Theo Kocken describes how his upbringing in a large family encouraged his independence. He drew on that experience to rethink the nature of risks by banks and pension funds. He discusses how he came to start Cardano Development in response to the need to account for scenarios that generate serious risks. He points out how his company built models that use derivatives to hedge long-term risks in pension funds. Theo highlights his work with banks, many of which become far more interested in risk management in the aftermath of the financial crisis. He has combined theory with practice, publishing a number of scholarly articles while working on the practical problems faced by pension funds and more recently with development banks helping developing countries.

Nathan Lewin describes his family's escape from Poland soon after the 1938 Kristallnacht pogrom against Jews through Japan to the US. He recounts how his father, an important rabbi in Poland, transitioned to become a noted writer and professor and influenced the UN resolutions on freedom of religion. We hear of Mr. Lewin's decision to attend Harvard Law school and work on the law review. He discusses how he faced explicit discrimination but ended up helping him become a clerk to Supreme Court Justice John Harlan and ultimately important positions in the Department of Justice headed by Robert F. Kennedy. Nat recalls some of his important cases, nearly 30 of which he argued in the Supreme Court.

Don Ezra describes growing up in Calcutta with a Bhagdadi Jewish heritage. He is grateful for the Catholic school he attended, especially how the teachers pushed students to investigate issues deeply. He naturally followed this approach, asking why and then asking why again. Don's education moved quickly, earning a BA by 18, studying economics and math at Cambridge University. He highlights the role of luck in helping him become an actuary, transferring to Canada, and leading a major practice at Russell Investments. Don discusses a range of his innovations analyzing and writing about the assets and liabilities sides of defined benefit pensions. As the interview concludes, Don talks about his post-full-time work activities in what he calls Life 2. His website, donezra.com, offers a wealth of material for the public on retirement planning, from dealing with longevity and inflation risks to improving sleep patterns. His book, Life Two: How to get to and enjoy what used to be called retirement, is available on Amazon.

Paula Hogan describes her early experience with finance, growing up with a father who pioneered concepts of variable annuities. After graduating college, Paula thought she would enter a health policy field, but came to begin financial advising while living in Texas. Learn how Paula chose to embrace ideas developed by co-host Zvi Bodie, how she built her own personal financial advising practice and ultimately sold the practice while continuing to provide financial advice to clients. Her publications and her efforts to promote fiduciary responsibilities of advisers have contributed to improving the financial futures of Americans.

Professor Friedman describes his upbringing in Louisville, Kentucky, including the influences of his father and the family business as well as a special English teacher's contributions to his ability to write well. He recounts his introduction to economics as a Harvard graduate, his gravitating toward economics at Cambridge University, and his early and continuing interest in macroeconomics. He discusses the changing controversies relating to monetary and fiscal policy. Professor Friedman highlights how his early experiences at Morgan Stanley influenced his understanding of the bond market's role in the macroeconomy. Recognizing the limited literature on why economic growth is important, Professor Friedman decided to write The Moral Consequences of Economic Growth. His latest book is Religion and the Rise of Capitalism.

Bob Lerman describes how his parents and upbringing in a family of nine brothers and one sister influenced his path in life. After growing up in South Bend, Indiana with a focus on sports and music, he became attracted to the world of ideas at Brandeis University and subsequently at MIT. His career spanned jobs at four universities, a Congressional committee, a research institute in Israel, and now Urban Institute, a policy research organization. Bob discusses some of his ideas and policy proposals for helping people avoid poverty, for family cohesion, and for building skills for a rewarding career. He explains why he became a strong advocate for scaling apprenticeship in the US and gives brief impressions of the current political landscape.

Zvi Bodie describes his lifelong interest in ideas and learning. From his birth and high school in Brooklyn and his evolution from a socialist/Zionist and kibbutz life to becoming a noted financial economist, Zvi recalls how his thinking evolved and how he luckily encountered much help from teachers and friends. Zvi explains the importance of finance and of financial innovation that drives much of the world economy.

Hear about Rabbi Tzvi Marx's fascinating upbringing, career, and ideas. Rabbi Marx describes his development from his birth in occupied France to his schooling and university experience in New York, to his role in building the Sholem Hartman Institute in Jerusalem, and to his leadership of an institute for Jewish learning in the Netherlands. Along the way, Rabbi Marx explains how he came to confront key questions, such as how the modern state of Israel is recasting the Jewish experience.

Alair Townsend describes her journey from growing in Elmira and attending Elmira College, the London School of Economics, and the University of Wisconsin to a career at the highest level of public service. She describes her role as staff director of the Subcommittee on Fiscal Policy and how it produced the first set of studies of the combined cash and in-kind welfare programs in the US. Alair tells stories of subsequent leadership positions at the first House Budget Committee and then as Assistant Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. This was only the beginning. Hired as the budget director of New York City, she explains how she was determined to keep the budget in balance. Asked to become Deputy Mayor for finance and economic development by Mayor Ed Koch, Alair led the effort to retain jobs in the city and to reach the outer boroughs. She capped her career by becoming publisher of Crain's Business Daily and now serves on many boards of directors.