This week, we host a special episode to commemorate America's 250th. In this episode, we speak with Professor Richard Bell, a historian of the American Revolutionary period at the University of Maryland. We look at the life and times of a historical two-trick pony: America's founding father and polymath Benjamin Franklin. Our conversation takes us through Franklin's life, all the while reflecting on what his life and contradictions can teach us today.

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Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Book of Ages, by historian and scholar Jill Lepore
• The Great Courses (Course: The Declaration of Independence, America’s Birth Certificate)
• The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin (1771-1790) by Benjamin Franklin

This week, we speak with educator, writer, and public speaker Amy Betters-Midtvedt. The author of the popular parenting book, You'll Make It (and They Will Too): Everything No One Talks About When You're Parenting Teens, Amy shares valuable insights into how our personal experiences can lead us to wisdom that other people may want (or sometimes, need) to hear.

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You can learn more about our guest at:

https://amybettersmidtvedt.com/

In this episode, Dr. Brielle Harbin shares her journey from tenured professor to entrepreneur and education consultant—and how building a “second trick” outside traditional academia reshaped her confidence, creativity, and relationship to work. Brielle reflects on the moment she realized her strengths extended beyond formal academic roles, the practical steps she took to explore community-building and leadership work, and how redefining success helped her design a more sustainable professional life.

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You can learn more about our guest at:

https://yourcooperativecolleague.com/