Podcasts about nordics

Today's episode is hosted by Georgia Benton and they are joined on the podcast by Valeria Viana Gusmao, Senior Technical Lead & Engineering Manager at Strawberry, Sarwarul Rizvi, Engineering Manager at Keystone Education Group, Sunilraj Sudhakar, Product Coach & Business Agility Consultant at Ericsson and Sawan Budhbhatti, General Manager & Software Engineering Project Leader at Schneider Electric. The conversation explores how leaders across diverse sectors approach the complexities of scaling teams, drawing out practical insights from early-stage growth to mature enterprise environments. The guests reflect on the realities of guiding engineering talent, adjusting structures and nurturing collaborative cultures as organisations evolve. Their exchange highlights how adaptability and clarity support sustainable progress when responsibilities expand. Across the discussion the group also touches on agility, delivery rhythms and the management practices that help teams stay effective during periods of change. The episode offers perspectives on creating supportive frameworks, fostering cross-functional alignment and navigating challenges that come with scaling teams in fast-moving, innovation-driven settings.

Today's episode is hosted by Ethan Little and they are joined on the podcast by Jonas Grahm, Strategy Execution Data Management & Owner at Orbiting Portfolio, Mathias Arvidsson, Cofounder & CEO at Norrminds and Pritam Sarkar, IT Manager at Scania. The conversation explores how leaders can build a future-proof strategy that supports long-term resilience while navigating shifting market conditions. The guests discuss the value of structured decision-making and how organisations can maintain clarity when facing uncertainty. They also touch on the importance of strengthening operational foundations to sustain momentum during turbulence. The exchange highlights practical approaches to enhancing agility, improving data-driven planning and developing teams that can adapt quickly to complex challenges. With insights spanning strategy, technology and organisational culture, the episode offers a grounded look at how businesses can thrive through change while keeping future-proof strategy at the core of their development.

Today's episode is hosted by Alvin Boampong and they are joined on the podcast by Sara Razavi, Solutions & Cloud Ecosystem Program Lead at Ericsson, Vikas Kumar, Senior Cloud Advisor at IBM and Irfan Shadeque, Business Infrastructure Manager at Volvo Group. The conversation explores how organisations can build and lead high-performing cloud teams that support long-term capability and drive effective cloud transformation. The guests reflect on how culture, structure and collaboration shape the success of cloud-enabled environments, with attention on the fundamentals that help teams deliver consistently in complex settings. The exchange highlights the value of clarity, shared ownership and strategic alignment when managing cloud operations at scale. It also considers the evolving demands of modern engineering teams and how leaders can cultivate resilience through continuous learning and adaptable working practices. Throughout the discussion, the importance of a strong cloud strategy is woven into broader reflections on talent development and organisational performance.

Today's episode is hosted by Chris Hackett and they are joined on the podcast by Staffan Fredriksson, CISO at Regent AB, Konrad Jelen, Director of Data & AI at KOLOMOLO and Johan Lido, Chief Architect and Architect Manager at AFA Försäkring. The conversation explores the evolving intersection of security and AI, reflecting on how organisations can respond to new challenges while strengthening long-term digital resilience. The guests consider the broader shifts influencing modern architectures and discuss how teams can adapt to rapid advances in automation, data systems and intelligent tooling. The exchange highlights the significance of integrating responsible AI practices into core security frameworks. It also looks at how leaders can navigate emerging risks, enhance operational readiness and support sustainable innovation across complex environments. By examining both strategic and practical dimensions, the discussion provides a clear view of how security and AI continue to shape the future of technology-driven organisations.

In this episode, I sit down with Baba Sam Shelley, known as "The Miracle Man." After enduring 38 years of multiple sclerosis, bipolar disorder, migraines, and other "incurable" conditions, Baba Sam experienced a spontaneous and complete healing through meditation and inner peace. Now, he empowers others to access their own inner healer through his Vibrant Soul Society, Beyond Head Trash work, and Inner Healer School.  In this conversation, you'll hear about: ✨ Baba Sam's extraordinary healing journey from chronic illness to vibrant health ✨ The pivotal realizations that led to his spontaneous recovery ✨ How he helps others release "head trash" and awaken their inner healer ✨ His experiences with spiritual guides, including Nordics and Tall Whites ✨ How to step into your vibrant soul and allow Spirit to illuminate your path This episode is for anyone ready to break free of limiting diagnoses, release mental clutter, and access their innate capacity for healing and awakening.   Resources: Baba Sam will be a featured speaker at my upcoming Miracles Summit! Register free: https://www.karagoodwin.com/miracles-summit-25  Explore Baba Sam's offerings: https://www.beyondheadtrash.com  Explore my offerings at https://www.karagoodwin.com for guided meditations, summits, and my book Your Authentic Awakening. Support the show by liking, commenting, subscribing, and sharing so this high-vibe content can reach more souls.  @BabaSamShelley   Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome to Soul Elevation 02:15 Baba Sam's childhood accident and near-death experience 09:45 Discovering meditation and the realization "I am not my thoughts" 15:20 The moment of miraculous healing and rapid recovery 23:10 Working with spiritual guides, Nordics, and ethereal doctors 32:00 Helping others release "head trash" and awaken their inner healer 42:55 Advice for those living with chronic illness 55:00 Baba Sam's Vibrant Soul Society and how to connect  

In this mini episode, Morten and Lars share the details on the upcoming event: Their Global Guided GTD Weekly Review! This even streams live on YouTube and it's of course free to join us. You can find links to sign up below, we really hope to see you there! And as always, we'd love for you to follow or connect with us on LinkedIn! We always like to connect with GTD'ers from around the world, you can find the links to our YouTube profiles in the Links below. We have some really cool free webinars coming up, which we really want you to join

Enterprise Ireland is leading a 20-strong delegation of high-growth Irish technology companies to Slush 2025, Europe's premier start-up and venture capital event. Slush, widely regarded as the largest gathering of venture capital under one roof, is a key platform for Irish start-ups seeking to accelerate their expansion and secure investment. The Nordics have emerged as Enterprise Ireland's fastest-growing export region for Enterprise Ireland supported companies, with client exports reaching €2.1 billion in 2024, up 24% on 2023. Finland is leading the charge as its most dynamic market. Against this backdrop, Irish innovators are leveraging Slush to deepen commercial ties and showcase cutting-edge technologies across AI, fintech, and sustainability. With Nordic markets driving export growth and Finland emerging as a hub for tech collaboration, Enterprise Ireland's presence at Slush underscores Ireland's ambition to position its start-ups at the forefront of European innovation. Momentum in Irish Tech Investment Ireland's start-up ecosystem continues to attract global attention, underscored by strong investment flows and landmark deals. Earlier this year, Tines, the AI-powered work automation platform, became Ireland's latest unicorn following a $125 million Series C round. This success story exemplifies the ambition of Irish companies attending Slush, many of which are scaling internationally and forging strategic partnerships in the Nordics. As part of the Slush programme of events, Enterprise Ireland will host an Irish Innovation event, featuring a fireside chat with George Ardagh of Tines as well as Enterprise Ireland Head of Scaling Finance Karole Egan and leading voices from global finance. The event will spotlight Ireland's vibrant tech ecosystem and its role in shaping global innovation. Among the Irish delegation at Slush are: EVERYANGLE, whose Vision AI technology powers retail giants including H&M, Samsøe Samsøe, and IKEA franchise partners. Fresh from winning Cisco's Global AI Innovation Award, EVERYANGLE is set to unveil its new product, Horizon, designed to transform in-store behaviour into data-driven growth. Otonomee, the customer support outsourcing specialist, has partnered with Finland's Oura to scale global operations during a period of exceptional growth for the health-tech leader. JustTip, Europe's fastest-growing digital tipping platform, is expanding its footprint through a partnership with Sweden's Surfboard Payments, reinforcing its mission to deliver transparent and instant gratuity management across hospitality. Marker Video, the content marketplace platform is launching their Marker Video app. With 10,000 verified users already onboarded and pilot campaigns underway with HelloFresh and Unilever, the app combines human-verification technology with instant user payments. This enables Marker Video to deliver the scale and authenticity modern brands demand, solving one of advertising's fastest-growing challenges. Leading the Irish delegation at Slush, Finland, Viktor Wagner Heide, Senior Market Advisor at Enterprise Ireland Nordics said; "Slush is a proven launchpad for Irish innovation, offering a unique opportunity to connect with international investors and partners. With exports by Enterprise Ireland-backed companies to the Nordics growing by 24% last year, this platform turns ambition into global growth and strengthens Ireland's position as a leader in Europe's technology landscape." Other Irish company participants at Slush 2025 include, BrightBeam, Capella, Chirp, CitySwift, Coroflo, Cytidel, EVE, HR Duo, Luna Systems, Marker Video, Mavarick AI, NoFrixion, Payemoji, Peroptyx, Provizio, Recruitroo and Tines. Full profiles are available in the Irish Innovation Directory. See more stories here.

Alight chairman and co-founder Harald Överholm joins NPM Europe on this week's episode to give us his take on building a Nordic solar developer into an increasingly pan-European operator of both behind-the-meter and utility-scale, grid-connected PV assets.Harald also provides insight on how data centres could power the corporate PPA market across the Nordics for years to come, how Alight is targeting microgrids for future opportunities, as well as tips for solving the grid connection impasse present in several European markets right now.NPM is a leading data, intelligence & events company providing business development led coverage of the US & European power, storage & data center markets for the development, finance, M&A and corporate community.Download our mobile app.

▬ Om Klippan - Falun ▬▬▬▬Klippan Falun är en plats där du kan möta och uppleva Jesus, ta del av vår välkomnande gemenskap, höra och delta i upplyftande lovsång och ta del av en predikan som både inspirerar och utmanar dig att bli den Gud avsett att du ska vara.Vi ser Klippan Falun som en autentisk, andefylld, gospelcentrerad församling som påverkar vår stad och vårt land genom att förkunna och leva det fulla evangeliet om Jesus Kristus.Klippan Falun är aktiv i Sverige och en del av UPCN (United Pentecostal Church of the Nordics).▬ Sociala Medier ▬▬▬▬► Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/klippanfalun/► Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forsamlingenklippan/► Youtube: youtube.com/@forsamlingenklippanfalun► Hemsida: https://www.forsamlingenklippan.se/

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Christian Godden, Head of Strategy at Malmo FF on the role of community in driving international partnerships and long-term development for Sweden's most successful football club. The former strategic Director and Partner at BBDO in the Nordics, advising global brands on marketing and communications, explains Malmo FF's unique model of competing in human currency rather than financial resources. Owned by its 14,110 members, it puts community engagement at the heart of its business, with initiatives like educational programs and job placement services. It is community and relationships, he argues, that work harder for the club than data-driven strategies in brand building and societal development.#Sports #Business #Communications

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Today's episode is hosted by Sophie Gould and they are joined on the podcast by Erik Zindel, VP Hydrogen & Decarbonization Strategy at Siemens Energy. The conversation explores how organisations are shaping the future of sustainable energy through long-term thinking and visionary leadership. As the discussion unfolds, it highlights the strategic role of hydrogen in the global energy transition and examines how decarbonisation efforts are being accelerated across multiple sectors. The exchange also considers the importance of adaptable frameworks that support innovation at scale and enable businesses to respond to evolving environmental demands. Listeners gain an understanding of how emerging technologies intersect with practical energy solutions, offering insights into new pathways for climate-focused transformation. The episode reflects on the broader potential of hydrogen strategy within integrated systems and emphasises how forward-looking approaches can reinforce resilience and influence progress. Visionary thinking appears again later in the discussion as a theme that underpins sustainable growth in the modern energy landscape.

Today's episode is hosted by Ethan Little and they are joined on the podcast by Johan Söderström, Senior Advisor and Enterprise Lead at Implema, Toni Ojitkutu, Digital Transformation Manager for Global Finance at Ericsson, Vaishnavi Kumar, Program Manager for Data AI Analytics SAP Master Data at H&M Group and Halvor Belbo Lukerstuen, Director of Human Experience Management at NTT DATA Business Solutions. The conversation explores how the evolution of work is reshaping modern organisations and influencing long-term strategic direction. It highlights the increasing significance of digital transformation, the growing demand for adaptable operating models and the role of human-centred design in supporting sustainable progress. Throughout the discussion, the guests consider how businesses can align people, data and technology to remain competitive in a changing landscape. As the exchange develops, it reflects on the broader impact of workplace evolution on culture, collaboration and operational resilience. The theme of change reappears later in the episode, emphasising how continuous innovation supports growth and enables organisations to navigate future challenges with confidence.

Today's episode is hosted by Alvin Boampong and they are joined on the podcast by Markus Kamarik, Head of Infrastructure at OptiGroup, Garun Awasthi, Cloud Specialist at SEB, Albina Abdulina, Head of Cloud Integration at Keolis Sverige AB, and Viktor Junling, Head of Cloud CoE at If Insurance. The conversation explores balancing cloud innovation with cost efficiency, highlighting how organisations can adopt new technologies while managing budgets and optimising infrastructure. The exchange highlights strategies for scaling cloud solutions, streamlining operations, and maintaining financial control without stifling innovation. Listeners will gain insights into cloud governance, integration best practices, and the importance of aligning technical initiatives with business objectives. The discussion also touches on decision making, cost management, and effective team collaboration in dynamic cloud environments. Professionals and tech enthusiasts will find actionable guidance for maximising cloud value while controlling expenditure and supporting sustainable growth in modern enterprises.

Today's episode is hosted by Martha Rayner and they are joined on the podcast by Alfez Lindström, CX Solution Architect / Retail Lead, Microsoft Dynamics at Fujitsu, Ove Bristrand, Digital Business Manager and Owner at NetIntegrate and Fredrik Lindgren, Senior Sales Executive, AI Business Process at Microsoft Sweden. The conversation explores how next generation dynamics is shaping modern organisations through real time innovation and agile digital capabilities. The exchange highlights the evolving role of intelligent systems, the growing influence of data-driven decision-making and the increasing need for adaptable business processes that support long-term transformation. Listeners gain insight into emerging trends, practical applications of AI and the value of integrated platforms that enhance operational efficiency across sectors. The discussion also considers how organisations can position themselves for future growth by embracing scalable technologies and refining internal workflows. Real time innovation appears throughout the dialogue as a central theme, reinforcing the importance of responsiveness and continuous improvement in competitive markets.

Today's episode is hosted by Martha Rayner and they are joined on the podcast by Mårten Damm, Senior Consultant M-Files at Columbus, Joe Mehanna, Project & Service Delivery Manager at Fellowmind Sverige, and Shruti Moudgil, Regional Implementation Manager at Scania Group. The conversation explores the evolving role of Dynamics consultants, highlighting the skills, tools, and trends required to stay effective in 2025. The exchange emphasises practical strategies for enhancing workflow, leveraging enterprise software, and adapting to technological advances. Listeners gain insights into navigating complex implementation projects and improving efficiency across teams. The discussion also focuses on future-proofing career paths, understanding consultancy best practices, and staying ahead of emerging technologies. Insights on professional development, digital transformation, and enterprise solutions provide actionable guidance for consultants aiming to remain competitive and deliver value to organisations in a rapidly changing environment.

Today's episode is hosted by Sam Russell and they are joined on the podcast by Hanna Isacson, Product Manager, AI & Automation at ICA Gruppen, Nicolas Nikula, Director, Analytics / Processes / Systems at Fiskars Group, and Ata Marzban, Team Lead, Engineering & AI Product at Klarna Bank. The conversation explores the impact of artificial intelligence on the workforce, highlighting how automation and AI are reshaping roles across industries. The exchange highlights strategies for balancing innovation with human expertise, integrating AI tools while preserving value from skilled professionals, and understanding where AI complements or replaces tasks. Listeners will gain insights into practical approaches for managing AI adoption, assessing job transformation risks, and fostering a culture that leverages technology effectively. The discussion also touches on ethical considerations, efficiency gains, and how teams can adapt to evolving workflows. Professionals and enthusiasts will find guidance for navigating AI-driven change and maintaining a strategic perspective in the rapidly transforming workplace.

Today's episode is hosted by Georgia Benton and they are joined on the podcast by Tomas Duhourq, Engineering Manager at Spotify, Kaia Hillier, Director of Product Operations at Epidemic Sound, Ashley Westcott, Head of Product at Klarna, and Sunil Subramanian, Head of Product at Volvo. The conversation explores how technology leaders approach collaboration between product and engineering teams to deliver impactful, user-focused innovations. The guests discuss how alignment, creativity and communication drive sustainable growth and foster a culture of experimentation across fast-paced organisations. The exchange highlights the evolving nature of leadership in digital industries, where adaptability and teamwork define success. Listeners will gain insight into how leaders build synergy between technical execution and strategic vision, shaping teams that innovate with purpose and resilience in today's competitive tech landscape.

Today's episode is hosted by Alvin Boampong and they are joined on the podcast by Alok Gupta, System Manager for Cloud and NFVI at Ericsson, Jimmy Stahl, Senior Cloud Architect at Länsförsäkringar, Can Onatli, Head of IT Infrastructure & Operations at Life Europe AB, and Praveen Joshi, Head of Technology Business Operations at Ericsson. The conversation explores how artificial intelligence is transforming DevOps and testing, creating smarter, more efficient workflows within technology ecosystems. The guests discuss how automation, predictive analytics and cloud-native infrastructure are reshaping the future of software development and operational excellence. The exchange highlights the benefits of AI-driven testing and intelligent monitoring, enabling teams to enhance performance, security and scalability. Listeners will gain valuable insight into how AI integration is streamlining DevOps pipelines, optimising infrastructure management and accelerating innovation across industries.

Today's episode is hosted by Alvin Boampong and they are joined on the podcast by Tanusree Mukherjee, Test & Release Manager at Ericsson, Kalyan Routhu, DevOps Lead and AI Area Lead, Christoffer Forsberg, Cloud Manager at Infor, and Miguel Chourio, Team Lead at Ericsson. The conversation explores the evolving role of DevOps in modern technology ecosystems, with a focus on automation, AI integration and cloud infrastructure. The guests discuss how continuous delivery and intelligent systems are reshaping testing strategies and improving reliability across large-scale operations. The exchange highlights the importance of collaboration between development, testing and operations teams, and how cultural transformation supports faster innovation cycles. Listeners will gain insight into how leading organisations are leveraging AI and DevOps practices to enhance performance, streamline processes and build scalable, future-ready digital solutions.

Carsten Puschmann spricht mit Robin Lauber und Christian Angermayer über ein fundamentales Problem für europäische Startups: Kapital fließt dorthin, wo es sich am leichtesten in Cash zurückverwandeln lässt. In einem offenen, praxisnahen Gespräch erklären sie, warum Retail-Liquidität, smarte Domicile-Entscheidungen und nordische Börsen (insbesondere Schweden) heute oft der realistischere Weg für Small/Mid-Caps sind — und wie Gründer ihre Gesellschaft, Story und CEO-Kommunikation frühzeitig darauf ausrichten sollten. Mit konkreten Cases (Equity-Release, E-Commerce, Roll-up, Entertainment) und einer klaren Roadmap für erste Listings.Wir reden über:

“The differentiator in our business isn't the equipment and the facility—it's the scientists working with customers to create assays and solve complex scientific challenges.”Leon Wyszkowski has spent nearly three decades in drug development, including 20 years at Thermo Fisher Scientific in roles spanning clinical services, CDMO operations, and now analytical services. His perspective on the evolution from internal pharma operations to service provider offers insights into how the industry's approach to outsourcing has matured.In this conversation, Leon discusses Thermo Fisher's expansion in the Nordics, the company's partnership with AstraZeneca's BioVenture Hub, and why trust remains the fundamental factor when biotechs and pharma companies evaluate analytical service partners.Read more.

In dem Agora Strategy Group Geopolitik-Podcast „The Future of Power“ lädt Dr. Timo Blenk (CEO) monatlich Entscheidungsträger aus Diplomatie; Wirtschaft; Politik und Militär ein, um aktuelle geopolitische Entwicklungen zu diskutieren. Über die Einflüsse dieser zu informieren und fundierte Entscheidungsgrundlagen zu schaffen, ist der Kern dieses Projekts. Diesen Monat zu Gast ist Susanne Wiegand, erfahrene deutsche Managerin, Rüstungsindustrie Expertin und Mitglied des Aufsichtsrates der Volkswagen Group! In der 34. Folge unseres Podcasts sprechen Dr. Blenk und Susanne Wiegand über die Transformation der deutschen Industrie, die Zeitenwende und Zukunftsmärkte! Die wichtigsten Themen des Monats Zukunftsstandort Deutschland: Strukturelle Veränderungen, Bürokratieabbau und Innovation als Schlüssel Rüstungsindustrie 2.0: Tempo, Luftverteidigung und Skalierung im Fokus Chancen erkennen: Indiens digitale Dynamik und vertiefte Partnerschaften mit Kanada, den Nordics und Japan Hausmitteilungen · Alle weiteren Folgen des Podcasts · „Agora Strategy Group“ Webauftritt · „Agora Strategy Group“ bei LinkedIn Aktuelle Projekte, Veröffentlichungen & Veranstaltungen des Agora-Strategy-Teams · Agora Institute Executive Mitgliedschaft · Agora Strategy Executive Briefing: La France, inquiète: Macron has only one year to secure his economic and European legacy · Agora Strategy Special Report: The strategic role of space and Europe's answer · Agora Essential Reads: "From Strategy to Action - Implementing the EU Black Sea Strategic Approach"

Today's episode is hosted by Chris Hackett and they are joined on the podcast by Vida Ahmadi Mehri, Data & AI Governance Officer at Electrolux Group, Frederick Lamartin, Chief Information Security Officer at PwC Sweden, Mikael Lagström, Head of Application Security – SE/DK Team at DNV Cyber, and Adam Machnikowski, Head of IT & Security at Schibsted & Vend Polska. The conversation explores how organisations across the Nordics are integrating artificial intelligence and automation within Microsoft Dynamics 365 to drive smarter, more secure, and more efficient operations. The guests share insights into aligning technology with governance principles and ensuring compliance while adopting intelligent tools at scale. The exchange highlights practical approaches to strengthening cybersecurity frameworks, maintaining data integrity, and supporting innovation across enterprise systems. Listeners gain valuable perspectives on the evolving relationship between AI, automation, and business transformation in complex digital environments.

Today's episode is hosted by Martha Rayner and they are joined on the podcast by Peer Klavefors, Lead Solution Architect at Columbus, Dario Antolini, Data Platform Engineer at Avanade and Anders Dahlin, Solution Engineer / AI-ERP at Microsoft. The conversation explores what organisations can do to help more AI projects progress successfully from proof of concept into full production. Drawing on their collective experience across enterprise technology and implementation, the guests discuss how strategy, data quality and alignment between teams play a pivotal role in scaling intelligent solutions. The exchange highlights how robust planning, governance frameworks and a strong data platform can make the difference between innovation stalling and measurable business impact. Listeners gain insights into how organisations across the Nordics are improving success rates by embedding AI and automation into their operational models and ensuring technology investments deliver long-term, production-ready value.

Today's episode is hosted by Sam Russell and they are joined on the podcast by Svetoslav, Head of AI at Digital Mirror Sweden, Celine Xu, Engagement Manager & AI Product Strategist at H&M Group and Albert Ziegler, Head of AI at XBOW. The conversation explores how shifting geopolitical dynamics are reshaping the security landscape for organisations worldwide. From the growing complexity of international data regulations to the influence of AI in defence and infrastructure resilience, the discussion delves into the intersection of technology, politics and business continuity. The exchange highlights the need for strategic foresight, collaboration and adaptive frameworks to manage global risks in a connected economy. Listeners gain insights into how leaders in AI and enterprise innovation are balancing compliance, security and agility amid rapidly evolving global pressures. The episode underscores how geopolitics continues to drive major change in digital security strategy across industries.

Today's episode is hosted by Chris Hackett and they are joined on the podcast by Markus Kuchler, Head of Global IT Security at Epiroc AB, Björn Nordle, Operational Compliance Manager at Visma Finance, Vuk Vujovic, Physical Security Manager – Retail at Telenor Connexion, and Olof Eilertsson, Business Delivery Owner – Scandinavia, IT Legal at Atea Sverige AB. The conversation explores how organisations can design and implement an effective security and GRC strategy that aligns with business goals while managing risk in a complex digital environment. The guests share perspectives on how leadership, collaboration and data-driven decision-making can strengthen compliance and security operations across industries. The exchange highlights how an integrated approach to governance, risk and compliance supports resilience and operational efficiency. Listeners gain practical insights into building frameworks that adapt to evolving cyber threats and regulatory pressures while ensuring long-term trust and organisational accountability.

Today's episode is hosted by Chris Hackett and they are joined on the podcast by Nazli Sahin, Manager – Security and Infrastructure at Accedo.tv, and Aurelijus Stuknys, Information Security Manager at SEB. The conversation explores what defines effective agile security development and how organisations can balance speed, innovation and protection within modern software environments. The guests discuss how integrating security principles throughout the development lifecycle supports more resilient systems and encourages cross-functional collaboration between engineering and compliance teams. The exchange highlights practical approaches for embedding security awareness into agile workflows, from automated testing to proactive threat modelling. Listeners gain valuable insights into aligning security with business goals, fostering a culture of accountability and ensuring sustainable improvement across digital delivery pipelines. The episode provides a concise look at how agile security development can evolve to meet today's complex organisational and technological demands.

Today's episode is hosted by Chris Hackett and they are joined on the podcast by Par Olsson, Cyber Security & Hardware Director at Bosch, and Aleksei Meshcheriakov, Accountable Lead – Defensive Security at Klarna. The conversation explores how organisations can strengthen cybersecurity strategies through both hardware resilience and proactive defence mechanisms. As digital ecosystems expand and interconnected devices become the norm, the guests discuss how balancing hardware security with modern defensive approaches helps maintain integrity and protect critical systems from emerging threats. The exchange highlights the importance of collaboration between engineering, IT and security teams to build long-term resilience. Listeners gain insights into how leading enterprises are adapting cybersecurity frameworks to manage complex risks, support innovation and safeguard digital trust in an increasingly data-driven world.

Today's episode is hosted by Alvin Boampong and they are joined on the podcast by Pushkar Kumar, Lead Architect at Electrolux Group, and Mahmoud Adel, Infrastructure Manager at Tacton Systems AB. The conversation explores how organisations can optimise their IT architecture and infrastructure to support sustainable digital transformation. The guests share perspectives on aligning system design with business needs, improving scalability and resilience, and managing the balance between innovation and operational efficiency in complex enterprise environments. The exchange highlights the importance of collaboration between architecture and infrastructure teams to ensure seamless integration, cost control and performance improvement. Listeners gain practical insights into how forward-thinking organisations across the Nordics are enhancing digital capability through well-planned infrastructure strategy and modern technology adoption.

Canada's tax problem isn't just slow phones at the CRA—it's a century of bolt-on rules that made filing confusing, subjective, and expensive to administer. A new review found CRA contact centres gave accurate answers only 17% of the time during the 2025 tax season window, echoing long-standing issues flagged by earlier audits (including millions of dropped and blocked calls). This complicated tax system creates unnecessary bureaucracy, wasted money, unpaid taxes, and a subjective audit process that means you can pay more (or less) taxes depending on how well your auditor slept the night before.Hiring more agents won't fix a tax law that's impossible to interpret. Simpler rules will. In this episode, I sketch a path to simpler, fairer, faster taxes. First, a quick history lesson on why we have income taxes, and how they became a Frankenstein's monster of laws that no one can understand. This will show us that the problem is getting worse, and will keep getting worse until we have a major system overhaul. Then I'll get into solutions.I explore proven options from abroad:Pre-populated / return-free filing (pioneered by Denmark; now used in most OECD countries) to slash time, phone calls, and errors—already being piloted in Quebec for simple returns. Flatter, broader bases with minimal carve-outs (think Estonia's ultra-simple system) and NZ's broad-base/low-rate GST—models that raise revenue with less friction. Withholding-as-final for straightforward T4 earners, so most people don't file at all unless their situation is complex—borrowing design cues from the Nordics. Look, nobody wants to talk about tax until they have to. But when they do - and they have to every year - they hate everything about our tax system. It creates unnecessary frustration and anger. Nobody wants to deal with the CRA, and nobody wants to work for the CRA either. Why would they?Many people who don't pay taxes do it out of frustration - they just give up. They're not evil; they're just overwhelmed. Tax filings have become a game.I'm not anti-tax; I'm anti-waste. My companies happily pay millions of dollars in corporate taxes annually. Its employees add another 1M in income taxes to our society, and you can add HST on top of all of it. What I want is less money burned collecting taxes and more money spent on services. If Canadians want better healthcare, safer streets, and a clearer deal with citizens, we should push for tax simplification, not just bigger call centres.Sources:CRA call centres: 17% accuracy (Feb–May 2025); prior audits on access/accuracy. Investment Executive+1Canada's income tax history (1917 “temporary” tax). The Canadian EncyclopediaProvincial/territorial corporate tax—CRA administers most; exceptions Quebec & Alberta. Canada.caPre-populated returns (Denmark origin; 28 OECD countries). Tax Policy CenterQuebec simplified / pre-filled return pilot (2025 filing for 2024 year).

Listen Now to 136 Future Now Show I am writing this summary of this week’s show from the island of Maui, in Hawaii.  It’s been a wild week, starting with a trip to the rugged and wild Farallon Islands, 25 miles of the coast of San Francisco, home to copious wildlife, fish, marine mammals, and the great white sharks.  Getting there was harrowing, with very rought seas, but the sun broke through as we arrived revealing the majestic Farallons through the dissapating mist.  All of us had something to share about our experienes there in today’s show! And naturally we keep you up to date on the latest with 3I/ATLAS, though by the time you read this the perihelion has happened, with wthatever it has to reveal about any sentience behind it’s actions…  And in the second hour you will meet three visiting Nordics to Silicon Valley, involved with what’s known as “Clean Tech,” and the unfolding use of AI in developing the energy sector of our human civilization. We met at the start of Nordic Impact Week, at the Nordic Innovation House in Palo Alto, CA, and carried on for today’s show. The Nordics have an extemely sophisticated energy infrastruction for power sharing in Scandinavia and are in Silicon Valley to scale their advanced use of technology to the larger world, starting with us! Enjoy.. Our intrepid crew returning from the Farallon Islands

Few people have had as many conversations with the minds behind the Nordics' most successful retail and e-commerce brands as Björn Påhlman Spenger.  As the host of Framtidens E-handel, one of the Nordics' biggest business podcasts, he's sat down with top founders, CMOs, and retail leaders to uncover what really drives growth in a rapidly changing landscape.  In this episode, we flip the script and turn the mic on Björn to hear what he's learned after hundreds of interviews: the common traits of those who win, the pitfalls that hold brands back, and where he believes the future of retail and e-commerce is headed.  Tune in to learn:  What top-performing e-commerce brands have in common The biggest mistakes retailers make (and how to avoid them) How shifting consumer behaviour is shaping the next wave of retail  A conversation about growth, mindset, and the power of staying close to your customers in an industry that never stands still. 

In this episode, Morten and Lars provide their perspectives on a question from listener Ida and also revisit some of their key memories from GTD Summer Camp 2025, including: - How to introduce GTD to someone close to burnout - Some tracks from the 2025 Summer Camp that stood out for Morten/Lars - How Lars' GTD practice is different following the GTD Summer Camp ..and more! We hope that this helps you in your 'GTD journey' and thank you so much to Ida for her question! If you have questions for us to pick up in the podcast, you can reach us at podcast@vitallearning.dk And as always, we'd love for you to follow or connect with us on LinkedIn! We always like to connect with GTD'ers from around the world, you can find the links to our YouTube profiles in the Links below. We have some really cool free webinars coming up, which we really want you to join

Two tech worlds meet to answer a pressing question: if AI can act for us, what should remain meaningfully human? In this episode, We've teamed up with Gareth Mitchell and Ghislaine Boddington from the Somewhere on Earth Podcast to compare notes on practical adoption, cultural nuance, and the messy, beautiful realities of bringing AI into daily life. Andrew Grill shares how enterprise leaders move from hype to “aha” moments, including a live case where a 17,000-cell SWOT analysis became actionable strategy in minutes. We dig into why projects stall—broken processes, outdated ROI, and thin literacy—and how smart training and transparent policies shift teams from pilots to outcomes.The conversation widens beyond boardrooms. Ghislaine traces the arc from early telepresence and immersive art to today's “body in the digital,” where trust, intimacy, and presence underpin healthy human-machine collaboration. We examine digital human twins, agentic AI that makes decisions on our behalf, and the ethics of agents negotiating with each other. Expect clear takes on governance, transparency, and the line between pattern-matched empathy and the real thing. We also explore global perspectives: AI ethics in the Nordics, smart-city lessons from Singapore, manufacturing in Japan, and the access gaps that keep billions offline.Media and learning are transforming too. Universities are moving from AI bans to guidance that requires prompt and output documentation, building accountability and critical thinking. On the creator side, we look at AI in podcast production and the next step—personalized listening that adapts to knowledge and time. Along the way, we share recommended episodes, from Karen Jacobsen's origin as the original Aussie Siri voice to Deborah Humble's high-wire opera story packed with lessons in resilience and preparation.If you're curious about technology but allergic to hype, this co-production brings grounded examples, human-centered design, and a global lens. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a practical AI playbook, and leave a quick review with your biggest “aha” or open question—what would you never let an AI decide for you?Resources mentionedSomewhere on Earth PodcastThanks for listening to Digitally Curious. You can buy the book that showcases these episodes at curious.click/orderYour Host is Actionable Futurist® Andrew GrillFor more on Andrew - what he speaks about and recent talks, please visit ActionableFuturist.com Andrew's Social ChannelsAndrew on LinkedIn@AndrewGrill on Twitter @Andrew.Grill on InstagramKeynote speeches hereOrder Digitally Curious

Welcome back to the EUCVC Summit Talks, where we spotlight Europe's corporate venture leaders, founders, and academics shaping the future of venture collaboration.In this episode, Francesco Di Lorenzo, Associate Professor at Copenhagen Business School, takes the stage to share fresh research on the state of corporate venture capital (CVC) in the Nordics. From Sweden to Denmark, Francesco explores how corporates are experimenting with different venturing models, what makes CVC effective, and why Nordic corporates are some of Europe's most important venture partners.Rather than polished slides, Francesco offers candid reflections from the Summit itself: the open questions corporates face, the trade-offs in structuring CVC units, and why cultural change in the boardroom is key if corporate venturing is to succeed long-term.

In this week's special Nordic Visionaries episode on the Innovation Storytellers Show, I enjoyed a conversation that started at TechBBQ in Copenhagen and quickly stretched from refugee camps in Kenya to data centers in Norway and boardrooms in Silicon Valley. I sat down with Soulaima Gourani, a Moroccan-Danish entrepreneur now based in Palo Alto, for this special episode supported by the EU Nordic Council of Ministers and the governments of Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland.  Soulaima shares how she went from growing up in remote Danish towns and troubled neighborhoods to becoming a VC-backed founder, keynote speaker, and author. She describes a life built on agency and resilience, from leaving home young and navigating early setbacks to discovering flow in a full calendar. Her line that pressure is a privilege sets the tone for a candid look at ambition, stamina, and the choices that shape a founder's path. We unpack her two current ventures, Happioh and Ailo. At Happioh, she is building an AI agent gym and a meeting spam filter that lives in the pre-meeting space, where agendas get fixed, invites improve, and agents are monitored and taken off air the moment they drift. That same scaffolding is supporting a healthcare use case in low-resource settings, where AI can nudge junior clinicians to ask the right questions and auto-complete forms so scarce doctors can see more patients with greater focus.  Storytelling runs through the entire discussion. Soulaima breaks down how she learned the language of venture, sharpened her narrative, and raised capital from scores of investors over Zoom. She talks openly about the realities of governance, the discipline of staying forever in beta, and the difference between being busy and being productive.  We also explore what the Nordics contribute to global innovation culture, from emotional intelligence and community orientation to the need to think bigger from day one. In the hot seat, she picks the internet as the greatest innovation, dreams about joining a space program, and makes a heartfelt case for curing cancer, noting why AI gives her real confidence that progress will arrive faster than many expect.  

The 3 Everyday Habits That Win Trust Sales rises or falls on trust. As of 2025—post-pandemic, hybrid, and time-poor—buyers have less patience for fluffy rapport and more appetite for authentic, repeatable behaviours. This guide turns three classic human-relations principles into practical sales moves you can use today: be genuinely interested, smile first, and use people's names naturally. What's the fastest way to build trust with time-poor buyers in 2025? Lead with curiosity, not a pitch. Ask about their context before your product, and mirror back what you heard in concrete terms (KPIs, deadlines, constraints). This converts a transactional meeting into a partnership from minute one. In Japan, the US, and Europe alike, executives are bandwidth-constrained; they remember the seller who reduces cognitive load. In enterprise deals, curiosity surfaces hidden stakeholders and post-purchase risks. In SMEs and startups, it reveals cash-flow windows and procurement shortcuts. Curiosity isn't manipulation; buyers detect feigned interest instantly. Done right, it creates common ground that makes every later ask easier. Start every meeting with one “business-human” question (e.g., “What must be true by quarter-end for this to be a win?”). Mini-summary: Curiosity first → faster trust → smoother deals. Do now: Prepare three context questions per persona. How do I show genuine interest without going off-topic? Be human, but keep it business-linked. Tie personal context to business impact; keep it relevant, short, and anchored in their role, industry, and timeline. Ask about post-purchase adoption (“What would success look like for your users in the first 30 days?”), operational realities (e.g., Japan-specific compliance), and leadership pressures (“What will your CFO scrutinise most this quarter?”). Compare contexts—APAC vs EU privacy, B2B vs consumer rollout, startup urgency vs multinational governance. Document what you learn and open the next meeting by recapping their words—snippet-ready proof you listened. Mini-summary: Human questions, business purpose. Do now: Build a one-page “interest map” per account. Does smiling still matter in serious, high-stakes meetings? Smile first to set the social temperature, then match the room. Under deadline pressure, many sellers present a tense “serious face” that raises defensiveness. A genuine, early smile lowers friction and signals “I'm safe to talk to,” especially in first meetings or escalations. In Japan's formal settings, a measured smile plus a slight nod communicates respect and openness; in the US, a warmer smile can accelerate rapport. The key is timing: smile as you greet, then calibrate to the buyer's style within seconds. The goal isn't cheeriness; it's creating a cooperative atmosphere where tough topics (risk, price, delivery dates) can be discussed without posturing. Mini-summary: Smile first, calibrate fast. Do now: Add “reset face → greet with smile” to your pre-meeting checklist. How can using names increase influence without sounding fake? Use names sparingly at moments of emphasis. Offer your own name first, confirm pronunciation, then use theirs to mark alignment and commitment—never as filler. In group settings with multiple stakeholders, sketch a quick seating map to avoid missteps later. This habit personalises without pandering and helps you track the real decision network behind procurement. Close clearly: “Aiko-san, we'll send the red-lined MSA by Friday.” Mini-summary: Names for signal, not filler. Do now: Practise name recall and pronunciation before the meeting. What's the cross-market playbook (Japan vs US vs Europe) for relationship momentum? Universal habits, local nuance. The same three behaviours—interest, smile, names—work everywhere, but settings differ. In Japan, invest more time upfront on context and internal harmony; be precise with honorifics and follow through meticulously. In the US, move faster to value articulation and next steps, keeping warmth high. In Europe, expect variance (Nordics vs DACH vs Southern Europe) in decision cadence and consensus. Align to company type: startups reward speed and flexibility; multinationals reward consistency and risk management. Hybrid selling post-2020 demands tighter summaries and clearer asynchronous follow-ups. Mini-summary: Universal habits, local settings. Do now: Add a “market nuance” line to every call plan. How do I turn these habits into a repeatable system my team can use? System beats intention. Bake the habits into templates, rituals, and measurable checkpoints. Create a pre-call sheet with (1) three curiosity questions, (2) a reminder to smile on entry, (3) stakeholder names and pronunciations, (4) a 90-second recap script for follow-ups. In your CRM, add fields for “buyer language used,” “stakeholder map,” and “adoption risk notes.” In weekly pipeline reviews, inspect not just stages but relationship signals: trust markers logged, name usage at key moments, and recap emails sent within 24 hours. Train using short, scenario-based drills (enterprise renewal, startup pilot, public-sector RFP). Mini-summary: Process it so it happens. Do now: Standardise a one-page “relationship checklist.” Final wrap Make the buyer—the human—the centre of the conversation. Start with interest, open with a smile, and use names with intent. Then systemise the behaviours so they happen every time. When products look similar, these micro-habits become the differentiator. About the author Dr. Greg Story, Ph.D. in Japanese Decision-Making, is President of Dale Carnegie Tokyo Training and Adjunct Professor at Griffith University. He is a two-time winner of the Dale Carnegie “One Carnegie Award” (2018, 2021) and recipient of the Griffith University Business School Outstanding Alumnus Award (2012). As a Dale Carnegie Master Trainer, Greg is certified to deliver globally across all leadership, communication, sales, and presentation programs, including Leadership Training for Results. He has written several books, including three best-sellers — Japan Business Mastery, Japan Sales Mastery, and Japan Presentations Mastery — along with Japan Leadership Mastery and How to Stop Wasting Money on Training. His works have been translated into Japanese, including ザ営業, プレゼンの達人, トレーニングでお金を無駄にするのはやめましょう, and 現代版「人を動かす」リーダー. Greg also publishes daily business insights on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter, and hosts six weekly podcasts. On YouTube, he produces The Cutting Edge Japan Business Show, Japan Business Mastery, and Japan's Top Business Interviews.

In this episode of Nordic Visionaries, I had the chance to sit down with Magnus Egeberg, CEO of Mastercard Payment Services, live at TechBBQ. Magnus shared his journey from consulting and Nets to leading Mastercard's Nordic business, and how he found himself at the center of one of the company's most significant acquisitions. He walked me through what it meant to migrate national payment infrastructures across five countries, handling trillions of dollars while making sure everything worked flawlessly from day one. We talked about the role of account-to-account payments as the backbone of both consumer and business transactions, and why the next wave of innovation lies in embedded finance. Magnus described how payments are being integrated directly into the workflows of professionals in industries such as law and healthcare, making once cumbersome processes faster, safer, and far more intuitive.  Cybersecurity was another prominent theme in our conversation. Magnus explained why security is never an add-on at Mastercard but part of the DNA, from zero-trust design to developer training and global threat intelligence. He also shared a very personal story about his battle with cancer, and how it deepened his admiration for medical innovation. As we wrapped up, Magnus pointed to sustainability as the innovation challenge of our time and why Mastercard is pushing toward net zero by 2040. It was an inspiring reminder of how financial infrastructure, resilience, and human stories all intersect in the Nordics.  

How does GTD impact your life - both as an entrepreneur and in life in general? Listen to this interview episode with Peter Gallant, Professor of Innovation, Strategy and Entrepreneurship at Smith School of Business, Queen's University, in Kingston, Canada. In this episode, you'll learn more about how: - How Peter's journey with GTD and how it has shaped him as an entrepreneur and in life overall. - How his Ph.D. work in engineering, using AI for data and time-series analysis, sparked his first start-up in the late 1990s. - How GTD played a major role his “semi-retirement” plan at age 50. ..and more! We hope that this helps you in your GTD journey and thank you so much Peter for taking the time for the interview. If you have ideas for future episodes or questions for us to pick up in the podcast, you can reach us at podcast@vitallearning.dk And as always, we'd love for you to follow or connect with us on LinkedIn! We always like to connect with GTD'ers from around the world, you can find the links to our YouTube profiles in the Links below. We have some really cool free webinars coming up, which we really want you to join

It's Day 3 of IAAPA Expo Europe, and this episode of Skip the Queue brings you insights from industry leaders. Hear from Andreas Andersen (Liseberg), Peter van der Schans (IAAPA EMEA), Laura Read (Marwell Zoo), Aaron Wilson (ProSlide), and Robbi Jones (Katapult) on resilience, creativity, and the future of attractions.Skip the Queue is brought to you by Rubber Cheese, a digital agency that builds remarkable systems and websites for attractions that helps them increase their visitor numbers. Your host is Paul Marden, with co host Andy Povey and roving reporter Claire Furnival.If you like what you hear, you can subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, and all the usual channels by searching Skip the Queue or visit our website SkiptheQueue.fm.If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review, it really helps others find us. And remember to follow us on LinkedIn. Show references:  https://www.liseberg.se/en/https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreas-veilstrup-andersen/Andreas Veilstrup Andersen is the CEO and President of the Liseberg Group, Sweden – operating one of Scandinavia's most visited amusement parks. Andreas has a legal and financial background and has been working in the amusement park industry since 2000.  First in several capacities at Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, Denmark, later as Vice President of European operations at IAAPA EMEA in Brussels, Belgium. Andreas was the 2018 Chairman of IAAPA. He currently holds board positions at Farup Sommerland and Alsik Hotel in Denmark, as well as Momentum Leisure and Leo's Lekland, Europe's largest chain of FEC's. Andreas is heading up IAAPA's sustainability initiatives, and occasionally blogs on https://reflections.liseberg.se/.Plus, live from the Day 3 of the IAAPA Expo Europe show floor, we catch up with:Aaron Wilson - Vice President, Business Development Europe & Latin America, Proslide Technologyhttps://www.proslide.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronlouiswilson/Robbie Jones - Insights Director, Katapaulthttps://www.katapult.co.uk/https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrrobbiejones/Peter van der Schans - Executive Director & Vice President, IAAPA EMEAhttps://iaapa.org/expos-and-events/expo-europehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-van-der-schans-87715717/Laura Read - Chief Executive, Marwell Zoohttps://www.marwell.org.uk/https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-read-she-her-98110726/ Transcriptions:  Paul Marden: Welcome to Skip the Queue, the podcast about the world's best attractions and the amazing people that work in them. I'm your host, Paul Marden, and together with my co-host, Andy Povey, and roving reporter Claire Furnival, we're here at day 3 of IAAPA Expo Europe. On today's show, Andy talks to Andreas Andersen, CEO and President of iseberg Group, about resilience. I meet Peter van der Schans from IAAPA EMEA, and we catch up with Laura Read from Marwell Zoo. First, let's go over to Andy.Andy Povey: So I'm joined now by Andreas Andersen, who's the chief exec of Liseberg, Scandinavia's most visited amusement park. Andreas, welcome to Barcelona. It's very good to see you here. Can you tell the listeners at home a little bit about Liseberg and what you do there?Andreas Andersen:  Sure. So I'm heading up one of the classic regional city-based parks in Northern Europe. So you have Liseberg, you have Tivoli in Copenhagen, you have Kornalund in Stockholm, and Linnanmaki in Helsinki. And we're part of this tradition of parks that have a very strong community base and a long history. Liseberg is 102 years old and three years old. And also parks that represent cultural heritage as well as reflect the cities we're located in. Lovely, lovely regional park in downtown Gothenburg. And if you haven't been, you should come visit.Andy Povey: Absolutely. I must admit, I haven't made it there myself yet. It's on the bucket list. So our theme for today's recording is about recovery and resilience. And recently, in your blog address, you wrote that you feel like for the past four years, you've been in constant crisis mode. Can you tell us a little bit more about that?Andreas Andersen: Well, I think a lot of executives or just people working in this industry can recognise that the last four or five years have been very turbulent, very, very, very volatile.Andreas Andersen: It all started with the pandemic in March 2020, we were at Lisa closed down for 17 months, so we didn't have any any business at all for for 17 months. Then we reopened in the middle of '21, very very hard— you know, with a lot of restrictions and an organisation that had not been you know operating anything for a long time and we also had to let go a lot of people. Then in '22, I think everybody experienced this giant rush, you know, that everybody wanted to get back into the park. So we couldn't really keep up with demand. And that was stressful in a different way. In '23, the market in the Nordics really suffered for some reason. It was a wit, summer and inflation, and interest rates.Andreas Andersen: And everything that went with, you could say, sort of the beginning of an economic downturn. And then, in 2024, our biggest investment, our biggest project expansion in the last 100 years, a large new indoor water park burned down. So it feels like these four or five years has really been this chain of crisis that we've had to get over and manage, basically.Andy Povey: Yeah, I mean, what we're hearing from people on the show floor is that the economic and political unrest that we have all over the Western world is creating some turbulence in the market. So talk to us a little bit more about the fire at Oceania. What happened?Andreas Andersen: We had been building the water park for almost three years, and we were six, seven weeks away from handover. It was some of the last works on the right installation that went wrong. It was a plastic welding that overheated, and these things happen, as you know.Andreas Andersen: Unfortunately, we lost a colleague in the fire and that was basically, you could say, that overshadowed, I would say, everything, especially in the first weeks. Andreas Andersen: That was devastating to all of us and obviously, especially his family. But soon after, we also had to make some decisions. You know, did we want to rebuild? How did we want to rebuild? At what pace? How would we finance? etc. etc. So you also very quickly move into the next phase of a crisis management and that is recovery. And we've been in that phase ever since. Andy Povey: Interesting. It's a devastating situation. I mean, your concern obviously has to be for the team and the people involved— not just those affected directly, but everybody on the floor who feels an emotional impact from this situation. So what tips would you give, as a leader, going through a situation like that, to anyone else listening who may be facing their own challenges?Andreas Andersen:  Well, I think I learned a lot during those weeks and months. And I think I learned that in a crisis, especially of this magnitude, everything becomes very naked. Everything becomes very raw. And you cannot really play a role as a leader. You have to be yourself. You have to be authentic. And it's okay to also show emotions and be caught up in this process of figuring out what to do with the project and the team and yourself when you meet challenges of this severity. Andreas Andersen:  So I would say be yourself, but also recognise that I always say that leadership in a crisis is a little bit like your biggest asset is the confidence that people have in you. And that confidence is something you build up over years. It's a little bit like a bank account that you can then draw on when the crisis hits. But you really have to make sure that you have something on that bank account. You can't borrow confidence. It's not up for loan. So you really, you know, crisis management, from a leadership perspective, actually starts a lot earlier than the crisis. It's about, you know, building a team that works well together, that trusts you and has confidence in you. And then, when the crisis hits, you know, you can draw on that trust, draw on that confidence. So I think that's two of the learnings that I had during this process.Andy Povey: I love the idea of the bank that you can draw on. We're making deposits in our bank every day, not just as a commercial leadership level, but a personal level as well. You need to have that resilience built in yourself. A lovely analogy. And I really love the idea of authenticity. So, if we move on now to talking a little bit more about what we do in an attraction, I think authenticity plays a really big part in that. So, how important is it for you to keep innovating at Liseberg?Andreas Andersen: It's super important because we are in a regional market. I mean, if you look at how our guests are composed, you know, we have 90% Swedish people and then 10%, maybe 12% in a good year from other, especially Nordic countries. But the majority are Swedish and about 60% of our total volume is actually from the local market. And if you want to attract the local market and you want to drive revisitation, Gothenburg is a large city, but it's not a huge city. You have to keep the product fresh. You have to reinvest, reinvent, and constantly adapt. And I think that's actually... part of the, you could say, the formula for these Nordic city-based parks that we've actually had to all reinvent, you know, throughout our history. I mean, Tivoli, that was founded in 1843, it was built by this crazy entrepreneur called Geo Carstensen.Andreas Andersen: And when Tivoli opened on the 15th of August, it was late, it was over budget, and it was not quite finished. And he got a question from a journalist, you know, asking him, you know, when will Tivoli be finished? And his response was, 'Never.' Tivoli will never be finished. And I think, you know, it's almost 200 years ago that he said this, but I think it encompasses sort of the real DNA of our industry that we have to constantly evolve with our guests and reinvent ourselves. And I think, again, that the city, the Nordic city-based parks have really been quite good at that.Andy Povey: Obviously, I mean, Liseberg with 100 years, Tivoli with almost 200 years. There's something good there. You're doing something right. So more recently, you've taken a position with, I'm going to pronounce this awfully, Leo's Lekland. Compare and contrast Liseberg to Europe's largest chain of family entertainment centres?Andreas Andersen:  I mean, there are a lot of similarities and also a lot of differences. I think what is interesting for me, you know, working with Leos is that it's, in many ways, the model is the same. I mean, you pay an entrance fee, you spend a few hours with your family, you may eat a lunch or buy an ice cream or a plush animal. So in many ways, it's the same. But I think, when we're talking about these attractions that are really designed for shorter visits, there is a convenience perspective to them that it's slightly different than, you know, visiting an amusement park or a theme park for a full day. I remember once I had a conversation with one of our competitors in this market, not FECs as such, but, you know, these shorter visits, you know, two, three-hour visit attractions, very often midway attractionsAndreas Andersen: And he said, 'What we sell is actually not.' necessarily an experience, it is two hours spent and I think that's a little bit of a different perspective on an attraction that you actually also go to, Leo's Lekland, to have your kids, you know, be really really tired when they get home, you know, in today's world, where everything is a lot of a lot of stuff is digital and and the kids sit there with their with the tablets and their phones and or their game consoles or they're online with their friends. I think play has a huge and important role to play in the development of motoric and social skills for kids. I think physical play will be something we're going to discuss a lot in the decades to come, because I think we lost a couple of generations the last 20 years. And I think that's a super dangerous thing. So getting back to your question, a lot of similarities, but there are also some differences and I've learned a lot by working with them.Andy Povey: Fantastic. The talk about play really resonates. We lost a year, maybe 18 months through COVID. I have 11-year-old twin girls. I love the idea that me taking them to our local FEC on a Saturday morning so I could recover from a hangover while they went and played was a really positive, good parent thing to do. So thank you for that. We're at the show. What are you looking forward to seeing when you get out on the show floor, when we eventually let you go out on the show floor?Andreas Andersen:  Oh! I very rarely have a plan. I like to just stroll around. Actually, I see it a little bit like visiting an amusement park. You shop for experiences and you see what happens. I think one of the great things about these expos is the fact that, and that's probably what I look most forward to, is that you meet your industry colleagues.Andreas Andersen:  A company like ours, Liseberg, we do not exist; we do not operate within a chain structure. We do not have a corporate mother that knows a lot about what we do. We do not have other parks that we can benchmark with. So these shows is also a little bit a way for us to get out of the bubble and meet other people that work with the same thing as we do. So it's actually not as much the expo floor or the events or the educational program as it is meeting the people. I enjoy.Andy Povey: Andreas, it's been great talking to you. Thank you very much for your time and have a fantastic show.Andreas Andersen:  And I wish you the very same. Thank you.Paul Marden: Now let's head over to the show floor. So we are here on the ProSlide stand, and I'm here with Aaron. Aaron, introduce yourself. Tell us a little bit about ProSlide.Aaron  Wilson: Hi, nice to meet you. Thanks for coming in. I'm Aaron Wilson, Senior Vice President, Business Development, EMEA, with ProSlide. I've been with ProSlide for nine years. We're focused really on the design and innovation of rides. That's where we really form the nucleus of who ProSlide is.Paul Marden: Okay, so what are you launching here at this year's IAAPA?Aaron  Wilson:  Yeah, so let's walk over here to our model table. Where we have a large model of our newest feature, which is the Hive. We actually opened up two rides this year, one at Chimelong in China, the most attended water park in the world. Paul Marden: Wow. Aaron  Wilson:  And that's with a five-person family raft, everyone seated facing each other.Paul Marden: That's amazing. So you're going through this on a five-person ring kind of thing?Aaron  Wilson:  Exactly, a five-person tube. So it's a tight radius helix curve. So as you enter, you're entering into a completely open, basically cathedral space. But as you're dropping and turning very quickly, you're staying really stuck along the outside of the wall, feeling those centrifugal forces. And you have a 360-degree global view. So you're able to look forward, backwards, upwards, down. See everywhere where you came from and where you're headed.Paul Marden: It's amazing, isn't it? Because you've got transparent sides on it. So you can see outside as well.Aaron  Wilson:  Absolutely. And there's a ton of theming potential here. In the middle is a support structure. And so we're working on theming there in the middle, if we can. Special effects around the outside. In this case, it's transparent. Exactly.Paul Marden: You've got some amazing models on the table here. This is one of those rides that you can't really bring to IAAPA and experience in real life because we'd all have to be in our swimmers.Aaron  Wilson:  Unfortunately, yes.Paul Marden: But some amazing, amazing models. What's innovative about this? What's this bringing to the market, which is unusual?Aaron  Wilson:  So you have that 360-degree helix turn. We've completely opened it up. So normally in a turn, you can only see a few meters in front of you. In this case, it's a feature that's completely open as you're making that turn. And so you can see everywhere, right? Up and down, forwards, backwards. And that's really part of the differentiation. But obviously the biggest sensation is actually that experience you feel as you have those centrifugal forces around the outside. With a five-person boat, you're looking at about 800 pounds, and you're whipping around the outside, gaining tons of speed throughout. So it's really exciting. The additional interesting thing about this element is we're also doing a two-person tube and a small compact footprint.Aaron  Wilson:  So it's very adaptable for indoor parks or even outdoor parks that don't have a ton of space. That compact footprint gives a lot of flexibility in the design.Paul Marden: So you've got this in China at the moment, you say?Aaron  Wilson:  Yep, and one in the US. And there are a lot more to come in the next one to two years already programmed and open. So we're really excited about this for the water parks.Paul Marden: That's amazing. So we've been asking everybody to get their crystal ball out and tell us trends for 2026. Where do you think the market is going? What do you think that we can expect to see this time next year at IAAPA? Aaron  Wilson:  Water coasters. Water coasters are the big thing. Paul Marden: What on earth is a water coaster? Aaron  Wilson:  Yeah, well, let's head over here to another model table. We have a couple of examples here. So I would say, like in the last couple of years, specifically speaking about Europe, we've seen an amazing response to our water coaster technology using water propulsion. We call it the rocket blast.Paul Marden: Right.Aaron  Wilson:  And so what you have is a series of injectors placed along the uphill sections that actually push the boat uphill. That's amazing. And so with that technology, we're able to do a number of things. And this actually, this ride opened about a year and a half ago at Land of Legends in Turkey. This is, you know, one of the biggest things that will stand out to you here is, as you're looking around all the models, what's very common with a water park is you have—gravity-fed rides, meaning you climb a tower and use gravity to go down. Paul Marden:  This is very flat and long. Aaron  Wilson:  Exactly. This is built essentially on grade. There's no tower here. So, I mean, the first thing is accessibility. So now, as you know, there's no steps. You know, water parks are historically very difficult to meet accessibility. Paul Marden: Yeah. Do you know, I've never thought of that before. But of course, you need to climb the stairs to be able to get to the top of the tower.Aaron  Wilson:  So this case, this is called Turtle Coaster. And this is at Land of Legends. Our guests can walk or, you know, walk or wheel.Paul Marden: Yep.Aaron  Wilson:  As they want up this ramp. This is about four meters off grade. We have a little bit of a drop here. So this is a closed-circuit coaster, right? Meaning the guests are finishing and ending in the same location. Also something different from a water ride. Normally you're going up a tower and finishing in a pool. Here you're finishing and starting at the same location, much like a mechanical dry-growing coaster.Paul Marden: And this, just for listeners' benefit, this has got eight or nine turns in there. It's really, you know. It's going to be a normal coaster-type ride, isn't it?Aaron  Wilson:  This is a 420-meter-long coaster. You're looking at about a minute-and-a-half water ride, which is crazy. Most water rides are about 30 seconds, you know? So it's a really long experience. You have eight uphill last sections, along with what else is unique with our technology is we're able to incorporate these flat last sections. So much like a mechanical coaster has that launch element to it. We're able to do that with water propulsion. So right off the stop, you have this completely flat launch blast. Up, you're getting the elevation. You go around for 420 meters, a series of flying saucer features, uphill sections. Coming back into a water channel.Aaron  Wilson:  And landing in the landing pool, it picks you up on a moving station conveyor. So this conveyor is actually moving at a very slow pace. Guests are cutting off and getting back on.Paul Marden: This is not a lazy river, is it? That you're just sat around for a little while. This is going to hair around.Aaron  Wilson:  Absolutely not. And then here at Siam Park is another coaster here. We opened up in '23. Doolin. So you had two lanes.Paul Marden: Oh, wow.Aaron  Wilson:  And you're racing side by side throughout the experience.Paul Marden: That is amazing. Well, Aaron, look— it's been wonderful to meet you. Find out more about what you're doing here. Looks super, super exciting. I want to get my swimmers on and go and try some, but maybe not whilst we're here in Barcelona, but maybe one time soon.Andy Povey: So we're on the show floor again and I'm with Robbie Jones from Katapult. Robbie, please tell the listeners at home a little bit about Katapult, what you do with them.Robbie  Jones: So we design themed attractions, experiences and destinations. So that can be anything from theme parks all the way through to museums. And our— I guess our core competency is design stage, so pre-concept designs. We get involved quite a lot in theme parks that are very early stages. And my role in that is quite unique within the team of creatives and designers, in that I look towards the insights. So sometimes I work with feasibility partners to kind of pull together the economic requirements for a theme park or an attraction to exist. But more often than not, it's about the guest journey, the guest behaviour, how can we make the guest experience as best as possible by understanding information research that we might have already but also doing some primary research as well to make sure we're creating like that amazing moment for every person that walks through the door.Andy Povey: Fantastic. That sounds really, really impressive. Looking back over 2025, what are your key takeaways from this year so far?Robbie  Jones: Goodness, me. I think I'll speak with a lot of what the industry would say, which is it's been a little bit sticky in places in 2025. There's certainly been more maybes than yeses or nos in terms of projects. But I think we're starting to see things beginning to move. Someone's put some oil in the engine somewhere, which is great. And there's some really exciting projects coming up. Obviously, as a UK-based company, seeing the likes of Universal, Poodie Foo, setting up shop. It's going to be really interesting to see how that impacts not just the UK, but the European market as well.Andy Povey: I couldn't agree more. I really, really look forward to seeing that anticipated improvement in quality of experience that we'll get across the UK. So looking forward to '26 now, what are you anticipating as being the exciting things we're talking about in 12 months' time?Robbie  Jones: Gosh, I mean, I think there will be an element of a quiet time, I think, especially with the new build theme parks, whether that's in the UK or, of course, in the Middle East. I think there'll be an element of quiet that we need to get used to in terms of waiting to see what the next big thing is or the next IP that's going to be in those rides. But I certainly see a lot more positive vibes coming out of the industry. I think we'll see more exciting local experiences, maybe not just big global ones. And yeah, just on the horizon, maybe plenty more opportunity and positivity.Paul Marden: It has been my first IAAPA Expo, and I've had a whale of a time. And I am joined here by Peter van der Schans, the VP and Exec Director of IAAPA EMEA. Peter. Tell me a little bit about what the show has been like for you because I've had an amazing time.Peter van der Schans: Well, so did I. The funny thing is we've always worked so hard on these expos. It takes a hell of a lot of time and it all comes back in this one week. And once you exit that plane or train or however you arrive, you start in a bus and then it's over before you know it.Peter van der Schans: And the week is done and you fall in this big black hole. That's where we're going now. So it's been a wonderful week and it's great to see all our members and every industry leader that is visiting us. We're a small team at IAAPA. We're not a huge organisation, but we have our members supporting us. It's a team effort from both IAAPA and our members, basically. And it's only pride.Paul Marden: One of the most important parts of the show, I think, is the educational side of what you do. There's been a big educational program. Are there any big themes that you've spotted coming out of that education strand?Peter van der Schans: So the education program actually is built with our members and by our members. So, of course, we guide it and shape it. But it's actually done by our members. So it's our members saying, 'Hey, this is where I have issues with. This is the trends I see. This is where I think this is going, which makes it always accurate because we have that industry knowledge by our members.' So in that sense, what we saw this year, there's a lot of focus on AI, obviously, the hot topic nowadays. Paul Marden: It's not a single interview I do where somebody hasn't dropped AI into it. So it's a hot topic.Peter van der Schans: It's a hot topic. And I'm very curious also to see where it's going because right now, if you see execution, the focus is much on back office. For example, Parks Reunidos for example, shared on stage, that they can now predict their next, the next day in visitor numbers with accuracy of 93% which is perfect. Things like that. But I'm curious exactly to see how it's going to evolve in the future to the front end. So what is that visitor going to see in the future? Whenever I go to a theme park, for example, will I be recognised by my name? And if I ride a ride, will the animatronic know my name, for example? Things like that. I think there's limitless possibilities.Peter van der Schans: And we're just at the verge of the beginning. And it's also so, so, so excited about that education program that we share what we know and we work together to get to that point to make it better. Paul Marden: Yeah, absolutely. The collaboration in this sector is just amazing. And IAAPA is just the living proof of that. So many smiling faces. You know that there were competitors together on stands just chatting and enjoying. It's a really enriching experience seeing everybody work together.Peter van der Schans: It is, it is. And the funny thing is I've worked in this industry since I was 16. I started as a ride operator. I didn't know any better than when I had an issue when I became supervisor and manager that I could call the park at the other end of the country and ask, like, 'Hey, how are you dealing with this?' And they helped me. And then I worked at the cinema industry and suddenly I realised that that is not that common in all industries, to say it lightly. It was much more competitive and I didn't want to share anything and really opened my eyes in a way that I realised, like, 'hey, this is special'. And also made me realise that IAAPA plays a big part in that as well, as an organisation to bring all those people together, to provide that platform to work together.Paul Marden: Yes, the facilitators of the community, aren't you? I'm going to ask you a slightly controversial question here. Outside of show hours, what has been your favourite party or event? And you can name drop any one of them. It's absolutely fine. Nobody will be upset with you.Peter van der Schans: I must say the ballpark reception, obviously for the British people. Always good beers. The Tuesday events with the opening ceremony, where we really kick off the week. They made me dance again. I don't recommend watching that back, but that's always just a fun, fun morning where we really kick off the week with a big energy, with a nice connection to the host city as well. Peter van der Schans: It's always fun to work on that and to execute that, but also the evening event, the opening reception where we gather. Well, this year we had 1,400 industry professionals coming together and mixing, mingling in Tibidabo. Without rain, thankfully. Paul Marden: Well, yes, this is the thing. So I was watching the skies thinking this could go really badly wrong. The BBC weather forecasts were not looking good. Peter van der Schans: There's this tradition in Barcelona that you bring eggs to nuns and they make sure you'll have good weather. We did that. We brought three dozens.Paul Marden: Took a lot of eggs. There was a lot of eggs broken in the making of this party. But you did very well. We're at the end. And everybody gets to heave a big sigh of relief that the show's done. It's in the can. But there's also a touch of sadness and fondness looking forward to what comes next. So next year, what have you got coming up first? I understand there's something in the Middle East.Peter van der Schans: Yeah, absolutely. We actually last year at this expo in Amsterdam, we announced the launch of our newest expo, IAAPA Expo Middle East, which is actually the first time in IAAPA's history that we built a new expo from scratch.Peter van der Schans: Never done that before, our members and and people in the industry ask us year after year like, 'When is IAAPA coming to the Middle East?' Of course, there's a huge amount of investments going on in that region. It's crazy. And in that sense, we we simply listen to our members and decide that this is the time we need to go. And we're excited to get closer and closer to the actual launch of the event in March in 2026 in Abu Dhabi.Paul Marden: So March 2026, Abu Dhabi is our next event. But there is another event coming next year. IAAPA is coming to London, which I'm very pleased about. Tell me, is the planning all starting on Monday? Are you already a long way through planning? Plans you can share with me about what's coming up in London?Peter van der Schans: We will have an exciting program for sure, but we're not there yet with with the actual education programme. That takes a little bit more of time, but we do have the show Florencial already and that's looking to be another record-breaking show. What I think also remarkable is that we will have one third more education than we will have in our previous show. So we always had two conference rooms— we'll have three in London. So we'll have actually quite a big increase in our educational offerings as well.Paul Marden: That's amazing. I cannot wait. This has been my first IAAPA, but it won't be my last IAAPA. I think I can confidently say that. So grateful for you and the team inviting us along as Skip the Queue to be part of what you've been doing. We've had an amazing time and I cannot wait to see you again in London.Peter van der Schans: Thank you very much and happy to have you here.Paul Marden: We are here at the end of day three of IAAPA Expo Europe. We've had a wonderful time. Andy Povey: I'm broken. Paul Marden: Oh man, I'm going home a broken man. The voice is barely holding on. I am here with Laura Read from Marwell Zoo. Welcome to Skip the Queue, Laura.Laura Read: Hello. Thank you for having me.Paul Marden: Laura, what's it been like for you? What's the benefit of coming to IAAPA for you?Laura Read: So this is my first IAAPA. For me, this was all around looking at what's new for visitor attractions, what's innovative, what's coming up, and what could we potentially bring to the visitors of Marwell Zoo that might be exciting and might drive more visitors to come to us, really, ultimately. It's all about, for us, diversification, keeping the zoo product at the core of our offer, obviously, but seeing how we can augment that with other things.Paul Marden: So what can we expect? Is it going to be a 4D immersive ride experience? Water slides? Or are you looking for something that enriches the in-real-life experience for you? And it's a bit more low-tech.Laura Read: Oh, I'd love to put in like a water park. Do you know what? That's something like the coolest stalls. Like going around going, 'oh, I'd love to design a water park. That's so fun. No, no'. So for us, it's really about looking at sort of smaller, lower-level, new attractions that we can bring in, you know, we're primarily a family audience. So it's what do kids want to play on? You know, I've seen some really cool little ride-on Jeeps that we think would work really, really well because we also want to stay true to our ethos. You know, Marwell's built its reputation on our conservation work, our hands-on conservation work in the field, you know, reversing species decline and also around sustainability. So sustainability is really core to our offer.Laura Read: This is not about turning Marwell into a theme park or a water park or anything like that, because the animals are still very much the stars of the show, as is the conservation work. But it's about how we can best utilise our space to provide that density of guest experience. And I think seeing all the things here today. That's where the inspiration comes in.Paul Marden: I think it's really interesting, isn't it? Because when you take your kids to the zoo, you need some space. You need a palate cleanser between the animals, don't you? To give the kids time to burn off some energy, to do something a little bit different. And then they come back re-energised and you're hiding the vegetables. You're teaching them about the conservation efforts and all the really important stuff that you do, but hidden around lots of things that keep them happy and engaged in what's going on.Laura Read: Exactly. The problem with zoos is the animals— they don't care that they're the exhibits.Laura Read: And, you know, we are a primarily outdoor attraction. Extremes of heat, rainy days, animals disappear. We know that. We know that the perennial problem is: I didn't see any animals because we have really, really high animal welfare levels and standards. And if those animals want to go off show and take themselves off to bed or away from the public view, they all can and should and do. So we need something that can keep kids particularly engaged and entertained, hopefully getting across a bit of education and messaging as well at the same time. That's a massive tick in the box. But, you know, it fills in the gaps when those animals just aren't playing ball.Paul Marden: Yeah, absolutely. Andy, what's been the highlight of day three for you, mate?Andy Povey: So I think it's actually talking to Laura.Paul Marden: Such a charmer.Andy Povey: Let me finish. Let me justify. It's really picking up the fact that this isn't just a theme park show. Yeah. There are elements for everything you could possibly do any day out any attraction, even in any shopping centre or any place you go to where there's large crowds of people— so it's all of that kind of stuff. I think is it's refreshing to see it through someone else's eyes, through our conversations.Laura Read: I was going to say, 'I have to say,'  Before I was chief exec at Marwell, I ran a really large, shopping centre like retail, leisure, events, and destination. And I'm amazed that this is not on more commercial real estate people's radar. I look to see if there's anyone from a previous company here, then there isn't on the attendees list. And I'm like, 'Wow,' this is all the stuff that we should have been thinking about five years ago, ten years ago, when we were realising that diversification from a retail point of view is so important because of online shopping. So that's really interesting what you say. It's not just the theme parks.Andy Povey: No, absolutely not. It's all about the day out. And ultimately, that's all. We're all here to do is we work in a fun industry, and fun doesn't have to just be an amusement park.Paul Marden: Yeah, I found it really interesting. Seeing the things that I've seen has stretched my definition of what a visitor attraction actually is, because it is more than just a theme park. As you wander around and you see the different exhibitors, I was expecting to see... The ride designers and some of the really cool tech that I've seen. But there was other stuff that I've seen that I just hadn't expected.Andy Povey: No, I mean, I was chatting yesterday to a guy who supplies park benches and litter bins.  You see them everywhere. Paul Marden: I say the park bench thing. I remember when I was working at the Botanic Gardens in Wales as it was being built, the importance of the park bench and sitting on them. And they were beautiful park benches, but they were also super comfy. The importance of a park bench, like a good toilet, can't be underestimated.Laura Read: You can always tell someone who works in visitor attraction operations, when they go to any other visitor attraction, they take pictures of the bins. I think that is an absolute giveaway. When I go places with my family and the kids are there, taking pictures of animals or taking pictures of each other or whatever they're doing. And I'm there. Oh, I'm just gonna take a picture of that sign. You know, like.Andy Povey: I have another confession to make. I had a conversation with my wife who took the kids to an attraction a couple of weeks ago. And I was most distressed that she hadn't taken a picture of the till for me.Paul Marden: Oh, you would know what the part number and everything about that till, wouldn't you? Such a retail geek.Paul Marden: Laura, thank you so much for joining us on Skip the Queue. It has been delightful. I feel that there might be a full episode coming on, talking about the zoo, if you'll have me.Laura Read: Yes, absolutely. Bring it on. Paul Marden: Oh, wonderful. Thank you so much.Andy Povey: Andy, take me to the airport.Paul Marden: If you enjoyed this episode, please like and comment in your podcast app. It really helps more people to find us. Show notes and links to all our guests this week are available on our website, skipthequeue.fm. It's been a massive team effort to take Skip the Queue to IAAPA. A huge thank you to Emily Burrows and Sami Entwistle, Steve Folland and Wenalyn Dionaldo, Claire Furnival and Andy Povey, as well as Erica Washington-Perry and her team at IAAPA Global Communications.Paul Marden: Next week, we're wrapping up our IAAPA theme, talking to Choni Fernandez, Chief Sustainability Officer at PortAventura Entertainment, and Jakob Wahl, President and CEO of IAAPA. See you then.  The 2025 Visitor Attraction Website Survey is now LIVE! Dive into groundbreaking benchmarks for the industryGain a better understanding of how to achieve the highest conversion ratesExplore the "why" behind visitor attraction site performanceLearn the impact of website optimisation and visitor engagement on conversion ratesUncover key steps to enhance user experience for greater conversionsTake the Rubber Cheese Visitor Attraction Website Survey Report

At EUVC Summit 2025, one of the most anticipated sessions broke down a powerful data set: 100 of Europe's breakout startups. This wasn't theory—it was company-by-company insight, straight from interviews and bottom-up analysis.Yes, there were rogue slides.Yes, the crowd wanted to skip to the AI part.And yes, it delivered.~75% of these startups are based in Germany, France, and the UK.Despite growing noise around new hubs, Europe's big three remain dominant. It reflects ecosystem maturity—but also a challenge: how do we better back breakout teams in the Nordics, Baltics, Southern Europe, and CEE?For the first time in years, Fintech dropped in sector rankings.Instead, we saw a wave of AI-native sales and marketing tools—building products that help companies grow smarter, automate go-to-market, and personalize customer acquisition at scale.“This year's cohort is selling before building. AI is their leverage.”One of the most notable shifts: a significant increase in solo-founder companies.This reflects:A rise in repeat operatorsGreater early-stage toolingMore confidence in focused executionIt also implies VCs may need to shift their bias—many of these founders are no longer waiting for a co-founder to “complete” them.The moment everyone waited for: AI-native insights.49% of these 100 startups are AI-native at their core.This means:AI is not bolted on—it's the product itselfMany founders have already moved beyond horizontal LLMs to verticalized applicationsThey're monetizing via use-case depth, not just model architectureLast year's 100 had an average of 25 employees per company.This year's cohort? Just 14. That's a 40% drop.But don't mistake that for weakness—roles are more specialized, and teams are more surgical. These aren't MVPs—they're hyper-focused execution machines.“Today's teams are smaller, sharper, and trained on efficiency from Day 1.”Across hundreds of founder interviews, one theme stood out:Tool loyalty is low.Founders are switching infra, models, APIs, and tooling with no hesitation.That's not a sign of flakiness—it's a sign of rapid evolution, where AI-native teams optimize continuously.Controversially, the speaker closed with a contrarian take:“I believe European AI regulation will actually accelerate enterprise adoption.”Why?Clarity breeds confidenceCorporate buyers need frameworksKnowing what's allowed = faster go/no-go decisionsIn a twist, Europe might become the first-mover on enterprise AI—not in spite of regulation, but because of it.Final Message:“AI-native is not a trend. It's a new category of company. And Europe is building it—faster and leaner than ever before.”Let's keep watching the signals. Let's keep fueling the flywheel.

Throwbacks are where I re-release old episodes from the archives. So don't worry if you have heard it already, as 'New episodes' will continue to come out on Sundays. To get some of the old episodes heard.~~~Our first guest tonight is Ann from South Africa, and Ann has been experiencing abductions by entities since childhood. The entities would call Ann to come outside in the middle of the night. Then we head over to the States to hear from Tony in Colorado, these paranormal accounts took place on his family's property in the early 2000s. A black spectre Tony and his friends witnessed floating above a field, and waking up next to a ghost of an elderly man lying next to him in bed.More information on this episode on the podcast website:https://ufochroniclespodcast.com/ep-156-blue-eyed-entities-dementor/Want to share your encounter on the show?Email: UFOChronicles@gmail.comOr Fill out Guest Form:https://forms.gle/uGQ8PTVRkcjy4nxS7Podcast Merchandise:https://www.teepublic.com/user/ufo-chronicles-podcastHelp Support UFO CHRONICLES by becoming a Patron:https://patreon.com/UFOChroniclespodcastX: https://twitter.com/UFOchronpodcastThank you for listening!Please leave a review if you enjoy the show.Like share and subscribe it really helps me when people share the show on social media, it means we can reach more people and more witnesses and without your amazing support, it wouldn't be possible.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/ufo-chronicles-podcast--3395068/support.

Throwbacks are where I re-release old episodes from the archives. So don't worry if you have heard it already, as 'New episodes' will continue to come out on Sundays. To get some of the old episodes heard.~~~Our first guest tonight is Ann from South Africa, and Ann has been experiencing abductions by entities since childhood. The entities would call Ann to come outside in the middle of the night. Then we head over to the States to hear from Tony in Colorado, these paranormal accounts took place on his family's property in the early 2000s. A black spectre Tony and his friends witnessed floating above a field, and waking up next to a ghost of an elderly man lying next to him in bed.More information on this episode on the podcast website:https://ufochroniclespodcast.com/ep-156-blue-eyed-entities-dementor/Want to share your encounter on the show?Email: UFOChronicles@gmail.comOr Fill out Guest Form:https://forms.gle/uGQ8PTVRkcjy4nxS7Podcast Merchandise:https://www.teepublic.com/user/ufo-chronicles-podcastHelp Support UFO CHRONICLES by becoming a Patron:https://patreon.com/UFOChroniclespodcastX: https://twitter.com/UFOchronpodcastThank you for listening!Please leave a review if you enjoy the show.Like share and subscribe it really helps me when people share the show on social media, it means we can reach more people and more witnesses and without your amazing support, it wouldn't be possible.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/ufo-chronicles-podcast--3395068/support.

You've likely heard that artificial intelligence is gobbling up electricity and drinking water, and causing a global race to build more energy capacity. Have you ever stopped to consider why? Or what we're doing to bring compute power and sustainability closer together?This episode was recorded in front of a live audience at TechBBQ, the largest tech conference in the Nordics. It's held each year in Copenhagen, Denmark.We Meet:  Caspar Høgh, Co-Founding Partner Noon Ventures Yasser Nour, CTO & Co-Founder Lotus MicrosystemsRuben Bryon, CEO & Co-Founder DatacrunchCredits:This episode of SHIFT was produced by Jennifer Strong and Emma Cillekens, and it was mixed by Garret Lang, with original music from him and Jacob Gorski. Art by Meg Marco. 

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A Pentagon scientist's testimony about alien classifications has members of Congress questioning everything they thought they knew about government secrecy.READ or HEAR the story: https://weirddarkness.com/Eric-Davis-Four-AliensJoin the DARKNESS SYNDICATE: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicateTake the WEIRD DARKNESS LISTENER SURVEY and help mold the future of the podcast: https://weirddarkness.com/surveyABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all thing strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this scary stories podcast features horror fiction along with the occasional creepypasta. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “Best 20 Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a cross between “Coast to Coast” with Art Bell, “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling, “Unsolved Mysteries” with Robert Stack, and “In Search Of” with Leonard Nimoy.DISCLAIMER: Ads heard during the podcast that are not in my voice are placed by third party agencies outside of my control and should not imply an endorsement by Weird Darkness or myself. *** Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised.=====(Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.=====Originally aired: August 20, 2025NOTE: Some of this content may have been created with assistance from AI tools, but it has been reviewed, edited, narrated, produced, and approved by Darren Marlar, creator and host of Weird Darkness — who, despite popular conspiracy theories, is NOT an AI voice.EPISODE PAGE at WeirdDarkness.com (includes list of sources): https://weirddarkness.com/EricDavisFourAliens#EricBurlison #EricDavis #PentagonScientist #UAPHearing #CongressAliens #FourAlienSpecies #Grays #Nordics #Insectoids #Reptilians #UFODisclosure #UAP #DavidGrusch #LuisElizondo #BigelowAerospace #CrashRetrieval #AlienBiologics #UFOWhistleblower #PentagonBriefing #GovernmentSecrets #CongressionalTestimony #InterdimensionalBeings #AlienEvidence #ClassifiedPrograms #UFOCoverUp #AlienDisclosure2025 #WeirdDarkness #UFO #Aliens #Paranormal #UnexplainedPhenomena #HouseOversightCommittee #UAPCaucus #NonHumanIntelligence #ExtraterrestrialLife #UFOTestimony #SecretBriefing #AlienContact #MilitaryUFO #AdvancedPropulsion #ReverseEngineering #GovernmentTransparency #UFOSightings #AlienEncounters #CloseEncounters

00:00:00 – Drugs, Dumb Teen Stories & a “Butt-Chugging” PSA Loose opener about uppers vs. downers, teenage Ritalin myths, oxygen-deprivation “games,” and the show's long-running warning about dangerous alcohol stunts—then a pivot toward news. 00:10:00 – Robot Games: Toddlers Today, Terminators Tomorrow China launches the first Humanoid Robot Games: 500+ bots on 280 teams from 16 countries compete in 26 events from soccer and boxing to medicine sorting and cleaning. Hosts riff on elder-care “assistant” robots and the dystopian vibes. 00:20:00 – From Robot Olympics to Robot Allowance Speculation on “AI crypto allowances” to motivate humanoids, ED-209 jokes, and the idea of parallel “janitor Olympics.” The convo begins drifting toward brain-computer interfaces. 00:30:00 – BCI “Password” Guards Your Thoughts (Sort of) Discussion of a mind-reading brain implant that only decodes when you think a preset keyword; claims of ~74% accuracy on imagined sentences and even silent counting, with big privacy worries baked in. 00:40:00 – Death Valley Heat & the Federal Urine Chart Why people still flock to Death Valley in killer temps, and the National Park Service's bathroom-posted urine-color chart for hydration—equal parts useful and darkly funny. 00:50:00 – Ouija Study Says Fear = Belief; Mike Says “Careful, Portals” A field experiment finds believers report anxiety and “supernatural” perceptions using the board, skeptics don't—researchers call the board harmless. Mike pushes back: belief is the conduit; mirrors are “portals,” so don't play around. 01:00:00 – Capitol Hill UFO Chat: Four Species? Show Us the Receipts Recap of an interview about alleged reptilian, insectoid, grey, and other entities discussed around Congress; hosts want evidence levels and, most of all, any real propulsion breakthroughs shared with the public. 01:10:00 – Alien Taxonomy & the Soul-in-the-Simulation Theory From Jason-Giorgiani-style categories (reptilians, greys, djinn, Nordics, machine/AI entities) to the idea we're in a simulation—entities as “admins” fascinated by human souls; cycles of humans merging with AI and losing humanity. 01:20:00 – Caller: Anchorage Putin–Trump Summit, Ukraine, & the P-Jar Bit A listener in Alaska paints the scene around a Putin/Trump visit—overflows in dorms, air-show speculation, then a hot take on the Ukraine front. Comic detour: “presidential hydration” and a press-conference pee-jar gag. 01:30:00 – Comet ATLAS Omens & Starbucksed Offices Farmer Matt calls in with a spooky read on Comet ATLAS 2025 (bad omens, memory weirdness). Then: South Korea's Starbucks asks customers to stop hauling in desktop rigs and printers as cafés morph into makeshift offices. 01:40:00 – Café Countermeasures → No Outlets for You More on Korean cafés limiting stays to two hours and cutting power outlets; running jokes about dragging in gas generators. The show then edges toward a bigger AI story. 01:50:00 – Zuck, Torrents & an Ohio No-Show Registry Allegations that Meta pirated and even seeded adult videos to train AI models lead to ribbing of “Mark Z.” Then a local Ohio bill would track interview no-shows—hosts debate accountability vs. blacklisting. 02:00:00 – Outro: Merch Woes & Pizza Sign-Off Wrap-up housekeeping (merch store troubles), then the classic “take care of yourself and each other”—and a quick “I'm outside the control room eating a piece of pizza” fade-out. Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research ▀▄▀▄▀ CONTACT LINKS ▀▄▀▄▀ ► Phone: 614-388-9109 ► Skype: ourbigdumbmouth ► Website: http://obdmpod.com ► Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/obdmpod ► Full Videos at Odysee: https://odysee.com/@obdm:0 ► Twitter: https://twitter.com/obdmpod ► Instagram: obdmpod ► Email: ourbigdumbmouth at gmail ► RSS: http://ourbigdumbmouth.libsyn.com/rss ► iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/our-big-dumb-mouth/id261189509?mt=2