Glocal Citizens

Florence Adu

Glocal Citizenship is the recognition that we are simultaneously citizens of our local communities and of the world as a whole. It's about understanding how local actions have global impacts and how global issues affect our local communities. As Glocal Citizens, we strive to be informed, engaged, and responsible individuals who work to create a more just, sustainable, and peaceful world. Explore the intersection of local and global impact with Glocal Citizens! Hosted by Florence Adu, this podcast delves into the experiences of inspiring individuals bridging their local selves with the wider world. Through engaging conversations with Dynamic Diasporans, Florence explores the personal and professional journeys that define Glocal Citizenship. Along the way, get to know more about the business of their business, including the technical and operational aspects involved in the work of manifesting a new world. Go beyond the headlines and discover how individuals are shaping a more just and sustainable world, both in their own communities and on a global scale. read less
Society & CultureSociety & Culture

Episodes

Episode 213: Globalizing Local Initiatives with Valerie White
1w ago
Episode 213: Globalizing Local Initiatives with Valerie White
Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week’s episode and herstory really hit close to home. We recorded this interview on Ghana’s Independence Day (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJ9ZcXEXOh0), March 6th--or 6th March as we say in Ghana. And while days like this are meant to be celebrations of freedom and recognition of the work and struggles that went into the founding of the republic, my enthusiasm was half-hearted. If Africa, Africans and all people of the African Diaspora are honest with ourselves we have to accept that decolonization is an unfinished job. There is work to do. I, like my guest this week accept it and for me, I am reminded and empowered to ramp up the why of Glocal Citizens and my passion for manifesting a new world. My guest, Brooklyn sistren, and neighbor, Valerie White is as committed and has shown this commitment in a 30+ year career dedicated to economic and social empowerment across the public, private and nonprofit sectors. Valerie is currently Senior Executive Director of LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation) NY (https://www.lisc.org/ny/) where she is responsible for leading the expansion strategy promoting LISC's statewide efforts to create an economic and community development ecosystem addressing deep-rooted systemic inequities. She is also broadening her scope of impact knowledge sharing with groups such as United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa) (https://www.uclga.org). Where to find Valerie? On Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-white-14590511/) On Facebook (https://web.facebook.com/valerie.white.7509) On YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@localinitiatives) How is Valeries unwinding? Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (https://apply.dstonline.org/DSTApply/Home/DSTApply/Home.aspx?hkey=f520e31d-3f9b-49d7-83f4-9fc08db6247a) Visit Going Dark the Guggenheim Museum (https://www.guggenheim.org/exhibition/going-dark-the-contemporary-figure-at-the-edge-of-visibility) Other topics of interest: About Fishkill, NY (https://dutchesstourism.com/town/fishkill) About the Brooklyn Navy Yard (https://www.brooklynnavyyard.org) Steiner Studios (http://www.steinerstudios.com) Brooklyn's Hip Hop Closet (https://hiphopcloset.com) About Shirley Chisolm (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shirley_Chisholm) Laura Blackburn Speaks (https://www.c-span.org/person/?803/LauraBlackburn) A litlle bit about the saying Ride or Die (https://hiphopcloset.com) Life Wellness Center in Brooklyn (https://lifewellnesscenter.life) On the Buffalo Shooting then and now (https://www.nytimes.com/news-event/buffalo-ny-mass-shooting) Micron Chip Project (https://www.technologyreview.com/2023/07/06/1075817/micron-syracuse-chips-economic-development-technology/) On Malik Yoba (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malik_Yoba) Professor Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o (https://www.kisumu.go.ke/h-e-prof-peter-anyang-nyongo-governor-kisumu-county/) What is BRIC? (https://bricartsmedia.org/) Special Guest: Valerie White.
Episode 212: Reimagining Effective Mental Health Care with Sara Reed
Mar 5 2024
Episode 212: Reimagining Effective Mental Health Care with Sara Reed
Women’s Month Greetings Glocal Citizens! If it’s March then it’s all about herstories here on the podcast and first up we’re in London by way of Hopkinsville, Kentucky with mental health futurist, Sara Reed. She is an empathic leader, mental health futurist, and practitioner in psychedelic-assisted therapy. I came across Sara’s work when listening to a session the Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Global Summit (https://www.psychedelicassistedtherapysummit.com/?r_done=1) last year, and my curiosity was piqued hearing Sara describe her work and it’s impact. She has spent her early career examining the ways culture informs how we diagnose and treat mental illnesses. As an advocate for health equity in psychedelic medicine, Sara hopes to make treatments more safe, affordable, and effective to those in need. Before joining the Centre for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College in London as a the lead Psychedelic Research Therapist in Psychopharmacology, she participated as a study therapist with the MDMA therapy for PTSD clinical trials sponsored by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) (https://maps.org/about-maps/). While working with MAPS, she advocated for health equity in psychedelic therapy and co-led the first ever MAPS MDMA-assisted psychotherapy training for clinicians of color. In addition to her appointment at Imperial College, she is Co-founder and Curriculum Development Specialist with the Women’s Global Empowerment Initiative (https://www.facebook.com/womensgei/). As well as founder and creative executive at Minds iHealth Solutions, where she co-facilitates psilocybin truffle retreats in the Netherlands and works in private practice with patients with mood and anxiety disorders using ketamine as an adjunct to psychotherapy. She lectures on topics fusing culturally sensitive practices with psychedelic-assisted therapy and advises organizations on anti-oppressive and inclusive practices. Where to find Sara? www.sarajreed.info (https://www.sarajreed.info/) On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarareedms/) What’s Sara singing to? Jennifer Hudson (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennifer_Hudson) Whitney Houston (https://www.whitneyhouston.com) Other topics of interest: About Hopkinsville, Kentucky (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hopkinsville,_Kentucky) South Croydon (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Croydon) Tabitha Brown (https://www.iamtabithabrown.com) What is a Skilled Workers visa? (https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa) Hinge (https://hinge.co) Dr. Monica Williams (https://www.monnicawilliams.com) On Ketamine (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketamine) On MDMA (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MDMA) and Sassafras (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safrole#:~:text=Use%20in%20MDMA%20manufacture,-MDMA%20synthesis%20from&text=In%20the%20United%20States%2C%20safrole,which%20is%20typically%2075%25%20safrole.) Plant origins of LSD (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LSD#:~:text=LSD%20was%20first%20synthesized%20by,a%20fungus%20that%20infects%20grain.) On Australia’s Psychedelics Policy (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-66072427) On Oregon’s Decriminalization of Psychedelics (https://apnews.com/article/psilocybin-oregon-magic-mushrooms-psychedelics-therapy-legal-6e5389b090b0c50d5c90d9574b63eca5) Dr. Gabor Maté (https://drgabormate.com) On 12-Step Programs for mental health (https://fherehab.com/learning/12step-anxiety-depression) Breathwork techniques (https://www.verywellmind.com/abdominal-breathing-2584115) About The Peach Cobbler Factory (https://www.kwch.com/video/2023/11/21/everyday-kentucky-go-more-about-peach-cobbler-factory/) Correction Note: In our conversation about plant derivatives of some synthetic medicines Sara mentioned that DMT is present in Ibogaine. She wanted to be sure that listeners are aware that it is not. While they are close relatives, DMT is not in Ibogaine. Read more about it here (https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00952990.2023.2220874). Special Guest: Sara Reed.
Episode 211: Everyday Activism with Hakeem Oluseyi, Juleen Christopher, Kobby Graham, Samba Yonga, Eric Collins
Feb 27 2024
Episode 211: Everyday Activism with Hakeem Oluseyi, Juleen Christopher, Kobby Graham, Samba Yonga, Eric Collins
Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week on the podcast it’s flashback February. Inspired by last year’s Black History Month compilation episode (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/163), for this week, also dedicated to Black History Month, I’ve selected glocally speaking, mindset hacking and solution-scaping excerpts from conversations over the past year. Starting with the Science Mercenary, Dr. Hakeem Oluseyi (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/hakeem-oluseyi) on how reconceptualizing our ideas on time and how the evolutionary continuum of human intelligence need not be as complicated as we think. Cognitive-Behavioral Research Scientist, Dr. Juleen Christopher (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/juleen-christopher) reinforces his thoughts by introducing us to her mindset hack, a technique called positive intelligence and how a commitment to telling ourselves and living a story contrary to those embedded in social injustice are at the bedrock of her activism. Cultural practitioner, Kobby Graham (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/kobby-graham) furthers the story as he elaborates on his mindset hack - collaboration and how its revival in the African psyche is critical to progress. Communication specialist and cultural curator, Samba Yonga (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/sambe-yonga) then illustrates how our African histories reinforce this collaborative ethic and is using her museum as the narrative activism necessary to reinform a new now. Finally, glocally speaking, the Money Maker, Eric Collins (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/eric-collins), puts his money where his mouth is investing in the change that he and his partners at Impact X Capital intend to see in black communities across Europe. The common thread in my selections is activism which is the why of Black History Month. Waking each morning in parts of the world rife with injustice is itself an act of courageous resistance. We must challenge ourselves to uplift untold stories and unheard voices, so that by valuing global Black histories, we can collectively build, simply put, a better today. That is the definition of Glocal Citizenship. Visit the links above for full episodes and extended show notes. Special Guests: Eric Collins, Hakeem Oluseyi , Juleen Christopher, Kobina Ankomah Graham, and Samba Yonga.
Episode 210: Me + You + Art + Wellness with Marlea Edwards
Feb 20 2024
Episode 210: Me + You + Art + Wellness with Marlea Edwards
Greetings Glocal Citizens! I’m back in Accra and it’s HOT and HUMID, but thankfully not so dusty--I’ve successfully evaded the Harmattan! A significant contrast to the environs for my guest this week who dials in from her hometown of London, England. Raised between London and Brooklyn with roots in Jamaica, Aruba and Donimica, Marlea Edwards was drawn to the creative arts from theatre to photography, storytelling, mythology and anthropology from an early age. She is an award-winning, multi-disciplinary creative artist and creative consultant with a key focus on visual storytelling and connecting to audiences. She is CEO and founder of Me + You Films, a boutique production company. As a global, independent professional creative director, producer, director, writer, filmmaker, and edit producer, her early career and work includes working on award-winning BBC shows like Top Gear, Strictly Come Dancing and Eastenders 25 Live, to the London 2012 Olympic Games, London and New York Fashion week and Lenny Kravitz’s Strut Tour. Other Brands and Clients include Endemol, BBC, Tom Ford and Tom Ford Beauty, Gucci, DVF, Kohl’s, FarFetch, Lush Cosmetics, Preen and ITN Productions. Her latest project, Garms: Black Culture's Influence on British Fashion (https://youtu.be/9wnbOFO6lds?si=eZz_tvYQX1O2EgyK), a one-off documentary deep dive into the world of Black British fashion and culture premiers this week on Wednesday, February 21st. Currently writing and freelancing for award-winning brands and production companies, her own and others, when she’s not working with commercial clients she creates artwork with an African spiritualist theme focused on the female form. Where to find Marlea? marleaedwards.com (https://www.marleaedwards.com) On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlea-edwards-93790012/) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/marleamarl/?hl=en) On Vimeo (https://vimeo.com/marleaedwardsxmeandyou) On Twitter (https://twitter.com/MarleaEdwards) On IMDb (= https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4237999/?ref_=nmbio_ov) What’s Marlea listening to? André 3000 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andr%C3%A9_3000) Cleo Sol (https://cleo-sol.com) Sampha (https://www.sampha.com) What’s Marlea watching? One Day on Netflix (https://www.netflix.com/gh/title/81256740?source=35) Champion on Netflix (https://www.netflix.com/gh/title/81478663?source=35) Dreaming Whilst Black (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreaming_Whilst_Black) Other topics of interest: About Queens Park, London (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen%27s_Park,_London) About Wembley, UK (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wembley) About Prospect Park, Brooklyn (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prospect_Park_(Brooklyn)) About Miss Lou, Jamaican poet laureate (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louise_Bennett-Coverley) the london stage school (https://thelondonstageschool.co.uk/#:~:text=london%20stage%20school-,The%20london%20stage%20school%20is%20an%20exciting%20part%2Dtime%20theatre,at%20the%20london%20stage%20school.%22) Who are Key Workers in the UK? (https://features.naht.org.uk/keyworkers/index.html) BET UK’s Cicela Deane (https://www.televisual.com/news/deane-in-as-commissioning-exec-at-bet-uk/) London Fashion Week (https://londonfashionweek.co.uk) About Bianca Saunders (https://biancasaunders.com/pages/about) About Martine Rose (https://martine-rose.com/en-int) About Tolu Coker (https://londonfashionweek.co.uk/designers/tolu-coker) About Labrum (https://labrumlondon.com) About Althea McNish (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Althea_McNish) Liberty London (https://www.libertylondon.com) About Nicholas Daley (https://nicholasdaley.net) Priya Ahluwalia (https://ahluwalia.world/pages/about) Cortez Streetwear (https://cortezco.co/pages/about-cortezco) Windrush then and now (https://lordslibrary.parliament.uk/windrush-scandal-and-compensation-scheme/) 4 -7 - 8 Breathing (https://www.healthline.com/health/4-7-8-breathing#Other-techniques-to-help-you-sleep) Special Guest: Marlea Edwards.
Episode 209: Healthtech Solutions and Tools for Engagement with Dana Weeks Part 2
Feb 13 2024
Episode 209: Healthtech Solutions and Tools for Engagement with Dana Weeks Part 2
Greetings Glocal Citizens! Kicking off February, we have a double-header in conversation with another Stanford Alum and fellow “Track Girl.” Born in Vietnam (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/children-of-the-vietnam-war-131207347/) and raised in New York, Dana Weeks is the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of MedTrans Go, a healthcare technology start-up based in Atlanta, GA. Prior to MedTrans Go, she co-founded the Black Angel Tech Foundation (https://www.blackangeltechfund.com), created to support and increase the number of underrepresented minorities in technology. She has also held positions at AT&T, Pfizer, and in several innovative entrepreneurial ventures. She is a member of the Board of Trustees of The Westminster Schools of Atlanta, and has served as Treasurer of the Atlanta Chapter of Jack & Jill, a Board Member for Blue Owl Capital (https://www.blueowl.com/), and a Board Member for the Alliance Theater of Atlanta. She also serves on several Task Forces and Committees at both Stanford and Columbia Business School, including serving as a co-chair of the Stanford LEAD Council, a member of the Stanford Humanities & Sciences Council, and a founding member of the Women’s Circle at Columbia Business School. It was lovely catching up on the many paths Dana has walked since our days hop, skipping and jumping (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triple_jump) at the Stanford Stadium. Where to find Dana? https://www.medtransgo.com/ On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/danaw1/) On Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/dana.ugwonali) What’s Dana watching? The Hallmark Channel (https://www.hallmarkchannel.com) Other topics of interest: About the Peace Corps (https://www.peacecorps.gov/about/) Lusophone Africa (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portuguese-speaking_African_countries#:~:text=The%20Portuguese%2Dspeaking%20African%20countries,and%20Pr%C3%ADncipe%20and%2C%20since%202011%2C) Islands of Cape Verde (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_islands_of_Cape_Verde) Who is Jodi Kantor? (https://www.nytimes.com/by/jodi-kantor) iPhone's launch @ AT&T (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_iPhone#:~:text=followed%20in%202010.-,Connection%20to%20AT%26T,be%20the%20iPhone%27s%20exclusive%20carrier.) Atlanta Influences Everything (https://aie.life) Special Guest: Dana Weeks.
Episode 208: Healthtech Solutions and Tools for Engagement with Dana Weeks Part 1
Feb 6 2024
Episode 208: Healthtech Solutions and Tools for Engagement with Dana Weeks Part 1
Greetings Glocal Citizens! Kicking off February, we have a double-header in conversation with another Stanford Alum and fellow “Track Girl.” Born in Vietnam (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/children-of-the-vietnam-war-131207347/) and raised in New York, Dana Weeks is the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of MedTrans Go, a healthcare technology start-up based in Atlanta, GA. Prior to MedTrans Go, she co-founded the Black Angel Tech Foundation (https://www.blackangeltechfund.com), created to support and increase the number of underrepresented minorities in technology. She has also held positions at AT&T, Pfizer, and in several innovative entrepreneurial ventures. She is a member of the Board of Trustees of The Westminster Schools of Atlanta, and has served as Treasurer of the Atlanta Chapter of Jack & Jill, a Board Member for Blue Owl Capital (https://www.blueowl.com/), and a Board Member for the Alliance Theater of Atlanta. She also serves on several Task Forces and Committees at both Stanford and Columbia Business School, including serving as a co-chair of the Stanford LEAD Council, a member of the Stanford Humanities & Sciences Council, and a founding member of the Women’s Circle at Columbia Business School. It was lovely catching up on the many paths Dana has walked since our days hop, skipping and jumping (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triple_jump) at the Stanford Stadium. Where to find Dana? https://www.medtransgo.com/ On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/danaw1/) On Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/dana.ugwonali) What’s Dana watching? The Hallmark Channel (https://www.hallmarkchannel.com) Other topics of interest: About the Peace Corps (https://www.peacecorps.gov/about/) Lusophone Africa (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portuguese-speaking_African_countries#:~:text=The%20Portuguese%2Dspeaking%20African%20countries,and%20Pr%C3%ADncipe%20and%2C%20since%202011%2C) Islands of Cape Verde (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_islands_of_Cape_Verde) Who is Jodi Kantor? (https://www.nytimes.com/by/jodi-kantor) iPhone's launch @ AT&T (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_iPhone#:~:text=followed%20in%202010.-,Connection%20to%20AT%26T,be%20the%20iPhone%27s%20exclusive%20carrier.) Atlanta Influences Everything (https://aie.life) Special Guest: Dana Weeks.
Episode 207: Digital Expertise for Greater Good with Stephen A. Newton
Jan 30 2024
Episode 207: Digital Expertise for Greater Good with Stephen A. Newton
Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week’s episode comes to us courtesy of a dinner hosted by EP 22/23 guest, Kwame Acheampong (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/kwame-acheampong). Kwame and my guest, Stephen Newton are longtime colleagues that recently rejoined forces at Aleph Group, Inc., a global digital advertising platform that connects brands with every digitally connected user in Africa where Stephen currently serves as the Managing Director Sub-Sahara Africa. With Jamaican lineage, born and raised in the US Mainland and Virgin Islands, Stephen departed the US in 1998 and currently calls Cape Town, South Africa home. With over 25 years of C-suite experience, Stephen is a seasoned leader and connector in the digital innovation space, especially on the African continent. His expertise spans various sub-sectors of the digital ecosystem, such as connectable devices, affordable data, local and relevant content, promoted content, ubiquitous payment mechanisms, and trusted delivery mechanisms. He has led the launch and commercialization of some of Africa's biggest digital players, such as Google, InMobi, Positivo BGH, and Datafree. He also serves as the Chairman and Co-Founder of The Illuminate Africa Group Ltd (https://www.illuminate-africa.com), a consultancy that facilitates Africa expansion goals for businesses. He is passionate about empowering African youth and entrepreneurs with digital skills and opportunities. Where to find Stephen? Aleph’s Digital Ad Expert Portal (https://www.digitaladexpert.com/) On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenanewton/) On Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/stephen.armond) On X (https://twitter.com/smanla?lang=en) What’s Stephen reading? Limitless: Upgrade Your Brain, Learn Anything Faster, and Unlock Your Exceptional Life (https://a.co/d/f8V9Wvt) by Jim Kwik The Culture Map: Breaking Through the Invisible Boundaries of Global Business (https://a.co/d/9NZcBcD) by Erin Meyer Other topics of interest: About Kenya’s Joseph Mucheru (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Mucheru) About Nikesh Arora (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikesh_Arora) Positivo BGH (https://positivobgh-com.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=es&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc) LexisNexis (https://www.lexisnexis.com/en-us/about-us/about-us.page) Nordstrom (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nordstrom) America Online - AOL (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AOL) On SDG goal 4.1 (https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal4) What is an Ad Exchange (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad_exchange) On DoubleClick (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DoubleClick) Special Guest: Stephen A. Newton.
Episode 206: Wellness as a Way of Work with Tara Aura Purnell
Jan 23 2024
Episode 206: Wellness as a Way of Work with Tara Aura Purnell
Greetings Glocal Citizens! I am sincerely grateful to my community of Glocal Citizens, especially as former guests have been delivering on sharing life experiences with me and the podcast in their communities. My guest this week is someone I met last December in Ghana while catching up with Nydia Swaby (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/nydia-swaby) in Accra and I’m happy to share her story. Washington, D.C native, Tara Aura Purnell is a meditation guide, ritual artist, certified yoga teacher, and wellness-prenuer empowering people to feel better more of the time. She curates wellness events for marginalized communities as Co-Founder of Blind Seed (http://blindseed.com/), which nurtures growth for city-dwellers with an interest in clean living and self-expansion. As an adolescent equity and inclusion activist, after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, she went on to become a writer, creative producer and brand marketing strategist before shifting her focus to health and healing arts. Her current work as a wellness organizer, pleasure activist and food justice advocate centers inclusive, holistic approaches to collective care and wellbeing. Where to find Tara? taraaura.com (http://taraaura.com) On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-purnell-75b008a/) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/taraaura/) What’s Tara reading? Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art (https://a.co/d/fYtVVAQ) by James Nestor Other topics of interest: About Wtrmln Wtr (https://wtrmlnwtr.com/product/wtrmlnwtr) About Hurricane Maria (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Maria) Where to find La Cucina Guava-Chili Tea (https://www.lacucina.ch) The Mix Accra (https://www.themixdesignhub.com) Friday Night Lights hosted by Glocal Citizen Kobby Graham (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/kobby-graham) and friends The Higher Self Podcast EP125 (https://www.thehigherselfpodcast.com/125-shaman-durek-how-to-talk-with-spirits-and-live-an-abundant-life/) On Santería (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santer%C3%ADa) in Cuban Culture What is a Glockenspiel (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glockenspiel)? Special Guest: Tara Aura Purnell.
Episode 205: On Organizing Labor with Tobias Bavnsgaard
Jan 16 2024
Episode 205: On Organizing Labor with Tobias Bavnsgaard
Greetings Glocal Citizens! “The labor movement was the principal force that transformed misery and despair into hope and progress.” – Martin Luther King, Jr. On Monday of this week, we celebrated global visionary, activist and minister, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. For many, it is a time to reflect on how far the US and the world have progressed concerning civil/human rights for Black and colonized peoples. Dr. King’s work, especially as the Civil Rights Movement began casting a wider net on the levers of social and economic exclusion, was very much focused on supporting workers--dignity in labor. My guest this week has us fully engaged in reflection as he has spent his career focused on labor. Born and raised in Denmark, Tobias Bavnsgaard is an experienced International advisor and development program manager with more than a decade of international experience working and living in developing countries. After living in Mozambique, Tanzania, Bangladesh and a stint back in Denmark, he and his family are currently based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. From early in his career, unions played a key role affording him a strong background in labor organizations and working with development projects and programing in the civic and social sectors on the local, national and international levels. His international profile began to take shape in 2012, with the production of “The Good Growth,” (https://youtu.be/ipz7IdZLmcY?si=TeP69o_PIsKpgBVP) a documentary making a critical assessment of the social impacts of economic growth by comparing the reality in Brazil, Philippines and Ghana against each other and to the Danish context. The documentary has been translated into English, Spanish, French and Arabic to reach a wide base of international trade union leaders and activists. With the advent of a more digitized world, the future of work and the evolution of work spaces are very necessary ongoing conversations. I hope this episode provides a foundation of knowledge and framwork for how to consider solutions leading to better long-term outcomes for global workers. Where to find Tobias? On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tobias-bavnsgaard-08a7808/) On Instagram (https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiJraWEi92DAxXWlYkEHVqBAqsQFnoECBQQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Ftobiasbavnsgaard%2F&usg=AOvVaw2JsJJ5GXL-n393YfLEZk0N&opi=89978449) What’s Tobias listening to? Den Yderste Grænse / The Outer Limits Podcast (https://24syv.dk/podcast/den-yderste-graense) Other topics of interest: Dr. King’s Last Campaign (https://capitalandmain.com/mlks-last-campaign-was-for-workers-rights-2) About the UN’s International Labour Organization (ILO) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Labour_Organization) Tesla Strike in Sweden (https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/12/29/tesla-strike-sweden-elon-musk/) About the Toyota HiAce and transporting the masses (https://www.adrianflux.co.uk/influx/culture/toyota-hiace/) On Civil Conflict in Ethiopia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopian_civil_conflict_(2018%E2%80%93present)) Special Guest: Tobias Bavnsgaard.
Episode 204: Raising Digital Economies with Eric Osiakwan Part 2
Jan 9 2024
Episode 204: Raising Digital Economies with Eric Osiakwan Part 2
Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week on we’re moving into the new year with some wise words and insights in Part 2 of my conversation with Ghanaian investor and developer of new businesses, Eric Osiakwan. With 25 years of experience spanning 32 countries in Africa gained through a number of successful tech start-ups, Eric is a leading pioneer of internet in Africa. Having worked in multiple countries building internet service providers (“ISP”) and ICT businesses, some of his successful exits include iBurst in South Africa, One2Net in Uganda, and BusyInternet in Ghana, to name a few. Eric also founded and ran the Africa ISP Association for eight years, during which the ISP industry grew by almost 120 percent. He then moved on to leading efforts to build submarine cables on the continent. Eric was part of a public-private partnership in Kenya that built and launched the TEAMS submarine fibre cable, the first to connect East Africa to the rest of the world. He subsequently contributed to the building of terrestrial fibre networks in Ghana and Nigeria. As we learned in Part 1 of the conversation, he Co-Founded Angel Africa List, Angel Fair Africa and currently heads Chanzo Capital (https://www.chanzocapital.com/#abt), a venture and growth capital firm, investing capital, capacity and community in high-tech startups and scaleups in Kenya, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa. Where to find Eric? ericosiakwan.com (https://www.ericosiakwan.com) On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericosiakwan) On Facebook (Eric Osiakwan) On Instagram (Instagram (@eosiakwan)) On X (https://twitter.com/eosiakwan) What’s Eric reading? Works by Cheikh Anta Diop (https://www.amazon.com/stores/Cheikh-Anta-Diop/author/B000APFJ2O?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true) Other topics of interest: How Greater Accra (Tema) is the geographical center of the Earth (https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/features/Is-Ghana-Really-The-Centre-Of-The-World-221634) About Panafest (https://panafestghana.org/history-of-panafest/) and Kojo Yankah (https://pahmuseum.org/founder/) On Ghana’s Joseph Project (https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10802304) Year of Return (https://www.yearofreturn.com) Full Circle Africa Economic Conference (https://fullcircleafrica.org) Stripe Payments Platform (https://stripe.com) Safaricom and the roots of Mobile Money (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M-Pesa) United Nations Economic Commission for Africa: African Information Society Initiative(AISI) (https://repository.uneca.org/handle/10855/14949) UNDP Internet Initiative for Africa (http://web.undp.org/evaluation/documents/essentials_5.pdf) What are Internet Exchange Points? (https://www.cloudflare.com/learning/cdn/glossary/internet-exchange-point-ixp/) The African Internet Service Providers Association (https://icannwiki.org/AfrISPA) ICANN (https://www.icann.org) and Esther Dyson (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esther_Dyson) About TEAMS (https://www.teams.co.ke) Bongo Hive (https://bongohive.co.zm) About the BenBen App (https://benben.com.gh) On Eric’s book KINGS of Africa’s Digital Economy (https://medium.com/@eosiakwan/the-kings-of-africas-digital-economy-tedxberkeley-by-eric-osiakwan-4a211e746955) Special Guest: Eric Osiakwan.
Episode 203: Lifelong Learning with Monroe France
Jan 2 2024
Episode 203: Lifelong Learning with Monroe France
New Year Greetings Glocal Citizens! Thank you to all that land here with us weekly to #listenandlearn about #DynamicDiasporans living, working and playing worldwide. I look forward to a new year of conversations that will include taking deeper dives into the whys and ways of reimagining global impact economics alongside continuing to travel far and wide with our guests. Stay tuned! This week, I’m joined by Monroe France the inaugural Vice Provost for Institutional Inclusive Excellence Tufts University (https://www.tufts.edu) and a professor of practice at the Jonathan Tisch College of Civic Life. Previously, Monroe served as the Senior Associate Vice President for Global Engagement and Inclusive Leadership in the Office of Global Inclusion, Diversity, and Strategic Innovation at New York University (NYU). Monroe’s career at NYU spanned nearly 20 years and he has 25 years of progressive experience in higher education, non-profits, corporate sectors, arts and creative industries, as well as social responsibility, humanitarian, and philanthropy initiatives as an educator, professor, professional trainer, consultant, strategist, and keynote presenter. Monroe has provided DEI, leadership and strategic consulting for executive managers across the globe at organizations such as the American Eagle Outfitter (AEO) and Unilever Global, the executive team for American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University, and the management team at the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) in Washington DC. He works regularly with UN Women and has served as a consultant to a number of United Nations affiliates globally. Monroe has written articles and given lectures across the globe on the future of higher education and work. When he was at NYU, he founded and was the primary principal for the Global Inclusive Leadership and Management Institute and NYU’s Environmental and Justice Institute. Monroe’s background spans higher education, non-profits, corporate sectors, arts and creative industries, as well as social responsibility, humanitarian, and philanthropy initiatives. Monroe currently serves on the board for Global Black Pride and the Institute for Contemporary Psychotherapy where he serves as lead strategist for DEI. Monroe is a member of Future Talent Council where he serves on their DEI Task Force, Talent Acquisition and Employer Branding, and Future Skills think tanks. Monroe is also a professor at NYU Abu Dhabi J-term and a visiting thought leader for Woxsen University in India. He was most recently a visiting scholar for the University of Southern Maine’s school of business. Often described as a change maker, innovator, global thought leader, strategist, visionary, and a life-long learner I think you’ll agree once you have a listen. Where to find Monroe? On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/monroefrance/) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/monroenyc/) On Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/monroef/) What’s Monroe watching? HGTV (https://www.hgtv.com/shows) Investigation Discovery TV (https://www.investigationdiscovery.com) Other topics of interest: NYU Accra Labone Dialogues (https://www.nyu.edu/accra/about-us/labone-dialogues-and-events-.html) University of Free State, South Africa (https://www.ufs.ac.za/about-the-ufs) About the 2003 Northeast Blackout (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northeast_blackout_of_2003) About Occupy Wall Street (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupy_Wall_Street) Lambda Legal (https://lambdalegal.org) Posse Foundation (https://www.possefoundation.org)
Episode 202: Creating New Ecologies of Knowledge with Nana Oforiatta Ayim
Dec 18 2023
Episode 202: Creating New Ecologies of Knowledge with Nana Oforiatta Ayim
Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week’s guest is fast becoming a cultural icon across her chosen disciplines. Ghanaian by ancestry and born in German and spending a formative part of her life in England, Nana Oforiatta Ayim is a writer, filmmaker, and art historian. She is Founder of the ANO Institute of Arts and Knowledge (https://www.anoghana.org/), through which she has pioneered a Pan-African Cultural Encyclopaedia, a Mobile Museums Project, and curated Ghana’s first pavilion at the Venice Biennale. She published her first novel The God Child (https://a.co/d/hjkYT9r) in 2019, and in German in 2021. She has made award-winning films for museums such as Tate Modern, Los Angeles County Museum of Art and The New Museum. She is the recipient of various awards and honours, having been named one of the Apollo ’40 under 40’; one of 50 African Trailblazers by The Africa Report; a Quartz Africa Innovator in 2017; one of 12 African women making history in 2016 and one of 100 women of 2020 by Okayafrica. In 2020, she was appointed to the Advisory Council of Oxford University’s Cultural Programme and was a Principal Investigator on the Action for Restitution to Africa programme. She received the Ghana Woman of the Year Award in 2021. And in 2022 she was awarded the world’s biggest history prize from the Dan David Foundation for outstanding early and mid-career scholars and practitioners in the historical disciplines. Over the years it has been a treat to watch Nana’s vision come into being and even better was the chance to sit with her in one of her places of peace in Osu, Accra. Where to find Nana? https://www.nanaoforiattaayim.com/ On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nana-oforiatta-ayim-976644222) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/nanaoforiattaayim/?hl=en) On Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/nanaoforiattayim) On X (https://twitter.com/OforiattaAyim) What’s Nana watching? Past Lives (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Past_Lives_(film)) Other topics of interest: About [Akyem, Ghana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akyem ] Aburi, Ghana (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aburi) About Piet Mondrian (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piet_Mondrian) Gus Casely-Hayford (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gus_Casely-Hayford) John Picton (https://soas.academia.edu/JohnPicton) About the Liverpool Biennial (https://www.biennial.com) Ousmane Sembène (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ousmane_Semb%C3%A8ne) Mooji (https://mooji.org/) The Renoir Cinema (https://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2008/nov/19/renoir-cinema-rebranding) Special Guest: Nana Oforiatta Ayim.
Episode 201: On Becoming a Public Health Champion with Fiona Gambanga
Dec 12 2023
Episode 201: On Becoming a Public Health Champion with Fiona Gambanga
Greetings Glocal Citizens! My guest this week is a fellow podcaster and we met as fellow members of a global #BWiD (Black Women in Development) Connect networking group. Born and raised in Harare, Zimbabwe, Fiona Gambanga is a global health professional with more than seven years’ experience in qualitative and quantitative research, public health program planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. She has supported countries such as Zambia, Malawi, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe in health workforce planning, diagnostics implementation research and UHC implementation and planning. Currently based in Kigali, Rwanda, Fiona is also the creator, host, and producer of the podcast Utano Public Health Chats (https://linktr.ee/fi_publichealth), a program focused on educating young people about the field of public health in Africa and navigating careers in the field. For those of you planning a trip to Kigali anytime soon, you’ll want to listen in for some local lingo and recommendations for the foodie in you. Where to find Fiona? On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/fionagambanga/) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/utanophc/) On X (https://twitter.com/UtanoPHC) On Facebook (https://web.facebook.com/utanopublichealth) What’s Fiona reading? The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (https://a.co/d/bk2ajrU) by Taylor Jenkins Reid Finding Me (https://a.co/d/897gM1V) by Viola Davis The Urgent Life: My Story of Love, Loss and Survival (https://a.co/d/hOcEflu) by Bozoma Saint John Other topics of interest: US Student Acheivers Program - USAP (https://www.usapglobal.org) What are A Levels? (https://www.internationalschoolparent.com/articles/what-are-a-levels/) About December 1st - World AIDS Day (https://www.unaids.org/en/World_AIDS_Day) On spoken English across the globe (https://englishlive.ef.com/en/blog/english-in-the-real-world/englishes-different-english-speaking-countries/) On Zimbabwe in 2011 and 2023 (https://www.fpri.org/article/2023/08/zimbabwe-at-the-crossroads-2023-election-will-determine-its-future/) The Viber App (https://www.brosix.com/blog/viber-review/#:~:text=In%202014%2C%20the%20company%20was,instant%20messengers%20in%20the%20world.) Heaven Restaurant, Kigali (https://heavenrwanda.com/dine/) Special Guest: Fiona Gambanga.
Episode 199: Intelligence as a Way of Business with Suki Fuller Part 2
Dec 5 2023
Episode 199: Intelligence as a Way of Business with Suki Fuller Part 2
Greetings Glocal Citizens! In some circles, my guest for this two-part episode could be thought of as a spy by a different name. With roots in Jamaica, and raised between the Middle East, Europe and the United States, Suki Fuller (https://www.chartwellspeakers.com/speaker/suki-fuller/), an intelligence advisor, author, acclaimed international keynote speaker and Fellow of The Council of Competitive Intelligence Fellows (https://www.cifellows.com/) is a women that is usually intent on not being watched. She is the Founder of Miribure, Co-Founder and Senior Vice President of DC Analytics (https://www.dcanalytics.net/) and Storyteller for Group of Humans (https://www.groupofhumans.com/). She is a contributing author to A Practical Guide to Competitive Intelligence (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Practical-Guide-Competitive-Intelligence/dp/B0BDSRQL6R/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1). Suki is a fierce supporter of intelligence, ethical tech, #SafetyTech, Security, Privacy and Surveillance. Her eclectic 20-year career within strategic intelligence and technology has taken her from the US Department of Defense to teaching business students in China. She currently resides in London, where she is an intrinsic part of the tech community as a Board Advisor for Tech London Advocates / Global Tech Advocates (https://techlondonadvocates.org.uk/), which includes key positions as Co-Lead TLA Women in Tech (https://tlawomenintech.org/), and Vice-Chair for GTA Black Women in Tech (https://theblackwomenintech.com/). Suki was recently named by the Most Influential Woman in UK Tech by Computer Weekly 2023. There’s so much more to this #dynamicdiasporan, I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. Where to find Suki? On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sukifuller) On X (https://twitter.com/SukiFuller) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/sukifuller) What’s Suki reading? Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life (https://a.co/d/64cWKM2) by Arnold Schwarzeneger Cobalt Red: How the Boll of the Congo Powers Our Lives (https://a.co/d/1dydGko) by Siddharth Kara The Mircostress Effect: How Little Things Pile Up and Create Big Problems--and What to Do About It (https://a.co/d/4bnLMTL) by Rob Cross and Karen Dillon Decentering Whiteness in the Workplace: A Guide for Equity and Inclusion (https://a.co/d/e3driEg) by Janice Gassam Asare Your Face Belongs to Us: A Secretive Startup’s Quest to End Privacy as We Know It (https://a.co/d/jenKHdt) by Kashmir HIll What’s Suki watching? Beckham on Netflix (https://www.netflix.com/gh/title/81223488) The Power on Amazon Prime (https://www.amazon.com/The-Power-Season-1/dp/B0B8NT89QY) Other topics of interest: Balham, London (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balham) Surrey, United Kingdom (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surrey) Some Jamaican Patios to practice (https://jamaicans.com/talk/) About Rastafarianism (https://www.history.com/topics/religion/history-of-rastafarianism) Pismo Beach, California (https://www.experiencepismobeach.com/things-to-do/) Royal Air Force Lakenheath, an American Air Force Base in the UK (https://www.lakenheath.af.mil/About-Us/) Penn State’s Behrend College (https://behrend.psu.edu) About Chi Chi’s Restaurant (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chi-Chi%27s) Mercyhurst University - Intelligence Studies (https://www.mercyhurst.edu/academics/intelligence-studies) Agatha Christie’s Poirot (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agatha_Christie%27s_Poirot) Twitter and SXSW (https://techcrunch.com/2011/01/04/twitter-foursquare-sxsw/?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAFBYPgujumoLKi9A5VgBkTDxG8QNcxdjmAWoTu0hJ36YplpYzN0SOG3SBHa85cU1stTSfVXIJPVKJQ_FRbP3HYbfjY8-8AeafD8xZVnQLYwIAuX4D9dqU70nJtSh-kQaaqi6HgHdfw5ijngMGQazuoGTaQRqmCVdoSLk_MceS70J) About Robert Baker (https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-baker-potentia-talent-consulting/?originalSubdomain=uk) Innit? (https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=innit) IA Safety Bill (https://aibusiness.com/responsible-ai/online-safety-bill-passes-ai-chatbots-subject-to-rules-on-protecting-users#close-modal) The Pod Generation Film (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pod_Generation) Special Guest: Suki Fuller.
Episode 200: Angel Fair Africa @10 with Eric Osiakwan Part 1
Nov 28 2023
Episode 200: Angel Fair Africa @10 with Eric Osiakwan Part 1
Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week, we interrupt our scheduled Part 2 conversation with Suki Fuller to give some shine to a milestone event taking place in Cape Town, South Africa. Co-founded by my guest, Ghanaian, Eric Osiakwan, Angel Fair Africa, happening November 28th - December 1st, brings selected and curated entrepreneurs to pitch to a room of angel investors with the intent of doing deals. Eric is an entrepreneur and investor with 25 years of ICT industry leadership across Africa and the world, He has worked in 32 African countries setting up ISPs, ISPAs, IXPs and high-tech startups. He Co-Founded Angel Africa List, in addition to Angel Fair Africa and Chanzo Capital (http://www.chanzocapital.com/), he also currently serves on the board of Farmerline – some of which are his investments. While we made the connection in Cape Town, a funny thing happened on the streets of Brooklyn with another Glocal Citizen, Chinedu Echeruo (EP79) (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/chinedu-echeruo) last summer that put an Aha! smile on our faces. #BorderlessMindset in action! This week our conversation is centered on all things Angel-Investing-Meets-Entrpreneurship as Eric and his team kick off Angel Fair Africa @10. Stay tuned for Part 2 of our conversation where we’ll get t o know more about Eric’s Glocal Citizenship journey. Where to find Eric? www.angelfairafrica.com (http://www.angelfairafrica.com) On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericosiakwan) On Facebook (link= https://www.facebook.com/eric.osiakwan?_rdc=1&_rdr) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/eosiakwan/) On X (https://twitter.com/eosiakwan) Special Guest: Eric Osiakwan.
Episode 198: Intelligence as a Way of Business with Suki Fuller Part 1
Nov 21 2023
Episode 198: Intelligence as a Way of Business with Suki Fuller Part 1
Greetings Glocal Citizens! In some circles, my guest for this two-part episode could be thought of as a spy by a different name. With roots in Jamaica, and raised between the Middle East, Europe and the United States, Suki Fuller (https://www.chartwellspeakers.com/speaker/suki-fuller/), an intelligence advisor, author, acclaimed international keynote speaker and Fellow of The Council of Competitive Intelligence Fellows (https://www.cifellows.com/) is a women that is usually intent on not being watched. She is the Founder of Miribure, Co-Founder and Senior Vice President of DC Analytics (https://www.dcanalytics.net/) and Storyteller for Group of Humans (https://www.groupofhumans.com/). She is a contributing author to A Practical Guide to Competitive Intelligence (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Practical-Guide-Competitive-Intelligence/dp/B0BDSRQL6R/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1). Suki is a fierce supporter of intelligence, ethical tech, #SafetyTech, Security, Privacy and Surveillance. Her eclectic 20-year career within strategic intelligence and technology has taken her from the US Department of Defense to teaching business students in China. She currently resides in London, where she is an intrinsic part of the tech community as a Board Advisor for Tech London Advocates / Global Tech Advocates (https://techlondonadvocates.org.uk/), which includes key positions as Co-Lead TLA Women in Tech (https://tlawomenintech.org/), and Vice-Chair for GTA Black Women in Tech (https://theblackwomenintech.com/). Suki was recently named by the Most Influential Woman in UK Tech by Computer Weekly 2023. There’s so much more to this #dynamicdiasporan, I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. Where to find Suki? On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sukifuller) On X (https://twitter.com/SukiFuller) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/sukifuller) What’s Suki reading? Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life (https://a.co/d/64cWKM2) by Arnold Schwarzeneger Cobalt Red: How the Boll of the Congo Powers Our Lives (https://a.co/d/1dydGko) by Siddharth Kara The Mircostress Effect: How Little Things Pile Up and Create Big Problems--and What to Do About It (https://a.co/d/4bnLMTL) by Rob Cross and Karen Dillon Decentering Whiteness in the Workplace: A Guide for Equity and Inclusion (https://a.co/d/e3driEg) by Janice Gassam Asare Your Face Belongs to Us: A Secretive Startup’s Quest to End Privacy as We Know It (https://a.co/d/jenKHdt) by Kashmir HIll What’s Suki watching? Beckham on Netflix (https://www.netflix.com/gh/title/81223488) The Power on Amazon Prime (https://www.amazon.com/The-Power-Season-1/dp/B0B8NT89QY) Other topics of interest: Balham, London (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balham) Surrey, United Kingdom (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surrey) Some Jamaican Patios to practice (https://jamaicans.com/talk/) About Rastafarianism (https://www.history.com/topics/religion/history-of-rastafarianism) Pismo Beach, California (https://www.experiencepismobeach.com/things-to-do/) Royal Air Force Lakenheath, an American Air Force Base in the UK (https://www.lakenheath.af.mil/About-Us/) Penn State’s Behrend College (https://behrend.psu.edu) About Chi Chi’s Restaurant (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chi-Chi%27s) Mercyhurst University - Intelligence Studies (https://www.mercyhurst.edu/academics/intelligence-studies) Agatha Christie’s Poirot (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agatha_Christie%27s_Poirot) Twitter and SXSW (https://techcrunch.com/2011/01/04/twitter-foursquare-sxsw/?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAFBYPgujumoLKi9A5VgBkTDxG8QNcxdjmAWoTu0hJ36YplpYzN0SOG3SBHa85cU1stTSfVXIJPVKJQ_FRbP3HYbfjY8-8AeafD8xZVnQLYwIAuX4D9dqU70nJtSh-kQaaqi6HgHdfw5ijngMGQazuoGTaQRqmCVdoSLk_MceS70J) About Robert Baker (https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-baker-potentia-talent-consulting/?originalSubdomain=uk) Innit? (https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=innit) IA Safety Bill (https://aibusiness.com/responsible-ai/online-safety-bill-passes-ai-chatbots-subject-to-rules-on-protecting-users#close-modal) The Pod Generation Film (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pod_Generation) Special Guest: Suki Fuller.
Episode 197: Distilling Lifescapes From the Road with Dante Bowen Hendricks
Nov 14 2023
Episode 197: Distilling Lifescapes From the Road with Dante Bowen Hendricks
Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week I’m joined by a longtime friend as we both were about to hit the road for weekend adventures fitting our global missions. Photographer, Dante Bowen Hendricks found his calling as a young boy in Guyana when his uncle gifted him a rotating globe that sparked Dante's fascination with world cultures. After immigrating to Brooklyn as a teen, Dante set aside his passion for photography to work in his family's shipping business. But a trip back home reignited his love for the art. Dante dove into developing his skills, studying at the International Center of Photography. Though he does commercial work digitally, Dante prefers shooting personal projects on film. He's exhibited in New York as well as Baltimore and is new local, New Orleans. He is also a co-contributor along with fellow Brooklyn-bred photographer, Phillip Moi-Thuk-Shung (http://phillipshung.com) to Inferno, a forthcoming book of photo essays. Dance and spiritual traditions are among Dante's favorite subjects. His distinct style retains a sense of childlike wonder, conveying cultures with sensitivity and nuance. Listen as Dante shares his globetrotting journey of discovering both himself and the world through his lens. Where to find Dante? On Instgram (https://www.instagram.com/infernophotos/) On Threads (https://www.threads.net/@infernophotos) On Facebook (https://web.facebook.com/dante.hendrix/photos) On YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqlkHEBvjZE) What’s Dante reading? Unreasonable Behavior: An Autobiography (https://a.co/d/0gqAzMc) by Don McCullin Slightly Out of Focus (https://a.co/d/48qNcsq) by Robert Capa Ceasar: Life of a Colossus (https://a.co/d/22bftsh) by Adrian Goldsworthy Napolean: A Life (https://a.co/d/aFhI5jz) by Andrew Roberts Other topics of interest: Geography of Guyana (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Guyana) About Flatbed Trucking (https://www.saloodo.com/logistics-dictionary/flatbed-truck/#:~:text=The%20flatbed%20truck%20is%20mostly,comparable%20to%20a%20flatbed%20trailer.) Talk like a Trucker (https://www.apexcapitalcorp.com/blog/guide-to-trucker-lingo/) Guyanese Metemgee (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqat7bLN-j8) About Seawall Sundays (https://exploreguyana.org/seawall/) Fuji GW690 Cameras (https://casualphotophile.com/2016/10/31/fuji-gw690-medium-format-camera-review/) Lika Cameras (https://leica-camera.com/en-int) Kodak Potra (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodak_Portra) Knotting Hill Carnival (https://nhcarnival.org) Ndyuka People (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ndyuka_people) Chevalier Film (https://www.chevalierfilm.com) Special Guest: Dante Bowen Hendricks.
Episode 196: Thoughts on the African Dream with Nyamal Tutdeal
Nov 7 2023
Episode 196: Thoughts on the African Dream with Nyamal Tutdeal
Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week’s episode is like the jetway bridging me between my two locations this week. From my Continental base in Accra, South Sudanese-Ethiopian-American, Nyamal Tutdeal, who is a conflict resolution and healing practitioner, joins us again to talk about, among other things, one of her homelands--Ethiopia, where I found myself (in Addis Ababa) for the weekend. Many may recall meeting Nyamal on the podcast prior to her move to Accra (https://glocalcitizens.fireside.fm/guests/nyamal-tutdeal), and now after a nearly two years, she’s an “Accra-an.” With over a decade of work experience under her belt, Nyamal has developed and managed various programmes related togender, peace, security, and antiracist/race relations. She is a staunch advocate for women's empowerment, human rights, refugees, immigrants, displaced communities, and the fight against early child marriage. Nyamal is a Co-Director and Co-Founder of the NyaEden Foundation. She also works as an Adjunct Professor at both Arcadia University and Webster University in Ghana, where she provides academic support and teaches Introduction to Human Rights, Refugee and Migration Movement, Advocacy, NGO and Civil Society at Webster University Ghana campus. Nyamal is also involved in teaching Conflict Transformation, Restorative Justice, Mediation, and Conflict Coaching in the International Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) program at Arcadia University. Prior to her relocation to Ghana, Nyamal served as the Director of Equity and Inclusion for CORA Services. Nyamal has a B.A. in Human Relations and an M.A. in International Peace and Conflict Resolution. Nyamal is now at the head of her own consultancy, The Nyamal Group (https://nyamal.org) which she launched this year. Where to find Nyamal? On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nyamal-tutdeal-a76b44b3/) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/nyamal_tutdeal/) On X (https://twitter.com/maltutdeal) On Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/mal.tutdeal) Shades of Injera (https://www.instagram.com/shadesofinjera/?hl=en) What's Nyamal reading? Nearly All the Men in Lagos Are Mad (https://a.co/d/cUyiDaP) by Damilare Kuku What’s Nyamal watching? About Star Wars (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars) and the Ashoka TV Series (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahsoka_(TV_series)) Other topics of interest? About the Nuer People (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WR5Qr1oRLuw) Demographics in Ethiopia (https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/ethiopia/) Civil Conflict in Ethiopia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopian_civil_conflict_(2018%E2%80%93present)#:~:text=In%20November%202021%2C%20the%20Somali,in%20Ethiopian%20territory%20to%20date.) On Empire, here are some articles that analyze empire and colonization as major drivers of present-day inequality: "The Empire of Inequality: Introduction" by Himadeep Muppidi - Discusses how colonial empires created enduring global inequality through exploitation, extraction of wealth, and imposition of power structures. "The Long-Run Effects of the Scramble for Africa" by Stelios Michalopoulos and Elias Papaioannou - Economic analysis finding that artificial colonial borders continue to impact economic development and inequality across African nations today. "The Colonial Origins of Comparative Development: An Empirical Investigation" by Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson, and James A. Robinson - Research arguing colonialism set up institutions that continue to affect world inequality. "Imperialism and Colonialism" by Battiston et al. - Reviews how empires led to concentration of wealth and power for imperial nations that remains evident in 21st century global inequality. “How Western Colonization Launched Capitalism with Violence and Ruin" by Nicholas De Genova - Discusses direct links between violent colonization, slavery, genocide and the rise of global capitalism and inequality. “The Impact of Colonialism on African Economic Development” by Joshua Settles - Analysis of economic exploitation, extraction of resources, and disruption of existing systems during European colonization of Africa. SAD - Seasonal Effective Disorder (https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/seasonal-affective-disorder#:~:text=SAD%20is%20a%20type%20of,seasonal%20affective%20disorder%20(SAD).) 54th NAACP Image Awards (https://naacp.org/events/54th-naacp-image-awards) Sheryl Lee Ralph’s dress (https://wwd.com/pop-culture/celebrity-news/sheryl-lee-ralph-naacp-awards-red-carpet-2023-dress-1235549800/) and designer, Pistis Ghana (https://www.pistisghana.com) South Sudan’s Political Structure (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_South_Sudan) South Sudan’s Vice Presidents (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vice_President_of_South_Sudan#:~:text=The%20vice%20president%20of%20South,2020%20creating%20five%20vice%20presidents.) and Fourth VP, Rebecca Nyandeng De Mabior (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebecca_Nyandeng_De_Mabior) About Hope Resoration South Sudan (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebecca_Nyandeng_De_Mabior) About the South Sudanese Civil War (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Sudanese_Civil_War#:~:text=The%20South%20Sudanese%20Civil%20War,attempting%20a%20coup%20d%27%C3%A9tat.) About South Sudan’s Minister of Interior, Angelina Teny (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angelina_Teny) Bella Afrik in Accra (https://www.bellaafrik.com) The Mix Accra (https://www.themixdesignhub.com) Special Guest: Nyamal Tutdeal.
Episode 195: Shaping Pan-African Progress with Christa Elise Sanders
Oct 31 2023
Episode 195: Shaping Pan-African Progress with Christa Elise Sanders
Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week I had the opportunity to catch up with Christa Eiise Sanders, an International Education professional with over 20 years of progressively responsible and diverse experience within the field of higher education. She is currently the Campus Director at Webster University (https://www.webster.edu.gh) in Accra, Ghana. A graduate of Spelman College (https://www.spelman.edu/about-us) and Columbia University, her expertise includes strategic planning, program development, counseling (with a focus in multiculturalism/diversity); academic oversight, advising and planning. She also has a strong background in creating and managing study abroad programs in Africa and Europe. Growing up in an Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania with educators as parents, academics and higher education have been a mainstay in Christa's life and have opened the door to living ans working in Spain, Germany, and now Ghana. Her publications and research stress understanding of cultural factors on a worldwide scale. and with extensive travel and study experience spanning over 65 countries she is also a polyglot; her languages include Spanish, German, Portuguese and beginning Twi. Where to find Christa? blackwomenabroad.org (https://blackwomenabroad.org/#:~:text=Black%20Women%20Abroad%20(BWA)%20is,directly%20to%20endowing%20this%20scholarship.) On LinkedIn (lhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/christa-sanders-elise/) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/blackwomenabroad/) On Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/christa.e.sanders) Topics of interest: About Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bryn_Mawr,_Pennsylvania) On Jamestown, Accra (https://adesawyerr.wordpress.com/2015/11/10/the-definitive-story-of-james-town-british-accra-by-nat-nuno-amarteifio/) About the funeral rights (https://www.myjoyonline.com/sights-and-scenes-as-ga-manye-goes-home/) of Ga Manye Naa Dedei Omaedru III (https://www.ghanaweb.com/region/manzekay/A-Beauty-Queen-And-A-Leader-Biography-Of-Ga-Manye-Naa-Dedei-Omaedru-III-143813) Brief history of the Ga people’s migration to Accra (https://kpakpatseweroyalfamily.wordpress.com/2011/06/18/origin-of-the-ga-people-in-ghana/) About the Orthodox Coptic Church (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coptic_Orthodox_Church) About Quaker Schools (https://www.friendscouncil.org/quaker-schools) About Ashesi University’s Patrick Awuah (https://www.ashesi.edu.gh/about/ashesi-s-leadership/governance/34-about/presidency/11-biography.html) About Robert F. Smith (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_F._Smith_(investor)) ArtX Lagos (https://artxlagos.com) Special Guest: Christa Elise Sanders.
Episode 194: Inside the Singer’s Voice with Jeremiah Abiah
Oct 23 2023
Episode 194: Inside the Singer’s Voice with Jeremiah Abiah
Greetings Glocal Citizens! This week I have the pleasure getting to know a longtime friend even better from insights into his professional world. An internationally recognized recording artist, vocal coach, songwriter/writer, style influencer, and entrepreneur, Ghanaian-Cuban-American, Jeremiah Abiah inspires artists around the world to learn, love, and live their voice. His creative talents and expertise have made him a sought-after coach for national and international singers, actors, rappers, and public speakers. His influence and involvement have launched the careers of many musicians currently on the charts. As a singer, producer and writer, his recording contributions have been nominated for Grammy Awards, the Latin Grammys, the NAACP Image Awards and the 2020 Oscar Awards with Cynthia Erivo. He works with an array of celebrated artists such as Common, Brandy, Robert Glasper, Ro James and others. He launched TheABIAHway (https://www.jeremiahabiah.com), an artist development platform, to enlighten, inspire, and empower music artists globally and expanding his influence in the music industry. His work has launched the careers of many current music artists on the charts and on Broadway. Clients include Sony, RCA, Atlantic, Columbia Records as well as numerous Broadway and Opera Stars. This former Professor of Voice at Berklee College of Music (https://www.berklee.edu) can be seen on the stage at music festivals, concert halls and teaching Masterclasses worldwide. In 2020, he debuted his popular new Facebook Live talk show, Inside the Singer’s Voice (https://www.youtube.com/@insidethesingersvoice/featured) where each episode is an intimate conversation between great singers about great singing. As you’ll hear, there’s much, much more to Jeremiah’s own voice and story. Where to find Jeremiah? On LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremiah-abiah-7868369) On Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/jeremiahabiah/) On Facebook (https://web.facebook.com/jeremiahabiahmusic/?_rdc=1&_rdr) On X (https://twitter.com/jeremiahabiah?lang=en) On YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeJKglJcZEtIoR-RgZM5vvA) Topics of interest: About George Michael (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Michael) Opera Greats William Warfield (https://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/william-warfield-39) and Leontyne Price (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leontyne_Price) Rochester School of the Arts (https://www.rcsdk12.org/SOTA) About Patricia Seymour Alexander (https://www.copelandfuneralhomes.com/obituary/Patricia-Alexander) About the Art Song Repertoire (http://www.tesorochoir.com/Classical%20Repertoire.html) NAACP ACT-SO Acheivement Program (https://naacp.org/our-work/youth-programs/act-so-achievement-program) Eastman School of Music (https://www.esm.rochester.edu) New England Conservatory (https://necmusic.edu) About The Chi’s Ntare Mwine (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ntare_Mwine) Otter.ai (https://otter.ai) Ain’t Too Proud, The Musical (https://ainttooproudmusical.com) About Michael Swanson (https://www.faithfilmworks.com/michael-swanson) Ron Simon’s SimonSays Entertainment (https://simonsaysentertainment.com) About Pamela Cooper’s, The Cooper Company (https://www.thecoopercompany.biz) About Shanice (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanice) What is the “Whistle Tone?” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whistle_register) About Gospel Great, Yolanda Adams (http://yolandaadamslive.com) Laylah Hathaway (https://www.lalahhathaway.com) Mint Condition’s (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mint_Condition) Stokley Williams (https://www.istokley.com) Claude Kelly (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claude_Kelly) R&B and Soul Legends Aretha Franklin (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aretha_Franklin), Luther Vandross (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luther_Vandross) and Barry White (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_White) About Bill T. Jones (https://newyorklivearts.org/btj-az-company/) Special Guest: Jeremiah Abiah.