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ideas change the world - Speech in TT group ideas change the world - Spotify podcast#idea #change #nagendrabharathi #speechMy Poems/Stories/Articles in Tamil and English are available at https://www.amazon.com/author/nagendrabharathi
Edge Church │ Cape Town
Jonathan sits down with Scott Harrison, charity: water founder, for a wide-ranging reflection on his 20-year mission to bring clean water to everyone on earth. Scott revisits the original spark, the scale of the problem, the storytelling strategy that helped build the movement, and the personal tension of leading a global nonprofit while raising a family. We discuss the long game of solving a problem that is both massive and solvable, why generosity is often unlocked through story rather than statistics, and how Scott thinks about balance, legacy, and “the work with no end.”Key topics:Scott looks back on the early days of charity: water and the energy of the original nightclub fundraiser that launched the organizationThe scale of the mission has grown to more than $1 billion mobilized, 216,000 projects across 29 countries, and about 700 million people still without clean waterStorytelling, not statistics, is the core tool charity: eater uses to overcome apathy and make distant suffering feel personalThe Rachel Beckwith story shows how one child's birthday campaign became a global movement that ultimately helped more than 100,000 peopleThe conversation digs into the tension between mission and family, especially for leaders whose work could easily consume all their timeScott shares how his kids reflect back the values he hopes to modelThe closing theme is generosity as an endless practice - giving, serving, and sharing rather than accumulatingYou can find Scott at: Website | Charity Water Instagram | Scott's Instagram | Episode TranscriptNext week, we're bringing you a best-of episode with Mark Nepo, to talk about why falling down might be the most useful thing that happens to you all year. Be sure to follow Good Life Project wherever you get your podcasts so you don't miss that or any upcoming episodes!Check out our sponsors and resources: Visit Our Sponsor Page Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
When I first became vegetarian 34 years ago, and then vegan nearly 11 years ago, it was about the suffering I didn't want to contribute to. It was for the animals. And it always will be. And yet, something unexpected happened. I'm not talking about the health benefits, though they certainly exist. I'm talking about the person you become when, ... READ MORE The post Who Are You Becoming While You're Trying to Change the World? (The Unexpected Ways Veganism Changes You) appeared first on Healthification.
Edge Church │ Cape Town
Michael Moe, Founder & CEO, GSV (Global Silicon Valley) -Global Mission Summit : "A Global Summit for Ideas That Change the World" full 491 Fri, 18 Sep 2026 00:36:39 +0000 orxTGR6mDb2G7GAtJxmPbUDpDfpdSKDL business CEO Spotlight business Michael Moe, Founder & CEO, GSV (Global Silicon Valley) -Global Mission Summit : "A Global Summit for Ideas That Change the World" David Johnson CEO Spotlight 2024 © 2021 Audacy, Inc.
In this episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius sits down with award-winning documentary filmmaker, five-time author, and entrepreneur coach Philip McKernan for a raw, unscripted conversation about the difference between talents and gifts, the hidden cost of entrepreneurial ambition, and what it truly means to make an impact. In a standout moment, Philip turns the tables and conducts a live, unrehearsed coaching session with Darius, uncovering a deeply personal story about his late father that points toward Darius's most meaningful, yet unwritten, work. The episode is part masterclass in deep listening, part honest self-examination, and a powerful reminder that our greatest gifts often live right next to our deepest wounds. In this episode, Darius and Philip will discuss: (00:00) Introduction to Philip McKernan (01:14) The Journey of Personal Growth (04:55) Navigating Life Beyond Traditional Education (09:55) The Accidental Coach (11:31) Discovering Unique Gifts (20:41) Creating Lasting Impact (23:22) The Power of Personal Stories (26:04) Transforming Pain into Purpose (29:28) The Journey of Entrepreneurs (30:43) From Personal Success to Global Impact (32:37) Navigating the Balance of Business and Impact (35:05) The Role of Money in Creating Change (39:12) Leveraging Resources for Greater Good (42:27) Mindfulness and Emotional Mastery (49:11) The Importance of Sharing Your Message Philip McKernan is an entrepreneur, author, documentary filmmaker, and mentor who works with entrepreneurs around the world to help them connect with the work they were truly meant to do. He has traveled to 85 countries, written five books, built an orphanage in Peru, and founded BraveCastle, a 500-year-old castle in Ireland that hosts soul-searching entrepreneurs and EO retreats. His pioneering SoulSet™ philosophy helps entrepreneurs uncover their unique gifts and use them to create meaningful impact. Connect with Philip: Website: https://philipmckernan.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philip_mckernan/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philip-mckernan/ Connect with Darius: Website: https://therealdarius.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariusmirshahzadeh/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imthedarius/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thegreatnessmachine Book: The Core Value Equation https://www.amazon.com/Core-Value-Equation-Framework-Limitless/dp/1544506708 Write a review for The Greatness Machine using this link: https://ratethispodcast.com/spreadinggreatness.
Let's change the world HR 1 full 2391 Wed, 16 Sep 2026 14:57:52 +0000 Cdw1DN7JcMJALe1B2A1FpCEz3OSzroe9 news MIDDAY with JAYME & WIER news Let's change the world HR 1 From local news & politics, to what's trending, sports & personal stories...MIDDAY with JAYME & WIER will get you through the middle of your day! © 2025 Audacy, Inc. News https://player.amperwavepodcasting.com?feed-link=https%3A%2F%2Frss.
How play, creativity and self-belief can change the world with Ash Perrin In a reboot episode with one of their favourite guests (aren't they all favourites?), The Occupational Philosophers revisit their chat with global humanitarian, childhood conservationist, lifelong play enthusiast and founder of The Flying Seagull Project, Ash Perrin. Since 2008, The Flying Seagull Charity Project has brought love, light and laughter to more than 200,000 children in 23 countries across four continents in challenging and desperate situations, including hospitals, orphanages and refugee camps. They use clowning, magic, games and arts workshops to replace fear and uncertainty with positive human connections based on respect, happiness and laughter. Ash is the author of ‘The Real Play Revolution', a TED Speaker and an all-around creative and joyous person. In this episode, they explore: How play is a universal feeling of liberation, creativity and expression and a safety net for learning Why the world is just waiting for your amazing ideas How to bring 'play' into the workplace that doesn't make you feel like an idiot That the best ideas and the most stupid ideas come out of the same well If you are below the age of 99, being asked to grow up is an act of violence They also dive into: The emergence of the Monkey Christ Why neckties should be banned unless fluorescent The board of brilliance and the bucket of goodbyes As always, there are some great thought experiments such as: If I were Prime Minister..... Is this a real job or not? (Surf barista anyone?) Links The Flying Seagull Project https://www.theflyingseagullproject.com/ The Real Play Revolution (book) https://www.amazon.com/Real-Play-Revolution-Need-Silly/dp/1786782235 Ash Perrin Ted Talk https://www.ted.com/talks/ash_perrin_the_power_of_play?language=en Check out the Bus https://www.facebook.com/flyingseagulls/posts/3741712149233070 The Occupational Philosophers Website: https://www.occupationalphilosophers.com Substack: https://occupationalphilosophers.substack.com John — Bowland Consulting: https://www.bowlandconsulting.com Simon — simonbanks.com.au: https://www.simonbanks.com.au Simon Showreel: Standout Line "It is not the fault of the artist, it is the fault of the person who commissioned the artist!" As always: Stay curious, play more, have fun, make stuff, and as you leave the door, date life as always, stay curious, play more, have fun, make stuff, and as you leave the door, date life.
What happens when we stop thinking of art as something created in isolation and start seeing it as a way to build community, nurture hope, and create change?In this episode of Holy Shenanigans, recorded live at Wild Goose Festival 2026, Tara talks with artist and creative visionary Sarah Skinner, Lumen Solis at Instagram, about the transformative power of art. She shares the story of the Witnessing Wall, a collaborative art project that grew from grief and resistance into a living expression of connection, hope, and beloved community.Together, Tara and Lumen explore what happens when we let go of control, invite others into the creative process, and allow our art—and ourselves—to ripple out into the world. They talk about creativity as a spiritual and even liturgical practice, the courage to face difficult realities, and the unexpected ways community can catch us when life gets hard.And, of course, there are a few holy shenanigans along the way—including a goose with wings and bells.You don't have to think of yourself as an artist to join this conversation. You simply have to be willing to make something beautiful, share your gifts, and discover what happens when creativity calls us back into community.Blessed Are the Burned-OutApr 7, 2025Written By Sarah SkinnerBefore the palms, before the cross, before the sunrise—this is for you.For the hands tending Sacred Refuge,for those who feel they must be more than human—this is your invitation to pause.To remember that you are holy.That you are human.That you are held.In my work in ministry,I have walked alongside hundreds of pastors and church workers.And I know:You are tired.This blessing is one small offering in return—a moment of restoration in the Holy Currency of Wellness.A reminder that you, too, are part of the ecosystem of grace.Let me take your hands, and place this blessing in them.Blessed are the burned-out,the ones with sermon notes in the margins of bulletins,who haven't sat through a full worship service in yearsbecause they're always making it happen for someone else.Blessed are the ones who stayed late to fold bulletins,to run through sound checks, to clean up candle wax—so someone else could experience sacredness.Blessed are the ones who can't cry during the Good Friday servicebecause they know they have to lead the Easter one.Blessed are the cracked-voiced singers,the undercaffeinated liturgists,the ones whose hearts are full of beautyand whose bodies are just so tired.Blessed are the pastors who write resurrection sermonswhile quietly grieving the loss no one else knows they're carrying.Blessed are the ones who bring communion to others,not remembering the last time someone blessed them with bread.Blessed are you—in your imperfection, your overwhelm, your quiet ache.You are not failing.You are not alone.You are not unseen.You are standing at the edge of something holy.And so—before the week begins,before you take up basin and towel,before you preach the cross and sing the tomb open—Come.Not as leader. Not as shepherd.But simply as you.Breathe.Be held.Let this blessing carry you for once.You do not have to resurrect the world.Just remain. Just be. Just breathe.The presence of the Holy One is already here.You are not the tomb's keeper.You are not the dawn's engine.You are the one the Holy One would sit besidein the garden—before the palms, before the cross, before the sunrise—just to say:“You are enough.Let me hold your hand awhile.”Send Tara a Text MessageSupport the showRev. Tara Lamont Eastman is a pastor, podcaster and host of Holy Shenanigans since September of 2020. Eastman combines her love of ministry with her love of writing, music and visual arts. She is a graduate of Wartburg Theological Seminary's Theological Education for Emerging Ministry Program and the Youth and Theology Certificate Program at Princeton Seminary. She has served in various ministry and pastoral roles over the last thirty years in the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) and PCUSA (Presbyterian Church of America). She is the pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Warren Pennsylvania. She has presented workshops on the topics of faith and creativity at the Wild Goose Festival. She is a trainer for Soul Shop Suicide Prevention for Church Communities.
Grace doesn't just set people free — it produces people who change the world. In the final message of our Set Free series, Pastor Benny Ferguson walks through Galatians 6 and the three things Paul says free people do: they lift others, they invest in eternity, and they boast only in the Cross.Galatians began with a gospel being distorted. It ends with a gospel being demonstrated.Chapters0:00 Intro - where Galatians has taken us4:28 Grace produces people who change the world5:29 1. Free people lift others7:13 Galatians 6:1 - what "caught" means9:51 Sin is sneaky, subtle and deceptive11:21 Grace restores - the broken bone and the torn net13:17 Truth without grace, grace without truth14:46 Fight false doctrine fiercely, handle broken people gently16:30 Bear one another's burdens - the law of Christ19:50 A hospital, not a courtroom20:34 2. Free people invest in eternity21:45 Every decision is a seed24:34 Don't grow weary - keep sowing26:39 Don't judge God's faithfulness by today's field27:26 Opportunities are divine appointments30:33 3. Free people boast only in the Cross33:08 Far be it from me to boast36:13 A new creation - grace makes dead people alive39:42 Freedom is the starting lineScripture: Galatians 6:1-18; John 13:34-35; Matthew 6:20Calvary Church8234 Woodsboro Pike, Walkersville, MD 21793calvarymd.comNext Sunday we begin a new series: Living in the Light.#SetFree #Galatians6 #CalvaryChurch
Watch This Episode On YouTubeWhen you normally see a series like HOW TO CHANGE THE WORLD, put together by my guest, filmmaker Dylan Mulick (and the team at World Within Studios), the tendency is to brush it off as do-gooders doing good things. Where is the conflict in that? A lot of great documentaries aren't seen because of these assumptions.Dylan turns the usual tropes of the series upside down in so many ways by going there: inner city Chicago; the Bahamas; wherever there is actual conflict for people who are looking to change our planet.The result is something altogether fresh: a ten part series, starting September 10th, 2026 that's shot cinematically and doesn't make you feel like you're watching an infomercial or about to see a Gofundme link roll across the screen. It's premiering on YouTube, it has the clout of Mark Cuban and others behind it, and the team's end goal is to launch a studio through their nonprofit.This is what the future looks like.Hat tip to David Goldblum for making this interview happen. If you haven't heard my conversation with him, it's a must-listen.In this episode, Dylan and I talk about:the layout of HOW TO CHANGE THE WORLD;the strategy of betting big on putting this series on YouTube;how he able to recruit high-level EPs like Chris Pratt and Mark Cuban for his projects;ENTOURAGE shout-out (it truly was a whole thing for dudes in the 2000s);the mentorship role he now takes on for people starting out in film;the lessons he took from his first feature documentary -- HELEN BELIEVE (2023) -- into this project;the story behind World Within Studios, which bills itself as " a nonprofit focused on tackling extreme wealth consolidation by investing in community-owned projects";what keeps him up at night regarding this huge risk;whether EPs matter anymore and why Mark Cuban is the perfect fit for this project;how cool it is when people post about their challenges in making films;what success looks like for this series.Memorable Quotes:" How to Change the World is a 10-episode documentary series that is essentially like Chef's Table for social entrepreneurs."" They're not the people that you often see in the headlines. And we believe what they're doing should be rewriting the definition of what a founder and a CEO should be. So we wanted to show them cinematically. We wanted to shoot them heroically."" Mentorship is so critical, and I think it's lost in today's Hollywood because the jobs are so competitive and the jobs are so few." These are all ideas that are probably pretty close to us, whether consciously or just like the mysterious stresses in our lives. But if you don't show a solution and then you don't take that solution and clearly communicate it to an audience, you can't build a movement, and ultimately World Within wants to build a movement from these ideas."" I don't know that [EPs] move the needle, unless of course they're the sole person on camera, right?"" The buyers are too reluctant nowadays, and I think quite honestly, like every famous person is pitching their own show."" And I'm trying to walk the walk of this idea of always trying to be failing, Links:Follow World Within Studios For The SeriesFollow Dylan On Instagram
Link Up w/The Morning Sickness Digitally All Over:Instagram: @hms_98_official, @bosskupd, @bretvesely, @dickToledoX/Twitter: @HMSon98, @DickToledo, @bretveselyFacebook: @HMSKUPDYouTube: @hmspodcast9320, @98kupdRequest/Call in/Wakeup Song line:(IN AZ) 602.585.9800More HMS: www.holmbergpodcast.com, www.98kupd.comEmail: dtoledo@98kupd.com, bvesely@98kupd.com, bbogen@98kupd.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Link Up w/The Morning Sickness Digitally All Over:Instagram: @hms_98_official, @bosskupd, @bretvesely, @dickToledoX/Twitter: @HMSon98, @DickToledo, @bretveselyFacebook: @HMSKUPDYouTube: @hmspodcast9320, @98kupdRequest/Call in/Wakeup Song line:(IN AZ) 602.585.9800More HMS: www.holmbergpodcast.com, www.98kupd.comEmail: dtoledo@98kupd.com, bvesely@98kupd.com, bbogen@98kupd.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Kathryn (Kati) Kraft is a sociologist whose work explores faith, child spirituality and human flourishing, particularly in contexts of vulnerability and displacement. A self-described third culture kid, Kati was born in the United States, spent much of her childhood in Brazil, later lived in Syria and Lebanon, and eventually made her home in England. In this episode of Walk Talk Listen, she reflects on growing up in a deeply Christian environment, how friendships with Muslims in Syria challenged and expanded her understanding of faith, and how asking questions rather than making assumptions eventually shaped her career as a researcher. Now Senior Lecturer in Social Sciences at the University of East London, Kati previously served as Senior Research Advisor for Faith and Development at World Vision International. Our conversation turns especially to what adults can learn when we genuinely listen to children. Kati describes research involving 658 children whose answers about what mattered to them came back to something remarkably simple: love and loving relationships. We talk about children's spirituality, human flourishing, why adults and researchers are often not very good at listening to children, and why children's experiences cannot always be reduced to indicators or statistics. Kati also reflects on the SDGs and Inner Development Goals, the role of spirituality in development, and her recently edited open-access book, Children, Religion, and Development: Perspectives on Spirituality in Practice, which brings together scholars from different religious traditions while asking what practitioners across traditions can learn from them. The conversation also becomes personal as Kati talks about transition, hope, a memorable experience in an Orthodox church, and the song Faith More Precious Than Gold, which found her during a difficult moment. Listener Engagement: Learn more about Kati and her work via her LinkedIn. You can also read or download her open-access book, Children, Religion, and Development: Perspectives on Spirituality in Practice, which brings together different religious perspectives on children's spirituality and their implications for development practice. Don't only listen to the song picked by Kati, Faith More Precious Than Gold, but also those chosen by other guests on our #walktalklisten playlist here. Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).
Shawna Krueger joins me this week; host of the Leadership and Yoga podcast, bilingual yoga teacher, writer and practitioner of Progressive Ashtanga and Rocket.We talk about whether yoga really can change the world, why meditation doesn't necessarily make someone a better leader, and what the yoga industry could learn from the very corporate world it often likes to criticise.We also explore authenticity, finding your teaching voice, social media, AI-generated content, ambition, comparison and the danger of turning yourself into a character simply because that version gets more likes.A thoughtful conversation about leadership, creativity and the difference between knowing yoga and actually living it. @shawnakru“I still believe yoga can change the world. I just don't think meditation automatically makes someone a better person.”MAKE SURE YOU FOLLOW US@adamhusler - https://tr.ee/b8QKyF@centredstates - https://tr.ee/i1PXpTPERKS FOR YOU10% off Liforme yoga matswith code HUSLER1010% off expert validated wellbeing brand at Healfvia this link10% off Colorful Standard clothingwith code ADAMHUSLERCS1020% offVivobarefoot shoeswith code ADAMHUSLER1515% off premium activewear brand Now You Live with code HUSLER15
Great leadership isn't about being harsh or overly soft. It's about practicing empathetic leadership: caring about people while holding them accountable to the standards required by the mission. In this conversation, I share how keeping the wrong person on the team for too long damaged morale, created toxicity, and cost the company great employees. You'll learn: -Why being unclear is unkind -How to coach employees with empathy -When accountability must become non-negotiable -Why toxic behavior can't be ignored -How to know when someone is "firing themselves" -When immediate termination is necessary -How to communicate a firing without creating gossip -Why culture must be actively protected -How strong leaders develop people beyond their job title -Empathy doesn't mean avoiding hard conversations. It means having them respectfully, clearly, and early. Care about the person. But separate them from the behavior. Give them a genuine opportunity to improve. But if they refuse to grow, protect the team and move forward. 00:00 Empathetic Leadership and the Cost of Keeping the Wrong People 01:01 The Hard Decision to Fire a Long-Term Employee 03:50 How Avoiding the Problem Damaged the Team 04:38 The Breaking Point and Final Decision 05:34 The Relief That Came After the Firing 06:42 Why Leaders Must Protect the Team and Mission 08:16 The Right Way to Coach Employees 10:00 "It's Unkind to Be Unclear" 12:40 When an Employee Isn't Willing to Grow 14:56 Why Leaders Must Follow Through 17:27 When Immediate Termination Is Necessary 18:57 Strategic Empathy in Leadership 22:10 Why Culture and People Drive Business Growth 27:17 Balancing Kindness, Boundaries, and Accountability 32:17 How to Communicate After Someone Is Fired 38:00 Advice for Leaders Avoiding a Difficult Conversation 41:00 Be Kind, Set Standards, and Follow Through Thank you all for making our podcast Elevating Beyond with Mark Minard, in the top #100 on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, in over 52 difference countries :
Is the term “industrial design” frowned upon by design purists? Zürich-based Sébastien El Idrissi thinks so. He joins Nic Monisse to discuss why his goal is positive change at an industrial scale. Plus: what to look forward to at our Quality of Life Conference in Lisbon this year.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
God's call is missional and His heart is for the nations. As the church, we inherit the call and promise of God to be a blessing to the nations. Our job is leaving the couch, our comfort zone, and see God fulfil His promises in our lives and in the nations.
In 1928, May Donoghue was drinking ginger beer at a café in Paisley when a friend poured the last of an opaque bottle into her glass. Out came the decomposed remains of a snail, something she could not have seen before drinking from it. She later became ill and sued the drink's manufacturer, David Stevenson.The problem was that May had not bought the drink herself, so she had no contract with the manufacturer. But in 1932, the House of Lords ruled that a maker of products owes consumers a duty to take reasonable care, even without a direct contract.That decision, Donoghue v Stevenson, created the modern “duty of care” principle at the heart of negligence law. One alleged snail in one bottle of ginger beer changed consumer protection and personal-injury law around the world, although whether the snail was ever actually there was never proved in court.
Shreya Ramachandran was just 13 when experiences with water scarcity in California and India moved her from curiosity to action. What began with research, workshops at libraries and community events, and eventually The Grey Water Project has grown into a decade of environmental leadership. In this episode of Walk Talk Listen, Shreya reflects on growing up as a self-described "library and museum kid," her connection to her grandparents and family roots in Chennai, and the freedom her parents gave her to explore, including allowing more than 100 plants to temporarily take over their bedroom for her greywater experiments. Looking back, she says she would tell her 13-year-old self to hold onto the same "boundless enthusiasm and energy" and the belief that she could change the world. Now a Stanford graduate with a master's degree in Sustainability Science and Practice, Shreya works at the intersection of climate resilience, youth participation and environmental policy. She has represented young people through UN processes, helped develop climate action plans, and argues that meaningful youth participation requires bringing young people into agenda-setting and decision-making rather than inviting them in after decisions have already been shaped. Our conversation explores what sustainability really means, why "action breeds hope," what older and younger generations can learn from one another, and why climate action becomes more powerful when people can see its connection to their own lives and health. We also talk about agency, kindness, the future she hopes to help create, and why she chose Rachel Platten's Fight Song as the music that represents her. Listener Engagement: Learn more about Shreya and her work via her LinkedIn or Instagram. Also check her organization's the Grey Water project website and Instagram. Don't only listen to the song picked by Shreya, but also those by other guests on our #walktalklisten playlist here. Share your feedback on this episode through our Walk Talk Listen Feedback link – your thoughts matter! Follow Us: Support the Walk Talk Listen podcast by following us on Facebook and Instagram. Visit 100mile.org or mauricebloem.com for more episodes and information about our work. Check out the special series "Enough for All" and learn more about the work of the Joint Learning Initiative (JLI).
Know Your Risk Radio with Zach Abraham, Chief Investment Officer, Bulwark Capital Management
August 26, 2026 - Zach Abraham and Chase Taylor discuss why revolutionary technologies can still produce enormous investment bubbles—and why the unprecedented buildout surrounding artificial intelligence may eventually face the same problem. Chase explains why capital-spending booms throughout history tend to overshoot demand, while Zach examines Nvidia's increasingly complex web of investments and financing across the AI ecosystem. They discuss what could happen if today's extraordinary margins begin to compress and why enormous amounts of future supply could become a problem much faster than investors expect. Plus, Zach and Chase revisit Treasury's intervention in the bond market, Stanley Druckenmiller's warning, America's growing debt problem and why they believe the consequences of decades of deficit spending may finally be beginning to arrive.
Today, Andy Hawthorne continues his series in 1 Peter, this week looking at chapter 4: 7-11 and how we should live as we prepare for the return of Jesus. He reminds us how we should pray, serve in humility and use the gifts that God has given us.
Concluding our 'Ideas to Change the World' series, Andy Greenbank speaks to us about how love and suffering meet and how he understands Jesus' death on the cross and God's atonement.
Scripture: Acts 18:24-19:20Visit us at: https://christchurchbham.comor Connect with us on social:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christchurchbham/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christchurchbham/
On the Sunday between 'A' Level and GCSE results, Rich Atterton continues our 'Ideas to Change the World' series talking about education. Rich has been teaching for over 20 years and is the newly elected Vice-Chair of the Association of School and College Leaders.
In this message, guest speaker, Brian Muchmore, challenges us to see the Church as more than a weekly gathering—we are a people called to represent Jesus and advance His Kingdom wherever we go. Jesus invites every believer to live under His authority and join Him in His mission in our homes, workplaces, neighborhoods, and communities.
Salt and Light is NOT a rallying call to ‘Change the World for Christ'. Now hear this - it is NOT our job to change the world! Jesus is the Savior of the world -- NOT us! Changing the world is a task belonging to Jesus! Our job is far more modest; our job is to become part of the world changed by Christ! He is the actual Light of the World - so beloved to be salt and light is to live surrendered to what is actually real and that beloved is good news!
Dave Parr, one of our church leadership team and also Oasis's Group CEO, talks to us about a hugely exciting new project he's running with Oasis, delivering safe and secure housing to people in our communities.
To celebrate 10 years of The Remarkable Leadership Podcast, we're revisiting some of our most listened-to and most impactful conversations from the past decade. Leadership and change go hand in hand. However, we need to make sure it's a positive change. Not only is today's workforce demanding it, but organizations are also finding it profitable. Bill Novelli has spent time in the private and not-for-profit world. Today he is a professor in the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University and founded and oversees the Georgetown Business for Impact initiative. He joins Kevin to discuss his book, Good Business – the Talk, Fight, Win Way to Change the World. Bill shares examples of organizations making changes to create both social and monetary value. Wherever you are in the organization, you can make a positive social difference. Leadership is not about titles but having the courage in your convictions and the information to influence. Additional Leadership Resources Book Recommendations: Good Business: The Talk, Fight, Win Way to Change the World by Bill Novelli The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt Connect with Bill Novelli: Website | Twitter | LinkedIn Related Podcast Episodes: Leadership Moxie (and More) with John Baldoni. Lessons for Marketing (and Change) Leaders with Thomas Barta. Doing Work That Counts with Richard Lee. The Mindsets and Habitsets of Leadership with Darrin Gray.
In this raw, unpolished conversation, Mark brings back best‑selling author, ultra‑runner, and "billion‑dollar strategist" Dan Waldschmidt for a deep dive into what he calls the "not yet zone" – the liminal hallway between who you were and who you're becoming. They go way past highlight reels and talk honestly about divorce, losing a parent, sleepless nights, and the heavy responsibility of leading people when you feel completely lost yourself. Dan shares what it's really like to step off the stage, go dark on social, buy a near‑bankrupt company, run it for years as CEO, and then hand the keys to someone else so he can face the question, "What's after Edgy?" He unpacks Misogi – choosing a seemingly impossible challenge on purpose and walks through his brutal 100‑mile race in the Florida Keys, where heat, dehydration, and a 7‑mile bridge turned finishing into a full-on spiritual battle. Together, Mark and Dan build a practical playbook for surviving the "in‑between": why you can't trust your 2 a.m. emotions, how movement changes your brain chemistry, where post‑traumatic growth comes from, the power of reaching out instead of isolating, and why small acts of generosity and sharing your story might be the very things that pull you through the forge. If you feel like you're stuck in a long hallway with no doors, this episode will remind you you're not crazy, you're not alone, and you're not done. https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielwaldschmidt/ Chapters: 00:00 – Intro: Mark, Dan & 10+ Years of Friendship Who Dan is, "Edgy Conversations" selling ~700k copies, billion‑dollar strategy work, and why he disappeared from the spotlight to build his own company. 07:10 – The Liminal "Not Yet" Zone & The Long Hallway Defining liminality, the "not yet zone," foggy seasons, and why most of life is spent between what was and what will be. 14:55 – Misogi & Ultra‑Running: Choosing Hard Things on Purpose Dan's 38,000 miles, 200‑mile races, 3,100‑mile goals, Misogi explained, and how his son's first half‑marathon changed his identity. 24:20 – Grief, Fog, and Not Trusting 2 A.M. Emotions Mark on losing his mom, supporting his dad, running a growing business, and learning to stop believing every catastrophic thought in the dark. 33:50 – Impostor Feelings, Healthy Paranoia & Leadership Anxiety Balancing high standards with self‑doubt, over‑forecasting worst‑case scenarios, and catching yourself when fear turns irrational. 47:30 – Movement as Medicine: Fit45, Running & "Something Is Better Than Nothing" Why exercise is a chemical reset, doing 20 minutes instead of zero, and using small wins to pull yourself out of emotional spirals. 52:50 – Inside the Keys 100: Heat, Vomiting & Finishing Third Dan's full 100‑mile race story: goals, 7‑mile bridge, kidneys and nausea, his crew, missing his time target but finishing as first American & what that did to his mindset. 1:06:50 – Post‑Traumatic Growth vs. PTSD & Helping Others While You're Hurting Mark's jail story, owning your part, veterans, mentoring others, and how serving people in their pain rewires your own. 1:15:40 – Generosity, Presence & Reframing Scarcity TD Jakes' "spontaneous generosity," giving time in the middle of a busy day, and how giving convinces your brain you actually have enough. 1:24:20 – The Forge, The Roof, and Doing Everything You Can The blacksmith/forge metaphor, "quit tomorrow," and the Gospel story of friends tearing off a roof to get their friend to Jesus – faith plus insane action. 1:32:30 – Dan's 6‑Step Playbook for the Not‑Yet Zone & Where to Find Him Recap (don't trust wild emotions, don't quit, move your body, reach out, be generous, learn from others' stories), plus Dan's newsletter at fyra.co and how to help push "Edgy Conversations" past 1 million copies. Thank you all for making our podcast Elevating Beyond with Mark Minard, in the top #100 on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Spotify , and In over 52 difference countries :
Today we're going behind one of the most viral success stories on the planet. You know Dr. Eric Thomas (ET the Hip Hop Preacher) as the motivational voice in your ear at 4 a.m. telling you to "rise and grind." But before the stages, books, and PhD… there was a 16‑year‑old kid who walked out of his house and a mom left heartbroken. In this never‑before‑seen full video from the vault, I sit down in their home with Eric Thomas and his mom, Vanessa "ET Moms" Thomas, to talk about: • What really happened when Eric left home at 16 • How his mom processed the pain, fear, and "tough love" behind that moment • Pursuing your God‑given purpose when your parents want you to "play it safe" • How family secrets and unspoken expectations quietly destroy relationships • What forgiveness actually looks like when both sides have a story • Rebuilding trust, respect, and love after years of distance If you've ever: • Felt called to something bigger but your family didn't understand • Struggled with a broken relationship with a parent or child • Wondered when to persevere and when to pivot • Asked if reconciliation is even possible …this conversation is for you. Chapters: 0:00 – Intro: Why this story from the vault matters now 2:47 – ET: "My journey really started at 16" (leaving home) 6:05 – Mom's perspective: watching her son walk out & choosing sanity 8:59 – Detroit, drugs & the path ET didn't take 12:40 – Calling vs security: baby‑boomer mindset, insurance & entrepreneurship 19:06 – How to know when to quit vs persevere (the "heart test") 22:04 – "You don't get to give up": God, emails & the ripple effect 23:55 – Raising vs enabling: animal kingdom analogy & 32‑year‑old at home 26:00 – Leaving the village to become a man (Lion King analogy & homelessness) 29:50 – ET's forgiveness framework: ownership, expectations & letting go 35:36 – Mom: therapy, family choosing sides & the danger of secrets 41:19 – Why they put the messy truth in their books (and why it's not about them) 50:45 – Empowering women & single moms: shame, late college & refusing victimhood 1:01:00 – Expectations in relationships: parents, spouses, kids & shared reality 1:17:00 – Rebuilding: olive branches, boundaries & a stronger relationship Check out ET Moms here: https://www.etabooking.com/mamat Thank you all for making our podcast Elevating Beyond with Mark Minard, in the top #100 on iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Spotify , and In over 52 difference countries :
Join Ra Donda Vought and Todd Conklin and they meet up to discuss how Ra Donda has refined her message to the world and how surprised she is in other, non-medical industry. It is always so much fun to talk with Ra Donda - she has great energy and is so much fun to spend time in discussion. See what you think - I think you will enjoy this Pod a bunch.
What if the most powerful tool for community change was already sitting in your pocket? Podcasting has slowly yet steadily become one of the most democratic mediums in human history, without gatekeepers, fancy studios, or corporate approval required. All you need is your voice, a story, and a simple microphone. And nobody understands that better than President Obama. Known as the first digital president for the way he used technology and social media to mobilize millions, he has since become a podcaster himself — proof that even the most powerful platforms in the world have given way to the intimacy of a single human voice. In this episode, I had the extraordinary privilege of joining him at an exclusive roundtable at the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, where he shared his thoughts on exactly that: why podcasting is one of the most revolutionary tools we have for connection, community, and real-world change.The roundtable with President Obama is a segment of this episode — a moment I'm still processing, honestly — but it sets the stage for sharing the practical, strategic ways you can use your show to genuinely show up for your community and create lasting impact.Resources mentioned in this episode:For the full list of links, resources and show notes, please visit:https://www.thepodcastspace.com/podcast/s5-120-your-podcast-can-change-the-world-recorded-live-at-the-obama-presidential-centerChapters:00:00 — Podcasting as a tool for meaningful local action02:49 — Reflections on meeting President Obama05:19 — The power of the human voice and local stories11:49 — From inspiration to practical community impact19:56 — Ten values that turn podcasting into action
Maybe my job isn't to change the world. Maybe it's to be one part of the world that is already being changed by Jesus.
Heidi continues our summer series, Ideas to Change the World, looking at Influencing for Good.
summaryJoe Morton explores the power of delusional thinking and how visionary individuals have changed the world by believing in the impossible. This episode encourages listeners to embrace their dreams, think differently, and push beyond societal limits. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit joemorton88.substack.com
On the Record with Christian Briggs – Palantir's expanding role in artificial intelligence, digital identity, surveillance, and data analytics reshapes how governments and corporations make decisions. The investigation examines benefits in security, healthcare, logistics, and emergency response while confronting urgent concerns about privacy, transparency, accountability, civil liberties, and the future of digital governance worldwide...
What does it really mean to build bridges that last for decades? I want you to meet Bircan Unver, whose lifelong commitment to responsibility, creativity, and global citizenship has shaped more than 25 years of meaningful work through Light Millennium. From growing up as the eldest of seven children in Turkey to creating an internationally recognized nonprofit connected with the United Nations, Bircan shares how art, public media, and open dialogue can bring people together across cultures. We explore why responsibility begins with each of us, how local communities can help solve global challenges, and why issues like water security, environmental stewardship, and human connection matter more than ever. I believe you'll enjoy hearing how one person's unstoppable mindset continues to inspire collaboration, education, and hope for a better future. Highlights: 06:55 - How growing up with responsibility shaped Bircan's lifelong commitment to serving others. 18:30 - Why public access television became the foundation for sharing voices and building community. 26:15 - The story behind founding Light Millennium and creating a nonprofit built on dialogue and education. 36:55 - How local communities can play a meaningful role in advancing United Nations goals. 49:45 - Why water security, cybersecurity, and gender equality are becoming deeply connected. 55:40 - Bircan reflects on preserving ideas through books, creativity, and lifelong learning. About the Guest: Bircan Ünver is the Founder-President of The Light Millennium, a Charitable Global Human Advancement Organization (LMGlobal.Org, 2001, New York); Executive Producer of the LMTV Programs; Multi-Media and Event Producer; Host, Author, Publisher, Public Speaker; [Head] NGO Representative of The Light Millennium to the United Nations Department of Global Communications since 2005 (formerly, UN.DPI); and Chair, Outreach and Partnerships Subcommittee at Global NGO Executive Committee and director for the 2021-2023 term. She has been also a Content Provider at QPTV since 1992, and she is the editor and co-founder of the U.S. Turkish Library & Museum Project. She has undertaken the Organization's e-publications, public programs since its inception in August 1999, and #LightMillenniumTV Series and Specials in all aspects of it since January 2000; along with, the LMGlobal.Org's all UN-related activity and programs since 2005. Bircan is the author and director of the Compulsory Peace & ICTs Education from Kindergarten to K-12, and Beyond Campaign, which she launched it through the Light Millennium Global in support of the Summit of the Future in 2024. The Campaign has delivered its 8th session along with the Coalition for the Campaign, which contains 22 organizations and educational institutions including The Light Millennium Global as the leading organization. Further, she is also author of the bi-annual international high school project, “J.U.C. Media, Research, Writing & Innovation Awards”. The third of its kind was dedicated to the “Water Action Decade” and was delivered (virtually) on the World Water Day, March 22, 2025. Bircan served as a mentor to the GPODS for three consecutive terms in Winter'22, Summer'22, and Fall'22 Fellowship Programs; and delivered lectures on “How to associate with the UN-NGO”, Public Access TVs in the U.S., and the latest one was on the #WaterActionDecade and the #2023UNWater Conference. To attach that, on behalf of LMGlobal.Org, she organized and hosted an Outside-UN Side Event ID #W175, titled, “What Is Your Commitment To The #WaterActionDecade? ~ Seven Core Ideas Toward #WaterAwareness, #WaterConscience and #GameChangers” in NYC on March 21, 2023, and was the head delegate of the LMGlobal.Org at the #UN2023WaterConference. Based on LMGlobal.Org's Commitments to the #WaterActionDecade, she launched #OneMinuteWaterActionCommitment during the #W175 Side Event, along with continues to work toward #WaterAwareness toward building up #WaterConscience. She served as the chair of the ATAA Committee on UN Relations, guided its association to the UNDGC in 2020, and also served as the New York Regional Vice-President of ATAA (Assembly of Turkish American Associations) from October 2019 to January 2022. Furthermore, she served on several Planning Committees of the UN-Civil Society Conferences, and the Planning Committee of the High-Level Forum on the Culture of Peace (HLF-CoP). She has been a strong advocate of the UN Vision, Programs & Sustainable Development Goals (2015-2030) along with the relevant UN Days, which are in line with the LMGlobal.Org's Mission/Purposes since its association with the UNDGC (formerly, UN.DPI/NGO) in December 2005. Currently, Bircan is on the Advisory Board of the Turkish Forum (based in Germany). She encourages and guides interested civil society organizations and members of academia toward their educational institutions' associations with the UN, along with engaging them with the UN Programs that are within her networks and beyond. Further, she is an Ambassador of Peace and Goodwill for Anuvrat (Anuvibha) Global Organization (Jaipur, India, since 2014); and a Member of the Global Movement for the Culture of Peace (GMCoP, since 2012). Bircan is also the founder and president of the IsikBinyili.Org Association based in Istanbul (2010), which is a sister organization and counterpart of the LMGlobal.Org. Author of the following four book titles in print (Turkish): “En Kutsalı Yaratmak” (The Most Sacred is to Create) (1995, 2022), “Sanatın Labirentlerinde” (The Labyrinths of Arts) (2016), and “Işık Yollarında (“The Ways of the Light”) (poetry, 2017), and “Bin Yıl Daha…” (2020, A Thousand Years More…). Also, she is the author of the concept and compilation of the “Hope Never Fades” (English) book (Istanbul, 2023). Bircan initially received her local and studio television production certificates at QPTV.Org in 1992. Based on this capacity, she produced and broadcasted near to 260 television programs through local channels in New York City, which are also available online through www.vimeo.com/channels/LightMillenniumTV including 36 #OneMinute #WaterAction PSAs. Bircan celebrated her 30th Anniversary at QPTV.Org through a video profile, titled, “A Turkish Experience in America” (Duration: ~9 min. Production Year: 2022). Her works through The Light Millennium Global is a recipient of various national (U.S.) and international awards and recognitions including two awards from the Foundation of Alliance Community 2023 Hometown Media Awards (F-ACM-HMA for her “GroundWater” Light Millennium TV program in Web-based Programming and Online Events / Independent Producer categories (received at Brick TV, New York), the Anuvrat Ahimsa Award For International Peace-2023 (received in Mumbai, India), and the 2023 International Volunteer President Award by Institution of Green Engineers (received in Chennai, India), and ashe is also the recipient of the 2024 Best Web-Based Program – Independent Producer for the #HopeNeverFades program by F-ACM-HMA, which was produced based on the 2023 J.U.C. Media, Research & Writing Awards (ACM HomeTown Media Awards, San Jose, CA). Bircan holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Degree from the Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University (Istanbul, 1988) and a Master's Degree (M.A.) from Media Studies of the New School University (New York City 1999). Ways to connect with Bircan**:** Websites: www.lmglobal.org (active web site) | www.lightmillennium.org (serves as the organization's web archive)#LightMillenniumTV | www.vimeo.com/LMTV | www.vimeo.com/channels/LightMillenniumTV Social Media: Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/bircan-ünver-7353207 X@lightmillennium Instagram@lightmillennium About the Host: Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog. Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards. https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/ Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can subscribe in your favorite podcast app. You can also support our podcast through our tip jar https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/unstoppable-mindset . Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts. Transcription Notes: Michael Hingson 00:04 What if the biggest thing holding you back isn't what's in front of you, but rather what you believe? Welcome to Unstoppable Mindset, where inclusion, diversity, and the unexpected meet. I'm your host, Michael Hingston, speaker, author, and advocate for inclusion and possibilities. This podcast explores how the beliefs we carry shape the way we live, lead, and connect with others. Each week, I talk with people who challenge assumptions, face adversity head-on, and show what's possible when we choose curiosity over fear. Together, we focus on mindset, resilience, and the small shifts that lead to meaningful change. Let's get started. Well, hello everyone, and I want to welcome you to another edition of Unstoppable Mindset, and today we get to talk to a very interesting person with a with a lot of roots in Turkey, but she is also doing a lot of work with the United Nations here in the U.S. and other places. Her name is Birchan Umfer, and I hope I got that right. And Bircan Unver 01:23 thank you. Michael Hingson 01:24 Oh, good. And Berjan is is with us, and is going to talk about a number of things that she is working on. She's working on, and for years has been involved with a program called Light Millennium, and we'll we'll talk about all that, but let's just start and and as usual we'll have a great conversation. So, Bir John, I want to welcome you to Unstoppable Mindset. We're glad you're here. Bircan Unver 01:50 Thank you so much, Michael Hingston. It's great honor and privilege to have your guests. Especially, I love the title Unstoppable Minds. It's really inspiring and triggering the mind. Thank you. Michael Hingson 02:08 Well, my pleasure. We're glad that you have the time to to spend with us, and we will we will we will do it and make it work. Well, let's start. I love to start this way because I really want people to learn about you. Tell us kind of about the early Birchan growing up, and then we'll go from there. So tell us about Birchan and growing up, and and and all of that. Bircan Unver 02:32 Thank you. This will be a little bit different than most people know about me, my work. Well, we'll get to Michael Hingson 02:38 your work. Bircan Unver 02:40 Yeah, I know. I mean, the people who already know my work. What I'm gonna say now is completely too different from Berja. So I am a elder of seven siblings, and I was born in an ancient village in Mid Anatolia, actually nearby the Black Sea region, and I'm proud with my age, 1959, and my family moved to town first from the village, and then Istanbul for our educations for their kids, and but I don't know really as a girl child growing up with seven kids, as especially with a traditional family, being older girl is not a good idea. But but maybe it was a kind of tough childhood as a girl child. I I don't feel that I never been a child. That's really what I feel. But on the other hand, and that was you know when you are growing up, living through like I was a kind of second mom, and also our home was kind of everyone our guest from the village town and stay over not only one night, like or a week, like sometimes months, even years. You won't believe that, and it was not because either. So, but those kind of build up maybe my feeling to be responsible, so I consider myself a responsible person because I was responsible for my sisters, brothers, and also washing dishes, making helping my mom to prepare the meal, lunch, breakfast, and clean up. Like you know, I was kind of second person, second mom at home. So those early things, all those stolen my childhood, but at the same time, provide me being able to do everything from very early age. Even though I remember several times at the time. The bread wasn't, you know, you you weren't buying the bread from the market, but from the bakery, real where they were baking the bread. So she was, and time to time also she was making the the bread at home, and then she she wasn't sending me to school because then I had to stay with my brothers and kids so she can make the you know breads a big amount for a couple days. So that said, also gave my idea. I want to suddenly want to work as soon as you know I'm 17, 1617, So and then I started early working at a bank, and it was my first eight years. I worked at a bank in Istanbul. It is called Istanbul Bank, and then my graphic is like life graphic is a little bit different, like curvy, not like straight line. Then after eight years working at a bank, I started to university and fine arts, and then I had kind of interest art history, especially TV production, art history, arts in in the concept is producing art documentaries. That was kind of my vision. Also, it was also my reason initially coming to the U.S. learning TV production. Of course, English as first. So that was very much my childhood until you know 18 until starting at the bank, and then the rest is another story. I have, I must say, I would have three different life. Michael Hingson 06:48 Well, you had certainly an interesting childhood, needless to say, and I, I can understand what you're saying about being the oldest and all the challenges. I was not. I was the youngest, but we only had two siblings, and neither of us we were we were both males, and so we we did not do a lot in terms of preparing meals and all that sort of stuff. Except my brother and I were both in the Boy Scouts, and so when we went camping and other things like that, we learned how to cook on an open or an open fire and and things like that. But still, I understand that you you had a a lot that you had to do. What lessons did you learn by being the oldest child? What kinds of things do you think that you you carry over to what to your life today, because you were the oldest. Bircan Unver 07:44 I think two different components of that. One is also because it wasn't only I was the as a kid at the home and as a girl, girl, but also at the time there wasn't that kind of awareness which we have today. Which I mean, my mom got married with my dad at the age of 15, and she had birth. She had given me birth at the age of 16, the reason I'm bringing up this, when we were going to shopping Kapolechar, Grand Market of Istanbul, when I was 1516, and literally we were halfway age difference between my mom and myself. And when I was saying mom, and the people were surprised, and she and isn't your sister, other sister? They were asking me, and she was my mom. So, but this is in the long later years. I always become the best friend with my mom, and even my brother was saying, "Oh, now I understood that she, you are the joy of my mom because she can kind of a joke, and the others, my kids, like they are kids, but I'm her friend because they kind of feel similar. That is one, you know, lifetime developed feeling and strong connection, different connection with my mom, and the other also, as I mentioned at the beginning, it really this whole, you know, not selected, but where you, which house you born, which condition you grow up, that build up for me early high level responsibility. I feel responsible to do everything, and I, you know, that's a little bit tiring because that's what I want to say here. You say something in our after our initial Zoom meeting. It's really very inspiring. You say something. I just took note. We can solve all the worst problem. We can. You say you don't say we cannot. You say we can. Solve all the world's problems. So, like, it wasn't possible. It's not possible, but you know, as if I could solve the problems or I could carry everything. So it's kind of you know build up my bricks in my life. Michael Hingson 10:18 One of the things that you certainly, it sounds like you learned as you were growing up, though, was was all about responsibility and and and learning to take charge, but learning about responsibility and and feeling that it was okay to be responsible for others in your family and so on. And I think a lot of people don't necessarily learn a lot of lessons about responsibility, like they should. But you were put in a position where you had to do that, which is is certainly a good thing because you clearly have have done that in your life. Bircan Unver 10:54 That's very true, and also it goes with everything. Let's say sometimes some people think maybe unnecessary action when people cut trees, even in their you know backyard or front yard, whatever trees or any type of trees or fruit trees. I really get mad and upset because it is irresponsible to nature, to their own environment, just feeling they're responsible to trees, loving the trees, loving the you know, for instance, if when I was it was two weeks ago, I was working on at my desk, a bees was you know flying around me, and I don't like you know trying to hit and chase the bees, and I just left the window open, moved the room two hours, and it's gone. So I don't want to hurt things, even though if it bites, it would hurt me, right? So to kind of find a way, being responsible, because also I have a subconscious thinking that if I try to chase a herd, if an insect, any of them, they you know they react sharp. So I'm not a threat to them. So they are not threat to me. So I kind of make a subconscious connection, communication. Michael Hingson 12:22 Well, and it's it's better to to learn to love than than not. So I I hear what you're saying. Now you didn't go to college or university, right? Or you did? Bircan Unver 12:35 Of course, I did. That's what I was just briefly brought this stair at that level. That after eight years working at at Istanbul Bank, from literally actually 17 to 24 or 23 late 23 early 24 then I started at the Fine Arts University in Istanbul, and I mainly study both as major Turkish tradition arts and also along with as a minor. We didn't have a minor, but we had we didn't have the minor degree, but we had a selected course. So I was following up several like four years in a row and also whole year around, not a quarter semester base artist troy and contemporary art. So I started writing on art and exhibit and interviewing artists while I started study at the Fine Arts University, which is top university in Fine Arts in Istanbul, Myanmar, Sinan Fine Arts University. Michael Hingson 13:44 So you learned a lot about fine arts, and Bircan Unver 13:47 yeah, Michael Hingson 13:47 and you had obviously learned about finance from the bank, which Bircan Unver 13:51 is didn't learn that Michael Hingson 13:53 much, huh? Bircan Unver 13:53 Not at all, and I didn't like it. That's why I, you know, I changed all my life line. Michael Hingson 14:00 Right, but but you enjoyed art. Bircan Unver 14:03 Yes, and because also art always for me, and it as it is today. Whatever the life problems we cannot be resolved, art is always for me a branch to hold on and to kind of feel strength, connect with the nature, with the art culture, whom I never might met, or maybe you know through art, through music, through books. So it's kind of really, I think the the best human conscious and what we leave behind is what we produce. Creative might be a little bit another discussion. What is the term defined? And now everyone using like creative for everything, but creativity is like really what stays, you know, central. And something as what is already before, and what you brought it something new, that new perspective, like cubism and faism and expressionism and all that different genres or pop arts and another one Dali's movement. So all the Dadaism, so each of them brought something what is already existed, and then you know moved to different level, and also technology and communication brought where we are today. So and music, I'm not any degree. Degree train or understand, but I love music as most people about music and arts and literature and writing is always for me. Also taking pictures. I don't trust my memory much, but this is not new, not because of my age now. But I somewhat I always like take the pictures, whether I have cell phone, the oldest, you know, digital or the manual photo photographs. So even though when I run into where where was it, where I was, who was with, who next to me? I can't remember. But why I love that? Because really, it brings, it captures your life, even you don't remember, and then reconnect. Also, I I come up with a new concept. I haven't done anything yet, but it's kind of developing in my mind, that we can, we are able to capture the past, but we cannot capture the future, because you know whether you know unexpected the one photo comes up, or an audio recording, or all those movies, musics, and documentaries and paintings throughout artistry, you can really capture the past depending on what you know your background or interest and education, but you cannot capture the future. But you can imagine, we can imagine the future. We can invest into the future. Michael Hingson 17:16 Well, and and the the reality is that that the future is based on so many things that happen in the past, and so you can learn to to use some of that information and and have a better idea of what the future might be like, and that's that's pretty fascinating too. So so, how long did you go to college Bircan Unver 17:42 in in Turkey the basic four university education is annual base, not semester base. It's a four years, and actually when I started it was five years. Then later on they the system education board changed it to like four years plus two years. So I graduated from a four years fine arts, and then I have a master's degree based in New York News School University. Michael Hingson 18:20 Ah, in New York. Bircan Unver 18:21 Yeah. Michael Hingson 18:22 Okay. So that was was that two years. Bircan Unver 18:27 Yes, but it was a little bit different again. Yeah. See, because first when I was here for the first time, 18 919, 89 to 1994, I started and I took to six credits and I love it. But I had to go back to Istanbul, so then I got the you know absence live of absence, and then but coming back three years later, I readmitted, and then I finish it. I got my graduate diploma in 1999 May 1999 Michael Hingson 19:12 Okay, so Bircan Unver 19:14 you've been dealing late. You've been Michael Hingson 19:17 dealing with school for a while, but but while all that was going on, you got interested in, and you started to to do things regarding public access television. And you started that, if I read your biography correctly, in in 1991, you started doing things with public public access TV. Tell us a little bit about that, and why did you do that? Bircan Unver 19:41 That's really the kind of key point in my life. In as for the initial one of the two reasons that I came to the U.S. as the first time, I was you know the first aim to learn English. The second also. To learn the TV production, and then my first year was in the U.S. was in L.A. and then I was looking for the schools and just I'm I I'd like to get the formal education, formal training, and then one of my friends there, whom I met there, she said my aunt is TV producer at Queens Public TV in New York, and she is looking for someone like you who really wants to get in and all that. And then I think a couple months later, I had a very brief trip to New York, and I met with her, and then I met with her at QPTV. Now she is unfortunately not with us, but she was also she was the first Turkish producer at QPTV, and I'm forever grateful in memory of her. She was the one who introduced me QPTV, so I met Victor at QPTV in 1990, and then when I went back to LA, I decided to move to New York. So as soon as I moved to New York and I registered to QPTV's both field production and studio, and at the time, there were seven, eight months waiting list. Eventually, I got it on the list, 1991, and first I got the field production certificate, and it was I think six months something, and we had a group project and solo project, and then studio and studio production. It's when the same group project after you are learning all the equipment and then shooting and everyone is crewing everyone is helping each other within the same group of the class and then also producing group project and then the individual project that it is the similar step for the field production and the studio, that also provides a certificate to enabling us to use QPTV equipment, studios taking out the equipment, inviting studios, studios. Unfortunately, after COVID 19, there has been a long dragging issue. They haven't opened the studios. This is I don't want to get in because it is beyond our concept, but because that was my initial reason also moving to New York. And then once I started producing program and airing, I really loved idea from one idea, just idea, and then put paper and develop it. Bring yes, bring the crew, especially with the manual three-inch tapes, and to present, put everything in a tape, and then submit it an ARC schedule. I really love that. So then, while I was there, and then I said, "Okay, I want to really have a master's degree on TV production. So my master's degree from New Zealand University is in media studies. So and I got my diploma May 1999 So, but New Zealand was amazing. I learned all the first my you know my life although it was 39 maybe 3839 years old when I was Photoshop and Premiere or Evid and all the first offline digital all the software program I learned at the new school and I edited my first program offline at the new circle as well, but when I got diploma, and then I had nowhere no access to continue. Also, you know, it's just I, I never been about the person. My mind and my heart wealthy, but not financial terms. And then, so QPT was always my second home because it provides me continuing the producing and provides me access, provides me equipment. It's like provides the community. That's what it is exists for, especially in support of the Article First Amendment and freedom of expression, and also QPTV format is really, really not well known, or not QPTV loaned. It is public access, pack programming, public education and government programming, non-commercial. So it's it is not much known widely, but it is really one of the best symbol of democracy. And now it's kind of a little bit diminishing because also widespreading out other web streaming platforms like this or other, so that there are so many. Discussion and issues, and also there is one petition to the New York Senate that is called Team New York that could also bring in all the web streaming to this community media access public access media. So then, Michael Hingson 25:19 oh, go ahead. Bircan Unver 25:20 No, I mean the question is so QPTV had has been the longest since 1991. I've been providing content, and as long as I am in the US, if I'm out of the country, even if I am out of the country, my previously submitted programs are rerunning in different, you know, whenever they schedule for my new programs, I determine which time slot because I have a time slot to be scheduled, and whether 28 minutes or one hour. But especially again after COVID 19, I couldn't produce anything at the studio at QPTV, but like this Zoom-based programs, and then for the late million organization, the programs I produce and then edit them, reformat them to schedule for QPTV. But it wasn't as it used to be produced at QPTV, at the studio with the crew, that's the excitement teaming up. It's really, I love it. But Zoom, this type also make more maybe manageable, but also bring more intonation speakers. You know, through online connection. If Speaker 1 26:54 you enjoy Unstoppable Mindset and would like to help us continue bringing these conversations to you each week, we've created a way for you to support the show. Your contribution helps us cover production costs and continue sharing stories, insights, and ideas that inspire people to live with purpose and possibility. If supporting the podcast feels right for you, you'll find the link in the show notes. Thank you for being part of the Unstoppable Mindset Community. Michael Hingson 27:28 So you you started in public access television and and and are still doing that essentially. But in 2000 you started Light Millennium TV. Tell us about Light Millennium Television. Bircan Unver 27:42 Thank you so much. Because Late Millennium, I still consider it's my third child because already 25th anniversary. The flyer on my back says 25th That also refers the 25th anniversary of the Light Millennium. I think a the experience and production, and also providing three platform QPTV, Queens Public TV, but actually the 1992 Communication Act and PAC programming, public government public education and government programming; those emerge with my new school education, like Fatrus, Plato, the concept of the two ways of messaging, and for the first time in my life, at the age of I think it was I was 39 I was able 3039, I was able to use. It was very new, also for the war. Internet. We had the internet at the new school as our media class, the open forum. One week media theory class. We have open discussion forum about Greek philosophy, further is communication, media theory. The other class we had the classic format. So all these together merged in my mind, and I really felt I found my medium. That medium is the internet, which me, especially someone is living in New York, who has you know 30 years first life in Turkey, Istanbul, that culture, and then I I didn't want to kind of disconnect from my root cultures, and internet provided me that connections, and also I always like to write and communicate, so so it becomes like natural medium. And then when I just graduated in May 1999 I send out by then like 40 people with my friends. Colleagues, and then I said, "Oh, I want to start a platform. This platform is going to be ours. And everyone wants to say, kind of to expand the QPTV's concept, because when I say QPTV's concept, this is the again First Amendment, and they don't control the content. They don't say anything you can do, you cannot unless it is a threat to someone's life. So it's all the content, or you are responsible as the producer. So I really love that freedom and responsibility again. And then then I was mentoring at the New York Food Moon Finance and Television, and I was kind of trying to find what I want to do, and I was already producing programs at QPTV. I never give up as as long as I could afford to produce the time and edit. Edit is always more time consuming, and then the executive director of the at the time 1999 Woman Film Man Television, she said you can form a nonprofit. I never taught it before, and I'm forever thankful to her. And then I said I don't know what to do where to start because she perhaps she saw the potential because I was producing non-commercial and publishing, trying to promote, you know, through group emails, and whatever the you know social media available at the time. Well, mostly email and group emails, and then she suggested me a volunteer lawyers of arts that she said they can help you, and I never knew and I never thought I if I never came to U.S. maybe I will never had a concept of forming a nonprofit or light minimum. So that U.S. and all combination brought me and news called Queens Public TV, First Amendment, United Nations Article of 19 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Everything together kind of merged in my mind. Also, the projects I produce, I communicate, is contact with people, I learn from them. So then, when I contacted with them, they ask me, you know, what is my statement this type? And then I drafted all of them, and they put in medical, you know, terms and terminology, and I was lucky that we got a pro bono at the time one of the you know major U.S. law firms. I I think I can say now because they even though I think merged K Shuler, but they took our case and they formed my organization on on a pro bono basis and officially the first as a non profit organization done with the 500 1c T V together. So we officially formed 2001 July 17, and we and then right after that they filed 501c3 for us, and then we granted that in September 18, 2002. Bircan Unver 33:14 My memory is not good, but I I remember that date as of today because it was kind of imprinted in my mind, but also the beauty was that the granted granting 501 c3 was effective of the formation date, which is July 17 2001 So then, since I developed started the light minimum concept, introducing speaking people trying creating an open platform that everyone can you know contribute be part of it, so then I started in January 2000 on January 13 2000 started first monthly the like TV series at like at QP TV. That's how it came about. Michael Hingson 34:02 Yeah, you have certainly created quite a niche in in the whole light millennium and all the other things that you've done, which is pretty fascinating. How did you get connected with the United Nations? Because I know you're doing work with them. Bircan Unver 34:18 Thank you. Actually, the concept with the UN use, I don't do work for them. Michael Hingson 34:29 Right. Bircan Unver 34:29 We do work with them. Right. You're connected Michael Hingson 34:34 with them. You're not working for them. I understand that. Bircan Unver 34:36 Yeah, I just you know one word, but it's key key differences. But as as I mentioned, how the light millennium concept emerged, and also my master's degree program, media studies at the New School, and also there is another person I have to mention here, also in. Separate for her respectful and loving memory, Danielle Camille. She was my advisor for my thesis project advisor at the new school, and all that TV ideas and my thesis project. And she loved, and I got all A. And my first TV ideas project was peace, reality, or utopian dream, and it was 11 minutes or so. It was just before the first Clinton administration election, just October, I think 2002 and then I interviewed many academicians, civil society, non-profits who whose focus area on peace and war and you know against nuclear or all that and and then that actually the concept peace reality or utopian dream that took me to the United Nations I don't know now as a as an outsider, at the time it was so welcoming, and I went to photo department. They share me with photos, and I got all the books I was looking for. Of course, public library. I got all the books about the peace and peace organization. So that 12 minutes program, peace rate or utopian dream, and physically led me to step in the UN for the first time, and then producing this project, searching kind of open to me new horizon, and also my advisor was persistent. Birjan, we know you are great. You produce fundamental programs on arts, but I want you to do something else. So that actually also forced me to move beyond producing something beyond arts. And so then then peace, reality, or utopian dream concept came in, but also it wasn't far topic in my life because my son was born 20 when I was 2022 Now he is 45 His name is Borush, and mean is in Turkish peace. Peace also at the time, you know, Africa hunger, and I was hoping when I get 4050, this will be over. It's not the case, but as a vision, I always look for humanistic positive for the humanity, not you know for myself well-being. Michael Hingson 37:38 Well, you you kind of act as a bridge between UN programs and local communities. Tell me more about that because you view that you view yourself as being a bridge between UN programs and the local community. Why do you why do you view yourself as more of a bridge? Bircan Unver 38:00 That's very nice metaphor, and I think it's very true for me too. Maybe I could take it two three step backs. One is the village I was born. There is a river, and and then there was a bridge, and that bridge was kind of fundamental. Really, going to where you know people are established, living in all the agriculture and large fields, and it was kind of nostalgic to me. It's a bridge, but it's a stone, short bridge. That's the the first part. The second Istanbul. You know, my life main path when I was in Istanbul, Turkey in Istanbul, and Istanbul the Bosphor and then the Istanbul Bridge. Now the name changed, and now three bridges, and not just the bridge itself, but also Turkish geographic Turkey's geographical space place on Earth and especially on in between Europe and Asia and Black Sea and then the Mediterranean Sea and then when you go down North Africa, and then you go up like Russia and North Europe. So you see that that connection physically, geographically, and troy physical bridges. We live, we grow up with this kind of as part of our DNA and vision. When I was working on this, the first the initial need you know in the non-profit world to describe the need need was to connect with my culture, people, friends, family, the internet medium, and then village is also metaphor, and when we associated with the. I let I'm proud to say it. Let the association process. That was also my vision from that small video for the class project. And then, then I realize this is also. I think today is real fact that local communities, even Queens here, people are paying 1000s of dollars to come to New York to get visas. All that trying to get the sponsor, you know, to attend a conference, and I I didn't see much interest within the local nonprofits there, and that little bit was shocking realization for me. So I brought to my programs UN visions programs, MDGs, UN days, sustainable development goals. For instance, when it was announced at the UN for the 2023 agenda, we created dreams for humanity. So we brought people from lots of life, poets, authors, and youths to really share their ideas for humanity, for peace. Michael Hingson 41:12 Well, you-it sounds like, from all that I've read and and studied, you're you're, or at some point, you kind of have moved more into dealing with a lot of things with the environment. So I know that your program has been able to get a credit accredited as an observer observer status with the UN Environment Program. How is how has that affected what you do and all of your work going forward. Bircan Unver 41:43 Thank you. This is also another important, I think, milestone for us. The first in connection with the UN, associated with the in the formerly United Nations Department of Public Information, and then it has changed to Department of Global Communications. Officially, we've been associated since 2005, active and good standing, and we are able to be presented at the UN with six representatives, and therefore we are able also to reflect back to our committee's networks from the UN and it's two ways. I really like the concept two ways messaging, and then always environment in somewhat it involves in our programs. But let's say through water, through energy, through, for instance, when the forest fires really burns my heart. So being sensible and trying to, as much as I could, to attend the meetings, especially MDGs for the first phase of the Millennium Declaration, really, it's. I consider UN is the best school I ever had, and it's for me lifetimes to call, and I learn about so many countries I will never otherwise know them much. Some of the names you hardly hear in media and anywhere else, so it's kind of opens and to see the global spectrum. Also, one of the things I really love at the UN, whether you you are a ambassador or president or prime minister of a country that has maybe a population 1 million or 2 million or 1 billion or two 1.6 billion, the largest one, so you have the same minutes of speaking time, same voting, especially of course, I'm talking about the general assembly. So those things I follow up, and we try to incorporate time to time. And water issue always, I wanted to involve. I want to do something about, but it's just not like because I love the tourists, and I'm not, you know, scientist, so I'm not officially trained. So also, I'm not able to protect the, you know, fires in the forest. And every year it's getting worse and worse. And then I'm sensible, but you know, you can't do much about it. And eventually, although our last name is same, but we are not blood connected. Professor Oljoymer, at the time he was vice president for the UN Water at the UN, and we connected. And I was following up, and I was aware his work before we met. We connected through the UN. So then, especially during the COVID era, then when I've seen his speeches, natural-based solutions, and then his piece on smart water, so I propose him if we can do something. About water, and then he was very supportive, very kind, very modest. We had our first water program on the World Water Day in March 2001 and then it has turned out an annual program, and we kind of made the global connections and collaborations, and especially first three, four of them, Professor Olja led and guide, and also we worked together in a sense that I brought one part of the speakers and he brought other parts. So it was also great, diverse speakers and also the level of the speakers from whether civil society, academia, UN, and youth, all that. So we already presented six of them, and 2023 we were part of the UN Water Conference. We presented a program, and then last year we participated and presented a program site event in Nice on the Ocean Conference, and we kind of we also had previously on the ocean again. So plastic also become whether ocean, whether water, whether land life, like plastic, is becoming a huge in every level. Not plastic, but also chemical, all all sorts of polluters on in environment. So then we become promoting, producing, and there are really great level of academicians and experts, and they also like to share and connect their research and their findings. So it's a platform to break down together, and then when it is a video, when it is posted as both a summary along with the full presentation or speech, so it becomes a really source where you know you can find diverse voices, diverse solutions, diverse ideas, and also we align them in support of the UN days, UN conferences, SDGs, sustainable development goals like Water Days. Also, we collaborate with an organization in India, IGEN Green Institution, Green Engineers Institute of Green Engineers. So they are focusing on energy SDG seven. So we contribute them, bringing speakers. Bircan Unver 47:40 So then they join us to our program. So really, it's an organic volunteer base. So that that actually, I was so proud that we got a call, invitation to submit the application for this accredited status, and it was June 2025 after the ocean conference. I think ocean conference kind of brought them cumulatively and maybe brought their attention. And then October they asked our official documents, the bylaws and and certificate of organization, which is the regular require any formal application at the UN, and then I I submitted them in I think it was October 1525 but I haven't heard anything, and then I thought maybe you know they didn't consider, and then literally a year later, in June, last June, we got approval, and with a, it's not just accredited for a special one particular conference. It is an observer status assembly to contribute draft ideas. I mean, to contribute drafts, draft resolution to observe, to participate, and then also to be responsible to provide every four-year quadrennial report. Let's say if we fail to produce contribution at any level to this cause, then you know we may lose that observed status, but of course we'll do our best to contribute and to continue. Michael Hingson 49:27 With all of the work that you've done in all of this, I want to come back to World Water Day in a moment. But with all the work that you've done and all the the the things that you've done in public television and so on, when you host these meetings or you participate in these meetings, do they get televised? Also, are you able to bring those to to the public through public television? Bircan Unver 49:53 When it is Zoom, then I edit within my time slot within the limits of. Time slots and QPTV provides two different time slots. One is 20-eight minutes, the other one is 50-eight minutes. So then, let's say if it's two-hour session, I you know a little bit edit and then title, etc. and part one, part two, and also depending on the length of the session or 20-eight minutes. So then I schedule them through the local channels, as we spoke at QPTV. Also, I make them available through our vmail.com/lmtv channel on web on the web. Also, when we have a summary or outcomes, so we also provide those links and share through social media. Try our best to make those information available, visible, and reachable. Michael Hingson 50:51 Well, that I'm glad you do that. I'm glad that it gets to be something that is a lot more publicized than you just attending a meeting-that's important, I would think, to do when when you talk about World Water Day and so on. One of the things that that I I understand you do is you compare water security directly with cybersecurity and gender equality. Those are three different sorts of things when you include water security. Tell us more about that. Bircan Unver 51:24 This was our latest program in last March, and we had in our prior program on AI a discussion on AI a public discussion on AI policy or AI arc. So he's a professor and at the SUNY, and he's a mathematician, and he's also teaching cybersecurity. And when I was talking about when we met about the water conference upcoming, actually in this December, in the United Emirates on I think December six to eight. Even I was thinking to attend, but I wanted part a bit this time virtually instead of going there. So when we were talking about and and I really like this idea and I say as I asked exactly what you asked for, and then his really statement explanation made great sense because everything is nowadays control troy some form of electronic or AI or a combination of those systems, right? Competing systems. So if or if there is a technical issues, that's one case. But if there is a hack, especially water is the life source for everyone, whether you are billion or trillion, or you are you know ordinary people on the you know everyday life. So water is the source for everything, including producing the energy. AI. So water is the life itself. So then, when he said, if any hacking, whether you know small you know some you know people with a bad intention or some maybe big corporation because some profit purpose they want to sell more you know bottled water whatever or some international security issues you you may name this many other things. So if a computer system, if the control mechanism, if the AI system, whatever that combination in that system, is hack, then everything is a huge risk, and that's number one. How it connects with the water. Also now you know we smart how everything is electronic. Everything and then when that somewhat the life collapses there. So including water, including energy. So everything is so much you know interconnected. And then how that the gender equality came. Also, we follow Michael the UN annual-based dedication team for each UN Day or conferences. For instance, last year, water and gender equality, because water and gender required is also so inseparable concept and conditions in many parts of the world, and then also our professor Emre Tokus, he also. Make beautiful connection that if woman or when woman, if and when women are more in the security, cyber security, IT technology sectors, they are more sensitive. They are more like maybe natural in their dealings, like mother protection. So more protective, so there is less risk than where it is now. So to increase the gender equality, both not burden on the woman, you know, where it's the water scarcity that woman has to carry the burden. Girls, even five, seven years old, when developing countries, when it comes to developing countries, and then if the girls are, and also that was staggering. Stats he gave sort of shocked me today because he is a professor at SUNY. So what I mean by that, he said one of his class has only four girls out of 31. of his class has only one girl. One of his class doesn't have no girl. So even though if if girls are girls are not getting in this field, how we gonna bring the gender balance in all cross-cutting sectors of society. So that's how both from the UN perspective, the dedication team, also cybersecurity, the profile from a university that girls are not showing attention, interest studying cybersecurity. That was the fact based on his class last semester. One Michael Hingson 56:46 of the things that you have done, as I understand, is you've written several books. Bircan Unver 56:53 Yes, there are more, but hopefully I could get work on them, publish them as well. The my first book was Michael, based on my interviews with artists and my reviews on art exhibits, and also when I had questionnaire surveys like with artists, galleries, academicians, professors, students. When I before my first life prior prior the U.S. So when I went back after four years and I was really eager to get in a job for as a TV producer and somewhat that didn't work despite all my efforts even I my project load and everyone was after me, but they want to take the project, but not give me the role what I deserve for. So then I kind of close myself, and then I said I want to compile my books, my articles, my interviews. So that was how my first book came about in Turkish. To create is the most sacred. So, like the value to give the highest value for the creativity, intellectual production. That is through all those interviews, reviews, and questions. So that's that was the first book. The second book is in a way a bridge again between U.S. and Istanbul, New York and Istanbul, or maybe L.A. New York and Istanbul. Because when I came in, also I've done freelance journalism, so I wrote some you know reviews and the magazine. I used to, you know, send and appear my interviews and reviews. So and it was include not too frequent, but it was include some of major exhibits, both from LA and also from the Metropolitan Museum in MoMA in New York. Also Turkish artists here. So I met them, you know, when I was living. I started living in here. So then I a combination of those, and also that was another metaphor developed in my mind when I was Istanbul. I was feeling like the labyrinths of arts. So that's my second book title in Turkish labyrinths in arts. So like you are like this kind of narrow and small world in Istanbul art worlds and very high competition, and then nobody expanding to New York and LA expansion means bringing some, for instance, Franz Bacon, Thomas Hart Benton, and Max Ernst and Marina Magritte. Those also the last part connecting with the New York Istanbul from my art based on my art background. Michael Hingson 59:51 So, were any of the books published in English? The Bircan Unver 59:54 last 120, 23 is English, but. It is a compilation concept is written me. I directed the project, and of course I have some pieces also beside the concept. But it is a compilation by 24 contributors. It is based on the JUC Media Research Writing Awards 2021 and 2023 High School Awards Project, and also it is also engaging the youth to involve the UN programs at an early age and encourage them award them. So that also the next one is going to be on the Water Action Decatur in the same line, same concept, and also I have a book project since 2022 I couldn't still 2022 2020 actually. I dream, therefore I am. I have 80% of the book manuscript is ready, but I couldn't finalize it, and so the other one also I was hoping but couldn't to have a book for the 25th anniversary of the latentium. Unfortunately, it didn't happen. It's a little bit seemingly not going to happen this year to come up 25th anniversary of late millennium, but I had 20 anniversary of the late millennium in Turkish, and so this is completely different issue because I introduced like Millennium both in Turkish and in English, so it's like Tiffany Sister is the Turkish one, and then I formed Turkish sister in 2010, and then so on the 20th anniversary of the Turkish organization, as it is association, official association. So I compile the first part, the concept vision, very much like Millennium, because it's the system. But the second part based on the programs, activities, and challenges in Istanbul. So this book also in English will be first the the manifesto and the first all the history will be very much in English, the original one. But the second part is going to be completely, you know, selected ideas and projects and programs from the website and public programs from the last 20-five years, and it's hard hard things to do. It it's very challenging. I couldn't do it. Michael Hingson 1:02:47 It's it's a lot of work. Well, Berjan, I I want to tell you that we have now been talking for more than an hour. Time flies when you're having fun. Man, I'm going to go. I'm going to have to go ahead and and end our time, but we'll have to do this again and and continue the discussion. But I really appreciate you taking the time to be here, and I hope that people will monitor your programs and and and read your books if they can read Turkish or English, whichever works. Troy Bircan Unver 1:03:18 has so many English pieces, and now everyone welcome to look out our website. And what's the Michael Hingson 1:03:26 website again? Bircan Unver 1:03:28 lmglobal.org. Michael Hingson 1:03:32 lmglobal.org. Okay. Bircan Unver 1:03:34 Yes, but the whole archive from 2019 to 2000 no, 2019 no. of course not 2019 1999 to 2018 The archive. Our initial website is light millennium.org Millennium is with double N double N. So the everything we are talking about, all the process, our UN programs, and the reports from the UN NGO briefings, some conferences we participated. If anyone has any question, I'll be happy to provide the link and you know to contact them. Michael Hingson 1:04:17 And we will put that information in the show notes, the notes for the podcast. So I want to thank you for being here. This has been absolutely informative. I really appreciate your time, and I hope the programs continue to go well. So I want to thank you again for being here, and this has just been a lot of fun. Bircan Unver 1:04:39 Thank you so much, Michael Kingston, it is great honor and privilege. Especially, you are a hero, and your your story is amazing, and you are also taking really one of the challenges works like producing these programs, and we never met in real life. And then this is also like Millennium and your work. How we connected through? Otherwise, there was no like regular environment or database environment that we could meet. Your work and your dedication and your inspiring contribution really connected us and bring us together in this session. Thank you, and I'm really grateful for that. Michael Hingson 1:05:29 Thank you for being here with me on Unstoppable Mindset. I hope today's conversation left you with a fresh perspective, a new insight, or at least something worth thinking about. If you're ready to go deeper into the ideas that shape how we see ourselves and others, I have a free gift for you. Head over to michaelhingson.com and download my free ebook, Blinded by Fear. It explores the invisible beliefs that hold us back and shows you how to reframe them so you can move forward with clarity and confidence. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share this show with someone who can use a reminder that growth starts with mindset. When people think differently, we all move forward together. Thanks again for listening. Keep learning, keep questioning, and keep choosing to live with an unstoppable mindset
I loved this conversation because it reminded me that God doesn't just call pastors and missionaries; He calls teachers, nurses, engineers, business leaders, parents, and every one of us to make an impact for His kingdom. Brian Mueller shares his incredible journey from basketball coach to president of Grand Canyon University, along with his heart for raising up a generation that lives out their faith wherever God places them. If you've ever wondered whether your work, your family, or your gifts really matter to God, I think this episode will encourage you to see your everyday life as a sacred calling. And remember, I'd love to connect more on Instagram, where you'll find me at @donnaajones. And don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss a single episode! Xo, Donna Key Takeaways: 00:02:40 - From Coach to President: Brian’s Unlikely Road to GCU 0:06:48 - Sacred Vocation: Turning Every Career into Kingdom Work 0:13:58 - Risking Comfort: Leaving Success at Phoenix to Rescue GCU 0:18:30 - Five-Point Plan: Jobs, Safety, Homes, Scholarships, Service 0:26:15 - It Starts at Home: Parents Raising Culture-Shaping Kids What We Talk About Brian Mueller's unexpected journey to leading Grand Canyon University Why every vocation can be a sacred calling Integrating faith into work instead of separating the two Raising children to influence culture for Christ The importance of Christian education and discipleship Living out the Gospel through service and community transformation Trusting God's plans over our own Helping young adults discover purpose and calling Living Your Faith Through Your Calling Brian shares a simple but powerful perspective on how Christians can influence the world: Recognize your vocation as a sacred calling. Every profession can honor God. Integrate your faith into your everyday work. Don't compartmentalize your spiritual life. Serve people with excellence and integrity. Your character often speaks louder than your words. Build relationships that reflect Christ. The Gospel is demonstrated through how we love others. Trust God to use your unique gifts. Your passions and experiences are part of His greater purpose. Donna’s Resources: Order a copy of my latest book - Healthy Conflict, Peaceful Life: A Biblical Guide to Communicating Thoughts, Feelings, and Opinions with Grace, Truth, and Zero Regret. It is available anywhere books are sold– here is the link on Amazon. If you need a helpful resource for someone exploring faith and Christianity or simply want to strengthen your own knowledge, you’ll want a copy of my book, Seek: A Woman’s Guide to Meeting God. It’s a must for seekers, new believers, and those who want to deepen their faith. Connect with Brian: Brian’s Website: https://www.gcu.edu/ Let’s Connect: Instagram: @donnaajones Website: www.donnajones.org Donna’s speaking schedule: https://donnajones.org/events/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
In this week's episode, I'm sharing a story that started with an unexpected flood of Instagram messages after Martin Luther King Jr. Day and led me to think more deeply about cancel culture, leadership, and the impossible standards we often place on one another. It made me realize how quick we can be to expect perfection from the people we admire, while forgetting that every person who has made a meaningful impact on the world has also been deeply flawed.Together, we explore why it's possible to respect someone's contributions without endorsing every decision they've ever made, why curiosity is more valuable than assumption, and how demanding perfection ultimately shuts down honest conversations. If we believe imperfect people can change the world, then we also have to make room for imperfect dialogue, extending the same grace to others that we hope to receive ourselves.Be sure to subscribe/follow the show so you never miss an episode!Connect with Jessie:Follow on Instagram @ofthewest.co and @mrsjjarvFollow on Facebook @jobsofthewestCheck out the Of The West websiteResources & Links:Join The Directory Of The WestGet our FREE resource for Writing a Strong Job DescriptionGet our FREE resource for Making the Most of Your InternshipGet our FREE resource: 10 Resume Mistakes (and how to fix them)Get our FREE resource: How to Avoid the 7 Biggest Hiring Mistakes Employers MakeEmail us at hello@ofthewest.coSubscribe to Of The West's NewslettersList your jobs on Of The West
The lottery is one of the few games where everyone knows the odds are terrible—and millions of people play anyway. Why? It turns out there are some fascinating psychological reasons people buy lottery tickets, along with a few surprising facts about the odds and strategies that most players never consider. https://www.wired.com/video/watch/lottery-strategy When Uber launched, many people thought the idea was ridiculous. Let strangers drive you around in their personal cars? Airbnb faced similar skepticism. Why would anyone stay in a stranger's house? Yet these companies went on to reshape entire industries. The same is true of Twitter, Twitch, and many other breakthrough businesses. What separates ideas that change the world from ideas that never get off the ground? According to venture capitalist Mike Maples Jr., truly transformative companies don't succeed by being slightly better than the competition—they succeed by seeing the world differently. In this conversation, Mike explains the patterns behind history's most disruptive startups, why the best ideas often sound wrong at first, and what it takes to build something that changes the future. Mike is co-founder of Floodgate, one of Silicon Valley's premier seed-stage investment firms, host of the podcast Starting Greatness (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/starting-greatness/id1488560647), and author of Pattern Breakers: Why Some Start-Ups Change the Future (https://amzn.to/3W8BXlT). Black holes may be the most mysterious objects in the universe. Their gravity is so powerful that not even light can escape. Yet despite their reputation as cosmic vacuum cleaners, black holes do much more than simply swallow things. In fact, astronomers now believe that the giant black hole at the center of our galaxy may have played a critical role in making life on Earth possible. How can something so destructive also be so important? Why does nearly every galaxy appear to have a supermassive black hole at its center? And what have scientists learned recently that is forcing them to rethink these extraordinary objects? Marcus Chown, former radio astronomer at Caltech and author of A Crack in Everything: How Black Holes Came in from the Cold and Took Cosmic Centre Stage (https://amzn.to/3W9cFUE), takes us on a fascinating tour of one of the strangest and most important discoveries in modern science. Most people rely on sunscreen as their primary defense against skin cancer—and for good reason. Yet skin cancer rates continue to rise. Researchers are increasingly discovering that sun protection may involve more than what you put on your skin. Emerging evidence suggests that what you put on your plate could also influence how your skin responds to the sun. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/08/well/eat/diet-skin-cancer-risk-melanoma.html PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AIR DOCTOR: Head to https://AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code SYSK to get $250 off select AirDoctor air purifiers, including the 3500, 4000, and 5500 models. Plus, you'll receive a free 3year warranty! RULA: Thousands of people are already using Rula to get affordable, high-quality therapy that's actually covered by insurance. Visit https://Rula.com/sysk to get started. QUINCE: Elevate your summer wardrobe. Go to https://Quince.com/sysk for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! SHOPIFY: It's time to turn those "what ifs" into CHA CHING with Shopify Today! Sign up for your $1 per month trail and start selling today at https://Shopify.com/sysk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Matt McClintock (Founder & CEO of Bespoke Group) returns to the show alongside Alla Futterman (Associate Client Relationship Manager & Head of Philanthropy Operations) fresh off his main-stage talk at BTC Prague 2026 titled “Using Bitcoin to Change the World.”In this deep dive, we explore how ultra-high-net-worth Bitcoiners and their families are moving beyond simple HODLing to become active stewards — deploying Bitcoin through sophisticated, values-aligned philanthropy to solve real problems (landmine clearance, human trafficking recovery, wildlife protection, cultural preservation, and more).We unpack Bespoke Group's “Wealth Operating System,” sovereign estate planning for bearer assets, tax-efficient giving structures, next-gen involvement, the mindset shift from ownership to “this wealth has been entrusted to me,” and practical advice for Bitcoiners at every level who want their capital to outlive them and actually improve the world.If you've ever wondered how to turn Bitcoin conviction into lasting generational impact while keeping sovereignty and privacy intact, this is the episode.Timestamps:(00:00) - Introduction to Bitcoin Philanthropy(06:38) - Tax-Efficient Philanthropy Strategies(13:07) - Charitable Structures for Bitcoin(20:22) - Mindset Shifts in Bitcoin Philanthropy(27:22) - Wealth Stewardship and Bitcoin(32:13) - Challenges in Bitcoin Philanthropy(37:23) - Engaging the Next Generation in Philanthropy(39:49) - Practical Tips for Everyday Bitcoiners Links: Bespoke Group → https://bespokegroup.io/Matt's article: “How Bitcoin Wealth is Changing the World” (June 2026)Alla's article: “Philanthropy as Wealth in Motion”https://x.com/mcclintock_mStephan Livera links:Follow me on X: @stephanliveraSubscribe to the podcastSubscribe to Substack
Have you ever had the sense that God was prompting you to help someone, maybe at the grocery store or gas station, but you were just too uncomfortable or fearful to act on that prompting? Chip encourages you that it's possible to overcome your fear and step out in faith - and see God work like never before.ResourcesMessage NotesSpecial OffersDonate to the MatchDouble Your GiftConnect888-333-6003WebsiteChip Ingram AppInstagramFacebookPartner With UsDonate Online888-333-6003