Throwback/Encore Presentation: Motley Fool’s David Gardner on Optimism and Investing, Entrepreneurship, and More
Release Date: 10/17/2024
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...
info_outline
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
info_outline
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.
info_outline
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
info_outline
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
info_outline
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. <
info_outline
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.
info_outline
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
info_outline
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 a special encore presentation of the very first episode of Blue Sky! This conversation with David Gardner first aired in March of 2023 and is still one of our favorites.
David Gardner discusses a wide range of topics, from the relationship between optimism and entrepreneurship to developing an investment strategy with an eye towards your own positive vision for the future, to David’s outsized love for, of all things, board games! Motley Fool: www.Fool.com
Chapters:
00:00 Welcome to Blue Sky Podcast
In this encore presentation of Blue Sky’s inaugural episode, host Bill Burke introduces the Blue Sky Podcast and his guest, David Gardner, co-founder of the Motley Fool.
02:07 The Power of Optimism in Entrepreneurship
David Gardner shares insights on the intrinsic link between optimism and entrepreneurship, emphasizing that successful ventures often begin with a hopeful vision. He discusses how optimism fuels creativity and persistence in business.
05:49 Investing with Purpose and Embracing Failure
David elaborates on the philosophy of making investments that reflect one’s vision for the future while discussing the inevitability of failure in both investing and entrepreneurship.
12:00 Lifelong Learning and Adaptability
The importance of lifelong learning is highlighted as David discusses how adaptability is crucial in a rapidly changing world. He shares personal anecdotes about his reading habits and the value of continuous education.
18:33 The Case for Conscious Capitalism
David passionately defends capitalism as a force for good while explaining the principles of conscious capitalism, emphasizing purpose over profit and the importance of serving all stakeholders.
30:04 Rational Optimism and Future Progress
The conversation delves into the concept of rational optimism, with David referencing historical progress in human society. He argues that despite current challenges, the trajectory of humanity is one of continual improvement.
34:03 The Future Is Here
David discusses the rapid advancements in technology and how they shape our present and future, encouraging listeners to embrace innovations like AI.
37:01 Reflections on the Past and Leadership
The discussion turns to the tendency to glorify the past while overlooking current advancements, with David sharing personal anecdotes.
43:07 The Power of Gratitude and The Motley Fool Foundation
David discusses the link between gratitude and optimism, highlighting how expressing gratitude can enhance happiness and foster positive relationships. He also introduces the Motley Fool Foundation, aimed at improving financial literacy in underserved populations.
49:30 The Joy of Board Games
The conversation takes a lighter turn as David shares his passion for board games and their role in family bonding.
56:17 The Roots of Optimism and Closing Thoughts
David reflects on the origins of his optimism, attributing it to both genetic factors and life experiences, and shares personal stories that shaped his outlook.