A Special Blue Sky Presentation of the “Arts Educators Save the World” Podcast with Erica Halverson, Featuring Jonathan Groff
Release Date: 04/30/2025
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
Blue Sky
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
Blue Sky
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
Blue Sky
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
Blue Sky
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
Blue Sky
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”
Blue Sky
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”
Blue Sky
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”
Blue Sky
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_outlineIn this very special “feed swap” edition, Blue Sky Alum Erica Halverson interviews award-winning Jonathan Groff and his inspirational elementary school music teacher, Linda Tough, on the “Arts Educators Save the World” podcast.
00:00 Welcome to the Feed Swap
In this special edition of the Blue Sky podcast, the host introduces the concept of a Feed Swap with Erica Halverson and highlights the upcoming conversation with Jonathan Groff, a celebrated actor known for his roles in Broadway and film.
01:16 The Power of Teaching
The conversation begins with a reflection on the duality of teaching, emphasizing the balance between challenge and joy, and how these elements contribute to personal growth in education.
02:02 Introducing Jonathan Groff and Linda Tuff
Erica Halvorson introduces Jonathan Groff and his former music teacher, Linda Tough, detailing their impressive careers and the significant impact Linda had on Jonathan’s education and passion for music.
05:00 First Memories of Collaboration
Jonathan and Linda reminisce about their first interactions in the fourth grade, highlighting memorable moments that laid the foundation for their strong teacher-student relationship.
12:11 Fostering a Love of Learning
The discussion turns to the importance of fostering a love for learning, with Jonathan reflecting on how Linda’s teaching style inspired his passion for music and education, and Linda sharing her philosophy on creating a joyful classroom environment.
21:20 The Art of Teaching and Preparation
Linda discusses her teaching philosophy, focusing on the balance between high expectations and creating a supportive environment, while also exploring the importance of preparation and performance in teaching and life.
35:09 Finding Joy and Building Trust
This chapter focuses on the relationship between difficulty and joy in learning, emphasizing the significance of creating a supportive environment, building trust between teachers and students, and embracing discomfort as part of growth.
47:15 The Lasting Impact of Mentorship
The discussion reflects on the enduring relationships formed between mentors and mentees beyond the classroom, sharing personal stories about how these connections continue to influence their lives and careers.
55:00 Advocating for the Arts in Education
This chapter focuses on the critical role of arts education in schools and the ongoing fight to preserve these programs, urging listeners to support arts education for fostering human connection and creativity.
58:35 Reflecting on the Power of Arts Education
In the closing chapter, the speakers summarize key takeaways from their conversation, emphasizing the transformative power of arts education in shaping lives and the importance of high expectations.