Tech Conversations at FIU’s Ratcliffe Art + Design Incubator

Chris Friday

In this episode, Anai Fonte shares her entrepreneurial journey from starting a dog grooming to opening an art gallery, highlighting the importance of community, networking, and embracing the process of starting a business.

She offers practical advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and insights into leveraging resources like the FIU Ratcliffe Art and Design Incubator.

In this episode, Cynthia Hudson shares her inspiring journey through journalism, media innovation, and storytelling, reflecting on how technology, adaptability, and curiosity continue to shape the future of media.

Hosted by Maggie Salas-Amaro, this candid conversation explores career pivots, the impact of AI, and why powerful storytelling remains essential in an increasingly digital world.

Meet Robert “BJ” Duncan, FIU Alumni and an eight-year councilman for the Town of Cutler Bay and a longtime member of the local community.

In this conversation, Duncan discusses Cutler Bay’s growth, preserving the community’s character, and the role of innovation, jobs, and economic opportunity in the area’s future.

In this episode, Migdalia "Micki" Rodriguez shares her inspiring journey from heart failure diagnosis to heart transplant, highlighting the role of technology, community, and advocacy in her recovery.

Micki discovered the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women Movement on social media and applied to be a 2026 Class of Survivors, sharing her journey across communities.

Discover vital health insights, the power of social media, and the importance of early detection and self-advocacy.

Jenny Padura shares her journey from the early days as a student and intern at FIU to becoming a prominent journalist at Univision 23 in Miami.

She describes herself as having a great passion for journalism, the challenges of covering traumatic stories, the impact of artificial intelligence on newsrooms, and her innovative approach to community engagement through social media.

Kassidy Angelo is the Managing Director of GIOIA Hospitality Group, bringing a unique blend of financial expertise and entrepreneurial leadership to the restaurant industry. Have you dined at Daniels Miami or Daniel's Fort Lauderdale?

After a finance career at JPMorgan, she transitioned into hospitality, where she now drives some of the strategic growth and innovation behind GIOIA’s restaurant portfolio.

Meet Karim Aboud, Miami based artist, author and luxury- beauty educator.

Her passion for painting comes from her parents and began at an early age. She expresses herself not only through her art, but also through live paintings that bring her creativity to life.

Now, she is launching her first children’s book, hoping to inspire others not to become overwhelmed and to be ready to leave the boat when the port calls.

# Exploring the Art of Documentary Filmmaking: Insights from Dudley Alexis

Discover the journey and insights of filmmaker Dudley Alexis as he discusses storytelling, technology, and the cultural significance of his documentaries.

We dive into an insightful conversation with Dudley Alexis, an independent filmmaker and multimedia artist. With a career shaped by a passion for storytelling and a commitment to social justice, Dudley shares his unique perspective on documentary filmmaking, the technologies he embraces, and the powerful narratives he seeks to tell.

# How to Foster Innovation and Success at Florida International University: Insights from President Jeanette Nuñez Florida International University (FIU) has come a long way from its early days as a commuter campus.

Today, it stands as a rising force in higher education—climbing national rankings and producing influential changemakers, from public officials to industry leaders.

In this podcast, we explore how FIU fosters innovation and student success through strategic partnerships, cutting-edge research, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

From advancing economic mobility to becoming one of the fastest-growing research universities in Florida, FIU is making measurable strides—but the focus remains on what matters most: ensuring every student is prepared to succeed beyond graduation.Through strong industry connections and forward-thinking initiatives, FIU is creating real opportunities and shaping the next generation of leaders.

#AllThingsMiami and more with longtime Miami journalist and former Sundial host Carlos Frías. Hosted by Maggie Salas-Amaro.

From the simple joy of a mango tree to the iconic Cuban frita, we explore the flavors and stories that define our city.

We also dive into the current state of journalism and the growing importance of verifying AI-generated images in today’s media landscape.

#NoticiasAlDia con la reconocida periodista y autora Carolina Rosario.

En esta conversación hablamos de los comienzos de Carolina y como reportera y presentadora en Univision y Vix.

¿Cómo estamos consumiendo las noticias?
¿Dónde las estamos buscando?
¿Cuáles son los nuevos medios?

Tambien hablamos sobre su nuevo libro y nuevo podcast.

The #Filmgate podcast episode with Diliana Alexander explores how technology—especially artificial intelligence—is reshaping filmmaking and storytelling. Alexander, the co-founder and executive director of FilmGate Miami, discusses how creators can use emerging tools like AI, VR, and immersive media to expand the boundaries of film and reach new audiences.

FilmGate Miami is a nonprofit creative organization based in Miami that supports filmmakers and digital artists through education, labs, festivals, and collaborative projects. Its mission is to empower media creators and grow Florida’s creative ecosystem by focusing on film, immersive storytelling, and creative AI technologies.

In this episode of Inside the Story, award-winning journalist and educator Stephanie Bertini joins the conversation to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping journalism and journalism education.

From the newsroom to the classroom, Bertini shares how AI tools are influencing reporting, storytelling, and verification—while underscoring the continued importance of ethics, critical thinking, and human judgment.

The discussion also highlights her award-winning investigative and storytelling pieces, offering insight into how strong reporting fundamentals remain essential, even as technology evolves.

This episode goes inside the story to examine how journalists can embrace innovation without losing sight of their core mission: telling truthful, impactful stories that serve the public.

We welcome FIU Alum, Ana Cristina Cash sharing her journey as a creative artist and entrepreneur, from early musical influences and writing her own songs to performing on the Opry stage.

She discusses the importance of authenticity, mentorship, and balancing life with career, while giving a glimpse into her upcoming album and cookbook.

In this episode, we feature Eddy Arias — author, former media executive, entrepreneur, and adjunct professor.

Together, we explore the world of his latest novel Alicia: Who is she, really? Without giving too much away, we trace the story’s emotional journey — from Claire and Alicia’s connection to the haunting, cliffhanging moment of her disappearance."Who in the world am I? Ah,that's the great puzzle" Alice, Alices Adventures in Wonderland

In this episode, we dive into an inspiring conversation about his fascinating journey — from starting out as a nuclear physicist to discovering architecture, then moving to Texas and later exploring London’s fashion scene. We talk about his bold decision to move to Miami, his experiences working as a fashion designer, and his thoughts on fast fashion and sustainability.

He shares insights on the competitiveness of the fashion industry, the brands and personalities he’s designed for, and how he’s now exploring the intersection of fashion and technology through AI. We also chat about his role as a fashion instructor at Miami Dade College and what led him to join the Ratcliffe Art + Design Incubator.

Our guest in this conversation is Teri Arvesu Gonzalez, Founder of The Tag Collab, a dynamic platform that brings together diverse ventures and ideas. In this episode, we explore MOXY—an app built to simplify democracy and strengthen civic engagement.

By delivering news from multiple perspectives, MOXY helps bridge divides and combat polarization. The platform empowers users to follow their local representatives, stay informed, and participate meaningfully in the political process. At its core, MOXY champions civil discourse as the foundation of a healthy democracy, using data to hold leaders accountable while leveraging AI to enhance journalism and creativity.

We also examine how relationships and social capital remain vital forces driving the media industry forward.

Welcome to  Tech Conversations, where we explore the evolving intersections of creativity, technology, and the human experience.

In this episode Dr. Jacek J. Kolasiński, is delving into one of the most urgent and intriguing topics of our time: artificial intelligence—not just as a tool, but as a presence reshaping how we remember, how we design, how we teach, and how we connect.

Joined by Daniel Sanchez, CEO and founder of Reekolect Corp, whose work focuses on AI-driven memory preservation and emotionally intelligent avatars…

And Professor John Stewart, an architect and educator whose students are learning to collaborate with AI agents that imagine life in the year 2070.

Together, we’ll reflect on the possibilities and pitfalls of AI—its role in preserving the past, shaping the future, and teaching us something about what it means to be human today.

Let’s begin.

In this episode of Tech Conversations, Galo Arellano shares his journey from a young journalist to a prominent figure in traditional and digital media. He discusses the impact of significant news events on his career, the transition from traditional journalism to digital platforms, and the challenges of misinformation in the age of technology.

Galo also delves into his entrepreneurial venture, The Joys Bag, inspired by his love for dogs, highlighting the importance of passion and personal experience in business.

What is Universo Curioso?

In this conversation, Noelia Gonzalez shares her journey from journalism to working with NASA, highlighting her role in the Universo Curioso podcast. She discusses the podcast's mission to educate and inspire the Hispanic community about science and technology, the innovative approaches they take in storytelling, and the importance of representation in STEM fields.

She also offers advice for aspiring scientists and reflects on the future of the podcast.

In this episode of Tech Conversations, Our fellow Daniela sits down with RA+DI Alumni Brianna Page, a rising entrepreneur and director of the Bandhwari Women's Project.

Brianna traces her path from Miami to FIU, where her studies in business sparked her entrepreneurial drive. She shares how she has turned ideas into action through leadership roles, community initiatives, and her work with the Bandhwari Women's Project, including the success of their recent fashion show. Brianna also emphasizes the value of networking, mentorship, and innovation in shaping her entrepreneurial journey, while outlining her vision for building impact-driven ventures in the nonprofit sector.

Actor Peter Dager joins us to share his journey into the world of acting, from the audition process for his role in STICK to the unexpected lessons he’s gained through golf.

He opens up about the art of character development, why understanding a character’s backstory matters, and how he brought his character Santi to life.

Peter also reflects on the challenges actors face in the industry and leaves aspiring performers with practical, inspiring advice.

Season 2 of STICK coming soon!

Hosted by: Maggie Salas Amaro

Meet Ray Elman, he founded Inspicio now Art Speak in 2015 .

This talk dives into his creative journey, how ArtSpeak came to life, and the role of storytelling in preserving cultural legacy through art and conversation.

Hosted by Maggie Salas-Amaro

Meet local artist Ricky G .

Ricky G is a dynamic artist blending pop art with street art, creating bold, expressive works that resonate with energy, culture, and personal storytelling. With a background as a tattoo artist and street artist, Ricky G has spent years translating raw emotions and real-life experiences into visual form. His art is a fusion of vibrant colors, iconic imagery, and urban aesthetics, reflecting the stories of people, places, and moments that have shaped his journey.

Inspired by Van Gogh’s raw emotion, Dalí’s surrealism, Banksy’s bold social commentary, and Warhol’s pop culture aesthetics, Ricky G’s work bridges the gap between fine art and street culture. His vision is to create art that is not only visually striking but also deeply relatable—pieces that spark conversation, evoke emotion, and leave a lasting impact.

By merging the influences of pop culture with the grit of street art, Ricky G continues to push boundaries, crafting works that are both personal and universally resonant.

Alumni spotlight with Jerónimo Mura Emmy Award-winning journalist

Jerónimo Mura takes us on a journey from reporting on the frontlines of war to covering local news and politics in Washington, D.C.

In June 2025 he won an Emmy as part of the Univision Washington, DC team for the story on Joe Vogel: From Uruguay to Maryland's Youngest State Delegate.

Bringing the outside in- AI in visual arts

Hosted by Jacek Kolasinski

Our conversation explores how technology, memoryand materiality intersect with technology.

Bringing the Outside In explores how our homes become vessels for cultural memory and identity. The show transforms Green Space Miami into an immersive environment where installations and large photographs featuring complex arrangements of rescued flowers, ancestral textiles, and cultural artifacts merge, transporting the viewer between interior and exterior worlds. Layered visual languages speak of preservation, migration, and the fluid definition of home, suggesting that “home” is not a fixed place but a constant dialogue between memory, identity, and the spaces we inhabit.

What is Pininfarina?

In this episode, we feature Paolo Trevisan, VP of Design at powerhouse Pininfarina, as we take a journey to his beginnings and to explore the evolving relationship between design and artificial intelligence. From the brand’s iconic automotive heritage to its forward-thinking innovations in architecture and mobility.

Hosted by Jacek Kolasinski

We’re celebrating 100 years of the City of Coral Gables—and the future is looking brighter than ever. But what exactly are SMART city initiatives?

Joining us for this conversation with Raimundo Rodulfo, Chief Innovation Officer for the City of Coral Gables and .hosted by Maggie Salas-Amaro In this episode, we explore the cutting-edge technologies being adopted and the city’s short- and long-term goals on its journey to becoming a fully connected, SMART city.

We welcome back Author and Professor Dr. Amanda Lotz.

Why a Third Book—After Mass Media?
In today’s streaming-driven world, audiences are engaging with content in entirely new ways, from binge-worthy originals to global titles that were once out of reach. While traditional broadcast and cable haven’t disappeared, they’re now part of a much bigger media puzzle. So how does it all fit together—and what comes next?Hosted by Maggie Salas-Amaro.

Beneath the surface.... sharks and more...

Host Maggie Salas-Amaro sits down with Dr. Michael Heithaus, Vice Provost of Environmental Resilience and the BBC Campus at Florida international University.The conversation explores Dr. Heithaus' groundbreaking research on sharks and the innovative projects underway at the BBC campus. Together, they delve into the powerful connection between conservation science and climate action—revealing how protecting sharks plays a vital role in safeguarding our planet.

Stephanie K. Nihon is an award winning producer and casting director at LFD Productions. Nihon is known for being the creator, co-writer and producer of the award-winning TV Series called 'Goombay Kids' that has had 4 seasons to date.

'Goombay Kids' is an island adventure series (ages 5-9yrs) airing on the Happy Kids, Roku, AmazonFire, AppleTV , YouTube Kids, Xumo, Redbox, BatteryPop, OurTV and more.

This talk was hosted and edited by our fellow: Daniela Zulueta

The RA+DI presents OFF THE WALL, a limited series hosting talks on the circular economy, music creation, authors and more... In this talk Neil Ramsay, known as "The Creative Economist" and co-founding faculty at RA+DI talks with Bethanny Edwards on innovation, art, design, sustainability and more.

Edited by our RA+DI fellow Daniela Zulueta.

Meet Evan Carraway, entrepreneur, owner of Caroline Hill , MOM, daughter and friend. She has been running a successful business for years along with her mom Jill and is now stepping into the next phase with more interaction and growth with their customer base. What does it take to launch a wholesale handbag business and then add clothing and accessories to this mix.

This podcast was hosted by Maggie Salas Amaro and edited by our FIU Ratcliffe Art + Design Fellow, Daniela Zulueta.

Christopher Mitchell was born in Queens, New York, and studied at both Florida International University and Pratt Institute. He has been visiting Haiti since childhood to see family, and while he began photographing Carnival during those visits, it wasn’t until moving to Haiti full-time in 2008 that he deeply immersed himself in documenting and interviewing for Kanaval and Souvenance. His work spans directing, filming, editing, and producing, reflecting his hands-on involvement in every aspect of the creative process.This talk was hosted and edited by Daniela Zulueta, FIU Ratcliffe Art +Design Fellow.

Meet Ana Siegel, former General Counsel and business strategist with over 25 years of experience managing global legal and business functions for Fortune 50 media companies, including Fox and NBCUniversal.

In this talk we take a look at her journey and the #legallens on some of the ongoing challenges with content rights across media.  

Meet our future podcasters, Daniela and Ana Sofia! As RA+DI fellows, they have launched their own podcasts and are now focused on growing and expanding their platforms.

This talk takes us through their journey of expanding their horizons, venturing beyond their shows to launch new businesses and explore innovative opportunities in the media landscape.

Its Panther Alumni week!

Join us as we catch up with Leon Gomez, FIU Ratcliffe Art + Design Incubator alum, who is launching an alternative social network designed to reshape online interactions. Discover what sets his platform apart, how it challenges traditional social media networking models, and how you can join this new digital movement.

This exclusive sit down features the author talking all things her novel ' The Apartment'. The inspiration, the characters and the apartment that carries its own baggage.

Places also need time to rest, reset get ready for the next chapters.

In conversation with special guest Steve Gallon III, District 1 board member being interviewed by RA+DI research Associate and former M-DCPS Superintendent Octavio Visiedo. Topics on education, AI, community participation, funding and the future of education in Florida and throughout the nation.

Welcome to FIU’s RA+DI Tech Conversations!

This talk is hosted by Ratcliffe fellow, Daniela Zulueta hosted this podcast with guest Leonardo Jaques, from a duet music group called “FariLeo” in Mexico. FariLeo  consists of two friends, Farid Aldama and Leonardo Jaques.

Jaques shares his story on how Aldama and him began their journey in the music industry in the streets of Mexico and the process they took to become a success in the in the music industry. Find more of FariLeo music on Tunecore, YouTube, Spotify, Amazon, Apple Music, Pandora, Deezer, and Tidal. 

La periodista que no oye pero escucha con Adriana Mocciola

En esta conversacion tenemos a la periodista y autora Adriana Mocciola, nacida en Argentina que actualmente forma parte de Telemundo 51 y NBC 6 en Miami, Florida .

En su carrera gano el prestigioso premio Edward Murrow , 18 premios Emmys del Suncoast chapter, 19 Florida Associated Press Broadcast Awards y 7 Sunshine State Awards. 

La palabra como se describe y su consejo es ser "Persistente".

Meet Karen Comas, a tech executive who was there from the early days of Facebook, now Meta. Karen shares her unique journey, starting when social media platforms first emerged, and how she became the sole partnerships lead for Latin America at Facebook.

She also co-hosts a podcast called Motherish, inspired by her experiences as a mother.

As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month we feature a returning guest artist, Rodolfo Peraza.

Rodolfo Peraza is an internet-focused artist, using XR interfaces as medium, exploring the social and power dynamics between digital and physical realms. Pereza is also the founder and director of MUD Foundation Inc.

This talk was hosted by our producer, co-host and mentor, Maggie Salas-Amaro Castellon.

What a great way to kick off Hispanic Heritage month featuring Lily Hagen, CEO and Founder of Lingo Plaza and the creator of Plaza Aventuras a new bilingual format for kids and family to learn English and Spanish.

This talk was hosted by producer, co host and mentor, Maggie Salas-Amaro.

Raising multicultural kids, we quickly recognized the need for engaging and innovative tools to support the Spanish language learning journey for our kids. After months of searching for the right tools, we decided to launch Lingo Plaza, designed with kids and families in mind.

Lingo Plaza is an innovative platform built to provide an immersive experience and safe creative space for kids to engage and connect with cultures all around the world. With 1:1 sessions with native speakers, gamification elements to engage and motivate, progress tracking so that parents can be involved every step of the way, we truly provide an unparalleled experience for the entire family.

Our mission as a company is simple – to bring access to high-quality education into the homes of millions of families around the world, regardless of their background and social status, to break down cultural and language barriers.

Source: Lingo Plaza

Welcome to Elise and Katie the creative entrepreneurs behind EK the Boutique in Texas. Do you know what it takes to launch a boutique business?

They started their business with graphic tees and evolved their business to EK The Boutique offering not only clothing but a sense of community.

In this talk hosted by Neil Ramsay we welcome, Keanan Duffty.

Keanan Duffty is an award-winning British fashion designer, musician, and educator. He is a member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America and the author of The Fashion Entrepreneur (Hachette/Laurence King, 2024) and co-author of Rebel Rebel: Anti-Style (with Paul Gorman, Rizzoli/Universe, 2009). Duffty graduated from Central Saint Martins in London earning a Bachelor of Arts degree with first-class honors and relocated to New York in 1993 where he launched his namesake fashion label. Duffty is featured in numerous books including Sweet Dreams: The Story of the New Romantics, David Bowie: A Life and When Ziggy Played Guitar, all by Dylan Jones.