Some people live through change. Cordell J. Overgaard tracked it, worked inside it, and then sat down to tell the truth about what it did to law, media, politics, and everyday life.
We talk about his memoir, Watching Things Change, and why it started as a message to his grandchildren before widening into a frank look at American systems. Cordell shares why Citizens United still matters, how campaign contributions distort incentives, and why “who funds a candidate” is now a basic voter skill. We also dig into information literacy in the social media era, where confidence can masquerade as expertise and bad sources can quietly shape what you believe.
Then we move through the career chapters that make his story so unusual: Harvard Law, corporate law’s shift toward billable hours and bigger firms, and what AI could realistically automate in the legal profession. From there, Cordell takes us into the early days of FM radio and cable television, showing how timing, formats, and scale can make or break a media business long before the public realizes the ground is moving.
The conversation also gets deeply personal, including the Steve Small kidnapping case and the way one late-night phone call can permanently change how you think about safety and risk. We close with practical advice for young professionals on adapting to rapid change, staying informed, and getting involved without losing your footing.
If you care about American politics, media change, AI disruption, and real-world career lessons, this one will stick with you. Subscribe, share this episode with a friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show.
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Elsa Kurt: You may know her for her uncanny, viral Kamala Harris impressions & conservative comedy skits, but she’s also a lifelong Patriot & longtime Police Wife. She has channeled her fierce love and passion for God, family, country, and those who serve as the creator, Executive Producer & Host of the Elsa Kurt Show with Clay Novak. Her show discusses today’s topics & news from a middle class/blue collar family & conservative perspective. The vocal LEOW’s career began as a multi-genre author who has penned over 25 books, including twelve contemporary women’s novels.
Clay Novak: Clay Novak was commissioned in 1995 as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry and served as an officer for twenty four years in Mechanized Infantry, Airborne Infantry, and Cavalry units . He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2019. Clay is a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School and is a Master Rated Parachutist, serving for more tha...