In this episode of What if Instead?, our hosts had an in-depth conversation with Susan Hunt Stevens, serial entrepreneur, climate investor and founder of Spark Global. The conversation quickly focused on why solving climate means taking care of people, not just emissions. We’re not in a moment of polite evolution—we’re in a full-on messy transition. The climate crisis is here. Yet innovation still trips over short-term incentives and outdated models built for a world that no longer exists. So what do we do? For Susan, the answer is to build better—smarter, yes, but also with care.

After a high-pressure risk management role that put her at the center of the financial crisis in 2008, guest Sage Brody recounts, "I realized I was spiritually dying.... I had to take anxiety medication to go to work every day. This is not the way we're supposed to be living." Today, in her work as a Somatic Movement Therapist and Educator, and trainer of other somatic therapists, she works to help others heal emotional trauma that’s held in their bodies. Before the episode is over, Sage challenges the hosts to rethink their own roles. “You’re a human who happens to be a professor," she says, "not a professor who is kind of also a human.”

In this episode, we talk with Dan Lee, the co-founder of the AI-powered healthcare platform Yurahealth and a U.S. Congressional candidate for Virginia’s 11th district. Dan shares his journey from being a caregiver for his mother with Parkinson's to tackling the outrageous costs and complexities of the American healthcare system. He explains how the same drive to challenge the status quo and ask "What if instead?" led him from social entrepreneurship to the political arena. This is an inspiring conversation about overcoming imposter syndrome, the power of civic engagement, and why the antidote to feeling unqualified is simply to start doing the work.

What begins as a playful debate about the nature of boredom—and whether it’s possible to avoid it in a world of endless distraction—quickly evolves into a hard-hitting critique of economic myths, myths are so pervasive they often look like facts. In this episode, Alejandro and Mim are joined by economist, author, and local economy advocate Michael Shuman to take apart the idea that bigger is always better. Shuman argues against what the hosts like to call "flat earth economics": the outdated belief that success only comes from global scale. He reveals that locally-owned small and medium-sized businesses already form the backbone of the economy and are becoming more competitive, not less. The conversation explores why the dominant narrative of "scaling" is flawed, how our investment systems are rigged to favor global corporations we distrust over the local businesses we love, and how new models like investment crowdfunding are beginning to level the playing field.

What happens when we stop treating generosity as virtue and start asking who actually gets to define, fund, and benefit from social change? In this thought-provoking episode, we sit down with Robert Osborne, principal of The Osborne Group, to unravel the hidden power dynamics behind philanthropy. From toile curtains and “goody two-shoes subversives” to billion-dollar endowments and donor-advised funds, the conversation flows from quirky to critical, challenging the way we think about giving. Together with co-hosts Mim Plavin-Masterman and Alejandro Crawford, Robert explores why most philanthropic dollars don’t reach the communities most affected — and what it would take to shift the system. What if we redefined impact, centered justice, and stopped hoarding resources? What if philanthropy actually got it right?

In this new What if Instead? Conversation Tomás Mora Selva and Huang Wei-Jou share their insights on how non-formal education fosters creativity, collaboration, and personal growth.

In this new What if Instead? conversation, Professor Ari Luis Halos is joined by his former student Charnylle T. Antiporda, now founder of Juan Lift.

A new What if Instead? conversation with professor Evelina Van Mensel joined by, former student of hers and CEO of Enthela, Martin Nedev on how to reach a world-changing alignment.

In this episode of What if Instead?, Edward Shenderovich, CEO of Synonym, reveals how his approach to entrepreneurship centers on one key factor: execution.

In this episode of What If Instead?, Tom Christenson, CEO of TBAuctions, starts with a stark image: "Imagine a world drowning in discarded machines—a nightmare for the planet!"

A What If Instead? Conversation with Alister Watt on the science behind mitigation programs and emphasizes the need for community engagement to foster a culture of safety and resilience.

A new What If Instead? conversation with Lucas Rockett Gutterman on doing in order to change our understanding of the world.

Who pays me? How do I feel about that – and is that in service of life? What would it take to create an economy in service to life? A new What If Instead? conversation with B. Lorraine Smith.

We dive into a thought-provoking conversation with David Cash. In his insightful discussion, Cash explores how we often find ourselves constrained by the systems, frameworks, and rules we've inherited.

In this episode Kate O'Neill shares her insights on the strength gained from cross-cultural connections and the importance of intentional communication in fostering understanding and unity.

In this episode, we discuss modern stressors, the guilt of feeling overwhelmed, and how food choices impact our lives and the planet. Join us with David Benzaquen!

In the second part of our conversation, we delve into the realities of localizing our food systems.

In this episode, we explore the stagnation that can occur when we only engage with like-minded individuals in the agricultural sector.

In this episode, cohosts Alejandro Juárez Crawford and Mim Plavin-Masterman are joined by Ben Saltoff, the ecosystem builder-in-residence at the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship.

This conversation addresses the significant gap created by language barriers in the implementation of sustainable business practices and explores ways to make sustainability culturally accessible.