Podcasts about chicago ideas week

Imagine taking over the CEO role of a company just as COVID hit. Alice Heiman sat down with Andee Harris, the dynamic CEO of Challenger Inc., who did just that. Harris shared her riveting journey of steering the company through the COVID-19 pandemic and moving from 100% in-person training to 100% online training basically overnight, revealing not only the challenges faced but also the exact strategies she implemented to drive rapid growth and adapt to a rapidly changing business landscape.The Catalyst for Change: Pivoting in a PandemicHarris's tenure at Challenger began amidst the pandemic. She was met with the daunting task of revitalizing a company that was "dead in the water" due to the pandemic-induced halt in its traditional training services. Recognizing the urgent need to pivot, Harris spearheaded the transition to virtual and e-learning platforms, ensuring that the high demand for Challenger's training could be met despite the constraints of the global crisis.One of the most striking revelations from Harris was the absence of a demand generation and marketing strategy within Challenger. The company had previously relied heavily on leads from Gartner and engagements with legacy customers. Leveraging her background as a Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), Harris embarked on building a robust demand generation engine. This included optimizing the company's website for SEO, engaging in social selling, and rebranding Challenger as an innovative tech company, thereby widening its appeal to include SMB and mid-market customers alongside its enterprise clientele.Strategic Sales Team RestructuringHarris didn't stop at marketing transformations. She meticulously restructured the sales team to better align with customer segments, differentiating between new logo acquisition and existing account management. This strategic segmentation enabled Challenger to tailor its approach to various customer needs more effectively, showcasing Harris's keen understanding of the nuances in customer buying processes.Key Takeaways for CEOs:Andee Harris's journey with Challenger Sales Training Company offers invaluable lessons for CEOs navigating their businesses through uncertainty:Embrace Agility: The swift pivot to virtual and e-learning platforms was a testament to the importance of agility in business. CEOs should be ready to adapt their product delivery to meet customer needs, regardless of external pressures.Demand Generation is Key: Harris's focus on building a demand generation engine highlights the critical role of marketing in driving growth. CEOs should ensure their companies have robust strategies for lead generation and brand positioning.Strategic Sales Team Structure: Tailoring sales strategies to customer segments can significantly enhance effectiveness. CEOs should consider how their sales teams are structured to best meet the diverse needs of their clientele.Customer-Centric Approach: Above all, Harris's strategies were rooted in a deep understanding of customer needs and buying behaviors. CEOs should maintain a laser focus on serving their customers in the manner they prefer, ensuring success and satisfaction.Andee Harris's CEO journey, is a compelling case study on leading with resilience, innovation, and an unwavering focus on customer needs. Her success in transforming Challenger amidst unprecedented challenges offers inspiration and practical advice for CEOs looking to navigate their companies through turbulent times.For a deeper dive into her strategies, challenges, and the innovative steps she took to transform Challenger, watch the full episode and subscribe to our channel!Chapters02:55 'Andee's decision to become CEO of Challenger after selling High Ground'06:17 'Transition of Challenger's founders and how opportunity came Andee's way'08:43 'Overcoming the absence of demand generation and marketing at Challenger'10:42 'Andee's strategy for developing lead generation and hiring new sales talent'13:19 'Fastest path to lead generation and impact on sales processes'16:25 'Upscaling sales talent and adapting to remote selling during Covid'17:08 'Recruiting the right salespeople and providing sales training under unique circumstances'18:52 'Segmenting the sales team according to customer needs and buying processes'21:06 'Finding the right sellers to handle segmented customer groups'22:47 'Aligning the structure of the sales team with customer acquisition and growth strategies'23:17 'Adapting to customer buying preferences and servicing key accounts'25:03 'Ongoing growth and hiring for the sales team at Challenger'26:01 'Training focus for sellers on understanding and addressing customer indecision'27:24 'Real-world impact of Challenger selling philosophy beyond sales'28:20 'Looking forward and recognizing the power of partnerships and integrations'32:33 'How the new Salesforce app will enhance the sales process with Challenger methodology cues'About GuestAndee Harris is the CEO of Challenger. A proven leader, Harris brings more than two decades of experience in growing and scaling service and technology businesses. She has previously led multiple companies, both as CEO and Senior Vice President, through periods of rapid revenue growth, critical fundraising and successful acquisition. She is an unstoppable, successful business builder, right brain thinker in a left-brain world. She is known for clearing pathways by connecting data and people. Andee is an Adjunct Professor at Kellogg School of Management, sharing her entrepreneurial wisdom in the course, Launching and Leading Startups. She is a highly regarded technology thought leader with broad expertise in market share growth, business development, multi-channel marketing and revenue management. Andee is a member of YPO Chicago and a board member to Bonfire, Chicago Ideas Week, Lyft Community Board and The Lurie Children's Hospital Strategic Founders. She lives in Lincoln Square with her husband, two teenagers and black lab. She is an avid traveler and loves to cook and be outdoors.Social Links You can learn more about and connect with Andee Harris in the links below.Challenger:The Challenger Sale | Sales, Marketing, & CS Approach (challengerinc.com)Winning The Challenger Sale podcast:Winning the Challenger Sale - Sales Podcast | Challenger IncAndee on LinkedIn:(99+) Andee (Weissman) Harris | LinkedInYou can learn more about and connect with Alice Heiman in the links below.Connect with Alice on LinkedIn:(99+) Alice Heiman | LinkedInCheck out Alice's website:Alice Heiman | Sales Consultant and Strategist for CEOs

Episode 085: A Case Study for Practice: Latent Design How do you build an architecture practice that reaches beyond projects to further impact policy, culture, and community? http://www.latentdesign.net/ (Latent Design) is a progressive Chicago-based architecture firm working at the intersection of design and community development to create social, economic and environmental impact. They define the context surrounding a project before they design the content of architecture. They offer innovative design solutions to those in resource and budget limited environments through a participatory approach that leverages local assets to directly generate project opportunities. Their collaborations range from small-scale tactical interventions, new construction community buildings, adaptive reuse, neighborhood master plans, and design speculations. In this episode, we'll learn from architect, founder, and entrepreneur Katherine Darnstadt. Darnstadt has been building her business from the ground up since 2010. In celebration of 12+ years of growth, she's expanded her work to help launch the https://www.designtrustchicago.org/ (Design Trust Chicago). Guest: Katherine Darnstadt, AIA, NOMA, LEED AP is the founder of Latent Design, a progressive architecture and urbanism firm leveraging civic innovation and social impact to design more equitable spaces and systems. Since founding her practice in 2010, Katherine and her firm have prototyped new urban design systems to advance urban agriculture with Fresh Moves, support small business through Boombox, created spaces for youth makers, and developed public space frameworks through Design Trust Chicago.  She and the firm have been published, exhibited, and featured widely, most notably at the International Venice Architecture Biennial, Architizer A+ Awards, Chicago Ideas Week, NPR, American Institute of Architects Young Architects Honor Award winner and Crain's Chicago 40 Under 40. She previously taught at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and Northwestern University.

The JuJu Exchange is a jazz-fusion group founded by three childhood friends from Chicago, each bringing their own unique stories and traits to the collective. Nico Segal (trumpeter and producer) is Grammy Awarded musician and producer who is a frequent Chance the Rapper collaborator and trumpet player in Chance's band The Social Experiment. Julian Davis Reid (pianist and producer) is an artist-theologian who also hosts spiritual retreats called Notes of Rest, which interweave texts and music to promote rest, contemplation and creativity. Nova Zaii (drummer and producer) is a sonic designer and the inventor of the patented Nova Portals instrument, a touchless electronic instrument. Whether performing at The Chicago Jazz Fest or The Songbyrd, The JuJu Exchange brings uncut emotion with the intent to move the audience in mind, body, & soul. The band's debut project Exchange reached #1 on the Apple Jazz Albums Chart upon release and their new single Walk Cycle debuted #1 on the All-New Jazz Spotify Playlist. They released their second record, The Eternal Boombox EP, inspired to provide relief as the world grappled with a catastrophic year. Each song corresponds to a stage of grief from the Kübler-Ross “Five Stages of Grief” Cycle. The JuJu Exchange creates experimental and nuanced music that calls us all to wonder and trust. Their music, primarily instrumental, blends acoustic and digital instruments to accompany meaningful conversation around spiritual, mental, and physical experiences amongst their audiences' diverse backgrounds. They hope their music inspires the listener to participate in the kinds of exchange the world desperately needs. The band has been booked for Microsoft Teams Roundtable, Yale University, Northwestern University, Jazz Institute of Chicago, Chicago Ideas Week, and Apple On Michigan. The band's members have worked, performed, and produced with artists including Chance The Rapper, Frank Ocean, Derrick Hodge, Andrew Bird, Tank & The Bangas, Peter CottonTale, Jamila Woods, Grace Weber, Jennifer Hudson, Tiff Joy, VIc Mensa, Prefuse 73, Fulcrum Point New Music Project, and The Chicago Children's Choir. In this episode, Julian Davis Reid shares his background, education, and musical journey. If you enjoyed this episode please make sure to subscribe, follow, rate, and/or review this podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, ect. Connect with us on all social media platforms and at www.improvexchange.com

Welcome to The Nonlinear Library, where we use Text-to-Speech software to convert the best writing from the Rationalist and EA communities into audio. This is: Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Argument, published by palladias on the AI Alignment Forum. I recently gave a talk at Chicago Ideas Week on adapting Turing Tests to have better, less mindkill-y arguments, and this is the precis for folks who would prefer not to sit through the video (which is available here). Conventional Turing Tests check whether a programmer can build a convincing facsimile of a human conversationalist. The test has turned out to reveal less about machine intelligence than human intelligence. (Anger is really easy to fake, since fights can end up a little more Markov chain-y, where you only need to reply to the most recent rejoinder and can ignore what came before). Since normal Turing Tests made us think more about our model of human conversation, economist Bryan Caplan came up with a way to use them to make us think more usefully about our models of our enemies. After Paul Krugman disparaged Caplan's brand of libertarian economics, Caplan challenged him to an ideological Turing Test, where both players would be human, but would be trying to accurately imitate each other. Caplan and Krugman would each answer questions about their true beliefs honestly, and then would fill out the questionaire again in persona inimici - trying to guess the answers given by the other side. Caplan was willing to bet that he understood Krugman's position well enough to mimic it, but Krugman would be easily spotted as a fake!Caplan. Krugman didn't take him up on the offer, but I've run a couple iterations of the test for my religion/philosophy blog. The first year, some of the most interesting results were the proxy variables people were using, that weren't as strong as indicators as the judges thought. (One Catholic coasted through to victory as a faux atheist, since many of the atheist judges thought there was no way a Christian would appreciate the webcomic SMBC). The trouble was, the Christians did a lot better, since it turned out I had written boring, easy to guess questions for the true and faux atheists. The second year, I wrote weirder questions, and the answers were a lot more diverse and surprising (and a number of the atheist participants called out each other as fakes or just plain wrong, since we'd gotten past the shallow questions from year one, and there's a lot of philosophical diversity within atheism). The exercise made people get curious about what it was their opponents actually thought and why. It helped people spot incorrect stereotypes of an opposing side and faultlines they'd been ignoring within their own. Personally, (and according to other participants) it helped me have an argument less antagonistically. Instead of just trying to find enough of a weak point to discomfit my opponent, I was trying to build up a model of how they thought, and I needed their help to do it. Taking a calm, inquisitive look at an opponent's position might teach me that my position is wrong, or has a gap I need to investigate. But even if my opponent is just as wrong as zer seemed, there's still a benefit to me. Having a really detailed, accurate model of zer position may help me show them why it's wrong, since now I can see exactly where it rasps against reality. And even if my conversation isn't helpful to them, it's interesting for me to see what they were missing. I may be correct in this particular argument, but the odds are good that I share the rationalist weak-point that is keeping them from noticing the error. I'd like to be able to see it more clearly so I can try and spot it in my own thought. (Think of this as the shift from "How the hell can you be so dumb?!" to "How the hell can you be so dumb?"). When I get angry, I'm satisfied when I beat my interlocutor. When I get curious, I'm only satisfied when I learn something new. Thanks for listening. To...

Wepa! I'm Marina. I am a technologist, mom, podcast host, leadership coach, cruciverbalist and aquarian. ;) UNBOSSED is “Stories of Amazing Women in Chicago”. If you are a new listener to UNBOSSED, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Page and let us know how we can help you today! Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/marina-malaguti In this episode: I Interview Sandee Kastrul, President and Cofounder of i.c.stars. Sandee Kastrul sees stars. Sandee is president and co-founder of i.c.stars, an innovative nonprofit leadership and technology training program founded in 1999 to prepare inner-city adults for technology careers and community leadership. An early pioneer of the social enterprise model, i.c.stars has graduated more than 300 community leaders, and will expand into multiple cities in 2016 and 2017. Under Sandee's leadership, i.c.stars was highlighted by the U.S Chamber of Commerce for its work in youth employment. She is a proud board member of Good City, The Ryan Banks Academy, and HICC (Hispanic Innovation Center in Chicago). She's also an advisor for the Axelson Center, Chicago Ideas Week, and the Experience Institute. Key Highlights/Tools: Diversity training in the 90s vs now Cyber-Ceilings & Systems of oppression Sandee is a Change Agent that disguises as a Technologist Memorable Quotes: We must harness the process on learning with, learning for and, learning from each other in order to create the organizations of the future - Sandee Krastul Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has- Margaret Mead For every minute we are cleaning the kitchen and spending time on other people, we are investing less in ourselves. We need to trust our men will take care of us. - Sandee Krastul Useful Links and Resources: https://www.icstars.org/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandeekastrul/ Join the Conversation Our favorite part of recording a live podcast each week is participating in the great conversations that happen on our live chat, on social media, and in our comments section. This week's question is: What challenges have you faced as a woman founder? Ask Sandee anything by leaving a question/ comment on Substack. Follow UNBOSSED Podcast Anchor: https://anchor.fm/marina-malaguti Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDTz6_FepG04QTs1BjFLBjw/ Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eUhfH8E Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/e7cWtBv Google Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/enjChPt Audible: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/cea4c49e-6c7e-4dab-833e-eb57d204c493 Substack: https://thechicagowoman.substack.com/ And all others… --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/marina-malaguti/support

Here is our first full episode released on our podcast platforms! Michelle and Kathryn are back again and lucky enough to have Jeanette Andrews a magician, artist, and speaker featured on this weeks curious conversation. These 3 dive into Jeanettes extensive background and their collaborative projects within the behavior research space. Jeanette Andrews is hailed as one of the most innovative illusionists in the world today and has staged hundreds of sold-out and standing-room-only performances for Fortune 500 companies, theaters and universities including Infiniti, Kraft, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Lyric Opera & Chicago Ideas Week. She has presented commissioned and site-specific works for The Smithsonian's Cooper Hewitt, the International Museum of Surgical Science, and the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. ​Andrews presented her first magic performance at age four, was paid to do her first magic show at age six, began running her business that day and has never had another job since, and is now internationally recognized as a pioneer in her field. Andrews uses sensory anomalies, art and scientific anecdotes to create luxurious experiences that bridge everyday life to a special, heightened world. She loves creating experiences for audiences to engage with the impossible in fun, insightful, generous ways. Andrews is an Affiliate of Harvard's metaLAB and prior artist in residence for High Concept Labs and The Institute for Art and Olfaction. Illusion is Ms. Andrews' life's work and her performances have been praised by the Chicago Tribune, PBS and the New York Times. Jeanette Andrews Website Facebook - @SensoryIllusions Twitter - @JeanetteMagic YouTube - @JeanetteAndrewsMagic Instagram - @jeanetteandrewsmagic Be sure to give us 5 Star rating, leave a review, or subscribe to your preferred method of listening. Don't forget to also follow us on any of our social media platforms listed below Kathryn on LinkedIn Michelle on LinkedIn HCD Research Website YouTube - @HCDResearchInc. LinkedIn - @HCDResearch Twitter - @HCDNeuroscience Twitter - @HCDResearchInc Facebook - @HCDResearch Instagram - @HCDResearch MindSet is excited to have each and everyone one of you join our curious conversations! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mindset-hcd-research/message

Randall Kaplan is joined by Brad Keywell to discuss what it takes to achieve excellence at the highest level as an entrepreneur.  In this episode, Brad shares with listeners how to out-work and out-hustle the competition, why he channels his entrepreneurial drive into disrupting industries, how he grew Groupon from 124 employees to 5,100 employees in a single calendar year, and much more. Topics Include:Brad's five keys to success.  Brad's early business ventures, including a greeting card business he started at age six.  The power of preparation.  Brad's mentorship under Sam Zell.  The lasting influence of loving, supportive parents.  Tangible versus intangible skills.  Fundamental truths about parenting.  Working with the energy of fear.  Choosing business ventures as an entrepreneur.  Overcoming early failures.  Focusing on what you can control.  Balancing individual needs and collective needs.  Mental health, self-care, philanthropy, and other topics.Brad Keywell is an incredible entrepreneur who has co-founded a variety of companies including Echo Global Logistics, Enterprise Transportation, Uptake, and most famously Groupon.  He is currently the CEO at Uptake, which reached the $2 billion valuation faster than any other tech company in history - and was a Co-Founder of Groupon, which at the time reached the $1 billion valuation faster than any other company in history.  In 2019, Brad received the Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur of the Year Award, becoming one of only three American winners in the award's 21-year history.  He is the co-founder of Lightbank, a venture capital firm with $360 million under management that specializes in making venture capital investments in "disruptive" technology companies in the United States.  Brad is also the founder of Chicago Ideas Week, a week-long conference bringing together thought leaders and innovators from around the world to speak on a variety of topics - and he has also signed The Giving Pledge, promising to give away at least half of his wealth to charitable causes.Want to Connect? Reach out to us online!Website – https://insearchofexcellencepodcast.comInstagram – https://www.instagram.com/randallkaplan/LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/randall-kaplan-05858340/

Rebecca Soffer is cofounder of Modern Loss, which offers creative content and community addressing the long arc of grief. She is the coauthor of "Modern Loss: Candid Conversation About Grief. Beginners Welcome" (Harper Wave, 2018), which The Strategist named a best book on loss for a younger generation. She has spoken nationally on loss and resilience at Chicago Ideas Week, HBO, Capital One, and Amazon. Her writing has appeared in outlets such as The New York Times, Marie Claire, Glamour and NBC. Today we discuss the loss of both of her parents within 4 years. She lost her mom in an accident and her dad to a heart attack at 30 and 34. @modernloss Rebecca is a former producer for The Colbert Report and a Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism alumna. Rebecca lives in New York City and the Berkshires with her husband, two young sons, and labradoodle. "The Modern Loss Handbook," an interactive guide through loss and resilience (Running Press, 2021) will be out soon! Subscribe to the Modern Loss Substack newsletter! Say hi! @dyingoflaughter_podcast / DyingOfLaughterPodcast@gmail.com Do you like this show? Leaving a review on Apple Podcasts is extremely appreciated...I read & cherish every single one! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Yes But Why, I chat with Jeff Rogers, comedian, emcee, author, keynote speaker, actor, game show host and so much more. Starting off as an award-winning stand-up comic in the late 1980's, Jeff Rogers was spotted by Amy Sedaris who suggested he audition for The Second City Theater in Chicago. Jeff is the second youngest performer behind John Belushi to be hired at the renowned Second City theater. Jeff Rogers is currently a Professional Corporate Emcee, a best-selling Author, and an award-winning Creative Director with almost 30 years experience engaging audiences. In 2011, Jeff was the Creative Director for the inaugural Chicago Ideas Week featuring 170 speakers at 60 venues across the city of Chicago. Jeff can be seen on TV in his recurring roles on Chicago PD & Chicago Fire and in his numerous national commercials. In our conversation, Jeff talks about being an improv evangelist, meaning he tells everyone they should take an improv class. I am the same. Seriously, everyone go take an improv class. We talk about Chicago improv in the late 80s/ early 90s heyday. We talk about Jeff's experience in the community and how it shapes the classes he teaches today. Jeff talks to me about Players Workshop, Chicago's oldest improv school. This is where Jeff studied improv in the late 1980s and he counts founder Jo Forsberg as a major inspiration in his life. When Jo retired in the early 2000s, Players Workshop closed down but Jeff couldn't bear it. So he connected with Ms. Forsberg and got her blessing to revitalize the Players Workshop once again. Jeff talks about his book, “The Playmaker Mindset” and the idea of using your innate creativity to achieve your goals. We talk of our love for speaking in front of large crowds (and how much we miss it). Jeff tells me about the big events he hosts and how he loves bringing improv to the corporate world. Support Jeff Rogers by taking classes with The Players Workshop! You should also hire Jeff Rogers to emcee your corporate event! It'd be so fun! #MeetJeffRogers Read Jeff's book, “The Playmaker Mindset: A Radically Fun Way To Build a Culture of Teamwork and Instant Innovation,” available now on Amazon! Also, Jeff is working on a project to collect statistics on how improv theaters are run globally as a means of helping current and future improv leaders. Go to profitableimprov.com to add your theater to the survey and you'll get full access to their findings! Yes But Why Podcast is a proud member of the HC Universal Network family of podcasts. Visit us at HCUniversalNetwork.com to join in on the fun. #YesButWhy #Podcast #HCUniversalNetwork This episode of Yes But Why podcast is sponsored by audible - get your FREE audiobook download and your 30 day free trial at http://www.audibletrial.com/YESBUTWHY. You need a distraction. Get Audible. This episode of Yes But Why is also sponsored by PodcastCadet.com. Go to PodcastCadet.com to connect with us so we can help you with your podcast! Save money by putting in offer code YBY20 to get 20% off the first service for workshop you buy! This episode of Yes But Why is also sponsored by True Hemp Science! True Hemp Science is our Austin-based resource for vegan friendly, whole plant extract CBD oil. Go to TrueHempScience.com to peruse all the therapeutic CBD product options! Use code YesButWhy7 to get 7% off your order of $50 or more and get a free packet of 2 CBD edibles! (production notes: recorded zoom meeting via Rodecaster on 5/20/2021…posted on 6/14/2021)

This week on Yes But Why, I chat with Jeff Rogers, comedian, emcee, author, keynote speaker, actor, game show host and so much more. Starting off as an award-winning stand-up comic in the late 1980's, Jeff Rogers was spotted by Amy Sedaris who suggested he audition for The Second City Theater in Chicago. Jeff is the second youngest performer behind John Belushi to be hired at the renowned Second City theater. Jeff Rogers is currently a Professional Corporate Emcee, a best-selling Author, and an award-winning Creative Director with almost 30 years experience engaging audiences. In 2011, Jeff was the Creative Director for the inaugural Chicago Ideas Week featuring 170 speakers at 60 venues across the city of Chicago. Jeff can be seen on TV in his recurring roles on Chicago PD & Chicago Fire and in his numerous national commercials. In our conversation, Jeff talks about being an improv evangelist, meaning he tells everyone they should take an improv class. I am the same. Seriously, everyone go take an improv class. We talk about Chicago improv in the late 80s/ early 90s heyday. We talk about Jeff's experience in the community and how it shapes the classes he teaches today. Jeff talks to me about Players Workshop, Chicago's oldest improv school. This is where Jeff studied improv in the late 1980s and he counts founder Jo Forsberg as a major inspiration in his life. When Jo retired in the early 2000s, Players Workshop closed down but Jeff couldn't bear it. So he connected with Ms. Forsberg and got her blessing to revitalize the Players Workshop once again. Jeff talks about his book, “The Playmaker Mindset” and the idea of using your innate creativity to achieve your goals. We talk of our love for speaking in front of large crowds (and how much we miss it). Jeff tells me about the big events he hosts and how he loves bringing improv to the corporate world. Support Jeff Rogers by taking classes with The Players Workshop! You should also hire Jeff Rogers to emcee your corporate event! It'd be so fun! #MeetJeffRogers Read Jeff's book, “The Playmaker Mindset: A Radically Fun Way To Build a Culture of Teamwork and Instant Innovation,” available now on Amazon! Also, Jeff is working on a project to collect statistics on how improv theaters are run globally as a means of helping current and future improv leaders. Go to profitableimprov.com to add your theater to the survey and you'll get full access to their findings! Yes But Why Podcast is a proud member of the HC Universal Network family of podcasts. Visit us at HCUniversalNetwork.com to join in on the fun. #YesButWhy #Podcast #HCUniversalNetwork This episode of Yes But Why podcast is sponsored by audible - get your FREE audiobook download and your 30 day free trial at http://www.audibletrial.com/YESBUTWHY. You need a distraction. Get Audible. This episode of Yes But Why is also sponsored by PodcastCadet.com. Go to PodcastCadet.com to connect with us so we can help you with your podcast! Save money by putting in offer code YBY20 to get 20% off the first service for workshop you buy! This episode of Yes But Why is also sponsored by True Hemp Science! True Hemp Science is our Austin-based resource for vegan friendly, whole plant extract CBD oil. Go to TrueHempScience.com to peruse all the therapeutic CBD product options! Use code YesButWhy7 to get 7% off your order of $50 or more and get a free packet of 2 CBD edibles! (production notes: recorded zoom meeting via Rodecaster on 5/20/2021…posted on 6/14/2021)

This week on Yes But Why, I chat with Jeff Rogers, comedian, emcee, author, keynote speaker, actor, game show host and so much more.Starting off as an award-winning stand-up comic in the late 1980's, Jeff Rogers was spotted by Amy Sedaris who suggested he audition for The Second City Theater in Chicago. Jeff is the second youngest performer behind John Belushi to be hired at the renowned Second City theater.Jeff Rogers is currently a Professional Corporate Emcee, a best-selling Author, and an award-winning Creative Director with almost 30 years experience engaging audiences. In 2011, Jeff was the Creative Director for the inaugural Chicago Ideas Week featuring 170 speakers at 60 venues across the city of Chicago. Jeff can be seen on TV in his recurring roles on Chicago PD & Chicago Fire and in his numerous national commercials.In our conversation, Jeff talks about being an improv evangelist, meaning he tells everyone they should take an improv class. I am the same. Seriously, everyone go take an improv class. We talk about Chicago improv in the late 80s/ early 90s heyday. We talk about Jeff's experience in the community and how it shapes the classes he teaches today. Jeff talks to me about Players Workshop, Chicago's oldest improv school. This is where Jeff studied improv in the late 1980s and he counts founder Jo Forsberg as a major inspiration in his life. When Jo retired in the early 2000s, Players Workshop closed down but Jeff couldn't bear it. So he connected with Ms. Forsberg and got her blessing to revitalize the Players Workshop once again. Jeff talks about his book, “The Playmaker Mindset” and the idea of using your innate creativity to achieve your goals. We talk of our love for speaking in front of large crowds (and how much we miss it). Jeff tells me about the big events he hosts and how he loves bringing improv to the corporate world. Support Jeff Rogers by taking classes with The Players Workshop! You should also hire Jeff Rogers to emcee your corporate event! It'd be so fun! #MeetJeffRogersRead Jeff's book, “The Playmaker Mindset: A Radically Fun Way To Build a Culture of Teamwork and Instant Innovation,” available now on Amazon!Also, Jeff is working on a project to collect statistics on how improv theaters are run globally as a means of helping current and future improv leaders. Go to profitableimprov.com to add your theater to the survey and you'll get full access to their findings!Yes But Why Podcast is a proud member of the HC Universal Network family of podcasts. Visit us at HCUniversalNetwork.com to join in on the fun. #YesButWhy #Podcast #HCUniversalNetworkThis episode of Yes But Why podcast is sponsored by audible - get your FREE audiobook download and your 30 day free trial at http://www.audibletrial.com/YESBUTWHY. You need a distraction. Get Audible. This episode of Yes But Why is also sponsored by PodcastCadet.com. Go to PodcastCadet.com to connect with us so we can help you with your podcast! Save money by putting in offer code YBY20 to get 20% off the first service for workshop you buy! This episode of Yes But Why is also sponsored by True Hemp Science! True Hemp Science is our Austin-based resource for vegan friendly, whole plant extract CBD oil. Go to TrueHempScience.com to peruse all the therapeutic CBD product options! Use code YesButWhy7 to get 7% off your order of $50 or more and get a free packet of 2 CBD edibles! (production notes: recorded zoom meeting via Rodecaster on 5/20/2021…posted on 6/14/2021)

This week on Yes But Why, I chat with Jeff Rogers, comedian, emcee, author, keynote speaker, actor, game show host and so much more. Starting off as an award-winning stand-up comic in the late 1980's, Jeff Rogers was spotted by Amy Sedaris who suggested he audition for The Second City Theater in Chicago. Jeff is the second youngest performer behind John Belushi to be hired at the renowned Second City theater. Jeff Rogers is currently a Professional Corporate Emcee, a best-selling Author, and an award-winning Creative Director with almost 30 years experience engaging audiences. In 2011, Jeff was the Creative Director for the inaugural Chicago Ideas Week featuring 170 speakers at 60 venues across the city of Chicago. Jeff can be seen on TV in his recurring roles on Chicago PD & Chicago Fire and in his numerous national commercials. In our conversation, Jeff talks about being an improv evangelist, meaning he tells everyone they should take an improv class. I am the same. Seriously, everyone go take an improv class. We talk about Chicago improv in the late 80s/ early 90s heyday. We talk about Jeff's experience in the community and how it shapes the classes he teaches today. Jeff talks to me about Players Workshop, Chicago's oldest improv school. This is where Jeff studied improv in the late 1980s and he counts founder Jo Forsberg as a major inspiration in his life. When Jo retired in the early 2000s, Players Workshop closed down but Jeff couldn't bear it. So he connected with Ms. Forsberg and got her blessing to revitalize the Players Workshop once again. Jeff talks about his book, “The Playmaker Mindset” and the idea of using your innate creativity to achieve your goals. We talk of our love for speaking in front of large crowds (and how much we miss it). Jeff tells me about the big events he hosts and how he loves bringing improv to the corporate world. Support Jeff Rogers by taking classes with The Players Workshop! You should also hire Jeff Rogers to emcee your corporate event! It'd be so fun! #MeetJeffRogers Read Jeff's book, “The Playmaker Mindset: A Radically Fun Way To Build a Culture of Teamwork and Instant Innovation,” available now on Amazon! Also, Jeff is working on a project to collect statistics on how improv theaters are run globally as a means of helping current and future improv leaders. Go to profitableimprov.com to add your theater to the survey and you'll get full access to their findings! Yes But Why Podcast is a proud member of the HC Universal Network family of podcasts. Visit us at HCUniversalNetwork.com to join in on the fun. #YesButWhy #Podcast #HCUniversalNetwork This episode of Yes But Why podcast is sponsored by audible - get your FREE audiobook download and your 30 day free trial at http://www.audibletrial.com/YESBUTWHY. You need a distraction. Get Audible. This episode of Yes But Why is also sponsored by PodcastCadet.com. Go to PodcastCadet.com to connect with us so we can help you with your podcast! Save money by putting in offer code YBY20 to get 20% off the first service for workshop you buy! This episode of Yes But Why is also sponsored by True Hemp Science! True Hemp Science is our Austin-based resource for vegan friendly, whole plant extract CBD oil. Go to TrueHempScience.com to peruse all the therapeutic CBD product options! Use code YesButWhy7 to get 7% off your order of $50 or more and get a free packet of 2 CBD edibles! (production notes: recorded zoom meeting via Rodecaster on 5/20/2021…posted on 6/14/2021)

Episode SummaryWhen the world continues to throw new challenges your way, improv might be the most important life skill you've never learned. Collaboration, reading a room, dealing with failure, Kelly Leonard of legendary The Second City theater details how improvisation can benefit your life beyond creating a great sketch comedy. Kelly shares what it was like seeing John Belushi and Chris Farley on stage, working with Tina Fey and Stephen Colbert, what actor really surprised him, and more from behind the comedy curtain, in this episode of The Sydcast.Syd FinkelsteinSyd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. He holds a Master's degree from the London School of Economics and a Ph.D. from Columbia University. Professor Finkelstein has published 25 books and 90 articles, including the bestsellers Why Smart Executives Fail and Superbosses: How Exceptional Leaders Master the Flow of Talent, which LinkedIn Chairman Reid Hoffman calls the “leadership guide for the Networked Age.” He is also a Fellow of the Academy of Management, a consultant and speaker to leading companies around the world, and a top 25 on the Global Thinkers 50 list of top management gurus. Professor Finkelstein's research and consulting work often relies on in-depth and personal interviews with hundreds of people, an experience that led him to create and host his own podcast, The Sydcast, to uncover and share the stories of all sorts of fascinating people in business, sports, entertainment, politics, academia, and everyday life. Kelly LeonardKelly Leonard began his Second City career in 1988, eventually becoming a producer of Second City in 1992 and Executive Vice President through 2015. He has produced hundreds of original revues with talent such as Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey, Keegan Michael Key, Seth Meyers, and Amy Poehler. His book, Yes, And: How Improvisation Reverses "No, But" Thinking and Improves Creativity and Collaboration--Lessons from The Second City, received rave reviews in Vanity Fair and the Washington Post. He co-leads a new partnership with Booth School at the University of Chicago that studies behavioral science through the lens of improvisation. He is a popular speaker, appearing at Aspen Ideas Festival, Chicago Ideas Week, and TEDxBroadway. Kelly also hosts the Second City Works/WGN Podcast Getting to Yes, And.Insights from this episode:Details on how Kelly went from a dishwasher to a producer at Second City, his life outside of the theater, and why improv has become life.Reasons why charisma is a blessing and a curse and whether it is something you are born with or something you can develop.Benefits of using improv skills to build a better business, be a better parent, and become comfortable being uncomfortable.Strategies for dealing with loss and how to console someone who has experienced loss.Details on working with some of the biggest names in comedy, the relationship between Second City and Saturday Night Live, and how COVID has changed the creative process at Second City versus other comedy shows.Quotes from the show:On charisma: “It's not a superpower unless it can be used for evil.” – Kelly Leonard“I find it an artificial conceit that somehow business operates differently than the rest of the world and life.” – Kelly Leonard“Anyone can learn information but the ability to take that information and apply it successfully in collaboration with others is the real thing you need.” – Kelly Leonard“The only way innovation happens is when you experiment over and over, which is a majority of failures, on your way to eventual success.” – Kelly LeonardOn failure: “If you don't admit it, you don't acknowledge it, there's not much opportunity there to learn from it.” – Syd Finkelstein“You can not be in a creative mindset and be analyzing and judging yourself at the same time. You have to suspend that entirely.” – Kelly Leonard“That is the great mark of an improviser, is their ability to be fearless and sometimes even follow their fear because making yourself uncomfortable allows you to learn new things about yourself.” – Kelly LeonardCreativity is a discipline, it might sound strange, but it is like any other amazing skill and you've got to practice it, you've got to do it.” – Syd FinkelsteinOn how he dealt with the loss of his daughter, Nora: “We have a saying, play the scene you're in and not the scene you want to be in, and that's what we did, we played the scene we were in.” – Kelly LeonardOn operating during COVID: “We're doing work in ways that we've never done before and we should be proud of that, but we can't stop.” – Kelly LeonardStay Connected: Syd FinkelsteinWebsite: http://thesydcast.comLinkedIn: Sydney FinkelsteinTwitter: @sydfinkelsteinFacebook: The SydcastInstagram: The Sydcast Kelly Leonard Website: www.secondcity.com/people/other/kelly-leonardTwitter: @KLsecondcity Book: Yes, And: How Improvisation Reverses "No, But" Thinking and Improves Creativity and Collaboration--Lessons from The Second CitySubscribe to our podcast + download each episode on Stitcher, iTunes, and Spotify.This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)

“We are all connected, nothing affects a few that does not ultimately affect us all.” Today on the podcast we're chatting with Elizabeth Dozier of Chicago Beyond, a philanthropic Venture Fund. Liz is an impactful, thought leader transforming Chicago and beyond thru justice work. Ebony magazine named her one of its “Power 100” and CNN followed her work as a part of its docu-series, Chicagoland. In 2017, Dozier served as the host of the first-ever Obama Foundation Summit, as well as the Kennedy Forum on Mental Health and Chicago Ideas Week. In 2016, Liz launched Chicago Beyond, a philanthropic venture capital fund. This fund has invested more than $20M in nonprofit organizations and serves as a strategic partner to help scale their impact. Chicago Beyond recently developed Going Beyond as a ‘hyperlocal initiative to reach tens of thousands of youth and families with less access to self-care items and healthy food. During this uncertain time, we will deploy $250,000 worth of basic necessities to an estimated 5,000 families a week.’ Listen in as we discuss the importance of restorative justice, what each of us can do to fight against inequities and how it begins in your community. Here's how you can connect with Liz Dozier and Chicago Beyond Chicago Beyond | Instagram | You can find additional show notes along with the resources mentioned in this episode here — Girl Behind The Hustle You can stay connected via Instagram/Facebook or by email at heygirl@girlbehindthehustle.com Subscribe to become apart of our community. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

*This conversation is from our pre-Corona recorded episodes but clearly the subject matter is so relevant during this time! Loss. It’s a topic on our minds now more than ever. Many of us have navigated its crushing waves and some are experiencing the reality of grief during this time pandemic for the very first time. We are wondering why we feel so alone when we go through it, knowing that everyone goes through loss at some point or another? How do we continue to process even when grief arrives again, many years later? How can community better support the experience of grief in our culture?Join Randi and Rebecca Soffer, cofounder and CEO of Modern Loss, a digital and IRL forum for grief and resilience within a contemporary context. Whether you have been through loss a million times or this is your first loss experience, Modern Loss is a website and community where everyone is welcome. Rebecca is also coauthor of Modern Loss: Candid Conversation About Grief. Beginners Welcome, which The Cut recently named one of the best books on loss for a younger generation. She is a former producer for the Peabody Award-winning The Colbert Report. Rebecca has spoken nationally on loss and resilience at Chicago Ideas Week, HBO, and Amazon, and has led multi-day retreats at Kripalu. Her writing has appeared in outlets such as The New York Times, Marie Claire, and The Wing's magazine No Man's Land, and she has been profiled on CBS Sunday Morning. In this conversation, Randi and Rebecca get raw and vulnerable about their own profound losses all while acknowledging the discomfort, humor and surprising creativity that comes with it. Randi and Rebecca connect deeply as two women with ironically similar stories and who aren’t afraid to open up and share for the benefit of others.In this conversation Randi and Rebecca explore:-Rebecca’s platform Modern Loss. Why she felt the need to create a modern and inclusive community to process loss. -The need for collective support and storytelling during a time where you are relearning how to cope with life. How storytelling can pull us all together and help us feel less alone. -The taboo nature of death in our culture. How can we begin to normalize it and why we need to give ourselves a break when it comes to confronting loss. How can we bring in more empathy and understanding?-Randi and Rebecca’s own experiences with loss and grief in their family and what it was like being only children.-Parenting through loss. The complexities and even creative moments of being pregnant and bringing up children without our own parents. -Why it’s okay to do what YOU need to do when dealing with grief. -What it was like for Rebecca to create Modern Loss after the death of her parent and how she used her professional skills to curate and produce a meaningful community. Tune in now!

According to Yaron Brook, no one ever changes his mind about anything important after the age of 30. So, can Yaron change our minds? Yaron encourages all of us, young and old, to challenge what we've been taught, re-imagine the world around us and determine the course of our own lives for ourselves.Hosted by Chicago Ideas Week in Chicago, IL on October 16, 2013. For more about Chicago Ideas, see https://www.chicagoideas.com.Like what you hear? Become a sponsor member, get exclusive content and support the creation of more videos like this at https://www.yaronbrookshow.com/support/, Subscribestar https://www.subscribestar.com/yaronbrookshow or direct through PayPal: paypal.me/YaronBrookShow.Want more? Tune in to the Yaron Brook Show on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/ybrook). Continue the discussions anywhere on-line after show time using #YaronBrookShow. Connect with Yaron via Tweet @YaronBrook or follow him on Facebook @ybrook and YouTube (/YaronBrook).Want to learn more about Objectivism? Check out ARI at https://ari.aynrand.org.

Rebecca Soffer is the cofounder and CEO of Modern Loss, a website and community the New York Times has hailed as “redefining mourning.” She is a former producer for the Peabody Award-winning Colbert Report, having accompanied Stephen Colbert on his quest to meet all 435 U.S. House Representatives. Rebecca coauthored the book Modern Loss: Candid Conversation About Grief. Beginners Welcome, and is one of Spirituality & Health magazine’s 10 spiritual leaders for the next 20 years. A Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism alumna, Rebecca has spoken nationally on the themes of loss and resilience at Chicago Ideas Week, HBO, and Amazon, and has been featured in outlets including NPR, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, and Newsweek. Her writing has appeared in a variety of media such as New York Times, Refinery29, Elle, Marie Claire, Today.com, and various book collections. She lives in New York City with her husband and two little boys. Go to www.modernloss.com to explore more. You can find Modern Loss on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/deathdialogues/message

In this lecture delivered as part of the Chicago Ideas Week 2013 sessions, Yaron Brook talks about the nature of money. Just what exactly is money?Recorded on October 16, 2013 in Chicago, IL by Chicago Ideas Week.Like what you hear? Become a sponsor member, get exclusive content and support the creation of more videos like this at https://www.yaronbrookshow.com/support/, Subscribestar https://www.subscribestar.com/yaronbrookshow or direct through PayPal: paypal.me/YaronBrookShow.Want more? Tune in to the Yaron Brook Show on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/ybrook). Continue the discussions anywhere on-line after show time using #YaronBrookShow. Connect with Yaron via Tweet @YaronBrook or follow him on Facebook @ybrook and YouTube (/YaronBrook).Want to learn more about Objectivism? Check out ARI at https://ari.aynrand.org.

The star of the Netflix comedy series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt talks with Cal at Chicago Ideas Week about the art of being funny in an age when tastes are quickly shifting. Cal points out that the humor which made people laugh when he was a kid might not resonate with the current generation and in many cases would be seen as politically incorrect. With culture shifting generationally and our political divide, how does one find the sweet spot to strike a mass audience? Ellie does it naturally. Cal wonders if he can learn.

Season 2 Episode 2: Lookin' Like A Right Swipe On Tinder Sponsored By Chicago Ideas Week Tune- in as hosts, Michelle and Shelley give their fool-proof system for navigating dating apps. As busy professionals, dating apps have become the most convenient avenue for meeting new people. Use these tips to make your swipes smarter. Also, learn how you can win 2 free tickets to Chicago Ideas Week!

Audrey, Kori and Danielle talk about how black people and the art they create actually does exist outside of Black History Month, as well as D-Composed's upcoming "D-Compressed" program during Chicago Ideas Week. UPDATE: D-Compressed SOLD OUT in the first 2 hours of ticket sales!  Keep an eye out for future D-Composed programs at composed.com! dcomposed.com chicagoideas.com Music by Audrey Q. Snyder & Mike Craig

Audrey, Kori and Danielle talk about how black people and the art they create actually does exist outside of Black History Month, as well as D-Composed's upcoming "D-Compressed" program during Chicago Ideas Week. UPDATE: D-Compressed SOLD OUT in the first 2 hours of ticket sales!  Keep an eye out for future D-Composed programs at composed.com! dcomposed.com chicagoideas.com Music by Audrey Q. Snyder & Mike Craig

Sandee Kastrul, President and Cofounder of i.c.stars, had an epiphany while meeting with a former student. It wasn’t enough to just teach knowledge, she found it’s vital to build avenues of opportunity. She co-founded i.c.stars to develop business, service, and civic leaders in the inner city to transform a community.   Sandee explains that change only comes when hope and ambition are present, so she engages participants in learning technical skills, employment skills, and life skills, which yields a 90% placement rate with 80% retention in the technology arena. Sandee and i.c.stars attack the root causes of oppression and inspire leadership and self-direction.   Key Takeaways   [3:08] Sandee was a math and science teacher and also taught diversity to teachers. She noticed that kids who faced real adversity had great resiliency. She met students where they were and taught science concepts to fit their understanding. In a journey to freedom, the kids broke scholastic records. [8:18] One of Sandee’s brilliant former students came back to her, making less than minimum wage as an undocumented worker in cleaning services. His attitude was that leadership was creating opportunities for others, as Sandee had taught him, and he felt was doing that. That moment changed Sandee’s career path. She knew just teaching was not enough to help these students. They needed real opportunities. [10:13] Sandee saw that technology, systems thinking, methodology, problem solving, and solution building would give great opportunities in IT and be a blueprint to teach community leadership. Sandee took a year-and-a-half to study schools and learn how to build a curriculum. I.c.stars launched in 2000. The first group all went on to work at dot-coms. But then the bubble burst, so I.c.stars pivoted to work with enterprise CIOs. [11:33] I.c.stars helps people rise above their Zip Codes. Graduates have a 90% placement rate and an 80% retention rate in the industry, including the bubble bursting and the ‘08 recession. Graduates have, on average, a 400% increase in pay from taking the program. Within half a year they make more than their parents do, putting them in a position to give. [13:30] Sandee describes alums being community leaders and advocates, making donations into the community, volunteering, and buying homes in the neighborhoods they grew up in, while they commute two hours to work in the suburbs. I.c.stars provides support for alums that make the choice to be leaders in and strengthen the good in their communities. [16:47] I.c.stars has a daily activity, High Tea, when volunteer business executives meet with, teach, and model for interns the expectations of the workplace that are different from participant experiences. The interns are at the center of business development. Beside the hard skills, they also learn social skills. [21:06] To be agents of change in our communities, we have to be able to gather the requirements, listen, cut an issue, and receive as well as give. We need to accept change, and ask what changes we want to see in ourselves. [23:17] Like Special Forces teams, i.c.stars works on root causes of problems, not on symptoms. I.c.stars develops business leaders, service leaders visible in the community, and civic leaders. When three types of leaders are talking together, it turns into a virtuous circle of change. [29:46] Sandee screens intern candidates for resiliency with seven existential questions asked in a panel interview. The questions get to locus of control, accountability, responsibility, and how we see ourselves in the world. The interview is remarkably predictive of success in the program and in leadership. [34:56] I.c.stars has a goal of creating 1,000 business leaders by 2020. In Chicago there are about 400 alum leaders. In 2016 they opened in Columbus. They plan to open in Milwaukee early in 2018. They plan to move into more cities. Sandee sees the goal as on track. [37:19] Sandee had received a grant for self-discovery, and she used it for world travel, including a trip to participate in the Skoll World Forum on Social Entrepreneurship at Oxford. That year the Dalai Lama attended.     Twitter: @SandeeKastrul LinkedIn: Sandee Kastrul Website: Sandee.icstars.org Website: Icstars.org High Tea: Icstars.org/engage/high-tea Past Events: Icstars.org/events/past/special   Quotable Quotes   “Kids who had faced a lot of adversity …  just getting to school safely, had developed a resiliency toolkit.”   “As teachers, unless we’re both learning and teaching, we’re only doing half of our job.”   “[What if we] used that problem solving and solution building as a blueprint to also teach community leadership?”   “75% of our alums are giving and giving back to the community financially, volunteering, engaging, as business leaders, … mentoring … as policy leaders.”   “What if we define success not by getting out of the ’hood, but by investing back in? What would that look like?”   “We believe that if you take all of the talent out of the neighborhoods or our communities, we’re perpetuating what’s wrong with our communities.”   “If we want to be agents of change in the communities that we come from, we have to be able to gather requirements. We have to be able to listen.”   “We’ll dig in and say, ‘The transformation starts with us,’ and ‘What are the changes that we want to see in our lives?’”   “Nothing stops a bullet like a job.”   “That is the byproduct of oppression — that it works so well that we oppress ourselves.”   “The more worlds that we can walk between, the more people we can engage with, the more culturally competent we are and the better changemakers we become.”   “The beginning of learning anything is painful. It’s why so many of us don’t study higher math.”   “That’s the full circle of leadership. It’s that we’re always learning and growing, and it’s the hard things that teach us the most.”   Bio   Sandee Kastrul is president and co-founder of i.c.stars, an innovative nonprofit leadership and technology training program founded in 1999 to prepare inner-city adults for technology careers and community leadership. An early pioneer of the social enterprise model, i.c.stars has graduated more than 350 community leaders and recently began expanding into new cities. Under Sandee’s leadership, i.c.stars has been recognized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Brookings Institution.   Prior to i.c.stars, Sandee’s experience as an educator, diversity trainer, educational consultant and a performing artist drew her creative talents to the forefront. Her accomplishments include designing a comprehensive science and civics interactive program for GED students at Jobs for Youth, implementing a professional development program with Harold Washington College Career Center, developing experiential learning modules for over 70 schools and creating artist in residency programs as well as training artists to work in classrooms for arts organizations.   Additionally, as a consultant for the Illinois Resource Center, Sandee provided School Corporations with diversity training and cross-curricular teaching methodologies throughout Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin.   Sandee is a proud board member of Goodcity, The Ryan Banks Academy, and HICC (Hispanic Innovation Center in Chicago), an advisor for the Axelson Center, Chicago Leadership Alliance, and Chicago Ideas Week. Sandee has spoken at conferences including Capital One’s Diversity in Technology Panel, Hands up United: Ferguson Tech Town Hall, Blk Hck Columbus, and the Aspen Institute’s Youth Opportunity Forum, among others.   Books mentioned in this episode   Everybody Lies: Big Data, New Data, and What the Internet Can Tell Us About Who We Really Are, by Seth Stephens-Davidowitz Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World, by Adam Grant

Kayo Williams is a native Chicagoan, film composer, songwriter, music producer, and mastering engineer at Kayquarii Productions. He’s served and advocated for several creative arts industry organizations, like Chicago Ideas Week, Grammy Producers and Engineers Wing, and the Gene Siskel Film Center BHFF Film Festival Community Counsel. His passion for music can only be described as a never-ending journey of discovery. Introduced to music at the age of 5 when his mother bought him his first instrument as a Christmas gift, he had mastered seven instruments by early adulthood. His love for various music styles helped him understand their powerful role in cinema. He’s been an active member and advocate for the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS), the Grammy Producers and Engineers Wing, and EARS (Engineering and Audio Recording Society). TWEET: Be a life long learner - I’m still learning---every single day. #KayoWilliams   The Power of Music: What is your favorite music from a movie? We can all probably name several that stick with us and are immediately recognizable. Kayo shares how music becomes another character in a film. The themes and emotional points in the music help us all connect with films. Kayo has a few favorite movies (because of their music) and composers, and he shares them with us! TWEET: Create every single day-----and pay attention. Not an Easy Industry: You may think the music industry is an easy one to get into and “make it,” but Kayo knows that isn’t the truth. The business is relationship-based, even though it might be talent that gets you in the door. The challenge didn’t intimidate him early on, but it’s made him more careful about how he invests his time and creativity. TWEET: Don’t let structure be the god to your #creativity, but let it be a tool.   The Beauty of Collaboration: What can I do to get where I need to be? Kayo explains how asking and answering this question has helped him in the music industry. His advice is to not be afraid to collaborate, because collaboration is the fuel that produces creativity. It’s a beautiful process that can help you go where you want to be! TWEET: Your time is more valuable than platinum gold. Guest Recommendation: ONE action for a dream chaser to take—“Don’t be afraid to reinvent, reassess, and restore.” OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE: [1:32] Kayo’s “crazy things” and musical instruments [4:32] Kayo’s formal education and career beginnings [7:03] Music’s role in cinema [8:05] Kayo’s Top 3 examples of music in films [11:52] Are there composers for every movie? [12:45] Not an easy industry [14:30] Kayo’s first experience in film composing [15:25] Becoming a film composer [18:49] Words to dreamers [22:04] Staying positive [26:20] A new direction for Kayo? [28:27] Why Kayo doesn’t live in LA [31:54] ONE action for a dream chaser   TWEETS YOU CAN USE: TWEET: Make sure your power of attraction outweighs your power of pursuit. TWEET: Your mind is limited and limitless at the same time.        

Sarah and Zach take a look at 2017 trend predictions to see what came true. Sarah chats with Lilia Arroyo-Flores, executive vice president and head of planning for Edelman Chicago, about using trends to guide brand positioning ahead of her 2017 Chicago Ideas Week lab. PLUS a giveaway for two spots at the Edelman lab (more info here: http://bit.ly/2wtWLpq).

Dynasty Podcasts Chicagoverse 163 - Mel Safford (Chicago Ideas Week) http://dynastypodcasts.com https://soundcloud.com/dynastypodcasts In the midst of preparing and promoting the festival, Chicago Ideas Week booking director Mel Safford visits Dynasty Podcasts to speak about this year’s CIW. Safford looks back at her beginning in the creative industries, to her role as a booking producer at Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Studios. Safford also shares what she loves about her role booking thought leaders as speakers at Chicago Ideas Week, and affirms why it’s important for the festival to remain affordable and accessible to a creative audience. Finally, Safford speaks on the high profile speakers lineup at this year’s edition of the festival, from Kim Kardashian to hometown heroes Joe Freshgoods and Elise Swopes, to acclaimed actor and screenwriter and Chicago native Lena Waithe. Hosted by Jaime Black Produced by Dynasty Podcasts Logo design by Danyelle Sage | http://danyellesage.com Web Design by Marcus Carter Voice imaging by Alice Hayes

Ted Gonder is a member of the U.S. President's Advisory Council on Financial Capability for Young Americans and the co-founding CEO of Moneythink. Ted was named a Bluhm-Helfand Social Innovation Fellow by Chicago Ideas Week. And in 2015, Ted was named to Forbes' 30 Under 30 list as the youngest in Finance.   

http://SacredBombshell.com | If your mom is like mine, she loved you but never gave the the coming of age adult chat (the sex talk) in the positive, healing and healthy way you needed to hear it. I took the stage at the Art Institute of Chicago at Chicago Ideas Week to talk about the divine feminine, sacral chakra, and your beautiful body acceptance. Let's talk!

http://SacredBombshell.com | If your mom is like mine, she loved you but never gave the the coming of age adult chat (the sex talk) in the positive, healing and healthy way you needed to hear it. I took the stage at the Art Institute of Chicago at Chicago Ideas Week to talk about the divine feminine, sacral chakra, and your beautiful body acceptance. Let's talk!

http://SacredBombshell.com | If your mom is like mine, she loved you but never gave the the coming of age adult chat (the sex talk) in the positive, healing and healthy way you needed to hear it. I took the stage at the Art Institute of Chicago at Chicago Ideas Week to talk about the divine feminine, sacral chakra, and your beautiful body acceptance. Let's talk!

http://SacredBombshell.com | If your mom is like mine, she loved you but never gave the the coming of age adult chat (the sex talk) in the positive, healing and healthy way you needed to hear it. I took the stage at the Art Institute of Chicago at Chicago Ideas Week to talk about the divine feminine, sacral chakra, and your beautiful body acceptance. Let's talk!

http://SacredBombshell.com | If your mom is like mine, she loved you but never gave the the coming of age adult chat (the sex talk) in the positive, healing and healthy way you needed to hear it. I took the stage at the Art Institute of Chicago at Chicago Ideas Week to talk about the divine feminine, sacral chakra, and your beautiful body acceptance. Let's talk!

Mike Scotti is the author of The Blue Cascade: A Memoir of Life After War and the subject of the documentary film Severe Clear (released internationally as This is War). As a former U.S. Marine and veteran of both Iraq and Afghanistan, Mike has written Op-Eds for the New York Times and CNN.com and has appeared on various programs ranging from those at the BBC to Last Call with Carson Daly. He has spoken at The Council on Foreign Relations and Chicago Ideas Week and given numerous motivational keynote addresses across the country. He is also a regular storyteller at NPR's The Moth "Mainstage" Shows and is a founding board member of the military charity Reserve Aid.  He lives in Miami, Florida, and Helsinki, Finland and has just finished his first novel, If I Should Fall. You can find more info at http://www.mikescotti.com.    

Guest // Diana Shulla-CoseHost // Toni Bark, MDThis program cuts through the Common Core and “U.S. education in crisis” debate with a single question: What if our emphasis on standardized testing and structured lesson plans was all wrong?Imagine for a moment that a very different kind of focus, one that centers on social-emotional learning, could turn our educational model on its head and deliver real. results. Results that, for example, exceed the national average in high school graduation and college admission rates.Now, what if I told you that this is already happening in some of the most disadvantaged communities in the country where violence, drugs, and high school dropouts are the norm?If you’re a parent, educator, or taxpayer, you need to listen to this show:What is social-emotional learning?Why are some educators now saying that grit is the best measure of future success?Who created this curriculum and why?How do the foundational elements of social-emotional learning — relationship building, the conversation cycle, active listening, and wrap-around services — work together?Where are the success stories, at the individual, school, and larger community levels?What’s next and who’s doing it?How can parents incorporate aspects of social-emotional learning for their children no matter what type of school they attend?Resources:26 Principles of A Disciplined LifeHow Children Succeed by Paul ToughMindset (book and podcast) by Carol Dweck, PhDThe Key to Success? Grit (TED) by Angela Lee Duckworth, PhDDiana Shulla-Cose is co-founder and President of Perspectives Charter Schools in Chicago. After working as a public school teacher, Diana co-founded Perspectives as a school-within-a-school in 1993. As one of the first charter schools in Chicago, Perspectives is now a network of five 6th-12th grade schools educating over 2,300 students from under-resourced communities. Perspectives students graduate from high school, enroll in college, and persist towards graduation at rates above the national average. The key to these results is a program that Diana co-created called A Disciplined Life®. This curriculum and culture will soon be shared with schools throughout the country through a government grant. Diana is a contributing columnist for Smart Business and the Executive Producer of the “I Am for Peace” documentary. She recently led a Lab at Chicago Ideas Week 2014 on social-emotional learning. Diana has a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Loyola University Chicago.

Freddie Prinze Jr. joins us this week for his RebelForce Radio network debut! We go In The Cantina to talk about his cool character Kanan Jarrus from Star Wars Rebels, his interests, his influences, and his fandom. George Lucas appeared in Chicago last Friday at the Chicago Ideas Week and Dave Filoni spoke at the MIPCOM conference in Cannes, France. We have audio highlights from both events! Plus, we get pumped up for Darth Vader's debut on Star Wars Rebels this weekend and more!

Cartoonist Ed Piskor's latest book, The Hip Hop Family Tree (Fantagraphic Books) collects his non-fiction comic strip history of Hip Hop, serialized weekly here on Boing Boing. The Hip Hop Family Tree follows the success of his debut graphic novel last year, Wizzywig (Top Shelf Comics), the tale of a computer hacker. Piskor has a special knack for creating comics that appeal to audiences beyond those of us who frequent comic book shops and bookmark webcomics for daily reading. We caught up with him after a busy month of promotional activity for the new book, including stops at Miami Book Fair, Chicago Ideas Week, Brooklyn Book Fair, and the Small Press Expo.