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.
Caroline Conena is the Business Manager at the Island Moving Company. IMC is the resident ballet company of Newport, Rhode Island. They have used the unique venues of this city to perform classical and contemporary ballets for over thirty years. Recently, AMT-Lab Contributor Collin Baylor caught up with Conena to talk about her favorite apps. Read the full interview here.
Caroline Conena is the Business Manager at the Island Moving Company. IMC is the resident ballet company of Newport, Rhode Island. They have used the unique venues of this city to perform classical and contemporary ballets for over thirty years. Recently, AMT-Lab Contributor Collin Baylor caught up with Conena to talk about her favorite apps.
Courtney Byrne-Mitchell is the Director of Visitor Services at the Museum at Eldridge Street in New York City. The Museum at Eldridge Street is a nonprofit, non-sectarian museum dedicated to maintaining the Eldridge Street Synagogue. Byrne-Mitchell oversees the daily workings of this National Historic Landmark built in 1887.
Karen Kornblum Berntsen is a professional designer and an Associate Teaching Professor in the Human-Computer Interaction Institute at Carnegie Mellon University. She has taught classes in interaction design, typography and the visual display of complex information. She has received numerous national and international design awards for her work, some of which was included in the opening of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago.
Recently, AMT-Lab Contributor Kate Martin caught up with Berntsen to talk about how technology informs her work.
Hammerstep is a progressive modern dance company with influences from historically rebellious dance forms, including Irish, tap, hip hop and African stepping and strives to push artistic boundaries through the groundbreaking use of technology and thought-provoking themes. AMT Lab contributor Katie Grennan caught up with co-founder Garrett Coleman to talk about how technology has allowed him to take his innovative dance company to the next level. Read the full interview here.
Hammerstep is a progressive modern dance company with influences from historically rebellious dance forms, including Irish, tap, hip hop and African stepping and strives to push artistic boundaries through the groundbreaking use of technology and thought-provoking themes. AMT Lab contributor Katie Grennan caught up with co-founder Garrett Coleman to talk about how technology has allowed him to take his innovative dance company to the next level.
AMT-Lab Chief Editor Patrick Zakem recently caught up with Elizabeth Merritt from the Center for the Future of Museums to talk about her favorite apps. Read the complete interview here.
