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Facilitation is the process of making something possible. And if you’ve ever led a meeting or organized a group to get something done… you’ve been a facilitator. When we are part of a well facilitated group experience, collaboration can feel so effortless and productive. Often there’s a sense of flow and dynamic energy. And you can more easily navigate conflict — when it inevitably arises. This episode continues our inquiry into group dynamics, exploring one of the most vital skills in the design toolkit for change. Originally from Indonesia , Mila Aliana has had quite a remarkable journey leading strategic change projects all over the world. For her, facilitation isn’t just a skill — but a way of being in the world. Together we explore the practice and presence required to facilitate real breakthroughs within groups.

A new collaborative design methodology is emerging. Prosocial can transform a collection of self-interested individuals into a harmonious and effective group. And it helps groups work with other groups, exponentially scaling positive change. This episode is a deep inquiry into the nuances of human behavior and cooperation. We’ll explore the foundational science and core design principles with the founder of Prosocial World, Dr. Paul Atkins. Our journey also takes us to Sierra Leone to speak with Hannah Bockarie and Beate Ebert about their experience with Prosocial during the Ebola outbreak of 2014.

In a world full of mass produced objects and experiences, designed for anyone and everyone, Abraham Burickson designs for someone. As co-founder of Odyssey Works, he has been experimenting with a highly bespoke form of design that breaks the mold. From performances made for an audience of one, to homes designed for who you want to become, Abe’s work is a vanishing point for empathetic experience design. 

A global network of people from all walks of life has somehow coalesced into a thriving online community — The Earth Regenerators. Their intention is to weave relationships that restore planetary health at scale. In part two of our series with Joe Brewer, we tell the story of this vibrant community and explore how to design truly regenerative human cultures.

Joe Brewer is a culture designer learning how to live regeneratively in the Andes mountains of Colombia. His project, Origen del Agua, aims to transform a community and a landscape — all to bring a river back to life. This living demonstration shows us a path to restore planetary health at scale. And is also giving birth to a design school for Earth regeneration. 

Deep in the jungles of Latin America, front-line wildlife conservation is often met with violent opposition from the extraction economy. Here, hundreds of thousands of parrots are illegally taken by poachers every year. LoraKim Joyner, a wildlife veterinarian, avian conservationist, and Unitarian Universalist minister stands in solidarity and resistance with the people. In a highly adaptive form of culture design, she combines science and spirituality to help marginalized communities—building their capacity to transform poachers into protectors.

How can we change anything about our world if we can’t even hold a conversation? In the midst of extreme polarization, the Evolve Experience takes on society’s toughest issues to stimulate conversations that bridge our collective divide. Combining theatre and dramatic storytelling with workshop-style audience engagement, Evolve increases our capacity to hold complex, nuanced viewpoints. This unique process helps participants navigate profound disagreements, transforming defensiveness into curiosity and compassion. In this conversation, we speak with the co-creator of Evolve and founder of The Red Door Project, Kevin Jones, and retired Deputy Chief of Police, Bob Day. Together, we explore how to overcome our natural resistance to change and reclaim our curiosity about others.

Every year, the city of Boston is transformed into an immersive playground. Illuminus is a contemporary arts festival featuring site-specific, installation and performance art. In this episode, we speak with Jeff Grantz, Founder and Executive Director for the festival. Our conversation runs the gamut—from curiosity to community, and ultimately what it takes to shape the cultural identity of a place. And through it, we realize that a nighttime arts festival isn’t just a party… it’s a catalyst for change on many levels.

Annie Mitchell creates beautiful site-specific land sculptures that combine light and sound with the natural environment. Using handcrafted fiber optics and rhythmic soundscapes, she employs a method called brainwave entrainment, which induces the brain’s frequency following response. Her work is sometimes described as sound therapy, often resulting in meditative or even trance-like states. In this conversation, we discover how art and science can blend—tuning us to just the right frequency. Outside In is a podcast about the moments that change us. Join your hosts, Pavani Yalla and Joel Krieger, as they discover design in unexpected places. These conversations cover a kaleidoscope of experience — from wilderness treks to VR films, communal festivals to immersive theater. Each episode, they deconstruct an experience with its creator — together, revealing what makes it transformative. A fascinating exploration on the frontier of design for change, this series is for anyone who yearns to transform something about the reality they experience.

Is it possible to usher people from awareness into action... within just a few minutes? In this conversation, we hear from award-winning creative producer and co-creator of the UN’s Virtual Reality initiative, Barry Pousman. Our chat takes us from a Syrian refugee camp to the Gaza Strip, revealing techniques and strategies for creating immersive media that has the power to make people feel, in order to prompt them to act. Outside In is a podcast about the moments that change us. Join your hosts, Pavani Yalla and Joel Krieger, as they discover design in unexpected places. These conversations cover a kaleidoscope of experience — from wilderness treks to VR films, communal festivals to immersive theater. Each episode, they deconstruct an experience with its creator — together, revealing what makes it transformative. A fascinating exploration on the frontier of design for change, this series is for anyone who yearns to transform something about the reality they experience.

Over the last ten years, Shelli Johnson has hiked 26,000 miles—roughly one full trip around the Earth. Her extended time in the backcountry has given her a rare perspective on design. In this episode, we unpack a unique wilderness experience she’s created, called an “Epic”. Through the conversation, we come to know the wilderness as a platform for transformation.   Outside In is a podcast about the moments that change us. Join your hosts, Pavani Yalla and Joel Krieger, as they discover design in unexpected places. These conversations cover a kaleidoscope of experience — from wilderness treks to VR films, communal festivals to immersive theater. Each episode, they deconstruct an experience with its creator — together, revealing what makes it transformative. A fascinating exploration on the frontier of design for change, this series is for anyone who yearns to transform something about the reality they experience.

In this episode, we provide some context for what this podcast is all about, and most importantly, explain why we're doing it. In this brief conversation, we reflect a bit on the first three episodes, compare notes on why we felt compelled to take on this project, and discuss our future aspirations for the series. Outside In is a podcast about the moments that change us. Join your hosts, Pavani Yalla and Joel Krieger, as they discover design in unexpected places. These conversations cover a kaleidoscope of experience — from wilderness treks to VR films, communal festivals to immersive theater. Each episode, they deconstruct an experience with its creator — together, revealing what makes it transformative. A fascinating exploration on the frontier of design for change, this series is for anyone who yearns to transform something about the reality they experience.