Rethinking Blue Collar Work in the Age of AI, with Dwayne R. Norris, Co-founder of Soulful Synergy

Young Weavers in the Sacred Valley of Cusco, Peru, with Robin Kang and Nilda Callañaupa Alvarez

Robin Kang is a multidisciplinary artist, weaver, and energy healer. Her work explores the intersection of ancient wisdom, ecological awareness, and technological innovation. For Kang, weaving serves as a bridge between traditional craft and computational processes, envisioning a balance between technology and organic systems. On this special episode of Good Standing, Robin joins Nilda Callañaupa Alvarez, an Indigenous Quechua weaver, spinner, natural dyer, and knitter from Chinchero in the Cusco region of Peru. Along with other Quechua weavers from Chinchero as well as international supporters, Nilda helped to establish the Centro de Textiles Tradicionales del Cusco (CTTC - Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco) in 1996 as a nonprofit organization. Since then until the present day, Callañaupa has served as director of the CTTC. She has written four books on Peruvian weaving and has coauthored a third on senior weavers of the Peruvian Andes. Last summer, (July, 2025) Nilda was tapped to consult at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on their pre-Columbian tapestry collection (Art of the Ancient Americas). Coinciding with our companion digital platform (GoodStanding.app), we are offering up authentic, organic textiles made by the Young Weavers on site in Cusco under Nilda's tutelage, in an effort to celebrate (30 years), and to support and raise awareness for CTTC in its mission to preserve its cultural practices and bolster its many special operations in the Sacred Valley. Kang, once more weaving the digital and analogue together into one unique expression, has created custom, artistic coupons for the GS activation, which will act as digital, sharable souvenirs (proof of purchase & support) and will live proudly on user profiles. New Yorkers will be able to pick up their custom textiles in person on June 18th in Manhattan. We will ship goods to those not in NYC. The word "bridge" continues to reappear in all things Good Standing. We can all be a bridge, built in good faith, to bring humanity together as a connected whole, while holding space for unique cultures and their precious, indispensable traditions. We hope you enjoy this episode, and the special sisterhood between Nilda & Robin, which grows stronger with every passing year.

Building Musical Bridges Around the World, with Suhail Arastu

Suhail Arastu is the Director of Advancement for the San Antonio-based nonprofit, Musical Bridges Around the World (MBAW), which promotes global arts and cultural understanding by providing free, world-class musical performances and educational programs to the public. It focuses on serving underserved youth, senior citizens, and military personnel, while expanding horizons, awareness, and empathy for all involved. Arastu attended UC Berkeley, where he double-majored in classics and neurobiology while competing on the university’s nationally ranked gymnastics team. Competing and training internationally exposed Suhail to cultures around the globe. After graduation, he moved to a remote fishing village in northwest Japan for a period of reflection and self-discovery. This time in Japan led to a role with a nongovernmental organization under the United Nations Economic and Social Council, based in Tokyo. His journey to Musical Bridges began in 2010 when he organized a piano recital for a visiting friend from Japan. The overwhelming response caught the attention of Musical Bridges’ founder, Anya Grokhovski, a classically trained Russian pianist, who invited him to join the board. He later became Vice Chair and eventually stepped into a staff role to help lead the organization’s growth. Over 16 years later, Arastu continues to guide the organization’s growth and impact through a wide network of relationships he’s cultivated. On this episode of the Good Standing podcast, we discuss how music-the universal language-has never been more valuable in connecting human beings during a period of increased tribalism, digital dissonance, harsh binary politics, and socio-economic uncertainty. What makes communities resilient and robust? What elements help music, art, or any creative act resonate and endure? Suhail shares his worldly wisdom, humility, and a great sense of humor on this highly informative episode.

Rethinking Blue Collar Work in the Age of AI, with Dwayne R. Norris, Co-founder of Soulful Synergy

Dwayne R. Norris is the Co-founder & COO of Soulful Synergy [https://soulfulsynergy.org/], a New York-based, minority-owned workforce development and consulting agency focused on creating economic opportunity, social equity, and environmental sustainability. They specialize in training for clean energy and construction jobs, providing workforce planning, and supporting MWBEs (a certification for businesses that are at least 51% owned, operated, and controlled by women or individuals from designated minority groups) to bridge the gap between underserved communities and high-quality careers. Founded in 2013, Soulful Synergy began with a small group of passionate individuals who recognized that lasting change requires more than isolated efforts — it demands collaboration, innovation, and a deep commitment to the people they serve. On this episode of Good Standing, Mr. Norris discusses how his own journey-one where college wasn't exactly for him-now parallels a growing trend towards blue collar work and utility-based apprenticeship and certification, as secondary education swells in cost and AI continues to eliminate jobs, especially for recent grads and entry-level applicants. Dwayne also expands on how sales, management, education, technology, and consulting jobs exist (perhaps in blind spots) within or adjacent to well-known roles in the blue collar paradigm. Soulful Synergy seems to be ahead of the curve, positioned as it is, along with a growing list of partner organizations, to respond to a rapidly shifting political, cultural, and economic landscape, while doing it with pride, joy, and a whole lot of soul.

From Hollywood Blockbusters to Empowering Impoverished Children, featuring Scott Neeson

In 2003, Scott Neeson resigned from his role as President of 20th Century Fox International where he oversaw the worldwide release of blockbusters like Titanic, the Star Wars prequels, the original live-action X-men films, Braveheart and more, in order to help change the lives of impoverished children and their families working for less than a dollar a day on an unforgiving landfill in Steung Meanchey, one of the poorest areas in Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh.  Since 2004, Scott has stewarded the Cambodia Children's Fund, a 501(c)(3) U.S. registered charity he personally founded and funded, now boasting fundraising offices in the UK, Hong Kong and Australia. For over two decades, Scott has helped to improve conditions on the ground, assisting with education, affordable housing, work-force training, health and wellness (addiction, disease and more), child-protection, and so much more. Since its founding, CCF and Neeson himself have received numerous awards and accolades, while bringing Scott into contact with global policy makers and renowned spiritual leaders, such as the Dali Llama, each and all moved by Scott's hands-on, in-situ immersion, dedication, and seemingly relentless care and compassion. On this episode of the Good Standing podcast, Scott discusses why he left an extremely lucrative executive position at a major movie studio, including all the material rewards such a position would provide, to move across the world to funnel all of his time and resources into one of the most hyper-problematic areas on our shared planet. Scott joined us from his office in Cambodia to lay out his inspiring story of ongoing impact and what legacy really means to him.

Artist Intervention and the Space Age Reboot, with Ashley Zelinskie

Ashley Zelinskie is an artist into "space stuff." Behind an accessible, childlike joy for astronomy and the infinite wonders of planetary science and all things astro, is a deep desire to engage with hard science through the playful prism of artistic exploration and humble proximity intervention. Her works span a variety of media, from sculpture, canvas and print works, to digital art, VR, and holograms. Each artwork is created using cutting edge technology such as 3D printing, computer-guided laser cutting, satellite plating technology, and gaming engines. Her work focuses on visualizing data in abstract forms and finding new and interesting ways to describe complex ideas. On this episode, we discuss how her art, regardless of medium, not only responds to scientific efforts, but often inspires them. Ashley’s work has been featured by The New York Times, The New Yorker, Vice, Popular Science, Space.com, and more. Her work forms part of the permanent collection of the US Department of State Art in Embassies Program, The Whitney Museum’s artport collection, and has been exhibited at Sotheby’s New York, ArtScience Museum in Singapore and most recently Art Center Nabi in Seoul. Zelinskie is a former resident of New Inc.—the New Museum’s Art and Technology Incubator—and the Shapeways x  Museum of Art and design “Out of Hand” exhibition residency. A graduate of RISD, she has worked alongside NASA, the European Space Agency, and the Smithsonian and she is a member of Onassis ONX XR studio in New York City. She has a solo exhibition in November 2026 with Heft Gallery in NYC that is set to interrogate the tricky dichotomy between public and private spacefaring agencies, informed by her unique, up-close, hands-on experience.