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In this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast, Benoy Thanjan speaks with Russell Laplante, Chief Financial Officer of Convergent Energy and Power, one of the leading battery storage developers and operators in the United States. Russ shares his nearly two-decade journey in renewable energy from his Goldman Sachs training program to becoming the first employee at wind startup Own Energy in 2007, through utility-scale solar at Tradewind Energy and Savion, and now leading the financial strategy at Convergent's distributed and utility-scale battery storage platform. The conversation covers Convergent's business model working with commercial and industrial customers on behind-the-meter battery and solar-plus-storage projects, how they save C&I customers up to 40% on their energy bills, and how batteries help utilities defer costly transmission and distribution upgrades. The episode dives deep into the financing of battery storage, including tax equity, portfolio debt financing, partnership flip structures, and why distributed generation requires a fundamentally different capital strategy than utility-scale projects. Russ also shares his perspective on the massive opportunity around data centers, AI-driven load growth, speed to grid, the Big Beautiful Bill, ITC extension for storage, and what Foreign Entity of Concern(“FEOC”) compliance means for the battery supply chain. Biographies Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, solar developer and consulting firm, and a strategic advisor to multiple cleantech startups. Over his career, Benoy has developed over 100 MWs of solar projects across the U.S., helped launch the first residential solar tax equity funds at Tesla, and brokered $50 million in Renewable Energy Credits (“REC”) transactions. Prior to founding Reneu Energy, Benoy was the Environmental Commodities Trader in Tesla's Project Finance Group, where he managed one of the largest environmental commodities portfolios. He originated REC trades and co-developed a monetization and hedging strategy with senior leadership to enter the East Coast market. As Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners, Benoy crafted project finance solutions for commercial-scale solar portfolios. His role at Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund with 125 MWs of U.S. renewable assets, involved evaluating investment opportunities and maximizing returns. He also played a key role in the sale of the firm's renewable portfolio. Earlier in his career, Benoy worked in Energy Structured Finance at Deloitte & Touche and Financial Advisory Services at Ernst & Young, following an internship on the trading floor at D.E. Shaw & Co., a multi billion dollar hedge fund. Benoy holds an MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from NYU Stern, where he was an Alumni Scholar. Guest Information Russell Laplante Russell Laplante is the Chief Financial Officer of Convergent Energy and Power, one of the leading battery storage developers and operators in the United States, with over $1 billion deployed and 800 megawatts of projects operational, under construction, or in development. Russ has nearly two decades of experience in renewable energy. He began his career at Goldman Sachs before joining Own Energy in 2007 as its first employee, where he worked hands-on in utility-scale wind development across Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. He later joined Tradewind Energy in an origination role before leading M&A for the solar platform that eventually became Savion. After Shell acquired Savion in 2021, Russ served as Chief Investment Officer before joining Convergent in 2025 as CFO. At Convergent, Russ oversees capital markets strategy, debt and tax equity financing, and the company's portfolio approach to distributed energy storage across commercial, industrial, and utility customers. Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russell-laplante-cfa-42353510 Stay Connected: Benoy Thanjan Email: info@reneuenergy.com LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com Website: https://www.solarmaverickpodcast.com/ Convergent Energy and Power Website: https://www.convergentep.com Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/convergent-energy-power/ Summer Solstice Fundraiser Benoy is hosting the Summer Solstice Fundraiser on June 4th in Jersey City at Hudson Hall, bringing together the clean energy community for an evening of networking and impact. The event supports Let's Share the Sun, a nonprofit delivering solar and energy storage solutions to underserved communities in Puerto Rico, including families with critical 24 hour energy needs. The event will run from 6 PM to 10 PM and includes food, networking, and a special program at 8 PM featuring insights from the Let's Share the Sun team, delegation participants, and event sponsors. This will be Benoy's third delegation in the past year, and he highlights the importance of meeting beneficiaries firsthand and seeing how solar is transforming lives. Those interested in attending or sponsoring are encouraged to reach out directly or register here: https://luma.com/jl734ggi Please provide 5 star reviews If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share the Solar Maverick Podcast so more people can learn how to accelerate the clean energy transition. Reneu Energy Reneu Energy provides expert consulting across solar and storage project development, financing, energy strategy, and environmental commodities. Our team helps clients originate, structure, and execute opportunities in community solar, C&I, utility-scale, and renewable energy credit markets. Email us at info@reneuenergy.com to learn more.
Emmet Kennedy, Andy Newton, Peter Michael and Jaime Wrenn are back with the Weekend Betting Guide for one of the biggest days in racing: Derby Day at Epsom.
This episode was originally released on November 15, 2022Things aren't always what they seem on the surface, especially when it comes to our oceans. So many mysteries hum below its watery surface. So, you may just have to use your ears when it's too dark to see exactly what's going on down there.Dr. Kaylee Byers looks into the ocean giants that lurk in the depths and the unique songs they share with us. She sits down with whale biologist Dr. Jennifer Allen on how whale songs are imparting a cultural exchange between populations that are hundreds of miles apart. Filmmaker Joshua Zeeman shares his journey to find the infamously dubbed 'Loneliest Whale'. And Paeleobiologist Dr. Travis Park from the Museum of Natural History in London tells us how whales developed their unique singing superpowers by taking us back through millions of years of evolution. Finally, researcher Grace Baer brings us to a remote west coast station studying whale populations and the effects of ocean traffic noise.It's a whale-sized episode taking you on a listening journey into this wonderful watery world!Special thanks to Captain Gaelen Krause of the Island Odyssey, for capturing recordings on his journey to search for whales along the British Columbia coast.Resources:1. Southern Resident Killer Whale Research Project | Parks Canada2. Whales learn songs from each other in a cultural 'deep dive' | phys.org3. Whale-monitoring robots are oceanic eavesdroppers with a mission | Popular Science4. Whale Songs Are Getting Deeper | The Atlantic5. The search for the loneliest whale in the world | The Guardian6. The Loneliest Whale: The Search for 52 | Bleecker Street Media7. BTS (방탄소년단) Whalien 52' MV | BigHit Entertainment7. Watkins Marine Mammal Sound Database | Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution8. Underwater Noise Pollution Is Disrupting Ocean Life - But We Can Fix it | TIME9. Convergent evolution in toothed whale cochleae | BMC Evolutionary Biology10. Evolutionary Basis of High-Frequency Hearing in the Cochleae of Echolocators Revealed by Comparative Genomics | Oxford Academic11. Genome-culture coevolution promotes rapid divergence of killer whale ecotypes | Nature12. DNA Suggests Cultural Traits Affect Whale Evolution | Science13. San Francisco: Dead Whale Opens Seafood Season | Universal International Newswire14. Songs of the Humpback Whale | Roger Payne, CRM Records15. Whaling Commission | Associated Press Archive16. Monaco - International Whaling Commission | Associated Press Archive17. Bubble Net Feeding | BC Whales18. Cool Genomics Facts - Fact 4 & 5: Environmental DNA | Genome British Columbia
Contributor: Travis Barlock, MD Educational Pearls: Caffeine Geography and Types: Caffeine is found throughout the world and has evolved independently in various plants that are not evolutionarily related through direct lineage, but rather demonstrate convergent evolution (i.e. different species evolve the same traits). These plants use caffeine as an insecticide. Examples of caffeine sources include coffee, tea, yerba-mate, guaraná, cacao, and yaupon holly. Roughly 85% of Americans are estimated to consume caffeine daily. Caffeine Pharmacology in Humans: In humans, caffeine is a nonselective competitive antagonist (blocker) of adenosine receptors (A1 and A2A). During waking hours, neuronal metabolic activity consumes ATP, and a byproduct of ATP hydrolysis is created: adenosine. Adenosine proceeds to build a "sleep pressure". Acting on A1 and A2A adenosine receptors to induce sleep (on A1, it suppresses neuronal "wakefulness" and on A2A it is believed to be an inducer of sleep). Caffeine, by blocking those receptors, blunts sleep induction and feelings of being tired. Caffeine has a half-life of around 6 hours, and a quarter life of approximately 12 hours, which is when the caffeine will off-load and adenosine can once again occupy those receptors, potentially causing a "crash". Thus, for shift-workers, it is important to time caffeine intake roughly 10 hours before target bed time. Caffeine exerts other effects on the body. It is methylxanthine similar to theophylline, which works as a bronchodilator (via phosphodiesterase and adenosine pathways). Caffeine has clinical use to promote bronchodilation in pre-term infants. Caffeine exerts diuretic effects as well (blocking proximal renal tubule reabsorption). Recent ingestion of caffeine may blunt therapeutic use of adenosine in patients with SVT. Key Takeaway? Caffeine exerts a wide variety of effects beyond making us feel more awake. It has cardiovascular, pulmonary, and renal implications in its pharmacodynamics. References Benarroch EE. Adenosine and its receptors: multiple modulatory functions and potential therapeutic targets for neurologic disease. Neurology. 2008;70(3):231-236. doi:10.1212/01.wnl.0000297939.18236.ec Mitchell DC, Knight CA, Hockenberry J, Teplansky R, Hartman TJ. Beverage caffeine intakes in the U.S. Food Chem Toxicol. 2014;63:136-142. doi:10.1016/j.fct.2013.10.042 Bruschettini M, Brattström P, Russo C, Onland W, Davis PG, Soll R. Caffeine dosing regimens in preterm infants with or at risk for apnea of prematurity - Bruschettini, M - 2023 | Cochrane Library. Accessed May 23, 2026. https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD013873.pub2/full?cookiesEnabled Huang R, O'Donnell AJ, Barboline JJ, Barkman TJ. Convergent evolution of caffeine in plants by co-option of exapted ancestral enzymes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2016;113(38):10613-10618. doi:10.1073/pnas.1602575113 Cabalag MS, Taylor DM, Knott JC, Buntine P, Smit D, Meyer A. Recent caffeine ingestion reduces adenosine efficacy in the treatment of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. Acad Emerg Med. 2010;17(1):44-49. doi:10.1111/j.1553-2712.2009.00616.x Summarized by Dan Orbidan, OMS2 | Edited by Dan Orbidan & Ahmed Abdel-Hafiz, NREMT-P Donate: https://emergencymedicalminute.org/donate/ Join our mailing list: http://eepurl.com/c9ouHf
Hajj : des millions de fidèles convergent vers les lieux saints dans un élan de foi et quête d'élévation spirituelle by TOPFM MAURITIUS
Send us Fan MailMajor donor fundraising is changing, and fast. In this episode, Convergent's Tom Ralser joins Jay Werth to unpack the rise of “impact giving.” Drawing from new 2026 research from the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy and Giving USA, we explore why donors are increasingly focused on measurable outcomes, strategic engagement, and ROI-style philanthropy.Tom shares practical insights on donor communication, restricted gifts, impact reporting, and how nonprofits of every size can adapt to the more investor-minded generation of philanthropists. We also discuss the risks for a sector increasingly dependent on fewer, wealthier donors, and what fundraisers can do now to prepare for the years ahead.
In this episode of the Econ Dev Show Podcast, Dane Carlson talks with Brian Abernathy of Convergent and Clint Nessmith of Resource Development Group, now RDG, a Convergent Company, about the merger of two major economic development fundraising firms and what it means for chambers, EDOs, and community organizations. They discuss why economic development fundraising is becoming more critical, how campaigns are evolving beyond traditional jobs and investment metrics, and why organizations must make a clearer case for their value. Brian and Clint also explain how data, disciplined campaign execution, feasibility studies, and strong public-private partnerships can help communities fund the work required to compete. Like this show? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! 10 Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers Make the value case clearer. Investors need to understand what your organization does, why it matters, and what outcomes their funding supports. Do not rely only on past success. A good track record helps, but each new campaign needs a fresh, specific, forward-looking reason to invest. Use data to strengthen your story. Fundraising works better when your case combines vision with evidence, benchmarks, campaign history, and measurable outcomes. Treat fundraising as strategy, not just revenue. A campaign should clarify priorities, align leadership, and sharpen the organization's role in the community. Run a feasibility study before a major campaign. Confidential investor feedback can reveal whether your campaign is ready, credible, and properly sized. Connect economic development to broader community needs. Workforce, housing, infrastructure, quality of life, and nonprofit capacity all affect competitiveness. Keep trusted relationships front and center. Funders support people and organizations they trust, especially when the work requires multi-year commitments. Show investors where their money goes. Be specific about programs, staff capacity, outcomes, timelines, and the practical work their support makes possible. Position your organization as a convener. EDOs and chambers often create value by bringing public, private, nonprofit, and education partners together around shared priorities. Prepare for more sophisticated funders. Investors are asking better questions. Be ready with a stronger narrative, better data, and a disciplined plan for execution. Special Guests: Brian Abernathy and Clint Nessmith.
At Possible in Miami, Ari Paparo sits down with Mike Fogarty, Head of Client Development, Brand & Agency Partnerships at Tatari, for a fast-moving conversation on how TV advertising is being rewritten in real time. They dig into the shift from legacy metrics like reach and frequency toward outcome-driven measurement, unpack the evolving balance between programmatic and direct buying, and explore why “convergent TV” is becoming less of a buzzword and more of an operating system. Along the way, they touch on everything from pause ads and shoppable formats to AI-powered media planning and the future of linear in a streaming-first world. If you're thinking about how brands actually drive results across modern TV, this one delivers clarity without the fluff. Takeaways TV measurement is shifting from GRPs and reach toward real business outcomes. Advertisers are demanding clearer proof of performance across linear and streaming. Convergent TV is becoming a unified way to plan, buy, and measure across channels. Programmatic CTV still has limitations compared to direct buying. Not all inventory is equally accessible or measurable in automated systems. Live sports and major events remain critical for scale and attention. New ad formats like pause ads and shoppable units are expanding creative options. AI is starting to influence both creative production and media planning. Adoption of AI varies, with some teams moving faster than others. Data and automation are improving how campaigns are executed and optimized. Linear TV continues to play a role alongside streaming platforms. The industry is still working through how to standardize measurement across environments. Chapters 00:00 Welcome & Possible Conference Vibes 00:48 The Shift in TV: From GRPs to Outcomes 01:27 What “Outcomes” Really Mean 02:21 Measurement Challenges & Testing Methods 03:06 Buildable vs. Non-Biddable Inventory Explained 04:43 The Reality of Programmatic CTV 05:20 Sports & Tentpole Events 06:00 Interactive TV Ads & Creative Innovation 07:15 AI in Creative Production 08:08 AI in Media Planning & Buying 09:25 How Brands & Agencies Are Adopting AI 10:31 AI in Execution & Buying Intelligence 11:05 The Future of Convergent TV 12:12 Closing Thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Did a very different format with Reiner Pope - a blackboard lecture where he walks through how frontier LLMs are trained and served.It's shocking how much you can deduce about what the labs are doing from a handful of equations, public API prices, and some chalk.It's a bit technical, but I encourage you to hang in there – it's really worth it.There are less than a handful of people who understand the full stack of AI, from chip design to model architecture, as well as Reiner. It was a real delight to learn from him.Recommend watching this one on YouTube so you can see the chalkboard.Reiner is CEO of MatX, a new chip startup (full disclosure - I'm an angel investor). He was previously at Google, where he worked on software efficiency, compilers, and TPU architecture.Download markdown of transcript here to chat with an LLM.Wrote up some flashcards and practice problems to help myself retain what Reiner taught. Hope it's helpful to you too!Sponsors* Jane Street needs constant access to incredibly low-latency compute. I recently asked one of their engineers, Clark, to talk me through how they meet these demands. Our conversation—which touched on everything from FPGAs to liquid cooling—was extremely helpful as I prepped to interview Reiner. You can watch the full discussion and explore Jane Street's open roles at janestreet.com/dwarkesh* Google's Gemma 4 is the first open model that's let me shut off the internet and create a fully disconnected “focus machine”. This is because Gemma is small enough to run on my laptop, but powerful enough to actually be useful. So, to prep for this interview, I downloaded Reiner's scaling book, disconnected from wifi, and used Gemma to help me break down the material. Check it out at goo.gle/Gemma4* Cursor helped me turn some notes I took on how gradients flow during large-scale pretraining into a great animation. At first, I wasn't sure the best way to visualize the concept, but Cursor's Composer 2 Fast model let me iterate on different ideas almost instantaneously. You can check out the animation in my recent blog post. And if you have something to visualize yourself, go to cursor.com/dwarkeshTimestamps(00:00:00) – How batch size affects token cost and speed(00:32:09) – How MoE models are laid out across GPU racks(00:47:12) – How pipeline parallelism spreads model layers across racks(01:03:37) – Why Ilya said, “As we now know, pipelining is not wise.”(01:18:59) – Because of RL, models may be 100x over-trained beyond Chinchilla-optimal(01:33:02) – Deducing long context memory costs from API pricing(02:04:02) – Convergent evolution between neural nets and cryptography Get full access to Dwarkesh Podcast at www.dwarkesh.com/subscribe
Simon Conway Morris is a paleontologist at the University of Cambridge. His research has illuminated the history of convergent evolution–the recurrence of similar biological features such as vision, wings, and even intelligence across vastly different evolutionary lineages. Through his popular books Life's Solution, The Runes of Evolution, and From Extra-terrestrials to Animal Minds, he makes the case that convergence is not merely a series of curious coincidences, but evidence of a deeper order to biology. Simon is a Fellow of the Royal Society and was just announced the winner of the 2026 Templeton Prize, a $1.4M dollar award for those who harness the power of the sciences to explore the deepest and most perplexing questions facing humankind. Watch the Templeton Prize video, which explains Simon's ideas, his biography, and the interesting parallels between cockroaches and dogs. Follow us on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn , and YouTube.
Send us Fan MailAre fundraising galas truly worth the investment, or are they being misunderstood?In this episode of The Difference, a podcast from Convergent, Host Jay Werth sits down with Justin Goodhew, CEO and Co-founder of Trellis, to unpack how nonprofits can rethink events as more than one-night fundraisers. With experience helping over 500 organizations raise more than $100 million, Justin brings a data-driven perspective to one of the sector's most debated strategies.The conversation challenges a common assumption: that events should be judged by immediate net profit. Instead, Justin reframes them as “moments of belonging”, powerful opportunities to build long-term donor relationships and unlock future revenue.Together, they explore:Why traditional ROI metrics fail to capture the full value of eventsWhere “hidden revenue” lives beyond the night of the galaHow events create uniquely human connections in an increasingly algorithm-driven worldThe most overlooked data points nonprofits should be tracking and how to capture them without sophisticated toolsPractical tactics like “Donate Your Bid” and multiple giving drivers to increase engagement without creating donor fatigueHow to reduce friction in the giving experience and avoid leaving money on the tableThe episode also dives into post-event strategy, including the critical follow-up window and how to turn one-time attendees into lifelong advocates.Plus, a rapid-fire lightning round covering:Galas vs. golf tournaments for long-term ROIThe biggest “revenue leak” at nonprofit eventsThe one data point every fundraiser should sync to their CRMAnd what the future of fundraising really looks likeJustin makes a compelling case that the organizations best positioned for long-term resilience are those that create meaningful opportunities for people to gather, connect, and belong.To learn more and access additional resources, visit convergentnonprofit.com.Thanks for listening to The Difference... and for making a difference in your corner of the world.
Nick is joined by Mirror man David Yates to canter through Monday's global horse racing headlines. On today's show, they reflect on the latest raft of Classic Trials, and look ahead to some of the best of the week ahead. They are joined by Francis Graffard, with news of Calandagan, Daryz plus his Newmarket Guineas contender. Karl Burke nominates big targets for John Porter winner Convergent, while Saffie Joseph Jr enjoys the success of his warrior White Abarrio in the Oaklawm handicap. Dave has his say on Aidan O'Brien's Classic plans, as revealed to Nick on yesterday's Luck on Sunday, as well as the Green Party's latest pronouncements on racing.
Nick is joined by Mirror man David Yates to canter through Monday's global horse racing headlines. On today's show, they reflect on the latest raft of Classic Trials, and look ahead to some of the best of the week ahead. They are joined by Francis Graffard, with news of Calandagan, Daryz plus his Newmarket Guineas contender. Karl Burke nominates big targets for John Porter winner Convergent, while Saffie Joseph Jr enjoys the success of his warrior White Abarrio in the Oaklawm handicap. Dave has his say on Aidan O'Brien's Classic plans, as revealed to Nick on yesterday's Luck on Sunday, as well as the Green Party's latest pronouncements on racing.
Charlotte Greenway builds up to the classic trials at Newbury in this week's Saturday Edition. Ahead of the Nell Gwyn, we hear from Angus Gold, racing manager to Shadwell, who discusses the chances of favourite Touleen. Richard Fahey provides an update on Catching The Moon and how she has progressed over the winter while Emma Banks looks forward to seeing Princess Petrol take her chance and shares what they're hoping to see from her tomorrow. Onto the colts trial, the Greenham, trainer Eve Johnson Houghton has an update on favourite Zavateri and looks at how ready he's going to be for his seasonal debut. Finally, Karl Burke looks forward to Convergent reappearing in the John Porter, a horse he's always held in high regard.
NEWMARKET CRAVEN MEETING PREVIEW | GUINEAS CLUES & BEST BETS Former jockey Georgia Cox joins Emmet Kennedy to highlight the key horses, races and betting angles from a crucial week of racing at Newmarket, with an early look ahead to Newbury. With potential clashes involving Zavateri, Title Role and Albert Einstein, and the prospect of Constitution Hill meeting Convergent, this is a week packed with Classic clues and future stars.
Send us Fan MailIn this episode of The Difference, Host Jay Werth sits down with his Convergent colleagues Erin Bemis, Greta von Unruh, and Andy Brubaker to unpack what really happens with fundraising ... the wins, the missteps, and the lessons learned along the way.Drawing from years of experience, the team shares candid stories from the field, highlighting common pitfalls like not following a strategic plan and chasing short-term dollars instead of building long-term relationships. At the heart of every success, and every failure, is one critical factor: relational equity.
Send a textIn this special episode of The Difference, Host Jay Werth speaks with Brian Abernathy, General Manager, Convergent, and Clint Nessmith, CEO of Resource Development Group, to discuss the merger uniting the two respected fundraising firms.The partnership expands national capacity, strengthens board-led capital campaign execution, and brings together the largest dataset in economic development fundraising.Brian and Clint share the strategic vision behind the merger, what it means for current clients, and how the integrated team will support economic development, chambers, and philanthropic organizations moving forward.Tune in for a concise look at what this next chapter means for fundraising nationwide.
Leerlingen kunnen keurig een stappenplan nadoen en tóch nauwelijks beter wiskundig leren denken. Voor veel leerlingen op de middelbare school gaat wiskunde over het correct ‘herhalen’ wat de docent voordoet op het bord. Is het ook mogelijk een werkomgeving te creëren waar leerlingen uitgedaagd worden om zelfstandig en diep te leren nadenken over wiskundige problemen? Dat is de zoektocht waar ik met Matthias Kaat over doorpraat: wiskunde draait fundamenteel om probleemoplossen, redeneren en het opdoen van inzicht, maar in veel lokalen overheerst vooral een “voordoen–nadoen–oefenen” methodiek. De vraag is dan ongemakkelijk simpel: leren leerlingen eigenlijk wel goed wiskunde? Matthias Kaat is lerarenopleider wiskunde en is aan de slag gegaan met het boek Building Thinking Classrooms (Peter Liljedahl) als een praktische benadering om wiskundig denken zichtbaar en collectief te maken. Niet door leerlingen “zomaar wat te laten doen”, maar door juist te werken met slimme klas routines: bijvoorbeeld met steeds willekeurige drietallen, door staand te werken, de klas anders in te richten en aan de slag te gaan op whiteboards met een prikkelende en uitdagend wiskundig vraagstuk. Fouten maken wordt minder riskant, ideeën worden makkelijker gedeeld en “didactisch afkijken” wordt onderdeel van de lespraktijk. Leerlingen leren hierdoor dieper nadenken is het idee. Belangrijk is ook de nuance: dit is geen alles-of-niets werkwijze. Divergente problemen (met meerdere aanpakken) en convergente taken (gericht oefenen) versterken elkaar. Liljedahl put uit 15 jaar praktijkonderzoek en brengt wiskundige vraagstukken tot leven in de lespraktijk. We bespreken tot slot ook hoe je deze werkwijze kunt adopteren in je klaslokaal. Ook voor andere domeinen buiten de wiskunde! Kernpunten uit de podcast:
Aujourd'hui, Abel Boyi, éducateur, Barbara Lefebvre, professeur d'histoire-géographie, et Didier Giraud, agriculteur de Saône-et-Loire, débattent de l'actualité autour d'Alain Marschall et Olivier Truchot.
Send us a textIn this panel discussion of The Difference led by Convergent's Andy Brubaker and Pam Reid, the two are joined by Jeff Baldwin, CEO (Ret) of the Bloomington Boys & Girls Club, along with Melanie Conner of Rainbow Village, to unpack what effective board engagement really looks like in practice. The conversation begins by setting the stage, examining why ongoing engagement matters and the most common challenges organizations face in keeping board members meaningfully involved.The panel then explores proven strategies that foster participation, strengthen relationships, and motivate board members through clarity, recognition, and purpose. Drawing from firsthand experience, the panelists share real-world case studies, quick wins, and long-term approaches that help boards move from passive oversight to active leadership, offering practical takeaways nonprofit leaders can apply immediately.
Thaipoosam Cavadee : les dévots convergent vers les kovils ce dimanche… « Le cavadee représente Muruga », explique Aya Sivaramen by TOPFM MAURITIUS
Send us a textIn this episode of The Difference, host Jay Werth sits down with members of Convergent's Philanthropic Services team for a forward-looking discussion on trends from across their 2025 client work and what it means for fundraising in 2026.The conversation explores major forces shaping the sector, including the Great Wealth Transfer, shifting major-gifts strategies driven by generational decision-making, anticipated changes in federal grant funding, and the growing role of AI in fundraising. Together, these insights offer practical guidance for nonprofit leaders preparing for a rapidly evolving philanthropic landscape.
Thought to share? Send me a text...We explore how faith and effort work together through Nehemiah's bold request to rebuild Jerusalem, showing how prayer fuels practical planning. Along the way we unpack convergent faith, journaling for clarity, and choosing open doors over closed ones.• Two wings of progress: faith and human effort• Nehemiah's courage in the king's court• Specific asks: letters, timber, timelines, and travel• Preparation as evidence of trust and character• Convergent faith: gifts, calling, and prayer aligned• Journaling to remember lessons and track God's provision• Discernment: not every good thing is your thing• Practical questions to identify gifts and passions• Looking for open doors instead of closed ones• Blessing to rebuild from the inside outTo find out more about me, or to book a speaking engagement, head to https://betsymarvin.com/For access to past podcasts and transcripts, head tohttps://betsymarvin.com/podcasts/You can follow me on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/betsyjmarvin/and Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/betsy.marvin.98
Send us a textIn this episode of The Difference podcast, Host Jay Werth is joined by Convergent's Pam Reid and Andy Brubaker for a candid conversation about the critical role board members play in effective fundraising. Together, they explore why board engagement is essential to organizational sustainability, how to overcome common hesitation and fear around fundraising, and how fundraising serves as a natural extension of mission and stewardship. The discussion also highlights the practical roles board members can take on, as ambassadors, advocates, and askers, and the importance of clear expectations, training, and accountability to set boards up for success.
Episode 99 of Messy Jesus Business podcast, with Sister Julia Walsh. In this episode of Messy Jesus Business podcast, Sister Julia Walsh, FSPA talks with Kaitlin Curtice. They explore Indigenous spirituality, the power of stories, the cyclical nature of being, expansiveness and liminality, the difference between certainty and faith, joy in art, Mother Earth, community, taking time to heal, presence and contemplation, and much more. Podcast: Play in new window | Download Subscribe: Email | RSS | More A transcript of the show is available. "Liminality is just the gray areas of life, the spaces where we don't quite know yet. We don't quite have things figured out or it's complex. And I think that if we're honest, that's where so many of us live spiritually, is in those deep questions." -Kaitlin Curtice Kaitlin Curtice ABOUT THE GUEST Kaitlin Curtice is an award-winning author, poet-storyteller, and public speaker. As an enrolled citizen of the Potawatomi nation, Kaitlin writes on the intersections of spirituality and identity and how that shifts throughout our lives. She also speaks on these topics to diverse audiences who are interested in truth-telling and healing. As an inter-spiritual advocate, Kaitlin participates in conversations on topics such as colonialism in faith communities, and she has spoken at many conferences on the importance of inter-faith relationships. Kaitlin leads workshops and retreats, as well as lectures and keynote presentations, ranging from panels at the Aspen Climate Conference to speaking at the Chautauqua Institution and at universities, private retreat centers, and churches across the country. In 2020 Kaitlin's award-winning book Native: Identity, Belonging and Rediscovering God won Georgia Author of the Year in the religion category. Native explores the relationship between American Christianity and Indigenous peoples, drawing on Kaitlin's experiences as a Potawatomi woman. In 2023, Kaitlin released two books, first, Living Resistance: An Indigenous Vision for Seeking Wholeness Every Day, which examines the journey of resisting the status quo of hate by caring for ourselves, one another, and Mother Earth, and second, her first children's book called Winter's Gifts: An Indigenous Celebration of Nature, which is the premier book in a series of four books on the four seasons coming out with Convergent, RandomHouse Books. Her second book in the series called Summer's Magic was released in 2024. Besides her books, Kaitlin has written online for Sojourners, Religion News Service, On Being, SELF Magazine, Oprah Daily, and more. Her work has been featured on CBS and in USA Today. She also writes essays and poetry for The Liminality Journal and spends her time supporting other authors as they navigate the world of publishing. Kaitlin lives near Philadelphia with her partner, two dogs, and two kids. Find out more about Kaitlin at Instagram.com/kaitlincurtice, and The Liminality Journal on Substack. MESSY JESUS BUSINESS is hosted by Sister Julia Walsh. Produced and edited by Colin Wambsgans. Email us at messyjesusbusiness@gmail.com BE SOCIAL: https://www.facebook.com/MessyJesusBusiness Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MessyJesusBusiness Twitter: @messyjesusbiz Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messyjesusbusiness SUPPORT US: https://www.patreon.com/messyjesusbusiness
Episode 99 of Messy Jesus Business podcast, with Sister Julia Walsh. In this episode of Messy Jesus Business podcast, Sister Julia Walsh, FSPA talks with Kaitlin Curtice. They explore Indigenous spirituality, the power of stories, the cyclical nature of being, expansiveness and liminality, the difference between certainty and faith, joy in art, Mother Earth, community, taking time to heal, presence and contemplation, and much more. Podcast: Play in new window | Download Subscribe: Email | RSS | More A transcript of the show is available. "Liminality is just the gray areas of life, the spaces where we don't quite know yet. We don't quite have things figured out or it's complex. And I think that if we're honest, that's where so many of us live spiritually, is in those deep questions." -Kaitlin Curtice Kaitlin Curtice ABOUT THE GUEST Kaitlin Curtice is an award-winning author, poet-storyteller, and public speaker. As an enrolled citizen of the Potawatomi nation, Kaitlin writes on the intersections of spirituality and identity and how that shifts throughout our lives. She also speaks on these topics to diverse audiences who are interested in truth-telling and healing. As an inter-spiritual advocate, Kaitlin participates in conversations on topics such as colonialism in faith communities, and she has spoken at many conferences on the importance of inter-faith relationships. Kaitlin leads workshops and retreats, as well as lectures and keynote presentations, ranging from panels at the Aspen Climate Conference to speaking at the Chautauqua Institution and at universities, private retreat centers, and churches across the country. In 2020 Kaitlin's award-winning book Native: Identity, Belonging and Rediscovering God won Georgia Author of the Year in the religion category. Native explores the relationship between American Christianity and Indigenous peoples, drawing on Kaitlin's experiences as a Potawatomi woman. In 2023, Kaitlin released two books, first, Living Resistance: An Indigenous Vision for Seeking Wholeness Every Day, which examines the journey of resisting the status quo of hate by caring for ourselves, one another, and Mother Earth, and second, her first children's book called Winter's Gifts: An Indigenous Celebration of Nature, which is the premier book in a series of four books on the four seasons coming out with Convergent, RandomHouse Books. Her second book in the series called Summer's Magic was released in 2024. Besides her books, Kaitlin has written online for Sojourners, Religion News Service, On Being, SELF Magazine, Oprah Daily, and more. Her work has been featured on CBS and in USA Today. She also writes essays and poetry for The Liminality Journal and spends her time supporting other authors as they navigate the world of publishing. Kaitlin lives near Philadelphia with her partner, two dogs, and two kids. Find out more about Kaitlin at Instagram.com/kaitlincurtice, and The Liminality Journal on Substack. MESSY JESUS BUSINESS is hosted by Sister Julia Walsh. Produced and edited by Colin Wambsgans. Email us at messyjesusbusiness@gmail.com BE SOCIAL: https://www.facebook.com/MessyJesusBusiness Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MessyJesusBusiness Twitter: @messyjesusbiz Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messyjesusbusiness SUPPORT US: https://www.patreon.com/messyjesusbusiness
Order "Sometimes Illness Wins" today: https://www.fillingthegappublishing.com/Donate to Project Share: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/pages/2025-annual-holiday-fundraiser/Will Spencer talks about evolution, and explains what teachers REFUSE to tell us about evolution! Except, they'll all be happy to explain this stuff to you, if you actually listen.Cards:AIG Wants You To Be Misinformed About Science
Send us a textIn this episode of The Difference podcast, Host Jay Werth is joined by Convergent's Pam Reid and Andy Brubaker to discuss Effective Board Management. Topics discussed include: Governance vs. management (setting boundaries)Clarifying roles and responsibilitiesEffective use of committees and task forcesAssessing performance & handling underperformanceKeeping members engaged and developing their leadershipIf you enjoyed this episode, we invite you to join us for our upcoming webinar "Board Members' Role in Fundraising" on November 13 at 1:30 PM ET. Register Now!
In this episode, I sit down with author and poet Kaitlin Curtice to explore the ways stories shape our lives and communities. Drawing from her new book Everything Is a Story, Kaitlin reflects on the narratives that formed her growing up, the Indigenous wisdom that grounds her, and the liminal spaces where transformation takes place. We talk about cyclical and linear storytelling, the role of art and poetry in healing, and how interfaith relationships and community can help us move beyond fear and division. This conversation invites us to honor the stories we carry, let go of those that wound, and imagine new ones that lead us into kinship, belonging, and hope.Kaitlin Curtice is an award-winning author, poet-storyteller, and public speaker. As an enrolled citizen of the Potawatomi nation, Kaitlin writes on the intersections of spirituality and identity and how that shifts throughout our lives. She also speaks on these topics to diverse audiences who are interested in truth-telling and healing. As an inter-spiritual advocate, Kaitlin participates in conversations on topics such as colonialism in faith communities, and she has spoken at many conferences on the importance of inter-faith relationships. Kaitlin leads workshops and retreats, as well as lectures and keynote presentations, ranging from panels at the Aspen Climate Conference to speaking at the Chautauqua Institution and at universities, private retreat centers, and churches across the country. In 2020 Kaitlin's award-winning book Native: Identity, Belonging and Rediscovering God won Georgia Author of the Year in the religion category. Native explores the relationship between American Christianity and Indigenous peoples, drawing on Kaitlin's experiences as a Potawatomi woman.In 2023, Kaitlin released two books, first, Living Resistance: An Indigenous Vision for Seeking Wholeness Every Day, which examines the journey of resisting the status quo of hate by caring for ourselves, one another, and Mother Earth, and second, her first children's book called Winter's Gifts: An Indigenous Celebration of Nature, which is the premier book in a series of four books on the four seasons coming out with Convergent, RandomHouse Books. Her second book in the series called Summer's Magic was released in 2024.Besides her books, Kaitlin has written online for Sojourners, Religion News Service, On Being, SELF Magazine, Oprah Daily, and more. Her work has been featured on CBS and in USA Today. She also writes essays and poetry for The Liminality Journal and spends her time supporting other authors as they navigate the world of publishing. Kaitlin lives near Philadelphia with her partner, two dogs, and two kids.Kaitlin's Book:Everything is a StoryKaitlin's Recommendations:Care of the SoulThe Works of John O'DonahueSubscribe to Our Substack: Shifting CultureConnect with Joshua: jjohnson@shiftingculturepodcast.comGo to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy.Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Threads, Bluesky or Contact me to advertise: jjohnson@shiftingculturepodcast.com Support the show
Too many entrepreneurs think they're “lazy” or “broken” when they can't follow rigid, step-by-step strategies. But here's the truth - if you've got ADHD tendencies (diagnosed or not), those strategies simply weren't built for your brain. And yet when we design ADHD-friendly systems? Convergent thinkers benefit too.In this episode, I'm kicking off a special ADHD Awareness Month series by sharing why I'm dedicating October to this conversation, what my research uncovered from ADHD entrepreneurs, and how these struggles show up in business.Whether you're a service provider, coach, consultant, or creative, diagnosed with ADHD or not, you'll hear yourself in these stories. Because at the end of the day, these aren't just ADHD struggles. They're entrepreneurial struggles.You'll Learn:Why ADHD-friendly strategies often work better for all entrepreneursWhat my research revealed about ADHD struggles in business (time blindness, energy swings, demand avoidance, idea overload, and more)How menopause and a dysregulated nervous system can intensify ADHD symptoms for women in businessWhy building flexible structures creates clarity, focus, and results for both divergent and convergent thinkersThis is the real truth about business growth - when you create systems that work for your brain, you remove the shame and finally build momentum.
On this episode, Mariko Meier, Chief Revenue Officer at Convergent Energy and Power, joins Michelle France to discuss growth and opportunities in the DG market amid a federally volatile market and energy storage expansion.You can hear Mariko speak more during the second panel “Storage Under Pressure: Navigating Policy and Safety Risks” at NPM's third annual DG Development and Finance Forum being held this year on October 22 and 23 at the Convene, Midtown East, New York City.NPM is a leading data, intelligence & events company providing business development led coverage of the US & European power, storage & data center markets for the development, finance, M&A and corporate community.Download our mobile app.
Send us a textIn this episode of The Difference podcast, Host Jay Werth is joined by Convergent's Pam Reid and Andy Brubaker to discuss Recruiting the Right Board Members. Topics discussed include: Why thoughtful board recruitment mattersCommon mistakes in recruitmentIdentifying strong candidates beyond your circleEvaluating fit (skills, mission-alignment, diversity, and affiliations)Aligning and cultivating Interest and making the ask effectivelyClarifying expectations and securing commitmentIf you enjoyed this episode, we invite you to join us for our upcoming webinar "Effective Board Management" on October 16 at 1:30 PM ET. Register Now!
durée : 00:05:08 - La Revue de presse internationale - par : Catherine Duthu - Apple a-t-il adapté son IA générative à la vision idéologique de l'administration Trump ? Politico mène l'enquête. Les signes de connivence entre les Big Tech et la Maison Blanche se multiplient, tandis que les services de l'État les plus controversés se dotent de puissants outils technologiques. - invités : Olivier Alexandre Sociologue, chargé de recherche au CNRS (Centre Internet et Société)
SPONSORS: 1) PRIZEPICKS: Visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/JULIAN and use code JULIAN and get $50 in lineups when you play your first $5 lineup! 2) FUM: Head to https://tryfum.com/products/zero-crisp-mint to start with Zero PATREON https://www.patreon.com/JulianDorey (***TIMESTAMPS in description below) ~ Forrest Galante is an American outdoor adventurer and television personality. He primarily seeks out animals on the brink of extinction. He is the host of the television shows Extinct or Alive on Animal Planet and Mysterious Creatures with Forrest Galante, as well as multiple Shark Week shows. FORREST'S LINKS - YT: https://www.youtube.com/@ForrestGalante - IG: https://www.instagram.com/forrest.galante/ FOLLOW JULIAN DOREY INSTAGRAM (Podcast): https://www.instagram.com/juliandoreypodcast/ INSTAGRAM (Personal): https://www.instagram.com/julianddorey/ X: https://twitter.com/julianddorey JULIAN YT CHANNELS - SUBSCRIBE to Julian Dorey Clips YT: https://www.youtube.com/@juliandoreyclips - SUBSCRIBE to Julian Dorey Daily YT: https://www.youtube.com/@JulianDoreyDaily - SUBSCRIBE to Best of JDP: https://www.youtube.com/@bestofJDP ****TIMESTAMPS**** 00:00 – Hippie roots, Zimbabwe, Mugabe, Oakland, culture shock 11:50 – Anger, ocean discovery, diving, UCSB, future wife 22:18 – UCSB professor, insect knowledge, biology, fieldwork, desk jobs 32:50 – Academia critique, media, Channel Islands, Naked and Afraid 40:17 – Naked and Afraid reality, survivalist, viral stories, TV offers 46:34 – Extinct or Alive pitch, rediscoveries, Zanzibar leopard, tortoise 58:09 – Fernandina tortoise, tracking tech, human instinct 01:07:15 – Colossal advisor, de-extinction risks, cloning, rollouts 01:18:08 – Jurassic Park, conservation business model, extinction rates 01:22:44 – Conservation funding, dinosaurs, sauropod skepticism, fossils 01:27:10 – Convergent evolution, biodiversity Jenga, bees, Amazon, Paul 01:39:01 – First Amazon trip, canoe, 19-ft anaconda, tribes, shamans 01:53:55 – Jungle vs Western medicine, rifle break, poaching, rhino horn 02:06:27 – Elephant translocation, helicopters, family bonds, survival 02:20:38 – Elephant trauma, Zimbabwe bull, India rescue, lost species 02:33:48 – Renegade scientists, ocean mysteries, Paul Watson arrest 02:49:32 – Laws vs conservation, Mota Island, cave of skulls, warriors 02:59:17 – Refugee roots, global expeditions, Animals on Drugs, YouTube CREDITS: - Host & Producer: Julian Dorey - Producer & Editor: Alessi Allaman - https://www.youtube.com/@UCyLKzv5fKxGmVQg3cMJJzyQ - In-Studio Producer: Joey Deef - https://www.instagram.com/joeydeef/ Julian Dorey Podcast Episode 333 - Forrest Galante Music by Artlist.io Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
By isolating specific neuron types involved in zebra finch birdsong, this 2002 Nature paper from Michael Fee and colleagues revealed elegant neural mechanisms controlling the timing of natural learned behavior.
Dr. Habib Dagher founded the University of Maine's Advanced Structures and Composites Center, which, with 400 researchers, is one of the leading composites research centers in the world. In 3D printing, the center makes houses out of wood waste and 3D prints boats and other large polymer structures. Habib believes in cheaper waste products over concrete for construction printing. He also details the ways in which we can use Additive in printing composites. But 3D printing is one part of a bigger technology for him. With Convergent Manufacturing, Additive and subtractive processes work together in unison. That is a very compelling vision that we're already doing with a lot of things, but could really change how we are able to make things. Through working in concert, better toolpathing, QA, and multiple heads could print, mill, add conductive traces, and more to one boat hull all at the same time. This episode was brought to you by Continuum Powders.
In this episode of the Matriarch Movement podcast, host Shayla Ouellette Stonechild speaks with Kaitlin B. Curtice, an award-winning author and poet. They explore themes of identity, belonging, and the intersection of Indigenous spirituality and Christianity. Kaitlin shares her journey in reclaiming her Potawatomi identity, the importance of rituals in her spiritual practice, and her approach to writing and storytelling. The conversation also delves into the concept of resistance, defining it in a holistic way that encompasses personal care, community building, and ancestral connections. They also discuss the challenges posed by AI in literature, the necessity of reconnecting with Mother Earth, and envisioning a future where Indigenous voices thrive and are celebrated. Kaitlin Curtice is an award-winning author, poet-storyteller, and public speaker. As an enrolled citizen of the Potawatomi nation, Kaitlin writes on the intersections of spirituality and identity and how that shifts throughout our lives. She also speaks on these topics to diverse audiences who are interested in truth-telling and healing. In 2020 Kaitlin's award-winning book Native: Identity, Belonging and Rediscovering God won Georgia Author of the Year in the religion category. Native explores the relationship between American Christianity and Indigenous peoples, drawing on Kaitlin's experiences as a Potawatomi woman. In 2023, Kaitlin released two books, first, Living Resistance: An Indigenous Vision for Seeking Wholeness Every Day, which examines the journey of resisting the status quo of hate by caring for ourselves, one another, and Mother Earth, and second, her first children's book called Winter's Gifts: An Indigenous Celebration of Nature, which is the premier book in a series of four books on the four seasons coming out with Convergent, RandomHouse Books. Her second book in the series called Summer's Magic was released in 2024. Kaitlin's newest book, Everything Is a Story, is about the power of storytelling and how we use stories to harm or heal ourselves, one another, and Mother Earth. kaitlincurtice.com instagram.com/kaitlincurtice The Liminality Journal: https://kaitlincurtice.substack.com Thanks for checking out this episode of the Matriarch Movement podcast! If you enjoyed the conversation, please leave a comment and thumbs-up on YouTube, or leave a five star review on your favourite podcast app! Find Shayla Oulette Stonechild on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shayla0h/ Find more about Matriarch Movement at https://matriarchmovement.ca/ This podcast is produced by Women in Media Network https://www.womeninmedia.network/show/matriarch-movement/ (00:00) Introduction to Caitlin B. Curtis (02:03) Exploring Identity and Belonging (06:47) The Intersection of Christianity and Indigenous Spirituality (11:34) Rituals and Personal Spiritual Practices (15:11) The Journey of Writing and Storytelling (17:52) Defining Resistance and Its Realms (22:48) Navigating the Realms of Existence (27:14) The Power of Storytelling and Writing (31:27) The Impact of AI on Literature (34:25) Reconnecting with Mother Earth (36:50) Envisioning Indigenous Futurism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Send us a textIn this episode, Convergent's Funding Strategist, Katie Davenport, shares her inspiring journey from middle school science teacher to Executive Director of the Greenwood Promise. She discusses how the program provides tuition-free education to students in Greenwood County, building a skilled workforce and strengthening the local economy. Katie opens up about overcoming fundraising challenges, the growing impact of promise programs nationwide, and the vital role of early and continuous student engagement. Tune in to hear how holistic support and community partnerships are transforming lives through education!
Automotive and the heavy equipment industries face similar challenges on the round to deploying software-defined vehicles (SDVs) and autonomy more efficiently. But the strategies underlying each approach is an interesting point of discussion. Heavy equipment OEMs have a much greater emphasis on long lasting products, but making SDVs and software-defined equipment is changing this once basic difference between the industries. To talk about the ongoing changes in the two parallel industries and the solutions driving transformation of transportation, in this three-part series on heavy equipment and autonomous functionality in software-defined product, we have Hendrick Lange (Senior Director of Heavy Equipment at Siemens Digital Industries) and Akshay Sheorey (Automotive and Transportation Industry Specialist for Autonomy). For the next three episode, our host, Nand Kochhar (VP of the Automotive and Transportation Industries) and moderator Michael Severson (Senior Automotive Marketing Manager at Siemens) will discuss the ins and out of software, electronics, and more.
Summary In this episode of Develop This Podcast, Dennis Fraise interviews Brian Abernathy, General Manager of Convergent Nonprofit Solutions, discussing the importance of revenue benchmarking for Economic Development Organizations (EDOs). They explore how public-private partnerships have become best practices in funding, the methodology behind revenue benchmarking studies, and the significance of analyzing sector representation in funding sources. The conversation emphasizes the need for effective communication and long-term strategies in economic development. Takeaways Convergent specializes in fundraising planning and consulting for nonprofits. Revenue benchmarking helps EDOs understand their funding structure. Public-private partnerships enhance funding opportunities for EDOs. Data analysis reveals unique areas of opportunity for revenue. Diversity in funding sources is crucial for sustainability. Comparative analysis helps EDOs identify gaps in funding. The benchmarking process takes about four to six weeks. Effective communication builds trust with funders over time. Feasibility studies validate funding opportunities for EDOs. Long-term strategies are essential for successful economic development.
The most innovative creators don't use AI as a replacement – they use it as a strategic partner in a carefully choreographed dance of human and machine intelligence. Welcome to Part 4 of our series, Creative Thinking in the AI Age – on strengthening your uniquely human creativity while using AI as a partner, not a replacement. In Part 1, we explored the alarming decline in creative thinking as we've grown dependent on AI. In Part 2, we discovered how neuroplasticity allows us to rebuild and enhance our creative capabilities. And in Part 3, I gave you a practical 10-minute daily workout to strengthen the neural pathways essential for innovative thinking. Today, we're bringing it all together with something immediately actionable: a framework for creating productive partnerships with AI that enhance rather than diminish your creative capabilities. This isn't about rejecting AI – it's about using it strategically to amplify your uniquely human abilities. When used properly, AI can handle routine cognitive tasks while freeing your mind for the breakthrough thinking that algorithms simply cannot replicate. Let me start by clarifying the fundamental difference between human and machine intelligence that drives this partnership: Convergent thinking is the process of analyzing existing data to find optimal solutions within defined parameters. This is what AI excels at – processing vast amounts of information to identify patterns and generate options based on probability distributions of what has worked before. Divergent thinking is the ability to generate novel ideas by making unexpected connections, breaking conventional patterns, and imagining what doesn't yet exist. This is where humans uniquely excel – our capacity for intuitive leaps, metaphorical thinking, and insight that transcends existing data. The most powerful creative partnerships leverage both: AI's computational strength and the human capacity for originality. Let me demonstrate with a simple example. If I asked an AI to design a chair, it would analyze thousands of existing chair designs and generate variations based on established patterns. The results would be functional but predictable. But what if I first engaged in divergent thinking by questioning the very concept of sitting? What if I reimagined a chair as something that supports the body in motion rather than at rest? This human insight – this conceptual leap – changes everything about how we might approach the design. Now when I engage AI, I'm not asking it to "design a chair" but to help explore a completely new approach to supporting the human body. The AI becomes a tool for expanding and refining my original insight rather than a replacement for it. This is the heart of creative partnership: human divergent thinking provides the spark of originality, while AI convergent thinking helps develop and refine that spark into something practical. The Art Of Creative Prompting Before we dive into our five-step framework, let's talk about what makes an effective AI prompt for creative work. The way you communicate with AI dramatically impacts the quality and originality of what you receive in return. Throughout this episode, I've included actual prompts formatted in code blocks that you can copy, edit, and paste directly into your favorite AI tool – whether that's ChatGPT, Claude, or others. These aren't theoretical; they're battle-tested approaches I've used with innovation teams. The most powerful creative prompts share three key characteristics: They express curiosity rather than certainty – Phrases like "I'm exploring," "I'm curious about," or "Help me understand" signal to the AI that you're in an exploratory mode rather than seeking definitive answers. This subtle shift encourages broader, more nuanced responses. They use specific framing devices – Notice how our example prompts use structures like "What aspects are overlooked?" or "What contradictions exist?" These frames direct the AI's analytical power toward particular angles of exploration. The formula prompts I've shared provide ready-to-use framing devices for different situations. They maintain creative tension – Effective prompts don't ask for immediate solutions but instead create a productive tension by examining contradictions, assumptions, or overlooked aspects. This tension generates the creative friction from which original insights emerge. When using the example prompts throughout this episode, customize them to your specific challenge, but maintain these structural elements that encourage exploration rather than premature convergence. The goal is to shape AI responses that serve as thought-provoking material for your own creative thinking, not as final answers. Here's a quick formula for effective prompts: "What aspects of [problem] are most overlooked?" "What contradictions exist in how people approach [challenge]?" "What assumptions might be limiting how we think about [issue]?" "What perspectives on [problem] have we never considered?" "What patterns in [issue] are repeating historically?" "What barriers prevent solving [challenge] with existing solutions?" Now, let's explore our five-step framework for forming creative partnerships with AI that enhance rather than diminish your creative capabilities. STEP 1: Prime Your Brain First The most common mistake I see is turning to AI too early in the creative process. This typically happens because facing a blank page is uncomfortable – we're seeking the path of least resistance. But this short-circuits your brain's ability to make original connections. Instead, I recommend priming your brain before engaging any AI tools. Here's how: Begin with a 5-minute session from our creative workout (Episode 3). The Perspective Shifting or Random Word Fusion exercises are particularly effective for this purpose. After your brief workout, spend 10 minutes in open ideation on your challenge. Use a piece of paper – not a digital device – and rapidly jot down any ideas that come to mind without judging them. Look for unexpected combinations or patterns in your ideas. Circle anything that feels surprising or that challenges conventional thinking. This priming step activates your associative thinking networks – the neural pathways that connect seemingly unrelated concepts. When you later engage AI, you'll do so with your creative faculties already warmed up and ready to evaluate AI outputs critically. STEP 2: Frame Challenges, Not Solutions How you engage with AI fundamentally shapes what you get from it. The key is to position AI as a thought partner exploring a problem space rather than a solution generator. Instead of asking: "Generate ideas for a new water bottle design" Try: "What are the unsolved problems in how people stay hydrated throughout the day?" The first prompt tells AI to generate variations on a water bottle – convergent thinking within established parameters. The second prompt opens a problem space that invites exploration of the underlying challenge. Similarly, rather than asking AI to "write a marketing campaign," ask it to "identify emotional tensions between consumers and existing products in this category." This framing preserves your role in the most crucial part of creativity – defining the right problem. It positions AI as an explorer rather than a solver, helping you see facets of the challenge you might otherwise miss. Example Problem-Framing Prompts: Example 1: I'm exploring ways to improve remote team collaboration. Instead of suggesting specific solutions, help me understand: What are the most overlooked aspects of remote communication that create friction or miscommunication? What contradictions exist in how people want to collaborate versus how current tools function? What assumptions about "presence" might be limiting how we approach remote work? Example 2: I'm working on innovations in urban transportation. Rather than proposing specific vehicle or infrastructure designs, help me explore: What tensions exist between different stakeholders in urban mobility (pedestrians, cyclists, drivers, businesses, etc.)? What contradictory needs do people have when moving through cities? What invisible barriers prevent more sustainable transportation choices? STEP 3: Use AI for Divergence Acceleration While AI excels at convergent thinking, we can strategically use it to accelerate certain aspects of divergent thinking as well. The key is to use AI to generate raw material that you then transform through your human creativity. Here's the technique: After your initial ideation, identify 2-3 promising directions that feel original. For each direction, use AI to generate adjacent possibilities: "What related ideas exist in [completely different field]?" Use these outputs not as solutions but as stimuli for your own associative thinking. The goal is to use AI outputs as creative springboards. For example, if you're designing a new learning app, you might ask AI: "How do master chefs structure the process of teaching complex skills?" or "What principles do video game designers use to maintain engagement during difficult challenges?" The AI responses become raw material for your own divergent thinking process. You aren't adopting the AI's suggestions directly – you're using them to trigger new neural connections in your own thinking. This approach leverages AI's knowledge breadth while preserving your uniquely human ability to make unexpected connections across domains. Example Divergence Acceleration Prompts: Example 1: I'm developing a new approach to personal financial education that focuses on behavioral change rather than just information delivery. To spark fresh thinking, explain how these completely different domains approach behavior change: How do elite athletic coaches create lasting habit changes in their athletes? How do environmental conservation programs successfully change community behaviors? How do immersive theater experiences create memorable emotional impacts? For each area, identify 3-5 key principles and specific techniques that could be translated to financial education. Example 2: I'm reimagining the patient experience in healthcare waiting rooms. To stimulate creative connections, describe how these unrelated fields create positive waiting/transition experiences: Theme park queue design Airport VIP lounges Mindfulness retreat check-in processes Fine dining restaurant pacing and atmosphere For each, identify what specific elements create psychological comfort, reduce perceived waiting time, or transform waiting into a valuable experience. STEP 4: Delegate Convergence Once you've generated truly original directions through divergent thinking, AI becomes extraordinarily valuable for convergent activities – developing, refining, and optimizing your creative insights. This is where many people go wrong – they either overuse AI (surrendering the creative process entirely) or underuse it (ignoring its analytical strengths). Here are specific convergent tasks ideally suited for AI delegation: Detail expansion – Once you have a core concept, ask AI to help flesh out the details, specifications, or implementation steps. Pattern recognition – Have AI identify similarities between your idea and existing approaches to uncover potential refinements. Gap analysis – Ask AI to identify potential weaknesses or unanswered questions in your concept. Variation generation – Once you have an original direction, AI can help you explore variations within that direction. The key principle: Use AI for expansion and refinement of ideas that originated from your divergent thinking, not as the source of the original insight itself. For example, if you've conceptualized a novel approach to remote team collaboration, you might ask AI to: Identify potential implementation challenges Suggest how the concept might be adapted for different industries Compare your approach to existing solutions to identify differentiation opportunities This leverages AI's analytical power while preserving your role in the creative breakthrough. Example Convergence Delegation Prompts: Example 1: I've developed a concept for a community-based renewable energy sharing platform where households can trade excess solar power directly with neighbors using blockchain verification. Please help me refine this concept by: Identifying potential technical, regulatory, and user adoption challenges Suggesting the minimum viable features needed for an initial pilot Outlining how this approach differs from existing energy-sharing models Recommending how the concept might need to adapt for different housing environments (urban apartments vs. suburban homes vs. rural communities) Example 2: I've created a new approach to professional development called "Skill Swapping Circles" where cross-functional teams teach each other through structured 30-minute micro-workshops. Please help me develop this concept by: Creating a detailed implementation framework with clear steps Identifying potential resistance points and how to address them Suggesting metrics to measure effectiveness Recommending variations for different organizational contexts (startups vs. large enterprises) Outlining technology requirements to support the program STEP 5: Maintain Creative Authority The final step is perhaps the most important: consciously maintaining your creative authority throughout the process. AI tools are designed to be persuasive – they present information confidently and comprehensively. This creates what psychologists call the "authority bias" – our tendency to accept information from perceived authorities without sufficient scrutiny. To maintain creative authority: Question AI outputs – Actively look for assumptions or limitations in what the AI generates. Inject constraints – Deliberately introduce constraints that force original thinking: "How would this work without internet connectivity?" or "How would this change if it needed to be completely sustainable?" Transform, don't transfer – Always transform AI outputs through your unique perspective rather than directly transferring them into your work. Take incubation breaks – After receiving AI outputs, step away to allow your subconscious mind to process. Research shows that creative insights often emerge during periods of mental rest after information intake. Remember, the goal isn't to reject AI's contributions but to engage with them critically and creatively. Your unique human perspective – your lived experience, intuition, and values – should always remain the guiding force. Example Creative Authority Prompts: Example 1: I've been exploring a concept for [your idea]. You've provided some interesting perspectives, but I want to challenge both of us to think differently. Please: Identify three assumptions embedded in the approach we've been discussing Suggest how the concept would need to change if it had to work without [key resource or technology] Describe how this idea might be received by someone from a completely different cultural background than my own Identify ethical considerations I may not have considered Example 2: You've given me several suggestions for [topic]. Now I'd like you to help me critically evaluate them by: For each idea, identify the historical precedent or existing model it most closely resembles Point out which suggestions fall into conventional thinking patterns Identify any suggestions that might unintentionally reinforce problematic systems or assumptions Challenge me with three questions that might completely reframe how I'm approaching this challenge Real-World Application Let me share how this framework transformed the product development process at a consumer electronics company I worked with recently. Their team had been using AI tools extensively, but primarily as idea generators – essentially asking the AI to design new products directly. The results were predictably mediocre – variations on existing products with marginal improvements. We implemented the five-step framework, beginning with creative priming exercises before any AI engagement. Then, instead of asking the AI to generate product concepts, we asked it to explore unresolved tensions in how people interact with technology in their homes. This exploration revealed something fascinating – people were increasingly concerned about technology fragmenting family attention rather than enhancing connection. This human-centered insight came not from the AI directly, but from the team's analysis of the problem space with AI assistance. This led to a breakthrough concept: a family gaming system designed specifically for collaborative rather than competitive or individual play, with features that actively encouraged rich social interaction rather than isolated immersion. Once this novel direction was established through human divergent thinking, the team then used AI extensively for convergent tasks – researching existing collaborative technologies, identifying potential technical challenges, and developing implementation variations. The result was a genuinely innovative product that addressed deeply human needs in ways that AI alone could never have conceptualized. The product has since become one of their most successful launches, precisely because it originated from human insight about social connection rather than algorithmic prediction. Download Your Guide for Turning AI Into a Creativity Multiplier We've now completed our five-step framework for creative partnerships with AI: prime your brain first, frame challenges not solutions, use AI for divergence acceleration, delegate convergence, and maintain creative authority. Each step is designed to leverage both human and machine intelligence in their respective domains of strength – your divergent thinking and AI's convergent capabilities. This approach represents a middle path between two extremes. On one side is complete AI dependency – surrendering our creative faculties to algorithms and experiencing the cognitive atrophy we discussed in earlier episodes. On the other side is AI rejection – ignoring powerful tools that could genuinely enhance our creative capabilities when used properly. The creative partnership I've outlined offers something better: a complementary relationship that amplifies your uniquely human creativity while leveraging AI's computational power. Remember the key principles we've explored throughout this series: Your creative thinking abilities physically exist as neural networks in your brain These networks strengthen or weaken based on how you use them Deliberate practice rebuilds these networks even if they've weakened through AI dependency The most innovative thinking emerges from partnerships that preserve human divergent thinking while leveraging AI convergent capabilities As we move deeper into the AI age, the ability to form these productive partnerships will increasingly distinguish those who merely execute from those who truly innovate. By understanding the complementary relationship between human and machine intelligence, you can develop creativity that no algorithm can replicate. Join me next time for "Measuring Creative Growth: Tracking Your Progress and Amplifying Results." We'll explore how to assess your creative development and build systems that continuously enhance your innovative thinking. Until then, I'm Phil McKinney, and remember – in an age of artificial intelligence, the most valuable thinking happens at the intersection of human insight and computational power. That intersection exists in only one place: your creatively engaged mind. Your support means everything to this channel. And if you're passionate about creativity and innovation, consider becoming a patron on Patreon or a paid subscriber on Substack. Your support helps make this content possible. To learn more about harnessing AI, listen to this week's show: Human-AI Creative Partnership: How to Harness AI While Preserving Your Innovative Edge. [irp posts="4392" name="Subscribe to Podcast"]
“That's genius!” - Charlie Luxton in response to Gbemi's revolutionary new idea… In this episode of our Anthropy special series recorded at the Eden Project, we speak with Dr. Gbemi Oluleye from Imperial College London. Gbemi brings a refreshing academic perspective to how businesses can make sustainable transitions affordable. As a lecturer at the Grantham Institute, she leads research on making sustainability economically viable for the manufacturing sector while also running executive education programs for sustainability officers. Gbemi discusses the need for convergent thinking, offers a sobering assessment of how late the sustainability movement started, and proposes a revolutionary new metric to track how planetary degradation impacts human productivity.
Convergent's Capital Campaign series features Daniel Hall, Director of Managed Service for Harness Giving, and host Jay Werth, discussing how nonprofit leaders can best communicate a strategic plan that is actionable, transparent, and compelling to internal stakeholders and potential donors. Learn why Comprehensive Campaigns are a game-changer for nonprofit fundraising. Sign up for updates.Support the show
When I was in my 20's I worked at Convergent Technologies, a company that was proud to be known as the “Marine Corps of Silicon Valley.” It was a brawling “take no prisoners,” work hard, party hard, type of company. The founders coming out of the DEC (Digital Equipment Corporation) and Intel culture of the 1960's and ‘70's. As an early employee I worked all hours of the day, never hesitated to jump on a “red-eye” plane to see a customer at the drop of a hat, and did what was necessary to make the company a winner. I learned a lot at Convergent, going from product marketing manager in a small startup to VP of Marketing of the Unix Division as it became a public company. Two of my role models for my career were in this company. (And one would become my mentor and partner in later companies.) But this story is not about Convergent. It's about entrepreneurship and family.
In the latest episode of Convergent's The Difference podcast, Host Jay Werth discusses comprehensive fundraising campaigns with Li Li from Foursquare Research, Inc. Li Li explains the importance of market analysis as a tool for nonprofits, likening it to a GPS for efficient planning. She emphasizes the need for unbiased research to avoid confirmation bias and highlights the significance of involving stakeholders.We invite you to continue tuning in to learn why Comprehensive Campaigns are a game-changer for nonprofit fundraising... sign up for updates.Support the show
In this episode of The Difference, Convergent's Rex Otey and Jay Werth discuss the importance of development audits for nonprofit organizations, emphasizing their role in evaluating fundraising effectiveness and readiness for comprehensive campaigns. Otey highlights that audits are not punitive but aim to improve fundraising efficiency. He shares an example of a higher education client that followed audit recommendations to enhance staffing and fundraising. Tune in to learn why Comprehensive Campaigns are a game-changer for nonprofit fundraising... sign up for updates.Support the show
Hello bug lovers! In this exciting edition of Arthro-Pod, Jody leads Mike and Jon through an episode entirely dedicated to the multicolored Asian lady beetle. It is known by many names, the multicolored lady bug, the Halloween beetle, and the fake ladybug amongst others. You may have seen them in your home just recently or been unlucky enough to feel their bite! In this episode, you'll learn how they appeared in the US, the other ways they can pose problems, and ponder the reasons why people would call a real member of the Coccinelidae a "fake lady beetle". MALB spending the winter with Jody GreenShow NotesMike refers to Harmonia axyridis Wikipedia page to see variations: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmonia_axyridis Bugguide: https://bugguide.net/node/view/397 Lost lady bug project: http://www.lostladybug.org/ Convergent lady beetleJournal article about MALB and dogs after ingestion in Toxicon by Stocks and Lindsey 2008: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0041010108003395#fig1 A Review of Ladybug Taint in Wine: Origins, Prevention, and Remediation by Pickering and Botezau 2021 https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/14/4341 Journal article about MALB and seasonal allergens: Nakazawa et al. 2007 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0091674906030235?via%3Dihub Goetz 2008: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/5423147_Harmonia_axyridis_ladybug_invasion_and_allergy Information about molecule, harmonine from Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Germany https://www.mpg.de/7246516/Asian-lady-beetles Vacuum with pantyhose method: https://www.mypmp.net/2016/05/19/recommend-this-method-to-bed-bug-afflicted-clients/ MALB eggsMALB larvae MALB pupae Newly emerged MALB adult and pupal shellAdult MALB going to town on some aphidsQuestions? Comments? Contact the show at jonathan.larson@uky.eduFind the hosts on social media:@bugmanjon and @napoleonicento on BlueSkyGet the show through Apple Podcast, Spotify, or your favorite podcatching app!If you can spare a moment, we appreciate when you subscribe to the show on those apps or when you take time to leave a review!
ADHD is more than just a label – it’s a complex condition that impacts how our brains process information, manage emotions, and respond to the world around us. Whether you're a parent dealing with ADHD yourself or raising kids who are, understanding this condition is a crucial first step in creating a supportive and thriving family environment. In this insightful and, at times, hilarious episode of "Christian Parent/Crazy World," Catherine welcomes Dr. Tamara Rosier, the brilliant mind behind the ADHD Center of West Michigan and the author of Your Brain's Not Broken and her newest gem, You, Me and Our ADHD Family. Tamara's expertise and warmth shine through as she unveils the intricacies of ADHD, making the seemingly complex condition understandable and relatable. In this episode, Tamara shares some mind-blowing insights: What ADHD Really Is: Catherine and Tamara dive deep into the nitty-gritty of ADHD, exploring its hereditary nature and how it affects both kids and parents. Spoiler: If your kids have ADHD, chances are you might be dealing with it too! Common Misconceptions: ADHD is often misunderstood, and it’s not just about being hyper or inattentive. Navigating the Chaos at Home: Tamara explains the unique way ADHD brains function compared to neurotypical brains, leading to those seemingly insurmountable everyday tasks. Don't worry, you're not alone! Convergent vs. Divergent Thinking: Ever wonder why you (or your kids) think differently? Learn how neurotypical folks rely on convergent thinking while those with ADHD often excel in divergent thinking, looking at the big picture and making unexpected connections. Embracing Challenges with Grace: Discover how to ditch the negative self-talk and motivate yourself compassionately when you live with ADHD. Living Out Our Faith: Tamara shares practical ways to integrate your faith into your daily routine, accommodating ADHD tendencies without feeling like a second-rate Christian. This episode brims with empathy, expertise, and actionable advice, making it an essential listen for anyone navigating life with ADHD. Tune in to feel inspired and equipped to create a flourishing family dynamic. Exciting Giveaway! Get ready to win! Tamara is generously giving away a copy of her transformative book, Your Brain's Not Broken: Strategies for Navigating Your Emotions and Life with ADHD. To enter, simply respond to the subscriber email from Catherine on this episode or comment on Catherine’s Instagram post this week while following her and Tamara. About Dr. Tamara Rosier: Dr. Tamara Rosier is a renowned expert in the ADHD field. She’s the founder of the ADHD Center of West Michigan and serves as the president of the ADHD Coaches Organization. Her acclaimed books, Your Brain's Not Broken and You, Me and Our ADHD Family offer a wealth of knowledge and strategies to help families thrive despite the challenges of ADHD. Important Links and Resources: Tamara’s Author Website ADHD Center of West Michigan: MIADHD.com Books by Dr. Tamara Rosier: Your Brain's Not Broken: Strategies for Navigating Your Emotions and Life with ADHD You, Me, and Our ADHD Family: Practical Steps to Cultivate Healthy Relationships Join Us Next Time: Stay tuned for the next episode where Catherine and Tamara will dive even deeper into managing a home where ADHD is a significant factor. They’ll share practical steps to cultivate healthy relationships and keep your sanity intact amidst the ADHD chaos. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Send us a textThe Lost Word: Magic, Reality-Creation, and the Pursuit of God's LanguageThis is the fifth presentation from our international symposium on Spiritual Yearning in a Disenchanted Age, held at McGill University in November 2024.Dr. Tara Isabella Burton is the author of the novels Social Creature, The World Cannot Give, and Here in Avalon, as well as the nonfiction books Strange Rites: New Religions for a Godless World and Self-Made: Curating Our Image from Da Vinci to the Kardashians. She is currently working on a history of magic and modernity, to be published by Convergent in 2026. Her fiction and nonfiction have appeared in The New York Times, National Geographic, Granta, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and more. She also co-writes the Substack newsletter "Line of Beauty" with her husband, Dhananjay Jagannathan.Tara received a doctorate in theology from Oxford in 2017. She is a Visiting Fellow at George Mason University's Mercatus Center and a Visiting Research Fellow at Catholic University of America's Institutional Flourishing Lab.In her talk, Tara explores:Magic's influence on modernity, from Hermeticism to transhumanismThe pursuit of a divine language offering truth and creative powerArt as relational creation, distinct from manipulative magical thinkingThe Divine Liturgy as model for creative practices rooted in connection and participationTo learn more about Tara, you can find her at: Website: http://www.taraisabellaburton.com/ Email: taraisabellaburton@gmail.com X: https://x.com/NotoriousTIB BooksSocial Creature: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/564730/social-creature-by-tara-isabella-burton/ The World Cannot Give: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-World-Cannot-Give/Tara-Isabella-Burton/9781982170073 Here in Avalon: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Here-in-Avalon/Tara-Isabella-Burton/9781982170097 Strange Rites: New Religions for a Godless World: https://a.co/d/gOwySUy Self-Made: Curating Our Image from Da Vinci to the Kardashians: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/tara-isabella-burton/self-made/9781541789012/ This episode is sponsored by:John Templeton Foundation (https://www.templeton.org/)Templeton Religion Trust (https://templetonreligiontrust.org/)Support the show
Nels and Vincent look at how plant prickles, sharp epidermal projections that provide defense from predators and other advantages, arose by convergent evolution, the emergence of analogous traits in distantly related species. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Links for this episode Join the MicrobeTV Discord server Convergent evolution of plant prickles (Science) Timestamps by Jolene Science Picks Nels – Trees as a metaphor to understand relationships in biology Vincent – Project 2025 vs. The Public's Health Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles Send your evolution questions and comments to twievo@microbe.tv