Invent the Future

Neal had been hearing from different people for years that he should run for mayor. In the summer of 2017, he decided to go for it.

Show Notes

This is the story of how Neal decided to run for mayor of Chicago, with cameos from a famous computer scientist, Neal’s parents, and others who encouraged him to seek the city’s highest public office.

Show Notes

• CrossRoads conference (1:17)
• Alan Kay's biography (1:24)
• Basecamp, formerly 37signals (2:00)
• Jason Fried, co-founder and CEO of Basecamp (2:08)
• Basecamp invested in Starter League in 2012 (3:05)
• Neal and his Starter League co-founder Mike McGee sold Starter League to Fullstack Academy in 2016 (3:09)
• Michael Slaby's website (4:20)
• JB Pritzker's website (4:52)
• Nick Kokonas, CEO of Tock (7:53)
• Morgan Malone, program manager, Englewood Quality of Life Plan (9:53)
• Local activist Ja'Mal Green said he decided to run for mayor after failing to persuade Ken Bennett to do so (12:04)
• A wonderful This American Life episode about late Chicago Mayor Harold Washington (15:25)

What is Neal Runs For Mayor?

Go behind the scenes of Neal Sáles-Griffin's quest to become mayor of Chicago. Follow along as a first-time candidate navigates the byzantine world of Chicago politics, and hear from Neal's colleagues, friends, family—and Neal himself.