Special Episode for Gratitude Month, Featuring Reflections on Gratitude from Bill Burke and Blue Sky Alums
Release Date: 11/27/2024
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_outlineNovember is Gratitude Month at the Optimism Institute and this episode wraps up our celebration while kicking off Thanksgiving weekend. Blue Sky host and founder of The Optimism Institute Bill Burke shares his thoughts on the tight link between gratitude and optimism and has selected excerpts from past episodes to drive this point home. Blue Sky alums explain the health benefits of gratitude, the many reasons to be grateful to be alive today, and why, despite our many challenges, the United States and its founding ideals are worth believing in and being thankful for.
Chapters:
00:00 Welcome to Blue Sky Podcast
Host Bill Burke introduces the Blue Sky Podcast, setting the stage for a special episode focused on gratitude. He emphasizes the importance of optimism and appreciation, especially during the Thanksgiving season.
01:20 The Meaning of Grace
Bill explores the origins of the word ‘grace’ and its connection to gratitude, linking it to the Latin word ‘gratia.’
02:14 Cicero on Gratitude
Quoting Cicero, Bill discusses the significance of gratitude as a foundational virtue that fosters optimism.
03:20 The Benefits of Gratitude
Bill highlights the health benefits of optimism and gratitude, referencing Dr. Richie Davidson’s insights on neuroplasticity. He introduces a practice of appreciation before meals to deepen our sense of gratitude.
06:03 Embracing “Pronoia”
Bill shares Kevin Kelly’s concept of “pronoia,” the belief that the universe is conspiring to help us succeed.
08:20 Life is Good: Gratitude in Adversity
Bert Jacobs from Life is Good reflects on how letters from customers facing hardships revealed a common thread of gratitude.
11:00 Gratitude for America
Bill pivots to discuss gratitude for the United States, featuring Anh Vu Sawyer’s thoughts on the freedom and resources America provides, enabling her to help others.
15:19 Loving America: A Personal Perspective
Ted Johnson shares his deep love for America, emphasizing its promise of democracy and equality.
17:10 Countering Negativity in Media
Bill discusses the challenge of negativity in the news and introduces guests like Angus Hervey and David Bornstein, who promote good news and solutions journalism.
18:24 The Power of Gratitude
Chris Anderson emphasizes the importance of daily gratitude practices and how they can transform our outlook on life. He encourages listeners to appreciate the simple joys and connections we often take for granted.
20:30 Gratitude as Contagious
David Gardner discusses the contagious nature of gratitude and optimism, highlighting how expressing appreciation can uplift others.
22:30 Appreciation in the Workplace
David Novak shares his philosophy on the importance of appreciation in leadership and workplace culture.
25:38 Healthcare Innovations and Gratitude
Bill reflects on the advancements in healthcare and the gratitude felt by patients and practitioners alike. He shares stories of resilience from guests who have faced significant health challenges.
28:00 Finding Gratitude in Hardship
Christina Menkemeller shares her journey of finding gratitude amidst illness, emphasizing the importance of recognizing ‘Godwinks.’ Her practice of daily gratitude helps her combat negativity.
30:16 The Impact of Mentorship
Bill highlights being grateful for mentors, with stories from Melissa Connolly and Jonathan Conyers. They express gratitude for the guidance they received, which now fuels their own efforts to help others.
33:01 The Pan Mass Challenge: A Legacy of Gratitude
Billy Starr discusses the Pan Mass Challenge and the gratitude expressed by participants. He contrasts the supportive atmosphere of the event with other athletic competitions, highlighting the power of thankfulness.