Are We Here Yet Podcast

David J. Neff serves as Operating Partner at Austin, TX based Ecliptic Capital where he works with portfolio companies on people, process,, marketing, strategy and culture.  he spearheads the fund's concentration on climate change and energy transition as part of ecliptic Capital's deep tech thesis.  Our conversation is focused on the recent report Ecliptic released offering a comprehensive look a...

It was so interesting to talk with pianist, David Haney. Based in Portland, Oregon David travels often to NYC to perform at Joe's Pub. Since 2012 he's been the publisher and contributing editor of Cadence Magazine Online. In this two part interview we listen to performances of Improvised compositions featuring David and his friends.  David discusses how he became publisher of Cadence Magazine Onli...

Kevin Chu is Executive Director of the Vermont Futures Project  People from throughout the United States can access their thoughtful and well researched information in order to make the case for workforce, middle market, affordable and any other form of housing needed.   The core goal driving the work of the organization is to increase Vermont's population while providing good housing to a more di...

Join Vermont tech leaders Will Jeffries, Ryan Munn and Scott Graves as they discover the best this Brave Little State has to offer in technology-driven entrepreneurship.   Maybe you're local, maybe you have a rural project in another part of the country, maybe you just love to talk technology and tech policy.   We want YOU to come with us, listen in and join the neighborhood. #ruraldevelopment #te...

The housing crisis gripping the United States is gaining a disconcerting momentum in the Northeast, as it is in many regions of the United States.  In this episode we're speaking with Worcester, MA developer Jackson Restrepo regarding the challenges to the housing market in this, the second largest city in New England and one of the fastest growing cities there, as the Biotech sector continues to...

We all hear about the importance of international talent to the US technology sector. We understand how an open set of arms to international trade, travel and immigration plays a role in our country's success.  We wanted to take a closer look at the lived experience of those plying the waters of our current international tech sector to really find an explanation for why an open society is so very...

Scott M. Graves, host of the 'Are We Here Yet? Podcast speaks to us regarding the importance for small cities and towns to take advantage of the opportunity recently presented to solve some of the most pressing economic and social issues of our day.  'For we are, I'm sure of this, at the start of a national movement to decentralize the map. For placing venture capital where it's needed most, for u...

With a background in housing policy, law and international business, author and business leader Peter de Krassel has witnessed the long arc of bad housing policy across the globe.   He is launching Breaking Housing Matters as a novel means to solve the global housing crisis, one that is designed to address the impasses our current system of financing and policy has created over the last half centu...

We're launching a closer look at Artificial Intelligence; how it has and will shape our society.  How you can shape an informed perspective around what's sure to play a significant role effecting all of us for centuries to come.   Rather than do this investigation from a good/bad standpoint, we'd rather treat all of YOU, our listeners as the smart and curious people that you are!  So away we go! O...

Regional Artist and VSU Castleton student Julie Griffin fills us in on the artist response to the latest attempt by Vermont State University to curtail budget constraints by consolidating fine and performing arts programming between its campuses.   Find out what was the response to the proposed change by artists and students alike, get inspired by their response for when you need to organize and c...

A Definition of Peace from Daniel Parkins. He helps businesses and local civic leaders work with communities to transform conflicts, launch impact initiatives, and achieve sustainable growth.  Find Daniel here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielparkins/ and in The Jazz Room: we were able to chat a bit with bassist, Dave Holland just before his set at the Newport Jazz Festival. We talked about the...

In an age of decentralizing the map when it comes to venture capital, place takes center stage for an increasing number of communities whose neighborhoods benefit from innovation centers, coworking space, workforce development space and the like.   Our guest Robert Pieroni has his own story to tell in founding Downtown Launchpad in Houston, Texas.   He's a successful VC and is currently Director –...

Dominic Endicott believes we can redraw our maps for the 21st century. He has a vision for how knowledge-based ecosystems can create the proliferation of entrepreneurship, jobs, real estate and services in demand for a wider spectrum of rural and urban communities.  He spoke with us to talk about his vision as expressed in 'Knowledge Towns: Colleges and Universities as talent magnets' which he co-...

To spend some time re-imagining the story of what came well before us on the North American continent has importance for understanding our future path towards a more equitable and just society.  Our modern obsession with consumerism and modernity, emphasizing technology to solve our key issues isn't working because people, not machines are at the core of our solutions.  Our discussion with award-w...

Three for the Price of One: We had to take a brief break for summer vacation.  So M the Media Project is giving you three for the price of one!  Joan's two part interview with our generation's progenitor of the great American Songbook, none other than Michael Feinstein plus we feature Claire Daly, all in the latest Jazz Room.

Authors John DiCicco, Ph. D. and Robert Cuomo, Ph. D. of 'The Authentic Leader' have shared their wealth of experience honed in business ownership and academia in order to complete a crusade of sorts. A crusade to make change where it counts.   Engage with The Authentic Leader John and Bob will join Startup Rutland (anticipated fall 2023) in developing a program to engage emerging business leaders...

From her 2021 Interview from the summer phenomenon known as the Newport Jazz Festival, host Joan Watson Jones spoke with the fantastic alto saxophonist Tia Fuller.  Enjoy as you imagine the Newport bridge view, the sea salt air and the magic of thousands of friends gathering to hear their favorite jazz artists.  Click here to learn more from Tia Fuller  

Host Scott M. Graves sat down with Dan Cummings and old pal Steven Harnois from PermaGrin, the fantasmic music project that originated as a pandemic project which has resulted in the album, 'Ode to Entropy.  We entice you to listen in with four aural excerpts from said album.   From the moment I heard this album I was enthralled and wrote a friend, 'Brah, it's like these dudes went to sleep with H...

I spoke with Ryan Munn, tech professional and devotee to trends in emerging technology about what potential we have in northern New England, particularly Vermont-centric possibilities in industries such as financial services, building materials, renewable energy and climate tech.  Ryan is a resident of White River Junction, VT and works throughout the central VT region.   Garner ideas and reach ou...

In Part 2 of this feature Eddie tells us about the many musicians he has collaborated with through the years to make his music not just Latin and not just Jazz but his own brand and style.  He also shares stories about his performances across the globe.  Learn more about Eddie Palmieri at www.palmierimusic.com

When is it useful to study an outlier? While we may find phenomena that represent an extreme less useful at times, there are times that discounting an outlier would prevent us from a highly valuable opportunity to explore, to discover and to learn. Dr. John Schlichtman takes outliers seriously.  When he first came across the city of High Point, NC two decades ago, he had to see it for himself.  Th...

We have a spirited conversation with Latin Jazz Legend Eddie Palmieri. In Part One, of this feature he tells about his early beginnings and about his brother Charlie Palmieri getting him started in music. He also tells us who were his major influences in Jazz. Learn more about Eddie Palmieri at www.palmierimusic.com

We recently hosted Vermont Small Business Development Center's 'She Means Business' event for women in business at our headquarters The Hub CoWorks in downtown Rutland, VT.  THis event hosted women business leaders, entrepreneurs in the making, banking professionals and other concerned stakeholders who wish to advance the work women are doing in our region to build our economy.  We garnered perspe...

Another in the series "Kitchen Table Chats" from Studio 952 in New York City. We talk with Vocalist Judi Silvano. She talks about her CD  "Women's Work" .  Judi talks about her husband Saxophonist, Joe Lovano, improvisation and personal style in jazz. Learn more about Judy at judisilvano.com.  

We met with Orchestra Leader/Composer Maria Schneider at the Newport Jazz Festival. This show is a bit different as per Maria's request she asked I play 30 seconds of music and one full composition. As you listen to this interview she talks not only about creating her music, but defending her copyrights of her work in this world of free music streaming and music distributors charging artist exorbi...