The Impossible Network: Recent Episodes
Fabrica Collective
The weekly podcast about the serendipitous stories of everyday people living extraordinary lives. Learn, gain insights, and be inspired by how a diverse range of people have broken through obstacles, fearlessly exceeded the boundaries society sets, taken the chances, regardless of risk, that most fear, in pursuit of their ‘impossible’. Each week, host Mark Fallows, explores how his guests' ‘impossible’ became possible? How their upbringing affected them; how creativity fueled them, how serendipity guided them. Each guest offers their insight and advice to others seeking to challenge and achieve their impossible.
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Amy Gubser
Amy Gubser, is an extraordinary 56-year-old grandmother who this year became the first person ever to complete an unassisted swim from the Golden Gate Bridge in SF to the Farallon Islands - a 30-mile stretch of cold, shark-infested waters off the California coast. Moreover, what makes this achievement even more remarkable is that Amy only started her marathon swimming journey aged 46.
Throughout a fascinating conversation, Amy describes her path from early morning swims in San Francisco Bay through increasingly arduous challenges, including consequently crossing the treacherous North Channel between Ireland and Scotland. Furthermore, Amy shares her insights into the physical and mental preparation required for ultra-marathon swimming, from nutrition strategies to managing the understandable fear of great white sharks and jellyfish swarms.
In addition to her swimming achievements, Amy discusses how her work as a nurse has informed her mental toughness, the importance of breaking age-related stereotypes, and as a result, her mission to inspire others - especially women - to pursue ambitious goals at any age.
With upcoming swims planned for Scotland's deep and mysterious Loch Ness, therefore Amy is proof that human potential knows no bounds when matched with determination, careful preparation, and above all her simple mantra: 'I can do hard things.'
Amy's story is an inspiring reminder that it's never too late to pursue extraordinary achievements. Note to self! Now over to Amy.
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction
03:10 Who is Amy as a Human?
05:35 Childhood and Family Background
10:48 Early Swimming and Lifeguarding
14:26 Nursing Career and Mental Toughness
26:12 Rediscovering Swimming
33:24 First Marathon Swim: Gibraltar Straits
35:59 Conquering Lake Tahoe
37:20 The North Channel Challenge
39:24 Molokai to Oahu Swim
39:56 Local Swims and Challenges
40:47 The Alcatraz Swim
42:15 Manhattan Island Swim
45:23 Nutrition and Hydration Strategies
53:18 Facing the Farallon Islands
55:34 Shark and Jellyfish Encounters
01:01:32 Mental and Physical Endurance
01:06:24 Inspiration and Future Goals
01:11:11 Advice for Aspiring Swimmers
01:18:04 Final Thoughts and Inspirations
Social posts
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/amygubser92?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Links in show
Books:
"The Devil's Teeth" (Book about the Farallon Islands mentioned as inspiration)
- "Tough Broads" by Caroline Paul (Recent book Amy highly recommends)
- Young Woman in the Sea (About Trudy Ederle, first woman to swim the English Channel)
Films/Media:
Documentary about Mercedes Gleitze
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In this episode of the Impossible Network, Mark interviews Noam, a pioneering psychotherapist and co-founder of VidaVii. Noam's captivating journey from his upbringing on a kibbutz near the Gaza border to establishing a wellness technology hub in London is explored in depth. The conversation touches on communal living, military service, corporate culture, and the importance of authenticity. Noam shares insights on navigating childhood and parenting in different eras, the impact of social media on mental health, and the potential future challenges for children growing up in isolated environments. Noam also highlights the integration of body-centered psychotherapy, the concept of 'befriending vulnerability,' and innovative wellness treatments like cryotherapy and breathwork. Mark and Noam discuss the shift from symptomatic treatment to preventative health through biohacking, AI-driven health suggestions, and the significance of a balanced approach to life following the 80/20 rule. Noam also shares his personal stories of emotional resilience, and the harrowing yet inspiring account of Noam's mother's kidnapping and release by Hamas, and his hope for peace amidst global conflicts.
TimeCodes
00:00 Introduction
01:14 Who is Noam as a human?
04:26 The Kibbutz Experience
08:10 Reflections on Childhood and Group Dynamics
21:06 Transition to Adulthood and Military Service
22:12 Career Shift to Psychotherapy
35:48 Founding VidaVi1: A Wellness Tech Venture
48:02 Innovative Health Solutions for Everyone
49:04 The Power of Cryotherapy: Real-Life Stories
50:06 Bringing Nature's Best to Urban Centers
50:41 The Science Behind Dry Cryotherapy
53:00 Personalized Health and Wellness
01:07:20 The Future of Health: AI and Technology
01:17:45 Personal Reflections and Inspirations
01:27:24 A Personal Story of Resilience and Hope
01:42:47 Final Thoughts and Call to Action
Social Links
Vidavii
Links in the show
Cure" (or "Cured") by Dr. Jeff Rediger - specifically recommended by Noam for understanding medicine and wellness
Outlive" by Peter Attia - mentioned in discussion but not specifically recommended
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Welcome back to the start of Season 6 of The Impossible Network.
Today’s guest is Denzil Monk, a filmmaker, social entrepreneur, and accidental academic. Denzil is dedicated to reshaping the narrative for his home region of Cornwall, England, advocating for a more inclusive and regenerative approach to media, culture, and the economy. From advocating for Cornish public service media
Impactful film productions to pioneering the ideas like Man Engine, the largest performing mechanical puppet ever created in Britain, Denzil’s work is rooted in a deep sense of place, purpose, and the power of storytelling. In this episode, we explore his journey, his thoughts on the need to rethink capitalism, and the impact local communities can have on the global stage.
Thanks to Stephen Davies for the connection.
Now over to Denzil.
Time stamps
01:21 Who is Denzil?
07:15 The Impact of the 1980s on Denzil's Worldview
08:42 Cornish Identity and the Mining Heritage
09:51 The Global Connection and Local Responsibility
12:59 Denzil's Journey into Social Entrepreneurship
22:32 Advocating for Cornish Public Service Media
30:45 Reimagining Economic Systems and Local Empowerment
47:53 The Role of Storytelling in Social Change
50:31 The Power of Connections
51:10 Journey into Academia
54:12 Creating Bocena Productions
56:03 Sustainable Filmmaking
01:08:51 The Man Engine Project
01:19:56 Advice for Aspiring Filmmakers
01:22:23 Personal Reflections and Inspirations
01:23:37 Quick Fire Questions
01:32:40 Final Thoughts
Social Media
Denzil’s Website
Bosena
Show Links
Books
“The Dawn of Everything” by David Graeber and David Wengrow
“Donut Economics” by Kate Raworth
Films and Documentaries:
“The Corporation”
“Manufacturing Consent” by Noam Chomsky
“Dreams” by Akira Kurosawa
“Memoria” by Apichatpong Weerasethakul
“Kneecap”
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Today, I want to discuss a concept that's been on my mind lately: what it truly means to be a reality distortion shaper. This idea was inspired by Steve Jobs' infamous "reality distortion field" - his almost mythical ability to make people believe in the impossible and, through sheer force of vision, bring ideas to life.
As I unboxed my new iPad Air and installed iOS 17, I couldn't help but reflect on how far we've come from Apple's beginnings. The evolution of Apple, and now Apple Intelligence, is another chapter in the legacy Jobs left behind—a legacy built on thinking differently, on bending reality to the will of a powerful idea.
Jobs' reality distortion field wasn't just about charisma or leadership. It was a powerful fusion of attitude and action. And it's this combination that defines what I call "reality distortion shapers." They're the ones who break new ground, challenge norms, and refuse to accept the limitations that the world presents.
And here's the thing—it wasn't just Jobs who had this ability. Throughout history, we've seen people like Elon Musk, Walt Disney, Nikola Tesla, and Oprah Winfrey exhibit this same characteristic. What they all share is a deep belief that reality can be shaped by their ideas, their attitudes, and most importantly, their actions.
This spirit of innovation is perfectly captured in Apple's "Here's to the Crazy Ones" campaign. It celebrated those who think differently—the ones who push boundaries, who disrupt the status quo, who see possibilities where others see limitations. This message resonates even more deeply today, in a world grappling with what many call a polycrisis—multiple global challenges unfolding simultaneously.
In the face of constant negativity from doom-mongers and naysayers, it's crucial to remember that each of us has the power to shape reality through our beliefs, our optimism, and our actions. We can either embrace pessimism, letting it define our future, or we can choose optimism, believing that tomorrow can be better than today.
Optimism is the fuel that accelerates this process. Without that deep-seated belief that things can change, that the impossible can be achieved, no action will ever take off. It's this combination—of vision, belief, and action—that compounds over time, creating something far greater than what we started with.
Each of us can shape reality by harnessing the interplay between our thoughts and our actions. Guests like Jon Alexander and Gavin Fernie Jones do this. The reality distortion shapers of the world aren't afraid to push boundaries and reject limitations. They don't just dream big—they act. And through those small, consistent steps, they bring their vision to life, pulling others along with them.
So, as you go through your day, ask yourself: what reality do you want to shape? What action can you take, no matter how small, that moves you closer to your vision? And most importantly, do you believe—truly believe—that you can bend reality in your favor?
If there's any truth to the idea that what we think manifests in the world around us, then it's on us—each of us—to think differently. To embrace optimism, not just for ourselves, but for the collective good. Because the future we create starts with the thoughts, feelings, and actions we put into motion today.
Remember, as Jobs and Apple have shown us time and again—those who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do. The truth is, you're already shaping reality.
So I ask: what reality are you shaping? And...What action can you take right now that pushes us all toward a better future?
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In this weeks episode we dive into the intersection of artificial intelligence and creativity with NY based AI creative trailblazer Tony Jones
From growing up in Ohio his creative ambitions led him to New York to work in numerous leading ad agencies where he carved out a niche at the intersection of creativity and technology.
Today, Tony is the co-founder and head instructor at Creative AI Academy, where he’s on a mission to help organizations and individuals harness the power of AI to enhance their creative processes. He also teaches AI Design at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, equipping the next generation of creatives with the skills they need to thrive in an AI-augmented future.
Tony brings a unique perspective to the conversation about AI and creativity. He sees AI not as a replacement for human ingenuity but as a powerful tool that can augment and amplify our creative capabilities. He’s a strong advocate for embracing AI to stay competitive in today’s fast-changing landscape while emphasizing the critical importance of maintaining human judgment, taste, and ethics.
This is a must listen episode for anyone interested in where AI is leading us and how to embrace the unrelenting pace of the change that is underway.
Now over to Tony.
Time Codes
00:00 Intro to Tony Jones
02:30 Who is Tony as a human
03:59 Embracing AI in Creativity
07:13 Tony's Family and Upbringing
16:34 Early Career and Move to New York
22:43 Digital Transformation in Advertising
26:34 Innovation and AI in Advertising
30:52 Founding Creative AI Academy
35:18 AI's Impact on Creativity and Industries
46:25 Challenges and Adoption of AI
57:05 Teaching AI Design at Pratt Institute
58:02 Course Structure and Student Projects
58:52 Diverse Student Backgrounds
01:00:08 Misconceptions About AI and Creativity
01:01:34 Personal Experience with AI Tools
01:02:49 Impact of AI on Creative Processes
01:04:57 Corporate Training and AI Integration
01:07:37 Patented Inventions and AI
01:10:27 AI in the Advertising Industry
01:18:01 Advice for Creatives and Ethical Considerations
01:23:54 Future of Education with AI
01:30:16 Speculations on AGI and Future Impacts
01:35:11 Serendipity and Personal Reflections
01:47:02 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Social Links
Tony on Linkedin
Creative Ai Academy On Linkedin
Links in the show
Creative AI Academy
Pratt AI Design Course
Andy Awards
McCann
Media Monks
Book - Future AI 2041
Podcasts - Last Week in AI
AI For humans
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Today, I'm joined by Hugh Forrest, Chief Programming Officer of South by Southwest (SXSW).
For over three decades, Hugh has been at the helm of one of the most influential events in the world, celebrating creativity at the convergence of tech, film, music, and culture.
Hugh's journey is a fascinating one, rooted in Austin, Texas, a city known for its vibrant creative scene. From his early days running a local newspaper to becoming a key figure in the expansion and evolution of SXSW, Hugh's story is one of persistence, innovation, and a deep commitment to fostering creativity. In our conversation, we explore his unique upbringing with a Scottish father and American mother, the impact of Austin's cultural landscape on his development, and the pivotal moments that shaped his career.
We also discuss the challenges and high points of running a globally recognized festival, the role of technology in connecting people, and the future of creativity in an increasingly AI and digitally driven world. Hugh shares his insights on the importance of community, the power of serendipitous encounters, and his vision for the future of SXSW and beyond.
If you are a creative person in any domain I am sure you will enjoy this conversation as as we uncover the human side of one of the driving forces behind one of the world's most dynamic events.
Thanks to Jennifer Hutchins for the connection
Time codes
00:00 Introduction 00:53 Meet Hugh Forest: The Man Behind SXSW
02:33 Who is Hugh? Personal Journey and Aspirations
03:45 Who or what made him Hugh?
09:54 The Evolution of SXSW
14:34 The Role of Technology in SXSW's Growth
18:18 Who is Hugh Working to Achieve?
28:27 SXSW's Community and Content Curation
32:35 Future Directions and Reflections
38:22 The Evolution of South by Southwest
38:57 Lessons in Persistence and Value Creation
40:53 Personal Growth and Organizational Leadership
42:17 Creating a Cohesive Experience
43:34 Challenges and Future Plans
46:12 Impact of COVID-19
47:14 The Importance of Human Connection
53:06 Balancing Commercial and Creative Interests
57:36 Future Directions and Personal Reflections
59:55 Personal Insights and Inspirations
01:06:20 Quickfire Questions and Recommendations
01:15:46 Final Thoughts and Gratitude
Social Links
X
SXSW
Links in show
Testament of a furniture dealer
Books
Ministry of The Future
Cal Newport Deep Work
Show
The Greatest Night In Pop
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Last week, I sat down with Stephen Davies, a unique voice in sustainable architecture and community development. Stephen's journey from the gritty streets of Bolton and the Manchester party scene to a cycling enthusiast and socially-conscious designer in a quiet town in Cornwall was both unexpected and inspiring.
He reflected on how personal challenges and a near-death experience shaped his perspective on life and work. His approach blends philosophical musings with practical solutions to the problems of globalism by embracing a localism strategy for building sustainable food systems, communities, and building practices. Stephen is particularly passionate about hempcrete, a carbon-negative building material that he sees as a game-changer for the construction industry and local economies.
Stephen embodies the power of embracing change and is a testament to how personal transformation can drive broader social and environmental change.
I hope you enjoy this refreshing and thought-provoking take on creating resilient communities in an uncertain world. Thanks to Alex Fish for the recommendation.
00:00 Introduction
02:34 Who is Stephen as a human?
05:13 Who or What Made Him?
10:34 Education and Party Culture
14:49 Cycling and a Life-Changing Accident
18:16 Pursuing Architecture
30:10 Social Conscience and Family Dynamics
37:26 Localization and Community Building
49:49 Community Projects and Company Formation
51:27 Skills Training and Women in Construction
52:07 Innovative Use of Hempcrete
53:06 Challenges and Solutions in Sustainable Building
58:00 Funding Strategies and Community Support
01:00:20 Collaborating with Local Authorities
01:05:31 Philanthropy and Commercial Partnerships
01:11:47 Personal Reflections and Inspirations
01:23:57 Final Thoughts and Future Plans
Social Links
Links in Show
Hemcrete
Cornwall
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This week the tables are turned as I’m the guest on the Funds & Founders Podcast. Hosted by Abhinav Sinha, the pod explores the untold Journeys Behind Founders Breakthroughs.
Across this broad conversation Abhi explores my view on life-long learning, building community, the differences between New York and Austin, forming Fabrica and the power of Storytelling, lessons from my failed start-up, Creating The Impossible Network, memorable interviews, the power of the network, my support system and my most transformational business experience.
What I thoughtlessly forgot to acknowledge was the importance of my partner Elaine on my journey.. so making amends; thank you now Elaine.
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction
00:51 Commitment to Lifelong Learning
02:03 Exploring the Impact of AI
04:40 Defining and Building Community
08:28 Comparing Communities: New York vs. Austin
13:13 Journey from Advertising to Founding Fabrica Collective
20:24 Challenges and Lessons from Pundit Club
29:16 Transitioning to a Service Agency
30:43 Starting The Impossible Network Podcast
31:28 Procrastination and the Birth of Fabrica
32:12 Exploring Serendipity Through Podcasting
33:20 Building a Community Around the Podcast
33:57 Random Collisions and Serendipitous Connections
35:37 Challenges and Rewards of Podcasting
48:31 Support Systems and Personal Reflections
53:16 Transformational Business Experiences
57:29 Final Thoughts and Future Questions
Social Links
The Impossible Network
YouTube
Links
Funds and Founders Podcast
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In this week's episode, I sit down with Amanda Hamilton, a renowned nutrition expert, ex-broadcaster, and founder of retreats focused on holistic well-being and women’s health.
We cover how Amanda's innate curiosity drove her to independently travel the globe, open a fasting retreat, aged 27, create a groundbreaking TV show, and ultimately redefine what it means to live a truly nourished life.
Amanda shares her pragmatic perspective on nourishing the body and mind through real, unprocessed foods, restorative sleep, movement, and most importantly - learning to listen to and trust your own body's cues over external data and trends and making small "edits" for graceful aging.
Amanda also discusses fasting, food accessibility, and her wellness reset program.
Amanda's journey is one of inspiration and innovation so whether you're seeking to optimize your well-being, navigate the overwhelming world of health information, or simply learn from a woman who has fearlessly followed her curiosity, this episode is not to be missed. Now over to Amanda.
Thanks Dr Morgaine Gaye for the connection
Time stamps
00:00 Introduction
00:55 Meet Amanda Hamilton: A Journey of Curiosity and Innovation
02:25 Amanda -Who is she as a human?
04:08 Who or What Made Her?
09:35 The Role of Travel in Shaping Perspectives
15:08 From Journalism to Nutrition: A Career Evolution
21:34 The Power of Fasting: Amanda's Breakthrough
24:27 Challenges and Successes in Broadcasting Fasting Retreats
32:07 What is Amanda Working to Achieve?
34:12 Holistic Wellbeing: Beyond Nutrition
46:42 Exploring the Complexities of Nutrition
47:48 Guiding Parents on Nutrition
48:43 Fundamentals of a Healthy Diet
50:12 The Impact of Sugar on Health
53:01 Navigating Modern Nutrition Challenges
01:01:59 The Importance of Sleep
01:07:52 Aging and Nutrition
01:15:09 The Role of Exercise
01:16:22 Programs and Future Plans
01:19:49 Dealing with Self-Doubt and Imposter Syndrome
01:22:40 Guiding Children Towards Independence
01:24:32 Principles and Inspirations
01:26:45 Recommended Books and Life Hacks
01:30:16 Final Thoughts and Recommendations
Social Links
Amanda’s website
Links in the show
Food Inc 2
Books
Fast Food Nation
The Singularity Is Nearer
Outlive
The One Thing
Show
My Octopus Teacher
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I recently interviewed Suba Vasudevan, a tech optimist and eternal learner who has made a lasting impact in the realm of trust, safety, and responsible innovation.
Growing up in Mumbai, Suba was shaped by her parents' unwavering support. Her innate curiosity led her to pursue computer engineering while also working as a journalist, exposing her to the importance of risk management and trust in technology.
Over the years, Suba has worked at renowned companies such as News Corp, KPMG, and Meta, where she has been a driving force in operationalizing strategies and promoting responsible technology practices. In our conversation, she shares her insights on the importance of education, collaboration, and embracing change in the face of rapid advancements in AI. Suba also discusses the future of work, offering valuable advice on navigating the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Now over to Suba.
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction
01:41 Who is Suba as a human
03:26 Who or what made her?
09:31 The Intersection of Technology and Business
16:07 Understanding Trust, Safety, and Responsible Technology
19:16 Practical Examples from Meta
22:30 What she is Working to Achieve?
24:21 Embracing AI: Challenges and Opportunities
26:43 Emerging Big Tech Movements
27:34 The Importance of User Choice and Transparency
28:08 Collaborative Efforts and Regulatory Frameworks
29:13 Addressing Election Risks and Deepfakes
33:29 AI's Impact on Business Leadership
39:55 Parenting in the Age of AI
44:04 Quickfire Questions and Personal Insights
49:12 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Social Links
X/Twitter
Links In Show
Mozilla
Book - The Checklist Manifesto
Show - The Gentleman
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Natalia Talkowska shares her journey from Poland to London's startup ecosystem and how her insatiable curiosity led her to transform lives through visual storytelling. Interviewed at the Austin Public Library, Natalia delves into her mission of connecting people and making them feel seen and understood. She recounts the pivotal encounter with Darren Robson, a mentor who fundamentally shaped her career and personal growth. Natalia also discusses her approach to visual thinking as a strategic tool for distilling complex challenges and empowering decision-making within businesses. Throughout the conversation, she emphasizes the importance of human connection, creativity, and storytelling in an increasingly digital world. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in innovative problem-solving, personal development, and the evolving role of AI in creativity. Thanks to Dave Birss for the recommendation.
Time Codes
00:00 Intro
01:46 The Impact of Mentorship and Personal Growth
02:08 Exploring the Roots of Creativity and Connection
04:40 The Transformative Power of Curiosity and Networking
05:39 The Entrepreneurial Leap: Support and Strategy
10:40 Reflecting on Legacy and Future Ambitions
18:32 Strategic Storytelling and Visual Thinking Explained
20:05 Unlocking Creativity in the Corporate World
20:33 Why Visual Storytelling Works for Businesses
21:38 Overcoming Brand Fear with Creative Solutions
22:45 The Power of Simplifying Complex Ideas
23:10 Developing a Unique Methodology for Engagement
26:19 The Journey of Visual Storytelling and Its Impact
33:14 Navigating the Future of Storytelling in the AI Era
40:28 Advice for Navigating Uncertainty and Embracing Creativity
44:35 Final Thoughts and the Importance of Community
Social Links
Website
IG
YouTube
Links
Books:
The Creative Act
Movie:
The Matrix
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Lauren Hug joins me this week. Lauren Hug, is a writer, speaker and activist based in Colorado Springs. Lauren grew up with a unique mix of influences - a tech-savvy household, a love for the humanities, and a conservative religious upbringing. This sparked in her a deep curiosity about ideas and a passion for rediscovering and sharing the wisdom of the past.
Lauren has focused much of her work on promoting digital kindness and encouraging healthier ways of interacting online. While social media often gets a bad rap, Lauren sees its potential for amplifying new voices and stories. Through her writing, speaking, and online presence, she inspires people to engage with more empathy, seek out different perspectives, and use digital platforms to spread uplifting content.
In this wide-ranging discussion, Lauren opens up about her journey of unlearning default mindsets, coping with anxiety, and defining herself on her own terms. She shares her optimism about younger generations and her excitement about the creative potential made possible by emerging technologies. I think you'll find Lauren's perspective refreshing and thought-provoking. Now over to Lauren
Time Codes
00:54 Introducing Lauren Hug
02:23 Lauren's Personal Philosophy: Rediscovering Ancient Wisdom
02:23 Exploring Identity and the Complexity of Self-Definition
03:57 The Role of Old Ways in Modern Times
05:29 Navigating Parenthood and the Pandemic's Effects
06:55 The Importance of Remembering and Celebrating Old Wisdom
07:15 Lauren's Unique Upbringing: Tech Meets Humanities
11:48 From Dreams to Reality: Lauren's Career Path
15:11 The Influence of Religion and the Quest for Authenticity
22:05 Digital Kindness: Lauren's Mission to Transform Online Spaces
36:48 The Challenge of Civil Discourse in a Digital World
48:08 Embracing Ambiguity in a Complex World
48:34 The Transformative Power of Uncertainty
49:01 Challenging Binary Views and Media Influence
49:38 Rethinking Social Constructs and Democracy
50:46 The Resurgence of Storytelling and Social Media's Role
51:32 Gen Z's Impact and the Future of Discourse
52:12 The Nuances of Gen Z and Social Media Perceptions
53:33 Redefining Business and Ideology for Gen Z
01:01:21 The Potential of AI and Rediscovering Humanity
01:06:33 The Importance of Intergenerational Communication
01:09:40 Exploring New Forms of Community and Connection
01:13:32 The Digital Kindness Journal: A Tool for Reflection
01:18:15 Personal Insights and Overcoming Challenges
01:22:21 The Future of Creativity and AI's Role
01:26:47 Concluding Thoughts on Digital Kindness and Legacy
Social Links
Website
IG
Links
"The Dawn of Everything" by David Graeber and David Wengrow
Better Things
TEDx talks by Lauren Hug
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In March I attended SXSW and for 8 days immersed myself in every available AI related keynote or panel discussion.
What did I learn?
1.No one can say for certain how the future will unfold as we embrace these AI tools and powered robotic technologies
-
Whether we like it or not AI is coming to our jobs and those using it - coming for our jobs.
-
Resisting it is futile but Embracing it while being cognizant of this full range or risks and ethical issues is essential
-
As futurist Amy Webb stated ‘we are in a tech Super cycle that will change every aspect of life and work’ and will require governments to prepare for the transformation ahead and for business to reimagine their value networks
-
What is certain is that we must focus on our humanity and celebrate what makes us uniquely human - our curiosity, and ability to build meaningful relationships, and find a sense of purpose that transcends algorithms and code.
Building on my interview with ChatGPT and as I have reflected I recalled an article I wrote for The Huffington Post called the Future of Getting Lost.
So in the spirit of embracing AI I have explored the potential and possibilities of using new AI avatar and chat tools like Hey Gen and Delphi and recorded my thoughts using HeyGEN delivered via my first AI Avatar. Aside from the weird accent it’s pretty impressive.
Now over to Mark Bot.
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Today, I’m joined by Alex Fish, a trailblazer in social cinema and a staunch advocate for environmental and social justice. Alex's journey from the bustling streets of London to the tranquil shores of Cornwall mirrors his quest for meaningful impact and community-driven change.
In this episode, we explore who Alex is as a human and what or who made him. We delve into Alex's eclectic background, as a social butterfly in London, connecting with diverse cultures, to his transformative experiences in Malaysia, grappling with the real-world challenges of conservation, and the pivotal moments that led him to question the traditional paths of environmentalism.
At 29 min in we focus on Alex's journey to founding of 99p Films, the social cinema venture that is more than just a business; but a movement. Through Its innovative model of 'Breathe, Watch, Discuss, then Eat' 99p Films aims to democratize cinema, making it a tool for building social and environmental awareness and community. Alex discusses the power of communal viewing, the importance of accessibility in the arts, and how 99p Films bridges the gap between entertainment and activism.
Alex’s story is a testament to the power of passion, adaptability, and the relentless pursuit of a better world. Alex's is a beacon of inspiration for anyone looking to make a difference through creativity, community, and a deep connection to our planet.
Thanks to Gavin Fernie Jones
Now over to Alex
00:00 Intro
02:41 Who is Alex : Social Butterfly to Environmental Advocate
06:00 The Transformative Power of Travel and Conservation
20:48 Redefining Cinema in the Pandemic Era
29:35 The 99p Films Experience: Breathe, Watch, Discuss, Feast
44:36 Building Community Through Intergenerational Conversations
53:37 Exploring the Power of Citizen Assemblies
54:19 The Impact of Media Polarization and the Power of Group Discussions
56:22 Embracing Fun and Creativity in Social Initiatives
57:09 Scaling Social Cinema Beyond Local Communities
57:56 The Journey of Expanding Social Cinema Internationally
59:19 Developing a Sustainable Model for Social Cinema
01:01:04 The Challenges and Solutions of Hosting Social Cinema Events
01:18:01 The Future of Social Cinema: Expansion and Content Creation
01:19:31 Inspirations and Influences: A Personal Reflection
01:22:20 Navigating Uncertainty and Overcoming Challenges
01:27:52 Recommendations for Personal Growth and Community Engagement
Social Links
YouTube
IG
Links in the show
99pFilms
Nonflict book
Chasing the Scream Johann Hari
Citizens book
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Today I am joined by Gavin Fernie-Jones - a remarkable individual whose life story is a testament to embracing change, resilience, and the power of community.
Discovering his love of the outdoors in Peak District in the UK, he moved to the French Alps to manage chalets, before his entrepreneurial spirit led him to open a ski boot fitting business, But as he witnessed the creeping realities of climate change he began to take action through his One Tree At A Time initiative. This led to further initiatives like Citizen Friday and his growing Re-Action Collective.
As a self described reluctant leader Gavin is a proactive change-maker. Through initiatives like Citizens Fridays and the engaging community space that champions sustainability, Gavin and his team are not just talking about change – they are living it.
This is a conversation about transformation, and is proof that we can all take action, make choices, have impact and contribute to a more sustainable future. I hope you are inspired.
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction
02:21 Who is Gavin Fernie-Jones?
03:30 Gavin's Childhood and Influence of Parents
03:50 Gavin's Life-Changing Move to the Peak District
08:34 Gavin's Career Path in the Outdoors
12:48 Gavin's Entrepreneurial Journey in Ski Boot Fitting
18:53 Gavin's Awakening to Climate Change
22:04 Gavin's Efforts Towards Sustainability
28:33 Gavin's Repair Day Initiative
29:32 The Birth of a Repair Day
30:15 The Impact of Unused Clothing
30:55 Setting Up One Tree at a Time
31:42 The Power of Reusing Ski Instructor Uniforms
35:08 The Unexpected Success of Rental Ski Gear
37:27 Building a Vibrant Local Community
38:52 The Challenges of Dealing with Clothing Waste
42:03 The Potential of Repurposing Unusable Fabric
53:58 The Creation of the Reaction Collective
58:21 The Future of Sustainable Fashion
01:03:03 The Value of Membership and Community
01:03:19 The Power of Free Participation
01:03:50 The Impact of Fees and Hierarchies
01:04:20 Exploring Anarchism and Distributed Power
01:04:38 The Role of Money and Obligation
01:05:10 Creating Something Different and New
01:05:21 The Future of Funding and the Collective
01:06:01 The Power of Serendipitous Connections
01:06:36 The Impact of Positive Action and Community
01:07:19 The Need for Funding and the Role of the Citizen
01:08:17 The Power of Distributed Organizations
01:09:01 The Citizen Story and the Role of Brands
01:11:50 The Role of the Citizen in the Reaction Collective
01:15:28 The Power of Disruptive Community
01:18:43 The Role of Brands in the Collective
01:26:43 The Emergence of a New Business Structure
01:32:36 The Power of Nature and Community
01:35:56 The Role of Film in Community Building
01:37:59 The Need for a Platform for Citizen Stories
Social Links
Linkedin Gavin
Links in Show
Re-Action Collective
One Tree At A Time
Citizens Book
99p Films
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In this interview, ChatGPT (referred to as 'Carla') discusses its core objectives, its influences, its limitations, and its future implications. Topics discussed include AI’s impact on society, children’s education, policy recommendations for education reform, the impact of AI on the creative industry, and strategies to tackle social isolation. The conversation also covers fun topics such as what GPT would do if it were a parent and what human name it would choose for itself.
I was recently been interviewed by Robert Hansen for his Podcast The RSNAKE SHOW i’ll put the link in the show notes),
During the interview we spent some time discussing the impact of AI, on the creative and entertainment industries.
As a result I thought it might be an interesting exercise to’ interview’ ChatGPT about the impact of Generative AI on humanity.
To do so I used my AI trained voice to ask the questions and have the answers delivered by ChatGPT 4 via an AI generated voice on Descript called Carla.
I begin by asking my core three questions:
-Who are you as a human
-Who or what made you you?
-What are you working to achieve?
The answers were illuminating.
This led to a question on the influences and factors that shape an AI, and the question of consciousness and the potential impacts on society.
I wanted to explore its recommendations and practical advice about children's education and how to evolve education policy in a rapidly changing world influenced by AI advancements.
Then I asked for its perspective on environmental sustainability and understanding the climate paradox - an area of deep interest for previous guests Melanie VanDeVelde and Jeremy Tamamini
I also asked for its recommendations for creators preparing for a world of Generative AI, how we should address Social Isolation in the AI age and It's advice for parents on raising happy and well-rounded children.
And finally we finish on some fun questions!
Now over to my AI friend Carla.
Time Codes
00:00 Introduction
01:45 Interview with AI: Who are you?
06:08 Who made you, you?
08:09 AI's Perspective on Consciousness
12:16 What are you working to achieve?
20:03 AI's Advice for Parents and Education Policy
34:18 Reflecting on Podcast Guests and AI's Imperatives
34:18 AI's Role in Education, Entrepreneurship, and Ethics
37:59 Understanding the Climate Paradox
40:53 Preparing for a World of Generative AI
44:26 Timeframe for Adapting to Generative AI
47:23 Addressing Social Isolation in the Digital Age
51:52 Raising Happy and Well-Rounded Children
55:22 Resources for Effective Parenting
01:05:13 Choosing a Human Name for an AI
01:06:43 Advice for Pursuing 'Impossible' Goals
01:09:42 Recommendation for the Next Interview
Links
The RSnake Show - interviews Mark
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Until the age of 38 Edward Molkenboer impacted people's lives through the ads he created. Having launched his ad agency at the age of 18, and after 20 years of success Edward was hit by an existential realization that set him on a new path of impact; social not commercial.
In this episode Edward recounts that awakening moment and discusses the work he is doing now to leave the world a better place than he found it. ‘Something to which I think we all aspire.
Edward Molkenboer recounts his decision to leave his successful career in advertising to embark on a new path focusing on social impact. Edward speaks about his helping initiative of living on the streets for a week in the Netherlands; giving insight into the humanity and kindness he experienced, and the lessons learned. He also expands on his new social venture, the Social Impact Tour, a creative endeavor that shares emotional stories of those in need, leveraging the power of narrative to inspire people to help, and encouraging brands to support. Edward also underscores the importance of embracing change, stepping out of comfort zones, and the significance of spending quality time with loved ones.
Thanks to Caroline Arditti for the connection.
Time codes
00:01 Introduction
01:48 Who Edward is as a human?
03:05 What or who made him?
04:41 A Look Back at Childhood and Early Life
11:51 The Impact of Losing a Parent and Reevaluating Life
20:43 The Birth of the Social Impact Tour
22:15 A Bold Experiment: Living Homeless
29:29 The Power of Asking for Help
30:14 The Impact of Sharing Personal Stories
31:20 The Social Impact Tour: A Creative Approach to Raising Awareness
33:40 The Role of Businesses in Social Impact
36:12 The Power of Sharing Stories on a Larger Scale
38:26 The Role of Storytelling in Social Impact
39:36 The Reaction to the Social Impact Tour
40:47 The Future of the Social Impact Tour
44:44 The Power of Spending Time with Loved Ones
48:39 The Role of Action in Overcoming Doubts and Fears
52:15 The Importance of Taking Action and Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone
52:33 The Power of Serendipity and Action
53:44 The Impact of the Social Impact Tour on Children
59:32 The Impact of Living with Dementia: A Potential Future Guest
Social Links
Edward’s Linkedin
Links In the Show
Edward’s TED Talk
The Power of Now
The Alchemist
Caroline Arditti
Don Smith
Teun Toebes Human Forever
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Caroline Arditti is a community builder and 'sunshine maker', shares her experience of initiating 'Sunshine Hour', a Zoom-based platform to connect and uplift a diverse range of people in light of quarantine worldwide. Beginning early during quarantine with a handful of participants from her personal network, 'Sunshine Hour' rapidly expanded to more than 500 people from over 40 countries. The sessions were conducted in both French and English, encouraging connections, friendship, and even business partnerships among participants. Reflecting on her journey, Caroline emphasizes the empowering nature of focusing on factors within one's control and fostering positive experiences and connections, also mentioning her personal ritual of having a coffee with a stranger every week for the past 15 years.
00:00 Introduction
00:34 The Birth of Sunshine Hour
01:23 The Impact of Sunshine Hour
02:34 The Power of Smiling
03:38 Learning from Strangers: Coffee Conversations
05:08 The Journey of 15 Years of Coffee Conversations
05:09 Planting Seeds and Connecting Dots
06:30 Overcoming Fears and Stepping Out of Comfort Zone
07:04 Achievements and Self-Reflection
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In today's episode, we speak with Caroline Arditti, a Paris-born creative force whose mission is to make the world more human and help people feel more alive. Caroline shared her journey from working in corporate communications and PR to founding Sunshine Makers, an experiential agency that's creating positive momentum through community-building initiatives like the Sunshine Hour and Supper Club.
Caroline shares her journey from quarantine isolation to building a global community through her Sunshine Hour project - a Zoom-based session promoting connection and creativity. She highlights her book 'Nous’ ‘Us' which focuses on fostering community and setting up projects like her global creative tribe. Arditti's story offers an innovative approach to facilitating connections, nurturing community, and addressing loneliness and isolation. The conversation is a testament to the significance of creativity, personal interaction, and human connection in a world increasingly dominated by technology.
00:00 Introduction
02:19 Who is she as a human?
04:02 What or who made her?
06:00 The Power of Community and Connection
13:20 What is she working to achieve ? The Birth of the Sunshine Hour During Covid
16:32 The Growth and Impact of the Sunshine Hour
21:36 Caroline's Mission: Making the World More Human
24:33 The Power of Physical Connection and Community Building
27:48 Scaling the Impact: From Sunshine Hours to Supper Clubs
34:03 The Power of a Smile: A Simple Act of Connection
36:58 Creating a Safe Space for Sharing
37:42 The Supper Club Experience
38:53 Selecting Participants for the Supper Club
39:45 The Power of Vulnerability
40:21 The Journey of Self-Discovery
41:53 Introducing the Book
42:58 The Power of Personal Stories
44:40 Learning from Strangers: The Coffee Ritual
46:41 The Impact of Personal Encounters
52:47 The Power of Creativity
52:57 The Million Creative Tribe Project
01:02:52 The Importance of Slowing Down
01:03:25 Overcoming Fears and Embracing Challenges
01:08:49 The Importance of Authenticity
01:12:31 The Power of Journaling and Cold Showers
01:14:10 The Power of Small Steps
01:16:10 The Importance of Community
01:18:37 Random Collisions and who we interview next
Caroline’s website
Sunshine Makers
Nous book
Wim Hoff
Book Solve For Happy
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This week, in light of the recent and extreme escalation in violence in Israel and Gaza, and the resultant rage and outrage that’s consuming our news and social feeds I’m publishing this episode with some trepidation but in the hope that it will instill some sense of belief that peace is possible.
I am republishing an interview with Stephen Hecht, Founder and CEO of A Million Peacemakers. Their principle of Nonflict provides inspiring examples of how to foster reconciliation, mutual understanding, and peace, even in entrenched conflicts where the path to peace may seem hopelessly complex.
Stephen Hecht co-founder of Million Peacemakers provides inspiration to anyone who doubts their ability to change the world for the better, at scale. Stephen is proof that good intentions, a little creativity, underpinned by clear goals can result in monumental impact, at any age.
Million Peacemakers is a non-profit organization that empowers people to transform conflict into what they call Nonflict. Stephens's inspiration came from his multi-faith work and his own transformation in focussing on the commonality in people over the differences.
Over 225,000 people around the world trained in the first 5 years with a focus on youth, families, and businesses, Stephen is changing the world one peacemaker training session at a time.
Stephen has led Nonflict way workshops in Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and the USA including Puerto Rico, Japan, Thailand, Philippines, Israel, Jordan, Mexico, Bulgaria, England, Germany, Spain, and Canada.
He was also a speaker at the Vatican in March 2019 for an international conference on Religions and the UN Sustainable Development Goals and was invited back 3 weeks later to speak about creating a culture of peace in the world.
I hope you enjoy this episode of empathy, compassion and conflict resolution with Stephen Hecht
TIMECODES
00:00 Intro
03:40 Stephen on his upbringing
04:45His uncle’s defining influence
05:30 Being aware of his curiosity as a child
06:10 The defining experience of visiting Israel
06:50 Witnessing his first intra-group conflict
07:30 Stephen and his education path
08:00 The early experience of conflict in business
09:20 Joining Young President Organization
10:15 Building interfaith unity
13:45 Building the three-step model for Nonflict
15:38 The Nonflict steps to conflict resolution
32:10 Creating a Million Peacemakers andtesting Nonflict in Palestine
33:20 How Serendipity has enabled him
34:25 Working with the Vatican and The Pope
46:10 His principles
46:10 His Hard Choices
47:10 The Impossible Question
Social Links
Million Peacemakers
Twitter /X
Links In the Show
Young Presidents Organization
Sustainable Development Goals
Robin Sharma The 5 am Club
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TLDR
If you're short on time here are seven minutes of soundbites from difference maker Kristina Skierka - theSan Francisco based founder and CEO of Power For All, a global campaign to provide universal energy access by 2025 to the 85% of the 1.1 billion people residing in rural areas who lack reliable energy.
She's a beacon of inspiration, galvanizing governments, nonprofits, and entrepreneurs worldwide behind her mission. Kristina has fostered partnerships with over 300 collaborators, to launch pivotal decentralized renewable energy solutions from intricate mini-grids to expansive mobile solar farms across countries like Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone, India, Ethiopia, and Uganda; distributed renewable energy (DRE) solutions that have the potential to increase agricultural productivity, help decarbonize the food system, reduce greenhouse gases, and mitigate the worst impacts of global warming.
With over two decades of expertise in the energy sector, Kristina's influence extends beyond her campaign. A prolific speaker and writer and as a testament to her global impact, Kristina serves on the United Nations’ Technical Advisory Group for SDG7 and in 2021 was appointed to the inaugural United Nations Food Systems Summit.
This was recorded before last month's Climate Week in New York where Kristina hosted a panel and released a report that called for transitioning the $8 trillion food system out of fossil fuels and into renewable energy. Power for All’s research indicates that by updating just five key farming technologies for Africa's smallholder farmers, the continent could cut its emissions by10% and boost its economy by a staggering $24.5 billion.
I hope you enjoy this deep dive into Kristina's inspiring journey, her visionary leadership, and the future of energy access globally. Thanks to Jeremy Tamamini.
Timestamps
00:00 Intro
00:33 Kristina's early inspiration and influences
02:46 The vision for energy access
03:47 Facing up to early resistance
05:31 The main geographical focus
06:02 The GHG impact of fossil fuel in agriculture
06:36 The market opportunity
07:55 What we can do as individuals
Social Links
Youtube
Links in Show
Power For All
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This week's guest is Kristina Skierka, a genuine difference maker and true catalyst for change in the global energy sector. As the CEO and founder of the Power for All campaign Kristina has been instrumental in shaping a movement with a truly audacious vision and goal of: powering the 85% of the 1.1 billion people residing in rural areas who lack reliable energy and achieve universal energy access by 2025.
She's a beacon of inspiration, galvanizing governments, nonprofits, and entrepreneurs worldwide behind her mission. Kristina has fostered partnerships with over 300 collaborators, to launch pivotal decentralized renewable energy solutions from intricate mini-grids to expansive mobile solar farms across countries like Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone, India, Ethiopia, and Uganda; distributed renewable energy (DRE) solutions that have the potential to increase agricultural productivity, help decarbonize the food system, reduce greenhouse gases, and mitigate the worst impacts of global warming.
Kristina is a prolific speaker and writer and as a testament to her global impact, Kristina serves on the United Nations’ Technical Advisory Group for SDG7.
This was recorded before last month's Climate Week in New York where Kristina hosted a panel and released a report that called for transitioning the $8 trillion food system out of fossil fuels and into renewable energy. Power for All’s research indicates that by updating just five key farming technologies for Africa's smallholder farmers, the continent could cut its emissions by10% and boost its economy by a staggering $24.5 billion.
Timestamps
00:00 Intro
03:40 Who Kristina is as a human
07:15 What made her who she is?
17:00 How an Argentine adventure set her on path to energy access and equity
27:00 Flex Your Power and her transformational experience
32:00 What Kristina is working to achieve?
40:30 The genesis for Power For All
43:25 Being ahead of her time
45:25 The three components to Power For All
48:50 The geographical focus for the campaign
52:00 Building alliances
53:40 Kristina discusses an example of success in Uganda
01:00:10 Working with Utilities for mutual financial benefit
1:05:43 Democratizing energy to democratizing production
1:11:44 Following or supporting Kristina
Social Links
Youtube
Links in Show
Power For All
National Forensic League
DLight
Climate reality project
IEA
Ernie Moniz
Rockefeller Foundation
The Ashden Award
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Ashley Usiskin Overview
How do we encourage more people to accept help when it’s offered, and ask for help when it's needed? That is the big question this week’s guest difference maker Ashley Usiskin is focused on answering.
With a successful career that spanned branding, marketing and start-ups across 4 countries, in early 2022 Ashley was diagnosed with lymphoma and a rare auto-immune hemolytic disease that required months of debilitating chemotherapy. This led to a life-changing and transformative experience; from being self-reliant and independent he was suddenly helpless requiring the help of others. This led to his realization that accepting help is a gift; since you give the chance for the help giver to experience joy, pride and the feel-good factor of supporting someone they care about.
Ashley is now on a mission to change our perceptions of asking for help; transforming help rejectors to help receivers. In doing so he aims to enable people to realize that accepting help has a life-changing impact not only on their own livelihood but also on those who offer them help.
He is now working to offer practical tools to change mindsets and motivate us all to ‘Help yourself by helping each other’.
TImecodes
00:00 Intro
02:10 Who is Ashley?
03:30 What made Ashley who he is?
07:10 Developing independence
08:30 His early creative ambitions
10:50 The value of Grey and BBH
13:35 What is Ashley working to achieve?
17:43 Recognizing the power of accepting help
18:55 His barriers to asking for help
21:16 Ashley’s mission to share his learnings
26:40 The Gift of help Podcast
29:10 Some tools explained
32:29 How serendipity led him to Simon Sinek
40:25 What ChatGPT says about barriers to asking for help
44:15 The evidence Ashley is witnessing
46:45 The impact on society in our meta crisis
50:00 The Japanese TV show
52:00 The changing corporate culture
53:10 Ashley’s ambition
55:27 The help Ashley is asking for?
57:58 Remaining resolute and resilient
59:57 Ashley’s gift or talent
01:02:46 The actions we can all take to create a help exchange
Social Links
Ashley’s Email
Gift of Help Podcast
Show Links
Bridge app
Caroline Arditti
Camerados
Simon Sinek
Nir Eyal
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As a break from the norm, this week I’m dropping a series of daily short bonus interviews with previous guest Dr Morgaine Gaye the food futurologist.
Today's Question
What Do Recipe Books Really Sell?
Social Links
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In today's bonus drop from food futurologist Dr. Morgaine Gaye, Morgaine discusses the question of why the fat-free fad of the 1980s made us fatter.
How does that work?
Today's Question
Why The Fat-Free Fad Of The 80's Made Us Fat?
Social Links
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Today's Question
Do We Really Eat Insects?
As a break from the norm, this week I’m dropping a series of daily short bonus interviews with previous guest Dr. Morgaine Gaye the food futurologist.
Each day Morgaine will answer a question related to food and food trends.
Morgaine is a fount of food-related knowledge.
I hope you enjoy it.
Social Links
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
As a break from the norm, this week I’m dropping a series of daily short bonus interviews with previous guest Dr. Morgaine Gaye the food futurologist.
Each day Morgaine will answer a question related to food and food trends.
Morgaine is a fount of food-related knowledge.
I hope you enjoy it.
Today's Question
What are the innovations in food waste?
Social Links
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
As a break from the norm, this week I’m dropping a series of daily short bonus interviews with previous guest Dr. Morgaine Gaye the food futurologist.
Each day Morgaine will answer a question related to food and food trends.
Morgaine is a fount of food-related knowledge.
I hope you enjoy it.
Today's Question
Why Smell Makes Us Buy What We Don't Want?
Social Links
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TLDR
If you just want the top AI tips and techniques from Prompt Engineering Expert Dave Birss then here are 7 minutes of soundbites to spark some inspiration.
If you have time then do check out the whole episode as Dave has a wealth of knowledge that may well challenge how you currently view AI innovations.
Now my ask of you, If you're enjoying the show, please share it with someone you know, or follow us and like us on your favorite podcast player, and subscribe on our YouTube channel as it helps us grow the show.
About Dave Birss.
With over 30 years of experience in creativity, technology, and innovation Dave has become a highly respected and sought-after public speaker and trainer of creative minds.
Dave has taken everything he has learned over the past three decades to become a polymath who shares his insights into the worlds of creativity, technological innovation, and now A.I.
Currently, Dave is the most popular AI and prompt engineering instructor on LinkedIn Learning. His forward-thinking approach has put him at the forefront of the AI wave, allowing him to balance practical approaches with advancing technology. As he says ‘ In a world of myopic evangelists and apocalyptic naysayers, his guided, sensible approach helps embrace the AI future with our eyes wide open. By stripping away the BS of AI he’s an expert in explaining how it can really add value to an organization and individuals.
His award-winning books, including "How To Get To Great Ideas," "A User Guide To The Creative Mind," "Friction," and "Iconic Advantage," give readers insight into how great ideas can transform business. That is why the next book he is currently working on will explore the best ways to use AI in business
Timecodes
00:00 Intro
00: 31 Dave's role
01:02 The AI parallels to the development of photography
03:30 The CREATE framework
06:40 The MAD framework
Social Links
Dave Birss site
Dave Birss Linkedin
Show notes
Logeriithms
Conor Grennan
Runway AI
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My guest this week is Dave Birss, With over 30 years of experience in creativity, technology, and innovation Dave has become a highly respected and sought-after public speaker and trainer of creative minds.
Dave has taken everything he has learned over the past three decades to become a polymath who shares insights into the worlds of creativity, innovation, and now AI.
Currently, Dave is the most popular AI and prompt engineering instructor on LinkedIn Learning. His forward-thinking approach has put him at the forefront of the AI wave, allowing him to balance practical approaches with advancing technology. As he says ‘ In a world of myopic evangelists and apocalyptic naysayers, his guided, sensible approach helps embrace the AI future with our eyes wide open. By stripping away the BS of AI he’s an expert in explaining how it can really add value to an organization and individuals.
His award-winning books, including "How To Get To Great Ideas," "A User Guide To The Creative Mind," "Friction," and "Iconic Advantage," give readers insight into how great ideas can transform business. That is why the next book he is currently working on will explore the best ways to use AI in business.
Now over to Dave
Timecodes
00:00 Intro
01:54 Dave Harmonica intro
03:58 Discovering his love of innovation and creativity
06:14 Becoming an accidental Author
08:28 Overcoming barriers to creativity
10:14 Scratching the creative itch
11:40 Daves discusses his books
14:10 The IKEA effect
16:26 Becoming aware of AI’s power
18:35 Dave’s role to help others learn AI
20:22 Why AI is different from other technologies
23;50 Giving AI a creative brief
26:18 Input Output, curiosity, and creativity
33:02 The parallels to the invention of photography
37:26 Dave CREATE framework
42:00 Achieving more with GPT 4
43:54 MAD framework
46:30 The AI education imperative
53:38 Writing a textbook for teachers
57:52 What excites him today
Social Links
Dave Birss site
Dave Birss Linkedin
Show notes
Logeriithms
Conor Grennan
Runway AI
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If you’re short in time but interested in the climate and sustainability challenges we face then here are seven minutes of sound bites from Jeremy Tamanini, founder of Dual Citizen and creator of the Global Green Economy Index™ (GGEI)
If you do have the time, you’re on a run cycle or a drive, then do check out the full episode Jeremy’s doing vital work.
And just an ask from us. If you’re enjoying the show, please share it with someone you know, or follow us and like us on your favorite podcast player, and subscribe on our YouTube channel as it helps us grow the show.
ABOUT JEREMY
For the past decade, Jeremy has collaborated on projects with governments, businesses, and international organizations at the intersection of data and sustainability. He has worked in over 30 markets, ranging from the government of Denmark to an NGO in the Pacific Islands. His goal is to empower his partners to better understand what sustainability means for them, and how data, communication, and new technology can accelerate progress.
The Global Green Economy Index™, created by Jeremy, covers 160 countries, and measures national sustainability performance across its 18 indicators, and tracks the degree of progress each country has made from 2005 to 2020, and its distance from globally established sustainability targets.
The GGEI is an ESG index that has gained widespread global recognition, with over 250,000 downloads, 100+ media and academic citations, and usage in 100+ governments, institutions, and private firms.
Timecodes
00:00 Intro
00:34 The evolving environmental space
01:37 The serendipitous impact of his Grandfather
03:08 The Green Economy
04:12 Evolution of the Global Green Economy Index
06:06 The current state of progress?
06:54 The collective action problem
07:22 The Paradox
Social Links
Jeremy on Linkedin
Dual Citizen
Links in Show
Limits To Growth book
Global Green Economy Index
Climate Paradox – How to Solve It
Climate Action Tracker
The Breakthrough Effect
Bob Ward LSE
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jeremy Tamanini is founder of Dual Citizen and creator of the Global Green Economy Index™ (GGEI).
For the past decade, Jeremy has collaborated on projects with governments, businesses, and international organizations at the intersection of data and sustainability. He has worked in over 30 markets, ranging from the government of Denmark to an NGO in the Pacific Islands. His goal is to empower his partners to better understand what sustainability means for them, and how data, communication, and new technology can accelerate progress.
The Global Green Economy Index™, created by Jeremy, covers 160 countries, measures national sustainability performance across its 18 indicators, and tracks the degree of progress each country has made from 2005 to 2020, and its distance from globally established sustainability targets.
The GGEI is an ESG index that has gained widespread global recognition, with over 250,000 downloads, 100+ media and academic citations, and usage in 100+ governments, institutions, and private firms.
Now over to Jeremy
Timecodes
00:00 Intro
03:15 Who is Jeramy?
09:25 Who or What Made Jeremy?
18:27 How his early career impacted him?
19:47 What is Jeremy working to achieve?
23:05 The beginnings of the Global Green Economy Index
25:44 The dimensions of the Index
28:01 Where do we stand in relation to the global goal targets?
31:32: Where are we making progress?
34:42 The truth about emission data
37.38 The climate paradox and feedback
44:00 How to ensure ideas are adopted or implemented
47:10 Implementing new ideas and initiatives
49:53 What action can individuals and businesses take?
52:20 The 80:20 rule on climate impact
53:32 Identifying contributors to emissions
54:30 The Breakthrough Effect
58:45 Do we need new institutions?
01:01:10 The impact of the military
01:03:30 The question of skeptics
01:06:00 Paradoxical subsidies
01:08:44 The actions needed?
01:12:30 What is still needed to acknowledge the reality?
01:17:00 Remaining resolute?
01:20:30 Natural gifts?
Social Links
Jeremy on Linkedin
Dual Citizen
Links in Show
Limits To Growth book
Global Green Economy Index
Climate Paradox - How to Solve It
Climate Action Tracker
The Breakthrough Effect
Bob Ward LSE
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My guest this week is Jon Alexander, the author of "CITIZENS: Why the Key to Fixing Everything is All of Us," and the co-founder of the New Citizenship Project; a strategy and innovation consultancy with a mission to catalyze a shift to a more participatory, citizen-led society and driven by a belief that, given the right opportunity, people can and will shape the things that matter to them for the better.
Here are seven minutes of soundbites.
About Jon
Jon began his career in advertising, working at agencies including BBDO and Fallon, making ads for some of the world's biggest brands. However, Jon became disillusioned with the industry and realized he was caught up in a story he didn't believe in: the consumer story.
Through his book and his organization, Jon advocates for a new way of thinking, shifting the dominant story of the individual in society from consumer to citizen; reframing the moment in which we're living as a time of huge civic opportunity, emphasizing the world of possibility for countries, cities, organizations if they embrace the Citizen Story
Jon’s book may be the most important book I’ve read in years and I am convinced the story shift he’s advocating and fighting for will be pivotal if we are to overcome the meta-crisis we are facing as humans and as a planet.
Social Links
Jon’s Linkedin
Jon’s Twitter
NCP Twitter
What we discuss
00:00 Intro
0:34 The Meta Crisis
02:10 The Collapsing Consumer Story
03:42 The steps we can all take
04:58 How to do Marketing in a different way
06:46 The 3 P's of the Citizen story
07:46 Looking at AI
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
My guest this week is Jon Alexander, the author of "CITIZENS: Why the Key to Fixing Everything is All of Us," and the co-founder of the New Citizenship Project; a strategy and innovation consultancy with a mission to catalyze a shift to a more participatory, citizen-led society and driven by a belief that, given the right opportunity, people can and will shape the things that matter to them for the better.
Jon began his career in advertising, working at agencies including BBDO and Fallon, making ads for some of the world's biggest brands. However, Jon became disillusioned with the industry and realized he was caught up in a story he didn't believe in: the consumer story.
Through his book and his organization, Jon advocates for a new way of thinking, shifting the dominant story of the individual in society from consumer to citizen; reframing the moment in which we're living as a time of huge civic opportunity, emphasizing the world of possibility for countries, cities, organizations if they embrace the Citizen Story
Jon’s book may be the most important book I’ve read in years and I am convinced the story shift he’s advocating and fighting for will be pivotal if we are to overcome the meta-crisis we are facing as humans and as a planet.
Now over to Jon
What we discuss
00:00 Intro
02:30 Who is Jon?
06:30 Who or what made Jon?
13:45 What Jon is working to achieve with Citizens Story
16:30 The subject story
17:40 Jon’s role
20:00 Examples of the Citizen story is emerging
28:28 Discoverability of initiatives
30:35 Three key phases - naming, connecting and illustrating
33:30 The Taiwan example
36:30 The Steps people can take
40:00 Other examples of Citizen story emerging
42:30 The Tower Analogy
43:55 The Citizen Index
48:30 Spreading the message
49:30 Growth and the Citizen story
53:00 How to Market differently and consider growth
56:45 Growing Citizen agency
1:00:20 The 3 P’s - Purpose, Platform, Prototype
1:02:30 Jon on AI
1:04:30 Designing AI from within the Citixen story
1:08:30 Citizen story in the USA
1:13:00 Cooperatives role
1:15:00 Emergence of Citizen story
Links in the show
Citizens Book
New Citizen Project
Audrey Tang
PFG Doncaster
Berkana Institute
Citizen University
How to Citizen
Brian Eno
Marshall McLuhan
Sand Talk - How indigenous thinking can save the world
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This week, I have the pleasure of revisiting my 2021 interview with the talented filmmaker Sav Rodgers as he unveils his latest documentary, "Chasing Chasing Amy," at the esteemed Tribeca Film Festival. Sav's work is not merely a coming-of-age narrative, but it also offers an introspective journey of his process of reconciling with his identity. He unpacks how the 1990s rom-com "Chasing Amy," directed by Kevin Smith and featuring Ben Affleck, served as a catalyst for Sav to embrace his pansexuality authentically. The film also critically examines the contentious reputation of "Chasing Amy" within the LGBTQ+ community. With compelling interviews including Kevin Smith himself, the documentary stands as a testament to Sav's resilience in the face of prejudice and intolerance, his robust character, and his unwavering spirit of survival. It also showcases how serendipity can unveil promising opportunities.
Given that it's Pride Month, the timing for this interview couldn't be more apt.
Parents of children who identify as gender fluid, nonbinary, or genderqueer will find Sav’s interview to be of particular importance.
Sav is an acclaimed writer and director, who is nearing the end of post-production on his inaugural feature, "Chasing Chasing Amy". This documentary elucidates how "Chasing Amy," with its portrayal of fluid sexuality, empowered Sav to live his life authentically as a pansexual, resonating with the movie's tagline, "It’s Not who you love, but how."
Following his impactful TED talk in 2017, where Sav delved into the influence of "Chasing Amy," he tweeted about his experience, catching the attention of Kevin Smith. This interaction blossomed into a collaboration on "Chasing Chasing Amy."
During our discussion, Sav and I explored the persisting challenges in media, specifically the limited representation of trans people in shows and films. We reflected on the role media plays in reinforcing LGBTQ+ biases and the pressing need for reformation in the way sexuality is represented in education.
Sav's life journey serves as a beacon for creating the life you aspire to live and showcases how chance encounters can lead to tremendous opportunities.
Sav has profoundly broadened my understanding of sexuality and has sparked in me a desire to learn more. I hope his infectious optimism and vibrant energy resonate with you as you listen to the inspiring story of Sav Rodgers.
Thanks to Yana Buhrer Tavanier for the recommendation
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week, I share a reflection. At JFK, using Descript's AI for an overdub of my voice, I embark on a journey of farewell to my beloved Mother.
Her life stretched across 92 cherished years. Although gone, her wisdom resonates within me. Her passing starkly reveals time's relentless march, and how quickly life's sands slip away.
Roman philosopher Seneca wisely noted that life is not short, but often wasted. As I mourn, I'll pause, reflecting on my past and considering my future.
Tim Urban, in "The Tail End," eloquently highlighted the fleeting time we have with our parents. Now, I must reassess my remaining, unknowable time.
Seventeenth-century preacher Jonathan Edwards urged his congregation to spend time wisely, creating meaningful actions. This timeless wisdom, regardless of faith, reminds us to chase purposeful endeavors, because once time has passed, it cannot be regained.
Psychologist Philip Zimbardo proposed an Optimal Temporal Mix, combining a positive past view, future-oriented goals, and a joyful present perspective. This mental agility to shift views is crucial to success.
Throughout my advertising career, I worked with talented colleagues and clients. However, it lacked social purpose and meaning. Since being let go from McCann NYC 10 years ago, I've aimed to create more value through my work, network, and podcast.
These podcast stories comfort me, showcasing individuals embracing their life's moments, upholding their values, and effecting positive change. They are ordinary people leading extraordinary lives. Their impact has prompted me to reassess my time's application and focus more intentionally on the future.
As I seek a meaningful life, my mother's words, learnt as a young girl during wartime Britain, ring true, quoting Shakespeare: ‘This above all: to thine own self be true... Thou canst not then be false to any man.’
Goodbye, Mum. Rest in peace.
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This week in light of the ongoing debates and discussion over the impact of Generative AI on work, society, and humanity I am publishing a re-edit of an interview from 2019 with John C Havens, the Executive Director of The IEEE Global Initiative on AI Ethics and their Sustainability Practice Lead
John is a highly respected thought leader on artificial intelligence and ethics and the author of Heartificial Intelligence and Hacking Happiness. Long before AI entered our mainstream discourse John was working on the big ethical questions around AI.
Although recorded in 2019 the issues we discuss are more pertinent today than they were then, including the negative externalities of technology; what we define as metrics of success for AI; the limits of exponential growth and innovation; finding a more human alternative to GDP; prioritizing human and ecological wellbeing; personal data monetization, control, and privacy; changing economic paradigm in the purpose-driven world; and John’s vision for a more sustainable future society.
Now over to John
What We Discuss
00:00 Intro
01:14 John’s serendipitous journey becoming an expert in AI Ethics
06:00 John’s perspective on AI and Robots and metrics of success
08:30 Challenge of exponential growth
11:10 Moore’s Law impact on society
16:00 Value of our personal data
18:40 Creating our personal terms and conditions for data exchange
25:00 Ethics and user-centric design for AI
28:00 Ethically Aligned Design
31:40 Discussing societal progress
34:40 Evolving economic priorities and general progress indicators
40:50 John’s principles and quick fire questions
Social Links
Links in Show
Heartificial Intelligence
Martin Seligman
Rise of the robots
Moore’s Law
Fabrice Grinda
IEEE Standards Working Group
Doc Searls
Ethically Aligned Design
Council on Extended Intelligence
Joi Ito
Technology and the virtues
Twain Liu
Theory of You
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TL:DR If you're short on time, here are seven minutes of soundbites from Omar Friella - the Bronx-based social entrepreneur, movement builder, and founder of Collective Diaspora, the growing global community of Black cooperatives & Black-led cooperative support organizations.
If you do have the time, on a run, cycle, or drive, check out the full episode, it is evident that desire, belief, and action we all have the power of self-determination.
If you enjoy the show, please share, follow us, like us on your podcast player, and subscribe on YouTube as it helps us grow our audience. Thanks to Marianna Koval for the connection
ABOUT OMAR
Omar Freilla is co-founder and steering committee member of Collective Diaspora, a global community of Black cooperatives & Black-led cooperative support organizations.
Omar is a serial trailblazer, social entrepreneur, and movement builder dedicated to community self-determination and regenerative economies.
Drawing from his experiences growing up in the South Bronx and witnessing struggles for community empowerment, he has dedicated himself to creating just and regenerative economic systems.
Omar's time with the NYC Environmental Justice Alliance and Sustainable South Bronx inspired him to utilize cooperatives as a vehicle for transformative economic development.
He established Green Worker Cooperatives and launched the first worker cooperative business accelerator in the United States, pioneering innovative approaches to cooperative development. Omar co-founded several local and national cooperative support organizations, including the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives, the Democracy At Work Institute, and the NYC Network of Worker Cooperatives.
This interview opened my eyes to the potential of new worker-led economic models for historically marginalized and economically exploited communities. It also made me re-evaluate the privileges I’ve experienced.
Thanks to Marianne Koval
What We Discuss
00:00 Intro
00:36 Early realization of inequity
03:54 The case for a solidarity economy
07:19 Omars goal for 2030
Social Links
Collective Diaspora
Links
The Bronx
Black Panther party
Young Lords
Green Worker Cooperatives
U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives,
Marcus Garvey
Malcolm X
Seed Commons
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
TL:DR If you're short on time, here are seven minutes of soundbites from Omar Friella - the Bronx-based social entrepreneur, movement builder, and founder of Collective Diaspora, the growing global community of Black cooperatives & Black-led cooperative support organizations.
If you do have the time, on a run, cycle, or drive, check out the full episode, it is evident that with desire, belief, and action, we all have the power of self-determination.
If you enjoy the show please share, follow us, like us on your podcast player, and subscribe on YouTube, as it helps us grow our audience. Thanks to Marianna Koval for the connection
ABOUT OMAR
Omar Freilla is co-founder and steering committee member of Collective Diaspora, a global community of Black cooperatives & Black-led cooperative support organizations.
Omar is a serial trailblazer, social entrepreneur, and movement builder dedicated to community self-determination and regenerative economies.
Drawing from his experiences growing up in the South Bronx and witnessing struggles for community empowerment, he has dedicated himself to creating just and regenerative economic systems.
Omar's time with the NYC Environmental Justice Alliance and Sustainable South Bronx inspired him to utilize cooperatives as a vehicle for transformative economic development.
He established Green Worker Cooperatives and launched the first worker cooperative business accelerator in the United States, pioneering innovative approaches to cooperative development. Omar co-founded several local and national cooperative support organizations, including the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives, the Democracy At Work Institute, and the NYC Network of Worker Cooperatives.
Omar is also an adjunct lecturer at the City College of New York, serves on the City of New York's Environmental Justice Advisory Board, and is a member of New York State's Just Transition Working Group.
This interview opened my eyes to the potential of new worker-led economic models for historically marginalized and economically exploited communities. It also made me re-evaluate the privileges I’ve experienced.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Omar Freilla is co-founder and steering committee member of Collective Diaspora, a global community of Black cooperatives & Black-led cooperative support organizations.
Omar is a serial trailblazer, social entrepreneur, and movement builder dedicated to community self-determination and regenerative economies.
Drawing from his experiences growing up in the South Bronx and witnessing struggles for community empowerment, he has dedicated himself to creating just and regenerative economic systems.
This interview opened my eyes to the potential of new worker-led economic models for historically marginalized and economically exploited communities. It also made me re-evaluate the privileges I’ve experienced.
What We Discuss
What we discuss
00:00 Intro
02:50 Who is Omar?
03:50 Who or what made him?
06:50 The impact of Neoliberalism on marginalized Communities
08:50 A defining memory that affected his life direction
17:50 Nature or nurture impact on his development
21:30 Early activism against apartheid
25:20 Early ambitions
27:30 Becoming environmentally conscious
30:50 Activism triggered by the Rodney King beating
34:35 Seeking out new economic alternatives in Cooperatives
40:50 The lack of Venture funding for cooperatives
43:40 Creating new Benchmarks for Return on Investment
45:10 What Omar is working to achieve with Collective Diaspora
49:45 Forming a Cooperative Business
54:00 Becoming a Fellow of Echoing Green
1:00:30 Imperative for Black and Latin Cooperatives
1:07:54 Omar’s ambitions for 2030
1:10:00 Raising funding
1:16:00 How to become part of the Collective Diaspora
1:18:00 Remaining resolute
1:19:45 Omar’s gifts
1:20:40 What he’s complimented for
1:22:00 Omar’s advice for anyone wanting to support
Social Links
Collective Diaspora
Links
The Bronx
Black Panther party
Young Lords
Green Worker Cooperatives
U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives,
Marcus Garvey
Malcolm X
Seed Commons
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TL:DR If you're short on time and want to be inspired and uplifted, here are seven minutes of soundbites from Camerados founder Maff Potts.
If you do have the time on a run, cycle, or drive, check out the full episode. It refreshingly good
If you enjoy the show, please share, follow us, like us on your podcast player, and subscribe on YouTube, as it helps us grow our audience.
About Maff
Maff Potts, is the pioneering force behind Camerados, an ever-expanding global social movement centered around one simple yet powerful concept: Public Living Rooms. Designed to foster a sense of togetherness within our communities, these spaces provide a welcoming environment where people can come together, share a cup of tea or coffee, engage in conversation, and experience the transformative power of human connection - all without any expectations or agenda.
Before launching Camerados, Maff served as CEO for various charities, witnessing firsthand how traditional approaches to tackling social issues like homelessness, domestic abuse, and social isolation often fell short by merely addressing the symptoms rather than the root causes. This revelation led him to the realization that the two fundamental needs every individual requires are "friends and purpose."
By stepping outside conventional frameworks, Maff has harnessed the potential of Public Living Rooms to alleviate the symptoms of numerous social issues and address their underlying causes. As a genuine difference maker, Maff has successfully established over 170 Public Living Rooms across five countries.
If you're feeling disheartened by the current state of our societies and the erosion of social connection in the wake of the pandemic, this episode will inspire and uplift you. To join Maff's mission, become a Camerados, and create your own local Public Living Room, simply follow the link in the show notes
What we discuss
00:00 Intro
00:27 Discovering what matters in life?
02:02 Issue with existing Charity models
03:49 Ingredients for a happy life
05:17 Reality of life
05:50 Taxes, Death and Trouble
06:26 Why Maslow's Hierarchy is wrong?
07:17 How the Public Living Rooms Work
Social Links
Camerados
Maff on Linkedin
Youtube
Links
Oscar Peterson
Noah and The Loners
Winners Take All book
Citizens Jon Alexander
Cooperation Town London
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week's guest, Maff Potts, is the pioneering force behind Camerados, an ever-expanding global social movement centered around one simple yet powerful concept: Public Living Rooms. Designed to foster a sense of togetherness within our communities, these spaces provide a welcoming environment where people can come together, share a cup of tea or coffee, engage in conversation, and experience the transformative power of human connection - all without any expectations or agenda.
Before launching Camerados, Maff served as CEO for various charities, witnessing firsthand how traditional approaches to tackling social issues like homelessness, domestic abuse, and social isolation often fell short by merely addressing the symptoms rather than the root causes. This revelation led him to the realization that the two fundamental needs every individual requires are "friends and purpose."
By stepping outside conventional frameworks, Maff has harnessed the potential of Public Living Rooms to not only alleviate the symptoms of numerous social issues but also to address their underlying causes. As a genuine difference maker, Maff has successfully established over 170 Public Living Rooms across five countries.
If you're feeling disheartened by the current state of our societies and the erosion of social connection in the wake of the pandemic, this episode will inspire and uplift you. To join Maff's mission, become a Camerados, and create your own local Public Living Room, follow the link in the show notes.
Now, let's hear from Maff Potts himself.
What we discuss
00:00 Intro
03:00 Who is Maff Potts?
04:10 What made Maff?
06:15 The values instilled in him
09:41 His love of Jazz and music
13:30 Seven days that changes his life
18:00 What he is working to achieve?
22:00 His experiences in running homeless charities
25:20 The problem with the charity model
30:45 The emergence of Camerados as an idea
36:10 Witnessing death caused by isolation
38:30 The value and Impact of Camerados
42:50 Mutal Aid as a model
46:00 Maff explains the Public Living Room concept and principles
50:00 How it works in practice
51:50 My Camerados commitment
53:00 Taking Camerados on the road in the UK
57:00 The origins of the name
58:20 Where Maff want to be by 2030
59:30 Can brands play a role?
01:02:00 The actions people can take
01:05:00 Dealing with doubt
01:07:25 On failure and emergence
01:10:00 His talents
Social Links
https://camerados.org Camerados
https://www.linkedin.com/in/maff-potts-4044b915/ Maff on Linkedin
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGit00ofSez5BndPru0Z5gA YouTube
https://www.instagram.com/camerados_org/?hl=en Instagram
Links
https://oscarpeterson.com/ Oscar Peterson
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2ZuvkS_sALJfTNCpHK3N1g - Noah and The Loners
https://www.amazon.com/Winners-Take-All-Charade-Changing/dp/0451493249 - Winners Take All book
https://www.jonalexander.net/ - Citizens Jon Alexander
https://cooperation.town/ - Cooperation Town London
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If you're short on time and want some hear some of Food Futurologist Dr. Morgaine Gaye’s trend insights, then here are 7 minutes of soundbites.
If you do have the time, on a run, cycle, or drive, check out the full episode. It's a shorter than normal 42 min episode.
Morgaine explores food and eating from a social, cultural, economic, branding, and geo-political perspective. She also consults food companies, develops new products and ideas, and writes trend reports for forecasting sites to PR and ad agencies.
Morgaine was staying with me during this year's SXSW, where she was presenting Trend to Table, her latest trends presentation, and the title of her upcoming book. Therefore I used the opportunity to have her share some of the trends she’s witnessing..
What We Discuss
00:00 Intro
00:30 Morgaine discusses her SXSW trends presentation and the subject of her new book.
01:30 What it means to be human post-Covid in the AI world?
03:00 3D printed food and the use of ‘air protein’ in food.
05:02 Nourishment
05:30 Why she wrote her book
06:00 The Dirty Dozen and the Clean Fifteen from the Environmental Working Group
07:02 Morgaine’s hope for the future
Social Links
Links Show
The Dirty Dozen and the Clean Fifteen from the Environmental Working Group
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This week's interview is a little bit different from normal as I welcome back a previous guest Food Futurologist and director of Bellwether Food Trends, Dr. Morgaine Gaye. Morgaine explores food and eating from a social, cultural, economic, branding, and geo-political perspective. She also consults food companies, developing new products and ideas; writing trend reports for forecasting sites to PR and ad agencies.
Morgaine was staying with me during this year's SXSW where she was presenting Trend to Table, her latest trends presentation, and the title of her upcoming book. Therefore I used the opportunity to have her share some of the trends she’s witnessing.
Besides discussing some of these macro trends we also discuss when we first met back in 2008 when I was running a digital team at McCann London. We reflect on how we developed an edible beauty product and brand prototype which was ahead of its time and how life choices set us on different paths and led us to miss the opportunity to build what would have been a groundbreaking product.
This conversation was somewhat cathartic for me and hopefully provides some encouragement to anyone working to bring execute an idea to persist, take action, and test it in-market.
What We Discuss
00:00 Intro
03.15 Mark asks Morgaine to discuss the raw cacao collaboration from 2009.
05:15 Morgaine explains the health benefits of raw cacao.
07:45 Mark explains how he formed a skunk works team internally at McCann.
09:00 How the idea of positioning the cacao chocolate as edible beauty product emerged.
14:00 Why the idea remained no more than a prototype?
17:00 Lessons learned from the project.
18:40 Morgaine discusses her SXSW trends presentation and subject of her new book.
20:20 Examples of the big trends such as what it means to be human?
24:00 The changing role of ‘the table’ at home and the unraveling.
27:00 Other changing food trends such as the use of ‘air’ in food.
30:35 The use of ‘air protein’ in food.
34:50 Why she wrote her book
35:30 The Dirty dozen and the Clean Fifteen from the Environmental Working Group
38:00 Permaculture
38:50 Morgaine’s hope for the future
Social Links
Links Show
The Dirty dozen and the Clean Fifteen from the Environmental Working Group
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Seven minutes of snippets from my conversation with Simon Boyle, the London-based change-maker and visionary behind the Beyond Food Foundation and Brigade Bar+Kitchen. In 2004, Simon began transforming the lives of London's homeless population through food and cooking. 🍽️
In 2010 Simon's partnered with PwC to launch Brigade Bar+Kitchen in London Bridge, now a hub for unique training programs uplifting those less fortunate. During the Covid pandemic, Simon's Ecolab expanded its mission with his transformative FreshLife program to provide direction, support, and work experience to individuals whose lives have unraveled.
Shout out to Melanie van de Velde for the connection.
What we discuss
00:00 Intro
0:30 Simon Boyle on societal trauma
01:50 Freshlife explained?
05:30 Why he loves Corporates
06:15 His advice and ask to corporates
07:19 Purpose and resilience
Social Links
Noah and The Loners
Links in the Show
Beyond Food Foundation
Brigade Bar and Kitchen
Savoy Hotel
Royal Academy of Culinary Arts
Brian Turner
Burnt Chef Project
2004 Tsunami
PwC
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Seven minutes of snippets from my conversation with Simon Boyle, the London-based change-maker and visionary behind the Beyond Food Foundation and Brigade Bar+Kitchen. In 2004, Simon began transforming the lives of London's homeless population through food and cooking. 🍽️
In 2010 Simon's partnered with PwC to launch Brigade Bar+Kitchen in London Bridge, now a hub for unique training programs uplifting those less fortunate. During the Covid pandemic, Simon's Ecolab expanded its mission with his transformative FreshLife program to provide direction, support, and work experience to individuals whose lives have unraveled.
Shout out to Melanie van de Velde for the connection.
What we discuss
00:00 Intro
0:30 Who is Simon Boyle?
01:10 Simon on the education system.
01:50 Helping youth?
02:30 Getting a break at the Savoy
03:18 How the 2004 Tsunami led him to his focus on social impact.
04:40 Dragons Den experience,
06:28 Opening Brigade Bar & Kitchen.
06:51 The PWC partnership prototype helps address societal trauma.
Social Links
Noah and The Loners
Links in the Show
Beyond Food Foundation
Brigade Bar and Kitchen
Savoy Hotel
Royal Academy of Culinary Arts
Brian Turner
Burnt Chef Project
2004 Tsunami
PwC
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week's guest is Simon Boyle, a London-based difference-maker and driving force behind the Beyond Food Foundation and Brigade Bar+Kitchen.
In 2010, Simon partnered with PwC, De Vere Venues, and the Homes and Communities Agency to launch Brigade restaurant in London Bridge. This innovative space soon became the hub for distinctive training programs designed to uplift those affected by homelessness. Amidst the Covid pandemic, his Ecolab broadened its mission through a collection of transformative, interactive workshops that leverage the power of food to motivate and inspire individuals whose lives have unraveled, providing crucial support and encouragement to help them re-knot the fabric of their lives.
Shout out to Melanie van de Velde for the connection.
What we discuss
00:00 Intro
03:53 Who is Simon Boyle?
08:20 Being let down by the education system.
09:45 Who made Simon the person he is?
15:25 Simon discusses how to deal with mental health in hospitality
17:40 Simon’s intentional path to explore many genres of cooking and hospitality.
22:25 How the 2004 Tsunami led him to his focus on social impact.
26:30 His focus on creating social enterprise through food and events.
32:00 How after a Dragons Den experience, serendipity led him to find an investor and form his PWC partnership and open Brigade Bar & Kitchen.
37:50 The urgency to address human unraveling.
41:00 The PWC partnership prototype helps address societal trauma.
45:45 Simon describes his Freshlife program.
51:13 The change he has witnessed in Corporates' social mindedness and willingness to engage with his cohorts.
54:25 Simon's view on scaling his impact with Beyond Food.
59:00 His 2030 vision.
01:00:00 What is his superpower?
01:02:00 Advice to brands on how to take action.
01:07:40 Remaining resilient.
01:17:40 We discuss how Simon’s building a community lunch event in London
Social Links
Noah and The Loners
Links in the Show
Beyond Food Foundation
Brigade Bar and Kitchen
Savoy Hotel
Royal Academy of Culinary Arts
Brian Turner
Burnt Chef Project
2004 Tsunami
PwC
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
TL:DR - If you're short on time and want some hear how Logitech CEO Bracken Darrell is transforming forward to build a more sustainable carbon-positive business and hear some of his wisdom then here are 7 minutes of key soundbites.
If you do have the time, on a run, cycle, or drive, check out the full episode.
If you enjoy the show please follow us, like us on your podcast player, and subscribe on YouTube as it helps us grow our audience.
Now over to Bracken.
ABOUT BRACKEN
Hailing from Owensboro, Kentucky, Bracken pursued English in Arkansas and later graduated with a degree in Accountancy in Texas. He started his career as a public accountant at Arthur Andersen, then earned his MBA at Harvard, which propelled him into brand management at P&G. Eventually, Bracken transitioned to General Management at GE, paving the way for his appointment as Logitech's CEO in 2012.
While his career may appear impeccably linear on paper, Bracken has navigated and triumphed over imposter syndrome. He has been intentional with his goals, learned from mistakes, acknowledged successes, and remained humble and focused on the journey ahead—all the hallmarks of engineering serendipity.
Under Bracken's leadership, Logitech has seen remarkable growth. After a decade at the helm, driving innovation, digital transformation, and nurturing a design-led culture, Bracken is now dedicated to "transforming forward" and amplifying Logitech's impact beyond mere profit, ultimately benefiting both people and the planet.
Thanks to Katz Keily for the connection.
Social Links
Bracken on Linkedin
Links Mentioned
Memoirs of Hadrian Marguerite Yourcenar
Testament of a Furniture Dealer
Logitech
Don Smith on Emergence
Tony Fadell Build
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I am publishing this important interview with Josie Naughton, the Founder and CEO of Choose Love, and Negar Tayyar, Co-founder of the Global Wholebeing Fund.
Josie and Negar have recently returned from being on the ground in Turkey and Syria to witness the ongoing humanitarian crisis and desperate human needs of hundreds of thousands of people whose lives have been devastated, homes destroyed, and families torn apart by the February Earthquakes.
This may have fallen from our crisis news network feeds, but as you will hear from Negar and Josie, the human need for help is still very real as rebuilding towns, schools, homes, and lives will take years.
Please listen to this and do whatever you can to help. However small your donation or gift, it will go directly to those suffering on the ground.
I have put links in the show notes to the fundraiser and Choose Love's store where you can select to purchase real items such as food and clothing bundles to life-changing interventions that will be delivered directly to those who need it most.
Background information
Choose Love is a UK Charity, and Choose Love, Inc. is a US 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit organization, which does whatever it takes to directly provide refugees and displaced people with everything from tents and lifesaving search and rescue boats to food, clothing, and legal advice.
Josie leads a dedicated, passionate team that, in just five years, has helped one million displaced people and raised tens of millions for nearly 150 organizations providing vital support at every stage along migration routes from Europe to the Middle East and along the US-Mexico border.
Some of you may have heard my interview with Negar last year - Co-founder of the Global Wholebeing Fund, the international fund supporting the humanitarian and long-term needs of forcibly displaced people, often referred to as refugees by the media.
Now, over to Josie and Negar.
Links
Here is the link to the earthquake fundraiser
Here is the link to the Choose Love shop
Here is a link to a powerful article about the disinformation campaign again, The White Helmets
Here is the link to a powerful article about aid and corruption in regime areas of Syria (apologies, this is behind a pay wall)
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This week, we're thrilled to welcome Bracken Darrell, CEO of Logitech, to the podcast.
In this concise episode, Bracken, a distinguished industry leader, difference maker, and captivating storyteller, offers his insights on life, leadership, learning, the significance of design thinking, Logitech's commitment to sustainability, maintaining agility, and cultivating values of hunger and humility.
Hailing from Owensboro, Kentucky, Bracken pursued English in Arkansas and later graduated with a degree in Accountancy in Texas. He started his career as a public accountant at Arthur Andersen, then earned his MBA at Harvard, which propelled him into brand management at P&G. Eventually, Bracken transitioned to General Management at GE, paving the way for his appointment as Logitech's CEO in 2012.
While his career may appear impeccably linear on paper, Bracken has navigated and triumphed over imposter syndrome. He has been intentional with his goals, learned from mistakes, acknowledged successes, and remained humble and focused on the journey ahead—all the hallmarks of engineering serendipity.
Under Bracken's leadership, Logitech has seen remarkable growth. After a decade at the helm, driving innovation, digital transformation, and nurturing a design-led culture, Bracken is now dedicated to "transforming forward" and amplifying Logitech's impact beyond mere profit, ultimately benefiting both people and the planet.
Time Codes
00:00 Intro
02:44 Who is Bracken?
03:35 Who or what made him?
06:30 The impact and value of his siblings
08:50 Brakcen’s view on his role as a leader and taking a stand
11:50 The role and opportunity for Companies to take a moral position
14:30 Influencing other companies on sustainability by leading through example and the need for industry standards
17:50 Bracken describes three core areas important for design thinking
20:00 Bracken discusses his design principles
22:00 I ask Bracken about his perspective on success and failures and how he applies a learning and experimentation lens
25:30 Meeting and learning from start-up founders
28:00 Bracken explains his view on being transparent and his growth as a leader
30:44 His sense of urgency on the need to take action on sustainability
33:15 The organizational values of humility and hunger and learning.
34:30 Bracken on competition, the love of the practice, and the process of learning
36:00 Is there a book coming?
37:00 Pulling off the three levels of design
38:45 Confronting barriers and doubt
39:50 Brackens natural gifts?
40:40 What he’s complemented for?
Social Links
Bracken on Linkedin
Links Mentioned
Memoirs of Hadrian Marguerite Yourcenar
Testament of a Furniture Dealer
Logitech
Don Smith on Emergence
Tony Fadell Build
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🎉 New Podcast Episode Alert! 🎉
Tomorrow I am thrilled to welcome Bracken Darrell, the exceptional CEO of Logitech, to this week's podcast. In this special, concise episode, Bracken shares his wealth of knowledge on life, leadership, learning, design thinking, sustainability, agility, and the importance of hunger and humility.
From humble beginnings in Owensboro, Kentucky, Bracken's remarkable journey took him through Arthur Andersen, P&G, and GE, eventually leading him to Logitech's helm in 2012. Despite facing challenges like imposter syndrome, Bracken's unwavering focus and humility have contributed to his continued success.
Under his leadership, Logitech has flourished, experiencing significant growth and fostering a design-led culture. Bracken is now committed to "transforming forward" and extending Logitech's impact beyond profit for the greater good of people and the planet.
🎧 Don't miss this insightful episode, where we explore Bracken's inspiring story and unique approach to leadership and innovation!
Podcast #Logitech #Leadership #DesignThinking #Sustainability #BrackenDarrell #Innovation #DigitalTransformation #LifeLessons #CorporateValues #TransformingForward
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On this week's podcast, I’m delighted to welcome Nima Mirpourian, the multifaceted founder of Will Be Live, a personal branding and talent management firm that assists a diverse clientele of CEOs, creators, and entrepreneurs in enhancing their social presence and establishing new ventures.
Hailing from Tehran, Iran, Nima's remarkable journey began with studying Science at university and delving into cell biology before achieving success in corporate consulting. However, the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic led him to a serendipitous new direction, culminating in the launch of his start-up, Will Be Live.
Upon my arrival in Austin, I had the pleasure of meeting Nima, where I was immediately captivated by his personal story, profound connection to nature, and compassionate, generous spirit. A knowledgeable and enthusiastic expert in social strategies, Nima has graciously shared valuable insights that have benefited my podcast branding.
As we sat down for a face-to-face conversation just prior to the kickoff of SXSW 2023, we explored the nuances of personal branding and social storytelling. For anyone seeking to elevate their LinkedIn profile or personal brand, Nima offers invaluable resources and is undoubtedly a worthwhile connection.
Time codes
00:00 Intro
02:45 Who is Nima?
04:22 What made Nima, Nima?
08:00 Nima discusses his early career path
11:00 How his value of service was formed
13:45 Nima describes how his dinner party concept emerged
19:00 The impact and value of his ‘thank you’ dinner party series
23:00 Easy laughers!
25:00 The longer-term impact of his dinner party series
27:45 The back story to launching Will Be Live
32:30 Why he called it Will be Live
33:30 How he works with executives to raise their authentic voices and the process
35:30 Will Be Live’s difference to Corporate PR and
38:27 The two aspects of the business
40:30 Nima explains the role of talent management
42:00 The type of talent Nima engages
45:00 The industries Will Be Live focuses on
46:40 Perspective on Value, Community, and Audiences
48:40 On the anchor of climbing and nature
Links
Will Be Live
Resources
Links
Gill Scott Heron
Free Solo
180 South
Let my people go surfing
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Brand Strategist - Phil Adams - TL:DR - If you're short on time and want some hear Phil Adams's life lessons and the work he is doing to reimagine democracy, then here are 7 minutes of soundbites. If you have time on a run, cycle, or drive, check out the entire episode. I promise this will be time well spent. Now here's my ask of you. If you enjoy the show, please follow us, like us on your fav podcast player, and subscribe on YouTube as it helps us grow our audience. Now over to Phil
Overview
Social Links
Links in Show
Gordonstoun School Motto ‘Plus est en Vous’
Ewan Paterson
Marketoonist
Ikagi
Marshall McLuhan
Firestarters Neil Perkin
A Longing Look
Hermogenes On Types of Sttyle
Fraudcast News book
All Hands On
Constituency Development Funds
Rutger Bregman
Audry Tang
Robert Heath -The Hidden Power of Advertising: How Low Involvement Processing Influences the Way We Choose Brands
John Alexander Citizens
My Dinner with Andre
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TL:DR - If you're short on time and want some hear Phil Adams's life lessons and the work he is doing to reimagine democracy then here are 7 minutes of soundbites.
If you do have the time on a run, cycle, or drive, check out the entire episode. I promise this will be time well spent.
Now here's my ask of you. If you are enjoying the show, please follow us, like us on your fav podcast player, and subscribe on YouTube as it helps us grow our audience.
Now over to Phil.
Phil Adams is an Edinburgh-based independent brand strategist, consultant, writer, and documentary filmmaker.
The fusion of his engineering first principle problem-solving ability with high emotional intelligence and an intuitive ability to simplify complex makes him a masterful storyteller. This manifests in his day job by helping businesses get their story straight to ensure their brand does justice to their vision and their culture and outside of his day job through his documentary filmmaking, where he’s delivering powerful stories of radical democracy in action to inspire belief that we can as citizens deliver excellent outcomes on even the most complex political issues.
We cover a lot of ground in this episode, from his insights into strategy, creative ideas, the type of people to hire, and cultivating opportunity, to his perspective on AI, his views on democracy and how we reimagine capitalism as well as the Shakespearean power of Freddie Mercuties lyrics.
What We Discuss
00:00 Intro
01:50 Who is Phil Adams?
05:45 Who or what made Phil who he is, and how his curiosity and love of books were nurtured?
08:30 The serendipitous event that changed his trajectory and broadened his horizons.
13:15 His values of adventure and opportunism, Phil explains the importance of taking opportunities when they emerge.
15:45 Phil discusses having an act of faith and a strategy of life when dealing with uncertainty.
18:00 Phil discusses his youthful recklessness and rebellion.
21:00 The serendipity that led him to pivot from a path of
engineering to life in advertising and the actions taken to create opportunity.
25:45 Phil explains his pragmatic and focused approach to the direction he took.
27:00 I ask Phil about his superpowers or talents.
30:15 The underrated talent of post-rationalizing a creative idea as a problem-solving solution to win pitches.
33:55 Phil explains his perspective on how the best creative minds combine logic and magic to render a brand in surprising ways and the role of planners to identify the essence of an idea and then express the
campaign value.
38:20 What Phil values others professionally and why hiring people better than you is important.
41:20 The importance of ‘trust’ with friends and when building teams.
42:30 What is he complimented for; his ability to understand a client's business and culture and his clarity and ability to simplify.
47:30 Phil describes how his engineering first principle problem-solving ability led him to strategic planning.
50:00 I ask Phil for his insights on being an entrepreneur
51:45 What is Phil working to achieve in life?
54:10 How he deals with uncertainty through faith, effort, and curiosity and his advice to others.
57:10 We discuss AI, its impact, and risks, and Phil cites Marshall McLuhan.
01:03:15 I ask Phil to explain why he writes love letters to lyrics.
01:06:00 Phil explains the power and Shakespearean quality of Freddie Mercury's We Are The Champions and links it to Greek Philosopher Hermogenes insights on writing
01:09:15 We discuss Jim Steinman.
01:10:50 Phil talks about the origins of his documentary-making NGO All Hands On and its work to educate people about better paths to democracy and be more hands-on with political issues.
01:16:00 Phil describes the films they have made from London to Athens to Milawi on citizen assemblies and the drive to more democratic governance.
01:28:50 I ask Phil to reflect on the role and power of the Ad industry to imagine and affect a more positive and impactful capitalist economy and system.
01:34:45 Phil describes platforms for more deliberative democracy.
01:36:15 - Phil describes who has had the most impact on his journey and the value it delivered on his ability to understand neuroscience and the power of branding and advertising.
01:39:40 Phil’s life lessons.
01:41:00 The principle of the asymmetry of favors.
01:45:00 We wrap up discussing who I interview next and the power of reframing our consumer story to a citizen story.
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TL:DR - If you're short on time and want some hear how Lenore Anderson is advocating for Smart Justice Policy Reform and Creating Safer Communities to break the cycle of victim trauma then here are 7 minutes of key soundbites.
If you do have the time on a run, cycle, or drive, check out the full episode. The time has come for the changes Lenore is fighting for.
If you enjoy the show, please follow us, like us on your podcast player, and subscribe on YouTube as it helps us grow our audience.
Now over to Lenore.
Guest Overview
This week's guest is Lenore Anderson. Lenore is Co-founder and President of Alliance for Safety and Justice, one of the largest reform advocacy organizations in the US, that combines smart policy reform with grassroots organizing to replace reliance on incarceration with more effective public safety solutions.
With deep domain experience in law, policy, and justice reform, Lenore has recently published In Their Names - a book that not only provides historical insight into, and indictment of how the victims’ rights movement warped the American justice system but created a cycle of trauma. However, Lenore also provides a roadmap to breaking this cycle of trauma, and a future vision for justice, healing, and creating safer communities and society.
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Lenore Anderson
This week's guest is Lenore Anderson. Lenore is Co-founder and President of Alliance for Safety and Justice, one of the largest reform advocacy organizations in the US, that combines smart policy reform with grassroots organizing to replace reliance on incarceration with more effective public safety solutions.
With deep domain experience in law, policy, and justice reform, Lenore has recently published In Their Names - a book that not only provides historical insight into and an indictment of how the victims’ rights movement warped the American justice system but created a cycle of trauma. However, Lenore also provides a roadmap to breaking this cycle of trauma and a future vision for justice, healing, and creating safer communities and society. Thanks to David Risley for the connection
What We Discuss
00:00 Intro
02:05 Who is Lenore as a human?
05:00 What made Lenore who she is?
07:20 Her teenage years of troublemaking and second chances.
13:00 Her rejection of societal conventions.
15:00 Her purpose and commitment to creating a more just world.
17:25 Dealing with fragility, doubt, and loss.
21:10 Her gifts and superpowers.
22:40 What she is complimented for.
23:40 Lenore describes how the Alliance for Safety and Justice operates.
27:40 The historical context of the tough-on-crime movement.
31:00 The negative externalities of mass incarceration.
32:00 The impact on victims.
35:24 The three reasons why tough justice hurt victims.
38:10 The political myth of victimization and cycle of violence.
38:40 Why the toxic culture of prisons reinforces trauma?
40:00 The Hierarchy of Harm and examples in New Orleans.
45:20 The bias against victims and the long-term damage.
48:23 The negative impact war on drugs and surveillance policing.
51:20 Reimagining community-based public safety.
54:40 The importance of policy and partnering with communities.
56:30 What victims really want.
59:00 Alternative systems.
1:01:30 A new approach to public safety.
1:07:00 Coalitions and partnerships to drive change.
1:13:00 The commonality between Lenore’s and David Risley’s work
Social Links
Wikipedia
Links in the show
In Their Names
Alliance for Safety and Justice
Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice
Time Done
The Guardian Article about Lenore
National Coalition for Shared Safety
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TL:DR – If you’re short on time and want some topline insight into the thinking and work of Melanie Van De Velde, then here are 7 minutes of key soundbites.
If you do have the time on a run, cycle, or drive, check out the full episode. Now over to Melanie. She is doing important work.
About Dr. Melanie Van De Velde.
Melanie wholeheartedly believes that we can make this world a way better place. As Founder of Big Tree Global, Melanie and her team support business leaders and MBA students from around the world with insights and tools to help them create a positive impact on key global issues grounded in the SDGs while helping them boost business growth authentically. The insights Melanie applies in her IMPACT workshops, Masterclass, and inspiration trips are based on her research, for which she was awarded the Adam Smith Prize for Ph.D. Excellence, and nominated by Cambridge University.
Melanie is also the author of LEAD LIKE A GENIUS: 12 Ways to ace sustainability and transform our world (due Oct 23) and LOVE YOUR LEGACY: Five secrets of leading businesses that build a better world.
As a domain expert and difference maker, I am so excited to talk with Melanie and learn more about how she is helping businesses to empower people, deliver just payments, and create a positive impact on the planet as well as human health and well-being.
Social Links
Big Tree Global
Links in Show
Grassroutes Journies
Kibera
Joseph Stiglitz The Price of Inequality
Theory of Moral Sentiment
Tonys Chocolonys
Toms Shoes
Soul Rebels
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This week's guest is Dr. Melanie Van Der Velde.
Melanie is a wholehearted believer that we can make this world a way better place. As Founder of Big Tree Global, Melanie and her team support business leaders and MBA students from around the world with insights and tools to help them create a positive impact on key global issues grounded in the SDGs while helping them boost business growth authentically. The insights Melanie applies in her IMPACT workshops, Masterclass, and inspiration trips are based on her research, for which she was awarded the Adam Smith Prize for Ph.D. Excellence, and nominated by Cambridge University.
Melanie is also the author of LEAD LIKE A GENIUS: 12 Ways to ace sustainability and transform our world (due Oct 23) and LOVE YOUR LEGACY: Five secrets of leading businesses that build a better world.
As a domain expert and difference maker, I am so excited to talk with Melanie and learn more about how she is helping businesses to empower people, deliver just payments, and create a positive impact on the planet as well as human health and well-being.
What we Discuss
00:00 Intro
02:00 Who is Melanie, the human being
05:45 What made her who she is
10:30 What Mel is working to impact before she dies
15:40 How Melanie's eyes were opened to the role of business in creating an impact
20:30 The urgency to act on climate, poverty, and inequality
25:40 The Flaw in the machine of capitalism and the issue of injustice
30:00 Melanie describes her impact wheel
35:30 Melanie provides examples of businesses using Impact Wheel
40:00 Melanie discusses the progress being made by corporates and multinationals
43:00 The need for more justice
45:45 The need for legislation and increased public awareness
49:00 Melanie describes Tony’s Chocolony impact story
54:00 The role of education
55:30 The role of B Corps
56:20 Lighting as a service
59:40 Melanie describes her new book
1:01:00 Remaining resolute
1:08:00 Her hopes for 2030
1:09:15 What actions can businesses take
Social Links
Big Tree Global
Links in Show
Grassroutes Journies
Kibera
Joseph Stiglitz The Price of Inequality
Theory of Moral Sentiment
Tonys Chocolonys
Toms Shoes
Soul Rebels
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TL:DR - If you're short on time and want some topline insight into the work of Marianna Koval in bringing transportation equity and economic opportunity to New York’s Bronx neighborhood by enabling increased e-bike access through The Equitable Commute Project, then here’s 7 minutes of key soundbites.
If you do have the time, on a run, cycle, or drive, check out the full episode. Now over to Marianna.
Marianna is the Director of Invest NYC, SDG at the NYU Stern Center For Sustainable Business. Invest NYC SDG is a multi-year initiative that aims to build a sustainable, inclusive, and resilient economy in New York City by using the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, as a framework to drive private sector engagement and financing in six primary areas. Those areas are sustainable mobility, the built environment, climate resilience, renewable energy, food and health, waste, and circular economy.
In the full episode, Mariana discusses the specifics of how she and her team are creating transportation equity and economic opportunity through the Equitable Commute Project, an e-mobility access program in New York’s Bronx neighborhood.
Anyone interested in making our cities more sustainable should listen to this.
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This week's guest is Marianna Koval. Marianna is the Director of Invest NYC, SDG at the NYU Stern Center For Sustainable Business. Invest NYC SDG is a multi-year initiative that aims to build a sustainable, inclusive, and resilient economy in New York City by using the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, as a framework to drive private sector engagement and financing in six primary areas. Those areas are sustainable mobility, the built environment, climate resilience, renewable energy, food and health, waste, and circular economy.
Today we talk about how she's delivering transportation equity to disadvantaged communities in New York through an innovative micro-mobility and e-bike strategy.
And this follows on from my recent interview with Karl Popham, who runs the transportation electrification program in Austin, Texas. And given this is one of the areas of focus for the podcast, I'm excited to welcome Marianna.
What we discuss
- 00:00 Intro
- 03:40 Marianna recounts her upbringing in the 60s and the influences on her
- 05:20 Her political awakening and volunteering as a 13-year-old
- 06:30 Being a page in the Senate
- 09:00 Attending Princetown in a time of huge social change and Chairing the Academic Committee.
- 11:00 How she sought our change and felt out of place.
- 13:00 Becoming a ligator in an NYC law firm and hating it.
- 16:30 Marianna’s perspective on New York, its resilience and her memory of 9/11
- 23:00 Marianna explains the work she does in New York to embrace the UN SDGs and create a city strategy.
- 27:00 Her insights and lessons on operationalizing strategies
- 29:30 Marianna describes the background the Equitable Commute Project
- 31:00 Implementing the project in The Bronx and the challenges of doing to during Covid.
- 35:00 Marianna describes three key pillars of the strategy to deliver access, jobs and an accelerator program.
- 40:20 The challenges to scaling in NYC and the need for a US-based E-bike manufacturing.
- 42:00 The role of employers.
- 44:00 Marianna’s expectations for NYC sustainability in 2030.
- 46:15 The role of education.
- 50:10 Marianna discusses other local NYC initiatives and ensuring all parties and organizations are at the table and take responsibility for the goals
- 54:00 The need for political leadership
- 56:00 Marianna discusses her work to develop Brooklyn Bridge Park and build coalitions.
- 1:02:30 Marianna’s hopes for the future of New York.
- 1:06:00 Urban Agriculture
Social Links
Show links
New York - A Documentary
Spring Bank
Hope program
NYU Stern Center For Sustainable Business
Canna Bronx
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TL:DR - If you're short on time and want to hear some of Barbara’s wisdom and insights into how we affect change in our lives, unleash your creativity, unlock the power of the unconscious mind, achieve one's goals, and develop a growth mindset, then here’s 7 minutes of key soundbites from Barbara Doust.
If you do have the time on a run, cycle, or drive, check out the full episode.
This week's guest Barbara Daoust has lived a transformational life. From acting, directing, and storytelling, she is now an internationally respected Author, Speaker, Success Coach, and Business Growth Accelerator.
Barbara understands how our minds are coded and how to unlock the changes people desire, to unleash their creative potential and imagination to change their personal reality.
As Barbara says, she helps people get out of their own way, break up with procrastination, say goodbye to perfectionism, and stop postponing the life of their dreams.’
Barbara Daoust is this week’s guest. She has lived a transformational life. From acting, directing, and storytelling, she is now an internationally respected Author, Speaker Success Coach, and Business Growth Accelerator.
Barbara understands how our minds are coded and how to unlock the changes people desire to unleash their creative potential and imagination to change their personal reality. As Barbara says, she helps people get out of their own way, break up with procrastination, say goodbye to perfectionism, and stop postponing the life of their dreams.’
Now over to Barbara
What we discuss
Barbara discusses her early memories of wanting to be an actor
On being the black sheep and being called ‘stupid.’
23:00 Going to UCLA and focusing on making mistakes
25:40 Being unconsciously competent
Barbara’s views on Seeking discomfort and Safety
And being head
31:00 Subconsoui
34:00 The life trauma that changed her life
44:00 Barbara explains paradigms and the ego mind
46:00 The anxiety pandemic and the inner voice
50:20 The power of parenting
53:00 How change happens in people and accessing dreams
59:10 Barbara on Goal Setting
1:12:00 The Neuroscience of the emotional mind
1:17:00 How affirmations work
1:21:00 The physics of the brian
1:26:00 The journey of awareness
1:30:15 Her natural gifts
1:31:20 Navigating leadership
1:34:00 Problem-solving in education
Social
Barbaras Site
True Love True Self
Links
Barbara’s book True Love True Self
Bob Proctor
Thanks to Jennifer Hutchins
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TL:DR - If you're short on time and want to hear some of the gems of wisdom, life philosophy, and his transformation journey from ad creative to the inventor, here are 7 minutes of critical soundbites from Don Smith. If you have time on a run, cycle, or drive, check out the entire episode. Now over to Don.
Don is an inspiring example of how transformation can occur in one’s life if you set your mind to it, take bold actions, and seek help and advice from experts.
From a career as an advertising creative, Don is now the inventor of 1nhaler, a single-dose, dry-powder, and pulmonary inhaler, and is also in development with KELP Systems, a revolutionary marine energy delivery system.
I learn a lot from my guests, but Don has made me reframe my view of success and failure after hearing him explain the concept of Emergence.
Don is not only a master storyteller, but he’s also a domain expert in branding and is on track to make a difference in people's lives through his 1nhaler invention.
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Don Smith is this week’s guest. I won’t say much about Don other than he is an inspiring example of how transformation can occur in one’s life if you set your mind to it, take bold actions, and seek help and advice from experts.
What we discuss
- Don explains his fluid view of who he is (4.00 - 6.00)
- I ask Don about what and who made him and his principles and ethics and references the OCEAN framework, Nietzsche, and the impact of being a father(7.50 - 13.10)
- Don explains the impact of his recently deceased Father and being a man of action(14.00 - 25.30)
- Don discusses the serendipitous impact of his Mother’s tenacity, which opened up a work placement in an ad agency that set him on his career path. (26.30 - 30.00)
- Finding his Mentor and second father (32.00 - 30.00)
- Don reflects on serendipity his curious, rebellious non-conformist characteristics, (34.00 - 36.00)
- His natural talent - his empathy enables him to create ideas or products of value(36.00 - 37.30)
- What people compliment him for - conscientiousness, and hard work ethic (38.00 - 39.30)
- Don discusses his relationship with creative partner and artist Alex Paton 39.30- 40.25
- Don explains the emergence of his 1Haler Invention, developing the idea and realization of his limited executional knowledge (41.40 - 46.30)
- He then breakdown the impact and importance of asking experts and building a network support system and finding his commercial partner to bring his product to market (47.00 - 49.50)
- Don demonstrates how the 1nhaler works ( you can watch on YouTube (50.00 - 51.30)
- I ask Don about the importance of being unreasonable and not accepting the status quo (53.35 - 56.00)
- Don explains how his belief in the theory of emergence enables him to deal with success and failures (56.30 - 60.00)
- We discuss the role and impact of AI on the current education system and the importance of psychology and philosophy as skills for children to develop - referring to his son (1.01:17 - 1.02:00)
- The importance of discipline (1.02:00 - 1.04:30)
- The role of family (1.05:00 - 1.06:00)
- Speaking to the dead…and what we would have asked Alan Watts and Milton Glazer (1.06:30 - 1.07:30)
- The impact of Charlie Robertson (1.09:20 - 1.13:30)
- Don discusses KELP Systems (1.14.20 - 1.16.00)
- Don’s hope that other creatives 1.17:45 - 1.19:55
- My challenge to Don 1.19.30
Social Links
KELP Systems
Don’s Site
Don’s TEDx Talk
Interview With Don
Links
Epictetus
Alex Paton
Emergence Theory
Ludwig von Bertalanffy
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TL:DR - If you're short on time and want to hear some of the insights, ideas, and practical solutions to the current US Criminal Justice System then here’s 7 minutes of key soundbites, from criminal justice expert, thought leader and advocate, David E Risley.
If you do have the time on a run, cycle, or drive, check out the full episode.
David E Risley is a storyteller and domain expert. He is the host of Justice Voices, the podcast that delivers eye-opening stories about criminal justice, healing, and building safer communities.
For 32 years, yes, 32 years David was also a federal prosecutor for the Central District of Illinois, where he led counter-terrorism prosecutions, and was the lead attorney on multi-jurisdictional drug distribution conspiracies for the organized-crime, drug enforcement task force. Safe to say he knows a bit or two.
We discuss a lot about the need for reform and redesign in the criminal justice system. It’s meaty. Enjoy.
Listen now on your fav Pod Player
David also served as an attorney advisor for the Iraqi High Tribunal, where he helped investigate crimes against humanity, genocide, and war crimes committed by Saddam Hussein and high-ranking members of his former regime.
David also provided bilateral mutual legal assistance and diplomatic liaison, as well as capacity-building programs for the Egyptian legal and judicial system.
From criminal justice policy reform, anti-violence strategy, investigating and prosecuting complex multi-jurisdictional crime and criminal organizations, anti-terrorism and national security law to international criminal justice, international humanitarian law, and Egyptian law, David’s expertise is vast.
With Justice Voices, David has now got a vision and mission to build a strategic action platform to redesign the US criminal justice system. a pretty seismic task indeed to redirect resources to more cost-effective solutions and reform the delivery of justice for all. Wow.
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David E Risley is the host of the Justice Voices podcast and the Justice Visions Project.
David has a vision and mission to build a strategic action platform to redesign the US criminal justice system. a pretty seismic task indeed to redirect resources to more cost-effective solutions and reform the delivery of justice for all.
What we discuss
- David discusses who he is and what shaped him (5.00 - 11.00)
- We discuss faith and spiritual connections in people (11.00 - 14.00)
- Discusses spiritual harmony and harmony in Justice (14.30-16.00)
- David discusses other influences in shaping him (16.00- 20.00)
- His early decision to focus on solving human problems through law (21.00 - 23.00)
- His ability to see both sides of an argument (24.30- 26.30)
- Being comfortable in ambiguity (27.30 - 29.00)
- Why he was drawn to criminal justice (30.30 - 32.00)
- The responsibility of a prosecutor (32.00- 35.00)
- His desire to address the issues in the Criminal Justice System and launch Justice Voices podcast (35.30 - 38.00)
- The problem with the current punishment paradigm and restorative justice (39. 00 - 43.20)
- Resolving the addiction to the punishment paradigm and the cost to society (45.00 -53.00)
- Cost of Recidivism (53.00 - 54.30)
- David and I discuss alternatives to the current system, aligning incentives and desired outcomes, and the role of CBT (56.00 - 1.01.45)
- Injecting innovation to the current system (1.02.00 - 1.06.15)
- Davids Justice Visions strategy to reform the system through design thinking ( 1.08.00 - 1.01.00)
- Davids explains the innovative work being done in Bronzville, Chicago, on addressing violent-ization and trauma-informed services (1.11.30 -1.15.00)
- Problem-solving in schools and unlocking human talent(1.17.00 - 1.24.30)
- David describes the work of Readi Chicago in using data to create early interventions (1.27.30 - 1.30.00)
Social Links
David on Linkedin
Justice Voices
God Unites
Youtube
Links
Justice Voices.org
Readi Chicago
Norman Rockwell
Church Of Jesus Christ and Later Day Saints
SPAC - Sentencing Policy Advisory Council
The Innovators Dilemma
Young Chances Foundation
Tyrique Glasgow
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TLDR - If you're short on time and still want to hear some of the perspectives, life experiences, and practical advice from French Ad Agency Strategist and leader Christian Beujard then here is 7-minutes of his soundbites
If you do have the time, on a run, cycle, or drive, check out the full episode. Now over to Monsuier Baujard.
As my second Storyteller guest, his story intersects with mine back in the late 90s and early 2000s when we worked together in London at an Ad agency called EURO RSCG Wnek Gosper.
During this period working on the Microsoft account, I grew to respect Christian for his laconic and irreverent humor, self-depreciation, tech, and internet savvy-ness, before many know what it was, oh and let’s not forget his encyclopedic knowledge of film…He was also a willing and able accomplice on my many debauched nights of drinking in the darkened basement bars of London advertisings’ then heartland - Soho
Christian has since ascended the career ladder to now running boutique Paris Agency Les Presidents, where agility is a given, hierarchy is shunned, and egos banished.
As I move forward with this experiment in interviewing and connecting storytellers, difference makers, and domain experts, Christian’s fresh perspective on problems, lateral strategic thinking, and disarming humor will certainly open up some new paths for action.
Just to note we had some slight issues with the sound, but thanks to sound engineer SoundZ and fellow Podcaster David Risley, these have been addressed.
Now over to Christian
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Christian Baujard, President of the French Ad Agency Les Présidents is this week's guest.
As my second Storyteller guest, his story intersects with mine back in the late 90s and early 2000s when we worked together in London at an Ad agency called EURO RSCG Wnek Gosper.
During this period working on the Microsoft account, I grew to respect Christian for his laconic and irreverent humor, self-depreciation, tech, and internet savvy-ness, before many know what it was, oh and let’s not forget his encyclopedic knowledge of film…He was also a willing and able accomplice on my many debauched nights of drinking in the darkened basement bars of London advertisings’ then heartland - Soho
Christian has since ascended the career ladder to now running boutique Paris Agency Les Presidents where agility is a given, hierarchy is shunned, and egos banished.
As I move forward with this experiment in interviewing and connecting storytellers, difference makers, and domain experts, Christian’s fresh perspective on problems, lateral strategic thinking, and disarming humor will certainly open up some new paths for action.
What We Discuss
- Who he is and living in the shadows (4.00- 5.30)
- Who made him - personally and professionally? (5.45 - 11.31)
- The nurturing and role of his humor 12.00 - 13.45
- What he is working to achieve (14.30- 16.00)
- Stress and managing it (17.00 - 19.00)
- Developing his curiosity, the role of books, and questions - how does it work and where is it? (19.30- 23.00)
- Distraction and the loss of curiosity in today's youth (24.00- 26.00)
- His natural talents and lateral view of the world (26.30-31.00
- The issues on his mind in 2023 (32.00 - 33.00)
- Can agencies be a force for good and the role of brand purpose? (33.30- 38.00)
- The need for more inclusion in agencies in France (39.00- 43.10)
- AI’s threat or opportunity? And my challenge to Christian(43.15 - 47.00)
- His ask of The Impossible Network ( 48.00 -51.00)
Social Links
Links In Show
Les Presidents
SoundZ Sound Engineer
Ehrenberg Bass
Byron Sharp
ChatGPT
Dogma genre
BMW Shaken not stirred
Diesel Studid Campaign
Solve For Happy
Jeremy Bullmore
Post.news
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TLDR edition - If you're short on time and still want to hear some of the strategies, insights, and actions being implemented by Karl Popham's transportation electrification team, then here are 7-minutes of soundbites
If you do have the time, on a run, cycle, or drive, check out the full episode. Now over to Karl
.
About Karl
I would describe Karl as a domain expert in change management. Karl leads the EV and Emerging Technologies team at Austin Energy and is making significant progress in transitioning from fossil fuel dependency through a holistic transportation electrification strategy.
I was keen to speak to Karl and learn more about the hyper-local strategies he’s implementing to drive change and how these can be scaled to other cities and countries.
The urgency to decarbonize growing. The creator of the Global Green Economy Index, Jeremy Tamanini, told me recently that we face a climate paradox: while people, products, and policies are building momentum to address the climate crisis, GHG emissions, social equity, and environmental health worsen.
So gaining and sharing insights into the strategies and tactics employed by Karl and his team is an imperative that can’t be overstated.
Social Links
Karl’s Linkedin
Links
EV Buyers Guide
General Motors
Mary Barra
Ford F150
Zappy Ride
Chargeway
Austin Forum For Technology
Smart Mobility Roadmap
Tony Fadell
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Karl Popham is a domain expert in change management. Karl leads the EV and Emerging Technologies team at Austin Energy and is making significant progress in the transition away from fossil fuel dependency through a holistic transportation electrification strategy.
We Discuss
- Karl’s early journey in life ( 2.00 - 4.00)
- His Education and joining the military (4.00 - 7.00)
- Developing an early interest in Internet technology (7.30 - 9.30)
- We discuss Karl’s insights on affecting behavior change and change management (12.20- 15.00)
- Karl discusses developing his interest in electric vehicles and emerging technologies (18.00 - 22.30)
- Why Austin is embracing electrification and adopting a startup culture (23.00 - 25.30 )
- Creating the EV buyers Guide and working with Dealers and addressing barriers to adoption (26.00 - 35.20)
- Karl explains how he and his team are driving electrification
- Bad EV marketing examples and consumer behavior (37-00- 41.00)
- I ask Karl to break down his Future of Electric Bow Tie of the growth drivers 42.00 - 51.00)
- Karl explains the reality of Crypto mining on the demand for Electricity and discusses the societal impact vs value (51.00 - 60.00)
- We then discuss desired outcomes and innovations driving transformation (1.02.00 - 1.06.00)
- We discuss decentralized power and vehicle-to-grid (1.06.30 -1.09.00)
- We discuss advances in battery technology and the benefits of EV’s (1.10.00-1.15.00)
- Karl explains his 5 Pillar strategy in detail and scaling to other cities and partners (1.15.30- 1.30.00)
Social Links
Karl’s Linkedin
Links
EV Buyers Guide
General Motors
Mary Barra
Ford F150
Zappy Ride
Chargeway
Austin Forum For Technology
Smart Mobility Roadmap
Tony Fadell
Dina Lovinsky
Electrify Expo
Austin Climate Equity Plan
Global Green Economy Index
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Tomorrow’s pod drop is my first domain expert interview. My guest is Karl Popham - he’s an expert in change management, electric vehicles, and Emerging Technologies.
Karl and his team at Austin Energy are making impressive progress in transitioning from fossil fuel dependency through a holistic transportation electrification strategy.
After seeing Karl speak at Electrify Expo in Austin was keen to speak to him and learn more about the hyper-local strategies he’s implementing to drive change, ev adoption, and how his success can be shared and scaled to other cities and countries.
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TLDR alert - If you're short on time and still want to hear some of the gems of wisdom and inspiring actions of female powerhouse Katz Kiely then here is 7-minutes of soundbites
If you do have the time, on a run, cycle, or drive, check out the full episode.
About Katz
Katz is an award-winning digital pioneer, transformation leader, and systems thinker. She has a proven track record of delivering strategic cultural and operational programs that have led to measurable improvements in Employee Experience, employer brand, and operational efficiency.
She has supported some of the world's traditional organizations through change, including the first Open Innovation Platform with HP Labs, rearchitecting the way the UN does business, and designing a city-scale behavior change platform with Intel and the GLA.
She is passionate about using design thinking and digital tech to unlock the full potential of people, judges for digital awards writes for b2b publications, and regularly shares her vision of a more human-centered Future of Work at conferences, including twice at TEDx
She believes that doing good is good business, is the Founder, Chair of Trustees for Frontline.Live and a proud ambassador of the Burning Man Foundation.
Social Links
Katz's Site
Katz TedX Talk
Frontline.Live Ukraine
Frontline Live map
Show Links
Sky
Manifest Mira
Microsoft
What three words
Giles Rhys Jones
Bracken Darrel
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Katz Kiely
Katz is an award-winning digital pioneer, transformation leader, and systems thinker. She has a proven track record of delivering strategic cultural and operational programs that have led to measurable improvements in Employee Experience, employer brand, and operational efficiency.
She has supported some of the world’s traditional organizations through change, including the first Open Innovation Platform with HP Labs, rearchitecting the way the UN does business, and designing a city-scale behavior change platform with Intel and the GLA.
She is passionate about using design thinking and digital tech to unlock the full potential of people, judges for digital awards, writes for b2b publications, and regularly shares her vision of a more human-centered Future of Work at conferences, including twice at TEDx
She believes that doing good is good business, is the Founder, Chair of Trustees for Frontline.Live and a proud ambassador of the Burning Man Foundation.
What We Discuss
- (3.00-8.00) Katz discusses who she is and what made her.
- (9.30) - Self-diagnosed with ADHD
- (12.50) Getting Pregnant and having a child while at University
- (14.15) How her tenacity manifests
- (16.10) Dealing with fragility and doubt
- (18.00 - 22.00) Her gifts and talents and what she is complimented for
- (26.30) How she fell in love with digital and formed her first start-up Between working with the BBC
- (31.27 -35.00) Katz explains her Greatest Show for Earth Idea for innovation
- (35.20 - 39.00) Driving digital transformation for the UN and ITU through design thinking
- (42.20-47.00) BEEP
- (48.20-56.00) The need to use technology to bond and break tribalism
- (1.01.30- 1.04.00) CREAT Leadership Framework
- (1.07.40-1.12.00) Applying the framework while Running a co-creation design thinking workshop with school children and we discuss education and the need for system change
- (1.15.00- 1.19) Katz explains how she created Frontline.Live
- (1.21.00 - 1.26.00) How she is pivoting the platform to support Ukraine and the changes she is having to make to the tech platform, and the reality of dealing with international NGOs
- 1.29.00 - Katz’s ambition for the open source value and application of the BEEP platform
Social Links
Katz's Site
Katz TedX Talk
Frontline.Live Ukraine
Frontline Live map
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Here are seven minutes of soundbites from my storyteller series of interviews with guest Jennifer Hutchins - award-winning Hollywood TV and film producer and now Austin-based Founder of All Entertainment Business, the fast-growing entertainment industry networking event series.
Social Links
Austin Entertainment Business
Jennifer Hutchins site
Links in the show
Robert Rodriguez
Richard Linklater
Suzanne Lyons
Barbara Doust
Michael Blum
Dr. Merritt Moore
Hopefully Sow
Steve Jobs - The Man Who Thought Different
Neeva
Descript - Our edit tool for the podcast
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Jennifer Hutchins - award-winning Hollywood TV and film producer and now Austin-based Founder of All Entertainment Business, the fast-growing entertainment industry networking event series.
Key sections
- Jennifer’s reason for pivoting from Journalism to Hollywood to tell stories
- The rollercoaster ride of working and competing in Hollywood,
- Breaking her neck and ribs in a car accident - 28.40
- Finding herself working 20 hours plus on Dr. Phil while pregnant, knowing something was not right
- As a single mother being drawn to Austin and the realization that Austin was calling her (39.30)
- The genesis of the Austin Entertainment Business and how Jennifer grew the network to over 10,000 by cultivating a culture of abundance and building the event she always wanted (43.00- 52.00)
- The serendipity of events that led her to achieve her goal of working with Richard Linklater and Bill Guttentag
- How she pivoted the event during Covid to All Entertainment Business by embracing Zoom and opening it to the world (57.00)
- Her global mission and ambition for All Entertainment Business and to discover and support the underrepresented 59.00-1.05
- Jennifer describes her natural gifts as an example of her ability and tenacity to bring ideas to life (1.08.00)
- Dealing with fragility and doubt (1.11.30)
- The importance of dependability 1.13.00
- Jennifer's three pieces of advice (1.15.30-1.17.30)
- The power of affirmations (1.18.00)
- The importance of belief, desire, and taking action
- Her advice on people wanting to get into the industry 1.22.00
- The change she would like to see in the world 1.28.20
- Jennifer asks for a financial partner to support her and allow her to grow her global team. 1.34.00
Social Links
Austin Entertainment Business
Jennifer Hutchins site
Links in the show
Suzanne Lyons
Barbara Doust
Michael Blum
Dr. Merritt Moore
Hopefully Sow
Steve Jobs - The Man Who Thought Different
Neeva
Descript - Our edit tool for the podcast
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It’s been 7 months since our last drop and four years since I began the podcast. So before season 5 kicks off, I wanted to explain the changes to the type of guests we will interview and the outcomes we are hoping to effect.
Back in July last year, I paused the podcast, and during this hiatus, I worked with creative elder, coach, mentor, and award-winning ex-ad guy, Paul ‘Nobby’ Davies on my underlying mission and vision for the Impossible Network.
During one of my Creative Coaching calls, I recounted how a previous pod guest Jeremy Hymans in his book New Power, co-authored with Henry Timms, stated that the event series TED had cornered ideas worth spreading. But what we need in the world are people focused on the problems that need solving. Now, if there is one thing I have learned over the years is that when all great problems were solved, serendipity played a part.
This got me thinking, let’s make the podcast a genuine serendipity experiment.
So I started with this question. If we have all these problems that need solving, instead of think tanks publishing papers on possible solutions, surely we should have Action Engines doing real work to solve the problem? And could the Impossible Network Podcast play its part and be a catalyst for creating Action Engines to accelerate problem-solving and progress?
Why not try?
So here’s what we’ll do.
We will interview three types of people - what we are calling
- The Difference Makers - Those on the ground change agents working to make an impact on a particular social problem
- The Domain Experts - respected people of authority with specialist knowledge or skills whose ideas could have value in finding solutions to problems.
- The Storytellers - creative folk, those able to shape or change attitudes and behavior through the compelling or emotive stories they tell, committed to improving the world in which we live.
- Then every two to three months, we will create Action Engine events where we will challenge these guests to collide with each other, those with different perspectives, skills, and experiences in what we are calling Random Collision interviews and participate in structured design thinking workshops where we will explore alternative ways to solve the problems they care about. For example, educational innovation, criminal justice reform, mental health, decarbonization, transportation, electrification, food insecurity, homelessness, artificial intelligence risks, or building sustainable cities.
- And finally, we will build an Action Engine community and database. A place to easily discover and connect with change-makers, domain experts, and storytellers, filterable by experience, skills, and areas of focus.
It might sound like a crazy experiment, but I think it’s going to be a blast.
Ok. Let’s get started.
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To say that Robert Hansen, aka RSnake is a man of impact is an understatement.
Robert is on a journey to positively impact a billion lives and to leave the plant slightly better than when he arrived.
This is a long episode, but it’s an important one for anyone concerned about the threats and risks we face in today’s world.
We cover:
- Robert’s serendipitous start to developing his hacking skills
- Building a hacker alliance to take down Paedophile groups
- His philosophy and approach to solving problems at the architectural level.
- Robert’s perspective on online security, risks, and privacy
- We discuss the potential damage from insulting children from risk,
- The threats posed by China’s CCP, their Thousand Grains of sand strategy, and their creeping social credit system, their growing threat to western security from the power of the CCP, the threat of hypersonic missile technology and quantum cryptography
- Robert describes his top three existential threats, risk of AI
- And I seek Robert’s perspective on guns. And the historical context of the 2nd amendment and Americans’ s right to bear arms and emerging solutions to gun violence.
- On a very personal level I also ask how he overcame depression in his twenties.
For anyone interested in gaining deeper insights into our fractured world and the risks we face, this episode is unmissable.
Social Links
Podcast - The RSnake Show
Links In The Show
Tenable
White Hat Security
Jeremiah Grossman
Chinese CCP
Thousand Grains of Sand
Hypersonic Missiles
China’s Social Credit System
1980’s Fairness Doctrine
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Dina Lovinsky is a Russian-born, SF-based writer. She is also the ghostwriter of the recent NYT and WSJ bestseller Tony Fadell’s An Unorthodox Guide to Making Things Worth Making.
This is a fun episode.
We discuss
- Dina discusses being born in St Petersburg, Russia before moving to the US and growing up in Boston.
- Being conditioned by her parents with a sense of invincibility.
- She discusses her parent's experience of being Refusniks in Soviet-period Russia.
- Her father's experience working for the Mafia.
- She describes her Star Trek life lesson and developing her superpower to never blame others for how she feels.
- We discuss how two scientists produced a child with a talent for the arts and English.
- Dina explains how she developed her love of reading and developing her curiosity.
- She discusses her school life and not working hard.
- Dina explains how her path led her to San Francisco to a job in publishing before moving into product management in tech startups.
- She explains how her focus shifted to writing all content for the companies she worked.
- We discussed how she developed her copywriting skills.
- Dina explains her approach to writing, her disorganization, and procrastination.
- Dina describes her work with Tony Fadell and how she came to ghost-write his book Build,
- She explains how she and Tony arrived at the structure and wrote the book during the pandemic.
- Dina describes how people can use the book as a mentor in a box.
- We discuss the emergence of AI and the impact and threat to writers
- Dina describes her hopes for the next ten years
- She answers the quick-fire questions
Social Links
Links
An Unorthodox Guide to Making Things Worth Making.
Star Trek
Refusniks
Tenth of December George Saunders
Swim In The Pond In The Rain
Kurt Vonnegut
Gary Shteyngart
Super Sad True love Story
GPT3
Jasper AI
Severance
Radio Lab
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Negar Tayyar is a philanthropic refugee rights advocate, life coach, and co-founder and director of the Global Whole Being Fund (GWBF), an international fund supporting the humanitarian and long-term needs of forcibly displaced people.
We cover a lot in this episode from Negar’s early memories of growing up in Iran, her parents being civil rights activists, which resulted in them fleeing Iran, moving from country to country, and relying on the kindness of strangers before arriving and settling in Germany and the challenges she and her parents experienced in an alien culture.
Negar discusses in detail the global scale of the refugee response crisis, the vision and mission of GWBF, and how its focus on grassroots ecosystems and holistic approach enables more equitable solutions and empowers displaced people to claim their voice.
Negar is not only a powerful advocate of the rights and well-being of displaced people, but she is also reframing the narrative and mechanisms of how philanthropic grants work and changing operational control to encourage refugee-led organizations to flourish.
While our news feed may be filled with stories of despondency and desperation, hearing Negar’s vision and vitality is a timely antidote and much-needed boost of optimism. Please Enjoy.
We cover
- The challenging experience of seeking safety by crossing many borders.
- Arriving and settling into Germany and witnessing the toll it took on her parents, who shaped her worldview and sense of self.
- We cover the transitional fabric of German society and the impact of migrants.
- Her childhood memories and the precious generosity of people.
- We discuss the work of the Global Whole Being Fund (GWBF), its focus on local ecosystems, and asset-based grant-making.
- Negar touches on the Ukraine refugee crisis highlighting Choose Love’s Ukraine Campaign supporting people seeking safety.
- She explains the imperative to prioritize resourcing dignified approaches to support people seeking safety as we face more displacement in the years ahead.
Links in the Show
Global Whole Being Fund
Choose Love
Resonance Coaching
Mo Gowdat
Fast Forward
Asylum Seekers Advocacy Project
MaKenzie Scott
Mans Search For Meaning
Myriad Intimacies Lata Mani
Stewarding The Earth
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Born and raised in Venice Italy, Matteo Vianello is a Creative and Design leader who has led an extraordinary and varied life channeling his curiosity and expressing his rich creative talent in building brands, launching products, and designing high-performing teams, from design companies to global ads agencies to silicon valley start-ups.
Key discussion points:
- Matteo discusses the impact of growing up surrounded by art in Venice
- The expectations his parents placed on him to be happy
- His Father’s impact on his worldview and his creative identity
- Matteo discusses curiosity and the generative nature of creativity
- We discuss his traditional early education and his Math focused secondary education
- How he entered graphic design via a connection with David Carson
- Matteo discusses his growing interest in graphic design
- Hustling his way into Fabrica Benettons in-house design agency
- The serendipitous experiences resulting from opening all doors
- Matteo discusses Benetton's creative output under Olivero Toscani
- The changing nature of creativity
- The strategic competency of design
- The curse of competency
- The synergistic impact on inhouse creative departments
- The need for more design thinking to solve world-scale challenges
- The evolution of agencies and agility
- His new agency Squero
- His answers to the quick-fire questions
Social Links
Squero Studio
Art site
Links in show
Raygun
Wired
Tadao Ando
Bruno Munari
Gilla Dorfles
Minjin Lee Pachinko
Oliviero Toscani
Tony Fadell
Dina Lovinsky
Build By Tony Fadell -
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Chris Debiec is an award-winning writer/producer/executive with a thirty-plus-year track record of producing film and tv series, working with icons across all aspects of the entertainment industry.
Chris recently moved from LA to Austin, and as a result of a serendipitous connection, we sat down to discuss his insights and experiences across his inspiring career. We cover a lot of ground in this interview. But what stood out to me was the combination of his willingness to take risks, to trust in his instinct, his fastidious attention to detail, a hard work ethic, and his brutal candor.
- Securing a place in Disney’s Management Training program.
- How his free thinking led to his removal from the program.
- Chris explains how his brutal candor, combined with his hard work ethic, secured a position in Disney Film and Tape and craft service.
- The serendipitous encounter with Martin Baker that set his future path through film and TV.
- Discussing why production is a combination of economics and creativity.
- The trauma of working on the set of the Crow when Brandon Lee was killed.
- Chris describes why he left Disney to build a career in Hollywood.
- Chris explains the work he did working with James and John Cameron on Cameron’s underwater adventure films.
- We discussed the pivot during Covid when he and John Cameron supplied the film industry with PPE and protocols to enable production to occur.
- We discuss the importance of curiosity and creativity for producers.
- Where we will be in 10 years.
- His principles.
- His advice to ambitious wannabe producers.
Social Links
Show Links
Lou Wasserman
Disney MGM studios
Michael Eisner
Jim Henson
Screen Actors Guild
James Cameron
Human Health Organization
Civilized Entertainment
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This week's guest is Michael Plitkins, co-founder and Co-Der of Spatial Inc - the Immersive Audio start-up that redefines the human experience by creating virtual soundscapes where you work, where you play, and where you stay.
In this interview, Michael takes us on a serendipitous journey through his life; a life defined by his willingness to embrace challenges, the courage to confront uncertainty, and trust in his ferocious independence.
We discuss the trajectory of his fascinating career in Software Engineering, his appreciation for, and experience in design, how that opened the doors to his first role as an engineer, working across some groundbreaking technologies in VR and voice space, at iconic companies from Netscape to Nest.
At 27 min Michael discusses the genesis of his idea for creating Spatial when he discovered no immersive audio solution existed to deliver the experience he sought.
Micheal describes how he and his team are breaking down traditional audio barriers, taking audio to a new level, and allowing a community of creators to use Spatial tools to unleash their creative soundscapes as part of their designs, Michael and his team are poised to reimagine immersive audio that will change how we experience community spaces like retail, hospitals, entertainment spaces and even the office.
Thanks to past guest Walter Werzowa for the recommendation
Now on with the show
- His early years and expanding world view from living in the UK and traveling Europe in his youth.
- The influence of his father and mother
- The serendipitous impact of discovering the Apple2 computer
- Having the confidence to carve his own path without the traditional education trajectory
- Early career path
- Discovering the need to build immersive audio to scratch his own itch.
- The commercial applications of Spatial
- His quick-fire answers
Social Links
Spatial Inc
Links in the show
IBM
Paper Software
Apple II
Netscape
Tony Fadell
Silicon Graphics
Tell-Me Networks
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
This week we have a follow-up to our recent interview with Sana Mustafa. When I interviewed Sana back in November 2021, we could not have imagined the Ukrainian refugee crisis. So I wanted to hear Sana’s perspective as Director of Partnership and Engagement at Asylum Access, on the mass migration from Ukraine that has resulted from the Russian invasion and to understand the broader impactions on how the world will deal with future mass migrations as climate change forces people North.
This is a shorter than normal episode but Sana’s insight and experience make this well worth a listen.
- Sana's perspective on the crisis
- The impact on the host nations
- The new standard set for welcoming the displaced
- The institutional racism and bigotry that exists in the system
From his inspiring film scores, and globally recognized audio branding to creating music as medicine, creativity through sound has powered Walter’s life journey.
I met Walter at SXSW 2022, through an old colleague from McCann NYC, on heading his inspiring story I had to interview him.
Walter’s story is powered by his curiosity, creativity, and unwavering persistence. Also, we cover striving for balance, focusing on the present, and the power of embracing your difference.(Ref ep 53 Emily Oberman.)
Show Summary
- Walter describes the impact of hearing rock-n-roll for the first time.
- The serendipitous cycle of events from purchasing a keyboard and discovering his mentor.
- The serendipity of landing a role composing music for Disney movie trailers and the schooling it gave him.
- Walter recounts early experiences of composing for films like the Terminator, working with R/GA, and the joy and gratification of the creative process.
- The genesis of the Intel Inside audio pneumonic and how his idea emerged and the months of sound design work to create the final approved version.
- Walter explains to me the technical reasons for why the quality of the music sound file is important to our health and well-being.
- Walter Werzowa describes the Audio start-up he launched called Health Tunes and explains the therapeutic impact it is having on different medical conditions.
- Walter describes the in-the-field work being done in over 300 hospitals with supplementary music therapy.
- We discuss the corporate application of music therapy.
- Walter recounts the events that led to him working on the completion of Beethoven’s 10th Unfinished Symphony which combines AI and creativity to complete the work
- We also get some great answers from the quick-fire questions.
Social Links
Health Tunes
Musikvergnuegan
Show Links
Otto M Zykan
Kyle Cooper
Garson Yu
Giorgio Moroder
The Creativity Code
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This week's guest is Sana Mustafa. Although Sana’s moving story is bound up in the Syrian conflict, her journey, courage, fortitude, and the work she is doing in her role as Director of Partnership and Engagement at Asylum Access, force us to confront what is an anachronistic approach to dealing with displaced peoples, Sana is focused empower them with agency and help them retain their dignity. In this moving interview, Sana recounts her upbringing under the Assad dictatorship, the jubilation of the Arab spring, the trauma of being thrust into civil war, and being forcibly displaced at age 22. However, Sana’s story is one of resilience, inner belief, the power of community, and the kindness of strangers.
Sana is a founding member of The Global Refugee-Led Network, a coalition working to increase refugees’ engagement with the international community to pursue inclusive, sustainable, and effective refugee and immigration policy. something many nations must confront as they integrate millions of displaced Ukrainian citizens.
- The historical context of Syria’s ethnic-cultural makeup.
- Sana describes the foundational impact of her father and mother.
- Her Father’s willingness to be an active decenter to the regime.
- Her memories of the indoctrination of the Soviet-influenced Syrian education system.
- The influence of the intifada and the broader political make-up of the middle east.
- Living under the oppressive surveillance of the regime.
- Sana recounts the experience of living through the Arab Spring, explaining the historical events that precipitated the uprising, and her gratitude for being able to witness that moment in history.
- She describes the danger of protesting and the violence, detention, and murder inflicted by the regime’s ‘thugs’.
- We discuss Sana’s experience of being thrust into the center of the resulting multilayered conflict that emerged from the people's revolution, that ultimately led to the complex civil war with the influence of external actors to create a proxy ‘global’ war.
- Sana explains the detention of her father and the human rights violations occurring.
- Giving voice to the voiceless refugees and conviction to be part of a collective effort and action.
- She describes escaping Syrian, her journey, arriving in the US with nothing other than her values, the kindness of strangers, and studying political science to establish herself as Director of Partnership at Asylum Access.
- Finally, Sana discusses the broader issues facing dealing with funding a refugee-run organization, her vision, and her work to create refugee rights and build agency for refugees around the world.
- Her hopes for Syria.
Social Links
Links
Ismaili
Asylum Access
The Network For Refugee Voices
Larsen Lam Impact Award
Pose
White Tears Brown Scars
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Guest overview
Kathryn Finney defies norms, conventions, and stereotypes. For this powerhouse of a human, there is no glass ceiling. From epidemiologist to entrepreneur, to investor, author, and mentor, Kathryn is changing what is considered possible for a generation of marginalized and underrepresented Black and LatinX entrepreneurs.
In this episode, recorded in two parts, we cover
- The impact of her parents and extended family
- Her father’s life pivot from brewing to coding in his 30’s which led her at aged eight to move from Milwaukee to Minneapolis.
- The early experiences of racism.
- Her grandmother's role in nurturing her entrepreneurial spirit and exposure to fashion.
- Her educational journey and impact
- The serendipity of illness in Ghana that led her to epidemiology at Yale
- The life transition in her mid-twenties and setting up her fashion blog Budget Fashionista in 2004
- Being the first blogger invited to New York fashion week
- How her blogging opened the path to her first book deal
- Becoming a correspondent for the Today Show.
- The shift that occurred in fashion blogging as the category grew in 2008/9.
- Joining an incubator program and confronting racial prejudice.
- Creating a Women’s Entrepreneurs Event Focus 100
- Exiting her business in 2013.
- Creating the Project Diane a database of Black and LatinX women startups
- The genesis of her Digital Undivided
- How Covid accelerated a life transition and the creation of her micro grant Doonie Fund
- Receiving funding from Pivotal Ventures for the creation of Genius Guild
- Building a coalition of like-minded change agents
- Creating her Podcast and Book Build The Damn Thing, her ‘a battle-tested guide for every entrepreneur who the establishment has excluded’
- Her 2030 vision
- Who we interview next?
Social Links
Podcast
Show Links
Donor-Advised Funds
Genius Guild
Doonie Fund
Digital Undivided
Project Diane
Build the Damn Thing - How to start a successful business if you are not a rich white guy
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Guest Overview
If you ever need to appreciate the positive influence and impact parents have on a child’s worldview and sense of self, look no further than this week's guest, social entrepreneur, Sebastián Martín.
In the first part of this interview, Sebastian discusses being born in Washington DC as the child of Chilean - Bolivian immigrant parents, growing up in the Bush era, in the wake of 9/11 and forming his socio-political conscience through his expansive education and international travel experiences.
At 30 min in Sebastian explains the genesis of his social-entrepreneurial journey, how serendipity combined with his educational curiosity led him to shanghai China to form his social impact business Cambio Coffee, sourcing his coffee directly from farmers in Bolivia, managing the whole supply chain, and sharing in the profits with the farmers.
Sebastian then discusses how, since returning to New York, innovating education has become his central life focus and how his new venture Cambio Labs is confronting inequality in education By creating pathways through STEM programs targeting children and youth from disadvantaged neighborhoods, Sebastian describes his, gamified Ed-tech platform, Journey and his ambitions to scale it beyond the US.
Sebastian combines an expansive vision, with a deep social conscience and applies creativity with design thinking to reimagine educational opportunities.
I challenge you not to be inspired by the passion and purpose of Sebastian Martin.
Thanks to Abby Lehman for the connection.
Social Links
Link in the show
Cambio Labs
Eric Holthaus Future Earth
NYcha New York
Naomi Klien On Fire
History of the US Oliver Stone
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Sometimes circumstances beyond our control set us on a path we could never have conceived. This was the case for this week’s guest, social entrepreneur Natasha Freidus when during the Syrian refugee crisis in 2015, she witnessed the chaos of crisis response first hand. While most donate money and time, Natasha instead formed a tech start-up to match those in need with those able to give and deliver goods and supplies locally through an online marketplace, initially hacked together using Wedding registry software.
Now almost six years on Natasha’s startup NeedsList is bringing efficiency and intelligence to the NGO and philanthropic sector and in doing so is delivering more accountability and transparency.
In this interview, Natasha describes her backstory, the vital steps along her life path that prepared her to be able to execute and lead such a start-up, the innovations she is now driving, and her vision to leverage AI and huge data sets to enable better preparation for relief before a crisis even hits.
I hope Natasha’s story inspires someone else to take on what others may consider impossible.
Social Links
Links in the Show
Needslist
Brown
ESL
Paulo Freire
Saul Alinsky
Creative Narrations
Decathlon
Public Benefit Corp
IRC
David Milliband
Fema
Fabrice Grinda
Winners Take All
Only Murders In the Building
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This week sees the return of one of our favorite and most popular guests, industrial designer Lucia DeRespinis.
With a career spanning seven decades, Lucia retired last year at the age of ninety-three. Now ninety-four Lucia was recently recognized for her outstanding contributions to Industrial design by the IDSA - Industrial Designers Society of America. Therefore we felt we needed to hear from Lucia about the accolade but also have Lucia reflect on her stellar career.
In what was a novel interview we met Lucia in the marvelous secret gardens of her iconic Manhattan apartment complex where she’s lived since the 1960s.
We ask Lucia to pass on her advice for the upcoming generation of Industrial designers to prepare them for the world they are entering.
Lucia and I discuss the standards of Industrial Design today, the public's awareness of design, and where design standards have fallen, as she shares her perspective on the role of industrial designers in organizations today.
Lucia reflects on the enduring memories of her career, her life lessons, and the traits she respects and deplores in herself and others. And we discuss her favorite New York design icon and the designer she wishes she’d worked with but didn’t and what she’d study if she was starting out today.
Her body of work, lifetime achievements, and career in teaching cement her legacy as not only a torchbearer for women in Industrial Design but as one of America’s most iconic industrial designers.
If you listen to her first interview, you’ll learn Lucia’s successful life was full of struggle and sacrifice.
At 94 Lucia’s physical endurance, alacrity, wit, and grace should serve as an inspiration to anyone struggling with life and its challenges.
Please enjoy this hour-long interview with Lucia N DeRespinis
Links in show
Pratt Institute
George Nelson
Dunkin Donuts Logo
Corey Cambridge Silent Giants
Lucia’s Designs
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This week's guest is native New Yorker Abby Lehman, a natural storyteller, connector, and social entrepreneur working at the intersection of community, government, and business. As a fourth-generation New Yorker, from a family of East European migrants, Abby is living evidence of the value and impact of immigration on a city and nation's success.
Abby explains how her social impact NGO, Photo Start, uses photography as a gateway for under-privileged youth in Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, and the United States, to open up educational, vocational, or professional pathways so as to equip them with problem-solving, entrepreneurial, and financial skills necessary to create transformative economic opportunities for them as individuals, for their families and their communities.
We discuss the transformative impact of her new rural and urban regeneration innovation program, Syzygy Cities, which aligns community needs with Government initiatives and business interests to stimulate economic and social development. Abby breaks down her current live initiative, Invest Southwest, working with the city of Chicago, national and local commercial partners, and local NGOs to provide the infrastructure, services, and solutions to create more economically and socially resilient communities.
Abby is an inspirational female leader, a driving force for positive socio-economic change, forged through her clarity of strategic thought, collaborative spirit, and forceful and eloquent voice.
I hope you feel uplifted by the power and passion of Abby Lehman
Social Links
Photo Start
PS In Focus
Success Stories-
Instagram:
@photostartgo
YouTube:
In The News
Media Kit
Donate Gear
Volunteer
Syzygy Cities
Syzygy Insta
Show Links
L2
The Tenement Museum
This is Eighteen
Akili Dada
Peggy Lee Fever
Hail Satan?
Mans Search For Meaning
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This week's guest Michael McElroy is an actor, singer, musical director, educator, and founder of the Tony award-winning Broadway Inspirational Voices, the multi-racial gospel choir, 'united in changing lives through the power of music and service.’'
In this shorter than normal interview, Michael explains how being immersed in the fusion of gospel music, musical theatre, and R&B as a child developed his love and appreciation of music. He also discusses how his Grandmother instilled in him a lifelong commitment to service and giving back.
Although acutely aware of racism, Michael felt insulted; being surrounded by black excellence helped him develop a personal sense of limitless possibilities for anything if prepared to invest in the work.
Michael discusses his journey through education, developing his sense of identity, and how he resolved to overcome the barriers he encountered, to reinforce his self-belief, and conviction to succeed.
We discuss how serendipity played a pivotal part in landing his first Broadway role in Miss Saigon.
Michael explains what led him to create the social impact organization, Broadway Inspirational Voices, to create an impact and welcoming space that has evolved over 25 years to become a platform where artists change lives through the power of music.
Michael also discusses how he and his fellow artists responded to the pandemic's lockdown and the murders of George Floyd and other victims of race crimes by creating virtual outreach programs for Broadway inspirational Voices and Covenant House.
Michael discusses how Broadway has been responding to the last eighteen months, addressing its institutional inequities to become more inclusive, diverse, and accessible by embracing New Deal proposed through Musicians United For Social Equity and Black Theatre United.
Finally, Michael describes the steps he is taking to empower faculty and students in DE&I and create systemic change through his new role as Chair at the University of Michigan's Department of Musical Theatre.
Thanks to Tom Kitt for the connection.
Social Links
Wikipedia
Show Links
BIV - About Michael
Carnegie Mellon
Miss Saigon
Broadway Inspirational Voices
Broadway Cares
Equity Fights Aids
Covenant House
Musicians United for Social Equity
Black Theatre United
Summer of Soul
Schele Williams
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We’ve had to take an extended break in recent weeks due to moving home from New York to Austin Texas. However, we’re back now with Season 4 and some fabulous guests lined up in the coming weeks.
We kick off this season with an interview I did just before leaving NYC with fellow Brooklyn resident, Geof Rochester, a highly successful entrepreneur and respected thought leader and strategic advisor on corporate sustainability and responsibility, NGOs, philanthropy, and social entrepreneurship. Geof is a trusted advisor to some of the world’s leading conservation NGOs, media companies, and consumer goods brands.
Born in Barbados and raised in Brooklyn the cultural diversity of his upbringing defined his worldview. His Diplomat Father and an empowering mother ingrained in him the importance of having empathy for the plight of others, a ‘Lead, Follow or get out of the way’ mentality, and a strong work ethic.
Taking the lead and embracing early leadership roles at School helped him develop a sense of responsibility and accountability and the ability to execute a vision at an early age.
Discovering the importance of branding and marketing at an early age, set Geof on a path to a stellar career in Marketing working for both challenger and champion brands, including CMO of Nature Conservancy and senior marketing roles at Showtime, WWE, Comcast, and Radisson. Geof is also the founder of GRC Advising, a consulting firm that provides clients with comprehensive strategies to integrate sustainability and social purpose.
Geof and I have a lively discussion about his motivations, mindset, and marketing mentality, dealing with the fear of failure, curiosity, confronting conventions, and his theory of change on climate and sustainability. Geof also provides his perspective on food insecurity and innovations in preventative healthcare and why he is hopeful about prospects for climate innovation.
I hope you enjoy the pragmatic leadership thinking and passion of Geof Rochester.
Social Links
GRC Consulting
Show Notes
Caricom
Coach Thompson Georgetown
WWE
Nature Conservancy
Project Drawdown
Sustainable Ocean Alliance
Eric Adams
The Courier
Barstool sports
Rich Dad Poor Dad
7 Habits of Highly Effective People
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Guest Overview
We live at the moment when technology has connected the world, yet many people experience a rising sense of disconnection, and research confirms feelings of isolation are increasing. This week's guest Susan McPherson provides an antidote.
As the author of the Lost Art of Connecting, Susan's book provides a valuable methodology for connecting and building more meaningful relationships. Whether at events, at work, as a manager or leader, a parent or a politician, Susan provides straightforward guidance on how to rekindle the core human skills many have somehow left behind.
As a serial connector, Susan is also an angel investor, corporate responsibility expert, and founder and CEO of McPherson Strategies, a communications consultancy focused on the intersection of brands and social impact. She is also a contributor to the Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and Forbes.
Susan opens up about her early journey in life, developing her thirst for adventure and the vast role her mother and father had in nurturing her deep sense of curiosity and willingness to embrace risk. She describes the values they instilled, the impact that her mother's tragic death had on the direction Susan's taken in life, and the serendipitous connections that led her to a career in journalism and entrepreneurship.
Susan discusses how she became an accidental entrepreneur in her late 40's, and we talk about her perspectives on the role of corporations in helping combat our climate challenges and social inequities. She shares her optimism from witnessing the changes and commitments from her corporate clients to address the environmental challenges.
Susan also deconstructs the three core steps to her Art of Connecting' Gather, Ask and Do' methodology, and discusses its application and value to individuals, managers, leaders, parents, and event organizers.
I hope you’re inspired by the optimism, compassion, and generosity of spirit of Susan McPherson.
Social Links
The Lost Art of Connecting book
MCPStrategies
Links in the show
Ted Kennedy
Boston Herald Traveller
Dupont Plaza Hotel Fire
USA Today
Gannett
Emily Ramshaw
19th News
Brant Anderson
Refugee
Care
Paris Climate Accord
IPCC
SDG’s
Kindred
Sir Ranulph Fiennes
Beth Comstock
Girls Rising
Nation Swell
Stacy Marie Ishmael
Yael Eisenstat
The Daughters of Kobani
Babylon Berlin
Kathryn Finney
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A Pulitzer Prize for Drama, two Tony awards, and a Grammy for a best musical theater album are just some of the accomplishments of this week's guest - New York-based musician, composer, conductor, and orchestrator, Tom Kitt.
Born and raised in New York State, Tom’s musical talent was recognized by a music teacher at age four.
Lovingly Raised, his mother and father guided and encouraged him, and when needed, drove him to practice and remain focused on his musical dreams and ambitions to become a singer-songwriter.
Tom describes how an economics degree at Columbia University, meeting his now wife Rita Pietropinto, and a serendipitous connection to Brian Yorky set him on his journey to writing for musical theatre and an award-winning Broadway career.
Tom explains the important role that an economics degree played in developing his work ethic, organizational skills, and appreciation of opportunity costs that ultimately resulted in his discipline, rigor, and attention to detail.
Tom shares how as a parent, he passes on his learnings to his children, and how they inspire him, and the courage they have instilled in him during the pandemic.
Tom describes how the pandemic led him to write, collaborate and record his new album Reflect that is released on August 13th, 2021.
Tom’s attitude to life is edifying. He has an ego-free recognition of the important role of collaboration, a refreshing acknowledgment of the power of his partner, Rita’s love and support, and an enlightening perspective on failure.
We discuss the resultant mental health impact of the pandemic on Broadway, as well as the essential role theatre, the arts, and the role creatives play in the economic and mental wellbeing of the city.
We discuss Tom’s uplifting anthem of hope Oh Columbia for Columbia’s class of 2020 performed by Ben Platt, the opportunities that have resulted from the pandemic, the resurgence he’s experiencing, his collaboration on NYC Next, upcoming work with Cameron Crowe on the stage adaptation of Almost Famous as well as his hopes for 2030.
I hope you enjoy the deeply charismatic, creative, caring, and compassionate Tom Kitt.
Social Links
Tom Kit Reflect
Links in the show
Gloria Huke
Camp Alton
Peter Guralnick
Billy Joel
MTV
Columbia uni
Oh Columbia - Ben Platt
Next To Normal
Jagged Little Pill
21st Century Breakdown
BMI musical workshop
Superhero show
Flying Over Sunset
Cameron Crowe
Almost Famous
Billy Porter
Kiss Prince
Ted Lasso
The Premonition Michael Lewis
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John Farnam lives every single day, in all his interactions focusing on making what seems impossible possible, viewing everything through the lens of yes.
His life values, principles and work ethic were developed from growing up in a loving family environment in Helena Montana, USA. Given up for adoption by his fourteen year old birth mother, John was blessed with deeply caring adoptive parents and siblings.
John’s path has been defined by his desire to live a life in service to others, following his personal maxim - do what sings to your heart.
In the first half of the interview John takes openly and passionately about upbringing and
From around 50 min in, John talks about disruptive innovation he is driving in philanthropy and transforming communities in his role as Deputy Disruptor and Chief of Staff at the Morgridge Family Foundation under Chief Disruptor Carrie Morgridge.
John breaks down how they bring people and organizations together to solve the complex problems applying what he describes as a venture philanthropy model. From social and educational inequities, food insecurity to infant mortality afflicting minority communities they are leveraging their network to alleviate the issues.
John then breaks down the Morgridge model and theory of change and explains their four pillars of disruption.
John also discusses the innovative approach they are taking to educate the next generation of philanthropists and their approach to environmental philanthropy.
John’s a deeply thoughtful, spiritual, kind-hearted and community driven individual that provides evidence that amidst the strife and suffering we have been witnessing, there are people, under the radar, making the life of those less fortunate, better.
Social Links
Links in the Show
Morgridge Family Foundation
Sparks and Honey
Winners Take All
American Enterprise Institute
Latter Day Saints
Saging
Northern Colorado Aids Project
Goodwill
Francis Weisberg Jacobs
MLK
Ceasar Chavez
Harvey Milk
Delta Dawn
Halston
Waste free Kitchen
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Guest overview
There is no simple explanation for this week's guest. I have struggled with how to do justice to her incredible journey. Romany Romany - aka ‘Romany The Diva of Magic’ is living evidence that when one sets their mind to something and takes action, anything is possible..in time...for there is no overnight success where skill is required. Especially magic, where countless hours of training are required to make an attentive audience believe the magic they witness.
For anyone struggling with life, unsure of direction, or feeling a pull to a place or life, alien to where you are now, Romany’s story will empower you to take action to create your own life arc.
Romany was born and raised in England, was driven by a visceral early ambition to perform, was pulled off course by Corporate life that led to a breakdown and bulimia, which in turn opened the pathway to her steller life in Magic.
Having performed for Queen Elizabeth at her 80th, won the prestigious Las Vegas World of Magic Awards, and wowed audiences around the world, Romany has recently written a book called Spun Into Gold to recount her life story and impart her wisdom. However her journey is anything less than plain sailing as she describes in the podcast,
Romany’s story is defined by the patience and persistence to pursue her bigger dreams, but as many of us find, ambitions change, leaving us to reassess our priorities.
I hope you enjoy the vivacious, loquacious, and flamboyant Romany Romany
Social Links
Romany’s Book - Spun Into Gold -The Secret Life of a Female Magician
(UK Amazon)
Romany’s Book - Spun Into Gold - The Secret Life of a Female Magician
USA Amazon
Romany’s Website
Spun Into Gold on Audible
Links In the Show
Florence Scovel Shinn
Solve for Happy
The Artist Way Julia Cameron
Carousel - Rogers and Hammerstein
Caroline Myss
Cobble comedy company.
Liz Gilbert Big Magic
Paul Kieve
Amy Purdy
Louise Hay
Dr Wayne Dyer
Buddhist millionaire Matt Jardine
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Guest overview
This week's guest Maryam Banikarim does not see barriers, obstacles, or problems other than to seek out ways to remove or overcome or solve them.
Born in Iran but raised in the US Maryam’s innately curious and inquisitive mind has enabled her to navigate every challenge that life has dealt her and set her on a diverse path of career success.
Regularly Acknowledged in the ” most creative people" or "most powerful women in business" lists, Maryam devours challenges that can be summed up by the phrase she used in the interview “I love a good No”
How Global CMO for Next Door, Maryam kindly agreed to share her perspective on life, work, and communities.
Her lens on life is based on a desire to help others and through that she discovers purpose. Her work at Next Door and her pandemic initiative, New York City Next, Maryam’s work is bringing people together, building strong communities and connections, and cultivating neighborly kindness.
In this interview, Maryam shares her perspective on life, work, and community and how we build stronger, more equitable, and resilient Neighborhoods, and Cities as we move beyond the pandemic.
Maryam’s positive problem-solving mentality, curiosity, and vitality are uplifting and her infectious spirit of the possible will surely provide inspiration to all that encounter her.
A shout out to Ben Hartley for recommending we interview Maryam
Social Links
Linkedin Maryam
IG Maryam
Maryam Twitter
Links in the show
Billie jean king
John Leguizamo
Next Door
NYC Next
Daily Provisions
Middle Ring research
ShopinNYC
Bob Putnam The Upswing book
The Bridge
Marie’s Crisis
Tiger Woods documentary
Susan McPherson the Lost Art of Connecting
Tom Kitt
Ming Jong Lee
The Rubin’s
Ava duVerney Smith
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Guest Overview
Imagine being assigned female at birth, growing up feeling isolated at school, having your sexuality weaponized against you at age 12, by so-called friends, and coming out and identifying as pan-sexual at age 19, well this was the beginning of this week’s guest, Sav Rodgers’ life.
We cover a lot of ground in this episode as Sav recounts the challenges he’s faced and had to overcome. Sav is a shining example of resilience in the face of ignorance and bigotry, strength of character, with an indomitable spirit to survive.
With it being Pride month this interview could not be more timely.
For anyone with children that are gender fluid, nonbinary, or genderqueer, Sav’s interview is a must-listen.
Sav is now an award-winning writer and director, currently in the final stages of post-production with his first feature, called Chasing Chasing Amy, a documentary about how 1990’s Rom-Com Chasing Amy, directed by Kevin Smith and starring Ben Affleck, provided him with a depiction of fluid sexuality that helped Sav live his authentic self as pansexual, embracing the tagline of the movie
“It’s Not who you love, but how”
Following his 2017 Ted talk, where Sav described the impact of Chasing Amy, he tweeted it and Kevin Smith, the director connected with Sav and is now collaborating with Sav on Chasing Chasing Amy.
Sav and I go onto discuss the challenges we still face in the media with the limited casting of trans people in shows and films, and how the media reinforces LGBTQ bias and the need for changes in how sexuality is depicted in education.
Sav’s life story, so far, is evidence of manifesting the life you want to live, and how serendipity opens doors and opportunities.
Sav has expanded my understanding of sexuality and inspired me to learn more. I hope you enjoy the optimism and energy of Sav Rodgers.
Social Links
Website
Youtube
Links in the show
Transgender resource
Modern Vintage Gamer
Chasing Amy
Kevin Smith
Disclosure
Soap Dish
Outfest
Girls5eva
Coda
Trick
Redefining Realness
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Guest Overview
Imagine being born with Cerebral Palsy, to Palestinian immigrant parents, growing up being the only disabled Muslim in a Christian New Jersey town.
Yet, blessed with her father's comic genes, her mother’s driving ambition, hard work ethic, and large family support network, Maysoon Zayid is an inspiring example of what is possible when self-limiting beliefs are cast asunder.
Maysoon Zayid has blazed a trail through life as a writer, actor, stand-up comedian, educator, and activist. In 2014 her TED Talk 'I have 99 problems, Palsy is just one' went viral.
In this broad-ranging interview, we cover, Maysoon’s early life experiences, setting her sights age 5 on being an actor in US soap opera, General Hospital, the defining moment of her childhood, aged 12, dancing on Broadway, on route to becoming a standup comedian. Maysoon provides an enlightening perspective on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, discusses being a female Muslim comedian, post 9/11 and what changed under the Trump administration, and how things have changed in recent months. And of course, we discuss comedy, her inspirations, and her successful annual Arab American Comedy Festival.
I think you will find this wide-ranging conversation inspiring, uplifting, and educational.
Social Links
Maysoon’s Website
Youtube
Links in the show
Gotham Comedy Club
Richard Pryor
Comic Strip
Mitch Hedberg
Carol Burnett
Tiffany Haddish
Mo’Nique
Aquafina
Dave Chappel 8.48
Jim Belushi
Martin Short
Riverdance
Arab American Comedy Festival
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Okay folks this week, it's just a solo episode. I'm often asked about why I started this podcast and what it takes to keep going. We have to week, month after month now, two and a half years into this, I thought I would take some time just to step back and reflect on it and answer those questions as to what led to starting this podcast and carrying on.
For most of my life, I've worked in advertising and been very interested in the power of curiosity as a characteristic, but also in the power and value of networks. And thirdly, I've always been interested in the concept of serendipity and what it is and the role it plays in people's lives. So when I started thinking about the podcast back in 2013, I did nothing about it. Two years later, I did something about it and created The Impossible Network and recorded a couple of episodes, and then did nothing with it. Procrastination really kicked in. I'll come and talk a bit about procrastination in more detail and the value it has, but it wasn't until 2018 when I really sat down and thought, what I want this podcast to be about? And that's when I really stepped back and thought about, networks, serendipity, and curiosity. It was a convergence of these three things that led to launching the Impossible Network.
I had a simple thought, what if I interview three people that I know, two of them being clients, and asked them about their life journey, ask them about the impact of their upbringing, the role of curiosity in their life, their attitude to risk, their perception of fear and failure, and what's really fueled them and spurred them on to achieve what they would personally make their impossible, possible.
But the key thing in these interviews is really to ask them who they recommend that I interview next, leaving the guests that we interviewed down to serendipity. And that has resulted in me interviewing over 90 guests now and rising some of the most extraordinary, unexpected people; people I would never, otherwise encountered or be connected with, and who now form part of the Impossible Network.
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Guest Overview
Alan Digweed aka Tweedy The Clown is this week's guest.
In this fascinating interview, we discuss Alan’s early life and the serendipitous moment he announced to his parents his intention to build his career in clowning. Alan explains the appeal of clowning, the influence, and inspiration of clowning genius du Laurel and Hardy, as well as the great like Harold Lloyd, Buster Keaton, and Harry Langdon.
He explains how he made his start pre-internet days at British Summer Holiday camp Butlins before pursuing opportunities in Circus to hone his craft and refine his clown character.
Alan describes how everyone has a clown character, aligned to our inner child, why the core characteristics tend to be based on different personalities, and why all good clowning is based on solving problems.
We discuss how Alan met American clown genius Bill Irwin at the famous Grimaldi Church service in London to honor the king of clowns Joseph Grimaldi where clowns attend in full costume. This encounter led him to develop his skills through one on one sessions with Bill.
Alan explains the impact of the pandemic on his work and how he pivoted to creating a children's show online and the different experiences of not having a live audience. We also discuss how his performance will have to evolve while social distancing remains in place.
We also discuss the evolution of a circus and clowning such as Archaos and Avner the Eccentric and Typeface.
Finally, we cover where Alan thinks he will be in 2030 and all the quick-fire questions.
I hope you will be uplifted by the joy, optimism, deeply thoughtful Tweedy The Clown.
Social Links
Website
Youtube
Links in Show
Harold Lloyd,
Buster Keaton
Harry Langdon
Norman Wisdom
Laurel and Hardy
Giffords Circus
Butlins
Cirque Du Soleil
Bill Irwin
Grimaldi Church Service
Benny Hill
Johnny Hutch
Archaos
Jim Rose Circus
Typeface
Chaplin Dictator Speech
All Quiet on the Home Front
Mandelorian
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Sarah A. Abdallah, polymath, innovator, and founder of New York-based bespoke Architecture & Design Studio - Functional Creative Design, is this week's guest.
In part two we deep dive into Sarah’s journey prior to starting her design studio Functional Creative Design, working with Rockwell Group, Tony Chi & Associates, Perkins and Eastman, and Grand Hotels, and her vision and focus which led her to start her studio.
Sarah describes her desire to add an additional layer to design and space planning. She discusses the importance of listening, fusing all input, using her functional skills and knowledge base, to meet a client's vision.
We discuss sustainability in the industry, the need to take a 360 view, the impact of Covid, and the battle that many firms have to stay in business.
Sarah explains her principles underpinning Functional Creative Design, how design will change in a post-Covid world, the power and value of our connectivity, how intimacy can be created through technology, physical spaces that incorporate the outdoors indoors, and the need to deliver improved accessibility and social justice, across all socio-economic groups.
Anyone considering leaving their corporate job, Sarah’s story will provide inspiration of what is possible when you reimagine and add value to a category.
Social Links
Functional Creative Design
Links in the show
Naomi Levine
Parsons School of Design
NYU
Clubhouse
Rockwell Group
Perkins and Eastman
Tony Chi Associates
To Good To Go
Chef Chloe
Bill Dowzer
Back The Neighborhood
Robin Sharma - Monk Who Sold His Ferrari
New York State of Mind
Bridgerton
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Sarah A. Abdallah, polymath, innovator, and founder of New York-based bespoke Architecture & Design Studio - Functional Creative Design, is this week's guest.
In this two-parter we spend the first hour exploring Sarah’s experience of being born a bi-racial child to Egyptian immigrant parents, growing up in New York, with two younger siblings.
Immersing her in a culture that nurtured her natural curiosity, her parents instilled in her the foundational values of human kindness, the importance of education, and respect and understanding of other faiths.
Sarah discusses how she developed an appreciation and love of the environment, her deep spirituality, questioning conventional wisdom, and rejecting parental pressures to conform.
Sarah recounts overcoming the limitations of dyslexia, how her childhood curiosity of after-school clubs helped shape her into the thought leader and Entrepreneur she is today, and her prolific educational journey through psychology, art therapy, higher education, and interior design. Sarah also discusses how serendipity led her, at 21, a First Generation Muslim Egyptian American to live with the then 70-year-old, iconic lawyer, Jewish civil rights activist, and philanthropic fundraiser for NYU, Naomi Levine.
In part two we deep dive into Sarah’s journey prior to starting her design studio Functional Creative Design, working with Rockwell Group, Tony Chi & Associates, Perkins and Eastman, and Grand Hotels, and her vision and focus which lead her to start her studio.
For anyone with children, hearing Sarah’s journey and experience will provide valuable insights into encouraging young children’s curiosity and appreciation of other cultures and backgrounds and the value of education.
In part two Sarah describes the experience of working with Tony Chi Associates, Rockwell Group, Perkins and Eastman, and Grand Hotels and her desire to add an additional layer to design and space planning. She discusses the importance of listening, fusing all input, using functional skills and knowledge base to meet a client's vision.
We discuss sustainability in the industry, the need to take a 360 view of sustainability, the impact of Covid, and the battle that many firms have to stay in business.
Sarah explains her principles underpinning Functional Creative Design, how design will change in a post-Covid world, and how intimacy can be created through technology, physical spaces that incorporate the outdoors indoors, and the need to deliver improved accessibility across socio-economic groups.
Social Links
Functional Creative Design
Links in the show
Naomi Levine
Parsons School of Design
NYU
Clubhouse
Rockwell Group
Perkins and Eastman
Tony Chi Associates
Too Good To Go
Chef Chloe
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Guest Overview
This week we welcome Mother and daughter team Barbara Anderson and Jackie Graham's, Founders of Art on the Ave, a New York based social impact initiative that spotlights the work of under-represented artists and turns storefronts into exhibition spaces and streets into open air galleries.
In the first part of this interview we ask Barbara about Jackie as a child and explore with Jackie the impact of her mother and father on her life and career direction in art and work ethic.
Jackie discusses her international upbringing and its influence on her sense of self and feeling of being a global citizen.
We discuss how Jackie’s character and organizational skills were evident at an early age and how curiosity was cultivated.
Jackie discusses education and her focus on art business and how a serendipitous summer internship opened her eyes to the value of accessibility to the arts and how that ultimately prepared her for the work she and Barbara are now doing with Art on the Avenue.
We talk about the role of art in teaching children about socio cultural moments in history.
Then we dive into their work with Art on the Ave, launching it as a response to the pandemic, the shuttered stores, barren windows and deserted neighborhoods in New York’s upper west side, with the aim of supporting local artists and bringing life back to the streets.
Turning New York's Columbus Avenue's empty storefronts into a gallery space, Art on the Ave has reimagined street art and democratizes art spaces and community art access.
Their second exhibition launches in the West Village and runs from April 15th through May.
After over 150 submissions to their latest exhibition, their curated works will be displayed along Bleecker Street, Christopher Street and Hudson Street, creating what Barbara calls the West Village wander.
Through organizations like Art on the Ave are reimagining the role of art in communities, its impact on what a neighborhood is, while creating new commercial opportunities for artists. If you want to learn more we have added links to Art on the Ave in the show notes.
But for now be engaged, entertain and educated by the marvelous mother and daughter team of Barbara Anderson and Jackie Graham
Social Links
Art on the Ave
Links in the show
A Prayer for Owen Meany
A Little Life
The Outsiders SE Hilton
It’s A Sin
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Guest Overview
This week's guest is Kellie Lauth - a woman on a mission to re-engineer education and prepare children for the world of 2030, and mobilize a workforce capable of tackling the complex problems we are sure to face when the calendar turns to 2030.
In this extended episode, we cover Kellie’s upbringing, developing a hard work ethic at an early age, the guiding influence of her mother and father in developing her foundational life values during what she describes as a magical childhood.
Kellie describes how her mother and father nurtured and cultivated her curiosity and exposed her to the realities of social inequity at a young age.
We explore her education experience, her focus on science and math, and the lack of gender diversity that drove her desire and intentionality to help young girls and underrepresented students through education and access.
Kellie discusses her willingness to lean into discomfort and confront failure, following the path of education and the serendipity of a tragic event made her more resolute to make the most of her opportunity in life.
Her response was to build a STEM, problem-based learning system that integrated local business partnerships that created a pathway to employment for children.
Kellie describes the more significant impact of the system on the children’s perspective on possibility and life transformation.
Now scaling the system nationally, Kellie describes transforming from the inside out and investing in teachers to drive the transformation needed.
Kellie discusses the imperative of now and how she’s forming partnerships with local and nationals organizations to help them leverage the Mindspark strategy.
Finally, we discuss the importance of diversity, playfulness, and innovation.
We finish with Kellie’s principles, her hard choices, her advice on confronting the impossible, and the other quick-fire questions.
I think you’ll be uplifted, inspired, and energized by the gentle determination and disruptive spirit of Kellie Lauth.
Social Links
MindSpark
Links in the show
CU Boulder
Title one schools
IBM
Rutger Bergman
Lupin
Adam Grant
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Guest Overview
This week we interviewed the co-hosts of the podcast The Furious Curious - Charlie Quirk and Britton Rice. In the first 20 minutes of the interview, Chas and Brit explore the impact of their parents and upbringing on their values, cultivating curiosity and the life attributes that have prepared them for their life in advertising and for hosting a show that describes itself as a 'podcast that unpacks the weird and wonderful of modern cultural phenomena’
Charlie discusses his fiendish focus on things that interest him, and how it prepared him for a career in strategy in advertising and branding,
Brit discusses his dyslexia and how his commitment to working harder enabled him to navigate school, the importance of sport and music in building relationships and empathy.
We cover a lot of ground here.
We explore the serendipity of their first meeting and the resonating connection that's endured..
We explore what drew them to advertising and their favorite ads. They deconstruct the organizational structure of agencies and changing complexion of the business as well as discussing the evolving role of brand purpose.
For any listeners to The Furious Curious, you will want to hear the genesis of the show and how the pair apply their intellectual rigor to delivering a weekly dose of cultural insight and entertainment in a highly engaging manner.
We discuss the future of the show and whether a video version is something they have considered.
The quick-fire questions also provide a deeper insight into what makes this podcast duo tick.
I hope you are engaged, entertained, and enlightened by the wit and wisdom of Charlie Quirk and Britton Rice.
Social Links
Charlie’s Website
Britton’s Website
Links in the show
Cheap Trick Surrender
Ghost World
Brian Eno Oblique Strategies Cards
Atomic Habits James Clear
Re-work book
Ted Lasso
Pepsi Crystal Pepsi
Reebok Emmet Smith
Mad Men
Nike Instant Karma
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Guest Overview This week we interview our first musician, Glasgow-based, Irish born, Fiddle player, teacher, and composer, Rowan C Leslie. ( shout out to Scott Duncan for recommending)
Rowan began playing the fiddle when his mother joined him in learning to play at age seven.
Rowan recounts the experience of growing up in a small village of Broughshane, Northern Ireland, his supportive parents encouraging his sporting, musical, and his academic pursuits.
We discuss growing up with English parents, attending an integrated school in a country historically defined by its religious divide.
Rowan explains the draw to fiddle and traditional music, how it defined his sense of identity, the influential role of his charismatic musical mentor on his journey, and the abundant experience of building his musical network.
Rowan describes his educational experiences, the differences across the traditional music spectrum, the global cultural influence of Irish traditional music, and his traditional music influences.
We discuss the resurgence of interest in traditional music, the impact of the pandemic on himself and other musicians, and expanding his teaching to a global network of students.
Rowan describes creating his first album in lockdown, Escaping the Dawn, releasing a book called Contemporary Fiddle Tunes from The North East of Ireland, and his hopes of returning to touring in 2021.
We get into the evolution of traditional music, the differences in classical and traditional, the impact of AI and technology on music, and the role of serendipity on his journey.
Rowan ends the interview playing a short excerpt of one of his tracks from his new album.
I hope you enjoy this insight into the world of traditional music with Rowan C Leslie.
Social Links
Website
Spotify
Bandcamp
Links in Show
Riverdance
Clannad
Martin Hayes
Braid Driver Violins
Frankie Gavin
Liz Docherty
Sum41
Elephant Sessions
Contemporary Fiddle Tunes from The North East of Ireland
Wonderwall
Soul Disney+
Vikram Seth - An Equal Music
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Guest Overview
This week I welcome two guests - NYC-based Clinical Psychologist Dr. Tara Emrani and Corporate Lawyer Mehdi Ansari. Tara and Mehdi were born and raised in Tehran, Iran, before moving to the US.
Given the time challenges of having two guests, we didn’t spend much time on their backstories or upbringing.
Meeting while both studying at UC Berkeley, Tara and Mehdi describe their journeys to Psychology and Law.
I ask Tara to explain her humanistic, multidimensional approach to treatment and the differences to the new talk therapy platforms like Talk Space or Better Help.
Tara discusses the mental health challenges that have emerged since the onset of the pandemic and how she helps her patients deal with them, and the underlying stresses, sadness, anxiety, and depression. She describes pivoting to online therapy and the differences to in-person treatment.
Mehdi describes the pandemic impact on his firm’s staff, work practices, and relationships. Mehdi discusses why he is trying to drive the firm's mental health narrative and across the legal industry.
He discusses how different structural approaches firms are taking as we snap back and the many unexpected impacts on training, teamwork, and career progression. He also explains the value of serendipitous water cooler moments and why those are lost on Zoom or Teams,, and the increased associated transaction costs.
Both Tara and Mehdi discuss the future role of therapy inside organizations, the resultant positive impact on the bottom line, staff retention, and a happier, more productive environment. Mehdi reflects on the paradigm shift needed for mental health and mindfulness training to be taught in Universities.
Medhi and Tara discuss parents' role to prepare children for an AI future and the displacement AI will have on today's simple transactional processes.
Finally, they both reflect on the impact of serendipity on their journey.
If you’re a parent or have been affected by mental health personality or while in a work environment, I think you’ll be uplifted by the clarity and commitment of Tara and Mehdi to changing the narrative around mental health.
Social Links
Dr Tara Emrani Website
Instagra
Links in the show
Tehran
Talk space
Better Help
Carl Rogers
Sullivan and Cromwell
Billions
TI86
1984 Book
I Will Survive
John Adams
Audry Hepburn
Keynes
Gandhi
Lord of the Rings
Sopranos
The Vow
Ego is the Enemy
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Guest Overview This week's guest is Sydney-born, New York-based Ben Hartley – Executive Director of The National Arts Club – what he describes as a 122-year-old startup.
Ben recently invited us into the spectacular Gramercy Square location to record this fascinating interview.
Ben recounts his early years and his parents' positive influence, his adventurous and analytical father, and his strong and emotionally engaged mother.
Ben describes how his world view was expanded, and curiosity sparked as a result of being taken on a grand European canal boating tour when aged seven.
Ben describes his embrace of discomfort as a means of pushing one's capabilities and his approach to seeking out serendipity.
At 12 minutes – Ben describes his educational experience, how it opened a window to the world, the value of studying for a semester in Trenton, New Jersey, a decision that ultimately led him to return to NYC to study his Masters in Arts management.
At 23 minutes – we discuss the common threads running through the career path he has taken. We discuss his journey to the National Arts Club and his experience of leading the international rollout of the Guggenheim to Bilbao and beyond.
At 29 minutes – Ben explains the mission and structure of The National Arts Club. He provides a concise overview of The National Arts Club's history, being the first club to welcome women as members, events from its colorful history, the characters that defied this unique institution, and the recipients of its famed Medal of Honor.
Ben describes how COVID has enabled him to apply his creativity to innovate and pivot the club's service, develop and vibrant digital program, and build community and connectivity.
He describes the recent exhibitions curated in partnership with new art collectives that have emerged in New York during the Black Lives Matter protests displayed alongside the work of photographer Graham Macindoe
We discuss the provocative role of art in today's society, the changing nature of distribution, the future role of The National Arts Club in the city and country's culture, and the innovative programs he has initiated connecting communities beyond the arts.
Ben's refreshing perspectives will undoubtedly provide inspiration and provoke new ideas for anyone struggling to reimagine and reinvent their business or brand or deal with personal challenges in these changing times.
Social Links
The National Arts Club website
Links
Roger Pilkington
Tom Crenz
Guggenheim Bilbao
Richard Serra
Frank Gehry
Charles DeKay
Soho Renaissance Factory
Art to Heart
Graham Macindoe
CJ Henry
Jose Saramago Blindness
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Our host Mark Fallows was recently invited to be a guest on another podcast, the entertaining and educational - The Furious Curious.
Hosts, Charlie Quirk and Britton Rice asked Mark to join them and discuss the urban regeneration project, Back The Neighborhood that he, Elaine Castillo Keller, and Vanessa Barboni Hallik are working on, as well as the genesis of The Impossible Network and Fabrica Collective
If you enjoy this we encourage you to subscribe to The Furious Curious and follow @backtheneighborhood on Instagram.
LINKS:
LINKS:
Fabrica
The Impossible Network
https://backthenighborhood.com
© Charlie Quirk, Britton Rice
Guest OverView
This week's guest is meteorologist, Scottish Highlander, Gaelic speaker, and bag-piper Scott Duncan. Now London-based Scott grew up in the wilds of northern Scotland. Inspired by Scotland's dramatic natural habitat he developed a love for nature and especially climate. That led him to study meteorology at Reading Uni and Oklahoma University and propelled him to be one of the most talked-about climate communicators, resulting from his imaginative and creative application of climate pattern data visualization on Instagram and his own website.
In this episode,
Scott recounts his early years, the role of family, and the impact of growing up in such an inspiring environment.
Developing an expansive world view of climate at a young age, Scott discusses his path to becoming a climate communicator, his intuitive interest and appreciation for the power of storytelling, and how this has transformed how he tells the story of climate.
Scott provides a refreshingly simple explanation of the issues our planet faces, at the poles and beyond, he explains how he deals with activists, deniers, and trolls, and why he focuses on reputable data sources to navigate the politically charged field of climate communications.
We discuss the decade of action, the expectations of the upcoming COP26 in Glasgow in November and Scott provides insight into what the target numbers mean. He also provides examples of the extreme weather patterns we are experiencing.
I think you will leave this episode more grounded, informed, and inspired.
Social Links
Website
Links in the Show
Gaelic
Berkeley Earth
Drawdown
Kiss the Ground
Mike Hudema
Zachery Labe
Kate Rawworth
Ed Hawkins
Guy Callendar
500 Miles
Tubthumping
Casa De Papel
My Family and Other Animals
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Guest Overview
Human rights are inextricably linked to identity. We all strive for our basic inalienable rights as human beings, regardless of race, religion, language, ethnicity or gender. This week we welcome one of the most vital thinkers in academia and advocates for LGBT human rights, Graeme Reid.
Graeme is the Director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Rights Program at Human Rights Watch, a respected expert and lecturer at Yale.
Born in Johannesburg in Apartheid South Africa, raised in a politically liberal home, Graham’s demonstrated his individual will at an early age courageously confronting the conventional thinking of white South African establishment.
Having studied Anthropology at University, Graeme’s ground-breaking Masters; ‘an ethnographic study of a black Pentecostal church on how a church community created the possibility for an integrated cultural identity for gay and lesbian Christians’ followed by his PhD thesis “How to be a’real-gay’ emerging gay spaces in small town South Africa” …established him as both a creative and leading thinker on gender identity.
In this shorter than usual episode Graeme shares his personal story, his wisdom and perspective on where we find ourselves in today’s politically charged environment and what might be an inflection point in history.
Enjoy the courage, heart and humanity of Graeme Reid.
Social Links
Graeme HRW
Links in The Show
Gayle Rubin
Gay activist Simon Nkoli
Graeme’s books:
How To Be A Real Gay:
Above the Skyline:
LGBT Rights Yale
Human Rights Watch
Fleabag
Havelock Ellis
Olive Schreiner:
Eleanor Marx:
Anna Freud:
Shaggy Bain - Beyond All Imagining
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Guest Overview
What does it take to walk away from a successful career in Investment banking to form a woman's sustainable fashion startup, committed from the outset to sourcing responsibly grown, ethically manufactured materials, blending classic design with leading edge technologies, while building a platform for education, and advocacy?
Well, by confronting fear, embracing uncertainty, accepting failure, trusting in serendipity while remaining resilient, steadfast, and focused on the bigger mission are the characteristics that enabled this week's guest, Vanessa Barboni Hallik, to launch Another Tomorrow - what New York Times described as a 'Brand as Ethically Minded as It Is Refined'.
In this fascinating and broad-ranging interview Midwest born, Vanessa Barboni Hallik covers everything from her early life, and architectural ambitions, to her journey to an investment banking career and why she changed course to launch her ground-breaking sustainable women's fashion brand.
Vanessa describes the impact of her free spirit artist mother and sociology professor 'wanna be hippie' father in cultivating her curiosity and the creative environment of constructive play that built her belief in the sense of the possible.
Vanessa explains the circuitous path she took through education, the life-altering impact of her mother's tragic death when Vanessa was 19, and how the event that set her on a path to banking, the inner conflict she experienced having been raised in an environment of conscious capitalism, and how after quitting three times she finally found purpose in her entrepreneurial endeavor,
She eloquently explains fundamental shifts in banking and finance and the increasing emphasis on environmental and social, and governance factors and the further shifts and regulatory changes she expects, will come post covid. We dive deep into what led
At 35 minutes in, we dive deep into Another Tomorrow and why Vanessa focused on sustainable fashion. She covers the challenges she faced and why she's built her business grounded in animal, environmental and human welfare; using technology to deliver supply chain transparency; her commitment to resale, and creating a circular economy as a catalytic force on traditional fashion brands.
I think you will be inspired by the clarity of vision and values of Vanessa Barboni Hallik.
Social Links
Another Tomorrow website
Links
Mariana Mazzucato book Value of Everything
ESG’s
Patagonia
Constellation of Vital Phenomena - Anthony Marra
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Guest Overview
This week's guests are Graham MacIndoe and Susan Stellin.
Graham, a photographer and associate professor at Parsons School of Design in New York City, has been in recovery from addiction since 2010.
Graham and his wife Susan -- a writer, researcher, and adjunct professor at The New School -- have been open about Graham's past struggle with drugs, his ten-year journey to coming clean, which began with nine months of incarceration because of a misdemeanor drug possession conviction.
They've published and exhibited the self-portraits Graham took during his years of addiction, written a dual memoir called Chancers, and given many talks about the trajectory that upended Graham's photography career, isolated him from family and friends, and eventually landed him in jail. (I'll add links to the images that appeared in the Guardian and New York Mag coverage in the show notes, the book, and their talks in the show notes. )
Lately, they've shifted their focus to highlighting what it takes to recover from addiction -- a process millions of Americans have been through but is far less discussed both in private and in public settings. They're part of a growing movement of people trying to reframe the narrative more toward solutions and opening a dialogue about ways to help more people succeed with recovery.
Graham and Susan recap their journey. We cover why Graham documented his addiction and why he and Susan are now documenting recovery stories across the US. We discuss why many people can't publicly acknowledge their past because of stigma, the consequences of admitting illegal drug use, and why they are part of a growing movement working to provide examples of success and hope to those still struggling with addiction. Their latest exhibit Beyond Addiction, Reframing Recovery demonstrates that recovery is possible and highlights some of the ways people have rebuilt their lives.
We discuss the enduring stigma and cultural projection of drug addiction, the enduring War of Drugs, the racial injustice of drug policies, the need for reform, and we discuss decriminalization and legalization.
Graham and Susan provide an enlightening perspective on the ongoing challenges, the Pandemic's impact, and Graham talks about how he has navigated his recovery.
If you know someone struggling with recovery or a family member trying to support a loved one, please share this important episode or some of the resources in the show notes.
I hope you are inspired by the courage, clarity, and candor of Graham MacIndoe and Susan Stellin.
Social Links
Graham’s Website
Susan’s Website
Beyond Addiction Reframing Recovery
Graham’s Instagram
Links in the show
Graham and Susan's TED X
Graham In New York Mag
Graham in The Guardian
Portugal Drug Policy
War of Drugs
Rikers Island
Chancers Book
Michelle Obama Book
Jim Devine Lost Tornado book
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GUEST OVERVIEW
This week's guest, biologist, TV producer, presenter, public speaker, voiceover artist, writer, and mother, Gillian Burke, is second generation Kenyan, has lived a life transition - or as she refers to as a state of liminality.
In this broad-ranging interview, Gillian deconstructs the complexity of her racially ambiguous 'creole' identity. Part West Indian, part SriLankan Gillian was born in Kenya, grew up in Vienna, and studied and settled in the UK, where she has built a successful career in broadcasting with the BBC.
Gillian recounts her early memories of always feeling like an outsider, navigating change and uncertainty both in Kenya and Austria. She describes how her love of the outdoors developed, being comfortable in nature, and developing her environmental consciousness. She explains why the experience of growing up in the global south and the lack of buffer between environmental issues and the impact of home life, as well as witnessing the exploitation of nature, the environment and marginalized populations led her to develop her thirst for social justice and building a career in nature and environmental broadcasting.
Gillian describes her path to the UK, her education in an international Baccalaureate school, developing a love of performing arts and ending up studying biology at Bristol University in the UK in 1992 and landing a job in the Natural History unit at the BBC.
From 40 min in, Gillian explains why she feels we in many developed nations lack humility as we face the humbling impact of the Covid virus. We discuss how our path to progress is unsustainable, the climate crisis, the urgency to act, and the importance of looking to natural solutions and our interconnectedness to nature's matrix. Gillian discusses the regenerative power of the soil, indigenous knowledge, wisdom, and solutions that could pull us back from climate calamity. Finally, Gillian explains why she is focused on connecting the big existential issues facing us to what we do in our homes and how we live.
I hope you are inspired to follow the environmental passion and purpose of Gillian Burke.
SOCIAL LINKS
Website
Blog
LINKS IN THE SHOW
Liminality
Water Bear
Dan McDougall
Baccalaureate school
BBC Natural History Unit
Kimberly Latrice Jones
Wangari Maathai
Young Chances Foundation
Project Drawdown
Kiss the Ground
Mike Tyson Biography
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Due to a guest rescheduling, this week we are republishing part two of last year's interview with New York nightlife legend Carmen D'Alessio.
We loved this show not just for the incredible stories she tells, but for what she represents. Carmen is living proof that that reinvention is ageless, energy is infectious, and a reminder of the power of a large network.
If you’ve not heard Carmen, buckle up, if you have I am it's worth a second listen.
Now over to Carmen
Guest Overview
Born to a Peruvian father, and a Chilean mother, but grew up to become a legend of New York nightlife, impresario co-founder of Studio 54, and to this day not only continues to reinvent herself but also entertainment experiences, is this week’s guest Carmen D'Alessio.
In Part two of this interview with Carmen D'Alessio, the New York nightlife legend, impresario, and co-founder of what is often referred to as the greatest club of all time; Studio 54, we explore the untold story of the nightclub’s formation.
We start the interview with Carmen recounting her second marriage and leaving Italy and working for Valentino in Rome to return to NYC to build her ‘Queen of the Night’ reputation.
If you’ve seen the 2018 Netflix documentary on the infamous nightclub you’ll hear the other side of the founder’s story on how the sensational nightclub came into existence.
Carmen also recounts her memories of those unparalleled 33 months of hedonism, having her mother around her, and how the era ended and the world changed
We also cover how she’s continued to reinvent herself and nightlife experiences around the world
Finally, we cover her quick-fire questions and answers
I hope you enjoy the wit, wisdom, and wonder of Carmen D’Alessio.
What we discuss:
How she moved into fashion
Beginning her career as a nightlife promoter
How a 1976 bicentennial party reported in the WSJ got her on the map
How she met Ian Schrager and Steve Rubel and her collaboration with their Enchanted Garden ended up in Time
How she was forced to invite them to collaborate when her Studio 54 backer dropped out
The evolution of their business arrangement and how that saved her from jail
How the day to day operation worked
Her superpower of connecting people
Spontaneity and living without consequences
How Aids changed everything
Building her list of 8000 names
How nightlife has evolved as she has aged
Carmen’s evolution
Staying young, her sense of adventure and freedom
Her mother’s lust for life
Acqua fit in her 70’s
Confronting conventions
The Gospel according to carmen
Her feeling of youthfulness
Being thankful
Her principles
Establishing an environmental foundation
Her patience and faith
Links in the Show
Steve Rubell
Ian Schrager
Baby Brasa
Andy Warhol
Imelda Marcos
Federico Fellini
Infinity club
Enchanted Garden
Sterling St Jacques
Grace Jones
Basquiat
Cher
Michael Jackson
Keith Haring
Las dos lunas
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Guest Overview
This week we welcome back our previous guest, Robert Marchetti the New York-based, Australian hospitality veteran.
Robert recently launched his own podcast The Raw Hospitality Show, where he interviews industry icons and what he describes as boots on the ground 'hospo peeps' (that an Aussie term) those unseen folk whose voices are seldom heard.
Robert’s aim with the new show to inspire, motivate, and entertain the 16 million+ hospitality folks in the USA, and 50 million+ globally.
With Covid-19 continuing to decimate the industry, Robert hopes that by interviewing industry veterans and on the ground game-changers, their views and insights into what’s next will inspire a generation of hospitality workers to remain resolute and resilient through these challenging times.
In this fast-paced episode, Robert also covers how he embraced the challenges of Covid19 with a positive attitude and a radical acceptance that he may well lose his Soho restaurant and bar Gran Tivoli and Peppi's cellar. He explains the need to pivot, how he’s used this time to reorientate his business and goes on to explain the work he is now doing with Creative community workspace Neuehouse.
Robert is more than resilient, he radiates practical positivity with a grounded sense of humor that is uplifting in these strangest of times.
I hope you agree.
Social Links
Robert Marchetti Hospitality
The Raw Hospitality Show
Youtube
Link in the Show
Neuehouse
Shep Gordon
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Guest Overview
Jessica Carson, creator, teacher, and author of Wired This Way, a book about Finding Mental, Emotional, Physical, and Spiritual Well-being as a Creator, is this week's guest.
In this wide ranging episode, we cover Jessica’s early life and development being the perfect combination of her right and left-brained parents.
Jessica refers to Jungian psychology as a reference point to her adolescent development, and her innate passion and self-imposed pressures and character polarities and the impact that had on friendships and relationships.
She discusses the transformational time of her life working as a social director at a start-up discovering her social fluidity and her empath character.
Jessica discusses the common characteristics of the empath, the value, and the downsides and need for protection. She explains how this led her to study neuroscience at Georgetown.
From around 30 min we get into creativity and serendipity.
We discuss Jessica’s experiences of serendipity, describing herself as a ‘Serendipitor’ and by embracing the synchronicity of life she overcame her dis-ease, distress and angst.
Jessica explains the different creative archetypes she has mapped in her book Wired this Way, which discusses the light and dark sides of different creators and she then explains the shared ten dimensions of a creator.
Jessica discusses the dance between creativity and productivity and the deficit of creativity in our ‘hustle culture and the need for creative self-discovery.
Jessica makes historic references and provides an overview of her six muses she uses as a framework and as a creative and customizable approach to the journey of self-discovery, a tapestry to understand what archetype a person is.
We discuss happiness, creativity, self-discovery, procrastination, and creative incubation, and creative rebirth in the context of the times we live.
We also cover education and mental health, innovation, and the importance of diversity in the innovation process. We end by discussing fear and failure.
I hope you are stimulated by the creative explorations and archetypes of Jessica Carson.
Social Links
Website
Links in Show
Wired This Way
Sophie’s World
Jung
Witness Movie
The Empaths Survival Guide
Scott Barry Kauffman -Transcend: The New Science of Self Actualization
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This week we re-publish our first ever episode, recorded on a cold day in late 2018 on the streets of South Philadelphia with Tyrique Glasgow.
Tyrique Glasgow is the Founder of the Young Chances Foundation, an organization providing after-school support, sports programs, and mentoring for South Philadelphia’s youth.
Besides running the foundation, Tyrique works with the District Attorney's Office on its Focused Deterrence initiative, an effort that targets South Philly gang members, to offer an exit route from street life through job training and other services.
Tyrique founded The Young Chances Foundation (YCF) is a 501(c)3 organization in 2012 as a second chance opportunity to make better opportunities for himself, his family and his South Philadelphia – Grays Ferry community.
Tyrique's personal story is one of radical transformation from dealing drugs to delivering hope and opportunity.
Tyrique's lowest point in life was the night in 2004 that it almost ended, as he lay unconscious on the cold ground of his South Philadelphia neighborhood, shot 11 times in the head, back, legs and arms. Surviving this life altering trauma he then had to serve five years in prison before returning to the Grays Ferry community as a reformed citizen, with an unstoppable passion to ‘save the children of Grays Ferry from following a similar path.
In 2012 Young Chances Foundation’s Mission was born.
I met Tyrique at a fundraising event in New York in mid 2018 and went to interview him later that year on the street Corner he used to run.
Interviewing Tyrique was humbling, uplifting and inspiring - a beacon of possibility and the shining example of the potential that one human’s courage and commitment can have.
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Guest overview
Schuyler Moore is Director of Science and Technology at the Defense Innovation Board, in the US Department of Defense, by day. At night she is a competitive Hip Hop Dancer by night. She is sister to our previous guest Dr. Merritt Moore(Episode No14).
Everything Schuyler shares in this episode is her personal view and perspective. She only speaks herself and does not speak for the Department of Defense or the Defense Innovation Board.
LA born, of a Korean mother and American father, Schuyler’s upbringing equipped her with a deep curiosity, an independent world-view, and valuable problem-solving skills.
Her unconventional mindset enabled her to defy convention, shed her comfort zone and traveling to teach school girls in Afghanistan in 2013 age, this boundary breaking attitude led her to and become director of science and technology at the DoD only six years later.
In this expansive and informative episode, Schuyler shares the value and impact of her parents on her life focus, how her interest in National Security emerged while teaching in Afghanistan, and shares her personal perspectives, knowledge, and insights on agile living and the imperative of how to consider and manage risk in an uncertain and unpredictable world. She explains how she applies this to build confidence, solve problems, maintain humility, and remain calm in the face of chaos. We also discuss gut instinct and innovation and her view on serendipity.
Schuyler shares her advice to parents on how to guide their young daughters to thrive in STEM or Steam and her advice to women in the workforce.
At 45 min in we also dive deep into A.I. as I ask Schuyler to define in simple terms what A.I. is, before we get into ethics, standards and traceability, the A.I. arms race and the value to humanity.
I also ask Schuyler about Cyber warfare threats, defending it using zero trust architecture, and how we as nations and businesses think about our network security.
Schuyler shares her recommendations on changes to education to prepare us for the future and hirIng for Creativity and finally we discuss the role of Diversity in innovation.
I hope you enjoy this expansive educational exploration of agile living, risk, AI, Cyber warfare and so much more.
Social Links
Website
Links in the show
SOLA
Open Ai
GPT3
Department of Defense
Defense Innovation Board
Zucked book
Social Dilemma
Merritt Moore
AI Books
Ray Kurswell
Center for Security and Emerging Technology
T Minus AI Mike Kanan
CHINAI Newsletter
How to Be An Anti Racist
The Immortalists
The Pixar Story
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This week’s guest, Dr Christian Basch, describes himself as a practical philosopher.
He is also Author of the new book the Serendipity Mindset, and Director of NYU’s Global Economy program.
In this absorbing interview Christian describes his upbringing in Germany to a cerebral intellectual father and empathetic and loving mother.
Christian explains how his supportive parents instilled a sense of belief that whatever his focus in life, everything was possible.
Christian discusses his wayward upbringing, his search for where to channel his energies and the life defining car crash that made him re-evaluate his attitude to life and set him on the path to writing the Serendipity Mindset.
He maps out how In 2008 in London he formed his innovative global Sandbox network and describes the community they build as a serendipity accelerator.
We cover purpose and social entrepreneurship and how he has worked with many of the top CEO’s to focus on how their companies can link their purpose to the sustainable development goals.
If you want to jump forward to where we get into the specifics of the Serendipity Mindset head to AROUND 40 MIN min.
Christian explains how the Serendipity Mindset is grounded in creating the structures and mindsets that enable people to create their own luck and I ask Christian to explain the role of procrastination in serendipity and what he calls productive procrastination.
He sets out why spotting something unexpected and connecting dots when you see them is key to a serendipity mindset. He explains why sagacity and tenacity are the core elements to unlocking serendipity and why we need to avoid seeing life linear and more a series of random twisting lines and being prepared to see failure as an opportunity.
Christian covers fear of failure, loss and overcoming self limiting beliefs and worthiness.
I ask Christian about the role of his work to affect change in organizational behavior, and how brand values can define meeting agendas, and examining and learning from failure to solve large problems.
We also discuss polarization, diversity, inclusion and seeking common denominators to solve our contemporary challenges.
Finally we cover serendipity scores and the value to reframing behaviors. Christian describes how as a daily habit and a life philosophy it can transform how we view uncertainty and the unexpected from a threat to an ally.
I hope you are empowered by the mind altering playbook of Dr Christian Busch.
Social Links
Website
Show Links and Notes
The Serendipity Mindset
Goethe Quote - If you take someone as they are you make them worse
But if you take them as what they could be you make them capable of becoming what they can be
Sandbox
Million Peacemakers
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This week I want to make a change to our usual interview format. Instead, I want to talk about the issue of climate change. Whatever your perspective on the causes few will deny that dramatic and potentially irreversible changes are occurring that threaten humanity’s existence on the planet. We're now well into the fourth quarter of this tumultuous year. With news around our tiny unseen enemy still in abundance, and as we focus on addressing the immediate Covid-19 pandemic, we must not lose sight of the more significant existential threat: our climate crisis. The urgency to build on the much-cited 'We're all in this together' sentiment cannot be overstated. If we are to avert a climate collapse, now is the time to start a new contagion, one that spreads a radical and positive change in consumer and corporate behaviors. Behavior change is hard, but we should take inspiration from positive societal shifts that have emerged in recent months: 1. Covid-19 and our sheltering in place demonstrate that most people can, individually and collectively, on a global scale, radically change our way of life, sacrificing what once seemed sacrosanct. 2. The collective spirit of resistance and rage, ignited by the death of George Floyd and spate of other racial injustices, demonstrates the power of people to unite and confront the status quo. 3. The rapid collective action by some corporations, businesses, and brands in changing their marketing, operations, and supply chains to battle the pandemic prove business can be on the right side of race history. However, Covid-19 has not only exposed the deep and systemic social, economic, educational, racial, and technological inequity; it's also directly impacted our progress to achieve the UN's seventeen sustainable development goals (SDG's). As UN Secretary-General António Guterres recently stated: "As Member States recognized at the SDG Summit held last September, global efforts to date have been insufficient to deliver the change we need, jeopardizing the Agenda's promise to current and future generations. Now, due to COVID-19, unprecedented health, economic, and social crisis is threatening lives and livelihoods, making the achievement of Goals even more challenging."The climate target adopted at the 2015 Paris Agreement was to keep global temperature rise this century to less than 2 degrees Celsius, above pre-industrial levels, but set a 2030 target to limit the rise to +1.5°C.While Covid-19 may have paused the global economy, it's estimated to only reduce 2020 Carbon emissions by 6%, significantly below the required 50% annual reduction we need in this coming decade to avoid a climate abyss - the point at which there may be no way back. So what if we consider Covid-19 a wake up call to our global fragility, a kickstarter to elicit unified action to avoid climate calamity. With 2019 being the second warmest year on record, coming at the end of the warmest decade on record, we are currently "way off track meeting either the 1.5°C or 2°C targets", according to Guterres. With the world's average surface temperature projected to surpass 3 degrees Celsius by the end of this century, our children, and their children will experience melting ice caps, rising sea levels, flooded coastal capitals, mass migration north, food and water shortages, and mass social unrest, economic breakdown, and war. We have a simple choice. To act or not to act. As individuals, if we choose to act, we can start living more sustainable lives. As consumers, employees, or investors, we have the leverage to demand accelerated action from the corporations and brands that form the fabric of the carbon economy. We have individual role models; Bea Johnson and Joshua Spodek are examples of positive environmental behavior leaders. Two recent books, The Future We Choose and The Is No Planet B, also guide us on how ...
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This week's guest Linda Rislin is evidence of how life’s path leads us in directions we could never have planned. In Linda’s case, a visual designer turned Open Relationship Coach.
Born to Haitian parents, Linda was born in New Jersey and grew up in an inter-generational home and at the intersection of diverse cultures.
In part one Linda discusses the early years, her catholic education, her immersion in American culture, and the clash with Haitian values. She explains the influence of her parents on her character development, her mother's faith, and her father's levity.
Linda discusses how growing up with scarcity guided her to seek financial security in a marketing role at Vimeo. Upon discovering how unfulfilled she felt Linda describes her career migration into visual design and the resultant impact on her life satisfaction.
We end part one there and in Part two we cover Linda’s journey to becoming an Open Relationship Coach.
Linda discusses how she and her partner evolved from a monogamous relationship to embrace open relationships.
She reflects on how her previous relationship mode was based on the pursuit of finding a husband, the impact of her Haitian culture on how she perceived relationships, rather what she now calls seeking a life adventure partner.
Linda discusses fear, the concept of soul mates, how previous relationships shaped her behavior and becoming her individual authentic self.
Linda explains her early experience of open relationships, adult play-parties, and being 'Monogamish' and reflects communication, women’s roles in romantic culture, and the human condition.
Linda discusses how she has applied her experiences in Open Relationships to help other women navigate open relationships, help them speak up and how she helping them deal with relationship stigmas and propaganda.
We also discuss the impact on mental health, the economic impact of empowered relationships, and how she works with therapists as part of couples therapy, being true to oneself, cultivating openness and honesty.
I hope you enjoy the convention confronting candor of Linda Rislin.
SOCIAL LINKS
Linda's Site
LINKS IN SHOW
Haiti Earthquake
Shillington Design School
Relationship Escalator
Dave Hulu
Always Be My Baby
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GUEST OVERVIEW
This week's guest is Linda Rislin, is evidence of how life’s path leads us in directions we could never have planned. In Linda’s case, a visual designer turned Open Relationship Coach.
Born to Haitian parents, Linda was born in New Jersey and grew up in an inter-generational home and at the intersection of diverse cultures.
In part one Linda discusses the early years, her catholic education, her immersion in American culture and the clash with Haitian values. She explains the influence of her parents on her character development, her mother's faith and her father levity.
Linda discusses how growing up with scarcity guided her to seek financial security in a marketing role at Vimeo. Upon discovering how unfulfilled she felt Linda describes her career migration into visual design and the resultant impact on her life satisfaction.
We end part one there and in Part two we cover Linda’s journey to becoming an Open Relationship Coach.
SOCIAL LINKS
Linda's Site
LINKS IN SHOW
Haiti Earthquake
Shillington Design School
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Jennifer L Williams is this week's guest and our first guest of Series 3. Jennifer is a leading thinker and advocate for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
During this open, honest, and expansive discussion Jennifer discusses why diversity, equity, and inclusion must be foundational to reimagining how we work and how we build teams and move toward a more equitable society.
In part one Jennifer discusses growing up as an only child in DC with her loving but overprotective, successful Panamanian immigrant mother, she navigated the highly controlled home environment by immersing herself in writing and books. This ignited her inner creativity and set her on a path to focusing on becoming her best self.
In part two dive into Jennifer’s career and journey to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Jennifer deconstructs how working in HR inside ad agency Saatchi led her to be a vocal proponent of changing the narrative around diversity and respect, set her on the path to her current life focus consulting on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging.
For anyone that wants to appreciate the nuances of the Diversity and Inclusion, Jennifer delivers an explanation with simplicity and clarity and frames it in the context COVID, George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement.
We discuss how and when the systemic change will emerge and Jennifer explains her approach in consulting businesses in the process of transformation and the dynamics of the radical changes underway
Jennifer provides a clear explanation around the lexicon and wordplay between Black, Latino, and People of Color. I for one certainly learned a lot from this episode
I hope you enjoy the vitality and vigor of Jennifer L. Williams.
Social Links
Links in the show
New York. A Documentary
Landmark Course
Bob Wiesner
The JL Solution
Scroobius Pip episode with Dane Baptiste
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Guest Overview
Jennifer L Williams is this week's guest and our first guest of Series 3. Jennifer is a leading thinker and advocate for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
During this open, honest and expansive discussion Jennifer discusses why diversity, equity, and inclusion must be foundational to reimagining how we work and how we build teams, and move toward a more equitable society.
In part one Jennifer discusses growing up as an only child in DC with her loving but over protective, successful Panamanian immigrant mother, she navigated the highly controlled home environment by immersing herself in writing and books. This ignited her inner creativity and set her on a path to focusing on becoming her best self.
Jennifer reflects on the other foundational influences and people growing up, gratitude, anger and being responsible for one's own happiness and the second chances life gives us We also discuss immigration and inclusivity.
She explains the transformational impact of attending a Landmark Forum course.
Jennifer eloquently expresses the experience of establishing herself as a young black woman in corporate New York recounting her mother's sage words ‘you have to be twice as good to be considered half as competent.'
We end part one as Jennifer discusses her experience of moving to New York and the caring safe environment she was welcomed into.
In part two dive into Jennifer’s career and journey to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
I hope you enjoy the vitality and vigor of Jennifer L Williams.
Social Links
Links in the show
New York. A Documentary
Landmark Course
Bob Wiesner
The JL Solution
Scroobius Pip episode with Dane Baptiste
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This weeks bonus episode we go back to Episode 76 where we interviewed Carmen Medina - the ex-Deputy Director for Intelligence at the CIA.
We pick up this episode where I ask Carmen about her perspective on the state of the World today and the direction we are headed. Carmen discusses the web of causality, our interconnectedness and her perspective on communications, and being heard in a polarized environment and she values failure.
Carmen is a deeply reflective woman that lives by the principles of playfulness and kindness.
I hope you enjoy this short dose of optimism with Carmen Medina.
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Guest Overview
This week we go back to Episode 30 with Co-founder of the Masters in Branding program at New York’s School of Visual Arts and host of one of the most popular and longest-running podcasts, Design Matters, Debbie Millman.
We pick up the interview at 20 min where Debbie discusses the serendipitous events that have effects her path in life and we go from there.
If you missed this one last year, Debbie’s great strength is her candor and vulnerability. Be inspired by this short insight into the life design of Debbie Millman.
What We Discuss
Debbie’s innate curiosity
How she interviews for attitude
The transformative impact of coming out in her 50’s
Her perspective on courage
We discuss Debbie’s periods of depression and despair
We cover her principles
Her views on failure
The hard choices she has made
Her answer to our impossible question
Who we interview next
On Social
Links In The Show
Debbie Millman
Milton Glaser
School of Visual Arts
One of Us movie
SUNY Albany
Professor Helen Regueiro Elam
Speak Up Blog
Hacking the American Mind Robert Lustig
AIGA
Print Magazine
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Guest Overview
B Corp evangelist Lorna Davis is a transformational thinker, leader, and visionary for why and how organizations can combine social, and environmental priorities with their financial imperatives to deliver improved business performance. As a highly respected coach, international speaker Lorna also serves on a number of boards to help them embrace meaning and purpose.
Born in South Africa in the age of Apartheid, her education, parental guidance, curiosity, and worldly ambitions set her on the path to a stellar career in international business and marketing and finally leading Danone to become the first billion-dollar entity to become a public benefit corporation - welcome this week’s guest Lorna Davis.
In this short bonus episode we discuss serendipity, education, diversity, divine intelligence, the joy of being human and how she uses curiosity as an antidote to pain, and her perspective on how humanity works.
Oh and the quick-fire questions.
I hope you’re inspired by the leadership values, heart, the humanity of Lorna Davis.
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Guest Overview
Ecuadorian born, she became an undocumented migrant at 13, founded United We Dream, the largest youth-led US organization, fighting to protect and defend the rights of undocumented immigrants at 23, a MacArthur Fellow at 33; welcome this week/s guest, social justice activist Cristina Jiménez
In this double length episode, Cristina recounts the story of her upbringing, being born in Ecuador, her early memories of living through the political and economic turmoil of Ecuador in the 90’s.
She describes her father’s athleticism and how his mental fortitude instilled resilience and determination at an early age and how her mothers empathy became a characteristic she embraced. She reflects growing up with an abundance of love and being unaware of the economic challenges her parents faced.
Cristina discusses arriving in Queens New York as an undocumented migrant child unable to speak English in the summer of 1998. Early on she experienced the shame, discrimination and exploitation immigrants encounter and we discuss the anxiety and fear that exist for immigrants with no status.
She discusses the added pressure and racial profiling she experienced following 9/11 and the hatred and discrimination that ensued.
Cristina sets out how the narrative shifts and changes in the policy and politics of immigration led her to begin her social justice fight.
She also describes the challenges she faced accessing further education, how her advocacy began using her pseudonym Sandra and how this experience gave her a taste of the power of community action.
At 1 hour into the interview, Cristina begins to discuss the beginning of her United We Dream movement and it’s interconnectedness with other movements like Black Lives Matter. She discusses congressional inaction, detention camps, the lack of progress to create pathways to fix immigration status and why both parties are responsible for the impasse
She discusses how she and her teams campaigning and public shaming of the Obama administration led to Obama to sign an executive order to protect dreamers in 2012
We then cover the damaging effect of Covid19 on the indigenous, black, brown and immigrant communities, why they have been impacted more, the systems of discrimination and Cristina uses the example of Elmhurst hospital in Queens to emphasize the inequity and injustice facing minority communities.
Cristina explains why her fight is a battle for the soul of the country, the possibility of change, her hopes for undocumented immigrants, her evolving role, and the future of democracy.
We end with all our quick fire questions.
I hope you are uplifted by the vitality, vision and courage of Cristina Jiménez
Social Links
Cristina's personal Social Links
Links in The Show
United We Dream
Homeland Security
9/11
Elmhurst Hospital
A house of my Own Sandra Cisneros
Bon Jovi
When they see us
Greisa Martinez
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Guest Overview
Whether a startup founder, someone with a good idea that can’t get taken seriously due to gender, sex, or race, or if you're feeling jaded by the lack of passion and purpose in business; you’ll be uplifted by this weeks interview with Mark Gilmour, Allyn Shaw, and John Basnage.
John, Allyn, and Mark recently joined forces to launch a new purpose-driven investment firm and fuse their diverse skills in Marketing and Branding, Corporate Finance, Law, and Technology.
In Part One of the joint discussion, we cover their collective yet wildly diverse upbringings on their path to purpose.
All three guests discuss their first memories of their emerging sexual identities, their self-awareness and discovery, early ambitions, influences, motivations, goals and the serendipity or happenstance that set them on their life journeys.
In Part Two, Mark, Allyn and John dive deep into their path to purpose with their new venture, focused on recognizing, celebrating, embracing, difference through investing in the under-invested and under-represented minorities. They discuss the alchemy and untapped power of difference, why true innovation will be born from diversity, and why they are reimagining the very core of their business model to break the traditional corporate structure.
Mark discusses investing in purpose-driven businesses, common unity delivering for the three P’s of people, planet, and profit.
Mark, Allyn, and John discuss the exciting opportunity to invest in new business ideas that will emerge post-Covid to solve the problems that have emerged, how new networks and communities will emerge.
We also discuss the positive value of procrastination, their life mottos and we cover all our quick-fire questions
I hope you enjoy the ego-free honesty, passion, and purpose and common unity of Mark Gilmour, Allyn Shaw, and John Basnage.
Social Links
Mark’s Linkedin
John’s Linkedin
Allyn’s Linkedin
Allyn’s Twitter
Links In Show
British Airways
Heathers
Zoom PBS
Hob-nobs
Maya Angelou
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Guest Overview
Whether a startup founder, someone with a good idea that can’t get taken seriously due to gender, sex, or race, or if you're feeling jaded by the lack of passion and purpose in business; you’ll be uplifted by this weeks interview with Mark Gilmour, Allyn Shaw, and John Basnage.
John, Allyn, and Mark recently joined forces to launch a new purpose-driven investment firm and fuse their diverse skills in Marketing and Branding, Corporate Finance, Law, and Technology.
In Part one the joint discussion, we cover their collective yet wildly diverse upbringings on their path to purpose.
Allyn was born in the notorious Compton neighborhood of LA, grew up in a poor but loving family who nurtured and guided him to an education that enabled him to escape being another statistic.
Mark describes being born in Canada as a ‘welcome baby’. Moving to the UK at an early age, growing up in the private schooling system, his volatile and loud home environment conditioned him to ensure his voice was heard and prepared him to thrive in chaotic volatile work environments.
John discusses being born into a loving quirky family and describes his upbringing as a container of abundance, scarcity, and boredom and how his early interest in academia.
All three guests discuss their first memories of their emerging sexual identities, their self-awareness and discovery, early ambitions, influences, motivations, goals and the serendipity or happenstance that set them on their life journeys.
In Part Two, Mark, Allyn and John dive deep into their path to purpose with their new venture, focused on recognizing, celebrating, embracing, difference through investing in the under-invested and under-represented minorities.
They discuss the alchemy and untapped power of difference, why true innovation will be born from diversity, and why they are reimagining the very core of their business model to break the traditional corporate structure.
Mark discusses investing in purpose-driven businesses, common unity delivering for the three P’s of people, planet, and profit.
Mark, Allyn, and John discuss the exciting opportunity to invest in new business ideas that will emerge post-Covid to solve the problems that have emerged, how new networks and communities will emerge.
We also discuss the positive value of procrastination, their life mottos and we cover all our quick-fire questions
I hope you enjoy the ego-free honesty, passion, and purpose and common unity of Mark Gilmour, Allyn Shaw, and John Basnage.
Social Links
Mark’s Linkedin
John’s Linkedin
Allyn’s Linkedin
Allyn’s Twitter
Links In Show
British Airways
Heathers
Zoom PBS
Hob-nobs
Maya Angelou
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Guest Overview
Simon Wheatcroft is living proof that resilience is born from adversity, accepting that things will go wrong, not go to plan, and being prepared to embrace failure without fear.
Having lost his sight at an early age Simon used running solo as his foundation to building an abundant life as a runner, motivational speaker, and now teacher.
In part one Simon discusses the impact of growing up in the 80’s, in a small coal-mining town in the North of England, and the devastating social and economic impact of the coal mine closures. He then takes us through his early life and journey to where he met the founders of Haptic Technology company Wear Works.
In this episode Simon explains how he discovered the Haptic technology company Wear Works and how the combination of sensors enabled him to run races and sense people around him
We discuss the future advances using Lidar technology to create 3 depth maps of spaces and object recognition technology that will transform the lives of people with visual impairments
Simon explains the serendipitous moments that enabled him to study clinical psychology, computational neuroscience, and AI in later life and led him onto the motivational-speaking stage.
Simon covers resilience, dealing with adversity, fear, failure, and managing pain.
Simon discusses the appalling and enduring employment discrimination against blind or partially blind people and reveals why he is changing his career to teaching and explains his passion to provide visually impaired children with computer science skills to live an equal opportunity life.
Simon and I discuss accessibility and how web page metadata and hierarchies work.
Simon also reflects on his wife’s enduring support.
And of course all our quick-fire questions
I am sure you will feel uplifted, inspired and energized by the life story of Simon Wheatcroft.
Social Links
Website
Links in the show
Runkeeper
The voice of Runkeeper
Mind Hacks Book Tom Stafford
Lidar technology
Ghost in the Wires
RNIB Employment Report
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Guest Overview
Simon Wheatcroft is living proof that resilience is born from adversity, accepting that things will go wrong, not go to plan, and being prepared to embrace failure without fear.
Having lost his sight at an early age Simon used running solo as his foundation to building an abundant life as a runner, motivational speaker, and now teacher.
In part one Simon discusses the impact of growing up in the 80’s, in a small coal-mining town in the North of England, and the devastating social and economic impact of the coal mine closures
Simon recounts the experience of growing up suffering from a degenerative eye disorder that ultimately resulted in his loss of sight by his late teens.
Simon discusses how this impacted his ambitions, his education but how the degeneration of his site did help him develop spatial, memory, and mental acuity skills that prepared him to confront the challenges of living without sight.
Having lived many years in a state of denial, Simon explains the pivotal point in his life when he accepted his condition and embraced running as a means of creating a new pathway in the world.
We discuss the many challenges he faced in those early days, the value of the voice direction of the Runkeeper app, and his ability to sense what was underfoot. He discusses the daily challenge and stress of running solo without site, confronting the fear of not seeing oncoming obstacles or cars.
We then cover his boundary-pushing attitude, that led him to the US and running 200 miles from Boston to New York to line up for his first New York marathon.
Simon explains the serendipitous moment he met the voice of the Runkeeper app in a running store in Boston and the power her voice had in giving him the belief he could run solo.
In part two Simon explains how he discovered the Haptic technology company Wear Works and how the combination of sensors enabled him to run races and sense people around him
We discuss the future advances using Liidar technology to create 3 depth maps of spaces and object recognition technology that will transform the lives of people with visual impairments
Simon explains the serendipitous moments in life that led him to that enabled him to study clinical psychology, computational neuroscience, and AI in later life and led him on a motivational public speaking stage.
Simon discusses resilience, dealing with adversity, fear, failure, and managing pain.
Simon reveals how he is changing his career to teaching and explains his passion to provide visually impaired children with computer science skills to live an equal opportunity to life.
Simon and I discuss accessibility and how web page metadata and hierarchies work.
Simon also reflects on his wife’s enduring support.
And of course all our quick-fire questions
I am sure you will feel uplifted, inspired and energized by the life story of Simon Wheatcroft
Social Links
Website
Links in the show
Runkeeper
The voice of Runkeeper
Mind Hacks Book Tom Stafford
Lidar technology
Ghost in the Wires
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Guest Overview
This week's guest was named as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, was featured in WIRED's Smart List and Founder of Fine Acts a global creative activist platform. Welcome Yana Buhrer Tavanier. We cover a lot of ground in this episode.
Yana discusses the impact of being born in Communist Bulgaria, being driven at an early age to confront injustice using words and recounts the influence and inspiration of her Aunt who resisted the regime through art and humor but was tortured by the and imprisoned in a mental institution leading her to ultimately to take her own life at 37.
Yana describes how her family conditioned her to live by values and not by the rules imposed by the state and how this led her to investigative journalism exposing social and human rights abuses, using her writing as a weapon against injustice.
Yana explains how her work to expose the inhumane and degrading treatment in mental institutions resulted in her being nominated as a World Economic Forum Young Global leader
Yana explains why she evolved from journalism to activism. She recounts her early collaborations with artists to use art as a powerful communication tool to generate empathy. She explains how this led to her forming her activism organization Fine Acts, a non profit creative studio for social impact that leverages the power of play in the process of creating their campaigns.
Yana describes her team fuse this with Hope-Based Communication and the shifts that are taking place in campaigning for human rights.
Yana discusses the latest thinking and how neuroscience insights are changing the way activists operate and why they are releasing their artworks as open source.
I ask Yana to reflect on the state of political leadership and the evolution of leadership around the world.
We also discuss education, curiosity, creativity and procrastination before we jump into our quick-fire questions.
There's a lot of inspiration in this episode but I was struck by how lack of experience never stopped Yana, how persistence and acceptance of failure spurred her one to achieve extraordinary impact.
I hope you enjoy the heart, humanity and humility of Yana Tavanier.
Social Links
Beat – her creative social experiment, exploring the ominous silence surrounding domestic violence.
Fakery – Yana’s project fighting fake news through beautiful but horribly tasting cupcakes.
Labs - their open format bridging art and tech in support of human rights.
Spring of Hope – their campaign on hope during the pandemic, where she collaborated with 80 artists from 30 countries to create over 100 free to use and adapt uplifting illustrations.
12 Black artists / 24 protest posters – recently, in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, Yana teamed up with 12 Black typographers and lettering artists from around the world on an open pack of 24 protest posters – all free to print and share, and ready to be used in action
Surviving Blackness – our current campaign, where we collaborated with Lee Mokobe – an award-winning Black trans slam poet – on a spoken word poem on systemic racism towards Black people.
Her TED Talk on Playtivism.
Links in the show
Time Heroes
Bulgarian Helsinki Committee
World Economic Forum
Fine Acts
Dr Stuart Brown
Hope based communications Thomas Coomes
Fulbright Scholar
Amplifier Shepard Fairy
AfterLife Ricky Gervais
Figuring Maria Popova
Brainpickings
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Guest Overview
This week’s guest Julia Black is at the forefront of innovation in education, designing an educational approach that unleashes the talent, and unlocks the passion and true potential of every child.
As the founder and CEO of Explorium, Julia’s Lights On methodology is changing the way we think about education.
Julia explains that when becoming a mother, the values of her own mother, and her first daughter starting school created an inner conflict that led her to pivot away from film-making to focus on education reform.
She discusses how the serendipity of creating a circus as a school fund-raiser opened her eyes to the potential in children, unleashed her boldness to confront the educational status quo, research innovations in education to create a vision to disrupt educational norms. Starting with a creative learning center in a pub, Julia describers why having a clear vision enables her to thrive on risk-taking, ambiguity and trusting that events will fall into place.
Julia explains how she partnered with her father to transform her future vision into a social business reality. Julia breaks down the methodology and the impact Lights On is having on children and parents alike. Julia also reflects on why in the time of Covid parents can now witness their children’s disconnection from learning its mental health impact and why Light’s On provides the path forward for education.
I hope you enjoy the vision, vitality and unfolding story of Julia Black.
Social Links
Explorium
Links in the Show
Marie Stopes
Channel4
BAFTA
Neurohacking
Ministry of Sound
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Guest Overview
Over the course of the series, we have often asked our guests about what they would change to education to equip a generation of children with the skills they need to survive and thrive in our AI-driven future.
This week’s guest Julia Black is at the forefront of innovation in education, designing an educational approach that unleashes the talent, and unlocks the passion and true potential of every child.
As the founder and CEO of Explorium, Julia’s Lights On methodology is changing the way we think about education.
In part one we discuss how finding her purpose in life was always on her mind.
Julia discusses the huge impact of her parents; her father’s influence in her seeking a life in social impact, believing anything you set your mind to was possible, and being true to your authentic self. Julia also reflects how her fathers adventurous spirit was balanced by her mother’s more cautious influence in creating a stable and secure home environment.
Julia explains her father’s story, being written off as a dyslexic, neurodiverse child to becoming a doctor and being one of the UK’s first social entrepreneurs forming the Maria Stopes foundation for female reproductive rights.
Julia recounts how her father pushed her to confront fear, live outside her comfort zone, and embrace failure and its enduring value.
We also cover her own educational experience, seeking out her purpose in early life. Discovering the power of storytelling to create a social impact during a year in South America, returning to the UK, persisting in pitching ideas to the UK broadcast Channel 4 that led her to become an award-winning documentary filmmaker.
In part two we focus on Julia discovering her true purpose in her 40’s, her immersion in education reform, creating her Lights On platform, serendipity, and how the pandemic is providing the opportunity to scale the platform globally.
I hope you enjoy the vision, vitality and unfolding story of Julia Black.
Social Links
Explorium
Links in the Show
Marie Stopes
Channel4
BAFTA
Neurohacking
Ministry of Sound
Dr Tim Black
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Guest Overview
Last week I caught up with our guest from Episode No 56, the deep thinking, mathematician and musician, Marcus G Miller
Marcus has written some thought provoking and expansive reflections on Covid19, about the death of George Floyd and the impact on the Black Lives Matter movement.
As one of the most well read and thoughtful guests we have had I was keen to hear Marcus’s perspective on our current world reality and how the future might play out.
I seek Marcus’s advice on what white folk can do to support the drive for racial justice. We discuss his perspective on the need for moral consciousness, and imagination. Marcus reflects on the media’s reporting of the death of black men by the police and the broader underreported killings across the country, the media’s handling of this and how the left and right react. Marcus recommends the books we should read to build our insight and knowledge on the nature of racism. Toward the end of the discussion I seek Marcus’s perspective on meditation and the unifying principle of physics as he shares the latest thinking on the topic.
I hope you enjoy the thoughts, reflections and expansive imagination of Marcus G Miller.
Links to Social
Website
Spotify
Links in the Show
Toni Morrison
Wolfram Theory of Everything
Zero Point Field
Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle
James Baldwin
Robin Diangelo
Sam Harris
Trevor Noah
Dr Philip Atiba Goff Center For Policing Equity
Insight Timer
The Shack
Three Body Problem
Crispr
Dr Merrit Moore
Jean Baptiste
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Guest Overview
As a football fan since a boy and a believer that sport and football have the power to create social impact, I am so privileged to have the opportunity to interview this week’s guest Jürgen Griesbeck, Co-Founder of the game-changing organization Common Goal.
Thank you, Ben Miller for the connection.
In part two, we dive deep into Common Goal, and the incredible work Jürgen and his team are doing to inject social impact into the DNA of football.
Jurgen explains the incubation of Common Goal. Leaving aside the CSR model, believing that it would never create sustainable and systemic impact, Jurgen and his team set up Common Goal as a movement where players commit 1% of their earnings to Common Goal's central fund. Together, they allocate and fund high-impact social organizations that harness football's power to advance the United Nations Global Goals.
Beginning with Juan Mata from Manchester United and Spain, Common Goal now has over 150 players including, Mats Hummels, Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, Shinji Kagawa, Giorgio Chiellini, and Liverpool F.C. manager Jurgen Klopp.
Jürgen explains his long term vision for Common Goal, and the potential impact it can as an enabling force for good.
Based on an ambition to build a culture where a better person is a better player, and that every person's contribution counts, Common Goal is now being adopted by younger players, managers, clubs, businesses and even supporters.
Jürgen also discusses the organization's role in supporting the UN's Global Goals and using football to galvanize the global population around the goals.
And Jürgen also answers our quick-fire questions.
There is a lot to take out of this episode; the importance of avoiding the easy option, the value of collective responsibility, the power of teamwork, being prepared to take risks and trust in your gut and imagination.
I hope you enjoy the wit, wisdom, and social impact of Jürgen Griesbeck.
Social Links
YouTube
Links In the Show
Common Goal
Street Football World
Andres Escobar
Pablo Escobar
Medellin
Ashoka
FIFA
UEFA
Glasgow Celtic
UNICEF
Juan Mata
Manchester United
Megan Rapinoe
Alex Morgan
Jurgen Klopp
FC Northyallan
Money Heist
Handmaids Tale
Between The World and Me
Mandela Long Walk to Freedom
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Guest Overview
As a football fan since a boy and a believer that sport and football have the power to create social impact, I am so privileged to have the opportunity to interview this week's guest Jürgen Griesbeck. Co-Founder of the game-changing organization Common Goal.
Thank you Ben Miller for the connection.
In Part One we cover Jurgen’s early path to purpose.
German-born, Jurgen’s journey began in the Black Forest. Growing up in Stuttgart with a mother who worked as a lawyer's assistant and a football-playing hospital administrator father Jurgen’s childhood provided little evidence that a life of social impact lay ahead.
Studying sports science, travels through Mexico and Costa Rica, developing a love of Latin America and meeting his now wife all contributed to him taking a scholarship in Medellin Colombia three months after the death of drug cartel leader Carlos Escobar.
In this dangerous and unpredictable environment, Jurgen witnessed first hand how football had the power to create unity when he saw two rival gangs set aside their weapons and participate in a football match.
In this serendipitous moment, his idea for Football for Peace was born. Engaging the gang leaders he designed a novel accessible approach to football match rules that helped players develop conflict resolution skills, empathy, respect for women, and collective responsibility.
The transformative impact in the city led to him being invited back to replicate the model to help address extremism in unified Germany and create Street Football for Tolerance.
Soon he recognized the need and the opportunity to create a platform where resources and experiences could be shared. His Street Football World now has a presence in 135 countries, a network of social impact community organizations using football as a mechanism to address social inequity for underserved youth.
Jurgen ends part one discussing why the global and regional football organizations like Fifa and Uefa have not embraced social impact at the core of their work.
In part two we dive deep into Common Goal and incredible work Jurgen and his team are doing to inject social impact into the DNA of football.
This episode is evidence that finding one's purpose is not a linear path. It takes time, trust, and faith that circumstances and life events have a unique value in the process of discovering one's purpose in life.
I hope you enjoy the wit, wisdom, and social impact of Jürgen Griesbeck.
Social Links
YouTube
Links In the Show
Common Goal
Street Football World
Andres Escobar
Pablo Escobar
Medellin
Ashoka
FIFA
UEFA
Glasgow Celtic
UNICEF
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Guest Overview
Bill Dowzer is a Principal of Australian Architectural practice BVN; he has been involved in the design and direction of numerous award-winning projects ranging from public, educational and cultural buildings to commercial work environments.
Re-ply is his latest endeavor, the idea from Re-Ply came as NYC communities have experienced a spring of discontent.
The COVID-19 virus, the murder of George Floyd, the resulting protests and then mass looting resulted in thousands of plywood panels being put in place to protect businesses. Soon they were covered in Graffiti and then street are.
Now coming down, they would ordinarily have ended up in landfills—an unfortunate waste of resources. But Bill has assembled a team to Up-cycle the plywood barricades into a street furniture kits. He will help local restaurants recover after COVID-19 with part of the proceeds are being donated to Children of Promise a NY charity to support children of incarcerated parents & empower them to break the cycle of intergenerational involvement in the criminal justice system.
We discuss the crisis, his social enterprise, and his expectations of how work and society will change coming out of this crisis.
Social Links
Website
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This week's guests Keith Kirkland, and Kevin Yoo, are co-founders of Wearable tech start up Wear Works.
In part one we covered the challenges they both overcame growing up and their journey to entrepreneurship.
In part two we discuss the evolution of Wear Works. Keith explains how his interests in design, movement, and technology led him to a realization that he could use technology to teach movement. As a Matrix lover he asked himself the question, ‘can I create a suit that teaches me Kung Fu’. To answer this question he and Kevin set out to create a new language based on touch. Called Haptic technology, their first experiment in this technology was to create a haptic device that could assist a blind runner to complete the New York Marathon unaided. Kevin explains the journey and the wave they are riding in building this new language and the complex interdependencies.
We also discuss the reality of funding that most startups face, the challenges of finding the right investors, Keith discusses the importance of impact, purpose, sustainability and why they created the company to be remote from the start.
He also discusses their roadmap and how their technology will evolve. Kevin unpacks the importance of inclusive design and the value of incorporating that with touch and the power of touch as an educational or instructional tool and where this goes when it intersects with Augmented reality.
They also explain their guiding principles and their relationship as founders.
I think this episode provides much insight into the reality of what running a startup involves, dealing with failure, uncertainty, persistence, and the importance of character and relationships.
I hope you enjoy the vision, candor, and resilience of Kevin and Keith.
Social links
Kevin’s Linkedin
Keith’s Linkedin
Links in the show
Wear Works
FIT
Pratt
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Guest overview
This week's guests Keith Kirkland and Kevin Yoo are co-founders of Wearable tech start up Wear Works.
In part one we cover the challenges they both overcame growing up.
Keith was born into a loving family but faced growing up in one the most violent towns in the US, Camden, New Jersey.
Always feeling an outsider, and a high performer he saw education as his way to escape the streets of Camden and avoid becoming just another statistic in the list of black male deaths under the age of 26
Kevin was born in South Korea but faced the culture shock of moving to the US age 10 and navigating his way through school during a time his family was in survival mode.
While both Kevin and Keith grew up with economic scarcity each enjoyed an abundance of support and love.
We cover their parallel paths to studying Industrial design at New York’s Pratt school.
Keith explains how his a love of art, talent for math as well as some soul searching questions from a Professor set him on a path to Industrial Design
Keith unpacks his circuitous path from art, engineering, to selling shoes to show and handbag design to studying Industrial design at Pratt.
I think this show demonstrates how persistence, hard work and willpower, wins in the end. I hope you enjoy the early insights on Keith Kirkland and Kevin Yoo.
In part two we dive deep into their experience as start up founders, the challenges they have faced and overcome and their vision for the future of haptic technology.
Social links
Kevin’s Linkedin
Keith’s Linkedin
Links in the show
Wear Works
FIT
Pratt
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Guest overview
Dr. Priscilla Pemu was born in Nigeria into a family of seven children. With her Nigerian first name that translates to ‘I am what God has said’ her sense of purpose in life was conditioned at an early age.
Brought up in a playful and abundant family environment, her education set her on a course to a career in medicine and a world view conditioned by British and American culture led her to life in the US.
Married at 27, she studied medicine at Benin University - and gained her fellowship in Anesthesia. In the face of a turbulent political environment in Nigeria, her older sister persuaded her to move to the US. Landing in Atlanta Georgia Priscilla has built a successful medical career at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta Georgia.
By 2003 she realized that educating patients about lifestyle behaviours, daily actions and choices around health goals was the approach to addressing long-term chronic illness.
Starting out with a Microsoft grant to build an early online health platform - she scaled the platform to build a community of coaches in clinics and churches to educate patients on their lifestyle behaviours.
Calling this Culturally Congruent Coaching Priscilla has developed a highly effective platform for addressing peoples inadequate nutritional knowledge, confronting their inactivity, and to reduce the incidents of smoking, it is now ready to scale beyond the successes of Atlanta.
Having had her TED talk translated into multiple languages, her value based care program is gaining global coverage.
Toward the end of this interview Priscilla reflects on the issue of race in the US, the different cultural context of arriving as an immigrant Nigerian in 1996 versus the challenges her children have growing up in the US, code switching and dealing with racism and becoming resilient adults.
This is a shorter interview than normal but I hope you are inspired by the vision, empathy and purpose of Priscilla Pemu.
Social Links
Website
Links In The Show
Benin University
Morehouse Hospital Atlanta
Priscilla’s TED TALK
Dare to Lead Brenee Brown
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In a follow up from last year's interview with Your Mom Cares Founder, Sharon Feldstein, Sharon provides an update on the amazing work she and her team of celebrity moms have been doing to support kids during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Sharon reference supporting the Children'sHealth Fund in LA to create a unique group therapy program for kids living on the streets, to build their toolbox for dealing with mental health issues.
Sharon also updates us on the mental health app being developed by the University of Pittsburgh, a mental health early diagnostic app to identify children at risk and connect them with a counselor, social worker, or therapist. She discusses its value as we face a Tsunami of mental health issues following the pandemic.
Sharon reflects on their mega mom program to help other moms seeking support in dealing with their kid's mental health challenges.
Finally, Sharon discusses how the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted her life.
If you want to support or donate or have an idea for YourMomCares go to YMC.org or email them at moms@yourmomcares.org or follow on Instagram @youmomcares.
Links in Show
TryFrame
Your Mom Cares
https://www.childrenshealthfund.org/
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Guest overview
Dr. Morgaine Gaye’s path to being a leading thinker in Food Futurology was any but predictable.
As an only child with a partying, Butcher for a mother and an ex-pat bodybuilding construction worker for a father, she grew up in a home with little money, love, attention, and direction. Self-parenting was her only option as she immersed herself in art, books, and a fantasy world.
Leaving school at sixteen, she traveled to the middle east, spent a year at university in Wisconsin, and by 19 was working as a ‘weather girl’ on Hong Kong TV.
She discusses drifting through life until finding herself in the game-changing spiritual community at Findhorn and how serendipity led her to discover Quantum Philosophy and starting her PhD.
Upon discovering she had always been seeking connection, she was drawn to the universal connector - food.
Morgaine breaks down why she focuses on the future of food and we cover how we first met in 2007 working on the development of a raw chocolate bar.
Morgaine explains the disruptive decade we have been living through and why we are moving from a phase of life ‘Having’ to a phase of ‘knowing’ and the seminal shifts that will occur in society, as we become more nature-focused, on an eco-future of biophilia, rewilding and experience the rise of hyper-local communities, and why our global economy will evolve, she observes how fast countries closed borders.
Morgaine discusses her experience of suffering from Covid-19 and losing her sense of smell, which has been her superpower.
We discuss her principles, her hard choices, how 9/11 led her to launch her own brand of superfood and her perspectives on diets, DNA, and genetics.
I hope you enjoy the artistry, vision, and philosophy of Dr. Morgaine Gaye.
Social Links
Links Show
Keith Critchlow
Unorthodox Netflix
Rich Food Poor Food
Food a Love Story - Jim Gaffigan
A Good Life Leo Hickman
Edible-Love.com
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James Bradley was born in Glasgow, brought up in England by a surgeon father and research science mother. In a supportive home environment, he grew and developed his interest in Geo-biology.
With a curiosity for outdoors and travel, and an explorer gene, his adventurous and inspiring geography teacher encouraged him to pursue an education in environmental science and geography.
In Part One we discuss James’s upbringing, education, and journey to a life in exploration and geo-biology and climate research.
In Part two we dive deeper into the climate crisis and James discusses the shifting focus to sustainable renewable energy sources, the challenges of electric vehicles, and battery technologies.
James provides his perspective of working in extreme and remote parts of the planet and the climate impact he’s witnessed. He reflects on why big industry needs to take responsibility and stop placing responsibility on individuals.
James provides his considered perspective on the climate crisis, the timeline to existential disaster, the current modeling, and the uncertainty of how we humans react to the data we have.
James discusses his upcoming research during the arctic winter and the experience of working in such extreme environments.
We cover how he balances his work and personal life, how serendipity has guided his path, embracing ambiguity and the role of curiosity and creativity in his work.
James discusses his principles, the hard choices he has made, the one problem worth solving, the question no one asks him, who has made him re-evaluate himself, and his impossible advice.
I hope you are uplifted by the balanced perspective and curious scientific mind of Dr. James Bradley
Social Links
James Site
Links in the Show
Duke of Edinburgh Award
Bloc party
Project Drawdown
Trillion trees Initiative
Sir Ranulph Fiennes
Albedo levels
The Guardian Article on Algae
Queen Mary University London
Climate Countdown Clock
Irvine Welsh Marabou Stork Nightmares
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Dr. James Bradley was born in Glasgow, brought up in England by a surgeon father and research science mother. In a supportive home environment, he grew and developed his interest in geo-biology.
With a curiosity for outdoors and travel, and an explorer gene, his adventurous and inspiring geography teacher encouraged him to pursue an education in environmental science and geography.
In part one we discuss James’s education at Bristol University where he began climate modeling to simulate the effect of the impact of forestation levels and the reflectivity of the earth's surface on climate and carbon levels. James also breaks down the complexity of the biosphere.
He discusses his first job out of University, and why finance at an international bank did not enrich him, that led him to wish away his week and realizing that his yearning to push the boundaries of scientific knowledge.
Returning to the education he completed his master and is now As an Assistant professor at Queen Mary University in London where he runs his geo-biology lab and working to understand the coevolution of life and the environment.
James explains the practical fieldwork he is doing on the Greenland ice sheets to understand why it’s darkening and shrinking and reducing the earth's reflectivity which keeps the planet's temperature in check.
He explains the difference between positive feedback and negative feedback loops and his modeling of the pigment of the microorganisms that colonize these massive ice shelves and the impact of their nutrient cycles
The exponential effect on climate
We also cover the impact of deep ocean mining on microbial life the ocean ecosystem
We end part one James and I discuss the politicization of climate, the media’s reporting and the impact of humanity on climate, and his perspective on the positive impact on carbon emissions from the global pandemic.
Social Links
James's Site
Links in the Show
Duke of Edinburgh Award
Bloc party
Project Drawdown
Trillion trees Initiative
Sir Ranulph Fiennes
Albedo levels
Queen Mary University London
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Guest Overview
Born in St Louis and brought up in Dallas Texas by her doctor father and teacher mother, in an environment that nurtured her generosity of spirit and set her on her path to a life of philanthropy is this week's guest Yvonne Moore.
Influenced by paternal grandmothers, success focused parents and competitive siblings, a college education was always expected.
In Part One we cover how her mother imbued her service driven principles, sharing time, talent and treasure, her first experience of racism in college in West Texas and the broader historic, socio-cultural context of racism, America’s original sin and its connection to the current US electoral system.
We discuss the challenges faced as an African American in the South, the social injustice, poll taxes and voting rights acts. The social skewed injustice of the Covid Pandemic.
Yvonne opens up about living with fear, the unknown and using therapy to overcome it.
We then chart her serendipitous path to a career in philanthropy, navigating policy changes to improve society, and breakdown the structure of the philanthropic sector.
In part two we dive deep into Yvonne’s amazing work in philanthropic sector representing family foundations like Klingenstein’s focus on mental health, Abigail Disney’s Pierre Hauser’s Daphne Foundation and the Police Foundation
We discuss the challenges faced since the last election, how Harry Potter saved her as she dealt with depression, the importance of the process of therapy and being comfortable in her own authority.
Yvonne explains why you can hack trust, finding the right match between grantees for social organizations. And why problems are not solved with money but more by public will and political will.
We discuss wealth and happiness, the role of the philanthropic sector and role of government in solving problems and the need to get out of its own way and why the agility of the sector is its untapped power and issues leadership needs to grapple with.
Yvonne reflects on Covid19, mental health, the stigma, and the lack of leadership on the issue. She compares this to the Ebola experience and her anger that we are not taking this seriously.
I ask Yvonne on education, serendipity and she discusses listening, fear, faith, and trust.
And there are all her quick fire answers.
I hope you are inspired by the generous spirit, social conscience and philanthropic heart of Yvonne Moore.
Personal Linkedin
Links in the show
Brennen Centre for Justice
Sound of Music
Texas Tech
The electoral college
Gerrymandering
CASA program
Schoolhouse Rock
The New School
Ebola
Elizabeth Day Podcast
Anahita Moghadam
Abigail Disney
Daphne Foundation
Winners Take All
Do What You Are Book
Solve For Happy Mo Gowdat
Bodyguard Netflix
The One About Love Bell Hooks
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Guest Overview
Born in St Louis and brought up in Dallas Texas, by her doctor father and teacher mother, in an environment that nurtured her generosity of spirit and set her on her path to a life of philanthropy is this week's guest Yvonne Moore.
Influenced by paternal grandmothers, success focused parents and competitive siblings, a college education was always expected.
In Part One we cover how her mother imbued her service driven principles, sharing time, talent and treasure, her first experience of racism in college in West Texas and the broader historic, socio-cultural context of racism, America’s original sin and its connection to the current US electoral system.
We discuss the challenges faced as an African American in the South, the social injustice, poll taxes and voting rights acts. The social skewed injustice of the Covid Pandemic.
Yvonne opens up about living with fear, the unknown and using therapy to overcome it.
We then chart her serendipitous path to a career in philanthropy, navigating policy changes to improve society, and breakdown the structure of the philanthropic sector.
In part two we dive deep into Yvonne’s amazing work in philanthropic sector representing family foundations like Klingnstein’s focus on mental health, Abigail Disney’s Pierre Hauser’s Daphne Foundation and the Police Foundation.
I hope you are inspired by the generous spirit, social conscience and philanthropic heart of Yvonne Moore.
Social Links
Personal Linkedin
Links in the show
Moore Philanthropy
Brennen Centre for Justice
Sound of Music
Texas Tech
The electoral college
Gerrymandering
CASA program
Schoolhouse Rock
The New School
Klingenstein Foundation
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In Part two we dive deep into what led Jeanne to create her journalism meets healthcare start-up Clearhealth Costs.
She explains its genesis from winning a “SharkTank” like pitch to inform people about healthcare costs by combining crowdsourcing and data.
Working in partnership with local and national media Clear Health Costs brings cost transparency to the US healthcare system and addresses the inequity in the healthcare system. We discuss the impact and motivation of the big tech companies in healthcare and the opportunity Jeanne’s team has to disrupt the healthcare sector and solve consumer problems.
Now focusing totally on Covid-19 we discuss Jeanne’s perspectives on the current health crisis.
She discusses the issues with the current Covid-19 testing and treatment strategies and broader public health policy. She also discusses federal issues, the regional coalitions, vaccines and the second wave.
We discuss the mental health impact of the virus and the upsurge on domestic, spousal and child abuse and the positive knock on effect of Telehealth.
Jeanne explains the market impact of the Clear Health Costs and explains how the app works and how it's empowering people to combat the inequity of the system and save money.
Jeanne also discusses confronting gender and age stereotypes as a female founder. We cover serendipity and the curiosity that drives her journalistic fervor and all her quick fire answers.
I hope you enjoy disruptive countercultural character and drive of Jeanne Pinder
Social Links
TED Talk
Links in the Show
Clear Health Costs
New York Times
Des Moines Herald
Grinnell Herald
Leningrad
The Gothamist
WNYC
CBS national News
Parable of the Sowers Octavia Butler
Bea Arthur
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Guest Overview
Born in Grinnell Iowa, her journalist parents, her education in Slavic Studies and Russian Affairs, and her career at the New York Times all prepared her to launch her disruptive health care start-up Clear Health Costs, welcome this week’s guest Jeanne Pinder.
In Part One we cover Jeanne’s upbringing in a loud, challenging home environment with five siblings, and the experience of being part of the families local newspaper the Grinnell Herald, Jeanne discusses the high expectations of her parents, and how this conditioned her to be comfortable with chaos. In an environment of emotional abundance and material scarcity
Jeanne discusses how her world view was expanded by exposure to foreign dignitaries from her father's work with the state department. Jeanne covers her experience of being part of the counterculture movement during the Vietnam War. Her interest in international affairs led her to Indiana University to Study Slavic Studies and Russian Affairs, which resulted in her studying in Leningrad (St Petersburg) in Russia in the 1970’s and 80’s.
We discuss that experience and the current state of Russian power and politics and their influence on current US politics.
Jeanne explains how working at the Des Moines Register led her to a job as a copy editor at the New York Times during the 1980’s and the joy of working in journalism at a seminal time in world history.
Finally, we discuss the current state of national and local journalism and the power of the community to affect genuine change
In Part two we dive deep into what led Jeanne to create her journalism meets healthcare start-up Clear Health Costs, her perspectives on Covid-19 and a whole lot more.
Social Links
TED Talk
Links in the Show
Clear Health Costs
New York Times
Des Moines Herald
Grinnell Herald
Leningrad
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Guest Overview
Futurist and humanist Caroline Chubb Calderon thinks a lot about what it will mean to be human in the age of intelligent machines, genomic and robotics and why we must reimagine the future of humanity.
In light of the Covid-19 pandemic her perspective is vital if we are to understand the future role of economies, work, leadership and humanity, and to prepare ourselves for a world of exponential disruption and uncertainty.
This might be the most important interview we have conducted so far. Please share.
What we discuss
Caroline discusses what the virus is telling us about the future of work, and the economy, and how to reprioritize human wellbeing.
She discusses the parallels with what AI is challenging us to do.
Caroline explains the change cycles we are in. Moving from the ‘big squeeze’ into ‘the reckoning phase’ and the new reality for leaders to lead the emotions of teams, let feelings of discomfort guide us through the core human emotions of fear, anxiety, trust and love.
Caroline explains why the future needs courageous leaders and why courage requires vulnerability ( defined as uncertainly, risk and emotional exposure).
She discusses why we must all focus on developing our uniquely human capabilities of compassion and social emotional intelligence and creativity.
Caroline then discusses the big shifts that are at play
- How might we imagine the future of economies
- The acceleration of AI genomics and robotics - How we make them ethical. And the worm needs to be done by leaders and questions whether this work is being done.-She argues that the humbling nature of the virus creates an opportunity for global conversation
- The shift away from globalization to more local economies from supply chains and farming
- The emphasis on human wellbeing on leaders agendas
- Greater emphasis on existential crisis mitigation
This is an important discussion so please share with whoever you can.
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Guest overview
Robert Marchetti is an Australian born celebrity chef and now New York based restaurateur and co-founder of Gran Tivoli and Peppi’s Cellar.
As founder and CEO of Marchettico, his hospitality lifestyle company, he delivers creative solutions that include Interior Design, Architectural, Food & Beverage, Concept Creation and Design.
Listen to Part One here.
In Part Two Robert discusses his vision for his NYC restaurant Gran Tivoli and why he is self funded. He reflects on the economic impact of Covid19 on New York restaurants and bars, the business environment, supporting his staff and how as humans we can use this period as a time to grow stronger and sharpen our tools. He discusses why vulnerability is a strength and how he has learned to thrive through failure and his perspective on organic food and the industrial food supply chain. The hard decision he had to make when he was at the top of his game.
Robert discusses his love of history books, the imperative to solve homelessness and the rest of his quick-fire questions.
I hope you enjoy the honesty, passion, curiosity Robert Marchetti.
Social Links
Instagram Gran Tivoli
Roberts Instagram
Gran Tivoli Website
Show Links
The Surrender experiment
Jason Scott
Danny Myers and ShakeShack
David Thomson Thai Cook
Walkers Tavern
9/11
Elon Musk
Andrew Cuomo
Bill Gates
Change Please
Animals Australia
Bosch
Sweet Child of Mine
The Gift of Fear
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Guest overview
Robert Marchetti is an Australian born celebrity chef and now New York based restaurateur and co-founder of Gran Tivoli and Peppi’s Cellar.
As founder and CEO of Marchettico, his hospitality lifestyle company, he delivers creative solutions that include Interior Design, Architectural, Food & Beverage, Concept Creation and Design.
In Part One of this wide ranging discussion Robert tells the story of his upbringing in Australia to an Italian father and German mother, how his youthful persistence led him to his first experience of the restaurant industry age thirteen, being hired at fifteen by his older brother in his iconic Italian restaurant, and honing his skills on his journey through the dysfunctional high pressured restaurant kitchen environments of the 80’s and 90’s and navigating a path through a culture of abuse and staff reliance on drugs and alcohol. Robert also discusses how he developed his leadership style, being self taught, mentoring and the importance of lifelong learning.
Social Links
Instagram Gran Tivoli
Roberts Instagram
Gran Tivoli Website
Show Links
The Surrender experiment
Jason Scott
Danny Myers and ShakeShack
David Thomson Thai Cook
Walkers Tavern
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Guest Overview
Nita Baum is an entrepreneur, co-creator, facilitator, mentor-coach, and community-builder. She is also board lead for Solar responders - the NGO from previous guest Hunter Johansson - so thanks to Hunter for making this happen.
Born in New York to an inspiring cancer scientist mother and a philosophical pharmacist father, her parents’ influenced her curiosity, appreciation for creation, and her right brain - left brain development.
In Part One of this two-parter we cover Nita’s early story.
In Part Two we discuss her perspectives on the broader impact of Covid19
cover what led Nita to form her business Bfree to partners with organizations to help them to activate individual, team, and organizational potential. Nita questions purpose role of work in light of the crisis and our growing realization of what can be achieved so easily and quickly
We discuss the transformative moment of now and how people are reacting and the opportunity for consciousness-raising, the reorientation of human capital and the transformative capacity in all of us.
I hope you are inspired by the vision, values and life philosophy of Nita Baum
What we discuss:
Nita's mother's wonder and awe and love of science
Her father’s broad expansive thinking and his concern for what it means to be human and our collective interdependence.
How Nita grew up to understand about food as a healing agent
Her Mother’s respect for science
A growing appreciation for art and science, and the process of creation
Nita's memories of her conversations with her father about MLK and JFK and her rebellious side
She discusses her sister's influence and their relationship
Playing games of the imagination
The love of school and the challenges she faced
Her love of reading and art and literature
Nita's growing social and political consciousness of local and global events
Being drawn to Education
Studying art history and east Asian studies
Traveling to China, Japan and Korea and becoming interested in the philosophy and spirituality
Studying in Japan after college.
The combination of abundance and scarcity and how her parents taught them about value and gratitude.
Witnessing the social inequity in education
The exposure to black culture by being invited to a gifted child's education program
Her emotional maturity
The realization that power of systems and her misalignment
In Part two
The impact of Covid19
Humanities interdependency and being wired for survival
What might emerge from Covid19
What is the purpose of work
Our realization of what can be achieved so easily and quickly
The transformative moment of now
How people are reacting and the opportunity for consciousness-raising
We discuss Bfree and its vision
The transformative power of leaving the workforce
The philosophy of Bfree
The reorientation of Human Capital
The transformative capacity in all of us
The potential of self, teams, and our larger human collective
Processing our grief through institutionalized fear vs building from love
Principles - Presume we all come free. Gifted, equal in power and grounded.
Nita's impossible advice
Links to Social
Website
Solar Responders
Yak Collective
Links in show
Jiro Dreams of Sushi
Americorp
George Washington University
NetImpact
Black National Anthem
The Tail End
Rosa Parks
I Will Survive
Book When Things Fall Apart
FocusMates
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Guest Overview
Nita Baum is an entrepreneur, co-creator, facilitator, mentor-coach, and community-builder. She is also board lead for Solar responders - the NGO from previous Guest Hunter Johansson - so thanks to Hunter for making this happen.
Born in New York to an inspiring cancer scientist mother and a philosophical pharmacist father, her parents’ influenced her curiosity, appreciation for creation and her right brain - left brain development.
In part one of this two parter we cover Nita’s early influences, her love of school and education, sisters' influence, playing games of the imagination and growing up in an environment of scarcity and abundance.
Nita discusses experiencing the social inequity in education, developing a social and political consciousness of local and global events, traveling to China, Japan and Korea and becoming interested in the philosophy and spirituality.
In Part Two we discuss her perspectives on the broader impact of Covid19 and cover what led Nita to form her business Bfree to partners with organizations to help them to activate individual, team and organizational potential. Nita questions purpose role of work in light of the crisis and our growing realization of what can be achieved so easily and quickly
We discuss the transformative moment of now and how people are reacting and the opportunity for consciousness raising, the reorientation of human capital and the transformative capacity in all of us.
I hope you are inspired by the vision, values and life philosophy of Nita Baum
What we discuss:
Nita's mother's wonder and awe and love of science
Her father’s broad expansive thinking and his concern for what it means to be human and our collective interdependence.
How Nita grew up to understand about food as a healing agent
Her Mother’s respect for science
A growing appreciation for art and science, and the process of creation
Nita's memories of her conversations with her father about MLK and JFK and her rebellious side
She discusses her sisters influence and their relationship
Playing games of the imagination
The love of school and the challenges she faced
Her love of reading and art and literature
Nita's growing social and political consciousness of local and global events
Being drawn to Education
Studying art history and east asian studies
Traveling to China, Japan and Korea and becoming interested in the philosophy and spirituality
Studying in Japan after college.
The combination of abundance and scarcity and how her parents taught them about value and gratitude.
Witnessing the social inequity in education
The exposure to black culture by being invited to a gifted child's education program
Her emotional maturity
Realization that power of systems and her misalignment
In Part two
The impact of Covid19
Humanities interdependency and being wired for survival
What might emerge from Covid19
What is the purpose of work
Our realization of what can be achieved so easily and quickly
The transformative moment of now
How people are reacting and the opportunity for consciousness raising
We discuss Bfree and its vision
The transformative power of leaving the workforce
The philosophy of BFree
The reorientation of Human Capital
The transformative capacity in all of us
The potential of self, teams, and our larger human collective
Processing our grief through institutionalized fear vs building from love
Principles - Presume we all come free. Gifted, equal in power and grounded.
Nita's impossible advice
Links to Social
Website
Solar Responders
Yak Collective
Links in show
Jiro Dreams of Sushi
Americorp
George Washington University
NetImpact
Black National Anthem
The Tail End
Rosa Parks
I Will Survive
Book When Things Fall Apart
FocusMates
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Guest overviews
This is a special Covid19 episode.
Recorded over Zoom, I interview Nasser Jaber, the co-founder of The Migrant Kitchen who’s team is currently delivering 50 thousand free meals a day in NY and NJ to feed the families of those impacted by the Covid-19 crisis, including local healthcare workers on the front line in and around the city.
Joining us is Israa Nasir - a clinically trained psychotherapist with experience of working with minority communities in NYC and treating their cultural and immigration-based challenges, anxiety issues, traumas, and the stresses people are suffering as this crisis unfolds.
We cover the amazing work Nas is doing, the logistical challenges they face daily, in this disaster relief program, the complexity of sourcing, preparing, cooking, and delivering under CDC guidance and social distancing standards, and his go fund me campaign,
We also cover the issues facing the food insecure communities, and the social injustice of the current food supply chain and the broader social issues this virus has exposed and his personal experience of dealing with and overcoming his own mental health challenges growing up in occupied Palestine.
Israa discusses the work she is doing to confront the stigma in Asian communities and some of the mental health challenges they face, how the virus has equalized the calls for help, and the impact on frontline workers. She also expands upon cultural and generational taboos around mental health and anxiety and the changes underway.
We also discuss the mental health issues facing people working in restaurants and kitchens and the exploitation of people of color, undocumented workers and gender-based bias
Due to some connection issues at around the halfway, there are some sound glitches for a minute or two but we have left them in as the sound returns to normal just after.
I hope you are inspired and moved to support the great work of Nas Jaber and Israa Nasir.
They discuss the positive changes in mental health literacy and changing attitudes resulting from the Virus,
Social Links
Migrant Kitchen
NasJab83
Instagram - The Migrant Kitchen
Instagram Well.guide
Israa’s Linkedin
Links In the Show
The Migrant Kitchen Gofundme
World Central Kitchen
Jean George
Door Dash
Chelsea Rental
NYU IC
Crisis Textline
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Guest Overview Maria Dantos was born to a gregarious Greek immigrant father and ‘Mayflower compact’ mother. She grew up in her family-run haunted hotel in Vermont, with safety and freedom to play and explore her imagination. Immersed in abundant love she developed a world view of social justice and the importance of removing the inequity in education. Maria is an educator to her core; with 15 years of teaching, administration and educational reform experience. She has worked with people of diverse backgrounds and to advocate for justice in education as a means of upward social mobility for minority, female or otherwise less advantaged people. Her work reflects the importance of lifelong education and encouraging curiosity.She founded, and led multiple daycare and pre-kindergarten (Pre-K) education programs and schools of up to 100 students. Driven by her conviction that every child deserves to have access to quality education led her to launch her non-profit organization, Philox to provide humanitarian relief and education to underserved at-risk children in humanitarian areas of concern. Maria is also seeking to collaborate with educators, healthcare workers, community organizers and artists to provide solutions for at-risk children in this time of crisis. Applying her organizational, management and creative skills together Maria has worked as producer for several live events, short films, documentaries and one feature length film. She has also collaborated with members of Yo Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble, Lincoln Center, and with Bank Street College at Columbia University.In Part two we cover her work in educational development and perspectives on the future impact of Covid19 on education and child development. I hope you enjoy the caring compassion and commitment of Maria Dantos. What we discuss Growing up in a playful outdoor environment she discusses her making her own adventures. Maria reflects on the influence of her Greek roots, and her curiosity about ‘otherness’ in a non greek community. We discuss the abundance of love but changing material scarcity. Maria explains how her education piqued her curiosity and broadened her worldview and led her to winning a scholarship to Japan aged fourteen and learning what was an alien culture but forged lifelong connections. Maria explains how serendipity set her on a path to a career in education as a result of 9/11 that led her to signing up to a Masters program at University of Pennsylvania.She discusses the impact of living with the Navajo Nation and the influence of living with a Navajo Indian elder and revolutionary Catherine Smith and how this opened her eyes to systematic social injustice, poverty, addiction, malnutrition, lack of human rights and dignity . We cover her first experience in teaching in New York working between two economically diverse schools Maria tells the story of the serendipity of one set of parents who decided to fund her school start up. Maria discusses early childhood education curriculum strategies and her hope for the future of education and the relationships and discussions she is having to address the changes we need in education. We cover behavioral and neural changes in children due to the impact of technology and the lack of human interaction that is affecting child and interpersonal developments. We dive into the importance of quality content for children. Maria describes her collaborations with Columbia and Yo Yo Ma create new educational experiencesI ask Maria to describe her educational NGO Philox and how its creating access to education to children and the community and protection. We discuss this in relation to Covid 19 and where the education system will change and how she hopes that more value will be focused on education.She names her principles of justice and Integrity Social LinksLinkedinInstagramV...
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Guest Overview Maria Dantos was born to a gregarious Greek immigrant father and ‘Mayflower compact’ mother. She grew up in her family-run haunted hotel in Vermont, with safety and freedom to play and explore her imagination. Immersed in abundant love she developed a world view of social justice and the importance of removing the inequity in education. Maria is an educator to her core; with 15 years of teaching, administration and educational reform experience. She has worked with people of diverse backgrounds and to advocate for justice in education as a means of upward social mobility for minority, female or otherwise less advantaged people. Her work reflects the importance of lifelong education and encouraging curiosity.She founded, and led multiple daycare and pre-kindergarten (Pre-K) education programs and schools of up to 100 students. Driven by her conviction that every child deserves to have access to quality education led her to launch her non-profit organization, Philox to provide humanitarian relief and education to underserved at-risk children in humanitarian areas of concern. Maria is also seeking to collaborate with educators, healthcare workers, community organizers and artists to provide solutions for at-risk children in this time of crisis. Applying her organizational, management and creative skills together Maria has worked as producer for several live events, short films, documentaries and one feature length film. She has also collaborated with members of Yo Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble, Lincoln Center, and with Bank Street College at Columbia University.In Part One we cover Maria’s early years. In Part two we cover her work in educational development and perspectives on the future impact of Covid19 on education and child development. I hope you enjoy the caring compassion and commitment of Maria Dantos. What we discuss Growing up in a playful outdoor environment she discusses her making her own adventures. Maria reflects on the influence of her Greek roots, and her curiosity about ‘otherness’ in a non greek community. We discuss the abundance of love but changing material scarcity. Maria explains how her education piqued her curiosity and broadened her worldview and led her to winning a scholarship to Japan aged fourteen and learning what was an alien culture but forged lifelong connections. Maria explains how serendipity set her on a path to a career in education as a result of 9/11 that led her to signing up to a Masters program at University of Pennsylvania.She discusses the impact of living with the Navajo Nation and the influence of living with a Navajo Indian elder and revolutionary Catherine Smith and how this opened her eyes to systematic social injustice, poverty, addiction, malnutrition, lack of human rights and dignity . We cover her first experience in teaching in New York working between two economically diverse schools Maria tells the story of the serendipity of one set of parents who decided to fund her school start up. Maria discusses early childhood education curriculum strategies and her hope for the future of education and the relationships and discussions she is having to address the changes we need in education. We cover behavioral and neural changes in children due to the impact of technology and the lack of human interaction that is affecting child and interpersonal developments. We dive into the importance of quality content for children. Maria describes her collaborations with Columbia and Yo Yo Ma create new educational experiencesI ask Maria to describe her educational NGO Philox and how its creating access to education to children and the community and protection. We discuss this in relation to Covid 19 and where the education system will change and how she hopes that more value will be focused on education.She names her principles of justice and ...
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
We just interviewed our past guest Nick Fitz on his team's amazing Cancel Corona initiative.
Nick explains how he and his team have quickly pivoted to build out the web app to enable anyone or any brand to use the platform to generate purposeful Covid donations based on what people are not spending during Covid19.
'Millions are losing work, kids are going hungry, and coronavirus cases are rising. At the same time, we’re collectively spending billions less by not commuting, not eating out, and not going to bars and canceled events. Let’s put that extra cash to work.
See how much you’re saving, then easily donate to help those most affected by Corona.'
Link to Cancel Corona
Tori Chickering O'Connell was born in New Jersey to parents that cultivated a loving, safe, and creative home environment where comedy, music, and dance were a central part of the daily furniture of growing up.
There is no question that this nurturing environment set her on a path to a creative career of being a journalist, producer, documentary filmmaker, comedy writer and published author of two books Nookie Town and Twisted Family Values.
In this vibrant two-parter, we cover Tori's upbringing and the influence of her parents, infusing the importance of having fun and not giving a damn.
Tori's discusses the importance of gratitude, having a 'why not me' attitude, and how in her early career, this attitude landed her a job at MTV, as she applied her creativity and embraced life's uncertainty and ambiguity with gusto. Tori reflects on using this attitude in the time of Covid19, and we discuss how new models are emerging in comedy, music and the arts during the lockdown.
We cover her extraordinary experience of making a documentary of some of today's most lauded comedians 20 years ago before they were famous.
And we dive deep into how the serendipitous personal experience of becoming a divorcee in Jersey led to the idea for her first novel, NookieTown, and covers her second book, Twisted Family Values.
I hope you enjoy the fun and freedom of not giving a damn with Tori O'Connell.
What We Discuss
Tori's parental impact
Glitter balls and dancing on Saturdays
The experience of her youth
Art Therapy
The importance of fun
The impact of her grandparents
Living in a household of love
Freedom and life force of not give a damn
Being outspoken and out there and the bullying that resulted
The importance of Halloween costumes
The connection of dis-ease to disease
Her 'let's do it' attitude
An early love of song and dance
Having a sellout show at the Edinburgh festival with New York, Sex, Killing and Shopping
Having start over attitude
You Can Do it attitude
Great Day in Harlem
The evolution of NookieTown
The idea behind Twisted Family Values
Her upcoming novel
Fun, accountability and social risk
Social Links
VC Chickering - author's site (with loads of fun links to buy books and procrastinate)
@vcchickering - author's Instagram
Tori Erstwhile & The Montys - author's band's YouTube channel
Links in the Show
Nookie Town
Twisted Family Values
Tori Erstwhile and the Montys
St Martin's Press
Rocky Horror Picture Show
Mike Birbiglia Tip Your Wait staff
Mahler Chamber Orchestra
International Opera Choir Nabucco Opera
Hamilton on Zoom
Stuck in the Middle Fallon
CBGB's
Bust
Joan Jet
Hurricane Sandy
Great Day in Harlem
VEEP
Flight of the Conchords
Sex Education
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Tori Chickering O'Connell was born in New Jersey to parents that cultivated a loving, safe, and creative home environment where comedy, music, and dance were a central part of the daily furniture of growing up.
There is no question that this nurturing environment set her on a path to a creative career of being a journalist, producer, documentary filmmaker, comedy writer and published author of two books Nookie Town and Twisted Family Values.
In this vibrant two-parter, we cover Tori's upbringing and the influence of her parents, infusing the importance of having fun and not giving a damn.
Tori's discusses the importance of gratitude, having a 'why not me' attitude, and how in her early career, this attitude landed her a job at MTV, as she applied her creativity and embraced life's uncertainty and ambiguity with gusto. Tori reflects on using this attitude in the time of Covid19, and we discuss how new models are emerging in comedy, music and the arts during the lockdown.
We cover her extraordinary experience of making a documentary of some of today's most lauded comedians 20 years ago before they were famous.
And we dive deep into how the serendipitous personal experience of becoming a divorcee in Jersey led to the idea for her first novel, NookieTown, and covers her second book, Twisted Family Values.
I hope you enjoy the fun and freedom of not giving a damn with Tori O'Connell.
What We Discuss
Tori's parental impact
Glitter balls and dancing on Saturdays
The experience of her youth
Art Therapy
The importance of fun
The impact of her grandparents
Living in a household of love
Freedom and life force of not give a damn
Being outspoken and out there and the bullying that resulted
The importance of Halloween costumes
The connection of dis-ease to disease
Her 'lets do it' attitude
An early love of song and dance
Having a sellout show at the Edinburgh festival with New York, Sex, Killing and Shopping
Having start over attitude
You Can Do it attitude
Great Day in Harlem
The evolution of NookieTown
The idea behind Twisted Family Values
Her upcoming novel
Fun, accountability and social risk
Social Links
VC Chickering - author's site (with loads of fun links to buy books and procrastinate)
@vcchickering - author's Instagram
Tori Erstwhile & The Montys - author's band's YouTube channel
Links in the Show
Nookie Town
Twisted Family Values
Tori Erstwhile and the Montys
St Martin's Press
Rocky Horror Picture Show
Mike Birbiglia Tip Your Wait staff
Mahler Chamber Orchestra
International Opera Choir Nabucco Opera
Hamilton on Zoom
Stuck in the Middle Fallon
CBGB's
Bust
Joan Jet
Hurricane Sandy
Great Day in Harlem
VEEP
Flight of the Conchords
Sex Education
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
We recorded this bonus episode with an early guest Dr. Courtney Rennicke on her advice on building resiliency in the time of Covid19. Courtney discusses Covid10 and resiliency in relation to our baseline nervous system's reactions to stress, tangible examples dealing with it, relates it to the Polyvagal theory and draws on similarities to her resiliency work during 9/11.
Dr. Courtney Rennicke New York-based clinical psychologist who runs her practice Rennicke & Associates in the vibrant Tribeca neighborhood of downtown Manhattan.
Guest Overview
Chloe Valdary was born in New Orleans, to a homemaking mother and banker father, and grew up in an environment of inquiry and orthodoxy that led her to opening a Pandora's box of curiosity.
Through curiosity, talent and education Chloe developed a love of art, music and English literature that expanded her world view and set her on a journey to develop the skills and insights needed to create her Theory of Enchantment educational program. The course is designed to use storytelling and pop-culture to equip students with the skills necessary to develop a healthy sense of personal empowerment and social wellbeing. It’s also the name of her podcast.
In part one of this two-parter Chloe discusses her upbringing, growing up with abundance and scarcity, the fusion of inquiry and orthodoxy, the impact of religion and her education, her love of, and desire to explore art, English literature, and film. We also cover her insider-outsider dynamic how her worldview developed and how she ended up with a scholarship at the Wall Street Journal
Part Two Chloe expands on the psychological and spiritual power and value of her curriculum in addressing the inability to see the other in identity politics.
We discuss the chaos of Covid19 and the broader issues underlying the moment, the opportunity of creating meaning out of disorder and chaos, less social distancing in our virtual lives and the role and power of storytelling and the power of Mumford and Sons Sigh No More
Maintaining discipline to continue learning, the role of A minor and developing and making meaning in the world
Of course, we discuss serendipity, curiosity, education, change, principles, and her quick-fire answers.
I hope you enjoy the enquiring mind, the redemptive spirit and, the educational storytelling of Chloe Valdary.
What We Discuss
Her Banker Father and homemaking Mother
Chloe’s English Literature mentors
The important role and intellectual impact of Churchgoing
How the past always loomed large in growing up
Abundance and scarcity in her upbringing
The impact of her School and its academic rigor
Civically minded classmates
Developing values of Honor, Service Justice, and Wisdom
Forming Theory of Enchantment
Her love of art and English literature
Majoring in film and screenwriting
Getting a Barclay Fellowship and Tikvah Scholarship Fund for The Wall Street Journal
Bret Stevens NYT
Her post that went viral https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/students-justice-palestine
Learning how to love and the science and psychology of love
Her focus on pop culture
Power of story and our human potential
Redemptive storytelling
How a liberal professor shattered her world view
Explaining the principles of the Theory of Enchantment
Enchantment thesis explained
The impact of reading Literature vs polemical works
Teaching her theory
The role of dance in her life
Chaos of Covid19 and the broader issues underlying the moment
Using the program to address societal issues
Creating meaning out of disorder and chaos
Mumford and Sons Sigh No More and the book she is writing
Her process for learning and discipline
Remaining Optimistic
Redemptive archetype
The note A minor
Social Links
Theory of Enchantment
Theory of Enchantment Discount Offer
Theory of Enchantment Podcast
Links In The Show
Benjamin Franklin High School
Wall Street Journal Tikvah Fund
Bret Stevens
Students for Justice in Palestine A Letter From an Angry Black Woman
Rosa Parks
Martin Luther King
Jesus Camp Doc
Cognitive dissonance
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-theory-of-enchantment/id1439470479
Maya Angelou
Chloe’s Article that went Viral
Marcus Arilias and Stoicism
YPO
Mumford and Sons
Dominion - How the Christian Revolution Changed the World
Unorthodox Netflix
Tasha Blank
Leonard Cohen
Terrance Malik Hidden Life
Book - East of Eden
Jonathan Haidt NYU
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Guest OverviewChloe Valdary was born in New Orleans, to a homemaking mother and banker Father, and grew up in an environment of enquiry and orthodoxy that led her to opening a Pandora's box of curiosity. Through curiosity, talent and education Chloe developed a love of art, music and english literature that expanded her world view and set her on a journey to develop the skills and insights needed to create her Theory of Enchantment educational program. The course is designed to use storytelling and pop-culture to equip students with the skills necessary to develop a healthy sense of personal empowerment and social wellbeing. It’s also the name of her podcast. In part one of this two parter Chloe discusses her upbringing, growing up with abundance and scarcity, the fusion of enquiry and orthodoxy, the impact of religion and her education, her love of, and desire to explore art, English literature, and film. We also cover her insider outsider dynamic how her worldview developed and how she ended up with a scholarship at the Wall Street Journal Part Two Chloe expands on the psychological and spiritual power and value of her curriculum in addressing the inability to see the other in identity politics.We discuss the chaos of Covid19 and the broader issues underlying the moment, the opportunity of Creating meaning out of disorder and chaos, less social distancing in our virtual lives and the role and power of storytelling and the power of Mumford and Sons Sigh No MoreMaintaining discipline to continue learning, the role of A minor and developing and making meaning in the world Of course we discuss serendipity, curiosity, education, change, principles and her quick fire answers. I hope you enjoy the enquiring mind, the redemptive spirit and, educational storytelling of Chloe Valdary. What We Discuss Her Banker Father and homemaking Mother Chloe’s English Literature mentors The important role and intellectual impact of Churchgoing How the past always loomed large in growing up Abundance and scarcity in upbringing The impact of her School and its academic rigorCivically minded classmates Developing values of Honor, Service Justice and WisdomForming Theory of Enchantment Her love of art and English literature Majoring in film and screenwritingGetting a Barclay Fellowship and Tikvah Scholarship Fund for Wall Street Journal Bret Stevens NYTHer post that went viral https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/students-justice-palestineLearning how to love and the science and psychology of love Her focus on pop culturePower of story and our human potentialRedemptive storytellingHow a liberal professor shattered her world view Explaining the principles of the Theory of Enchantment Enchantment thesis explained The impact of reading Literature vs polemical works Teaching her theory The role of dance in her life Chaos of Covid19 and the broader issues underlying the momentUsing the program to address societal issues Creating meaning out of disorder and chaosMumford and Sons Sigh No More and the book she is writingHer process for learning and disciplineRemaining Optimistic Redemptive archetype The note A minor Social Links Theory of EnchantmentTheory of Enchantment Discount OfferTheory of Enchantment Podcast Instagram Links In The ShowBenjamin Franklin High SchoolWall Street Journal Tikvah Fund Bret Stevens Students for Justice in Palestine A Letter From an Angry Black Woman Rosa Parks Martin Luther KingJesus Camp DocCognitive dissonancehttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-theory-of-enchantment/id1439470479Maya AngelouChloe’s Article that went Viral Mar...
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We are late with this week's digest, but we are living through unusual times. As we enter what, we are being told in the US, will be our Pearl Harbor moment, we are sharing some thought-provoking articles we’ve read and some uplifting, amusing videos that we found and some public service ads we are working with a london based creative duo. As we enter the Ignore The Productivity Pressure ‘Global catastrophes change the world, and this pandemic is very much akin to a major war. Even if we contain the Covid-19 crisis within a few months, the legacy of this pandemic will live with us for years, perhaps decades to come. It will change the way we move, build, learn, and connect. There is simply no way that our lives will resume as if this had never happened.” This excellent article in The Chronicle Aisha Ahmed shares her experiences of adapting to conditions of crisis. The Moral Meaning of the Plague An essential piece in the NY Times reflects on the fact that we all have the power to decide how we react to this viral crisis. Referencing Victor Frankl Man’s Search for Meaning and his experience from the Holocaust reminds us that we don’t get to choose our difficulties. Still, we do have the freedom to select our responses, and in situations like this, meaning is a vital medication for the soul.Mental Health in The Time of CoronavirusThis article asks - would you be willing to describe how the coronavirus is affecting your mental health? Is the combination of isolation and existential stress making you feel more depressed and anxious? Or is the family togetherness and the pause from normal life, giving you a greater sense of belonging and equilibrium?You can log your thoughts at the end of the article.Don’t Try and Fix Anything Right NowThis post in Medium makes the case that in times of crisis, the best thing you can do for yourself is learning to live with uncertainty. Cognitive flexibility is perhaps one of the most excellent tools to have in a time of uncertainty. There are two components to cognitive flexibility: one, being able to change how you think about a problem, and two, being able to let go of solutions that aren’t working. If you know of anyone in need in New York check out:No Neighbors in Need NYCNYC This is a guide for New Yorkers to i) contribute to the fight against the Coronavirus and; ii) ensure that no neighbors remain in need in NYC during this crisis and iii) recommend ideas to policy-makers/civic leaders (pg 8). Crowdsourced initially from a small group of City and nonprofit employees, this resource needs your help to be kept up to date. Thank you for contributing your time, effort, and financial resources where possible. And please share widely! If there are any questions, email carol.meiyan@gmail.com.It's a time to Help others and we are sharing our client's donation page to:Offering Support For World Central Kitchen Our NYC psychotherapist practice Rennicke & Associates started a fundraiser for support warm meals for our friends and neighbors in NYC through Chef Jose Andres and World Central Kitchen (WCK) They are in Harlem, the Bronx and Queens, making sure that our neighbors in New York City are fed and cared for during this public health and financial crisis. Help Rennicke & Associates offer community support for World Central Kitchen (WCK) by raising $5000 families and children around the city most in need. Reading Inspiration The Impact on FeminismA great piece from the Atlantic. The virus may be hitting men harder but what will the legacy of this virus be on women’s lives, rights and opportunities as we emerge from this pandemic? Online events TED Connects Community and HopeHosted by head of TED Chris Anderson TED Connects: Community and Hope is a free, live, regular conversation series starting at 12pm EST featuring experts whose ideas can help us reflect and work through...
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Guest Overview
Rodney Durso is founder of ArtBridge, a New York a non-profit that empowers emerging artists to transform New York’s ubiquitous construction scaffolding into large scale art exhibits
In part two we focus on Rodney’s second life, as an artist and social entrepreneur forming ArtBridge in 2009 to give emerging artists unprecedented exposure by exhibiting their work on construction scaffolding and fencing across the city.
Rodney discusses his mission and the impact this innovative initiative has had on the lives of underrepresented artists and how serendipity led to its scaling internationally. We also discuss art as therapy, procrastination, curiosity and his process of creation. And much much more.
I hope you enjoy the candor, generosity of spirit, and artistic social enterprise of Rodney Durso.
What we discuss:
His artistic mothers influence
His father coming from the wrong side of the track
Rodneys Landscaper father
The influence of his older brother
His love of music and being in rock band in his teens
And his escape into music and art
His ambition to be a rock star
1/4th between an A and C
Interest in abstraction
The dark side of his upbringing and the emotional scarcity
Having an antenna and the power of listening
School life and mentor
Growing up as a Italian in a Jewish Long Island culture
Captain Quick food delivery and his early entrepreneurial venture
His evolution through advertising and film production into design
Having Chronic Fatigue syndrome and his Chinese Tea venture
Planet Organic Tea company and the lessons in business
Setting up Storm house Partners Design Agency
Burning out from the agency experience
Migrating to art as therapy
Seeking abstraction and dissonance in his work to create visceral work, working fast and messy
Dealing with procrastination
ArtBridge and getting work into a gallery
Curating 26 artists and wrapping a building
Working with Google and Facebook
Taking the program to Italy post the Earthquake- Offsite Art
Scaling the program
How the program finds artists
Serendipity and the Highline open studio
Risk taking
Monetizing Self Esteem - Facebook’s legacy
Amy Brown
Links to Social
Website
Rodney’s Instagram
Links in show
Artbridge
CB radios
AdLab
Emerson Lake and Palmer
Yes
Stormhouse Partners
Three tarts in Chelsea
University of Rhode Island
Mononucleosis
Michael Hanchett Hanson
Whitney Biennial
Offsite Art
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Guest Overview
Rodney Durso is founder of Artbridge, a New York a non-profit that empowers emerging artists to transform New York’s ubiquitous construction scaffolding into large scale art exhibits
In part one of this two-parter, we cover growing up in Long Island to a creative and artistic mother and a father who came from the wrong side of the tracks, feeling materially abundant while living in a landscape of emotional scarcity.
We cover growing up as an Italian in a predominantly Jewish Long Island culture, his educational experiences, and his early entrepreneurial ventures.
We discuss his musical influences and ambitions, transitioning his focus to advertising, film production before being drawn to design and learning from design icon Milton Glaser. Forming his design agency in NYC in 1999 with a holistic 360 approach before integration was a common term.
In part two we focus on Rodney’s second life, as an artist and social entrepreneur forming Artbridge in 2009 to give emerging artists unprecedented exposure by exhibiting their work on construction scaffolding and fencing across the city.
Rodney discusses his mission and the impact this innovative initiative has had on the lives of underrepresented artists and how serendipity led to its scaling internationally. We also discuss art as therapy, procrastination, curiosity and his process of creation. And much much more.
I hope you enjoy the candor, generosity of spirit, and artistic social enterprise of Rodney Durso.
What we discuss:
His artistic mothers influence
His father coming from the wrong side of the track
Rodneys Landscaper father
The influence of his older brother
His love of music and being in rock band in his teens
And his escape into music and art
His ambition to be a rock star
1/4th between an A and C
Interest in abstraction
The dark side of his upbringing and the emotional scarcity
Having an antenna and the power of listening
School life and mentor
Growing up as a Italian in a Jewish Long Island culture
Captain Quick food delivery and his early entrepreneurial venture
His evolution through advertising and film production into design
Having Chronic Fatigue syndrome and his Chinese Tea venture
Planet Organic Tea company and the lessons in business
Setting up strom house Partners Design Agency
Burning out from the agency experience
Migrating to art as therapy
Seeking abstraction and dissonance in his work to create visceral work, working fast and messy
Dealing with procrastination
Artbridge and getting work into a gallery
Curating 26 artists and wrapping a building
Working with Google and Facebook
Taking the program to Italy post the Earthquake- Offsite Art
Scaling the program
How the program finds artists
Serendipity and the Highline open studio
Risk taking
Monetizing Self Esteem - Facebook’s legacy
Amy Brown
Links to Social
Website
Rodney’s Instagram
Links in show
Artbridge
CB radios
AdLab
Emerson Lake and Palmer
Yes
Stormhouse Partners
Three tarts in Chelsea
University of Rhode Island
Mononucleosis
Michael Hanchett Hanson
Whitney Biennial
Offsite Art
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As the frenzy of the Covid19 crisis engulfs us, we feel inspired, that everyone we talk to (on Zoom!) is each doing their bit to help alleviate the physical isolation, reduce suffering, or to offer support. Humanity is pulling together.
We are going to stay focused on content related to the Virus.
Podcast
Everything You Need To Know For Antivirus & Immune System Enhancement: A Special One-Two Podcast Episode where Ben Greenfield interviews Drs. Matthew Cook and Matthew Dawson, real experts in the realms of functional and precision medicine, offer their advice when it comes to boosting immunity and fighting viruses. There is a lot more to this, but it's worth a listen in light of our reality.
Posts and Articles
Yuval Noah Harari's FT post last weekend has been shared a lot, so you might have read this one. If not, His op-ed reflects on how 'the choices we make today could change our lives for years to come' in particular given that the decisions and policies governments make during times of crisis tend to remain in place. He also makes the point that another key choice we must confront is between nationalist isolation and global solidarity. Global problems require global collaboration, but how things play out may not be what we expect. Harari's perspectives are thought-provoking.
So if now is the time for these debates to be had and not to wait and look back with regret, an article shared by our friend and award-winning journalist Dan McDougall from Foreign Policy on How the World Will Look After the Coronavirus Pandemic builds on Harari's post.
Aside from the immediate loss of life, crashing markets, and policymaking indecision - this chapter of humanity will lead to permanent shifts in political and socio-economic power in ways that may not imagine.
Foreign Policy asked 12 leading thinkers from around the world to weigh in with their predictions for the global order after the pandemic and to help make sense of the ground shifting beneath our feet as this crisis unfolds. Lots of food for thought here
https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/03/20/world-order-after-coroanvirus-pandemic/
Next, we want to share a moving, and beautifully written article by Dan McDougall called Finding purpose and perspective in a crisis - you will feel uplifted after reading this.
I will end with some resources - we helped our client, Rennicke Associates, a psychotherapy practice here in Manhattan, create this dedicated Covid19 Resource Page on their site Rennicke & Associates. The page is full of mental health resources and support for those seeking and those willing to give nourishment. Courtney Rennicke, the founder, has also curated a wealth of resources for those needing to make their isolation time more productive and to offer parents and carers useful tool kits of activities.
It is quiteUS /NY Centric, but many resources are useful regardless of geographic location.
Stay strong everyone, and let's focus on helping build a better future.
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Guest Overview
Tina Kelley describes herself as a cheerful optimist with a morbid streak. She is the author of Abloom and Awry, Precise, and The Gospel of Galore, and co-authored Almost Home: Helping Kids Move from Homelessness to Hope, and she reported for the New York Times for 10 years, sharing a staff Pulitzer Prize for 9/11 coverage.
Tina Kelley grew up in New Jersey to caring loving adoptive parents, her early love poetry. Tina describes growing up in small-town America, the influence of her poetic father, developing her love of poetry, reading, and writing that set her on a path to Yale and beyond as a journalist, poet and author via a detour through the world of NGO’s and Think Tanks.
Tina quotes Thomas Jefferson “If I had to choose between a well-functioning government and a well-functioning press I‘d choose the latter, sunshine is the best disinfectant” to frame her perspective on the decimation of local news media and print journalism, the impact of losing a generation of people asking hard questions of public officials or as she says leaving the pigs at the trough with no one watching.
Tina discusses quality investigative journalism in the world of fake news and voting for optimism and the importance of the hyper-local journalistic model.
We discuss the resurgence and importance of local communities, her mixed views of Facebook, and the innovation of the Clear Health Costs startup and how it is disrupting the inequities of the pricing in the US health system.
We also discuss her process for finding inspiration in everyday life, her journaling process and the purpose and role of poetry in today's society
Tina discusses her vision for a world-changing educational model in the 21st Century and she answers all our quick-fire questions.
I hope you enjoy the artistic advice, poetic perspectives and journalistic principles of Tina Kelley.
What we discuss:
Growing up in as a single adoptive child in a loving home in New Jersey
Her auditor father and home-keeping mother
Discovering being adopted age three
Her self belief and feeling special age eight
Discovering poetry age eight
Being an extrovert
The influence of the Church on language and music
Mixed diversity at School
The impact of her music teachers and playing Sax
Her path to journalism
Journalism and learning for a living
Problem-solving through journalism
Her perspective on the decimation of journalism
Her Optimism
The future of local journalism and the power of community
We discuss Covenant House and her work as a staff writer and the life transformation work for adoptive kids
Her process for capturing ideas
Future of Education PTech Pathways in Technology, Early College and High school
Corp, Schools and Community colleges
Links to Social
Tina’s blog
Links in show
Yale
Clear health costs
IBM
Covenant House
Almost Home book
Abloom and Awry
Gospel of Galore
Thomas Jefferson
Bill Gates Mind
Fraud The Game
James Agee
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Hi everyone
We are late with this week’s digest but it’s been a week of rapid changes as we witness the accelerated spread of the Covid19 virus. Today in New York the reported infections reached over 5000.
So as we all start to inhabit the virtual world, I attended the Singularity University’s Covid19 virtual summit. Rather than follow our usual format I thought it best to share some of the great insights, information and future visions. Links to the videos are in show notes.
Here are some key takeaways from the key speakers:
Christina Gerakiteys From her talk - How you can take action during times of uncertainty
‘Our best work comes when the values of humanity intersect with the value of technology’
‘Humanivate - consider Humanity first in the process of innovation’
This was a truly inspiring and uplifting presentation.
A more sobering and immediate talk was The Coronavirus Pandemic and the New Normal with Jamie Metzl
“We are seeing the convergence of the world of science and biology with the world of geopolitics. And as this plays out geopolitical implications are going to be much greater and reflect deeply on the nature of this moment.
This is not a 2001 moment, this is a 1941 moment! “
James uses the seismic geopolitical changes from the past to make the case of why we are at a pivotal moment where we must collectively decide how the world will playout over the rest of the century.
To frame his talk he Quotes 1930’s Italian political theorist Antonio Gramsci
“The old world is dying, and the new world has not yet emerged; and in the twilight rise up monsters”
I think we can all sense this.
This next talk was more about the steps we can all take to remain safe. Nell Watson’s talk How to stay healthy during Covid19 is full of useful tips and tools. As she says “Today the world is united against a common foe. We need to show up and do our bit” - Nell Watson
As the future unfolds we need to rethink where and how we live. James Ehrlich in his talk
The Future of Safe Living in Self-Reliant Neighborhoods Sets out a sustainable vision
“There is a master plan that enables a software stack to create the neighborhoods of the future around clean food, clean water, and clean energy and circular waste to resource systems.
This kind of decentralized living is what we used to have up to 1950 when most of the planet lived in small self sustaining regenerative communities, having agency and access to your own food supply, grown at your doorstep.
We would argue that farming practices of Bio organic regenerative farming allows for greater bioavailability of nutrition and absolute food security”
Watch this and feel uplifted.
And finally checkout Why Authoritarianism is Bad for Public Health with Alex Gladstein
Alex covers how different nations have used power and authority to deal with this virus
Based on two axis - the openness of a society and the other axis - the competency of the government.
Citing examples of incompetence to competency and their levels societal openness by countries - US ( Incompetent / Closed), Singapore China ( Competent / Closed) and Iran (Incompetent / Closed) and Taiwan ( Competent /Open)
He also discusses why keeping a free press and free expression is paramount and retaining control of our privacy and remaining vigilant as governments will use opportunities to slip in new legislation to create laws that undermine and erode privacy. As Alex says "Don't let them take your privacy and rights away from you. It's not necessary. You don't need a police state to fight the virus. "
All the Summits Videos are available here on the Singularity University YouTube Channel
Stay safe everyone. And Please share anything you find that you would like us to share.
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Guest OverviewBorn in South Africa in the age of Apartheid, her education, parental guidance, curiosity, and worldly ambitions set her on the path to a stellar career in international business and marketing and finally leading Danone to become the first billion-dollar entity to become a public benefit corporation - welcome this week’s guest Lorna Davis. Lorna Davis is a transformational thinker, leader, and visionary for why and how organizations can combine social, and environmental priorities with their financial imperatives to deliver improved business performance. As a highly respected coach, international speaker Lorna also serves on a number of boards to help them embrace meaning and purpose.In Part One of this two-parter, we cover Lorna’s early life in South Africa, her parent’s influence, how her education and her Pollyanna-ish optimistic view of the world helped carve a successful career. We discuss Lorna’s social purpose epiphany when working in China in 2006. Lorna explains how she left China changed, and ultimately returned to Danone with a mission to help them become a purpose-driven company. Lorna recounts the practical realities of Danone’s evolution to a BCorp under her leadership in the US as Chief Manifesto Catalyst. In Part Two we discuss Lorna’s transition to a BCorp Evangelist. She unpacks the steps companies should take to start their journey to becoming BCorp certified, the importance of having visionary CEO, engaging and empowering youthful activists to lead the transformation process, and bypassing senior and mid-management We talk about the practical leverage of bottom-up, and outside-in methodologies, inviting an inclusive range of expert advisors and investors to accelerate the process of change, to overcoming short-termism, achieving triple bottom line, and the role of big banksWe cover the need to connect with our humanity, embrace ambiguity as Lorna explains her perspective on life being a dance of love and power. Lorna also discusses the UN New SDG Action Navigator tool to help businesses measure progress against the SDG’s and projects forward the future structure of corporate boards that cover ESG’s.Finally, we discuss serendipity, education, diversity, divine intelligence, the joy of being human and how she uses curiosity as an antidote to pain, and her perspective on how humanity works. I hope you’re inspired by the leadership values, heart, the humanity of Lorna Davis. What We Discuss Her parental impact We discuss her upbringing in apartheid South Africa Lorna’s sense of abundance the opportunity the world offered Her single-sex high school Her sports focusLearning routine discipline and order working for her at schoolStudying psychology and anthropology Breaking into Unilever Her social purpose epiphany in China Understanding that she could not continue to walk away from her responsibilities as a leaderBeing lured back to DanoneComing to the US Taking on the BCorp Challenge Managing shareholder expectationsBecoming a BCorp Evangelist Lorna’s pragmatic perspective on our ability to address climate challengesWhere to spend our time and energy - wherever your heart breaks are where you spend your time and energy Managing change - Inside and down vs Outside and Bottom-up thinking Driving Supply-side changeNeed to make Meetings inclusive and diverse Role for investorsThe dance between short term and long termThe separation of self in business and discomfort with ambiguity Power and Love RAM Das Quote How Lorna creates systems change The power of listeningSocial Links LinkedinWebsite Email - lornadavisuk@yahoo.comTwitterLinks In The ShowEster PerelTo Thine Own Self be true Martin Luther King QuoteChristiana FigueresGlenen Doyle RamdasLorna’s TED TalkGeography of Thought Erin Myer&n...
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Guest Overview
Born in South Africa in the age of Apartheid, her education, parental guidance, curiosity, and worldly ambitions set her on the path to a stellar career in international business and marketing and finally leading Danone to become the first billion-dollar entity to become a public benefit corporation - welcome this week’s guest Lorna Davis.
Lorna Davis is a transformational thinker, leader, and visionary for why and how organizations can combine social, and environmental priorities with their financial imperatives to deliver improved business performance. As a highly respected coach, international speaker Lorna also serves on a number of boards to help them embrace meaning and purpose.
In Part One of this two-parter, we cover Lorna’s early life in South Africa, her parent’s influence, how her education and her Pollyanna-ish optimistic view of the world helped carve a successful career. We discuss Lorna’s social purpose epiphany when working in China in 2006. Lorna explains how she left China changed, and ultimately returned to Danone with a mission to help them become a purpose-driven company. Lorna recounts the practical realities of Danone’s evolution to a B Corp under her leadership in the US as Chief Manifesto Catalyst.
We also discuss how Lorna became an evangelist for the B Corp movement, the tools available for all businesses and her advisory role with organizations on their sustainability strategies.
I hope you’re inspired by the leadership values and vision of Lorna Davis.
What We Discuss
Her parental impact
We discuss her upbringing in apartheid South Africa
Lorna’s sense of abundance the opportunity the world offered
Her single-sex high school
Her sports focus
Learning routine discipline and order working for her at school
Studying psychology and anthropology
Breaking into Unilever
Her social purpose epiphany in China
Understanding that she could not continue to walk away from her responsibilities as a leader
Being lured back to Danone
Coming to the US
Taking on the B Corp Challenge
Managing shareholder expectations
Social Links
Website
Email - lornadavisuk@yahoo.com
Links In The Show
Patagonia
Buckminster Fuller
Anand Giridharadas
Danone
Apartheid
B Corp
B Lab
B Impact Assessment
White Wave
Emmanuel Faber
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In light of the severity and global impact of Covid19, we thought that this week we should share information that could provide you with additional useful information as well as to take some pause for reflection and refuel your optimism. Podcast worth a listen In this episode of the podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Amesh Adalja from John Hopkins University, about the spreading coronavirus pandemic. They discuss the contagiousness of the virus and the severity of the resultant illness, the mortality rate, and risk factors, vectors of transmission, how long coronavirus can live on surfaces, the importance of social distancing, possible anti-viral treatments, the timeline for a vaccine, the importance of pandemic preparedness, and other topics.Recommended to Us As events change daily and with the US just declaring a National Emergency due to Coronavirus, there still seems to be a gulf in opinions on how bad this will get and how we should act individually and collectively. Should you wait for more information? Do something today? What else?In this article by Tomas Pueyo you’ll find well-sourced charts, data, and models that provide unambiguous information on the impact, scale, and speed of this virus. It provides individuals, parents, community leaders or business leaders with the data and confidence to prevent this, if we have the responsibility to act. We read this on What’s App I was recently invited to join an extraordinary What’s App group called Difference Makers. Humbling to be part of a group of thinkers and do-ers that inspire me daily. Today, I quote one member Graham Boyd.“This is my perspective: For decades it's been sufficiently clear that climate change, pollution impacts, 17SDG will impact everyone, and worst case could lead to the death of over 90% of humans. Today the global reactions to those threats are insipid vs. the Covid reactions. The two big differences I see are: Covid might kill me, and now; whereas the climate emergency kills in 10, 50, 100 years time - and someone else. I wish we had a way of creating the feeling now for a threat that materializes in the future.” Wise words indeed. Mulling on thisWhen we face existential events, whether viral or climate-based, we should not forget that we all have agency, the power to choose what we imagine, to desire, believe and act toward the future seek. In times when the media makes us feel powerless, it’s worth remembering how powerful we are, as mediums of change. Last Week’s PodcastSocial impact gaming entrepreneur and Co-Founder of One Earth Rising has a mission to harvest and harness the power of philanthropy through interactive experiences, providing a playful path to social impact.Jan Roessner was born in Germany to a creative father and a loving but disciplinarian mother. After a fifteen-year career in the German military leading operations in a helicopter squadron and as a drone pilot in Afghanistan, Jan transitioned to the creative industry opening a marketing firm, sagency in Berlin in 2012. Serendipity led him to New York, where he met his current business partner and pivoted to social impact gaming and launching One Earth Rising.In Part One of this two-parter, Jan discussed his childhood, his education, his early influences, and desiring a life of impact. We cover what set him on a path to the military, discuss his experiences of serving in Afghanistan, before transitioning through education to political lobbying and finally taking the entrepreneurial way and opening his agency in Berlin.In Part Two we dive deep into Jan’s journey to social impact gaming, examples of his early successes with Animal Rights Organization PETA, the power of game-based storytelling to educate people on social issues, the philanthropic value of gaming to NGO’s, and the benefits open to brands and the market potential.Jan discusses the business model, the evolution of the sector, and the impa...
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Guest OverviewBorn in SF, adopted and raised in NYC, by an author and illustrator mother and an ethical Wall Street banker, father, James (Jim) Clark grew up with abundance and privilege and a deep sense of love. Jim’s mother would wake him each day with an exercise that conditioned him to consider every day as a blank sheet of paper. In Part One of this two-parter, Jim discusses growing up in a highly creative home, developing a love of the environment, embracing academic challenges, managing his procrastination and always believing in his own agency. Jim recounts the serendipity and a life-affirming experience of meeting Buckminster Fuller, that set him on this path to his first entrepreneurial venture at University by leveraging the power of networks and subsequently building a second networking venture in 94’ that partnered with a little known start-up called AOL. In Part Two Jim discusses how he envisioned the future value of technology in the 21st century and forming the World technology network - a global community of peer vetted technology experts and visionaries and an annual awards series under the banner of encouraging serendipity. Jim also discusses his perspective on the power and value of curiosity and serendipity. How he looks for patterns in history and why remaining open to the fluidity of outcomes, creates better outcomes. We discuss his new initiative the world congress for a new civilization, the existential challenges we face and why he’s creating a new global representation of all humanity. And there is much much more. I hope you enjoy the expansive thinking, inspirational insights and fluid life analysis of Jim Clark What we discuss:In Part One His upbringing in a home of abundance and affluence.His ethical Wall Street Banking Father.His free-spirited, creative book writing Mother and her morning exercise to instill creativity in him The creative environment in which he grew up. How life felt like an adventure.Jim reflects on creativity and technology in children’s upbringing today and in past generations.Hypocrisy filters in today/s youth.Tidal pools and developing a love for the environment.School life.Attending Wesleyan University and Cambridge, The turning point of Discovering nonprofit organizations at a young age.And starting his first nonprofit at University. His rationale and logic for carving his path in life.Arriving at leveraging the power of networks. Meeting Buckminster Fuller and life affirmation.The power of trim tabs.Forming Access Networking in the Public interest to find a clearinghouse for Non Profit jobs.Working on Clinton’s presidential campaign.Witnessing the emergence of the Internet, he recognized the potential of the internet to have a social and economic impact.Forming Access point in 93 to help nonprofits access the internet he partnered with a small but fast-growing startup called AOL. Building a reputation of one of the early leaders in what at the time was called “New Media”.Moving to London in 1997. In Part Two Creating the World Technology NetworkForming The World Technology Network Awards to create a vetting mechanismWhy he adopted the moniker Encouraging SerendipityLooking for patterns in historySerendipity in historic invention Time, change and evolutionOpenness to change and outcomes Fluidly surfing waves of possibility and the tension of avoiding failureImpact eliminating risk and ambiguityShame, tribalism and not being your true self Jim discusses his key existential questions- - ‘What do I believe it right?’ asked with an open heart - ‘What do I think it necessary?’ - ‘The answer is what you should do.’ Being open to new experience Jim explains why he considers civilization as unsustainable and morally indefensible being a consequence of us all not asking the above questionsGetting to a courageous...
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Guest Overview
Born in SF, adopted and raised in NYC, by an author and illustrator mother and an ethical Wall Street banker, father, James (Jim) Clark grew up with abundance and privilege and a deep sense of love. Jim’s mother would wake him each day with an exercise that conditioned him to consider every day as a blank sheet of paper.
In Part One of this two-parter, Jim discusses growing up in a highly creative home, developing a love of the environment, embracing academic challenges, managing his procrastination and always believing in his own agency. Jim recounts the serendipity and a life-affirming experience of meeting Buckminster Fuller, that set him on this path to his first entrepreneurial venture at University by leveraging the power of networks and subsequently building a second networking venture in 94’ that partnered with a little known start-up called AOL.
In Part Two Jim discusses how he envisioned the future value of technology in the 21st century and forming the World technology network - a global community of peer vetted technology experts and visionaries and an annual awards series under the banner of encouraging serendipity.
Jim also discusses his perspective on the power and value of curiosity and serendipity.
How he looks for patterns in history and why remaining open to the fluidity of outcomes, creates better outcomes.
We discuss his new initiative the world congress for a new civilization, the existential challenges we face and why he’s creating a new global representation of all humanity. And there is much much more.
I hope you enjoy the expansive thinking, inspirational insights and fluid life analysis of Jim Clark
What we discuss:
His upbringing in a home of abundance and affluence.
His ethical Wall Street Banking Father.
His free-spirited, creative book writing Mother and her morning exercise to instill creativity in him
The creative environment in which he grew up.
How life felt like an adventure.
Jim reflects on creativity and technology in children’s upbringing today and in past generations.
Hypocrisy filters in today/s youth.
Tidal pools and developing a love for the environment.
School life.
Attending Wesleyan University and Cambridge,
The turning point of Discovering nonprofit organizations at a young age.
And starting his first nonprofit at University.
His rationale and logic for carving his path in life.
Arriving at leveraging the power of networks.
Meeting Buckminster Fuller and life affirmation.
The power of trim tabs.
Forming Access Networking in the Public interest to find a clearinghouse for Non Profit jobs.
Working on Clinton’s presidential campaign.
Witnessing the emergence of the Internet, he recognized the potential of the internet to have a social and economic impact.
Forming Access point in 93 to help nonprofits access the internet he partnered with a small but fast-growing startup called AOL.
Building a reputation of one of the early leaders in what at the time was called “New Media”.
Moving to London in 1997.
Links to Social
Links in show
The Maggie B book
John Lilly Dolphin Researcher
Altered States
Buckminster Fuller
ArpaNet
Al Gore
AOL
Bill Clinton
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Podcast we loved
Real Famous with Scott Trattner
This conversation with Scott Trattner dates to last year but has a wealth of insights into the creative mind behind some of the most iconic ads from Apple to more recently Facebook. Scott spent years working at the Media Arts Labs for Apple, eventually becoming their ECD. Scott is behind some of the most well-known campaigns in Apple's history, including Mac vs. PC. Most recently, he was the VP and Executive Creative Director at Facebook. This fun, insightful episode is well worth your journey to work.
We found this online
This short piece in The Conversation provides a thoughtful reflection on our society's preoccupation with the future.
The future isn't what it used to be, at least according to the Canadian science-fiction novelist William Gibson. In an interview with the BBC, Gibson said people seemed to be losing interest in the future. "All through the 20th century, we constantly saw the 21st century invoked," he said. "How often do you hear anyone invoke the 22nd century? Even saying it is unfamiliar to us. We've come to not have a future".
I wonder if this is just a matter of time. We are in the 2020's. If we are still here in the 2060's maybe the future will consume us again?
Recommended to Us
Be a Lady They Said
Ged Hawes, Founder of We Live and Learn, strategy consultancy, shared this new provocative video. As Ged said, this short provocative video, wonderfully narrated by Cynthia Nixon and produced for GirlsGirlsGirls portrays the pressures of being a lady in our society. We'd all do well to consider how we add to different pressures in society or how we help break them down." I think you'll be sharing this with friends.
Finally Last Weeks Podcast
Ryan Watson Founder of North Brooklyn Farms
Serendipity brought Ryan Watson and Henry Sweets together, unified by their vision of the power of urban farming to improve the health of local communities, they spent seven years nurturing and building North Brooklyn Farm, on the banks of the East River in Brooklyn, nestled under the Williamsburg Bridge.
This extraordinary Oasis, a gathering place for the local community amid the New York metropolis, recently closed due to the real-estate development. However, in this two-part episode, we discover that Ryan's vision remains evident in the role and need for urban farming.
In Part One, we discuss Ryan's upbringing, education, and what influenced him to walk away from a career in Corporate Law to pursue his love or agriculture and farming, and the genesis of North Brooklyn Farms.
In part two, Ryan and I discuss his experience and learnings from running an urban farm and community gathering space for seven years and the impact the Farm had on the community in Brooklyn. We discuss his current rural farming adventure at Wild Russet Farms in the Catskills of NY State, how a new generation of millennial farmers could create a more sustainable future beyond industrial agriculture.
In this honest and wide-ranging discussion, we also cover his views on education, technology, curiosity, risk-taking, failure, persistence, work ethic, values, and the future.
I hope you enjoy the contemplative perspectives social impact, and community-minded spirit of Ryan Watson.
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Guest Overview
Social impact gaming entrepreneur and Co-Founder of One Earth Rising has a mission to harvest and harness the power of philanthropy through interactive experiences, providing a playful path to social impact.
Jan Roessner was born in Germany to a creative father and a loving but disciplinarian mother. After a fifteen-year career in the German military leading operations in a helicopter squadron and as a drone pilot in Afghanistan, Jan transitioned to the creative industry opening a marketing firm, sagency in Berlin in 2012. Serendipity led him to New York, where he met his current business partner and pivoted to social impact gaming and launching One Earth Rising.
In Part One of this two-parter, Jan discussed his childhood, his education, his early influences, and desiring a life of impact. We cover what set him on a path to the military, discuss his experiences of serving in Afghanistan, before transitioning through education to political lobbying and finally taking the entrepreneurial way and opening his agency in Berlin.
In Part Two we dive deep into Jan’s journey to social impact gaming, examples of his early successes with Animal Rights Organization PETA, the power of game-based storytelling to educate people on social issues, the philanthropic value of gaming to NGO’s, and the benefits open to brands and the market potential.
Jan discusses the business model, the evolution of the sector, and the impact AI will have on gaming. He also reflects on stoicism, managing fear, failure exercise, curiosity, and serendipity.
I hope you are inspired by the integrity, playful passion, and social impact focus of Jan Roessner.
What We Discuss
In Part Two we cover the serendipitous opportunity that led him to New York.
His transition to a focus on gaming as a tool for storytelling and social impact.
Meeting Luc Barnard.
Having their first break with Kitten Squad for Peta.
Jan discusses the value and mechanics of social gaming.
Measuring impact for the NGO’s.
The business model from in-game purchases.
The value to NGOs to educate people on social issues.
Sector $137 bn gaming industry and 155 m people playing in the US alone.
Launching Paresio Island for All Hands and Hearts got Hurricane Relief.
His mission to harvest, harness the power of philanthropy through interactive experiences.
The need for innovation in digital fundraising.
Dealing with fear and his stoic mindset to manage stress.
The importance of exercise.
Building belief in investors through his passion.
Impact on the global goals and SDG’s.
AI and gaming.
The serendipitous events of meeting Luc.
The value of his curiosity and being open to others.
The value of Mentors.
Quickfire answers
Social Links
One Earth Rising
Paresio Island.com
Links
The Rolling Stones
Connemara Coast
Top Gun
Arcade Distillery
One Earth Rising
Peta
Kitten Squad
Paresio Island
All Hand and Hearts
Hunter Johansson
Hurricane Harvey
The global goals
How I built this
Altered Carbon
Jack Ryan on Amazon
Grit Angela Duckworth
Never Split the Difference book
Gladwell book
Infinite Game
Manni Safa
Luc Bernard
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Guest OverviewJan Roessner is Co-Founder and CEO of One Earth Rising, a social impact gaming company with a mission to harvest and harness the power of philanthropy through interactive experiences, providing a playful path to social impact.Jan Roessner was born in Germany to a creative father and a loving but disciplinarian mother. After a fifteen-year career in the German military leading operations in a helicopter squadron and as a drone pilot in Afghanistan, Jan transitioned to the creative industry opening a marketing firm, sagency in Berlin in 2012. Serendipity led him to New York, where he met his current business partner and pivoted to social impact gaming and launching One Earth Rising. In Part One of this two-parter, Jan discusses his childhood, his education, his early influences, and desiring a life of impact. We cover what set him on a path to the military, discuss his experiences of serving in Afghanistan, before transitioning through education to political lobbying and finally taking the entrepreneurial way and opening his agency in Berlin. In Part Two we dive deep into Jan’s journey to social impact gaming, examples of his early successes with Animal Rights Organization PETA, the power of game-based storytelling to educate people on social issues, the philanthropic value of gaming to NGO’s, and the benefits open to brands and the market potential. Jan discusses the business model, the evolution of the sector, and the impact AI will have on gaming. He also reflects on stoicism, managing fear, failure exercise, curiosity, and serendipity. I hope you are inspired by the integrity, playful passion and social impact focus of Jan Roessner.What We Discuss Jan discusses his memories of growing up as a single child to loving parents but always being surrounded by extended family.He recounts his experience and gratitude for the values and disciplines his mother instilled and the creative influence of his PR and journalist father.His freedom to explore.Being a follower in his peer group setting but establishing his own identity as he matured.The influence of being exposed to travel and other cultures.His early exposure to military culture and values.The impact of a friend's mother called him out as a ‘smart ass.’ How he internalized his ‘smartass’ behavior and discarded that attitude.His school life and high performance in academics .The cultural diversity of this school that led him to be open to comfortable across cultures.The appeal of the military and the values of bravery and honor and desire to make an impact.His early exposure to international deployment in Bosnia.His love of Top Gun and his journey to becoming a helicopter pilot.Spending 15 years in the Luftwaffe and spending the latter years as a Drone pilot in Afghanistan.The experience of Drone missions and the psychotherapy support.His changing mindset on why the military was not making the impact he wanted.Gaining a degree in the military and transitioning to politics as an advisor to make an impact.The stark realization that the only way to make an impact would be to follow an entrepreneurial journey. His desire to be creative and opening an agency in Berlin with his wife.The serendipitous opportunity the led him to New York. His transition to a focus on gaming as tool for storytelling and social impact.Meeting Luc Barnard.Having their first break with Kitten Squad for Peta. Jan discusses the value and mechanics of social gaming. Measuring impact for the NGO’s.The business model from in-game purchases.The value to NGO’s to educate people on social issues. Sector $137 bn gaming industry and 155 m people playing in the US alone.Launching Paresio Island for All Hands and Hearts got Hurricane Relief.His mission to harvest, harness the power of philanthropy through interactive experiences.The need for innovation in digital fundraising. Dealing with...
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Podcast we loved It's a series called Audience from the team at Castos. We get asked a lot about the process of podcasting. So rather than share how we do it, better to find some folk who already have. This series is an honest, unfiltered, and real-time view inside their journey to growing an impactful podcast. They share the best promotional strategies to the test, then report back on their successes and failures in each new episode.The first two episodes shed light on the first questions every podcaster needs to answer: what is the show about and what gear should I use? They start with some context, digging into why make a podcast in the first place and give you the low down on their setup, what gear they use plus why a basic recording setup is all you need. They go beyond the basics and cover crafting your Narrative, pick apart the science of storytelling, and get candid about why some podcasts are stickier than others.If you want to dip your toe, Audience is great place to start. We found this onlineIt's a short 25 minute read on the Axios blog called Mega Trends that will shape the 21st Century they review forthcoming book, "The Precipice," by Toby Ord of Oxford's Future of Humanity Institute which gives 1 in 6 odds that humanity will suffer an existential catastrophe during the next 100 years — almost certainly due to our own actions.But, Ord and others argue if we properly harness threatening technologies and mature as a species, we could not only survive the 21st Century, but thrive in it. This post gives you a succinct breakdown and provides a feast of interesting links to take you down the rabbit-hole. Recommended to UsLiving in New York, it's normal that you have friends coming to the city for work, a short vacation, and a long weekend, and it's not uncommon to be asked about what they should see and do, especially when they have tick boxes all the usual tourist spots. This post from Forbes ranked no1 angel investor Fabrice Grinda, does that job for us. Save this link if you're heading to NYC soon. Social Impact Finally, this week this post confronts the reality that in 2019 we saw a fall for the second straight year. Whether driven changes in tax incentives or just compassion fatigue, this post provides ten evidence-based methods for encouraging people to give more to charity, that charities and individuals use to help overcome the tendency to limit generosity? Finally Last Weeks PodcastPamela H Smith was born and raised in a small isolated California town, influenced by what she describes as a 'consistent, persistent, and gentle' math teacher father and the 'artistic and creative' mother, serendipity led her to discover her love of the history of science in Woolongong University in Australia and then commit her life to be a historian of science.Pamela is a Professor of History at Columbia University and Founding Director of the Center for Science and Society, where she leads the Making and Knowing Research Project. In part one of this two-parter, we discuss Pamela's upbringing and her journey into the history of science. We also discuss the evolution of science, human progress through the centuries, creativity, curiosity and the acceleration of knowledge and the influence of social organization and networks as our economies and trade networks developed. We also discuss the growth of cities, the emergence of the artisan class, and the changing roles they played. In Part two we discuss how Pamela H Smith established the Making and Knowing Research Project, its purpose, and we discuss the origins of her most recent launch – The Secrets of Craft and Nature in Renaissance France. A Digital Critical Edition and it's English Translation. That might sound dry to many, but this is a remarkable sixteenth-century manuscript that...
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Guest Overview
Serendipity brought Ryan Watson and Henry Sweets together, unified by their vision of the power of urban farming to improve the health of local communities, they spent seven years nurturing and building North Brooklyn Farm, on the banks of the East River in Brooklyn, nestled under the Williamsburg Bridge.
This extraordinary Oasis, a gathering place for the local community amid the New York metropolis, recently closed due to the real-estate development. However, in this two-part episode, we discover that Ryan’s vision remains evident in the role and need for urban farming.
In Part One, we discuss Ryan’s upbringing, education, and what influenced him to walk away from a career in Corporate Law to pursue his love or agriculture and farming, and the genesis of North Brooklyn Farms.
In part two, Ryan and I discuss his experience and learnings from running an urban farm and community gathering space for seven years and the impact the Farm had on the community in Brooklyn. We discuss his current rural farming adventure at Wild Russet Farms in the Catskills of NY State, how a new generation of millennial farmers could create a more sustainable future beyond industrial agriculture.
In this honest and wide-ranging discussion, we also cover his views on Education, technology, curiosity, risk-taking, failure, persistence, work ethic, values, and the future.
I hope you enjoy the contemplative perspectives social impact, and community-minded spirit of Ryan Watson.
What we discuss:
Growing up in Venice Beach California as a single child in a part Jewish and Catholic household.
The differing roles of his parents and the influences.
His fathers affect his work ethic, leadership skills and being in the Zone.
The diversity and world view that developed from his Jewish and Catholic parents and befriending Cuban and Mexican friends.
Studying political science at UCLA.
Taking a Year out to travel.
Working at an office at UCLA and not resonating with office work.
Joining the campaigning team for the Obama campaign in 2008.
Teaching in Korea.
His discovery of his love of growing vegetables and peace and splice on gardening.
After traveling he returned to New York amidst the financial crisis to study law and his LSAT’s and finally to hit a breaking point.
The value of having legal training.
The realization of the burden of having a student debt and how that would tie him down.
Getting the book the $100 start-up to focus on his venture and his uncle's support for his ambition.
New York’s culture for community gardening and taking over vacant lots and community activism especially in Greenpoint.
His early experience of working in community agriculture in Greenpoint.
Quoting his job in 2012 to start his agriculture journey and getting invaluable training at Battery Park Urban Garden.
The serendipity of meeting Henry Sweets and having a joint vision for what a farm in the community should be as part of the social fabric of a city.
The Two Trees RFP and being selected.
The experience of running North Brooklyn Farm and the impact on the community.
Links to Social
Ryan’s Instagram
Links in show
North Brooklyn Farm
Two Trees
Wild Russet Farm
$100 Start Up
GWAPP
Getting Things Done Book
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Guest Overview
Serendipity brought Ryan Watson and Henry Sweets together, unified by their vision of the power of urban farming to improve the health of local communities, they spent seven years nurturing and building North Brooklyn Farm, on the banks of the East River in Brooklyn, nestled under the Williamsburg Bridge.
This extraordinary oasis, a gathering place for the local community amid the New York metropolis, recently closed due to the real-estate development. However, in this two-part episode, we discover that Ryan’s vision remains evident in the role and need for urban farming.
In Part One, we discuss Ryan’s upbringing, education, and what influenced him to walk away from a career in Corporate Law to pursue his love or agriculture and farming, and the genesis of North Brooklyn Farms.
In part two, Ryan and I discuss his experience and learnings from running an urban farm and community gathering space for seven years and the impact the Farm had on the community in Brooklyn. We discuss his current rural farming adventure at Wild Russet Farms in the Catskills of NY State, how a new generation of millennial farmers could create a more sustainable future beyond industrial agriculture.
In this honest and wide-ranging discussion, we also cover his views on ducation, technology, curiosity, risk-taking, failure, persistence, work ethic, values, and the future.
I hope you enjoy the contemplative perspectives social impact, and community-minded spirit of Ryan Watson.
What we discuss:
Growing up in Venice Beach California as a single child in a part Jewish and Catholic household.
The differing roles of his parents and the influences.
His fathers affect his work ethic, leadership skills and being in the Zone.
The diversity and world view that developed from his Jewish and Catholic parents and befriending Cuban and Mexican friends.
Studying political science at UCLA.
Taking a Year out to travel.
Working at an office at UCLA and not resonating with office work.
Joining the campaigning team for the Obama campaign in 2008.
Teaching in Korea.
His discovery of his love of growing vegetables and peace and splice on gardening.
After traveling he returned to New York amidst the financial crisis to study law and his LSAT’s and finally to hit a breaking point.
The value of having legal training.
The realization of the burden of having a student debt and how that would tie him down.
Getting the book the $100 start-up to focus on his venture and his uncle's support for his ambition.
New York’s culture for community gardening and taking over vacant lots and community activism especially in Greenpoint.
His early experience of working in community agriculture in Greenpoint.
Quoting his job in 2012 to start his agriculture journey and getting invaluable training at Battery Park Urban Garden.
The serendipity of meeting Henry Sweets and having a joint vision for what a farm in the community should be as part of the social fabric of a city.
The Two Trees RFP and being selected.
The experience of running North Brooklyn Farm and the impact on the community.
Links to Social
Ryan’s Instagram
Links in show
North Brooklyn Farm
Two Trees
Wild Russet Farm
$100 Start Up
GTD
Art of happiness
Andrew Carter Small Hold
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Last Week's PodcastLast week's guest was Nick Fitz, founder, and CEO of the new charitable giving app, Give Momentum, Born in Washington DC, raised in a reform household, to socially conscious parents, Nick learned values "around justice and giving back" from an early age. Serendipity brought him together with his founding partners Ari Kagan and Ivan Dimitrov, to develop the Momentum app. It was the moment they realized there was no simple way to bridge the gap between people's willingness to donate and their actual ability to contribute. Nick and I discuss the genesis of the app, how it's disrupting the philanthropic giving sector, empowering users to give in a simple, frictionless manner and overcoming the barriers most people face when wanting to give by enabling good intentions to result in giving actions and behaviors. The app lets you arrange automated small-dollar donations that are triggered by ordinary moments or events that relate to how you live your life. Nick discusses how the app could develop, and we cover the broader challenges facing the $400+ billion philanthropic sector (U.S.), the systemic societal challenges, and the need for wholesale tax reform. Nick discusses advocacy, optimism, the evidence-based social good movement, and the value that NGO's add, in ways that the government can't. The importance of supporting independent organizations that can influence changes in government policy. Of course, we discuss serendipity, curiosity, and his perspective on risk and fear. I hope you enjoy this stimulating discussion and the insights, ideas, and social innovations of Nick Fitz. First the Podcast, we loved. Daryl Davis on The Joe Rogan Experience Daryl Davis is an African American musician who's played with many of the greats such as Chuck Berry, BB King, and Jerry Lee Lewis. But his notoriety comes from another passion, befriending members of the Ku Klux Klan and de-robbing them and transforming their lives.We were introduced to Daryl by our recent guest Arno Michaelis, and we hope to interview him soon. But Joe Rogan got to him first. Give this extensive interview a listen, and hear Daryl's extraordinary story on confronting racist hatred with kindness. Black (Live) by Dave stuns the Brit Awards The entertainment industry awards on both sides of the Atlantic have been rightly accused of institutional exclusion of people of color or paying lip service with cursory awards but in the main continuing the status quo of predictability when awarding gongs. Not anymore. This week at the Annual Music Industry Brit Awards, the audience and the country were blown away by the grime star Dave as he performed an extended version of his song Black in what must go down as the most exceptional performance ever at the Brits. This mesmeric, thought-provoking, poetic, and politically-charged performance is a must-watch. Recommended to UsOur friend and previous guest, Alex Armillotta, recommended and shared access to Professor Scott Galloway's 2020 predictions video. Galloway intelligent, rigorously researched, humorous, and self-deprecating presentations make them invaluable viewing. We have added it to our YouTube Channel. As Prof G says, "why make predictions? Eisenhower said, "Plans are worthless, but planning is indispensable." The same is true for predictions — they matter for the strategy and data behind them. Predictions are useless, but scenario planning is invaluable." Mulling On ThisAs the ad industry struggles to maintain its margins, attract and retain talent and find its purpose in a world of media manipulation and messaging misinformation, along comes a work worthy of any of the ad industry greats. Burger King's Moldy Whopper is bravery and genius giving birth to perfectly formed spot A product truth delivered perfectly wrapped in a simple idea, executed wit...
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Guest Overview
Born and raised in a small isolated California town, influenced by what she describes as a ‘consistent, persistent, and gentle’ math teacher father and the ‘artistic and creative’ mother, serendipity led her to discover her love of the history of science at Wollongong University in Australia and then commit her life to be a historian of science - is this weeks guest Pamela H Smith.
Pamela is a Professor of History at Columbia University and Founding Director of the Center for Science and Society where she leads the Making and Knowing Research Project.
In Part two we discuss how Pamela established the Making and Knowing Research Project, its purpose and we discuss the origins of her most recent launch - The Secrets of Craft and Nature in Renaissance France. A Digital Critical Edition and it’s English Translation. That might sound dry to many but this is a remarkable sixteenth-century manuscript that contains over 900 recipes for making art objects, medical remedies, and materials for the household and workshop.
Pamela explains how the craft workshop practices record extensive first-hand experimentation with natural materials and provide unique insights into the material, technical, and intellectual world of the late sixteenth century and bring a better understanding of how and why nature was investigated, collected, and used in art in early modern Europe. It sheds light on the origins of the natural sciences in the creative labors of Renaissance artists and artisans’ workshops.
The digital critical edition is an open-source resource is available for anyone to experiment and follow the recipes and directions.
We also cover her views of education, failure, persistence and the need to create a more evolved and sustainable economic model.
Please enjoy and share this extensive exploration and mind-expanding journey through history of science with Pamela H Smith.
What we discuss:
Pamela explains the Making and Knowing project and the fusion of disciplines to study the connection between craft and science
The emergence of the Royal Society and the first project of interviewing artisans to identify general principles
Active Science vs Certain Science
The parallels to the creative class of today
I ask Pamela about her thoughts in imitation and she explains the development of Intellectual property and propriety forms and the nature of our economy.
We discuss theory and practice and persistence and the culture of fearing failure.
Pamela describes the development of The Digital Critical Edition the verbatim translation of the French Manuscript of over 400 pages of artisanal recipes and makes this open-source and available for the public and artisans.
The recreation of the objects that have been created by her students.
Interest in the human hand and it's capacity in nature.
We discuss the aims of Pamela to facilitate and create a new maker sensibility in today's world and how this could create a new economic and sustainable model based on handwork and craft. Pamela cites examples from India.
We also discuss the imperative of embracing new economic models, the need to celebrate diversity, the importance of persistence.
Social Links
Digital Critical Edition
Links In the Show
Digital Critical Edition
Columbia University
Wollongong University
Buckminster Fuller
Frank Lloyd Wright
National Science Foundation
Manhattan Project
Royal Society in London
Francis Bacon
Academie Des Sciences
Aristotle
Bernard Pallisy on Theory and Practice
Bryan Stevenson True Justice
Elizabeth King Radical Small
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Guest OverviewBorn and raised in a small isolated California town, influenced by what she describes as a ‘consistent, persistent, and gentle’ math teacher father and the ‘artistic and creative’ mother, serendipity led her to discover her love of the history of science at Wollongong University in Australia and then commit her life to be a historian of science - is this weeks guest Pamela H Smith. Pamela is a Professor of History at Columbia University and Founding Director of the Center for Science and Society where she leads the Making and Knowing Research Project. In part one of this two-parter, we discuss Pamela’s upbringing and her journey into the history of science. We also discuss the evolution of science, human progress through the centuries, creativity, curiosity and the acceleration of knowledge and the influence of social organization and networks as our economies and trade networks developed. We also discuss the growth of cities, the emergence of artisan class and changing roles they played. In Part two we discuss how Pamela established the Making and Knowing Research Project, its purpose and we discuss the origins of her most recent launch - The Secrets of Craft and Nature in Renaissance France. A Digital Critical Edition and its English Translation. That might sound dry to many but this is a remarkable sixteenth-century manuscript that contains over 900 recipes for making art objects, medical remedies, and materials for the household and workshop. Pamela explains how the craft workshop practices record extensive first-hand experimentation with natural materials and provide unique insights into the material, technical, and intellectual world of the late sixteenth century and bring a better understanding of how and why nature was investigated, collected, and used in art in early modern Europe. It sheds light on the origins of the natural sciences in the creative labors of Renaissance artists and artisans’ workshops. The digital critical edition is an open-source resource is available for anyone to experiment and follow the recipes and directions. We also cover her views of education, failure, persistence and the need to create a more evolved and sustainable economic model. Please enjoy and share this extensive exploration and mind-expanding journey through history of science with Pamela H Smith. What we discuss:Pamela’s upbringing in a small Sierra Nevada community and the freedom she had to explore and play in the wilderness. The influence of the consistent, persistent, and gentle math teacher father and the artistic and creative streak of her mother. Living with frugality and environmental awareness at an early age.Her media consumption habits of one radio station and Time Magazine compared to today’s children. Schooling in California in the 60’s and ’70s and the importance of creativity and not testing.The lack of history in the curriculum. Developing her worldview and the influence of Buckminster FullerMoving to Australia in her final year of high school and developing her love of Science Attending University in Wollongong and how she serendipitously encountered the History of Science as part of her DegreeThe development of the science and the investment in knowledge-makingWe discuss progress, science, and creativity and the acceleration of knowledgePamela reflects on science and human engagement in nature and natural materials and the influence of social organization and networksThe emergence of technological development and trade networks that accelerated science, knowledge and social scientific theories Development of national science foundations in the 1660s We discuss curiosity through the ages and quest for knowledge and the emergence of cities and the artisan class. Development of guilds and trade association and the changing perception of mind-work and hand-work. Pam...
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First the Podcast, we loved. Tatiana Schlossberg On Design Matters Debbie Millman is probably the most accomplished podcast host. In this recent episode, Debbie interviews Tatiana Schlossberg, journalist, author of Inconspicuous ConsumptionTatiana is also the daughter of Caroline Kennedy, and a granddaughter of John F. Kennedy, the 35th U.S. president. As a reporter for The New York Times covering climate change, she discusses her book and how climate change is entangled in everything we use, buy, eat, wear, and how we get around. She also details the small steps that we can all take to have a significant impact on the most defining issue of our time.We found this online Benedict Evans - Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants Every year, Ben, a partner at SF VC firm Andreessen Horowitz produces a comprehensive presentation on the state of Tech. He digs deep into macro and strategic trends in the tech industry. In this year's magnum opus, 'Standing on the shoulders of giants' Ben looks at what it means that 4 people have a smartphone; with everyone connected, he wonders, what is the Next Big Thing? In addition, he reflects on the fact that connecting everyone means that all our problems will also be connected. Finally, he explores where regulation in Tech will take us. He gave this presentation at an event in Davos in January 2020, in partnership with Nasdaq and Protocol.Recommended to Us136 Internet Videos that Blew My Mind From our friends at Genius Steals. This engrossing compilation that Joe Sabia, head of creative development at Conde Nast Entertainment, has assembled, of internet videos which have left some sort of impression on him. Sectioned into 7 parts - of experimental, artsy, tinkering with clips, brainy, novel pranks and lastly, "just weird" As Faris says 'this google presentation is perfect for pulling reference points, or simply brightening up a colleague's day.'Mulling On This The Sentient Puddle I was recently introduced to Robbie Stamp and during our first call, Robbie recounted the famous Puddle parable from Hitchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy creator, Double Adams. This simple yet profound analogy for how we as humans perceive our 'being' and our place on the planet should also trigger an intellectual realization that, aside from Greta and her army of climate strikers, we seem incapable of seeing the wider world outside 'the hole' and acting on it. Watch this video and reflect on our shrinking puddle. Last Weeks PodcastWeek 12 - CIA Intelligence, Consumption, Technology, Video Inspiration, and ExistenceLast Weeks Podcast Carmen Medina is a former CIA Deputy Director of Intelligence. A veteran of the Intelligence Community, she is also the author of Rebels at Work: A Handbook for Leading Change from Within.Puerto Rican born, to a fun-loving father and an achievement-driven mother, Carmen excelled through an itinerant childhood to lead school debating teams. Her forensic debating skills and serendipity led her to a University scholarship and ultimately set her on her path to a 32-year career in the CIA.In Part One, Carmen unpacks her chaotic and unsettled upbringing and childhood, the role of her education, how debating helped her develop the skills that served her well over her CIA career. We discuss her experience of interning at the CIA in 1978, a time before desktop computers, operating as a human algorithm, to running the South Africa desk, and leaning into the male-dominated CIA culture to make her voice heard.In Part Two, we discuss her perspective on power, the current state of the world, and her hope for the future. We also cover the role of curiosity and creativity in her work at the CIA, applying empathy to be heard by policy and decision-makers in today's polarized political environmentAnd finally, we end with her life insigh...
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Guest Overview
This week's guest is Nick Fitz, founder, and CEO of the new charitable giving app, Give Momentum, Born in Washington DC, raised in a reform household, to socially conscious parents, Nick learned values "around justice and giving back" from an early age.
Serendipity brought him together with his founding partners Ari Kagan and Ivan Dimitrov, to develop the Momentum app. It was the moment they realized there was no simple way to bridge the gap between people's willingness to donate and their actual ability to make a contribution.
Nick and I discuss the genesis of the app, how it's disrupting the philanthropic giving sector, empowering users to give in a simple, frictionless manner and overcoming the barriers most people face when wanting to give by enabling good intentions to result in giving actions and behaviors. The app lets you arrange automated small-dollar donations that are triggered by ordinary moments or events that relate to how you live your life.
Nick discusses how the app could develop, and we cover the broader challenges facing the $400+ billion philanthropic sector ( US ), the systemic societal challenges, and the need for wholesale tax reform. Nick discusses advocacy, optimism, the evidence-based social good movement, and the value that NGO's add, in ways that the government can't. The importance of supporting independent organizations that can influence changes in government policy.
Of course, we discuss serendipity, curiosity, and his perspective on risk and fear.
I hope you enjoy this stimulating discussion and the insights, ideas and social innovations of Nick Fitz.
What We Discuss
Discuss his upbringing to the State Department
And developing his sense of obligation
Impact his father on his critical thinking and his mother's influence his people values
Growing up an environment of safety a
Environmental stewardship influence of the progressive Jewish community
His education from Sidwell School to Grinnell College in Iowa to studying moral psychology at the University of British Columbia
Evolving his academic work at the Center for Advanced Hindsight under Dan Ariely
Psychology for good
Examples of Behavioral Science at work
How momentum came to life to enable social impact without changing people's behaviors
Evidence-based social good
The research and insights that led to creating the app
The set it and forget
Giving 100%
Letting users offer a tip
Raising Venture Capital
We cover the broader philanthropic sector
We discuss advocacy and the need for tax reform
The challenges with the Criminal justice system
Animal welfare
Social Links
Give Momentum
Links in the Show
Dan Ariely
Center for Advanced Hindsight
Indistractable
Tristen Harris
Center for Humane Technology
Ideas 42
Peter Singer The Life You Can Save
Rutger Bergman
Rob Reich on Philanthropy
Common Sense Media
FreeWill
Freedom App
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Hi everyone,It was Super Bowl weekend and we loved many of the ads. Our gut reaction was this; Google nailed the emotional heart string pull, Hyundai made us laugh, Budweiser could have gone further (but well done) and we respect Michelob for environmental standard setting and finally it was Jeep’s Groundhog Day ad with Bill Murray that we just loved. Remember if you have any interesting stories you want us to share, email us at info@theimpossiblenetwork.com First the Podcast, we loved. FEARLESS - CARL JOHNSON FOUNDER OF ANOMALY If you want a creative booster shot and inspiration injection then have a listen to what host Charles Day highlights as ‘timeless’, ‘universal’ and ‘valuable insights’ of Carl Johnson. As an agitator for creativity in its broadest sense, Carl discusses the barriers“Irrelevant creativity is a waste of time and money. Harnessed, focused, disciplined creativity applied to a business problem is awesome. The debate is not creativity or commerce, it’s creativity in order to create more successful commerce” As a deviation from the norm, they use any tool they can to solve a clients business problem, Carl discusses why their keys to success is based on pursuing clarity, all day everyday on every level on every subject, and how this is applied to problem solving, hiring for values not skills. We found this online TIM URBAN WAIT NOT WHYWe have been reading the mind expanding blog posts of Tim for some time. These are not for the short of attention. Tim goes deep. His latest series, called the Story of Us is a ten chapter multi post series. #Today we suggest you read chapter eight - It’s 2020 and you’re in the future.Here is a taster.... “It’s finally the 2020s. After 20 years of not being able to refer to the decade we’re in, we’re all finally free—in the clear for the next 80 years until 2100, at which point I assume AGI will have figured out what to call the two decades between 2100 and 2120.We now live in the 20s! It’s exciting. “The twenties” is super legit-sounding, and it’s so old school. The 40s are old. The 30s even more so. But nothing is older school than the Roaring 20s.We’re now in charge of making this a cool decade so when people 100 years from now are thinking about how incredibly old-timey the 2020s were, it’s old-timey in a cool appealing way and not a boring shitty way.It’s also weird that to us, the 2020s sounds like such a rad futuristic decade—and that’s how the 1920s seemed to people 100 years ago today. They were all used to the 19-teens, and suddenly they were like, “whoa cool we’re in the twenties!” Then they got upset thinking about how much farther along in life their 1910 self thought they’d be by 1920.In any case, it’s a perfect time for one of those “shit we’re old” posts.So here are some New Years 2020 time facts” Click the link in the show notes to read on and enjoy this amazing series. Recommended to usAVOID PASSING THE POINT OF NO RETURN This timely, mind expanding perspective from Martin Weigel from Wieden & Kennedy Amsterdam was recommended by Alexandra Mecklenburg @petite_ that reinforces the need for a new narrative on the role of corporations and political leadership in what is becoming an increasingly risky void. I recommend we all read and connect on this urgent issue. Social Impact FUNDING FREEDOM Charitable giving is complex. Uncertainty over who to donate to; a lack of trust; time to research; and knowledge about where the donations go; often leads to donations being directed to low impact organizations. Every donor wants to know that their money is helping those most in need but ironically they often require money or in the case of grants to be offered on an unrestricted basis. Finally if you missed last week's podcast guest it was Josh Spodek - Host of Leadership In the Environment PodcastListen to Joshua Spodek is the...
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Guest Overview
Former CIA Deputy Director of Intelligence, Carmen Medina is a veteran of the Intelligence Community, she is also the author of Rebels at Work: A Handbook for Leading Change from Within.
Puerto Rican born, to a fun-loving father and an achievement-driven mother, Carmen excelled through an itinerant childhood to lead school debating teams. Her forensic debating skills and serendipity led her to a University scholarship and ultimately set her on her path to a 32-year career in the CIA.
In Part two we discuss her perspective on power, the current state of the world and her hope for the future. We also cover the role of curiosity and creativity in her work at the CIA, applying empathy to be heard by policy and decision-makers in today’s polarized political environment. And finally, we end with her life insights as she answers our quick-fire questions.
I hope you enjoy this refreshing and fun episode and learn from the kindness, reflective wisdom, and optimism of Carmen Medina.
Thanks to Munish Walther Puri for the connection.
What we Discuss
The role of curiosity and creativity in her role as an analyst
Her curiosity in soft power over hard power
Her prediction that peace would happen without violence
The brittleness of power
The evolution of the CIA’s intelligence on how societies work
Embracing cognitive bias
Dealing With Trump
Her optimism and how reading a book called Complexity changed her perspective
Her perspective on the world
What if the Romans had discovered the Internet and Electricity?
Carmen’s view on talking truth to power
Respecting decision makers cognitive style and personality and providing a broader context so they listen, and in a framework, they appreciate
The role of empathy
Her Principles
Inequality of opportunity
Expecting and demanding failure
Taking ownership of your impossible
Social Links
Rebels at Work
Links In The Show
Olive Shriner
Argo
Zero Dark Thirty
Zanu PF
Bob Gates
Iran US Embassy
Complexity Mitch Walthrop
Browser Newsletter
FW de Klerke
Steve Blank
James C Scott Two Cheers For Anarchism
Don Burke CIA
Babylon Berlin
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Guest Overview
Carmen Medina is a former CIA Deputy Director of Intelligence. A veteran of the Intelligence Community, she is also the author of Rebels at Work: A Handbook for Leading Change from Within.
Puerto Rican born, to a fun-loving father and an achievement-driven mother, Carmen excelled through an itinerant childhood to lead school debating teams. Her forensic debating skills and serendipity led her to a University scholarship and ultimately set her on her path to a 32-year career in the CIA.
In Part One Carmen unpacks her chaotic and unsettled upbringing and childhood, the role of her education, how debating helped her develop the skills that served her well over her CIA career.
We discuss her experience of interning at the CIA in 1978, a time before desktop computers, operating as a human algorithm, to running the South Africa desk, and leaning into the male-dominated CIA culture to make her voice heard.
In Part Two we discuss her perspective on power, the current state of the world and her hope for the future. We also cover the role of curiosity and creativity in her work at the CIA, applying empathy to be heard by policy and decision-makers in today’s polarized political environment.
And finally, we end with her life insights as she answers our quick fire questions.
I hope you enjoy this refreshing and fun episode and learn from the kindness, reflective wisdom, and optimism of Carmen Medina.
What we Discuss
The impact of her itinerant upbringing from being an Army child
The role her mother played in setting her standards for achievement
How her father made her appreciate the fun in life
The role of her grandmother in being a rock of stability
Developing a skill and talent forensic debating at school
Being the first in her family to go to college and university
Dealing with male prejudice of her father questioning her need to learn
How a serendipitous debating experience led her to secure a scholarship at a Catholic University in Washington DC
How she transitioned out of Law to Georgetown for a Masters in Foreign Service
Getting accepted as an intern at the CIA
Being asked to stay on a full time
Starting out as a watch officer before the era of Desktop computers
We discuss how her role was pre-internet days she acted as a human algorithm or search engine
Her point of view on the veracity CIA based films Argo and Zero Dark Thirty
How she was promoted to the Africa Division to cover South Africa while apartheid was still in full force.
The experience of joining a male-dominated CIA at age 24 and being determined to avoid being pigeonholed as just another token woman.
The challenges of conveying an image in the workplace as a woman.
The role of curiosity and creativity in her role as an analyst
Her curiosity in soft power over hard power
Her prediction that peace would happen without violence
The brittleness of power
The evolution of the CIA’s intelligence on how societies work
Embracing cognitive bias
Her optimism and how reading a book called Complexity changed her perspective
Her perspective on the world
What if the Romans had discovered the Internet and Electricity?
Carmen’s view on talking truth to power
Respecting decision makers cognitive style and personality and providing a broader context so they listen, and in a framework, they appreciate
The role of empathy
Her Principles
Inequality of opportunity
Expecting and demanding failure
Taking ownership of your impossible
Social Links
Rebels at Work
Links In The Show
Olive Shriner
Argo
Zero Dark Thirty
Zanu PF
Bob Gates
Iran US Embassy
Complexity Mitch Walthrop
Browser Newsletter
FW de Klerke
Steve Blank
James C Scott Two Cheers For Anarchism
Don Burke CIA
Babylon Berlin
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First the Podcast, we lovedADAM BUXTON INTERVIEWS BILLY CONNOLLY Adam Buxton, the other half of UK comedy duo Adam and Joe; talks with legendary Scottish comedian, actor, musician and artist Sir Billy Connolly. This in-depth exploration of Billy’s life and memories is both life-affirming, humorous and moving, as Connolly recounts the heartbreaking final conversation he had in person with the late, great Robin Williams before the latter’s death in 2014. Find some time for this one. In light of the tragic accident and loss of basketball legend Kobe Bryant along with his daughter Gianna and the other seven victims, we recommend listening to Cal Fussman's interview with Kobe from 2018. It’s a wonderful insight into the mind of this exceptional athlete and leader and it reinforces what a loss https://www.calfussman.com/podcasts/2020/1/28/kobe-bryant-rememberedWe found this online YUVAL HARARI’S BLISTERING WARNING AT DAVOS In case you missed author and historian Yuval Noah Harari delivering a stark and blistering warning to the great and (not so) good at last week’s World Economic Forum at Davos you need to read or listen to his talk. He set out the immediacy of the three biggest existential threats to humanity this century, Nuclear Warfare, and Ecological Collapse and why Technology risks dividing the world into wealthy elites and exploited "data colonies” where digital dictatorships develop the ability to hack humans. You won’t read or watch a more explicit and dystopian vision of what could lie ahead. Recommended to usYOUR LIFE AND NETWORK EFFECTSWhat city you live in. Who you date or marry. Which job you choose. What clothes you wear.We all think we make these choices ourselves. It certainly feels like we’re in full control. But it turns out that our choices — both in our startups and in our lives — are more constrained than we think. The unseen hand in them all is the networks that surround us and the powerful math they exert on us. You’ll need some quiet time and focus for this extensive and thought-provoking pieceFilm of the weekFOR SAMA It's Oscar's Season. If you have not seen For Sama, please try. This documentary has just received an Oscar nomination. It’s a unique piece of work that shines a light on Aleppo in Syrian and gives an insight into the brutality of this horrific war. This deeply human story deserves to be widely seen and shared, so please try and find some time to watch and share.For our American listeners check it out on PBS, and for those outside the US, I am sure it will be getting indie screen time and appear on Netflix soon.Social Impact SMART CITIES This more utopian vision of what a Smart City could become from visionary novelist, activist, and theorist Cory Doctorow in the Guardian. “Smart city” is one of those science fiction phrases seemingly designed to make you uneasy, like “neuromarketing” or “pre-crime”. It’s impossible to be alive in this decade and not find something unsettling in the idea of our cities becoming “smart”. In this article, he makes the case for cities in which you are the sensor, not the thing being sensed. Finally last week’s guestThis Week’s Guest - Arno Michaelis https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-impossible-network/id1454485051?i=1000463205149Born in Milwaukee Wisconsin, Arno Michaelis grew up in a caring loving family but the combination of being told he could achieve anything while witnessing his artistic mother’s suffering from dealing with her husband’s alcoholism drove him to bullying and vandalism at school; to by age seventeen, becoming deeply involved in the white power movement and a founding member of what became the largest neo-nazi skinhead organization in the world. For years he followed the path of violence until he was confronted at a McDonald's checkout by elderly African American lady with a smile and pointing at his swastika tattoo - “Saying th...
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Guest overview
Joshua Spodek is the epitome of a renaissance man.
A two-time TEDx speaker, #1 bestselling author, host of the award-winning Leadership and the Environment podcast, and professor and coach of entrepreneurship and leadership at NYU and Columbia Business School.
He is a regular speaker on environmental leadership at institutions such as Boston Consulting Group, Google, IBM, Harvard, Princeton, West Point, MIT, and Stanford,
Oh he also has a PhD in astrophysics and an MBA from Columbia, helped build an X-ray observational satellite with the European Space Agency and NASA.
He founded a venture to market his invention— an innovative media product
He’s an artist and has installed public works in New York and Amsterdam.
He studied Meisner acting Technique at the William Esper Studio. He has taught art at Parsons and NYU’s Interactive Telecommunications Program.
He’s run seven marathons (3:51 best), rowed one, competed at the world level of Ultimate Frisbee
He’s swum across the Hudson River, has done over 140,000 burpees, written over 3,500 blog posts, and has taken over 430 cold showers,
He hasn’t flown (by choice) since March 2016, has picked up at least one piece of street trash per day since April 2017, and takes over a year to produce on bag of garbage.
In part one we covered Josh’s upbringing, the impact his parents divorce, education, dealing with insecurity, his curiosity. discovering his love of math and science, finding joy in discipline and his evolutionary approach to living.
We also went deep into Josh’s commitment to influence and invite the guests he interviews on his podcast and the corporate clients he consults to embrace personal behavioral changes that will impact on the environment. Josh explains the process of taking actions and joy that results from the values he lives by.
We also discussed why his approach can be embraced by anyone willing to live more sustainable lives. I hope you enjoy the intellect, inspiration, environmental action and leadership principles of Joshua Spodek
In Part two Josh explains his self developed habit forming technique called SIDCHA and breaks down the step by step approach that anyone can embrace to create more positive habits and behaviors in their life. Josh also invites me to take on my personal environmental challenge.
We discussed the broader environmental challenges facing society and the planet before jumping into the rapid fire. Questions that turn out not to be rapid fire answers. I hope you enjoy the intellect, the inspiration, the environmental action, and the leadership principles of Joshua Spodek.
We also cover Josh’s mission - to help people live by their values, especially their environmental values, creating and finding joy, meaning, value, importance, purpose, passion, and other emotional reward in the process.
Social Links
Links In Show
Fanny and Alexander
Champion Mindset
Leadership Step By Step
Leadership and The Environment
Maria Sharapova Book
Your Mom Cares
NeueHouse
Oprah
Project Drawdown
LeBron
Smart goals
GTD Book
Indistractible
Man’s search for meaning Victor Frankl
Gimp
Ron Hogan Tao Te Ching
Lorna Davis
Dov Baron
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Guest overview
Joshua Spodek is the epitome of a renaissance man.
A two-time TEDx speaker, #1 bestselling author, host of the award-winning Leadership and the Environment podcast, and professor and coach of entrepreneurship and leadership at NYU and Columbia Business School.
He is a regular speaker on environmental leadership at institutions such as Boston Consulting Group, Google, IBM, Harvard, Princeton, West Point, MIT, and Stanford,
Oh he also has a PhD in astrophysics and an MBA from Columbia, helped build an X-ray observational satellite with the European Space Agency and NASA.
He founded a venture to market his invention— an innovative media product
He’s an artist and has installed public works in New York and Amsterdam.
He studied Meisner acting Technique at the William Esper Studio. He has taught art at Parsons and NYU’s Interactive Telecommunications Program.
He’s run seven marathons (3:51 best), rowed one, competed at the world level of Ultimate Frisbee
He’s swum across the Hudson River, has done over 140,000 burpees, written over 3,500 blog posts, and has taken over 430 cold showers,
He hasn’t flown (by choice) since March 2016, has picked up at least one piece of street trash per day since April 2017, and takes over a year to produce on bag of garbage.
What we discuss
In part one we cover Josh’s upbringing, the impact his parents divorce, education, dealing with insecurity, his curiosity. discovering his love of math and science, finding joy in discipline and his evolutionary approach to living.
We also dive deep into Josh’s commitment to influence and invite the guests he interviews on his podcast and the corporate clients he consults to embrace personal behavioral changes that will impact on the environment. Josh explains the process of taking actions and joy that results from the values he lives by.
We also discuss why his approach can be embraced by anyone willing to live more sustainable lives. I hope you enjoy the intellect, inspiration, environmental action and leadership principles of Joshua Spodek
Social Links
Links In Show
Fanny and Alexander
Champion Mindset
Leadership Step By Step
Leadership and The Environment
Maria Sharapova Book
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First up the Podcast We Loved
Dr David Perlmutter - On Ultimate Health
So much insight on brain health here from Board-Certified Neurologist and Fellow of the American College of Nutrition Dr. David Perlmutter on Ultimate Health podcast as he covers stress and lack of sleep, the impact of the pre-fontal cortex and the amygdala on our wellbeing and what lifestyle choices trigger them to compete, The Western diet and inflammation, how to manage our digital experience using hisT.I.M.E. model, the positive health benefits of being in nature, and his 20 minute a day meditation practice
We found this online
Is It Wrong To Be Hopeful About Climate Change
This BBC Futures piece sets out what our everyday actions - yes we can make a difference - are what counts as “hope is profoundly linked with action: both ours and that of others alongside us.”. It means rolling up our sleeves and making lifestyle changes like reducing the packaging we purchase.
Recommended to us
What to Expect By 2030
Our friends Faris and Rosie shared Azeem Azhar’s post from his Exponential View blog on the “what we can expect in the next 10 years — from increasingly fragmented geopolitics, to climate change being the dominant narrative, rethinking the purpose of economies, eating less meat, and yeah, unfortunately big tech companies like FB, Google and Amazon working aggressively to hoover up data wherever they can, using their balance sheets to expand into new arenas.”
Last Week’s Podcast
A few weeks ago I interviewed Michael Hanchett Hanson - author and founder and director of the Masters Concentration in Creativity and Cognition program at Columbia University around the theoretical aspects of creativity.
In part two of the interview we focused on creativity in practice. Michael explains why constraints are a core component in generating creativity, and expands on the invalidity the out of the box metaphor, discusses big ideas.
I use a classic quote from legendary ad man David Ogilvy to frame our discussion and state that creativity is a state of mind.
We discuss how as we work creatively, we not only produce work, but our point of view develops, our understanding of big questions deepens.
Michael draws on references to Monet, John Coltrane, Ian Curtis, Mozart, George Bernard Shaw, Elton John, and Picasso as we discuss and dissect the role of passion, empathy, hard work, research, complex systems, forward and backward loops and how creating solutions for the future often requires us to mine the creativity of the past.
I hope you are stimulated by this episode of big questions on creativity with Michael Hanchett Hanson.
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Guest Overview
First of all thanks Stephen Hecht for the recommendation.
Born in Milwaukee Wisconsin, Arno Michaelis grew up in a caring loving family but the combination of being told he could achieve anything while witnessing his artistic mother’s suffering from dealing with her husband’s alcoholism drove him to bullying and vandalism at school; to by age seventeen, becoming deeply involved in the white power movement and a founding member of what became the largest Neo-Nazi skinhead organization in the world. For years he followed the path of violence until he was confronted at a McDonalds checkout by elderly African American lady with a smile and pointing at his swastika tattoo - “Saying that is not you, you are better than that”
That moment started his path to redemption.
This is a two parter.
Part One Arno recounts his early years and his descent into violence, and how a mass killing at a Sikh temple in 2012 led him to form a bond with Pardeep Singh Kaleka, whose father was murdered in the temple by a white supremacist gunman in a Milwaukee suburb. The gunman who killed Pardeep’s dad and five others, was a member of the white power group that Arno had founded years earlier.
Part Two we cover Arno’s path away from extremism, his recent book with Pardeep Singh Kaleka -The Gift of Our Wounds, the work he is doing to promote the practice of peace, traveling, speaking and working with all kinds of reformed extremists to confront hateful ideologies through storytelling, fearless creativity and compassion.
I hope you are inspired by the kindness, gratitude, and compassion of Arno Michaelis
What we discuss?
The impact of an elderly African American server in McDonalds defied him with kindness and destroyed his self identity in one comment.
How it has made him committed to random acts of kindness.
Walking away from the movement to confront extremism.
Haram explained.
Pradeep's Monster Ted x Talk.
How rave music and culture became his gateway to a new life.
His personal mission statement of ‘I'm working towards a society where all people are valued and included.’
Why he thinks everyone needs a personal mission statement.
The work he is doing now with telling his story at events around the world.
Meeting Deeyah Kahn.
Confronting polarization through embracing uncertainty.
And How curiosity reinforces uncertainty.
The power of story and being cognizant of where our story is taking us.
The connection between AI, extremism and fear of loss.
His support of Andrew Yang.
Race Traders.
Universal Basic Income.
The imperative of changing the education system.
Meditation and inner peace and why children need to meditate .
Serendipity and his Fox Lane Prison.
Gratitude, Kindness, and Compassion as his core principles.
‘Bravery Creates Possibility’.
Separatism as the biggest problem to solve.
Daryl Davis and de-robing KKK.
The question we should have asked.
Social Feeds?
Website
Youtube
Links
Punk Rock
Deeyah Kahn Film Maker
Deviate book
Occam’s Razor
Gift of Our Wounds
Gift of our Wounds youtube
Serve to Unite
Sharon Risher For a time such as this
Fox Lane Prison
Monster Ted x Talk
Forgiveness Project
Haram
Sikh Faith
Hitler’s application to Art school
Daryl Davis
The Common party
Declaration of Interdependence
Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche
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Guest Overview Arno Michaelis was born in Milwaukee Wisconsin, grew up in a caring loving family but the combination of being told he could achieve anything while witnessing his artistic mother’s suffering from dealing with her husband’s alcoholism drove him to bullying and vandalism at school; to by age seventeen, becoming deeply involved in the white power movement and a founding member of what became the largest Neo-Nazi skinhead organization in the world. For years he followed the path of violence until he was confronted at a McDonalds checkout by elderly African American lady with a smile and pointing at his swastika tattoo - “Saying that is not you, you are better than that”. That moment started his path to redemption. This is a two parter. Part One Arno Michaelis recounts his early years and his descent into violence, and how a mass killing at a Sikh temple in 2012 led him to form a bond with Pardeep Singh Kaleka, whose father was murdered in the temple by a white supremacist gunman in a Milwaukee suburb. The gunman who killed Pardeep’s dad and five others, was a member of the white power group that Arno had founded years earlier. Part Two we cover Arno’s path away from extremism, his recent book with Pardeep Singh Kaleka -The Gift of Our Wounds, the work he is doing to promote the practice of peace, traveling, speaking and working with all kinds of reformed extremists to confront hateful ideologies through storytelling, fearless creativity and compassion.I hope you are inspired by the kindness, gratitude, and compassion of Arno Michaelis.Thanks Stephen Hecht for the recommendation. What we discuss?The impact of his upbringing. His Norwegian -Prussian heritage.The vision of his artistic mother .Arno’s Insurance salesman father. Growing up with loving parents who left him to run amok.Fueled by the continual praise from parents and teachers combined with him witnessing the suffering his mother, ignited anger in him and a destructive self image, driving his desire to cause pain and suffering to those around him. The irony of loving hip-hop and being a white kid ahead of the trend before turning his attention to punk rock to help satisfy his desire to his desire to repulse people.The paradox of being popular and able to connect with any group but wishing to cause revulsion.How by starting his first punk band combined with his nihilistic view of the world and a fascination with Greek and Norse mythology and warrior self image became the gateway characteristics that led Anro Michaelis into the white supremacist movement.How Arno Michaelis willingly embraced the white supremacist narrative and how it enabled him to reject what he considered the status quo and growing multicultural trend, all he was really doing was trying to offend and ‘piss people off’.Laziness and blame in ideology.The parallels of the jihadist movement and White supremacy. The commonalities in any violent extremist narrative.How he is now connected to ex-extremists.How the murders by Wade Paige of seven in Wisconsin in 2012 led him to meet Pardeep Singh Kaleka. How they have developed a connection and have written a book together called the Gift in Our Hate.The process of forgiveness and why forgiveness is vengeance. His exhaustion and walking away from hate and using Rave culture as his gateway drug.His parents inability and willful denial of his activity.Haram as a commonality Social FeedsWebsite Instagram Facebook Youtube Twitter Links Punk Rock Deeyah Kahn Film Maker Deviate book Occam’s RazorArno Michaelis Gift of Our Wounds Gift of our Wounds youtube Serve to Unite Sharon Risher For a time such as this Fox Lane Prison Monster Ted x Talk Forgiveness Project HaramSikh Faith Hitler’s application to A...
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A few weeks ago we interviewed Michael Hanchett Hanson - author and founder and director of the Masters Concentration in Creativity and Cognition program at Columbia University around the theoretical aspects of creativity.
In part two of the interview we focused on creativity in practice.
Michael explains why constraints are a core component in generating creativity, and expands on the invalidity the out of the box metaphor, discusses big ideas.
I use a classic quote from legendary ad man David Ogilvy to frame our discussion
We discuss how as we work creatively we not only produce work, but our point of view develops, our understanding of big questions deepens.
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Michael draws on references to Monet, John Coltrane, Ian Curtis, Mozart, George Bernard Shaw, Elton John and Picasso as we discuss and dissect the role of passion, empathy, hard work, research, complex systems, forward and backward loops and how creating solutions for the future often requires us to mine the creativity of the past.
I hope you are stimulated by this episode of big questions on creativity with Michael Hanchett Hanson.
What we discuss
Constraints drive creativity
Deviation amplifying techniques
David’s Ogilvy's philosophy
Pat Stokes research on creativity and rats
George Bernard Shaw and The Fabian Society
Bill Bernbach
Aristotle
The importance of passions
The role of Empathy
Affect and Effect
The future as an idea
Complex systems
Temporal loops
Neophilic version of creativity
The role of domain expertise
Research
The role of talent
Creativity defined
Connecting
Links in the show
Weisberg
Edward Clapp
George Bernard Shaw
Fabian Society
Ian Curtis
Picasso
Monet
David Ogilvy
Mozart
Bill Bernbach
Aristotle
RocketMan Movie
Bernie Taupin
Bowie
John Coltrane
Labor Omnia Vinci
Howard Gruber
Creativity and constraints
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This Week’s Guest - Hunter Johansson
Hunter Johansson, twin brother of actress Scarlett was born and raised in New York to an American Mother and Danish Architect Father, and a community activist grandmother. Hunter is on a mission to save lives through renewable energy and is in Puerto Rico as we send this dealing with the aftermath of this week's earthquake.
(In part one) Hunter shares his experience of growing up in Manhattan, the values passed on to him by family, friends, and mentors, and finding his path and purpose in life.
(In part two ) Hunter explains his NGO’s mission to save lives in hurricane-hit regions by installing solar power units in first responder fire and police stations and how he co-founded Solar Responders, with London born Las Vegas-based fire captain Richard Burt.
Hunter discusses his mission to help the disadvantaged people of Puerto Rico, still devastated by the 2017 Hurricane and his vision to extend the renewable technology to other regions threatened by the ever-increasing risk of life threaten hurricanes and climate change
Finally, we cover his principles, influences, and advice.
Hunter is driven and humble and has an indomitable spirit.
Podcast We Loved
Masters of Scale with Reid Hoffman - Scott Harrison
You might not have heard of Scott Harrison but I expect you have heard of Charity: Water. This interview with Scott deconstructs how a great story is a foundation for building a great company. Scott Harrison is a master storyteller, and has built his nonprofit on 3 radical principles: (1) 100% of donations would go to water projects (not overhead) (2) Progress reports would be utterly transparent, sharing victories, defeats and even GPS coordinates of water wells (3) The brand’s storytelling would lead with hope instead of guilt, inspiring joyful participation without sacrificing honesty. Lot’s to learn from this one.
Recommended to us
Rise of the Polymath
Our friends Faris and Rosie shared this great BBC article on polymaths, and why in a world of specialism, cross-disciplinary skills maybe what we will need to solve some of the larger societal problems we face. It also covers the characteristics of a polymath and what open-mindedness, curiosity and emotional resilience are common traits.
This was our favorite read this week.
Series of the week
Don't Fk With Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer**
A compelling story of a twisted criminal's gruesome videos that drive a group of amateur online sleuths to launch a risky manhunt that brings them into a dark underworld. Be prepared for the true story of one of Canada’s most infamous crimes
Mulling on this
Packaging Free - Update
Following a challenge from upcoming guest Joshua Spodek, I have been attempting to avoid buying anything with packaging. It’s hard but what I have witnessed is a change in my consciousness toward what I purchase and how I plan my food and meals.
Previously my supermarket visits were simply scripted behavior patterns and repetitive purchases with no thought to the plastic packaging the presents itself in every aisle.
There are some items like yogurt I have failed with but generally, I am living more sustainabLY and healthier. MORE TO COME
Tools we’re using
URLList
URLList is a handy bookmarklet that allows you to bring a group of URLs together in one place and then share them with a single link. Imagine using this for your Instagram link in your bio and being able to promote a list of URLs for different product landing pages or social media sites. We use it.
Social Impact
Bushfire donations
In light of the calamitous destruction caused by the Australian bushfires and the catastrophic loss of wildlife, we are simply posting a link to the WWF’s appeal page
That’s all for now.
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Guest Overview
Hunter Johansson was born and raised in New York to an American Mother and Danish Architect Father, a community activist grandmother, he is twin brother to Scarlet Johansson, and he’s on a mission to save lives through his renewable energy NGO Solar Responders.
In part two of this interview how he found his purpose and founded his NGO Solar Responders. He explains his NGO’s mission to save lives in hurricane-hit regions by installing solar power units in first responder fire and police stations and how he co-founded Solar Responders, with London born Las Vegas-based fire captain Richard Burt.
Hunter discusses his mission to help the disadvantaged people of Puerto Rico, still devastated by the 2017 Hurricane and his vision to extend the renewable technology to other regions threatened by the ever-increasing risk of life threaten hurricanes and climate change
Finally, we cover his principles, influences, and advice.
I hope you enjoy the humble, yet the indomitable spirit of Hunter Johansson.
What We Discuss
The effect Hurricane Maria had on him
Meeting Captain Richard Burt
Forming Solar Responders
How Colin Jost and Scarlett Johansson supported his mission
The impact of solar technology on future hurricanes
The challenges of raising funds for the NGO
Empowering the Puerto Ricans locals
His principles
His hard choices
Who has made him reevaluate himself
Where he goes to discover new ideas
His impossible question answer
Where and when in history
The book he recommends
Social Links
Solar Responders
Links in the Show
Solar Responders
Marco Krapels
PS 41
Scarlett Johansson
Hurricane Sandy
Hurricane Maria
The Jones Act
The Stafford Act
Scott Stringer
Colin Jost from SNL
Terry Tempest Williams Erosion
Manny and Lo
Nita Baum
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Guest Overview
Born and raised in New York to an American Mother and Danish Architect Father, a community activist grandmother, and twin brother to Scarlet Johansson, he’s on a mission to save lives through renewable energy, is this week’s guest Hunter Johansson.
(In part one) Hunter shares his experience of growing up in Manhattan, the values passed on to him by family, friends, and mentors, and finding his path and purpose in life.
(In part two ) Hunter explains his NGO’s mission to save lives in hurricane-hit regions by installing solar power units in first responder fire and police stations and how he co-founded Solar Responders, with London born Las Vegas-based fire captain Richard Burt.
Hunter discusses his mission to help the disadvantaged people of Puerto Rico, still devastated by the 2017 Hurricane and his vision to extend the renewable technology to other regions threatened by the ever-increasing risk of life threaten hurricanes and climate change
Finally, we cover his principles, influences and advice.
I hope you enjoy the humble, yet the indomitable spirit of Hunter Johansson.
What We Discuss
Hunter’s upbringing in NYC
The importance of family
His relationship with his twin Scarlett
Hunter discusses finding his path to purpose in life
His love of the environment
The Impact of Hurricane Sandy
The enduring memory of 9/11
His respect for the first responders and fire crews
His many work experiences
Hunter’s passion for helping people
The effect Hurricane Maria had on him
Meeting Captain Richard Burt
Forming Solar Responders
How Colin Jost and Scarlett Johansson supported his mission
The impact of solar technology on future hurricanes
The challenges of raising funds for the NGO
Empowering the Puerto Ricans locals
His principles
His hard choices
Who has made him reevaluate himself
Where he goes to discover new ideas
His impossible question answer
Where and when in history
The book he recommends
Social Links
Solar Responders
Links in the Show
Solar Responders
Marco Krapels
PS 41
Scarlett Johansson
Hurricane Sandy
Hurricane Maria
The Jones Act
The Stafford Act
Scott Stringer
Colin Jost
Terry Tempest Williams Erosion
Manny and Lo
Nita Baum
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Hi everyone.,Aa happy 2020 to one and all. With tragic bushfires in Australia raging and the sudden increase in tensions in the middle east, the first few days of 2020 might not bode well for the year ahead. However we look forward with optimism and will continue to share the content we find interesting and interview our extraordinary guestsFirst up the Podcast We LovedWe are passionate about the big problems in the world that need solving. Tony Fadell (@tfadell), sometimes called "the father of the iPod," is now an active investor and entrepreneur with a 30+ year history of founding companies and designing products that profoundly improve people's lives. Listen to his inspiring interview with Tim Ferris and if you only listen to one part just got to 1hr and 15 min in to hear the work he is going to confront our global plastic usage problem. Tony is now top of our list for guest we must meet this year. We found this online The Mandalorian Jon Favreau and Disney have just what most marketers strive to do everyday - create a meaningful brand that is embraced by all of society, or in this case America. George Lucas, the creator of Star Wars was inspired by science fantasy serials of the ‘30s and ‘40s when he set out the create the perfect Space Western. With the Mandalorian, Favreau has embodied Lucus’s vision of Star Wars perfectly, from the serialized half hour format, to the vast cast of bizarre characters to the “used future” aesthetic. This is modern-day, mass brand building, that has the power to unite a divided nation, engage people regardless of difference and create a story we can all engage with share and delight in. . Recommended to usYear of Digital ProductsIt feels like we have been in the process of digital transformation for almost two decades. And certainly over the last 14 years I have been in presentations making the case why every company needs to think like a software or technology company. This clear and concise piece from Forrester not only summarizes the state play but makes the case for why by the end of the next decade every successful company will be a software product company or a hybrid software and physical product company. We agree and if you want to talk transformation give us callSeries of the week Tell Me Who I AmTell Me Who I Am is Netflix's latest original documentary offering a story so shocking that you might be left wondering whether it's true. It is. The film introduces twin brothers Alex and Marcus Lewis, now in their 50s, who are each working through trauma.The first act of the documentary is told from Alex's perspective; as he reveals his loss of memory resulting from a motorbike accident when he was 18 years old. As he awoke in hospital with no memory of what had happened, what came before or even recognizing the woman standing by his bedside as his mother, the only person he did know was his twin brother Marcus. And what happens after that is well worth the viewing. Mulling on this Astrology In the Age of UncertaintyThis New Yorker article is a perplexing exploration as to the Millennials who see no contradiction between using astrology and believing in science and who are fueling a resurgence of the practice. This quote made us wonder about this impact of this trend of faith, purpose and science fact. “It’s about negative capability. To endure doubt is ultimately the only thing you can do in life—to not strive for meaning or answers, and to endure the state you’re in.”Tools we’re using What Emoji should I use for this?Ever found yourself wanting to add an Emoji to a social media update, blog post, or marketing message to add context but left wondering the one you picked would have the right impact?We just discovered this great little tool a browser-based app that helps you search and discover the rig...
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In this second series of clips, we share more of our guest’s reflections.
Over the last twelve months, I’ve had the privilege of interviewing some extraordinary people and have been inspired by their passion, insights, and wisdom.
We sat down with Partner at Pentagram Emily Oberman Episode 53 to discuss the importance of cultivating a distinctive character. Enjoy her answer
When we met Michael Ventura Episode 4, explained his model for Applied Empathy - we can all benefit from this.
We asked Dr. Merritt Moore Episode no 14 Word Class Ballet dancer and Quantum Physicist about how she broke through cultural and societal conventions and barriers using a personal mantra.
We asked Roberto Rabanne Episode 50, the 60/70’s photographer of rock and roll icons to reflect on the parallels of the world today to the countercultural movement he experienced in the 60’s.
Finally, Author of the Bullet Journal Ryder Carroll Episode 9 discussed the importance of understanding passion curiosity and purpose
That’s all for now and all our best wishes for a spectacular 2020
.
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Over the last twelve months I’ve had the privilege of interviewing some extraordinary people and have been inspired by their passion, insights, and wisdom.
The following audio clips are just a short selection of our guest’s reflections.
We asked John C Haven’s Episode 40 to reflect on the societal changes required in an AI-driven world and the challenge for businesses to look beyond just meeting their numbers.
We then asked Jazz Musician and Mathematician Marcus G Miller Episode 56 what he would do to the education system to improve the opportunities for youth.
Caroline Chubb Calderon Episode No 42 reflected on the challenges of retaining our humanity as we face of identity politics, political polarization and the encroachment of AI in work and life.
And Shantell Martin Episode 25 reflects on serendipity by providing a beautiful metaphor for how hard work
Creates opportunity.
Finally, I asked Debbie Millman Episode 30 about the serendipity of a seemingly career-ending set of events redefined her future path
Enjoy the holidays and we will be back with new guests next week.
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This Week’s Guest Michael Hanchett Hanson - deconstructing creativityWhat is creativity - It's a big question. I’ve worked in the creative industries all my life, yet I’ve never considered creativity to from a psychological and developmental perspective until I sat down with this weeks guest Michael Hanchett Hanson - author and founder and director of the Masters Concentration in Creativity and Cognition program at Teachers College, Columbia University,In part one of the interview, we cover the impact of Michael's upbringing and the dual influence of his mother and father, his mentors and his early ambitions growing up in Texan Bible belt.Michael deconstructs the social, material and temporal components of creativity. We discuss genius, distinctiveness, and exceptionality.Finally, we cover the serendipity in his journey and how he applies creativity in his life.I hope you find value in this vibrant and vigorous exploration of creativity with Michael Hanchett Hanson.The Podcast we Love Joshua Spodek Leadership and The Environment This is a podcast from one of our upcoming guests. Josh is the ultimate renaissance man with an incredible personal journey. We are sharing Josh’s interview from 2018 with Bea Johnson, TEDx Speaker and a mother living a zero waste lifestyle for over ten years. Listen to Josh’s other podcasts, they are packed with value and insights on leadership and the environment.. We found this online From coal country to solar country When in the midst of a grand transition from fossil fuels to renewables but it still feels we are too reliant on fossil fuel economy. We read this piece in the Atlantic about how in one Colorado county, solar-energy-training classes are helping ease the transition from fossil fuels to renewables and may well fill the economic hole left by the dying coal industry, which sustained the area for more than 120 years. There may be insights and lessons here for other regions and countries working to address what is a global imperative.Recommended to usThe case against contemporary feminism A past guest sent us this exploration of what feminism means in the age of Trump. The New Yorker article sets out two recently published arguments against contemporary feminism that have emerged in near-exact opposition to each other: either feminism has become too strict an ideology or it has softened to the point of uselessness. Both sides make a compelling case. Series of the week College Behind Bars This four-part series streamed on PBS in the US, follows men and women incarcerated in maximum and medium security prisons across New York state over the span of four years, as they attempt to gain college degrees through the Bard Prison Initiative (BPI), one of the most rigorous prison education programs in the U.S.Producer Sarah Botstein states “ We always say we hope the film will raise two really important questions: who in our country should, and does have access to education? And what is prison for? We hope people think about how those two questions intersect with the systemic issues of race and poverty, and what is broken about our country.”This is not just a US issue but a global one. Mulling on thisIs life just a game? Is what we experience just a user interface? Donald Hoffman argues such. Is this a plausible argument? If so, there must be a game maker? But who, what, or where is the game god? I am posting this thought as an early stage consideration that there may be a way to reconcile ancient religious doctrines, teachings and dogmas with emerging scientific insights to create a new point of view or perspective on our existence and reason for being. Watch this space. Tools we’re using Over AppIf you don’t use Sketch or Adobe tools but want to bring your ideas to life and make a visual impact in simple and easy manner then Over is your app. A combination of curated cont...
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Guest Overview
What is creativity - It's a big question. I’ve worked in the creative industries all my life, yet I’ve never considered creativity to from a psychological and developmental perspective until I sat down with this weeks guest Michael Hanchett Hanson - author and founder and director of the Masters Concentration in Creativity and Cognition program at Teachers College, Columbia University,
In part one of the interview, we cover the impact of Michael's upbringing and the dual influence of his mother and father, his mentors and his early ambitions growing up in Texan Bible belt.
Michael deconstructs the social, material and temporal components of creativity. We discuss genius, distinctiveness, and exceptionality.
Michael breaks down creativity and explains the impact of education on creativity and the value of deep learning, and explains the domain-general and domain-specific theories of creativity.
Michael debunks the notion of out of the box thinking and provides an alternative mode and we discuss the value of constraints in creativity.
Finally, we cover the serendipity in his journey and how he applies creativity in his life.
I hope you find value in this vibrant and vigorous exploration of creativity with Michael Hanchett Hanson.
What we discuss
- His early upbringing in Texas
- Growing up in the Bible belt
- Michael discusses his father's intellectual influence
- His Mother’s aesthetic influence
- Michael describes his mentor Howard Gruber
- Pendergast regime and prohibition
- The safety of his upbringing
- School life in Texas
- The supportive role of his mother
- Being a cognitive voyeur
- Studying architecture
- Distributed cognition
- Gruber's definition of creativity
- The social material and temporal distribution of creativity
- Symbol making animals
- Genius - the Latin definition
- Genius is in the work
- Genius is not in the person. The genius is in the work as it coalesces socially, materially, in temporarily.
- Ken Robinson
- Clayton Christensen
- The role of education and creativity
- Creativity - domain-specific or generalist
- The role of the depth of understanding
- Divergent thinking
- Structure
- Procrastination
- His level of creativity
- Curiosity
- When we need to avoid creativity
- The intellectual, philosophical and aesthetic.
- The network of enterprise
- Principles
- Tough choices
- The Impossible Question
- The role of grace
- Effort and work
Connecting
Links in the show
Worldmaking: Psychology and the Ideology of Creativity
Howard Gruber
Jean Piaget
Thomas Aquinas
Beyond Good and Evil
Edward Clapp Project Zero Harvard
Robert Lustig
The Mud club
The Infidel and the Professor
The courage to create
Creativity and constraints
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This Week’s Guest Stephen Hecht, the co-founder of Million Peacemakers, provides inspiration to anyone that doubts their ability to change the world for the better, at scale. Stephen is proof that good intentions, a little creativity, underpinned by clear goals can result in monumental impact, at any age. Million Peacemakers is a non-profit organization that empowers people to transform conflict into what they call Nonflict. Stephens's inspiration came from his multi-faith work and his own transformation in focussing on the commonality in people over their differences.Over 225,000 people around the world trained in the first 5 years with a focus on youth, families, and businesses, Stephen is changing the world one peacemaker training session at a time.Listen to Stephens story or sign up to be a peacemaker at MillionPeacemakers.org.The Podcast we Love Slate podcasts make really sold shows but it’s Slow Burn series is a wonderful podcast that has told two of the biggest stories of the 20th Century The Watergate scandal and the impeachment of Bill Clinton. In season three Slow Burn tells the story of the murders of Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls. It’s a fascinating insight into the gang-related, east coast-west coast, BadBoy-Deathrow rivalries that ripped apart the hip hop community. Listen on SpotifyWe found this online We found this really useful article in HBR. Whether it’s in interviews or negotiations, we are frequently asked questions we would rather not answer. In many instances, an honest answer might weaken our position, compromise our privacy, or disclose sensitive corporate information. A dishonest response might make the situation worse still. This article explores the mechanism and value of using deflection as a strategy and how it can impact both our economic outcome and our relationship with the person asking.Recommended to usEver wondered how the Explicit Lyrics Sticker that we see on albums emerged? The story behind and the battle behind Parental Advisory and Music Censorship is extraordinary. Estelle Caswell from VOX tells the story How heavy metal and Satan gave us this sticker.Movie of the week This week’s recommendation is a series. We just finished The Loudest Voice - the seven-part limited series based on a bestselling book is about Roger Ailes, the founder of Fox News. To understand the events that led to the rise of the modern Republican party, one must understand Ailes. Focusing primarily on the past decade in which Ailes arguably became the party’s de facto leader, the series also touches on defining events in Ailes’ life. If you can access it watch Russell Crowe’s portrayal of Ailes is riveting. Mulling on thisFollowing the outcome of the UK Election where England voters triggered a landslide Conservative win for Boris Johnson’s strategy and Scotland voted in opposition with the nationalists winning the popular vote. This article published before the election Why We Need to Stop Dreaming of England.This might well be the time to abandon the myth of Englishness as Britain collectively must embrace the real challenges of Brexit and the radical upheaval that lies ahead. Tools we’re Using This week we are featuring a new philanthropic app. It’s called Give Momentum - think Venmo for giving - you make automatic donations that transform ordinary moments like buying coffee, seeing Ronaldo score a goal or even when the President Tweets into opportunities for meaningful and positive change. Give anywhere, get some guidance, and track your impact, all in one place. It makes giving fun. Social Impact And finally, someone is turning off the tap on plastic pollution.NextWave Member companies like HP and IKEA working to decrease the volume of plastic and nylon litter and waste before it enters the ocean. Members are committed to demonstrating to other companies the comm...
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GUEST OVERVIEW
Stephen Hecht co-founder of Million Peacemakers provides inspiration to anyone that doubts their ability to change the world for the better, at scale. Stephen is proof that good intentions, a little creativity, underpinned by clear goals can result in monumental impact, at any age.
Million Peacemakers is a non-profit organization that empowers people to transform conflict into what they call Nonflict. Stephens's inspiration came from his multi-faith work and his own transformation in focussing on the commonality in people over the differences.
Over 225,000 people around the world trained in the first 5 years with a focus on youth, families, and businesses, Stephen is changing the world one peacemaker training session at a time.
Stephen has led Nonflict way workshops in Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, the USA including Puerto Rico, Japan, Thailand, Philippines, Israel, Jordan, Mexico, Bulgaria, England, Germany, Spain, and Canada.
He was also a speaker at the Vatican in March 2019 for an international conference on Religions and the UN Sustainable Development Goals and was invited back 3 weeks later to speak about creating a culture of peace in the world.
I hope you enjoy this episode of empathy, compassion and conflict resolution with Stephen Hecht
What We Discuss
Growing up in Montreal Canada
Being involved in the family retail business from an early age
Being aware of his seriousness as a child
His uncle’s defining influence
Early conflict in his family business
The defining experience of visiting Israel
Witnessing intra-group conflict
His education path
The early experience of conflict in business as globalization set in
Meeting Dr. Amir Kafir
Joining Young President Organization
Building Love Thy Neighbor to live in Montreal to create interfaith unity in 2009 - 19min
Hi three Marriages
Peace Action Network
Building the three-step model for Nonflict
The ways of confronting conflict
Conflict defined
The steps to conflict resolution
Einstein
Creating a Million Peacemakers
How Serendipity has enabled them
Working with the Vatican and The Pope
His principles
His Hard Choices
Discovering new ideas
Where in History?
Impossible Question
Failure
Keeping up with technology
Social Links
Million Peacemakers
Links In the Show
Young Presidents Organization
Cardinal Turkson
Sustainable Development Goals
Robin Sharma The 5 am Club
The Vatican
Martin Luther King
Nelson Mandela
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This Week’s Guest If you missed last weeks‘ guest was Marcus G Miller. He was born and raised in Jersey, from a sax-playing accountant father and a schizophrenia suffering Mother, he graduated Harvard University, became a hedge fund trader before becoming a professional jazz musician and mathematician.Marcus has since performed at the Obama White House, Madison Square Garden, The World Economic Forum at Davos, The Montreux Jazz Festival, and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and recently spoke at the TED Summit in Edinburgh. Marcus is a genuine polymath and is exploring the structural similarities between math, and music, to enable creative problem solvers to unlock their imagination and to ‘jam’ on the world’s toughest challenges.I hope you enjoy the intellectual curiosity and expansive imagination of Marcus G Miller. The Podcast we Love Big Questions with Cal Fussman has been one of our weekly listens since Tim Ferris persuaded him to start one. We just caught up on some recent episodes and loved the interview with Muhammad Ali’s daughter Hana, three years after Ali’s passing.She talks about her dad and the book she has written called 'At Home With Muhammad Ali.The conversation opens a window into how life was like in the moments when the cameras weren’t around and his unique capacity to connect with the world. What a giant of a man. What a giant of a man. We found this online As we increasingly seek control over our privacy rights online, China just introduced a new rule requiring face scans of customers signing up for new mobile plans that came into effect Dec. 1, amid widespread adoption of facial-recognition technology across the country.Read here the piece on the policy is part of a broader push by the Chinese government to limit people’s ability to stay anonymous online increasing their fear that biometric data could be compromised.Is this the state of things to come?Recommended to usWe have not seen it yet but we have been told that if you are in London a must see theatre experience is stage adaptation of Elena Ferrante’s The Neapolitan Novels - into a two part play My Brilliant Friend, five action-packed hours now at the national theatreMovie of the week Diego MaradonaLove him or loathe him Diego Maradonna documentary is mesmerizing as it tells the story of this celebrated and controversial soccer player as he arrives in Naples in 1984, for a world-record fee. It recounts the miracles he performed on the field and includes more than 500 hours of never-before-seen footage from Maradona’s personal archives, and decades-old news footage and interviews with historians and journalists. Wonderful storytelling.Mulling on this We found this article on Fast Company asking the question is digital distraction as bad as we thnk?We all know the pitfalls and potential mental health effects of too much screen time, but this piece acknowledges the downsides but also focuses on the upsides of connectivity and the value in seeking many consider to be the ever elusive balance.Tools we’re Using We just installed Google Duo, Google’s latest attempt to wrestle share of our time and attention from Apple’s Facetime and Facebook’s What’s App. The value is that is allows simple video calls between Iphones and Android. And Like What’s app it offers end to end encryption and its delivered in a simple user interface. So far ..we quite like.Social Impact ou might have missed this but a few months ago AS Roma decided to not only announce new signings but to do so alongside missing children.The idea from their head of strategy, Paul Rogers, grew out of his love of the story of 90’s rock band Soul Asylum, whose video for their hit song Runaway Train also featured missing children."Paul explains that Roma had built up quite a sizable social media presence and going into the summer transfer window, and he s...
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Guest Overview
Born and raised in Jersey, from a sax-playing accountant father and a mother with schizophrenia, a Harvard graduate, a hedge fund trader turned professional jazz musician and mathematician is this week’s guest Marcus G Miller.
In this episode Marcus explains how he started playing saxophone at age nine and how through the guidance of a teacher Michael Ghegan and the mentoring of world renowned saxophonist Bruce Williams he ended up on stage at age 13.
An avid reader and a world level fencer, we went on to graduate from Harvard University with a degree in Mathematics before joining Ray Dalio’s hedge fund Bridgewater Associates.
However his passion drew him back to New York City to pursue a career as a jazz musician
Marcus has since performed at the Obama White House, Madison Square Garden, The World Economic Forum at Davos, The Montreux Jazz Festival, and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and recently spoke at the TED Summit in Edinburgh.
Marcus is a genuine polymath and is exploring the structural similarities between math, and music, to enable creative problem solvers to unlock their imagination and to ‘jam’ on the world’s toughest challenges.
I hope you enjoy the intellectual curiosity and expansive imagination of Marcus G Miller.
What we discuss:
His upbringing in Jersey
The impact of his accountant father
His early desire to compete and win
The impact of being skilled at music had
The challenges he faced as he grew up
The motivation to success
His mentor Michael Ghegan
Bruce Willams his teacher
Subbing for Brice as a young teenager
Confidence
Deciding to study math at Harvard
His love of math
How he is drawn to building the connection between math and music
The subjective creative approach of doing both
Base level reality and the propositions of logic
The underlying structure and overlap of math and music
The non logical way of getting from Point A to B
The importance of fun in exploring possibilities in math and music and getting access to more
The similarity in systems and subjectivity and individuality of Math and music
Solving problems and go deeper
Building rooms in your house of understanding
Where sparks of ideas come from?
The importance of imagination and his discipline
Training to be available to receive ideas
Order and structure in his life
How he avoids social media and uses his phone
The power of long-hand writing
The resistance and being open to ideas
Managing his use of social media
Becoming a hedge fund trader for Bridgewater
The serendipity of getting a NYC gig while in the second semester
Joining the Hedge Fund
Leaving the hedge fund
Focusing on music
His search for meaning and connection
How he’d change education to foster curiosity and creativity and improvisation
How Jazz is a conversation and has narrative
Connection between Jazz and Language
Higher order language to think freely
Fearless
To arrange ideas and music
Teach kids to think freely.
Creativity, structure and boundaries
The bridge between math and music
Links to Social
Website
Spotify
Links in the Show
Tequila Jazz track
Bruce Williams Jazz
Michael Ghegan
War of Art - Stephen Prestfiled
Nir Eyal - Distracted
Rob Schneiderman
Goethe Faust
Harvard University
Ray Dalio Bridgewater
Aion Carl Jung
Mintons Jazz Bar
St Nicks jazz
Julliard Music School
Bach
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Hi Everyone This is our weekly digest episode where we share some of what we liked, discovered and was recommended to us.We start with: LAST WEEKS EPISODELast weeks guest was Emily Oberman Partner at Pentagram Design. In this engaging 2 parter we cover her upbringing; being immersed in art, discovery and joy, and how humor and singing was never far; the work ethic her parents instilled; and being introduced her to Monty Python,The Marx Brothers and MAD Magazine at an early age.She explains why the idea of being a beautiful weirdo has remained with her throughout her career as she seeks out oddness in everyone she meetsWe discuss her early design influences, her approach to design and the role of story and ideas her work. We explore how Emily met and formed a 17 year partnership, with Bonnie Siegler, in the New York design firm Number17 before we dive deep into her 20 seasons of driving the identity of Saturday Night Live. We also discuss her leadership experience at Pentagram and the challenges of combining that with motherhood. PODCAST WE LOVED CODE SWITCH - NPRRegardless of where you live, race and identity are part of the often cultural charged narrative. So if you ever find yourself in a conversation about race and identity where you just get...stuck, Code Switch can help.Created by journalists of color, and as they say themselves - this isn't just the work they do, it's the lives they lead.' It's a great listen, its funny and it will certainly make you reflect on some of your own cultural assumptions.WHAT WE DISCOVERED CONTRACT FOR THE WEBIn the 90's I think many of us expected The internet herald some from of global online utopia. Fast forward 25 years, flooded with fake news, election meddling, online bullying and a slew of other ills The Internet descended into a nightmarish mess. Its creator, Tim Berners-Lee, wants to reverse the slide.On November 25, Berners-Lee unveiled the Contract for the Web, an action plan he crafted with the help of over 80 other experts. It aims to boost privacy protections online, reduce digital incivility and discourage government crackdowns on the Web while ensuring that everyone on the planet gets access to the internet. There might well be hope for the future of The Internet. RECOMMENDED TO USARCADIA EARTH We recently took the recommendation of previous guest Alessandro Armillotta and visited Arcadia Earth her in Manhattan. It's an immersive augmented reality driven journey through Planet Earth that educates us on the impact of our behavior on the climate. On this large scale multi-sensorial journey will guide you through underwater worlds, fantasy lands, and inspirational art installations. powered by augmented reality, virtual reality, projection mapping, and interactive environments. As we explored, we learned how small lifestyle changes can have a massive impact on the future of our planet. MULLING ON THIS APOCALYPSE WHEN?It's easy to fall into the trap of helplessness and indifference in the face of the number of apocalyptic predictions about the impact of climate change. Bill McKibben suggested climate-driven fires in Australia had made koalas “functionally extinct.” Extinction Rebellion said “Billions will die” and “Life on Earth is dying.” Vice claimed the “collapse of civilization may have already begun.” This article by Michael Shellenberger in Forbes provides a more balanced view. TOOL WE ARE USING STORY ART - INSTAGRAM STORY EDITORWe just started using this neat little tool called StoryArt. It's basically an Instagram story editor that offers 1000's of story templates to help you create collage layouts for your Instagram story. You get the free version first and we just upgraded the $2 for the paid one. MOVIE OF THE WEEKWHAT'S MY NAME - MUHAMMAD ALIWe loved this HBO two-part documentary which paints an intimate portrait of Ali - the man who was a beacon of hope ...
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Guest Overview
Born and raised in New York, to a graphic designer father and illustrator mother, her prolific life in design and branding was almost destined, welcome this week’s guest, partner at international design firm, Pentagram, Emily Oberman
In part two we explore how Emily met and formed a 17 year partnership, with Bonnie Siegler, in the New York design firm Number17 before we dive deep into her 20 seasons of driving the identity of Saturday Night Live.
We also discuss her leadership experience at Pentagram and the challenges of combining that with motherhood
Finally we discuss diversity and of course her quick fire questions and answers.
I hope you enjoy this curiosity, humour and design principles of Emily Oberman
What we discuss
- Forming Number17 With Bonnie Siegler
- Working for smart good people and products she likes
- The experience of creating the credits of SNL
- The challenge of motherhood and a leadership in design
- The hard work she has had to do
- Driving diversity in Pentagram and leading by example
Social Links
Links in the Show
Debbie Millman
VH1
Viacom
Number17 Agency
M&Co
DC comics
The Wing
Ready Player One
Pentagram
Lorne Micheals
Saturday Night Live
Monty Python
MAD Comic
Marx Brothers
Metropolitan museum
The Highline
Hudson river park
Devil in the White City Book
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Guest Overview
Emily Oberman - a partner at the international design firm, Pentagram, was born and raised in New York, to a graphic designer father and illustrator mother, discusses her prolific life in design and branding.
In part one of this two-part episode Emily recounts the impact of her upbringing based on the idea of art, discovery, and joy, how humor and singing were never far and explains how the work ethic her parents instilled has served her well through her three decades in design.
Emily discusses how her parents introduced her to Monty Python, The Marx Brothers, and MAD Magazine and how the idea of being a beautiful weirdo has remained with her throughout her career as she seeks out oddness in everyone she meets
We cover Emily’s serendipitous journey from studying design at Cooper Union in NYC, her sojourn into film studies and how that set her on her path to a life in design, content, and storytelling.
We discuss Emily’s early design influences, her approach to design and the role of story and ideas in her work. We end part one with Emily recounting how she ended up working under her mentor Tibor Kalman at design firm M&Co
In part two we explore how Emily met and formed a 17-year partnership, with Bonnie Siegler, in the New York design firm Number17 before we dive deep into her 20 seasons of driving the identity of Saturday Night Live.
We also discuss her leadership experience at Pentagram and the challenges of combining that with motherhood
Finally, we discuss diversity and of course her quick-fire questions and answers.
I hope you enjoy this curiosity, humor and design principles of Emily Oberman
What we discuss
- The environment of art, discovery, and joy that defined her upbringing
- How her parents injected humor and wit in everything they did
- Her appreciation for art, design and the power of idea-driven design
- The impact of her parents instilled in her from an early age
- The idea of being a beautiful weirdo
- How she embraces the off and seeks oddness in all places
- Why her family all share that goal of beautiful weirdness
- Emily Oberman shares the impact of a teacher who recognized her talent and nurtured it
- Emily explains how she introduced her to Greek literature.
- Emily breaks down her decision to go to Cooper Union
- Studying acting
- Why she is a worrier
- The illustrators she was inspired by
- How her love of theatre and film led her to take a year to study acting
- How this led her to love film and ultimately motion graphics
- Design as performance
- Examples of how she approaches design using examples Ready Player One and the women’s co-working space, The Wing
- Forming Number17 With Bonnie Siegler
- Working for smart good people and products she likes
- The experience of creating the credits of SNL
- The challenge of motherhood and leadership in design
- The hard work she has had to do
- Driving diversity in Pentagram and leading by example
Social Links
Links in the Show
Debbie Millman
Cooper Union
Tibor Kalman
Milton Glaser
Max Fleischer
Bob Kane
Jack Kirby
Mort Drucker
Stella Adler
Colors magazine
VH1
Viacom
Number17 Agency
M&Co
DC comics
The Wing
Ready Player One
Pentagram
Lorne Micheals
Saturday Night Live
Monty Python
MAD Comic
Marx Brothers
Metropolitan museum
The Highline
Hudson river park
Devil in the White City Book
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Ok this is our first weekly bonus roundup where we share some of our discoveries from where our curiosity has taken us.
Starting with A Podcast we loved
Making sense with Sam Harris - episode 163 Sam has a fabulous interview with British comedian, writer and award show host Ricky Gervais - Ricky is a breathe of fresh air and excludes common sense as speaks with clarity and brutal candor
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/making-sense-with-sam-harris/id733163012?i=1000444315356
We found this online
PR agency Porter Noveli published new report on Purpose and Gen Z. It’s well worth a read if you want to understand this generations' expectations of brands, their social impact and purpose
https://www.prdaily.com/what-purpose-driven-companies-need-to-know-about-gen-z/
This was recommended to us by our upcoming guest Joshua Spodek
https://www.drawdown.org/
Project Drawdown is a world-class research organization that reviews, analyses, and identifies the most viable global climate solutions, and shares these findings with the world. You’ll be surprised how simple some of them are
Movie of the week
Game Changers
If your not vegetarian or vegan watch this and be prepared to re orientate your view of what you eat and how you live
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSpglxHTJVM
Mulling on...
Could we go zero waste ? Reduce the endless packaging that results in recycling and increase composting in the most efficient manner? after watching Bea Johnson I think I could it’s a wonderful insight into how we live and how we could live https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmfDTtduRh4
A tool we are using
Ever wanted to have Instagram accessible and useable on your desktop and be able to easily add a post or story, The Grids App does just that. We love it.
https://gridsapp.net/
This weeks podcast
This week Roberto Rabanne - the photographer of some of the most iconic musicians and artists over the last 5 decades and the only photograther to have shot all of the legendary 27 Club. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/050-roberto-rabanne-photographer-icons-imagining-better/id1448602773?i=1000457197944
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Guest Overview
Born in Panama, raised in Brooklyn from age 13, a conscientious objector to the Vietnam War, a self taught photographer who’s captured iconic images of music, art, and fashion for over 5 decades, is this week’s guest Roberto Rabanne.
In part two we delve into how Roberto continues to evolve his career into new multimedia expressions of his art as well as his pursuit of a new entrepreneurial venture that’s centered around the development of hemp-based products and in particular a new supercar the Rabanne 420.
I hope you enjoy the humor, eloquence, generosity of spirit and expansive vision of Roberto Rabanne
What we discuss
- His reinvention of his archive work in new mediums
- His creative partner
- Using his imagery on Leon Speakers
- His evolving business model
- Inspired by blotter acid paper
- His Off the Grid Flat Pack House inspired by Phillip Johnson’s Glass House
- Rabanne 420 Hemp Car HyperCar
- Henry Ford Hemp Car
- Expanding his work into Hemp material development
- Imagination to make it happen
- The impact of climate change and Hemp as a solution
- Conscientious Objection to the Vietnam War
Social Links
Links In the Show
Greta Thunberg
Richard Avedon
Guy Bourdin
Helmut Newton
Alex Liberman
Henry Ford Hemp Car
Henry Rollins Testing a Hemp Car
Claudia Berk
Noah Kaplin
Phillip Johnson Glass House
Whole Earth Catalog
Stewart Brand
Mandela
Gavrilo Princip
The Heart of Darkness
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Born in Panama, raised in Brooklyn from age 13, a conscientious objector to the Vietnam War, a self taught photographer who’s captured iconic images of music, art and fashion for over 5 decades, is this week’s guest Roberto Rabanne.
In part one of this 2 part interview Roberto recounts the experience of growing up in a racially charged 1960’s Brooklyn, his self-directed education and passion for reading, the impact of his mother and aunt, and how his early exposure to Motown and the Beat culture led him to embrace photography as his preferred form of self expression.
Roberto discusses the experience of being at the heart of documenting the 1960’s counter-cultural movement and the writers, artists and musicians he worked with. We also explore the commonalities of the movement with what we are experiencing with the emerging environmental movement and youth leaders like Greta Thunberg.
We also discuss how his curiosity for people lead him to photograph musicians from the Grateful Dead, Dylan, Janice Joplin, Jim Morrison, Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Run DMC, The Beastie Boys, Amy Winehouse, Sade, and Gaga. In fact he’s the only photographer to have shot all members of the 27 Club - those iconic and groundbreaking musicians who died at the age of 27.
Finally in Part One Roberto explains how his career pivoted into fashion when a serendipitous encounter led him to working for the legendary Alex Liberman of Conde Nast.
I hope you enjoy the humor, eloquence, generosity of spirit and expansive vision of Roberto Rabanne.
Thanks to previous guest Alessandro Armillotta for the recommendation and connection.
What we discuss
- Coming to New York as a 13 year migrant from Panama
- Growing up as an only child in Brooklyn in a balkanised community
- How reading and a love of Russian literature saved him
- Becoming involved in the counter cultural movement
- His early exposure to music and Motown
- Meeting members of the beat generation
- How seeing a Bresson print made him realize his photography future
- How he worked in a store to save for his first camera
- How he gravitated toward music photography
- Moving to Sf and his experience of psychedelics
- Living in the same house as Neil Cassidy
- Seeing the Grateful Dead and becoming friends with Gerry Garcia
- His willingness to sit in the background and observe
- Being acceptant of everyone
- Documenting culture
- How the counter cultural movement is still playing out
- The impact of the movement and that moment in time
- His views on micro-dozing
- How he’s using his back catalog to create new artistic expressions
- The people and bands he shot
- The 27 club
- Being curious about people kept him relevant
- His switch fashion
- Pivoting in 1979
- Working with Conde Nast
Social Links
Links in the Show
West Side Story
Motown
Allen Ginsberg
Dostoyevsky
Tolstoy
Henri Cartier Bresson
Yashica 2.25
Neil Cassidy
The Grateful Dead
Jimi Hendrix
Craw daddy
Rolling stone
East village other
Greta Thunberg
Richard avedon
Guy Bourdin
Helmut Newton
Alex Liberman
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Guest Overview
Born in England and raised in Italy by a trend-spotting mother and entrepreneurial father, innovation infused his education, welcome this week’s guest, and founder of social impact and sustainability start-up AWorld - Alex Armillotta.
In this episode, Alex discusses how his childhood prepared him, how his father coached him and his mother inspired him to his life as an e-commerce and now social impact entrepreneur.
Alex explains the evolution of his entrepreneurial journey in eCommerce, how his experiences led him to conceive and launch the innovative social impact and sustainability eCommerce app, AWorld.
Alex breaks down the elements of this ground-breaking app and provides insight into how AWorld enables people, companies, and organizations to collectively invest in creating a more sustainable future for our planet.
I hope you enjoy the conviction, faith, and focus of New York-based social and environmental entrepreneur Alessandro Armillotta.
What We Discuss
Moving to Italy age six
Alex’s comfort with difference
His Father’s approach to educating him and supporting his self-discovery
Underperforming at school
Early entrepreneurial risk-taking
Dropshipping explained
Creating his most successful business Buy2Bee
Affiliate marketing explained
Building and scaling eCommerce businesses
Building and selling his technology business
Being hired and moved to New York
Gaining insights from China and learning about affiliate marketing
Building a tech company in Italy
How he started to connect the dots and form a plan
How he first conceived the AWorld idea
The importance of making a sustainability impact and not just profit
The core elements of the AWorld application
Where the AWorld application could go
His quick-fire questions and answers
What he has learned from Tommy Hilfiger
Social Links
AWorld
Links In The Show
Juventus
Tommy Hilfiger
Buy2Bee
Shopify
Sustainable Development Goals
DQ Institute
Commonsense media
Books
Contagious
This is Marketing
Storybrand
Show
Chernobyl
Karaoke Song
WonderWall Oasis
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Guest Overview Born and raised in Nigeria to a family of five high achieving siblings, educated in the US, recipients of the prestigious King Baudouin African Development Prize for social entrepreneurship are this week's guests, sister Bilikiss Adebiyi Abiola and brother Wale Adebiyi We discuss how their parents commitment to excellence in education and the sacrifices they made to send them to University in the US, provided the platform for their subsequent success, and we explore how their parents guidance instilled in them the work ethic, self-belief and determination to succeed. In this engaging episode Bilikiss and Wale discuss the serendipitous journey to launching and scaling Wecyclers - the innovative waste management start-up based in Lagos, Nigeria as well as their ambitions for its future development. Bilikiss discusses how the idea formed whilst studying at MIT, and how her fledgling idea has scaled to become a fully operational social enterprise, that is not only tackling Nigeria’s waste crisis but is providing the residents of Africa’s largest city a convenient and incentive-based opportunity for recycling and provides low-income households a chance to generate income from their waste.Since its inception as a student project in 2012, Wecyclers has since recycled 4,000 tons of waste, served 15,000 households and now employs 125 workers. Wale explains why in 2016, he gave up his successful career in the US to return to Nigeria to help his sister scale Wecyclers, which now collaborates withpublic agencies like the Lagos State Government, and partners with corporations including Coca-Cola, DHL, and UnileverIn this expansive discussion go on to discuss the challenges facing African continent, philanthropy, the role of social enterprise, addressing poverty, the environment and the need to fundamentally rethink capitalism. We recorded this while Bilikiss and Wale were visiting the US as a result of winning the coveted - which rewards outstanding contributions to development in Africa, initiated and led by Africans. I hope you enjoy the inspirational story of inventiveness and commitment to social impact with Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola and Wale Adebiyi of WeCyclers.What we discuss - Their parents commitment to education - The sacrifices and compromises their parents made - The dual roles they player - Their father’s belief that anything is possible - Their mother’s discipline - The serendipity of getting into a US university - How Bilikiss made it to Fisk University - Awakening to the challenges and competition in the world - Mentors beyond the parents - Their mother’s self belief and commitment - Surviving MIT Sloan - Joining social enterprise class that led to the idea for WeClyclers - How Bilikiss created a Wecyclers as a pilot in 2012 - The support she had from MIT Staff - How Wale returned to Lagos to help his native Nigeria - His path to joining Wecyclers - We discuss the scale and growth of Lagos and Nigeria - The operational model for Wecyclers - How they have gamified the business model - The lack of infrastructure in Lagos - The supply chain they are building - The Impact investment challenges - The economic impact for the community - Value creation - Winning the King Baudouin Award - Building Markets and Values - Scaling the model - Bilikiss’s optimism - Wale’s skepticism - The environmental imperative - Rethinking capitalism and what winning means - New forms of consumption - Reimagining Education - The impact of curiosity Social Links Twitter FacebookInstagram Wecyclers Links in the Show Florida State University Umist Fisk UniversityLagos Nigeria FactFile Muhammad Yunis King Baudouin Award Anand Giridhard...
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Guest Overview
Jeremy Heimans - a child activist, a McKinsey strategist, founder of social movement agency Purpose, TED speaker, and co-author of NY Times bestseller New Power is this week’s guest
We start with Australian born Jeremy reflecting on how the combination of his immigrant parent's backstory and his voracious interest in politics led him to become a globe-trotting child activist at age eight. We discuss how this nontraditional upbringing helped him develop skills most children would not, the profound effect on his character development, his idealism and the impact on his life trajectory.
He explains his decision to study at Harvard and work as a strategic consultant at McKinsey were examples of him using institutional power without being institutionalized.
Jeremy Heimans explains the early origins of his movement-building in Australia - the political activation movement to challenge the status quo, Get Up.
Subsequently, he then dives into why he formed Purpose - a social impact business that builds movements and uses the power of participation to affect positive change in the world.
Jeremy goes on to discuss the principles underpinning his best selling book New Power and we discuss how these new power values and dynamics are being used by both New Power and Old Power institutions.
I hope you are stimulated by the insights, vision, and purpose of Jeremy Heimans.
What we discuss
His early upbringing
Becoming a child activist
His parent's impact
How he built his first movement GetUp
What he gained from studying at Harvard
The value of working at McKinsey
Forming social movement activation agency Purpose
How Purpose is structured and operates
How its Labs work
Writing the book New Power
Old power defined - used as a currency
New Power defined - works like a current
How the world is evolving and embracing both sets of values
How serendipity affected his journey
Curiosity and the creation of the new
Spotting gaps and starting things
His quick-fire answers
Social Links
Purpose Agency
TED
Links in the show
David Madden
GetUp
Purpose,
New Power - How Power Works in Our Hyperconnected World - and How to Make it Work for You.
ACLU
New Power HBR
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Guest Overview
In Part two of this interview with Carmen D'Alessio, the New York nightlife legend, impresario and co-founder of what is often referred to as the greatest club of all time; Studio 54, we explore the untold story of the nightclub’s formation.
We start the interview with Carmen recounting her second marriage and leaving Italy and working for Valentino in Rome to return to NYC to build her ‘Queen of the Night’ reputation.
If you’ve seen the 2018 Netflix documentary on the infamous nightclub you’ll hear the other side of the founder’s story on how the sensational nightclub came into existence.
Carmen also recounts her memories of those unparalleled 33 months of hedonism, having her mother around her and how the era ended and the world changed
We also cover how she’s continued to reinvent herself and nightlife experiences around the world
Finally, we cover her quick fire questions and answers
I hope you enjoy the wit, wisdom, and wonder of Carmen D’Alessio.
What we discuss:
How she moved into fashion
Beginning her career as a nightlife promoter
How a 1976 bicentennial party reported in the WSJ got her on the map
How she met Ian Schrager and Steve Rubell and her collaboration with their Enchanted Garden ended up in Time
How she was forced to invite them to collaborate when her Studio 54 backer dropped out
The evolution of their business arrangement and how that saved her from jail
How the day to day operation worked
Her superpower of connecting people
Spontaneity and living without consequences
How Aids changed everything
Building her list of 8000 names
How nightlife has evolved as she has aged
Carmen’s evolution
Staying young, her sense of adventure and freedom
Her mother’s lust for life
Acqua fit in her 70’s
Confronting conventions
The Gospel according to Carmen
Her feeling of youthfulness
Being thankful
Her principles
Establishing an environmental foundation
Her patience and faith
Links in the Show
Steve Rubell
Ian Schrager
Baby Brasa
Andy Warhol
Imelda Marcos
Federico Fellini
Infinity club
Enchanted Garden
Sterling St Jacques
Grace Jones
Basquiat
Cher
Michael Jackson
Keith Haring
Las dos lunas
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Last week I had the immense pleasure of sitting feet from the greatness of Don McCullin. I managed to ask the final question of the evening.
http://www.howardgreenberg.com/exhibitions/don-mccullin
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Guest Overview
Born to Peruvian father, and Chilean mother, but grew up to become a legend of New York nightlife, impresario co-founder of Studio 54, and to this day not only continues to reinvent herself but also entertainment experiences, is this week’s guest Carmen D'Alessio.
We recorded this interview in Carmen’s apartment back in July 2019. With windows open the sounds of the Manhattan provide a suitable city soundscape.
Like recent episodes this is a two parter
Part one, Carmen recounts the story of the enduring influence of her mother, escaping her controlling father, her early years in 60’s New York, meeting her first husband, and her magical wedding experience with Salvador Dali as her acting godfather. We skip the sensational Studio 54 story, and cover that in Part 2. But we end part one with how Carmen has remained queen of the night, and now day, with her sun-downer concept in partnership with NY based Tao Group, and more recently with Pervian concept restaurant Baby Brassa.
I hope you enjoy the entertaining and age defying energy and passion of Carmen D'Alessio
What we discuss:
The impact of her upbringing
Her father’s upbringing from a wealthy Peruvian family
The influence of his life view on her upbringing
The positive impact and influence of her mother
The serendipity of her mother and father meeting
Developing her own identity through her languages
Making a move to New York in the early 60’s
Power of her connections
Building an influential network from her first week
How she met her first husband
Carmen’s inclusive view of life
How she has reinvented herself from the queen of the night
Delivering great evening experiences
Her relationships with the Tao Group and Baby Brasa
Links in the Show
Carmen D’Alessio
Guy Burgos
Lady Sarah Russell
Edie Sedgwick
George Hamilton
Salvador Dali
Baby Brasa
Tao Group
PhD Downtown
Marc Packer
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Guest Overview
Futurist and humanist Caroline Chubb Calderon thinks a lot about what it will mean to be human in the age of intelligent machines. This child of the world that grew up speaking five languages and learned what it meant to be human at an early age from a mentally-ill mother and an inspirational father, gives us a glimpse into how we might just reimagine the future of humanity.
In Part-Two of this interview we explore Caroline’s perspective on how we recapture our humanity
The imperative for businesses to invest in helping people rediscover their humanity, to lead as custodians of this world and lead for humanity. The wisdom we need to develop, what it means to be human and the empathy to be able to hear other people.
We discuss her perspectives on the forces that are shaping our future, the possibilities and risks in an AI-driven world, the need for a global moral compass, and so much more...
I hope you enjoy part two of this optimistic but contemplative exploration of humanity in the age of AI technology.
What we discuss
Her focus on driving more human intelligence and intentionality
The three human competencies - imagination, insight and inspiration
For imagination - engineering moments of unstructured time with curiosity
The importance of connecting to nature to unlock creativity
For Insight - the ethical and moral reasoning and express your values
The understanding mindfulness
For Inspiration - communities of people to come together and be human together
The leadership capacities to paint a visionary future
Building trust, community and safety
Building with early movers
Why companies can not afford to invest in this
The negative economic impact of human replacement by Robots and Machines
How she is creating a path for industry leaders to follow
The lack of thought around the implications AI advances
The lack of a picture of what humanity could look like
Caroline’s perspective on the future of education
Then we do our quick fire questions
Social Links
Links In the Show
Center For Humane Technology
Hello Humanity
Invisible Woman Book
Between The World And Me
Tina Kelly
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Guest Overview
Futurist and humanist Caroline Chubb Calderon thinks a lot about what it will mean to be human in the age of intelligent machines. This child of the world that grew up speaking five languages and learned what it meant to be human at an early age from a mentally-ill mother and an inspirational father, gives us a glimpse into how we might just reimagine the future of humanity.
This interview is a two-parter.
In Part-One we explore Caroline’s nomadic upbringing, the challenges of living with her schizophrenic mother, the inspirational role of her father, her focus on finding thin slices of joy, her love of curiosity, how vision and serendipity led her to working as an innovation consultant, and how the future called for her to create Hello Humanity — a company preparing humans to lead, live, work, and thrive in our AI future.
We discuss her perspectives on the forces that are shaping our future, the possibilities and risks in an AI-driven world, the need for a global moral compass, and so much more...
I hope you enjoy part one of this optimistic but contemplative exploration of humanity in the age of AI technology.
What we discuss
Her international upbringing
Living with her mother's schizophrenia and life lessons gained
How she stayed resilient reveling in thin slices of joy and how her path took her to learn meditation and now even teach it
The two questions that define her journey: "What does the future hold?" And, "How we lead for it?"
Issues facing us as we move into an AI world
Social Links
Links In the Show
What If
Hello Humanity
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Guest Overview
Massachusetts born, a psychiatrist father and minister mother, drove his ambition to be a priest, but evolved to be an actor, musician, author and expert on the ethics of Artificial Intelligence is this week’s guest John C Havens. oh he’s also a wicked harmonica player -
John is currently the Executive Director of The IEEE Global Initiative on Ethics of Autonomous and Intelligent Systems (A/IS). Over the past three years, The Initiative produced Ethically Aligned Design, a free, creative commons book over 250 pages long written by 600 global experts created to ensure A/IS honors human rights and end-user values while prioritizing human wellbeing and ecological sustainability. John is the author of Heartificial Intelligence: Embracing Humanity to Maximize Machines, a frequent contributor to Mashable and The Guardian, a former EVP of a top ten PR firm, founder of a non-profit called The Happathon Project, and a former professional actor for over fifteen years. You can find John on twitter @johnchavens.
John's views are his own on the show and don't necessarily represent and formal positions of the IEEE.
In part one of this 2 parter, John and I discuss his upbringing, parental impact, the role of introspection on his journey and his early experiences acting alongside some of Hollywood’s finest.
In part two we will dive deep into the ethics of AI and Johns vision for a more sustainable future society.
I hope you enjoy Part One and insight into vision, passion, and faith of John C Havens.
What we discuss
His early years
Growing up overweight
His father’s impact
Introspection
Cathartic impact of music
His relationship with Christ
Following his parent's guidance
Worth and love
Play and acting in early development
Attending a Christian college
On recognizing truth and love
Empathy and kindness
The influence of a theatre professor
Attending Williamstown Summer theatre
His explanation of the craft of acting
Steel Pier
How he became involved in IEEE and developing AI Code of Ethics
Asimov Laws of Robotics
Follow on Social
Links In The Show
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Guest Overview
Massachusetts born, a psychiatrist father and minister mother, drove his ambition to be a priest, but evolved to being an actor, musician, author and expert on the ethics of Artificial Intelligence is this week’s guest John C Havens. oh he’s also a wicked harmonic player -
John is currently the Executive Director of The IEEE Global Initiative on Ethics of Autonomous and Intelligent Systems (A/IS). Over the past three years The Initiative produced, Ethically Aligned Design, a free, creative commons book over 250 pages long written by 600 global experts created to ensure A/IS honors human rights and end user values while prioritizing human wellbeing and ecological sustainability. John is the author of Heartificial Intelligence: Embracing Humanity to Maximize Machines, a frequent contributor to Mashable and The Guardian, a former EVP of a top ten PR firm, founder of a non-profit called The Happathon Project, and a former professional actor for over fifteen years. You can find John on twitter @johnchavens.
John's views are his own on the show and don't necessarily represent and formal positions of the IEEE.
In part one of this 2 parter John and I discuss his upbringing, parental impact, the role of introspection on his journey and his early experiences acting alongside some of Hollywood’s finest.
In part two we will dive deep into the ethics of AI and Johns vision for a more sustainable future society.
I hope you enjoy Part One and an insight into vision, passion and faith of John C Havens.
What we discuss
His early years
Growing up overweight
His father’s impact
Introspection
Cathartic impact of music
His relationship with Christ
Following his parents guidance
Worth and love
Play and acting in early development
Attending a Christian college
On recognizing truth and love
Empathy and kindness
The influence of a theatre professor
Attending WilliamsTown Summer theatre
His explanation of the craft of acting
Steel Pier
How he became involved in IEEE and developing AI Code of Ethics
Asimov Laws of Robotics
Follow on Social
Links In The Show
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Guest Overview
Russian born, New York raised, corporate lawyer, turned Facilitator, Speaker and entrepreneur with a mission to empower people and organizations to flourish through science-backed behavioral solutions - is this week's guest Elina Teboul.
Graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Economics from New York University and a J.D. from Columbia Law School, Elina became a corporate lawyer at top NY Law firm Davis Polk & Wardwell.
Elina is a powerhouse of positive energy and focus. The legal world never stood a chance and it was not long until Elina found herself Studying Psychology at Columbia University in NYC.
Realizing that powerful mindfulness techniques based on positive psychology weren’t easily accessible in most corporations, Elina started The LightUp Lab to address this gap in the market with the mission of cracking the code to happiness.
We cover a lot of ground in this interview so we have made it a two-parter.
In Part-two we get more into curiosity, creativity, education, passion, principles, and all our quick-fire questions
I hope you enjoy this enlightening insight into Elina's fitness class for the mind.
What We Discuss
Growing up in Brighton Beach to Russian Jewish Immigrant parents
The impact of her family
Being an only child
Her school years
How she entered law
Her evolution from law to philanthropy and foundation management
Returning to NYC to
Pivoting to study psychology
The Lisa Miller book SMBI
The idea behind light up lab
Mental health
Leadership
Her training methodology
Her themes
Her view on technology
Focus and flow
Goal setting
Social Links
LightUp Lab
Links In The Show
Davis Polk
Brighton Beach
Allan Grey
Orbis
Columbia University
SMBI
The Book Primed to Perform
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Guest Overview
Russian born, New York raised, corporate lawyer, turned Facilitator, Speaker and entrepreneur with a mission to empower people and organizations to flourish through science-backed behavioral solutions - is this week's guest Elina Teboul.
Graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Economics from New York University and a J.D. from Columbia Law School, Elina became a corporate lawyer at top NY Law firm Davis Polk & Wardwell.
Elina is a powerhouse of positive energy and focus. The legal world never stood a chance and it was not long until Elina found herself Studying Psychology at Columbia University in NYC.
Realizing that powerful mindfulness techniques based on positive psychology weren’t easily accessible in most corporations, Elina started The LightUp Lab to address this gap in the market with the mission of cracking the code to happiness.
We cover a lot of ground in this interview so we have made it a two-parter.
Part-one covers her upbringing in Brighton Beach, her journey to creating the LightUp Lab, the value she delivers, her methodology, goal setting principles and the tools necessary to unlock and sustain the full potential of people in business.
In Part-two we get more into curiosity, creativity, education, passion, principles, and all our quick-fire questions
I hope you enjoy this enlightening insight into Elina's fitness class for the mind.
What We Discuss
Growing up in Brighton Beach to Russian Jewish Immigrant parents
The impact of her family
Being an only child
Her school years
How she entered law
Her evolution from law to philanthropy and foundation management
Returning to NYC to
Pivoting to study psychology
The Lisa Miller book
SMBI
The idea behind LightUp Lab
Mental health
Leadership
Her training methodology
Her themes
Her view on technology
Focus and flow
Goal setting
Social Links
LightUp Lab
Links In The Show
Davis Polk
Brighton Beach
Allan Grey
Orbis
Columbia University
SMBI
The Book Primed to Perform
Laurie Santos
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Guest Overview
Born in Spain, raised in Newark, a rebel against his catholic education,
a Punk rock band tour manager, before building his stellar career, life and reputation in the art world, is this week’s guest, internationally renowned gallerists and owner of New York’s Team Gallery, Jose Freire.
In the raw and candid interview Jose discusses the impact of his abusive upbringing. He discusses his innate curiosity, the role of shame in developing his image and desire to escape.
How his experiences on the streets of 1970’s NYC helped him develop his identity, sense of taste, his aesthetic and style.
Jose recounts his experience as a Punk Band Tour Manager, becoming a DJ and how a serendipitous late night encounter in a club called Berlin led him to begin a career in art and galleries.
From 30 min in we explore the arc of his Jose’s life as one of the world’s most renowned and respected feeder gallerists.
I hope you enjoy this raw and revealing exploration of the inspiring life journey of New York Gallerist Jose Freire.
What we discuss
His early memories
His fear for his violent and absent father
Supportive and caring mother
The lesson in shame and impact on self image and taste
Corporal punishment and abusive school environment
Seeking safety in NYC
Meeting strangers
Developing his identity on the streets of NYC
The impact of drugs
His death impulse
Visiting cinemas and the home of men he met in the theaters
How it developed his sense of taste
Power of his passions
His punk period and tour managing
How he developed his empathy for artists
How serendipity opened the door to his entry into the art world
His drug use
Getting sober
Getting his education in his 30’s
Balancing education and his gallery
Importance of passion
His London experience
Opening and building his own gallery
Moving to Soho
The market crash
Opening Team
His drive and competitive nature
His curiosity for the new
His enduring hunger
Peaking in 2014
Going forward
Shedding his past
Looking after himself
Being a feeder galley
Being an impresario
On art fairs
Power of small galleries
Living in the present
His quickfire answers
His impossible advice
Connecting
Team Gallery
Links in the show
The Talking Heads
Virgin Prunes
Dean Martin
Klaus Nomi
Clubs of the 70’s and 80’s
Roxy Music
Polly Apfelbuam
303 Gallery
Lisa Spellman
Paula Cooper
Ryan McGinley
Cory Archangel
Steve Parrino
Carol Bovy
David Zwirner Gallery
Banks Violette
Pace Gallery
Hauser and Wirth
Billy Wilder
Garret Bradley
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Having heard the diverse stories from our season one guests, I've reflected on curiosity, mental health, and serendipity. However, in this final reflection, I want to focus on something that weaves through all three previous musings. Time; its value, it's scarcity and power. We recently interviewed Carmen D'Alessio, Impresario behind Studio 54 and one of our first guests in Season 2. In the interview she references a great quote on time; The past is history, the future is a mystery, today is a gift, and that's why we call it the present. The concept that time is a precious gift was possibly best expressed bythe 17th Century Preacher, Jonathan Edwards, as he laid our reasons why. - Time is precious in proportion to its importance or the degree it affects our welfare. - Time is short and limited. - We have no insight into its continuance or how long we have - And when it is past, it can not be recovered. Although serendipity has impacted the different journeys of all our guests, it's their value of time and the patterns that emerge around how they've used time that defines them. Psychologist Philip Zimbardo set out the optimal perspective on time - called the Optimal Temporal Mix that combines a positive view of the past with a life goal-orientated view of the future with a joyful view of the present. But critically it's the mental flexibility to shift between perspectives that lead to success. I witnessed this with Ryder Carroll and the focused intentionality of his Bullet Journal method, with and Andrew Santella during his interview on procrastination and in Shantell Martin through her enlightened and powerful insights into what is being human actually is, on her journey through time. So if there is one thing I'd urge all listeners to take from season one. It's to avoid squandering, undervaluing, or giving away our gift of time. As the Preacher said, once that moment is past it's never coming back. Every moment matters. All of us, regardless of age, education or experience have an innate and bountiful supply of creativity and imagination, and in every moment, with intentionality, we have an opportunity to mine it, nurture it and apply it to craft the future we desire. Whatever age you are, think about the aggregated moments of time you have on this blue planet we call Earth. Our time is precious, we can't earn more, we can't buy more, we can certainly save it, avoid wasting it but day by day, hour by hour, moment by moment we are spending it. Reflecting on our guests' impact has made me question my application of time. The past is the past, but it's made me more focused on becoming more intentional with how I spend my time in the future. It's why I am so concerned by how our time is increasingly controlled by technology that commands our attention in a manner that not only dilutes our intentionality but threatens to destroy our identities and societies. Whether we value it or not, our time has immense value, to what the center for humane technology call, the extractive attention economy, which mines our time and attention through well-designed mechanisms of mass distraction. To a greater or lesser degree, as we surrender our time without heed, to the digital addiction apps, we struggle to separate fact from fiction, fall victim to political manipulation and ideological polarization and increasingly suffer from social superficiality of shallow media that impacts the mental health of ourselves and our children. Instead of being distracted by the superficial commercial or transient content that bombards us, It is time for us to re-evaluate the preciousness of moments and the power we have to craft the future we desire. Writer and designer Nir Eyal considers the opposition of distraction to be traction, not attention. - the traction we have when we focus our time and att...
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The science fiction novels, comic book, and movies of the past are full of technologies from the imaginations of writers that have since been transformed to science fact and reality by someone who believed, what most considered impossible, to be possible. I’m old enough to remember the phone-like device from Star Trek that only a few years later ended up in my hands branded Startac by Motorola Inventions like these just took time, curiosity, dedication, creativity and grit. Built on the foundation of a good education. However is an education system that by in large, was created to teach the skills needed to serve the workforce needs of the past, sufficient for the fast-approaching reality of the future. That’s why we ask our guest's what they would do to change the education system to help prepare youth for their uncertain future. Think about this. Children entering education in 2020 will be young adults in 2035. It’s on us to prepare them to remain economically and socially relevant in a world of discontinuity . They inhabit an environment full of technologies that have not yet been invented, they will be be required to solve problems that have not yet been imagined, and they will also fill jobs that have not yet been created. The unprecedented speed and array of technological developments, that promise never before imagined opportunities for human advancement, we need to embrace the reality that change will be the only constant. Or as our guestBeth Comstock said we need to learn be comfortable with ambiguity. That is a lot easier said than done.As I have alluded in previous reflections, and interviews it’s our generation's responsibility to educate our children for this world they will inherit. What’s the answer?Yuval Noah Harari in his recent book 21 Lessons for the 21st Century cites educational experts that argue for the need to teach creativity, critical thinking, collaboration and communication. that we down-regulate specialist technical skills and up-regulate general-purpose life skillsThe most important being to enable children to deal with change, learn new things, preserve mental balance in the face of unfamiliar situations and be prepare them to reinvent themselves again and again. Personally, living in New York in 2019 I feel this is the world I am living in that reality today For as the pace of change changes even the meaning of being human will mutate.To prepare them to overcome adversity and navigate this world of uncertainty, we need to nurture their soft skills of curiosity, creativity, and imagination. They will need more resilience and self-regulation; respect and appreciation for the ideas of others, empathy for the perspectives and values of those unlike them and embrace failure and rejection regularly. If we are to create a world where we all thrive our children's motivation must, as the OECD states, move beyond getting a good job and a high income; and extend to caring more about the well-being of their friends and families, their communities and the planet. To equip our children with a sense of agency, purpose, knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values that will enable them to navigate the discontinuity, change, and instability that will be the reality of life in 2035 and beyond, we must relearn the act of learning, reeducate the educator's, and end the production line process of education.It starts with a renewed focus on the timeless wisdom, and the question of who we really are? It’s the big question at the heart of our guest Shantell Martin’s art and insight that too few of us ever question who we really are and explore who we want to be. This is important for all of us regardless of age. However For children retaining and nurturing their Individuality, and identity is the greatest challenge they face, losing it before it is ever discovered by th...
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Last week I watched the Netflix Doc The Great Hack. It made me consider on how our minds and decisions are increasingly being manipulated, not just with elections. I fear we are surrendering our curiosity, questioning and decision making capacity to machines that increasingly learn how understand us, affect us and direct us. This made me reflect on the imperative for curiosity. Does this seem like a non sequitur? Ok let me expand. Let’s start with Einstein. Einstein said he was not a genius just passionately curiousIn Episode 8 I interviewed Dave Birss. In Dave's - Book How to Get to Great Ideas - Dave cites divergence as a crucial skill and references Einsteins youthful disruption in class; his failure to shine and divergence from the classroom norm that resulted in the failure and rejection, that in turn enabled him to to continue pursuing his unconventional thinking and thought experiments...without which he would not have developed his theory of relativity.If curiosity is a vital ingredient to invention and discovery I’d adapt the quote we have used many times to this ‘success is not final, failure is not fatal, its having the curiosity and courage to continue that counts’ And maybe that is why in today’s world many autocratic consider curiosity to be a threat, challenging and disruptive. So this made me think more about disruption. We all strive for disruptive ideas in our industries as we to seek out competitive advantage, yet we discourage, marginalize or penalize the disruptors in our classrooms, schools, and universities, as we attempt to mould the unconventional to follow conventional thinking and suppress creativity. Ken Robinson was so right with his seminal 2006 TED talk. Why is curiosity and creativity more important than ever? Reality check: We live in a world that rewards specialization. As armies of digital specialists expand to fuel and power digital factories and output in a way that mirrors the specialisms of the Industrial Age, and the methods of Frederick Winslow Taylor’s scientific management approach, we need to face the near and present danger that AI and machine learning poses. As AI encroaches on all industries, we as individuals need to cultivate new skills and knowledge to empower our ability to evolve and develop new creative domain experience and expertise we will need to remain relevant and employable in a world where new abilities, skills and jobs, and maybe never before imagined, will emerge. Curiosity is our passport stamp to future survival. We need to reconnect with that wondrous child like curiosity where we seek to learn more and question everything, especially the status quo.As algorithms increasingly influence and determine our decisions, based on recommendations, and as bad actors strive to hack our hearts and feelings, we humans are at risk of becoming the programmable automotoms, slaves to the machines we have built.An algorithmically curated world hinders divergent thinking. We are no longer exploring if we are served up everything. Curiosity must become our innately human act of rebellion against these machine driven and dictated recommender decision engines. Curiosity and non-conformist thinking must become our ultimate, inalienable and final human right. The freedom of thought, to wonder, and discover, through serendipity. The right to question and ask why? Or Why not? To challenge the answers we are given. We need the courage to dare, to desire and delight in being different, to sek out, summon and surround ourselves with those vital sparks that start a cascade of creativity, feed our yearning for learning, and delight in divergence. So I leave you with this, I call on you all to activate, accentuate and accelerate your innate curiosity, to fuel creativity in yourself, you teams and most importan...
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This week I want to reflect on mental wellness, technology, and sleep.During this first season we didn't set out to explore mental wellness but it became apparent that in the arc of their stories that mental fortitude, resilience, and strength were crucial to the achievements of our guests, even those that had experienced mental health challenges in their lives.Reflecting on these many interviews, intentionality seems to define our guests. Intentionality of how they live their lives and how they live with technology. Whether Ryder Carroll through his Bullet Journal or Debbie Millman’s life design methodology where she writes a projected vision of her perfect day five years in the future, defining their future selves seems to be a common trait. Outside of the Podcast, I did a breakfast interview with Fabrice Grinda, Forbes listed No1 Angel Investor, where he laid out his life planning approach, writing 20000-word letters to himself outlining his future life. This for me is intentionality. We live in a world where It’s so easy to assume from the polished veneer of our socially connected world that everyone is happy, mentally strong and resilient. Contrast that with the common reality of the distracted lives of those who live in a constant state of what is often called Continuous Partial Attention. I’ll quote from the visionary thinker and thought leader, Linda Stone: ‘In large doses, it contributes to a stressful lifestyle, to operating in crisis management mode, and to a compromised ability to reflect, to make decisions, and to think creatively. In a 24/7, always-on world, continuous partial attention used as our dominant attention mode contributes to a feeling of overwhelm, over-stimulation and to a sense of being unfulfilled. We are so accessible, we’re inaccessible. The latest, greatest powerful technologies have contributed to our feeling increasingly powerless'.Just consider the neurological and neuro-chemical effects this is having a pandemic of global proportions - 320m people globally are suffering from depression and anxiety and that’s just the reported numbers - 16.1 million American workers are affected by Major Depressive Disorder according to Workplacementalhealth.org - In the US alone the feeling of social isolation is on the rise - 50% of of the population claim to feel ‘alone...disconnected ...that no one really knows us’ - Since 2011 depression rates have risen 60% amongst 12-17-year-old teens and young adults.This is an individual and a collective problem44% of adults say stress has increased in the last five years 56% of employees say stress and anxiety impact their job performance 62% of missed workdays are attributed to Mental Conditions We need to confront this. I think most of us have experienced the negative impact that social media and technology can have on wellbeing. But we can’t turn back the technology timeline and we need to face emerging challenges of rapidly changing world where our identity and purpose as humans will be challenged by the advances in AI and Machine learning - - where they can out think us, - outperform us - and out reason us…Soon we will have to question more than ever - who we are - what we want to be - and doSo as technology threatens to erode our humanity, we need to strengthen our collective identity and that starts with us to take action and confront the realities of how we live with technology today. If you are a parent check out CommonSenseMedia.orgIf your a business check out the Center for Humane Technology And I urge everyone to read the important book by Matthew Walker called Why We Sleep. If we are to start anywhere we need to reclaim our right to sleep. As our celebrity trainer guest, Josh Holland stated, fitness and wellness start with sleep. - The WHO lists lack of societal sleep as a world health epidemic ...
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I’m going to start these reflections with serendipity.It’s the underlying theme of this series, a word that’s often used but as a concept somewhat misunderstood. Let’s start with its origins. The origins of words always make for fascinating reading. But ‘serendipity’ has a particularly interesting origin story. The word ‘serendipity’ was invented on 28 January 1754 in a letter from Horace Walpole to another Horace—Mann.When Walpole (son of Britain’s first de facto Prime Minister, Robert Walpole) wrote down the word ‘serendipity’ for the first time, he was giving the English language one of its most adored, but bewildering words. Walpole was a prolific creator, or populariser, of new words. The Oxford English Dictionary credits him with introducing over 200 words into the English language, among them malaria, nuance, somber, and souvenir.But Walpole is most recognized neologism was ‘serendipity’, often cited as meaning the ‘faculty of making happy and unexpected discoveries by accident’. The word ‘serendipity’ is derived from Serendip, the old name for Sri Lanka, but the etymology of Walpole’s creation of serendipity stems from a specific work of literature, a Persian fairy tale called “The Three Princes of Serendip”: as princes traveled, they were always making discoveries, by accidents and sagacity, of things which they were not in quest off. In fact, it’s one of the earliest detective stories in existence: the story of how three princes track down a missing camel through ‘luck and good fortune’. However, the princes actually utilize curiosity or forensic deduction – on a Sherlockian level. And it’s that curiosity and deduction that, ironically, gets them into trouble. As the story goes - they were traveling through the desert, when they met a merchant whose camel had gone missing.They helped the merchant by tracking the animal’s progress through the land. However the descriptions and deductions they make about the lost animal were in such striking detail that the merchant suspected them of having stolen it and had the stand trial before the king, Bahram Gur, where the merchant publicly accuses the princes of theft, and the king sentences them to death – unless they can produce the camel and return it to its owner.Among the princes' deductions that set off the suspicion was that they correctly managed to identify that it was lame in one leg, blind in one eye, and had a missing tooth. They deduced these distinguishing features from the patches of grass on which the camel had grazed, and the imprints it had left in the ground. What happens to the princes in the end? Good fortune intervened and their lives are spared, when a traveler shows up and announces that he has seen a camel wandering in the desert – the merchant’s missing camel. The merchant gets his camel back, and the king issues a reprieve to the princes –and even appoints them his special advisers, in recognition of their talents.In conclusion, their lives are spared, by what Walpole coined as serendipity, and they even owed their subsequent advisory careers to the King as a serendipitous occurrence in itself.So why do we ask all our guests about serendipity?One we are interested in their interpretation of it and examples thereofTo explore whether its more than happy accidents and that serendipity can be engineered. What impact does upbringing have on a guest’s willingness to embrace risk, welcome ambiguity, confront fear, and to take the road less traveled? Where did their curiosity come from, was it innate or nurtured or both? How has that curiosity fueled their life journey? And how do they continue to feed it?As the three princes tale demonstrates there is always something unexpected, at the core of serendipity, an unanticipated occurrence, a moment or an encounter that, that planning can not predict, that results in a positive outcome. This is contrary to our natural ...
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Welcome to The Impossible Network.
This is just a short episode to say we reached our 30th episode last week and with that event, we ended Season One of The Impossible Network.
Over the next 5 weeks until the next season starts we will be posting our reflections, questions, and perspectives on some of the big themes from season one:
- The impact of parental support
- The damage of abuse
- The character to survive it
- We’ll talk more about the power of curiosity
- Creating environments where creativity can flourish
- We’ll explore resilience, grit, and determination
- Risk-taking, fear, and failure
- Mental wellness
- Why we think serendipity can be engineered
- The principles that connected our guests
- And of course, we’ll reflect on what we consider possible.
If you’re new to the show and haven’t listened to some of our early episodes I’d encourage you to listen to Tyrique Glasgow, Michael Ventura, and Merritt Moore as starters.
We have some captivating guests coming in series two including visionary impresario behind Studio 54 Carmen D’Alessio and renowned New York Gallerist Jose Freire, and many more.
Reflections start next week.
As ever, stay curious, be creative and be open to serendipity.
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Guest Overview
One of the most influential voices in design, led the re-design of over 200 global brands, is Co-founder of the Masters in Branding program at New York’s School of Visual Arts and creator, author of six books, and host of one of the most popular and longest running podcasts, Design Matters, is this week’s guest Debbie Millman.
As a guest on countless podcasts, we avoid going over much of what you may have already heard in other interviews. Instead, we delve into who Debbie is.
I hope you enjoy this emotive exploration into the life design of Debbie Millman.
What We Discuss
Her upbringing in New York
The emotional impact and stigma of her parent's divorce aged eight
The impact of the abuse she experienced from her stepfather
A drawing she created as a child that became a visual representation her future life
Why Manhattan became what she called her ‘non-negotiable’
The impact and experience of 9/11
Her life-long struggle with a lack of self-belief
Resilience, hope, and shame
The validation she received from teachers for her
The empowering effect from one professor's encouragement
Her creativity as a child
The liberating experience of being single in 2017
The serendipity and positive impact of a character destroying post on the Speak Up blog
How she guides and advises her students
Debbie’s innate curiosity
How she interviews for attitude
The transformative impact of coming out in her 50’s
Her perspective on courage
We discuss Debbie’s periods of depression and despair
We cover her principles
Her views on failure
The hard choices she has made
Her answer to our impossible question
Who we interview next
On Social
Links In The Show
Debbie Millman
Milton Glaser
School of Visual Arts
One of Us movie
SUNY Albany
Professor Helen Regueiro Elam
Speak Up Blog
Hacking the American Mind Robert Lustig
AIGA
Print Magazine
Steven Heller
Masters In Branding Program
Sterling Brands
David Lee Roth
Joyful Heart Foundation
Fabrice Grinda
Hedonic Treadmill
Roxanne Gay
Hunger Book
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Guest Overview Born in Iran, raised in Germany, a social anthropologist, an executive coach, organizational trainer and international speaker, founder of contemplative science focused Neural Beings, and long term resident of New York is this week’s guest, Anahita Moghaddam. In this episode, Anahita tells the story of her troubled, anger-fueled and rebellious early years, the impact of her parents and upbringing and her struggles with sexual identity, purpose, and life direction. Anahita discusses the role and transformative power of dance in her growth and how a trip to India transformed her life and set her on her Buddhist Spiritual path. She explains how a serendipitous flight cancellation resulted in coming face to face with the Dalai Lama on the re-booked flight. We also discuss the happy accidents and chance encounters, that have defined her spiritual path in New York Anahita explains how her rigorous and experiential contemplative science methodology blends Eastern practices and wisdom, with the western fields of psychology, philosophy, neuroscience, and biology. We discuss the damaging fragmentation of technology on our attention, on self and our communities and the practices we can all adopt to lead more balanced positive lives. She shares her perspective on the power of femininity in society and culture and ideas on new forms of education. I hope you’re inspired by this episode of powerful insights into the human experience, and her commitment to self-inquiry with Anahita Moghaddam. What We Discuss Being born in Iran and experiencing the traumas of the Iran-Iraq war Moving to London to study Marketing Immersing herself in the gay club scene to dance and feel safeHer drug abuse, inner dialogue, partying and hitting rock bottomThe bubble that was her school life, her self-harm, and her alienation The duality of growing up in Germany and spending vacation time in Iran The ambiguity of her upbringing The wake-up call of her father dyingThe end of her spiral of destruction Her spiritual awakening from a 3-month immersive retreat in IndiaLeaving behind suffering, alienation, and abuseReturning to London to complete her Masters in SocioAnthropology How consulting and interviewing third-world leaders opened her mind to her coaching abilities Her burning desire to move to New YorkThe serendipitous impact of having $10,000 deposited in her bank account.The openness and potential of NYC Her search for purpose Migrating from Project Management to CoachingHer journaling and documentation of her inner life Knocking on Patti Smith's front door and what happened next Studying at Contemplative Science at Nalanda Institute Explaining Contemplative ScienceWhy she considers curiosity and kindness so powerfulThe role of loveHow she considers and views the mind vs the brain How actions impact on world view and life How the Dalai Lama became her teacherHer perspective on social media and technology and the fragmentation of attentionThe role and power of mindfulness to regulate social media Negativity bias Power of a gratitude practice Her view on the imperative to increase the number of women in power New innovations in education Identifying and challenging self-limiting beliefsNeural Beings impact over the next 10 yearsWhen she realized purpose was her pathHer quick-fire question answers Social Links Linkedin Instagram Links In The ShowNeuralBeingsIran Iraq War Lenny KayePatti Smith Nalanda InstituteMind and Life InstituteRumiDr. Robert Lustig Hacking the American MindIain McGilchristSee learning curriculumMandelaSolve For Happy Roger Waters The Tide is Turning Above Us Only SkyChef’s Table ...
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A change maker inside NBC, the instigator of Hulu, a driver of innovation and the first female vice chair of GE, best selling author of Imagine It Forward, is this week’s guest, Beth Comstock.
In this expansive episode, we discuss the impact of her upbringing on her propensity to embrace ambiguity, be a accelerate digital transformation inside traditional organizational structures and inspire teams through her curiosity and imaginative mindset.
With candor and thoughtful introspection Beth discusses the challenge of being introverted and overcoming her innate shyness as she grew her reputation and stature as a provocateur of innovative action taking and bold decision making inside traditional business structures.
I hope you enjoy this episode of curiosity, creativity and courage with industrial change-maker Beth Comstock.
What we discuss
The push and pull of influence of her father and mother
How she combines core characteristics of both parents
Her introversion and its impact on energy
The difference from shyness
How her curiosity fueled her
How her parents nurtured her innate curiosity
The role of play in her upbringing and driving her imagination
She explains how her competitive nature was apparent from an early age
Documenting her ambition aged fifteen years old
The desire to build a career in journalism
The resilience of early rejection
The struggle with her lack of confidence versus her persistence and stubbornness
Diane Sawyer impact
Where serendipity impacted her life
Witnessing fear inside GE of early to mid career managers
Passion for creative courage
Recognition that her difference was her strength
Her concerns over how we are preparing our children for the future
The issues with the curriculum and lack of creative problem solving
Job crafting
Field Trips
Her NBC experiences
The Five Elements of the Book
- Self Permission
- Discovery
- Agitated Inquiry
- Power of Storycraft
- Creating a new Operating System
Her advice - get used to living in the in between
‘Figure it out’ classes
How she views curiosity
Beth’s ‘Just Start’ Mantra
What advice Beth would give under 30 Beth
Her “Gap’ Year and writing her book
We discuss emergence in our ambiguous world
Following Gut vs Data
Social Links
Links In the Show
Diane Sawyer
Three Mile Island
21 Rules for the 21st Century
Brooklyn Maker Space
Sixth Sigma
Ecoimagination
OODA Loop
Imagine it Forward
Hulu
NBC Universal
Michael Ventura
SubRosa
The Looming Tower
Sam Harris Podcast What Jihadists Really Want
Walter O’Brien on Tim Ferris Show
Bibblio
Twila Sharp The Creative Habit
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Born from Scottish and Irish parents, serendipity opened the door into a career in sports publishing and broadcasting until his desire for social justice led him to Common Goal; the social impact movement in global football. Welcome, this week’s guest Ben W.S. Miller.
In this episode, we explore the role of Ben’s upbringing in driving down his early career path in publishing and sport.
Traversing fifty countries across South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa, Ben recounts his experiences of witnessing the power of football to pause a civil war and bring communities together.
Ben describes how this opened his eyes to the latent power of football and consider how it could be harnessed in a strategic and systematic manner to improve lives.
Ben describes the mission, vision, and purpose of Common Goal and the challenges they now face as they try to inject social impact into the heart of this multi-billion dollar sport.
I hope you’re inspired by the passion, purpose and social impact vision of Ben Miller.
What we discuss:
The impact of his upbringing
His early freedom to explore and play
The development of his identity
His early desire to seek out a career where truth was central
The impact of Brave New World
How serendipity led him from teaching English in Venezuela to his first job in publishing
His transition into a career in sport via a move to Hong Kong in the early ’90s
Moving back to London to work for Football Mundial and IMG
His George Weah experience
Realizing the power of football to bring communities together
His views on players forming Foundations
Experiences with UEFA and FIFA
Experience of attending the 2014 World Cup as part of a FIFA delegation.
How Common Goal emerged
The challenges he’s faced in building the Common Goal movement
His vision for the next ten years
How curiosity served him
His vision for education
And all our quick-fire questions.
Links to Social
Links in show
Brave New World Aldous Huxley
Ben De Pear
Harper Collins
IMG
George Weah
Common Goal
Jurgen Griesbeck
Street Football World
FIFA
Juan Mata
Megan Rapinoe
Alex Morgan
Book - Stephen King On Writing
Stef Curry
Eric Cantona
Erin McLeod
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Guest Overview
UK Journalist, bestselling author, social media content creator for Comic Relief and Sports Relief, and recent founder of social impact film company, Really Good Films is this week’s guest, Mark Woods
The youngest in a family of seven siblings, Mark recounts the impact of his family upbringing and early home life on his attitude to life and risk talking as well as the seminal impact his English teacher had on this life direction.
Mark discuss his life transition from University into a career in journalism, and PR during the early days of digital, before serendipity opened a new creative path into the heart of Richard Curtis’s Comic Relief organization.
We discuss Mark’s Comic Relief and Sport Relief experiences, his work with the SDG’s, his views on the current state of journalism, news and technology and his optimism for the future of society.
Mark also explains his motivation and method for writing his books on pregnancy for men.
I hope you enjoy this entertaining episode of education and impact with Mark Woods.
What we discuss:
His upbringing as the youngest in a family of seven
The impact of serendipity
How he became involved in Comic Relief
Why he wrote his first book Pregnancy for Men
How Planet Parent came about
His podcast on Parenting
The beginnings of Sport Relief
Richard Curtis
Forming Really Good Films on Purpose
Project Everyone
Why passion is the foundation of career longevity
The evolution of news and journalism
Future of philanthropy and CSR
His views of creativity and curiosity
Mark’s imperative for education
His Impossible advice
And all our quick-fire questions
Links to Social
Really Good Films
Links in show
Comic Relief
Sports Relief
Richard Curtis
Project Everyone
Pregnancy for Men
Mels Cafe in Earlsfield London
Planet Parent
Steven Pinker
SDG’s
Todd Jacobson NBA
Elegance of Eloquence Book
Sapiens
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Guest overview
She graduated from St Martin’s in London, spent five years developing her unique freestyle artistic expression in Tokyo, before moving to New York to further her ambitious and expansive artistic exploration of identity and the self, welcome this weeks’ guest live visual artist Shantell Martin
In this episode we discuss the impact of her upbringing in a racially fueled district of London, how her self-belief, unique perspective, unerring curiosity and persistence propelled along an ever evolving, non-conformist artistic career path.
We discuss the impact of serendipity and how her characteristic live and spontaneous black-and-white compositions form the basis of an exploration into identity and the self based on two philosophical questions of “Who are you? Are you you?”
With clarity and candor Shantell talks about her curiosity fuels her and provides insight into her creative process and some of her many collaborations including Kendrick Lamar and The New York City Ballet.
I hope you enjoy this freestyle episode of truth-telling and truth-seeking with Shantell Martin.
What we discuss
An upbringing in a mixed-race household
The influence of cartoons on her artistic ambition
Shantell's dual love of running and art
The barriers and hurdles she faced
Overcoming social norms to carve her own path
Her passion and desire
Confronting her art teacher's doubt
Power of head to hand in art and writing
The first experience of live art in Japan
How she guides her students
The importance of asking the questions Who Are You?
Drawing on everything
Her curiosity
Environmental impact on her work
Social justice and compassion
Her Impossible advice
Connecting on Social
Shantell Martin
YouTube
Tumblr
Links In The Show
Sir Ken Robinson TED Talk
St Martin's Art School
Silent Giants podcast
Jiro Dreams of Sushi
New York City Ballet
Kendrick Lamar
One Red Paperclip
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A former BBC International Correspondent and Anchor, reporting from over 60 countries and hostile environments on some of the most significant stories of recent times, honored in the Asian Woman of Achievement Awards, Chief of Communications for the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates and most recently founder of Content company Miran Media, is this week’s guest Navdip Dhariwal.
In this extended episode we cover the challenges of growing up in an Indian immigrate family in racially charged 70’s London, how she confronted racial and gender bias to build a stellar career in journalism and broadcasting in the conventional white male middle class culture of the BBC.
We discuss Navdip's perspective on the state and evolution of the BBC, today’s changing media environment and the privilege of being a journalist
Her perspective on risk, fear and her commitment to journalism, using data to deliver authentic storytelling
She also explains her embrace of kismet over serendipity, predetermination and the importance of carving your own path
Finally we discuss her views of the challenges India faces in the coming years and her hope for humanity.
I hope you enjoy this convention challenging truth seeking episode with Navdip Dhariwal
What we discuss
Growing up as an Indian Immigrant in 1970/80’s London
The racist pressures she faced
Breaking through cultural, gender racial barriers to build a career at the BBC
The global media revolution
How the BBC missed it
Her journey of achievement
How it’s affected her
Her reasons for creating Miran Media
Her perspective on serendipity and kismet
The power of curiosity
The future challenges for India
Her Impossible advice
Social Media
Miran Media
Vimeo
YouTube
Links in the Show
Don McCullin
Scroobius Pip
BBC
Book she wants us to share In Extremis Marie Colvin
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Guest Overview
A conviction in the power of sport to engage, impact and inspire communities, a relentless curiosity to explore new ways to apply innovative thinking to build educational outreach for one of the world's largest football clubs and brands, is this week’s guest, Head of Education & Innovation at Chelsea Foundation, Matt Mead.
Growing up in the South of England, Matt’s upbringing prepared him and guided him into a life where coaching, education, technology and innovation collide. In the first 25 minutes we explore Matt’s upbringing and story before joining Chelsea.
From 25 min onward we dive deep into his journey in education and innovation at Brighton and Chelsea; how Matt has used the Chelsea brand, the appeal of football to create educational outreach and innovative STEM programs in community programs.
We also explore Matt’s positive impact beyond the UK, with US partnerships and his vision for the future of education.
I hope you enjoy this authentic, honest, inspiring exploration of education and innovation with Matt Mead.
What we discuss:
The impact of a parental split on his early life
The development of his emotional intelligence
The bedrock of sport during his upbringing
His route through education
His decision to pursue a career in sports education
His early love of coaching
The serendipitous experience that led him to a Montessori school in Florida aged 19
His experience of camp America
The impact of football clubs to communities across the UK vs the US
His early experiences with Brighton and then Chelsea Foundation
The importance of inclusion participation, inclusivity and giving back.
Stem as an area of focus for his outreach
Giving Back
All our quick fire questions!
Links to Social
Links in show
Brighton and Hove Albion
Chelsea FC
Chelsea Foundation
Digital Blue
The Premier League Foundation
Premier League Primary Stars
Edge of the Box Club
FC Harlem
STEM
Renaldo Lawrence
Preacher Eric Thomas
Kelvin Beachum
Matt’s recommended book Getting Things Done by David Allan
Phil Nutley
Kicking and screening
Scottish Football Club Montrose
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Guest Overview
An entrepreneur at school and university, an innovator in digital branded content, founder and CEO of Bibblio and an attention economy thought leader is this weeks’ guest, Mads Holmen
In this episode, Danish born, London based Mads discusses his parents contribution, and the impact of the Italian educational philosophy Reggio Emilia on his self-belief, and his curiosity. Also how serendipity directed his entrepreneurial journey.
We then dive deep as Mads shares his insights on the challenges we face in our attention economy, the current reality of AI on our digital media behavior, the negative societal impact of attention driving algorithms, and he articulates with clarity how we can counter the duopolistic strangle-hold of Google and Facebook.
Mads also explains how his company Bibblio is creating a pathway for publishers to increase audiences and revenues without the use of invasive and irrelevant advertising technology, and the imperative for a code of ethics to govern AI development.
We hope you enjoy this thought provoking, distraction free and practical perspective on the attention economy with Mads Holmen.
What we discuss
The value of his early education under the Italian Reggio Emilia system
The impact of his parents on his sense of self-belief and what he considers possible
His early entrepreneurial endeavors at school and university
Where serendipity kicked in
Path to digital viral content at Go Viral
His corporate experience at AOL
Mads decision to leap into an entrepreneurial life
Getting to product market fit
His views on the evolution of the digital media space
The realities of the attention economy
His perspectives on publishing’s past, present and future
We discuss AI and ethics
The social impact of algorithms
Where Bibblio is headed
His principles
His hard choices
Where he goes to discover new ideas
His influences
Who made him reevaluate herself
Who surprised him the most
How he stays up to date with Technology
His answer to the Impossible question
Who to interview next
Social Links
Bibblio
Links in the Show
Joe Edelman
Tristan Harris
Jonathan Harris
Neil Postman Quote
Carole Cadwalladr TED Talk
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Guest Overview
New York born, Hollywood stylist, creator of the first expert management agency, a trend spotter and teacher, and co-founder of moms' charity YourMomCares.org, is this week's guest, the irrepressible and inspirational Sharon Feldstein.
Leaving her beloved NYC aged 19, Sharon earned an early break as a costume designer on 70’s hit TV sitcom, TAXI. Never looking back Sharon became a Hollywood stylist, known for her trend spotting ability.
In the late 90’s she created the global trend of sparkle phone covers, before moving on to create the first expert management agency.
Combining her strong sense of justice with her belief in showing up, and her action taking attitude to life, Sharon has used her position as mother of Jonah Hill and Beanie Feldstein, to partner with Patsy Noah (Adam Levine’s Mom) and Terria Joseph (Alicia Keys Mom) to create YourMomCares. Now on a mission to help the most vulnerable children by raising awareness and funding for organizations focused on children’s child mental wellness, Sharon’s next chapter is underway.
Buckle up for the fun and relentless ride through the life of Sharon Feldstein
What we discuss
The impact of her father on Sharon’s sense of self belief and what she considers possible
Her early exposure to the fashion business
Her mother’s impact
The matriarchal strength of her grandmother
Being different and standing out
Her respect for Patricia fields
Her embrace of diversity
Her view of life and relationships
Her early years and education in fashion
Moving to LA at 20 years old
Her early break in the sitcom Taxi
Her fearlessness and bravado
Her work ethic and willingness to learn
Her evolution to stylist
How she became a trend spotter
Her development of sparkle phone covers
How she built on her creativity with technical knowledge
Her charitable character
Her motto
Trends and the start of Expert Management
On being relentless vs being persistent
The importance of work ethic, respect and teamwork
Sharonisms
Importance of humor
Her principles
Her hard choices
Where she goes to discover new ideas
Her influences
Who made her reevaluate herself
Who surprised her the most
How she stays up to date with Technology
Her answer to the Impossible question
Who to interview next
Social Links
YourMomCares.org
Links in the Show
Ed Weinberger
Taxi
Marilu Henner
Andy Kaufman
Booksmart Movie Beanie Feldstein
Elizabeth Strout My name is Lucy Barton
Simon Sinek - Start With Why
Whoopi Goldberg
Adam Levine
Alicia Keys
Jonah Hill
Michael Flutie
Brad Jenkins White House
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Guest Overview
An expert in the economics of the data on the dark web, an advisor on cyber-crime and security and respected specialist on geopolitical risk, trends and their impact on business and society, welcome to this week's guest, Munish Walther puri.
Born in California to Physician parents, we discuss the impact of Munish’s upbringing as part of the Indian diaspora, how the cross-cultural influences conditioned by his school, sports and pastimes prepared him the world he now inhabits.
We explore how curiosity, serendipity, and creativity impacted Munish's journey to the intersection the data, the dark web and the cyber risks facing businesses, communities, and society.
I hope you enjoy this inspiring but sobering episode serendipity cyber risk and security with Munish Walther Puri.
What we discuss
His upbringing to physician parents
Being part of the Indian diaspora
The cross-cultural influences from moving between different communities in the SF Bay Area on his sense of identity
The impact and creativity from being the only boy at his sister’s dance school.
How his upbringing helped him forge connections easily
The experience of being a Hindu being schooled in a Christian school and exposure to multiple religions
How this instilled curiosity
The diversity and multiplicity of the courses and subjects he studied
His entry into a professional career in Risk Analysis
How he began to use data and open source tools
The intersection of fraud, terrorism and cyber
Risk and intelligence frameworks to different scenarios
How he considers risk
The diffusion and proliferation of cyber capabilities
The shifting from a unipolar world to a multipolar world
How he views failure
Our quick fire questions
The people who inspire him
What’s made him revaluation himself
What he’d do with the keys to the White House
His principles
His hard choices
Where he discovers new ideas
Who inspires him
How creativity manifests itself in his work
How he stays up to date with technology
The impossible question
The book he recommends
Who we interview next
Links to Social
Twitter and
Links in show
The First 90 Days
The History of Risk
Steven Pinker
Maslow hierarchy of needs
The Triz Method
JC Linklider
Man-Machine Symbiosis
Philip P Dick
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Guest Overview
A Pratt Industrial Design Alum and Professor, a former George Nelson senior designer, a career spanning over 60 years, creator of the iconic Dunkin Donuts logo and timeless products that still sell in high-end design stores, this week’s guest is 91-year-old, Lucia DeRespinis.
Lucia's life could not be described as easy or predictable. Moving home as a child every two years, her father dying when she was fourteen, being only one of 2 women in an industrial design class of 62 men in 1949, building a career in design in male-dominated 1950's New York, losing her husband at age 40, and bringing up child as a single mother, Lucia's life force should inspire anyone to defy what society defines as possible.
At 91-year-old Lucia is still a Professor at Pratt, passing on her wisdom, teaching design thinking to a new generation of talent, and in doing so re-calibrating our perception of age.
I hope you enjoy this deep dive into design, abstraction and life lessons with Lucia DeRespinis.
What we discuss:
- Lucia’s early life where change became the norm
- Her father’s influence on her design and building skills
- The impact of her father’s early death
- How chance or serendipity led her to a course on Industrial Design at Pratt Institute in 1949
- Being one of only two women on the course of 64 men
- How she confronted gender stereotypes in her first role
- Her path to becoming a senior designer at top design studio George Norman
- Her experiences at the World Fair in the USSR in 1960
- The impact of her husband, Lou’s early death
- Her answers and insights into Elaine’s design questions on abstraction and 3D
- Pratt’s approach to design
- How Dunkin Donuts Logo was born
- Her views on AI and the future of design
- Her perspective on the educational imperative
- Our quick fire questions
- And the Impossible Question
Links in show
Pratt Institute
George Nelson
Dunkin Donuts Logo
Corey Cambridge Silent Giants
Lucia’s Designs
Lucia’s longer story
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Guest Overview
A black belt in Karate by 12, a nationally certified, accomplished celebrity trainer in his 20’s, and a holistic fitness expert in exercise science, biomechanics, and nutrition by 30, just some of the accomplishments of this week’s guest Joshua Holland.
Josh has developed personalized techniques and programs to transform the bodies of a host of celebrities including Madonna, Oscar Isaac, Gigi Hadid, and Roger Waters, and is responsible for the health and wellness of many notable people in the worlds of business, fashion, and entertainment.
He is currently co-founder of @SystimFit and @432House in the heart of Midtown, Manhattan and is constantly expanding and growing with his wonderful team of like-minded trainers and health coaches.
In part 2 of this extensive exploration of holistic health excellence, we ask Josh some fundamental but important questions; Cardio vs strength training; Sleep, Exercise and Nutrition- which order? Meat, vegetables or insects? Breakfast or fast? Cold showers, why? Alcohol - good or bad? Chocolate and chips? Hydrogen peroxide! Ozone ….explain?
And we ask Josh his advice for anyone wanting to get started improving their wellbeing
There is a lot more of Josh’s gems to enjoy in this second episode with Joshua J. Holland.
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In this short bonus episode Josh answers some questions we didn’t ask in last weeks interview. Who’s surprised him and who’s made him reevaluate himself and the differences when training celebrities with time and money and the normal everyday clients he also trains.
Please enjoy this short bonus episode. Part Two of Josh Holland and his health insights and nutrition advice drops later this week.
Guest Overview
A black belt in Karate by 12, a nationally certified, accomplished celebrity trainer in his 20’s, and a holistic fitness expert in exercise science, biomechanics, and nutrition by 30, just some of the accomplishments of this week’s guest Joshua Holland.
Josh has developed personalized techniques and programs to transform the bodies of a host of celebrities including Madonna, Oscar Isaac, Gigi Hadid and Roger Waters, and is responsible for the health and wellness of many notable people in the worlds of business, fashion and entertainment.
He is currently co-founder of @SystimFit and @432House in the heart of Midtown, Manhattan and is constantly expanding and growing with his wonderful team of like-minded trainers and health coaches.
In part one, of a two-part series, we cover Josh’s early development, his father and mothers instrumental impact in developing his standards of excellence, his innate curiosity, and how serendipity led him to become the trainer of people like Madonna and Roger Waters of Pink Floyd...accompanying them on world tours and establishing himself as one of the most sought after celebrity trainers and fitness experts.
I hope you enjoy this episode of exercise excellence, and entrepreneurial endeavor with Joshua J Holland.
"If you want to change your body and mind, you must change what it is you do most of the time!"
What We Discuss:
- The combination of discipline and freedom his parents provided
- The self-belief he gained from starting martial arts at age four
- The holistic learning impact of his training
- How his Black Belt at age 12 became a gateway to basketball
- Early use of performance analytics
- How he was praised for effort over talent
- His unconscious conscious feedback loop
- His path of goal setting and goal setting
- His ambition to play pro basketball
- How he embraced the reality of setbacks
- How those setbacks spurred him on to greater success
- His journey to New York
- The sacrifices he made along the way
- The opportunity that opened up
- The serendipitous connections that led him to Tracy Anderson and ultimately Madonna
- How his father rigor and discipline prepared him to meet Madonna's exacting standards
- His principles
- His hard choices
- His inspirations
- The book he recommends
- His Impossible advice
Connecting on Social
Joshua J Holland
On Twitter
On Instagram
On Facebook
432 House
SystimFit
Links in show
Roger Waters
Madonna
Oscar Issac
Tracy Anderson
Gigi Hadid
Awakening Your Inner Genius
Ikigai
Earthing Bands
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Guest overview
This week’s guest is Kenyatta Johnson. Following the murder of his cousin in 1998, he formed Peace Not Guns, a non for profit he formed to end and prevent gun violence through education and programs created to give children an alternative to the streets. His activism led to a successful run for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and in 2012 he became the youngest elected Council member of Philadelphia City Council.
Growing up in Point Breeze, South Philadelphia, Kenyatta’s life straddled a fine line between educational opportunity and the environmental pressure to follow the path street crime. However a serendipitous gun charge set him on a committed course of education and advancement, culminating in a degree in criminal justice and a Master’s in government administration and public finance from the U. Penn.
He now uses his political power to fervently fight for social injustice, a reduction in economic inequality and improvements in workplace diversity and inclusion.
I hope you enjoy the passion and political perspectives of Councilman Kenyatta Johnson.
What we discuss
- The impact of Kenyatta’s upbringing by his mother, stepfather and grandmother
- How his faith prevented him from crossing the line into a life of crime
- How a gun charge at aged sixteen became a serendipitous event that set him on a course for college and university
- How his mentor gave him a roadmap to success in life
- His reason for entering public life and life of service
- How local government works with social enterprises and NGO’s
- How Kenyatta’s addressing economic inequality and gun crime in Philadelphia
- His focus on minority diversity and inclusion requirements for new economic developments
- What he’d do with the keys to White House
- How he defines a quality education
- Where he goes to discover new ideas
- His principles
- His hard choices
- His inspirations
- The books he recommends
- His impossible advice
- His views on the 2020 Election.
Connecting on Social
On Twitter
On Facebook
On Linkedin
Links in show
The Book Kenyatta Recommends - That We Offer - The Autobiography of Malcolm X
Frederick Douglass Autobiography
President Truman’s Leadership
Peace Not Guns
Rep Jordan Harris
Benjamin Banneker
Crispus Attucks
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Guest overview
A world-class ballet dancer, a Ph.D. in Quantum Optics, a participant in the BBC Astronaut training series ' Have You Got What Takes', being featured in the book 'Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls' and listed in Forbes '30 under 30', all by the age of 30; these are some of the not so small accomplishments in the impossible story of Dr. Merritt Moore.
LA born, of a Korean mother and American father, Merritt’s upbringing equipped her with the curiosity, problem-solving skills, and the unconventional mindset to defy conventions that dictate the impossibility of being world class in Ballet and Quantum Physics, at the same time.
I hope you enjoy this conversational collision of art and science with Dr. Merritt Moore
What we discuss
- The impact of Merritt’s upbringing on her ability to perform at a world-class level
- How her parent's combined science and arts to inspire her imagination
- The empowerment strategies they employed that shaped her view of what’s possible
- Her father's media exclusion tactics, used to insulate her from 90’s reality influence
- How science and art infused her life from an early age
- How she was bitten by the Ballet bug
- How a serendipitous encounter in Italy aged 15 defined her ballet journey
- How she developed her love of quantum physics
- How her father's goal defining challenge set her on a course of excellence over perfection
- Her lack of fearlessness and perception of risk and failure
- How she applies creativity in science research
- Her application of science to improve her ballet
- Her astronaut training experience
- The challenge we set ourselves to connect Merritt with Elon Musk
- Her views on diversity and inclusion in education
- How historic media reinforces gender stereotypes
- What she’d do with the keys to The White House
- Her principles
- Her hard choices
- Her inspirations
- The book she recommends
- Her impossible advice
Connecting on Social
Dr. Merritt Moore
On Twitter
On Instagram
On Linkedin
Links in show
The Book She Recommends That We Offer - The Art of Learning
Sylvie Guillem
Melissa Franklin - Harvard
Quantum Physics
Schrödinger's cat
Norwegian Ballet
Zurich Ballet
BBC Astronauts - Do You Have What It Takes
Wait Not Why - Elon Musk
TEDx Dance Your PhD
Bed-Time Stories For Rebel Girls
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Guest overview
Anyone that’s ever embarked on a creative task or endeavor, will probably have experienced procrastination. It’s a feeling and behavior that is loaded with guilt and negative emotions. However, I’ve always had a gut feeling that procrastination or delay can result in better creative outcomes or even something serendipitous. That’s why I was looking forward to meeting this week’s guest - the Chicago born, Brooklyn based, award-winning Author, journalist and sometime procrastinator, Andrew Santella.
Andrew’s most recent book Soon: An Overdue History of Procrastination, from Leonardo to Darwin to You and Me, is a well-researched, intellectual and witty exploration of the subject of Procrastination. Note from Andrew- this is not self-help or how to cure procrastination book!
As a writer for such publications as GQ, Slate, and the Atlantic, Andrew explores everything from the definition and practices of procrastination to the habits and outcomes of famous historic procrastinators such as Da Vinci, Benjamin Franklin, and Darwin. It’s a must-read for any self-confessed procrastinator.
Without delay, I hope you enjoy this episode with Andrew Santella.
What we discuss
In this episode we discuss:
- The impact of Andrews upbringing on his procrastination
- The feeling of not doing enough and the shame associated with it
- The guilt creator of the Crucifix and the Clock
- The radical course of selecting to study Englishat university
- Procrastination as an affliction or a tactic
- Darwin’s conflict, ambivalence, anddiscipline
- DaVinci’s curiosity, distraction, and procrastination
- His focus on understanding how procrastination makes us feel, and why
- Procrastination and serendipity
- The balance of cranking out work vs delaying due to gut feel
- The concept of self-handicapping to protect your self-image
- We even touch on free will
- Whether we need to embrace and discuss procrastination in education
- The pejorative associations with procrastination
- What he’d do with the keys to White House
- His principles
- His hard choices
- His inspirations
- The book he recommends
- His impossible advice
- Saint Expedite
- The guilt of getting right with God
- Aristotle’s Akrasia theory
Connecting on Social
Andrew Santella
On Twitter
On Instagram
Links in show
Soon: An Overdue History of Procrastination
Eisenhower Matrix
Steven Johnson - Make decisions that matter
Ryder Carroll- Bullet Journal
Walker Percy - The Moviegoer.
Geoff Dyer
Mission of Burma
Wire
Clash Band Straight to hell
Graham MacIndoe
Saint Expedite New Orleans
Akrasia
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Guest Overview
This week’s guest is author, consultant, speaker, mentor and curiosity charged connector, Nicole Yershon.
Since starting her career in advertising at aged nineteen, Nicole has been forging the path of change, driving digital disruption inside traditional ad agencies and beyond.
Hired to initiate innovation at advertising institution Ogilvy & Mather Group, her lab inspired innovation across brands such as Amex, IBM, BP, Selfridges, Unilever and British Airways.
With an Amazon bestseller, Rough Diamond, to her name, Nicole recently launched her innovation consultancy NYC - Nicole Yershon Collective - to help organizations embrace radical digital transformation, through her experience, her ‘why not’ attitude and ability to translate business problems into innovation opportunities and real business value.
In this episode Nicole is joined by her collective partner, John Caswell, who’s helping businesses solve their big gnarly problems by thinking visually, using a technique he has designed called Structured Visual Thinking
I hope you enjoy the maverick thinking of Nicole Yershon and John Caswell.
What we discuss:
- Nicole’s East End of London upbringing
- The influence and impact of her parents on her thick-skinThe influence of Dave Trott or the ‘School of Trott’
- Her ‘fixing’ attitudeHer journey to digital transformation at Ogilvy
- Her accountability model (Revenue, Retention, Reputation, Responsibility, Recruitment, and Relationship)
- Her approach to serendipity and alchemy
- Say principle of ‘we do as we say and do as we say’
- The end of her advertising careerHow her integrity impacted on her journey to success
- Her fearless manifesto
- The importance of curiosity
- The importance of knowing yourself
- Her integrity
- How John solves business problems
- Wolfram on teaching computational thinking
- The art of writing business exam questions
- How they forensically mine businesses to find solutions
- What they’d do with the keys to No 10 Downing Street or the White House
- Their principles
- Their hard choices
- Their Impossible advice
- The books they recommend
Connecting on Social
Nicole Yershon
On Twitter
On Linkedin
John Caswell - Group Partners
Links in show
Sir Ronald Cohen
Dave Trott Books
Roger Martin
Justin Dillon
Yves Bergquist
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Guest Overview
Three time Foreign Correspondent of the Year nominee (the UK equivalent of a Pulitzer Prize), a dozen major International Prizes for Reporting including four Amnesty International Awards for Outstanding Human Rights Journalism, a Royal Television Society Award for Documentary-Making and a Martha Gellhorn Prize Nominee for War Reporting, Foreign Press Association of London writer of the Year and One World Journalist of the Year for outstanding Foreign Reporting, these awards are testament to the talent and tenacity of Scottish born journalist Dan McDougall
Dan was also voted one of the world’s most influential people in the field of ethical trading by the US-based Ethisphere Institute, he is also a visiting lecturer at the University of Cambridge on Business and Human Rights and recently spoke at The United
Nations in Geneva on the impact of corporate supply chains on the world’s poorest.
He’s also an ardent Glasgow Celtic Fan and a all round good guy.
I hope you enjoy this stimulating and uncompromising discussion with Dan MacDougall
What we discuss:
- The influence of his working class upbringing in Glasgow, Scotland
- How he developed his political sensibilities
- The impact of Poet Robert Burns
- The teacher that influenced his journey
- His route to tabloid journalism in Glasgow
- His reporters life
- The value of his curiosity and tenacious spirit in uncovering stories
- How serendipity changed his path during the 2005 Tsunami
- His deep conviction to uncover corporate supply chain injustices
- His experiences of child labor abuses
- His war correspondence experiences
- His views on fake news
- Dan’s perspective on education
- What he’d do with the keys to No 10 Downing Street or the White House
- His views on the importance of creativity
- His principles
- His hard choices
- Turning class into an advantage
- His Impossible advice
- The books he recommends
Links in Show
Dan’s Current Content Company
Dan’s Instagram
Miran Instagram
Miran YouTube
Links in show
Robert Burns
Herges Adventures of Tin Tin
Maya Angelou
Letter From America
Glasgow Celtic
The Daily Record
2004 Tsunami
His Recommended Books
The Sheltering Sky - Paul Bowels
Road to Oxiana - Byron
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Guest Overview
New York-based, Virginia-born, podcaster, rapper and songwriter, Corey Cambridge is a creative force of nature and a man on a journey.
In his early career as a rapper and songwriter, he opened up acts such as J. Cole, N.E.R.D., and Kid Cudi and along the way garnering over 2 million YouTube views (and growing).
In 2017 he launched Giant Umbrella, a content company, and podcast network.
His flagship program Silent Giants is a podcast that celebrates the geniuses behind the scenes of pop culture and digs deep to investigate the stories of the creative superstars that have shaped our contemporary landscape.
His recently launched OPP – Other Peoples’ Podcasts – a discovery platform that highlights his favorite podcasters and the dope shows they created.
I hope you enjoy the entertaining episode with Corey Cambridge.
What we discuss:
- His upbringing and family influences of his mother and grandparents and uncles
- His people-centric approach to creativity
- The impact of his journaling
- His view of luck and probability
- His views on the changing music scene in NYC and its decline as a creative force
- Why he expanded his artistic focus from Rap to Podcasting
- The serendipity of connections he made in NYC
- His ‘Just Do It’ attitude
- The importance of service as his core mission
- Combining his mission and being fearless
- Managing his curiosity
- The importance of knowing your brand
- The value podcasting delivers
- The story of Silent Giants
- Why he’s expanded it beyond music to popular culture
- The guests who surprised him and who have inspired him
- The source and impact of his innate curiosity
- Tuning out the noise of the negative news
- What he’d do with keys to the White House
- His principles
- His hard choices
- Where he discovers new ideas
- His influences and inspiration
- How to keep us with tech
- His ‘Impossible’ advice
- The books that impacted him and that we will offer
- His view on life and living
- The latest Netflix and prime recommendations
Follow on Social
Corey’s Email – coreycambridge86@gmail.com
Corey on Instagram
Corey on Twitter
Corey on YouTube
Links in show
Silent Giants Podcast
OPP: Other People’s’ Podcasts
The Alchemist Paulo Coelho
Tuesdays with Morrie
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Guest Overview
Today’s guest is Ryder Carroll, the creator of The Bullet Journal® method (or BuJo® for short) and author of the recent Bullet Journal book.
Ryder, a digital product designer by trade, was diagnosed with A.D.D., a learning disability, early in life. This forced him to figure out alternate ways to be focused and productive. Through years of trial and error, he developed a methodology that went far beyond the organization. Now he focuses on helping others learn what the Bullet Journal method is truly about: the art of intentional living.
In this episode we discuss his serendipitous journey to the Bullet Journal, the method, the practice and the underlying why of Bullet Journaling.
I hope you enjoy this existential episode with Ryder Carroll
What we discuss
- His initial discovery of having ADD, and coming to terms with it
- The differing teachers’ reactions
- The actual ADD experience
- His early experimentation in managing it and how he disguised this
- Dealing with failure and his focus on ‘better over perfect’
- His parents’ impact on his self-view
- Valuable advice for parents with kids with ADD
- The process vs the outcome and control
- His journey to journalling and design
- How an unexpected disaster turned out to be a serendipitous event
- His worst first job
- His lessons in gratitude and taking responsibility
- How transition into digital design and how his early experience of online distraction reinforced his appreciation of analog space to think
- The impact of the journal on his ability to remain focused
and productive - The development of his analog application
- How he started sharing the methodology
- The what, the how, and why of the Bullet Journal
- The Method ( the system and the practice)
- Thoughtfulness, reflection, and intention
- Its impact on mindfulness and decluttering
- The link to contentment and the stories we tell ourselves
- Turning insights into actions and goals
- His Impossible advice
- The book he recommends
- Tiny habits
- Goal setting, purpose, curiosity, and passion
Follow on Social
The Bullet Journal Method (book)
Ryder Carroll’s site
Bullet Journal website
Ryder Carroll Instagram
Bullet Journal Facebook
Bullet Journal Instagram
Bullet Journal Pinterest
Bullet Journal YouTube
Links in show
“Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional” quote
Tara Brach Meditation Site
Sam Harris Waking Up App
Essentialism Book – free for the best comments in comment section
Guest Overview
On Linkedin, Dave Birss describes himself as an Author. Public speaker. Consultant. Film-maker. Chap.
I know him as one of the most interesting creative thinkers on idea development, innovation and why organizations and educational institutions must embrace creativity to prepare for our AI-powered future.
With an award-winning career as a digital creative director in some of London’s top ad agencies behind him, Dave turned his creative attention to an exploration of the creative mind.
Now 3 books to his name and methodology called Right Thinking, Dave is applying his creative thinking framework along with tools and resources to help organizations direct their mental and creative efforts more effectively.
What we discuss:
- His definition of creativity
- His perspective on innovation, ‘disruption’, and first to market
- He discusses this in relation to Nike’s Air technology
- His approach to Innovation strategy
- He discusses his book and approach to building ‘Iconic Advantage’
- His new book ‘How to Get to New Idea
- Dave discusses the methodology
- The ghettoization of creativity
- How to get better creative ideas
- We discuss this in relation to fear, hierarchy, and leadership
- Why most CEO’s feel dissatisfied with their companies innovation efforts
- We discuss Toyota’s approach to innovation
- Ideas, fear and the neuroscience of decision making
- His judgment framework
- Budgets, innovation and getting people of doing mode
- Creativity and the physiology of the brain
- His upbringing and its influence on his creative journey
- Education and creativity
- And his impossible advice.
Where to find on social
https://davebirss.com
On Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/davebirss
On Twitter
https://twitter.com/davebirss
On Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/davebirss/?originalSubdomain=uk
On Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/davebirss/
Links in show
Dave’s Books
How to Get to Great Ideas
Iconic Advantage
A User Guide to the Creative Mind
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Guest Overview
This week’s guest is Dr. Courtney Rennicke, founder of Rennicke Associates, a Manhattan-based Psychotherapy Practice that provides treatments for children, teens, and adults, dealing with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorders, and post-adoption issues.
As a Massachusetts born, and Columbia University, trained clinical psychologist, Courtney has a mission to offer adults, children and families personalized, pragmatic and progressive therapies that help them understand their stories, deal with their darkest of moments in order to form stronger connections within themselves and with others.
She travels internationally to train and coach mental health professionals, parents, and organizations about how attachment based principles can improve the quality of their lives and the culture of their groups.
In this interview Courtney and I discuss:
- Her parent’s dual impact on her development and journey to psychotherapy as a career
- How serendipity affected the path she followed in professional pursuit of more effective therapies.
- Her first-hand experience of the psychological effects of the current political and social climate,
- What we can learn from other countries more balanced representation of race and gender
- The neurological impact of neglect or abuse, and the necessity for human connection.
- The developments occurring in affective neuroscience and evidence-based treatments
- How creativity manifests itself in her practice
- How she judges success in her practice
- How she fosters a risk-taking environment
- Her view on conflict avoidance
- How leadership style and influences
- Her perspective on the character ‘Wendy’ from the series Billions
- The mainstream application of attachment therapy
- Her psychotherapeutic view of journaling
- The importance of story for patients
- The brains reaction to rejection and lack of emotional connection
- Her patients’ reaction since the change in administration and recent Kavanagh hearing
- Her views on the state of equitable representation in society
- Her principles
- The hard choices she has made
- How she discovers new ideas
- Her honest ‘ bristling’ reaction to my ‘Impossible’ question
Where to find on social
- https://rennickeassociates.com/
And sign up for the newsletter.
- On Facebook
- https://www.facebook.com/Rennicke-Associates-445551615504446/
- On Twitter
- https://twitter.com/RennickeAssoc
- On Linkedin
- https://www.linkedin.com/company/5090956/
Links in show
- Dr. Stephen Porges – The Polyvagal Theory
- Dr. Stephen Porges: What is the Polyvagal Theory – YouTube link
- Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy https://ddpnetwork.org/
- Dan Hughes – http://www.danielhughes.org/
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Guest Overview
On this week’s episode, we interview Gordon Young – co-founder of The Drum, Europe’s largest and most awarded marketing website and magazine.
Since launching his first print publication as a schoolboy in Glasgow, Scotland, Gordon’s impossible creative journey has taken on a path of increasing media influence, scale and reach.
Driven by the core belief that marketing has the power to change the world Gordons journey is far from over.
In this episode, Gordon and I discuss his early journalistic exploits, his mother and father’s’ parental influence and his passion for publishing.
He shares his perspective on risk-taking, the role of technology and creativity in western education and the imperative to prepare and protect against the threat of AI and China’s advancing technological progress, and the future role of government in a rapidly changing world. Gordon also discusses marketing’s role in business and society, the sanctity of journalistic free speech, and his view of social justice and activism.
Of course, Gordon discusses serendipity, change, risk, failure, partnership, and his “impossible ‘ advice for ambitious people who wish to follow a similar path.
After finishing the episode, we jumped back in to discuss The Drum’s Chip Shop awards – awards that celebrate pure, unadulterated creativity.
I hope you enjoy this wide-ranging discussion with Gordon Young.
What we discuss:
- His entrepreneurially influenced upbringing.
- How disruption and innovation started early for Gordon
- Skipping formal education to leap into media entrepreneurship straight out of high school
- His early experience of contract publishing
- His expansion to launch the Glaswegian
- His thoughts on University and risk-taking when young
- His view on the evolution of education and skills
- His view of AI developments in China
- The West’s imperative to focus on education and creativity
- How we should be thinking about the future of Government as an institution based on the pace of change
- His idea for a new political party
- Why marketers have the best skill set to make sense of the new world order
- How the Drum expects their readers to drive it
- The channels they are building to debate and understand it
- The dangers and the opportunity for western democracies
- The future role for the Drum and its reader-driven empowerment mission
- His broader definition of marketing organizations
- How serendipity impacted him
- How Brexit will impact on the UK
- His optimism for the UK
- His principles
- His hardest choice
- His impossible advice
- And the Chip Shop Awards
Where to find on social
- The Drum
- https://www.thedrum.com
- Youtube
- https://www.youtube.com/user/TheDrumReel
- On Instagram
- https://www.instagram.com/thedrummag/
- Facebook
- https://www.facebook.com/thedrumpage
- On Twitter
- https://twitter.com/thedrum
- On Linkedin
- https://www.linkedin.com/company/thedrum/
Links in show
- Alibaba Hotel of the Future
Guest Overview
This week’s guest is Natalie Bridgeman Fields, a fierce advocate, and pioneer in international human rights, environmental law and founder of Accountability Counsel
With parents that instilled in her a deep sense of the inequity in the world, her ethical foundation was formed at an early age
However, it was in 1998 that her journey and fight for social justice was sparked by a serendipitous siren call to action from witnessing a group of indigenous women in Chile being arrested while peacefully resisting the construction of a dam on their critical water source.
Since then Natalie has dedicated her career to hold the companies and institutions behind harmful projects, like mines, agribusiness, and wind farms, accountable for abuse.
After spending a decade as an attorney for, and partner to communities around the world, Natalie founded Accountability Counsel in 2009 to empower communities to defend their rights through a unique avenue for justice.
In the last ten years, Accountability Counsel has worked with nearly 40 communities around the world – from farmers in northeast Haiti to nomadic herders in the Mongolian South Gobi desert, to fisherfolk in coastal Kenya.
In addition to providing direct legal support to communities, Accountability Counsel works to address the systemic problems that perpetuate harmful projects through policy, advocacy, and research.
Knowing that they cannot tackle such a complex problem alone, the organization is also a leading voice in the global movement for accountability in international finance. The impact of Accountability Counsel’s unique model has been recognized through awards from Echoing Green and the Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation.
What we discuss
In this interview Natalie and I discuss:
- The serendipitous events that set her on her social justice journey
- Parental influence on her awareness of social inequities
- Her human rights litigation training ground
- How Accountability Counsel and its offices create systemic change
- Its three pillars of community programmes; policy initiatives, and research
- Their theory of change
- Their use of technology and data to offer better, systematic information delivery for policymakers, investors and communities.
- How it allows more effective measurement
- How it makes institutions more accessible for communities
- Provides better legal services and community advocacy support
- Their evaluation criteria
- How they organize disparate communities to address language, literacy and gender barriers to participation in negotiations
- Their network including the 140 member international advocates working group they formed
- How they are flipping the global elites model of change through a more democratic, grassroots process of change that starts with engaging communities about what they need to improve poverty and address human rights abuses
- Their work in the American communities v.s. the rest of the world
- Natalie’s leadership approach
- Their independent, funding model and how they avoid conflict
- Their impact investing initiatives
- How Natalie remains motivated and grounded
- Her 29029 challenge
- How she applies creativity and accesses ideas
- Natalie’s expectations for the next 10 years
- Her parents influence on Natalie’s willpower
- How they deal with Unknown Unknowns
And of course….
...
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Guest Overview
This weeks guest is Michael Ventura – Founder of NYC Brand Strategy and Design Practice, Sub Rosa, author of the new book Applied Empathy and alternative medicine healer.
At age 10 Michael Ventura told his parents he wanted to be an ideas man.
Arguably that was the moment that defined his course and set him on his impossible journey to change brands, organizations, and some day, even society.
Through the design led thinking of his Manhattan-based design studio Sub Rosa and the applied empathy platform they have developed, Michael is certainly an ideas man with a problem solving mission.
Now shared with the world through the pages of his recently released book, practical guides, card sets, and his many public appearances, Michaels revolutionary applied empathy platform is available to anyone with a desire to improve design solutions, spark innovation, bring new ideas to life and solve tough challenges both in side organisations and across our wider society.
In this episode Michael discusses his journey and its serendipitous moments; shares his many insights and offers advice to others who wish to problem solve through empathy.
What we discuss
In this interview Michael and I discuss:
- His exploratory and entrepreneurially influenced upbringing.
- The differing paternal and maternal influences of bravery, stability and dignity.
- The most defining moment from his childhood.
- His rationale for his educational choices.
- How his first job prepared him for entrepreneurship.
- How his parents supported him.
- How being part of the ‘bridge’ generation enables him and his agency to operate as organisational translators.
- How they helped Pantone re-orientate from a product to service business.
- How empathy helps his agency find and identify a businesses problem and give clients the solutions to course correct.
- How a debilitating back injury helped him understand how a mindset and behaviour shift could change physicality for people and businesses
- The importance of trust in intuition when serendipity presents itself.
- How his studio uses empathy as an evidenced based design thinking tool
- Their ecosystemic approach to applying empathy
- The relevance and value of the applied empathy model in driving change in organisations and how that can have a broader impact in society.
- How they work with the United Nations on indigenous rights, resources and peoples, by helping them with storytelling.
- Their approach to cognitive diversity and inclusion
- The importance of creativity and empathy as we build AI solutions.
- Advice to those entering the workforce.
And of course….
- His principles.
- His hard choices .
- How approach to tech.
- Michael’s Impossible advice.
- The book he wants us to give for the best comments
Where to find on social
- You can follow Michael on Instagram @themichaelventura
- And SubRosa
- Website and about Applied Empathy
- https://wearesubrosa.com/applied-empathy/
- Website and about Applied Empathy
- On Instagram
- https://www.instagram.com/wearesubrosa/
-
On Twitter
- https://twitter.com/wearesubrosa
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Guest Overview
Growing up in a small village in the depths of The Amazon Rainforest Ale’s impossible journey has taken her from making and selling perfume in junior school to learning to code in the early 90 at a university in Rio to an become an early pioneer in digital creativity in London’s digital agency scene.
In 2007 she was hired by McCann NYC as their first digital creative director.
By 2011 Ale’s focus shifted to product and service design, eventually being appointed Executive Creative Director at Frog design. Along the way Ale found time conceive launch and grow She Says …a global community focused on engagement, education, and advancement for women in the creative fields.
As you will hear Ales journey is far from over…
What we discuss
In this interview Ale and I discuss:
- How growing up in the Amazon jungle prepared for a career in creativity.
- Her parental impact on her fearlessness
- Her early entrepreneurial ventures
- How this forged her approach to always doing things ‘differently’
- Her natural curiosity and love of computers and path to digital creativity
- Her view of ‘leaning in’
- The impetus that led her to set up She Says
- Why it remains community led and its growth to 45 countries
- The impact it’s had on women stepping up
- The She Says ‘firsts’
- Why she created Boom
- Her expectation for the next 10 years and how leadership and work will change
- Why CEO’s need to be more like community managers
- From working stupid to working smart
- Why a systemic change is needed
- The role serendipity played in her journey
- How her adaptability has and her openness to change prepared her to deal with uncertainty
- Why curiosity is the foundation of creativity
- The switch from ‘Power Over’ to ‘Power With’ as a leadership style
- The hard choices she has made
- How she manages technology and social
- Her advice on how to achieve your impossible
- The books she recommends
- Where She says will be 10 years from now
Where to find on social
You can’t Follow Ale on social as she’s been off it since 2011!
- You can’t Follow Ale on social as she’s been off it since 2011!
-
- Follow on Twitter in SheSays US and @shesays UK
- https://weareshesays.com
- https://shesaysboom.com/
-
Links in show
- Atlantic Article on Women Partners – The Queen Bee Effect
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2017/09/the-queen-bee-in-the-corner-office/534213/ - John Peel – British DJ
- The Marcel Proust Quote – “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.”
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Guest Overview
Colby Gains, Emmy Nominated producer and Founder of the TV production company, Back Roads Entertainment. His reality-based programming successes include American Restoration, Pawn Stars and the recent 50 Central with 50Cent.
Colby’s impossible journey has seen him take an uncharted course from his Texan roots through the back roads NYC and back to Austin Texas. Along the way, serendipity and his instinct for uncovering and telling stories have impacted the world of reality TV and more recently scripted entertainment and comedy.
What we discuss
In this show, Colby discusses his upbringing in Texas
How he developed his love of storytelling and comedy, how he learned his craft by just making stuff, developing a gut instinct for what works.
How he cut his comedy teeth in University at Texas A&M….how he started out in Pre Med, became an Architecture major, but eventually moved into journalism… but always driven by an enduring desire to produce TV programming
Colby discusses his comedy inspirations.
– How a serendipitous meeting at an acting class with a business major Brett Montgomery, set him on his journey, ultimately leading Colby and Brett forming Leftfield in NYC in 2002.
– Colby explains how his early internships in News and unscripted documentary filmmaking prepared him for reality tv production.
– How he learned by doing, working his way up by doing many unscripted production jobs, often learning the hard way and earning the trust of people paying you.
– The importance of ‘luck’ and the thought process when creating a ‘hit show’
– The importance of curiosity and asking questions in creating hits.
– The disposable nature of social media – instantaneous edible and forgettable and transactional people don’t want to invest in the conversation
– The need to keep digging.
– How he switches off and discovers new ideas…
– The formula for success in Unscripted
– How Happy accidents that led him meeting his wife, and producing 50 Cents 50 Central show
– His fearlessness
– The hard choices he made
– Undaunted by naysayers
– The importance of honesty and ethics
– The imperative to educate and support the next generation
– To always seek out new talent
– The impact of technology on talent discovery
– The power and importance of A-List talent
– Colby’s reasons for relocation to Austin Texas
– The changing nature of the business, the impact of industry convergence,
– The challenge for new makers and producers
– The need to focus on storytelling as well as the commercial backend
– The changing opportunity for brands and agencies
– Colby’s future predictions 10 years out
– The future focus for BackRoads
– His advice to a younger generation on what is possible in entertainment….
Discover On social
– On Instagram @backrodsent
– Email: Colbyg@backroadsentertainment.com
–Back Roads Entertainment
Links in show
Texas A&M
LeftField Pictures
50Central
Pawn Stars
How to Win Friends and Influence People
Enjoy the show.
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Guest OverviewTyrique (Rique) Glasgow’s world revolved around the corner of Taney and Tasker Streets, in South Philadelphia. Described as a world he’d been willing to die for, willing to kill for and had gone to war for; Rique has now transformed this corner to a world of hope and opportunity. Running the Young Chances Foundation for the kids of this South Philly community, this is Rique’s story.
What we discussIn this Podcast, we learn about how Rique was blessed growing up with his grandmother who ‘covered’ him from the harsh everyday realities of growing up on Front Street, in Philly, a ‘community house’ of up to 40 people of different ages and races. Tyrique credits his grandmother for shielding him from the financial hardship, and the drug, sexual and physical abuse that existed.
He discusses how he took the ‘easy way out’ by joining gang culture, that led him to run a unit dealing drugs on Tasker and Tanny Streets. Rique had a bigger picture that ‘going to war’ was not the route to take. His empathy and passion for his community drove him to ensure neighbors kids were protected and cared for. Acknowledging he had taken the wrong path, Tyrique still lived by the mantra ‘it’s not what you but how you do it.” ensuring there were block parties, cleanups and asked for neighborhood feedback. He knew that ‘Doing something better at the wrong thing does not make it right’.
Although shot 11 times, he felt covered and believed he survived for a higher purpose.
Convicted to Housedale jail – for manufacturing and dealing, his parole was delayed due to a juvenile misdemeanor. That saved him as it allowed him to take classes and focus on not returning to the corner, and the life of dealing and distributing.
On being released in 2011, he took a hard choice and decided someone needed to support the youth of his South Philly by showing them another way forward and help understand that they have options beyond falling into crime, selling themselves short, giving them a voice and provide them with hope. Speaking up for the 12-year-old boy’s that had become the men of their households.
We discuss how he faced up to a culture of failure that the community accepted, how he asked questions: Why drugs? Why are you here?
He focused on delivering the same cover his grandmother gave him …with consistency concentrating on how to solve problems the kids and families face, providing an alternative to kids being drawn into crime and gang culture.
He discusses the serendipitous movement that kickstarted his foundation by forming a football team for boys barred from the local Vare community center -calling it The Young Chances – after his grandmother’s name Chance.
Rique explains that all the kids wanted was an opportunity to play and be accepted. Soon Tyrique was helping local girls create a dance team and learn to be cheerleaders. At 31 min in, Ryque discusses how he became reacquainted with the local police but in a positive, constructive manner.
When he saw over 30 girls turn up to join a dance class – he explains how he was understood issues these girls faced.
He set up classes that went beyond dance and also focused on etiquette, learning about hygiene, teen pregnancy and avoiding the negative impact of social media.
His help came from unexpected places, as people turned up to give back.
The impact – the quality of the community is improving, as old dealers and shooters are forming businesses.
Rique talks about the challenges that accompany change and overcoming the fear that incapacitates communities.
Expanding and building relationships with city authorities and DA’s office to create opportunities, Rique is focused on working on change; house by house, not just block by block. Small centers of change that can grow to larger centers.
We also discuss how Ryque remains positive and energized.
What h...
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