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David McCullough III Shares the Story of The American Exchange Project and His Optimistic Vision for Its Future

Release Date: 03/26/2025

Historian and Author Martin Gutmann Discusses Optimism, History, and His Appreciation for “Unseen Leaders”

Blue Sky

Martin Gutmann is an expert on the history of business and has written extensively about styles of past leaders. In this episode, he shares his thoughts on everything from today’s political climate, to whether he thinks Ernest Shackleton is overrated (spoiler alert – he does), to the underrated excellence of less well-known figures in history. Chapters: 02:27 Meet Martin Gutmann Bill welcomes Martin Gutmann to the podcast, exploring his diverse background and extensive experience in various countries. Martin shares how his journey has shaped his...

Blayne Smith and Brandon Young Explain Why Perseverance Is Greater Than Endurance

Blue Sky

Blayne 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 le

Cheryl Dorsey Describes the Remarkable Work of Echoing Green

Blue Sky

This episode explores the work of Echoing Green, an international non-profit that invests in social entrepreneurs and their dreams and ideas. An accomplished leader and executive herself, Cheryl Dorsey explains how she first came to the organization and the great work they continue to do under her leadership.

Chapters:

02:22 Meet Cheryl Dorsey
Cheryl

A True Confession Episode – Falling Off the Optimism Wagon

Blue Sky

In this very special edition of “the mini podcast with major optimism,” host Bill Burke confesses to falling off the optimism bandwagon. Yes, this can even happen to the founder of The Optimism Institute! He describes a doom-scrolling session that left him feeling lousy and explains how – with advice we can all use – he pulled himself up and out of his predicament.

David McCullough III Shares the Story of The American Exchange Project and His Optimistic Vision for Its Future

Blue Sky

David McCullough got the idea for The American Exchange Project (AEP) after a cross-country trip showed him how diverse and accepting were the people he met. Today, AEP creates opportunities for recent high school graduates to experience life in a different part of the US, building bridges of understanding and creating lifelong friendships. It’s McCullough’s hope that these trips will someday be a

Erica Halverson Describes Her Optimistic Belief That Arts Educators Can Save the World

Blue Sky

While studying acting in college, Erica Halverson decided that while she loved the theater, being on stage would not be for her. Instead, she moved into different areas and now is teaching arts education at the University of Wisconsin. She also hosts a terrific podcast, "Arts Educators Save the World,” on which artists are joined by teachers and mentors to reflect on the transformative impact that thes

Earl B. Hunter, Jr. Discusses His Optimistic Approach to Helping Grow the Outdoor Industry Through His Work at Black Folks Camp Too

Blue Sky

When Earl B. Hunter’s son was seven years old, he took him on three-month, multi-state camping. It was a positive, life-changing experience for them both. But Earl was struck by the fact that over the entire trip, they saw just one other black family. As someone who was working in sales in the outdoor industry, Earl saw an opportunity and went on to found the for-profit company, Black Folks Camp Too. <

Celebrating Optimism Month and Blue Sky’s 2nd Anniversary

Blue Sky

On this month’s installment of “A Bit of Blue Sky,” and in honor of National Optimism Month, host Bill Burke reflects on lessons learned from two years of hosting the Blue Sky podcast.

Khan Academy’s Sal Khan Describes Why He’s So Optimistic About the Future of AI and Education

Blue Sky

Sal Khan is one of the great innovators in education and in this Blue Sky episode, he discusses his book, Brave New Words: How AI Will Revolutionize Education (and Why That’s a Good Thing). He and his colleagues at Khan Academy are well on their way to creating powerful AI teaching assistant called

Leslie and Richard Strauss Describe How Their In-School Program, Spirit Series, Builds a Better Future with Wisdom from the Past

Blue Sky

Leslie and Richard Strauss are a husband-and-wife team who oversee Spirit Series, an innovative educational program in which young students perform plays about timeless stories. Through Spirit Series’ immersive and rigorous process, participants gain confidence in themselves and improve their teamwork, higher order thinking and focus in the classroom. The program has served more than 60,000 students and research shows that it has improved their cognitive and social/emotional skills and even lowered

More Episodes

Chapters:

02:17 Growing Up in a History-Minded Family
David reflects on how his family’s rich history and values shaped his understanding of American identity and the importance of learning from the past.

06:09 Historical Amnesia and Current Divides
Bill and David discuss the current polarization in America, emphasizing the need for historical literacy to navigate complex societal issues.

07:16 A Life-Changing College Experience
David recounts a pivotal trip he took during college that opened his eyes to the realities of education and the deep divides within the country.

14:11 The Birth of the American Exchange Project
David shares how his transformative experiences during his travels led to the creation of the American Exchange Project, aimed at fostering understanding among youth.

16:11 Exploring the American Exchange Project
David explains the mission of the American Exchange Project, which facilitates domestic exchanges for high school students to experience different American cultures.

22:01 Building Bridges Through Shared Experiences
The importance of empathy and understanding is highlighted as David discusses how students learn to see commonalities despite differences during their exchanges.

29:07 Confronting Political Discontent
David addresses the challenge of political polarization, emphasizing the need for respectful dialogue and the role of the American Exchange Project in fostering meaningful connections.

31:12 The Lasting Impact of Exchange
Reflecting on the transformative experiences of past participants, David highlights how The American Exchange Project fosters lasting connections and changes in perspectives. He emphasizes the significance of these exchanges in shaping young adults’ futures.

34:01 Expanding the Model
The conversation shifts to the potential for expanding the AEP model to college students and beyond. David hints at exciting developments in collaboration with universities to create similar experiences for incoming freshmen.

36:10 The Value of Shared Experiences
David reflects on the importance of shared experiences in fostering friendships and understanding among diverse groups. He draws parallels between The American Exchange Project and historical coming-of-age rituals that unite young people.

40:01 Building a Sustainable Future
Discussing the financial model of the American Exchange Project, David explains how donations and volunteerism sustain the initiative. He shares his vision for the program’s growth and its potential to become a staple in American education.

44:35 The Edict of the Optimist
In the concluding segment, David emphasizes the importance of taking action to create positive change, embodying the ‘edict of the optimist.’ The conversation wraps up with a call to support The American Exchange Project and get involved.

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