The Upside

Dr. Irwin Adam Eydelnant: There Are No Rules

Dr. Irwin Adam Eydelnant is a food design technologist known as the “Willy Wonka of Toronto." As founder and principal of the Future Food Studio, he spins up out-of-this world experiences that have changed the way we interact with and experience food and drinks. And, unless you’ve been taking a hiatus from social media, you’ve surely heard about one of his most famous projects, the Museum of Ice Cream, where he served as founding partner of the museum’s NYC launch. In this episode of The Upside, Irwin and Brad talk exploration, throwing out the rules, aligning your passion with your career, and why to stop talking and start doing. The Upside with Brad Keywell is a collection of stimulating stories, inspiring guests and thought provoking ideas curated by the endlessly curious mind of our host. The Upside is an exploration of actionable ideas that can transform business, the world, and the way we think.

David Axelrod: What Baseball & Politics Can Teach Us About Culture

David Axelrod has been hailed a political mastermind. A former newspaper reporter-turned-political strategist, David has worked behind-the-scenes on more than 150 campaigns. His most famous client? President Barack Obama. From 2004-2012, David helped the President to three victories: the 2004 Senate race, the historical 2008 Presidential election, and his 2012 re-election, where he served as chief strategist and media advisor. Today, David is the director of the Institute of Politics at the University of Chicago, and hosts his own podcast, "The Axe Files." He's also a New York Times bestselling author for his 2015 memoir, "Believer: My 40 Years in Politics." In this episode - our third and final in our series with political disruptors - David and Brad discuss the traits of a great leader, the defining moment of his life, how to create a culture of excellence, and, how baseball is like politics. Plus, David reveals the kinds of politicians he'd never work with again, the time Steve Jobs hung up on him, and the story behind the famous Obama campaign slogan, "Yes We Can."

Sarah Feinberg: Lessons from the White House to Silicon Valley

In the second of The Upside’s series with political disruptors, Brad chats with Sarah Feinberg, former chief administrator at the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). From the Hill to the White House to Silicon Valley and back, listen in as they discuss what she’s learned during her unique career. Feinberg - one of Uptake’s advisors - shares what it’s like to be inside the White House “situation room,” mitigating potential crude oil train disasters at the FRA, and influencing Silicon Valley to tackle the problems of consequence, and not just convenience. Plus, what former bosses Rahm Emanuel and Sheryl Sandberg have taught her about time management, running a meeting, staying cool under pressure, and more.

Arne Duncan: Reimagining Chicago

In the first of The Upside’s series with political disruptors, Brad learns about the big item atop Arne Duncan’s bucket list, the cause he believes to be the “ultimate non-political bipartisan issue,” and what it’s like to play basketball with President Obama. The former U.S. Secretary of Education shares his take on the future of learning: from leveling the technology playing field to streamlining college applications, and why we’re long overdue for big-time disruption. And, why data matters: how Duncan’s legacy of data collection (through Common Core standards and the College Scorecard) informs programs like Uptake.org’s Student Union app. Plus, how Duncan’s latest work with Chicago CRED (under Laurene Powell Jobs’ Emerson Collective) could radically change the life trajectory of thousands of young people in Chicago.