The Hope Strategy Podcast

Bisila Bokoko talks about growing up in Spain, her fathers influence on her cultural self education, her lifelong desire to live and work in New York, and the life changing experience she had traveling to Africa at 35. Bisila shares her thoughts on culture, diversity, happiness, philanthropy, and gratitude. This episode is full of an optimism and positivity that is absolutely contagious - get ready to smile.

Highlighted Quotes

"Happiness"

Happiness is something that is really found within. I work a lot with young adults and children and I've seen them play with just two stones for hours and be completely content… they may live in "poverty" but in reality they are really rich - rich in happiness, and rich in generosity.

"Orchestra"

It's important to understand what you do well and also what you are not so good at… I don't try to play the whole orchestra - because I cannot play all of the instruments. So instead I know which ones I'm good at and the others… I find support.

"The Gift"

Most of the things that make us different are actually a gift

"Diversity"

You really need to build teams that are diverse in all senses otherwise there will always be something that is not going to work as it should.

Resources/Mentions:

YouTube

• BB Knows Best

Company

• Spain Chamber of Commerce - New York
• BBES (Consulting Firm)
• Bisila Wines

Organization

• BBALP (Bisila Bokoko African Literacy Project)

Guest Links:

• Bisila Linkedin
• Bisila Twitter
• Bisila Instagram
• Bisila Website
• Bisila Youtube - BB Knows Best

Podcast Links:

• Instagram: @Hopestrategy
• Facebook: @hopestrategy
• Twitter: @thehopestrategy
• Youtube The Hope Strategy

Kerry McDonald shares her optimistic view of education and education innovation along with her insights about the remote learning situation many parents currently face during the pandemic. Kerry defines "Unschooling" - the idea taught in her book "Unschooled: Raising Curious, Well-Educated Children Outside the Conventional Classroom" and gives evidence based advice and hope to parents seeking a better way to educate their children. This episode is a great reflection on what education really is and how it should be approached.

Highlighted Quotes

"Opportunity in Education Entrepreneurship"

We're seeing tremendous growth in all aspects of the economy in terms of entrepreneurship, of course that's not offsetting the vast number of businesses that have been shut down due to government orders, but it is a hopeful sign that entrepreneurship is alive and well and I think, again, education entrepreneurship is ripe for more opportunities and more innovators to create some really wonderful options for families.

"Defining Unschooling"

"Unschooling" is really disentangling education from schooling and seeing schooling as one method to being educated sort of top down, course of type learning where you know here are your daily assignments here are your tests and quizzes here's your ABCDEF grade, and yet learning is so much broader and again more enriching than that experience. Also unschooling doesn't mean that you're not taking classes, it doesn't mean that you're not doing what we would consider school like activities. It just means that it's a less coercive experience and it's more driven by the child's interest.

"Parents"

Parents are the ones, ultimately responsible for making sure their children are highly literate and numerous highly educated, and I argue that that's true whether your children are homeschooled or in a conventional school that it's up to the parents to make sure your children are getting a high quality education that it's your responsibility as a parent to do that.

Resources/Mentions:

Book

• Unschooled: Raising Curious, Well-Educated Children Outside the Conventional Classroom
• Why I Love Homeschooling

Company

• Expanse Learning
• Expanse(Linkedin)

Organization

• FEE.org

Guest Links:

• Kerry - Linkedin
• Kerry Mcdonald Website (Fee.Org)
• Kerry's Forbes Articles
• Kerry - Facebook
• Kerry - Instagram
• Kerry - Twitter

Podcast Links:

• Instagram: @Hopestrategy
• Facebook: @hopestrategy
• Twitter: @thehopestrategy
• Youtube The Hope Strategy

Kara Goldin founder of Hint Water shares her journey into one of the most competitive market niches: beverages. Kara shares how chasing opportunities and being open to new possibilities has been the key to "doing the impossible" and staying ahead of the competition. Kara talks about innovation, finding your passion, being a good parent, and making a difference wherever you can. This episode is packed full of insight, energy and positivity - Not one to miss.

Highlighted Quotes:

"Do it for YOU"

Something I say to my kids is - "I don't care what your friends want to do or if you're surrounded by people that work at Facebook and Twitter… Is that what YOU want to do? that's cool if you do, but if I were you, I'd figure out what I want to do every single day that I can actually make money doing?"

"Impossible"

Doing the impossible and enjoying what you're doing is is like I think the most important thing you can do as a parent

Resources/Mentions:

• Amazon
• CNN
• Time Magazine
• AOL
• Wired Article - Talks about 2market product
• Hint Water

Guest Links:

• Kara Twitter
• Kara Linkedin
• Kara Website
• Book
• Hint Water
• Podcast

Podcast Links:

• Instagram: @Hopestrategy
• Facebook: @hopestrategy
• Twitter: @thehopestrategy
• Youtube The Hope Strategy

Jess Larsen talks about the founding of Child Rescue Association - an anti-human trafficking organization that helps organize and fund rescue operations and rehabilitation and recovery for victims. Jess talks about the motivations behind starting such a project and shares a powerful message about the problem of child trafficking and what is being done to combat it. This episode is packed with powerful success stories about rescued victims and action points for self-education about the problem.

Highlighted Quotes

"Responsibilities"

If we're going to be responsible adults and parents and create the kind of society where it's safe for children... It does seem very irresponsible to have so little work done. We've got incredible teams and many law enforcement agencies called ICAC (internet crimes against children) who do really great work and are drastically underfunded. If we would take this as serious as we take domestic terrorism we could make a much safer society for children to grow up in.

"Google"

If you really want to get an idea of how big the issue [of human trafficking] is… jump on google and try searching human trafficking and then your city name... and then search child trafficking and your city name.

Resources/Mentions:

• 5 Best Books on Trafficking - By Human Rights Careers

Organization:

• Child Rescue Association

Book:

• The Intelligent Investor
• The Natashas - Victor Malarek

Aftercare Organization:

• Magdalene's House
• The Other Side Academy

Website:

• Fight The New Drug
• Lindsay Hadley - Hadley Impact Consulting

Documentary:

• Selling The Girl Next Door
• Very Young Girls

Guest Links:

• Graystoke Media
• Twitter
• Linkedin
• Email

Podcast Links:

• Instagram: @Hopestrategy
• Facebook: @hopestrategy
• Twitter: @thehopestrategy
• Youtube The Hope Strategy

Neil shares a powerful hopeful message: how artificial intelligence - something typically portrayed as apocalyptic - can be used by everyone to create meaningful change in the world. Neil's message is underpinned by the idea that "you can be the driver" in your AI experience. Neil also shares how his parents influenced his view of risk and reward, his hope for education, and his advice for securing "the job of tomorrow". This is not an episode you want to miss!

Highlighted Quotes

"Motivation for the Book"

The reason I wrote my book was to do these 3 things: Empower, Educate, and Enable. I think too many people feel like they are a passenger on this journey with AI… but the truth is AI doesn't work that way, you don't have to be a passenger you can be the driver.

"Tools"

Everyone can do something with AI, it could be for your business or your community… don't give in to the fear, at the end of the day it's a tool.

"Create"

"If you are worried about AI or if you are trying to figure out how you can be hopeful about it… think about using it to create something.

Resources/Mentions:

• Jeopardy - Watson WINS
• Sunspring - Short Film
• AI For Good Foundation

Company

• Leagalmation
• Cognitive World

Books

Own the A.I Revolution - Neil's Book

Neil Sahotas's Links:

• Linkedin
• Twitter
• Website
• Instagram

Podcast Links:

• Instagram: @Hopestrategy
• Facebook: @hopestrategy
• Twitter: @thehopestrategy
• Youtube The Hope Strategy

Chad Ford Discusses what creates good conflict resolution and why it is sometimes so hard to achieve. Chad shares his experience growing up with a father traumatized by war, his desire to bridge conflicts to create healing, and the path he took to become a world class mediator working in countries like South Africa and Northern Ireland to create peace. Chad talks about the concept of "Dangerous Love" (also the title for his new book) and gives advice for anyone dealing with conflict.

Highlighted Quotes

"Dangerous Love"

Why is it called dangerous love? Because it requires vulnerability, it requires us to do something that is scary… it requires us to do something that might not be reciprocated by the other person… but it is the thing that will change the dynamic in a relationship in such a way that offers hope.

"Am I right?"

Of course in conflict we are going to feel that we are right… people often say to me "but what if i am right?" and my response to that is there is a way to be right about the facts and wrong about the relationship... and which is more important?

"Mind Readers"

When we are in conflict we become mind readers… it's amazing! If somebody said something we "know" their intentions, we "know" why they said it, we know EVERYTHING! Even though they haven't said anything… we need the humility to ask "Do I know, really? And am I giving myself a pass here"

Resources/Mentions:

• Arbinger Institute

Book

• Dangerous Love
• The Anatomy of Peace
• Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

Website

• DangerousLoveBook.com
• SportsTalk.com

Guest Links:

• Chad Ford Twitter
• Instagram
• Website

Podcast Links:

• Instagram: @Hopestrategy
• Facebook: @hopestrategy
• Twitter: @thehopestrategy
• Youtube The Hope Strategy

This week's interview is with our own co-host Josh Steimle. Josh dives deep into the rebel mindset responsible for his pursuit of learning, change, and challenge. Josh shares how his parents instilled a passion for reading and science fiction, why skating has taught him more about entrepreneurship than anything else, and how he turned down a lucrative offer for his own sanity. This episode will ring true with anyone stuck chasing a career for "money" who wants instead to chase passion, progression and learning.

Highlighted Quotes

"Permission"

I feel like so many good things have come into my life because I was willing to take a risk or I was willing to do something that was scary, but I felt like it was the right thing."

"Advice"

Most entrepreneurs understand that nobody understands their business the way that they understand it and it's hard to find advice from anybody else. You kind of just have to figure it out and do your own thing. And that's the same way that skateboarding works... people can give you advice and they can give you tips, but if it's not another skater, or it's not another entrepreneur in the entrepreneurial world. There's just no way to really explain it to them so they understand it and there's no way that they can really get what you're going through in order to be able to give you helpful useful advice

"Rebel"

The rebel attitude that accompanied the skateboard culture also I feel served me as an entrepreneur... when you're an entrepreneur you're doing things that normal people don't do, because if normal people did it there wouldn't be any opportunity. The definition of an entrepreneur is somebody who seeks out opportunities or reallocates resources from a place of lower opportunity to a place of higher opportunity, which is a fancy way of just saying that entrepreneurs say "Hey, I can do this" "I can make money here" or "I can change the world here"... by doing something.

Resources/Mentions:

• Hubble Space Telescope
• James Kickflip 10FT Ledge Jump (instagram)
• Josh's Dad Voting Pic (Instagram)

Podcast

• Episode 59 - Therapist Uncensored

Books

• The Dark is Rising
• Enders Game
• Foundation
• Founders Dilemma

Movies

• 2001 Space Odyssey
• 2010: The Year We Make Contact
• Ender's Game
• Dune (2021)

TV

• Foundation

Article

• 3 Reasons Skateboarders Make The Best Entrepreneurs

Guest Links:

• Instagram
• Twitter
• Linkedin
• JoshSteimle.com
• PublishedAuthor.com
• 7SystemsofInfluence.com

Podcast Links:

• Instagram: @Hopestrategy
• Facebook: @hopestrategy
• Twitter: @thehopestrategy
• Youtube The Hope Strategy

Shyamala Prayaga shares experiences from her upbringing in India that have helped shape her including almost being kidnapped, getting cancer, trying to find her purpose, and her struggles getting pregnant. Shyamala shares her thoughts on arranged marriage and traditional schooling in India along with cutting edge insights into the world of A.I and voice recognition.

Highlighted Quotes

"Miracles"

A "Miracle" is when you're not expecting something or you feel like you know all the doors are closed and there is no light in your life anymore but all of a sudden something out of the blue just pops out and the tables turn for you. That's how I define miracles. A lot happened with me in my life and that was the motivation of writing the book, including cancer, and job losses which I've suffered with minimal damage.

"A.I"

From an A.I standpoint, these connectivities will help us you transition seamlessly...Gesture recognition technology or eye gaze technologies will evolve to the extent that you are not just using one, you're using a combination of things. I see you know the future for AI is really big...huge!

Resources/Mentions:

Company

• Digital Assistant Academy

Books

• Shyamala's Book "Close Calls - My Life of Unseen Miracles

Website

• Ford Electric Vehicles (Future)

Shyamala's Links:

• Linkedin
• Twitter
• Website

Podcast Links:

• Instagram: @Hopestrategy
• Facebook: @hopestrategy
• Twitter: @thehopestrategy
• Youtube The Hope Strategy

Eric Bandholz talks about Beardbrand, presenting on Shark Tank, politics, and how he changed up his hiring to create a more independent and creative work environment. Eric also shares some of his thoughts on stoicism along with some of the struggles both he and his wife have faced in pursuit of building a family. This episode is a great look at creating positive work culture and building a life you can be proud to live.

Highlighted Quotes

"Stoic Mindset"

I tend to have a Buddhist-Stoic mindset for a lot of things... there is going to be suffering it's just part of humanity and it is part of life.one of the things that I have seen is that you are dealt the problems that you are capable of solving them. If you aren't capable of solving them, you wouldn't have them. That has encouraged me to find bigger problems because I feel that I can certainly solve bigger problems that I'm currently facing right now. You should want to have those problems and those challenges in life.

"Core Values"

We look at our core values as a triangle of Freedom, Honor and Trust. what happens is if you have too much freedom… then what happens is your trust and your hunger go down. So it's something that you want to have balanced... again perhaps too much hunger or too much drive and you end up working 80 hours a week and you are losing your freedom, and maybe you are eroding trust as well as you walk over your teammates so like balance has been a big thing for us.

Resources/Mentions:

Book

• The Obstacle Is The Way - Ryan Holiday
• Book of Reminders

Company

• Beardbrand

Episode

• Shark Tank Episode

Guest Links:

• Beardbrand
• Eric Twitter
• Eric Instagram
• Eric Linkedin

Podcast Links:

• Instagram: @Hopestrategy
• Facebook: @hopestrategy
• Twitter: @thehopestrategy
• Youtube The Hope Strategy

Tyler Farnsworth shares his thoughts on the common pitfalls of influencer marketing and how to avoid them. Tyler also shares his love of "building" and creating along with an idea he calls R.O.R - the return of investment in relationships. This episode is a fresh look at the world of advertising and marketing with a distinctly human touch.

Highlighted Quotes

"Build Your Future"

It clicked for me that there is an opportunity to get good at a craft to get out to the serve to do things. I think it helped instill the understanding that I can build my future - it's not going to be just given to me… my life isn't just going to happen I can create it.

"Influencers"

We found that people have a desire to learn from other people, much more than they have a desire to learn from a brand. We are humans, we like connecting with people, and at its core, that's what influencer marketing is: people telling great stories.

"Art"

The people who have made a difference in this world are consistently the people who have kicked against the norms who have done things differently, who have stood up, who are unafraid to do something different. Even with the ridicule that might occur, they were willing to do it anyway. I think that's the message that we need to continue to showcase in the world today… pick yourself up, you can create, you are an artist, you can create something that's worthwhile. There are communities that will appreciate the art that you're building.

Resources/Mentions:

• August United
• Sitewire

Guest Links:

• Tyler Twitter
• Tyler Linkedin
• Tyler Website

Podcast Links:

• Instagram: @Hopestrategy
• Facebook: @hopestrategy
• Twitter: @thehopestrategy
• Youtube The Hope Strategy