In this episode 06 of The Kurty D Show, Kurt is excited to share his conversation with his good friend, Melissa Rowley. Melissa works at the forefront of solutions-focused journalism and social change. As a contributor to BBC News, Forbes, and Rolling Stone, she writes about the intersection of culture, business, and social innovation. In the past few years, Melissa has spanned the globe, covering the international start-up scene, and is currently living in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Kurt and Melissa get into an honest discussion on her adventures covering the global startup scene, what it was like growing up in the United States as an adopted Korean, and how the stories we tell ourselves make or break us.
What we covered:
02:04 – Kurt welcomes to the show, Melissa Rowley, who shares her experience covering the international emerging tech markets and her relationship with singer-songwriter Peter Gabriel
12:43 – Globetrotting to spread social change
17:05 – Melissa’s insights on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
19:09 – Culture shock and the move to Puerto Rico
25:28 – The psychology of storytelling
35:37 – Melissa get vulnerable and opens up about her adoption, facing racism, and learning the truth about her birth story
49:05 – Rewriting your own narrative
54:53 – The one band Melissa would go see play live if she could
56:43 – Kurt thanks Melissa for joining the show and lets listeners know where they can connect with her and how they can be of service to Melissa
Episode Sponsor:
Tweetable Quotes:
“We used the lean startup method and we created a whole conference around how entrepreneurs could strategize on how to incorporate more social impact and sustainability not just into their product, but into the operations. A company doesn’t need to be what’s considered a social enterprise to have a positive impact where they are.”
“There’s nothing wrong with rewriting your own narrative in a way that’s beautiful and appealing. And we have opportunities to do that all the time. It’s a moment-to-moment practice.”
“That’s where we get into tone. To be a thought leader in your industry, it’s important to develop your own voice and your own tone.”
“The culture [in Puerto Rico] is very friendly and open. It’s loud. I’ll hear a Reggae tone blasting from someone’s car at 3am. Driving or walking down the street, especially in the early evening, you’ll see Salsa dancing. It’s a very festive culture, definitely very warm, and friendly, and generous.”
“I don’t know that I’ve ever viewed being adopted as a problem. But it’s definitely been a part of my journey of self-love and realizing that I need to cultivate more self-love for myself.”
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