In this episode of the Cohere Podcast, hosts Bill Johnston and Dr. Lauren Vargas talk with community expert Betty Ray about the profound impact of rituals on personal and community well-being. Betty shares her extensive experience and research on the role of rituals in fostering belonging, purpose, and navigating transitions. The conversation delves into practical applications of ritual in both online and offline communities, offering valuable insights for anyone looking to create meaningful and supportive community spaces. Summary and Key Topics: 00:00:00 - Introduction Bill Johnston and Dr. Lauren Vargas introduce the episode and guest, Betty Ray, highlighting her extensive background in community leadership and her recent focus on the positive role of ritual. 00:02:00 - Understanding Ritual Betty explains the concept of ritual, its historical context, and its benefits, emphasizing its role in fostering belonging, purpose, and helping individuals navigate transitions. 00:06:23 - Betty's Career and Community Rituals Betty shares her career journey, detailing her experiences with community rituals at organizations like Live365, Edutopia, and Minnesota Public Radio, and discussing the importance of creating rituals in community settings. 00:11:17 - Mechanics of Ritual Betty outlines the specific structures that differentiate rituals from routines and habits, and provides examples of how rituals can be designed and implemented in daily life and community contexts. 00:19:31 - Current Work and Projects Betty talks about her current initiatives, including the Center for Ritual Design and Pandora’s Way, focusing on creating meaningful rites of passage for young people and supporting families through technological transitions. 00:24:00 - Addressing Challenges in Rituals Discussion on potential negative aspects of rituals and how they can be misused, emphasizing the importance of intention and positive, pro-social purposes. 00:27:00 - Evolution and Flexibility of Rituals Betty and the hosts discuss how rituals can evolve and adapt to different cultural and personal contexts, and the importance of keeping rituals meaningful and relevant. 00:29:40 - The Future of Rituals and Closing Thoughts Betty shares what excites her most about the future of rituals and her projects, expressing hope for the positive impact they can have on communities and individuals.   About our guest(s):  Betty's Website:  Pandora's Way: Betty's Soundcloud:

Expert futurists Scott Smith and Susan Cox-Smith discuss the shift from traditional forecasting to dynamic futuring. They highlight the importance of inclusive strategic frameworks, online communities driving innovation, and communal networks shaping responsive cultures. Emphasizing the active nature of 'future,' they advocate for broader participation in creating better futures for all.

Exploring the intersection of leadership, organizational development, and knowledge management, guests delve into fostering inclusivity, dynamic conversations, and practical applications. They discuss the essence of OD, engagement with shared ideas, personal growth journeys, and building networks beyond organizations. Navigating community challenges, facilitating workshops, and embracing humanistic values in organizational development are key highlights.

On this episode of the Cohere podcast, co-hosts Bill Johnston and Dr. Lauren Vargas interview Dave Gray, Chief Possibilitarian at School of the Possible. They delve into being a "possibilitarian," exploring how this mindset fosters innovation and openness to new ideas. Dave shares the  School of the Possible founding story, an experimental learning community that challenges conventional education models. The discussion covers how critical thinking and creativity are encouraged and the practical application of knowledge to solve real-world problems. Listeners will discover how embracing possibility can transform learning and personal growth. "Art school is very different than a lot of other types of education. It's focused on making and creating and doing things with your hands and making things happen in the real world. So, in one sense, there was a whole approach to learning that I picked up in art school. And also, when you graduate from art school, it's not like there's a lot of people waiting with jobs for you. You have to apply those creative thinking skills to designing your life, thinking about What is it that you want to create in the world? How are you going to make your way in the world? And it's really interesting to watch all of my peers and colleagues, all trained in creativity, all figuring it out in different ways. It all stems from this idea of "what are you going to create and what are you going to make?" In a lot of types of education, you can just solve the problem in a way that everyone before you solved the problem.  When you're in an art school, you're not allowed to solve problems in the way they've been solved before. You're required to think about a different way or a new way."  Mentioned in this episode: Links to relevant materials mentioned during the episode   About our guest(s):  Chief Possibilitarian at School of the Possible Author, and LinkedIn:   Call-to-Action(s): If you liked this episode, check out: and Subscribe to the Cohere Podcast For more reflections about the intersection of community and design, subscribe to the Cohere Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Leave a review of the Cohere Podcast

As we begin 2024, Lauren and Bill would love to hear from you! Please send your suggestions, feedback, and ideas for topics and guests to .  Welcome to our special year-end 2023 review of the Cohere podcast. This year, we marked a significant shift in our approach. We moved away from the constraints of seasonal formats, embracing topical series that have allowed us to delve deeper into various themes, synchronizing seamlessly with our ongoing work and research. Let’s walk down memory lane and revisit some of the most insightful moments from this year's episodes. Venessa Paech sheds light on the evolving definition of AI and its interplay with power dynamics. John Hovell joined us to discuss the essence of conversational leadership. A key part of this conversation was defining what conversation truly means. Meena Palaniappan's insights into impact measurement, resilience, and behavioral change in human-centered social networks were compelling. Esteban Kolsky joined us to discuss how we might navigate the customer experience landscape.  In our episode with Ed Finn,Ed Finn, the founding director of the Center for Science and the Imagination at Arizona State University we discuss how to build imaginative capacity. Social learning theorists, the Wenger-Trayners, joined us to help us explore the concept of learning partnerships in communities of practice. Dr. Mihaela Vorvoreanu came on the show to help us unpack trust and fabrication in large language models. This conversation is crucial for understanding generative AI. We explored the rich history and the exciting future of the Maker Movement with Dale Dougherty. Jeremiah Owyang helped us consider how we might navigate the AI surge. Jeremiah tackles the rapid evolution and acceleration of digital technology cycles. Dr. Rob Hopkins to help us imagine tomorrow and to teach us how to travel to a better future. We ended the year looking back at the hype of cryptocurrency and exploring what is still happening in this space with Reneé Barton. Reneé offers insights into cryptocurrency market trends. We thank our listeners for joining us on this enlightening journey and look forward to another year of engaging and insightful conversations in 2024. Stay tuned! Again, please send us your feedback, ideas and suggestions to hosts@coherepod.com.

In the last episode of 2023 for the Cohere podcast, co-hosts Bill Johnston and Dr. Lauren Vargas welcome Reneé Barton, Manager of Impact Research at the Crypto Council for Innovation. They delve into the CRADL report, the crypto industry's first in-depth ethnographic study, which illuminates the varied motivations behind crypto adoption and highlights opportunities for industry refinement. Barton elaborates on the meticulous research methodology that captures diverse user experiences, revealing overlooked use cases and challenging assumptions about crypto's role in equitable wealth distribution. The conversation also touches on the hurdles of user experience in crypto adoption, potential risks, and the practical application of the research for stakeholders. The episode concludes with insights on future explorations and where to access CRADL's pioneering work. Mentioned in this episode:    About our guest(s):  Renée Barton is passionate about connecting research and analysis to the design and implementation of policies, programs, and places that equitably leverage, distribute, and create access for all to the benefits of technology. She looks beyond data and econometric analysis to understand how people and communities engage with the policies, products, and places that shape their lives.    As the Manager of Impact Research at the (CCI), Renée leads research to provide evidence-based insights on the real-world value of crypto on the lives of people and their communities. By sharing insights, expertise, and facts about the global crypto ecosystem, CCI supports governments and institutions worldwide in efforts to shape inclusive policy and regulation that fosters innovation and grows access for all to a new ecosystem of tools and services. As a researcher and project lead at the , funded by the , Renée led primary ethnographic research to help organizations and policymakers understand why people are turning to crypto.   In her prior capacity as a consultant she has advised a range of public and private entities including governments, universities, philanthropic organizations, major tech companies, startups, and minority-serving venture funds, on topics including economic development, the structuring of policies and programs, and implementation strategy at the intersection of technology, communities, and inclusive growth.   Call-to-Action(s): If you liked this episode, check out: and For more reflections about the intersection of community and exponential technologies, subscribe to the Cohere Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Share about future guests / topics of exploration. Check out #BookDNA for a list of books, articles, and whitepapers featured on the Cohere Podcast.

Rob Hopkins, co-founder of Transition Network and author, discusses the power of community imagination, creating spaces for collective dreaming, and the journey towards a healthier relationship with the internet. They explore successful community initiatives, imagination activism, and 'embodied futuring'. The conversation also touches on the importance of facilitators, tangible creative expression, and creating a vibrant learning environment.

In this episode of the Cohere podcast, hosts Bill and Lauren engage in a reflective conversation about the ongoing transitions and emerging trends in community practice. Drawing from their extensive experience, they discuss the evolution of community roles, exploring how a broader approach to community ecosystem development is taking shape.

Jeremiah Owyang, Silicon Valley veteran and community leader in tech, discusses the evolution of digital technology, the rise of AI, and how businesses can leverage AI to improve communities and engagement. He also explores sensemaking tools and offers advice for transitioning to meaningful AI strategies.

Dale Dougherty, founder of Make: Magazine and Maker Faire, discusses the history and future of the Maker Movement. Topics include the return of Bay Area Maker Faire, the importance of community, the power of Makers, the role of technology in making, and advice for new makers.