HeadRoom with Dr. Rod Berger HeadRoom with Dr. Rod Berger

Welcome to another episode of HeadRoom. This is your host, Dr. Rod Berger, and today, we have a truly out-of-this-world guest on the show. Buckle up as we join Astronaut John Shoffner on a voyage that transcends the atmosphere and delves into the emotional odyssey of realizing a lifelong dream.

From the moment of liftoff to the realization that being an astronaut comes with the weighty responsibility of representing humanity, John will share his transformative journey to the International Space Station. A path paved not just for personal fulfillment but to inspire and educate others, especially the younger generation, on the wonders of space.

We'll navigate the shifts in John's perspective that led to the birth of the Perseid Foundation, his poignant reflections on the sense of time and the regret of not absorbing every second in space, and the bittersweet longing to return amidst the exhilaration of new private spaceflight opportunities.

Plus, we'll explore the profound impact that private individuals can have on space research and humanitarian efforts. John's commitment to STEM and the power of art to convey the grandeur of the cosmos is sure to kindle a fire of curiosity and passion in all of us.

Join us as we delve into the heart of a man changed by space, driven by a desire to lift others up to the stars. This is HeadRoom, where the sky is not the limit but just the beginning.
Timestamps

00:00 John Shoffner: astronaut, advocate, and space enthusiast

07:00 20 years together, then a decision for space.

09:23 Rare, privileged experiences provoke existential reflection.

13:20 Utilizing orbit experiences for meaningful and educational interactions.

17:14 Discuss the impact of internal voice in space.

18:48 Cherishing brief moments and experiences in space.

22:53 Private astronaut program adds value through research.

25:19 Children's fascination with space and self-expression.

31:13 Interview with astronaut sparks desire for space.

32:23 Reflection on unity and impact of space travel.
Connect with Astronaut John Shoffner
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnpshoffner/
Website: https://www.axiomspace.com/

Welcome to the episode of HeadRoom. Today, we're diving deep into the transformative world of artificial intelligence with a trailblazing guest, Sarah Nagy, Co-Founder and CEO of SEEK AI. With an impressive background in finance and startups, Sarah has consistently stayed ahead of the curve, anticipating the seismic shifts in technology that would reshape our professional and personal landscapes long before generative AI became a buzzword.

In our conversation, Sarah shares her journey to founding SEEK AI, her eye-opening encounter with large language models like GPT-3, and her vision for how generative AI can unlock the potential of structured datasets. We'll challenge the notion that AI is a mere fad and explore its profound and permanent impact on human life and work, digging into the intricate dynamics between AI and the evolution of various industries.

So plug in, as we unravel how generative AI is not just rewriting code but also rewriting career paths, entrepreneurship, and the very fabric of society, right here on HeadRoom, where the future is an open conversation.

Stay tuned, this is a discussion you surely don't want to miss.

Timestamps

00:00 SEEK was founded before ChatGPT focused on AI.

05:41 Disliked writing SQL until I found GPT-3.

10:00 Surprising intellect, courage, and challenges for women.

12:36 Encourage making STEM cool for women, and inclusivity.

15:53 Addressing the impact of AI on professions.

19:41 AI impact on job market and education.

23:27 Learning code is crucial for future communication.

27:54 Tech innovation needs to embrace storytelling narrative.

30:51 Childhood passion for art transformed into ambition.

35:05 Prepare for changing careers due to AI.
Connect with Sarah Nagy
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-nagy/
Website: https://www.seek.ai/mission

Jennifer Dulski has a wide range of executive experience, including leadership roles at Facebook, Google, and Yahoo! and founder, CEO, and president roles at early-stage and scaling startups. She is currently CEO and founder of Rising Team, a company that provides tools, data, and community to turn managers into amazing coaches who build happier and more successful teams.
Prior to her current venture, Jennifer Dulski made a significant impact at Facebook. She led Facebook Groups, a platform used by over 1.5 billion people monthly to create and engage in meaningful communities. Her team was instrumental in envisioning, building, and growing the Groups product. She also spearheaded the 2019 redesign of Facebook, “FB5,” which placed communities at the heart of the app.
Before Facebook, Dulski was president and COO of Change.org, a social enterprise company that empowers people to create campaigns for change. Under her leadership, Change.org grew 10x, from 18 million users to 180 million, developed a profitable business model, rebuilt its tech stack, and supported thousands of successful campaigns globally.
Jennifer Dulski's entrepreneurial journey began at Yahoo!, where she held various roles over nine years. Her tenure culminated in her leadership of one of six business units as group vice president and general manager of Local and Marketplaces. She then ventured out to co-found The Dealmap, a location-based deals app that was acquired by Google in 2011, making her the first woman entrepreneur to sell a company to Google. She later served as a product leader at Google before joining Change.org.
She has deep board experience in public and private companies and nonprofit boards and currently serves on the boards of WW, formerly Weight Watchers (NASDAQ: WW), the Change.org Foundation, and the Arctic Ice Project. Her previous board experience includes roles on two other public company boards, Move, Inc. (NASDAQ: MOVE) until its acquisition by NewsCorp and TEGNA (NYSE: TGNA).
Dulski writes about leadership for LinkedIn Influencers, Fortune, Forbes, and Huffington Post. Her first book, Purposeful, about how each of us can be movement starters, was published by Penguin Portfolio in 2018 and is a Wall Street Journal Bestseller.

Welcome back to HeadRoom, a sanctuary for the curious mind and a canvas for thought-provoking stories, with your host, Dr. Rod Berger. Today's episode bridges the past with the present as we delve into the compelling narrative crafted by Linda Ambrus Broenniman in her book "The Politzer Saga." In this conversation, Linda peels back the layers of a family secret Jewish ancestry hidden by immigrant parents in Buffalo, New York, a secret unveiled by the embers of a house fire. We're set to explore themes of identity, lineage's importance, and history's enduring echoes.

As we piece together the puzzle of Linda's ancestry, we reflect on the transformative power of truth, the role of individual stories within the grand tapestry of history, and the author's deep-rooted sense of responsibility to honor her past. This episode is not just about the Pulitzer family but about the universal quest for self-understanding and the cultivation of empathy towards others in the face of modern-day adversities.

Join us in this intimate discussion, only here on HeadRoom, co-produced by Rainlight and Old Soul, where we transcend the ordinary and embrace the extraordinary tales of human experience.

Timestamps

00:00 Understanding history through powerful, essential stories.

04:26 A Catholic man discovers secret Jewish ancestry in Buffalo.

09:00 Discovering Mother's hidden wartime heroism, a revelation.

11:07 In 2016, I began researching my family.

13:51 Curiosity sparked in 2016 leads to exploration.

16:45 Reflect on personal, family, researcher, and citizen experiences.

19:51 Persistence, risk-taking, and the importance of accepting life's journey.

23:35 Childhood secrets and trauma strain father-daughter relationship.

29:14 Close partner, dedicated to truth, died in 2021.

32:35 Discovering ancestors brought understanding, confidence, and purpose.

34:30 Discussing present-day challenges and family legacies.

37:06 Holocaust stories show immense resilience and impact.

42:44 Questioning the impact of literature on injustice and war.

45:15 Importance of history for understanding oneself.

50:08 Powerful story challenges thinking, highly recommended book.

Connect with Linda Ambrus Broenniman
Website: https://politzersaga.com/

Berger sits down with Windō co-founder and former Chief Data Officer at J.P. Morgan Ken Janssens. The duo explores the new relationship between data and the talent pipeline across the globe. Janssens discusses efforts to more substantively examine sustainability efforts, lengths to close pay gaps, and diversity inequities expressed throughout global markets and the organizations primed to meet the growing expectations of the generations to come. Professional organizations and iconic companies are aiming to provide an inclusive workplace supporting a healthy talent base and planet to explore - Janssens and Windō are working hard to capture data with purpose, compassion, and precision. Story is our currency, as Berger frequently espouses, and data is a main character in an evolving story. You won't want to miss this personal look at a professional's journey to breathe life into meaningful and needed corporate conversations. 

In the high-stakes world of global retail and brand development, Bruno Schiavi's name issynonymous with innovation, strategic foresight, and an unerring knack for market disruption.Schiavi's groundbreaking collaborations with the Kardashian empire and the meteoric rise of UncleBud’s HEMP & CBD paints a picture of a business savant who has redefined the retaillandscape. Berger gets at the heart of this global icon and the people and places that have defined an ever-expanding career of influence. 
The genesis of Schiavi's storied career can be traced back to 1996 with the launch of the PocketSock. This product, embodying simplicity and innovation, marked Schiavi's first foray into theretail world, setting a precedent for his future endeavors. This humble beginning was a prelude toa career that would amass over $1 billion in global retail sales, a testament to Schiavi's unerringinstinct for market trends and consumer needs.
Over a span of 25 years, Schiavi meticulously built a network that became the backbone of hissuccess. His ability to forge lasting relationships with some of the world's most formidablecelebrities, Fortune 500 companies, and retail players stands as a cornerstone of his businessstrategy. These connections, coupled with his deep understanding of the global market, haveelevated Schiavi to a position of unparalleled influence in the retail sector.
The collaboration between Schiavi and the Kardashians represents a seminal chapter in hiscareer. The inception of the Kardashian Kollection is a study in strategic brand positioning andcelebrity marketing. Schiavi's acumen in recognizing the potential of merging Kardashian'swidespread appeal with accessible fashion and lifestyle products led to one of the mostsuccessful celebrity-endorsed retail ventures of its time.
Under Schiavi's guidance, the Kardashian Kollection transcended the typical celebrityendorsement model. He crafted diverse products that resonated with the everydayconsumer, ensuring that each item reflected the Kardashian brand's essence and appeal. Thecollection's expansion into over 10,000 stores globally is a testament to Schiavi's adeptness atscaling a brand, managing supply chains, and navigating the complex web of global retaildistribution.
This venture also showcased Schiavi's ability to effectively harness media and public relations.Through strategic marketing campaigns, attention-grabbing launches, and savvy use of socialmedia, the Kardashian Kollection became a household name, further cementing Schiavi'sreputation as a master of celebrity-driven retail success.
Perhaps even more illustrative of Schiavi's business prowess is his revitalization of Uncle Bud’sHEMP & CBD. In 2019, he took control of a brand that was little more than a nascent onlineentity and propelled it to the forefront of the burgeoning CBD market. Schiavi's interventiontransformed Uncle Bud’s from a single-product company to a diverse brand featuring over 72new items.
The rapid expansion of Uncle Bud’s under Schiavi's leadership is a masterclass in brand scaling.Within 19 months, the brand's products were available in over 15,000 U.S. stores across the USand Internationally. This achievement did not just signify growth in numbers but also marked astrategic diversification of the brand's product line and consumer base.
Uncle Bud’s financial transformation is equally staggering. Under Schiavi's stewardship,the brand's annual revenue catapulted from a modest $500 when he acquired the brand to anastounding $40 million in four years. This remarkable growth culminated in a lucrativeacquisition by a Public Company, a move that underscored the brand's market viability andSchiavi's strategic genius.
Bruno Schiavi's journey is more than a series of successful business ventures; it is a narrative ofvisionary leadership, strategic innovation, and an unyielding commitment to brand development.His work with the Kardashian Kollection and Uncle Bud’s HEMP & CBD are emblematic of