THINK BIGGER, THINK BETTER

Andrew Hermalyn, the 30-year-old President of 2UGrad, joins us today to talk about how 2U provides the digital infrastructure universities need to attract, enroll, educate, and support students at scale while delivering high-quality outcomes. With the 2U platform, students can pursue their education anytime, anywhere, without quitting their jobs or moving - and university clients can improve educational outcomes, skills attainment, and career prospects for a greater number of students.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://bit.ly/2PmTPZs

Today's amazing guest, Jesus Mantas of IBM, joins us to talk about Artificial Intelligence, its main consumer and business applications, and how IBM is addressing the risks of AI. He is, in some ways, typical IBM: a geek through and through, exemplified by his engineering background and lifelong fascination with AI. But he is a geek who specializes in helping businesses exploit new technology for consumer and business benefit, and he is helping lead one of history's most groundbreaking companies into a future of responsible, transparent Artificial Intelligence.

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Our culture - the norms, beliefs, and assumptions that drive behavior - suggests that kids are in constant danger. Despite all the statistics pointing in the opposite direction, parenting culture treats those of us who give our kids some more independence in the world as subpar parents at best and negligent at worst. Today’s guest, Lenore Skenazy, the "Worst Mom in America," founder of Free Range Kids and President of the non-profit Let Grow, and my new hero is on a mission to change the culture of fear that says our kids are constantly in danger and hampers their development as a result.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://bit.ly/2ys7zHY

Are spirituality and atheism incompatible?  Today’s guest – philosopher, speaker, and author Nick Jankel – would argue no. Nick broke with organized religion at a young age, but the rest of his life has been spent filling this gap with all of the things that typically come along with organized religion sans the dogmatic teachings. In this episode, we spend some time talking about growing up – how in life you find your purpose and must do battle with some psychological dragons along the way. 

Get full show notes and more information here: https://bit.ly/2y64qgH

On today's episode, I’m going to talk about Trump - not too much about his policies but more about his leadership, asking the question: How, from the perspective of a leadership scholar and former CEO of a leadership consulting firm (myself), are his leadership skills? Join me this week as we think bigger and broader about the Trump presidency and what is unfolding within his administration.

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What is the meaning of life? Is it being happy, as many contemporary authors and self-help gurus will tell you? With all due respect to those who’ve made a career out of that message, there is more to it – and the big idea is called human flourishing. Businesses need to make money, but is business just a money-engine, or can it engender human flourishing? How can businesses challenge that energy?

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The final frontier: Will we settle other planets, moons, or farther still? Is Elon Musk’s vision of colonizing Mars (starting with short trips in 2020) realizable, or Silicon Valley hubris? Why, when we have so many Terran problems to solve, should we devote resources to space? To discuss space and the work of The Planetary Society, we have their Senior Editor Emily Lakadawalla on the show.    

Get full show notes and more information here: https://bit.ly/2MzQWTD

Our episode today covers depression, which affects one in six Americans. 20% of women and 10% of men will have an episode during their lifetimes. An important question is whether this may grossly understate the case; whether, because of stigma, depression is vastly under-diagnosed. Join me and Steve Hollon as we talk depression, diagnosis, medical treatment pros and cons, and what you can do to help yourself and those around you.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://bit.ly/2w22W6d

Almost a decade ago, I traveled to San Diego to play in a World Series of Poker event. This kid sat next to me: headphones, beard, hat backward. I don’t usually talk to the players much, let alone 21-year-old college students, but this guy and I got on like a house on fire. He was just 21 and I was 50, but we found so much common ground, and we’ve been good friends since.

This worldly 20-something (now 30-something) has just returned from a nine-month trip "cultural tourism" through South America on a school bus. He visited the rich and poorest, indigenous and rural communities, artists, scientists, and politicians.  The journey was Odyssian, with severe hardship, cultural clashes, injury, and danger: in this podcast, we barely capture the intensity.  His stories will inform and touch your heart.  Tune in for a different kind of conversation on Think Bigger, Think Better this week.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://bit.ly/2B9RPND

This podcast probes a culture of fake news, post-truth, Trump, and many of the other phenomena from the last few years that corrupt our “information space.” As information age citizens, we depend on good information (facts) to make decisions as voters and consumers. I’m discussing some of the more mind-bogglingly convoluted conspiracy theories and how the internet has allowed some of this claptrap to flourish.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://bit.ly/2H1TemK