Tech Conversations at FIU’s Ratcliffe Art + Design Incubator

Leigh-Ann Buchanan talks about her journey from being an attorney to finding her way in the tech space.  In this podcast we talk about her purpose, passions and the black entrepreneurial stories that haven't been told.  Leigh-Ann A. Buchanan, Esq. is a strategist, writer, facilitator, and frequent speaker on strategies for inclusive innovation and designing equitable entrepreneurial ecos...

In this innovative talk, we learn about the latest and the future of electric vehicles with expert Ebo Entsuah, a Policy Principal at Advanced Energy Economy (AEE). Florida is the third most populous state in the nation with over 21 million residents and growing. What are the current incentives and rebates available to purchase an EV and how is that different from the Federal Tax Credit.&nbsp...

#Roku is dominating with subscribers not just in the United States, but in international markets like Latin America.  Meet Gretel Perera, a proud native of Venezuela and the Director of PR for Roku in Latin America. In this episode she takes us through her journey managing and leading public relations at various organizations. Our talk focuses on the international rise of Roku in Latin A...

A unique creative talk with our next guest-- Anjanette Delgado is a Puerto Rican writer and journalist. In this conversation we take a journey and learn about her passion for storytelling , as well as the creative entrepreneurial process during these unprecedented times.   She is the author of The Heartbreak Pill (Simon and Schuster, 2008), 2009 winner of the Latino International Book Aw...

Melissa Medina is a Founding Executive team member and President of eMerge Americas. In this talk she takes listeners through her journey with entrepreneurship deep in her DNA she's working hard to make #Miami and #SouthFlorida the next tech hub of the Americas. eMerge Americas, a venture-backed platform focused on transforming Miami into the tech hub of the Americas. The eMerge signature event, l...

Go Like Mariana! What led Mariana Atencio to become an entrepreneur and co-found her company GoLike? Mariana Atencio, award-winning journalist, motivational speaker, best-selling author and co-founder of Go Like! Her journey takes us from the early days of her passion for storytelling working at Univision and NBC News to creating a unique path with her spirit of innovation and creativity . www.gol...

Get on your feet! What does it take to be an entrepreneur in these times...Hosted by producer, Maggie Salas-Amaro.  Emilio Estefan talks about his journey as an award- winning producer, recipient of 19 Grammys, director, entrepreneur, known for launching the careers of artists like Shakira, Ricky Martin just to name a few... His unique rhythm has crossed borders and created a cultural movemen...

Meet FIU Alumnus, MARTIN AMADO - TV personality, interior decorator, lifestyle expert, and author of One-Day Room Makeovers. He is currently a TV host/design expert on ION Television, a leading U.S. general entertainment network, a home contributor on Acceso Total on WSCV Telemundo 51 and NBC’s 6 In The Mix airing in South Florida, and nationally on Telemundo’s Al Rojo Vivo. Upcoming projects incl...

In our first interview with NASA, the Perseverance Rover was about to land on Mars. A few months later we connect with Elio Morillo, a system testbed engineer working on the Mars Mission. In this out-of-this-world talk we learn about his journey and what inspires his interest in space and science. For the last four years, he has contributed to the mission by developing and executing electrical int...

What is Black Quantum Futurism? Our guest is Rasheedah Phillips, artist, author, attorney, community activist and 2021 Knight Arts+Tech Fellow.  Black Quantum Futurism is an interdisciplinary creative practice between Camae Ayewa and Rasheedah Phillips exploring the intersections of futurism, creative media, DIY aesthetics, and activism in marginalized communities through an alternative tempo...

Meet Rodolfo Peraza, a Cuban-born multimedia artist that began his journey in Havana, Cuba. His work focuses on public spaces, both virtual and physical.  Peraza is the founder of Fanguito Estudio in Havana (2009). In 2013, he launched the VRLab for the development of browser-based VR technology.  Peraza also created MUD Foundation (Miami, 2016) to advance the intersections between art a...

In this conversation we feature Stephanie Dinkins, a transmedia artist who creates platforms for dialog about race, gender, aging, and our future histories. This impactful conversation takes listeners on a journey with a project Bina48, a humanoid robot in a  quest for friendship and questions about the future.    Dinkins’ art practice employs emerging technologies, documentary practices, and soci...

Do you know which technology policies are being introduced for legislation in Washington, D.C. ? Meet Dr. Dominique Harrison, Director of Technology Policy at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. Our talk takes us to  explore three issue areas:  Platform accountability, broadband access privacy and algorithm experience.  Our conversation turns to learn more about Artificial Intelli...

Why Miami? Our next conversation is with Eric Rosenthal, VP and Managing Director, Americas for Rapyd. The company recently announced a $100 million Miami Tech Power initiative, placing the spotlight on Miami when it comes to tech companies sourcing talent and using our geography to further expand their businesses globally. 

How do we keep inspiring students when the classroom now shifts to a digital platform? In this conversation, Dr. Karla Kennedy, Program Director of Online Learning for FIU CARTA takes us through some of the challenges of engagement in distance learning and the future .

Is Miami ready for the tech revolution? In this conversation we have the honor of featuring Mayor Francis Suarez, the first Miami-born mayor and FIU alumnus. Mayor Suarez talks about the opportunities that emerged to run the city during the pandemic, and the virtual platforms that exist for residents to start businesses and interact virtually without ever having to go in person to a government fac...

The Art of Gaming... Art, gaming and virtual reality..  In this conversation our guest is visual artist Leo Castañeda, born in Colombia and from a talented family of artists and architects... We're talking about the intersection of art and virtual reality . 

As we close Women's History Month, our guest is Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. The county's first female mayor will talk about her digital engagement strategies during her campaign in the time of the pandemic . We also discuss the initiative "Thrive 305",  a survey aimed to get feedback for determining  priorities,creating innovation and creativity between the government and the pub...

The art world has changed and our guests David Anasagasti, digital artist and Sam Pepper, internet creative are  talking about crypto art and NFTs.... In this artistic conversation we learn all about what's happening and changing in the virtual art scene and beyond.    

The weather is always either a HOT or COLD topic... so what's in the forecast? Our conversation turns to the famous weather models and the current tech tools to predict everything from storms, hurricanes, and well the overall changing weather. We're talking to Meteorologist, Paola Elorza, a familiar face in South Florida and throughout Latin America, having been the face of weather reporting...

Joanna Popper, Head of Global VR at HP takes us on this unique experience to discuss the newest tools and innovation in headsets, backpacks and full body experiences in VR.  Did you know you can connect with people to build and collaborate on anything from visiting and building art to performing surgery with VR?   

Lauren Shapiro, international artist takes us on a unique artistic journey to learn more about the intersection of technology and ceramics. Did you know that clay is one of the first tools and technology of mankind?  

In our inaugural episode, we connect with NASA's Mars 2020 Guidance Navigation and Control Subsystem Manager, Dr. Andrew E. Johnson, working on Terrain Relative Navigation for the Perseverance rover's mission in 2021. https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/mission/technology/#Terrain-Relative-Navigation