In this episode of the Arts Management and Technology Lab, host Luna Lu speaks with Bad Press co-directors Rebecca Lansberry-Baker and Joe Peeler, alongside journalist and film subject Angel Ellis, about the making of their Sundance 2023 award-winning documentary. The conversation explores how the team came together, the ethical and creative challenges of documenting press censorship within the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, and the tension between tribal sovereignty and press freedom. Through Angel Ellis’s experience as a journalist turned whistleblower, the episode highlights the vital role of independent Indigenous media, transparency, and civic participation, while also reflecting on trust, community-based storytelling, and the power of individuals to effect democratic change.
Eric Theise is a geospatial engineer, filmmaker, and performance artist. On September 5, 2025, he shared “A Synesthete’s Atlas” Performing Cartography, in an artist talk at the Frank-Ratchye Studio for Creative Inquiry at the College of Fine Arts. The following is a joint effort by Nate Xiang, who attended the artist talk, and an interview with Eric afterwards.
In this episode of the Arts Management and Technology Lab, Samantha Childers explores why so many songs recommended by streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube Music sound strikingly similar. She breaks down the inner workings of music streaming algorithms—how metadata, collaborative filtering, content-based filtering, and continuous feedback loops collectively shape the “perfect playlist.” Childers also examines Spotify features such as Discover Weekly and Discovery Mode, uncovering how these tools influence music discovery, artist visibility, and even compositional trends as musicians increasingly write with algorithms in mind. Alongside these technical insights, she raises critical ethical questions about data privacy, algorithmic bias, pay-to-play practices, and the shrinking role of human curation. Ultimately, the episode invites listeners to rethink how algorithm-driven platforms shape not only what we hear but also how we discover, value, and experience music.
In this episode of the Arts Management and Technology Lab, Andrew Wolverton and Zachary Collins explore how arts-focused technology can transform nonprofit ticketing and operations, tracing Ludus’s journey from a side project for a single high school musical to a nationwide platform serving more than 4,000 organizations. Collins explains how Ludus was built from the ground up around the real needs of drama teachers and community theaters, growing into an end-to-end system for ticketing, fundraising, marketing, volunteers, and concessions—while staying anchored in a people-first culture summed up by the company’s core value, “Give a Shit.” He reflects on navigating the COVID-19 shutdown through livestreaming and social-distancing tools, choosing the right growth equity partner, and why he believes AI shouldn’t replace arts workers but instead act as a “superpower” that frees them to focus on human-centered work and shared live experiences.
In this episode of the Arts Management and Technology Lab, Alexann Sharp and Cara Flannery sit down with four-time Emmy-winning innovator Michael Cioni to unpack how technology and creativity converge in modern media workflows. Cioni introduces Strada, a peer-to-peer platform designed to enable remote collaboration without cloud storage, and shares career lessons on building networks through industry events (NAB, Cine Gear, IBC) and assembling complementary teams (“Swiss-cheese” collaboration). He distinguishes generative vs. utilitarian AI, predicts a shakeout and rebound for GenAI, and outlines his Skills Gap Principle and “Technative” mindset for balancing creative and technical strengths. The conversation closes with candid advice on taking smarter risks and betting on yourself.
Teaching Arts Through Tech is a 3-part podcast series of interviews with individuals making contributions to the field of integrated arts and tech. My third interviewee was Kylie Peppler, the director of the Creativity Labs and an Assistant Professor of Learning Sciences, both at Indiana University Bloomington
Beth Kanter, author of Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media and co-author of both the Networked Nonprofit and Measuring the Networked Nonprofit shares some of her favorite apps.
Read the interview here.
An interview with Beth Kanter, author of Beth's Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media and co-author of both the Networked Nonprofit and Measuring the Networked Nonprofit.
AMT Lab Correspondent Jackie Shimshoni sat down with Jessica Wilt to discuss her role as an arts advocate and her meetup group, ArtsEdTech NYC. This interview is the second part of a 3-part podcast series of interviews with individuals making contributions to the field of integrated arts and tech.
Listen to it by clicking here.
In the second part of her interview, Reena S. Goodwin, the Digital Communications Manager at the Cleveland Museum of Art, expands on the use of social media for museum events, the challenges associated with social media, and making “connections with audiences, not for them.” Click here to read the full interview.
Reena S. Goodwin, the Cleveland Museum of Arts’ Digital Communications Manager shares approaches social media as a natural extension of the museum, uniquely reinforcing the museum’s physical experience, sense of community, and creative voice. AMT Lab’s Kristen Sorek West spoke to Ms. Goodwin to learn more about the museum’s approach to social media both online and in the museum.
Reena S. Goodwin, the Cleveland Museum of Arts’ Digital Communications Manager shares approaches social media as a natural extension of the museum, uniquely reinforcing the museum’s physical experience, sense of community, and creative voice. AMT Lab’s Kristen Sorek West spoke to Ms. Goodwin to learn more about the museum’s approach to social media both online and in the museum. Click here to read the full interview.
AMT Lab Correspondent Jackie Shimshoni sat down with Jane Alexander, Chief Information Officer at the Cleveland Museum of Art to talk about their remarkable merging or art and technology - Gallery One. This interview is the first part of a new 3-part podcast series of interviews with individuals making contributions to the field of integrated arts and tech.
Listen to it by clicking here.
