No Barriers

Haben Girma is an American disability rights advocate and the first Deafblind person to graduate from Harvard Law School. President Obama named her a White House Champion of Change, she has received the Helen Keller Achievement Award and secured a spot on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2016.  Haben believes disability is an opportunity for innovation and travels the world teaching the benefits of...

Haben Girma is an American disability rights advocate and the first Deafblind person to graduate from Harvard Law School. President Obama named her a White House Champion of Change, she has received the Helen Keller Achievement Award and secured a spot on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2016.  Haben believes disability is an opportunity for innovation and travels the world teaching the benefits of...

In the latest installment of our No Barriers Alchemy Series, sponsored by Prudential and Wells Fargo, Jeff and Erik speak with Lt. Governor Cyrus Habib.  Cyrus was elected Washington State’s 16th Lieutenant Governor in November 2016 at the age of 35. He had previously been elected to the State House of Representatives in 2012 and the State Senate in 2014, where he was Democratic Whip and a member...

In the latest installment of our No Barriers Alchemy Series, sponsored by Prudential and Wells Fargo, Jeff and Erik speak with Lt. Governor Cyrus Habib. Cyrus was elected Washington State’s 16th Lieutenant Governor in November 2016 at the age of 35. He had previously been elected to the State House of Representatives in 2012 and the State Senate in 2014, where he was Democratic Whip and a member o...

Our Alchemy series, sponsored by Wells Fargo and Prudential, continues on with Erik and Dave speaking to Dr. Carrie Hauser, an academic leader in Colorado.  Serving as President and CEO of Colorado Mountain College, a public two- and four-year degree-granting institution with eleven campuses serving 12,000 square miles of the central Rocky Mountains, Dr. Hauser explains how this pandemic has been...

Our Alchemy series, sponsored by Wells Fargo and Prudential, continues on with Erik and Dave speaking to Dr. Carrie Hauser, an academic leader in Colorado.  Serving as President and CEO of Colorado Mountain College, a public two- and four-year degree-granting institution with eleven campuses serving 12,000 square miles of the central Rocky Mountains, Dr. Hauser explains how this pandemic has been...

Mick Ebeling has sparked a movement of pragmatic & inspirational innovation. Ebeling is a film, television, and commercial producer, philanthropist, technology trailblazer, author, and entrepreneur.  Ebeling founded Not Impossible, a multiple award-winning social innovation lab and production company, on the premise that nothing is impossible. His mantra of "commit, then figure it out" allows him...

Mick Ebeling has sparked a movement of pragmatic & inspirational innovation. Ebeling is a film, television, and commercial producer, philanthropist, technology trailblazer, author, and entrepreneur.  Ebeling founded Not Impossible, a multiple award-winning social innovation lab and production company, on the premise that nothing is impossible. His mantra of "commit, then figure it out" allows him...

What does it mean to live a good life? Jim Kwok has been reflecting on this simple but important question since his colorectal cancer diagnosis 3 years ago. After 41 rounds of chemotherapy, surgeries, and 28 rounds of radiation, Jim is stage 4 and is told it is non-curable. He has recently ceased all treatment and now focuses his energy on making the most of his remaining time.  He has had a large...

What does it mean to live a good life? Jim Kwok has been reflecting on this simple but important question since his colorectal cancer diagnosis 3 years ago. After 41 rounds of chemotherapy, surgeries, and 28 rounds of radiation, Jim is stage 4 and is told it is non-curable. He has recently ceased all treatment and now focuses his energy on making the most of his remaining time.  He has had a large...

For part nine of our No Barriers Alchemy Series hosts Erik and Dave interview Dr. Rana Awdish. Rana is a critical care physician operating on the front lines during COVID-19 at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, MI. Her own serious illness in 2008 has informed her belief in the power of compassion, sacred listening, and community. As medical director of the Care Experience for the Henry Ford Healthca...

For part nine of our No Barriers Alchemy Series our host Dave Shurna and guest host, Tom Lilig, interview Dr. Rana Awdish. Rana is a critical care physician operating on the front lines during COVID-19 at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, MI. Her own serious illness in 2008 has informed her belief in the power of compassion, sacred listening, and community. As medical director of the Care Experience...

Continuing on with our Alchemy Series (sponsored by Wells Fargo and Prudential) our hosts Erik and Dave speak with a world-renowned expert in perception, Dr. Beau Lotto.  Beau's perspective during these particularly uncertain times explains how our brain is built for adaptability and evolution. We've encountered perilous times before and our brain is equipped to handle change and risk.  His resear...

Continuing on with our Alchemy Series (sponsored by Wells Fargo and Prudential) our hosts Erik and Dave speak with a world-renowned expert in perception, Dr. Beau Lotto.  Beau's perspective during these particularly uncertain times explains how our brain is built for adaptability and evolution. We've encountered perilous times before and our brain is equipped to handle change and risk.  His resear...

On this episode of our Alchemy Series, sponsored by Wells Fargo and Prudential we speak with Pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber. Nadia was our most popular guest to date was one of our first when we began our podcast in 2018. We knew we had plenty to catch up on and that Nadia would be a perfect guest to offer guidance during these confusing times of COVID-19. An ordained Lutheran Pastor, Nadia is not your t...

On this episode of our Alchemy Series, sponsored by Wells Fargo and Prudential we speak with Pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber. Nadia was our most popular guest to date was one of our first when we began our podcast in 2018. We knew we had plenty to catch up on and that Nadia would be a perfect guest to offer guidance during these confusing times of COVID-19. An ordained Lutheran Pastor, Nadia is not your t...

Part 6 of our Alchemy Series (sponsored by Prudential and Wells Fargo): Our hosts, Erik and Jeff, meet with Rebecca Rusch - a familiar face from the adventure scene.  Rebecca speaks about her journey "home" and what that means in this pivotal moment in history.  Known as the “Queen of Pain” with a heart of gold, Rebecca Rusch is a multi-decade professional athlete and 7x World Champion. Her career...

Part 6 of our Alchemy Series (sponsored by Prudential and Wells Fargo): Our hosts, Erik and Jeff, meet with Rebecca Rusch - a familiar face from the adventure scene.  Rebecca speaks about her journey "home" and what that means in this pivotal moment in history.  Known as the “Queen of Pain” with a heart of gold, Rebecca Rusch is a multi-decade professional athlete and 7x World Champion. Her career...

As we continue to speak with thought leaders and experts during this pandemic for our Alchemy Series, it became clear a voice was missing: how are younger people adapting during this time? After all, Gen Z is notably affected: missing graduation ceremonies, virtual learning replacing the classroom entirely, proms, and other milestone moments being called off - we wanted to hear how someone in this...

As we continue to speak with thought leaders and experts during this pandemic for our Alchemy Series, it became clear a voice was missing: how are younger people adapting during this time? After all, Gen Z is notably affected: missing graduation ceremonies, virtual learning replacing the classroom entirely, proms, and other milestone moments being called off - we wanted to hear how someone in this...

For our fourth episode of our Alchemy Series, sponsored by Wells Fargo and Prudential, there is no greater example of harnessing adversity than No Barriers co-founder, Hugh Herr. In his early 20s, Hugh had both of his legs amputated after a tragic mountain climbing accident. An avid rock-climber, he was determined to return to the sport. Hugh created new iterations of prosthetic limbs for legs and...

For our fourth episode of our Alchemy Series, sponsored by Wells Fargo and Prudential, there is no greater example of harnessing adversity than No Barriers co-founder, Hugh Herr. In his early 20s, Hugh had both of his legs amputated after a tragic mountain climbing accident. An avid rock-climber, he was determined to return to the sport. Hugh created new iterations of prosthetic limbs for legs and...

Welcome to part three of our new Alchemy Series, sponsored by Wells Fargo and Prudential, where we speak to experts and thought leaders to attain advice and practical strategies to harness the adversity of COVID-19 and not just cope, but possibly thrive. Our guest today, Dan Thurmon, advocates for always being a bit “off-balance” in order to achieve greatness and expand our potential. Now, more th...

Welcome to part three of our new Alchemy Series, sponsored by Wells Fargo and Prudential, where we speak to experts and thought leaders to attain advice and practical strategies to harness the adversity of COVID-19 and not just cope, but possibly thrive. Our guest today, Dan Thurmon, advocates for always being a bit “off-balance” in order to achieve greatness and expand our potential. Now, more th...

Welcome to part two of our new Alchemy Series, sponsored by Wells Fargo and Prudential, where we speak to experts and thought leaders to attain nuggets of wisdom during COVID-19. The arts have played a critical role in everyone's lives during this trying time. When crisis occurs, art and music take on a new role in our lives. Whether that is escape, relief, or outlets of creativity, the importance...