and analysis to help people become better investors. He is a Harvard alumnus both as an undergrad and as an MBA.  Prior to launching his investment career in 1999, Mr. Tilson spent five years working with Harvard Business School Professor Michael Porter studying the competitiveness of  inner-city companies which led to the founding of ICV Partners, a private equity fund...

Episode 14 - Closing Argument for Scott Caine, Congressional Candidate

August 13, 2020 04:00 - 33 minutes - 23.2 MB

Today my guest is Retired Colonel Scott Caine who is running for the Florida 8th Congressional seat. As a fighter pilot, Scott’s stellar military career included more than 3,400 flying hours, and culminated with his final post as Vice commander of the 9th Air Force, where he led more than 29,000 military men and women. Scott is a long-time resident of Vero Beach Florida with his wife Pam with whom he raised 3 grown children.  I had Scott on my show last month where I met him for the first ti...

Episode 13 - Locally Grown is Antifragile

August 08, 2020 04:00 - 33 minutes - 23 MB

In June, I did my annual salmon impersonation and swam upstream from FL to my spawning grounds of New England.  During my visit, I spent some time with dear friends in Peterborough, NH and discovered a new book in “the throne room” that their son was reading. It was Anti Fragile by Nassem Taleb. Initially I thought it belonged to my friend John but I was impressed to see his son was the owner.  I read one of Taleb’s previous books, the best-seller The Black Swan and it was pretty darn good, ...

Episode 12 - Interview with David Hunter US Diplomat

July 31, 2020 04:00 - 22 minutes - 15.3 MB

I thought I’d take a break from our focus on rebuilding America through more powerful state and Local Government and talk about US Foreign Policy.  Foreign policy is one of the few enumerated powers our Constitution gives to the federal government. After WW2, The United States emerged as THE preeminent superpower as its military guaranteed free and open sea lanes and relative peace on the planet, in exchange making the US dollar the global reserve currency.  For 75 years the world has lived...

Episode 11- with Tim Zorc, Indian River County Commissioner

July 23, 2020 05:00 - 24 minutes - 16.6 MB

Today I am continuing my string of interviews with local leaders with Tim Zorc who is currently serving his second term as a commissioner for Indian River County Florida.  Tim continues what his family started over 100 years ago as a Realtor, Consultant, Builder/Developer and Elected Official. From his family's initial purchase in 1914, the property grew to over 10,000 acres with operations such as Lazy “K” Ranch and Kerr Gift Fruit Company. As a real estate developer Tim and his family have...

Episode 9 - Interview with Scott Caine, candidate for Congress FL 8th District

July 17, 2020 00:00 - 29 minutes - 20.3 MB

Colonel (Retired) Scott Caine is a 30-year veteran of the United States Air Force as a fighter pilot, and culminated as Vice commander of the 9th Air Force, where he led over 29,000 men and women. His service included deployments to Europe, Asia and the Middle East which shaped his understanding of the strengths capitalism and freedom provided in our great country. With the rising threat of homegrown Socialism, Communist China reaching into our institutions, and our crushing national debt, h...

Episode 10 - Interview with Brian Barefoot; Business Exec, Educator, candidate for School Committe

July 17, 2020 00:00 - 25 minutes - 17.8 MB

We are so pleased to have our guest Brian Barefoot with us today. Brian has one of the most distinguished careers I've seen in a long time. Not too many folks graduate from college, have an incredibly successful business career, then return to their alma mater as President. Brian did exactly this with Babson College outside of Boston, MA. In between, he had a long career in as an C-level executive in financial services at Merrill Lynch and Paine Webber. He was also CEO at NeoVision Hypersyst...

Episode 8 - Locally Grown Principles 2

July 01, 2020 15:00 - 26 minutes - 18 MB

Today I am finishing a 2-part series on the principles I believe should drive good government policy that I discuss in my book, Locally Grown: The Art of Sustainable Government. Last week we talked about two main principles that act as the limits or boundaries within which everything else happens. They are Sustainability and Adherence to the US Constitution. If policy is unsustainable, like endless printing of money, then it will eventually cause hyperinflation and collapse the economy. If a...

United We Stand 7 - Locally Grown Principles

June 24, 2020 19:00 - 21 minutes - 14.9 MB

Today I talk about the principles that underpin the concept of Locally Grown Government.  The first two are the most important because they act as the limits or boundaries within which everything else happens. They are Sustainability and Adherence to the US Constitution. I think the structure of the Constitution was designed to be sustainable. It has allowed America to adapt to changing conditions while still remaining mostly true to the principles of bottom-up government and primacy of indi...

United We Stand 6 - with George Bailey and Ken Brown

June 17, 2020 18:00 - 44 minutes - 30.7 MB

Jim brings in two of his smart buddies from different sides of the aisle, for a civil discussion about the charges of systemic racism within our nation’s entire police force. We dive into an analysis of the recent civil unrest to determine whether the root cause is actually systemic racism or poverty.  In contrast to both sides of the aisle screaming at each other, we search for middle ground despite our differences.  Listen in to find out what we agreed on as a root cause and the good middl...

Episode 5 - What does Local mean ?

June 11, 2020 02:00 - 21 minutes - 14.8 MB

How do you think about your status as a citizen of your hometown, your state and the United States?   So how do you think about your “Local?”  I think for most folks, this is a new question.  But our Constitution requires that we think about it because it spreads power among those three levels of government, where we pay taxes and live by the respective laws. The beauty of the bottom-up government our founders created, is that it embraces the commence sense fact of diversity. We are a huge b...