By David Borzo of In Mind Matters 01/10/2012

It’s getting pretty exciting – the 2012 SmartTalk Connected Conversations is finally upon us here in Des Moines! This year’s season begins Thursday, January 19th with celebrated scientist and primate researcher, Dr. Jane Goodall. Talk about a world class authority and life voyager! Jane Goodall is the opening guest speaker for this eighth year of the SmartTalk series – a season that promises to deliver through May with inspiring and poignant messages of strength, fortitude and courage.

The world is fascinated with Jane Goodall’s social integration in to the world of the Gombe chimpanzees, and her legendary work is an inspiration to millions. Dr. Goodall will share her story – one that started in 1960 when she traveled to what is today’s Tanzania, with nothing more than a notebook and a pair of binoculars. The rest as they say is history! It will be fascinating to hear her inspiring story and learn more about her work on behalf of endangered species, and helping many other’s efforts to make the world a better place.

SmartTalk is famous for presenting remarkable women who inspire audiences with their stories of triumphs and struggles. Don’t let this year be an opportunity missed! If you put health and well-being on your New Year’s Resolutions list – and need to break out of the daily hum-drum – why not raise the roof with some girlfriends at SmartTalk once a month! Take advantage of what Connected Conversations really means…after all, girlfriends get together to talk – connect – and catch up! Everyone craves a connection, and SmartTalk is your opportunity to re-boot your motivational hard drive with meaningful time – real quality time. Remember, your SmartTalk ticket also includes a pre-show reception of hors d’oeuvres, giveaways, drawings and presentations by local businesses, all at the beautiful Civic Center of Des Moines…so rock the house!

Dr. Goodall will not just kick off the series with her fascinating story, but by sharing her inner motivations and dreams, from her earliest experiences to the latest news from the Jane Goodall Institute. Her message of hope and empowerment promises to personify what SmartTalk Connected Conversations is all about: passionate and accomplished women who have made a major difference in our world. Be there – share in it – be a part of this fascinating presentation and connect!
Subscriber Renewal subscriptions are still on sale for the 2012 season. (Subscriber tickets are sold for the entire series and range in price from $99 to $309.) Remember that Des Moines is one of only five cities across the country that hosts the Smart Talk Connected Conversations!
After Jane Goodall’s appearance on January 19th, the 2012 lineup SmartTalk speakers continue:

Arianna Huffington “On Becoming Fearless in Love, Work and Life” 7:30 p.m. Feb. 21st

Frances Mayes: “Under the Tuscan Sun: Journeys of a Passionate Traveler” 7:30 p.m. March 28th

Melissa Stockwell: “Lived a Lifetime by 25: From Baghdad to Beijing and Beyond” 7:30 p.m. April 17th

Marie Osmond: “An Evening with Marie Osmond” 7:30 p.m. May 14

Sigourney Weaver

Image from Smarttalk.com

By David Borzo

She’s a three-time Academy Award nominated actress who has starred in some of the biggest movies of all time – including the biggest film ever made, James Cameron’s Avatar. Sigourney Weaver has been in over 60 films, starting with a six second role in Woody Allen’s Annie Hall in 1977, to her starring debut in the blockbuster Alien. She later reprised that role in Aliens, garnering both Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for Best Actress. The Alien(s) films (four in all) is just one of the franchise series Sigourney has been in – the Ghostbusters’ run have also been huge hits (with Ghostbusters III on the drawing board for 2012!)

As the final speaker for the 2011 SmartTalk Connected Conversation™ series, Sigourney Weaver certainly brought the star power to the Des Moines Civic Center. And she also served up a vigorous dose of her personal passion – protecting the environment; she spoke at length about the impact our modern world makes on our environment. This was the main thrust of Sigourney’s presentation, with a lot of facts and figures to digest, and a passionate call to arms.

Weaver in Avatar

as Dr. Grace Augustine in Avatar  

She may have been at her best with the SmartTalk crowd though, when she declared her love and dedication to the power of women. She said that while she knows that she has many male fans, she is really working for that woman; that Mom in the back of the theater who needs an escape from all her work…just a few hours of diversion. Sigourney also shared her thoughts on motherhood, saying that if you need things to get done – really taken care of – take it to a mom. Women are amazing task-masters and make good things happen, especially when the health of their children and grandchildren are concerned.

As a woman who has had her own struggles, first as a nearly six foot tall and gangly high school misfit, trying to fit in (as she shared recently on Jon Stewart’s Daily Show) to her challenges of balancing career and family. Sigourney compared her life to baking a cake; wondering for years if she was ready; always checking if she had reached that balance. “Am I ready yet?” She found the answer finally at the age of 50, and it was yes; she was ready, she had finally found the balance.

Now, at 61 she has the symmetry of family, fighting for the environment and for making movies. A lot of movies: after 35 years she is still one of the busiest actresses in Hollywood with no less than seven films out or due out in 2011 – and another five so far slated for 2012. And as for her ecologically minded work, she has just been awarded the prestigious Rachel Carson Award from The National Audubon Society, for her dedicated and vocal advocacy for the protection of our ecology. She’s putting her star power to work for all of us, actually.

Isabella Rossellini, evolving beautifully

By David Borzo

Isabella Rossellini is an international star with a remarkable range of talents and experiences. From the famed face of Lancôme Cosmetics for 14 years, to gracing 500 covers of the biggest fashion magazines over many years, Isabella has been hugely successful. Add to that impressive success as an actress, director, writer, environmentalist warrior and philanthropist. Call her the poster child for personal and professional evolution. She has made herself over, time and time again, and this was one of her most important message for the engaged crowd at the SmartTalk Connected Conversation™ series.

She knows about how some careers for women can close with age…what to do? You evolve. She talked about her career development from modeling into acting; how even as a continued international success with Lancôme, she was forced out because she turned 40. Crazy. But now Isabella welcomes getting older, maintaining as she said, “with age comes freedom” and motivation to do things she hadn’t done before. She’s in the driver’s seat now.

Isabella Rossellini for Lancome Cosmetics in 1991 ad

Ms. Rossellini started her presentation with stories of her famous parents; the legendary film and stage actress Ingrid Bergman and the great Italian director Roberto Rossellini one of the founders of neo-realism in film. (Today, Isabella still takes after her film iconic mother.) Her loving memories of her parents was fascinating and funny – as when she shared her mother’s confusion during the filming of the classic Casablanca – with constant script changes coming every day – who she was supposed to love? Was it Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) or French resistance leader Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid)? Funny, that confusion seemed to only help the complexity of the film.

As an accomplished actress in her own rights, Isabella has worked with some of the best known names in Hollywood in her 40 films, including the critical masterpiece Blue Velvet and the culinary masterpiece The Big Night. She stars in a new major release due out this fall, Late Bloomers, starring alongside William Hurt.

Isabella was just honored in 2010 by the National Audubon Society for highlighting the majesty and plights of wildlife. Her love for nature drove her to direct and star in her outrageous series of short films called Green Porno, featured on the Sundance Channel, about the mating habits of wildlife.  We saw a couple of these shorts during the question and answer piece of the SmartTalk presentation, and they are imaginative and delightful. She is a daring director and performer!

Isabella Rossellini graced the SmartTalk crowd’s evening with her positive and fun-loving take on life. She was so comfortable in her skin, her experiences and wisdom was shared with intelligence and grace. Isabella was a real gift to the appreciative SmartTalk crowd.

photo of Isabella Rosselini

photo of lancome ad featuring Isabella Rosselini

Des Moines/West Des Moines is in the news again! They are #1 on Forbes In Pictures: America’s Best Places To Raise A Family list. What makes this the best place for you to raise your family? I often read about people who have moved away and are now returning because they know Iowa is where they want their kids to grow up.

It’s that time of year again! The 2010 Bathroom Blogfest was held last week. Catch up on your reading and check out the website and all the fantastic posts from participants around the world. The state of your bathroom adds more than you know to the customer experience. They may even avoid your business because of poor conditions. The poll on the site shows that people rate cleanliness as what matters most in the bathroom. Go and cast your vote today.

Blogfest 2010 Participants:

Susan Abbott – @susanabbott

Customer Experience Crossroads – http://www.customercrossroads.com/customercrossroads/

Paul Anater – @Paul_Anater

Kitchen and Residential Design – http://www.KitchenAndResidentialDesign.com

Shannon Bilby – @shannonbilby

My Big Bob’s Blog – http://blog.mybigbobs.com/

From The Floors Up – http://fromthefloorsup.com/

Big Bob’s Outlet – http://blog.bigbobsoutlet.com/

Dolphin Carpet Blog – http://blog.dolphincarpet.com/

Carpets N More Blog – http://blog.carpetsnmore.com/

Toby Bloomberg – @TobyDiva

Diva Marketing – http://bloombergmarketing.blogs.com/bloomberg_marketing/

Laurence Borel – @ blogtillyoudrop

Blog Till You Drop – http://www.laurenceborel.com/

Bill Buyok – @AventeTile

Avente Tile Talk Blog – http://tiletalk.blogspot.com/

Jeanne Byington – @ jmbyington

The Importance of Earnest Service – http://blog.jmbyington.com/

Becky Carroll – @ bcarroll7

Customers Rock! – http://customersrock.net/

Marianna Chapman – @ResultsRev

Results Revolution – http://www.resultsrevolution.com

Katie Clark – @practicalkatie

Practical Katie – http://practicalkatie.blogspot.com/

Valerie Fritz – @Awarepoint

The Awarepoint Blog – http://www.awarepointblog.com/

Nora DePalma – @noradepalma

American Standard’s Professor Toilet – http://www.professortoilet.com/

Leigh Durst – @LivePath

LivePath Experience Architect Weblog – http://livepath.blogspot.com/

Iris Garrott

Checking In and Checking Out – http://circulating.wordpress.com/

Tish Grier – @TishGrier

The Constant Observer – http://spap-oop.blogspot.com

Renee LeCroy – @ReneeLeCroy

Your Fifth Wall – http://yourfifthwall.com/

Veronika Miller – @Modenus

Modenus Blog – http://www.modenus.com/blog

Arpi Nalbandian – @TileEditor

TILE Magazine Editor Blog – http://www.tilemagonline.com/Articles/Blog_Nalbandian

Maria Palma – @mariapalma

People 2 People Service – http://www.people2peopleservice.com/

David Polinchock – @Polinchock

Polinchock’s Ponderings – http://blog.polinchock.com/

David Reich – @davidreich

My 2 Cents – http://reichcomm.typepad.com/my_weblog/

Victoria Redshaw – @scarletopus

Scarlet Opus Trends Blog – http://trendsblog.co.uk/

Sandy Renshaw – @purplewren

Purple Wren – http://www.purplewren.com/

Around Des Moines – http://www.arounddesmoines.com/

Bethany Richmond

The Carpet and Rug Institute Blog – http://www.carpet-and-rug-institute-blog.com/

Bruce Sanders

RIMtailing – http://rimtailing.blogspot.com/

Steve Tokar

Please Be Seated – http://stevetokar.wordpress.com/

Carolyn Townes – @SpiritWoman26

Becoming a Woman of Purpose – http://spiritwomen.blogspot.com/

Stephanie Weaver – @experienceology

Experienceology – http://experienceology.blogspot.com/

Christine B. Whittemore – @cbwhittemore

Flooring The Consumer ­http://flooringtheconsumer.blogspot.com/

Simple Marketing Blog http://www.simplemarketingblog.com/

The Carpetology Blog http://carpetology.blogspot.com/

Smoke Rise & Kinnelon Blog http://smokerise-nj.blogspot.com/

Linda Wright

LindaLoo Build Business With Better Bathrooms – http://lindaloo.com/

A review by David Borzo

Helen Hunt (image by Jack Guy/Corbis Outline)

They don’t get much bigger than Helen Hunt in Hollywood. The Academy Award-winning Actress, Director and Writer has seen huge success and acceptance with both critics and the public. From her earliest work as a child actor and high profile television jobs in the 1970’s, to Broadway and then the heights of prime time television and Hollywood, Hunt has been the consummate artist. On the final night of the 2010 Smart Talk Connected Conversation in Des Moines, Helen Hunt–artist and mom–shared some secrets behind the public face.

For many, Hunt’s fame began in the early ‘90’s with her starring role in Mad About You, opposite actor Paul Reiser. The show was a great success, playing for seven years while earning Hunt four Emmy wins and four Golden Globes. But greater fame was yet to come, as Hunt appeared some of the biggest movies of the ‘90’s, and in to 2000, including Twister, Cast Away, What Women Want, and As Good as It Gets, earning Hunt the Academy Award for Best Actress. (Fascinating to learn that she put together that powerful performance while also filming the regular season of Mad About You, working day and night).

And the roles are still coming; Hunt just finished filming the movie Soul Surfer in Oahu, Hawaii, set for release in 2011. Add to this stellar career: motherhood at age 40, and successful screenwriting and directing by 46.

Unlike many Hollywood superstars, you don’t see her name splashed across the
tabloids. She is a private person who keeps her life personal. “I haven’t done anything controversial. I just live my life as if it’s private,” Hunt said in a recent interview with the Des Moines Register. During her well prepared Connected Conversation, Hunt shared that she’s not much for the Hollywood gatherings and wrap parties either, impersonal events where she gets “…bored after 45 minutes.” If she is going to spend time with people, she wants to “…be with those who know secret things.” Otherwise, she would just rather spend time alone.

So, determined to make the evening interesting, Hunt shared some “secret things”
by connecting them to her acting roles over the years. In reflecting on the vibrant and complex characters she has portrayed, she revealed touching aspects of her personality and values. Career, life, family and work are all parts of the authentic characters that she has portrayed, giving us insight into the deeply emotional, yet exacting, Helen Hunt. The unassuming star spoke poignantly of what she brought to those characters, and what they in fact brought to her. That just may be the vital definition of art.

Speaking of her directorial debut in the film “Then She Found Me,” Hunt clearly
takes to the director’s role naturally. Her courageous direction, writing and acting in that 2007 film may be a sign of things to come–Helen Hunt may ultimately find the most acclaim and success as a director. It’s the demanding levels of control over the process (and sharing secret things) that a consummate professional like Hunt craves. Wrapping up the 2010 Smart Talk Series in Des Moines on a professional and affecting high note, Helen Hunt displayed talent and integrity. There’s no doubt that we’ll be hearing from her again soon.

A review by David Borzo

The Smart Talk Series crowd at the Des Moines Civic Center was treated to something a little different on Wednesday night, March 3rd. Alison Levine may not have the same household name recognition as many of the Smart Talk Series speakers, but she more than held her own with her powerful message of doing whatever it takes to conquer complacency. She began her captivating presentation explaining her notion of a circle of experiences and enlightenment: from her early difficulties she gained the motivation and fortitude that drove her, eventually, to scale mountains; and those ascents to the top of the world in turn provide e her with the insight and wisdom needed to help her navigate her life.
We should all have such drive. Ms. Levine’s accomplishments show that she has the right stuff: the right stuff in mountain climbing, the right stuff in business, and the right stuff as a motivational medium for us.

Ms. Levine shared her story as a health survivor – not with an illness as an adult, but one that she was born with – a heart condition called Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome. This life-threatening heart condition was so serious and unstable, that she was not even allowed to walk up a flight of stairs. Surgery as a teen then changed her life – conquering her physical ailment and energizing dreams that were as big as mountains. She encourages all of us to act on our own dreams. Ms. Levine’s advice, as reported in a recent Des Moines Register interview, is “If you have ever wondered about something — a sport, an activity, a hobby, a talent — don’t just read about it or talk about it or watch movies about it. Go out and do it.”

With her mantra of doing whatever it takes, Ms. Levine recounted experiences as the team captain of the first American Women’s Everest Expedition, a history-making climb that put her health and spirit to the test. In 2008 she also made history as the first American to complete a 600 mile ski-crossing in western Antarctica, all the way to the South Pole. In these adventures, Ms. Levine’s personal adversities included overcoming fears, as well as continued heath issues; she was at higher risk of frostbite, due to Raynaud’s Disease, which causes the arteries that feed her fingers and toes to collapse when experiencing cold weather and severe stress. Cold weather and stress! Naturally she took up mountain climbing…perhaps because it seemed an impossible task.

She recounted those extraordinary experiences and fears to the Smart Talk audience with well ordered clarity, and riveting images. How do you climb the highest peak in the world? How does your body become accustomed to the altitude and lack of oxygen? Ms. Levine recounted the arduous and exacting tasks, including a return to base camp every night, even as you get further and further up the face of Everest every day. Calling this “Climb high, and sleep low”, the process helps your body acclimate to the oxygen levels, and she used it to point out that there are times that you need to move back one step, in order to make it one step closer to your goal.  As her team advanced on Everest, they eventually had to pause between each stoic step–needing to breathe in and out several times, before being able to even take another step.

“Fortitude” and “determination” just scratches the surface of what makes a woman like Alison Levine tick. As a successful businesswoman on Wall Street, she found that her hard work and dedication was applicable to the business world. And as a woman dedicated to helping others achieve, Ms. Levine founded the Climb High Foundation in 2005, a charitable organization dedicated to improving the lives of jobless women in third-world countries. Her drive and relentless pursuits keep her busy all over the world.  Smart Talk is all about taking the lessons of others and applying them to your own life. Well, even if you are not setting out to climb mountains and conquer the poles, Levine’s advice is intrepid and poignant: “Fear and Risk will never kill you, but complacency will.”

Image Via Smart Talk

Last month I visited family in the Bay Area of California – plenty of time to see some differences between Polk County in Central Iowa and San Mateo County just south of San Francisco. In the earlier post, more objective, quantifiable data were compared.

While some of the differences can be easily compared, it is harder to quantify other differences, such as

• food, gardening
• travel, commuting
• baseball, activities
• stress

Grocery shopping? California may have a big edge here.

• CA has New Leaf, Whole Foods, and Andronico’s, natural food stores where you can get everything you need; while the prices are a little higher on some items (especially the meat), the produce is ripe and fresh – likely because it doesn’t travel far.
• The only places like that in IA are the farmers’ markets: Des Moines Farmer’s Market, and other local markets; Iowa City’s New Pioneer Food Coop; Ames’ Wheatsfield Grocery. In contrast to CA, Des Moines-based New City Market and Campbell’s Nutrition are quite small by comparison.
• When it comes to the commercial chains (except for the produce) IA’s Hy-Vee and Dahl’s compare favorably with Safeway in CA.

Home gardening? This will get your attention! There is a wait of 4 to 7 years to get a 100 sq ft garden plot in the Fort Mason Community Garden. That is a plot about the size of a very small bedroom. We’ve had picnics at Fort Mason more than once, and it is a beautiful spot as you can see on the right; but it’s easier to find a spot to garden in Iowa.

Food, in general? My impression is that

• Iowa wins on beef and pork
• California wins on fruits and vegetables

Driving? I find it easier to drive in the Bay Area, but enough said about that.

Cars? This is a strange experience. I drove my sister’s hot rod Lincoln for 4 weeks, and you wouldn’t believe what I have seen and have not seen.

• I saw only ten 2009 Chevrolet Impalas in 20 days
• instead? Toyota, Mercedes, Lexus, Hyundai, BMW, Acura, Honda, Volvo and a few Ford cars and Chevy trucks

Public Transit? The Purple Wren and I stayed in a coastal California community about the size of Grinnell, Iowa and took lots of public transit too.

• twice to San Francisco and back (SamTrans bus and CalTrain)
• once to Oakland and part way back (walked a block to SamTrans buses then BART right to the Coliseum)
• around San Francisco (Muni)

Baseball? Definitely a lot of winners here! Whether you live in the Bay Area or Des Moines, you can see good professional baseball: San Francisco Giants; Oakland A’s; Iowa Cubs. I saw the A’s and the Tigers and my favorite Tiger Curtis Granderson (shown left), but the best part was spending the afternoon with my nephew John who rode BART from Berkeley. We had great seats, but you know, it’s hard to beat an afternoon in Principal Park right here in Des Moines!

Activities? There is more to do in both places than I can ever get to.

Stress? I am not sure that stress is the right word – intensity might be better. The pace is faster, and the crowd is larger in CA. It is a line-up kind of place, and longer lines – at the movies, banks, grocery stores, restaurants, traffic, bus/CalTrain/BART stops. It’s all exciting and intense, but it creates a little more stress. When the Purple Wren and I moved back after a year in CA 10 years ago, I said, “I could live in CA, but I wouldn’t live as long.” I’ll stand by that.

Well, you win some, you lose some, and sometimes you tie. I’m happy to be here; I was happy to be there.