I am drawn by questions more than answers, and enjoy good conversations like I do a good adventure. I’ve hosted a monthly radio show, Conversations from the Leading Edge, and created and led series interviewing artists, scholars, and thought leaders on topics, such as incarceration in the U.S., global inequalities, refugee rights, storytelling and memory, the extractive industry, Sustainable Development and gender equality. Here are some spotlights:

Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, April 2019 | Grappling with Ocean Conservation and Ocean Justice

“Overall, I’m really focused on building community around solutions. That is at the root of all the work I do. At Ocean Collectiv, we help our clients build partnerships and community to further their missions.”  Ayana Elizabeth Johnson is a marine biologist, policy expert, and conservation strategist, with local projects in NYC and elsewhere around the globe. The interview was part of a series that explores how climate change and environmental challenges alter current and potential conflicts in the world. Read the interview.

Neil Boothby and Zahirah McNatt, August 2018 | Impact of Separation on Refugee Families

“From the standpoint of a refugee family, unity is critical to their strength-building and success” says humanitarian response experts Neil Boothby and Zahirah McNatt. As part of an initiative to conduct a regional study on the effects of family separation on displaced people, Boothby and McNatt have published a report on Syrian refugees in Jordan. Their report shows how family separation negatively impacts people facing displacement, including financial burdens, increased child labor, emotional distress, broken social networks, parenting challenges and changes to familial roles.

Hussein Rashid, April 2017 | Religious Literacy and Islam

“I am an American, a Muslim, an academic, a believer. I believe the only way to learn is to teach. As a speaker and writer I hope to work with you and your community.” This from Hussein Rashid. Hussein Rashid is a Professor in the Religion Department at Barnard College of Columbia University, and he is the founder of Islamicate, a consultancy based in NYC. Professor Rashid brings his background in religion and culture to affect positive change in the world.

Chukwuma Obasi, July 2016 | Police & Community Relations through Theatre

Chukwuma Obasi, creator of performance-documentary work, actor, playwright, and social justice activist, shares the story behind Uniform Justice, a program within Intersections International that works to address retaliatory violence within police-community relations. This interview aired on WKCR (89.9FM).

Isaac Scott, May 2016 | Prison Art

Isaac Scott, artist and founder of The Confined Arts based in NYC, shares his inspiring story and portrays the power of art in healing and creating dialogue inside and outside of prison. Read Interview…

Rob Weiner (forthcoming), May 2016 | Curating, at the Chinati Foundation 

Rob Weiner is the Director of the Chinati Foundation and was Donald Judd’s assistant until his death. He shares stories and tells about how Chinati came to be and what it’s like to live in the middle of the Texas desert.

Janna Levin, March 2016 | Nuclear Energy and Containment

Layla Zami, 2015 | Film and Dance, Dance and Film

Jessica Fanzo, 2014 | Global Nutrition

Jenik Radon, 2014 | Transparency and International Human Rights Law – The Panama Papers

Sayantani DasGupta, 2015 | Narrative Medicine: Stories of Illness and Healing

Morton Deutsch, 2015 | Global Community Forum for International Cooperation and Conflict Resolution

Klaus Jacob, 2014 | Urban Resiliency, from the scientist who predicted Hurricane Sandy