The Possible with Gilad Palley

"You can dream big and act small." That's how Lewis Bernstein describes 43 years of trying to make the world a little better — first as an executive producer at Sesame Street, reaching hundreds of millions of children, and later by building a mentoring model that pairs older adults with isolated teenagers, one relationship at a time. This conversation moves through some real wisdom:...

Ambassador David L. Cohen has been Chief of Staff to a mayor, a senior Comcast executive, chairman of Penn's board, and U.S. Ambassador to Canada. In this episode, he tells the inside story of the week Philadelphia nearly became the largest city in America to go bankrupt — and the crisis leadership lessons that carried him through Comcast, the SEPTA strike, and four years negotiating defense s...

What made Abraham Lincoln one of history's greatest leaders? In this conversation, Lincoln Prize-winning historian David S. Reynolds explores the character, leadership, and moral conviction that shaped Abraham Lincoln. Rather than focusing only on the Civil War, we examine the habits and mindset that made Lincoln extraordinary—from his humility and resilience to his confidence, love of learnin...

This is one of the most unusual conversations I've ever had. My guest is Marvatar , the AI avatar of Martine Rothblatt —founder of Sirius Satellite Radio, founder and CEO of United Therapeutics, entrepreneur, lawyer, pilot, and one ofthe most unconventional innovators of our time. Martine knew nothing about biology when her daughter Genesis was diagnosed with a fatal disease. She refused to let th...

Richard Vague went from taking a part-time job at a bank while working his way through college to becoming the president of a bank, founding two banks of his own, and becoming one of America's leading thinkers on leadership, debt, history, and the economy. Along the way, he also served as Pennsylvania's Secretary of Banking and Securities and on the boards of the University of Pennsylvania...

How do you build success without losing your values? In this conversation, I sit down with Robert Wolf,  former CEOand Chairman of UBS Americas, founder of 32 Advisors, and a close advisor to President Obama, to explore ambition, discipline, and what actually matters over the long run. Robert has led through financial crises, built companies, and served as a key bridge between Wall Street and the...

At age 11, David Mendelsohn was reading 900 pages daily and had completed all of Shakespeare. By his 20s, he was standing on a world podium as a champion wrestler. How does a child prodigy from a religious Jewish home transform into a Canadian National Champion and World Medallist? It didn't start with winning. It started with losing. Losing a lot. So much so that David’s father joked to offer...

In the 1860s, Americans saw themselves as fundamentally different civilizations — Puritan North versus Cavalier South. The divide was not just political. It was cultural, moral, and existential. In Part 2 of my conversation with Professor David S. Reynolds (Distinguished Professor at the CUNY Graduate Center and author of Abe: Abraham Lincoln in His Times ), we explore how Abraham Lincoln led a na...

What happens when you leave everything safe — and bet entirely on yourself? In this episode, Jeff Toporek — real estate investment firm founder, baseball coach, and host of the 1st Gen AmeriCAN Podcast — joins Gilad Palley for a conversation about courage, clarity, and the journey from chasing success to living with purpose. Jeff shares how being a first-generation American shaped his drive, why h...

On Abraham Lincoln’s birthday, we explore what made him extraordinary. I’m joined by Professor David S. Reynolds , Distinguished Professor at the CUNY Graduate Center and author of Abe: Abraham Lincoln in His Times , recipient of the Lincoln Prize. We discuss what defined Lincoln’s character: ​His radical humility even in triumph ​How being largely self-taught shaped him ​The power of spanning hig...

We often treat Abraham Lincoln as untouchable, as if greatness means flawlessness. It doesn’t. In Part 3 of my conversation with Professor David S.Reynolds (Distinguished Professor at the CUNY Graduate Center and author of Abe:Abraham Lincoln in His Times ), we examine Lincoln’s humanity. We discuss: • The story of his visit to a brothel • His complicated marriage • His moments of depression and d...

Peter Geffen — founder of the Abraham Joshua Heschel School and the Kivunim gap-year program — shares powerful lessons on questions, faith, and education. A lifelong educator and civil rights activist, Peter reflects on his work with MLK, including the moving story of finding the mule that carried Dr. King’s casket. This episode explores leadership, education, activism, and practical life lessons,...

Heng Lu, Head of Strategic Business Operations and Analytics at Flagship Pioneering, shares insights from 10 years of daily reading on personal growth, leadership, and happiness. He explains practical strategies for building strong relationships, navigating interpersonal challenges, and living a meaningful, purposeful life. In this episode of The Possible , Heng reflects on the daily habits, minds...

In this episode, Jon Macaskill—retired Navy SEAL Commander (24 years), mindfulness teacher, and leadership coach—shares how to identify what truly matters most and achieve your goals, whether you are planning 10 years ahead or just for tomorrow. From leading elite SEAL teams to coaching high performers, Jon provides practical tools for managing time, boosting mindfulness, and developing patience,...