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Artwork for Blue Sky

Blue Sky

Bill Burke
Optimism
Mental Health
Education
Social Media
Community Building
Leadership
Cancer
Philanthropy
Mentorship
Gratitude
Arts Education
Resilience
Harvard University
The Optimism Institute
Artificial Intelligence
Social Entrepreneurship
Homelessness
Storytelling
Technology
Climate Change

Hosted by Bill Burke, founder of The Optimism Institute, this weekly podcast will feature inspiring leaders, authors, researchers, and big thinkers who are taking on some of our world's toughest challenges with an infectious sense of optimism. Blue Sky takes its name from the meditation reminder that there's always blue sky above, sometimes you just have to get your head above the clouds to see it... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes184Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureHealth & FitnessMental Health

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Artwork for Blue Sky

Latest Episodes

Former Vox Media pioneer Joe Posner spent years watching bad news win the battle for eyeballs and clicks. Now he's pushing back with Dream On, a YouTube docuseries about people "fighting entrenched poverty and winning." Joe shares how his parents, an... more

YouTube

Stephen Minix calls himself "Optimus Prime," but he's quick to say optimism doesn't mean life will always get better. It means believing that showing up today still matters. He learned that from his father, an Air Force master sergeant who died when ... more

YouTube

Dr. Deepika Chopra, known as the Optimism Doctor, makes a surprising admission: she isn't a natural optimist. In this conversation, she explains why optimism is a learned skill and not a fixed trait, how it differs from happiness, and why real optimi... more

YouTube

Margaret Hathaway and Karl Schatz traded New York City for a goat farm in Maine. Then a pandemic-era cookbook project led them to create Community Plate, a series of story-sharing potluck suppers that bring strangers together over food. They've now h... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Stephen Minix
Vice president of community at UpMetrics and former educator and athletic director
UpMetrics
Episode: Stephen Minix on Optimism as Fuel
Deepika Chopra
Behavioral scientist with postdoctoral fellowships at UCLA and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Episode: The Optimism Doctor Is In: Dr. Deepika Chopra on The Power of Real Optimism
Margaret Hathaway
Co-founder of Community Plate and Magnolia member
Community Plate / Magnolia Bakery (Maine)
Episode: A Potluck Prescription for Loneliness — Margaret Hathaway & Karl Schatz on Food, Stories, and Community
Karl Schatz
Co-founder of Community Plate and photographer/author
Community Plate / Magnolia Bakery (Maine)
Episode: A Potluck Prescription for Loneliness — Margaret Hathaway & Karl Schatz on Food, Stories, and Community
Mebane Rash
Founder of EdNC, education journalist and advocate
Education NC (EdNC)
Episode: Mebane Rash: Journalism in the Business of Hope
Joe Fiveash
Leader of Introships, digital media veteran
Introships
Episode: Introships – Career Optimism for College Students, With Joe Fiveash
John Holdridge
Co-creator of the Can We? Project; educator
Can We? Project / Third Thought
Episode: "Can We Talk?": Teaching High Schoolers the Art of Civil Dialogue
Lowell Libby
Co-creator of the Can We? Project; educator
Can We? Project / Third Thought
Episode: "Can We Talk?": Teaching High Schoolers the Art of Civil Dialogue
Sam Demma
Canadian author, entrepreneur, public speaker
The Optimism Institute / author
Episode: Return on Goodwill: Sam Demma on Why Doing Good Comes Back to You

Host

Bill Burke
Host of Blue Sky; founder of The Optimism Institute

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 78 ratings
  • Just what the mind and soul needed

    I have only listened to two episodes but I have a feeling I will be back for more blue skies! And thank you for having Kathryn Edwards on - I learn so much every time I hear her speak and I feel like everything is going to be ok when we have minds like hers to help understand and empathize with our current state of this economy and country.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    FI@55
    United States5 months ago
  • Interesting and Genuine Conversations!

    This show has such a wonderful collection of guests and you can tell that the host, Bill Burke, is genuinely interested and asks great questions that truly bring more depth to each conversation. I’m a big fan!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RA-UL1
    United States7 months ago
  • A smile and a fist bump!

    Bill’s podcast is part inspiration and part instigation! Examples of people doing good and a reminder we can do the same. From every vantage point and walk of life, Bill’s guests find and stoke the fire of optimism.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LoveWins727
    United States2 years ago
  • Educating Enlightening Uplifting and Inspiring!!!

    A podcast needed now more than ever! Bill is a fantastic interviewer who hand picks guests who are beaming optimism despite the challenges they have had to overcome. His guests have turned tragedy into triumph not only for themselves but for the highest good of all. Bill also takes exquisite care to edit every episode to ensure one of the finest podcast listening experiences I’ve ever had. Be educated and enlightened, uplifted and inspired! I’d give it 10 stars if I could!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Marymcpoet
    United States2 years ago
  • A new spin on optimism!

    I LOVE Bill’s interviewing style. The way he breaks away to provide anecdotes or information in the interviews helps me learn so much.

    He’s certainly helped my 2024 be way more optimistic!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    HollandOats
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners describe the host as genuinely curious and engaging, with deep questions that elicit thoughtful insights.
Audience notes the discussions help translate complex topics into everyday relevance.
The show is praised for uplifting, actionable conversations and high production quality.
Guests are carefully selected to share practical optimism across diverse fields.

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This American Life
This American LifeThis American Life
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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Stephen Minix on Optimism as Fuel
Q: How do you help nonprofits and funders understand whether their work is having an impact?
Minix describes helping both sides define who is served, what services are provided, and what outcomes matter, then use qualitative and quantitative information to build trust and assess progress over realistic time frames.
Stephen Minix on Optimism as Fuel
Q: What did growing up as a military kid mean for you?
Minix says his childhood was shaped less by moving around than by his father, an Air Force master sergeant who taught him to serve others and make the most of what he had.
The Optimism Doctor Is In: Dr. Deepika Chopra on The Power of Real Optimism
Q: What is the difference between happiness and optimism?
Chopra describes happiness as an emotion that rises and falls, while optimism is an orientation toward interpreting circumstances and believing actions can shape what is possible. A person can be optimistic while feeling grief, sadness, or uncertainty.
The Optimism Doctor Is In: Dr. Deepika Chopra on The Power of Real Optimism
Q: Are optimists born or made?
Chopra says optimism is partly heritable, but most of it is shaped by experience, environment, and learned ways of interpreting events. She describes it as a psychological skill that can be strengthened through practice.
A Potluck Prescription for Loneliness — Margaret Hathaway & Karl Schatz on Food, Stories, and Community
Q: What resources are available for others who want to start their own supper series?
They offer a guidebook toolkit, grants applications, and templates; they emphasize starting with a few core elements, using food prompts to frame conversations, and adapting to local context rather than copying every detail.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Blue Sky

What is Blue Sky about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A weekly show that spotlights leaders, researchers, authors, and thinkers who pursue big challenges with optimism. Episodes often center on social impact, education, climate, technology, and responsible leadership, blending personal narrative with practical takeaways. Listeners can expect thoughtful conversations that translate complex ideas into actionable insights, with a consistent thread of hopeful, impact-driven perspectives and real-world examples of progress.

A notable edge is the host's mission-driven framing: optimism as a skill and a driver for change, which shapes guest selection and conversation style. The format tends to mix personal journeys with policy, business, and societal implications, making it useful for professionals ... more

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How many episodes of Blue Sky are there?

Blue Sky launched 4 years ago and published 184 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Blue Sky?

Recent guests on Blue Sky include:

1. Stephen Minix
2. Deepika Chopra
3. Margaret Hathaway
4. Karl Schatz
5. Mebane Rash
6. Joe Fiveash
7. John Holdridge
8. Lowell Libby

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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