Are you looking to explore the lives, events, and minds that were and are pivotal for human progress? Welcome to Political Hope - a multi-dimensional, positivity-based experience that features inspiring interviews with a spectrum of personalities, interactive Mind Sports debates, and explorations into what moves and shapes us. Not always overtly political, the shows are meant to empower listeners to recognize their inherent voice and ability to enact progress in their local and global communities. I'm Indy Rishi Singh, social innovator and entrepreneur, and your host on this fascinating and enlightening journey. So join me, and let's move forward... together.
Thom Pulliam is a master brand strategist and consultant. Thom is the Director of Pursue Blue and started a nonprofit called Unicorn Talent Club. His past clients include Netflix, HBO, Electronic Arts, YouTube, Adidas, and Cisco. Thom has also worked for the biggest NYC and LA branding agencies.
Morvareed Salehpour is an experienced lawyer with a tremendous understanding of modern technology law. She is the President of the Santa Monica Bar Association and a Board member and Co-Event Chair of the UCLA Law Women LEAD. She has been a judge for startup competitions and shares a regular law-related tips on YouTube and Linkedin.
Charles Eisenstein is a quintessential philosopher daring to illuminate in our modern Dark Age. He’s a prolific writer, in fact, check out his most recent book: The Coronation. I enjoyed reading “The More Beautiful World Our Hearts Know is Possible” “The Agent of Humanity” and “Sacred Economics”. Charles is regularly writing inspiring essays on his substack. He is a regular guest speaker on Commune as well as Aubrey Marcus’s podcast. His conversation with Russell Brand was incredibly revealing of the system we are all swimming in.
Dr. Devatma Dubey leads by example, dedicating his life to Sanskrit and the protection of the Vedas and Indian traditions. He left his MBA and important management position with a bank to co-found the International Chandramauli Charitable Trust and Yoga Mission. Dr. Devatma and his colleagues run a primary school, an after-school program, and a residential education program for the neediest children in the Varanasi area in India. He has a Ph.D. In Sanskrit Literature and Mimamsa Philosophy and gives regular lectures throughout the country of India.
Neal Walia is a progressive candidate for Congress in District 1 of Colorado (Denver) and a dedicated grassroots organizer. He has worked for the State of Colorado as well as the National Governor’s Association. Neal has had the opportunity to publicly debate his opponent and has been hyper-focused on a greener economy, housing, and healthcare. He’s endorsed by presidential candidate, Marianne Williamson.
Richard Foster-Fletcher is a knight in shining armor advocating for human value-based ethics in Ai, the metaverse, and the digital future. He is an Executive Chair with MKAI, a bridging community for Ai and Web3 development and regulation. MKAI stands for Morality and Knowledge in Artificial Intelligence. Richard is well versed and educated in ethics and acts as an advisory member with the United Nations as well as the IEEE. He also has a podcast called Boundless.
This is a special Political Hope episode featuring an Open Letter and call to action to Yoga Alliance as well as to all who value yoga to Shape a Better Future for Yoga. The authors of this call to action go through the document with me as we explore their intentions and perspectives. This was a fun political experiment and I hope you find it as valuable as I did. Thank you to Bari Gratton, Meghan Maris, Courtney Ng, Gayatri Sehgal and Shou Wang for being cooperative leaders in this shared call to action. Please take a short moment to review the open letter for yourself or you can look at it as we discuss it.
Shelby Hartman is a journalist building community around psychedelics. She is the Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of DoubleBlind, a radically inclusive biannual magazine and media company covering global stories about psychedelics. Shelby publishes and has published articles with Vice, Playboy, LA Weekly, Herb, and Rolling Stone to name a few. She even covered elections, protests, and other breaking news with CBS News.
The Defenders of Justice are 4 women collectively running for different LA County Superior Court Judge bench seats. They have all been criminal defenders and are planning to change the issue that hardly any current judges in LA County have criminal defense experience. Holly Hancock is a leader in expunging records and has experience as an elected union official with the Association of Flight Attendants. Elizabeth Lashley-Haynes works with all kinds of grassroots organizations in LA County and also developed a Compassionate Lawyering training program. Carolyn Jiyoung Park focuses on civil rights, labor, and tenant matters and has been a powerful 1st amendment right advocate for peaceful protest. Anna Reitano focuses on the juvenile court and representing children and is also a union representative for public defenders. I recommend checking out their website, TheDefendersofJustice2022.com, and learning more about them and the values they value.
Jamie Joyce is the interdimensional librarian we all need at this moment of information confusion. She founded The Society Library, a non-profit that constructs a database of argumentation from every point of view on social and political issues. Jamie is passionate about intellectual freedom and a more diverse and better-informed public using innovations like the Internet Government. Jamie is also a board member for Wikitongues, a project that is archiving and supporting languages from around the world.
Patrick Utz is a focused genius and CEO, co-creating Abstract.us - a policy innovation that analyzes and tracks bills and allows for real-time collaboration for any organization seeking to improve policymaking and decision making. Patrick studied electrical engineering at Loyola Marymount University and also served as president of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. The abstract continues to grow, and I encourage anyone seeking to improve their communities to check it out.
Kiki Falconer is the embodiment of feminine power in action. Conscious City Guide has featured more than 12,000 transformational events and is a growing space for inspired experiences and conscious, impact-focused community. Kiki was a creative advisor for Kiss the Ground and is one of the best creative directors I know.
Dr. Ravit Dotan is a real-life avenger. She researches and educates about Ai Ethics and has a pedigree that includes the University of Pittsburgh, UC Berkeley, and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Ravit is also approaching the Ai and machine learning space in a proactive way by participating in impact investing as a consultant and educator. She has several terrific published pieces about machine learning and Ai ethics. Check out her Collaborative meeting guide.
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Olivia Robinson is an active solutionary with all the communities she serves. As an Assistant Director of Community Engagement and Service at Pepperdine University, she builds relationships around serving community needs. As the CEO of BlackDollar, Olivia facilitates economic solutions for black-owned businesses. She’s also given a terrific TEDx speech titled “Love Warriors: Arming Ourselves with Radical Love.”
Ebony Utley is a quintessential entrepreneur and advocate for knowledge and resource sharing. She is a professor at Cal State Long Beach and the Associate Director at the Institute for Innovation & Entrepreneurship. Ebony is also an amazing yoga teacher, sharing valuable mind-body-spirit tools with a spectrum of communities. Check out her books, Rap, and Religion, He Cheated, She Cheated, We Cheated, and other published essays and pieces.
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Mollie and Ryland Englehart are siblings. Mollie runs Sow A Heart Farm and has produced award-winning films and is the owner of Sage Vegan Bistro as well as KindKreme. Ryland is the executive director of Kiss the Ground, the movement and the documentary film narrated by Woody Harrelson. He is a co-owner of Cafe Gratitude and published a great article in Huffington Post titled “Gratitude is the Best Sauce.” They are both deeply committed to living regeneratively with the land and the farmer/worker community and are major advocates for love, peace, and freedom.
Seneca Scott may be the next mayor of Oakland, California and is deeply rooted and in service to the city. He has been an avid labor rights organizer and leader, receiving a BS from Cornell University in Labor and Industrial Relations. Seneca co-founded Bottom’s Up Community Gardens and founded Oakhella to celebrate and share arts, music and food. Seneca also runs Neighbors Together Oakland which is dedicated to building unity and preparedness in its neighborhoods. This interview was amazing and I’m excited that people like Seneca are running for office, especially because of his stance on upholding free speech, the rights to our body’s health and wellbeing, and to solutionary thinking and doing.
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Payton Silket is an embodiment of political hope. At 23, he is a minister in his church, consulting on community issues, he’s graduated with a master's in Dispute Resolution from the Straus Institute at Pepperdine Law, and has already won several awards for leadership. Payton has a great TED called Embracing Reconciliation: How Hugs Can Heal Our Broken World that I really recommend. Our conversation is a journey that is both spiritual and political.
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David Leon is the co-founder of Farmer's Footprint with Dr. Zach Bush and a former executive with the sustainable soap company De-Fishing Soap. He's a tremendous ally for nature and Earth. David focuses on storytelling and community building to support an inclusive and integrative regenerative movement.
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