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Blue Sky

Blue Sky

Von: Bill Burke
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 Hosted by Bill Burke, founder of The Optimism Institute, this weekly podcast will feature inspiring leaders, authors, researchers, and big thinkers who are taking on some of our world's toughest challenges with an infectious sense of optimism. Blue Sky takes its name from the meditation reminder that there's always blue sky above, sometimes you just have to get your head above the clouds to see it.2025 Hygiene & gesundes Leben Seelische & Geistige Gesundheit Sozialwissenschaften
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  • Kevin Lowe on How He Found Hope After Losing His Sight

    Kevin Lowe on How He Found Hope After Losing His Sight
    Jan 21 2026
    Kevin Lowe has come a long way since he was seventeen years old and lost his eyesight during a medical procedure gone wrong. In this Blue Sky conversation, Kevin describes how he's rallied from this devastating event to live a life full of resilience, purpose, and optimism. This episode concludes with a surprise musical feature, courtesy of Kevin himself. 00:00 Kevin Lowe's Childhood & Early Life Kevin Lowe shares insights into his childhood in East Central Florida, highlighting a carefree upbringing centered around outdoor activities with his cousin Josh. He also opens up about his parents' divorce in second grade and the significant role his grandmother played in his life. 04:46 Loss of Sight and Other Complications Kevin recounts the discovery of a plum-sized brain tumor at 17, which, though non-cancerous, posed a life-threatening risk. He describes the traumatic surgery that led to complete blindness, loss of smell, short-term memory loss, and a permanently damaged pituitary gland. 11:02 Journey Through Grief and Despair Kevin candidly discusses the profound sadness and despair he experienced after losing his sight, describing it as being 'trapped in hell.' He reveals his nightly prayers for his sight to return and even for the courage to end his life, ultimately finding strength in his faith and family. 15:04 Perseverance and New Beginnings Kevin shares his journey of rebuilding his life, including his determination to graduate with his high school class despite his blindness. He discusses his internships in travel and radio, which eventually led him to start his own travel agency, Better Days Travel, and his pivotal realization from an audiobook to embrace life despite his challenges. 23:12 The Podcast: Grit, Grace, and Inspiration Kevin talks about how the 2020 pandemic and his sister's suggestion led him to start podcasting, a medium he quickly realized he was 'designed for.' He details his podcast, Grit, Grace, & Inspiration, which focuses on sharing stories of overcoming adversity and inspiring others, encapsulated by his tagline 'turning setbacks into stages.' 31:54 Technological Advancements and Echolocation Kevin highlights how technology, particularly the iPhone with its voiceover feature and apps like Apple's 'Be My Eyes,' has significantly improved his life. He also fascinatingly explains how he learned echolocation, a skill that allows him to perceive his surroundings through sound, giving his world shape again. 42:20 Advice and Gratitude Kevin expresses gratitude for his seventeen years of sight, which aids his interpretation of the world, despite being a 'picky blind person' about colors. He offers heartfelt advice to those facing setbacks: 'give yourself grace' and remember that 'it's going to get easier, it's going to get better.' 45:20 Blue Sky Above - A Musical Surprise The host discusses the inspiring technological advancements and echolocation techniques Kevin shared. As a special surprise, Kevin produced an original song, 'Blue Sky Above,' which is played to close the episode.
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    51 Min.
  • ENCORE PRESENTATION: TED Leader Chris Anderson on His New Book, Infectious Generosity, and Why He Believes That Now Is the Time for Us All to "Reclaim the Internet" for Good

    ENCORE PRESENTATION: TED Leader Chris Anderson on His New Book, Infectious Generosity, and Why He Believes That Now Is the Time for Us All to "Reclaim the Internet" for Good
    Jan 14 2026
    Chris Anderson was inspired by the growth of TED once they expanded from being simply a conference company to adding the concept of offering their talks free to the world over the internet. He's now calling on us all to "reclaim the internet" and use it as a force for spreading less hate and division and more kindness and generosity. His new book, Infectious Generosity, lays out clearly the reasons why generosity is good for the world — as well as for us as individuals — then details a plan by which this movement can spread virally. Chris's views on these subjects are aligned perfectly with the work of The Optimism institute and he shares them with great enthusiasm in this uplifting and inspiring episode of Blue Sky. Chapters: 00:00 Welcome Chris Anderson to Blue Sky Bill Burke welcomes Chris Anderson, head of TED, to the Blue Sky Podcast. Chris discusses his new book, "Infectious Generosity," and his mission to use the internet as a force for good, combating online division. 02:14 TED's Impact and TEDx's Success Chris shares how TED made its videos freely available online, which surprisingly enhanced the conference rather than hurting it. He explains the success of TEDx, a free licensing model that enabled 65,000 volunteers to create events globally, generating billions of views. 06:00 The Internet's Downfall and Human Nature Chris discusses how the internet, especially social media, went astray, preying on our 'lizard brains' and promoting outrage. 11:47 Generosity and Happiness Chris explains the deep connection between generosity and happiness, citing a Chinese proverb that highlights helping others as a path to lifelong joy. He emphasizes that while the internet can be negative, it also offers a powerful tool for spreading positive change. 15:57 Reclaiming the Internet: Tactics Chris discusses tactics for reclaiming the internet, focusing on making 'good stuff' go viral by evoking authentic human emotion. He uses the example of 'The Kindness Pandemic' Facebook group and highlights the need for creativity and courage to break through online negativity. 21:09 Our Role in Shaping Social Media Chris emphasizes that users are not helpless in shaping their social media experience, stressing the importance of conscious choices in who to follow and what content to engage with. 27:47 The Uniqueness of Our Time and Generosity Strategy Chris highlights the unique historical moment that allows for widespread generosity due to frictionless digital sharing and its reputation-building power. 33:06 Embracing Imperfect Generosity and Gratitude Chris encourages letting go of the idea of 'perfect generosity,' urging celebration of all motivations behind giving, even those with mixed intentions. 39:25 Podcast Recommendation and Host Reflections Bill Burke recommends 'Two Lives,' a character-driven narrative podcast about overcoming darkness, which has received several awards. 42:21 Neuroplasticity, Optimism, and AI for Good Chris discusses neuroplasticity and how our narratives shape us, emphasizing that kindness, like a muscle, grows with exercise. He introduces the Infectious Generosity Guru (TIG), an AI tool designed to help individuals brainstorm ways to spread generosity online. 49:15 A Vision for a Better Future Chris outlines his continued work with TED, focusing on the Audacious Project to collaboratively fund large-scale change initiatives. He emphasizes that optimism is a stance—a determined effort to find and illuminate pathways to a better future, urging collective action to reclaim the internet and inspire change.
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    54 Min.
  • 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

    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
    Jan 7 2026
    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.
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    50 Min.
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