Citizen Reporter

2 weeks of chemo therapy and its horrid side effects, Matthew checks in to talk about how his daily struggle is progressing. We also talk about family, friends, the internet, gaming and how it all ties into this ongoing battle to live.

Matthew Karamoon is a longtime friend of this podcast who over the years has contributed his observations on and off the air. This summer he learned that he is dying of cancer that is uncurable. In an effort to survive longer and have more time with his young family, he is persuing immune therapy that comes at a price tag he cannot afford. Therefore we as a community of friends and yes even strangers, are getting involved and helping Karamoon get the therapy he needs. On today's program I talk about Karamoon and go back to moments where he has been on the program. The goal here is to get more support... so if you're reading or listening.. I'm talking to you.

The topic is unfortuantely overly discussed in an almost routine way in our world today: the sharing economy, the good that it does, who is in it, and who is against it. Yet even the definition of what is a sharing economy is pretty fuzzy. On today's podcast the subject is the sharing economy and growth, what happens when these often interesting and beneficial services grow. Where does the human and society fit into this equation that is so focused on earning income by tapping into untapped resources in every day life.

Made my way up to Stockholm to spend quality time with my pal Martin of the Stocktown Chronicles Podcast. Together we sat back, drank tea, and discussed what we've seen emerge and change in podcasting since the very first days. Sit back, turn up the volume, and emerse yourself in this conversation.

Jay and Ryanne used to live in big cities and work big jobs in an effort to pay expensive rents and live what they thought would be the good life. Then they decided to make a radical change. Quit the 9 to 5, left the over priced city, and stepped back from the career game. They moved to a quiet rural community and started keeping bee's and making things for themselves. They also started finding bargains in second hand shops and flea markets, reselling them online for a profit. Several years later this experiment has become a way of life, allowing them to own their own home, run a B&B, and each year travel to places they love in different parts of the world. To my great fortune, one of those places is Amsterdam. Today on the podcast, we go scavenging with Jay and Ryanne, as we discuss their way of life, and why they feel more free and empowered than ever before. Plus they're having fun. As a bonus after a day of scavenging, celebrated international documentary maker MacDocMan comes over to ask questions about their way of life and well.. you'll have to hear it to enjoy what happens from there.

An update as the summer comes to a close, including thoughts on my latest journeys to Hacker Camp, Russia, and back in Amsterdam. Also an important announcement: a live podcast event this September 27th in Amsterdam!

São Miguel, the main island of the breathtaking Azores has been my adventure this summer, traveling in circles around the island from the highest peaks to the sea and back again. It is a place of incomparable beauty and beyond that, a people who have such a good hearted caring soul you dare not ask a small question unless you're ready for the extensive information and help they're going to insist on giving you. While the world watches as society evolves in such a loving and open way in the US and such horrid events unfold in Tunisia, France, and Kuwait, here on the island things are as they have surely always been. Cows are grazing. Fish are jumping. Tourists taking pictures. Wash, Rinse, Repeat. What was I talking about? Oh yeah, I recorded this podcast on one of our last nights in the Azores on a trip that has taught me a lot and inspired some future journeys in the effort to experience and learn even more.

Over the past year (maybe more) my friend Yves has been on a journey of self discovery and observing human behavior. Each time he returns to Amsterdam we talk about his observations and attempts to change what is considered "normal everyday" communication. This time, we bring microphones to one of those conversations, in attempt to bring in you the audience to discuss people, communication, needs, and yes - the meaning of life. Never thought I'd write that as a podcast title :)

Some ask where I've been, but actually I never stopped producing podcasts with Source Code Berlin and Newz of the World having lots of new content coming at you quite regularly. Meanwhile on today's program I'm talking about the world of pocasts and how it is changing, what these changes mean for us in general. Also an announcement about upcoming projects both here on this channel and elsewhere. It's a classic podcast update as many of us used to do in the golden days of podcasting.

On February 11th, 2015 my friend Raja Oueis passed away at the age of 27. I was lucky enough to meet Raja at hacker camp (OHM) in 2013. We spent several happy days exploring that crazy carnival of creativity, an event that we always looked back on with fondness. Not long after we were able to meet again, in Amsterdam and at the Hacker congress in Hamburg. Each in person meeting would be a joyous occasion for eating, laughing, thinking out loud and plotting future hanging out oppertunities. It seemed only right, I think for both of us, that we did meet and become friends. One of those classic cases of someone you feel like you always knew from the first moment you speak. Sadly over the past year, as Raja fought a daunting battle against cancer, our communication would be limited to online. I convinced myself that there would be time, that despite everything, we would get to sit and talk and drink chai and discuss matters of the heart one last time. Just as it felt meant to be that we would become friends, naturally fate would allow us one more chance to talk til the wee hours of the morning. But time ran out on us. My ticket to Beirut reads March and Raja's ticket to another dimension seems to have read February. Thankfully, though it is hardly enough, during those happy days camping among some of the kindest and more creative people on the planet, we turned on a microphone and together with many friends and strangers, talked about what we were experiencing and why it was special to us. In this podcast I'll revisit those moments with Raja. Though his voice is one of many in these recordings, his wonderful answers mean even more to me now. I wish we had left the recorder on for so many more hours and days. But thats not how it works, I suppose. Nevertheless, I consider myself lucky to have known him and I'm pleased to be able to share this little tiny piece of such a larger than life human being.

Richard Bluestein is a longtime internet content creator who pioneered much of what we know today as popular comedy and entertainment genres. His program, as well as his legendary character Madge Weinstein, have quietly pushed the limits and challenged conventions in the world of audio content and satire. He is one of my favorite guests and over the years we manage to do a long program like this one to discuss life, changes, observations, films, shows, podcasts and more.

Award winning graphic designer and global citizen Tarek Atrissi joins me on the podcast to talk about Arabic script, logos, design, and the impact these things have on society.

If you've been alive for a few decades you've surely noticed how fast time passes and how things seem to change, sometimes even without us fully comprehending what has happened. Once a year, somewhere in Germany, several thousand enthusiastic individuals get together to consider those changes and look into what else is possible in the future. Beyond that, old and new friends get a chance to catch up, share knowledge, and maybe even get inspired. This event, known as the Chaos Communication Congress, has brought me friends and acquaintences that I feel very fortunate to have and look forward to seeing year after year. Two such friends and fellow audiofiles, join me on today's program to kickoff CTRP 2015 properly; by reporting from the congress and evaluating what this meeting is all about and how this thing connects to the big thing out there. Today on the program: Emmanuel and Kyle of 2600 Magazine, Off the Hook and Off the Wall.

It feels like everything that needs to be written about China, has been written. You've heard the proverbs and the observations; teach your children Chinese because that is the future. Doing business in China is the fast track to success. The largest population in the world is getting more demanding as far as quality of life and choices. --- In this podcast I give you my take on things after a week on the ground getting to hear from some innovative and wise thinkers with decades of experience watching their home country become a global powerhouse that will not be ignored.

In order to properly say goodbye to the Dubai Taxi Project, you have to have a podcast. On today's program there are final notes, unpublished reflections, hypocracies, musings, future plans and an easter egg.