Utility + Function

In this episode of Utility + Function, Matthew sits down with world-renowned economist, Prof. Steve Hanke, at his offices at Johns Hopkins University. Prof. Hanke is a leading expert on currency boards, measuring and stopping hyperinflation, privatization, currency and commodity trading, as well as water resource economics. He has advised heads of state, public and private institutions, and U.S. presidents on these issues for several decades. Dr. Hanke is a Professor of Applied Economics and Founder & Co-Director of the Institute for Applied Economics, Global Health, and the Study of Business Enterprise at The Johns Hopkins University. He is also a Senior Fellow and Director of the Troubled Currencies Project at the Cato Institute, a Senior Advisor at the Renmin University of China’s International Monetary Research Institute, and a Special Counselor to the Center for Financial Stability. As a senior economist on President Reagan’s Council of Economic Advisers, he led a team of economists in re-writing the federal government’s Principles and Guidelines for Water and Land Related Resources Implementation Studies. Prof. Hanke was responsible for designing President Reagan’s major privatization initiatives. Prof. Steve Hanke is known for popularizing the term “privatization” and addresses in this episode how the private sector, not government, will innovate to solve the globes most pressing issues. Listen to hear his theories on carbon reduction, open free trade, and reliance on China.

When asked if she is ever disappointed in the way the world is going, Living Legend Professor Angeline Butler is unwavering. "The revolution is never over."  Angeline Butler is a founding SNCC activist, performer, director, and teacher who has consistently fought for change, whether through her creativity or her activism. Her legacy continues to inspire as a professor at John Jay College and in her involvement in theater production, music, and storytelling.  *** Angeline Butler is an original coordinator and participant the Nashville Sit-Ins, a founder of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). She is a coordinator of the 1961 Freedom Rides, a coordinator of voter education and registration drives. Participant in the 1960 Congress on Racial Equality (CORE) “Miami Summer” with James Farmer, an organizer of the 1963 March on Washington, and a participant in the Crisfield, Maryland Movement in December 1961. Angeline Butler has performed theatrically was featured in over 146 television appearances including “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson” (NBC),” “The Dick Cavett Show” (ABC), “The Virginia Graham Show,” “The Steve Allen Show,” The Mike Douglass Show, The Joey Bishop Show (ABC), A TV Special “Presenting Davy Jones and Angeline Butler”(Syndicated TV), “Nightlife” with Jan Murray and William B Williams (Syndicated TV). She is currently on the faculty of John Jay College for Criminal Justice in New York. She previously taught as an instructor of Ethnic Studies at the University of Southern California.  Butler also created and coordinated the Ellington Tree Project (1981), and as a director in theatre, she revived Lorraine Hansberry’s Les Blancs.  She was, also, a company member at the Metropolitan Opera from 2003 to 2011 and previously worked at the Los Angeles Opera in 1996-97. Ms. Butler also recorded two albums, one in pop-rock music and one in folk music:  Angeline Butler/Impressions on CoBurt-MGM Records and The Pilgrims/ Just Arrived on Columbia Records (Producer Tom Wilson) with Robert Guilluame, Gilbert Price (and later Millard Williams).

On today’s episode, Matthew talks to Jeff Holden, the CEO and Co-Founder of Atomic Machines and former CPO of Uber, Senior Vice President of Groupon, and the Senior Vice President of Consumer Websites Worldwide at Amazon. During their conversation, the friends share their thoughts on invention, fatherhood, and big tech. How do children mold one’s thinking? How does one navigate being a mentor that pushes ideas forward? How can large companies keep pushing innovation?

On today’s episode, Matthew talks to  Stephen Delaporte, Founder & CEO of Avar Robotics--whose goal is to create the most high-functioning and efficient robots. During their conversation, the friends share their thoughts on the art of invention. What are the barriers to creating something? What is scientific lineage--an exchange of energy? Delaporte delineates the iteration of the robots his company builds, and what defines a human task versus one that can be easily automated. Sometimes what we don't think of as a human task is incredibly human and  emotionally valuable. 

Bolt Threads' CEO Dan Widmaier sits down with Matthew to discuss their individual evolution from scientist to CEO, the timelines of Startups, how to build a team, and create partnerships.

Matthew talks to Alexis Gambis, French-Venezuelan biologist and filmmaker, about feeling small when you look through a microscope and how being a director allows one to put a spotlight on our own vulnerabilities. How does science open new territories for film and vice versa?

This week, Matthew interviews Beth Comstock about creativity, freedom, and investigation: how do these impulses translate within an organization and within a life? How does one “justify” or capitalize on creative endeavors in our society? How does one return to childlike creative wonder? Beth Comstock is an American business executive and the former vice chair of General Electric.She is a member of Nike, Inc's Board of Directors and Trustee president of the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. Forbes named her one of “The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women” in 2015 and 2016 and PRWeek ranked her among their “Top 20 Most Influential Communicators.” Beth graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology from The College of William and Mary in 1982 and began her career doing local television production in Virginia.

Today marks Nanotronics' sixth podcast and we are looking inward. It is time for us to ask what makes a startup tick, and who better to talk to than Farmshelf founder and fellow Navy Yard resident, Andrew Shearer. Matthew Putman speaks to Shearer about his experience working in a cherry-packing facility and the twists and turns that led him on his quest to allow everyone to grow their own fresh produce. As a founder, how do you push beyond doubt? Is there a magic formula? "The best founders go that extra mile to help someone else," Shearer says. 

Michael Vassar, founder of the Singularity Institute among many other accomplishments, speaks to Matthew about Thomas Edison, Climate Change, Railroads, President Lincoln, Modern Times, Alien Invasion, and searches for a happy ending. Thank you for listening!

Builder, Mentor, Business Leader. Julie Orlando, Nanotronics CPO, talks to Matthew about building a wooden box for her rare rock collection in kindergarten, taking apart complex machinery at twelve, managing a windshield-wiper factory at 19, cosigning her first patent before graduating college, finding impactful stories to tell about process control, her training in mechanical and polymer engineering, taking over advanced software projects, being a hands-on American manufacturer, nonlinear thinker, world traveller, and so much more.  A phenomenal person. A wonderful listen. Production and Direction: Antoine Blake and Cameron Conover, Sound and photography: James Williams