Gareth Higgins was born in Belfast in 1975, grew up during the northern Ireland Troubles, and now lives in the US. He writes and speaks about the power of storytelling to shape our lives and world, peace and making justice, and how to take life seriously without believing your own propaganda. He has been involved in peace-building and violence reduction in northern Ireland and helping address the legacy of conflict, received a Ph.D. in Sociology from Queen’s University Belfast, and helped teach the world’s first graduate course in Reconciliation Studies at Trinity College Dublin. He also helped found the Wild Goose, New Story and Movies & Meaning festivals. Gareth leads retreats in North America and Ireland; and he founded The Porch Magazine.
Brian McLaren says Gareth’s new book How Not to be Afraid is “a beautiful book”, Kathleen Norris says it’s “a necessary book”, and Micky ScottBey Jones says it’s “a much-needed resource for skill-building through our fear and trauma, so that we might create the belonging and communities we desire”. Nadia Bolz-Weber says “I totally trust Gareth Higgins when he writes about his own fear and how it’s actually possible to transform it into something powerful, something capable of healing us and the world.” Pádraig Ó Tuama says “Gareth Higgins is a friend. This book is too.” Find out more at www.hownottobeafraid.com
Ari Weinzweig, Co-founding Partner of the Zingerman's Community of Businesses, is a line cook turned CEO and thought leader. He shares his learnings about positive business through his prolific writing. The first four books in his Guide to Good Leading series explore the principles, beliefs, and pillars of the Zingerman's organization. His newest work is the artisan pamphlet, A Taste of Zingerman's Food Philosophy.
Ari is still actively engaged in many aspect of the day-to-day operations and governance of the eleven Zingerman's businesses across Ann Arbor, Michigan. In 2017, Ari was named one of "The World's Top 10 CEOs (They Lead in a Totally Unique Way)" by Inc. Magazine.
Ari regularly travels across the country and world on behalf of Zingerman’s, teaching organizations and businesses about Zingerman’s approach to business through keynotes and private training. Contact him at [email protected]