Solutions News

In this episode of Solutions News, we're talking about COVID-19, our responses to it, and about the whole idea of paying taxes - with Syon Bhanot, a behavioral economist who studies the economics of prosocial behavior. With tax season upon us and a belief that taxes are as certain as “death,” we thought it was time for us at Solutions News to take a closer look at the role taxes play in the USA and other advanced societies. We’re looking at the way taxes actually can be a solution for not only the current pandemic but a host of other social challenges we face as a society. Think of that: seeing taxes as a benefit rather than a burden. Now, that’s some real positive thinking – but it is wholly justified as you’ll be hearing in what follows. (Produced by Kristy Jansen) For more details visit: www.solutionsnews.org

In this episode of Solutions News, we shine a special Fourth of July spotlight on what truly makes America unique. In honor of our Nation’s 244th birthday, and in honor of some recent trends we’ve been observing, we wanted to focus on the collective aspects of our country’s founding today. Because, despite many current narratives that highlight rugged individualism as the essential aspect of the American character – in fact, we are a nation that knows how to come together and reach for higher goals. Today’s show highlights the Interdependent nature of our society’s basic premises – we focus on Conscious Capital with our Guest Peter Matthies, on Conscious Consumption and its role in founding this country, and finally on the Declaration of Independence – though not the part you’re used to hearing about on Independence Day…. Tune in! (Produced by Kristy Jansen) For more on Solutions News and this episode go to the website: www.solutionsnews.org.

On this episode of Solutions News, Rinaldo Brutoco interviews Tom Reed, the Executive Director of Unity Shoppe - one of the oldest and most successful public charities in Santa Barbara. Unity Shoppe’s unique and powerful business model, which is all about honoring the dignity of individuals and families in our community who’ve fallen on hard times, has been recognized by the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Jeff Bridges and more recently Brad Paisley, who’s been working to replicate its model in Nashville, TN. Taking a page out of Unity Shoppe’s book, we open the show with a story exploring solutions to poverty and unemployment in the current economy and end with a brief history of Roosevelt’s New Deal. (Produced by Kristy Jansen) for more see: https://solutionsnews.org

It’s been another week of protests in cities around the nation, hundreds of thousands of people marching, demanding change – demanding that we reform our nations’ policing practices. A deep reckoning is underway of the structural racism and institutional violence against black and brown Americans. Yes, Black Lives Matter. So do Brown and Native American ones. In this episode of Solutions News, we are jumping into a discussion on these themes – first with a look at our Criminal Justice System - an area just as flawed as our militarized police culture - then we bring you a fascinating interview that our producer Kristy Jansen did with spirit-centered activist, a leader in community-based safety and sentencing reform movements, Aqeela Sherrills. Aqeela has been on the front lines of restorative peace movements in urban America his entire life, and we believe you’ll find this interview informative and inspirational. Later on, we will end the show with a spotlight on Juneteenth - the celebration of the end of slavery in this country on June 19, 1865—yes, 2 full years after the Emancipation Proclamation when the last state, Texas, freed its slaves. (Produced by: Kristy Jansen) for more visit our website: solutionsnews.org

In this episode of Solutions News, we hope you will appreciate as we look for some Solutions to the ongoing inequalities that exist between different communities in our nation that’s supposed to be all about equality and justice for all. One area that must play a role in healing these divided that has plagued our nation since the beginning is the private sector, and particularly business – as one of, if not THE most powerful institutions in the USA.

Last week we started this show with a piece we called, Half Slave, Half Free, observing the reality that people of color are not equal in this country; and, that this condition is a fundamental challenge to our “Union” as envisioned by Abraham Lincoln. Hopefully, after the last two weeks of international protests, we are ready to get creative. It is not enough to “wish” racism away. It is not enough to “hope” it goes away. It is not enough to ignore the reality of 400 years since slavery reached our shores and somehow “forget” what has happened. It is not enough to cease being a racist or to continue with a belief that one is neutral, and has no responsibility in this fight. It is now incumbent on all of us who believe that this is a country based on equality to actively be anti-racist. What does this mean? It means, that whites have accumulated the majority of power in our society so it means whites must be the source of the solution. People of color have been too marginalized to create equality. As Emmanuel Acho observed, it will take a “White Solution.”

South Carolina Congressman James Clyburn recently observed, that with few exceptions almost every white person who came to our shores did so voluntarily seeking a better life. And, tragically, with very few exceptions the ancestors of our fellow black Americans were brought here under duress as slaves. These enslaved people built this nation with the sweat of their brows and labored to co-create with us the wealth that became the United States even though the horror of Reconstruction. They labored to work our farms and build our factories through the incredible indignities of the “the Jim Crow” era.

We are excited to discuss these themes with our guest tonight – Mr. Yusuf George, the Managing Director of Capital Engagement for JUST Capital, and the author of a recent article in FORBES about Corporate Responsibility for healing the racial divide.

(Producer: Kristy Jansen. For more on this program visit https://solutionsnews.org)

With this episode of SOLUTIONS NEWS, we bring you an all-new show to kick off a new season! Obviously, our joy at being back in the studio is more than a little bit depressed by the peaceful protests that are rocking all 50 states in reaction to the murder of George Floyd by the Minneapolis police. Yes, we still have a pandemic, and yes we still have economic chaos, and yes—we still have climate change bearing down on us. But, we’re SOLUTIONS NEWS so it is our job to see a crisis of this magnitude and propose effective solutions.

Today we feature an interview with Dr. Clint Rogers, who has spent a decade learning deeper solutions from a master healer and is on a mission to share that Wisdom of the Ancients with the world. In that interview, we will discuss the concepts of rebirth and renewal as the natural next step after decline and despair. To us, this was the perfect context (meaning birth and renewal) within which to address why we MUST eliminate our racist original sins if we are to emerge from the current “dark night of the soul” where America finds itself today… Please listen to hear more from Rinaldo, Dr. Clint, and the Solutions News team on deeper healing in times of strife and stress. (Produced by Kristy Jansen) See https://solutionsnews.org for more show information and to read about our guests.

On this "Best of" episode of Solutions News, Rinaldo talks to Sam Horn about her latest book, SOMEDAY is not a Day of the Week, and about how to take positive action in our lives. Topics on the show include Universal Basic Income - now being tried out in Stockton, CA, how the technology behind bitcoin - blockchain - is revolutionary despite bitcoin's questionable worth, and how 3D mapping of the Notre Dame which was completed in 2015 might make rebuilding the iconic structure possible. We also featured some great "didyaknows". (Original Broadcast April 19, 2019)

Guest: Kathy Odell, Topics: Economic Independence, Micro-lending, & Allowance by Rinaldo Brutoco & Kristy Jansen

On this "best of" episode of Solutions News, we bring you our 2019 interview with Jan Muhlfeit, the former chairman of Microsoft Europe who after leaving that role in 2014, fell into a personal crisis, but came out with a new understanding of how important the human side of capital is, and wrote the insightful and informative bestseller, The Positive Leader, on how to tap into the full potential of teams and how by bringing human capital to the forefront a company (or a country) will thrive. Jan Mühlfeit emphasizes: “If people are able to leverage their talent and their strengths, they will not only be more productive and successful but also happier. Unlocking human potential is a mantra for me personally because I think that if we better utilize the best in us, we will manage to create a better world for all”. This methodology with roots are in positive psychology is based not only on his own experience but also the experience of many of the top individuals in the global world of business, politics, as well as sport, with whom he had the honor to meet, work and spend time worldwide for many years. Other topics on this show include a story on being positive even happy, even in the face of sudden change. Original Broadcast date: May 10, 2019 (Produced by Kristy Jansen)

On this "best of" episode of Solutions News, we cover the ways the corporate world is beginning to make the shift towards more just and sustainable practices and more equality with a focus on certified “B-corporations” and the non-profit, JUST Capital, which is working to help large publicly traded companies succeed with truly “just” business practices. To shake up the show’s format a bit, our producer Kristy Jansen takes on the role of Host, and Rinaldo - who’s a sought after expert on how business can be a force for good sits in the interview hot seat! The solution that some are calling for is a new ethos that supports companies that build sustainability into the workforce and the local community, and which provide environmental stewardship while penalizing those that continue as bad actors. This solution is gaining new power in corporate board rooms at the largest public companies in America, as well as among smaller private businesses. What’s at stake is basically the sustainability of the American economy - and perhaps the very foundation of our political system as well. Original Broadcast date: September 13, 2019 (Produced by Kristy Jansen)