Throwback/Encore Presentation: Bestselling Author and Podcast/TV Host Kelly Corrigan on Why She Believes There Is “A Pretty Big Payoff to Every Hard Moment”
Release Date: 12/19/2024
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...
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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. <
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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.
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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
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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
info_outlineThis is an encore presentation of the 50th episode of Blue Sky, when Bill was joined by someone who has completed more than 400 of them. Bestselling author and TV/podcast host Kelly Corrigan describes to Bill the many things she’s learned in her life and career about optimism and how we all can benefit from life’s setbacks to become better people and forge stronger relationships. Kelly reflects on lessons she learned from her parents and how facing her own cancer diagnosis and battle with the disease left her with a greater sense of empathy for others with similar hardships. She also explains why she thinks intellectual humility is a key ingredient for an optimistic outlook and also that “there’s no feeling as good as being useful to someone.”
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Blue Sky Podcast Host
Bill Burke introduces the 50th episode of the Blue Sky Podcast, highlighting its significance and the guest, Kelly Corrigan, an accomplished podcaster and author.
03:07 The Power of Lifelong Learning
Kelly Corrigan shares her insights on the importance of being a lifelong learner and how it fosters a mindset of curiosity and openness.
09:02 Optimism in Discovery
The conversation delves into the optimistic belief that there is always more to learn and discover.
12:52 Finding Common Ground
Bill and Kelly explore the idea of starting conversations with shared experiences rather than differences, highlighting the importance of empathy in discussions, especially in polarized environments.
16:17 Lessons from Kelly’s Dad
Kelly reflects on her father’s optimistic worldview and his unique way of greeting the day, which instilled a sense of joy and agency in her life. She shares how his perspective can inspire others to approach life with openness and positivity.
23:03 The Steadiness of Kelly’s Mom
Transitioning to her mother’s influence, Kelly describes her mother’s calm and competent nature during challenging times, particularly during her cancer diagnosis.
30:00 The Beauty of Brokenness
Kelly discusses her perspective that everyone is broken by the age of 50, and how this brokenness can lead to deeper connections with others. She emphasizes that meaningful connections often arise from shared hardships, transforming superficial interactions into profound conversations.
34:11 The Power of Shared Experiences
The conversation shifts to how shared challenges can break down barriers and foster genuine connections among people.
37:57 Finding Purpose in Pain
Kelly shares the story of her cousin who became a source of support after losing her son, illustrating how personal tragedy can lead to a greater sense of purpose and empathy. The discussion touches on the transformative power of helping others through their struggles.
39:01 The Journey to Wellbeing
Kelly introduces her PBS show focused on understanding wellbeing and the various factors that contribute to it, including mood, connection, and spirituality.
45:06 The Future of Mental Health Treatment
The discussion highlights advancements in mental health treatment, emphasizing the potential for precision medicine to revolutionize how we approach mental health issues. Kelly and Bill express optimism about the ongoing research and the possibility of more effective, individualized treatments.
49:06 Embracing Uncertainty in Science
Kelly reflects on her experiences interviewing leading scientists, revealing that even experts often disagree on key issues in mental health research. This segment emphasizes the importance of critical thinking and maturity in interpreting scientific findings.