Today we are talking about the billionaires that have hijacked the American government.

My guest, Chuck Collins, is uniquely qualified to talk about this issue.

As heir to a family fortune, he had an insider’s seat at the table of wealth management - and what he learned about how things operate - caused him to do something considered radical - by the others at the table. He chose to donate his inheritance and dedicate himself to exposing the corrupting influence of dynastic wealth.

This is Aspire with Osha; art, nature, humanity, and I’m your host, Osha Hayden. My guest Chuck Collins, has been on the show several times. Let me tell you more about this remarkable man.

Chuck Collins is the Director of the Program on Inequality and the Common Good at the Institute for Policy Studies where he co-edits Inequality.org.

Author of several books on wealth inequality, including most recently, The Wealth Hoarders: How Billionaires Pay Millions to Hide Trillions. He also wrote a novel, Altars to an Erupting Sun and has a new book coming out this Fall, and we’ll hear more about that.

You may have listened to our previous interview from Nov 5, 2023, available on my podcast https://oshahayden.com/podcast/how-trillions-in-hidden-wealth-impacts-us-insights-from-chuck-collins/

Osha and Chuck Collins discuss what happens when wealth is transferred from working citizens to the top .01% and billionaires are able to influence policy and elections.

Are you curious about how billionaires have captured such a large percentage of the world’s wealth? About how they have rigged the system in their favor and yet pay so little in taxes? Chuck Collins states that “the combined wealth of the nine-figure club is now $16.1 trillion, up $2 trillion from a year ago.” What are some steps we can take to challenge the takeover of our government by Billionaire oligarchs?

We discuss what happens when mega billionaires seize control of the levers of power, and how that affects middle class and poor citizens.

In Tolkien’s masterpiece, The Lord of the Rings, he describes the rings of power and the one ring to rule them all. In the trilogy, evil and hatred are on the rise and the dark lord Sauron seeks to find this ultimate ring of power. Because - once he takes possession of the ring, he has control over everything. But the ring is toxic in its power, it utterly corrupts the soul of whoever carries it. Osha notes the relevance of this story to the corrupting influence of extreme wealth and power.

It’s worth noting that although one of Musk’s corporations, Tesla, is valued at over $1 trillion, it paid zero income tax last year. (ITEP, Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, Jan 30, 2025) https://itep.org/tesla-reported-zero-federal-income-tax-in-2024/

The US Debt is now over 36 trillion. It is estimated that the budget package being proposed would add another 5.1 trillion to the deficit. Who is on the hook for that deficit?

Chuck Collins has a new book, Burned by Billionaires, coming out this Fall.

Learn more about Chuck’s work and his books:

https://inequality.org

https://www.chuckcollinswrites.com/

Other Sites of Interest:

https://www.postcarbon.org/. Richard Heinberg, author of

If you enjoyed this show, please leave a positive review and share with your friends. Thank you! Osha

In an inspiring conversation with Justine Willis Toms, co-founder of New Dimensions Radio, Osha and Justine discuss the power of deep listening and holding space as they navigate the troubled water of these times with vision, spirit and joy.

Justine shares powerful practices and lessons from her storied career. As one of the founding conveners of the Millionth Circle Initiative, she has been engaged in Circle Work for decades and speaks about the value of these Circles, especially in difficult times. The Millionth Circle Initiative, is based on Jean Shinoda Bolen’s groundbreaking book, The Millionth Circle.

About

Justine Willis Toms is Co-Founder, Executive Director and Host of New Dimensions Radio & Media which has been broadcasting since 1973. New Dimensions is an internationally syndicated radio series, featuring dialogues with the world’s most visionary wisdom leaders. Justine, along with co-founder Michael Toms, was inducted to the 2011 Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

Justine Willis Toms has also hosted the radio series In Her Company: Deep Dialogues with Women of Wisdom, and has produced many award-winning radio series. Besides her radio work, she leads workshops on Finding Grace in a Chaotic World.

She is coauthor with Michael Toms of True Work: Doing What You Love and Loving What You Do, and author of Small Pleasures: Finding Grace in a Chaotic World.

In June 2004, she was one of thirty people in the world invited to participate in the Synthesis Dialogues with His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Check out New Dimensions Radio & media: https://newdimensions.org/

You can hear Justine on her podcasts: New Dimensions Radio, and New Dimensions Cafe https://newdimensions.org/podcasts/

Learn about Circle Work: https://millionthcircle.org/

Jean Shinoda Bolen: https://www.jeanbolen.com/

@aspirewithOsha, @buzzsprout, @newdimensions.org, @millionthcircle.org, @oshahayden.com

If you enjoyed this show, please leave a positive review and share with your friends. Thank you! Osha

Today we’re talking with guest, Larry Tye, about how the joyful swinging sounds of jazz broke through racial barriers during the time of Jim Crow - not only in America - but across the world — and how famous jazz men, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong & Count Basie, basically wrote the soundtrack for the Civil Rights movement in America.

ABOUT LARRY TYE
My guest is Larry Tye, New York Times bestselling author who has written nine books - including his recent, The Jazzmen: How Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong & Count Basie Transformed America. From 1986 to 2001, Tye was an award-winning reporter at The Boston Globe, where his primary beat was medicine. Tye graduated from Brown University, was a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University, and taught journalism at Boston University, Northeastern, and Tufts.

In the preface to his book, The Jazzmen: How Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong & Count Basie Transformed America, Larry Tye states:

• “This book lies at the intersection of two American stories — one about this country at it most hidebound and straightlaced, the other about jazz, the all-American music form, at its most locomotive and sensuous. We’ll follow those contortions in the enclosed and electrifying settings of honky tonks - and concert halls.”

Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong & Count Basie were trailblazers who brought jazz to the masses and in so doing, broke racial boundaries. Ultimately, they became global ambassadors for the United States as they exported their joyful swinging sounds and brought crowds to their feet. For more information, you can read Larry Tye's deeply researched book, The Jazzmen: How Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong & Count Basie Transformed America.

It’s ironic that the grandson of slaves, an abandoned son raised by a family of Lithuanian Jews, and the son of a coachman & laundress rose to fame and became the face of jazz on the international stage - they met the Queen, were toasted by numerous Presidents, were on the celebrity A-list. Because of them, people began to see black men in a different light. The Jazzmen created the soundtrack for the Civil Rights Movement and opened doors for those to come.

My question for you: Can we help lift and unify the world through our art forms? Can we go go viral with the expression of joy? What would you rather experience and support - doom and negativity - or joy and hope? Perhaps the example of these jazzmen shows us the way.

Thanks for listening. Have an inspired week - and live your joy!

https://larrytye.com
@buzzsprout

If you enjoyed this show, please leave a positive review and share with your friends. Thank you! Osha

Join our journey through the captivating world of art and its profound influence on societal transformation with Ken Grossinger, a strategist and documentary producer with a wealth of experience. This episode promises to reveal the often underestimated power of art to incite and sustain meaningful change. We reminisce about the civil rights movement and the United Farm Workers, where anthems and theatrical performances weren't just acts of expression but were essential to the courage and unity of those fighting for justice. Ken provides insights into how these artistic endeavors have left an indelible mark on our society.

Our conversation takes an exciting turn into the realm of cinema, where we unpack the extraordinary impact of films like "The China Syndrome" and "Nine to Five" and "Chasing Ice" on public awareness and activism. These cultural landmarks demonstrate the unique ability of movies to inform and mobilize, creating ripples of change that extend far beyond the silver screen. We also discuss the evolution of environmental activism's artistic expression. From silent landscapes to resonant songs in the campaign against Alaska's Pebble Mine, we see how art has become an integral voice in the chorus for environmental preservation.

The episode rounds off with a look at the transformative role of museums and foundations in community activism and social justice. Museums are stepping out of the shadows to become beacons of progress, taking an active stance on pressing issues by engaging with the stories and struggles of the communities they represent.
Through the lens of initiatives like the Art for Justice Fund and the JPB Foundation's integrated funding approach, we uncover how strategic collaborations between artists, philanthropists, and activists are crafting a new narrative for social change, proving that the brush, the lens, and the pen are mightier than ever before.

For more info: https://www.artworksbook.com

If you enjoyed this show, please leave a positive review and share with your friends. Thank you! Osha

When the harsh realities of racism and gun violence collide, the result can be life altering. This week's guest, Dr. Brian Williams, a trauma surgeon turned congressional candidate, opens up about one such pivotal night that altered his trajectory: the July 7, 2016 Dallas protest shooting. Amid the chaos of that evening, Dr. Williams found his voice in advocacy, pushing for societal healing and unity in the face of discrimination and tragedy. As we listen to his journey, you'll feel the weight of history and the urgency of his mission to serve a nation, especially as he reflects on his family's military legacy and the racial barriers they've endured.

Our conversation with Dr. Williams doesn't shy away from the uncomfortable truths that lay at the intersection of professional obligation and racial identity. His impromptu call for unity, born from the depths of despair and hope after the Dallas shooting, serves as a powerful reminder of the work needed to forge safer communities. Dr. Williams's experience as a Black man in America and his commitment to ending violence extend into our discussion on the role of empathy and storytelling. It's an exploration of how these tools can lead to profound social change and the importance of acknowledging our shared humanity to overcome health disparities and systemic injustice.

By the end of our dialogue, it's evident that Dr. Williams is not only a physician committed to saving lives but also a visionary aiming to reshape the fabric of our society. He shares insights from his book, "The Bodies Keep Coming" and discusses his aspirations for Congress—where his unique perspective as a trauma surgeon, veteran, and Black American can influence policy for the betterment of all. This episode is an invitation to recognize the potential for change that each of us holds and the critical impact our individual actions can have on the collective journey toward equity and justice. Join us for this powerful episode, and leave with a renewed understanding of the complexities of race, gun violence, and the potential for healing in America.

The Bodies Keep Coming: Dispatches From a Black Trauma Surgeon on Racism, Violence, and How We Heal

https://brianwilliamsmd.com/
https://drbrianwilliamsforcongress.com/

If you enjoyed this show, please leave a positive review and share with your friends. Thank you! Osha

Ever wondered how those with over $30 million maintain and grow their wealth while paying bare minimum taxes? Join us as we unveil the dark underbelly of wealth accumulation and preservation with Chuck Collins, acclaimed author of 'Wealth Hoarders'. In a candid conversation, Collins unravels the complex web of the wealth defense industry, detailing how the wealthy maneuver their fortunes off the balance sheets, and shockingly, position the US as their preferred tax haven. How has the U.S. become the favored country for Russian oligarchs, criminals and drug lords to hide their ill gotten gains?

The revelations don't stop there. We delve deeper into the grim consequences of hidden wealth on our local communities. Examining the Getty family's tax evasion strategies that ran California a loss of $300 million, the manipulation of South Dakota's trust industry to allow wealth to accumulate forever beyond taxation, and the rising ghost neighborhoods as a result of hidden wealth driving up housing prices - it's all here.

And for those seeking solutions, Collins doesn't disappoint. We discuss how the US and UK can spearhead a global transparency system, and highlight revealing films like 'The Laundromat' and 'We're Not Broke'. Get ready for a compelling dialogue that starkly exposes vast wealth disparities and the urgent need for reform.

https://inequality.org
https://www.icij.org
https://www.chuckcollinswrites.com
Watch the trailer for The Laundromat here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuBRcfe4bSo
Watch We're Not Broke here - free: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPHlhzRSEnw

If you enjoyed this show, please leave a positive review and share with your friends. Thank you! Osha

Have you ever wondered if your investments could pack a powerful punch for both your wallet and the world? Dale Wannen, veteran wealth manager and founder of Sustainvest Asset Management LLC, takes us on a deep dive into the transformative realm of sustainable investing. With over two decades of experience, Dale illuminates the journey of sustainable investing, debunking the myth that prioritizing ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) factors means sacrificing financial gains. From using ESG ratings to avoid the pitfalls of greenwashing to highlighting the growing influence of electric and hydrogen vehicles, Dale provides a comprehensive and insightful exploration of the rapidly evolving investment landscape.

Let’s not stop there. We turn the spotlight onto the power of small investors to effect meaningful change through shareholder activism, a compelling topic that often gets overshadowed. Dale unravels how, with the right tools and knowledge, even the smallest investor can influence the trajectories of publicly traded companies. We navigate through the process of compiling shareholder proposals, the role of regulatory bodies, and the crucial importance of casting informed votes.

Lastly, we delve into the vast and exciting possibilities that the future holds for sustainable investing. From the burgeoning popularity of robo advisors and AI-driven investing, to the intriguing potentials of cryptocurrency and the metaverse, Dale shares his predictions and insights. His recent book, 'Don't Feed the Clowns: Sustainable Investing for Everyday Life,' serves as a beacon for those looking to align their investments with their values. Join us for this empowering and thought-provoking conversation that will inspire you to contribute positively to our planet's future, through informed and responsible investment choices.

Sustainvest Asset Management LLC

If you enjoyed this show, please leave a positive review and share with your friends. Thank you! Osha

What if our individual actions and social movements could change the course of the climate crisis? Today's enthralling conversation with Chuck Collins, a prominent campaigner and author, challenges us to contemplate this very question. He shares his wisdom on the power of activism, the importance of building resilience, and the urgent need to take action in our fight for environmental justice. Through his new novel, Altar to an Erupting Sun, he prompts us to consider the moral and ethical implications of our current climate predicament.

In this conversation, we challenge the unchecked authority of the fossil fuel industry and its impact on our society. We delve into potential forms of resistance like physical disruption, capital divestment, and the exposure of dark money. Our discussion is not just about the global stage, but also about local action. We discuss the commendable sustainability endeavours of Sonoma County, using it as a beacon of hope for other communities. The intricate web of corporate power and money is laid bare as we scrutinize the influence of the Koch Brothers on our political landscape.

Join us as we dig deep into the issues surrounding the climate crisis and the struggle for environmental justice. We navigate through the convoluted realms of corporate power, while also gratifyingly highlighting the power of individuals and communities in this battle. So, tune in as we explore the importance of stepping up where we have agency, taking bold action, and driving towards a more equitable society. Chuck Collins' insights are sure to spark your resolve as we strive towards a greener and fairer future.

Chuck Collins is a campaigner and storyteller who has worked for decades on environmental and economic justice campaigns. He is the Director of the Program on Inequality and the Common Good at the Institute for Policy Studies where he co-edits Inequality.org. He is cofounder of DivestInvest.org, a global movement to divest from fossil fuels and invest in climate solutions; and trustee of the Post-Carbon Institute and Resilience.org.

Author of several books on wealth inequality, including most recently, The Wealth Hoarders: How Billionaires Pay Millions to Hide Trillions - His first novel, Altar to an Erupting Sun has won high praise.

If you enjoyed this show, please leave a positive review and share with your friends. Thank you! Osha