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Blue Sky

Blue Sky

By: Bill Burke
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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.2025 Hygiene & Healthy Living Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Guy Kawasaki Describes Working Steve Jobs and Other Remarkable People Who've Used Optimism as a Strategic Advantage

    Guy Kawasaki Describes Working Steve Jobs and Other Remarkable People Who've Used Optimism as a Strategic Advantage
    Dec 3 2025
    Guy Kawasaki has had an amazing life and career. After growing up in Hawaii, he went to California for college and later went on to what was then known as Apple Computer where he was a self-described "brand evangelist" during some of their highest growth and most entrepreneurial years. He describes Steve Jobs as being optimistic almost to the point of being delusional, and working for him has inspired Guy to be interested in mold-breaking people ever since, hence the name of his popular podcast, Remarkable People. He has also written 17 books on a variety of subjects, his latest being Wiser Guy, which was released earlier this year. Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to Blue Sky Bill Burke introduces Guy Kawasaki as a remarkable guest on Blue Sky, highlighting Guy's background as chief evangelist at Apple and Canva, and his extensive writing. Guy shares his preference for being a podcast guest due to less prep work, contrasting with the host's five-hour preparation time. 03:10 From Hawaii to Stanford Guy recounts his childhood in Kalihi Valley, a lower-middle-income part of Hawaii, and how a public school teacher's advice led him to a private school, then Stanford. He describes feeling immediately at home at Stanford in 1972, despite it being pre-tech, and the campus's amazing atmosphere. 06:17 Apple, Steve Jobs & the 1984 Ad Guy discusses his two stints at Apple, particularly his time in the Macintosh division under Steve Jobs from 1983 to 1987. He reveals the Macintosh team's mission to preserve democracy and freedom through computing and shares the behind-the-scenes story of the iconic 1984 Super Bowl ad, which the board initially wanted to pull. 11:49 Evangelizing Apple & Sales Skills Guy details how Apple evangelized its new operating system in the 1980s through fervor rather than just money, contrasting with the corporate image of IBM. He also shares his 'checkered past' of dropping out of medical, dental, and law school, leading him to an MBA and invaluable sales experience in the jewelry business, which he considers essential. 17:02 Steve Jobs: Visionary & Demanding Guy describes working for Steve Jobs as the most formative experience of his career, calling Jobs a visionary and passionate, albeit demanding and intimidating, leader. He emphasizes that Jobs was a 'mission-driven egoist' who cared only about making the best computer, disregarding personal biases like race or gender. 23:01 Remarkable People Podcast Origins Guy explains his decision to start the 'Remarkable People' podcast, initially inspired by the lucrative ad model of another podcaster, and his realization that his access to remarkable individuals and business experience uniquely positioned him. He highlights the strategic advantage of having prominent guests like Jane Goodall to attract others. 30:08 Jane Goodall: A Source of Hope Guy recounts his personal connection to Jane Goodall, stemming from a TEDx interview, and how she became his first podcast guest. He describes her as the most remarkable person he's interviewed, embodying hope and tireless dedication to her cause, even declining a rest offer at 90 due to 'too much to do.' 36:30 Optimism as a Strategic Advantage Guy discusses optimism as a strategic advantage, asserting that it's crucial for achieving anything significant, combining realism with the belief that challenges can be overcome. He shares his experiences of taking up ice hockey at 44 and surfing at 60, attributing it to a 'growth mindset' and the belief that one is never too old to learn new things.
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    45 mins
  • Could Venture Capital Invest in World Peace? Guest Brian Abrams Has Set Out to Do Just That

    Could Venture Capital Invest in World Peace? Guest Brian Abrams Has Set Out to Do Just That
    Nov 26 2025
    We all know that huge sums of money are invested in creating new, more effective weapons of war. Brian Abrams sees an opportunity to invest instead in what he calls "peace tech," emerging businesses using technologies and creative methods designed to prevent war from happening in the first place. He's created a new firm, B Ventures, and in this Blue Sky episode he describes with infectious optimism his exciting vision for the future. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Brian Abrams Bill Burke introduces Brian Abrams, founder of B Ventures Group, an investment fund focused on global peacebuilding and conflict resolution through "peace tech." Brian's extensive background in managing over $1 billion in assets and his human-centric investment philosophy are highlighted. 02:09 From Founder to Venture Capitalist Brian shares his career journey, starting as an entrepreneur in India where he experienced failure, which led him to realize his strength in spotting opportunities rather than operationalizing them. He then transitioned to venture capital in Israel, building a fund from $2 million to over $1.2 billion, emphasizing the role of luck and a pivotal moment in fostering peace initiatives. 08:28 The Genesis of Peace Tech Brian reflects on his past experiences, including a startup's condition to include Palestinian teammates during an acquisition, which planted the seed for his current work. He explains his philosophy of using money to serve people and approaching problems from a bottom-up perspective, leading him to focus on peace tech as an alternative to military tech. 10:17 The Rationale for Peace Tech Drawing inspiration from Thich Nhat Hanh's philosophy of 'interbeing,' Brian articulates why war is illogical and a form of collective self-harm. He emphasizes the enormous economic cost of violent conflict, totaling $19 trillion annually, and how venture capital's bottom-up, experimental approach can offer innovative solutions for peacebuilding. 15:28 AI in Crisis Simulation Brian describes an investment in a startup founded by a Harvard researcher who developed an AI-powered crisis simulation platform. This technology aims to anticipate and prevent future conflicts, like potential World War III over Taiwan, by running thousands of scenarios daily, far exceeding traditional war games. 21:32 Business Model for Peace Tech Brian explains the twofold business model for peace tech startups: selling to friendly governments and to companies for competitive landscape analysis. He emphasizes that a for-profit model ensures scalability and continuous funding, unlike grants, allowing for exponential growth and a virtuous cycle to prevent major conflicts. 29:23 Peace Tech: Agile and Ethical Brian highlights the agility of venture-backed peace tech companies compared to traditional government or academic initiatives, citing an example of a startup rapidly forming after the dismantling of the US Institute of Peace. He defines peace tech as anything that preempts, mitigates, or resolves violent conflict, adhering to a 'first do no harm' principle. 34:26 Peace Tech Investments and Ecosystem Brian discusses additional investments, including a company creating digital twins of societies to understand and model civil conflicts like those between Armenia and Azerbaijan. He describes the growing Peace Tech ecosystem, drawing parallels to the private space industry's exponential growth, and aims to build a global community of founders and investors. 41:12 Conclusion and Call to Action Bill Burke reflects on how technology's ability to show the grim reality of war might increase the fervent desire for peace. Brian encourages listeners to connect via LinkedIn and join the Peace Tech community, expressing his strong optimism for the future impact of this movement.
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    47 mins
  • Scott Nash Reflects on His Remarkable Career Marked by Curiosity, Experimentation, and Optimism

    Scott Nash Reflects on His Remarkable Career Marked by Curiosity, Experimentation, and Optimism
    Nov 19 2025
    Blue Sky host Bill Burke first met Scott Nash nearly 30 years ago, when both were working in the cable television business. In the years since, Scott has gone on to a successful career in publishing, both as an illustrator and an author, and with his wife Nancy co-founded Illustration Institute on a small island in Maine. In this episode, Scott describes his outgoing, experimental, and optimistic nature and how these traits have led to his remarkable success in publishing, art direction, and non-profit entrepreneurship. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction & Early Childhood Scott shares that he moved nine times before second grade, which taught him to make new friends and thrive on connection, fueling his optimism and artistic development. 03:47 Education and Early Career Scott Nash discusses his education at the Swain School of Design and Cranbrook, an experimental school that shaped his playful approach to design. 09:05 Early Days of Cable TV Scott highlights how their 'handmade' approach to branding for networks like Nickelodeon, which included assigning the color orange and constantly changing logos, stood out in an industry that traditional executives weren't taking seriously. 14:20 The Flat Stanley Phenomenon Scott Nash discusses his work illustrating Flat Stanley, a book that became a widespread educational phenomenon due to teachers encouraging kids to create and mail their own Flat Stanley figures. 19:16 Illustrating vs. Writing Own Books Scott Nash reflects on the differences and joys of illustrating books for other authors, like Flat Stanley, versus writing and illustrating his own works, such as The High Skies Adventures of Blue Jay the Pirate. 23:05 Defining Illustration & Illustration Institute's Founding Scott Nash defines illustration as 'visual art that enhances a specific narrative,' encompassing comics, graphic novels, and even narrative pottery. He explains how his passion for academia and 'rogue schools' led him to establish the illustration department at Maine College of Art and, later, co-found the Illustration Institute. 31:19 Highlighting Illustrators & Their Impact Scott Nash shares his love for classic children's book illustrators like Garth Williams, known for Stuart Little and Homer Price, and Robert McCloskey, famous for Make Way for Ducklings. He recounts the emotional and intellectual impact of Illustration Institute's exhibitions, which showcase original works and highlight the often-uncredited illustrators behind beloved stories. 34:27 AI's Impact on Creativity and Authenticity Scott Nash discusses the cyclical nature of creative trends, noting a shift from highly creative, handmade works in the early days of cable to a more corporate, homogenized phase. He expresses critical optimism about AI, hoping it will spur a countertrend towards more authentic, handmade creations. 39:59 Ethical Concerns and Public Voice in AI Scott Nash expresses concern about the business-driven rush to implement AI without a clear ethical framework, fearing it could lead to low-quality content and potential harm if not properly regulated. 42:45 Future of Illustration Institute & Closing Scott Nash details the Illustration Institute's future plans, including developing traveling exhibitions for libraries across the country, such as 'The Great State of Illustration in Maine' and the ambitious 'Illustrious Saurus,' which explores dinosaur depictions from paleontology to fantasy. He emphasizes the institute's mission to highlight illustration's critical rigor and broad appeal, connecting Maine's artistic reach with global themes and sharing his childlike enthusiasm for storytelling.
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    50 mins
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