The Impossible Network

Guest Overview

A conviction in the power of sport to engage, impact and inspire communities, a relentless curiosity to explore new ways to apply innovative thinking to build educational outreach for one of the world's largest football clubs and brands, is this week’s guest, Head of Education & Innovation at Chelsea Foundation, Matt Mead.

Growing up in the South of England, Matt’s upbringing prepared him and guided him into a life where coaching, education, technology and innovation collide. In the first 25 minutes we explore Matt’s upbringing and story before joining Chelsea.

From 25 min onward we dive deep into his journey in education and innovation at Brighton and Chelsea; how Matt has used the Chelsea brand, the appeal of football to create educational outreach and innovative STEM programs in community programs.

We also explore Matt’s positive impact beyond the UK, with US partnerships and his vision for the future of education.

I hope you enjoy this authentic, honest, inspiring exploration of education and innovation with Matt Mead.

What we discuss:

The impact of a parental split on his early life

The development of his emotional intelligence

The bedrock of sport during his upbringing

His route through education

His decision to pursue a career in sports education 

His early love of coaching

The serendipitous experience that led him to a Montessori school in Florida aged 19

His experience of camp America

The impact of football clubs to communities across the UK vs the US

His early experiences with Brighton and then Chelsea Foundation

The importance of inclusion participation, inclusivity and giving back.

Stem as an area of focus for his outreach

Giving Back

All our quick fire questions!

Links to Social

LinkedIn

Email

Links in show

Brighton and Hove Albion

Chelsea FC

Chelsea Foundation

Digital Blue

The Premier League Foundation

Premier League Primary Stars

Edge of the Box Club

FC Harlem

STEM

Renaldo Lawrence

Preacher Eric Thomas

Kelvin Beachum

Matt’s recommended book Getting Things Done by David Allan

Phil Nutley

Kicking and screening

Scottish Football Club Montrose

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest Overview

An entrepreneur at school and university, an innovator in digital branded content, founder and CEO of Bibblio and an attention economy thought leader is this weeks’ guest, Mads Holmen

In this episode, Danish born, London based Mads discusses his parents contribution, and the impact of the Italian educational philosophy Reggio Emilia on his self-belief, and his curiosity. Also how serendipity directed his entrepreneurial journey.

We then dive deep as Mads shares his insights on the challenges we face in our attention economy, the current reality of AI on our digital media behavior, the negative societal impact of attention driving algorithms, and he articulates with clarity how we can counter the duopolistic strangle-hold of Google and Facebook.

Mads also explains how his company Bibblio is creating a pathway for publishers to increase audiences and revenues without the use of invasive and irrelevant advertising technology, and the imperative for a code of ethics to govern AI development.

We hope you enjoy this thought provoking, distraction free and practical perspective on the attention economy with Mads Holmen.

What we discuss

The value of his early education under the Italian Reggio Emilia system 

The impact of his parents on his sense of self-belief and what he considers possible

His early entrepreneurial endeavors at school and university

Where serendipity kicked in

Path to digital viral content at Go Viral

His corporate experience at AOL

Mads decision to leap into an entrepreneurial life

Getting to product market fit

His views on the evolution of the digital media space

The realities of the attention economy

His perspectives on publishing’s past, present and future

We discuss AI and ethics

The social impact of algorithms

Where Bibblio is headed

His principles

His hard choices

Where he goes to discover new ideas

His influences

Who made him reevaluate herself

Who surprised him the most

How he stays up to date with Technology

His answer to the Impossible question

Who to interview next

Social Links

Bibblio

Linkedin

Facebook

Twitter

Links in the Show

Joe Edelman

Tristan Harris

Jonathan Harris

Neil Postman Quote

Carole Cadwalladr TED Talk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest Overview

New York born, Hollywood stylist, creator of the first expert management agency, a trend spotter and teacher, and co-founder of moms' charity YourMomCares.org, is this week's guest, the irrepressible and inspirational Sharon Feldstein.

Leaving her beloved NYC aged 19, Sharon earned an early break as a costume designer on 70’s hit TV sitcom, TAXI. Never looking back Sharon became a Hollywood stylist, known for her trend spotting ability.

In the late 90’s she created the global trend of sparkle phone covers, before moving on to create the first expert management agency.

Combining her strong sense of justice with her belief in showing up, and her action taking attitude to life, Sharon has used her position as mother of Jonah Hill and Beanie Feldstein, to partner with Patsy Noah (Adam Levine’s Mom) and Terria Joseph (Alicia Keys Mom) to create YourMomCares. Now on a mission to help the most vulnerable children by raising awareness and funding for organizations focused on children’s child mental wellness, Sharon’s next chapter is underway.

Buckle up for the fun and relentless ride through the life of Sharon Feldstein

What we discuss

The impact of her father on Sharon’s sense of self belief and what she considers possible

Her early exposure to the fashion business

Her mother’s impact 

The matriarchal strength of her grandmother

Being different and standing out

Her respect for Patricia fields

Her embrace of diversity

Her view of life and relationships

Her early years and education in fashion

Moving to LA at 20 years old

Her early break in the sitcom Taxi

Her fearlessness and bravado

Her work ethic and willingness to learn

Her evolution to stylist

How she became a trend spotter

Her development of sparkle phone covers

How she built on her creativity with technical knowledge

Her charitable character

Her motto

Trends and the start of Expert Management

On being relentless vs being persistent

The importance of work ethic, respect and teamwork

Sharonisms

Importance of humor

Her principles

Her hard choices

Where she goes to discover new ideas

Her influences

Who made her reevaluate herself

Who surprised her the most

How she stays up to date with Technology

Her answer to the Impossible question

Who to interview next

Social Links

YourMomCares.org

Instagram

Twitter

Links in the Show

Ed Weinberger

Taxi

Marilu Henner

Andy Kaufman

Booksmart Movie Beanie Feldstein

Elizabeth Strout My name is Lucy Barton

Simon Sinek - Start With Why

Whoopi Goldberg

Adam Levine

Alicia Keys

Jonah Hill

Michael Flutie

Brad Jenkins White House

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest Overview

An expert in the economics of the data on the dark web, an advisor on cyber-crime and security and respected specialist on geopolitical risk, trends and their impact on business and society, welcome to this week's guest, Munish Walther puri.

Born in California to Physician parents, we discuss the impact of Munish’s upbringing as part of the Indian diaspora, how the cross-cultural influences conditioned by his school, sports and pastimes prepared him the world he now inhabits.

We explore how curiosity, serendipity, and creativity impacted Munish's journey to the intersection the data, the dark web and the cyber risks facing businesses, communities, and society.

I hope you enjoy this inspiring but sobering episode serendipity cyber risk and security with Munish Walther Puri. 

What we discuss

His upbringing to physician parents

Being part of the Indian diaspora

The cross-cultural influences from moving between different communities in the SF Bay Area on his sense of identity

The impact and creativity from being the only boy at his sister’s dance school.

How his upbringing helped him forge connections easily

The experience of being a Hindu being schooled in a Christian school and exposure to multiple religions

How this instilled curiosity

The diversity and multiplicity of the courses and subjects he studied

His entry into a professional career in Risk Analysis

How he began to use data and open source tools

The intersection of fraud, terrorism and cyber

Risk and intelligence frameworks to different scenarios

How he considers risk

The diffusion and proliferation of cyber capabilities

The shifting from a unipolar world to a multipolar world

How he views failure

Our quick fire questions

The people who inspire him

What’s made him revaluation himself

What he’d do with the keys to the White House

His principles

His hard choices

Where he discovers new ideas

Who inspires him

How creativity manifests itself in his work

How he stays up to date with technology

The impossible question

The book he recommends

Who we interview next

Links to Social

Linkedin

Twitter and

Twitter

Links in show

The First 90 Days

The History of Risk

Steven Pinker

Maslow hierarchy of needs

The Triz Method

JC Linklider

Man-Machine Symbiosis

Philip P Dick 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest Overview

A Pratt Industrial Design Alum and Professor, a former George Nelson senior designer, a career spanning over 60 years, creator of the iconic Dunkin Donuts logo and timeless products that still sell in high-end design stores, this week’s guest is 91-year-old, Lucia DeRespinis.

Lucia's life could not be described as easy or predictable. Moving home as a child every two years, her father dying when she was fourteen, being only one of 2 women in an industrial design class of 62 men in 1949, building a career in design in male-dominated 1950's New York, losing her husband at age 40, and bringing up child as a single mother, Lucia's life force should inspire anyone to defy what society defines as possible.

At 91-year-old Lucia is still a Professor at Pratt, passing on her wisdom, teaching design thinking to a new generation of talent, and in doing so re-calibrating our perception of age.

I hope you enjoy this deep dive into design, abstraction and life lessons with Lucia DeRespinis.

What we discuss:

• Lucia’s early life where change became the norm
• Her father’s influence on her design and building skills
• The impact of her father’s early death
• How chance or serendipity led her to a course on Industrial Design at Pratt Institute in 1949
• Being one of only two women on the course of 64 men
• How she confronted gender stereotypes in her first role
• Her path to becoming a senior designer at top design studio George Norman
• Her experiences at the World Fair in the USSR in 1960
• The impact of her husband, Lou’s early death
• Her answers and insights into Elaine’s design questions on abstraction and 3D
• Pratt’s approach to design
• How Dunkin Donuts Logo was born
• Her views on AI and the future of design
• Her perspective on the educational imperative
• Our quick fire questions
• And the Impossible Question

Links in show

Pratt Institute

George Nelson

Dunkin Donuts Logo

Corey Cambridge Silent Giants

Lucia’s Designs

Lucia’s longer story

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest Overview

A black belt in Karate by 12, a nationally certified, accomplished celebrity trainer in his 20’s, and a holistic fitness expert in exercise science, biomechanics, and nutrition by 30, just some of the accomplishments of this week’s guest Joshua Holland.

Josh has developed personalized techniques and programs to transform the bodies of a host of celebrities including Madonna, Oscar Isaac, Gigi Hadid, and Roger Waters, and is responsible for the health and wellness of many notable people in the worlds of business, fashion, and entertainment.

He is currently co-founder of @SystimFit and @432House in the heart of Midtown, Manhattan and is constantly expanding and growing with his wonderful team of like-minded trainers and health coaches.

In part 2 of this extensive exploration of holistic health excellence, we ask Josh some fundamental but important questions; Cardio vs strength training; Sleep, Exercise and Nutrition- which order? Meat, vegetables or insects? Breakfast or fast? Cold showers, why? Alcohol - good or bad? Chocolate and chips? Hydrogen peroxide! Ozone ….explain?

And we ask Josh his advice for anyone wanting to get started improving their wellbeing

There is a lot more of Josh’s gems to enjoy in this second episode with Joshua J. Holland.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this short bonus episode Josh answers some questions we didn’t ask in last weeks interview. Who’s surprised him and who’s made him reevaluate himself and the differences when training celebrities with time and money and the normal everyday clients he also trains. 

Please enjoy this short bonus episode. Part Two of Josh Holland and his health insights and nutrition advice drops later this week.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest Overview

A black belt in Karate by 12, a nationally certified, accomplished celebrity trainer in his 20’s, and a holistic fitness expert in exercise science, biomechanics, and nutrition by 30, just some of the accomplishments of this week’s guest Joshua Holland.

Josh has developed personalized techniques and programs to transform the bodies of a host of celebrities including Madonna, Oscar Isaac, Gigi Hadid and Roger Waters, and is responsible for the health and wellness of many notable people in the worlds of business, fashion and entertainment.

He is currently co-founder of @SystimFit and @432House in the heart of Midtown, Manhattan and is constantly expanding and growing with his wonderful team of like-minded trainers and health coaches.

In part one, of a two-part series, we cover Josh’s early development, his father and mothers instrumental impact in developing his standards of excellence, his innate curiosity, and how serendipity led him to become the trainer of people like Madonna and Roger Waters of Pink Floyd...accompanying them on world tours and establishing himself as one of the most sought after celebrity trainers and fitness experts.

I hope you enjoy this episode of exercise excellence, and entrepreneurial endeavor with Joshua J Holland.

"If you want to change your body and mind, you must change what it is you do most of the time!"

What We Discuss:

• The combination of discipline and freedom his parents provided
• The self-belief he gained from starting martial arts at age four
• The holistic learning impact of his training
• How his Black Belt at age 12 became a gateway to basketball
• Early use of performance analytics
• How he was praised for effort over talent
• His unconscious conscious feedback loop
• His path of goal setting and goal setting
• His ambition to play pro basketball
• How he embraced the reality of setbacks
• How those setbacks spurred him on to greater success
• His journey to New York
• The sacrifices he made along the way
• The opportunity that opened up
• The serendipitous connections that led him to Tracy Anderson and ultimately Madonna
• How his father rigor and discipline prepared him to meet Madonna's exacting standards
• His principles
• His hard choices
• His inspirations
• The book he recommends
• His Impossible advice
• 
  

Connecting on Social

Joshua J Holland 

On Twitter

On Instagram 

On Facebook

432 House 

SystimFit

Links in show

Roger Waters

Madonna 

Oscar Issac 

Tracy Anderson 

Gigi Hadid

Awakening Your Inner Genius 

Ikigai

Earthing Bands

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest overview

This week’s guest is Kenyatta Johnson. Following the murder of his cousin in 1998, he formed Peace Not Guns, a non for profit he formed to end and prevent gun violence through education and programs created to give children an alternative to the streets. His activism led to a successful run for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and in 2012 he became the youngest elected Council member of Philadelphia City Council.

Growing up in Point Breeze, South Philadelphia, Kenyatta’s life straddled a fine line between educational opportunity and the environmental pressure to follow the path street crime. However a serendipitous gun charge set him on a committed course of education and advancement, culminating in a degree in criminal justice and a Master’s in government administration and public finance from the U. Penn.

He now uses his political power to fervently fight for social injustice, a reduction in economic inequality and improvements in workplace diversity and inclusion.

I hope you enjoy the passion and political perspectives of Councilman Kenyatta Johnson.

What we discuss

• The impact of Kenyatta’s upbringing by his mother, stepfather and grandmother
• How his faith prevented him from crossing the line into a life of crime
• How a gun charge at aged sixteen became a serendipitous event that set him on a course for college and university
• How his mentor gave him a roadmap to success in life
• His reason for entering public life and life of service
• How local government works with social enterprises and NGO’s
• How Kenyatta’s addressing economic inequality and gun crime in Philadelphia
• His focus on minority diversity and inclusion requirements for new economic developments 
• What he’d do with the keys to White House
• How he defines a quality education
• Where he goes to discover new ideas
• His principles
• His hard choices
• His inspirations
• The books he recommends
• His impossible advice
• His views on the 2020 Election.

Connecting on Social

On Twitter

On Facebook

On Linkedin

Links in show

The Book Kenyatta Recommends - That We Offer - The Autobiography of Malcolm X

Frederick Douglass Autobiography

President Truman’s Leadership 

Peace Not Guns

Rep Jordan Harris

Benjamin Banneker

Crispus Attucks

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest overview

A world-class ballet dancer, a Ph.D. in Quantum Optics, a participant in the BBC Astronaut training series ' Have You Got What Takes', being featured in the book 'Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls' and listed in Forbes '30 under 30', all by the age of 30; these are some of the not so small accomplishments in the impossible story of Dr. Merritt Moore.

LA born, of a Korean mother and American father, Merritt’s upbringing equipped her with the curiosity, problem-solving skills, and the unconventional mindset to defy conventions that dictate the impossibility of being world class in Ballet and Quantum Physics, at the same time.

I hope you enjoy this conversational collision of art and science with Dr. Merritt Moore

What we discuss

• The impact of Merritt’s upbringing on her ability to perform at a world-class level
• How her parent's combined science and arts to inspire her imagination
• The empowerment strategies they employed that shaped her view of what’s possible
• Her father's media exclusion tactics, used to insulate her from 90’s reality influence
• How science and art infused her life from an early age
• How she was bitten by the Ballet bug
• How a serendipitous encounter in Italy aged 15 defined her ballet journey
• How she developed her love of quantum physics
• How her father's goal defining challenge set her on a course of excellence over perfection
• Her lack of fearlessness and perception of risk and failure
• How she applies creativity in science research
• Her application of science to improve her ballet
• Her astronaut training experience
• The challenge we set ourselves to connect Merritt with Elon Musk
• Her views on diversity and inclusion in education
• How historic media reinforces gender stereotypes
• What she’d do with the keys to The White House
• Her principles
• Her hard choices
• Her inspirations
• The book she recommends
• Her impossible advice

Connecting on Social

Dr. Merritt Moore

On Twitter

On Instagram

On Linkedin

Links in show

The Book She Recommends That We Offer - The Art of Learning

Sylvie Guillem

Melissa Franklin - Harvard

Quantum Physics

Schrödinger's cat

Norwegian Ballet

Zurich Ballet

BBC Astronauts - Do You Have What It Takes

Wait Not Why - Elon Musk

TEDx Dance Your PhD

Bed-Time Stories For Rebel Girls

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.