Podcasts about strategic initiatives

This week we are exploring AI for science (and what this means), using super computers in research and what this changing landscape means for UK Universities. To discuss this is Liz Wainwright, Associate Director of Strategic Initiatives at Edinburgh Innovations which is part of The University of Edinburgh.

It's YOUR time to #EdUp with Stacy Chiaramonte⁠, Senior Vice President, Strategy & Operations, ⁠UPCEA⁠, & ⁠Jeni McRay⁠, Assistant Provost, Internationalization & Strategic Initiatives, ⁠Fort Hays State UniversityIn this episode, recorded Live from the 2026 InsightsEDU Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, February 17-19,YOUR host is ⁠⁠Dr. Joe Sallustio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠How does a rural regional comprehensive university with the lowest tuition in Kansas choose to blow it up & build a professional continuing education unit with a 5 year plan to sustainability?Why does engaging an external partner help navigate internal bureaucracies when we need to hear what we don't want to hear in this industry right now?What makes designing programs around durable skills that employers say they want across industries & across generations the way to meet learners at every stage of their professional career?Listen in to #EdUpThank YOU so much for tuning in. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to EdUp!Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvin Freytes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠& ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dr. Joe Sallustio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠● Join YOUR EdUp community at ⁠The EdUp Experience⁠We make education YOUR business!P.S. Want access to the only intelligence platform built exclusively from presidential conversations in higher ed? Well, we have an app for that!Join EdUp Leadership!

You lived through it. You lost people. And somewhere along the way you decided HIV was somebody else's problem now. It is not. Andrew Spieldenner and Alex Garner from MPact Global Action join Rick for a conversation that does not let the queer community off the hook. MPact works across 60 countries supporting LGBTQ-led organizations fighting HIV stigma, funding cuts, and the political forces making all of it worse. This episode covers where the stigma still lives, why gay men over 50 are among the fastest growing groups of new diagnoses, and why staying sexual, visible, and engaged is still an act of resistance. Key Takeaways: Why HIV stigma has not gone away, it has just gotten quieter and more insidiousHow structural racism and poverty drive HIV transmission more than individual behaviorWhy gay men over 50 are seeing rising new diagnosis rates and what that meansThe dangerous gap between available prevention tools and who actually gets access to them About Andrew Andrew R. Spieldenner, Ph.D. is Executive Director of MPact Global Action, an international gay rights organization in the HIV response, and Professor in the Department of Communication at California State University-San Marcos. Openly living with HIV, Dr. Spieldenner's writing is at the intersection of health and culture, particularly looking at HIV and the LGBTQ community. Dr. Spieldenner's edited books include Intercultural Health Communication, Post-AIDS Discourse in Health Communication, and the award-winning A Pill for Promiscuity. About Alex Alex Garner is a writer, artist, and community advocate dedicated to advancing queer visibility and health equity. He currently serves as Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives & Communications at MPact Global Action and previously led sexual health innovation and global campaigns as Senior Health Innovation Strategist at Hornet. With over 25 years in community organizing and two decades as a writer, Alex uses storytelling, art, and advocacy to humanize queer experiences and destigmatize conversations around sex, HIV, and identity. Born and raised in Southern California, Alex is a proud Chicano, gay/queer, and male-presenting person who embraces fluidity and authenticity. Living openly with HIV for 30 years, he shares his personal journey including his time as a sex worker and performer to challenge stigma and inspire others. Connect With Andrew and Alex Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Hey Guys, Don't Forget! Join the 40 Plus: Gay Men Gay Talk, monthly chats. - Learn More! Also, join our Facebook Community - 40 Plus: Gay Men, Gay Talk Community

AI Infrastructure in the Age of Sovereignty: Requirements, Strategies and a Trusted Framework for Digital Embassies is a report co-drafted with Bain & Company and published on 11 May, 2026.   This webinar explores how economies can pursue AI sovereignty along a spectrum of strategies, from trusted international partnerships to extensive domestic ownership, depending on their local capabilities. The discussion examines why choices around compute, connectivity and data storage are increasingly central to long-term resilience and AI competitiveness.  A core focus is what these choices look like in practice: how different approaches along the spectrum can be translated into credible strategies, what shared infrastructure arrangements require, and how digital embassies can serve as an option for extending sovereign AI infrastructure beyond national borders.  This is the full audio from a webinar recorded on 12 May, 2026. Speakers: Samira Gazzane, Policy Lead, Future-Ready Economies, World Economic Forum (In Person)  Cathy Li, Head, Centre for AI Excellence; Member, Executive Committee, World Economic Forum (In Person)  Florian Mueller, Senior Partner and Head, AI, Insights & Solutions for EMEA, Bain & Company (In Person)  Ann Marie Lavigne, Vice-President, Strategic Initiatives, Snowflake  Sean Kask, Chief AI Strategy Officer, SAP (Online)  Ali Al Amine, Chief Commercial Officer, G42 International (Online)  Check out all our podcasts on wef.ch/podcasts:  YouTube: - https://www.youtube.com/@wef/podcasts Radio Davos - subscribe: https://pod.link/1504682164 Meet the Leader - subscribe: https://pod.link/1534915560 Agenda Dialogues - subscribe: https://pod.link/1574956552

The "Community Meets Clinic" podcast series introduces clinicians and healthcare personnel specializing in rare neuroimmune disorders. In this episode hosted by Krissy Dilger of SRNA, we met Dr. Benjamin Greenberg of the UT Southwestern Medical Center. He outlined his translational research, including the Q Study, a Phase 1 trial assessing the safety and feasibility of transplanting human glial restricted progenitor cells into the spinal cord of people who have been diagnosed with transverse myelitis (TM) [05:49]. He also described research on immune-remodeling therapies for NMO aimed at reducing long-term immunosuppression. Dr. Greenberg illustrated multidisciplinary care at UT Southwestern and Children's Medical Center, emphasized options for second opinions and clinician-to-clinician remote consultation, and shared hopes for nervous system repair trials and curative immune therapies [07:18]. You can view Dr. Benjamin Greenberg's medical profile here:https://utswmed.org/doctors/benjamin-greenberg/Benjamin M. Greenberg, MD, MHS is a Professor and the Cain Denius Scholar in Mobility Disorders in the Department of Neurology [https://utswmed.org/why-utsw/departments/neurology/] at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. He currently serves as the Vice Chair of Translational Research and Strategic Initiatives for the Department of Neurology. He is also the interim Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Center [https://utswmed.org/locations/aston/multiple-sclerosis-and-neuroimmunology-clinic/] and the Director of the Neurosciences Clinical Research Center. In addition, he serves as Director of the Transverse Myelitis and Neuromyelitis Optica Program and the Pediatric Demyelinating Disease Program at Children's Medical Center [https://www.childrens.com/specialties-services/specialty-centers-and-programs/neurology/demyelinating-disease-program].Dr. Greenberg earned his medical degree at Baylor College of Medicine before completing an internal medicine internship at Chicago's Rush Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center. He performed his neurology residency at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He also holds an M.H.S. in molecular microbiology and immunology from the Bloomberg School of Public Health, as well as a bachelor's degree in the history of medicine – both from Johns Hopkins. Prior to his recruitment to UT Southwestern in 2009, Dr. Greenberg was on the faculty of the Johns Hopkins Division of Neuroimmunology, serving as the Director of the Encephalitis Center and Co-Director of the nation's first dedicated Transverse Myelitis Center.Dr. Greenberg splits his clinical time between adult and pediatric patients at William P. Clements Jr. and Zale Lipshy University Hospitals, Parkland, and Children's Medical Center. His research focuses on better diagnosing, prognosticating, and treating demyelinating diseases and nervous system infections. He also coordinates clinical trials to evaluate new treatments to prevent neurologic damage and restore function to affected patients.00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro01:41 Path to Neurology03:50 Why Neuroimmunology05:49 Research Focus and Trials07:18 Clinic Team and Referrals10:31 Self Care and Hobbies12:17 How the Clinic Can Help14:16 Hope for Future Therapies15:56 Wrap Up

Designers face challenges around education, certification, pay, and power, and in this episode, hosts Giulia Donatello and Lee-Sean Huang sit down with Benjie Wilhelm, Assistant Professor at ASU, Director of Strategic Initiatives at UCDA, and brand strategist "hellbent on making the world a better place," to name the elephant in the room and start talking about what it would actually take to fix it.In This EpisodeThe flattening of the profession. About 80% of designers today are self-taught or bootcamp-trained, while 90% of design work is freelance. Benjie argues this isn't just a workforce trend. It's a sign of a profession without a floor, and the consequences run from pay compression to ethical accountability gaps.Artists vs. tradespeople. Benjie's central provocation: designers need to stop identifying as artists and start thinking of themselves as tradespeople. An architect can't build a building that falls down. A plumber can't flood your house. But designers can build platforms that undermine democracy and currently face no professional consequences for doing so.The RGD model. Canada's Registered Graphic Designers designation began as a provincial act in Ontario when a group of designers organized, lobbied, and had their certification standards ratified. Benjie sees it as a repeatable model and has been studying it closely as a possible path for the US.Certification, unions, and collective action. AIGA's Professional Designer and Design Leader certifications are a start, but Benjie argues the industry needs something closer to a union model, where certification has legal weight, pay floors are enforced, and designers have the standing to say no to harmful work. He's been part of union campaigns at both Parsons and SVA."Your concerns are beneath me." During the SVA unionization campaign, one colleague dismissed the effort entirely because they could afford to treat teaching as charity work. Benjie uses this as a window into a deeper problem: a succession crisis in design, where prestige and platform stay concentrated in the same hands, and the people most affected by broken systems are the ones least able to fix them.The broken pipeline. The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis's Talent Disrupted report found that 52% of college graduates are underemployed at initial labor-market entry and that 45% remain underemployed 10 years later. Benjie sees this firsthand, teaching portfolio and professional practice at ASU, and refuses to pretend the path is clearer than it is.Resources Talent Disrupted report, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis - https://www.stlouisfed.org/open-vault/2025/aug/jobs-degrees-underemployed-college-graduates-haveRGD (Registered Graphic Designers of Ontario) - https://www.rgd.caAIGA Professional Designer & Design Leader Certifications - https://www.aiga.org/certificationJenn Stucker at BGSU - https://www.bgsu.edu/arts-and-sciences/school-of-art/faculty-staff/jenn-stucker.html Jenn Stucker on a 2024 episode of the show -  https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/aigadesign/episodes/Community-Engagement--Cultural-Change-with-Jenn-Stucker-e2lhodo Heated Rivalry on HBO Max - https://www.hbomax.com/shows/heated-rivalry/50cd4e99-04ee-427b-a3b4-da721ed05d9cCritical Form - https://www.instagram.com/critical_form/Benjie's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/benjiewilhelm/ Benjie on Threads - https://www.threads.com/@benjiewilhelm  Benjie Wilhelm is a brand strategist "hellbent on making the world a better place" through design, with a decade of experience building brands for startups and nonprofits at the intersection of technology and collective well-being. He is an Assistant Professor of Design at Arizona State University, where he teaches portfolio and professional practice, and Director of Strategic Initiatives at UCDA, where he works on what a design association needs to look like now and in 10 years. 

Krissy Dilger of SRNA hosted Dr. Benjamin Greenberg of UT Southwestern to share updates on the Q Study, a Phase 1 trial assessing the safety and feasibility of transplanting human glial restricted progenitor cells into the spinal cord of people who have been diagnosed with transverse myelitis (TM). Dr. Greenberg cautioned the audience against stem cell tourism [00:03:03]. He described the decades-long development of the cell line and safety monitoring for this study [00:01:35]. He reported no safety signals prompting a trial pause and noted the FDA-approved expansion of eligibility from non-ambulatory participants to those who can walk with assistance, while efficacy results were not yet being shared [00:08:31]. Finally, Dr. Greenberg outlined potential next steps, including Phase 2 studies and expanded populations (e.g., MOGAD and NMOSD diagnoses), as well as future targets [00:17:02].Benjamin M. Greenberg, MD, MHS is a Professor and the Cain Denius Scholar in Mobility Disorders in the Department of Neurology [https://utswmed.org/why-utsw/departments/neurology/] at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. He currently serves as the Vice Chair of Translational Research and Strategic Initiatives for the Department of Neurology. He is also the interim Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Center [https://utswmed.org/locations/aston/multiple-sclerosis-and-neuroimmunology-clinic/] and the Director of the Neurosciences Clinical Research Center. In addition, he serves as Director of the Transverse Myelitis and Neuromyelitis Optica Program and the Pediatric Demyelinating Disease Program at Children's Medical Center [https://www.childrens.com/specialties-services/specialty-centers-and-programs/neurology/demyelinating-disease-program].Dr. Greenberg earned his medical degree at Baylor College of Medicine before completing an internal medicine internship at Chicago's Rush Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center. He performed his neurology residency at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He also holds an M.H.S. in molecular microbiology and immunology from the Bloomberg School of Public Health, as well as a bachelor's degree in the history of medicine – both from Johns Hopkins. Prior to his recruitment to UT Southwestern in 2009, Dr. Greenberg was on the faculty of the Johns Hopkins Division of Neuroimmunology, serving as the Director of the Encephalitis Center and Co-Director of the nation's first dedicated Transverse Myelitis Center.Dr. Greenberg splits his clinical time between adult and pediatric patients at William P. Clements Jr. and Zale Lipshy University Hospitals, Parkland, and Children's Medical Center. His research focuses on better diagnosing, prognosticating, and treating demyelinating diseases and nervous system infections. He also coordinates clinical trials to evaluate new treatments to prevent neurologic damage and restore function to affected patients.00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro01:35 Origins of Q Study02:46 Getting Cells Into Cord04:49 Phase One Trial Design06:31 Safety and Efficacy Measures08:31 Eligibility Expanded Criteria11:39 Screening and Selection14:05 Travel and Site Logistics15:15 Early Safety Findings17:02 Next Steps After Phase One19:01 Beyond Idiopathic Myelitis23:07 Damage Differences by Disease25:20 Optic Nerve and Brain Targets27:29 Expected Outcomes and Vision28:58 Final Thanks

Mastering AI tools and techniques takes time. In this episode, we share how community colleges can become the region's trusted AI onramp by offering accessible, mission-aligned AI literacy programming for students, employees, and community members. We'll break down how to approach AI as a critical mindset rather than a technical skill set.  Learn about the values behind our AI model and the practical decisions that make it work. We'll address the tensions and uncomfortable realities driving this work, including AI overreliance, academic integrity, and workforce disruption. Finally, we'll examine how AI literacy can support college goals and leave you with a guide to building an onramp for your community. Find out more about what Finger Lakes Community College is doing with AI at the FLX AI Hub.  Sources: HBR - AI-Generated “Workslop” Is Destroying Productivity: https://hbr.org/2025/09/ai-generated-workslop-is-destroying-productivity MIT - The GenAI Divide STATE OF AI IN BUSINESS 2025: https://mlq.ai/media/quarterly_decks/v0.1_State_of_AI_in_Business_2025_Report.pdf Guest Names:  Debora Ortloff, Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Assessment, FLCC Dave Ghidiu, Associate Professor of Computing Sciences, FLCC Guest Socials:  Debora: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deboraortloff Dave: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daveghidiu/ Guest Bios:  Debora Hinderliter Ortloff, Ph.D., is VP of Strategic Initiatives and Assessment at FLCC and co-leads our AI work.  She prides herself on being a leader who can facilitate change by serving as a thought partner and problem-solver, helping faculty and staff with great ideas and passion move forward towards innovation.  In our AI work, she also helps design training around AI for data, authentic assessment, and policy creation.  In addition to this work, Debora leads strategy at the College and consults extensively with the U.S. Department of Education.  She holds a Ph.D. from Indiana University Bloomington and lives with her husband and two sons in Canandaigua, NY.  Dave Ghidiu is an Assistant Professor of Computing Sciences at Finger Lakes Community College; he has spent more than two decades helping students and educators build confidence with technology. His work at FLCC's Center for Teaching and Learning has deepened his commitment to accessible, practical professional development - equipping faculty and staff with tools and strategies they can use immediately in their classrooms and workflows. In recent years, Dave has immersed himself in the world of artificial intelligence. He leads the AI Microcredential Program, serves as AI Strategist for the FLX AI Hub, and regularly delivers workshops, webinars, and keynote presentations to educators, healthcare professionals, and business leaders across Upstate New York. Guided by the philosophy that "you can't AI wrong," Dave is passionate about lowering the barrier to AI adoption and helping people at every skill level find their on-ramp to this transformative technology.   - - - -Connect With Our Host:Mallory Willsea https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/https://twitter.com/mallorywillseaAbout The Enrollify Podcast Network:The Higher Ed Pulse is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you'll like other Enrollify shows too!Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this week's episode, Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor and Tel Aviv-based journalist Neri Zilber and Israel Policy Forum Director of Strategic Initiatives and IPF Atid Shanie Reichman discuss President Trump's impasse with Iran and the prospects for renewed escalation, Israel-Lebanon peace talks and the grinding military front with Hezbollah, Prime Minister Netanyahu's recent CBS interview and what it means about his current mindset, Israeli politics gearing up for an election, the state of the U.S.-Israel relationship, and more. Support the showFollow us on Instagram, Twitter/X, and Bluesky, and subscribe to our email list here.

What happens when public health stops treating patients in isolation and starts addressing the realities of their daily lives?  In this episode, leaders from the Tennessee Department of Health share how they're using PHIG funding to transform care at both the clinical and community level. Sanjana Stamm, director of Regional and Local Health, Tennessee Department of Health, explains how the state is embedding social workers and care coordinators into primary care clinics across rural regions, helping patients navigate everything from medication access to food insecurity and employment. Then, Jen Trail, director of the Tennessee Department of Health's Division of Strategic Initiatives, explains how Tennessee is empowering its counties to lead their own health improvement efforts through local health councils, data-driven planning, and targeted grants.This work is supported by funds made available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Center for STLT Public Health Infrastructure and Workforce, through OE22-2203: Strengthening U.S. Public Health Infrastructure, Workforce, and Data Systems grant. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government.Public Health Infrastructure Grant: Resources & Impact - PHIGTennessee Department of Health Division of Strategic Initiatives

Guest: Dr Richard Utz, Senior Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives in Georgia Tech's Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts, discussing the place of humanities in academia. First broadcast May 8, 2026. Playlist.  "The humanities, as a term, would not exist without substantial crisis in how human beings think about themselves."

Today we welcome Missionary Scott Hanson, the Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Assemblies of God World Missions.

This episode of Justice Above All investigates one way in which segregation has been rebranded in the twenty-first century: all-white, or “whites-only,” settlements. In recent years, there has been an alarming rise in these settlements across the United States. Attempts to build all-white settlements represent a modern rebranding of segregationist housing practices like restrictive covenants. All-white settlements are morally corrosive to a multi-racial democracy and undermine the principles of inclusive housing articulated in the Fair Housing Act. Policymakers and all people who oppose segregation should actively resist the rise of all-white settlements.Today's host is Dr. Kesha Moore, Research Manager of the Thurgood Marshall Institute. She is in conversation with the following guests: Jason Bailey, Senior Counsel, Legal Defense FundJin Hee Lee, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Legal Defense FundCynthia Miller-Idriss, Professor, American University School of Public Affairs and School of Education; Founding Director, Polarization and Extremism Research & Innovation LabYou can learn more about this episode by visiting our landing page.This episode was written and produced by Jakiyah Bradley. Resonate Recordings provided production support.If you enjoyed this episode please consider leaving a review and helping others find it! To keep up with the work of LDF please visit our website at www.naacpldf.org and follow us on social media at @naacp_ldf. To keep up with the work of the Thurgood Marshall Institute, please visit our website at www.tminstituteldf.org and follow us on Twitter at @tmi_ldf. 

The CPG Guys are joined in the episode by Patrick Nommensen, Head, Strategic Initiatives, AMS & Europe, E-Commerce at TikTok.This episode was record in Las Vegas at Shoptalk 2026.Follow Patrick on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pnommensen/ Follow TikTok on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tiktok/ Patrick answers these questions:Patrick, you've been vocal about how TikTok Shop is “discovery-led commerce,” where shopping starts with inspiration, not intent. In 2026, reports by others have estimated there are over 80 million U.S. shoppers on the platform, how do you preserve that sense of discovery at scale?There's a perception that TikTok Shop is driven by viral, one-off purchases. But we're now seeing brands build repeat purchase behavior and long-term customer value. What tools are TikTok Shop providing for brands to move from “viral moment” to sustained brand loyalty?We see the huge stars, but your data shows that micro-influencers often have 2x the engagement for CPG brands. How is TikTok Shop's affiliate model evolving to help a brand like PepsiCo and flavor swap chips manage multiple micro-creators at scale without a massive manual headcount?Live shopping is often seen as an Asia-first behavior, but we're seeing strong adoption in the U.S. What's different about how U.S. consumers engage with LIVE, and where do you see the biggest opportunity?Traditional e-commerce starts with search and intent. TikTok Shop starts with discovery and inspiration. How should CPG brands rethink their entire go-to-market strategy in a world where consumers don't search—they discover? Retailers like Walmart and Amazon have deep "closed-loop" measurement. How is TikTok Shop closing the gap to show a CPG Brand Manager exactly how a viral video on Tuesday led to an in-store purchase at a physical Kroger on Friday?Amazon and Walmart have launched their own social feeds. What is the "moat" that TikTok Shop has that a legacy retailer can never replicate, no matter how much they invest in "social" features?We're hearing more brands describe TikTok Shop as a real-time “test kitchen” for product development. Can you share how brands are using the platform to test, iterate, and scale products faster than traditional retail cycles?TikTok Shop is no longer just a test channel–many enterprise brands are now treating it as core infrastructure. What are you seeing from large CPG brands in terms of investment and long-term strategy?If we sit down in 2030, is TikTok still an "App," or is it the underlying operating system for how the world discovers and consumes everything?CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.comFMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.comSheCOMMERCE Website: https://shecommercepodcast.com/Rhea Raj's Website: http://rhearaj.comLara Raj in Katseye: https://www.katseye.world/DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual's use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.

Listen in as Jakob Shaw and Bernadette Fiaschetti share their zest to end animal cruelty. They discuss why French Bulldogs and Pugs should never be bred, why buying birds and holding them captive is cruel, the first ban on glue traps; and first in the nation…Wesleyan University memorial plaque for animals killed for dining hall meals. Jakob Shaw is the manager of strategic initiatives for PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.In this role, Shaw advances PETA's animal protection mission through legislative advocacy, youth outreach, colorful demonstrations, multimedia projects, installations such as The Council of Animals (What to Do About the Humans) featured on the National Mall, and more.  His work has led to the first ban on glue traps—which ensnare small animals indiscriminately and cause prolonged suffering—as well as the introduction of both federal and state bills banning the cruel devices.  He also helped secure the passage of a groundbreaking ordinance in Ojai, California banning the breeding of French Bulldogs and other breathing-impaired dogs and cats who suffer from a lifetime of respiratory issues and other chronic ailments. PETA opposes speciesism, a human-supremacist worldview, and focuses its attention on the four areas in which the largest numbers of animals suffer the most intensely for the longest periods of time: in laboratories, the food industry, the clothing trade, and the entertainment business. Website: www.peta.org

Listen in as Jakob Shaw and Bernadette Fiaschetti share their zest to end animal cruelty. They discuss why French Bulldogs and Pugs should never be bred, why buying birds and holding them captive is cruel, the first ban on glue traps; and first in the nation…Wesleyan University memorial plaque for animals killed for dining hall meals. Jakob Shaw is the manager of strategic initiatives for PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.In this role, Shaw advances PETA's animal protection mission through legislative advocacy, youth outreach, colorful demonstrations, multimedia projects, installations such as The Council of Animals (What to Do About the Humans) featured on the National Mall, and more.  His work has led to the first ban on glue traps—which ensnare small animals indiscriminately and cause prolonged suffering—as well as the introduction of both federal and state bills banning the cruel devices.  He also helped secure the passage of a groundbreaking ordinance in Ojai, California banning the breeding of French Bulldogs and other breathing-impaired dogs and cats who suffer from a lifetime of respiratory issues and other chronic ailments. PETA opposes speciesism, a human-supremacist worldview, and focuses its attention on the four areas in which the largest numbers of animals suffer the most intensely for the longest periods of time: in laboratories, the food industry, the clothing trade, and the entertainment business. Website: www.peta.org

In this special “Ask the Expert” collaboration between The MOG Project and SRNA, Julia Lefelar and Dr. GG deFiebre welcomed Dr. Benjamin Greenberg of UT Southwestern, who answered questions from the audience. Dr. Greenberg reviewed major advances in MOG antibody disease research and diagnostic criteria [00:05:06]. He discussed efforts to predict relapse risk using sustained antibody positivity, demographic and clinical models, and immune-cell profiling studies [00:07:55]. Dr. Greenberg detailed controversies around low-positive antibody titers and how cell-based assays and dilution thresholds affect specificity [00:21:38]. He outlined concepts and progress in tolerance-inducing approaches such as Tregs and CAR T therapy, described differences from B-cell–depleting drugs like rituximab [00:26:32] Finally, Dr. Greenberg highlighted the satralizumab meteoroid trial and the ongoing cosMOG study of rozanolixizumab, emphasizing community engagement, registries, surveys, and trial participation to accelerate access and potential curative strategies [00:38:36]. You can learn more about The MOG Project here:https://mogproject.org/Benjamin M. Greenberg, MD, MHS is a Professor and the Cain Denius Scholar in Mobility Disorders in the Department of Neurology [ https://utswmed.org/why-utsw/departments/neurology/ ] at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. He currently serves as the Vice Chair of Translational Research and Strategic Initiatives for the Department of Neurology. He is also the interim Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Center [ https://utswmed.org/locations/aston/multiple-sclerosis-and-neuroimmunology-clinic/ ] and the Director of the Neurosciences Clinical Research Center. In addition, he serves as Director of the Transverse Myelitis and Neuromyelitis Optica Program and the Pediatric Demyelinating Disease Program at Children's Medical Center [ https://www.childrens.com/specialties-services/specialty-centers-and-programs/neurology/demyelinating-disease-program ].Dr. Greenberg earned his medical degree at Baylor College of Medicine before completing an internal medicine internship at Chicago's Rush Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center. He performed his neurology residency at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He also holds an M.H.S. in molecular microbiology and immunology from the Bloomberg School of Public Health, as well as a bachelor's degree in the history of medicine – both from Johns Hopkins. Prior to his recruitment to UT Southwestern in 2009, Dr. Greenberg was on the faculty of the Johns Hopkins Division of Neuroimmunology, serving as the Director of the Encephalitis Center and Co-Director of the nation's first dedicated Transverse Myelitis Center.Dr. Greenberg splits his clinical time between adult and pediatric patients at William P. Clements Jr. and Zale Lipshy University Hospitals, Parkland, and Children's Medical Center. His research focuses on better diagnosing, prognosticating, and treating demyelinating diseases and nervous system infections. He also coordinates clinical trials to evaluate new treatments to prevent neurologic damage and restore function to affected patients.00:00 Welcome01:44 Hosts and Guest Intro05:06 Research Buckets Overview07:55 Predicting Relapse Risk11:46 Tregs and Immune Brakes17:40 Attack Severity and Relapse19:24 MOGAD Criteria Updates21:38 Titers Explained Simply26:32 Targeting MOG Antibodies29:11 CAR T and Immune Reset32:39 When Criteria Changes33:52 Tolerance Research Boom34:48 From Animals to Trials37:17 Community Drives Progress38:36 Meteoroid and cosMOG Clinical Trials41:39 How These Drugs Work44:02 FDA Approval and Access45:49 Insurance Switch Concerns48:39 Rituximab Dosing Debate52:41 Why Antibodies Develop54:18 Future Attack Patterns55:47 CAR T Versus Rituximab57:10 Lab Research and Support01:00:51 Hope for a Cure01:02:14 Closing and Resources

Twenty Years of Pure Michigan: Exclusive Insights from Michigan's Tourism ExpertsThe Pure Michigan Governor's Conference on Tourism is Michigan's premier annual event for travel and hospitality leaders to collaborate on advancing the state's visitor economy. Over three days, 500+ industry professionals engaged in dynamic workshops and networking focused on digital marketing, inclusivity, and the Governor's Awards for Innovative Tourism Collaboration.We got an exclusive look into the conference as it celebrated 20 years of the Pure Michigan marketing campaign. Hear from the state's tourism and hospitality leaders as they discuss how Pure Michigan evolved the culture in the state, the latest travel trends, and the massive economic impact tourism has in Michigan. Guests include:Kelly Wolgamott, Vice President of Pure Michigan, Michigan Economic Development Corporation; Liz Ware, VP Sales and Marketing, Mission Point Resort; Sarah Miller, President and CEO, Destination Ann Arbor; Trevor Tkach, CDME, CFEE, President & CEO, Traverse City Tourism; Ken Hayward, Chief Operating Officer, Visit Detroit; Brianna Bowen, BS, Bay Mills Indian Community; Janet Korn, Senior Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, Experience Grand Rapids; Linda Hoath, Executive Director, Visit Sault Ste. Marie

Guest: Raja Mukerji, Co-Founder & Chief Scientist, Extrahop Rafal Los, VP of Client Relations and Strategic Initiatives, Extrahop Topics: Is Network Detection and Response (NDR) coming back after being shoved to the side by EDR a bit? Is this for real? What's the value proposition of NDR in 2026, because some people still don't understand it? How does NDR apply to the world of WFH, cloud/SaaS, encryption, high bandwidth, etc? Is the value of NDR the same, or different, when it comes to public (or private) cloud? How does NDR fill visibility gaps that identity and agent-based solutions cannot? What does NDR offer that built-in cloud security tooling (as of right now) does not? Would you call NDR a key cloud security control? Does NDR help with shadow AI? NDR elephant in the room is sometimes cost. How does cost change the value prop when compared to on-premise or physical infrastructure? Resources: Video version EP267 AI SOC or AI in a SOC? Cutting Through Hype, Pricing Models, and SIEM Detection Efficacy with Raffy Marty EP113 Love it or Hate it, Network Security is Coming to the Cloud EP154 Mike Schiffman: from Blueboxing to LLMs via Network Security at Google EP115 How to Approach Cloud in a Cloudy Way, not As Somebody Else's Computer? EP263 SOC Refurbishing: Why New Tools Won't Fix Broken Processes (Even With AI) "The GC+CISO Connection Book" book

Friday has rolled around again which means it is time to scramble out another audio edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement. This time around there is a big focus on municipal budgeting because the purpose of Town Crier Productions is to focus on the details of revenues and expenditures with a hope toward greater community understanding. At least, that's the way this version of Sean Tubbs is programmed.In this edition:* Charlottesville City Council has adopted a budget for the next fiscal year that increased the real property tax rate by a penny, one fewer cent than had been proposed (full story below!)* Albemarle Supervisors have a few remaining decisions to make for the county's FY2027 budget (read the story)* Albemarle and Charlottesville commemorate Dark Sky Week (read the story)* A preview of the Week AheadShout-out / PSA #1: Friends of JMRL Book SaleThe Friends of the Jefferson Madison Regional Library's Spring Book Sale is running now through this Sunday from 10:00am to 7:00pm each day at Albemarle Square Shopping Center. Additionally, April 11th and 12th are ½-price days. Choose from thousands of books, DVDs, CDs, LPs, games and puzzles, with restocking occurring throughout the sale. Proceeds benefit our regional public library system. Visit jmrlfriends DOT org for more informationCharlottesville goes with penny increase on real property tax rate rather than twoNote: The podcast edition of this budget story is stitched together from several reports. This is a consolidated version used for a script and lacks hyperlinks and other resources.One of the most important duties of governing bodies in Virginia localities is to adopt a budget for each fiscal year.For Charlottesville City Council, the process began this year on March 2 when Charlottesville City Manager Sam Sanders introduced a budget that was built on a two-cent increase in the real property tax rate to an even $1 for every $100 of assessed property.Since then, there have been several work sessions in which Sander's recommended budget gradually became the one that Council adopted on April 9.These were mostly held on Thursdays beginning on March 5 with a work session dedicated to the Vibrant Community Fund on March 12. That's the process through which the city provides money to nonprofit organizations.Informal budget hearingOn March 19, the city held an informal public hearing during what is billed as the Community Budget Forum.The only speaker was Jim Moore who said he has eight rental properties within Charlottesville.“I tend to try to keep my rents a little below market, and I have some tenants that really can't afford much more than that,” Moore said.Moore said the property assessment for one of those rental units increased by 74 percent from 2021 to 2025. He asked for the city to lower the anticipated rate increase.The budget forum ended up being more like a work session with staff presenting information to the City Councilors on potential ways to lower the rate. But first, budget director Krisy Hammill explained why the two cent real property rate increase had been proposed.“Most of the new revenue for the tax increase was put in the budget to offset the deeper transit investments, the increased match for the schools, and also the impacts of collective bargaining,” Hammill said.That two cent tax increase generates $2,467,724 a year.To help eliminate one of those pennies, Hammill said staff were comfortable projecting slightly higher revenue forecasts and also showed some ways to reduce revenue, including less funding for Charlottesville Area Transit, tapping into a reserve fund, and eliminating funds for Council Strategic Initiatives.“One other option would be to move the schools back to the original 2 million that we had originally built the budget around, thus reducing their increase by $569,000,” Hammill said.The budget anticipates hiring ten additional drivers for Charlottesville Area Transit. Under one potential scenario to reduce funding, money would be in place to hire five in July and the other five would be hired in January as well as additional mechanics and supervisors. That might also mean scheduled service improvements might be delayed.City Manager Sam Sanders said this would defer spending and Council would have to build positions into next year's budget. That would create a structural imbalance that would have to be addressed.“Any creation of a structural imbalance is a risk,” Sanders said. “The question is how much of a risk are you willing to take. When you create the imbalance this year and solve it this way next year, you're saying that your reassessment should be higher to start with. And you can't guarantee that.”Councilor Jen Fleisher said she liked the idea of limiting the real property tax rate increase to a penny as a middle ground option.Councilor Natalie Oschrin said she did not support delaying expanded transit.“I appreciate coming up with the CAT adjustment scenario to try and make it fit,” Oschrin said. “I would prefer not to do that since it just kind of kicks the can down the road a little bit.”Oschrin said she could support using the reserve and eliminating additional funding for Council's strategic initiatives.Councilor Michael Payne said he could support a one penny tax rate increase but said the risk to split funding for CAT personnel would be too high.“I don't like in the past when we've set ourselves up with kind of fiscal cliffs,” Payne said.Mayor Juandiego Wade also said he could support a penny increase.“I appreciate the work that I've done to kind of bring back because we've been hearing from residents about the, the cost of living, the, the tax increase and this I believe is a good, won't satisfy everyone,” Wade said. “But I think it's a good, good compromise if we decide to go in this direction.”No decisions on tax rate at March 26 CIP work sessionThe March 26 work session dealt with the Capital Improvement Program.That's the portion of the budget that sets out what a locality expects to spend on infrastructure over the next five years.“The CIP plan for 27 is just over $47 million with $196 million over the five years,” Hammill said. “If we were to look in terms of dollars spent, education is the highest in this plan, followed by transportation and access, and then affordable housing coming in third.”There were no major changes in this year's CIP. The Charlottesville Planning Commission had a work session on the capital budget in late November and later had a public hearing in December.The five-year CIP currently includes $500,000 a year for a line item called Parks and Recreation Master Plan Implementation. Sanders said that number will increase in the years to come because the master plan adopted by Council in March 2025 had a $78 million price tag over ten years.“We know that those numbers need to be dramatically different if we're going to come anywhere close to that,” Sanders said. “But we now have an assistant city manager here who's going to be working with the team to try to figure out how do we allocate better over the next five year cycle.”Part of the plan calls for major changes to Market Street Park, Court Square Park, Washington Park, and Tonsler Park. Sanders said each will be expensive and staff still needs to work out the timing.Parks and Recreation Director Riaan Anthony said the department will seek grants in addition to tax dollars to pay for the various projects.“In order for us to get there, we have to right size our department and the city,” Anthony said. “We are working in partnership with Public Works, reaching out to their department to say hey, do you have any resources?”There was further discussion of the parks and recreation master plan at the April 6 City Council work session.March 26 work sessionAt the March 26 session there was a further discussion on the possibility of a one cent sales tax increase, what to do with anticipated payment-in-lieu fees for student housing projects, as well as miscellaneous discussions.Toward the end, Sanders hit reset on the discussion of the tax rate. On March 19, there had appeared to be consensus to limit the increase to a penny but Council still had to make decisions.“We're looking for you to finalize what scenario we are actually going with for offsetting, for addressing the fact that you're stepping back from two cent increase on the real estate tax to a one cent increase on the real estate tax,” Sanders said.However, that discussion did not happen at the meeting. Instead, Councilors sent suggestions to Sanders and Hammill via email on how to offset the funding if they wanted to proceed.April 2 wrap-upThe April 2 budget work session was described as a wrap-up session.“The items that are open for discussion that we're looking for answers on is closing out the review of the Vibrant Community Fund process and how Council is looking to utilize your Strategic Initiatives fund,” Sanders said.The Vibrant Community Fund process had been covered at the March 12 work session. This is how nonprofit organizations seek funding from Charlottesville. The full report can be seen here.Mayor Wade wanted to make sure everyone was on the same page regarding the penny increase on the real estate tax rate.“We had initially looked at a two cent tax increase, but we saw options where we could do one,” Wade said. “And I just want to make sure if you, if we have that information we can bring them make sure everyone's on the same page with that. And if I can get a head nod or yes from everyone as we go down the line, make sure we are all okay with that.”As the meeting began, Council had a $228,000 gap to fill if they wanted to go with a penny increase. Hammill displayed the math on a spreadsheet, a spreadsheet made available to the public after I asked for it.The real public hearings on April 6After multiple budget work sessions, Charlottesville City Council held the final set of public hearings on April 6 for the budget for Fiscal Year 2027 as well as the real property tax rate.The only speaker for the tax rate hearing was Richard Spurzem of the development company Neighborhood Properties who urged caution when increasing taxes.“Many communities have a history of reducing the tax rates when assessments go up,” Spurzem said. “For instance in Waynesboro in 2023 they reduced their tax rate from 90 cents to 77 cents.”Spurzem said Charlottesville is increasing the tax burden for business and he said that might lead to investors deciding to go somewhere else. He said the Development Code has so far led to no approvals for major buildings and the current student housing projects of the Verve and the Blume might be the last.“I don't know who's going to build hotels that are going to compete with the brand new hotels that UVA has built on Ivy Road and out at Darden,” Spurzem said.After the public hearing for the tax rate, budget director Krisy Hammill explained that the amended budget is for just over $280 million, higher than what had been recommended by City Manager Sam Sanders on March 6.In addition to including higher revenue forecasts, staff found several line items in the budget that will not be spent down in FY2026 so that money will be added to the FY2027 at around $910,000 in available revenue.“It includes a few accounts that generally we carry over from year to year, including Historic Resources, Sister City Funds, the citywide reserve, the Council Strategic Initiatives account, money or donations that have been received and unspent for the Grand Illumination, the Councilor discretionary funds, the Minority Business Fund and also the job fair,” Hammill said.Two people spoke during the public hearing on the budget including former Charlottesville Mayor Nikuyah Walker. She said people are beginning to feel the effects of an increased tax burden and said the city is not expanding the Charlottesville Homeowner Assistance Program fast enough to provide relief.“A lot of low income families are being pushed out and middle income families are struggling,” Walker said. “There are a lot of wealthy people in Charlottesville. We know that they can afford the increase, but because you all are not expanding it at the rate that you need to be, it is not as it was intended to work.”Walker also called on more accountability for Charlottesville City Schools.A second person wanted to know why health care for employees has increased 15 percent and why funding for public transportation is going up 17 percent.“And yet when I see the buses pass here, there, and everywhere, there's not many people riding the buses,” said Richard Finley, a recent Charlottesville resident. “Before you increase so dramatically, do you do an audit or an evaluation of the ridership on the buses?”Finley also asked if the city had ever tried to require the University of Virginia to make a payment in lieu of taxes to cover the cost to use municipal infrastructure.Councilor Lloyd Snook said under state law, a locality cannot compel such a payment but that an institution could make one voluntarily.April 9 adoptionCouncil held a special meeting on April 9 at 6:30 p.m. to formally adopt the tax rates and the budget for FY2027. The deadline under Charlottesville charter is April 15.While there were no surprises, the meeting gives a glimpse into some of the details of how taxation works in Virginia. Changes in Richmond can affect what happens in localities for years to come, such as when a former governor campaigned on elimination of the “car tax.”“The City gets about $3.5 million from the state every year,” said Charlottesville Commissioner of Revenue Todd Divers. “That's kind of what's left over from Governor [Jim] Gilmore's attempt to eliminate personal property tax. They tried it for a while, ran out of money, and then they sort of froze the amounts to all the localities, and that's the amount we get.”The city uses that $3.5 million to offset a percentage of everyone's personal property taxes. Council has to agreed to that number and this year it has been set at 31 percent.“Essentially, if your vehicle qualifies, if it's a personal use vehicle, 31 percent of your tax bill will be paid by the state,” Divers said.Council voted unanimously to approve that number.Next was a resolution to adopt the FY2027 budget and tax levy. City Manager Sam Sanders had some remarks and said that this has been another challenging budget year as he seeks ways to fund spending desired by the City Council.“I continue to talk about Charlottesville as a place that punches above its weight class,” Sanders said. “Every budget cycle is a reminder of that, because we are dedicated to the idea that we are that community and that we want to try to do as many things as we possibly can.”Sanders said the idea of a tax rate increase is hard for many and it weighs on him to have brought one forward.“My goal is always to help you not go but so far in any pursuit that you have as you change that rate, because it does go into the pockets of individuals who have difficulties in our community,” Sanders said.The advertised budget was for a two cent increase, but Council moved that down to one penny throughout the course of their work sessions.Then there was the vote.“We have a budget,” Wade said. “Thank you so much. So, do you like take a month's vacation?”“About an hour,” Hammill said.This reporter knows the feeling.Shout-out / PSA #2: Gretchen Walsh to speak at Emily Couric Leadership Forum on April 27This year's recipient of the Emily Couric Leadership Forum's leadership award is Olympic swimming champion Gretchen Walsh. She will be the speaker at a luncheon to be held at the Omni Hotel Charlottesville on Monday, April 27th at noon. Walsh, a 2025 UVA alum, is one of the most accomplished swimmers of her generation, holding 13 world records across long-course and short-course competition. Online ticket sales for the luncheon begin on Monday, March 23rd. For more information, visit, Emily Couric Leadership Forum dot OrgA rudimentary week ahead to fill a two minute gap in audio This week's edition is a little short so that's a good a time as any to look ahead to what's coming up the week of April 13. Monday the 13th!Let's start with the University of Virginia Board of Visitors who meet the evening of April 15 for a reception and again on April 16 for business. Committees that will convene include the Finance group and the Audit, Risk, and Compliance panel.In Albemarle, the Places29-Hydraulic Community Advisory Committee on Monday will hold a community meeting for a proposed rezoning that would allow for 15 townhouses on a one-acre parcel.On Tuesday, the Albemarle Planning Commission will discuss changes to the county's rule on importing fill dirt and will hold a public hearing on a special use permit for a 400-person religious assembly hall right at Interstate 64's Exit 107 in Crozet.On Wednesday, the Albemarle Board of Supervisors will hear what “big moves” staff wants to make to implement a new Comprehensive Plan. Will lighting reform to protect the Dark Sky be on the list?In the evening, there will be a public hearing on increases of Development Fees as well as the tax rates for the current calendar year. A reminder that this includes a proposed 15 cent increase in the personal property tax rate. Then a public hearing on the budget, but Supervisors will wait a week before finally adopting the document.On Thursday, Albemarle County will hold a public meeting on the future of a pocket park on Hillsdale DriveIn Charlottesville, the Economic Development Authority meets on Tuesday and continue to do so off camera with no recording. Later on the Planning Commission meets and will have a public hearing on Community Development Block Grant funding. The Planning Commission will also take action on a special exception and get a report on a study of student housing fees.Next week the Housing Advisory Committee and the Board of Zoning Appeals will meet.More details in the Week Ahead newsletter that will go out on Sunday.Hello anyone who made it to this line! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

John Olerio, Executive Director at URI's Office of Strategic Initiatives, shares his expertise on workforce development, leadership skills, intergenerational management, and the impact of AI on education and employment. Discover practical strategies for fostering talent, adapting to rapid growth, and preparing for the future of work.  Sound  Bites: "Performance reviews are about habits, not just output." "Employers are preparing for AI-driven hiring changes." "Rocky Balboa exemplifies resilience and perseverance."    

We are proud to celebrate a major milestone with Episode #100 of The Rambler Podcast! For this special episode, host Jimmy Smith '11, AVP of Development & Strategic Initiatives,welcomes back Dr. Chris Clark '87, who currently serves as President of AHN Saint Vincent Hospital and as Chairman of the Board of Directors for us here at Cathedral Prep. Dr. Clark was also the very first guest on The Rambler Podcast when it launched in 2022, making this a full-circle moment as he returns for this milestone episode.In this episode, we talk with Dr. Clark about his journey from Cathedral Prep to a career in medicine and healthcare leadership, the importance of leadership and service, hisinvolvement in the Erie community, and why he remains passionate about Catholic education and Cathedral Prep. This episodes serves as a great conversation for anyone interested in leadership, service, and the impact of a Prep education!

Today's speaker is Dr. Bob Lutz, Vice President for Strategic Initiatives at Cedarville University. Dr. Lutz takes us through Psalm 1, and looks at what Scripture says about happiness, as well as the habits that produce it.

Have you ever considered how you can give to God's passion? In this episode, Jeff and Paul discuss:  The power of building and maintaining relationships. Spreading the gospel and accepting the great commission. Viewing your business as a mission field. Laying aside your bias to listen and give better.    Key Takeaways:  When sharing the gospel, you need to understand your audience - it isn't about you. God is raising up people in every country. By working together, the Kindom will grow that much faster and stronger. Prayer is as much listening as it is speaking. Start your giving by listening to Him with intention. You don't have to be passionate about one cause or another before you start giving. Let God lead, and your heart will follow where He leads.    "When you give to something, your passion will follow." —  Paul Schultheis   Episode References:  The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn   About Paul Schultheis: Paul is SRG's founder and managing partner for Strategic Initiatives. His vision is to position SRG to strategically mobilize and direct people, prayer, and financial resources into partnerships with churches and key ministries in the Middle East, North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. Additionally, Paul is a general partner and CEO of Real Property Investment Services, Inc., and a managing partner of numerous real estate investment and development partnerships that own apartment complexes and build single-family home developments in northern Arizona.  Prior to entering the real estate field in 1976, Paul spent 10 years in the electric utility industry, working in various corporate staff positions at Southern California Edison, where his final position as manager of corporate planning provided him with considerable experience in long-range planning and economic forecasting. He has served on the boards of Interdev, Apartment Life, and the English Language Institute in China. Paul served for years on the ministry council at Lake Avenue Church in Pasadena. He founded SRG under the name MENA Partners in 1997.  Paul has a BS in management science from California State University, Los Angeles, and an MBA from Pepperdine University. He also completed several graduate and management courses at California State University, Caltech Industrial Relations Institute, and the University of Michigan. He taught business management courses at Caltech and Pepperdine University Graduate School of Business. Paul lives in Newport Beach, California, and has three adult daughters and six grandchildren. His wife, Linda, partnered with him in ministry until her passing in February 2024.   Connect with Paul Schultheis: Website: https://srgweb.org/    Connect with Jeff Thomas:  Website: https://www.arkosglobal.com/ Podcast: https://www.generousbusinessowner.com/ Book: https://www.arkosglobal.com/trading-up Email: jeff.thomas@arkosglobal.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArkosGlobalAdv Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arkosglobal/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arkosglobaladvisors Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arkosglobaladvisors/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLUYpPwkHH7JrP6PrbHeBxw

A Friday fish fry is a quintessential part of Wisconsin culture and everyone has their own takes on who does it best. But one Madison man takes his love for the iconic dish to new levels. Mike Seidel has tried and rated nearly 2,000 fish fries across the state over the years. Today, host Bianca Martin chats with Mike to find out what separates a “good” fish fry from a “great” one. From the batter to the fish to the sides, Mike's rating formula takes everything into account. Photos and reviews from Mike's adventures can be found on Facebook and Instagram. 

Few people get close enough to a global problem to truly understand how solvable it is—Sean Poole is one of them. In this conversation with Ryan, he shares how an early setback redirected his path, ultimately leading him from conflict zones in Central Africa to a leadership role at charity: water. They unpack what it takes to stay committed to long-term impact, why the global water crisis is far more within reach than most people realize, and how proximity to real change reshapes your perspective on what's possible. It's a conversation about belief, responsibility, and the discipline required to pursue meaningful work without losing sight of the life you're building alongside it.

In hour 1 of The Mark Reardon Show, Mark is joined by Lt. Col. Allen “Bullit” Campbell, a retired member of the United States Air Force, a retired Delta Airlines captain and the Author of “My Life Above the Clouds”. Lt. Col. Campbell discusses the LaGuardia Airport plane crash that occurred on Sunday evening. In this segment, Mark is joined by Curtis Houck, the Managing Editor of News Busters at the Media Research Center. Houck calls out the legacy media's lack of reaction to the young student that was killed by an illegal immigrant in Chicago over the weekend. In hour 2, Sue hosts, "Sue's News" where she discusses the latest trending entertainment news, this day in history, the random fact of the day and more. Mark later takes calls for "Telephone Tuesday" on whether or not America should be attacking Iran. In hour 3, Mark is joined by Jordan Duecker, a Former Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Manhattan Institute and a Former Aide in the offices of Missouri Governors Mike Parson and Eric Greitens. He's also an MBA Graduate from Washington University in St Louis. Duecker discusses his latest piece in the City Journal which is headlined, "Can St Louis Make a Comeback: After decades of drift, the troubled city has a chance to restore public order and competitiveness." Mark is later joined by George Rosenthal, a Co-Owner of Throttlenet for Tech Talk Tuesday. They discuss the NanoPhone, the 90th Masters & IBM's Watson X, Robotaxi's and more. They wrap up the show with the Audio Cut of the Day.

In this segment, Mark is joined by Jordan Duecker, a Former Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Manhattan Institute and a Former Aide in the offices of Missouri Governors Mike Parson and Eric Greitens. He's also an MBA Graduate from Washington University in St Louis. Duecker discusses his latest piece in the City Journal which is headlined, "Can St Louis Make a Comeback: After decades of drift, the troubled city has a chance to restore public order and competitiveness."

In hour 3, Mark is joined by Jordan Duecker, a Former Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Manhattan Institute and a Former Aide in the offices of Missouri Governors Mike Parson and Eric Greitens. He's also an MBA Graduate from Washington University in St Louis. Duecker discusses his latest piece in the City Journal which is headlined, "Can St Louis Make a Comeback: After decades of drift, the troubled city has a chance to restore public order and competitiveness." Mark is later joined by George Rosenthal, a Co-Owner of Throttlenet for Tech Talk Tuesday. They discuss the NanoPhone, the 90th Masters & IBM's Watson X, Robotaxi's and more. They wrap up the show with the Audio Cut of the Day.

Send us Fan MailThis episode is sponsored by Explore Pro by ApartmentIQThe all-in-one multifamily research platform combining industry-leading, daily unit-level data with critical datasets like transactions and demographic insights—giving you a 60-day edge over outdated tools.Want today's data for rent comps, rent growth forecasts, and more for Salt Lake City?Download the Salt Lake City Market Summary from ApartmentIQJennie O'Leary is the President of Property Management Operations at Apartment Management Consultants. She started with AMC in 2005 as a floating leasing agent. With hard work determination she worked her way up. In 2025 she was promoted to her current position. I'm Moshe Crane.  Connect with me on LinkedIn. My day job is the VP of Branding and Strategic Initiatives at Sage Ventures. Check out my newsletter Curious Deal.Sage Ventures is a commercial real estate firm based in Baltimore, MD. The company buys and operates multifamily rental properties. We now have a portfolio of self-storage and office deals. The company also builds and develops homes that we sell.

Send a textThis episode is sponsored by Explore Pro by ApartmentIQThe all-in-one multifamily research platform combining industry-leading, daily unit-level data with critical datasets like transactions and demographic insights—giving you a 60-day edge over outdated tools.Want today's data for rent comps, rent growth forecasts, and more for Boston?Download the Boston Market Summary from ApartmentIQAdam Dunn is a Managing Director in the Boston, MA office for Berkadia with over 12 years of experience in commercial real estate and finance. Mr. Dunn specializes in multifamily housing investment advisory and equity placement across New England.I'm Moshe Crane.  Connect with me on LinkedIn. My day job is the VP of Branding and Strategic Initiatives at Sage Ventures. Check out my newsletter Curious Deal.Sage Ventures is a commercial real estate firm based in Baltimore, MD. The company buys and operates multifamily rental properties. We now have a portfolio of self-storage and office deals. The company also builds and develops homes that we sell.

Send a textThis episode is sponsored by Explore Pro by ApartmentIQThe all-in-one multifamily research platform combining industry-leading, daily unit-level data with critical datasets like transactions and demographic insights—giving you a 60-day edge over outdated tools.Jessie C. Barter founded Charger Ventures (“Charger”), a multifamily investment management platform in the fall of 2018, and Spark Living, the portfolio's brand, in the fall of 2020. Through Q425, Charger has acquired ~3,400 apartments ($800m AUM) in MA, MD, VA, CT, and IN. Prior to Charger, Jessie was a Managing Director - Acquisitions with Mill Creek Residential Trust and Senior Director of Investments at AvalonBay Communities. Ms. Barter is a director on the National Board for the non-profit Entryways. In 2022, Charger Ventures was drafted into National Multi-Housing Council's (NMHC) inaugural Summit Advisory Committee's Program for emerging managers. She is Chair of the Membership Engagement Committee and past Vice Chair of the DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), Membership Engagement, and Emerging Leaders Committees. Ms. Barter is a member of ULI's Multi-Family Council Blue flight. I'm Moshe Crane.  Connect with me on LinkedIn. My day job is the VP of Branding and Strategic Initiatives at Sage Ventures. Check out my newsletter Curious Deal.Sage Ventures is a commercial real estate firm based in Baltimore, MD. The company buys and operates multifamily rental properties. We now have a portfolio of self-storage and office deals. The company also builds and develops homes that we sell.

“The most curious person in multifamily,” Moshe Crane is the VP of Branding and Strategic Initiatives at Sage Ventures, a Maryland-based real estate investment and management firm focused on multifamily and other asset acquisitions and development in the Baltimore-Washington corridor. The company manages more than $1B in assets and over 4,000 apartment units while developing and selling new homes. Moshe also hosts the Curious Wire podcast and writes the Curious Deal newsletter, where he breaks down multifamily deals, careers, and industry trends while exploring how operators build, finance, and scale real estate businesses.(01:45) - Moshe's Real Estate Path(02:32) - Deals Returning to the Market(06:05) - Sage Ventures' Market Focus(07:27) - Defining Great Operators(08:27) - The Third-Party Talent Crunch(10:17) - Systems Beat Stars(12:36) - The Sage Operations Playbook(15:47) - Fraud Screening Tools(19:01) - The Roving Team Mindset(21:05) - Moshe's Role(23:56) - Feature: CREtech New York Oct. 20–21 (25:52) - The Accidental Self-Storage Win(26:41) - Office-to-Storage Conversions(28:21) - A Scrappy Deal Mix(28:58) - Low-Basis Development Opportunities(29:46) - Pitching Flexibility to LPs(30:26) - No Gurus, Just Operators(33:58) - Discipline Over Vertical Integration(36:19) - PropTech Ecosystem Shifts(39:38) - Proptech Adoption(44:42) - Motivation, Curiosity & Faith(49:31) - Collaboration Superpower: Bill Walsh

One of Madison's most iconic restaurants is celebrating a huge milestone this year. L'Etoile is turning 50! The boundary-pushing farm-to-table restaurant has served as a launching pad for some of Madison's most accomplished chefs. So what's the secret sauce that makes this place so special? Today, host Bianca Martin chats with L'Etoile founder Odessa Piper and current chef and owner Tory Miller to find out. Want more? Listen to our 2023 interview with Odessa.

William Harvey, Program Manager for Strategic Initiatives and University Professor, brings a refreshingly practical perspective to leadership and problem-solving. Throughout the conversation, William shares how his diverse background—from the Marine Corps to manufacturing to academia—has shaped his approach to developing people and tackling complex challenges. William's philosophy on leadership centers on flexibility and situational awareness. He describes his approach as stepping into whatever role the moment demands, whether that's ownership, delegation, coaching, or sponsorship. Drawing an analogy to the movie “300,” where King Leonidas steps into missing spots, William explains that he doesn't declare his role upfront but instead reads the situation and fills gaps as needed. For critical moments—safety incidents, major quality investigations, or when someone is truly struggling—he leads directly. But for planned activities, he creates safe spaces where people can develop new competencies without the pressure of real-time crises forcing immediate action. One of William's most compelling insights challenges a common assumption in problem-solving work. Before jumping into any methodology or framework, he insists on establishing two fundamentals: does everyone agree it's actually a problem, and where does it fit in the priority list? Without that shared understanding and commitment, all the problem-solving methods in the world won't matter. William also emphasizes diversity of thought as critical to collaboration, pointing out that perspectives shaped by education, family upbringing, international experience, and other life factors often matter more than visible diversity markers alone. William has learned to manage his own influence carefully. Recognizing that as a senior person, he can easily sway a group, he's developed tactics like voting before discussion and speaking last. He presents ideas as straw man arguments, deliberately inviting critique by asking what's wrong with the plan rather than assuming he's considered everything. This approach reflects his understanding that mental models are never fully accurate—they only become more accurate through constant refinement based on the gap between expectation and reality. The conversation reveals how William has built learning directly into organizational rhythms at multiple levels. In daily huddles, one-on-ones, and formal after-action reviews, he creates space for reflection. But his most powerful discovery came accidentally when he started asking, "Who's done something worth recognizing since we last met?" before discussing what needs improvement. Within about 30 days, finger-pointing disappeared. By layering genuine praise first, William found that people became far more willing to collaborate on problems, seeing issues as process failures rather than personal attacks. William also shares his practice of using pre-mortems, taking insights from past post-mortems to identify what could fail in new projects before they launch. This forward-looking application of learning prevents teams from repeating mistakes. He references the "zoom in, zoom out" systems thinking model, noting that while most people excel at zooming in on technical details, they often forget to zoom out to see handoffs between functions and other systemic issues that could derail success. Looking ahead, William is exploring how AI can make learning content more effective by customizing delivery to resonate with diverse learners—matching accents, appearances, and contexts to help information land more powerfully. It's a natural extension of his commitment to intentional inclusion and meeting people where they are. Connect with William on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drwilliamharvey/

Since 1850, Waypoint has been empowering people of all ages through an array of human services and advocacy.The services they offer are too long to list here, but you will learn more about them in the episode. I also encourage you to visit https://waypointnh.org/ for more information.Today, I speak with Erin George-Kelly, the Director of Innovation and Strategic Initiatives, and Laura Zorawowicz, the Director of Philanthropy.For more on the Dose of Good Podcast, visithttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552349588905https://www.instagram.com/dose_of_good_podcast/https://www.youtube.com/@DoseOfGoodPodcast  https://www.tiktok.com/@doseofgoodpodcastYou can also email doseofgoodpodcast@gmail.com

TSD Service Spotlight is a student-produced podcast series about individuals in our district who support and impact others. This episode features Kendra Montante, TSD Director of Communications and Strategic Initiatives.Podcast by Angelina Matti, a Creative Guild Student Producer.

Send a textThis episode is sponsored by Explore Pro by ApartmentIQThe all-in-one multifamily research platform combining industry-leading, daily unit-level data with critical datasets like transactions and demographic insights—giving you a 60-day edge over outdated tools.Dr. Peter Linneman, Principal of Linneman Associates returns to the podcast. In this episodes we discuss  opportunities in multifamily investing. I'm Moshe Crane.  Connect with me on LinkedIn. My day job is the VP of Branding and Strategic Initiatives at Sage Ventures. Check out my newsletter Curious Deal.Sage Ventures is a commercial real estate firm based in Baltimore, MD. The company buys and operates multifamily rental properties. We now have a portfolio of self-storage and office deals. The company also builds and develops homes that we sell.

Send a textKelley Brine is the President of Rose Valley Management. Rose Valley is an owner/operator with 10k units across 11 states in their portfolio. In this episode we discuss the changes and evolutions Kelley has made since joining Rose Valley. She also shares her focus and outlook for 2026.I'm Moshe Crane.  Connect with me on LinkedIn. My day job is the VP of Branding and Strategic Initiatives at Sage Ventures. Check out my newsletter Curious Deal.Sage Ventures is a commercial real estate firm based in Baltimore, MD. The company buys and operates multifamily rental properties. We now have a portfolio of self-storage and office deals. The company also builds and develops homes that we sell.

In this episode of the Targeted Lead Generation Podcast, Coach Manny Nowak interviewed Dr. Vanita Swaminathan, Associate Dean of Research and Strategic Initiatives at the University of Pittsburgh, about her book "Hyper Digital Marketing." They discussed the challenges and opportunities companies face in marketing during the AI-powered era, including common mistakes, successful approaches, and the importance of rethinking fundamental business processes. Dr. Swaminathan shared her six-pillar framework for organizations to adapt to the hyper-digital age, emphasizing the need for purpose, cross-functional teams, and a culture shift. They also touched on the misconceptions about AI, the role of human creativity, and the ethical considerations in AI implementation. The interview concluded with advice for audiences to embrace AI, learn about its tools, and view it as an opportunity for increased productivity and creativity. Summary Interview with Dr. Vanita Swaminathan Manny interviewed Dr. Vanita Swaminathan, an associate dean, professor of marketing, and director of the Center for Branding at Pitt Business. They discussed her background, research, and consulting work with major companies. Manny mentioned he had reviewed her book and found it insightful, suggesting it could help sharpen the knowledge of graduates. AI Marketing Strategy Evolution Dr. Swaminathan discussed her book, which explores the evolution of marketing from pre-digital to digital and now to the AI-powered era. He highlighted that many companies are using AI tactically for productivity improvements but emphasized the need for a more strategic approach. Dr. Swaminathan advised companies to rethink processes, reorganize teams, and shift culture to leverage AI effectively, noting that successful organizations focus on cross-functional teams and data-driven decision-making. AI Implementation and Organizational Culture Dr. Swaminathan and Coach Manny discussed the importance of understanding organizational culture when implementing AI tools, highlighting the fear of job loss and the need for AI literacy. They explored successful companies' approaches to AI, distinguishing between traditional AI and generative AI. Dr. Swaminathan introduced a six-pillar framework for rethinking business operations to incorporate AI effectively, emphasizing the need for fundamental reconceptualization and re-engineering of organizations. While examples of successful traditional AI implementation exist, generative AI's impact is still emerging, with innovation often coming from small, agile teams. Hyper Digital Marketing Framework Introduction Dr. Swaminathan discussed her book "Hyperdigital Marketing," which explores the concept of hyperintelligence and its application to marketing. He explained how traditional products and services can be transformed into intelligent, AI-powered offerings and outlined a six-pillar framework, including purpose, Figital (blending physical and digital experiences), platforms, personalization, participation, and partnerships. Dr. Swaminathan emphasized the importance of brand purpose in navigating the AI-driven landscape and provided case studies to illustrate how companies can implement these concepts. AI-Driven Marketing Integration Strategies Dr. Swaminathan and Coach Manny discussed the evolving landscape of marketing, emphasizing the importance of integrating physical and digital channels to create seamless customer experiences. They highlighted the role of tools like augmented reality and artificial intelligence in enhancing lead generation and sales processes, particularly for high-touch sales environments. Manny noted the growing interest in AI among entrepreneurs and the need to refine questions to optimize AI tools' effectiveness. Both agreed that entrepreneurs are well-positioned to leverage AI technology for their businesses. AI Implementation and Human Collaboration Dr. Swaminathan discussed the evolving nature of AI and addressed common misconceptions, emphasizing the importance of context in AI usage and the need for human oversight to enhance productivity rather than replace human creativity. She highlighted the necessity of designing processes for optimal human-AI collaboration and stressed the role of ethical standards and guardrails in AI implementation. Dr. Swaminathan encouraged patience from senior leadership in AI adoption, noting that while immediate productivity gains are visible, more strategic AI applications require time to yield results. She also introduced an upcoming AI Transformation Challenge for 2026 and provided resources for audiences to learn more about AI implementation. WEBSITE: https://business.pitt.edu/professors/vanitha-swaminathan/  SOCIAL MEDIA: https://www.facebook.com/PittBusinessSchool/photos/vanitha-swaminathan-thomas-marshall-professor-of-marketing-and-director-of-the-c/10158297436008280/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanitha-swaminathan-5924896 Instagram (vanitha_swaminathan)     Connect with Manny: Email: Manny@mannynowak.com Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mannynowak/ Website: http://coachmanny.com/

On this week's episode, Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor and Tel Aviv-based journalist Neri Zilber and Israel Policy Forum Director of Strategic Initiatives and IPF Atid Shanie Reichman discuss the state of play in the Iran crisis, potential upcoming U.S.-Iran talks and the prospects for their success, Ran Gvili z”l's return home last week and the closure of the hostage saga, the real start of Phase II in the Gaza ceasefire and the mechanics behind it, Zohran Mamdani and the Jewish community one month in, and more. Support the showFollow us on Instagram, Twitter/X, and Bluesky, and subscribe to our email list here.

In this episode of Earned, CreatorIQ CMO Brit Starr sits down with Gracie Schram, Head of Strategic Initiatives for Creators at Epidemic Sound, live from Dubai during the 1 Billion Followers Summit. Gracie brings a rare, dual perspective to the conversation, shaped by nearly 15 years in the music industry as a recording artist and her current role helping creators and brands harness the power of sound at scale. Together, Brit and Gracie explore how the creator economy has matured into the economy—and why sound is one of the most underutilized tools in modern storytelling. Gracie breaks down the concept of sonic branding, explaining how music shapes emotion, identity, and audience retention across platforms, from YouTube and TikTok to Netflix and global brand campaigns. She also demystifies Epidemic Sound's unique model, where music is fully licensed to travel anywhere without risk, enabling creators to scale without friction. The conversation dives into how creators can think more intentionally about sound design, the difference between viral sound and intentional scoring, and why emotional resonance matters just as much in educational content as cinematic storytelling. Brit and Gracie also discuss the growing overlap between brands and creators, the role of data and AI in music discovery, and why global creator communities—far beyond the U.S.—are shaping what comes next. In this episode, you'll learn: Why sound is a core part of creator branding, not an afterthought How sonic consistency drives emotional retention and recall with the audience What creators often miss about music licensing and long-term scale   Connect with the Guest: Gracie's LinkedIn - @gracieschram   Connect with Brit Starr & CreatorIQ: Brit's LinkedIn - @britmccorquodale CreatorIQ LinkedIn - @creatoriq Follow us on social: CreatorIQ YouTube - @CreatorIQOfficial CreatorIQ Instagram - @creatoriq CreatorIQ TikTok - @creator.iq CreatorIQ Twitter - @CreatorIQ

There are more mobile phones in the world than cars, toilets, or people. What if each of those phones could be turned into a Bible? Using their backgrounds in electrical engineering and software development, David and Josiah Palusky have developed technology tools to help Christian workers spread the gospel in places where people are unreached, and there is often Christian persecution. David is the founder and president of Renew Outreach. He will share how the ministry began and the tools they've developed to help provide unreached people in remote places with access to God's Word. Josiah, Director of Strategic Initiatives at Renew, explains efforts to help persecuted Christians around the world share the gospel using emerging technology.

The National Medal of Honor Museum started this year off with a bang, winning the USA TODAY 10BEST 2026 Readers' Choice Award for Best New Museum. A big part of what makes this Museum award-winning is the phenomenal programming put on every day, including a new tour diving into the architecture of the Museum. Host Mo Barrett talks to Alex Rhue, Senior Vice President of Museum Engagement & Strategic Initiatives, about the award, the architecture tour, and what else is in store for 2026.   The National Medal of Honor Museum offers an unforgettable journey through the stories of ordinary people who did something extraordinary in service to others. A visit to the Museum is a meaningful experience that will leave visitors of all ages inspired, proud, and deeply connected to the values that unite us. For more details and to reserve tickets for your preferred date and time, visit mohmuseum.org.

The Big Unlock · Chethan Sathya, MD., Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, Northwell Health In this episode, Dr. Chethan Sathya, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at Northwell Health, unpacks why healthcare innovation only scales when clinicians, public health, and AI are designed to work together. Dr. Sathya shares his journey from surgery to journalism to public health advocacy, including leading gun violence prevention efforts. He explains why most AI pilots fail, because of poor workflow integration and clinician burden, and why ambient intelligence, tele-specialty care, and agentic AI are poised to scale. His message is clear: build technology alongside clinicians, not around them. Take a listen.

A reading from Sharon's edited and author of Emergent Dharma (& go get the book!)Sharon A. Suh is Professor of Buddhism and Associate Dean for Faculty Scholarship and Strategic Initiatives at Seattle University. She is author of Being Buddhist in a Christian World: Gender and Community in a Korean American Temple (University of Washington Press, 2004), Silver Screen Buddha: Buddhism in Asian and Western Film (Bloomsbury Press, 2015), Occupy This Body: A Buddhist Memoir (Sumeru Press, 2019), and editor/author of Emergent Dharma: Asian American Feminist Buddhist on Practice, Identity, and Resistance. She serves as president of Sakyadhita International Association of Buddhist Womenwww.mindfuleatingmethod.com; @mindfuleatingmethod

At a time when school districts are facing rapid change, rising complexity, and the growing influence of AI, traditional strategic plans aren't cutting it anymore. In this episode, we explore a bold alternative: the Strategic Change Agenda.Together, Steve McCammon (President & CEO) and George Thompson (Former President & Current Director of Strategic Initiatives) at the Schlechty Center, along with Michael Leubelfeld, a superintendent who has actually led his district through this work in practice, unpack how districts can move beyond compliance and build the clarity, culture, and capacity needed to lead through uncertainty.---ABOUT OUR GUESTSSteve McCammon is the Executive Director at the National Superintendents Roundtable and the President and CEO of the Schlechty Center. He leads a team of dedicated professionals committed to improving education outcomes for students nationwide. With over 10 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, he has a proven track record of developing and implementing effective strategies that support leaders across the educational spectrum.George Thompson joined the Schlechty Center in 1995 after serving as Superintendent of Gwinnett County Schools in Georgia. Stepping aside a president in 2018, he continues to support the center as Director of Strategic Initiatives.Dr. Michael Lubelfeld has served as a public school superintendent in Illinois since 2010 and currently leads North Shore School District 112, serving the communities of Highland Park and Highwood, IL, just north of Chicago. A nationally recognized educational leader, Dr. Lubelfeld is deeply engaged in leadership development and professional growth, collaborating with state and national associations to inspire the next generation of educational leaders.---SUBSCRIBE TO THE SERIES: ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠YouTube Music⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Overcast⁠⁠⁠FOLLOW US: ⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠POWERED BY CLASSLINK: ClassLink provides one-click single sign-on into web and Windows applications, and instant access to files at school and in the cloud. Accessible from any computer, tablet, or smartphone, ClassLink is ideal for 1to1 and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) initiatives. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠classlink.com⁠⁠⁠.

There are more cell phones in the world than cars, toilets, or people. What if each of those phones could be turned into a Bible? Using their backgrounds in electrical engineering and software development, David and Josiah Palusky have developed technology tools to help Christian workers spread the gospel in places where people are unreached and there is often Christian persecution. David is the founder and president of Renew Outreach. He will share how the ministry began and tools they've developed to help provide unreached people in remote places with access God's Word. Josiah, Director of Strategic Initiatives at Renew, explains efforts to help persecuted Christians around the world share the gospel using emerging technology. They will share stories of camels preaching the gospel using LightStream devices, leading an entire family to meet Christ, how AI disguised a Christian brother's voice, and how Christians in restricted nations and hostile areas can revolutionize communities for Jesus. David also recounts the story of he and his sister hearing Pastor Richard Wurmbrand, the founder of The Voice of the Martyrs, share Richard's story of persecution in Romania at a remote Christian camp in Minnesota. That one sermon deeply impacted the lives of both David and his sister—an impact they still feel almost 40 years later. Today, the Lord has put on their hearts to further the Great Commission among the deaf community, one of the least-reached groups in the world. Using Visual Vernacular to tell the Bible story from creation to Christ, Renew is hearing of new believers and baptisms among the deaf community weekly! The VOM App for your smartphone or tablet will help you pray daily for persecuted Christians in nations like North Korea, Nigeria and Bangladesh, as well as provide free access to e-books, audiobooks, video content and feature films. Download the VOM App for your iOS or Android device today.

Alan Rozenshtein, Senior Editor at Lawfare, speaks with Brett Goldstein, Special Advisor to the Chancellor on National Security and Strategic Initiatives at Vanderbilt University; Brett Benson, Associate Professor of Political Science at Vanderbilt University; and Renée DiResta, Lawfare Contributing Editor and Associate Research Professor at Georgetown University's McCourt School of Public Policy.The conversation covers the evolution of influence operations from crude Russian troll farms to sophisticated AI systems using large language models; the discovery of GoLaxy documents revealing a "Smart Propaganda System" that collects millions of data points daily, builds psychological profiles, and generates resilient personas; operations targeting Hong Kong's 2020 protests and Taiwan's 2024 election; the fundamental challenges of measuring effectiveness; GoLaxy's ties to Chinese intelligence agencies; why detection has become harder as platform integrity teams have been rolled back and multi-stakeholder collaboration has broken down; and whether the United States can get ahead of this threat or will continue the reactive pattern that has characterized cybersecurity for decades.Mentioned in this episode:"The Era of A.I. Propaganda Has Arrived, and America Must Act,” by Brett J. Goldstein and Brett V. Benson (New York Times, August 5, 2025)"China Turns to A.I. in Information Warfare" by Julian E. Barnes (New York Times, August 6, 2025)"The GoLaxy Papers: Inside China's AI Persona Army,” by Dina Temple-Raston and Erika Gajda (The Record, September 19, 2025)"The supply of disinformation will soon be infinite,” by Renée DiResta (The Atlantic, September 2020)Find Scaling Laws on the Lawfare website, and subscribe to never miss an episode.To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/lawfare-institute.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.