LGOtv: Big Talk
136 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 11 ratingsLaura Gassner Otting is an instigator, a motivator, and never met a revolution she didn't like. Her podcast goes one step further than interesting conversations with interesting people who do interesting things. LGO and her guests push listeners to the edge of discomfort with thought-provoking conversations everyone needs to hear. LGO spent 20 years interviewing people not just about what they do and how they do it, but why they do it. She is endlessly intrigued by the human story, by that moment where each of us discovers something more inside of us, the thing that sets us apart and sets us on our path. And, frankly, with all this social isolation, she's dying to talk to more people.What's going to be different about this? Laura doesn't mess around and doesn't make small talk. You will not be bored with rehearsed "bits" that come as answers to rote questions.Tune in and be prepared for LGO's kick-in-the-ass wrapped in a warm hug.
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Episodes
Scott Stratten - How to Handle Losing Everything
September 04, 2020 14:00 - 1 hour - 43.1 MBWhat does it take to achieve everything you’ve ever wanted, only to lose it all, and what do you figure out in the climb back? Join Laura Gassner Otting as she hosts this episode of LGOtv with special guest, Scott Stratten - Disruptor, Jackass Whisperer, Defender of Man Buns Timestamps: 2:30 - "I asked my mom, 'Wait, is that a job? You can just yell at people and go home?!?'" 4:15 - "Potential means: You suck now, but one day you may suck less." 6:50 - You think it's hard to sell your pro...
S1E16 Scott Stratten - How to Handle Losing Everything
September 04, 2020 14:00 - 1 hour - 43.1 MBWhat does it take to achieve everything you’ve ever wanted, only to lose it all, and what do you figure out in the climb back? Join Laura Gassner Otting as she hosts this episode of LGOtv with special guest, Scott Stratten - Disruptor, Jackass Whisperer, Defender of Man Buns Timestamps: 2:30 - "I asked my mom, 'Wait, is that a job? You can just yell at people and go home?!?'" 4:15 - "Potential means: You suck now, but one day you may suck less." 6:50 - You think it's hard to sell your pro...
S1E15 Marcus Whitney - From Paycheck to Major League Success
September 01, 2020 14:00 - 57 minutes - 39.8 MBHow does one man go from living in a week-to-week efficiency hotel to co-owning a Major League Soccer team, and how do you find the inner entrepreneur who asks 'Why Not Me'? Join Laura Gassner Otting as she hosts this episode of LGOtv with special guest, Marcus Whitney - Survivor, Adapter, Creator. Timestamps: 2:25 - Waiting tables, living in a week-to-week hotel, drinking too much. And then everything changed. 6:12 - "Some people just make the mental call that failure is not an option." ...
Marcus Whitney - From Paycheck to Major League Success
September 01, 2020 14:00 - 57 minutes - 39.8 MBHow does one man go from living in a week-to-week efficiency hotel to co-owning a Major League Soccer team, and how do you find the inner entrepreneur who asks 'Why Not Me'? Join Laura Gassner Otting as she hosts this episode of LGOtv with special guest, Marcus Whitney - Survivor, Adapter, Creator. Timestamps: 2:25 - Waiting tables, living in a week-to-week hotel, drinking too much. And then everything changed. 6:12 - "Some people just make the mental call that failure is not an option." ...
Alan Mulally - Learning from a Humble Titan
August 26, 2020 18:00 - 1 hour - 52.6 MBWhat can we learn from one of the most humble CEOs to ever grace the corner office, and what does it take to transform both Boeing and Ford? Join Laura Gassner Otting as she hosts this episode of LGOtv with special guest, Alan Mulally - Family Man, Team Player, American Icon 2:20 - Working Together: "Everything I really believe in and understand is shown on this chart." 9:28 - The story behind the airplane doodle. 17:30 - "I started out my little business. My TV guide route, my lawn mowing...
S1E14 Alan Mulally - Learning from a Humble Titan
August 26, 2020 18:00 - 1 hour - 52.6 MBWhat can we learn from one of the most humble CEOs to ever grace the corner office, and what does it take to transform both Boeing and Ford? Join Laura Gassner Otting as she hosts this episode of LGOtv with special guest, Alan Mulally - Family Man, Team Player, American Icon 2:20 - Working Together: "Everything I really believe in and understand is shown on this chart." 9:28 - The story behind the airplane doodle. 17:30 - "I started out my little business. My TV guide route, my lawn mowing...
S1E13 Laura Huang - Turning Adversity Into an Advantage
August 25, 2020 14:00 - 1 hour - 42.5 MBWhat can a Harvard Business School professor teach you about turning adversity into an advantage, and how do you best position yourself to find your edge? Join Laura Gassner Otting as she hosts this episode of LGOtv with special guest, Laura Huang - Stereotype Crusher, Obstacle Crusher, Edge Finder Timestamps: 2:30 - Sometimes adversity can be used to your advantage. 2:43 - How did Laura come up with her concepts of adversity advantage? 4:16 - "With society right now, there is such a premi...
Laura Huang - Turning Adversity Into an Advantage
August 25, 2020 14:00 - 1 hour - 42.5 MBWhat can a Harvard Business School professor teach you about turning adversity into an advantage, and how do you best position yourself to find your edge? Join Laura Gassner Otting as she hosts this episode of LGOtv with special guest, Laura Huang - Stereotype Crusher, Obstacle Crusher, Edge Finder Timestamps: 2:30 - Sometimes adversity can be used to your advantage. 2:43 - How did Laura come up with her concepts of adversity advantage? 4:16 - "With society right now, there is such a premi...
S1E12 Orlando Bowen - Finding Forgiveness When Everything is Taken From You
August 21, 2020 14:00 - 59 minutes - 41 MBHow do you find forgiveness after you've had everything taken from you, and how can we apply this to our lives and work today? Join Laura Gassner Otting as she hosts this episode of LGOtv with special guest, Orlando Bowen - Game Changer, Former CFL Linebacker, Forgiveness Prophet Timestamps: 2:12 - When I was on the ground, all I could think was, 'I can't believe my life is going to end like this. 8:22 - The nurse at the hospital guessed that Orlando was hurt by the police. 9:43 -This is b...
Orlando Bowen - Finding Forgiveness When Everything is Taken From You
August 21, 2020 14:00 - 59 minutes - 41 MBHow do you find forgiveness after you've had everything taken from you, and how can we apply this to our lives and work today? Join Laura Gassner Otting as she hosts this episode of LGOtv with special guest, Orlando Bowen - Game Changer, Former CFL Linebacker, Forgiveness Prophet Timestamps: 2:12 - When I was on the ground, all I could think was, 'I can't believe my life is going to end like this. 8:22 - The nurse at the hospital guessed that Orlando was hurt by the police. 9:43 -This is b...
S1E11 Brant Menswar - Why we reject black sheep, and who the flock cares, anyway?
August 18, 2020 12:00 - 1 hour - 42 MBWhy do we reject the black sheep, and who the flock cares, anyway? Join Laura Gassner Otting as she hosts this episode of LGOtv with special guest, Brant Menswar - Black Sheep, Rock Star, Minister of Razzle Dazzle Timestamps: 1:50 - Where did you grow up? And where did you come from? 5:40 - What happens when you lose that identity? 7:45 - "Being on stage was the closest I could get to being on the mound." 8:34 - How did you find religion in that moment? 12:56 - Theo's story 23:03 - Living...
Brant Menswar - Why we reject black sheep, and who the flock cares, anyway?
August 18, 2020 12:00 - 1 hour - 42 MBWhy do we reject the black sheep, and who the flock cares, anyway? Join Laura Gassner Otting as she hosts this episode of LGOtv with special guest, Brant Menswar - Black Sheep, Rock Star, Minister of Razzle Dazzle Timestamps: 1:50 - Where did you grow up? And where did you come from? 5:40 - What happens when you lose that identity? 7:45 - "Being on stage was the closest I could get to being on the mound." 8:34 - How did you find religion in that moment? 12:56 - Theo's story 23:03 - Living...
Samra Zafar: Escaping Life as a Child Bride
August 14, 2020 17:00 - 1 hour - 43.5 MBHow do you escape a life as a child bride, and what does the process of rebuilding entail? Join Laura Gassner Otting as she hosts this episode of LGOtv with special guest, Samra Zafar - Humanist, Traveler, Child Bride Timestamps: 3:10 - Tell me about the day you decided to leave. 4:54 - "Everyone turned to look at me and I was scared." 6:56 - "As a child, I was told to dream but don't dream too big." 11:07 - "It was as if I was living in two different worlds." 12:57 - "I gained leverage, a...
S1E10 Samra Zafar: Escaping Life as a Child Bride
August 14, 2020 17:00 - 1 hour - 43.5 MBHow do you escape a life as a child bride, and what does the process of rebuilding entail? Join Laura Gassner Otting as she hosts this episode of LGOtv with special guest, Samra Zafar - Humanist, Traveler, Child Bride Timestamps: 3:10 - Tell me about the day you decided to leave. 4:54 - "Everyone turned to look at me and I was scared." 6:56 - "As a child, I was told to dream but don't dream too big." 11:07 - "It was as if I was living in two different worlds." 12:57 - "I gained leverage, a...
S1E10 Samra Zafar - Escaping Life as a Child Bride
August 14, 2020 17:00 - 1 hour - 43.5 MBHow do you escape a life as a child bride, and what does the process of rebuilding entail? Join Laura Gassner Otting as she hosts this episode of LGOtv with special guest, Samra Zafar - Humanist, Traveler, Child Bride Timestamps: 3:10 - Tell me about the day you decided to leave. 4:54 - "Everyone turned to look at me and I was scared." 6:56 - "As a child, I was told to dream but don't dream too big." 11:07 - "It was as if I was living in two different worlds." 12:57 - "I gained leverage, a...
S1E9 Mitch Joel - What Does the Future Have in Store?
August 11, 2020 14:00 - 55 minutes - 37.8 MBIf that kid from 'Almost Famous' was real, and grew up to see the future, what would he tell us is coming? Join Laura Gassner Otting as she hosts this episode of LGOtv with special guest, Mitch Joel - Bass Geek, Information Synthesizer, Decoder of the Future Timestamps: 2:33 - Who's your favorite bass player of all time? 5:40 - "The best candidate doesn't always win." 7:15 - "Sometimes the people who make the most impact are not the ones you know." 10:23 - Are some people just luckier? 16...
Mitch Joel - What Does the Future Have in Store?
August 11, 2020 14:00 - 55 minutes - 37.8 MBIf that kid from 'Almost Famous' was real, and grew up to see the future, what would he tell us is coming? Join Laura Gassner Otting as she hosts this episode of LGOtv with special guest, Mitch Joel - Bass Geek, Information Synthesizer, Decoder of the Future Timestamps: 2:33 - Who's your favorite bass player of all time? 5:40 - "The best candidate doesn't always win." 7:15 - "Sometimes the people who make the most impact are not the ones you know." 10:23 - Are some people just luckier? 16...
Mitch Joel
August 11, 2020 14:00 - 55 minutes - 37.8 MBIf that kid from 'Almost Famous' was real, and grew up to see the future, what would he tell us is coming? Join Laura Gassner Otting as she hosts this episode of LGOtv with special guest, Mitch Joel - Bass Geek, Information Synthesizer, Decoder of the Future Timestamps: 2:33 - Who's your favorite bass player of all time? 5:40 - "The best candidate doesn't always win." 7:15 - "Sometimes the people who make the most impact are not the ones you know." 10:23 - Are some people just luckier? 16...
Dr. Aviva Legatt
August 07, 2020 10:00 - 59 minutes - 40.9 MBWhat on earth is a high school senior to do in this weird wacky college admissions year, and how are we parents going to survive it, too? Join Laura Gassner Otting as she hosts this episode of LGOtv with special guest, Aviva Legatt - Elite Admissions Expert, Theatre Kid, Rebel Heart Time Stamps: 3:22 - "For rising seniors, my heart goes out to you" 4:10 - The biggest difference for COVID applicants is standardized test scores. 4:33 - Does "test-optional" mean that those who have test score...
S1E8 Dr. Aviva Legatt - Dealing with College Admissions in 2020
August 07, 2020 10:00 - 59 minutes - 40.9 MBWhat on earth is a high school senior to do in this weird wacky college admissions year, and how are we parents going to survive it, too? Join Laura Gassner Otting as she hosts this episode of LGOtv with special guest, Aviva Legatt - Elite Admissions Expert, Theatre Kid, Rebel Heart Time Stamps: 3:22 - "For rising seniors, my heart goes out to you" 4:10 - The biggest difference for COVID applicants is standardized test scores. 4:33 - Does "test-optional" mean that those who have test score...
Dr. Aviva Legatt - Dealing with College Admissions in 2020
August 07, 2020 10:00 - 59 minutes - 40.9 MBWhat on earth is a high school senior to do in this weird wacky college admissions year, and how are we parents going to survive it, too? Join Laura Gassner Otting as she hosts this episode of LGOtv with special guest, Aviva Legatt - Elite Admissions Expert, Theatre Kid, Rebel Heart Time Stamps: 3:22 - "For rising seniors, my heart goes out to you" 4:10 - The biggest difference for COVID applicants is standardized test scores. 4:33 - Does "test-optional" mean that those who have test score...
S1E7 Rohit Bhargava: The Secret to Publishing Successful Books
August 04, 2020 14:00 - 57 minutes - 39.4 MBWhat does it take to spot trends and predict the future, and what do you do when you think you have a book inside of you dying to get out? Join Laura Gassner Otting as she hosts this episode of LGOtv with special guest, Rohit Bhargava - Trendspotter, Olympics Fanatic, Non-Obvious Thinker 2:05 - You’re a nice guy, and here's how I know. 3:43 - How did you get into publishing? 8:30 - A little shared love for the physicality of a book. 10:00 - How do you predict the future? 11:15 - Where does...
S1E7 Rohit Bhargava - The Secret to Publishing Successful Books
August 04, 2020 14:00 - 57 minutes - 39.4 MBWhat does it take to spot trends and predict the future, and what do you do when you think you have a book inside of you dying to get out? Join Laura Gassner Otting as she hosts this episode of LGOtv with special guest, Rohit Bhargava - Trendspotter, Olympics Fanatic, Non-Obvious Thinker 2:05 - You’re a nice guy, and here's how I know. 3:43 - How did you get into publishing? 8:30 - A little shared love for the physicality of a book. 10:00 - How do you predict the future? 11:15 - Where does...
Rohit Bhargava: The Secret to Publishing Successful Books
August 04, 2020 14:00 - 57 minutes - 39.4 MBWhat does it take to spot trends and predict the future, and what do you do when you think you have a book inside of you dying to get out? Join Laura Gassner Otting as she hosts this episode of LGOtv with special guest, Rohit Bhargava - Trendspotter, Olympics Fanatic, Non-Obvious Thinker 2:05 - You’re a nice guy, and here's how I know. 3:43 - How did you get into publishing? 8:30 - A little shared love for the physicality of a book. 10:00 - How do you predict the future? 11:15 - Where does...
S1E6 E. Napoletano - When Following Your Dreams Makes You Unpopular
July 31, 2020 13:00 - 1 hour - 44.3 MBWhat do you do when following your dreams makes you unpopular, and what's that got to do with fake boobs, fake lashes, and fake friends, anyway? Join Laura Gassner Otting as she hosts this episode of LGOtv with special guest, E. Napoletano - Hope Burrito, Peacock, Billy Porter 4:50 - E is a hope burrito but Billy Porter is a transcendent god. We stan. 8:45 - Creators are making their own doors. 12:04 - Fill your life with "Front Stabbers." 13:54 - Why is it important to be unpopular? 15:22...
E. Napoletano - When Following Your Dreams Makes You Unpopular
July 31, 2020 13:00 - 1 hour - 44.3 MBWhat do you do when following your dreams makes you unpopular, and what's that got to do with fake boobs, fake lashes, and fake friends, anyway? Join Laura Gassner Otting as she hosts this episode of LGOtv with special guest, E. Napoletano - Hope Burrito, Peacock, Billy Porter 4:50 - E is a hope burrito but Billy Porter is a transcendent god. We stan. 8:45 - Creators are making their own doors. 12:04 - Fill your life with "Front Stabbers." 13:54 - Why is it important to be unpopular? 15:22...
S1E5 Tameka Fryer Brown - When Does Representation Matter?
July 28, 2020 13:00 - 1 hour - 42.6 MBHow to become a children's book author, and why does representation matter? Join Laura Gassner Otting as she hosts this episode of LGOtv with special guest, Tameka Fryer Brown - Observer, Striver, Recovering Perfectionist 3:05 - Welcome fellow North Miami Senior High Pioneer! Class of 1988! 7:06 - "Reading a book with my daughter changed my life." 9:01 - We are all made up of patterns from our past. 13:12 - Will kids today go through the same mid-life shift as us? 15:30 - A rejection lett...
Tameka Fryer Brown - When Does Representation Matter?
July 28, 2020 13:00 - 1 hour - 42.6 MBHow to become a children's book author, and why does representation matter? Join Laura Gassner Otting as she hosts this episode of LGOtv with special guest, Tameka Fryer Brown - Observer, Striver, Recovering Perfectionist 3:05 - Welcome fellow North Miami Senior High Pioneer! Class of 1988! 7:06 - "Reading a book with my daughter changed my life." 9:01 - We are all made up of patterns from our past. 13:12 - Will kids today go through the same mid-life shift as us? 15:30 - A rejection lett...
Michael Bungay Stanier - The Secret to Giving the World's Best Advice
July 24, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 41.6 MBWhat is the secret to giving the world's greatest advice, and how do stay curious long enough to do it? Join Laura Gassner Otting as she hosts this episode of LGOtv with special guest, Michael Bungay Stanier - Provocateur, Man of Letters, Feminist 2:45 - Who is MBS? 3:13 - The LGO/MBS Origin Story: a rejection. 4:28 - Not everyone can get sued by a law professor for defamation, but MBS managed it. 5:30 - "The Balloon Incident" 9:22 - Self-Publishing, and selling nearly a million copies. 1...
S1E4 Michael Bungay Stanier - The Secret to Giving the World's Best Advice
July 24, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 41.6 MBWhat is the secret to giving the world's greatest advice, and how do stay curious long enough to do it? Join Laura Gassner Otting as she hosts this episode of LGOtv with special guest, Michael Bungay Stanier - Provocateur, Man of Letters, Feminist 2:45 - Who is MBS? 3:13 - The LGO/MBS Origin Story: a rejection. 4:28 - Not everyone can get sued by a law professor for defamation, but MBS managed it. 5:30 - "The Balloon Incident" 9:22 - Self-Publishing, and selling nearly a million copies. 1...
Jackie Summers - Experiencing Racism in the Alcohol Industry
July 21, 2020 04:00 - 1 hour - 47.2 MBWhat's it like to be the first (and only) black person in America with a license to make liquor, and how the hell do you become that person, anyway? Join Laura Gassner Otting on this episode of LGOtv: Big Talk with special guest Jackie Summers - maker of Sorel. Jackie Summers is a New York-based food writer, a speaker, a distiller, and the author of a soon-to-be-published illustrated book about social justice. He's been sharing this story about his experiences with racism in the drinks in...
S1E3 Jackie Summers - Experiencing Racism in the Alcohol Industry
July 21, 2020 04:00 - 1 hour - 47.2 MBWhat's it like to be the first (and only) black person in America with a license to make liquor, and how the hell do you become that person, anyway? Join Laura Gassner Otting on this episode of LGOtv: Big Talk with special guest Jackie Summers - maker of Sorel. Jackie Summers is a New York-based food writer, a speaker, a distiller, and the author of a soon-to-be-published illustrated book about social justice. He's been sharing this story about his experiences with racism in the drinks in...
S1E2 Jesse Mermell - Why Would Anyone Ever Run for Office?
July 14, 2020 18:00 - 54 minutes - 37.4 MBWhy would someone ever want to run for office, and how on earth do you run a political campaign during a global pandemic and a social justice re-awakening? Join Laura Gassner Otting on this episode of LGOtv: Big Talk as she interviews Jess Mermell - Congressional Candidate, Judy Garland Enthusiast, and Dog Mom. 2:04 - Who is Jesse? 2:58 - Why on earth would anybody put themselves out there to run for office right now? 4:03 - You have to be an optimist to be engaged in your community. 6:24...
Jesse Mermell - Why Would Anyone Ever Run for Office?
July 14, 2020 18:00 - 54 minutes - 37.4 MBWhy would someone ever want to run for office, and how on earth do you run a political campaign during a global pandemic and a social justice re-awakening? Join Laura Gassner Otting on this episode of LGOtv: Big Talk as she interviews Jess Mermell - Congressional Candidate, Judy Garland Enthusiast, and Dog Mom. 2:04 - Who is Jesse? 2:58 - Why on earth would anybody put themselves out there to run for office right now? 4:03 - You have to be an optimist to be engaged in your community. 6:24...
S1E1 Rahaf Harfoush - What Does a Writer Do When She Has No Words?
July 09, 2020 17:00 - 1 hour - 41.3 MBWhen do we hustle, when do we float, and what on earth do K-Pop Stans and Witches have to do with global social movements? Join Laura Gassner Otting as she hosts the very first episode of Big Talk and interviewing Rahaf Harfoush - strategist, navigator, and digital anthropologist. 2:49 Big Talk and Why We Write 8:00 What to Do When There Are No Words 32:22 What's the Weirdest Thing You've Found on the Internet 39:22 K-Pop and Trump 51:23 Amy Cooper and What Does Canceling Mean? About th...
Rahaf Harfoush - When There Are No Words
July 09, 2020 17:00 - 1 hour - 41.3 MBWhen do we hustle, when do we float, and what on earth do K-Pop Stans and Witches have to do with global social movements? Join Laura Gassner Otting as she hosts the very first episode of Big Talk and interviewing Rahaf Harfoush - strategist, navigator, and digital anthropologist. 2:49 Big Talk and Why We Write 8:00 What to Do When There Are No Words 32:22 What's the Weirdest Thing You've Found on the Internet 39:22 K-Pop and Trump 51:23 Amy Cooper and What Does Canceling Mean? About th...