American Enough

Head of the NFL Alumni Association’s New York Chapter, and former NY Jets footballer, Michel Faulkner, debates the NFL’s decision penalizing players who kneel during the national anthem to protest policy brutality and racial inequities…

Staking a position that defends the ban, while supporting civic protest, Faulkner and host Vikrum Aiyer also debate the state of America’s right to free expression in an era where everyone from the President to the ACLU and now even sports franchises are shaping how and where we are able to speak our minds.

Guest Bio:

For more than 32 years, Rev. Michel Faulkner has dedicated his life to serving God and his community. Growing up in Washington, D.C., he was an all-star football player that became a freshman All-American and four-year starter at VirginiaTech. In 1980, Rev.Faulkner graduated with a B.A. in communications. Then in 1985 he earned his M.A. in Education with emphasis in Career Counseling. After college, Rev. Faulkner played two seasons (1980-82) in the NFL, one season with the NY Jets. In 1983, Faulkner returned to Virginia Tech and graduated with a Master’s. Upon completing of his Master’s degree, he became the Assistant Dean of Students at Liberty University in 1985, and was promoted to Vice President for Urban Ministry in 1987.

In 1988, Rev. Faulkner and his family moved to Times Square in New York City, to run a soup kitchen as Assistant Pastor for the Lamb’s Church. A little more than one year later, he joined the staff of Calvary Baptist Church in Manhattan as Pastor for Youth and Community Outreach, where he was ordained inDecember 1991. While at Calvary he also served as co-chairman for the New York City Board of Education’s HIV/ AIDS Task Force from 1991- 1994

In 1993, Rev. Faulkner became the Senior Pastor of Central Baptist Church in the Upper West Side of Manhattan. He was able to grow the congregation from an average of 50 weekly attendees to over 400. While serving as Senior Pastor at Central he also served as the Vice President for Community Government Relations at King’s College from 1998 to 2002. He served on Mayor Giuliani’s Task Force on Police Community Relations and wasa Commissioner for the City Charter Revision. Also from June of 2002 to February of 2004, Rev. Faulkner served as World Vision’s Director of U.S. Programs in New York City helping to give share to their 9/11 response in NYC.

In 2005, Rev. Faulkner founded the Institute for Leadership, a 501-3c organization to develop leaders and bring scalable solutions to difficult community problems. In June 2006, Rev. Faulkner he founded the New Horizon Church of New York in Harlem on the purpose to build bridges between the economically and socially disadvantaged in the name ofChrist.

In 2010 Rev. Faulkner he was the Republican candidate for Congress for New York’s 15th Congressional district. Also in 2010, Rev. Faulkner published his first book “Restoring the American Dream”, which highlights his vision and goals to save the American Dream for future generations. In September 2015 Rev. Faulkner became a Republican candidate for Mayor and in May 2017 switched to a candidacy for Comptroller. He was nominated by Republican, Conservative, Reformed and Independence Parties. He received 22 percent of the vote November 8 2017.

Rev. Faulkner has completed four marathons including the 2010 NYC Marathon which was a lifelong goal for him. In October 27, 2013, he completed the Marine Corp Marathon in Washington D.C. Rev. Faulkner is also a frequent commenter for numerous national and local media outlets including CNN and FOX News.

In February 2014 Rev. Faulkner lost his wife, Virginia, of more than 31 years to lupus. Together they raised 3 children in New York City, all have graduated College. In March 2015, Rev. Faulkner married Dr. Sarai Padilla. She is a practicing psychologist for more than 30 years and has one daughter and three grandchildren.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whistleblower Brittany Kaiser and information privacy legal expert Cameron Russell join MouthMedia Network CEO Rob Sanchez for a wide-ranging discussion on data privacy…

Brittany Kaiser (international law, diplomacy and data-driven campaigning professional and Co-Founder of the Digital Asset Trade Association (DATA), as well as former Business Development Director for Cambridge Analytica) and Cameron Russell (Executive Director, Fordham Center on Law and Information Policy (CLIP), and Adjunct Professor of Law teaching Information Privacy law at Fordham University) join MouthMedia Network CEO Rob Sanchez in the MouthMedia Network studios powered by Sennheiser. With an introduction by host Vikrum Aiyer.

In this episode:

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if the source of this polarization in our country had little to do with where people actually fall on the issues, or what people actually believe in?

The Intercept’s Zaid Jilani joins the pod to unpack a new study that identifies how a team-sports mentality in America is wedging more of us against each other, rather than a division on ideas or policies. Mapping the evolution and rise of tribal sports in politics, Jilani highlights how our politics exploit this distinction between team & topic, and what that means for the day to day governance in our democracy.

According to The Intercept, “Zaid Jilani is a journalist who hails from Atlanta, Georgia. He has previously worked as a reporter-blogger for ThinkProgress, United Republic, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, and Alternet.

He graduated from the University of Georgia in 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts in international affairs and received his master’s in public administration from Syracuse University in 2014.”

_________________________________________________________

There’s a lot going on in America (and the world) and Vikrum Aiyer — Former White House Senior Economic Policy Advisor (Obama Administration) and Former Chief of Staff of the United States Patent and Trademark Office — has something to say about it all and about what it takes these days to be American enough.

“American Enough™ with Vikrum Aiyer”, is a weekly, town hall-style podcast discussing your questions and comments about current events, politics, and American ideals. As events unfold, Vikrum will share timely commentary wherever he is, as he travels, between meetings, and even en route to the office.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why Florida teacher Alex Heeren is running for office, and sees hope in the modern student…

How does the identity of a public school, its teachers, and it students change after a tragedy like Parkland? All too often it’s easy to reduce the current assessment of our schools as political debates around whether teachers should be armed, whether gun control laws pass, or what the Secretary of Education did or didn’t say.

But for Alex Heeren, the future of the identity of public schools extends far beyond politics; it demands a rigorous debate around resources, representing teacher voice, investing in a 21st century infrastructure, and empowering student activism. As a life long teacher himself, he details why he has decided to run for office, and how despite gun violence or divisions in America, he sees hope in the identity of the modern public school student.

Alex Heeren was born in Seminole and has lived there for almost his entire life. He went to Lakewood High School, and received his Bachelor of Arts in Telecommunications from the University of Florida. He has been serving his community since he was a child. He was a Boy Scout who often engaged in service projects, and as an adult has earned the rank of Eagle Scout. In his professional life, Alex was a math teacher for several years at Meadowlawn Middle School. He also ran a Girls Who Code after school program, and still coaches the school’s volleyball team. Now, Heeren is a Technology Integration Coordinator with Pinellas County Schools. He helps teachers incorporate technology into their classrooms. He and his wife Teal, who is an English teacher, live in Seminole.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The impact of tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum on America’s foreign policy and identity on the world stage…

Recently, President Trump enacted high tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum into the United States.

Domestically, immigrants are being scoffed at for looking a certain way and not being “American” enough. Transgender individuals are being called for not being “fit enough” to serve in our military. Sexual assault & neo-nazi behavior is being condoned by the Oval Office. And internationally our identity and our moral authority is being chipped away at, begging the question of who is “enough” of an American ally.

Core to that shift is a changing of the guard of how America represents itself globally. Our democratic values and commitment to free/open trade have always been essential American exports overseas. But recent overtures, some political (Tweet wars with Prime Minister Teresa May), and others substantive (steel/aluminum tariffs) has impacted everything from global stock markets, to how we conduct foreign policy, to skepticism among global intelligence agencies, to inciting potential trade wars. How does America maintain its identity as a leader on the world stage when we call trade practices among allies threats to national security? How does America’s trade & foreign policy apparatus get respected among allies or foes, when major decisions are often reported on as being snap judgments by the Administration? How does a Section 232 national security review change our relationship with other countries? How will the tariffs impact local businesses?

Nomi Goheer is an associate in Willkie Farr & Gallagher’s Global Trade & Investment Practice Group in Washington, DC. He provides advice and assistance to clients on the government regulation of international trade, particularly with regard to export controls, economic sanctions, anti-money laundering, and foreign investment in the United States under the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). He also provides advice to clients on U.S. trade policy and trade remedies.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who is American Enough under this Administration?

The Deputy Director of the ACLU, the actor & co-producer of the Netflix-distributed documentary “Meet the Patels”, and the nation’s youngest & openly gay mayor to be shortlisted as a presidential contender, all join Vikrum Aiyer on the podcast stage at South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas, to examine the American identity.

Guest bios:

Ravi Vasant Patel is an American actor, who recently wrote & directed with his sister, an award-winning autobiographical documentary (distributed by Netflix) Meet the Patels, which examines love & the South Asian immigrant. Fox Searchlight films are currently working with Ravi and his sister on a wide-screen release remake. He is a former investment banker; an Economics and International Studies double major graduate from UNC-Chapel Hill; and his work has been featured alongside Aziz Ansari & John Stamos.

Mayor Pete Buttigieg is a Harvard-educated Rhodes Scholar and Afghanistan War veteran who’s drawn national attention from media pundits and politicians since becoming the city’s leader at the age of 29 in 2011. He is rumored to be a presidential contender in 2024 but is presently on the path of becoming the 1st openly gay person ever to be elected to state office in Indiana.

Jaweer Brown is the Associate Director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and has lead the rebranding,  corporate partnerships, and digital outreach overhauls for the ACLU since the election of Trump. She has historical lead reproductive rights campaigns for the ACLU, and lead similar campaigns for Planned Parenthood. She is the daughter of bi-racial parents; a graduate of UC Boulder, Yale, and Emory; was named by In-Style Magazine as one of the top women to watch shaping American life.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When a successful entrepreneur steps into the political arena to reclaim American decency…

What do Orange County, comedian Chelsea Handler, and Emily’s List all have in common? They are tectonic forces that are powering Rachel Payne‘s campaign in California’s 48th congressional district. Traditionally a Republican stronghold, Payne — a former philanthropist and entrepreneur — tells us why she is stepping out of private life and leaning into public life to reclaim American decency, stand up for Unions while advancing Tech, and put out a Congressman who has been tied to the Russian Government.

Rachel Payne has built an exceptional career as a technology executive and entrepreneur, while actively involved in philanthropic activities. A recognized thought leader in the advancement of technology to reshape our world, she champions policies that make a meaningful place for everyone in the new economy. Payne was born in San Bernardino, California and grew up in a working-class family. When her family moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, her father became a union operating engineer. After her parents were divorced, Payne’s mother worked multiple jobs to support her family as a single mom of three children.

Payne won numerous scholarships, worked several part-time jobs and took out loans to become the first person in her family to go to college. She has lead teams at eBay, helped Google stand up its first philanthropic arm, and has also helped bring lines of credit to the rural poor in other parts of the world.

There’s a lot going on in America (and the world) and Vikrum Aiyer — Former White House Senior Economic Policy Advisor (Obama Administration) and Former Chief of Staff of the United States Patent and Trademark Office — has something to say about it all and about what it takes these days to be American enough.

“American Enough™ with Vikrum Aiyer”, is a weekly, town hall-style podcast discussing your questions and comments about current events, politics, and American ideals. As events unfold, Vikrum will share timely commentary wherever he is, as he travels, between meetings, and even en route to the office.

“American Enough” and MouthMedia Network do not necessarily support nor endorse any specific candidate for elected office.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens to faith in career civil servants and institutions when scandals hit public service?

It’s easy to lose faith in public officials, political appointees, and inner aides to any President when you see a drip and drab of headlines, gossip, and resignations. On the heels of Trump’s 34th senior departure (in Gary Cohn), host Vikrum Aiyer reflects on his own missteps as a political appointee, and describes how trust in public service and institutions should not be lost due to the tireless Career Civil Servants we never hear about in the headlines but still show up to work every day regardless of who’s  president.

______________________________________________________________

Join Vikrum Aiyer when he takes the South by Southwest stage March 11th, 2018. Open to all badgeholders, the SXSW Podcast Stage will host up to 36 podcasts as diverse and varied as the crowd at SXSW.  Click here for more details.

There’s a lot going on in America (and the world) and Vikrum Aiyer — Former White House Senior Economic Policy Advisor (Obama Administration) and Former Chief of Staff of the United States Patent and Trademark Office — has something to say about it all and about what it takes these days to be American enough.

“American Enough™ with Vikrum Aiyer”, is a weekly, town hall-style podcast discussing your questions and comments about current events, politics, and American ideals. As events unfold, Vikrum will share timely commentary wherever he is, as he travels, between meetings, and even en route to the office.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do you represent your community in Washington, when it’s been said that Washington stopped representing the people a long time ago?

Sam Jammal, the son of Arab and Latino immigrants, and candidate for Congress in southern California’s 39th congressional district, joins the pod to discuss why running for something can help restore our trust and values in the American Dream.

Jammal is a lawyer and candidate for Orange County’s 39th Congressional District. As the son of Latino and Arab American immigrant parents who came to this country to work hard and build a better life, Sam worked his way through high school, college and law school. He has spent his entire career fighting to improve his community and is committed to building a better future for the next generation. Sam most recently worked as a Manager and Attorney at Tesla and, before that, as a Director at SolarCity. Prior to joining the clean energy movement, Sam was a Chief of Staff in Congress and served in the Obama Administration as a presidential appointee at the Department of Commerce. Sam began his career as a civil rights attorney at the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

______________________________________________________________

There’s a lot going on in America (and the world) and Vikrum Aiyer — Former White House Senior Economic Policy Advisor (Obama Administration) and Former Chief of Staff of the United States Patent and Trademark Office — has something to say about it all and about what it takes these days to be American enough.

“American Enough™ with Vikrum Aiyer”, is a weekly, town hall-style podcast discussing your questions and comments about current events, politics, and American ideals. As events unfold, Vikrum will share timely commentary wherever he is, as he travels, between meetings, and even en route to the office. If political commentary, having your say, and America matter to you — you’re going to love this podcast.

“American Enough” and MouthMedia Network do not necessarily support nor endorse any specific candidate for elected office.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why have so many of us failed to support opportunities for women and girls?

Michelle Obama’s former chief of staff and long time civil rights attorney, Tina Tchen, highlights how everything from systemic work place policies, harassment, and backwards health care laws have challenged the identity and progression of American women, and the responsibility all of us (especially men) have in creating.

Christina M. “Tina” Tchen is an American lawyer who most recently served as Assistant to the President Barack Obama and Chief of Staff to First Lady Michelle Obama. While devising and implementing the First Lady’s policy priorities — including improving access to health coverage for underserved women and investing in the economic opportunity of veteran families — Tchen also served as the Executive Director of the Council on Women & Girls, which advanced initiatives to minimize the gender pay gap, empower men to own their role in speaking out against sexual harassment and abuse, and invested in ensuring access to education among young girls in developing countries.

An Ohio native, Tchen graduated from Northwestern Law and became a partner in the Chicago office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. She was active on the boards of entities such as University of Chicago Medicine and Chicago Public Library and celebrated for her public service and civil rights work by the Anti-Defamation League and the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois.

Tchen recently began leading the Chicago office of the Buckley Sandler law firm, and is spearheading a practice dedicated to weaving diversity and inclusion policies into the DNA of workplace cultures.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.