Video Details
Roadtrip Nation
| Website: | http://www.roadtripnation.com |
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| Next Airing: | Mon, Dec 4th, 2023 at 6:00 PM on UEN-TV |
Availability information for this program
ROADTRIP NATION follows a group of roadtrippers as they traverse the United States and meet fascinating leaders who share stories of following their passions and realizing their dreams.
Episodes:
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East Meets West
The East Coast born and bred road-trippers experience a totally foreign way of life-laidback and Californian as they ride jet packs, talk to the creator of Frozen's Elsa in L.A., and venture north to Ventura where Patagonia designer John Rapp instructs them in the relaxed ways of West Coast work-life, finding what you love and digging in, and creating balance wherever you are.
Next Airing: Mon, Dec 4th, 2023 at 6:00 PM on UEN-TV Length: 00:26:46 Usage rights: 9/5/2015 to 9/4/2031 -
Be Well-Rounded
In New York City, the team meets with Mariette DiChristina, Editor-in-Chief of Scientific American, who was able to combine her interests in writing, science, and art into a meaningful career. Mariette urges the Roadtrippers to incorporate their passions into their work-even if they face criticism from others. Moving north, the Roadtrippers arrange a visit with Vicki Smith, a game designer at Vicarious Visions. Vicki shares her circuitous route to game design, explaining that she initially abandoned her own dreams in favor of following her parents' expectations. In offering advice to the Roadtrippers, she stresses the importance of being well-rounded, and educating oneself in a wide range of disciplines-even if they don't particularly interest you. That way, you have an arsenal of knowledge to inform the work you do.
Next Airing: Thu, Dec 7th, 2023 at 10:30 PM on UEN-TV Length: 00:26:45 Usage rights: 9/7/2013 to 9/6/2025 -
Finding Contentment
In Oakland, Snap Judgment host Glynn Washington tells a story of fleeing his comfort zone and moving to Japan, where he found an unexpected teacher and an unexpected calling when he accidentally bought dog food for dinner one night. Santa Cruz Guitar founder Richard Hoover shares his philosophy of teaching and service and leads the road-trippers into Santa Cruz's misty, magical redwood forest.
Next Airing: Mon, Dec 11th, 2023 at 6:00 PM on UEN-TV Length: 00:26:45 Usage rights: 9/5/2015 to 9/4/2031 -
It Doesn't End Here
After traveling over 5,000 miles in 45 days, the Roadtrippers reach Massachusetts for the final week of their journey. There, they meet with Jeremy England, an MIT biophysicist, and Juan Enriquez, the CEO of Biotechnonomy LLC. Change is the topic of discussion with Juan, who tells the Roadtrippers to 'scare the hell' out of themselves sometimes because stagnancy is the enemy of personal growth. Moving onto the last interview of the trip, the Roadtrippers meet with Lydia Villa-Komaroff, an internationally-acclaimed molecular biologist and Chief Scientific Officer at CytonomeST. Lydia discusses the challenges of being a Mexican-American woman in a male-dominated field, and credits her passion for helping her to overcome obstacles. Afterwards, the team heads to the airport where they reflect on their personal growth and future paths before sharing one last group hug.
Next Airing: Thu, Dec 14th, 2023 at 10:30 PM on UEN-TV Length: 00:26:45 Usage rights: 9/7/2013 to 9/6/2025 -
Challenge The Status Quo
The road-trippers head to Skywalker Ranch, where Star Wars sound designer Ben Burtt recounts driving cross-country to California twice before his dreams of being a sound designer beat back his fear of change. Pixar animator Ralph Eggleston talks about getting beyond the world you inhabit and going deeper into what interests you, and Janice Levenhagen-Seeley of ChickTech advocates challenging the status quo.
Next Airing: Mon, Dec 18th, 2023 at 6:00 PM on UEN-TV Length: 00:26:46 Usage rights: 9/5/2015 to 9/4/2031 -
Whirlwind of Awesomeness
The keys to the Green RV go to three new road-trippers, all interested in design, who kick-start their cross-country journey of self-discovery with a visit to the art-tech spectacle of Two Bit Circus, where founders Brent Bushnell and Eric Gradman share their story of dabbling across domains and finding inspiration at the intersection of their interests.
Next Airing: Thu, Dec 21st, 2023 at 10:31 PM on UEN-TV Length: 00:26:45 Usage rights: 9/5/2015 to 9/4/2031 -
The Answer Is Within You
The road-trippers explore the Experience Music Project in Seattle, where experience designer Andrea Weatherhead advises that the best path toward happiness is getting to know yourself. In Colorado, the team meets interior designer Eiko Okura, who urges them to stop overthinking and see what emerges, and Michael Franti, who advocates for making lots of decisions and seeing what sticks.
Next Airing: Mon, Dec 25th, 2023 at 6:00 PM on UEN-TV Length: 00:26:46 Usage rights: 9/5/2015 to 9/4/2031 -
Make It Your Own
The road-trippers try their hand at spinning molten glass with glassblower Jessica Schimpf. The world isn't looking for you, she says, you have to go out and find it. She recounts how she left a big-time welding gig to follow her dreams. In Texas, the team interviews Austinites on the street and goes for beignets and palm readings in New Orleans before hitting crowd-powered T-shirt purveyor Threadless in Chicago.
Next Airing: Mon, Jan 1st, 2024 at 6:00 PM on UEN-TV Length: 00:26:46 Usage rights: 9/5/2015 to 9/4/2031 -
Deciding What's Next
In Chicago, the team meets exhibition designer Olivia Castellini, a physics Ph.D. whose job combines her varied interests in science and the arts. In NYC, unstoppable inventor-turned-entrepreneur Ben Kaufman recounts flying to China to make his first product before he had even graduated from high school and shares why it's important to strike the right balance between jerk and pushover.
Next Airing: Mon, Jan 8th, 2024 at 6:00 PM on UEN-TV Length: 00:26:45 Usage rights: 9/5/2015 to 9/4/2031 -
Everything Is Design
The trip ends in NYC as the team meets designer Tina Roth Eisenberg, who left her tiny village in Switzerland to find her people in New York. Last up, Helvetica director Gary Hustwit shares the philosophy that connects all design: moving things forward. Though the road-trippers' forward movement on the Green RV ends here, nothing about what they've learned on this journey is over.
Next Airing: Mon, Jan 15th, 2024 at 6:00 PM on UEN-TV Length: 00:26:46 Usage rights: 9/5/2015 to 9/4/2031 -
Pumped and Ready
Meet Natalie, Robin, and Zoed, three computer science students from three very different backgrounds, all of which are underrepresented in tech. This season, the team will embark on a cross-country road trip to meet and interview trailblazing leaders in their field. Their journey begins in sunny Los Angeles, where they visit NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab and meet infamous computer hacker, Samy Kamkar.
Next Airing: Mon, Jan 22nd, 2024 at 6:00 PM on UEN-TV Length: 00:26:46 Usage rights: 8/23/2016 to 8/22/2024 -
Breaking Down Barriers
The team starts to bond as they drive the Green RV into the heart of Silicon Valley, a major hub for innovation in technology. While there, they talk to Phillip Loya of CODE2040 and Laura Gomez of Atipica about using computer science to advance each of their respective communities. They also visit Netflix HQ, where Sabry Tozin, a first-generation Congolese immigrant, tells them, "Don't fit in."
Next Airing: Mon, Jan 29th, 2024 at 6:00 PM on UEN-TV Length: 00:26:46 Usage rights: 8/23/2016 to 8/22/2024 -
Get The Ball Rolling
The road-trippers take a much-needed meditative break in Yosemite National Park before continuing on to DEF CON, a Las Vegas conference that dispels some of their misconceptions about "hackers." Then it's off to Denver, where the team lets loose at Sphero, a robotics company that puts an emphasis on fun. In Chicago, 3D printer Dima Elissa encourages the team to embrace their unique identities.
Next Airing: Mon, Feb 5th, 2024 at 6:00 PM on UEN-TV Length: 00:26:46 Usage rights: 8/23/2016 to 8/22/2024 -
The Door's Wide Open
The final week of the trip begins in New York, where the team sits down with the co-founders of New York on Tech, an organization providing tech-based training to low-income students in Brooklyn. The last leg of the journey takes the Green RV to Boston, Natalie's hometown. After conducting their final interview at MIT, the team reflects on the friendships and lessons they'll take home with them.
Next Airing: Mon, Feb 12th, 2024 at 6:00 PM on UEN-TV Length: 00:26:46 Usage rights: 8/23/2016 to 8/22/2024 -
Breaking Out of the Comfort Zone
Joined by the common desire to get out of their comfort zones, a new team of Roadtrippers embarks on a cross-country journey to interview innovative Leaders who can provide insight on building a fulfilling life. Roadtripper Jackie has just earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry at the University of Texas, and left her home in Mexico to do so. With her family's high hopes hinging on her success, she seeks to find a balance between her academic demands and outside interests. Recent-grad Megan has always wanted to become a teacher, but feels she must break out of her insulated surroundings to determine whether that dream is still right for her. Zachariah, an animated student at Ohio State, seeks to channel his many interests into one concrete path. After meeting each other (and their 36-foot home-on-wheels), the crew hits the beach to interview Dr. Graeme Rae, the Chief Scientist for Surfline.com, who discusses leaving the world of academia to help surfers score waves.
Length: 00:26:46 Usage rights: 9/7/2013 to 9/6/2025 -
Don't Feel Trapped
In Texas, the Roadtrippers head to the Texas Instruments headquarters to meet Process Integration Engineer Byron Williams. Byron shares his struggle with self-doubt that almost stopped him from pursuing a career in science, and encourages the Roadtrippers to re-frame challenge as a motivator. Later, the crew heads to the ATT Foundry to speak with Senior Marketing Manager Tracy Parrish. Tracy discusses her switch from engineering to teaching, and helps Megan overcome her anxiety about teaching STEM subjects. The team ends the week at the National Space Biomedical Research Facility in Houston. There, Deputy Chief Scientist Dorit Donoviel discusses the courage it took to leave a comfortable job and try a new field. She encourages the team to never be afraid of venturing in new directions if they start to feel stagnant.
Length: 00:26:45 Usage rights: 9/7/2013 to 9/6/2025 -
Embracing Change
After settling into life on the Road (which includes dumping septic tanks and sleeping 3 feet away from each other), the team heads towards Hollywood. There, they meet Dr. Valerie Weiss, a film director who went through the trouble of getting a Ph.D in Biophysics so she could determine whether she really wanted to pursue science or filmmaking. Valerie's decision to set aside her Ph.D shows the Roadtrippers that it's never too late to alter your course. Later, the team heads to Facebook headquarters to meet with Delfina Eberly, the Director of Data Operations, who, as a confident Hispanic woman overseeing a mostly-male staff, inspires Jackie. Later, the team takes a zip-line adventure through Redwoods guided by Suzy Clark, the Director of the Mount Hermon Outdoor Science School. Suzy recounts the many jobs she's had, and allays the team's quarter-life anxiety by telling them that they don't need to know exactly where they're going in life.
Length: 00:26:45 Usage rights: 9/7/2013 to 9/6/2025 -
Lessons Learned
Karin Norington-Reaves, CEO of the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, talks about how important social services are in making sure the most people possible can achieve their dreams. The roadtrippers return home with lessons learned and goals ready to be attained.
Length: 00:26:46 Usage rights: 7/6/2020 to 7/5/2024 -
No More What If's
Leaving Houston, the team takes a brief hiatus from interviews with a 2-day drive to Chicago that allows them to reflect on the experience thus far. Once in the Windy City, they find themselves speaking with Zach Kaplan, the CEO and Co-founder of Inventables, a company that connects product developers with novel materials. Zach recounts the many rejections he's been dealt over the years, emphasizing perseverance in the face of challenge. Next, the team heads to Chicagoland Skydive to meet with skydiving instructor Ward Hessig. Once a policeman on track to becoming a lawyer, Ward discusses the fortuitous turn of events that led to his shift in paths. After their chat, the Roadtrippers nervously prepare for a skydive, but are ultimately able to let go of trepidation by following Ward's advice to "push through fear and embrace the reward."
Length: 00:26:46 Usage rights: 9/7/2013 to 9/6/2025 -
The Power of Serendipity
Outside of San Francisco, the team arrives at the Jelly Belly factory to meet with Elise Benstein, a food scientist who develops new Jelly Belly flavors. Elise encourages the Roadtrippers to be open to unplanned opportunity; after all, she never would have thought her job would consist of making Root Beer-flavored candy, but she loves it. From California, the crew winds east to Arizona, where they meet with Deon Clark, a nuclear engineer. Deon joined the navy as a teenager to escape the drugs and violence of his neighborhood, and stresses the importance of rejecting peer pressure. Moving onto New Mexico, the team meets two-time Pulitzer-Prize-winning journalist Paul Salopek, whose non-linear life experiences teach the Roadtrippers to embrace serendipity.
Length: 00:26:46 Usage rights: 9/7/2013 to 9/6/2025 -
Trailblazing
The team hears how Anel Perez, an Amazon solutions architect, went from working eighty hour weeks at multiple jobs to getting hired at one of the nation's premier tech companies. Later, they meet with political campaign manager Andre Carroll and hear his story of how his own life struggles have fueled his desire to make the world a better place.
Length: 00:26:46 Usage rights: 7/6/2020 to 7/5/2024 -
Uncertainty Is Opportunity
As they enter the 5th week of their 7-week Roadtrip, the team reflects on how comfortable they've become with the unpredictable eccentricities of the Road. Megan, who is naturally wired to adhere to routine, is learning to embrace uncertainly, and this helps her cope with an influx of job rejections. In New York, the team's interview with Radiolab radio host Jad Abumrad serves to reinforce Megan's newfound acceptance of the unknown. Jad describes his unsuccessful attempts at other careers, noting that although he never thought he would get into radio, he has found it to be a surprisingly satisfying assimilation of his interests. His ability to adapt to changing circumstance teaches the Roadtrippers although they might not end up where they planned in life, their ultimate trajectory might be even better than what they expected.
Length: 00:26:45 Usage rights: 9/7/2013 to 9/6/2025 -
Yesterday Is Not Tomorrow
Regina Andino, a Senior Executive Assistant at JP Morgan Chase, discusses the pros and cons of pursuing traditional versus nontraditional pathways to achieve your career goals with the team. They also talk with Plinio Ayala, the president and CEO of Per Scholas, the IT training school that helped secure a job in the field for Taiheem.
Length: 00:26:46 Usage rights: 7/6/2020 to 7/5/2024