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.
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Marcy Syms on Her New Book and “Not Letting the Bad Guys Win”
Blue Sky
Marcy Syms has led a remarkable life, full of triumphs and tragedies. Through a discussion of her new book, host Bill Burke and Marcy cover subjects ranging from Marcy’s upbringing, to overcoming bigotry and bullying in high school, to running her father’s company and keeping it on track through the loss of two of her siblings. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction & Leading with Respect Bill Burke introduces Marcy Syms, CEO of The Syms Corporation, and her upcoming book “Leading with Respect.” Marcy discusses her father’s motto “Don’t let...
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Mike Goodwin on the Power of Humor and “The Comedian’s Mindset”
Blue Sky
Mike Goodwin grew up with a difficult and volatile father. As a child, he decided that one way he could help his mom would be to help make her laugh. He soon realized he had a talent for humor, but it wasn’t until after time in the US Army and a career in higher education that Mike made comedy his career. Host Bill Burke and Mike Goodwin share a lot of laughs and life lessons in this fun episode of Blue Sky. Chapters: 02:27 Meet Mike Goodwin Bill introduces Mike Goodwin, a comedian, humor coach, and keynote speaker known for his clean comedy style....
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Kristine Michie on Stirring Up Impactful Change Through Joy and Optimism
Blue Sky
In this Blue Sky conversation, Kristine Michie describes her path to a career marked by sparking joy in people and organizations to facilitate positive and impactful change. Earlier this year, she hosted Bill Burke on her and with this episode, the tables are turned and the result is a fun, inspiring conversation on the power of fun, joy, and optimism. Chapters: 02:05 Meet Kristine Michie Kristine Michie, founder of Impactfull, Inc. and host of the PlayFull podcast, joins Bill to discuss her journey and the importance of joy in making a difference. They delve into...
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Curiosity + Resilience: A Formula for Optimism
Blue Sky
Bill Burke reflects on an idea presented by Niren Chaudhary in episode 107. Niren described curiosity and resilience as two master skills required to successfully run the marathon of life. In this "A Bit of Blue Sky," Bill underscores Niren's belief and relates these qualities to optimism, providing examples through past Blue Sky guests.
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Niren Chaudhary Reflects on Rebounding From Grief and His Successful Career Leading With Gratitude and Love
Blue Sky
Niren Chaudhary has led a remarkable life while overcoming intense personal tragedies. He describes his success in running global business as stemming from a foundational belief in putting his employees first and leading them with love, gratitude, and respect. Chapters: 01:36 Meet Niren Chaudhary Niren Chaudhary, a visionary leader and CEO, shares his impressive career journey, highlighting his roles at Panera Bread and Yum! Brands. 04:04 The Power of People in Business Niren reflects on the significance of gratitude and treating employees...
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Heidi Johnson on Loss, Grief, and the Transformative Power of Giving
Blue Sky
Heidi Johnson was in a great spot in life. She had a great family, good job, all she could reasonably ask for. But when her mother was killed in a shocking accident, that all changed. After suffering from intense grief, Heidi’s life changed when she was asked to start a new initiative at her local children’s hospital. This led her to create and lead her own nonprofit and to a life today of service and also shining a light on other nonprofit leaders, through both a book and hosting her podcast, Charity Matters. Chapters: 00:30 Heidi Johnson’s Journey...
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Wounded Warrior Tom Deierlein’s Remarkable Story of Grit, Resilience, Service, and Optimism
Blue Sky
As a West Point graduate who had completed his required service, Tom Deierlein was well into a successful career in digital advertising when he was called up once again to serve in Operation Iraqi Freedom. There, while working to help struggling Iraqi families meet their basic needs, a sniper’s bullet would change his life’s trajectory. In this Blue Sky conversation, Tom shares his remarkable life story, on that is marked by inspiring grit, resilience, service, and optimism. Chapters: 02:11 Tom Deierlein’s Background Tom Deierlein shares insights about his...
info_outlineSam Pressler has a strong track record of bringing people together and working to rebuild the civic infrastructure of the United States. In addition to being a researcher and writer, he is also the founder of the Armed Services Art Partnership and Connective Tissue, a collection of projects designed to help people understand how they might go about creating connections in their own towns and civic organizations.
Chapters:
02:20 Making Grandmothers Proud
Sam shares the inspiration behind his mantra of making his grandmothers proud, discussing the significant influence they had on his life and values, particularly in relation to community and intellectual engagement.
04:30 The Birth of the Armed Services Arts Partnership
Sam recounts the inception of the Armed Services Arts Partnership, detailing how his passion for humor and service led to the creation of a stand-up comedy class for veterans, which blossomed into a national nonprofit.
08:02 The Impact of the Armed Services Arts Partnership
Reflecting on the success of the Armed Services Arts Partnership, Sam discusses its growth and ongoing mission to connect veterans with the arts, fostering community and purpose in their lives.
14:44 Exploring Community and Connection
Sam reflects on his academic journey at Harvard, where he delved into themes of community, spirituality, and the importance of reconnecting people to the commitments that give life meaning.
15:45 The Challenge of Rebuilding Civic Life
Discussing the generational work needed to address the decline of community, Sam emphasizes the importance of cultural and structural change in rebuilding civic life and fostering connections.
19:08 Rethinking Technology’s Role
Sam and Bill engage in a conversation about the impact of technology on community engagement, exploring how to repurpose digital tools to foster connection rather than isolation.
25:07 Collective Action for Change
As they discuss the lingering effects of the pandemic, Sam highlights the potential for collective action to reshape community engagement and emphasizes the need for a cultural shift towards in-person connections.
32:20 The Isolation of Remote Work
Sam discusses the isolating nature of remote work and its impact on social connections, particularly for younger individuals who rely on workplace relationships for friendship..
34:32 Government’s Role in Community Building
Transitioning to policy discussions, Sam introduces his comprehensive 182-page framework aimed at enhancing government involvement in fostering community connections.
37:10 Creating Pathways for Young Adults
Sam highlights the critical period of adult transition and the lack of structured pathways for those not attending college.
41:13 Micro Grants for Community Interaction
In this chapter, Sam shares examples of successful community initiatives, such as micro grants for block parties and neighborhood dinners, that encourage social interaction.
44:00 The Shift Towards Community Engagement
The conversation shifts to the importance of viewing residents as community members rather than clients, with suggestions for local governments to enhance engagement.
46:24 From Individualism to Community
Sam reflects on the cultural shift from individualism towards a more communal mindset, emphasizing the need for social connections that foster a sense of belonging. The chapter concludes with a discussion on the importance of feeling needed within a community.
50:01 Connective Tissue: A Newsletter for Community Insights
Wrapping up the episode, Sam introduces his ‘Connective Tissue’ newsletter, which shares insights and practical ideas for community building.