ELEVATE Podcast

The North and South poles are the two coldest climatic regions of the earth and affect the climate of the whole planet. Robert Swan is the first person in history to walk both of them. 1600 miles seeing firsthand the effects of Climate Change.  Robert with the 2041 Foundation has dedicated his life to protecting Antarctica and our planet at large.  He is OBE recognized leader, UN Goodwill Ambassad...

Juliet is the leading voice in sustainable luxury travel, and recently joined Elevation Barn on a retreat in Millbrook NY. Condé Nast Traveller’s first-ever Sustainability Editor, Juliet Kinsman’s North Star, is sharing stories that inspire a better understanding of the causes and symptoms of the climate emergency. Her purpose-led non-profit consultancy Bouteco amplifies stories that promote genui...

Psychedelics have long been a topic of controversy and fascination. Fashionably topical with belief in their ability to induce elevated consciousness and profound spiritual journeys, these millennia-embraced substances are steeped in cultural and religious contexts worldwide. And so with life’s well-being crisis of depression, anxiety, and addiction, we embrace this discussion with four community...

Yaya has inspired global audiences on stage and on set since high school, with one guiding principle: to remain tenaciously true to herself, whatever the cost. As a female actor, single mother, and former model, she has faced both conscious and unconscious biases from all sides, yet has remained resolute in her determination to succeed.  And her brilliance is not only limited to her prowess as one...

2% seems like a small amount, but it all depends on what it’s a percentage of. Two percent of a dollar? That’s 2 cents. But think about 2% of one trillion one hundred eighty six million dollars. That’s a whole different story. And a whole different level of responsibility. Tanah Sullivan is the Group Head of Sustainability at GoTo, an ecosystem that contributes around 2% of Indonesia's gross...

When you hear the word 'design', what do you think? Does it conjure colors? shapes? paint? pixels? aesthetics...composition? You wouldn’t be wrong, but when it comes to designing technology there’s a guiding force more powerful than any singular graphic element, it’s people. When Alex Cuthbert thinks of design, he’s thinking of how it moves people, both emotionally and literally through...

“In the event of a sudden drop in pressure, an oxygen mask will drop from above. Secure your own mask first before assisting others.” Almost all of us have heard these instructions before...hopefully fewer of us have had to use them, but maybe more of us should more often. Caring for our families, our neighbors, our communities, and our planet, is far more difficult if we haven’t cared for ourselv...

No one ever became a great artist, or architect, or engineer simply by focusing on art or architecture or engineering. Sure, you have to hone your skills and master your craft, but what feeds that craft is an interest in the world around us. A fascination with broader, even tangential subjects like fashion, clothing, nature, music, culture, or the simple beauty of a bird in flight. Neil Thomas has...

Imagine hopping on a bike only to find the bell missing. Ok, so you can’t ring when you pass your friends, but, you can still wave. But what if the baskets missing too? Where do you put your book, your baguette, your raincoat? Not ideal. But what if there are no peddles, or handlebars, or seat? At some point, the machine we call a bicycle is no longer a bicycle. It’s more like a static, lifeless a...

Modern humans aren't known for our patience. We think, if we slow down we're going to miss out on something. We're afraid other people are making more, doing more, seeing more, locking up those tickets to the Taylor Swift concert. The truth is that most of the things we're missing out on are the things we're racing past. Wildlife filmmaker John Aitchison is in the business...

Humanity's greatest invention isn't the wheel, or aqueducts, or the printing press, or even vaccines. It's the story. No other human creation has propelled our species further, allowing us to form tribes, beliefs, countries, companies. Stories wield more power to bring change than anything we have or will ever invent. Natalia Vega-Berry knows this because she lives it. As one of the...

Human beings are always looking for an emotional connection. Not just in their personal relationships or the relationships they build at work, but in the foods they eat, the cars they drive, and the sneakers they put on their feet. Greg Hoffman has spent his life crafting those connections, making the argument that a brand is far more than a quality product, but an epic, human-centric, emotionally...

More than 65% of full-time employees experience burnout, but the thing we fail to understand is that burnout isn't about being exhausted or overworked, it's about being misaligned. Putting yourself in an environment or a job that doesn't inspire you, challenge you, or more importantly, align with your values. No one knows this better than Rhonda Swan .  She's a master at asking...

Leadership isn't a popularity contest. In fact, it's more often the ability to confidently pursue the unpopular path for the right reasons. Great leaders clearly define a mission, encouraging people not to follow one man or woman, but a movement. Captain Paul Watson has been leading that kind of mission for more than 50 years. Not through boardrooms and bureaucracy, but through action. H...

Too many leaders see their people only through the lens of business. A set of human tools to pursue a narrow business objective. The most successful leaders of tomorrow will not only be masters in business, but in humanity, biology, ecology, philosophy, politics, and the planet that makes them all possible. Stephanie Mehta has a big head start. As a journalist turned CEO and Chief Content Office,...

Zach Bush , MD is a renowned, multi-disciplinary physician of internal medicine, endocrinology, hospice care and an internationally recognized educator on the microbiome as it relates to human health, soil health, food systems, and a regenerative future. In this live Elevate session, we journey with Zach to explore why humanity has fueled such a rapid demise of our biome and how we can now finally...

Polar explorer Ben Saunders has pushed human endurance to its hardest and coldest limits. The North and South Poles have been his home for over 6,000km of solo expeditions, giving him the record for the longest human-powered polar journey in history (2,888 km) and for the longest solo Arctic journey by a Briton (1,032 km). So there’s no better person to guide us when we face feeling alone and the...

Want to see the ‘miracle of five loaves and two fish’ happen? Join restaurateur and philanthropist Mark Brand in his journey that goes beyond compassion—embracing communities to tackle hands on societal issues from food scarcity to homelessness and addiction. Overseeing international groups such as Save on Meats and A Better Life Foundation, let us unite as Mark teaches attainable actions for esta...

Intermix, one of fashion darling high street brands, is led by CEO Jyothi Rao . A leader driven to elevate racial equality, space for female leadership, and a sustainability power agenda long overdue in the world of fast fashion. Calvin Klein, GAP, and Guilt have all felt the touch of change she inspires. A path invested in the long game and one focused behind ethical talent growth to deliver a mi...

South African Rob Hersov , EB alumni and serial entrepreneur/investor, sees new power on the land he calls home. Returning from the UK to his home and family in Cape Town, I’ll be joining Rob live to hear how as chairman and investor of a selection of exciting new businesses - he is reigniting the power where it really matters - at the heart of humanity’s birthplace. Leaders from New York, Washing...

When Kalish combined pop culture and Americana with the object of his fascination, the heretofore “lowly license plate” was elevated from the junkyard to the museum, from garages and highways to the living room wall. In the process, he became the artist responsible for creating a new genre, winning international acclaim, and setting his expectations-defying career into motion... Join former IDEO p...

When Kit DesLauriers pushed off the summit of Everest at 29,032 ft, she not only became the first woman to do so, but also became the first person to ski the 7 Summits, the world's highest on each of its seven continents. She has won two consecutive World Freeskiing Women’s Champion titles, is the longest reigning member of The North Face Global Athlete Team, she has been named National Geogr...

Dreadnoughtus, aka “fears nothing” is the most massive terrestrial vertebrate known to mankind. And seeing that many of us have to face fears daily - why not learn from the best! Kenneth Lacovara is a world-leading paleontologist and discovered this titanosaurian dinosaur in Argentinian Patagonia in 2005.  What Kenneth discovered has re-set the course of science - captured in the 2017 Nautilus Awa...

Dr. Michelle Thaller is an astrophysicist, a science communication expert, and a specialist in the lifecycles of stars. With a career at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Goddard Space Flight Center, millions have been enlightened by her knowledge of How the Universe Works and Space’s Deepest Secrets. Join us as we explore why light doesn’t experience space or time, why the Big Bang isn’t what we...

The world of medical treatment is often an isolating and terrifying time for all. And for women young and old, experiencing the physical and psychological hardships from breast cancer to abuse…can be a dark and lonely journey. Academic surgeon and holistic healing advocate Dr Shubha Dhage has made it her mission to elevate women from all walks of life by ensuring that they are not only treated, bu...