The Impossible Network

Guest Overview 

We live at the moment when technology has connected the world, yet many people experience a rising sense of disconnection, and research confirms feelings of isolation are increasing. This week's guest Susan McPherson provides an antidote. 

As the author of the Lost Art of Connecting, Susan's book provides a valuable methodology for connecting and building more meaningful relationships. Whether at events, at work, as a manager or leader, a parent or a politician, Susan provides straightforward guidance on how to rekindle the core human skills many have somehow left behind.  

As a serial connector, Susan is also an angel investor, corporate responsibility expert, and founder and CEO of McPherson Strategies, a communications consultancy focused on the intersection of brands and social impact. She is also a contributor to the Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and Forbes. 

Susan opens up about her early journey in life, developing her thirst for adventure and the vast role her mother and father had in nurturing her deep sense of curiosity and willingness to embrace risk. She describes the values they instilled, the impact that her mother's tragic death had on the direction Susan's taken in life, and the serendipitous connections that led her to a career in journalism and entrepreneurship. 

Susan discusses how she became an accidental entrepreneur in her late 40's, and we talk about her perspectives on the role of corporations in helping combat our climate challenges and social inequities. She shares her optimism from witnessing the changes and commitments from her corporate clients to address the environmental challenges. 

Susan also deconstructs the three core steps to her Art of Connecting' Gather, Ask and Do' methodology, and discusses its application and value to individuals, managers, leaders, parents, and event organizers. 

I hope you’re inspired by the optimism, compassion, and generosity of spirit of Susan McPherson. 

Social Links

The Lost Art of Connecting book

Instagram 

Facebook

Linkedin

Twitter

MCPStrategies  

Links in the show

Ted Kennedy

Boston Herald Traveller 

Dupont Plaza Hotel Fire

USA Today

Gannett

Emily Ramshaw

19th News  

Brant Anderson

Refugee

Care

Paris Climate Accord 

IPCC 

SDG’s 

Kindred 

Sir Ranulph Fiennes

Beth Comstock

Girls Rising 

Nation Swell

Stacy Marie Ishmael

Yael Eisenstat

The Daughters of Kobani

Babylon Berlin 

Kathryn Finney

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A Pulitzer Prize for Drama, two Tony awards, and a Grammy for a best musical theater album are just some of the accomplishments of this week's guest - New York-based musician, composer, conductor, and orchestrator, Tom Kitt.

Born and raised in New York State, Tom’s musical talent was recognized by a music teacher at age four.

Lovingly Raised, his mother and father guided and encouraged him, and when needed, drove him to practice and remain focused on his musical dreams and ambitions to become a singer-songwriter. 

Tom describes how an economics degree at Columbia University, meeting his now wife Rita Pietropinto, and a serendipitous connection to Brian Yorky set him on his journey to writing for musical theatre and an award-winning Broadway career.   

Tom explains the important role that an economics degree played in developing his work ethic, organizational skills, and appreciation of opportunity costs that ultimately resulted in his discipline, rigor, and attention to detail.   

Tom shares how as a parent, he passes on his learnings to his children, and how they inspire him, and the courage they have instilled in him during the pandemic. 

Tom describes how the pandemic led him to write, collaborate and record his new album Reflect that is released on August 13th, 2021.

Tom’s attitude to life is edifying.  He has an ego-free recognition of the important role of collaboration, a refreshing acknowledgment of the power of his partner, Rita’s love and support, and an enlightening perspective on failure. 

We discuss the resultant mental health impact of the pandemic on Broadway, as well as the essential role theatre, the arts, and the role creatives play in the economic and mental wellbeing of the city.

We discuss Tom’s uplifting anthem of hope Oh Columbia for Columbia’s class of 2020 performed by Ben Platt, the opportunities that have resulted from the pandemic, the resurgence he’s experiencing, his collaboration on NYC Next, upcoming work with Cameron Crowe on the stage adaptation of Almost Famous as well as his hopes for 2030. 

I hope you enjoy the deeply charismatic, creative, caring, and compassionate Tom Kitt. 

Social Links

Tom Kit Reflect 

Instagram 

Facebook 

Links in the show

Gloria Huke

Camp Alton 

Peter Guralnick

Billy Joel 

MTV

Columbia uni

Oh Columbia - Ben Platt

Next To Normal 

Jagged Little Pill

21st Century Breakdown 

BMI musical workshop

Superhero show 

Flying Over Sunset 

Cameron Crowe 

Almost Famous 

Billy Porter

Kiss Prince 

Ted Lasso

The Premonition Michael Lewis 

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John Farnam lives every single day, in all his interactions focusing on making what seems impossible possible, viewing everything through the lens of yes. 

His life values, principles and work ethic were developed from growing up in a loving family environment in Helena Montana, USA. Given up for adoption by his fourteen year old birth mother, John was blessed with deeply caring adoptive parents and siblings. 

John’s path has been defined by his desire to live a life in service to others, following his personal maxim - do what sings to your heart. 

In the first half of the interview John takes openly and passionately about upbringing and 

From around 50 min in, John talks about disruptive innovation he is driving in philanthropy and transforming communities in his role as Deputy Disruptor and Chief of Staff at the Morgridge Family Foundation under Chief Disruptor Carrie Morgridge. 

John breaks down how they bring people and organizations together to solve the complex problems applying what he describes as a venture philanthropy model. From social and educational inequities, food insecurity to infant mortality afflicting minority communities they are leveraging their network to alleviate the issues. 

John then breaks down the Morgridge model and theory of change and explains their four pillars of disruption. 

John also discusses the innovative approach they are taking to educate the next generation of philanthropists and their approach to environmental philanthropy. 

John’s a deeply thoughtful, spiritual, kind-hearted and community driven individual that provides evidence that amidst the strife and suffering we have been witnessing, there are people, under the radar, making the life of those less fortunate, better.  

Social Links 

Linkedin 

Twitter

Links in the Show 

Morgridge Family Foundation 

Sparks and Honey 

Winners Take All

American Enterprise Institute 

Latter Day Saints 

Saging

Northern Colorado Aids Project 

Goodwill

Francis Weisberg Jacobs 

MLK

Ceasar Chavez 

Harvey Milk 

Delta Dawn 

Halston 

Waste free Kitchen 

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Guest overview 

There is no simple explanation for this week's guest. I have struggled with how to do justice to her incredible journey. Romany Romany - aka ‘Romany The Diva of Magic’ is living evidence that when one sets their mind to something and takes action, anything is possible..in time...for there is no overnight success where skill is required. Especially magic, where countless hours of training are required to make an attentive audience believe the magic they witness. 

For anyone struggling with life, unsure of direction, or feeling a pull to a place or life, alien to where you are now, Romany’s story will empower you to take action to create your own life arc. 

Romany was born and raised in England, was driven by a visceral early ambition to perform, was pulled off course by Corporate life that led to a breakdown and bulimia, which in turn opened the pathway to her steller life in Magic. 

Having performed for Queen Elizabeth at her 80th, won the prestigious Las Vegas World of Magic Awards, and wowed audiences around the world, Romany has recently written a book called Spun Into Gold to recount her life story and impart her wisdom. However her journey is anything less than plain sailing as she describes in the podcast, 

Romany’s story is defined by the patience and persistence to pursue her bigger dreams, but as many of us find, ambitions change, leaving us to reassess our priorities. 

I hope you enjoy the vivacious, loquacious, and flamboyant Romany Romany 

Social Links 

Romany’s Book - Spun Into Gold -The Secret Life of a Female Magician 

(UK Amazon)

Romany’s Book - Spun Into Gold - The Secret Life of a Female Magician 

USA Amazon 

Romany’s Website 

Spun Into Gold on Audible 

Instagram 

Linkedin 

Links In the Show

Florence Scovel Shinn 

Solve for Happy

The Artist Way Julia Cameron 

Carousel - Rogers and Hammerstein  

Caroline Myss 

Cobble comedy company. 

Liz Gilbert Big Magic 

Paul Kieve  

Amy Purdy 

Louise Hay 

Dr Wayne Dyer 

Buddhist millionaire Matt Jardine

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Guest overview 

This week's guest Maryam Banikarim does not see barriers, obstacles, or problems other than to seek out ways to remove or overcome or solve them.

Born in Iran but raised in the US Maryam’s innately curious and inquisitive mind has enabled her to navigate every challenge that life has dealt her and set her on a diverse path of career success. 

Regularly Acknowledged in the ” most creative people" or "most powerful women in business" lists, Maryam devours challenges that can be summed up by the phrase she used in the interview “I love a good No”

How Global CMO for Next Door, Maryam kindly agreed to share her perspective on life, work, and communities.

Her lens on life is based on a desire to help others and through that she discovers purpose. Her work at Next Door and her pandemic initiative, New York City Next, Maryam’s work is bringing people together, building strong communities and connections, and cultivating neighborly kindness.

In this interview, Maryam shares her perspective on life, work, and community and how we build stronger, more equitable, and resilient Neighborhoods, and Cities as we move beyond the pandemic. 

Maryam’s positive problem-solving mentality, curiosity, and vitality are uplifting and her infectious spirit of the possible will surely provide inspiration to all that encounter her. 

A shout out to Ben Hartley for recommending we interview Maryam

Social Links 

Twitter

Linkedin

Instagram

Linkedin Maryam

IG Maryam

 Maryam Twitter 

Links in the show 

Billie jean king 

John Leguizamo 

Next Door 

NYC Next 

Daily Provisions 

Middle Ring research 

ShopinNYC

Bob Putnam The Upswing book 

The Bridge 

Marie’s Crisis 

Tiger Woods documentary 

Susan McPherson the Lost Art of Connecting 

Tom Kitt 

Ming Jong Lee 

The Rubin’s 

Ava duVerney Smith

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Guest Overview 

Imagine being assigned female at birth, growing up feeling isolated at school, having your sexuality weaponized against you at age 12, by so-called friends, and coming out and identifying as pan-sexual at age 19, well this was the beginning of this week’s guest, Sav Rodgers’ life. 

We cover a lot of ground in this episode as Sav recounts the challenges he’s faced and had to overcome. Sav is a shining example of resilience in the face of ignorance and bigotry, strength of character, with an indomitable spirit to survive.  

With it being Pride month this interview could not be more timely. 

For anyone with children that are gender fluid, nonbinary, or genderqueer, Sav’s interview is a must-listen. 

Sav is now an award-winning writer and director, currently in the final stages of post-production with his first feature, called Chasing Chasing Amy, a documentary about how 1990’s Rom-Com Chasing Amy, directed by Kevin Smith and starring Ben Affleck, provided him with a depiction of fluid sexuality that helped Sav live his authentic self as pansexual, embracing the tagline of the movie

“It’s Not who you love, but how” 

Following his 2017 Ted talk, where Sav described the impact of Chasing Amy, he tweeted it and Kevin Smith, the director connected with Sav and is now collaborating with Sav on Chasing Chasing Amy. 

Sav and I go onto discuss the challenges we still face in the media with the limited casting of trans people in shows and films, and how the media reinforces LGBTQ bias and the need for changes in how sexuality is depicted in education. 

Sav’s life story, so far, is evidence of manifesting the life you want to live, and how serendipity opens doors and opportunities. 

Sav has expanded my understanding of sexuality and inspired me to learn more. I hope you enjoy the optimism and energy of Sav Rodgers. 

Social Links 

Website

LinkedIn 

Twitter 

Instagram

Facebook

Youtube 

Links in the show 

Transgender resource

 Modern Vintage Gamer 

Chasing Amy

Kevin Smith 

Disclosure 

Soap Dish 

Outfest

Girls5eva

Coda 

Trick 

Redefining Realness

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Guest Overview 

Imagine being born with Cerebral Palsy, to Palestinian immigrant parents, growing up being the only disabled Muslim in a Christian New Jersey town. 

Yet, blessed with her father's comic genes, her mother’s driving ambition, hard work ethic, and large family support network, Maysoon Zayid is an inspiring example of what is possible when self-limiting beliefs are cast asunder. 

Maysoon Zayid has blazed a trail through life as a writer, actor, stand-up comedian, educator, and activist. In 2014 her TED Talk 'I have 99 problems, Palsy is just one' went viral. 

In this broad-ranging interview, we cover, Maysoon’s early life experiences, setting her sights age 5 on being an actor in US soap opera, General Hospital, the defining moment of her childhood, aged 12, dancing on Broadway, on route to becoming a standup comedian. Maysoon provides an enlightening perspective on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, discusses being a female Muslim comedian, post 9/11 and what changed under the Trump administration, and how things have changed in recent months. And of course, we discuss comedy, her inspirations, and her successful annual Arab American Comedy Festival. 

I think you will find this wide-ranging conversation inspiring, uplifting, and educational. 

Social Links 

Maysoon’s Website 

Facebook

Twitter 

Instagram

Youtube

Links in the show 

Gotham Comedy Club 

Richard Pryor 

Comic Strip 

Mitch Hedberg 

Carol Burnett

Tiffany Haddish

Mo’Nique 

Aquafina 

Dave Chappel 8.48

Jim Belushi

Martin Short 

Riverdance 

Arab American Comedy Festival

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Okay folks this week, it's just a solo episode. I'm often asked about why I started this podcast and what it takes to keep going. We have to week, month after month now, two and a half years into this, I thought I would take some time just to step back and reflect on it and answer those questions as to what led to starting this podcast and carrying on.

For most of my life, I've worked in advertising and been very interested in the power of curiosity as a characteristic, but also in the power and value of networks. And thirdly, I've always been interested in the concept of serendipity and what it is and the role it plays in people's lives. So when I started thinking about the podcast back in 2013, I did nothing about it. Two years later, I did something about it and created The Impossible Network and recorded a couple of episodes, and then did nothing with it. Procrastination really kicked in. I'll come and talk a bit about procrastination in more detail and the value it has, but it wasn't until 2018 when I really sat down and thought, what I want this podcast to be about? And that's when I really stepped back and thought about, networks, serendipity, and curiosity. It was a convergence of these three things that led to launching the Impossible Network.

I had a simple thought, what if I interview three people that I know, two of them being clients, and asked them about their life journey, ask them about the impact of their upbringing, the role of curiosity in their life, their attitude to risk, their perception of fear and failure, and what's really fueled them and spurred them on to achieve what they would personally make their impossible, possible. 

But the key thing in these interviews is really to ask them who they recommend that I interview next, leaving the guests that we interviewed down to serendipity. And that has resulted in me interviewing over 90 guests now and rising some of the most extraordinary, unexpected people; people I would never, otherwise encountered or be connected with, and who now form part of the Impossible Network.

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Guest Overview 

Alan Digweed aka Tweedy The Clown is this week's guest. 

In this fascinating interview, we discuss Alan’s early life and the serendipitous moment he announced to his parents his intention to build his career in clowning. Alan explains the appeal of clowning, the influence, and inspiration of clowning genius du Laurel and Hardy, as well as the great like Harold Lloyd, Buster Keaton, and Harry Langdon. 

He explains how he made his start pre-internet days at British Summer Holiday camp Butlins before pursuing opportunities in Circus to hone his craft and refine his clown character.  

Alan describes how everyone has a clown character, aligned to our inner child, why the core characteristics tend to be based on different personalities, and why all good clowning is based on solving problems.

We discuss how Alan met American clown genius Bill Irwin at the famous Grimaldi Church service in London to honor the king of clowns Joseph Grimaldi where clowns attend in full costume. This encounter led him to develop his skills through one on one sessions with Bill.  

Alan explains the impact of the pandemic on his work and how he pivoted to creating a children's show online and the different experiences of not having a live audience. We also discuss how his performance will have to evolve while social distancing remains in place. 

We also discuss the evolution of a circus and clowning such as Archaos and Avner the Eccentric and Typeface.

Finally, we cover where Alan thinks he will be in 2030 and all the quick-fire questions. 

I hope you will be uplifted by the joy, optimism, deeply thoughtful Tweedy The Clown.

Social Links 

Website 

Twitter 

Instagram

Facebook 

Youtube 

Links in Show 

Harold Lloyd, 

Buster Keaton 

Harry Langdon

Norman Wisdom

Laurel and Hardy

Giffords Circus 

Butlins 

Cirque Du Soleil 

Bill Irwin 

Grimaldi Church Service

Benny Hill

Johnny Hutch

Archaos 

Jim Rose Circus 

Typeface

Chaplin Dictator Speech 

All Quiet on the Home Front 

Mandelorian

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Sarah A. Abdallah, polymath, innovator, and founder of New York-based bespoke Architecture & Design Studio - Functional Creative Design, is this week's guest.

In part two we deep dive into Sarah’s journey prior to starting her design studio Functional Creative Design, working with Rockwell Group, Tony Chi & Associates, Perkins and Eastman, and Grand Hotels, and her vision and focus which led her to start her studio.

Sarah describes her desire to add an additional layer to design and space planning. She discusses the importance of listening, fusing all input, using her functional skills and knowledge base, to meet a client's vision.

We discuss sustainability in the industry, the need to take a 360 view, the impact of Covid, and the battle that many firms have to stay in business.   

Sarah explains her principles underpinning Functional Creative Design, how design will change in a post-Covid world, the power and value of our connectivity, how intimacy can be created through technology, physical spaces that incorporate the outdoors indoors, and the need to deliver improved accessibility and social justice, across all socio-economic groups. 

Anyone considering leaving their corporate job, Sarah’s story will provide inspiration of what is possible when you reimagine and add value to a category.

Social Links 

Functional Creative Design 

LinkedIn 

Twitter 

Instagram

Links in the show 

Naomi Levine

Parsons School of Design 

NYU

Clubhouse

Rockwell Group

Perkins and Eastman

Tony Chi Associates

To Good To Go

Chef Chloe 

Bill Dowzer 

Back The Neighborhood

Robin Sharma - Monk Who Sold His Ferrari

New York State of Mind

Bridgerton

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