…

Blue Sky

…

Bill Burke

Hosted by Bill Burke, founder of The Optimism Institute, this weekly podcast will feature inspiring leaders, authors, researchers, and big thinkers who are taking on some of our world’s toughest challenges with an infectious sense of optimism. Blue Sky takes its name from the meditation reminder that there’s always blue sky above, sometimes you just have to get your head above the clouds to see it.

#123

Curiosity + Resilience: A Formula for Optimism

Bill Burke reflects on an idea presented by Niren Chaudhary in episode 107. Niren describe... more

06 Aug 2025

10 MINS

10:46

06 Aug 2025

#122

Niren Chaudhary Reflects on Rebounding From Grief and His Successful Career Leading With Gratitude a...

Niren Chaudhary has led a remarkable life while overcoming intense personal tragedies. He... more

30 Jul 2025

51 MINS

51:10

30 Jul 2025

#121

Heidi Johnson on Loss, Grief, and the Transformative Power of Giving

Heidi Johnson was in a great spot in life. She had a great family, good job, all she could... more

23 Jul 2025

42 MINS

42:49

23 Jul 2025

#120

Wounded Warrior Tom Deierlein’s Remarkable Story of Grit, Resilience, Service, and Optimism

As a West Point graduate who had completed his required service, Tom Deierlein was well in... more

16 Jul 2025

51 MINS

51:37

16 Jul 2025

#119

Jodie Jackson on How to Manage Our News Consumption to Preserve Our Mental Health and Well-Being

Many years ago, Jodie Jackson found herself in a deep depression. As she worked to identi... more

09 Jul 2025

48 MINS

48:49

09 Jul 2025

#118

4th of July Edition and Reflections on American Optimism

In honor of this year’s 4th of July celebration, host Bill Burke discusses some bits of US... more

02 Jul 2025

09 MINS

09:28

02 Jul 2025

#117

Nichole Argo on Her Remarkable Work as a Community Builder

Nichole Argo describes the work she’s doing to bring communities together by assembling pe... more

25 Jun 2025

49 MINS

49:10

25 Jun 2025

#116

Harry Smith on Life Lessons and His Career in Journalism

Over the course of his remarkable career, Harry Smith interviewed six US presidents and nu... more

18 Jun 2025

44 MINS

44:43

18 Jun 2025

#115

Some Reasons Why Today Is the Greatest Time to Be Alive

Blue Sky host Bill Burke, along with several past guests, have described today as the best... more

04 Jun 2025

10 MINS

10:56

04 Jun 2025

#114

Mary McManus on Surviving and Thriving After Recovering from Trauma and Polio

Mary McManus has never had it easy. As a kindergartener, she was a victim of polio just a... more

28 May 2025

50 MINS

50:08

28 May 2025

#113

Political Scientist and Author Lindsey Cormack Discusses Her Book, "How to Raise a Citizen (And Why ...

Political division in the United States is an issue often cited as contributing to the pes... more

21 May 2025

43 MINS

43:25

21 May 2025

#112

Sam Pressler on His Passion for Building Community and Connection

Sam Pressler has a strong track record of bringing people together and working to rebuild ... more

14 May 2025

54 MINS

54:34

14 May 2025

#111

Reflections on the Role of Mentors and Teachers in a Life of Optimism

On the heels of the “Arts Educators Save the World” feed swap episode with Jonathan Groff ... more

07 May 2025

09 MINS

09:36

07 May 2025

#110

A Special Blue Sky Presentation of the “Arts Educators Save the World” Podcast with Erica Halverson,...

In this very special “feed swap” edition, Blue Sky Alum Erica Halverson interviews award-w... more

30 Apr 2025

1 HR 04 MINS

1:04:28

30 Apr 2025

#109

Historian and Author Martin Gutmann Discusses Optimism, History, and His Appreciation for “Unseen Le...

Martin Gutmann is an expert on the history of business and has written extensively about s... more

23 Apr 2025

54 MINS

54:21

23 Apr 2025

#108

Blayne Smith and Brandon Young Explain Why Perseverance Is Greater Than Endurance

Blayne Smith and Brandon Young are two US Army combat veterans who came together in civili... more

16 Apr 2025

56 MINS

56:42

16 Apr 2025

#107

Cheryl Dorsey Describes the Remarkable Work of Echoing Green

This episode explores the work of <a href= "https://echoinggreen.org/" target="_blank" rel... more

09 Apr 2025

44 MINS

44:39

09 Apr 2025

#106

A True Confession Episode – Falling Off the Optimism Wagon

In this very special edition of “the mini podcast with major optimism,” host Bill Burke co... more

02 Apr 2025

--:--

02 Apr 2025

#105

David McCullough III Shares the Story of The American Exchange Project and His Optimistic Vision for...

David McCullough got the idea for <a href= "https://www.americanexchangeproject.org/" targ... more

26 Mar 2025

47 MINS

47:50

26 Mar 2025

#104

Erica Halverson Describes Her Optimistic Belief That Arts Educators Can Save the World

While studying acting in college, Erica Halverson decided that while she loved the theater... more

19 Mar 2025

54 MINS

54:07

19 Mar 2025

#103

Earl B. Hunter, Jr. Discusses His Optimistic Approach to Helping Grow the Outdoor Industry Through H...

When Earl B. Hunter’s son was seven years old, he took him on three-month, multi-state cam... more

12 Mar 2025

58 MINS

58:20

12 Mar 2025

#102

Celebrating Optimism Month and Blue Sky’s 2nd Anniversary

On this month’s installment of “A Bit of Blue Sky,” and in honor of National Optimism Mont... more

05 Mar 2025

06 MINS

06:23

05 Mar 2025

#101

Khan Academy’s Sal Khan Describes Why He’s So Optimistic About the Future of AI and Education

Sal Khan is one of the great innovators in education and in this Blue Sky episode, he disc... more

26 Feb 2025

54 MINS

54:39

26 Feb 2025

Podurama

Home

Trending

Personal

Your Podcasts

New Episodes

My Files

Favourite Episodes

Tags (Folders)

Recently Played

Bookmarks

Followed Playlists

#123

Curiosity + Resilience: A Formula for Optimism

#122

Niren Chaudhary Reflects on Rebounding From Grief and His Successful Career Leading With Gratitude a...

#121

Heidi Johnson on Loss, Grief, and the Transformative Power of Giving

#120

Wounded Warrior Tom Deierlein’s Remarkable Story of Grit, Resilience, Service, and Optimism

#119

Jodie Jackson on How to Manage Our News Consumption to Preserve Our Mental Health and Well-Being

#118

4th of July Edition and Reflections on American Optimism

#117

Nichole Argo on Her Remarkable Work as a Community Builder

#116

Harry Smith on Life Lessons and His Career in Journalism

#115

Some Reasons Why Today Is the Greatest Time to Be Alive

#114

Mary McManus on Surviving and Thriving After Recovering from Trauma and Polio

#113

Political Scientist and Author Lindsey Cormack Discusses Her Book, "How to Raise a Citizen (And Why ...

#112

Sam Pressler on His Passion for Building Community and Connection

#111

Reflections on the Role of Mentors and Teachers in a Life of Optimism

#110

A Special Blue Sky Presentation of the “Arts Educators Save the World” Podcast with Erica Halverson,...

#109

Historian and Author Martin Gutmann Discusses Optimism, History, and His Appreciation for “Unseen Le...

#108

Blayne Smith and Brandon Young Explain Why Perseverance Is Greater Than Endurance

#107

Cheryl Dorsey Describes the Remarkable Work of Echoing Green

#106

A True Confession Episode – Falling Off the Optimism Wagon

#105

David McCullough III Shares the Story of The American Exchange Project and His Optimistic Vision for...

#104

Erica Halverson Describes Her Optimistic Belief That Arts Educators Can Save the World

#103

Earl B. Hunter, Jr. Discusses His Optimistic Approach to Helping Grow the Outdoor Industry Through H...

#102

Celebrating Optimism Month and Blue Sky’s 2nd Anniversary

#101

Khan Academy’s Sal Khan Describes Why He’s So Optimistic About the Future of AI and Education