Building for Digital Equity Podcast

Building for Digital Equity is a series of live stream events and a podcast hosted by Community Broadband Networks team members featuring interviews with people working for digital inclusion and ensuring everyone can reap the benefits of the Internet. You can listen to episodes below, via a podcast application (search for "Building for Digital Equity"), or via this RSS feed.

Past live streams are archived here. Our next live stream is going to be December 12, 2024 at 3 ET. The 2024 Building for Digital Equity Live Streams have been sponsored by UTOPIA Fiber, the largest open access fiber network in the nation.

We also produce the weekly Community Broadband Bits podcast and a semi-regular video show called Connect This! that has its own site. Check out ILSR's other podcasts here!

Keep up with new developments by subscribing to our one-email-per-week list sharing new stories and resources. We’d love to hear your feedback! Email us.

RHITES on Bridging Gaps in Telehealth - Building for Digital Equity Podcast Episode 22

In this episode of the Building for Digital Equity Podcast, Jordan Pittman speaks with the RHITES team about bridging gaps in reproductive healthcare through telehealth. Discover how expanded broadband access can reduce healthcare inequities and learn about RHITES' mission to integrate telehealth into reproductive healthcare.

Walter Gabino Rendon on Enhancing Digital Navigation with STEM Alliance - Building for Digital Equity Podcast Episode 21

In this episode of the Building for Digital Equity Podcast, Chris interviews Walter Gabino Rendon from the STEM Alliance about their innovative CRM platform designed to enhance digital navigation and bridge the digital divide in Westchester County, NY. Discover how this initiative is transforming lives by improving access to high-speed internet and digital skills.

Paul Goodman on Advocacy, Accessibility, and Broadband Equity with C4AT - Building for Digital Equity Podcast Episode 20

In this episode of the Building for Digital Equity Podcast, Chris interviews Paul Goodman from the Center for Accessible Technology (C4AT) about his work advocating for broadband accessibility and affordability. They discuss the importance of community input, California's exciting broadband initiatives, and the challenges of making technology accessible for people with disabilities.

Abraham Camez on Navigating Digital Equity with Acorn Wireless in Hoopa Valley - Building for Digital Equity Podcast Episode 19

In this episode of the B4DE Podcast, Chris talks with Abraham Camez, a digital navigator at Hoopa Valley's Acorn Wireless ISP, about the impact of the Affordable Connectivity Program's end. With 40% of Acorn Wireless's customers facing potential disconnection, including 80 individuals helped by Abe, they explore the challenges and hopeful stories amid the uncertainty, highlighting the importance of ongoing efforts to address digital equity.

Shaun Glaze and Chris Webb Discuss the Black Brilliance Research Project - Building for Digital Equity Podcast Episode 18

This episode of the Building for Digital Equity Podcast features Dr. Shaun Glaze, Research Director, and Chris Webb, Digital Equity Lead, from the Black Brilliance Research Project in Seattle, Washington. They discuss the project's roots in response to George Floyd's tragedy in 2020 and their unique research approach, emphasizing the transformative power of connectivity in uplifting marginalized communities.

Pierrette Dagg on Research, Engagement, and Digital Inclusion - Building for Digital Equity Podcast Episode 17

Our Building for Digital Equity podcast series is back with an insightful conversation with Pierrette Renée Dagg, Director of Research for the MERIT Network in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Pierrette discusses the importance of using research to inform community engagement and digital equity strategies, as well as the use of community-facing research methods like surveys and qualitative/quantitative analysis. She also highlights the importance of considering broader systemic issues that should be taken into account when forming digital equity strategies.

Ebony Cooksie on Transitioning to Digital Equity Work - Building for Digital Equity Podcast Episode 16

Ebony Cooksie is the Market Development Manager and Government Affairs Coordinator for NextLink Internet and we talked at Net Inclusion about how she transitioned from working in education to digital equity.

Dave Sevick and Computer Reach Go In the Home - Building for Digital Equity Podcast Episode 15

Dave Sevick, Executive Director at Computer Reach in Pittsburgh, has taken his experience helping people with devices and supercharged it for digital equity work. We talk about how they are funded and why they often use Linux-powered devices, among many other topics.

Marvin Venay Takes Tech Home in Boston - Building for Digital Equity Podcast Episode 14

Marvin Venay is the Chief Advocacy Officer for Tech Goes Home in Boston, a digital equity organization that has been building tech skills and working on the digital divide for longer than most. Sean Gonsalves talks with him about their process, how they continued to thrive even after the BTOP money dried up years ago, navigating the pandemic, expanding further into Massachusetts, and their future plans.

Brandon Forestor Puts Local in Local Internet Organizing - Building for Digital Equity Podcast Episode 13

Brandon Forester is the National Organizer for Internet Rights at Media Justice. We talk about organizing for digital equity and more specifically Brandon's vision for communities having agency over how technology shows up in their neighborhoods and digital communities. We discuss how Media Justice came to prioritize prison phone justice, what organizing is and how local solutions may differ in different communities, and the need to avoid purity politics in doing this work.