The Don Sullivan Show

IT sustainability is quickly becoming one of the most talked-about topics in enterprise technology, driven by rising cloud costs and the growing demands of modern data infrastructure. Mark Bradley of Flexera joins the show to explain how organizations can uncover hidden inefficiencies, measure their true impact, and turn sustainability into a practical lever for both cost savings and smarter operations.

Don pushes toward the summit through rain and snow as conditions deteriorate. Battling altitude, breathing difficulties, and a worsening infection in his hand, the climb becomes a true test of endurance. Despite it all, he keeps going. And they make it.

The climb continues as Don ascends higher up Kilimanjaro. Altitude sickness begins to creep in, wildlife appears along the trail, and the mountain’s famous glaciers finally come into view. But these ancient ice fields carry a strange history, including stories of bands of “glacier thieves” who have taken huge pieces of the ice from the mountain. The summit push is still to come.

Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak, is often called the “Crown of Africa.” In this first episode of a four-part series on The Don Sullivan Show, Don begins the journey to climb this legendary mountain. From the decision to take on the challenge to arriving in Tanzania and preparing for the trek ahead, this episode sets the stage for an unforgettable adventure to the roof of the continent.

This special “Best of” episode brings together powerful conversations on overcoming adversity, personal health, and the rapidly evolving world of AI and technology. Along the way, we dive into the artistry of music, the fascinating mechanics behind luxury timepieces, and the design brilliance of architecture. The journey culminates in unforgettable travel stories from Alaska, including close encounters with bears and surviving the raw unpredictability of the wilderness. It’s a wide-ranging, inspiring ride through grit, curiosity, craftsmanship, and adventure.

Pinball has entertained players for generations, rising to cultural prominence in the 1940s and again in the arcade boom of the 1970s. Today the game is experiencing a surprising resurgence. Joshua Francis, a competitive player and champion, joins the team to explain why pinball is popular again, how the modern competitive scene works, and where the hobby is headed next.

A brain tumor diagnosis is life altering even when it is not life threatening. In this episode the team speaks with Stuart Klugler who lives with multiple acoustic neuromas, benign tumors that grow on the auditory nerve but can profoundly affect hearing, balance, identity, and daily life. His story explores what survival really means when the danger is not death but permanent change.

The breadth of human accomplishment is astounding, and the ingenuity behind it is just as remarkable. At TheDonSullivanShow.com, we created the series Where Art Meets Engineering to explore how creativity and technical mastery come together to shape the world around us. While the series began with an exploration of fine timepieces, its scope reaches far beyond that foundation. In this episode, the team welcomes renowned interior architect Fredrick Taylor for a wide-ranging conversation on the extraordinary achievements of architecture and how design, engineering, and human vision combine to create spaces that endure.

Thirty years ago, few computer scientists would have imagined that a single software platform could run, integrate, and shape nearly every business process across an entire enterprise, yet that vision has become reality through the evolution of Enterprise Resource Planning; in this episode, the DSS team is joined by ERP veteran Vas Mitra, who has witnessed and helped shape this transformation from its earliest days to today’s intelligent, cloud-driven systems, as they explore how ERP has evolved, what defines its role in the modern enterprise, and where it is headed next.

Although DSS intentionally steers clear of politics, we don’t shy away from examining real, observable imbalances. Even after the supposed “reset” of the early 2020s, Silicon Valley still shows a striking gender gap. Why, when women make up half the population and half the available talent, are they so underrepresented across the companies that define the Six Cities of Silicon Valley? And why does this same pattern persist across much of the technology industry? These are not questions with simple or convenient answers, nor can they be reduced to the kind of heated rhetoric that often dominates the conversation. To explore the issue with clarity and experience, we invited veteran Silicon Valley executive Shinie Shaw to join the DSS team. Together, we dig into the realities behind the numbers, the cultural and structural forces at play, and what meaningful progress could actually look like.

Science is traditionally defined by adherence to the scientific method. An idea is proposed as a hypothesis, tested rigorously, and refined into a theory through experimentation and peer review. Over long periods of repeated confirmation, a theory may ultimately be regarded as a scientific law. In time, it is likely that concepts we now refer to as theories, such as Einstein’s theory of relativity, will be spoken of as laws of science. At times, alternative frameworks of thought, such as what is often called “Creation Science,” which is rooted primarily in religious belief and biblical interpretation, generate debate and discomfort within academic and scientific communities. Nevertheless, the DSS, guided by its fundamental commitment to open inquiry and respectful dialogue, welcomes a good friend of the show, Alaskan bush pilot Ben Bunn, for a thoughtful discussion of Creation Science.

Don may climb mountains and hike deep into canyons, but sometimes life throws challenges off the trail. In this episode, the show takes an unusually candid turn as Don shares his real-time experience getting elbow surgery. Using his own journey as a real-world case study, Don speaks openly about health, recovery, and resilience. It’s raw, unfiltered, and deeply human.

For centuries, the Caribbean Sea has been a place of wonder and danger. Fierce hurricanes, active volcanoes, and shifting geology have shaped the Greater and Lesser Antilles and the richly diverse waters that surround them. In this episode, Don sails and hikes across the islands, uncovering the natural forces that make the Caribbean one of the most dynamic and beautiful regions in the world.

Science, Technology, and Computing is a broad umbrella, and this show explores everything beneath it. In past episodes, we’ve examined the evolution of music and its impact on the human experience. In this episode, we go deeper—and heavier. Join the team as they dive into the origins, construction, and cultural consequences of the strange, powerful, and often chaotic world of heavy metal, guided by professional musician John Ducroiset.

Dental health is one of the least pleasant things to consider—and one of the most important. In this episode of The Don Sullivan Show, we talk with Dr. Elliott about the true state of America’s dental health, from whether it’s improving or declining to how modern dentistry compares with its brutal past. We also explore the real drivers of dental disease, the fluoride debate, access to care, emerging technologies and what the next 20 years may hold for oral health in America.

The show goes international this week, and for once, not on a cruise ship. Don travels to Colombia’s North Coast. A destination once infamous as the world’s cocaine capital, now revealed as a place of striking contrasts: towering mountains, remnants of ancient civilizations, richly diverse cultural traditions, dense jungles, and an environment defined by relentless rain and dramatic downpours. Join us on this exciting adventure.

AI now touches every part of life, delivering stunning innovation alongside troubling, sometimes disturbing, side effects. In this episode of The Don Sullivan Show, AI ethics expert Marian Newsome joins us to unpack the real-world impact of AI in 2025 and help us navigate the lines, limits, and societal guardrails we urgently need to consider.

Today, The Don Sullivan Show continues our series, Where Art Meets Engineering, exploring the world of timepieces and the craftsmanship behind them. We’re diving into the core of these devices—the mechanics known as “movements.” The first rule of watch club may be not to talk about watch club, but on The Don Sullivan Show we explore anything related to science, tech, and engineering, including what keeps us aligned with the passing of time. We're excited to welcome back Jason Hahn, a true horology expert and all-around great human being, to help us understand how these remarkable wrist-worn machines do their work.

Physical Therapy when preformed seriously and thoughtfully is essentially the medical version of athletic training. Except it can be included in a regiment of preventative care proactively or medicinal healing. But orthopedics as a discipline has very little interest in assessments at all. It may be the only medical concern that is nearly 100% reactive. The team talked about this concerning trend with Brad Marquez, the CEO of "PhysioPractex" and lifetime practitioner of the diminishing medical science of Physical Therapy.

The team welcomes back Dr. Theo Hodge for a powerful and candid conversation about the history and current state of one of the late 20th century’s most devastating health crises, HIV and AIDS. Dr. Hodge, one of the world’s leading experts on the subject, explains how far we’ve come, what challenges remain, and what everyone should know about prevention and treatment today. It's an honest and unfiltered discussion — sometimes PG-13, definitely New Jersey — and one you won’t want to miss.

U.S. Air Force veteran Pat Theberge — better known as “The Admiral” — has owned Cruise Vacations for the entire 21st century and knows the cruise industry inside and out. In this episode, he joins the team to explore the incredible world of big ships — the floating skyscrapers that move millions of travelers around the globe. How are these massive vessels built? How do they operate? And what keeps them afloat? Set sail with “The Admiral” and the crew to uncover the fascinating engineering and operations behind the world’s largest cruise ships.

Today, Don takes the audience to a new realm of awe and inspiration in Northern Arizona — the Grand Canyon. This episode launches a fresh series exploring some of the most extraordinary places of scientific wonder. Join Don as he hikes halfway down the canyon along the iconic Bright Angel Trail to Havasupai Gardens, sharing vivid, captivating insights along the way. And to keep a bit of suspense in the journey - stay tuned until the end to find out whether Don makes it back out of the canyon!

A few hundred miles south of the majestic Lake Clark, Alaska, lies the awe-inspiring Katmai National Park, a place as mystifying as it is magnificent. Accessible only by floatplane, our team had the rare privilege of being flown, guided, and escorted through this untamed wilderness by the remarkable Alaskan bush pilot Benjamin Bunn. Katmai is world-renowned for its unforgettable scenes of grizzly bears perched atop Brooks Falls, skillfully catching salmon as they leap upstream toward their spawning grounds. This dramatic encounter between two forces of nature — the raw power of the bears and the relentless determination of the salmon — is truly breathtaking. After years spent in the ocean, the salmon somehow navigate back to the exact place of their birth, where they spawn and then die, completing one of nature’s most profound cycles. This phenomenon challenges human comprehension, standing as a powerful testament to both the beauty and the brutality of the natural world. Listen to this extraordinary episode, for the sake of the salmon who persevere and the bears who are sustained by their journey.

Weeks after completing a grueling seven-day backpacking trip along Yellowstone’s remote Thorofare Trail, Don returns to continue his Yellowstone series—this time exploring the park’s more iconic and accessible areas. More importantly, he dives into the extraordinary range of scientific phenomena and disciplines that make Yellowstone a living laboratory. Tune in and get inspired to experience the wonder of America’s first national park for yourself.

Yellowstone National Park holds the distinction of being the world’s first national park, established in 1872 by President Ulysses S. Grant. This landmark decision, made under the authority of the Antiquities Act—which allows presidents to designate federal lands as national monuments—paved the way for conservation efforts across the globe. Spanning over 2.2 million acres, Yellowstone is a vast wilderness brimming with geological wonders and scientific intrigue. While the park draws over six million visitors annually, few ever reach its most remote corners. One such place is the "Thoroughfare," a rugged, almost mythical region in the park’s southwest that remains as wild and inaccessible as it was a century ago. Don spent a week exploring this remote backcountry, surviving on freeze-dried meals and waking each morning to sub-freezing temperatures—only to experience 70-degree sunshine just hours later. For three days straight, the team encountered more bears than people, a true testament to the isolation of the Thoroughfare. While a full series on Yellowstone is in the works, this episode offers a preview: Don recounts his long, arduous, and awe-inspiring journey through one of the most untouched landscapes in America.

Music is the language of emotion—few forms of human expression reflect the spirit of a society more powerfully. In the 21st century, music has undergone a profound transformation. Modern computing has reshaped how music is created and distributed, shifting from traditional instrumentation to digital production. But has this technological evolution stifled musical expression, or is the reality more complex? Join the team as they sit down with Silicon Valley insider, show veteran, and music historian Howard Ostrow to explore how technology is reshaping the soul of sound.

AI is the energy gluten of modern times—but can it save more energy than it consumes? From stadium-sized, power-hungry data centers filled with blazing-hot GPU racks to smart systems optimizing residential air conditioning, AI now touches nearly every aspect of energy consumption. Is this influence ultimately a net positive—or a costly development we may come to regret? Our team explores this timely and thought-provoking topic with an energy-efficiency-through-AI specialist.

Oleg Ulianov is a man of many talents. In addition to his reputation as a top networking expert in Silicon Valley, he has spent much of his life conquering some of the world’s most formidable mountain ranges. His climbing résumé spans the Himalayas, the Urals, the Caucasus, the Rockies, and the Alps — including the towering Ismoil Somoni Peak (formerly known as Stalin Peak) in Tajikistan, which rises above 7,000 meters. So, for Oleg's 63rd birthday, the team thought it would be a fitting challenge — and a fun reunion — to send Don to the Austrian Alps to try and keep pace with his old friend.

Young athletes rarely consider the long-term bodily consequences of their pursuits. Don interviews his University of Virginia teammate from the early 1980s to discuss their early and later athletic careers. The physical toll of pushing the human body is profound, yet the experiences are exhilarating. Listen as Don and Leon, the Bionic Man, reflect on the fourth quarter of their lives.

Lake Clark National Park is a rarely visited National Park in south central Alaska, but at 55 miles long and over 1,000-feet deep - encircled by hundreds of mountains - it is a place of perfect serenity. Bears of all types, moose, mountain goats - they all surround the lake where sockeye salmon desperately desperately fight the waters to find their spawning grounds. Don spent 12 days on a catamaran sailing every part of this wonderous environment and describes it all in this episode!

Over the last 150 years, ocean travel has transformed from what was primarily a form of long distance transportation to the ultimate vacation experience. This modern vacation paradigm offers both a luxury getaway and an opportunity for adventure seekers to discover new and exotic locations. What is most amazing, however, are the ships themselves. Some are big enough to house and feed 10,000 passengers and crew for weeks - all while providing both safety and countless amenities and extravagances. Join Don as he travels to Alaska aboard the Caribbean Princess.

Nature is able to create landscape scenery that both settles the anxious mind and creates a sense of wonder and awe at the same time. Please listen to Don climb to 12,000 feet in central Colorado through Herman Gulch, an area of spectacular wildflower growth and be inspired to go there and learn about nature's ability to create the greatest tapestries in existence.

Today, Don describes the most daunting and popular hobby in the state of Colorado: climbing mountains. Colorado has 58 peaks at a altitude greater than 14,000 feet and Don will be hiking Mt Bierstadt while making the recording. Please listen to the episode to see if Don can "Bag the Peak".

American history has been driven by transportation. Bicycles, automobiles, airplanes and -- of course -- railroads allowed commerce to fuel the development of history's greatest economic dynamo. Rails were standardized hundreds of years ago, but the standard gauge, or any other gauge, wasn't effective in the mountains of the American West. So, in this episode, we take a ride on the Durango-Silverton historic railroad and talk to the engineers, guides, and experts about why and how this innovative technology was created and how its short but glorious lifespan effected the conquering of the American West.

Western Colorado is an amazingly diversified place with a rich history. So Don, who is going solo with this episode, discusses two tremendously disparate subjects that are innately connected through the tiny town of Fruita, Colorado. First, Don discusses the Dinosaur Diamond where America's rich cache of Jurassic Period Dinosaur fossils are discovered as well as the amazingly sad, but hopeful history of agricultural fruit production in the town Fruita.

Throughout modern history computing has driven the exponential expansion of the economic dynamos of western civilization. Throughout this history there are patterns. Some of those patterns set a path to repetitive success. Some of those patterns result in uncontrollable havoc. Most are in-between. Please listen to this important discussion about patterns in computing history with the ever sage Gina Rosenthal.

Timekeeping is a functional need as as old as civilization, and the creation of beautiful timepieces is an art older than the magnificent paintings and sculptures of the Renaissance. In this episode, Don and Steve talk with Jason Hahn, horology and industry expert, about both the art and technology behind today's timepieces -- from your basic wrist watches and smart watches to exquisitely-crafted, mechanical marvels that cost more than a private plane.

Once home to dinosaurs (fossils are still embedded in the rocks) and then the Ute tribe, Red Rocks has provided an unparalleled acoustic experience for both listeners and the many performers that have graced this famous concert venue for more than a century. Jersey Steve pilgrimages to Colorado to meet up with Don to examine its storied background and attend a Sting show. In the process, the team talks to the staff of Red Rocks, meets a man visiting from Eritrea, eats corn dogs and (thankfully) does not get hailed on.

Science has no conscience. However, humanity must consider the consequences of any action of discovery. This is never more true than today in modern computing -- specifically AI. The team discusses the ethical considerations of this brave new world with Marian Newsome, ethics expert and founder of "Ethical Tech Matters."

The depth of AI in terms of potential applications is unlimited. Today, the Don Sullivan Show welcomes Frederic Van Haren of HighFens Inc to discuss how some of those applications, specifically Speech Recognition, have advanced enormously over the past few years. Fredrick is a Silicon Valley pioneer and, as a founder of HighFens, understands the enormous value as well as the possible perils of AI. So, the team spends a little more time than usual with what is hopefully Frederic's first of many appearances on the show!