Best Magically Bree Podcasts (2025)

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88. Wicca Bad? Featuring Thumper Forge

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2d ago

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If you spend any amount of time on social media these days, especially TikTok, you’ll find a surprising amount of anti-Wiccan sentiment… and a lot of it’s pretty weird. Thumper Forge, Gardnerian Wiccan and author of the forthcoming The Chaos Apple, joins me as we, frankly, debunk some of the worst of it and talk about why we think this has happened…

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Author Bree Groff on Finding Joy at Work 43:58

5d ago43:58

43:58

Losing her mom to cancer reminded Bree that life is fleeting. Working as a consultant, she also saw how many people are miserable in their jobs. Connecting these dots, she decided to help people find more joy and meaning in their work and rather than count the days to the weekend, turn things around and actually look forward to getting to work, per…

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S22,E08: 10/20/25 (Still Corners, Automatic, Hibou, Beauty Queen and Henry Nowhere, Wombo, Los Bitchos, Jesse Welles) 48:01

7d ago48:01

48:01

SEASON 22 EPISODE 8: OCTOBER 20TH, 2025 The Creeps - Still Corners Black Box - Automatic mq9 - Automatic Eidolon - Hibou Aix - Hibou In the Garden - Beauty Queen & Henry Nowhere Tied to You - Beauty Queen Danger in Fives - Wombo Common Things - Wombo Hi! - Los Bitchos La Bomba - Los Bitchos Red - Jesse Welles This episode features a clip from Sam H…

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Erin Cain on Personal Resilience and the Power of Horses to Heal 43:13

12d ago43:13

43:13

Erin Cain didn’t grow up around horses but eventually was exposed to them and the remarkable abilities they have to facilitate healing for a wide range of individuals. A series of life events caused her to move from her native northeast to the Colorado Rockies and today, she’s the co-founder, owner, and operator of Grace Reins Equine Therapy. In th…

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Psychotherapist Meghan Riordan Jarvis on the Importance of Understanding Grief as a Path Toward Living Healthier Lives 51:07

19d ago51:07

51:07

Meghan Riordan Jarvis was a practicing psychotherapist when she found herself devastated by the loss of her two parents. She suddenly saw she was no different from those she helped, but she still needed outside support to recover. In this Blue Sky episode, she describes how this realization led her to become an expert about grief and an advocate fo…

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Tricia Rose Burt Describes How She Transformed Her Life and Why She Encourages Others to Believe That There Is “No Time to Be Timid” 47:27

26d ago47:27

47:27

Tricia Rose Burt had done everything right, according to the way she was raised. She went to a “good school,” had a “good job” and all seemed to be going great on the surface. But inside, she was miserable and decided to make a change. She left her career in public relations, took classes at art school, and began to explore her own creativity in a …

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87. A Season of Change 34:23

1M ago34:23

34:23

This episode marks seven years of this podcast, and as we start the eighth, I decided that it was time we looked back on how much things have changed in the modern witchcraft space since then, along with how different things are since I first became a witch over twenty-five years ago. Because what is witchcraft if it’s not change? Also, I’m standin…

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S22,E07: 09/22/25 (Cornershop feat. Eden Gray, Tchotchke, Still Corners, Moontype, Cool Sounds, Camp Saint Helene, Open Reel Ensemble) 48:49

1M ago48:49

48:49

Season 22 Episode 7 Amsterdam via Rotterdam - Cornershop feat. Eden Gray Poor Girl - Tchotchke Playin' Dumb - Tchotchke The Dream - Still Corners Faded Love - Still Corners Let Me Cry - Moontype Four Hands ii - Moontype Just a Dream - Cool Sounds Pretty Often - Cool Sounds Anniversary - Camp Saint Helene Racing - Camp Saint Helene Quartet Studio Li…

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Stacey Garcia on Resilience and Optimism in the Face of Personal Roadblocks and Why She Thinks “Mondays are Magic” 49:28

1M ago49:28

49:28

As a personal trainer and wellness coach, Stacey Garcia was doing everything right. She ate well, exercised, and took great care of herself. That’s why her cancer diagnosis came as an extra shock, and in this episode, she explains how she dealt with this news and found strength and resilience as she battled her disease. Now in recovery, Stacey help…

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Astronaut Nicole Stott Reflects on Lessons She Learned in Outer Space and How They Changed Her View of Life on “Spaceship Earth” 54:08

2M ago54:08

54:08

Nicole Stott had a remarkable career with NASA, logging more than 100 days in outer space. Her time on the International Space Station drives her appreciation for the importance of cooperation across cultures and national boundaries. On this Blue Sky episode, she describes lessons learned from her time as an astronaut, and the inspiring work she do…

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Back to School Edition 10:59

2M ago10:59

10:59

Host Bill Burke thinks back to his own back to school days and offers thoughts on what he might study were he an incoming student this fall. He also discusses what he might teach if he were a faculty member and encourages us all to keep learning in our lives, whether we are enrolled students or not.By Bill Burke

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86. Shadow Work (And Maybe Why We Shouldn’t Tell Other Witches to Do It) 36:01

2M ago36:01

36:01

If you’re in witchcraft spaces, over the last six years or so, you’ve likely heard someone talking about “shadow work” (or more obnoxiously telling someone “they need to do some shadow work”). And while some folks seem to consider it an essential element of witchcraft, for those of us who have been in the community a long time it’s just a little bi…

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Marcy Syms on Her New Book and “Not Letting the Bad Guys Win” 47:55

2M ago47:55

47:55

Marcy Syms has led a remarkable life, full of triumphs and tragedies. Through a discussion of her new book, Leading with Respect: Adventures of an Off-Price Fashion Pioneer, host Bill Burke and Marcy cover subjects ranging from Marcy’s upbringing, to overcoming bigotry and bullying in high school, to running her father’s company and keeping it on t…

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Mike Goodwin on the Power of Humor and “The Comedian’s Mindset” 51:11

2M ago51:11

51:11

Mike Goodwin grew up with a difficult and volatile father. As a child, he decided that one way he could help his mom would be to help make her laugh. He soon realized he had a talent for humor, but it wasn’t until after time in the US Army and a career in higher education that Mike made comedy his career. Host Bill Burke and Mike Goodwin share a lo…

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Kristine Michie on Stirring Up Impactful Change Through Joy and Optimism 45:55

3M ago45:55

45:55

In this Blue Sky conversation, Kristine Michie describes her path to a career marked by sparking joy in people and organizations to facilitate positive and impactful change. Earlier this year, she hosted Bill Burke on her PlayFull podcast and with this episode, the tables are turned and the result is a fun, inspiring conversation on the power of fu…

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Curiosity + Resilience: A Formula for Optimism 10:46

3M ago10:46

10:46

Bill Burke reflects on an idea presented by Niren Chaudhary in episode 107. Niren described curiosity and resilience as two master skills required to successfully run the marathon of life. In this "A Bit of Blue Sky," Bill underscores Niren's belief and relates these qualities to optimism, providing examples through past Blue Sky guests.…

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Niren Chaudhary Reflects on Rebounding From Grief and His Successful Career Leading With Gratitude and Love 51:10

3M ago51:10

51:10

Niren Chaudhary has led a remarkable life while overcoming intense personal tragedies. He describes his success in running global business as stemming from a foundational belief in putting his employees first and leading them with love, gratitude, and respect. Chapters: 01:36 Meet Niren Chaudhary Niren Chaudhary, a visionary leader and CEO, shares …

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85. Feedback/Q&A Special 2025 1:14:31

3M ago1:14:31

1:14:31

It’s July which means it’s time for the annual feedback/Q&A episode of the show! In this episode I sit down and answer questions that you, the audience, has been sending me over the last few months. It’s the same dance we do every summer, and this year you guys sent me some great questions. It’s a fun one. Conventions: Aug 2-3 Big Minneapolis Anime…

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Heidi Johnson on Loss, Grief, and the Transformative Power of Giving 42:49

3M ago42:49

42:49

Heidi Johnson was in a great spot in life. She had a great family, good job, all she could reasonably ask for. But when her mother was killed in a shocking accident, that all changed. After suffering from intense grief, Heidi’s life changed when she was asked to start a new initiative at her local children’s hospital. This led her to create and lea…

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Wounded Warrior Tom Deierlein’s Remarkable Story of Grit, Resilience, Service, and Optimism 51:37

3M ago51:37

51:37

As a West Point graduate who had completed his required service, Tom Deierlein was well into a successful career in digital advertising when he was called up once again to serve in Operation Iraqi Freedom. There, while working to help struggling Iraqi families meet their basic needs, a sniper’s bullet would change his life’s trajectory. In this Blu…

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Jodie Jackson on How to Manage Our News Consumption to Preserve Our Mental Health and Well-Being 48:49

4M ago48:49

48:49

Many years ago, Jodie Jackson found herself in a deep depression. As she worked to identify the causes her deteriorating mental health, she realized it had a lot to do with her excessive and indiscriminate consumption of news and information. In the years since, she’s become a recognized expert on media literacy and a passionate advocate for unders…

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4th of July Edition and Reflections on American Optimism 9:28

4M ago9:28

9:28

In honor of this year’s 4th of July celebration, host Bill Burke discusses some bits of US history through the lens of this country’s remarkable sense of optimism. He describes that despite our many setbacks and shortcomings, we remain a place of possibility and hope and encourages us all to keep working towards “a more perfect union.”…

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84. We Clicked on Every Facebook Witchcraft Ad (with Bree NicGarran) 1:46:35

4M ago1:46:35

1:46:35

Last month we talked about a good source new witches might want to add to their libraries, because I know how hard it is to separate the signal from the noise. But this month I thought we’d go look at some of the noise instead! I clicked on every terrible ad for witchcraft stuff I could find on Facebook for a week, and decided to inflict what I fou…

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Nichole Argo on Her Remarkable Work as a Community Builder 49:10

4M ago49:10

49:10

Nichole Argo describes the work she’s doing to bring communities together by assembling people with different viewpoints around one table to discuss their challenges and formulate solutions. After great success in her hometown, she’s now pursuing similar models across the country, and she’s optimistic that combining a growing desire for belonging w…

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Harry Smith on Life Lessons and His Career in Journalism 44:43

4M ago44:43

44:43

Over the course of his remarkable career, Harry Smith interviewed six US presidents and numerous celebrities including Julia Roberts, Cher, and Madonna. But on this Blue Sky episode Harry shares that his favorite people to cover were the ones we’ve likely never heard of, the everyday heroes that he describes as the glue of our society. Harry shares…

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Some Reasons Why Today Is the Greatest Time to Be Alive 10:56

5M ago10:56

10:56

Blue Sky host Bill Burke, along with several past guests, have described today as the best time to be alive in all of human history. On this episode, Bill explains some data-backed reasons why and provides hope that even better days lie ahead.By Bill Burke

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83. An Honest Review of Thorn Mooney’s “Witches Among Us” 54:44

5M ago54:44

54:44

One year ago I put out this podcast’s first book review. It was for Annwyn Avalon’s Celtic Goddess Grimoire, and I absolutely hated it. It was everything I despise in modern witchcraft publishing, and it just left a bad taste in my mouth. I felt like I needed to fix that. So I decided to make it my mission to find a new witchcraft book I might actu…

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Mary McManus on Surviving and Thriving After Recovering from Trauma and Polio 50:08

5M ago50:08

50:08

Mary McManus has never had it easy. As a kindergartener, she was a victim of polio just a short time before the vaccine was introduced. She also faced trauma in her home life but somehow managed to persevere and overcome these and still more obstacles throughout her life. Today, Mary is an inspiring author, poet, motivational speaker, and finisher …

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Political Scientist and Author Lindsey Cormack Discusses Her Book, "How to Raise a Citizen (And Why It’s Up to You to Do It)" 43:25

5M ago43:25

43:25

Political division in the United States is an issue often cited as contributing to the pessimistic outlook so many of us have. Blue Sky guest Lindsey Cormack believes that our government will only improve if we begin to understand it better and get involved ourselves. As a college professor, when she found that many of her students were remarkably …

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Sam Pressler on His Passion for Building Community and Connection 54:34

6M ago54:34

54:34

Sam Pressler has a strong track record of bringing people together and working to rebuild the civic infrastructure of the United States. In addition to being a researcher and writer, he is also the founder of the Armed Services Art Partnership and Connective Tissue, a collection of projects designed to help people understand how they might go about…

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Reflections on the Role of Mentors and Teachers in a Life of Optimism 9:36

6M ago9:36

9:36

On the heels of the “Arts Educators Save the World” feed swap episode with Jonathan Groff and his elementary school music teacher, Linda Tough, Bill Burke reflects on the role of teachers and mentors in helping us all be optimistic. He shares his own influences and those of many Blue Sky guests, while encouraging us to think of our own and consider…

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A Special Blue Sky Presentation of the “Arts Educators Save the World” Podcast with Erica Halverson, Featuring Jonathan Groff 1:04:28

6M ago1:04:28

1:04:28

In this very special “feed swap” edition, Blue Sky Alum Erica Halverson interviews award-winning Jonathan Groff and his inspirational elementary school music teacher, Linda Tough, on the “Arts Educators Save the World” podcast. Learn more about Erica's podcast here: https://www.artseducatorspodcast.com/ Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to the Feed Swap In t…

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82. The Pagan Invasion and Propaganda 45:13

6M ago45:13

45:13

The 1991 Christian propaganda series the Pagan Invasion by Jeremiah Films was oddly formative for me. It’s a masterclass in propaganda, and a perfect example of the kind of misinformation that was spreading during the heights of the Satanic Panic. So in this episode we’re going to break down how “documentaries” like these work to push an agenda, an…

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Historian and Author Martin Gutmann Discusses Optimism, History, and His Appreciation for “Unseen Leaders” 54:21

6M ago54:21

54:21

Martin Gutmann is an expert on the history of business and has written extensively about styles of past leaders. In this episode, he shares his thoughts on everything from today’s political climate, to whether he thinks Ernest Shackleton is overrated (spoiler alert – he does), to the underrated excellence of less well-known figures in history. Chap…

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Blayne Smith and Brandon Young Explain Why Perseverance Is Greater Than Endurance 56:42

6M ago56:42

56:42

Blayne Smith and Brandon Young are two US Army combat veterans who came together in civilian life to start their own company. They’ve now published a new book, co-authors of Perseverance > Endurance: Lead with Resilience. Grow Through Adversity. Win Together., in which they describe invaluable lessons that they’ve learned from their training, the b…

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Cheryl Dorsey Describes the Remarkable Work of Echoing Green 44:39

7M ago44:39

44:39

This episode explores the work of Echoing Green, an international non-profit that invests in social entrepreneurs and their dreams and ideas. An accomplished leader and executive herself, Cheryl Dorsey explains how she first came to the organization and the great work they continue to do under her leadership. Chapters: 02:22 Meet Cheryl Dorsey Cher…

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81. Reflections 32:36

7M ago32:36

32:36

This month on the show we’re talking about the importance of taking stock and realizing that the person you used to be isn’t the person that you are — and how important it is to document who you are now so that you might know yourself better later. Or something. It makes sense if you listen, I swear. Remember you can always buy Trae’s Books and vis…

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David McCullough III Shares the Story of The American Exchange Project and His Optimistic Vision for Its Future 47:50

7M ago47:50

47:50

David McCullough got the idea for The American Exchange Project (AEP) after a cross-country trip showed him how diverse and accepting were the people he met. Today, AEP creates opportunities for recent high school graduates to experience life in a different part of the US, building bridges of understanding and creating lifelong friendships. It’s Mc…

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Erica Halverson Describes Her Optimistic Belief That Arts Educators Can Save the World 54:07

7M ago54:07

54:07

While studying acting in college, Erica Halverson decided that while she loved the theater, being on stage would not be for her. Instead, she moved into different areas and now is teaching arts education at the University of Wisconsin. She also hosts a terrific podcast, "Arts Educators Save the World,” on which artists are joined by teachers and me…

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Earl B. Hunter, Jr. Discusses His Optimistic Approach to Helping Grow the Outdoor Industry Through His Work at Black Folks Camp Too 58:20

8M ago58:20

58:20

When Earl B. Hunter’s son was seven years old, he took him on three-month, multi-state camping. It was a positive, life-changing experience for them both. But Earl was struck by the fact that over the entire trip, they saw just one other black family. As someone who was working in sales in the outdoor industry, Earl saw an opportunity and went on t…

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Celebrating Optimism Month and Blue Sky’s 2nd Anniversary 6:23

8M ago6:23

6:23

On this month’s installment of “A Bit of Blue Sky,” and in honor of National Optimism Month, host Bill Burke reflects on lessons learned from two years of hosting the Blue Sky podcast.

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Khan Academy’s Sal Khan Describes Why He’s So Optimistic About the Future of AI and Education 54:39

8M ago54:39

54:39

Sal Khan is one of the great innovators in education and in this Blue Sky episode, he discusses his book, Brave New Words: How AI Will Revolutionize Education (and Why That’s a Good Thing). He and his colleagues at Khan Academy are well on their way to creating powerful AI teaching assistant called Khanmigo. At a time when many fear the onset of AI…

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80. A Couple of Things… 35:27

8M ago35:27

35:27

This month I wanted to talk about a couple of things that wouldn’t necessarily fill out a whole episode on their own. First off, after last month’s episode I wanted to clarify some of my thoughts on psychics. Secondly, I wanted to talk about bias and what we do with evidence that runs contrary to our beliefs. It should be a fun one though. Remember…

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Leslie and Richard Strauss Describe How Their In-School Program, Spirit Series, Builds a Better Future with Wisdom from the Past 47:47

8M ago47:47

47:47

Leslie and Richard Strauss are a husband-and-wife team who oversee Spirit Series, an innovative educational program in which young students perform plays about timeless stories. Through Spirit Series’ immersive and rigorous process, participants gain confidence in themselves and improve their teamwork, higher order thinking and focus in the classro…

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28. The First Step to Radical Self-Love: Self-Awareness 33:04

9M ago33:04

33:04

Send us a text Self-love starts with one powerful step—self-awareness. In this episode, we’re diving deep into what it truly means to know yourself, recognize your patterns, and become the conscious creator of your life. I’m sharing real-life examples, personal reflections, and actionable ways to strengthen your self-awareness so you can break free…

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Professor and Author Amy Edmondson Discusses the Benefits of Psychological Safety in the Workplace and What She Believes to Be the “Right Kind of Wrong” 48:28

9M ago48:28

48:28

Business school professor and author Amy Edmondson shares her views on how we can make our workplace more productive, enriching, and positive for everyone. By creating an environment with “psychological safety,” Amy says that organizations allow people to do their best work by not fearing to make the “right kinds” of mistakes and/or speaking up whe…

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Five Book Recommendations to Help You Be More Optimistic 9:57

9M ago9:57

9:57

On this installment of “A Bit of Blue Sky,” host Bill Burke describes five books he recommends that will help listeners be more optimistic (and hopefully, fulfill their New Year’s resolution to do so)! Blue Sky Bookshelf: Link Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to A Bit of Blue Sky Host Bill Burke introduces the podcast and its mission to inspire optimism thr…

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Marketing and Storytelling Expert Neal Foard Describes His Efforts to Make the Internet—and the World—a Kinder Place 49:58

9M ago49:58

49:58

Neal Foard is an accomplished marketing expert and storyteller. On this episode, Neal describes why, after helping build household name global brands like Budweiser, Lexus, and Sony, he has turned his attention to telling and teaching stories. He’s inspired by what he describes as the kindness of everyday people and shares personal anecdotes and st…

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79. The Telepathy Tapes and the Dangers of ‘Magical Autism’ 31:46

9M ago31:46

31:46

One of the biggest podcasts out there right now is The Telepathy Tapes. It’s topping the podcast charts on both Apple and Spotify’s American listings, but it perpetrates an incredibly dangerous idea about people with autism. But none of this is new, and we’ve seen this kind of trend before. So it’s about time we talked about it. Remember you can al…

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Zach Karabell Discusses His Thought-Provoking Work and Why He Continues to Be an “Edgy Optimist” 50:56

9M ago50:56

50:56

In this Blue Sky episode, Zach Karabell describes how the roots of his optimistic worldview come from his deep understanding of history and the important societal trends that continue to move in a positive direction. This conversation covers a lot of ground, including how Zachary views President Trump and the “chaos” and “hysteria” he expects will …