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Archives for June 2016

Meet Anna Sher Simon

Dr. Anna Sher Simon is a biology professor, author, activist, wife, and mother whose research on restoration of damaged ecosystems is widely referenced. A speaker at our previous Make + Believe event, Dr. Sher served as the Director of Research at Denver Botanic Gardens for seven years and is now a professor at DU. She and her wife, Fran, were the first couple in the state to receive a civil union. Here, we talk about Star Wars voice-overs and manufactured plant-art.


What do you think it will take for people to realize that the more we damage our external ecosystems, the more our internal ecosystems suffer?
My ambition is that through education of all types (formal and informal), more of us can get on the same page with regard to the importance of taking care of the Earth’s ecosystems. I agree with author Richard Louve that this needs to be a message of hope, rather than doom and gloom—the latter not being motivating at all.

Are there extra steps our TEDxMileHigh community can take to ensure they are more observant of the environment?

I believe that the only “step” necessary is to be present in the moment—it’s easy to live in the past or the future, which blinds us from what is actionable now.

What’s something you can only learn at the Denver Botanic Gardens?

As beautiful as the Gardens are, it is a manufactured environment—actually a work of art—so there is actually a risk of “learning” the wrong things if you are mistaking it for a natural system. Hundreds of volunteers and dozens of staff members work tirelessly 365 days a year to create what you are enjoying there. That said, I hope that visitors can learn how beautiful the “Water Smart” and native plants can be for their own gardens, because private gardens can be important resources for native wildlife when they use these plants.

What’s something few people know about you?

I have many spheres of my life, as an academic, a political activist, a mother, a friend … I think that if you put people from each of those communities together there will be very little that isn’t known about me, because I’m terrible at keeping secrets and wear my faults on my sleeve. The only thing that comes to mind that none of these folks likely know is that I taught myself how to ride the unicycle in seventh grade after getting a crush on a girl who rode one. I loved riding it, even if it was exhausting (you can’t coast like on a bicycle).

What’s the last thing that made you laugh uncontrollably?

A YouTube video with funny voiceovers of film footage from The Empire Strikes Back—especially the kissing scene between Princess Lea and Han Solo where she says, “I’m not German,” and he replies, “And I’m not a Mexican potato.” Just watch it and you’ll see what I mean.

When did you last make time for make-believe?

My son loves play-acting and we enjoy doing that together. Our favorite is making his stuffed animals have adventures; I do all of the different voices.

Do you have a favorite TED talk?

I have so many favorites, but about half of them are by Brene Brown. I think she’s brilliant!

Meet Scott Strode

Scott Strode is a triathlete, mountaineer, and recovering alcoholic. He’s the Founder and National Executive Director of Phoenix Multisport, offering free programs such as climbing, boxing, CrossFit, yoga, and biking to individuals in recovery from substance use disorder.

A speaker at our previous Make + Believe event, Scott’s own discovery that a healthy, active lifestyle has a transformative effect on long-term sobriety inspired him to share that experience with others. Scott has been recognized worldwide for his work with Phoenix.


Can you speak to the transformative power of exercise you see on a regular basis?

There’s something special about exercise in group setting and individual sports that are done along with other people. When you stand shoulder to shoulder and face the greater adversity of the difficult mountain bike trail or rock climb, it builds a deep bond with the people next to you. In that sweat, we find friendships and a new supportive network.

Do you have a personal story you can share about how exercise brought some deep clarity to your life?

There was a time in my life when I got caught up in the extreme aspect of sports and athletics. I was no longer happy just completing an Ironman. I wanted to qualify for the world championships and when I didn’t, I felt a sense of failure. During one race, I had completed the whole Ironman course and was on my way to the finish line when I saw a friend just reaching the marathon portion. She had an ear to ear smile and gave me a big hug and said, “I’m going to be an Ironman, all I have to do is finish this marathon.”

It made me realize it’s not about how fast you run the race, how much weight you lift, or if you’re on the podium. It’s about the journey. The path is the goal and it’s about the people you share your training hours with. I learned that we should celebrate our accomplishments no matter how big or how small.

What’s something few people know about you?

Despite being a big, tough-looking, bald guy, I’m actually a softy with a big, kind heart.

What’s the last thing that made you laugh uncontrollably?

That happens whenever I get to share time with my nieces.

When did you last make time for make-believe?

In the mornings, when I drink my coffee and look out at Smith Lake in Washington Park, I imagine all the possibilities in the world.

Do you have a favorite TED talk?

“How childhood trauma affects health across a lifetime,” by Nadine Burke Harris

Meet Jovan Mays

Jovan Mays is the Poet Laureate of Aurora and a National Poetry Slam Champion. He is a member of the Denver SlamNUBA national slam poetry team and won two Denver city slam championships and qualified for three international finals stages.

A speaker at our previous Make + Believe event, Jovan’s work has appeared in The Pilgrimage, Button Poetry, and Write About Now. He is also the community engagement coordinator for Lighthouse Writers Workshop, and the author of four books. Here, we talk about generating empathy and listening to the Iris Dweller.


How did you get into poetry and the slam poetry scene in Denver?

I got into poetry like most of us do, in the second grade classroom around a teacher in a rocking chair. I learned that words have sounds. Over time that learning deepened for me because I had a grandma who was good about keeping my pencil sharpened and active.

As I grew up, I went inactive for a while, but in 8th grade I got really interested in hip hop music. I have a cousin who is really into hip hop and he introduced me to the difference between a rapper and lyricist. Around my freshman year, my English teacher taught me to write in a notebook, and I started showing him my work. It was social commentary while also poetry. He had me meet him at the the Denver Poetry Slam and volunteered me to perform. I was nervous and shaking, but I got up on stage and did my poems. Since that moment I’ve had a vested interest in spoken word and slang. Things have progressed, going from once every six months at the Denver Poetry Slam to being the national champ.

Why do you feel Denver is such a thriving hub for slam poetry?

Denver has a long history of being a hub for poetry. There’s always been attention towards the beat poets in our past. I also think that any place that has a natural majesty, like Colorado does, will have a lot of poets. They go hand in hand.

Denver as a city doesn’t have a ton of preservation efforts. Because of the lack of historical prevention, the poets are the “antiquity avengers.” We look at gentrification and different cultures throughout our neighborhoods that are getting changed over. Poets take pride in making sure that record and registry is balanced. Also, Denver is the hippy town of the region. It’s a confluence from all directions of artists. Our poetry scene is just staying in line with comedy scene and it has become a confluence of creators bringing rural, urban, and suburban value.

Where do you draw your inspiration from in creating your poetry?

People. I write a lot of poems about people. The human spirit is something we’re privileged to observed. There’s so much flexibility and dexterity that is triggered by so many things. How often does the human spirit have these out-of-body experiences you can’t make sense of? I look at everything from African Americans surviving the diaspora to a woman singing to her child. I work hard to convey all that.

The other thing I’m driven by is generating empathy. I believe it’s a societal value that has been lost when we’re caught up in our regular role. I use my platform as a space to enhance that, to strip back all the political nature of things, and get to the heart of it.

What’s something few people know about you?

I’m an enormous Oakland Raiders fan. If people think about the poet in me they don’t think football fan. I also love folk music and bluegrass. Oh, and I like to take string cheese and melt it onto a plate and eat off the melted part straight from the plate.

What’s the last thing that made you laugh uncontrollably?

My nephew. His birthday is actually on the same day as Make + Believe this year—he’s turning two years old. He makes me laugh all the time. His face when he is tasting things he doesn’t like is priceless. There’s a level of disgust and offense for us feeding it to him drives me up the wall.

When did you last make time for make-believe?

Two weeks ago, it was one of these hot days. And right around dusk a thunderstorm rolled in to converge with the sunset. The clouds started doing this thing that looked like they were erupting. It’s the science of the heat converging with the rain that makes the sky look these colors. The environment is trying to convey to us how unlimited we are. It’s unique to its own. That’s the best part of living in Colorado—the majesty of living around here, the nature. I get reminded of that all the time. I realize that the thing that’s been sitting in the back of my heart that been calling to me, that thing can be done.

I also believe in this thing I call “the Iris Dweller.” There’s this man, this scribe-type man sitting in my eye with a vintage typewriter that is overflowing with paper. He is constantly seeing the world and coming up with these great ideas. I’m usually checked out and not hearing him. But he just keeps going. But it’s days like the one with the sunset that make me listen to him. Sometimes I say I’m not creating things because they’re already created. I’m just bringing them out. The whites of my eyes are the typewriter paper overflowing with ideas.

Do you have a favorite TED talk?

Any SlamNUBA performances through TEDxMileHigh.

I also like Anis Mojgani’s reminder you that you’re OK being you.

Meet Richard Cooke

Richard Cooke is a Grammy award-winning musician who has created a family of instruments that give everyone a way to play beautiful music simply. These instruments have become permanent fixtures in parks all over the world.

Richard spent several years sailing the ocean and doing coral reef research with the Biosphere Foundation. A speaker at our previous Make + Believe event, he was formerly a member of the city council of Moab, Utah. He now makes his home in Durango.


What is your favorite outdoor activity to partake in?

Sailing, hiking—especially in remote areas of Colorado and Utah—and walking through wilderness playing my flute.

How did you first become interested in music outside of the standard symphony hall or school music room?

Learning to play the flute through total improvisation and building outdoor music instruments for a music camp with Paul Winter

What can the TEDxMileHigh community do to help our music scene thrive?

Sponsor community concerts. Organize local music teachers to offer free introductory lessons of their choice to the community once-a-month, which helps teachers promote their offerings and helps members of the community to learn how easy it is to just play. Als0, promote Music Parks in the local communities!

What’s something few people know about you?

I won a Grammy for the Crestone album with the Paul Winter Consort.

What’s the last thing that made you laugh uncontrollably?

I believe in uncontrollable laughter, so I do it daily

When did you last make time for make-believe?

Everyday, enjoying the wonderment of the world

Do you have a favorite TED talk?

“Minding your Mitochondria” by Dr. Terry Wahls

Meet Scott Fulbright

Scott Fulbright has spent the last 10 years in the algae bioproducts industry, leading research and developing projects with the goal of optimizing algae growth for biofuels.

A speaker at our previous Make + Believe event, Scott co-founded Living Ink in 2013, a company that develops sustainable ink technologies from algae. Living Ink has won several awards including the Department of Energy Cleantech Competition. Here we talk about our shared responsibility for sustainability and the importance of dancing with your kids.


What first drew you to sustainability issues locally and globally?

I used to go cycling with my dad as a kid and he would make a game out of throwing recycled glass, which made a lot of noise when breaking. Through that he educated me about sustainability. As a kid, it didn’t make sense that we were using materials we knew would run out, like metal. Early on I realized we had to recycle efficiently or come up with new materials that aren’t finite. Spending time with my family helped emphasized the concept of sustainability.

I also learned about ecology and how interconnected everything is. I realized that we might think of whales dying in the ocean because they eat plastic as something that doesn’t affect us in Colorado, but it does affect everywhere we live. It’s not about the argument of climate change. It’s about having breathable air and drinkable water.

Has there been a profound moment in your work where you have seen a visible impact? Please share.

We all love these “aha” moments, but what I’ve learned through doing science for a long time is that everything is a process. It’s a lot of incremental improvements to get to our goals. It takes a lot of patience. Throughout that whole process, I contributed to this huge industry of algae bio products. Maybe in the future I’ll have one moment.

What more can TEDxMileHigh individuals do to elevate the conversation around sustainability?

I think the biggest thing is to be curious and ask questions about what things are made of or where they come from. It’s pretty eye opening and scary. By being curious, we can uncover challenges we all face. People don’t realize how much their decisions and the dollars they spend affect policies in companies. There is a recent policy that went into effect to ban micro-bead face wash, and that was a people’s movement. There were so many people involved that there was a policy change. We can all get together and chose our priority. It’s important to not be short sighted and to put our energy towards these really critical questions.

What’s something few people know about you?

A lot of my friends would be surprised that I pick up my 3-year-old at 4pm every day and we turn on music and we dance and sing like crazy people. A lot of my peers wouldn’t imagine me doing that.

What’s the last thing that made you laugh uncontrollably?

My son, who I spend a lot of time with. We play basketball in our living room. He shoots the basketball and he wants it to miss so he can say, “Oh no.” But he makes all his shots. He just wants to miss it and he keeps making it! I’ve never known someone who wants to miss so badly.

When did you last make time for make-believe?

Every morning with my son we ride the “horse.” I pretend like we’re on the horse and we run around the house. I just hold him and he always wants to go faster.

Do you have a favorite TED talk?

I like “The Power of Vulnerability,” by Brene Brown and “How Bacteria Talk,” by Bonnie Bassler.

Meet Patrick M. Krueger

As an associate professor in the Department of Health & Behavioral Sciences at the University of Colorado Denver, Patrick M. Krueger spends his mornings thinking about health and disease. He spends his afternoons thinking about how things like education, poverty, and race can shape your health in ways that your doctor may not be able to fix.

A speaker at our previous Make + Believe event, Patrick spends his weekends trying to embarrass his 12-year-old daughter, and trying not to embarrass his wife. Here we talk about the scope of the problems facing humanity and how dark humor can help.


What do you feel is the biggest challenge facing the health, wellness, and healthcare world today?

I’d argue that our greatest challenge is addressing unequal opportunities for long lives. Some evidence suggests that the affluent are approaching the limits of longevity. Simply put, the biggest gains in life expectancy are behind us. From my perspective, the real issue is that too many people (e.g. the disadvantaged in high income countries, and populations living in lower-income countries) are deprived of those same opportunities to live long, healthy lives.

What does a healthy life mean to you, and how do you personally try to live one?

I could give you a glib answer about exercising and eating right. But the truth is that I can expect to live a long, healthy life because I was born in an affluent country, at the right time in history, to parents who were able to help me pay for college.

How can the TEDxMileHigh community make an impact on the health of our state?

I think of TEDxMileHigh as a community that is willing think about big ideas. I hope my talk will start a conversation that the TEDxMileHigh community can bring to their own circles—a conversation about how social conditions might be more impactful for health and survival than medical care.

What’s something few people know about you?

I tried to put my expected date of death on my calendar, but Google Calendar won’t let me schedule anything past 2050.

What’s the last thing that made you laugh uncontrollably?

My wife recently gave me the book Mox Nox by Joan Cornellà. I love his dark, absurd humor.

When did you last make time for make-believe?

I think about ideas all the time. For me, the real payoff is using some kind of data to test my ideas against the world. Sometimes my initial ideas hold water, but more often they crash and burn in the face of evidence. Some of my most beloved ideas end up in the trash bin. Thus is the nature of science.

Do you have a favorite TED talk?

As a scientist, I find the talk by Benjamin Bratton at TEDxSanDiego especially compelling. He focuses on the perils of talks that offer easy answers to difficult problems.

Let’s face it, if the problems were easy to solve then we would have solved them already. But he also described how we could approach old problems in new ways, and with enough hard work, make a bit of progress.

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