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Only Advance with Jesse Thoeming

Only Advance with Jesse Thoeming

By: Jesse Thoeming
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A podcast about progress, possibility, and building a better future.

Set against the near-future backdrop of Jesse Thoeming’s speculative novel God Bless You, Mr. Trump, Only Advance explores how we might rise from the chaos of the “Terrible Twenties” into the promise of the “Fabulous Forties.” Each episode pairs the show’s central question—How do we get there from here?—with an expert voice offering insight from their field.

From technology and artificial intelligence to politics, gender equity, business, education, philanthropy, and more, host Jesse Thoeming sits down with subject matter experts to examine how their discipline could be vastly improved over the next 10 to 20 years. These conversations are less about punditry and more about potential—cutting through the noise to highlight what’s working, what’s broken, and what’s worth building.

Drawing inspiration from shows like Sam Harris’ Making Sense, Only Advance combines grounded conversation with forward-looking curiosity. It’s a space for deep thinking, practical imagination, and hopeful realism—where every discussion ties back to the idea that things can be better if we’re bold enough to shape them.

Whether you’re a future-focused leader, a restless idealist, or simply someone who believes we can do better, this show invites you to think beyond the moment—and imagine what it would look like if we actually advanced.

New episodes launch weekly beginning November 2025.

Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Rebuilding Trust: Politics, Policy, and the Road to 2049
    Dec 16 2025

    Ron Corbett, former Iowa House Speaker and Cedar Rapids Mayor, joins Jesse to tackle the crisis of political trust and polarization in America. They dive into how reforming primaries, strengthening institutions, and embracing principled leadership could guide us out of the “Terrible Twenties” and into a more functional democracy.

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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • Built to Last: Business, Wealth, and the Workforce of the Future
    Dec 9 2025

    Entrepreneur and investor Courtney Wooge reflects on America’s evolving business climate. From leading remote-first teams to navigating AI disruption, he shares lessons on leadership, wealth inequality, and why creating opportunity—especially for the next generation—will define business success in the decades ahead.

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    42 mins
  • Local Lens, National Lessons: A City Leader’s View of Progress
    Dec 2 2025

    Dale Todd, longtime Cedar Rapids City Councilman, shares his grounded perspective on American politics—from local government challenges to broader threats to democracy. The episode covers leadership fatigue, rebuilding bipartisan trust, and how neighborhood-level change can scale into national transformation.

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    1 hr and 6 mins
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