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Mayor Bill White of Houston (A Conversation on Integrity in Governance)
Is there room in the American political system for politicians of faith and religious beliefs to be the unifying force of an increasingly diverse population base in a fractured and highly divided political system? Mayor Bill White of Houston thinks so! Mayor White is widely respected as a man of deep integrity and faith and a competent and effective public servant. He has twice been re-elected the Mayor Houston with margins of 86% and 91% and his compassionate response to Hurricane Katrina won him national recognition. He joins me for a conversation on the role of faith in politics, the strength of diversity in decision making process, the importance of accountability and sound business practices in politics, and the imperative stewardship of the environment.
Mobile Money: Revolutionizing Global Access to Money!
Did you know that there are 80 million Americans who are either unbanked or underbanked? That means 13% of the population and by some estimates growing! According to Bertrand Sosa, the co-founder of Mpower Labs (mpowerlabs.com) you might be surprised who is on that list: teenagers, the poor and underserved, those that max out their credit cards, and those whose credit has been deeply compromised by the current recession. So, what do you do when your access to banks and financial institutions is limited? Easy. Pick up your cell Phone! Tune in to find out how…
Taking a Stand for Orphan Children of India
Did you know that there are 25 million orphaned children in India… that is about the size of Texas! What can an individual possibly do to make a difference in the lives of these vulnerable children living in extreme poverty? Caroline Bordeaux, the founder of the Miracle Foundation (miraclefoundation.org), and Shelly Seale, the author of The Weight of Silence: Invisible Children of India (shelleyseale.com) believe that inspired, dedicated individuals can be the difference between life and death for these children. They both felt a “calling” to work with the orphans of India and the strange alchemy of it all: it is an unexpected life of joy and sense of satisfaction!
Horse Boy: How Far Will You Go To Save Someone You Love?
An intensely personal and spirited conversation with Rupert Isaacson, a writer and former horse trainer, and Kristin Neff, a Psychology professor, on their young son’s harrowing journey navigating the bewildering terrain of autism, and their determined and relentless pursuit of hope and healing as a family. When two-year-old Rowan was diagnosed with autism, Rupert and Kristin sough the best medical care for him - but traditional therapies had little effect. Then they discovered that Rowan has a profound affinity for animals - particularly horses - and the family set off on a quest that would change their lives forever. The documentary Horse Boy follows this Texas couple and their autistic son as they trek on horseback through Outer Mongolia in an attempt to find healing for Rowan. (www.horseboymovie.com)
Nobel Peace Prize Winner Dr. Shirin Ebadi (A Discussion on Human Rights)
Dr. Shirin Ebadi is the first Iranian, the first Shia and the first Muslim woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. A champion of human rights, Dr. Ebadi is universally celebrated as a tireless campaigner for legal and human rights reform in Iran. Dr. Ebadi, was the first woman judge to preside over a legislative court in Iran, and although a supporter of the 1979 Iranian Revolution, she was stripped of her judgeship and her license to practice law was revoked when the conservative Muslim clerics succeeded in forbidding women from practicing law in Iran. Dr. Ebadi was able to regain her law license in 1992 and went on to become a lecturer in law at the University of Tehran and a defense counsel for victims of civil and human rights abuses. Dr. Ebadi stopped by for a conversation on human rights, Islam and democracy, modernity vs. westernization, and the creative lengths women go to regain their human rights in Iran today. Join me for a discussion with a remarkable woman whom Desmond Tutu refers to as “… amazing and very brave woman living through some quite turbulent times…she emerges with head unbowed.”
Evan Smith (The Future of Journalism)
Evan Smith, President and Editor in Chief of Texas Monthly magazine (www.texasmonthly.com), stopped by for an informative and high energy discussion on the new reality of journalism in a multi-platform media world, and the changing face of a minority/majority state like Texas and how does an award-winning magazine like Texas Monthly adapt in this new environment and ensure that the issues, challenges and stories of an increasingly diverse Texas is being told in a meaningful way!
Marianne Williamson (Living A Life of Vision)
Are you living your life according to your circumstances or do live your life according to a vision? Marianne Williamson (www.marianne.com), one of the foremost spiritual teachers of what has come to be known as transformational wisdom tradition in the West, encourages us all to shift our perspective, look beyond our circumstances and live our lives according to a vision of becoming more loving people who grow in universal compassion for people who are different from us, to put love first and grow in our capacity for forgiveness. Marianne believes that in the presence of love miracles happen naturally, which she defines as “a shift in perspective“. This vision is leading to a new conversation on aging, gender roles, humanitarian principles and a global outlook of personal responsibility that is embracing the planet.
Trevor Romain (Helping Children Release Their Inner Monkeys)
Trevor Romain (www.trevorromain.com) sees himself as Monty Python meets Dr. Seuss at Jerry Seinfeld’s house in Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. Born in South Africa, Trevor was challenged by dyslexia as a child and attended special education classes until he reached the fourth grade. At age 18, he was called for two years’ mandatory service in the South African Army where an emotional experience with a severely injured child cemented Romain’s desire to work with children and help them deal with difficult life situations. As an award-winning author and illustrator of a series of self-help books for children, Trevor animated DVD series with a cast of animated friends using humorous adventures based on his books to teach real life lessons for kids. Trevor’s series of self-help books has sold more than a million copies worldwide and have been published in 18 different languages.
Alice Schroeder (Snowball:Warren Buffett and the Business of Life!)
Alice Schroeder has written the only authorized biography of Warren Buffett with unprecedented access to him and his life, with one rule from Buffett: if she came across a less flattering version of the events from what he was remembering, to go with the less flattering one! What emerges is an account of a focused, determined, brilliant and very fragile human being with an insatiable thirst for learning who set out to prove that integrity is the corner stone of business and wealth building. Can there be another Warren Buffett? What advice does he have to navigate the current recession?
Rabbi Lawrence Kushner (Judaism & Spirituality)
What if all of life’s spiritual lessons could be distilled down to a bumper sticker? According to Rabbi Kushner (www.www.rabbikushner.org) it could read: “It’s your ego, stupid!” Rabbi Kushner is widely regarded as one of the most creative religious writers in America and is highly sought after as a lecturer and teacher. Through his lectures, articles and 15 books (translated into six languages), he has helped shape the present agenda for personal and institutional spiritual renewal.
Kevin Locke (Tokeya Inajin)
Botshabelo (Place of Refuge for the Heart!)
Botshabelo (www.botshabelo.org) is an innovative model of community development founded by Marion and Con Cloete in 1990 in South Africa. Botshabelo is dedicated to improving the lives of the economically challenged with a special focus on children who have been orphaned by or exposed to HIV/AIDS. Using the traditional African village, and its inherent UBUNTU (I am because you are) values of cooperation and joint responsibility as a model, the community works together to break the cycle of poverty and bring hope, safety, education and sustainable growth. The community includes an orphanage, school, village, medical clinic and organic farm. A remarkable conversation that will move your heart and make you stand up and cheer!
Happy For No Reason!
Marci Schimoff, (www.happyfornoreason.com) one of the stars of the global phenomena “The Secret” and the co-author of six of the New Times Bestsellers of the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” series joins me to discuss what she has learned about the science of happiness in her research and writing of her new book “Happy For No Reason”. Why are some people more resilient in the face of stress and trauma than others? Is there a happiness set-point, like a weight set-point, for each of us? Are there traits, beliefs, and practices that set apart the truly happy among us and what can we learn from them? Join us for this timely discussion!
Happiness Is… the Movie! (Life, Liberty & Pursuit of…)
What is happiness and how does one increase and sustain this most sought after of all human experiences? The documentary “Happiness Is…” (www.happinessisthemovie.com) explores the journey of filmmaker Andrew Shapter in America as he interviews experts, artists and everyday Americans on what happiness means to them. Also, joining me for the conversation are producer, Tracy Marino, and special guests from the film Alan Graham of Mobile Loaves and Fishes (www.mlfnow.org) and Matthew Dowd, the chief strategist for the Bush-Cheney 2004 campaign.
Africa Rising
Africa is bigger than you think! Africa is richer than you think! And Africa is open for business. A conversation with Dr. Vijay Mahajan, the distinguished Professor of Marketing at the McCombs School of Business at the University of Austin-Texas, on his new book “Africa Rising: How 900 Million African Consumers Offer More Than You Think”.
Sarah Bird
The brilliant, humorous, and beautiful celebrated novelist Sarah Bird (www.sarahbirdbooks.com) discussing her latest book “How Perfect is That” in a lively conversation about humor in writing, creativity and the search for common good in her new novel.
Annie Lamott: Grace Eventually
The legendary Annie Lamott (www.salon.com/columnists/lamott.html) stopped by for a chat about her new book “Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith”. Listen to a heartfelt conversation on the joys of writing, the perils of publishing and how grace enters one’s life, eventually! She does not disappoint…
Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor’s Stroke of Insight!
Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor (http://drjilltaylor.com) is the Harvard trained neuroanatomist who gained remarkable insights in to human consciousness through her massively debilitating stroke and recovery. Dr. Taylor was named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World for 2008 and was recently showcased on Oprah Winfrey’s “Soul Series”. An animated discussion about her phenomenal New York Times bestseller “My Stroke of Insight” and what she learned from her stroke about the human spirit. Could Nirvana and inner peace be wired in to our right brain? Listen to this remarkable conversation and decide for yourself!
Jim Lehrer: The Joys of a Life of Purpose
A conversation with the prolific novelist and host of PBS News Hour, Jim Lehrer, (www.pbs.org/newshour)on following one’s passion, living a life of purpose and the state of journalism today.