34 episodes
The Ampersand Manifesto: Multi-Passionate People Dive Deep Jessica Wan, Executive Coach and Classical Singer
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5.0 • 29 Ratings
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What fuels a multi-passionate life? Jessica Wan interviews “the most interesting people at the dinner party,” who for decades have built dual careers in completely different worlds, such as science & music, technology & art, medicine & dance.
The goal of this podcast is to collectively design The Ampersand Manifesto. What does it look like to be balancing two or more big pursuits? Where do we find connection points between them? And how can our multifaceted endeavors support other Ampersands and the community around us?
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Building New Worlds with Charles Chen, Jazz Pianist, Software Engineer, and Magician
Jessica speaks with Charles Chen, jazz pianist & software engineer & magician. Charles has performed in top venues such as Yoshi's and the San Jose Jazz Festival, and he won first place at the 2019 Jazz Search West competition. His debut album, "Charles, Play!" was released in January 2024. Outside of music, Charles performs magic and works as a software engineer. In his engineering life, he's collaborated on features in Google Search and Microsoft Outlook that have impacted millions of people.
Follow Charles on Instagram
Find the album Charles, Play! on Bandcamp and streaming
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Are you a high achiever, a leader, or an Ampersand who's recently taken on more responsibility at work? For high-achieving professionals, Jessica Wan’s executive coaching services stand out as a rare gem. She provides strategic guidance and practical solutions, a unique offering that not only propels her clients’ careers forward but also builds their capacity for significant leadership roles in their respective sectors. Her innovative coaching techniques and personalized approach set her apart from the rest.
BOOK AN INTRO CALL: https://calendly.com/jessicawancoaching/intro-call-coaching
Follow Jessica on LinkedIn
Credits
Produced and Hosted by Jessica Wan
Co-produced, edited, and sound design by Carlos Schmitt
Music credits: Ave Maria based on original composition by Franz Schubert
Theme music by Denys Kyshchuk and Stockaudios from Pixabay -
Elevating Human Creativity with Dr. Maya Ackerman, Generative AI Professor, CEO, and Musician
Jessica speaks with Dr. Maya Ackerman, a world-renowned researcher in generative AI and CEO & co-founder of WaveAI. A pioneer in the artificial intelligence field, Maya has been researching generative AI models for text, music and art since 2014. She was an early advocate for human-centered gen AI, and brought awareness to the power of AI to profoundly elevate human creativity. She has over 50 peer reviewed research publications and her research has been cited in over 1200 publications. She's been named a “Woman of Influence” by the Silicon Valley Business Journal, and she's spoken in interviews on NBC News, NPR, and international television stations and stages across the globe. She earned her PhD from the University of Waterloo, held postdoc fellowships at Caltech and UC San Diego and sits on the faculty of the Computer Science and Engineering at Santa Clara University. Maya is also a singer, composer and music producer.
Follow Maya’s work at https://maya-ackerman.com/ or find her on LinkedIn
Watch and listen to the full Ave Maria (Electronic Opera) video
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Are you a high achiever, a leader, or an Ampersand who's recently taken on more responsibility at work? For high-achieving professionals, Jessica Wan’s executive coaching services stand out as a rare gem. She provides strategic guidance and practical solutions, a unique offering that not only propels her clients’ careers forward but also builds their capacity for significant leadership roles in their respective sectors. Her innovative coaching techniques and personalized approach set her apart from the rest.
BOOK AN INTRO CALL: https://calendly.com/jessicawancoaching/intro-call-coaching
Follow Jessica on LinkedIn
Credits
Produced and Hosted by Jessica Wan
Co-produced, edited, and sound design by Carlos Schmitt
Music credits: Ave Maria based on original composition by Franz Schubert
Theme music by Denys Kyshchuk and Stockaudios from Pixabay -
Question the Status Quo with Rich Lyons, UC Berkeley Chancellor and Musician
Jessica speaks with UC Berkeley Chancellor Rich Lyons, education leader & musician. At Cal, he has served as the Chief Innovation and Entrepreneurship Officer, and he was previously the dean of the Haas School of Business, where he worked with his team to establish the school's four defining principles and oversee the development of Connie & Kevin Chou Hall. He returned to Haas as faculty in 2018 where he currently holds the William and Janet Cronk Chair in Innovative Leadership. Rich starts his mornings playing guitar and has performed as a musician in numerous business school and campus-wide celebrations, bringing smiles to students' faces and joy to the community.
Learn more about Rich Lyons at https://chancellor.berkeley.edu/ and https://haas.berkeley.edu/faculty/lyons-richard/
A welcome message from Chancellor Lyons via Berkeley News
Dean Rich Lyons performs "The 'Bear' Necessities" at Golden Bear Orientation
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Are you a high achiever, a leader, or an Ampersand who's recently taken on more responsibility at work? For high-achieving professionals, Jessica Wan’s executive coaching services stand out as a rare gem. She provides strategic guidance and practical solutions, a unique offering that not only propels her clients’ careers forward but also builds their capacity for significant leadership roles in their respective sectors. Her innovative coaching techniques and personalized approach set her apart from the rest.
BOOK AN INTRO CALL: https://calendly.com/jessicawancoaching/intro-call-coaching
Follow Jessica on LinkedIn
Credits
Produced and Hosted by Jessica Wan
Co-produced, edited, and sound design by Carlos Schmitt
Music credits: "The Bare Necessities" originally written by Phil Harris, Bruce Reitherman, adapted and played by Rich Lyons at Cal convocation on August 15, 2017
Theme music by Denys Kyshchuk and Stockaudios from Pixabay -
The Ampersand Manifesto Season 3 Trailer
What fuels a multi-passionate life?
In Season 3 of The Ampersand Manifesto, Jessica Wan, executive coach & classical singer, interviews people who, similarly, have led "dual lives" for decades and succeed in two or more completely different worlds. This show explores how their multiple worlds – different as they may seem – collide, integrate, and fuel each other. Jessica's goal is to celebrate, elevate, and normalize these stories. Through these interviews, the goal is to co-create the Ampersand Manifesto, principles for leading a multi-passionate life.
This season she talks with a range of folks who have written books, given talks and workshops worldwide, and invented new ways of connecting the world. Get ready to meet Ampersands who straddle roles like GenAI professor & musician, poet & cancer researcher, jazz pianist & engineer, and musician & chancellor of the top public university in the world.
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Are you a high achiever, a leader, or an Ampersand who's recently taken on more responsibility at work? For high-achieving professionals facing career blocks, Jessica Wan’s leadership and coaching services stand out as a rare gem. She provides strategic guidance and practical solutions, a unique offering that not only propels her clients’ careers forward but also builds their capacity for significant leadership roles in their respective sectors. Her innovative coaching techniques and personalized approach set her apart from the rest.
Visit jessicawan.com or BOOK AN INTRO CALL: https://calendly.com/jessicawancoaching/intro-call-coaching
Credits
Produced and Hosted by Jessica Wan
Co-produced, edited, and sound design by Carlos Schmitt
Music credits: "Peter and the Big Bad Wolf" composed by Charles Chen, played by Charles Chen on piano, Bob Sheppard on tenor sax, Will Lyle on bass, Mark Ferber on drums. Audio captured by Brian Walker live at Scrambled Studio, 1/24/2024. "The Bare Necessities" originally written by Phil Harris, Bruce Reitherman, adapted and played by Rich Lyons at Cal convocation on August 15, 2017.
Theme music by Denys Kyshchuk and Stockaudios from Pixabay. -
All the Right Notes with Dominic Lim, Author, Singer, and Storyteller
Dominic Lim is back on the show this week! Dom is an author, singer, & storyteller. His debut novel All the Right Notes was named by Entertainment Weekly as one of the best new books of the summer. Dom is a member of the Writers Grotto and a co-host of the Babylon Salon reading and performance series in San Francisco. He studied psychology at Oberlin and got his masters from Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music. As a proud member of the Actors’ Equity Association he's performed Off-Broadway and in regional productions throughout the US.
You can check out Dominic at dominiclim.com, and his book ALL THE RIGHT NOTES is available now, wherever books are sold!
Are you a high achiever, a leader, or an Ampersand who's recently taken on more responsibility at work? Jessica works with people just like you. She coaches individuals and leadership teams to rise to new challenges - with a unique blend of analytical & creative approaches, plus 18 years of invaluable experience working in companies and startups.
Visit jessicawan.com or BOOK AN INTRO CALL: https://calendly.com/jessicawancoaching/intro-call-coaching
Credits
Produced and Hosted by Jessica Wan
Co-produced, edited, and sound design by Naomi Tepper
Theme music by Denys Kyshchuk and Stockaudios from Pixabay
"A Part I Play" lyrics and vocals by Dominic Lim, music and keyboard by Martin McGinn -
Dominic Lim - Author, Singer, and Storyteller (Replay)
Jessica interviews Dominic Lim, an author & singer & storyteller.
Dominic's debut novel ALL THE RIGHT NOTES, a queer Asian rom-com, will be released in June 2023. Dom is a member of The Writers Grotto and is a co-host of the Babylon Salon reading and performance series in San Francisco. He studied psychology at Oberlin and got his masters from Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music. Dom has sung with numerous professional early music and choral ensembles. As a proud member of the Actors’ Equity Association, he's performed Off-Broadway and in regional productions throughout the US.
Listen to the full version of "A Part I Play" performed by Dominic Lim and learn more at dominiclim.com
This is a replay from Season 1 - Dominic Lim's book ALL THE RIGHT NOTES is available now, wherever books are sold!
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Are you a high achiever, a leader, or an Ampersand who's recently taken on more responsibility at work? Jessica works with people just like you. She coaches individuals and leadership teams to rise to new challenges - with a unique blend of analytical & creative approaches, plus 18 years of invaluable experience working in companies and startups.
Visit jessicawan.com or BOOK AN INTRO CALL: https://calendly.com/jessicawancoaching/intro-call-coaching
Credits
Produced and Hosted by Jessica Wan
Co-produced, edited, and sound design by Naomi Tepper
Theme music by Denys Kyshchuk and Stockaudios from Pixabay
"A Part I Play" lyrics and vocals by Dominic Lim, music and keyboard by Martin McGinn
Customer Reviews
Swiss Army Knives Are Loved Here
The Ampersand Manifesto is a breath of fresh air in a world often too focused on specialization.
Host Jessica Wan masterfully navigates through the complexities of being multi-passionate, providing a platform for those who refuse to settle in one field or interest.
With each episode, this podcast challenges the conventional 'either/or' mindset and embraces the empowering 'both/and' approach towards life and passion. This resonates deeply with us who identify as multi-passionate individuals. We feel seen, heard, and validated.
Moreover, the diverse range of guests adds richness to the podcast's content. Each guest brings their unique perspective and story, making every episode a new adventure into the depths of passion.
In essence, this podcast is more than just a podcast—it's a movement. It's about breaking the barriers of traditional thought and inspiring listeners to embrace their multifaceted interests.
I'm thrilled for what lies ahead for this podcast and its listeners.
If you're someone who refuses to be boxed into one passion or interest, this podcast is your rallying cry.
An inspiring future of both/and instead of either/or
This is a wonderful podcast that highlights multitalented, “ampersands” as they are called, who straddle two professional lives. Each story is full of wisdom and relatable lessons that will help others step into the beauty, challenge and fulfillment of their multi passionate life. Jessica is insightful, curious, and supportive in her interviewing skills. She’s a great listener and warm. I love this podcast because it shows me what’s possible through a fuller expression of one’s pursuits: artistic, entrepreneurial, athletic, musical, and more!
I feel seen!
Finally a podcast that gives space for those who have divergent interests and passions! It's fascinating hearing how they weave their worlds together and the advice they would give to other "ampersands"!