ONEder Podcast

Emerging Objects' ONEder Grant research, Under Fire, transforms two of California's defining climate threats, wildfire and extreme heat, into building materials that remember rather than destroy. Co-founders Ronald Rael and Virginia San Fratello share with us how they 3D-printed wildfire ash from California fires into a 22-foot tapestry, and how a foot-thick earthen pump house in the Colorado high...

Small rural hospitals keep entire communities alive, and they're quietly running out of road. In this episode, host CCB sits down with Aaron McKenzie, Senior Strategist, and Eric Peabody, Principal Analyst at Taylor Design's Cove Studio, to unpack their 2025 ONEder Grant research into one of healthcare's most underfunded problems: strategic planning for under-resourced rural and community hospital...

LPA Design Studios’ ONEder Grant research reframes the classroom as a connected learning ecosystem in an AI-rich world. Researcher Rachel Nasland and learning space designer David Jakes share with us how AI is beginning to reshape skills, pedagogy, and student agency, and why spaces must evolve beyond 1980s classroom models. Together they explore flexible ecosystems, respite zones, and technology...

In this episode we sit down with educator, author, and founder Marita Diffenbaugh to explore what it truly means to design learning around the human experience. Together, we unpack the shift from content delivery to learning as a service, one rooted in listening, relationships, and real-world application. From rethinking how we measure success to creating environments that foster curiosity, agency...

In this episode of the ONEder Podcast, CCB sits down with Julie Maggos from Interior Architects’ AIRIA team to unpack what it looks like to use AI as a real design partner—without losing the human edge. They uncover where AI is already helping (faster ideation, smoother workflow, stronger client collaboration), where humans must stay firmly in the driver’s seat (vision, judgment, empathy), and how...

In this episode of the ONEder Podcast, workplace leaders and planners gain a front-row seat to how AI is redefining the modern office. Host CCB speaks with Elena Beloshapkova, Founder and CEO of InSpace, on turning workplace data into actionable insight, improving employee experience at scale, and designing environments that truly support hybrid work. This conversation offers practical, forward-lo...

What happens when leadership, community, and design come together to create real change? In this episode of the ONEder Podcast, host CCB sits down with Ashanti Bryant, Senior Program Officer at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, to explore how placemaking—the intentional design of spaces where people live, learn, and gather—can drive equity, belonging, and opportunity. From his roots in Detroit to his t...

Step inside "Healthcare Design for Belonging"—a ONEder podcast where dynamic voices from Providence and NBBJ explore how thoughtful design can transform hospitals from places of anxiety into environments of safety, dignity, and welcome. Join us for a conversation that blends powerful stories, innovative research, and practical tools, all aimed at creating healthcare spaces where everyone feels the...

Healthcare design researcher and former nurse Terri Zborowsky shares how her clinical background led her to champion design as a tool for healing, dignity, and equity. Drawing on stories from her career, Terri illustrates how environments profoundly influence patient and caregiver experiences, from the need for sensory-inclusive spaces to the importance of co-designing with marginalized communitie...

What if the spaces we inhabit could actually help us heal? In this episode, we speak with Dr. Esther Sternberg, a pioneering physician and scientist whose groundbreaking research bridges neuroscience, architecture, and integrative medicine. Drawing from her work at the NIH and the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine, Dr. Sternberg reveals how elements like light, air quality, noise, and sp...

From Michelin-starred kitchens to mission-driven healthcare systems, Eric Eisenberg’s journey is anything but ordinary. On this episode of the ONEder Podcast, Eric shares how his love of food and theatrical flair led to a decades-long leadership career in healthcare and senior living foodservice. Now as a consultant and co-founder of Quadra Alliance, he’s on a mission to empower teams, modernize o...

In this episode of the ONEder Podcast, CCB speaks with Lance Hayes and Yi-Chun Lin from Board and Vellum, a Seattle-based design firm, about their research project funded by the ONEder Grant. Their study explores the concept of workplace attachment in a hybrid work environment, investigating how employees form emotional connections to their workplaces in the context of remote and in-person work. E...

In this ONEder Podcast episode, Claudia Saunders and Stacy Crumbacher from Mahlum discuss their 2024 ONEder Grant-winning project, Unlocking Space Potential: Aligning the Power of People, Practice, and Place in Middle School Learning Settings. Their research focuses on improving middle school learning environments by addressing the gap between educational practices, student experiences, and the ph...

In this episode, the ONEder Grant-winning team from Perkins Eastman discusses their research, "Someplace Like Home: Leveraging the Science of Hominess at Work." Their study explores how workplace changes, such as hybrid work and unassigned seating, affect employees' sense of belonging and comfort. Focusing on the loss of a stable "home base," the research highlights the importance of physical and...

In this episode of the ONEder Podcast, Rohre Titcomb, Chief Operating Officer of the Seattle Storm, shares a powerful and inspiring conversation about leadership, community, and the transformative impact of women in sports. From champion Ultimate Frisbee athlete and entrepreneur to leading operations for one of the WNBA’s most community-connected teams, Rohre shares how her passion for women, busi...

In this episode of The ONEder Podcast, Kevin Dobson discusses his new Sacramento charter high school’s focus on hands-on education in the building trades, providing students with practical skills, work experience, and college credits. He shares the challenges and opportunities in addressing workforce shortages in construction and manufacturing, and how Capital College and Career Academy provides s...

In a world where change is the only constant, how do we prepare for the future? In this episode, innovation strategist Jenn Yoo explores why and how design research and strategic foresight can help organizations prepare for a future full of surprises. Jenn shares her journey from generalist to specialist and reveals how organizations can examine the "fringes" of today's trends to craft future-proo...

Dr. Justin Mohatt shares how the Ohana Center is redefining youth mental wellness, emphasizing prevention and the impact of COVID-19. Funded by a donor and designed to feel like a resort, the center aims to destigmatize mental health through safe, inclusive environments for patients, families, staff, and the community.

Bridgitte Alomes, founder of Natural Pod learning furniture, joins the ONEder podcast to advocate for creating healthy, sustainable and intentional learning environments for children. Inspired by her son's allergic reaction to toxic chemicals in a toy, Bridgitte envisioned, founded and leads a company to deliver beautiful, functional, and eco-friendly learning spaces that foster creativity and wel...

Amir Kia, co-founder of Spirit Living Group, joins the ONEder Podcast to share his perspective and experience leading a purpose driven senior housing organization dedicated to providing thoughtful care for elders in urban communities. Amir discusses intention and strategies for senior living design and care, from mindfulness training for staff members, utilization of new technologies for safety an...

Join us for an innovative journey through the process of home healthcare delivery. Elliot Wortham and Aaron Mackenzie, strategists at Taylor Design a 2023 ONEder Grant recipient, explore their research and concepts for elevating the well-being of patients and providers in the delivery of healthcare at home. Be inspired by potential solutions aimed at transforming the provider experience, from stre...

As dense and fresh as the outdoors, this conversation with IA Seattle ONEder Grant winners, Lisa Baumbach and Charles Fadem, explores their innovative research into "The Ecotonal Office”. From the impact of natural environments on workplace wellness, challenging conventional office design, through fieldwork in diverse ecosystems, they uncovered surprising insights into productivity and adaptabilit...

As dense and fresh as the outdoors, this conversation with IA Seattle ONEder Grant winners, Lisa Baumbach and Charles Fadem, explores their innovative research into "The Ecotonal Office”. From the impact of natural environments on workplace wellness, challenging conventional office design, through fieldwork in diverse ecosystems, they uncovered surprising insights into productivity and adaptabilit...

Need a quick shot of compassion or a roadmap on how to get there? Interested in learning how to celebrate the leaders and the individuals, the models, the training and the types of efforts that move the needle toward working in a compassionate business? Scott Shute shares his journey from his personal practice and work in corporate America, to leading the Mindfulness and Compassion Program for Lin...