The 2022 Smart City Diaries Survey If we were to ask you, "What Makes a City Smart", what would you say? Is it Technology? Connectivity? Social Change? Ask 100 people this question and you can expect 100 different answers. And yes, technological innovation is an important part of a thriving city, but a Smart City is not just about tech, it is about people. It is about you. We don't just want to talk, we want to listen. We want you to join us in this journey. On this special episode of Smart City Diaries, our esteemed hosts, Anna and Deborah Acosta, take a look back at the first Smart City Diar ..read more

In 1962, the Jetsons introduced us to the idea of the flying automobile. That simple vision of the future inspired generations of innovators to look towards the next big step in transportation. We were promised a glorious future of mobility that would transform the way we live, work and play.  But here we are, 60 years later, tires against pavement, and an ancient public transportation system crumbling beneath our feet. What happened to our bright vision of the future? That future is finally here! On this episode of Smart City Diaries, hosts Anna and Deborah Acosta discuss the stunning br ..read more

You think your secrets are safe online? Think again. Every single day, over 30,000 websites are hacked. In 2020, 36 billion records were stolen from the worlds largest and most secure tech companies. And 95% of these breaches came down to human error. Your phone, your doorbell, your refrigerator, all can be hacked. The statistics sound overwhelming, but no need to renounce all your connected possessions quite yet. On this episode of Smart City Diaries, hosts Anna and Deborah, along with security expert Alex Acosta, break down the simple tools to help you safeguard your information at home and ..read more

Strap in and get ready to ride the electric slide with Anna and Debbie. On this episode of Smart City Diaries, we journey back to the roots of electrification and the bitter rivalry between Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla, a grudge match that ignited the electric revolution powering our planet. But with climate change and increased demand testing the limits of our energy grids, how can cities adapt and innovate to keep the power flowing? Hint: It's Microgrids! For good measure, we're going to be talking about Puerto Rico's energy troubles, taking care of Mother Earth, and the great streaming cr ..read more

On this brand spankin' new episode of Smart City Diaries, join hosts Anna and Deborah Acosta as we attempt to answer the question: What the hell is blockchain? Spoiler Alert: We aren't talking about bitcoin, because it is so much bigger than that. In order to unravel the tangled understanding around blockchain, we are joined by Jeremy Goodwin, Founder and CEO of SyncFab, who is revitalizing American manufacturing by utilizing a blockchain-powered supply network. And as our lives become increasingly digitized, how will blockchain change the way we live, work and play? Not only that, we're talki ..read more

On the third episode of Smart City Diaries, we are talking about Big Data. How do cities use your data, and what does that mean for your privacy? Join hosts Anna and Deborah Acosta as they usher us all the way back to the pneumatic tube, the worlds first high-speed data transfer system, and then trace data's path through the world of Internet of Things and IP Hubs. And in this journey, we are joined by our very first guest, Carl Nielson, Managing Director of Smart Cities and Global Partnerships at CityData.ai, and self-proclaimed tech interpreter. Learn how cities are using our data to reduce ..read more

On the second episode of Smart City Diaries, join Anna and Deborah as we take a deep dive into the history of broadband, from 14.4k to gigabit speeds. Once a luxurious curiosity, the internet has become a necessity in our day to day lives, and has connected the world in unprecedented ways. But in the states, our connection is still determined by a few powerful corporations, who have little motivation to push for equitable access. In post-covid life, can we really depend on our broadband connections to live, work and play? And is it time for broadband to join our other utilities as a fundamenta ..read more

What would the world look like if every human was connected, working together to lead our transformation to a healthier, happier society? On this very special premiere episode of Smart City Diaries, Anna and Debbie introduce the series, laying out the past, present and future of Smart Cities. Together, our hosts discuss the growing dilemmas our cities are facing, from inequality to climate change to the generational gap, because the fact is, we need to know what the problems are before we can fix them. Smart City Diaries aims to bring about the realization that, no, things do not need to be th ..read more

Welcome to Smart City Diaries, a dynamic technology podcast, a multimedia experience designed to educate, entertain and engage a diverse audience, creating an open door into a living laboratory - Our Cities. Join entrepreneur hosts Anna Acosta, and her mother, Deborah Acosta - women from two culturally, economically and emotionally disparate generations, as they weave a “Smart City” roadmap through illuminating, challenging conversation with diverse experts, creating a safe space for innovators around the world - all in the pursuit of the fundamental question: What is a Smart City? Want to Co ..read more

The 2022 Smart City Diaries Survey If we were to ask you, "What Makes a City Smart", what would you say? Is it Technology? Connectivity? Social Change? Ask 100 people this question and you can expect 100 different answers. And yes, technological innovation is an important part of a thriving city, but a Smart City is not just about tech, it is about people. It is about you. We don't just want to talk, we want to listen. We want you to join us in this journey. On this special episode of Smart City Diaries, our esteemed hosts, Anna and Deborah Acosta, take a look back at the first Smart City Diar ..read more