Guest Overview This week I welcome two guests - NYC-based Clinical Psychologist Dr. Tara Emrani and Corporate Lawyer Mehdi Ansari. Tara and Mehdi were born and raised in Tehran, Iran, before moving to the US. Given the time challenges of having two guests, we didn’t spend much time on their backstories or upbringing.  Meeting while both studying at UC Berkeley, Tara and Mehdi describe their journeys to Psychology and Law. I ask Tara to explain her humanistic, multidimensional approach to treatment and the differences to the new talk therapy platforms like Talk Space or Better Help. Tara discusses the mental health challenges that have emerged since the onset of the pandemic and how she helps her patients deal with them, and the underlying stresses, sadness, anxiety, and depression. She describes pivoting to online therapy and the differences to in-person treatment.Mehdi describes the pandemic impact on his firm’s staff, work practices, and relationships. Mehdi discusses why he is trying to drive the firm's mental health narrative and across the legal industry. He discusses how different structural approaches firms are taking as we snap back and the many unexpected impacts on training, teamwork, and career progression. He also explains the value of serendipitous water cooler moments and why those are lost on Zoom or Teams,, and the increased associated transaction costs. Both Tara and Mehdi discuss the future role of therapy inside organizations, the resultant positive impact on the bottom line, staff retention, and a happier, more productive environment. Mehdi reflects on the paradigm shift needed for mental health and mindfulness training to be taught in Universities. Medhi and Tara discuss parents' role to prepare children for an AI future and the displacement AI will have on today's simple transactional processes.Finally, they both reflect on the impact of serendipity on their journey.  If you’re a parent or have been affected by mental health personality or while in a work environment, I think you’ll be uplifted by the clarity and commitment of Tara and Mehdi to changing the narrative around mental health. Social Links Dr Tara Emrani Website InstagraLinks in the show Tehran Talk space Better HelpCarl Rogers Sullivan and CromwellBillionsTI86 1984 Book I Will Survive John AdamsAudry Hepburn Keynes Gandhi Lord of the Rings Sopranos The VowEgo is the Enemy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest Overview This week's guest is Sydney-born, New York-based Ben Hartley – Executive Director of The National Arts Club – what he describes as a 122-year-old startup.Ben recently invited us into the spectacular Gramercy Square location to record this fascinating interview.Ben recounts his early years and his parents' positive influence, his adventurous and analytical father, and his strong and emotionally engaged mother.Ben describes how his world view was expanded, and curiosity sparked as a result of being taken on a grand European canal boating tour when aged seven. Ben describes his embrace of discomfort as a means of pushing one's capabilities and his approach to seeking out serendipity. At 12 minutes – Ben describes his educational experience, how it opened a window to the world, the value of studying for a semester in Trenton, New Jersey, a decision that ultimately led him to return to NYC to study his Masters in Arts management. At 23 minutes – we discuss the common threads running through the career path he has taken. We discuss his journey to the National Arts Club and his experience of leading the international rollout of the Guggenheim to Bilbao and beyond. At 29 minutes – Ben explains the mission and structure of The National Arts Club. He provides a concise overview of The National Arts Club's history, being the first club to welcome women as members, events from its colorful history, the characters that defied this unique institution, and the recipients of its famed Medal of Honor. Ben describes how COVID has enabled him to apply his creativity to innovate and pivot the club's service, develop and vibrant digital program, and build community and connectivity. He describes the recent exhibitions curated in partnership with new art collectives that have emerged in New York during the Black Lives Matter protests displayed alongside the work of photographer Graham Macindoe We discuss the provocative role of art in today's society, the changing nature of distribution, the future role of The National Arts Club in the city and country's culture, and the innovative programs he has initiated connecting communities beyond the arts. Ben's refreshing perspectives will undoubtedly provide inspiration and provoke new ideas for anyone struggling to reimagine and reinvent their business or brand or deal with personal challenges in these changing times. Social Links The National Arts Club website Instagram TwitterFacebookLinksRoger Pilkington Tom CrenzGuggenheim Bilbao Richard Serra Frank Gehry Charles DeKay Soho Renaissance Factory Art to Heart Graham Macindoe CJ Henry Jose Saramago Blindness  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our host Mark Fallows was recently invited to be a guest on another podcast, the entertaining and educational - The Furious Curious.Hosts, Charlie Quirk and Britton Rice asked Mark to join them and discuss the urban regeneration project, Back The Neighborhood that he, Elaine Castillo Keller, and Vanessa Barboni Hallik are working on, as well as the genesis of The Impossible Network and Fabrica CollectiveIf you enjoy this we encourage you to subscribe to The Furious Curious and follow @backtheneighborhood on Instagram.LINKS:LINKS:Fabrica The Impossible Network https://backthenighborhood.com © Charlie Quirk, Britton Rice Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest OverView This week's guest is meteorologist, Scottish Highlander, Gaelic speaker, and bag-piper Scott Duncan. Now London-based Scott grew up in the wilds of northern Scotland. Inspired by Scotland's dramatic natural habitat he developed a love for nature and especially climate. That led him to study meteorology at Reading Uni and Oklahoma University and propelled him to be one of the most talked-about climate communicators, resulting from his imaginative and creative application of climate pattern data visualization on Instagram and his own website. In this episode, Scott recounts his early years, the role of family, and the impact of growing up in such an inspiring environment. Developing an expansive world view of climate at a young age, Scott discusses his path to becoming a climate communicator, his intuitive interest and appreciation for the power of storytelling, and how this has transformed how he tells the story of climate. Scott provides a refreshingly simple explanation of the issues our planet faces, at the poles and beyond, he explains how he deals with activists, deniers, and trolls, and why he focuses on reputable data sources to navigate the politically charged field of climate communications. We discuss the decade of action, the expectations of the upcoming COP26 in Glasgow in November and Scott provides insight into what the target numbers mean. He also provides examples of the extreme weather patterns we are experiencing. I think you will leave this episode more grounded, informed, and inspired. Social Links WebsiteInstagram TwitterLinkedIn Links in the ShowGaelic Berkeley Earth Drawdown Kiss the GroundMike HudemaZachery Labe Kate Rawworth Ed Hawkins Guy Callendar500 Miles Tubthumping Casa De PapelMy Family and Other Animals Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest OverviewHuman rights are inextricably linked to identity. We all strive for our basic inalienable rights as human beings, regardless of race, religion, language, ethnicity or gender. This week we welcome one of the most vital thinkers in academia and advocates for LGBT human rights, Graeme Reid. Graeme is the Director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Rights Program at Human Rights Watch, a respected expert and lecturer at Yale.  Born in Johannesburg in Apartheid South Africa, raised in a politically liberal home, Graham’s demonstrated his individual will at an early age courageously confronting the conventional thinking of white South African establishment. Having studied Anthropology at University, Graeme’s ground-breaking Masters; ‘an ethnographic study of a black Pentecostal church on how a church community created the possibility for an integrated cultural identity for gay and lesbian Christians’ followed by his PhD thesis “How to be a’real-gay’ emerging gay spaces in small town South Africa” …established him as both a creative and leading thinker on gender identity. In this shorter than usual episode Graeme shares his personal story, his wisdom and perspective on where we find ourselves in today’s politically charged environment and what might be an inflection point in history. Enjoy the courage, heart and humanity of Graeme Reid. Social Links Graeme HRW Twitter Links in The Show Gayle Rubin Gay activist Simon Nkoli Graeme’s books:How To Be A Real Gay: Above the Skyline: LGBT Rights Yale Human Rights WatchFleabag Havelock EllisOlive Schreiner: Eleanor Marx: Anna Freud:  Shaggy Bain - Beyond All Imagining Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest Overview What does it take to walk away from a successful career in Investment banking to form a woman's sustainable fashion startup, committed from the outset to sourcing responsibly grown, ethically manufactured materials, blending classic design with leading edge technologies, while building a platform for education, and advocacy? Well, by confronting fear, embracing uncertainty, accepting failure, trusting in serendipity while remaining resilient, steadfast, and focused on the bigger mission are the characteristics that enabled this week's guest, Vanessa Barboni Hallik, to launch Another Tomorrow - what New York Times described as a 'Brand as Ethically Minded as It Is Refined'.In this fascinating and broad-ranging interview Midwest born, Vanessa Barboni Hallik covers everything from her early life, and architectural ambitions, to her journey to an investment banking career and why she changed course to launch her ground-breaking sustainable women's fashion brand. Vanessa describes the impact of her free spirit artist mother and sociology professor 'wanna be hippie' father in cultivating her curiosity and the creative environment of constructive play that built her belief in the sense of the possible.  Vanessa explains the circuitous path she took through education, the life-altering impact of her mother's tragic death when Vanessa was 19, and how the event that set her on a path to banking, the inner conflict she experienced having been raised in an environment of conscious capitalism, and how after quitting three times she finally found purpose in her entrepreneurial endeavor,  She eloquently explains fundamental shifts in banking and finance and the increasing emphasis on environmental and social, and governance factors and the further shifts and regulatory changes she expects, will come post covid. We dive deep into what led At 35 minutes in, we dive deep into Another Tomorrow and why Vanessa focused on sustainable fashion. She covers the challenges she faced and why she's built her business grounded in animal, environmental and human welfare; using technology to deliver supply chain transparency; her commitment to resale, and creating a circular economy as a catalytic force on traditional fashion brands. I think you will be inspired by the clarity of vision and values of Vanessa Barboni Hallik.Social Links Another Tomorrow website Instagram TwitterFacebookLinksMariana Mazzucato book Value of EverythingESG’s Patagonia Constellation of Vital Phenomena - Anthony Marra Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest Overview This week's guests are Graham MacIndoe and Susan Stellin.  Graham, a photographer and associate professor at Parsons School of Design in New York City, has been in recovery from addiction since 2010. Graham and his wife Susan -- a writer, researcher, and adjunct professor at The New School -- have been open about Graham's past struggle with drugs, his ten-year journey to coming clean, which began with nine months of incarceration because of a misdemeanor drug possession conviction.They've published and exhibited the self-portraits Graham took during his years of addiction, written a dual memoir called Chancers, and given many talks about the trajectory that upended Graham's photography career, isolated him from family and friends, and eventually landed him in jail. (I'll add links to the images that appeared in the Guardian and New York Mag coverage in the show notes, the book, and their talks in the show notes. ) Lately, they've shifted their focus to highlighting what it takes to recover from addiction -- a process millions of Americans have been through but is far less discussed both in private and in public settings. They're part of a growing movement of people trying to reframe the narrative more toward solutions and opening a dialogue about ways to help more people succeed with recovery. Graham and Susan recap their journey. We cover why Graham documented his addiction and why he and Susan are now documenting recovery stories across the US. We discuss why many people can't publicly acknowledge their past because of stigma, the consequences of admitting illegal drug use, and why they are part of a growing movement working to provide examples of success and hope to those still struggling with addiction. Their latest exhibit Beyond Addiction, Reframing Recovery demonstrates that recovery is possible and highlights some of the ways people have rebuilt their lives. We discuss the enduring stigma and cultural projection of drug addiction, the enduring War of Drugs, the racial injustice of drug policies, the need for reform, and we discuss decriminalization and legalization. Graham and Susan provide an enlightening perspective on the ongoing challenges, the Pandemic's impact, and Graham talks about how he has navigated his recovery.If you know someone struggling with recovery or a family member trying to support a loved one, please share this important episode or some of the resources in the show notes. I hope you are inspired by the courage, clarity, and candor of Graham MacIndoe and Susan Stellin. Social Links Graham’s Website Susan’s Website Beyond Addiction Reframing Recovery Graham’s InstagramLinks in the showGraham and Susan's TED XGraham In New York MagGraham in The GuardianPortugal Drug Policy War of Drugs Rikers IslandChancers BookMichelle Obama Book Jim Devine Lost Tornado book Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

GUEST OVERVIEW This week's guest, biologist, TV producer, presenter, public speaker, voiceover artist, writer, and mother, Gillian Burke, is second generation Kenyan, has lived a life transition - or as she refers to as a state of liminality. In this broad-ranging interview, Gillian deconstructs the complexity of her racially ambiguous 'creole' identity. Part West Indian, part SriLankan Gillian was born in Kenya, grew up in Vienna, and studied and settled in the UK, where she has built a successful career in broadcasting with the BBC. Gillian recounts her early memories of always feeling like an outsider, navigating change and uncertainty both in Kenya and Austria. She describes how her love of the outdoors developed, being comfortable in nature, and developing her environmental consciousness. She explains why the experience of growing up in the global south and the lack of buffer between environmental issues and the impact of home life, as well as witnessing the exploitation of nature, the environment and marginalized populations led her to develop her thirst for social justice and building a career in nature and environmental broadcasting. Gillian describes her path to the UK, her education in an international Baccalaureate school, developing a love of performing arts and ending up studying biology at Bristol University in the UK in 1992 and landing a job in the Natural History unit at the BBC. From 40 min in, Gillian explains why she feels we in many developed nations lack humility as we face the humbling impact of the Covid virus. We discuss how our path to progress is unsustainable, the climate crisis, the urgency to act, and the importance of looking to natural solutions and our interconnectedness to nature's matrix. Gillian discusses the regenerative power of the soil, indigenous knowledge, wisdom, and solutions that could pull us back from climate calamity. Finally, Gillian explains why she is focused on connecting the big existential issues facing us to what we do in our homes and how we live. I hope you are inspired to follow the environmental passion and purpose of Gillian Burke.SOCIAL LINKSWebsite Instagram Blog LINKS IN THE SHOWLiminality Water Bear Dan McDougallBaccalaureate schoolBBC Natural History Unit Kimberly Latrice JonesWangari MaathaiYoung Chances Foundation Project Drawdown Kiss the Ground Mike Tyson Biography Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Due to a guest rescheduling, this week we are republishing part two of last year's interview with New York nightlife legend Carmen D'Alessio.We loved this show not just for the incredible stories she tells, but for what she represents. Carmen is living proof that that reinvention is ageless, energy is infectious, and a reminder of the power of a large network.If you’ve not heard Carmen, buckle up, if you have I am it's worth a second listen.Now over to CarmenGuest OverviewBorn to a Peruvian father, and a Chilean mother, but grew up to become a legend of New York nightlife, impresario co-founder of Studio 54, and to this day not only continues to reinvent herself but also entertainment experiences, is this week’s guest Carmen D'Alessio.In Part two of this interview with Carmen D'Alessio, the New York nightlife legend, impresario, and co-founder of what is often referred to as the greatest club of all time; Studio 54, we explore the untold story of the nightclub’s formation.We start the interview with Carmen recounting her second marriage and leaving Italy and working for Valentino in Rome to return to NYC to build her ‘Queen of the Night’ reputation.If you’ve seen the 2018 Netflix documentary on the infamous nightclub you’ll hear the other side of the founder’s story on how the sensational nightclub came into existence.Carmen also recounts her memories of those unparalleled 33 months of hedonism, having her mother around her, and how the era ended and the world changedWe also cover how she’s continued to reinvent herself and nightlife experiences around the worldFinally, we cover her quick-fire questions and answersI hope you enjoy the wit, wisdom, and wonder of Carmen D’Alessio.What we discuss:How she moved into fashionBeginning her career as a nightlife promoterHow a 1976 bicentennial party reported in the WSJ got her on the mapHow she met Ian Schrager and Steve Rubel and her collaboration with their Enchanted Garden ended up in TimeHow she was forced to invite them to collaborate when her Studio 54 backer dropped outThe evolution of their business arrangement and how that saved her from jailHow the day to day operation workedHer superpower of connecting peopleSpontaneity and living without consequencesHow Aids changed everythingBuilding her list of 8000 namesHow nightlife has evolved as she has agedCarmen’s evolutionStaying young, her sense of adventure and freedomHer mother’s lust for lifeAcqua fit in her 70’sConfronting conventionsThe Gospel according to carmenHer feeling of youthfulnessBeing thankfulHer principlesEstablishing an environmental foundationHer patience and faithLinks in the Show Steve RubellIan SchragerBaby BrasaAndy Warhol Imelda MarcosFederico Fellini Infinity club Enchanted Garden Sterling St JacquesGrace Jones BasquiatCher Michael Jackson Keith Haring Las dos lunas Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest Overview This week we welcome back our previous guest, Robert Marchetti the New York-based, Australian hospitality veteran. Robert recently launched his own podcast The Raw Hospitality Show, where he interviews industry icons and what he describes as boots on the ground 'hospo peeps' (that an Aussie term) those unseen folk whose voices are seldom heard.  Robert’s aim with the new show to inspire, motivate, and entertain the 16 million+ hospitality folks in the USA, and 50 million+ globally. With Covid-19 continuing to decimate the industry, Robert hopes that by interviewing industry veterans and on the ground game-changers, their views and insights into what’s next will inspire a generation of hospitality workers to remain resolute and resilient through these challenging times. In this fast-paced episode, Robert also covers how he embraced the challenges of Covid19 with a positive attitude and a radical acceptance that he may well lose his Soho restaurant and bar Gran Tivoli and Peppi's cellar. He explains the need to pivot, how he’s used this time to reorientate his business and goes on to explain the work he is now doing with Creative community workspace Neuehouse. Robert is more than resilient, he radiates practical positivity with a grounded sense of humor that is uplifting in these strangest of times. I hope you agree. Social Links Robert Marchetti Hospitality The Raw Hospitality ShowInstagramYoutubeLink in the ShowNeuehouse Shep Gordon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.