PODCAST

The Hangout with David Sciarretta

David Sciarretta

Conversations with interesting people.

business non-profit

All Episodes

49:24

#111: Dr. Bob Berk on the Power of Conflict Mediation

The Hangout with David Sciarretta ·

2025/12/13

Send us a text Dr. Bob Berk—principal consultant at New Table Consulting, longtime mediator, and former school leader—discusses how smart organizations turn friction into forward motion without losing people or momentum. New Table Consulting Support the show We are thrilled about the global reach of this podcast; we currently have listeners in more than 650 cities across over 50 countries! We would be delighted to hear from our listeners, wherever you may be in the world. Send us a mess...

52:59

#110: Dr. Reza Aslan on the 20th Anniversary of his...

The Hangout with David Sciarretta ·

2025/11/30

Send us a text We trace Reza Aslan’s journey from Iran to American academia, and look back at the two decades since the publication of his bestselling book “No God But God,” an exploration of the origins, evolution, and future of Islam. Purchase the book here: https://a.co/d/3IYBWoL Support the show We are thrilled about the global reach of this podcast; we currently have listeners in more than 650 cities across over 50 countries! We would be delighted to hear from our listeners, wherev...

53:05

#109: Shaka Mitchell on School Choice

The Hangout with David Sciarretta ·

2025/11/16

Send us a text If you’ve ever wondered who should decide where a child learns, this conversation gets straight to the heart of that question. We sit down with Shaka Mitchell—education leader, attorney, and school choice advocate—to trace a journey from a working-class Long Island childhood and a small Catholic school to law school, DC policy work, and leading charter school growth in Tennessee. Along the way, we unpack what “school choice” actually means, how it functions across charters, mag...

52:13

#108: Acclaimed Author Reyna Grande on Voice,...

The Hangout with David Sciarretta ·

2025/10/28

Send us a text Reyna Grande is a Mexican‑American novelist and memoirist whose work brings raw clarity to the immigrant experience, family separation, and the pursuit of belonging. Born in Iguala, Guerrero, Mexico, and having crossed into the U.S. as an undocumented child, Grande earned her BA and MFA in creative writing, and is a recipient of multiple awards including the American Book Award, the International Latino Book Award and the El Premio Aztlán Literary Award. Grande’s major works i...

55:49

#107 Finding Your Path: From Sports Writer to...

The Hangout with David Sciarretta ·

2025/09/28

Send us a text What happens when tragedy transforms a life's purpose? For Patrick Larkin, losing his father to suicide in seventh grade made school his sanctuary—a place where caring teachers filled voids and structure provided stability. Decades later, this experience continues to shape his approach as a veteran school administrator. Content warning: this episode contains mature content including discussions of suicide. Support the show We are thrilled about the global reach of this...

63:59

#106: From Adventure Writer to Soul Seeker: Brad...

The Hangout with David Sciarretta ·

2025/09/21

Send us a text In this episode, Brad Wetzler shares the fascinating journey of his life, one that has taken him all over the world. Brad is an author and writing coach whose work is deeply informed by his unique and broad life experiences. Listen to hear more about Brad's story --- the struggles, successes, and profound lessons that have guided him to where he is today. For more information on Brad’s writing projects and coaching services, visit bradwetzler.com. Purchase Brad’s mo...

51:22

#105 Servant Leadership: Eric Hale's Journey From...

The Hangout with David Sciarretta ·

2025/09/02

Send us a text What does it take to transform a school into a thriving community where students from 40+ countries speaking 30+ languages succeed together? For Eric Hale, Kentucky's 2024 Principal of the Year, the answer begins with his own remarkable journey. Support the show If you enjoyed this episode please give us a five-star rating and consider donating. Your generosity helps our shoe-string budget and allows us to continue producing high-quality content. Click here to donate.

44:56

#104 Climate Anxiety: A Conversation with Jennifer...

The Hangout with David Sciarretta ·

2025/08/19

Send us a text Growing up in Nigeria, climate activist and global leader Jennifer Uchendu witnessed systemic inequalities that sparked her passion for advocacy. Today, she's pioneering work at the intersection of climate action and psychological wellbeing—a connection rarely discussed in mainstream environmental conversations. While Western climate narratives often center on distant polar bears or melting ice caps, Jennifer illuminates how climate anxiety manifests uniquely in African context...

37:30

#103: Trust Kids More: Superintendent Dr. Michael Nagler

The Hangout with David Sciarretta ·

2025/08/01

Send us a text Dr. Michael Nagler, an award-winning school superintendent from New York, shares his vision for reimagining education in the digital age where content knowledge alone is no longer sufficient. Through his 17 years of leadership in the Mineola School District, Dr. Nagler has pioneered approaches that prioritize skills development and student agency. His stance on cell phones in schools (spoiler alert: he’s not in favor of the rush to ban them) is just one of many intriguing...

51:44

#102: Royal Ramey, The Forestry and Fire Recruitment...

The Hangout with David Sciarretta ·

2025/07/10

Send us a text In this inspiring episode, Dr. Sciarretta has a conversation with Royal Ramey, CEO and co-founder of The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program (FFRP). Mr. Ramey shares the story of his journey from prison to firefighting by way of "fire camp." Upon his release, Mr. Ramey joined the Mojave Greens in their firefighting mission, and has since worked to train, inspire, and uplift formerly incarcerated people who are interested in the firefighting profession. For those interes...

50:55

#101: Heartbeats Beyond Boundaries: Muhammad M....

The Hangout with David Sciarretta ·

2025/06/26

Send us a text In this episode, Dr. Sciarretta speaks with Dr. Muhammad Mohiuddin, a surgeon who specializes in cardiac xenotransplantation (replacing failing human hearts with pig hearts). Listen to hear more about Dr. Mohiuddin's journey, the ethical and structural issues his work presents, and the moments in which his decades of revolutionary work have come to fruition. Support the show If you enjoyed this episode please give us a five-star rating and consider donating. Your generosi...

56:37

#100 Our Fragile Democracy: A Conversation with Rev....

The Hangout with David Sciarretta ·

2025/06/14

Send us a text I sat down with William H. Lamar IV, pastor of Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church in Washington DC, for a profound conversation about history, faith, justice, and American democracy. Learn more about Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church: https://www.metropolitaname.org/ Watch this video to learn more about the landmark legal victory we discussed in this episode. Please give us a five-star rating wherever you listen to podcasts and tell your friends and f...

88:23

#99 From Banking Executive to Mental Health Advocate:...

The Hangout with David Sciarretta ·

2025/06/01

Send us a text Anita Fisher shares her powerful journey from successful banking executive to mental health advocate after her son's diagnosis with schizophrenia while he was serving in the military. Anita's 25-year crusade navigating America's complex mental health system reveals critical gaps in treatment, particularly for those with anosognosia (lack of illness awareness). Warning: this episode contains adult themes that may not be appropriate for all listeners. To learn more about Anita ...

77:50

#98: I Choose My Future: A Retired DEA Agent's...

The Hangout with David Sciarretta ·

2025/05/26

Send us a text Rocky Herron, a retired DEA special agent with 31 years of experience, shares his journey delivering an impactful drug prevention program that has reached over 270,000 students across 16 countries. His mission emerged from discovering his own children weren't receiving drug prevention education in school. • Free educational videos and resources are available at RockyHerron.com for schools and families looking to start these important conversations Warning: this episode includes...

44:01

#97 Mayor Paloma Aguirre: Grassroots Politics and...

The Hangout with David Sciarretta ·

2025/05/15

Send us a text Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre shares her inspirational bi-national journey from surfing college student to passionate environmentalist to elected official. Paloma is currently running for San Diego County Board of Supervisors District 1 (special election will take place July 1, 2025). On X: @paloma4D1 Visit paloma-aguirre.com Support the show If you enjoyed this episode please give us a five-star rating and consider donating. Your generosity helps our shoe-strin...

67:40

Advocacy & Education: An Interview with Border...

The Hangout with David Sciarretta ·

2025/05/10

Send us a text Ana Miguel, Educational Programs Coordinator for Border Angels, shares her personal connection to immigration work as the daughter of migrants from Guanajuato, Mexico, revealing how her family history shapes her passion for humanitarian border assistance and activism. To support Border Angels and their humanitarian work, visit borderangels.org. Warning: this episode contains adult language and topics and may not be suitable for all listeners. Support the show

59:12

#95 Beyond the Grade: Academic Integrity in the Age...

The Hangout with David Sciarretta ·

2025/05/03

Send us a text Dr. Tricia Bertram Gallant redefines academic integrity as more than just avoiding cheating—it's cultivating the courage to uphold universal values like honesty, fairness, and respect, even when it's difficult. Her work as Director of the University of California, San Diego Academic Integrity Office and the Triton Testing Center puts her impressive academic scholarship to practical and impactful use. Check out Dr. Bertram Gallant's latest book (co-authored with David Ret...

80:11

#94 Immigration Law: A Conversation with Attorney...

The Hangout with David Sciarretta ·

2025/04/17

Send us a text Filex Sanchez, founder of Union Law Group, shares his journey from growing up in San Ysidro, CA on the Mexico-US border to becoming a specialized immigration attorney after witnessing how profoundly his work could change lives. Raised by immigrant parents who operated an immigration consultancy for decades, Filex developed a deep understanding of his bicultural identity and an abiding respect for hard work and dedication. Filex maintains an ethical legal practice by only taking...

96:52

#93 Jim McCloskey's Mission to Free the Wrongly...

The Hangout with David Sciarretta ·

2025/03/23

Send us a text In this episode, we hear from Jim McCloskey about the journey that took him from the corporate world to his current work with those who have been wrongly convicted of crimes. McCloskey founded Centurion Ministries, an organization that has "completed 70 releases of men and women who were serving life or death sentences for crimes they did not commit." McCloskey is the author of When Truth is All You Have, and co-wrote Framed: Astonishing True Stories of Wrongful Convi...

70:18

#92 Garr Reynolds, Presentation Zen

The Hangout with David Sciarretta ·

2025/01/23

Send us a textJoin Dr. Sciarretta for a conversation with Garr Reynolds, the author of Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery, for a compelling discussion about the fusion of Zen aesthetics with modern communication. Garr shares how his journey from Oregon to Japan has shaped his philosophy, emphasizing the power of simplicity and focus. Garr's insights extend beyond visuals, touching on the growing role of AI in both storytelling and education, while remindi...

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The Hangout with David Sciarretta

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