Dr. Nancy Roof & Robb Smith on ZOOM’D Radio Show

Source: ZOOM’D update email by Cynthia McEwen, Avastone Consulting

ZOOM’D Leadership explores the importance of changing the way we pursue the future. ZOOM’D is on the air live each Monday, 2 to 3 p.m. Eastern time, 11 a.m. to noon Pacific.

August 31 Guest

Nancy Roof, Ph.D., on Kosmos Journal: Viewpoints on Global Shifts

ZOOM’D welcomes Dr. Nancy Roof, founder and editor-in-chief of Kosmos Journal, for a review of meta-perspectives revealed in the writings of contributors to this leading-edge global journal. Nancy describes the unique voice of the journal, key themes and perspectives expressed about global shifts in motion, central contributions to be aware of, and the importance of taking integral whole-views of reality while engaging world change.

Kosmos Journal brings leading-edge ideas to the international community of global citizens, ambassadors to the United Nations and UN Secretariat, and NGOs around the world. Kosmos is also a founding partner of the worldwide initiative Creating the New Civilization, launched by the Goi Peace Foundation in 2005 with the Gorbachev Foundation, Club of Budapest, Club of Rome, Commission on Global Spirituality and Consciousness, and the World Wisdom Council.

Nancy brings a full and rich perspective to the show, including a blend of the macro view from years of consultation at the UN and the up-close-and-personal perspective gleaned through establishing transpersonal psychology programs in the United States in the 1980s.

September 7 Guest

Robb Smith on Integral Life: Supporting a Meta-Perspective

ZOOM’D welcomes Robb Smith, co-founder and CEO of Integral Life and CEO of Integral Institute, for a meta-view of realities today and the important supports that Integral Life and Integral Institute provide to the wide and deep change in motion across the world.

Robb explains the underpinning focus and orientation of Integral Life–the leader of the deep lifestyle movement, helping people live more free and whole lives using the integral philosophy, the first genuine and world philosophy of the 21st century. Integral Life manages and supports the Integral Institute, a nonprofit sister organization that aims to help solve the world’s most complex problems. Robb describes work-in-process across the globe, integral viewpoints and traction being gained, potential to be realized both personally and as a society, and the specific supports available through the Integral community.

Robb brings a rich outlook to the conversation table, blending a business perspective gained as a successful venture capitalist and entrepreneur with insights obtained from philosophy and social entrepreneurship.

Listen to Past Shows

All shows are archived by date and guest, and are generally available within 24 hours after the live show.. The entire ZOOM’D series is available for download through iTunes.

Please go to ZOOM’D Leadership, VoiceAmerica to find the archives.

 

Summer Blues

I spend most of each winter wishing it was warm. Be careful what you wish for, I guess, because I have spent much of the last few months wishing this summer back to the cornfield. Irony is perverse.

What a Georgia summer it’s been: when it’s not raining, it’s 95 degrees with 105 percent humidity. Unless you’re one of the fortunate few with a pool, pleasant days to spend time outdoors have been rare. I haven’t even uncovered my patio furniture. (Come to think of it, of the last few summers here, the majority have pretty much sucked raw eggs.)

I guess that makes it easier to be inside, chained to the computer, which is where I’m usually to be found. But it makes me sad…and I’m pale, for crying out loud! I hate being pale.

*pout*

Few summer distractions have mitigated the pall. July 4th was a notable exception, when I spent time with friends at a BBQ and fireworks extravaganza. Last month, a day at a friend’s pool, topped off by the best steak I’ve had in years, was a slice of paradise. And then there was last weekend, which was a fabulous trip to see high school friends and former coworkers in Milwaukee—what a wonderful excursion filled with reminiscing, catching up, and exploring a delightfully vital city that people seldom visit just to see (pity…Milwaukee has a great deal to offer).

“I’m going to write about this weekend.”

“What were you going to write about before?”

“Last weekend.”

(The Big Chill)

Other than that, blah.

“But summer,” you say, “is the season of movie blockbusters! What a great time to be you, Movie Freak!” Well, this summer’s movies have been quite a letdown. Let’s review.

Terminator Salvation is a complete bust. Let’s not even talk about it.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine has claws but no teeth. It didn’t blow my socks off, even though I’m a big fan of both X-Men and Hugh Jackman.

Transformers 2 …oops, didn’t see it. Somehow I couldn’t bring myself to watch that Fox woman for two hours. Guess I’ll catch it on video.

I enjoyed Public Enemies, which is a well-made film and features Johnny Depp (nearly always a sure thing), but let’s face it…this cleverly understated film doesn’t really rank among the blockbuster hopefuls.

All the crazy action films and big productions get thrown at us in the dog days of summer, when it’s easier to sit in an ice box with other overheated movie-watchers (wishing we’d brought a sweatshirt) than to spend the dough to cool the house a bit more. And I think the studios count on that and chuck a bunch of explosions and CGI into a bag, shake it up, and present their cocktail as the next coming. It’s sad. Where are the intriguing characters? Where is the tongue-in-cheek roller-coaster ride? Where are today’s Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark and Jaws?

Star Trek came closest this summer to capturing that magic I miss. It’s a pretty well-crafted homage to the original series, souped up with modern effects, a passable plot, and creditable performances. It’s not perfect, and there’s some schlock, but the action and effects are riveting and the humor flows from obvious affection for and understanding of Rodenberry’s original characters.

So, it seems, this summer has become one big nostalgia spree.  I must be getting old.

*gasp*

I’m looking forward to seeing District 9, a late summer entry, which looks smart and is receiving good press. Perhaps it can redeem this summer of lost blockbuster-less souls. (Or, is that soulless blockbusters?)

For once, I am also looking forward to September (complete with Lucifer and the apocalypse…on Supernatural; OK, so maybe I’m not just getting old as much as entering my second childhood as I join the ranks of the fangirls…).

Me, looking forward to fall…it’s just so wrong.

*sigh*

Hey, you kids—git off my lawn!

 

Radio Show ZOOM’D Continues

Source: ZOOM’D update email by Cynthia McEwen, Avastone Consulting

ZOOM’D Leadership, the show that explores the importance of changing the way we pursue the future, continues with more thought-provoking shows and distinguished guests. ZOOM’D is on the air live each Monday, 2 to 3 p.m. Eastern time, 11 a.m. to noon Pacific.

August 3 Guest: John V. Davis, Ph.D. on Wisdom Foundations of Leadership

John V. Davis, distinguished transpersonal psychologist and ecopsychologist and long-standing teacher of the Diamond Approach path to wisdom, joins ZOOM’D to enrich our understanding about the foundational “state of being” that infuses the human condition and global leadership, further illuminating the inner realm of being that previous guest Richard David Hames broadly pointed to.

John situates his viewpoints on the environment and ecological challenges, as well as other key world issues, from the perspective of timeless wisdom and presence, and describes the relative and essential aspects of the human condition involved. John is one of the finest teachers and purveyors of wisdom in the world today, and this program makes tangible the intersection between the true potential of leaders and essential action needed in the world to evolve the course of humanity.

August 10 Show: Host John D. Schmidt on “So What?”

Join ZOOM’D host John D. Schmidt and Avastone colleagues in a synthesis of key themes and central messages from the first 13 show guests. John’s “So What?” review will weave a compelling story in the context of today’s realities, desired futures, and a world of constant renewal. Don’t miss it!

Can’t Listen Live?

All shows are recorded and archived by date and guest, and are generally available within 24 hours after the live show. The entire ZOOM’D series is available for download through iTunes. Please go to ZOOM’D Leadership, VoiceAmerica to find the archives.

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Links of Interest

Thought I’d pass along some fun links.  Yes, information overload is a real issue these days. That’s why I am very choosy when it comes to opting in to receive any kind of updates. But here are a few that I have found consistently to be informative, brief, and fun.

Green Living

Care2 is a social networking site whose aim is to connect activists around the world. I happen to subscribe to its alert system for petitions to sign and action to take when wildlife or the environment is threatened. In addition, the organization sends out a free e-newsletter filled with hot topics for anyone going green. “Healthy & green daily” provides snippets in categories from health and wellness to spirituality to recipes and more.

Fun and Frivolity

Daily Candy is a new lifestyle site with general news and specific pages for a dozen major urban areas. I’m not much for the latest trends and guff like that, but the Daily Candy e-newsletter is fresh and clean, crisply written, and filled with interesting notes about new places and products.

Write Right

You may think, “Well, you’re a writer, so you care about this…” Au contraire–EVERYONE should care about communicating clearly. And the “Better Writing at Work” periodic e-newsletter from Syntax Training offers brief and effective ways to brush up on our skills.

Atlanta Happenings

For those of you in the ATL, subscribing to Atlanta Daybook provides an insight to some of the newsworthy upcoming happenings. Typically these are things you won’t hear about on the evening news–at least not until later. The service is also great for anyone wanting to make an announcement, attract press coverage, and get established as an expert in any field. (Daybook is available in Nashville and DFW  as well.)

If you have other suggestions, please do share!

 

Money for Entrepreneurs

Summer rewards!

Just wanted to pass along this news from Inc. about a contest for entrepreneurs with some delish cash prizes.  All the info is below.  Enjoy!

Do you have a big idea or a budding business?

If so, you could become the “NewpreneurTM of the Year” and win your share of $100,000 in business grants from Alibaba.com and Inc. Entering is simple and grants are big. Top Grant – $50,000, Second Grant – $25,000, Third Grant – $15,000 and two Fourth Grants – $5,000. In addition to winning a business grant worth $50,000, you and your idea or business could be featured in Inc. magazine and on Inc.com.

But hurry! Entries close on August 14, 2009. Enter now at inc.com/newpreneur.

 

A Little Otaku, Anyone?

Otaku can be quite a derogatory Japanese term for anyone who is unhealthily obsessed or fanatical, like geeks who live in the safety of their cyberworld.  Not just your everyday nerds, these are people who don’t leave their home unless absolutely necessary, avoid eye contact, blend into the background–preferably at cybercafes and electronics stores.  Remember The Net?  Actual human contact is, well, fantasy.

I’ve been a little obsessed myself lately (never you mind what with…all I’m saying is “Driver picks the music, shotgun shuts his cakehole”), so seeing this film was right up my alley.

Densha Otoko (2005), translated as Train Man, is the moniker that a 22-year-old ultra-shy computer and manga nerd takes on as he begins to share with his online community how he rescued a damsel in distress when a drunk commuter assailed her on the train. He shares how she wrote down his name and address and soon is reporting the arrival of a courier package–a thank-you gift from her containing a set of Hermes tea cups. So, she becomes known to all as Hermess.

His virtual friends–a motley crew that represents the various faces of desperation in solitude–are both funny and sad to watch, and they rally around their new hero as he breaks out of his nerd-world role and (GASP!) calls a girl.  Before his first meeting with Hermess at a restaurant (which he checks out ahead of time…extensively), he undergoes a “Beauty and the Geek” makeover–clothes, hair, even contact lenses–to the point that she barely recognizes him when they meet.  Despite his incredible awkwardness, the two begin a relationship.  And, naturally, things go very wrong.  When our Train Man is at his breaking point and wondering why he ever left his safe little world, it is his online friends who snap him out of it and see hope for themselves in his keeping up the struggle to fit into “real life.”  Barring some scenes when you just want to choke the little guy and scream “Be a man!”, the courtship is cute and uncannily dredges up the bittersweet angst most of us felt during pubescent relationship drama.

At its core, the film is a commentary on otaku, complete with references to various fetish-inspiring “hobbies” and lots of ASCII art.  But it is presented in a fun, squeaky-clean romantic manner, complete with weird sidekicks, that makes it a treat to watch.  And if you happen to get too wrapped up in the saccharin outcome of little Train Man’s love life, the ending is a tongue-in-cheek reminder that otaku, not love, may be forever!

Happy movie watching!

 

ZOOM’D Continues with Focus on ATL

Listen Up!

Source: ZOOM’D update email by Cynthia McEwen, Avastone Consulting

Listeners know that ZOOM’D guests are animated by the big trends of our day and are giving voice to the foresight, provocative thinking, and real-world insights needed.

One listener wrote: “Dear John, really love the show. I know it’s a ton of work, but it’s a great contribution. The interview with David Martin was spectacular.”

Our two recent guests showcase the quality of exploration happening on the show:

• David Martin, Executive Chairman of M*CAM, joined ZOOM’D on June 15. David crystallized little- known realities contributing to the financial meltdown and what he sees coming on the horizon. David made clear that riding the ship down is not the best idea, and emphasized the need to understand wealth and value in terms other than monetary. David made the link between a resilient humanity and “all-in consequence and cost” – a kind of transparency that reveals the humanity involved in producing our way of life.
• Jeb Brugmann, internationally recognized urbanist and winner of the 2007 Harvard Business Review McKinsey Award for best article, joined ZOOM’D on Monday June 22. Jeb offered a crucial perspective about what generates urban resilience in a way that most sustainability conversations miss. He laid out three qualities of ”economic logic” that underpin real city or community resilience, a logic which has been forsaken, pushed aside, and sometimes vilified in the sustainability movement. Once placed at the core, any number of user-designed needs such as environmental health and social equity can fall from this most sustainable logic.

June 29 Guests:

Mandy Mahoney, Director of Sustainability, City of Atlanta; and Lynnette Young, Executive Director, Sustainable Atlanta

Please welcome the eighth show guests, Mandy Schmitt Mahoney, Director of Sustainability for the City of Atlanta and Lynnette Young, Executive Director, Sustainable Atlanta.

This show is titled Sustainability in the Modern Urban City and will examine on-the-ground realities for generating sustainability and resilience in the modern urban city, in this case, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Mandy and Lynnette will explore progress in Atlanta and the surrounding region as a showcase for challenges being faced by cities worldwide. This show builds upon Jeb Brugmann’s June 22 show on urban resilience, which illuminates the core hurdles, arenas of progress, and learnings gleaned from practical experience with global urban sustainability efforts.

Not able to listen to each show live?

All shows are recorded and archived by date and guest, and are generally available within 24 hours after the live show. The entire ZOOM’D show series is also available for download through iTunes.

Please go to ZOOM’D Leadership, VoiceAmerica to find the archives or follow the links below:

May 4: John Petersen, ”The Turning: Macro Trends at Play”

May 11: Chris Martenson, “Compounding Effect: Economy, Energy and Environment”

May 18: James Quilligan, “Economic Transformation: The Commons and Integral Capital”

June 1: Chris Martenson, “It Has Hit the Fan!”

June 8: Sean Esbjörn-Hargens, “Changing the Way We Pursue the Future: Uniting Multiple Persectives”

June 15: David Martin, “Recognizing Financial and Dollar Realities”

June 22: Jeb Brugmann, “Community Resilience and Adapability”

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More Movie Reviews on Netflix

If you’re a Netflix member, check out my brief reviews of selected rentals.

 

Tune in to ZOOM’D…It’s about Our World

ZOOM’D Explores the Importance of Changing the Way We Pursue the Future

Just over a month ago, I told you about a groundbreaking radio program that is exploring the potentially epochal changes that our world faces. Every Monday afternoon (and available archived), ZOOM’D features visionaries discussing the immense changes all around us. It is stirring thoughts and motivating action! From the latest update, here’s what’s new:

• A listener shared the impact that Chris Martenson’s Crash Course and ZOOM’D has had on her: ”I’m a changed person. I have mis-read circumstances, and not from a lack of sincerity to see. I discovered that what I was looking at was insufficient. It has been an experience of waking up.”

June 8th Guest:  Sean Esbjörn-Hargens, Ph.D., John F. Kennedy University; Integral Institute

The show’s fifth guest, Sean Esbjörn-Hargens, is Associate Professor at JFKU, founding chair of its Integral Theory program and Director of the Integral Research Center; and Vice President of Integral Institute’s Applications and Research.

Entitled Changing the Way We Pursue the Future: Uniting Multiple Perspectives, this show broadly draws upon content of the first four episodes to establish a big picture view of the value of multiple perspectives, and how these perspectives fit together regarding “who is looking at what, how.” The show builds a compelling rationale for why issues can be so conflicted and why so little progress is made. Most approaches to complex issues rely on objective, scientific accounts alone, which are not only partial but often cripple solutions to difficult challenges. The show establishes an explicit frame regarding objective and subjective aspects of reality – the exterior and interior of life. It also builds understanding about the developmental nature of mindsets and how current issues, challenges, and the future itself can be seen from different altitudes among leaders.

June 15th Guest:  Dr. David Martin, Executive Chairman M·CAM, Inc.

This show, entitled Recognizing Financial and Dollar Realities, takes a sobering look at the financial crises and elements of the path forward that must be considered and anticipated, including implications on personal and societal wealth. It explores in particular the US situation and the dollar, and its relationship to major global players and the global economic and financial system at large. David’s deep base of experience and knowledge of complexities of the financial world will help establish an unbiased view of reality, and further contribute to painting a big picture of the whole that ZOOM’D is helping to clarify in the early segments of the series.

Not able to listen to each show live?

All shows are recorded and archived by date and guest, for anytime listening or downloading. Please go to ZOOM’D Leadership, VoiceAmerica to find the archives or follow the links below:

May 4: John Petersen, ”The Turning: Macro Trends at Play”

May 11: Chris Martenson, “Compounding Effect: Economy, Energy and Environment”

May 18: James Quilligan, “Economic Transformation: The Commons and Integral Capital”

June 1: Chris Martenson, “It Has Hit the Fan”

Share the news!

Sign up to receive updates about ZOOM’D.

 

Hey! Memorial Day Is Not Just a Day Off

Yeah, I know someone may have already preached at you about this. That’s not my aim.  I want to offer some painless and constructive ways to remember what Memorial Day is about as you enjoy the long weekend. I wholeheartedly feel that, like voting, remembering those who have fought for our country is a responsibility that comes with sharing in the fruits of their terrible labors.

No matter what your politics or your feelings about US military endeavors, the fact is that Americans enjoy unparalleled freedoms thanks to those who fought to create this country and keep it this way.

Some organizations that are dedicated to preserving the memory of our veterans suggest ways to observe Memorial Day, including going to cemeteries to place flags and flowers on the graves of deceased vets, lowering the flag to half-mast until noon, visiting veteran memorials, playing Taps and observing a moment of silence, and visiting a vet at a retirement home or VA hospital. These are commendable endeavors, certainly.

I don’t know about you, but with my schedule, I don’t think I’ll be doing any of these things this Memorial Day. (I have in the past, but never on this day. Besides, if everyone did all this at once, think about how crowded these places would get!)

Here are some ultra-easy ideas that will help keep the meaning behind this observance at top of mind.

• Remember some of the pivotal contributions of the American military by reading about them. This brief About.com compilation is an easy way to start.
• Honor the fallen heroes by supporting today’s troops:
  • Write to someone serving overseas. There are several organizations that facilitate this, including the Army’s Adopt a U.S. Soldier program and the Defense department’s America Supports You programs.
  • Make a donation to send a USO Care Package.
  • When you see someone in uniform, thank him or her.
• It may seem hokey, but take just a minute at the start of your barbecue or other long-weekend celebration to say thanks … just ask everyone at the party to toast those who ultimately made the occasion possible.

To learn more about the history of Memorial Day, check out this parks service site and this article on Wikipedia.