View Post

Wendy Whitman – Evil Obsessions: Unraveling Our Fascination with Crime

In Upcoming Conversations by Mark Sylvester

The “true crime” phenomenon has never been more evident. From television series to books to documentaries, there seems to be a never-ending fascination with crime, specifically murder. Serial killers are a constant topic of conversation, whether in the news or in fictional shows and novels. In interview after interview, Wendy Whitman has been asked to explain this obsession.

View Post

Jennifer Karapetian – Imprisoned in a web of trauma

In Making Waves Conversations by Mark Sylvester

Intergenerational trauma can lead to a perpetual cycle of substance abuse, addiction, mental health disorders, child abuse, interpersonal violence, and other criminal behavior. We can break the cycle of intergenerational trauma through greater access to mental health and substance abuse treatment, education, and community awareness.

View Post

Alex Sheshunoff – The Future of Remote Work

In Making Waves Conversations by Mark Sylvester

Where, when, and, even, why we work has been turned on its head by the pandemic. In a far-reaching yet jargon-free conversation, Alex and Mark discuss where we are heading and what leading organizations are doing to harness the opportunities, mitigate the risks, and see beyond the horizon to the new normal.

View Post

Scott Ross – Metaverse: Heaven or Hell

In Making Waves Conversations by Mark Sylvester

Scott sees the Metaverse as a terribly disruptive and possibly dangerous platform. However, as corporations continue to be driven by profits, increasing stock prices, overestimating technology’s potential (VR/AR), and convincing investors that the Metaverse is the holy grail… we will see significant technical advances in CGI.

View Post

Jesse Rosenberg – Charge Your Commute

In Making Waves Conversations by Mark Sylvester

Whether it’s a morning commute or a weekend ride with friends, bike share can help cities meet their sustainability goals, and with e-bikes, can revolutionize transportation in their communities. People will not leave a major city without experiencing or seeing an active rider or bike-share system live.

View Post

Dr. Joan Rosenberg – Rethinking Imposter Syndrome

In Making Waves Conversations by Mark Sylvester

Dr. Rosenberg will help us reframe Imposter Syndrome which includes addressing skills, knowledge, experience, and mastery along with discussing intersecting practices such as diminishing accomplishments, perfectionism, harsh self-criticism, refusing compliments, not speaking up and a culture of racism, sexism, etc. that can influence one’s openness and comfort with presenting one’s true self.

View Post

Mike Fero, Ph.D. – Organism Making and Modding

In Making Waves Conversations by Mark Sylvester

Until recently, modifying microbial, plant, and animal cells has been a slow and artisanal process. However, with advances in technology allowing researchers to read, write, cut, copy and paste DNA much more easily, systems can now be put in places that vastly accelerate product development of everything from bio-based replacements for petroleum-derived chemicals to modified human cells that fight cancer.

View Post

Fiona Sampson – Ending Impunity for Child Rape

In Making Waves Conversations by Mark Sylvester

The equality effect is an international network of human rights advocates (including grassroots community members, artists, musicians, filmmakers, health care workers, journalists, lawyers, teachers, students, judges, and Parliamentarians) working collaboratively to improve the lives of women and girls by using existing human rights law to achieve concrete change. We will talk about one of their current projects, 160girls.org, and the impact it is having.

View Post

Melissa Yamaguchi – Beyond Vision and Purpose

In Making Waves Conversations by Mark Sylvester

Having vision and purpose isn’t enough, you must take action. The four roadblocks people often unknowingly or knowingly run into cause entropy. Your mind is the biggest cause of your inaction. What if one of the clues to discovering the keys to untapping your mind’s strengths lay in a greater sense of self? Turning your thoughts into reality requires self-awareness.

View Post

Stacey McKinnon – The Societal Duty of Businesses. Happiness, meaning, and fulfillment for your people.

In Making Waves Conversations by Mark Sylvester

Businesses are often founded to make a difference in a particular industry. However, owners do not always consider the impact they will make in the lives of the people working for them. Business owners and leaders often struggle to focus on their people—especially when clients are calling, and the needs of the business feel urgent. The trickle-down effect eventually results in unhappy people at work, lack of meaning or purpose, and feeling unfulfilled when they return home or enter society every day. But what if we could change this result? What if businesses believed that it is their societal duty to help people be happier? Can you imagine the trickle-down effect then? Less depression, kinder people, better marriages . . . the list goes on. In this discussion, we will talk about how business owners and leaders can positively impact their people, including the importance of a culture of trust, motivating career paths, and valuing life balance.

View Post

Linda Cole – Moving Beyond Extreme Poverty: Women Speak Their Development Strategies

In Making Waves Conversations by Mark Sylvester

When women become active participants in defining their development strategies, change takes place. African Women Rising has been on the frontlines working in Northern Uganda for the last 15 years, an area long-damaged by conflict and extreme humanitarian aid dependency. The recognition of women living in extreme poverty as powerful agents for change is forging a shift in how we implement development and the meaning of community empowerment.

View Post

Dyhia Belhabib, Ph.D. – Understanding the global importance of small-scale fisheries

In Making Waves Conversations by Mark Sylvester

Dyhia works at the intersection of sustainability and ocean criminality. She created the most comprehensive and largest database of ocean criminality in the world, Spyglass.fish. She’s a TEDx speaker on Diversity and Inclusion in science and climate justice. We will also get her views on the new Netflix film. Seaspiracy – its release this month is perfect timing for our conversation.