The Irish Tech News Podcast

Beyond the Bubble: How Artists are Leveraging Non Fungible Tokens to Engage their Audiences and Build a Loyal, Dedicated Fan Base, with Jillian Godsil Jamil Hasan tackles this timely topic with Irish Tech News in-house expert Jillian Godsil. More about Jillian For the 2021 international Women’s Day, Jillian was nominated one of 100 global women in leadership awards Last June, she was awarded the 2020 Blockchain Journalist by Uptrennds (largest blockchain social platform). In 2019 Jillian was nominated for the national IMRO radio awards for her EastCoastFM Saturday morning show and was awarded the 2019 AI and Blockchain Journalist of the Year at the CC Forum in London. She is a passionate advocate for blockchain, a seasoned professional in fintech and internationally recognised champion for equality – whether in homelessness, gender or the law. Jillian has held senior positions with global PR companies in Sydney, Singapore, London and Dublin. She was PRO of Iona Technologies (Ireland’s first company to float on NASDAQ). She changed the law in Ireland in 2014 and is a former European Parliamentary candidate (as an independent). She is a co founder and journalist in the Blockleaders.io. She freelances for Irish Tech News, Irish Central, The Irish Independent and The Irish Times. She has her own radio shows on DublinCityFM and EastCoastFM – she was nominated for a national radio award, the IMRO, in 2019. Her first job after graduating from Trinity College was as a systems analyst with JP Morgan. She is advisor to several ICOs, has been named a Crypto Queen by In Zero Conferences as well as listed in the 50 most influential women in the global blockchain rollcall. She is named amongst the top 10 people in Blockchain in Ireland. She was voted into the top 20 global Hedera Hashgraph Ambassadors in 2018. She is a board member of EOS Dublin. She is a community leader for Algorand. She is chain agnostic while she loves blockchain. She has been shortlisted for the Image Business Woman of Year and also shortlisted for Woman of the Year by Women in IT in 2018. She made the top 100 Global Blockchain Leaders list for 2019 for Lattice80 report. She is passionate about getting women into blockchain – democratising opportunity for all women.  She was awarded the Order of Merit by the President of Liberland. Pre COVID - She keynotes and chairs blockchain events around the world – including Kiev, Austin, Muscat, Columbo, Dubai, Capetown, Liberland, Malta, Amsterdam, Vienna, Dublin and London.  Now this work is virtual from her sleepy backwater village in rural Ireland About Jamil Hasan Jamil Hasan is a Generation X Author and experienced data intelligence technology builder with two decades of experience leading data-based teams at Fortune 100 companies, including AIG, Prudential Financial, and Ingersoll Rand. Jamil believes that skill and experience, not just age, is the most important factor required to build and lead corporate organizations. His unique story, as someone on the ground floor of the 2008 financial crisis and his role to help repay the $180 billion AIG bailout, enabled him to come face-to-face with many of the societal ills facing Generation X today and their causes. As the result of his experience, Jamil has developed a path forward for his fellow Gen Xers to restore his generation’s financial standing in society today and to rebuild the American Dream for Generation X.

In recent years musical artists have found it tough to get noticed and it’s even harder now during a pandemic. Technology such as social media and Spotify can help but how do you use them to do this? Ronan talks to Luke Rynne Cullen the founder of TuneRelease about this and more. Luke talks about his background, how TuneRelease started, how TuneRelease works, and fake followers. Luke also talks about Bowie, artists getting more power to explore their creative sides, and music producers. More about Luke: Luke studied History and English Literature at Trinity College. He was a violinist with Trinity Orchestra and its President during 2018/19 before becoming the live music officer for Trinity Ents. Luke then went on to found Applaud, a platform where musicians could display their work online to prospective clients, apply to gigs with set fees, an agreed performance time, and a 10% deposit on booking. As well as also founding TuneRelease, Luke works as Marketing and Communications lead for Scale Ireland.

Interesting and thought provoking conversation as we catch up with Dean Johnson, futurist, designer, artist and all round interesting chap. Dean Johnson ->Design, Technology and Innovation Consultant at Activrightbrain As an accomplished Design, Technology and Innovation Consultant at Activrightbrain, Keynote Speaker, Host, Futurologist and BBC tech pundit, Dean Johnson is shaping the connected future for Film, TV, Automotive, Publishing, Music, Education and Leisure sectors with the emphasis on user experience and engagement. Dean is a Fellow and President Elect of the Chartered Society of Designers, a Mentor for the British Fashion Council and Startup Sesame and Ambassador for the European Startup Prize for Mobility. Continuing to push boundaries in design and technology, Dean spent 48 hours in Virtual Reality in 2017 and is now building a full body XR Immersion Suit featuring haptics, AR, VR, Bionic enhancements and a flame thrower. He’s already living in the future.

What does the future of retail banking hold? Beyond the endless debates on cash and branches, what are some of the things that we would actually look forward to in the near future? Will AI finally transform one of the oldest and most important industries of modern civilization? In this episode of One Vision, Theo and Bradley caught up with an old friend Elias Ghanem, Global Head of Market Intelligence, Financial Services at Capgemini to talk about the future of financial services. Until we meet again in Amsterdam ...

Important, informative and entertaining conversation with Debra Ruh who is a Global Disability Inclusion Strategist, Market Influencer, internationally recognised keynote speaker, published author, branding expert, successful entrepreneur, and an exceptional mother. Debra is host of a popular program: Human Potential at Work (Audience in 92 countries and 113 Regions). She is also an author of three books, Inclusion Branding (available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Voice via Audible), Tapping into Hidden Human Capital and Finding Your Voice Using Social Media. https://tiny.cc/DebraRuh or www.RuhGlobal.com. Debra Ruh received her call to action when she was told by so-called “experts” that her daughter, Sara, who was born with Down Syndrome (Trisomy 21), would never walk or talk. She refused to accept the prognosis and perception of this condition.  Driven by her unshakeable faith in the power of human potential and the love for her daughter, Debra was determined to dedicate her life to create a path to empowerment and the success for all those with disabilities. Her husband aged into disabilities due to a TBI sustained when he was hit by a drunk driver as a child.  Sadly, his brain aged into Dementia due to the TBI. Debra had built a multi-million-dollar firm focused on ICT accessibility. Debra was convinced that "the real disability is being unable to see human potential" formed Ruh Global Communications. This new firm focuses on Global Disability Inclusion Strategies, Digital Marketing, and Branding among many other services. Debra Ruh Ruh Global IMPACT - CEO / Founder AXSChat - Co-Founder 18122 Vontay Road, Rockville, VA  23146 Phone: (804) 986-4500 Debra@RuhGlobal.com www.RuhGlobal.com www.AXSChat.com

Great interview by Jamil Hasan with Samson Williams, one of our favourite blockchain advocates. Samson Williams is a serial entrepreneur and accidental investor. When not starting business with his enemies (“Entrepreneurship is hard. I only recommend it to my enemies.”), Samson is an Adjunct Professor at Columbia University in NYC and University of New Hampshire School of Law where he teaches on blockchain, cryptocurrencies and the Space Economy. Samson is also President of the Crowdfunding Professional Association and investor into two investment crowdfunding platforms Brite.us - CrowdInvesting Done Brite and GoingPublic.com. For more information on Samson visit www.SamsonWilliams.com and follow him on social @HustleFundBaby. Books Samson has Authored: Raising Money - Understanding Cryptocurrencies, Crowdfunding, Startup Capital Blockchain & The Space Economy Lifestyle Money: Blockchain, Cryptocurrencies, Crowdfunding & The Future of Money and Wealth Race & Space - Racial Equity & Justice in The Space Economy Stop Sucking Up to VCs (coming Q2 2021) About Jamil Hasan Jamil Hasan is a Generation X Author and experienced data intelligence technology builder with two decades of experience leading data-based teams at Fortune 100 companies, including AIG, Prudential Financial, and Ingersoll Rand. Jamil believes that skill and experience, not just age, is the most important factor required to build and lead corporate organizations. His unique story, as someone on the ground floor of the 2008 financial crisis and his role to help repay the $180 billion AIG bailout, enabled him to come face-to-face with many of the societal ills facing Generation X today and their causes. As the result of his experience, Jamil has developed a path forward for his fellow Gen Xers to restore his generation’s financial standing in society today and to rebuild the American Dream for Generation X.

In this podcast, Melanie Boylan and Matt Burgess, the Deputy Editor of WIRED UK discuss his latest book called "How Machine Learning Will Shape the next Decade" and the values and ethics that currently underpin AI and Machine Learning.  Hear the examples that Matt gives and whose responsibility AI should be in this easy-to-follow, yet in-depth debate. Matt Burgess is the deputy digital editor at WIRED, covering cybersecurity, big tech, and everything in-between. He was written two previous books: a short biography of Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings and a guide, aimed at journalists, to the UK's Freedom of Information Act.

Raki Brown, Director of Corporate Comic …on grownup Comics, Super Heroes, Marketing, Blockchain and NFTs Actually, corporate comics are the opposite of grownup comics. It’s all about inviting grownups to become childlike when expressing their dreams, not dumbing down to adult humour in graphics. “As a result, it becomes aspirational, innovative and inspiring. We can also turn people into superheroes which in turn allows them to showcase the wonderful elements of their companies.” Corporate comics has even hired a futurist to work on this project. “When you ask a company to look at itself as a cartoon or a strip it totally changes how they see themselves and allows for new vision. It also brings new ideas, narrative and exciting interpretation of the product and company.” As soon as Raki and his team bring in their ideas, the client tends to get really excited and often this leads to much more exciting conversations about the company. Compared with mundane marketing methods of brands, logos and text, it’s easy to see how clients can become very enthusiastic. Raki also creates superheroes or characters for key people within their client. His first job is to tell them to ignore what they do and concentrate on what they believe in and what their passion is. “And we also look at their own personal kryptonite – that can be very powerful in terms of narrative.” Interestingly, creating a superhero can often inspire the CEO to do more superhero activities – one leads the other. Comics are also important for GenZ and the Zoomers – attention span is limited and this audience is used to absorbing content in a different way. “If you don’t talk their language then you are going to lose them.” The fast paced world means that people may look at video for a few seconds – typically with the sound off, or may look at a picture, without or without reading the text below – but with a comic complex ideas can be communicated in a single strip or even screen. Stories can be understood in a split second – which is all anyone has these days to attract eyeballs. First comics then NFTs – they are in the process of building a metaverse with compelling comic strip story lines. Who would not want to be part of that process? To find out more, visit corporatecomics.io This episoode was hosted by Jillian Godsil, award winning journalist, broadcaster and author. Find out more about her latest book at https://persons-of-interest.io/

We catch up with  Darach Ó Murchú to learn more about his new documentary exploring the power of nature and also the challenges that it has faced in Ireland during the Covid-19 pandemic. Cumhacht an Nádúir is a new two-part documentary for TG4 that looks at the solace nature has offered during this pandemic and how it may fuel the debate for a broader range of wildlife habitat and land management. A positive consequence of the coronavirus is the way in which it has led many of us to value and explore our natural surroundings. Access to wilderness areas, coastlines and parklands has provided much needed solace during this pandemic. In this two-part documentary, Cumhacht an Nádúir, we find out if this greater awareness has been of any benefit to wildlife, and whether a greater natural balance can emerge from the lockdown experience. What happens when sites fall strangely and beautifully silent, when nature is given a chance to breathe and to revive? Has this twelve-month period implanted a greater need to protect and expand our wilderness areas? In the hands of presenter Darach Ó Murchú, an environmental educator who was given permission to travel outside of his own restricted area, we visit some of Ireland’s most celebrated destinations and tourist sites: Malin Head, the Blaskets, Glendalough, and Garnish Island, as well as community spaces and local areas of beauty. We capture these locations during a near total absence of visitors and we consider how wildlife has behaved in their absence. Post-lockdown, we return to evaluate how these landscapes could be better managed in the crucial years ahead.

Interesting conversation with Kieran McCorry, National Technology Officer, Microsoft Ireland, we look at recent working trends, security research, trust in cloud and how workforces have had to adapt during Covid-19 Kieran McCorry is the National Technology Officer for Microsoft in Ireland and has worked in the technology industry for over 29 years. He is responsible for representing Microsoft to broad audiences in Ireland covering technology leadership, AI, trust, technology vision, strategic alignment, and policy. He has worked across many sectors of the technology landscape including those of collaboration, social media, analytics, mobility, privacy, the Internet of Things, innovation, digital transformation, and intellectual property development. He is a frequent speaker at worldwide conferences and has been a regular contributor to various industry publications. He is the author of four books on messaging technology and holds several patents as well as a variety of undergraduate and post-graduate degrees in Computer Science, Law, and Corporate Governance and Public Policy. He is also a Fellow of the Irish Computer Society. Follow Kieran on Twitter here https://twitter.com/MSIrelandNTO