What's America's Purpose?

Anna Laymon: Helping Us Make the Most of the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence

Listen to Anna Laymon, Vice President of Programs and Planning at America 250 who until recently ran America’s Women’s Suffrage Commission commemorating women’s equality.  Anna gives us her take on America’s purpose and how each of us can participate in the five year national effort to recognize America's commitment to our founding ideals of equality, diversity, integrity, freedom, and justice. Learn more about what you can do at America250.org    Learn more about Anna Laymon: https://www....

Season 1 Greatest Hits of What’s America’s Purpose Podcast!

Description:  Listen to snippets from 22 wonderful guests on a whirlwind discussion about America’s purpose in the 21st century.  In one show, you’ll hear from famous leaders, experts, and average citizens alike all discussing American ideals, what they are and ought to be, how they inform America’s path forward, and how each American can play a role in advancing the progress. Our work in Season 1 has led to a new collaboration with America250 for Season 2 to begin later this year.  S...

Radhika Shah: Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals for All Americans!

Fred Kenney: How Can We “Ship” Ourselves Toward a Sustainable Future?

Listen to Fred Kenney, former US Coast Guard Admiral who now works for the UN’s International Maritime Organization,  about what can be done to improve our oceans and the way we ship things here at home and across the world. Enjoy!   Learn more about the UN’s IMO:https://www.imo.org/en/About/Pages/Default.aspx

Andrew J. Hoffman: Living With Purpose By “Reconstructing America!”

Listen to author and scholar Andrew Hoffman tell us about his journey from being a carpenter building homes to helping each of us build a calling in life tied to the Great Work of our time; constructing a sustainable America! Enjoy! Learn more about Andy Hoffman and his work: http://www.andrewhoffman.net/   Connect with Matt on Linkedin. https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-bogoshian-55776b26/ Podcast Production by Podcasting4Associations.com

Mustafa Santiago Ali: America’s Road to Environmental Justice

Listen to inspiring environmental justice leader Mustafa Santiago Ali tell his story about growing up in Appalachia amongst civil rights leaders and cancer causing pollution and how it informed his leadership in and out of government to get our nation to respond to the disproportionate impacts of pollution on so many of what he calls “the forgotten people”.   Mustafa gives us his take on America’s purpose and talks about his high profile government resignation from Trump’s EPA followed by ...

David Levine: Can American Business Help Lead the Way to a Sustainable Future?

Listen to the President of the 250,000 member American Sustainable Business Council David Levine talk about the exciting progress that businesses are making; doing well by doing good.  From his days as a community organizer to his work with the Obama/Biden Administration to make business a powerful force for good, David gives us his take on America's purpose and how enterprises can lead American progress. Enjoy!    Learn more about the American Sustainable Business Council: https://www...

Libby Sommer: Buy More Sustainable Apparel Now!

Listen to Bolt Threads’ innovator Libby Sommer talk about the exciting release of a new leather-like material called Mylo that’s made from mushrooms and will be in products sold by major brands in 2021. From her beekeeping days as a girl growing up in Nebraska to becoming a top scientist at the U.S. EPA dedicated to helping consumers make sustainable purchases. Libby gives us her take on America’s purpose and how sustainable purchasing is part of what each of us can do to achieve it.  En...

Richard Opie: The Most Secure Election in American History

Listen to one of the designated 2020 election observers in the battleground state of Wisconsin, Richard Opie, describe what he witnessed leading up to and on election day November 3, 2020.  As a longtime Wisconsin citizen and leading lawyer and educator, Rich shares his observations about the diligent and professional civil servants and volunteers making this election  “The most secure election in American history.” Enjoy!

Jenna Nicholas: Impact Investments that Build a Better America

Impact Investments that Build a Better America, Jenna Nicholas  Listen to Impact Investing leader and CEO of Impact Experience, Jenna Nicholas give her take on America’s Purpose and how investors of all types can make smarter investments that can generate financial, social and environmental returns.  From her investing experience across the globe to her work to help American communities as diverse as West Virginia and Alabama, Jenna describes the basics of impact investing and how it can s...

Alfred Diaz-Infante: A Place to Live For Every American

Listen to a long-time affordable housing leader and CEO and President of CHISPA, Alfred-Diaz-Infante, give us his take on What’s America’s Purpose and steps necessary to make housing available and affordable for every American.  From his family’s immigrant story of hard work leading to citizenship, home ownership and community engagement, Alfred describes what it takes to  overcome the housing crisis by building more affordable and sustainable homes in inclusive neighborhoods so that every...

Liz Covart: Knowing Our American History Is Key To Progress

Listen to Liz Covart, historian of early America, and the award-winning host of her own podcast, Ben Franklin’s World.  Liz gives her take on What’s America’s Purpose, why early American history matters to our future, and how the best historians in the country can help each of us think about what ought to be America’s purpose in the 21st century. Enjoy! Learn about the Ben Franklin’s World Podcast

Mathy Stanislaus: Community Builder for ALL Americans

Listen to a long time NYC community builder Mathy Stanislaus who focuses on equality and environmental justice for ALL Americans give his take on What’s America’s Purpose.  From the story of his family escaping Sri Lanka when he was a boy, to his finding the American Dream with help from so many Americans, to his meteoric rise to speak to international audiences about racial justice as a teenager, until his service in the Obama Administration cleaning up polluted lands in ways that help low ...

John Cruden, Veteran and U.S. Justice Department Leader

Listen to John Cruden, a decorated Marine who went on to serve at the highest levels of the United States Department of Justice, give us his take on What’s America’s Purpose. From his stories of protecting the health of Americans from illegal pollution to his leadership in the development of American laws for sustainable development that serve as an example for the world, John Cruden’s decades of work serves as a benchmark for excellence. Not only that, but John also gives us fascinating st...

Kathleen Rogers, Earth Day Network President

Listen to long time environmental leader Kathleen Rogers give her take on What’s America’s Purpose and hear how leaps of progress in tackling the climate crisis may not be that far away. Kathleen’s years of global leadership in the environmental movement informs her provocative take as to why the movement has not yet met the scope of the challenge. Hear about opportunities to make a difference by joining the Earth Challenge and supporting local efforts to make climate literacy a bigger part ...

Scott James Let’s Prepare Our Neighborhoods NOW!

Listen to Prepared Neighborhoods Author, Activist and Entrepreneur Scott James and hear his take on America’s Purpose and how each of us can prepare ourselves, our families and our neighborhoods for predictable crises like storms, floods, earthquakes and pandemics.  From helping to build sustainable soccer balls to helping neighbors become more resilient to avoid the worst AND increase human connectivity no matter the political affiliation, Scott’s attitude and actions show us how bottom-up ...

Sarah Lee: How Can We Manufacture a Sustainable Society?

How Can We Manufacture a Sustainable Society? Governor’s Advanced Manufacturing Lead, Sarah Lee Listen to Sarah Lee, Washington Governor Inslee’s Director of Advanced Manufacturing, tell her story of learning to help average citizens with bottom-up efforts and partnerships that give people better health and jobs. From helping disadvantaged kids gain access to better dental care to transforming the Northwest into the world leader in sustainable “blue” maritime commerce, Sarah’s leadership...

Wei-Tai Kwok How Do We Make Climate Positive Career Choices?

How Do We Make Climate Positive Career Choices? Climate Activist Wei-Tai Kwok As important as it is to understand the history and strategy behind America’s Purpose, inspiring accelerated progress comes from hearing relatable stories about what every day American citizens can do to make America a more perfect union.  In this episode, we talk with citizen patriot Wei-Tai Kwok, a Chinese American, who lived the American dream only to realize he needed to transform his life into one of activ...

Leon Panetta What are the 5 Key Ingredients to the American Leadership We Need NOW?

What are the 5 Key Ingredients to the American Leadership We Need NOW? American Patriot and Statesman, Leon Panetta Description: Listen to the former Secretary of Defense and son of Italian immigrants tell his 50-year story of living the American dream by helping to get things done by, for and with American’s of all stripes.  From his surprising history starting out as a progressive Republican fighting for civil rights, to his run in with the Nixon White House and his pivot to become a D...

Scott Jenkins How Can Sports Lead a Cultural Shift Toward American Purpose?

Since accelerated progress toward American Purpose will require a cultural shift, America’s passion for sport at all levels provides a huge opportunity to harness its power to make that shift.  In this episode we talk with Scott Jenkins who has managed numerous professional sports stadiums across America who also leads the Green Sports Alliance, a collaboration of teams and leagues working to have sports lead that cultural shift.  Listen to Scott’s story about the emerging opportunity that s...

Ken Alex Are There Near-Term Solutions to the Climate Crisis?

Listen to Ken Alex describe his journey to become former California Governor Jerry Brown’s “right hand” in helping the Golden State lead the world in addressing the climate crisis while growing the economy at the same time.  As a leader in the law, and climate and sustainability policy, hear about the hopeful opportunities that Ken and others are working on now.  Enjoy!

What Did the Founding Fathers Mean By “Pursuing Happiness”? Professor Ryan Brandt

Listen to Professor Ryan Brandt describe what the founding fathers actually meant in the 1776 Declaration of Independence and how its meaning is critical to making American progress now.  Professor Brandt reveals the “founding assumption” of the American experiment, a description of what IS America’s purpose hidden in plain sight, how it’s our government’s job to secure our “safety and happiness”, and that after 240 years of progress we now can measure many of the important parts of what i...

What Did the Founding Fathers Mean By “Pursuing Happiness”? Professor Ryan Rynbrandt

Listen to Professor Ryan Rynbrandt describe what the founding fathers actually meant in the 1776 Declaration of Independence and how its meaning is critical to making American progress now.  Professor Rybrandt reveals the “founding assumption” of the American experiment, a description of what IS America’s purpose hidden in plain sight, how it’s our government’s job to secure our “safety and happiness”, and that after 240 years of progress we now can measure many of the important parts of w...

Marshall Ganz What’s Your Story of Self, Story of Us and Story of Now

This interview is with renowned agent of social change, Marshall Ganz. Marshall’s early work as a Freedom Rider in the 1960s led to his helping Caesar Chavez accelerate the farmworker movement in the 1970s which ultimately led to his groundbreaking work to empower citizens in political campaigns, including the historic 2008 campaign to elect Barak Obama. Hear Marshall’s take on America’s Purpose and how each of us can help advance it through citizen actions in our local neighborhoods and be...

What’s America’s Grand Strategy? U.S. Marine Colonel Mark “Puck” Mykleby

This interview is with Puck Mykleby who co-authored the book The New Grand Strategy: Restoring America's Prosperity, Security, and Sustainability in the 21st Century.  As the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen was immersed in two wars and wanted to know how those efforts and others fit into what ought to be America’s Grand Strategy for a thriving 21st century America. So he put his staff officers, Colonel Mykleby and Captain Wayne Porter on the job to develop that str...

Whats Americas Purpose Trailer

Welcome to What’s America’s Purpose Podcast!  Our goal is a discussion about how Americans who want to improve their own lives by adding value to the emerging American Sustainability Movement. Host: Matt Bogoshian is a sustainability activist with the Climate Reality Project and citizen-patriot who has served as a Schwarzenegger appointee to the California EPA and an Obama appointee to the U.S. EPA. He is a late baby boomer working to promote America’s purpose by accelerating the sustainab...