Hyperlink Radio: Brands, Technology, and News

On Season 2, Episode 10 of Hyperlink Radio, it's Part 2 of The Seventh Generation—our two-part special on climate change. Host David Grabowski walks us through the underlying issues of the climate change crisis which he asserts isn't climate change itself, but the political stalemate that's blocking nationwide action.

To get to the bottom of things, David is joined by Dan Kahan—the Elizabeth K. Dollard Professor of Law & Professor of Psychology at Yale Law School and head of the Cultural Cognition Project. Much of Dan's research has focused on the political polarization around climate change and getting to the root of why it exists. The answers will probably surprise you.

David also chats with Valerie Bane—she's the Chapter Leader for the Sacramento Chapter of Citizen's Climate Lobby, a nonpartisan group that advocates for political climate change action through a measure called Carbon Fee and Dividend. Valerie explains what that is and why it might be the best bipartisan political measure for lowering emissions in America.

The movement to fight climate change may be the most important period in human history, David summarizes. If you're a concerned citizen, this is the episode for you! (Don't miss out on Part 1 if you haven't heard it yet.)

On Season 2, Episode 9 of Hyperlink Radio, Non Wels interviews Out of Print Co-Founder Todd Lawton about the transformative, magical world of books. Out of Print celebrates this literary magic, increasing literacy in the process. Non and Todd talk about the origin story of Out of Print: How a passion for books turned into a successful, mission-driven brand. Through the conversation, specifics are revealed about how Out of Print celebrates a nerd-status love of books while also sparking social progress.

If you're a bibliophile then you're in good company! The story of Out of Print is a critical example of how a brand can celebrate its passion while also bettering the world around it. This is what happens when book nerds start a business. The result is pretty awesome.

Thanks for listening to Hyperlink Radio! Be sure to read the article companion to this episode, "Brands That Give Back," on our Medium channel.

On Season 2, Episode 8 of Hyperlink Radio, Ray Sylvester brings us up to speed on the ongoing battle for a free internet—the fight for net neutrality. In December of 2017, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) put the kibosh on a two and a half year experiment in net neutrality. But that's not the end of the story, urges Ray: The battleground of this debate has shifted wide open. The fate of net neutrality is still undecided. What happens next?

A survey by the University of Maryland right around the time of the FCC decision found that 83 percent of Americans support net neutrality. In January, more than twenty states and the District of Columbia sued to try to block the FCC's decision. As of March, twelve lawsuits had been filed by more than three dozen entities. A consolidated lawsuit will be heard at a federal appeals court in California.

In other words: It's on.

On Season 2, Episode 7 of Hyperlink Radio, Non Wels sits down with fellow teammates, Sara Jane, Mindy Holahan Peters, and David Grabowski to talk about some of our favorite recent podcasts we're listening to, books we're reading, and music we're jamming to. It's another iteration of Earholes and Eyeballs on Hyperlink Radio!In this episode, in addition to what's keeping our eyes and earholes happy, we also take a moment and remind ourselves of the things in our lives that inspire each of us, and the small, sometimes unforeseen joys we take for granted in our daily lives.

On Season 2, Episode 6 of Hyperlink Radio, Karen Beattie is delving into a facet of American democracy that's currently under serious threat: Voting. Is there any validity to the allegation of Russian hacking in the 2016 election? Are our current voting machines actually secure? How do we prepare for the future and ensure that our voting systems are fair and accurate?In today's episode, Karen Beattie interviews Barbara Simons, PhD, president of the non-partisan organization Verified Voting. Barbara has a unique insight into the vulnerability of our current systems and she has some recommendations for the future as well. As she puts it, any American patriot should be concerned about the accuracy and security of our voting machines. This episode is critical listening—enjoy!

On Season 2, Episode 5 of Hyperlink Radio, Ray Sylvester and Matthew Gartland get together to share in a bit of nostalgia. They're talking about Nintendo, the most popular video game company in the world and an enduring cultural legacy rooted in many of our childhoods. In fact, Nintendo is often credited with ushering in the current era of home gaming, as well as the advent of mobile gaming. But what makes Nintendo so special? Is it their characters? Their storytelling? Is it their innovative approach with systems like the Wii and the brand-new Nintendo Switch? And how does Nintendo continue to do such a spot-on job of staying fresh and innovative? Matt and Ray dive into these topics and a lot more—such as the ingenious Nintendo Labo—in today's episode of Hyperlink Radio.

On Season 2, Episode 4 of Hyperlink Radio, Mindy Holahan Peters is sitting down with James Wolfin, a graduate student at the University of Minnesota Bee Lab to talk about the ongoing struggle to restore a healthy population of bees. But that endeavor isn't just for the bee labs and scientists—James and Mindy discuss what you can do to help encourage the bees in your neighborhood, short of becoming a hobby bee keeper. (And actually, James doesn't necessarily recommend you do that, either.) Did you know that 3/4 of our food products require pollination? Bees are more critically integrated with our existence than many of us realize. Dwindling bee numbers are all of our concern, so this episode is critical listening. Enjoy!

On Season 2, Episode 3 of Hyperlink Radio, David Grabowski, Production Editor, and Ray Sylvester, Editor, sit down for an in-depth exploration of the world of whistleblowers—from Edward Snowden to its tricky place within gargantuan corporate structures, to its resonance in context of the courageous #MeToo movement. Plus, listen in for a crash course in Whistleblowing 101!

On Season 2, Episode 2 of Hyperlink Radio, Non Wels, Integrated Solutions team member at Winning Edits, sits down John Heymann, CEO of One World Play Project, a company founded on a core of social goodness—creating ultra-durable play products for the less fortunate throughout the globe.

Dive inside the climate change crisis from the very beginning with host David Grabowski. Learn about the 97% consensus, the Paris Climate Accord, and the political polarization that's currently preventing national climate change action. This episode features an interview with special guest Dana Nuccitelli, an environmental scientist and Guardian blogger.