Guy Paul Nohra.

"Common sense is still the most undervalued asset in leadership."

Venture capitalist, author, and media contributor with 30+ years at the intersection of business, innovation, and public life. Founder of In Layman’s Terms — the podcast making complex issues clear.

not_on_our_watch_web_sharp

Now

Pre-
Order

Not On Our Watch

A fifteen-year-old boy takes up arms in the Lebanese Civil War. Years later, that same man becomes an American entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and civic voice — and watches with growing alarm as the fractures that tore Beirut apart begin appearing in the country that saved his life.

"A gripping war story and an urgent civic warning. Nohra draws stark parallels between Beirut's collapse and the growing divisions in the United States — and refuses to look away."

Not On Our Watch is a powerful memoir about what it costs to let democracy erode — and what it demands to defend it. A rare combination of lived experience and hard-won perspective.

A voice grounded in experience,
not outrage.

Guy Paul Nohra is an entrepreneur, venture capitalist, author, and media contributor with more than 30 years of experience in business, innovation, and public service. A former GOP gubernatorial candidate for Nevada, he brings a disciplined, common-sense perspective to economic, business, and political issues shaped by real-world leadership.

Guy Paul Nohra is a co-founder of Alta Partners, a leading life sciences venture capital firm that has funded more than 150 healthcare companies since 1996 through eight venture funds, representing over $2 billion in investments. Named to the Forbes Midas List in 2007, he has contributed to therapies addressing cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disorders, orthopedics, and cancer.

Invested across 8 venture funds​
$ 2 B+
Healthcare companies funded
1 +
Forbes Midas List
2000
Years in business & public life
1 +

In Layman's Terms
with Guy Paul Nohra

In Layman's Terms

with Guy Paul Nohra

Politics, culture, business, and current affairs — made clear. New episodes every week.

Guy Paul Nohra delivers clear, no-spin conversations on politics, culture, business, and current events. Backed by three decades at the highest levels—from venture capital to gubernatorial campaigns, from Beirut to boardrooms—his perspective is truly unique. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

In Layman’s Terms · Ep. 40

In this eye-opening episode of In Layman’s Terms, Guy Nohra sits down with economic commentator and supply chain expert Jim Nelles to break down the forces shaping the American economy. 

Mar17, 2026 · 44 min

In Layman’s Terms · Ep. 39

Guy spoke with so many great guests in the new year. Today we take a look at his interviews with Raheem J. Kassam, Jonathan Gilliam, and a solo show where Guy breaks down what it takes to be an entrepreneur. If you want to check out the full interviews from this program, go to our youtube page and check out all our great interviews.

Mar 9, 2026 · 23 min

In Layman’s Terms · Ep. 38

Inside America’s Internal Threats: Jonathan Gilliam on Crisis, Morality, and National Survival Former Navy SEAL and FBI agent Jonathan Gilliam joins Guy Nohra for a direct, hard-hitting conversation on internal threats to America, crisis management, and the moral foundations necessary to prevent national decline.

Mar 2, 2026 · 32 min

The Steve Sanchez Show

Guy Paul Nohra appears weekly on The Steve Sanchez Show at 7:30 PM PST, offering sharp insights on politics, business, and current events with a seasoned, no-nonsense perspective.

The Deal Scout

The Role of a GP at a VC Firm · Jul 3, 2024 · 25 min

America, Baby!

Appointed by Trump? · Oct 25, 2024 · 42 min

Latest Thinking

America Saved My Life

From civil war in Beirut to a new life in America — why freedom is worth defending, and why we cannot afford to take it for granted

From civil war in Beirut to a new life in America — why freedom is worth defending, and why we cannot afford to take it for granted

Feb 2026

From civil war in Beirut to a new life in America — why freedom is worth defending, and why we cannot afford to take it for granted

Feb 2026

Politicians call this ‘inevitable,’ but it’s a policy choice. End the incentives, tighten enforcement, and stop treating border control as a moral failing.

Feb 2026

Get GPN's thinking in your inbox.

Subscribe to the Substack — essays on politics, business, and civic life. Free, always.

Building the institutions that
hold us together.

Guy Paul Nohra’s commitment to civic life extends well beyond media and writing. He co-founded the Riekestra, an initiative within the Riekes Center, through which he supports efforts focused on civic education, democratic participation, and the development of ethical leadership.

For a man who witnessed a functioning society unravel into civil war at fifteen, the mission is deeply personal. Democracy does not sustain itself — it requires engaged citizens and steadfast institutions willing to defend its foundations.

Organizations Supported
1 +
Years of Giving
1 +
Civic Focus Areas
1

Book Guy Paul Nohra

🎙

Have GPN on Your Podcast

Guy brings rare depth to any conversation — from venture capital and life sciences to politics, civic leadership, and the lessons of surviving a civil war. Your audience will leave with a perspective they’ve never heard before.

🎤

Keynote & Speaking Engagements

GPN speaks to business audiences, civic organizations, university groups, and policy forums. His talks combine real-world investor experience with a storyteller’s sense of urgency — and a message that sticks.