Send us a text This week on #ForWhatitsWorthwithBlakeMelnick, Part 2 of #MakingSenseofitAll #AnneApplebaum and her essay #HistorywillJudgetheComplicit, explores the moral complexities of political complicity in times of crisis, examining individuals’ rationalizations for inaction. Through historical examples, we reflect on the quiet compromises made by leaders and their resulting implications for democracy and society. • The dangers of collaboration with immoral leadership • Historical parallels...
Feb 14, 2025•45 min•Season 6Ep. 4
Send us a text What drives individuals to align with or resist oppressive regimes? #AnneApplebaum's compelling essay originally published in the #Atlantic in 2020 #HistoryWillJudgetheComplicit, digs into the complex motivations that underpin political behaviours, through the telling of stories from real people and real experiences. Through her writing we can begin to understand #DonaldTrump and untangle the enigma of Republican responses to his presidency. Applebaum's essay delves into the contr...
Feb 10, 2025•46 min•Season 6Ep. 3
Send us a text Join us for an enlightening conversation with Edwin Morris, the trailblazing founder of Pioneer Knowledge Services, the first U.S. non-profit dedicated to advancing knowledge management among other non-profits. Edward and I discuss the essential role of knowledge management in nonprofits, highlighting how it can enhance organizational effectiveness and innovation. Edwin Morris shares insights on his journey into the field, the significance of personal awareness, and the human conn...
Jan 31, 2025•55 min•Season 6Ep. 2
Send us a text Tony Marra joins us in an inspiring discussion on the convergence of running, mental health, and film making. Tony's latest project, "Billy Runs Boston," beautifully captures the emotional and mental aspects of the sport. Drawing from his own experiences, he explores how running interweaves with personal struggles and triumphs, enriching the film's narrative with genuine depth and resonance. Tony crafts an independent film with just an iPhone 7, following in the footsteps of pione...
Nov 18, 2024•38 min•Season 6Ep. 1
Send us a text Prepare to light up your imagination as we take you on a whimsically satirical journey back to the smoke-filled rooms of yore. Remember when a cloud of tobacco was synonymous with deep thought in university halls and spirited camaraderie in our favorite bars? We'll entertain the fantastical notion of reviving this golden era, complete with smoking dispensaries and safe smoking sites, enveloping everything from educational institutions to airplanes. We blow smoke at the boundaries ...
Apr 25, 2024•10 min•Season 5Ep. 9
Send us a text When the chords of life strike a dissonant note, it's the art of music that can guide us back to harmony. The latest instalment of Pass the Jam, Part 2 of 'Lucky Time' , I'm joined by Douglas Cameron for the inaugural "passing of the jam" to our next artist in residence, Tracy Jones. This episode offers a masterclass in dedication, from honing vocal prowess to strumming the guitar with intention. Tracy's narrative is one of preparation and courage, empowering artists to transcend ...
Feb 22, 2024•22 min•Season 5Ep. 8
Send us a text When Tracy Jones strums his guitar, it's not just about the notes—it's his life's story in the strings. Tracy doesn't just play music; he lives it, breathing life into his songs while fostering thoughtful , personal reflection and a community spirit. This week's episode takes you on a sonic journey through the heart of Tracy's artistry. We navigate the waters of his song craft, revealing how legendary acts like the Beatles and Rush have shaped his rhythmic and narrative approach. ...
Feb 16, 2024•44 min•Season 5Ep. 7
Send us a text Well Happy New Year! For our first episode of 2024, we turn our attention to our music series #passthejam Over the past several months, the music of our current artist in residence,# DouglasCameron's has been a cornerstone of the show. Songs, like the soul-stirring "Doctor," underscored our episodes. We were drawn into his tales where love wrestles with the shadows of fame, creating a tapestry of places, experiences and emotions, that we all can relate to. As we get ready to "pass...
Jan 08, 2024•40 min•Season 5Ep. 6
Send us a text Embark on a thought-provoking journey, as we continue our fascinating conversation with Eric Monteiro. We attempt to unravel the complex tapestry of AI, free will, and the human condition, offering insights that promise to challenge your perspectives on a future with generative AI. Our discussion spans the ethical quandaries of AI's impact on creativity and wealth distribution, to the practical experiences of using AI tools like Copilot AI in content creation. We're balancing on a...
Dec 21, 2023•25 min•Season 5Ep. 5
Send us a text What if our future was not just shaped by human intelligence but also artificial intelligence? This week on "For What It's Worth", we explore one possible future in a world dependent on Generative AI as we sit down with Eric Monteiro, analytics expert, robotics engineer, and author, through the lens of his science-based novel ALMA. We weave our way through Eric's fascinating journey from Brazil to Canada, his unexpected shift from engineering to writing, and his profound thoughts ...
Dec 14, 2023•32 min•Season 5Ep. 4
Send us a text Have you ever considered how intellectual inequality in education might be a root cause of socioeconomic disparity? Join us as we dive deep into this thought-provoking issue with our guest, John Mighton, the founder of Jump Math. We take a hard look at intellectual inequality, a hidden yet pervasive issue in our society, and discuss how promoting intellectual equality in schools can eradicate it within two years. John brings a unique perspective, weaving in the power of mathematic...
Dec 07, 2023•45 min•Season 5Ep. 3
Send us a text Ever wondered why some people are naturally good at math while others struggle ? Get ready to debunk the myth of the 'math gene' as we chat with one of Canada's most distinguished innovators, John Mighton. A self-taught mathematician, John takes us on a fascinating journey from his diverse background in mathematics, literature and theatre, to his innovative approach in teaching mathematics. Discover how his time as a consultant for Good Will Hunting help to shift his perspective o...
Nov 23, 2023•34 min•Season 5Ep. 2
Send us a text Welcome to a new season of For What It's Worth that promises to be a whirlwind journey through the world of innovation, music, and social issues. Our first guest is John Mighton, whose contributions to the fields of Mathematics, Literature, Drama, Education and Social Entrepreneurship are nothing short of extraordinary. His charity organization JUMP Math is changing how we can create intellectual quality in our society through the teaching of mathematics. Can you imagine a world g...
Nov 13, 2023•6 min•Season 5Ep. 1
Send us a text As we are set to begin Season 5 of #ForWhatitsworthwithBlakeMelnick, we figured it's time to update the show trailer for the benefit of our new listeners prior to the launch of the new season. The show began in June 2020 and oh what changes have occurred since that time ... The storming of the U.S. capitol; The impeachment of President Trump; The war in the Ukraine, and the advent of A.I. as a commercial product ...and we've been there through it all. We are really excited about S...
Aug 30, 2023•3 min
Send us a text Welcome to this week's episode of #ForWhatitsWorthwithBlakeMelnick, called #TakeFive, the final episode of Season 4 of the show. Thanks to all the wonderful guests we've had on the show this season - #DrTomCarey #DrTerrySoleas #StephenCohos, #DrRuthBackstrom, #TomPowers and #SueSiri . And my special thanks to you, our listeners. I've said it before and I'll say it again. Without YOU there would be no show. We'll be back again with the start of Season 5 towards the end of September...
Aug 25, 2023•5 min•Season 4Ep. 18
Send us a text This Week on #ForWhatitsWorthwithBlakeMelnick, our next instalment of #WhatWereWatchingReadingandListeningto on #TheSpaceinbetween. As in the past, I'm joined by my co-host, #CameronBrown to discuss our recommendations for what to watch; what to read, and what to listen to as the Summer draws to a close. We have some great picks for you - #TeskeyBrothers, #AlwaysattheCarlyle #InsideMan and many more ...For What it's Worth. Accompanying playlist https://spotify.link/v46xVcjBnCb The...
Aug 18, 2023•33 min•Season 4Ep. 17
Send us a text This week on #ForWhatitsWorthwithBlakeMelnick, the next installment in our series #ManyFacesofInnovation, #EyesWideOpen - my interview with #SueSiri, Founder and CEO of #IrisBooth. Often times good ideas "die on the vine" so to speak, because at the time the idea was conceived, there was no context to which it could be applied. In some cases, the right context might be the right market condition. In others, it might be the lack of funds and expertise for development. Or it might b...
Aug 11, 2023•1 hr•Season 4Ep. 16
Send us a text This week on #ForWhatitsWorthwithBlakeMelnick, the trailer for our up and coming episode, the next instalment in our series #TheManyFacesofInnovation, called #EyesWideOpen with my guest #SueSiri, Founder of #IrisBooth. Sometimes the opportunity for innovation is right in front of us. It's not necessarily an idea that's new to the world ...sometimes it's a better mousetrap ...Check out the trailer and join us for the next episode to hear Sue's story ....For What it's Worth The musi...
Jul 27, 2023•8 min•Season 4Ep. 15
Send us a text This week on #ForWhatitsWorthwithBlakeMelnick , part two of my interview with Dr. #RuthBackstrom author of #IgnitingaBoldNewDemocracy . In part one, Dr. Backstrom and I discussed the context for change; the eroding belief that our democracy can provide for the needs of all our citizens. In part two, we pick up from where we left off and focus our conversation on the impact of the Reagan years, technology, social media, and the need to re-imagine education. For what it's worth. The...
May 29, 2023•41 min•Season 4Ep. 14
Send us a text This week on #ForWhatitsWorhwithBlakeMelnick, Part 1 of my interview with Dr. #RuthBackstrom, author of the recently published book #IGNITINGABOLDNEWDEMOCRACY: Empowering Citizens Through Game-Changing Reforms. In Part 1 of our interview, Dr. Backstrom discusses her background and the motivation for wanting to write her book; The root causes of the dysfunctional state of Democracy in the U.S. and Canada; The disconnect between the political system and the needs of citizens and the...
May 18, 2023•32 min•Season 4Ep. 13
Send us a text We are all acutely aware of the stark polarization in our world; We have begun to lose faith In our political, social and economic systems. Our belief that our democracy can provide adequately for our citizens, is fraying at the edges. We have lost the art of open minded discourse and it would seem that we no longer value perspectives different from our own - Cancel culture, negative labelling; distortion of the truth has prevented all voices from being heard and has splintered ou...
May 08, 2023•7 min•Season 4Ep. 12
Send us a text This week on #ForWhatitsWorthwithBlakeMelnick and our #ManyFacesofInnovation series, is part 2 of #EntrainmentandPowerofSound, with my guest @TomPowers. In part one, Tom explained the Theory of Entrainment and his “aha!” moment when he realized that something in music had changed post 1995. We had inadvertently lost the natural interpersonal musical entrainment, which occurs between artists and their music and their audience as a result of the mass adoption of digital technology. ...
Mar 17, 2023•30 min•Season 4Ep. 11
Send us a text This week on #ForWhatitsWorthwithBlakeMelnick, the next instalment of our #TheManyFacesofInnovation series, called #EntrainmentandthePowerofSound with my guest @TomPowers. In this episode, Tom explains the concept of #Entrainment - the natural synchronization that occurs in the mechanical world; the biological world; the social world and between musicians and their audience. Entrainment is natural ....and it is something that we've inadvertently lost as a result of the over use of...
Mar 03, 2023•43 min•Season 4Ep. 10
Send us a text This week on #ForWhatItsWorthwithBlakeMelnick, part of our Many Faces of Innovation series with my guest, Stephen Cohos from #EntuitiveEngineering in Calgary, Alberta. In part one of our interview, Stephen and I discussed Entuitive's innovation ecosystem, their goals and objectives for trying to create a culture of innovation in their workplace. In this episode, Stephen and I zero in on some of the success stories, the things that have worked really well, the "ah ha" moments that ...
Feb 03, 2023•40 min•Season 4Ep. 9
Send us a text This week on #ForWhatItsWorthwithBlakeMelnick, the next instalment in our series, #TheManyFacesofInnovation, we focus on innovation at the organizational level. For those of you new to the series, here's a bit of a recap. #TheManyFacesofInnovation Series is designed to make innovation more understandable, accessible, and actionable to both individuals and organizations alike. In our first two episodes of the series this season, we profiled the ground-breaking research of Dr. Terry...
Jan 26, 2023•29 min•Season 4Ep. 8
Send us a text Well, Happy New Year and welcome to this week's episode of #ForWhatIt'sWorthwithBlakeMelnick. This is part two of our episode, #UnderstandingthMotivationtoInnovate with my guest, #Dr.TerrySoleas from #QueensUniversity. Dr. Soleas's seminal research on the factors which motivate people to innovate is key to making innovation more understandable, accessible, and actionable to individuals and organizations alike. We need to resist thinking about innovation as the preserve of geniuses...
Jan 05, 2023•35 min•Season 4Ep. 7
Send us a text In this episode of #ForWhatitsWorthwithBlakeMelnick, the #MotivationstoInnovate, my guest is #DrTerrySoleas from #QueensUniversity in Kingston Ontario. Terry and I discuss #Innovation, Invention and the difference between the two. We share stories and insights about innovation with the collective goal of making innovation more understandable, accessible and actionable to individuals and organizations alike ...For What it's Worth Link to Episode Blog Post The music for this episode...
Dec 19, 2022•40 min•Season 4Ep. 6
Send us a text This week on #ForWhatitsWorthwithBlakeMelnick, the season 4 trailer for our series, #TheManyFacesofInnovation, #EmployeeLedWorkplaceInnovationand theQualityofWork, where we speak with innovators from across multiple fields of endeavour to hear about their innovation journey and through their stories, seek to better understand how to unlock and support Innovation dynamic within yourself and your organization regardless of its nature or size ...For What it's Worth The music for this...
Dec 09, 2022•4 min•Season 4Ep. 5
Send us a text This week on #ForWhatItsWorthwithBlakeMelnick an episode of #TheSpaceinBetween called #LittleFeatAG. As our listeners know, we've been doing a fairly deep dive into the music of Little Feat. I had a great interview with Mr. Bill Payne, co-founder and pianist for the band, and during that interview we discussed the need to encourage new listeners to Little Feat. What came out of the interviews, both with Bill and with some of the fans on the street before their show in Seattle this...
Nov 25, 2022•30 min•Season 4Ep. 4
Send us a text Welcome to this week's episode of #ForWhatItsWorthwithBlakeMelnick, part 2 of my interview, #StraightfromtheHeart with my guest, the great #BillPayne from #LittleFeet. In part one, Bill and I discussed the recent tour, his early musical influences, the renewed power of music in our tumultuous times, and his short lived career as a drummer In this episode, Bill and I pick up from where we left off and do a deep dive into the art and craft of songwriting, the growth of the band, the...
Nov 10, 2022•29 min•Season 4Ep. 3
