Podcasting continues to grow in popularity around the world -- but how did we get here?

And why are we drawn to audio stories, to begin with?

Drawing on her experience as a journalist, podcast producer and radio director, Amanda Cupido illustrates why audio storytelling is so powerful. From the radio broadcasts of World War II to the podcasts of today, audio storytelling has been fundamental for sharing information, engaging our imaginations and building community.

Amanda Cupido is an award-winning podcast producer, author, and entrepreneur. She is the founder of Lead Podcasting, a production company that develops podcasts for thought leaders and organizations. Her book, Let’s Talk Podcasting: The Essential Guide to Doing it Right, is an Amazon #1 bestseller and used in journalism programs across Canada. Previously, Amanda worked in major market talk radio as a reporter, producer, news anchor and program director. She has a Bachelor of Journalism from Toronto Metropolitan University and a Masters in the Psychology of Leadership from Penn State.

Alex Castro Croy is a trauma and addiction counselor in Denver Colorado. He also is an adjunct professor (graduate and undergraduate) for MSU-Denver- Department of Human Services for 9 years. He identifies as a bilingual/bicultural immigrant gay male and has used his techniques and tools to train professionals in all fields of human service: Law enforcement, doctors and nurses, trauma and addiction counselors, lawyers and judges. His passion is teaching, training, and soul-tending (psycho-therapy).

Alex Castro Croy is a trauma and addiction counselor in Denver Colorado. He also is an adjunct professor (graduate and undergraduate) for MSU-Denver- Department of Human Services for 9 years. He identifies as a bilingual/bicultural immigrant gay male and has used his techniques and tools to train professionals in all fields of human service: Law enforcement, doctors and nurses, trauma and addiction counselors, lawyers and judges. His passion is teaching, training, and soul-tending (psycho-therapy).

There's an AI Arms Race currently going on, and it will impact your life more than you probably know...

Dr. Gege Gatt is the CEO of London-based company EBO.AI, an Artificial Intelligence enterprise which enables the automation and personalisation of engagement. He is a digital entrepreneur and IT-Law specialist. He serves as an Executive Board Member of the Malta IT Law Association and is a specialist examiner at the University of Malta. He’s a Board Member of Humanity 2.0 developed by the Holy See in Rome with a consortium of thought-leaders to identify and remove impediments to human flourishing.

Believe it or not, there is a simple mindset shift that can radically improve your sex life.

Ruth Ramsay is an adult sex educator and coach. She helps people understand who they are sexually, how their bodies and minds work, what they need and desire, and how to communicate that. Her style is upbeat, shame-free and pleasure-led. Ruth holds a coaching diploma backed with vast life experience. She won an Erotic Award for campaigning for the sexual rights of people with disabilities; was a striptease artist for 14 years; teaches exotic dance; and has been a sex journalist, activist and more. Her mission is for sexual energy to be recognised as a force for good.

Why aren’t you drinking?

The question is pervasive in social spaces everywhere, and it can be a challenging question to navigate for those choosing not to drink. But how did we get here, when half of Americans say they’d like to drink less or not at all? Jen Gilhoi is on a mission to evolve our drinking culture to make it ok for anyone, anywhere, for any reason not to drink alcohol - and open themselves up to true connection and belonging.

Jen is an advocate for and creator of healthy social experiences that decentralize alcohol. Her journey spans two decades of alcohol abuse, eight years of an alcohol-free lifestyle, corporate roles, and entrepreneurial ventures. She shatters stigmas around choosing not to drink by inviting others to engage in self and societal inquiry to heal and be well. In her life and work, Jen is fascinated with the art of gathering and intentional conversations. She’s an event experience strategist and founder of Sparktrack; a writer and conversationalist cracking open society’s role in addiction at jengilhoi.com; and founder of Zero Proof Collective, where business leaders and those interested in the non-alcoholic beverages industry thoughtfully connect, collaborate, and share resources to advance zero-proof options, experiences, and social spaces. Jen is also a board member of Dissonance, an organization that promotes mental health and recovery in and through the arts.

Pamela Barnum shares the trust hacks she learned while working in dangerous and unpredictable situations that we can apply in our everyday lives.

Pamela Barnum, M.P.A., J.D. enjoyed an accomplished career as a police officer with the Ontario Provincial Police. Her expertise included major case management, complicated wire-tap investigations, and undercover operations. For eight years she worked undercover in the Drug Enforcement Section. It was during her time as an undercover officer that she developed trust hacks. Pamela became an expert in trust working in unpredictable, high-risk situations. While working as a full-time undercover drug officer, Pamela attended Western University law school.

After graduation, she worked at the Barrie Crown Attorney’s office and later took a position with the Federal Crown where she specialized in prosecuting drug dealers. Pamela is a frequent speaker on strategies that can be used to build and sustain trust in any situation. She has spoken to thousands in the United States, Australia, and Canada. Pamela Barnum, M.P.A., J.D. enjoyed an accomplished career as a police officer with the Ontario Provincial Police. Her expertise included major case management, complicated wire-tap investigations, and undercover operations. For eight years she worked undercover in the Drug Enforcement Section. It was during her time as an undercover officer that she developed trust hacks. Pamela became an expert in trust working in unpredictable, high-risk situations.

While working as a full-time undercover drug officer, Pamela attended Western University law school. After graduation, she worked at the Barrie Crown Attorney’s office and later took a position with the Federal Crown where she specialized in prosecuting drug dealers.

Pamela is a frequent speaker on strategies that can be used to build and sustain trust in any situation. She has spoken to thousands in the United States, Australia, and Canada.

We have the expectation that consumer products which cause injury and death are never placed on the market, but what do we do if a product began its sales before its harm was known and then addicted its consumers?

Can it still be recalled without rioting in the streets?

Dr. Green makes the case that while maintaining access to sales intact for current smokers, the lives of the NEXT generations can be protected with a simple policy that phases out the commercial sale of cigarettes to them -- acting on the science that we have had for at least six decades that there is no safe use of this product which, when used as directed, hastens injury and death.

Dr. Tamu Green is a developmental psychologist and thought leader who brings expertise and lived experience in communities facing inequities in her pursuit of social justice through institutional and systems change. She is the CEO of the Equity and Wellness Institute, where she works collaboratively with a talented team to assess and meet a wide variety of clients’ and communities’ needs. She began her career as a certified substance abuse prevention specialist. Recognizing the tremendous toll that smoking has taken on all communities, but particularly communities facing the most social and economic oppression, she has engaged in a 20-year campaign to phase out the sale of cigarettes. Those efforts have recently come to fruition as jurisdictions locally and globally are beginning to put this innovative policy into practice. Dr. Green’s efforts have been aided by her networks, including the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and American Leadership Forum, of which she is a senior fellow.

Note:

Dr. Green misspoke and called the bill that would phase out tobacco in California AB395, but it was actually AB935. It was introduced by Assembly Member Connolly on 2/14/23 with this text but later amended because it did not receive the committee support it needed. It is our hope that the original version will be re-introduced and find success in the next legislative session.

How Much Can the USA Reduce Health Care Costs by Reducing Smoking?

From Dr. John Maa: American Indians gave tobacco leaf to Christopher Columbus and he brought it back to Europe. Indians thought it had medicinal purposes and used it for ceremonial reasons.