There is always blue sky above
sometimes you just have to get your head above the clouds to see it.
A podcast meant to inspire people with an optimistic and hopeful vision of the world and our future.
Celebrating Optimism Month and Blue Sky’s 2nd Anniversary
On Deck:
Earl B. Hunter, Jr.
March 12
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Ep. 86
Khan Academy’s Sal Khan Describes Why He’s So Optimistic About the Future of AI and Education
Sal Khan is one of the great innovators in education and in this Blue Sky episode, he discusses his book, Brave New Words: How AI Will Revolutionize Education (and Why That’s a Good Thing)… More -
Ep. 85
Leslie and Richard Strauss Describe How Their In-School Program, Spirit Series, Builds a Better Future with Wisdom from the Past
Leslie and Richard Strauss are a husband-and-wife team who oversee Spirit Series, an innovative educational program in which young students perform plays about timeless stories… More -
Ep. 84
Professor and Author Amy Edmondson Discusses the Benefits of Psychological Safety in the Workplace and What She Believes to be the “Right Kind of Wrong”
Business school professor and author Amy Edmondson shares her views on how we can make our workplace more productive, enriching, and positive for everyone… More -
Ep. 83
“A Bit Of Blue Sky”: Five Book Recommendations to Help You Be More Optimistic
On this installment of “A Bit of Blue Sky,” host Bill Burke describes five books he recommends that will help listeners be more optimistic (and hopefully, fulfill their New Year’s resolution to do so)!… More -
Ep. 82
Marketing and Storytelling Expert Neal Foard Describes His Efforts to Make the Internet—and the World—a Kinder Place
On this episode, Neal describes why, after helping build household name global brands like Budweiser, Lexus, and Sony, he has turned his attention to telling and teaching stories… More -
Ep. 81
Zach Karabell Discusses His Thought-Provoking Work and Why He Continues to Be an “Edgy Optimist”
This conversation covers a lot of ground, including how Zachary views President Trump and the “chaos” and “hysteria” he expects will be created during his second term, the remarkable medical breakthroughs like mRNA vaccines, and his new Substack newsletter, “The Edgy Optimist.”… More -
Ep. 80
Daniel Pink Shares His Thoughts on Optimism, Pessimism, and the Positive Power of Regret
Daniel Pink joins Blue Sky for a lively and wide-ranging discussion. He describes the importance of what he sees as a personal portfolio that includes a predominance of optimism that’s balanced by a healthy and helpful dose of pessimism… More -
Ep. 79
Chloé Valdary Shares Her Thoughtful and Optimistic Work at Her Company, Theory of Enchantment
Chloé Valdary shares her unique way of thinking about –and training others –in the field of diversity and difference. She describes her fascination with human beings in all our complexity and resists and rejects our tendencies to put everyone into the limiting categories of “oppressors or oppressed.”… More
IN THE NEWS AND ON THE AIR
Being optimistic doesn't come naturally for everyone, but there are ways to incorporate more positivity into your life. Bill Burke, the founder of The Optimism Institute and the “Blue Sky” podcast, joins Hoda & Jenna to discuss a few tips for building a happier and more optimistic lifestyle.
From Founder Bill:
Appearing on “TODAY with Hoda and Jenna” was a lot of fun. The two hosts - and everyone involved with the show - were great work with, and I appreciated the chance to bring some of The Optimism Institute’s messages to a national TV audience.
The icing on the cake has been welcoming so many new listeners to “Blue Sky” and visitors to our site and social media, as well as hearing kind words of support from long-time followers and friends.
Founder Bill’s Guest Appearances:
WHAT TO EXPECT…
Meet the Host
Bill Burke founded The Optimism Institute in 2022 after an extensive media and sports career as an executive, writer, and producer. Bill served as CEO of The Weather Channel Companies after several years at Time Warner/Turner Broadcasting System, where he was the founding general manager of Turner Classic Movies before going on to become president of TBS Superstation. Additionally, for fifteen years he was the co-owner and chairman of the Portland Sea Dogs, the double-A Minor League Baseball affiliate of the Boston Red Sox.
As a writer, Bill co-authored Ted Turner’s top-10 New York Times Best-Selling autobiography Call Me Ted and later co-wrote/produced/directed “Live Another Day,” an award winning feature-length documentary on the bailout of the U.S. auto industry.
Bill is a lifelong optimist (he has to be - he’s a Detroit Lions fan) and launched The Optimism Institute with a mission to inspire people with an optimistic, hopeful vision of the world and its future.