Imagine advancing local+global connection, economic development, entrepreneurship, transportation and community-development… all through an existing asset. That asset is the major airport. A new kind of community and economic engine can be built within and around existing airports if we are inventive in our coordination, collaboration and collective will. We’re talking about the idea of an Aerotropolis. In Cleveland, it’s the Aerozone Alliance, a partnership of economic jewels; Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport, NASA Glenn Research Center and surrounding communities. More on the Aerozone Alliance is found, here: https://www.aerozonealliance.org 

Host Craig James chats with Dr. Stuart C. Mendel, the founding executive director of the Aerozone Alliance. Dr. Mendel regularly advises community leaders, nonprofit executives/board members—and has served on numerous organization boards and committees. Dr. Mendel also serves as Director of the National Center on Nonprofit Enterprise.

Thinking big. Being Audacious. Big Audacious Idea.

This is the last episode of Season-2. It’s been a blast. Thanks for listening-in.

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Humanity is at an inflection point. We can spiral up to abundance and equity—or spiral down into division and despair. It’s up to us. All of us. To chart a positive path, we need to have the tough conversations and challenge our assumptions. We need to talk about race, economic/health disparity… and more.

Looking at history is useful, too. Not just the recent past, but back hundreds of years. Seek to understand the roots of our thinking+systems and have the courage to challenge them. We also need to ask big basic questions such as, “What is the role of government and what is government in the first place?"

Can we find solutions to the greatest problems of our country and world? Absolutely. Together.

Listen to a conversation that is both sobering and hopeful. Global and local. Host Craig James talks with Davidione Pearl, social/eco activist, artist, international travel writer and musician. They discuss how we (all) can live our lives in service to others—before and after we die.

Davidione's Socials:

FB - https://www.facebook.com/davidione.pearl

IG - @davidionecpearl

TWR - @DavidionePearl 

Davidione's work:

Race, Racism, and the Power of Language

Haitian Vodou: Relativity And Demystification

Perfect Storm: Covid-19 America and Black Lives

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Place-making and the built environment is extra special when it combines the visual with other senses. It’s called Content Driven Design. Content Driven Design tells stories, heightens our awareness of the world and informs us about humanity and history. It helps us connect, better.

On this episode of Big Audacious Idea we welcome Wendy Evans Joseph of Studio Joseph a WBE (Woman Business Enterprise) in New York City. As part of a commitment to public work and the community, the firm was part of the highly competitive Small Firms Design Excellence Program for the NYC/DDC (Department of Design and Construction) and is currently working with the National Park Service.

Wendy chats with host Craig James about the power of thoughtful Content Driven Design and helps us see that “the kitchen table” where bread is broken and our bodies+spirits are fueled—can exist anywhere. Everywhere. 

Learn More about Wendy's work at https://www.studiojoseph.com

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What makes a stink bug an entrepreneur? Maybe he takes more risk than other stink bugs do. Maybe he sees patterns that the other little creatures don’t. The entrepreneur-stink-bug’s friends tend not to understand him.

Whether stink bug or human being—being an entrepreneur is a unique thing. It’s a way of being and thinking—not just a function of “doing". Not all of us are one. Not all of us should be one. Entrepreneurs tend to capably imagine, invent and convert ideas into reality. But the game of entrepreneurship is changing. Adaptation and agility—as well as embracing employees and customers in new ways—are becoming increasingly essential to the entrepreneur.

In this episode of Big Audacious Idea, host Craig James is joined by Grant Marquit; environmentalist, artist, and program consultant at The Entrepreneurs EDGE. Together, they discuss all things entrepreneurial. Learn more about Grant's work here.

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The very act of creating art is the art. Creative Contact is when we do so, together. Creative Contact helps us truly tune into (and understand) each other. And, when we do it right, we integrate life, humanity, place-making and nature. 

We can redefine what public spaces mean—and how we experience them. And sometimes, it’s the little things that matter the most. 

Creator of public art Mac Love of ART x LOVE and Shanelle Smith Whigham, Vice President, Sustainability & Social Impact at KeyBank and former State Director of the Trust for Public Land in Ohio, join host Craig James in this episode of Big Audacious Idea. Together, they discuss community living and how unique approaches to human engagement can help us cope (and support each other) during a pandemic—and beyond.

Learn more about Mac's work at artxlove.com

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Humor can connect us. When we laugh together, we’re less likely to harm each other. Humor also brings new perspectives. Perspectives that produce possibility and creativity.

In this episode, Comedian+Leadership Speaker David Horning and Host Craig James have a somewhat seriously funny conversation about humor. Horning describes his path to comedy, discusses the different types of humor, and helps us see how humor can make us better thinkers and leaders.

Check out Horning's podcast “You Can't Laugh at That”, and his website WaterCoolerComedy.org.

www.davidhorningcomedy.com

davidhorning.wordpress.com

www.twitter.com/THEdavidhorning

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Have you ever experienced a synchronistic moment when time and space bend—and someone (or something) else seems “in control”? You realize something special is happening, but you can’t quite put it into words. Guess what: Love has probably got a lot to do with it.

In this episode, host Craig James is joined by Dr. Stephen Post, the best-selling lead author of Why Good Things Happen to Good People: How to Live a Longer, Happier, Healthier Life by the Simple Act of Giving, and God and Love on Route 80: The Hidden Mystery of Human Connectedness. Together they discuss the science and humanity of love, synchronicity, and serendipity. 

Learn more about Dr. Post here.

You can purchase his latest book: God and Love on Route 80: The Hidden Mystery of Human Connectedness here.

Stephen’s Other Links:

www.unlimitedloveinstitute.org

www.stonybrook.edu/bioethics

Correction: During the interview, Craig references a book by Mara Gleason Olsen. The correct title is, “One Thought Changes Everything”. You can purchase it here.

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Did you know that the word “Network” has 43 meanings? Yep, 43. Like the case with so many words, there are many meanings. It’s important to be specific and clear about what we’re discussing. During this conversation, host Craig James and his guest Valdis Krebs, a Data Scientist, explore the fascinating topic of Human Networks.  

Human Networks can look and act like other networks, such as electrical networks. But when it comes to Human Networks—there are important differences. Human Networks rely on relationship, trust and quality connection.

In our era of hyper-connection and “promiscuous linking” we may lose sight of what’s good, or bad—when we connect. Connections can infect us, or protect us. They can build bridges, or separate us. They can spread useful information… or proliferate disinformation.  

It’s important to be thoughtful as we network and connect. 

We can connect on our similarities—and benefit from our differences.

It’s up to us.

Listen up.

Listen in. 

Listen good.

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Culture makes us better human beings. Music is a great example of culture. In fact, one could argue that music is a necessity—not a nicety. It’s an international language. 

Creating music is an elevated act like no other. Performing music connects and bridges human differences. Witnessing a live performance is a vivid multi-sensory experience that combines venue, performer-audience connection and the music itself.

But changes in our world are making such rich human experiences harder to come by... and the future (and business) of performance art is uncertain. 

In this episode, join Host Craig James and Conductor Wilson Hermanto, the Principal Guest Conductor of Cameristi della Scala. They discuss what Hermanto calls “the higher plateau” and the impact of music on humanity and the future. Listen-in

Learn more about Wilson and his work from his website and from his bio at IMG Artists.

The music playing during the interview:

Haydn Cello Concerto in C Major, Daniel Müller-Schott, cello,

Cameristi della Scala, Wilson Hermanto, Conductor

Tchaikovsky Serenade for strings in C Major op. 48,

Cameristi della Scala, Wilson Hermanto, Conductor

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Imagine looking upon the Earth with millions of brilliant stars in the background while you “walk“ through low Earth orbit toward the Hubble Space Telescope. 

Upon arrival at the Hubble—you’re reminded of the fact that it sees 13 billion years into the “past” and can practically witness the birth of the Universe. 

Join Host Craig James in a wonderment-igniting conversation with Michael T. "Bueno” Good—retired NASA Astronaut + retired Commissioned Officer in the United States Air Force.

Colonel Good has flown 30+ types of aircraft such as the F-111 and F-15… and flew aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis for STS-125 (the final Space Shuttle servicing mission to the Hubble). He was also Mission Specialist 2 on STS-132 which docked with the International Space Station for an assembly mission.

Space Exploration expands human imagination and can bridge human social, societal and political chasms. Space Exploration also serves us in our daily lives—in ways we may not realize. 

Every successful Mission is a series of “consecutive miracles” Colonel Good explains. Listen-in to learn more.

For more on Colonel Good: see his NASA profile here.

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