The Impossible Network

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.

Guest Overview Jessica Carson, creator, teacher, and author of Wired This Way, a book about Finding Mental, Emotional, Physical, and Spiritual Well-being as a Creator, is this week's guest.In this wide ranging episode, we cover Jessica’s early life and development being the perfect combination of her right and left-brained parents. Jessica refers to Jungian psychology as a reference point to her adolescent development, and her innate passion and self-imposed pressures and character polarities and the impact that had on friendships and relationships.She discusses the transformational time of her life working as a social director at a start-up discovering her social fluidity and her empath character. Jessica discusses the common characteristics of the empath, the value, and the downsides and need for protection. She explains how this led her to study neuroscience at Georgetown. From around 30 min we get into creativity and serendipity. We discuss Jessica’s experiences of serendipity, describing herself as a ‘Serendipitor’ and by embracing the synchronicity of life she overcame her dis-ease, distress and angst. Jessica explains the different creative archetypes she has mapped in her book Wired this Way, which discusses the light and dark sides of different creators and she then explains the shared ten dimensions of a creator. Jessica discusses the dance between creativity and productivity and the deficit of creativity in our ‘hustle culture and the need for creative self-discovery. Jessica makes historic references and provides an overview of her six muses she uses as a framework and as a creative and customizable approach to the journey of self-discovery, a tapestry to understand what archetype a person is. We discuss happiness, creativity, self-discovery, procrastination, and creative incubation, and creative rebirth in the context of the times we live. We also cover education and mental health, innovation, and the importance of diversity in the innovation process. We end by discussing fear and failure. I hope you are stimulated by the creative explorations and archetypes of Jessica Carson. Social Links Instagram WebsiteLinks in Show Wired This WaySophie’s World Jung Witness MovieThe Empaths Survival Guide Scott Barry Kauffman -Transcend: The New Science of Self Actualization  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we re-publish our first ever episode, recorded on a cold day in late 2018 on the streets of South Philadelphia with Tyrique Glasgow. Tyrique Glasgow is the Founder of the Young Chances Foundation, an organization providing after-school support, sports programs, and mentoring for South Philadelphia’s youth. Besides running the foundation, Tyrique works with the District Attorney's Office on its Focused Deterrence initiative, an effort that targets South Philly gang members, to offer an exit route from street life through job training and other services.Tyrique founded The Young Chances Foundation (YCF) is a 501(c)3 organization in 2012 as a second chance opportunity to make better opportunities for himself, his family and his South Philadelphia – Grays Ferry community. Tyrique's personal story is one of radical transformation from dealing drugs to delivering hope and opportunity. Tyrique's lowest point in life was the night in 2004 that it almost ended, as he lay unconscious on the cold ground of his South Philadelphia neighborhood, shot 11 times in the head, back, legs and arms. Surviving this life altering trauma he then had to serve five years in prison before returning to the Grays Ferry community as a reformed citizen, with an unstoppable passion to ‘save the children of Grays Ferry from following a similar path.  In 2012 Young Chances Foundation’s Mission was born.I met Tyrique at a fundraising event in New York in mid 2018 and went to interview him later that year on the street Corner he used to run. Interviewing Tyrique was humbling, uplifting and inspiring - a beacon of possibility and the shining example of the potential that one human’s courage and commitment can have. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest overview Schuyler Moore is Director of Science and Technology at the Defense Innovation Board, in the US Department of Defense, by day. At night she is a competitive Hip Hop Dancer by night. She is sister to our previous guest Dr. Merritt Moore(Episode No14).Everything Schuyler shares in this episode is her personal view and perspective. She only speaks herself and does not speak for the Department of Defense or the Defense Innovation Board.LA born, of a Korean mother and American father, Schuyler’s upbringing equipped her with a deep curiosity, an independent world-view, and valuable problem-solving skills. Her unconventional mindset enabled her to defy convention, shed her comfort zone and traveling to teach school girls in Afghanistan in 2013 age, this boundary breaking attitude led her to and become director of science and technology at the DoD only six years later. In this expansive and informative episode, Schuyler shares the value and impact of her parents on her life focus, how her interest in National Security emerged while teaching in Afghanistan, and shares her personal perspectives, knowledge, and insights on agile living and the imperative of how to consider and manage risk in an uncertain and unpredictable world. She explains how she applies this to build confidence, solve problems, maintain humility, and remain calm in the face of chaos. We also discuss gut instinct and innovation and her view on serendipity. Schuyler shares her advice to parents on how to guide their young daughters to thrive in STEM or Steam and her advice to women in the workforce.At 45 min in we also dive deep into A.I. as I ask Schuyler to define in simple terms what A.I. is, before we get into ethics, standards and traceability, the A.I. arms race and the value to humanity.  I also ask Schuyler about Cyber warfare threats, defending it using zero trust architecture, and how we as nations and businesses think about our network security. Schuyler shares her recommendations on changes to education to prepare us for the future and hirIng for Creativity and finally we discuss the role of Diversity in innovation.I hope you enjoy this expansive educational exploration of agile living, risk, AI, Cyber warfare and so much more.Social LinksLinkedin Website Links in the showSOLA Open AiGPT3Department of Defense Defense Innovation BoardZucked bookSocial Dilemma Merritt MooreAI BooksRay KurswellCenter for Security and Emerging TechnologyT Minus AI Mike Kanan CHINAI Newsletter How to Be An Anti RacistThe ImmortalistsThe Pixar Story Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s guest, Dr Christian Basch, describes himself as a practical philosopher. He is also Author of the new book the Serendipity Mindset, and Director of NYU’s Global Economy program.In this absorbing interview Christian describes his upbringing in Germany to a cerebral intellectual father and empathetic and loving mother. Christian explains how his supportive parents instilled a sense of belief that whatever his focus in life, everything was possible. Christian discusses his wayward upbringing, his search for where to channel his energies and the life defining car crash that made him re-evaluate his attitude to life and set him on the path to writing the Serendipity Mindset. He maps out how In 2008 in London he formed his innovative global Sandbox network and describes the community they build as a serendipity accelerator. We cover purpose and social entrepreneurship and how he has worked with many of the top CEO’s to focus on how their companies can link their purpose to the sustainable development goals. If you want to jump forward to where we get into the specifics of the Serendipity Mindset head to AROUND 40 MIN min. Christian explains how the Serendipity Mindset is grounded in creating the structures and mindsets that enable people to create their own luck and I ask Christian to explain the role of procrastination in serendipity and what he calls productive procrastination. He sets out why spotting something unexpected and connecting dots when you see them is key to a serendipity mindset. He explains why sagacity and tenacity are the core elements to unlocking serendipity and why we need to avoid seeing life linear and more a series of random twisting lines and being prepared to see failure as an opportunity. Christian covers fear of failure, loss and overcoming self limiting beliefs and worthiness. I ask Christian about the role of his work to affect change in organizational behavior, and how brand values can define meeting agendas, and examining and learning from failure to solve large problems. We also discuss polarization, diversity, inclusion and seeking common denominators to solve our contemporary challenges.  Finally we cover serendipity scores and the value to reframing behaviors. Christian describes how as a daily habit and a life philosophy it can transform how we view uncertainty and the unexpected from a threat to an ally.  I hope you are empowered by the mind altering playbook of Dr Christian Busch. Social Links LinkedInTwitterInstagram Website Show Links and Notes The Serendipity Mindset Goethe Quote - If you take someone as they are you make them worseBut if you take them as what they could be you make them capable of becoming what they can beSandbox Million Peacemakers  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week I want to make a change to our usual interview format. Instead, I want to talk about the issue of climate change. Whatever your perspective on the causes few will deny that dramatic and potentially irreversible changes are occurring that threaten humanity’s existence on the planet. We're now well into the fourth quarter of this tumultuous year. With news around our tiny unseen enemy still in abundance, and as we focus on addressing the immediate Covid-19 pandemic, we must not lose sight of the more significant existential threat: our climate crisis. The urgency to build on the much-cited 'We're all in this together' sentiment cannot be overstated. If we are to avert a climate collapse, now is the time to start a new contagion, one that spreads a radical and positive change in consumer and corporate behaviors. Behavior change is hard, but we should take inspiration from positive societal shifts that have emerged in recent months: 1. Covid-19 and our sheltering in place demonstrate that most people can, individually and collectively, on a global scale, radically change our way of life, sacrificing what once seemed sacrosanct.  2. The collective spirit of resistance and rage, ignited by the death of George Floyd and spate of other racial injustices, demonstrates the power of people to unite and confront the status quo.  3. The rapid collective action by some corporations, businesses, and brands in changing their marketing, operations, and supply chains to battle the pandemic prove business can be on the right side of race history. However, Covid-19 has not only exposed the deep and systemic social, economic, educational, racial, and technological inequity; it's also directly impacted our progress to achieve the UN's seventeen sustainable development goals (SDG's). As UN Secretary-General António Guterres recently stated: "As Member States recognized at the SDG Summit held last September, global efforts to date have been insufficient to deliver the change we need, jeopardizing the Agenda's promise to current and future generations. Now, due to COVID-19, unprecedented health, economic, and social crisis is threatening lives and livelihoods, making the achievement of Goals even more challenging."The climate target adopted at the 2015 Paris Agreement was to keep global temperature rise this century to less than 2 degrees Celsius, above pre-industrial levels, but set a 2030 target to limit the rise to +1.5°C.While Covid-19 may have paused the global economy, it's estimated to only reduce 2020 Carbon emissions by 6%, significantly below the required 50% annual reduction we need in this coming decade to avoid a climate abyss - the point at which there may be no way back. So what if we consider Covid-19 a wake up call to our global fragility, a kickstarter to elicit unified action to avoid climate calamity. With 2019 being the second warmest year on record, coming at the end of the warmest decade on record, we are currently "way off track meeting either the 1.5°C or 2°C targets", according to Guterres. With the world's average surface temperature projected to surpass 3 degrees Celsius by the end of this century, our children, and their children will experience melting ice caps, rising sea levels, flooded coastal capitals, mass migration north, food and water shortages, and mass social unrest, economic breakdown, and war. We have a simple choice. To act or not to act. As individuals, if we choose to act, we can start living more sustainable lives. As consumers, employees, or investors, we have the leverage to demand accelerated action from the corporations and brands that form the fabric of the carbon economy.  We have individual role models; Bea Johnson and Joshua Spodek are examples of positive environmental behavior leaders. Two recent books, The Future We Choose and The Is No Planet B, also guide us on how ... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's guest Linda Rislin is evidence of how life’s path leads us in directions we could never have planned. In Linda’s case, a visual designer turned Open Relationship Coach. Born to Haitian parents, Linda was born in New Jersey and grew up in an inter-generational home and at the intersection of diverse cultures. In part one Linda discusses the early years, her catholic education, her immersion in American culture, and the clash with Haitian values. She explains the influence of her parents on her character development, her mother's faith, and her father's levity. Linda discusses how growing up with scarcity guided her to seek financial security in a marketing role at Vimeo. Upon discovering how unfulfilled she felt Linda describes her career migration into visual design and the resultant impact on her life satisfaction. We end part one there and in Part two we cover Linda’s journey to becoming an Open Relationship Coach. Linda discusses how she and her partner evolved from a monogamous relationship to embrace open relationships. She reflects on how her previous relationship mode was based on the pursuit of finding a husband, the impact of her Haitian culture on how she perceived relationships, rather what she now calls seeking a life adventure partner. Linda discusses fear, the concept of soul mates, how previous relationships shaped her behavior and becoming her individual authentic self. Linda explains her early experience of open relationships, adult play-parties, and being 'Monogamish' and reflects communication, women’s roles in romantic culture, and the human condition. Linda discusses how she has applied her experiences in Open Relationships to help other women navigate open relationships, help them speak up and how she helping them deal with relationship stigmas and propaganda. We also discuss the impact on mental health, the economic impact of empowered relationships, and how she works with therapists as part of couples therapy, being true to oneself, cultivating openness and honesty. I hope you enjoy the convention confronting candor of Linda Rislin.SOCIAL LINKSLinda's Site LINKS IN SHOW Haiti Earthquake Shillington Design SchoolRelationship EscalatorDave HuluAlways Be My Baby Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.