Blue Sky

ENCORE PRESENTATION: NYT Bestselling Author Matt Ridley on His Motivation to Write The Rational Optimist and Why He Believes That Human Prosperity Will Inevitably Continue to Increase

Matt Ridley's seminal book, The Rational Optimist, has inspired many since its publication in 2010 and greatly influenced the creation of The Optimism Institute.  In this far-ranging discussion, Matt will describe an early education that he said was steeped in pessimism but how later in life he found that much of what he'd been taught was simply not true.  This led him to set on a nearly evangelical quest to spread the word that interaction and trade between people and nations, including the free exchange of ideas, will continue to set us on an inexorable path towards increasing prosperity.    Chapters:  00:00 Introducing Matt Ridley Bill Burke introduces Matt Ridley, acclaimed author of "The Rational Optimist" and other influential books. He highlights Ridley's extensive background, including his service in the House of Lords and his work on various scientific committees.  02:39 From Pessimism to Rational Optimism  Matt Ridley shares his personal journey from a pessimistic upbringing in the 1970s to becoming a 'rational optimist' based on evidence. He recounts how his research for 'The Rational Optimist' revealed that many assumed negative trends, like decreasing happiness with wealth, were actually false.  06:01 The Genesis of "The Rational Optimist"  Ridley explains his evangelical motivation for writing 'The Rational Optimist,' aiming to counter pervasive doom and gloom, especially among young people. He also sought to explore the evolutionary roots of human prosperity and growth, driven by an innate curiosity about why the world was improving.  07:28 Ideas Have Sex: Cooperation and Trade  Matt Ridley delves into his concept of "ideas having sex," explaining how human cooperation, trade, and the exchange of specialized skills drive prosperity. He posits that this fundamental human tendency to swap goods and ideas is as crucial to cultural evolution as sex is to natural evolution.  13:50 Social Media's Impact: Polarization and Progress  Ridley reflects on social media's impact on his 'ideas having sex' theory, acknowledging its initial promise for communication but also its role in political polarization.   19:29 Panglossian vs. Rational Optimism  Ridley distinguishes his rational optimism from Panglossian optimism, emphasizing that he believes the world can and should be improved, not that it's already perfect. He counters common pessimistic arguments by pointing to long-term improvements in living standards and the gradual nature of good news compared to sudden bad news.  23:56 Trust and the Pencil's Lesson Matt Ridley discusses the importance of interpersonal trust for societal prosperity, contrasting it with institutional trust. He also elaborates on the 'I, Pencil' essay, illustrating how millions of specialized individuals unknowingly collaborate to produce even a simple item like a pencil.  33:15 Gratitude, Specialization, and Daily Miracles  Ridley encourages gratitude for the vast network of people who contribute to our daily lives, using the example of a simple meal.   36:50 Climate Change: A Problem to Be Solved Matt Ridley shares his nuanced perspective on climate change, acknowledging it as a real threat but cautioning against panic and exaggeration. He suggests viewing it as a problem solvable through human ingenuity, while also highlighting the overlooked environmental benefits of CO2 and the harm caused by some climate prevention measures.  42:51 The Future of Innovation: Worries and Hopes  Ridley discusses the limitless nature of knowledge and innovation, emphasizing communication over population size for progress.  

Amy King's Innovative and Optimistic Approach to Solving Homelessness in America

Amy King watched the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and seeing people sheltered in a leaking football stadium inspired her to work with her husband on shelter solutions.  The result was Pallet, a company that makes safe, secure, and easily assembled temporary shelters.  In this episode she shares her inspiring story and details about her remarkable company.    Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Amy King and Pallet  This chapter introduces Amy King, founder and CEO of Pallet, a public benefit corporation addressing homelessness.  02:07 From Child Psychology to Social Enterprise  Amy King shares her journey from studying child psychology, where she observed the impact of troubled homes, to founding Pallet. Her interest in people and the influence of early experiences shaped her path toward addressing societal challenges like homelessness.  04:37 The Genesis of Pallet: From Katrina to Construction  Amy discusses how her husband's construction company accidentally led them to employ individuals from the justice system, many of whom had experienced homelessness.   07:19 Public Benefit Corporation Model  Amy explains why Pallet operates as a public benefit corporation rather than a nonprofit, emphasizing its dual mission of workforce development and providing shelter.   11:13 Pallet Shelters and Deployment Strategy  Amy describes the innovative design of Pallet shelters—lightweight, panelized, and quick to assemble, with features like heat, AC, and easy cleaning. She details Pallet's partnership with cities and Zillow to identify and utilize vacant public land for shelter villages, which are temporary and designed for easy relocation.  15:35 The Transformative Impact of Pallet Shelters  Amy elaborates on how Pallet shelters provide more than just a roof, offering a managed care environment with wraparound services for mental health, substance use, and housing placement. This stability allows individuals to engage with services and break the cycle of homelessness, as exemplified by a tenant named Matthew.  20:29 Hope for Ending Homelessness & Political Challenges  Amy discusses Pallet's broad reach across the US and Canada and her controversial but hopeful view on ending homelessness. She addresses the political complexities and the need for sufficient services and innovation to address root causes, moving towards 'functional zero' homelessness.  25:57 Disaster Relief and Versatile Solutions  Amy highlights Pallet's role in disaster relief, noting the political challenges of working with organizations like FEMA and the need for non-congregate shelter solutions. She explains the versatility of Pallet's product, which can be repurposed for both disaster response and homelessness, providing flexibility for communities.  31:10 Economic Viability and Community Recovery  Amy discusses the economic benefits of using Pallet shelters for disaster relief, contrasting them with expensive hotel stays and emphasizing the importance of keeping residents near their communities for recovery. This approach helps maintain local economic bases and encourages volunteer participation by providing convenient housing for relief workers.  34:19 Transformative Impact on Individuals and Families  Amy shares her favorite part of the work: witnessing the profound transformation of individuals who gain employment and stability through Pallet. She emphasizes how this not only changes the lives of the employees, many of whom were formerly incarcerated or homeless, but also reunites and positively impacts their families, especially their children.  38:46 Getting Involved with Pallet  Amy encourages listeners to get involved with Pallet by reaching out through their website or email to support their mission. She emphasizes the value of local constituent engagement in driving political conversations and understanding community stakeholders to expand their impact. 

Empathy Expert Mimi Nicklin Explains Why and How She's Optimistically Attacking the World's Empathy Deficit

Mimi Nicklin left a successful career as a marketing executive to take on the task of educating the world on the value and power of empathy.  In this episode, Mimi describes the alarming "empathy deficit," its root causes, and practical strategies like self-empathy and "ALUR" (Authenticity, Listening, Understanding, Recognition) that she espouses to reconnect our workplaces and world.    Chapters: 00:00 Mimi Nicklin's Global Journey  Mimi Nicklin, a British native, has spent nearly two decades living and working across Asia Pacific and the Middle East, finding her passion and purpose in this part of the world. Her extensive international travel and diverse cultural experiences have significantly shaped her perspective on human connection and understanding, laying the groundwork for her specialization in empathy.  04:19 The Empathy Lightbulb Moment  Mimi's journey into empathy began when a business coach questioned if her leadership style was intuition or empathy, sparking a personal revelation. This led her to discover the 'empathy deficit,' a significant societal issue that no one seemed to be addressing in 2019, prompting her to dedicate her work to this crucial topic.  08:56 Causes of Empathy Deficit  Empathy has declined by 48% in the last 30 years, a critical issue for human survival, not just thriving. Mimi identifies urbanization, digitization, and overwhelming stress and anxiety as the primary root causes of this global empathy deficit, which impacts our ability to access empathetic parts of the brain.  12:32 Connectivity Paradox and Fear  Despite increased physical proximity in cities and the promise of social media, people feel more disconnected and lonely than ever, a paradox Mimi attributes to a fundamental lack of understanding. This disconnection is largely driven by subconscious fear, exacerbated by the constant influx of overwhelming information from 24/7 news, leading people to retreat into their 'tribes' for safety.  17:13 The Power of Self-Empathy  Mimi introduces 'self-empathy' as a crucial, yet untrending, skill for understanding oneself and managing overwhelming external information. She shares a personal example of choosing not to watch the news to protect her mental well-being, emphasizing that this ability to understand personal limits is vital in a world largely beyond individual control.  22:10 Balancing Humanism and Capitalism  Mimi argues that balancing humanism and capitalism is not difficult but underutilized, emphasizing that growth and profit can and should go hand-in-hand with human well-being. She highlights that organizations with engaged and empathetic cultures achieve higher profits, engagement, and innovation, underscoring that humanism is a driver of business success, not an impediment.  25:37 The Art of Listening-Led Leadership  Mimi stresses the critical importance of active, intentional listening in leadership, noting that many leaders are unaware of their own listening deficiencies. True listening, she explains, involves decoding information to understand, rather than merely hearing or preparing a reply, and is fundamental for empathy, innovation, and collaboration within teams.  32:06 Patience, Presence, and Pace  Mimi highlights patience and presence as essential pillars for authentic listening and achieving long-term goals, contrasting them with the modern rush for instant gratification.   34:48 ALUR: Authenticity, Listening, Understanding, Recognition  Mimi introduces her ALUR framework for leadership: Authenticity, Listening, Understanding, and Recognition, emphasizing that authenticity, rooted in patience and presence, is paramount for genuine connection. \  41:39 The Empathy Empire's Impact  Mimi emphasizes the significant financial and human costs of not listening and disengagement, noting that many employees resign due to poor relationships with their bosses. She describes her 'Empathy Empire' through keynote speaking, writing books like 'The Connection Prescription,' masterclasses, and media work, all aimed at fostering global empathy and balancing humanism with technology. 

Technology Management Expert Paul Leonardi on Why Technology Exhausts Us and What We Can Do About It

Paul Leonardi is an expert in technology management and has developed a deep understanding for why today's digital tools—even those that are helpful—can contribute to our growing sense of exhaustion.  Pulling from research he's written about in his book Digital Exhaustion, he explains why this happens and as importantly, what we can do about it.    Chapters: 02:00 Why Digital Exhaustion?  Paul Leonardi discusses his 20-year career helping companies implement new technologies and his observation of the increasing dread people feel towards new tools. He highlights how the solutions to digital overload are not working, leading to widespread exhaustion.  04:36 The Types of Digital Switching  Paul explains three kinds of digital switching: between modalities (apps), domains of work, and arenas (work/home). He emphasizes that these switches, though seemingly innocuous, cause significant cognitive strain and mental exhaustion due to the brain's reorientation time.  07:20 Cumulative Exhaustion and Control  Paul explains that digital exhaustion is a cumulative problem, building slowly over time from seemingly small attention switches.   11:29 Expectations and Response Patterns Paul discusses how people tend to overestimate the urgency of messages and fall into a 'hero symptom' of quick responses, leading to a vicious cycle. He explains how this creates an exhausting game of chase, where individuals try to outdo each other in fast replies.  14:35 Strategies for Managing Expectations  Paul suggests asking for clarity on urgency and adopting a philosophy of 'waiting' (one hour, one day, one week) to reset response patterns. He also highlights the effectiveness of out-of-office messages and direct communication in setting realistic expectations and reducing perceived urgency.  20:59 Measuring Digital Exhaustion  Paul describes his 'Digital Exhaustion' rating, inspired by the Maslach Burnout Inventory, which measures how much digital tools wear people out. He reveals a precipitous rise in digital exhaustion rates from 2002 to 2022, with major spikes in 2010 (smartphones/social media) and 2021 (pandemic).  26:10 Unforced Errors and Self-Views Paul discusses 'unforced errors' like sleeping with phones in bed and constantly viewing oneself during video calls, which contribute to exhaustion. He explains how the 'self-view' on video platforms is a metaphor for the constant self-curation and inference-making we do across all online platforms, leading to mental fatigue.  31:08 The Exhaustion of Upward Comparison  Paul references a 1950s Stanford study on upward comparison and how social media amplifies this, leading to exhaustion from comparing oneself to others' curated ideal lives. He discusses how AI will further exacerbate this issue by creating unrealistic avatars for comparison.  36:07 Antidotes and Small Wins Paul suggests taking online content at face value without extrapolating deeper meanings to combat upward comparison and the stories we create.   42:45 Resonance and Pushback Paul shares that the most pleasing feedback on his book is the distinction between a sustainable approach to digital exhaustion versus unsustainable digital detoxes. The main pushback he receives is about the 'waiting' strategy, with people fearing it will make them seem impolite or ghosting. 

Guy Kawasaki Describes Working with Steve Jobs and Other Remarkable People Who've Used Optimism as a Strategic Advantage

Guy Kawasaki has had an amazing life and career.  After growing up in Hawaii, he went to California for college and later went on to what was then known as Apple Computer where he was a self-described "brand evangelist" during some of their highest growth and most entrepreneurial years.  He describes Steve Jobs as being optimistic almost to the point of being delusional, and working for him has inspired Guy to be interested in mold-breaking people ever since, hence the name of his popular podcast, Remarkable People. He has also written 17 books on a variety of subjects, his latest being Wiser Guy, which was released earlier this year.    Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to Blue Sky  Bill Burke introduces Guy Kawasaki as a remarkable guest on Blue Sky, highlighting Guy's background as chief evangelist at Apple and Canva, and his extensive writing. Guy shares his preference for being a podcast guest due to less prep work, contrasting with the host's five-hour preparation time.  03:10 From Hawaii to Stanford  Guy recounts his childhood in Kalihi Valley, a lower-middle-income part of Hawaii, and how a public school teacher's advice led him to a private school, then Stanford. He describes feeling immediately at home at Stanford in 1972, despite it being pre-tech, and the campus's amazing atmosphere.  06:17 Apple, Steve Jobs & the 1984 Ad  Guy discusses his two stints at Apple, particularly his time in the Macintosh division under Steve Jobs from 1983 to 1987. He reveals the Macintosh team's mission to preserve democracy and freedom through computing and shares the behind-the-scenes story of the iconic 1984 Super Bowl ad, which the board initially wanted to pull.  11:49 Evangelizing Apple & Sales Skills  Guy details how Apple evangelized its new operating system in the 1980s through fervor rather than just money, contrasting with the corporate image of IBM. He also shares his 'checkered past' of dropping out of medical, dental, and law school, leading him to an MBA and invaluable sales experience in the jewelry business, which he considers essential.  17:02 Steve Jobs: Visionary & Demanding  Guy describes working for Steve Jobs as the most formative experience of his career, calling Jobs a visionary and passionate, albeit demanding and intimidating, leader. He emphasizes that Jobs was a 'mission-driven egoist' who cared only about making the best computer, disregarding personal biases like race or gender.  23:01 Remarkable People Podcast Origins  Guy explains his decision to start the 'Remarkable People' podcast, initially inspired by the lucrative ad model of another podcaster, and his realization that his access to remarkable individuals and business experience uniquely positioned him. He highlights the strategic advantage of having prominent guests like Jane Goodall to attract others.  30:08 Jane Goodall: A Source of Hope  Guy recounts his personal connection to Jane Goodall, stemming from a TEDx interview, and how she became his first podcast guest. He describes her as the most remarkable person he's interviewed, embodying hope and tireless dedication to her cause, even declining a rest offer at 90 due to 'too much to do.'  36:30 Optimism as a Strategic Advantage  Guy discusses optimism as a strategic advantage, asserting that it's crucial for achieving anything significant, combining realism with the belief that challenges can be overcome. He shares his experiences of taking up ice hockey at 44 and surfing at 60, attributing it to a 'growth mindset' and the belief that one is never too old to learn new things.