Michael Goldberg's career defies convention—weaving through refugee camps, post-apartheid South Africa, AOL's China expansion, and Cleveland's medical innovation ecosystem. His pioneering Massive Open Online Course "Beyond Silicon Valley" unexpectedly became a global phenomenon, resonating in places from Iran to Kosovo with its uniquely Cleveland-inspired model of entrepreneurial development that blends government support, philanthropy, and private investment.

Now leading the Veale Institute, Goldberg observes how today's students arrive with entrepreneurial mindsets already formed, while he continues his passion for building bridges between entrepreneurs across continents—proving that innovation ecosystems can flourish far beyond traditional tech hubs when communities leverage their distinctive strengths.

The episode begins with Congedo's early career in broadcast journalism, starting in Washington DC at age 21 before moving to Lexington, Kentucky to develop her reporting skills. She discusses the challenges of building confidence as a young reporter in demanding environments and the valuable experiences that shaped her professional development. Congedo then reflects on her Jewish identity journey, explaining how her interfaith family background influenced her understanding of community and belonging, which led to her work at the Jewish Community Relations Council focusing on Jewish security through coalition-building.

The conversation explores the Holocaust & Humanity Center's unique approach as both a Holocaust museum and humanity center at Cincinnati's Union Terminal. Congedo emphasizes their "story forward" rather than "history forward" approach, focusing not just on tragedy but on resilience, rebuilding, and inspiring action today. She details the center's innovative Humanity Gallery and its character strengths framework that encourages visitors to connect personally with upstander stories.

The episode concludes with a discussion of the center's Upstander Awards, which recognize everyday people who exemplify character strengths shared with Holocaust survivors. Congedo shares a powerful story about an award recipient who discovered unexpected common ground with a survivor's family member, illustrating how universal human themes transcend time and circumstance.