Intersections Podcast

Is it possible to reform those that fell wayward? Can gang members, if treated with dignity and tenderness over punishment and incarceration, be transformed into loving human beings? And what fundamental principles can we adopt to move society, from a culture of judgment and denunciation, to mutual kinship and appreciation? Find out from Father Gregory Boyle SJ, a Jesuit priest and founder of Home...

In a world teeming with division and discord, can emotional and social intelligence, sown early in the fertile minds of children, grow into a force strong enough to unite the world while dismantling past prejudices? Is it possible that our greatest teachers could be the youngest among us, those whose innocence and capacity for love remain pure? What drove a celebrated filmmaker to abandon a succes...

How can we translate life’s worst setbacks into miraculous comebacks? Can prison inmates and the formerly incarcerated be role models for those on the outside? How can we cultivate a single-pointed focus for personal growth despite the cards we have been dealt with in life, and the choices we may have made in the past? And what can someone’s twenty years in prison teach us about life’s possibiliti...

How can we create a group of selfless teammates that works purposefully towards a collective, positive goal? What conditions allow an individual and team to perform extraordinarily? What power do our thoughts hold in the unfolding of our own legacy, and how can we mindfully work with our mind to unlock the masterpiece within us? Find out from “The Performance Whisperer,” George Mumford, in convers...

How do we live a life that is aligned with our highest values? What transformative power does the role of service hold in our lives? When we feel a deep concern for humanitarian issues, how can we move from inaction to action and make a meaningful, positive contribution towards building a healthier and happier society? And how can we mobilize resources, intelligence and support networks, not just...

What are climate issues actually trying to teach us? Are these purely external changes in weather patterns, or are they more deeply connected with our values and lifestyles? How can one frame this in a way that is highly meaningful to every individual’s life choices? Find out from one of the environmental movement’s leading voices, Paul Hawken, in conversation with Dr. Hitendra Wadhwa on Intersect...

What is the source of Mahatma Gandhi’s enduring appeal? What kind of inner and outer practices did he cultivate that have made him such a revered figure in history? How can we, like Gandhi, successfully create a daily pathway to our Inner Core? And how can we, in our own spheres of influence, learn to quell people’s passions, bring them together, and move humanity forward in a unified way even in...

At a time when the power to dictate the rules at work is no longer retained by the C-suite or boardroom, what metrics can leaders bank on to build trust with their people, inspire well-being and retain talent? How can we get key stakeholders to commit to our cause and co-lead systemic changes in our organizations and in our communities? And what can business leaders do to set the stage for ‘Divers...

How can leaders in today's environment pioneer new forms of workplace interaction, mentoring, performance management, and role-modeling in order to create inspired, high-performing, connected teams across the organization? What lessons can we draw from nature and apply it to the way we deal with human nature? What kind of organization might we create if we integrate work, life and play, to both li...

How do we build bridges with our fiercest adversaries—those that it would seem impossible for us to sit down and have a conversation with—change their hearts and minds, and turn them into lifelong friends? What causes some people to develop radically racist beliefs, behaviors and attitudes, and how can we, in our current capacities, seek to inspire and transform them? What kind of discipline do we...

What are we far more likely to regret over the course of our lives? How can we face and evaluate our regrets, and use them to transform ourselves into better workers, problem-solvers and decision-makers? What motivations drive people’s behaviors and how can we learn to perceive them with more accuracy? Daniel Pink is an award-winning author and has written 5 New York Times bestselling books on bus...

Is there a method to achieving excellence in every chapter of our lives? How can we bypass the distractions and imperfections of the world, break away from stereotypical belief systems that may be percolating around us, and live every moment with inspiration, discipline and commitment to our chosen purpose? What actions can we take to bounce back from our biggest adversities, and build ourselves f...

How is ancient wisdom influencing and advancing modern science to improve public health and happiness? How are scientists being able to tell that stress accelerates the aging process, cutting short the deeply purposeful lives we were meant to live? How can we bring more grace in not just our epic moments but in our everyday moments of stress as well? Listen to some powerful insights on how to mast...

When we imagine a happy and successful life, the portrait that’s often painted before us includes someone who is dynamic, engaged and achieves success upon success. And yet, in a time like today when lifespans continue to lengthen, there’s a whole period to life that goes beyond our peak performance days, far from the limelight we once had, unnoticed and forgotten. What then is the definition of s...

In a world that celebrates specialization, what can we gain by dissolving boundaries between disciplines and exploring multitudes? What do extraordinarily creative people have in common, and what tools do they use to access breakthrough ideas and insights? What lessons can we draw from the blunders made by some of the pioneering scientists from history to pursue our own professional quests? And ca...

Modern culture has influenced many of us to view the self—the seat of human experience—purely by the boundaries of the body and the mind, creating a fundamental sense of separateness from the rest of existence. And yet, the pandemic shattered the illusion of the separate solo self in many ways. Could it be that despite our best intentions, we have a misunderstanding of who we really are? And could...

Oftentimes, it is our inner voice that gives us clarity and power — or then takes it all away without notice, leading us to tumble and fall from grace, into the rabbit hole of rumination and worry. How can we master the silent conversations we have with ourselves, and turn our inner voice from a critic to a coach? Why is empathic leadership much more than just creating the space for sharing and li...

What wisdom can we receive from developing deep connections with an octopus and other life forms in the marine world? Could a friendship with a member of another species teach us more about life, our relationships and our humanity, than our books, TV and other media? What if the subtle science and mysteries of nature could be discovered in our own backyard? And what life lessons could we draw from...

When we face inner turmoil, some of us go on a downward spiral, shutting down all possibilities of finding inner peace, balance and happiness. Is there an alternative way, a way where we turn such moments of vulnerability into unique strength? Could a time of depression translate into our greatest creative expression, in service of ourselves and our community? How does one build a billion dollar b...

In a culture that views death only as a biological and morbid end to life, what can we learn from someone who has spent more than 50 years in end-of-life care? What inspiration can we draw from such a luminous life on how to best be of service to our loved ones in their final chapter of life, how to awaken our natural compassion, and on how to reframe our own relationship with death? Listen to som...

What is the true nature of our identity, and how does it shape our thoughts, beliefs and actions? What do we gain from dissolving the boundaries created by our social identities? How can today’s managers, leaders, and changemakers use the language of identity to eliminate negative stereotypes, false beliefs and deep-seated racial biases in their teams, organizations and communities—and also create...

In this Intersections episode, Dr. Hitendra Wadhwa and Dr. Raghu Krishnamoorthy offer critical insights on: How we’re moving from a “find it out” world to a “figure it out” world What it takes to advance leadership from being business-centered to human-centered Moving beyond outer metrics to ground leadership in inner metrics How empathy and compassion can drive organizational performance Moving f...

What can we learn from the powerful journey of a healthcare changemaker to bring reform and reinvention to our own professions? What cultural and systemic flaws exist in America’s healthcare system today? Why are physicians fast burning out, and how is it impacting the lives of patients and their treatment? What key lessons can the culture of medicine draw from business? And how can physicians be...

What fundamental differences separate high-performance cultures from the rest? What molds and keeps such groups together, even through the most unfavorable conditions? Where does trust building really start, and how can teams be harmonized and kept fully aligned with their core purpose at every step? Listen to some powerful, actionable ideas from celebrated author Daniel Coyle in a stimulating con...

What are the most important elements of living a life well lived? What is America’s higher education system getting right, and where does it need reform? How do we become adults who can advance to our full potential and live our best life? And what lessons do these reflections have for how we raise our children? Listen to some thought-provoking ideas from Julie Lythcott-Haims, renowned speaker and...