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Distinguished Guests

Meet our ThinkTech Distinguished Guests:

Lance Askildson is Professor of Language and Linguistics at Chaminade University. He talked with Jay Fidell about the importance of reaching out to other cultures and learning languages other than English on an episode of “Global Connections”. Watch his profile video at https://youtu.be/fxxYyUkHq9U.

Selected January  2023

Neal Barnard is President of the Physicians’ Committee for Responsible Medicine. He talked with Grace Chen O’Neil about the ways a whole-food plant-based diet can improve your health on an episode of “Healthy Planet”. Watch his profile video at https://youtu.be/nsCyYAdY8Ik.

Selected February  2023

Wesley L. Boykin is Lead Organizer/Planner for International Learning Opportunities at Global Vision Connections. He talked with Stephanie Stoll Dalton about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s work on an episode of “The State of the State of Hawaii”. Watch his profile video at https://youtu.be/u4oRdLgofBs.

Alan Brennert is an author, screenwriter, playwright, and television producer. He talked with Elaine Gallant about his novels “Moloka’i” and “Daughter of Moloka’i” on an episode of “Books! Books! Books!”. Watch his profile video at https://youtu.be/IQkxjVofv8M.

Cyber Bunny is a Tokyo-based social media content creator. She talked with Wendy Loh about her life as a Type-1 diabetic living in Japan and Hawaii on an episode of “Taking Your Health Back”. Watch her profile video at https://youtu.be/ONUIGs0w3gc.

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Anthony Chrisco is the inventor of the Fascianator. He talked with Wendy Loh about his Fascianator Self-Myofascial Release roller and The Fascianation Method on an episode of “Taking Your Health Back”. Watch his profile video at https://youtu.be/ICmaqSHDzh8.

Khendum Gyabak, PhD is Director of Online Teaching and Learning at Minneapolis College of Art and Design. She talked with Chang Wang about her life story, immigration adventure, and her reflection on education and community on an episode of “A Nation of Immigrants”. Watch her profile video at https://youtu.be/SCZuHxy2IVg.

Selected April 2023

Connie L. Hall is the 2023 Nevada State Teacher of the Year. She talked with Sharon Yarbrough about Women’s History month and the importance of recognizing women’s contributions in the country an episode of “Sister Power”. Watch her profile video at https://youtu.be/xNknwXM5n7o.

Selected October 2023

Kristiina Hiukka s a leadership coach. She talked with Phyllis Blees about how her proprietary model of ‘Living and Leading Fascinated’ leads to happy, successful, fulfilled and empowered lives in an episode of “The Creative Life”. Watch her profile video at https://youtu.be/vfQF1k0j8S4.

Selected May 2023

Miyuki Ishiguro is a partner in Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu and the incoming President of the Inter-Pacific Bar Association. She talked with Mark Shklov about the history, goals, and value of the IPBA on an episode of “Law Across the Sea”. Watch her profile video at https://youtu.be/9CZerzuYm90.

David Larson is a professor at the Mitchell Hamline School of Law. He talked with Charles “Chuck” Crumpton the application of dispute resolution strategies and principles to current issues on an episode of “It’s Time for Responsible Change”. Watch his profile video at https://youtu.be/gO84MJDQ2tM.

Selected February 2023

Audrey Lin a student at ‘Iolani School and member of Climate Future Hawaii. She talked with Howard Wiig about her work to make lobby congress, protest peacefully, and urge activism to her fellow students, on an episode of “Code Green”. Her profile video will be available later this month.

J.K. Lin is Director of TIPLO Attorneys at Law. He talked with Mark Shklov about life in Taiwan and current events affecting Taiwan and the Asia-Pacific Region, including the recent visit by Nancy Pelosi, on an episode of “Law Across the Sea”. Watch his profile video at https://youtu.be/96O2Yoou6mM.

Selected November 2022

Brandon Lorezco is a certified college consultant. He talked with Chanda Park about the journey of applying to scholarships and shared some tips and resources for doing so, on an episode of “Money Talks”. Watch his profile video at https://youtu.be/VkZ2WLCfqzg.

Colin Moore is Director and Associate Professor at the University of Hawai’i Public Policy Center. He talked with John Waihe’e about some of the individuals and characters who helped create (positively or negatively) contemporary Hawai’i on a special episode of “Talk Story with John Waihe’e”. Watch his profile video at https://youtu.be/eJowLEuaGwY.

Selected August 2023

Tina Patterson is a mediator, arbitrator, and consultant. She talked with Chuck Crumpton about the role, value and impacts of diversity, equity and inclusion in the learning environment on an episode of “It’s Time for Responsible Change”. Her profile video will be available later this month.

Selected September 2023

Vernellia Randall is a professor emerita at the University of Dayton School of Law. She talked with Chuck Crumpton about issues at stake in Trump’s indictment case in context of his 2024 Presidential candidacy in an episode of “The Rule of Law in the New Abnormal”. Her profile video will be available later this month.

Selected July 2023

Frederic Ruppert is a French Avocat à la Cour and California Attorney at Law. He talked with Mark Shklov about his personal and professional background as well as the social and political issues in France on an episode of “Law Across the Sea”. Watch his profile video at https://youtu.be/Oh0WngKVmks.

Selected March 2023

Lee Sichter is a lecturer for the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at UH Mānoa. He talked with Jay Fidell about the reasons we should be concerned about digging up the Kaka’ako Makai landfill on a special episode of “Catching Up on Kakaako”. Watch is profile video at https://youtu.be/0aMxThlYTEQ.

Selected June 2023

Gary Yabuta is Executive Director of the Hawaii High Density Drug Trafficking Area. He talked with Jay Fidell about drug trafficking in Hawai’i and what we can do about it on a special episode of “Global Connections”. Watch his profile video at https://youtu.be/H-hHQ5P_-no.

Theresa Y. Wee is President/Owner of the Wee Wellness Center. She talked with Wendy Loh about how to get back on track to better mental and physical health on an episode of “Taking Your Health Back”. Watch her profile video at https://youtu.be/E4PfpxVu9mE.

Today’s Headlines

  • NYT > Top Stories
  • BBC News
  • Deutsche Welle
  • NPR Topics: News
  • Washington Post
- Jim Tankersley
Biden Looks to Thwart Surge of Chinese Imports

The president has proposed new barriers to Chinese electric vehicles, steel and other goods in an attempt to protect his manufacturing agenda. [...]

- Somini Sengupta
Podesta Meets With China’s Climate Envoy Amid Deep Economic Tensions

Beijing’s dominance raises economic and security concerns, and tensions will be high as top climate diplomats meet this week. [...]

- Andrew Higgins
In Serbia, Xi Underlines Close Ties With Ally That Shares Wariness of U.S.

Visiting friendly leaders in Eastern Europe, the Chinese president commemorated the 25th anniversary of a misdirected U.S. airstrike that destroyed China’s embassy in Belgrade. [...]

- Troy Closson
How David Banks, the New York City Chancellor, Prepared for a Congressional Grilling

As David C. Banks prepares to testify about antisemitism in the New York City schools, he said he wasn’t intimidated by congressional Republicans. [...]

- Peter Baker
Biden Puts Arms Shipment to Israel on Hold Amid Dispute Over Rafah Attack

The United States withheld 3,500 bombs last week out of concern that they might be used in a major assault against the southern Gaza city, officials said. [...]

Tory MP calls government 'incompetent' as she defects to Labour at PMQs

Ex-Conservative MP Natalie Elphicke says "under Rishi Sunak, the Conservatives have become a byword for incompetence and division". [...]

The inside story of Tory MP's defection to Labour

Keir Starmer's allies believe the Dover MP can help win Tory voters but some on the left are uneasy. [...]

Harry arrives at St Paul's during flying UK visit

The Duke of Sussex will not meet his father or brother during a brief visit to London. [...]

Battles in east Rafah as Israel reopens aid route

Israel says lorries are at Kerem Shalom crossing, but a UN agency says they have not entered Gaza. [...]

Agency charging NHS nearly £2,000 for nurse shift

A leading NHS boss says firms are deliberately targeting areas where nurses are in short supply. [...]

A DW film crew was accompanying a team hanging campaign posters in Dresden when the politicians were assaulted by several individuals. This is just the latest in a series of [...]

Europeans — especially Germans — are increasingly keen on curbing immigration and are less focused on climate change, according to a study by a Danish-based think tank. [...]

The CDU wants to return to power as soon as possible. At its political convention, the party adopted a new conservative platform. The key issues: "Leitkultur," asylum and Islam. [...]

Climate activist Greta Thunberg has been fined for civil disobedience over a protest that included blocking the entrance of the Swedish Parliament. [...]

New Delhi has slammed Nepal's move to come up with a new currency note featuring a map that shows border areas currently under Indian control. [...]

- Aya Batrawy
A timeline of events leading up to Israel's Rafah offensive

The Gaza Strip's Rafah border crossing with Egypt has been a key lifeline for people in the Palestinian enclave. Here is a timeline of events since Oct. 7, 2023, leading [...]

- Sydney Lupkin
Decades-old law limits access to Wegovy for Medicaid beneficiaries

New medications like Wegovy are changing the way people lose weight and manage obesity, but many Medicaid beneficiaries can't get them. [...]

- Rachel Treisman
A lawmaker with a brain disease used voice assist to back her bill on the House floor

Rep. Jennifer Wexton of Virginia was diagnosed last year with rare disease that makes it hard to speak. She still advocated for a bill renaming a post office in her [...]

- Rob Stein
For those bringing a dog into the U.S., new rules aim to keep out rabies

The CDC announced stricter regulations for importing dogs from abroad — or traveling internationally with your furry companions. [...]

- Sam Gringlas
Georgia appeals court will review decision on Trump case DA, bringing another delay

The Georgia Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments after former President Trump appealed a decision allowing Fulton County DA Fani Willis to stay on the criminal case involving him [...]

- Matthew Cappucci

Intense storms threaten large areas of the eastern United States, but the zone including St. Louis, Little Rock and Nashville is most at risk. [...]

- Associated Press

Many current and former BetterHelp customers have begun receiving refund eligibility notices spanning from a $7.8 million settlement reached with the online therapy provider last year over allegations that it [...]

- Meryl Kornfield

Kennedy’s campaign spokeswoman said he contracted a parasite years ago while traveling “extensively in Africa, South America and Asia in his work as an environmental advocate.” [...]

- Zeke Miller and Aamer Madhani | AP

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has confirmed the U.S. paused a shipment of bombs to Israel last week over concerns the country was approaching a decision to launch a full-scale assault [...]

- Jenna Fryer | AP

Former Daytona 500 winner Michael McDowell says he will not return to Front Row Motorsports after this season [...]

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