Getting2Alpha Fri, 17 Jul 2026 03:00:14 -0400 http://getting2alpha.com en © 2026 Getting2Alpha yes a474f0c5-11cc-50ae-8ab3-271fc3caca68 Amy Jo Kim episodic false Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Amy Jo Kim https://storage.buzzsprout.com/d6jhkast0o4srnfuc3z58cwr6jb5?.jpg Getting2Alpha http://getting2alpha.com Humans Tell The Best Stories Humans Tell The Best Stories In this episode, Descript CEO Laura Burkhauser talks about what it means to build a human-forward AI video company in a world flooded with synthetic content. Laura came to Descript by an unlikely path — German literature, then product management at companies like Salesforce — and became CEO because she believed in what Descript was building: tools that keep the story in human hands while AI handles everything underneath.

Hear about why Descript is investing heavily in AI but not aiming to be the best at AI avatars or fully generated content. How Laura thinks about the 'simplifier' role of a CEO. What she means by three layers of AI video. How business teams have become Descript's fastest-growing audience. And why getting your team AI-native isn't something you can mandate — you have to engineer the conditions for each person's own conversion moment. Finally, Laura also gives her candid take on the Beta version of the Descript API: they don't have a killer use case yet, and they're actively inviting partners to help find one.

Laura Burkhauser on LinkedIn
Descript

]]> In this episode, Descript CEO Laura Burkhauser talks about what it means to build a human-forward AI video company in a world flooded with synthetic content. Laura came to Descript by an unlikely path — German literature, then product management at companies like Salesforce — and became CEO because she believed in what Descript was building: tools that keep the story in human hands while AI handles everything underneath.

Hear about why Descript is investing heavily in AI but not aiming to be the best at AI avatars or fully generated content. How Laura thinks about the 'simplifier' role of a CEO. What she means by three layers of AI video. How business teams have become Descript's fastest-growing audience. And why getting your team AI-native isn't something you can mandate — you have to engineer the conditions for each person's own conversion moment. Finally, Laura also gives her candid take on the Beta version of the Descript API: they don't have a killer use case yet, and they're actively inviting partners to help find one.

Laura Burkhauser on LinkedIn
Descript

]]> Amy Jo Kim Buzzsprout-19154073 Mon, 11 May 2026 07:00:00 -0700 1424 12 1 full false Chelsea Howe: AI, Game Jams, & the Future of Games Chelsea Howe: AI, Game Jams, & the Future of Games Chelsea Howe is the Chief Product Officer at Sunblink, the studio behind the hit cozy life sim Hello Kitty Island Adventure. With deep experience in licensed games, live ops, & design leadership, she brings a sharp, systems-driven lens to how teams build, scale, & innovate.

Listen as Chelsea shares how Sunlink is exploring AI in game development, what works & what absolutely falls apart, why game jams are secret engines of team learning, & how emerging trends from China may reshape the future of game design.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelseahowe/

Sunblink: https://www.sunblink.com/

]]> Chelsea Howe is the Chief Product Officer at Sunblink, the studio behind the hit cozy life sim Hello Kitty Island Adventure. With deep experience in licensed games, live ops, & design leadership, she brings a sharp, systems-driven lens to how teams build, scale, & innovate.

Listen as Chelsea shares how Sunlink is exploring AI in game development, what works & what absolutely falls apart, why game jams are secret engines of team learning, & how emerging trends from China may reshape the future of game design.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelseahowe/

Sunblink: https://www.sunblink.com/

]]> Buzzsprout-18233711 Thu, 04 Dec 2025 08:00:00 -0800 1748 11 5 full false Lisha Li: Democratizing Game Creation Through AI Lisha Li: Democratizing Game Creation Through AI Lisha Li is the founder of Rosebud AI, a groundbreaking platform that makes game creation accessible to anyone. With roots in pure math & AI research, she’s transformed cutting-edge technology into creative tools that empower people to build, remix & share games in entirely new ways.

Listen as we explore Lisha’s journey from academia & venture capital to launching Rosebud AI, & how she’s reimagining game design as a collaborative, ever-evolving ecosystem.

Rosebud AI

Linkedin

]]> Lisha Li is the founder of Rosebud AI, a groundbreaking platform that makes game creation accessible to anyone. With roots in pure math & AI research, she’s transformed cutting-edge technology into creative tools that empower people to build, remix & share games in entirely new ways.

Listen as we explore Lisha’s journey from academia & venture capital to launching Rosebud AI, & how she’s reimagining game design as a collaborative, ever-evolving ecosystem.

Rosebud AI

Linkedin

]]> Buzzsprout-17966589 Tue, 04 Nov 2025 11:00:00 -0800 1828 11 4 full false Hansohl Kim: What Is Reinforcement Learning? Hansohl Kim: What Is Reinforcement Learning? Hansohl Kim is an engineer at Anthropic, where he focuses on reinforcement learning & AI safety for models like Claude. With experience spanning computer science, biotech, & machine learning, he brings a unique perspective to the fast-changing world of artificial intelligence.

Listen as Hansohl unpacks the challenges of alignment, the importance of guardrails, & what it takes to design AI systems we can truly trust.

RELATED LINKS:
🌐 Anthropic – https://www.anthropic.com
💼 Hansohl Kim on LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/hansohl


]]> Hansohl Kim is an engineer at Anthropic, where he focuses on reinforcement learning & AI safety for models like Claude. With experience spanning computer science, biotech, & machine learning, he brings a unique perspective to the fast-changing world of artificial intelligence.

Listen as Hansohl unpacks the challenges of alignment, the importance of guardrails, & what it takes to design AI systems we can truly trust.

RELATED LINKS:
🌐 Anthropic – https://www.anthropic.com
💼 Hansohl Kim on LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/hansohl


]]> Amy Jo Kim Buzzsprout-17830380 Tue, 16 Sep 2025 14:00:00 -0700 2401 11 3 full false Hugo Alves: Synthetic Users Hugo Alves: Synthetic Users Hugo Alves is the co-founder of Synthetic Users, a startup helping teams accelerate product development with AI-powered user feedback. What began as a bold idea evolved through iteration & a surprising pivot on the way to product-market fit.

In this conversation, we explore where synthetic users shine—and where they fall short. You’ll hear Hugo’s lessons on using AI to simulate real users, plus a live demo of Synthetic Users in action.

Join me as we dive into Hugo’s insights on building better products, faster—with the help of synthetic users.

🌐 Synthetic Users – https://www.syntheticusers.com
💼 Hugo Alves on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/hugomanuelalves

]]> Hugo Alves is the co-founder of Synthetic Users, a startup helping teams accelerate product development with AI-powered user feedback. What began as a bold idea evolved through iteration & a surprising pivot on the way to product-market fit.

In this conversation, we explore where synthetic users shine—and where they fall short. You’ll hear Hugo’s lessons on using AI to simulate real users, plus a live demo of Synthetic Users in action.

Join me as we dive into Hugo’s insights on building better products, faster—with the help of synthetic users.

🌐 Synthetic Users – https://www.syntheticusers.com
💼 Hugo Alves on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/hugomanuelalves

]]> Buzzsprout-17548993 Thu, 28 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0700 2343 11 2 full false Amy Bucher: Designing Behavioral Nudges Amy Bucher: Designing Behavioral Nudges Amy Bucher is a leading voice in behavioral science & the author of Engaged, with a passion for designing systems that help people thrive—especially in health & wellness.

Join us as we dive into Amy’s insights on what really drives behavior change, why personalization matters, & how her work at Lirio is bringing customized healthcare nudges to life.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybucher/
Engaged: https://amzn.to/4moF6Za
Lirio: https://www.lirio.com/

]]> Amy Bucher is a leading voice in behavioral science & the author of Engaged, with a passion for designing systems that help people thrive—especially in health & wellness.

Join us as we dive into Amy’s insights on what really drives behavior change, why personalization matters, & how her work at Lirio is bringing customized healthcare nudges to life.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybucher/
Engaged: https://amzn.to/4moF6Za
Lirio: https://www.lirio.com/

]]> Buzzsprout-17360197 Mon, 04 Aug 2025 11:00:00 -0700 1741 11 1 full false Nate Bosshard: Algorithmic Immunity Nate Bosshard: Algorithmic Immunity Nate Bosshard is a visionary brand builder and entrepreneur who’s helped shape iconic companies like Burton, Tonal, and hims & hers through a rare blend of taste, intuition, and strategic insight.

Join us as we explore Nate’s perspective on what makes a brand truly resonate, from crafting emotional worlds to resisting the pull of algorithmic influence. He shares hard-earned lessons on launching category-defining products, building brands that move culture, & why taste might just be your most valuable asset.

]]> Nate Bosshard is a visionary brand builder and entrepreneur who’s helped shape iconic companies like Burton, Tonal, and hims & hers through a rare blend of taste, intuition, and strategic insight.

Join us as we explore Nate’s perspective on what makes a brand truly resonate, from crafting emotional worlds to resisting the pull of algorithmic influence. He shares hard-earned lessons on launching category-defining products, building brands that move culture, & why taste might just be your most valuable asset.

]]> Buzzsprout-17243339 Thu, 05 Jun 2025 13:00:00 -0700 2648 10 12 full false Vicki Tan: Ask This Book a Question Vicki Tan: Ask This Book a Question Vicki Tan is a seasoned product designer whose work spans Lyft, Headspace, & Pinterest. With a background in behavioral psychology, she brings a unique lens to decision-making and design.

Join us as we explore Vicki’s journey, how she turned curiosity into a powerful creative tool, & why her new book "Ask This Book a Question" reimagines cognitive bias as a pathway to insight.

]]> Vicki Tan is a seasoned product designer whose work spans Lyft, Headspace, & Pinterest. With a background in behavioral psychology, she brings a unique lens to decision-making and design.

Join us as we explore Vicki’s journey, how she turned curiosity into a powerful creative tool, & why her new book "Ask This Book a Question" reimagines cognitive bias as a pathway to insight.

]]> Buzzsprout-17177618 Tue, 27 May 2025 13:00:00 -0700 1415 10 11 full false Jason Hreha: What Really Matters with Habit-building Jason Hreha: What Really Matters with Habit-building Jason Hreha is a leading expert in behavioral science & a serial entrepreneur who has helped shape the way we understand habit-building and human behavior.

Join us as we catch up with Jason on what really matters when it comes to building lasting habits. From his groundbreaking work in applied behavioral science to launching & scaling multiple businesses, Jason shares key insights on designing behavior-driven products, cutting through the noise of self-improvement trends, and focusing on what truly works.

👉 Full video podcast available here: https://youtu.be/f4Gn46oQDPA

]]> Jason Hreha is a leading expert in behavioral science & a serial entrepreneur who has helped shape the way we understand habit-building and human behavior.

Join us as we catch up with Jason on what really matters when it comes to building lasting habits. From his groundbreaking work in applied behavioral science to launching & scaling multiple businesses, Jason shares key insights on designing behavior-driven products, cutting through the noise of self-improvement trends, and focusing on what truly works.

👉 Full video podcast available here: https://youtu.be/f4Gn46oQDPA

]]> Buzzsprout-16894108 Wed, 16 Apr 2025 13:00:00 -0700 2285 10 10 full false Andy Budd: The Growth Equation Andy Budd: The Growth Equation Andy Budd is a designer, entrepreneur, and investor making waves with his new book, The Growth Equation. With a background in UX design, web standards, and startup advising, Andy now helps founders navigate the complex world of venture funding and product growth.

Listen as we explore Andy’s journey from building one of the first UX agencies in the UK to shaping the next generation of startups at Seedcamp. He shares invaluable insights on avoiding the Field of Dreams fallacy, mastering go-to-market strategies, and why a great product isn’t enough—you need to know how to sell it.

]]> Andy Budd is a designer, entrepreneur, and investor making waves with his new book, The Growth Equation. With a background in UX design, web standards, and startup advising, Andy now helps founders navigate the complex world of venture funding and product growth.

Listen as we explore Andy’s journey from building one of the first UX agencies in the UK to shaping the next generation of startups at Seedcamp. He shares invaluable insights on avoiding the Field of Dreams fallacy, mastering go-to-market strategies, and why a great product isn’t enough—you need to know how to sell it.

]]> Amy Jo Kim Buzzsprout-16747138 Mon, 31 Mar 2025 16:00:00 -0700 1988 10 9 full false Nana Janashia: The Power of Focus Nana Janashia: The Power of Focus Nana Janashia is a pioneering force in DevOps education and founder of TechWorld with Nana, a seven-figure training powerhouse that's transformed how people learn DevOps engineering.

Listen as we explore Nana's remarkable path from teaching English in Georgia to building a global tech education platform with over 1 million YouTube subscribers. She shares invaluable insights on structuring complex technical content, maintaining laser-sharp focus in business, and the critical importance of deeply understanding your customers.

]]> Nana Janashia is a pioneering force in DevOps education and founder of TechWorld with Nana, a seven-figure training powerhouse that's transformed how people learn DevOps engineering.

Listen as we explore Nana's remarkable path from teaching English in Georgia to building a global tech education platform with over 1 million YouTube subscribers. She shares invaluable insights on structuring complex technical content, maintaining laser-sharp focus in business, and the critical importance of deeply understanding your customers.

]]> Amy Jo Kim Buzzsprout-16337141 Thu, 30 Jan 2025 17:00:00 -0800 2908 10 8 full false Mark Jacobstein: From Game Exec to Venture Builder Mark Jacobstein: From Game Exec to Venture Builder Mark Jacobstein is a renowned figure in the gaming and tech universe, with three decades of experience building and leading companies at the forefront of new technologies.

Having transitioned from a successful career as a Game Executive to becoming a Venture Builder, Mark offers a unique perspective on innovation and leadership. Listen as we explore his journey from the gaming world to venture building and the lessons he's learned along the way.

]]> Mark Jacobstein is a renowned figure in the gaming and tech universe, with three decades of experience building and leading companies at the forefront of new technologies.

Having transitioned from a successful career as a Game Executive to becoming a Venture Builder, Mark offers a unique perspective on innovation and leadership. Listen as we explore his journey from the gaming world to venture building and the lessons he's learned along the way.

]]> Amy Jo Kim Buzzsprout-15554055 Fri, 04 Oct 2024 15:00:00 -0700 2495 10 7 full false Ryan Douglas: FDA approves Digital Therapeutics SDK Ryan Douglas: FDA approves Digital Therapeutics SDK Ryan Douglas is the co-founder of DeepWell DTx, a digital therapeutics venture lab dedicated to creating immersive experiences that address mental health challenges.

Recently, DeepWell DTx achieved a major milestone: the U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared five mental health apps, including DeepWell's software development kit (SDK). This marks the first time digital therapeutics have been approved for medical use, paving the way for games to be reimbursed through medical insurance.

]]> Ryan Douglas is the co-founder of DeepWell DTx, a digital therapeutics venture lab dedicated to creating immersive experiences that address mental health challenges.

Recently, DeepWell DTx achieved a major milestone: the U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared five mental health apps, including DeepWell's software development kit (SDK). This marks the first time digital therapeutics have been approved for medical use, paving the way for games to be reimbursed through medical insurance.

]]> Amy Jo Kim Buzzsprout-15870820 Fri, 04 Oct 2024 13:00:00 -0700 1802 10 6 full false Gina Pell: Community is the new social Gina Pell: Community is the new social Gina Pell, a digital media pioneer, runs an exclusive Facebook group with 27K members and a private professional women's network featuring world-class leaders, from early-stage entrepreneurs to Fortune 500 executives.

Gina has built companies, audiences, and communities. She observes a significant shift happening online that will impact us all. Discover why she believes social media is transforming into something the world truly needs, especially now.

The What Alliance: https://www.thewhatalliance.co/
What Women: http://thewhatlist.com/

]]> Gina Pell, a digital media pioneer, runs an exclusive Facebook group with 27K members and a private professional women's network featuring world-class leaders, from early-stage entrepreneurs to Fortune 500 executives.

Gina has built companies, audiences, and communities. She observes a significant shift happening online that will impact us all. Discover why she believes social media is transforming into something the world truly needs, especially now.

The What Alliance: https://www.thewhatalliance.co/
What Women: http://thewhatlist.com/

]]> Amy Jo Kim Buzzsprout-15522508 Tue, 03 Sep 2024 08:00:00 -0700 1651 10 5 full false Julie Dirksen: Design for Behavior Change Julie Dirksen: Design for Behavior Change Julie Dirksen is an author and learning strategy consultant, renowned for her expertise in creating impactful learning solutions. She wrote the bestselling book Design For How People Learn, and her latest release, Talk to the Elephant: Design Learning for Behavior Change, is gaining significant attention.

Julie’s diverse clientele includes Fortune 500 companies, international NGOs, tech startups, and research initiatives.

Julie blends behavioral science with innovative learning design to craft transformative educational experiences, and her insights are reshaping learning strategies across various sectors.

]]> Julie Dirksen is an author and learning strategy consultant, renowned for her expertise in creating impactful learning solutions. She wrote the bestselling book Design For How People Learn, and her latest release, Talk to the Elephant: Design Learning for Behavior Change, is gaining significant attention.

Julie’s diverse clientele includes Fortune 500 companies, international NGOs, tech startups, and research initiatives.

Julie blends behavioral science with innovative learning design to craft transformative educational experiences, and her insights are reshaping learning strategies across various sectors.

]]> Buzzsprout-15330196 Tue, 30 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0700 2546 10 4 full false Mike Maples: Pattern Breakers Mike Maples: Pattern Breakers Mike Maples is a pioneering Silicon Valley investor who founded Floodgate Ventures in 2005, introducing the concept of seed investing. He achieved major successes with early investments in Twitter, Twitch, and Lyft.

His curiosity about what it takes to create a world-changing startup led him to explore how revolutionary ideas often appear crazy at first. This journey inspired his new book, "Pattern Breakers," where he delves into the dynamics of breakthrough startups shaping the future.

]]> Mike Maples is a pioneering Silicon Valley investor who founded Floodgate Ventures in 2005, introducing the concept of seed investing. He achieved major successes with early investments in Twitter, Twitch, and Lyft.

His curiosity about what it takes to create a world-changing startup led him to explore how revolutionary ideas often appear crazy at first. This journey inspired his new book, "Pattern Breakers," where he delves into the dynamics of breakthrough startups shaping the future.

]]> Buzzsprout-15425359 Thu, 18 Jul 2024 13:00:00 -0700 3634 10 3 full false Jillian Ahrens: Designing Digital Therapeutics Jillian Ahrens: Designing Digital Therapeutics Jillian Ahrens is the CPO at Realized Care, a digital therapeutics company specializing in VR solutions. She was formerly Associate Director of Product R&D at Pear Therapeutics, where she led a project developing a CBT-based AI chatbot.

Discover what Jillian learned at Pear about patient engagement with AI chatbots, and how she's taking those lessons into her cutting-edge work delivering digital therapeutics for chronic pain.

]]> Jillian Ahrens is the CPO at Realized Care, a digital therapeutics company specializing in VR solutions. She was formerly Associate Director of Product R&D at Pear Therapeutics, where she led a project developing a CBT-based AI chatbot.

Discover what Jillian learned at Pear about patient engagement with AI chatbots, and how she's taking those lessons into her cutting-edge work delivering digital therapeutics for chronic pain.

]]> Amy Jo Kim Buzzsprout-15280929 Wed, 19 Jun 2024 16:00:00 -0700 1541 10 2 full false Ryan Douglas: Immersive Digital Therapeutics Ryan Douglas: Immersive Digital Therapeutics Ryan Douglas is the co-founder of DeepWell DTx, a digital therapeutics Venture Lab focused on creating immersive experiences that address mental health concerns.

Ryan has created numerous medical devices, along with several profitable startups. He has deep experience with the regulatory landscape for digital therapeutics, and is pushing to get digital therapeutics accepted by the medical community.

Check out the video here: https://youtu.be/xuXe-HtmBMk

]]> Ryan Douglas is the co-founder of DeepWell DTx, a digital therapeutics Venture Lab focused on creating immersive experiences that address mental health concerns.

Ryan has created numerous medical devices, along with several profitable startups. He has deep experience with the regulatory landscape for digital therapeutics, and is pushing to get digital therapeutics accepted by the medical community.

Check out the video here: https://youtu.be/xuXe-HtmBMk

]]> Amy Jo Kim Buzzsprout-14686871 Wed, 13 Mar 2024 16:00:00 -0700 3971 10 1 full false Starr Long: Creating Ultima Online Starr Long: Creating Ultima Online Long before World of Warcraft, there was Ultima Online, the first MMO. How did this highly innovative & influential game come to be? And what can we learn from its successes and failures? 

Starr Long is a game designer and producer who directed the team that built Ultima Online, the first popular Massively Multiplayer Online game. In this in-depth interview, you'll learn how a theater major became a game designer, how Ultima IV blew player's minds, and the shocking things players did early the development of Ultima Online.

Check out the video here: https://youtu.be/nzlNq_yiO2Y

]]> Long before World of Warcraft, there was Ultima Online, the first MMO. How did this highly innovative & influential game come to be? And what can we learn from its successes and failures? 

Starr Long is a game designer and producer who directed the team that built Ultima Online, the first popular Massively Multiplayer Online game. In this in-depth interview, you'll learn how a theater major became a game designer, how Ultima IV blew player's minds, and the shocking things players did early the development of Ultima Online.

Check out the video here: https://youtu.be/nzlNq_yiO2Y

]]> Amy Jo Kim Buzzsprout-13948149 Fri, 10 Nov 2023 10:00:00 -0800 3510 9 8 full false Samuel Hulick: User Onboarding Samuel Hulick: User Onboarding Samuel Hulick, a renowned UX consultant and leading authority in user onboarding, operates the well-known website useronboard.com. Through this platform, he expertly deconstructs the initial experiences of popular apps and services, showcasing his insights into effective user onboarding processes.

Check out the video here: https://youtu.be/YFFw5u_Aq-s

]]> Samuel Hulick, a renowned UX consultant and leading authority in user onboarding, operates the well-known website useronboard.com. Through this platform, he expertly deconstructs the initial experiences of popular apps and services, showcasing his insights into effective user onboarding processes.

Check out the video here: https://youtu.be/YFFw5u_Aq-s

]]> Amy Jo Kim Buzzsprout-13544168 Thu, 14 Sep 2023 08:00:00 -0700 2294 9 7 full false Jason Hreha: Building Habit-Forming Products Jason Hreha: Building Habit-Forming Products Jason Hreha is a behavioral scientist, formerly Global Head of Behavioral Sciences at Walmart, who uses his knowledge of human behavior to build better products. With a decade of applying behavioral science to tech challenges, he co-founded Walmart's Behavioral Science Team and pioneered Behavioral Strategy as an interdisciplinary approach. He studied human biology and neuroscience at Stanford University, and is currently co-founder and CEO of Persona, the Startup Assistant company.

]]> Jason Hreha is a behavioral scientist, formerly Global Head of Behavioral Sciences at Walmart, who uses his knowledge of human behavior to build better products. With a decade of applying behavioral science to tech challenges, he co-founded Walmart's Behavioral Science Team and pioneered Behavioral Strategy as an interdisciplinary approach. He studied human biology and neuroscience at Stanford University, and is currently co-founder and CEO of Persona, the Startup Assistant company.

]]> Amy Jo Kim Buzzsprout-13472583 Thu, 31 Aug 2023 08:00:00 -0700 1502 9 6 full false Alfie Kohn: Thriving Beyond Competition Alfie Kohn: Thriving Beyond Competition Alfie Kohn is an American author and lecturer in education, parenting, and human behavior. The author of fourteen books and hundreds of articles, he is a proponent of progressive education and a strong critic of competition and rewards. Kohn has been described by Time magazine as “perhaps the country’s most outspoken critic of education’s fixation on grades [and] test scores.”

Check out the video here: https://youtu.be/Jqcw_0v8ooE

]]> Alfie Kohn is an American author and lecturer in education, parenting, and human behavior. The author of fourteen books and hundreds of articles, he is a proponent of progressive education and a strong critic of competition and rewards. Kohn has been described by Time magazine as “perhaps the country’s most outspoken critic of education’s fixation on grades [and] test scores.”

Check out the video here: https://youtu.be/Jqcw_0v8ooE

]]> Amy Jo Kim Buzzsprout-13451635 Thu, 24 Aug 2023 08:00:00 -0700 1781 9 5 full false Adrian Hon: Making Zombies, Run! Adrian Hon: Making Zombies, Run! Adrian Hon is an English writer and game designer, known for his expertise in alternate reality games and transmedia storytelling. As the CEO of Six to Start, he created the bestselling fitness game "Zombies, Run!" and authored books like "You've Been Played" (2022) and "A History of the Future in 100 Objects" (2020). He studied neuroscience at Cambridge, UCSD, and Oxford, and has spoken at TED, Long Now Foundation, GoogleX, and Disney Imagineering.

Check out the video here: https://youtu.be/n8Nm7YEwfCI

]]> Adrian Hon is an English writer and game designer, known for his expertise in alternate reality games and transmedia storytelling. As the CEO of Six to Start, he created the bestselling fitness game "Zombies, Run!" and authored books like "You've Been Played" (2022) and "A History of the Future in 100 Objects" (2020). He studied neuroscience at Cambridge, UCSD, and Oxford, and has spoken at TED, Long Now Foundation, GoogleX, and Disney Imagineering.

Check out the video here: https://youtu.be/n8Nm7YEwfCI

]]> Amy Jo Kim Buzzsprout-13347208 Fri, 04 Aug 2023 10:00:00 -0700 2635 9 4 full false Robin Allenson: Creating AI-powered Tools Robin Allenson: Creating AI-powered Tools Robin Allenson is a serial entrepreneur who studied AI at University of Edinburgh in the early 90s, and went on to found a series of AI-powered ventures. His current venture Similar.ai uses AI to automate the important and often laborious process of optimizing web sites for SEO. 

Check out the video here: https://youtu.be/H6P746iG2VM

]]> Robin Allenson is a serial entrepreneur who studied AI at University of Edinburgh in the early 90s, and went on to found a series of AI-powered ventures. His current venture Similar.ai uses AI to automate the important and often laborious process of optimizing web sites for SEO. 

Check out the video here: https://youtu.be/H6P746iG2VM

]]> Amy Jo Kim Buzzsprout-13203345 Thu, 13 Jul 2023 08:00:00 -0700 2134 9 3 full false Doug Hofstadter: Reflections on AI Doug Hofstadter: Reflections on AI Douglas Hofstadter is a professor of Cognitive Science and Comparative Literature at Indiana University in Bloomington. His research into cognitive science includes concepts such as the sense of self in relation to the external world, consciousness, artistic creation, literary translation, and discovery in mathematics and physics. His 1979 book Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid won both the Pulitzer Prize for general nonfiction. His AI interests explore the subtlest and most slippery aspects of human intelligence, as embodied in deceptively deep analogy problems like ABC is to ABD as XYZ is to what?

Check out the video here: https://youtu.be/R6e08RnJyxo

]]> Douglas Hofstadter is a professor of Cognitive Science and Comparative Literature at Indiana University in Bloomington. His research into cognitive science includes concepts such as the sense of self in relation to the external world, consciousness, artistic creation, literary translation, and discovery in mathematics and physics. His 1979 book Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid won both the Pulitzer Prize for general nonfiction. His AI interests explore the subtlest and most slippery aspects of human intelligence, as embodied in deceptively deep analogy problems like ABC is to ABD as XYZ is to what?

Check out the video here: https://youtu.be/R6e08RnJyxo

]]> Amy Jo Kim Buzzsprout-13125914 Thu, 29 Jun 2023 08:00:00 -0700 2401 9 2 full false Dr. Julie Gurner: Unlocking Peak Performance Dr. Julie Gurner: Unlocking Peak Performance Dr. Julie Gurner is an executive performance coach with a Doctorate in Psychology. She has coached top-percentile executives, talent, and teams operating in fast-paced, competitive environments for over ten years, helping her clients unlock peak performance. She publishes the Ultra Successful newsletter on Substack.

Check out the video here: https://youtu.be/YGFEerM6lwM

]]> Dr. Julie Gurner is an executive performance coach with a Doctorate in Psychology. She has coached top-percentile executives, talent, and teams operating in fast-paced, competitive environments for over ten years, helping her clients unlock peak performance. She publishes the Ultra Successful newsletter on Substack.

Check out the video here: https://youtu.be/YGFEerM6lwM

]]> Amy Jo Kim Buzzsprout-12947271 Thu, 01 Jun 2023 08:00:00 -0700 2908 9 1 full false Joakim Achrén: Investing in Games Joakim Achrén: Investing in Games Joakim Achrén, “the gaming startup guy”, is a games investor, and founder of Elite Game Developers, which provides advice for game founders. He co-founded Next Games (which was acquired by Netflix), and worked as Director of Analytics at Supercell.

Check out the video here: https://youtu.be/VEd3uedgY7g

]]> Joakim Achrén, “the gaming startup guy”, is a games investor, and founder of Elite Game Developers, which provides advice for game founders. He co-founded Next Games (which was acquired by Netflix), and worked as Director of Analytics at Supercell.

Check out the video here: https://youtu.be/VEd3uedgY7g

]]> Amy Jo Kim Buzzsprout-12905636 Tue, 23 May 2023 13:00:00 -0700 2445 8 11 full false Pavel Samsonov: Storyboarding for UX Pavel Samsonov: Storyboarding for UX Pavel Samsonov is a design architect and UX Practice Lead at Amazon Web Services (AWS) based in New York City. With a background in graphic design and a passion for human-computer interaction, Pavel has spent the last three years at AWS helping large companies adopt cloud computing and build innovative products using design methods. His professional accomplishments include being named a top UX designer by prominent industry publications, and his work has been featured in major design exhibitions and conferences worldwide. In addition to his work at AWS, Pavel is also a contributor to UX Collective, a prominent online publication in the design community.

Check out the video here: https://youtu.be/XmCY_oSmL4U

]]> Pavel Samsonov is a design architect and UX Practice Lead at Amazon Web Services (AWS) based in New York City. With a background in graphic design and a passion for human-computer interaction, Pavel has spent the last three years at AWS helping large companies adopt cloud computing and build innovative products using design methods. His professional accomplishments include being named a top UX designer by prominent industry publications, and his work has been featured in major design exhibitions and conferences worldwide. In addition to his work at AWS, Pavel is also a contributor to UX Collective, a prominent online publication in the design community.

Check out the video here: https://youtu.be/XmCY_oSmL4U

]]> Amy Jo Kim Buzzsprout-12809340 Thu, 11 May 2023 07:00:00 -0700 2524 8 10 full false Kevin Kelly: Excellent Advice for Living Kevin Kelly: Excellent Advice for Living Kevin Kelly is a writer, futurist, and Senior Maverick at Wired magazine. He co-founded Wired in 1993, and served as its Executive Editor for its first seven years. His books include The Inevitable, about future trends, and What Technology Wants, a theory of technology. He is founder of the popular Cool Tools website, which has been reviewing tools daily for 20 years. From 1984-1990 Kelly was publisher and editor of the Whole Earth Review, a subscriber-supported journal of unorthodox conceptual news. He co-founded the ongoing Hackers’ Conference, and was involved with the launch of the WELL, a pioneering online service started in 1985. 

Check out the video here: https://youtu.be/wXML1wXlVmI

]]> Kevin Kelly is a writer, futurist, and Senior Maverick at Wired magazine. He co-founded Wired in 1993, and served as its Executive Editor for its first seven years. His books include The Inevitable, about future trends, and What Technology Wants, a theory of technology. He is founder of the popular Cool Tools website, which has been reviewing tools daily for 20 years. From 1984-1990 Kelly was publisher and editor of the Whole Earth Review, a subscriber-supported journal of unorthodox conceptual news. He co-founded the ongoing Hackers’ Conference, and was involved with the launch of the WELL, a pioneering online service started in 1985. 

Check out the video here: https://youtu.be/wXML1wXlVmI

]]> Amy Jo Kim Buzzsprout-12684645 Thu, 20 Apr 2023 07:00:00 -0700 1914 8 9 full false Celia Hodent: The Gamer’s Brain Celia Hodent: The Gamer’s Brain Celia Hodent, a Game UX Strategist with a PhD in Psychology, has dedicated 15 years of her career to applying user experience (UX) and cognitive science in product development, particularly in the realm of video games. Her impressive portfolio includes her role as Director of UX at Epic Games for Fortnite, as well as work on well-known franchises such as Star Wars: 1313 at LucasArts and Rainbow 6 at Ubisoft. Hodent has shared her expertise with the world in her book, The Gamer’s Brain: How Neuroscience and UX can Impact Video Game Design.

Check out the video here: https://youtu.be/xVHNBxTiiXo

]]> Celia Hodent, a Game UX Strategist with a PhD in Psychology, has dedicated 15 years of her career to applying user experience (UX) and cognitive science in product development, particularly in the realm of video games. Her impressive portfolio includes her role as Director of UX at Epic Games for Fortnite, as well as work on well-known franchises such as Star Wars: 1313 at LucasArts and Rainbow 6 at Ubisoft. Hodent has shared her expertise with the world in her book, The Gamer’s Brain: How Neuroscience and UX can Impact Video Game Design.

Check out the video here: https://youtu.be/xVHNBxTiiXo

]]> Amy Jo Kim Buzzsprout-12502600 Thu, 23 Mar 2023 11:00:00 -0700 2200 8 8 full false Vinayak Joglekar: Game Thinking in India Vinayak Joglekar: Game Thinking in India Vinayak Joglekar is head of India Operations and Chief Technology Officer at Excellarate, with more than three decades of professional software development and delivery experience. Joglekar earned his mechanical engineering degree from the Indian Institute of Technology and a master’s degree from the Indian Institute of Management and mentors bright minds in software development and product delivery.

]]> Vinayak Joglekar is head of India Operations and Chief Technology Officer at Excellarate, with more than three decades of professional software development and delivery experience. Joglekar earned his mechanical engineering degree from the Indian Institute of Technology and a master’s degree from the Indian Institute of Management and mentors bright minds in software development and product delivery.

]]> Buzzsprout-12363698 Thu, 02 Mar 2023 14:00:00 -0800 2816 8 7 full false Osama Dorias: Reviewing the Top 10 Games of 2022 Osama Dorias: Reviewing the Top 10 Games of 2022 Osama Dorias is a Lead Content Designer at Blizzard Entertainment. In the past, he’s worked at Unity, Warner Brothers, Gameloft, GEE Media, Ubisoft, and Minority Media. He also teaches game design at Dawson College and loves to empower people in expressing themselves through game-making, especially marginalized people and causes.

]]> Osama Dorias is a Lead Content Designer at Blizzard Entertainment. In the past, he’s worked at Unity, Warner Brothers, Gameloft, GEE Media, Ubisoft, and Minority Media. He also teaches game design at Dawson College and loves to empower people in expressing themselves through game-making, especially marginalized people and causes.

]]> Amy Jo Kim Buzzsprout-12081670 Mon, 23 Jan 2023 12:00:00 -0800 3335 8 6 full false Steve Meretzky: Game Monetization Steve Meretzky: Game Monetization Steve Meretzky is an American video game developer best known for creating Infocom games in the early 1980s, including collaborating with author Douglas Adams on the hit interactive fiction version of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and the comically titled Leather Goddesses of Phobos. Later, he created the Spellcasting trilogy, the flagship adventure series of Legend Entertainment. His keen wit, prose, and coding skill made him one of the first interactive fiction writers admitted to the Science Fiction Writers of America. He has been involved in almost every aspect of casual game development, from design to production to quality assurance and box design.

]]> Steve Meretzky is an American video game developer best known for creating Infocom games in the early 1980s, including collaborating with author Douglas Adams on the hit interactive fiction version of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and the comically titled Leather Goddesses of Phobos. Later, he created the Spellcasting trilogy, the flagship adventure series of Legend Entertainment. His keen wit, prose, and coding skill made him one of the first interactive fiction writers admitted to the Science Fiction Writers of America. He has been involved in almost every aspect of casual game development, from design to production to quality assurance and box design.

]]> Amy Jo Kim Buzzsprout-12019177 Wed, 11 Jan 2023 07:00:00 -0800 3071 8 5 full false Hilmar Pétursson: Why EVE Online has insane retention Hilmar Pétursson: Why EVE Online has insane retention Hilmar Pétursson is CEO of CCP Games in Iceland, makers of the long-running space battle game EVE Online. Billed as the world’s largest living work of science fiction, EVE has a highly developed internal economy and deep social structure that makes it an ideal testbed for how the coming Metaverse could work.

]]> Hilmar Pétursson is CEO of CCP Games in Iceland, makers of the long-running space battle game EVE Online. Billed as the world’s largest living work of science fiction, EVE has a highly developed internal economy and deep social structure that makes it an ideal testbed for how the coming Metaverse could work.

]]> Amy Jo Kim Buzzsprout-11845876 Mon, 12 Dec 2022 07:00:00 -0800 2191 8 4 full false Brendan Greene: Building a Virtual Planet Brendan Greene: Building a Virtual Planet Brendan Greene, better known as PlayerUnknown is a video game developer best known for creating PUBG: Battlegrounds. In 2019 he left active development on the game to form PUBG Special Projects and PlayerUnknown Productions, where he is developing an ambitious virtual world far larger than the one in PUBG.

]]> Brendan Greene, better known as PlayerUnknown is a video game developer best known for creating PUBG: Battlegrounds. In 2019 he left active development on the game to form PUBG Special Projects and PlayerUnknown Productions, where he is developing an ambitious virtual world far larger than the one in PUBG.

]]> Amy Jo Kim Buzzsprout-11804945 Mon, 05 Dec 2022 07:00:00 -0800 2038 8 3 full false Rei Wang: From Investor to Entrepreneur Rei Wang: From Investor to Entrepreneur Entrepreneur and angel investor, Rei Wang is the Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer at The Grand, a group coaching platform to help people navigate transitions at the intersection of work and life.
Before The Grand she served as CEO of Dorm Room Fund  at First Round Capital where she nurtured a community of 250+ startups, and counseled entrepreneurs on topics ranging from fundraising to management. 
For her leadership growing Dorm Room Fund from an experiment into the world’s premiere university-focused venture fund, she received the Forbes 30 under 30 award in venture capital.

]]> Entrepreneur and angel investor, Rei Wang is the Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer at The Grand, a group coaching platform to help people navigate transitions at the intersection of work and life.
Before The Grand she served as CEO of Dorm Room Fund  at First Round Capital where she nurtured a community of 250+ startups, and counseled entrepreneurs on topics ranging from fundraising to management. 
For her leadership growing Dorm Room Fund from an experiment into the world’s premiere university-focused venture fund, she received the Forbes 30 under 30 award in venture capital.

]]> Amy Jo Kim Buzzsprout-11666059 Wed, 09 Nov 2022 08:00:00 -0800 2093 8 2 full false Philip Rosedale: What’s Missing from the Metaverse? Philip Rosedale: What’s Missing from the Metaverse? Philip Rosedale is the founder of Linden Lab, which launched the popular virtual world Second Life in 2003. His goal has always been to build a viable model for a virtual economy or virtual society, not just an entertainment platform. Before Second Life he served as CTO at RealNetworks, where he wrote some of the earliest algorithms to compress video for transmission across the internet. In 2013 he founded High Fidelity, which builds a spatial audio for group chat. He is currently involved with both Second Life and High Fidelity, and advises on Metaverse efforts.

]]> Philip Rosedale is the founder of Linden Lab, which launched the popular virtual world Second Life in 2003. His goal has always been to build a viable model for a virtual economy or virtual society, not just an entertainment platform. Before Second Life he served as CTO at RealNetworks, where he wrote some of the earliest algorithms to compress video for transmission across the internet. In 2013 he founded High Fidelity, which builds a spatial audio for group chat. He is currently involved with both Second Life and High Fidelity, and advises on Metaverse efforts.

]]> Amy Jo Kim Buzzsprout-11560614 Mon, 24 Oct 2022 15:00:00 -0700 1995 8 1 full false Mitch Zamara: Million on Mars & Play to Own Mitch Zamara: Million on Mars & Play to Own Mitch Zamara is Lead Product Designer on Million on Mars: Land Rush! He has over a decade of experience as a game designer working in the free-to-play social/mobile game space at Zynga and other companies. He specializes in designing game economies.

]]> Mitch Zamara is Lead Product Designer on Million on Mars: Land Rush! He has over a decade of experience as a game designer working in the free-to-play social/mobile game space at Zynga and other companies. He specializes in designing game economies.

]]> Amy Jo Kim Buzzsprout-10929732 Fri, 12 Aug 2022 11:00:00 -0700 4359 7 10 full false Gabby Dizon: Axie Infinity & Play to Earn Gabby Dizon: Axie Infinity & Play to Earn Gabby Dizon is cofounder of Yield Guild Games, an organization that helps its members make money playing blockchain-based play-to-earn games. As a long-time game developer and player, Gabby had long dreamed of a game guild owned by its members. 


]]> Gabby Dizon is cofounder of Yield Guild Games, an organization that helps its members make money playing blockchain-based play-to-earn games. As a long-time game developer and player, Gabby had long dreamed of a game guild owned by its members. 


]]> Amy Jo Kim Buzzsprout-10929730 Fri, 12 Aug 2022 11:00:00 -0700 2461 7 9 full false Garry Tan: Investing in Crypto Garry Tan: Investing in Crypto Garry Tan is a software engineer turned entrepreneur turned investor. On his popular YouTube channel he offers advice to aspiring entrepreneurs. He is intensely aware of the privileged position he is in as a tech-savvy investor in Silicon Valley, and is eager to share his knowledge with the next generation.


]]> Garry Tan is a software engineer turned entrepreneur turned investor. On his popular YouTube channel he offers advice to aspiring entrepreneurs. He is intensely aware of the privileged position he is in as a tech-savvy investor in Silicon Valley, and is eager to share his knowledge with the next generation.


]]> Amy Jo Kim Buzzsprout-10929726 Fri, 12 Aug 2022 11:00:00 -0700 2752 7 8 full false Raph Koster: How to Create an Innovative Hit Raph Koster: How to Create an Innovative Hit Raph Koster is an entrepreneur, game designer, and author of a Theory of Fun for Game Design. He is currently CEO of playable worlds. He was Lead Designer on pioneering MMO Ultima Online, and Creative Director of Star Wars Galaxies. He founded Metaplace in 2006, which was acquired by the social gaming company Playdom.

]]> Raph Koster is an entrepreneur, game designer, and author of a Theory of Fun for Game Design. He is currently CEO of playable worlds. He was Lead Designer on pioneering MMO Ultima Online, and Creative Director of Star Wars Galaxies. He founded Metaplace in 2006, which was acquired by the social gaming company Playdom.

]]> Amy Jo Kim Buzzsprout-10929719 Fri, 12 Aug 2022 11:00:00 -0700 1177 7 7 full false Amy Bucher: Gamifying Health Amy Bucher: Gamifying Health Amy Bucher is Chief behavioral officer at the digital health company Lirio. She is the author of Engaged: Designing for Behavior Change, and has a Ph.D. in Psychology from University of Michigan.

]]> Amy Bucher is Chief behavioral officer at the digital health company Lirio. She is the author of Engaged: Designing for Behavior Change, and has a Ph.D. in Psychology from University of Michigan.

]]> Amy Jo Kim Buzzsprout-10929707 Fri, 12 Aug 2022 11:00:00 -0700 2868 7 6 full false John Linden: Inside the NFT game Blankos Block Party John Linden: Inside the NFT game Blankos Block Party John Linden is CEO of Mythical Games, creators of the pioneering NFT collectible game Blanko’s Block Party. John has a deep background in gaming, leading AAA titles like Call of Duty, and helping develop the Millenium Falcon ride at Disneyland.

]]> John Linden is CEO of Mythical Games, creators of the pioneering NFT collectible game Blanko’s Block Party. John has a deep background in gaming, leading AAA titles like Call of Duty, and helping develop the Millenium Falcon ride at Disneyland.

]]> Amy Jo Kim Buzzsprout-10929704 Fri, 12 Aug 2022 11:00:00 -0700 3311 7 5 full false Mark Pincus: Lessons from Zynga & Tribe Mark Pincus: Lessons from Zynga & Tribe Mark Pincus is a serial entrepreneur and investor who founded the early social media company Tribe Networks, and the mobile social gaming company Zynga. More recently he co-founded investment firm Reinvent Capital in 2018.

]]> Mark Pincus is a serial entrepreneur and investor who founded the early social media company Tribe Networks, and the mobile social gaming company Zynga. More recently he co-founded investment firm Reinvent Capital in 2018.

]]> Amy Jo Kim Buzzsprout-10929693 Fri, 12 Aug 2022 11:00:00 -0700 2880 7 4 full false Chris Spiek: Jobs to be Done Chris Spiek: Jobs to be Done Chris Spiek is Chief Product Officer at Autobooks. Chris co-founded the Product Design Consultancy, the Re-Wired Group in 2010 with jobs-to-be-done expert Bob Moesta, and co-authored The Jobs-to-be-Done Handbook with Bob Moesta.

]]> Chris Spiek is Chief Product Officer at Autobooks. Chris co-founded the Product Design Consultancy, the Re-Wired Group in 2010 with jobs-to-be-done expert Bob Moesta, and co-authored The Jobs-to-be-Done Handbook with Bob Moesta.

]]> Amy Jo Kim Buzzsprout-10929688 Fri, 12 Aug 2022 11:00:00 -0700 2720 7 3 full false Chris Heatherly: Innovation in Game Design Chris Heatherly: Innovation in Game Design Chris Heatherly is head of Games & Engagement at Recur, a pioneering NFT platform. A creative executive who works at the intersection of games and entertainment, Chris oversaw hit games based on IP from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars, when he was an exec at Disney and NBCUniversal

]]> Chris Heatherly is head of Games & Engagement at Recur, a pioneering NFT platform. A creative executive who works at the intersection of games and entertainment, Chris oversaw hit games based on IP from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars, when he was an exec at Disney and NBCUniversal

]]> Amy Jo Kim Buzzsprout-10929377 Fri, 12 Aug 2022 11:00:00 -0700 3529 7 2 full false Barry O’Reilly: The Power of Incentives Barry O’Reilly: The Power of Incentives Barry O'Reilly is a business strategist and author of Unlearn and Lean Enterprise. He’s worked with top executives at Wells Fargo, American Airlines and Walmart to cut through complexity and make smart decisions in a changing world. 

In doing this work, Barry has learned that most executives resist unlearning what they already know.

Listen as Barry talks about the importance of questioning assumptions, and the power of incentive systems to shape human behavior.

]]> Barry O'Reilly is a business strategist and author of Unlearn and Lean Enterprise. He’s worked with top executives at Wells Fargo, American Airlines and Walmart to cut through complexity and make smart decisions in a changing world. 

In doing this work, Barry has learned that most executives resist unlearning what they already know.

Listen as Barry talks about the importance of questioning assumptions, and the power of incentive systems to shape human behavior.

]]> Amy Jo Kim Buzzsprout-10506988 Fri, 12 Aug 2022 11:00:00 -0700 3260 7 1 full false John Hagel: The Future of Work John Hagel: The Future of Work I first learned about John Hagel in the late 1990s, when I was elbow-deep in community-building -- working as a systems designer & UX leader on Ultima Online and eBay. One of my clients gave me John’s book, Net Gain: Expanding markets through virtual communities. It blew my mind and inspired me as I was writing my first book, Community Building on the Web. Since then, I’ve been lucky enough to get to know John better. He’s written many books since Net Gain exploded on the scene, and now runs the Center for the Edge at Deloitte, where he leads research efforts that reveal where business is headed next. Come hang out with us and discover what a leading business strategist  thinks about the future of work - and the impact of lost trust on community and marketplace dynamics. 

]]> I first learned about John Hagel in the late 1990s, when I was elbow-deep in community-building -- working as a systems designer & UX leader on Ultima Online and eBay. One of my clients gave me John’s book, Net Gain: Expanding markets through virtual communities. It blew my mind and inspired me as I was writing my first book, Community Building on the Web. Since then, I’ve been lucky enough to get to know John better. He’s written many books since Net Gain exploded on the scene, and now runs the Center for the Edge at Deloitte, where he leads research efforts that reveal where business is headed next. Come hang out with us and discover what a leading business strategist  thinks about the future of work - and the impact of lost trust on community and marketplace dynamics. 

]]> Amy Jo Kim Buzzsprout-888334 Wed, 12 Dec 2018 16:00:00 -0800 2429 6 9 full false Schwark Satyavolu: The Future of Fintech Schwark Satyavolu: The Future of Fintech Schwark Satyavolu is a serial entrepreneur and early-stage  investor at Trinity Ventures. After founding and growing several innovative startups in the fintech space - a journey that included a stint as an executive at Mastercard - Schwark is now building up the fintech practice at Trinity.  His background as an entrepreneur makes him empathetic  to the realities of what startup life is life -- a great quality for an investor to have. I also loved hearing Schwark’s perspective on the future of crypto - because it  comes from such a deeply informed perspective. Listen in and find out how this  successful entrepreneur-turned-investor is shaping the next generation of fintech innovators. 

]]> Schwark Satyavolu is a serial entrepreneur and early-stage  investor at Trinity Ventures. After founding and growing several innovative startups in the fintech space - a journey that included a stint as an executive at Mastercard - Schwark is now building up the fintech practice at Trinity.  His background as an entrepreneur makes him empathetic  to the realities of what startup life is life -- a great quality for an investor to have. I also loved hearing Schwark’s perspective on the future of crypto - because it  comes from such a deeply informed perspective. Listen in and find out how this  successful entrepreneur-turned-investor is shaping the next generation of fintech innovators. 

]]> Amy Jo Kim Buzzsprout-881228 Wed, 05 Dec 2018 18:00:00 -0800 2454 6 10 full false Siqi Chen: How to find vision/market fit Siqi Chen: How to find vision/market fit I first met Siqi Chen at a Lightspeed CEO dinner hosted by Jeremy Liew. We bonded over our mutual love of product design and fascination with customer engagement. Ever since, I’ve followed Siqi’s career from Zynga product lead to fast-pivoting startup CEO to VR executive. I love how Siqi’s ideas about vision and leadership keep evolving. This is a guy who’s always learning. Listen in and learn how this globally-minded entrepreneur is applying his hard-won innovation lessons to carving out a new category of location-based entertainment. 

Check out the video here: https://youtu.be/55kMlsfoEq8

]]> I first met Siqi Chen at a Lightspeed CEO dinner hosted by Jeremy Liew. We bonded over our mutual love of product design and fascination with customer engagement. Ever since, I’ve followed Siqi’s career from Zynga product lead to fast-pivoting startup CEO to VR executive. I love how Siqi’s ideas about vision and leadership keep evolving. This is a guy who’s always learning. Listen in and learn how this globally-minded entrepreneur is applying his hard-won innovation lessons to carving out a new category of location-based entertainment. 

Check out the video here: https://youtu.be/55kMlsfoEq8

]]> Amy Jo Kim Buzzsprout-867430 Wed, 21 Nov 2018 09:00:00 -0800 2219 608 full false BJ Fogg: Tiny Habits and the search for truth BJ Fogg: Tiny Habits and the search for truth BJ Fogg is a shining light in the often murky field of behavioral science. His Stanford Lab was Ground Zero in the Facebook Platform explosion of 2007. He’s now pioneering the influential “Tiny Habits” training program that’s finding it’s way into popular culture. BJ has the soul of a scientist – an explorer seeking the truth, rather than selling a vision. Join us to learn about BJ’s fascinating backstory – plus find out how a near-miss plane crash led to BJ’s current creative obsession.

Check out the video here:  https://youtu.be/Emd7CnEeIss

]]> BJ Fogg is a shining light in the often murky field of behavioral science. His Stanford Lab was Ground Zero in the Facebook Platform explosion of 2007. He’s now pioneering the influential “Tiny Habits” training program that’s finding it’s way into popular culture. BJ has the soul of a scientist – an explorer seeking the truth, rather than selling a vision. Join us to learn about BJ’s fascinating backstory – plus find out how a near-miss plane crash led to BJ’s current creative obsession.

Check out the video here:  https://youtu.be/Emd7CnEeIss

]]> Amy Jo Kim Buzzsprout-867404 Wed, 21 Nov 2018 08:00:00 -0800 2864 full false Tracy Rosenthal-Newsom: Playtesting and customer empathy Tracy Rosenthal-Newsom: Playtesting and customer empathy Tracy Rosenthal Newsom is an award-winning game producer and product leader who brought you hits like Rock Band and Dance Central. I worked with Tracy in the early days of bringing Rock Band to life - and learned so much from her.  In many ways, we've traveled parallel paths - moving through the worlds of gaming, digital healthcare and humanistic product design. The common thread is a deep, abiding interest in creating experiences that connect with people in a deep and positive way. And I'll tell you - Tracy knows how to do that. Join us and discover the key practices that led this innovative creative powerhouse towards success.

Check out the video here: https://youtu.be/PbTCRDxUZT4

]]> Tracy Rosenthal Newsom is an award-winning game producer and product leader who brought you hits like Rock Band and Dance Central. I worked with Tracy in the early days of bringing Rock Band to life - and learned so much from her.  In many ways, we've traveled parallel paths - moving through the worlds of gaming, digital healthcare and humanistic product design. The common thread is a deep, abiding interest in creating experiences that connect with people in a deep and positive way. And I'll tell you - Tracy knows how to do that. Join us and discover the key practices that led this innovative creative powerhouse towards success.

Check out the video here: https://youtu.be/PbTCRDxUZT4

]]> Amy Jo Kim Buzzsprout-867400 Wed, 21 Nov 2018 08:00:00 -0800 3177 full false Jeri Ellsworth: Invention as a way of life Jeri Ellsworth: Invention as a way of life Jeri Ellsworth is a tinkerer, inventor, and entrepreneur who grew up fixing toasters and building race cars - then moved on to inventing the future of AR at Valve, CastAR and now Tilt Five. Jeri’s got a unique take on bringing innovation to market - and a healthy appreciation for the human side of technology development. Listen in and discover how a quirky kid from rural Oregon transformed herself into a Silicon Valley powerhouse.

Check out the episode here: https://youtu.be/a6NRfwmSoFE

]]> Jeri Ellsworth is a tinkerer, inventor, and entrepreneur who grew up fixing toasters and building race cars - then moved on to inventing the future of AR at Valve, CastAR and now Tilt Five. Jeri’s got a unique take on bringing innovation to market - and a healthy appreciation for the human side of technology development. Listen in and discover how a quirky kid from rural Oregon transformed herself into a Silicon Valley powerhouse.

Check out the episode here: https://youtu.be/a6NRfwmSoFE

]]> Amy Jo Kim Buzzsprout-865920 Mon, 19 Nov 2018 16:00:00 -0800 3143 6 5 full false David Vogler: Making media on the cutting edge David Vogler: Making media on the cutting edge Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/515269125 Wed, 17 Oct 2018 18:30:09 -0700 2586 false Bob Moesta: Innovation Rules Bob Moesta: Innovation Rules Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/508605879 Tue, 02 Oct 2018 18:30:08 -0700 1990 false Bob Moesta: From Nothing to Something Bob Moesta: From Nothing to Something Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/501727932 Wed, 26 Sep 2018 18:00:09 -0700 1663 false Michael John: Training the next generation of game designers Michael John: Training the next generation of game designers Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/498989238 Wed, 12 Sep 2018 11:52:28 -0700 2240 false Brian Norgard: Simple, Fun and Useful Brian Norgard: Simple, Fun and Useful Brian Norgard is a serial entrepreneur - expert team-builder - and currently Chief Product Officer at Tinder, the massively successful dating app. Brian knows a thing or two about how to grow and evolve successful products - and it's NOT about chasing trends or adding sexy new features. If you're into creating compelling products, I know you'll enjoy soaking up his wisdom and hard-won advice. Listen in and discover how a seasoned product leader guides his team towards success.

Check out the video here: https://youtu.be/dYGjXhnmi5w

]]> Brian Norgard is a serial entrepreneur - expert team-builder - and currently Chief Product Officer at Tinder, the massively successful dating app. Brian knows a thing or two about how to grow and evolve successful products - and it's NOT about chasing trends or adding sexy new features. If you're into creating compelling products, I know you'll enjoy soaking up his wisdom and hard-won advice. Listen in and discover how a seasoned product leader guides his team towards success.

Check out the video here: https://youtu.be/dYGjXhnmi5w

]]> Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/469865052 Wed, 11 Jul 2018 09:06:03 -0700 2250 full false Howard Rheingold: The subtle art of collaboration Howard Rheingold: The subtle art of collaboration Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/466845855 Tue, 03 Jul 2018 17:00:04 -0700 1984 false Casey Winters: Turning startups into rocketships Casey Winters: Turning startups into rocketships Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/463745412 Tue, 26 Jun 2018 18:00:04 -0700 1882 false Jason Hreha: Where behavioral science meets product strategy Jason Hreha: Where behavioral science meets product strategy Jason Hreha is a product leader at Walmart, where he works across the company to run smart experiments and infuse the retail giant with effective digital design. Jason has an academic background in psychology and neuroscience - and has learned through experience what actually works when you’re building products for humans. Listen in and learn how a behavioral scientist sees the world of product design.

]]> Jason Hreha is a product leader at Walmart, where he works across the company to run smart experiments and infuse the retail giant with effective digital design. Jason has an academic background in psychology and neuroscience - and has learned through experience what actually works when you’re building products for humans. Listen in and learn how a behavioral scientist sees the world of product design.

]]> Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/460463883 Tue, 19 Jun 2018 18:00:04 -0700 2374 full false Jeff Patton: Beyond story-mapping: the evolution of agile product design Jeff Patton: Beyond story-mapping: the evolution of agile product design Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/457391511 Tue, 12 Jun 2018 17:00:04 -0700 1278 false Steve Hoffman: The Process of Radical Innovation Steve Hoffman: The Process of Radical Innovation Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/454208589 Tue, 05 Jun 2018 18:00:02 -0700 2162 false Karl Kapp: The surprising power of failure Karl Kapp: The surprising power of failure Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/450361797 Tue, 29 May 2018 17:00:02 -0700 1472 false Lee LeFever: The art and science of explanation Lee LeFever: The art and science of explanation Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/447619086 Wed, 23 May 2018 05:00:12 -0700 1442 false The Future of Consumer Tech Investing The Future of Consumer Tech Investing Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/443180343 Wed, 16 May 2018 05:00:02 -0700 1607 false Merci Victoria Grace: Product vision meets collaborative leadership Merci Victoria Grace: Product vision meets collaborative leadership Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/441648183 Wed, 09 May 2018 09:38:06 -0700 2292 false Gina Bianchini on the power of passionate interest networks Gina Bianchini on the power of passionate interest networks Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/326302332 Wed, 12 Jul 2017 06:01:39 -0700 1668 false Jeff Atwood on building communities and customer feedback loops Jeff Atwood on building communities and customer feedback loops Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/318974485 Wed, 05 Jul 2017 02:14:19 -0700 2114 false Josh Elman on the dynamics of online social experiences Josh Elman on the dynamics of online social experiences Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/327763742 Wed, 05 Jul 2017 02:13:44 -0700 2624 false Steve Vassallo on the next chapter of design thinking Steve Vassallo on the next chapter of design thinking Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/327762786 Wed, 28 Jun 2017 05:52:11 -0700 1963 false Tim Chang on the Rise of Transformational Tech Tim Chang on the Rise of Transformational Tech Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/326301428 Wed, 21 Jun 2017 01:04:33 -0700 1593 false Tony Ulwick outcome-driven innovation and jobs-to-be-done Tony Ulwick outcome-driven innovation and jobs-to-be-done Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/326304415 Wed, 14 Jun 2017 06:21:29 -0700 2303 false Jared Spool is educating the next generation of UX designers Jared Spool is educating the next generation of UX designers Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/324939850 Sun, 28 May 2017 15:08:55 -0700 2123 false Jim Scheinman on the evolution of social software Jim Scheinman on the evolution of social software Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/319164266 Wed, 17 May 2017 00:01:39 -0700 2362 false Jeff Veen on deep collaboration and building innovative teams Jeff Veen on deep collaboration and building innovative teams Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/318971810 Wed, 10 May 2017 06:43:39 -0700 2051 false Cindy Au on finding success by saying NO (to the right things) Cindy Au on finding success by saying NO (to the right things) Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/319163512 Sun, 23 Apr 2017 17:53:26 -0700 2014 false Richard Garriott on systems thinking and meaningful challenges Richard Garriott on systems thinking and meaningful challenges Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/318859784 Fri, 21 Apr 2017 14:30:13 -0700 3049 false Cindy Alvarez on customer research and iterative development Cindy Alvarez on customer research and iterative development Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/283356953 Sat, 17 Sep 2016 10:29:22 -0700 2328 false Dan Olsen on rapid prototyping and smart MVP development Dan Olsen on rapid prototyping and smart MVP development Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/280290903 Wed, 14 Sep 2016 09:57:37 -0700 2023 false Teresa Torres on product discovery & re-imagining organizational change Teresa Torres on product discovery & re-imagining organizational change Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/280290852 Wed, 07 Sep 2016 04:08:18 -0700 1641 false Mike Sellers on super-powered mental models & the bright future of AR gaming Mike Sellers on super-powered mental models & the bright future of AR gaming Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/280290594 Thu, 01 Sep 2016 15:23:58 -0700 1260 false Irene Au on design leadership and experience-driven organizations Irene Au on design leadership and experience-driven organizations Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/280798862 Wed, 31 Aug 2016 13:29:36 -0700 2304 false Matt Leacock on cooperative game design Matt Leacock on cooperative game design Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/280796251 Wed, 31 Aug 2016 13:11:31 -0700 2097 false Kevin Kelly explains how to embrace the inevitable technology trends shaping our future Kevin Kelly explains how to embrace the inevitable technology trends shaping our future Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/276483532 Wed, 03 Aug 2016 08:14:57 -0700 2003 false Jeff Gothelf on Lean UX & enterprise change management Jeff Gothelf on Lean UX & enterprise change management Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/276365633 Mon, 01 Aug 2016 12:04:52 -0700 1661 false Dennis Crowley on whispering bots, crowd-sourced maps & the future of location-based experiences Dennis Crowley on whispering bots, crowd-sourced maps & the future of location-based experiences Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/275988636 Fri, 29 Jul 2016 16:14:35 -0700 2951 false Raph Koster on the nature of gaming Raph Koster on the nature of gaming Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/267769686 Mon, 06 Jun 2016 00:26:59 -0700 1651 false Paul Adams on the future of product design Paul Adams on the future of product design Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/255763366 Wed, 06 Apr 2016 06:14:25 -0700 2358 false Tony Stubblebine on the future of online training Tony Stubblebine on the future of online training Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/255741195 Wed, 30 Mar 2016 03:47:41 -0700 2615 false Christina Wodtke on Design Thinking, Distributed Cognition & OKRs Christina Wodtke on Design Thinking, Distributed Cognition & OKRs Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/254320009 Wed, 23 Mar 2016 05:45:11 -0700 2401 false Mimi Ito on Minecraft and progressive learning Mimi Ito on Minecraft and progressive learning Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/251031961 Wed, 09 Mar 2016 09:21:09 -0800 2087 false Samuel Hulick on building better products with smart onboarding and iterative design Samuel Hulick on building better products with smart onboarding and iterative design Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/248874243 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 06:00:25 -0800 1805 false Steve Portigal on active listening & leaving your world view at the door Steve Portigal on active listening & leaving your world view at the door Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/216188638 Mon, 15 Feb 2016 12:06:53 -0800 1998 false Designing Business with Erika Hall Designing Business with Erika Hall Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/245122625 Tue, 02 Feb 2016 13:01:48 -0800 2029 false Getting2Alpha Season 1 Highlights with Amy Jo Kim & Kenneth Lim Getting2Alpha Season 1 Highlights with Amy Jo Kim & Kenneth Lim Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/240582366 Tue, 05 Jan 2016 16:18:58 -0800 1850 false How does Jon Radoff build innovative games around iconic brands? How does Jon Radoff build innovative games around iconic brands? Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/230678062 Tue, 08 Dec 2015 12:27:11 -0800 3201 false Hiten Shah on the emotional side of building a business Hiten Shah on the emotional side of building a business Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/235476771 Mon, 30 Nov 2015 14:29:38 -0800 1859 false Sharpen your sword as a game designer with Eric Zimmerman Sharpen your sword as a game designer with Eric Zimmerman Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/232771145 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 09:57:47 -0800 2022 false Katherine Isbister on Games & Emotions Katherine Isbister on Games & Emotions Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/227697950 Fri, 09 Oct 2015 14:22:57 -0700 1853 false Blair Ethington: High Fashion meets Augmented Reality Blair Ethington: High Fashion meets Augmented Reality Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/224650537 Sat, 19 Sep 2015 16:06:32 -0700 1432 false Erin Hoffman on social activism, learning games, and how designers shape the world Erin Hoffman on social activism, learning games, and how designers shape the world Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/221017596 Wed, 26 Aug 2015 11:45:59 -0700 1699 false Jesse Schell on Virtual Reality, Transformational Gaming, and juggling Jesse Schell on Virtual Reality, Transformational Gaming, and juggling Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/215759289 Tue, 21 Jul 2015 15:42:23 -0700 1976 false Chelsea Howe on love, desire and submission to ritual in gaming Chelsea Howe on love, desire and submission to ritual in gaming Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/215755962 Tue, 21 Jul 2015 15:15:57 -0700 2553 false Can a game bring Thoreau's Walden to life? Can a game bring Thoreau's Walden to life? Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/208863780 Thu, 04 Jun 2015 17:58:51 -0700 2313 false Laura Klein on design-led growth hacking & customer development Laura Klein on design-led growth hacking & customer development Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/208812399 Thu, 04 Jun 2015 11:43:36 -0700 1814 false Dan Cook on indie life, remote collaboration, and the magic of small groups Dan Cook on indie life, remote collaboration, and the magic of small groups Amy Jo Kim tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/207015820 Sun, 24 May 2015 12:09:05 -0700 2090 false