ABT Time

Two years ago last month we pulled together the first 50 participants for the ABT Framework course. 25 rounds later, it was time to pull together 8 of them to discuss what they got out of the course and how they've used it. It's a great discussion and huge validation of the course. Yay! Randy Olson https://twitter.com/ABTagenda​ Randy's Blog: http://scienceneedsstory.com Learn more about the ABT F...

Dr. Karel Liem (1935-2009) was the best of the best as ichthyologist, teacher, prankster and all-around good guy. Thankfully I managed to include him in "Flock of Dodos" where he told about having had 8 bypasses on his heart. Fisheries biologist Julie Claussen (and ABT course advisor) and Liem student Dr. Dana Ono join me to discuss whether there are any other scientists who have more fun than fis...

A year ago, Harvard senior and great guy Lincoln Sorscher interviewed me for his undergraduate thesis titled, "Humor's Efficacy in Communicating Climate Change Messaging." I gave him such a jaundiced perspective he described my attitude as "self-admitted embitterment." Joining us in this discussion are Australian science communication professor and co-host of "The Wholesome Show" podcast, Dr. Rod...

Time to learn about THE PAUL BEGALA CHALLENGE: To change the thinking of Democrats from And, And, And thinking ("Programmatic Lists") to And, But, Therefore thinking (ABT Narrative Intuition). Randy Olson matches notes with the three co-authors of the "Narrative Gym" series of books for BUSINESS (Park Howell), LAW (Doug Passon) and POLITICS (Dave Gold). Randy Olson https://twitter.com/ABTagenda​ R...

In 1998 Randy Olson interviewed Dr. Tom Hollihan of the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism for his 20 minute video, "Talking Science: The Elusive Art of the Science Talk." He is the author of books on argumentation, media and politics, media diplomacy, political campaign communication, contemporary rhetorical criticism, and the impact of globalization on public deliberation. Tal...

Hallelujah, brothers and sisters, it's time for social hour in the Church of the ABT as we welcome fellow ABT worshippers David and Sarah Jane to the shrine of the holy IF/THEN for the sharing of a few parables of agreement, contradiction and consequence.   The Story Spotters   https://thestoryspotters.com/   https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-story-spotters/   https://twitter.com/thestoryspotte...

Nearly 20 years ago senior coral reef ecologist Dr. Nancy Knowlton struck a note for optimism with her "Beyond the Obituaries" symposium for ocean conservation. She talks with us about the bigger Earth Optimism Summit in 2017 it led to with the Smithsonian and how her message of hope burns bright.   Nancy Knowlton https://twitter.com/SeaCitizens Earth Optimism: https://earthoptimism.si.edu/ Nancy'...

David H. Freedman wrote the article, "Lies, Damned Lies and Medical Science" for The Atlantic in 2010 which is still used in epidemiology courses across the nation. He is our #1 favorite science journalist here at this podcast. He talks at length about false positives, pandemic mass communication, and how we lost Canada to the British in the Revolutionary War because so many soldiers were anti-vac...

We are producing a series of books applying "The Narrative Gym" to different disciplines.  BUSINESS was released in September with coauthor Park Howell.  POLITICS will be released in January with coauthor Dave Gold.  In this episode we discuss the current release of LAW with coauthor Doug Passon. Doug Passon https://www.dougpassonlaw.com/ https://twitter.com/dougpassonlaw Randy Olson https://twitt...

Adam Welz is South African and a prolific nature writer, photographer and filmmaker whose work has appeared frequently in The Guardian and Yale 360.  He speaks passionately in this discussion about the worldwide decline of freshwater fish diversity — the most threatened group of vertebrates.  He also predicts increasing conflict within the environmental community between wildlife activists and cli...

Team Unclenchable (Randy Olson with Aussies Jen Martin, Jayde Lovell, and Rod Lamberts) holds its third assembly to discuss the future of humanity and our fate as eventual slaves to A.I., along with special guest surf photographer and part-time nuclear physicist-wannabe Brian Bielmann. Rod Lamberts https://twitter.com/rodl Jayde Lovell https://twitter.com/JaydeLovell Randy Olson: https://twitter.c...

30 years ago Randy Olson and "Cultural Liaison" Ed Leydecker filmed, "Salt of the Earth: A Journey to the Heart of Maine Lobster Fishermen," with Brian, Stevie, and Steve Robbins, Sr. Last year Stevie passed away at age 76. This is a conversation with Brian, Ed and Randy talking about lobster fishing, bridging cultures, and trust. BACKGROUND ON ED'S T.G.A.: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transient_...

Learn how Dr. Shirley Malcom and Dr. Randy Olson are "Parking Lot Soul Mates," as well as fellow Good Troublemakers. Randy Olson https://twitter.com/ABTagenda​ Randy's Blog: http://scienceneedsstory.com​ Learn more about the ABT Framework Course: http://storycirclestraining.com/ Jen Martin https://twitter.com/scidocmartin https://www.instagram.com/scidocmartin/ Science Communication at the Univers...

Dr. Maryanne Garry, Professor of Cognitive Psychology at University of Waikato in New Zealand talks to Randy and Jen about the teaching of psychology, neuro-skepticism, and and the results of the two Story Circles (narrative training) that they ran in 2019. Maryanne Garry https://twitter.com/drlambchop https://www.garrylab.com/ Randy Olson https://twitter.com/ABTagenda​ Randy's Blog: http://scienc...

Randy Olson has a tremendous discussion with one of his all-time journalist heroes, Mark Dowie as they dive deep into the history of the American environmental movement (Mark's 1995 book "Losing Ground") then explore indigenous sovereignty with Mark's 2017 book, "The Haida Gwai Lesson: A strategic playbook for indigenous sovereignty." Mark Dowie "Empowering the Grassroots" - interview with Mark Do...

Actors Julie Carmen and Jose Angel Santana discuss everything from the intensity of Meisner acting training to working with Madonna to Julie's landmark performances in "Milagro Beanfield War," and "Gloria." Randy Olson https://twitter.com/ABTagenda​ Randy's Blog: http://scienceneedsstory.com​ Learn more about the ABT Framework Course: http://storycirclestraining.com/ Jen Martin https://twitter.com...

Dr. John Sterman of the M.I.T. Sloan Management School shares his CLIMATE INTERACTIVE World Climate Simulation group exercise that he's run with everyone from the UN to members of Congress to the COP Climate Conferences, but this time he's faced with a challenge — making it understandable to The Fool (Dr. Patty Limerick). Dr. John Sterman https://www.climateinteractive.org/tools/en-roads/ Patty Li...

Randy tries to draw lines of debate about slogans and terminology with Jen and Rod, but they step over his lines and say "we agree." Jayde never did disagree. Guest John Small tells about his years of work with Australian ocean scientists, manufacturing equipment for their research, and staging some of the funniest Christmas parties in human history. Rod Lamberts: https://twitter.com/rodl Jayde Lo...

Legendary coral reef ecologist Dr. Jeremy Jackson ended his landmark 1996 paper, "Reefs Since Columbus" by hoping he had "put to rest two dangerous stupidities."  Legendary historian of the American West, Dr. Patty Limerick, begins this grand, synthetic discussion wishing she had coined that term ("dangerous stupidities") herself.  The topics range from shifting baselines to restoration to what is...

Joe Newman, author of, "Raising Lions: The Art of Compassionate Discipline," long time surf buddy of Randy Olson, and a 2019 graduate of the Story Circles Narrative Training program talks about training PARENTS (not children). His hugely popular "protocol" is widely used and studied. Connections are made between his method of training and the ABT Framework. "Raising Lions": https://www.amazon.com/...

The filmmakers, Brent Storm, director, and producers Julie Romaniuk, Brian Bielmann and Randy Olson, cover everything from story development with the ABT Narrative Template to bluebird conditions, French women, and making a film that kicks ass. Be sure to stay to the end so you can hear Brian get yelled at by the lady upstairs who tells him to quit talking so loud. Movie website : https://www.whit...

To talk "Bruce Block" in filmmaking means to discuss the 7 Elements of Visual Expression (space, line, shape, tone, color, movement, rhythm) in the creation of movies. Bruce is a living legend in Hollywood and has been teaching his iconic Visual Expression course at U.S.C. for 44 years. My film school classmates (now Hollywood directors) Jason Ensler, Greg Tillman and I all had his course in the m...

Eight years ago Park Howell discovered the ABT and thought it might be useful. It's now the centerpiece of all his communications training in the business world and he's become one of the core members of our team for the ABT Framework Course. All of which makes for a great discussion as we launch our new co-authored book. Buy "The Narrative Gym for Business" on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Narra...

We have the tool for bridging the cultural divide between different programs and departments of institutions and organizations (Silo Busting). In this episode we dive deep into this challenge with one of the all-time great Silo Explorers, historian, MacArthur Fellow and co-founder of the Center for the America West at the University of Colorado, AND Official Fool, Dr. Patricia Limerick. Patty Lime...

It's time for the Great Aussie Unclenching with Dr. Rod Lamberts, host of The Wholesome Show podcast, Jayde "The Estoner of Estonia" Lovell, and cohost Jen Martin. Together they bring all the wit and charm of a kangaroo to ABT Time as the lone Yank, Dr. Randy Olson, tries to keep up, but as usual, stumbles. Rod Lamberts: https://twitter.com/rodl Jayde Lovell: https://twitter.com/JaydeLovell Randy...