The Impossible Network

TL:DR - If you're short on time and want some hear Phil Adams's life lessons and the work he is doing to reimagine democracy then here are 7 minutes of soundbites.  

If you do have the time on a run, cycle, or drive, check out the entire episode. I promise this will be time well spent. 

Now here's my ask of you. If you are enjoying the show, please follow us, like us on your fav podcast player, and subscribe on YouTube as it helps us grow our audience. 

 Now over to Phil. 

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

Phil Adams is an Edinburgh-based independent brand strategist, consultant, writer, and documentary filmmaker. 

What We Discuss 

00:00 Intro

01:50 Who is Phil Adams?

05:45 Who or what made Phil who he is, and how his curiosity and love of books were nurtured?

08:30 The serendipitous event that changed his trajectory and broadened his horizons.

13:15 His values of adventure and opportunism, Phil explains the importance of taking opportunities when they emerge.  

15:45 Phil discusses having an act of faith and a strategy of life when dealing with uncertainty.

18:00 Phil discusses his youthful recklessness and rebellion. 

21:00 The serendipity that led him to pivot from a path of engineering to life in advertising and the actions taken to create opportunity.

25:45 Phil explains his pragmatic and focused approach to the direction he took.

27:00 I ask Phil about his superpowers or talents. 

30:15 The underrated talent of post-rationalizing a creative idea as a problem-solving solution to win pitches. 

33:55 Phil explains his perspective on how the best creative minds combine logic and magic to render a brand in surprising ways and the role of planners to identify the essence of an idea and then express the campaign value. 

38:20 What Phil values in others professionally and why hiring people better than you is essential. 

41:20 The importance of ‘trust’ with friends and when building teams.

42:30 What is he complimented for; his ability to understand a client's business and culture and his clarity and ability to simplify.

47:30 Phil describes how his engineering first principle problem-solving ability led him to strategic planning. 

50:00 I ask Phil for his insights on being an entrepreneur

51:45 What is Phil working to achieve in life?

54:10 How he deals with uncertainty through faith, effort, and curiosity and his advice to others.

57:10 We discuss AI, its impact, and risks, and Phil cites Marshall McLuhan.

01:03:15 I ask Phil to explain why he writes love letters to lyrics.

01:06:00 Phil explains the power and Shakespearean quality of Freddie Mercurys We Are The Champions and links it to Greek Philosopher Hermogenes insights on writing

01:09:15 We discuss Jim Steinman. 

01:10:50 Phil talks about the origins of his documentary-making NGO All Hands On and its work to educate people about better paths to democracy and be more hands-on with political issues. 

01:16:00 Phil describes the films they have made from London to Athens to Malawi on citizen assemblies and the drive to more democratic governance.

01:28:50 I ask Phil to reflect on the role and power of the Ad industry to imagine and affect a more positive and impactful capitalist economy and system.

01:34:45 Phil describes platforms for more deliberative democracy. 

01:36:15 - Phil describes who has had the most impact on his journey

01:39:40 Phil’s life lessons.

01:41:00 The principle of the asymmetry of favors.

01:45:00 The power of reframing our consumer story to a citizen story. 

Social Links 

Linkedin 

Links in Show

A Longing Look

All Hands On 

Robert Heath -The Hidden Power of Advertising: How Low Involvement Processing 

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

TL:DR - If you're short on time and want some hear how Lenore Anderson is advocating for Smart Justice Policy Reform and Creating Safer Communities to break the cycle of victim trauma then here are 7 minutes of key soundbites.  

If you do have the time on a run, cycle, or drive, check out the full episode. The time has come for the changes Lenore is fighting for. 

If you enjoy the show, please follow us, like us on your podcast player, and subscribe on YouTube as it helps us grow our audience. 

 Now over to Lenore. 

Guest Overview 

This week's guest is Lenore Anderson. Lenore is Co-founder and President of Alliance for Safety and Justice, one of the largest reform advocacy organizations in the US, that combines smart policy reform with grassroots organizing to replace reliance on incarceration with more effective public safety solutions. 

With deep domain experience in law, policy, and justice reform, Lenore has recently published In Their Names - a book that not only provides historical insight into, and indictment of how the victims’ rights movement warped the American justice system but created a cycle of trauma. However, Lenore also provides a roadmap to breaking this cycle of trauma, and a future vision for justice, healing, and creating safer  communities and society. 

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

Lenore Anderson

This week's guest is Lenore Anderson. Lenore is Co-founder and President of Alliance for Safety and Justice, one of the largest reform advocacy organizations in the US, that combines smart policy reform with grassroots organizing to replace reliance on incarceration with more effective public safety solutions. 

With deep domain experience in law, policy, and justice reform, Lenore has recently published In Their Names - a book that not only provides historical insight into and an indictment of how the victims’ rights movement warped the American justice system but created a cycle of trauma. However, Lenore also provides a roadmap to breaking this cycle of trauma and a future vision for justice, healing, and creating safer communities and society. Thanks to David Risley for the connection

What We Discuss 

00:00 Intro

02:05 Who is Lenore as a human?

05:00 What made Lenore who she is?

07:20 Her teenage years of troublemaking and second chances.

13:00 Her rejection of societal conventions.

15:00 Her purpose and commitment to creating a more just world.

17:25 Dealing with fragility, doubt, and loss.

21:10 Her gifts and superpowers.

22:40 What she is complimented for. 

23:40 Lenore describes how the Alliance for Safety and Justice operates.

27:40 The historical context of the tough-on-crime movement.

31:00 The negative externalities of mass incarceration.

32:00 The impact on victims.

35:24 The three reasons why tough justice hurt victims.

38:10 The political myth of victimization and cycle of violence.

38:40 Why the toxic culture of prisons reinforces trauma?

40:00 The Hierarchy of Harm and examples in New Orleans.

45:20 The bias against victims and the long-term damage. 

48:23 The negative impact war on drugs and surveillance policing. 

51:20 Reimagining community-based public safety.

54:40 The importance of policy and partnering with communities. 

56:30 What victims really want.

59:00 Alternative systems.  

1:01:30 A new approach to public safety. 

1:07:00 Coalitions and partnerships to drive change. 

1:13:00 The commonality between Lenore’s and David Risley’s work 

Social Links 

Linkedin

Twitter

Wikipedia

Links in the show

In Their Names 

Alliance for Safety and Justice 

Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice 

Time Done

The Guardian Article about Lenore

National Coalition for Shared Safety 

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

TL:DR – If you’re short on time and want some topline insight into the thinking and work of Melanie Van De Velde, then here are 7 minutes of key soundbites.  

If you do have the time on a run, cycle, or drive, check out the full episode. Now over to Melanie. She is doing important work. 

About Dr. Melanie Van De Velde. 

Melanie wholeheartedly believes that we can make this world a way better place. As Founder of Big Tree Global, Melanie and her team support business leaders and MBA students from around the world with insights and tools to help them create a positive impact on key global issues grounded in the SDGs while helping them boost business growth authentically. The insights Melanie applies in her IMPACT workshops, Masterclass, and inspiration trips are based on her research, for which she was awarded the Adam Smith Prize for Ph.D. Excellence, and nominated by Cambridge University. 

Melanie is also the author of LEAD LIKE A GENIUS: 12 Ways to ace sustainability and transform our world (due Oct 23) and LOVE YOUR LEGACY: Five secrets of leading businesses that build a better world. 

As a domain expert and difference maker, I am so excited to talk with Melanie and learn more about how she is helping businesses to empower people, deliver just payments, and create a positive impact on the planet as well as human health and well-being. 

Social Links 

Big Tree Global  

Linkedin

Links in Show

Grassroutes Journies 

Kibera

Joseph Stiglitz The Price of Inequality

Theory of Moral Sentiment

Tonys Chocolonys

Toms Shoes

Soul Rebels 

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

This week's guest is Dr. Melanie Van De Velde. 

Melanie wholeheartedly believes that we can make this world a way better place. As Founder of Big Tree Global, Melanie and her team support business leaders and MBA students from around the world with insights and tools to help them create a positive impact on key global issues grounded in the SDGs while helping them boost business growth authentically. The insights Melanie applies in her IMPACT workshops, Masterclass, and inspiration trips are based on her research, for which she was awarded the Adam Smith Prize for Ph.D. Excellence, and nominated by Cambridge University. 

Melanie is also the author of LEAD LIKE A GENIUS: 12 Ways to ace sustainability and transform our world (due Oct 23) and LOVE YOUR LEGACY: Five secrets of leading businesses that build a better world. 

As a domain expert and difference maker, I am so excited to talk with Melanie and learn more about how she is helping businesses to empower people, deliver just payments, and create a positive impact on the planet as well as human health and well-being. 

What we Discuss 

00:00 Intro

02:00 Who is Melanie, the human being

05:45 What made her who she is

10:30 What Mel is working to impact before she dies

15:40 How Melanie's eyes were opened to the role of business in creating an impact  

20:30 The urgency to act on climate, poverty, and inequality

25:40 The Flaw in the machine of capitalism and the issue of injustice 

30:00 Melanie describes her impact wheel    

35:30 Melanie provides examples of businesses using Impact Wheel 

40:00 Melanie discusses the progress being made by corporates and multinationals 

43:00 The need for more justice

45:45 The need for legislation and increased public awareness 

49:00 Melanie describes Tony’s Chocolony impact story

54:00 The role of education 

55:30 The role of B Corps 

56:20 Lighting as a service

59:40 Melanie describes her new book

1:01:00 Remaining resolute

1:08:00 Her hopes for 2030 

1:09:15 What actions can businesses take

Social Links 

Big Tree Global  

Linkedin

Links in Show

Grassroutes Journies 

Kibera

Joseph Stiglitz The Price of Inequality

Theory of Moral Sentiment

Tonys Chocolonys

Toms Shoes

Soul Rebels 

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

TL:DR - If you're short on time and want some topline insight into the work of Marianna Koval in bringing transportation equity and economic opportunity to New York’s Bronx neighborhood by enabling increased e-bike access through The Equitable Commute Project, then here’s 7 minutes of key soundbites.  

If you do have the time, on a run, cycle, or drive, check out the full episode. Now over to Marianna. 

Marianna is the Director of Invest NYC, SDG at the NYU Stern Center For Sustainable Business.  Invest NYC SDG is a multi-year initiative that aims to build  a sustainable,  inclusive, and resilient economy in New York City by using the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, as a framework to drive private sector engagement and financing in six primary areas.    Those areas are sustainable mobility, the built environment, climate resilience, renewable energy, food and health, waste, and circular economy. 

In the full episode, Mariana discusses the specifics of how she and her team are creating transportation equity and economic opportunity through the Equitable Commute Project, an e-mobility access program in New York’s Bronx neighborhood. 

Anyone interested in making our cities more sustainable should listen to this.

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

This week's guest is Marianna Koval. Marianna is the Director of Invest NYC, SDG at the NYU Stern Center For Sustainable Business. Invest NYC SDG is a multi-year initiative that aims to build a sustainable, inclusive, and resilient economy in New York City by using the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, as a framework to drive private sector engagement and financing in six primary areas. Those areas are sustainable mobility, the built environment, climate resilience, renewable energy, food and health, waste, and circular economy. 

Today we talk about how she's delivering transportation equity to disadvantaged communities in New York through an innovative micro-mobility and e-bike strategy.

And this follows on from my recent interview with Karl Popham, who runs the transportation electrification program in Austin, Texas. And given this is one of the areas of focus for the podcast, I'm excited to welcome Marianna.

What we discuss 

• 00:00 Intro
• 03:40 Marianna recounts her upbringing in the 60s and the influences on her
• 05:20 Her political awakening and volunteering as a 13-year-old
• 06:30 Being a page in the Senate
• 09:00 Attending Princetown in a time of huge social change and Chairing the Academic Committee. 
• 11:00 How she sought our change and felt out of place.
• 13:00 Becoming a ligator in an NYC law firm and hating it.
• 16:30 Marianna’s perspective on New York, its resilience and her memory of 9/11 
• 23:00 Marianna explains the work she does in New York to embrace the UN SDGs and create a city strategy. 
• 27:00 Her insights and lessons on operationalizing strategies
• 29:30 Marianna describes the background the Equitable Commute Project
• 31:00 Implementing the project in The Bronx and the challenges of doing to during Covid. 
• 35:00 Marianna describes three key pillars of the strategy to deliver access, jobs and an accelerator program.
• 40:20 The challenges to scaling in NYC and the need for a US-based E-bike manufacturing.
• 42:00 The role of employers. 
• 44:00 Marianna’s expectations for NYC sustainability in 2030. 
• 46:15 The role of education. 
• 50:10 Marianna discusses other local NYC initiatives and ensuring all parties and organizations are at the table and take responsibility for the goals
• 54:00 The need for political leadership 
• 56:00 Marianna discusses her work to develop Brooklyn Bridge Park and build coalitions. 
• 1:02:30 Marianna’s hopes for the future of New York. 
• 1:06:00 Urban Agriculture

Social Links 

Linkedin

Show links 

New York - A Documentary

Spring Bank 

Hope program 

NYU Stern Center For Sustainable Business

Canna Bronx 

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

TL:DR - If you're short on time and want to hear some of Barbara’s wisdom and insights into how we affect change in our lives, unleash your creativity, unlock the power of the unconscious mind, achieve one's goals, and develop a growth mindset, then here’s 7 minutes of key soundbites from Barbara Doust.  

If you do have the time on a run, cycle, or drive, check out the full episode.

This week's guest Barbara Daoust has lived a transformational life. From acting, directing, and storytelling, she is now an internationally respected Author, Speaker, Success Coach, and Business Growth Accelerator. ​

Barbara understands how our minds are coded and how to unlock the changes people desire, to unleash their creative potential and imagination to change their personal reality.

As Barbara says, she helps people get out of their own way, break up with procrastination, say goodbye to perfectionism, and stop postponing the life of their dreams.’

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

This week's guest Barbara Daoust has lived a transformational life. From acting, directing, and storytelling, she is now an internationally respected Author, Speaker, Success Coach, and Business Growth Accelerator. ​

Barbara understands how our minds are coded and how to unlock the changes people desire, to unleash their creative potential and imagination to change their personal reality.

As Barbara says, she helps people get out of their own way, break up with procrastination, say goodbye to perfectionism, and stop postponing the life of their dreams.’

What we discuss

00:00 Intro

02:00 Barbara recounts who she is, who, and what made her

05:30 She discusses siding with the underdog

07:00 On being the black sheep and being called ‘stupid.’

09:00 Her mix of masculinity, fashion, and femininity

12:00 Seeking approval and her memories of wanting to be an actor

15:00 Her addition to adrenaline and outlet for her energy

20:00 Being a recovering perfectionist

22:00 Going to UCLA and focusing on making mistakes

24:40 Being unconsciously competent

26:00 Successful people embrace failure and risk

27:30 Barbara's views on seeking discomfort and safety

29:30 The role of the subconscious mind

33:10 The life and death traumas that changed her life

40:00 Her passive suicidal state

43:00 Barbara explains paradigms and the ego mind

45:40 The anxiety pandemic, the inner voice and changing personal realities

49:20 The power of parenting

51:50 How change happens in people and accessing dreams

58:10 Barbara on goal setting

1:06:40 The code to changing our realities

1:12:50 The Neuroscience of the emotional mind

1:17:50 How affirmations work

1:21:00 The science of the brain

1:23:40 The journey of awareness and change

1:30:15 Her natural gifts

1:31:20 Navigating leadership

1:35:00 Problem-solving in education

Social 

Barbaras Site

Linkedin 

Facebook

True Love True Self 

Instagram

Links

Barbara's book True Love True Self 

Bob Proctor 

Thanks to Jennifer Hutchins 

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