Alejandro Juárez Crawford, Miriam Plavin-Masterman, ITSPmagazine, Srijan Banik

What If Instead? Podcast

Society EN ↓ 29 episodes

A podcast co-hosted by Alejandro Juárez Crawford and Mim Plavin-Masterman. A show about everyday people reimagining the way things work—and tackling the obstacles they face. We explore adventures in democratizing innovation—how the chance to try one’s hand at something new affects people and even organizations, what “powers” they discover and what challenges they face along the way. We dig into access: what determines who gets the chance to try and disrupt the way things work? We examine obstacles in specific industries and communities, and go deep with people working to break through them. We...

Author

Alejandro Juárez Crawford, Miriam Plavin-Masterman, ITSPmagazine, Srijan Banik

Episodes

The Invisible Bridge Between Two Worlds | Antonio Castillo 16.03.2026 58:16

What if Instead? is produced with generous support from: The Democratizing Innovation Institute Ever look around you and ask what if instead things worked differently? The institute takes what we used to think only innovators and entrepreneurs did, and makes it normal. We're on a mission to provide the tools, the space, and the connections to ask the question in practice—by taking part in an e...

A System for Unexpected Connections | David Garrison 15.01.2026 58:05

Learn More About: Connect Networks One Size Fits None: Time for an Entrepreneurial Revolution Climate & Capital Connect Climate & Capital Media Sponsors: Democratizing Innovation Social Impact Lab Key Themes & Insights: The Power of Intentional Networking: How treating connections as systems — not byproducts — changes the way people, ideas, and opportunities intersect. Mutual Value Over Transa...

The Energy Transition: Not if, but When | Susan Hunt Stevens 29.07.2025 44:36

Key Takeaways/Calls to Action: For Individuals: Actively experiment in your career to find genuine fulfillment. Consciously manage your "personal overhead" to maximize your agility and options. Consider how your time, talent, and resources can be directed toward solving pressing global challenges. For Innovators & Entrepreneurs: Beyond celebrating disruption, take full accountability for the "seco...

Beyond “Just Change Your Perspective” | Sage Brody 10.07.2025 46:24

Suggested Reading & Listening https://www.rhythmofregulation.com/polyvagal-theory https://leveninstitute.com/who-we-are/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Who Am I to Do This? (And Why I Did Anyway) | Dan Lee 22.06.2025 38:52

Suggested Reading & Listening Dan Lee's Congressional Campaign YURA Health Run For Something The Arena PAC Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Diseconomies of Scale | Michael Shuman 04.06.2025 51:34

Key Concepts & Themes: Pre-Copernican Economics: The central metaphor for the outdated, pre-Copernican economic models that insist on globalization and scale above all else, despite evidence that localized systems are often more resilient and competitive. The "Scale" Fallacy: The conversation challenges the common wisdom that to "scale" a business means to make it as big as possible. Instead, Moos...

What If Philanthropy Got It Right? Robert Osborne on What if Instead? 12.05.2025 36:56

Our guest, Robert Osborne , principal of The Osborne Group, brings 25 years of experience working with nonprofits and funders. Together, we explore: Why most philanthropic money never reaches grassroots, community-led organizations How donor-advised funds and endowments lock away billions while urgent needs go unmet The limits of “charity” and the need to center justice instead Whether measuring i...

Unlocking Potential Through Experiential Learning | A Conversation with Tomás Mora Selva & Huang Wei-Jou | What If Instead? Podcast with Alejandro Juárez Crawford and Miriam Plavin-Masterman 27.03.2025 1:15:02

Guests: Tomás Mora Selva , Cofounder, Youth BCN and Youth HUB; Head of Experiential Learning, RebelBase; Cofounder, Democratizing Innovation Institute; and Board Member, I.D.E.A Huang Wei-Jou , Student, Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University Hosts: Alejandro Juárez Crawford On ITSPmagazine 👉 https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-podcast-radio-hosts/alejandro-juarez-crawford...

We Have The Skills, We Need The Connection | A Conversation with Ari Luis Halos & Charnylle T. Antiporda | What If Instead? Podcast with Alejandro Juárez Crawford and Miriam Plavin-Masterman 13.03.2025 56:52

Guests: Ari Luis Halos , Assistant Professor, University of the Philippines Open University On LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/ari-luis-halos-897b2113/ Charnylle T. Antiporda , Founder of Juan Lift Hosts: Alejandro Juárez Crawford On ITSPmagazine 👉 https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-podcast-radio-hosts/alejandro-juarez-crawford Miriam Plavin-Masterman On ITSPmagazine 👉 https://...

Mentorship & Collaboration: The Alignment That Changes The World | A Conversation with Evelina Van Mensel and Martin Nedev | What If Instead? Podcast with Alejandro Juárez Crawford and Miriam Plavin-Masterman 27.02.2025 49:34

Guests: Evelina Van Mensel On LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/evavanmensel Martin Nedev , CEO of Enthela On LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/enthela Hosts: Alejandro Juárez Crawford On ITSPmagazine 👉 https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-podcast-radio-hosts/alejandro-juarez-crawford Miriam Plavin-Masterman On ITSPmagazine 👉 https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-podc...

Bio-manufacturing: How It Can Reshape Industries and Our Planet | A Conversation with Edward Shenderovich | What If Instead? Podcast with Alejandro Juárez Crawford and Miriam Plavin-Masterman 13.02.2025 44:59

Guest: Edward Shenderovich , Hosts: Alejandro Juárez Crawford On ITSPmagazine 👉 https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-podcast-radio-hosts/alejandro-juarez-crawford Miriam Plavin-Masterman On ITSPmagazine 👉 https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-podcast-radio-hosts/miriam-plavin-masterman ______________________ Episode Introduction In this episode of What if Instead?, Edward Shenderovi...

The Future Life of Heavy Equipment | A Conversation with Tom Christenson | What If Instead? Podcast with Alejandro Juárez Crawford and Miriam Plavin-Masterman 30.01.2025 48:23

Guest: Tom Christenson , CEO of TBAuctions Hosts: Alejandro Juárez Crawford On ITSPmagazine 👉 https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-podcast-radio-hosts/alejandro-juarez-crawford Miriam Plavin-Masterman On ITSPmagazine 👉 https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-podcast-radio-hosts/miriam-plavin-masterman ______________________ Episode Introduction In this episode of What If Instead?, Tom...

When There’s a Wildfire, It’s Pass or Fail | A Conversation with Alister Watt | What If Instead? Podcast with Alejandro Juárez Crawford and Miriam Plavin-Masterman 12.12.2024 56:24

Guest: Alister Watt , Chief Product Officer, Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) On LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/alister-watt-32a60b4/recent-activity/all/ Hosts: Alejandro Juárez Crawford On ITSPmagazine 👉 https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-podcast-radio-hosts/alejandro-juarez-crawford Miriam Plavin-Masterman On ITSPmagazine 👉 https://www.itspmagazine.com/...

Changing My Understanding Of The World By Just Doing It | A Conversation With Lucas Rockett Gutterman | What If Instead? Podcast with Alejandro Juárez Crawford and Miriam Plavin-Masterman 14.11.2024 1:01:12

Guest: Lucas Rockett Gutterman , Designed to Last campaign director, PIRG At PIRG: https://pirg.org/people/lucas-gutterman/ Hosts: Alejandro Juárez Crawford On ITSPmagazine 👉 https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-podcast-radio-hosts/alejandro-juarez-crawford Miriam Plavin-Masterman On ITSPmagazine 👉 https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-podcast-radio-hosts/miriam-plavin-masterman ____...

Who Pays Me? How Do I Feel About That? Is it in Service of Life? | A Conversation with B. Lorraine Smith | What If Instead? Podcast with Alejandro Juárez Crawford and Miriam Plavin-Masterman 31.10.2024 59:51

Guest: B. Lorraine Smith , Writer, Advisor, & Coach On LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/b-lorraine-smith-155a875/ Hosts: Alejandro Juárez Crawford On ITSPmagazine 👉 https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-podcast-radio-hosts/alejandro-juarez-crawford Miriam Plavin-Masterman On ITSPmagazine 👉 https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-podcast-radio-hosts/miriam-plavin-masterman ________...

Using Clean Energy to Level the Economic Playing Field | A conversation with David Cash | What If Instead? Podcast with Alejandro Juárez Crawford and Miriam Plavin-Masterman 17.10.2024 50:19

Guest: David Cash , Regional Administrator, EPA New England On LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-w-cash Hosts: Alejandro Juárez Crawford On ITSPmagazine 👉 https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-podcast-radio-hosts/alejandro-juarez-crawford Miriam Plavin-Masterman On ITSPmagazine 👉 https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-podcast-radio-hosts/miriam-plavin-masterman _____________...

The Muscles We Build by Bridging | A conversation with Kate O'Neill | What If Instead? Podcast with Alejandro Juárez Crawford and Miriam Plavin-Masterman 26.09.2024 59:42

Guest: Kate O'Neill , Dean, College of Business, American University of Iraq-Baghdad On LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/k-kathleen-oneill-phd-strategicleadership/ Hosts: Alejandro Juárez Crawford On ITSPmagazine 👉 https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-podcast-radio-hosts/alejandro-juarez-crawford Miriam Plavin-Masterman On ITSPmagazine 👉 https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-po...

It's a broken system | A conversation with David Benzaquen | What If Instead? Podcast with Alejandro Juárez Crawford and Miriam Plavin-Masterman 09.09.2024 1:03:40

Guest: David Benzaquen , Founder and CEO, Mission: Plant LLC On LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbenzaquen/ Hosts: Alejandro Juárez Crawford On ITSPmagazine 👉 https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-podcast-radio-hosts/alejandro-juarez-crawford Miriam Plavin-Masterman On ITSPmagazine 👉 https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-podcast-radio-hosts/miriam-plavin-masterman _________...

A System Where Local Is the Norm – and We Pay What It Really Costs To Drive Something Hundreds of Miles | A conversation with Trevor Vaughn and Hunter Buffington | What If Instead? Podcast with Alejandro Juárez Crawford and Miriam Plavin-Masterman 22.08.2024 40:45

Guests: Trevor Vaughn On LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-vaughn-2165a661/ Hunter Buffington On LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/hunter-buffington-co/ Hosts: Alejandro Juárez Crawford On ITSPmagazine 👉 https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-podcast-radio-hosts/alejandro-juarez-crawford Miriam Plavin-Masterman On ITSPmagazine 👉 https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-p...

Talking To People Who Think Like Us Has Made Us Stagnant | A conversation with Trevor Vaughn and Hunter Buffington | What If Instead? Podcast with Alejandro Juárez Crawford and Miriam Plavin-Masterman 22.08.2024 48:00

Bringing Biodiversity to the Innovation Ecosystem | A conversation with Ben Soltoff | What If Instead? Podcast with Alejandro Juárez Crawford and Miriam Plavin-Masterman 26.07.2024 41:15

Guest: Ben Soltoff , Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) and the Ecosystem-Builder in Residence at the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship [ @EshipMIT ] On LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-soltoff/ On Twitter | https://twitter.com/bensoltoff Hosts: Alejandro Juárez Crawford On ITSPmagazine 👉 https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-podcast-radio-hosts/alejandro-juarez-crawford M...

The Invisible Barriers to Going ‘Green’ | A conversation with Melisa Báez | What If Instead? Podcast with Alejandro Juárez Crawford and Miriam Plavin-Masterman 18.07.2024 1:01:37

Guest: Melisa Báez , Co-Founder and CEO at ELUME and Teacher Assistant at Bard Graduate Programs in Sustainability On LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/melisa-baez Hosts: Alejandro Juárez Crawford On ITSPmagazine 👉 https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-podcast-radio-hosts/alejandro-juarez-crawford Miriam Plavin-Masterman On ITSPmagazine 👉 https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-pod...

Everyone is Living in Different Parts of the World, but There's Something That Attached Us All together | A conversation with Dalia Najjar | What If Instead? Podcast with Alejandro Juárez Crawford and Miriam Plavin-Masterman 04.07.2024 1:08:53

Guest: Dalia Najjar , General Manager at Farouk Systems and Social Entrepreneurship Faculty Leader at Al-Quds Bard College for Arts and Sciences On LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/dalia-najjar-ab212643/ On YouTube | https://youtu.be/KBwjaHq3G3c?si=uvUt0EkoSGvnF7Y5 Hosts: Alejandro Juárez Crawford On ITSPmagazine 👉 https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-podcast-radio-hosts/alejandro-ju...

Beyond "The Conceivable Future": Reimagining Our Climate Narrative | A conversation with Dr Meghan Elizabeth Kallman | What If Instead? Podcast with Alejandro Juárez Crawford and Miriam Plavin-Masterman 27.06.2024 58:42

Guest: Dr. Meghan Elizabeth Kallman , PhD, Rhode Island State Senator and Associate Professor, School for Global Inclusion and Social Development UMASS Boston On Twitter | https://x.com/MeghanEKallman On LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/meghan-kallman-6030a3229/ Website | https://meghankallman.com/ Hosts: Alejandro Juárez Crawford On ITSPmagazine 👉 https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazin...

A Hundred Thousand Small Experiments | A Conversation with Dr Sebastian Groh | What If Instead? Podcast with Alejandro Juárez Crawford and Miriam Plavin-Masterman 14.06.2024 52:41

Guest: Dr Sebastian Groh , Managing Director at SOLshare and Professor at BRAC Business School On LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastian-groh-solshare/ On Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/sebastian.groh.14 On YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@solshare Hosts: Alejandro Juárez Crawford On ITSPmagazine 👉 https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-podcast-radio-hosts/alejandro-juarez-c...