SUMMER RAYNE OAKES CONVERSATIONS

Jetsetting journalist Andy Isaacson may have invented a new sushi-style dessert while trekking through Laos and traversed across Thailand to see gibbons, but that's only half of the adventures that he's about to share on the 18th episode of "SRO Conversations." On this episode, Andy, Summer Rayne and Paul talk about the world of journalism, intellectual ADD, generalizing vs. specializing, having powerful experiences in nature, and being wildly open to new experiences. To view all conversations, including this one, visit www.summerrayne.net. Please feel free to direct any comments/questions for this episode on Twitter @sroakes with #SROConvo. You may also follow Andy on twitter @worldwebeyes or visit his website at andyisaacson.net.

Imagine the most difficult task you can think of. Are you able to do it? If so, are you happy about doing it? Harold O'Neal is an individual who would jump at the opportunity to try any challenge, because he knows that it will help him grow. "I really love paths of discipline," he says on the 17th episode of "SRO Conversations." Harold O'Neal is a highly acclaimed jazz musician who is known for blending the genres of 20th-century impressionist music with modern jazz. He has toured extensively composing his own music and releasing his most recent album, "Man on the Street" with acclaimed producer, Jerry Wonda, who has produced music for The Fugees, Shakira, and Justin Bieber. If music wasn't enough for O'Neal, he also earned a black belt in martial arts and is especially adept at solving a Rubik's Cube. In the latest episode, Harold eloquently discusses his love for activities that discipline him. "If there's something that needs to be done...let's do it...Anything we want to do, as long as we're still alive, we have the opportunity." To view all conversations, including this one, visit www.summerrayne.net. Please feel free to direct any comments/questions for this episode on Twitter @sroakes with #SROConvo. You may also follow Harold on twitter @HaroldOnealJazz or visit his website at http://www.haroldoneal.com/.

In the 16th episode of "SRO Conversations," Joel Whitney, the co-founder of the award-winning Arts & Culture magazine, Guernica, delves deeply into an array of political issues and talks about his eBook on land mines in which he says, "As soon as you plant land mines you're...threatening all future generations."To view all conversations, including this one, visit www.summerrayne.net.Please feel free to direct any comments/questions for this episode on Twitter @sroakes with #SROConvo.You may also follow Joel on twitter @joel_whitney.

Many of us don't think much about the ground we walk on - or the soil that gives us food - but Jason Aramburu, a Princeton graduate and founder and CEO of re:char, thinks about it everyday. Founded in 2009, re:char is a social enterprise that uses technology to help farmers grow more food principally through the use of biochar, a carbon-negative soil amendment that is made by converting agricultural waste. Test plots in Kenya have yielded a crop output up to 200%. In the 15th episode of "SRO Conversations," Jason Aramburu talks about what his business has been doing to help farmers in Kenya; his personal experiences in the world of social entrepreneurship; and some of the challenges and rewards along the way. His overall motto: "You can do whatever you want if you're willing to put in the time." To view all conversations, including this one, visit www.summerrayne.net. Please direct any comments/questions for this episode on Twitter @sroakes with #SROConvo. To learn more, you may also follow Jason on twitter @re_char or visit http://www.re-char.com/.

An Ecco Domani award-winning fashion designer, Tara St. James, thrives on constantly challenging her own preconceptions about design. Though fairly vocal about her choice to use sustainable and ethical design principles for her label STUDY NY, Tara attests that she "want(s) to be judged the same way other designers are judged," which means ostensibly for her design. In the 14th episode of "SRO Conversations," Tara talks about what her life is like as a fashion designer, building her company and the community of people that she works with that help bring her design to market. "As a group, we'll grow bigger, and stronger." It is clear from this conversation that Tara has a true passion for what she is doing and that she will be happy doing it for a long time to come. "I may not always design clothing, although I probably will...It's difficult to see me doing anything other than design." This is a must-watch conversation for aspiring designers and those interested in the field of sustainable design. To view all conversations, including this one, visit www.summerrayne.net. Direct any comments/questions for this episode on Twitter @sroakes with #SROConvo You may also follow Tara on Twitter @StudyNY.

Perhaps no one person is more enthusiastic about Africa's potential as Jacqueline Shaw, founder of "Africa Fashion Guide." A designer by trade, Shaw discovered her creative roots at a young age and later channeled these abilities to design clothes.She worked with a myriad of fashion companies including PUMA, Russell Athletic, Ocean Pacific, and Fila before she turned to developing Africa Fashion Guide, which initially was a website promoting great design and manufacturing out of Africa. What started as a passion project morphed into a full-time job, where she works closely with people to promote textiles manufacturing within the African continent.  "I love textiles," Jacqueline says. "I've been blessed...[through] my career to travel...around the world."In the 11th episode of "SRO Conversations," Jacqueline speaks about the joy she gets from exploring different cultures and designing clothes. She talks about the reasons behind her work and her vision of the future. "Am I here just to design pretty clothing?...[Or] is there more?" Jacqueline discusses her drive, and where she finds inspiration to get things done. "I really hate to see...potential unfulfilled."If you are interested in sustainable design or the rise of African influence in the apparel industry, you won't want to miss this episode of "SRO Conversations."To view all conversations, including this one, visit www.summerrayne.netDirect any comments/questions for this episode on Twitter @sroakes with #SROConvoYou may also follow Jacqueline on twitter @AfricaFashGuide.

Imagine going through life knowing that you had cancer, but not knowing what you can do about. Imagine if you finally beat it, but still having to live in fear of it coming back. Ethan Zohn has experienced these feelings and more.   Ethan Zohn was the winner of the third season of the popular reality show "Survivor." In 2009 he was diagnosed with a rare type of cancer called Hodgkin's lymphoma which he has been battling and sharing openly with the public in order to inspire people to take a positive outlook on their own struggle. In the second half of the 10th episode of "SRO Conversation," Ethan Zohn goes into great detail of what it was like living with cancer; the different attitudes he had in trying to make the trying situation into something positive. "It pays to have a positive outlook," he attests. Although it was bad news to hear, Ethan muses with some reasons why it could have happened to him. "Whatever I was doing in my life, this needed to happen to get to the next point."   A must watch conversation, Ethan's incredibly human, yet positive attitude is truly inspirational. "[Making] happiness real for others is truly the greatest gift," he affirms on this episode.   You may also want to check out part 1 of this conversation where Ethan goes into greater detail about his experiences on "Survivor," and working with "Grass

When we go through struggle in life, we often don't imagine having it broadcast to the general public, but this is precisely what came about for Ethan Zohn - former soccer pro-turned-reality TV star, who won the third season of the uberpopular show Survivor, which was broadcast to millions worldwide. Shot in Africa, the show brought about some familiarity to Ethan, as he had played soccer in Zimbabwe and later went on to co-found Grassroot Soccer, an organization that uses the game to educate children in Africa about HIV and AIDS. "Until you actually go get tested, you won't know if you are HIV positive," says Ethan. He became even more accustomed to public speaking about serious diseases after being diagnosed in 2009 with Hodgkin's lymphoma, a rare type of cancer. "Everyone goes through cancer alone, and everyone goes through it differently."   In the 10th episode of SRO Conversations, Ethan talks about his life experiences including what he gained from being on Survivor, and what he did to win. From surviving Survivor, to battling cancer, Ethan shares how all of these experiences have affected his attitude towards life.    Watch and listen to the first part of this inspiring story of Ethan Zohn and stay tuned for next week's edition where he goes into greater depth about the challenges of living with cancer. Direct any comments for this episode via Twitter

Imagine never having to pay a grocery bill for vegetables ever again. That's precisely what pro-forager and author of Foraged Flavor Tama Mastsuoka has accomplished. Mastsuoka, a lawyer-turned-forager has created a career and lifestyle that some would say is unusual for our modern times. She of course begs to differ and insists that "everyone should be foraging" in our natural environments for at least some of our food. "Think about how much you rely on other people to provide something so basic as your sustenance," she asks. In the 9th episode of SRO Conversations, Tama discusses with Summer Rayne, Paul America and Brady Dale about the basic principles and philosophies of foraging; what to forage; the physical, mental and emotional benefits that foraging bring; and how she's been able to turn her foraging hobby into a business, supplying some of the finest restaurants fresh, in-season, wild-harvested plants. Tama is also a big believer in landscape stewardship. "One thing that I think is missing from foraging is the ecology," she says. "Ecology is how a plant relates to the landscape and should be taken into account when foraging." Any plant lover, health nerd, foodie, and any individual interested in self-reliance should tune into this two hour conversation. To view all conversations, including this one, visit www.summerrayne.net. Direct any comments/questions for this episode on Twitter @sroakes with #SROConvo and follow Tama on Twitter as well @meadowsandmore.

Randy Hayes believes we need a new strategy for the 21 Century environmental movement. Many people look back at the 1970s – a time when Hayes was just cutting his activist teeth – as the golden era for environmentalism. Bills such as the Clean Air Act, Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act were signed into existence. Earth Day was born. Hayes, the Founder of Rainforest Action Network and co-founder of the newly formed organization – Foundation Earth – questions whether that era should really be upheld as a model for today. “Some of the tactics maybe didn’t work so well back in the 1970s if we’re still in such a mess,” he cautions in this week of SRO Conversations. “We need some deeper analysis. In the firestorm of fighting a brush fire, one can miss the deeper points. What's the economic model for deep economic sustainability?” he asks. In the 8 edition of SRO Conversations, Hayes outlines why the 1970s was a “perfect storm” for environmental legislation; how modern day environmentalism needs to be framed and approached; a cautionary tale on techno-optimism; and the strategy for Foundation Earth – an organization which will be setting the framework for modern-day environmental thought. To view all conversations, including this one, visit www.summerrayne.net. Direct any comments/questions for this episode on Twitter @sroakes with #SROConvo.

Ntiedo Etuk is an education entrepreneur. Some may say that through his company, DimensionU, he is helping reform education so that children are able to have fun learning about math, science and English.  Considering that 1.1 million American students drop out of school every year according to 2012 stats from Employment Preparation Education (EPE); and African American and Hispanic students drop out rate of 40 percent (13 percent above the national average); and nearly two-thirds of eighth-graders scored below proficient in math, we can safely say that we have a big challenge on our hands. NT takes the basic principles of gaming and brings them into the classroom to get students excited about math, science and English. Some parents may say it increases a student's "screen time" in front of the computer, but NT attests that it also increases their chances for employment opportunities later in life...and that "screen time" could be more regulated in the home. In the seventh episode of SRO Conversations, NT and  Summer Rayne discuss the idea of gaming in the classroom as well as a lighthearted discussion into personal relationship -- including double standards for women to how men should approach dating and marriage; and how being Nigerian in America has shaped NT's views on race relations. This 2 hour and 23 minute-long discussion will no doubt pique your interest on a number of levels. To view all conversations, including this one, visit www.summerrayne.net. Direct any comments/questions for this episode on Twitter @sroakes with #SROConvo.

"Most people go through life avoiding problems. I believe the bigger the problem you take on, the bigger your life," says Michael Trainer in this sixth edition of SRO Conversations. As the U.S. Executive Producer for the Global Citizen Festival, Trainer helped galvanize one of the largest gatherings of people in NYC to help commit to alleviate poverty. Over 60,000 people were in attendance in 2012 to listen to musicians like Neil Young to John Legend. An intrepid traveler himself, Trainer eloquently tells of his most recent trip to Patagonia and how he traveled without a plan and on a limited budget. Tune in here for the full discussion on the importance of retreating, being spontaneous, taking risks, and critically thinking about a life of service. To view all conversations, including this one, visit www.summerrayne.net. Direct any comments/questions for this episode on Twitter @sroakes with #SROConvo.

Assault weapons have become an intensely heated debate in America. According to Smith & Wesson Holding Company, there was a $489 million domestic, non-military market for "modern sporting rifles," a euphemism for auto-loading, assault-style rifles. The U.S., however, is only a small portion of the market today. John Zapolski, one of the co-founders of Fonderie 47, a luxury label designed to decommission AK-47s and transform them into high-end jewelry, has spent the last number of years working on the issue at an international level. In the fifth installment of "SRO Conversations," John talks about his passion for promoting peace,  Fonderie 47's principles, decommissioning firearms, and moving on from his passion in order to focus in on his own inner peace. To view all conversations, including this one, visit www.summerrayne.net. Direct any comments/questions for this episode on Twitter @sroakes with #SROConvo.

After working for nearly two decades in the fashion industry and the first size 8 model to be featured in Vogue, Kate Dillon-Levin has seemed to continue to defy all odds. Now a wife, mother and with degrees in poli-sci from the University of St. Thomas and a Masters from Harvard's Kennedy School, Kate continues to forge ahead with beauty, style, grace and honesty. In this fourth episode of "SRO Conversations," Kate opens up with long-time friend Summer Rayne Oakes about growing older; how having children changes your life; keeping marriage interesting; struggles of an independent woman; and the world of fashion modeling and it's impact on body image and the rest of the world. This honest, eye-opening discussion will no doubt help women (and men) understand their relationship better and also bring to light the seemingly elitist and mysterious world of modeling and fashion. Direct any comments/questions for this episode on Twitter @sroakes with #SROConvo. To view all video podcasts, please feel free to visit here.

Very few young commercial photographers have received as much attention and acclaim as Joey L. A professional photographer by age 16, Joey's career began shooting his friends' bands and evolved into shooting well-known television and movie ads as well as celebrity portratiture - all of which we would recognize today even if the "Joey L." name doesn't register with us. However, perhaps his greatest work to this day is not his commercial pursuits - but his pursuits in filming indigenous peoples in a new and different light. Those who follow their passion clearly light their own path, and this is evidently seen and heard throughout the third episode of SUMMER RAYNE OAKES Conversations where Joey L. expresses a holistic view of his own work, shares what he fears the most, and how he sees the world through a different lens. The episode touches upon his latest film (a recent Kickstarter success), People of the Delta, set in the Omo Valley of Southern Ethiopia as well as his percipient philosophy on getting to know the people he photographs.