Visionaries

Visionaries - 12.19.16

“Architecture and Design, Past and Future,” with John Lobell. Computation has changed everything about architecture and design. Or has it? Computation brings us new design possibilities, new ways of making things, and products that would previously been impossible. But what are the basics on which architecture and design are built, and do they remain unchanged? On today’s show we look at some key figures from the seminal “Philadelphia School,” and then at a conference at MIT and at GE’s Minds + Machines conferences that herald our emerging “Digital Industrial” world.

Visionaries - 12.12.16

“Ivan Shumkov and Build Academy:” Ivan is a New York based architect, entrepreneur and professor who talks with us about online courses and how they are disrupting education. Ivan is a pioneer in online education and founder of the Build Academy, providing professional education and solutions for the building industry. He earned his PhD in Architecture at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia and masters at Harvard GSD, ETSA Barcelona, and the School of Architecture in Florence. Ivan has taught at NYU, Harvard University GSD, Pratt Institute School of Architecture, Parsons the New School for Design, International University of Catalonia, and ETSA Barcelona. As a licensed architect, Ivan has worked, lectured and exhibited his projects and research in Europe, Brazil, Colombia, China, and the USA. More at: https://buildacademy.com

Visionaries - 12.05.16

“Marshall McLuhan.” We look at the media guru who is the most influential mind of the second half of the 20th century who remains the best source for understanding the connectivity of our 21st century. Everybody has heard that “the medium is the message,” but what exactly does that mean. Find out on today’s show. http://www.marshallmcluhan.com

Visionaries - 11.28.16

“The Beginning of Infinity.” What are the sources of knowledge and science? In his brilliant book “The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations that Transform the World” the physicist and computer scientist, David Deutsch, shows that the Enlightenment and the Scientific Revolution are unique moments coming from Explanations, and that humans have a unique role in the universe in the creation of knowledge.

Visionaries - 11.21.16

“Phil Cousineau:” Interview with the author of more than 25 books, lecturer, scholar, screenwriter, and documentary filmmaker. His books include “The Hero's Journey” about Joseph Campbell's life, “Soul: An Archaeology, Readings from Socrates to Ray Charles,” and “The Art of Pilgrimage: The Seeker's Guide the Making Travel Sacred.” Phil is host of Global Spirit, which you can see on PBS and Link TV. http://www.philcousineau.net

Visionaries - 11.14.16

 “Our Computational World.” Is our world a computation – do we live “in the Matrix?” The mathematician Stephen Wolfram, author of “A New Kind of Science,” says that Newton made a mistake to assume nature can be understood through differential equations. Nature uses software-like rule sets. Wolfram says, “I think when I find the code that generates our world, it will be about six lines.” More at:  http://generativegenomics.com

Visionaries - 11.07.16

“Becoming Creative.” Most of the books about creativity are about mastery, not creativity. Creativity begins with mastering existing traditions, but then goes on to overthrow those traditions and build new traditions. We look at creativity from the point of view of Nietzsche’s parable of the camel, the lion, and the child. More at:  http://visionarycreativity.com/wp1/

Visionaries - 10.31.16

“Michael Silver.” Mike is an architect, professor, student of consciousness, and principal of Critical Systems Lab. Mike studied architecture at Pratt Institute and Columbia University and has taught at key architecture schools. We discuss consciousness, the mind/body problem, artificial intelligence, robotics, the Internet of Things, and what all this has to do with architecture.

Visionaries - 10.24.16

"Bill Katavolos." Futurist William Katavolos is a professor in the School of Architecture at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn New York. He is an innovative futurist, designer, architect, and teacher, and one of the most imaginative minds of our time. His work and thinking range from chairs in New York’s Museum of Modern Art to 240 mile tall buildings; from furniture made from chemicals with memory to buildings made from water. Find more at: http://www.pratt.digitalfutures.info/william-katavolos-the-new-palladio-poesis-versus-noesis-part-1-of-12/

Visionaries - 10.17.16

John David Ebert. Culture and media critic. His many books include “Twilight of the Clockwork God,” “Celluloid Heroes & Mechanical Dragons,” “Dead Celebrities, Living Icons,” and “Post-Classic Cinema,” And most recently, a series of book on classic movies, “Scene by Scene …” We will look at our myths today. Find more at: http://cultural-discourse.com