Big ideas don’t win on brilliance alone—they win when the incentives line up. From ARPA-I’s public projects to Google’s $9B data bet, we unpack how to fund breakthroughs that actually last.

Everyone wants innovation—until the incentives get in the way.
In this episode of Follow the Carrot, we explore how tax codes, procurement rules, and political timelines quietly shape what gets built—and what doesn’t. From pandemic-era vaccine breakthroughs to the bureaucratic slowdowns stifling energy projects, we examine how the public sector often funds innovation, but the rewards—and risks—aren’t always evenly shared.

If you’ve ever wondered why good ideas stall while bad ones scale, this episode is for you.

Why does Congress keep careening toward government shutdowns?
In this episode of Follow the Carrot, we unpack the incentive structures behind America’s recurring budget brinkmanship. From missed deadlines to media showdowns, we explore why threatening a shutdown often pays off more than solving the problem. You’ll hear how outdated rules, partisan fundraising, and committee politics reward gridlock—and what realignment might take to make collaboration more than a campaign slogan.

Tune in to understand why dysfunction isn’t just tolerated—it’s incentivized.