Towards a Kinder Public

The co-founders of Historicons, a trained architect working in social and political issues and published children’s author, and a research scientist with a Ph. D. in Neuroscience and Physiology, return in part 2 to speak in more depth about: -Why deliberately obscuring historical figures and facts is not a new problem. -How the preservation of historic buildings gives us a misleading view of past...

Historicons is a visionary toy company that promotes diversity in representation. It was co-founded by an architect-artist and published children’s author, and a research scientist with a Ph. D. in Neuroscience and Physiology specializing in child development. In part 1 of this 2-part episode, we talk about: -How Historicons designs toys about individuals and events that have traditionally been ex...

Dave Liao is the owner of web and print design firm Offpeak Design , is Chinese American, and a dad who lives with his wife and daughter in Queens, New York. We talk about gender, safety, and accessibility in public space. In part 2 of this 2-part episode, we discuss: -Why all parents should be advocates for disability rights -When complements reveal gendered expectations about caregiving -The kin...

Dave Liao is the owner of web and print design firm Offpeak Design , is Chinese American, and a dad who lives with his wife and daughter in Queens, New York. In part 1 of this 2-part episode, we discuss: -Running the New York City Marathon which gave him an opportunity to reflect on his feelings about belonging; -The mistakes that Americans often make when meeting new people; -Why he was excited t...

What can music teach us about economic development and kinder public space? As we continue our conversation with Chelsie Henderson, the owner of Rural Soul Music Studio, we discuss: -The experiences that led Chelsie to turn her career path from choral work to West African percussion. -The skills of music making that are a strong foundation for business. -How Chelsie co-founded a grassroots event t...

Entrepreneur and small business owner Chelsie Henderson of Rural Soul Music Studio explains how she developed a values-driven, collaborative business in her rural home region and shares: -What her first years as a public school teacher looked like. -How teacher burnout led her to pursue community-based work. -Why collaboration is the key to the grassroots, experimental approach she has developed i...

How does disability inclusion happen? Janae Romano, a nurse and Advocate for Individuals with Complex Communication Needs, explains: -Why it is imperative to use a disability inclusion model in kindergarten. -How family financial resources directly impact a disabled child’s access to public education and literacy. -The dangerous form of censorship experienced by people with communication-related d...

Janae Romano, a disability inclusion proponent, nurse with 20+ years of experience working with individuals with neurological conditions impacting speech-typical communication, and advocate for individuals with complex communication needs, explains: -The surprising reason most people haven’t heard of complex communication needs. -The large number of medical conditions that can impact speech-typica...

Hudson Crossing Park is a bi-county public park on an island, situated between the Hudson River and the Champlain Canal, in upstate New York. We interview Kate Morse, Executive Director of Hudson Crossing Park, about the design and operational choices encouraging the park’s high level of civic engagement, and learn: -Why the unusual and exciting playground design reflects the park mission and futu...

Hudson Crossing Park is a bi-county public park on an island, situated between the Hudson River and the Champlain Canal, in upstate New York. We interview Kate Morse, Executive Director of Hudson Crossing Park about the design and operational choices encouraging the park’s high level of civic engagement, and learn: -How community collaboration was built into the park from the beginning  ...

Reverend Peaches Gillette is a poet, prison chaplain, diversity consultant, school board member, and educator originally from Park Slope, Brooklyn. She shares her thoughts with us about inclusivity in public space: -The impact of pushing past perceived differences and instead looking for commonalities -Why it’s crucial to help each other feel belonging -How to interrupt racism and indifference wit...

Reverend Peaches Gillette is a poet, prison chaplain, diversity consultant, school board member, and educator. She shares her thoughts about unequal access to public space: -What it means to belong -How to think about the human costs of exclusion -The missing piece in the study of racism and racial injustice -Why we must carefully guard against indifference Mentioned on the podcast: The National M...

Towards a Kinder Public is the podcast of Kinderpublic, an interdisciplinary design consultancy. We are working to create kinder public space: more inclusive, accessible, equitable, and sustainable.  Interviewing experts from a variety of roles and backgrounds, from architects, poets, conservationists, equity consultants, farmers, scientists, disability advocates, to historians, we discover t...