Build For Better

This week I am joined by Author, Speaker, Linguist and all around powerhouse Kate O'Neill. Kate is known worldwide as the "Tech Humanist", which makes her the perfect guest for this show. She lives at the intersection of cutting edge technology and humanity. Data driven with compassion. Thoughtful and on the cusp. Kate is a rare combination of kind and smart, and we dive into the "why" behind that. How she approaches decisions, the importance of writing, her new book "What Matters Next - A leader's guide to making human first decisions in a world that's moving too fast", and so much more. It is always a privilege to chat with her, and this conversation was no exception. 

Sometimes, just sometimes, the internet can be awesome. This episode is an example of when it is. I have followed Theo for years, always excited to see what hir Futurist takes were. His writing style was conversational, his takes were both intelligent and exciting, and he wasn't afraid to push people a bit. Then he went away for a while. And then, he was back. And the second he was, I wanted to see where he went, what he was doing, and why he came back at all. And so that's exactly what we dive into. Theo is a brilliant writer, a big brain thinker, and a tinkerer by nature, so this conversation could have gone on for days. From Quantum Consciousness to best TV shows to Social Media, we cover a lot in a small amount of time. I'd say I hope you enjoy it as much as I did, but i'm not thats possible. 

This week, I was lucky enough to have Neil Schaffer on. Neil is a career CFO / COO who has navigated his way through multiple industries, product types and challenges. In this episode we talk about what planning REALLY looks like, how to approach it and how not to. Neil's ability to simplify things has made him an invaluable asset to many, myself included, and it was amazing to get to dive in on his approach. 

This week I was thrilled to get to chat with Shann Biglone. Shann is a swiss army knife in the marketing world, be it strategy, creative, analytics or AI, Shann has a take. I was thrilled that this became a very personal episode very quickly. Shann and I discuss what its like growing up with single mothers, how that has influenced our lives, how Shann navigates through the world as an introvert, and how important producing things is to both of us. When I launched this podcast this is the exact kind of conversation I dreamed of getting to have, and I am so grateful I got to do it with such an amazing person. 

Season 3 is upon us, and we kick it off with a recorded-in-person episode with the wonderfully funny, charming and intelligent Kevin Maloy. Kevin is a veteran in the Advertising space who has managed to not only live through all it's permutations but strive as they happen. We talk about how quickly landscapes change, how to adapt, and why the future is still so exciting. I am thrilled to be back, and couldn't think of a better way to get started. 

This week I am joined by David Thedinga, Founder and CEO of Tikvah Health and Wellness. With healthcare squarely in the conversation for so many people right now, it felt like the perfect time to bring in an expert. David and his business think all about HOW you approach your health care as a company and an individual. We jump into "sick care" philosophy, the need to retrain how people think about health care, and some personal "best practices" David uses himself. Listen close, get well, happy times! 

This week features Jeremy Toeman, a digital product innovator and founder of AugX Labs, reflecting on over a decade of friendship and collaboration. The duo dives into the joys and challenges of mixing work with personal relationships. They share stories about navigating leadership roles, maintaining open communication, and fostering a positive work culture. With humor, they discuss their quirky aspirations and frustrations with technology, emphasizing that true friendship can enhance both professional and personal growth.

This week I was joined by Jonathan Lowenhar. Jonathan has become someone that I turn to VERY regularly to get my brain moving in the right direction. He is a beacon of sorts. A north star. And so damn funny and kind. This week we talk about finding purpose, creating purpose and what staying in your purpose requires of you, all while building something that matters in a way that brings you joy. This conversation could gave been 6 hours long. It's only 65 mins though so you can go enjoy your Halloween!

This week I was lucky enough to have Dr. Dani Chesson on the podcast to talk about context. Dr. Dani is an intellectual, a designer, a professor, and an absolute WEALTH of knowledge. During our chat we talk about Context;  how important it is, how to frame it, and how to plan for it. From her time to the corporate world to her time in the lab, she has developed a unique and data driven perspective on design thinking that I know will be useful to all who listen. 

WE ARE BACK! After a summer + some off, Build for Better Thursday are back in action, and I could not be more excited than to kick it off with my friend and incredible design leader J.B. This episode very much resembles my conversations with J.B. in life, running the gamut in topics from AI to Gen-Z to Elon, and just like in real life I walked away wishing I had more time with him. I am so excited to be back, and I am so excited to kick it off with such a brilliant mind.