Big Questions With Cal Fussman

As we begin to see the light at the end of the COVID tunnel, Cal converses with the legendary singer/songwriter of American Pie and Vincent about the blessings of freedom and connectivity. Along the way, as they talk about music, Don tells Cal about the feeling that goes through him when a great song gets off the ground.  “Most music you hear lays there. It’s nothing. You don’t want to hear it again. It’s a nice try, but it’s a strikeout. Then there’s stuff that lives.”  Leaving Cal wondering about what it’s going to take to get out a message about reshaping healthcare that will have the same impact as a song everyone loves to sing 50 years after its creation.

Ever since Cal began to look into healthcare, people have been e-mailing him and asking him to compare the system in the U.S. to that of other countries around the world. Cal talks with Israeli actress and producer Noa Tishby to get a comparison. Tishby is the author of the just released book, Israel: A Simple Guide to the Most Misunderstood Country On Earth. This conversation explains why Pfizer and Moderna used Israel as a testing ground for their COVID vaccines, and looks at characteristics in the Israeli system that we might find desirable.

Cal wonders if there are patterns from the aftermath of 9/11 and The Great Recession that could help us move forward from COVID. There are few people who were more deeply involved in those crises as GE’s CEO at the time — Jeff Immelt. Jeff took the reins of GE only a few days before 9/11, was at the center of the struggle through The Great Recession, and now, after his departure from the company, he gives us a look at what may happen to healthcare going forward. But most of all, this conversation gives us all insights on how to think in times of crisis.

When Cal reads how Samit transformed an immigrant who’d been on welfare into a business owner bringing in more than a million dollars a year, he becomes curious what Samit could do for him as he tries to reshape health care. Samit does not disappoint. He advises Cal to become Andrew Carnegie. Check out what the twelve truths that make up Samit’s book, Future Proofing You, can do for your life.

Cal is inspired by the hero’s journey of an 8-year-old boy who had 75 percent of his body burned by fire. Though the circumstances are horrible, his power of connection and positivity has taken Marius to an amazing place. Marius has had more than 40 surgeries through Shriner’s Hospitals for Children. The fingers that he lost in the blaze have been replaced by his toes. His nose has been recreated. Now a man, Marius has inspired millions with a story that reminds us to keep moving forward with a smile no matter the obstacle.

The author of biographies on Leonardo Da Vinci, Albert Einstein and Steve Jobs talks to Cal about his latest work: Code Breaker, Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing and The Future of the Human Race. It’s a conversation about a topic that will alter the world, and it gives Cal the power to move forward on his quest to reshape health care.

Cal catches up with his old pal and podcast host James Altucher to talk about the release of James’ new book, which questions the concept that you need 10,000 hours to achieve mastery. Cal could use the advice, as he needs to learn as much about health care as quickly as possible in order to try to reshape it. The conversation ultimately turns into two pals catching up after a crazy year, and you’ll feel like you were sitting at the breakfast table alongside them.

Cal catches up with his old pal and podcast host James Altucher to talk about the release of James’ new book, which questions the concept that you need 10,000 hours to achieve mastery. Cal could use the advice, as he needs to learn as much about health care as quickly as possible in order to try to reshape it. The conversation ultimately turns into two pals catching up after a crazy year, and you’ll feel like you were sitting at the breakfast table alongside them.

Cal talks with the entrepreneur who never felt comfortable around the phrase: “The sky’s the limit.” Instead, Naveen founded Moon Express. And Viome, a company that detects from your gut what you need to eat to be at your healthiest. Nobody appreciates curiosity more than Cal, but he’s never gotten the most out of his as an entrepreneur. It’s time. And you can, too. Just listen.

Cal asks The Science Guy why so many Americans don’t seem to believe in science, and why so many wouldn’t wear masks during COVID, even as more than 400,000 people died. After spending his entire adult life explaining the marvel and practicality of science through a television show, books and his podcast, Bill looks at the opposing forces, and points to The Constitution’s endorsement of science as a way forward.

After winning the Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs a year ago just as COVID was beginning to spread around the world, Laurent had to make a decision. Return to his offensive line spot with the Chiefs and pursue another Super Bowl ring. Or go to the front lines of COVID as a doctor at a long-term care facility in his home of Montreal. He chose to go to the front lines. After learning what Laurent took from the experience, Cal will never be the same.

After having breakfast with the iconic broadcaster almost every day for more than a decade, Cal has no choice but to produce Larry King’s obituary. He uses Larry’s own voice to explain how Larry became a master of communication and connection, and explains why the world will never see another like him.  Show Notes: Cal’s favorite Larry King story. 00:11 Why Larry King is so important. 04:58 The day Larry King’s father died. 06:21 Larry’s tough upbringing. 08:15 Larry’s love for radio. 08:40 Larry’s love for The Brooklyn Dodgers. 09:01 Larry’s Gil Moppo story as told to Jimmy Fallon. 09:20 Why Larry didn’t end up binding hats. 18:20 Patterns relating to iconic success. 18:56 How Larry got into broadcasting. 19:15 Larry arrives in Miami with less than $20 in his wallet. 19:34 Larry finds his first radio station. 19:49 Larry tells the story of being nervous on his first day on the air. 20:33 How Larry Zeiger got his radio name. 20:46 The birth of Larry’s interviewing style. 24:01 Larry tells the classic story of

A day before the inauguration of the new president, Cal remembers a conversation he had with Joe Biden when he was Vice President during The Great Recession. Some of the questions and answers are just as relevant today. Cal believes that fixing health care will be the monument for this time, and he’s ready to help out in any way he can. Time to get to work.

A few years back, with Cal 30 pounds overweight, Joe baited Cal into his company’s obstacle races in order to transform Cal’s life. Cal completed the 5-mile Sprint, then the 10-mile Super, then the 17-mile Beast, and was filmed doing it. The story behind his journey and Joe’s quest to similarly transform 100 million people was crafted into a documentary called Spartan Exit Strategy, and is available to rent for less than $5 on Prime Video, iTunes, Apple TV, Google Play, Microsoft and Fandango. Soon after its release, Cal and Joe connected to do a podcast about it, when suddenly the U.S. Capitol Building got stormed. It leads to a one-of-a-kind conversation.

Cal talks with the co-founder of Kickstarter about the idea of raising some funds for a journey to reshape health care in the United States. Cal realizes he needs to hire some young people who can help out on the Internet to spread the message of the mission. And Kickstarter has helped put billions of dollars into the hands of creative people with a dream through crowd funding. That money has funded more than 100,000 new ideas. Including: Oscar-winning movies. Grammy-winning albums. New technology. Books. Pieces of art. Yancey opens a pathway for Cal and for anyone listening with a dream. Let Cal know what you think.

Cal wanted to do something great in this last podcast of 2020, and he jumped at the chance to spread the word about a guy who is making health care better for a lot of people. Phil Baker at Good Shepherd Pharmacy in Memphis takes in donated drugs and passes them on to doctors who get them to patients who can’t afford them. We’re talking about chemotherapy pills that can cost up to $30,000 a month. This podcast can save a lot of lives, so please pass it on to someone you know who’s been touched in some way, shape or form by cancer. The world will be a better place, and good karma will be coming your way.

Cal has an epiphany after talking to three African-American men who made a pact to all become doctors when they were kids growing up on some mean streets in Newark, New Jersey. They succeeded. The story that Sampson Davis, George Jenkins and Rameck Hunt tell Cal is so moving, Cal decides to find one African-American kid in a tough spot who wants to be a doctor and help get her or him through medical school. Cal brings in a college student majoring in entrepreneurship who has Sickle Cell Disease to assist, and a quarter-century adventure begins. Already the world feels a little bit better. Happy Holidays.

Many in the wine world know Laura as the managing director at Bodega Catena Zapata in Argentina, which produces some of the world’s great wines. But for the last 25 years, she has also been an emergency room physician in San Francisco. When she and Cal get together, they come up with an idea to remove an aspect of health care that drives everyone crazy. Nobody likes waiting in the waiting room. But with a Waiting Room App, the entire experience could be transformed to help doctors and hospitals communicate better with patients and allow everyone to get more out of appointments. What are we waiting for?

Cal reflects on his time with one of America’s great tech visionaries shortly after Hsieh’s passing, marvels at all the good Tony was able to pass on to so many people and vows to keep his promise to Tony.

At the beginning of 2020, on average, one physician in the United States was committing suicide every day. That was before the coronavirus struck. Cal talks with three doctors about the tensions physicians and other health care workers face in these crazy times. Then he talks with an entrepreneur who designed a way for us all to reach out to health care workers with messages to show our appreciation for all they do. Bottom line is: If we don’t care for those who care for us, who will care for us?