activefree podcast

Politics of Participation - with Robert Stromberg

The second 'active conversation' of the 2nd season of the activefree podcast is with another college friend Robert Stromberg, who I knew as a media activist man of action back during college at Duke and more recently visited in Knoxville, TN during my Free Culture tour in 2005.

Our phone conversation, recorded back July through FreeConference.com (unfortunately the quality of the audio is less than ideal), covers some of his background working with the Barack Obama campaign on the ground in North Carolina, and why he thinks that the approach of the campaign, if successful, may result in more long term participation than previous campaigns.

Download the podcast.

Photograph "Thinking Obama" thanks to cfrye6395 via Creative Commons Search.

]]> Full bio:

Robert Stromberg is a senior program assistant with NDI's Latin America and Caribbean program where he works on Institute programs in Venezuela as well as the Political Party Network, a regional initiative to strengthen political parties and encourage them to explore more modern, transparent and responsive practices. Before joining NDI in 2008, Robert worked in several states as an organizer for Barack Obama's presidential campaign, and completed legislative internships with North Carolina State Representative Paul Luebke and U.S. Senator Carl Levin. Earlier, he spent seven years in non-profit management, serving as the marketing manager of the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, theater operations manager of the Durham Arts Council, financial coordinator of the Durham Literacy Center, and founder and executive director of the Durham Association for Downtown Arts. He also edited art and design at The Valley Beautiful Beacon, and taught in the North Carolina public school system as part of the Teach for America program.

Robert earned a Master of International Studies from the School of Public and International Affairs at North Carolina State University where he focused on immigration and global policy. His capstone paper analyzed media coverage of the Venezuelan government's refusal to renew the broadcast license of Radio Caracas Televisión (RCTV) in 2007. Robert received his BA from Duke University and has pursued the study of Southeast Asian languages and culture at Universität Hamburg in Germany. Robert is a native English speaker, and is fluent in German and Spanish.

Living Buildings & Green Realities with Ethan Timm (Updated)

The first 'active conversation' of the 2nd season of the activefree podcast is with college friend Ethan Timm, an Architectural Designer for SERA Architects in Portland, Oregon.

Among other things, the conversation includes his professional experience with one of the buildings in Cascadia's Living Building Challenge, his personal challenges of lenolium floors in his "green" house, and his interestingly cautionary views on the green product design craze.

He also mentioned the Kill-a-Watt, which is a simple product that measures how much energy your appliances are costing (you might be surprised).

Download the podcast.

Note: This version has updated audio which is a much better listening experience than the one uploaded last week.

Open Green Intro v0.5

A draft presentation of "OpenGreen," a new project of Colin Mutchler and activefreemedia that seeks to demonstrate the value of open value chains for inspiring consumer behavior and demand toward a green culture and responsible econonomy.

Ebb & Flow's "The Great Turning" Video

An interesting holiday produced video by the site Ebb & Flow called The Great Turning. The video uses the CCmixter song "Mind Field" by DJ Blue, which is one of the now over 20 remixes of the 1999 spoken word piece A New System.

Check out the full credits for the video on Kent and Jen's Ebb & Flow blog.

2006 Year in Ideas - NY Times Magazine

In December, I picked up the cover of the Year in Ideas from the New York Times Magazine, and thought that the ideas seemed interesting so I read them over some beats as a spoken word piece and shared it on CCmixter. I hope you enjoy Teru's version of 2006 Year in Ideas, that also includes samples from the artists below.

- Sacrifice my Love by: sallee
- 2006 Year in Ideas - NY Times Magazine by: Colin Mutchler
- sax samples from vroum,vroum by: stefsax
- MARKET HACKER by: Ms.Muthaphukkin Vybe
-Fly drums by: MC Jack in the Box

Check out other versions at my ccmixter page.

Culture "Premixed" for Collaboration

Over the last few years, I released free a cappella tracks of song fragments through the popular remix site CCmixter.org, explicitly ‘premixed’ (prepared for remixing) for producers to build on my words and music. Over 60+ remixes later, I am releasing the best 10 tracks commercially, sharing the revenues with the producers, and helping to build the market for open source music.

Check out the Premixed Story video that shares how this unique album came to life.

Listen to samples, read the press release, and buy the album at colinmutchler.com. Currently, the album is available at iTunes and Napster.

India Shining while the West is Asleep

caught in the flow
Originally uploaded by activefree.

Before I post my final podcast from my amazing year at Insead, I wanted to post the following quicktime presentation of my trip to Bangalore, Mumbai, and Kerala in India. Particularly now following a violent week in Mumbai, Lebanon and Israel, I wanted to make sure to post this.

Overall, the experience of visiting the 'chaotic democracy,' 'functional anarchy,' and 'lumbering elephant' was amazing. Hope the video comes through to all of you iTunes subscribers.

Download India Shining.

Everyday Voices from Blue Ocean China

kayak 01
Originally uploaded by si_si_ay.

The latest podcast from INSEAD Singapore highlights a new remix of "Everyday Choices" from teru as well as a new "Blue Ocean" song written collaboratively with friends while on a trip to China. Five remixes so far, and I include my favorite so far, "Blue Ocean Electro Rmx" by Beatbros. Once I head back to the France campus, I'll be talking with the authors of the Blue Ocean strategy book, W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne, to see if they'll endorse the song.

Hope everyone is well. Keep up the good work and send feedback via the comments or over the voice mail at +1 206-984-3144.

Download activefree podcast episode 10.

First Experiences of INSEAD Singapore

My first podcast from my new home in Singapore, which has been wonderful so far. In addition to impressions of my first weeks in the third period at INSEAD (and the exciting course projects), I also share a remix of a new system by teru as well as a clip from a fun and slightly ridiculous song by Peter O'Neil from Philly about an amazing place in my home state of New Jersey, good ole Belmar.

Download the first Singapore podcast.

Hope all is well. In case you wonder, this is actually the 9th episode, not the 11th, which I mistakingly said in the podcast....

Happy New Year from Vietnam

Live from Hanoi, Vietnam during an amazing 8 day trip with friend and filmmaker Samantha Farinella, this podcast includes a remix of "New System" by deutscheunschuld called one of the best CCmixter songs of 2005, as well as a really fun remix of my 1995 class president speech by shagrugge called "Colin Dynamite."

I'm now in Singapore getting ready for INSEAD classes and traveling in Southeast Asia. I'll be sure to keep the flow of words and music going. Please leave comments on the podcast here or call 206-984-3144 and leave a voicemail that I can hear for free.

Download Live from Hanoi podcast.

Everyday Choices, "P2", and Love Generation

groupwork in finance
Originally uploaded by activefree.

The latest activefree podcast (#7) begins with the latest premix, Everyday Choices by Colin and fourstones, includes a summary of the second period P2) at INSEAD, as well as snippets from a Business Week podcast on E-collaboration and Colin's current favorite song, Love Generation.

Sustainable Tunes from the Commons

The latest activefree podcast (#6) includes music heard on Lisa Rein's "Songs from the Commons," as well as highlights from Colin's trip to a Sustainability Conference in Greece, some INSEAD moments, and another freestyle song.

Specific songs highlighted include:
CAN’T WE…
ASHWAN (vox written and performed by curious)
http://www.ccmixter.org/media/files/ashwan/1796

What is this Insead Dream?

The latest activefree podcast (#5) includes live music from Insead students Eylem, Emad, and Colin (and Julian), as well as the first emailed mp3 clips from Insead alumni and NetVestibule creator Yann Lechelle and Gerald (student and basist). Enjoy! See you after my trip to Greece next week.

Beauty, Pain, and EBITDA

Check out the latest activefree podcast (#4) from Colin's new home in France.

Highlights include a sample from a new remix of More Than 2 Sides, an improv/freestyle song "EBITDA" (from Financial Accounting class), and some late night voices from last saturday's Ville Cerf Toga Party.

Also includes instrumentals from "History (instrumental)" by Comfortable Silence. Be well and take care.

Vaporware Tutorials and the Lost Sleep Blues

Download activefree podcast #3.

The first full week at Insead was full of classes, dinners, homework (missed), and the new (and confusing) language of finance and accounting. This week's podcast starts off with a short "school" rap written back in 1999 when I was a teacher in Harlem. It also includes a spoken word piece about the week called "tutorial dreams," and then finishes up with an Insead original rap by co-MBA student Christine Driscoll, recorded live last night at the Vieux Moulin dinner party. It also includes "Love and the Electric Symphony" by NYC friend and musician Dien Vo.