For many students, entering college is a rite of passage that resembles hope and excitement. But for many others - especially students of underrepresented communities - this experience is often one riddled with anxiety and worries. Young people have to face big challenges: figuring out how to meet the financial obligations that come with their education, and learning to navigate new spaces often without help or representation. In this final episode of Season Two, we meet two guests that have...

Today’s administrators, educators and staff have a long list of job requirements when it comes to educating our youth, but how do we ensure that students first have access to quality education? In this episode, we sit with Eli Capilouto, President of the University of Kentucky and Gordon Matchett, CEO of Take a Hike Foundation, as they explain how they are tackling a variety of issues that plague education access in their institutions. Both share how focusing on the needs of educators and...

In a semi post-pandemic world, there’s no doubt that global health is still very much a problem - especially when it comes to inequity and access. Leveling the playing field in places where there are very little resources to go around, or in places that aren’t even aware they desperately need help, can feel overwhelming and near impossible. Especially in the mental health space. Our guests today prove that sometimes giving your time, compassion and skill set towards a cause are priceless...

Despite feeling the impacts of a global pandemic, many people still view health as a personal issue. But what would happen if we began to look at health from a worldwide lens, one where health is not a luxury, but a fundamental human right?    In this episode, hear from Kim Goldsmith-N’Diaye, Director of Development at Doctors Without Borders and Amanda Ryan-Smith, Chief Development Officer for the Trevor Project. Both guests operate from the philosophy that all people – regardless of...

"When it comes to taking action to solve climate change, steps like recycling, using less plastic, or saying goodbye to plastic straws – our collective intent usually comes with the hope that we will leave our planet a little better than its current state. But what happens when the answers aren't a fit for all people?" In the first part of our climate action conversation, we spoke with two organizations that are influencing change in their respective industries. In this second part, hear from...

Between wildfires, floods and other severe weather discrepancies taking place each year, thinking about the solutions to the issue of climate change is overwhelming. And even when people do their best to do their individual part, it can feel like a drop in the bucket, or like it’s simply not enough. But what action, of any size, has the potential to drive real, global change – influencing leaders and driving focus of the largest climate issue at hand? If we join our voices together, do we...

Force Multiplier returns for Season 2 — a podcast about solving the world’s greatest challenges through unprecedented collaboration. We pose the question: Can we create true global impact through our own individual actions – further influencing change in our bigger institutions and culture? Do our actions, even if they feel small to us, amount to a collective power? For that may be the only way to truly tackle challenges as big as climate change, education access and global health. Join...

July 2021, the hottest month in history. Glaciers are retreating around the world, sea levels are rising at alarming speeds, and the intensity and frequency of hurricanes have all increased. Climate change isn't a distant threat - it is happening now. The environmental impacts of our collective human actions include more extreme weather and natural disasters, chronic drought, and economic instability. Failure to act is not an option.   Climate action isn't just about declarative statements or...

Trigger warning. This content includes references to suicide and other sensitive material.    We need to talk about mental health. To talk about it is to understand it; to understand it is to remove the stigma, and removing the stigma provides a safe space for those suffering to seek help. Did you know that abuse, neglect, and adverse childhood experiences are considered the principal preventable causes of mental illness? In the presence of violence and absence of love, neglected children...

Reframing our language is an important step to understanding the root cause of social issues in our world today. Homelessness doesn't always mean someone lacks a community, nor does having a home mean someone feels safe. The unhoused include people who have fled their own homes like refugees or people who cannot afford to keep a house. Housing status isn't the only way many would describe their identity, nor does it provide an accurate view of their well-being. It is more complicated, and we...

If there are more job openings than there are people unemployed then why are we facing one of the greatest economic growth challenges of our time? If 32 million Americans don't know how to use a computer and half of Americans are not comfortable learning online, then how do we ensure the skills gap doesn’t exclude those most vulnerable of being left behind? While workers are in high demand, the right skills are in short supply. We must bridge this gap by better aligning the educational and...

Health equity is undoubtedly a global challenge, with some of the most vulnerable communities in the poorest countries bearing the brunt of the injustice. Improving access to basic health care needs, including vaccination against deadly infectious diseases, is a critical step to improving lives and creating a safe world for us all. How does health inequity affect your community? Would you recognize it among your own family, your friends, or your neighborhood? How can local solutions to...

It's not just a matter of food. It's a matter of nutrition. If Nutrition is the most powerful determinant of health, then why do over 40 million Americans have trouble putting food on the table? If access to nutritious food is required for optimal growth and development, how do we safeguard our children’s future by addressing hidden hunger in our communities? The good news is that organizations are shifting focus, adopting new policies and programs to promote healthier, more balanced...

Force Multiplier is a new podcast that spotlights the exponential impact we can have on the world by working together. Whether we’re talking about health inequity, nutrition insecurity, or the opportunity gap in education, we are facing unprecedented challenges that require unprecedented collaboration from leaders across disciplines and sectors. Join host Baratunde Thurston as he sits with leaders from across the public, private and nonprofit world who are forging partnerships to tackle some...