Former City Councilor: Politics Is All Theater

Episode 86 - Ian Cain, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of QUBIC Labs, and former President & former City Councilor for Quincy, Massachusetts, pulls back the curtain on what politics looks like when the cameras are off. Why “public service” often turns into optics, fundraising, and playing a role. You’ll hear what it actually costs to run for office, how ballot access works, and why donors and messaging can matter more than ideas. Ian also shares what led him to walk away after years in the system, and what he believes needs to change if we want leaders who are real, not performative. Now on the other side of politics, Ian breaks down what he’s building today through QUBIC Labs, a Quincy-based nonprofit incubator focused on blockchain and digital infrastructure, and why he’s obsessed with turning big ideas into real-world adoption.

‪@ichuckcain‬
Ian Cain: https://linktr.ee/ichuckcain?utm_sour...

(01:07): Silent retreats
(03:10): Success… and feeling empty
(05:10): Pleasure vs pain loops
(08:40): You’re not your anger
(10:09): Non-reaction as a skill
(11:58): Childhood politics obsession
(16:57): The hidden identity battle
(21:57): The politics illusion breaks
(31:32): The money game truth
(33:06): Running for U.S. Senate
(35:37): Warren + the crypto fight
(48:32): Why he walked away
(53:51): Building QUBIC Labs
(58:09): Turning $2M into $33M
(01:00:47): Municipal bonds explained
(01:12:17): Fundraising vs building
(01:22:45): The real prescription
(01:24:13): Where to find Ian

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Host: Jack Moran:   / jackrileymoran  
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