3reate

33 Episodes
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By: 3reate

We bring you weekly conversations, and selected interviews roughly fortnightly, from folks across art, science, and technology. They’re folks you may not have heard of— because they're too busy doing. 3reate will spark your curiosity as we seek to grow creativity to inspire novel innovation. Learn more https://3reate.com Support the pod: https://ko-fi.com/3reate or https://patreon.com/3reate Our intro music: "Into the night" by @prazkhanal | Our outtro music: "Filler Drop" by @keyframeaudio

Space Plants, no AI Required with Dr. James Lloyd | EP 31 | 3reate
Yesterday at 7:12 PM

Dr. James Lloyd, Research Fellow at the University of Western Australia and the ARC Centre of Excellence in Plants for Space discusses his journey from rural England to the forefront of synthetic biology. He explains his innovative work on "gene circuits," a technology that offers more flexible and precise control over plant genetics than traditional methods like CRISPR. Instead of making a single, permanent change, these circuits can turn genes on or off in response to specific conditions like heat or chemical triggers.

Dr. Lloyd connects this research to his role in the "Plants for Space" initiative...


The AI Doomsday Machine? (We’re Not Allowed to Talk About It) | EP 30 Part 2 | 3reate
Last Friday at 11:00 AM

With an abrupt start after Part 1, do you ever feel like your brain is short-circuiting from the constant digital noise? It’s not just you. This episode unpacks the anxiety of our hyper-connected world, revealing how social media was just the warm-up act for a much bigger challenge: Artificial Intelligence.

We explore how technology is changing society faster than our brains can adapt, leaving entire generations behind and making basic systems fail. The conversation then pivots to the most critical question of our time: Are we building an AI we can't control? We reveal the shocking parallels be...


The Everyday Breakdown | EP 30 Part 1 | 3reate
09/05/2025

In this episode, Andrew and Nathan explore how modern life, saturated with endless communication channels and choices, is leading to a breakdown in basic interactions. Starting with a personal story about team dysfunction in a government accelerator program, they use the "cereal aisle" analogy to explain how having too many options makes everything more complicated. They then share relatable anecdotes—from unhelpful restaurant staff to unresponsive companies and failing government services like the post office—to show how this problem of being overwhelmed is causing a decline in accountability and the erosion of societal norms.

Join us next...


Run AI like a Manager, Tips Included | EP 29 | 3reate
08/31/2025

In this episode, Andrew and Nathan dive into the art of getting things done, both individually and as a team. They start with a simple but powerful philosophy for personal productivity: break down every goal into small, single-day tasks. This approach prevents overwhelm and the "scope creep" that plagues so many projects.

They expand this idea to team management, especially in tech, arguing that a manager's primary role is to protect the team from unnecessary complexity and endless meetings. By setting clear processes, fostering asynchronous communication, and empowering team members with ownership, managers can eliminate chaos and...


Why 95% of Companies Fail at AI | EP 28 | 3reate
08/25/2025

In this episode, Nathan details his innovative project: a low-cost, modular headband for transcranial direct current stimulation. The goal is to build a platform for large-scale remote studies on brain activity, potentially aiding in treatments for depression and Alzheimer's, and ultimately presenting this data to the FDA. Andrew provides an update on his podcast post-production tool, "Seeeks," which is nearing a public preview, and shares his significant frustrations with the opaque and unhelpful support systems at major tech companies like Google. The conversation then broadens into a critical analysis of why most companies fail at implementing new technology like...


AI Fire Prediction, Navajo Code Talkers, and the Power of Disconnecting | EP 27 | 3reate
08/16/2025

This week, Andrew and Nathan explore the mental cost of living in an age of information overload. They discuss the power of disconnecting—trading multitasking for singular focus—to boost creativity and combat cognitive fatigue. The conversation then shifts to the crucial role of publicly funded basic science, using examples from AI-powered wildfire prediction to the development of mRNA vaccines. Andrew also shares a powerful story from his time documenting the oral traditions of Navajo elders, reflecting on non-linear storytelling, the preservation of culture, and the incredible history of the Navajo Code Talkers. It’s a deep dive into focus...


Using AI to predict the risk of lightning caused fires with Dmitri Kalashnikov | EP 26 | 3reate
08/12/2025

Dmitri Kalashnikov is a climate scientist and National Science Foundation postdoctoral research fellow at the University of California-Merced. Having created Convolutional Neural Network-based predictive models for lightning in the western United States; he is currently working on applying these predictive models to climate models to project future changes in the climatology of lightning storms in the western United States.

Ever wonder how climate science actually impacts your life, especially with wildfire season becoming a new normal? 🌲🔥 Andrew reconnects with postdoctoral climate scientist Dmitri Kalashnikov, who pulls back the curtain on his vital research. They dive into how politi...


How to get discovered | EP 25 | 3reate
08/10/2025

Ever feel like you're creating for an audience of one? In this episode, Andrew and Nathan pull back the curtain on the confusing world of podcasting metrics. Andrew reveals a surprising discovery: while his server bandwidth has doubled, platforms like Spotify report almost no new listeners. This mystery sparks a candid conversation about the real reasons to create, the power of a "back catalog" of content, and the modern creator's biggest challenge: the "discovery problem." Tune in for an honest look at what it takes to get your voice heard in 2025 and why the process itself is often the...


Will vibe coding lead to a flood of insecure apps like Tea? | EP 24 | 3reate
08/04/2025

What do Aristotle's 'First Principles' and a 'Growth Mindset' have to do with building great products? Andrew and Nathan dive deep into how these concepts fuel modern innovation, emphasizing rapid iteration, embracing failure, and learning from constant customer feedback. But when is this fast-moving approach dangerous? The conversation takes a fascinating turn into high-stakes environments, with stories from an advanced materials lab and the chaotic floor of a hospital emergency department, where changing a single workflow can have dire consequences. Finally, they explore the double-edged sword of today's easy-to-build software, from the explosion of 'fart apps' to major privacy...


Vibe coding and AI Supremacy | EP 23 | 3reate
07/28/2025

What is "vibe coding"? Andrew and Nathan kick off by exploring this new trend of building software with plain English, a revolution that allows almost anyone to create an app in hours. But this incredible new power quickly leads to a bigger, more urgent conversation. They dive into the critical issue of AI bias and how it's becoming a political battleground. Using the stark example of how different AI models describe the Tiananmen Square massacre, they expose the real-world danger of AI being used for propaganda and information control. This isn't just about cool new tools; it's about a...


Building Something People Actually Want | EP 22 | 3reate
07/20/2025

Is "build it and they will come" a dead strategy? In this deep dive on modern entrepreneurship, Nathan and Andrew argue that it is. They explore why validating your idea before you build is the key to success. Drawing on personal experience and concepts like "The Mom Test" and the innovator's dilemma, they break down the delicate dance of building something new. The conversation covers the challenge of getting honest user feedback, the pitfalls of the attention economy, and the elusive nature of true product-market fit. This isn't a get-rich-quick playbook; it's a realistic look at the uncomfortable, messy...


The Most Bizarre City Block in America and Goblin Macbeth | EP 21 | 3reate
07/14/2025

Join Andrew and Nathan for part 1 of a wild ride that starts on the open road and ends in a goblin's theater camp. Fresh off a cross-country drive, Andrew recounts his journey through the American mountain states, including a stop at a bizarre city block and an eye-opening deep dive into the world of AM radio. From political talk shows to the digital divide, they explore what it’s like in the parts of the country the internet sometimes forgets. The conversation then takes an unexpected turn into the world of experimental theater, with stories of a music festival in...


A Candid Look at Communication, Authenticity, & Building Teams | EP 20 | 3reate
07/08/2025

In this episode, Andrew and Nathan kick things off by switching to a weekly schedule, using their own process as a springboard to explore professional workflows. They dive into the value of agile "sprints" and the absolute necessity of clear, written communication to keep teams aligned and avoid constant, unproductive meetings.

The conversation then shifts to the darker side of professional life, tackling the broken hiring process, the pitfalls of "faking it 'til you make it," and why common tech interviews often test the wrong skills. Using a recent story about a student who used AI to...


Get your Apprentor today | Will AI take my job Part 2 | EP 19 | 3reate
06/29/2025

The LFG episodes are the fortnightly recorded checkins between Andrew and Nathan, that they hope help inspire your curiosity and creativity. These are different from typical guest episodes as they are less focused on conversation.

This episode delves into the future of work and education, significantly impacted by the rise of AI. Andrew and Nathan challenge the traditional four-year college degree, highlighting its exorbitant cost and often poor return on investment, as graduates frequently require extensive on-the-job training. They advocate for embracing skilled trades which are in high demand and offer lucrative careers, sometimes recruiting students even...


Will AI take my job? | EP 18 | 3reate
06/22/2025

The LFG episodes are the fortnightly recorded checkins between Andrew and Nathan, that they hope help inspire your curiosity and creativity. These are different from typical guest episodes as they are less focused on conversation.

In this episode, Andrew and Nathan confront the intense hype and "fear, uncertainty, and doubt" (FUD) surrounding Artificial Intelligence, drawing strong parallels to the exaggerated promises of past technologies like blockchain and crypto. They express frustration with tech leaders who manipulate public perception, citing examples like Theranos and the dangers of AI in sensitive areas like mental health. The core discussion revolves...


LFG! Analysis Paralysis, Politics of Progress, and Killing a Profitable Product | EP 17 | 3reate
06/15/2025

The LFG episodes are the fortnightly recorded checkins between Andrew and Nathan, that they hope help inspire your curiosity and creativity. These are different from typical guest episodes as they are less focused on conversation.

Catch up after a month-long break. Andrew shares stories from his vacation in Vancouver, including navigating a "snowmageddon" and attending unique theater performances like an interactive murder mystery dinner. Nathan gives an update from Puerto Rico, where he's exploring sustainable energy solutions, visiting non-profits, and navigating the complex bureaucracy of microgrids. This sparks a broader conversation about the challenges of innovation and...


Beyond the Gallery Walls, Finding Art & Community in Rural Minnesota with Melissa Wray | EP 16 | 3reate
03/15/2025

Today we speak with Melissa, an arts administrator, who moved back to her rural hometown of after 13 years in Minneapolis Minnesota's vibrant arts scene. Driven by a desire to give back to her community and a love for the tranquility of rural life, she discusses her work as Executive Director of Mainspring, a community arts organization that aims to make art accessible and foster connections. They explore the challenges of funding, misconceptions about art in rural areas, and the unique creative opportunities that arise from constraints. The two also touch on are the difficult conversations communities need to have...


Delivering Feedback to Drive Growth, Staying Value Aligned, and Transitioning into a New Leadership Role with Christine Nguyen | EP 15 | 3reate
12/29/2024

In this episode, Andrew revisits with Christine, who is now five months into her role at Essance skincare, after transitioning from a decade in recruiting. They discuss her learnings, challenges, and surprises in the new role. Key topics include the unexpected positive dynamic of working with her long-time friend as a boss, the challenges of limited resources, strategies for building a brand in a saturated market, the importance of customer experience, and utilizing data to make decisions. Christine shares insights on company culture, the value of feedback, and offers advice for others navigating career changes. They emphasize starting with...


E014: LFG! The Decline of Liberalism and Empiricism; AI & Societal Discourse; Trying and Saying Yes
12/11/2024

The LFG episodes are the fortnightly recorded checkins between Andrew and Nathan, that they hope help inspire your curiosity and creativity. These are different from typical guest episodes as they are less focused on conversation. This episode centers around Andrew's recent frustration with a lack of intellectual curiosity and evidence-based reasoning in society. He argues that this trend, fueled by social media, has led to the "death of liberalism and empiricism" where uninformed opinions are valued as highly as expert knowledge. He illustrates this point with a personal anecdote about a Thanksgiving dinner conversation where he was challenged on...


Bomb Cyclones, Science Communication, and Climate as a Dynamic System with Dmitri Kalashnikov | EP 13 | 3reate
11/28/2024

Dmitri Kalashnikov is a climate scientist and National Science Foundation postdoctoral research fellow at the University of California-Merced. Having created Convolutional Neural Network-based predictive models for lightning in the western United States; he is currently working on applying these predictive models to climate models to project future changes in the climatology of lightning storms in the western United States.

The humans discuss Dimitri’s journey into a Ph.D, climate change as a dynamic system, the challenges of communicating climate science; bomb cyclones and the impossibility of humans creating or steering hurricanes.

Listen to Dmitri's mo...


E012: LFG! Alternative Fundraising, Constructive Action, and Dinner with Strangers
11/25/2024

The LFG episodes are the fortnightly recorded checkins between Andrew and Nathan, that they hope help inspire your curiosity and creativity. These are different from typical guest episodes as they are less focused on conversation. This episode delves into Andrew’s experiences as a solo software founder, navigating the complexities of company structuring, fundraising, and product development. He criticizes the unsustainable practice of relying on venture capital and free user bases, advocating for a more direct and honest approach to monetization. Andrew laments the decline of information literacy and critical thinking in the face of social media algorithms and po...


E011: The Changing Landscape of Journalism and Media: Can We Find Truth with Tom Grier
11/12/2024

Tom Grier is a retired Professor of Mass Communication at Winona State University. Tom was the founder and Director of the Navajo Oral History Project, from 2006 through 2016. Additionally he was the Founder and Director of the Aerial visual Communication Lab at Winona State University from 2013 through 2021. They discuss the evolution of media and its impact on attention spans and critical thinking including the shift from in-depth reporting to soundbites, the rise of algorithmic bias, and the decline of grit and perseverance in education. They also touch upon the importance of seeking diverse perspectives and the need for more nuanced...


E010: Social Media for Intentional Wellbeing by Removing its Addictive Properties with Ania Korsunska
10/15/2024

Ania Korsunska, founder of Zemlia, discusses her vision for a new social platform that prioritizes user well-being and societal benefit over advertising revenue. She highlights the negative impacts of traditional social media, including addiction, misinformation, and the loneliness epidemic. Ania emphasizes the importance of intentionality, sustainability, and community building in creating a platform that empowers users to achieve personal and collective goals. She also shares her insights on the challenges of building a company that goes against the grain of capitalism and the importance of personal growth and lived experience knowledge sharing.

Ania Korsunska brings a decade...


E009: Fan Engagement for Podcasters, the Power of Minimalism, and Fountain Pens with Pat Cheung
10/10/2024

Pat Cheung is an entrepreneur who is completely dedicated to supporting podcasters. As the founder and CEO of Fanlist, his objective is to empower podcasters to understand, expand, and generate revenue from their audience.

His passion for audience development ignited in 2011 during his tenure as Head of Product at EQAL, a pioneering celebrity and influencer network in Los Angeles. In this role, Pat spearheaded the design of their social platform to foster fan engagement and cultivate fan communities. Over 40 influencers within their network utilized this platform to monetize brand partnerships, resulting in over 20 million monthly fan interactions.<...


E008: LFG! – From App Store Battles to Advisory Boards: Two Founders Navigate the Startup Rollercoaster
09/13/2024

This episode presents an informal conversation between podcast hosts Andrew and Nathan, who discuss their ongoing projects, thoughts on time management and entrepreneurship. Nathan shares his struggles with prioritizing tasks, using the analogy of the jar and rocks, while also mentioning his 'Clockwork Orange' headband project and challenges with bureaucratic processes in Puerto Rico. Andrew, a seasoned entrepreneur, recounts his experience navigating Apple's App Store approval process and outlines his plans to launch his app on the Google Play Store. He highlights the strategic use of procrastination, emphasizes the importance of user feedback in product development, and discusses the...


E007: LFG! -Attention Economics, Neuromodulation, and Getting into the App Store with Nathan Fu
08/28/2024

This episode offers an informal conversation between Andrew and Nathan, revealing their perspectives on the tech industry and their individual projects. They critique the overemphasis on engagement metrics, arguing that capturing attention shouldn't be the primary goal of a product. They also discuss the complexities of addressing societal problems like climate change and the challenges of personal responsibility. The episode further delves into their current projects, with Andrew struggling to release his contextual audio search app due to dependency hell and Apple's strict policies. Nathan shares his learnings from a neuromodulation conference and his progress on developing a non-invasive...


E006: Alcohol-free Group Travel for Women, Making Life Intentionally Meaningful, and Embracing Discomfort with Michelle Plante
08/15/2024

Michelle Plante is a dedicated member of the Wellness Tourism Association and the Transformation Travel Council. She founded Michelle Plante Travels which organizes alcohol-free group trips for women. As lifelong learner and lover of new adventures; her passion for travel started early in her childhood living and traveling abroad in multiple countries. Michelle is passionate about creating experiences that blend luxury, adventure, and wellness to achieve the ultimate transformation. You can join her in Costa Rica in January 2025 and/or India in March 2025.

In this conversation, Michelle, discusses five and a half years of sobriety and exploring...


Hiring with AI, Finding Value-Aligned Work, and Sustainable Skin Care with Christine Nguyen | EP 5 | 3reate
08/05/2024

Christine Nguyen, VP of Operations at Essance Skincare, discusses the evolving job market and the importance of creativity in navigating it. Christine, drawing from her decade-long HR experiences with building high-performing teams for startups and Fortune 500 companies, highlights the increasing use of AI in filtering job applications, cautioning both companies and candidates about potential pitfalls. She provides invaluable advice for job seekers, emphasizing the need for genuine research, thoughtful communication, and personalized follow-ups.  She also advocates for a shift in hiring practices towards valuing potential over experience, encouraging companies to take calculated risks and nurture a culture of learning.  The...


Community Development Venture Capital, Self-advocacy, and AI with Shannon Bean | EP 4 | 3reate
07/30/2024

Shannon is a Principal at CEI Ventures, a strategic venture capital firm that was founded in 1994 to mobilize private capital markets while advancing social goals. Shannon is also part of Primary Venture Partners Expert network where she provides strategic advice and guidance to founders and operators within the Primary portfolio and broader network. In addition, she serves as a mentor at the Roux Institute at Northeastern University for startups in the Healthcare Founder Residency Accelerator Program.

With over 5 years of experience in Research & Development, spanning both bench and pharmaceutical clinical research, Shannon specialized in T1D, age-related...


LFG! – In conversation with Technologist Nathan Fu | EP 3 | 3reate
07/21/2024

Nathan Fu is a Technologist currently working on trying to get a home constructed in Puerto Rico, learning Spanish, taking classes to become a journeyman electrician in Puerto Rico, building a prototype for a low cost transcranial direct current stimulation device- tDCS, and HumanDX.

This free-flowing conversation explores the creative process, emphasizing the importance of curiosity, perseverance, embracing failure, and open discourse. The hosts discuss microgrid technology in Puerto Rico and its challenges, AI's growing energy consumption, and the parallels between art, science, and technology. They debate the importance of intentionality in creativity and criticize the suppression...


E002: The What Behind 3reate
01/18/2024

In this episode we discuss the what behind 3reate.

Support the pod: https://ko-fi.com/3reate or https://patreon.com/3reate


E001: The Why Behind 3reate: A Manifesto
01/01/2024

In this episode we discuss the 3reate Manifesto and the why behind 3reate.

Support the pod: https://ko-fi.com/3reate or https://patreon.com/3reate


E000: Hello world!
12/28/2023

Teaser for the forth coming 3reate podcast. Comming February 2024.

Support the pod: https://ko-fi.com/3reate or https://patreon.com/3reate