The Justin M Lewis Podcast

A few weeks ago, I was hiking with my kids. The mountains were holding their breath, the air warm and still. As we passed others on the trail, I caught myself doing what I’ve always done—meeting eyes, offering a smile, sharing a greeting. That day, I used it as a lesson for my boys: notice the way people meet you, not to judge, but to understand the power of acknowledgment. Some share it openly, o...

One night in the woods. Three packs. Two small boys learning to carry weight—and one father quietly hoping to teach them how. This wasn’t about the hike. It was about the shift. About raising sons to become useful men in a world that rarely asks them to be. And doing it, even if you have to do it alone. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get acces...

We didn’t build Instrument in perfect conditions—we built it in heat, in doubt, in the ashes of a fire. Every space we moved into felt like too much. And every time, it turned out not to be enough. This is the story of five flights of stairs, two teepees, and the belief that carried us through it all. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access...

Entrepreneurship doesn’t move in clean lines. The highs and lows can be separated by mere moments—a win in the morning, a gut punch by afternoon. But the goal isn’t to numb yourself to the ride. It’s to feel it all. To let the wins fill you and the losses teach you. Because when the journey is over, you won’t remember the score—you’ll remember that you lived it fully. This is a public episode. If...

Attitude isn’t just mindset—it’s the force that shapes your life. Not your circumstances, not your luck. Your attitude decides how you lead, how you love, and how you’re remembered. In this True North letter to my kids, I share what I’ve learned about carrying yourself with humility, grace, and strength—especially when it’s hardest. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with...

The most overlooked discipline in life is knowing when the energy has shifted. Whether in love, leadership, or business, success often belongs to those who can sense when it’s time to chase—and who have the humility to move toward what matters before it slips away. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit justinmlewis...

Too often, conversations about taxation devolve into slogans like “pay your fair share.” But in Oregon, the top 10% of earners already fund over 60% of our income tax base. If we keep pushing them away, we won’t hurt the wealthy—we’ll gut the very programs we claim to protect. This piece takes the politics out of it and puts the math front and center. This is a public episode. If you would like to...

Too many commercial spaces in our cities sit underutilized—not from lack of imagination, but because our incentives are broken. We don’t need to build more to spark momentum. We need to reward activation, demand transparency, and reimagine how space creates value for everyone. The future isn’t waiting to be built—it’s waiting to be used. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this...

Most agencies chase revenue. I built one around trust. At Instrument, we organized not just for output—but for people. We measured human capacity with honesty, gave teams real autonomy, and built a system where belonging wasn’t accidental—it was designed. For nearly two decades, that belief held. And I still believe: if you trust people, they will rise. This is a public episode. If you would like...

We’re often told to be satisfied with where we are. But in leadership—whether in business or public service—satisfaction can be the enemy of real progress. The leaders who transform companies, cities, and countries are the ones who stay restless in pursuit of what’s possible. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit j...

Opportunity rarely arrives with certainty or clarity. It often looks like risk, failure, or inconvenience. But those who learn to move toward the unknown—who say yes before they’re ready—discover a life filled with growth, momentum, and meaning. This letter is a reminder to see the world not as it is, but as it could be. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscr...

Portland is bleeding talent—not because ambition is gone, but because the math no longer works. Founders aren’t angry; they’re just leaving. And every time they do, we lose decades of future tax revenue, jobs, and investment. If we want to compete with cities like Austin, we need to stop taxing ambition and start rewarding it. Portland’s next chapter starts with a tax cut. Let’s make it happen—bef...

The biggest divide in how we approach problems comes down to this: some people look for tactics, others look at behavior. But in my experience—whether in business, leadership, or life—behavior is the real engine of performance. Tactics follow belief. Culture shapes outcomes. And no system can replace the energy and standards we bring to the table. This is a public episode. If you would like to dis...

Change is hard. It’s messy. It requires energy, humility, and sacrifice. But guiding others through it—especially when they resist—is the truest test of leadership. It’s not about short-term comfort. It’s about long-term love. The kind that protects the future, not just the present. Real leaders don’t cling to credit—they give it away. They don’t chase popularity—they build belief. Because the goa...

Oregon has the highest rate of unsheltered children in the country. This isn’t just a Portland problem—it’s everywhere. The wealth migration after COVID drove up prices across the state, leaving working families behind. We need to face the truth and start building a better future for all of us. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonu...

Sam Altman believes capitalism must evolve. I agree—but not through redistribution alone. The future isn’t about tearing the system down; it’s about reimagining who gets to benefit from what we build. This is a call for shared ownership, broader participation, and a new kind of capitalism—one that measures success not just by how much wealth is created, but by how far it reaches. This is a public...

AI is already woven into our lives, quietly assisting in the background—yet we’re still afraid to talk about it. In this episode, I explore why the real limitation of AI isn’t the tech itself, but our own imagination—and what happens when we stop using it to replace people and start using it to reimagine what’s possible. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscr...

True presence isn’t about being in the same room—it’s about being fully there, with your heart, your attention, your love. In this letter to my kids, I share what it’s taken me a lifetime to learn: that presence is love, and it’s the quiet moments—not the grand ones—that define how deeply we’re remembered. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get ac...

This isn’t a policy piece—it’s a love letter. A reflection on what America is, what it’s been, and what it still can become. We are a nation built on contradiction and courage, shadow and light. But beneath the scars lies a promise—unfinished, imperfect, and still worth fighting for. This is my America: flawed, resilient, and ours to shape together. This is a public episode. If you would like to d...

My mom never needed big speeches to teach resilience. She lived it, every day—through early mornings, quiet strength, and the unwavering choice to show up with love. This piece is a tribute to that kind of light—the kind the world needs now more than ever. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit justinmlewis.substack...

The best ideas aren’t found in the first round of thinking—they’re earned through discipline, empathy, and immersion. “Burn the Sugar” is a call to go deeper: beyond cleverness, beyond surface-level insights, to where original ideas are forged. Because creativity isn’t magic. It’s work. And it’s worth it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get acc...

The future of commerce won’t be won with faster checkouts or smarter ads—it will be won by brands that know us deeply and serve us accordingly. This is the promise of Intelligent User Experience (IUX). And no one is better positioned to lead this revolution than Nike. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit justinmle...

Confidence isn’t something you’re born with—it’s something you build, brick by brick, through honesty, effort, and discipline. In this letter to my kids, I explore how real belief in yourself comes from becoming someone worth believing in, and why the promises you keep to yourself are the foundation of a full, resilient life. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other s...

If I could choose one aim for my life, it would be this: to build something better. Not for fame or legacy—but as an act of service. In this letter, I name the bold goals I’m no longer waiting to pursue—from healthcare to capitalism, the Internet to my own city. The future is up for grabs. Let’s go get it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get ac...

If I could choose one aim for my life—regardless of success or status—it would be this: to build a surplus. Not of wealth or acclaim, but of spirit. A surplus of love, presence, optimism, and strength that’s been forged quietly and given freely. This is not about martyrdom—it’s about showing up full, so you can give when it matters most. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this...