Being Modern, Being Human
Being Modern, Being Human is a podcast about the world we live in and its transformations: from the eternal questions of human existence and current social challenges to artificial intelligence and the mysteries of nature. Writer and journalist Inna Logunova explores the spirit of our times together with inspiring minds and deep thinkers: philosophers, sociologists, journalists, artists, writers, scientists, and many others.
Episodes
How different are art and science from each other? What kind of mindset defines artists and scientists? What mental process is behind creative insights? In this episode, we discuss these questions with Arseniy Seroka, a founder of a successful software development company, Serokell, and an aspiring filmmaker with two short films in his portfolio.
Serokell’s website:
Creativity is the new gold of the 21st century. I invite you to get inspired, dive into the world of innovation and creativity, and take a closer look at their subtle interplay. In this episode, we speak with motion designer Leeanne Brennan, who specializes in creating illustration, animation and video for the innovation industry. She is also the host of The Epic Bones podcast, where she explores the nature of creativity and shares...
Russian journalist Anastasia Chernikova moved to New York City six years ago, driven by the desire for a life and career change. Since then, she has established her own media platform Vivid Minds and become a successful and frequent contributor to quality US publications such as Entrepreneur Magazine, Fast Company, and others. In this episode, we discuss starting a career from scratch as an immigrant, the challenges and benefits of...
How can silence turn into music? What is the composer’s mindset, and how do you become one? How are our listening patterns changing today, and is the decrease in attention span that bad? In this episode, I’m sitting down with composer Jordan Nelson to speak about the mystery and routine of creating music.
To learn more about Jordan Nelson and explore his music:
Mac Scotty McGregor is a transgender man, author and founder of the nonprofit Positive Masculinity, which helps men understand and cope with the societal pressures they face. We talk about his experiences with both genders, toxic stereotypes that prevent us from being ourselves, and ways to break down patriarchal behavioral patterns.
To learn more about Mac Scotty McGregor:
https://www.positivemasculinitynow.org
How is our digital identity different from our real-world identity? What does the newly emerged discipline of digital sociology explore? Should creatives jump on the NFT bandwagon - and if so, how? How is the Metaverse likely to change our daily lives? In a new episode, we discuss these issues with Ernestina Zhu, an artist and Ph.D. researcher in NFT and digital sociology.
To learn more about Ernestina:
What are the challenges of artificial intelligence for diversity and inclusion in organizations? How to understand that your organization is truly diverse and not just perceived as such? What methods can you use to evaluate the effectiveness of DEI practices? In this episode, we discuss these questions with Joe Santana, a published author and founder of The CDO PowerCircle, an association that helps organizations develop diversity ...
Roberto Dutesco is an acclaimed photographer, filmmaker, and environmentalist. He has worked in the fashion industry and traveled extensively around the globe, capturing the beauty of nature and people. His influential project at the intersection of art and ecology, The Wild Horses of Sable Island, has been running for nearly thirty years. By photographing and filming a small herd of wild horses living on an uninhabited island off ...
What is participatory art making? What place do rituals and symbolic magic have in modern life? In this episode, we talk with multidisciplinary artist Sarah Dixon about her exciting journey working in the Ecuadorian Amazon and the Hindu Kush, studying art forms from Orthodox icon painting to corporate design, exploring feminism through intuitive painting, and much more.
To learn more about Sarah Dixon:
Joe Gonzalez is the founder of The Project Solution, a nonprofit organization that funds small infrastructure projects in countries around the world. Its focus is on water, sanitation, health and education. Since its inception in 2009, The Project Solution has funded nearly 50 projects in 12 countries and helped approximately 30,000 people worldwide. In this episode, we talk with Joe Gonzalez about what it takes to start and run an...
Michelle Steiner has a learning disability that involves difficulties in math, visual perception, manual dexterity, and executive functioning.
In this episode, we talk about the challenges of having a learning disability, how to overcome them, and how we can help people with learning disabilities better integrate into society.
To learn more about Michelle Steiner's world:
How do modern archaeologists work? What is community-based archaeology, and how does it relate to the postcolonial paradigm? What approaches do museums adopt to engage with their audiences today? We talk about these issues with Dr. Michele Koons, curator of archaeology at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, lecturer on "Museums in the 21st Century" at the University of Colorado, and an active field archaeologist.
To learn more...
In the fast-paced age of social media, breaking news, and instant messages, many find it challenging to consume "high literature." English professor Jason Gulya believes that pop culture is also a form of literature. In his classes, he uses films and video games to explain literary concepts. In this episode, we are talking about the transformations of modern storytelling, its current role and status, and the reasons to learn writin...
How does migration shape humanity? What is the impact of the increase or decrease in mobility for work? In what ways does migration influence the perception of cultural identities? We discuss these questions with Neha Chatwani, an independent researcher in organizational psychology and integration ambassador for youth with migrant backgrounds in Austria.
To learn more about Neha Chatwani and her work:
Why do we need space exploration? What does it take to be a space explorer? When will we see affordable commercial space flights? In this episode, we talk with Dr. Haider I Mohsin, a senior scientist at NASA. He works on the Artemis program, which aims to establish a sustainable presence on the Moon in preparation for missions to Mars.
Official website of the Artemis program:
What can the world's religions do to address pressing ecological issues? What steps are they already taking? How is environmental discourse being integrated into the religious narrative? We discuss these questions with Mary Evelyn Tucker and John Grim, founders of the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology and researchers at Yale's School of the Environment.
To learn more about The Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology:
How are our coffees related to climate change, civil wars, and migration? In this episode, we talk with James Harper – the author of Filter Stories, a critically acclaimed documentary that helps coffee drinkers understand how their morning cup of coffee impacts tens of millions of people around the world.
To learn more about one of the world's most popular drinks, check out James Harper's podcasts:
What is artificial intelligence? What should we be wary of as we develop and adopt this technology? In the first episode of Being Modern, Being Human, we discuss the current state of AI and the changes it is bringing to our society with Maura Declercq-Mindrila – a Belgian mergers and acquisitions lawyer turned entrepreneur and CEO of the deep tech company ID Legacy.
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