Engaging Universities Towards Solving Real Community Challenges, with Professor Jessica Barlow

Engaging Universities Towards Solving Real Community Challenges, with Professor Jessica Barlow

EPISODE SUMMARY What if universities weren't just places where knowledge is created, but places where knowledge is actively put to work in service of local communities? In this episode of Brave New Worlds, we sit down with Professor Jessica Barlow, Professor of Sustainability at San Diego State University and Executive Director of the Center for Regional Sustainability. Together, they explore how universities can play a more meaningful role in addressing real-world challenges while preparing students for life beyond the classroom. Jessica shares the story behind The Sage Project, an internationally recognized model that connects university courses with community priorities. Through partnerships with cities, nonprofits, and local organizations, students work on real projects ranging from environmental justice and urban planning to branding, accessibility, and community development. Along the way, they gain hands-on experience navigating the messy realities of public problem-solving, collaboration, and civic engagement. The conversation also explores larger questions about the future of higher education. Why are universities often disconnected from the communities around them? How can researchers better communicate their work beyond academic journals? What happens when scholars move beyond traditional disciplinary boundaries to focus on society's most pressing challenges?  Jessica reflects on her own journey from linguistics to sustainability and environmental justice, and shares why she believes community-engaged scholarship should become the norm rather than the exception. ---------------------------------------- ABOUT JESSICA BARLOW Jessica Barlow is Professor of Sustainability at San Diego State University and Executive Director of the Center for Regional Sustainability. Trained as a linguist and phonologist, her work bridges language, community, and environmental justice. She is co-founder of The Sage Project, an internationally recognized program connecting universities with communities to address real-world challenges through collaborative, place-based research. Her interdisciplinary work spans climate resilience, community-engaged scholarship, and the role of language in shaping how we understand and respond to global crises. Barlow's career reflects a commitment to linking knowledge with action to build more equitable and sustainable futures. Outside of work, she plays viola, violin, and occasionally guitar in local musical ensembles—and is an enthusiastic bird lover. ---------------------------------------- LINKS Center for Regional Sustainability (San Diego State University) https://crs.sdsu.edu [https://crs.sdsu.edu] Jessica Barlow on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-a-barlow/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-a-barlow/] Learn More About The Sage Project https://sage.sdsu.edu [https://sage.sdsu.edu] ---------------------------------------- If you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe, leave a review, and share the episode with someone interested in education, community building, sustainability, or creating meaningful change where they live.

From Climate Policy to Inner Healing: Rebuilding Care, Identity, and the World with Alexandra Peek

In this episode, Nathan sits down with Alexandra Peek, a former climate tech professional turned community-based healer, to explore what it means to truly create change.  After years working in law, sustainability, and environmental advocacy, Alexandra found herself questioning the impact of her work despite outward success. That realization sparked a personal transformation that shifted her focus from systems and policy to healing, identity, and the human body. The conversation explore the connection between trauma, subconscious patterns, and the systems we build. Alexandra shares how her work now integrates herbalism, energy healing, and death care, alongside efforts to build collaborative, holistic models of care that bring together Western medicine, Eastern practices, and community-based support. From local food sovereignty in El Paso to reimagining healthcare systems, Alexandra offers a grounded yet visionary perspective on what meaningful change looks like.  It’s a call to examine what in our own lives may need to “die” in order to create something more aligned, authentic, and sustainable—for ourselves and the world around us. ---------------------------------------- ABOUT ALEXANDRA PEEK Alexandra Peek (she/her) is a community-based energy worker, death doula, and herbalist based in El Paso, Texas. She is the founder of Peek Counsel, a sustainability consultancy, and Azul Metzli, a healing practice. Her work centers on community healing through the merging of ancestral healing practices with modern neuroscience. Formerly an energy decarbonization and sustainability professional, Alexandra now focuses on the inner, physical world of energy within the human body and the sustainability of the whole person—mind, body, and spirit—in order to shift the health of the planet. ---------------------------------------- LINKS * Instagram (Azul Metzli): @azulmetzli [https://www.instagram.com/azulmetzli] * Website: azulmetzli.com [http://azulmetzli.com] * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-peek-is-unique/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-peek-is-unique/] * Substack: https://substack.com/@peekcounsel [https://substack.com/@peekcounsel] * Liberarte: https://liberarteinc.org/ [https://liberarteinc.org/] * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61571364324052# [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61571364324052#]

How to Tell Your Story as a Leader: Finding Your Why, Building Trust, and Creating Change

EPISODE SUMMARY In this solo episode of Braver New Worlds, we explore how leaders can define and tell their personal story in a way that builds trust, clarity, and momentum.  Building on previous episodes about the importance of storytelling and persuasion, I share how  storytelling is a core leadership skill because it helps others understand your motivations, your vision, and the change you’re trying to create in the world. I also break down why your story matters—not just for your audience, but for yourself. Many people struggle with telling their story, but it’s not because of storytelling mechanics. It’s more often because they struggle to feel comfortable and give themselves permission to want something meaningful and share it openly. I also walk through an exercise of identifying key life stories, extracting recurring themes, and translating those into a clear “why” (purpose) and “how” (values in action) statements. You’ll see how this not only strengthens your storytelling, but also helps guide decisions, align your actions, and create a more cohesive sense of identity as a leader.  Ultimately, this episode is both a philosophical reflection and a practical guide for anyone looking to lead with greater intention, authenticity, and narrative clarity. ---------------------------------------- ABOUT NATHAN YOUNG Nathan Young is the founder of StoryCulture Consulting, where he helps leaders, entrepreneurs, and mission-driven teams clarify their message and communicate it in a way that builds trust, mobilizes support, and drives meaningful impact.  His work sits at the intersection of storytelling, leadership, and personal development, with a focus on what he calls “Narrative Leadership”—the ability to understand and shape the stories that influence identity, decision-making, and culture. Through coaching, workshops, and consulting, Nathan supports individuals and organizations in uncovering their purpose, articulating their vision, and sharing stories that resonate with the people they serve.  He has worked with nonprofits, universities, and leaders across sectors to strengthen communication, improve fundraising and outreach, and develop more authentic and effective leadership.

Trust as the Currency of Change: Storytelling, Persuasion & Narrative Leadership

EPISODE SUMMARY In this solo episode of Braver New Worlds, Nathan Young explores the connection between storytelling, persuasion, and leadership — and why the future may depend on thoughtful people learning how to communicate their ideas more effectively. Drawing from themes of psychology, rhetoric, and social change, Nathan breaks down Aristotle’s rhetorical framework of persuasion (“ethos, pathos, and logos”) and argues that trust is often the hidden force underneath persuasion itself. Through stories, examples, and reflections from his own work with nonprofit leaders, entrepreneurs, and executives, he explores why credibility and emotional connection matter more than simply having good ideas. Nathan also discusses how storytelling helps people communicate not just what they do, but what they believe, why they believe it, and the kind of future they want to help create. Along the way, he reflects on entrepreneurship, creative work, community, social fragmentation, AI, inequality, and the need for more people to confidently speak about the world they want to build. This episode is ultimately an invitation: to clarify your values, think more deeply about persuasion, and become more intentional about sharing your story with others. ---------------------------------------- ABOUT NATHAN YOUNG Nathan Young is the founder of StoryCulture Consulting [https://storycultureconsulting.com/], where he helps mission-driven leaders, teams, and entrepreneurs develop clarity, confidence, and influence through storytelling and narrative strategy.  With over a decade of experience in coaching, training, and facilitation, his work focuses on what he calls “Narrative Leadership”—the ability to communicate vision, build trust, and mobilize people through story. Through live events like Big Idea Night, his podcast Braver New Worlds, and his consulting work, Nathan explores how storytelling shapes identity, leadership, and culture—and how individuals can use their story to create meaningful change in their lives and communities. ---------------------------------------- LINKS Big Idea Night: bigideanight.com [http://bigideanight.com] Nathan Young / StoryCulture Consulting: StoryCulture Consulting [https://storycultureconsulting.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Instagram: Big Idea Night Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/bigideanight/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Podcast: Braver New Worlds [https://www.youtube.com/@BraverNewWorldsPodcast?utm_source=chatgpt.com]

Storytelling As Instinct And The New Story Leaders Need to Tell (solo episode)

📝 EPISODE SUMMARY This week we’re doing a solo episode of Braver New Worlds, where I share some of the foundational aspects of my work with leaders and communicators.  I argue that while animals rely on instinct to survive, humans rely on stories. These stories shape how we understand reality, define identity, and determine how we behave within our communities. Basically, storytelling isn’t just a communication tool—it’s how humans make sense of the world, build trust, and navigate uncertainty.  Storytelling is also embodied. Experiences like anxiety around difficult conversations, people-pleasing, and fear of speaking up–and the way our bodies respond to these situations–show how these reactions are tied to stories we’ve internalized about acceptance, and ultimately survival. What often feels like personal weakness is actually a biological response to stepping outside of those learned narratives. This is all especially important as we enter a time when shared societal narratives are breaking down. This makes powerful storytelling all the more important for leadership—specifically, the ability to create trust and offer a sense of predictability about the future.  Rather than simply sharing past accomplishments, leaders must articulate a compelling vision of what’s possible and invite others into that story. The question is: What is the story you can telling about the future? And are you brave enough to share it? ---------------------------------------- 👤 ABOUT NATHAN YOUNG Nathan Young is the founder of StoryCulture Consulting, where he helps mission-driven leaders, teams, and entrepreneurs develop clarity, confidence, and influence through storytelling and narrative strategy.  With over a decade of experience in coaching, training, and facilitation, his work focuses on what he calls “Narrative Leadership”—the ability to communicate vision, build trust, and mobilize people through story. Through his podcast Braver New Worlds, live events like Big Idea Night, and his consulting work, Nathan explores how storytelling shapes identity, leadership, and culture—and how individuals can use their story to create meaningful change in their lives and communities. ---------------------------------------- 🔗 LINKS * Big Idea Night [https://bigideanight.com/] (live event series mentioned in episode) Big Idea Night on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/bigideanight]