Podcasts about Public service

Former Texas legislator and businessman Ron Simmons joins "Relatable" to give an update on the Iran war, rising gas and oil prices, and the political fight over the SAVE America Act and DHS funding in Washington. Then he turns to something more personal and timeless: how real leadership works in business, public service, ministry, and the home. Drawing from his own career, Simmons walks through the five levels of leadership, explains the difference between workhorses and show horses in politics, and shares practical wisdom for young patriots, parents of special‑needs children, and believers navigating today's culture. He concludes the show by answering some listener questions that cover church security, lawsuits, and cultivating a strong spiritual life. Learn more about Ron Simmons and contact him here: ⁠⁠⁠https://ronsimmons.com⁠⁠⁠ Share the Arrows 2026 is on October 10 in Dallas, Texas! Tickets are on sale now at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sharethearrows.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Buy Allie's book “Toxic Empathy: How Progressives Exploit Christian Compassion”: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.toxicempathy.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — Timecodes: (00:00) Intro (00:50) Iran War Update (05:20) SAVE America Act (11:20) Department of Homeland Security (12:40) Leadership Advice (16:15) Leadership in Business (27:00) Leadership in Public Service & Ministry (47:45) Q&A — Related Episodes: Ep 1314 | 3 Reasons Trump's Strikes Were Justified | Ron Simmons ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/relatable-with-allie-beth-stuckey/id1359249098?i=1000753771982⁠⁠ Ep 1307 | This Is What AOC Means When She Says ‘Worker Focused Trade' | Ron Simmons ⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/relatable-with-allie-beth-stuckey/id1359249098?i=1000750786201⁠⁠⁠ Ep 1300 | Was the Government Shutdown a Win or Loss for Trump? | Ron Simmons ⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/relatable-with-allie-beth-stuckey/id1359249098?i=1000748662175⁠⁠⁠ — Buy Allie's book "You're Not Enough (and That's Okay): Escaping the Toxic Culture of Self-Love": ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.alliebethstuckey.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Relatable merchandise: Use promo code ALLIE10 for a discount: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://shop.blazemedia.com/collections/allie-stuckey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Julia Moskin has been a food reporter at the New York Times since 2004, and her beat has taken her everywhere from the best Jamaican patties in New York to a 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service, earned for reporting on sexual harassment in the restaurant industry. Today she joins Matt to talk about her latest investigation: a bombshell report revealing years of alleged physical and psychological abuse inside Noma's Copenhagen kitchen. It's the story that set off protests at the restaurant's Los Angeles pop-up and led to founder René Redzepi stepping down, all in the same week. How do you get 35 former employees to go on the record? And what does this moment mean for the future of fine dining as a form? Julia tells us all. Subscribe to This Is TASTE: ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠, ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠    Read more about Noma: René Redzepi Steps Down at Noma Amid Allegations of Past Abuse [NYT] The Fall of Noma's Chef Reverberates in the Restaurant World [NYT] Noma, Violence, and the Line Between a Hard Kitchen and an Abusive One [Mad Food World] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Other Side of Campus, hosts Stephanie Seidel Holmsten and Jen Moon sit down with Francesca “Chessie” Lockhart, Program Lead of the Cybersecurity Clinic at UT Austin's Strauss Center for International Security and Law. Drawing on her experience in state-level intelligence at the Texas Department of Public Safety, Lockhart shares how her career in counterterrorism, cybersecurity, and critical infrastructure protection led her back to the university — and how she's now helping shape the next generation of public-minded technologists and security strategists.At the heart of the conversation is the Cybersecurity Clinic itself: an innovative, hands-on two-semester program where students apply classroom learning directly in partnerships with nonprofits, small businesses, and local governments to address real cybersecurity challenges. Lockhart explains how this model transforms learning — moving beyond the lecture hall to cultivate technical skills, ethical responsibility, and a deep sense of public purpose.We also hear from Kareem Chavez-Escobedo, now a UT law student and a member of the clinic's inaugural cohort, who reflects on what it was like to work with real clients as an undergraduate. Her experience highlights how applied learning can build not only expertise, but confidence, agency, and a clearer sense of how students can contribute to the public good.Together, the episode explores broader questions about the role of higher education in an age of rapid technological change: What responsibilities do universities have in strengthening cybersecurity at the local and national level? How can experiential learning better prepare students to navigate complex, real-world problems? And what gives educators hope about the next generation stepping into these critical roles? As always, thanks for joining us on The Other Side of Campus.

Join us in Vegas for Podjam 3! Barry Ritholtz 31 minutes Jonathan Miller 1:28 Colby Hall 2:42  Subscribe and Watch Interviews LIVE : On YOUTUBE.com/StandUpWithPete ON SubstackStandUpWithPete Stand Up is a daily podcast. I book,host,edit, post and promote new episodes with brilliant guests every day. This show is Ad free and fully supported by listeners like you! Please subscribe now for as little as 5$ and gain access to a community of over 750 awesome, curious, kind, funny, brilliant, generous souls How Not To Invest: The ideas, numbers, and behaviors that destroy wealth - and how to avoid them  The GREAT Barry Ritholtz who has spent his career helping people spot their own investment errors and to learn how to better manage their own financial behaviors. He is the creator of The Big Picture, often ranked as the number one financial blog to follow by The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and others. Barry Ritholtz is the creator and host of Bloomberg's "Masters in Business" radio podcast, and a featured columnist at the Washington Post. He is the author of the Bailout Nation: How Greed and Easy Money Corrupted Wall Street and Shook the World Economy (Wiley, 2009). In addition to serving as Chairman and Chief Investment Officer of Ritholtz Wealth Management, he is also on the advisory boards of Riskalyze, and Peer Street, two leading financial technology startups bringing transparency and analytics to the investment business.  Barry has named one of the "15 Most Important Economic Journalists" in the United States, and has been called one of The 25 Most Dangerous People in Financial Media. When not working, he can be found with his wife and their two dogs on the north shore of Long Island. Jonathan Miller is the Director of Markets for StreetMatrix, a real-time home price index series used by the financial services sector to track local, regional, and national housing markets in the United States. I'm also the President and CEO of Miller Samuel Inc., a real estate appraisal and consulting firm I co-founded in 1986. For 32 years, I authored a series of market reports for Douglas Elliman Real Estate, considered the "report of record," which accounted for 50% of their media coverage. My market reports analyzed the New York City metropolitan area, Boston, parts of Florida, California, Texas, Connecticut, and Colorado that were relied on by the media, financial institutions, and government agencies, including the Federal Reserve, Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the NYC Office of Management and Budget, and others. I am an Adjunct Associate Professor of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation in the Master of Science in Real Estate Development (MSRED) Program at Columbia University, where I teach market analysis. I've guest lectured at institutions including New York University, Harvard University, The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, and Drexel University, and am also a New York State Real Estate Instructor for qualifying and continuing education courses and a New York State Real Estate Appraiser Instructor for qualifying certified general and continuing education courses. I co-authored a research paper for NYU School of Law and the NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service's Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy titled The Condominium v. Cooperative Puzzle: An Empirical Analysis of Housing in New York City, published in 2007 by the Journal of Legal Studies at the University of Chicago. Back in 2010, I developed pending home sale indices for the Washington, D.C., and Baltimore metro areas, and Central Pennsylvania, on behalf of Bright MLS, one of the largest multiple listing services in the U.S. One of my favorite activities is serving on the New York City Mayor's Economic Advisory Panel, representing the residential real estate sector, and the New York State Budget Division Economic Advisory Board. I've also participated in valuation studies with academic institutions, including New York University, Princeton University, Columbia University, and Baruch College. I participated in and co-authored an epic research paper as part of the Urban Land Institute Advisory Services for the city of Norfolk, VA (its flooding problems are getting worse). I also authored a white paper for One Fine Stay, a hospitality brand owned by AccorHotels, titled "The Future of Luxury New Development in New York: Leaving $1 Billion on the Table." In the valuation world, I am a state-certified real estate appraiser in New York and Connecticut, and I provide expert witness testimony in various local, state, and federal courts. I hold the Counselors of Real Estate (CRE) designation. I am also an Appraiser "A" Member of the Real Estate Board of New York and a former two-term President of RAC, a premier appraisal organization whose members focus on complex residential properties for relocation, litigation support, testimony, and reviews. As a result of my extensive writing and investigative research on this Housing Notes platform, I brought public attention to the misconduct of two key institutions in the appraisal profession: The Appraisal Foundation and The Appraisal Institute. As a result, I became an expert witness for the Appraisal Subcommittee at FHFA in Washington, DC, which aired for three hours on C-SPAN in 2023. One memorable thing that came out of my appearance was the birth of my fourth grandchild during the session. On the personal side, I'm clearly a homebody and love hanging out with my wife, whom I met in college in 1980, greasing donut trays at 5:30 am at the student bakery, a part of the second-largest non-military cafeteria in the world, located at Michigan State University. There is nothing better than when any of our four sons and their significant others, including the grandchildren, are in town. For our fortieth wedding anniversary, my wife and I went to Antarctica (perhaps I'm not a homebody?) While I'm at it, a couple of formative childhood adventures: At 12 years old, I climbed to the snow line of Mt. Kilimanjaro (leadership said I was too young to summit - boo!) In middle school, I traveled to the Soviet Union on a study abroad program before the wall fell. When I was a teenager and before I got my driver's license, I rode my bicycle from Oregon to Virginia in the summer of 1976, carrying all my gear (my parents claim they gave me a one-way airplane ticket to fly across the US, and I came back!) At age 25, I co-founded Miller Samuel because I didn't know any better. In my offline hours, I love to read, explore new music, try to make snow, attempt to catch lobsters, and endeavor to connect to my backyard birdhouse camera from whatever airplane I happen to be flying on. Contact Jonathan Colby Hall is the Founding Editor of Mediaite.com. He is also a Peabody Award-winning television producer of non-fiction narrative programming, became a media contributor to NewsNation in March of 2023. He is also  a former Creative Director who launched iHeartRadio's original video offering. Check out his pieces at Mediaite    On YOUTUBE.com/StandUpWithPete ON SubstackStandUpWithPete   Listen rate and review on Apple Podcasts Listen rate and review on Spotify Pete On Instagram Pete on Blue Sky Pete on Threads Pete on Tik Tok Pete on Twitter Pete Personal FB page Stand Up with Pete FB page Gift a Subscription https://www.patreon.com/PeteDominick/gift Send Pete $ Directly on Venmo

Karolina Skoglund är programledare på SVT:s Politikbyrån. Hon har tidigare varit politikreporter på SVT och Expressen, samt nyhetschef och reporter på Metro. OBS. Det här är inte hela avsnittet. Vill du få tillgång till alla hela avsnitt? Bli medlem på Sista Måltiden. Som medlem får du tillgång till alla nya och gamla avsnitt i sin helhet och utan reklam. Lyssna i valfri podcast-app, inklusive Spotify. Enkelt att komma igång. Ingen bindningstid. Tryck här för att bli medlem eller gå in på https://sistamaltiden.se. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Send a text"Irene made all of us believe that museums could be more than things that looked towards yesterday. They could be places that are central to today and tomorrow."To celebrate Women's History Month, we are dedicating this episode to a true titan of the Japanese American community: the late Irene Hirano Inouye. As the longtime CEO of the Japanese American National Museum (JANM) and founder of the U.S.-Japan Council, Irene's vision turned a "mess" of an old temple building into an international landmark and a permanent home for our stories.In this deep dive, we explore Irene's journey from a service-driven childhood in Gardena to leading national foundations like Ford and Kresge. We also get personal, discussing the "mundane" objects that connect us to our history.Subscribe & Leave a Comment: If you were curated in a museum today, what mundane object would represent your heritage? Let us know in the comments!Links & Resources:·        Learn more about JANM:Japanese American National Museum·        The US-Japan Council:Explore Irene's Global LegacyCREDITSThe music was created by Jalen BlankWritten by Koji Steven SakaiHosts: Michelle Malazaki and Koji Steven SakaiEdited by Koji Steven SakaiProduced by Koji Steven Sakai in conjunction with the Japanese American National Museum

In this powerful episode of The Mike Litton Experience, host Mike Litton sits down with Herb Morgan, successful entrepreneur, asset management executive, and candidate for California State Controller, for an in-depth conversation about leadership, accountability, and the future of California. Herb Morgan shares his remarkable journey—from building and selling his asset management firm to Cantor Fitzgerald, to dedicating his next chapter to public service and financial accountability in government. With decades of experience in finance and business leadership, Herb brings a unique perspective on how transparency, responsible budgeting, and innovation can help improve outcomes for citizens. During the conversation, Mike and Herb discuss: • What inspired Herb to run for California State Controller• His experience building a successful business from the ground up• The challenges facing small businesses in California• Why financial transparency and accountability matter in government• How technology and data could help reduce waste, fraud, and abuse• The importance of leadership, service, and solutions in public life Herb also outlines his vision for bringing “radical transparency” to government finances and explains how real-time oversight could help restore trust and ensure taxpayer dollars are used effectively. If you're interested in entrepreneurship, leadership, public policy, and meaningful solutions, this episode delivers powerful insights and thoughtful conversation. Don't forget to subscribe to The Mike Litton Experience for more inspiring interviews with entrepreneurs, leaders, and changemakers shaping the future. Subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode!

March is Women's History Month, so we're putting your Vegas knowledge to the test: How well do you know the women who shaped our city? We bring back a conversation between Vogue Robinson and Dr. Su Kim Chung, Head of Public Services in Special Collections and Archives at UNLV Libraries. She shares the stories of five iconic women who helped shape the city — and whose impact every Las Vegan should know. Learn more about the sponsors of this March 11th episode: Southern Nevada Water Authority Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at lasvegas@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Learn more about becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

About the Guest: Wemimo Abbey grew up in Lagos, Nigeria, where he witnessed his mother borrow at 400% interest to fund his education. That early experience inspired him to co-found Esusu, helping millions of Americans get credit for paying rent and access fair financial services. Abbey has been recognized on the TIME100 NEXT List and named EY Entrepreneur of the Year in 2023. He serves on the SEC Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee, the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, the University of Minnesota Crookston Board of Trustees, LEDA, and co-chairs the LACMA Director Circle. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Minnesota and earned an M.P.A. from NYU's Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. What You Will Learn: How to turn early adversity and rejection into entrepreneurial success The power of resilience, faith, and purpose in leadership Why failure is a stepping stone and “falling forward” accelerates growth Strategies for building mission-driven companies that create tangible impact Lessons on teamwork and collaboration: going far together, not just fast alone Discover how to lead with impact, embrace failure as a tool for growth, and create opportunities for others while building a sustainable business. Join Joe and Wemimo for a conversation full of inspiration, practical wisdom, and the mindset needed to make a difference. Please rate and review this Episode!We'd love to hear from you! Leaving a review helps us ensure we deliver content that resonates with you. Your feedback can inspire others to join our Take Command: A Dale Carnegie Podcast community & benefit from the leadership insights we share.

Show Notes: Elisabeth Tavares (Weinberg) describes her journey post-graduation, dividing it into three main chapters: private sector, higher education, and government sector. Travelling to Egypt, Israel, and Spain Elisabeth shares her initial post-graduation plans, including travel to Egypt and Israel, and her work with American teenagers abroad in Ireland and Spain. She discusses her passion for international travel and her decision to learn Spanish at Harvard, which later led to teaching Spanish. Elisabeth explains her motivation for learning Spanish, including her background in European history and her love for the language and culture. She discusses taking Latin in high school and Spanish at Harvard. A Career in the Financial Sector Elisabeth describes her early career in the financial sector, starting in Boston and later in New York at Scudder Stevens and Clark, where she worked in communications. She expresses her lack of fulfillment in the financial sector and her dislike for New York City, preferring the Hudson Valley. On to Marist College and Speechwriting Elisabeth recounts her transition to Marist College (now Marist University) as a speechwriter for President Dennis Murray. She highlights the positive experience of working at Marist College for 17 years, including writing speeches and communications for the college community. Elisabeth shares her admiration for President Murray, describing him as a transformational leader and a mentor. She mentions her pursuit of a master's degree during her time at Marist College. From a Non-profit to Public Service Elisabeth discusses her decision to step back from full-time work to care for her husband, who had open-heart surgery, and her aging parents. She describes her involvement in non-profit work and writing for her local newspaper during this period. Elisabeth shares her unexpected transition to public service as the district director for New York State Senator Michelle Hinchey. She describes her role, which includes overseeing the district office, managing constituent services, and running a capital grants program. Impacting Local Communities Elisabeth details her responsibilities in her current role, including managing a team of constituent services staff and running the capital grants program. She shares her experiences of meeting with organizations throughout the district and the impact of the grants on local communities. Elisabeth reflects on her changed understanding of government, particularly at the state and local levels, and the direct positive impact it can have on people's lives. She highlights the importance of being responsive to constituents' needs and the satisfaction of helping people and organizations.  Understanding Community Life Elisabeth discusses the day-to-day activities in her role, including handling constituent inquiries, meetings, and managing the capital grants program. She reflects on the rich understanding of community life she has gained through her work, including insights into local issues and government operations. Elisabeth shares her admiration for Senator Hinchey's focus on issues important to the district, such as agriculture and affordability. She mentions the importance of being responsive to constituents' needs and the satisfaction of helping people and organizations. Harvard Reflections Elisabeth reflects on the impact of courses and professors at Harvard, particularly her Spanish classes and Michael Sandel's Justice class. She shares her long-lasting interest in Spanish, influenced by her family and friends, and her continued practice of the language. She also mentions the influence of other courses, such as the Russian Revolution class with Richard Pipes, and the lasting impact of these educational experiences. Family Life and the Benefits of Being Bilingual Elisabeth discusses her family life, including her husband David, her daughter, and their bilingual household. She shares her experiences of traveling with her family, including trips to Mexico and Spain, and the importance of being able to communicate in Spanish. Elisabeth reflects on the role of Spanish in her personal and professional life. She highlights the benefits of being bilingual and the opportunities it provides for travel and communication. Timestamps: 02:54: Learning Spanish and Early Career in Financial Sector 06:50: Transition to Higher Education: Marist College 14:13: Challenges and Transition to Public Service  17:01: Role in Public Service and Impact on Understanding Government  23:52: Personal Reflections and Professional Growth  27:06: Influence of Harvard Courses and Professors 31:14: Balancing Personal and Professional Life  32:54: Connecting with the Community and Future Plans Link: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elistavarez/. This episode on The 92 Report: https://92report.com/podcast/episode-163-elisabeth-weinberg-tavarez-from-finance-to-higher-ed-to-politics/ *AI generated show notes and transcript  

In 1944, fifty-two year old Dutch watchmaker Corrie ten Boom was arrested by the Gestapo for sheltering Jews. After surviving Ravensbruck and losing most of her family, she embarked on a three decade ministry, sharing a message of love, forgiveness, and hope. Who was Corrie ten Boom and how did she become the kind of person who builds secret rooms, undermines Nazis, survives a concentration camp, and then goes on to share the gospel with refugees, prisoners, and the Nazis who killed her family? Lecture resources: PowerPoint presentationPlease note that the ideas expressed in this lecture do not necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship.For more resources, visit the L'Abri Ideas Library at labriideaslibrary.org. The library contains over two thousand lectures and discussions that explore questions about the reality and relevance of Christianity. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit englishlabri.substack.com

Vår sista sändning från Kapstaden från krogen ëlgr. Livepodd, alltså. Vi bävar, för vi har läst hur Alex och Sigge blir sågade. Inre exil är alltid en lösning, när det blir för jobbigt. Sverige på tio i topp över "nation brand", men ingen verkar veta vilka vi är. Inte ens svenskar. Den jättekonstiga hysterin kring Mon Amie fattar vi ej och hur är det med amerikanerna som fryser i svensk vinter. Vad händer i Baltikum och Skandinavien på grund av kriget i Iran? Hur länge räcker ammunitionen och hur går det med Rysslands oljeinkomster? E-type är hemma och regeringen långsam som alltid när det gäller sådant här. Vänsterns västhat har perverterat dem - kolla nu på gamla Feministiskt initiativ. Liberalerna åker ut, men kanske borde de vara för cannabis. Men funkar det i Sverige, bara för att det funkar i USA? Centern och Liberalerna slåss om skolor - ska de vara snygga eller fula? Den stora bananattacken på talmannen. Borde inte vi ha en Epsteinkommission? Fast hur är det med svenska kommissioner, leder de någonstans? Kungahuset trumfar i förtroende. Journalisterna i public service har stprt förtroende till vänster, men ej till höger. Intressant hur det som sker i Iran påminner om tv-serien Tehran, Det är Magnus Ranstorp som säger det, så det måste vara sant. Päls: hurra! Kanske är riktiga kläder tillbaka, eftersom plastkläder är farliga. Leopardpälsar borde komma tillbaka. Bonnesen rullar vidare. Svenskar älskar falukorv, men de har glömt bort isterband. Vi har hittat färdig varm korv på Checkers i Sydafrika - vilken grej. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

TRANSCRIPT Robertson: [00:00:00] Gissele: Hello and welcome to the Love and Compassion podcast with Gissele. We believe that love and compassion have the power to heal our lives and our world. Gissele: Don’t forget to like and subscribe for more amazing content. And if you’d like to support the podcast, please go to buy me a coffee.com/love and compassion. Today we’re talking about how to become a more compassionate civilization in light of the world’s most recent events. Robertson Work is a nonfiction author, social ecological activist, and former UNDP policy advisor on decentralized government, NYU Wagner, graduate School of Public Service, professor of Innovative Leadership and Institute of Cultural Affairs, country Director, conducting community organizational and leadership initiatives. Gissele: He has worked in over 50 countries for over 50 years and is founder of the Compassionate Civilization Collaborative. He has five published books and has [00:01:00] contributed to another 13. His most well-known book is a Compassionate Civilization. Every week he publishes an essay on Compassionate Conversations on Substack. Gissele: Please join me in welcoming Robertson work. Hi Robertson. Robertson: Hi Giselle. How are you? Gissele: I’m good. How about yourself? Robertson: I’m good, thank you. I here in the Southern United States. I’m glad you’re in wonderful Canada. Robertson: great admiration for your country. Gissele: Ah, thank you. Thank you. Gissele: I wanted to talk about your book. I got a copy of it and it was written in 2017, but as I was reading it, I really found myself listening to things that were almost prophetic that seemed to be happening right now. What compelled you to write Compassionate Civilizations at this moment in history. Robertson: Yes. Thank You you so much, and thank you for inviting me to talk with you today. Robertson: And I wanna say I’m so touched by the wonderful work of the Matri Center for Love [00:02:00] and Compassion. I have enjoyed looking at your website and listening to your podcast and hearing Pema Chodron speak about self-love. If it’s okay, I’d like to start with a few moments of mindful breathing Gissele: Yes, definitely. Robertson: okay. I invite everyone to become aware of your breathing, being aware of breathing in and breathing out. Breathing in the here and in the now. Breathing in love. Breathing in gratitude. I have arrived. I am home. I’m solid. I am free breathing in, breathing out here now. Robertson: Love [00:03:00] gratitude. Arrived home solid free. Okay. And to your question, after working in local communities and organizations around the world with the Institute of Cultural Affairs and doing program and policy work with UNDP and teaching grad school at NYU Wagner, I felt called to articulate a motivating vision for how to embody and catalyze a compassionate civilization. Robertson: So each of us can embody, even now, even here, we can embody and catalyze a compassionate civilization in this very present moment. We don’t have to wait, you know, 50 years, a hundred years, a thousand years. we can embody it in the here and the now. So I was increasingly aware of climate change, climate disasters, [00:04:00] the rise of oligarchic, fascism, and of course the UN’s sustainable development goals. Robertson: I also had been studying the engaged Buddhism of Thich Nhat Hahn for many years, and practicing mindfulness and compassionate action. As you know, compassion is action focused on relieving suffering in individual mindsets and behaviors, and collective cultures and systems. The word that com it means with, and compassion means suffering. Robertson: So compassion is to be with suffering and to relieve suffering in oneself and with others. So, I gave talks about a compassionate civilization in my NYU Wagner grad classes and in speeches in different countries. Then in 2013, I started a blog called The Compassionate Civilization. So in 2017, there was a [00:05:00] new US president who concerned me deeply and who’s now president again. Robertson: So a Compassionate Civilization was published in July of that year, as you mentioned, 2017. The book outlines our time of crisis and provides a vision, strategies and tactics of embodying and catalyzing a compassionate civilization, person by person, community by community. Moment by moment it it includes the movement of movements, mom that will do that. Robertson: Innovative leadership methods, global local citizen, and practices of care of self and others as mindful activists. So there’s a lot in it. Yeah. The Six strategies or arenas of transformation are environmental sustainability, gender equality, socioeconomic justice, participatory governance, cultural tolerance and peace, and non-violence, socio. Robertson: So since then [00:06:00] I’ve been promoting the Compassionate Civilization Collaborative, as you mentioned, to support a movement of movements. The mom, Gissele: thank you for that. I really appreciated that. And I really enjoyed the book as well. It’s so funny that, the majority of people see a world that doesn’t work and they want things to change, but they don’t do something necessarily to change it. When did compassion shift from a private virtue to a public mission for you? Robertson: Great question. Thank you. I think it began the private part began very early in my Christian upbringing. I was raised by loving parents to love others. You know, love of neighbor is the heart of Christianity. And understand that love is the ultimate reality. You know, that you know, as we say in Christianity, God is love. Robertson: So then when I went off to college at Oklahoma State University, I found myself being a campus activist. So I shifted to activism for civil rights. We were [00:07:00] demonstrating for women’s rights and for peace in Vietnam. As you know, the Vietnam War was raging. And after that, I attended Theological Seminary at Chicago Theological Seminary, but. Robertson: My calling happened when I was still in college, and it was in a weekend course, just a one weekend in Chicago. Some of us drove up and attended a course at, with the ecumenical Institute in the African-American ghetto in Chicago. And my whole life was changed in one weekend. I mean, I woke up that I could make a difference and I could help create a world that cared from everyone, you know? Robertson: And here I was. I was what? I was a junior in college. So then after that, I worked after college and grad school. I worked in that African American ghetto in Chicago with the Ecumenical Institute. And then in Malaysia, I was asked to go to Malaysia and my wife and I did [00:08:00] that, Robertson: And then. We were asked to work in South Korea, which we did. And then the work shifted from a religious to secular is we now call our work the Institute of Cultural Affairs. And from there we worked in Jamaica and then in Venezuela, and then back in the US in a little community in Oklahoma Robertson: And then I also worked in poor slums and villages. So then with the UNDP. I worked in around the world giving policy advice and starting projects and programs on decentralized governance to help countries decentralize from this capital to the provinces and the cities and towns and villages to decentralize decision making. Robertson: Then my engaged Buddhist studies particularly with Han and his teachers and practice awakened me to a calling to save all sentient beings. what [00:09:00] an outrageous calling, how can one person vow to save all sentient beings? But that’s what we do in that tradition of the being a BofA. Robertson: So through mindfulness and compassionate actions. So then I continue my journey by teaching at NYU Wagner with grad students from around the world. I love that so much. Then to the present as a consultant, speaker, author, and activist locally, nationally, and globally. So Gissele has been quite a journey, and here we are in this moment together, in this wild, crazy world. Gissele: Yeah, for sure, One of the things that I really loved about your book that you emphasize that we need to have a vision for the world that we wanna create. If we don’t have a vision, then we can’t create it, right? many of us are, focusing on anti, anti-oppressive, anti crime, anti this, anti that. Gissele: But we’re not really focusing on what sort of world do we wanna create? and I’ve had conversations with so many people, and when I ask the question, if people truly [00:10:00] believe. The human beings could be like loving and compassionate, and we could create a world that would be loving and compassionate for all many people say no. Gissele: And so I was wondering, like, did you always believe that civilization could be compassionate or did you grow into that conviction? Robertson: Great question. I definitely grew into it. Yeah. even as a child, I was awakened, you know, by the plight of African Americans in my country, in our little town in Oklahoma. Robertson: So I kind of began waking up. But I wasn’t sure, how much I or we could do about it. So I really grew into that conviction through my journey around the world working in over in 55 countries, it’s interesting the number of people your podcast goes to serving people and the planet. Robertson: So. Everywhere I worked Gissele, I was touched by the local people, that people care for each other, you know, in the slums and squatter settlements, in villages, in cities, the, the rich and the [00:11:00] poor. everywhere I went regardless of the culture, the language, the races, the issues the, the local people were caring. Robertson: So my understanding is that compassion is an action. It’s not just a feeling or a thought. It’s an action to relieve suffering in oneself and in others. but suffering is never entirely eliminated. You know, in Buddhism, the first noble truth is there is suffering, and it continues, but it can be relieved as best we can with through practices, through projects, through programs, and through policies. Robertson: So what has helped me is to see, again, a deep teaching in Buddhism that each person is influenced by negative emotions of greed, fear, hatred, and ignorance. And yet we can practice with these and to become aware of them and just, and to let them go, you know, and to practice evolving into loving kindness as [00:12:00] you, as you do in in your wonderful center. Robertson: Teaching more loving, kindness, trust and understanding. We can embrace inner being that we’re all part of everything. We’re all part of each other. You know, we’re part of the living earth. We’re part of humanity. I am part of you, you are part of me. And impermanence, you know, that there is no separate permanent self. Robertson: Everything comes and goes, and yet the mystery is there’s no birth and death. ’cause you and I. we’re part of, this journey for 13.8 billion years of the universe, and yet we can, in each moment, we can take an action that relieves our own suffering and in others. So, as you said, a vision is so, so important. Robertson: I’m so glad you touched on that, that a vision can give us a calling to see where we can go. It can motivate us, push us, drive us to do all that we can to realize it, you know, if I have a vision for my family. To care for my family. If [00:13:00] I have a vision for my country, if I have a vision for planet Earth, that can motivate me to do all I can do to make that really happen. Robertson: So right now there are so many challenges facing humanity, climate disasters. Oh my, I’m here in Swanno where we’ve had a terrible hurricane in 2024. We’re still recovering from it. Echo side, you know, where so many species are dying of plants and animals. It’s, it’s one of the great diebacks of in evolution on earth, oligarchic, fascism. Robertson: Right now, we’re in the midst of it in my country. I can’t believe it. You know, you’re, you’re on 81. I, I thought I was, gonna die and still live in a country that believed in democracy and freedom and justice. And so now here we, I have to face what can I do about oligarchic, fascism and social and racial and gender injustice. Robertson: Other challenges, warfare. And here we are in this crazy, monstrous war [00:14:00] in the Middle East. You know, what can we do? What can I unregulated? Artificial intelligence very deeply concerns me. we’ve gotta regulate artificial intelligence so it doesn’t hurt humans and the earth. Robertson: It doesn’t just take care of itself. So, you know, it’s easy Gissele to be despairing and to give up, you know, particularly at this moment. But actually at any time in our life, we’re always tempted to say, oh, well, things will be okay, or There’s nothing I can do, you know, but neither of those is true. Robertson: There are things we can do. We can stop and breathe and continue doing what we can where we are. with what we have and who we are. We do not have to be stopped by despair or by cynicism or by hopeism. We don’t. So thank you for that question about vision. I vision still wakes me up every day and calls me forward. Robertson: I’m sure it does. You as well. Gissele: Yeah. I [00:15:00] mean, without vision, it’s like you don’t have a map to where you’re going to, right.what’s our destination if we don’t have a vision? And so this is for me, why I loved your book so much. you are helping us give a vision Gissele: I mean, the alternative is what is the alternative? there’s my next question. What happens to a society that abandons compassion? Robertson: Exactly. Well, I sort of touched on it before. it falls into ignorance and into greed. Wanting more wealth, more power. for me for my tribe and, and falls into hatred, falls into fear, falls into violence, and that’s happening now, she said. Robertson: But I love what Thich Nhat Hahn reminds us of, of is that if there is no mud, there is no lotus. And that, that means is, you know, if there is no suffering, there can be no compassion . So without suffering and ignorance, there is no compassion or wisdom, because suffering calls us to relieve it. when I see [00:16:00] my wife or children in pain, I want to help them. Robertson: or when I see others, neighbors, you know, during the pandemic, our neighbors took food and water to each other. You know, after the hurricane, neighbors brought us water. suffering calls the best from us, it can, it can also call, call other things. But again, there’s no mud. Robertson: The lotus cannot grow. So we can continue the journey step by step and breath by breath. So that’s what I’d say for now. but that’s an important question. Gissele: you said some key things including that, people have a choice. They can choose to be compassionate, or they can choose to use that fear for something else, right. Gissele: But I often hear from people, well, you know, they want institutions to change. why are the institutions more, equitable, generous, compassionate and you know, like. I don’t know if we have a vision for what compassionate institutions look like, [00:17:00] what would compassion look like at that level? Robertson: Oh, that’s where those six areas you know, the compassion would look like practicing ecological regeneration or sometimes called environmental sustainability. You know, that we we’re part of the living Earth gazelle, We’re not separate from the earth . We breathe earth air, we drink earth water. Robertson: We you know, the earth. Hurricanes come. The earth. Floods come We are earthlings. I love that word, earthlings, and so, how do we help regenerate the earth as society? And that’s why, you know, legislation aware of climate change, you know, to reduce carbon emissions. Robertson: The Paris Accord, and that’s just one example, how do we have all laws for gender equality so that women receive the same salaries as men and have the same rights. as men, we gotta have the laws, the institutions you know, and the participatory democracy, that we have a constitution. Robertson: a constitution is a vision. of what we are all about. Why are, we’re [00:18:00] together as a country, so that we can each vote and express our views and our wishes, and that government is by foreign of the people. It is. So it’s, it’s critical, you know, that we vote and get out the vote again and again and again. Robertson: And to create those laws, those institutions they care for everyone. And the socioeconomic justice. we need the laws and institutions that give full rights to people of color to people of every culture and every religion, and every gender every transgender, every human being, every living being has rights. Robertson: That’s why the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is so important. I’m so grateful that it was created earlier in the last century in my country our country cannot go to war without congressional approval. Robertson: Aha. did that just not happen? Yes. But it’s in the Constitution. the law says that we must talk about it [00:19:00] first. We must send the diplomats. We must doeverything we can before we harm anyone. War is hell. there are other ways of dialogue and diplomacy. Robertson: we can do better. But again, it takes the laws and institutions. Gissele: thank you for that. I do think that we have some sort of sense in terms of what we find doesn’t work for us, right? these institutions don’t work, they’re based on separation, isolation, punishment, and we see that they don’t work. We see that, like inequality hurts everyone. Gissele: We see that all of these things that we’re doing have a negative impact, including war. And yet we don’t change. What do you think prevents societies from becoming more compassionate? Robertson: if we’re in a society that if harming people through terrible legislation and laws and policies that makes it hard for people then have to either rebel and then they can be you know, killed. Or they have to form movements peaceful movements like the [00:20:00] Civil Rights Movement in my country, you know, with Martin Luther King leading peace marches and our peaceful resistance, in Minneapolis, the peaceful resistance to ice, so what one big thing that’s, that makes people think they can’t be compassionate again, is the, larger society, you know, the institutional frameworks and legislations and laws and government practices. Robertson: But even then, as we’re seeing, you know, in Minneapolis and everywhere, and Canada is leading in so many ways, I think I, I’m so grateful for the leadership of your, your prime minister, calling the world thatwe must not let go of the international rules rules based international practices that we’ve had for the last 80 years, my whole life. Robertson: You know, we’ve had the, the UN and the international rules and now some powers want to throw those out, but no, no, we are gonna say no. we’re [00:21:00] surrounded by forces of wealth and power as we know. And however we can each do what we can to care for those near hand, far away, the least the last, and the last for ourselves, moment by moment. Robertson: Breath, breath by breath. And sometimes we, the people can change history and the powerful can choose compassion. And, we’ve changed history many times. We’ve created democracy. We, the people who have created civil right. Universal education and healthcare of the UN and much more. Robertson: you touched a moment ago on the pillars of a compassionate civilization. You know, there are 17 UN sustainable development goals, as you know, but I decided 17 was a big number, so I thought, why don’t we just have six? That’s why my book, it has six arenas of transformation for ease of memory and work. Robertson: and they are environmental sustainability, gender equality, socioeconomic justice, participatory governance, cultural tolerance, peace and nonviolence. So modern [00:22:00] societies can be prevented from being compassionate also by Negative emotions as we were talking about, of ignorance, greed, hatred, and violence. Robertson: Greed thinking, I need more wealth. I’m a billionaire, but I need another billion. You know, I’m the richest billionaire in the world, but I wanna buy the US government hatred, violence. So these all for me, all back into the Buddhist wisdom of the belief that I’m a separate self. Robertson: Therefore, all that’s important is my ego. Hell no, that’s wrong. You know, my ego is not separate. When I die, my ego’s gone. You know, all that’s gonna be left when I die, or my words and my actions, my actions will continue forever. my words will continue forever. May I, ego? No. So the, if I believe my ego is all there is, and I can be greedy and hateful and fearful and violent, but ego, unlimited pleasure and narcissism, fear of the other, ignorance of cause and effect, these don’t have to drive us. So [00:23:00] structures and policies based on negative emotions and the delusion of a separate self and harm for the earth. We don’t have to live that way. We don’t have to believe propaganda and misinformation and ignorance, and we can provide the education needed and the experience. Robertson: We don’t have to accept wealth hoarding. You know, why do we have billionaires? Why isn’t $999 million enough? Why doesn’t that go to care for everyone and to care for the earth? So again, we have to let go of wealth hoarding of power hoarding. Robertson: we don’t need all that wealth. We don’t need all that power. We can, we can care for each other. We can care for the earth. Gissele: There, there are so many amazing things that you said. I wanted to touch on two the first one is that I was having a conversation with an indigenous elder, and he said to me, you know, that greed is just a fear of lack, right? Gissele: And it really stopped me in my tracks because, when we see people hoarding stuff in their [00:24:00] house, we think, well, that’s abnormal. And yet we glorify the hoarding of wealth. But it isn’t any different than any sort of other mental health issue in terms of hoarding. And so that really got me to think about the role of fear. Gissele: And, if somebody’s trying to hoard money, it’s not getting to the root of the problem, issue. It’s never gonna be enough because they’re just throwing it into an empty hole. It’s a a billion Jillian, it’s never gonna be enough because it’s never truly addressing the problem. Gissele: But one of the things that you said as we were chatting is, that the wealthy, the elite, they can choose compassion, they can always choose it, which is an amazing insight. And yet I wonder, you know, in terms of people’s perspectives of compassion and power, do you think that the two go hand in hand or can they go hand in hand? Gissele: Because I think there might be some worries around, well, if I’m more compassionate, then I’m gonna be, taken advantage of, I’m gonna be, a mat. what is your [00:25:00] perspective? Robertson: Oh, I agree with everything you said and your question is so, so important. Thank you so much. Robertson: there are billionaires and then there are billionaires like Warren Buffet. Look, he’s given. Tens of billions of dollars away, hundreds of billions of dollars away, and other billionaires have done that. And then there are the billionaires, who think 350 billion isn’t enough. Robertson: You know, I need more. Well, that’s crazy. That is sick. That is sad that, that is a disease. And we have to help those people. I feel compassion for billionaires who think they need another 10 billion or another a hundred billion, or they need five more a hundred million dollars yachts, or they need another 15 $200 million houses around the world and that that is very sad. Robertson: And that they’re really suffering. They’re confused. Yeah. They forget what it means to be human. They’ve forgotten what it needs to be. An earthling that we’re just here for a moment. Gissele: Agree. Robertson: We’re just here for a moment, for a [00:26:00] breath, and we’re gone. Breathe in, we’re here, breathe out, we’re gone. And so we can stop. Robertson: We can become aware of that fear, as you said. We can take good care of that fear. I love the way Thich Nhat Hahn says. He says, hello, fear, welcome back. I’m gonna take good care of you. Fear. I’m gonna watch you take care of you. You’re gonna Evolve. ’cause everything is impermanent. Everything changes. So fear will change. Robertson: Fear can change. Fear always changes It evolves into Another emotion, another feeling, So let it go. Let it go. In the truth of impermanence. ’cause everything is impermanent. Fear is impermanent. So we also can remember the truth of inter being that I am part of what I fear, I am part of. Robertson: This current federal administration. You know, I’m part of the wealthy elite, and it is part of me. I fear of the US administration right now, but it is part of [00:27:00] me and I’m part of it. I fear climate change, but it is part of me. I’m part of it. I fear artificial intelligence , unregulated. I fear old age, but boys, I’m 81 and a half, it’s here. Robertson: So I’m gonna take care of it. I’m gonna say, Hey, old man, I’m gonna take care of you. And they’re all me. There’s no separation. I love Thich Nhat Hahn’s word. We enter are, we enter are now, how can I stop, become aware of fear, breathe in and out, and know the truth of inter being and impermanence and accept it. Robertson: Care for it. get out to vote, care for the self, write , speak, do what I can to care for what I can. My family, my neighbors, my city, my county, my country, my world. And everything changes. Everything passes away. Everything comes in and out of [00:28:00] being, what happened to the Roman Empire? Gissele: Mm, Robertson: what’s happening to the American Empire. Everything comes in and goes out like a breath, breathing in and breathing out. And then everything transforms into what is next? What is next? what is China going to bring? Ah, there is so much that we don’t know, Robertson: I love Thich Nhat Hahn’s teaching that. when we become aware of a negative emotion, we should Stop, breathe, smile. And then say, oh, welcome. Fear. Welcome back. Okay, I’m gonna take care of you. Okay, we’re in this together. Robertson: And then you just, you keep breathing in awareness and gratitude and things change. Your grandkid calls you, your baby calls you, your dog, your cat. You see the clouds, you see the earth, the sun. You see a star. You realize you’re an [00:29:00] animal. You know the word animal means breath. Robertson: We are animals. ’cause we breathe. We’re all breathing. So I love that. You know it. I love to say I am an animal. ’cause I, you know, we, human beings are often not, we’re not animals. We’re superior To animals, you know? Right. we are animals, that’s why we love our dogs and cats and we can love our, the purposes and the elephants and the tigers and the mountain lions and, and the cockroaches and the chickpeas and the cardinals we are all animals. Robertson: We’re all breathing. So I love that. Gissele: Yeah. Yeah. Oh, that was so beautiful. I felt that also, I really appreciated the practice too. In this time when we, like so many us are, are feeling so much fear and so much uncertainty and not knowing how things are gonna pan out, to just take a moment to breathe and reconnect to our true selves, I think is so, so fundamental. Gissele: And I hope that listeners are also doing it with us. you know, as I have [00:30:00] conversations with people around the world we talk a lot about, the way that the systems are set up, the institutions. Gissele: And it took a lot of hard work for me to realize that we are the institutions, just like you said, so the institutions are made up of people. And I was so glad to see that in your book, that you clearly say, you know, like it’s about people. It’s about us. It’s like we make up these institutions, you know? Gissele: And when I’ve looked at myself, I’ve asked myself, who do I wanna be? What do I really, truly wanna embody? And my greatest wish for this lifetime is to embody the highest level of love and to truly get to the point where I love people like brothers and sisters, that I care for them and that we care for one another. Gissele: And yet, there are times when I wanna act from that place, but the fear comes up, the not wanting or not trusting or believing when the fear comes up, how can compassion really help us change ourselves so that we can create a [00:31:00] different world? Robertson: What you said is so beautiful, and your question is so powerful. Thank you. Yes. And I’m gonna get personal here. we can do what we can, we can take care of ourselves, we can take care of others as we can, but we shouldn’t beat ourselves up when we can’t. You know? Robertson: So I, here I’m 80, I’m over 81, and I have issues with balance and walking, and I have some memory issues and some low energy issues. So I have to be kind to myself. I, so I’ve just decided that writing is my main way of caring for the world. That’s why I publish one or two essays a week on Substack, on Compassionate Conversations for 55 countries in 38 states. Robertson: And so I said, you know, I used to travel around the world all the time. Not anymore. I don’t even want like to travel around the county. Robertson: Anyway, I’m an elder , so I have to say , okay, elder, be kind to [00:32:00] yourself, but also do everything you can, write everything you can speak with Gazelle if you can. Robertson: I also have to decide who I’m gonna care for. I’ve decided I’m gonna care for my wife who just turned 70 and my two kids and my two grandkids, my daughter-in-law, my cousins and nieces and nephews, my neighbors here and North Carolina. Robertson: The vulnerable, you know, I give to nonprofits who help the hungry and the homeless to friends and to people around the world through my writings and teachings And so the other day I drove to get some some shrimp tacos for my wife and me for dinner. Robertson: And a lady came up and she had disheveled hair. And she just stood by my car and I put the window down a little and she said. can you drive me to Black Mountain? that’s not where we were. I was in another town. ‘ cause I’m out of my medicine. Robertson: She just, out of the blue said, stood there and said that. And I thought, [00:33:00] oh, oh, hmm. Oh, so, oh yes. So I, I wanted to say, but who are you? How are you? Do you live here? Do do you have any friends or family? Do you, you, can I give you some money? Do you have, but I was kind of, I was kind of struck dumb, you know? Robertson: I thought, oh, oh, what should I do? And so I said, oh, I’m so sorry I don’t live in Black Mountain. And she said, oh. And she just turned and walked away and she asked two other cars and they said no. And then she walked away. And then she walked away. I thought, oh, Rob, Rob, is she okay? Does she have a family? Robertson: Did she have a house? What if she doesn’t get her medicine? How can she walk to that town? Could you have driven her and delayed taking dinner home to your wife? And then I said, but I don’t know. And then I thought, oh, but she’s gone. And I then I said, okay, Rob. Okay, Rob, [00:34:00] you’ve lived 81 years. You’ve cared for people in the UN in 170 countries. Speaker 3: Yeah. Robertson: And you’ve been in 55 countries, you’re still writing every week, you’re taking care of your neighbors and family and friends. Don’t beat yourself up. Old guy. Don’t beat yourself up. But next time, you know what Rob, I’m gonna say, Hey, my dear one, are you okay? I don’t have any money, but I can I buy you? Robertson: We are here at the taco shop, Can I buy you dinner? I would, I’m gonna say that next time, Rob. I’m gonna say that. and then I also gazelle,I’m gonna support democratic socialist institutions. You know, some people are afraid of that word, democratic socialist. Robertson: But you know, the happiest countries in the world are democratic socialist countries. Finland is the world’s happiest country. Denmark, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, Iceland, those are in the top 10 [00:35:00] when they’ve, when there have been analysis of, if you, if you Google happiest countries in the world, Robertson: those Nordic countries come up every year. Why? They are democratic socialist countries. You pay high taxes and everybody gets free college. You know, free education, free college, free health everybody gets taken care of in a democratic socialist country in the Nordic countries and New York City. Robertson: I’m so proud that our new mayor in New York City Zoran Mai is a democratic socialist. He is there to help everybody, but particularly those who are hurting the poor, the hungry , the sick, or the people of color, women, the elderly, the children. I’m so proud of him and I write about him on my substack and I write him Robertson: I he’s one of my heroes just like Bernie Sanders is one of my heroes. And Alexandria Ocasio Cortes, a OC is one of my, my heroes, CA [00:36:00] Ooc. So, and you know, I used to never tell anybody I was a Democratic socialist ’cause I was afraid. I thought, oh, they’ll think I’m a socialist. Hell no. I am now proud to say I’m a democratic socialist. Robertson: I’m a Democrat. I vote the Democratic ticket, but I’m always looking for progressives, progressive Democrats, you know, democratic socialist Democrats. because, you know, our country can be more like Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, Iceland New York City. New York City is showing us the way America can be like a New York City. Robertson: I’m so proud of New York City and I used to live in New York City so as an old person. I can only do what I can do. and I’m not saying, oh, I poor me. I can’t do anything. No, no. I’m not saying that. I’m saying I can do a hell of a lot as this 81-year-old, it’s amazing what I can do, but that is why I write and speak and care for my family, neighbors, friends, the poor. Robertson: [00:37:00] Donate to nonprofits for the homeless and the hungry vote. Get out the vote. So yes, that’s my story. Gazelle. Gissele: I totally relate. I mean, I’ve been in circumstances like that as well, where you wanna help. But the fear is like, what if a person kills you? What if they don’t really have medication? Gissele: What if you get hurt or they try to rob you or they have mental health problems? Mine goes to protection and it is very human of us to go there first. And so, so then we get stuck in that ping pong in that moment and then the moment passes and you’re like, you know, was it true? Could I have driven that person? Gissele: And that would’ve been something I wanted to do for sure. But in that moment, you are stuck in that, yo-yo, when the survival comes in. And so helping ourselves shift out of that survival mode, understanding and learning to have faith and trust. And for me that’s been a work in progress. Gissele: It really has been a work in [00:38:00] progress. The other thing I wanted to mention, which I think is so important that we need to touch on. It’s the whole concept of socialism. So I was born in South America before I came to Canada and so I remember lots of my family members talk about this, there’s many South American countries that got sold communism, as socialism we’re talking about approaches that instead of it being like a democratic socialism that you’re talking about, which is the government, make sure that people are taking care of and that the people are probably taxed and provided for what would happen in those countries was that. Gissele: Everything got taken away. People were rationed certain things, and, it was horrible. it was not good, but it was not socialism. And there was many governments that took the majority of the money, then spent it on themselves, left the country, took it themselves, and so especially the Latin American community is very much afraid of socialism because they think back to that, the [00:39:00] rationing of electricity, the rationing of food, the rationing of all of that stuff, it wasn’t provided openly. Gissele: It was, everybody gets less. And so you have these people with this history that then have come to the US and think they don’t want socialism. They think democracy means that people aren’t gonna take stuff away from them, but that’s not what it means either. ’cause I don’t even know if like in North America we have a true democracy. Robertson: so thinking about reframing of how we think or experience democratic socialism, that it doesn’t mean less for everybody and in everything controlled by the government. It means being provided for abundantly and, also having the citizens be taxed more, which means we are willing to share our money so that we can all live well, Beautiful. Beautiful. Oh, thank you. Hooray. Wonderful. What country are you? May I ask where you coming? Gissele: Yeah, of Robertson: course. Gissele: Peru, I Gissele: [00:40:00] Yeah. Robertson: Wonderful. I’ve been to Peru a few times. A wonderful, beautiful country. And I, I lived in Venezuela for five years. ‘ cause I love, I have many friends in Venezuela. Robertson: But anyway I agree with everything you just said. That’s why I said what I said that I now can, I can confess that I am a democratic socialist. And that’s not socialism. It’s a social democracy is what it’s called. Yeah. That’s what they call it in Finland and Denmark and so on. Robertson: They call it social democracy. It’s democracy. But it, as you say, it’s cares for everyone and for the earth. We have to always add and the earth, ’cause you know, all the other species and, and the other life forms and the ecosystems, the water, the soil, the air, the minerals the plants, the animals. Robertson: and we have the money, as you said. I mean, if I had $350 billion, think of what taxes I could pay if the tax rate was, you know, 30%. [00:41:00] And rather than nothing, some of these, some of these folks pay, Gissele: well, I think we have glorified that we all wanted that, right? Like we got sold this good that oh, we should all want to be as wealthy as possible, right? And so we normalize the hoarding of money. Not the hoarding of other stuff, right? Gissele: And so we have allowed that, which gets me to my, next point, you talk about the environmental impact as part of a compassionate society, which absolutely is necessary. Gissele: And as human beings, we can be so lazy. We want convenience. We want to, have our package the next day. We don’t wanna wait. are we willing to pay higher wages? Are we willing to wait? Longer for our packages, like, are we willing to, invest in our wardrobe instead of buying fast fashion? Gissele: We don’t do these things and these have environmental impacts, and it also have human impacts, and at the end, they have impact on us. What can we do to ensure that, that we address that [00:42:00] complacency so that we are creating a fair, affordable , and compassionate world. Robertson: So important. Thank you. Robertson: It’s, it’s a life and death question. So yes, we should always ask about ecological and social impacts and take actions accordingly. That’s why I recycle every day. You know, some people say, oh, recycling is stupid. What do they really do with this, with it? You know, are they, are they really careful when you, they pick it up? Robertson: but I recycle religiously every day That’s why I support climate and democracy through third act. There’s a group that Bill McKibbon has started here in the US called Third Act. It’s a group of elder activists, activists over 60 who are working on climate and democracy issues. Robertson: So I’m doing that. That’s why I vote and get it out to vote. And as I said, I vote for Democrats and Democratic socialists. That’s why I write and speak and vote for ecological regeneration for social justice, for peace, for [00:43:00] democratic governance. It’s so critical that we keep questioning our actions like. Robertson: Okay, why am I recycling? Is it really worth the time? You know, deciding about every item, where it goes, and then putting out it out carefully and rinsing it first. And is that really going to help the world? ’cause you also know we need systemic changes, because you can always say, oh, but what the individual does doesn’t matter. Robertson: We need laws, we need institutions of ecological regeneration, and we need laws on caring for the climate and stopping climate change. So you can talk yourself out of individual responsibility when you realize that we need laws and institutions that protect the environment. Robertson: But it’s both. It’s both. what each person does, because there are millions of us individuals. So if there are millions of us act responsibly, that has, is a huge impact. And then if we [00:44:00] also have responsible laws and institutions that care for the environment as well as all people, then that’s a double win. Robertson: So I agree with you. We have to keep asking that question over and over and making those decisions and they’re hard decisions. We have to decide. Gissele: Yeah, I’ve had to look at myself like one of the commitments I’ve made to myself is not buying fast fashion. And so, investing in pieces, even though sometimes I feel lack oh my God, spending that much money on this, you know? Gissele: Yeah. It all comes back to me. if I am not willing to pay a fair wage, that means that the next person doesn’t get a fair wage, which means they don’t wanna pay a fair wage and so on and so forth. And then it comes back to me, you know, my husband has a business and then, you get people that don’t also wanna pay a fair wage. Gissele: It’s all interconnected. And so we have to be willing, but that also goes to us addressing our fear, our fear of lack, that we’re not gonna have enough. All of those things. And the biggest fundamental [00:45:00] fear, and you mentioned death to me, is the ultimate Gissele: fear That we must overcome I think once we do, like, I think once we understand that we are not, this human vessel. Gissele: that we’re not just this bag of bones and live in so much constrained fear that perhaps we could. really open up ourselves to be willing to be more compassionate . What do you think? Robertson: Absolutely. I’m with you all the way. Yes. We fear death because we’re caught in that illusion of a separate permanent self. Robertson: You know, it’s all about me. Oh, this universe is all about me. The universe was created 13.8 billion years for me. Robertson: Yeah. But it’s all about me and particularly my ego, honoring my ego. Building up my ego, praising my ego being, you know, that’s why I wanna be rich and famous. Robertson: Fortunately, I never wanted to be rich or famous, but that’s another story. We’ll talk about that some other time. But everything and [00:46:00] everyone is impermanent. When I realized that truth and it, it came to me through engaged Buddhism, but you could, you could get that truth in many, many ways. Robertson: That everything and everyone is impermanent. we’re part of the ocean. But the waves don’t last forever, do they? But the ocean lasts forever. Robertson: So My atoms, are part of the 13.8 billion year old universe. my cells are part of the living earth. Yes, they remain When I die, you know, go back into the earth. back into the soil and the water and the air but My ego doesn’t remain. What, what remains, as I said before, are my actions. Robertson: Everything I did is still cause and effect. Cause and effect. Rippling out. Rippling out. Okay. Rob, what did you do? What did you say? did you help that, did you touch that? Did you say that? so my actions and words continue rippling forever. So Ty calls that, or in the Plum Village tradition of engaged Buddhism, it’s called my continuation. Robertson: Your actions and your words [00:47:00] are your continuation that last forever as your actions and words will continue through cause and effect touching reality forever. So when my ego does not remain so I can smile and let it go. I often think about my continuation. You know, I say, well, that’s why, maybe why I’m writing so much and speaking so much. Robertson: And caring for so many people every day, you know, caring to care for my wife and my children and grandchildren and friends and neighbors, and the v vulnerable and the hungry, and the homeless, and the, and my country, and my city, and my county, and my, and why do I write substack twice a week? Robertson: And containing reflections on ecological, societal, and individual challenges and practices. And so every, week I’m writing about practices of mindfulness and compassion. So I’m trying to be the teacher. I’m trying to send out words of mindfulness and compassion so that they will continue reverberating when I’m dust, Robertson: So [00:48:00] I’m reaching out. In my substack to just those 55 people in 55 countries, in 38 states, touching hearts and minds and even more on social media. every month I have like 86,000 views of my social media. Why do I do it? It’s not just about ego, you know? Robertson: Oh, Rob, be famous. No, Rob is not famous. I’m a nobody. I gotta keep giving and giving and giving, you know, another word, another action, so I can, care for people around me through personal care, donations, voting, volunteering workshops, I’m helping start a workshop in our neighborhood on environmental resilience through recycling, through group facilitation. Robertson: I’m trained in, facilitation. I’ve been trained my whole life to ask questions of groups so they can create their own plans and strategies and actions. that’s some of my answer. Robertson: I hope that makes some sense. Gissele: Thank you very much. I appreciated your answer and it made me really think you are one of our compassionate leaders, right? [00:49:00] You’re, you’re kind of carving the way and helping us reflect, ’cause I’ve seen some of your substack, I’ve seen like your postings. Gissele: That’s actually how I kind of reached out to you. ’cause I was so moved by the material that you were sharing, the willingness to be honest about what it takes to be compassionate and how hard it can be sometimes to look at ourselves honestly, because we can’t change unless we’re willing to look at ourselves. Gissele: All aspects of ourselves, like you said, we are the billionaires, we are the oligarchy, we are all of these people. The racism that voted that in the, the racism that continues to show the fear, all of that is us. And so from your perspective, what do compassionate leaders do differently? Robertson: Yes. Well, it great question. Robertson: what do compassionate leaders do differently? Well, he or she or they. Robertson: are empathic. I think it starts with empathy. What are like, what are you feeling? What are you thinking? Robertson: What are you, what’s happening in your life? So an empathic [00:50:00] leader listens to other people. They see where other people are hurting. They care. They ask questions and facilitate group discussions, enable group projects. They let go of self-importance, you know, that it’s not all about me. Robertson: They let go of narcissism. They let go of, the ego project. They help others be their greatness. They care for their body mind so that they can care for others. and they donate and vote and recycle and more and more and more and more. did you know in Denmark. In elementary school every week, children are taught empathy. Robertson: You know, they have courses on empathy, Robertson: when I was growing up, I,didn’t have courses in school on empathy in church school, you know, in my Sunday school at, in my church. I was taught to love my neighbor and to love everyone, and that God was love. But in school, in my elementary [00:51:00] school and junior high and high school, we didn’t talk about things like empathy and compassion. Gissele: Yeah. Thank you for sharing that. I did know about Denmark ’cause my daughter and I are co-writing a book on that particular topic. The need to continue to teach love and compassion in, Gissele: being a global citizen. Right? And, and I’m doing it with her perspective because she just graduated high school, so she has like the fresher perspective, whereas mine’s from like many moons ago. Gissele: We need to continuously educate ourselves about regulating our own emotions, having difficult conversations, hearing about the other, other, as ourselves. Because that’s, from my perspective, the only way that we’re gonna survive. a friend of mine said it the best that we were having a conversation and she does compassion in the prison system and she says, I can’t be well unless you are well. Gissele: My wellness depends on your wellness. And that just hit me in my heart, like, ugh. Not that I live it every day, Robertson, Gissele: every day I have to choose and some [00:52:00] days I fail, and other days I do good in terms of like be more loving and compassionate and truly helping the world. But it’s a choice. It’s a continual choice. So this goes to my biggest challenge that maybe you can help me with, which is, so I was having this conversation with my students. We were talking about how. In order to create a world that is loving and passionate for all, it has to include the all, even those who are most hurtful, and that is really difficult . Gissele: I’m just curious as to your thoughts on what starting point might be or what can help us look at those who do hurtful things and just horrible things and be able to say, I see God within you. I see your humanity. Even though it might be hard. Robertson: Yes, It is hard. several years ago when I would hear [00:53:00] leaders of my country speaking on the media, I would get so repulsed that I would turn it off but I began practicing. Robertson: I practiced a lot since those days and I realized, you know. People who hurt, other people are hurting themselves. they’re actually hurting. they’re suffering. People who hurt others have their own suffering of, they’re confused. they’ve forgotten what it means to be human. Robertson: They’re, full of, greed, of their own fears, all about me. Maybe they’re filled with hatred they become violent. they’re suffering. I still find it very difficult to read or listen to certain people. Robertson: But what I do is I stop and I breathe and I smile and I say, okay. Robertson: I care. I’m concerned about you. I don’t know what I can do, but I am gonna do everything I can to care for the people, being hurt, you know, like my fellow activists in [00:54:00] Minneapolis are doing, or elsewhere, we could mention many places around the world where people are risking their own lives. Robertson: You know, in Minneapolis, two activists were killed, Ms. Good Renee Good, and Alex Pretty were killed because they went beyond their fear, you know? they got out there in the street because the migrants were being hurt and they got killed. Robertson: So, you know, At some point you have to come to terms with your own death, I don’t know if I have a, a minute to go or 20 years, I still have to let go. And so how do I care for my wife, my family, my friends, my neighbors my country, the vulnerable, the homeless, the hungry, and, as you said, for the wealthy and powerful who are hurting others, you know, starting wars attacking migrants, killing activists. Robertson: It’s hard. You know? So I have to say, I love the story of [00:55:00] when during the Vietnamese war Thich Nhat Hahn and his monks. They did not take sides. They did not say we’re on the side of the Vietnamese or the us. They did not take a side in the war. This is hard for me ’cause I, I usually take sides. Robertson: The practice was, okay, we’re not going to support we’re Vietnamese or the us. Were going to care for everyone. So they just went out caring for people who were getting hurt and during the war, people who were hungry, people who needed food, people who were bleeding, Robertson: So they decided their role was to care for those who were hurt not to attack. To say, I’m for the blue and I’m against the red. They said, I’m just gonna, care . Like, the activists in Minnesota, They’re, they’re not attacking ice, they’re singing to ice. Robertson: And so yes, we have to acknowledge our own anger. [00:56:00] I’m angry with these politicians. sometimes I want, to hate them, but I have to say, I do not hate you, my friend. You are confused. You’re so confused. You’re hurting others. So you’re so hurtful. Robertson: You don’t realize how you’re hurting others. But, I’ve got to try to stop you from hurting others. I’ve got to try to help those who are hurt and maybe I’m gonna get hurt, you know, because in the civil rights movement, if you’re out there doing on a peace march, you might get beaten up. Robertson: as I said, I’ve lived in villages, poor villages, and. Urban slums in several countries. And some people could say, well, that’s stupid. You could get hurt. You know, you could, you could as a white person living in a African American slum or in a Korean village or in a Venezuelan village, Robertson: So, you know, I say, was I stupid? Was I risking and I was with my wife and children? Was I risking the lives of my wife and children by living in slums and, and villages? Yes. Was I stupid? I mean, [00:57:00] no, I wasn’t stupid, but I was risking our lives. But I somehow, I was, called I wanted to do it. I said, okay. Robertson: but my point is it’s risky, you know? And you have to keep working with yourself. That’s why I love the word practice. Robertson: You know, in Buddhism we keep practicing, and I love your, the teaching of that you have on your website of Pema Chodron, you know, on self-love. You know, you have to keep practicing. How do I love myself? Say, okay, I’m afraid and I’m just this little white person, but or I’m this little old white person, but I’m gonna do everything I can and be everything I can. Robertson: I really appreciated the story of Han not choosing sides. I mean, you’re right. If we are going to see each other’s brothers and sisters and is is one global family, we can’t pick a side over the other, even though we so want to. Gissele: And, and I’m with you. when I think that there’s a [00:58:00] unfairness, when there’s people that are vulnerable or suffering, I’m more likely to pick to the side that is like, oh, that person is suffering. They’re the victim. But what you said is spot on. People that truly lovewho have love in their heart, like when you were raised with love. Gissele: You had love to give others because your cup was full. So it overflowed to want to help others, to want to love others. People that are hurting, that don’t have love in their hearts are those that hurt other people. Robertson: Mm-hmm. Gissele: They must because they must be so separated from their own humanity. Robertson: Yes, yes, yes. Gissele: And yet things are changing. You mentioned Minnesota, and I wanted to mention that I love that they’re doing the singing chants, and they’re not making them wrong. they’re singing chants like you can change your mind. You don’t have to be wrong. You don’t have to experience shame and guilt for the choice you’ve made. You can always change your mind. And in your book, you talk a lot about movements. Do you wanna [00:59:00] share a little bit about the power of movements and helping us create a compassionate civilization? Robertson: Oh, yes. Thank you. I’m, I’m a big movement fan. it started in college with the Civil Rights Movement. I realized, wow, you know, if a lot of people get together and do something together, it can make a difference. Like the Civil Rights movement. Gissele: Yeah. Robertson: And the women’s movement and peace movement. Robertson: And like in Vietnam, the peace movement, we could really make a difference if we get out in March. I think that being an individual or part of an organization that is part of a movement can be a powerful force. And so I focus in my life and that, that book on the six movements that I’ve mentioned, and those movements can work together. Robertson: And when they work together, they become a movement of movements. They become mom. Hmm. I like that because I I’m a feminist and I think that we need so [01:00:00] desperately we need more feminine energy inhumanity and in civilization. Robertson: So I’m a unapologetic feminist. And so that’s why I like that the movement of movements, the acronym is Mom, you know, and so it’s the Moms of the World will lead us like you. And so they’re the movements of ecological regeneration, socioeconomic justice, I’m repeating gender equality, participatory governance, cultural tolerance, peace and non-violence. Robertson: And you know, we also have the Gay Rights Movement, the democracy movement. there’s so many movements that it made a huge difference. So. I began saying that I, after writing the book, I said, okay,now my work is the work of the Compassionate Civilization Collaborative. Robertson: And I decided I wouldn’t make an organization, I it, wouldn’t have a website, I wouldn’t register it. I wouldn’t raise money for it. It would just be anybody and everybody [01:01:00] who was part of the movement of movements who was working to create a compassionate civilization. Robertson: So that’s what I did. And that’s where I am. I’m this old guy in my home. I don’t get out a lot. I don’t drive a lot. I just drive to nearby town. I have a car, but I don’t use it a lot. I don’t like to walk up and down hills. Robertson: IAnd sometimes I can’t remember things and I say, Hey, but look, you have so many friends all over the world and you can keep encouraging through your writing. So that’s why I keep writing, you know, it is for the movement of movements. Robertson: I guess that’s why I write. here’s something I want to share, something I thought or felt or something that I wrote about. And maybe it will touch you. Maybe it’ll encourage you. Maybe we’ll help you in your life. Robertson: I live in a homeowners association neighborhood. It’s a neighborhood that has a homeowners association. We’re 34 families and we have straight families, gay families. we have white families and non-white families. [01:02:00] We have Democrats, Republicans and Socialists. Robertson: We have Christians and Buddhists and Hindus. And so what I do, I say, Hey, we’re all neighbors. We all helped each other during the pandemic. We all helped each other after the hurricane. It doesn’t matter what our politics are or our religion or our sexuality, we’re all human beings. Robertson: We’re all gonna die. we all want love. We all want happiness. And We can be good neighbors. We don’t have to have ideology, you know, we don’t have to quote the Bible, we don’t have to quote Buddha. We can just be good neighbors. So we’re gonna have a workshop this spring And so we’re all going to get together down the street in this big room, in the fire station, and we’re gonna have a two hour workshop. And will it help? I don’t know. Will it make us better neighbors? I don’t know. Why am I doing it? I’m driven to do it. I’ve done workshops all over the world and I wanna do a workshop in my neighborhood. Robertson: I’ve done workshops with the un, I’ve done [01:03:00] workshops with governments, with cities So I love to facilitate. I love getting people together to solve problems together to listen to each other, respect each other, to honor each other. Gissele: so I’m just gonna ask you a couple more questions. But I’m just gonna make a comment right now about what you said because I think it’s so important. Gissele: Number one is I love that your neighborhood is a microcosm of what our world could be like . The fact that people got together to help and make sure that people were taken care of. If we could amplify that, that could be our world. I think that’s such a beautiful thing. Gissele: And the other thing that I think is really fundamental is that even through your life, you are showing us that some people are going to go pickett. And that’s okay. Some people are gonna write blogs to help us, and that’s okay. Some people are gonna do podcasts, and that’s okay. There are things that people can do that don’t have to look exactly the same. Gissele: Some people are going to have more courage, and they’re going to put their bodies in front and potentially get hurt. Other people, maybe they can’t do [01:04:00] that. So there are many different ways to help. The other thing that you said that was really, really key is the importance of moms . And that was one of the things that really touched me about your book, the acronym. Gissele: I was like, oh my God, I so resonate with this. Because I do feel that we need more feminine energy. We really kind of really squash the feminine energy. But the truth of the matter is we need more because fundamentally, nurturance is a mother energy is a feminine energy. Gissele: Compassion’s a feminine energy. Yes, yes, yes, Robertson: yes, yes, Gissele: so if I can share my story. Last night I was at hockey game. My son was playing hockey. Robertson: Mm-hmm. Gissele: And our team they don’t like to fight. Gissele: We play our game and we have fun and we’re good. And so the previous teams that were there, it was under Youth 15, most of the game was the kids fighting. And taking penalties. And so the game ends, the people come off the ice and two men that are starting to get like into a fight [01:05:00] now, woman got in front of them. Gissele: Wow. and said, we all signed a form that said, this is just a game. Remember who this is for? even though she was elevated, she totally stopped that fight between two men that we were not small. And So it was, it was really interesting. Robertson: Wonderful. Gissele: it was a woman who actually stopped a fight Gissele: It’s the feminine power. And that doesn’t mean, and I wanna make this clear, that doesn’t mean that men have to be discarded or have to be treated the same way that women are treated. ’cause I think that’s a big fear. That’s a big fear that some white males have. It’s no, you don’t have to be less than, Robertson: right. Robertson: We need Gissele: to uplift the feminine energy. So there’s a balance. ’cause right now we’re not balanced. Robertson: Exactly. Exactly. Oh, boy. Am I with you there? there’s a whole section in my book, as you noticed on gender equality I’m gonna read a tribute to Mothers I. Robertson: Tribute to Mothers Giving Birth to New Life, nurturing, [01:06:00] sustaining, guiding, releasing, launching, affirming Love. Be getting Love a flow onwards. Mother Earth, mother Tree, mother Tiger, mother Eve. My grandmother’s Sally and Arie, my mother, Mary Elizabeth, my children’s mother, Mary, my grandchildren’s mother, Jennifer, my grandchildren’s grandmothe

This week on Cultivating Place, host Ben Futa is in conversation with John Little, an ecological designer and public horticulture advocate living and working in the UK. His firm, the Grass Roof Company, launched in 1998. Ever since, they have been expanding and broadening ideas around public plantings, habitat, and those who care for them. John's not-for-profit, Care, Not Capital, is training the next generation of public gardeners with the skills they need to fully serve, and support the public, in the work they do. Listen in! Cultivating Place now has a donate button! We thank you for listening over the years, and we hope you'll continue to support Cultivating Place. We can't thank you enough for making it possible for this young program to grow and engage in even more conversations like these. The show is available as a podcast on SoundCloud and iTunes. To read more and for many more photos, please visit www.cultivatingplace.com.

Matt Sandgren, Executive Director of Orrin G. Hatch Foundation and Former Chief of Staff to Senator Hatch, joins the show with an announcement as well as an update to the latest happenings in Washington, D.C.

Does every child in Canada truly have a right to an education? In this powerful episode on The Gritty Nurse with Host Amie Archibald-Varley, she sits down with Matthew Flagler and Richard Hackett to discuss the systemic failures within Canada's healthcare and education systems. Spurred by the personal struggle to get adequate support for children with learning disabilities, Richard and Matthew are leading a movement to hold the government accountable. They dive deep into why the current governments education system is failing families, the dangerous creep of privatization in healthcare, and the growing class divide in access to essential services. Most importantly, they discuss their House of Commons petition aimed at making quality education a constitutionally protected right for every child, regardless of their needs. In this episode, we cover: The personal toll of navigating a broken special education system. Why the "right to education" is currently a legal grey area in Canada. The link between public healthcare, education, and social equity. How community advocacy can drive real legislative change. Take Action: Matthew and Richard are calling on all Canadians to support Petition e-6982. This is a crucial step toward ensuring no child is left behind by the system. ✍️ Sign the Petition Here: https://www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-6982 Read more about the story on CBC News: Father starts petition to make education a constitutional right How to Find Richard and Matthew on Tiktok: @author_matthewflagler @unstoppableAnonymous Matthew's Book: Held to the fire: https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/matthew-flagler/ Takeaways Matthew has a background in firefighting and has published a book on a tragic fire. Richard started a petition due to his son's long wait for occupational therapy. The healthcare system in Canada is facing significant underfunding and challenges. Public healthcare and education should be protected as basic human rights. Privatization of healthcare has historically not worked and leads to inequities. Advocacy is crucial for ensuring accountability in public services. Community action can drive significant change in healthcare and education. Class struggles are central to the conversation about access to services. Teachers and healthcare workers deserve better wages and support. The petition aims to ensure that healthcare and education are constitutionally protected rights. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Guests 02:23 Personal Experiences with Healthcare and Education 04:59 The Petition for Healthcare Reform 07:56 Understanding the Healthcare System and Its Challenges 09:43 The Impact of Privatization on Public Services 12:21 Advocacy for Universal Rights in Healthcare and Education 15:12 The Role of Community and Collective Action 17:41 Addressing Misinformation and Public Perception 20:31 The Importance of Political Engagement 23:32 Final Thoughts and Call to Action * Listen and SUBSCRIBE on Apple Podcasts – : The Gritty Nurse Podcast on Apple Apple Podcasts  https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-gritty-nurse/id1493290782 * Watch and SUBSCRIBE on YouTube –  https://www.youtube.com/@thegrittynursepodcast Stay Connected: Website: grittynurse.com Instagram: @grittynursepod TikTok: @thegrittynursepodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064212216482 X (Twitter): @GrittyNurse Collaborations & Inquiries: For sponsorship opportunities or to book Amie for speaking engagements, visit: grittynurse.com/contact Thank you to Hospital News for being a collaborative partner with the Gritty Nurse! www.hospitalnews.com 

Music to Our Ears 3/5/26: Lora Wondolowski, Gfld City Council Pres & state rep candidate: humility & effective public service. Live in the studio—N'mpton HS Chamber Choir, previewing the Local Vocal Chord Bowl—amazing! The recently greatly honored E'mpton artist, marquetry master Silas Kopf. Congressman Jim McGovern: the war, Epstein, Bondi & the budget. Ruth Griggs w/ Dee Boyle-Clapp & Casandra Holden: the creative economy here.

The Public Service Commissioner is bewildered as pay talks with primary teachers drag on. Their union —the NZEI— has turned to the Employment Relations Authority after three days of talks failed to resolve disputes over cost-of-living increases and recognition for major curriculum changes. The union's rejected three offers, with teachers missing out on around $50 extra per week since January. Sir Brian Roche told Mike Hosking it's disappointing teachers don't know the details of each offer. He says the last time teachers were asked was in December, and he doesn't know what the percentage of the vote was. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The integrity of New Zealand's public service was under the microscope at Parliament today as the Governance and Administration select committee heard from the Public Service Commission regarding their long term insight briefing. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

S7 E9: Reading and the Brain w/ Dr. Maryanne WolfIn this episode, Alexis and Gerald were honored to be joined by Dr. Maryanne Wolf, one of the leading experts on the science of reading. Dr. Wolf shares a tremendous amount of knowledge and wisdom from her extensive career and experiences, as she continues to advocate for the needs of all students as it pertains to their development of and appreciation for reading.This discussion raises so many questions about our relationship with reading. We address topics such as the evolutionary nature of reading, the impact of technology on our reading brains, the interconnectivity of brain areas related to reading, progressive and effective modes of reading instruction, Dyslexia, and how reading relates to humanity and our relationship with one another.SummaryEvolutionary nature of readingUnderstanding of how reading is learnedImpact of technology on our reading brainsThe interconnectivity of brain areas related to readingEffective modes of reading instructionConnections between reading, empathy, & humanityDr. Maryanna Wolf is a scholar, a teacher, and an advocate for children and literacy around the world. She is the Director of the newly created Center for Dyslexia, Diverse Learners, and Social Justice at the UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Studies. Previously, she was the John DiBiaggio Professor of Citizenship and Public Service and Director of the Center for Reading and Language Research in the Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Study and Human Development at Tufts University. Dr. Wolf obtained her doctoral degree in Human Development and Psychology at Harvard University. She is the author of Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain (2007, HarperCollins), Dyslexia, Fluency, and the Brain (Edited; York, 2001), Tales of Literacy for the 21st Century (2016, Oxford University Press), and Reader, Come Home: The Reading Brain in a Digital World (August, 2018, HarperCollins). Welcome to the Reid Connect-ED podcast, we are honored to have you join us today.The Reid Connect-Ed Podcast is hosted by Siblings Alexis Reid, M.A. and Dr. Gerald Reid, produced by CyberSound Recording Studios, and original music is written and recorded by Gerald Reid (www.Jerapy.com).*Please note that different practitioners may have different opinions- this is our perspective and is intended to educate you on what may be possible.Show notes & Transcripts: https://reidconnect.com/reid-connect-ed-podcastFollow us on Instagram @ReidConnectEdPodcast and X @ReidConnectEdStreaming everywhere (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, etc.)Be Curious. Be Open. Be Well.

On today's show, we hear about The Clinton School of Public Service's 20 years of impact. We also examine the close ties between the Reverend Jesse Jackson and Arkansas. Plus, we learn more about primary elections on the final day of early voting.

Assuming we already understand the parameters of “good citizenship” (obey the law; do no harm to others), how to decide what constitutes a “well-informed” citizen? Tom Schnaubelt, executive director of Hoover's Revitalizing American Institutions (RAI) initiative, and Checker Finn, a Hoover senior fellow and chair of Hoover's Working Group on Civics and American Citizenship, introduce Hoover's pioneering “Civic Profile” which launches in early March – a three-part test that assesses civics-related values, knowledge, and engagement. Also discussed: how to keep the civics “push” going past the coming American semi-quincentennial in early July (is a decades-long “civics renaissance” feasible?), plus other RAI endeavors currently underway at Hoover (national civics fellows, a networking Alliance for Civics in the Academy, “People, Politics and Places” fellowships that bring rural undergrad and grad students to the Stanford University campus, plus Hoover's USA @ 250 lecture series on ideas, institutions, and civic traditions that have sustained America freedom dating back to the republic's founding).   Recorded on February 25, 2026.  ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Chester E. Finn Jr. is the Volker Senior Fellow (adjunct) at the Hoover Institution and President Emeritus of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute. At Hoover, he chairs the Working Group on Civics and American Citizenship within the Center for Revitalizing American Institutions. He previously led Hoover's Task Force on K-12 Education and now participates in the Hoover Education Success Initiative, as much of his career has focused on reforming primary and secondary schooling in the US. That included serving as a member of the Maryland State Board of Education and Maryland's Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education, as well as Assistant US Secretary of Education and chair of the National Assessment Governing Board. Thomas Schnaubelt is the Executive Director of the Center for Revitalizing American Institutions at the Hoover Institution. Prior to his role at the Hoover Institution, Schnaubelt served as a Lecturer and Senior Advisor on Civic Education at the Deliberative Democracy Lab, within the Center for Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies. Schnaubelt came to Stanford in 2009 and has served as the Associate Vice Provost for Education, the Executive Director of the Haas Center for Public Service, and a Resident Fellow in Branner Hall, where he and his wife oversaw the development and implementation of a living-learning community focused on public service and civic engagement. In 2015, Schnaubelt coordinated the launch of Cardinal Service, a university wide effort to elevate and expand public service as a distinctive feature of the Stanford experience, and he has launched and led several national initiatives focused on democratic engagement and social change education. Schnaubelt received a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of Mississippi, a Master of Arts in Education from the University of Michigan, and Bachelor of Science in Physics from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Bill Whalen, the Virginia Hobbs Carpenter Distinguished Policy Fellow in Journalism and a Hoover Institution research fellow since 1999, writes and comments on campaigns, elections, and governance with an emphasis on California and America's political landscapes. Whalen writes on politics and current events for various national publications, as well as Hoover's California On Your Mind web channel. Whalen hosts Hoover's Matters of Policy & Politics podcast and serves as the moderator of Hoover's GoodFellows broadcast exploring history, economics, and geopolitical dynamics. ABOUT THE SERIES Matters of Policy & Politics, a podcast from the Hoover Institution, examines the direction of federal, state, and local leadership and elections, with an occasional examination of national security and geopolitical concerns, all featuring insightful analysis provided by Hoover Institution scholars and guests. To join our newsletter and be the first to tune into the next episode, visit Matters of Policy & Politics.

Send a textIn this compelling episode of Living the Dream with Curveball, we sit down with Mark Jeffreys, a remarkable leader whose journey from ballet protege to elected official is nothing short of inspiring. Handpicked by the legendary George Balanchine, Mark's early life in the arts was tragically altered when he lost his mother and brother at a young age. Rather than let these hardships define him, Mark used them as a catalyst for resilience and community engagement. Now serving as a councilman in Cincinnati, he shares his insights on leadership, the importance of shared support, and the transformative power of personal stories. Mark discusses his transition from the arts to corporate leadership at Procter & Gamble, where he learned valuable lessons on authenticity and the significance of personal power. He also delves into his work with the nonprofit Go Vibrant, aimed at promoting active lifestyles, and his innovative tech startup that leverages AI for healthier decision-making. Join us for an enlightening conversation that underscores the necessity of community, the impact of civic responsibility, and the pursuit of purpose in all aspects of life. Discover how Mark's initiatives are reshaping Cincinnati and inspiring others to create change.Want to be a guest on Living the Dream with Curveball? Send Curtis Jackson a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1628631536976x919760049303001600mosaic: Exploring Jewish Issuesmosaic is Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County's news magazine show, exploring Jewish...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the show

Topic: Education Reform, Healthcare Advocacy, and Running for Georgia Superintendent of SchoolsIn this 43-minute episode, host JR Sparrow sits down with Dr. Nelva Lee, a healthcare administrator, entrepreneur, and candidate for Georgia Superintendent of Schools. Dr. Lee shares her inspiring journey from Panama to the United States, her work in healthcare advocacy, and her vision for transforming Georgia's education system through literacy, trade certifications, and school choice.Growing up in Panama during the Noriega dictatorshipFamily heritage from Costa Rica and JamaicaMoving to the US as a teenager and appreciating democratic freedomsLessons learned from her grandmother Nelva about gratitude and work ethicObtaining a trade certification in healthcare during high schoolEarning bachelor's, master's, and doctorate degrees in healthcare administrationWorking as Director of Patient Advocacy at Grady Health SystemFounding a vocational school for medical interpretersCreating the certification exam for medical interpretersInvolvement with AI and human interpreting integrationAppointment to Georgia Department of Community Health by Governor KempLearning the slow process of government policymakingImportance of community engagement in healthcare policyAdvocacy rooted in personal experience with dictatorshipCurrent State of Georgia Education:Georgia ranks 38th out of 50 states in educationMississippi improved from 50th to top 10 by returning to basicsKey Campaign Initiatives:Literacy FirstNo child leaves second grade without learning to readClear guidelines for teachers on literacy benchmarksRecognition that prisons are built based on third-grade literacy ratesUniversal Trade CertificationsAll Georgia graduates receive high school diploma AND trade certificationBenefits both college-bound and workforce-ready studentsProvides financial independence and career optionsExpanded School ChoiceExpansion of Promise Scholarship ActMore public Montessori and KIPP schoolsMatching learning environments to individual student needsSpecial Education & IEP Reform:Concerns about overuse of IEP labelsIEP test scores don't count toward school performance metricsRisk of implicit bias from teachers toward labeled studentsNeed for appropriate learning environments rather than automatic labelingPost-COVID Challenges:Addressing learning deficits in current 6th-7th gradersMental health impacts from isolation (anxiety, depression)Need for motivation and self-esteem building"By the third grade, they're building prisons based on whether or not children are literate.""Every child can learn, but they need to have a learning environment that matches their specific learning needs.""Good leaders really are great because they motivate others to do the best.""Anything that you do for children lasts a lifetime."Learn More About Dr. Nelva Lee:Website: drnelvalee.comBooks and additional information available on her websiteFollow WV Uncommon Place:Instagram, Tumblr, Twitter, TikTok, Facebook, LinkedInMerch: wvuncommonplace.square.siteSubscribe and rate on your favorite podcast platformEducation ReformHealthcare AdvocacyEntrepreneurshipImmigration & DemocracySpecial EducationTrade Schools & Vocational TrainingSchool ChoiceLeadership & Public ServiceEpisode SummaryKey Topics DiscussedBackground & Immigration (0:00 - 8:00)Healthcare Career & Entrepreneurship (8:00 - 18:00)Public Service & Policy (18:00 - 25:00)Running for Georgia Superintendent of Schools (25:00 - 43:00)Notable QuotesResourcesEpisode Themes

Greg Childs, director of the Children's Media Foundation, discusses the decline of traditional children's television in the UK, the rise of YouTube and TikTok as children's primary viewing platforms, and what this shift could mean for public service broadcasting.We explore how changes to advertising rules and algorithms are transforming the economics and nature of children's content, the BBC's new deal with YouTube, and the growing debate over whether regulation should aim to “build better” online spaces or restrict children's access to social media.Have your say in the government's consultation by 10 March: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/britains-story-the-next-chapter-the-bbc-royal-charter-review-green-paper-and-public-consultation/britains-story-the-next-chapter-bbc-royal-charter-review-green-paper-and-public-consultationSuggested answers: British Broadcasting Challenge: https://britishbroadcastingchallenge.com/The Sandford St Martin Trust: https://sandfordawards.org.uk/religion-and-the-future-of-the-bbc-have-your-say/Listen to all our episodes here: https://podfollow.com/beebwatch To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per month www.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership @beebwatch.bsky.social@BeebRogerInstagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatchLinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watchemail: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of the Transatlantic, host Bakhti Nishanov talks to Georgiy Kent, who took an unusual detour after finishing his graduate program in May, biking over 4,000 miles across the United States to crowdsource funds for Ukraine. From the Oregon coast to Washington D.C., Kent interacted with hundreds of Americans along the way, engaging in dialogue about Russia's war on Ukraine.  ---- Georgiy Kent served as a Max Kampelman Policy Fellow at the Helsinki Commission, working on political and economic projects to hold Russia accountable for its ongoing war in Ukraine. He has worked at the Aspen Strategy Group, Harvard Kennedy School, Partnership for Public Service, and Atlantic Council. A graduate of Harvard College and Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Georgiy specializes in security, economy, and state development in Europe, Asia, and post-communist societies. Today, he is an Associate for Research and Client Strategy at Political Alpha, a political risk advisory firm in D.C., but this summer he decided to hop on a bicycle and cycle across America to raise money for Ukraine. This podcast is hosted by Bakhti Nishanov and produced by Alanna Novetsky, in conjunction with the Senate Recording Studio.

Send a textOn this episode the guys sit down with Matthew Soerens to begin a conversation on a very important and complicated issue for the Church. Matthew Soerens began his World Relief journey in 2005 as an intern in Nicaragua. Since then he served as a Department of Justice-accredited legal counselor in Chicagoland before assuming the role of U.S. Director of Church Mobilization and Advocacy. Matt is the co-author of three books including Welcoming the Stranger (InterVarsity Press, 2018) and Inalienable (InterVarsity Press, 2022). Matt also serves as the National Coordinator for the Evangelical Immigration Table, a coalition that advocates for immigration reforms consistent with biblical values. He is a graduate of Wheaton College, where he has also served as a guest faculty member in the Humanitarian & Disaster Leadership program, and earned a master's degree from DePaul University's School of Public Service. He lives in Aurora, Illinois with his wife Diana and their four children.https://worldrelief.org

PIO TANATH BRADLEY, PUBLIC SERVICE LIBRARIAN TONY EDMUNDSON TRT: 14:34

Cuba's Severe Energy and Economic Collapse. Evan Ellis describes the catastrophic collapse of Cuba's economy. Cut off from Venezuelan and Mexican oil, the island faces severe rationing, blackouts, halted public services, and completely collapsed tourism. With millions fleeing the dire conditions, the communist regime's survival is heavily strained as basic resources fail. #61918 MT LEBANON

Is academic dishonesty connected to political power in China? That question is explored in a new paper from Shaoda Wang, Assistant Professor at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. Wang and his co-authors explore how plagiarism detection in graduate dissertations is connected to patterns of cheating in career paths and institutional behavior. What lessons might this hold for politics, meritocracy, and institutional performance elsewhere? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Defence Minister says possible requirements for Army leaders having to know waiata and karakia from memory is unacceptable. Act MP Todd Stephenson wrote to Judith Collins about the cultural skills framework with concerns it went beyond normal expectations of the Public Service. She says the force hadn't raised it with her, but after speaking with army leaders they had decided to pause implementation. Collins told Mike Hosking a soldier's ability to serve their country has nothing to do with their ability to recite waiata. She says it would be nice for people to do it, but as evidenced in her visit to the Munich Security Conference there's more pressing concerns, like ending up speaking Russian. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Susan Dominus is a staff writer at the New York Times Magazine, a lecturer at Yale, and the author of The Family Dynamic: A Journey into the Mystery of Sibling Success. Her feature “Women Have Been Misled About Menopause” won the National Magazine Award and was the #1 gift-shared Times article of 2023. She was also a member of the Times team that won the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service. In this episode of The Breadwinners, host Rachael Lowell talks to Susan about how siblings shape our achievements and choices, inherited financial anxiety, knowing when to leave a job, and the value in not chasing every dollar. If you've ever tried to find the track and then realized you needed to make your own - this is for you. SHOW NOTES Susan Dominus: https://www.nytimes.com/by/susan-dominushttps://www.susanpdominus.comBook:The Family Dynamic: A Journey into the Mystery of Sibling Success Social:https://www.instagram.com/suedominushttps://www.linkedin.com/in/susandominus Croutons:  “Women Have Been Misled About Menopause” by Susan Dominus, Feb. 1, 2023 2018 Pulitzer Prize Citation - Public Service  Bio: Susan Dominus is a staff writer for The New York Times Magazine and the author of The Family Dynamic: A Journey into the Mystery of Sibling Success. In 2018, she was part of a team that won a Pulitzer Prize for public service for its reporting on workplace sexual harassment. She won a Front Page Award from the Newswomen's Club of New York and a Mychal Judge Heart of New York Award from the New York Press Club. She has studied as a fellow at the National Institutes of Health and Yale Law School. Her article about menopause in The New York Times Magazine won a National Magazine Award in 2024. She teaches journalism at Yale University.  *** "The Breadwinners" Season 7 is a joint production between Reworking Leadership and The Smart Friends Network, generously supported by Ruth Ann Harnisch. "The Breadwinners" was founded by Rachael Lowell and Jennifer Owens in 2019.Host: Rachael LowellExecutive Producers: Rachael Lowell, Rachel SklarAudio Engineer: Ron PassaroOriginal Music: "Perfect" by Hannah BakkeRick Snell: GuitarCesar Moreno: BanjoNyssa Grant: FiddleErik Alvar: BassJustin D. Cook: Keyboard, Percussion, and OrchestrationVocals: Hannah Bakke, Cassidy StonerHannah Bakke: Music and Lyrics To stay up to date with The Breadwinners, please follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebreadwinnerspodcast Find Rachael Lowell at https://reworkingleadership.com & take the SHIFT assessment here: https://leadtheshift.ai If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, review & share! Thank you for listening. Still we rise! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Cape CopCast, we pull back the curtain on the quieter machinery that keeps a city safe: Public Service Aides who investigate crashes, document burglaries, gather fingerprints, and build the reports that solve everyday problems. Jennifer Wein, a 14-year Cape Coral PD professional who moved from dispatch to the street, shares how PSAs shoulder the report-heavy calls so officers can stay available for high-priority incidents—without sacrificing quality or accountability.You'll hear what a PSA can and can't do. PSA Wein breaks down the training path, including traffic enforcement coursework, forensic fingerprinting, and a structured field training program she now leads as an FTO. She talks through a typical day in those new PSA trucks, how she and her teammates split the city to cut response times, and why some days bring twenty crash scenes while others are all about burglary fingerprints or fast-moving fraud reports.We also tackle misconceptions—PSAs are not volunteers—and talk prevention. Lock your car. Slow down in school zones as “red speed” cameras generate a steady flow of citations. Watch for modern scam tactics that use pressure and fear to separate you from your money. For anyone curious about a future in law enforcement, the PSA role doubles as a powerful pipeline: start at eighteen, learn the craft of field work and report writing, and build a foundation for becoming a sworn officer.And a reminder about our upcoming Fraud & Financial Crimes Town Hall on Monday, March 2nd, 2026 at 1 PM at the Lake Kennedy Center. To learn more: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1H8UFCY6xC/

John Fabian Witt recounts how in the 1920s and 1930s Charles Garland donated his million-dollar inheritance to the American Fund for Public Service, or Garland Fund, to support progressive causes and organizations he believed could challenge inequality and reshape capitalism and democracy in America. Dr. Witt is a Professor of History and the Allen H. Duffy Class of 1960 Professor of Law at Yale University and author of The Radical Fund: How a Band of Visionaries and a Million Dollars Upended America. Related Resources: The Radical Fund: How a Band of Visionaries and a Million Dollars Upended America Related Collections: Brookwood Labor College Records (LR000567_BLC) John and Phyllis Collier Papers (LP000141) Richard W. and Constance Cowen Papers (LP000924) Henry Richardson Linville Papers (LP000373) UAW President’s Office: Walter P. Reuther Records (LR000261) Episode Credits Interviewee: John Fabian Witt Producers: Dan Golodner and Troy Eller English Music: Bart Bealmear

It's not easy to recruit new police officers, fire fighters or emergency workers. In Okeechobee County, FL a program called High School Heroes figured out a way to get new grads working for the county. Listen to County Commissioner Terry Burroughs explain the program. GoodGovernmentShow.com Thanks to our sponsors: The Royal Cousins: How Three Cousins Could Have Stopped A World War by Jim Ludlow Ourco Good News For Lefties (and America!) - Daily News for Democracy (Apple Podcasts | Spotify) How to Really Run a City As Fate Would Have It (Apple Podcasts | Spotify) The Good Government Show is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. Executive Producers: David Martin, David Snyder, Jim Ludlow Host/Reporter: David Martin Producers: David Martin, Jason Stershic Editor: Jason Stershic

This episode is a rallying cry for anyone who's ever felt the call to make a real difference. Whether you're new to politics or part of the old guard, Amanda Litman's story and insights will inspire you to step up, speak out, and run — for your community, your future, your life!In this episode:Amanda Litman breaks down how "Run for Something" energizes diverse, non-traditional leaders to run for local officeThe key to motivating candidates: focus on their passion, not their willingness to begHow flipping districts in 2025 showed that authentic candidates can beat money and outmoded politicsOvercoming fears: safety, sacrifice, and doubts — and turning them into fuel for changeThe vital role of women, rural leaders, and young people in shaping future politicsPractical tips for everyday citizens to exercise power—door knocking, volunteering, and engaging directly with representativesWhy courage, persistence, and authenticity beat slick campaigns every single timeResources & Links:Run for SomethingRun for WhatAmanda Litman (Google Search)Local ProgressFuture CaucusState Innovation ExchangeConnect with Amanda Litman:TwitterLinkedInThis episode is a call — a declaration — that YOU are part of this movement. Your voice, your vote, your courage can change history. Don't wait — run, speak, act. The future isn't written yet. Let's write it together.The Hot Dish is brought to you by the One Country Project. To learn more, visit OneCountryProject.org, or find us on Substack (Onecountryproject.substack.com), and on YouTube, Bluesky, and Facebook (@onecountryproject). (00:00) - Introduction to Run for Something (01:22) - Empowering Young Leaders in Politics (03:23) - The Candidate Recruitment Process (04:45) - Understanding Candidate Success Rates (06:21) - Overcoming Doubts About Winning (08:36) - Addressing Fears of Running for Office (10:29) - Navigating Financial Sacrifices in Campaigning (12:58) - Reframing Fundraising as Public Service (15:30) - Encouraging Women to Run for Office (17:19) - Building a Pipeline for Future Candidates (19:35) - The Importance of Community Engagement (22:11) - Call to Action (23:18) - Minnesota's Political Landscape with Grant Hauschild (29:27) - Addressing Authoritarianism and Civic Responsibility (32:12) - Empowering Citizens to Take Action (34:31) - The Role of Candidate Recruitment in Democracy

Dr. Marilyn Helms and Dr. Deborah Arfken are two long-time educators whose careers were shaped as much by chance as by choice.  In this episode, Marilyn and Deborah share how they were both thrown into teaching careers, how a chance meeting on university committees in the late '80s turned into a long-running research partnership, and why it's “publish or perish” in the academic world. Dr. Deborah Arfken is the Professor Emerita of Political Science and Public Service at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and you can connect with her on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-arfken-389bb133/). Dr. Marilyn Helms is the Dean Emerita of the Wright School or Business at Dalton State College and you can connect with her on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/marilynhelms/). If you like this episode, we think you'll also like: Sheila and Dane Boyington's Morning Cups (E128) Shawanda Mason and Jennifer Holder's Morning Cups (E145) Hamp Johnston and Camille Daniel's Morning Cup (E159) Subscribe to the weekly newsletter and be the first to know who upcoming guests are: http://eepurl.com/iGJzII  My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions. 

You chose this tribe. You opted in, because you’re a Badass Agile Leader. This is the call. Time to raise your voice. You have experience, you have something to say. Your wisdom is worth something. Rather than chill on social media and bark about how bad things suck…why not DO something with that passion? With that point of view? Before we start, I want to shine a light on someone who’s actually out there delivering on the promise of Agile. Kevin Sutherland works in perhaps the most challenging environment. Public Services, or government, are complex, siloed, and mired in legacy. Kevin is holding firm, bringing real Badass Agile Leadership to state-level teams (and the taxpayers they serve). Check out Kevin Sutherland and follow his path to insititutional/large enterprise agility: Check out His State systems modernization video. Check out Kevin Sutherland on YouTube How A Badass Agile Leaders Answer the Call As I was saying, time to use your voice to lift up the entire tribe. No one is out there painting a firm vision of the future. What was written 25 years ago needs some adjusting for a modern context. Lessons learned through failure inform a new reality. A Badass Agile Leader recognizes there’s a better way that defies the pedestrian chatter. They refuse to follow the herd, yet the know innately that wisdom lives within the herd. They hold no desire on being ‘the leader’ as much as they inspire the masses to organize, and sometimes, to wake up. That’s what I love talking about now. A Badass Agile Leader knows how to stand for something, and to stand up for something. Not everyone is comfortable being seen, much less rocking the status quo. But if you’ve been following this show for any amount of time, you KNOW that change requires courage. Maybe even sacrifice, and growth. Or maybe you’d just like to be part of a new movement, from the second row or further back. This is all good. But a Badass Agile Leader hears the call right now. It’s undeniable. The old days aren’t coming back. No more calls from recruiters, no more premium rates. Unless…we do our duty and make Agile relevant to our modern context. If Agile isn’t doing the job, I know you’ve noticed. You probably have an opinion about what should be done differently. That’s your asset right now. If you enjoyed this you might also like: Episode 103 – Herds Versus Heroes Employee Mindset Why You MUST Stand For Something **GET THE BUSINESS OUTCOMES PARTNER PLAYBOOK** Learn how to deliver undeniable ROI that saves your job and accelerates your future https://learning.fusechamber.com/outcomes-partner-playbook **FORGE GENESIS IS HERE** All the skills you need to stop relying on job postings and start enjoying the freedom of an Agile career on YOUR terms. First cohort starts in Q1 2026 https://learning.fusechamber.com/forge-genesis **THE ALL NEW FORGE LIGHTNING** 12 Weeks to elite leadership! https://learning.fusechamber.com/forge-lightning **JOIN MY BETA COMMUNITY FOR AGILE ENTREPRENEURS AND INTRAPRENEURS** The latest wave in professional Agile careers. Get the support you need to Forge Your Freedom! Join for FREE here: https://learning.fusechamber.com/offers/Sa3udEgz **CHECK OUT ALL MY PRODUCTS AND SERVICES HERE:** https://learning.fusechamber.com **ELEVATE YOUR PROFESSIONAL STORYTELLING – Now Live!** The most coveted communications skill – now at your fingertips! https://learning.fusechamber.com/storytelling **JOIN THE FORGE*** New cohorts for Fall 2025!  Email for more information: contact@badassagile.com We’re also on YouTube! Follow the podcast, enjoy some panel/guest commentary, and get some quick tips and guidance from me: https://www.youtube.com/c/BadassAgile ****** Follow The LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/badass-agile ****** Our mission is to create an elite tribe of leaders who focus on who they need to become in order to lead and inspire, and to be the best agile podcast and resource for effective mindset and leadership game. Contact us (contact@badassagile.com) for elite-level performance and agile coaching, speaking engagements, team-level and executive mindset/agile training, and licensing options for modern, high-impact, bite-sized learning and educational content.

In this solo episode, the stories are about papers for undocumented residents in Spain, debt-free access at Yale, and paid internships for all at Dartmouth, and more!Here are this week's good vibes:Spain says papers for peopleYale expands debt-free accessOlympians get retirement-style supportDartmouth funds internships for allMinnesota CEOs demand de-escalationGood Vibes to Go: Check out Marcello Hernández's standup special American Boy on Netflix. It takes a while to get really funny but I ended up being utterly charmed. Good vibes indeed.Read the Stories.Subscribe to the 5 Things newsletter.Watch 5 Things Live on YouTube. Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

You got your Oscars, your Pulitzers, your Nobel, and there are the Flemming Awards. Never heard of them? If you work in government or public service then you know what they are. Given this year to 12 individuals in government who have a brought about change in government through public service. Flemming Award President Kathryn Newcomer joins us to talk about the award, the winners and public service. GoodGovernmentShow.com Thanks to our sponsors: The Royal Cousins: How Three Cousins Could Have Stopped A World War by Jim Ludlow Ourco Good News For Lefties (and America!) - Daily News for Democracy (Apple Podcasts | Spotify) How to Really Run a City Leading Iowa: Good Government in Iowa's Cities (Apple Podcasts | Spotify) The Good Government Show is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. Executive Producers: David Martin, David Snyder, Jim Ludlow Host/Reporter: David Martin Producers: David Martin, Jason Stershic Editor: Jason Stershic

A coalition of some 30 organizations has come together with the aim of strengthening public service in Israel and rebuilding public trust in the sector. KAN's Naomi Segal heard more from Adv. Rita Golstein-Galperin, Head of the Civil Service Reform Program at the Israel Democracy Institute, one of the founding organizations of the coalition (Photo: Gal Cohen/Roi Tohar) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Connecticut’s Clean Slate law passed in 2021. The law aims to erase certain convictions from people’s records after a period of time. It was initially scheduled to go into effect in January of 2023, but the program faced delays. This hour, we'll take a look at where things stand with Clean Slate today. We'll also hear from Joe Soss and Joshua Page. Their recent book is Legal Plunder: The Predatory Dimensions of Criminal Justice. The book explores how the legal system takes resources from marginalized communities. As part of his research for the book, Professor Page spent more than a year working as a bail bond agent. GUESTS: Maysoon Khan: Investigative Reporting Fellow with The Accountability Project at Connecticut Public. Joshua Page: Fink Professor of Sociology at the University of Minnesota and one of the authors of Legal Plunder: The Predatory Dimensions of Criminal Justice. Joe Soss: Inaugural Cowles Chair for the Study of Public Service at the University of Minnesota and one of the authors of Legal Plunder: The Predatory Dimensions of Criminal Justice. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to today's episode, a continuation from last week's conversations. Today's episode is about one of those roles that quietly keeps everything running, the kind of job most people don't think about… until they really need it. My guest is Trevor Addison, the Clerk of Court for Putnam County, and if you've ever bought property, dealt with a court case, filed legal documents, or tried to navigate the justice system, his office has likely played a role in your life, whether you realized it or not. We're going to pull back the curtain on what the Clerk of Court actually does, why the role is far more complex than most people imagine, and how Trevor found his way into a position built on trust, precision, and public service. We'll also explore the many services his office provides that often go unnoticed, from safeguarding real estate records to supporting judges, attorneys, and everyday citizens during some of life's most stressful moments. This is a conversation about responsibility, leadership, and the human side of government — where accuracy matters, compassion counts, and getting it right is non-negotiable. So if you've ever wondered how local government really works, or who's making sure the system doesn't fall apart, you're going to want to hear this one! Todays Guest: Trevor Addison, Putnam County Clerk of Court Website: https://www.putnamcourtclerk.org/ Phone: 706-485-4501 Sponsors: Tim Broyles State Farm https://mydowntownagency.com/ Second Chance Boutique https://colinc.org/second-chance-boutique/ Lake Oconee Family Fitness & Fero Fit https://loffc.net/ https://www.facebook.com/ferofitoconee/

In this episode of Inside Deschutes County, Solid Waste Director Tim Brownell reflects on his career in public service and the evolution of Deschutes County's solid waste system as he prepares for retirement. The conversation covers how the system works day to day, key milestones during his tenure, and the challenges of managing waste for a growing community. Listeners will gain a clearer understanding of how local waste management affects daily life and the long-term planning needed to keep the system running effectively.

In this Best of 2025-episode, Best-selling author Michael Lewis discusses his new book, Who Is Government?: The Untold Story of Public Service. As Americans' distrust in the government continues to grow, Lewis' book examines how the government works, who works for it, and why their contributions continue to matter. Jeffrey Rosen, CEO Emeritus of the National Constitution Center, moderates.  This conversation was originally streamed live as part of the NCC's America's Town Hall series on March 26, 2025.  Resources  Michael Lewis, ed., ⁠Who Is Government? The Untold Story of Public Service⁠ (2025)  Michael Lewis, “⁠The free‑living bureaucrat⁠,” The Washington Post (March 2025)  Michael Lewis, “⁠Directions to a journalistic gold mine⁠,” The Washington Post (Nov. 2024)  Michael Lewis, ⁠The Premonition: A Pandemic Story⁠ (2022)  Michael Lewis, ⁠The Fifth Risk ⁠(2018)  ⁠CURE ID  Stay Connected and Learn More  Questions or comments about the show? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@constitutioncenter.org ⁠⁠⁠⁠  Continue the conversation by following us on social media @ConstitutionCtr    Explore the ⁠⁠⁠⁠America at 250 Civic Toolkit⁠⁠⁠⁠   Explore ⁠⁠⁠⁠Pursuit: The Founders' Guide to Happiness⁠⁠⁠⁠   ⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up⁠⁠⁠⁠ to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate   Follow, rate, and review wherever you listen   Join us for an upcoming ⁠⁠⁠⁠live program⁠⁠⁠⁠ or watch recordings on ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠   Support our important work  ⁠⁠⁠⁠Donate 

On Wednesday, January 28, the Academy held the presentation of the 2025 Elliot L. Richardson Prize for Excellence in Public Service to Hon. Janet L. Yellen and Hon. Gary F. Locke, featuring a moderated discussion with Jenn White of NPR's 1A. The honorees spoke to a live audience about a range of issues in modern governance, and how their own experiences helped them see what was most important.Management Matters is a presentation of the National Academy of Public Administration produced by Lizzie Alwan and Matt Hampton and edited by Matt Hampton. Support the Podcast Today at: donate@napawash.org or 202-347-3190Episode music: Hope by Mixaund | https://mixaund.bandcamp.comMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comFollow us on YouTube for clips and more: @NAPAWASH_YT

What does it look like when classroom learning moves beyond campus—and into real communities with real needs and major impact?In this episode of The Other Side of Campus, we're joined by Tanya Ratnani, an undergraduate senior in International Business and Business Analytics at McCombs School of Business (Class of 2026). Tanya reflects on her journey to University of Texas at Austin, her academic interests, and how experiential learning reshaped her understanding of business, service, and global responsibility.Tanya discusses her involvement with the Bridging Disciplines certificate program at UT, an interdisciplinary opportunity for students across campus to break out of their respective silos. Through this program, Tanya found Project Advance Austin, where students collaborate with community and global partners to apply their coursework to public-good initiatives. She shares insights from her work with Caring for Cambodia, highlighting what she learned through cross-cultural collaboration and what it means to learn with—not just about—communities.This episode is part of our ongoing exploration of how teaching, research, and service at UT Austin intersect to address pressing issues of the day—locally and globally.Check out more at the links below: Project Advance Austin: https://global.utexas.edu/engagement/project-advanceCaring for Cambodia: https://www.caringforcambodia.orgMcCombs School of Business: https://www.mccombs.utexas.eduAs always, thanks for listening!CreditsHosts: Stephanie Seidel Holmsten & Jen MoonMusic by various artists: Denys Brodovskyi, Alex ProductionsTheme track: "Soul Sync" by KetsaExecutive Producer: Michelle Daniel

Don't miss this! Be inspired by hearing the story of Michael Gates, an accomplished trial attorney, former city attorney, and, most recently, the Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. Michael has dedicated his life to fighting for Californians, and now he’s carrying that commitment to Sacramento to transform the halls of justice.(00:00) Why Leave DOJ to Fight for California?(06:13) From Private Practice to Public Service(10:22) Sacramento, One-Party Rule, and the Wealth Tax Push(14:00) Why Gates Says He’s Different(23:13) Enforcing Existing Laws(33:10) A “Constitution-Driven” AG Office(43:52) Comeback California(49:56) How to HelpCONNECT WITH MICHAEL GATES:Website: https://www.gates4ag.com/ CONNECT WITH PASTOR JACK:Get Updates via Text:  https://text.whisp.io/jack-hibbs-podcast Website: https://jackhibbs.com/Instagram: http://bit.ly/2FCyXpOFacebook: https://bit.ly/2WZBWV0 YouTube: https://bit.ly/437xMHnTwitter/X: https://x.com/RealJackHibbs CALLED TO TAKE A BOLD STAND:https://boldstand.org/DAZE OF DECEPTION:https://jackhibbs.com/daze-of-deception/ Did you know we have a Real Life Network? Sign up for free today for more exclusive content:https://www.reallifenetwork.com/

Join us in this episode as Brian Stahl, Republican candidate for U.S. House of Representatives in Texas' 6th Congressional District, shares his journey from law enforcement to politics – and his vision for a safer, stronger community… Brian is a Christian, husband, father, and lifelong public servant. With over two decades in law enforcement, he has protected Texas families in a variety of roles, from field training officer and undercover narcotics officer to SWAT team member, air support officer, firearms instructor, and HSI task force officer. In this conversation, we discuss: The difference between local and federal political processes.  Why Brian is so passionate about running for the 6th District of Texas. How serving in law enforcement has shaped Brian's political perspective.  The difference between local and federal political processes, and why it matters. Brian's vision for a government that is accountable, transparent, and community-centered. Tune in to learn how service, integrity, and commitment guide Brian Stahl's mission –  and what he hopes to achieve in Congress. To keep up with his campaign, visit Stahlfortexas.com!