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Wagner James Au: "Virtual Reality"

Stayin' Alive in Technology

Release Date: 10/21/2021

Tom Peters: Tom Peters: "If Today Was Your Last Day"

Stayin' Alive in Technology

Tom Peters first burst onto the management and thought leadership scene way back in 1982 with the groundbreaking and massively influential management book he co-authored, In Search of Excellence. His prolific output hasn’t slowed since, and now he’s back with yet another book: Tom Peters’ Compact Guide to Excellence, a collection of quotes he developed in collaboration with iconic designer Nancye Green. Albeit different from his previous releases, this book upholds Tom’s inherent and core belief that treating one another humanely is the best path forward.   In this episode,...

info_outline Wagner James Au: Wagner James Au: "Virtual Reality"

Stayin' Alive in Technology

When Linden Lab’s Second Life debuted in 2003, few anticipated just how much it would popularize the concept of the metaverse. That’s certainly true for James Au, a freelance tech writer who was hired by the company to report on the platform and its users shortly after its launch—by becoming an avatar within the virtual world himself. Listen as he recounts the early days of the platform, how it foreshadowed many of today’s toxic social media issues, and why so many have returned to it during the pan

info_outline Rachel Chalmers: Rachel Chalmers: "Three Horses"

Stayin' Alive in Technology

A veteran of Silicon Valley for 25 years, Rachel Chalmers is certainly at home in the world of tech—though her first home is continents away. As the Head of Corporate Services at AlchemistX, the Corporate Services division of Alchemist Accelerator, some of the world’s most innovative companies rely on her insights when charting their paths. Listen as she discusses how enterprises can stay curious, how to fight burnout, and what she means by saying she prefers gardening over strip-mining.

info_outline Shireen Mitchell: Shireen Mitchell: "You Can't Stop the Girl" Part 2 of 2

Stayin' Alive in Technology

As a woman of color in tech who was hosting coding workshops for women in the early 90s, Shireen Mitchell is well aware of the issues facing minority women in this industry. Founder of Stop Online Violence Against Women, she fights to protect women from unrelenting sexism and harassment online. In part 2 of our time with Shireen, hear about everything from ineffective social media abuse policies and diversity hiring practices to the marks of true allyship and the prevalence of disinformation.

info_outline Shireen Mitchell: Shireen Mitchell: "You Can't Stop the Girl) Part 1 of 2

Stayin' Alive in Technology

Born and raised in 1980s Harlem, Shireen Mitchell is an award-winning woman of color in tech. Her story is filled with overcoming a number of challenges—the same ones she helps other women overcome. And she’s not done. In this first of two episodes, you’ll hear Shireen share candid insights on what women are still facing in tech today, revisit the early days of building BBS boards, and recall stories from her childhood that positioned her to be where she is today.

info_outline Kara Goldin: Kara Goldin: "I Won't Back Down"

Stayin' Alive in Technology

After leaving a career in tech to focus on being a mom, Hint Water’s Kara Goldin probably didn’t envision starting a new company just a few years later—especially in an industry she had no experience with. But as always, her curiosity and willingness to take risks won out. And it worked. In this episode, Kara recalls her early career adventures in NYC, what prompted her move to Silicon Valley in the 90s, and why being curious and trusting your gut can often be more valuable than straight experience.

info_outline Heidi Williams: “History Repeating” show art Heidi Williams: “History Repeating”

Stayin' Alive in Technology

info_outline Bob Alberti: Go Your Own Way (Pt. 2) show art Bob Alberti: Go Your Own Way (Pt. 2)

Stayin' Alive in Technology

While the ability to send data across the earth in seconds has completely changed our civilization, it’s also had some profound consequences that are nowhere near being settled. In this second of two episodes, Bob Alberti continues an enlightening conversation about the progression of the internet he himself had a key role in shaping and where it stands today. Listen as Bob discusses the difficulties of data security and combatting disinformation and closes by offering a helpful bit of career advice.

info_outline Bob Alberti: Bob Alberti: "Go Your Own Way" - Part 1

Stayin' Alive in Technology

Chat rooms, emails, multiplayer network games, search queries—those all existed in the 1970s. And Bob Alberti was right there in the middle of it all, helping to craft what would become the internet into the version we all use now. In the first of two episodes, hear Bob talk about what computer tech was like during the earliest internet days, and how Minnesota was the original Silicon Valley.

info_outline Jenifer Daniels: “Hustle” show art Jenifer Daniels: “Hustle”

Stayin' Alive in Technology

Lack of diversity and representation has always been an issue in the world of tech and B2B—an issue that led Michigan-based entrepreneur Jenifer Daniels to create Colorstock, a hub for original stock photos featuring people of color. In this episode, Jenifer discusses how she launched Colorstock and how its immediate success eventually created some unforeseen dilemmas down the road. She also offers advice and encouragement to women and people of color entering any industry still struggling with inclusivit

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Second Life is widely credited for mainstreaming the concept of the metaverse as a virtual social platform—and today’s guest, James Au, invites us in to hear the inside scoop on how this platform foreshadowed today’s social media and virtual worlds, both in promise and in pitfalls.  

A freelance tech journalist at the time, James was hired to report on the Second Life metaverse shortly after its launch in 2003. He created an avatar and focused on the real-life stories that could get both inspiring and wild, ranging from users who were homeless in real life building virtual mansions to real-life private detectives hired to determine if someone was virtually cheating on their virtual significant other. 

Author of "The Making of Second Life,” James describes what the platform was originally conceived to be like and explains what he means when he calls Second Life “the biggest mystery in Silicon Valley.” And you don’t even need an avatar to listen.

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