Wild Hearts

How do you take a scientific hunch and turn it into a breakthrough that could change medicine forever?In this episode of Wild Hearts, we sit down with Elise Jenkins, co-founder of Opto Biosystems, to discuss the journey of building a first-in-class brain implant that merges neurotechnology with oncology. 🎧 Subscribe on Apple or Spotify to learn.We explore the highs and lows of moving from academia to a high-stakes startup, the unexpected hurdles of working with neurosurgeons, and the race toward first-in-human trials.In this conversation, we cover:🧠 Bridging the gap between neuroscience and cancer research🔬 How brain-Computer interfaces could transform oncology📈 The road to the first-in-human clinical trials and what It means for the future💡 The challenges of moving from academia to a high-impact startup⚡ Why the next generation of neural implants need to be MRI-invisible 🏥 What It takes to get regulatory approval for a revolutionary medical implant 🌎 Opto’s long-term vision: using neural biomarkers beyond brain cancerIf you're fascinated by the intersection of science, engineering, and medicine, this conversation is for you.🎧 Subscribe on Apple or Spotify to learn.

In this episode we cover:✅Challenges of creating a hardware product✅Helping people overcome shame and stigma✅Building a brand beyond a visual identity✅Investing in your own mental health✅Reaching your audience where they areWith its range of sex toys and sex education resources, NORMAL has reimagined the sex shop into an online experience that is fun and informative, with the mission of empowering absolutely anybody to explore their sexuality free from stress and stigma.In this special live episode of Wild Hearts, founder of NORMAL Lucy Wark spoke with me on stage at Blackbird’s Sunrise Festival.Episode highlights from Lucy:“More than 1 in 5 searches on the internet is about sex. There’s an incredibly large organic interest in this topic.”“As a culture, we have a long history of religious and cultural ideas about sex being sinful, sex being something that should only exist inside marriage, or should only exist for the creation of children.”“It’s not like selling toilet paper or mattresses. You’re trying to help people tackle quite deep psychological stigma.”“Things like libido, desire, arousal, changes in the body, sexual dysfunction, relationship skills, and sex while ageing, sex in menopause, there is this enormous suite of challenges for which we are incredibly poorly prepared for by formal sex education.”“A brand is not a logo and colours. To build authentic brands that mean something to people, is about a lot more than just building a visual identity.”“I think having practices like therapy are incredibly helpful investments in yourself as a founder, and an operator, and just a good human being to be around, so that’s been probably the highest ROI thing I do.”

What happens when a 10-second TikTok video changes everything overnight? For Annabelle Hay, co-founder and CEO of CLUTCH, it meant selling out 5,000 units in hours, navigating a manufacturing disaster, and scrambling to scale. In this episode, Annabelle shares the rollercoaster journey of building a consumer brand from scratch, the unexpected lessons of going viral, and the challenges of breaking into retail.In this conversation, we cover:🔥 The TikTok video that went viral overnight and sold out 5,000 units 💥 The manufacturing disaster that led to exploding tubes and mass refunds 🚀 How Annabelle scaled CLUTCH from a side hustle to a retail success 🦈 The Shark Tank investor who tried to rip her off—and how she fought back🎯 The unexpected challenges of retail, from supply chain issues to hidden costs 💡 The founder-led brand strategy that resonated with millions 📈 Lessons in growth, hiring, and relinquishing control in a fast-moving startupIf you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to scale a consumer product from zero to retail shelves, this conversation with Annabelle Hay is a masterclass in resilience, adaptability, and strategic growth.

What happens when artificial intelligence isn't just assisting—but reshaping—the world of investment?In this episode of Wild Hearts, we chat with Armina Rosenberg, an investor combining traditional fundamental research with revolutionary AI-driven techniques. Armina dives into how her firm, Minotaur, leverages AI to break down barriers, uncover global opportunities, and make investment decisions at unprecedented speeds. It's not just about efficiency; it's about reshaping the way capital is allocated worldwide.In this episode, we cover:📈 How AI can remove language barriers in global investment research (03:30)🔍 Armina’s innovative strategy for identifying mispriced companies (11:45)🧠 How large language models (LLMs) transform fundamental analysis (14:10)⚖️ Managing risk and building conviction with AI analytics (23:50)🛠️ The competitive advantage of building proprietary AI software (29:30)🚀 Future AI investment trends and capturing economic value (34:20)This episode is a rare inside look at how AI is transforming the art of investing, and what it means for the future of software.

Imagine being able to understand your customers better than ever before—instantly. That’s the promise of AI-powered product management. In this episode, Matt Hinds, Co-founder and CEO of Sauce AI, explains how AI is transforming the way companies prioritise, iterate, and execute on their product roadmaps. We dive into the tools, strategies, and mindset shifts that are allowing top teams to unlock massive leverage in world of product development.In this conversation, we cover:🧠 The evolving role of product managers in an AI-powered world🚀 How Sauce AI is transforming product insights and decision-making 📉 Why some companies are eliminating PM roles – and why others are doubling down💡 How top product teams use AI to unlock customer insights 100x faster🛠️ The must-have AI tools that product managers should be using right now 🔄 The future of product iteration: instant feedback loops and automated workflows

Steve Hind, co-founder and CEO of Lorikeet, shares insights from his experience in AI-driven customer support, having previously worked at BCG and Stripe. He reveals the pivotal moment that led to Lorikeet's successful pivot and discusses strategies for outperforming larger competitors by prioritizing customer engagement over mere satisfaction. Steve emphasizes the importance of engineers communicating with customers, avoiding toxic hiring practices in startups, and anticipates that 2025 will mark a significant transformation in enterprise AI.

How do you take a deeply human skill—asking great questions—and scale it with AI? Michelle Gilmore, co-founder and CEO of Juno, is tackling that challenge head-on. In this episode, we talk about her path from industrial design to AI entrepreneurship, why the best research isn’t about collecting data but understanding people, and how Juno is changing the way businesses learn from their customers.In this conversation, we cover:🔍 The art of asking the right questions—and why small wording changes can completely alter responses 💡 Why Michelle believes AI has levelled the playing field—and what that means for the future of research 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 The importance of co-founders—and how Michelle’s long-standing partnership with Josh gives Juno an advantage🚀 The shift from consulting to product-based business models—and why Juno is moving away from selling time 🔬 Experimentation at the core of Juno’s growth—how the team tests hypotheses before scaling 💰 Pricing AI research: Can value-based pricing work for a product like Juno?🌏 Expanding globally—why Latin America and Singapore are key emerging markets for Juno 🧠 The future of qualitative research—why Michelle believes surveys are outdated and how Juno is leading the next evolutionThis episode isn’t just about AI; it’s about how Juno is redefining the way we gather insights, making research faster, more intuitive, and ultimately more human.

AI & Creativity: how Springboards is changing the game for agenciesWhat does it take to turn an idea into a global business in just six months? In this episode, we sit down with the founders of Springboards, Pip Bingemann and Amy Tucker, to uncover their whirlwind journey from a three-person team with an MVP to a thriving international business that’s transforming the creative agency space. Subscribe on Apple or Spotify to learn.In this conversation, we cover:The incredible growth of Springboards—from a 3-person team to a global operation (02:30)How AI is inspiring, not replacing, human creativity in the agency world (15:45)The pitching problem in agencies and how Springboards is solving it (22:10)The expansion into international markets and how Amsterdam became a key hub (30:20)The power of relationships in driving business success over 15 years (40:05)Why “pitch theatre” is crucial for standing out in a crowded market (50:15)The importance of balancing creativity and structure in agency work (1:02:40)Overcoming fear and resistance to AI adoption within agencies (1:15:55)Whether you’re a marketer, a creative, or a business leader, this conversation will change how you think about AI’s role in enhancing—not replacing—human creativity.

Discover how Stephanie Carullo from Box and Apple, transformed education through technology. In this episode, she shares the pivotal moments that redefined classrooms, the culture at Apple, and her vision for the future of AI in learning. 🔑 Why Apple’s "life's best work" mantra fosters trust and accountability across teams📱 The revolutionary impact of the iPad on education and its role in transforming classrooms worldwide📖 The secret to embedding Apple’s culture of clarity, strategy, and communication in organisations🌟 How critical thinking and problem-solving are the most important skills for future leaders 🤖 Why AI is poised to revolutionise education, featuring insights from Khan Academy's AI tutor👩‍💼 Stephanie’s role as COO at Box: Coordinating customer-focused strategies for sustained growth📈 How to balance rapid growth and operational efficiency in the competitive SaaS industry 🌍 Lessons from Apple and Box on fostering innovation and creating meaningful impact at scale Whether you’re a tech enthusiast, an educator, or a leader, join us to learn how Stephanie fostered trust, tackled challenges, and leveraged technology to drive education and innovation to new heights.

What does it take to launch Australia into the global space race? For Adam Gilmour, CEO and founder of Gilmour Space Technologies, the answer is a bold vision, relentless innovation, and an unwavering commitment from a founder and their team.In this episode of Wild Hearts, Adam shares the highs, lows, and lessons learned as he prepares for the first Australian-made rocket launch from Australian soil.Throughout the episode, we cover:🚀 Adam Gilmour’s bold vision to enable human colonisation of the solar system🧠  The rollercoaster highs and lows of building rockets from scratch in Australia📊 How simplicity drives innovation: lessons from aerospace engineering 🌍 The importance of milestones in the rocket business and how they shape progress 🔄 Bootstrapping a space company with a small team and big dreams 🎯 Why launching from Australia provides unique orbital opportunities💡 Navigating regulatory hurdles and securing trust in a high-risk industry 🌌 Adam’s predictions for humanity’s expansion into the solar system and beyondAdam Gilmour’s story isn’t just about rockets—it’s a testament to resilience, innovation, and the boundless potential of human ambition 🚀