From AI adoption to U.S. politics, we’re exploring what it means to move forward with intention, not just momentum. James Kaufman, professor of educational psychology at the University of Connecticut, makes the case for nurturing human creativity in the age of artificial intelligence. Chloe Autio, owner of Autio Strategies and co-host of “Is This It?”, weighs in on the balance between AI innovation and regulation. Finally, Cristobal Vasquez, Washington correspondent for Radio France Internationa...
Jul 03, 2025•49 min•Ep. 528
A closer look at how experts are adapting their approaches to technology, politics, and investing in a rapidly changing world. Co-host Elizabeth Shea speaks with Amelia DeSorrento, co-founder of DC’s Agora Initiative, about the gender gap in venture capital—and the power of investing in female entrepreneurs. Dave Edwards, co-founder of Artificiality, explores the promise of efficient AI: how can we build systems that act as collaborators, not competitors? And White House correspondent Richard La...
Jun 05, 2025•43 min•Ep. 527
New forms of policy are dramatically changing our technologies and economies. Co-host Elizabeth Shea sits down with Paul Doman, president of Victory Square Partners, to discuss how AI is transforming the way tech firms build and scale. White House foreign correspondent Nadia Bilbassy shares the challenges of reporting on Donald Trump’s foreign policy in the Middle East. And Eduardo Albrecht, author and political anthropologist, explains how machines are reshaping how governments understand and i...
May 08, 2025•43 min•Ep. 526
In this episode, we’re venturing into the unknown and exploring how to move forward when the future is unclear. Co-hosting our tech segment with Jonathan Aberman, Elizabeth Shea sits down with Doug Anderson to explore how D.C. startups are navigating new political, economic and technological tides. Then, Juliane Schäuble, US Correspondent of "Der Tagesspiegel", joins us to discuss the shockwaves that President Trump is sending in Germany and throughout Europe. Also, veteran Pulitzer Prize-winnin...
Apr 10, 2025•43 min•Ep. 525
This month, we’re taking a closer look at the changing tides in technology and international affairs. Host Jonathan Aberman and Matt Howard, CMO at Virtru, discuss D.C.’s need for effective cybersecurity amid rapid tech innovation. Jonathan also interviews Dr. Christopher DiCarlo, whose new book “Building a God” explores how artificial intelligence is raising new questions about ethics, capitalism, and the limits to technological growth. Finally, Fraser Jackson returns to the show to examine how...
Mar 13, 2025•43 min•Ep. 524
Inspired by D.C.’s thriving tech ecosystem, Jonathan Aberman tackles artificial intelligence, ethics, and how we’ll coexist with emerging technologies. This month, Cory Doctorow joins the conversation. His latest book “Picks and Shovels” explores the ongoing debate over digital rights and how to find hope in the future of AI. Also, Jonathan sits down with Sean Whelan, White House Correspondent for Irish broadcaster RTE, to explore the Irish public’s fascination with U.S. politics and Irish-Ameri...
Feb 13, 2025•43 min•Ep. 523
In this episode, hosts Jonathan Aberman and Mark Walsh, in Mark’s final episode as co-host, explore how technology, climate change, and Elon Musk’s influence are drastically altering the path ahead. Also, hear from Greg Epstein, American Humanist chaplain at Harvard University and MIT, as he discusses his new book "Tech Agnostic". Epstein argues that technology has become a new form of religion, with its apocalyptic rhetoric and unchecked growth. Mark and Jonathan examine the impact of the L.A. ...
Jan 16, 2025•43 min•Ep. 522
For our final episode of the year, hosts Jonathan Aberman and Mark Walsh look ahead, from a second Trump presidency to the rise of facial recognition. Jonathan sits down with Fraser Jackson, White House Correspondent for France24, to discuss how French leaders are preparing for Trump’s return to power. Plus, in his newest book The Social Paradox, social psychologist William Von Hippel explores the tension between our need for autonomy and our need for connection. He explains why striking that ba...
Dec 19, 2024•43 min•Ep. 521
Hosts Jonathan and Mark talk government regulation, social media, and the pulse in Washington, D.C., from Capitol Hill to outer space. Jonathan Aberman sits down with White House Correspondent Richard Latendresse — calling in from Mar-a-Lago — to discuss president-elect Trump’s new administration, and what his transition can tell us about the next four years. Also, Jonathan chats with author Robin George Andrews about his new book “How to Kill an Asteroid”, a deep-dive into the world of planetar...
Nov 14, 2024•43 min•Ep. 520
This month, we're looking into our crystal ball to consider what our environmental, political, and technological futures might look like. Jonathan Aberman sits down with author Richard Powers to discuss innovation, ecology, and the art of storytelling in his new book Playground. Then, hear from Mineko Abe, producer for Yomiuri Shimbun, who joins us to discuss Japanese perspectives on new technologies and the U.S. presidential election. Hosts Mark and Jonathan also give us their media and culture...
Oct 24, 2024•43 min•Ep. 519
This month’s episode explores how political expression takes shape. Introducing his new book “Paris in Ruins”, Sebastian Smee discusses how Impressionism emerged in a politically chaotic France, bringing democracy and authenticity to art. Then, Nadia Bilbassy, Bureau Chief at Al Arabiya News, describes what it's like to cover the Biden White House for a Middle Eastern audience. She sits down with Jonathan Aberman to consider how empathy and dialogue can build bridges toward peace amid the crisis...
Sep 26, 2024•43 min•Ep. 549
From AI hype to Dolly Parton releases, Jonathan Aberman and Mark Walsh explore this month’s trends in finance, culture, and politics. Also, Jonathan sits down with Paulina Bren, author of “She-Wolves”, to honor the women who defied the odds and left their mark on Wall Street in the 1960s and ‘70s. Drawing on Jonathan’s own experience on Ozempic, Jonathan and Mark then discuss the reality of life on the medication, and what it might mean for the future of American healthcare. See Privacy Policy a...
Aug 29, 2024•43 min•Ep. 517
Longer episodes, deeper dives! In our new one hour format, hosts Jonathan Aberman and Mark Walsh explore new trends, share media recommendations, and interview author Corey Brettschneider. "The Presidents and the People: Five Leaders Who Threatened Democracy and the Citizens Who Fought to Defend It" examines how citizen movements have resisted presidential abuses of power by appealing to a democratic understanding of the Constitution. From Ida B. Wells to Daniel Ellsberg, American citizens have ...
Aug 01, 2024•43 min•Ep. 516
Exploring and settling outer space may seem like the ultimate form of entrepreneurship – but is it a realistic ambition? Drawing from her latest book "A City on Mars", Kelly Weinersmith sits down with Jonathan to discuss the hurdles we face in our journey to space, from human physiology to resource governance. So human life on Mars is still far-fetched, but we can learn a lot about our planet and our future from outside Earth's orbit. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Californi...
Apr 25, 2024•28 min•Ep. 515
"Being your own boss" isn't just about getting rich and being independent. In his latest book “One Day I’ll Work for Myself", author and historian Benjamin Waterhouse separates the allure from the illusions of self-employment. He takes a hard look at the mythology of entrepreneurship, from colonial America and the digital revolution of the 1980s to today. His advice? Look beyond the hype and make sure you're seeking purpose and fulfillment in working for yourself. See Privacy Policy at https://a...
Apr 18, 2024•28 min•Ep. 514
Sean Perryman is the Head of Algorithmic Fairness Policy at Uber. He sits down with Jonathan Aberman to discuss the major questions about privacy and bias raised by artificial intelligence, and how policymakers need to respond. From facial recognition technology to Google's Gemini, Perryman calls for greater tech literacy among lawmakers. He lays out his vision for a more attractive entrepreneurial future in D.C., where effective policy, meaningful professional networks and responsible technolog...
Apr 11, 2024•28 min•Ep. 513
Ben Foster is co-founder & executive chairman at Prodify. In an increasingly service-based economy, Foster makes the case for enhancing product-driven innovation and entrepreneurship in Washington, D.C.. He discusses his vision for scaleable, efficient product companies to compete with Silicon Valley’s recent interest in national security technology. According to Foster, it’s time to embrace the risk and adapt in order to stay on pace. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Cali...
Apr 04, 2024•28 min•Ep. 512
Since its launch in 2007, Bethesda Green has been on a mission to foster innovation and community for sustainable small businesses. Today, Jonathan sits down with executive director Dave Feldman to discuss environmental entrepreneurship in Bethesda, Maryland and beyond. From start-up incubation to environmental awareness efforts, Feldman and Bethesda Green are building a supportive space for sustainability-focused, community-oriented business. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and ...
Mar 28, 2024•28 min•Ep. 511
This week, Jonathan sits down with Justin Fanelli, Acting Chief Technology Officer for the United States Department of the Navy and Technical Director of PEO Digital. Together, they unpack his strategies for adopting innovation, from iterative improvements to a collaborative, motivated workplace environment. In building stronger tech infrastructure, Fanelli always keeps his mission in mind: to support military personnel in their work to protect the United States. See Privacy Policy at https://ar...
Mar 21, 2024•28 min•Ep. 510
Adam Green is a professor at Georgetown University and director of the Lab for Relational Cognition. This week, he sits down with Jonathan to discuss imagination, brain function, and his research in creative neuroscience. As artificial intelligence becomes more powerful and more popular, Green explores human creativity as a source of hope and empowerment in the age of AI. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-inf...
Mar 14, 2024•28 min•Ep. 509
Lance Collins is the is the inaugural vice president and executive director of the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus. Set to open in Spring 2025, the new state-of-the-art campus was announced by the university as part of the state’s successful effort to attract Amazon’s HQ2 to Northern Virginia, and aims to produce talented computer scientists and software engineers who will drive growth in the region's tech industry. On today's episode, Lance argues that investing in innovation is key to achievin...
Mar 07, 2024•28 min•Ep. 508
Harry Klaff, Principal and U.S President of Avison Young, joins Jonathan to delve into the fundamental shift in D.C.'s commercial real estate sector. With over two decades of expertise, Harry explores the critical role that commercial real estate plays in a region's economic health, addresses the profound implications of underutilized office spaces on downtown areas, and emphasizes the need for collaborative efforts between public and private sectors to revitalize our communities. See Privacy Po...
Feb 29, 2024•28 min•Ep. 507
Tonio DeSorrento is the CEO of GovPort, a technology platform developed specifically for government contractors that offers tools for subcontractor management, compliance, organization, and operational efficiency. On today's episode, Tonio describes the moment he saw an opportunity to create a dedicated software for GovCons, and how his product streamlines and optimizes the process for contract administrators at every stage in the life cycle of a government contract. See Privacy Policy at https:...
Feb 22, 2024•28 min•Ep. 506
Clark Mercer is the Director of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) and former Chief of Staff for Governor Ralph Northam. With over twenty years of senior management experience at the state, federal, and local levels, and passionate about driving transformative change across public safety, affordable housing, clean and water, commercial real estate, the regional economy and other civil issues, Clark explains how COG is uniting a complex tapestry of 24 local governments acros...
Feb 08, 2024•28 min•Ep. 505
Jason Stanford is the President of the Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance, a nonprofit organization that has been advocating for the region's transportation infrastructure for over 30 years. An expert on transportation policy analysis, Jason explains how public transportation is vital to the economic health of a region and shares his thoughts on what can be done, from funding to infrastructure to community outreach, to ensure that Metro meets the demands of today and tomorrow. See Privacy...
Feb 01, 2024•28 min•Ep. 504
Terry Clower is the Director of the Center for Regional Analysis at George Mason University, where his research produces valuable insights that help the private, nonprofit, and public sectors understand the region's growth and shortfalls. On today's episode, Terry provides an update on the overall state of the region; comments on the importance of the labor market and the outflow of knowledge workers; and discusses other regional hot topics such as housing, government contracting, demographic tr...
Jan 25, 2024•28 min•Ep. 503
"Enjoy your awful basketball team, Virginia," reads the title of independent journalist Matt Connolly's recent op-ed in The Atlantic. On today's episode, Connolly, who currently works for a labor union, joins Jonathan Aberman for a deep-dive on his compelling piece, detailing the economic factors driving the team's move across the Potomac to Alexandria, Virginia; the emotional impact this relocation will have on fans and D.C. culture; and his opinion on responsible sports team ownership. See Pri...
Jan 18, 2024•28 min•Ep. 502
It's a new year, and What's Working in Washington is back with a new host, Jonathan Aberman! Mark Walsh has passed the torch back to Aberman, who is eager to bring his perspective as an investor and entrepreneur to address the region's issues during this critical election year. Aberman's inaugural guest is Congressman Don Beyer, an American businessman, diplomat, and Democratic politician serving his fourth term as the U.S. representative for Virginia's 8th congressional district. On today's epi...
Jan 11, 2024•28 min•Ep. 501
Steve Balistreri is the Managing Director and National Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT) Industry Leader at MorganFranklin Consulting. He is also on the Executive Committee of Mindshare, a 501C6 not-for-profit organization established to support first time CEO's of high-potential emerging technology companies in the Greater Washington market. On today's episode, Steve shares the origin story behind Mindshare, describes how it has helped nearly thirty cohorts of tech CEOs build succe...
Nov 16, 2023•28 min•Ep. 500
Tien Wong is the CEO of Opus8, a private investment, advisory, and conference management firm located in the Washington, D.C. area. He is also the Chairman and CEO of the Big Idea CONNECTpreneur Forum, a global community of 25,000+ founders, investors, venture capitalists, and CXOs. In this wide-ranging discussion, Tien and Mark examine capital infusion, public-private partnerships, life science and health tech investment, and educational institutions in the DMV. See Privacy Policy at https://ar...
Nov 09, 2023•28 min•Ep. 499
