Blayne Smith and Brandon Young Explain Why Perseverance Is Greater Than Endurance
Release Date: 04/16/2025
Phil Green on the Impactful and Inspiring Work He Does for Young Musicians and His Hometown of Oakland
Blue Sky
Phil Green has had a successful career in music and sports. For what he describes as his “third act,” Phil is now overseeing , a nonprofit in his hometown of Oakland, California. Follow the Music provides artist development, booking and management services to young artists — to shine a light on their talents and bring visibility to the programs that helped develop them. Chapters: 00:00 Introducing Phil Green and Follow the Music Bill Burke introduces Phil Green, co-founder of Follow the Music, an organization dedicated to fostering young...
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Stacy Palmer on Nonprofits and the Role Optimism Plays in Moving Them Forward
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Stacy Palmer leads , the leading journal in the world of nonprofits. In this Blue Sky conversation, she talks about the evolution of nonprofits into sophisticated organizations that do remarkable work around the world. She describes the role of donors large and small, and how they’re helping address challenges created by cuts in government funding. Stacy also shares her belief that nothing gets done in this space without a healthy dose of optimism. Chapters: 02:04 Origins of the Chronicle of Philanthropy Stacy Palmer discusses the founding of The...
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Shirzad Chamine on Saboteurs, Sages, and Positive Intelligence
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Shirzad Chamine experienced a traumatic childhood, raised in Iran by a father who was full of a frightening rage. Following high school, Shirzad decided to move to the United States and make his future there. Along the way, he heard an inner whisper telling him to make a positive influence on a worldwide scale. After a variety of education experience, he developed innovative theories that resulted in the New York Times bestselling book, . In this Blue Sky episode, you’ll learn more about Shirzad Chamine’s remarkable life and inspiring work. ...
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Author Bree Groff on Finding Joy at Work
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Losing her mom to cancer reminded Bree that life is fleeting. Working as a consultant, she also saw how many people are miserable in their jobs. Connecting these dots, she decided to help people find more joy and meaning in their work and rather than count the days to the weekend, turn things around and actually look forward to getting to work, perhaps even embrace a “TGIM” mentality. In her book, she gives numerous examples of way we can find more joy from our work and our colleagues and encourages employers that creating a fun-filled workplace can improve an...
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Erin Cain on Personal Resilience and the Power of Horses to Heal
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Erin Cain didn’t grow up around horses but eventually was exposed to them and the remarkable abilities they have to facilitate healing for a wide range of individuals. A series of life events caused her to move from her native northeast to the Colorado Rockies and today, she’s the co-founder, owner, and operator of . In this episode she describes the personal hardships she’s overcome and the work she now does rescuing and “gentling” wild mustangs, then working with these animals to provide therapy to the diverse group of individuals who come to Grace Reins for healing. ...
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Psychotherapist Meghan Riordan Jarvis on the Importance of Understanding Grief as a Path Toward Living Healthier Lives
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Meghan Riordan Jarvis was a practicing psychotherapist when she found herself devastated by the loss of her two parents. She suddenly saw she was no different from those she helped, but she still needed outside support to recover. In this Blue Sky episode, she describes how this realization led her to become an expert about grief and an advocate for all of us to learn about this important and challenging part of life. Chapters: 02:20 Journey to Psychotherapy Meghan shares her personal journey into psychotherapy, beginning with a...
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Tricia Rose Burt Describes How She Transformed Her Life and Why She Encourages Others to Believe That There Is “No Time to Be Timid”
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Tricia Rose Burt had done everything right, according to the way she was raised. She went to a “good school,” had a “good job” and all seemed to be going great on the surface. But inside, she was miserable and decided to make a change. She left her career in public relations, took classes at art school, and began to explore her own creativity in a way that, as she describes it, “filled her cup.” She’s never been happier, and in this Blue Sky conversation, she’ll explain how listeners might want choose to tap into their “inner artist” as...
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Stacey Garcia on Resilience and Optimism in the Face of Personal Roadblocks and Why She Thinks “Mondays are Magic”
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As a personal trainer and wellness coach, Stacey Garcia was doing everything right. She ate well, exercised, and took great care of herself. That’s why her cancer diagnosis came as an extra shock, and in this episode, she explains how she dealt with this news and found strength and resilience as she battled her disease. Now in recovery, Stacey helps guide others through similar challenges both in her daily work as well as her podcast . Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Stacey Garcia Bill Burke introduces Stacey Garcia, host of ‘Never Miss a...
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Astronaut Nicole Stott Reflects on Lessons She Learned in Outer Space and How They Changed Her View of Life on “Spaceship Earth”
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Nicole Stott had a remarkable career with NASA, logging more than 100 days in outer space. Her time on the International Space Station drives her appreciation for the importance of cooperation across cultures and national boundaries. On this Blue Sky episode, she describes lessons learned from her time as an astronaut, and the inspiring work she does today through the Space For Art Foundation, and her optimistic and solutions-oriented approach to life. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Nicole Stott This chapter introduces Nicole Stott, a retired NASA...
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Back to School Edition
Blue Sky
Host Bill Burke thinks back to his own back to school days and offers thoughts on what he might study were he an incoming student this fall. He also discusses what he might teach if he were a faculty member and encourages us all to keep learning in our lives, whether we are enrolled students or not.
info_outlineBlayne Smith and Brandon Young are two US Army combat veterans who came together in civilian life to start their own company. They’ve now published a new book, co-authors of Perseverance > Endurance: Lead with Resilience. Grow Through Adversity. Win Together., in which they describe invaluable lessons that they’ve learned from their training, the battlefield, and life since their time in the service.
Chapters:
01:04 Introducing Blayne Smith and Brandon Young
Bill introduces the guests, Army Combat veterans Blayne Smith and Brandon Young, who co-authored the book Perseverance > Endurance and discuss their impressive backgrounds and experiences.
04:04 How They Met and Bonded
Blayne and Brandon share the story of how they met after their military service while working at a company that actively sought to hire veterans, highlighting their initial feelings of being out of place.
06:26 Transitioning from Military to Nonprofit
The conversation shifts to their early experiences in the nonprofit sector, where they both contributed to helping veterans transition back into civilian life and the challenges they faced.
10:00 Founding Applied Leadership Partners
Blayne and Brandon discuss the founding of Applied Leadership Partners, a consulting firm aimed at helping organizations navigate growth and adversity through effective leadership.
14:00 The Importance of Leadership in Organizations
The duo emphasizes that many challenges in organizations stem from leadership issues, and they aim to provide practical frameworks to enhance leadership effectiveness.
15:21 Exploring Their Book: ‘Perseverance is Greater Than Endurance’
Blayne and Brandon delve into the key themes of their book, discussing the critical distinction between endurance and perseverance, especially during times of uncertainty.
18:35 Training for Perseverance
The conversation focuses on how to cultivate perseverance, contrasting it with endurance training and discussing practical ways to adapt and grow through challenges.
24:44 The Role of Optimism in Leadership
Blayne and Brandon reflect on the importance of optimism and hope in leadership, discussing how these qualities can inspire teams and foster resilience during difficult times.
30:02 The Power of Perspective
In this chapter, the guests discuss how extending our time horizon can foster optimism, reminding us that difficult moments are temporary. They emphasize the importance of focusing on the mission rather than the discomfort of the present.
33:03 Frameworks for Perseverance
The conversation shifts to the five factors that define perseverance: change, uncertainty, acceptance, choice, and growth. The guests delve into how these elements interconnect and provide a roadmap for navigating challenges.
37:25 Training for Perseverance
Here, the guests explore the role of hope and purpose in developing perseverance, sharing personal anecdotes and insights. They discuss how understanding one’s character and values can guide individuals through tough times.
41:01 Integration Over Balance
The discussion turns to the concept of life integration versus work-life balance, emphasizing the importance of being a whole person in all aspects of life. The guests encourage listeners to manage their energy and presence rather than merely their schedules.
46:14 Facing Challenges with Clarity
In this chapter, the guests reflect on the significance of having a clear mission and priorities during crises. They share a powerful story about a leadership decision made during a critical moment, illustrating the impact of purpose on navigating adversity.
54:03 The Veteran Perspective
The episode concludes with a reflection on the resilience and perseverance of veterans, highlighting their unique experiences and insights.