Highly Inspired

Women talking about women... Feminism is quite a multi-dimensional conversation topic; as well as a subject we've never really covered on this show before. In this episode, we reference a notable book titled "Subverted: How I Helped the Sexual Revolution Hijack the Women's Movement" by Sue Ellin Browder, which brought up some fascinating perspectives on many key time periods within the evolution of feminism and a few rather alarming realizations. We have always held strongly-formulated opinions surrounding women's roles in the working world, how we picture ourselves fitting into the puzzle of society, and the notion that all women are inherently empowered. However, today, the idea of feminism is presented in many different ways. Therefore, it's important to highlight what may be controversial, what may be disadvantageous for females, and what we can do to improve, all while resonating in the best way for both men and women. Roles are shifting! We are excited about this episode and are thrilled to share our opinions on the entire concept of feminism.

So what exactly is "the ether"? Well, it is believed to be an empty space for which electromagnetic waves travel. In a way, it is a fitting term to describe how the monstrous amount of data in our world lives among us. Hate to break it to you, but the "cloud" isn't actually some invisible dimension for which the internet lives. Moreover, there are about 500,000 data centers worldwide, where bytes of digital information are stored. Although it may seem like the internet is infinite, technically speaking, it isn't. Between Big Tech monopolies, A.I. running the show, Neuralink development, cybercrime, and everything being virtual right now, there is so much content in circulation. This episode is inspired by Netflix's new documentary, "The Social Dilemma," and we whole-heartedly loved discussing the present themes, trends, pitfalls, and psychology behind life on the interweb.

Welcome to The Grey Area. In today's world, especially with increased polarization, "black and white" thinking, also known as "dichotomous thinking", has continued to rise. Just to clarify, when we refer to "Black and White" it has nothing to do with race, rather the type of mindset that makes us see the world in simple terms of "best or worst", "good vs. evil", or "failure vs. success". Thus, keeping us from pondering debates which are complex, nuanced, and composed of varying shades in between. The pressure in society to arrive at a clear conclusion, quickly without deep thought or analysis, pushes people into "expert" mindsets instead of remaining humble students. It is valuable to recognize the disconnect between one's identity and their ideas because they are separate entities. This practice allows you to acknowledge your weak points and fosters room to grow towards maybe shifting your personal opinions. Join us in this week's episode to hear our thoughts on how the theme of "the grey area" is subtly woven into many constructs if you pay attention to it. We believe that it's currently an undermined exercise and that it should be highlighted!

We're geologists now! After chatting with our friends from PBE Podcast, Troy Tittlemier, and Matt Scipione, who are multifaceted geologists, we learned sooooo much about Earth from a scientific standpoint. Geology is a minefield of exploration, whether it be in oil & gas, seismology, plate tectonics, oceanography, volcanology, etc. We bet you've been exposed to at least a few of these branches before. In this week's episode, we absorbed exquisite information from these two scientists regarding climate change, renewable energy, precious metal mining, aquifers, and how the pandemic has highlighted many discoveries for the geology field as a whole. In this case, give us a minute, let's DIG up some geology facts. There's a lot more to learn beyond just your 6th grade Earth science unit. Here's one final pun - Why are geologists considered studious? ... They take nothing for granite. We'd like to give a huge shoutout to these two for bearing with us and having such relevant insights! If you'd like to learn more about MagmaChem Research Institute and read about their work you can check them out here:
https://magmachemri.org/
https://www.pbepodcast.com/

A work of art, a force to reckon with, a striking composition, and an archetype of brilliance... is "1984", by George Orwell. In this episode, we expose our many thoughts after dissecting the infamous writing. However, this isn't a typical book club. We wanted to focus on the BIG questions: What can we learn from this notorious novel? Were Orwell's fears intended to be a warning for future generations? How relevant are these themes in society today? And how can we prevent such a failure as depicted in "1984"? This book has received varying interpretations, depending on the attitude in which the reader initially brings to it. For us, we approached it with an unbiased, open mind. Due to this, we were able to analyze the themes with an observant perspective. All-in-all, it was such a worthwhile experience, and we recommend everyone add it to their reading list! But... if you don't have the time, you can tune in and get the full recap here on Highly Inspired.

This week, we interviewed JJ Caffey, an entrepreneurial powerhouse. She is the founder and CEO of Order In, a remote-productivity membership club that provides accountability, community, and structure to remote workers. "Work from home but not alone" is a key phrase that overarches the group's most important values. By discussing the fundamental shifts unfolding in the corporate world, JJ enlightened us with some effective strategies for salvaging company culture and staying in positive spirits. With the move to an all-virtual work environment, many psychological effects need to be highlighted. Thus, conversing with people who understand how to best acclimate to such a massive shift is undoubtedly advantageous. Not only is JJ an MBA graduate of the Wharton School of Business, but she is also a co-founder of Venture Foragers, a research firm specializing in report establishment for venture capitalists, as well as the founder of Valkyrie Collective, a mastermind group for entrepreneurial women. Join us, in this episode, to hear pertinent wisdom addressing the intricate details surrounding WFH. If you want to learn more about Order In, check out their website and LinkedIn below.
https://www.orderinclub.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/order-in-club/

At any given moment, there are two of you. How is this possible, you may wonder? Well, ask Albert Einstein or Stephen Hawking. Slight problem, they aren't here. But, they did leave us with the science that can help explain the realities of digital presence. To dumb it down for all of us, there are multiple existences that are active via social media and all forms of 21st-century technology simultaneously. And on the other hand, we can't forget about our real selves either. How do these two separate realities work together to complete the full picture of who we are? In this episode, we welcomed two close friends who shared their perspectives on the matter and conveyed curiosities, grievances, and predictions for the future. Tune in to partake in our casual and upbeat discussion. 

Coming up with a title for this episode was tough because this one is JAMPACKED. It has now been over five months since the start of the pandemic, and many people haven't fully internalized our new reality. Don't worry, we didn't talk about the oversaturated topics of wearing masks, quarantine life, or not being able to do everything we could before. Instead, we turned the entire topic of "the new normal" upside down and dissected the positives. Through analyzing previous setbacks embedded in American history, we discovered that each event possesses a clear "pre-disaster" and "post-disaster" society. Thus, since it's been several months, we need to quit using phrases such as: "when things go back to normal..", "when it's over..", or "once the pandemic is out of the picture, then I'll finally start working on that.." The time is now. In this episode, we highlight some of the most significant transitions in the corporate world, education, and technology, and how every one of us can stay on top of the shifts occurring right before our eyes. Make lemonade out of lemons.

This week, we are thrilled to host Emily Duong, of "What Fulfills You?" podcast, as a tremendous guest. Geared towards individuals in their 20s, every now and then it can be beneficial to hear a new perspective on the relevant topics surrounding career success after college. There is no roadmap. Typically, there is no final destination either. When it comes to fulfillment in everyday life, not only does it vary from person to person, but contentment is an ongoing pursuit. After all, time is simply a measure of one's priorities. All-in-all, Emily shares her remarkable advice for encouraging assertiveness, making bold moves to accelerate windows of opportunity, and supporting the concept of fearlessness when it comes to ambition. As per Highly Inspired's most cherished ideologies, it's incredibly admirable to expand your palette, take large strides to develop yourself, and dedicate specific blocks of time to allow sincere focus. Emily fits in perfectly and we think you will enjoy this episode most especially. 

From disingenuous news companies, inadequate medical treatment within healthcare, manipulated media across dozens of digital platforms, and questionable approaches to "how things should be" in everyday life, there are many lies in our society that this episode sheds light on. It's okay to be skeptical sometimes. In fact, the fundamental concept of skepticism has a bad rap. The reason why is because many companies don't encourage the public to ask questions, because then we'd figure out the holes in their systems. Make sense? In this episode, Jordan and Ella share the hard-hitting truth about some of the largest industries around the world. They also explain some important tips for becoming a respectable questioner, being more aware of your surroundings, and coming to your own conclusions without any external influence provoking your moral judgment.