Richard Helppie's Common Bridge

Ready to decode the tangled web of big tech and government regulation? Today's episode promises to do just that, with an in-depth look at the antitrust investigations into giants like Amazon, Google, and potentially Apple. Our guest, Adam Kovacevich, leader of the Chamber of Progress, lends his expertise as we explore the intricacies of Amazon's Prime bundle, Prime label, and buy box pol...

Join us on an intense exploration of the US political landscape, with our special guest - Thomas Hicks, a dedicated voter from Atlanta, Georgia. Thomas brings his unique perspective on the voting process in his home state, where recent elections have been nail-bitingly close. Amid the swirling controversy around the integrity of Georgia's voting process, he stands firm in his faith in the sys...

Prepare to set sail on a voyage of discovery with us  in the third and final part of a three-part series of conversations with our insightful guest, Robert Greenfield.  We're mapping out the territories of Indigenous Peoples' rights, immigration complexities, and the landscape of digital media. We're journeying through the rich historical narratives of Aboriginal people in Australia...

What if you could navigate the stormy seas of today's political climate with a non-partisan compass? Picture yourself engaging with the deep-seated narratives around election deniers and dementia deniers, the political prosecutions of Donald Trump, and the impact of age on voters' preferences. We also highlight possible alternatives to Trump, like Gavin Newsom, and the intriguing proposi...

Join us as we welcome back our favorite globetrotter, Robert Greenfield! As he navigates his recent move from Australia to Europe, he brings a fresh perspective on life, culture, and the political landscape following the pandemic. We kick off with a unique blend of sports and travel, diving into the thrill of a Detroit Tigers game, the anticipation of Detroit Lions' playoffs, and the lifestyl...

Join us on The Common Bridge as Rich talks with stage, screen, and television star Greg Jbara's inspiring journey from a public school system to Juilliard and his rise in the performing arts. We explore the impact of the ongoing Writers Guild strike, differences between guilds, challenges faced by actors and producers, and how automation is reshaping the industry. We emphasize supporting arti...

Join Rich in a  thought-provoking discussions with Konstantin Kissen, a prominent comedian and YouTube sensation. They explore his journey from Moscow to England, the influence of censorship and cancel culture on comedy, and the limitations of the right versus left political paradigm. Delving into public perception versus media portrayal, they analyze hypocrisy among political leaders and the eros...

Rich responds to selected questions and comments from his nearly four million viewers, listeners and readers of The Common Bridge.  Topics range included censorship, Big Tech, First and Second Amendments, and more.  Support the show Engage the conversation on Substack at The Common Bridge!

Ever wonder how the proposed assault weapons ban might reshape our society? Or question how common sense could be applied to the Second Amendment? Join us as we welcome back Ryan Busey, author of "Gunfight", for a compelling discussion on these topics and more. We reflect on the societal norms set by the 1994–2004 ban and explore bipartisan-supported policies such as universal background...

Peel back the curtain on the divisive discourse around guns and gun laws in America with my captivating conversation with Ryan Bussey, author of the book Gunfight. As an experienced outdoorsman, hunter, conservationist, and influential figure in the firearms industry, Ryan’s insights promise to reshape perceptions and prompt critical thinking. His rural upbringing on a ranch has deeply shaped his...

What are the policies needed to overcome today's small business workforce challenges? Join us for an insightful conversation with our special guest, Brian Calley, President and CEO of the Small Business Association of Michigan. From automation to remote work to artificial intelligence, we discuss these changes' impact on the tax base and how they've shaped the journey of Brian'...

What if you were given a blank canvas to construct a new country from scratch - What would your ideal nation look like?  Tune in as I challenge you to contemplate this intriguing thought experiment. From governance and prosperity to equality and leadership, we delve into the fundamental building blocks of nationhood and the meticulous considerations it entails. In this candid discourse, I put fort...

Was the Kennedy Assassination the beginning of conspiracy theories that spawned today’s rampant mistrust of government and the reporting industry? Renowned investigative reporter and author Gerald Posner discusses the newly-released CIA records about the 1963 murder of the president in this riveting episode. Mr. Posner is the author of 13 books, and he describes his investigative process for The C...

World War II is often portrayed as a period of national unity and purpose in the USA. However, many of the same divisions present today existed then. As the country pivoted to a war economy and then back to a civilian economy, the opportunities for corruption and incompetence were rife. Enter an honest and capable Senator from Missouri – Harry S. Truman.  NPR’s Steve Drummond,  author of “The Watc...

How do we navigate the controversial and sensitive topic of transgenderism and pediatric gender medicine? Today, we're joined by Leor Sapir, a PhD holder in Political Science, who shares his insights from years of analyzing the legal, policy, and evidence-based landscape surrounding gender affirming care. We'll explore the medicalization of young people, the concept of the transgender ch...

After an informative discussion on the PEPFAR program, in Part 2 of this interview Dr. Birx responds to Rich’s questions about the loss of scientific credibility in the 2020 Covid pandemic response.   CDC Policies were not designed for, nor were responsive to the coronavirus pandemic, causing the CDC to fail the country and support policy actions often didn’t match the science or the data of the t...

20 years ago, as HIV and AIDS threatened vast populations in sub-Saharan Africa, Haiti, Guyana and Vietnam, the US Government made the largest investment in battling a pandemic. Known as the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).  May 27th marked the 20th anniversary of the creation of this bipartisan program which coordinated the work of government agencies and local governments to...

This week on The Common Bridge, Rich's guest is M.L. Elrick, a Pulitzer Prize and Emmy Award winning Investigative Reporter. ML leads the discussion from the intensely competitive  “keep ‘em honest” role of the 4th Estate to national media degrading from reporting facts to the spread of affirmation programming. All beginning with a current story about how closure of a media room at City Hall...

In the aftermath of the the CNN Town Hall, Rich argues that Donald Trump lacks the skills required to be President and would not be a good choice to lead the Republican Party in the upcoming elections. Despite Trump's appeal to some voters, Helppie suggests that the country needs to move on from the Biden versus Trump narrative and choose better candidates, citing issues with the current admi...

We cordially invite you to watch, listen, or read this episode of The Common Bridge.  Join Rich as he delves into the insights of an educational leader, Dr. Ernestine Sanders, who presents a data-driven model that ensures all kids can achieve academic success while building strong character. This episode offers valuable lessons for public and private schools, policy-makers, and anyone interested i...

In a very popular episode from Season 3, Rich welcomes Professor Emeritus of Texas Christian University to talk about society and civilization in history and how common forces or influences can affect stability today just as it did in antiquity.  A fascinating conversation that involves reflections on Greece, Rome, Russia and the US.  Support the show Engage the conversation on Substack at The Com...

Upon his return from vacation, Rich addresses headlines in the news and fields a few audience queries. He sifts through topics, seeking out the ridiculous and the impactful. These include the Trump indictment, Tennessee House Expulsions, the role of guns in the nation's issues, Dominion Voting Systems & Fox News, George Santos & Congressional Circus, Majorie Taylor Green, Diane Feinst...

Rich welcomes Kory to The Common Bridge, a Substack author and Twitter personality of "Show Me The Data." They cover a broad range of topics, including living partially off the grid, student debt, the ease with which porn purveyors access children, a unique take on Black History Month, and others from a data-driven and perhaps Libertarian perspective. Don't miss this episode! Suppor...

The Godfather of Supply Chain, Bill Michels, returns to The Common Bridge. Mr. Michels’ forecasts from his earlier appearances have proven accurate. Today he calls for Agility, Flexibility and Resiliency as the economy grapples with the Geopolitical situation, interest rates, stress on manufacturing companies, looming bankruptcies, the end of seeking cheap labor globally, and pandemic changes beco...

Two things that are certain, death and taxes. The Common Bridge has covered tax policies from many angles. So, this week we will wade into the topic of death. In these times of great division, one thing we can agree on is that death is a certain eventuality. Today a leader from the funeral industry – a  pioneer, teacher and practitioner, Martha Thayer, discusses the art, science and the law of dea...