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Join Jordan, Commish, Pitt Girl and Big Sky Brigit, along with our VP of Podcast Production Arthur. We discuss the Club World Cup Final, Jordan needing help with EA CFB 26, Commish creating the Committee in the game, La Tech joining the Sun Belt, 5 Star Punter commits to Mississippi State, Himalayan Salt Lamps for NCAA teams?, Mr. Met falling off the stage, Shane Van Gisbergen wins again, SUPER SICKO SPINNING SELECTION SEASON PREVIEW FORECAST: aka the 5SPF, we preview the CAA and the Ivy League and much, much more!!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Kevin Hovde was hired as the 24th Men's Basketball Head Coach at Columbia University in March of 2025. He returns to the Lions after helping the University of Florida Gators win a National Championship this year as an assistant to Head Coach Todd Golden.Hovde went to Florida after spending the 2021-22 season at his alma mater, Richmond, under the direction of his former head coach Chris Mooney. While there, he helped the Spiders to the second round of the NCAA Tournament following an Atlantic 10 Tournament championship.Hovde was on the staff at the University of San Francisco for five years and was promoted to the team's associate coach on Golden's staff from 2019 to 2021. He helped the Dons to a 22-12 record in 2019-20 and a win over fourth-ranked Virginia on November 27, 2020 – the program's first win over a top-five opponent in 39 years. From 2016-17 to 2018-19, the Dons posted three consecutive 20-win seasons for the first time in more than 35 years.During his first tenure at Columbia, he joined the program as the director of basketball operations in 2011 and was promoted to assistant coach the following season. In 2015-16, his final season at Columbia, the Lions finished 25-10, setting a school record for wins, and won the postseason CollegeInsider.com Tournament.Hovde played at Richmond from 2006-11. Arriving as a walk-on, Hovde earned a scholarship after his first year. He appeared in 99 games over four seasons, scoring 195 total points. As a senior in 2011, Hovde and the Spiders won the Atlantic 10 and advanced to the NCAA's Sweet 16.On this episode Mike & Kevin discuss the visionary framework that underpins his approach to building a competitive basketball program. He emphasizes the significance of cultivating a robust team culture characterized by accountability, tenacity, and pride in the program. Drawing from his recent experience as an assistant coach with the national championship-winning Florida Gators, Hovde outlines his aspirations to attract elite student-athletes who are not only eager to improve their game but also to thrive academically within the prestigious Ivy League environment. The episode delves into Hovde's strategic recruitment philosophy, highlighting the importance of integrating both talent and character, while leveraging the unique advantages of Columbia's New York City location. As we engage in this insightful dialogue, listeners will gain a profound understanding of the foundational principles and aspirations that Hovde brings to Columbia Basketball, as he embarks on this exhilarating new chapter of his career.Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @hoopheadspod for the latest updates on episodes, guests, and events from the Hoop Heads Pod.Make sure you're subscribed to the Hoop Heads Pod on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts and while you're there please leave us a 5 star rating and review. Your ratings help your friends and coaching colleagues find the show. If you really love what you're hearing recommend the Hoop Heads Pod to someone and get them to join you as a part of Hoop Heads Nation.Get ready to take some notes as you listen to this episode with Kevin Hovde, Men's Basketball Head Coach at Columbia University.Website - https://gocolumbialions.com/sports/mens-basketballEmail - khovde21@gmail.comTwitter/X - @CoachKevinHovdeVisit our Sponsors!
[Get the Full show notes and blog posts by visiting the Seeds of Tao podcast here] Description: How does a small, community-owned organic dairy, rooted in the slow-paced traditions of Amish and Mennonite farmers, compete against slick, billion-dollar brands? The answer lies in authenticity, a deep understanding of customer values, and a story that truly resonates. In this episode, Joshua sits down with Sam Ingersoll, a passionate advocate and marketing leader in the regenerative food space. Sam shares his incredible "full circle" journey—from growing up on a farm and hating it, to an Ivy League education and the high-stakes world of tech marketing, and finally back to his roots, promoting the very principles he once fled. This conversation is a masterclass in regenerative marketing, exploring how to build a resilient brand, why listening is your most powerful tool, and how the connection between soil health and our own gut health may be the most important story we can tell. Show Notes: (8:46) Welcome to Kalona, Iowa: Sam describes the unique "ecological oasis" where he works, home to one of the largest concentrations of Amish and organic dairy farms in the U.S. (11:14) What Gets You Out of Bed? Sam shares his passion for being a consumer advocate and how marketing regenerative products is a way to have a tangible impact on human health and the planet. (15:13) Building a Resilient Business: The fascinating story of how Kalona Supernatural was founded by Amish farmers and protected itself through diversification and vertical integration. (22:23) A 'Regenpreneur's' Journey: Sam details his personal story, from a farm in Washington to Yale, to a spam-marketing office in Pakistan, and his eventual decision to reject the conventional corporate path for more meaningful work. (29:25) Coming Full Circle: Sam talks about joining the board of Hungry World Farm, the very nonprofit that took over the farm he grew up on. (38:37) From Ivy League to Farmer's Logic: How Sam's educational journey taught him the power of asking "why" and how that same principle of observation and adjustment is critical in regenerative agriculture. (48:08) The Art of Regenerative Marketing: Sam reveals his strategy of slowing down, having one-on-one conversations, and building genuine, long-term relationships with customers and influencers. (1:08:29) The Tipping Point for the Movement: Sam's key insight—that the regenerative movement will truly take off when consumers, particularly women, connect the dots between soil health and their family's gut health. (1:19:55) You're Not Selling a Carrot, You're Selling an Experience: Sam's final advice for entrepreneurs on the importance of becoming educators and storytellers to differentiate their products and build a loyal following. Resource Links: Kalona Supernatural: kalonasupernatural.com Hungry World Farm: hungryworldfarm.com Savory Institute (Land to Market Verification): savory.global The Arbinger Institute (Author of The Outward Mindset): arbinger.com Bionutrient Food Association: bionutrient.org Book Recommendation - What Your Food Ate by David R. Montgomery and Anne Biklé: Find it at your local bookstore or online. Highlighted Promotion: Your Journey, Your Learning Lab In our conversation, Sam Ingersoll detailed his incredible learning journey—from hands-on farm work to an Ivy League education to deep-diving into the principles of holistic management. He learned what he needed to learn, when he needed to learn it, to move his mission forward. Your regenerative enterprise is also a journey of constant learning. But you don't have to figure it all out alone. The regenBEE United Learning Lab is your space to grow alongside your peers. It's not a one-size-fits-all curriculum. It's a living, breathing ecosystem of resources, mentorship, and peer-to-peer support tailored to the real-world challenges you face. Whether you need to master financial modeling, develop a marketing strategy, or design a governance structure, the Learning Lab connects you with the people and knowledge to take your next step. [Let's learn and grow together. Explore the regenBEE United Learning Lab today.]
Jetzt auf eine Zusammenarbeit mit uns bewerben: https://pumpkincareers.com/jetzt-hier-bewerben/?htrafficsource=organic&hcategory=yt_organic&el=BCGIvyLeagueUniundmehrDieTopErfolgeimJuni2025120725 Referenzen: https://pumpkincareers.com/erfahrungen/?htrafficsource=organic&hcategory=yt_organic&el=BCGIvyLeagueUniundmehrDieTopErfolgeimJuni2025120725 Mein SPIEGEL-Bestseller-Buch: https://nach-ganz-oben.de/?htrafficsource=organic&hcategory=yt_organic&el=BCGIvyLeagueUniundmehrDieTopErfolgeimJuni2025120725 In dieser Folge des BWL-Podcasts sprechen David Döbele und Jonas Stegh über die beeindruckendsten Coaching-Erfolge im Juni 2025 – darunter Angebote von BCG, Ivy-League-Unis und weiteren Top-Adressen. Eine Folge voller konkreter Karrierewege und spannender Entwicklungen für alle, die wissen wollen, was mit der richtigen Strategie möglich ist. _____________________________________________ Timestamps 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:55 - 4.0 GPA in den USA & Einstieg bei Top-VC 00:04:15 - Zwei Praktika im Real Estate / Private Equity 00:05:52 - Vom 2er-Schnitt zum 1er-Schnitt & Consulting-Zusage bei Big4 00:06:58 - Studienfachwechsel & Master-Zusage trotz schwacher Ausgangslage 00:09:09 - Nach 2 Jahren Coaching: Berufseinstieg bei BCG 00:13:21 - Über Gäste Live-Call zum Big4-Praktikum 00:16:41 - Master-Zusagen: LSE, Ivy League & Fulbright-Stipendium 00:18:05 - Zusage für ein Praktikum im Private Equity 00:18:30 - Erstes Gap Year Praktikum bei großer Inhouse-Beratung 00:21:37 - Outro _____________________________________________ Weitere hilfreiche YouTube-Videos: Der Karriere Insider Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@KarriereInsiderPodcast INVESTMENT BANKER WERDEN (Guide): https://youtu.be/smtlWs5WPUM?si=nLG14-z-VNx0bk0f UNTERNEHMENSBERATER WERDEN (Guide): https://youtu.be/jLK24iLsGPM?si=5DlTJvVKLf1FhpnU Die besten Unis für den Bachelor: https://youtu.be/n-YSo8ss0Ks Die besten Unis für den Master: https://youtu.be/fdKknPZzO4w ALLE JOBS NACH DEM BWL-STUDIUM: https://youtu.be/D1Ssf6uAQlY ALLE FINANCE JOBS nach dem BWL-Studium: https://youtu.be/6kD05whSvEU _____________________________________________ Wenn du dich für den Berufseinstieg in Investment Banking, Unternehmensberatung oder Private Equity interessierst, haben wir hier einige nützliche Links für dich zusammengefasst: Target-Uni-Report: https://pumpkincareers.com/target-uni-report?htrafficsource=organic&hcategory=yt_organic&el=BCGIvyLeagueUniundmehrDieTopErfolgeimJuni2025120725 Investment Banking Analyst Report: https://pumpkincareers.com/investment-banking-analyst-report?htrafficsource=organic&hcategory=yt_organic&el=BCGIvyLeagueUniundmehrDieTopErfolgeimJuni2025120725 Consulting Einsteiger Report: https://pumpkincareers.com/consulting-report?htrafficsource=organic&hcategory=yt_organic&el=BCGIvyLeagueUniundmehrDieTopErfolgeimJuni2025120725 Eine Gesamtübersicht über alle unsere bisher veröffentlichten Reports findest du übrigens hier: https://pumpkincareers.com/reports/?htrafficsource=organic&hcategory=yt_organic&el=BCGIvyLeagueUniundmehrDieTopErfolgeimJuni2025120725 Schau gerne auch noch auf unserem Blog vorbei: https://pumpkincareers.com/blog/?htrafficsource=organic&hcategory=yt_organic&el=BCGIvyLeagueUniundmehrDieTopErfolgeimJuni2025120725
It's Friday and we fooled them again. We made it through another week to bring you a new edition of Regular Guy Friday—this time from the back rooms of Boston to the dungeons of self-reflection. We talk the power of sending spontaneous messages of love and gratitude, why the work never really ends, and how even the weirdest jobs can shape your story. There's the guy who knew the stock market but collected cans, the dungeon manager with the Jeopardy answers, and the regular guy caught between two worlds—Hollywood dreams and carne grit. We dig into how crucial it is to follow your passions, the power of sending spontaneous messages of love and gratitude, how nothing's forever, and why that's strangely freeing. It's all subject to change—and that might be the most reliable truth of all. RGF Bonus: The great “comfy cuff” invention and why the love toy store might just have been a better classroom than any Ivy League. Happy Friday. Bye Betches. -- HEAL SQUAD SOCIALS IG: https://www.instagram.com/healsquad/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@healsquadxmaria HEAL SQUAD RESOURCES: Heal Squad Website:https://www.healsquad.com/ Heal Squad x Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HealSquad/membership Maria Menounos Website: https://www.mariamenounos.com My Curated Macy's Page: Shop My Macy's Storefront Prenuvo: Prenuvo.com/MARIA for $300 off Delete Me: https://bit.ly/43rkHwi code: SQUAD EMR-Tek Red Light: https://emr-tek.com/discount/Maria30 for 30% off Airbnb: https://www.airbnb.com/ Join In-Person Heal Retreat Waitlist! https://mariamenounos.myflodesk.com/heal-retreat-waitlist ABOUT MARIA MENOUNOS: Emmy Award-winning journalist, TV personality, actress, 2x NYT best-selling author, former pro-wrestler and brain tumor survivor, Maria Menounos' passion is to see others heal and to get better in all areas of life. ABOUT HEAL SQUAD x MARIA MENOUNOS: A daily digital talk-show that brings you the world's leading healers, experts, and celebrities to share groundbreaking secrets and tips to getting better in all areas of life. DISCLAIMER: This Podcast and all related content (published or distributed by or on behalf of Maria Menounos or http://Mariamenounos.com and http://healsquad.com) is for informational purposes only and may include information that is general in nature and that is not specific to you. Any information or opinions provided by guest experts or hosts featured within website or on Company's Podcast are their own; not those of Maria Menounos or the Company. Accordingly, Maria Menounos and the Company cannot be responsible for any results or consequences or actions you may take based on such information or opinions. This podcast is presented for exploratory purposes only. Published content is not intended to be used for preventing, diagnosing, or treating a specific illness. If you have, or suspect you may have, a health-care emergency, please contact a qualified health care professional for treatment.
Democrats are open with their hatred for American principles. PLUS, Robert Steinbuch, Professor of Law at University of Arkansas - Little Rock, talks to Shaun about the bastardization of law from district court judges and the Arkansas Republican poll taxes rising. And Adam Kissel, Heritage Foundation visiting fellow and author of the new book Slacking: A Guide to Ivy League Miseducation, talks to Shaun about school choice, higher education public schools vs. Ivy League schools, and the privatization of student loans.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sean Wynn, former president of the Harvard Black Law Students Association, lays out the controversy surrounding the Ivy League institution's slavery project.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.
How do you find your coaching voice? Michelle Pifer, Associate Director of Strength and Conditioning at Rutgers University, shares how mentorship and professional communication helped her establish an authentic coaching identity. Reflecting on her extensive intern journey across Ivy League and Division III athletics, Pifer highlights key milestones that shaped her coaching approach. These include observing experienced coaches, applying constructive feedback, and effectively navigating challenging athlete personalities. She offers practical strategies, such as structured time-blocking and maintaining clear boundaries, to accommodate athlete accessibility, in-season travel, and work-life balance. Pifer discusses how coaches must adapt to evolving roles, like managing and interpreting athlete monitoring technology. She also addresses common coaching pitfalls, including inappropriate language during presentations, stressing that coaches can be both authentic and relatable without sacrificing professionalism. Tune in to clarify your coaching identity, enhance your professional skillset, and maximize your impact in the strength and conditioning profession. Connect with Michelle via email at mpifer@scarletknights.com, on Instagram: @coach_pifer, and on Twitter/X: @coach_mpifer | Find Eric on Instagram: @ericmcmahoncscs and LinkedIn: @ericmcmahoncscs Show Notes“Normally, my day, let alone my week, is already planned out. So for me, it's just staying true to that because I already probably made a commit to somebody else.” 9:50 “Those mentors allowed me to be like, how is she going to address that? How is she going to handle that? And they authentically let me do it. And luckily, I definitely have a little bit more of like I'm going to nip that in the bud type of personality that I handled them well. And getting that experience but then also getting that feedback from them was a big, big milestone because I think as a young professional, finding your coaching voice, finding what is appropriate, and not appropriate, effective is super hard in a coach. And for me, that was a huge milestone” 14:40 “Then you're gaining coaching experience and on top of that, addressing some unfamiliar areas, maybe athletes you haven't worked with in the past, sports you haven't worked with, challenging personalities, all the different areas that we address in this field at times.” 15:50 “I think it's the context, your demeanor, your tone. And are you authentic?” 29:45
Adam Kissel, Heritage Foundation visiting fellow and author of the new book Slacking: A Guide to Ivy League Miseducation, talks to Shaun about school choice, higher education public schools vs. Ivy League schools, and the privatization of student loans.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What if emotional resilience—not test scores—is the real key to success?In this powerful episode of the MindBodySpace podcast, Dr. Juna shares what really made a difference in raising teens who not only got into Ivy League schools like Harvard and Princeton—but did so while prioritizing well-being.How do you raise high-performing kids—without burning them out?In this powerful episode, bestselling creator and mom of three Dr. Jenny Woo flips the mic to interview Dr. Juna Bobby, Harvard-trained educator, board certified physician, Juilliard resilience curriculum creator and faculty, and founder of MindBodySpace.Juna's kids got into Harvard and Princeton—but that was never the goal.Instead, she focused on cultivating:
Michael Chad Hoeppner is the Founder and CEO of GK Training, a firm dedicated to giving individuals, companies, and organizations the communication skills to reach their highest goals in work and life.Michael has worked with some of the world's most influential companies and leaders, across a wide range of industries, universities, and professional sectors. His corporate clients include: three of the top eight financial firms in the world, 45 of the AmLaw 100, and multinational tech, pharma, and food and beverage companies. He teaches his unique approach to communication at Columbia Business School, in both the MBA and PhD programs.Michael assists clients in every aspect of their communication: public speaking, business development, executive presence, interpersonal agility, Q&A, speech writing, email skills, and more. His individual coaching clients include varied professionals at the peak of their industries: US Presidential candidates, deans of Ivy League business schools, three of the managing partners of the 25 largest global law firms, founders of asset management firms with $100B+ under management, field officers of international peace keeping organizations, and visionaries in various fields, including the innovator who coined the term cloud computing, the most successful venture capitalist in the US for a consecutive 5-year period, and senior board members of the Special Olympics. Michael advised US democratic presidential candidates in the 2016 and 2020 races, including his role as senior communications strategist and debate coach for the Andrew Yang 2020 Presidential campaign. He also works with political aspirants at the beginning of their careers, including pro bono work for Vote Mama, an org that supports mothers with young children seeking first-time public office.His background in communication, training, and teaching is diverse and rich, having studied linguistics, theatre, speech, rhetoric, philosophy, and communications at the graduate and undergraduate level. His work in professional communications started two decades ago with achieving his Master of Fine Arts degree from NYU's graduate acting program, studying with many of the preeminent vocal and performance teachers in the country. After NYU, Michael enjoyed a prolific first career as a professional actor: playing on Broadway twice, including working with stage legends like Nathan Lane; touring to 30+ US states; performing internationally, including at the 2009 European Capital of Culture; guest starring in prime-time network television; and originating roles in independent film.His passion then evolved, shifting to launching his first and still primary entrepreneurial venture, GK Training. As head of GK, Michael developed his unique, proprietary approach to communications training over a decade plus, an approach that utilizes kinesthetic learning to unlock rapid and lasting behavioral change. In that work he has created a suite of over 40 proprietary kinesthetic drills to address stubborn communication challenges like excessive filler language, lack of eye contact, slouching, talking too fast, and more with innovative tools that activate embodied cognition and circumvent thought suppression. Now entering its second decade, GK Training has clients in 43 industries across five continents.Michael's work in academia at Columbia University spans disciplines. In addition to teaching in the MBA and PhD programs at the Business school, he designed the curriculum for the PhD program's capstone communication course focused on entering the job market, as well as Executive Presence programs for the Law school. One of the GK online courses he designed is integrated into the Advanced Management Program summer curricula. His proprietary kinesthetic learning drills are featured in the curriculum of communication courses in the Management Division. He has coached over 15 members of the business school faculty. And in a bit of...
In the newest episode of the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Podcast, hosts Chris Dortch—editor and publisher of Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook—and Kevin Ingram—the radio voice of Vanderbilt men's basketball—discuss a variety of college basketball (and other) topics:• NCAA Tournament expansion seems inevitable. We'll probably know for sure this week.• Good luck to Bryan Seeley, the Ivy League-educated former federal prosecutor charged with vetting NIL deals.• The Pac-12 is back from the dead, but would Bill Walton have approved? We think not.• EA Sports is set to bring back its popular March Madness game that Chris, and Blue Ribbon, were a part of back in the day.All Blue Ribbon college basketball podcasts are available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.You can also listen in your email client or click on the “Listen In Podcast App” link above to listen in your podcast player of choice. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit blueribbon.substack.com
Schools Out, Antisemitism In: Exposing Year-Round Jew-Hatred on CampusWhy has antisemitism become normalized in American universities? In this powerful episode of Do You Ever Wonder, host Michael Haltman sits down with Andrew Pessin—Philosophy professor at Connecticut College, author of Israel Breathes, World Condemns, Campus Bureau Editor at The Algemeiner, and Fox News contributor—to expose the festering crisis of rising campus antisemitism.We start with Andrew's raw, unfiltered reactions to words and phrases shaping today's toxic environment: Useful Idiots, Normalization, Political Rhetoric, Ivy League, Anti-Zionism vs. Antisemitism, Anarchists, Islamists,Foreign MoneyTogether, we dig deep into:How antisemitism has become socially acceptable on college campusesThe failure of university administrators to protect Jewish studentsThe impact of federal scrutiny and whether it drives real changeThe lived experiences of Jewish students facing intimidation and hateWhy fields like Middle East Studies and Gender Studies are breeding grounds for anti-Zionist narrativesThe daily campus antisemitism roundup and under-reported incidents the media ignoresThe political implications of leaders like Zohran Mamdani and why Jewish voters sometimes support anti-Israel candidatesWhere Andrew still finds hope, and what must change to protect Jewish communitiesIf you care about combating antisemitism, defending academic freedom, and understanding why Jew-hatred is resurging in higher education (and elsewhere in society), this conversation is essential listening.
Bruce joins Stew from Big 12 Media Days in Frisco, TX to break down Big 12 headlines — including Texas Tech's allege $5.1 million deal for 5-star OT Felix Ojo. Plus, Joe Castiglione retires as Oklahoma's longtime AD, a Hugh Freeze (non) controversy, and mailbag questions on Michigan's recruiting surge and the Ivy League playoff participation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
USA TODAY Supreme Court Correspondent Maureen Groppe breaks down the high court's move to lift a federal judge's order pausing the Trump administration's large-scale staffing cuts.The death toll continues to rise in the aftermath of Texas flooding. Plus, USA TODAY National Correspondent Dinah Voyles Pulver looks into the forecasting ahead of the storm and whether budget cuts played a role.The massive tax and spending bill is about to deal Harvard and other Ivy League schools a major blow.A Marco Rubio impersonator used AI voice to contact U.S. and foreign officials.Peter Jackson wants to help bring back an extinct New Zealand flightless bird.Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to podcasts@usatoday.com.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Former Congressman Matt Gaetz reacts to recent revelations regarding the CIA's assessment of Russian interference in the 2016 election, as presented by CIA Director John Ratcliffe. Gaetz shares his insights on how the inclusion of the Steele dossier in the intelligence community assessment has sparked controversy and legal battles, including Donald Trump's lawsuit against the Pulitzer Prize committee. Former National Security Council Chief of Staff Fred Fleitz delves into the intricate dynamics of U.S.-Israel relations, discussing President Trump's recent meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the challenges posed by Hamas, and the evolving geopolitical landscape in the Middle East. Fred shares insights from his recent trip to Japan, the implications of tariffs, and the shifting perceptions of Trump in Asia. Fleitz also explores the legacy of John Brennan in the intelligence community and the importance of restructuring the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Finally, Ivy League schools have seen their reputation sink over the years, author and Heritage Foundation fellow Adam Kissel discusses the alarming decline in educational standards, the impact of teachers' unions, and the rise of school choice initiatives. He also highlights the importance of civil rights audits in educational institutions and advocates for an education system that prioritizes freedom and merit-based treatment.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
From Ivy League halls to a jail cell—and back to purpose-driven leadership—Ken Miller's story is one of the most powerful redemptions you'll ever hear. In this gripping episode of the WholeCEO Podcast, host Lisa G. sits down with Ken to unpack the defining moments that shaped his journey from elite education to incarceration, and ultimately to transformation and vindication.
Elon Musk's America Party, Trump's No Tax on Tips, Mamdani's Columbia Controversy & Argentina's Libertarian Shift with Amity Dolby and Skot Sheller In this episode of Wake Up America, we explore the most explosive political stories shaping July 2025. Elon Musk's America Party: We break down the newly announced third-party effort led by Musk, examining its platform, its challenge to Trump and Biden, and its real chances in the 2026 and 2028 elections. Trump's No Tax on Tips Act: A close look at Trump's latest proposal to eliminate federal income taxes on tipped wages—what it promises workers and what's buried in the fine print. Zohran Mamdani's Columbia University Controversy: A deep dive into the resurfaced allegations that New York socialist legislator Zohran Mamdani identified as Black on his Ivy League application. We analyze the facts and the political fallout. Argentina's Libertarian Revolution: Guest Skot Sheller, a liaison between the Free State Project and Argentina, joins us for an in-depth discussion on President Javier Milei's radical reforms and what American libertarians can learn from Argentina's bold experiment. Featuring commentary from returning guest Amity Dolby, who provides sharp cultural and political analysis throughout the episode. Topics Covered: Elon Musk's America Party: Disruption or delusion? Trump's tip tax repeal: A political play or economic relief? Mamdani's Ivy League scandal: Identity politics meets elite admissions Argentina under Milei: Free markets, slashed spending, and global libertarian interest Insight and commentary from Amity Dolby and Skot Sheller Subscribe for in-depth political analysis, weekly cultural breakdowns, and unfiltered news commentary. Leave a comment—can Musk's new party succeed where others failed?
The Harvard Crimson's Head Football Coach Andrew Aurich join Blu to talk about winning the Ivy League Championship in his first year with the program. Coach Aurich dives into what he has been up to this off-season, as well as the recruiting process at Harvard!
In this inspiring episode of Better in Bucharest, we sit down with David Ridley, the founding partner and former CEO of Invesco Real Estate—one of the world's leading global real estate investment firms, managing over $90 billion in assets. David's leadership helped grow the firm into a respected global player known for its integrity, culture, and people-first approach.But David's story didn't begin with Ivy League credentials or a fast track to the top. From losing his mother at age nine to raising himself and earning average grades, David learned early on to persevere through adversity. He candidly shares how his faith in Christ, emotional intelligence, and deep care for people became the foundation of his leadership—what he calls pillar one.We dive into:How childhood struggles shaped his resilience and leadership styleWhy emotional intelligence (EQ) matters more than academic excellenceThe turning point when he gave his company over to GodHow he built a thriving, values-driven culture at InvescoAdvice for young leaders on mentoring, integrity, and leading yourself wellWhether you're a student, entrepreneur, or leader looking to build something that lasts, this episode will challenge and encourage you to lead with purpose, humility, and hope.
Sometime ago I had the pleasure to have as a guest a gentleman named Rob Wentz. Rob appeared in episode 212 on March 8, 2024. Recently Rob introduced me to a man he described as amazing and definitely unstoppable. That introduction led to me having the opportunity to have today, Ken Kunken, the man Rob introduced me to. Ken's story is atypical to most. He had a pretty normal childhood until he went to Cornell. Rob was pretty short, but he loved all things sports and active. In his junior year he participated in a lightweight football game against Columbia University. On a kickoff he tackled an opponent but broke his neck in the process. Immediately he became a quadriplegic from the shoulders down. As he tells us, his days of physical activity and sports came to an abrupt end. I asked Ken how he dealt with his injury. As he tells me, his family rallied around him and told him they were all there to help with whatever he needed to continue in school and to move on with his life. They were true to their word and Ken did continue to attend school after nine months of hospitalization. He secured a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering. He went on to get a Master's degree from Cornell in Industrial Engineering and then a second Master's degree this time from Columbia University in Psychology as he decided he really wanted to “help people especially those with serious disabilities” rather than continuing in the Civil Engineering arena. Ken then secured a job that led to him becoming a successful rehabilitation counselor in New York. Ken wasn't done growing nor exploring. After two years working in the rehabilitation field through circumstances and advice from others, he went to Hofstra school of law where he obtained a Juris Doctor degree in 1982. He then went to work in the office of a district attorney where, over 40 years he progressed and grew in stature and rank. Ken tells us how his life changed over time and through the many jobs and opportunities he decided to take. Twenty-two years ago, he married Anna. They ended up having triplet boys who now all are in school at the age of Twenty. Ken is as unstoppable as it gets. He refused to back down from challenges. He is now retired and loving the opportunity to be with his family and help others by telling his story. About the Guest: In 1970, while a junior in Cornell University's College of Engineering, Ken Kunken broke his neck making a tackle on a kick-off in a lightweight football game against Columbia University. Ken sustained a spinal cord injury at the C 4-5 level, rendering him a quadriplegic, almost totally paralyzed from the shoulders down. Ken spent more than 9 months in various hospitals and rehabilitation facilities. While still a patient, Ken testified before a United States Senate Sub-Committee on Health Care, chaired by Senator Edward Kennedy. In 1971, almost 20 years before the Americans with Disabilities Act, Ken returned to the Cornell campus, where he completed his undergraduate degree in Industrial Engineering. Ken estimates that he had to be pulled up or bounced down close to 100 steps just to attend his first day of classes. Ken is the first quadriplegic to graduate from Cornell University. Upon graduation, Ken decided to change his career goal. He wanted to work with and help people, particularly those with disabilities. Ken went on to earn a Master of Arts degree at Cornell in education and a Master of Education degree at Columbia University in psychology. Ken is the first quadriplegic to earn a graduate degree from Cornell University. In 1977, Ken was hired by Abilities Inc. in Albertson, NY to be its College Work Orientation Program Coordinator. Ken coordinated a program which provided educationally related work experiences for severely disabled college students. He also maintained a vocational counseling caseload of more than 20 severely disabled individuals. While working at the Center, Ken became a nationally certified rehabilitation counselor and made numerous public presentations on non-discrimination, affirmative action and employment of the disabled. In 1977, Ken was named the Long Island Rehabilitation Associations “Rehabilitant of the Year” and in 1979 Ken was the subject of one of the Reverend Norman Vincent Peale's nationally syndicated radio broadcasts “The American Character”. Wanting to accomplish still more, Ken enrolled in Hofstra University's School of Law, where he earned a Juris Doctor degree in 1982. Ken then went to work as an assistant district attorney in Nassau County, Long Island. Ken was promoted a number of times during his more than 40 years with the District Attorney's Office, eventually becoming one of the Deputy Bureau Chiefs of the County Court Trial Bureau, where he helped supervise more than 20 other assistant district attorneys. In addition, over his years working in the Office, Ken supervised more than 50 student interns. In 1996 Ken received the Honorable Thomas E. Ryan, Jr. Award presented by the Court Officers Benevolent Association of Nassau County for outstanding and dedicated service as an Assistant District Attorney. In 1999, Ken was awarded the George M. Estabrook Distinguished Service Award presented by the Hofstra Alumni Association, Inc. Beginning in 2005, for nine consecutive years, “The Ken Kunken Most Valuable Player Award” was presented annually by The Adirondack Trust Allegiance Bowl in Saratoga Springs, NY, in recognition of Ken's personal accomplishments, contributions to society and extraordinary courage. In 2009, Ken became a member of the Board of Directors of Abilities Inc., and in 2017 he became a member of the Board of Directors for the parent company of Abilities Inc., the Viscardi Center. In 2020, Ken was inducted into “The Susan M. Daniels Disability Mentoring Hall of Fame,” as a member of the class of 2019. In December 2023, “The Kenneth J. Kunken Award” was presented by the Nassau County District Attorney's Office, for the first time, to an outstanding Nassau County Assistant District Attorney who personifies Ken's unique spirit and love of trial work, as well as his commitment and dedication, loyalty to his colleagues and his devotion to doing justice. The Award will be presented annually. In March 2024, Ken was named one of the Long Island Business News Influencers in Law. Ken retired from full-time employment in 2016, but continued to work with the District Attorney's Office for the next eight years in a part time capacity, providing continuing legal education lectures and litigation guidance. For years, Ken has tried to inspire people to do more with their lives. In October 2023, Ken's memoir “I Dream of Things That Never Were: The Ken Kunken Story” was published. In 2003 Ken married Anna and in 2005 they became the proud parents of triplet boys: Joey, Jimmy and Timmy. On June 23, 2023 the triplets graduated from Oceanside High School, fifty-five years after Ken had graduated from the same school. Ways to connect with Ken: https://www.facebook.com/ken.kunken https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566473121422 https://www.instagram.com/ken.kunken/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-j-kunken-b4b0a9a8/ https://www.youtube.com/@Ken.Kunken https://bsky.app/profile/kenkunken.bsky.social About the Host: Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog. Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards. https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/ accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/ https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/ Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can subscribe in your favorite podcast app. You can also support our podcast through our tip jar https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/unstoppable-mindset . Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts. Transcription Notes: Michael Hingson ** 00:00 Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us. Michael Hingson ** 01:20 Well, hello once again, and welcome to another episode of unstoppable mindset. I am your host, Michael hingson, and today we have a fascinating guest, I believe. Anyway, his name is Ken. Kuan, kunken. Am I pronouncing that right? Yes, you are. Oh, good. And Ken, in 1970 underwent a problem when he was playing football and doing a tackle on a kickoff. Namely, he broke his neck and became a quadriplegic, basically from the shoulders down. I'm sort of familiar with the concept, because my wife, from birth was in a wheelchair. She was a paraplegic, paralyzed from the t3 vertebrae down, which was like right below the breast, so she was able to transfer and so on. So not quite the same, but a lot of the same issues, of course, and we're going to talk about that basically, because when you're in a wheelchair, like a lot of other kinds of disabilities, society doesn't tend to do all they should to accommodate. And I can, can make that case very well. Most people are light dependent, and we have provided reasonable accommodations for them by providing light bulbs and light on demand wherever they go, wherever they are, whatever they do, while at the same time for people who are blind, we don't get the same degree of access without pushing a lot harder. And people in wheelchairs, of course, have all sorts of physical issues as well, such as stairs and no ramps and other things like that. And I know that Ken's going to talk some about that from university days and my wife Karen face some of the same things. But anyway, we'll get to it all. Ken, I want to welcome you to unstoppable mindset. And I think your wife, Anna is visiting with us also, right, right? Thank you. Michael, so Anna, welcome as well. Thank you so Ken. Why don't we start if we could by you telling us sort of about the early Ken, growing up and all that from being a child, and tell us a little bit about you. Ken Kunken ** 03:40 Okay, well, if you're going back to my childhood area, Yeah, it sure is. It's quite a while ago, but I was born in 1950 and that happened to be in the midst of the polio epidemic, and unfortunately, my mother contracted polio and died when I was less than one month old. So I have an older brother, Steve, who's two years older than me, and my father brother and I ended up moving in with my grandparents for a few years before my father remarried when I was four years old. A long shot. But what's your birth date? Right? My birth date is July 15, 1950 on Michael Hingson ** 04:23 February 24 1950 So, okay, was was just kind of hoping there was the possibility, right? Anyway, go ahead. Ken Kunken ** 04:30 So, um, during my father's second marriage, that's when my sister Merrill was born. She's 10 years younger than I am, but unfortunately, that was not a happy marriage, and it ended in a divorce. And when I was 18, my father married for the third time. So you know, growing up in a household with a number of individuals seemingly coming and going was a little different than most people's Michael Hingson ** 04:57 households when they were growing up. How. Was that for you? Ken Kunken ** 05:01 Well, you know, it was nice in the sense that I got involved with a lot of different family members in my extended family. I'm very close, growing up with my grandparents, with aunts, uncles, cousins, as well as my sister and brother. And you know, I had the opportunity to interact with a lot of different people. It was difficult during my father's second marriage, because it was not a happy marriage, and, you know, it worked out in everybody's best interest when that ended in divorce. But I look back at my childhood, and I just basically call it as a very happy childhood? Michael Hingson ** 05:42 Oh, good. Well, so no real major traumas, certainly differences, but no real harrowing kinds of things that just threw you into a complete topsy turvy at least as far as you're concerned, right? Yeah. Well, then you decided to go to Cornell, as I recall, and I know Cornell has a, I think it's a master's program, but an advanced program in hospitality. So did they feed you well at Cornell? Ken Kunken ** 06:13 Yes, they had a very good system and fed us very well. And they have a program in hotel management, right, which I was not involved in, but there was a lot of good food at Cornell when we were there. Michael Hingson ** 06:28 Well, that's that's always important, you know, you got to have good food at UC Irvine. We were okay. Food wise. I was on the food committee for the dorms, actually, and the food was all right, but when they had steak night that they always made a big deal about the steak was usually pretty tough, and so we we had sometimes that the food wasn't great, but they had a great soft serve ice cream machine, so lot of people took advantage of that. But anyway, so when you were at Cornell, you played football, Ken Kunken ** 07:01 right? I was on their lightweight football team. It's for people that were smaller than the heavyweight team. When I was playing, you had to weigh 154 pounds or less two days before the game. So most of the people had played on their high school teams was too small to play on the varsity college team, but it was a varsity sport. Most of the people were very good athletes and very fast, and it was very competitive sport. Michael Hingson ** 07:35 So tell us about that and what happened. Ken Kunken ** 07:38 Well, during my junior year, I was injured making a tackle on a kickoff in a game against Columbia University, and when I tackled the ball carrier, I broke my neck and damaged my spinal cord, and as a result, I'm a quadriplegic. I'm almost totally paralyzed from the shoulders down, Michael Hingson ** 08:01 and so, what kind of effect? Well, that clearly that that was pretty bad news and so on. So what kind of effect did that have on you, and how did that shape what you did going forward? Ken Kunken ** 08:15 Oh, it totally changed my perspective on everything about myself. I mean, growing up, my life seemed to center around sports. In high school, I played on the varsity football team. I wrestled on the varsity wrestling team. I played on four different intramural softball teams. I worked on the summer as a lifeguard. Everything in my life revolved around athletics and being physically active. Now, suddenly, I couldn't be physically active at all. In fact, I am totally sedentary, sitting in a wheelchair, and I need assistance with all my activities of daily living now. Michael Hingson ** 08:54 So what did you do when the injury happened and so on? So how did you deal with all of that? Ken Kunken ** 09:01 Well, it was a really difficult adjustment to make. I mean, suddenly I became dependent on everybody around me, because there was not one thing I could do for myself. So it was very difficult knowing that now not only was I dependent on others, but I had to be more outgoing to be able to have asked for help when I needed it, which was difficult for me, because I had always considered myself a bit of shy person, a bit of an introvert, and now I needed to be more vocal with respect to all of my needs. So I swear, go ahead. Well, I spent the next nine months and 20 days in various hospitals and rehabilitation centers, and it was really, really difficult getting used to my new physical condition. Michael Hingson ** 09:52 But at the same time, you could have taken the position that you just hated yourself and you just wanted to I. Make life end and so on. And it doesn't sound like that was the approach that you took. Ken Kunken ** 10:04 Mike, I was so fortunate that I had a very supportive family who were with me and helped me every step of the way. In fact, they basically assured me that they would act as my arms and legs to make sure I could still do everything I wanted to do in my life Michael Hingson ** 10:22 doesn't get much better than that, having a real supportive village, if you will. Ken Kunken ** 10:27 Right? I was so fortunate, and you know, I think that helped me be able to do many things in my life that most people thought would not be possible for someone in my condition, and I was able to do it because of the help I received from my family. Michael Hingson ** 10:44 So what did you major in at Cornell? Let's say, before the injury. Ken Kunken ** 10:50 I before my injury, I was majoring in industrial engineering, okay? And you know, after my injury, I went back to school and continued my studies in industrial engineering and actually obtained my degree, a Bachelor of Science in industrial engineering. Michael Hingson ** 11:08 Now, what primarily is industrial engineering? Ken Kunken ** 11:12 Well, you know, it's kind of a technical aspect of dealing with men, material, machines, and, you know, most likely working at a business where there are a lot of different people working there, where you would try and find out what the best way of people to operate, whether it be in a factory or just in a large business setting, when you're dealing with technical aspects of the job. But I never actually worked as an engineer, because, following my degree, based on the recommendation of one of my psychology professors, I stayed at Cornell and pursued a career in counseling. And I find that a lot more suitable to not only my physical condition, but what I really wanted to do. Because, following my injury, I knew that what I really wanted to do was to devote my life and career to helping others. Michael Hingson ** 12:08 So you very well could have made the same switch and made the same choices, even if you hadn't undergone the accident, Ken Kunken ** 12:17 absolutely and hopefully, I would have, because I found it a lot more enjoyable, and I believe it taught me a lot about dealing with people, and it made me feel very good about myself to know that I was still in a position, despite my disability, where I could help others. Michael Hingson ** 12:40 So you stayed at Cornell and got that master's degree in counseling, which, which really gave you that opportunity. What did you do after that? Ken Kunken ** 12:50 Well, to increase my counseling credentials, I then went to Columbia University, where I obtained my second degree. This one was also in counseling. That degree was in psychological counseling and rehabilitation, and I decided to look for a job in the rehabilitation counseling field. And now that I had two degrees from Cornell and one from Columbia, three prestigious Ivy League degrees, two master's degrees, I didn't think I'd have much difficulty securing employment, but to my dismay, no one would hire me. This was in the mid 70s, and everyone seemed to feel I was just too disabled to work. Michael Hingson ** 13:32 Now, why did you go to Columbia to get your second degree, your masters in rehabilitation, Ken Kunken ** 13:39 you know? And incidentally, it that was the school I actually was injured against during the football Michael Hingson ** 13:44 I know that's why I asked the enemy, right? Ken Kunken ** 13:47 Yeah, but I actually applied there for my doctorate, doctorate in counseling psychology. And initially I didn't get into that program, but they invited me to participate in their master's program, and said that they would reconsider my application when I finished that degree. Now, I thought that was a special letter that I got from them because of my injury, and I thought they just wanted to see me that I could do graduate work. As it turned out, virtually everybody that applied for that program got a similar letter, and when I first met with my advisor there at Columbia, he said, you know, if you didn't get in the first time, you're probably not going to get in even when you graduate. So since I had nothing else to do at that point, I enrolled in the master's program, and I completed my second master's degree. And you know, at the time, even my advisor was pessimistic about my work prospects, wow, just because of my ability, because of my disability, and despite. Fact that here they were training people to be rehabilitation counselors and encouraging people to go into that field, they felt that due to my disability, I would still have a very difficult time gaining employment, Michael Hingson ** 15:14 which is as ironic as it gets, Ken Kunken ** 15:17 absolutely, absolutely and I was just very fortunate that there was a facility on Long Island called abilities Incorporated, which was part of what was then called the Human Resources Center. Is now called the Viscardi Center, after its founder, Dr Henry Viscardi, Jr, and they hired me to work as a vocational rehabilitation counselor for other individuals who had severe disabilities. Michael Hingson ** 15:46 I'm a little bit familiar with the buscardi Center, and have found them to be very open minded in the way they operate. Ken Kunken ** 15:54 They were terrific, absolutely terrific. And I was so fortunate to get involved with them, to be hired, to work for them, and, you know, to be associated with all the fine work they were doing it on behalf of helping other individuals with disabilities. Michael Hingson ** 16:13 So was it primarily paraplegics and quadriplegics and so on, or did they do blind people and other disabilities as well. Ken Kunken ** 16:21 They did a lot of different disabilities, but they did not work with people that were visually impaired. For that in New York state, there was a special agency called the commission for the visually handicapped that helped people with visual impairments, but we dealt with all different types of disabilities, whether people were hearing impaired or had not just spinal cord injuries, but other disabilities, either from birth or disabilities that they developed through diseases. And as it turned out, I was probably one of the most severely disabled of the people that I dealt with. Michael Hingson ** 17:02 Well, but you were also, by any definition, a good role model. Ken Kunken ** 17:06 Well, I was fortunate that I was able to help a lot of different people, and I felt that when they looked at me and saw that I was able to work despite my disability, I know it encouraged them to do their best to go out and get a job themselves. Michael Hingson ** 17:24 And of course, it really ultimately comes down to attitude. And for you, having a positive attitude had to really help a great deal. Ken Kunken ** 17:34 I think it made all the difference in the world. And I was very fortunate that it was my family that instilled that positive attitude in me, and they gave me so much help that after a while, I thought I'd be letting them down if I didn't do everything I could do to make something out of my life. Michael Hingson ** 17:53 So what did you do? Well, not only Ken Kunken ** 17:57 did I go back to school and complete my education, but I went to work and, you know, got up early every day, and with the aid of a personal care attendant, I was able to go to work and function as a vocational counselor and help others in trying to achieve their goals. Michael Hingson ** 18:17 Now, were you going to school while you were doing some of this? Ken Kunken ** 18:20 No, I finished my second okay, and now was able to work full time. Michael Hingson ** 18:27 Okay, so you did that, and how long did you work there? Ken Kunken ** 18:32 Well, I worked there for a little over two years, and you know, my duties and responsibilities kept expanding while I was there, and one of my duties was to speak at conferences before groups and organizations concerning affirmative action and non discrimination for people with disabilities. And often after my talks, I would be asked questions, and while I would do my best to respond appropriately, I was always careful to caution the question is that they should really consult with a lawyer about their concerns. And I guess it didn't take long before I started to think, you know, there's no reason why I couldn't become that lawyer. So after a little over two years, I decided to leave the job, and I went to Hofstra University School of Law. Michael Hingson ** 19:20 So now what? What year was this? Ken Kunken ** 19:24 I left the job. I started the job in 77 I left in 79 when I started law school. Michael Hingson ** 19:32 Okay, so you went to Hofstra, Ken Kunken ** 19:35 right? And while I was at Hofstra through my brother's suggestion. My brother was working as a public defender at the time, he suggested I do an internship at the district attorney's office. So after my second year of law school, I did an internship there during the summer, and I found a new way. I could help people and serve the community as a whole, and I really enjoyed that work. So when I was in my third year of law school, I applied for a full time position with the district attorney's office, and I was very fortunate that the district attorney was a very progressive, self confident individual who based his hiring decision on my abilities rather than my disability. Michael Hingson ** 20:27 Wow, that had to be, especially back then, a fairly, as you said, progressive, but an amazing thing to do, because even today, there are so many times that we get challenges and too many things thrown in our way, but you had someone who really thought enough of you and obviously decided that your abilities were such on the job that you could do Ken Kunken ** 20:51 it. I was very fortunate to have come in contact with the district attorney at the time. His name was Dennis Dillon, and he seemed to know that when I'd go to court, a jury was not going to base its verdict on my inability to walk, but rather on my skill and competence as an attorney. And thanks to the training and guidance I received in the office, I became a very confident and competent, skilled trial attorney Michael Hingson ** 21:22 well, and it had to be the way you projected yourself that would convince a jury to decide cases in the right way. So again, kudos to you. Ken Kunken ** 21:33 Thank you. Well, I certainly did my best to do that, and at the time that I applied for this job, I didn't know of any quadriplegics that were trial attorneys. May have been some, but I didn't know of any. Certainly there were none on Long Island, and certainly no assistant district attorneys at the time that I knew of who were quadriplegics. Michael Hingson ** 21:59 Now, of course, the question that comes to mind is, so was the office accessible? Ken Kunken ** 22:05 No question. And you know, let me just go further by telling you that my first day in court, I couldn't even fit through the swinging doorways in the courtroom. They were too narrow to let me get through to get to the prosecutor's table, because my electric wheelchair was too wide. Michael Hingson ** 22:24 What did you do? Or what happened? Ken Kunken ** 22:27 Well, eventually they had to take off the swinging doorways and the screws and bolts that kept them in place, but usually I had to go very roundabout on a long way to get to the back of each courtroom and go through the back, which was really difficult. And one of my assignments happened to be to our traffic court Bureau, which was in a neighboring building on the second floor, and unfortunately, there the elevator was broken. So after three days, I was actually received my first promotion, because they didn't know when it would be fixed. But eventually I was able to get into court, and I did a lot of litigation while I was Michael Hingson ** 23:10 there. How did judges react to all of this? Ken Kunken ** 23:15 You know, it was very new to them as well. And you know, there are times when you needed to approach the bench and talk very quietly, you know, to so the jury wouldn't hear you, and it was very difficult, because benches are elevated, yeah. And I had difficulty approaching the bench or even turning my head side enough to look up at the judges and then for them to hear me. And sometimes they would have to get off the bench, and, you know, meet me on the side of the courtroom to have conferences and but for the most part, I thought they were very supportive. I thought they appreciated the hard work that I was doing, and I think they tried to be accommodating when they could. Michael Hingson ** 23:58 Did you ever encounter any that just were totally intolerant of all of it, Ken Kunken ** 24:02 sure, you know, many of them were very impatient. Some of them had difficulty hearing and when I was trying to look up and talk to them without the jury hearing, some of them had trouble hearing me because, you know, they were much higher up than I was in my wheelchair. So it was very challenging. Michael Hingson ** 24:23 I was involved in a lawsuit against an airline because they wouldn't allow me and my guide dog to sit where we wanted to sit on the airplane, which was in direct violation of even the rules of the airline. And when it went to court, the judge who was assigned it was a federal judge, and he was like 80, and he just couldn't hear anything at all. It was, it was really too bad. And of course, my and my wife was was with me, and of course, in her chair, so she wasn't sitting in a regular row. And he even grilled her, what are you doing? Why aren't you sitting in a row? And she said, I'm in a wheelchair. Oh, yeah, it's amazing that hopefully we are we have progressed a little bit from a lot of that the last thing. So, yeah, the lawsuit was 1985 so it was a long time ago, and hopefully we have progressed some. But still, there are way too many people who don't get it, and who don't understand nearly as much as they should, and don't internalize that maybe we're not all the same, and we can't necessarily do everything exactly the same every single time, Ken Kunken ** 25:35 right? And you know, I had the added misfortune of having my injury 20 years before the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed, and that made an enormous difference for not just people in wheelchairs, but people with all different types of disabilities. Michael Hingson ** 25:53 So how did you, in general, learn to deal with people's perceptions of you, rather than the reality? Well, that is a lot. Yeah, there are lots of perceptions, right? Ken Kunken ** 26:07 You know, many people think that because you have a physical disability, that you must also have an intellectual disability. And people would often come into my room and wherever I was, whether it was when I was first in the hospital or later at the office and speak to the person next to me and ask them questions about me, as if I couldn't speak for myself, yeah, even as if I wasn't even there. And it took a while for me to be more outgoing and convince people that, yes, they can deal with me. You know, I can still talk and think. And I think whenever a jury came into the courtroom for the first time, I think they were very surprised to see the prosecutor as somebody with a disability who was sitting in an electric wheelchair. Michael Hingson ** 26:56 I know once we went to a restaurant, and of course, having a family with two people in two different disabilities, went to this restaurant, and we were waiting to be seated, and finally, Karen said the hostess is just staring at us. She doesn't know who to talk to, because I'm not making eye contact, necessarily. And Karen, sitting in her chair is way lower. And so Karen just said to me, Well, this lady doesn't know who to talk to. So I said, Well, maybe we can get her to just ask us what what we want and what help we need. Are carrying on the conversation. Got this, this nice lady to recognize. Oh, you know, I can talk with them. And so she said, Well, how can I help you? And we both kind of said we'd like to sit and have breakfast. Oh, okay, and it went well from there. But it is, it is a challenge, and people have crazy perceptions, I know, going down the stairs at the World Trade Center on September 11, when I encountered the firefighters coming up for a while, they blocked me from going because they decided that I needed help, and they would, they would ask me questions, like, we're going to help you. Is that okay? And I said, No, it's not. But they always talked loud, because if you're blind, you obviously can't hear either, right? And it was difficult to get them to deal with all of that. And finally, I had to just say, Look, I got my friend David over here, who can see we're working together. We're fine, and they let us go because I had a sighted person with me, not that I had the ability to go downstairs, even though I had to help keep David focused sometimes, and also, there's no magic for a blind person to go downstairs. You know, you go down the stairs, you hold the rail, you turn left there, in this case, and you go down the next batch of stairs. But people don't recognize that. Maybe there are techniques that we use to deal with the same things that they deal with, only in a different way. Ken Kunken ** 29:03 Absolutely, and that applies to work as well. I mean, people assume that if you can't do a job the way most people seem to do it, who don't have a disability, they automatically assume you're not going to be able to function at all at the job. Yeah, and a lot of times, it takes a lot of convincing to show people that there are other ways of approaching a problem and handling a work situation. Michael Hingson ** 29:27 One of the common things that we as blind people face, and it happens in schools and so on, is, Oh, you don't need to learn braille that's outmoded. You can listen to books that are computer generated or recorded and so on. And the reality is, no we need to learn braille for the same reason the sighted people learn to read print, and that is, it's all about learning to spell. It's learning about sentence structure and so on, and it's learning about having better ways to be able to truly enter. Interact with the text as I tell people, I don't care what anyone says, you will not learn physics as well from recordings as you can by truly having access to everything in a braille book, because you can refer back easier, and they've done some improvements in recording, but it's still not the same as what you get when you do Braille, which is the same thing for you reading print, or any other sighted person reading print. You read that print because there are various reasons why you need to do that, as opposed to learning how to just listen to books recorded anyway, Ken Kunken ** 30:36 right? Well, I had the added misfortune of being injured well before they had laptop Michael Hingson ** 30:41 computers. Yeah, me too. Well, I yeah, not. I wasn't injured, but yeah, Ken Kunken ** 30:46 right. So trying to do my schoolwork or later work at a job, you know, it posed even more challenges. Now, of course, having ebooks and being able to use a computer, it's made a big difference, not just for me, but for many individuals. Michael Hingson ** 31:04 Sure, do you use like programs like Dragon Naturally Speaking to interact with the computer? Ken Kunken ** 31:10 You know, I tried that, and I had a lot of difficulty with it. I know you need to train it. And when I first tried it, which was in its infancy, it just wasn't responding well to my voice, so I don't use that. I've been fortunate with that with advancements in wheelchairs, my wheelchair now has a Bluetooth device connected to my joystick, and I could actually move my left arm a little bit where I could work the joystick and move the mouse on my computer, moving my joystick. You Michael Hingson ** 31:45 really might want to look into dragon again. It is just so incredibly different than it was years ago. I remember when Dragon Dictate first came out, and all of the challenges of it, but they have done so much work in developing the language models that it's it's a whole lot better than it used to be, and, yeah, you have to train it. But training isn't all that hard nowadays, even by comparison to what it was, and it gives you a lot of flexibility. And I am absolutely certain it would recognize your voice without any difficulty? Ken Kunken ** 32:22 Well, it's good to hear that they've made those advancements, Michael Hingson ** 32:26 and it's not nearly as expensive as it used to be, either. Well, that's good Ken Kunken ** 32:30 to hear. I know when I first tried it, it was incredibly frustrating, yeah, because it wasn't responding well to my voice, and Michael Hingson ** 32:38 it was like $1,500 as I recall, it was pretty expensive right now, it's maybe two or $300 and there's also a legal version of it and other things like that. Yeah, you really ought to try it. You might find it makes a big difference. It's worth exploring Anyway, okay, but be that as it may, so you you dealt with people's perceptions, and how did you, as you continue to encounter how people behave towards you, how did you keep from allowing that to embitter you or driving you crazy? Ken Kunken ** 33:15 Well, you know, certainly at work, I needed to go in a jacket and tie, and I found that when you're wearing a jacket and tie, many people treated you differently than when you're just wearing street clothes. So I think that certainly helped that work. But I later became a supervisor in the district attorney's office, and people saw that, you know, not only could they talk with me on an intellectual level, but they saw I was supervising other assistant district attorneys, and I think that convinced a lot of people pretty quickly that I knew what I was doing and that they should treat me no different than they would any other lawyer, Assistant District Attorney. Michael Hingson ** 33:59 Yeah, well, and it is projecting that confidence in a in a positive way that does make such a big difference, Ken Kunken ** 34:08 absolutely. And I think when people saw me at work, one of the things that I appreciated was I never even needed to mention again that somebody with a disability could work, and not just at an entry level position, that a very responsible position. I was convinced them, just by showing them, without ever having to mention that somebody with a disability could do this kind of work. Michael Hingson ** 34:35 I never bring it up unless it comes up, and a lot of times, especially when talking on the phone and so on, it never comes up. I've had times when people eventually met me, and of course, were themselves, somewhat amazed. I'm a blind person and all that I said, nothing's changed here, folks. The reality is that the same guy I was when you were just talking to me on the phone. So let's move forward. Word. And mostly people got it and and dealt with it very well. Ken Kunken ** 35:08 Well, I used to have a lot of people, when they meet me for the first time, were very surprised to see that I was in a wheelchair. I never would say, Boy, you didn't sound like you were disabled. Yeah, right. And I think they were very surprised when they met me. Michael Hingson ** 35:23 I've had some people who've said that to me, Well, you didn't sound blind on the telephone. And so depending on how snarky I feel or not, I might say, Well, what does a blind person sound like? And that generally tends to stop them, because the reality is, what does a blind person sound like? It doesn't mean anything at all, and it's really their attitudes that need to change. And I know as a keynote speaker for the last 23 years, just by doing the things that I do, and talking and communicating with people, it is also all about helping to change attitudes, which is a lot of fun. Ken Kunken ** 36:03 You know, Michael, when I first went back to college, I was approached by a student on campus, and when he asked if I was Ken kunken, and I responded that I was, he asked, aren't you supposed to be in the hospital? Now, you know, I was very tempted to say yes, but I escaped. Please don't tell anyone. But you know, it even took a while to just show people, somebody with a disability does not need to be permanently in a rehab facility or a hospital or staying at home with their families, that there's an awful lot somebody could do and to be seen out in public and show people that you can work, you can go to school, you can do basically what everybody else does once you're given the opportunity. Michael Hingson ** 36:55 Of course, being spiteful, my response would have been, well, yeah, I should still be in the hospital doing brain surgery, but I decided that I didn't want to be a doctor because I didn't have any patients, so I decided to take a different career, right? Oh, people, yeah, what do you do? And we all face it, but the reality is, and I believe very firmly and have have thought this way for a long time, that like it or not, we're teachers, and we do need to teach people, and we need to take that role on, and it can be difficult sometimes, because you can lose patience, depending on what kind of questions people ask and so on. But the reality is, we are teachers, and our job is to teach, and we can make that a very fun thing to do as we move forward, too. Ken Kunken ** 37:44 You know, Michael, I found most people really want to be helpful. Yeah, a lot of times they don't know how to be helpful or how to go about it, or what to say or what to do, but most people are really good people that want to help. And you know, the more they come in contact with somebody with a disability, the more comfortable they will feel Michael Hingson ** 38:04 right, and they'll learn to ask if you want help, and they won't make the assumption, which is, of course, the whole point. Ken Kunken ** 38:14 You know, Michael, when you leave the job the district attorney's office, you would go through what they call an exit interview, where they would ask you what you thought was the best part of the job, what you thought could be improved. And I'm so happy and proud to say that I was told that a number of assistant district attorneys said that one of the best parts of their job was meeting and getting to know and working with me. And the reason why I wanted to highlight that was I know they weren't talking about me being Ken kunken, but me being somebody with a disability. Because unless they had a close relative with a disability, people rarely came in daily contact with somebody with a disability, and for them, it was often a revelation that they found helped motivate and inspire them to work harder in their job, and they were very appreciative of that, Michael Hingson ** 39:12 but they also learned that the disability wasn't what defined you. What defined you was you and your personality and what you did not necessarily exactly how you Ken Kunken ** 39:24 did it, absolutely. And I think it was also a revelation that working with me did not involve additional work for them, right? I was able to carry my own weight, and often was more productive than many of the people I was working with. Right? Michael Hingson ** 39:42 Well, and I think that's a very crucial point about the whole thing. When you became a lawyer, did that change your view of yourself? I mean, I know it was a kind of an evolution that got you to being a lawyer. But how did becoming a lawyer and when go. Answer, and getting the law degree and then working in a law office. How did that change your perceptions and your attitudes and outlook? Ken Kunken ** 40:06 You know, it really changed it a great deal, because I had people look at me with a very different eye when they were looking at me. You know, I enjoyed my work as a vocational rehabilitation counselor very much. And I encourage people to do that work. But I felt that there were people that looked at me and thought, you know, he has a disability. Maybe he could only work with other people had disabilities. And I was very proud of the fact that when I became a lawyer, I was working with very few people that had disabilities. Most of them were able bodied. And I wanted to show people that you're not limited in any way with who you're going to work with and what you could do. And I think it's so important for people to keep their perceptions high, their expectations high when they're dealing with individuals, because just because somebody has a disability does not mean they cannot perform and do as much as virtually anybody else on the job Michael Hingson ** 41:14 well, and you clearly continue to have high expectations of and for you, but also I would suspect that the result was you had high expectations for those around you as well. You helped them shape what they did, and by virtue of the way you functioned, you helped them become better people as well. Ken Kunken ** 41:38 Well, I certainly tried to and from the feedback that I've gotten from many of the people I worked with, that seemed to be the case, and I'm very proud of that. In fact, I might add Michael that two years ago, the district attorney, now her name is Ann Donnelly, actually started an award in the district attorney's office that's given out annually that they named the Kenneth J kunken award. They named it for me because they wanted to recognize and honor the outstanding Assistant District Attorney each year who displayed the work ethic and the loyalty and devotion to the office as well the person in the wheelchair, right? And I'm very proud of that, Michael Hingson ** 42:25 but I will bet, and I'm not trying to mitigate it, but I will bet that mostly that award came about because of the things that you did and your work ethic, and that the wheelchair aspect of it was really somewhat second nature. And far down the list, Ken Kunken ** 42:41 I'm very proud of the fact that that seems to be the case and and one of the aspects of that award was they talked about the effect that I had on my colleagues, and the beneficial effect that that was Yeah, Michael Hingson ** 42:56 because the reality is, it ultimately comes down to who you are and what you do and and I'm not, and again, I'm not mitigating being in a wheelchair or having any kind of disability, but I really, truly believe ultimately the disability isn't what is not what defines us, it's how we are and what we do and how we behave in society that really will be what helps us make a mark on whatever we're involved with, Ken Kunken ** 43:28 right? And I think for some, as I say, it was a revelation to see that somebody with a disability had the same needs, wants and desires as everybody else. We were certainly no different with respect to that right. Michael Hingson ** 43:43 So how long did you work as a lawyer and in the district attorney's office? Ken Kunken ** 43:49 Well, I worked there full time for more than 33 years, and then I worked there in a part time capacity for an additional eight years. So all told, more than 40 years I worked there, and in fact, I'm one of the longest serving Nassau County assistant district attorneys that they've ever had. Michael Hingson ** 44:09 Now, why did you go back to part time after 33 years? Ken Kunken ** 44:15 Well, there are a number of reasons. You know, I I thought that due to some health issues, I wanted to play it safe and make sure that I locked in my pension, because I thought there would be a bigger payout if I retired while I was still working than if I died while I was working on the job. As it turned out, my health issue seemed to resolve itself, but I decided that, you know, retiring, when I did, gave me some more time to spend at home with my family, and I really appreciated being able to do that. Michael Hingson ** 44:53 That's a very admirable thing. Can't complain about that. So what keeps you going? Ken Kunken ** 45:00 What keeps me going now is my family. Just so your listeners know, I'm married to the wonderful woman that's actually sitting to my right right now. My name is Anna, and we're actually the parents of triplet sons. We have three incredible boys, Joseph, James and Timothy. They're now 20 years old, and they're currently sophomores at three separate colleges in upstate New York, and they're the light of my life. I couldn't be more proud. And they're what keeps me going these days. Michael Hingson ** 45:33 What colleges? Ken Kunken ** 45:36 Well, James is going to the State University of New York at Morrisville, where he's studying renewable energy. Timothy is pursuing a dual major at the SI Newhouse School of Communications in the Maxwell School of Public Policy at Syracuse University. And my son Joseph is actually attending my alma mater, Cornell University, where he's majoring in mechanical engineering. Michael Hingson ** 46:06 And do they all go watch football games on the weekend? I mean, given the fact that least a couple of those are at schools with good football Ken Kunken ** 46:13 teams, right? But you know what? They never wanted anything to do with football. But they are all physically active, in great shape, and in fact, all of them have pursued the martial arts, and all three of them are second degree black belts in Taekwondo. And they've all even worked as instructors in the Taekwondo studio here in Long Island. Michael Hingson ** 46:35 So dad has to be careful, though they'll take you out, huh? Ken Kunken ** 46:39 You bet. In fact, I've got my own three personal bodyguards when Michael Hingson ** 46:43 I got right, you can't do better than that. And and Anna, which I'll bet is more formidable than all of them Ken Kunken ** 46:53 on, is incredible. I mean, she is just a force that is unstoppable. She's incredible. Michael Hingson ** 47:01 Well, that's cool all the way around, and it's, it's great that you, you have a good neighborhood around you to support you, and I think we all need that. That's that's pretty important to to deal with. So with your job and all that, now that you are retired, I don't know whether you have much stress in your life, but how do you deal with stress? And how does stress affect you and or does it make any difference with a disability? Ken Kunken ** 47:30 It sure does. It's an interesting question, because before my injury, one of the ways I would deal with stress would be out of the football field, yeah, you know, being physically active, running into an individual, you know, to tackle or block, that was a great way to relieve some of my stress. Once I had my injury, I no longer had that outlet, so I had to find different ways of dealing with it. One of my ways was, you know, trying to sit outside and sit in the garden or by water and, you know, just enjoy nature and try and relax and clear my mind. But now my best stress relievers are my three children. I'm spending time with them, watching all that they're doing. I find that the best way of me to be able to relax and relieve any anxieties that I have? Michael Hingson ** 48:23 Well, I think there's a lot of value in doing things that keep you calm and focused. I think that is the best way to deal with stress. All too often, we don't think or be introspective about ourselves and our lives, and we don't really step back and get rid of that stress mentally, and that's where it really all comes from. I mean, I know people have physical manifestations of stress and so on, but I would submit that typically, stress is so much more an emotional thing because we haven't learned how to deal with it, and you clearly have Ken Kunken ** 49:02 it took a while, but yeah, now I have my family to help every step of the way, and that includes relieving the stress that I've under. Michael Hingson ** 49:10 Yeah, and stress is important to get rid of and not have around. It will help you live a whole lot longer not to have stress I just went through a week ago and op was, you know, an operation to change a heart valve. And people keep asking me, well, Weren't you worried? Weren't you stressed over that? And my answer was, No, I had no control over it really happening to my knowledge, I don't think that I've been a very poor eater, and all of my arteries and everything were good. And so no, I wasn't stressed, even when I first learned that there was an issue and wasn't an emergency room for over 24 hours, mostly sitting around, I chose not to be stressed, and it was a choice. And so I just listened to things around me and became quite entertained at some of the people. People who were in the emergency room with me, but being stressed wasn't going to do anything to help the process at all. So I refuse to get stressed. Ken Kunken ** 50:09 That's great. And you know, I think this finally retiring has helped me deal with stress as well, because working as an assistant district attorney, there can be a lot of stressful situations in the office, and it's, it's nice to finally be retired and be able to enjoy all of my activities outside of the office. Michael Hingson ** 50:33 What would you say is probably the most stressful thing that you had to endure as an attorney? You were, I mean, you did this for 40 years, or almost 40 years? So what? Well, actually, yeah, for 40 years. So what would you say is the most stressful thing that you ever had to deal with? Ken Kunken ** 50:50 Well, I had to rely on, you know, my memory, because it was difficult for me even turning pages of a book or pulling, you know, pieces of paper out of a file, and there was a lot of paperwork that you get to be familiar with, whether they be grand jury testimony or prior witness statements. And I had to rely a lot of my memory and through the help of student interns or paralegals or secretaries, and it was very difficult. And I might add, you know, just to give you one anecdote, one day after I had convicted a defendant of, you know, felony, you know, he was a person with a lot of prior involvement with the criminal justice system, and I was about to go down for his sentencing, he jumped in the elevator with me, and now we're alone in the elevator riding down, and here I am with this person that I convicted of a serious case, and I'm about to recommend that he go to an upstate prison. And he approaches me and says, I have a proposition for you. If you don't send me to jail, I'll agree to work as your personal care attendant for a year, which really struck me as odd. I mean, he must have thought that working for me for a year would be the equivalent of going to prison for a few years. But fortunately, the elevator door opened and I politely turned down his request and went to court, and he was sentenced to two to four years in an upstate prison. Michael Hingson ** 52:28 Still was creative, 52:30 right? Michael Hingson ** 52:33 So in all of your life and all the things you've done, what are you most proud Ken Kunken ** 52:36 of, well, but definitely most proud of my family life? I mean, as I indicated, I'm married now, married for more than 21 years now, my three boys are sophomores in college and doing absolutely great, and make me proud every single day. But I'm proud of the fact that I was able to go back to school, complete my education and work at a job and earn a living where I was able to support myself and able to purchase a house and live now with my wife and children and lead as just about as normal a life as any other family would lead. Michael Hingson ** 53:18 Now being married to Ana is that your first marriage? It sure is. So there we go. Well, I hear you and but you guys met late, and I'm going to step out on a limb and say it proves something that I've always felt, which is, you'll get married when the right person comes along, especially if you're mature enough to recognize it, Ken Kunken ** 53:41 you're right. And I was very fortunate that the right person came along in my life, and we have a very happy marriage that I cannot picture life without him right now, Michael Hingson ** 53:56 my wife and I got married when I was 32 she was 33 but we knew what we wanted in a partner, and when we first met each other, it just sort of clicked right from the beginning. We met in January of 1982 and in July, I asked her to marry me, and we got married in November of 1982 and so we were married for 40 years before she passed. And you know, there are always challenges, but, but you deal with it. So it must have been really an interesting time and an interesting life, suddenly discovering you have three boy triplets. Ken Kunken ** 54:31 You know, it really was well, you know, when I decided to get married, she told me that she wanted to have my baby, and not just any baby my baby, she said she wanted to see a little pumpkin running around our home. And this really seemed impossible at the time. I had been paralyzed for more than 30 years, and I was already in my 50s, but we looked into various options, including in vitro fertilization and. And we're very excited, excited to learn we could still, I could still father a child. So we pursued it. And you know, through good fortune, good luck, and I guess somebody smiling on us from above, Anna became pregnant with triplets, and I couldn't be happier to have these three wonderful boys in my life. Michael Hingson ** 55:21 So did becoming a father change you? Or how did you evolve? When that all happened, Ken Kunken ** 55:26 it sure did. I mean, you know, it went from me being number one in honors life to suddenly being number four after all, three boys got the attention they needed, but it was wonderful for me to be able to help shape their lives and guide them so that they would develop the right character and values and learn the importance of helping others throughout their lives, which they do, and It's I think it's made me a better person, being able to help and guide them. That's cool. Michael Hingson ** 56:07 Well, the the other thing I would ask is, if you had a chance to go back and talk to a younger Ken, what would you say? What would you teach them so that they would maybe make mistakes that you made? Ken Kunken ** 56:18 Well, I'd say there's an awful lot you could still do in life, even without your physical movement, and sometimes it takes a lot of patience and a lot of self reflection, but to realize there's an awful lot you can do and that they need to keep their expectations high for themselves as well as for others, and to realize that just because something has not been done before doesn't mean they cannot do it now. They've got to find different ways of approaching problems and handling it and developing some self confidence in themselves and their ability to deal with difficult situations. Michael Hingson ** 57:03 How did the Americans with Disabilities Act improve all that you did and make your life, especially on the job, better? Ken Kunken ** 57:12 Well, it, you know, made facilities so much more accessible. When I first went back to college, there was not one ramp or curb cut on the entire campus. On my first day back in school, I had to be either pulled up or bounced down close to 100 steps just to attend my classes, and as I indicated, in the DAs office, I couldn't even fit through the swinging doorways to get in the courtroom. So it made it tremendously easier to not have to deal with all the physical challenges, but it also made it better for dealing with other people and their attitudes about dealing with people with disabilities, because thanks to the Americans with Disabilities Act, you see more people with disabilities out in public. So people are more used to seeing, dealing, interacting with people, and seeing what they can do and that they're just like everybody else. And as a result, people's attitudes have been changing, and I think that's helped me as well, in many different ways. Michael Hingson ** 58:20 Cool, well, you have written a book about all of this. Tell me about the book. Ken Kunken ** 58:27 Okay, I actually started writing a book when I was still in the rehab facility. Not long after I was hurt, a friend of my aunt Lorraine's by the name of Albert meglan visited me in the hospital and thought that one it may help me deal with my depression by talking about what I was going through, but also inform other individuals what a spinal cord injury was like and what's involved with rehabilitation. So he used to visit me in the rehab facility one day a week for a number of weeks for me to start writing a book about my experiences. And then when I went back to school, I started working on it on my own, but I would pick it up and stop and start and stop again over the course of 50 years. And then once I retired, I had more time to sit down with my wife, and I would dictate to her, and she would type it on her laptop computer until we finally finished my memoir, which is called I dream of things that never were, the Ken kunken story, and it's published by a company called 12 tables Press, and they could learn more about my book by going on my website, which is kenkunkin.com and I might add that where I got the title of my book was six months after my injury. I was asked to testify before a United States Health subcommittee chaired by Senate. Senator Edward Kennedy. And eight days after my testimony, Senator Kennedy sent me a glass paperweight in the mail that had an inscription on it that the senator said his late brother Robert Kennedy liked very much. And the inscription read, some men see things as they are and say, Why I dream of things that never were. And say, why not? And that's where I got the title of my book. I dream of things that never were. Michael Hingson ** 1:00:28 Yeah, that's cool. And where can people get the book? Ken Kunken ** 1:00:35 Well, it's available on Amazon. It's also available at the Cornell bookstore, and if they go on my website, Ken kunken.com spellkin For me, please. It's K U N, as in Nancy. K e n that tells of a number of ways that they could purchase the book, both the hardcover book, it's also available as a Kindle version as an e book, and just recently, we put it out as an audio book as well. And they could learn all about it by going to the website, but certainly it's available on Amazon. If they wanted to order in bulk, they could contact my publisher directly, and he could help them fulfill that type of order. Cool. Michael Hingson ** 1:01:22 That is great. So now the real question is, are there any more books in Ken to come out? Ken Kunken ** 1:01:28 Well, this book took me 50 years to I know you got to go a little bit faster. So no, I think I wrote down everything that I wanted to convey to people in that book, and now I'm actively just promoting the book like you. I've spoken at a number of different events as a motivational speaker, and you know, the book has given me a way to get m
Mike Pesca, host of The Gist, matches wits with Bradley on a wide range topics: the best sporting events to see in person, the most admirable world leaders of the 21st century, what its like not to feel stress, why America is fine with the Ivy League being destroyed, are sociopaths happier than the rest of us, who still believes that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone, the pros and (mostly) cons of mushy food, plus much more.This episode was taped at P&T Knitwear at 180 Orchard Street — New York City's only free podcast recording studio.Send us an email with your thoughts on today's episode: info@firewall.media.Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.
Heeding President Reagan’s 1989 Farewell Address and his call for “informed patriotism.” The Democratic Party continually flirts with anti-American activism. We're joined by John Dombroski, founder and president of Grand Canyon Planning Associates. The University of Pennsylvania and the Department of Education have come to a voluntary agreement to prevent biological males from competing on biological female sports teams at the Ivy League university.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Alphabetical List of All Episodes with LinksEpisode Highlights: Comparing Big State Schools and Ivy League Admissions with Experts from Michigan State and Brown UniversityIn this episode I am joined by two distinguished guests: Larry Alterman, Manager of East Coast Recruitment at Michigan State University, and Logan Powell, Associate Provost for Enrollment and Dean of Admission at Brown University. Together, they explore the nuanced differences and surprising similarities between the admissions processes at a large public university and a prestigious Ivy League institution. Below are the top five takeaways from this insightful discussion:Unique Appeal of Each Institution
In this marathon pre–Fourth of July broadcast, CannCon and Chris Paul break down the Senate's passage of Trump's massive “One Big Beautiful Bill,” exploring whether the legislation is a genuine America First achievement or an elaborate setup to expose the unit party. They debate potential moves like line-item vetoes, impoundments, and rescissions, and how these could reshape executive power and funding battles. The hosts also cover the end of USAID as a standalone agency, with foreign aid shifting under the State Department and igniting media panic over “14 million projected deaths.” They tackle Elon Musk's threats to launch the America Party, the political theater around CBS paying Trump a massive settlement, and arguments over free speech after CNN promoted an app tracking ICE agents. Other highlights include John Diddy Combs's partial conviction, Ukraine weapons cuts, and Luhansk's final integration into Russia. The episode wraps with Trump's vow to claw back funding from Ivy League schools pushing transgender athletes, reflections on the Smith-Mundt Act's propaganda legacy, and an epic tangent about the broken two-party system.
Join host Geoffrey Rubin, MD, MBA, FACR, for a candid and wide-ranging conversation with Mitchell D. Schnall, MD, PhD, FACR—Professor of Radiology and Senior Vice President for Data and Technology Solutions at Penn Medicine. A highly accomplished radiology researcher and leader, Dr. Schnall served for 12 years as Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Radiology at the University of Pennsylvania, followed by another 12 years as Chair. His national leadership includes serving as Chair of ACRIN and the ACR Commission on Research, as well as President of the Academy for Radiology and Biomedical Imaging Research. His research contributions have earned him election to the American Society for Clinical Investigation, the Association of American Physicians, and the National Academy of Medicine. In this episode, Dr. Schnall reflects on his journey—from a curious kid with a ham radio license and an Ivy League gymnast to a nationally recognized leader in academic radiology. He shares how his background in physics and engineering shaped his hands-on approach to problem-solving, innovation, and leadership—including his early work developing MRI coils and his unexpected path into breast imaging research. Dr. Schnall also discusses lessons from his time leading Penn Radiology, his philosophy on team building and faculty development, and why embracing discomfort, trusting others, and taking smart risks are essential traits for effective leadership. With humility, clarity, and a touch of humor, Dr. Schnall offers valuable insights into the realities of leading in academic medicine, the importance of intellectual generosity, and the power of staying curious throughout one's career. Don't miss this thoughtful conversation with a leader who continues to shape the future of radiology—while never losing sight of the joy in figuring things out. Behind the Mic! Dr. Schnall and his wife have been married for 37 years. Together, they have a 32-year-old daughter, a 29-year-old son, and an 11-month-old granddaughter! When he's not working, Dr. Schnall loves to take things apart and put them back together. He is a serious “DIYer”, having renovated his own kitchen and multiple bathrooms at his home. He also enjoys riding his bicycle and eating spicey hot peppers!
An Ivy League school is updating its record books as part of a settlement on a transgender athletes case. Correspondent Gethin Coolbaugh reports.
I once believed - ignorantly - that “guidance” according to our star signs & astrological charts was for softheaded people needing the power of suggestion to make decisions. This conversation with Rachel Loewenherz blew my echo chamber wide open. Rachel shares her journey from a traditional background, Ivy League education, and corporate career to embracing spirituality and astrology. Along the way she experienced tremendous losses and health challenges - which along with her expertise - also informed her creation of Star Path, an innovative AI tool designed to help individuals navigate their astrological insights and apply them to their lives. Our conversation gets into the practical applications of astrology in navigating relationships, personal growth, and even in business contexts. Rachel emphasizes the importance of using astrology as a tool for empowerment rather than a means of placing blame, highlighting the role of free will in shaping our lives. This conversation was as liberating for me as it was illuminating. Post recording note: I decided to try the Star Path app AFTER our episode was recorded; it is an indispensable tool. I've tested it on deeply private and personal matters in addition to business strategy and it is nothing short of accurate and instructive according to who I am at my core. Guest Bio:Rachel Loewenherz is the founder of Star Path—an AI oracle powered by astrology. She's a Yale-educated business strategist & tech marketer, former Chief of Staff, and 2-time CEO.But that's just on paper. Behind the scenes, she was losing pregnancies, healing from PTSD, and having a massive spiritual awakening. That's when she found astrology.Now she's building Star Path - an AI that helps people remember who they are, and become who they came here to be.Website: https://starpath.app/Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2456509Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starpathapp/ About Jen Oliver:I pursue and create environments where we converse on the REAL stuff that changes us. I'm designed to bring others on my personal journey with honest admissions to help us all transform - that's my sweetspot and I speak, lead, and write from that space.REAL conversations stir deeper connection and community - to explore ways that you can work with me, go to:email: jen@REALjenoliver.compodcast website: ListenForREAL.com90-day TEDx Talk ACCELERATORWomanSpeak™website: REALJenOliver.comLinkedIn:@realjenoliverInstagram: @realjenoliverFacebook: @realjenoliverIf you believe conversations like these belong in the world, please subscribe, rate & review this podcast - and even better, share it with someone else as a REAL conversation starter. Subscribe to all things Jen at REALJenOliver.
How are the nation's most elite universities navigating the Trump administration? Harvard was recently been informed by the Trump administration that the school has violated federal civil rights law over how it treats Jewish and Israeli students. Allegations of civil rights violations are just the latest troubles for the Ivy Leagues, as Columbia University received a formal warning for their conduct back in May. President Emeritus of Purdue University and former Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels joins to explain navigating Trump administration criticism, legal action, and frozen federal grants. The Supreme Court has finished its term, and the final rulings were all wins for the Trump administration on a variety of issues, such as abortion funding, parental rights in schools, and limiting the power of federal judges. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson criticized these outcomes, arguing that the 6-3 conservative majority holds too much power. Former federal prosecutor Jim Trusty joins to discuss the latest Supreme Court decisions. Plus, commentary from FOX News contributor and host of The Jason In The House podcast, Jason Chaffetz. Photo Credit: AP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
From The BG AD Group Studio, Welcome to the Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast. Today is Tuesday, July 1st and Happy Birthday to Richard Lewis I’m Peyton Spurlock and here are your top stories presented by KIA Mall of Georgia Gwinnett DA's Office Child Fatality Review Committee named best in Georgia Piedmont Eastside Continues Lunch & Learn Series with Focus on Cardiac Emergencies Arrests made in fatal shooting at Norcross area hotel All of this and more is coming up on the Gwinnett Daily Post podcast, and if you are looking for community news, we encourage you to listen and subscribe! STORY 1: Gwinnett DA's Office Child Fatality Review Committee named best in Georgia State law enforcement officials are praising Gwinnett County's Child Fatality Review Committee for its outstanding work in improving child safety policies. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation named the committee, part of the Gwinnett District Attorney’s Office, as the 2025 CFR Committee of the Year. The team, which includes law enforcement, healthcare, educators, and social services, reviews child fatality cases to identify patterns and enhance safety measures. Gwinnett DA Patsy Austin-Gatson expressed gratitude for the collaborative efforts that led to this recognition. The GBI highlighted the committee’s excellence in multidisciplinary work and accountability, setting a statewide standard for child safety initiatives. STORY 2: Piedmont Eastside Continues Lunch & Learn Series with Focus on Cardiac Emergencies Piedmont Eastside recently hosted a Lunch and Learn event for Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services first responders, focusing on emergency cardiac care. Held at Fire Station No. 12 in Snellville, the session featured a lecture by Cardiac Interventionalist Dr. David Casey, followed by a Q&A with Piedmont Eastside’s ED leadership. Attendees enjoyed a taco and fajita bar and participated in a Jeopardy-style game with fun facts about Piedmont Healthcare, with winners receiving T-shirts. The event is part of an ongoing series aimed at enhancing EMS education and collaboration with Piedmont physicians. STORY 3: Arrests made in fatal shooting at Norcross area hotel The Gwinnett County Police Department announced the arrests of two men in connection with a June 17 shooting at the Hilton Inn and Suites in Norcross that left Andre Jones, 29, dead and another person injured. Dametris Bush, 33, was arrested Wednesday in DeKalb County, and Jaharri Foster, 28, was arrested Thursday in Stockbridge. Both face charges including malice murder and aggravated assault. Police are still investigating the motive and encourage anyone with information to contact detectives or Crime Stoppers, where tips can remain anonymous and may lead to a cash reward. We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.874.3200 for more info. We’ll be right back STORY 4: Children’s Museum of Atlanta To Host Annual Pajama Party The Children’s Museum of Atlanta will host its annual Pajama Jam Party on Saturday, July 19, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., offering a fun-filled evening for kids and families. Activities include a bath bomb station at the Science Bar, a glow-in-the-dark chalk art area, a dance party with instruments, and free snacks to keep the energy up. Tickets are $10 for members and $25 for non-members, with prices potentially increasing closer to the event. The museum is located at 275 Centennial Olympic Park Drive, NW. STORY 5: Americus man pleads guilty to shooting girlfriend, murdering her son Terrance Alonzo Washington, 44, has been sentenced to life in prison without parole, plus 20 years, after pleading guilty to the November 2023 murder of 19-year-old Deqwayvious Kleckley and the shooting of his mother, Deyawnday Kleckley, in Lawrenceville. The incident began when Washington, intoxicated and armed, refused to leave their home and threatened police. As the mother and son tried to leave, Washington shot them in the driveway, killing Deqwayvious and injuring Deyawnday. He fled in the victim’s truck but was arrested shortly after. Prosecutors presented surveillance footage of the crime, leading Washington to plead guilty mid-trial. STORY 6: Ivy League Bound: North Gwinnett's Victoria Na Commits to Cornell North Gwinnett's Victoria Na, a standout softball player and 2024 Daily Post Super Six selection, has committed to play college softball at Cornell University in the Ivy League. Despite missing 24 games last season due to injury, Na showcased her talent as a sophomore, going 20-4 with a 1.23 ERA and 198 strikeouts in 126 innings. She also excelled offensively, hitting .429 with 21 RBIs, 36 runs, and 24 stolen bases, earning her the title of Region 7-AAAAAAA Player of the Year. STORY 7: MURPHY: Craft beer and kindness: Officer's compassion sparks grassroots homeless aid A grassroots effort in Lawrenceville, Gwinnett County, brought together a police officer, a Realtor, a craft beer brewer, and a charitable organization to support the homeless. Officer Mason Geer, known for his compassionate work with the homeless, often used his own funds to provide essentials. Realtor Linda Campbell, inspired by his dedication, collaborated with Truck and Tap restaurant for a fundraiser. The event raised $6,000, with funds funneled through StreetWise Georgia to legally support Geer’s efforts. This community-driven initiative highlights the power of collaboration in addressing homelessness and mental health needs locally. Signoff – Thanks again for hanging out with us on today’s Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast, the Marietta Daily Journal, or the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties. Read more about all our stories and get other great content at www.gwinnettdailypost.com Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Giving you important news about our community and telling great stories are what we do. Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or your Google Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Produced by the BG Podcast Network Show Sponsors: www.ingles-markets.com www.kiamallofga.com #NewsPodcast #CurrentEvents #TopHeadlines #BreakingNews #PodcastDiscussion #PodcastNews #InDepthAnalysis #NewsAnalysis #PodcastTrending #WorldNews #LocalNews #GlobalNews #PodcastInsights #NewsBrief #PodcastUpdate #NewsRoundup #WeeklyNews #DailyNews #PodcastInterviews #HotTopics #PodcastOpinions #InvestigativeJournalism #BehindTheHeadlines #PodcastMedia #NewsStories #PodcastReports #JournalismMatters #PodcastPerspectives #NewsCommentary #PodcastListeners #NewsPodcastCommunity #NewsSource #PodcastCuration #WorldAffairs #PodcastUpdates #AudioNews #PodcastJournalism #EmergingStories #NewsFlash #PodcastConversations See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On this episode, I sit down for an inspiring conversation with Ken Miller, whose story is both moving and full of hope. Ken is an author, speaker, and resilience coach who has faced just about every challenge life can throw at a person. Growing up in foster care and later experiencing a turbulent family life, Ken went from being a promising Ivy League student to living on the streets and spending years behind bars. His journey through addiction and life on the streets is not something he hides. Instead, Ken shares it openly because he believes owning your story is the first step in moving forward.Throughout the episode, Ken talks about how he found his way out of that dark place by getting real with himself. He shares that telling yourself the truth is essential, even when it's painful. Ken also shares how big a role forgiveness played in his healing process. Ken makes it clear that forgiveness isn't just for the people who have hurt you, but also for yourself. We reflect on the idea that everyone's journey is different, and that there's no set timetable for feeling better after hitting rock bottom. Ken reveals that for him, becoming whole again took years, but it started with a little step, including getting outside his pain, finding supportive people to talk to, and learning to quiet the negative self-talk.We also highlight how important it is not to compare your pain or struggles to someone else's. No matter what you've gone through, your feelings are real and valid. Ken's message is simple: you have value and are worthy of a better future. Even if you're carrying a lot of pain or regret, you can begin again, and sometimes helping others or reaching out for support is what helps you most. Ken's book, Becoming Ken, weaves these lessons together, offering hope that, with honesty, a willingness to face the truth, and the courage to keep going, it is possible to transform your life one step at a time.About the Guest:Ken Miller is a powerful speaker, author, and resilience coach who helps people overcome adversity by embracing truth, courage, and self-worth. After battling addiction and hitting rock bottom, Ken rebuilt his life with honesty and purpose—and now shares that hard-won wisdom to inspire others. With a background in nonprofit leadership and a deep commitment to recovery and transformation, Ken speaks from experience, not theory. His story is raw, real, and deeply human, resonating with audiences who are ready to face their own struggles and rise stronger. On stage and behind the mic, Ken delivers more than inspiration—he offers practical tools, mindset shifts, and a path to lasting change. Whether speaking about addiction, authenticity, or the power of resilience, Ken connects with listeners profoundly, reminding them that no matter how far they've fallen, there's always a way forward—starting with the truth.To connect with Ken:Website: www.kenmillerspeaks.com Personal Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ken.miller.10420321 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekenmillerspeaks/ Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenmiller84/About the Host: Mardi Winder-Adams is an ICF and BCC Executive and Leadership Coach, Certified Divorce Transition Coach, Certified Divorce Specialist (CDS®) and a Credentialed Distinguished Mediator in Texas. She has worked with women in executive, entrepreneur, and leadership roles, navigating personal, life, and professional transitions. She is the founder of Positive Communication Systems, LLC, and host of Real Divorce Talks, a quarterly series designed to provide education and inspiration to women at all stages of divorce. Are you interested in learning more about your divorce priorities? Take the quiz "The Divorce Stress Test".Connect with Mardi on Social Media:Facebook -...
Smart college applicants know not to let artificial intelligence agents write their entire personal statement but might shudder at the idea of ignoring these tools entirely. How much is too much? Amy and Mike invited educator Razi Hecker to explore how much AI is just right in the college essay. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Should students avoid AI entirely when writing their college application essays? At what points in the writing process can AI be most helpful? What tasks can be AI-assisted and which ones should never be? Is there a danger that use of AI might be detected by essay readers? Why is a main thesis so critical for effective college essays? MEET OUR GUEST Razi Hecker is a Harvard graduate (Cum Laude, B.A. in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations) and a creative writer whose work appears in literary journals, news outlets, and the most recent edition of 50 Successful Harvard Application Essays. With over 2,000 hours of college essay coaching and 10+ years in education and creative writing, Razi helps students transform personal experiences into powerful, memorable admissions narratives. His students have been accepted to every Ivy League school, as well as Stanford, MIT, and Caltech. This past year alone, over 70% of Razi's top retainer students were admitted to at least one Ivy. Those who didn't landed spots at other elite institutions such as Johns Hopkins, Carnegie Mellon, UC Berkeley, and Washington University. Find Razi at League Bound Consulting. LINKS Common App Fraud Policy Can prospective students use generative AI to help with their application to Cornell? AI Is Taking Over College Admissions RELATED EPISODES COLLEGE ESSAYS IN THE AGE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE MAKING YOUR COLLEGE ESSAYS COUNT WRITING RHETORICALLY IN ADMISSIONS ESSAYS ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright, Roots2Words, and College Eagle. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, get in touch through our contact page.
How are the nation's most elite universities navigating the Trump administration? Harvard was recently been informed by the Trump administration that the school has violated federal civil rights law over how it treats Jewish and Israeli students. Allegations of civil rights violations are just the latest troubles for the Ivy Leagues, as Columbia University received a formal warning for their conduct back in May. President Emeritus of Purdue University and former Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels joins to explain navigating Trump administration criticism, legal action, and frozen federal grants. The Supreme Court has finished its term, and the final rulings were all wins for the Trump administration on a variety of issues, such as abortion funding, parental rights in schools, and limiting the power of federal judges. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson criticized these outcomes, arguing that the 6-3 conservative majority holds too much power. Former federal prosecutor Jim Trusty joins to discuss the latest Supreme Court decisions. Plus, commentary from FOX News contributor and host of The Jason In The House podcast, Jason Chaffetz. Photo Credit: AP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jake and Jay return for season 5. They recap the offseason so far, including the Ivy League joining the FCS playoffs, Nico Iamaleava transferring to UCLA, Lee Corso's last College Gameday at Ohio State, Belichick at UNC, and the new Pac-12. The show ends with the fellas picking on where they should play the Bahamas Bowl this year.
How are the nation's most elite universities navigating the Trump administration? Harvard was recently been informed by the Trump administration that the school has violated federal civil rights law over how it treats Jewish and Israeli students. Allegations of civil rights violations are just the latest troubles for the Ivy Leagues, as Columbia University received a formal warning for their conduct back in May. President Emeritus of Purdue University and former Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels joins to explain navigating Trump administration criticism, legal action, and frozen federal grants. The Supreme Court has finished its term, and the final rulings were all wins for the Trump administration on a variety of issues, such as abortion funding, parental rights in schools, and limiting the power of federal judges. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson criticized these outcomes, arguing that the 6-3 conservative majority holds too much power. Former federal prosecutor Jim Trusty joins to discuss the latest Supreme Court decisions. Plus, commentary from FOX News contributor and host of The Jason In The House podcast, Jason Chaffetz. Photo Credit: AP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Overview: This workshop outlines how the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR)—defined by rapid advancements in AI, robotics, biotech, and digital technologies—is disrupting every aspect of life, including education and work. As homeschooling parents, we have a powerful opportunity to prepare our children not just for a diploma, but for an adaptable, resilient, and purpose-driven life.
The Senate is holding a marathon series of votes on the sweeping reconciliation bill. Republicans can afford to lose only three votes to pass it—and two GOP senators are firmly opposed.The White House tells NTD that Canada “caved to President Trump” by dropping its digital services tax. We have the latest on that, and why President Donald Trump is visiting Florida's “Alligator Alcatraz” detention center.Harvard has been put on notice by the Trump administration. A federal task force says the Ivy League university violated the civil rights of Jewish students.
A high-stakes legal fight is unfolding between Harvard University and the current administration. At the center: international students, federal funding and questions about free speech on campus. We look at how one of the country's top schools became a political flashpoint—and what's at stake beyond the Ivy League. Learn More: https://viewpointsradio.org/harvard-university-vs-president-donald-trump-inside-the-upheaval-in-higher-education Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this powerful conversation, Ruslan sits down with Father Josiah Trenham, a prominent Eastern Orthodox priest, author, and YouTuber, for an in-depth dialogue about sacred architecture, spiritual formation, and reclaiming the culture for Christ.Father Josiah shares the incredible story of how his Riverside parish began in a hot, windowless warehouse next to a train track—and how, through faith, grit, and community, it became a breathtaking church modeled after a 13th-century Greek structure. They explore why Orthodox churches are lavishly built, the deep symbolism behind facing east in worship, and why believers literally spit west when renouncing Satan.The discussion expands into critiques of modern universities and hospitals, the rise of secularism, and how Christians have slowly retreated from institutions they once built—from Ivy League schools to popular art and culture. Father Josiah argues that this retreat stems from cold hearts more than just cultural pressure, urging believers to reorient their lives around God's kingdom, not escape the world but transform it.Whether you're curious about Orthodox tradition, hungry for spiritual depth, or wrestling with how to live out your faith in a secular age—this episode will challenge, inspire, and reawaken your vision.
In this episode of the Journey of My Mother's Son podcast, I talk with Ken Miller. From an Ivy League graduate to homeless addict, and ultimately a respected keynote speaker and mentor, Ken Miller has lived every side of the human experience. Now, he shares his journey to inspire others to rise above their past, embrace their true identity, and build lives of purpose. Ken believes it's never too late to rise, rebuild, and thrive. Ken Miller's journey is a testament to the power of resilience, redemption, and choice. Born into challenging circumstances, Ken rose to become a National Merit Scholar and an Ivy League graduate, but a spiral of addiction and poor decisions led him to the streets, homelessness, and incarceration. After years in a cycle of regret and hardship, Ken faced a turning point: he made the decision to rebuild his life. Released from prison with nothing but a small box of belongings and $28, Ken committed to a path of positive choices, resilience, and authenticity. Today, he is a successful consultant, speaker, and mentor, dedicated to inspiring others to embrace their true identity and make choices that lead to a fulfilling life. Through his story, Ken empowers audiences to rise above their past and create lives of purpose, proving that no matter how far one has fallen, it is always possible to rise, rebuild, and thrive. To find out more about Ken, check out his website at https://kenmillerspeaks.com.
What if virality wasn't a tactic — but the entire product?In this episode, a16z General Partners Erik Torenberg and Bryan Kim sit down with Roy Lee, cofounder and CEO of Cluely, one of the most talked-about consumer AI startups of 2025. Cluely didn't raise a mega round or drop a feature suite to get traction - it broke through by turning distribution into design: launching viral short-form videos, pushing polarizing product drops, and building in public with speed and spectacle.We cover:– Why virality is Cluely's moat– Building a brand-native AI interface– The Gen Z founder mindset– What most startups get wrong about attention– Why creators are the new product managers– Cluely's long-term vision for ambient AICluely is a glimpse at the next generation of startups, where the line between product and performance is disappearing. Timecodes: 00:00 Introduction 01:07 Early Success02:02 Roy's Journey: From College Kid to Tech Universe04:37 The Turning Point: Harvard and Beyond06:57 Building Cluey: The Early Days08:27 The Viral Strategy: Mastering Algorithms13:56 The 50 Interns Experiment15:30 The Investment Journey: Roy and Bryan's Partnership19:20 Momentum as a Moat: The Future of AI Companies20:32 The Evolution of Product Strategy in the AI Era21:19 The Importance of Speed and Adaptability22:48 The Role of Distribution in Modern Startups24:26 Roy's Journey and Product Development25:25 The Power of User Data and Feedback26:58 Innovative Marketing and Distribution Tactics28:25 The Future of AI Integration and Translucent Overlays32:15 Controversial Marketing and Authenticity34:01 The Impact of Radical Transparency36:42 The Changing Landscape of Professionalism38:26 Concluding Thoughts and Future VisionResources: Find Roy on X: https://x.com/im_roy_leeFind Bryan on X: https://x.com/kirbyman01Learn more about Cluely: http://cluely.com/ Stay Updated: Let us know what you think: https://ratethispodcast.com/a16zFind a16z on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16zFind a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16zSubscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/Follow our host: https://x.com/eriktorenbergPlease note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.
America's Ivy League universities have long been hotbeds of censorship and intolerance. Unpopular views are deplatformed, unorthodox professors are cancelled and research prioritises PC fads over facts. Donald Trump has vowed to force universities to clean up their act – but is he helping on hurting? Here, Yascha Mounk – editor of Persuasion and author of The Identity Trap – argues that Trump's campus diktats are only stoking a woke backlash. Free speech and reason are just as imperilled as ever, he says. The university could now be in its death throes. Read spiked: https://www.spiked-online.com/ Support spiked:https://www.spiked-online.com/support/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 124 of the Athletor Podcast features Zach Tanelli, Associate Head Coach at Virginia Tech. In this conversation, Zach reflects on his transition from head coach at an Ivy League school to joining the Hokies program, and why that move made perfect sense inside the wrestling world. He opens up about his mindset, growth as a coach, and how family, culture, and competitive alignment all played a role.We also get into how high-level decisions shape a career, what young athletes should look for in a college program, and how building trust and relationships off the mat often matters just as much as winning on it.
Rich is joined by Tony Grady—former U.S. Air Force test pilot and recent Senate candidate from Nevada—to break down the covert bombing mission reportedly authorized by President Trump: Operation Midnight Hammer. Grady explores the tactics and precision strategy that could have been used to carry out the targeted strike on Iran. Next, Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Blaine Holt—Air Force veteran, NATO advisor, entrepreneur, and Newsmax senior contributor—explains how Trump executed a geopolitical chess move: launching a strike, pressuring Iran into a ceasefire with Israel, and halting their nuclear ambitions. He also addresses the growing concerns over Iran's potential disruption of the Strait of Hormuz and the looming sleeper cell threat inside U.S. borders. Finally, Adam Kissel, visiting fellow for higher education reform at The Heritage Foundation, exposes the growing ideological bias and academic decline in Ivy League institutions—and how the nation's top schools are failing to equip students with truth, balance, and intellectual rigor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Creativity through the lens of Emmy Award Winner, Master Coach and Best Selling Author"Practice trusting yourself!"Rhonda Britten – Emmy Award-winner, Repeat Oprah guest, and Master Coach – has changed lives in over 600 episodes of reality television, authored four bestsellers, including her seminal work "Fearless Living" (translated into 16 languages), and founded the Fearless Living Institute, home of Fearless Living Life Coach Certification Program, considered the Ivy League of Life Coaching Training. She was the first Life Coach on television in the world and appeared for three seasons as the head Life Coach on the hit daytime NBC show, "Starting Over." Named its "Most Valuable Player" by The New York Times and heralded as "America's Favorite Life Coach," she brings the neuroscience of fear down to earth, giving you a path out of "not being good enough" using the "Wheels" technology she developed that saved her own life. She's been read, heard, and watched by millions, coached tens of thousands of clients, trained hundreds of coaches, and now wants to share all she knows with you!https://fearlessliving.org/https://www.facebook.com/rhondabritten/https://www.pinterest.com/rhondabritten/https://www.youtube.com/user/RhondaBrittenhttps://www.instagram.com/rhondabritten/https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhondabritten/https://www.tiktok.com/@rhondabrittenhttps://rhondabritten.substack.com/https://fearlessliving.org/risk/Send us a text
In this episode, we sit down with educational leader Pablo Munoz to explore the heart of effective teaching and leadership. Pablo emphasizes that loving children is the foundation of successful teaching, sharing how genuine care and connection pave the way for impactful learning. He dives into what true educational leadership looks like—leading with purpose, integrity, and a deep belief in student potential. Throughout the conversation, Pablo reflects on how great teaching isn't just about strategy, but about showing up with compassion, commitment, and the drive to help every child thrive. Whether you're a new teacher or a seasoned leader, this episode offers powerful reminders of why we teach and how love and leadership go hand-in-hand for lasting success. Quotables **All quotes are from the interviewee** "You really have to be intentional when you start moving up to get into schools." "Task predicts performance." "The most important part about a leader is that your actions actually match your written and spoken words." About Pablo Munoz Pablo Muñoz is the managing director of Muñoz & Company, an educational and leadership consulting organization. He is a leadership coach, teacher, trainer, and speaker with the Maxwell Leadership Certified Team; the author of The Leader's Algorithm; and the host and producer of Latino Leaders podcast. Pablo has 30 years of public education experience as a teacher and administrator, including 16 years as a superintendent of schools. He was recognized as the 2008 Union County School Superintendent of the Year by the Gateway Regional Chamber of Commerce in New Jersey and named as one of the George Lucas Educational Foundation's 2008 Daring Dozen – a prestigious group of twelve educators “who are reshaping the future of education.” Pablo graduated from Yale University in 1991 with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and Ivy League pitching honors. A lifelong athlete and sports fan, he has coached baseball at all levels from little league to professional, having been a minor league pitching coach with the Chicago Cubs. After Yale, Pablo continued his education at Teachers College, Columbia University where he earned a Master of Arts in educational administration in 1996. Resources from this episode: https://www.themunozcompany.com/ linkedin.com/in/pablo-muñoz-b30b2ab1 https://www.themunozcompany.com/the-leaders-algorithm https://www.themunozcompany.com/latino-leaders-podcast Join the Always A Lesson Newsletter Join
Happy Paul Lisnek Day! PLUS, The Heritage Foundation's Zack Smith emphasizes the need for currency education and tells Shaun about the GENIUS Act, which will bring regulatory clarity to cryptocurrency. And Adam Kissel, author of the new book SLACKING: A Guide to Ivy League Miseducation, talks about the importance of a classical education and tells Shaun how Ivy League institutions have sought to undermine what is great about Western Civilization by indoctrinating students with socialism.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
(00:00) The guys continue to react to some people at the Pride Parade speaking their thoughts on pictures of Bill Belichick and also Matt Patricia. (17:49) Joon Lee, an independent sports journalist, joins the show via zoom to discuss Rafael Devers and what the trade could mean for the rest of Boston’s season. (35:44) The guys react to Fred’s claim that Ivy League athletes do not actually deserve to go to Ivy League schools, as getting into Ivy League schools is the hardest part for students. CONNECT WITH TOUCHER & HARDY: linktr.ee/ToucherandHardy For the latest updates, visit the show page on 985thesportshub.com. Follow 98.5 The Sports Hub on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Watch the show every morning on YouTube, and subscribe to stay up-to-date with all the best moments from Boston’s home for sports!
On the night of February 6, 2021, 26-year-old grad student Kevin Jiang left his fiancée's apartment in New Haven, CT. After he got into his car, another car crashed into it from behind. Upon getting out of his car to check on the man who hit him, Kevin was fatally shot by the driver. After the shooter got away, the case progressed from a potentially random crime to a manhunt for an armed and dangerous man. Kevin's Youtube Channel: / @kalosthenics Jennifer Dulos Part 1: From “Perfect” Marriage To Possible Murder... Jennifer Dulos Part 2: No Body, No Problem: Guilty Verdict Reache... — This episode is sponsored by: -Rula - Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts who specialize in you at https://www.rula.com/tckr #rulapod -Olipop -Hello Fresh -Cash App - Download Cash App Today: https://capl.onelink.me/vFut/4g1zpylb #CashAppPod -Quince Check out my foundation: Higher Hope Foundation: https://www.higherhope.org/ Watch my documentaries: 530 Days: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjUWkmOjNLk Apartment 801: https://bit.ly/2RJ9XXr True Crime with Kendall Rae podcast: Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3rks84o Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3jC66pr Shop my Merch! https://kendallrae.shop Check out my other podcasts: Mile Higher (True Crime) @milehigherpod YouTube: https://bit.ly/2ROzJcw Instagram: http://instagram.com/milehigherpod The Sesh (Current events, a little true crime, pop culture, and commentary) https://bit.ly/3Mtoz4X @the_seshpodcast Instagram: https://bit.ly/3a9t6Xr *Follow My Social!* @KendallRaeOnyt Instagram: http://instagram.com/kendallraeonyt Facebook: https://bit.ly/3kar4NK True Crime TikTok: https://bit.ly/3VDbc77 Personal TikTok: https://bit.ly/41hmRKg REQUESTS: General case suggestion form: https://zfrmz.com/yg9cuiWjUe2QY3hSC2V0 Form for people directly related/close to the victim: https://zfrmz.com/HGu2hZso42aHxARt1i67 Join my discord to chat with other viewers about this video, it's free! https://discord.com/invite/an4stY9BCN C O N T A C T: For Business Inquiries - kendallrae@night.co Send me mail: Kendall Rae 8547 E Arapahoe Rd Ste J #233 Greenwood Village, CO 80112