By Bahar Ansari
5
99 ratings
The podcast currently has 28 episodes available.
Many of us are familiar with feeling stuck in our situation. Whether it’s continuing to work in a job we loathe or attending a school that is making us unhappy, the accompanying feelings of guilt, judgment, and obligation can make us believe that we have no choice but to stick it out. By taking a step back and assessing the situation you may find that you have more freedom of choice available to you than you initially thought. This week on the show we unpack the concept of freedom of choice and how modern society can make us feel unworthy of that freedom. Tuning in you’ll learn about the impact that small everyday decisions can have on the planet, how to empower yourself through distance, and why the opportunity to make a choice is the true freedom, not the choice itself!
Key Points From This Episode:
Tweetables:
“Every day, we're presented with many, many choices, from where we want to go to how we want to behave to how we want to react, to what to think, what to feel and beyond.” — @baharansarilaw [0:01:42]
“Sometimes pausing, not choosing hastily from the obvious choice can be the most intelligent choice. It's giving oneself an opportunity to think through each choice.” — @baharansarilaw [0:05:11]
“Once you understand that there is a choice in everything, in how we feel and how we react, and then the life that we're creating through these small, everyday choices, you will recognize the immense power we each have, and collectively have in changing our future.” — @baharansarilaw [0:07:15]
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
2nd.Law
Bahar Ansari on LinkedIn
Bahar Ansari on Instagram
Bahar Ansari on Twitter
Today’s guest believes in the power of technology to solve the problems we face as a society and he has devoted his career to using technology to make purpose-driven learning count. For the last five years, Michael Robbins has led District of Learning, a technology-enabled ecosystem for 'any time, anywhere' learning in Washington DC, an initiative from the MacArthur Foundation. He also has experience as a senior advisor for the Obama administration, where Michael led work for the US Department of Education and the White House in community engagement and digital transformation in education. He has advised and collaborated with mayors, school superintendents, community organizers, nonprofit leaders, and corporate executives on a range of public initiatives. Today Michael joins us to explain how he believes that we can co-create solutions for our education crisis, transform learning with the power of data of ownership and technology, and come together to learn what we need for life in order to chart a better pathway for a digital society. To find out more about the decentralization of learning, how we can put power in the hands of individuals, and co-create a better future, tune in today!
Key Points From This Episode:
Tweetables:
“For me, the height of innovative achievement isn’t sending a billionaire into near space, it’s using the ingenuity that we have, our technology, our people, our commitment, to solve the problems that face us a society.” — Michael Robbins [0:05:38]
“Our schools have a lot of recovery to do but we also, in our educational approaches, have to prepare young people to be digital natives in a way that most people don’t even understand where this is heading.” — Michael Robbins [0:25:10]
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Michael Robbins on LinkedIn
Learning Pathmakers
MacArthur Foundation
Open Badges
Bahar Ansari
Bahar Ansari on LinkedIn
Bahar Ansari on Instagram
The pursuit of happiness is a fundamental right guaranteed in the constitution and defined in the Declaration of Independence to freely pursue joy and live life in a way that makes you happy, as long as you act within the law. Consider rules as a frame to a painting, rather than a limitation on your freedom. Does that perspective change how you feel about rules? People make decisions for two reasons: it is either what the law requires of them, or it is what they want. People-first design is the most effective way to reach your goals. Human capital is the most important thing, which is why setting a Human Satisfaction Threshhold is such a gamechanger. Hence the saying, happy stakeholders, happy shareholders! Join us today to hear more.
Key Points From This Episode:
Tweetables:
“I feel a sense of freedom knowing relevant laws. Once you understand the borders, you know the frame, and within that frame you can go wild with creativity. Rules take away as much of your freedom as a frame does from the beauty of a painting.” — @baharansari [0:01:30]
“The human capital are what keep the lights on and serve the human customers. Human customers are those who consume whatever it is that the company provides and keep the company going. Yet these people’s happiness is often left out of any significant conversation.” — @baharansari [0:04:14]
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Bahar Ansari
Bahar Ansari on LinkedIn
Bahar Ansari on Instagram
Bahar Ansari on Twitter
The central dogma of AI is that it was built on the motivation that it would provide a statistical advantage at war. Even today, we benchmark AI systems against humans, juxtaposing the machine against ourselves. The problem is that if those machines set their own goals and are authoritarian by nature, this clashes with our values and democracy. It also poses an existential risk to mankind. Today’s guest, George Zarkadakis is challenging this central dogma of AI by trying to find ways where AI systems are embedded in a social contract so that they are not the “other” but are our partners. George is a science communicator, an artificial intelligence engineer, a futurist, and a digital innovation professional. He holds a Ph.D. in artificial intelligence in medicine from City, University of London and is the author of two books on the subject of AI. Today George shares his perspective on the intersection of AI and society and how it can be used for the advancement of humanity. Tuning in you’ll hear an introduction to the challenges posed to society by AI and the need for regulation. Discover how we can create some governance around artificial intelligence in order to benefit everybody in society, how the politics governing AI play out differently in the Chinese political system than in the West, and the importance of dialogue, inclusion, and having the right policies in place. To hear expert advice and opportunities for legal professionals in the area of AI, tune in today!
Key Points From This Episode:
Tweetables:
“I’d like to challenge the central dogma of AI, and that’s what I’m doing in my book, and trying to find ways whereby AI systems are embedded in a social contract so that they are not the ‘other' but ar
Though change is scary, it is also inevitable. One of the things that is changing at a rapid rate is our workforce. We don’t work on machines anymore, we work with machines now. Whether we like it or not, all companies are becoming data companies and with this, there is a rise in privacy concerns, and public confidence is at an all-time low. How do we find balance? How do we find the center? Understanding our fundamental human rights in regard to AI is critical in understanding where we go from here. If you want to be a part of the legal future of society, this season is for you. In the coming episodes, we speak to George Zarkadakis, an AI scientist, and Michael Robins, who is pioneering decentralized education with aspirations for a different web3. Catch up on the first few episodes now and tune in for this short but insightful introduction, as we prepare to delve into the important subject of human rights in the world of AI!
Key Points From This Episode:
Tweetables:
“Sometimes complexities simply need a different perspective, an unusual solution to a seemingly impossible challenge.” — @baharansarilaw [0:03:17]
“Change, even the smallest change can feel scary. Sameness feels safe; you know what’s to come, you know what’s happening. Change has a risk of unknown outcomes incorporated. But change is here.” — @baharansarilaw [0:03:44]
“Our workforce has changed. We work with machines now and not just on machines. And, no, we do not yet work for machines, but working with machines is a big responsibility.” — @baharansarilaw [0:04:00]
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Season 1 Episode 7: Falling in Love with Internet Law with Jess
Season 3 Episode 12: The Realization of Peace with Banafsheh Akhlaghi
Parenting Governance
Bahar Ansari
Bahar Ansari on LinkedIn
Bahar Ansari on Instagram
Bahar Ansari on Twitter
In today’s episode of Lawvely, you’ll hear from Banafsheh Akhlaghi, a pioneering civil and human rights attorney, educator, bestselling author, and social entrepreneur. Banafsheh started her career as a professor of constitutional law at the John F Kennedy School of Law and went on to found the National Legal Sanctuary for Community Advancement (NLSCA), a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring the human rights and dignity of Middle Eastern, Muslim, and South Asian people, which emerged as one of the leading advocates for human rights for those communities in the post-9/11 era. She has also worked as a consultant for the United Nations Development Fund for Women and is the former Western Regional Director for Amnesty International, with her practice area today also including intellectual property rights and immigration defense. In this episode, she shares her passion for people and the constitution, her journey toward realizing peace in her lifetime, and why she believes that human relationships are at the center of legal systems. We also touch on how younger generations represent hope for the future, Banafsheh’s collaborative approach to constitutional law reform, consistently choosing humanity over capital, as well as intellectual property, and the role that ethical technology plays in upholding human and civil rights — plus so much more! Banafsheh also leaves us with some powerful advice when it comes to the realization of peace: do not believe anyone who tells you that it’s impossible. Make sure not to miss this conversation with inspirational author, attorney, and advocate, Banafsheh Akhlaghi.
Key Points From This Episode
Tweetables:
“They say your environment and the conversations that you are part of truly shape the trajectory of your life. In my home, the conversations were about [mobilizing for change].” — Banafsheh Akhlaghi [0:08:26]
“The one thing that I am clear about is that peace exists where we are.” — Banafsheh Akhlaghi [0:13:54]
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Banafsheh Akhlaghi on LinkedIn
Bahar Ansari on LinkedIn
Bahar Ansari on Instagram
Bahar Ansari on Twitter
The first step to overcoming any challenge is to understand what that challenge is. When it comes to dispute resolution, humans often get more caught up in who is at fault instead. Maybe when the world of collaboration was smaller, this helped narrow down the ‘why’ of the problem and highlight potential areas to investigate. The why of the problem, however, matters the most when we attempt to solve global human problems. This requires that both sides put their guard down and get their hands dirty in order to figure out the why and is the only way to solve the root cause of a problem rather than consistently putting a BandAid over it until it becomes an existential outcome! In today’s episode, we cover the everyday ramifications of outdated data protection rights and privacy laws as legal systems struggle to keep up with technology and how you can benefit from an upgrade in our laws to match the growing innovation in developing digital identities and digital worlds. Tune in today to learn more!
Key Points From This Episode:
Tweetables:
“We have already been roommates with Siri and Alexa, and now, we are going to the next level. Are are [privacy] rights, though? How about our laws?” — @baharansarilaw [0:03:54]
“It’s definitely time for an upgrade in our laws to match the growing innovation in developing digital identities and digital worlds.” — @baharansarilaw [0:06:42]
“We not only have the power to change the laws, we have the collective consumption power to influence voluntary change in corporate behavior.” — @baharansarilaw [0:10:10]
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
2nd.Law
Bahar Ansari on LinkedIn
Bahar Ansari on Instagram
Bahar Ansari on Twitter
In order to build a better future for everyone, change is needed on many levels, starting with the narratives and assumptions that inform the laws and actions present in the world today. Here to talk about standing up for the oppressed, the need for a more nuanced understanding of identity, and why feminine energy should never be underestimated, is the amazing Chama Mechtaly! Chama is the founder and creative director of Moors and Saints, a Dubai-based jewelry business that produces ethical, handmade goods inspired by sacred Moorish architecture. Through her work, Chama is dedicated to promoting pluralism and female empowerment and her main focus has been on bridging gaps in divided and traumatized groups through her creative endeavors. She hopes to spread the stories of marginalized and intersectional groups in order to build a more human picture of the world and the variety of people we find in it. Tune in to hear this amazing conversation with Chama today!
Key Points From This Episode:
Tweetables:
“I've never felt like I belong to just one space, I think in many ways my personal story is very cross-cultural.” — @MoorsSaints [0:02:30]
“I wanted people to have physical evidence of these spaces and stories of coexistence, almost a reminder that migration is not a new thing.” — @MoorsSaints [0:14:03]
“I think we are at this pivotal point in history where we have to change the narrative around the other. We have to change the narrative around what makes human beings who they are.” — @MoorsSaints [0:19:45]
“You need some aggressive energy to get things done, but we also need to be able to empathize in order to solve their problems.” — @MoorsSaints [0:29:07]
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
2nd.Law
Bahar Ansari on LinkedIn
Bahar Ansari on Instagram
Bahar Ansari on Twitter
Chama Mechtaly
Moors and Saints
Moors and Saints on Twitter
In today's world, it can feel like honesty is an increasingly rare trait to come by. In order to build a better world, we need more trust in one another, which means we have to be honest. In today's episode, you will hear some important ground rules for being honest. From sharing your perspective to admitting when you are wrong, there are many things you can do to be an honest, genuine person. While it might not always be easy to be honest, it is always the right thing to do.
Key Points From This Episode:
Tweetables:
“Undestanding the perspective, the 'why,’ is where honesty is detected, where character and trust is built.” — @baharansarilaw [0:02:12]
“Not everything is true, but there's some truth in everything.” — @baharansarilaw [0:04:43]
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
2nd.Law
Bahar Ansari on LinkedIn
Bahar Ansari on Instagram
Bahar Ansari on Twitter
The image of Iran portrayed by mainstream media is a skewed one that misses the humanity and complexity of everyday life in the country. Tara Kangarlou is an award-winning journalist, author, and humanitarian who was born in Iran, and today she joins us to talk about how she is using storytelling to set the record straight. Tara talks about moving to the US when she was a teenager, her first experiences of the culture, beliefs, and educational system, and her habit of regularly visiting her home which helped her maintain a connection to it. We hear about the pressures she faced to study law, the choice she made to pursue the humanities and the role of storytelling in getting a master's degree in journalism. After talking about how she worked hard to secure positions in the US mainstream media industry, Tara talks about how her producers were not interested in portraying the human side of Iran through news broadcasting. They only wanted to perpetuate a negative narrative and we talk about the work Tara has been doing to counteract this force. She gets into her approach to journalism and representing the stories of people who are oppressed and we hear about the trauma relief work she does through her non-profit, The Art of Hope. We also talk about Tara’s new book The Heartbeat of Iran, and her goal to weave a tapestry of life in Iran that represents the people who live there in all of their complexity. Tune in for Tara’s lucid thinking about the role of storytelling in counteracting the biased media and self-interested policymaking of global powers today.
Key Points From This Episode:
Tweetables:
“This constant confrontation of answering questions about who I am and where I came from and my identity further ignited this passion to pursue storytelling.” — @tarakangarlou [0:08:29]
“People are more similar than what they think and what they have been told.” — @tarakangarlou [0:16:44]
“In the book, you really feel the struggles and the challenges of everyday people because of those socio-political issues that dominate the headlines. So, you see the impact of those headlines on
The podcast currently has 28 episodes available.