Back in 2015 I hosted a conference where a true innovator and friend, Burt Rutan, poked fun at modern innovation and continued to challenge us all to bring the "cowboy energy" to the world of innovation.

In this talk you will hear from an AI expert who is now at Microsoft, the former COO of the world's #1 autonomous delivery company, former CEO of a self driving car company, and NYT best selling author and now AI startup founder.

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This conversation with Nick Smoot and Robert @Scobleizer was wild!

🔑 Key Takeaways (from @123wimi)

Check out Robert Scoble's lists here.

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Head over to AesopIndustries.com to learn more about our work and how we can help you build your community and economy.

If you have ever wondered how you can build an innovation economy in a rural ag town... well then this is the podcast you do not want to miss.

Liam is running one of the most successful innovation hubs in the country of Ireland and doing it in a town of 2,100 people!

Please check out his work through the RDI Hub and ask for tips, tricks, and insights from the team there. They are fantastic!

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In this episode you will be inspired, challenged, and laugh due to the stories of The Founder and 20 year CEO of The North Face; Hap Klopp.

If you want to be aware of these live events and more like them please fill out this form and we will get back to you. We are a wild community of creators who meet online and in-person to build the future together and have fun. https://forms.gle/qzvzCH8zuzFUudwB6

Reach out if you have questions, [email protected] and as always, go sign up at BuildCities.com.

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In this episode, Maria Effertz, the director of community services in the North Dakota Department of Commerce shares incredible and timely insights about the need and power of community development to boost economies.

The work she is doing within the North Dakota Department of Commerce is incredible. This conversation covers policy, grassroots efforts, and the why behind community.

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Former Bank Executive and now... Interim Executive Director of the Spokane Symphony... Yes, that is what Russ Lee is doing in his "retirement"

He took the bank he was leading through a $160M exit and now is leading a movement of music in the town he loves, Spokane, Wa.

Listen as Russ tells stories of his childhood, career, and family. The honesty and humbleness of being clear about areas he wasn't good at as a young man are refreshing and insightful.

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In this live episode, Nick Smoot interviews Harry Amend who is a highly respected figure in education with over 41 years of experience. Throughout his career, Harry has served as a teacher, coach, counselor, principal, and superintendent, primarily in the Spokane Valley, Washington area. He played a key role in Washington’s education reform during his tenure as President of the Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA) in the late 1990s, collaborating with the state’s Superintendent of Public Instruction, Teri Bergeson, and Governor Gary Locke.

Beyond Washington, Harry's leadership extended to school districts in northwest Montana and North Idaho, where he championed school reform initiatives for a combined nine years. Known for his focus on at-risk and special needs students, Harry introduced innovative programs like the "School within a School" model and the Bridge Academy dropout retrieval high schools in both states.

His commitment to education earned him recognition as a finalist for Superintendent of the Year in Washington (1998) and Idaho (2007). In addition to his educational career, Harry spent 20 years as a major league baseball scout for the Philadelphia Phillies, a role that reflects his love of sports and mentorship.

Now residing in Twin Lakes Village, North Idaho, with his wife Sandy, Harry enjoys spending time with their children and grandchildren, all of whom live nearby in the Spokane area.