The Genuinely Interested Podcast

Amelia Pang is an award-winning investigative journalist of Uyghur and Chinese descent. Her work has been published in The New Republic, Mother Jones, and The New York Times Sunday Review - among other publications. She is currently an editor at EdTech Magazine. Amelia is the author of Made In China: A Prisoner, An SOS Letter, and the Hidden Cost of America's Cheap Goods. Her powerful book sheds light on the atrocities committed against the Uighur population by the Chinese government.  Amelia and I discuss:  Organ harvesting operated by the Chinese government  Forced labor camps What prompted her to write the book If the Chinese population is aware of the labor camps The state of journalism  America's obsession with cheap goods Genocide of the Uighurs And much more... Amelia Pang My Take: Just because a conversation is hard or uncomfortable does not mean we should not have it. I believe it is the opposite - these conversations are actually crucial to have because most likely no one else is. There are blatant human rights violations, and some would argue a genocide, happening right now against the Uighur people - yet the world is afraid to speak up. If we don't speak up, if we don't bring forth the conversation, no one will.  Support The Podcast⁠ ⁠Catchphrase eBook

Elaine McMillion Sheldon is an Academy Award-nominated, and Emmy and Peabody-winning documentary filmmaker based in Appalachia. She is the director of two Netflix Original Documentaries -  "Heroin(e)" and "Recovery Boys" - that explore America's opioid crisis. "Heroin(e)" was nominated for a 2018 Academy Award and won the 2018 Emmy Award for Outstanding Short Documentary. She was also featured on Anthony Bourdain's - Parts Unknown West Virginia episode, and she helped with everything on the episode from location to story to people.  Elaine's family has been in West Virginia for generations, and she is proud to tell the untold stories of the region, show the people that would otherwise not get shown, and showcase the problems there - in the hopes of solving them. Elaine and I discuss -  Why she focuses on storytelling in Appalachia Why documentaries are so popular now How to get people to open up in front of a camera The opioid and heroin crisis  Her work with Anthony Bourdain Her documentary Heroin(e) And much more... Elaine McMillion Sheldon My Take: We must never look at the other as different or unapproachable, we shouldn't see differences as dividers, but rather an opportunity to engage in conversation and strengthen/create bonds through dialogue and open communication. The reason why good documentaries touch us so profoundly is that they allow us a peek into worlds otherwise inaccessible to us. Good documentaries have the power to open our eyes, get us involved, shed light on important topics, move us, and henceforth create change.  Support the Podcast

Andri Snær Magnason is one of Iceland's most famous and well-known writers. He has written novels, poetry, plays, short stories and essays. He is the only writer to win the Icelandic Literary Award in all categories. His work has been published or performed in more than 35 countries. Andri is very outspoken about the environmental and ecological impacts of climate change, and the effects that certain industries have on the environment. His latest book On Time & Water will be available on March 23rd - and is not only an incredibly personal story, but also a global story, that affects us all.  Andri and I discuss: Why he became a writer, given that his whole family is in the medical field The inspiration for his book Writing a climate change book from a different perspective  Tourism in Iceland His glacier exploring grandmother  His unorthodox approach to writing Why Icelandic, the language, is so difficult And much more... On Time and Water Andri Snær Magnason My Take: Taking a subject that has been written about so often, and giving it a different spin - a personal story that spans generations - is something only a skilled writer, with personal insight and a timeless perspective, can pull off. It is a necessary way of looking at what is the most pressing issue of our time. If we look at the future like we look at our past, we might have a different relationship with time.  Support the Podcast

Kaddu Sebunya has over 20 years of experience in conservation at the grassroots, national, and regional levels in the USA, Africa, and Europe.  As the CEO of the African Wildlife Foundation, Kaddu rallies the continent’s elite to lead the fight against the destruction of valuable habitats and wildlife. He believes that it is time for African voices and networks to re-imagine the conservation narrative.  Kaddu is a firm believer that conservation and financial prosperity go in hand in hand, and he and his team are finding ways to share this message in Africa - in the hopes that it will resonate with people and the government, but especially the younger generation.  Kaddu and I discuss:  What drew him to work in conservation The current state of affairs of wildlife in Africa The rise of illegal poaching Hunting in Africa Why wildlife is crucial for Africa Effects of climate change in Africa How conservation and economic growth coexist  And much more... Kaddu Sebunya's Twitter African Wildlife Foundation My Take: Wildlife, especially in Africa has never been more on the forefront and also has never been more in danger. It is our duty to try and preserve the wildlands these animals need and find ways to conserve the wildlife of the region. We are not solo passengers on this earth. There are other species along with us on this ride, and we must make sure, to the best of our ability, that they have habitat to live and are free from poachers and other human threats.  Support the Podcast

Chi Felton is a TDI and PADI technical diving instructor. Originally from the UK, she was running a technical diving facility in Bunaken National Park, in Indonesia, up until early last year, when Covid hit.  in 2014 she did her first dive and fell in love with it. In 2015, she left London to pursue her technical diving career, first beginning her Divemaster and technical dive training in the Maldives and Thailand, then going back to Europe to complete her instructor development course.  This was Chi's first-ever time appearing on a podcast, and she was great! Chi and I discussed:  How Covid has hurt the diving community What is a rebreather?  What kind of diving is her favorite  Why you hallucinate at a certain depth  How we can protect our oceans Diving as a form of meditation And much more... Chi Felton Chi's Instagram My Take: There is a hidden world beneath our feet that we rarely access. The oceans are massive bodies of water that we treat with neglect and fear. We take it for granted - as if it is an infinite resource, which it clearly is not. I love the idea of having a place that has no wifi, no electricity, no distractions. A place for you to just be. Support the Podcast

Marilyn York is a certified family law specialist and an award-winning Family Law Attorney, who, together with her incredible team, focuses on representing men while exclusively practicing family law. Her firm is Nevada’s Only Men’s Rights Family Law Firm. The reason Marilyn decided to only represent men in family court is that they are underrepresented and often lose custody of their children for no other reason other than their sex.  Last year, Marilyn had a Ted X talk that went viral, with almost 5 million views, where she breaks down what she believes is a massive problem with family court and the biases that men face there.  Marilyn speaks her mind unapologetically, which as you can imagine, has gotten her some unfavorable responses on the internet. She is also the funniest lawyer I've ever talked to - and could easily launch her own hit tv show.  Marilyn and I discussed:  Why family court almost always favors the mother Why her representing men is deemed controversial  How accurately the movies depict courts How humor helps diffuse situations Who comes up with the idea for her ads? Why women can have a baby and not tell the father Why she understands men better than most women Potentially starting a travel show in the future And much more... Marilyn York My Take: Life isn't as binary as we would like it to be. While men may have some advantages in some areas, women have some advantages in different areas. This notion that men have it all, or have everything easy, is both ridiculous and factually incorrect. Let's not paint half the demographic as anything; let's judge people by actions and merits, not by gender or race.  Support The Podcast Catchphrase eBook

Ray Zahab is a Canadian Explorer, ultra-distance runner, and Founder of the non-profit Impossible2Possible. In 2015 Canadian Geographic recognized Ray as one of Canada’s Top Explorers. He has run 17,000+ km across the world’s deserts and taken part in unsupported expeditions in some of the coldest places on the planet. Ray has a truly magnetic energy when he speaks, which makes him a great guest to have on - and an entertaining speaker to listen to. I really wanted to learn a lot about his expeditions, his mindset, and his nonprofit organization.  Ray and I discuss: The mental framework you need to take part in these types of adventures How he got started His 111-day expedition through the Sahara Desert Why he started Impossible2Possible What's harder - a cold, or hot, expedition? How to deal with the physical pain And much more...  Ray Zahab My Take: Hardship and discomfort are mere mental barriers that one can breakthrough with the right state of mind. The more explorers I talk to, the more I see a common thread, which is that the ability to continue in the harshest of conditions is not a physical ability, but a mental one. The mind will often carry you, when your body may be reluctant to.  Support the Podcast

Dr. Yasmine Probst is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Wollongong, and a Research Fellow with the Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute. She is recognized as an Advanced Accredited Practicing Dietitian with the Dietitians Association of Australia, and a Fellow of the Australasian College of Health Informatics. She was recently featured in the very interesting documentary, Vitamania, in which the discussion around whether we should be taking vitamin supplements, was brought to the table.  Yasmine and I discussed:  What synthetic vitamins are made from What are the different types of vitamins? Living with MS Do we actually need supplements?  The connection between food & disease  Should our canine companions take vitamins?  Is there a "best diet" for humans? How many vitamins we actually need And much more... Yasmine's Twitter My Take: Question everything, but don't get yourself in a frenzy. Just be aware of what you put into your body. Food companies have worked tirelessly to market their products as "natural" or "healthy", but often their actual ingredient list, tells a different story. Do your research.  Support the Podcast

Jay Kapoor is a VC Investor at LaunchCapital. Previously, he was a VC Investor at Madison Square Garden’s corporate venture and innovation team. Over his career, he has worked closely with sports, digital media, consumer technology, and commerce companies. Previously, Jay worked at the National Football League for the 2012 – 2014 NFL seasons. Jay is also the host of the popular podcast The Game Plan, alongside his cohost and long-time friend Tim Katt. They cover the worlds of sports, tech, and business - and where these industries converge. They speak with professional athletes, past and present, on their highly entertaining and informative show. Jay and I discussed:  How he got his job in the NFL Why India is such a powerful tech hub  The future of podcasts  Why athletes are jumping into the investment world The importance of building an online community What makes someone a great investor And much More... Jay Kapoor The Game Plan Show My Take: The world is becoming smaller - people no longer want to stay in one lane. They want to branch out to other businesses, other areas of interest - and explore those worlds as well. It's a great time for cross-pollination - don't be afraid to try new things in areas that you may not be proficient in, but that may interest you. Support the Podcast 

Sarah has worked with FIRE as a Program Assistant through Drexel's cooperative education program since 2012.  She has defended students and faculty facing censorship in FIRE’s Individual Rights Defense Program, where she worked for five years. She is now Director of FIRE’s Targeted Advocacy program, where she focuses on U.S. universities’ relationship with international threats to free speech and art censorship. She has written for publications such as - Foreign Policy, Artsy, The Huffington Post, and New York Daily News. Sarah and I discussed:  Free Speech on U.S. Campuses What are Confucius institutes? How FIRE helps  Censorship by social media corporations  Blasphemy laws and suppression of free expression What satellite campuses are Foreign government financing of US educational systems  And much, much more... Sarah McLaughlin Twitter My Take: Everyone agrees with free speech when it's something they agree with, the problem is defending free speech when you have someone with an opposing opinion or set of ideological differences that are contrary to yours. If you want free speech to be upheld, we must agree on an uncomfortable truth which is - free speech should be accessible to all regardless of social standing, politics, religion, or anything else.  If we allow open conversation we can hopefully weed out the bad ideas, and allow the good ones to surface.  Support the Podcast