Technology & Future Episodes

A college education isn’t the guarantee it once was. Rising tuition costs and growing uncertainty about whether a degree will lead to a stable, well-paying career are prompting many people to rethink what “higher education” should look like. If college is no longer the only path to success, what needs to change? In this episode of SoCal Voices, educator and entrepreneur Kalista Combs explores how we can rethink learning, work, and family life by reshaping traditional approaches to workforce d...

Keziyah Yisrael-Gayle, PhD, is an innovator working at the crossroads of science and community. She’s the founder of TollRAir, a biotech startup developing new treatments for lung inflammation caused by environmental toxins, an issue hitting some of Southern California’s most marginalized communities the hardest. Her work recently earned second place and the People’s Choice Award at the SoCal OASIS Pitch Challenge in Riverside, along with funding to help scale her vision. In this episode of S...

We all know how tough it can be to keep up with fast-moving tech—and few things are evolving faster than artificial intelligence. AI can feel overwhelming, even intimidating, and fears about AI replacing some jobs is real. In this episode of SoCal Voices, host Angela Ross sits down with USC professor and Your Brand Amplified podcast host Anika Jackson to explore how AI is reshaping the digital landscape. Jackson breaks it down in a way that’s clear, real, and surprisingly hopeful. Jackson ...

Is China really the economic behemoth we hear about in the media? What are the real long- and short-term impacts of China’s role in the global economy? In this edition of SoCal Voices, author and China Unraveled podcast host Jason Szeftel shares his perspective on China’s role in the global economy, and what China’s future could mean for the economies of the US and southern California.