Impact in the 21st Century

Episode #24 of Impact in the 21st Century features the legendary author, editor, and bibliophile Alberto Manguel. Alberto Manguel is the acclaimed author of A History of Reading, The Library at Night, and dozens of other works exploring literature, memory, and the profound human need for stories. A lifetime reader and former Director of the National Library of Argentina, Manguel has lived a life shaped by books—reading to Jorge Luis Borges as a teenager, curating libraries across continents, and writing deeply about the roles books play in our personal and collective lives. In this episode, Manguel offers a masterclass on the power of reading in shaping empathy, identity, and civilization itself. We explore: What it means to read deeply in a distracted age How libraries function as the “memory of humanity” Why stories hold the key to understanding ourselves and our societies His reflections on the current state—and future—of reading This is a timeless conversation for lovers of language, ideas, and the written word.  

Episode #23 of Impact in the 21st Century features the dynamic Hylton Kallner. Hylton is the CEO of Discovery Bank, a trailblazer in digital banking and behavioral economics. With a background in actuarial science and a deep passion for innovation, Hylton has helped shape Discovery's vision of a shared-value ecosystem—one that rewards people for living healthier and more financially responsible lives. In this episode, Hylton shares the journey of building Discovery Bank from the ground up, the power of incentives to change behavior at scale, and how technology, when aligned with purpose, can redefine financial services. From tackling inequality to enabling better money habits through gamified banking, Hylton's insights are both practical and inspiring. We also dive into his personal motivations, the future of finance, and why South Africa is uniquely positioned to pioneer inclusive banking solutions that make a real difference.

Episode #22 of Impact in the 21st Century features the inspiring Dr. Charles Owubah. Dr. Charles Owubah is the CEO of Action Against USA, an organization working to end the global hunger crisis.  Originally from Ghana, Dr. Owubah began his humanitarian work with a Master of Science and Ph.D. in Natural Resource Management and Policy from Purdue University.  From academia and consultancy, Dr. Owubah spent 20 years working at World Vision before moving to Action Against Hunger, where he heads the executive team, providing strategic direction to more than 1,600 staff across 8 countries and facilitating the organization's support for millions of people around the world experiencing hunger. In this episode, hear from Dr. Owubah about the true scale of the global hunger crisis, his own experiences growing up hungry, the work of Action Against Hunger to provide nutrition and food services in emergency contexts, and the importance of sustainability.   Learn more about Action Against Hunger USA: https://www.actionagainsthunger.org/   This episode is sponsored by RBC.   ___   What is Impact in the 21st Century?   Impact in the 21st Century is a podcast that celebrates the impactful work being done around the globe, and shares the stories of the inspiring individuals who are behind it.   Who hosts Impact in the 21st Century?   Aaron Friedland is a National Geographic Explorer, PhD Candidate in Econometrics at UBC, and Executive Director of Simbi Foundation.   Stream Impact in the 21st Century on your favourite streaming platform:   Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/impact-in-the-21st-century/id1529033008   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7F6IBSN7Ysz6wl622eK5lN   Google podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL3NpbWJpZm91bmRhdGlvbi9mZWVkLnhtbA?sa=X&ved=0CAIQ4aUDahcKEwiAoLbL3-HrAhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAQ

Episode #21 of Impact in the 21st Century features impactful guest Danny Glenwright. Danny Glenwright is the President and CEO at Save the Children Canada, where he is spearheading multiple international projects seeking to provide access to essential food, clean water, healthcare, medical treatment to children around the world.  Also on the board of directors for the Canadian Network of Women and Children's Health and the Humanitarian Coalition, Danny is passionate about human rights and equality for all. With a history of human rights work and journalism which has taken him to over 70 countries, a master's degree in international development, and a long list of contributions to Al Jazeera, VICE, Reuters, and other media outlets, Danny is an inspiration to listen to and learn from if you're interested in making the world a better, fairer place.  In this episode, hear about Danny's work at Save the Children Canada, what inspired him to pursue a career in the human rights sector, his perspectives on why aid fails in so many cases, and where wealthy governments need to step up to help make change sustainable. Learn more about Save the Children Canada: https://www.savethechildren.ca Learn more about the Pledge for Change: https://resourcecentre.savethechildren.net/document/pledge-for-change-2030/ This episode is sponsored by RBC. ___ What is Impact in the 21st Century? Impact in the 21st Century is a podcast created by Simbi Foundation, a non-profit organization working to support the next 3.5 million refugee learners with solar-powered classrooms called BrightBoxes. This podcast celebrates the impactful work being done around the globe, and shares the stories of the inspiring individuals who are behind it. Who hosts Impact in the 21st Century? Aaron Friedland is a National Geographic Explorer, PhD Candidate in Econometrics at UBC, Executive Director of Simbi Foundation, and innovator of the BrightBox solution and the unique reading platform Simbi. Stream Impact in the 21st Century on your favourite streaming platform: Apple Podcasts Spotify Google podcasts Learn more about our podcast at www.simbifoundation.org/podcast

Alyssa Carson is a space enthusiast, Astrobiology undergraduate student at the Florida Institute of Technology, author of “So You Want to Be An Astronaut”, and has spoken at multiple TED talks. Alyssa, now 21 years old, has attended Space Camp 7 times, Space Academy 3 times, Robotics Academy once, and was the youngest to graduate from Advanced Space Academy. She was also the first person in the world to attend all 3 NASA Space Camps, and the first to complete NASA's Passport program by visiting 14 NASA Centres across the US. She has since been selected as one of seven ambassadors representing Mars One, a mission seeking to establish a human colony on Mars in 2030. Alyssa is also passionate about education and spends many hours speaking to students in schools across North America, inspiring them to get involved in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. In this episode, you can hear Alyssa (or “Blueberry”, as per her call sign) discuss her lifelong goal of getting to Mars, what Mars has to offer us as a species, and what greater space exploration might reveal about how we can improve life and ecosystems here on earth. Learn more about Alyssa: https://nasablueberry.com/about/ Buy Alyssa's book “So You Want to Be an Astronaut”: https://www.amazon.ca/So-You-Want-Be-Astronaut/dp/173135794X Watch Alyssa's TED talk: https://youtu.be/_VhmI11ToiE This episode is sponsored by RBC. ___ What is Impact in the 21st Century? Impact in the 21st Century is a podcast created by Simbi Foundation, a non-profit organization working to support the next 3.5 million refugee learners with solar-powered classrooms called BrightBoxes. This podcast celebrates the impactful work being done around the globe, and shares the stories of the inspiring individuals who are behind it. Who hosts Impact in the 21st Century? Aaron Friedland is a National Geographic Explorer, PhD Candidate in Econometrics at UBC, Executive Director of Simbi Foundation, and innovator of the BrightBox solution and the unique reading platform Simbi. Stream Impact in the 21st Century on your favourite streaming platform: Apple Podcasts Spotify Google podcasts  Learn more about our podcast at www.simbifoundation.org/podcast

Episode #19 of Impact in the 21st Century features incredible guest Allen Lau. After migrating to Canada aged 19 and graduating with a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering at University of Toronto, Allen went on to co-found Wattpad, an online reading community where members can read and write original stories. With 90 million monthly users, Wattpad aims to dissolve the barriers between readers and writers, and build meaningful, engaged communities brought together by the power of stories. In this episode, hear the impactful, mission-driven story behind Wattpad's founding, how Allen persevered in the face of failure, his advice on how you can build strong reading habits, and his insights into what the future of reading and technology holds. Sign up to Wattpad for free and start writing or reading: https://www.wattpad.com/ Read the National Assessment of Educational Progress report on US declining reading levels in the aftermath of the pandemic: https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/highlights/reading/2022/ This episode is sponsored by RBC. ___ What is Impact in the 21st Century? Impact in the 21st Century is a podcast created by Simbi Foundation, a non-profit organization working to support the next 3.5 million refugee learners with solar-powered classrooms called BrightBoxes. This podcast celebrates the impactful work being done around the globe, and shares the stories of the inspiring individuals who are behind it. Who hosts Impact in the 21st Century? Aaron Friedland is a National Geographic Explorer, PhD Candidate in Econometrics at UBC, Executive Director of Simbi Foundation, and innovator of the BrightBox solution and the unique reading platform Simbi. Stream Impact in the 21st Century on your favourite streaming platform: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/impact-in-the-21st-century/id1529033008 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7F6IBSN7Ysz6wl622eK5lN Google podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL3NpbWJpZm91bmRhdGlvbi9mZWVkLnhtbA?sa=X&ved=0CAIQ4aUDahcKEwiAoLbL3-HrAhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAQ Learn more about our podcast at www.simbifoundation.org/podcast

Marc Tarpenning is an acclaimed American engineer, technology entrepreneur and a co-founder of Tesla Inc. Marc worked with Tesla as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Vice President of Engineering for several years before he moved on to advise other companies like Berkely SkyDeck. In this episode, here Marc discusses the story of how his environmental concerns in 2003 led to him co-founding Tesla, the evolution of technology and engineering over the past 20 years, and how you too can find meaning in your career. Learn more about Marc: https://marctarpenning.com/ This episode was mixed and mastered by Musa Habib. This episode is sponsored by RBC. ___ What is Impact in the 21st Century? Impact in the 21st Century is a podcast created by Simbi Foundation, a non-profit organization working to support the next 3.5 million refugee learners with solar-powered classrooms called BrightBoxes. This podcast celebrates the impactful work being done around the globe, and shares the stories of the inspiring individuals who are behind it. Who hosts Impact in the 21st Century? Aaron Friedland is a National Geographic Explorer, PhD Candidate in Econometrics at UBC, Executive Director of Simbi Foundation, and innovator of the BrightBox solution and the unique reading platform Simbi. Stream Impact in the 21st Century on your favourite streaming platform: Apple Podcasts Spotify Google podcasts Learn more about our podcast at www.simbifoundation.org/podcast

Seth Klein is the acclaimed author of

Craig Foster is the subject and creative mind behind the Oscar-winning film My Octopus Teacher, released on Netflix in 2020, which documented the incredible relationship Craig built a small octopus in the kelp forests on the coast of South Africa. Craig is also the Co-founder of Sea Change Project, an NPO dedicated to protecting our oceans and the Great African Seaforest through science, storytelling, journalism, and filmmaking. In this episode of Impact in the 21st Century, hear Craig explain how he immersed himself in the kelp forests, how he built his relationship with the octopus, and why you should remember that you, too, are wild. Watch My Octopus Teacher: https://www.netflix.com/ca/title/81045007 Learn more about Sea Change Project and support their work: https://seachangeproject.com/ This episode was mixed and mastered by Musa Habib. ____ What is Impact in the 21st Century? Impact in the 21st Century is a podcast created by Simbi Foundation, a non-profit organization working to support the next 3.5 million refugee learners with solar-powered classrooms called BrightBoxes. This podcast celebrates the impactful work being done around the globe, and shares the stories of the inspiring individuals who are behind it. In this special series, we're focusing on the people working to protect our natural world, innovate greener technologies, and ensure that nobody is left behind in the process. Who hosts Impact in the 21st Century? Aaron Friedland is a National Geographic Explorer, PhD Candidate in Econometrics at UBC, Executive Director of Simbi Foundation, and innovator of the BrightBox solution and the unique reading platform Simbi. Stream Impact in the 21st Century on your favourite streaming platform: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/impact-in-the-21st-century/id1529033008 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7F6IBSN7Ysz6wl622eK5lN Google podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL3NpbWJpZm91bmRhdGlvbi9mZWVkLnhtbA?sa=X&ved=0CAIQ4aUDahcKEwiAoLbL3-HrAhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAQ Learn more about our podcast at www.simbifoundation.org/podcast  

Cristina “Mitty” Mittermeier is a marine biologist, photographer, and conservationist who has spent the last 25 years unveiling the wonders and secrets beneath the surface of our oceans, and the impacts of human activity on these ecosystems. Cristina is also a Co-founder of SeaLegacy, an NGO working to create healthy and abundant oceans for us and for the planet.  In this episode of Impact in the 21st Century, hear Cristina's story, what drives her to take photos, how you can use social media to further your own impactful cause, and how you can practice Cristina's concept of “enoughness”. Sign SeaLegacy's petition to the UN for plastic reduction Sign the petition to protect wild salmon from industrial farming Learn more about SeaLegacy Make an impact on Only One See Cristina's photographs Follow Cristina on Instagram This episode was mixed and mastered by Musa Habib. ____ More About Cristina: Cristina believes that stunning visual storytelling is the key to unlocking critical action to help heal our ocean and save our planet. Beginning her career as a marine biologist in her native Mexico, she soon discovered the power of imagery in ocean advocacy work. She went on to become an internationally recognized National Geographic photographer, public speaker, and founder of The International League of Conservation Photographers. In 2014, she co-founded SeaLegacy and, in 2020, expanded that work with the formation of Only One, a digital action platform built to support and uplift the ocean conservation community while driving action to achieve measurable, sustainable and equitable returns for people and the ocean. Mittermeier is a Sony Artisan of Imagery and, along with her partner Paul Nicklen, was named one of National Geographic's Adventurers of the Year in 2018. She is the recipient of many prestigious awards, including the Smithsonian Conservation Photographer of the Year Award and the Imaging Award for Photographers Who Give Back. In 2021, she received the Seattle Aquarium's Sylvia Earle Medal and Travel + Leisure's Global Vision Award. She was also named one of the 100 Latinos Most Committed to Climate Action. and aligns with Rolex's Perpetual Planet initiative. Earlier this year, Mittermeier received an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts, Honoris Causa, from Simon Fraser University. ____ What is Impact in the 21st Century? Impact in the 21st Century is a podcast created by Simbi Foundation, a non-profit organization working to support the next 3.5 million refugee learners with solar-powered classrooms called BrightBoxes. This podcast celebrates the impactful work being done around the globe, and shares the stories of the inspiring individuals who are behind it. In this special series, we're focusing on the people working to protect our natural world, innovate greener technologies, and ensure that nobody is left behind in the process. Who hosts Impact in the 21st Century? Aaron Friedland is a National Geographic Explorer, PhD Candidate in Econometrics at UBC, Executive Director of Simbi Foundation, and innovator of the BrightBox solution and the unique reading platform Simbi. Stream Impact in the 21st Century on your favourite streaming platform: Apple Podcasts Spotify Google podcasts On our website

Equipped with little more than a notebook, binoculars, and her fascination with wildlife, Jane Goodall braved a realm of unknowns to give the world a remarkable window into humankind's closest living relatives. Through nearly 60 years of groundbreaking work, Dr. Jane Goodall has not only shown us the urgent need to protect chimpanzees from extinction; she has also redefined species conservation to include the needs of local people and the environment. In this episode of Impact in the 21st Century, hear about Jane's childhood, how she revolutionized scientific understanding of chimpanzees, key learnings from her experience, and steps that you can take to feel more hopeful in your life. Learn more about the Jane Goodall Institute here: https://www.janegoodall.ca Learn more about Roots and Shoots: http://rootsandshoots.ca/ Read Jane Goodall's books: http://wiki.janegoodall.org/wiki/Books?_ga=2.180980577.756277851.1649286906-1138434439.1646855957 Follow the Jane Goodall Institute on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janegoodallcan/ On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JaneGoodallCAN/ On Twitter: https://twitter.com/janegoodallCAN This episode was mixed and mastered by Musa Habib. Thumbnail and episode title card photo credit: JGI/Bill Wallauer ____ What is Impact in the 21st Century? Impact in the 21st Century is a podcast created by Simbi Foundation, a non-profit organization working to support the next 3.5 million refugee learners with solar-powered classrooms called BrightBoxes. This podcast celebrates the impactful work being done around the globe, and shares the stories of the inspiring individuals who are behind it. In this special series, we're focusing on the people working to protect our natural world, innovate greener technologies, and ensure that nobody is left behind in the process. Who hosts Impact in the 21st Century? Aaron Friedland is a National Geographic Explorer, PhD Candidate in Econometrics at UBC, Executive Director of Simbi Foundation, and innovator of the BrightBox solution and the unique reading platform Simbi. Stream Impact in the 21st Century on your favourite streaming platform: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/impact-in-the-21st-century/id1529033008 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7F6IBSN7Ysz6wl622eK5lN Google podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL3NpbWJpZm91bmRhdGlvbi9mZWVkLnhtbA?sa=X&ved=0CAIQ4aUDahcKEwiAoLbL3-HrAhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAQ Learn more about our podcast at www.simbifoundation.org/podcast

In this episode of Impact in the 21st Century, hear Scott Harrison's incredible story from nightclub promoter to charity: water founder, learn more about the global challenge of access to water, and discover how you, too, can turn vision into action. Scott Harrison spent almost 10 years as a nightclub promoter in New York City before leaving to volunteer on a hospital ship off the coast of Liberia, West Africa as a volunteer photojournalist. Returning home to New York City two years later, he founded the non-profit organization charity: water in 2006. Turning his full attention to the global water crisis and the world's 771 million people without clean water to drink, he created public installations and innovative online fundraising platforms to spread international awareness of the issue. In 15 years, with the help of more than 1 million donors worldwide, charity: water has raised over $600 million and funded 991,414 water projects in 29 countries. Learn more about charity: water here: https://youtu.be/bdBG5VO01e0 Support charity: water by joining The Spring: www.thespring.com Thank you to RBC for sponsoring this episode. This episode was mixed and mastered by Musa Habib. __ What is Impact in the 21st Century? Impact in the 21st Century is a podcast created by Simbi Foundation, a non-profit organization working to support the next 3.5 million refugee learners with solar-powered classrooms called BrightBoxes. This podcast celebrates the impactful work being done around the globe, and shares the stories of the inspiring individuals who are behind it. In this series, we're focusing on the people working to protect our natural world, innovate greener technologies, and ensure that nobody is left behind in the process. Who hosts Impact in the 21st Century? Aaron Friedland is a National Geographic Explorer, PhD Candidate in Econometrics at UBC, Executive Director of Simbi Foundation, and innovator of the BrightBox solution and the unique reading platform Simbi. Learn more at www.simbifoundation.org/podcast/

Thank you to RBC for sponsoring this episode! Joshua Dahn is the Founder and Executive Director of Astra Nova - a non-profit, online school which seeks to provide students with more meaningful and formative learning experiences than the national curriculum. Born from a previous educational collaboration with Elon Musk, Astra Nova now aims to reach millions of students around the world through its unique Synthesis and Conundrums learning software. Does the current educational system make us all the same? How could education be more meaningful for students? In this episode, hear Joshua Dahn and host Aaron Friedland discuss whether we are on the cusp of a new era of education. Visit Astra Nova's website: https://www.astranova.org/ Try a Conundrum: https://www.astranova.org/xyz/conundrums Learn more about Synthesis: https://www.astranova.org/xyz/synthesis We apologize for Aaron's poor audio quality in this episode - we're working on it! What is Impact in the 21st Century? Impact in the 21st Century is a podcast created by Simbi Foundation, a non-profit organization working to support the next 3.5 million refugee learners with solar-powered classrooms called BrightBoxes. This podcast shares stories of positive impact in a world, that right now, can leave us all feeling a little helpless. Each episode features an inspiring guest and discusses the positive impact they're making, how they discovered their passion, and what they've done to turn vision into action. Who hosts Impact in the 21st Century? Aaron Friedland is a National Geographic Explorer, PhD Candidate in Econometrics at UBC, Executive Director of Simbi Foundation, and innovator of the BrightBox solution and the unique reading platform Simbi. Learn more and join the mailing list at www.simbifoundation.org/podcast/

Thank you to RBC for sponsoring this episode! Shalane Yuen is the Executive Director of the Trevor Noah Foundation, which works to provide South African students with improved access to quality education. How does learning from your mistakes lead to growing your impact? How should NGOs be collaborating with communities? What is the founding story of the Trevor Noah Foundation? In this episode, hear Shalane and host Aaron Friedland discuss improving access to education for all in the 21st Century. Visit the Trevor Noah Foundation's website: https://trevornoahfoundation.org/ This episode was mixed and mastered by Musa Habib. What is Impact in the 21st Century? Impact in the 21st Century is a podcast created by Simbi Foundation, a non-profit organization working to support the next 3.5 million refugee learners with solar-powered classrooms called BrightBoxes. This podcast shares stories of positive impact in a world, that right now, can leave us all feeling a little helpless. Each episode features an inspiring guest and discusses the positive impact they're making, how they discovered their passion, and what they've done to turn vision into action. Who hosts Impact in the 21st Century? Aaron Friedland is a National Geographic Explorer, PhD Candidate in Econometrics at UBC, Executive Director of Simbi Foundation, and innovator of the BrightBox solution and the unique reading platform Simbi. Learn more and join the mailing list at www.simbifoundation.org/podcast/

Guy Kawasaki is an author, speaker, entrepreneur, and has worked as Chief Evangelist at both Apple and Canva. How can you use mantras to help build your organization? How can you overcome imposter syndrome in the 21st Century? What is the future of education in a post-covid world? In this episode, hear Guy and host Aaron Friedland discuss democratizing design, education, and knowledge in the 21st Century. Listen to Guy's podcast, Remarkable People: https://guykawasaki.com/remarkable-people/ Thank you to RBC for sponsoring this episode! This episode was mixed and mastered by Musa Habib. What is Impact in the 21st Century? Impact in the 21st Century is a podcast created by Simbi Foundation, a non-profit organization working to support the next 3.5 million refugee learners with solar-powered classrooms called BrightBoxes. This podcast shares stories of positive impact in a world, that right now, can leave us all feeling a little helpless. Each episode features an inspiring guest and discusses the positive impact they're making, how they discovered their passion, and what they've done to turn vision into action. Who hosts Impact in the 21st Century? Aaron Friedland is a National Geographic Explorer, PhD Candidate in Econometrics at UBC, Executive Director of Simbi Foundation, and innovator of the BrightBox solution and the unique reading platform Simbi. Learn more at www.simbifoundation.org/podcast/

Michael Tamblyn is the CEO of Kobo books, host of Kobo in Conversation podcast, and reading enthusiast. In this episode, hear Michael and host Aaron Friedland discuss the future of reading in the 21st Century. Enjoyed the episode? Feel free to like, share, follow, or review and help spread positive impact. Michael's recommended reads: https://www.michaeltamblyn.com/omnivore Twitter - https://twitter.com/mtamblyn?lang=en Kobo in Conversation podcast - https://www.kobo.com/blog/kobo-in-conversation Thank you to RBC for sponsoring this episode! This episode was mixed and mastered by Musa Habib at Blank Vinyl Project: https://www.blankvinyl.com/ What is Impact in the 21st Century? Impact in the 21st Century is a podcast created by Simbi Foundation, a non-profit organization working to support the next 3.5 million refugee learners with solar-powered classrooms called BrightBoxes. This podcast shares stories of positive impact in a world, that right now, can leave us all feeling a little helpless. Each episode features an inspiring guest and discusses the positive impact they're making, how they discovered their passion, and what they've done to turn vision into action. Who hosts Impact in the 21st Century? Aaron Friedland is a National Geographic Explorer, PhD Candidate in Econometrics at UBC, Executive Director of Simbi Foundation, and innovator of the BrightBox solution and the unique reading platform Simbi. Learn more at: https://simbifoundation.org/podcast/

Adrienne Gear is an educator, speaker, literacy specialist, and author of Reading Power, Powerful Understanding, and more. How has teaching changed in the age of the internet? How can you inspire your students to become lifelong learners? In this episode, hear Adrienne Gear discuss brain pockets, writing her books, and how teaching needs to change in the 21st Century. Purchase Adrienne's books: https://www.readingpowergear.com/store Visit Adrienne's website: www.readingpowergear.com Visit Adrienne's blog: https://readingpowergear.wordpress.com/ Follow Adrienne on social media: Twitter - @AdrienneGear | Instagram - readingpowergear | Facebook - www.facebook.com/readingpowergear/ Thank you to RBC for sponsoring this episode! This episode was mixed and mastered by Blank Vinyl Project: https://www.blankvinyl.com/ What is Impact in the 21st Century? Impact in the 21st Century is a podcast created by Simbi Foundation, a non-profit organization working to support the next 3.5 million refugee learners with solar-powered classrooms called BrightBoxes. This podcast shares stories of positive impact in a world, that right now, can leave us all feeling a little helpless. Each episode features an inspiring guest and discusses the positive impact they’re making, how they discovered their passion, and what they’ve done to turn vision into action. Who hosts Impact in the 21st Century? Aaron Friedland is a National Geographic Explorer, PhD Candidate in Econometrics at UBC, Executive Director of Simbi Foundation, and innovator of the BrightBox solution and the unique reading platform Simbi. Learn more and subscribe to the mailing list here: https://simbifoundation.org/podcast/

Wade Davis is an anthropologist, National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence, bestselling author, photographer, ethnographer, and professor.  Can we sustain human life on planet Earth? How can we learn more deeply? Why does anthropology matter in the 21st Century? In this episode, hear Wade Davis discuss his global exploration, jobs vs. work, the coca plant, and how to be creative in today's world. Purchase Wade Davis' books: https://daviswade.com/books Read the Unravelling of America: https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/political-commentary/covid-19-end-of-american-era-wade-davis-1038206/ Thank you to RBC for sponsoring this episode! This episode was mixed and mastered by Blank Vinyl Project: https://www.blankvinyl.com/ What is Impact in the 21st Century? Impact in the 21st Century is a podcast created by Simbi Foundation, a non-profit organization working to support the next 3.5 million refugee learners with solar-powered classrooms called BrightBoxes. This podcast shares stories of positive impact in a world, that right now, can leave us all feeling a little helpless. Each episode features an inspiring guest and discusses the positive impact they’re making, how they discovered their passion, and what they’ve done to turn vision into action. Who hosts Impact in the 21st Century? Aaron Friedland is a National Geographic Explorer, PhD Candidate in Econometrics at UBC, Executive Director of Simbi Foundation, and innovator of the BrightBox solution and the unique reading platform Simbi. Learn more and subscribe to the mailing list here: https://simbifoundation.org/podcast/

Thank you for tuning in to our first 6 episodes of Impact in the 21st Century, a new podcast by Simbi Foundation! We loved making these episodes for you, and can't wait to share more impactful stories from more inspiring guests in 2021.Check out our first six episodes below!

Meghan Cox Gurdon is an author, essayist, book critic, and former foreign correspondent who has been the Wall Street Journal’s children’s book reviewer since 2005.----more----Social media gives up quick dopamine fixes - can reading? How can we build reading habits in a fast-paced, technological world? Can reading aloud be beneficial? In this episode, hear Meghan Cox Gurdon discuss reading aloud, reading with screens vs. reading with paper books, and how to remove distractions in 21st Century.----more----Meghan Cox Gurdon's latest book is The Enchanted Hour: The Miraculous Power of Reading Aloud in the Age of Distraction: https://www.meghancoxgurdon.com/ ----more----Thank you to RBC for sponsoring this episode!----more----This episode was mixed and mastered by Nick Sciarretta and Abhinav Subramani at Blank Vinyl Project: https://www.blankvinyl.com/ ----more----What is Impact in the 21st Century?Impact in the 21st Century is a podcast created by Simbi Foundation, a non-profit organization working to support the next 3.5 million refugee learners with solar-powered classrooms called BrightBoxes. This podcast brings to light the positive social impact made by activists, academics, authors, founders, and innovators.----more----Who hosts Impact in the 21st Century? Aaron Friedland is a National Geographic Explorer, PhD Candidate in Econometrics at UBC, Executive Director of Simbi Foundation, and innovator of the BrightBox solution and the unique reading platform Simbi.----more----Learn more and subscribe to the mailing list here: https://simbifoundation.org/impact-in-the-21st-century-podcast/

Neil deGrasse Tyson is an astrophysicist, author, educator, host of Cosmos and StarTalk, and director of the Hayden Planetarium.What's the most effective way to educate in the 21st Century? Is work-life balance overrated? Is the human brain smart enough to understand the secrets of the Universe? Should information come with a truth-measure? In this episode, hear Neil deGrasse Tyson discuss teaching in today's content-saturated world, thoughts that keep him up at night, and his views on leaving an impact in the 21st Century.Neil deGrasse Tyson's curated long- and short-form content list: https://www.haydenplanetarium.org/tyson/conversation/index.php Neil deGrasse Tyson's books: Letters from an Astrophysicist: https://www.haydenplanetarium.org/tyson/books/2019-10-letters-from-an-astrophysicist.phpAstrophysics for people in a hurry: https://www.haydenplanetarium.org/tyson/books/2017-05-astrophysics-for-people-in-a-hurry.phpNeil deGrasse Tyson essay: https://www.haydenplanetarium.org/tyson/commentary/2020-06-03-reflections-on-color-of-my-skin.phpThank you to RBC for sponsoring this episode!This episode was mixed and mastered by Nick Sciarretta at Blank Vinyl Project: https://www.blankvinyl.com/What is Impact in the 21st Century?Impact in the 21st Century is a podcast created by Simbi Foundation, a non-profit organization working to support the next 3.5 million refugee learners with solar-powered classrooms called BrightBoxes. This podcast brings to light the positive social impact made by activists, academics, authors, founders, and innovators.Who hosts Impact in the 21st Century?Aaron Friedland is a National Geographic Explorer, PhD Candidate in Econometrics at UBC, Executive Director of Simbi Foundation, and innovator of the BrightBox solution and the unique reading platform Simbi.Learn more and subscribe to the mailing list here: https://simbifoundation.org/impact-in-the-21st-century-podcast/

Maryanne Wolf is an author, scholar, teacher, and advocate for children and literacy around the world. She is the Director of the  newly created Center for Dyslexia, Diverse Learners, and Social Justice at the UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Studies.How did reading change our own brains? What's the state of literacy of North America today? Should Twitter ever be used in politics? Is technology overpowering our ability to read? In this episode, hear Maryanne Wolf discuss the impact of her work concerning reading, the human brain, and the rise of technology. Maryanne Wolf's books:Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain (2007, HarperCollins)Dyslexia, Fluency, and the Brain (Edited; York, 2001) Tales of Literacy for the 21st Century (2016, Oxford University Press)Reader, Come Home: The Reading Brain in a Digital World (August, 2018, HarperCollins)Thank you to RBC for sponsoring this episode!What is Impact in the 21st Century?Impact in the 21st Century is a podcast created by Simbi Foundation, a non-profit organisation working to support the next 3.5 million refugee learners with solar-powered classrooms called BrightBoxes. This podcast brings to light the positive social impact made by activists, academics, authors, founders, and innovators.Who hosts Impact in the 21st Century?Aaron Friedland is a National Geographic Explorer, PhD Candidate in Econometrics at UBC, Executive Director of Simbi Foundation, and innovator of the BrightBox solution and the unique reading platform Simbi.Learn more and subscribe to the mailing list here: https://simbifoundation.org/impact-in-the-21st-century-podcast/

Ndileka Mandela is a social activist, author of 'I Am Ndileka: More Than My Surname', the eldest grandchild of Nelson Mandela, and the founder of the Thembekile Mandela Foundation, which seeks to continue the legacy of Nelson Mandela by promoting Health and Education Programmes in selected remote schools. In this episode, Ndileka Mandela speaks about growing up a Mandela, the burdens and privileges this name has brought to her life, and using her voice to promote gender equality and access to education for girls. Impact in the 21st Century is a podcast created by Simbi Foundation. Hosted by Aaron Friedland, this podcast brings to light the positive social impact made by activists, academics, authors, founders, and innovators all around the world. Thank you for listening and supporting this podcast! If you're enjoying these episodes, sign up to our mailing list to receive news about upcoming impactful guests!  

David Suzuki is a climate activist, an award-winning geneticist, CBC's 'The Nature of Things' host, author of 50 titles, and founder of the David Suzuki Foundation, which seeks to protect nature's diversity and the well-being of all life, now and for the future.In this episode, David Suzuki speaks about the rise of alternative facts, the internet and confirmation bias, elevating economies above climates, and the need for a return to an eco-centric worldview.Impact in the 21st Century is a podcast created by Simbi Foundation. This podcast brings to light the positive social impact made by activists, academics, authors, founders, and innovators.David Suzuki FoundationSign up to our mailing list to receive news about new episodes!  

Alex Honnold is a professional rock climber and athlete who made history with this free solo climb of El Capitan, Yosemite. He's also the founder of the Honnold Foundation, an organization dedicated to providing access to solar power. In this episode, Alex Honnold discusses his groundbreaking El Capitan free solo climb, Honnold Foundation's impactful solar energy initiatives, and how to find focus in a world fixated with scrolling and social media. Impact in the 21st Century is a podcast created by Simbi Foundation. This podcast brings to light the positive social impact made by activists, academics, authors, founders, and innovators. Learn more and subscribe to the mailing list here!  Alex Honnold's reading list!Honnold Foundationsimbifoundation.org/impact-in-the-21st-century

What is Impact in the 21st Century? Listen to host, Aaron Friedland, share the story, purpose, and themes of this social impact podcast.