Unreasonable Jacksonville

Eric Mann

In this episode of Unreasonable, Josh Martino sits down with Eric Mann, President and CEO of the First Coast YMCA, whose 45-year career has been shaped by a commitment to service, mentorship, and community-building. Growing up in rural Georgia during the era of school desegregation, Mann reflects on the profound influence of his parents—particularly his mother, a teacher and civic leader—and the coach who instilled in him the discipline, resilience, and belief that would guide his future. From an unexpected YMCA internship that began with little more than a mileage reimbursement to leadership roles across the country, Mann shares how relationships, integrity, and a passion for helping others became the foundation of his life's work. He also discusses his impact on Jacksonville, including leading the transformation of the Winston Family YMCA along the St. Johns River, partnering with community leaders to launch Together Against Hate, and helping modernize and expand the Jacksonville Civic Council to better reflect the city’s future. Across every chapter of his journey, Mann returns to a central belief: that lasting progress comes from bringing people together, investing in the next generation, and having the courage to pursue ambitious goals even when others doubt they can be achieved. Full video on YouTube.com/@UnreasonableJacksonville [https://www.youtube.com/@UnreasonableJacksonville] Host: Josh Martino Video and Audio Production: Nimble Creative Services Artwork: Basis

Amy Berg

In this episode of Unreasonable, Josh Martino sits down with Amy Berg, whose career has been defined by a deep commitment to collaboration, storytelling, and values-based leadership. From her early days in Southern California, where environmental challenges shaped her interest in urban planning, to leadership roles in Santa Barbara and Aspen, Berg reflects on how her experiences guided her toward building communities that balance growth, quality of life, and shared purpose, and how her work with the Aspen Institute reinforced her belief in the power of dialogue to bridge divides and solve complex problems. She also shares her leadership at the Better Angels Society, where she helped elevate documentary storytelling as a powerful tool for understanding American history and connecting people through shared narratives, as well as her and her husband's current work in Jacksonville supporting the Mayo Clinic’s Innovation Exchange—an effort to help ideas, from frontline healthcare insights to global collaborations, grow into impactful solutions. Across every chapter of her journey, Berg returns to a defining belief: meaningful progress requires courage, curiosity, and a willingness to engage with others, and that being “unreasonable” is ultimately about having the conviction to speak truth, take risks, and bring people together to create lasting change. Full video on YouTube.com/@UnreasonableJacksonville [https://www.youtube.com/@UnreasonableJacksonville] Host: Josh Martino Video and Audio Production: Nimble Creative Services Artwork: Basis

Moez Limayem

In this episode of Unreasonable, Josh Martino sits down with Moez Limayem, whose remarkable life journey began in a small town in Tunisia without running water or electricity and led to an esteemed academic career with leadership roles at universities around the world. Limayem reflects on the profound influence of his parents, who instilled in him the value of education, something that would ultimately open doors across the globe. He also shares his vision for the University of North Florida to become a Top 100 university in the United States, which he believes is entirely achievable. While Dr. Limayem has since taken on a new role as president of the University of South Florida, the momentum and legacy of his leadership have set UNF on a trajectory toward becoming a world-class institution. Throughout every chapter of his journey, Limayem returns to his guiding definition of what it means to be unreasonable: the biggest risk for most people is not setting high goals and failing to achieve them—the biggest risk is setting low goals and achieving them. Full video on YouTube.com/@UnreasonableJacksonville [https://www.youtube.com/@UnreasonableJacksonville] Host: Josh Martino Video and Audio Production: Nimble Creative Services Artwork: Basis

John Baker

In this episode of Unreasonable, Josh Martino sits down with John Baker, whose life and career have been shaped by a deep sense of responsibility and a commitment to the broader good. Baker traces his story back to the personal sacrifice his father made serving the country during World War II — a legacy that carried forward into his own sense of duty. He reflects on growing Florida Rock into a successful business through daring decisions and nail-biting margins, and later on his steady leadership during the JEA scandal, helping to right the ship at a pivotal moment for Jacksonville. Deeply committed to providing opportunity to others, Baker shares how listening to community leaders led him to confront racial inequality and make a promise to pursue meaningful change through education. Across every chapter of his journey, one defining trait comes through: John Baker is a relentless force for principled leadership.  Full video on YouTube.com/@UnreasonableJacksonville [https://www.youtube.com/@UnreasonableJacksonville] Host: Josh Martino Video and Audio Production: Nimble Creative Services Artwork: Basis

Donna Orender

In this episode of Unreasonable, Josh Martino sits down with Donna Orender — trailblazing athlete, visionary sports executive, and unwavering advocate for women and girls. Orender reflects on her path from a standout professional basketball player in New York to pioneering roles at the PGA Tour and later as President of the WNBA, before returning to Jacksonville to found Generation W. She also shares her latest bold venture: the UpShot League, a new professional basketball league launching in Jacksonville in partnership with fellow Civic Council member Andy Kaufmann. Through it all, Orender returns to the themes that have guided her — asking why, pushing beyond perceived limits, and seizing every opportunity to lift others along the way. Full video on YouTube.com/@UnreasonableJacksonville [https://www.youtube.com/@UnreasonableJacksonville] Host: Josh Martino Video and Audio Production: Nimble Creative Services Artwork: Basis