Twentyfour the People

Familiar with blockchain technology? Does Bitcoin ring a bell? Note quite sure how the two are related? Hear from one of the best in the business—Jinglan Wang. Jing is one of the few women on the forefront of cryptography. After founding the Wellesley Bitcoin Club and serving as co-president of the MIT Bitcoin Club, she left college to found a few companies, manage cryptocurrency funds, and write the textbook Cryptoeconomics: An Introduction. She served as the Executive Director of the Blockchain Education Network (BEN), with the mission to create a world that is more open and free by promoting technological literacy with decentralized technologies. In this episode, Jing explains blockchain and Bitcoin from the ground up and addresses the political, trade, and human rights implications of blockchain technology.

Elizabeth Beisel is more than an Olympian—she's a loyal friend, a talented violinist, and a humble leader who is determined to make a difference. You'll hear her open up about overcoming the pressure of competing at such a young age, share her approach as Captain of the U.S. Olympic Swim Team, and discuss her pursuit of promoting environmental integrity. To top it off, don't miss the top three things she plans on crossing off her list this upcoming year.

Jess Davidson, Executive Director of End Rape on Campus, and I sat down the week before Judge Kavanaugh was confirmed to the Supreme Court on October 6th. The Senate was ripped apart over his confirmation, along with the rest of America, in light of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford accusing him of sexual assault. A survivor herself, Jess dedicates her days to preventing sexual harassment and assault from further permeating American culture. Listen as she leans in, armed with her own story, on the significance and lasting effects of this moment in history.

As the vote nears, and Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination for the Supreme Court of the United States remains pending, our country is on edge. TIME wrote, “History often seems inexorable in hindsight, shaped by powerful figures operating beyond our control. But when Dr. Christine Blasey Ford walked in to face the Senate Judiciary Committee on Sept. 27, raised her right hand and swore to tell the truth, it was clear that an unassuming psychology professor and mother of two was about to change the course of current events in real time.” The voices in this episode belong to mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends, all of whom are ready for the normalcy of rape culture and sexual assault in the United States to end.

On August 19, 2018, hundreds of people from the Cameroon Ambazonian regions gathered in front of the White House asking for U.S. intervention in restoring the independence of the former British Southern Cameroons, Ambazonia. Since peaceful protests for independence began one year ago, the government has met the Ambazonian people with violence, killing men, women, and children alike. Although the upcoming Cameroonian presidential election offers no glimpse of change, advocates Sammy Anyam and Ray Wung both plan to one day return to their beloved home free of persecution.

Welcome to Twentyfour the People, a podcast that shares the extraordinary work, opinions, and stories of people just like you. I'm your host, Sophia Sokolowski, and I invite you to join me as I dive into 24-minute discussions with guests from all walks-of-life. I believe that, if we listen and learn from the those around us, together we can accelerate towards becoming a more just and empathetic world. For more information, visit twentyfourthepeople.com. You can also find us on Instagram and Twitter @24thepeople.