Best The Department of Better Technology Podcasts (2024)

1
How to Nail Product-Market Fit and Scale a B2B Company with Thejo Kote of Airbase 57:45

21h ago57:45

57:45

Thejo Kote (@thejo) talks to Village partner Ben Casnocha. Thejo is a two-time founder and CEO. His current company, Airbase, is a spend management platform serving companies with 100 and 5,000 employees like Coda, 15Five, Front, Marqueta, CaptivateIQ, Abnormal, and more. Airbase has raised over $200 million, has tens of millions in ARR, and is con…

1
Making Design Better—better—with weekly episodes, an enhanced newsletter, and more 5:21

2d ago5:21

5:21

Tldr; We’re transitioning to weekly episode releases, publishing an enhanced newsletter, and simplifying our premium subscription which will now be on Substack. Read the details below … Upgrade to paid Weekly episodes For years, we’ve been on a semi-weekly cadence for new episodes, but this schedule is proving too limiting for the amount of intervi…

1
Encore: Cloudflare Co-Founder Michelle Zatlyn’s Advice on Hiring, Fundraising, Scaling, and more 50:26

9d ago50:26

50:26

Michelle Zatlyn (@zatlyn), co-founder, president, and COO of Cloudflare, joined Village Global co-founder and partner Ben Casnocha for a masterclass with our founders in late 2020. They discussed: - The origin story of Cloudflare, including how the co-founders met, and how Michelle realized that she too could start a company. - Her advice on fundra…

1
#130: Justin Brooks — Author of “You Might Go to Prison, Even Though You're Innocent,” Founder of the California Innocence Project, Director of the LLM Program in Law at University of San Diego 28:23

10d ago28:23

28:23

According to a recent study, about 4-6% of all those incarcerated are considered to be wrongly imprisoned. That’s over 70,000 people who are wrongly incarcerated every year. Today’s guest, Justin Brooks has dedicated his life to representing those who have fallen victim to wrongful incarceration. Justin practiced as a criminal defense attorney in W…

1
Brian Tyler, composer for Yellowstone, Crazy Rich Asians, Mario Brothers, and more, on his creative process 44:15

17d ago44:15

44:15

Find the transcript, full show notes, and more on our Substack: https://designbetterpodcast.com/p/brian-tyler Our conversation today takes us further into the creative process across different mediums. If you’re a fan of Yellowstone, Crazy Rich Asians, Iron Man 3, or the recent Mario Brothers movie, then chances are good that one of the soundtrack …

1
Experimenting with Collective Agreements with Jane Mulkewich 44:29

17d ago44:29

44:29

Explore the nexus of leadership and legal frameworks in this insightful podcast episode. Explore shared leadership, workplace dynamics, and unions' pivotal role in advocating for workers' rights. Gain actionable strategies for fostering inclusive cultures, navigating legal complexities, and driving organizational excellence. Tune in for essential i…

1
Lessons from the Early Days at Uber and Advice for Founders with Kevin Novak 46:37

21d ago46:37

46:37

We're excited to launch a new EIR program for data science founders in partnership with Rackhouse Ventures, founded by Kevin Novak. Learn more about the program: https://www.villageglobal.vc/rackhouse-village-global-eir-program Kevin Novak (@novakkm), an early Uber employee, was instrumental in developing their data science program and was the crea…

1
#129: Jennifer Pahlka — Author of “Recoding America: Why Government is Failing in the Digital Age and How We Can Do Better,” Fmr. US Deputy Chief Technology Officer, Founder of Code for America 18:18

23d ago18:18

18:18

According to a Pew Research poll, over 40% of adults in the United States are considered to be digitally illiterate, and while America’s crumbling transportation infrastructure often makes headlines, its digital infrastructure is equally as out of date. Organizations from the IRS, to the healthcare system are still relying on technology from the 80…

1
Bonus: Eric Snowden, Head of Adobe Design, on AI + Design 49:09

24d ago49:09

49:09

Find the transcript, show notes, and more on our Substack: https://designbetterpodcast.com/p/eric-snowden Adobe has been the big wrench in our creative toolbox for decades. But there’s a new tool shaking up our workflow —Generative AI. Eric Snowden, leader of Adobe’s design team, sees a big opportunity for designers to extend and enhance the creati…

1
#128: Dave Eng, EdD — Clinical Professor of eLearning, Training + Development, + Instructional Design at NYU, Principle at University XP, Founder of Bandito’s Gaming on Games, Theory, and Tech 22:38

1M ago22:38

22:38

A study came across our desks recently that said, gamification was “just a fad.” We’re going to disagree with that, and so does our guest today Dr. Dave Eng; a creative intellectual, educator, designer, & researcher focusing on games, theory, and technology. Dave serves as the faculty member of NYU’s School of Professional Studies and the Principle…

1
Kate Aronowitz: Shaping the story of design in business 51:33

1M ago51:33

51:33

Visit our Substack for transcript, show notes, and more: https://designbetterpodcast.com/p/kate-aronowitz Few designers have an instinct for business fundamentals. Those that do are able to position design as a competitive advantage for a business and pave the way for design teams to collaborate more effectively. Kate Aronowitz is one of those rare…

1
#127: Dr. Jerry Lynch — Author of “The Mindful Coach,” Founder and Director of Way of Champions, Former Naval Officer, Sports Psychologist, Philosopher 57:54

1M ago57:54

57:54

Who’s ready for our first podcast 3-peat? Dr. Jerry Lynch is back for his third solo appearance on the Bring It In podcast, to share with us some wisdom from his latest book, “The Mindful Coach.” Dr. Jerry Lynch is the Founder of Way of Champions, a performance consultancy that combines elite sports psychology, with international philosophy concept…

1
Dairy Designed for Health 36:36

1M ago36:36

36:36

Prof Paul Cotter, Head of Food Biosciences at Teagasc, joins host Jeremy Probert to talk about his work – including fermented dairy products and their health benefits, mapping the microbiome of milk to understand how better to use it for gut health.By VistaMilk SFI Research Centre

1
Encore Episode: John Donahoe’s Lessons on Leadership and Being a Better CEO 54:14

1M ago54:14

54:14

This encore episode is a recording of a special masterclass roundtable session for our founders with John Donahoe. John is CEO of Nike and was previously CEO of ServiceNow and eBay. He is known as one of the most inspirational leaders in Silicon Valley and is a highly sought-after mentor to CEOs including Brian Chesky at Airbnb, Drew Houston at Dro…

1
#126: Alissa Quart — Author of “Bootstrapped: Liberating Ourselves from the American Dream,” Prof. at Columbia University, Executive Director of the Economic Hardships Reporting Project, Nieman Fellow 26:23

2M ago26:23

26:23

You’ve probably heard the term “pull yourself up by your bootstraps,” referring to one's ability to pick themselves up, and get to work. But what if we said the whole phrase was actually a joke? There’s no one better to explain this than Alissa Quart, an author, professor at Brown and Columbia Universities, and the Executive Director of the Economi…

1
Ellen Lupton: Thinking With Type 43:41

1M ago43:41

43:41

For decades, graphic designers have been introduced to typography by Ellen Lupton’s book, Thinking With Type. It was certainly a staple in Aarron’s courses when he taught graphic design. It’s now in its third edition, with loads of new content. It’s worth noting, the layout of each page of this book is beautiful and entirely designed by Ellen herse…

1
Experimenting with Learning about Sexuality with Dr. Kim Alexander 29:11

2M ago29:11

29:11

Join us on The Experimental Leader as we delve into uncharted territories with Dr. Kim Alexander in an episode that redefines leadership and sexual health education. From navigating leadership transitions to unraveling the complexities of sexual education, we explore the intersections and implications for personal growth and organizational dynamics…

1
Growing Better Milk 32:55

2M ago32:55

32:55

Jeremy Probert is joined by VistaMilk PhD researcher Renata Kostovska to talk about swards – and how including different plants, which require less fertiliser, alongside traditional rye grass in pasture can benefit the quantity and quality of milk cows produce.By VistaMilk SFI Research Centre

1
Identifying 275M Unreported Genetic Variations To Improve Healthcare with NIH All of Us Program CTO Chris Lunt 49:08

2M ago49:08

49:08

Chris Lunt is a technology executive with more than 25 years of experience building web services and data platforms. He is in his seventh year as the CTO for the NIH's All of Us Research Program. He joined the NIH from GetInsured, where he worked to improve health insurance shopping and enrollment systems. Previously Chris ran VC-backed internet st…

1
Jonathan Hoefler: Typography legend on type history, philosophy, and entrepreneurship 1:02:41

2M ago1:02:41

1:02:41

Visit our Substack for the transcript, additional show notes and links, and more: https://designbetterpodcast.com/p/jonathan-hoefler Chances are you have a few fonts on your computer designed by Jonathan Hoefler. Since 1991, Apple has included Hoefler Text on every Mac. Ideal Sans, Knockout, Archer, Verlag, and Sentinel—are a few more of Hoefler’s …

1
Bonus: Hamish Smyth of Standards 42:35

2M ago42:35

42:35

Visit our Substack for the transcript, links, and more: https://designbetterpodcast.com/p/hamish-smyth Design systems have been on the minds of those of us in the software industry for more than a decade now and for good reason. To create large scale software with a consistent experience, standards are needed to guide contributors. This is not a ne…

1
How to become a better leader in the era of hybrid work 23:58

2M ago23:58

23:58

This week on The Big REthink, host Susan Campbell speaks with leadership expert Karen Colligan about how to become a better leader. Colligan is the founder of PeopleThink, a company that trains executives, teams, and individuals in leadership skills. In this episode, she shares some of the key steps to acquiring these skills – and defining a compan…

1
Building Hardware Companies and Choosing Co-Founders with Michael Hochberg 57:04

2M ago57:04

57:04

Michael Hochberg (https://www.linkedin.com/in/hochberg/) is a physicist and a founder of four successful startup companies in semiconductors and telecommunications, including Luxtera, acquired by Cisco in 2019, and Elenion, acquired by Nokia in 2020. He won the highest awards for young scientists in Singapore (NRF Fellowship) and the United States …

1
White People Work: Anti-Racism Work for White People 33:59

2M ago33:59

33:59

In this podcast episode, Melanie Parish and Beverly Horton navigate the complexities of leadership, mental health, and workplace inclusivity. They introduce an eye-opening anti-racism program, shedding light on the internal journey for individuals. The conversation delves into the challenges of fostering dialogue and self-reflection on race and ide…

1
Secondaries with Matt Pellini of Hamilton Lane 40:19

3M ago40:19

40:19

Matt Pellini, Managing Director at Hamilton Lane, joins Olga Serhiyevich on this episode. Highlights: - Matt says the secondaries market has grown over 5x from 15 years ago to now. - Selling in the secondary market used to be a sign of distress but is no longer. There are many different reasons for doing so and it’s mostly a sign of a manager being…

1
Bonus: Hiroki Asai, Global Head of Marketing at Airbnb 52:01

3M ago52:01

52:01

Find a transcript and more show notes on our Substack: https://designbetterpodcast.com/p/hiroki-asai Airbnb and Apple have a few things in common: They’re both design-centric companies, they sell products through best-in-class marketing, and they’ve achieved incredible success by focusing on the customer. There’s one more thing they have in common—…

1
Lessons Learned From Running CalSTRS with Chris Ailman 52:38

3M ago52:38

52:38

Christopher Ailman (@CJAtheCIO), Chief Investment Officer at CalSTRS, joins Olga Serhiyevich on this episode. Highlights: - CalSTRS, the California State Teachers’ Retirement System, was created in 1913 and is actually older than Social Security. It has over 400 members who are over 100 years old who are still receiving their pension. - Chris says …

1
Vanessa Gennarelli: Surviving Change at Work 52:34

3M ago52:34

52:34

Find the transcript and full show notes on our Substack: https://designbetterpodcast.com/p/vanessa-gennarelli Change at work is tough, and it’s seemingly constant. New leadership, new boss, new role, new responsibilities, new strategies. Suddenly, everything you thought was certain has been upended and you’re left fretting about what’s next. Though…

1
Encore: Mark Pincus on Product Management, Raising Capital, and Building Zynga 1:10:17

3M ago1:10:17

1:10:17

This encore episode is a recording of a special event where Mark Pincus (@markpinc) was interviewed by Ben Casnocha in San Francisco in front of a live audience of portfolio founders, friends of the firm, and LPs. Mark is co-founder and Executive Chairman of Zynga, and is an angel investor in Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, and other companies. He tal…

1
Encore: Bill Gates on Advice For Founders, Mistakes, and Philanthropy 59:58

3M ago59:58

59:58

This encore episode is a recording of a special event where Bill Gates was interviewed in San Francisco by Julia Hartz, co-founder of Eventbrite. It originally took place in 2018 in front of a live audience of Village Global founders and friends of the firm. We are honored to count Bill Gates among our luminary LPs whose financial capital and engag…

1
Scott Rice: Creative lessons learned teaching film with Matthew McConaughey 49:00

3M ago49:00

49:00

With a more than 100 year history, movie making has a lot to teach us about collaboration and creativity in complex environments. How do directors bring together so many people with such different skills for months, sometimes years, to make a movie that holds together as a story that entertains and makes a profit? That’s exactly what we asked Scott…

1
Encore: Jerry Yang on Yahoo!, Early-Stage Investing, and China 56:18

4M ago56:18

56:18

Jerry originally joined us on the podcast in 2019. He is co-founder of Yahoo! and founding partner of AME Cloud Ventures. He was interviewed in front of a live audience in San Francisco by Village Global co-founder and partner, Ben Casnocha. Jerry told stories from the early days of Yahoo! and explained his lessons learned from the experience. He a…

1
Healing and Transformation: Unveiling the Power Within with Gul Sonmez 29:08

4M ago29:08

29:08

Explore leadership, self-care, and equitable assignments. Dive into mindfulness tools, meditation, and unique perspectives on personal growth. Discover the transformative power of psychic abilities in trauma healing, individually and collectively. Uncover insights into coaching, authenticity, and the importance of tailored approaches. Join us for a…

1
How Superplastic Built a Social Media-Native Character Universe 44:00

4M ago44:00

44:00

Paul Budnitz, founder of Superplastic, and Jennifer van Dijk, CEO of Superplastic, join Christina Des Vaux, head of marketing and platform at Village Global, on this episode. Takeaways: Superplastic is a creatively-led company that has managed to maintain its unique identity and artistic integrity while nevertheless running a thriving business. The…

1
Autumn Durald Arkapaw: Cinematographer for Wakanda Forever and Loki on the overlap between design and photography 57:03

4M ago57:03

57:03

Find more show notes and the transcript on our Substack: https://designbetterpodcast.com/p/autumn-durald-arkapaw-cinematographer The Marvel Cinematic Universe has dominated the box office and streaming platforms for years, and our guest, Autumn Durald Arkapaw, has played a significant role in shaping the look of the series. Autumn was the cinematog…

1
Transitioning in the Workplace with Hannah Howard 40:36

4M ago40:36

40:36

Embark on a journey of positivity and inclusivity in this episode of The Experimental Leader. From overcoming challenges with grace to embracing the power of Kanban boards in gender identity transitions, discover the uplifting impact of effective communication and self-actualization. Personal anecdotes shed light on the joyous moments of navigating…

1
Rewind: Midcentury modern design principles and Heath Ceramics 41:05

4M ago41:05

41:05

We hope that you’re having a festive holiday season, and that you’re able to take some time off to be with friends and family. Today we’re rewinding to our interview with Robin Petravic, co-owner of Heath Ceramics. We love Heath Ceramics. They're the types of objects you pass on from generation to generation, the kind of gift you bring to a wedding…

1
#125: Cody Royle — Author of "Second Set Of Eyes," "The Tough Stuff," and "Where Others Won’t," Head Coach at Where Others Won’t Inc., Former Head Coach of the Australian Football League Canada 28:12

4M ago28:12

28:12

We’ve had our fair share of coaches on the podcast on how to lead and guide people, but how do you lead and guide other coaches to improve their game?Enter today’s guest, Cody Royle, a coach who’s dedicated his entire focus on improving other coaches through the ‘user experience’ of coaching.Cody’s coaching career has taken him from playing Rugby i…

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