Explore every episode of the podcast The Deep Dive Lab
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
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| Ep 27: Retraining Creatives: Where Design Meets Data Science || Nick Cawthon | 02 Jul 2025 | 01:02:06 | |
It’s refreshing talking to creatives who also gets the technical bits - Nick was one of them! Nick Cawthon’s spent 20+ years in UX, spoken at Google, Stanford, Xerox PARC, teaches data science students (and Design Strategy MBA programs etc), and runs his own consulting agency. He strongly believes that it’s not about replacing people with AI but rather “retraining”. With his programs, he also teaches designers learn dev language, and developers speak design. We spoke about:
Oh, and he’s also a musician (bass and drums, if I remember right @nick correct me if I mis-remembered) and paints/collects beautiful art! Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickcawthon-ux-digital-agency-product-design-leadership/ | |||
| Ep 26: Love as a business system? (yes really) || Stephen Sakach | 24 Jun 2025 | 01:02:19 | |
Stephen Sakach, CEO & founder of Zero company, >70k on his mailing list, coined BLISS: Build Love into Scalable Systems. His idea: random acts of kindness —> predictable, repeatable systems that drive both customer loyalty and internal cohesion. He believes businesses that lead with purpose and empathy are the ones that last. Empathy isn’t just a nice-to-have*.* It’s a proven growth driver
Example: Chewy sends flowers when customers’ pets pass away, a roofing company pays kids $1 per nail they find — turning potential negatives into positive engagement moments (full story on the show). For my AI folks: We also obviously also talked about how AI can be a force multiplier in this Links: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-sakach-3181aa28b/ | |||
| Ep 17: Can AI Agents Revolutionize Human Productivity and Creativity? || Akash Shetty | 05 Nov 2024 | 00:53:18 | |
In this episode, we sit down with Akash Shetty, the founder of Publicus, an AI startup that aims to bridge the gap between people and government using advanced AI systems. Akash, who also happens to be an ultra-endurance athlete, dives deep into the potential of AI agents to transform everything from content creation to complex decision-making. We discuss the evolving role of AI in productivity and research, the challenges around ethics and security, and why he believes AI adoption is still low despite its groundbreaking capabilities. Akash shares his vision for a future where AI agents work alongside humans like specialized team members, handling tasks with unparalleled speed and efficiency Reach out to Akash:
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| Ep 16: Can AI Spot Mental Health Problems Before You Do? || Marija Stanojevic | 24 Oct 2024 | 00:53:13 | |
Ever wondered if AI could help detect mental health issues like anxiety or cognitive decline before they become serious problems? In this episode, we sit down with Marija Stanojevic, a machine learning researcher with a decade of experience working at the intersection of AI and healthcare. Marija shares how her work is helping to revolutionize mental health treatment by using AI to find patterns that human doctors might miss, all while keeping patient privacy at the forefront. She also opens up about her journey—growing up in Serbia, working internationally, and her love for languages and gardening. We dive deep into the fascinating world of AI-driven early detection, the role of data privacy, and what the future of healthcare could look like with AI in the mix. Curious to learn more or reach out to Marija? You can find her here:
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| Ep 15: Are you vulnerable to hacking attacks? || Jo Peterson, VP Cloud & Security at Clarify360 | 14 Nov 2023 | 00:46:10 | |
This week I had the pleasure to chat with Jo Peterson, a tech powerhouse discussing about cloud, cyber security and diversity. A little about Jo Peterson:
Jo Peterson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jopeterson1/ Connect with me on Socials:
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| Ep 14: Could AI Become a Doctor's New Best Friend? || Rachel Barker, Program Director at SE Health | 06 Sep 2023 | 00:46:36 | |
In this episode, we dive deep into the exciting world of healthcare and technology with Rachel Barker, the Program Director at SE Health. Connect with me on Socials:
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| Ep 13: Can we use Tech to solve Public Issues? || Madison Dias, GovTech & SaaS Leader | 25 Jul 2023 | 00:32:57 | |
This week, we're delving into the world of government issues and the exciting realm of gov tech, where technology becomes the catalyst for solving crucial public problems. Join me, along with the brilliant Madison Dias, GovTech & SaaS Leader and Vice President of Sales at Envisio. Together, we'll explore his remarkable experiences in overcoming major challenges, such as policy work and DEI initiatives. If you're passionate about technology, government, and making a real impact, this is the episode you can't afford to miss! Grab your headphones and be prepared for a riveting and engaging discussion that will leave you motivated and inspired. Madison Dias: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madison-dias/ Connect with me on Socials:
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| Ep 12: How I Tackle Healthcare Challenges, Lessons from a Management Consultant Manager || Beth Nuniam, Management Consulting Manager at KPMG Canada | 18 Jul 2023 | 00:44:31 | |
This week, I'm joined by Beth Nuniam, the esteemed Management Consulting Manager at KPMG Canada. Get ready to unlock the secrets of becoming a top-tier problem solver as Beth shares her invaluable experiences and expertise. Throughout the conversation, we'll delve into the intricacies of the healthcare industry, and Beth will provide exclusive insider information on its future. This is your chance to gain a competitive edge in the business world, as we explore the power of innovative problem-solving techniques and their impact on the healthcare landscape.
Connect with me on Socials:
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| Ep 11: How to be a Better Salesperson? || Glenn Poulos, VP & GM of NWS Canada & Award Winning Author | 11 Jul 2023 | 00:53:54 | |
In this episode, we explore Glenn Poulos' journey from being a civil servant to becoming a successful businessman. Glenn has experienced two successful exits by building two companies from scratch and is recognized as an award-winning author for his book titled "Never Sit in the Lobby". Connect with me on Socials:
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| Ep 10: How to Reinvent Your Story || Dr. Pradeep Kumar Sacitharan | 04 Jul 2023 | 00:44:02 | |
From a troubled past and gang affiliations to earning a PhD at Oxford, a fellowship at Harvard, and becoming the CEO of Donsfield, Dr Pradeep is a true testament to the power of hustle and resilience. Get ready to be inspired and discover the secrets behind his incredible transformation. Connect with me on Socials:
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| Ep 9: Scaling for Success: The Key to Unlocking Team Growth || Melissa Lobato, Senior Program Manager at IDEO | 10 May 2023 | 00:37:29 | |
This week, I chatted with Melissa Lobato, Senior Program Manager at IDEO. We dived into the world of program management and scaling teams, uncovering the secrets to success. Melissa shared her invaluable insights, giving us a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges and triumphs of expanding a team. We discussed practical strategies, real-life examples, and innovative approaches that will revolutionize how you scale your own team. Connect with me on Socials:
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| Ep 8: How can I become attractive to employers? || Jeremy Woo, Global Compensation Manager at NewRocket | 02 May 2023 | 00:39:22 | |
In this episode, we chat with Jeremy Woo, Global Compensation Manager at NewRocket, about the importance of human capital in driving business success. Connect with me on Socials:
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| Ep 25: Don’t Sell Sustainability, Sell Something BETTER That’s Also Sustainable || Josh Dorfman | 17 Jun 2025 | 01:06:44 | |
I thought sustainability meant choosing between profit and “doing good for the planet”. My chat with Josh proved me WRONG. “Stop selling sustainability. Start selling something BETTER that happens to be sustainable.” A bit about Josh Dorfman: CEO of Supercool, co-founded Plantd (a manufacturer of carbon-negative building materials) with ex-Tesla employees named Fast Company’s 2024 Most Innovative Companies, launched and led multiple sustainable businesses (and many more - check his LinkedIn for more details too long couldn’t fit it all here). also he also rode a folding bike onto the Martha Stewart Show in 2007 for Earth Day #iconic. Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorfmanjosh/ | |||
| Ep 7: How do governments build AI (Artificial Intelligence) policies? || Michael Kolain, policy advisor and legal expert from the Berlin Parliament | 25 Apr 2023 | 00:48:58 | |
This week, I'm joined by Michael Kolain, a policy advisor and legal expert from the Berlin Parliament. In this episode, we explore the challenge of balancing innovation and regulation in the development and deployment of AI. From the use of self-driving cars to the importance of transparent data and building regulations that prioritize public safety, we cover it all. Michael shares his expert insights on how governments can create policies that promote the responsible and ethical development of AI, while also ensuring its progress is not stifled. Connect with me on Socials:
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| Ep 6: The Latest Tech Trends in Real Estate || Greg Fok, Director of COOCIO Advisory. | 11 Apr 2023 | 00:37:48 | |
This week, I'm welcomed by the real estate tech guru, Greg Fok, Director of COOCIO Advisory. We'll explore the latest innovations such as digital twins and IoT, and how they're changing the game in real estate. Greg shares his expert insights on how these technologies are optimizing operations, enhancing sustainability, and creating new opportunities for investors and developers. Connect with me on Socials:
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| Ep 5: How to market your product effectively? || Kevin Chan, Director of Product Marketing at HIMSS | 04 Apr 2023 | 00:34:02 | |
In this episode, I sit down with Kevin Chan, Director of Product Marketing at HIMSS, to discuss the world of product marketing. Connect with me on Socials:
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| Ep 4: AI pt 2: What is Chat GPT? || Jonathan Kurniawan, CPO at Prodago | 31 Mar 2023 | 00:26:47 | |
In this episode, we sit down with Jonathan Kurniawan, the Chief Product Officer at Prodago, to discuss deep fakes and Chat GPT. We not only explored the capabilities and limitations of these powerful tools but also discussed the most ethical ways to use them. Connect with me on Socials:
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| Ep 3: What is Artificial Intelligence (AI) and will it take over humans? || Jonathan Kurniawan, Chief Product Officer at Prodago | 22 Mar 2023 | 00:31:13 | |
This episode is part 1 of 2 episodes where we'll be exploring the world of AI and ethical AI with none other than Jonathan Kurniawan, Chief Product Officer of Prodago. Connect with me on Socials:
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| Ep 2: Digital Transformation, IoT (Internet of Things) and AI's (Artificial Intelligence) Chat GPT || Vice President of Technology at Bosa Properties, Matthew Grunert | 07 Mar 2023 | 00:43:55 | |
In this episode, we're joined by digital transformation leader, Matthew Grunert, as we explore how digital transformation, Internet of Things (IoT), and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are transforming industries. Matthew shares practical advice on leveraging IoT, AI and Chat GPT to improve operational efficiency and enhance business operations. Get inspired by Matthew's vision for the future of work and society, and learn how your business can thrive in the digital age. Connect with me on Socials:
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| Ep 1: What is innovation and how to innovate effectively? || Client Innovation Lead at Accenture, Luke Brodie | 28 Feb 2023 | 00:50:09 | |
Summary: Get ready to dive into the exciting world of innovation! This week, I'm thrilled to be joined by Luke Brodie, the brilliant mind behind Accenture's Client Innovation Hub. Luke is a true expert when it comes to all things innovative, and we're going to explore the fascinating world of Design Thinking and how to cultivate a culture of innovation. Guest this week:
Connect with me on Socials:
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| Ep 24: How (really) Listening to your Customers Led to $66M in Exits || Eli Portnoy | 10 Jun 2025 | 01:02:06 | |
Eli Portnoy (with $66M in exits) taught me the importance of REALLY listening to your customers. TLDR from his chat:
His current venture: https://www.backengine.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eliportnoy/ | |||
| Ep 23: Do AI Chatbots Suck? || Peter Swimm | 03 Jun 2025 | 00:53:35 | |
If you’re pressing "00000" to escape the bot, that's not user error - that's design failure. And it may be why people think AI chatbots suck (I don’t). Most bots are built backwards. Companies think "how can we handle more customers with less staff?" Instead of "how can we actually improve customer experience”. In this episode, I sat down with AI conversational technologist, Peter Swimm: founder of Toilville, former principal PM at Microsoft Copilot Studio, created Botkit (the framework that powered Slack and Teams bots), built AI agents for Walmart and Lowe's. If anyone knows how to build a great conversational AI bot, it’s Peter. What we talked about:
Links: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterswimm/ website: https://www.itstoilville.com/ | |||
| Ep 22: Can AI be Conscious? || Amir Kiani, PhD | 20 May 2025 | 00:45:12 | |
We sit down with Amir Kiani — a PhD in Mathematical Philosophy and Logic, and a senior analyst in the healthcare industry — to unpack one of the biggest questions in tech and philosophy: Can AI truly be conscious? Here we dig into what consciousness really means — beyond the buzzwords. We explore how subjective experience is defined in humans and whether AI systems like LLMs (Large Language Models) are anywhere close to developing one. We touch on folk psychology, mental representation, the idea of agency, and what "disposition to act" means in both humans and machines. It’s a grounded, intelligent discussion about the philosophical and cognitive foundations of what it means to have a mind. https://www.linkedin.com/in/amir-kiani/ | |||
| Ep 21: "Fertility is in Crisis—Why Aren’t We Talking About It?" || Dr. Christy Lane & Laura McDonald | 11 Mar 2025 | 00:55:38 | |
Flora Fertility: The First Individual Fertility Insurance for Women One in five women will need fertility treatments—but who’s paying for it? Meet Dr. Christy Lane and Laura McDonald, co-founders of Flora Fertility, the first-ever individually owned fertility insurance. They’re tackling the financial gap in reproductive healthcare, giving women the power to plan on their own terms. We dive into their journey—why they built Flora, the challenges of launching a first-of-its-kind product, and the real stories behind fertility struggles. We talk about women’s health data gaps, the future of fertility insurance, and what it takes to start a business when the odds are stacked against you. If you’re in your 20s or 30s, thinking about fertility down the road, or just want to hear from two powerhouse female founders changing the game—this one's for you.
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| Ep 20: Launch First: The Startup Playbook No One Talks About || David Hirschfeld | 25 Feb 2025 | 01:10:38 | |
Startups fail fast. But what if you could test an idea even faster—before spending months (or years) building the wrong thing? David Hirschfeld has built and sold companies, helped 70+ startups, and developed Launch First, a way to validate ideas before writing a single line of code. We talk about:
This episode will change the way you think about launching. Listen here: [insert podcast link] More on Launch First:https://launch1st.tekyz.com/ David’s company:www.tekyz.com Connect with David:https://www.linkedin.com/in/dhirschfeld/ | |||
| Ep 19: How will Humans and AI Agents work in the future? || Amir Feizpour | 24 Dec 2024 | 01:00:04 | |
In this episode, we sit down with Amir Feizpour, founder of Aggregate Intellect, to explore the future of work with AI agents andhumans. Topics include:
Amir also shares his hopeful vision of democratizing innovation through AI, enabling people from all backgrounds to thrive in the next decade. Reach out to Amir:
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| Ep 18: How to build Ethical AI? || Sundaraparipurnan Narayanan | 10 Dec 2024 | 00:34:36 | |
Today, we’re sitting down with Sundar Narayanan, an AI ethicist who’s on a mission to make sure technology doesn’t just work for us but works ethically for future generations too. Sundar dives into the tough questions around AI—like balancing innovation with responsibility—and why embedding ethics in tech early on is crucial. But here’s the thing: Sundar isn’t just about AI. He’s fascinated by everything from neuroscience to space science and philosophy, so you know this conversation is going to get deep—and fun. Stick around, because this one’s all about reshaping how we think about AI, ethics, and our role in building a better future. You can find Sundar at:
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| Ep 29: Can I be hacked from my smart home? Why cybersecurity alone isn't enough - my conversation on digital resilience || Prof. Dr. Dennis-Kenji Kipker | 16 Sep 2025 | 00:45:49 | |
On this episode I speak with Prof. Dr. Dennis-Kenji Kipker, Research Director & Founder of the cyberintelligence.institute and serves on the Federal Parliament, about why we need to think beyond “cybersecurity” and build true digital resilience. We cover:
Guest links (useful background & profiles)
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| Ep 28: How AI is Rewriting Blood Testing (From Panels to 10,000+ Biomarkers) || Jeff Lawy | 10 Sep 2025 | 00:45:53 | |
Jeff Lawy (Head of Deep Tech Commercialization, Ashera Health) joins me to explore how AI is transforming blood testing, from a handful of biomarkers to 10,000+ signals that actually help you act. We talk about turning complex lab data into clear, personalized guidance, building guardrails around LLMs, and why women’s health (fertility, perimenopause, menopause) is the smartest first focus. We also hit the practical stuff: at-home blood collection (FDA + Health Canada cleared via partner), MVP over perfection, pricing, and getting vendor-approved. What we cover:
Links Jeff Lawy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-lawy/ | |||