Best Congressional App Challenge Podcasts (2025)

1
Behind the Mic with the Debugged Podcast Team 21:06

13d ago21:06

21:06

In the Season 4 finale of Debugged, host Medha Gupta flips the script and interviews the team behind the podcast itself. Meet William Chen, Tushar Mehta, Suri Le, Teddy Lampert, and Aadithyaa Vishegu—high school and college students (and CAC Alumni!) who’ve shaped the show across social media, design, content, and production. From lessons in outrea…

1
Tech Meets Policy with CAC Alumni 25:02

24d ago25:02

25:02

In this episode of Debugged, guest host Suhaani Sodhi sits down with Angie Orejuela and Jeremy Bernick to explore the critical intersection of technology and public policy. From biometric data in airport security to the ethics of training AI on artists’ work, they unpack real-world challenges that demand cross-disciplinary thinking. Both guests str…

1
Making Tech Global with Roger Einstoss 20:17

1M ago20:17

20:17

In this episode of Debugged, host Medha Gupta speaks with Roger Einstoss, CEO and co-founder of Braintly, a company connecting U.S. tech companies with top-tier software engineers from Latin America. Roger shares his journey from freelance developer to startup founder, reflecting on the challenges and skills needed for success in the tech world. He…

1
Empowering the Next Generation with Michaela De Guzman 22:34

2M ago22:34

22:34

In this episode of the Debugged Podcast, we sit down with Michaela De Guzman, a Senior Curriculum Developer at Girls Who Code and a CSTA Equity Fellow Alumni (2023-24). Michaela shares her journey from teaching coding in Title I schools to designing Cybersecurity and Data Science courses with a focus on social justice. Passionate about empowering s…

1
Revolutionizing Learning Through Storytelling with Jenny Buccos 13:53

2M ago13:53

13:53

What if education weren’t confined to a classroom but spanned the entire world? Jenny Buccos, award-winning producer and founder of EXPLR, has spent decades using digital storytelling to connect students with global cultures, STEM, and innovation. From working with legends like Desmond Tutu and Anthony Bourdain to pioneering multimedia learning bef…

1
Navigating Data Privacy and Law with Juliana Spofford 25:10

3M ago25:10

25:10

In this episode ofDebugged, host Medha Gupta sits down with Juliana Spofford, Chief Privacy Officer and General Counsel at Aidentified, to explore the evolving landscape of data privacy. With over 30 years of legal experience in data services, Juliana shares how she stumbled into the world of privacy law, the growing importance of data security acr…

1
Shaping the Future of AI Ethics with Emily Reid 27:04

3M ago27:04

27:04

In this episode, Emily Reid, CEO of AI 4 ALL and former Director of Education at Girls Who Code, discusses her journey and mission to democratize AI education. She dives into the importance of integrating ethics in AI development, ensuring that diverse, responsible voices are at the forefront. Emily shares insights on how AI 4 ALL is shaping the fu…

1
Rewriting Computer Science Experiences with Anaïs Lawson 23:59

4M ago23:59

23:59

In this episode of Debugged, host Medha Gupta and guest host Tushar Mehta sit down with Anais Lawson, a software engineer at Microsoft on the Xbox team. Anais reflects on her journey, from feeling out of place in AP Computer Science to discovering her passion for tech through programs like JADE and Rewriting The Code. She talks about the importance…

1
Building Bots and Shaping the Future 18:20

4M ago18:20

18:20

In this special episode of Debugged, a member of our Debugged team, Suhaani Sodhi dives into the world of robotics with three extraordinary Congressional App Challenge alumni and fellow Debugged team members—Suri Le, Aarav Kansupada, and Tushar Mehta. Together, they explore how they got started in robotics, the creativity and collaboration involved…

1
Redefining STEM Internships with Jay Ahn 24:45

5M ago24:45

24:45

In this episode of Debugged, our first ever REPEAT guest, Jay Ahn, VP of Operations at Akima, LLC, joins us to discuss her groundbreaking approach to creating impactful STEM internships. Drawing from her own experiences, she designed a program where students take full ownership of real-world projects, like building “Kakau,” an E911 health monitorin…

1
Engineering Solutions in Science with CAC Alumni 19:26

5M ago19:26

19:26

In this special episode of Debugged, guest host Suhaani Sodhi chats with Congressional App Challenge alumni Antonia Kolb and Hamza Wadiwala about their journeys in the hard sciences and technology. Antonia, a Harvard freshman, shares her passion for environmental science and her experience creating the app Detickt It for the Congressional App Chall…

1
Product by Day, Cosplay by Night with Aya Philemon 25:18

6M ago25:18

25:18

In this episode of Debugged, host Medha Gupta speaks with Aya Philemon, a product manager at Adobe, about her dynamic career path and how she empowers others to unlock their creative potential. Aya shares her journey from industrial design to tech, discussing how she overcame imposter syndrome and transitioned from product design to product managem…

1
Fusing Finance & Tech with CAC Alumni 16:50

6M ago16:50

16:50

This week’s episode is hosted by one of our Debugged Podcast team members, Suhaani, who leads a thought-provoking discussion with Austin and Sudharshan, two passionate CAC Alumni who are merging finance and technology in unique ways. They share personal experiences and projects that sparked their journey into this interdisciplinary space, highlight…

1
Innovating Products at Adobe with Shalini Ahuja 21:06

7M ago21:06

21:06

In this episode of Debugged, host Medha Gupta interviews Shalini Ahuja, a seasoned product manager at Adobe with 16 years of experience. Shalini discusses her career evolution from software engineer to product leader, where she now focuses on AI-based innovation in Adobe’s flagship products. She shares insights into the role of a product manager, t…

1
Empowering Creators at Twitch with Karin Zhang 23:32

7M ago23:32

23:32

In our season opener, host Medha Gupta sits down with Karin Zhang, Vice President of Engineering for Twitch’s Money team. With over twenty years of experience in a field often lacking diversity, Karin leads the charge in developing payment, onboarding, and payout solutions that empower creators to thrive. In this episode, she reflects on her career…

1
Tech Meets Healthcare: CAC Alumni on HealthTech 20:00

8M ago20:00

20:00

In this special episode of Debugged, host Suhaani Sodhi welcomes Medha Gupta and Maddison Chau, two inspiring Congressional App Challenge alumni who are reshaping the intersection of technology and healthcare. Medha, a Digital Strategy Analyst at Adobe, shares her experience with projects like an automated pill dispensation system and her job in he…

1
Redefining Creative Experiences: Emily Kellman’s on Product Management 21:22

8M ago21:22

21:22

In this episode of Debugged, host Medha Gupta sits down with Emily Kellman, a Senior Product Manager at Adobe, to discuss her unique career journey. Emily reveals how she transitioned from an IT background to leading digital media personalization on Adobe.com, driven by a passion for blending creativity with technology. She reflects on the importan…

1
Cyber Crossroads: Navigating Policy and Threats with Daniel Kroese 24:44

9M ago24:44

24:44

Join us as we delve into the intersection of cybersecurity policy and real-world threats with Daniel Kroese, a seasoned cyber policy expert and the Senior Director of Public Policy and Government Affairs at Palo Alto Networks. In this episode, Daniel shares insights from his extensive experience in both the Legislative and Executive branches, discu…

1
Empowering Education with Anjali Bhatia 22:59

9M ago22:59

22:59

Welcome back to Debugged, the Congressional App Challenge’s alumni-led podcast connecting youth with technology. In this episode, host Medha Gupta sits down with Anjali Bhatia, the visionary CEO of CollegeWise, to discuss her inspiring journey from high school nonprofit founder to leading the nation’s top college counseling organization. Bhatia sha…

1
Revolutionizing Civic Tech with Cori Zarek 26:30

10M ago26:30

26:30

In this episode of Debugged, host Medha Gupta interviews Cori Zarek, Deputy Administrator for the U.S. Digital Service. Zarek shares her transition from a lawyer specializing in first amendment and freedom of information issues to becoming a leader in civic technology. She discusses her impactful work at the National Archives and her role in shapin…

1
Cosmic Conversations Unveiled with Sirisha Bandla 17:52

10M ago17:52

17:52

Join us on a celestial voyage as we unravel the extraordinary career of Sirisha Bandla, Vice President of Government Affairs and Research Operations at Virgin Galactic. From aerospace engineering at L-3 Communications to shaping legislative priorities for Virgin Galactic, Sirisha's journey is a testament to human ingenuity. Discover her pivotal rol…

1
Tech-Business Insights from Congressional App Challenge Alumni 33:01

10M ago33:01

33:01

In this special episode of Debugged, guest host Suhaani Sodhi sits down with Medha Gupta, a 2017 winner of the Congressional App Challenge and current Adobe employee, and Jinghao Li, a 2023 third-place winner. The discussion delves into their journeys at the intersection of business and technology, sharing how their early interests evolved into suc…

1
The 3D Revolution: Thinking Outside the Box with Alon Grinshpoon 21:37

11M ago21:37

21:37

Welcome to the 3D Unleashed edition of the Debugged Podcast, where we decode the world of 3D technology with CEO Alon Grinshpoon, founder of echo3D. In this episode, host Medha Gupta delves into Grinshpoon's journey from computer science scholar to industry disruptor, exploring his pivotal role in reshaping 3D asset management. With $1.9 million in…

1
From Code to Canvas: Samah El Hage on AI, Art, and Sustainability 24:24

11M ago24:24

24:24

Join us as we sit down with Samah El Hage, a leading influencer in technology and AI, known for her innovative and forward-thinking ideas. Author of "Redefine the Lead" and "Next Generation Motherhood," Samah explores the role of technology in leadership and motherhood. With a strong foundation in computer science engineering, she has led groundbre…

1
Becoming You with Suzy Welch 20:42

12M ago20:42

20:42

In the fourth episode of Season Three of Debugged, host Medha Gupta sits down with business journalist and NYT best-selling author Suzy Welch to discuss her unique approach to creating an authentic and fulfilling life. Suzy introduces her method of identifying your purpose through the intersection of your values, aptitudes, and opportunities. Refle…

1
From PM to CEO: Jason Toff Goes 3D 30:33

1y ago30:33

30:33

Join us for an enlightening conversation on the latest Debugged Podcast episode, where our host, Medha Gupta, sits down with Jason Toff, the Founder & CEO of Things, Inc. With a rich background in Product Management roles at tech giants like Google, Vine, and Meta, Jason brings a wealth of insight into tech products of the future. In this interview…

1
The Inside Scoop of Tech Reporting with Kelcee Griffis 22:14

1y ago22:14

22:14

Welcome back to Debugged, the Congressional App Challenge’s alumni-led podcast that delves into the world of computer science! In this episode, host Medha Gupta sits down with Kelcee Griffis, a journalist at The Morning Brew, to uncover her fascinating career path from covering intellectual property and the judiciary to becoming a tech reporter. Jo…

1
Creating Empowering Tech Communities with Dr. Natalie Lao 23:50

1y ago23:50

23:50

Kicking off Season 3 of the Debugged Podcast, host Medha Gupta interviews Dr. Natalie Lao, Executive Director of the App Inventor Foundation. Dr. Lao shares her journey from MIT undergrad to her current role, emphasizing her passion for education and mentorship. She discusses her involvement in the MIT App Inventor project and her work with UNESCO …

1
Re-IMAGIning STEM education with Dora Palfi | Debugged S2 Episode #14 20:20

2y ago20:20

20:20

In this episode of the Debugged Podcast, Medha sits down with Dora Palfi, the co-founder and CEO of imagi, an edtech company helping build the tech workforce of the future through an inclusive and creative approach to learning to code. As one of three girls in her class and one of very few female developers during her internship, Palfi developed a …

1
Manufacturing and Managing A New Digital Experience: The Journey of Kellene Parra | Debugged S2 Episode #13 18:02

2y ago18:02

18:02

In this episode of the Debugged Podcast, Medha chats with Kellene Parra, Vice President of Digital Experience at OpenText. OpenText provides the most complete and integrated Information Management platform, allowing companies to organize, integrate and protect data and content as it flows through business processes inside and outside the organizati…

1
From Air Guitar to Algorithms: How Hansel Lynn is Rock ‘n Rolling the World of CS Education! | Debugged S2 Episode #12 22:09

2y ago22:09

22:09

In this episode of the Debugged Podcast, Medha sits down with Hansel Lynn, a multifaceted entrepreneur who has dabbled in various career ventures, from running a rock music school for kids to founding theCoderSchool in 2014 and authoring two children’s coding books. On top of all of that, Lynn is an endurance athlete and recently opened Cudos Froze…

1
Connecting the Dots Between Data Science and Social Impact | Debugged S2 Episode #11 17:54

2y ago17:54

17:54

In this episode of the Debugged Podcast, Medha Gupta sits down with Jay Ahn, the Vice President of Operations in the Emerging Markets Group (EMG) at Akima. She specializes in consultancy and "dot connecting” support to clients' complex requirements with effective data collection, analysis, and semantic matchmaking techniques to create orchestrated …

1
Re-Engineer the World of Medicine with Hadley Sis | Debugged S2 Episode #10 17:09

2y ago17:09

17:09

In this episode of the Debugged Podcast, Medha Gupta chats with Hadley Sis, a Project Manager working at the medical device company, Stryker. Sis shares her incredible journey from earning her Master of Science focused in Bioengineering and Mechanical Engineering to taking on a critical role as a leader in medical technology. Sis expands on her div…

1
Demystifying the World of Science, Biosafety, and Tech with Dr. Marian L. McKee | Debugged S2 Episode #9 14:51

2y ago14:51

14:51

In this episode of the Debugged Podcast, Medha Gupta chats with Dr. Marian L. McKee, the Vice President Biosafety at Eurofins Biopharma Product Testing labs. McKee goes in depth about her role, which is working to ensure the safety of pharmaceutical products by testing for viral contaminants. McKee shares her journey from her interest in zoology to…

1
Meet Engineer and Natural Hair Advocate, Kamryn Cutler! | Debugged S2 Episode #8 22:02

2y ago22:02

22:02

In this episode of the Debugged Podcast, Medha Gupta chats with Kamryn Cutler, computer science graduate of Howard University and participant in Hartman’s Leadership Development Program. Cutler certainly wears many hats in this program. She not only is an engineer in data analytics, but she also works as a consultant to communicate with businesses …

1
Ready to be inspired? Meet Techsetter, Sam Wiener! | Debugged S2 Episode #7 22:04

2y ago22:04

22:04

In this episode of the Debugged Podcast, Medha Gupta sits down with Sam Wiener, the Head of Product Engineering at Saturn where she is a critical leader for driving strategy and execution for their mobile product. Wiener shares her incredible journey from starting out in computer science to managing the engineering team behind Instagram’s Reels pro…

1
Inspiring the Next Generation of Leaders with Nita Singh Kaushal | Debugged S2 Episode #6 21:58

2+ y ago21:58

21:58

In this episode of the Debugged Podcast, Medha Gupta chats with Nita Singh Kaushal, founder of Miss CEO, a Lecturer in the School of Engineering at Stanford University, and an Instructor at Stanford Continuing Studies where she teaches undergraduates, graduate students and professional women how to develop leadership skills so they can make meaning…

1
Building Impactful Apps with Natalia Luzuriaga | Debugged S2 Episode #5 17:17

2+ y ago17:17

17:17

In this episode of Debugged, Medha Gupta chats with Natalia Luzuriaga, a senior undergraduate studying computer science at UCLA and co-founder of the app, Hussle. Luzuriaga shares her amazing journey from learning how to code on Codecademy to winning her district’s Congressional App Challenge, in which she coded an app called Speech, which aims to …

1
Going Digital with Tory Smithe | Debugged S2 Episode #4 20:25

2+ y ago20:25

20:25

In this episode of Debugged, Medha Gupta sits down with Tory Smithe, Senior Manager, Healthcare & Life Sciences and leader of digital marketing strategy at Adobe. Smithe shares her inspiring journey from having a passion in healthcare to being at the forefront of translating digital technology for healthcare leaders. Smithe shares what the intersec…

1
Meet Alefiya Master, An Entrepreneur Changing EdTech For Good | Debugged S2 Episode #3 20:30

2+ y ago20:30

20:30

In this episode of Debugged, Medha Gupta chats with Alefiya Master, founder & CEO of award-winning app development program, MAD-learn. Master shares her incredible journey from being an educator with a vision to an entrepreneur with a mission to enable students to have passion driven career choices. MAD-learn emphasizes the importance of design thi…

1
A Deep Dive into Web3 with Gabrielle Hibbert | Debugged S2 Episode #2 17:00

2+ y ago17:00

17:00

In this episode of Debugged, Medha Gupta sits down with Gabrielle Hibbert, security auditor and researcher at Least Authority, co-founder of Web3 native startup Future Proof Collective, and Fellow at the Decentralized Future Council, to discuss what Web3 is and how both governance and policy play a huge role in this space. Hibbert shares her unique…

1
Kicking Off Season 2 of Debugged with Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton | Debugged S2 Episode #1 16:36

2+ y ago16:36

16:36

In this first episode of Debugged, Medha Gupta chats with Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton, state Senator, attorney, and representative of the people of Northern Virginia and Shenandoah Valley for over two decades - AND drumroll please - co-chair of the 2022 Congressional App Challenge! Rep. Wexton discusses her journey in politics and how her work ha…

1
Investor’s Pitch Finale | Debugged Episode #15 37:20

3y ago37:20

37:20

In the second part of the two-part finale of the first season of Debugged, Medha Gupta brings in Aryan Mittal, the first place winner of the 2021 Congressional App Challenge from District CA-45, to pitch his winning app Voluntime to previous guests and investors Rick Lane and David Rosenblatt. In the episode, Mittal discusses his app in-depth with …

1
Rick Lane and David Rosenblatt on Investing and Entrepreneurship for Social Good | Debugged Episode #14 29:16

3y ago29:16

29:16

In this first part of the two-part finale of the first season of Debugged, Medha Gupta sits down with Rick Lane, a tech policy expert, child safety advocate and CEO of Iggy Ventures and David Rosenblatt, the co-founder of QuickenLoans at Intuit and a managing director at Blackrock to discuss all things investing and entrepreneurship. In the intervi…

1
Christopher Adams on Econometrics at the CBO | Debugged Episode #13 24:10

3y ago24:10

24:10

In this episode of Debugged, Medha Gupta sits down with Christopher Adams, a drug policy analyst with the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), current professor at Dartmouth College, and former antitrust and competition specialist at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Adams discusses the effects of the capabilities of new technology like machine lea…

1
Christine Rushlow on Computational Embryology | Debugged Episode #12 27:42

3y ago27:42

27:42

In this episode of Debugged, Medha Gupta talks to Christine Rushlow, a professor of biology at New York University and director of the WINS program at NYU, to discuss her unique research in the genetics of embryonic development and how it has influenced her to create a program aimed at advancing the inclusion of women in STEM. In the interview, Rus…

1
Ramansh Sharma on Astrodynamics and AI | Debugged Episode #11 24:50

3y ago24:50

24:50

In this episode of Debugged, Medha Gupta talks to Ramansh Sharma, an undergraduate researcher at the Approximate Bayesian Inference Team at RIKEN and a member of Conex Research. Sharma discusses his experience developing AI-For-Good research projects and the different use-cases of AI research in STEM. Sharma gives advice on the best courses to lear…

1
Trisha Prabhu on ReThinking Technology | Debugged Episode #10 26:57

3y ago26:57

26:57

In this episode of Debugged, Medha Gupta talks to Trisha Prabhu, an undergraduate student at Harvard University and the 21-year old CEO and founder of ReThink™, to discuss her journey creating the company and its special cyberbullying prevention technology that has led to her success nationwide. In the episode, she describes her motivations for cre…

1
Caeley Looney on Space and STEM Inclusivity | Debugged Episode #9 25:05

3y ago25:05

25:05

In this episode of Debugged, Medha Gupta talks to Caeley Looney, a space mission analyst at L3Harris Technologies and the founder of Reinvented Inc., to discuss her journey starting Reinvented and the process of creating the eponymous magazine that empowers young girls to pursue STEM fields. She also discusses her job as a space mission analyst, he…

1
Yannic Kilcher on AI, Law, Research and Music | Debugged Episode #8 32:21

3y ago32:21

32:21

In this episode of Debugged, Medha Gupta sits down with Yannic Kilcher, the CTO of DeepJudge, a law and technology based startup in Zurich, Switzerland, and a YouTube personality. They discuss his experience founding DeepJudge and his reason for creating easy-to-digest videos on YouTube to help others understand the latest AI research. He also disc…

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Congressional App Challenge Podcasts

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