SolveCast

Creating Consent-Forward Theater Spaces with Veronica DressWhy does consent-forward theater matter to Veronica Dress? We interviewed Veronica about how she founded 'The Dress Rehearsal' and her role as an intimacy director dedicated to inclusive, consent-forward sexual health education and creative storytelling. In the interview, Veronica discusses the passion behind fostering environments where artists can thrive, the critical importance of advocating for boundaries in performance spaces, and the transformative power of authentic connection and communication. She also reflects on the history of intimacy direction in the theater industry, its impact following the Me Too movement, and her approach to teaching self-advocacy and authenticity.00:18 Creating Consent-Forward Theater Spaces01:25 The Role and Impact of an Intimacy Director03:59 Challenges and Advocacy in Theater05:43 Veronica's Background and Personal Journey10:12 Speed Round: Matters, Not MattersSolvecast is now Matters.com Same mission, new name. We're here to help people understand what matters and view the world through that lens. The new site launches later this year — thank you to everyone who's been part of the journey. Stay in the loop Join thousands getting the Matters.com newsletter — world news, fresh perspectives, and early beta access.

Welcome to Matters.com — formerly SolvecastSame mission, new name. We're focused on helping people understand what matters and see the world through that lens. The new site, Matters.com, launches later this year. Huge thanks to everyone who's been part of the journey — including our latest guest in this new format....Embracing AI Optimism: A Conversation with Chris SingleIn this episode, we speak with Chris Single, a self-proclaimed AI optimist and founder of his own agency. Chris shares his insights on the importance of AI, addressing both the fears and the potential benefits it brings to our lives. He highlights his experiences using AI for writing books, speaking at TEDx events, and consulting with businesses. The discussion covers the future of AI, its impact on jobs, privacy concerns, and the role of AI in personal and professional life. Chris emphasizes the importance of embracing AI as a tool to improve human experiences and touches on various related topics in a rapid-fire segment.Also bonus... Matters.com speed round.00:18 Embracing AI: Overcoming Fear and Distrust01:10 The Practical Uses of AI Today03:45 AI's Impact on Jobs and Society05:21 The Future of AI: Superintelligence and Beyond08:08 The Ethical and Social Implications of AI10:11 Speed Round: Matters/Not MattersSolvecast is now Matters.com Same mission, new name. We're here to help people understand what matters and view the world through that lens. The new site launches later this year — thank you to everyone who's been part of the journey. Stay in the loop Join thousands getting the Matters.com newsletter — world news, fresh perspectives, and early beta access.

Dierdre Irwin, a Florida water conservation coordinator, and Melissa Lubitz, Director of Business Development for Hydraloop in North America, share insights into the current state of water resources in Florida. They discuss the impacts of over-pumping from the Floridan Aquifer, the shift towards alternative water sources, and the role of greywater recycling. The episode also highlights the importance of education, economic incentives, and regulation in promoting water conservation and sustainable practices. Interviewed by Abigail Bassett.00:17 Florida's Growing Population and Water Demand00:47 Current Water Management Strategies02:25 Water Recycling in Florida03:12 Regulation and Certification in Water Recycling05:09 Educating Builders and Homeowners07:39 Economic Incentives for Water Conservation10:04 Expanding Water Conservation Efforts NationwideVisit Solvecast.com for more.For more information on Melissa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-lubitz-70815644/For more information on Dierdre: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deirdre-irwin-7b91242/For more information on Abigail: https://abigailbassett.com/

In this episode of Solvecast, host Kristen Espinosa interviews Jason Lorber, president of Aplomb Consulting, about effective change management strategies. Jason discusses the importance of empowering teams, the role of leadership in setting the vision, and the critical impact of diversity, equity, and inclusion. He shares insights from his experience, including success stories and the value of tapping into individual and organizational strengths. This episode emphasizes the necessity of leader involvement and authentic employee engagement for transformational change.00:31 Understanding Resistance to Change01:02 Empowering Teams for Effective Change Management02:12 Case Study: Mental Health Organization05:00 The Role of Leadership in Change Management06:22 Long-term Mentality and Change Management Principles06:54 Identifying and Leveraging Employee Strengths10:30 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Change Management

We interview Jason Jacobsohn, venture capitalist and founder of Propellant Ventures, about effective strategies in business networking. Jacobson emphasizes the importance of relationship-building over transactional interactions, advocating for an approach that values long-term connections and trust. He discusses prioritizing thought leadership and the 'pay it forward' mentality, suggesting these methods foster goodwill and professional connections. The conversation offers insight into being approachable on LinkedIn and ensuring meaningful engagement with potential connections.01:58 The Power of Paying It Forward02:44 Embracing Thought Leadership03:34 Overcoming Networking Challenges04:36 Leveraging Online and In-Person Networking05:41 Mastering LinkedIn for Networking SuccessFor more information about Jason visit:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonjacobsohn/and https://www.propellant.vc/

In this episode of Solvecast,  we discuss the critical water crisis  with Melissa Lubitz, Director of Business Development at Hydraloop North America. Melissa emphasizes education as a key role in her work, advocating for decentralized, in-home solutions to significantly reduce water usage and contribute to a sustainable water economy. State-level successes in incentivizing greywater recycling in new developments are shared, alongside the potential for greywater recycling devices to save significant amounts of potable water and reduce infrastructure strain. Visit: https://www.hydraloop.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-lubitz-7081564400:18 The Critical Water Scarcity in North America01:14 Government vs. Individual Responsibility in Water Conservation02:09 Innovative Solutions: Greywater Recycling and Circular Economy04:01 The Financial Aspect of Water Recycling Technologies05:38 Advocacy and Education: The Path to Sustainable Water Use08:38 The Impact of Greywater Recycling on the Water Crisis10:48 Closing Thoughts and How to Get InvolvedVisit http://www.solvecast.com  for more information

Beverly talks with UCLA colleague Alex Nascimento about blockchain, crypto investing and Alex's focus on the Latin American market.

Beverly Macy speaks to Natalia Aranovich of Aranovich Law Firm about the legal implications of NFTs.

We speak to Noah Rosenblatt, Founder and CEO of UrbanDigs, on the current state of the real estate market.

We speak with with Ashleigh Corker Co-Founder Proto101, on the ethics of fast fashion and the sustainable supply chain. For more information, please visit www.solvecast.com.

Wait... Don't send another work email until you listen to this podcast.Russ Catanach interviews Davina Stanley Communication Strategist and Coach  of  Clarity First Program on communicating the right message to the right people in the right way.In association with Flevy.com - Marketplace for Business Best Practices, where you can download Davina's comprehensive communication course.What factors should you consider in determining how much time composing a specific work email? How can you reduce the time and resources your colleagues spend consuming the emails you send?When should you send an email vs. communicate in real-time?All these questions and much more answered in this podcast.#communication #email #organizationaleffectiveness #timemanagement

We speak to Michael Lenox, Professor Darden School of Business, on solving for climate change and more.

We speak to Dawn Ringrose of Organizational Excellence Specialists on the key factors that impact organizational excellence.Dawn Ringrose is an author on Flevy, the marketplace for business best practices. She also teaches a 7-week Flevy Executive Learning (FEL) program on organizational excellence.

We speak to Cynthia Fishman, Director and Founder of the Biomimicry Design Alliance on biomimicry, sustainability and more.

From pharmaceuticals to manufacturing, the benefits of space are now within reach for almost any industry.   We speak to Cynthia Bouthot and Jonathan Volk of Space Commerce Matters on the far-reaching impact of space commerce.

We speak to Jonathan Miller of Miller Samuel Inc. on the impact of work from home on real estate and more. Jonathan Miller is President and CEO of Miller Samuel Inc., a real estate appraisal and consulting firm he co-founded in 1986. Miller Samuel provides appraisal and consulting services on as much as $5 billion worth of property per year in the New York City metropolitan area. Jonathan is a real estate analyst and a state-certified real estate appraiser in New York and Connecticut, performing court testimony as an expert witness in various local, state and federal courts across the U.S. He holds the Counselors of Real Estate (CRE) and Certified Relocation Professional (CRP) designations. He is an Appraiser "A" Member of the Real Estate Board of New York and a former two-term President of RAC, a national organization of appraisers who specialize in providing valuation solutions for complex residential properties

What is the impact of vacant land on a community?From sustainability to inequality, Ariam Ford, executive director of Grounded Strategies, is interviewed by Karrah Krakovyak on the far reaching implications of vacant land and the amazing work that Grounded Strategies is doing to solve this problem."Studies show that, for example, if you grow up next to a concentration of vacant lots, because we know it's a systemic issue and it's related to all issues of social justice, you are more likely to be sicker over the course of your lifetime. You're more likely to make less money than other counterparts in your cohort. You're like more likely to have a score lower on tests or have more mental stress."For more, please watch the SolveCast video here.

Hub → RacismI also want to highlight that Portland has been a very we have a very racist, white dominant history as a city. And we're as a community working to dismantle that racism that's been institutionalized and internalized in most of us. And how can we do that? Utilizing The Redd facility and creating access for opportunity and shifting power to folks who have been marginalized out of the system. And what does that look like and how can we create a platform for it, with the infrastructure that we have and the gathering spaces. http://www.solvecast.com/articles/detail/19070-building-a-sustainable-and-just-food-system-with-emma-sharer-ecotrust-investments [more]Hub → Food productionAlso I think another huge layer to this community benefits the collaborative piece, right? So there's, sometimes a hundred businesses onsite at once doing, not in the COVID era, but pre COVID doing their business and whether it's producing or warehousing or whatnot. And then they're collaborating with each other. And I feel like in our very broken sort of commodity size food world, that doesn't exist. So finding that is really important. http://www.solvecast.com/articles/detail/19070-building-a-sustainable-and-just-food-system-with-emma-sharer-ecotrust-investments [more]Hub → Food distribution Hub → Food Industry Hub → FoodSo I think what is truly valuable from a food business perspective is you typically start with your warehouse somewhere, your kitchen, somewhere, your buyer, somewhere, and The Redd. Not that everything has to be in one spot, but is a really nice spawning ground. So to speak. Or a food business to start. And that's because you can make your product in one of the kitchens, you can store your product with beeline. One of our tenants who manages the warehouse and then have it delivered by beeline. And, or be connected to the local grocery market in town, new seasons, for example, which is a big partner of ours in The Redd ecosystem. http://www.solvecast.com/articles/detail/19070-building-a-sustainable-and-just-food-system-with-emma-sharer-ecotrust-investments [more]Food production → Sustainability Hub → FoodOur program team at Ecotrust on the food side, did this study to understand where the gaps were in getting locally sourced produced, raised meats, produce seafood into the hands of people and our community. And what came out of that study was cold storage, dry storage, kitchen, production, space ,events, community gathering spots. And that is what The Redd is now. http://www.solvecast.com/articles/detail/19070-building-a-sustainable-and-just-food-system-with-emma-sharer-ecotrust-investments [more]

Katherine Camp from P4G partnerships discusses the importance and impact of the 2030 sustainability goals.

We interview Michelle Eger, Co-Founder and CEO at BIOMILQ on how her company is solving for infant malnutrition, breastfeeding and more through innovations in  food technology .

Linda Hodo interviews Kimberli Jeter, Founder River Wolf Group on creating a purpose driven organization.Some highlights:Experimenting → BusinessesYou're not going to get everything right the first time. And that's okay. And that's what being an authentic, person and a corporation is all about, right? It's our learning journey and our growth. So really that, that focus on evaluation and learning, and then being able to pivot when needed is important. http://www.solvecast.com/articles/detail/15345-creating-a-purpose-driven-organization-with-kimberli-jeter-founder-river-wolf-group [more]Purpose → BusinessesPurpose driven organizations are known to grow three times faster than organizations of similar size. There's demonstrated impact that employees and purpose-driven organizations 90% of them say they're willing to go the extra mile for their organization. And we know employee engagement is a problem across the board. http://www.solvecast.com/articles/detail/15345-creating-a-purpose-driven-organization-with-kimberli-jeter-founder-river-wolf-group [more]Diversity → Supply ChainAnd looking for that external lens is being able to take a look at our supply chain. So now I said our people, we're good. We're working on our diversity here. What are we doing about our supply chain is our supply chain diverse? Have we even looked at and considered diversifying our supply chain? http://www.solvecast.com/articles/detail/15345-creating-a-purpose-driven-organization-with-kimberli-jeter-founder-river-wolf-group [more]Diversity → BusinessesI think right now, one of the first steps to really look at, in terms of authenticity is around diversity inclusion. There have been $46 billion in commitments around diversity inclusion. So I think that's the first part to check is how are we treating our people? What is our diversity look like from our frontline employees all the way up to the board? How are we distributed? How are we paying our employees? Are we paying equitably across gender, across ethnicities and really using the data within the organization to do that first self-check. http://www.solvecast.com/articles/detail/15345-creating-a-purpose-driven-organization-with-kimberli-jeter-founder-river-wolf-group [more]Authenticity → BusinessesThe first step is really about authenticity and having an organization be true to, why it was started, how it was created and really live that purpose, but incorporated into its DNA and have it drive the decisions and have it drive the impact it wants to have in the community. http://www.solvecast.com/articles/detail/15345-creating-a-purpose-driven-organization-with-kimberli-jeter-founder-river-wolf-group [more]

Karrah Krakovyak interviews Illah Nourbakhsh Professor at Carnegie Mellon University & Director of the CREATE Lab. They discuss creating meaningful change by employing historical data and explorable imagery in online resources such as EarthTime.Data Visualization to Climate ChangeWhen they see the earth being warm. It's one thing when they see the rate at which the earth is warming now, compared to 20 years ago, a hundred years ago, they become almost panicky and they become convinced that we have to do something about it now. And that sense of urgency. That's really important in that kind of rhetorical communication that you're trying to do to get somebody to care, not just enough to agree with you, but enough to decide they need to actually set aside some time to help you get the job done http://www.solvecast.com/articles/detail/15342-data-visualization-for-meaningful-change-with-illah-nourbakhsh-carnegie-mellon-university-director-of-the-create-lab Data Visualization to Housing Discrimination (United States)But we have maps that show demography of eviction, demography of home ownership, the number of people by race, by color of skin who are denied mortgages by mortgage application. And we can show their salary level. So we can show that make enough money for the mortgage, but they just don't get the mortgage. And so by showing historical red lining and then superimposing that with these kinds of demographies, we've got the entire Pennsylvania housing commission now working on new mortgage vehicles. So that African-Americans and vulnerable populations can get mortgages because then you have much lower cost of living relatively speaking than rental, especially in a city like Pittsburgh. http://www.solvecast.com/articles/detail/15342-data-visualization-for-meaningful-change-with-illah-nourbakhsh-carnegie-mellon-university-director-of-the-create-lab Data Visualization to Solar PowerOur maps have certainly been used for example, to look at solar panel policy changes along the East coast because we can show every installation of every solar panel on the East coast over time. And so you can see glaring changes in States like Delaware, where they don't have good subsidies, right next door to states like Massachusetts, where they have fantastic subsidies. And the difference is basically stunning. So you've seen that kind of policy at the national level where people drive policy decisions http://www.solvecast.com/articles/detail/15342-data-visualization-for-meaningful-change-with-illah-nourbakhsh-carnegie-mellon-university-director-of-the-create-lab Data Visualization to NonpartisanWe're doing that because we believe a more informed populace is able to make more rational decisions and have common ground with each other so that we don't have as much divisiveness in society. http://www.solvecast.com/articles/detail/15342-data-visualization-for-meaningful-change-with-illah-nourbakhsh-carnegie-mellon-university-director-of-the-create-lab Data Visualization to DeforestationAnd we sit them on stools and give them a deep dive image show of this and you should see their expressions because we can show the trees falling and then the Amazon, and then we can zoom out until you see both the East and West coasts of South American continent. And now you understand the vastness of forest loss and when you show somebody like that instead of a chart when you showed it visually like that, they buy into it, they get it and they ask the question, okay, what'd you do about it? So they move on from doubting the data to wondering about the solution. http://www.solvecast.com/articles/detail/15342-data-visualization-for-meaningful-change-with-illah-nourbakhsh-carnegie-mellon-university-director-of-the-create-lab

Andrew Fanara interviews Doug Gatlin, CEO of Green Seal, on the impact of of cleaning products on human health in the workplace."The pandemic is a backdrop to help increase awareness of the overuse of cleaning chemicals....using the right kinds of chemicals can do a lot towards your sustainability and your human health goals.""Fragrances are one of the most common sources of allergy attacks and asthma attacks. And the fragrance is very interesting. It's funny how you can buy a product that's considered to be fragrance-free and then there's actually still fragrances in it to make it fragrance-free. So it's with some of our neurology, the stuff that affects sense and smell and everything. We screened for chemicals, which are known to cause asthma, as well as some of those which are known to cause cancer or be endocrine disruptors.""We had commercials on TV that were showing these guys in these Tyvec suits. That, it looked like they were going after some kind of a. Bio hazards on the moon or something. And that's understandable because it was the most visible, but radically overuse of cleaning chemicals can actually cause harm. It builds up there. There's an accretion and dosing a space in hazardous chemicals isn't necessarily going to do anything to stop spread the spread of COVID-19, but it can enhance led to some health consequences" Fore more news that solves, visit www.solvecast.com.

Sarmed Rashid, former Opioid Epidemic Manager at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, speaks about the opioid epidemic. From mental health to the impact of Covid-19, Sarmed provides a comprehensive breakdown of some of the causes of the epidemic as well as potential solutions.SolveCaster™Morten SejaEconomic Growth AdviserMore about Morten SejaInequality to Covid-19We've seen that the COVID-19 epidemic or pandemic has especially affected them some of the most vulnerable populations. So homeless populations and criminal justice populations, especially. And these are also populations that are more predisposed to deal with substance abuse issues. The COVID-19 pandemic has just exacerbated a lot of the underlying conditions of the opioid epidemic. http://www.solvecast.com/articles/detail/15292-opioid-epidemic-tackling-community-decay-and-loneliness-with-sarmed-rashid [more]Telehealth to Opioid EpidemicJust as workplaces have shifted to a more virtual a more virtual set up, what we've seen is like tele-health taking off in ways that it hadn't before. The government has relaxed a lot of laws that prevent prescript prescribers from fully using telehealth to, for example, prescribing medicine. So like actions like that have helped increased access to treatment for a lot of folks. Same thing with virtual recovery support services. So what we've seen right now is a lot, is that a lot of these virtual recovery groups have turned to zoom and Skype to help hold some of the sessions. And it may not be as effective as in-person, it's still significantly better than not having anything at all. htt... [more]CPR to Opioid EpidemicA lot of people talk about Naloxone, which is this kind of miracle drug that can revive someone who's having an opioid addiction. But you don't necessarily need to have this drug in order to save a life. Someone who has overdosed can be revived with chest compressions and rescue breaths. And I just generally encourage everyone to get CPR training. http://www.solvecast.com/articles/detail/15292-opioid-epidemic-tackling-community-decay-and-loneliness-with-sarmed-rashid [more]Stigma to Opioid EpidemicUnderstanding the role that stigma can play... personal stigma, institutional stigma in preventing people from getting treatment and then maintaining their recovery. I think being knowledgeable about the kind of larger context that gave rise to addiction can help undermine the belief that some people might have that this is a personal failing and also being aware of our language. There's been a significant amount of research that using certain words over others may make it more difficult for policymakers to pass legislation that deals with this or makes it more difficult for doctors and other healthcare providers to treat those with addiction. http://www.solvecast.com/articles/detail/15292-... [more]Unemployment rate to Opioid EpidemicWe've also seen a lot of research that talks about the effects of joblessness on deaths of despair which includes overdoses, suicides and alcohol misuse. In short, places that experienced high level of joblessness are also places that experience high levels of deaths of despair. http://www.solvecast.com/articles/detail/15292-opioid-epidemic-tackling-community-decay-and-loneliness-with-sarmed-rashid [more]Please visit

How can we use technology to empower citizens to engage and take action to improve air quality? We speak to Matt Mehalik, Executive Director for The Breathe Project and adjunct faculty at the Heinz College at Carnegie Mellon University about solving for air pollution using a suite of technology tools in partnership with an engaged community.Blocks(TM) in this podcast:Hurricanes to Air PollutionThere are so many Chemical plants that exist in the Houston area. They're very active. As hurricane Harvey did such damage in Houston and the aftermath of documenting how all those plants released huge amounts of pollution into the air because their operations were disrupted by a hurricane. http://www.solvecast.com/articles/detail/15273-civilian-scientists-air-quality-tech-innovation-with-matt-mehalik [more]Manufacturing Industry to Air PollutionAnd so we can zero in on the need to regulate and enforce what happens with a few key facilities. Most of them are old steelmaking facilities and Coke making facilities...It has technology that dates back to the 1970s. So it's 50 years old and the company hasn't been investing in, improving it. In fact, what US Steel has done over this past year is take the money that it's made and invested in new facilities in Arkansas and Alabama, and not doing anything to repair the problems in Southwestern, Pennsylvania, which is where that company started, by the way. http://www.solvecast.com/articles/detail/15273-civilian-scientists-air-quality-tech-innovation-with-matt-mehalik [more]Communication to Air PollutionSo for decades, a lot of these communities have been ignored despite and during truly awful air quality conditions with high incidents of families being disrupted by disease directly attributable to air emissions. So it's at its core it's an environmental justice issue. The many of these communities are finding their voice by creating a space where people can feel like they can voice their concerns, participate by recording. http://www.solvecast.com/articles/detail/15273-civilian-scientists-air-quality-tech-innovation-with-matt-mehalik #50 #air-pollution [more]Smartphones to Air PollutionAnd on any given day, the map, we can map out where the bad smells are flowing through the atmosphere around Pittsburgh. And those data points correlate with what we see on monitors. And so it helps us detect, so human smell is very sensitive. And the It's a good monitoring technique too, to tune into when something smells bad. And it's one data point that can be combined with what the monitors are showing, what the cameras were showing. We've seen many incidents where some people in a community will smell something. They'll report it on Twitter and recorded on the smell Pittsburgh app that will prompt us to go and look at cameras. And lo and behold, many times we see. Two hours before that... [more]Camera to Air PollutionOne of the challenges of air quality work is that unless you see visible pollution, smoke plumes coming out and settling in over communities, which unfortunately continues to happen in Pittsburgh, but not every day is like that... So the cameras allow people to see where pollution comes from. They're trained on the major point source pollution facilities are around Pittsburgh and we can see what's happening 24/7. http://www.solvecast.com/articles/detail/15273-civilian-scientists-air-quality-tech-innovation-with-matt-mehalik #50 #air-pollution [more]More...

To watch the full video, please click here:http://www.solvecast.com/articles/detail/15258-sustainable-design-resilience-planning-with-ariane-laxoWe speak to Ariane Laxo, Sustainability Director and associate Vice President of design firm HGA. Our discussion today covers the intersection between sustainable initiatives and the world of architecture and design. To Ariane, addressing the climate crisis is of paramount importance. She says that from a scientific standpoint “we know that the next ten years are critical to counteract climate change.”So what can architecture and design do to proactively face down this crisis? And what actually constitutes a sustainable built environment? Ariane poses these questions to herself at each design juncture. To her, a sustainable building comes down to one encompassing question: “How can we design in ways that help people thrive and don’t negatively impact human health?”To address these questions, Ariane first outlines her industry’s overall carbon impact. The building industry itself produces a huge amount of global CO2 emissions, in fact, according to Ariane, about 28 percent yearly. Construction materials are another 11 percent on top of that. Including transportation industries (which are closely tied to the built environment), about half of global CO2 emissions originate in Ariane’s industry. So, these things considered, how has the architecture and design industry gone about solving for a decrease in carbon output? Ariane points to a number of global initiatives beyond her own organization. Architecture 2030 has spearheaded change by proposing a goal of net zero emissions for participating architecture firms by the year 2030. She also mentions the International Living Future Institute and their Living Building Challenge, as well as the International WELL Building Institute as leaders in industry sustainability initiatives. She says that though there is competition in the industry, that when it comes to sustainability there exists a desire to share knowledge and information to help everybody solve for sustainability.Ariane says any truly sustainable approach must be a comprehensive strategy, taking into account the ways in which the built environment impacts not just those who dwell within those environments, but must reach all the way to those who initially create construction materials. Too often these materials can cause chemical harm (from “chemicals of concern” in industry lingo) in the creation process, so sustainable thinking aims to put human health at the forefront, from materials to finished product. In short, “human health is non-negotiable.”HGA’s end-goal is for each project to incorporate “regenerative design,” which Ariane describes as “projects [that aim to] give more back than we take.” Presently such an outcome isn’t yet feasible with each project, but HGA is on course to get closer to this aim as time goes on. For HGA and Ariane, what solving for climate change in architecture really boils down to is a reduction in carbon. But for Ariane personally, she asks herself this question: “How can I help educate and inspire the people who have the power to make decisions, to make these choices for this collective good? … How can we help folks see that their decisions have this huge ripple effect?” Ultimately, Ariane conceptualizes her work as “solving for changing minds even more so than just solving for climate change.”

We speak with Kelly Greenwood, founder and CEO of Mind Share Partners, a nonprofit working to change the culture around mental health. We dive into discussion of society’s all-too-common stigma when it comes to recognizing, discussing, and approaching mental health topics; Kelly’s nonprofit seeks to impact this dynamic, specifically by positively shifting perspectives within organizations and workplaces. In a world in which up to 80 percent of people experience a mental health struggle, Mind Share Partners' mission is particularly imperative. And Kelly herself is no exception to this statistic—she manages a lifelong generalized anxiety disorder with associated depressive episodes. Kelly tells us that, in the past, she perceived her anxiety as a “personal weakness.” She felt ashamed, and was driven to conceal her struggle for fear of professional backlash. Eventually, Kelly had to step away from her job to work toward a healthier headspace. When, years down the line, she recognized a deficit in organizations attempting to normalize mental health, she decided to pursue an avenue that would provide others with the resources she wishes she’d had at work. What does this entail? According to Kelly: “Ultimately we’re trying to normalize what it looks like to have a mental health challenge at work and reduce the stigma.” Mind Share does this in three ways: through workplace training and strategic advising, hosting communities to support professionals and employee resource groups, and building public awareness through thought leadership. These efforts, according to Kelly, seek to replicate the three evidence-based ways of alleviating this type of stigma: social contact, peer support, and education.In working with organizations, Mind Share takes a comprehensive approach, looking at all levels of employment. Kelly references a Mind Share survey that found that “the likelihood that someone in the C-suite had a mental health symptom was just as likely as an entry-level contributor. That really reframes how we think about who has a mental health challenge, right?” This, to Kelly, signals both a “top-down and bottoms up” culture shift at play in the workplace. What it comes down to, Kelly says, is people feeling comfortable enough to seek help with what are “extremely treatable” conditions that don’t need to be hidden from view. To her and to Mind Share, preventative action is key.

Special thanks to all who have made SolveCast such a success this year.We're signing off for 2020. But we wanted to leave you with 16 inspirational quotes from some of the amazing people we interviewed that turned Covid-19 lemons into lemonade. From an MLB TV announcer discussing the surprising advantages of broadcasting games from home… to a school consultant explaining how Covid-19 can transform education for the better… to a futurist painting a picture of how the pandemic will change our office lives, take a look at these inspiring stories on SolveCast. John Ray transforming education during Covid with Stephanie VaughnFrank King mental health during Covid w/ Chris ClewsJason Benetti MLB broadcasting during Covid w/ Connor McKnightBen Relles and Good To Vote registers 500k+ people during Covid w/ Connor McKnightMark Silberman best business practices and litigation during Covid w/Keri RobertsDanielle Davis College and Covid w/ Melanie BreunigFelix Böck on responsible manufacturing and consumerism during Covid w/Andrew Bernier, PhDKate Everson on fundraising during Covid w/Stephanie VaughnJeffrey Softcheck on communicating Covid data w/Marc F. Pelletier, PhDJay Morris on leadership during Covid w/Linda HodoBruce Thomson on supply chain resiliency during Covid w/ Morten SejaRich Kleinman on retail during CovidDavid Timis on future of work after Covid w/Morten SejaElizabeth Monoian and Robert Ferry on sustainability w/

How do we solve for the restoration and preservation of historical pop culture and literary landmarks? We speak with Danny Boy O’Connor—artist, designer, rapper, and founding member of House of Pain—about his drive to do just that with the cultural legacy of the famed 1983 Francis Ford Coppola film, The Outsiders. Danny joins us from Tulsa, Oklahoma where he created and oversees The Outsiders House Museum as executive director. The film is an iconic one, based on an equally iconic novel written by a fifteen-year-old girl, pen name S.E. Hinton. Think: “Stay gold, Ponyboy.” Its narrative centers on rival teen gangs, class conflict, and the mid-1960s “American outlaw as personified by the brat pack” (in Danny’s words). Danny first saw The Outsiders in theaters upon its release when he was a teenager. For Danny, the film was a “pivotal” moment and quintessential “coming of age film,” witnessed as he himself was coming of age. It gave him something to relate to, to feel represented by, to escape into, and to help cope with the pain of adolescence in a broken home. As an adult, he honors the impact the film had upon his life through cultural preservation.What started as a coincidental trip to filming locations in Tulsa during a La Coka Nostra tour turned into a now full-time pursuit to preserve film history. When the opportunity arose to purchase the house featured in the film, Danny jumped in to express his passion for pop culture history. His solution? Starting a museum through collective effort. The project started with completely rehabilitating the house, which had fallen into extensive disrepair. Realizing the enormity of the task, Danny reached out through online fundraising and over the course of three and a half years got the job done. And once the house was finished, it came time to fill it with film artifacts. He began with one poster, and has since amassed the largest S.E. Hinton and The Outsiders collection in the world. Past pop cultural moments are, according to Danny, “part and parcel of the making of us.” Both Hinton herself (who turned her academic struggles into widespread literary success) and the film’s characters offered Danny and countless other eighties teens a narrative that framed the underdog as the hero, that placed emphasis on the value in found family, and that gave hope to those with unlikely backgrounds. This is what Danny seeks to appreciate and share with others through his drive to open a crowdfunded, volunteer-run museum that educates and benefits its local community and beyond. Now, especially in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, Danny recognizes the “warm fuzzy blanket” that nostalgic reflection and historical appreciation can offer in turbulent times. He looks forward to the day the museum can properly resume operations, but in order to do so outside support is needed to keep things rolling. To pitch in, visit the museum’s website here, where you can be included in the house itself by sponsoring a personalized engraved legacy brick.

We speak to Daniel Ruben, FoodTech advisor to the Rockefeller Foundation and others, about the future of food. Right off the bat, Daniel points out the consequential role food plays in all our lives. First, he specifies that “today, the number one risk factor for disease, disability, and premature death is poor diets.” This translates to roughly one in five deaths, or over ten million people yearly. Another main concern for global populations and modern food is the environment. According to Daniel, the current food system utilizes “70 percent of fresh water, half of vegetative land, and is responsible for […] a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions.” To move forward from these pitfalls, Daniel says we must focus on creating a system that is “more nourishing, more environmentally sustainable, and more resilient.” So what needs solving? In our interviewee’s opinion, these three things: increased productivity in emerging markets, reduction of food waste, and creating diets that are both more sustainable and more nourishing. Luckily, there are a cohort of startups looking to solve these problems. When asked to name a few, Daniel first mentions Impossible Foods in the US, an initiative to offer plant-based meat proxies. He also signals to work being done optimizing alternatives for animal feed habits, and suggests checking out Netherlands-based Protix for their approach to creating a more circular food system. For a company solving for food waste prevention, he points to Apeel Sciences, also in the US. There are, he says, numerous companies beyond these three hard at work on every facet of the food system. Daniel’s prediction for the future of food is, in short, technology. He specifies increased automation, more sophisticated AI and data capabilities, and agricultural systems that will incorporate satellites, drones, and more. These tech aspects, paired with cultural shifts in food habits and alternative diets, are on the horizon of our current global food systems.Sign up for Daniel's newsletter here.For more news that solves, visit www.solvecast.com.

In this episode of SolveCast, we talk to Kaitlyn Chana. Kaitlyn is founder of Reel Stories Real People, a grassroots organization dedicated to giving a voice to positive causes through video-based media.In middle school, Kaitlyn fell in love with storytelling, an event which snowballed into her becoming an advocate for untold stories. As a reporter, she often spoke at schools, where she noticed "a disconnect of how we talked about eating disorders and mental illness in the classroom." Kaitlyn was frustrated with the lack of conversations and solutions around eating disorders, a problem with which she herself was all too familiar. To watch the full video, please visit www.solvecast.com.

We speak to Professor Johan Wiklund of Syracuse University’s Whitman School of Management about his thoughts on the connection between ADHD and entrepreneurship. With over twenty-five years of research under his belt, he has a lot to share. Johan points out that an important distinction to make between the characteristic “inability to focus” for those with ADHD is that, in fact, it’s an inability to focus on things they don’t like. One solution? “If you want to be an entrepreneur with ADHD, it’s critically important that you get other people to do those boring tasks.” He tells us this theme has arisen time and again in the ten studies he has conducted throughout six countries worldwide. Important too is recognizing that those with ADHD with face unique challenges in life. Schooling can be a struggle and employment options are limited. From this, though, arises a “tenacity” and “level of resilience” that neurotypical people might not develop with as much rigor. The ability to think creatively and productively in the face of adversity is an absolute benefit to entrepreneurship. When asked about what the main takeaways for entrepreneurs with ADHD are, Johan had this advice: 1. Outsource—i.e. get somebody else to do your business books and “boring stuff.” 2. Schedule—Despite being structure-averse, it can nevertheless be beneficial to incorporate some into your day-to-day to avoid burnout. He says, “Get discipline in terms of eating and sleeping and exercising.” 3. Self-insight—Know your strengths and weaknesses. 4. Self-care—Johan’s studies have shown those with ADHD require more self-care than the neurotypical. Specifically, “mindfulness, meditation, and exercise are about as effective as the traditional medicines” prescribed for ADHD. For more news that solves, please visit www.solvecast.com

In this episode of SolveCast, we speak David Timis, Author, Keynote Speaker, and Outgoing Curator at Brussels Global Shapers Hub. The Global Shapers Community is a collective of young people aimed at finding solutions and creating policies to change the world for the better.There’s no mistaking that stereotypical office life has been turned on its head in these past months. Due to both the pandemic and tech developments, work and education are now "gravitating around technology" more than ever.David offers his analysis of how the coronavirus has accelerated work life into an entirely new landscape - one that might be here to stay even after the virus is long gone. Whether the greatest changes look like “hybrid-mode” office and home schedules, increased “digital skilling initiatives,” or simply heightened attention to employee mental health, David believes that they reveal something authentic about modern life. For more information about David, please visit www.davidtimis.com.For more news that solves or to join our community, please visit www.solvecast.com.

Robert Ferry and Elizabeth Monoian are the founding Co-Directors of The Land Art Generator, a hub for creative competition, education, and research for a renewable energy future. In this episode of SolveCast, they discuss the importance of a cultural revolution on how we view energy, and the small (and big!) steps that we can all take to advance imaginative solutions for the pressing energy problem. For more news that solves, visit www.solvecast.com.

We speak with Pastor Laura Browder about approaches to creating space for the LGBTQIA+ community within religion. Laura’s lifelong aspiration had always been toward church leadership—until she realized she was gay and felt she was “disqualified” from that future. However, after being directed to a queer-affirming church (New Abbey in Los Angeles), Laura has cemented her drive to create a safe space for the queer community. For more news that solves, visit www.solvecast.com.

We speak with Gary Kash, President of Gary Kash Marketing Insights, on helping organizations create an emotional connection with their customers using a strong brand strategy.For more news that solves, visit www.solvecast.com.

How does the world solve for sustainable leather? We speak with Adrián López Velarde and Marte Cázarez, founders of Desserto, about their innovative leather-alternative startup. Their solution? Leather derived from cactuses. As Mexico’s most abundant plant with quick-rate biomass growth and requiring little irrigation, the two entrepreneurs had an inkling this could be a new way forward. After a year and a half of trial-and-error laboratory tests incorporating numerous scientific disciplines, they cracked the code. Watch more at www.solvecast.com

Can online influence be leveraged to impact real-world change? And can social media really be a positive galvanizing force? We speak to Ben Relles, who has teamed up with headcount.org to help tackle voter registration and turn-out in the upcoming election.As Head of Innovation at YouTube Originals, Ben understands the strong relationship that creators have with their online fan bases. Ben realized that even though creators have millions of engaged fans, traditional “get out the vote” messaging wasn’t necessarily motivating action.So he started something called “Good To Vote,” outside of his job at YouTube. The basic premise, he decided, would be to inject gamification into online talent’s social messaging.To date, the group have completed over a hundred of these programs with actors, musicians, and celebrities. As of publishing, they’ve registered 160,000 new voters and an additional 400,000 have verified their registration. Examples of 'Good to Vote' initiatives:-a Mean Girls cast reunion-Samuel Jackson teaching fans to curse in 15 languages-Jeff Goldbloom re-enacts a scene from Jurassic Park-a GLOW cast reunion-a David Dobrik-led Tesla giveaway (which drove a whopping 120,000+ registrations).-Josh Gad recapping all of Avengers as the voice of Frozen’s Olaf-Florence Pugh teaching us how to cook-and more Be sure to visit www.SolveCast.com, news that solves.

If you live in Illinois, be sure to tune in to this SolveCast Covid-19 data update. We discuss the rising Covid-19 cases in Illinois. And, we bring in Ryan Kuo, on an Illinois school board, to discuss the complex factors that go into making decisions for a school system. Even if you do not live in Illinois, you may find the conversation interesting as across the country local school boards are in unprecedented situations having to make decisions that have significant impact on communities .Hosted by Marc Pelletier and Mike ZeinfeldData as of 10-14-2020.Jeffrey Softcheck - healthcare consultant Follow Jeff on Facebook

How can entrepreneurship also be a benefit to the world? We find out in our discussion with one business leader who solves for reinforcing the principles of circular economy while creating minimalistic, innovative designed consumer products.Over 100,000 chopsticks are thrown away every single day in Vancouver, Canada. Felix Böck, CEO of ChopValue, discusses creating a circular economy-driven business that transforms this waste into high quality consumer products, furniture and decor.Hosted by:Andrew Bernier, PhDSustainability, Education Equity and Systems Thinking Research/DesignLinkedIn Visit SolveCast.com for more news that solves.

Is the news making you angry? You’re not alone. We speak with Dr. Alison Dagnes, professor of Political Science at Shippensburg University, about specific tactics we can all use to manage our emotional response to media consumption. In her book Super Mad at Everything All the Time she presents specific tactics to navigate our relationship with the media. According to Dr. Dagnes, "We are increasingly being encouraged by different media outlets (as comedianJohn Mulaney puts it) to be ‘super mad at everything all the time.’"More Info on Dr. DagnesSuper Mad at Everything All the Time Interviewed by:Scott MitchemLinkedIN

Tatiana Bailey, Director of the University of Colorado Colorado Springs Economic Forum, discusses income inequality in the United States and how it has been amplified by Covid-19. Contributing factors discussed: -Groups with less income and wealth have less influence in private organizations and government.-Disincentive to work when income is low. -Infrastructure and spending is less in marginalized neighborhoods. -Political distortions such as gerrymandering. -Income inequality is more pronounced in the United States than in other developed nations. -Covid-19 has hit lower income segments harder. Potential solutions: -Paid sick leave. -Reduce leverage of large companies who have significant leverage due to economies of scale and barriers to entry. -Ban stock buy-backs and capital distribution during Covid-19. -Raise taxes for higher income groups. -Close tax loopholes for wealthy individuals and corporations. -New deal 2.0 - National training campaign, green jobs, infrastructure investment, etc. -Investing in green technologies, which can generate jobs.Tatiana BaileyExecutive Director of the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs Economic ForumInterviewed by:Morton SejaEconomic Growth AdvisorLinkedIn

If you live in Illinois and follow the latest local Covid-19 data, you will want to tune in to this update. We speak to Jeff Softcheck, healthcare consultant, who has been tracking Illinois data on his Facebook page. This update is as of 10-1-20. Be sure to follow Jeffrey Softcheck on Facebook for daily updates and follow SolveCast for more news that solves.

What can employers do to address employee opioid addiction and substance abuse?As the devastating numbers of opioid addiction, overdoses and deaths continue to escalate, so do the threats facing families, careers, businesses, communities and the economy. With over 75% of Americans struggling with substance use disorder actively employed, this crisis continues to present new and complex situations for employers to navigate. By exposing the horrific realities of the opioid epidemic, Cheryl Canzanella shares her husband’s journey through active addiction, road to recovery and his final battle lost to overdose. She sheds light on the profound impact within the workplace as employers face absenteeism, lower productivity, higher turnover, retraining, increased workers comp claims, disability and health care costs. As an employer, what steps are you taking to manage the risks associated with opioid abuse? Are you prepared to guide your employees through this unforgiving battle? Can you identify the warning signs? Do you know what questions to ask or resources to offer?Cheryl Canzanellacherylcanzanella.comInterviewed by Chris ClewsSpeaker/Author of the book series “What 80s Pop Culture Teaches Us About Today’s Workplace”. chrisclews.com

Telecommuting can be difficult. For an MLB TV announcer, it's a whole new ballgame. Chicago White Sox play-by-play broadcaster Jason Benetti discusses solving for the challenges of covering MLB games in a world of social distancing, interviewed by Connor McKnight. For example, learn how Jason fine-tunes his ability to inject energy into the broadcast from 1000s of miles away by practicing on Playstation's MLB The Show. As with many industries, there are also some upsides to the forced innovation from Covid-19, such as the ability to cover more games due to less required travel and bringing in unique guests to the broadcast booth via video-conference.Learn about it all on www.SolveCast.com, news that solves.

Frank King, suicide prevention speaker, discusses specific steps people can take to care for their mental health during social distancing.Interviewed by Chris ClewsSpeaker/Author of the book series “What 80s Pop Culture Teaches Us About Today’s Workplace”. Frank Kinghttp://www.yourtedxcoach.comFrank King, Suicide Prevention speaker and Trainer was a writer for The Tonight Show for 20 years. Depression and suicide run in his family. He’s thought about killing himself more times than he can count. He’s fought a lifetime battle with Major Depressive Disorder and Chronic Suicidality, turning that long dark journey of the soul into five TEDx Talks and sharing his lifesaving insights on Mental Health Awareness with associations, corporations, and colleges. A Motivational Public Speaker who uses his life lessons to start the conversation giving people permission to give voice to their feelings and experiences surrounding depression and suicide. And doing it by coming out, as it were, and standing in his truth, and doing it with humor. He believes that where there is humor there is hope, where there is laughter there is life, nobody dies laughing. The right person, at the right time, with the right information, can save a life.