Power & Impact

Today, we sit down with Dan Buettner, the explorer, journalist, and longevity expert who introduced the world to Blue Zones — the regions where people consistently live longer, healthier lives.

Dan reveals: The secrets of Blue Zones like Okinawa, Sardinia, Costa Rica, and Greece. Why beans, whole grains, and plant-based meals are the real longevity foods. His new book Blue Zones One Pot and the science behind simple, delicious recipes. The dangers of processed foods and flaws in our healthcare system. How community, social circles, and environment shape our health more than willpower. Why retirement doesn't exist in Blue Zones — and why purpose fuels long life

From diet tips and cooking insights to the importance of connection and movement

Can chronic diseases like Alzheimer's, heart disease, diabetes, and even early-stage cancer actually be reversed — not just slowed down?

In this inspiring conversation, world-renowned physician and researcher Dr. Dean Ornish shares groundbreaking insights from nearly four decades of scientific studies. From presenting new Alzheimer's research to showing how lifestyle medicine can outperform drugs and surgery, Dr. Ornish reveals the simple but powerful choices that can transform health and extend life.

What you'll learn in this video:

· Why lifestyle medicine is proving more effective than costly drugs

· How diet, exercise, stress management, and love can heal the body

· The link between chronic inflammation, stress, and disease

· Why plant-based nutrition and mindfulness are key to prevention

· How authentic connection and intimacy are as healing as medicine

Dr. Ornish also shares his personal journey, the science behind his bestselling book Undo It, and why love, community, and purpose are just as important as nutrition and exercise in creating lasting health.

Learn more about Dr. Ornish's programs: ornish.com

From the early days of Y2K disaster-recovery planning to helping launch Amazon Alexa, this conversation traces the remarkable career of a leader who has shaped how we think about technology, business strategy, and the future of AI.

In this episode with tech leader Noelle dives into the energy, angst, and opportunity of today's AI moment. From Y2K war rooms to Alexa's early days, Noelle's journey shows how "minimum remarkable product" (MRP) beats MVP—and why becoming a producer (not just a consumer) of AI will define your career.

This is a masterclass for founders, operators, and builders who want to understand not just where AI is headed, but how to lead through it.

In this in-depth conversation, we sit down with Dr. Natalie Nixon — globally recognized creativity strategist, keynote speaker, teacher, and author of the award-winning book The Creativity Leap and her upcoming book Move, Think, Rest.

With a background that spans fashion, cultural anthropology, global business, and 16 years in academia, Dr. Nixon shares her personal journey of leaving a "dream job" as a professor to build her own company, Figure 8 Thinking. Along the way, she reveals powerful insights into why creativity is not just a nice-to-have skill but an essential competency for innovation, leadership, and sustainable success.

Dr. Nixon's story is not just about creativity in the abstract — it's about practical, actionable strategies to help you and your team consistently innovate, work with meaning, and avoid burnout. Whether you're an executive, entrepreneur, educator, or lifelong learner, her wisdom offers a roadmap for leading with curiosity, embracing change, and unlocking your fullest potential.

What does it take to be the true "CEO Whisperer"? In this powerful conversation, Jeff Sonnenfeld — Senior Associate Dean at Yale School of Management, bestselling author, and trusted advisor to Fortune 500 CEOs — shares leadership insights from decades of experience guiding business leaders through crises, transitions, and reinvention. From his early career as a professor at Harvard and Emory to founding the Yale Chief Executive Leadership Institute, Jeff has counseled top executives, shaped corporate accountability, and spoken out on urgent issues — from immigration and populism to technology, AI, and global geopolitics.

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Power and Impact, host Jim McCann is joined by the brilliant Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman — economist, activist, and author of The Double Tax. What follows is a dynamic and inspiring conversation about gender, race, economics, and purpose.

Anna shares her remarkable journey: from being born in Ghana and winning the U.S. visa lottery, to growing up in Maryland, falling in love with mathematics, switching from pre-med to economics, and eventually pursuing a PhD at Harvard. Along the way, she became a voice for equity and inclusion, co-founding the Sadie Collective to bring more Black women into economics and related fields.

In this interview, Anna opens up about the hidden cost of being a woman — particularly a Black woman — in America. She explains the concept of the "double tax," the systemic pink tax that's embedded in our economy, and how structural inequalities are often normalized. From overpriced products to underpaid labor and overlooked data, Anna pulls back the curtain on how everyday economics disproportionately affects women.

On this episode of Power and Impact we sit down with Venk Varadan, co-founder and CEO of Nanowear, to uncover the inspiring journey behind one of the most innovative startups in digital health. From his academic roots in biomedical engineering and chemistry to working on Wall Street.

You'll learn how Nanowear's flagship product, Simple Sense, evolved from a concept to an FDA-cleared wearable that captures millions of biometric data points — from EKGs and lung sounds to continuous, cuffless blood pressure. Venk discusses how the company strategically chose the clinical route over consumer wearables, the rigorous FDA process, and why early diagnosis of conditions like hypertension and sleep apnea could save lives and billions in healthcare costs.

Why is burnout not just tolerated—but praised?

On today's Power & Impact, I sit down with Dr. Judith Joseph, psychiatrist, researcher, and author of High Functioning, to unpack the hidden costs of high achievement. From the psychological fallout of workplace trauma to the emotional toll of always saying "yes," Dr. Joseph reveals how our drive to perform can mask unhealed wounds.

Drawing on years of clinical research and her own immigrant journey, Judith shares powerful frameworks for resetting our mental health, challenging imposter syndrome, and building emotional resilience—especially for high performers, working moms, and anyone trying to do it all.

We also dive into the neuroscience behind screen time, how technology impacts joy and connection, and why psychedelics could revolutionize mental health care. If you've ever felt burned out, overlooked, or unsure how to slow down without losing your edge, this conversation will reframe what it means to function and feel at your best.

What if surviving AI disruption isn't about tech skills but human ones?

On today's Power & Impact, I sit down with Simon Freakley, Executive Chair and former CEO of AlixPartners, to explore the disruptive fusion of AI, robotics, and human potential. From reshaping the global workforce to redefining how we think about healthcare, education, and productivity, Simon makes the case for bold leadership in a time of nonstop transformation.

With decades of experience guiding companies through crisis and change, Simon explains why we're only at the beginning of the AI revolution and why the most successful organizations won't just adopt new technologies but completely rethink how they operate.

Plus, we unpack the importance of upskilling and what Special Forces training can teach us about thriving in times of uncertainty.

If you've ever wondered how to lead or stay relevant in an era of rapid disruption, this conversation will shift your perspective on the future of business, work, and what it truly means to grow.

Can we reverse aging...or at least slow it down? One entrepreneur is betting on it.

On today's Power & Impact, I sit down with Artūras Samulis, founder and CEO of Number Longevity, to explore the intersection of personal transformation, cutting-edge science, and holistic health. From quitting coffee and alcohol to tracking biological age through advanced diagnostics, Artūras is on a mission to redefine how we age.

After years of global travel, retreats in Mexico and Costa Rica, and volunteering at international longevity summits, Artūras has gone all-in on building a new kind of health clinic in Lithuania. He shares how stress, sleep, cold exposure, and even blue-light-blocking glasses radically changed his biological age backward.

Plus, he opens up about karate, resilience, and what 40 full-contact fights taught him about getting back up on the mat and in life.

If you've ever wondered how far lifestyle alone can go in shaping your future, this conversation will challenge everything you thought you knew about aging and what's actually within your control.