We are thrilled to announce Season 2 of the Cohere podcast! I say "we", because I'm joined this season by Dr. Lauren Vargas. Together, we will explore the role networks play in our lives, and the range of disciplines and range of research focused on the emerging field of network science. The reason for the focus on networks? Complex human networks are springing up everywhere, driven in large part by exponential technologies such as AI, automation, and ubiquitous internet. Imagine what will happen when three billion more people come online in the next five years! For organizations, a planet-wide network of logged-on human beings brings both limitless opportunities and unprecedented threats.  As we increasingly use social technologies to augment human experiences, the Cohere podcast asks, what’s the best path forward? What do we need to learn and understand? How might science and existing research guide us towards optimal norms and conditions?[ How should we navigate, evaluate, and administrate a complex technological landscape so we can protect, promote, and empower our human networks? How will we ensure that digital communities deliver on the promise of enhancing our lives, both individually and collectively? And what steps must we take to ensure our approach to community development is sustainable, equitable, and morally sound?  We look forward to taking this journey with you in the coming weeks and months! on LinkedIn on LinkedIn

Will Roberts, data scientist at IBM, discusses the implications of data science and AI for online communities. They talk about definitions and distinctions between AI and machine learning, using community data for machine learning models, risks and concerns in online communities, and partnership between community team and data science function in organizations.

Vincent Boon, a giant in the community space, shares his journey from organizing poker meetups to building pioneering communities in gaming. He discusses developing the GiffGaff model and his work with Standing on Giants. The podcast also explores key principles for building healthy communities and the value of engaging, rewarding, and supporting community contributors. Vincent emphasizes the importance of meaningful customer relationships and offers advice on community leadership during difficult times.

Former editor of Harvard Business Review, Karen Dillon, discusses the theory of disruptive innovation and the influence of Clayton Christensen. They explore the behavior of established companies when faced with competition, the concept of jobs to be done theory, and the potential for progress and important innovations in difficult times. Karen also emphasizes the importance of relationships in wellness.

In the developed world, the promise of social media (including Facebook) to create positive change has fallen well short of the mark. Mass social media is becoming increasingly manipulative and toxic.  In the developing world, mass social media's negative effects are even more dangerous, as manipulation and misinformation can quickly lead to real-world violence.  Meena Palaniappan, CEO and Founder of Atma Connect wants to change this. Atma Connect's goal is to connect over a billion people around the world living in vulnerable communities in order for them to take collective action, advocate with governments and lead the way to the future we need. In this episode of the Cohere Podcast, Meena and I discuss the circumstances that led her to found Atma Connect, the positive impact her products like AtmaGo are making, and her vision for social networks like AtmaGo to help create more equitable and resilient communities, both online and in the real world.  Meena on Her Journey to Founding Atma Connect "I became an environmental engineer because I really wanted to develop scalable solutions to the challenges that we're facing globally. In doing this work there, it became clear that we, as a global community, need to focus more attention on building power in vulnerable communities to lead the way. One thing that just became apparent in my work, domestically and around the world was the fact that people who consume the least and have the least to do with environmental problems were the ones that were facing the biggest challenges, suffering the most, and had the least resources to overcome these challenges." Meena on Social Networks for Community Resilience  "It became apparent to me in working internationally on water and sanitation that the same communities that didn't have water and sanitation increasingly had mobile phones. This started me on a journey of asking how could we use this ubiquitous technology to make visible the invisible and put people on the map in unignorable ways to get their needs addressed. Virtual communities are incredible because they give people a way to more rapidly spread solutions to aggregate and amplify their voices to take collective action and to advocate with governments. I think that that's really fundamentally what the goal is, is to create these connections and build this power online that leads to real improvements in people's lives and where they live." Meena on the Impact of AtmaGo "People are sharing a lot of information about COVID, government resources, government restrictions, they're offering help and they're asking for help. People come to AtmaGo daily to find jobs, to build up entrepreneurship, to have community discussions about local needs, or to report problems to the government. Because of that, it becomes all the more powerful in disaster. So in a disaster, people are receiving early warnings on AtmaGo that are leading them to take early action. An independent evaluation found that people receiving early warnings on AtmaGo move valuables, they evacuated, they warn their neighbors. Quantified at a scale of a million users this is $106 million in avoided economic losses and over 6,000 years of healthy life saved and they're using it in the entire cycle of building resilience." Get involved: Atma Connect is always looking for volunteers and advisors to work on product design and management challenges, as well as network business models. Atma Connect is an international non-profit. You can make a .  Resources & Links Mentioned in the Episode: Atma Connect's Atma Connect on Atma Connect on

Randy Farmer, virtual community pioneer, discusses the increase in new members joining online communities due to COVID-19. He emphasizes the importance of understanding their needs, redefining healthy relationships, and adapting onboarding processes. Farmer suggests strategies to engage new users and create welcoming communities, highlighting the significance of community management. He shares insights from his experiences with Asharun's Call and provides tips for community leaders.

Joi Podgorny, Founder of Good People Solutions, shares her experience in developing community business models for children's brands, building a virtual world in Unity, and managing remote teams. She discusses enforcing parameters in a community, the shift towards traditional community experiences, and the importance of meaningful experiences with technology. She also emphasizes the need for balancing screen time with outdoor activities for kids.

Jorge Blandón, community development expert, discusses the mission of FII to lift families out of poverty. FII's hybrid online & real-world community model has led to a 27% income lift and $2.5 million in home equity. They aim to remove systemic barriers and foster trust. Up Together, their online platform, supports families through connection, support, resource exchange, and attracting new members. Families in the program experience increased income, asset building, and improved financial situations. The collaborative mindset of the community drives platform success. The pandemic has presented challenges, leading to the launch of the Give Together Now campaign.

Digital leadership expert, Lauren Vargas, discusses integrating technology in a human-centered way and the importance of strategic goals, fostering collective integrity and unity, and enabling smaller individual transformational journeys within organizations. They also emphasize starting where you are, staying healthy in the digital world, and the need for empathy and understanding in personal and professional relationships.

Patrick Newbery, designer with expertise in digital networks, discusses the future of design in a connected world. Topics include the history of experience design, holistic design methods, data-enriched experiences, and non-human actors in networks.