From Scratch with Jessica Harris

Nick Lobel-Weiss

When earthquakes, hurricanes, and other natural disasters happen, who comes to the rescue? There’s government relief, NGOs, and fifteen guys from New York City! Nick Lobel-Weiss is the cofounder of NYC Medics, an organization that provides medical services to emergency victims around the world. Nick speaks with Jessica Harris about how his organization is providing […]

Max Barenbrug

Parents want what’s best for their child, but they might not be too picky about the diapers or bottles they buy; but when it comes to transportation, all strollers are not created equal. With a price near $1000, the Bugaboo is considered the Rolls Royce of strollers. The Bugaboo’s versatile design makes it a favorite […]

Marie Moody

Marie Moody, the founder of Stella and Chewy’s, fed her dog (Chewy) raw meat when he was sick. After Chewy recovered, Marie was inspired to provide organic, raw, frozen pet food to other dogs and cats. S&C simulates how these pets would have eaten in the wild and offers a nutritious alternative to existing processed […]

Dorothy Hamilton

Jessica speaks with Dorothy Hamilton, founder of the French Culinary Institute (FCI), one of the country’s leading centers for culinary education. FCI, now part of the International Culinary Center, offers total immersion courses to people looking to become professional chefs or just master chefs of their own kitchen. Dorothy explains how she became one of […]

Jordan Kassalow

Jessica speaks with Jordan Kassalow, co-founder of the Scojo Foundation, an organization that sells low-cost eyeglasses in developing countries such as India, Bangladesh, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico. Jordan is an optometrist who also co-founded Scojo Vision, a company that sells high end reading glasses to stores like Barneys, Neiman Marcus, and Saks Fifth Avenue. […]

Felina Rakowski-Gallagher

The benefits of  breast-feeding are legion (helping with baby’s immune and cognitive development, facilitating parental/child bonding, etc.), but its challenges are also numerous– especially for new moms unfamiliar with the process.  After going through some of the frustrations of breastfeeding firsthand, Felina Rakowski-Gallagher decided to open a breast feeding boutique on the upper west side […]

Doug Tompkins

Entrepreneur, conservation philanthropist, and documentary filmmaker are some of the titles that Doug Tompkins has held over his career. Doug’s love of mountaineering led him to start North Face, the outdoor apparel company. He then cofounded the international clothing company, Esprit, which he later sold. Doug has spent the last few decades focusing his energies […]

Linda Mason

One of the most difficult issues for a new parent is going back to work after your baby is born. If you can’t spend time with your child, you at least want to find the best care possible. What are some of the high quality childcare options? Jessica’s guest is Linda Mason, the co-founder of […]

Richard Meier

When we see a skyscraper or a museum, we might marvel at its shape, its height, or the materials used; but what was the process behind the building’s initial design? Who are some of the architects influencing our landscape? Jessica speaks with one such pioneer, Richard Meier. Richard’s emphasis on clean design and natural light […]

Sheila Lukins

Most well known chefs and restaurateurs write cookbooks these days, but which book is a “must have?” Sheila Lukins’ Silver Palate Cookbook is considered a staple in American kitchens, whether one is a novice or advanced chef. The book’s accessible recipes and personal illustrations have been appreciated worldwide, with copies in English, French, Japanese, Dutch, […]

Philip Gourevitch

The Paris Review is a literary magazine that was founded in 1953 by a group of then aspiring writers including Harold Humes, William Styron, Peter Matthiessen and George Plimpton. George Plimpton was the larger than life editor who ran the magazine until his death in 2003 on the magazine’s 50th anniversary. The future of the […]

Jennifer Lobo & Donna Rubin

Jessica speaks with the Co-Founders of Bikram Yoga NYC, a chain of “hot” yoga studios that teach the 26 step series developed by Bikram Choudhury in the 1970s. We’ll learn how Donna, a former Broadway performer, and Jennifer, an athlete, came upon Bikram Yoga, and why they felt compelled to start their business, from scratch.

Elizabeth Scharpf

Women in developing countries often do not have access to adequate sanitary protection because such products are prohibitively expensive. As a result, menstruating women miss a significant amount of school and work, which leads to serious economic consequences for women and society overall. Elizabeth Scharpf, founder of Sustainable Health Enterprises (S.H.E), is addressing this issue […]

Christian Lander

Drinking free-trade coffee, riding bicycles, and going to the occasional farmer’s market are things you might enjoy.  But if you do partake in these activities there is a high probability that you are “white,” according to Christian Lander. Jessica interviews Christian, the blogger and author of the New York Times bestselling book “Stuff White People […]

Spencer Rascoff

Spencer Rascoff co-founded Hotwire, an online discount travel site that offers customers access to unused inventory, including empty airline seats, vacant hotel rooms, and un-rented cars. Hotwire was founded in 1999 and sold to Interactive Corporation in 2003 for roughly $700Million. Spencer later helped launch Zillow, an online real estate company that provides tools and […]

Marc Ecko

Safi Bahcall

Pharmaceutical companies are constantly looking for more effective cancer treatments, but drug discovery is a very difficult area; typically nine out of ten drugs fail. Synta has found an unconventional way to successfully treat cancers like melanoma. Synta was founded in 2001 and is dedicated to the treatment of severe medical conditions, including cancer and […]

Lela Rose

Lela Rose sources some of her inspiration for her clothing by riding her bike around Manhattan, observing architecture and patterns of everyday life. Lela started her company Lela Rose in 1998 when she was 30 years old, and her clothing can be found in boutiques and department stores around the globe. Lela speaks with Jessica […]

Lara Hedberg Deam

If you’re looking to build or decorate a house, the choices and prices can be overwhelming. What are some of the resources that can help you through this process? Lara Hedberg Deam is the founder of Dwell, a magazine about modern architecture and design. Lara speaks with Jessica about how she built a modern and […]

Rajesh Hukku

Rajesh is the founder of i-flex, a software company that provides the infrastructure for the banking industry. i-flex enables banks across the globe to perform multiple tasks, from approving your credit card at the checkout counter, to giving you cash at the ATM machine. i-flex is one of the only software companies with a “Made […]

Reed Hastings

Couch potatoes were thrilled when the online movie rental business came along, because they no longer had to leave their house to get another movie. Netflix, co-founded by Reed Hastings, was the pioneer behind this phenomenon. Netflix now offers over 80,000 titles to more than 7 million customers. Blockbuster has had to change its business […]

Alice Waters

Where do those eggs on your plate come from? Were the chickens cage free? These answers have become increasingly important to Americans in recent years. Who are some of the pioneers who used local, seasonal ingredients in restaurants before it was “in?” Jessica’s guest is one such restaurateur, Alice Waters. Alice is the founder of […]

Josh Abramson and Ricky Van Veen

What do college kids find funny? For millions of American students, CollegeHumor has become the sine qua non of online college comedy. Josh Abramson and Ricky Van Veen were high school friends from Baltimore Maryland who launched CollegHumor in 1999. They started by posting silly photos, essays, and videos created by their friends, and the […]

Rich Barton

If you’re looking to buy or sell your home, where do you start? What’s the right price? Traditionally, the consumer had unequal access to information, making the real estate market imperfect. Zillow is an online real estate service that helps consumers make more informed decisions by providing them with free information and tools. Jessica speaks […]

Dr. John Adler

Chemotherapy and surgery are two ways to treat cancer, but these procedures are expensive and invasive. What are some of the less invasive alternatives? Jessica speaks with Dr. John Adler, a neurosurgeon at Stanford Medical School and founder of Cyberknife, a medical device that destroys solid tumors without anesthesia, or harm to healthy tissue. Dr. […]

Effi Atad

When you pass a Starbucks, you may often find customers at their computers, hooked up to the internet through a wireless connection; but how do these wireless systems work? You can increasingly check your email, speak on the phone, and watch a video on the same device… but how? Jessica’s guest is Effi Atad, founder […]

Seth Goldman

Jessica speaks with Seth Goldman, co-founder and “TEO” of Honest Tea, an organic bottled tea company. Seth started Honest Tea with his Yale Business School professor in 1998. Seth describes why he started the company, and how he managed to get his bottles on store shelves, from scratch.

Matt Flannery

Social networking sites help people connect for all different reasons. You might go to craigslist to find an apartment, ebay to find a buyer for your toaster, or kiva.org to lend money to an entrepreneur. Matt Flannery and his wife Jessica Flannery founded Kiva in 2005 in order to connect lenders in developed countries with […]

Rosalyn Drexler

Rosalyn Drexler, born in 1926, is a novelist, playwright, painter, former professional wrestler, and singer. She painted and exhibited among pop artists like Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein in the 1960s. Her work can be found in the collections of museums such as the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City, and the […]

Jean Oelwang

Jessica speaks with Jean Oelwang, Managing Director of Virgin Unite, the independent charitable arm of the Virgin group. Jean speaks about Virgin Unite’s entrepreneurial approach to social change, from scratch.

PV Kannan

When you used to call an airline or computer company for tech support, you used to speak to someone at Microsoft, or Dell or Delta, but instead of speaking to someone in Ohio or Indiana, chances are you’re now speaking to someone in the Phillipines or India. Who are some of the pioneers building international […]

Sir Richard Branson

It’s hard enough for an entrepreneur to launch one successful business, but Jessica’s guest, Sir Richard Branson, has launched over 200. Richard founded Virgin in 1970, and his empire has grown to include airlines, mobile phones, trains, space travel, cosmetics, and financial services, just to name a few. Virgin has recently become a leader in […]

Ian Schrager

Boutique hotels have become leaders in hospitality and design. The hotels’ swank bars and creatively designed lobbies have become the social scene for guests and even locals. Who are some of the pioneers who created among the first fashion forward hotels? Jessica speaks with one such entrepreneur, Ian Schrager. Ian was the co-founder of Studio […]

Elisa Strauss

Elisa Strauss founded Confetti Cakes when she was in her twenties. In addition to baking the traditional wedding cake, Elisa designs cakes in the shape of cars, purses, Cambell soup cans, x-ray machines, sushi, bathtubs, Monolo Blaniks, you name it. Her cakes are so identical to the real things that it’s hard to believe they’re […]

Liz Lange

What do pregnant women wear when they’re expecting? There are many options nowadays, but until recently the choices were grim. Who are some of the pioneers now offering fitted, fashionable clothes to moms-to-be? Jessica speaks with one such entrepreneur Liz Lange, founder of Liz Lange Maternity. Liz explains how she helped to change the world […]

David Neeleman

Jessica speaks to David Neeleman, the founder and CEO of Jet Blue Airways. Jet Blue was the country’s most highly capitalized start-up in US aviation history. David discusses the challenges behind launching Jet Blue (while also being a father to nine children).

Jim Rogers

One might think of an entrepreneur as someone who takes a risk and builds a business, but Jim Rogers is an entrepreneur of life. Jim is an author, pioneer investor and world traveler. He’s been around the world twice, one time on motorcycle, and has visited 116 countries. Jim built a hedge fund in 1970 […]

Adam Gopnik

The best writers take a piece of life and describe it as if you were touching or tasting it yourself. Adam Gopnik is one writer who demonstrates the small stuff best. He’s been a staff writer for the New Yorker Magazine since 1986, and his books include Paris to the Moon, about his years living […]

Tod Lippy

Esopus is an arts magazine where artists of all stripes can contribute their work and connect directly with the public. Esopus does not contain ads or commercially driven content, so the magazine survives on funds from its readers and donors. The magazine uses materials like construction paper, cardboard, vellum, expensive inks, photographs, etc. and it […]

Safwan Masri & Eric Widmer

Safwan Masri, Founding Board Chairman and Eric Widmer, Founding Headmaster Kings Academy Campus located outside Amman, Jordan New England boarding schools have been a part of America’s elite educational fabric for centuries. Now picture a school of this kind taking root in the Middle East. His Majesty King Abdullah had some of the best years […]

Peter Nicholas

When patients are faced with a medical problem that may require surgery, they’ll often consider less invasive options first; but these alternatives to surgery have only become available thanks to a few pioneers willing to defy medical convention initally. Jessica’s guest is one such pioneer, Peter Nicholas, the co-founder of Boston Scientific (BSC). BSC is […]

Greg Olsen

Jessica speaks with Greg Olsen, the scientist and founder of Epitax and Sensors Unlimited, a near infra-red camera company. Greg was the third civilian to visit space in 2005.

J. Darius Bikoff

There is so much bottled water to choose from, yet most people have trouble distinguishing one brand from the next. How creative can you get with H2O? Jessica’s guest is Darius Bikoff, the founder of the enhanced water company Glaceau, maker of Smart Water, Vitamin Water, and Fruit Water. By adding vitamins, fruit flavors, and […]

Jacqueline Novogratz

Jacqueline is the founder of the Acumen Fund, a venture capital firm that invests in social entrepreneurs around the world. Acumen uses market-based approaches to alleviate poverty in countries like India, Pakistan, and Rwanda. Jessica speaks with Jacqueline about her experience launching Acumen, and her unique approach to solving problems in the developing world, From […]

Peter Thum

Corporate philanthropy historically occurred after a company had made its profits. But for some companies lately, corporate giving is embedded in the company’s mission at the point of transaction. Ethos Water, now owned by Starbucks, is one such company that donates $.05 per bottle to water purification efforts in developing countries such as Honduras and […]

Richard Fuller

Richard Fuller is the founder of the Blacksmith Institute, a non profit organization that solves pollution-related problems in the developing world. Richard is also the founder of Great Forest, a company that advises corporations on their environmental responsibilities, such as recycling, energy conservation, etc.. Jessica speaks with Richard about how he is finding solutions for […]

Jimmy Wales

People used to turn to the Encyclopedia Britannica to get information on topics ranging from photo-synthesis to the Spanish Inquisiton, but more and more people are turning to Wikipedia, the on-line encyclopedia. Wikipedia is a collaborative encyclopedia edited by the on-line community, and is available in over 200 languages. The founder of Wikipedia, Jimmy Wales, […]

Michael Zivyak and Seth Rogovoy

Jessica speaks with the founder and Publisher and Editor and Chief of Berkshire Living Magazine, Michael Zivyak and Seth Rogovoy. Berkshire Living Magazine is a lifestyle magazine that covers the Berkshires, a region that covers the areas of four states: New York, Western Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Southern Vermont.

Joe Thompson

Jessica speaks with the founding director of MASS MoCA, the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, located in the Berkshires in North Adams, MA. Joe explains the process of getting the museum off the ground after 13 years, and discusses how the museum has helped to revitalize an entire community.

Arthur Agatston

For those people trying to lose weight or simply lead healthier lives, there are so many diets out there that it’s hard to khow which are the most effective. The South Beach diet however, has gained credibility among consumers and the medical establishment, and might be more than a fad. Jessica speaks with Doctor Agatston, […]