Join us each episode as we talk with innovators in their respective fields about their unique journeys and how they humanize change in their own work, right here, on Humanizing Change.
Danny Warshay on humanizing entreprenuership and dealing with ambiguity (podcast episode #13)
On today’s episode, Ari has a conversation with Danny Warshay, Executive Director of the Nelson Center for Entrepreneurship and Professor of Entrepreneurship at Brown University.
Ari’s chat with Danny explores the power of entrepreneurial thinking as a structured process for solving real human problems — whether in startups, corporations, the military, or beyond. They discuss the importance of bottom-up research, the myth of abundant resources, and why diverse, inclusive teams lead to better solutions with bigger impact.
The conversation begins with Danny reflecting on his childhood in Shaker Heights, Ohio — shaped by a social worker mother and a NASA scientist father — and how that early blend of human insight and systems thinking continues to influence his work today.
Highlights from the conversation:
I start with listening. Real change begins by listening deeply to the people impacted — designing with communities, not just for them.
I see scarcity as an advantage. When resources are limited, it sharpens focus and fuels creativity — helping uncover real, human problems worth solving.
I use a process, not just passion. Entrepreneurship isn’t about winging it — it’s about applying a repeatable framework: see, solve, scale.
I build diverse teams on purpose. The best solutions come from a mix of perspectives — but inclusion only works when people feel trusted and heard.
I believe in working with meaning. When what you love, what you're good at, what the world needs, and what pays fairly all align — that’s Ikigai, and that’s when real impact happens.
Humanizing Change is produced by Ari Abraham and Bill Keaggy, with artwork by Chris Roettger.
14 May 2025
Dr. Anisha Patel on humanizing change through community outreach (podcast episode #12)
On today’s episode, Ari has a conversation with Dr. Anisha Patel, Professor of Pediatrics at Stanford University.
Ari's chat with Anisha covers several topics, including partnering with local organizations in community-engaged research, understanding every step of the process, from assessment to measuring results, and implementing regional AND national change based on community feedback.
The conversation begins with Anisha sharing her early experiences growing up as the only Indian family in rural North Carolina, feeling welcomed and encouraged by her pediatrician growing up, and how she combined that with an interest in anthropology to help her influence the healthcare system at large for children outside a clinic setting.
Produced by Ari Abraham and Darrick Hays, with artwork by Chris Roettger.
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30 Apr 2025
Dr. Steph Habif on humanizing change around behaviors (podcast episode #11)
On today’s episode, Ari has a conversation with Dr. Steph Habif, Behavior Designer at Behavioral Science in organizations.
Ari's chat with Steph covers several topics, including developing a clear understanding to base change around behaviors, grounding people with sets of specific behavioral terms
The conversation begins with Steph sharing her early experiences with the diversity of people and culture growing up in the New York City suburbs, the psychological aspects of being a student athlete, and how she combined it all into a leadership style rooted in empathy and curiosity. Produced by Ari Abraham and Darrick Hays, with artwork by Chris Roettger.
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16 Apr 2025
Blair Mann on humanizing change around data and education policy (podcast episode #10)
On today’s episode, Bill has a conversation with Blair Mann, Vice President of Communications at DQC.
Bill's chat with Blair covers several topics, including connecting people to solutions that work for them, understanding how to move people and data systems toward those solutions, and these solutions tell stories that impact policy change.
The conversation begins with Blair sharing her early experiences being raised outside Philadelphia by a Special Ed teacher and local TV news director, how those influences sparked her interest in both education and storytelling, and how it all led to her to using that knowledge to tell stories that create change.
Produced by Ari Abraham and Darrick Hays, with artwork by Chris Roettger.
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2 Apr 2025
Ahmed Riaz on humanizing change around guidance and exploration (podcast episode #9)
On today’s episode, Ari has a conversation with Ahmed Riaz, Global Head of Design at Logitech.
Ari's chat with Ahmed covers several topics, including providing people with choice through visualization, bridging gaps between teams, people, and technology, and employing understanding and empathy to gently guide people in the same direction while still allowing them to explore.
The conversation begins with Ahmed sharing his early experiences growing up in Saudi Arabia around a creative family, discovering patterns within his surroundings, and how he’s combined technology, engineering, and the arts into a career based around industrial design.
Produced by Ari Abraham and Darrick Hays, with artwork by Chris Roettger.
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18 Mar 2025
Sun Kagami on humanizing change around the inner self (podcast episode #8)
On today’s episode, Ari has a conversation with Sun Kagami, Founder of the Center for Deep Self Design.
Ari's chat with Sun covers several topics, including connecting people to themselves, understanding how to meet life as it comes while detaching yourself from outcomes, and overcoming the mental obstacles associated with a singular-view mindset.
The conversation begins with Sun sharing her early experiences growing up in (and yearning to leave) East Texas, how she connected with the forests and nature as a teen, and how it all led her to encouraging others to step out of the norm to discover themselves and calm their inner turbulence.
Produced by Ari Abraham and Darrick Hays, with artwork by Chris Roettger.
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25 Feb 2025
Jeff Lash on humanizing change around understanding the end user (podcast episode #7)
On today’s episode, Ari has a conversation with Jeff Lash, former Senior VP of Global Product Management at Forrester.
Ari's chat with Jeff covers several topics, including focusing change around the end users as people, empathizing with your employees when implementing change, and using customer research language to better understand and articulate internal processes.
The conversation begins with Jeff sharing his early experiences around computers and technology with his father, how his work experiences helped shape his school experiences, and how they all combined to lead him toward a career in user experience.
Produced by Ari Abraham and Darrick Hays, with artwork by Chris Roettger.
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23 Jan 2025
Gina Merchant on humanizing change around self-efficacy (podcast episode #6)
On today’s episode, Ari has a conversation with Gina Merchant, Director of Design Research at Tandem Diabetes Care.
Ari's chat with Gina covers several topics, including the human need for feelings of competency, autonomy, and relatedness (Self-Determination Theory), harnessing the concept of self-efficacy rather than self-esteem, and the pros and cons of global social media.
The conversation begins with Gina sharing her early experiences growing up around alcoholism in Topanga Canyon, CA, how they inspired a psychology-based course of study, and how that helps her focus on behavioral changes with understanding and compassion. Produced by Ari Abraham and Darrick Hays, with artwork by Chris Roettger.
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5 Dec 2024
Crystal Fernando on humanizing change around mindful leadership (podcast episode #5)
Susanne speaks with Crystal Fernando, founder of Whatbox Innovation Partners, on humanizing change through mindful leadership, empowering leaders to make daily microchanges for lasting impact.
26 Nov 2024
Ralph H. Groce III on humanizing change around organizational efficiency (podcast episode #4)
Ralph H. Groce III, President & COO of Scroobious Inc., shares his leadership approach to humanizing change by inspiring teams to embrace personal and global change with initiative and fervor.
12 Nov 2024
Kymyona Burk on humanizing change around education policy (podcast episode #3)
On today’s episode, Erin has a conversation with Kymyona Burk, Senior Policy Fellow at ExcelinEd.
Erin's chat with Kymyona covers several topics, including changing public perception of an organization, implementing customized policies through teamwork, and encouraging career-long professional development.
The conversation begins with Kymyona sharing her early experiences with finding her purpose as an educator, how they shape her perspective on education and policy reform, and how that helps her lead her team and colleagues through change with honesty and compassion.
Produced by Ari Abraham and Darrick Hays, with artwork by Chris Roettger.
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17 Oct 2024
Hector Ouilhet on humanizing change around team roles and AI (podcast episode #2)
On today’s episode, Ari has a conversation with Hector Ouilhet, former VP of Design at Dropbox.
Ari's chat with Hector covers several topics, including helping teams define themselves as a group and as individuals, operating in the background as a team of coaches to the advantage of the people within an organization, and the idea of aging and patina in digital assets.
The conversation begins with Hector sharing his early experiences with his sense of self, how they shape his perspective on leadership, and how that helps him lead his team through change with understanding and awareness.
Producer’s note: After this episode was recorded, Hector left Dropbox to become Advanced Interaction Resident Researcher at CIID, his alma mater, where he’s tinkering with new ways of designing for AI and making it as human-centric as possible.
Produced by Ari Abraham and Darrick Hays, with artwork by Chris Roettger.
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26 Sept 2024
Akshaya Murthy on humanizing change around technology (podcast episode #1)
In our inaugural episode, Ari has a conversation with Akshaya Murti, the Director for AI Transformation at Zendesk.
Ari's chat with Akshaya covers several topics, including the tensions between technology and ethics, the responsibilities a company has to its employees and customers during technological change, and how giving staff space to explore new tech can make them more comfortable with big transformations.
The conversation begins with Akshaya sharing his early experiences in Bangalore, how they shape his perspective on technology and people, and how that helps him lead his team through change with empathy and compassion.Produced by Ari Abraham and Darrick Hays, with artwork by Chris Roettger.
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26 Sept 2024
Introducing our new podcast, Humanizing Change!
We dive deep into the minds of innovators from a variety of fields to explore their unique journeys and uncover their connection to the most critical element of any transformation: the people. Join us as we explore this topic, one story at a time. Listen to the trailer above to learn more.
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
5 ratings
Spotify
4.8 / 5
4 ratings
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