Breaking Protocol with Bob Satawake

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Bridging Business and Diplomacy featuring Natalia Brzezinski Nov 02, 2020

Show notes

Natalia Brzezinski is the former CEO of Brilliant Minds Foundation, an initiative focused on bringing together traditional, long-term business families and major tech founders to debate the convergence of humanity and technology. She also served as the CEO for Brilliant Minds annual two-day leadership summit in the creative setting of Stockholm where specifically chosen guests from the worlds of business, technology, art, music and science, meet in a marriage of tradition and disruption, values and innovation, to debate and create. Natalia is an experienced moderator, journalist, and communications strategist focused on building dynamic dialogue across numerous sectors and cultures. She has held cutting-edge roles in the U.S. Senate Press Office for Senator John Kerry, to The Huffington Post, she served as a diplomat alongside her husband the U.S. Ambassador to Sweden from 2011-2015 in addition Natalia served as an advisor to the U.S. Embassy in Sweden focusing on the intersect of digitalization and diplomacy, innovation and leadership. Natalia is also the host of the podcast series, The Brilliant Minds Podcast, a Spotify original and one of Spotify’s earliest pieces of original content. She holds open and honest conversations with leading entrepreneurs, politicians, artists and activists that share a passion for leveraging creativity for impact. She share with me in this episode the value of bridging business and diplomacy creating a global impact on profits and humanity.

Surviving A Massacre and Electing A President featuring Brandon Wolf Oct 27, 2020

Show notes

On this episode I am joined by Brandon Wolf, he is the Development Officer and Media Relations Manager for Equality Florida. Where he supports initiatives to expand equality to all Americans and ensure future generations are free from discrimination in the workplace, housing and health care, in addition to other platforms. Brandon is a survivor of the Pulse Nightclub massacre where in the early morning hours of June 12, 2016 a domestic terrorist fired over 200 rounds of ammunition into the crowd inside the club killing 49 people and injuring 53 more. Brandon along with those in the club that night were simply doing as millions in this country have been doing for generations, gathering on a Saturday night to enjoy each other’s company and share a drink together. Despite that horrific evening he and so many others experienced, Brandon has moved forward to become a nationally-recognized advocate for LGBTQ issues and gun violence prevention, Brandon found his passion for social change following the shooting at Pulse Nightclub. He is a frequent contributor on state and national media outlets, having published opinion columns in USA Today, CNN digital and Orlando Weekly. He has brought awareness to the issues in HuffPost, Metro Weekly, and has appeared on MSNBC, CNN, and multiple other news outlets. Brandon received the Voice for Equality Award at the 2018 Orlando Gala. In addition, Brandon volunteers with The Dru Project, an organization he founded following the shooting at Pulse Nightclub that sponsors LGBTQ student groups and provides college funding to future leaders. He lives in Orlando.

"Presidential Election" SPECIAL EDITION featuring Sonia Van Meter Oct 24, 2020

Show notes

The final Presidential debate has taken place and one might say it’s all over but the crying, for the loser that is, but before we get to November 3rd there is still a lot of campaigning to take place. We will continue to be bombarded with TV ads, opening our mailboxes to find stacks of campaign literature and opening our front door to campaign lit hanging on our door knobs despite the fact that over one third of the voter population from 2016 has already cast a ballot. On this episode I am joined by political strategist Sonia Van Meter. Sonia is the Managing Partner of Stanford Campaigns, a Democratic Opposition Research firm in Austin TX. she joined Stanford Campaigns in 2009 and quickly found her professional home. Now in her tenth year in the political consulting industry, Sonia has worked hundreds of campaigns all over the country, including city council, gubernatorial and US Senate races. In 2013 Sonia became a Partner of Stanford Campaigns where she continues bringing the good word of opposition research to democratic campaigns and causes up and down the ballot nationwide. Sonia graduated cum laude from Georgia State University with a B.A. in Sociology. When she’s not digging up dirt on politicians, you can find her enjoying a bourbon, playing bass with her band, or marveling at her husband’s latest pun.

"Love Wins" Jumping The Hurdles Of Marriage Equality featuring Jim Obergefell Oct 21, 2020

Show notes

In 1992 my guest Jim Obergefell met the love of his life John Arthur and fell in love with him while living in Cincinnati, Ohio. In the early 90’s the gay community all over America lived in secrecy because in that not too distant past LGBTQ people could be arrested, jailed, and of course fired from their jobs for who they were and who they loved. There were no protections under the law for LGBTQ people to be treated equally but despite the hurdles the community faced there were those who continued to live their lives with those they loved and one of those couples was Jim and John. Jim Obergefell is the named plaintiff in the Supreme Court case Obergefell v. Hodges that was decided in June 26, 2015 legalizing marriage between same sex couples in the United States and the co-author of the book “Love Wins” The Lovers and Lawyers who Fought the Landmark Case for Marriage Equality. There is still so much instability facing the future of the LGBTQ community as it pertains to legal protections in employment, housing, healthcare, jurisprudence and of course marriage and I am happy to explore all of these subjects and Jim’s book on this show. In addition, Jim and I discuss the future ahead and his current initiative Family Equality www.familyequality.org and his passion for wines that includes his current venture Equality Vines equalityvines.com where a portion of the sale of each bottle of these premium wines goes to support multiple humanitarian initiatives including equality. Grab a glass of Equality Vines wine and join us for the enlightening conversation or take us along on your drive to work or a walk or run!

Listen and Be Kind – featuring “Y’allitics” Political Podcast Hosts Jason Wheeler and Jason Whitely Oct 13, 2020

Show notes

On this show I host two of the most notable political reporters in the state of Texas! Jason Whitely has been honored with 24 Emmy Awards, two Edward R. Murrow Awards, and two dozen others from the Associated Press in Tennessee, Illinois, and Texas. Mr. Whitely won the Emmy for Best General Assignment Reporter in 2019, 2018, 2017, 2010, and 2005. Jason Wheeler has had an amazing career that has taken him on some phenomenal adventures including the Amazon rainforest, the presidential campaign trail, a front-row view of space shuttle launches and to the vortexes of many hurricanes. One might refer to these experiences as grueling, gut-wrenching, but no doubt exciting. Mr. Wheeler has been recognized with three Emmy Awards, two Edward R. Murrow Awards, a State Bar of Texas Gavel Award, an Excellence in Personal Finance Reporting Award and multiple Texas Associated Press Awards.

Jason Wheeler and Jason Whitely are the hosts of my favorite podcast, well other than my own I suppose, Y’allitics! The unofficial political podcast of Texas Y'allitics is where Jason Whitely and Jason Wheeler crack open an ice-cold Texas brew and explore a single hot topic affecting Texans as we gear up for the 2020 election. Sit back and enjoy this extraordinary conversation about the behind the scenes demands of professional journalism today and the maneuvering the world of politics as a reporter. Take us along on your drive to work, while walking, running or enjoying a glass of wine!

Once I Was You featuring Maria Hinojosa - Emmy Award Winning Journalist Oct 06, 2020

Show notes

Maria Hinojosa is an award-winning journalist who has collaborated with the most respected networks and is known for bringing humanity to her reporting. In this beautifully-rendered memoir, she relates the history of US immigration policy that has brought us to where we are today, as she shares her deeply personal story. For thirty years, Maria Hinojosa has reported on stories and communities in America that often go ignored by the mainstream media. Bestselling author Julia Alvarez has called her “one of the most important, respected, and beloved cultural leaders in the Latinx community.”
In Once I Was You, Maria shares her intimate experience growing up Mexican American on the south side of Chicago and documenting the existential wasteland of immigration detention camps for news outlets that often challenged her work. In these pages, she offers a personal and eye-opening account of how the rhetoric around immigration has not only long informed American attitudes toward outsiders, but also enabled willful negligence and profiteering at the expense of our country’s most vulnerable populations—charging us with the broken system we have today.
This honest and heartrending memoir paints a vivid portrait of how we got here and what it means to be a survivor, a feminist, a citizen, and a journalist who owns her voice while striving for the truth. Once I Was You is an urgent call to fellow Americans to open their eyes to the immigration crisis and understand that it affects us all.

"Notorious RBG" What Now? with Craig McCartney Sep 29, 2020

Show notes

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has passed leaving a spirit that will forever remain in the legacy of the United States Supreme Court. There is no replacing her, someone may occupy the seat where she sat but her influence that guided the court over the course of her career can never be duplicated. Craig McCartney joins me for an insightful conversation about the future our our democracy and determines if our arc moving forward will guided by a moral compass as it bends toward justice. Join the conversation while driving, biking, running or a little day drinking, as it does seem that alcohol and politics definitely mix these days. Click and subscribe for notification of future episodes of Breaking Protocol with Bob Satawake.

No Matter Where You Live, YOU CAN VOTE! featuring Ambassador Bruce and Vicki Heyman Sep 15, 2020

Show notes

In the United States of America voting is the ultimate definition of freedom! Ambassador Bruce Heyman and his wife Vicki Heyman have dedicated themselves to ensure that freedom and democracy live on through advocating that all Americans regardless of where they live in the world exercise their constitutional right to vote. One very simple way for those of you living outside of the United States is to visit the website votefromabroad.org and follow the simple steps to casting your ballot and having your voice heard in the upcoming U.S. elections. There is no better way to honor the millions of men and women who have died protecting the constitutional right to vote. Ambassador Heyman and Vicki are truly passionate about the future of American democracy and in this podcast provide you a very simple solution for participating in the future of the U.S.A. Cast your ballot today, visit votefromabroad.org

"A New Generation Perspective" featuring Kaivan Shroff Sep 08, 2020

Show notes

Kaivan Shroff is a Democratic political strategist, commentator, and organizer. He serves as Senior Advisor to the Institute for Education, a leading D.C. non-profit, and is a member of the Forbes NY Business Council. Before joining the team at IFE, Shroff worked at Microsoft New York on their Technology and Civic Engagement team, partnering with the NYC government and non-profits to offer data-driven solutions to big social problems. Shroff also worked on the Digital Team at Hillary For America. He holds an M.B.A. from the Yale School of Management and a B.A. in Political Science from Brown University. Social media, environmental policy and humanitarian initiatives have driven the under thirty generation to stand up and engage in the political arena. As a result a new generation of leaders are being elected and their positions are changing the face of America's future. Take the time to engage by joining this conversation during your daily run, drive to work or over a relaxing cocktail after work.

“Leading Texas Forward” Gina Ortiz Jones - Candidate for U.S. Congress TX23 Sep 01, 2020

Show notes

In 2018, Gina came within 926 votes of defeating Will Hurd in TX-23. A first-generation Filipino American, Gina was raised by a single mother who came to the United States because she believed in the promise of a better future. After graduating from Boston University on a four year R.O.T.C. scholarship, Gina was commissioned as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Air Force and served tours of duty in Iraq under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Gina returned home to San Antonio following her deployment to help care for her mother who was fighting cancer. Gina has built a career in national security, with a focus on defense intelligence and economic security. This includes serving as the Director for Investment at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative under President Obama. Gina knows that we need a leader standing up for the issues that can make a real impact on people’s lives. That’s why she’s stepping up to serve her country and her community again by running for Congress addressing important issues such as health care, education, trade and unemployment. If you would like to know more about Gina and her campaign you can visit ginaortizjones.com for more information and become a supporter. If you enjoyed this podcast please click and subscribe for notification of future episodes, and if you haven’t had an opportunity to read my book, Breaking Protocol Forging A Path Beyond Diplomacy it is available at your favorite online retailer or for download to your kindle, table or smart phone. Stay safe, stay healthy and many blessings.

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