Rich Conversations

Do you remember AOL? Do you remember AOL chat rooms? ASL? Our experiences on the internet and our interactions with its culture will indicate our age and the sub generation we belong to more than anything. After 20 years, Rich meets his 7th grade AIM girlfriend in person, Kelly Moran. The two spent countless hours (and years) as teenagers instant messaging with each other. In this episode, Kelly a...

After returning from Miami, the question Rich keeps getting is: how was your Miami trip? In this episode, instead of answering questions from past guests, Rich answers how his trip was. He talks culture, environment, people, activities, and observations from staying a week in Miami. What did he do each day? What was his routine like? What places did he visit? What was his favorite? All of this in...

Ocean Rescue Alliance Founder Shelby Thomas returns to the podcast, recording with Rich in Miami at the Frost Museum of Science. She discusses Earth Day, shares the progress of restoring coral reef systems in Florida, and how she’s embraced art and technology to implement a sustainable revenue model that fosters connecting and collaborating with other organizations working for good.   Shelby’s pre...

Robin Newa lives in Dubai and appeared on episode 189 where he shared his humble journey from Nepal, pursuing his curiosity and dreams. Rich recorded this episode in the morning during his stay in Miami. Robin asks Rich the following questions:  What do you think the world will look like in five years? What’s the biggest challenge you’re facing in your role/business/project right now and how are y...

Jonathan Hannau is a Chicago-based composer and pianist devoted to the surreal, minimal, abstract, and colorful possibilities of music. He actively embraces eclecticism and explores concepts that evoke a kaleidoscopic range of character. Rich stops by his studio in Edgewater, Chicago to learn about his musical journey, creative process, his debut album “Pieces I Wrote on a Cold Winter Night,” and...

Software Engineer Sarah Omoike lives in Lagos, Nigeria. She was a guest on episode 192 when her and Rich discussed technology shaping the future. She sends the following questions:   If you won $10 million tomorrow, what would you spend it on? What underrated tools are indispensable for your job?  What’s your morning routine like? What’s one question you wish I’d asked you, and how would you have...

Lakshman Srinivasan joins us from Paris, France. After discussing Paris, its work culture, and FC Barcelona, Lakshman and Rich explore plasma physics and its application in the 21st century. Lakshman shares how he’s built a reactor and uses the elements Gallium and Nitrogen to create semiconductors. The conversation ranges from quantum theory and computing, teleportation, the theory of everything,...

Grace Broderick joins us from Bristol, England. She’s originally from Hyde Park, Chicago. She’s developed an interest in bird photography, taking incredible photos of animals that occupy the natural world all around us—including urban areas! It’s helped her become more present and appreciate the interconnectedness of our ecosystems. She shares her process and what she’s learned so far. It’s also a...

Justina Nguyen is a close friend of Rich and provides the questions for this episode. Justina is a creative & experiential strategist. She’s known as DJ Supesbase around Chicago, spinning and delivering good vibes. She was a guest on episodes 22 and 97. Rich recorded his at one of his favorite coffee spots in Chicago: Bourgeois Pig Cafe in Lincoln Park. Justina’s questions are the following: 1) Yo...

Felipe Hernandez joins the 3x club. In his third podcast appearance, Felipe and Rich reminisce about the past two summers and look forward to what Summer 2022 has in store. Felipe shares experiences working on the CTA in Chicago. The two discuss the Green Bay Packers and Milwaukee Bucks. Felipe also shares memorable concerts and which band he’d like to see next.

Griffin Furlong joins us from Tampa, Florida where he works as a civil engineer, imagining the future of buildings and structures, approaching them like puzzles to be solved. His journey to where he is now is both unique and inspiring. After his mother died when he was six years old, his family struggled with homelessness for years. He used it as motivation, focused on always maintaining a great m...

Kat Kennedy is a 3x guest. She works in Mission Control at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Since Kat and Rich share a strong interest in dinosaurs, he recorded at the Field Museum in Chicago. The questions are the following: What is your death row last supper meal? What is one thing you wish people knew about you? When was the last time you laughed so hard you cried? What were you l...

Animation Designer Elaine Posadas joins us from São Paulo, Brazil. With the perspective as an immigrant from Peru, she shares the rich cultural diversity of São Paulo and the many communities that make it a vibrant city. She shares how she became interested in art and important influences. Elaine and Rich discuss internet history and the platforms that came and went like MySpace and Tumblr. Elaine...

Choreographer Denver Schantz joins us from Denver, Colorado. We discuss his journey of discovery through dance and how it enables humans to communicate without saying a word. Across all cultures and history, one will find dance as an important part of tradition. Denver describes being in the moment and flowing with the vibe of the music. He competes, teaches, and performs. He shares his approach a...

Singer/Songwriter Alexandra Kladi lives in Athens, Greece. She joined us on episode 190. Alexandra asked five questions for Rich. He recorded them at the Chicago Athletic Association. What did you study at the university? Did your studies help you to create a career or did you choose an entirely different path? You spend a lot of time doing video editing. Do you enjoy it or is it a boring process...

Physicist Gino Aliperio joins us from Manila, Philippines to discuss his life and career path beginning in his country and learning in others. A former physics professor, now he works for the government’s nuclear agency. What is the outlook for nuclear energy? Gino shares how the stigma of nuclear, emphasized through certain events and stories, has clouded the fact that nuclear delivers the most e...

Marine biologist Manuel Novillo joins us from Córdoba, Argentina to discuss the culture of his country and the journey that led him to living and researching reproductive patterns of Notothenioids (Antarctic fish) in Antarctica for 2-4 months during the last four years. What is it like being in such an isolated and harsh environment? Does it make you reflect more on society and what it means to be...

Marine biologist Bryce Gunning asks five questions for Rich. Bryce was a guest on episode 185. He recorded this segment on a bench in Millennium Park downtown Chicago. The questions are the following: What are one or two quotes from guests that have shifted your opinion/stance on a subject? What is the main man’s morning routine? How does he start off so positive in the morning? What is the one ep...

Faisa Omer joins us from Edmonton, Canada. She’s a photographer and mental health professional. Originally from Ottawa and the daughter of Somali immigrants, Faisa shares her experience of learning neuroscience for seven years while also yearning for fulfilling artistic inspiration inside her. She enrolled in photography school on the side. During the pandemic she moved back to Ottawa and took pho...

Matze Sagerer joins us from Munich, Germany. He’s a physics student at the Technical University of Munich. We discuss the cultures and things to do in Germany to start off. Then, Matze shares how he became interested in physics and technology, gives a brief breakdown of physics concepts to understand and the people behind them. Physics teaches a person how to think by going through the scientific...

Former three-time guest, David Rothmund (Dr. Dave), writes down three questions for Rich to answer. Dr. Dave lives in Chicago and is a historian researching Disability in America Post-WWII. Rich records on a park bench in his Uptown neighborhood of Chicago. The questions are the following: If you could anywhere with one person, where would you go and with who? What food/drinks/event would you want...

Our most unique and profound podcast episode to date, we’re joined from Istanbul, Turkey by three guests—and they’re all siblings—and they’re all scientists! Maryam, Mehya, and Mubashir Mansoor focus on Materials & Metallurgical Engineering, Geology, Mineralogy, Gemology, and Physics. This episode covers a lot of ground including the culture of Istanbul, the Information Revolution which will lead...

Joachim Ong joins the podcast from Singapore. Joachim shares what the city and culture is like. He describes his experience using his telescope to view and take photos of the planets and outer space. Joachim and Rich discuss how space exploration allows the opportunity to ponder the significance and insignificance of life, as well as stir the imagination and wonder.   Follow Joachim on Instagram:...

Wayne Cauthen returns to the show! He first appeared on the podcast on episode 27, which was recorded in a Golden Nugget Restaurant. In this episode, native Chicagoan Wayne and Rich discuss the city and the experience of the pandemic within it. They discuss personal growth from the last episode, which was the last in-person recording before COVID, till now. He wonders if gravity holds back conscio...

For the 200th episode of the podcast, Rich answers questions that he typically presents to guests. He reflects on the Chicago vibe, music he's been listening to lately, what he's curious about, and what he's excited for.  Follow Rich on Instagram: @richhebron Subscribe on YouTube