Northstar Unplugged

Shauna Sadowski’s career as a sustainability leader in food companies has spanned from Clif Bar to Annie’s to General Mills to Simple Mills, where she is now. Shauna grew up with six siblings on a farm in Saskatchewan, Canada and has an intimate understanding of how agricultural and farming systems connect to the foods we eat, why that matters, and what a food business can do about it. She has leveraged her background in business and agriculture to be a voice for change in the food industry, including as a huge advocate of regenerative agriculture which we’ll dig into today.Resources:Simple Mills  General Mills on Why Biodiversity is Key to Success (2019) (Food Tech Connect)The Kirschenmann Lecture (2019): How Big Food Can Drive Big Change: Scaling Regenerative Agriculture for Everyone (Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture)Patagonia ProvisionsQuinn Snacks“How Regenerative Agriculture and organic farming helps the earth” (Food Dive, 2019)“How regenerative land and livestock management practices can sequester carbon,” (GreenBiz, 2019)Xerces Society for Invertebrate ConservationThe Land Institute:  kernzaProject DrawdownFrog Hollow FarmRiver Dog FarmBooks Shauna recommends:Positivity (Barbara Frederickson)Between the World and Me (Ta-Nehisi Coates) Dirt (David Montgomery)The Hidden Half of Nature (David Montgomery)Growing a Revolution (David Montgomery)Pulse: the Coming Age of Systems and Machines Inspired by Living Things (Robert Frenay)  Dinner- Melissa Clark

Anthony Michael Russo's career pursuits span from emceeing large sporting events like NCAA championships and the Super Bowl, to motivational speaking, to founding an organization/platform/movement called #Be the Change.  Drawing on his roots with a gambling-addicted father, Anthony embraces what he calls the "double down approach" and has found failure, coupled with positivity, can accelerate success.Resources:#bethechangeBetheChange Facebook pageBe the Change YouTube channelDouble Down StrategyThe Dallas Five- NY Times article about 2016 event that inspired Anthony to start #bethechangeTruth Will Set You Free (#bethechange’s podcast)Biscuits & GravyStreetlights Unity Movement Anthony’s recommended books:The Alchemist (Paulo Coelho)The Go-Giver: A Little Story About a Powerful Business Idea (Bob Burg and John David Mann)Becoming Supernatural  (Dr. Joe Dispenza) #anthonymichaelrusso #bethechange; #doubledownstrategy #positivity #motivationalspeaking #emceeing #overcomingfailure #gamblingaddiction #resilience #changemaking #risktaking  #streetlightsunitymovement

In this episode, Sarah Nelson shares the history of 18 Reasons, a San Francisco-based nonprofit cooking school,  and what strategies she's using to successfully navigate the organization through a pandemic. Sarah explains the E.O.S. system for running the most efficient and productive team meetings you've ever heard of and also offers secrets on how she successfully got her baby to sleep through the night consistently.About Sarah:Sarah Nelson has worked on food-related projects in the Bay Area since 2008. She launched Cooking Matters in the Bay Area in 2010 to bring free cooking classes to low-income families. In her youth, she taught yoga and guided bicycle tours in France. In 2011, she founded the nonprofit Three Squares, which merged with 18 Reasons in 2013. She is passionate about cooking, rock climbing, riding her bike, and, yes, her job. She lives in San Francisco with her partner and daughter. Contact her at sarah@18reasons.org.Resources:18 ReasonsFree tickets to Annual Fundraiser (Oct 13 @6pm PST, virtual)VolunteerUpcoming cooking classes  MembershipDonateEntrepreneurial Operating System (E.O.S.)Asana- web and mobile app to help teams organize, track, and manage their workSlack- communications platformBuy Nothing Project / Facebook groupsBaby Wise Facebook groupSarah’s book recommendations:Traction (Gino Wickman)Get a Grip (Gino Wickman & Mike Paton)On Becoming Baby Wise (Robert Buckman MD & Gary Ezzo)Salt Fat Acid Heat (Samin Nosrat)#18Reasons, #sanfrancisco #cookingschool, #cooking, #culinaryskills #community #yoga #mysoreashtangayoga #entrepreneurialoperatingsystem #effectivemeetings #sleep #sleepforbabies #babywise #buynothingwww.northstarsleepschool.com/podcast

In 1967, while a student at San Francisco State University, Charles Hall designed a 300 lb gelatin-filled chair for his masters thesis. This concept eventually evolved into the modern day water bed. He has also designed and earned over 40 patents for other products, from inflatable kayaks to solar showers.  In this episode, we'll hear from Charles about his various designs, why a water bed might provide a better night's sleep than a traditional mattress, and how Charles has recently revamped the water bed into a version for today, called AFLOAT.Charles’s current companies:Advanced Elements- inflatable kayaksAfloat- redesigned waterbedArticles/videos/podcasts about Charles:“Meet the Man who Invented the waterbed after the ‘60s ‘Summer of Love’”- Business Insider Curiosity-ness: Inventor of the Waterbed, Charles Hall (video)   The Squishiest, Sweetest Sleep The New York Times A new wave in waterbeds: Introducing the afloat CBS- video + article  Meet the Bainbridge Island Man who Invented the waterbed (King 5)- video  “Who Made That Water Bed?” The New York Times  The Groovy Origins of the Waterbed (YouTube video)The History of Waterbeds (YouTube video)Trailblazers with Walter Isaacson podcast (S3: EP6)Waterbed- Wikipedia Sleep tracker he uses:Sleep Tracker AIHis book recommendation:Game Changer: The Story of Pictionary and How I Turned a Simple Idea into the Bestselling Board Game in the World (Rob Angel) Bio:Born Miami Beach, FLHigh school in St. Louis, MSAttended Univ. of MiamiTransferred to SF State Univ. (BA in history)After graduation, found his true interest was in product design, entered  industrial design dept, SF State University; received MA in product designDeveloped modern day water bed while a grad studentWaterbed first showing was at cannery art gallery in San Francisco, Aug 1968Started Waterbed manufacturing and retail company (Inner Space Environments). Grew to 32 retail stores throughout CAApplied for and received US patent on basic waterbed concept.  Patent validity upheld in 9th district US federal court. Judgment against one of largest infringers exceeded $6MFounded Basic Designs company that designed and manufactured camping, outdoor, and sailboat equipment. Later sold the company to  division of K2Cofounder of Advanced  Elements, design and manufacturing company for inflatable kayaks and other outdoor equipmentCofounder of Hall Flotation, manufacturers of AFLOAT waterbeds, the reimagined improved and updated modern day waterbed &l

Kraig Kempt was described in 2012 in a Bozeman Daily Chronicle article as “a hulking athlete of a man and lifelong skier.”  That’s for sure. Kraig has been a highly successful ski racer, an alpine ski racing coach and director for 33 years in Bozeman and beyond, an ultimate frisbee national champion, and an entrepreneur. In 2009, Kraig experienced a traumatic skiing accident, resulting in amputation of his leg nearly three years after. He has been rebuilding his life and lifestyle since then.Videos of Kraig:Whitetail Peak: The Inspirational Story of One Man’s Overcoming the Loss of his leg (Sept 2020)Bridger Bowl Powder Day with Sly Dog Production (video)Kraig Kempt- amputee skier, paralympic hopeful (2012 video; 3 mins) Winter flight 1988 (video at Bridger Bowl)Articles of Kraig:Former Montana State ski coach Paralympic hopeful (Bozeman Chronicle article, 2012)Ridge Run links:Ridge Run event websiteRidge Run (article on the trail run)Ridge Run- video by Eric Bendick/Grizzly Creek Films – Part OneRidge Run video by Eric Bendick/Grizzly Creek Films – Part OneAmputee Resources:Amputee CoalitionKraig’s recommended reading:The Race of My Life- Hermann MaierThe Alpinist publicationSki Racing How to connect with Kraig:Kraig’s Instagram page Kraig’s Facebook page#ski #skiracing #freeskiing #coaching #amputee #adaptiveskiing #adaptiveathletes  #ultimatefrisbee  #invasivespecies #entrepreneurship #Bozemanwww.northstarsleepschool.com/podcast

Charles Vogl supports leaders in technology, finance and government to grow more effective in creating change. Using principles drawn from 3000 years of spiritual traditions, he teaches how to build critical connections for leadership that impacts generations.In his 20s, Charles served in the U.S. Peace Corps in northern Zambia. There, he witnessed inspirational community inside his rural village. After the Peace Corps, Charles founded Broken English Productions in New York City. His PBS projects touch on topics such as education, school reform and civil rights advocacy. His film work won many awards including the Amnesty International prestigious “Movies That Matter” award.He is the author of three books, his first book, the international bestseller, The Art of Community, shares how both community and belonging can be built through time-tested principles and rituals. The book is a guide to creating meaningful communities that enrich both individuals and humanity. It won a Nautilus Book Award for Business and Leadership writing. His latest book, Building Brand Communities, speaks specifically to organization leaders connecting the people important for success.Charles is also an advisor to Google’s global performance and health programs and a member of the Google Vitality Lab where he collaborates to innovate healing in our era. Show notes:www.Charlesvogl.comBuilding Brand Communities by Charles VoglStorytelling for Leaders: Creating Authentic Connections by Charles VoglArt of Community by Charles VoglCommunity & Accountability Simple Invitations Matter  Talks@Google: The Art of Community & Belonging YouTube videoPlay by Stuart Brown The Mystic Heart  by Wayne Teasdale  www.northstarsleepschool.com/podcast

Kendall Youngblood is a recovering achiever who walked away from a six figure salary over six years ago. Since then, she has been exploring the transformative power of choosing pleasure.  She and her husband of 19 years and their two teenage daughters are “unschoolers,” meaning they learn by following their passions and interests. They are also unlearning the cultural stories that no longer serve people or the planet. They gave up their home a year ago to travel the world. They made it through 26 of the US states living in a 24’ RV (160 square feet of living space!) before the virus inspired their current chapter—putting roots down on a farm and yoga retreat in the forests of Oregon. 

The Huffington Post has referred to Carl Honoré as “The unofficial godfather of a growing cultural shift toward slowing down.” His first book, titled In Praise of Slow is an international best-seller. His 2005 TedTalk on this topic has gotten over 3 Million views. Before spearheading the Slow Movement, Carl spent a decade working as a journalist. He covered Europe and South America for the Economist, Observer, Miami Herald, Houston Chronicle, Time, National Post and other publications. Carl grew up in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and is based in London.

By age 16, Rory Martin had already lived on five continents due to his father’s career as a US diplomat. Rory was born in Bogota, Colombia,  and grew up there as well as in Paraguay, Brazil, Pakistan, Iceland, and Botswana.His adventures have continued into his adult life, from the Russian Arctic to the South Pole.  He  even re-entered the workforce to pursue his passion for expedition travel.  Rory currently resides in Bozeman, MT.

When Jeff Kirchick was a 17 year-old high school senior, he fell asleep at the wheel while on the way home from soccer practice and crashed into a tree. In this episode, we’ll get to the bottom of what caused the accident and what Jeff has learned from it….