The Creative Chat

Welcome to Season 5 of the Creative Chat! On this episode of the Creative Chat we're thrilled to once again join Katie Vaughn, one of our esteemed Alumni Council members in an engaging conversation with a fellow Odyssey of the Mind alum and elementary school principal, Katie Rexford. During this special episode we hear about what it is like to incorporate DI into a public elementary school curriculum, how having DI on your resume can give you an edge in any career field and what it takes to get a team started at your local school! If you would like to get in contact with Katie Rexford you can send her an email at Krexford@wpsdk12.org If you are a Destination Imagination Alumni and are interested in being interviewed for the podcast, getting connected to fellow alumni or involved in volunteer opportunities within DI, please e-mail: alumnicouncil@dihq.org You can find us at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dialumni Instagram: @DIalumni X (Twitter): @DI_Alumni Destination Imagination is a global educational nonprofit dedicated to inspiring the next generation of innovators, leaders and creative problem solvers. Through the Challenge Experience, students solve one of six different open-ended STEAM based challenges that build upon the skills they learn in the classroom.

Welcome to Season 5 of the Creative Chat! On this episode of the Creative Chat we're thrilled to welcome Katie Vaughn, one of our esteemed Alumni Council members, and Isaac Anthony, a distinguished Destination Imagination Alumnus hailing from Colorado. During this engaging session we'll delve into Isaac's remarkable journey, discovering how Destination Imagination not only equipped him with technical prowess of an accomplished professional engineer but also honed his exceptional communication skills for a successful career. Take a listen to hear the conversation between Katie and Isaac and learn how DI translated career skills into his professional field. If you are a Destination Imagination Alumni and are interested in getting connected to fellow alumni or involved in volunteer opportunities within DI, please e-mail: alumnicouncil@dihq.org You can find us at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dialumni Instagram: @DIalumni X (Twitter): @DI_Alumni Destination Imagination is a global educational nonprofit dedicated to inspiring the next generation of innovators, leaders and creative problem solvers. Through the Challenge Experience, students solve one of six different open-ended STEAM based challenges that build upon the skills they learn in the classroom.

Rabbi Jason Levine, a 7 year alum and 20 year volunteer from Washington, joins Michael to talk about what it’s like to be a faith leader. He also discusses some of the many challenges facing Judaism and other religions during the ongoing pandemic, and what he is doing at his temple to overcome them.

Michael chats with 12 year alumni Wren Hayes, Owner and Director of Building Blocks Commons, a project-based school in Exeter, NH.

Come join us as we delight in conversation about being grateful for a lifelong friendship between two DI alum. Sarah and Katie first competed in Odyssey of the Mind together in kindergarten in 1994. They then went on to compete in the global competition together both their freshmen and sophomore years of high school. They have remained dear friends ever since and in this episode they talk all things friendship, DI and touch on how Sarah’s career as a charge nurse utilises skills she learned in DI. We hope you are able to reminisce about your DI friends while listening to the episode! If you are a Destination Imagination Alumni and are interested in getting connected to fellow alumni or involved in volunteer opportunities within DI, please e-mail alumnicouncil@dihq.org You can find us at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dialumni Instagram: @DIalumni X (Twitter): @DI_Alumni Destination Imagination is a global educational nonprofit dedicated to inspiring the next generation of innovators, leaders and creative problem solvers. Through the Challenge Experience, students solve one of six different open-ended STEAM based challenges that build upon the skills they learn in the classroom.

In this episode, join the Alumni Council in a round table discussion about some of the major lessons learned through DI and the impact the program has had on each of them in their professional and personal lives. Hear why this group continues to give back to DI year after year and their perspective on the importance of Destination Imagination. If you're a Destination Imagination Alumni and are interested in getting connected fellow alumni or involved in volunteer opportunities within DI, please e-mail alumnicouncil@dihq.org You can find us at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dialumni Instagram: @DIalumni X (Twitter): @DI_Alumni Destination Imagination is a global educational nonprofit dedicated to inspiring the next generation of innovators, leaders and creative problem solvers. Through the Challenge Experience, students solve one of six different open-ended STEAM based challenges that build upon the skills they learn in the classroom.

In this special episode, we were LIVE at Global Finals 2023 in Kansas City. Host Michael Russell chatted with fellow alumni Joshua Jasper, Kate Nylander, Kayla Steffens, Alexis Becker, and Emily Summers, as well as DI Board of Trustees Chair Will Roach. • Like what you heard? You can connect with us on Facebook and Instagram! • Email us at alumnicouncil@dihq.org • Make sure to LIKE and SUBSCRIBE so you never miss a new episode!

What happens after the DI season and over, and the kids and volunteers have nothing to do all summer? They go to camp! NHICC's Camp Gottalikachallenge has been providing a place for creative kids to have a summer camp experience, along with a whole DI-like season, in just a week or two. Alum and Camp Director Lou McKenna chats with the Council's Jake Oudheusden about what why Camp is so unique and special, what led her to Camp, and how she views creativity and problem solving.

What's your favorite memory from a DI Regional or Affiliate Tournament? This month, host David Rousseau and alum Dawn DiCicco chat about some of their favorites from times competing, and what its like now to run a tournament. Share your favorites memory from a tournament as a participant or volunteer with us on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter!

With Valentine's Day, February is the "Season of Love." Many DI-ers end up falling in love and spending their lives together, and two couples come on the podcast to share their stories. First, co-host Michael chats with Anneke and Carlos from Texas who share how they met as participants and are now planning their wedding for the end of the year. Then, co-host Dan chats with co-host Michael and his wife Abbey, who share how they found each other as volunteers, and how they incorporated DI into their wedding back in 2017.

Instant Challenge is an integral part of Destination Imagination, and alumni have fond (or not) memories. Host Dan Grueber chats with former teammate Kevin Ponziani about competing together, what it's now like to volunteer with DI, and Kevin shares memories of writing and testing Instant Challenges, including doing 200 of them in one weekend.

This month, 1913 Media Group COO and President Joey DiFranco chats with Michael about being a creative, entrepreneur, and what it's like to run a media company and build a TV and film studio in Dayton, OH, where Joey participated in DI for 8 years. Follow along with Joey on LinkedIn, and learn more about 1913 Studios here.

Alyssa Macaluso, a New York DI Alumni, is an IATSE (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees) stage hand who chats this month with host David Rousseau about working in theatre and television, on cruise ships, and how being a volunteer head appraiser helped her learn how to become a better leader and team player.

This month, host Michael Russell chats with 13-year alumnus Amanda Tipton. Amanda, from Denver, CO discusses her career as a photographer and the different challenges she encounters doing event and performance photography. You can find Amanda and her amazing photos on Instagram here.

This month, David Rousseau chats with Minnesota alumnus Ian Yue. Now based in Maryland, Ian is a Mediator and Program Associate, dealing with multi stakeholder collaboration on environmental issues. Ian shares what led him to working in mediation and environmental issues, and how some of the core DI skills he learned during his 10 years help him in his daily job. You can follow along and connect with Ian Yue by clicking here.

This month, host Michael Russell chats with Ed Song. Song, an 8 year alumnus from Ontario, Canada, shares his career as a financial advisory, and his stories of learning from failure.

As a former New York alumni, and current conductor on the New York City Subway, Max Diamond shares with host David Rousseau his interest with trains and subways, and how he uses his creativity and collaboration skills daily for the Metropolitan Transit Authority.

This month, host David Russou chats with Tech Sargent Tim Sentz of the US Air Force on how his years in New York Destination Imagination have helped him be successful working in the IT world in a military setting.

The month, Michael chatted with Georgia Alumnus Crystal Burke, a Clinical Research Coordinator in Atlanta, GA. Burke shares what it means to be a Clinical Research Coordinator, and what it was like to work on some trials to help patients suffering with COVID-19.

This month, Michael chats with New Hampshire alum Jake Levin. Levin, the Director of Partnerships at MICRO, helps bring the company's tiny bespoke museums into public spaces, including hospital lobbies and DMV waiting rooms. Levin shares how he came to work at MICRO, and how important it is to him to bring art and science to people in areas where they may otherwise not thinking of finding it. MICRO also just launched a new DIY program, which you can learn more about here: micro.ooo/diy You can find Jake Levin on Instagram here: instagram.com/jakeblevin You can find the Alumni Council on Facebook (facebook.com/destinationimaginationaap), Instagram (instagram.com/dialumni), and Twitter (twitter.com/di_alumni). Find Destination Imagination here: destinationimagination.org