Podcasts about Aspen Ideas Festival

Communication is about a lot more than the words coming out of our mouths. We often hear each other, but don't really listen. Or we understand the literal meaning of what someone is saying, but we seem to miss the point and fail to connect. What's happening in our brains in those situations? And why is it sometimes so hard to do something we've been doing since we were children? New Yorker writer Charles Duhigg set out to find the answers to these questions in his latest book, “Supercommunicators: The Science of Conversation and Connection.” In this talk at the 2024 Aspen Ideas Festival, Duhigg explains that there aren't any secret talents required in becoming a supercommunicator. All you have to do is understand a few concepts and learn and practice a few basic skills. He breaks down what's going on when two people are talking to each other and demonstrates the methods he's researched with some audience participation exercises. aspenideas.org

In 2018, professional basketball superstar DeMar DeRozan gave the world a dose of reality when he tweeted about struggling with depression. Even though he was in the middle of NBA All-Star weekend – an achievement many people think is the ultimate dream – he didn't want to leave his hotel room. He was just looking to be truly seen and heard, but he ended up starting an important conversation and becoming a devoted advocate for mental health issues. And he inspired fellow NBA player Kevin Love to speak out not long after with an essay about dealing with longtime anxiety and depression. The two players have given countless hours since then to breaking mental health stigmas and guiding honest conversations about success, money and true happiness. DeRozan also published a book about his mental health journey last year called “Above the Noise: My Story of Chasing Calm.” For Mental Health Awareness month in May, we're bringing back a conversation between the two players and performance psychologist Michael Gervais. This talk was recorded at the 2019 Aspen Ideas Festival. aspenideas.org

For centuries, people have tried to get to the bottom of what makes us happy. Recent studies show regular sex makes people happiest and commuting is when we're most unhappy. And, happiness levels fluctuate throughout life. “Happiness follows a u-shaped curve,” says author and columnist David Brooks. “People are happier in their twenties. They typically decline and hit their bottom happiness category at age 47 and they tend to get happier as they get older.” These findings, though, may not tell the whole story. How does the consideration of purpose, meaning, and virtue change the definition of happiness? What can we learn from ancient philosophers, America's forefathers, and our own modern-day culture about the journey to joy? Jeffrey Rosen, author of “The Pursuit of Happiness: How Classical Writers on Virtue Inspired the Lives of the Founders and Defined America,” Sarah Lewis, founder of the Vision and Justice Project, Adam Gopnik, author of “All That Happiness Is: Some Words on What Matters,” and Tamar Gendler, dean and philosophy professor at Yale University, join Brooks to discuss the question of happiness. This talk was recorded at the 2024 Aspen Ideas Festival. aspenideas.org

Women make 80% of healthcare decisions and outspend men two to one on care—yet when it comes to designing, funding, and scaling health tech, they're still treated like a niche.In this episode, we break down the broken flywheel holding women's health innovation back including fewer growth-stage investments, limited exits, and a system not built to serve women as the primary users of care. I'm joined by Carolyn Witte, co-founder of Tia, and Katie Drasser, CEO of Rock Health, to talk about what needs to change—and how we get there.We cover:

Being a parent today is full of stress, pressure and information overload. Experts offering advice are everywhere, and for some parents, the wealth of available resources can make it feel like failure and criticism is inevitable. How do you pick out what's actually helpful in the limited time you have? This talk from the 2024 Aspen Ideas Festival features a panel of moms who are also experts on parenting and child development. Aliza Pressman, MD is a developmental psychologist and co-founder of the Mount Sinai Parenting Center. Grace Bastidas is the editor-in-chief of Parents magazine and founder of a parenting resource for Latine families. Reshma Saujani started and leads Girls Who Code and the advocacy group Moms First. They come together to reassuringly break down the lessons they've learned from interacting with all kinds of families and guide us through some of the toughest parenting issues of our time, like social media, racism and gender imbalances. Host of NBC's “Today With Jenna and Friends,” Jenna Bush Hager, moderates the conversation. aspenideas.org

Mary Louise Kelly (host of NPR's All Things Considered) has been doing some reflecting. What choices did she make and how do they look now, as her nest is nearly empty? Is it okay to travel through war zones when a kid is home with the flu? What is gained and what is lost, for the individuals in question and for society? This is a conversation to take in slowly, to share with every mother you know, and to discuss. (Previously aired) Thanks to the Aspen Ideas Festival. Our takeaways were really good on this one…if you'd like to receive the weekly list, just shoot a note to hello@kellycorrigan.com or pop by the website and sign up there. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The quest for work-life balance is neverending for many of us. The advice in this talk from the 2023 Aspen Ideas Festival still holds a lot of relevance, so we're bringing it back for a refresher. In today's world, we tend to switch jobs more frequently than previous generations, and are more likely to have multiple jobs. Side gigs where we express passions or find meaning are also common, and many juggle additional roles as caregivers and community members, as people always have. In short, many of us are focused on a lot more than just climbing a corporate ladder. Our careers and lives aren't linear, although a lot of the traditional advice about them is. Where do we look for updated guidance? In this panel discussion, three authors withbooks on finding our way in the world come together for a discussion on making life choices in modern times. Writer and speaker Bruce Feiler interviewed hundreds of people across the country for “The Search: Finding Meaningful Work in a Post-Career World.” Wired Magazine co-founder and co-chair of the Long Now Foundation, Kevin Kelly, compiled his lessons and experiences into a book inspired by his children called “Excellent Advice for Living: Wisdom I Wish I'd Known Earlier.” And journalist Joanne Lipman moderates the conversation and shares what she learned writing “Next! The Power of Reinvention in Life and Work.” aspenideas.org

This episode is the first in the 2nd half of our Hard Conversations series. Kelly speaks with Rabbi Sharon Brous, who she discovered at the Aspen Ideas Festival and was so captivated by that she waited backstage to invite her onto the podcast. Together they explore forgiveness through ancient and modern perspectives, examining a powerful ritual where those with broken hearts walked against the crowd at the Temple Mount and were asked simply, "What happened to you?" Rabbi Sharon unpacks the Jewish process of teshuvah (repentance), shares why sitting beside someone in their darkness can mean more than offering solutions, and reveals how truly seeing one another might help us bridge our deepest divides. Their exchange offers fresh insights for anyone seeking to repair relationships or create meaningful connections after harm. Check out Rabbi Sharon's book: The Amen Effect: Ancient Wisdom to Mend our Broken Hearts and World. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Today's boys and young men are having a tough time. By several measures of success and happiness, they're struggling to keep up and turning to the internet for help, where many end up hooked by extremists. We need to find better ways to frame the problem, support them and push them in the right direction. The solution starts with a frank conversation about what's really going on, according to the experts on this panel from the 2024 Aspen Ideas Festival. Richard Reeves founded the American Institute for Boys and Men and wrote “Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male is Struggling, Why It Matters and What To Do About It,” in 2022. He's joined by Michael Strautmanis of the Obama Foundation and My Brother's Keeper Alliance, along with Maryland Governor Wes Moore. NBC News correspondent Stephanie Ruhle moderates the conversation. aspenideas.org

Some musicians start with formal lessons and daily practice and some get hooked by picking up a washboard between hopping train cars across the country. Alynda Segarra is the latter type, and it led them to a new life dedicated to music and community in their adopted home of New Orleans. As the band Hurray for the Riff Raff, Segarra has been making music beloved by critics and fans since 2008 and is still going strong. Their most recent album, “The Past is Still Alive,” came out last year. They sat down with poetry professor and host of the PBS series “Poetry in America,” Elisa New, at the 2024 Aspen Ideas Festival to talk about writing lyrics, making music and finding their place in America. We're bringing you the conversation for National Poetry Month. aspenideas.org

Julia Louis-Dreyfus has kept us laughing for years in her roles as Elaine Benes in “Seinfeld” and Selina Meyer in “Veep.” But her most recent work has her shifting from comedy to drama. She plays Zora in the film “Tuesday” about a mother battling to accept the impending death of her terminally ill daughter. “I really love being an actor, so even the hard stuff has a grip on me,” she tells podcast host Sam Fragoso. A master interviewer, Fragoso is known for eliciting emotions his guests don't expect. His wide-reaching conversation with Louis-Dreyfus touches on ambition, frustration in showbusiness, Louis-Dreyfus's battle with breast cancer, and much more. This talk was recorded at the 2024 Aspen Ideas Festival. (Explicit language is included.) aspenideas.org

Living as a trans person in America comes with its share of challenges, which are sometimes even life-threatening. But some say it can also open up access to incredible freedom. What lessons can we all learn from people who've transitioned and transformed? Alok Vaid-Menon is a comedian and writer with remarkable patience and compassion for everyone and their inner journey – even the people sending them hate and death threats. “I am trying to look in their face and say ‘I want you to live,'” they say in a documentary short about them titled “Alok.” Artist and filmmaker Alex Hedison got to know Alok while directing the film, which she took to the Sundance Film Festival. The two reunite on stage at the 2024 Aspen Ideas Festival for a conversation about confronting our fears and defying the boxes we find ourselves in. aspenideas.org

The rapid development of the Covid-19 vaccine and the ramp-up of manufacturing and global distribution were unprecedented feats of medical coordination. But those on the inside say it could have gone even smoother and faster, and if we implement the lessons learned we'll be in much better shape if another pandemic hits. Unfortunately, most global leaders seem to want to just move on and prioritize other issues, according to Adar Poonawalla, the CEO of vaccine company Serum Institute of India. His firm is one of the only family-owned medical manufacturers, and they were able to scale up production dramatically to help provide the Covid vaccine to people in developing and lower-income countries at an affordable cost. He talks with author and journalist Michael Lewis at the 2024 Aspen Ideas Festival about what it was like to have such a pivotal role in a global health crisis and what it would take to keep facilities like his ready to jump into action again. aspenideas.org

It's a tough time to try and express the complexity of life honestly. Writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie doesn't shy away from truth-telling and believes we should all step up and do more of it. She thinks there's more of a political “middle” in the general public than is generally represented in media, and she keeps that group in mind in her work. An essayist, poet and novelist, Adichie published her first novel in 12 years, “Dream Count,” on March 4, 2025. Last summer, she joined podcast host Kelly Corrigan of “Kelly Corrigan Wonders” on stage for the closing session of the 2024 Aspen Ideas Festival. The two meandered through polarization, cancel culture, grief and parental love in a heartfelt conversation. aspenideas.org

Few working technology reporters have been around as long as Kara Swisher. The start of her career coincided with the emergence of the internet, and she's interviewed almost all of the major tech players between then and now. She's still known today for making billionaire founders sweat in the hot seat. But she's not just a technology critic, she's also an ardent cheerleader. As she explains in her memoir, “Burn Book: A Tech Love Story,” and in this episode, her tough questions aim to be in service of better technology and a better world. The co-founder and CEO of Airbnb, Brian Chesky, interviews Swisher at the 2024 Aspen Ideas Festival in June about her book and her latest thoughts on this often-controversial sector. “Burn Book” was released in paperback with a new afterward on March 4, 2025. aspenideas.org

Creativity is as intrinsic to our species as any of our basic instincts, says Debbie Millman, designer and curator. But for millions of people in the United States, the ability to create has been thwarted. This basic human need, as important as love and shelter, Millman says, isn't available for people serving time at the nearly 2,000 correctional facilities across America. In this discussion, moderated by Millman, a group of artists and activists share how they're working to bring creative outlets to people who are incarcerated. Turns out ushering creativity into these dark and lonely spaces not only increases hope for the incarcerated, it makes our country safer. Common, a hip hop artist and actor, launched the nonprofits Imagine Justice and the Common Ground Foundation. Hank Willis Thomas is a conceptual artist who co-founded For Freedoms. Claudia Peña is an artist and founding co-director of the Center for Justice at UCLA. Michael Murphy is an architect, artist, educator, and writer. This talk was recorded at the 2024 Aspen Ideas Festival. aspenideas.org

Celebrate culture and connection with Dinner at Our Place, the latest cookbook from the team behind Our Place, the makers of the beloved Always Pan®. Shiza Shahid, co-founder and CEO of the acclaimed cookware shares the brand's mission to bring people together through the joy of cooking and dining. With contributions from 11 renowned chefs, tastemakers, and restaurateurs, the book presents over 100 recipes alongside curated menus designed to inspire memorable gatherings. Each chapter of Dinner at Our Place is a fully crafted dining experience, complete with playlists, mood-lighting suggestions, and tips to elevate your hosting game. From Shiza Shahid's cozy family dinners to Kia Damon's creative take on Friendsgiving, the book offers a rich tapestry of culinary traditions and innovative approaches. Other highlights include Jen Monroe's playful Valentine's celebration, DeVonn Francis's Caribbean-inspired feast, and Keegan Fong's hot pot night with Mama Fong. At this event, Shahid will share the stories behind the cookbook and the collaborations that shaped its pages. Learn how each menu came to life, explore the joy of hosting through recipes like Saffron Tachin and Whole Salt-Roasted Fish, and discover the deeper purpose of building connections through food. Whether you're an experienced entertainer or new to the kitchen, this event is your invitation to celebrate the art of gathering. Shiza Shahid is the Co-founder and Co-CEO of Our Place, a mission-driven brand reimagining kitchenware for the modern, global kitchen. Before Our Place, Shiza co-founded the Malala Fund with Nobel Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, serving as its founding CEO to champion every girl's right to education. She also launched NOW Ventures, an angel fund investing in mission-driven startups with a focus on female founders. Shiza has been recognized as one of TIME's “30 Under 30 People Changing the World,” Forbes' “30 Under 30 – Social Entrepreneurs,” and INC Magazine's “Top Female Founders.” Her thought leadership has been featured in The New York Times, Forbes, Fast Company, and more. She's also a sought-after speaker, frequently appearing at major events like Aspen Ideas Festival, Fortune Most Powerful Women, and the World Economic Forum.  Buy the Book Dinner at Our Place: Recipes for Gathering Elliott Bay Book Company

The entertainment industry has had to pivot and refresh time and again to adapt to constant changes in format, business models and attention spans. Somehow, producer Brian Grazer has been able to keep up. The storyteller, who has received multiple nominations and wins at the Oscars, Emmys and Golden Globes, manages to find what people connect with and turn it into a hit – and he does this over and over. In this talk from the 2024 Aspen Ideas Festival, Grazer and the entertainment leader and former Disney CEO Michael Eisner discuss what makes something work and how to go from an idea to winning content. Grazer shares the sometimes unconventional rules and guidelines that have served him well over the past 40 years while making classics like “Apollo 13” and “A Beautiful Mind.” aspenideas.org

In the early days of cable television, there wasn't a single network aimed at Black audiences. Sheila Johnson and her husband at the time saw an opening, and put all their hopes, efforts and money into co-founding Black Entertainment Television. The gamble paid off and the channel grew to become an influential and successful part of culture and television history. But behind the glitter, Johnson's marriage was difficult and degrading and she lost track of herself and her dreams. In her memoir “Walk Through Fire,” Johnson shares what those tough times were like, and how she found her way back to her power. She emerged to create Salamander Collection, a luxury hotel and resort company, and became the only African American woman to own part of three professional sports teams. And, she found love again. Johnson tells her story on stage at the 2024 Aspen Ideas Festival to Kelly Corrigan, host of the podcast “Kelly Corrigan Wonders.” aspenideas.org

This is the last and amongst the liveliest of my interviews at Munich's DLD Conference this year. An old friend who has appeared on KEEN ON several times before, Andrew McAfee is a MIT professor who co-wrote the 2014 classic The Second Machine Age. In our conversation, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the DLD Conference, McAfee reflects on the technological changes of the past 20 years,. He acknowledges that while he accurately predicted the broad trajectory of technological advancement, he underestimated AI's capabilities in areas like language processing and creative tasks. McAfee discusses the emergence of deep learning around 2012 and its evolution into today's generative AI. While maintaining overall optimism about technology's impact, he expresses concern about increasing social polarization and anxiety, particularly related to social media use, though he notes these trends actually preceded current technology. On economic matters, McAfee challenges the notion that tech innovation is stagnating, pointing to newcomers like Nvidia and OpenAI as evidence of continued inventive dynamism. He discusses Europe's technological lag behind the United States, citing regulatory challenges like GDPR as potential factors. Regarding climate change, McAfee believes technological solutions, particularly nuclear fusion, could address environmental challenges, though he acknowledges the severity of the crisis. He concludes by warning how traditional companies must adapt to survive in an era of rapid technological change, particularly facing competition from more agile, tech-savvy competitors.Andrew McAfee (@amcafee) is a Principal Research Scientist at the MIT Sloan School of Management, co-founder and co-director of MIT's Initiative on the Digital Economy, and the inaugural Visiting Fellow at the Technology and Society organization at Google. He studies how technological progress changes the world. His next book, The Geek Way, will be published by Little, Brown in 2023. His previous books include More from Less and, with Erik Brynjolfsson, The Second Machine Age. McAfee has written for publications including Foreign Affairs, Harvard Business Review, The Economist, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times. He's talked about his work on CNN and 60 Minutes, at the World Economic Forum, TED, and the Aspen Ideas Festival, with Tom Friedman and Fareed Zakaria, and in front of many international and domestic audiences. He's also advised many of the world's largest corporations and organizations ranging from the IMF to the Boston Red Sox to the US Intelligence Community. McAfee and his frequent coauthor Erik Brynjolfsson are othe nly people named to both the Thinkers50 list of the world's top management thinkers and the Politico 50 group of people transforming American politics.Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy show. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children.Keen On is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe

Description: In this thought-provoking conversation, Jen and Amy speak with “poet laureate of the ordinary” Kelly Corrrigan about the valuable lessons from life she's reflecting on in this season: the significance of saying hard things, the power of listening and understanding in relationships, observations from parenting and from a career as a writer, podcaster and storyteller, and the importance of participating in democracy, regardless of who is in power. In this episode, which was recorded on Election Day 2024 (prior to knowing the outcome) Kelly uses her trademark wit and steadfast wisdom to offer listeners evergreen words of encouragement for our political landscape and for our lives in whole. Segments: Bless & Release: Lies we tell ourselves GenXcellence: MTV music videos *** Thought-provoking Quotes: “We have created this way of interpreting someone changing their mind as a flip-flopper and we have left no room for someone to grow.” – Kelly Corrigan “Making is good for individual well-being. Having an inventor's or innovator's mindset is just good for society.” – Kelly Corrigan “Once you say something out loud, it just gets smaller. It packs less of a punch. It's the stuff that we're holding and never saying to anyone that's going to be the death of us.” – Kelly Corrigan Resources Mentioned in This Episode: The Strumbellas - https://thestrumbellas.ca/ Arcade Fire - https://www.arcadefire.com/ Mt. Joy - https://www.mtjoyband.com/ Bless and Release sweatshirt - https://shop.jenhatmaker.com/collections/apparel-accessories/products/bless-release-sweatshirt Jamie Wright - https://www.instagram.com/jamietheveryworst/ MTV - https://www.mtv.com/ American Bandstand TV show (1952-1989) - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049993/ Madonna - Like a Virgin - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s__rX_WL100 American Top 40 with Casey Kasem (1970-1988) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Top_40 The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan - https://amzn.to/3AgM14g Tell Me More: Stories About the 12 Hardest Things I'm Learning to Say by Kelly Corrigan - https://amzn.to/3UGcjUf Kelly's IG post about the NYC Marathon - https://www.instagram.com/p/DB7IZumy6aR/ National Lampoon's Animal House film (1978) - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077975/ Nantucket Project - https://nantucketproject.com/ Nantucket Project 2024 - Kelly Corrigan's Annual Wrap-Up - https://nantucketproject.com/2-2024-gathering/ Aspen Ideas Festival - https://www.aspenideas.org/ TED - https://www.ted.com/ Marianne the Maker by Kelly Corrigan and Claire Corrigan Lichty - https://amzn.to/4hBUY92 George Sweetland (illustrator) - https://www.georgesweetland.org/ Bryan Stevenson on Kelly Corrigan Wonders - https://www.kellycorrigan.com/podcast/category/Bryan+Stevenson Jennifer Garner and Christy Turlington Burns on Kelly Corrigan Wonders - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jennifer-garner-and-christy-turlington-burns-talking-moms/id1532951390?i=1000654904522 Steve Kerr on Kelly Corrigan Wonders - https://www.kellycorrigan.com/podcast/kerrkamau Guest's Links: Kelly Corrigan Website - https://www.kellycorrigan.com/ Kelly Corrigan Wonders Podcast - https://www.kellycorrigan.com/podcast Kelly Corrigan Books - https://www.kellycorrigan.com/books Kelly's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kellycorrigan/ Kelly's Facebook -https://www.facebook.com/kellycorriganauthor Kelly's YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@kellycorriganvideo Connect with Jen! Jen's website - https://jenhatmaker.com/ Jen's Instagram - https://instagram.com/jenhatmaker Jen's Twitter - https://twitter.com/jenHatmaker/ Jen's Facebook - https://facebook.com/jenhatmaker Jen's YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/JenHatmaker The For the Love Podcast is presented by Audacy. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Looking around and experiencing the suffering and injustice in the world can make it difficult to believe that happiness exists. But the Judeo-Christian tradition teaches that it's sinful to succumb to despair, and we have a responsibility to ourselves and others to try and find our way through dark times. On the other hand, when you avoid suffering, you avoid meaning, and therefore, you avoid happiness, says professor and author Arthur Brooks. One of the great secrets of happiness, he says, is unhappiness. Spiritual and intellectual leaders may have a lot to offer us about building our lives into something better and more meaningful, and Brooks joins writer Pico Iyer for this encore conversation, from the 2022 Aspen Ideas Festival, about navigating the complex waters of making healthy life choices. Drawing on the teachings of the Dalai Lama and many other religious practitioners, Brooks and Iyer wind through loss and emptiness, opportunity and purpose, and biology and psychology. Each thread brings them back to the ongoing challenge of taking control of one's mental state and landing at a destination full of life and intention. In a stroke of odd serendipity, Iyer's latest book, “Aflame: Learning From Silence,” about narrowly escaping a 1990 California wildfire, came out in mid-January just after the Los Angeles fires. He touches on that experience in this talk. aspenideas.org

Millions of children across America don't have art classes in school and don't grow up going to art museums and galleries. They might be hours away from the closest museum, or their families might not have the means to bring art into their lives. Philanthropist Alice Walton had that kind of childhood, and wants to prevent as many people as possible from repeating it. When she discovered the art world as an adult, she also learned how insular and urban it was, leaving out so many. These experiences led her to found the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas, which opened its doors to all in 2011. Admission at Crystal Bridges is free, and Walton has also instituted educational programs that cover the costs of bringing children in from around the region. Anne Kraybill is the CEO of a related program called Art Bridges, which is attempting to spread the philosophy of art for all and help smaller museums around the country increase access to art. In this talk from the 2024 Aspen Ideas Festival, Ford Foundation president Darren Walker interviews Walton and Kraybill about these initiatives and the motivations that created them. aspenideas.org

Today on the show I have iPhone filmmaking master and TEDTalk Speaker Jason Van Genderen. I've wanted to have Jason on the podcast for a long time. He is a true inspiration to anyone who wants to pick up a camera and tell a story. He has made an industry out of professional shooting with iPhones for corporate clients, on commercials, music videos, and short films. Here's some more info on our guest.No script, storyboard or crew. No exposure to focus controls. A resolution of 640 x 480 pixels and a total memory of just 160MB. That was Jason's unexpected entry into the global filmmaking stage back in 2008.‘Mankind is No Island' went on to win numerous prestigious accolades at film festivals around the globe and was one of the very first exemplar films to champion a whole new emerging medium of iPhone filmmaking.With screenings and awards from Tropfest NY, Aspen Shortsfest, Palm Springs, San Francisco Short Film Festival, Edinburgh International Film Festival right through to Sundance London, Jason's made mobile stories that matter, becoming an unexpected voice for marginalized or emerging storytellers. It's the very reason he proudly labels himself a Filmbreaker.An equally passionate educator, Jason's talks have inspired audiences from TEDx Newy to the Aspen Ideas Festival; from countless televisions, how appearances to keynote addresses at film schools and festivals. His masterclass workshops continue to inspire both beginners and seasoned professionals alike. Jason Van Genderen has also consulted and collaborated with some of the world's largest imaging brands, from Sony and Nokia to Nikon and currently Apple Australia. This year he also commenced an on-air role presenting guest segments on Channel 7's ‘Get Arty' children show, and has recently consulted to 7 West Media Group on broadcast applications for smartphone technology.When your introduction to puberty is selling pet rocks and wearing a back brace, you'd have to hope that the ability to think creatively comes naturally. For Jason, his life of creative problem solving was seeded by 20 years hard labor in the advertising & design industry… before turning his hand to short films. His reputation for quick thinking under challenging circumstances saw him carve an early niche, being a four-time winner in the 24-hour in-camera film festival The Shoot Out.Always a custodian of content over craft, in 2008 he experimented with filming on his mobile phone, making a short with no script, storyboard, actors, narration or budget. ‘Mankind is no Island' went on to win Tropfest NY and numerous other accolades globally, by breaking every rule in the book. His unorthodox approach to filtering story with low-tech simplicity has seen him in demand internationally as a presenter on pocket filmmaking.There are NO MORE EXCUSES ANYMORE. You can tell your story with what's in your pocket.Enjoy my conversation with Jason Van Genderen.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bulletproof-screenwriting-podcast--2881148/support.

Writers Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and John McWhorter share common concerns about language, race and politics in our polarized society. They discuss the chilling of civic discourse for fear of political censure and how wokeness is condescending to Black people at the 2024 Aspen Ideas Festival.  

The extremely wealthy and powerful drug cartels in Mexico operate with near-impunity, perpetuating violent crime and terrorizing Mexican citizens. But they also bring pain and suffering to the United States by importing massive amounts of fentanyl, fueling the deadly opioid epidemic. Drug lords saw an opening after the U.S. government finally stepped in to stop the flow of prescription opioids created by the pharmaceutical industry. A ready-made market of addicted people just over the border provided incentive, and fentanyl was cheaper and easier to produce than other drugs. Anabel Hernandez, a Mexican journalist who's covered the cartels for more than two decades, joins former assistant U.S. attorney Sherri Hobson for today's talk from the 2024 Aspen Ideas Festival in June. Hobson went after traffickers on the border from the San Diego office for 30 years and prosecuted hundreds of smugglers. The two break down the timeline of the fentanyl crisis and share the insider information they spent years building up from either side of the border. Reuters editor in chief Alessandra Galloni moderates the conversation. aspenideas.org

This episode is from the 2022 Aspen Ideas Festival, but we're bringing it back because it's still as relevant as ever. Though it can sometimes feel like conflict and discord is human nature, our brains are actually predisposed to forming groups and working together. In our individualistic society, we may think our minds stop at our skulls, but when people come together and connect effectively, they actually think in different ways, and they all become smarter and healthier together. Science writer Annie Murphy Paul, the author of “The Extended Mind: The Power of Thinking Outside the Brain,” joins NYU psychology professor Jay Van Bavel for a participatory conversation about uniting people to solve problems and work towards common goals. Again and again, research demonstrates the power of groups, and the panelists help us translate these findings into practical tips for encouraging people to collaborate functionally. New Yorker writer Charles Duhigg moderates the conversation and takes questions from the audience. aspenideas.org

Sir Ken Robinson believed that as a society, we tragically underestimate and underutilize human ability. We create linear systems for our minds modeled on industry and manufacturing, and we fail to honor the nonlinear imagination and creativity inside all of us. As a speaker and educational advisor, Robinson worked with people all over the world in various sectors and settings on helping them reconnect with their natural inclinations and aptitudes. He advocated for educational reform that treated children as individuals motivated by interests and passions. Robinson unfortunately passed away in 2020, and this episode is from our archives. He gave this timeless talk at the 2010 Aspen Ideas Festival. aspenideas.org

Scholars are still uncovering information about Britain's involvement in the transatlantic slave trade and its era of slavery, piecing together how the wealth generated from these atrocities shaped the nation's history. For some descendants, this means just now learning about their families' roles in and benefits from these horrors. In Britain, a few horrified heirs and private institutions are stepping forward to make amends, but there are few models for what meaningful reparations or restorative justice could look like. Where do we go from here, and what would truly make a difference? In this conversation from the 2024 Aspen Ideas Festival, the three panelists bring personal and academic experience to this weighty conversation. Harvard historian Vincent Brown, British TV presenter and historian David Olusoga and former BBC journalist and reparations advocate Laura Trevelyan discuss the meaning and practical application of reparations and restorative justice. New York Times editor Dean Baquet moderates the talk and takes questions from the audience. aspenideas.org

Each year brings more destructive natural disasters and growing evidence of the challenging future we face if we don't address climate change. But the biggest cause of climate-related deaths is one that's hard to see and hardly talked about. Extreme heat killed more than 2,000 people in the United States in 2023 and put intense stress on millions as they faced high costs of utilities and numerous life interruptions. Federal, state and local policy hasn't kept up with rising temperatures and the scale of the heat threat, and cities are scrambling to adapt and prevent more deaths. In this panel from the 2024 Aspen Ideas Festival, the chief heat officer for Miami-Dade County, Jane Gilbert, joins the chief heat officer for the city of Los Angeles, Marta Segura, to share their learnings and innovations in these brand new positions. Rolling Stone journalist Jeff Goodell, the author of “The Heat Will Kill You First,” brings a wider lens to the issue. NBC News correspondent Liz Kreutz moderates the conversation. aspenideas.org

Redefining joy and connection means breaking free from the idea that alcohol is essential to social fulfillment. When we create genuine human connection beyond the influence of substances, we can nurture authentic relationships and support individuals post-recovery. Our guest this week challenges the norms of traditional social spaces by creating experiences that foster genuine connection, inspiring hope for those seeking true meaning in their sober journey, through his work at Sans Bar.  Chris Marshall is a former substance use counselor turned entrepreneur and the founder of Sans Bar, the first non-alcoholic bar in North America, established in 2017. Prior to founding Sans Bar, Chris worked as a substance use counselor in Texas for eight years, dedicating his career to helping individuals navigate recovery and mental health challenges. As a sought-after speaker, Chris has taken the stage at prestigious events including the Aspen Ideas Festival, South by Southwest, and Bar Convent Brooklyn. He is also a recognized mental health thought leader, with his insights featured in major outlets such as CNN, The New York Times, Men's Health Magazine, and The Today Show. Chris brings over 18 years of personal sobriety to his work, inspiring others through his lived experience and professional expertise. Residing in Austin, Texas, he shares his life with his wife and two children. He is the author of the forthcoming memoir Faster Than Light, an intimate exploration of mental health and substance use recovery. Topics Discussed: Helping individuals separate the trigger from their environment Staying in love with the idea of sobriety  Having the courage and bravery to ask for help and continue to do the work Creating experiences that make sobriety worthwhile  How discomfort can give us the tools for personal growth  The alcohol-free movement: disrupting the disease of addiction Connect with SansBar: Website: https://www.thesansbar.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/@thesansbar/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sans_bar Connect with us on Social:   IG: https://www.instagram.com/positiverecoverymd/  FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/positiverecoverymd/ TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@positiverecoverycenter  YT: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4JcDF1gjlYch4V4iBbCgZg Additional Links: Want to receive the daily Positive Intervention from Dr. Powers' Positive Recovery Daily Guide? Subscribe here! https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/OtK48nO/dailypositiverecovery. Need an extra daily pick-me-up? Download your FREE 30+ inspirational wallpapers! https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/GUp7F11/InspirationalWallpaper  About Positive Recovery Centers: Positive Recovery Centers is a strengths-based addiction treatment program with locations across Texas. We offer a full continuum of care, from medical detox to sober living, all supported by an ever-growing alumni community network.  Our evidence-based curriculum blends the best of the old with the new, supporting our mission: Recovery is best pursued when meaningful, intentional, positive habits are formed through empowerment and resilience instead of negativity and shame. If you or someone you know needs addiction treatment, please visit the website or call the number below to schedule an assessment. We are here to help! Call: 877-476-2743 Address: 902 West Alabama Street, Houston, Texas 77006 Website: https://positiverecovery.com  Services: https://positiverecovery.com/services/  FAQ: https://positiverecovery.com/faq/   

Young people in America are struggling. The causes are varied and may not be entirely clear, but the results are unfortunately unmistakable. Many of our youth feel lonely, isolated or depressed and struggle to see a future where they can buy a house, have a family or feel connected to their community. The two panelists in this talk from the 2024 Aspen Ideas Festival bring a distinct expert perspective, filling out the picture of how to come to the aid of young people and prevent these patterns from repeating. The U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has issued advisories on the youth mental health crisis and raised the alarm about social media use. Kaya Henderson is the executive director of the Center for Rising Generations at the Aspen Institute, after spending years as an educator and entrepreneur. Both see the need to address this problem holistically and see kids as more than future workers. Former university administrator Dan Porterfield, now the president and CEO of the Aspen Institute, moderates the conversation. aspenideas.org

New technologies have always led to changes in society, though not always as quickly or drastically as people feared. Could artificial intelligence be different? Instead of letting a new AI reality unfold amid helpless hand-wringing, what if we tried to learn from the past? In this talk recorded at the 2024 Aspen Ideas Festival, a panel of thoughtful technology experts from various perspectives meet to discuss what might happen in a future AI-infused world. They explore the possibilities between immediate havoc and the eventual end of humanity, and suggest actions we can take to get the outcome we want. UK historian, writer and TV presenter David Olusoga joins UK government technology advisor Karen McLuskie and tech philanthropist Vilas Dhar of the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation. The executive director of Aspen Digital at the Aspen Institute, Vivian Schiller, moderates the conversation. aspenideas.org

Title: The Legacy of Joaquin Oliver: Live from the Aspen Ideas Festival Season 5 Episode 1 Introduction: In this compelling episode of the Stop the Killing podcast, host Katherine Schweit is joined by Manuel and Patricia Oliver, the courageous parents of Joaquin Oliver, who tragically lost his life in the 2018 Parkland shooting. Recorded live at the Aspen Ideas Festival, this episode takes listeners through the Oliver family's journey of transforming their unimaginable grief into impactful activism. Summary: The episode offers an intimate look into how Manuel and Patricia have dedicated their lives to preserving their son Joaquin's legacy through the organization they founded, Change the Ref. The discussion highlights Joaquin's deep concern for social justice issues, even at a young age, and how his parents have continued his fight against gun violence through various creative outlets, including a one-man play titled "Guac: My Son, My Hero," art, and public speaking. Listeners will gain insight into the emotional and psychological toll of their journey and how the Olivers have inspired others to take action. The episode also touches on the importance of community, the challenges of addressing gun violence, and the need for continued dialogue and activism. Guest Introduction: Manuel and Patricia Oliver: Co-founders of Change the Ref, an organization aimed at voting out politicians who accept NRA money and voting in those with gun safety agendas. They are dedicated activists who have met with President Biden and participated in numerous events and panels worldwide to advocate for gun violence prevention. Their son, Joaquin, who was affectionately known as "Guac," is the inspiration behind their relentless fight for change. Episode Highlights: [00:01:11] - Introduction to Manuel and Patricia Oliver and their mission. [00:03:00] - Patricia shares personal stories about Joaquin's childhood and his growth from a shy child into a passionate advocate for social justice. [00:07:49] - Manuel discusses the creation of their play "Guac: My Son, My Hero" and its impact on audiences. [00:18:03] - The Olivers emphasize the importance of staying united as a family while dealing with the trauma of losing a loved one. [00:27:08] - Explanation of Change the Ref's mission and how the organization's name was inspired by a conversation with Joaquin. [00:35:42] - Manuel encourages listeners to get involved in gun violence prevention in any capacity they can. Relevant Resources and Links: Learn more about Change the Ref and how you can get involved: changetheref.org Support the podcast on Patreon or via Apple Subscriptions. Related podcast episodes: Watching Two Detectives Conning the Con Klooghless The Bravery Academy Guilty Greenie Call to Action: If you found this episode impactful, consider subscribing to the Stop the Killing podcast on Apple Podcasts or supporting us on Patreon to help continue these crucial conversations. Your support allows us to keep producing this independent podcast and contribute to making a real-world difference. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Research on aging and extending life and healthspan has ventured beyond humans to our best animal friends – dogs. In less than a year, dog owners may be able to buy a drug that would extend their dog's life and hopefully keep it healthier for longer. Especially for owners of big dogs with short lifespans, this could be welcome news. And what the drug developers learn about dog aging might contribute to learnings on human aging. Scientists are also building some of the first long-term studies on dog health that will provide detailed information and important insights on our pets' lives, and maybe our own. Neuroscientist Celine Halioua founded her company Loyal when she was just 24, and is close to getting FDA approval for the company's first drug. Daniel Promislow, a biogerontologist at Tufts University, founded and leads the Dog Aging Project, collecting data on dogs across the country from all walks of life. The Aspen Institute's executive vice president, Eliot Gerson, moderates this feel-good conversation recorded at the 2024 Aspen Ideas Festival in June. aspenideas.org

After a lifetime of successful acting and passionate activism, Jane Fonda is far from done. At 86, she's now pouring all of her efforts into pushing for action that will stop climate change, and she's willing to put it all on the line for this fight. From protesting and getting arrested in DC to talks and appearances across the country, Fonda is lending her famous face and using her platform every chance she gets to ensure our planet has a future. Her latest book, from 2020, is called “What Can I Do? My Path From Climate Despair to Action.”Journalist Katie Couric interviews Fonda at the 2024 Aspen Ideas Festival about this stage of her life and activism. Their conversation was recorded in June. aspenideas.org

Many more Americans are struggling to survive and make ends meet than is typically portrayed in the media and public policy debates. And when poverty is depicted, harmful and inaccurate stereotypes often contribute to divisiveness rather than sympathy. Outdated measurement systems and unrealistic living standards have artificially kept U.S. poverty rates low over the past few decades. But Reverend William Barber II and his colleagues at the social change organization Repairers of the Breach have worked to correct the data and popularize the true scale of the problem. About 135 million people, or roughly 40% of the country, are considered poor or low wage, which means making less than $15 an hour. And in his book released earlier this year, “White Poverty: How Exposing Myths About Race and Class Can Reconstruct American Democracy,” co-written with Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, he tackles misconceptions about race and poverty that keep people divided and powerless. The myth that all poor people are Black hides reality and exploits racism to ensure that nothing changes. In this talk from the 2024 Aspen Ideas Festival in June, Barber talks with longtime public servant and former mayor of New Orleans, Mitch Landrieu, about what poverty really looks like and why the issue has been so distorted. aspenideas.org

Leaders are the face of their institution, answering for all its missteps and sometimes taking the fall for the actions of others. How can anyone manage that job in today's divisive world, and why would anyone want to? Three successful leaders come together in this episode for a frank conversation full of wisdom on the recipe for great leadership and recruiting and shepherding the next generation. Darren Walker is the head of the Ford Foundation, and speaks to the challenges of running a philanthropic organization focused on global justice. Businesswoman Indra Nooyi was CEO of PepsiCo for many years, and now sits on the boards of Amazon and Philips. Representing the public sector, Mitch Landrieu is former mayor of New Orleans, and most recently served as Infrastructure Coordinator for President Biden. Veteran journalist Katie Couric interviews the leaders at the 2024 Aspen Ideas Festival in June. aspenideas.org

Technological innovations are led by people, and in this episode, the leaders of two of the most influential companies in Silicon Valley provide some insight into the human drivers of their products. Sam Altman is co-founder and CEO of OpenAI, which created the artificial intelligence tools ChatGPT and DALL-E. Brian Chesky is co-founder and CEO of Airbnb, which has revolutionized the hospitality industry. Altman and Chesky are also close friends, exchanging advice and support when the road gets bumpy, as it has at times for both. NBC News anchor Lester Holt interviews the founders about the challenges, accomplishments and responsibilities that come with charting new technological territory. This conversation was recorded at the 2024 Aspen Ideas Festival in June. Altman said publicly in late September that OpenAI, which was founded as a nonprofit, is considering converting to a for-profit company. The day before that announcement, three top executives resigned from the company, but Altman said those departures were unrelated. Despite internal turmoil, OpenAI reportedly raised $6.6 billion in early October, which follows a funding round of $10 billion in January. aspenideas.org

In the second episode of our "Shook by a Book" series, Kelly connects with Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter and bestselling author Charles Duhigg about a century-old book assigned to him in college which influenced his thinking and life choices.  Charles is the author of Supercommunicators, and The Power of Habit.  (He and Kelly actually share the same editor at Random House.)  This book Charlie picked, William James's The Varieties of Religious Experience, gets at the psychological need for religion, the power of choice and how context influences our behavior.  It also serves as a springboard for Kelly and Charlie to go deep on their careers, families and life decisions.Special thanks to The Teagle Foundation for their generous support of this series. This episode was recorded at the Aspen Ideas Festival. 

In a time of widespread suspicion and cynicism, everyone has a role to play in strengthening social trust and building bridges.How can we create optimism about the present and the future?That big question was central to a conversation at the Aspen Ideas Festival in June.We discuss how individuals and organizations can work together to repair the fundamental bonds of a healthy society. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Chris Whitaker is a New York Times bestselling author. His latest novel, All the Colors of the Dark is one of his most personal novels and is a Read with Jenna book club pick. Chris and Jenna chat in front of an audience at the Aspen Ideas Festival, where he opens up about what led him to writing, how the characters in his book were inspired by his own childhood, and how he's transformed tragedy into triumph. They also discuss Jenna's production company Thousand Voices producing the television series adaptation of his novel.

When veteran BBC journalist Laura Trevelyan discovered her family was involved in slavery in Grenada, she did what journalists do: investigate.  As the details of the story emerged, Laura and her family worked to make a plan.  Kelly and Laura discuss the importance of acknowledgment, the role of historical truth in healing, and the Trevelyan's path toward family-led reparations. Link to Laura's X post with images of the Trevelyan family's letter of apology.Special thanks to the Aspen Ideas Festival for hosting this recording and to the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations for their support of this episode. 

With extra thanks to the Aspen Ideas Festival, here are Kelly's notes from a happiness panel featuring Adam Gopnik, Tamar Gendler, David Brooks, and Sarah Lewis. Link to Kelly's previous interview with David Brooks HERE.

Kelly shared the stage with acclaimed author (and personal hero) Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie at this year's Aspen Ideas Festival to talk cancel culture, the importance of free speech, tribalism in America, the impact of sensitivity readers in publishing, and the consequences of self-censorship. They also share personal reflections on grief, having both lost their parents in recent years. (Speaking of families and loss, here's the link to Kelly's TED talk on the occasional need for extraordinary bravery in family life to share with your families and friends.)

We thought you'd enjoy hearing Julia's conversation from the show Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso. Recorded live at the Aspen Ideas Festival, Julia discusses her latest film, "Tuesday," her uproarious turn as Selina Meyer on "Veep," a few pieces of writing that remain close to her heart, and much more.  You can watch this conversation on YouTube and check out other episodes of Talk Easy wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, I'm sharing my notes from listening to Indra Nooyi, who had a transformative tenure as CEO of PepsiCo, and is now a woman who speaks freely and blunty about what the country needs most. Live from the stage at Aspen Ideas Festival, Nooyi set the audience on fire with her blunt assessments and candid insights on how business can serve society and not the other way around. (Speaking of interpersonal bravery, here's the link to Kelly's TED talk on the occasional need for extraordinary bravery in family life -- please post or share with every brave and loving person you admire.)

Nicholas Kristof is one of America's most experienced, prolific, awarded and grounded journalists.  I read him often when I want a point of view that comes with 35 years in the field and his signature big picture optimism.  This is a conversation to remind us all how exactly change happens.   Special thanks to the Aspen Ideas Festival for putting me on stage with Nick and for generally being such a great partner this year and last as we try to stay up to date on the best thinking.*Please note that this conversation references substance abuse, sexual abuse, and suicide. (Here's the link to Kelly's TED talk on the occasional need for extraordinary bravery in family life -- please post or share with every brave and loving person you admire.)

In 2020, Joe Biden stood on stage with Kamala Harris, Cory Booker, and our guest today, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer,  and declared himself a “bridge” candidate, hinting at a single term. Now, as he runs for reelection amid heavy scrutiny, the low rumble of approval that has met Whitmer's term at Michigan's helm has amplified into a clamor by some for her to step into a larger leadership role in the future Democratic party. Sitting down with Next Question during the Aspen Ideas Festival, Whitmer discussed her role in preserving abortion rights in Michigan and managing the state during COVID-19, among other accomplishments–all of which she did while fielding truly terrifying personal attacks and a kidnapping plot from the MAGA right wing. Gretchen for President? Maybe someday. But here today, her resilience and focus on key issues position her as a prominent future Democratic leader who inspires! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.