The Interesting

Dr. Joy Johnson is deeply interested in the full stack of engineering electronics: from particles to products. An alum of North Carolina State University, and a graduate from MIT with her doctorate in Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, Joy led mobile development at an MIT-founded music technology startup, AudioCommon. She currently works at Apple in their Special Projects Group and is on the Alumni board of the GEM Fellowship Program, and other STEM-related non-profits focused on providing technical, and research experiences for minorities and women. In this chat Joy tells us about persistence, and finishing well.

Arthur Musah is a filmmaker from Ghana, Ukraine, and the United States. His first documentary NAIJA BETA premiered in 2016 at the Pan African International Film Festival in Cannes, and has won several other awards. He studied filmmaking in the MFA program at the University of Southern California as an Annenberg Fellow, and holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from MIT. He continues his exploration of African identities in a globalized age through his upcoming feature ONE DAY I TOO GO FLY. In this chat Arthur tells us about the power of having good mentors, the importance of failure, and trying.

Dr. Niaja Farve is a researcher, software developer and entrepreneur. A graduate from Morgan State University and MIT, Niaja pursued her studies in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. She is a software developer at a Startup, and the C.E.O of i-Trek, a non-profit that seeks to create outreach opportunities that steer students into Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, and other associated fields of study. In this chat she tells us about “reaching back to help others.”

Arlene Ducao is a creative engineer who makes technologies that examine the relationship between the natural landscape, our built environments, and ourselves. She is a Principal at the DuKode Studio, a scientific and environmental design firm in Brooklyn, and the CEO and cofounder of Dukode's affiliate company Multimer. In this chat she tells us about “staying in the room.”

Edson Breedy is a medical student, Taekwondo athlete, and coach from Trinidad & Tobago. He has garnered numerous competition medals and continues to demonstrate his drive and dedication to the sport of taekwondo. In this chat he talks with us about focused practice, overcoming fears, and reframing obstacles into advantages.

Introducing a new podcast series from Research Scientist, Writer, and Architect - Vernelle Noel