The TeachPitch Podcast

In this conversation, Dr. Ahmed Khalifa Elmagarmid talks to Aldo about the role of artificial intelligence in education, its evolution, and the impact of generative AI. He emphasizes the importance of balancing innovation with regulation, the potential of AI in healthcare, and the need for ethical development. The discussion also touches on the challenges of misinformation in the digital age and the necessity for continuous education and adaptation in the workforce.   Takeaways WISE is a global event focused on advancing education. Generative AI represents a significant leap in AI capabilities. AGI is still a distant goal, not achievable in the near future. AI will create new jobs even as some become obsolete. AI can enhance healthcare, but won't replace professionals. Regulation of AI is necessary but should not stifle innovation. Misinformation is a growing concern in the age of AI. Ethical AI development is crucial for societal benefit. Continuous education is essential in a rapidly changing job market. Personal experiences shape one's perspective on technology and education.

In this conversation, Aldo de Pape interviews Dr. Luis Benenviste, the Director of Global Education at the World Bank, discussing the organization's role in global education, the importance of foundational skills, and the impact of AI on future learning. Dr. Benenviste shares his personal journey into education, the challenges of the learning crisis, and the need for equitable access to quality education. The discussion emphasizes the transformative power of education and the necessity of adapting to a rapidly changing world.   Takeaways The World Bank aims to fight poverty and reduce inequality. Education is crucial for personal and societal growth. Dr. Benenviste's journey reflects the importance of adaptability. Foundational skills are essential for future success. AI presents both opportunities and risks in education. Two-thirds of children in developing countries face learning poverty. Quality education can empower individuals to realize their potential. The World Bank funds initiatives to improve education globally. Curiosity is a key driver of knowledge and understanding. Life's journey is non-linear; continuous learning is vital.

In this conversation, Aldo interviews Wendy Kopp, founder of Teach for America and Teach for All, discussing her journey in Education Reform.   Wendy shares her motivations for starting Teach for America, the impact of two-year teaching commitments, and the global expansion of her initiatives. The conversation also touches on the challenges of education in crisis situations, the role of social media in mobilizing for social good, and the concept of human flourishing in education. Wendy reflects on her experiences and the importance of collective leadership in fostering change.   Takeaways Wendy Kopp'ss journey began with a thesis idea that evolved into a lifelong commitment to education. The initial recruitment efforts for Teach for America highlighted the disparity in how society values teaching compared to corporate careers. The two-year commitment model has proven effective in creating long-term change makers in education. Teach for All was established to facilitate global learning and collaboration among independent organizations in different countries. Local organizations play a crucial role in responding to educational crises, especially in conflict zones. Social media is a tool, but personal relationships remain essential for mobilizing young leaders for education. Human flourishing in education encompasses agency, self-awareness, empathy, and critical thinking skills. Wendy emphasizes the importance of understanding the pressures faced by future leaders in education. The concept of collective leadership is vital for fostering change within organizations and communities. Wendy's reflections on her journey highlight the fulfillment derived from being part of a global community committed to education. You can find out more about Wendy's incredible work here: https://teachforall.org 

Dr. Michael Vlerick presents a concrete 10 step plan on how to become a happier person!   He emphasizes the need to develop good habits and discard bad habits, starting with small changes and being kind to ourselves. Living a healthy lifestyle, including getting enough sleep, eating well, and exercising, is crucial for both physical and mental well-being. Meditation is also highlighted as a powerful tool for rewiring the brain and freeing ourselves from negative mental reactions and cravings.   In this conversation, Michael Vlerick and Aldo de Pape discuss the final 10 steps to becoming happier.   These steps include observing mental reactions without reacting, developing contentment and gratitude, engaging in flow activities, investing in social relationships, and not making happiness the direct goal.   They emphasize the importance of training the mind to wander less and be more present, as well as the benefits of altruism and helping others. They also discuss the negative impact of mindless relaxation activities and the importance of focusing on the present moment.   Takeaways Understand your genetic programming and the stick and carrot principle to achieve happiness. Develop good habits and discard bad habits, starting with small changes and being kind to yourself. Live a healthy lifestyle, including getting enough sleep, eating well, and exercising, for both physical and mental well-being. Use meditation as a powerful tool to rewire the brain and free yourself from negative mental reactions and cravings. Observe mental reactions without reacting and extend this practice to daily life Develop contentment and gratitude for a deeply satisfying life Engage in flow activities instead of mindless relaxation Invest in social relationships and practice altruism Don't make happiness the direct goal, focus on equanimity, contentment, and loving interactions  --- Become an Audible Member for only 99 pence for 3 months: https://bit.ly/3vzSox9 Riverside.fm: get a 15% discount by using the code MESSY or sign up here https://bit.ly/3HCU4IC Register to Receive Books for £1 from Scholastic:https://bit.ly/49lRimq Leading the Circular Fashion Revolution with Preworn: Get a 25% discount using the code MESSY25: https://bit.ly/49bEXlD Cold Case Inc (use the code MESSY and get an exclusive 15% discount): https://bit.ly/3HN75PD Connect with the Brands you love at Awin:https://bit.ly/3vzSvJ5 Find the Perfect Gardener on Care.com: https://bit.ly/4cLKcdZ Grown Alchemist: https://bit.ly/3vKGXCD Cake or Death: https://bit.ly/3J4tDfG Kids Party Craft: https://bit.ly/4cFrULj Bike Club: https://bit.ly/3xj7DuF The Code Zone: https://bit.ly/3UlspmU

In this conversation, Aldo and Dr. Michael Vlerick discuss the topic of happiness and how to train the brain for happiness. They explore the importance of remaining equanimous, developing contentment, and connecting with others in order to live a happy and meaningful life. They also delve into the practice of meditation and its benefits, including training attention, gaining insight into one's psychology, and developing a new relationship with thoughts and emotions. The conversation emphasizes the transformation of the experience of life through mindfulness and detachment from emotions. In this conversation, Michael and Aldo discuss the importance of meditation in training the brain for happiness. They explore different types of meditation, how to get started with meditation, and the benefits of cultivating positive states of mind. They introduce the Saber protocol as a tool for managing negative mental reactions and offer practical advice for implementing it in daily life. They emphasize the importance of practicing gratitude and cultivating contentment to enhance happiness. Takeaways:  Remaining equanimous, developing contentment, and connecting with others are important pillars for living a happy and meaningful life. Meditation is a practice that involves manipulating attention and can lead to a transformation of the experience of life. Through meditation, one can train attention, gain insight into their own psychology, and develop a new relationship with thoughts and emotions. Detachment from emotions allows for a greater appreciation of both positive and negative feelings, without clinging or craving for them to last. The quality of life is more determined by the attention one brings to the present moment than by external circumstances. Meditation is a powerful tool for training the brain and rewiring mental patterns. Different types of meditation, such as concentration, mindfulness, and cultivation meditation, offer various benefits for happiness and well-being. The Saber protocol (Stop, Accept, Bring attention, Examine, Release) can help manage negative mental reactions and promote emotional freedom. Practicing gratitude and cultivating contentment are essential for enhancing happiness. Training the brain for happiness requires daily practice and a commitment to observing and transforming negative mental reactions. --- Become an Audible Member for only 99 pence for 3 months: https://bit.ly/3vzSox9 Riverside.fm: get a 15% discount by using the code MESSY or sign up here https://bit.ly/3HCU4IC Register to Receive Books for £1 from Scholastic:https://bit.ly/49lRimq Leading the Circular Fashion Revolution with Preworn: Get a 25% discount using the code MESSY25: https://bit.ly/49bEXlD Cold Case Inc (use the code MESSY and get an exclusive 15% discount): https://bit.ly/3HN75PD Connect with the Brands you love at Awin:https://bit.ly/3vzSvJ5 Find the Perfect Gardener on Care.com: https://bit.ly/4cLKcdZ Grown Alchemist: https://bit.ly/3vKGXCD Cake or Death: https://bit.ly/3J4tDfG Kids Party Craft: https://bit.ly/4cFrULj Bike Club: https://bit.ly/3xj7DuF The Code Zone: https://bit.ly/3UlspmU

In this conversation, Aldo de Pape and Dr. Michael Vlerick discuss the simple recipe for happiness.   They explore the three major elements of a happy life: equanimity, contentment, and the quality of social connections. They emphasize the importance of working on oneself and cultivating a new relationship with negative emotions. They also discuss the illusion of control and the illusion of self, highlighting the liberating potential of understanding these concepts. The conversation touches on the parallels between human consciousness and artificial intelligence. In this conversation, Dr. Michael Vlerick discusses the illusion of self and the liberating effect of dispelling this illusion. He explains how understanding the constant flow of experiences in life can free us from unnecessary suffering. Dr. Vlerick emphasizes the importance of equanimity, accepting what we cannot change, and cultivating contentment. He also highlights the profound impact of social connections on our wellbeing and happiness. The conversation concludes with a discussion on implementing practices to reprogram the brain and enhance happiness.   Takeaways The three major elements of a happy life are equanimity, contentment, and the quality of social connections. Working on oneself and cultivating a new relationship with negative emotions can lead to greater happiness. The illusion of control and the illusion of self can contribute to unhappiness. Understanding the parallels between human consciousness and artificial intelligence can provide insights into the nature of the self. Understanding the illusion of self can lead to a more liberating and freeing experience of life. Equanimity, accepting what we cannot change, and cultivating contentment are key elements of happiness. Social connections play a crucial role in our wellbeing and happiness. Implementing practices to reprogram the brain can enhance happiness and improve overall wellbeing.  --- Become an Audible Member for only 99 pence for 3 months: https://bit.ly/3vzSox9 Riverside.fm: get a 15% discount by using the code MESSY or sign up here https://bit.ly/3HCU4IC Register to Receive Books for £1 from Scholastic:https://bit.ly/49lRimq Leading the Circular Fashion Revolution with Preworn: Get a 25% discount using the code MESSY25: https://bit.ly/49bEXlD Cold Case Inc (use the code MESSY and get an exclusive 15% discount): https://bit.ly/3HN75PD Connect with the Brands you love at Awin:https://bit.ly/3vzSvJ5 Find the Perfect Gardener on Care.com: https://bit.ly/4cLKcdZ Grown Alchemist: https://bit.ly/3vKGXCD Cake or Death: https://bit.ly/3J4tDfG Kids Party Craft: https://bit.ly/4cFrULj Bike Club: https://bit.ly/3xj7DuF The Code Zone: https://bit.ly/3UlspmU

In this conversation, Dr. Michael Vlerick discusses the mismatch between our modern environment and our Stone Age brains, which can impact our happiness.   He highlights examples such as our predilection for sugary and fatty foods, our stress response, our sedentary lifestyle, and the artificial ways we seek dopamine boosts. Dr. Vlerick explains how our brains evolved to seek opportunities and rewards, but our modern environment often provides excessive and unhealthy stimuli. He also touches on the addictive nature of social media and the importance of cultivating attention and quieting the mind. The conversation explores the negative consequences of overusing social media, the complex nature of addiction, the role of environment in addiction, the prevalence of loneliness in modern times, the mismatch between our natural responses and the modern world, the possibility of adapting to the modern environment, the importance of habit formation, gratitude for modern living conditions, and looking forward to increasing happiness. Takeaways Our modern environment often clashes with our Stone Age brains, leading to mismatches that can impact our happiness. Examples of mismatches include our predilection for sugary and fatty foods, our stress response, our sedentary lifestyle, and the artificial ways we seek dopamine boosts. Understanding the evolutionary purpose of certain behaviors can help us navigate the challenges of our modern environment. Cultivating attention and quieting the mind are important for our well-being in an environment filled with distractions. Overuse of social media can have negative consequences, especially in young people, leading to depression and social isolation. Addiction is a complex phenomenon influenced by both chemical compounds and environmental factors. The environment plays a crucial role in addiction, as seen in studies with rats and the experiences of soldiers in the Vietnam War. Loneliness is a major problem in modern times, with one-third of adults suffering from it. Our natural responses and instincts are often mismatched with the modern world, leading to challenges in maintaining happiness. Adapting to the modern environment requires knowledge and caution. Habit formation is key to protecting against threats to happiness and increasing long-term well-being. Despite the challenges, it is important to be grateful for the improved living conditions in modern times. There are strategies and solutions to increase happiness and improve overall well-being.  --- Become an Audible Member for only 99 pence for 3 months: https://bit.ly/3vzSox9 Riverside.fm: get a 15% discount by using the code MESSY or sign up here https://bit.ly/3HCU4IC Register to Receive Books for £1 from Scholastic:https://bit.ly/49lRimq Leading the Circular Fashion Revolution with Preworn: Get a 25% discount using the code MESSY25: https://bit.ly/49bEXlD Cold Case Inc (use the code MESSY and get an exclusive 15% discount): https://bit.ly/3HN75PD Connect with the Brands you love at Awin:https://bit.ly/3vzSvJ5 Find the Perfect Gardener on Care.com: https://bit.ly/4cLKcdZ Grown Alchemist: https://bit.ly/3vKGXCD Cake or Death: https://bit.ly/3J4tDfG Kids Party Craft: https://bit.ly/4cFrULj Bike Club: https://bit.ly/3xj7DuF The Code Zone: https://bit.ly/3UlspmU

In this conversation, Aldo and Michael discuss the importance of happiness in life and how it becomes more apparent when reflecting back on one's life. They explore the idea that everything we do is ultimately in pursuit of happiness, whether consciously or unconsciously. They also discuss the need to be more conscious of our actions and behaviors and how they contribute to our long-term happiness. The conversation touches on the role of mourning and the coexistence of happiness and sadness. Overall, the conversation emphasizes the importance of living a life that encompasses all emotions and finding beauty and meaning in each experience.   Keywords: happiness, reflection, life, actions, behaviours, mourning, sadness, beauty, meaning   Takeaways Happiness is the currency of life and becomes more apparent when reflecting back on one's life. Everything we do, consciously or unconsciously, is in pursuit of happiness. Being conscious of our actions and behaviors can contribute to our long-term happiness. Mourning can coexist with happiness and bring beauty and meaning to life.   Sound Bites "I want you all to know that I was very happy." "Everything we do, everything we pursue in life, directly or indirectly, consciously or unconsciously, is to make us and other people happier." "We can radically transform our lives for the better, but it won't happen without a kind of conscious effort."   A big thanks to all our Partners who make Messy & Masterful happen: Become an Audible Member for only 99 pence for 3 months: https://bit.ly/3vzSox9 Riverside.fm: get a 15% discount by using the code MESSY or sign up here https://bit.ly/3HCU4IC Register to Receive Books for £1 from Scholastic: https://bit.ly/49lRimq Creative Learning and Wellbeing for Kids with Brilliant Brainz Magazine: https://bit.ly/3PNjrM8 Leading the Circular Fashion Revolution with Preworn: Get a 25% discount using the code MESSY25: https://bit.ly/49bEXlD Cold Case Inc (use the code MESSY and get an exclusive 15% discount): https://bit.ly/3HN75PD Connect with the Brands you love at Awin: https://bit.ly/3vzSvJ5 Find the Perfect Gardener on Care.com: https://bit.ly/4cLKcdZ Grown Alchemist: https://bit.ly/3vKGXCD Cake or Death: https://bit.ly/3J4tDfG Kids Party Craft: https://bit.ly/4cFrULj Bike Club: https://bit.ly/3xj7DuF The Code Zone: https://bit.ly/3UlspmU  

In this conversation, Aldo interviews Kian Katanforoosh, CEO of Workera; a platform that measures competencies and provides insights in how people can acquire the right job skills for the future.   The two discuss the impact of AI on jobs and the future of work, and dive into how important it is to prepare our world for all the changes that are to come.  They also touch on the role of AI in different fields and the need for both durable and perishable skills.  Kian shares his personal journey coming from France to the United States, working and growing at Stanford University, and reveals why he is so passionate about Education.  Check out Workera's website to find out more about the great work they do: https://workera.ai/ This Episode is made in partnership with: Cold Case Inc (use the code MESSY and get an exclusive 15% discount): https://bit.ly/3HN75PD Riverside (get a 20% discount by signing up via this link): https://bit.ly/3HCU4IC Preworn: Get a 25% discount using the code MESSY25: https://bit.ly/49bEXlD The Code Zone: https://bit.ly/3UlspmU

Aldo talks to Pelonomi Moiloa, CEO and co-founder of Lelapa AI and discusses the importance of building language models for African languages and the challenges faced in using models built in other places.  Pelonomi emphasizes the need to make AI accessible for everyone and explains how Lelapa AI is working towards that goal. Pelonomi shares her background and journey, as well as the challenges in growing the company. She also discusses the recognition and achievements of  Lelapa AI as well as the future plans for the company.  Takeaways Building language models for African languages is important for providing access to products, services, and information for people in Africa. Using models built in other places often fails to capture the context and nuances of African languages, highlighting the need for locally developed models. Lelapa AI aims to make AI accessible to everyone.  The company is expanding to more African languages and domains, such as education, agriculture, and healthcare. You can find out more about Pelonomi and the work of Lelapa AI here: https://lelapa.ai/about/the-team/ This Episode is made in partnership with: Cold Case Inc (use the code MESSY and get an exclusive 15% discount): https://bit.ly/3HN75PD Riverside (get a 20% discount by signing up via this link): https://bit.ly/3HCU4IC Preworn: Get a 25% discount using the code MESSY25: https://bit.ly/49bEXlD The Code Zone: https://bit.ly/3UlspmU

In this first episode of a series of 7, Aldo interviews Dr. Michael Vlerick about his new book, 'Why We Are Not Happier.'  They discuss the book launch and the reception it received. They explore the concept of happiness versus our genes, highlighting the hyperactive threat detection and negativity bias that can hinder our happiness. They also discuss the role of ambition and the importance of changing our perspective to achieve long-term happiness. The conversation explores the concept of true happiness and how we often look in the wrong places for it. It emphasizes the importance of understanding what truly makes us happy and how we can achieve a deep and lasting happiness that is not dependent on external circumstances.  The conversation also highlights the need to recognise the patterns and norms that may lead us astray in our pursuit of happiness. Takeaways External circumstances have less impact on our long-term happiness than we tend to think. Our genes can influence our happiness, but there are practices and insights that can help us overcome genetic obstacles. We have a tendency to focus on the negative aspects of our lives and get used to improved conditions quickly. Negativity bias leads us to remember negative events more vividly and have a greater psychological impact. Ambition can be a motivator, but it's important to have intrinsic motivations and realistic expectations. Changing our perspective and working on certain practices can lead to long-term happiness. True happiness is not found in external elements but in understanding what truly makes us happy. We are often primed to look in the wrong direction for happiness, influenced by media and societal norms. Negativity bias and hedonic adaptation are common obstacles to happiness, but we can overcome them. The next episode will explore those elements in our environment that hinder our happiness and what we can do about it. You can find out more about Dr. Michael Vlerick here: https://www.michaelvlerick.com/ This Episode is made in partnership with:  Cold Case Inc (use the code MESSY and get an exclusive 15% discount):https://bit.ly/3HN75PD Riverside (get a 20% discount by signing up via this link): https://bit.ly/3HCU4IC Preworn: Get a 25% discount using the code MESSY25: https://bit.ly/49bEXlD The Code Zone: https://bit.ly/3UlspmU  

Join us in this round table conversation with education giants: Wendy Kopp, Cindy Mi, and Dr. Shannon May as we explore the potential impact of AI on teaching and learning globally.    Aldo's guests discuss the importance of embracing AI with care and highlight the need for governments and education systems to take a proactive approach in adopting it. The panel also discusses the potential benefits and concerns of AI in education, including issues around equity and quality.    Listen in to this conversation recorded for WISE11 in Doha that emphasizes the integration and collaboration of various stakeholders, including teachers, governments, and Edtech companies, to ensure the safe, responsible and effective use of AI.   Takeaways: Embrace AI with care, considering its potential benefits and concerns. Governments and education systems should take a proactive approach in adopting AI. Integration and collaboration among stakeholders are crucial for the responsible and effective use of AI in education. AI has the potential to empower teachers and improve learning outcomes. Wendy Kopp is the founder of Teach for All: https://teachforall.org/ Cindy Mi is the founder of VIPKid: https://www.vipkid.com/teach Dr. Shannon May is the founder and CEO of Newglobe: https://newglobe.education   This Episode is made in partnership with:    Cold Case Inc (use the code MESSY and get an exclusive 15% discount): https://bit.ly/3HN75PD Riverside (get a 20% discount by signing up via this link): https://bit.ly/3HCU4IC Preworn: Get a 25% discount using the code MESSY25: https://bit.ly/49bEXlD The Code Zone: https://bit.ly/3UlspmU

In this episode, Aldo interviews Cath Bishop, an Olympian and former war diplomat. Cath shares her journey from being a non-sporty child to becoming an Olympic rower, training rigorously and competing in three Olympic Games. She discusses the challenges she faced and the pressure to perform, as well as the importance of defining success beyond medals. Kath also talks about her transition to working as a diplomat for the British Foreign Office, where she focused on conflict issues and rebuilding post-war zones. She reflects on the complexities of diplomacy in conflict situations and the lessons she learned from her experiences. In this conversation, Cath Bishop discusses the importance of support and vulnerability in a team, the need to look after each other, the role of coaching and challenging others, redefining success in education, the value of failure, childhood aspirations, and a book recommendation. Takeaways Success should be defined beyond medals and awards, focusing on personal growth, meaningful contributions, and lasting value. The pursuit of excellence should be balanced with rest, recovery, and a broader identity beyond one's profession or achievements. The pressure to win and the obsession with medals can lead to feelings of emptiness and a lack of fulfillment. In conflict situations, diplomacy is challenging and often limited by the hostile environment, but it is crucial to work towards political solutions and stability. True happiness comes from contributing to something bigger than oneself and finding purpose in one's actions. Support and vulnerability are crucial in a team environment. Looking after each other is essential for individual and team well-being. Coaching and challenging others can lead to personal growth and improved performance. Redefining success in education involves focusing on broader measures of achievement. Failure is a valuable learning tool and can lead to personal growth and improvement. Childhood aspirations can be diverse and may change over time. Margaret Heffernan's books offer valuable insights into culture and success. Interviewing Olympians who didn't win medals can provide valuable lessons and perspectives. You can find out more about Cath by going to her website: https://cathbishop.com/ This Episode is made in partnership with:  The Code Zone: https://bit.ly/3UlspmU Cold Case Inc (use the code MESSY and get an exclusive 15% discount): https://bit.ly/3HN75PD Riverside (get a 20% discount by signing up via this link): https://bit.ly/3HCU4IC

Ben Nelson, founder of the Minerva Project, talks to Aldo about the meaning of innovation and the importance of purpose-driven reform in education. He emphasizes the need for institutions to have a clear mission and values that guide decision-making. Nelson explains the selectivity of Minerva University and its focus on nurturing critical wisdom for the sake of the world. He highlights the interconnectedness of society and the need for leaders with integrity to make responsible decisions in the age of AI. Nelson calls for a denouncement of the current educational system and a shift towards systematic thinking and ethical frameworks. Takeaways Innovation should be driven by purpose and outcome, not just for the sake of being innovative. Reform can be more effective than disruption when it comes to improving institutions. Education should focus on nurturing critical wisdom and preparing individuals to make decisions of consequence. The current educational system needs to be denounced and replaced with a value system that prioritizes systematic thinking and ethical frameworks. You can find more about the Minerva Project here: https://www.minervaproject.com Read more about Minerva University here: https://www.minerva.edu/     Big thank you to our sponsors:  The Code Zone: https://bit.ly/3UlspmU Cold Case Inc (use the code MESSY and get an exclusive 15% discount): https://bit.ly/3HN75PD Riverside (get a 20% discount by signing up via this link): https://bit.ly/3HCU4IC

Isabelle Hau, Executive Director of the Stanford Accelerator for Learning, discusses with Aldo the difference between ‘Education' and ‘Learning'. Isabelle emphasises the importance of lifelong learning and why we should expand its definition beyond traditional schooling. She explains to Aldo the goals of the Accelerator to put vital research more quickly into practice so it can have a higher impact on education.  Isabelle also highlights the challenges of scaling impact and the importance of sustainability. Aldo and Isabelle discuss the role of AI in education, emphasizing the need for interactivity and the integration of AI with existing technology.  Some takeaways There is a difference between education and learning, and it is important to expand such definitions beyond traditional schooling. Lifelong learning is crucial, and learning happens both inside and outside of school. The Stanford Accelerator for Learning seeks to accelerate to put Academic Research into practice and supports projects with a high impact on education. AI has the potential to enhance education, but it should be integrated with existing technology and designed with educators' input.

A remarkable interview about resilience, passion and trying to make an impact on this world. Aldo speaks to Jo Besford and Mark Swartz, founders of GreenShoots an organisation focused on improving numeracy and Maths skills of all students in South Africa. You can find out more about GreenShoots here: https://www.greenshootsedu.co.za/ This interview was recorded at the World Innovation Summit for Education in Doha in November 2023. You can find out more about WISE by going here: https://www.wise-qatar.org/

Our very last episode of the year analyses what makes us human beings happy. Aldo speaks to Dr. Michael Vlerick, our most listened to guest of 2023, about his new book ‘Why We Are Not Happier' and what makes us tick in an era of negative news clickbait and social media depression. We explore terms like ‘hedonic adaptation' and 'negativity bias' all carefully explained by this great philosopher who explains his reasons to publish his third book.  Michael is an assistant professor in philosophy of science at Tilburg University and authored two previous books "De tweede vervreemding" and "Critical and Scientific Thinking”. He gives talks on topics such as global cooperation, critical thinking and happiness.  For more on Michael you can go here: https://www.michaelvlerick.com/ You can purchase his latest book (in Dutch) here: https://www.bol.com/be/nl/f/waarom-we-niet-gelukkiger-zijn/9300000148166225/ You can purchase the eBook version of his book here: https://www.amazon.com/Waarom-niet-gelukkiger-zijn-Dutch-ebook/dp/B0C8RPTKSV/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1HK71L23R5ZXY&keywords=waarom+we+niet+gelukkiger+zijn&qid=1702384163&sprefix=waarom+we+niet+gelukkiger+zijn%2Caps%2C174&sr=8-1

Aldo shares his reflections on attending WISE11 in Doha on November 28th and 29th, 2023.  You can help out those who have been deprived of an education because of war by making a small donation to one of the following organisations: UNICEF for Gaza: https://www.unicef.org.uk/donate/children-in-gaza-crisis-appeal/ Education Above All: https://donate.educationaboveall.org Find out more about WISE here: https://www.wise-qatar.org/

Aldo takes you through the 12 books he read this year. Listen in and be inspired by this list of books, some of them recommended by previous guests on Messy and Masterful.  'A House for Mr. Biswas' by V.S. Naipaul: https://amzn.eu/d/davSL9e 'The Practice of Groundedness' by Brad Stuhlberg: https://amzn.eu/d/1ZLbTxx 'The Years' by Annie Ernaux: https://amzn.eu/d/gIS1yEC 'Demon Copperhead' by Barbara Kingsolver: https://amzn.eu/d/gU4zce7 ‘Siddhartha' by Herman Hesse: https://amzn.eu/d/5lIu8n3 'Man Search for Meaning' by Viktor E. Frankl: https://amzn.eu/d/8xxVVRM 'The Covenant of Water' by Abraham Verghese: https://amzn.eu/d/8147pNe ‘Afterlives' by Abdulrazak Gunrah: https://amzn.eu/d/eVSQTK3 'If You Want to Write' by Brenda Ueland: https://amzn.eu/d/fgaaGcT ‘Build The Life You Want' by Arthur C. Brooks and Oprah Winfrey: https://amzn.eu/d/b4596xt ‘The Big Leap' by Gay Hendricks: https://amzn.eu/d/17hnLHb ‘The Gene: An Intimate History' by Siddhartha Mukherjee: https://amzn.eu/d/57uBkhW

A great conversation with Dr. Charles Wiles about entrepreneurship, education, software and AI.  Charles shares with Aldo his experience and insights on working for and building technology companies and explains what drives him to ensure his current endeavour will be a big success.  Find out more about Dr. Wiles company Zzish here: https://www.zzish.com/

A deep conversation about career choices, family life and health with professional negotiator and Headhunter Laurence Dewaele. Aldo speaks with Laurence about her journey from being a lawyer at one of the top firms on the planet to becoming an expert in negotiation and Executive Search.  Laurence speaks about the book she co-authored called ‘Eat Sleep Negotiate!' together with Katia Tieleman.  The Dutch version of this book will be available as of March 2024 and you can pre-order it here. https://www.lannoo.be/nl/eat-sleep-negotiate

A frank conversation with Nandita Vij Tan who speaks about her journey coming from India to France, studying to become a journalist at one of the best schools in the country.  Nandita shares her professional insights and experiences (good and bad) on telling stories, what makes them different when told online and sheds a light on how to deal with confused information through social media manipulated with AI or into fake news or alternative facts.  You can read more about Nandita's work as Editor-in-Chief at ArtExplored here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-does-art-mean-you-nandita-vij-tandan/

Aldo speaks to serial entrepreneur Seb Francis about his turbulent journey starting a company in Education and creating his very own tequila.  An open conversation about what does and doesn't work when starting your own business.  Find out more about Seb's EdTech company Titus Learning here: https://www.tituslearning.com/meet-co-founder-seb-francis/ More on Seb's tequila brand Hacien is available here: https://www.hacien.com/

Aldo speaks with Dr. Marion Debruyne, Dean of the top-ranked Vlerick Business School about her remarkable career to date.  Dr. Debruyne speaks about how she is finding her way through the hallways of business and academia, her ambitions to grow Vlerick and what we should look for when searching for optimal happiness in our careers.  Find out more about Vlerick Business School here: https://www.vlerick.com/en/ You can order Dr. Debruyne's book ‘Making Your Way' (with Dr. Katleen De Stobbeleir) here: https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Making-Your-Way-by-Marion-Debruyne-Katleen-De-Stobbeleir/9789401472760

Aldo speaks to Anthony Ward Thomas, founder of one of the biggest removal companies in the United Kingdom.  In this Episode this very grounded guest shares more about his life-long career building a huge company from nothing. Anthony speaks about what motivated him to start packing boxes, what brings him joy in running a company with hundreds of employees and why it is important to know yourself.  You can find more about Anthony and his company here: https://ward-thomas.co.uk/

This is an Episode for those who love to write!!  Aldo speaks to the wonderful Alison Jones, founder of Practical Inspiration Publishing about her journey as an author, coach and publishing entrepreneur.  Alison shares the details of her adventurous journey through the world of books and reveals why it so important to read and write, every single day! Find out more about Practical Inspiration Publishing here: https://practicalinspiration.com/ Alison coaches (first-time) book authors to get their books published via the Proposal Challenge and will welcome a next cohort as of January 15th, 2024.  Click here to find out more: www.proposalchallenge.com

Amy Brand is an American Academic and the Executive Producer of the Emmy nominated Documentary 'Picture A Scientist'. She is the Director of MIT Press and a cognitive scientist by training.  Aldo speaks to Amy about her life-long career in and for academia, why there is still a lot of work to be done to get more women in STEM and how sounds, syllables & words play a crucial role in human development.  Find out more about 'Picture a Scientist' here: https://www.pictureascientist.com You can find out more about Amy's work for MIT Press here: https://mitpress.mit.edu/

Listen to an in-depth conversation with Mike France, CEO and co-founder of Christopher Ward. Mike takes us through his challenges in building a premium British watch brand, why it is a perfect piece of men's jewelry and explains us why we should never be led by the price of a watch.     Find out more about Christopher Ward here:    https://www.christopherward.com

Yes, yes, yes! We are ready for a next Season of Messy & Masterful.  And we are opening with an absolute smasher as we have an in-depth conversation with Annelies Verlinden, the Belgian Minister of the Interior, Institutional Reform and Democratic Renewal.   We loved talking to Annelies about what it is like to become a Minister overnight. What life is like to be in the public eye 24/7 and which difficulties she encountered trying to improve things for the better.  As a Call to Action, the Minister asked us to take a look at the Lean In Movement, which you can find here: https://leanin.org/ And do check out Annelies website to find out more about all the many things she is working on: https://verlinden.belgium.be/en It feels so good to be back!! Hope you missed us!:) 

We are going to talk about the power of our brain today with an expert neurologist who has extensive knowledge as a Chiropractic brain specialist about how our brain adapts, how it grows, how it responds throughout our entire life. Dr. Michael Trayford has founded APEX Brain Centres, a clinic that offers extensive brain rehabilitation programs for people who are suffering from addiction or have suffered a traumatic impact on their brain because of an accident. We speak about the road to recovery, the agility of our thinking, the era of technology addiction and how different our brains evolve, one generation to another.  It was a mind-blowing conversation with an extremely interesting guest. Hope you will enjoy pur 60th Episode!  You can find more about Dr. Michael Trayford on his website: https://apexbraincenters.com Or through Instagram: @neurowellnessdoc 

Happy Thursday all and welcome to our very first Audio Aficionado Episode. So different to our Messy & Masterful Interviews these conversations are all about the power of Audio and more particularly podcasting.  We dive into other podcast programs together with people who are doing something great and also have been inspired by this mighty tool of the Gods of Audio.  And today my guest is Drew Vernon, the creator of 2 podcasts himself, and an Audio Aficionado in the purest sense of the word. This undoubtedly loving husband and father of 3 is also a Marketing Director at Tonies which is an audio company that produces the Toniebox which are incredible devices that have the power to generate any story your kid wants to hear.  Drew is a great guy, an inspiring Podcaster and just like us a devotee to improving the state of Education in this world - could not have asked for a better guest to launch our first Audio Aficionado interview with. Hope you will enjoy it!     Drew's podcast recommendation: Akimbo: A Podcast from Seth Godin Drew and daughter Audrey's podcast: Childhood Drew's podcast for tonies® called Tonie Time  

It is so good to be back with our Podcast Program. A new series of episodes brought to you every week with also (as you might have noticed) a brand new name.  So we took a short break from podcasting taking some time to work with a professional audio consultant to listen to our previously published conversations. We did this because we absolutely love bringing this program to you and we want it to only get better. Now in order to do this we felt it was good not to stay too long in an echo chamber, taking each other's advice as a production team but also to work with third parties to tell us how we could improve. The big takeaway was - papapapapa - they love it! Don't change too much other than maybe adopt a name that better represents the topics that we discuss. So we did just that. Our production team came up with a list of 20 names that with the entire team at TeachPitch we shortlisted to 3 - we took those 3 names to our community and an overwhelming majority voted for the name: Messy and Masterful!! So here we are - welcome to a brand new episode of Messy and Masterful powered by TeachPitch. We are very happy you could make it!! And boy oh boy do we have a treat for you, because our new guest is one of the very best sommeliers in the world! A sommelier according to Wikipedia is a wine steward, is a trained and knowledgeable wine professional, normally working in fine restaurants, who specializes in all aspects of wine service as well as wine and food pairing. The role of the wine steward in fine dining today is much more specialized and informed than that of a "wine waiter." And I was so delighted to speak to Paz Levinson who was the best sommelier of the Americas in 2015 and became 4th globally in 2016. She is now traveling the world working as a sommelier for the world-famous chef Anne-Sophie Pic and her restaurants all over the world. Paz is absolutely lovely, modest and hardworking and it was a great pleasure talking to her about her challenges in making your mark on the map having one of the best pallets in the world. Cannot wait to hear what you think - please enjoy episode 58, Paz Levinson, The Sommelier!  More information on Paz can be found on her website: http://pazlevinson.com

We live in an era of absolute information overload. I am sure you are aware but there is so much content to find out there. Visually you have your pictures, videos, reels and images all over our social media. Audibly you have your audiobooks, Twitter Spaces or Clubhouse meetings and yes also Podcasts.  Now when we started the TeachPitch Podcast little over 1 year ago we did it to highlight the hard work of people who have achieved great things in their own right. Now more than anything I was set on making it clear to our listeners that yes our guests have achieved great success but no this did not happen automatically. Each and everyone of my guests have been through hardships, challenges and needed to overcome huge obstacles to get where they are today.  From the President to the Trauma Surgeon, from the CIA Spy to the Psychologist - the deep adversity rimed with their  great accomplishment is everywhere.  Now some of you might know that our Podcast is born out of a community of educators that wanted to realize change.  And the change they all want to see is all focussed on improving the global state of education. Now if you were to go to TeachPitch.com and sign up you will see that we have curated loads of content (over quarter of a million resources to date) that we all brought together in a big online library - ready to use for educators who are keen to improve the situation in their community, classroom or school.  I am happy to say that this library is being used by over 62,000 people from over 200 countries to date and it is for those people that we originally developed this program.  Our community is very active and I was overjoyed to see that its members also started to help and train one another by creating tutorials and reviews on great educational content and technology they were using - leaving very useful manuals for their peers.  Now to make a long story short - with our Podcast we want to extend our line of thinking not only on the platform but also in this show.  This is why we are building a community of Audio Aficionados that will help us to review great Podcast shows, Episodes, hosts and guests out there.  If you like to listen to Podcasts like I do, you are bound to have your favorites and I want to hear all about them. We want to know from you from the over 1 million of podcasts that are already out there which one we should listen to. We love it that you are listening to us but the last thing we want is to just be dropping content without being aware of the other great Podcast Episodes that are being made all over the world.  So if you are listening to this and want our growing community to know more about your favorite podcast (or even the opposite - perhaps you hate a certain show and want the world to know as well) get in touch with us via our show notes or social media and  together we can make an excellent Audio Aficionado Episode about it that will change this world forever!   Very exciting!! In the next Audio Aficionado Episodes I will surely be talking about the shows that have inspired me. Some of them, I dare to say, have changed my entire outlook on life and I cannot wait to share it with you!

“The world starts with educated children.” is the tagline of Room to Read, a globally active charitable organization that has made incredible strides to provide high quality access to millions of children in this world. Interviewing its co-founder and first generation CEO John J Wood to me was an absolute highlight as he has been a hero of mine for many years.  So having the ability to speak to him directly for the 5th Episode of the TeachPitch Podcast was truly an honor literally a dream come true. John is an absolute whirlwind. I really admire his undying energy that he used to build Room to Read - and when you look at what John and his co-founders managed to accomplish in 21 years raising over $650 million dollars, helping over 32 million people just to mention a few stats you cannot do anything else than admire him.  John has a great mantra which he has abbreviated into GSD (Getting Shit Done) and to me his goal getter mentality is contagious.  He has moved on from Room to Read and founded a new organization called U-Go work that I believe he combines with his job at Concentric Equity in the investment spheres.  I have no doubt in my mind that John will make his new endeavours as a succes as he is one that advises others to “stay hungry, stay humble, keep setting big goals and work tirelessly towards those goals."

We are glamming it up today and we are taking you to Hollywood! In our continuous search for the world's most unique jobs and careers we surely found a diamond today as we had the great honor and pleasure to interview Kristan Serafino.  Now Kristan is a hairstylist and not just your regular one.  Throughout her 20 year career she has been responsible for the looks of actors like Matthew McConaughey, Robert Pattinson, Jake Gyllenhaal, Daniel Craig, Shawn Mendes, Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Michael J Fox and the list just goes on and on. Next to being a genius with coiffures (Kristan gave me a lot of good tips and tricks on how to never have a bad hair-day) she is also the most lovely and hard working person you have ever met.  She is continuously on the go advising people whether this is on TV programs like Good Morning America or working with people in her salon, that is if she is not on the road for a film project. Kristan is now devoted to growing her hair wax company The Best Paste that is winning lots of awards and accolades at the moment and we talk about her stellar journey as hairstylist, CEO and amazing person in general.  Special call-out to Kristan's Chief Operating Officer Doug Church who we also mention in the interview! Doug you rock! So without further ado let's get into a set of new challenges, beautiful hair, great styling tips & tricks and the great glitter and glam of the movie industry for Episode 56 with Kristan Serafino, the Hollywood Hairstylist. More about Kristan's company'The Best Paste' can be found here: https://thebestpaste.com

Naza is a Philanthropist who with her organisation the SAGE Foundation, is doing some amazing work funding projects that focus on Education, Girl Empowerment and Environmental Preservation.  She is an Iranian refugee who arrived in the United Kingdom at the age of 9 and has the highest belief in the power of education.  What makes Naza stand out to me is her approach to philanthropy as a ‘chipping in together model' partnering with lots of other organisations, rather than funding everything yourself.  If you haven't already done so check out the site of the SAGE Foundation (sagefdn.org) where you can find some great informative videos on all the problems they tackle.  Naza's take on things is to: Just Do It! The most important thing is to start and accept that you will make mistakes but if you stick with it and genuinely learn from your failures everything will turn out exactly as you envisioned it would be.  Love it!! So without further ado here is to Notes to Nono 8 with Naza Alakija! 

The next Episode is one for the deep thinkers among us. I really enjoyed this interview and definitely would like to have this guest come back to our show many more times as he has the talent, experience and words to make us all properly reflect.  Dr. Michael Vlerick is a Philosopher. Currently affiliated with Tilburg University in the Netherlands as an Assistant Professor in Philosophy of Science.  He is an excellent lecturer, speaker and thinker and authored two very interesting books. His most recent book is called ‘Critical and Scientific Thinking: A Short Introduction' and the ebook version of this book is freely available to download for everyone who is keen to get their brain juices flowing.  I really enjoyed talking to Michael as he is one of those people who can make very complex things and matters sound very easy. Whenever I speak to people like Michael I feel the world is in very good hands - because there are people who actually get it. We talk about the difference between thinking and critical thinking, writing books, meditation, ‘Philosophy for Dummies' and how to achieve world peace. Just your regular podcast banter.  So if you are interested in any of the above listen to this interview with Dr. Michael Vlerick - ‘The Philosopher'.  You can download Michael's book here:  https://openpresstiu.pubpub.org/critical-scientific More about Michael can be found here:  https://www.michaelvlerick.com

So conversations like the one I had with Jessica Posner-Odede are actually the reason that we came up with the Episode format of ‘Notes to Nono' brought to you every Monday. It really opened my eyes to how inequitable our world is today for young women and girls all over the world. Jessica is the CEO of Girl Effect, an organisation that uses the power of media to unlock the power of girls. This organisation genuinely tries to help girls and puts them in the very center of the process to resolve a problem.  And by problem I do not only mean the big, atrocious things such as girls not being allowed to go to school or being taken out of school because they are forced to marry at age 11. I am also referring to far more subtle things like how a lot of our technology is far more male focused than it is female focused or that a lot of provided health services out there claiming to help young women & girls are actually not working because they are not communicating or understanding the real problems at hand.  Jessica does a far better job in explaining these problems summarised here in Notes to Nono but also in Episode 31 of Season 2.  Have a listen and spread the word if you can so all girls will have the ability to negotiate for themselves everywhere in this world. 

Another Thursday, another Episode and today we are taking you to an almost parallel universe of Decentralized Finance, Digital Assets, Crypto currencies and a lot of other Web 3 matters that for many among us is still an unknown. Now my next guest is someone who is working on being a bridge for those people who feel that all of this unclear, too intangible and frankly scary.  He is what you call an NFT Influencer who goes by the name of Zeneca. His real name is Roy and he is the nicest guy you have ever met. Now Roy has been very successful in educating, informing, myth-busting and even comforting people who have the desire to further immerse themselves into the NFT world.  He even founded his own educational platform called ZenAcademy where he teaches people the do's and don'ts of this rapidly evolving world.  I genuinely enjoyed this interview as Zeneca was very open and upfront with me about his life, his successes but also his vices and failures. Really learned a lot from him not only as someone interested in what Web 3 has to bring, but also as a human being. So without further ado, please enjoy this interview with Zeneca.

So who among you has ever seen the Hollywood blockbuster ‘Patch Adams'? If you haven't seen it yet, please go ahead and do so - it will be worth your while. Now the movie - starring Robin Williams as Dr. Patch Adams - has moved millions in this world and ignited a movement of ‘clini-clowns' to bring more joy and laughter to the very serious world of hospitals and healthcare. And I can assure you that the actual person is even more impactful and impressive than the movie.  I really loved this interview with Patch (Episode 20 in Season 1) as he literally took this conversation everywhere. What stayed with me is his undying optimism and his unbreakable resolution never to have a bad day in his life. I am trying to make that my mantra now as well. Make sure you live every day to the fullest! Never have a bad day:)  By the way, I would be very grateful if you share with us your thoughts on Notes to Nono or on any other Episodes of The TeachPitch Podcast. So if you are listening to this and are enjoying it (or perhaps the opposite) you absolutely hate and want us to know - please leave us a rating or a review. It really helps us to grow this Series and allows other people to find out about it as well. Thanks for doing this! Very much appreciated.  Without further ado; please enjoy this Notes to Nono 6 with Dr. Patch Adams. 

A very warm welcome to yet another Episode of the TeachPitch Podcast. I hope you are doing well, that you are having a beautiful summer in which you can rest up a bit, re-energise and more. Did you notice our new intro music? I absolutely love it. ‘Very majestic' is what our producer Natalie said and I tend to agree. Love that word - ‘majestic' - I would love to hear what you think so do get in touch with us on social media or ping us a quick email at info@teachpitch.com  Now it is Thursday which means we are here with another interview and this conversation is taking us back to our educational roots and we are very happy to connect you with the Education Above All Foundation, an organisation that is on the forefront of improving the global state of teaching and learning in our world through a variety of programs, and more specifically with its amazing Innovation Director Janhvi Maheshwari-Kanoria.  Janhvi is a guiding light and a force of nature with the work she does at Education Above All and I highly enjoyed speaking to her about all the programs of the Foundation, the many teachers they trained, the funding they provided, the scholarships they have granted and all the other work that is so, so relevant to make sure that everyone of us will be granted the right to a high quality education.  So without further ado, let's dive into the world of Global Education with an awesome Innovation Director, Janhvi Maheshwari-Kanoria.  You can find out more about the impressive work of Janhvi and Education Above All by going to its website: https://educationaboveall.org 

This interview means a lot to me. Not only because the guest I got to interview was extremely interesting, funny and engaging. But also because this conversation really intrinsically touched me. To me this interview with Dr. Marc Brackett was such an ‘aha' moment, such an absolute confirmation that I was doing the right thing - it got me in such a flow - that to this day I am still grateful for.  Dr. Marc Brackett is Executive Director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and Author of Permission to Feel. He talks about how important it is that we understand and recognise our emotions and has made his life's mission to help others to truly understand what they feel.  In Episode 26 of Season 2 - you can listen to the full interview and if you don't want to listen to just me yabbling on I can also highly recommend an interview that Marc did with the one and only Brene Brown for her Podcast ‘Unlocking Us'.  Let's never stop caring about each other and make sure that ‘How are you?' or ‘How are you feeling?' is a genuine question we ask each other worthy of a genuine answer. Each day and every day. Please enjoy Notes to Nono 5 with Dr. Marc Brackett. 

For this interview we are going back to the Balkans and more specifically to Pristina, the capital of Kosovo where I had the great honour to speak to Uranik Begu, the Executive Director of Innovation Centre Kosovo.  We again had the great honor of attending and speaking at ThinkTech - Kosovo and while being there I seized the opportunity to speak to many interesting people who are seeking to dramatically change the situation in this country for the better. One of these people is Uranik Begu who with the Innovation Centre has helped thousands of startups, hundreds of products and through its many events managed to support many, many ICT businesses in the country. I felt that Uranik and the centre are well placed to assess how Kosovo is evolving - specifically when it comes to getting more people into technology.  The conference we spoke at was called ‘Building Bridges' and it was very inspiring to hear the many notable guests speak about the bridges they felt needed to be built.  Among others we had the Minister of Industry and Innovation speak at this event and I, for one, was very impressed with the drive, ambition and energy of the young people attending to change the situation in their country for the better. Uranik was a great spokesperson for these people and I sincerely hope you take the time to listen to what he had to say. So with that - please enjoy Episode 52 - ThinkTech Kosovo with Uranik Begu. 

The world is in good hands if we have people like Gitanjali Rao becoming the leaders of tomorrow.  This inventor, aspiring scientist, UNICEF ambassador and the first ever TIME kid of the year is an example to all of us. I had the great pleasure of meeting her in Qatar at the World Innovation Summit for Education.  I really enjoyed talking to her for Episode 28 in Season 2 and was blown away by her eloquence, self awareness and authenticity at such a young age. The things she said in this interview speak for themselves! Most noteworthy is her observation that you cannot change what people think of you but that you can change how you react to them. There will be people who will shoot you down but the end you have the same amount of power as everyone else.  Please enjoy these notes to Nono of Gitanjali Rao. 

A very big welcome to Season 3 of The TeachPitch Podcast. I am hyper excited to be opening our latest season and cannot wait to hear your thoughts on all the awesome things we have in store for you for this series of episodes. We are kicking off and we are kicking off big because I have the great, great fortune to open Season 3 with some of the very best architects in this world. For our 51st Episode we are taking you to Tokyo, Japan where we had the tremendous honour to speak to the great Yui & Takaharu Tezuka.  Now I am genuinely not lying to you when I tell you that this couple has shaken the world of architecture and that because of them and their magnificent designs this world is a more beautiful place.  Tezuka Architects has won the Japanese Institute of Architects Prize (twice over), The Yoshioka Prize, The Architectural Institution of Japan Prize and the Global Award for Sustainable Architecture in 2017.  If you haven't already seen it, please, please check out the TED talk of Takaharu Tezuka about ‘The Best Kindergarten You Have Ever Seen' - 1.3 million people have watched his talk before you and for very good reasons.  I loved Yui and Takaharu because of their simplicity. I am very much inspired and in awe about their choice to find their architectural ideas in nature or as they say themselves - merely amplifying what is already there instead of trying to rework or undo what nature has given to us.  I also love the fact that they always wear the same colour of tshirts in the family - blue for Takaharu, red for Tezuka and I believe green and yellow for their son and daughter.  Anyways, I learnt loads of loads of this interview and hope you will as well. We have also included the video recording of this interview on our YouTube channel so do check that out as well, if you want to get an idea of what these wonderful people look like.  With that, please enjoy - ‘Yui and Takaharu Tezuka' - The Architects!  You can find more information about Yui and Takaharu through the website of Tezuka Architects: http://www.tezuka-arch.com

This Episode is entirely devoted to reading and more specifically to how reading is changing for us humans in the year 2022 where some say we are dealing with a global ‘attention crisis'.  Aldo speaks to Dr. Anne Mangen, a Professor at the Reading Centre of the University of Stavanger in Norway.  Dr. Mangen's research focuses on how reading shapes our brain and in her field makes granular comparisons between reading books and reading from digital devices. We talk about which one is better and what you can do for yourself and others to retain your focus.  You can read more on Dr. Mangen's findings here: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Anne_Mangen

So our next featured guest in Notes to Nono is admired all over the world - and more particularly Latin America - as a hard working, honest and resilient example of leadership and success. Rosalia Arteaga is the former President and Vice-President of the Republic of Ecuador, a TV presenter, author of several books, an activist and founder of the educational non-profit the Fidal Foundation.  Now I wouldn't be exaggerating if I were to say that Rosalia seemingly possesses an undying energy that she has used throughout her life to make this world and particularly her home country a better place. If you haven't already done so, please listen to the very first Episode of this Podcast where I had the great privilege of talking to her. Her advice to always make the difference - no matter how difficult things are -  is one we can all take to heart so I sincerely hope you will enjoy Notes to Nono 3 - Make the Difference with Rosalia Arteaga Serrano. 

As we are approaching the end of Season 2, Aldo shares 4 crucial (secret) takeaways about the Podcasting journey thus far. Great material if you are thinking of starting a Podcast yourself and/or are curious how such a show comes together.  Get in touch if you have any questions! Send us an e-mail on info@teachpitch.com or connect with us on social media.  

I don't think I ever had the pleasure of meeting anyone as impressive as Dr. Edith Eger.  I consciously use the word ‘impressive' here as I am very certain you will never forget her once you have met her. Nor will you ever forget the books she has written, ‘The Choice' and ‘The Gift'.  Dr. Eger is a 94 year old Psychologist who after surviving the horrific atrocities of Auschwitz and not long after fleeing her home country just before the Russians take over power, lands in the United States with not a penny to her name.  If you have not yet done so, please listen to Episode 18 of this Podcast where I had the tremendous honour or speaking to her and please, please read her book ‘The Choice' - it will change you forever - I guarantee it.  The energy, strength and undying optimism of this 95 year old titan is contagious and her advice that we always (always) have a choice is one we should all immerse ourselves in.  As I said in the interview, the world is a better place because we have people like Dr. Edith Eger in it. It is my choice to listen to her and learn from her and I hope it will be yours as well.  Without further ado, please enjoy these Notes to Nono from Dr. Edith Eger.  

Aldo talks to Dutch journalist Jojanneke van den Berge about her decade long journey as a TV presenter and Documentary maker, the many benefits of getting therapy and her latest series ‘Jojanneke en de Jeugdzorg Tapes' (Jojanneke and the Childcare Tapes)  You can watch Jojanneke's latest documentary series here: https://www.npostart.nl/jojanneke-en-de-jeugdzorgtapes/VPWON_1333830

This Podcast journey is now almost 1 year old and never in a million years could I have dreamt that it would grow into what it has become today.  We have tens of thousands of listeners from around the world, incredible guests who have indeed achieved amazing things in their own right and most importantly an enormous wealth of life experience wrapped together as 3 challenges for each episode that each guest has so kindly shared with us. Hundreds of people have rated or reviewed the interviews and we are building up followers on all the Podcast platforms that we are submitting our Episodes to.  So whatever happens next, I first want you to know that I am incredibly grateful to everyone who made this happen. From the team at Landmark Communications to our Producer Natalie to our Project Managers Inva and Genta to our Sponsors but also to my friends for sharing their honest feedback with me so I don't create an echo chamber of incoherent noise and my family (father and mother who have been very supportive)   Most importantly my wife Leila for letting me take this leap and allowing me to go wild and creative bringing this together each and every week.  So thank you to all of you - I won't let you down.  And then there is someone that I haven't mentioned yet. My daughter Norah - also called Nono.  Now I can fight all cliches as much as I like and spend my time lying to you that my daughter isn't the center of my universe currently but that would all be rubbish.  Doing my little bit to bring that little human into this world and then taking on the shared responsibility to raise her is a task that I do not take lightly.  Now one of the things I realized is that my experience, influence and knowledge for her to become a balanced, loving, honest, healthy individual is going to be crucial. And that - at times - frankly scares me a bit.  Another thing I have realized is that I have been born into privilege.  Not only because my crib was in the house of a well to do Western European (Dutch/Belgian) family but also because I am a white, straight man who has absolutely no idea what it is like to be deprived of anything, to be discriminated against or to be excluded from anything - because of my gender, race, sexuality or color of my skin. Without having done anything of value, I tick all the boxes and just for that, I lead a privileged life.  So the story of my daughter might be a very different one to mine.  She is growing up in a different era as a toddler, a young girl and as a woman.  And just for that society might have different expectations from her and could ask for different things. She might be excluded or yelled at or (God forbid) abused because of the fact that she is a woman.  Even though things have evolved a lot in the right direction, we are far from being equal which might make the journey of my daughter a lot more challenging than mine - just because of her gender.   Now I am going to be honest here, there might be a lot of things I do not know. I might be completely blind to the issues she is up against because I have not experienced any of this first hand. And this is where I might fall short in being a good parent. I might let her down because I cannot fully grasp how unreal or unfair such a situation could be.  Now to make a long story short, I am determined to provide little Nono with the best advice available so she can grow up as a strong, independent, resilient, autonomous human being and right now I have an opportunity to gather up on this advice and to collect notes for her when she grows up.  I have been so fortunate to have spoken thus far to so many strong, independent spirits who have achieved tremendous things. Many of them are incredible women and by fishing out crucial advice that they have given me and passing this on into notes I hope that I can harness Nono with some valuable life lessons that she hopefully uses should it come to it.  So without further ado, we present to you Notes to Nono. Hoping you might know or be a Nono as well. A concerned parent, caretaker, teacher, family member, friend or even just an interested listener who is kind enough to pass it on.  Notes to Nono 1  So the first one that I picked are snippets from Her Royal Highness Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands who I spoke to for Episode 19. She was a very kind, hands-on, warm person who had a clear message. Now I had slightly rehearsed something for the end of this interview which was a comment around a Disney Princess - which is Nono's current career choice - and us as parents not approving of this.  I boldly shared this with the Princess and her response was admirable. Please enjoy these very first Royal ‘Notes to Nono' from a very special Power-Princess.