Best Alan Xavier Podcasts (2024)

1
How poetry unlocked my superpowers | Keenan Scott II 13:32

12M ago13:32

13:32

Keenan Scott Il's passion for words, stories and superheroes fueled his journey to becoming a celebrated playwright, producer, director and actor. Showing how language can illuminate the superhero in all of us, Scott performs three spoken word pieces that seamlessly weave together literary devices like simile, assonance and slant rhyme, sharing the…

1
How to keep your hometown from becoming a ghost town | 15:59

1y ago15:59

15:59

"My very first film was about a town that disappeared," says documentarian John Paget. It was the beginning of a lifelong fascination with cities and towns across the US that experienced slow-motion declines -- but managed to stage a comeback after an era of demise. From the closure of the iconic Route 66 to the roller-coaster history of Buffalo, N…

1
The one question every aspiring leader needs to ask | Constance Hockaday 6:31

1+ y ago6:31

6:31

What does inclusive leadership look like? Artist and TED Fellow Constance Hockaday shares how the captain of a trans-Atlantic community raft taught her how to voice her hopes and desires, inspiring a vision of possibility for the future. Hockaday calls for mentors everywhere to step up and invites aspiring leaders to answer one crucial question in …

1
A creative approach to community climate action | Xavier Cortada 11:12

1+ y ago11:12

11:12

When he learned of the threat that rising sea levels posed to his coastal hometown of Miami, Florida, eco-artist Xavier Cortada founded a movement around beautifully designed elevation markers highlighting the risk of flood damage. The collaborative art project quickly mobilized action -- and excited some controversy. Watch as Cortada offers a crea…

1
The art of paying attention | Wendy MacNaughton 11:45

1+ y ago11:45

11:45

In an invitation to slow down and look at the world around you, graphic journalist Wendy MacNaughton illustrates how drawing can spark deeply human, authentic connections. Ready to try? Grab a pencil and join MacNaughton for this delightful talk. "Drawing is looking, and looking is loving," she says.…

1
How dancing can unleash your inner joy | Ryan Heffington 4:53

1+ y ago4:53

4:53

“We all have our own beautiful ways of moving, and this is worth celebrating,” says dancer and choreographer Ryan Heffington. Inviting you to reconsider your connection to dance, he shows how even everyday experiences -- tying your shoes, rocking a baby, whisking up some mac and cheese -- can offer choreographic inspiration and help you find joy an…

1
When the world is burning, is art a waste of time? | R. Alan Brooks 13:19

1+ y ago13:19

13:19

Is art worth it? "Hell yeah," says graphic novelist R. Alan Brooks -- art has the power to scare dictators, inspire multitudes and change hearts and minds across the world. Reflecting on his journey to become an artist at a time when the world felt like it was burning, Brooks shares how creating something from a place of sincerity and passion can p…

1
What if you could sing in your favorite musician's voice? | Holly Herndon 9:53

1+ y ago9:53

9:53

What if you could create new music using your favorite musician's voice? Sharing her melodic gifts with the world, multidisciplinary artist Holly Herndon introduces Holly+, an AI-powered instrument that lets people sing with her own voice. Musician Pher joins her onstage to demonstrate this mind-blowing tech while singing into two microphones -- on…

1
Fun, fierce and fantastical African art | Wanuri Kahiu 5:37

1+ y ago5:37

5:37

We're so used to narratives out of Africa being about war, poverty and devastation, says TED Fellow Wanuri Kahiu. Where's the fun? Introducing "AfroBubbleGum" -- African art that's vibrant, lighthearted and without a political agenda. Rethink the value of all that is unserious as Kahiu explains why we need art that captures the full range of human …

1
Give yourself permission to be creative | Ethan Hawke 9:06

1+ y ago9:06

9:06

Reflecting on moments that shaped his life, actor Ethan Hawke examines how courageous expression promotes healing and connection with one another -- and invites you to discover your own unabashed creativity. "There is no path till you walk it," he says.By Ethan Hawke

1
Art that imagines new ways of living with machines | Anicka Yi 7:52

1+ y ago7:52

7:52

Taking cues from soft robotics and the natural world, conceptual artist Anicka Yi builds lighter-than-air machines that roam and react like autonomous life forms. Her floating “aerobes” inspire us to think about new ways of living with machines -- and to ponder how they could evolve into living creatures. “What if our machines could be more than ju…

1
A creator-led internet, built on blockchain | Adam Mosseri 13:55

2y ago13:55

13:55

As digital assets like cryptocurrency and NFTs become more mainstream, design thinker and head of Instagram Adam Mosseri believes that creators are uniquely positioned to benefit. These blockchain-enabled technologies could remove the need for a “middleman” in the form of large social media platforms, allowing creators to more freely distribute the…

1
NFTs, the metaverse and the future of digital art | Elizabeth Strickler 11:42

2y ago11:42

11:42

In need of a brief yet illuminating lesson on the obsession with NFTs? Elizabeth Strickler breaks down the acronym and explains the fundamentals of non-fungible tokens, sharing how these digital assets are changing the landscape for artists and content creators looking to cash in on their creations -- in and out of the metaverse.…

1
How webtoons are changing movies and TV | Hyeonmi Kim 8:25

2y ago8:25

8:25

Pop culture is changing thanks to a different kind of storytelling, says digital strategist Hyeonmi Kim. They’re called webtoons: comic-like illustrations published in short segments and meant to be read on a smartphone in five to ten minutes. Kim breaks down how webtoons have leapt from phones to the big screen (Netflix’s “Hellbound,” anyone?) and…

1
Powerful photos that honor the lives of overlooked women | Smita Sharma 9:54

2y ago9:54

9:54

In some parts of the world, girls are as likely to be married off or trafficked as they are to be educated. Photojournalist and TED Fellow Smita Sharma thoughtfully depicts overlooked girls and young women, while making sure not to disrupt the lives of her subjects in the process. Her work shows what might otherwise remain hidden -- the first step …

1
My secret to creating real magic | Christina Tosi 20:47

2y ago20:47

20:47

In an infectiously joyous talk, Milk Bar founder Christina Tosi shares the sugary jolt of her first food memory and behind-the-scenes stories of her bakery's famously inventive cakes, cookies and treats. This talk may make you hungry -- but it'll also leave you a resonant message about how breaking the rules and challenging your assumptions can mak…

1
How film created hope after the Beirut port explosion | Mounia Akl 12:36

2y ago12:36

12:36

When Lebanon was rocked by a massive explosion at the port of Beirut, filmmaker Mounia Akl came face-to-face with chaos -- and the power of art to create some sense of order. In this poetic, moving talk, Akl shares the story of how she and her crew finished their film as the city recovered from disaster, discovering the truth that comes out of us i…

1
The mind-bending art of deep time | Katie Paterson 6:29

2+ y ago6:29

6:29

Short-sightedness may be the greatest threat to humanity, says conceptual artist Katie Paterson, whose work engages with deep time -- a concept that describes the history of the Earth over a time span of millions of years. In this lively talk, she takes us through her art -- a telephone line connected to a melting glacier, maps of dying stars – and…

1
How comic strips create better health care | Sam Hester 10:24

2+ y ago10:24

10:24

Comics creator Sam Hester is part of a growing movement within health care: graphic medicine. In short, literally drawing attention to a patient's needs and goals with pictures to foster better and more accessible caretaking. Hester shares how illustrating small details of her mother's medical story as she struggled with mysterious symptoms alongsi…

1
The mighty power and flavor of plants | Derek Sarno 4:40

2+ y ago4:40

4:40

Vegan chef (and head chef of TED Countdown Summit) Derek Sarno is on a mission to unleash the mighty power of plants, creating nutritious food from mushrooms and vegetables that's full of texture and flavor -- and good for the planet. He dishes out some creative cooking inspiration and shares how his personal journey led him to create amazing food …

1
"Being Human" | Naima Penniman 4:13

2+ y ago4:13

4:13

In this stunning spoken-word performance, poet and "freedom-forging futurist" Naima Penniman celebrates the wonders of the natural world and humanity's connection to it. "I wonder if the sun debates dawn some mornings," she says.By Naima Penniman

1
How your nature photos can help protect wild animals | Tanya Berger-Wolf 9:10

2+ y ago9:10

9:10

We're losing animal and plant species at such a swift, unprecedented rate that it's nearly impossible to keep up. Computational biologist Tanya Berger-Wolf demonstrates how harnessing the power of artificial intelligence and one of the internet's biggest resources -- public images and video -- supports the crucial collection of data to save threate…

1
Can we choose to fall out of love? | Dessa 10:54

2+ y ago10:54

10:54

What's the best way to get over heartbreak? Rapper and writer Dessa came up with an unconventional approach after a chance viewing of Helen Fisher's TED Talk about the brains of the lovestruck. In a wryly funny talk, she describes how she worked with a neuroscientist to try to get her brain to fall out of love with her ex -- and shares wisdom about…

1
Why are stolen African artifacts still in Western museums? | Jim Chuchu 5:15

2+ y ago5:15

5:15

African artifacts shown in museums worldwide are often not borrowed, but stolen -- and TED Fellow Jim Chuchu is on a mission to get them back. Learn the sordid history behind how many of the collections in the West came to be, Chuchu’s extensive work tracking and restoring Kenya’s cultural heritage and what these efforts can mean for the wider Afri…

1
How Dolly Parton led me to an epiphany | Jad Abumrad 13:30

3y ago13:30

13:30

How do you end a story? Host of "Radiolab" Jad Abumrad tells how his search for an answer led him home to the mountains of Tennessee, where he met an unexpected teacher: Dolly Parton.By Jad Abumrad

1
Documentary films that explore trauma -- and make space for healing | Almudena Toral 6:04

3y ago6:04

6:04

Through documentary films following survivors of trauma, TED Fellow Almudena Toral makes invisible psychological scars seen. She shares the heartbreaking story of Adayanci Pérez, a six-year-old girl from Guatemala suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to her encounter with US immigration enforcement. A powerful call to give voice…

1
What should humans take to space (and leave behind)? | Jorge Mañes Rubio 9:43

3y ago9:43

9:43

One day, humans will explore space en masse and live scattered across the solar system on planets like Mars and beyond. Inspired by his time as artist-in-residence at the European Space Agency, TED Fellow Jorge Mañes Rubio wants to rethink what we need to bring on this grand journey -- and more importantly, what we should leave behind. Mañes Rubio …

1
Playful, wondrous public spaces built for community and possibility | Matthew Mazzotta 5:18

3y ago5:18

5:18

Introducing a new type of public space, custom-fit for communities in need of a shot of hope and wonder. Artist and TED Fellow Matthew Mazzotta takes us across the US, sharing delightful projects that refresh space and place, spark collective conversation and reignite a sense of possibility and purpose in their surroundings.…

1
BRC 94: Give Me the Guy Who Plays Hard Over the Guy Who Works Hard with Xavier Head Coach Billy O’Conner 29:01

3y ago29:01

29:01

There is a major difference between working hard and playing hard. Xavier Head Coach Billy O’Conner joins host Justin Musil to discuss his saying “Give me the guy who plays hard over the guy who works hard.” The two discuss what Coach O’Conner means with his saying and what he has experienced in his coaching career. This is a can’t miss discussion …

1
BRC 93: Summer Strategy for Camps and Showcases with Kent State University Recruiting Coordinator Barrett Serrato 53:57

3y ago53:57

53:57

Many players and parents have little direction on what camps and showcases to attend. They are often just wandering through crucial months with uncertainty. In this episode, host Justin Musil is joined by Kent State University Recruiting Coordinator Barret Serrato. Justin and Barrett lay out their advice, for players and parents, on how to decide w…

1
BRC 92: Impactful Leadership with Northwestern University Head Coach Spencer Allen 52:28

3y ago52:28

52:28

Great leaders can change a program. Great leaders can impact lives forever. In this episode, host Justin Musil is joined by Northwestern University Head Coach Spencer Allen. The two discuss Coach Allen’s leadership philosophies and the principles he strives for as a leader. This episode is for anyone wanting to make an impact as a leader.…

1
BRC 91: Arm Development, Arm Health, and Mental Training with Alan Jaeger 1:06:54

3y ago1:06:54

1:06:54

Alan Jaeger and Jaeger Sports have become the gold standard for arm development, arm health, and mental training. Host Justin Musil is joined by Alan Jaeger, as the two discuss a variety of topics. Alan Jaeger gives his advice and recommendations on these topics and every player, parent, and coach should hear them.…

1
How theater weathers wars, outlasts empires and survives pandemics | Cara Greene Epstein 15:06

3y ago15:06

15:06

When catastrophe strikes, art prevails -- and has done so for centuries. In this fascinating talk, writer and director Cara Greene Epstein places the closing of theaters during the coronavirus pandemic in a historical context, exploring how we can use this intermission to imagine a more just, representative and beautiful world, onstage and off.…

1
BRC 90: Performing Under the Bright Lights of the SEC with LSU Recruiting Coordinator Nolan Cain 45:28

3y ago45:28

45:28

Playing in some conferences come with a different level of pressure and attention. The Southeastern Conference is one of those. The large crowds, the media attention, and the pressure that comes with that. In this episode, Host Justin Musil is joined by Louisiana State University Recruiting Coordinator Nolan Cain. Coach Cain is one of the top recru…

1
How a strong creative industry helps economies thrive | Mehret Mandefro 10:05

3+ y ago10:05

10:05

When global leaders think about which industries can fuel economic growth, the arts are often overlooked. But filmmaker Mehret Mandefro says the creative sector actually has the power to grow economies -- while also helping safeguard democracy. In this captivating talk, she shares a behind-the-scenes look at how she's putting culture back on the ec…

1
BRC 89: Why Players Fail at the College Level with FAU Recruiting Coordinator Greg Mamula 56:34

3+ y ago56:34

56:34

Understanding why players fail at the college level can help future players better prepare themselves. College baseball isn’t easy and there are common reasons why players fail, both academically and on the baseball field. Host Justin Musil is joined by Florida Atlantic University recruiting coordinator Greg Mamula. Coach Mamula has coached at vari…

1
BRC 88: Picking a School During the Pandemic with Lipscomb University Assistant Coach Brian Ryman 43:39

3+ y ago43:39

43:39

Competition is rising and opportunity is scarce. College baseball rosters are crowded and will be for a while, due to the pandemic and NCAA eligibility waivers. Picking the right school is more important now, than ever before. Host Justin Musil is joined on this episode by Lipscomb University Assistant Coach Brian Ryman. Justin and Brian give their…

1
How creative writing can help you through life's hardest moments | Sakinah Hofler 15:09

3+ y ago15:09

15:09

Have you ever seen or experienced something and wished you spoke up? Writer Sakinah Hofler makes the case for writing as a tool to help you process difficult memories and reclaim the power they may hold over you. Pick up a pen or pull up a keyboard and follow along as she walks you through how to unburden your mind and inspire reflection.…

1
BRC 87: Becoming a Draft Prospect at a D3 Program with Chapman University Head Coach Scott Laverty 49:09

3+ y ago49:09

49:09

Playing professional baseball isn’t contingent on the level of college baseball a player plays. In this episode, Host Justin Musil explores this topic with Chapman University Head Coach Scott Laverty. Coach Laverty has had players drafted in three straight MLB drafts. He talks about his process at Chapman and how players can become a draft prospect…

1
"A Bird Made of Birds" | Sarah Kay 5:12

3+ y ago5:12

5:12

"The universe has already written the poem you were planning on writing," says Sarah Kay, quoting her friend, poet Kaveh Akbar. Performing "A Bird Made of Birds," she shares how and where she finds poetry. (Kay is also the host of TED's podcast "Sincerely, X." Listen on the Luminary podcast app at luminary.link/ted)…

1
BRC 86: The Power of Tools with University of Kentucky Head Coach Nick Mingione 56:29

3+ y ago56:29

56:29

A player’s tools are under a microscope for college and professional baseball. If a player is loaded with tools, they gain a lot of attention and are likely to be highly sought after. The powerful grip a player’s tools has on scouts and college coaches cannot be denied. On this episode, host Justin Musil is joined by University of Kentucky Head Coa…

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