The Upsiders

Welcome back to The Upsiders. For decades, our consumer culture has been built on a foundation of planned obsolescence, leaving us with a staggering amount of waste and a forgotten skill: the art of repair.

In this episode, we're mending that disconnect. Inspired by John Wackman and Elizabeth Knight’s book, Repair Revolution: Fixing What’s Broken, we dive into the global movement of Repair Cafes. These grassroots initiatives are sparking a reskilling revolution, proving that we can be more than just a society of consumers.

Discover how these community hubs are not only preventing waste but are also building stronger bonds. With a remarkable 70-85% success rate, these cafes are teaching invaluable skills, bridging the partisan divide by bringing people together over a shared mission, and empowering communities to reclaim agency over their belongings. Join us as we explore the 2,000 Repair Cafes across 33 countries and ask: can fixing what’s broken—from a toaster to a torn seam—be the key to a more sustainable and connected future?

SHOW NOTES:

Repair Revolution | John Wackman and Elizabeth Knight

Repair Cafe Movement

Right to Repair | Wikipedia

Repair café offers free fixes for broken items to help limit environmental waste | WRTV Indianapolis

Repair Cafes: Community Solutions for Our Throwaway Consumer Culture | Simply Living

Repair Cafés breathe new life into broken household items, teach people to fix on their own | ABC7 Chicago

At Repair Cafes, ‘Beloved but Broken’ Possessions Find New Life | New York Times

Repair cafes are back after the pandemic, and they're only getting more popular | NPR

What is Radical Hospitality?

Get ready to look to the sky, Upsiders! This is the most excited Los has been about an upside so far. On this special episode, Los and Bertram explore a truly futuristic vision of agriculture that's already taking root and revolutionizing how we get our food: vertical farming. As traditional arable land dwindles at an alarming rate and the global demand for food skyrockets, we dive into how farming upwards is not just efficient, but essential for our future. We'll explore the incredible benefits of vertical farming, from year-round access to fresh produce – like the world's first vertical strawberry farm leveraging AI to perfect peak-season flavor – to its ability to thrive anywhere, even in urban centers typically far from farmland. Discover how companies like Eden Green and Dream Harvest are innovating in this space, even offering fun, carbon-negative blends.

But it's not all sunshine and hydroponics; we also tackle the challenges, including the energy demands of artificial lighting and climate control, and how ongoing research aims to overcome these hurdles. Plus, we uncover a surprising solution to the problem of empty office buildings: transforming them into bustling vertical farms, solving two urban challenges at once. Tune in to see why vertical farming is truly on the up-and-up!

Show Notes:

Vertical Strawberry Farm in Virginia Uses AI to Create Maximum Berries With Peak-Season Flavor Year-Round | Good News Network

How far can vertical farming go? | BBC

Earth has lost a third of arable land in past 40 years, scientists say | The Guardian

The 19 Biggest Companies in Vertical Farming Today | Eden Green

Vertical Farming Has Found Its Fatal Flaw | Wired

Vertical Farming – No Longer A Futuristic Concept | USDA Agricultural Research Service

Empty Office Buildings Are Being Turned Into Vertical Farms | Smithsonian Magazine

In a world often dominated by large corporations, The Upsiders are setting their sights on the agile, impactful force that is the micro-business.

Echoing John Paul Jones's bold declaration, "I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not intend to go fast, for I intend to go in harm’s way," Los and Bertram explore how these nimble enterprises are the true pioneers, driving innovation and giving our world new direction with speed and intent.

They dive into what constitutes a micro-business – typically fewer than 10 people – and distinguish the ambition of a "micropreneur" from that of a traditional entrepreneur. Discover how this smaller scale offers incredible flexibility, lower overhead, and the ability to rapidly adapt and experiment.

They also explore the growing trend of "micro-retailing," where even retail giants are adopting smaller, more focused footprints, proving that sometimes, less is indeed more. Join The Upsiders as they celebrate the dynamic spirit of micro-businesses, the unsung heroes challenging the status quo and proving that big impact can come in small packages.

SHOW NOTES:

A look at small businesses in the U.S. | Pew Research Center

Facts & Data on Small Business and Entrepreneurship | SBE Council

What is micro-retailing and why is it a growing trend? | Econsultancy

What is micro-business? | Wolters Kluwer

Entrepreneurship and the U.S. Economy | US Bureau of Labor Statistics

Join Los and Bertram on The Upsiders as they explore a revolutionary vision for urban living: the 15-minute city. Imagine a world where your daily needs – work, groceries, leisure, and community – are all within a comfortable 15-minute walk or bike ride. We delve into the ambitious work of Carlos Moreno, the driving force behind this concept, and his mission to reshape cities around people, not cars.

We discuss the potential for increased walkability, stronger communities, and a more human-centered urban experience. To bring this concept to life, we examine Culdesac Tempe, Arizona, a groundbreaking car-free neighborhood designed with walkability at its core.

While acknowledging some early skepticism and the complexities of large-scale urban change, Los and Bertram highlight the positive potential of these initiatives to create more livable, sustainable, and connected urban environments for the future.

Show Notes:

Culdesac | A Car-Free Neighborhood

America’s “First Car-Free Neighborhood” Is Going Pretty Good, Actually? | Dwell

Meet the Micro-Retailers | Culdesac

TEDtalk: The 15-minute City | Carlos Moreno

15-minute Cities | Buro Happhold

This week on The Upsiders, Los and Bertram take a deep dive into the revolutionary changes reshaping the landscape of American education, focusing on empowering students with agency and real-world skills. We begin by exploring Sam Chaltain's vision of student freedom, defined as the space to pursue passions within a framework of interconnectedness, and his observations at Purdue Polytechnic High School.

We then examine how the XQ Competencies are transforming educational assessment, better preparing students for the complexities of adult life. Don Wettrick and the STARTed UP Foundation are mentioned as we discuss their innovative approach to fostering entrepreneurship and student agency.

Shifting our focus to workforce development, we delve into TechPoint's coalition efforts to establish robust youth apprenticeship programs, drawing inspiration from the Swiss model of education. We further explore the impactful work of the CEMETS iLAB at the Richard Fairbanks Foundation, which is facilitating interest-based internships and career exploration for Indiana students.

We also reflect on a poignant moment from our sister podcast, Voices of Indianapolis, where students interviewed Kyle Hickman of Rebuilding Together, emphasizing the importance of considering potential pitfalls alongside positive outcomes. While we celebrate the upside of these educational innovations, we acknowledge the need for mindful planning and problem-solving.

Ultimately, we reinforce the crucial role of interest-based, work-based learning in bridging the gap between students and employers, and in fostering a generation of empowered, skilled, and forward-thinking individuals.

Disclaimer: Please note that the views and opinions expressed in this episode of The Upsiders are solely those of the hosts and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of the individuals or organizations mentioned.

SHOW NOTES:

The Future of Learning by Sam Chaltain | Youtube

In Indianapolis, an Adventure in Magnitudes Is Reshaping the Future of School | Sam Chaltain

XQ Competencies | XQ

Connecting Classroms to the Real World | STARTedUP Foundation

Empowering the Next Generation of Business Titans | High School Hustle

Indiana leaders form coalition to build, grow youth apprenticeship | Tech Point

Mission41k | TechPoint

Can Indiana Crack the Code on Swiss-Style Apprenticeship? | WorkShift

CEMETS iLAB Indiana | Richard Fairbanks Foundation

Indiana Career Scholarship Account | State of Indiana

Fixing Indianapolis and Helping Homeowners in Need: Rebuilding Together with Kyle Hickman | Podcast on Spotify

From the murderous automatons of early science fiction to the collaborative cobots of today, robots have always fascinated and, at times, unnerved us. Join Los and Bertram on The Upsiders as they delve into the evolving world of robotics, exploring how these intelligent, physically embodied machines are reshaping our lives.

We'll unpack the key components that make a robot, from the sensing capabilities that prevent collisions to the actuators that power their movements, including the fascinating advancements in soft robotics. Discover how cobots are transforming workplaces, working safely alongside humans to handle repetitive tasks and improve efficiency, from vacuuming hotel floors to assisting diners at Chili’s.

We'll also explore the cutting-edge research into robotic intuition, examining how AI is enabling robots to understand and prioritize tasks in complex environments, potentially revolutionizing search and rescue operations and even giving super-powered abilities to our canine companions. Join us as we look beyond the fears of job displacement and uncover the positive impact robots are having on our present and future.

Show Notes

The Robot Report | Exploring the Business and Applications of Robotics

Everything you wanted to know about soft, hard, and nonmurderous automatons. | The WIRED Guide to Robots

What are Cobots? | Built In

Chili’s to deploy Rita the Robot at 51 more locations | Restaurant Dive

The Future of Work: How AI and Automation Are Changing Business | Aspen University

Helping robots zero in on the objects that matter | MIT

Welcome to The Upside, the podcast that explores the fascinating things happening right now. Join Your Friendly Neighborhood Los and Bertram as they delve into the world of artificial intelligence and its surprising contributions to our lives. This week, we're not just talking about robots and self-driving cars. We're exploring how AI is revolutionizing industries you might not expect.

We'll discover how AI is transforming our lives. We'll explore the life-saving potential of AI in healthcare, focusing on its impact on early cancer detection and personalized treatment plans. We'll also examine how AI is boosting human creativity and pushing the boundaries of artistic expression. Finally, we'll uncork the world of AI-powered sommeliers, revealing how technology is changing the way we experience and appreciate fine beverages.

Join Los and Bertram as they uncover the unexpected ways AI is shaping our world, one story at a time. It's The Upside – your time machine to the most exciting moments of today.

SHOW NOTES

There is a promise in AR/VR technology to help students on the Autism Spectrum to learn better | 3DBearIO

Artificial intelligence-assisted esophageal cancer management: Now and future | National Library of Medicine

How AI might help researchers make esophageal cancer less deadly | LA Times

How Generative AI Can Augment Human Creativity | Harvard Business Review

The AI Sommelier: AI Has Revolutionized the Wine Industry and How Your Industry Benefit | Forbes

Original Publish Date: October 11, 2024

Join Bertram and Los on The Upsiders, a podcast that takes you on a journey through time to discover the brighter side of today's world. In our inaugural episode, we dive into the world of streaming platforms and their seemingly endless supply of shows. But did you know that even with all these options, there are still countless gems lost in the annals of television history?

In this episode, we explore four forgotten shows that deserve a second look:

• American Grit: A reality competition series that put contestants through intense physical and mental challenges.

• Boot Camp: A reality competition show that followed recruits through the grueling training process of military boot camp.

• Murder in Small Town X: A reality murder-mystery game show that delved into the mysteries and secrets of a small town.

• Ghostwriter: A children's show where a group of kids solves local crimes, capers, and mysteries in their neighborhood, with the help of a ghost who can only communicate through writing and words.

Discover why these shows were so special and why they deserve to be rediscovered. Tune in to The Upsiders to hear Bertram and Los discuss the impact these shows had on television and why they believe they should be brought back to life.