Rephonic
Artwork for Blue Sky

Blue Sky

Bill Burke
Optimism
Mental Health
Education
Social Media
Community Building
Leadership
Cancer
Philanthropy
Mentorship
Gratitude
Arts Education
Harvard University
The Optimism Institute
Resilience
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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes181Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureHealth & FitnessMental Health

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Artwork for Blue Sky

Latest Episodes

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

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News can feel relentlessly negative, but as this week's guest points out, that's a choice about what gets covered, not a reflection of what's actually happening in our communities. Mebane Rash is the founder and CEO of EdNC, a nonprofit, paywall-free... more

YouTube

Joe Fiveash, a longtime digital media executive with stops at the Weather Channel, IBM Watson, and Raycom Media, joins Bill Burke to talk about Introships, the nonprofit he now leads that helps college students figure out what career path is right fo... more

YouTube

Educators John Holdridge and Lowell Libby join Bill Burke to talk about the Can We? Project, a Maine-based initiative launched in 2018 that teaches high school students the mindset and skills needed for constructive dialogue across political, social,... more

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Recent Guests

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
Mike Goodwin
Comedian, speaker, humor coach
Self-employed / Public appearances including America's Got Talent, Dry Bar Comedy, Lifetime, BET, Amazon Prime
Episode: The Comedian's Mindset: Mike Goodwin on Laughter, Optimism, and Resilience, a Special Encore Presentation
Melissa Connelly
CEO of OneGoal, educator and advocate for postsecondary access
OneGoal
Episode: Melissa Connelly: Look for the Glimmers, a Special Encore Presentation
Lee Woodruff
Author, journalist, public speaker, foundation founder
Bob Woodruff Foundation
Episode: "Why Not Me?" — Lee Woodruff on Turning Tragedy Into Purpose, a Special Encore Presentation
John Wood
Founder of Room to Read and Ugo
Room to Read; Ugo
Episode: "Carnegie with a Yak": John Wood's Journey from Corporate Executive to Global Educator, a Special Encore Presentation

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 States4 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 States2 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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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Mebane Rash: Journalism in the Business of Hope
Q: You've talked about listening first and doing no harm—why is that approach central to EdNC?
Listening first helps ensure coverage reflects real community needs and crises, and doing no harm guides how we use journalism to support and empower communities rather than disrupt them.
Mebane Rash: Journalism in the Business of Hope
Q: And how do you get your story ideas—do you rely on submissions or active scouting across counties?
A mix of methods: field presence, regular meetings, and proactive outreach; stories bubble up from being in communities and schools, not just from a rigid editorial calendar.
Mebane Rash: Journalism in the Business of Hope
Q: So tell us what that proposal was. How did they position this to you that made you want to say yes?
A group of North Carolina rural superintendents saw the changing media landscape and suggested building an online platform to capture what's happening in schools, which led to EdNC and its mission to fill the gaps left by traditional journalism.
Return on Goodwill: Sam Demma on Why Doing Good Comes Back to You
Q: Why is Return on Goodwill framed as a 'return' that isn't the point, and what should listeners take away from it in their daily lives?
The return is a surprise and a gift, not the aim; the real takeaway is that choosing to do good changes how you show up and how life unfolds for you and others.
Return on Goodwill: Sam Demma on Why Doing Good Comes Back to You
Q: Could you share how your speaking career got started and what you did in those early days to gain credibility?
I balanced day jobs while reaching out to schools with video emails, built credibility slowly, and found mentorship that shifted my approach to business and sales, which helped me land more speaking opportunities.

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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Which podcasts are similar to Blue Sky?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Blue Sky:

1. Planet Money
2. Freakonomics Radio
3. Chasing Life with Dr. Sanjay Gupta
4. Hidden Brain
5. TED Health

How many episodes of Blue Sky are there?

Blue Sky launched 4 years ago and published 181 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Blue Sky?

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What guests have appeared on Blue Sky?

Recent guests on Blue Sky include:

1. Mebane Rash
2. Joe Fiveash
3. John Holdridge
4. Lowell Libby
5. Sam Demma
6. Mike Goodwin
7. Melissa Connelly
8. Lee Woodruff

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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