In this episode of The AMPx Podcast, Charles and Steve discuss the inspirations which ignited his creative passions to explore wild places in the world on bikes he designed and built as well as leading The University of Iowa Department of Art History and Studio Art.

Steve McGuire Bio

Combining an MA in Sculpture (Iowa) and a PhD in philosophical interpretation (Iowa) has landed Steve in a curious and creative place. The bicycle. In his role as Professor and Director of Art History and Studio Art at the University of Iowa since 1990, Steve, pursued both his passion for riding all the bikes he designed and built in extreme and remote places, and teaching students to build their own bikes while leading an exceptional team of 16 staff and 30+ faculty as they teach 500 undergraduate majors and 70 graduate students, pursuing MFAs and PhDs.

website: https://art.uiowa.edu/people/steve-mcguire

In this episode of The AMPx Podcast, Charles and Sean discuss the inspirations which lead Sean to becoming an exploration geologist working in remote western forests in search of minerals for mining companies. Seans passions evolved into becoming a social entrepreneur through political appointments and working within the department of energy. Eventually Sean became a solar energy entrepreneur. Sean initiated the first large solar project for the US Postal Service with a capacity of 11 MWac, the nation's largest urban solar project at the time. Sean is an active bee keeper maintaining 30 hives in Washington DC.

Sean Kennedy Bio

As founder of Megawatt Photovoltaic Development, Inc. Sean comes to Megawatt with extensive energy policy and natural resources field expertise as well as a strong background in issues-driven media. Sean served at the U.S. Department of Energy as a political appointee in the Clinton Administration. During these eight years, he served on the senior staff of the Secretary of Energy and was deeply involved in the Secretary’s priority effort to promote renewable energy. 

Sean has more than 35 years of political and campaign experience beginning with the 1984 campaign cycle in Iowa, his home state. He has worked on or consulted for the Presidential campaigns of Bill Clinton, Al Gore, John Kerry, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Joe Biden directing media events and tours, rallies, inaugurations, and international summits. 

[email protected]

In this episode of The AMPx Podcast, Charles and Dan discuss the future of education and the technology innovation that will help address the challenges facing administrators, teachers, and students in our education system today. The new Scanlon Center for School Mental Health is a partnership between the University of Iowa College of Education and the Iowa Department of Education is the state’s hub for school-based mental health research, training, professional learning, and clinical services that was launched in June 2021 with an ambitious mission – to provide social, emotional behavioral, and psychological services to all of Iowa’s schools and to build Iowa’s capacity for immediate and future mental health support. 

Dr. Daniel Clay Bio

Dan is an entrepreneur  and innovator in the field of education where he serves as the dean and professor of the University of Iowa College of Education. Prior to Iowa, he served as the dean of the University of Missouri College of Education as well as the board of directors of the Missouri Innovation Center, a business incubator/accelerator. Dan is also a successful entrepreneur involved in business start-ups inside and outside education.  He pioneered the development of an online K-12 curriculum bringing the highest quality K-12 curriculum to global audiences. Dan  authored the award-winning book Helping Schoolchildren with Chronic Health Conditions: A Practical Guide with his more recent research focusing on reintegrating children who have experienced chronic illness back into schools and communities.

Dan led the procured $40 million for a new school mental health center including federal funding and philanthropic support. He has a MA in educational and counseling psychology and a Ph.D. in counseling psychology from the University of Missouri. He also holds a MBA from the University of Missouri Trulaske College of Business.

email: [email protected]

website: Scanlan Center for School Mental Health: https://scsmh.education.uiowa.edu/

In this episode of The AMPx Podcast, Charles and Dimy discuss the importance of Africa as an emerging market and his efforts to develop the entrepreneurs of the future which will raise the level of business engagement and the importance of sub-saharan Africa in the world. Dimy highlights his childhood growing up in Haiti and his journey to become an international trainer and advocate for entrepreneurs in emerging markets.

Figure correction: Mandella Fellows applicant total is 35,000, rather than 3,500, as it was stated in the interview 

Dimy Doresca Bio

Dimy is the Director of the Institute for International Business, Associate Professor of Practice in International Business and Entrepreneurship, and the Justice Faculty Fellow in International Development and Processes at The University of Iowa with over 20 years experience in international business consulting and an international trainer in international business and entrepreneurship training in many countries in the Middle East, Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean. He is also the Academic Director of the Mandela Washington Fellowship Program at the University of Iowa. Professor Doresca holds an MS in Foreign Service (International Affairs) from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. He speaks English, Spanish, French, and Haitian Creole. 

email: [email protected]

In this episode of The AMPx Podcast, Charles and Hannah discuss the inspirations which ignited her passion to play the cello as a young girl leading to her becoming the principal cellist of the Quad Cities Symphony Orchestra and NYC Ballet Orchestra. Fanfare magazine declares "her tone and technique are the stuff that cello legends are made of "... In January, 2022 Hannah oversaw the opening of the new Deanery School of Music where she is the founder and artistic director. The Deanery School of Music is a non-profit organization created to provide an inclusive home for high-quality music instruction, performance, and collaboration in the Quad Cities region. It seeks to enrich and enhance the cultural and social fabric of the community through music and education. She is in the middle of a video project highlighting the lives of women cellists from the past. 

Hannah Holman's Bio

Hannah’s career has encompassed orchestral and chamber music, solo performances, and teaching. She began her professional career in England playing with the English String Orchestra under Yehudi Menuhin and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra under Simon Rattle. Her previous orchestral work also includes serving as assistant principal cello with the Michigan Chamber Orchestra, the Richmond Symphony; and the American Sinfonietta. Ms. Holman studied at the Eastman School of Music and Michigan State University, where she completed her Bachelor of Music degree. She obtained her Master of Music Degree with Fritz Magg at the New England Conservatory. 

website: https://www.hannahholmancello.com/

In this episode of The AMPx Podcast, Charles and Paul discuss the emergence of a transition of theatre into the metaverse, the technical challenges, and the explorations required to develop a new technology platform. As the theatre emerges from the pandemic and re-envisions how it performs our stories for a technologically advanced society. You will also learn about the importance of play in early childhood brain development, social engagement, problem-solving, human connection, and creativity. We explore the importance of play in the corporate boardroom and in the innovation of new products and technologies. Human connection and playfulness will be critical in reducing the daily stresses in a world being driven by disruptive technologies.

Paul Kalina Bio

Paul is currently the Head of Acting and teaches movement at the University of Iowa and is a represented Artist with Cirque du Solei. He is currently working on a live clown show with his colleague at Iowa called Media Clown using VR, Artificial Intelligence, and motion capture. Paul is and one of the founding members of the physical theatre company 500 Clown and performed in over eight hundred performances around the country of 500 Clown’s work including co-creator and performer in 500 Clown Macbeth, 500 Clown Frankenstein, 500 Clown Christmas Carol & 500 Clown and the Elephant. 

email: [email protected]

In this episode of The AMPx Podcast, Charles and Travis discuss his world record solo flight around the world in June 2021 at age 18. We learn what inspired Travis’ dream and the plan required to bring it to life, making the impossible possible while never giving up. He talks about narrowly escaping a collision with a mountain in Montana and running out of fuel over Russian airspace. Travis concludes with his next dream, being the 1st to fly an electric plane around the world.

Travis Ludlow  Bio

As well as being a world record holder at 18, Travis became an Ambassador for Aviation for the British Government at 19 and is an established TEDx Speaker, Youth Ambassador and an envoy for Sustainable Aviation. Travis became the first ever ‘youth speaker’ at TEDx in New York, where his talk varied from his usual story by comparing the key message for pilots in trouble to the dangers the world faces in the future. His talks help motivate and develop the leaders of the future, reaching out to all generations, through inspiring and rewarding stories. He addresses his concerns for the future of aviation and his excitement about the speed in which new technology is being developed to provide a sustainable future for aviation and the planet.

email: [email protected]

website: www.travisludlow.com