Global Stuff on Burned by Billionaires, How Concentrated Wealth and Power are Ruining Our Lives and the Planet

On this podcast episode of Global Stuff, host Jimmy Durchslag brings back Chuck Collins, the Director of the Program on Inequality and the Common Good at the Institute for Policy Studies, to discuss his latest book: Burned by Billionaires, How Concentrated Wealth and Power are Ruining Our Lives and the Planet. Chuck gives a very clear outline of the various tiers of wealth and the many ways those at the very top, that small group that controls most of the country’s wealth, impact every aspect of our daily lives. The power of their assets and their never ending push for more and more damages the climate, health care, social services, racial justice, elections and much more. Chuck emphasizes the urgent need to act now to counteract their rapaciousness and save our Democracy and the planet.

Chuck Collins is a campaigner, researcher and storyteller based at the Institute for Policy Studies, where he directs, and co-edits Inequality.org. He is author of over ten nonfiction books about economic inequality, climate disruption, philanthropy, affordable housing and the racial wealth divide, including Born on Third Base: A One Percenter Makes the Case for Tackling Inequality, Bringing Wealth Home and Committing to the Common Good. He is co-author, with Bill Gates, Sr., of Wealth and Our Commonwealth: Why America Should Tax Accumulated Fortunes. Chuck lives outside Brattleboro, Vermont.

Jimmy Durchslag has been the host of “Global Stuff”, a monthly guest driven talk show for over 20 years. He has interviewed many prominent scholars and leaders who clarify complex issues and provide suggestions for positive change. He has a long experience as a manager of several for profit and non-profit organizations. He is one of the founders of Redwood Community Radio, the parent organization for KMUD. He recently served as the Director of the Mainstream Media Project, a nonprofit organization that scheduled expert guests for interviews on talk shows both nationally and internationally.