Designed By - A Documentary Series

Send us a textIn this empowering episode of Designed By, host Joanna Peña-Bickley sits down with Shelley Zalis, the trailblazing founder and CEO of The Female Quotient. Shelley shares her inspiring journey of building a company that's not just changing the conversation but rewriting the rules for women in the workplace. From launching The Equality Lounge® at CES—now a global equality movement at the biggest industry and cultural events—Shelley explains how she's ensuring women are in the rooms where business happens, leading the way for conscious leaders to shape a more inclusive world. Tune in to hear how Shelley is turning equality from a conversation into an action.Support the show

Send us a Text Message.In this episode of Designed By, host Joanna Peña-Bickley sits down with Krish O'Mara Vignarajah, President & CEO of Global Refuge, for an inspiring and thought-provoking conversation. Krish shares her incredible journey to America, navigating the transition into a new community, and how her experiences shaped her into the leader she is today.Krish delves into her time working alongside the 44th First Lady and her journey running for office, sharing the lessons she learned along the way. She offers unique insights into the complexities of the asylum seeker system, the loud but often untrue narratives surrounding immigration, and the crucial differences between sponsors and advisors in her path towards a better future.Throughout the episode, Krish speaks passionately about the hope she sees for the future, her commitment to creating a more compassionate and just world for those seeking refuge, and how her political aspirations have informed her leadership. This is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of leadership, social justice, and the human stories behind immigration. #DesignedBy #Immigration #SocialJustice #Leadership #KrishOMaraVignarajah #GlobalRefugeSupport the Show.

Send us a Text Message.In this episode of Designed By, host Joanna Peña-Bickley sits down with Raina Kumra Gardiner, a visionary at the intersection of tech, ethics, and design. As the CEO & Founder of Spicewell, Raina is transforming our relationship with food, and her work at Juggernaut is redefining digital transformation. Grounded in the principles of Ayurveda, her journey from design tech guru to functional foods innovator is nothing short of inspiring.Raina's influence spans from advocating for ethical tech with EthicalOS to shaping tech strategy for US Global Media and transforming digital landscapes for iconic brands. As an advisor to Google X and a speaker on ethical AI, she continuously challenges the norm.But her story goes beyond professional achievements; it's deeply personal. After a family health crisis, Raina turned to Ayurveda and the healing power of food, channeling ancestral wisdom into Spicewell. Her vision? A world where our food serves as medicine, starting with reimagined salt and pepper. She's not just changing how we season our meals; she's igniting a movement towards healthier living, one meal at a time.Join us for a conversation filled with inspiration, innovation, and Ayurvedic insights that promise to transform your perspective on health and technology. #DesignedBy #Ayurveda #EthicalTech #Innovation #RainaKumraGardiner #SpicewellSupport the Show.

Send us a Text Message.In this episode, we dive into Black culinary arts with a true innovator, Nicole Taylor.  Nicole is not just a chef but a storyteller who designs Juneteenth experiences through her vibrant cookbook, "Watermelon & Red Birds."Join Joanna & Nicole as they explore over 75 recipes from refreshing Afro-Egg Cream to savory Peach Jam & Molasses Glazed Chicken Thighs, and the innovative Cantaloupe with Feta salad. Her book, perfect for any kitchen from spring to fall, also highlights fun kitchen gadgets to elevate your Juneteenth celebrations and beyond.Nicole's journey from Georgia to Brooklyn and her contributions to New York Times, Bon Appétit, and Food & Wine are as inspiring as her James Beard Award-nominated writing. We'll also discuss her work as the executive producer of "If We So Choose" and her role in co-founding The Maroon, a sanctuary for Black creatives.Tune in to discover how Nicole Taylor blends culture, flavor, and innovation in every dish, and why her work is a must-have for culinary enthusiasts.Show Notes & LinksNicole A. Taylor WebsiteWatermelon and Red Birds: A Cookbook for Juneteenth and Black CelebrationsThe Last O.g. Cookbook: How to Get Mad Culinary SkillsNicole A. Taylor on InstagramNicole A. Taylor on LinkedInPlateful of Juneteenth Support the Show.

Join us in this captivating episode of Designed By as Joanna Peña-Bickley introduces Chloe Gotlieb, a design leader whose Evolutionary Attunement style of leadership is shaping the future of innovative businesses. Chloe Gotlieb's journey is a beacon for those at the intersection of design and visionary leadership, perfectly embodying the spirit of a life well designed.  Her story, from humble beginnings to pioneering change, showcases the essence of design as the ultimate act of leadership—making intentional choices to shape our world.Chloe's achievements reflect our belief that design is a powerful tool for visionary change, whether in business, government, or personal life. Her dedication to empowering others and paving the way for future generations exemplifies our mantra that design is about crafting the future with purpose, not leaving life to chance.As we celebrate Chloe's contributions to the world and leadership, we are reminded of the transformative power of intentional choices. Tune in to hear her inspiring story and insights that will motivate you to design your own path with intention and vision.Support the Show.

In this enlightening episode of "Designed By," Joanna Peña-Bickley connects with Tatyana Mamut, a visionary tech leader and first-generation American, who explores the complex problems democracies face in societal technological transformation. Emerging from this conversation are the outlines of an Ai Peer-ocracy. Drawing from her unique journey and empathetic leadership style, Tatyana discusses how AI can be trained to make governance more reflective of society. She delves into the potential of AI to serve as an alternative to current forms of local and national government, emphasizing the importance of designing these systems to reflect the collective values of fairness, transparency and accountability. This episode not only illuminates Tatyana's anthropological  approach to problem solving, she shares the generational escapes of a family of innovators' influence on her thinking and actions.Join us to discover how Tatyana Mamut's empathetic and inclusive vision for AI could reshape the future of democracy.Show Notes00:00 Make A Donation00:10 “Ai for President” Quote (Opening Quote)00:58 Introduction02:42 Where does your Story Being? - The Story of Tatyana's family & her journey to the states05:06 “I feel that I am the luckiest person alive”06:10 “At a moment in time in History” - The global jewish sisterhood 09:10  Raising Consciousness - “Jews are the most resilient group against Genocide” 13:43 “Leader are only Leaders if there are followers” 14:28 DesignedBy.Show Commercial14:56 All About leadership in place - “Systems don't make decisions” 17:33 The Best Leadership Book to Reads - Yertle the Turtle & Other Stories19:00 Creating with an Anchor in Human History - A Background in Anthropology26:24  Thinking of cultures as systems29:00  Redesign our societal mental model31:43  The Vilification of Learning & Defunding innovation36:25  The importance of updating regulation & the democracy we need39:14  Electing & selecting the right leaders who knows to ask the right questions42:00  Understanding the discord deeper & the creating Ai guard rails49:15  Rachel & Joanna Reflections54:20  Readout Of CreditsSupport the Show.

Enter the soulful world of jazz, where the vibrant spirit of New Orleans and the healing power of music converge. Join Joanna Pena-Bickley on a special episode of Designed By as she welcomes the incomparable Judith Owen.Today, on Designed By, we are honored to introduce Judith Owen to our audience. Her music, a seamless fusion of drama, classical elegance, and jazz spontaneity, serves as a testament to the power of intentional design.Hailing from a musically rich Welsh family and honing her craft in London and New Orleans, Judith's creative evolution transcends genre boundaries. Her latest album, "Come On & Get It," pays homage to trailblazing women of jazz and blues such as Julia Lee, Nellie Lutcher, Julie London, Dinah Shore, and Peggy Lee. Through this project, deeply rooted in New Orleans' musical legacy and brought to life with the Gentleman Callers, Judith exemplifies her dedication to intentional musical innovation and cultural design.At Designed By, we believe that designing our world with purpose is the pinnacle of creativity and leadership. Judith's journey underscores this ethos, demonstrating that her music is not just about notes and rhythms; it's about living with purpose and passion. It's about finding harmony in our choices and melody in our stories. Join us as we embark on this inspiring exploration of Judith Owen's remarkable journey.Episode Links & References:Judith Owen's WebsiteJudith's LinkTreeUnapologetically Judith OwenCome On & Get ItJudith On InstagramEpisode Chapters00:00 Donate To Ai Design Corps00:00 Judith Wisdom2:19 Where Her Story Begins06:47 Music Is The Lifeline09:18 The Ridiculously Late Revelation 10:56 Growing up with true live of music - unapologetic women14:25 Unapologetically Judith Podcast15:26 The Shoulder We Stand On - The Attacks On Women24:06 Keeping Creativity Alive26:13 Mardi Gras 202430:43 Ad Break - Come On & Get It39:12 The Fight Against You Mind41:22 The First Paying Gig51:20 Power Through The Bleak To Get To The Shine53:04 Read Out57:44 Credits58:17 Producer Notes59:20 Substance MonikerSupport the show

In this inspiring episode Joanna Peña-Bickley sits down with the Tony Award-winning sound designer, Jessica Paz, to explore the intricate fusion of art and science in the world of sound design. Jessica, renowned for her work in theater, film, and music, shares her journey and insights that have led to groundbreaking innovations in sound.Listeners will be enthralled as Jessica recounts her experiences working on various acclaimed projects. She delves into her collaboration with Nevin Steinberg on Anaïs Mitchell's "Hadestown," a project that not only won them a Tony Award but also a Drama Desk Award and an Outer Critics Circle nomination. Jessica's insights into this creative process provide a rare glimpse into the makings of a theatrical masterpiece.The conversation also covers her role as an Associate Sound Designer on Broadway hits like "Dear Evan Hansen," "Fela!," and "Disaster! The Musical." Jessica offers a behind-the-scenes look at these productions, discussing the challenges and triumphs of bringing a show's auditory landscape to life.Throughout the episode, Jessica emphasizes the importance of a hands-on approach and lifelong learning in her field. She shares how her relentless pursuit of acoustic exploration and the 'magic of sifting for gold' to delight audiences has shaped her career and contributions to the industry.This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the blend of technical skill and artistic creativity in sound design, and for those who seek to understand how sound shapes our experience of storytelling. Episode Links & References:Jessica Paz's WebsiteHadestownNevin SteinbergSleep No More SoundGirls.OrgSupport the show

Subscriber-only episodeSend us a Text Message.Bonus Episode: Harmonic Healing Designed By Victoria Toy DeiorioPlung into the enthralling realm of biophilic sound design and music therapies. Discover, heal and get lost in the art and science of sound design in this not-to-be-missed bonus episode of DesignedBy.show!

Dive deep into the mesmerizing world of sound with the incomparable Victoria 'Toy' Deiorio. Not just any sound designer, Victoria elegantly weaves her rich tapestry of experiences from ballet, acting, and songwriting into groundbreaking soundscapes that have enchanted theaters goers.Join Joanna Peña-Bickley as she unravels Victoria's 21-year odyssey - a trailblazing journey that has not only garnered critical acclaim for the The Bluest Eye with Steppenwolf, The God of Hell at the Actors Studio, and A Christmas Carol  at the St. Clements - all culminating in a seminal masterpiece, "The Art of Theatrical Sound Design."But Victoria's aural adventure doesn't stop there. Now, she's plunging into the enthralling realm of biophilic sound design and therapies. Discover, celebrate, and get lost in the art and science of sound design in this not-to-be-missed episode of DesignedBy.show!

Meet Reginé Gilbert.  Reginé a seasoned user experience designer and spatial computing expert, an accomplished author, international keynote speaker and educator. The episode dives deep into around Reginé's path to creating immersive and inclusive user experiences in the world of spatial computing.  This dynamic discussion explores the concept of spatial computing, unpacking its significance and potential impact on various industries. Together, Host Joanna Peña-Bickley and Reginé delve into how spatial computing merges the physical and digital worlds, creating immersive experiences through augmented reality, virtual reality, and mixed reality. Throughout this episode, Reginé shares valuable insights and practical tips for designing inclusive spatial experiences

Meet Academy Award nominated documentarian Julie Cohen. Julie's revelationary body of work has helped the world discover divine truths in films like RBG (2018), My Name Is Pauli Murray (2021) and The Sturgeon Queens (2014). Julie's artistic craft adds a unique dimension that helps society challenge assumptions with dialogues about passionate pursuits of dreams, love and resilience that instill hope for a better tomorrow.

Reecie Colbert's cultural competency and gift for breaking down the complexities of nuanced topics has catapulted her to the Best Seller category on Amazon for the Long & Short Guide to the 2022 Midterms, and it has put her center stage as a regular contributor to the Clay Cane Show and Roland Martin Unfiltered and now on MSNBC.  Join our conversation about daring to design the future of our democracy and Reecie's entrepreneurial approach to civic media.

Galit Ariel believes humanity's final frontier is emerging through the space-bending technologies augmented and virtual reality commonly referred to as the Metaverse.  In this conversation we explore Galit Ariel's personal journey and the possibilities for technologies to help us be more present and connected to the world.

Creativity strategist Natalie Nixon PhD is know as the creativity whisperer for the C-Suite. In this episode Natalie discusses The Creativity Leap and shares her thoughts on the future of work and innovation.DesignedByUs.org WE DARE TO DESIGN INCLUSIVE FUTURES,TODAY. WE DON'T RUN FROM EARTH'S PROBLEMS, WE RUN TOWARDS THEM.

We sat down with the Co-Founder of the WNORTH Conference and the President at Bluebird Strategy, Heather Odendaal. Heather is an accomplished entrepreneur, brand builder, and acclaimed event producer in Western Canada. In this episode, we hone in on Odendaals journey to excellence, while working alongside her husband to uplift the voices of women entrepreneurs and raise a family as well. Join us this week,  as we unravel the journey of Heather Odendaal, and discover what makes her a fierce-femme-visionary.Learn more about upcoming guests & episodes at DesignedBy.Show  

We sat down with the brilliant engineer and founder of Novalita, Dr. Kate Stone. Dr. Stone has developed the use of everyday printing presses to produce interactive electronics, with touch-sensitive inks and printed circuits. She has coined these products “Interactive Printed Media” (IPM). In this episode, we dive deep into Dr. Stones' roots, and what drove her to be the inspiring creator she is today.Learn more about upcoming guests & episodes at DesignedBy.Show  

We connected with Timothy Bardlavens, Design Leader, a Cultural Strategist, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) specialist, a Fellow Co-Founder, a writer, and International Speaker & Workshop Facilitator. In this conversation, we dig deep into the ups and downs of identity, aspirations, and taking risks to not only achieve your dreams but to never stop having them. Tune in this week, as we discover the journey of the indistinguishable Timothy Bardlavens, and uncover what makes him a true audacious change-maker.Learn more about upcoming guests & episodes at DesignedBy.Show  

We connect with Distinguished Designer, Painter, entrepreneur, and Creative Director, Adrian Franks. Franks is widely seen as a provocative pop artist behind the Black Lives Matter movement, often compared to a digital Basquiat, Frank's day gig defines UX for the industry at IBM by night he is a dad, partner, and community leader. This episode hones in on Franks's roots in Atlanta, and his journey in becoming an artist, and how he was able to make multiple careers out of it. You cannot miss out on this thought-provoking conversation, as we unearth what makes Adrian Franks truly brilliant!Learn more about upcoming guests & episodes at DesignedBy.Show  

Meet Futurist, Author, Founder and CEO of BrainReserve, Faith Popcorn! As a designer of destinies, Faith's predictions have been shaped by her childhood abroad and performing arts experiences.  In this episode, we explore how to read the signals and reveal incredible versions of the future we as a society can design together.Learn more about upcoming guests & episodes at DesignedBy.Show 

Dive Deep with the Founder of the 3Percent Movement, Kat Gordon. Together we reveal the core of what drives Kat Gordon to fight for equality. From her humble beginnings to the spark that led her to ignite an undeniable revolution for in the Advertising's creative fields. Listen in on how she tirelessly works to close the gap. Learn more about upcoming guests & episodes at DesignedBy.Show 

Join us in meeting biomedia designer and fashion technologist, Dr. Amanda Parkes. We learn about the journey of Dr. Parkes and her Los Angeles roots that stood as a foundation for her to really discover her passion. As Founder of Skinteractive Studios in Brooklyn, New York; Dr. Parkes dedicated her career to creating amazing ways in “smart materials” that change people's day-to-day life. Listen in on this inspiring conversation, and learn what makes Dr. Amanda Parkes truly remarkable.Learn more about upcoming guests & episodes at DesignedBy.Show DesignedByUs.org WE DARE TO DESIGN INCLUSIVE FUTURES,TODAY. WE DON'T RUN FROM EARTH'S PROBLEMS, WE RUN TOWARDS THEM.

Meet change-maker Mara Lecocq joins us in outlining the exceptional path that leads her to inclusive design. Forbes has named Lecocq “The Boss of Boss Ladies”, and her true passion is bringing people from different backgrounds and cultures together to appreciate, support, and uplift each other through their professional wellbeing. Tune in for a fierce femme dialogue, and learn what makes Mara Lecocq extraordinary.Learn more about upcoming guests & episodes at DesignedBy.Show DesignedByUs.org WE DARE TO DESIGN INCLUSIVE FUTURES,TODAY. WE DON'T RUN FROM EARTH'S PROBLEMS, WE RUN TOWARDS THEM.