S3 EP4: The Trough of Disillusionment

When the world looks bleak and all the good ideas seem taken.

ZigZag_Ep4_SW.png

Our journey through the Hype Cycle takes a dark turn this week. Because every innovative idea, sadly, must pass through the third (and most miserable) phase of the cycle: the Trough of Disillusionment. This is when you start questioning why you ever decided to INSERT GOAL HERE in the first place.

Hear Professor Kevin Werbach explain the difference between full-on failure and simply measuring success on a longer timeline, as related to tech and blockchain. (Because this podcast loves using blockchain as a metaphor for life.)

Plus, a local union rep, Dave LaClair, gives producer Thalia Beaty a personal tour of Massena, NY, a town definitely in the "trough." Their afternoon together ends with an insightful conversation about the people left behind in the U.S economy and how society has gotten to a place where real talk is rare.

IMG_7058.jpg

A stop sign leans to the side in the parking lot outside of Coinmint in Massena, New York.

IMG_6935.jpg

A wreath hangs outside Massena's town hall.

IMG_6944.jpg

The billboard inside the steelworkers' union, which represents employees of the aluminum companies in Massena.

CREDITS:

Thalia Beaty, Producer

David Herman, Composer

Matt Boynton, Audio Engineer

ILLUSTRATION: 

Sara Wong

ZigZag comes from Stable Genius Productions, in partnership with Civil. We are proud members of Radiotopia, from PRX.

Previous
Previous

S3 EP05: The Slope of Enlightenment

Next
Next

S3 EP3: The Peak of Expectations