Shake It Off with Mert & Lucas Live!
AM970 Radio – Sunday, November 23 | 7–9 PM ET
Hour 1: Nepotism and Merit — A Cross-Industry Reckoning
Episode 72 opens with a deep dive into the growing public scrutiny of nepotism across industries. From Hollywood casting to law, politics, and medicine, the hosts explore how family connections shape careers, spark debates about fairness, and influence public perception in an era of transparency and accountability.
Guest: Dr. Peter Solomon, physicist and award-winning STEM author of 100 Years to Extinction: The Tyranny of Technology and the Fight for a Better Future (Munn Avenue Press, 2025). The novel blends fiction with scientific foresight, inspired by Stephen Hawking’s warning that humanity may face extinction within a century. Solomon examines existential threats such as climate collapse, pandemics, AI, and genetic engineering.
Hour 2: Billionaire Power and Democratic Drift
The second hour examines how just 902 billionaires in the U.S. — and a little over 3,000 worldwide — wield disproportionate influence over public policy through campaign funding, media ownership, lobbying, and philanthropy. Lucas and Mert analyze polling data and real-world examples that reveal growing public concern over democracy’s drift under billionaire power, even as many Americans still aspire to join their ranks.
Guest: Robert Cook, former U.S. Army Major and IPPY Gold Medal–winning author. His latest novel, The Mahdi (River Grove Books, 2024), is a geopolitical techno-thriller and the fourth installment in his acclaimed “Cooch” series. Cook, a decorated Vietnam veteran and entrepreneur, brings a unique perspective on global instability, technology, and ideology.
About the Hosts
- Lucas A. Ferrara — New York attorney, law professor, and award-winning film producer. He is founding partner of Newman Ferrara LLP, specializing in real estate and complex litigation, and has served as Adjunct Professor of Law at New York Law School since 2002. Recognized as a Super Lawyer® every year since 2007, Lucas has also produced more than 150 award-winning films since 2020.
- Mert Roberts — A self-described “man of the people,” Mert delivers sharp cultural commentary and a populist voice. His dynamic exchanges with Lucas balance legal precision with spirited, accessible debate.
Why Tune In
Shake It Off with Mert & Lucas Live! is AM970’s bold Sunday night talk show, where law, politics, and culture collide. This upcoming episode promises incisive debate, timely analysis, and compelling interviews with thought leaders tackling humanity’s most urgent challenges.
Listen live on AM970: THE ANSWER (NY Tri-State area), or stream it online here: https://shakeitofflive.com/
Should you miss the show, catch a replay on Amazon, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Spotify, and YouTube.
Unfiltered, Unapologetic, Unafraid!
You can also find the show playing here:
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To view a list of some of Lucas's other projects, click here: https://linktr.ee/lucasaferrara
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