Hope of Washington, D.C., Power of a Plant, Music in the Office

Washington, D.C., is not a cynical swamp (19:25) David Litt entered the White House in 2011 and left in 2016 as a Special Assistant to the President and Senior Presidential Speechwriter. Many people believe that Washington D.C. is a cynical swamp, a place where politician push their career’s agenda and leave a trail of hopelessness behind.  But our guest today believes that our Nation’s capital is the most hopeful place in America.  David Litt, the author of “Thanks, Obama: My Hopey Changey White House Years," shares his book and his positive view of the culture of Washington D.C. The Power of a Plant (1:10:38) Stephen Ritz is a South Bronx educator and administrator who believes that students shouldn’t have to leave their community to live, learn, and earn a better one. He is the author of the book “The Power of a Plant.” In the Bronx, the poorest Congressional district of America, elementary students grow plants inside of their classroom. In fact, these students have grown more than 40,000 pounds of vegetables alongside their community. Why are they growing plants in the middle of their classroom? Stephen Ritz brought plants into his Bronx classroom to help his students improve their academic performance. Stephen, known as “America’s Teacher,” is here today to share with us about how these plants are saving his students and their surrounding community.  Power of Music in the Office (1:56:19) Kevin Kniffin is an Assistant Professor of Organizational Behavior and Leadership from Cornell University. Research has shown that music in retail settings can add value to the shopping experience: It can improve the moods of customers, increase engagement, and increase the chances of a purchase. Kevin Kniffin shares his study on the effect music can have on employees.