EducationSelf-ImprovementSociety & Culture

Intersections Podcast

Dr. Hitendra Wadhwa

A podcast for leaders and changemakers, Intersections reveals what it takes to make an outsized contribution to humanity—cutting across disciplines, uncovering principles and practices, and drawing from the lived truths of those who have been walking that path. Hosted by Mentora founder and Columbia Business School professor Hitendra Wadhwa, Intersections seeks to activate our best selves by dissolving boundaries—between profit and purpose, theory and practice, east and west, science and spirituality, inner and outer, and more.

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August 21 · 1 hr 25 min
What Great Leaders Do Differently | Todd Whitaker
What sets exceptional leaders, teachers—and high-impact people across all human pursuits—apart from the rest? How do they think, act, and view the world? And how do they view themselves? Who should leaders rely on “to never make a wrong decision?” And what powerful technique may immediately improve your leadership, teaching and parenting? Find out from Todd Whitaker, exclusively in conversation with Dr. Hitendra Wadhwa on Intersections Podcast. Todd Whitaker is one of America's leading authorities on teacher and principal effectiveness, staff morale, teacher leadership, and school culture and climate. A former math teacher, basketball coach, school principal, central office administrator and award-winning educator, Todd has worked across multiple layers of the education system, gaining deep, firsthand insight into what makes schools thrive and what causes them to falter. He is currently a faculty member in educational leadership at the University of Missouri and professor emeritus at Indiana State University. Todd has written over 65 books on education, including What Great Teachers Do Differently, What Great Principals Do Differently and Shifting the Monkey. Todd’s work has been instrumental in shifting schools from managing problems to building cultures of excellence, and through his talks and writings, has inspired hundreds of thousands of fellow educators, consistently championing the power of the individual to strengthen leadership and drive meaningful change. 00:00 Trailer 01:09 Introduction 05:01 There’s always someone who has figured it out 08:34 The true mastery of the teaching craft 18:33 What do the best teachers do? 20:20 The difference between average and exceptional people 27:04 How to never make a wrong decision 31:05 What happens in a great teacher's classroom? 43:27 What's more important: culture or leadership? 1:03:54 The difference between life and leadership 1:08:31 How to assess the state of culture 1:14:18 The way we believe and act permeates every aspect of our lives 1:17:10 What the ICE did in JFK airport (that wasn't captured in the media) 1:21:11 Closing thoughts
August 6 · 1 hr 3 min
The Making of a Nobel Peace Laureate | Jody Williams
How does one individual from a small town in America grow a movement from a staff of one into 1,000+ organizations across 60 countries—and ultimately change international law? Can the feeling of “righteous indignation” be enough to address the injustices in the world? What separates those who change the world from those who don’t? And is “extraordinary” simply a choice we make everyday? Find out from Jody Williams, exclusively in conversation with Dr. Hitendra Wadhwa on Intersections Podcast. Jody Williams is a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, a globally recognized human rights activist, and one of the world’s most influential voices in disarmament and peacebuilding. She is best known for her leadership of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), a global civil society movement that grew to over 1,000 organizations across 60 countries, where she served as chief strategist and spokesperson, helping lead an unprecedented coalition of NGOs, governments, and international bodies that resulted in the landmark 1997 Mine Ban Treaty—earning her and ICBL—the Nobel Peace Prize for transforming grassroots activism into international law. In 2006, Jody co-founded the Nobel Women's Initiative, which she chairs to this day, where she works together with other women Nobel Peace Prize laureates to elevate the voices and support the work of women peace activists around the world. In 2013, Jody published her memoir on life as a grassroots activist, My Name is Jody Williams: A Vermont Girl’s Winding Path to the Nobel Peace Prize. In this episode, Jody reveals: - The choices that make ordinary people extraordinary - The value of “righteous indignation” in leadership and changemaking - How small acts of courage compound into world-changing movements
May 22 · 1 hr 34 min
The Greatest Human Experiment | Lynne Twist
What can one little individual do that could positively impact all of humanity? What mindset has silently shaped, distorted, and even destabilized our institutions, our economies, and even our sense of self? What is our relationship with money—and how can we align it with the deepest longing of our souls? Are we living inside an inherited story that no longer serves us—and if so, what would it take to author a new one? And in a time of collective fracture, could the real revolution be ontological—a shift not in what we have, but in who we are? Find out from Lynne Twist, exclusively in conversation with Dr. Hitendra Wadhwa on Intersections Podcast. Lynne Twist is a globally recognized humanitarian, author, and visionary who has spent more than forty years working to end hunger, empower women and girls, advance social justice, and protect the Amazon rainforest. As a senior leader and global fundraiser for The Hunger Project, she worked in more than 50 countries—from Mother Teresa’s mission in Calcutta to refugee camps in Ethiopia—gaining profound, firsthand insight into the human experience of scarcity and sufficiency. She later co-founded The Pachamama Alliance at the invitation of the Achuar people of the Amazon, forming a unique partnership that safeguards rainforest ecosystems, supports Indigenous sovereignty, and offers global education programs that cultivate ecological awareness, spiritual responsibility, and collective action. She is also the founder of the Soul of Money Institute, which has worked with over 100,000 people to transform their relationship with money and align financial resources with purpose and integrity. Her best-selling book The Soul of Money is considered a classic in conscious leadership, and her newest book, Living a Committed Life, distills her decades of activism into a guide for finding freedom and fulfillment in service of a larger purpose. In this episode, Lynne reveals: - The greatest experiment one visionary thinker undertook - The mindset at the root of all human misery—and how to transcend it - The hidden architecture of our relationship with money—and how to realign it with the soul - The inherited story shaping our institutions, identities, and destinies—and what it would mean to rewrite it
May 1 · 47 min
Getting the Whole World to Agree | Christiana Figueres
What does it take to get the whole world to agree with you? Where do all great change movements begin—and what kind of leadership can unify nations in a time of deep division? Which leadership coach can you turn to in every season of change—timeless, wordless, and always present? What’s the connection between personal and planetary resilience? And why is spiritual grounding essential for today’s leaders and changemakers? Find out from Christiana Figueres, exclusively in conversation with Dr. Hitendra Wadhwa on Intersections Podcast. Christiana Figueres is one of the world’s most influential climate leaders, best known for her role as Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, where she led the six-year diplomatic effort that culminated in the landmark 2015 Paris Agreement, uniting 195 nations in a shared climate commitment. After leaving the UN, she co-founded Global Optimism, a social-purpose organization advancing the mindset and momentum needed for global climate solutions. She also co-hosts the award-winning podcast Outrage & Optimism, one of the world’s top climate podcasts, and is the co-author of the international bestseller, The Future We Choose: Surviving the Climate Crisis, which introduces the mindset of “stubborn optimism” and outlines the actions required to build a regenerative future. In this episode, Christiana reveals: - How to get the whole world to agree with you - Our best leadership coach in epic and everyday moments - Why spiritual grounding is essential for today’s leaders and changemakers
April 17 · 1 hr 16 min
How Systems Change | Jeff Raikes
What kind of work ethic sustains greatness, and lays the foundation for enduring impact? How do successful leaders carry themselves in a room full of people? What are the underlying ingredients of systemic change, and how can one aspire to evolve systems that benefit everyone? Find out from Jeff Raikes, exclusively in conversation with Dr. Hitendra Wadhwa on Intersections Podcast. Jeff Raikes is the co-founder of the Raikes Foundation, which he and his wife, Tricia, established in 2002. The foundation helps empower young people to reach their full potential by supporting innovative work in education, youth homelessness and expanded learning programs. Jeff retired from his role as chief executive officer of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 2014, having guided the global organization through six years of significant growth. He came to the philanthropic world from a 27-year career at Microsoft Corporation, where he was a member of the senior leadership team and president of the Microsoft Business Division. Jeff serves on the boards of Costco Wholesale, Hudl, Green Diamond Resources, Epicrop, and the Jeffrey S. Raikes School of Computer Science and Management at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He has served as chair of the Stanford University Board of Trustees, where he received a bachelor’s degree in engineering-economic systems. In this episode, Jeff reveals: - The hidden risk of being the smartest person in the room - The work ethic every successful leader and changemaker must cultivate - How systemic change happens, and how to evolve systems that benefit everyone
April 1 · 1 hr 20 min
What Spiritual Practice Does | Krishna Das
Could our deepest sufferings have any hidden virtues? Why do we so often chase moments of transcendence, and yet struggle to live them in our everyday experience? How can we take control of our mind and train it to take instructions from us? Can the repetition of certain sounds become a pathway to quieten the mind and reclaim our inner space? And what does it truly mean to walk the spiritual path, not once, but for a whole lifetime? Find out from Krishna Das, exclusively in conversation with Dr. Hitendra Wadhwa on Intersections Podcast. 00:00 Introduction 03:17 The source of everlasting happiness and success 05:49 The difference between music and chanting 07:25 Does the West lack devotion? 12:08 The hidden virtues of our pain and suffering 24:04 Entering a room where love lives 31:25 The way of the mystic 37:02 The love and grace of great masters 48:48 The science of chanting 56:37 What spiritual practice does 01:00:30 The difference between love and relationships 01:05:38 The source of our creative genius 01:09:53 The least known story about Steve Jobs 01:12:28 What we are all responsible for 01:17:25 Closing thoughts
March 20 · 1 hr 15 min
How Saints View the World | Simran Jeet Singh
Why have we become so good at identifying what’s wrong in society, but struggle to imagine a solution for them? How do visionary leaders, reformers and saints think, view and act in the world? What place can we take refuge in when we want clarity to our most burning questions? And what is the true meaning of service, and how can we make our spirituality more practical Find out from Simran Jeet Singh—and from the great saints of Sikhism—exclusively in conversation with Dr. Hitendra Wadhwa on Intersections Podcast. An award-winning educator, acclaimed author, sought-after speaker and renowned faith leader, Simran Jeet Singh is a professor of history at the historic Union Theological Seminary, Executive Director of the Inclusive America Project at the Aspen Institute, Senior Fellow for the Sikh Coalition and host of the Wisdom & Practice podcast. Simran’s thought leadership on bias, empathy, and justice extends across corporate, university, and government settings, and has been invited to speak at prestigious institutions including Stanford University, Fortune 500 companies, The White House and Pentagon. Simran writes regularly for The Washington Post, CNN, TIME Magazine, Harvard Business Review, and Religion News Service, and is the author of the national bestseller, The Light We Give: How Sikh Wisdom Can Transform Your Life and the award-winning children’s book, Fauja Singh Keeps Going: The True Story of the Oldest Person to Ever Run a Marathon.
March 6 · 1 hr 42 min
The Secret to World Peace | William Ury
Who is the most difficult person we’ll ever have to negotiate with? Why is it so hard to change people’s minds, and what’s the most graceful way to do it? Is there a root cause to all conflict? Could a simple path hold the key to turning any conflict into peace—at home, at work, and even between nations? And what, ultimately, is the secret to world peace? Find out from William Ury, exclusively in conversation with Dr. Hitendra Wadhwa on Intersections Podcast. William Ury is a social anthropologist, award-winning author, and one of the world’s leading thinkers on negotiation, with nearly fifty years of experience in helping address some of the world’s toughest conflicts, “from the halls of Harvard to the depths of Kentucky coal mines, from the White House Crisis Center to the deserts of Botswana, from corporate boardrooms to war zones in the Middle East, Korea, and Ukraine.” With former U.S. president Jimmy Carter, William co-founded the International Negotiation Network, a nongovernmental body seeking to end civil wars around the world. At Harvard Law School, he helped found the Program on Negotiation and the Harvard Negotiation Project research center. He is also the founder of the Abraham Path Initiative, a non-profit that brings Middle Eastern communities together through a long-distance trail tracing the ancient journey of Abraham and his family. His books include the fifteen-million-copy bestseller Getting to Yes, Getting Past No, The Third Side, and his most recent work, Possible: How We Survive (and Thrive) in an Age of Conflict.
Nov 20, 2025 · 1 hr 31 min
Profit, Purpose and the Divine I Jay Coen Gilbert (B Corp)
What is the most powerful way a business can show up for society? What legacy can today’s institutions build if every action and interaction was grounded in spiritual attunement and sacred duty? How can today’s leaders, entrepreneurs and changemakers build enduring positive movements and become a lighthouse for others? And what four-letter word can orient us, our businesses, and our economy toward a future that makes our people and our planet thrive? Find out from Jay Coen Gilbert, exclusively in conversation with Dr. Hitendra Wadhwa on Intersections Podcast. Jay Coen Gilbert is the Co-founder of B Lab, the acclaimed nonprofit that created the global B Corp certification. Today, this movement includes over 9,500 certified organizations in more than 100 countries, all committed to balancing profit with purpose. He is also the Executive Chair of Imperative 21, a business-led network shifting the narrative toward a just, regenerative economy; and is now actively engaged in racial justice, co-founding White Men for Racial Justice and leading peer learning groups on anti-racism. Along with his B Lab co-founders, Jay has received the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship and the McNulty Prize at the Aspen Institute, where he is a Henry Crown Fellow. Prior to co-founding B Lab, Jay co-founded and sold AND1, a $250M basketball footwear, apparel, and entertainment company. He has also worked for McKinsey & Co, as well as organizations in the public and nonprofit sectors. In this episode, Jay reveals: - The most powerful way a business can show up for society - What can happen if our every action and interaction was grounded in spiritual attunement - A four-letter word today’s businesses must build their future on
Oct 25, 2025 · 1 hr 29 min
The Right to Be Responsible I Vincent Stanley (Patagonia)
What changes when people are able to bring their deepest values to work? What are the critical responsibilities businesses must uphold for society in today’s times? How can organizations gain the cultural confidence to do what’s right, even when the odds are against them? And what does it take for ordinary individuals to build a business that puts purpose before profit and become a role model for the entire business community? Find out from Vincent Stanley, exclusively in conversation with Dr. Hitendra Wadhwa on Intersections Podcast. Vincent Stanley has been with Patagonia on and off since its beginning in 1973, and has served in key executive roles as head of sales or marketing. At present, he serves as Director of Patagonia Philosophy, teaching company history and values to employees. More informally, he is Patagonia’s long-time chief storyteller. Vincent helped develop The Footprint Chronicles, the company’s interactive website that outlines the social and environmental impact of its products, The Common Threads Partnership, an initiative launched by Patagonia in collaboration with eBay, aiming to reduce environmental impact by promoting sustainable consumption habits; and Patagonia Books, the publishing branch of Patagonia, that produces high‑quality books aligned with the brand’s mission of environmental stewardship, adventure, and activism. He has co-authored two books with Yvon Chouinard, the founder of Patagonia: The Responsible Company (2012) and The Future of the Responsible Company (2023). Vincent is also a visiting fellow at the Yale School of Management, and also a poet whose work has appeared in Best American Poetry, a prominent annual anthology that showcases a curated selection of contemporary American poems. In this episode, Vincent reveals: - What changes when people are able to bring their deepest values to work - The minimum responsibility businesses must uphold in today’s times - What shifts when we see responsibility as a right, not a burden
Sep 19, 2025 · 1 hr 22 min
Activating Group Genius I Nicole Schwab
Why are we out of balance, not just within our own selves, but collectively as society? What fundamental qualities do we need to cultivate that can lead to breakthrough solutions to humanity’s core problems today? What lessons can we draw from nature’s cycles to inform and advance our own work and life pursuits? What new avenues can we explore to shift us and others to a higher state of consciousness? What is the ROI of inner work? Does extraordinary change only begin through the force of a singular heroic individual or is that a myth? And what does it take to activate group genius? Find out from Nicole Schwab, exclusively in conversation with Dr. Hitendra Wadhwa on Intersections Podcast. Nicole Schwab is a policy leader, systems change expert and author, with more than 20 years experience in building communities and facilitating processes for collective action. She is the Co-founder and Managing Director of Ostara Collective, an environmental services organization, on a mission to restore relationships to ourselves, each other, and the Earth, building engaged communities of changemakers to reimagine and catalyse the emergence of an economy in service of life. In the past, Nicole has co-headed the Nature Pillar and chaired the Forum of Young Global Leaders at the World Economic Forum; advised forest and ocean conservation non-profits including National Geographic Society’s Campaign for Nature; and co-founded the EDGE Certified Foundation, a business certification standard for gender equality in the workplace. Nicole has also authored the book, The Heart of the Labyrinth, a spiritual parable offering earth centered wisdom. In this episode, Nicole reveals: - Why we are out of balance, not just within ourselves but as society - The ROI of inner work and fundamental qualities we need to cultivate to achieve breakthrough solutions at the personal and collective level
Sep 7, 2025 · 1 hr 12 min
Entering Flow State I Robbie Anderson
Who are we when we are at our best? Is there a method to enter flow state at will? What wisdom can we draw from the high-stakes world of Formula 1 racing and apply to our own lives and work? What model can help us examine the inner workings of our mind—and begin to master it? And what is the most overlooked, yet essential, ingredient in elite performance Find out from Robbie Anderson, exclusively in conversation with Dr. Hitendra Wadhwa on Intersections Podcast. Robbie Anderson is a highly experienced performance psychologist and renowned ‘attention expert,’ specialising in high performing people, teams, and cultures, and serving individuals in professional, international and Olympic sport; businesses and hedge funds in the UK and US; and the emergency services and armed forces. An expert in applied neuroscience and high-stakes environments, Robbie personally collaborated with Chimp Model creator Professor Steve Peters for over a decade, co-founding and running a successful consultancy together, Chimp Management. Robbie is now Director at Performing Minds, supporting elite performers in sport and business, and is the Head of Psychology at Hintsa Performance, consulting to drivers and teams in Formula 1. In this episode, Robbie reveals: - A powerful model to gain deeper access to the mind and activate elite performance - A four-step method used by Formula 1 champions to enter flow state at will - The most overlooked aspect of elite performance
Aug 21, 2025 · 49 min
How to Forgive Others I Fred Luskin
How can we learn to forgive those who have deeply hurt us? What does forgiveness truly mean—and what does it not? How can we become free from the bitterness we carry, and what unfolds when we hold on to our grievances for too long? Can we find peace even when there’s no apology, no justice, no closure? And where does true healing come from? Find out from Dr. Fred Luskin, exclusively in conversation with Dr. Hitendra Wadhwa on Intersections Podcast. A pioneer in forgiveness research, Fred Luskin is a Stanford Professor, and Director and Co-founder of the Stanford University Forgiveness Projects, the largest interpersonal forgiveness training research project ever conducted. Fred has also been a practicing psychologist and therapist for over 30 years, helping others live happier and more fulfilled lives through the practice of forgiveness, gratitude, and meditation. An acclaimed speaker, Fred speaks to a variety of audiences including investors, corporate leaders, medical and mental health professionals, and has conducted stress management and emotional intelligence programs at leading organizations including Boston Consulting Group, Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, Apple and Facebook. He is also the co-founder and curriculum creator for the executive consulting firm, Maximize Your Talent. Fred has authored several best-selling books, including Forgive for Good: A Proven Prescription for Health and Happiness, Forgive for Love: The Missing Ingredient for a Healthy and Lasting Relationship, and Stress Free for Good: Ten Scientifically Proven Life Skills for Health and Happiness. In this episode, Fred reveals: - What we often get wrong about forgiveness—and what it truly asks of us - What happens when we hold on to our grievances - How to find peace when apology, justice, or closure don’t arrive
Aug 7, 2025 · 1 hr 15 min
The Most Important Sound in Our Lives I Julian Treasure
What role does sound play in human transformation? How can we tune into the full range and capacities of our sound-listening to heal and grow as individuals and bring harmony in our societies? What kind of a world would we live in today if we were taught how to listen, especially with those we disagree with? What does true listening really require of us? And what is the most important and often overlooked sound in our lives? Find out from Julian Treasure, exclusively in conversation with Dr. Hitendra Wadhwa on Intersections Podcast. Julian is a sound and communication expert and is on a mission to help people and organizations to listen better and create healthier and more effective sound. He has founded The Sound Agency, an audio branding company, and created and helped launch Moodsonic®, a range of biophilic soundscapes to enhance wellbeing and productivity in workspaces. An acclaimed keynote speaker, Julian’s five TED talks have been watched more than 150 million times, and he is featured regularly in leading media including BBC TV and NBC's Today Show. Julian has authored several books, including Sound Business, How to be Heard and his most recent, Sound Affects: How Sound Shapes Our Lives, Our Wellbeing and Our Planet. In this episode, Julian reveals: - The role of sound in human transformation - What true listening really requires of us - The most important sound in our lives
Jul 23, 2025 · 1 hr 42 min
Anne-Marie Slaughter on Listening to Your Inner Call
What if the things we sideline in the pursuit of success—care, connection, and personal struggles—are what could actually lead us to clarity and purpose? In a culture that celebrates achievement and autonomy, have we overlooked the connective tissue that quietly holds our lives and systems together? Could personal transformation also be the key to transforming how we lead, live, and rebuild the world around us? Find out from Anne-Marie Slaughter, exclusively in conversation with Dr. Hitendra Wadhwa on Intersections Podcast. Anne-Marie Slaughter is a global leader, educator, foreign policy expert, public intellectual and the CEO of New America, a “think and action tank” dedicated to realizing the promise of America in an era of rapid technological and social change. In 2009, Hillary Clinton appointed her as the first woman Director of Policy Planning in the U.S. State Department. She has been a professor at University of Chicago Law School, Harvard Law School and Princeton University, and has written and lectured widely on very relevant topics, including global network design and leadership, gender equality and elevating the value of care for both men and women, and on American renewal. Anne-Marie is a regular columnist for Project Syndicate, a contributing editor to the Financial Times, appears regularly on CNN, BBC, NPR, and PBS, and author of several books including The Idea that Is America, Unfinished Business, and Renewal: From Crisis to Transformation in Our Lives, Work, and Politics. In this episode, Anne-Marie reveals: - How stepping away from power may bring unexpected clarity about who we are and our purpose in the world - Why caregiving—long dismissed as peripheral—may hold more influence than we’ve been taught to believe - A deeper path of renewal that can reshape not only individuals but also the systems within which we live and lead
Jun 24, 2025 · 57 min
Ai-jen Poo on the Most Powerful Force for Changemaking
Why does a society that depends so much on nannies, caregivers, and home-care workers offer them so little in return? What does this reflect about modern culture and the values it espouses? How can we elevate caregiving into a much-valued pursuit in society? And what drives certain individuals to become changemakers and dedicate their whole lives to serving others? Find out from Ai-jen Poo, exclusively in conversation with Dr. Hitendra Wadhwa on Intersections Podcast. Ai-jen Poo is a next-generation labor leader, an award-winning organizer, and a leading voice in the women’s movement. She is the President of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, a non-profit organization that works to win respect, recognition, and labor rights and protections for the nearly 2.5 million nannies, house cleaners, and homecare workers across America; Executive Director of Caring Across Generations, a national organization of family caregivers, care workers, disabled people, and aging adults working to transform the way we care in this country, and a trustee of the Ford Foundation. Recently, she served as a commissioner on President Biden’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. Ai-jen has been recognized among Fortune’s World’s 50 Greatest Leaders and Time’s 100 Most Influential People, and received a MacArthur Fellowship, commonly known as a “Genius Grant.” A nationally recognized expert on the care economy, Ai-jen has authored the celebrated book The Age of Dignity: Preparing for the Elder Boom in a Changing America. In this episode, Ai-jen reveals: - Why some people devote their lives to serving others, and what they gain in return - What changes when we organize not from rage, but from love - Elevating caregiving to a central pillar in our society’s values
Jun 5, 2025 · 1 hr 35 min
Seeing the Whole Truth in a Complicated World - Gregory Khalil
How do we bridge divides when truth is so fiercely contested? In our search for moral clarity, what inner practices can help us hold multiple perspectives in a graceful manner, without collapsing into cynicism or false certainty? And what can we learn—about power, empathy, fairness, and truth—from someone who has stood at the intersection of journalism, faith, and one of the world’s most intractable conflicts? Find out from Gregory N. Khalil, exclusively in conversation with Dr. Hitendra Wadhwa on Intersections Podcast. Gregory Khalil is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Journalism in the Columbia Journalism School at Columbia University in the City of New York. He is the co-founder and President of Telos, a Washington D.C.-based non-profit that equips American leaders and their communities to better engage seemingly intractable conflict. Much of Telos’ work has centered on the role of faith leaders and culture shapers in America’s relationship to Israel/Palestine and the broader Middle East. Prior to founding Telos, Greg was a legal and communications adviser to Palestinian leaders on peace negotiations with Israel. Greg is also a founding member and chair of the board of directors of Narrative 4, a global non-profit that seeks to use story and media to cultivate empathy across divides. He has lectured internationally and his writing has appeared in leading media including The New York Times and The Review of Faith & International Affairs. In this episode, Gregory reveals: - Powerful inner practices that can help us navigate contradictions without falling into cynicism or false certainty - What separates exemplary changemakers from the rest—and what step quietly precedes meaningful action
May 9, 2025 · 1 hr 20 min
Krista Tippett on What It Might Take for Humanity to Flourish
What might it take for humanity to rise from merely surviving to truly flourishing? Why is today’s model of higher education falling short in preparing us for the moral complexities of modern life? And at a time when knowledge is abundant but wisdom feels scarce, how do we cultivate a life of meaning—one that integrates intellect with moral imagination, ambition with purpose, and outer success with inner stillness? Find out from Krista Tippett, exclusively in conversation with Dr. Hitendra Wadhwa on Intersections Podcast. Krista Tippett is a former journalist and a diplomat, a sought-after public speaker, a Peabody Award-winning broadcaster and a New York Times bestselling author. She has published three books, Speaking of Faith, Einstein’s God: Conversations About Science and the Human Spirit, and Becoming Wise: An Inquiry into the Mystery and Art of Living. Krista is the creator and host of the acclaimed public radio program and podcast, On Being, that has featured many luminaries including Desmond Tutu, Thich Nhat Hanh and Mary Oliver, facilitating a new kind of conversation about religion, spirituality, ethics, and large questions of meaning in every aspect of life. In 2014, President Obama awarded Krista the National Humanities Medal at the White House for “thoughtfully delving into the mysteries of human existence.” In this episode, Krista reveals: - How to navigate moments when our deepest values are out of sync with those around us—and still lead with integrity and grace - What it will take for our species to evolve from merely surviving to truly flourishing—and why higher education must be reimagined to meet this moment - Why deep listening—not just to others, but to life itself—is the foundation of wisdom and leadership - How we can move beyond old paradigms of power, identity, and truth to embrace a more expansive, interconnected way of being
Apr 22, 2025 · 1 hr 8 min
Rabbi Shai Held on Leading with Grace, Gratitude and Generosity
How can we successfully bring our vision to life to fill the gaps we see in the world? What challenges may arise along this journey, and how can we navigate them with wisdom and grace? In our quest to change the world, how do we engage in meaningful dialogue with those holding opposing viewpoints and arrive at a deeper, collective understanding? And how might grace, gratitude, and generosity become the three central pillars to guide us in all we do? Find out from Rabbi Shai Held, exclusively in conversation with Dr. Hitendra Wadhwa on Intersections Podcast. Rabbi Shai Held is a philosopher, theologian, and a Bible scholar, and currently serves as President and Dean at the Hadar Institute, a center of Jewish life, learning, and practice that builds vibrant egalitarian communities in North America and Israel, which he co-founded in 2006. Rabbi Held has received the prestigious Covenant Award for Excellence in Jewish Education, and has been named multiple times by Newsweek as one of the fifty most influential rabbis in America and by the Jewish Daily Forward as one of the fifty most prominent Jews in the world. He has authored a number of books including Abraham Joshua Heschel: The Call of Transcendence, The Heart of Torah, and his most recent, Judaism is About Love. He is also the host of Hadar Institute's newest podcast, Answers WithHeld. In this episode, Rabbi Held reveals: - His own journey of bringing his vision for Hadar Institute to life, the challenges that ensued and how he overcame them successfully - A profound understanding of grace, gratitude and generosity, and how to cultivate these qualities in all that we do
Apr 8, 2025 · 42 min
Gurcharan Das on Honoring and Pursuing Your True Calling
What do we do when we find ourselves caught between the demands of making a living and the quiet yearning to pursue our passion? How can we listen more deeply to the subtle stirrings of our soul while honoring the responsibilities and realities of the world we live in? How can we create harmony between our inner and outer worlds so each of these two worlds energizes and uplifts the other? Find out from Gurcharan Das, exclusively in conversation with Dr. Hitendra Wadhwa on Intersections Podcast. Gurcharan Das is a celebrated author, thinker and former CEO of Procter & Gamble India and Managing Director, Procter & Gamble Worldwide (Strategic Planning). After four decades of working at the helm of the business world, he retired early to become a full-time writer. Some of his bestselling books include India Unbound, The Difficulty of Being Good, and Another Sort of Freedom. His writings have been featured in leading media including The Economist, Financial Times, WSJ and The Guardian. Gurcharan graduated in philosophy with honors from Harvard University, where he was inducted in 2013 into Phi Beta Kappa for ‘high attainments in liberal scholarship.’ He also attended Harvard Business School where he is featured in four case studies. In this episode, Gurcharan reveals: - How to honor and pursue your soul’s true calling in the messy milieu of life - A practical approach to harmonize your inner aspirations with your outer ambitions

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