Big Questions with Cal Fussman

As a bestselling author, speaker and one of the greatest interviewers of this generation, Cal Fussman has sat down with some of the world’s most influential individuals: Muhammad Ali, Mikhail Gorbachev, Serena Williams, Jeff Bezos, Jack Welch, John Wooden, Al Pacino and hundreds of others, digging deep into their hearts and delivering their wisdom to the rest of the world. Now, in Big Questions, Cal continues his journey. Uncovering the heart, head, and soul of his guests in thoughtful, deep and entertaining conversations.

Thomas Panek: Your Holiday Gift 12/24/2024

Thomas Panek: Your Holiday Gift The remarkable story of a boy who once dove into a swimming pool that didn’t have any water in it because he couldn’t admit that he was going blind and couldn’t see that he was headed for concrete, and how that boy turned into the CEO of Guiding Eyes for the Blind, a married father of four, a board member and a finisher of The Boston Marathon and The New York Marathon. Thomas Panek’s story is relevant to all of us, for it shows us the gifts that we can all receive once we push aside our pride and reach out for help. /episode/index/show/bigquestions-calfussman/id/34576840

Sandro Corsaro: Bridging Humanity & Technology 12/17/2024

Sandro Corsaro: Bridging Humanity & Technology Emmy nominated Producer, Author, Animator and Creative Executive for Disney, NBCUniversal and Wayfair has a fascinating conversation with Cal about the ever-evolving intersection of humanity, creativity and technology. Sandro has opened the door for Cal to translate the power of questions and storytelling into new areas, and this episode will leave you inspired to embrace the future while staying rooted in who you are. /episode/index/show/bigquestions-calfussman/id/34473565

Matt Mahurin: An Artist In The Age of AI 12/10/2024

Matt Mahurin: An Artist In The Age of AI What happens when an artist at the peak of his craft—known for iconic Time Magazine covers, music videos for legends like U2 and Metallica, Sundance documentaries and photographs in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art—navigates the rise of AI? Discover how Matt Mahurin sees creativity in this thought-provoking episode. Perfect for anyone curious about staying on top in an ever-changing world. /episode/index/show/bigquestions-calfussman/id/34343215

YUKA: Transforms How You Shop For Food 12/03/2024

YUKA: Transforms How You Shop For Food Feeling stuffed after Thanksgiving? Meet YUKA, the revolutionary app with over 64 million users worldwide. Just scan a product's barcode, and YUKA instantly reveals whether it's BAD, POOR, GOOD or EXCELLENT for your health. Join Cal as he dives into how this app is changing the way we shop—and why you should start using it too. This quick, fun, and eye opening episode can improve your health. Don’t miss it! /episode/index/show/bigquestions-calfussman/id/34248975

Jared Zelman: Do Math With Einstein 11/26/2024

Jared Zelman: Do Math With Einstein Cal talks with the founder of Cicero – a company that uses artificial intelligence to allow you to have conversations with Aristotle, Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, Michael Jackson and many other influential figures over the centuries. You see them as they actually looked and hear them in their own voices (when possible). Content is based on records of what they wrote and said. It fulfills a vision of Steve Jobs – who, back in 1985, believed that one day we’d be able to talk to people of this magnitude through the computer. Listen to the story of how it all came together and join the waiting list at heycicero.com. /episode/index/show/bigquestions-calfussman/id/34143726

Jehan Luth: AI & Tesla 11/19/2024

Jehan Luth: AI & Tesla Yes, we all know about cars that drive themselves. But how did it happen that the CEO and founder of Banyan can get in his Tesla on the Jersey Shore and travel to mid-town Manhattan barely touching the wheel or the accelerator? How quickly did that come upon us? And what does that mean a year from now? Two? Three? This is a historical conversation. /episode/index/show/bigquestions-calfussman/id/33986202

Election Analysis From Down Under 11/12/2024

Election Analysis From Down Under Looking for a fresh point of view on the recent U.S. presidential election, Cal reaches out to his Australian friend, Holly Ransom, who gives leadership conferences around the world as the CEO of Emergent Global. Richard Branson nominated Holly for Wired Magazine’s Smart List of Future Game Changers to Watch. And you’ll hear why when you listen to this podcast. Bonus: A lot of leadership takeaways! /episode/index/show/bigquestions-calfussman/id/33888272

Election Day Closing Argument 11/05/2024

Election Day Closing Argument Cal looks back on the few days before November 5, 2024, and realizes how all the people who were so kind and cordial around him are divided nearly 50/50 between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. He’s sure that 80 percent of us can all get along together . . . so long as we have a peaceful transfer of power. /episode/index/show/bigquestions-calfussman/id/33781182

Ozan Ozkural: A World View As Election Nears 10/29/2024

Ozan Ozkural: A World View As Election Nears With the potential for increased violence around the world, Cal reaches out to an old friend from Larry King’s breakfast table for a look at the global ramifications of the upcoming U.S. elections. Ozan Ozkural is on the Foreign Policy Committee of the Brookings Institution – one of the world’s top think tanks. As the founder of Tanto Capital Partners, Ozan constantly travels around the world making deals in the energy and power sectors, and his reading on the geopolitical situation will inform you and even relax you – so listen up. /episode/index/show/bigquestions-calfussman/id/33644257

Lindsey Cormack: Take Your Kids To Vote 10/22/2024

Lindsey Cormack: Take Your Kids To Vote It may be too late for Cal. His kids are 30, 27 and 22 years old. But it may not be too late for you or your friends to take your kids with you to vote. If it takes your kids out of school for a few hours, they may remember it for their rest of their lives, and it can be the first step in an education about democracy and the power of their vote. This message comes from the author of: How To Raise A Citizen (And Why It’s Up To You To Do It). And there’s probably never been a better election to start doing it than this one. Listen up, and you’ll hear why. /episode/index/show/bigquestions-calfussman/id/33559927

Dave Clark: Make An AI Movie 10/15/2024

Dave Clark: Make An AI Movie This podcast is like a walk on the red carpet into the world of AI filmmaking with one of its leaders. The message here is clear. By trying out these tools, you’ll be evolving to meet the world that is coming. One of the major points behind this conversation is to diminish the fears of people who believe that AI is coming to take their jobs. Simply trying out these new platforms will give you an opening to skills that you’re going to need in the new world. You might even find this more creative than what you’re doing now and pivot toward it. Dave Clark knows people just like that. So listen up, because only good can happen if you open yourself up to this technology and the creativity it can lead to . . . /episode/index/show/bigquestions-calfussman/id/33420502

Eric Leidtke: Responding To A Problem 10/08/2024

Eric Leidtke: Responding To A Problem After hearing how traces of plastic are now being found in hearts that are being examined in autopsies, Cal plays a conversation with a man who has devoted his future to combatting the problem. After working at Adidas for 26 years, Eric Leidtke pivoted to start the Unless Collection, a company that makes shoes, socks and all kinds of clothing out of plants, not plastics. In fact, the Unless Collection’s shoes, The Degenerate, can be thrown in a hole in your backyard after they’re worn out and they’ll biodegrade without leaving behind a trace of pollution. Scientists predict that by 2050, the oceans will have more plastic in them than fish by tonnage. It’s important that everyone knows about the work being done by Unless Collection. So, please, spread the word! /episode/index/show/bigquestions-calfussman/id/33362547

AI And Your Heart 10/01/2024

AI And Your Heart Cal learns from a cardiologist who cared for President George Bush 41 that artificial intelligence is at the point where it can tell us how long we’re destined to live. That old fashioned stethoscope? No longer really necessary. We can get better readings from tech than the human ear. Listen up to Dr. Giovanni Campanile and get a glimpse of your heart in the present and the future through AI. As well as tips on how to live longer and healthier. /episode/index/show/bigquestions-calfussman/id/33257487

Ravin Jesuthasan: AI And Your Job 09/24/2024

Ravin Jesuthasan: AI And Your Job Cal comes across a survey that indicates that six out of every 10 workers will require AI training before 2027. And that only half of those workers may have access to the necessary training opportunities. Which leads him to seek out global thought leader Ravin Jesuthasan to get a gauge on the future of the workplace. Increased productivity? Certainly. Human fears of losing jobs? Of course. But the author of The Skills-Powered Organization takes Cal and the conversation much deeper. Listen up. It’s important. /episode/index/show/bigquestions-calfussman/id/33177487

Sabaa Quao: The Power of 1 Minute 09/17/2024

Sabaa Quao: The Power of 1 Minute Some of Cal’s favorite conversations have come after a friend of his has started a sentence with these four words: “You’ve got to meet . . .” The trust behind an introduction like that always leads to special moments. And this week’s episode is no exception. Cal’s friend Monique Mardinian set up a meeting with Sabaa Quao, the Chief Creative Officer at Cossette, Canada’s largest marketing and communications company. Sabaa has also co-founded Filminute, the festival known around the world for being limited to films that are only 60 seconds long. This conversation shows the power in a single minute of content. It also looks into the question of how we’re going to trust in a time of artificial intelligence when we can no longer be sure if what we see and hear is real. You can be sure of one thing: This conversation is as real as it gets. /episode/index/show/bigquestions-calfussman/id/33082012

Michael Wright: Surviving 9/11 09/10/2024

Michael Wright: Surviving 9/11 Cal replays one of the most amazing conversations he’s ever had -- with a man who was in the bathroom on the 81 st Floor of the World Trade Center before starting work on the morning of 9/11/2001 when the hijacked plane hit. Michael Wright, a 30-year-old account executive at the time, got down to the ground only to look up and see the other tower falling on his head. Cal listens to the story every year to never forget the day and to focus on the power of resilience. But also for another reason this year – to remember how connected the United States was right after 9/11. The most connected Cal had ever seen it. Please send this conversation to one person you think might appreciate it. /episode/index/show/bigquestions-calfussman/id/32974172

The US Open: A Player To Root For 09/03/2024

The US Open: A Player To Root For Cal continues a summer of storytelling by passing on one about a player you might like to root for in this year’s U.S. Open. The backstory of Taylor Townsend shows us how there are winds in life that hold us back and winds that push us forward. And the value of perseverance in between. /episode/index/show/bigquestions-calfussman/id/32869412

Creating A Life Of Deep Connections 08/27/2024

Creating A Life Of Deep Connections Cal gets an unexpected e-mail asking about the feeling behind making a deep connection. It compels him to think back through a career of experiences with Muhammad Ali and Mikhael Gorbachev, bonds with people who took him in when he traveled around the world, friendships, and even ties with people who connected with his words and voice without ever having met him. But now, in a digital world where people can get a thousand likes while having no real friends, he finds great purpose giving workshops that connect others so they can get the most out of one another. /episode/index/show/bigquestions-calfussman/id/32755102

NFL Rule Change Will Do You Good 08/20/2024

NFL Rule Change Will Do You Good The change in the opening kickoff of National Football League games may seem inconsequential when compared to other developments in the world. As Cal wonders about the emotion and spirit that will be lost from the game, he realizes that the way he’s reacting to the new rule is a metaphor for the way many of us see change. It’s worth thinking about for a moment at a time when artificial intelligence is becoming the biggest change humanity has ever seen. /episode/index/show/bigquestions-calfussman/id/32642947

Santana’s Michael Shrieve: Acid to AI 08/13/2024

Santana’s Michael Shrieve: Acid to AI The Hall of Fame drummer looks back at the band’s iconic performance at Woodstock in 1969 when Carlos Santana dropped some LSD shortly before being summoned to go on stage. Michael had ingested mescaline. Carlos believed his guitar turned into a snake during the rendition of Soul Sacrifice and at the same time Michael was transported to heaven. Video that captured the group’s dynamic is a living testament to human connection with music. It also makes us consider the place of the latest landmark in music: artificial intelligence. /episode/index/show/bigquestions-calfussman/id/32547382

The Tie That Binds 08/06/2024

The Tie That Binds Cal finds out lots of things he never knew about someone he thought he knew . . . at that person’s funeral. It got him to think about how well we know each other, and how well we connect . . . which sparked him to figure out a way that will enable you to connect better. This short podcast could change your life. /episode/index/show/bigquestions-calfussman/id/32451797

The Olympics And The Great Race 07/30/2024

The Olympics And The Great Race Cal looks at the word inclusion through the controversy at the Olympics opening ceremony last week. And what a diverse message really looks like through the most exciting race he ever saw – one that was won by three hundredths of a second at the Olympics more than 50 years ago. The lessons in those two experiences give us all something to think about. /episode/index/show/bigquestions-calfussman/id/32327587

Election Of The Ages 07/23/2024

Election Of The Ages Cal describes how listener reaction to last week’s podcast about the attempted assassination on Donald Trump influenced his decision to speak out on Big Questions and tell the world what he’s learned through his meetings with the people who’ve shaped the last 75 years of world history. The timing of his recording of this week’s message on the upcoming election is an eerie confirmation that it’s the right way to go. /episode/index/show/bigquestions-calfussman/id/32238017

The Trump Assassination Attempt 07/16/2024

The Trump Assassination Attempt Cal looks at the attempt on the former president’s life in a way that you won’t find anywhere else. This podcast is not red vs. blue. It’s not political. Cal’s childhood in the 1960s was run through a montage of assassinations – from John F. Kennedy to Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy. And he believes that it’s hard to sustain a democracy when people are shot and killed while they are in office or before they can be elected. We are living in a very disconnected time. After spending his entire life connecting through conversation, Cal becomes even more committed to trying to bring people together. /episode/index/show/bigquestions-calfussman/id/32135232

Damon Burton: Think Twice About Your AI Content 07/09/2024

Damon Burton: Think Twice About Your AI Content Cal continues his journey into the world of artificial intelligence when he talks with the SEO guru. The Big Question is how the AI digital content now inundating the internet measures up against content that has authentic human connection at its essence. Be prepared to be surprised. /episode/index/show/bigquestions-calfussman/id/32044342

Jamie Metzl: Seeing AI Like Electricity 07/02/2024

Jamie Metzl: Seeing AI Like Electricity Cal talks with the futurist who tells us that artificial intelligence is going to be embedded in everything we do -- and that means many aspects of the world around us will be moving at an accelerated pace. His book, Superconvergence, looks at how AI will transform our lives as it is embedded in genetics and biotech. It could mean living longer, feeding billions and supercharging the economy. We don’t want to think about the downside – which is why we must. Jamie’s got a Ph.D. from Oxford, a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School and he was the opening speaker at the 2023 Dubai future forum. He’s also an ironman triathlete in his spare time. When Cal left the conversation, he felt like his IQ had spiked. You may feel the same. /episode/index/show/bigquestions-calfussman/id/31966982

How To Talk To AI 06/25/2024

How To Talk To AI In his quest to go deep into artificial intelligence, Cal comes across a most unusual guest. Theresa Fesinstine speaks to AI in a most uncommon way – as if it were human. Almost as if she were a really good high school English teacher talking to her students in the most caring way. There’s research that says this kind of approach gets the best out of AI. Listen up, and try it out. /episode/index/show/bigquestions-calfussman/id/31861432

Jairek Robbins: Finding Your Path 06/18/2024

Jairek Robbins: Finding Your Path The son of self-help guru Tony Robbins has become a coach with clients in 133 countries around the world. You’ll see why when you listen to this conversation. You will definitely be in a better place to navigate your path after listening to this podcast! /episode/index/show/bigquestions-calfussman/id/31778032

Matt Thomas: Mind, Body & Chessboxing 06/11/2024

Matt Thomas: Mind, Body & Chessboxing Chessboxing? What? Do the competitors pound each other in the head as they move pieces on the chessboard? It’s actually a sport that is going to be on display at the Olympics in Paris this summer. It’s not an official Olympic event. Yet. But three hundred thousand people stream events and it’s only getting bigger and bigger. What does it mean for you? Listen to Matt Thomas’s story. /episode/index/show/bigquestions-calfussman/id/31684762

Linus Eckenstam: An AI Conversation 06/04/2024

Linus Eckenstam: An AI Conversation Cal realizes that for the first time he is not feeling behind in technology because he has thrown himself into understanding AI. Conversations with experts on this podcast have made him feel more comfortable with what’s coming – even if we don’t know exactly what that is. This is the conversation that opened the door for him. It’s with Linus Eckenstam – a designer in Barcelona who makes web forms a little more human. Cal hopes this episode will make everyone more comfortable feel a little more authentic in the age of AI. /episode/index/show/bigquestions-calfussman/id/31585552

Big Questions with Cal Fussman

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