The Jason Carter Interview: Boots on the Ground, Roots in the Community

04/22/25 • 30 min

In this episode, I’m sitting down with Jason Carter — grandson of President Jimmy Carter and a force in global health and justice in his own right. As we talk, Jason reflects on the unique balance of carrying a legacy while forging his own path. He shares how his work — from the Georgia Senate to chairing the Carter Center — is rooted in impact, not just identity. He’s thoughtful, grounded, and refreshingly open as he walks us through the shifts he sees in global public health, especially in a post-Covid world, where our interconnectedness is more real than ever.

Throughout the conversation, Jason keeps bringing us back to what truly matters: people. Whether we’re talking about eradicating Guinea worm in Uganda or building trust with communities in Mali, he makes it clear that real change comes from deep relationships, not surface-level aid. We dive into how the Carter Center’s “boots and roots” approach — building long-term, locally led partnerships — is creating powerful, sustainable change. He opens up about the role of trust, technology, and even business in shaping the future of health equity, reminding us that solutions don’t just live in labs — they live in people.

And as we wrap, the energy is still buzzing. Jason drops insights about purpose, legacy, and the surprising value of simplicity — stories that make you pause, reflect, and rethink what it means to make a difference. This isn’t just a conversation; it’s a moment. One that, as the Japanese phrase goes — ichigo ichie — happens only once in a lifetime.

About

Jason Carter is an American attorney and politician who served as a member of the Georgia State Senate from 2011 to 2015. A member of the Democratic Party, he gained prominence as a candidate for governor of Georgia in 2014, where he challenged incumbent Republican Nathan Deal. Carter is also the grandson of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. Throughout his career, he has focused on issues such as education, healthcare, and economic equality. Known for his advocacy for working families and his commitment to public service, Carter has also worked as a civil rights attorney and a community leader.

Support the show

About

Support the show

Previous Episode

The Hidden Costs: How Global Tariffs Affect Our Social Lives, Smriti Kirubanandan a.k.a Simi

I'm diving into a fascinating topic this episode: how global tariff increases affect our wallets and social connections. With global tariff rates up 57% since 2021, households are spending 7-11% more on consumer goods, leading to a 14% decrease in social spending for every 5% increase in essential goods pricing. The health implications are significant - reduced social interaction correlates with increased depression, chronic stress, and loneliness. I'll share compelling data from countries worldwide showing how economic pressures are forcing people to cut back on social activities.

The good news is communities are developing creative solutions that I'm excited to explore. I'll highlight three approaches: resource-sharing systems like tool libraries and childcare exchanges that reduce costs while building relationships; rediscovering free social activities with park usage up 42% in tariff-affected areas; and consistency over frequency in social interactions. I'll share stories from communities worldwide who've found that navigating economic challenges together often creates stronger bonds than before. The episode will conclude with practical suggestions for maintaining social connections despite financial constraints, emphasizing that meaningful connections don't require significant spending.

About

Support the show

Next Episode

Full Spectrum: Color's Bold Vision Against Cancer, CEO, Othman Laraki

In this episode I am in conversation with Othman Laraki, co-founder and CEO of Color. Othman shared his fascinating journey from tech to healthcare, driven by personal cancer experiences in his family. He and his mother are carriers of the BRCA2 gene mutation, which predisposes them to certain cancers.

Color began as a cancer genetics company focused on making testing more affordable and accessible. Over time, they evolved into a full-spectrum cancer solution with a virtual cancer clinic model in partnership with the American Cancer Society. Their innovative approach brings healthcare to people where they are, rather than requiring patients to seek it out.

Key highlights from our conversation:

Color has served over 7 million people across the US and expects to reach 2 million through their virtual cancer clinic by the end of 2025
They're addressing the critical issue of early detection, as early-stage cancers now have survivorship rates in the high 90% range
The company runs a 50-state medical group, combining testing with clinical services and logistics
They've pioneered a novel AI approach combining OpenAI's frontier models with "large language expert" systems that transform clinical guidelines into programmatic frameworks

Othman shared that cancer rates are increasing among younger populations, making preventive screening and early detection more crucial than ever. He emphasized how friction in healthcare disproportionately impacts less affluent populations, and how Color works to reduce these barriers.

His three key takeaways for the future of healthcare:

We need a "warp speed mindset" to tackle specific health challenges directly
Employer-driven, vertical-focused solutions are showing real impact on outcomes and costs
AI has the potential to transform healthcare more than any other industry by democratizing expertise

Our discussion revealed how technology can make healthcare more accessible while maintaining human connection - Color has operated over 14,000 physical sites in communities across America, bringing services directly to people's lives.

About

Othman Laraki, Chief Executive Officer

Othman Laraki a technology entrepreneur and investor and is CEO of Color Health. Othman was an early Product leader at Google, where he worked on performance infrastructure and client-side software, including the Google Chrome browser. After leaving Google, he co-founded MixerLabs, which was one of Twitter's first acquisitions. At Twitter, Othman was the Vice President of Product, helping create the company's first revenue products and grow the user base from 50 to 200 million users. After leaving Twitter, Othman co-founded Color Health, which he has been leading for the past ten years. Color is a platform for healthcare delivery, providing the technology, infrastructure, and logistics required to distribute large-scale health initiatives to diverse populations. Color works with employers, unions, and government agencies to provide equitable, accessible healthcare services. Color has served tens of millions of people across its programs and most recently has partnered with the American Cancer Society to provide a comprehensive cancer solution for large populations. Othman holds degrees in computer science and management from Stanford University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is a long-time investor and advisor to leading companies such as Pinterest, AngelList, Slack, Instacart, Gitlab, and others.

Support the show