What happens when a leader believes that curiosity is not just a trait, but a responsibility? Gregg Behr, CEO of The Grable Foundation, has spent his life channeling the quiet wisdom of Fred Rogers into bold action for the children of Pittsburgh. In a city built on steel and reinvention, Gregg reminds us that the strongest foundations are those rooted in kindness, imagination, and the courage to ask, 'What if?'

I sit down with Dr. Mitchel Nickols for a powerful conversation on leadership in divided times. In a world wrestling with division and fading trust, Dr. Nickols illuminates leadership traits we need now more than ever to build confidence within our teams and organizations and shares practical advice on how to amplify these characteristics within the next generation of emerging leaders.

00:00 Welcome to Episode 37

01:00 Leaders Need to Be Risk Takers

05:00 Integrity and the impact of Rationalizing Decisions

06:30 What is your Northern Star?

08:30 The importance of Vision and Mission Statements

10:40 Perception Checking and Unconscious Bias

12:25 Patience, Young Grasshopper!

13:40 Dr. Nickols – Reflects upon developing his foundation of Leadership

15:50 The role of Human Centered Leadership

18:50 Dr. Nickols – Pivotal Moment

21:00 Closing Credits

With more than 46 years of live entertainment expertise, Ed Traversari has been a part of the entertainment scene in Western PA and beyond. He has worked for Pittsburgh concert promoters company DiCesare Engler Productions as a production manager, talent booker, director of marketing and general manager of the Chevrolet Amphitheatre at Station Square. DiCesare Engler produced concerts at the Stanley Theatre (which they later sold to the Cultural District to become The Benedum Center), the Syria Mosque, AJ Palumbo Center, Mellon Arena, Heinz Field, PNC Park and Chevrolet Amphitheatre at Station Square, among others.

In addition to teaching, Traversari consults for a number of clients including Heinz Hall, Seven Springs Resort, The Pittsburgh Irish Festival, PBS Television Concert Series and Carnegie Science Center. He also helped produce The Joe Grushecky/Bruce Springsteen shows at Soldiers and Sailors Hall and The Bob Marley Celebration at The Benedum Center.

00:00 Welcome to Episode 36

00:25 Updates with Dennis, Angelo and Patrick

03:00 Introducing Ed Traversari

04:40 From Drummer to exploring the business of entertainment

07:00 The Guess Who and the Student Activities Committee

11:00 Bookings, Agents, and first concerts

14:00 Wanted: Runner @ DiCesare Engler

18:50 Air America, Jeff Beck, Jefferson Airplane and a Rolls Royce

22:00 Stanley Theater, Syria Mosque, IC Light Amphitheater, Star Lake Amphitheater

27:50 What should students be doing today to gain entry into the industry?

28:45 Marketing, Accounting, Booking, General Manager to College Professor

39:55 The synergy between passion, perseverance and pursuit of a Career

44:00 The Irony of SlipKnot

46:00 Agents, Settlers, Managers, and Promoters

49:20 Settling a Show

52:30 Show Plaques and a unique Trophy for Bon Jovi

58:00 In terms of your career, is following your passion and taking calculated risks still applicable today?

01:01:00 Nazareth, Stanley Theater and feet dangling from a Chandelier

01:04:30 Rapid Fire Questions for Ed

#1 Favorite Artists to Work With? #2 One Artist you could bring back for a Day #3 Favorite Vocalist

01:21:00 Frankie Valli still singing at 89 years of age!

01:22:30 Reflection and Final Thoughts from Ed Traversari

01:25:30 Check out Good Karma on Facebook to see Ed and his band Perform !!

01:27:25 Final Thoughts from Angelo, Dennis and Patrick

01:31:30 Photos with Artists over the years!

01:31:40 Closing Credits

Steve Adelkoff joins us to explore global events shaping our economies, regional conflict, currency valuation, Anti-Fragile systems, and so much more. This episode will begin to provide some insight as well as pose questions worth pondering given the amount of historic change happening around us daily.

00:00 Welcome to Episode #35

00:15 Point Park University Graduation

00:30 Check out Steve in Episodes #9 and #25

04:30 Update with Angelo and Patrick

06:45 Welcome back Steve Adelkoff

09:40 The Big Players and a Confluence of Events

16:35 The Impact of Global Influence

24:00 Shortening Supply Chains impact upon global Relationships

37:00 AntiFragile Systems and Free Markets

48:00 Do these global events really impact everyday lives?

55:00 Are Nations simply imposing their will as opposed to supporting expression of cultural norms and values?

58:00. How does the conflict in Ukraine get resolved?

1:05:00 Has trust finally been destroyed between nation states?

1:08:40 Will the U.S. Dollar ever be replaced as the Reserve Currency?

1:13:05 Is the U.S. shifting away from an extended period of stability?

1:15:00. Steve’s Final Thoughts: The Promise of Sanctions!

1:16:15 Final Thoughts with Angelo and Patrick

1:18:40 Closing Theme

Patrick, Dennis and Angelo welcome to the studio Kate Bodner. Kate is a London based Creative that has blended her love for the Performing Arts with Augmented and Virtual Reality. Having lived in Ireland, Australia, and now London, she is embarking upon an exciting career after completing her Master's Degree in Big Data Culture & Society at Kings College London. We look forward to sharing with you her journey as well as some local insight to fantastic 'Spoons' located around the London area.

00:00 Welcome to the Show

00:25 Update with Dennis, Angelo, and Patrick

03:33 Kate Bodner: Welcome to the Show!

05:40 Kate’s beginning within Performing Arts

05:40 Q: What was one of your earliest performances?

08:00 Q: Describe your experience at the Conservatory at Point Park

10:30 Q: What did you learn while training with the Conservatory?

15:00 Q: How did you fuse Performing Arts with Augmented Reality?

22:10 Q: Could you speak about your research at Kings College London related to the 4th Wall and Augmented Reality in a performance?

29:15 Q: Could you share some perspective of performing arts from being abroad?

30:20 Q: What have you learned from your time in Ireland, Australia, and London?

35:15 Q: What is the best advice Kate has received?

37:50 Q: What advice would you give to our audience?

42:30 Q: What is the one food you miss while living abroad?

43:50 Kate shares the phenomenon of ‘Spoons’ in London

46:30 Staying connected with Kate

47:50 Dennis & Patrick answer Audience Questions

48:38 Q1: Should I take lower paying job that I’m excited about or a higher paying job that I would not really be happy doing?

52:30 Q2: Dennis, Angelo, Patrick, what have you learned about leadership from hosting the podcast?

55:25 Q3: How can I become better at integrating my instincts into decision making rather than always looking for additional quantitative data?

1:00:40 Q4: Angelo, Dennis, Patrick… what is your favorite Ice Cream?

1:03:30 Final Thoughts

1:04:00 Final Credits

The team had the opportunity to connect with Kate Gunderson of 'The Plane Kate'. Kate is a mechanical, aerospace, and flight test engineer on a mission to empower women to confidently thrive in the world of STEM.

00:00 Welcome to the Show

00:00 Update with Angelo, Dennis & Patrick

06:25 Introducing Kate Gunderson: Dreams as Big as the Sky

07:40 KG: How did you discover your Passion for NASA, Space, Engineering?

09:30 KG: Walking thru the doors at NASA - Presence of Women in STEM

11:10 KG: Pushing the Boundaries of your Comfort Zone

13:20 KG: Making Big Decisions

14:20 KG: A little Self-Doubt is ok!

15:30 KG: What did you learn about life from NASA and Test Pilot School

17:10 KG: Passion and Intelligence

20:00 KG: Training and Running the Boston Marathon

21:50 KG: One person you’ve got to meet that was incredibly cool?

23:00 KG: Empowering Women in STEM

25:00 KG: What advice can you share with others pursuing their dreams?

29:30 Stay Connected with Kate - here’s how!

31:00 Student & Audience Q&A

32:00 Q#1: Graduation: Transitioning to our Professional Endeavors?

39:45 Q#2: Advice related to pursuing ones passion as a career

42:00 Q#3: When it comes to salary, what and how is negotiable?

45:00 Q#4: Found a great job, yet ended up with an unethical boss?

51:25 Congratulations to our friend, Kiesha Lalama!!

52:20 Closing Thoughts

52:40 Closing Theme

Connect with Kate by visiting her website: https://katelyngunderson.com/

Follow her on Instagram here!

Follow her on Twitter here!

The team from Take The Hill are back in the studio after a creative break. This episode, Dennis, Angelo, and Patrick talk about the new podcast format, catch up with Dr. Britney Brinkman to discuss New Year's Resolutions, and answer your questions related to best Pizza and taking multiple internships at the same employer.

00:00 Welcome

01:00 Updates with Patrick, Dennis, and Angelo

08:20 Dr. Britney Brinkman: New Year's Resolutions

34:50 Listener Submitted Questions

35:10 What are positive traits of College Students?

40:30 Will Angelo be bringing back the mohawk in 2023?

43:30 Should I take two internships at the same employer?

46:35 What have organizations learned from the pandemic?

54:00 Who has better Pizza: Sanremo's or Genoa?

58:00 Closing Thoughts

Catch us in the studio on our YouTube Channel - link to episode #32

Patrick and Angelo had the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Don Green, President of Point Park University, to talk about Leadership, Transitions, Purpose, and of course favorite food and music!