Category Archives: Podcasts

Podcast interviews with movers & shakers and diverse innovators.

Interfaith Podcasts

Ibrahim Anlı Podcast – Interfaith dialogue leader

Ibrahim    Ibrahim Anlı is the Executive Director of Rumi Forum in Washington, DC, where he leads initiatives advancing interfaith dialogue, religious literacy, and civic belonging. A scholar-practitioner with more than two decades of experience, he has built flagship programs, launched research platforms, and convened multi-stakeholder partnerships across North America, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

Hear Ibrahim discuss:

  • Interfaith dialogue,
  • Depolarization,
  • Religion in public life.

Takeaways that the audience can continue to discuss include:

  • Renewal in interfaith efforts,
  • Religion serving as a prophetic voice.

CLICK for PODCAST

Being Diverse

Greg Jenkins Podcast: DEI as a veteran

GregGreg Jenkins is a dedicated leader, facilitator, trainer, coach, mentor, and small-business owner, committed to helping people and teams achieve higher performance. Greg completed a successful 28+ year US Army career that included overseas duties in Germany, South Korea, and combat duty in Iraq plus several stateside assignments culminating in Washington, D.C.

Greg is a certified Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI), Qualified Administrator (QA) and passionate volunteer who actively mentors and coaches leaders, educators, US military service members, and veterans.

Hear Greg answer these questions:

1. How did you initially get involved with DEI?

2. What was it about your US Army experience that connected you to DEI?

3. In your experience, how does DEI intersect with leadership and team building?

Takeaways

1. What experience can you recall where you felt welcomed, respected, valued, and heard? And, how could you replicate that experience?

2. With our continually evolving US demography, what’s the best way to help the country move forward inclusively?

CLICK for Podcast

Authors R-Z, Holocaust/antisemitism, Interviewing Deborah

Responding: Resilience interview with Levine at St. Elizabeth U.

Holocaust author/educator Deborah Levine, The Art of Resilience: From Pain to Promise

Thanks for sharing the youtube video. Your interview was enlightening and further exhibits your strive to help make the world better. I agree with you that people must first understand the roots of historical tragedies. Too often, these stem from widespread indifference, people ignoring suffering or choosing not to get involved.

I appreciate how you are demonstrating for others by your own active engagement that is rooted in core human qualities like resilience, determination, courage, perseverance, humanity, and decency. It is further emphasized through your personal journey via physical, mental, and spiritual resilience, turning pain into promise through storytelling and lessons from your life that include health setbacks and triumphs. The childhood diary comments are very memorable portions of your talk.

 

You convey hope and a practical blueprint. Learn from history’s failures of inaction, cultivate inner strength and empathy, use tools like writing and storytelling to grow and inspire, and step up to build a more decent world.

Holocaust/antisemitism, Transformation Podcasts

Sidney Klein Podcast: Holocaust Artist and Educator

Syd1

 Sidney  Klein: Born-again as a Holocaust Artist on October 7, 2023 (when Hamas invaded Israel) after a 55-year no-painting hiatus. He paints the effects of antisemitism-the death and destruction and hopes to lessen antisemitism as viewers see, feel, and are affected. His work is in the Heller Museum in NYC, the Gross-Rosen Muzeum in Rogoznica, Poland, and Yad Vashem Holocaust Art Research Center in Jerusalem, Israel. You can CLICK to see his work:  STUDIO

Hear Sid talk about…

1) How he transformed from an MBA businessman to an artist.
2) Why focus on the Holocaust?
3) What is his artistic mission? and where does his work go in the future?

SidTakeaways that the audience can continue to discuss:
Is it better to REMEMBER or FORGET? and For whom?

CLICK for podcast

Arts & Culture Podcasts

Bruce Sudano Podcast – Musical Ball of Fire

SudanoBruce Sudano: Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY,  Bruce formed his first band at age 13. At age 20, he scored his first hit on the music charts with “Ball of Fire“, which he co-wrote with Tommy James (Hanky Panky, Crimson and Clover, I Think We’re Alone Now). Sudano had written many of the songs for his band, Alive N Kickin’, but James’s mentorship elevated his work.

Hear Bruce talk about going to Hollywood, creating the band Brooklyn Dreams which provided background vocals for Donna Summer on her album I Remember Yesterday. When Bruce and Donna fell in love and married, their joined creativity grew. They co-wrote her smash hits including Starting Over Again which Dolly Parton recorded and became No. 1 on the Billboard Country Music Charts. Sudano also co-wrote Tell Me I’m Not Dreamin’ (Too Good to Be True) that Jermaine and Michael Jackson sang on Jermaine’s album. The track was nominated at the 1985 Grammy Awards. 

When Donna passed away, Sudano was grief stricken. But he grew to understand that creativity exists even in the depths of sorrow. His great loss ultimately led to a period of creative growth, releasing 6 albums and many singles, and now: Talkin’ Ugly Truth, Tellin’ Pretty Lies.

Be inspired by Bruce’s podcast interview: CLICK HERE

Transformation Podcasts

Rachelle Zola Podcast: Racism and Love

1 Comment

Rachelle Rachelle Zola is a storyteller and advocate for racial equity, known for her 40-day hunger strike in 2021, urging Congress to pass H.R. 40 to create a commission to study reparations for African Americans. Recently, she completed an 825-mile pilgrimage from Chicago to Montgomery, performing her one-woman show, LATE: A Love Story, which explores personal and collective stories about racism in America.

After walking 825 miles from Chicago to Montgomery, hear Rachelle’s stories:

  • What surprised you?
  • What did you learn?
  • What’s next for you?

Takeaways:

Rachelle invites you to reimagine our shared world as one that celebrates our diversity and freedom to be our authentic selves. Begin by asking just one person today: “What do you want me to know about you?” – if it’s someone you know well, you may want to add “today” – “What do you want me to know about you today?”

See Rachelle’s website: www.late.love

CLICK for Podcast

Transformation Podcasts

Delaney Norvor Podcast: Empower Marginalized and Disabled

Disabled Delaney Norvor is a pioneering technology expert and advocate for underrepresented professionals, currently serving as the Director of Product Management at the National Apartment Association. Despite facing selective mutism due to dystonia, she excels in managing over $30 million in product assets and leading diverse teams. Passionate about mentorship, Delaney empowers marginalized and disabled individuals to navigate their careers, championing inclusivity and systemic change within the tech industry.
Hear Delaney discuss …
1. Her journey as a technology expert while living with selective mutism and  how her experiences shaped her leadership style and approach to managing a diverse team in the tech industry.
2. Her career challenges and triumphs related to both personal and systemic discrimination and her strategies for overcoming these obstacles that can inspire others facing similar barriers.
3. Her lessons learned as a mentor and  how organizations can implement these lessons to create a more supportive environment for all employees.
Takeaways:
  • The Importance of Inclusivity in Leadership:
    Delaney’s journey highlights how diverse perspectives enhance team dynamics and drive innovation. Audiences can explore ways organizations can actively promote inclusivity and support underrepresented professionals, particularly in tech.
  • Strategies for Overcoming Barriers:
    Delaney’s experiences with selective mutism and systemic challenges offer valuable lessons on resilience and determination. Discussions can focus on practical strategies for individuals and organizations to address discrimination and improve accessibility and support for disabled employees.

CLICK for PODCAST

International Podcasts, Ukraine

Ukrainian Podcast: Mayor Yuriy Bova

1 Comment

Mayor Yuriy Bova Yuriy Bova is Mayor of Trostyanets, a Ukrainian city just 20 miles from the Russian border that endured occupation for a month. Badly damaged in fighting with Russian forces almost two years ago, Trostyanets is one of six settlements being rebuilt in a pilot program to develop the skills and experience needed for a far broader reconstruction drive.

Trostyanets is now in partnership with the City of Chattanooga whose Mayor Tim Kelly formalized a cooperative agreement with the war-torn Ukrainian city. I met Mayor Bova at  a  recent reception celebrating the collaboration with many city leaders and organizations like Sister Cities. 

Hear Mayor Bova discuss through his translator:

  • The history and significance of Trostyanets and the remaining historical monuments
  • Trostyanets’ response to Russia’s large-scale invasion in 2022 and what the Russians did in the city 
  • The process of rebuilding: how it began and its current status
  • The city’s development strategy including sports and tourism industries and attracting new investors to the community

Takeaways:

  • What are current threats from Russia?
  • What are the most important problems requiring solutions now?
  • What will be the benefits of this partnership with Chattanooga and how does your visit benefit your people?

CLICK for podcast interview

Arts & Culture Podcasts, Authors A-H, International Podcasts

Avi Hoffman Podcast: The Global Yiddish Renaissance

Avi on stage Avi Hoffman is a globally renowned award-winning actor, director and producer, and Co-Founder & CEO of Yiddishkayt Initiative, Inc.  (YILoveJewish.org)
This is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting Antisemitism through the Arts : Yiddish Saves The World.

Avi was recently awarded Congressional recognition. He was invited to the Vatican to meet Pope Francis and was inducted into the Bronx Jewish Hall of Fame for his lifetime work advancing Jewish culture, Yiddish language and Holocaust awareness.

CLICK for Avi’s podcast interview