Future Optimist

Ryan Mckenzie has one of those stories that makes you feel that anything is possible.  He co-founded a business (Tru Earth) based on a patented, eco-friendly laundry strip. Laundry is a sneaky but incredibly wasteful industry, and his company Tru Earth has already eliminated nearly 6 million plastic jugs from landfills while donating nearly 10 million loads of laundry to those in need.

Ann Makosinski has been on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, on Time Magazine and Forbes lists, won the Google Science fair, and more. Today we talk about dealing with the expectations of being labeled a child prodigy, about having and pursuing multiple interests in our lives, and about being true to our authentic selves. In short, this 21st-century renaissance woman is a perfect guest for this show. Follow me on Instagram: @therosspalmer

What’s the best part about an amazing entrepreneur story? You hear what they’re doing, and you think… Really? No one’s ever done that before!? Well we’ve got such a tale today. For so long, we’ve internalized the idea that you can’t build a business without harming the planet, or that doing something sustainable isn’t good business sense. Ben Christensen is out there proving that win/win/wins are truly possible, and in my opinion, these are the kind of solutions we need if we’re going to survive as a species. Ben Christensen is the co-founder and CEO of Cambium Carbon, a company creating a ground-breaking new ecosystem for locally sourced, carbon-smart wood. Follow me on Instagram: @therosspalmer

Raby Gueye is the founder and CEO of Teach For Senegal, which seeks to raise educational outcomes in Senegal so that one day every Senegalese child feels seen, loved, and liberated. She has a remarkable story that brought her from her native Senegal to the United States as a refugee. She dedicated her life to social justice issues, and a series of career choices and observations led her to returning to Senegal to create a program called Teach for Senegal, that gives young Africans the room to finally solve their own issues—without aid—and prepare children for the real world. Hers is an inspiring tale of following your heart and your intuition. Full episode: https://rosspalmer.com/raby-gueye

If your life hasn't taken a straight and obvious path, you're not alone. In fact, many people you admire have taken crazy detours before arriving on the right path for them. For the full article: https://rosspalmer.com/the-vehicle-vs-the-destination/

The old models of success are broken and won't work in the new world. If you’re not sure how your unique skills and interests add up to a meaningful career you love, then this is the podcast for you. I interview people who have forged their own path in life, defying conventions and finding something bigger than money to believe in. Find show highlights, research notes, videos and more at beattheoftenpath.com.

It's World Toilet Day! Isabel Medem is the co-founder of Sanima, a social startup that took on the challenge of providing sanitation to Lima, Peru, a city where 850,000+ people are denied access to basic sanitation, something most of us take for granted every day. World toilet day raises awareness of the fact that roughly 3.6 billion people are living without access to safely managed sanitation.

Andrew Tarvin is a seasoned public speaker and author, with a TED talk called “The Skill of Humor” that’s garnered over 11 million views as of this taping. He’s the author of 3 bestselling books on humor, and he’s delivered over 500 talks on humor to some of the largest companies in the world. Follow me on Instagram: @therosspalmer

Debra Fine went from feeling uncomfortable in social situations to building an impressive solo career as an author and keynote speaker. She turned her greatest weakness and fear into her greatest strength and asset. She’s now a multiple bestselling author, speaker, coach, and mentor to other authors, my own father among them. Her story is proof that with grit and determination (and sometimes our backs up against a wall), we can persevere and achieve remarkable things.  Follow me on Instagram: @therosspalmer

It's Halloween... A time for scary stories that will rock you to your core. Take heed, so that you don't follow the example of this chilling tale. And also -- eat some candy.  Follow me on Instagram: @therosspalmer