Representation is a topic that gets talked about a lot these days. We all crave being visible, being heard, being recognized for who we truly are–our unique selves in the world. Which made us wonder–what then actually is representation if it’s so uniquely personal? Host Justin Boone sat down with scientist, Nic Comparato, to better understand what representation means to them as one small step to better understanding why representation matters to all of us.
Movements can be incredibly powerful examples of the human capacity to create change. But this work is never done. Host Justin Boone sat down with Eva Hernandez, an organizer, campaigner, strategist and movement leader, to talk about her important work helping to shape and mobilize the climate movement, as well as just better understand how we keep movements like that one and others alive for new generations.
Narratives are extremely powerful. But except for the rare moments that we sit down to reflect on these narratives–our own personal ones and others–we kind of take them for granted, getting lost in the stories, rather than recognizing how the words shape our identities, our actions and our understanding of the world around us. Host, Justin Boone sat down with writer, Amanda Dennis, to further explore this idea and others.
Our narratives, our own unique cultures as communities, bound by borders–political, social, figurative and natural–are constantly being rewritten with a multitude of purposes in mind. But what happens when an individual is written out of a narrative? Are they forgotten? Does history itself change? What happens when it's an entire people? Are the consequences even greater, or is it easier to overlook the existence of a community than that of an influential individual? For this episode, host Justin Boone, sat down with artist, Tatiana Grigorenko, to explore how she's been exploring these questions and others in her work throughout her artistic career.
Theatre, like other disciplines of the humanities, is a powerful tool that can inspire, educate and motivate audiences in many meaningful ways. For this episode, host Justin Boone sat down with Aurélien Bellucci, a researcher and scholar exploring the intersection of humanities and social sciences, to understand how theatre, specifically a form called people's theatre, is being used around the world as a tool to support democracy.
Monte Wood, author of the upcoming book "Generosity Wins," speaks with Justin Boone about the profound concept of generosity, exploring its depths beyond surface-level definitions, challenging commonly accepted notions.In this episode, Monte Wood delves into the transformative impact of generosity, questioning conventional ideas, and discussing the building of a culture of authentic generosity within our community. How can we collectively foster a broader understanding of generosity? How might we overcome barriers and encourage daily practices that strengthen our bonds and well-being together?
Ukrainian linguist and educational advisor at Sesame Workshop, Christina Pikhmanets, speaks with Justin Boone about the significance of language in shaping cultural identity, decision-making, and societal understanding.In this episode of Living Untitled, Christina Pikhmanets emphasizes the power of language in fostering empathy, social awareness, and navigating bicultural experiences.How can we better understand the significance of language in shaping our cultural identity and influencing collective decision-making? In what ways can we harness the positive power of language and navigate its potential negative impacts.
Head of R&D at Gehl, Liselott Stenfeldt, speaks with Justin Boone about urban design and how she works with communities to shape an inclusive and sustainable environment for everyone.In this episode of Living Untitled, Liselott Stenfeldt talks about how creating ease in people's everyday lives through belonging and urban design can encourage sustainability. How can we encourage people to be invested in urban development? What if our sense of belonging was strongly connected to local biodiversity?
Founder of Playful Solutions, Konstantin Mitgutsch, speaks with Justin Boone about the role of "play" in our lives and how it can create opportunities to build community. In this episode of Living Untitled, Konstantin Mitgutsch dives into how the act of playing allows us to bring our full selves and helps us go beyond our limitations. What happens when we go into a state of play? How can we take play seriously and push ourselves to the edge of our competence?
Wellness & technology educator, Caitlin Krause, speaks with Justin Boone about her role guiding people who seek community and human connection in technological landscapes.In this episode of Living Untitled, Caitlin Krause explores digital wellbeing and the ways we can leverage technology as a tool to better connect people with themselves and others. How is our sense of self mediated by technology? How are we encouraging people in the technology ecosystem to think differently about wellness?
President and creative producer of the opera company, Beth Morrison Projects, Beth Morrison speaks with Justin Boone about her journey as an industry disruptor and now leader in the world of opera. In this episode of Living Untitled, Beth Morrison shares how she empowers the next generation of artists and what she believes will ensure the survival of art. How do we create art that is relevant for future generations? How do we continue to lead in innovation and equity, and foster the next generation?
Architectural historian, Daniel D. Paul, speaks with Justin Boone about how his conservation work is a practice in advocating for the future, as much as it is for the past.In this episode of Living Untitled, Daniel D. Paul dives into the intricacies of architecture, historical preservation, and the value of our environment. What is worth preserving for the future? How do we embrace change while resisting an increasingly homogenous environment?
Psycholinguist and UCLA professor, Idan Blank speaks with Justin Boone about language and how it is the best tool for 'transplanting' thought. In this episode of Living Untitled, Idan Blank untangles the relationship between language, our minds, and how we structure the world around us. Does storytelling help us better solve complex problems? What kind of impact does language have on what we consider the truth?
Educator and CEO of First Place for Youth, Thomas Lee speaks with Justin Boone about our critical role in cultivating belonging.In this episode of Living Untitled, Thomas Lee shares the transformative potential of community support and how his team incorporates belonging into their work with transition-age foster youth. What efforts can we collectively make to reflect back love and a sense of community in our youth? In what ways can we recognize the responsibility we have to the people around us and act on it?
Poet and Peace Activist Mandy Kahn speaks with Justin Boone about how to teach and experience real, lasting peace. In this episode of Living Untitled, guest Mandy Kahn shares how she became an advocate, guide and teacher of peace, by raising our consciousness away from exclusively the self and into our default setting: the collective consciousness where all life belongs. What happens when we invite the highest parts of ourselves to feel peace in its truest form, without reactiveness and belligerence, and what can this to transform our relationships and our communities?
Architect Leslie Sydnor speaks with Justin Boone about trust in communities. In this episode of living untitled, Architect Leslie Sydnor shares what it means to build trust in a community, in times of difficulty, where there have been so many unfulfilled promises. What happens when architects think in terms of the social infrastructure needed to create safe, productive and successful, sustainable communities that foster growth for everyone?
Director Elisa Bocanegra speaks with Justin Boone about being a hero: the founder of Hero Theater, a social and environmental justice theater company in Los Angeles. In this episode of Living Untitled, guest Elisa Bocanegra talks about how communities need theater to see and hear themselves, allowing the love that suffuses their environment to be reflected back to audiences.
Artist, scientist and all around connector Romie Kind speaks with Justin Boone about our increasingly machine-powered world, and what goes into designing the systems that shape our relationships with those machines. In this episode of Living Untitled, Romie Kind dives into how humans are constantly developing their relationship with AI and how to ensure the human element is not lost in this increasingly more machine-powered world. What if we treated AI as a genuine collaborator in humanity? Can we incorporate human desires into their system? Can we teach an AI system to understand death?
Writer and Curator Essence Harden speaks with Justin Boone about art as a form of conversation.In this episode of Living Untitled, teacher, writer and curator Essence Harden shares their thoughts on how to break through the layers that make a lot of art inaccessible to the public, hidden behind the doors and walls that keep it available to some, not many. What happens when the conversation between an artist, curator and audience is transparent? Can more community-building replace the siloed access to creativity? Show notes:Art Is How We Justify Our Existence, Our technologies are tools. But our creative works carry the wisdom of the world.The New York Times Opinion Article, David Zwirner - May 22, 2020
Designer Sara Malek Barney speaks with Justin Boone about how creating a home in a community works towards the greater good.In this episode of Living Untitled, guest Sara Malek Barney speaks with us about how home is our original community, from which our sense of belonging is nurtured. How can design and community - building work together to amplify the sense of contentment that home provides us? Home isn’t just a place, it’s a state of mind, and that’s what community is and can be for everyone.Show references: “Home” - Apple TV+Richard McGuire’s illustrated book, “Here”