March 25, 2025 • 55 mins
What if education wasn’t just about preparing kids for the future—but empowering them to build it? Anthony “Grandpa STORK” Hall is doing exactly that. From a life-changing moment with his newborn grandson to launching a global movement that fuses imagination, movement, and innovation, Anthony has redefined what’s possible in education. In this powerful conversation, we explore how his STORK framework transforms children from passive learners into visionary creators—proving that with the right guidance, play can shape purpose, and curiosity can change the world.
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I am a fearless innovator turning imagination into influence and lighting the path for future generations.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Alethea Felton (00:08):
What if the future of education looked more
like play than pressure?
Well, today's guest, anthonyHall, also known as Grandpa
Stork, he is doing just thatbecause he's an educational
trailblazer, reimagining howkids learn through creativity,
curiosity and kineticintelligence.
(00:29):
He's the founder of the Rose ofEducation organization and
mastermind behind GrandpaStork's House of Flying Dragons.
Anthony is building bold newlearning ecosystems and he is
definitely getting people to seeeducation through a whole new
lens.
And, with that being said,welcome to the Power
(00:51):
Transformation Podcast.
I am your host, alethea Felton,and if you have not done so
already, go ahead and follow andsubscribe to this show, and I
thank you for your continuedsupport, and we're on all
platforms, so I look to see youthere and I am just so grateful
(01:11):
for you joining Anthony and metoday for this conversation.
We're going to begin with ouraffirmation, as we always do.
I'll say the affirmation onceand you repeat it I am a
fearless innovator, turningimagination into influence and
(01:32):
lighting the path for futuregenerations.
I am so excited to have AnthonyHall, also known as Grandpa and
Grandpa Stork, capitalS-T-O-R-K and we'll talk about
that here on the PowerTransformation Podcast.
(01:53):
He is moving and shaking, doingso many incredible things for
so many lives.
So welcome to the PowerTransformation Podcast, grandpa.
Anthony Hall (02:05):
Thank you, alethea .
I'm so honored to be here andlistening to your shows and the
wonderful guests you've had, soI'm definitely honored to be
here.
Alethea Felton (02:14):
Oh, the honor's all mine and I'm so excited that
we were able to connect throughour mutual friend, Candice
Snyder, who's also a podcastGive a shout out to Candice,
yeah.
Yes, candice is such agood-hearted person that sent me
so many wonderful guests, andjust her spirit just lightens up
a room, as does yours, and I'mjust excited about this.
(02:35):
So we're going to jump intothis, where I always like to ask
a fun, lighthearted, icebreakerquestion.
Okay, you are a well-traveledperson.
You've been to many placesthroughout the world, but what I
would like you to answer iswhat is the one place in the
world that you have not gone toyet and would love to visit?
Anthony Hall (03:02):
That I haven't gone to yet, but I'd love to
visit.
Alethea Felton (03:06):
Mm-hmm.
Anthony Hall (03:08):
Hmm, hmm, egypt.
Alethea Felton (03:11):
Tell us more.
Anthony Hall (03:13):
I mean no, I've been to.
No, I should clarify that.
Alethea Felton (03:17):
Okay.
Anthony Hall (03:17):
I've been to Egypt , but only on a layover for four
days, so I didn't get a chanceto Doesn't count.
Yeah, that really doesn't count.
That really doesn't count.
But really, you know, historyis, uh, something that I've
gained an appreciation of, loveand love for, and especially in
my travels, as I've been tocountries, especially, like you
(03:39):
know, when one of the firstcountries I went to was germany,
a beautiful country, but thenyou see these old churches and
walls that were 1,000 years old,and even here in Ireland you
had these Neolithicconstructions that were 4,000 or
5,000 years old, and so it'sreally been, you know, to see
(04:02):
history live and really have anappreciation for the ingenuity
and imagination and creativityof our forefathers and mothers.
So, yeah, but yeah, egypt, I'dlove to spend some more time
there, even though it's hot, butthat's all right.
You know, jesse, that's kind ofthe vibe, but there's so many
(04:24):
places, you know there's so manyplaces.
Jamaica I haven't been thereyet, not there.
I think I spent some time inJamaica too.
Alethea Felton (04:31):
Mm-hmm, yeah, that was a stop there when I was
on a cruise, but in terms ofactually visiting and traveling,
not really.
But I like what you said aboutEgypt having the creative
innovations and you know justthe whole theme of imagination,
(04:51):
and that's a big part of whatyou do and we'll get into that.
But what I'd like to ask younow simply is who is grandpa?
Anthony Hall (05:04):
Who is Grandpa?
Who is Grandpa?
Well, you know, really I had toanswer that for myself, you
know, and really kind of growinto that and really just
embrace that.
You know, 20 years ago Iwatched my daughter become a
mother.
I was in a delivery room wherea blessed miracle was and to
(05:24):
welcome my first grandchild intothe world, and so, and it was
the opportunity then to kind ofrelive my life.
And, you know, you think aboutall the things as a parent that
you maybe wish you would have umdone or you wouldn't so uptight
(05:47):
about things, and you wish, youknow, I've always thought
myself that was going to be thetype of father would be a fun
dad, blah, blah, blah.
But that didn't end up how itworked now.
But, uh, being grandson's life,you know, was very early on, you
know.
You know you know his first cry, his voice, you know I love his
voice still, and that reallyopened up to me to think about
(06:16):
yeah, who am I?
What have I been?
What has my life been?
And so I'm holding my grandsonin my arms and it was a
transformative moment, to saythe least, because I was really
actually kind of transportedthrough time First, reviewing my
life and what my life had beenup to that moment.
And you know, like many of us,I found myself wanting, and so I
(06:40):
wanted to be able to do more.
And so, as I thought about it,I'm transported 50 years into
the future.
I'm imagining my grandsonholding his first grandchild.
What will the world be like?
What will the state ofeducation and opportunities?
My background is not only inconstruction trades, but
(07:00):
professionally as well.
It's been the last 30 years inthe IT, hardware and software
development field and learnthese processes, and so my role
as a director of sales andbusiness development was to
project into the future.
What will be the trends?
What will be the platforms thatwe need support?
(07:21):
What are the customers askingfor?
Where's the money going?
Where are the state of for?
Where's the money going?
Where's the state of archiveand compliance going?
And so at the time, I appliedthat you know that kind of
kicked in when I'm thinkingabout the future Okay, so what's
happening?
Where will the money be?
What will we be looking atduring the 2060s?
And so why?
Naturally, which was kind ofinteresting what popped into my
(07:44):
head as I'm holding mygrandchild was like OK, what?
And so all this is going onjust just in this flash, and so
I'm thinking about, well, in the2060s or, well you know, 20
late 2050s.
The 2060s will be celebratingthe US and the former USSR, and
Russia will be celebrating thecentennial of the space program.
(08:09):
We'll be talking about all theachievements that we've done and
then up to that point, whetherit be space colonies, new space
tourism businesses and all thisstuff that's going on but will
my grandchildren have a stake inthat?
Will there be opportunities forthem?
What about other kids?
(08:29):
And so that was kind of what Iwas left with thinking about
okay, how can grandpa make surethat my grandchildren's
grandchildren can bestakeholders, innovators, not a
captive audience, but captainsof industry and enterprises, and
what can I do to be a part ofthat?
And so that kind of led me onthis path of where I am now,
(08:55):
having been on the road for thepast celebrated 10 years on the
road.
In February of this year youknow, february 1st 2014, I
landed in Dar es Salaam,tanzania, on a two-week
investigative trip to see ifthese concepts, these play-based
learning concepts and gamesthat I need to make for my
(09:17):
great-kids.
So I landed there, and it'll beonly two weeks and now it's
been two weeks and now yes.
Alethea Felton (09:27):
And let me jump in here because I'm going to
definitely talk about that,because everything you said was
loaded but necessary, and Iwanted to bring up the fact if
we could just go back some interms of your earlier origins,
prior to you getting to thisplace and space that you're in
now is that your career began inIT, as you said, and that at
(09:52):
times, you found yourselfoccasionally to be the only
person of color in differentcorporate meetings and trade
shows and things of that nature.
So take us back to those earlydays and talk to us about just
what were some toughestchallenges that you faced in
that space.
But how did those experiencesshape your resilience and your
(10:18):
drive to actually create whatyou do now?
And if you could talk aboutthat some.
Anthony Hall (10:26):
Okay, then I have to give all credit to my parents
to our parents as far as howthey carried themselves, how
they thought of themselves, butalso how they raised us to think
of ourselves as being no lessand no greater than anyone and
deserving of the same amount ofrespect, and that the gifts that
we had were our responsibilityto develop and to give back.
(10:47):
And so, but, um, there's no, um, you know no, handouts in life.
You know, um, that we have tobe able to make our own way and
we have to be responsible andaccountable, but you know, you
know.
You know, look at somebody inthe eye, shake my firm hands,
shake, I mean, that was drilledand instilled into us,
(11:09):
especially one thing of mystepfather, you know, you know,
uh, you know, you know, and mymother, they were, they were
involved in the civil rightsmovement and really about, you
know, how do we, as you know,africans and africans in the
diaspora, and whether it be ofany African, or even that we
(11:30):
have to be ourselves more thanthis past 400 years and so that
we have a rich history andlegacy and connection throughout
the world?
And so the kind of conversationsthat were going around in our
homes my parents would have rapsessions with folks in the
neighborhood talking aboutwhat's going on and how can they
(11:52):
be a positive influence in thecommunity.
I mean all those things kind offiltered down to, and so I
would say that, as far as so, Ididn't have any really typical
difficult situations, because Iwas.
(12:12):
It always came down to how Iviewed myself and how I
presented myself and how I wentgoing in.
I didn't go into thesesituations anywhere with a chip
on my shoulder, you know.
I mean, I mean I grew up inmixed neighborhoods and with
school it wasn't inpredominantly white.
Well, early on it waspredominantly white, but that
(12:34):
quickly changed.
But I think it was theconfidence in ourselves that our
parents instilled in us, andstrength and resilience that you
know they didn't, you know theydidn't coddle us yeah you know,
they held us accountable andresponsible early on, and, and,
(12:59):
and I guess because I saw howpeople of different races
responded to them, to my parents, and how they got along and how
they treated everybody as thesame.
They didn't talk any different,they didn't behave any
differently, they werethemselves.
And so, even when I find myselfin situations like you know.
So, my, my, my, my first job inthe IT field was at a laptop
(13:22):
computer company.
They hired my power companythere temporary to answer the
phones.
So I'm answering the phones.
He's about to take a drink.
Alethea Felton (13:32):
Uh-huh sure.
Anthony Hall (13:34):
Answer the phone and really do you know.
You know forward calls to thetechnical support department or
the sales department and soforth, and so that first week,
you know, I'm getting all thesequestions, and you know, but
because of my curiosity, I alsowent back and wanted to find out
, you know, why was this?
You know why was this?
(13:54):
So, you know, I wanted tounderstand and I just, you know,
even though I was justanswering phones, I still want
to understand.
And plus, I have interest inbuilding things because, you
know, early before the it field,I was in the construction trade
.
You know, digging digits,planting trees, building houses,
fences and decks, and so so Ihad an interest in, you know,
(14:15):
high tech in the constructiontrades.
Oh yeah, we had, we know.
So, yeah, I didn't talk aboutsome some uh, and so for me that
was on par with a laptopcomputer.
I mean the type of machinerythat we worked with and tools
that we had.
And then a laptop was justanother type of tool.
But then, once I saw how thelaptop was being put together by
(14:37):
the engineers or the tech guys,and then that connection really
became clear.
You know, to relate, you knowhow building a laptop and
putting that together is notthat dissimilar from building a
house, putting in electrical andplumbing and all that other
stuff.
So the veil of mystery droppedfor me.
Then I understood.
(14:57):
It was like aha.
And so by the end of the firstweek of me answering the phones,
I was no longer transferring asmany calls to the tech or sales
department.
I was able to answer them myselfbecause I was getting a lot of
the same answers, but then I wasalso able to share what I had
learned as well.
So, after that first week theyhired me full time in the sales
department.
(15:17):
That was in 1992.
And I haven't looked back.
Silicon Valley has been myplayground and school and I got
paid to go to school.
I got paid pretty good to go toschool, to go to these
different countries and toreally appreciate that
opportunity, how we can turn ourimagination into an application
(15:42):
, into a product.
That's what these cats weredoing in the early 80s and 90s
and being a part of that,watching that happen and so that
really, and so because I wasable to really relate that the
(16:03):
technology process and creativeprocess and you know the
technical and engineeringprocess of that with my
background in the constructiontrades, then I was able to
relate stories and then, and so,even though at that time, yeah,
you know this job I got hiredinto in the sales department of
this laptop computer company.
(16:23):
I was the only black kid thereyou know, so, but also I was
older okay, that was the thing,I was older.
I wasn't, you know, 92, I mean,I graduated in 1977 and so that
was 15 years later, and so I'min my 30s, but I mean I'm young,
30s as it were and so, you know, I had a base of experience as
(16:48):
well and so, um, and, and a moreof a surety of my identity at
that point, more maturity aswell, and so I, you know, I, I,
I kind of sometimes I gloss over, I I read a red minute, I don't
make that connection but thatthat played a big part of it as
well, because I was older andcomfortable with myself and
comfortable talking to strangersand being just, you know.
Alethea Felton (17:10):
Exactly.
Anthony Hall (17:12):
But ultimately, it's really just about the
relationships we build and howwe open ourselves to
relationships and takingresponsibility for how we
present ourselves, and so it'slike something that your
interview with Michael Gersh youknow, a few weeks ago.
I enjoyed that interview and hemade a point that I really echo
(17:35):
and really believe in is thatwhen we take responsibility for
everything in our lives, and wetake responsibility for
everything that's happened, forhow things have gone, and no
longer looking to blame, butjust realizing what our role is
and that we have our to that youknow we could have changed the
narrative with a few decisions.
(17:55):
We can look back and see thatand so we can understand the
trajectory of our course to thisplace that we now find
ourselves.
Alethea Felton (18:15):
So, and let me just kind of add in here too, is
, with that experience in IT,coupled with the birth of your
grandson, talk about the visionyou had for stepping outside of
that realm and creating your ownbusiness, your own platform.
Ok let's talk about that.
How did that vision come about?
And then, more so than just howthe vision came to be, but how
(18:38):
did that vision evolve intocreating a platform that
actually affects childrenworldwide?
Anthony Hall (18:45):
Right, right, ok, great, I appreciate that
question.
That's a great question.
Connect their gifts andcultivate them in such a way
that they could see themselvesas having a career in the it
(19:07):
field with encoding a program.
You know, an innovator, youknow, like I said, turning their
imagination center, application, being able to articulate that.
And so I was looking for gamesin order to find games that
maybe out there that could helppoint them to, that.
That would you know what wouldengage them and what, well, look
, point them to that wouldengage them.
What would engage me?
I consider myself a big kid,anyway.
(19:28):
I'm looking for something thatwould be engaging, that would be
fun for a young child and on up.
I couldn't find anything thatgot me to think okay, if you
can't find it, okay.
Well, okay, grandpa, what yougot, you got to make games, and
so I decided I've always createdgames out of everything, and so
(19:51):
I just turned now this newfoundexperience and understanding of
application development andfocused on okay, what could I?
What could, what could I?
You know what am I good at?
You know what are some of thekey things that would be.
We need would be a way to focuson innovation, that they don't
(20:11):
have to learn anything new, butit can take what they're already
doing and then expose them totechnology and show how it's
embedded and how they're ridinga skateboard or how they're
creating a rap or poem and justunlocks some of those things to
how it connects to technologyand where it's going.
And so that was where I startedthinking about okay, you know
(20:38):
really what, if I wanted tobuild something, if I wanted to
build something, if I wanted tocreate something for them, for
my grandkids, then it has to bedope it has to be of great value
and continueto give to them that it can grow
and grow up with them.
It had to give more value thanwhat it would cost as far as
(21:06):
building a product, but thatthat will continue to give value
, continue to kind of.
You know that'd be somethingthat would ignite their internet
intellect, you know, inspiretheir imagination and inform
their identity.
You know so that it reallyshould really.
So that was my thing.
Okay, so if I'm making for mygrandkids then it's like this is
(21:27):
my heart.
You know, this is what that'sgoing to, this, this is my gift
to them.
And so you know, and alsothinking okay, so, but not just
for my grandkids.
What about other young blackboys and girls?
At the time, you know, I wastrying to say say, focus on the
(21:48):
who's your target audience?
Let's say six, six to nine.
You know minority kids going upin inner city, urban, rural
communities, but now that'sturning to just, you know, kids
of all size around the world.
And so that you know, reallyit's been about unlocking not
only curiosity and imaginationbut also also reconnect,
connecting us, you know, youngones to that inner genius.
You know that they all, we all,exhibit up to a certain age,
(22:10):
but then certainly starts towash down, but still resides
within us.
And so how do we reconnect tothat child?
We are inside, and so that wasreally what I was looking to do
create something that, for me,would also connect to that child
.
We are inside, and so that wasreally what I was looking to do
create something that, for me,would also connect to that child
that I am inside.
And what better way than toimagine okay, I'm nine years old
(22:31):
, but with 50 years ofexperience in IT and all this
work experience, okay, so, okay,we'll see what you got, grandpa
, and so that then.
Alethea Felton (22:45):
Real quick.
How did you come up with thename of it?
Anthony Hall (22:50):
Because it's Okay, so Trio, right, yeah, so the
Rose of Education Organization.
Alethea Felton (22:56):
Uh-huh.
Anthony Hall (22:57):
Okay, so the Rose of Education Organization began
as a article I wrote in likeApril of 2010.
Yeah, and it was just my kindof rant as I'm, you know,
because I was just experimentingnow.
Then, okay, start getting stuffout there, start connecting
with people, because I alreadyhad this idea for the company
(23:20):
and I was trying to figure outwhich way I was going to go.
But I, doing this around andthe article was called america.
We have a language problem.
I'm talking about language andhow we use language and misuse
and abuse it, and that we shouldthink more of language as, like
you know, to me, rosesymbolizes universal language.
I mean, with the rose, you cantalk architecture, engineering,
(23:43):
astronomy, you can talk, youtalk art and science and all
things.
It speaks all of thoselanguages and and compassionate.
And so for me, you know, itreally is about.
You know, how can we turn, howdo we turn our language into
something that's as a gift, likea rose, our language into
(24:05):
something that's as a gift, likea rose, and how do we, you know
, how do we create this new wayof being and speaking with each
other?
And so the idea, I liken, youknow, the rose to language, and
so the language of education,the rose of education, the
language of education.
That really really what wethink about.
You know, how do we change thelanguage to and really attract
all and really to engage andcompel and inspire.
(24:29):
You know, more entirely, andhow do we speak to them in the
many different languages thatthey speak, whether it be
kinetically or the words,through um, through artwork, and
so I wanted to make sure thathow could I speak to all of
these?
These were not just one sensoryinput, but how can we develop
(24:54):
for multiple sensory experiences, making more experiential and
so and but so Trejo, so theyhave experiential and so and but
so Trejo.
So they have Trejo, so the Roseof Education, and so on, but
Trejo as far as.
So let's go back to the vision,then, because that really would
(25:16):
tell you, as far as I'm thinking.
So I'm thinking about, okay,50s in the future will be, you
know, so I calculated 50 years.
You know, november 24th, 2060,whichs and the 50s in the future
will be, you know, so I Icalculated 50 years, you know to
, you know, november 24th, 2060,which would be the 50th
anniversary of treyo, which is,um, you know so it was formed in
november 24th and 2014, and soI'm 2010.
(25:38):
And so, when the goal was so,how could, how could I make sure
that my grandchildren'sgrandchildren will have stake,
be stakeholders in this future?
And so it's like, well, um, um,you want to predict the future,
you got to build it.
So it's like, okay, all right.
And so, um, that became then,um, my timeline you know that
(26:02):
that and that became also helpedme to focus on what did I see
that we could do?
That would be a big vision, butalso, really, ultimately, to
build a legacy.
And so Freyo is a space tourismindustry startup developing
operations in education,entertainment and exploration.
(26:24):
Our vision is to be the answerto the question what kind of
games and sports will humanityplay in space?
First thing you begin thinkingabout is Treo, and so we're
developed.
So that was kind of the visionthat we will develop the games
and sports humanity will play inspace.
But we'll also make sure thatthe children of the world are,
(26:45):
like I said, not captiveaudience but our captains of
industry, and so that that theplatform, the company, would
then be not only reaching out tomy grandkids but the
grandchildren around the worldthat it could be a vehicle for.
Then you know that these gamesgive a way to you know, identify
, nurture and cultivate theseyoung geniuses around the world
(27:08):
and make them a part of thisgrand vision from the future,
because in 50 years they'll allbe grown.
And so you know we, we'relooking, that we have to build
now.
If we're like you know, I, as asolopreneur, you know, know,
have this big goal of building,competing with Elon Musk and
Jeff Bezos and Sir RichardBranson, and just end up at NASA
(27:29):
, be a vendor from NASA or workfor these, be part of the
payload on some of theseinitiatives and ventures that I
don't have to start building now.
But how do we create a pipeline?
So, since?
So then what, what comes intoplay then is okay.
So how did I you know, when Iwas the sales director, director
(27:51):
of business development for asoftware company, you know I
managed to relate to strategicpartners and relationships and
manage the sales channel, youknow build the relationships
with partners, and so for me,that that was the way to build
an international platform tolaunch our space ambitions would
be to take those same things Idid when I was in the corporate
(28:11):
field and with my company.
The ambition is too big for meto do on my own, but we know how
to connect and connect the dotshas always been one of my
favorite favorite.
We know how to connect.
We know how to connect the dots.
It's always been one of myfavorite games, as well as
puzzles.
And so then it became a matterof how does this puzzle come
together and how do you connectall these pieces meaningfully?
(28:35):
So not just all haphazardly,with no thought or strategy, but
it's with a focus of buildingsomething with intent.
And so you're connecting thesepieces like you're building an
engine or that, you're buildingan application or a house, and
so there goes this planning andarchitecture, design.
That's that's involved in that,and so those kind of you have
(28:57):
to approach it that way as well.
So, but I think yeah, answerthe question yes yes, yes, you
did so I gave you.
I gave you yeah, no, go, I'msorry, go ahead yes, uh-huh.
Alethea Felton (29:12):
so what?
What I I want to do is ask this, because you've often spoken
about the importance ofnurturing unique gifts and
talents of children.
So, grandpa, reflecting on yourown childhood specifically, I'm
curious about this because,although this legacy is being
(29:34):
built for your grandchildren, aswell as other children around
the world, think back to yourown childhood, share any
obstacles that you encounteredin discovering and even
cultivating your own gifts, andhow you overcame that.
Anthony Hall (29:54):
OK, I was very shy growing up.
I stuttered.
Alethea Felton (29:57):
Really you were shy.
Anthony Hall (29:59):
Yeah, I hid behind my mom and said go out with
these people.
Wow, yeah, you know, I mean,because it was, it was, it was
hard for me to to get the wordsout because my brain was working
so fast I couldn't get thewords out.
But then, also, talking topeople, it was like, you know, I
couldn't understand folks, youknow, like what they're saying
(30:22):
didn't match their body languageor their tone, and so it was
just, I always get this, it'sdisconnect, and so I just, you
know, I was, I was off my ownhead, but, but, and so, while I
was shy in that aspect and itwas hard for me to talk, and you
know, and even sometimes, butnot, but not that much with my
friends, but because I wasgifted athletically and excelled
(30:46):
on the on the football field orbaseball, you know that opened
actually that.
You know that opened me up tomore, having more social
interactions with kids, and kidsthat I didn't know and and and
gave me a lot of confidence,even though I didn't have as
much confidence with adults.
(31:07):
But I really, when I wasthinking about this the other
day, I was just kind of gettingmy mind around the interview,
was that that really kind ofhelped me a lot to come out of
um and and be not afraid to beto explore, because I grew up
(31:29):
always being the first onepicked or being people.
I wanted to, you know, or madecaptain.
I never want to be a captain.
Because I didn't want thatresponse, I just wanted to play
but you know.
So I mean, I didn't, but, um,as far as you want to speak to
people, you forget about that,or to be, you know, boisterous
(31:52):
or company, but you know so it'slike Michael Jackson, in a
sense, that you know football,the football or baseball.
That was my stage, that was my,I was at home there.
Alethea Felton (32:03):
Yeah.
Anthony Hall (32:03):
And so, but outside of that, you know, I was
at home in my own head or athome there, yeah and so, but
outside of that, you know, I wasat home in my own head or at
home, and so that was kind ofwhere, where I lived, and so um
and yeah but um no, so yeah, itwas it was so it.
It was hard for me to make thatconnection.
(32:26):
I mean, I just I don't know,I'm trying, I'm trying, I was
trying to think about that, howthat?
You know that, that that mademe cause that, you know that.
You know I was in a good placeas far as that's concerned.
But in other ways, but I didn't.
But I didn't feel like anybetter than anybody, it was just
fun and I didn't know, notostracism or ridicule in certain
(32:53):
sense, because I couldn't playball or something like kids do.
But stuttering, kids tease youabout my big hands, my big feet,
my big lips you know juicy lips, I mean.
So I was teased incessantly,you know, because you know I was
wearing a size 11 and I was inseventh grade.
You know we're looking at this.
(33:15):
I'm looking at this picture ofmyself on the on the seventh
grade.
You know the junior high schoolbasketball team and I'm looking
at these big boats.
You know that I have with myfeet.
And so you know and and, and soyeah, so but, and so yeah, and
so I grew up with a greatinferior, you know, sense of a
(33:36):
complex about these things thatnow look back, man, you know, I
mean I've grown into them and Ijust feel, you know, I feel you
know the gifts that they are.
So sometimes there are thingsthat we don't recognize are
gifts, are gifts.
You know we're here and so howdo we take what we are naturally
(33:59):
and how do we embrace who weare and what we are naturally
and make it a part of you know,embracing our identity and not
allowing others to.
They can't say who we are.
Alethea Felton (34:14):
They're walking in our shoes.
Anthony Hall (34:15):
They can't tell us who we are and what our
experiences are.
We have to do that forourselves, the confidence of
that, then, to articulate who weare.
How do we get to know who weare?
But how do we?
You know, how do we get to knowwho we are?
Alethea Felton (34:32):
And so the games really have been meant about
how do we, how do we create notonly games that are fun but also
help you know individuals takea deep dive, if they want, into
who they really are and what wereally are all about, and
discover and explore that, andso, and let me just and and let
me add here too, the reason Iasked that specifically and I
(34:53):
think it's so important that Idid and I loved your response to
it is the fact that you're sointentional about how you awaken
I like to say awakendiscoveries in children that
they may not have even knownexisted, and that I think that
(35:13):
children need a voice and theyall need an advocate.
And the fact that you canrecognize what your struggles
were as a child because then Ithink it makes what you do for
kids now even much more valuableis because you can empathize
with that kid that might be thatstutterer.
(35:35):
I stuttered severely as a child, so I understand that.
I understand that if you don'tgrow out of it after a certain
age, you'll still have thatstutter.
I still have it.
But in public speaking realmsit's okay, but in private and
with my close, close friends youhear it a lot sometimes, but in
the public light you don't hearit.
(35:56):
I've learned how to control it.
But also for that kid that wasshy I was never shy, but in
terms of that shy child, yougive that child a voice also,
and so that leads me to justkind of take it to this place in
space of the fact that, yes,you are called a grandpa, but
(36:18):
also sometimes you see that wordcombined grandpa, stork and
stork is in all caps.
So I'd like you to share withus what the creation of STORK
and, of course, you will tell uswhat it means.
I have it already, but I wantyou to share that, what the
creation of STORK, that platform, represents.
(36:41):
It represents, yes, a mergingof.
It represents, yes, a mergingof passions for fitness, tech,
et cetera.
But I want you to talk abouthow Stork will actually shape
the future of education andtransform wellness for kids,
(37:02):
along with a lot of other things.
Anthony Hall (37:07):
OK, well, it's, you know.
So, the stork.
You know it's really, you know,and it's a component in the
overall vision.
You know.
You know building a spacetourism company.
You know want to create thesetypes of games, but also have a
vision for a space colony that'sdesigned by.
(37:31):
You know, young people, that wewill.
So, so November 24th 2060,you're invited to a 50th
anniversary party, so we'll beunveiling and inaugurating the
Eden 3 moon colony.
You know this will be asustainable habitat, off-road
(37:52):
habitat, designed by youth andsteam teams.
You know trails, roads, rockets, steam teams in places like
East Africa, india, cambodia,nepal.
You know all these.
You know emerging countries,that these kids who grew up in
(38:13):
these villages and mountainousvillages and urban slums, and
that they will all have been apart of this design.
And so when you're buildingsomething like that, you know,
okay, so there's a lot it'sgoing to take, it's a lot of
pieces and parts, and so thestory came together initially.
(38:34):
Okay, so what do I really?
What do I want to?
You know, my vanity project wasnot a vanity project, but my
kind of dream and goal was, okay, to build a flying surfboard
like a silver surfer.
Okay, so, because that was myfirst thought so how can I help
my grandkids, you know, get intotech and and get interested in
(38:57):
that?
That's okay.
Um, we like superheroes, likethe idea of flying and so, okay,
grandpa's, gonna build yourflying.
So I was like, nathaniel, buildyour flying machine, so we're
going to learn how to flytogether.
You know, I figured I could doit.
The idea was to do a project.
You know, do this, you know.
So this is going to be one ofTrejo's flagship props.
(39:19):
You know the dragon's wing, youknow highly maneuverable flying
surfboard.
You know for zero and low andum, you know low gravity.
You know, uh, transportation,you know so that you know.
So we have, we have that's oneof the things that's on the
drawing board.
But that process that you, howwould that look?
How would I go about teachingthem about that?
(39:39):
And so the idea of turning itinto a game, the development of
this, of this flying surfboard,highly maneuverable, you know
high speed.
You know, basically, flyinghoverboard.
You know how would you buildthat, how would you design it
and engineer it?
And what, what was what?
Not only how you build it, butwhat are the physical and mental
(39:59):
rigors on the human body Ifyou're, if you're on something
like that, you know it's not aseasy as as they make it look you
know right iron man three orwhatever so the idea was then
okay, so how we simulate it?
okay, so now we get intoapplication space.
And so the idea was then to youknow, um, create, you know, go
(40:22):
through the process of theprocess of building and
designing and conceptualizingwould be one of the ways that
could be used to and create, doit as a game, would be a way to
expose.
You know that you know thescience, technology, engineering
, art, math to that.
Alethea Felton (40:44):
So the acronym itself STORC share what that
means.
Anthony Hall (40:52):
Okay, so STORC is an acronym and it really goes
into explaining what theorganization TREO is all about
and what our focus is on and howwe're, you know, and actually
employs this acronymic namingconvention that we're using,
which is actually one of thegames, a literacy game, you know
(41:13):
, using acronyms as a way toteach coding and programmatic
concepts and skills, and sowe're introducing, even through
the names of the games and evenwith Grandpa Stork, you know
that concept, and so Stork.
So the first one, firstdefinition is space tourism,
operation Real Kids.
(41:36):
Real and kids are also acronyms, which I would, you know,
explain and then, and it goesinto it, will start to
demonstrate the concept of howyou can turn acronyms into a
language, and we're looking toturn acronyms into machine
language, to programmatic.
You know, you know largelanguage model using acronyms,
(41:56):
and so we're starting todemonstrate that through even
just the name, like the Starkand so and so.
So Operation Real Kids reallyis about getting kids interested
in, you know.
So, space tourism.
So it's education.
The education part of our focushas been first, and so what I've
been doing the past 10 years,traveling around the world is is
(42:17):
exposing these games and makingpartnerships and identifying
organizations where who, who'veseen the vision, they're kind of
early adopters of the gamesthat have conceptualized and
polar-typed and gone to thesedifferent places to test and get
some, you know, to iterate andfeedback on, and so, as we do
(42:39):
that, that's how it was kind ofbeing built, but so connecting,
making sure that these kids thenwould be part of that effort to
create, to identify out ofthose, these groups, those would
be part of the team, those whowill be one part of the Rose
team team that will be using tothat will be leveraging and
(43:02):
coaching and mentoring, and thatthey become the leaders and use
their creative geniuses to helpdevelop this way forward.
I mean, they're they're thereal ones who have all the
answers, and so so we want togive them a platform to be the
developers, be the innovators,and so so the real kids you know
these are the ones who will bepart of.
(43:25):
You know our space academy, youknow our space arc, and so we
get so I mean the real kids wereto create a space academy for
them called the Space Arc, soSpace Academy for real kids.
So we, even so we're looking toyou know we're doing the
education, for we're buildingthat kind of ecosystem, but also
(43:45):
Stork and so but so and sothere's this linear component,
there's a physical component.
So the other definition forstork is sports technology,
optimizing reflex kinetics.
It's really kind of thediscipline and exercise I've
been coming up with to figureout okay you're, you're standing
on the back of a surfboard or,in the case of the game, a
(44:09):
dragon, stay on.
What is it going to take?
Awareness, balance, corestrength, the ABCs of dragon
flying.
Alethea Felton (44:16):
As.
Anthony Hall (44:16):
Grandpa Stork likes to talk about.
Exactly the Stork in thatcontext is the discipline, the
flying discipline, to build upthat stillness and that balance
(44:37):
and that connection of mind-body, that mindfulness, awareness.
And so if you practice yoga oryou practice martial arts or
dance, everything's aboutbalance and being centered.
And so standing on achallenging balance, like
standing on the back of a dragonor a flying surfboard, how
(44:58):
would you stand and move?
Could you stay balanced, changeperspective.
And so part of that.
So that, then, is not onlyexercise for the game and part
of the you know, you knowfitness program, but also part
of the research for.
So the games actually,ultimately, are research for
building some of the tech thingsthat we have in mind.
(45:20):
You know, so, you know how, youknow so the dragon's wing, you
know a flying surfboard, youknow the um acronym, you know
programming language, you knowmaybe, ai, chatbot and all this
stuff.
So these games, then, are a wayfor us to give it out there and
they become part of ourdevelopment team, and so we're
(45:41):
developing through the crowd andas stakeholders and they have,
especially these organizationswe partner with then they have
an opportunity to um become youknow, um, you know to to own,
have to have ownership ofprograms and things that we
build together that they nolonger have to be as dependent
(46:01):
upon you know programming,efforts to get money in, and so
that they're you know ways,program and efforts to get money
in and so that there are waysthat we can work together to you
know help, you know where,where all our benefit in and we
continue to give back to theseplaces.
So so, yeah, so those are.
That's kind of a short you knowfor Stork.
(46:22):
But, um, it's really meant to bea way that we can relate.
You know the image of the stork.
You know stork bringing youknow new life, new, you know
something new into being.
You know like we're deliveringa baby.
Alethea Felton (46:40):
And so so.
Anthony Hall (46:43):
So, with the stork delivering a dragon's egg,
which is the type of MVP that wehave that we'll be presenting,
is kind of evocative of allthese things and all the visions
we have for the future.
That all within this egg is asymbol of growth for the future,
(47:04):
that all within this egg is asymbol of growth and you open it
up and everything grows out ofthat.
It's almost like a seed, and sowe see this as just kind of
just a necessary thing, and sothere will be more that will are
(47:25):
due to come, and so I mean,we're just 14 years into this 50
year business plan and vision,and so for me that was one of
the things to do different notto be an
employee not to try to say whatthese ideas are, that we birthed
(47:45):
them.
For me, I thought it was like atruly birthing process.
I've given birth to theseconcepts and ideas and you know,
giving them a name, giving thema place to live online and you
know you speak them throughexistence, through other
conversations with people andall the background you give to
them because of your story.
(48:06):
You have people and all thebackground you give to them
because of your story, and sodoing that and honoring that and
not trying to say, you know,this is how you're going to grow
up and this is what you'regoing to be.
It's like I wanted to take thetime to see what did trail want
to be, what did the real namesgame, or what did the Dragon's
Egg?
You know what did it want to be.
What did the real names game orwhat did the Dragon's Egg?
You know what did it want to be.
(48:27):
How would kids in New Delhiplay differently from kids in,
you know, north Richmond,california?
Alethea Felton (48:37):
Yes.
Anthony Hall (48:37):
Or kids in Nepal, or kids in Cambodia, or young
people or college students ineven in Delhi that I went, so
it's not just kids.
I visited colleges anduniversities during my time two
years in india and so we did alot of the game development and
play and speaking engagementthere.
Talking about the, the idea of,you know, imagination as part
(49:02):
of the innovation and ideationprocess and play-based learning
being something that needs to be, can help return curiosity to
the, to the curriculum.
But also, you know um, the drugabuse prevention organization
in Tanzania, where you knowthere were about 12 men from
twenties to their sixties anddoing the same art, fitness and
(49:25):
literacy program, using thedragon's egg and the literacy
game to help them tap into their, you know inner youth.
You know how would they?
You know how do they viewthemselves in the past, present
and the future, and you know howdo they express that through
through word or through orthrough their body or through
through art, and so it's reallymultiple things.
Alethea Felton (49:49):
Exploration, yeah yes, and and say if a
person, because our time isstarting to come to a close, but
say if a person wanted to learnmore or even see some of what
you're talking about, so thatthey can help in the cause as
well as inquire about more.
(50:11):
Where is the best places thatpeople can reach you online?
Is it through your website,youtube?
Tell us about that.
Anthony Hall (50:19):
Okay, on YouTube you can find me.
It's Grandpa's Story, so atgrandpa's story, youtube.
Also LinkedIn.
And so I mean the Rose ofEducation.
Like I said, it started as anarticle but then it grew into a.
I formed it, I brought itonline and gave it a home as the
(50:43):
LinkedIn open group.
So the Rose of EducationSeptember of 2010,.
I formed it as an open group sothat I can start connecting
with and create a place where Ican talk to teachers, educators,
mentors and technologists aboutthese concepts and to build
that network and have a placewhere I could go and not have to
(51:04):
look for them but just haveconversations there.
And then, when I was laid offin October, to build that
network and have a place where Icould go and not have to look
for them but just haveconversations there.
And then, when I was laid offin October, of 2010,.
After being 13 years at thesoftware company, a month later
I incorporated Trail and I kindof saw the handwriting on the
(51:26):
wall.
So I kind of knew what I wantto do that I was gonna start a
company.
Best way to Develop educationalgames for my grandkids would be
to start a company to do that.
So that is what as trails reallyFocuses, kind of been to not
only educate myself on that, onwhat it would take, because I
don't know that about space,space industry, space tourism
you know about, you know about,you know.
(51:47):
So I need to connect with allthose folks and so I spent a lot
of time learning it's been thefirst three years just learning,
connecting, networking, andthen after that for years.
Okay, now it's time to take theshow on the road.
So in 2014, beginning February.
So let's just take theseconcepts and see how they work
(52:08):
in the wilderness.
Let's take this rose and see ifwe can plant it in the
wilderness and see what comes up.
And so we found fertile soil inevery place that we've traveled
to, have traveled to.
(52:30):
So LinkedIn, you know.
So I've mentioned that aboutLinkedIn, because so that's
where I've been documenting thiswhole journey.
Alethea Felton (52:38):
That's right.
And then also, when I tell youy'all, he has a phenomenal
LinkedIn page, as well as justan overall social media presence
in terms of YouTube, linkedin,et cetera, and he's definitely
somebody that you want toconnect with and learn more from
.
And, of course, educators,principals, directors in school
systems.
His innovations, grandpa'sinnovations are absolutely out
(53:01):
of this world and you know, Iwish we just had a segment where
we could go through all of thevideos and just look and see
what's being done.
But I do have a closingquestion for you and just kind
of summarize this in your ownwords but when all is said and
done, when that 2060 anniversarycomes, what do you want your
(53:25):
grandchildren to look back onand remember most about you?
Anthony Hall (53:34):
Imagination.
You know, I think I kind ofmade you know the idea of the
hashtag for Trails is justimagine, Just imagine, Just in
that, to just be able to imaginethat little bit of legacy of
curiosity and wonder andimagining, and to dream and that
(53:58):
I was a powerful dreamer.
Yes, indeed.
That I was not being afraid tochase our dreams, because they
inform us about you, know who weare and what we can be, and so
yeah, you know and about itself.
By that time, I mean, I'll be,I'll be 101, uh-huh so, and you
(54:19):
will be right there that day andso I'm, I'm, that's what I'm
trying to be I want to so,besides the uh call, you know,
moon, moon colony, I want to becoming in on a prototype of the
Dragon's Wing.
Alethea Felton (54:32):
That's right.
Anthony Hall (54:33):
Flying in on the hoverboards.
Alethea Felton (54:36):
I can see that.
I can see that now imaginationand creativity into children
globally, around the world, evenin certain countries where they
might not have resourcesimmediately to them.
You are giving them a platformand a space and a place where
(54:56):
they can just be and enjoy theirchildhood but also think about
their future, and you are indeedchanging the world, and I thank
you sincerely for being a gueston the Power Transformation
Podcast.
Thank you.
Anthony Hall (55:10):
Thank you, alethea .
It was an honor to be here, andGod bless.
Alethea Felton (55:16):
Thank you for tuning in to this episode of the
Power Transformation Podcast.
If you enjoyed this episode, besure to follow or subscribe,
leave a five-star rating andwrite a review.
It helps us inspire even morelisteners.
And don't keep it to yourself.
Share it with someone who coulduse a little power in their
(55:39):
transformation.
Until next time, keep bouncingback, keep rising and be good to
yourself and to others.
What if the future of education looked more
like play than pressure?
Well, today's guest, anthonyHall, also known as Grandpa
Stork, he is doing just thatbecause he's an educational
trailblazer, reimagining howkids learn through creativity,
curiosity and kineticintelligence.
(00:29):
He's the founder of the Rose ofEducation organization and
mastermind behind GrandpaStork's House of Flying Dragons.
Anthony is building bold newlearning ecosystems and he is
definitely getting people to seeeducation through a whole new
lens.
And, with that being said,welcome to the Power
(00:51):
Transformation Podcast.
I am your host, alethea Felton,and if you have not done so
already, go ahead and follow andsubscribe to this show, and I
thank you for your continuedsupport, and we're on all
platforms, so I look to see youthere and I am just so grateful
(01:11):
for you joining Anthony and metoday for this conversation.
We're going to begin with ouraffirmation, as we always do.
I'll say the affirmation onceand you repeat it I am a
fearless innovator, turningimagination into influence and
(01:32):
lighting the path for futuregenerations.
I am so excited to have AnthonyHall, also known as Grandpa and
Grandpa Stork, capitalS-T-O-R-K and we'll talk about
that here on the PowerTransformation Podcast.
(01:53):
He is moving and shaking, doingso many incredible things for
so many lives.
So welcome to the PowerTransformation Podcast, grandpa.
Anthony Hall (02:05):
Thank you, alethea .
I'm so honored to be here andlistening to your shows and the
wonderful guests you've had, soI'm definitely honored to be
here.
Alethea Felton (02:14):
Oh, the honor's all mine and I'm so excited that
we were able to connect throughour mutual friend, Candice
Snyder, who's also a podcastGive a shout out to Candice,
yeah.
Yes, candice is such agood-hearted person that sent me
so many wonderful guests, andjust her spirit just lightens up
a room, as does yours, and I'mjust excited about this.
(02:35):
So we're going to jump intothis, where I always like to ask
a fun, lighthearted, icebreakerquestion.
Okay, you are a well-traveledperson.
You've been to many placesthroughout the world, but what I
would like you to answer iswhat is the one place in the
world that you have not gone toyet and would love to visit?
Anthony Hall (03:02):
That I haven't gone to yet, but I'd love to
visit.
Alethea Felton (03:06):
Mm-hmm.
Anthony Hall (03:08):
Hmm, hmm, egypt.
Alethea Felton (03:11):
Tell us more.
Anthony Hall (03:13):
I mean no, I've been to.
No, I should clarify that.
Alethea Felton (03:17):
Okay.
Anthony Hall (03:17):
I've been to Egypt , but only on a layover for four
days, so I didn't get a chanceto Doesn't count.
Yeah, that really doesn't count.
That really doesn't count.
But really, you know, historyis, uh, something that I've
gained an appreciation of, loveand love for, and especially in
my travels, as I've been tocountries, especially, like you
(03:39):
know, when one of the firstcountries I went to was germany,
a beautiful country, but thenyou see these old churches and
walls that were 1,000 years old,and even here in Ireland you
had these Neolithicconstructions that were 4,000 or
5,000 years old, and so it'sreally been, you know, to see
(04:02):
history live and really have anappreciation for the ingenuity
and imagination and creativityof our forefathers and mothers.
So, yeah, but yeah, egypt, I'dlove to spend some more time
there, even though it's hot, butthat's all right.
You know, jesse, that's kind ofthe vibe, but there's so many
(04:24):
places, you know there's so manyplaces.
Jamaica I haven't been thereyet, not there.
I think I spent some time inJamaica too.
Alethea Felton (04:31):
Mm-hmm, yeah, that was a stop there when I was
on a cruise, but in terms ofactually visiting and traveling,
not really.
But I like what you said aboutEgypt having the creative
innovations and you know justthe whole theme of imagination,
(04:51):
and that's a big part of whatyou do and we'll get into that.
But what I'd like to ask younow simply is who is grandpa?
Anthony Hall (05:04):
Who is Grandpa?
Who is Grandpa?
Well, you know, really I had toanswer that for myself, you
know, and really kind of growinto that and really just
embrace that.
You know, 20 years ago Iwatched my daughter become a
mother.
I was in a delivery room wherea blessed miracle was and to
(05:24):
welcome my first grandchild intothe world, and so, and it was
the opportunity then to kind ofrelive my life.
And, you know, you think aboutall the things as a parent that
you maybe wish you would have umdone or you wouldn't so uptight
(05:47):
about things, and you wish, youknow, I've always thought
myself that was going to be thetype of father would be a fun
dad, blah, blah, blah.
But that didn't end up how itworked now.
But, uh, being grandson's life,you know, was very early on, you
know.
You know you know his first cry, his voice, you know I love his
voice still, and that reallyopened up to me to think about
(06:16):
yeah, who am I?
What have I been?
What has my life been?
And so I'm holding my grandsonin my arms and it was a
transformative moment, to saythe least, because I was really
actually kind of transportedthrough time First, reviewing my
life and what my life had beenup to that moment.
And you know, like many of us,I found myself wanting, and so I
(06:40):
wanted to be able to do more.
And so, as I thought about it,I'm transported 50 years into
the future.
I'm imagining my grandsonholding his first grandchild.
What will the world be like?
What will the state ofeducation and opportunities?
My background is not only inconstruction trades, but
(07:00):
professionally as well.
It's been the last 30 years inthe IT, hardware and software
development field and learnthese processes, and so my role
as a director of sales andbusiness development was to
project into the future.
What will be the trends?
What will be the platforms thatwe need support?
(07:21):
What are the customers askingfor?
Where's the money going?
Where are the state of for?
Where's the money going?
Where's the state of archiveand compliance going?
And so at the time, I appliedthat you know that kind of
kicked in when I'm thinkingabout the future Okay, so what's
happening?
Where will the money be?
What will we be looking atduring the 2060s?
And so why?
Naturally, which was kind ofinteresting what popped into my
(07:44):
head as I'm holding mygrandchild was like OK, what?
And so all this is going onjust just in this flash, and so
I'm thinking about, well, in the2060s or, well you know, 20
late 2050s.
The 2060s will be celebratingthe US and the former USSR, and
Russia will be celebrating thecentennial of the space program.
(08:09):
We'll be talking about all theachievements that we've done and
then up to that point, whetherit be space colonies, new space
tourism businesses and all thisstuff that's going on but will
my grandchildren have a stake inthat?
Will there be opportunities forthem?
What about other kids?
(08:29):
And so that was kind of what Iwas left with thinking about
okay, how can grandpa make surethat my grandchildren's
grandchildren can bestakeholders, innovators, not a
captive audience, but captainsof industry and enterprises, and
what can I do to be a part ofthat?
And so that kind of led me onthis path of where I am now,
(08:55):
having been on the road for thepast celebrated 10 years on the
road.
In February of this year youknow, february 1st 2014, I
landed in Dar es Salaam,tanzania, on a two-week
investigative trip to see ifthese concepts, these play-based
learning concepts and gamesthat I need to make for my
(09:17):
great-kids.
So I landed there, and it'll beonly two weeks and now it's
been two weeks and now yes.
Alethea Felton (09:27):
And let me jump in here because I'm going to
definitely talk about that,because everything you said was
loaded but necessary, and Iwanted to bring up the fact if
we could just go back some interms of your earlier origins,
prior to you getting to thisplace and space that you're in
now is that your career began inIT, as you said, and that at
(09:52):
times, you found yourselfoccasionally to be the only
person of color in differentcorporate meetings and trade
shows and things of that nature.
So take us back to those earlydays and talk to us about just
what were some toughestchallenges that you faced in
that space.
But how did those experiencesshape your resilience and your
(10:18):
drive to actually create whatyou do now?
And if you could talk aboutthat some.
Anthony Hall (10:26):
Okay, then I have to give all credit to my parents
to our parents as far as howthey carried themselves, how
they thought of themselves, butalso how they raised us to think
of ourselves as being no lessand no greater than anyone and
deserving of the same amount ofrespect, and that the gifts that
we had were our responsibilityto develop and to give back.
(10:47):
And so, but, um, there's no, um, you know no, handouts in life.
You know, um, that we have tobe able to make our own way and
we have to be responsible andaccountable, but you know, you
know.
You know, look at somebody inthe eye, shake my firm hands,
shake, I mean, that was drilledand instilled into us,
(11:09):
especially one thing of mystepfather, you know, you know,
uh, you know, you know, and mymother, they were, they were
involved in the civil rightsmovement and really about, you
know, how do we, as you know,africans and africans in the
diaspora, and whether it be ofany African, or even that we
(11:30):
have to be ourselves more thanthis past 400 years and so that
we have a rich history andlegacy and connection throughout
the world?
And so the kind of conversationsthat were going around in our
homes my parents would have rapsessions with folks in the
neighborhood talking aboutwhat's going on and how can they
(11:52):
be a positive influence in thecommunity.
I mean all those things kind offiltered down to, and so I
would say that, as far as so, Ididn't have any really typical
difficult situations, because Iwas.
(12:12):
It always came down to how Iviewed myself and how I
presented myself and how I wentgoing in.
I didn't go into thesesituations anywhere with a chip
on my shoulder, you know.
I mean, I mean I grew up inmixed neighborhoods and with
school it wasn't inpredominantly white.
Well, early on it waspredominantly white, but that
(12:34):
quickly changed.
But I think it was theconfidence in ourselves that our
parents instilled in us, andstrength and resilience that you
know they didn't, you know theydidn't coddle us yeah you know,
they held us accountable andresponsible early on, and, and,
(12:59):
and I guess because I saw howpeople of different races
responded to them, to my parents, and how they got along and how
they treated everybody as thesame.
They didn't talk any different,they didn't behave any
differently, they werethemselves.
And so, even when I find myselfin situations like you know.
So, my, my, my, my first job inthe IT field was at a laptop
(13:22):
computer company.
They hired my power companythere temporary to answer the
phones.
So I'm answering the phones.
He's about to take a drink.
Alethea Felton (13:32):
Uh-huh sure.
Anthony Hall (13:34):
Answer the phone and really do you know.
You know forward calls to thetechnical support department or
the sales department and soforth, and so that first week,
you know, I'm getting all thesequestions, and you know, but
because of my curiosity, I alsowent back and wanted to find out
, you know, why was this?
You know why was this?
(13:54):
So, you know, I wanted tounderstand and I just, you know,
even though I was justanswering phones, I still want
to understand.
And plus, I have interest inbuilding things because, you
know, early before the it field,I was in the construction trade
.
You know, digging digits,planting trees, building houses,
fences and decks, and so so Ihad an interest in, you know,
(14:15):
high tech in the constructiontrades.
Oh yeah, we had, we know.
So, yeah, I didn't talk aboutsome some uh, and so for me that
was on par with a laptopcomputer.
I mean the type of machinerythat we worked with and tools
that we had.
And then a laptop was justanother type of tool.
But then, once I saw how thelaptop was being put together by
(14:37):
the engineers or the tech guys,and then that connection really
became clear.
You know, to relate, you knowhow building a laptop and
putting that together is notthat dissimilar from building a
house, putting in electrical andplumbing and all that other
stuff.
So the veil of mystery droppedfor me.
Then I understood.
(14:57):
It was like aha.
And so by the end of the firstweek of me answering the phones,
I was no longer transferring asmany calls to the tech or sales
department.
I was able to answer them myselfbecause I was getting a lot of
the same answers, but then I wasalso able to share what I had
learned as well.
So, after that first week theyhired me full time in the sales
department.
(15:17):
That was in 1992.
And I haven't looked back.
Silicon Valley has been myplayground and school and I got
paid to go to school.
I got paid pretty good to go toschool, to go to these
different countries and toreally appreciate that
opportunity, how we can turn ourimagination into an application
(15:42):
, into a product.
That's what these cats weredoing in the early 80s and 90s
and being a part of that,watching that happen and so that
really, and so because I wasable to really relate that the
(16:03):
technology process and creativeprocess and you know the
technical and engineeringprocess of that with my
background in the constructiontrades, then I was able to
relate stories and then, and so,even though at that time, yeah,
you know this job I got hiredinto in the sales department of
this laptop computer company.
(16:23):
I was the only black kid thereyou know, so, but also I was
older okay, that was the thing,I was older.
I wasn't, you know, 92, I mean,I graduated in 1977 and so that
was 15 years later, and so I'min my 30s, but I mean I'm young,
30s as it were and so, you know, I had a base of experience as
(16:48):
well and so, um, and, and a moreof a surety of my identity at
that point, more maturity aswell, and so I, you know, I, I,
I kind of sometimes I gloss over, I I read a red minute, I don't
make that connection but thatthat played a big part of it as
well, because I was older andcomfortable with myself and
comfortable talking to strangersand being just, you know.
Alethea Felton (17:10):
Exactly.
Anthony Hall (17:12):
But ultimately, it's really just about the
relationships we build and howwe open ourselves to
relationships and takingresponsibility for how we
present ourselves, and so it'slike something that your
interview with Michael Gersh youknow, a few weeks ago.
I enjoyed that interview and hemade a point that I really echo
(17:35):
and really believe in is thatwhen we take responsibility for
everything in our lives, and wetake responsibility for
everything that's happened, forhow things have gone, and no
longer looking to blame, butjust realizing what our role is
and that we have our to that youknow we could have changed the
narrative with a few decisions.
(17:55):
We can look back and see thatand so we can understand the
trajectory of our course to thisplace that we now find
ourselves.
Alethea Felton (18:15):
So, and let me just kind of add in here too, is
, with that experience in IT,coupled with the birth of your
grandson, talk about the visionyou had for stepping outside of
that realm and creating your ownbusiness, your own platform.
Ok let's talk about that.
How did that vision come about?
And then, more so than just howthe vision came to be, but how
(18:38):
did that vision evolve intocreating a platform that
actually affects childrenworldwide?
Anthony Hall (18:45):
Right, right, ok, great, I appreciate that
question.
That's a great question.
Connect their gifts andcultivate them in such a way
that they could see themselvesas having a career in the it
(19:07):
field with encoding a program.
You know, an innovator, youknow, like I said, turning their
imagination center, application, being able to articulate that.
And so I was looking for gamesin order to find games that
maybe out there that could helppoint them to, that.
That would you know what wouldengage them and what, well, look
, point them to that wouldengage them.
What would engage me?
I consider myself a big kid,anyway.
(19:28):
I'm looking for something thatwould be engaging, that would be
fun for a young child and on up.
I couldn't find anything thatgot me to think okay, if you
can't find it, okay.
Well, okay, grandpa, what yougot, you got to make games, and
so I decided I've always createdgames out of everything, and so
(19:51):
I just turned now this newfoundexperience and understanding of
application development andfocused on okay, what could I?
What could, what could I?
You know what am I good at?
You know what are some of thekey things that would be.
We need would be a way to focuson innovation, that they don't
(20:11):
have to learn anything new, butit can take what they're already
doing and then expose them totechnology and show how it's
embedded and how they're ridinga skateboard or how they're
creating a rap or poem and justunlocks some of those things to
how it connects to technologyand where it's going.
And so that was where I startedthinking about okay, you know
(20:38):
really what, if I wanted tobuild something, if I wanted to
build something, if I wanted tocreate something for them, for
my grandkids, then it has to bedope it has to be of great value
and continueto give to them that it can grow
and grow up with them.
It had to give more value thanwhat it would cost as far as
(21:06):
building a product, but thatthat will continue to give value
, continue to kind of.
You know that'd be somethingthat would ignite their internet
intellect, you know, inspiretheir imagination and inform
their identity.
You know so that it reallyshould really.
So that was my thing.
Okay, so if I'm making for mygrandkids then it's like this is
(21:27):
my heart.
You know, this is what that'sgoing to, this, this is my gift
to them.
And so you know, and alsothinking okay, so, but not just
for my grandkids.
What about other young blackboys and girls?
At the time, you know, I wastrying to say say, focus on the
(21:48):
who's your target audience?
Let's say six, six to nine.
You know minority kids going upin inner city, urban, rural
communities, but now that'sturning to just, you know, kids
of all size around the world.
And so that you know, reallyit's been about unlocking not
only curiosity and imaginationbut also also reconnect,
connecting us, you know, youngones to that inner genius.
You know that they all, we all,exhibit up to a certain age,
(22:10):
but then certainly starts towash down, but still resides
within us.
And so how do we reconnect tothat child?
We are inside, and so that wasreally what I was looking to do
create something that, for me,would also connect to that child
.
We are inside, and so that wasreally what I was looking to do
create something that, for me,would also connect to that child
that I am inside.
And what better way than toimagine okay, I'm nine years old
(22:31):
, but with 50 years ofexperience in IT and all this
work experience, okay, so, okay,we'll see what you got, grandpa
, and so that then.
Alethea Felton (22:45):
Real quick.
How did you come up with thename of it?
Anthony Hall (22:50):
Because it's Okay, so Trio, right, yeah, so the
Rose of Education Organization.
Alethea Felton (22:56):
Uh-huh.
Anthony Hall (22:57):
Okay, so the Rose of Education Organization began
as a article I wrote in likeApril of 2010.
Yeah, and it was just my kindof rant as I'm, you know,
because I was just experimentingnow.
Then, okay, start getting stuffout there, start connecting
with people, because I alreadyhad this idea for the company
(23:20):
and I was trying to figure outwhich way I was going to go.
But I, doing this around andthe article was called america.
We have a language problem.
I'm talking about language andhow we use language and misuse
and abuse it, and that we shouldthink more of language as, like
you know, to me, rosesymbolizes universal language.
I mean, with the rose, you cantalk architecture, engineering,
(23:43):
astronomy, you can talk, youtalk art and science and all
things.
It speaks all of thoselanguages and and compassionate.
And so for me, you know, itreally is about.
You know, how can we turn, howdo we turn our language into
something that's as a gift, likea rose, our language into
(24:05):
something that's as a gift, likea rose, and how do we, you know
, how do we create this new wayof being and speaking with each
other?
And so the idea, I liken, youknow, the rose to language, and
so the language of education,the rose of education, the
language of education.
That really really what wethink about.
You know, how do we change thelanguage to and really attract
all and really to engage andcompel and inspire.
(24:29):
You know, more entirely, andhow do we speak to them in the
many different languages thatthey speak, whether it be
kinetically or the words,through um, through artwork, and
so I wanted to make sure thathow could I speak to all of
these?
These were not just one sensoryinput, but how can we develop
(24:54):
for multiple sensory experiences, making more experiential and
so and but so Trejo, so theyhave experiential and so and but
so Trejo.
So they have Trejo, so the Roseof Education, and so on, but
Trejo as far as.
So let's go back to the vision,then, because that really would
(25:16):
tell you, as far as I'm thinking.
So I'm thinking about, okay,50s in the future will be, you
know, so I calculated 50 years.
You know, november 24th, 2060,whichs and the 50s in the future
will be, you know, so I Icalculated 50 years, you know to
, you know, november 24th, 2060,which would be the 50th
anniversary of treyo, which is,um, you know so it was formed in
november 24th and 2014, and soI'm 2010.
(25:38):
And so, when the goal was so,how could, how could I make sure
that my grandchildren'sgrandchildren will have stake,
be stakeholders in this future?
And so it's like, well, um, um,you want to predict the future,
you got to build it.
So it's like, okay, all right.
And so, um, that became then,um, my timeline you know that
(26:02):
that and that became also helpedme to focus on what did I see
that we could do?
That would be a big vision, butalso, really, ultimately, to
build a legacy.
And so Freyo is a space tourismindustry startup developing
operations in education,entertainment and exploration.
(26:24):
Our vision is to be the answerto the question what kind of
games and sports will humanityplay in space?
First thing you begin thinkingabout is Treo, and so we're
developed.
So that was kind of the visionthat we will develop the games
and sports humanity will play inspace.
But we'll also make sure thatthe children of the world are,
(26:45):
like I said, not captiveaudience but our captains of
industry, and so that that theplatform, the company, would
then be not only reaching out tomy grandkids but the
grandchildren around the worldthat it could be a vehicle for.
Then you know that these gamesgive a way to you know, identify
, nurture and cultivate theseyoung geniuses around the world
(27:08):
and make them a part of thisgrand vision from the future,
because in 50 years they'll allbe grown.
And so you know we, we'relooking, that we have to build
now.
If we're like you know, I, as asolopreneur, you know, know,
have this big goal of building,competing with Elon Musk and
Jeff Bezos and Sir RichardBranson, and just end up at NASA
(27:29):
, be a vendor from NASA or workfor these, be part of the
payload on some of theseinitiatives and ventures that I
don't have to start building now.
But how do we create a pipeline?
So, since?
So then what, what comes intoplay then is okay.
So how did I you know, when Iwas the sales director, director
(27:51):
of business development for asoftware company, you know I
managed to relate to strategicpartners and relationships and
manage the sales channel, youknow build the relationships
with partners, and so for me,that that was the way to build
an international platform tolaunch our space ambitions would
be to take those same things Idid when I was in the corporate
(28:11):
field and with my company.
The ambition is too big for meto do on my own, but we know how
to connect and connect the dotshas always been one of my
favorite favorite.
We know how to connect.
We know how to connect the dots.
It's always been one of myfavorite games, as well as
puzzles.
And so then it became a matterof how does this puzzle come
together and how do you connectall these pieces meaningfully?
(28:35):
So not just all haphazardly,with no thought or strategy, but
it's with a focus of buildingsomething with intent.
And so you're connecting thesepieces like you're building an
engine or that, you're buildingan application or a house, and
so there goes this planning andarchitecture, design.
That's that's involved in that,and so those kind of you have
(28:57):
to approach it that way as well.
So, but I think yeah, answerthe question yes yes, yes, you
did so I gave you.
I gave you yeah, no, go, I'msorry, go ahead yes, uh-huh.
Alethea Felton (29:12):
so what?
What I I want to do is ask this, because you've often spoken
about the importance ofnurturing unique gifts and
talents of children.
So, grandpa, reflecting on yourown childhood specifically, I'm
curious about this because,although this legacy is being
(29:34):
built for your grandchildren, aswell as other children around
the world, think back to yourown childhood, share any
obstacles that you encounteredin discovering and even
cultivating your own gifts, andhow you overcame that.
Anthony Hall (29:54):
OK, I was very shy growing up.
I stuttered.
Alethea Felton (29:57):
Really you were shy.
Anthony Hall (29:59):
Yeah, I hid behind my mom and said go out with
these people.
Wow, yeah, you know, I mean,because it was, it was, it was
hard for me to to get the wordsout because my brain was working
so fast I couldn't get thewords out.
But then, also, talking topeople, it was like, you know, I
couldn't understand folks, youknow, like what they're saying
(30:22):
didn't match their body languageor their tone, and so it was
just, I always get this, it'sdisconnect, and so I just, you
know, I was, I was off my ownhead, but, but, and so, while I
was shy in that aspect and itwas hard for me to talk, and you
know, and even sometimes, butnot, but not that much with my
friends, but because I wasgifted athletically and excelled
(30:46):
on the on the football field orbaseball, you know that opened
actually that.
You know that opened me up tomore, having more social
interactions with kids, and kidsthat I didn't know and and and
gave me a lot of confidence,even though I didn't have as
much confidence with adults.
(31:07):
But I really, when I wasthinking about this the other
day, I was just kind of gettingmy mind around the interview,
was that that really kind ofhelped me a lot to come out of
um and and be not afraid to beto explore, because I grew up
(31:29):
always being the first onepicked or being people.
I wanted to, you know, or madecaptain.
I never want to be a captain.
Because I didn't want thatresponse, I just wanted to play
but you know.
So I mean, I didn't, but, um,as far as you want to speak to
people, you forget about that,or to be, you know, boisterous
(31:52):
or company, but you know so it'slike Michael Jackson, in a
sense, that you know football,the football or baseball.
That was my stage, that was my,I was at home there.
Alethea Felton (32:03):
Yeah.
Anthony Hall (32:03):
And so, but outside of that, you know, I was
at home in my own head or athome there, yeah and so, but
outside of that, you know, I wasat home in my own head or at
home, and so that was kind ofwhere, where I lived, and so um
and yeah but um no, so yeah, itwas it was so it.
It was hard for me to make thatconnection.
(32:26):
I mean, I just I don't know,I'm trying, I'm trying, I was
trying to think about that, howthat?
You know that, that that mademe cause that, you know that.
You know I was in a good placeas far as that's concerned.
But in other ways, but I didn't.
But I didn't feel like anybetter than anybody, it was just
fun and I didn't know, notostracism or ridicule in certain
(32:53):
sense, because I couldn't playball or something like kids do.
But stuttering, kids tease youabout my big hands, my big feet,
my big lips you know juicy lips, I mean.
So I was teased incessantly,you know, because you know I was
wearing a size 11 and I was inseventh grade.
You know we're looking at this.
(33:15):
I'm looking at this picture ofmyself on the on the seventh
grade.
You know the junior high schoolbasketball team and I'm looking
at these big boats.
You know that I have with myfeet.
And so you know and and, and soyeah, so but, and so yeah, and
so I grew up with a greatinferior, you know, sense of a
(33:36):
complex about these things thatnow look back, man, you know, I
mean I've grown into them and Ijust feel, you know, I feel you
know the gifts that they are.
So sometimes there are thingsthat we don't recognize are
gifts, are gifts.
You know we're here and so howdo we take what we are naturally
(33:59):
and how do we embrace who weare and what we are naturally
and make it a part of you know,embracing our identity and not
allowing others to.
They can't say who we are.
Alethea Felton (34:14):
They're walking in our shoes.
Anthony Hall (34:15):
They can't tell us who we are and what our
experiences are.
We have to do that forourselves, the confidence of
that, then, to articulate who weare.
How do we get to know who weare?
But how do we?
You know, how do we get to knowwho we are?
Alethea Felton (34:32):
And so the games really have been meant about
how do we, how do we create notonly games that are fun but also
help you know individuals takea deep dive, if they want, into
who they really are and what wereally are all about, and
discover and explore that, andso, and let me just and and let
me add here too, the reason Iasked that specifically and I
(34:53):
think it's so important that Idid and I loved your response to
it is the fact that you're sointentional about how you awaken
I like to say awakendiscoveries in children that
they may not have even knownexisted, and that I think that
(35:13):
children need a voice and theyall need an advocate.
And the fact that you canrecognize what your struggles
were as a child because then Ithink it makes what you do for
kids now even much more valuableis because you can empathize
with that kid that might be thatstutterer.
(35:35):
I stuttered severely as a child, so I understand that.
I understand that if you don'tgrow out of it after a certain
age, you'll still have thatstutter.
I still have it.
But in public speaking realmsit's okay, but in private and
with my close, close friends youhear it a lot sometimes, but in
the public light you don't hearit.
(35:56):
I've learned how to control it.
But also for that kid that wasshy I was never shy, but in
terms of that shy child, yougive that child a voice also,
and so that leads me to justkind of take it to this place in
space of the fact that, yes,you are called a grandpa, but
(36:18):
also sometimes you see that wordcombined grandpa, stork and
stork is in all caps.
So I'd like you to share withus what the creation of STORK
and, of course, you will tell uswhat it means.
I have it already, but I wantyou to share that, what the
creation of STORK, that platform, represents.
(36:41):
It represents, yes, a mergingof.
It represents, yes, a mergingof passions for fitness, tech,
et cetera.
But I want you to talk abouthow Stork will actually shape
the future of education andtransform wellness for kids,
(37:02):
along with a lot of other things.
Anthony Hall (37:07):
OK, well, it's, you know.
So, the stork.
You know it's really, you know,and it's a component in the
overall vision.
You know.
You know building a spacetourism company.
You know want to create thesetypes of games, but also have a
vision for a space colony that'sdesigned by.
(37:31):
You know, young people, that wewill.
So, so November 24th 2060,you're invited to a 50th
anniversary party, so we'll beunveiling and inaugurating the
Eden 3 moon colony.
You know this will be asustainable habitat, off-road
(37:52):
habitat, designed by youth andsteam teams.
You know trails, roads, rockets, steam teams in places like
East Africa, india, cambodia,nepal.
You know all these.
You know emerging countries,that these kids who grew up in
(38:13):
these villages and mountainousvillages and urban slums, and
that they will all have been apart of this design.
And so when you're buildingsomething like that, you know,
okay, so there's a lot it'sgoing to take, it's a lot of
pieces and parts, and so thestory came together initially.
(38:34):
Okay, so what do I really?
What do I want to?
You know, my vanity project wasnot a vanity project, but my
kind of dream and goal was, okay, to build a flying surfboard
like a silver surfer.
Okay, so, because that was myfirst thought so how can I help
my grandkids, you know, get intotech and and get interested in
(38:57):
that?
That's okay.
Um, we like superheroes, likethe idea of flying and so, okay,
grandpa's, gonna build yourflying.
So I was like, nathaniel, buildyour flying machine, so we're
going to learn how to flytogether.
You know, I figured I could doit.
The idea was to do a project.
You know, do this, you know.
So this is going to be one ofTrejo's flagship props.
(39:19):
You know the dragon's wing, youknow highly maneuverable flying
surfboard.
You know for zero and low andum, you know low gravity.
You know, uh, transportation,you know so that you know.
So we have, we have that's oneof the things that's on the
drawing board.
But that process that you, howwould that look?
How would I go about teachingthem about that?
(39:39):
And so the idea of turning itinto a game, the development of
this, of this flying surfboard,highly maneuverable, you know
high speed.
You know, basically, flyinghoverboard.
You know how would you buildthat, how would you design it
and engineer it?
And what, what was what?
Not only how you build it, butwhat are the physical and mental
(39:59):
rigors on the human body Ifyou're, if you're on something
like that, you know it's not aseasy as as they make it look you
know right iron man three orwhatever so the idea was then
okay, so how we simulate it?
okay, so now we get intoapplication space.
And so the idea was then to youknow, um, create, you know, go
(40:22):
through the process of theprocess of building and
designing and conceptualizingwould be one of the ways that
could be used to and create, doit as a game, would be a way to
expose.
You know that you know thescience, technology, engineering
, art, math to that.
Alethea Felton (40:44):
So the acronym itself STORC share what that
means.
Anthony Hall (40:52):
Okay, so STORC is an acronym and it really goes
into explaining what theorganization TREO is all about
and what our focus is on and howwe're, you know, and actually
employs this acronymic namingconvention that we're using,
which is actually one of thegames, a literacy game, you know
(41:13):
, using acronyms as a way toteach coding and programmatic
concepts and skills, and sowe're introducing, even through
the names of the games and evenwith Grandpa Stork, you know
that concept, and so Stork.
So the first one, firstdefinition is space tourism,
operation Real Kids.
(41:36):
Real and kids are also acronyms, which I would, you know,
explain and then, and it goesinto it, will start to
demonstrate the concept of howyou can turn acronyms into a
language, and we're looking toturn acronyms into machine
language, to programmatic.
You know, you know largelanguage model using acronyms,
(41:56):
and so we're starting todemonstrate that through even
just the name, like the Starkand so and so.
So Operation Real Kids reallyis about getting kids interested
in, you know.
So, space tourism.
So it's education.
The education part of our focushas been first, and so what I've
been doing the past 10 years,traveling around the world is is
(42:17):
exposing these games and makingpartnerships and identifying
organizations where who, who'veseen the vision, they're kind of
early adopters of the gamesthat have conceptualized and
polar-typed and gone to thesedifferent places to test and get
some, you know, to iterate andfeedback on, and so, as we do
(42:39):
that, that's how it was kind ofbeing built, but so connecting,
making sure that these kids thenwould be part of that effort to
create, to identify out ofthose, these groups, those would
be part of the team, those whowill be one part of the Rose
team team that will be using tothat will be leveraging and
(43:02):
coaching and mentoring, and thatthey become the leaders and use
their creative geniuses to helpdevelop this way forward.
I mean, they're they're thereal ones who have all the
answers, and so so we want togive them a platform to be the
developers, be the innovators,and so so the real kids you know
these are the ones who will bepart of.
(43:25):
You know our space academy, youknow our space arc, and so we
get so I mean the real kids wereto create a space academy for
them called the Space Arc, soSpace Academy for real kids.
So we, even so we're looking toyou know we're doing the
education, for we're buildingthat kind of ecosystem, but also
(43:45):
Stork and so but so and sothere's this linear component,
there's a physical component.
So the other definition forstork is sports technology,
optimizing reflex kinetics.
It's really kind of thediscipline and exercise I've
been coming up with to figureout okay you're, you're standing
on the back of a surfboard or,in the case of the game, a
(44:09):
dragon, stay on.
What is it going to take?
Awareness, balance, corestrength, the ABCs of dragon
flying.
Alethea Felton (44:16):
As.
Anthony Hall (44:16):
Grandpa Stork likes to talk about.
Exactly the Stork in thatcontext is the discipline, the
flying discipline, to build upthat stillness and that balance
(44:37):
and that connection of mind-body, that mindfulness, awareness.
And so if you practice yoga oryou practice martial arts or
dance, everything's aboutbalance and being centered.
And so standing on achallenging balance, like
standing on the back of a dragonor a flying surfboard, how
(44:58):
would you stand and move?
Could you stay balanced, changeperspective.
And so part of that.
So that, then, is not onlyexercise for the game and part
of the you know, you knowfitness program, but also part
of the research for.
So the games actually,ultimately, are research for
building some of the tech thingsthat we have in mind.
(45:20):
You know, so, you know how, youknow so the dragon's wing, you
know a flying surfboard, youknow the um acronym, you know
programming language, you knowmaybe, ai, chatbot and all this
stuff.
So these games, then, are a wayfor us to give it out there and
they become part of ourdevelopment team, and so we're
(45:41):
developing through the crowd andas stakeholders and they have,
especially these organizationswe partner with then they have
an opportunity to um become youknow, um, you know to to own,
have to have ownership ofprograms and things that we
build together that they nolonger have to be as dependent
(46:01):
upon you know programming,efforts to get money in, and so
that they're you know ways,program and efforts to get money
in and so that there are waysthat we can work together to you
know help, you know where,where all our benefit in and we
continue to give back to theseplaces.
So so, yeah, so those are.
That's kind of a short you knowfor Stork.
(46:22):
But, um, it's really meant to bea way that we can relate.
You know the image of the stork.
You know stork bringing youknow new life, new, you know
something new into being.
You know like we're deliveringa baby.
Alethea Felton (46:40):
And so so.
Anthony Hall (46:43):
So, with the stork delivering a dragon's egg,
which is the type of MVP that wehave that we'll be presenting,
is kind of evocative of allthese things and all the visions
we have for the future.
That all within this egg is asymbol of growth for the future,
(47:04):
that all within this egg is asymbol of growth and you open it
up and everything grows out ofthat.
It's almost like a seed, and sowe see this as just kind of
just a necessary thing, and sothere will be more that will are
(47:25):
due to come, and so I mean,we're just 14 years into this 50
year business plan and vision,and so for me that was one of
the things to do different notto be an
employee not to try to say whatthese ideas are, that we birthed
(47:45):
them.
For me, I thought it was like atruly birthing process.
I've given birth to theseconcepts and ideas and you know,
giving them a name, giving thema place to live online and you
know you speak them throughexistence, through other
conversations with people andall the background you give to
them because of your story.
(48:06):
You have people and all thebackground you give to them
because of your story, and sodoing that and honoring that and
not trying to say, you know,this is how you're going to grow
up and this is what you'regoing to be.
It's like I wanted to take thetime to see what did trail want
to be, what did the real namesgame, or what did the Dragon's
Egg?
You know what did it want to be.
What did the real names game orwhat did the Dragon's Egg?
You know what did it want to be.
(48:27):
How would kids in New Delhiplay differently from kids in,
you know, north Richmond,california?
Alethea Felton (48:37):
Yes.
Anthony Hall (48:37):
Or kids in Nepal, or kids in Cambodia, or young
people or college students ineven in Delhi that I went, so
it's not just kids.
I visited colleges anduniversities during my time two
years in india and so we did alot of the game development and
play and speaking engagementthere.
Talking about the, the idea of,you know, imagination as part
(49:02):
of the innovation and ideationprocess and play-based learning
being something that needs to be, can help return curiosity to
the, to the curriculum.
But also, you know um, the drugabuse prevention organization
in Tanzania, where you knowthere were about 12 men from
twenties to their sixties anddoing the same art, fitness and
(49:25):
literacy program, using thedragon's egg and the literacy
game to help them tap into their, you know inner youth.
You know how would they?
You know how do they viewthemselves in the past, present
and the future, and you know howdo they express that through
through word or through orthrough their body or through
through art, and so it's reallymultiple things.
Alethea Felton (49:49):
Exploration, yeah yes, and and say if a
person, because our time isstarting to come to a close, but
say if a person wanted to learnmore or even see some of what
you're talking about, so thatthey can help in the cause as
well as inquire about more.
(50:11):
Where is the best places thatpeople can reach you online?
Is it through your website,youtube?
Tell us about that.
Anthony Hall (50:19):
Okay, on YouTube you can find me.
It's Grandpa's Story, so atgrandpa's story, youtube.
Also LinkedIn.
And so I mean the Rose ofEducation.
Like I said, it started as anarticle but then it grew into a.
I formed it, I brought itonline and gave it a home as the
(50:43):
LinkedIn open group.
So the Rose of EducationSeptember of 2010,.
I formed it as an open group sothat I can start connecting
with and create a place where Ican talk to teachers, educators,
mentors and technologists aboutthese concepts and to build
that network and have a placewhere I could go and not have to
(51:04):
look for them but just haveconversations there.
And then, when I was laid offin October, to build that
network and have a place where Icould go and not have to look
for them but just haveconversations there.
And then, when I was laid offin October, of 2010,.
After being 13 years at thesoftware company, a month later
I incorporated Trail and I kindof saw the handwriting on the
(51:26):
wall.
So I kind of knew what I wantto do that I was gonna start a
company.
Best way to Develop educationalgames for my grandkids would be
to start a company to do that.
So that is what as trails reallyFocuses, kind of been to not
only educate myself on that, onwhat it would take, because I
don't know that about space,space industry, space tourism
you know about, you know about,you know.
(51:47):
So I need to connect with allthose folks and so I spent a lot
of time learning it's been thefirst three years just learning,
connecting, networking, andthen after that for years.
Okay, now it's time to take theshow on the road.
So in 2014, beginning February.
So let's just take theseconcepts and see how they work
(52:08):
in the wilderness.
Let's take this rose and see ifwe can plant it in the
wilderness and see what comes up.
And so we found fertile soil inevery place that we've traveled
to, have traveled to.
(52:30):
So LinkedIn, you know.
So I've mentioned that aboutLinkedIn, because so that's
where I've been documenting thiswhole journey.
Alethea Felton (52:38):
That's right.
And then also, when I tell youy'all, he has a phenomenal
LinkedIn page, as well as justan overall social media presence
in terms of YouTube, linkedin,et cetera, and he's definitely
somebody that you want toconnect with and learn more from
.
And, of course, educators,principals, directors in school
systems.
His innovations, grandpa'sinnovations are absolutely out
(53:01):
of this world and you know, Iwish we just had a segment where
we could go through all of thevideos and just look and see
what's being done.
But I do have a closingquestion for you and just kind
of summarize this in your ownwords but when all is said and
done, when that 2060 anniversarycomes, what do you want your
(53:25):
grandchildren to look back onand remember most about you?
Anthony Hall (53:34):
Imagination.
You know, I think I kind ofmade you know the idea of the
hashtag for Trails is justimagine, Just imagine, Just in
that, to just be able to imaginethat little bit of legacy of
curiosity and wonder andimagining, and to dream and that
(53:58):
I was a powerful dreamer.
Yes, indeed.
That I was not being afraid tochase our dreams, because they
inform us about you, know who weare and what we can be, and so
yeah, you know and about itself.
By that time, I mean, I'll be,I'll be 101, uh-huh so, and you
(54:19):
will be right there that day andso I'm, I'm, that's what I'm
trying to be I want to so,besides the uh call, you know,
moon, moon colony, I want to becoming in on a prototype of the
Dragon's Wing.
Alethea Felton (54:32):
That's right.
Anthony Hall (54:33):
Flying in on the hoverboards.
Alethea Felton (54:36):
I can see that.
I can see that now imaginationand creativity into children
globally, around the world, evenin certain countries where they
might not have resourcesimmediately to them.
You are giving them a platformand a space and a place where
(54:56):
they can just be and enjoy theirchildhood but also think about
their future, and you are indeedchanging the world, and I thank
you sincerely for being a gueston the Power Transformation
Podcast.
Thank you.
Anthony Hall (55:10):
Thank you, alethea .
It was an honor to be here, andGod bless.
Alethea Felton (55:16):
Thank you for tuning in to this episode of the
Power Transformation Podcast.
If you enjoyed this episode, besure to follow or subscribe,
leave a five-star rating andwrite a review.
It helps us inspire even morelisteners.
And don't keep it to yourself.
Share it with someone who coulduse a little power in their
(55:39):
transformation.
Until next time, keep bouncingback, keep rising and be good to
yourself and to others.
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