What's America's Purpose?

Listen to Anna Laymon, Vice President of Programs and Planning at America 250 who until recently ran America's Women's Suffrage Commission commemorating women's equality.  Anna gives us her take on America's purpose and how each of us can participate in the five year national effort to recognize America's commitment to our founding ideals of equality, diversity, integrity, freedom, and justice. Learn more about what you can do at America250.org    Learn more about Anna Laymon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annalaymon/

Description:  Listen to snippets from 22 wonderful guests on a whirlwind discussion about America's purpose in the 21st century.  In one show, you'll hear from famous leaders, experts, and average citizens alike all discussing American ideals, what they are and ought to be, how they inform America's path forward, and how each American can play a role in advancing the progress. Our work in Season 1 has led to a new collaboration with America250 for Season 2 to begin later this year.  Stay tuned for that and enjoy! Learn more about What's America's Purpose: https://www.whatsamericaspurpose.com/ Learn more about America250: https://america250.org/ Learn more about the Sustainable Development Goals: https://sdgs.un.org/goals Learn more about American progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals: https://sdg.data.gov/ Connect with Matt on Linkedin. https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-bogoshian-55776b26/ Podcast Production by Podcasting4Associations.com

Listen to Fred Kenney, former US Coast Guard Admiral who now works for the UN's International Maritime Organization,  about what can be done to improve our oceans and the way we ship things here at home and across the world. Enjoy!   Learn more about the UN's IMO:https://www.imo.org/en/About/Pages/Default.aspx

Listen to author and scholar Andrew Hoffman tell us about his journey from being a carpenter building homes to helping each of us build a calling in life tied to the Great Work of our time; constructing a sustainable America! Enjoy! Learn more about Andy Hoffman and his work: http://www.andrewhoffman.net/   Connect with Matt on Linkedin. https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-bogoshian-55776b26/ Podcast Production by Podcasting4Associations.com

Listen to inspiring environmental justice leader Mustafa Santiago Ali tell his story about growing up in Appalachia amongst civil rights leaders and cancer causing pollution and how it informed his leadership in and out of government to get our nation to respond to the disproportionate impacts of pollution on so many of what he calls “the forgotten people”.   Mustafa gives us his take on America's purpose and talks about his high profile government resignation from Trump's EPA followed by his work for the Hip Hop Caucus and the National Wildlife Federation.  Enjoy! Learn more about Mustafa's high profile resignation, and his work with the Hip Hop Caucus and the National Wildlife Federation Connect with Matt on Linkedin. https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-bogoshian-55776b26/

Listen to the President of the 250,000 member American Sustainable Business Council David Levine talk about the exciting progress that businesses are making; doing well by doing good.  From his days as a community organizer to his work with the Obama/Biden Administration to make business a powerful force for good, David gives us his take on America's purpose and how enterprises can lead American progress. Enjoy!    Learn more about the American Sustainable Business Council: https://www.asbcouncil.org/ Connect with Matt on Linkedin. https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-bogoshian-55776b26/

Listen to Bolt Threads' innovator Libby Sommer talk about the exciting release of a new leather-like material called Mylo that's made from mushrooms and will be in products sold by major brands in 2021. From her beekeeping days as a girl growing up in Nebraska to becoming a top scientist at the U.S. EPA dedicated to helping consumers make sustainable purchases. Libby gives us her take on America's purpose and how sustainable purchasing is part of what each of us can do to achieve it.  Enjoy!    Learn about Mylo and Bolt Threads: https://boltthreads.com/technology/mylo    

Listen to one of the designated 2020 election observers in the battleground state of Wisconsin, Richard Opie, describe what he witnessed leading up to and on election day November 3, 2020.  As a longtime Wisconsin citizen and leading lawyer and educator, Rich shares his observations about the diligent and professional civil servants and volunteers making this election  “The most secure election in American history.” Enjoy!

Impact Investments that Build a Better America, Jenna Nicholas  Listen to Impact Investing leader and CEO of Impact Experience, Jenna Nicholas give her take on America's Purpose and how investors of all types can make smarter investments that can generate financial, social and environmental returns.  From her investing experience across the globe to her work to help American communities as diverse as West Virginia and Alabama, Jenna describes the basics of impact investing and how it can serve as an important catalyst to American progress in the 21st Century.  Enjoy!

Listen to a long-time affordable housing leader and CEO and President of CHISPA, Alfred-Diaz-Infante, give us his take on What's America's Purpose and steps necessary to make housing available and affordable for every American.  From his family's immigrant story of hard work leading to citizenship, home ownership and community engagement, Alfred describes what it takes to  overcome the housing crisis by building more affordable and sustainable homes in inclusive neighborhoods so that every American has a place to live.  Enjoy! 

Listen to Liz Covart, historian of early America, and the award-winning host of her own podcast, Ben Franklin's World.  Liz gives her take on What's America's Purpose, why early American history matters to our future, and how the best historians in the country can help each of us think about what ought to be America's purpose in the 21st century. Enjoy! Learn about the Ben Franklin's World Podcast

Listen to a long time NYC community builder Mathy Stanislaus who focuses on equality and environmental justice for ALL Americans give his take on What's America's Purpose.  From the story of his family escaping Sri Lanka when he was a boy, to his finding the American Dream with help from so many Americans, to his meteoric rise to speak to international audiences about racial justice as a teenager, until his service in the Obama Administration cleaning up polluted lands in ways that help low and moderate-income communities revitalize their neighborhoods, Mathy Stanislaus' decades of work is both an inspiring and motivating story for every American.  Hear about his formula for an American renaissance and how we can lead a worldwide clean energy revolution by tapping into the talents of all Americans with better tools for participatory democracy.  Enjoy!    Read about the imperative of Environmental Justice and Cleaning Up Pollution Read about the Global Battery Alliance

Listen to John Cruden, a decorated Marine who went on to serve at the highest levels of the United States Department of Justice, give us his take on What's America's Purpose. From his stories of protecting the health of Americans from illegal pollution to his leadership in the development of American laws for sustainable development that serve as an example for the world, John Cruden's decades of work serves as a benchmark for excellence. Not only that, but John also gives us fascinating stories about his various adventures along the way, adventures like meetings with notables like the actor Jimmy Stewart and Presidents Reagan and Obama.  Enjoy!  Read about the Environmental Law Institute Read about the United States Department of Justice, Environment and Natural Resources Division  Read about the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Case

Listen to long time environmental leader Kathleen Rogers give her take on What's America's Purpose and hear how leaps of progress in tackling the climate crisis may not be that far away. Kathleen's years of global leadership in the environmental movement informs her provocative take as to why the movement has not yet met the scope of the challenge. Hear about opportunities to make a difference by joining the Earth Challenge and supporting local efforts to make climate literacy a bigger part of American education.  Enjoy!       More info: https://www.whatsamericaspurpose.com/ Read about the Earth Day Network here https://www.earthday.org/  Join the Earth Challenge here  https://earthchallenge2020.earthday.org/ Take Action in support of Climate and Environmental Literacy https://www.earthday.org/take-action-for-education/    

Listen to Prepared Neighborhoods Author, Activist and Entrepreneur Scott James and hear his take on America's Purpose and how each of us can prepare ourselves, our families and our neighborhoods for predictable crises like storms, floods, earthquakes and pandemics.  From helping to build sustainable soccer balls to helping neighbors become more resilient to avoid the worst AND increase human connectivity no matter the political affiliation, Scott's attitude and actions show us how bottom-up efforts make a difference in the real world!  More info: https://www.whatsamericaspurpose.com/ Research: Read Scott's book here https://preparedneighborhoods.com/scottjames Read about Scott's Neighborhood in Washington State: https://bainbridgeprepares.org/ Read about the Green Sports  Alliance here https://greensportsalliance.org/ Read about Forest Stewardship Council here https://us.fsc.org/en-us/certification Read about Permaculture here https://www.permaculturenews.org/what-is-permaculture/ Read about Marshall Ganz' Leading Change Network here:  https://leadingchangenetwork.org/

How Can We Manufacture a Sustainable Society? Governor's Advanced Manufacturing Lead, Sarah Lee Listen to Sarah Lee, Washington Governor Inslee's Director of Advanced Manufacturing, tell her story of learning to help average citizens with bottom-up efforts and partnerships that give people better health and jobs. From helping disadvantaged kids gain access to better dental care to transforming the Northwest into the world leader in sustainable “blue” maritime commerce, Sarah's leadership and partnership abilities have been key to creating a national network of regional leaders, all trying to build a better process for an American renaissance in the 21st Century.  More episodes: https://www.whatsamericaspurpose.com/episodes/ Connect with Matt on Linkedin.   https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-bogoshian-55776b26/ Enjoy!

How Do We Make Climate Positive Career Choices? Climate Activist Wei-Tai Kwok As important as it is to understand the history and strategy behind America's Purpose, inspiring accelerated progress comes from hearing relatable stories about what every day American citizens can do to make America a more perfect union.  In this episode, we talk with citizen patriot Wei-Tai Kwok, a Chinese American, who lived the American dream only to realize he needed to transform his life into one of activism in both his day job and in his volunteerism.  Listen to Wei-Tai's inspiring story and how it has led him to become one of the foremost citizen activists leading a chapter of Al Gore's Climate Reality Project accelerating smarter and quicker reactions to the climate crisis.  https://www.whatsamericaspurpose.com/ Connect with Matt on Linkedin.   https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-bogoshian-55776b26/ (This interview took place right before the COVID 19 and the protests over systemic racism) 

What are the 5 Key Ingredients to the American Leadership We Need NOW? American Patriot and Statesman, Leon Panetta Description: Listen to the former Secretary of Defense and son of Italian immigrants tell his 50-year story of living the American dream by helping to get things done by, for and with American's of all stripes.  From his surprising history starting out as a progressive Republican fighting for civil rights, to his run in with the Nixon White House and his pivot to become a Democratic Congressman, Clinton White House Chief of Staff and Obama CIA Director who tracked down Bin Laden, Leon Panetta tells the story of a time when leaders of both parties were rational and worked on big bipartisan civil rights laws and other efforts that benefited ALL Americans.  Hear what he thinks about President Trump's leadership and the courage, honesty and trust we will need to rebuild sustainable prosperity at home and abroad for the rest of this century.  As he summed up in his book, Worthy Fights, Leon Panetta's lifetime of fighting for America's Purpose is a great example for ALL Americans. Enjoy!

Since accelerated progress toward American Purpose will require a cultural shift, America's passion for sport at all levels provides a huge opportunity to harness its power to make that shift.  In this episode we talk with Scott Jenkins who has managed numerous professional sports stadiums across America who also leads the Green Sports Alliance, a collaboration of teams and leagues working to have sports lead that cultural shift.  Listen to Scott's story about the emerging opportunity that sports presents, the early progress, the importance of sustainability science, the threat of greenwashing, and how consumers and youth are demanding that the sports organizations make more progress sooner.

Listen to Ken Alex describe his journey to become former California Governor Jerry Brown's “right hand” in helping the Golden State lead the world in addressing the climate crisis while growing the economy at the same time.  As a leader in the law, and climate and sustainability policy, hear about the hopeful opportunities that Ken and others are working on now.  Enjoy!

Listen to Professor Ryan Rynbrandt describe what the founding fathers actually meant in the 1776 Declaration of Independence and how its meaning is critical to making American progress now.  Professor Rybrandt reveals the “founding assumption” of the American experiment, a description of what IS America's purpose hidden in plain sight, how it's our government's job to secure our “safety and happiness”, and that after 240 years of progress we now can measure many of the important parts of what it means to thrive as individuals and as a nation. https://www.whatsamericaspurpose.com/ Enjoy!

This interview is with renowned agent of social change, Marshall Ganz. Marshall's early work as a Freedom Rider in the 1960s led to his helping Caesar Chavez accelerate the farmworker movement in the 1970s which ultimately led to his groundbreaking work to empower citizens in political campaigns, including the historic 2008 campaign to elect Barak Obama. Hear Marshall's take on America's Purpose and how each of us can help advance it through citizen actions in our local neighborhoods and beyond. Building on the wisdom of ancient scholars informed and intertwined with his years of on-the-ground experience, Marshall has a powerful and inspiring message for all of us. Enjoy!

This interview is with Puck Mykleby who co-authored the book The New Grand Strategy: Restoring America's Prosperity, Security, and Sustainability in the 21st Century.  As the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen was immersed in two wars and wanted to know how those efforts and others fit into what ought to be America's Grand Strategy for a thriving 21st century America. So he put his staff officers, Colonel Mykleby and Captain Wayne Porter on the job to develop that strategy.  Listen to a plain-spoken, no-nonsense Marine give his take on What's America's Purpose and hear about the exciting opportunities we all have to build sustainable American prosperity.  From regenerative agriculture to walkable communities and resource efficiency, Puck has a knack for bringing the big picture down to earth.  Enjoy!

Welcome to What's America's Purpose Podcast!  Our goal is a discussion about how Americans who want to improve their own lives by adding value to the emerging American Sustainability Movement. Host: Matt Bogoshian is a sustainability activist with the Climate Reality Project and citizen-patriot who has served as a Schwarzenegger appointee to the California EPA and an Obama appointee to the U.S. EPA. He is a late baby boomer working to promote America's purpose by accelerating the sustainability movement.   Read more from Matt: https://medium.com/what-is-americas-purpose/what-is-americas-purpose-a7183c60703c