The Dr. Rod Berger Channel - Stories That Meet The Moment

The Dr. Rod Berger Channel - Stories That Meet The Moment

By Dr. Rod BergerSociety & Culture
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The Dr. Rod Berger Channel - Stories That Meet The Moment episodes

  • HeadRoom with Bobby Bones

    Bobby Bones (born Bobby Estell; April 2, 1980)[1] is an American radio and television personality, best known for hosting the nationally syndicated The Bobby Bones Show, originating from the iHeart Studios in Nashville, TN, and for his role as a full-time mentor on American Idol on ABC. He was the winner of season 27 of Dancing with the Stars with partner Sharna Burgess. He has also written two New York Times best sellers. Bones has also released a number of country music albums through Black River Entertainment.

    Dr. Rod Berger is a keynote speaker, moderator, producer, author, and expert in strategic storytelling. Berger’s book, The Narrative Edge: Authentic Storytelling That Meets The Moment (Wiley), hits bookstores in late 2025. He draws on more than 4,000 interviews conducted worldwide for Forbes, Entrepreneur Magazine, and Fair Observer, including a cover story about former Virgin Entertainment co-founder Jason Felts, for Los Angeles Magazine, as well as various podcasts. He has captured the narratives of investors, CEOs, renowned entrepreneurs, bestselling authors, scholars, and cultural icons such as NBA legends Magic Johnson and Charles Barkley, as well as United Nations officials and Van Halen’s Sammy Hagar, while also exploring the behind-the-scenes world of Formula 1.

    Berger has met with the Crown Princess of Sweden, Pope Francis, United Nations officials, and NGO leaders, covering stories of water insecurity with WaterAid, the intergenerational refugee crisis faced by displaced Sudanese in Uganda, and the impacts of child marriage in Western Africa with the Le Korsa Foundation.

    Berger served as a guest lecturer at Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management for nearly two decades, focusing on the power of storytelling in business.

    He has partnered with The Jim Henson Company to create a television show, The Ultimate GOAT, that combines his passion for distant lands and storytelling with culture, sports, and puppetry for family programming.

    Berger conducts moderated keynote events that blend storytelling with live, on-stage narratives featuring cultural icons such as Opal Lee, the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, a Nobel Peace Prize nominee, and recognized as the “Grandmother” of Juneteenth. In 2023, Berger received the inaugural Pangea International Literacy Prize and delivered his TEDx Talk, “Story is Our Currency.” He lives in Franklin, Tennessee, with his wife and two children.


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    46 min
  • HeadRoom with Angie Murimirwa

    HeadRoom with Angie Murimirwa

    Dr. Rod Berger is a keynote speaker, moderator, producer, author, and expert in strategic storytelling. Berger’s book, The Narrative Edge: Authentic Storytelling That Meets The Moment (Wiley), hits bookstores in late 2025. He draws on more than 4,000 interviews conducted worldwide for Forbes, Entrepreneur Magazine, and Fair Observer, including a cover story about former Virgin Entertainment co-founder Jason Felts, for Los Angeles Magazine, as well as various podcasts. He has captured the narratives of investors, CEOs, renowned entrepreneurs, bestselling authors, scholars, and cultural icons such as NBA legends Magic Johnson and Charles Barkley, as well as United Nations officials and Van Halen’s Sammy Hagar, while also exploring the behind-the-scenes world of Formula 1.

    Berger has met with the Crown Princess of Sweden, Pope Francis, United Nations officials, and NGO leaders, covering stories of water insecurity with WaterAid, the intergenerational refugee crisis faced by displaced Sudanese in Uganda, and the impacts of child marriage in Western Africa with the Le Korsa Foundation.

    Berger served as a guest lecturer at Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management for nearly two decades, focusing on the power of storytelling in business.

    He has partnered with The Jim Henson Company to create a television show, The Ultimate GOAT, that combines his passion for distant lands and storytelling with culture, sports, and puppetry for family programming.

    Berger conducts moderated keynote events that blend storytelling with live, on-stage narratives featuring cultural icons such as Opal Lee, the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, a Nobel Peace Prize nominee, and recognized as the “Grandmother” of Juneteenth. In 2023, Berger received the inaugural Pangea International Literacy Prize and delivered his TEDx Talk, “Story is Our Currency.” He lives in Franklin, Tennessee, with his wife and two children.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    37 min
  • Why Famed Artist Rich Tu's Human Response Exhibit is a Must-See

    On this episode of HeadRoom, host Dr. Rod Berger invites Rich Tu, a first-generation Filipino American, onto the show to discuss his current exhibit 'Human Response'. Rich is an award-winning designer and artist based in Brooklyn who has worked with several high-profile clients and has exhibited around the world. Dr. Berger delves deep with Rich to ask him about his vulnerability as an artist and how his personal experiences have influenced his work.

    They explore the convergence of technology and traditional art and discuss the importance of human experiences in AI. The episode also explores the speaker's personal journey of coping with the loss of a loved one, his struggle with taking time off, and his journey toward producing his current exhibit.

    Key Moments

    [00:05:02] A humorous approach used to tap into the zeitgeist. Commercial interests involve risk, players, and scope. Showing his work, "Human Response," inspired by his father's passing a year ago.

    [00:06:51] Using AI for mental health therapy, assembling conversations into a narrative, quantifying emotional responses, creating typographic compositions, and augmented reality filters.

    [00:13:16] Tu discusses personal insecurities & vulnerability in creative work and how it impacts his relationships.

    [00:14:27] The process of creating a show and exhibit about one's father, with the help of a curator. The exhibit includes emotional and vulnerable prompts, also including the obituary displayed at the beginning of the exhibit.

    [00:20:05] A personal mission is to maximize creative skills and push tech in augmented reality and AI, inspiring peers and wanting to make an impact on the creative industry.

    [00:25:04] Tu seeks authorship through new experiences and learning from great educators. Marshall Arisman's iconic work and emotional energy is mentioned as an inspiration.

    [00:29:21] The struggle to take vacations even though Tu won a sabbatical and intended to travel but remained working on the show.

    [00:33:23] Details about the exhibit include: it is open to the public until June 24th, at Dot Gallery located at 370 Broadway in SoHo.

    Connect with Rich Tu

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rich_tu/
    Website: https://richtu.com/


    About Rich Tu:

    Rich Tu is a first-generation Filipino-American and award-winning designer and artist residing in Brooklyn, NY. He is a Partner and Executive Creative Director at Sunday Afternoon. Previously, Rich has held creative leadership roles at Jones Knowles Ritchie, MTV Entertainment Group, and Nike Inc.

    In addition, he hosts the Webby Honoree podcast First Generation Burden, which focuses on intersectionality and diversity within the creative industry, and is co-founder of the COLORFUL awards with the One Club for Creativity, dedicated to creating opportunities for early career BIPOC creatives. 

    Tu's recent work, "Human Response," is an interactive exhibit about processing grief in the era of artificial intelligence, consisting of dynamic typographic compositions, augmented reality, and an animated short. The exhibit is open to the public until June 24th at Dot Gallery, located at 370 Broadway in SoHo. Curated by Ché Morales and presented by Sunday Afternoon.


    Awards and honors include ADC Awards, D&AD, Webby Awards, Telly Awards, CLIOs, Cynopsis D Awards, PromaxBDA, The Shorty Awards, Power of Purpose Award, New York Festivals, ADC Young Guns, PRINT Magazine, American Photography, American Illustration, and The Society of Illustrators among others.

    Clients and collaborators include The New York Times, The New Yorker, MINI, NIKE, A24, Budweiser, Paramount, Adidas, Converse, G-Shock, American Express, NPR, NorthFace Purple Label, Coca-Cola, Verizon, Skype, Fuse TV, Alfa Romeo, Bombay Sapphire, and Hamilton The Musical, among others. Also, he has exhibited at galleries and festivals in New York, Los Angeles, Berlin, and Miami.

    Dr. Rod Berger is a keynote speaker, moderator, producer, author, and expert in strategic storytelling. Berger’s book, The Narrative Edge: Authentic Storytelling That Meets The Moment (Wiley), hits bookstores in late 2025. He draws on more than 4,000 interviews conducted worldwide for Forbes, Entrepreneur Magazine, and Fair Observer, including a cover story about former Virgin Entertainment co-founder Jason Felts, for Los Angeles Magazine, as well as various podcasts. He has captured the narratives of investors, CEOs, renowned entrepreneurs, bestselling authors, scholars, and cultural icons such as NBA legends Magic Johnson and Charles Barkley, as well as United Nations officials and Van Halen’s Sammy Hagar, while also exploring the behind-the-scenes world of Formula 1.

    Berger has met with the Crown Princess of Sweden, Pope Francis, United Nations officials, and NGO leaders, covering stories of water insecurity with WaterAid, the intergenerational refugee crisis faced by displaced Sudanese in Uganda, and the impacts of child marriage in Western Africa with the Le Korsa Foundation.

    Berger served as a guest lecturer at Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management for nearly two decades, focusing on the power of storytelling in business.

    He has partnered with The Jim Henson Company to create a television show, The Ultimate GOAT, that combines his passion for distant lands and storytelling with culture, sports, and puppetry for family programming.

    Berger conducts moderated keynote events that blend storytelling with live, on-stage narratives featuring cultural icons such as Opal Lee, the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, a Nobel Peace Prize nominee, and recognized as the “Grandmother” of Juneteenth. In 2023, Berger received the inaugural Pangea International Literacy Prize and delivered his TEDx Talk, “Story is Our Currency.” He lives in Franklin, Tennessee, with his wife and two children.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    36 min
  • HeadRoom with Karl Liapunov

    HeadRoom with Karl Liapunov

    This is one of Berger's favorite episodes of the year - go behind the scenes with a leading entrepreneur who left the U.S. for Norway to become the Head of Energy at one of the world's most prolific incubators. Karl is transparent, inspiring, and just downright likable.


    Karl Liapunov grew up in Ridgefield, CT, with an American father and a Norwegian mother. During his time in high school, he was an avid volleyball player - winning two state championships and finishing his last season as the Player of the Year.


    Upon graduating high school, he moved to Los Angeles, where he received his degree in International Relations and Global Business at USC and also spent time working for a number of startups. After 4 years in LA, Karl moved to Houston, Texas, to join the Energy Tech team at Tudor, Pickering, Holt - an energy-focused investment bank. While at TPH, Karl worked closely with companies that were developing new technologies to revolutionize the energy industry on M&A transactions and capital raising.


    In 2021, Karl decided he wanted to work with startups that were focused on the energy transition and climate tech, and there was no better place to do that than in his mother's home country. So in August of 2021, Karl moved to Oslo. Today, he is the Head of Energy at Startuplab - Norway’s premier startup incubator and early-stage investor.


    Outside of work, Karl continues to nurture his love of volleyball by playing on the Norwegian Beach Volleyball Tour and has found a new passion for exploring Norway’s natural beauty on a mountain bike.

    Dr. Rod Berger is a keynote speaker, moderator, producer, author, and expert in strategic storytelling. Berger’s book, The Narrative Edge: Authentic Storytelling That Meets The Moment (Wiley), hits bookstores in late 2025. He draws on more than 4,000 interviews conducted worldwide for Forbes, Entrepreneur Magazine, and Fair Observer, including a cover story about former Virgin Entertainment co-founder Jason Felts, for Los Angeles Magazine, as well as various podcasts. He has captured the narratives of investors, CEOs, renowned entrepreneurs, bestselling authors, scholars, and cultural icons such as NBA legends Magic Johnson and Charles Barkley, as well as United Nations officials and Van Halen’s Sammy Hagar, while also exploring the behind-the-scenes world of Formula 1.

    Berger has met with the Crown Princess of Sweden, Pope Francis, United Nations officials, and NGO leaders, covering stories of water insecurity with WaterAid, the intergenerational refugee crisis faced by displaced Sudanese in Uganda, and the impacts of child marriage in Western Africa with the Le Korsa Foundation.

    Berger served as a guest lecturer at Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management for nearly two decades, focusing on the power of storytelling in business.

    He has partnered with The Jim Henson Company to create a television show, The Ultimate GOAT, that combines his passion for distant lands and storytelling with culture, sports, and puppetry for family programming.

    Berger conducts moderated keynote events that blend storytelling with live, on-stage narratives featuring cultural icons such as Opal Lee, the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, a Nobel Peace Prize nominee, and recognized as the “Grandmother” of Juneteenth. In 2023, Berger received the inaugural Pangea International Literacy Prize and delivered his TEDx Talk, “Story is Our Currency.” He lives in Franklin, Tennessee, with his wife and two children.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    50 min
  • HeadRoom with Steven Preston


    Prior to joining GII, Preston held leadership positions in the public and private sectors. Preston served as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and as the Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, leading both federal agencies during times of national crisis.

    He orchestrated successful turnarounds as the CEO of two private corporations, Oakleaf Global Holdings and Livingston International. He was also the CFO of two Fortune 500 companies — Waste Management and ServiceMaster — during times of significant change and restructuring for each company.

    Preston is a member of Fast Company’s Impact Council and has been featured in the Associated Press, Forbes, The New York Times, and in The Wall Street Journal. He has also appeared on ABC’s “Pandemic,” Bloomberg TV, Cheddar, CNBC, C-SPAN, FOX Business‘ “Varney & Co.,” and Yahoo! Finance Live in addition to appearing on numerous radio shows, podcasts and YouTube series, including AEI‘s Hardly Working, Working Nation, Future of Work, Indeed‘s Here to Help, Partnering Leadership, and Accenture’s Change Conversations. Preston is a sought-after speaker on workforce development and skills for the future and has served as a keynote speaker for the U.S. Chamber Foundation’s Corporate Citizenship Conference: Business Solves, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Talent Forward Conference, the Small Business Administration’s National Small Business Week, and the Tugboat Institute Summit.

    Preston graduated with Highest Distinction from Northwestern University and holds an MBA from The University of Chicago. Preston currently serves on the Partnership for Public Service and Wheaton College Board of Trustees.

    Follow @StevenCPreston on Twitter.

    Dr. Rod Berger is a keynote speaker, moderator, producer, author, and expert in strategic storytelling. Berger’s book, The Narrative Edge: Authentic Storytelling That Meets The Moment (Wiley), hits bookstores in late 2025. He draws on more than 4,000 interviews conducted worldwide for Forbes, Entrepreneur Magazine, and Fair Observer, including a cover story about former Virgin Entertainment co-founder Jason Felts, for Los Angeles Magazine, as well as various podcasts. He has captured the narratives of investors, CEOs, renowned entrepreneurs, bestselling authors, scholars, and cultural icons such as NBA legends Magic Johnson and Charles Barkley, as well as United Nations officials and Van Halen’s Sammy Hagar, while also exploring the behind-the-scenes world of Formula 1.

    Berger has met with the Crown Princess of Sweden, Pope Francis, United Nations officials, and NGO leaders, covering stories of water insecurity with WaterAid, the intergenerational refugee crisis faced by displaced Sudanese in Uganda, and the impacts of child marriage in Western Africa with the Le Korsa Foundation.

    Berger served as a guest lecturer at Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management for nearly two decades, focusing on the power of storytelling in business.

    He has partnered with The Jim Henson Company to create a television show, The Ultimate GOAT, that combines his passion for distant lands and storytelling with culture, sports, and puppetry for family programming.

    Berger conducts moderated keynote events that blend storytelling with live, on-stage narratives featuring cultural icons such as Opal Lee, the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, a Nobel Peace Prize nominee, and recognized as the “Grandmother” of Juneteenth. In 2023, Berger received the inaugural Pangea International Literacy Prize and delivered his TEDx Talk, “Story is Our Currency.” He lives in Franklin, Tennessee, with his wife and two children.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    34 min
  • HeadRoom with Jessie James Decker

    Jessie James Decker - Singer, songwriter, TV personality, fashion designer, beauty and lifestyle influencer/entrepreneur, and 2x New York Times best-selling author, Jessie James Decker has emerged as a multi-platform juggernaut juggling fashion brands like her personally designed Kittenish line with four retail stores and growing, along with her television hosting duties. Signed to Warner Music Nashville, Jessie’s passion for music has made the multi-talented artist one of music’s true breakout firebrands. The singer’s authentic style immediately captivated listeners everywhere on her 2009 self-titled debut. She continued to keep it real with her second studio album, 2017’s Southern Girl City Lights, which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart. Now it’s onto a new musical chapter of growth and empowerment with The Woman I’ve Become EP. This year, Jessie was a fan favorite competing on the most recent season of Dancing With Stars, proving she really can do it all. Jessie lives with her husband, retired NFL player Eric Decker, and their three children, in Nashville, Tennessee.

    Dr. Rod Berger is a keynote speaker, moderator, producer, author, and expert in strategic storytelling. Berger’s book, The Narrative Edge: Authentic Storytelling That Meets The Moment (Wiley), hits bookstores in late 2025. He draws on more than 4,000 interviews conducted worldwide for Forbes, Entrepreneur Magazine, and Fair Observer, including a cover story about former Virgin Entertainment co-founder Jason Felts, for Los Angeles Magazine, as well as various podcasts. He has captured the narratives of investors, CEOs, renowned entrepreneurs, bestselling authors, scholars, and cultural icons such as NBA legends Magic Johnson and Charles Barkley, as well as United Nations officials and Van Halen’s Sammy Hagar, while also exploring the behind-the-scenes world of Formula 1.

    Berger has met with the Crown Princess of Sweden, Pope Francis, United Nations officials, and NGO leaders, covering stories of water insecurity with WaterAid, the intergenerational refugee crisis faced by displaced Sudanese in Uganda, and the impacts of child marriage in Western Africa with the Le Korsa Foundation.

    Berger served as a guest lecturer at Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management for nearly two decades, focusing on the power of storytelling in business.

    He has partnered with The Jim Henson Company to create a television show, The Ultimate GOAT, that combines his passion for distant lands and storytelling with culture, sports, and puppetry for family programming.

    Berger conducts moderated keynote events that blend storytelling with live, on-stage narratives featuring cultural icons such as Opal Lee, the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, a Nobel Peace Prize nominee, and recognized as the “Grandmother” of Juneteenth. In 2023, Berger received the inaugural Pangea International Literacy Prize and delivered his TEDx Talk, “Story is Our Currency.” He lives in Franklin, Tennessee, with his wife and two children.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    30 min
  • HeadRoom with Terry Bradshaw

    NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw spends time with Dr. Rod Berger to discuss life after football, his time in front of the camera, retirement, horses, family, and entrepreneurship. Bradshaw is his usually affable self engaging Berger in an in-depth and revealing conversation. The interview takes twists and turns to land on his role as a brand, his products, and his vision for a good life.

    Dr. Rod Berger is a keynote speaker, moderator, producer, author, and expert in strategic storytelling. Berger’s book, The Narrative Edge: Authentic Storytelling That Meets The Moment (Wiley), hits bookstores in late 2025. He draws on more than 4,000 interviews conducted worldwide for Forbes, Entrepreneur Magazine, and Fair Observer, including a cover story about former Virgin Entertainment co-founder Jason Felts, for Los Angeles Magazine, as well as various podcasts. He has captured the narratives of investors, CEOs, renowned entrepreneurs, bestselling authors, scholars, and cultural icons such as NBA legends Magic Johnson and Charles Barkley, as well as United Nations officials and Van Halen’s Sammy Hagar, while also exploring the behind-the-scenes world of Formula 1.

    Berger has met with the Crown Princess of Sweden, Pope Francis, United Nations officials, and NGO leaders, covering stories of water insecurity with WaterAid, the intergenerational refugee crisis faced by displaced Sudanese in Uganda, and the impacts of child marriage in Western Africa with the Le Korsa Foundation.

    Berger served as a guest lecturer at Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management for nearly two decades, focusing on the power of storytelling in business.

    He has partnered with The Jim Henson Company to create a television show, The Ultimate GOAT, that combines his passion for distant lands and storytelling with culture, sports, and puppetry for family programming.

    Berger conducts moderated keynote events that blend storytelling with live, on-stage narratives featuring cultural icons such as Opal Lee, the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, a Nobel Peace Prize nominee, and recognized as the “Grandmother” of Juneteenth. In 2023, Berger received the inaugural Pangea International Literacy Prize and delivered his TEDx Talk, “Story is Our Currency.” He lives in Franklin, Tennessee, with his wife and two children.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    56 min
  • HeadRoom with Aubrey Flynn

    HeadRoom with Aubrey Flynn - Aubrey Flynn, who after 15 years of working across A-listers’ brand portfolios including Diddy (Ciroc), Snoop Dogg (Indoggo), Charles Barkley (Redmont), etc. is excited to announce the launch of his own streetwear brand, Goals Supply. The collection features headwear, hoodies, sweatshirts, T-shirts, joggers, shorts, and footwear which includes a QR code on the clothing tags. The QR codes bring users to the Goals App, which offers up-and-coming entrepreneurs a roadmap to success. Flynn is looking to inspire up-and-coming entrepreneurs through this platform by offering tech, tools, and training under one roof, allowing them the freedom to grow their businesses on their own terms, quickly and affordably. Goals stands for “Get Over All Limits Successfully” and incorporates streetwear staples with accessibility to software, technology, tools, and training for brand building, which allows users to schedule social media posts, send SMS messages and emails to customers, revamp their website with WordPress, and list their business on search engines such as Google, and more. The Goals Supply collection features a sustainable, relaxed fit, and moisture-wicking garments are crafted from organic materials, recycled materials, or made in the USA and are great staples for everyday wear. The Goals Supply apparel is available for purchase exclusively at goalssupply.com. The Goals Supply App is available for download on the Google Play and App stores.

    Dr. Rod Berger is a keynote speaker, moderator, producer, author, and expert in strategic storytelling. Berger’s book, The Narrative Edge: Authentic Storytelling That Meets The Moment (Wiley), hits bookstores in late 2025. He draws on more than 4,000 interviews conducted worldwide for Forbes, Entrepreneur Magazine, and Fair Observer, including a cover story about former Virgin Entertainment co-founder Jason Felts, for Los Angeles Magazine, as well as various podcasts. He has captured the narratives of investors, CEOs, renowned entrepreneurs, bestselling authors, scholars, and cultural icons such as NBA legends Magic Johnson and Charles Barkley, as well as United Nations officials and Van Halen’s Sammy Hagar, while also exploring the behind-the-scenes world of Formula 1.

    Berger has met with the Crown Princess of Sweden, Pope Francis, United Nations officials, and NGO leaders, covering stories of water insecurity with WaterAid, the intergenerational refugee crisis faced by displaced Sudanese in Uganda, and the impacts of child marriage in Western Africa with the Le Korsa Foundation.

    Berger served as a guest lecturer at Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management for nearly two decades, focusing on the power of storytelling in business.

    He has partnered with The Jim Henson Company to create a television show, The Ultimate GOAT, that combines his passion for distant lands and storytelling with culture, sports, and puppetry for family programming.

    Berger conducts moderated keynote events that blend storytelling with live, on-stage narratives featuring cultural icons such as Opal Lee, the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, a Nobel Peace Prize nominee, and recognized as the “Grandmother” of Juneteenth. In 2023, Berger received the inaugural Pangea International Literacy Prize and delivered his TEDx Talk, “Story is Our Currency.” He lives in Franklin, Tennessee, with his wife and two children.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    42 min
  • Global Education Coming To African Continent Through PowerSchool and OneConnect Collaboration

    Rogers Sithole & Hardeep Gulati join Dr. Rod Berger for this episode of HeadRoom. Gulati, the CEO of PowerSchool, and Sithole, the Chairman and Education Managing Director at OneConnect, stop by to talk about education across the African continent and the collaboration that aims to change the trajectory for millions of young people. 

    Gulati was recently named 2021 EdTech Company CEO of the Year by EdTech Breakthrough, and The Software Report recently ranked Gulati number five on its list of 50 SaaS CEOs, where he was honored as the top-ranking education software CEO within the list of prestigious executives. Gulati has also been the recipient of EdTech Digest’s EdTech Leadership/CEO Award and named executive of the year for two consecutive years by the Business Intelligence Group’s BIG Awards for Business.

    Sithole, armed with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and in Computational & Applied Mathematics, furthered his studies at Wits University, where he attained an Honours Degree in Computer Science and a Postgraduate Diploma in Management.

    With over 13 years of experience managing high-level, multi-national organizations, he is an incredible communicator, capable of building long-lasting relationships with management, clients, and partners.

    Background information on the partnership: 

    PowerSchool (NYSE: PWSC), the leading provider of cloud-based software for K-12 education in North America, today announced the expansion of its Global channel partner initiative, the PowerPartner Program, with the program’s first channel partner in Africa, OneConnect. OneConnect is an innovative provider of turnkey technology services and solutions in South Africa and throughout the African continent.

    The PowerPartner Program leverages PowerSchool’s regional channel partners to support localized marketing, sales, and customer deployment efforts. As the first channel partner in Africa, OneConnect will help grow PowerSchool’s customer base in South Africa and throughout the region and is expected to help the company serve more than 500,000 students across the continent in the next year.

    “We are excited to announce our partnership with OneConnect,” said Hardeep Gulati, CEO of PowerSchool. “We’ve seen the innovative impact of OneConnect’s technology services and solutions and know they are the right partner to expand our support to the over 240 million students enrolled in Sub-Saharan Africa and beyond.”

    Read more about the collaboration! 

    Dr. Rod Berger is a keynote speaker, moderator, producer, author, and expert in strategic storytelling. Berger’s book, The Narrative Edge: Authentic Storytelling That Meets The Moment (Wiley), hits bookstores in late 2025. He draws on more than 4,000 interviews conducted worldwide for Forbes, Entrepreneur Magazine, and Fair Observer, including a cover story about former Virgin Entertainment co-founder Jason Felts, for Los Angeles Magazine, as well as various podcasts. He has captured the narratives of investors, CEOs, renowned entrepreneurs, bestselling authors, scholars, and cultural icons such as NBA legends Magic Johnson and Charles Barkley, as well as United Nations officials and Van Halen’s Sammy Hagar, while also exploring the behind-the-scenes world of Formula 1.

    Berger has met with the Crown Princess of Sweden, Pope Francis, United Nations officials, and NGO leaders, covering stories of water insecurity with WaterAid, the intergenerational refugee crisis faced by displaced Sudanese in Uganda, and the impacts of child marriage in Western Africa with the Le Korsa Foundation.

    Berger served as a guest lecturer at Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management for nearly two decades, focusing on the power of storytelling in business.

    He has partnered with The Jim Henson Company to create a television show, The Ultimate GOAT, that combines his passion for distant lands and storytelling with culture, sports, and puppetry for family programming.

    Berger conducts moderated keynote events that blend storytelling with live, on-stage narratives featuring cultural icons such as Opal Lee, the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, a Nobel Peace Prize nominee, and recognized as the “Grandmother” of Juneteenth. In 2023, Berger received the inaugural Pangea International Literacy Prize and delivered his TEDx Talk, “Story is Our Currency.” He lives in Franklin, Tennessee, with his wife and two children.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    40 min
  • HeadRoom with Zaid Tahabsem

    HeadRoom with Zaid Tahabsem. A very poignant look at educational leadership through the lens of a father-son relationship from Amman, Jordan. Tahabsem is the Chief Business Development Officer at ITG and a part of the leadership team at the World Refugee School. I got an inside look at a man beyond his years committed to making a difference not just in his homeland but across the globe. I hope you enjoy this conversation - one of my favorites of the last year. -Rod

    Dr. Rod Berger is a keynote speaker, moderator, producer, author, and expert in strategic storytelling. Berger’s book, The Narrative Edge: Authentic Storytelling That Meets The Moment (Wiley), hits bookstores in late 2025. He draws on more than 4,000 interviews conducted worldwide for Forbes, Entrepreneur Magazine, and Fair Observer, including a cover story about former Virgin Entertainment co-founder Jason Felts, for Los Angeles Magazine, as well as various podcasts. He has captured the narratives of investors, CEOs, renowned entrepreneurs, bestselling authors, scholars, and cultural icons such as NBA legends Magic Johnson and Charles Barkley, as well as United Nations officials and Van Halen’s Sammy Hagar, while also exploring the behind-the-scenes world of Formula 1.

    Berger has met with the Crown Princess of Sweden, Pope Francis, United Nations officials, and NGO leaders, covering stories of water insecurity with WaterAid, the intergenerational refugee crisis faced by displaced Sudanese in Uganda, and the impacts of child marriage in Western Africa with the Le Korsa Foundation.

    Berger served as a guest lecturer at Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management for nearly two decades, focusing on the power of storytelling in business.

    He has partnered with The Jim Henson Company to create a television show, The Ultimate GOAT, that combines his passion for distant lands and storytelling with culture, sports, and puppetry for family programming.

    Berger conducts moderated keynote events that blend storytelling with live, on-stage narratives featuring cultural icons such as Opal Lee, the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, a Nobel Peace Prize nominee, and recognized as the “Grandmother” of Juneteenth. In 2023, Berger received the inaugural Pangea International Literacy Prize and delivered his TEDx Talk, “Story is Our Currency.” He lives in Franklin, Tennessee, with his wife and two children.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    23 min

About The Dr. Rod Berger Channel - Stories That Meet The Moment

From the publisher's feed

The Dr. Rod Berger Channel pulls together global stories from around the world through several engaging shows. Dr. Rod Berger explores deep into the minds of those on the frontiers of our society. Uncovering the 'why' behind acclaimed contributors forging their path through life and those new souls just stepping beyond the crowd.