In this episode of American Dream Factory, Nick and Joe sit down with two transformative leaders in the world of politics, community, media, and capitalism:

• Matthew Barzun – Former U.S. Ambassador to the U.K. & Sweden, bestselling author of The Power of Giving Away Power, and architect of “constellation thinking.”

• Seth Levine – Venture capitalist, co-founder of Foundry ($4B under management), and co-author of The New Builders, with a new book Capital Evolution releasing December 2025.

Together, they explore what it will take to reboot the American Dream in an era where trust in institutions is collapsing, cities are strained, and communities are hungry for new ways of working together.

Join our community of city leaders at AmericanDreamFactory.com and learn how to get the city building tool, BuildCities.com for free.

Chapters

Chapters

00:00 The American Dream: A Shared Vision

09:22 The Role of Venture Capital in Empowering Entrepreneurs

12:12 Meritocracy and Economic Mobility

15:11 Populism and the American Dream

21:12 Collaboration vs. Competition in Governance

24:02 Reimagining Capitalism for the Future

26:59 Local Businesses and Community Development

35:17 Navigating Local Government Regulations

37:25 Community Engagement and Overcoming Barriers

39:11 The Interdependence of Community and Economy

44:07 Building Trust Through Collaborative Efforts

44:45 The Role of Local Government in Community Dynamics

50:20 Creating a Culture of Open Dialogue

55:01 The Power of Shared Vision in Community Development

01:04:02 Bridging the Political Divide

01:04:54 The Importance of Deliberate Processes

01:09:51 The Role of Community in Decision Making

01:14:55 Navigating Future Paths

01:20:37 Creating a Collaborative Future

01:26:16 Building a Community of Leaders

If you have future guests you'd like us to interview, email us at [email protected]