Category: Ideas We Like

  • Geek Heresy! Our 2015/16 Common Book, my new show and why I got an e-bike

    In keeping with a growing tradition of energizing our incoming master’s students’ neurons, we’ve chosen “Geek Heresy: Rescuing Social Change from the Cult of Technology” as our Common Book for the 2015/16 academic year. Upon closer examination, choosing Kentaro Toyama’s remarkable manifesto makes complete sense: at its heart, our unique graduate program seeks to inspire…

  • My greatest storytelling challenge yet: overcoming the tragedy of the commons

    Ten years ago I set out with my wife Heather to produce “Independent America: The Two-Lane Search for Mom & Pop” — a film about local economies and self-sufficiency. And now it’s time for this content-creator and educator to apply everything I’ve learned about community-building and technology to what my greatest communications challenge yet: can…

  • How to command the stage (and enjoy it): a three-point checklist

    Obviously, very few of us actually like to “put ourselves out there.” Despite my years of experience, I still find it most daunting in the hours and minutes leading up to show-time. Even for my most recent performances I was uncertain as to how I was going to “bring it home” when the time came.…

  • The face behind the mask of technology: Kraftwerk comes to Seattle

    I surprised myself by buying the last available ticket at the last minute to see an electropop group I had deliberately disregarded during my Guitar God childhood. But recently, I had acquired a few of Kraftwerk’s classic albums (ironically on vinyl). John Cook’s post at GeekWire alerted me to Kraftwerk’s presence in my town and…