The Reaching Higher Podcast

Today’s guest is someone who truly embodies what it means to reach higher—Chef Aaron Sanchez. I met Chef Aaron Sanchez about 15 years ago at his friend's restaurant in New Orleans. My family and I had discovered him on the Food Network's show, Chopped back in 2009 and he was one of our favorites.Over the years, we kept in touch and he was gracious enough to be a guest on my previous What2Know (which morphed into the Real Chemistry pod). I was reminded of what a talented, humble but still competitive chef he was on HBO/Max's Wildcard Kitchen this year and couldn't resist reaching out to see if he'd join me once again on the Reaching Higher Podcast.During our engaging conversation, he talks about starting life as a mischievous kid who found structure and purpose in the kitchen and his journey to becoming one of the most respected voices in food today.Chef Aaron’s journey is rooted in mentorship, humility, and heart. Inspired early on by his mother, his grandmother and the legendary Chef Paul Prudhomme, Aaron learned that cooking isn’t just about flavor—it’s about discipline, culture, and life lessons. In addition to Chopped, you may have also seen him on shows like MasterChef, Next Iron Chef, Heat Seekers, Chef vs City, and Taco Trip. Most importantly we dive into his founding of the Chef Aaron Sanchez Impact Fund, how he picks his candidates and why he sees mentoring them as so critically important.Show links* Impact Fund: https://www.aaronsanchezimpactfund.com/* Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ChefAaronSanchez/* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefaaronsanchez* Hiking My Feelings: https://hikingmyfeelings.org/

In this episode, Aaron Strout sits down with Alaina Percival, co‑founder of Women Who Code to explore her journey from global brand management at companies like Puma and Versace to building one of the world’s most influential communities for women in tech.During the conversation, Alaina shares how teaching herself to code sparked a mission that ultimately supported women across 147 countries before Women Who Code transitioned operations amid 2023–2024 tech layoffs. Now a venture partner at Valor Ventures, she discusses investing in B2B AI and SaaS startups across the U.S. South, the coming wealth transfer to women, and how AI will reshape—not erase—jobs. The conversation closes with reflections on focus, leadership, and embracing reinvention.Show Links* Women Who Code: https://www.womenwhocode.com* Valor Ventures: https://www.valor.vc

This week I did a thing. I launched a book I've been working on for the last 10 months. Hell, you might say I've been working on it for the last 30+ years. It's a codification of all the things I've learned over the course of my life, starting with my parents and marching up to my last boss, mentor and good friend, Jim Weiss.Since both the book: Wired for Purpose and the Reaching Higher Podcast overlap in terms of their goals, I thought what better way to cross streams than to let this week's podcast be about the book. And rather than me telling the story, I did what any smart marketer would do and I uploaded the manuscript to Google's Notebook LM and turned it into a 20 minute podcast. I think Notebook LM did a bang up job. Let me know what you think?Show LinksBuy the book (paperback/Kindle) on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GSH4QV4Y/ref=zg_bsnr_g_2679_d_sccl_20/000-0000000-0000000 Learn more about the book: https://getwiredforpurpose.com Book blog (plan is to post weekly): https://getwiredforpurpose.com/blog/

In this episode of Reaching Higher, host Aaron Strout sits down with Dr. James McKowen, a clinical psychologist and addiction specialist at Mass General, to explore the evolving mental health challenges facing today’s youth. Dr. McKowen shares his unconventional journey from marine biology to youth addiction research, shaped by personal loss and deep scientific curiosity. Together, they unpack the misunderstood realities of youth addiction, the rise of cannabis dependency, and how climate anxiety is reshaping an entire generation’s emotional landscape. The conversation offers practical tools, hopeful insights, and a compassionate roadmap for supporting teens in an increasingly complex world.Show links:* Climate | Health | Resilience: https://www.climatehealthresilience.com/* Change is Simple: https://www.changeissimple.org/* Gardeners Question Time podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gardeners-question-time/id325945259* Alice Coltrane: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0oKYiTD5CdNbrofRvM1dIr?autoplay_ok=1

On this episode of The Reaching Higher Podcast, Aaron Strout sits down with legendary futurist Faith Popcorn for a mind‑bending conversation about cocooning, ethical consumerism, AI agents, corporate “troublemaking,” and the rapidly shifting social landscape. Faith unpacks how she predicts the far future with 95% accuracy, why bots will soon shop on our behalf, and how women are poised to reshape the global economy. From business insights to societal transformation, this episode challenges assumptions and inspires listeners to think boldly about what’s next.Show LinksFaith's website: https://faithpopcorn.com/Her current luxury interest: https://loveluxury.co.uk/SXSW session on March 13: https://schedule.sxsw.com/events/PP1162575Aaron's book publisher: https://captainofbooks.com/

Today on the Reaching Higher podcast, we're joined by someone whose life story is as extraordinary as his talent, comedian, actor, storyteller, and Oakland native, Don Reed. Don's journey spans two radically different worlds, from a deeply religious upbringing to the chaotic vibrancy of his father's street-level hustle, ultimately shaping a performer with unmatched empathy, range, and heart.He went from navigating moral extremes in East Oakland to becoming a nationally recognized comic, a master storyteller, and a thousand episode veteran of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Today we'll explore Don's upbringing, his creative inspiration, the power of authentic storytelling, and the impact he's making through Elevate Oakland. Don Reed is a for us and you're about to hear why.Show LinksElevate Oakland - https://www.elevateoakland.org/Redwood Nights: Storytelling Under the Stars - https://redwoodnightslive.com/IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0715394/

Today's guest is not only a dear friend, but also someone who has spent her career standing at the intersection of health, economics, technology, and humanity. That’s right, I’m talking about Jane Sarasohn Kahn who is a renowned health economist, trend weaver, author, and global educator whose voice has shaped how we think about healthcare in the modern era.From launching her influential blog Health Populi—now home to more than 3,000 deeply researched posts—to advising organizations across the U.S. and Europe, Jane has been a leading force in making healthcare more equitable, data driven, and compassionate. Her work on health citizenship, retail health, and the home as the new health hub continues to push the industry forward. Jane brings insight, empathy, and a gift for connecting the dots like few others can.Show links:Health Populi blog: https://www.healthpopuli.com/Jane's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janesarasohnkahn/Health Consuming + Health Citizenship books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jane-Sarasohn-Kahn/author/B07QLGVXH4

On this episode we’re joined by actor and advocate Tyler Ritter, whose path has been anything but ordinary.The son of beloved comedian John Ritter, Tyler forged his own journey—stepping away from Hollywood after his father’s passing to teach English in Argentina, where he immersed himself in a cooperative community and met his future wife. That time abroad reshaped his understanding of purpose and ultimately reignited his passion for acting, leading to standout roles in The McCarthys, Painkiller, and beyond.Tyler is also a dedicated voice for the John Ritter Foundation, helping raise awareness of aortic disease. His story blends resilience, curiosity, service, and creativity—and we’re thrilled to dive in.Show LinksJohn Ritter Foundation - https://johnritterfoundation.org/ Freeze HD - https://hdsa.org/freeze-hd/ Pauley Perrette (Tyler's "sister" on NCIS) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pauley_Perrette Tyler on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/atylerritter/

In this conversation, host Aaron Strout interviews Amy Webb, a quantitative futurist, who discusses her unique role in advising Fortune 100 CEOs and global leaders on future trends. They explore the importance of grounding narratives in data, the challenges of communicating foresight effectively, and the evolution of her initiative, Spark Camp. Amy also shares insights on emerging trends in computing and reflects on her experiences with influential figures and her love for music.Show Links* Amy's TED Talk - https://www.ted.com/talks/amy_webb_how_i_hacked_online_dating* Amy's books on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B008J35QIG* LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/amywebb/* 2025 Tech Trends Report - https://ftsg.com/trends/