Guests
Tim Saylor is the co-host of National Geographic Channel's "Diggers." A two-time graduate of the University of Iowa, holding degrees from that institution in both German and Psychology, Tim has completed studies abroad at the University of Vienna, and is a certified computer programmer and web designer. The Iowa Writers Workshop is world renowned, and, as an undergraduate, Tim wrote and studied fiction at the university under Bob Shacochis (Easy in the Islands) and David Morrell (First Blood, Rambo). Tim Saylor received the German Book Prize from the University of Iowa's German Department in 1995 and the Class Third Prize for the Wiener Internationale Hochschulkurse at the University of Vienna in 1994, and he was inducted into the University of Iowa's Psi-Chi Honor Society. In 1990, Tim recorded tracks on the not-so-critically acclaimed rock band No Spokes' debut album Way Big. An accomplished treasure hunter, Tim has appeared on ABC's [...]
Allison Jordan is Vice President of Environmental Affairs for Wine Institute, a public policy association of 1,000 California wineries and affiliated businesses. A department she established in 2007 to address wine industry environmental and sustainability issues at local, state, federal and international levels. She also serves as Executive Director of the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance, a non-profit organization created by Wine Institute and the California Association of Winegrape Growers to promote environmental and social responsibility in the industry. Allison Jordan holds a Masters in Public Policy from UC Berkeley and a B.A. from Allegheny College, and is a fellow with the German Marshall Fund's American Marshall Memorial Fellowship Program. Jordan and her husband are proprietors of Giordano Bros., a San Francisco restaurant group. Allison is also a founding partner in two restaurants, Giordano Bros. in San Francisco, and Monk's Kettle Terra Linda in Marin County. She holds a Certificate in Wine Business [...]
Ivan Duque Marquez is currently the President of Colombia. At the time of our interview he served as the Inter-American Development Bank (IIDB) Culture, Creativity and Solidarity Division Chief. Previously he served as Special Advisor to Colombia´s former President Alvaro Uribe Vélez, Senior Advisor to the UN Department of Political Affairs, Senior Counselor for Colombia and Peru at the IDB, Advisor to the Colombian Minister of Finance, Private Consultant and University Lecturer in Public Administration, Strategy and Constitutional Theory. Ivan Duque Marquez holds a JD from Universidad Sergio Arboleda in Colombia, an Master in Policy Management from Georgetown University, a Master in International Legal Studies (LLM) from American University and various Executive Degrees from Harvard Business School and the Kennedy School of Government. He is the Author of Maquiavelo in Colomba and Monetary Sins. Duque was born into a politically prominent family. His mother was a political scientist, and his [...]
Gloria Loring is the recording artist of the #1 hit song Friends and Lovers; co-composer of television theme songs Diff’rent Strokes and Facts Of Life; an audience favorite from Days Of Our Lives; the author of six books benefitting people living with diabetes; a keynote speaker; one of the few artists to sing two nominated songs at the Academy Awards; and is well-known as the mother of singing sensation Robin Thicke. Gloria’s new book, Coincidence is God's Way of Remaining Anonymous: Reflections on Daytime Dramas and Divine Intervention, is a memoir with a message. It details how a series of extraordinary coincidences transformed her life. It is published by HCI, Inc., the original publisher of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. This is a book with its own soundtrack co-written by Gloria. With these stories and songs, she provides insight into how each of us can use coincidence for our own [...]
Caroline Baron’s many producing credits include the Oscar nominated film Capote, the cross-cultural hit Monsoon Wedding, winner of the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival and numerous awards worldwide. Baron began her career as the production manager on the cult classic film, The Toxic Avenger. Over the years, she has served as the associate producer for the hit television series The Wonder Years and co-produced such films as Center Stage, Flawless, Addicted to Love, The Santa Clause, and Mira Nair’s Kama Sutra. She also produced the NBC miniseries Witness to the Mob with Robert DeNiro and coproduced the documentary Preston Sturges: The Rise and Fall of an American Dreamer for PBS. She is currently the Executive Producer of Another Night, directed by Paul Weitz and starring Robert DeNiro. In 1999, motivated by reports of families who fled their homes in Kosovo to seek refuge in crowded camps in Macedonia, [...]
For nearly a decade, Jeremy Davenport has been a vital part of the New Orleans music scene. With his original lyrics and music, Jeremy infuses his unique style and mood of storytelling creating not only a modern edge, but also the distinct feeling of a lifestyle reminiscent of a time when Jazz was at its peak of popularity. He is known for his vocal and trumpet playing skills, as well as being a born entertainer. Davenport's showing has tempted such performers as Sting, Paul McCartney, Harry Connick, Jr. and Diana Krall. Jeremy Davenport was born in St. Louis, Missouri into a family of musicians. His mother has been a music educator for nearly 50 years and his father recently retired, after 40 years, from the St. Louis Symphony. From a young age Jeremy studied and played with members and guests of the St. Louis Symphony, which included an early introduction [...]
Monique Pean was raised in Washington D.C. and has traveled the world, visiting more than 30 countries. Monique is thankful that her mother, Gail, solidly encouraged her to pursue her love of art. She credits her inspiration to the art and cultures encountered during her travels to destinations such as Haiti, Bali, Russia, Egypt, Brazil, China, Greece and more. With a Haitian father and American Jewish mother, Monique was no doubt inspired by her own heritage. Before founding her accessories company, Monique worked in finance and took fashion design classes in New York for three years. Monique graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, where she majored in Philosophy, Political Science and Economics. Click here to visit her website Monique Pean is an American artist whose practice is focused on fine jewelry, sculpture, painting and furniture. Her studio is based in New York City. Her work explores themes of space, temporality, identity, and [...]
Chef Ned Bell is one of Canada's foremost culinary talents. Born in the Okanagan, British Columbia's wine country, Bell has always had a passion for cooking and is steadfast in his vision and drive to create new, imaginative dishes with fresh, local ingredients. Bell began his career in Vancouver working under two local restaurant legends: first under the tutelage of Le Crocodile's Michel Jacob and then as Sous Chef for Rob Feenie's Lumiere restaurant. In 1997 Bell set his sights eastward where he enjoyed successful stints as Executive Chef at Niagara on the Lake's Peninsula Ridge Estate Winery, and at Toronto's Accolade and Senses restaurants where he earned significant recognition by the city's culinary cognoscenti. During his time in Toronto, Bell was a regular on Food Network Canada's "Cook Like a Chef." Ready to make his mark on the up-and-coming Calgary restaurant scene, the new millennium saw Chef Ned Bell moving [...]
Dr. E. Lee Spence is an internationally known expert on shipwrecks and has long been considered one of the founding fathers of marine archaeology. He is currently president of the Sea Research Society and Vice President of the International Diving Institute. Although Lee has discovered numerous historically significant shipwrecks including the wreck of the Hunley, which was the first submarine in history to sink an enemy ship, he considers his identification of George Trenholm as the “Real Rhett Butler” to have been his most interesting discovery. Learn More about Dr. Spence
Joseph Dispenza has studied spirituality firsthand, living eight years as a monk - one of those years in total silence. He is the author of a dozen other books and numerous articles on spirituality, a renowned retreat leader, and an accomplished public speaker on the subject of personal spirituality. For several years, he headed the education division of the American Film Institute and lectured in communication at American University in Washington, D.C. Later, he established a successful program in Moving Image Arts at the College of Santa Fe, and taught courses in media ethics. He is the co-founder and director of LifePath Retreats in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, where he lives.
Lawrence Cann intended to volunteer for a month at a homeless services center in Charlotte, North Carolina in 2002. He never left, working full time with and delivering front line services to hundreds of homeless youth, men, and women. Over the course of the years Lawrence's programs ( a suite of programs called Community Works 945) helped hundreds of people overcome homelessness and established art, gardening, and sports social enterprises for homeless youth and adults, all of which persist to this day. The Street Soccer USA venture, for which Lawrence is the Founder and CEO, has grown from 1 program in Charlotte, North Carolina to 18 cities across the United States. Under his leadership, the organization has established relationships a variety of companies, foundations, and both national and local social service providers. In addition, Lawrence and Street Soccer USA were featured in the Sundance film documentary film “Kicking It!” directed [...]
Phil Johnson graduated from Bates College in 2006 with a degree in Economics. Upon graduation, he moved to New York City, NY, where he worked for three years in equity and fixed income trade support at Dominick and Dominick and JPMorgan. He joined the 2009-2010 class of GRS Interns in the Spring of 2009, and is working with the Business Development team in Cape Town, SA. In his free time, Phil enjoys soccer, skiing, fishing, and is ever so slowly learning to surf. Grassroot Soccer Website
