Jamie Metzl is one of the world’s leading authorities on the implications of the intersecting AI, genetics, and biotechnology revolutions and how governments, corporations, organizations, and individuals can ride the wave of these unprecedented transformations to build their best possible futures. In this Blue Sky episode, he talks about the optimistic insights and opportunities he describes in his new book, Superconvergence.

Today, Lee Ellis is an acclaimed and accomplished author and leadership coach. But in 1967, while flying a combat mission over North Vietnam, he was shot down, captured, and held as a prisoner of war for five-and-a-half years at the “Hanoi Hilton,” where his group of fellow prisoners included the late Senator John McCain. and on this Blue Sky episode,Colonel Lee Ellis shares his incredible story and the valuable leadership and life lessons he learned under these trying circumstances, as well as the optimistic and hopeful mindset he’s used to get him through his toughest challenges.

Theodore (Ted) R. Johnson served twenty years in the United States Navy before becoming a columnist and author. His latest book, If We Are Brave is a collection of essays on race in America, and in this Blue Sky conversation, Ted describes his pragmatic optimism and belief that the United States has in its founding ideals the path towards forming a “more perfect union.” Ted’s personal story is remarkable, rising from humble beginnings to become an officer in the US Navy, White House Fellow, and speechwriter for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Lee Woodruff and her husband Bob were, in many ways, on top of the world. She was with her children at Walt Disney World while Bob was overseas in one of his first news gathering assignments after being named a co-anchor of ABC World News Tonight. Everything changed in an instant when the vehicle Bob was traveling in hit a roadside bomb and he sustained a traumatic brain injury. From there, Lee and his family faced the challenges of trauma, grief, and persevered thanks to what Lee describes as her “Four F’s”: Family, Friends, Funny, and Faith.” Not long after Bob made an against-the-odds recovery, he and Lee founded the Bob Woodruff Foundation, which helps support veterans, service members, and their families.

Known in the science community primarily for her work as a geneticists and epidemiologist with a focus on oncology, Immaculata De Vivo seems like an unlikely person to co-Author a book called, “The Biology of Kindness.” But the more she understood the role that behavior played in our wellbeing and that it can even have an impact on our DNA structures, the more she wanted to write her findings in a book that would be accessible to people outside the world of academia. In this episode, Immaculata describes why all scientists must be optimists, and why we should all keep open minds and strive to be lifelong learners who don’t “fall in love with our hypotheses.” She also describes the “five values” that are key to our wellbeing: kindness, optimism, forgiveness, gratitude, and happiness and offers practical advice and examples for how we might pursue this in our lives.

The husband and wife team of Mary Louise and Bruce Cohen have impressive backgrounds in law and government and for the past ten years, they’ve used their skills to advance the cause of skilled refugees around the world. The organization they co-founded, Talent Beyond Boundaries (TBB), identifies refugees with marketable skills and places them in a talent database that matches them with eager employers. The Cohens tackle their intimidating challenges with an inspiring sense of can-do optimism and their TBB’s success is a reflection of these efforts.

At a time in her life that should have been one of her happiest –just prior to her wedding –Christina Menkemeller developed frightening symptoms and was given a devastating diagnosis. In the wake of this news, Christina’s fiancé Cardin never wavered in his commitment and the newlywed couple decided to take a yearlong trip that would change the course of their lives. After facing the understandable “why me” moments, Christina was buoyed by her faith and a sense of gratitude and decided to launch a nonprofit –called Being Positioned –to help others with conditions like hers go on their own dream trips. She describes this organization as a sort of “Make-A-Wish for adults” and it’s already making a huge impact and helping her find purpose in her suffering.

Dr. Liz Henry is highly-regarded professional in the fields of pediatrics and parenting and in this Blue Sky conversation, she shares her views on everything from technology, drugs and alcohol, whether it’s tougher to be a kid today, and more. The content is relevant for kids, current parents, past parents, and even adults who might take this information and cut their own parents a little slack. Dr. Liz is optimistic, enthusiastic, and engaging and her advice is both helpful and practical, with much of it pulled from her best-selling book,You Are Not a Bad Parent: A Pediatrician’s Guide to Reducing Conflict and Connecting with Your Teens.

Alexandra “Lexi” Hudson was raised by a philosopher father and a mother who is a recognized manners expert. As a result, she has spent much of her life contemplating what forms of behavior constitute “the good life,” and lead to human flourishing. Following a disheartening stint working in government and seeing even spotty incidents of politeness masking an underlying incivility. This drove her to write her new book, which reaches back to great thinkers and writers throughout history to teach us timeless lessons and this work forms the basis of this Blue Sky conversation.

From her book description:“From classical philosophers like Epictetus, to great twentieth-century thinkers like Martin Luther King Jr., to her own experience working in the federal government during one of the most politically fraught eras in our nation's history, Hudson examines how civility—a respect for the personhood and dignity of others—transcends political disagreements. Respecting someone means valuing them enough to tell them when you think they are wrong.”

Tim Fitzpatrick learned about healthcare the hard way, as a long-term inpatient undergoing a battery of surgeries to address injuries sustained while serving as a pilot in the US Navy. After recovering and leaving the service, Tim was an equities trader for a bank, and after learning more about new media technologies, then meeting a physician who was pioneering virtual reality in healthcare, Tim found his passion, and left his job to co-found IKONA, where he now serves as CEO. This innovative and inspiring company is using virtual reality tools to help kidney patients understand the sometimes scary challenges faced when moving to a home dialysis setting.

Raul Espinoza’s father had many talents, but an equal number of demons. He struggled with addiction and was abusive to Raul’s mother as well as to him and his siblings. At the early age of ten, Raul decided he would take a different path and vowed not to drink and to treat women with respect. He has stayed true to this pledge and now, at the age of 38, Raul Espinoza is the executive director and driving force behind All Kings, a peer-led support organization that empowers men who have been – or may soon be impacted by the criminal justice system. This is an inspiring conversation about how this man overcame extreme challenges to make a huge difference in the lives of others with similar backgrounds.

Dr. Hasan Merali came to admire toddlers when he began working with kids in a hospital emergency department. Seeing their remarkable resilience, optimism, and courage in the face of adversity led him to think about ways we as adults can learn from these young people. The result is his great to book, “Sleep Well, Take Risks, Squish the Peas: Secrets from the Science of Toddlers for a Happier, More Successful Way of Life.” On this fun Blue Sky episode, Dr. Merali shares many of these secrets, from being good at saying no, finishing meals when full, taking risks, and sleeping well with consistent bedtime rituals.

Teju Ravilochan was born in the United States, just two years after his parents come to this country from their native India. His parents went on to careers in medicine but only after help from several corners of their adopted community. Growing up, they taught these lessons to their son, and today Teju is the founder of GatherFor, a non-profit dedicated to the belief that “in community, we have everything we need.” In this Blue Sky conversation, Teju describes the remarkable and brave work that he and his colleagues are doing, particularly in challenging housing development in Brooklyn, NY. Teju describes how nearly every tactic and practice they pursue is nothing new but rather reaching back to old, in some cases ancestral concepts of community and looking out for our neighbors. Teju’s optimism is as infectious as his work his inspiring.

We’re bringing back this conversation in honor of Immigrant Heritage Month in the United States. Anh and her family left their home country in the most dramatic of circumstances and in the nearly 50 years since they came to this country, their accomplishments have been extraordinary.

The family of Anh Vu Sawyer were among the small number of South Vietnamese who successfully fled Saigon in the final days and hours of the Vietnam War. After describing this harrowing ordeal, Anh explains how these events inspired her to lead a life of inspiring service and social entrepreneurship here in the United States.

Kate Bean’s life has been marked by a series of radical changes and transformations. After founding and running a successful non-profit that launched and oversaw charter schools while leading a national movement towards personalized education Kate decided to make a change. She retired from her position, tricked out a minivan and headed out so see the country, inspired by Gandhi’s advice that, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” This remarkable journey led her to take on a social impact academic fellowship where she created another new entity, iChange Course. In addition to writing a book about her life and travels, she consults individuals and speaks to groups about managing and embracing change. Today, Kate says that, “life is a journey, change is the vehicle, and the destination is now.”

John Daniel has led a remarkable and inspiring life, marked by challenges that he’s met with grit and resilience. John’s alcoholic father struggled to find work but his loving mom made sure her nine children always had the support they needed. John emerged from his childhood to become a successful banking executive with a successful marriage and thriving children. But following his own diagnosis of a serious heart ailment, his wife developed cancer and passed away. A few short years later, John faced a major heart procedure and ultimately, a full transplant. With the support of his second wife, Leslie, John persevered, got back on his feet, and resumed his career. Now retired from banking, John and Leslie have co-founded Bluff City Pickleball, a community center in their hometown of Memphis, Tennessee designed to bring people together from all walks of life and economic backgrounds.