top of page

About us

The Hub for Important Ideas is a podcast about the serious issues of our time, hosted by cultural critics Stephen James and Ken Swain.  They challenge conventional thinking about contemporary problems including Mental Health, Economic Inequality, the Environment, Bigotry, and War in intelligent conversations with thought leaders in various disciplines.  Drawing on the groundbreaking work of Ernest Becker, author of The Denial of Death, and the cutting edge research of Terror Management Theory, this podcast will enable you to think through urgent issues.

WS_Steve_on_mic_033020_edited.jpg

Steve James

Co-host and co-producer, is the producer-director of the documentary series “Conversations with Solomon.” 

He is a principal in the communications company Creative Factor Productions, a producer of communications media in the New York area.  With Ken, he co-hosted and co-produced the local TV series “Perspective.”  He is the award winning author of “American Stew: Hope in a Toxic Culture,” is the president of Contemporary Heroism Initiative, and Executive Director of the Humanist Society of Metropolitan New York.  He is a graduate of Boston College.

KenSwain_1.jpg

Ken Swain

Co-host and co-producer, spent twenty years in high technology contracting.  He is instrumental in   founding and building three separate and successful businesses engaged in the design and installation of   sophisticated electronic systems.  His interests include music, photography, writing, and multimedia production,   and he produced a 90-minute multi-image docu-drama "A Grasp at America."  With Steve, he co-hosted and co-  produced the local TV series “Perspective” in Newtown, CT.  He is a graduate of the University of Bridgeport.

Credits

Podcasting is a team sport.  This is the team that helped to put this show together and to continue publishing it.

Hosts and Producers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Stephen James and Ken Swain

Written and Edited by. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stephen James

Theme Music. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Serjilio

Closing and incidental Music. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ken Swain

Website and Logo Design. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kris James

YouTube Management. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Evan James

Social Media. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mohammad Habib

Website Hosting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wix

Podcast Platform. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sounder.fm

bottom of page