In this absolute knockout, tour-de-force of an episode, Nancy and Jose are joined in studio by the legendary leader, visionary and man of impact, the one and only Michael Brunker. A live well lived took him from Detroit, Michigan to San Diego in 1980 and it's safe to say that San Diego is far better off for his presence. From his days of coaching for the Detroit Pistons and SDSU Basketball to his leadership at the Jackie Robinson Family YMCA and now his work with the Ken Blanchard Institute, the common denominator is his commitment to youth and providing them with foundational life skills. A mindset that "it's tough to be young today" inspires his work to help young adults sort through the myriad of choices and questions and provide them with "bonafide answers." His work with the Ken Blanchard Institute, brought on to reimagine their leadership training programs and deliver them to middle school and high school students is just one shining example of intentional and purposeful shaping of the world by Michael. Part and parcel of this is his discussion of what we can all do with our "head, heart, hands and habits" daily to make the world better. We also learn about impactful ideas such as "points of power" and the "four-way test" used by the San Diego Rotary in guiding their work. Michael also shares the impact of one book in particular, given to him by Melvin Franklin of The Temptations, that had a huge impact and informs his work to this day...."The Prophet" by Khalil Gibran. Quite the episode and here are some other amazing takeaways from the interview with Michael Brunker: - The two songs which he thinks still fit today's world for youth- His thoughts on leadership styles and his view of a gap minder (great!)- This man of Motown picked favorite band that threw Nancy and Jose for a loop! - The best spots in town for brussel sprouts! - The answers to the Rapid Fire questions! A truly uplifting, energizing and impactful interview from a phenomenal gap minder. Thank you, Michael Brunker, for your contributions to the world of social impact, making the world a better place, and for joining us on The Gap Minders.Enjoy this episode and be sure to subscribe to the show. If you have any questions or want to contact Nancy or Jose, please send an email to [email protected]. Thank you for listening.To learn more about the two social impact organizations making The Gap Minders possible, please visit www.TheGapMinders.org.

In this impactful episode, Nancy and Jose are joined in studio by Pat Libby, the President of Pat Libby Consulting, a management consulting firm, and the Founding Director of the renowned University of San Diego Non-Profit Institute. Pat's footprint on San Diego's social impact organizations - from training and education to leadership and executive search - is vast and immense. Her passion for social impact through well led organizations has been her purpose for many years. In honor of her incredible work, each year an exceptional executive working in the field of non-profit and philanthropy receives the Libby Award from The Non-Profit Institute. And where does some of this passion and purpose come from? Pat attributes it to her family (several social workers), her spirituality, and the values of her Jewish faith, namely a focus on righteousness and repairing the world. Having served over 1000 organizations, trained over 3300 Board members, staff and community leaders, developed an academic research center, and created a Nonprofit Best Practice Library of hundreds of free management resources, Pat has made the world a better place! Some amazing takeaways from the interview with Pat Libby: - As a student of social welfare state theory, she points out that America trails many countries in spending on social welfare programs- Her book "The Empowered Citizens Guide" lays out the 10 steps to getting laws written to support a cause - Her advice to citizens is to "know your issue" as you don't need to be a vet to own a dog, but you should know your dog better than the vet does! - An unexpected answer to the favorite band question! - The answers to the Rapid Fire questions! A truly impactful interview from a phenomenal gap minder. Thank you, Pat Libby, for your contributions to the world of social impact, making the world a better place, and for joining us on The Gap Minders.Enjoy this episode and be sure to subscribe to the show. If you have any questions or want to contact Nancy or Jose, please send an email to [email protected]. Thank you for listening.To learn more about the two social impact organizations making The Gap Minders possible, please visit www.TheGapMinders.org.

In yet another great episode, Nancy and Jose are joined in studio by Migell Acosta, the San Diego County Library Director. When one talks about literacy, library immediately comes to mind and the leader of San Diego's growing hub of physical and digital community services shares his view that being Director is an opportunity to experiment by trying and growing new services for San Diego. And how are the experiments going with 33 libraries? Quite well! From books, digital books and free little libraries to music and events, Migell is increasing accessibility and free programming at a fast clip. And, we even learn that the San Diego County Library system now offers a high school diploma through their Library High School! And where does some the passion for books and libraries come from? Probably back to the 11 year old Migell who discovered Lord of the Rings and was amazed by the ability of words to create a different world, not real, but very much a real world to him! As it he puts it now, the library is a universe of stories, so he encourages all to read! Some amazing takeaways from the interview with Migell Acosta: - Many new services including financial literacy and reading instruction are available- Great technology is present in all libraries, including wifi, laptops and computers- The library offers a high school diploma at LibraryHighSchool.org, usually serving adults age 18+- The answers to the Rapid Fire questions! A truly fascinating interview from a phenomenal gap minder. Thank you, Migell Acosta, for your contributions to San Diego. making books and services available to the community, promoting literacy and for joining us on The Gap Minders.Enjoy this episode and be sure to subscribe to the show. If you have any questions or want to contact Nancy or Jose, please send an email to [email protected]. Thank you for listening.To learn more about the two social impact organizations making The Gap Minders possible, please visit www.TheGapMinders.org.

In this incredible and globetrotting episode, Nancy and Jose are joined in studio by Simona Valanciute, the incredible CEO of San Diego Oasis. The leader of this hidden gem of an organization shares her passion for improving the lives of seniors and children, representing in her mind the two most important generations, reflecting wisdom and knowledge on one end and promise and curiosity on the other end. Whether it is her work with eleven school districts or bridging the "digital divide" for seniors, Simona shares her personal interest in systems change and the importance of being patient in making the right long-term investments in what works and not the distraction of the short-term fix. And where does some of this passion and mindset come from? She does share with affection her excellent foundation with an outstanding and free education in her native Lituania where all had access to academics, multiple learned languages and music and arts. We even get an excellent bit of history of the Soviet Union from the perspective of three generations, including Simona seeing the end of the Soviet Union. Well worth a listen! What else worth listening to is Simona's passionate discussion of a book which stumped our hosts..."The Three Comrades" by Erich Maria Remarque. Simona was so excited that she had brought an unknown book to the show! Some amazing takeaways from the interview with Simona Valanciute: - Three keys for healthy aging as practiced by San Diego Oasis: stimulate your mind, stimulate your body and have a meaningful daily purpose- The importance of understanding the diversity of needs in different communities in order to deliver the right services- A provocative question as it relates to America and its celebration of youth..."does nobody love their grandmother?"- A "gapminder" is someone with the intellectual vision to see gaps and one who cares enough to act- The answers to the Rapid Fire questions! A truly fascinating interview from a phenomenal gap minder. Thank you, Simona Valanciute, for your contributions to America, seniors, young children, the community, literacy, books, and for joining us on The Gap Minders.Enjoy this episode and be sure to subscribe to the show. If you have any questions or want to contact Nancy or Jose, please send an email to [email protected]. Thank you for listening.To learn more about the two social impact organizations making The Gap Minders possible, please visit www.TheGapMinders.org.

In this wonderful episode, Nancy and Jose are joined by Ruben Navarrette, a Washington Post syndicated journalist for the last 21 years, with columns appearing weekly in 150 newspapers reaching nearly 90 million Americans. Ruben is also the host of the podcast "Ruben In The Center." Having started in the middle of the State of California in small town Sanger, we learn of Ruben's journey to Harvard and ending at the center of the road in discussing American politics, culture, and society. Having written over 3,000 columns, 1500 editorials and over three millions words, Ruben has become an iconic storyteller. His passion for a career in writing started with the nudge and confidence provide by his 9th Grade teacher, Miss Janet Mayberry. While he loved English and English Literature, it was her words that provided the spark. And this spark was further fanned by a book which Ruben says changed his life - "Hunger of Memory" - by Richard Rodriquez. Ruben even wrote his own book "A Darker Shade of Crimson" to reflect on his time at Harvard as a latino. Some amazing takeaways from the interview with Ruben Navarrette: - Storytelling is about capturing imagination, not feeding information- Great writing should come from deep thinking and Ruben spends 20% of his time reading and listening to podcasts before pen goes to paper; time to think is essential and great thought should be informed by diversity of mediums- This great observer of America is deeply concerned about Americans "seceding from each other"- The answers to the Rapid Fire questions! A truly fascinating interview from a phenomenal gap minder. Thank you, Ruben Navarrette, for your contributions to America, culture, society, the community, literacy, books, and for joining us on The Gap Minders.Enjoy this episode and be sure to subscribe to the show. If you have any questions or want to contact Nancy or Jose, please send an email to [email protected]. Thank you for listening.To learn more about the two social impact organizations making The Gap Minders possible, please visit www.TheGapMinders.org.

In this fun episode, Nancy and Jose are joined by Jennifer Coburn, the best-selling author of "We'll Always Have Paris" and "Cradle Of The Reich." Whether it is writing about a trip to twelve cities with her daughter or learning about oppression by understanding the oppressor, Jennifer approaches her writing with "immense fascination and curiosity." When she first started reading, including her middle school favorite from Judy Blume, Jennifer felt that reading provided her with a key to unlocked doors, a passport to new worlds and a magnifying glass to better understand. And what wisdom does she have for emergent writers? Three tips! One, enroll in a writing class. Two, be open to feedback. Three, don't compare someone else's finished novel to your first draft! Some amazing takeaways from the interview with Jennifer Coburn: - "Let your kids see you read" is one her best tips for instilling reading behavior- Try snuggle reading in bed with your children- Use unconventional approaches if your children do not immediately like reading...but get it done!- The answers to the Rapid Fire questions! A truly fun interview from a phenomenal gap minder. Thank you, Jennifer Coburn, for your contributions to the community, literacy, books, and for joining us on The Gap Minders.Enjoy this episode and be sure to subscribe to the show. If you have any questions or want to contact Nancy or Jose, please send an email to [email protected]. Thank you for listening.To learn more about the two social impact organizations making The Gap Minders possible, please visit www.TheGapMinders.org.

In this fun episode, Nancy and Jose are joined in studio by the Owner of Libelula Books & Co., Jesi Gutierrez. We hear the passion from this lover of books, art and the fusion of the two as a way to expand appreciation for literacy and comprehension. Jesi, a resident of Barrio Logan, who lost her job as an arts & literacy elementary school teacher during the pandemic, used the opportunity to push forward on a 10-year dream to open a different kind of bookstore. The manifestation of a long running "what would you put there?" game for years with her partner as they walked by an empty store, Libelula has become part bookstore, part community center, part tutoring center and "a place to be" for the incredible Barrio Logan neighborhood. Some amazing takeaways from the interview with Jesi Gutierrez: - Art is storytelling, so fusing art and reading is a powerful way to drive literacy- There is a large demand for Spanish language books as they fly off the shelves!- On Libelula's block, there are 30 female owned businesses!- The "every other month" book club is an innovative idea, born from Jesi's challenges with dyslexia...no need to rush, take your time! - How Libelula addresses a gap called "not having a book store" in a neighborhood- Jesi's intentional focus on diversity in authorship to feel welcoming for all - The answers to the Rapid Fire questions! A truly fun interview from a phenomenal gap minder. Thank you, Jesi Gutierrez, for your contributions to the community, literacy, books, and for joining us on The Gap Minders.Enjoy this episode and be sure to subscribe to the show. If you have any questions or want to contact Nancy or Jose, please send an email to [email protected]. Thank you for listening.To learn more about the two social impact organizations making The Gap Minders possible, please visit www.TheGapMinders.org.

In this episode, Nancy and Jose are joined in studio by the man who is likely the longest running podcaster in the country, the one and only Drew Schlosberg, the host of the "Spotlight on the Community Show" since 2007 and the CEO of Xtra Weekly, a newspaper-centered literacy program. A community leader for so many years in San Diego including with the San Diego Union Tribune, Drew has always been passionate about literacy, including serving as the President of the Greater San Diego Reading Association. We learn that the arc of Drew's life and love for reading bridges sports and newspapers. As an avid sports fan growing up, he wanted to read about sports, sports and more sports! And he found his fill by reading all of the sports columns in Los Angeles, which was the catalyst for a career in journalism, commencing as a sports journalist! Some amazing takeaways from the interview with Drew Schlosberg: - "if you can't read, ballgame over"- We must greatly expand access to books at home, school and libraries - The powerful possession mindset of book when a young person say this is "my book"- The importance of allowing young readers to read what they enjoy - The need for PSAs and billboards everywhere on the importance of reading as we did with the campaign to end smoking- The answers to the Rapid Fire questions! A truly fun interview from a legendary gap minder. Thank you, Drew Schlosberg, for your contributions to the community, literacy, books, and for joining us on The Gap Minders.Enjoy this episode and be sure to subscribe to the show. If you have any questions or want to contact Nancy or Jose, please send an email to [email protected]. Thank you for listening.To learn more about the two social impact organizations making The Gap Minders possible, please visit www.TheGapMinders.org.

In this episode, Nancy and Jose are joined in studio by international educational ambassador, former Teacher of the Year, and the current CEO of The Children's Initiative, Sandra McBrayer. From a less than confident first-time teacher to teaching the world about teaching, Sandra shares the story of her Founding of The Monarch School to her current work on improving the lives of children in San Diego and California. And how does she improve lives? By deeply understanding the challenges that many families and children face, particularly in communities lacking resources, time and money to nudge their children forward. Sandra chats about the absolute essentiality of having books, magazines or comic books in homes and the need to read to children - a surrogate or friend if the parent is not able to do it. She also talks about the patience and persistence it takes to become an excellent teacher. Truer words have never been spoken! Some amazing takeaways from the interview with Sandra McBrayer: - Some families have to choose milk or rent over buying a book and we must address this to increase literacy - How to properly use data in determining which communities need support and how best to support them - The importance of diving into a story with an immersive mindset when reading- How time is a luxury for some, but not all, when it comes to reading to children and how we must think about we create more time for parents - The answers to the Rapid Fire questions! A very special interview with an international asset and local icon, Sandra McBrayer. Thank you, Sandra, for your tireless contributions to the children, families, literacy. and for joining us on The Gap Minders.Enjoy this episode and be sure to subscribe to the show. If you have any questions or want to contact Nancy or Jose, please send an email to [email protected]. Thank you for listening.To learn more about the two social impact organizations making The Gap Minders possible, please visit www.TheGapMinders.org.

In this whirlwind of episode, Nancy and Jose are joined in studio for an around the world conversation with Chad Stewart, the author and creative mind behind one of the most awarded adventure fiction series for children, the "Britfield" series. With the third book coming out in August 2022, Britfield is well on its way to becoming a multi-media franchise, with a play and movies on the horizon. We learn that Britfield was actually not the first book written by Chad. During 6th grade, we get a glimpse of where it all began. His teacher, Miss Dyckman, required all students to write a book and Chad penned "James Bond, Eat Your Heart Out"! It was this creative assignment, along with James and the Giant Peach and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which acted as the catalysts for what became his ultimate passion. Some amazing takeaways from the interview with Chad Stewart: - His passion for partnering with schools, including using middle school students to provide feedback on his manuscripts- The purpose of the Britfield Institute to promote creativity on the classroom, literacy and a love of reading, and writing workshops for schools through free resources and creative exercises for schools- His philosophy, inspired by an Emerson quote, that we can all learn from everyone - The power of doodling as a creative force as a doodle was the genesis of Britfield- The answers to the Rapid Fire questions! A truly fun interview from a very intentional gap minder. Thank you, Chad Stewart, for your contributions to literacy and books and for joining us on The Gap Minders.Enjoy this episode and be sure to subscribe to the show. If you have any questions or want to contact Nancy or Jose, please send an email to [email protected]. Thank you for listening.To learn more about the two social impact organizations making The Gap Minders possible, please visit www.TheGapMinders.org.