What If Instead? Podcast
by Alejandro Juárez Crawford, Miriam Plavin-Masterman, ITSPmagazine, Srijan Banik
Insights from recent episode analysis
Audience Interest
Podcast Focus
Publishing Consistency
Platform Reach
Insights are generated by CastFox AI using publicly available data, episode content, and proprietary models.
Est. Listeners
Based on iTunes & Spotify (publisher stats).
- Per-Episode Audience
Est. listeners per new episode within ~30 days
1,001 - 10,000 - Monthly Reach
Unique listeners across all episodes (30 days)
5,001 - 25,000 - Active Followers
Loyal subscribers who consistently listen
501 - 5,000
Market Insights
Platform Distribution
Reach across major podcast platforms, updated hourly
Total Followers
—
Total Plays
—
Total Reviews
—
* Data sourced directly from platform APIs and aggregated hourly across all major podcast directories.
On the show
Recent episodes
The Invisible Bridge Between Two Worlds | Antonio Castillo
Mar 16, 2026
Unknown duration
A System for Unexpected Connections | David Garrison
Jan 15, 2026
Unknown duration
The Energy Transition: Not if, but When | Susan Hunt Stevens
Jul 29, 2025
Unknown duration
Beyond “Just Change Your Perspective” | Sage Brody
Jul 10, 2025
Unknown duration
Who Am I to Do This? (And Why I Did Anyway) | Dan Lee
Jun 22, 2025
Unknown duration
Social Links & Contact
Official channels & resources
Official Website
Login
RSS Feed
Login
| Date | Episode | Description | Length | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3/16/26 |  The Invisible Bridge Between Two Worlds | Antonio Castillo | Antonio Castillo, founder of Ceiba Coffee Solutions and the 7 Jaguars coffee brand, joins hosts Alejandro Juárez Crawford and Mim Plavin-Masterman to expose the hidden inequities behind every cup of coffee. When he spent time on small farms in El Salvador and in the remote highlands of Chiapas, Mexico, Antonio discovered something that lit a fire in him. The farmers producing some of the world’s finest, most sustainably grown coffee often earn as little as 1–5% of the retail price—while commodity traders and transnational corporations capture the lion’s share of the coffee value. He explains that his consulting firm, Ceiba Coffee Solutions, is dedicated to raising public awareness while supporting marginalized coffee communities through financial education and by sharing the stories of their coffee and resilience. This idea lies at the heart of his TEDx talk: that every sip of coffee places us on an invisible bridge between the world of the coffee lover and that of the coffee farmer. | — | ||||||
| 1/15/26 | A System for Unexpected Connections | David Garrison | “Building a new kind of muscle around curiosity in networking … has real business … and social impact.” – David Garrison, Founder & CEO of Connect Networks In an era in which algorithms make so much interaction transactional, what if instead we could reopen windows for surprising one another, for "opening up storylines, instead of closing them down?" In this episode of What If Instead?, hosts Alejandro Juárez Crawford and Mim Plavin-Masterman sit down with Connect Networks CEO David Garrison to explore how to create a system for unexpected connections—and “unleash meaningful one-on-one conversations” at scale. When you unlock those connections, you find extraordinary power for creative problem solving—where it’s not comfortable, but you think in new ways. Can we do this systematically? Can organizations and communities weave together "the corners of the network that would normally never connect," to spark innovation and build ecosystems for change? Listen to the episode to learn what David's research and experiments have revealed—and how he's making this available where it hasn't been before. | — | ||||||
| 7/29/25 | The Energy Transition: Not if, but When | Susan Hunt Stevens | 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. | — | ||||||
| 7/10/25 | Beyond “Just Change Your Perspective” | Sage Brody | 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.” | — | ||||||
| 6/22/25 | Who Am I to Do This? (And Why I Did Anyway) | Dan Lee | 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. | — | ||||||
| 6/4/25 | Diseconomies of Scale | Michael Shuman | 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. | — | ||||||
| 5/12/25 | What If Philanthropy Got It Right? Robert Osborne on What if Instead? | 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? | — | ||||||
| 3/27/25 | Unlocking Potential Through Experiential Learning | A Conversation with Tomás Mora Selva & Huang Wei-Jou | What If Instead? Podcast with Alejandro Juárez Crawford and Miriam Plavin-Masterman | 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. | — | ||||||
| 3/13/25 | We Have The Skills, We Need The Connection | A Conversation with Ari Luis Halos & Charnylle T. Antiporda | What If Instead? Podcast with Alejandro Juárez Crawford and Miriam Plavin-Masterman | 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. | — | ||||||
| 2/27/25 | Mentorship & Collaboration: The Alignment That Changes The World | A Conversation with Evelina Van Mensel and Martin Nedev | What If Instead? Podcast with Alejandro Juárez Crawford and Miriam Plavin-Masterman | 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. | — | ||||||
Want analysis for the episodes below?Free for Pro Submit a request, we'll have your selected episodes analyzed within an hour. Free, at no cost to you, for Pro users. | |||||||||
| 2/13/25 | Bio-manufacturing: How It Can Reshape Industries and Our Planet | A Conversation with Edward Shenderovich | What If Instead? Podcast with Alejandro Juárez Crawford and Miriam Plavin-Masterman | In this episode of What if Instead?, Edward Shenderovich, CEO of Synonym, reveals how his approach to entrepreneurship centers on one key factor: execution. | — | ||||||
| 1/30/25 | The Future Life of Heavy Equipment | A Conversation with Tom Christenson | What If Instead? Podcast with Alejandro Juárez Crawford and Miriam Plavin-Masterman | 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!" | — | ||||||
| 12/12/24 | When There’s a Wildfire, It’s Pass or Fail | A Conversation with Alister Watt | What If Instead? Podcast with Alejandro Juárez Crawford and Miriam Plavin-Masterman | 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. | — | ||||||
| 11/14/24 | Changing My Understanding Of The World By Just Doing It | A Conversation With Lucas Rockett Gutterman | What If Instead? Podcast with Alejandro Juárez Crawford and Miriam Plavin-Masterman | A new What If Instead? conversation with Lucas Rockett Gutterman on doing in order to change our understanding of the world. | — | ||||||
| 10/31/24 | Who Pays Me? How Do I Feel About That? Is it in Service of Life? | A Conversation with B. Lorraine Smith | What If Instead? Podcast with Alejandro Juárez Crawford and Miriam Plavin-Masterman | 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. | — | ||||||
| 10/17/24 | Using Clean Energy to Level the Economic Playing Field | A conversation with David Cash | What If Instead? Podcast with Alejandro Juárez Crawford and Miriam Plavin-Masterman | 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. | — | ||||||
| 9/26/24 | The Muscles We Build by Bridging | A conversation with Kate O'Neill | What If Instead? Podcast with Alejandro Juárez Crawford and Miriam Plavin-Masterman | 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. | — | ||||||
| 9/9/24 | It's a broken system | A conversation with David Benzaquen | What If Instead? Podcast with Alejandro Juárez Crawford and Miriam Plavin-Masterman | 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! | — | ||||||
| 8/22/24 | A System Where Local Is the Norm – and We Pay What It Really Costs To Drive Something Hundreds of Miles | A conversation with Trevor Vaughn and Hunter Buffington | What If Instead? Podcast with Alejandro Juárez Crawford and Miriam Plavin-Masterman | In the second part of our conversation, we delve into the realities of localizing our food systems. | — | ||||||
| 8/22/24 | Talking To People Who Think Like Us Has Made Us Stagnant | A conversation with Trevor Vaughn and Hunter Buffington | What If Instead? Podcast with Alejandro Juárez Crawford and Miriam Plavin-Masterman | In this episode, we explore the stagnation that can occur when we only engage with like-minded individuals in the agricultural sector. | — | ||||||
| 7/26/24 | Bringing Biodiversity to the Innovation Ecosystem | A conversation with Ben Soltoff | What If Instead? Podcast with Alejandro Juárez Crawford and Miriam Plavin-Masterman | 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. | — | ||||||
| 7/18/24 | The Invisible Barriers to Going ‘Green’ | A conversation with Melisa Báez | What If Instead? Podcast with Alejandro Juárez Crawford and Miriam Plavin-Masterman | 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. | — | ||||||
| 7/4/24 | Everyone is Living in Different Parts of the World, but There's Something That Attached Us All together | A conversation with Dalia Najjar | What If Instead? Podcast with Alejandro Juárez Crawford and Miriam Plavin-Masterman | We explore the concept of social entrepreneurship and the power of reimagining the world around us. Highlighting the importance of taking risks, learning from failures, and empowering others. | — | ||||||
| 6/27/24 | Beyond "The Conceivable Future": Reimagining Our Climate Narrative | A conversation with Dr Meghan Elizabeth Kallman | What If Instead? Podcast with Alejandro Juárez Crawford and Miriam Plavin-Masterman | Join us as we dive into the "what if instead" concept with Megan Kallman, discussing climate crisis action, family planning, and shifting narratives for systemic change. | — | ||||||
| 6/14/24 | A Hundred Thousand Small Experiments | A Conversation with Dr Sebastian Groh | What If Instead? Podcast with Alejandro Juárez Crawford and Miriam Plavin-Masterman | The conversation explores the need to equip an army of climate entrepreneurs in the global south to address climate change. | — | ||||||
Showing 25 of 29
Sponsor Intelligence
Sign in to see which brands sponsor this podcast, their ad offers, and promo codes.
Chart Positions
1 placement across 1 market.
Chart Positions
1 placement across 1 market.