Shows
Swan DiveRobert Sinclair - "Speculative World Builder" - An artist writes the future he wants to live inRobert Earl Sinclair is a Future Architect & Speculative World-Builder striving to make sense of our rapidly changing world and co-create bold futures. Born in "the hood" of Los Angeles and challenged with dyslexia, Robert became a successful international hip-hop recording artist in his teens and went on to graduate from the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts and NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. Now, this multicultural, classically trained artist, actor and writer uses storytelling to activate the idea that if something is broken, we can fantasize about what it looks like unbroken, and that exercise, in...
2025-03-181h 02
Swan DiveDavid Garfunkel - "Building Community" - From Peace Corps to re-building a forgotten neighborbhoodHow does one claw their way out of the deep hole of generational poverty and income inequality if the walls are too steep and slippery to climb? David Garfunkel has tackled this problem with meaningful results in his hometown of Jacksonville, FL. As President & CEO of the non-profit LIFT JAX, David has created meaningful and measurable community revitalization initiatives in Jacksonville’s Eastside, less than a mile from downtown. And it’s not just lofty talk and abstraction. "OutEast" is widely considered to be one of Jacksonville’s most important historically African-American neighborhoods dating back to the mid-18...
2025-01-2153 min
Swan DiveNate Monroe - "How do you Know?" - USA Today Columnist Speaks Truth to PowerNate Monroe writes a column about Florida for USA Today, exploring how power works in the gilded, strange human heart of the modern Republican Party. His intrepid irony and rapier wit have made him a reader favorite but have also ruffled some significant feathers. Previously an investigative reporter for Jacksonville's Florida Times-Union, Nate focused on covering Jacksonville City Hall, the largest municipal government in Florida. His most notable deep-dive exposed a massive, nefarious scheme to sell Jacksonville's city-owned power company to Florida Power & Light ... and led to an indictment and jail time for the local CEO, an enormous win f...
2024-12-1754 min
Swan DiveSamantha Rose Williams - American Patriot - From Opera Singer to ActivistThe Stanford Arts Review described Samantha Rose Williams as a “Mezzo-Soprano with ‘jaw-dropping vocal power.” This opera singer and arts activist is committed to creating space for critical discussion about art, culture, and social change. Her latest project is American Patriots, an opera she created that seeks to examine patriotism from four vastly different perspectives: African-American, Native American, New American and white Working-Class American. For this piece, Samantha asked 50 Americans from diverse racial, socio economic, political, cultural and gender backgrounds to answer the question, “What is a patriot?” Their verbatim answers bec...
2024-12-031h 00
Swan DiveDaniel K Forkkio - "Healing & Reconciliation via Storytelling & Filmmaking" - CEO, Represent JusticeDaniel K. Forkkio is CEO of Represent Justice, building a critical mass of “system-impacted storytellers” using film and media to mobilize audiences to take action and transform the legal system. Because, those closest to the problem are closest to the solution. About this transformational approach to filmmaking, Daniel says, “What I started to learn about these (grassroots) films is that the films themselves were part of the reconciliation process for the person that had gone through a (traumatic) experience. And so, the act of writing down what had happened, thinking about their audience, the different characters ... and what were the my...
2024-10-151h 03
Swan DiveMatt Hartley - "DEI Criminal" - Incredible Educator Becomes Guiltless Victim of Culture WarMatt Hartley is an Interfaith expert and "DEI Criminal." He's an educator and ordained minister, a dad, a cellist, a high school running coach .... In other words, one of the good guys. Yet, after 5 years leading the University of North Florida Interfaith Center, Matt’s job was eliminated last year by draconian anti-DEI (Diversity Equity and Inclusion) laws initiated by Gov Ron DeSantis. To keep his interfaith work alive, Matt joined OneJax, a local diversity organization supporting Interfaith work on multiple campuses. In a 2023 New York Times article titled, What It Is Like To Teach In The Crosshairs of Ro...
2024-06-2550 min
Swan DiveSuz Howard - "Designing Creative Leaders" - IDEO Industrial Design Legend Goes SoloTrained as an anthropologist, Suz Howard spent 20 yrs as a partner at IDEO, one of the world's leading design and innovation companies, playing a critical role in growing IDEO from 200 employees to 1000 in 9 locations around the globe. Focused on building creative leadership within organizations, she founded IDEO U, a digital learning platform that has served over 80,000 students through various forms of cohort-based learning since 2014. In effect, Suz has dedicated her life’s work to building out-of-the-box thinkers and enhancing the future of work itself. Now, out on her own, Suz continues her work with individuals and organizations, bringing human-centered de...
2024-06-1154 min
Swan DiveJeff Kollath - The Soul of a Story - Exec Dir of the Stax Museum of American Soul MusicAs Executive Director of the Stax Museum of American Soul Music in Memphis, TN, Jeff Kollath oversees the world’s only museum dedicated to preserving and promoting the legacy of Stax Records and American soul music. Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, John Lee Hooke, Booker T & the MGs and the endless Stax roster of musical icons produced songs that stirred our souls and shared our collective story, a story born of pain and glory, rags and riches, love and lust. Stax liberated our hearts and freed our hips to move like nobody was watching. Kollath, brandishing a BA and Masters in...
2024-04-1659 min
Swan DiveClark Butcher - Victory Bicycles - Bike Lover Revolutionizes the Bike Shop GameClark Butcher will be the first to tell you he is addicted to endurance athletics. He started running age 7, completed his first half marathon at 11 and discovered triathlons at 14, where he naturally excelled in cycling. By 16, Clark was competing in the Junior World Cup in Canada, National Championships and pro-caliber events throughout the US. This culminated in 2002, when Butcher spent a summer racing throughout Europe with the German National Team. Clark founded Victory Bicycle Studio in Memphis in 2010 and has grown it from a part-time project to a national industry leader in bicycle retail. Victory is to bike shops...
2024-03-2654 min
Swan DiveDr Scott Morris - "Fine and Blessed" - Doctor/Minister Opens Largest Faith-based Hospital in USAs a teenager, Dr. Scott Morris became deeply interested in two things: his religion and the practice of medicine. He's spent his entire life creating a way to connect the two to serve humanity. Now 70, Morris is the founder and chief executive officer of Church Health in Memphis, TN. A leading voice in the field of faith and health and a passionate advocate for the poor in U.S. society, Morris opened Church health in 1987 to provide quality, affordable health care for working, uninsured people and their families. It has now grown to become the largest faith-based, privately funded...
2024-03-1257 min
Swan DiveChris Jenkins - "Being There" - Documentary Filmmaker Turned Educator & How He Listened to "The Signs"Chris Jenkins is Head of Production in University of California, Santa Barbara’s Film & Media Studies Department. He has been behind the lens of many notable and award-winning documentaries. His work has aired on Netflix, PBS, Discovery, The History Channel, Sundance Channel and on and on. Prior to receiving his Masters in Documentary Film & Video from Stanford, Chris was in East Africa as a United Nations Volunteer working with and capturing on film tribal cultures, animals, the plight of refugees and much more. Before that he bicycled to southern Chile on assignment for National Geographic en route to a ye...
2023-12-191h 09
Swan DiveGary Adler - "Right Time, Right Place" - Life as a Hollywood Creative DirectorHollywood Creative Director and Graphic Artist, Gary Adler, has a blackbelt in branding on a global scale. He moved to LA in 1986 to chase his dream and, after decades designing for the film industry’s best, from Disney to Dreamworks, Warner Bros, Sony and Fox, he’s seen it all. If you watched Nightmare Before Christmas, you’ve seen Gary's work. He sold a wonderful screenplay to Harold Ramis but, like so many Hollywood dreams, bad timing kept it on the shelf. Still, Gary lived well off his creative chops in the take-no-prisoners world of movie making. And is now explo...
2023-11-2850 min
Swan DiveTaylor Keen - "Living Red" - From Ivy League to Sacred Seeds ... Indigenous Leader Finds HomeTaylor Keen has an astonishing resume: Golden Gloves boxer, Dartmouth undergrad, Harvard MBA and Masters in Public Administration. Business man. Indigenous leader, Strategy consultant and full-time instructor in Corporate Strategy and Entrepreneurship at Creighton University. But at his core, Taylor is a storyteller. And the stories he tells are those of his tribal people. Harvard did a magnificent feature on Taylor last Dec titled, Singing To the Corn, where they wrote: “Corn thrives when sung to and spoken to—something Taylor Keen does in the language of his mother’s Omaha Tribe, where he is known as Bison Mane. Keen i...
2023-09-0558 min
Swan DiveLolo Reskin - "Sweat and Vinyl" - Iconic Record Store PioneerIn 2019, Miami New Times tweeted “Does anyone know Miami music better than Lolo Reskin?” Music is in this woman’s blood. Lauren Reskin, better known as Lolo, is founder of Miami’s iconic, Sweat Records. Lolo’s father is a Julliard graduate, professional trumpet player, and composer. Her grandmother, a concert violinist. Even her great uncle, Alan Freed, was the (in)famous 1950’s radio DJ who coined the phrase “rock and roll.” In 2005 Lolo opened Sweat Records, a must visit destination for vinyl lovers in Miami. She’s a sought-after DJ and leading music tastemaker, who is...
2023-08-0851 min
Swan DiveKatie Hathaway - "I'll See You Tomorrow" - Mom turned gun sense activistKatie Hathaway's swan dive moment came as her 7-yr-old son got in the car at school pickup and said, "Mom, I know it. We’re gonna be the first classroom shot up. We’re closest to the front of the school." Katie's heart sank. That any child would have such a thought, let alone when they’re supposed to be safe at school, made her sick. She knew she had to do some thing. Katie started by scheduling a meeting with her state representative who referred to himself as the Florida Gun Lawyer. As a former business woman, she knew s...
2023-07-2551 min
Swan DiveAndy Peay - "Pinot Pioneers" - From Wall Street to World Renowned WinemakerIn the mid-1990s, Andy Peay and his brother, Nick, set out to find land for the vineyard they dreamt of creating. Eventually, they settled on a property in California’s West Sonoma Coast, an old sheep farm and apple orchard. Here, the brothers, along with star winemaker and Nick’s wife, Vanessa Wong, built Peay Vineyards, 53 acres of vines with six different grapes, where they make elegant, refined wines that are an expression of the land on which they are grown, land which, according to the NYT, “offers distinctive qualities shown transparently in their wines, primarily complex, polished pinot...
2023-06-1454 min
Swan DiveGeorge Clinton - "Free Your Mind & Your Ass Will Follow” - Funk Legend Discovers Painting“Crazy is a prerequisite in this shit." -- George ClintonClinton’s Parliament-Funkadelic collective is considered one of the foremost innovators of funk … and his music made asses shake worldwide, including ours. With over 40 hit singles and three at #1, Clinton has been sampled by everyone from Dr. Dre to Tupac and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. In 2019, George and Parliament-Funkadelic were given Grammy Lifetime Achievement Awards. Wiz Khalifa stars as George in the brand new film, "Spinning Gold," about his time on Casablanca Records with such mega-acts as Kiss, Donna Summer and the...
2023-04-1143 min
Swan DiveDavid William Carson - "John Muir 2.0” - Finance to Nature Preserve DirectorDavid William Carson's heart lives among the tall trees and endless oceans. This environmental scientist, entrepreneur and artist was raised in the forests of upstate New York. He earned a Master's degree in Environment and Resource Management in Amsterdam after pivoting from a rocky career in tech and finance. Now 31, David recently started his dream job as executive director of the Rogers Center, a 600-acre nature sanctuary and environmental education facility in upstate New York whose historic lands have been cherished by four generations of his family. David is elated to be living and working close to family, back i...
2023-03-2147 min
Swan DiveKeith Pariani - "Ride On" - Avid antique bike collector rides across the US on a "High-Wheeled" bikeIn 1984, Keith Pariani and eight fellow enthusiasts left San Francisco on antique "high-wheeled" Columbia bicycles, following the path across the USA taken 100 years earlier by pioneer Thomas Stephens. They rode these awkward contraptions which have no brakes and only one gear across the entire country, through sun and rain, over the Rockies and vast stretches of emptiness, finishing 61 days later in Boston. The classic bike Keith rode, along with his extraordinary collection of antique bikes, is currently on display in the "Ride On" exhibit at the Lightner Museum in St. Augustine, FL, housed in the former Hotel Alcazar, built...
2023-02-2138 min
Swan DiveRick Stone - "Telling Stories" - Renowned expert discusses the ancient art of storytelling and the power it holds in daily lifeAll day, every day, we each tell stories about who we are and how we are. Collectively, we speak of “controlling the narrative,” both positively and negatively. Rick Stone tells stories for a living and is one of the world’s foremost experts on the power of storytelling. He began in advertising and has dedicated the past 30 years to bringing back this ancient art form in service of teaching, learning and connecting people worldwide. As the CEO of StoryWork International, Rick uses story-telling based training programs to help fortify interpersonal relationships and for team building and leadership development, helping profes...
2022-12-1349 min
Swan DiveJake Miller: "Based on a True Story" - The Making of a RockstarWith sold out tours, millions of followers on social and growing critical acclaim, Jake Miller has quietly emerged as a magnetic pop presence. He has done this on his own terms with an infectious, high energy style that’s full of optimism and fun as hell. His fans, dubbed “The Millertary,” are so devoted that many tattoo his lyrics on their body. Florida-raised and LA-based, this singer, songwriter, and producer made waves with 2014’s Dazed and Confused EP. The title track to his 2015 project, Rumors, gathered tens of millions of streams. Jake’s been making heartfelt music steadily ever since … an...
2022-11-1549 min
Swan DiveRon & Stu - "Severance" Looking back at the DiveNothing is more gratifying then when a listener calls to share that a discussion on Swan Dive influenced their life choices in a positive way. A recent call with an old coworker of Ron’s was exactly that and explored this listener’s “great resignation” opportunity. This prompted Ron and Stu to revisit some of the key and critical aspects of their own swan dives. In this short episode, your hosts look back at some of the more pragmatic details surrounding their decisions to chase their dreams and discuss the “new wealth” concept, in which time represents the truest and most imp...
2022-11-0117 min
Swan DiveChristian Boos - "Changing Tides" - Computer Engineer to Boat CaptainChristian Boos is one of the most sought out surf and sportfishing guides on the North Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. He grew up in the ocean in Venezuela. At university in Caracas, he majored in computer engineering, a field of study he felt pressured into by society’s expectations of him. But after just 3 months working as a computer engineer in the early 2000s, Boos quit his job and moved to Costa Rica to find a more satisfying and simpler life. A few years later, he started Boos Adventures where, for the past 14 years, he has captained his bo...
2022-10-1148 min
Swan DiveSheryl Johnson - "The Joy of the Dragonfly" - Finding Purpose in the Death of a ChildSheryl Johnson is good at what she does. She’s a fine lawyer, happily married and the mother of four. But one of Sheryl‘s children, Alex, suffered from mental illness and anxiety. And, like so many with this disease, her son did not find in society the care and understanding that was needed. Alex took his own life in 2017, a victim of the pain of depression. Sheryl and her family struggled for a long time with the weight of this unthinkable tragedy. Then, the universe sent Sheryl a sign by way of a dragonfly. And since that time, Sher...
2022-08-3053 min
Swan DiveDr. Eric Dubbin - "Helping All Animals" - Large Animal Vet becomes Life CoachLarge animal veterinarian, Eric Dubbin, is a gentle and curious soul who was good at his job. “I knew which end of the horse got the hay,” this thoughtful healer says modestly. Still, after 18 years serving cows, horses and goats in the rural countryside, something shifted, when serendipity offered him a new opportunity. Instead of serving animals his new gig would be about people, helping leadership lead better, find deeper job satisfaction, find inner peace. A people person, Eric found connecting with humans and serving their deep needs made him very happy. And so, he left the veterinary field to c...
2022-08-1642 min
Swan DiveMitzi Rapkin - "All In" - Literary Podcast Pioneer Quits Day JobMitzi Rapkin is the founder, host, and producer of the long-running podcast, First Draft: A Dialogue on Writing, featuring in-depth conversations with the world's most distinguished literary writers of fiction, non-fiction, poetry and essays. One of the best interviewers in the biz, her archive contains more than 380 interviews accumulated over nine years. Mitzi reads 50 BOOKS A YEAR, that's one a week, to produce up to 52 exquisite episodes/year, each meticulously covering the craft, creativity and themes of a writer’s work. She consciously cultivates conversations that evolve from the mechanics and quirks of a writer's process to questions on what...
2022-08-0254 min
Swan DivePete Barma - "Pete Plays Tribeca" - Her Autobiographical Short Film Selected By the Tribeca Film Festival“I’m not inherently brave. I was very much in a life that, outside of being queer, had checked off all the American dream boxes: job, child, house, partner that loved me. It was a good relationship, we paid our bills, I mowed the yard … had cookouts. And then I met my partner (Bret) at a birthday party. I quit my job without a plan … It was in that moment that I was either gonna live authentically or not live very well, despite what on the outside looked really lovely.” Pete Barma, with her wife Bret, recently premiered their latest shor...
2022-06-2842 min
Swan DiveRon Andruff - "Champagne on Ice" - Stanley Cup Champion to Sports Marketing VisionaryDuring his nine years as a pro hockey legend from 1972-81, Ron Andruff shared in 3 Stanley Cups with the Montreal Canadiens. He won two Most Valuable Player awards with three major professional hockey leagues. He also won the American Hockey League Scoring Title. During and after his athletic career, Andruff lent his name and support to important causes, from Big Brothers to cancer, water conservation and many others. An entrepreneur and tech pioneer, Andruff started numerous companies in sports marketing, advertising, travel and beyond. His current consultancy focuses on creating a safer internet where patients in need can be...
2022-04-1954 min
Swan DiveBeth Black - "Courage Love Truth & Wisdom" - Founder Therapeutic Boarding School for BoysBeth Black is the Founder of Cherokee Creek Boys School, a therapeutic boarding school for struggling boys 10-15 that offers a safe place to “discover what is real and true about themselves and the world around them.” The school uses indigenous wisdom coupled with modern psychology to help these boys grow and thrive. Beth’s son attended a therapeutic boarding school in the 1990s, and she says, “It has become my mission to seek out the best practices in education and emotional healing for young people and to design a benchmark school that will truly make a difference in the live...
2022-04-051h 01
Swan DiveDr Carmen Rojas - "Abundance & Spaciousness" - President and CEO of Marguerite Casey Foundation shifting the balance of powerThe youngest Latina ever to run a nationally endowed philanthropic foundation, this inspiring daughter of immigrants, Dr. Carmen Rojas, has dedicated her life to bettering the lives of underserved working people across the US. Growing up in a sprawling, multicultural family, surrounded by love and core values, instilled in Carmen a deep sense of promise. “For me, it’s really about supporting people, organizations and initiatives that create an alternative possibility where it’s not a zero sum game but where instead we are seen as collectively coming together in order to fill the promise of a multiracial democracy," says C...
2022-02-1545 min
Swan DiveWayne Irwin "Heart & Solar" - Lighting up the world with solar power and musicWayne Irwin evolved his electrician trade into a radio broadcast engineer and now, a solar energy entrepreneur. Wayne owns Pure Energy Solar in Gainesville, Florida and his company creates innovative products that help bring solar power to the world. Last year, Wayne followed his passion for music and launched his own radio station, WMBT "The Wombat" 90.1FMl in Gainesville, FL. "Gainesville's Locally Driven Radio is also streaming worldwide on www.wmbt901.com, playing every flavor of music and building passionate community along the way. Whether he's harnessing the sun or taking your eclectic musical request, this devoted father, husband, in...
2022-02-0847 min
Swan DiveSteff Florentina - Excellence & Expectations - Tennis Prodigy Paying it ForwardSteff Florentina grew up in Nova Scotia, the daughter of an excellent tennis player who introduced her to the sport at age 5. “My life was tennis. When we weren't playing tennis, we were watching tennis, or going over areas that I could improve. My typical schedule growing up was wake up at 5, drive 35 minutes to the tennis courts, be on the courts from 6:00-8:00, make it to school just in time ... , play tennis during lunch (rain or shine), play tennis after school from 4-6. Eat, do homework, watch tennis and do it all again." When her devotion to tennis be...
2022-01-2550 min
Swan DiveSwan Dive Revive "Freedom" A Look Back at a Key Swan Dive MomentSwan Dive started in March of 2020 and we recorded our first episodes in a pre-COVID world. In this episode, we look aback at the moment Ron first took his dive. As the year winds down, what small change can you make? What big change is ahead of you? Looking ahead while finding value in examining where we have been, take a leap and join us on Swan Dive. Have a Swan Dive to share? Text us!We are always looking for Swan Dive Stories to share so hit us up, send an e mail to Ron: Ro...
2021-12-1447 min
Swan DiveJonathan Miller - Rattlesnake Lawyer - Award-Winning Writer/Criminal Attorney Puts in the HoursCriminal defense attorney and award-winning novelist, Jon Miller, has tried cases in all but one of New Mexico's far-flung counties. He knows the grit and grind of the criminal mind. Raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with a vision of practicing environmental law, Jon studied Urban & Regional planning at Cornell, went to law school and then worked at the Dept of Interior in DC, until budget cuts sent him packing back to NM, where he landed a gig as a Public Defender in Roswell. Yes, that Roswell. On the drive down to Roswell, Jon saw a road sign that read "...
2021-12-0737 min
Swan DiveSwan Dive Revive - "Unfinished" Ron and Stu Reflect on Swan Dive MomentsWelcome to Swan Dive Revive, a reflective pause to look back at where we were to better understand how far we’ve come in our ever-evolving journeys. Today we revisit May 5, 2020, the episode titled, Unfinished. Ron was just about to leave his successful career as the pandemic hit. As the world experienced a collective pivot, we discuss his virtual going away party and the then-novel idea of being together in lockdown “doing nothing” with loved ones. Much has happened since. Yet, so much remains Unfinished … for all of us. We continue to explore the critical questions: "Who do you want to...
2021-11-3031 min
Swan DiveConrad Hicks - Unlocking Beauty - BlacksmithThe documentary film project, Capetown Legends, described Conrad Hicks as “an artist, self-taught master blacksmith and conservationist that is merging many worlds in his distinctive work.” Based in Capetown, S Africa, Conrad specializes in hand-forged metalwork to produce his sculptures and architectural and interior design projects. His forge is housed in The Bijou, an old Art Deco cinema, which he bought and began restoring in 1998. Conrad asserts “that all traditional blacksmithing jointing methods have innate metaphorical meaning adding to the final symbolic meaning of the finished form.” His much-sought-after designs are as beautiful as they are func...
2021-11-2348 min
Swan DiveTiffany Manning - "Movement" … The Declaration Makes the Dream Real - From Ad Agency to ArtistTiffany Manning was cruising along with a satisfying job in the art department of an ad agency when the layoff happened. She looked at the change of career as a gift and quickly changed gears, making moves as a commercial photographer. But with Tiffany, it’s all about movement and there was one more move she needed to make - a fine artist. When she finally found the courage to make that declaration out loud, everything changed. “I lovingly refer to my studio practice as the art of allowing. I am creating to be present in my body,” says this pai...
2021-10-2640 min
Swan DiveJullie Miller Torres -- "Follow Your Love" - Lawyer turned artist exhibits at The METArtist, Julie Miller Torres, specializes in printmaking. Trained as a lawyer, from a family of lawyers, Torres practiced law for seven years. She was good at her job and enjoyed her clients. But something was missing. At 34, she left her law career to start over in fine art at the prestigious, Savannah College of Art and Design ("SCAD"), where she earned a BFA in Printmaking. A few years out of art school, her career was beginning to get traction, when Covid hit. Undaunted, she turned to social media to promote her work. Five years after leaving art school, Torres...
2021-09-2844 min
Swan DiveHank Willis Thomas - "We Can't Do It Alone" - Fine Artist, Co-Founder For Freedoms and The Wide AwakesHank Willis Thomas is one of the most consequential artists of this moment. Clear and incisive, his work is exhilarating to stand in front of and proves, time and again, that he has accessed his better angels. "Throughout his career, Hank Willis Thomas has addressed the visual systems that perpetuate inequality and bias in bold, skillfully crafted works. Through photographs, sculpture, video, and collaborative public art projects, he invites us to consider the role of popular culture in instituting discrimination and how art can raise critical awareness in the ongoing struggle for social justice and civil rights," reads the...
2021-09-0747 min
Swan DiveCierra Britton - "Her Gallery--Her Story" - NY's first Black-owned Gallery Dedicated to Women of Color ArtistsCierra Britton (b.1996, Baltimore, MD) is an independent curator and art consultant living and working in New York City. Cierra Britton Gallery is the first NYC-based art gallery dedicated to representing woman artists of color. Have a Swan Dive to share? Text us!We are always looking for Swan Dive Stories to share so hit us up, send an e mail to Ron: Ron@artbikesjax.com or Stu: Stuart@stuartsheldon.com
2021-08-3145 min
Swan DiveDr. Ruth Greenfield - "A Finished Prelude" - Opened one of the Deep South's 1st integrated music conservatoriesBorn Nov. 1923 in Key West, long-time Miamian, Ruth Wolkowsky Greenfield is an American concert pianist, composer and teacher who, through music, broke racial barriers and brought together black and white students, taught by black and white teachers. She moved to Paris in 1949 to study piano and there experienced a society far more racially integrated than Miami, which was in the throes of profound racial segregation ... in schools, beaches, parks, restaurants. When she returned to Miami, Ruth founded the Fine Arts Conservatory in 1951 in Miami, one of the first fully integrated schools for music, art and dance in the South...
2021-08-2438 min
Swan DiveDr Michael Freeman - "Still Flossing" - Young Father Faces Brain CancerAs a fertility doctor, Michael Freeman is responsible for helping his patients bring new life into the world. Which makes his second bout with cancer all the more ironic. Yet, Michael's humor and optimism remain fully activated. "I'm still flossing," he told us when asked how he's changed his life to face the disease. Optimism abounds. This loving husband and father to three beautiful children helps us explore what happens emotionally when you get this diagnosis out of the blue, offers tips on how you interact with friends and colleagues, and shares what not to say to try to...
2021-08-0334 min
Swan DiveKen Russell - "The Uncontaminated Candidate” - Miami City Commissioner Running for US SenateKen Russell had a dream job, traveling the world kite-surfing and paddle boarding with is watersports company, when he got involved with the cleanup of the city park across the street from his Miami home. That civic engagement resulted in a run for office and a hard pivot from entrepreneur to his current position as Vice-Chairman of the Miami City Commission, recently re-elected in November 2019 for a second term. He entered Miami politics in 2015 with an optimistic view on positive change, and during his first term, Commissioner Russell was successful in passing legislation that supported resilience infrastructure, affordable housing...
2021-07-2745 min
Swan DiveRobert Arleigh White - The Storyteller's Story - Theater Director, Actor, ActivistRobert Arleigh White’s life forever changed when at 14 years old, his lifelong friend, Lenny, handed him a flyer and said, "Come on, we're gonna audition for the school play." In that moment, as Bob now recalls, Lenny handed him is life. Bob shares his winding but deliberate path, from high school teacher (11 yrs) to running Theater Jacksonville (16 yrs), where he directed over 50 plays, to Exec Dir, Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville (14 yrs), to VP Development Museum of Science & History (2 yrs) and, finally, to Principal with Robert Arleigh White + Associates, overseeing and advising nonprofit arts organizations in North Florida. Bo...
2021-07-2041 min
Swan DiveBhakti Baxter - Into the Unknowing - Fine Artist Finds HimselfBhakti Baxter (born in Miami FL, 1979) lives and works in Topanga, CA. At 38, having never lived anywhere but his hometown, Bhakti outfitted an old Sprinter and made his way to the west coast, immersing himself in the deep solitudes of Southern Utah and other singular landscapes along the way. Exploring the relationship between science and spirituality, his work hinges heavily on geometry, the systemic manifestations of geometric principles in nature and the interpretive freedom of abstraction. Working in a variety of media within sculpture, painting and drawing, Baxter’s practice is an ongoing investigation into existential queries through the cr...
2021-07-0646 min
Swan DiveRichard Bowsher - A Rogue & A Gentleman - Tech Pioneer turns FarmerIn the late 1990s Richard Bowsher co-founded the conference company, StreamMedia.com which pioneered the nascent space devoted to the delivery of audio and video over this new thing called the Internet. He sold that thriving company to NYSE publisher Penton Media. In 2007, Richard founded Klipopmekaar and started farming rooibos tea high in the Northern Cederberg mountains of his native South Africa. The only things standing on the farmland when Richard began were an old bus and a ram-shackle camp site. Today, along with being a thriving, productive and happy place, Klipopmekaar is one of the largest organic rooibos...
2021-06-0842 min
Swan DiveGloria Riviera - "Child Care IS Infrastructure" - ABC News Correspondent Finds Her VoiceAward-winning journalist Gloria Riviera spent 20+ years as an ABC News producer and correspondent based around the world covering breaking, investigative and feature stories for the network's flagship broadcasts and social media platforms, including Good Morning America, World News Tonight & Nightline. She has a very exciting New Project as host of “No One is Coming to Save Us,” a podcast about the child care crisis that launched May 20th from Lemonada Media, the podcast network that presents humanity unfiltered. The New York Times wrote, "“No One Is Coming To Save Us” won’t actually fix the American child care crisis. There’s on...
2021-05-2551 min
Swan DiveJay Sweet - "She's an Eagle" - Exec Dir Newport Jazz Festival & Newport Folk FestivalJay Sweet runs some of America’s most iconic music festivals: the Newport Folk Festival & Newport Jazz Festival. During his tenure as Executive Director of the non-profit Newport Festivals Foundation, his Folk Festival has won five Pollstar awards for Music Festival Of The Year … and America's original music festivals have regained their stature among the country’s premier happenings. He is a frequent keynote speaker at music conferences like SXSW and a contributor at NPR’s “All Songs Considered”, “The Connection” and “On Point” … and served as the Editor-at-Large for the acclaimed music and film magazine PASTE, where he wrote features and cov...
2021-05-181h 05
Swan DiveDanny Báez - Elevate Others - Immigrant Art ImpresarioDanny Báez immigrated at 20 from the Dominican Republic to the US and worked for one week in a factory before realizing he had to find another route. Odd jobs paid the bills the next 5 years, until serendipity changed the entire trajectory of his life. A friend who worked for renowned Thai artist, Rirkrit Tiravanija, needed help for a 3-day gig. Danny showed up and worked hard, doing whatever was asked with a smile. On the second day, Rirkrit approached Danny and asked him what his dreams were. The rest is history. That gig lasted 3 years, followed by 7 years a...
2021-05-0446 min
Swan DiveRon Jackenthal - Live Like Sam - Tragedy to Triumph“This kid was a bit of a unicorn … very much a life force. He had this big energy, super kind, great humor ... this kid was loved ... when you met Sam, you didn’t forget it, even if you met him for only five minutes on a chairlift," says Ron Jackenthal of his son Sam. Ron left a very successful career as a senior telecom executive to found the Live Like Sam Foundation two years ago to honor Sam, a U.S. Junior National Freestyle Ski Champion who died in 2015 at 16 from a ski training accident in Australia. "So, my Swan Di...
2021-04-2746 min
Swan DiveChrista Niven - Educational Flow - Building the Schools of the FutureChrista Niven and her Journey Schools have made vast strides in creating a utopian template for learning, focusing as much on emotional intelligence as academic excellence. She began her career in education at the Institute of Child Development researching infancy, risk and resiliency in early childhood. She then directed a program supporting homeless teen parents and their children living in shelters. With a B.S. in Child Psychology and Masters in Education, Christa founded a school serving chemically dependent youth and their children, working in that space for ten years while also serving as a therapeutic foster parent. In 2005...
2021-04-2048 min
Swan DiveSue Ariza - "Finding Home" - Social Justice Public Relations“I think of myself as a real-life advocate who argues in the court of public opinion rather than a courtroom.," says Sue Ariza, an Argentinian-Dominican Human Rights expert and producer based in New York City. With a BA in political science and law from the University of Zurich and an MA in International Law, Sue began her career as an international lawyer before pivoting to social justice PR. "The common thread is changing the world,” she says. Sue is currently working as a communications strategist at The No. 29 Communications and has worked with TED, Pineapple Street Studios, For Freedoms, In Pl...
2021-03-3040 min
Swan DiveTanya Selvaratnam - "Assume Nothing" - Abuse Survivor Writes Her Way Out of the DarknessTanya Selvaratnam’s new book, Assume Nothing: A Story of Intimate Violence, speaks truth to power by exploring her journey through an abusive relationship with the very powerful politician, former NY Attorney General, Eric Schneiderman, who was forced to resign based on Tanya's revelations. Covered extensively in Time Magazine, The New Yorker and beyond, Tanya's narrative has created profound conversations about violence against women and the next phase of the #MeToo movement. Tanya is a writer, artist, and Emmy-nominated and multiple Webby-winning producer with more than twenty-five years of experience in the arts & social justice. Selvaratnam’s producing range incl...
2021-03-2327 min
Swan DiveLaetitia Deweer - Breathe In Joy - Human Rights Advocate, Founder of CEPIA (Culture, Education and Psychology for Infants and Adolescents)Laetitia Deweer is the founder and development director of CEPIA (Culture, Education and Psychology for Infants and Adolescents), an internationally recognized, award-winning nonprofit that serves over 1000 at-risk children, teenagers, their families and adults in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. CEPIA provides a wide array of education programs, psychological, legal and medical care as well as recreational activities, sports and arts and has been instrumental in feeding, clothing and providing mental health care to many who lost jobs and suffered hunger during the pandemic. In recognition of her decades of extraordinary work in rural Central America, The Aspen Institute invited Laetitia to...
2021-03-1645 min
Swan DiveSarah Clarke Stuart - Her Daughter's Eyes - Dealing with a Child's AddictionAs a mother of two bright and healthy children, writer and professor, Sarah Clarke Stuart, never imagined she’d hear the words, “your child will either end up in prison or dead” from the ravages of drug addiction. It's a trauma no parent can ever prepare for, yet she and her young adult daughter have faced the fire together for 5 yrs now, and “today is a good day,” Sarah tells us. Sarah currently teaches English at Florida State College. Her non-fiction books underscore Sarah’s passion for storytelling, fantasy and metaphor, both on screen and on the page: "Literary Lost: Viewin...
2021-03-0248 min
Swan DiveJoshua Deitch - Real (Estate) Passion - Chiropractor to Real Estate GoliathJoshua Deitch changed the game in residential real estate in tony Marin County, CA, setting sales records and amassing a legion of ecstatic clients. Josh started as a professional basketball player in Israel and brings an athlete’s passion and competitive spirit to work each day, setting him apart in what can be a cookie-cutter profession. He then built a thriving, decade-long career as a successful Bay Area chiropractor, delivering care with bedside charm. After enjoying the renovation of several Mill Valley homes for himself, Josh decided to turn his avocation to his vocation. He left his successful chiropractor gi...
2021-02-2337 min
Swan DiveScot Nicol - Work IS Play - Mountain Bike PioneerIn the late 70s, Scot Nicol, was a young hippie living on the coast in Mendocino County (CA), when an article appeared about this new “Clunker Bike” movement happening in Marin County, CA and Crested Butte. A handful of guys were essentially retrofitting old Scwhinn bikes to ride on the dirt. Scot reached out to these kindred spirits (now cycling legends: Joe Breeze, Gary Fisher and Charlie Kelly among others) and, basically, they collectively invented what we now know as mountain bikes. It will be 40 years ago this April Fools day that Scot, AKA Chuck Ibis, launched IbisCycles.com with...
2021-02-1639 min
Swan DiveRodney Lawrence Hurst, Sr. - Mr Pearson's Class - Civil Rights Leader & HistorianIn 1960, Rodney Lawrence Hurst, Sr., the 16-yr-old president of his local NAACP Youth Council, led a sit-in at a local segregated lunch counter. All this young black leader desired was basic respect and dignity. In no time, a mob of 200 angry whites showed up with axe handles, spitting and shouting epithets, in what came to be infamously known as "Axe Handle Saturday." Sixty years later, this Southern gentleman is still fighting for fairness and speaking truth to power. “When I interact with whites, I say to them, ‘When you come into my community, I don’t want you coming into m...
2021-02-091h 00
Swan DiveHope McMath - It Was All Yellow - Art Museum Director, Artist, ActivistA descendant of slave owners, former museum director, Hope McMath, spent 23 years at Jacksonville's venerable Cummer Museum of Art. Her abrupt exit five years ago resulted from "push back" against the 2016 exhibit “LIFT: Contemporary Expressions of the African American Experience,” consisting of work by 10 local artists inspired by the song “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing,” considered the national anthem of black America. Leading up to the LIFT exhibition, McMath describes her drive to move the needle for social progress in her Deep South community, "I started waking up every day obsessed, and it really was an obsession, with how to use...
2021-01-2655 min
Swan DiveKhalil Osiris - Prisoner No More - Criminal to CounselorAs a chid, Khalil Osiris's most treasured gift was the Encyclopedia Britannica set he kept at the end of his bed and read cover to cover. Education was the highest priority in the home of this self-described "happy-go-lucky" country boy. So, it's not surprising that, at age 13, when the local chapter of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense opened in his rural community, Khalil and his intellectually curious friends checked it out. Khalil reflects, “There are things in our lives that resonate so deeply with us that we can be dramatically impacted by it to such an extent that ou...
2021-01-121h 20
Swan DiveJosh Felser - I See You - Internet Pioneer Pivots to Climate CrisisInternet pioneer and early stage investor, Josh Felser, was co-founder and president of Spinner, the first multi-channel Internet radio service, acquired by AOL for $320mm in 1999. He next co-founded and was CEO of Grouper/Crackle - one of the first user-powered Internet video networks, acquired by Sony for $65mm in 2006. While we would’ve next disappeared forever onto a mega-yacht in the Greek Isles, this serial entrepreneur co-founded Freestyle, an early stage VC with active investments in Internet and mobile startups, where he is now a Board Partner. In Feb, 2020, Josh helped launch TSG, a State task force to so...
2021-01-0546 minSwan DiveRon & Stu - Year In ReviewWe did it, this year 2020 is drawing to a close. What did it teach us? What did we learn? This Swan Dive journey launched on March 26th, 2020. Stu and Ron started this collaborative art project that turned into a most needed distraction for a most unique year. In this episode, we take time to reflect on the year that was, talk about the guests and moments that filled us up and helped us grow. This is a moment to pause and reflect on the year that gave us all pause as we set our sights onto the new ye...
2020-12-2928 min
Swan DiveJohn Spence - Awesomely Motivated - Abused Child Turns Pain into PowerWhen John Spence was sixteen, his father, a famous attorney, came home and told his second youngest child, "You’re a complete disappoint as a son. I wish you’d never been born. Get out of my house." Mind you, at that moment, John was a straight-A student, captain of the football team and homecoming king. By 26, John Spence was the CEO of an international Rockefeller foundation, overseeing projects in 20 countries. Two years later, Inc. Magazine named him one of America’s Up and Coming Young Business Leaders. Since, he’s been recognized as one of the Top 100 Business Thought...
2020-12-2243 min
Swan DiveBob Wiltfong - Removing Regret - From Chappelle Show to Full-time DadBob Wiltfong is an Emmy award winning journalist, actor and dad. His recent book, “The BS Dictionary: uncovering the origins and true meaning of business speak”, takes a humorous jab at the numbing language that is BS (Business Speak). His love for BS was fostered through 20+ years of working as a consultant in presentation skills for several Fortune 500 companies including T-Mobile, General Electric and Charles Schwab. He often confirms trending BS terms with his CMO wife and is reminded that he has a lot more to learn from his three kids. Bob started in TV news then went into actin...
2020-12-1543 min
Swan DiveJosue Rivas - Leaving Flowers & Songs - Indigenous Photojournalist ExtraordinaireJosué Rivas (Mexica and Otomi) is an Indigenous Futurist, creative director, visual storyteller and educator working at the intersection of art, journalism, and social justice. "My mission, I think, is to come and show us the light. Like, what does that look like. How can you do it with storytelling that is compelling and is beautiful and is also regenerative for the people in the image,” he says. Josué's work has appeared in National Geographic, The Guardian,The New York Times and Apple amongst others. He aims to challenge the mainstream narrative about Indigenous peoples, build awareness about issu...
2020-12-081h 01
Swan DiveDr Baz Dreisinger - Restorative Truth - Author of Incarceration Nations: A Journey to Justice in Prisons Around the WorldCrime rates around the world have declined, but the global prison population is rising. The US is worlds greatest jailor with 5% of the world population and 25% of its prison population. This is clearly not logical, and Dr. Baz Dreisinger's life is dedicated to solving this inhumane problem. Heralded by the New York Times and named a notable book of 2016 by the Washington Post, Dr. Dreisinger's book, Incarceration Nations: A Journey to Justice in Prisons Around the World, offers a radical rethinking of one of America's most devastating exports and national experiments: the modern prison system. Dr. Dreisinger works at t...
2020-12-0142 min
Swan DiveAaron Huey - NatGeo Amplified - Award-winning National Geographic Photographer & TED presenter"We make the compass that points to the future we want to live in," says Amplifier.org founder and celebrated National Geographic photographer, Aaron Huey. Aaron's deep photographic storytelling captures and honors his subjects — from war victims to rock climbers to indigenous peoples — with elegance and fearless sensitivity. At 27, Aaron walked across America alone for 154 days and 3349 miles, coast to coast, with his dog and a camera. "After 1000 miles of doing nothing but walking, eating, sleeping and talking to my dog and occasional strangers, I shook off the world. And when you shake off the world, you can shake off...
2020-11-2438 min
Swan DiveDennis Scholl - Philanthropic Flow - Documentary Filmmaker & Miami Arts LeaderMiami entrepreneur, art collector and philanthropist, Dennis Scholl, made his first documentary film at age 50. Fifteen years and thirty films later, this former attorney and CPA now has thirteen regional Emmys to show for his humble excellence as an artist. Films celebrating creative titans Tracy Emin, Theaster Gates, Wynton Marsalis and Frank Gehry have been featured at festivals worldwide, including SXSW and Sundance. His current films include “The Last Resort,” now on Netflix, “Singular” about 3x Grammy winning jazz vocalist, Cecile Mclorin Salvant, and “Lifeline”, about 50’s Abstract Expressionist painter, Clyfford Still. As a former VP of the Knight Foundation, Sc...
2020-11-1745 min
Swan DiveTracey Ryans - Surfing Thermals - Legendary NY Restauranteur, Hotelier, Buddhist, ActivistThis legendary Buddhist bon vivant, restauranteur, hotelier and serial entrepreneur’s only conscious memory of his mother is watching her grab her head and die of a brain aneurysm when he was five. Nevertheless, nearly 50 years later, Tracey Ryans' wondrous self-made empire of business, personal and spiritual success, has transformed this gregarious seeker into an arbiter of “cool” at the forefront of branding and creative activism. His wife calls him as a “pathological optimist” and his billion dollar smile fills any room he enters with hope (even virtually). The fifth guest in Swan Dive's Wide Awakes activation, Tracey's palpable hunger for...
2020-11-1049 min
Swan DiveChrysi Philalithes - Love of Truth - Digital Marketing Pioneer With Bono's RED OrganizationImagine starting an Internet company amidst the wreckage of the first Dotcom crash, then growing that company to 250 people and selling for nearly $200 million. Next, a bit of "healthy stalking and serendipity" got Chrysi Philalithes to RED, Bono's AIDS organization, where, as Chief Digital Officer, she mixed technology and altruism to creatively raise $600 million and improve global health over 10 years. "It was really the dream brand for me because it combined all of my interested: tech, culture, entertainment, media and purpose,” says this digital/marketing/communications superstar. Such thinking put Chrysi on The Guardian’s “50 Women to Watch” list. And driv...
2020-11-0339 min
Swan DiveMichelle Woo - One Bright Pearl - For Freedoms Producer Finds Mindfulness thru MotherhoodMichelle Woo is Wide Awake, but that was not always the case. This incredibly humble yet fabulously accomplished behind-the-scenes leader at For Freedoms and the Wide Awakes shares how she remembers little of her life up to a few years ago due to being distracted for most of it. Motherhood changed that, and Michelle now actively practices mindfulness through meditation. The results speak for themselves, as this artist, cultural producer, art historian and arts business consultant now helps lead the largest cultural collaboration in US history, fighting injustice and getting out the vote in the lead up to the 2020 pr...
2020-10-2731 min
Swan DiveYashua Klos - Finding Family - Breakout Artist Finds Father's Family at 42Imagine knowing virtually nothing of a father who disappeared, then getting a text at 42 from an unknown cousin saying, "We might be related." Immediately, the generous warmth of a large, loving family replaces the cold emptiness of a son abandoned. For over a decade, visual artist Yashua Klos has employed a unique process of paper construction and woodblock printing to engage ideas about blackness and maleness from his cultural perspective as a native Chicagoan. Now, his practice and life are in fabulous flux, as he surrenders to a sea of love and appreciation engulfing him and aims to mark th...
2020-10-2039 min
Swan DiveGina Belafonte - Wide Awake! - Harry Belafonte's Daughter Educates, Motivates and ActivatesGina Belafonte has excelled at many things. An accomplished actress, director and activist and the youngest child of Julie and Harry Belafonte, Gina produced HBO’s internationally acclaimed documentary, SING YOUR SONG, exploring the extraordinary life and legacy of her father; the film was selected to open the Sundance Film Festival in 2011. As Executive Director of Sankofa.org, a social justice organization that educates, motivates, and activates artists and allies in service of grassroots, equitable change, Gina works with diverse artists, activists and organizations worldwide to promote cultural and civic engagement. Among these are For Freedoms and The Wide Aw...
2020-10-1336 min
Swan DiveDr Nozipo Maraire - I Am Because We Are - Africa's 1st Black Female NeurosurgeonAfrica's first black, female neurosurgeon, Dr. J. Nozipo Maraire received her undergraduate degree from Harvard and her neurosurgery training at Yale. During residency, she wrote the novel, Zenzele: A Letter for My Daughter, a 1996 New York Times "Notable Book of the Year." In 2010, her vision for cutting-edge, affordable health care in Southern Africa, Ecosurgica, won her the British Airways Entrepreneur Face to Face Award. Her TED talk titled “Indigenous and Indigenius” has enjoyed thousands of favorable reviews. With a resume like this, you'd think Nozipo would define herself by the accolades above. But you'd be wrong. Honoring the African prin...
2020-10-0646 min
Swan DiveChristine Rothberg LCSW - The Psychology of the Swan Dive - Harvard-Trained Psychologist & Trauma ExpertThe biggest challenge most of us face before we swan dive is internal, the conflict btw our ingrained belief systems and what we know we must do to find contentment. Harvard-trained psychologist and trauma expert, Christine Rothberg, unpacks this complex notion of "maladaptive behavior" - behavior that prevents you from making adjustments that are in your own best interest. This surprisingly meaty episode looks under the greasy hood of the human pivot ... and helps us get our engines humming for a big change. Plus, as an added bonus, you can hear Stu go to therapy. The psychology of...
2020-09-2240 min
Swan DiveHolly Rilinger - When Holly Got Her Groove Back - World-renowned Fitness InstructorHolly Rilinger is one of the top fitness instructors in the world. Her instructor career followed years as one of the best professional basketball players in the world ... which followed her All-American college basketball career. Holly has always been at the top of her game, until she wasn’t. After injuries put an end to her professional career, Holly was left without an identity and was no longer connecting to the passion that fueled everything she did for her entire life. That’s when Holly had to “tap the source” and access the passion once again. Holly.life is now helpi...
2020-09-0841 min
Swan DiveMelissa Ross - NPR Star Designed a Life She Loved - Journalist ExtraordinaireMelissa Ross's steady, confident voice can be heard throughout Florida on NPR affiliate WJCT FM in Jacksonville ... and nationally, as Fill-In Host for The Diane Rehm Show. As the 11-year host of "First Coast Connect," her firm-but-fair interview style has earned her Emmy's and national recognition as one of America's top radio news personalities. 20 years ago, her young reporting career took a drastic turn on 9-11. As the country collapsed into fear, Fox News purchased her station and immediately dictated that all coverage be hyper-partisan and flattering to the Republican administration. For a woman with a deep sense of...
2020-09-0138 min
Swan DiveDr Allen Chiura - Success and Significance - Surgeon Leaves Thriving US Practice for his African HomelandFor Dr Allen Chiura, a profound difference exists between success and significance. Zimbabwean born, this exceptional Urological Surgeon studied and practiced in the USA for nearly 30 years. Eight years ago, while living and working in the snowy mountains of Klamath Falls, OR, he and his wife, also a Zimbabwean doctor, realized something critical was missing from their lives. With four beautiful children and thriving medical practices, they were, by most measures, very successful in the States. Yet, both felt they could be more "significant" in their homeland. Dr Chiura returned to Zim in 2012 to open his Urology practice and...
2020-08-2536 min
Swan DiveRob Smith - The Phluid Project - Retail Veteran Leads the Gender Expansive MovementRob Smith is the CEO and Founder of The Phluid Project, a leader in the gender expansive movement. The Phluid brand celebrates freedom, authenticity and self-expression and is dedicated to the values and priorities of Gen Z. This global platform emerged from the intersection of Rob’s vast retail executive experience, including Macys, Victoria’s Secret, Levi’s & Nike, and his passion for social justice, specializing in LGBTQIA+ underrepresented youth. Rob’s mission is driven by a fearlessness to challenge the status quo. He is a former Board Chair for The Hetrick-Martin Institute, empowering, educating and advocating on behalf of LGBTQ...
2020-08-1842 min
Swan DiveMarko Cheseto - All for the Best - Champion Marathon Runner Loses Both His FeetChampion Kenyan runner, Marko Cheseto downed a handful of anti-depressants and ran into the Alaskan wilderness nearly 10 yrs ago. He woke in the snow 3 days later, so frostbit his feet had to be removed. In 2019, Marko set not 1 but 2 world records running a marathon on 2 prosthetic legs. He shares how he discovered the silver lining in his most tragic events. This absolute gentleman is not ashamed to call himself a survivor of mental illness and has devoted himself to not just running faster than most, but helping us find our own power and potential. Marko’s million dollar smile br...
2020-08-1137 min
Swan DivePrissy Elrod - Beyond Expiration - Author Explores the Untimely Death of her HusbandPrissy Elrod is an accomplished author whose books, "Far Outside the Ordinary" and "Chasing Ordinary" are truly extraordinary. Prissy's books detail her life, the untimely loss of her husband and how she re-imagined and transformed herself, not just into a published author, but into the person she was destined to become. Her first book was published after her 60th birthday. Prissy Elrod's Swan Dive is a lesson for all of us that our talents are with us for our entire life, it's just a matter of activating and accessing those gifts. Have a Swan Dive to share? Text...
2020-08-0434 min
Swan DiveShawn Forbes - Fearless Freefall - Fashion Director Get Laid Off and Finds New DirectionShawn Forbes spent ten highly successful years as a fashion director at Macys, an expert in the color, texture and intuition of fashion. As an executive at Levis, she loved the people she worked with but was not doing those creative things she most enjoyed. As the bread winner and provider for her Bay Area family, she could not easily leave the paycheck and insurance. Then, she was laid off (along with 700 others). Yet, instead of dread and fear, Shawn felt relief and enormous opportunity to explore her unique gifts and use them to help others become their best...
2020-07-2845 min
Swan DiveRon & Stu - Checking InIt has been 3 and a half months since Ron Rothberg took his Swan Dive. So how is it going? What is working? What is not working? And how about the pandemic? On this episode of Swan Dive, Stu brings back a familiar guest, Ron, to look back on his Swan Dive journey and relive some of the highlights from the last 3 months of the podcast. Have a Swan Dive to share? Text us!We are always looking for Swan Dive Stories to share so hit us up, send an e mail to Ron: Ron@artbikesjax.com or...
2020-07-2136 min
Swan DiveNick Holt - Fit to Dive - From Financial Analyst to Fitness GuruNick Holt is a highly sought after health and fitness coach and founder of Nick Holt Fitness & SaltwaterFit.com. An athletic kid raised in New York, Nick found himself falling out of shape after 7 years in the finance world. He did not like who he was becoming, physically or spiritually - "I realized I was essentially spending the vast majority of my existence taking no risks, dropping every dream I ever had, living for the weekends, and dreaming of a life that could have been." Nick took aggressive action, moving to Costa Rica where he focused on his own...
2020-07-1434 min
Swan DiveEarl M. Johnson, Jr. - Take It Down! - The Son of MLK's Attorney Continues His Father's StruggleEarl M Johnson, Jr's father was Martin Luther King, Jr's attorney. The son followed his father's footsteps as an attorney and, even though he grew up in a privileged upper middle class black family, Earl Jr. is no stranger to the indignities of systemic racism. Just 5 weeks ago, in a moment of clarity which he describes breathtakingly for Swan Dive, Earl Jr. founded TakeItDown.org, the only organization dedicated to the removal of Confederate statues on public land. In short order, the laser-focused mission of TakeItDown is now Earl's primary focus. Have a Swan Dive to share? T...
2020-07-0741 min
Swan DiveNicole Berry - More than Fair - Public School Teacher to Art Fair TitanAs Executive Director of the The Armory Show in NY, Nicole Berry leads strategic vision for one of the world's A-list contemporary art fairs. Yet, she started as a public school teacher. Nicole shares her magnificent, winding, grinding path from teaching to arts non-profit, gallery gigs and, finally, the esoteric world of cutting edge art fairs. She now directly oversees all aspects of production: exhibitor relations, programming, marketing, partnerships, VIP cultivation, and operations. Nicole received a Master's Degree in Art History from the University of California at Davis, and you can tell she loves her life as an art...
2020-06-3046 min
Swan DiveNancy Hogshead-Makar - Gold Medal Master - 3x Olympic Gold MedalistNancy Hogshead-Makar won 3 golds and a silver at the 1984 LA Olympic Games. She received a law degree from Georgetown and has devoted her life to fighting for gender equity in sports. Three years before her Olympic triumphs, Nancy was brutally raped while attending Duke University. She feared she was too emotionally damaged to swim again, but the support of her coach and community in getting her back in the water after this trauma ultimately saved her life and her sanity. Nancy uses these profound life experiences as the CEO of Champion Women, an organization leading targeted efforts for equality...
2020-06-2350 min
Swan DiveMichael Sharkey - The Family that Dives Together - Radio Legend turns Podcast ExpertMichael Sharkey, The Shark, climbed to the top of his profession in radio, on air and running radio stations nationwide. He accomplished more than he ever dreamed but something was changing in the radio industry and inside him--he knew it was time to make a change. So, he followed his gut and traveled the world with his family. Now a host and talent coach, Michael hosts the podcast, "Your Podcast Coach" and shares with us the importance of taking time for yourself after you swan dive ... and how equally important it was to set an example for his kids. ...
2020-06-1651 min
Swan DiveYoung Mural Artists - The Literal Swan Dive - Making Public Art Their WayA breath-taking 140-ft mural, titled Swan Dive, just appeared in a leafy Deep South neighborhood, in the midst of a pandemic and a national racial awakening, at the beginning of 6 young artist's careers. Inspired by our podcast, this group of art students and friends safely took broke quarantine to bring public art and joy to an appreciative urban neighborhood block. In the process, their lifelong desire to be professional artists when they "grow up" just lit up, and a bunch of paid mural gigs have resulted, all before their 21st birthdays. We welcome these charming truth tellers and invite...
2020-06-0946 min
Swan DiveNuma Saisselin - The Show Must Go On? - President of the Florida TheatreWe need live entertainment, it is a gathering of community and human interaction that brings us immeasurable joy. But the lights are now dark and the curtains remain closed. So what will live entertainment look like in the months and years to come? Our guest today is Numa Saisselin, President of the historic Florida Theatre in Jacksonville, Florida. On this Swan Dive, we explore an industry pivot and what the future might look like for live music, performance and entertainment. Have a Swan Dive to share? Text us!We are always looking for Swan Dive Stor...
2020-06-0242 min
Swan DivePatrick Howe - Proactive Search - Optimizing Your Talent30 Million Americans are out of work and there is a need to get back in the game, how do you balance a new position with your career mission statement? You create a proactive search. Patrick Howe is a Leadership consultant for Advisa, Patrick is a certified coach and a Leadership Consultant, Patrick has helped 100's of people craft their ideal work environment by co-creating a future with his clients. On this edition of Swan Dive, we explore how you can take control of the job boards instead of them controlling you.Have a Swan Dive to share? Te...
2020-05-2641 min
Swan DiveAutumn Breon - Not Rocket Science - Astrophysics to ArtSwan Dive welcomes Autumn Breon, the rocket scientist who dove from astrophysics to innovating global education to harnessing art for social activism, all before she turned 30. After graduating from Stanford in Aeronautics & Astronautics, Autumn did research for NASA. Dissatisfied by the lack of fellow women of color in her cohort, Autumn founded STEMgineers Shifting Gears, a STEM-focused extracurricular program for middle schoolers based in Watts, CA. Her work to further the dialogue on educational equity led to South Africa where she founded the African School for Excellence. Autumn now works as an art advisor and consultant specializing in contemporary...
2020-05-1940 min
Swan DiveJane Rimer - Collecting Community - Global Content StrategistSwan Dive welcomes our first guest to the conversation, media entrepreneur Jane Rimer, who pivoted from her highly successful career as a Global Content Strategist in Manhattan to facilitating personal leadership skills with other thought leaders and influencers at Elevation Barn in Park City, UT. Jane shares her wisdom as a life-long seeker, willing to chase her adventurous spirit, come what may, both professionally and personally. She emphasizes the importance of community, using what's in your backpack and embracing the notion that it's OK not to know. Welcome to Swan Dive.Have a Swan Dive to share...
2020-05-1237 minSwan DiveUnfinishedWelcome to the season 1 finale of Swan Dive. On this episode we hit Ron's virtual going away party and we recognize that we're all unfinished. This may be the end of season 1, but we're just getting warming up ... with new episodes featuring special guests every Tuesday from next Tuesday until forever. Have a Swan Dive to share? Text us!We are always looking for Swan Dive Stories to share so hit us up, send an e mail to Ron: Ron@artbikesjax.com or Stu: Stuart@stuartsheldon.com
2020-05-0520 minSwan DiveJump!We start this edition of Swan Dive on the rooftop of an epic college party. We read letters from our past selves, get messy and grant ourselves the liberty to read a book and take a nap in the middle of the afternoon. Do something different already! This conversation was recorded at the beginning of the year; you're gonna love the bit about the pause. So much more true today than in January. Ready, set, JUMP! This is Swan Dive, a pivot to your vision.Have a Swan Dive to share? Text us!We are alw...
2020-04-2846 minSwan DiveFields of PassionPassion breeds purpose! When you make your declaration of who you are and what you want to be, suddenly, it is all you see. On this episode, we talk about the passion of Johnnyswim, surrounding yourself with people who are doing what you want to do and the fundamentality of trusting your gut. You are gonna be juuuust fine! Dive into this episode of Swan Dive.Have a Swan Dive to share? Text us!We are always looking for Swan Dive Stories to share so hit us up, send an e mail to Ron: Ron@ar...
2020-04-2139 minSwan DiveSecond ThoughtsThe reality of Ron's Dive has set in, and second thoughts are real. What have I done, and will this work out? Dealing with the reality of second thoughts on Swan Dive.Have a Swan Dive to share? Text us!We are always looking for Swan Dive Stories to share so hit us up, send an e mail to Ron: Ron@artbikesjax.com or Stu: Stuart@stuartsheldon.com
2020-04-1433 minSwan DiveFreedom!On this edition of Swan Dive, things get real! Ron takes his leap and tells his boss he's leaving his job to change gears. We talk about how that conversation went, the power of activating your network and how to take the baby steps toward your dive. You know how we all say, "one of these days, Im gonna ..."? Today is "one of these days" ... on Swan Dive.Have a Swan Dive to share? Text us!We are always looking for Swan Dive Stories to share so hit us up, send an e mail to R...
2020-04-0740 min