12 Geniuses Podcast (Don MacPherson)

Do you ever think about walking into your boss’s office and quitting your job? Have you ever dreamed about starting your own business? Have you wondered what it would be like to strike out on your own and see if you could make it in the business world today? This is exactly what Ryan Estis did at the height of the recession in January 2009. Today, Ryan is a writer, speaker, and consultant who quit his job as a well-paid executive in advertising to start his own company. His only regret…that he didn’t do it sooner.

The road wasn’t an easy one, though. As most entrepreneurs will tell you, there are a lot of sacrifices that need to be made if you want to succeed. In this episode of 12 Geniuses, Ryan discusses the sacrifices he made, the discipline he put into place, and the results that he has experienced over the last 10 years. Starting a business isn’t for everyone and Ryan shares the advice he has given to hundreds of people interested in going the entrepreneurial route about what it takes to begin and sustain a successful business.

Ryan is one of the most coveted professional speakers in the United States. He delivers keynote presentations to nearly 80 companies and associations each year around the world. That gives him keen insight into what individuals, leaders, and organizations are doing to stave off disruption and thrive in a highly competitive business climate. Ryan shares what the most innovative organizations are doing to invest in their people, handle failure, drive innovation, and pivot from soon-to-be obsolete business models.

What makes a leader great? Is it a big personality with a compelling vision? Or is it the combination of intelligence and integrity? Our guest for this episode of 12 Geniuses is Dr. Robert Eichinger. For half a century he has studied and researched the competencies of leaders – the good ones and the bad ones.

He has authored more than 100 articles and books on leadership, while coaching thousands of leaders from first-time managers to Fortune 500 CEOs.

In the first part of our conversation we talk about leadership myths, how leadership has evolved over the last fifty years, and the competencies leaders need to master in order to become great. The second part of the interview focuses on leadership in a world of artificial intelligence. We will also discuss the importance of change readiness, learning agility, and whether or not new technologies will enable leaders to be more effective.

America has a money problem. It isn’t just the $20+ trillion in national debt. It’s also individual debt. One in five Americans don’t have a single dollar set aside in the event of an emergency and 30% don’t have $500 in a rainy day fund. US household debt exceeded $13 trillion at the end of 2017 with over $800B of that coming in the form of credit card debt.

Half of all US employees are anxious or fearful about their financial well-being. Imagine the risk that this poses for your organization. People stressed about money are more likely to steal from their companies and stay even if they are disengaged.

Doug Lennick has spent his career developing leaders in a wide variety of industries and exploring how people can make better financial decisions that align with their core values. Doug has authored six books including his most recent - “Leveraging Your Financial Intelligence: At the Intersection of Money, Health and Happiness.”

Do you know someone with a drug or alcohol problem? About 20 million people in the United States have substance abuse problems and 72,000 Americans lost their lives from drug overdoses in 2017. The chances are you have a family member, a friend, a work colleague, or neighbor who struggles with addiction.

Seeing someone battle substance abuse can seem so crippling. Many people crave hope as they watch their loved one enter the abyss of addiction. That hope is just what this episode of 12 Geniuses provides.

Jim Geckler, the CEO of Harmony Foundation in Estes Park, Colorado, bravely and candidly shares his personal story of drug use and recovery. Starting at the age of 13, Jim abused alcohol and drugs until his 30s. An arrest began Jim’s sobriety that has lasted nearly 20 years.

Not only does Jim tell his story, he provides guidance for addicts, their families, friends, and co-workers.

In this special edition podcast, Devon McGrath interviews 12 Geniuses CEO Don MacPherson. Don shares what he learned in 2018 and where the focus of the podcast and company will be in the new year.

While reviewing 2018, Don and Devon talk about learning Arabic, the art and science of podcasting, fatherhood, entrepreneurship, futurist camp, technologies that are changing the way we live and work, the threat of technology addiction, and why change is so difficult. Then they shift their focus to what is on the horizon for 12 Geniuses in 2019. They discuss changing demographics and an aging population, cryptocurrency, the ethics of gene editing, global governmental cooperation, the economic opportunity of cannabis, prison reform, and immigration reform.

For nearly two decades America has been in “Winter” – a time of stagnation, conflict, and disruption. During this time, we’ve asked ourselves “who are we and what do we stand for?” We’ve grown contentious politically, racially, across generations, and about the best way to proceed into the future. Many now wonder how American society will find stability and cohesiveness in the years to come.

In this interview, Rebecca Ryan explains the changes our nation is going through and how these changes can be harnessed for a positive future. Rebecca explains the concepts of “Winter” and “Spring” as well as the “browning” and “graying” of America. She also shares her insights about how America will respond to these changes and how you too can practice futuring.

Rebecca has spent her career consulting with large and small organizations to prepare them for the changes to come. Rebecca has authored a book, "ReGENERATION: A Manifesto for America’s Next Leaders," detailing these changes and how we can ready ourselves to remain relevant and competitive in the world to come.

The world today is better than ever and one of the foundational reasons for this is because of access to energy. We have gas to power our cars and planes, electricity to run our appliances, natural gas, and other sources to control the heat in our homes. Dubai and Las Vegas don’t exist without cheap energy to power them.

Conversations surrounding energy sources, energy consumption, and ways to use energy efficiently have been on the rise. Alternative sources to coal have emerged with solar, wind, and hydroelectric as front runners. As America strives to optimize energy use, innovations such as battery storage, the Internet of Things, and Artificial Intelligence will be disruptive.

In this interview, Lauren Azar draws on her 25 years of experience working in the energy sector. She talks about why coal is not a viable, long-term source of energy, how new technologies will make energy consumption cheaper, and where America’s energy is most vulnerable from security threats. Lauren also candidly discusses how to get more girls and young women involved in energy and other STEM careers.

Over the course of her career, Lauren Azar has worked at the federal government level as Senior Advisor to the Secretary of the Department of Energy, at the state government level as Commissioner at the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, and in the private sector as an attorney representing utilities and utility customers.

Each day more than 10,000 Baby Boomers reach age 65. Traditionally, turning 65 meant senior discounts, occasionally socializing with friends over a game of bridge, and trips south for warmer weather. Today, retirement is being redefined. Nearly 60% of employees over 60 plan to continue working, but on their terms. As economist, journalist, and retirement expert Chris Farrell explains in this episode, taking on a job after retirement can have great health benefits and improve quality of life.

Many people who reach traditional retirement age are reinventing themselves because they know they still have a great deal to contribute to society. Others continue to work because the extra income is helping them live the kind of life they want. This has significant implications for organizations that are interested in engaging and retaining their most experienced people. Shifting careers later in life may seem daunting, but with the right tools and advice, changing careers is possible.

Another topic Chris addresses in this interview is FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early). Many young people, particularly in well-paid technology jobs, are choosing to amass large sums of money and opt out of the workforce in their 40s, or even 30s. Chris shares his thoughts on what that means to organizations that lose these people and the prospects for someone who ends their career prematurely.

Chris Farrell has studied retirement and the shifts in our aging workforce extensively. An author of five books including Unretirement and Purpose and a Paycheck, Chris is an expert on how we can find happiness, health, and security in our later years.

The world is better than ever. We have access to life-saving medical technology, sanitation, and technological advancements in energy and other resources. Despite these developments, there are still parts of the world challenged by natural disasters, diseases, and war. Fortunately for many of the people facing these challenges, there are organizations like Doctors Without Borders (also known as Médecins Sans Frontières) that provide assistance and heroes who leave the comfort of their careers, families, and the lives they have created in order to save lives and give hope to strangers a world away.

Nearly a decade ago, Catherine Carr had the nagging feeling there was more to life than the way she was living. It’s a feeling many people feel after a couple decades of adulthood and work experience. Most people don’t heed it though. Catherine is not most people. She wanted more meaning in her work and Doctors Without Borders was the answer. She applied, was hired, and sent to Kenya on a six-month assignment.

That one-time assignment turned into more than nine years with Catherine being stationed in 13 countries. In this interview, she shares her experiences working for Doctors Without Borders and the lessons she learned in the field that can be applied in business. Catherine also talks about overcoming the fear she felt as she embarked on her personal reinvention.

Anyone interested in expanding their own comfort zone, cultural adaptation, and pursuing a greater sense of meaning from work will find this interview with Catherine Carr interesting.

Catherine is currently on a four-month assignment in South Sudan.

Joey Torkildson, host of The Grind Podcast, interviews 12 Geniuses CEO Don MacPherson about the first quarter of 2019. They discuss what 12 Geniuses followed, where Don traveled over the last three months, what was learned, who was interviewed, and what Q2 of 2019 will look like.

The two friends cover technology advancements in the areas of AI, robotics, wearables, and virtual reality. They discuss the limitations government has when it comes to climate change and the importance of innovation in solving the world’s biggest problems. Don shares his experience speaking and meeting students at Yale University and the challenges of traveling to France with two young children.

Finally, Joey and Don discuss what is ahead for the 12 Geniuses podcast. New interviews on the topics of the cannabis industry, climate change and corporate sustainability, and creativity and innovation are coming soon. They also talk about the upcoming “12 Geniuses Leadership Moments” - three minute profiles of historic leaders - that will be released as mini-podcasts over the summer.

The world is changing quickly and it isn’t just technology innovation that is changing it. Public opinion on certain taboo topics is shifting too. A perfect example of that is the acceptance of legal cannabis. Investment in cannabis companies is booming, jobs in the industry are plentiful, states and countries are loosening regulations, and companies around the world are finding creative uses for the cannabis plant.

Five years ago, Giadha A. DeCarcer, an expert in emerging markets, noticed the potential boom in the global cannabis market. At the time there were no industry reports on cannabis, so she seized the opportunity and founded New Frontier Data. Now, she and her team are providing data on the cannabis industry to investors, growers, and regulators to enable them to make informed decisions about its potential.

In this interview, Giadha draws on data to discuss the vast potential of the cannabis market. She talks about the shift in opinion on cannabis products, user profiles, and future uses of CBD for medical treatments. Giadha also defines the demand for cannabis on the global market and investment opportunities in legal cannabis.

Over the course of her career, Giadha has worked in banking, the intelligence community, and founded and run multiple businesses. She was born in Rome, speaks five languages, and offices in Washington D.C.

The world is better than ever. People are living longer, healthier lives. Diseases like cancer are no longer a death sentence. New treatments and potential cures are entering development and trials each day. To make these medical advances possible, there is an army of scientists dedicating their lives to finding cures. These scientists are supported by inspiring leaders committed to employee development and the creation of visions of the future. One of these leaders is Sara Kenkare-Mitra.

Nearly three decades ago, Sara made a life altering decision to follow her passion for medical sciences. She left India and moved to Austin, Texas to attend pharmacology school. Upon completion of her PhD, she was offered a job with Genentech where over the years she pursued roles in designing cancer treatments becoming a leader in her field. Now, Sara oversees dozens of drugs in development and helps determine the viability of new treatments.

In this interview, Sara describes the long journey required for drug approval, the importance of celebrating failure along the way, and how her leadership has developed over the course of her career.

Sara received her PhD in Biopharmaceutical Sciences from the University of California, San Francisco, where she also stayed on as a Post Doctoral Fellow in Clinical Pharmacology before joining Genentech. Sara has worked for Genentech for 21 years, creating drugs that save lives and make the world a better place.

The greatest change the international community faces in the 21st century is the warming planet. Whole countries are threatened, coastal cities could disappear, and every community around the world will see the impact of floods, fires, hotter weather, droughts, storms, and other weather-related events. The way we live will change and so will the way we work. This will create incredible disruption. It also presents unprecedented economic opportunity for organizations that dream up innovative solutions to the dangers of climate change.

In this interview, climate change guru Andrew Winston shares how his career path intersected with environmental issues, the state of the climate today, and how businesses are adopting sustainable practices and attracting climate-conscious consumers in the process. Andrew also discusses how small and mid-sized businesses can use sustainability to be more competitive while attracting top talent to work for them.

Andrew studied Economics at Princeton, later earning an MBA from Columbia and a MA of Environmental Management from Yale. He began his career advising companies in strategy and marketing before turning to his passion for the environment. An author of three books including Green Recovery, Green to Gold, and The Big Pivot, Andrew is an expert on how we all can do our part to save the environment and still prosper.

What is the most memorable recognition you’ve ever received? The chances are it came from someone you respect greatly, there was probably little or maybe no monetary value associated with it, and it felt exceptionally validating.

Many great leaders know that recognition is one of the most powerful motivators. Army General Lucian Truscott was one of those leaders.

On May 30th, 1945, the United States solemnly celebrated Memorial Day. World War II had just ended in Europe and the war raged on in the Pacific. Sacrifice and loss had been dreadful but victory was becoming reality. A small gathering of dignitaries arrived to officially dedicate an American cemetery in Italy. General Truscott was slated to speak…

One of the most dramatic societal changes over the last few years has been the advancement of transgender rights. While the 1.4 million Americans who identify as transgender have yet to reach equality, it is efforts from people like this episode’s guest Chris Mosier who are making these human rights advancements possible.

In this interview, pioneering transgender athlete Chris Mosier shares the importance of athletics in his life, his journey to defining his gender identity, and how our world is changing to be more inclusive and understanding through policy and social change. Chris also provides outstanding insight and advice for those (and their families, friends, and co-workers) who are questioning, curious, or looking to better understand transgender identity.

Chris has been heavily involved in athletics since he was four years old, becoming a trailblazing athlete in his 20s as an All-American Duathlete and six-time member of Team USA. In 2015 he made history as the first known transgender man to make a US Men’s National Team, challenging Olympic policy and opening doors for future transgender athletes. As an advocate for the transgender community, Chris established transathlete.com, the go-to source on transgender athletic policy. He also mentors young athletes and speaks to organizations about how to create more inclusive policies for their institutions.

Overlord is perhaps the greatest military operation ever attempted. You know it as D-Day. Even though it happened 75 years ago, you can still imagine the gravity of a failure. The fate of the world literally depended on its success.

One group of Americans was led by General Theodore Roosevelt Jr. – the son of the 26th US President. Through his leadership that day, countless Allied lives were saved by his agility, resilience, and calm under pressure.

Next week’s 12 Geniuses leadership moment will profile Clara Lemlich. More than 100 years ago, Clara risked her life to make working conditions better for tens of thousands of women. We hope you’ll listen to that episode, subscribe to the 12 Geniuses podcast, and give us a rating if you like it.

What are you willing to sacrifice for a cause you believe in? There are millions of people around the world who give their time and energy. Some are even willing to risk their lives. This is the story of one of those people.

A century before the Me Too Movement, there was another movement that made life for women safer and better in countless ways. At the turn of the 20th century, women were the primary employees in the garment industry. They worked long hours in unsafe conditions. They were constantly subjected to sexual harassment by male supervisors and owners. Wages were low and an employee could lose her job at any moment for any reason.

A central figure in this labor movement was Clara Lemlich. At the age of 23, Clara led multiple strikes to unionize the garment industry. This required incredible bravery. At the time, factory owners played hard ball. One ownership group identified Clara as an agitator. Three men, including a bare knuckle boxer, were deployed to send a message...

This is the story of the man who saved the world. The year was 1983. The cold war between the Soviet Union and United States was heightened. Nuclear missiles were aimed at Moscow and other high value targets, while Soviet nuclear subs prowled the American east coast around the clock.

On the morning of September 26th in a Soviet bunker, alarms were triggered, sirens howled, while electronic screens indicated the Americans had just launched five missiles toward the USSR.

Estimated time to detonation: just 25 minutes…

Dark, dusty, and dangerous. Those are the words that could have described the Soudan Iron Mine in Northern Minnesota during its operation. Each day workers would take elevators thousands of feet below the surface of the earth to roam the 54 miles of tunnels and mine its rich veins. My grandfather was one of those workers.

When she was an adult, and after my grandfather had retired, my mom toured the mine. At one point, the tour guide extinguished his light putting Mom and the other tour members in complete darkness…

In a moment, John Kriesel’s entire life changed. While serving in Iraq, John’s vehicle struck an improvised explosive device. After being thrown from his vehicle, he regained consciousness to find himself with a badly broken arm, both legs twisted and severely damaged, and numerous shrapnel wounds. Three times John died on operating tables only to be resuscitated by doctors. In the months of recovery that followed, John persevered through challenges with his family. He learned to walk again. He adapted to his new lifestyle. He redefined his goals as he put his life back together. All this was made possible by John’s endless optimism and an incredible amount of physical and mental toughness.

In this interview, John shares his experience of serving in the military, his challenges in returning to civilian life after enduring 35 surgeries, what it was like to have the United States President award him the Purple Heart, and the power of optimism. John also discusses his decision to run for a seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2010 and how he built the beautiful life he lives today.

John joined the military when he was just 17 years old. As a young man, he elected to serve a tour of duty in Iraq in 2006. Following his return to civilian life, John won a position as a representative in the Minnesota House of Representatives where he was one of few Republicans to oppose legislation that would have made same-sex marriage illegal. As an advocate for the veteran community, John now works as Veteran Services Director for Anoka County in the Minneapolis/Saint Paul area. John also regularly shares his story as a motivational speaker and has authored a book called Still Standing which details his time in Iraq and his amazing recovery.

You can find John Kriesel’s Book, Still Standing at https://itascabooks.com/still-standing/

To learn more about John, visit his site at https://www.johnmkriesel.com/

Follow John on social media @JohnKriesel (Twitter and Instagram)

Resources for veterans:

Resources for employment - https://www.militaryonesource.mil/education-employment/for-service-members/employment/employment-resources-and-services

Resources for lifestyle and mental health - https://www.militaryonesource.mil/military-life-cycle/veterans/help-for-veterans

The streets were filling with people enjoying the warm Parisian air. Cafés and restaurants bustled. Didi finished his prayers and stepped into the night. Even for The City of Light, the atmosphere was electric and the revelers were taking full advantage of it.

Didi arrived at work and began to inspect the crowd as they filed into the theater. Smiles greeted him as the headline act took the stage. The audience roared their approval.

No one needs to bestow the role of leadership upon someone. Sometimes it is simply snatched in time of need. That is exactly what happened next.

On November 13th, 2015, a series of attacks hit Paris. One happened to be at the Bataclan. Hundreds of people who were there that night owe their lives to Didi and his willingness to shepherd them to safety. The first shots fired that night interrupted the music. Chaos ensued...

Laurie Ruettimann, host of the Let’s Fix Work podcast, interviews 12 Geniuses CEO Don MacPherson about the second quarter of 2019. They discussed what 12 Geniuses is following, the Leadership Moments 12 Geniuses is producing, goals for the rest of 2019, and what to look forward to in Season Two of the 12 Geniuses podcast.

The two friends explore advancements in medicine, complications in adapting to new technology (children becoming more rude and drivers interacting with driverless cars), and the strange difficulty in getting female guests to be guests on podcasts. They also cover Don’s new position on the Board of Directors for the Harmony Foundation, creating the Inner City Ducks organization in Minneapolis, and parenthood.

Finally, Laurie and Don discuss what is ahead for the 12 Geniuses podcast. New interviews on the topics of cyber security, architecture for rehabilitation, carbon capture techniques, the creative process in art, and human resources are coming soon. They also talk about the “12 Geniuses Leadership Moments” - three minute profiles of historic leaders - that are airing as mini-podcasts over the summer.

You can’t imagine a more unlikely leader to take the national spotlight. The youngest of 20 children born to sharecropper parents, she defied the odds and terrified a sitting president. This was during a time when women didn’t have a voice and African Americans were second-class citizens. Fannie Lou Hamer was both. What she lacked in formal education, privilege, and experience, she more than made up for in effort, courage, and a healthy dose of resilience.

Fannie Lou was born in 1917 in the segregated south. She was picking cotton by the age of six. By the time she was 13, she could pick hundreds of pounds a day despite having a leg ravaged by polio. Fannie Lou would have been an excellent student in high school and college, but those doors were not open to African American girls from rural Mississippi.

Her hard labor as a child prepared her to be a fighter as an adult. The catalyst that propelled her to national prominence was…

Her hard labor as a child prepared her to be a fighter as an adult. The catalyst that propelled her to national prominence was…

Keynote speaker and writer Ryan Estis interviews 12 Geniuses CEO Don MacPherson for a recap of the podcast’s first season. They discuss why Don chose the theme of “Change” for Season One, what was learned during the 13 episodes, and who makes up the podcast audience.

Ryan and Don cover how the podcast got started, the differences in interviewing someone you know versus someone you have never met, the importance of doing interviews in person, and some of Don’s favorite episodes. They also discuss what surprised Don while creating Season One.

Finally, Ryan and Don dive into what is ahead for the 12 Geniuses podcast. Season Two will feature 12 more geniuses with insights to share on topics such as cybersecurity, designing more humane jails, carbon capture techniques, the creative process in art, disruptive transportation, and how human resources is using data to improve employee performance. They also talk about why Don created the “12 Geniuses Leadership Moments” (three-minute profiles of historic leaders - that are airing as mini-podcasts over the summer).

Confirmed Season Two guests include NYT and WSJ bestselling author Daniel Pink, cybersecurity expert Max Heinemeyer, rocket scientist and aerospace engineer Dr. Anita Sengupta, legendary hip hop artist Brother Ali, correctional facilities architect Ken Ricci, and people analytics expert Ben Waber. Episode One of Season Two will be available on 9/9/2019.

“If you could trade lives with any other person in the world, who would it be?” I was curious to hear his response. I suspected it would fall in line with the average response from any other 12-year-old.

I had been Shakeel’s Big Brother for about three years at this point. We would get together two or three times a month spending our time playing basketball or cooking meals. Early on, I made a deal with him that he could ask me anything he wanted. He didn’t hesitate to explore all kinds of topics which led to a very candid relationship.

On this particular Sunday morning, Shakeel and I were driving to a gym to play basketball. Our conversation had varied throughout the drive and as we approached our destination I asked him the question I’d wanted to ask for a long time.

I could see the wheels in his head turning. He really processed the question. I was impressed. I thought he would choose to trade lives with an athlete or entertainer. Those were the people he and his friends talked about frequently.

After a minute, Shakeel looked at me. His head was slightly tilted to one side, one eye was closed and the other squinted at me with a slight bit of skepticism. He slowly and rather sheepishly gave his answer…

There are times in life when many of us will question faith, hope, and humanity. The trigger can be a devastating natural disaster, a terror attack, a vicious act of war, a senseless crime of hate. Situations like these require a special leader.

Maximilian Kolbe was one of those leaders.

Kolbe was a Franciscan Friar who lived in Poland during the first half of the 20th century. Because his father was German, Kolbe was given the opportunity to receive preferential treatment by the Nazi occupiers. He refused, not wanting to categorize himself as superior to his neighbors.

Kolbe was eventually arrested by the Gestapo…

Somebody has to go first. It’s an unwritten rule of progress. Somebody has to be a pioneer who blazes the trail for others to follow. It’s rare that the responsibility of being a pioneer for great social change falls on the shoulders of an innocent, unassuming 15-year-old. Regardless, that’s the situation in which Elizabeth Eckford found herself.

Elizabeth was one of the Little Rock Nine. These were the nine African American students who would be the first non-white students to attend prestigious Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. As fate would have it, Elizabeth was separated from the other eight African American students on the first day of school. She was left alone to face a gauntlet of scorn, vitriol, and hatred…

You are successful. You wouldn’t be interested in the content of this blog if you weren’t. Congratulations!

Now, who helped you achieve your success? All four of my parents have played a big role for me. My older sister Marie has given me encouragement and professional opportunities. There have been teachers and coaches who get credit. A professor from college hired me, mentored me, and remains a friend to this day.

However, if I was to pinpoint the most important person to my professional success, it would certainly be Doug Lennick. Doug was a legendary leader at American Express when I was starting my professional career there.

He has helped me as a coach, mentor, and friend. When a big business or personal decision needed to be made, Doug always made himself available to listen and provide sage advice.

Before we met formally, we had a chance encounter on an elevator. I don’t know what he had been doing or where he was going, but I do know that he became completely present with the rest of us on the elevator. In the 30 seconds we shared…

Have you ever had someone tell you about their hopes and dreams? Can you remember the passion in their eyes? Can you remember the conviction in their voice? This is the story of a dream and more importantly the vision of that dreamer.

Fifty-six years ago, Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered one of the most important speeches in the history of the United States…and it almost didn’t happen. That’s not completely true. It almost didn’t happen in the way we know it.

Here is the little-known secret about that speech. For most of it, Dr. King was ordinary. He was somber. He spoke of the past. He preached. He scolded the powers in America. The crowd that had traveled so far and waited so long to hear him grew restless.

But then a voice cried out. A friend of Dr. King shouted…

12 Geniuses is back with Season Two. We have 12 new episodes coming out this fall. This season is dedicated to the theme of creativity and innovation. We will talk directly to creators of culture and innovative problem solvers. If you want to better understand how you, your team, and your organization can be more creative and innovative, this season of the podcast is for you. The first episode of Season Two is an interview with bestselling author Daniel Pink. That episode is available on September 9th. We hope you’ll subscribe and tune in!

A Fool-Proof Guide to Creativity and an Optimized Workday! … Just kidding. In the end, only you can be the judge of how to schedule your day, but Daniel Pink is here to help with a great understanding of how our cognitive ability changes throughout the day and how you can learn to plan your day around your brainpower. Daniel has been passionate about understanding the intersection of human behavior and work for nearly 20 years. In that time, he has written 6 books including his newest bestseller – When: The Scientific Secrets to Perfect Timing.

After years of research, Daniel is now an expert in how our brain functions change throughout the day and how we can use that knowledge to our advantage. In our interview with Daniel, we discuss his creative process, the importance of coordinating your creative work with the right time of day, and a few tips that famous creatives have used to perform their best.

An expert in cybersecurity, Max Heinemeyer explains how we can prevent attacks from malicious hackers both in our personal and professional lives. Vulnerability on the Internet has increased exponentially as new “smart” devices and appliances are tied into our networks every day. In a world where we have learned to protect ourselves from physical threats, we must learn how to protect ourselves and our companies from cyber threats as well.

In this interview, Max defines the threats we face each day on the Internet, how malicious hackers have evolved, and the increasing complexity of cybersecurity. Max also provides tips and solutions for safeguarding your personal and business information.

Max is Director of Threat Hunting for Darktrace and works in their Cambridge, United Kingdom office. He works with companies to help them investigate and respond to threats, while additionally overseeing the 30+ member cybersecurity analyst team. Max also has extensive experience as a white hat hacker.

An innovation expert, Simone Bhan Ahuja explains how large, established organizations can innovate and avoid disruption even in a volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous time. Only 14% of new graduates want to work for large organizations. Instead, they’re attracted to the start-up path and opportunities to be creative and innovative in their careers. In order to attract top talent and remain disruptive in any industry, larger organizations will need to adopt innovation at every level of their organization.

In this interview, Simone explains the argument for encouraging innovation and intraprenuership, the barriers many organizations face in the pursuit of innovation, and the importance of creating a culture of psychological safety. Simone also provides insight on how to build an innovative structure within an organization, the benefits of keeping projects frugal, and what leaders can do today to start implementing these ideas.

Simone is the author of Disrupt It Yourself, and a co-author of Jugaad Innovation: Think Frugal, Be Flexible, Generate Breakthrough Growth. For over 15 years Simone has studied emerging markets and how organizations can continue to innovate across all levels.

A breakthrough tech entrepreneur, Morgan Mercer discusses the power of Virtual Reality in building empathy and creating a safer work environment. Of the women that report sexual harassment in their workplace, 80% leave within two years. This has significant ripple effects from a career change, loss of economic opportunity, and even tarnished company profiles. As we look to the next decade, we have many social issues to resolve and one of the best ways to do that will be through empathy.

In this interview, Morgan Mercer explains why we need better training for a safer workplace, the impact of #MeToo on training standards, and how to build empathy through immersive experiences. She also discusses her experience as a woman of color in the tech industry, her drive to empower others through VR, and her take on the future of VR.

Morgan Mercer is the CEO and Founder of Vantage Point which serves clients around the world from their headquarters in Los Angeles.

An established justice architect, Ken Ricci discusses the impact building design has on those involved in the justice system. Nearly two thirds of those held in jails are still innocent in the eyes of our legal system, yet they are detained in dark, dingy, unsafe spaces that deprive them of a healthy lifestyle and access to the outside world. Driven by a passion to make correctional facilities more humane, Ken has dedicated his career to using innovative design to create facilities that are both safer and more comfortable for those inside.

In this interview, Ken describes the impact of design on the detention experience and provides insight into how we can build facilities that are safer for the guards and the detainees while still providing comfortable, open spaces with natural light. Ken also discusses his perspective on the future of our justice facilities.

Ken Ricci is a nationally recognized leader in the field of justice planning and design. Ken has devoted his entire career to designing better correctional facilities and he continues to educate others as a lecturer for the American Institute of Architects and the National Institute of Corrections.

What did you accomplish in the third quarter of 2019? How do you plan to finish out this decade? What are your goals for 2020? In this special episode, Don and Devon talk about what they’re paying attention to, where Don traveled, what they’ve learned, and what they have planned for the show. Devon McGrath, Assistant Producer of 12 Geniuses talks with Don about recording the Leadership Moments, lessons from parenthood, remarkable travel moments, and what guests they have planned for Seasons Two and Three.

An innovative leader in the field of people analytics, Ben Waber discusses the creative ways companies can unleash the full potential of their employees. Through data, companies can devise new management techniques, adjust the physical environment, and even re-design the employee experience to improve performance at all levels. Companies already have mountains of data available to them through ID badge scans, emails, meeting assignments and much more. Driven by a passion to help companies interpret this data, Ben Waber has created a company that uses AI to simplify the numbers and help leaders make better decisions.

In this interview, Ben talks about the creative environment at MIT. He explains how analytics can be used to inform company-wide decisions, understand how teams are working together, and improve individual career development. Ben also describes how the data can help us better understand bias and influence decision making. Finally, Ben talks about the future implementation of the technology and the ethical questions it may raise about employee and user privacy.

Ben Waber is President and Co-Founder of Humanyze, a behavior analytics company. For over 15 years, Ben has studied, researched, and implemented new technology to better understand human behavior.

An innovator in the field of carbon dioxide capture and building materials, Mehrdad Mahoutian discusses his journey to discovering a new process for creating concrete and his quest to use waste materials to create high-value products. More than 5% of global CO2 emissions comes from the production of concrete. The impact of this is so high that for every ton of concrete made, a ton of carbon is released into our air. Mehrdad’s innovative concrete-making process solves this problem and more, while making a stronger, cheaper, and carbon-negative construction material. As we tackle climate change, we will need thousands of innovations like Carbicrete to stop global warming.

In this interview, Mehrdad describes the problem cement and the resulting CO2 creates for our environment and shares how he came up with a carbon-negative process to create cement-free concrete. He also shares the failure along his innovative journey and how he came to see his new process as a viable product for mass production. Mehrdad also discusses the barriers to industry-wide adoption of the new process and how governments are responding to Carbicrete. Finally, Mehrdad explains the potential for the emerging market of CO2 based products and the integral role consumers and organizations will play in reducing our carbon emissions.

Mehrdad Mahoutian is CTO and Co-Founder of Carbicrete, a company that has developed a concrete-making process that is cement-free and carbon-negative.

One of the most respected independent voices in music, Brother Ali shares candid anecdotes about his creative process and describes the importance of spirituality in creating meaningful art.

In this interview, Brother Ali discusses what the touring lifestyle is like, how he grounds himself while traveling, and the importance of Islam in his life and in his creative pursuits. Ali describes his process for creating songs and albums, how he pushes himself to get out of his creative comfort zone, and the collaboration process with other artists and producers. Later in the interview, Ali dives deep into the role music and art has on informing the human experience and expression.

Over the last two decades, Brother Ali has earned critical acclaim for his deeply personal, socially conscious, and inspiring brand of hip-hop.

A veteran technology entrepreneur, producer, and musician, Patrick Riley shares his experience of being a life-long creative while working as an executive for a software company.

In this interview, Patrick discusses the making of his new film Tuscaloosa, including collaborating with the cast and crew, solving for unexpected problems, and the complexity of creating an accurate depiction of 1970s Alabama. Patrick offers advice for creatives and provides examples for how to nurture your creativity while working in a professional career. Patrick also explains the innovations developing in the film industry and their impact on the way we consume, create, and find films.

As a technology entrepreneur, Patrick co-founded and was CEO of Modern Survey. Over the course of his career, Patrick has directed and produced dozens of music videos, documentaries, and short films.

A lifelong innovator and expert on innovative practices, Safi Bahcall shares his process for nurturing “Loonshots” - the crazy ideas that disrupt industries, cure diseases, and change the world.

In this interview, Safi dives into how good ideas are often killed by great teams and how we can develop the skills to nurture and encourage “Loonshots.” Safi also discusses company culture and organizational structure, why companies need to separate their innovators from executors, the importance of getting incentives right, and why “failing fast” is not the best path toward innovation.

Safi worked for three years as a consultant for McKinsey before co-founding a biotechnology company that developed new drugs for treating cancer. Safi regularly speaks with senior executives about how to implement the ideas in his bestselling book “Loonshots: How to Nurture the Crazy Ideas That Win Wars, Cure Diseases, and Transform Industries.”

Following pressures from international powers in the 1980s, the deconstruction of the Berlin Wall began. This month, the world celebrated the 30th anniversary of the wall’s demise. The fall of the wall symbolizes a series of events that led to freedoms and opportunities for hundreds of millions of people around the world.

For a year, I knew I wanted to join the celebration in Berlin and I wanted to share the celebration with my three-year-old daughter. Together we spent a week in Germany. I was certain I would come home with a story about how Berlin and the demise of its wall was a microcosm of the world today. It turns out the story is a lot more complicated than I expected.

Flying back to the United States, my daughter slept next to me as I jotted down three lessons I took away from the trip. It’s these three lessons I want to share with you today in this bonus podcast episode.

In arguably the greatest upset in sports history, the 1980 United States Olympic Hockey Team defeated the Soviet Union and then went on to clinch the gold medal against Finland. The sports world was shocked and the “Miracle on Ice” was complete.

In this interview, Lou Nanne, a key influencer of the team, takes us back nearly 40 years and tells the story of the 1980 “Miracle” team, his involvement in securing Herb Brooks as head coach, and how the team was best prepared to face the international competition through innovative practice routines and training methods.

Lou Nanne has been a leading figure in the hockey community for decades. Lou was captain of the 1968 United States Olympic Hockey Team. Later he played, coached, and served as general manager for the Minnesota North Stars. Lou is a member of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame and the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame. He has also been awarded the Lester Patrick trophy for his impact on the sport of hockey.

Shakeel Nelson and the Inner City Ducks are using sports in very innovative ways to reach young people and ensure they are on the right path in life. They provide mentoring, a safe space to play and learn, discipline, and exposure to new experiences for the young people in his community. The players have participated in tournaments in Kansas City, Indianapolis, Chicago, Wisconsin, and South Dakota. Eating in restaurants, staying in hotels, and seeing new places expands their sense of what is possible in their lives and teaches them life skills they will apply in adulthood.

In this interview, Shakeel shares his personal experience growing up without a father and candidly shares the challenges he faced. Shakeel explains his inspiration for creating the Inner City Ducks and how he sees the organization and its players growing in the years to come. Shakeel also tells us about the creative ways he is introducing his kids to new experiences and teaching them life skills while developing athletes hungry for success.

At the young age of 25, Shakeel volunteers four days a week to support the youth of his community as a coach, role model, and mentor through the Inner City Ducks. Shakeel’s vision for the organization is to serve 150+ boys and girls and to provide a community center where the kids can go after school to play, study, work out, and receive mentoring.

Over the last decade, technology has transformed life as we know it and innovation continues to accelerate. To help us understand how to get comfortable with the uncomfortable, we spoke with widely acclaimed futurist Cecily Sommers.

In this interview, podcast host Don MacPherson and Cecily look ahead at the forces shaping our future and identify some trends that will disrupt the way we live and work over the next decade. We touch on the impact of climate change, migration, changing birth rates, and more. We also discuss how we can be best prepared to embrace the changes to come and lean into new technology that makes us uncomfortable.

Cecily Sommers is a futurist and innovation expert. She speaks, write and consults on emerging trends, markets, and technologies shaping business and society.

Podcast host Don MacPherson wraps up Season Two of the show by sharing five lessons learned about creativity and innovation. The lessons include:

To be your most creative, you have to be creative for yourself

It’s important to be frugal when you embark on an innovative pursuit

There is no creative magic. You have to show up and put in the work

Most of the guests interviewed had found their calling in their work

Beware the false fail. Many people chasing an innovation quit too early when they reach a false fail

Season Three of 12 Geniuses debuts February 11, 2020!

12 Geniuses is back and celebrating the new decade with a new season. Season Three is dedicated to the theme of “The Future of…” We are dedicating all 12 episodes to interviews with geniuses who are creating the future or who can help us understand the dramatic changes the future will bring. If you want to better understand how you, your team, and your organization can be better prepared for the future, this season of the podcast is for you. The first episode of Season Three is an interview with futurist Cecily Sommers. That episode is available on February 11th. We hope you’ll subscribe and tune in!

The leader of the future ranks high in emotional intelligence, uses technology to enhance leadership effectiveness, moves up the ladder quickly, and practices mindfulness throughout their work. In this interview, podcast host Don MacPherson and Dr. Robert Eichinger look ahead at the future of leadership and identify trends that will disrupt the way we develop, promote, and practice leadership over the next decade. They discuss the importance of emotional intelligence, the role of mindfulness, and how technology will support our leaders as we shift from IQ to an EQ focus.

Dr. Robert Eichinger is an expert in leadership with over five decades of experience. He is co-founder of TeamTelligent and has authored over 50 books, articles, software products, and other intellectual property around the topic of talent management and succession planning.

The last few weeks have rocked the world in ways that most of us have never experienced. We are self-quarantined, restaurants and shops are closed, school children have been sent home, events we have held sacred are canceled. Whatever normal was seems like a distant memory. Our souls are being tried.

Times of uncertainty have a way of unifying us. They also create extraordinary acts of heroism from ordinary people. Bill MacDonald and Richard Seale are two of those heroes. When Hurricane Sandy rocked their community in 2012, they decided to step up. This is their story.

In 2008 and 2009, a software company was hammered by the Great Recession. Layoffs were imminent in order to stay in business. Instead, the owners chose to share the sacrifices across the organization, keep its team together, and weather the storm. The company recovered and thrived while protecting the families of its employees.

The way we trust our peers, governments, and corporations will evolve dramatically over the next decade. The COVID-19 pandemic, deep fakes, fake news, and social media manipulation are all challenging our ability to trust. In this interview, 12 Geniuses host Don MacPherson speaks with Method’s Álvaro Marquez about the Trust 2030 Project and the three potential societies into which our world could evolve over the next decade.

A true global citizen who speaks five languages, Álvaro Marquez is Chief Design Officer at Method, where he led a team of researchers for the Trust 2030 Project in partnership with Hitachi.

A decade from now when we look back at what we’ve overcome, we will remember the connections who helped us through this moment and the meaning that gave us the will to endure and the power to persevere.

The curve is flattening. There is an end in sight to the shelter-in-place orders that have been made across many parts of the world. We may soon be able to experience life outside our homes and the freedom we are used to having. While no one knows exactly what normal will be like this summer or fall, society will certainly be presented with new ideas, companies, and works of art. Countless people have been using this gift of time to their advantage and we will be the beneficiaries.

As this four-minute podcast tells us, there is creative greatness amid our duress.

In this interview, entrepreneurial expert and best-selling author Gino Wickman joins host Don MacPherson to discuss what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur including how to tell if you are a “true entrepreneur,” how to plan for a successful career, and how to make the best decisions for your business. They also discuss common mistakes made by entrepreneurs, the entrepreneur’s identity after they sell their business, and the impact of COVID-19 on entrepreneurship.

An entrepreneur since the age of 21, Gino has an obsession for learning what makes businesses thrive. Gino is the founder of Entrepreneurial Leap and EOS Worldwide. He has also authored Traction and Entrepreneurial Leap while continuing to help entrepreneurs-in-the-making thrive and succeed in their endeavors.

There is something beautiful about selflessness. With a simple gesture, a little kindness, or an act of generosity, we can make the world a better place. This is a four-minute story of someone who exemplified the spirit of giving and never cared that no one was watching.

In this interview, biologist and aging expert Dr. Steven Austad joins host Don MacPherson to discuss how and why we age, various ways to extend human life, and ethical questions that accompany a 100-year life expectancy. They also dive into medical treatments that show signs of slowing the aging process, the impossibility of immortality, and the societal changes that will occur if we all live longer.

Dr. Austad has dedicated his career to understanding the science of how and why we age. He is a distinguished professor and Chair of the Biology Department at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He has also authored numerous books, academic papers, and articles on aging.

In this interview, Don MacPherson is joined by Hank Greely, a specialist in the ethical, legal, and social implications of new biomedical technologies. They discuss the roles CRISPR, preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), and in vitro fertilization will have on the future of reproduction. They also discuss the ethical questions that will accompany selecting specific characteristics for implanted embryos and the possibility of creating babies with superhuman capabilities.

Hank Greely specializes in the ethical, legal, and social implications of new biomedical technologies, particularly those related to neuroscience, genetics, or stem cell research. Hank is a genetics professor at the Stanford School of Medicine, the Director of the Center for Law and the Biosciences, and the Chair of the Steering Committee of the Center for Biomedical Ethics.

In this episode of 12 Geniuses, Don MacPherson speaks with writer, founder, and host of On Being, Krista Tippett. Together they dive into the way we practice faith, what it means to be human, and the dichotomy between good and evil. They also discuss how religion will animate the 21st century, including the next religious reformation, the relationship between science and religion, and the rise of the religious "nones."

Since the mid-1990s, Krista Tippett has studied the religious, spiritual, and moral aspects of human life. Krista is a Peabody Award-winning broadcaster, a New York Times Bestselling Author, and a National Humanities Medalist. She is also the CEO, Founder, and Host of On Being.

Transportation is about to get a whole lot faster. In this episode of 12 Geniuses, Don MacPherson speaks with aerospace engineer, rocket scientist, professor, and pilot, Dr. Anita Sengupta. Together they explore the futuristic forms of transportation that are currently being developed. From Hyperloop technology to interplanetary exploration, Dr. Sengupta explains how travel and transportation will be disrupted in the coming years. Don and Dr. Sengupta also discuss her work at NASA, and her current project at Airspace Experience Technologies (ASX) where they are designing electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft as a commuter transport option in urban environments.

Dr. Anita Sengupta is an aerospace engineer, rocket scientist, and pilot who for 20 years has developed technologies that have enabled the exploration of Mars, asteroids, and deep space. She is a Research Professor of Astronautics at the University of Southern California where she is conducting research on transportation technologies including electric propulsion for aviation, Hyperloop technology, and in-space propulsion systems.

In this interview, Don MacPherson is joined by Dr. Matthew Johnson, an expert in psychoactive drug effects, addiction, and risk behavior. They discuss clinical research on psychedelics including psilocybin, ayahuasca, DMT, MDMA, LSD, and more. They also dive into the potential therapeutic applications for psychedelics including treating depression, PTSD, and addiction, and improving individual happiness, creativity, and selflessness.

Matthew W. Johnson, Ph.D., Professor at Johns Hopkins, is an expert in psychoactive drug effects, addiction, and risk behavior. He has worked with psychedelics since 2004. He developed and published the first psychedelic treatment of tobacco addiction in 2014. With colleagues, he conducted and published the largest study of psilocybin in cancer distress in 2016. He is Principal Investigator on upcoming psilocybin studies treating opioid addiction and PTSD, and LSD research treating chronic pain.

In this interview, Don MacPherson is joined by Dr. Carissa Véliz, an expert in digital ethics with an emphasis on privacy and AI ethics. They discuss the state of privacy today, the countless ways in which organizations track, store, and analyze our data, and the importance of maintaining our privacy both online and in the real world. Carissa offers advice on how to protect yourself online, and insights on how you can stand up and demand better data protection from organizations and the government.

Dr. Carissa Véliz, an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Philosophy and the Institute for Ethics in AI at the University of Oxford, is an expert in digital ethics. Dr. Véliz specializes in privacy and AI ethics along with political philosophy and public policy. Dr. Véliz is the author of Privacy is Power and the editor of the Oxford Handbook of Digital Ethics.

In this episode, Don MacPherson is joined by MGySgt Scott H. Stalker, the Command Senior Enlisted Leader of United States Space Command. They discuss the future of war, including new technology, how we fight, and the importance of protecting equal access to space. They also discuss new and developing threats against American democracy, the dangers of misinformation and manipulation, and the ways in which the United States military is preparing to protect its citizens from new technologies.

MGySgt Scott H. Stalker has dedicated his career to serving in the United States military. After numerous combat and contingency deployments and decades of service, MGySgt Stalker accepted garrison assignments that include Joint Intelligence Center Pacific, Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, and the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Joint Chiefs of Staff J2. Prior to accepting his current position, MGySgt Stalker served as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader for the National Security Agency, the Defense Intelligence Agency, and United States Cyber Command.

On the morning of September 11th, 2001, the United States experienced a terrorist attack that changed everything. While travel, immigration, and international relations were all significantly altered, one change that many of us don’t know about is the way law enforcement monitors, apprehends, and prosecutes terrorist activity.

In this interview, Don MacPherson is joined by Harry Samit. Harry is a former FBI agent who served on the Joint Terrorism Task Force in Minneapolis. He was an integral member of the team of agents who tried to stop the 9/11 attacks. They discuss the events leading up to 9/11, including the arrest and investigation of al-Qaeda operative Zacarias Moussaoui. They also explore how terrorism is still expressed around the world today and the threats the U.S. faces from foreign and domestic terrorists. Harry shares his perspective on how counterterrorism will evolve and the ways in which agencies will change in order to monitor suspicious behavior in the United States.

Harry Samit is a former United States Navy Naval Intelligence Officer. After his Naval career, Harry spent 21 years in the FBI and was a founding member of the Minneapolis Joint Terrorism Task Force. In the months and years following the attacks on 9/11, Harry was also a key figure in analyzing ways to prevent future terrorist attacks.

Our theme for Season Three was “The Future” and we had a remarkable group of Geniuses to help us make sense of it. The main lesson we took away is that with time and imagination, the list of impossibilities is a lot smaller than we might think. Both 2020 and this most recent season of 12 Geniuses proved that the unimaginable is definitely not impossible.

For Season Four, we will continue exploring the future and the seemingly impossible. In our first four episodes, we'll look at the future of healthcare, education, climate change, and artificial intelligence. Episode One of Season Four will be available on January 12th.

In this interview, Don MacPherson is joined by Dr. Bertalan Meskó. Dr. Meskó is known as The Medical Futurist and the Director of the Medical Futurist Institute. In this interview, Don and Dr. Meskó discuss recent developments in the field of medical technology including AI, wearables, telemedicine, risks to privacy, and addiction. They also talk about four different national healthcare models as well as the futures of mental health and the addiction treatment field.

In this interview, Don MacPherson is joined by Justin Reich. Justin is an assistant professor at MIT and the director of the MIT Teaching Systems Lab. Don and Justin discuss the future of education, focusing on the impact of COVID-19, online learning, demands on the education system, and how technology will (or will not) disrupt the way we learn.

In this episode, Don and Dr. Leah Stokes discuss the state of the climate today, possible climate scenarios for the future, the technologies most important to combating climate change, and what we need to do to protect our planet. Dr. Stokes also outlines the impact of new federal leadership in the United States and the role of international collaboration in preserving the climate.

In this episode, host Don MacPherson is joined by AI expert, Michael Kanaan. Together, they explore the future of artificial intelligence including how it will be used both at home and work, its impact on the workforce, and the potential for AI to both help and harm us. They also discuss the ways in which AI surveillance is being used to target certain groups around the globe and the ethical questions that arise from creating AI algorithms.

Host Don MacPherson is joined by New York City Commissioner for International Affairs, Penny Abeywardena. They explore the future of cities including the impact of COVID-19, combating inequality, and addressing climate change. They also discuss the idea of broadband as a utility and the great steps taken to educate schoolchildren from home.

In this episode, Don MacPherson is joined by Futurist David Houle as they discuss the future of humanity. David argues that humans are at a fork in the road with one path leading to utopia and the other leading to oblivion. David and Don examine the forces shifting the future of humanity including climate change, AI, quantum computing, and biomechanics.

In this episode, Don MacPherson is joined by Futurist Ross Dawson to discuss the future of social media. They explore the growth of social media over the last two decades, potential forms of regulation, and the role of social media in the coming decades. Ross provides some potential solutions for the negative effects of social media use including nonprofit networks, user ownership of data, and AI technologies for regulating harmful content.

In this episode, Don MacPherson is joined by the President of the National Police Foundation, Jim Burch. They discuss the research the National Police Foundation has collected on policing technology, training, and community building as well as the importance of procedural justice. They also discuss the impact of the death of George Floyd, the Black Lives Matter movement and the subsequent protests and unrest across the United States. 

In this episode, Don MacPherson is joined by sextech futurist, podcaster and speaker Bryony Cole. Bryony is on the front lines of sex technology innovation and adoption. She joined the show to discuss what exactly sextech is and how developments in sextech will change the way humans explore their sexuality, find potential partners and build relationships. Don and Bryony also discuss the importance of sex education and the possibility of a new sexual revolution.

In this episode, Don MacPherson is joined by celebrity chef and restaurant owner Justin Sutherland. When Justin isn’t in front of a camera, he can be found in one of his several Minnesota restaurants making culinary works of art. He’s also heavily involved with the community, opening up a free food shelter to distribute food to those in need during the pandemic. Don and Justin discuss the future of food, including the concept of “food deserts” and how this contributes to food insecurity for disadvantaged Americans, how the food industry can help fight climate change and the impact of COVID-19 on the restaurant industry.

In this episode, Don MacPherson is joined by University of Minnesota professor and family therapist Bill Doherty. He’s the co-founder of Braver Angels, an organization that aims to help Americans with differing political beliefs understand each other beyond stereotypes. Don and Bill discuss how extreme the political divide has become in recent decades, the methodologies used by the Braver Angels in workshops and events, and the benefits that American citizens and politicians alike can gain from learning to communicate better with those who align themselves differently on the political spectrum.

In this episode, Don MacPherson is joined by workplace expert, author, podcaster and speaker Minda Harts. Together they discuss how women -- especially women of color -- have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and what organizations can do to bring back women who have left the workforce. They also discuss paid maternity leave, the wage gap and what is needed to create an equitable work environment.

In this episode, Don MacPherson is joined by journalist, author and retirement expert Chris Farrell. In their conversation, Don and Chris explore the ways in which the pandemic has impacted the ability to save for retirement for people of all walks of life. They also discuss the rate of new business creation, reskilling the older generation, and the impact of Covid-19 on the overall economy.

It’s been two years since cybersecurity expert Max Heinemeyer first joined the show to discuss trends in cybersecurity. In this update, Don and Max discuss the people and organizations behind the hacks that have recently devastated companies, our infrastructure and governments. They also discuss current cyberthreats and vulnerabilities, and how joint efforts between government and the private sector can help protect citizens all over the world against cybercrime.

In Season Three of 12 Geniuses, trust expert Álvaro Marquez joined the show. At the time, he and Don discussed the future of trust and how a disruptive global event could alter society’s concept of trust. Little did they know at the time how much trust would be compromised over the next 18 months as the Covid-19 pandemic spread throughout the world. This week, Álvaro and Don MacPherson reconvene to discuss the different approaches countries took to handle the pandemic, how those responses affected the public’s conceptualization of trust and what those societies may look like going forward. They also discuss autonomous cars and cryptocurrency with regard to trust.

In Season One of 12 Geniuses, energy expert Lauren Azar joined the show to discuss trends in energy consumption. Those subjects included the viability of coal, where we can find long-term sources of energy and the impact of emerging technologies. Since that conversation in October 2018, there have been incredible advancements in energy production and storage. This week, Lauren and Don meet again to discuss those advancements, recent catastrophic events such as the 2021 Texas power crisis and what the current presidential administration has in store for the future of energy in the United States and abroad.

In Season One of 12 Geniuses, keynote speaker Ryan Estis joined the show. During that conversation, Ryan talked about how 2019 was poised to be the most successful year of his business. The year after that, the pandemic hit, and in-person events were abruptly canceled. Listen in to hear about the ways that Ryan pivoted his business to include virtual keynotes and workshops, as well as how the pandemic changed his outlook on life and his relationships with loved ones.

Jim Geckler joined 12 Geniuses back in Season One to bravely and candidly share his personal story of addiction and recovery. This week, Jim and Don catch up to discuss how the treatment field has changed over the last three years. In that time, virtual health care has quickly become instrumental in providing treatment services. They also talk about the effect that the pandemic has had on drug and alcohol abuse, and about how you can spot the signs that someone you care about might be suffering from addiction.

In Season One of 12 Geniuses, futurist Rebecca Ryan joined the show to talk about the future of America and how changes in the country can be embraced in positive ways. Today, she and Don reconnect to talk about the future of work after the pandemic significantly disrupted what work looks like. Rebecca discusses the implications and importance of working from home and why she believes there's been a power shift away from employers into the hands of employees. 

Giadha A. DeCarcer, the founder and executive chair of New Frontier Data, first joined 12 Geniuses back in April 2019. Since the episode aired, the world has seen a greater increase in the potential of cannabis than could have been predicted. Giadha and Don meet again to talk about changes in both cannabis investments and usage, the innovations we’ve seen in how the plant can be grown and the prospects of further legalization in the U.S. and countries around the world. 

Leadership expert Doug Lennick joined 12 Geniuses back in Season One to discuss the importance of emotional competence at work. In this episode, Don and Doug meet again to discuss the trends shaping the labor market today. They also talk about the importance of understanding and embracing your employees’ values and how to establish strong relationships with employees who are working remotely.

John Kriesel, veteran services director for Anoka County in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, reflects back 20 years to the September 11th attacks and the events that brought him to fight for his country. In the latest episode of the 12 Geniuses podcast, he explains how time and becoming a father changed his perspective on the war and why it’s vital future generations remember what happened.

On Sept. 11, 2001, I met with one of my best friends in a restaurant to try to comprehend the incomprehensible events that had unfolded that day. As we watched the news, it became clear that humans did this to other humans. In this bonus episode of 12 Geniuses, 20 years later, I reflect on the day that I lost my faith in humanity. However, I also want to share the best day of my life — and the personal journey to get to the point where I became liberated from hate ... and the faith returned.

In Season One of 12 Geniuses, climate change guru Andrew Winston joined Don MacPherson to talk about how businesses are creating opportunities through the green economy. Since that conversation, a lot has transpired.

In this episode, Andrew and Don meet again to discuss the many facets of these changes, including the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, new innovations in the fight against climate change and how having a sustainability plan for companies is a key to attracting talent.

In this episode, David Houle joins Don once again to discuss the aspects and implications of climate change in detail, specifically around the idea of strategic retreat. In David’s words, strategic retreat is “the planned and managed relocation of millions of people triggered by extreme weather, droughts, floods and sea level rise.” David shares just how urgent it is for us to accept this fact and how we can begin planning now.

Best-selling author Daniel Pink and host Don MacPherson discuss how people can overcome their own regrets and how it can be used to improve performance. They also talk about how leaders can use regret as a teaching tool and motivator, along with the merits of asking about regret in a job interview.

In this episode, best-selling author Richard Leider and 12 Geniuses host Don MacPherson discuss the health and performance benefits of finding your purpose, how leaders can help their people identify their purpose, and how rallying people around a common purpose is a key to a high-performing organization.

In this episode, Dr. Mitchell Kusy and 12 Geniuses host Don MacPherson talk about what toxic leadership is, how your organization can avoid hiring a toxic leader, the importance of creating a healthy culture, and what leaders can do to combat the Great Resignation. Join us as we discuss the topic of toxic leadership and how to navigate it.

In this episode, Dr. Druskat and 12 Geniuses host Don MacPherson discuss building great work cultures and how leaders can influence the creation of high-performance teams. They talk about the importance of collaborating on the creation of team norms, how those norms should be governed, the importance of building a sense of belonging, and why hiring the best, most experienced people is not the solution to creating a superior-performing team.

In this episode, Paul Haenle and 12 Geniuses host Don MacPherson talk about the rise of China as a global economic and military superpower. They discuss President Xi Jinping’s consolidation of power and future as China’s leader. They also talk about the past, present and future of US/China relations, China’s challenges, and their “no limits” agreement with Russia that was signed days before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Futurist Trond Undheim and 12 Geniuses host Don MacPherson discuss five technologies - Artificial Intelligence, synthetic biology, robotics, blockchain, and 3D printing - and how the combination of these technologies will change every aspect of our lives. Their conversation provides advice for how CEOs, mid-level leaders, and public servants can take advantage of the disruptive nature of these technologies and how leaders can help their people stay relevant by providing continuous education, training, and learning opportunities. The conversation concludes with Trond’s thoughts on brain-machine interfaces, the metaverse, and humanity’s next evolution.

In this episode, leadership expert Ray Kelly and 12 Geniuses host Don MacPherson discuss the five-levels of leadership. A level-five leader mobilizes a group of people around a common cause to drive a result consistently and develops other leaders who can do the same. This is the key to creating a leadership driven culture. Ray provides advice for how leaders can ascend from levels one, two, and three to levels four and five. They also talk about the importance of leaders continually developing themselves and others, why creating a sense of belonging is critical to effective team performance, how values enable employee engagement, and why high-potential employees need to constantly be challenged or they will leave for other opportunities.

In this episode, Maj Lauren Serrano shares the tragic story of a Marine who took his own life while under her command. She candidly discusses mental health, how she led the more than 200 other Marines under her command through the loss, and how she managed herself through that difficult period of her life.

Most importantly, Maj Serrano provides advice for other leaders who may have a team member or colleague struggling with mental health challenges. Over the last two years, so many people in leadership positions have had to deal with unexpected loss and mental health concerns among members of their teams. Mental health issues are not to be ignored whether they are our own issues or issues with members of our team. Please seek professional help if you or someone on your team is having suicidal thoughts. In the United States, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 800-273-8255. In the UK, the Samaritans hotline can be reached at: 116 123.

In this episode, host Don MacPherson and author and radio host Thom Hartmann discuss how the removal of privacy has been a tool of autocratic governments to control citizens throughout history. In countries around the world, privacy continues to be taken away from people through new technologies. That threatens innovation, liberty, and democracy. An absence of privacy and the failure to protect sensitive data heightens the vulnerability to cyber attacks at the national level and cyber theft at the corporate level. Thom and Don end their discussion with why leaders in corporate and government positions need to be aware of the challenges that an absence of privacy creates and advice for how to respond in order to restore privacy to everyday employees and citizens.

12 Geniuses host Don MacPherson and guest Dave Ulrich as they talk about leading through disruption and crisis. They start off by discussing the attributes of good and great leadership. They talk about how leaders need to be aware of mental health challenges employees face and how those challenges influence the employee experience. They conclude the interview with a discussion about leading in crisis situations and Dave shares a model leaders can use to navigate any disruptive event.

In this episode, 12 Geniuses host Don MacPherson and guest Evamarie Schoenborn talk about the attributes of great leadership, they discuss how Evamarie honed her listening skills by emulating financial advisors with whom she worked, and she shares how she and her team led Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management through the pandemic. Evamarie describes her approach to talent management, assessment, and succession planning as CEO and she is candid about the challenges of being CEO, including the difficulty of transitioning into that role from another company. Evamarie also talks about creating a sense of belonging across the entire organization, why she spent so much time on developing others, and she leaves us with her thoughts on what she would like her legacy as a leader to be.