Aspen Insight

For more information on Patrick and Functional Fluidics, visit www.functionalfluidics.com. For more information on the Aspen Health Innovators Fellowship, and to hear from more leaders on the front-lines of health care on the Behind the Mask podcast, head to www.aspeninstitute.org/HIF.

Find more about this episode and part two here. Learn more about The Civil Society Fellowship – a partnership of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the Aspen Institute’s Global Leadership Network– here. Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts here. Learn more about the podcast series here. 

To read the 2020 State of Native Youth report, click here. 

Despite the stories commonly taught about the first Thanksgiving, the truth behind this holiday is much darker. Listen to Nikki Petre of the Center for Native American Youth talk about what work is left to be done around a holiday that is constructed on false history, and how native youth across the country are creating positive change in their food systems.

To learn more about K-12 Climate Action, head to this website: https://www.k12climateaction.org/ 

To see more election content from the Aspen Institute, head to our Gears of Democracy page: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/programs/gears-of-democracy/ 

Read more here: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/podcasts/new-criminal-justice-podcast-launches-with-look-into-the-criminalization-of-black-girls/  Subscribe here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shades-of-freedom/id1527499155 

Find all of the eviction research from Aspen's Financial Security Program and its partners here: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/the-covid-19-eviction-crisis-an-estimated-30-40-million-people-in-america-are-at-risk/ 

Find the full letter on the pandemic from The Aspen Ministers Forum here: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/news/press-release/amf-global-covid-19-response/ 

East Harlem is an overlooked neighborhood of Manhattan, made vulnerable by structural racism and gentrification. But even before the COVID-19 pandemic arrived, the neighborhood had its own preparedness organization run by women of color who work and live there. Listen as Ann-Gel Palermo—an East Harlem resident, an associate professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and an Aspen Institute Health Innovators fellow—discusses preparing for disaster.

Artist, advocate, and entrepreneur Paula Crown reflects with Artist in Residence Edmund de Waal on his work.

The following is a cross-posted conversation between Dan Porterfield, CEO and President of the Aspen Institute, and Denver Frederick, the Host of The Business of Giving Podcast. On the episode, Dan Porterfield talked about leading the institute into a pandemic, a new social contract, and why this is a moment for servant leadership to shine.

As COVID-19 continues to spread rapidly, the global trends around information flows seem to be moving even faster. In this episode, Aspen Digital Executive Director Vivian Schiller answers pressing questions like the long term impact of misinformation on government trust and transparency.

Long before Andrew Yang raised the idea of universal basic income (UBI) as a presidential campaign platform, UBI has been a topic among economic development experts. Is it a silver bullet or money without accountability? The reality is much more complicated. One cash transfer program, developed in Jackson, Mississippi, targets low-income families in public housing. Magnolia Mother’s Trust is distributing $1,000 a month for one year to fifteen families. The goal, says program organizer Aisha Nyandoro, is two-fold: to advocate for economic justice and change the narrative around poverty. Nyandoro speaks with Ebony Beals, a parent participant who helped design the cash assistance program. Their conversation was held during a convening in October held by Ascend, a program at the Aspen Institute that works to move children and the adults in their lives to educational success, economic security, and health and well-being.

Every year during National Native American Heritage Month, the Center for Native American Youth puts out a report centered on Native Youth and the issues they are working towards solving in their communities. This year’s report was centered on civic engagement and belonging.

When it comes to being an immigrant and helping women succeed, former United States Secretary of State Madeleine Albright is unapologetic.

Maria Pacheco and Alexandra Kissling speak about combatting machismo is Central American society and empowering Central American women with the tools they need to succeed economically and socially. They are two of the founders of Vital Voices Central America in Costa Rica and Guatemala and are 2019 John P. Mcnulty Prize Laureates. Pacheco and Kissling are also part of the Aspen Global Leadership Network, joining more than 3,000 high integrity, values-based entrepreneurial fellows around the world.

There have been many proposals on how to fix the healthcare system in America. One proposal in particular, Medicare for All, has gained a lot of popularity. Margot Sanger-Katz from The New York Times joins host Amina Akhtar to explain the proposal and what it means for the 2020 election.

With such drastic measures being taken both by government and companies selling vaping products, it begs the question: what’s the deal with vaping? Internationally recognized anti-tobacco experts Deborah Arnott and Matthew Myers give us their take on vaping from the Aspen Ideas Health Conference.

Starting the week of September 23rd, the Aspen Insight Podcast will be back for its third season with host Amina Akhtar.

There are over 1,000 community colleges in America serving the needs of millions of students, many of whom are the first generation of their families to continue on to college. The best schools across the nation not only offer a great educational opportunity, but are the bedrock of their communities and surrounding areas across the nation. Show Notes Find out more about the work of the [College Excellence Program] 1. Follow Aspen Insight on Facebook and Twitter using #AspenInsight.

A tide of threats against the ocean is rising, but pioneering ocean scientist and advocate Dr. Sylvia Earle, co-chair of the Aspen High Seas Initiative, has a solution. On this episode of Aspen Insight, we hear from Dr. Earle about her life charting the depths of the oceans, and we also learn the ways we all can better sustain them, and finally, we speak with Aspen High Seas Initiative Executive Director Michael Conathan on how the Initiative is working to protect these most vulnerable parts of the world. Show Notes Find out more about the work of the [Aspen High Seas Initiative] 1. Follow Aspen Insight on Facebook and Twitter using #AspenInsight.

For decades, Americans have been losing trust in democratic institutions, particularly media. In the news landscape, fact and opinion are getting blurred, falling revenues are shuttering newsrooms, and the public lives in “echo chambers” and can’t agree on facts. The Knight Commission on Trust, Media and Democracy believes distrust has reached crisis levels. The 27-member commission, created by the Aspen Institute Communications and Society program and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, drilled into why trust is declining and how it can be rebuilt. Their list of recommendations for media organizations, technology companies, and the public was released in early February 2019. In this episode, commissioners explain that it takes work from everyone to strengthen American democracy. Follow Aspen Insight on Facebook and Twitter using #AspenInsight.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Bauhaus, a highly influential German modern art school that closed under pressure from the Nazis. One of the school’s teachers, Herbert Bayer, came to Aspen, Colorado in 1946 and had a profound impact on the Aspen Institute. The Institute’s 40-acre campus in the Rockies is filled with Bayer artifacts. In fact, you can’t walk the campus without seeing an earthwork, Bauhaus-inspired architecture, sculptures, tapestries, and more. We guide you through the history of Bayer, Bauhaus, and the Institute. Show Notes Find out more about Aspen's Bauhaus roots on the Bauhaus 100 website. Follow Aspen Insight on Facebook and Twitter using #AspenInsight.

A record number of women are heading to Congress and state legislatures across the country. What led to this “Women’s Wave,” and how might policies change with more women at the helm? Anne Mosle, executive director of Ascend at the Aspen Institute, and Peggy Clark, who leads the Institute’s Aspen Global Innovators Group, discuss potential policy changes, the role of the women’s movement in the election, and how women across the world, and in the US, continue to fight bias and discrimination. Show Notes Follow Aspen Insight on Facebook and Twitter using #AspenInsight.

How can we create a more inclusive, just, and optimistic world? Mehrdad Baghai, co-founder of High Resolves, says it starts with young people. His organization, which was recently recognized by the John P. McNulty Foundation, works to reframe young people’s thinking around race and justice. “We can be as systematic about citizenship education as we are about core subjects,” says Baghai, “and given the state of the world, we have no choice but to do just that.” In Rwanda, a country that experienced genocide in 1994, art is being used to explore the trauma of conflict. Hope Azeda, also recognized by the McNulty Foundation, started the Ubumuntu Arts Festival. Held at a memorial site where 250,000 victims of the genocide are buried, Azeda says the goal is to use art as a tool for healing and dialogue. The John P. McNulty Foundation is a partner of the Aspen Institute. Show Notes Follow Aspen Insight on Facebook and Twitter using #AspenInsight.

Uganda, in East Africa, has more startups than any other country in the world, but they’re driven by necessity. The number of young people searching for work dramatically exceeds the number of jobs available. When an entrepreneur does get a business running, it’s challenging to find funding, talent, and overcome a culture of informality where deals are made with a handshake. A group of entrepreneurs, investors, and nonprofits is looking to change the ecosystem to one that supports entrepreneurs. The goal: to lift people out of poverty. The Aspen Institute program ANDE, or the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs, is driving this effort. Show Notes Follow Aspen Insight on Facebook and Twitter using #AspenInsight.

How would sports change if athletes of all genders were able to compete side by side? There is a long history of teams being separated by gender, but now, some athletes are starting to call that tradition into question. On this episode of Aspen insight, three Olympic athletes lay out why they think increasing opportunities for mixed gender competition could improve their sports and reframe the way our culture thinks about gender. It is a topic being addressed by the Aspen Institute Sports and Society Program a their annual Project Play Summit. Show Notes Follow Aspen Insight on Facebook and Twitter using #AspenInsight.

Rugged cowboys, high-noon gun fights, and Manifest Destiny—all images of the Old West in America. But what did the 19th century in the West really look like? Myths from books and movies shape our understanding of that time and place and even help define our values and culture. These stories often include violence, intolerance, and a stubborn individualism. How can we build a new more inclusive and compassionate vision of this period? This episode details the successes and failures of the 19th century American West and explains how this history can help us better tackle problems in society and in our lives. The interviews were held in Aspen, Colorado at “American West,” a program held by the Aspen Institute’s Society of Fellows. Show Notes Follow Aspen Insight on Facebook and Twitter using #AspenInsight.

The Aspen Institute has seen many changes in the last year, including welcoming a new leader. Dan Porterfield became the Institute's new president and CEO in June, after seven years serving as president of Franklin and Marshall College. In the first episode of Aspen Insight's second season, Porterfield discusses his background in higher education, what drew him to the Institute, and the projects he is eager to take on as its new leader. Show Notes Follow Aspen Insight on Facebook and Twitter using #AspenInsight.

Religion is behind an increasing number of hate crimes in the United States and religious minorities, like Jews and Muslims, are often the target. An unlikely set of people are working to turn things around. A group of kids make up a Muslim youth choir, the first in the country, that performs at churches and synagogues in an effort to break down barriers. The Aspen Institute’s Justice and Society Program is also tackling the problem. An initiative called the Inclusive America Project has produced a report that addresses how the US can continue to embrace people of all faith backgrounds (like it’s done in the past) against a backdrop of deep polarization. Also, in this final episode of season one, we provide a peek into what's in store for season two of Aspen Insight.

What does it look like when people rise to the challenge and tackle problems in their communities and around the world? Our first story highlights two gutsy women who are making strides towards gender equality in developing countries. Agnes Igoye trains law enforcement officers to counter human trafficking in Uganda and Quratulain Fatima was the first woman to join the Pakistan Airforce. They are both Aspen New Voices fellows. And who says young people can’t be leaders? In our second story, high school students in Philadelphia work with the Institute’s Aspen Challenge to develop projects that address critical issues in their communities, like poverty, nutrition, and cyberbullying. Find out more: www.aspeninstitute.org/insight. Follow us on Twitter, and share your thoughts with us using #AspenInsight.

While he rarely speaks to the media, Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s name makes headlines nearly everyday. He’s leading the probe into Russian meddling into the 2016 presidential campaign, and Garrett Graff was one of the first journalists to closely follow his career. Graff’s 2011 book The Threat Matrix offers an intimate look at then-FBI Director Mueller. Graff, who’s the executive director of the Aspen Institute’s Cybersecurity and Technology program, explains how Mueller’s handling of the Russia investigation reflects his commitment to country and the Constitution. It’s tax time and many people may be noticing how the new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is impacting their pocketbook. David Mitchell, senior program manager with the Institute’s Financial Security Program, gives his take on who benefits from the new plan. Find out more: www.aspeninstitute.org/insight. Follow us on Twitter, and share your thoughts with us using #AspenInsight.

What are the issues causing deep divisions in our neighborhoods and among our leadership in the United States? What can be done to repair the damage? Two former members of Congress — a Republican and a Democrat — describe how they worked across the aisle in a time when divisions weren’t so deep. Can today’s elected leaders use lessons from the past to find common ground? Then, Native American youth from Alaska to Montana describe how they’re working to build healthier communities for indigenous people in the midst of a nutrition crisis that has its roots in the removal of tribes from their homeland. Visit our website for more information. Follow us on Twitter, and share your thoughts with us using #AspenInsight.

What is the best way to speak up and navigate difficult conversations? This episode examines how breaking the silence about sexual harassment is leading to change, along with the best ways to engage those with whom we disagree. The collective power of women and men speaking up about unwanted sexual advances has led to the massive #MeToo Movement. An Aspen Institute executive shares her personal story of harassment, and explains why she’s hopeful about the future. Also, can speaking up and listening lead to an unlikely friendship? Todd Breyfogle’s job with the Institute’s Seminars Department is to literally encourage difficult conversations. He’s seen walls crumble as people with opposing viewpoints find commonality. Finally, an Aspen Institute Fellow uses technology to bring people together physically. Contrary to popular thought, she says tech can help people be less lonely. For more information about the topics discussed in this episode, visit the links below: ["It Happens Every Day. It Isn't Okay" by Peggy Clark][1] [Letter from a Birmingham City Jail by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr][2]. [Di-Ann Eisnor][3] [Aspen Institute Seminars Department][4] [Henry Crown Fellowship][5] Visit our website for more information. Follow us on Twitter, and share your thoughts with us using #AspenInsight.

What drives us to find a sense of power we didn’t know was there? It could be a crisis, or feeling unequal or left out. In some cases, the power we discover inspires us to write. In this episode, a niece finds that she has the power to help her ailing aunt in Puerto Rico. The island's power blackout following Hurricane Maria was preventing her aunt from getting life-saving medical treatment. Also, author Eric Liu talks about his book You’re More Powerful Than You Think. He says people are coming together and rising up across America and the world, demanding better treatment and a more equitable society. Finally, we introduce you to a list of twenty books of mission-driven fiction. The works, about immigration, inequality, incarceration, climate change, and much more, are finalists for the Aspen Words Literary Prize. Add these books to your list of must-reads in the new year! Follow our show on Twitter @aspeninstitute and Facebook at facebook.com/aspeninstitute. And, find us online!

The toll of the opioid drug crisis in America is far-reaching. We talk to a mother who battled addiction during pregnancy, and policy experts who are working to solve this epidemic. What can we do to win this battle? War in East Congo forced Robert Hakiza from his home. His new life as a refugee in Uganda was plagued with problems until he realized he could turn despair into action. What’s the likelihood of a sixth mass extinction? Some say it’s already underway. We talk to Collin O’Mara, president of the National Wildlife Federation, about the connection between too much screen-time for kids and the survival of species. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

Who is watching us when we aren’t looking? And what can we learn from keeping an attentive eye on the world around us? In this episode, we explore the life and work of Leonardo da Vinci, and examine how Leonardo’s genius came from his ability to observe the world with wonder. Then, a cybersecurity expert explains who is really watching us online and how they are influencing our lives. An expert from our Sports and Society program fills us in on a recent scandal in the NCAA, and finally, we hear how young Syrian journalists are being trained to observe and report on the facts of what is happening in their war-torn country. Follow the show on Twitter @aspeninstitute and Facebook at facebook.com/aspeninstitute.

How do we have difficult conversations about race in America today? In our debut episode, Clarence B. Jones, a close advisor to Martin Luther King, Jr., discusses what it was like to work with King in the 1960s and why Americans continue to grapple with talking about race. Then, we listen in as three Institute Fellows explore what the US can learn from countries like South Africa when it comes to confronting the darker parts of our history. Finally, we introduce you to a first-generation American who’s defying the odds and achieving her goals through a college education. Follow the show on Twitter @aspeninstitute and Facebook at facebook.com/aspeninstitute.

Finding common ground in today's divided society can feel like an impossible task. But here at the Aspen Institute, we are committed to doing just that. We work all across the globe, bringing together people from different backgrounds, experiences, and points of view, to tackle society's most complex issues. On Aspen Insight, hosts Marci Krivonen and Zach St. Louis take you through the halls of the Institute and introduce you to the fascinating people who come here to make the world a better place. Subscribe now. Episode 1 premieres on September 21.