Breaking Precedent

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan is joined by Selina Tobaccowala, a pioneering tech entrepreneur whose journey began with co-founding Evite and scaling SurveyMonkey to new heights. Selina shares how her childhood fascination with computers, combined with an insatiable drive for problem-solving, led her to break boundaries in Silicon Valley. From navigating the dot-com bubble to her latest venture, HomeBoost, she reveals the principles that have guided her success, including her father’s three essential questions for career decisions. Leah and Selina explore the intersection of technology and impact, the challenges of raising venture capital as a female founder, and how AI is transforming residential energy efficiency.

Guest Bio and Links:

Selina Tobaccowala is a tech entrepreneur and innovator who co-founded Evite, served as President and CTO of SurveyMonkey, and is now revolutionizing home energy efficiency with her latest company, HomeBoost. Selina has a deep passion for using technology to solve real-world problems and she has built and led companies that have transformed industries.

Listeners can connect with Selina Tobaccowala on her IG @sootle

HomeBoost

SurveyMonkey

Evite 

Show Notes: 

• (0:00) Intro
• (0:00) Leah introduces guest and entrepreneur, Selina Tobaccowala
• (4:30) “ I think it's like different between how you might perceive yourself versus how others might perceive you.”
• (6:00) Selina’s early life and childhood inspirations 
• (7:30) Discovering computer science 
• (9:00) The accidental basketball captain
• (11:45) Choosing Stanford for college 
• (16:00) The birth of Evite
• (22:00) Navigating rapid growth, venture capital, and the reality of selling a startup
• (28:30) Evite's unconventional sale
• (30:30) Joining SurveyMonkey
• (35:00) Lessons from SurveyMonkey
• (37:30)  ”There's always this culture act like an owner, but if people don't feel empowered to take that risk, you can't act like an owner.  And so you have to balance those things together.”
• (39:45) New project: HomeBoost
• (46:00) The simplicity and future of home energy
• (51:00) Advice for non-traditional founders

--- 

Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.

Connect with Leah:

Website: breakingprecedent.com/ 

Instagram: @labunleashed

X: @labunleashed

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan is joined by Bismarck Lepe, a serial entrepreneur who has shattered conventions at every stage of his life. From growing up as the child of Mexican migrant workers to becoming a Stanford graduate and an early Google employee, Bismarck shares his incredible journey of resilience, innovation, and leadership. He discusses his early entrepreneurial ventures, the lessons learned at Google, and the groundbreaking work of his companies, including Ooyala, WiseLine, and MiSalud. With profound expertise in business, technology, and seizing opportunity, Bismarck provides an inspiring perspective on how vision and perseverance can transform industries.

Guest Bio and Links:

Bismarck Lepe, founder and Executive Chairman of Wizeline, is a seasoned Silicon Valley entrepreneur and investor. As an early Google employee, he left to start Ooyala, an online video platform that sold for $400 million to Telstra in 2014. Passionate about economic growth and education, he has helped transform Guadalajara into a thriving tech hub through Wizeline Academy and StartupGDL, generating over 1,500 jobs and attracting significant investment. Under his leadership, Wizeline expanded to seven countries, with talent spanning 15 nations. For over a decade, he has been a key force in fostering Mexico-Silicon Valley collaboration in technology and entrepreneurship.

Listeners can learn more about Bismarck Lepe on LinkedIn @BismarckLepe

WizeLine in the Press 

MiSalud Health - Designed For Spanish-First Teams on the Move

Show Notes: 

• (0:00) Intro 
• (2:45) Leah introduces Bismarck Lepe, 
• (4:00) Bismarck’s early life and background 
• (8:30) Educational journey and parental sacrifices
• (10:15) Starting roots in Southern California and Mexico
• (14:00) Learning English through Sesame Street & Mr. Rogers
• (17:00) Cultural identity & navigating assimilation 
• (23:30) Path to Stanford University and a life-changing conversation
• (30:30) Joining Google and the Acquisition of YouTube 
• (35:00) Founding Ooyala
• (35:30) Early failures and lessons learned
• (41:00) The 2008 financial crisis and its impact
• (46:00) WizeLine - building tech talent in Mexico
• (51:15)  ”Talent is evenly distributed around the world. It's just opportunity and experience that isn't.”
• (53:30) Founding MiSalud - revolutionizing healthcare access
• (1:04:30) Changing perceptions of Mexico & Latinx talent
• (1:06:30) ”Here we were, as a brand, we were a vehicle to change the perception of Mexicans. People weren't talking about soccer players or tequila or mariachi, they were talking about intellectual property that Mexicans were building.”
  
  

--- 

Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.

Connect with Leah:

Website: breakingprecedent.com/ 

Instagram: @labunleashed

X: @labunleashed

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan sits down with Jes Wolfe, CEO of Rebel Girls, adventurer, and precedent-breaker. Jes shares her experience summiting Mount Aconcagua, one of the tallest mountains in the world, and how she found the strength to keep going after facing an unexpected tragedy on the climb. Jes then discusses the birth of Rebel Girls, and the importance of sharing real-life stories of strong women and how early biases in media, education, and parenting contribute to the confidence gap in girls. Jes shares Rebel Girls’ ambitious mission to reach 100 million girls, the launch of Rebel Girls Sport, an ESPN-style platform designed to engage young fans in women’s sports, and the one major societal norm she would change if she could.

Guest Bio and Links:

Jes Wolfe is the CEO of Rebel Girls, a global storytelling company on a mission to inspire and empower young girls. A lifelong adventurer and leader, Jes has a background in finance, international business, and entrepreneurship. Before joining Rebel Girls, she held roles at Morgan Stanley, the World Bank, and various startups, bringing a wealth of experience in scaling purpose-driven companies. An avid mountaineer, Jes recently summited Mount Aconcagua, demonstrating her philosophy of resilience and ambition. Under her leadership, Rebel Girls continues to break barriers, reaching millions of girls worldwide with stories of fearless women and redefining representation in children’s media.

Listeners can learn more about Jes Wolfe on her website, and on LinkedIn @JesWolfe

Show Notes: 

• (0:00) Intro 
• (2:45) Leah introduces Jes Wolfe, adventurer, dog mom, and CEO of Rebel Girls 
• (5:00) Climbing Mount Aconcagua
• (7:15) Jes shares a personal tragedy while on Mount Aconcagua 
• (8:30)  ”It started out as a journey for me and it ended up as a thing for him.”
• (10:00) The physical and mental challenges of summiting
• (13:55)  ”To be successful to do this is you have to break everything down into the smallest parts.”
• (15:00) A little background into Jes’s adventurous childhood 
• (18:00) From finance to finding purpose
• (26:00) The next chapter - Rebel Girls
• (27:30) Empowering girls through storytelling
• (31:00) How Rebel Girls is rewriting history and inspiring a new generation
• (35:00) Norms that still need to be challenged
• (37:30)  ”94 percent of parents say that their kids were inspired because of our storytelling and 86 percent said that their daughter's confidence increased because of our storytelling. And to me, that's the ultimate measure of success is, are we achieving what we're setting out to do, which is to help raise a generation of girls that are going to go forth and be awesome and believe in themselves.”
• (40:30) Expanding Rebel Girls' impact
• (42:30) Future goals and inspirations
• (46:00) Rebel Girls Sport
• (51:00) Closing thoughts

--- 

Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.

Connect with Leah:

Website: breakingprecedent.com/ 

Instagram: @labunleashed

X: @labunleashed

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan talks with Kara Goldin, founder and CEO of Hint Water, to talk about her journey from AOL exec to beverage industry disruptor. Kara shares how her father’s influence, a knack for asking the right questions, and a fearless approach to problem-solving led her to create an entirely new category in drinks. She also opens up about learning from visionaries like Jeff Bezos, balancing entrepreneurship with family, and refusing to compromise on product integrity—despite having no industry experience.

Guest Bio and Links:

Kara Goldin is the founder and CEO of Hint, Inc., the pioneering brand behind unsweetened flavored water. Before launching Hint in 2005, she was a Vice President at AOL, where she helped grow its e-commerce business to over $1 billion. She is the author of the bestselling book Undaunted and has been recognized as an EY Entrepreneur of the Year and one of Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs.

Listeners can learn more about Kara Goldin at her website, on LinkedIn @karagoldin, on IG @karagoldin

Kara’s Book: Undaunted  

Show Notes: 

• (0:00) Intro
• (3:00) Leah introduces guest, Kara Goldin, founder and CEO of Hint Water
• (5:00) Early life for Kara
• (10:00) Creating Hint - a new beverage category
• (13:00) Lessons from Dad
• (19:30) Challenges in retail and distribution
• (24:00) Joining CNN and meeting Ted Turner 
• (26:30) Making the move to San Francisco
• (37:00) Building the AOL marketplace
• (39:30)  ”Sometimes it's better to look outside of your industry for the answers that you need, especially if you're trying to up your own game.”
• (41:30) Meeting Jeff Bezos in Amazon’s early days
• (47:30) From AOL to family life - new beginnings
• (48:00) The birth of Hint Water
• (56:30) Challenges and innovations in extending shelf life
• (1:04:30) “ It just takes somebody who is curious, who's a little crazy and who's willing to try.”
• (1:07:00) The family influence with Hint 
• (1:11:15) Final thoughts 

--- 

Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.

Connect with Leah:

Website: breakingprecedent.com/ 

Instagram: @labunleashed

X: @labunleashed

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan talks with Tamara Rojo, a trailblazing ballerina, choreographer, and artistic director of the San Francisco Ballet. Tamara shares her extraordinary journey from humble beginnings in Madrid to becoming one of the most celebrated dancers of her generation. Leah and Tamara touch on Tamara’s innovative approach to leadership, redefining classic stories like Carmen, and the importance of accessibility and diversity in the arts.

Guest Bio and Links:

Tamara Rojo is one of the most celebrated ballerinas of her generation. Born in Montreal and raised in Madrid, Tamara broke barriers as an outsider in the ballet world, becoming the first female Artistic Director of the English National Ballet and, more recently, the San Francisco Ballet. Known for her emotional depth, technical brilliance, and innovative leadership, she continues to push the art form forward by commissioning bold new works and amplifying diverse voices in ballet.

Listeners can learn more about Tamara at her website, and on IG @rojotamara

Show Notes: 

• (0:00) Intro
• (0:30) Leah introduces guest, Spanish ballet dancer, Tamara Rojo 
• (4:30) Tamara on growing up in Madrid
• (13:00) Tamara’s initial thoughts on ballet
• (19:00) Joining the Scottish Ballet and classical training
• (20:30) The evolution and influence of ballet
• (27:30) The emotional connection in ballet performance
• (28:00)  ”You need to be a master of your craft because you can only lose yourself in the emotion of the character if you're not worried about whether or not you can finish your pirouette.”
• (30:45) Overcoming dance limitations
• (32:30) Reimagining Carmen
• (36:00) Creating 'Mere Mortals'
• (47:00) Vision for San Fransisco ballet
• (54:00) Supporting dancers' well-being

--- 

Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.

Connect with Leah:

Website: breakingprecedent.com/ 

Instagram: @labunleashed

X: @labunleashed

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan talks with Andy Dunn, founder of Bonobos, author, and advocate for mental health. They discuss Andy's groundbreaking work in retail with Bonobos, his personal experience navigating mental health challenges, and his latest venture, Pi Social, aimed at fostering in-person connections. Andy opens up about the influence of growing up in a multicultural household, the impact of his bipolar disorder diagnosis, and how he turned what many see as a weakness into a powerful aspect of his identity.

Guest Bio and Links:

Andy Dunn is an American entrepreneur and the co-founder of Bonobos Inc. Dunn served as CEO for eleven years after co-founding the Bonobos brand in 2007. In June 2017, Walmart announced purchasing the Bonobos brand for $310 million in cash.

Learn more about Andy Dunn at his website, on IG @dunn 

Andy’s Book: Burn Rate: Launching a Startup and Losing My Mind

Show Notes: 

• (0:00) Intro
• (2:30) Leah introduces guest, Andy Dunn, founder of Bonobos 
• (3:30) Andy discusses growing up in a multicultural household
• (6:00) Realizing the power in differences during college
• (11:00) Transition from pre-med to business 
• (15:00) The Stanford experience and meeting Brian
• (17:30) Challenges and successes of building Bonobos
• (19:00) The digital brand revolution
• (24:00) The innovation of Bonobos' guide shops without inventory
• (30:00) Mental health advocacy and writing Burn Rate
• (35:00) Substance use and misdiagnosis
• (36:00) Burying the bipolar diagnosis
• (37:00) Repressed memories and mental health
• (38:00) Depression and starting Bonobos
• (39:30) Second episode and higher stakes
• (46:00) Cultural differences in mental health
• (52:00)  ”Strengths have shadows.”
• (56:00) Founding Pi and platonic friendships
• (1:04:00) Challenging societal norms
• (1:06:00) Finding empathy in political norms
• (1:10:00) Closing thoughts

--- 

Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.

Connect with Leah:

Website: breakingprecedent.com/ 

Instagram: @labunleashed

X: @labunleashed

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan talks to Windy Chien, a former tech professional turned celebrated artist renowned for her intricate knots and innovative art installations. Wendy shares her journey of creative reinvention, drawing insights from her project 'The Year of Knots,' and delves into her background, influences, and the transition from tech to tactile art. She emphasizes the universal language of knots, the role of discipline, and the beauty of day-to-day creativity. The episode explores how Wendy's non-traditional path led her to collaborations with major institutions and a unique approach to art that honors tradition while breaking new ground.

Guest Bio and Links:

Artist Windy Chien is best known for her 2016 work, The Year of Knots, in which she learned a new knot every day for a year. Her work ranges in size from a knot that can fit in the palm of a child's hand to room-sized installations that are sought after by private collectors. Following long careers at Apple and as the owner of legendary music shop Aquarius Records, she launched her studio in 2015. Select clients include the National Geographic Society, the De Young Museum, the San Francisco MOMA, Nobu Hotels, Google, and the Kering Group, and her work has been covered by Wired, The New York Times, and Martha Stewart. Windy’s book about her work was published by Abrams in 2019. 

Listeners can learn more about Windy Chien at her website and on IG @windychien

Resources:

The Year of Knots by Windy Chien

Exhibitions  

Collaborations

Windy's Install at Leah's

Show Notes: 

• (0:00) Intro
• (3:00) Leah introduces guest, Windy Chien, Artist and Innovator
• (3:30) The journey of knot making
• (4:00) Windy's early life and influences
• (6:00) The impact of her military upbringing
• (7:30) Creativity and cultural heritage
• (11:30) Embracing the outsider perspective
• (16:00) Changing circumstances and sitting with uncertainty
• (21:00) ”The thing that makes a knot a knot is intentionality. That's what separates it from a tangle, right? It was tied in a certain way to do a certain thing. And knots occur in every occupation, every culture around the world for centuries.”
• (23:30) From filmmaking to music
• (29:30) Transition to Apple and tech innovations
• (32:00) The impact of recognition and amplification
• (32:30) Revolutionary apps and TaskRabbit's role
• (33:00) A creative epiphany at Apple
• (35:00) Exploring new creative avenues
• (36:00) Discovering fiber art and woodworking
• (40:00) The Year of Knots and Its impact
• (43:00) Large-scale installations and their influence
• (51:00) Collaborations across mediums
• (56:00) Advice for aspiring artists
• (58:00) Final reflections and inspirations

--- 

Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.

Connect with Leah:

Website: breakingprecedent.com/ 

Instagram: @labunleashed

X: @labunleashed

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan sits down with Kevin Caldwell, founder and CEO of Ossium Health. From blending astrophysics, economics, and law, Kevin's unconventional journey to biotech is as inspiring as it is innovative. Kevin shares his groundbreaking work in making stem cell therapies more accessible, the future of preventative medicine, and the immense impact Ossium could have on treating blood cancers and beyond. Kevin shares his vision for a healthier world, leveraging cutting-edge science to save lives and improve health spans.

Guest Bio and Links:

As CEO, Co-Founder & President of Ossium Health, Kevin Caldwell has built Ossium from a small startup into a clinical-stage bioengineering company.  Kevin set the company’s mission to improve human health through bioengineering and designed its platform-based model for cellular therapeutics development.  Kevin has led the company’s successful pursuit, negotiation, and execution of more than 50 business relationships, including 5 successful fundraisings and dozens of supply partnerships, clinical partnerships, and commercial contracts with biopharmaceutical companies.

Listeners can learn more about Kevin Caldwell at Ossium Health

Show Notes: 

• (0:30) Leah introduces guest, Kevin Caldwell, founder and CEO of Ossium Health
• (4:00) Kevin's unconventional journey
• (5:00) Childhood curiosity and influences
• (13:00) MIT and the love for science
• (16:30) From physics to law
• (23:00) Time at Bridgewater
• (25:00) The role of cross-disciplinary thinking in Kevin’s career
• (33:30) “Our healthcare system was very reactive, like first they would get sick, and then we would take them to see a doctor who would retroactively diagnose them and prescribe an intervention that usually did reduce their suffering but didn't really improve their health.”
• (34:00) The economics in healthcare 
• (36:30) Meeting the co-founder and starting Ossium
• (39:00) The vision and technology behind Ossium
• (49:00) The future of preventative medicine and stem cell banking
• (53:00) The first successful transplant using Ossium's technology
• (56:30) The role of venture investors 
• (1:03:00) Final thoughts

--- 

Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.

Connect with Leah:

Website: breakingprecedent.com/ 

Instagram: @labunleashed

X: @labunleashed

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan talks with Bianca Gates, founder and CEO of Birdies, about her entrepreneurial journey. Bianca shares her upbringing as the daughter of Latin American immigrants, her early aspirations to be a career woman, and her inspiring career trajectory from pharmaceutical and media sales to her dream job at Facebook. Bianca discusses the creation of Birdies, a brand of stylish and comfortable 'social slippers,' and how she leveraged her sales know-how and experiences at Facebook to turn Birdies into the beloved footwear brand it is today. 

Guest Bio and Links:

Bianca Gates is the CEO and co-founder of Birdies, a leading footwear brand that introduced the concept of the "social slipper." Before Birdies, Bianca built a successful career in sales at Univision, MTV, and Facebook, where she worked closely with Sheryl Sandberg. Born to Latin American immigrants, Bianca is a pioneer in combining entrepreneurial drive with a commitment to empowering women.

Listeners can learn more about Bianca Gates on her website, on IG @biancagates

Show Notes: 

• (0:00) Intro 
• (0:25) Leah introduces guest, Bianca Gates, CEO of Birdies Footwear 
• (2:00) The struggle for the perfect shoe
• (3:45) Setting a new precedent in footwear
• (6:00) Growing up Latina in America
• (9:30) “I tell people sometimes when you're in a weak moment or you're feeling isolated or that you don't belong, I think sometimes it was like the best lessons that you can do something positive with it later in life.”
• (15:00) Pursuing independence and career aspirations
• (20:30) Landing a sales gig at Johnson and Johnson
• (24:30) Proving sales potential at Univision 
• (29:00) Pitching Hyundai Kia
• (32:30) Finding love and moving west back home
• (36:30) Gaining inspiration from Sheryl Sandberg 
• (38:00) The determination to join Facebook
• (42:30) Taking the leap and joining Facebook
• (45:00) The Birth of Birdies
• (48:30) “Be bold and also done is better than perfect.”
• (51:00) The early days of launching Birdies
• (54:00) Navigating the retail landscape
• (57:00) Leaving Facebook to focus on Birdies 
• (1:01:00) Finetuning the niche with Birdies until it worked

--- 

Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.

Connect with Leah:

Website: breakingprecedent.com/ 

Instagram: @labunleashed

X: @labunleashed

In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan talks with Trevor Paglen, an artist, researcher, and adventurer. Trevor shares the hidden layers of our world through art, from covert military installations to undersea internet cables. His work, featured in renowned institutions like the Pace Art Gallery and the Smithsonian Institute, spans photographing submerged cables to launching art into space. They discuss the intersection of art and AI, its societal implications, and how technological advancements redefine visual culture. Paglen's innovative approach challenges precedents and reshapes our understanding of the world and the unseen forces influencing it.

Guest Bio and Links:

Trevor Paglen is an acclaimed artist, photographer, and geographer whose work explores surveillance, secrecy, and technology themes. His unique practice merges art with investigative journalism, creating works that question societal norms and unveil unseen structures in modern society. Paglen’s work has been showcased at the Pace Gallery, the Smithsonian Institute, and even launched into orbit.

Listeners can learn more about at his website, on IG @trevorpaglen

Resources:

Law: Retired Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer on what is precedent?

Show Notes: 

• (0:00) Intro
• (0:20) Leah introduces guest, Trevor Paglen: Artist, Researcher, and Adventurer to Breaking Precedent 
• (5:00) The role of precedent in Art
• (7:45) Three different pockets of precedence 
• (11:00) The intersection of Art and AI
• (16:30) The PsyOps project at Pace Gallery
• (18:00) The influence of military upbringing
• (22:30) Paglen recounts early military experiences that created curiosity 
• (27:00) Surveillance Art - making the invisible visible
• (32:30) The evolution of data collection and AI
• (35:00) The impact of training data on AI systems
• (39:00) Experimental Geography and Scholarship
• (40:30) Trevor describes his artistic goal as “understanding how to see the world.”
• (44:45) Art in Space - The Last Pictures project
• (49:30) Ethical considerations in creating for the future
• (56:30) Art’s potential to challenge societal norms

--- 

Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.

Connect with Leah:

Website: breakingprecedent.com/ 

Instagram: @labunleashed

X: @labunleashed