The Big REthink

What if, during their concerts, rock bands could scrap pre-planned set lists and let real-time data about fans’ energy determine a show’s direction? What if sensors could detect event attendees’ emotions and deliver a highly personalized experience in response? These are just a couple of concepts that could be inching closer to reality. On this episode of The Big REthink, host Susan Campbell welco...

Digital license plates. Dynamic window tints. Car interiors that change in appearance to suit a passenger’s preference. These are a few technologies and features that could soon transform the driving experience. At the forefront of their development: E Ink, a company known for creating a sustainable, electronic alternative to paper. On this episode of The Big REthink, E Ink’s associate vice presid...

If anyone knows what it takes to create dazzling, immersive in-person experiences on a larger-than-life scale, it’s Winston Fisher. Fisher is CEO of AREA15, a Las Vegas hub for interactive art and entertainment. AREA15 features a fully sensorial virtual reality free-roam space and an immersive, psychedelic grocery store-inspired exhibit with doorways to secret worlds—to name just a few of its head...

For older generations of professionals, pivoting to a new hybrid work model has required shifts in the way they think, work, and communicate. But for many Gen Z’ers—who will make up 30 percent of the workforce by 2030 and who have navigated school, socializing, and beginning their careers amid the Covid-19 pandemic—hybrid has been the norm. As more of Gen Z enters the workforce, what expectations...

More and more, customers and employees care not just about the products, services, and benefits that corporate organizations can offer them—they care about how those same organizations give back to the communities and world around them, too. On this episode of The Big REthink, Panasonic’s own Alejandra Ceja, Vice President of Social Impact and Inclusion and Executive Director of the Panasonic Foun...

As students go back to school, we’re looking forward to what’s in store for education in the years to come. On this episode of The Big REthink, host Barry Ross revisits conversations with three education experts. Dr. Michael John McDonough, president of Raritan Valley Community College in New Jersey, explains how technology is helping to improve education accessibility. Georgetown University schol...

In the worlds of music, dance, urban planning and beyond, art and technology are working together to revitalize creativity and inspire connection. On this episode of The Big REthink, host Susan Campbell revisits conversations with three guests who live and work at the intersection of art and tech. Quantum physicist and professional ballet dancer Dr. Merritt Moore describes the mutual benefits of f...

Everywhere we go, from classrooms to churches to concerts, audio visual technology brings immersive experiences and powerful stories to life. On today’s episode of The Big REthink, content creator, multimedia journalist, and AV professional Alesia Hendley joins host Brian Rowley to discuss her passion for creating such experiences through AV technology, and her efforts to “tell a story of what our...

Can a cake decorator find success in an e-commerce role? Is there a place in cybersecurity for a forensics technician? According to Jessica Mitsch Homes, co-founder and CEO of the Raleigh-based training company Momentum, the answer is a resounding yes. On this episode of The Big REthink, Homes joins host Susan Campbell to explain how companies like hers are helping individuals train for new career...

For a long time, corporate workers were expected to bring little more than professional skills to their jobs. But these days, says Cheryl Harris, corporate organizations are recognizing the value of employees and executives on a more holistic level, from their passions and emotions to their intellect and sensitivity. What led to this shift, and what difference is this increasing openness and aware...

In the 1980s, rising awareness of energy efficiency in the building industry led to an ironic—and perhaps surprising—side effect in indoor spaces: poorer air quality. On today’s episode of The Big REthink, Kevin Smith, general manager of the Life & Device Solutions Division and Visual Systems Department at Panasonic Canada, joins host Susan Campbell for a conversation about why most people ass...

For utility companies, keeping power lines clear of fallen trees and overgrown vegetation is a complex task. On this episode of The Big REthink, Anne Beard, director of vegetation management solutions for Geospatial Innovations, Inc., explains to host Susan Campbell how the company’s software simplifies the process, and increases efficiency, for workers in the field and the office. Beard also shar...

Agriculture is an age-old industry. New technologies, such as self-driving tractors, stand to increase efficiency and profitability and to fill gaps in lacking labor, but some farmers still hesitate to embrace it. Today, Jon Ebert, manager of public and industry relations in North America for John Deere, explains to host Brian Rowley how he’s using creative storytelling to illustrate the value adv...

To educate customers about how they can be more sustainable at home, the Orlando Utilities Commission set up a tiny green home outfitted with engaging, interactive displays centered around water usage, energy consumption, composting, and other areas of focus. On this episode of The Big REthink, Bernadette Boesch, the commission’s creative director, joins host Susan Campbell to explain the tiny hom...

Former NASA astronaut Charlie Camarda formed the EPIC Education Foundation in response to the drastically dwindling number of students who pursue STEM-related education and careers. On this episode of The Big REthink, Camarda joins host Barry Ross to discuss the foundation’s innovative educational model, which promotes collaborative problem-solving and mentorship across age groups and education le...

In honor of Earth Day, host Barry Ross revisits conversations with innovative executives and individuals who are using technology as a tool to better our planet. Guests include Topher White, founder of Rainforest Connection, an organization dedicated to combating illegal logging and deforestation; Atmosic Technologies founder and CEO David Su, who explains how energy harvesting could reduce electr...

For people who are hard of hearing, a routine visit to the post office, bank or pharmacy can be complicated. On today’s episode of The Big REthink, Janice Lintz, founder and CEO of Hearing Access Innovations, joins host Barry Ross to explain how face masks, plexiglass barriers and background noise can pose challenges for people who are hard of hearing, and how she’s working to make a particular, p...

It’s Women’s History Month! To celebrate, on this episode of The Big REthink, host Susan Campbell shares snippets from conversations with a few of her favorite, forward-thinking female guests of the show. Topics of conversation range from the power of public, outdoor art exhibits to technology’s role in making the world more accessible for people with disabilities—and much more.

Body language isn’t just a reflection of what we might be thinking or feeling on the inside. It can influence how we’re viewed as leaders, too. On this episode of The Big REthink, host Susan Campbell welcomes international keynote speaker and body language expert Dr. Carol Kinsey Goman for a conversation about the link between our body language and our perceived credibility. They also discuss ways...

In modern-day baseball, far more goes into preparing players for competition than just batting practice and outfield drills. On this episode of The Big REthink, Katie Krall—the biomechanist and former Google strategist who recently joined the Boston Red Sox as development coach for its Minor League team, the Portland Sea Dogs—joins host Brian Rowley to discuss how coaches in the sport are using te...

Self-doubt, gender bias and physical strain were a few of the obstacles mountaineer Tonya Clement had to overcome when, in 2006, she became the ninth American woman to summit Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak. On this episode of The Big REthink, Clement, now the president of Cardinal Peak Technologies, joins host Brian Rowley to discuss the mindset, training regimen and technology that helpe...

What do Nobel Prize-winning scientists, Olympic figure skaters and astronauts have in common? They’re all extreme high achievers at the top of their respective fields. On this episode of The Big REthink, Dr. Ruth Gotian—The Success Factor author, chief learning officer and assistant professor of education in anesthesiology at Weill Cornell Medicine, and 2021 recipient of Thinkers50’s prestigious R...

For industries that embrace it, cryptocurrency can create efficiencies—both economic and operational. Why do some still resist it, and are they wise to stay away? Ron Shevlin—author, Forbes contributor, and director of research for Cornerstone Advisors—breaks it all down for host Barry Ross on today’s episode.

The rapidly changing workplace. Constantly evolving industries. Technology’s impact on the arts. We covered a lot of exciting topics on The Big REthink in 2021, and on this final show of the year, host Barry Ross revisits a few of our favorite episodes and guests. As always, thanks for listening. We’ll be back with exciting new episodes in 2022!

Despite existing in an increasingly digital world, many brick-and-mortar retailers are significantly more profitable than their e-commerce counterparts. On this episode of The Big REthink, Chris Ressa—host of the Retail Retold podcast and COO of DLC Management Corp.—joins host Brian Rowley to explain why. Ressa also explains how changing work models, such as hybrid and work-from-home, are impactin...