Experience This Podcast

Happy Pride! This week on Experience This Podcast, Josh speaks with Perry Cohen, founder of the Venture Out Project - a nonprofit organization in Western Massachusetts that leads backpacking and wilderness trips for the queer and transgender community. They also conduct transgender inclusion workshops for educators, adventure professionals, summer camps and more! We also nerd out with our Creative Producer Myka about Mount Monadnock! You can find the Venture Out Project here! The Trevor...

This week we return with Samson Williams and our conversation on “Equity Crowdfunding”- a fundraising option that makes investing in businesses available to more people. How can this tech, aided by blockchain, help Startups AND Mom and Pop Shops? Samson, a partner in Axes and Eggs, is a classically trained anthropologist and finance and public health expert who advises Fortune 100 companies, executives and startups in Dubai; Washington, D.C.; and Dublin, Ireland. Samson’s focus is helping...

What the heck is blockchain? How does it work? This week, we rock on all things block with help from Samson Williams, a specialist in “Equity Crowdfunding”- a way of raising money for businesses may just save Main Street. Then, we nerd out about a war in California… over eggs? Samson, a partner at Axes and Eggs, is a classically trained anthropologist and finance and public health expert who advises Fortune 100 companies, executives and startups in Dubai; Washington, D.C.; and Dublin,...

What are the benefits of a B-Corporation? How are these businesses countering the Nonprofit Industrial Complex? This week, we continue our conversation about conducting ethical business with Dani Babineau from Redemption Rock Brewing Co. We also nerd out with co-owner of Redemption Rock, Greg Carlson, about the complex process of brewing beer! Learn more about Redemption Rock Brewing Co.! Become a B-Corp! Equity Crowdfunding Platform:...

What makes a corporation ethical? This week we’re flipping the script to speak with Dani Babineau, Co-Founder and CEO of Redemption Rock Brewing Co. to discuss the ins and outs of “Benefit Corporations”, a form of for profit enterprise that emphasizes community outreach, as an alternative to the Non-Profit Model. We’re trying out a new conversational format for the show and would love to know your thoughts! Learn more about Redemption Rock Brewing Co.! Become a B-Corp! On AI Hiring...

How might we use virtual reality to address racism in our society? In this episode, we continue our conversation with Dr. Courtney Coburn at the Columbia University School of Social Work. How does a team go about building a virtual reality experience that confronts racism? How might we shift perceptions of dealing with race issues in America from an individual vantage point to actually tackle systemic issues in our communities? And, in Nerding Out With Josh this week, we talk to Mags Munroe...

How might we use virtual reality to address racism in our society? Did you know that a symptom of rabies is a fear of water? This week, we dive into discussing cultural racism with Dr. Courtney Cogburn at Columbia University and how they are using virtual reality in their research. We also nerd out with Lucy Hale at the EcoTarium Museum about zoonotic viruses like rabies and it’s 100% mortality rate 😳. Learn more about Courtney’s work at the Columbia University School of Social Work and...

In this week’s episode, we’re going to back to an episode from Season 1. We speak with Nikki Bell, CEO of LIFT (Living in Freedom Together), an organization that works to help women who are victims of sex trafficking and exploitation. LIFT advocates for policy changes, offers curated recovery centers and educates law enforcement and medical professionals on how to work with victims of exploitation. Our second guest is Corey Camperchioli; actor, writer, and creator of “FEMME,” a short film...

COVID-19, the disease caused by a novel Coronavirus, is sweeping national and global news headlines. On this special episode of Experience This Podcast, I’m going to dive into the intersectional issues impacting our local communities by speaking with business owners, artists, activists, charities, healthcare professionals, and others on how pandemics like these affect those who are and those who are not infected. Our guests on this episode are Dr. Alex Rock; Dr. Mattie Castiel, City of...

What role does education and equity play in building a smart city? In this episode, we listen to panel speakers from the 2019 Smart City Expo in Atlanta, Georgia reflect on how equal access to education is vital in the establishment of a truly smart city. Our guests, Mayor Eugene Grant, Keith Harris from Westlake High School in Atlanta and rapper T.I., speak on their personal experiences regarding education, smart cities, and the growth that is essential to improving American...

How can we use digital technology to create an analog connection in our communities? In this episode, we speak with Ed Krafcik, Vice President of City Development at Soofa where he is responsible for bringing Soofa technology into cities and developing strategic partnerships with elected and appointed officials, real estate developers, and organizations and individuals shaping the public realm. We explore the power of digital placemaking and how it affects communities and the people who...

We’re back with new episodes airing March 1st on WICN 90.5 FM, Worcester’s only NPR affiliate station and streaming wherever you get your podcasts Monday mornings starting March 2! Until then, take a listen to this episode of WICN’s Business Beat where our host, Joshua Croke, talks to WICN & MediaBoss about their passions, motivations, and their work helping organizations design projects that focus on inclusion, equity, sustainability, and prosperity with Action! by Design and Love Your...

We’re back to your favorite podcast platform on March 2, 2020! And we have exciting news; we’ve been asked to adapt the show for radio — if you’re in the greater Worcester area, tune into WICN 90.5 FM, Worcester’s only NPR affiliate station Sunday nights at 11pm starting March 1 and Tuesday evenings at 6pm starting in April. Experience This is all about how design and technology shape our communities, cities, and our world. We share stories of people making an impact and address critical...

How does music impact our human experience? We speak with Rob Flax, a musician who is known for improvisation in performance. Plus, he made all of the music for our show! Rob has been studying music from a young age, and has experience in the music education sphere. He’s also a touring musician making music his full-time job. We’re looking at music on a personal level from Rob’s experiences, but also how music impacts all of us on a societal and global scale. Subscribe and rate us wherever...

How does public space impact people’s day to day lives? In this episode, we speak with Majora Carter, a MacArthur Genius Grant winner and an American urban revitalization strategist based in the South Bronx, New York, where she grew up. We explore topics ranging from community pride, increasing equity in one’s neighborhood, and discuss the impact of public space on individuals and families. Majora has used her experiences to engage the community to try to make her neighborhood more equitable...

What does it mean to have influence? On today’s episode, we’re exploring how social influencers’ social lives are impacted by being influencers. We speak with two young people who run Instagram accounts with decent popularity and how it impacts their lives. How does Instagram, and other platforms, change how we choose to show ourselves and influence our experiences out in the world? Taking photos at brunch, or going to a bar because you saw it on social media, etc. Our guests are Kate...

This episode discusses issues surrounding sexual exploitation, addiction, and sexual violence. Part two of “On Power” focuses on two stories of fighting against stigma and shame to reclaim power. We speak with Nikki Bell, CEO of LIFT (Living in Freedom Together), an organization that works to help women who are victims of sex trafficking and exploitation. LIFT advocates for policy changes, offers curated recovery centers and educates law enforcement and medical professionals on how to work...

Who holds power in society? How do systems of power influence people’s ability to be themselves? In this two-part episode we explore existing power structures, the identities that have and haven’t fit within those systems, and the stigmas attached to labels and experiences. Part one features Brita Filter (Jesse Havea), an NYC-based drag queen, and Domenick Scudera, a professor at Ursinus College who teaches a class called “The History of Drag Performance: From Shakespeare to RuPaul.” We...

What happens when humans begin to inhabit space? In this episode, we’re taking the giant, multifaceted concept of space and bringing it down to a human level. Our guests are Kay Radzik and Chris Carberry. Chris co-founded and runs Explore Mars, an organization whose mission works toward landing humans on the surface of Mars within the next two decades. Kay is an architect here on Earth, on the Steering Committee for the Mars Society, and was one of the Mars 100 selected as part of the Mars...

Experience This Podcast is a new show about human experiences and how design and technology impact society. We’re all a product of our experiences. We enjoy them, learn from them, and make decisions based on the experiences we have. This podcast explores individual journeys — scientists, entertainers, influencers, small-business owners, and others — each with different stories about their experiences. We explore a variety of themes and ask questions that impact people across the...