Life 2.0

The Business of Hope.

When Neli Vazquez Rowland was growing up on the gang and drug infested streets of "Little Village" in Chicago, she could never have imagined that one day, she would create the most effective and highly regarded foundation for ending homelessness in America...and help people like Bianca..."I abused heroin for 36 years. I’ve been arrested 120 times in my life and have been to prison 7. Of course I wanted to change. But I didn’t know how. Without A Safe Haven teaching me how to change, I wouldn’t be standing here right now. For the first time in my life I have a full-time job and I’m living in an apartment by the lake."

 

A Safe Haven, located in one of the toughest neighborhoods in Chicago, houses 400 people who would otherwise be forgotten shadows in the city. Their work with veterans is unparalleled and while Neli and her husband Brian have made a serious impact in creating lifelines out of headlines, there is more work to be done.

 

If you have ever doubted that one person can make a world of difference...Neli will change your mind.

 

 

 

 

Memorial Day 2019

I waited until after 3 p.m local time to post the Memorial Day episode of the Life 2.0 Podcast. Why 3 p.m you ask ? That is the National Moment of Remembrance, established by Congress, that asks Americans, wherever they are at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day, to pause in an act of national unity for one minute. Did you put down the beer or cellphone? Did you stop for a moment to reflect and remember? Did you even know about it? Do you know the difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day? For Gold Star families, and fathers like Brian Jopek and Greg Daniels, who lost their sons in battle, every single day is Memorial Day. #lestweforget

THE WEDNESDAY RANT 5.22.19

Distracted: "Unable to concentrate because one's mind is preoccupied." According to the latest stats, over 600,000 people are driving around right now, in three tons of metal, while distracted, which is in and of itself...distracting. Now comes word that there is an uptick in..."distracted walking" as cell phone zombies are so locked into their ELS (electronic life support) aka "Smart" phones that a senator from New York is proposing a ban to keep them safe. Really? Yea...really. Toss in my college alma mater asking for my "success story," a conversation with a friend about someone we both know personally running for president, the incredible power of synchronicity, a new "True or False" segment about something Joe Biden said forty-five years ago, and another episode of "Earth Matters with Bill Kurtis" and you have another serious attempt to make sense of the senseless. Hold on to your lug nuts, its time for an overhaul.

THE WEDNESDAY RANT 5.15.19

Well here we go again, hammering away on Hump Day, my ongoing attempt to dig out the obvious buried in the absurd and find common sense in very uncommon times. "To Tell The Truth" was a popular TV game show, but now its become a tug-of-war, especially in the landfill of unsocial media. Tommy Jefferson pointed out that some truths are "self-evident" but apparently, they still have to be sourced on the internet, and even then they are dismissed. All of that low level activity, has created a new condition that plagues humans, where PTSD now stands for "Present Tense Stress Disorder" because the self- inflicted, ongoing bombardment on our central nervous system, leaves little or no breathing room, as we have become prisoners of our own devices. But there is hope, and its hidden where you would least expect to find it. Intro music this week from David Stoddard and of course, another episode of "Earth Matters with Bill Kurtis."

THE WEDNESDAY RANT 5.8.19

It's another "Free For All" Wednesday Rant. This week we're taking a dive off the spiritual diving board into the deep end of the pool of human potential. Spanning the spectrum from the rudder that steers our beliefs, to the insights of Dr. Brene' Brown, to the power of synchronicity to "The Man in the Arena" speech from Teddy Roosevelt, that he delivered in 1910, and still applies in 2019 and another episode of "Earth Matters with Bill Kurtis." Somehow it all fits in the Life 2.0 podcast puzzle. 

THE WEDNESDAY RANT 5.1.19

MAY DAY! MAY DAY! MAY DAY! Rolling out another episode of The Wednesday Rant. So, its clear that I cannot control the Universe, but what is unclear is why I have this incessant need to patrol the internet universe, especially when it comes to false, not true, BS driven memes and information that floods the internet.  I am a reluctant Barney Fife, constantly gigging people in the landfill of Facebook for news we can't possibly use. Perhaps the problem is that we have so many words that use to mean on thing, but now mean something else, like trolls, catfish, bump and Spam. Rants, raves and reflections along with an episode of "Earth Matters with Bill Kurtis." 

WEDNESDAY WISDOM- RHONDA BRITTEN

She witnessed her father kill her mother at the age of 14, then turn the gun on himself, just three yards away. That one moment pushed Rhonda Britten into years of self-destructive behavior, until she was finally able to begin the work of forgiveness. Since then, she has gone on to become an internationally known author and speaker, helping the rest of the world to heal through the Fearless Living Institute.  Rhonda is the real deal, she cuts no slack, or corners in this powerful Life 2.0 episode. Hold on to your lug nuts, time for a serious overhaul.

THE FRIDAY FILE

It's been a long week on this side of the microphone. A snowstorm in Chicago had me grounded in Denver, major event on Monday evening, working off far less sleep than required and road trip food. From the shocking death of a friend and fellow broadcaster, to the flames of Notre Dame and the seeming inability for humans to stop vomiting up their confirmation bias and posting it for all the world to see, it’s this week's attempt to make sense out of the senseless. TGIF.

THE WEDNESDAY RANT 4.10.19

It's that time of the week again...THE WEDNESDAY RANT IS ON THE AIR...or at least in the virtual space known as the internet landfill. Before I head off to Boulder, had to get in a few rants, raves and reflections on everything from the book I am working on that's really working on me (and that "why" is always more important than "how.") To the reminder of "The Four Way Test" etched in a little acrylic hour glass on my desk, as the sands of time are running low, along with a shout out to legendary meteorologist Tom Skilling via "Earth Matters with Bill Kurtis"  Intro music on TWR by the incredibly talented David Stoddard. 

DR. JANE GOODALL

She is a living legend, a true force of and for nature, a staunch advocate for the planet and all its inhabitants. At the age of 26, equipped with little more than a notebook, binoculars, and her fascination with wildlife, Jane Goodall braved a realm of unknowns to the world a remarkable window into humankind's closest living relatives.

Through nearly 60 years of groundbreaking work, Dr. Jane has not only shown us the urgent need to protect chimpanzees from extinction; she has also redefined species conservation to include the needs of local people and governments. Today she travels the world, speaking about the threats facing chimpanzees and environmental challenges, urging each of us to take action on behalf of all living things, and planet we share.

A fascinating, enlightening and inspiring conversation with Dr. Jane Goodall, on her 85th birthday.