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What if the next generation of computing was not something you held or wore, but something you looked through? In this special episode recorded live from GITEX Global in Dubai, I speak with Roman Axelrod, founder of EXPANCEO, a deep tech company creating AI-powered smart contact lenses designed to merge augmented reality, biosensing, and what he calls digital superpowers. Roman explains how his company moved from an ambitious idea to becoming the first deep tech unicorn in the Gulf region, now valued at more than 1.3 billion dollars. Over the past five years, his team of physicists and engineers in Dubai has built more than fifteen prototypes and secured a wide range of patents, all aimed at developing what they see as the ultimate interface for AI-driven computing. These lenses can display digital images, measure biological signals such as glucose and intraocular pressure, and may one day eliminate the need for screens altogether. He reflects on the early days of disbelief, when even friends told him to give up, and how perseverance became the deciding factor. For Roman, success meant proving that deep tech innovation is possible outside Silicon Valley. He shares how Dubai's ecosystem, low taxation, and access to world-class talent helped make that vision real. His story offers practical insight for founders who are told their ideas are impossible until they can show a working prototype. We also explore what this means for the future of human-computer interaction. Roman believes these lenses will help us communicate directly with intelligent systems, turning science fiction into everyday life. His message to entrepreneurs is simple: be stubborn, stay curious, and keep building. Could AI contact lenses redefine computing itself? Listen to the conversation and share your thoughts.
HEADLINE: Callisto: Europe's Decade-Late Response to SpaceX GUEST: Bob Zimmerman 50-WORD SUMMARY:Callisto, a joint European Space Agency (ESA) and JAXA project proposed in 2015, was meant to be a prototype "grasshopper" to prove vertical takeoff and landing (VTVL), competing with SpaceX. A decade later, little has happened, and the first hop is not expected until 2027. 1960
Nintendo babies! EA Sports: it's not in the game? More Gengar fun, Little Rocket Lab, Steelseed, and more! Video games! Subscribe and rate us via iTunes Subscribe on: Amazon Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Pandora DISCORD LINK Watch us on TWITCH! RSS feed: http://sidequesting.podbean.com/feed Hosts: Dali, J.J., Zach, Taylor, Sam, Tom, Jonny, Tyler With Special Guest: None! SIDEQUESTING PATREON EXECUTIVES: Punkdefied SIDEQUESTING PATREON PRODUCERS: Stefan Swandlund, Zero the Prototype, Exageneus, Jeff Grubb Topics: Nintendo posts strange Close to You video, sending fans into a tizzy EA is going private The Game Club is announced What We're Enjoying: Razer X Pokemon Gengar (review) Puzzle Quest Immortal Edition (review) Little Rocket Lab (review) The Electrifying Incident (review) Steelseed (review) Review & Preview products supplied by publishers SnackQuesting: Coffee, water, FUN PETQUESTING: It's a doggo! Music Intro: Zero The Prototype - Powerr Music Outro: N.I.M. – Choice Comments? Questions? Email us at: sidequesting @ gmail.com Image courtesy: Razer/Pokemon/SideQuesting (Stefan)
The Today in Manufacturing Podcast is brought to you by the editors of Manufacturing.net and Industrial Equipment News (IEN).This week's episode is brought to you by Workday. About 96% of manufacturers are increasing AI investments, mostly focusing on improving factory floor operations.This new eBook, "Rethinking AI in Manufacturing" teaches you how to transform day-to-day processes across your organization with AI to benefit the workforce and stakeholders.Every week, we cover the five biggest stories in manufacturing, and the implications they have on the industry moving forward. This week:- Study Helps Robots Understand When to Take Over and When to Hand Off to a Human- Forklift Companies Charged With Dodging Tariffs, Defrauding U.S. Out of $1M- Ag Equipment Maker, Citing Tariffs, to Shift Work Out of U.S.- Midair Emergency Sparks New Alarm Over Safety of Boeing Dreamliner- EV Prototype Explodes, Damages Company HQIn Case You Missed It- Buildings Turn to 'Ice Batteries' for Sustainable Air Conditioning- Jaguar Land Rover Restarts Production; Provides Lifeline to Critical Suppliers- From Composting to Solar Panels, NFL Stadiums Are Working to Be More SustainablePlease make sure to like, subscribe and share the podcast. You could also help us out a lot by giving the podcast a positive review. Finally, to email the podcast, you can reach any of us at David, Jeff, or Anna [at] ien.com, with “Email the Podcast” in the subject line.
A covered vehicle at Tesla's Palo Alto HQ appears to match the shape of the upcoming robotaxi, signaling that the company has begun building Cybercab hardware
Essa semana colocamos um pé na frente do outro e capotamos com tudo em Baby Steps. Nas notícias, o aumento do preço dos planos do Game Pass, a cobrança para assistir às finais da Capcom Cup, a Avalanche fechando um dos seus estúdios, o possível remaster de Prototype e mais! 00:05:42: Microsoft dobrou o preço do Game Pass no Brasil 00:39:18: Acesso gratuito ao Game Pass com anúncios 00:45:26: Avalanche Studios fecha estúdio após cancelamento de Contraband 00:48:18: Transmissão ao vivo da Capcom Cup será paga 00:58:51: Remaster de Prototype vindo aí? 01:05:34: Autor de The Witcher critica os jogos novamente 01:12:16: Baby Steps 01:53:24: Perguntas dos ouvintes 02:14:25: Finalmentes: Mais Baby Steps Contribua | Twitter | YouTube | Twitch | Contato
Jordan Has on filmmaker and artist Matthew Zeitoun on the podcast to talk about The Patersonian, Open Film Screenings, Prototype and much more.Follow him instagram.com/matthewzeitounOpen Film Screeningshttps://www.instagram.com/openfilmscreenings/?hl=enhttps://thepatersonian.substack.com/aboutUpcoming Shows10.25.25 | Rutherford, NJ | Jordan Fried at The Williams Center opening for Divorce Diaries | 7 PM | Tickets Here11.15.25 | Montclair, NJ | Junk Mail Improv at The Montclair Comedy Festival12.6.25 | Port Jervis, NY | Jordan Fried in Port JervisSessions With Mary Jane is a Cannabis infused podcast hosted by stoner comedian and filmmaker, Jordan Fried. It features interviews from musicians, filmmakers, comedians, politicians, writers and business owners along with solo concept episodes. While all guests do not necessarily partake, the one requirement is that they are pretty chill, man. Listen for untold stories, how to guides, deeper dives and expanded curiosities. Your source for all things New Jersey, Hudson Valley and NYC. New Episodes every Wednesday with exclusive bonus content. An LNH Studios podcast on the Gotham Network. Produced by the Gotham Network.LNH Studios is a comedy and video production company based out of Rutherford, New Jersey. It is comprised of the comedy trio Late Night Hump, consisting of Reena Ezra, Jordan Fried, and Brendan O'Brien.LNH Studios focuses on producing: • Podcasts • Films • Comedy shows and series (including sketch comedy, improv, stand-up, musical improv, and variety shows)They also offer classes and workshops related to comedy and production, and their services extend to recording audio and video, and scriptwriting. You can find more information and contact them through their website, lnhstudios.com, or by phone at +1 845-545-0284.Jordan Fried (https://jordanfried.myportfolio.com/) is a SAG AFTRA comedian and filmmaker from Warwick, NY currently based in Rutherford, NJ. His debut comedy special and album, When The Edible Hits, is out on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, X, Facebook and Vinyl. He is the co-director, co-writer and star of Beware The Horn, a film about a film school graduate that stumbles upon an improv troupe that he thinks is a cult. He also appeared as the Young Peter Madoff in Madoff : Monster of Wall Street. He studied Digital Media Production and English at Tulane University, where he was a member of Cat Mafia Comedy. He's performed at Rhino Comedy, Eastville Comedy Club, Hell Yes Fest, Binghamton Comedy and Arts Festival, New Orleans Comedy and Arts Festival and Northern Virginia Comedy Festival. He produced the comedy variety show, Circuit Break; Late Night Hump at NJ Weedman's Joint; and he is a founding member of the improv troupes, Duly Noted and The Mutts. He taught media, podcasting and comedy classes for Montclair Film, Blue Sky Kids and Educate The Block. He recently worked as the operations manager at The Williams Center in Rutherford, NJ.
Antony “Skarred Ghost” Vitillo—legendary XR blogger, developer, and authentic voice of the immersive tech world—joins Charlie Fink, Ted Schilowitz, and Rony Abovitz for a sharp, candid take on why spatial computing keeps breaking hearts (and bank accounts). Vitillo, calling in from Torino (and Nutella country), takes listeners inside his evolution from reluctant Twitter handle-user to one of the industry's essential critical thinkers. With 30,000+ social followers and nearly a decade at the helm of the Skarred Ghost blog, Tony has borne witness to every device cycle, product hype wave, and reality check XR can muster.The hosts open with news that captures the collective whiplash of the sector: Samsung finally names its long-awaited “Moohan” headset the Galaxy XR; Apple is reportedly pivoting away from Vision Pro follow-ups in favor of pursuing AI smart glasses, chasing the hardware trend Meta has tried to lead—with several Magic Leap alumni shaping both companies' next moves. Meanwhile, OpenAI's Sora 2 outpaces Google's Veo 3 in text-to-video generation, and “AI feeds” continue to spark debates about separating synthetic from real in our content streams.Guest HighlightsVitillo unveils XR truths learned the hard way:From accidental blogger to “Master Yoda”: Tony's accidental rise began with an anonymous Twitter handle, a failed AR/VR startup, and a mentor's advice to “own” XR expertise—eventually outlasting the startup itself.The real cost of authenticity: European sensibilities (practical, cost-effective, resistant to Silicon Valley bombast) shaped Tony's on-the-ground verdicts: the Google Glass era was “too early,” even good implementations often wither outside logistics and niche use-cases.Product vs. Prototype and the patience gap: Tony, Rony, and Ted all agree: too many XR launches are rushed by investor pressure from prototype to product, skipping the long, hard path of patience. Meta's Quest Pro is called out as a textbook “rush job” that failed to meet real readiness.Why XR is “harder than Mars:” Decades and $150B+ spent, yet still no universal hit. Tony argues the impossible form factor challenge (stuffing room-scale computation into eyewear) is compounded by deeper neuroscience—humans simply recoil from something too “in your face.” Physics is tough, but brains and social norms are the real brick wall.Why Roblox, not VRChat, “won” the metaverse: Most of the sector's big dreams faded back to mobile during and after Covid. With Rec Room, VRChat, and others all scaling back, Roblox's mass adoption proves device accessibility outweighs idealism. Tony expects cycles of platform hype, but says only rare combinations of luck, timing, and use-case ever sustain an audience.News Highlights Samsung's “Moohan” headset renamed Galaxy XR—signaling mainstream branding push into the AR/VR hardware race.Apple shifts Vision Pro focus toward AI smart glasses—pivot after slow sales and sector criticism, echoing Meta's latest headset push.OpenAI Sora 2 outpaces Google's Veo 3—AI video generation heats up, new feeds spark debates over AI vs. real content in social media.XR product launches called out for impatience—Meta's Quest Pro and others critiqued as rushed from prototype to product.Thanks to This Episode's SponsorsZappar's Mattercraft - 3D web development with AI assistant for real-time design and debuggingViture XR Glasses Luma Series - 52-degree field of view, 152-inch virtual screen for mobile gaming Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Xbox has raised GamePass prices out of most of our budgets, killed their console sales, and isn't delivering on value. The team discusses the latest! …alongside games we are playing (like IRE and FORMULA LEGENDS) and products we are reviewing (like gunnar's WITCHER glasses and Snakebyte's Switch 2 accessories). It's a big one this week! Subscribe and rate us via iTunes Subscribe on: Amazon Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Pandora DISCORD LINK Watch us on TWITCH! RSS feed: http://sidequesting.podbean.com/feed Hosts: Dali, J.J., Zach, Taylor, Sam, Tom, Jonny, Tyler With Special Guest: None! SIDEQUESTING PATREON EXECUTIVES: Punkdefied SIDEQUESTING PATREON PRODUCERS: Stefan Swandlund, Zero the Prototype, Exageneus, Jeff Grubb Topics: Kojima Productions release fear-inducing new OD “Knock” teaser Xbox is raising its prices again, so here's the math on what's happening Hey George, Saros is at the center of the deep State of Play announcement What We're Enjoying: Ire (preview) Silent Hill f Formula Legends (review) World War Z VR (review) Gunnar x Witcher glasses (review) Snakebyte Switch 2 accessories (review) Review & Preview products supplied by publishers — ESPECIALLY THE BOXES OF 5 HOUR ENERGY SnackQuesting: Coffee, water, FUN PETQUESTING: Bronson Music Intro: Professor Kliq – Bust This Bust That Music Outro: N.I.M. – Choice Comments? Questions? Email us at: sidequesting @ gmail.com Image courtesy: Xbox/SideQuesting (Zach)
All anyone wants to talk about right now is Electronic Arts, and reasonably so. The American publishing titan is on the verge of being purchased by external interests for $55 billion, and when we say external, we mean it. The major player in reverting EA to a private corporation is Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, muddying this already complex deal that also happens to be the largest leveraged buyout in human history. Perhaps not surprisingly, this gives us much to pontificate on. Other news this week includes rumblings of a DualSense revision with a removable battery, the very real potential that a Prototype remaster is imminent, the wisdom (or perhaps lack thereof) in Forza Horizon 6 skipping PlayStation 5 at launch, and more. We then get into listener inquiries to wrap up the show, as we always do. What are our thoughts on Xbox's staggering Game Pass price hike? How do we feel about Magic: The Gathering's stylish new collaboration with PlayStation? Is Destiny officially on death's door? Will Dustin have a coffee named after him at a cafe in Texas? Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:27:35 - Sacred Sweaters! Preorder starts Monday!0:30:44 - Sacred Coffee specials0:38:06 - Salary for a henchman0:44:03 - EA sells to a consortium for $55 billion1:31:33 - Is Sony a "terrible company"?1:46:24 - New DualSense revision1:53:25 - Revisions to the PS5 Slim1:54:51 - Prototype remaster incoming?2:05:22 - Forza Horizon 6 is coming to PS5, but delayed2:14:03 - Ubisoft and Tecent's collaboration is called Vantage Studios2:17:13 - What We're Playing (Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut, Puzzle Quest: Immortal Edition, BioShock 2, Baby Steps, Silent Hill f, Megabonk)2:46:17 - Xbox's price hike3:23:32 - What's next for Halo?3:40:36 - Direct sequels or spiritual successors3:47:29 - Sony/Magic the Gathering3:57:56 - Is Destiny 2 dead?4:04:54 - Series prime for AA sequels Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Episode 3121 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about the XM148 Grenade Launcher and its contributions to the American Military during the Vietnam War. The featured story is titled: The XM148 – America's Early Under-Barrel Grenade … Continue reading →
Xbox happened. Please keep in mind that our timestamps are approximate, and will often be slightly off due to dynamic ad placement. 0:00:00 - Intro0:03:14 - Health Is Wealth0:10:02 - Are we still Xbox fans?0:26:22 - What's happening with Forza Horizon 6?0:36:23 - Xbox Ally preorders are live0:48:50 - EA is going private in a $55 Billion deal1:05:47 - Ken Levine interview recap1:19:18 - Fallout 76 Burning Springs update1:20:14 - Prototype is coming back?1:27:07 - Ubisoft forms Vantage Studios1:30:23 - AAA Lord Of The Rings game in development1:38:49 - What We're Playing2:25:25 - Xbox Game Pass gets a major price hike3:14:00 - Do we keep doing Game Pass Pick Of The Week? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This week, the GameBurst podcast delves into the biggest stories shaking up the video game industry. We'll unpack the blockbuster $55bn buyout of Electronic Arts, the controversial 50% price hike for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and the cancellation of a new Dungeons & Dragons game at Starbreeze. Tune in as we also discuss the surprising return of the classic Prototype, a new K-Pop crossover for Fortnite, and the end of an era as Rock Band 4 gets delisted. Plus, the team shares their picks of the week, including a look back at classic fighting games and the portable retro experience of the Evercade SuperPocket. #gameburst
It's here! It's free to download and playtest! It's the Planet Money game! (Download here.)Download and playtest the game go here Sign up for the 11/1 virtual AMA event and get updates about the gameSubmit your feedback on the gameWatch the how-to video with Kenny and Elan for playtest instructionsIn this episode, the story of how we arrived here. Ride along as our game-making partners at Exploding Kittens help us turn our (sometimes wild) economics game ideas into the next blockbuster game. It's a behind the scenes look at how to design a game from scratch — a game that is somehow filled with economics, impossible to put down, but does not feel like you're cramming for school. Which is… harder than we thought.After months of trying to find the perfect balance of ideas and entertainment, the Planet Money game is ready for our next phase. And that's where you come in, listeners! We need you to playtest the Planet Money game to help us perfect it.Subscribe to Planet Money+Listen free: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the NPR app or anywhere you get podcasts.Facebook / Instagram / TikTok / Our weekly Newsletter.This episode was hosted by Kenny Malone and Erika Beras. It was produced by James Sneed with help from Emma Peaslee and edited by Jess Jiang. It was fact-checked by Sierra Juarez and engineered by Cena Loffredo. Alex Goldmark is Planet Money's executive producer.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Ищете новости про видеоигры? Интересные слухи про технологии, ИИ, новости стартапов, а также цифрового бизнеса, тогда Завтракаст – это подкаст для вас. С вами снова трое бессменных ведущих Дима, Тимур и Максим, которые деляется впечатлениями и инсайтами про индустрии ИИ, игр, интернета, медиа, а также рассказывают про интересные фильмы и сериалы.
Time Stamps:00:00:00 Community Guest Intros00:05:00 MORE Community Fallout Re: The Xbox Game Pass Price Hike!00:30:00 Rumor: A Prototype Remake Is Currently In Development, Could Be Released THIS Year?01:05:00 Outros and Special Message To The Community
Its that time of year again and the TWIG Crew are back to discuss late summer conferences and showcases!Show Notes:Your Geekmasters:Mike "The Birdman" - https://bsky.app/profile/birdmanguelph.bsky.socialAlex "The Producer" - https://bsky.app/profile/dethphasetwig.bsky.socialKen Reels - https://bsky.app/profile/kenreels.comFeedback for the show?:Email: feedback@thisweekingeek.netTwitter: https://twitter.com/thisweekingeekBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thisweekingeek.bsky.socialSubscribe to our feed: https://www.spreaker.com/show/3571037/episodes/feediTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-geek/id215643675Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Lit2bzebJXMTIv7j7fkqqWebsite: https://www.thisweekingeek.netOctober 4, 2025
Today we're talking with Hoji and Stinius Skjøtskift about the creation of Stinius' new pro model, the 4FRNT Sinister. There are lots of great stories in this one, plus you'll find out why a number of us at BLISTER are extremely intrigued by this ski.Note: We Want to Hear From You!Please let us know if there's a topic you'd like us to cover or a guest you'd like us to have on GEAR:30. Or if you'd like to nominate yourself for a ‘Gear Therapy' episode, let us know that, too! You can email us at info@blisterreview.comRELATED LINKS:Our Digital Buyer's Guide: Read NowBLISTER+ Get Yourself CoveredDiscounted Summit Registration for BLISTER+ MembersNon-Member Registration: Blister Summit 2026Order Our 25/26 Winter Buyer's GuideGet Our Newsletter & Weekly Gear GiveawaysTOPICS & TIMES:New BLISTER+ Members (1:03)When Stinius ‘Crashed' the Blister Summit (3:13)When Did Stinius & Hoji First Meet? (7:23)Hoji on Stinius' Skiing Style (11:40)Skiing the 1st Prototype at Sentry Lodge (13:36)Stinius Describes the Sinister (17:32)Mount Point (21:01)The Testing & Prototyping Process (30:20)Skiing in Chile, Going Skiing in Austria (43:53)Future Film Releases (46:34)CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicCRAFTEDBikes & Big IdeasBlister Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Part inventor, part hustler, part one-man media team—Mike Silva turned a Thanksgiving garbage-can game into QB54: a dual-purpose football game you play (then sit in). The Blue-Collar Twins dig into how he went from beach-day preorders to manufacturing at scale, survived COVID freight shocks, landed in 200 Dick's Sporting Goods stores, and kept his family in the ride the whole way. You'll hear: The origin story: buckets to chairs, a light-bulb prototype, and first cash-in-hand preorders on the Jersey Shore.Testing before betting: small runs, tailgate demos, and learning to trust (but verify) manufacturers.Retail reality: terms, freight, tariffs, drayage—and why “getting in” is nothing without “selling through.”Media engine: eight years of footage, smart ad buying, ROAS/CAC basics, and turning reactions into conversion.Resilience & risk: six-figure debt, family support, mentor advice (“stay even keel”), and the grit to keep moving.What's next: Shark Tank exposure, overseas distribution, and a potential soccer variant. Show links: From Gym Teachers to Service Leaders: The Julio Twins' Story | Last Bite Mosquito, Viking Pest https://youtu.be/DAYxtzhswxs From PE Teachers to Pest Control Owners: The Julio Twins Share Their POTOMAC Experience https://youtu.be/HAx9noqsqTo https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulgiannamore www.potomaccompany.com https://bluecollartwins.com Produced by: www.verbell.ltd Timestamps 00:00 – Cold open: “Believe in yourself… good things happen.” 00:41 – Meet Mike Silva, co-founder of QB54; what the game is and how it works 02:02 – Thanksgiving genesis: garbage cans, CB antennas, and a lifelong idea 03:54 – 2015–2016 decision to launch; neighbor won't stop playing → “we might have something” 06:00 – First prototypes, the beach test, and 15 preorders from strangers 08:06 – Finding a factory, early small runs, and learning to test the market first 10:00 – Stadium-to-stadium hustle; bringing the kids and paying per sale 12:06 – Patents 101: provisional, design, utility—why protection mattered 14:20 – Family partnership, buying out his brother, and staying “even keel” through highs/lows 17:01 – The debt valley: $600k+, COVID container shock, and clawing back with ads 20:04 – Retail education: 90-day terms, consignment risk, Bed Bath test that needed in-store demos 23:59 – Freight, tariffs, drayage, warehousing—why COGS is only the start 27:01 – Marketing misfires, learning skepticism, and finding the right 3PL (“ShipDaddy”) 30:30 – Best day ever: 320 units in one day (and the ad spend behind it) 33:00 – Building the media machine: years of footage → Facebook/Google/TikTok wins 38:00 – Influencers, content gaps, and why reliability beats free product 41:20 – Brand placements (Corona/Labatt/retail displays) and the need to show how it plays 46:10 – Shark Tank journey: audition, pitch, and air date set (Oct 1) 49:50 – Community & peers: Founders Group, Crossnet lessons, and real-talk playbooks 53:40 – Exit possibilities, athlete interest, and league/sport potential 55:57 – Close: why the sale still feels like a rush and what 2025 could unlock
What if the same Ai tools you're using in your business could help NASA get humanity to Mars by 2040?That's exactly what I shared live at NASA's Nexplore Conference in Arlington, Virginia - and what I'm bringing to you in this brand-new episode of Capability Amplifier.This isn't science fiction. You'll see how Ai is already being used to:Prototype life-saving astronaut health tech in under an hourSolve energy and food challenges on MarsBuild real apps, commercials, and presentations - in 20 minutes or lessTell better stories that attract capital, talent, and partnershipsThe crazy part? These same systems work for founders, consultants, and creators here on Earth - whether you're building a new business, inventing products, or scaling your team's productivity.KEY INSIGHTS & TAKEAWAYS:The Off-World AI Playbook Why NASA tapped entrepreneurs and Ai innovators to help solve its toughest problems - mental health, food, sanitation, and more.From Problem to Prototype in 20 Minutes How I built CoughSense, an astronaut respiratory monitoring app, in less than an hour using Ai tools (something that would normally take months and millions).The “Genius Stack” Framework Why you should never rely on a single Ai - and how to stack multiple Ais for faster, more reliable outcomes.Storytelling at Scale Why solving problems isn't enough - you must be able to tell a story that inspires buy-in from leaders, investors, and customers.Super Agents & Real-Time Research Discover the Ai super agents that plan ahead, debug, and build apps without you needing to write a single line of code.Business, Education & Job Creation Why rapid prototyping with Ai is the future of entrepreneurship and why young founders (like my own son) are already using it to create companies and land six-figure opportunities.The 18–36 Month Window Why entrepreneurs have a short window to embrace Ai - or risk being left behind.TIME STAMPS:[00:00:00] Introduction: Why NASA is betting on Ai to reach Mars by 2040[00:01:48] The biggest challenges: health, food, sanitation, power, mental health[00:06:20] How a simple brainstorm led to CoughSense - an Ai-powered astronaut health app [00:09:04] The “Genius Stack” Framework: stacking 10+ Ais for breakthroughs [00:13:12] The truth about trusting Ai platforms (and why speed beats loyalty) [00:16:13] Turning ideas into code prompts (even if you can't code) [00:19:52] Testing 10 Ai coding tools in parallel - winners and losers revealed [00:26:47] What my son built with Ai at 23 (and why it landed him equity in a company) [00:30:45] The Americium Story: turning nuclear waste into power for space exploration [00:38:22] Ai storytelling: from scripts to synthetic video to pitch decks in minutes [00:44:20] Why founders must lead by example - culture, behavior, and mindset shifts [00:47:08] The Four Quadrants of Ai: Superpowers, Marketing, Top-Line Growth, Automation [00:53:20] Real stories from Ai Accelerator Live - teams, families, and breakthroughs [00:57:59] Final message: The 18–36 month window before Ai becomes non-optionalIf you want to see how Ai can transform not just your business, but the future of humanity, don't miss this episode.PS – When you're ready, here's how I can help: Join me for 2 days at Genius Network Headquarters, this Oct. 28-29, for the Ai Accelerator Live Event – register here: www.AiAccelerator.com/Live Want to discover your next big opportunity? Meet me for a Cup of Coffee at my Digital Cafe (this is where we can meet): www.MikeKoenigs.com/1kCoffeeCAReady to reinvent yourself, your business, and your brand, and experiencing a massive personal and professional breakthrough? Watch this.
We've got Lex Luddy back on the show after she spent a couple weeks away in Japan! We chat about Game Pass getting a prince increase and what that means for the company, Amazon trying to revive Luna, Prototype coming back to Steam, and even more stories for your Wednesday morning!
We got Kojima's OD! We got Xbox's pricing issues! We got Borderlands 4! We got games! VIDEO GAAAAAAAMES! Subscribe and rate us via iTunes Subscribe on: Amazon Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Pandora DISCORD LINK Watch us on TWITCH! RSS feed: http://sidequesting.podbean.com/feed Hosts: Dali, J.J., Zach, Taylor, Sam, Tom, Jonny, Tyler With Special Guest: None! SIDEQUESTING PATREON EXECUTIVES: Punkdefied SIDEQUESTING PATREON PRODUCERS: Stefan Swandlund, Zero the Prototype, Exageneus, Jeff Grubb Topics: Kojima Productions release fear-inducing new OD “Knock” teaser Xbox is raising its prices again, so here's the math on what's happening Hey George, Saros is at the center of the deep State of Play announcement What We're Enjoying: Borderlands 4 Voodoo Ranger IPA (review) Agatha Christie: Death on the Nile (review) Earthion (review) Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter (review) Review & Preview products supplied by publishers — ESPECIALLY THE BOXES OF 5 HOUR ENERGY SnackQuesting: VoodooRanger IPA Borderlands 4 Music Intro: Professor Kliq – Bust This Bust That Music Outro: N.I.M. – Choice Comments? Questions? Email us at: sidequesting @ gmail.com Image courtesy: Kojima Productions/SideQuesting (Exagenous)
In launching Season 26 of Building Better Developers, the hosts zero in on what truly sustains developer growth. Building Better Foundations becomes both the theme and the promise: this season will dig into the “why” behind tech trends, sharpen essential habits, and help you stand on solid ground in a shifting landscape. Why Building Better Foundations Matters Rob Broadhead and Michael Meloche acknowledge that in a sea of buzzwords—AI, cloud, low-code, no-code, vibe coding—it's tempting to chase the next shiny tool. But they emphasize: without a foundation of clear reasoning and strong practices, those tools are at risk of collapsing under you. This season's goal is to get past surface hype to the principles that outlast trends. Building Better Foundations through Clarity on Buzzwords Part of the mission is deconstructing the buzz. The hosts plan to peel back layers—not just what new tools do, but whythey matter (or don't). Each episode will dig into a topic's role for developers, for business, and for end users. Below are three key concepts you'll hear about—and understanding them is part of your foundation. Building Better Foundations in Integrating Legacy + Future It's one thing to use new tech in a greenfield project; it's another to graft it onto 20-year-old systems. Rob emphasizes that migrating requires you to understand why the legacy system was built the way it was. Otherwise, you risk picking the wrong tools or design patterns and creating chaos. Building Better Foundations for Scale and Sustainability Michael warns: the fastest launch isn't always the wisest decision. Prototype tools built with low-code, no-code, or AI may serve you well early, but if they can't scale, you're stuck. This season will explore how to choose tools with an eye toward growth, pivot paths, and long-term stability. Building Better Foundations in Developer Mindset Beyond tools and architecture lies mindset. A strong developer habit is thinking intentionally—not chasing every “cool” trend, but grounding decisions in purpose, trade-offs, maintainability, and cost. As Rob says, a true developer is marked by how consistently they bring those fundamentals to every environment. Join the Building Better Foundations Conversation Rob and Michael invite you into the process. Email them at info@develpreneur.com with your buzzwords, topic ideas, or challenges. This season is as much about dialogue as it is about lessons. “We grow together. We want to make sure you're part of this journey.” – Rob Broadhead Key Takeaways for Your Developer Foundation Keyphrase alert: Building Better Foundations is the guiding lens—ask “why” before jumping into any tool. When modernizing legacy systems, start with context and purpose, not just the latest tech. Always think about scale and pivot options—don't let fast prototypes become dead ends. Cultivate mindset over tool obsession. The habits you build are the real foundation. Additional Resources Building And Reinforcing Your Foundational Skills Stories Instead of Buzzwords – Showing What You Know Ramping Up Your Skills Through Broad Experience The Developer Journey Videos – With Bonus Content Building Better Developers With AI Podcast Videos – With Bonus Content
What if reupholstering a chair could cut your carbon footprint by 80%? In this episode of Everything Is a Prototype, Kriss Kokoefer, founder of 2080 Reuse, shares how she's building a whole new category at the intersection of circular economy, commercial interiors, and design-led innovation...with help from DMBA students and alumni.Kriss opens up about pivoting careers, launching (and selling) a century-old upholstery business, and her mission to make reuse the easy button for businesses. We talk about building trust, embracing uncertainty, and why good project management might just be the secret weapon for sustainability.This is one for the builders, designers, and anyone curious about how to scale impact through systems, not just products.
In legacy markets, no one's asking for your product, and that's the point. In this episode of The Predictable Revenue Podcast, our host Collin talks with Vinay Jayachand, co-founder of HummingbirdEV, about building electric vehicles for commercial use in the mining and agriculture industries, where resistance to change is the norm. But this isn't about EVs. It's about what it takes to earn trust, find traction, and adapt fast in hard, skeptical markets. If you're a founder or operator chasing product-market fit in the real world, here's what to take with you. Highlights include: Prototyping and Customer Validation (11:05), Scaling and Expanding Customer Base (17:40), Realizing Product Market Fit and Future Directions (23:48), and more... Stay updated with our podcast and the latest insights on Outbound Sales and Go-to-Market Strategies!
When I sit down with product leaders who've spent decades shaping how Silicon Valley builds products, I'm always struck by how their career arcs echo the very lessons they now teach. Michael Margolis is no exception.Michael started his career as an anthropologist, stumbled into educational software in the late 90s, helped scale Gmail during its formative years, and eventually became one of the first design researchers at Google Ventures (GV). For fifteen years, he sat at the intersection of startups and product discovery, helping founders learn faster, save years of wasted effort, and—sometimes—kill their darlings before they drained all the fuel.In our conversation, Michael didn't just share war stories. He laid out a concrete, repeatable framework for product teams—whether you're a PM at a FAANG company or a fresh hire at a Series A startup—on how to cut through noise, get to the truth, and accelerate learning cycles.This post is my attempt to capture those lessons. If you're an early to mid-career PM in Silicon Valley trying to sharpen your craft, this is for you.From Anthropology to Gmail: The Value of Unorthodox BeginningsMichael's path to Google wasn't a linear “go to Stanford CS, join a startup, IPO” narrative. Instead, he started in anthropology and educational software, producing floppy-disk learning titles at The Learning Company and Electronic Arts. That detour turned out to be foundational.“Studying anthropology was my introduction to usability and ethnography,” Michael told me. “It gave me a lens to look at people's behaviors not just as data points but as cultural patterns.”For PMs, the lesson is clear: don't discount the odd chapters of your own career. That sales job, that nonprofit internship, or that side hustle in teaching can become your secret weapon later. Michael carried those anthropology muscles into Gmail, where understanding human behavior at scale was just as critical as writing code.Actionable Advice for PMs:* Audit your own “non-linear” career experiences. What hidden skills—interviewing, pattern-recognition, narrative-building—could you bring into product work?* When hiring, don't filter only for straight-line resumes. The best PMs often bring unexpected perspectives.The Google Years: Scaling Research at Hyper-speedMichael joined Gmail in 2006, when it was still young but maturing fast. He quickly noticed how different the rhythm was compared to the slow, expensive ethnographic studies he had done for consulting clients like Walmart.com.“At Walmart,” he explained, “I had to compress these big, long expensive projects into something faster. Gmail demanded that same speed, but at enormous scale.”At Google, the prime “clients” for his research were often designers. The questions he answered were things like: How do we attract Outlook users? How do we make the interface intuitive enough for mass adoption?This difference matters for PMs: in big companies, research questions often start downstream—how to refine, polish, or optimize. In startups, questions live upstream: What should we build at all? Knowing where you sit in that spectrum changes the kind of research (and product bets) you should prioritize.Jumping to Google Ventures: Bringing UXR Into VCIn 2010, Michael made a bold move: leaving the mothership to become one of the very first design researchers embedded inside a venture capital firm. GV was trying to differentiate itself by not just writing checks but also offering operational help—design, hiring, PR.“I got lucky,” he recalled. “GV had already hired Braden Kowitz as their design partner, and Braden said, ‘I need a researcher.' That was my break.”Working with founders was a shock. They didn't act like Google PMs. “It was like they were playing by a different set of rules. They'd say, ‘Here's where we're going. You can help me, or get out of my way.'”That forced Michael to reinvent how he showed value. Instead of writing reports that might sit unread, he had to deliver insights in real-time, in ways founders couldn't ignore.The Watch Party Method: Stop Writing ReportsHere's where the gold nuggets come in. Michael realized traditional reports weren't cutting it. Instead, he invented what he calls “watch parties.”“I don't do the research study unless the whole team watches,” he said. “I compress it into a day—five interviews with bullseye customers, the whole team in a virtual backroom. By the end, they've seen it all, they're debriefing themselves, and alignment happens automatically. I haven't written a report in years.”Think about that. No 30-page decks. No long hand-offs. Just visceral, shared observation.Actionable Advice for PMs:* Next time you run a user test, insist that at least your core team attends live. Skip the sanitized recap slides.* At the end of a session, have the team summarize their top three takeaways. When they say it, it sticks.Bullseye Customers: Getting Uncomfortably SpecificOne of Michael's most powerful contributions is the bullseye customer exercise.“A bullseye customer,” he explained, “is the very specific subset of your target market who is most likely to adopt your product first. The key is to define not just inclusion criteria but also exclusion criteria.”Founders (and PMs) often resist narrowing. They want to believe their TAM is huge. But Michael's method forces rigor. He described grilling teams until they admit things like: Actually, if this person doesn't work from home, they probably won't care. Or if they've never paid for a premium tool, they won't convert.Example: Imagine you're building a new coffee subscription. Your bullseye might be: Remote tech workers in San Francisco, ages 25-35, who already spend $50+ per month on specialty coffee, and who like experimenting with new roasters. If your product doesn't delight them, it won't magically resonate with “all coffee drinkers.”Actionable Advice for PMs:* Write down both inclusion and exclusion criteria for your bullseye.* Add triggers: life events that make adoption more likely (e.g., new job, new diagnosis, move to a new city).* Recruit five people who fit it exactly. If they're lukewarm, rethink your product.Why Five Interviews Is EnoughMichael swears by the number five.“After three interviews, you're not sure if it's a pattern,” he said. “By five, you hit data saturation. Everyone sees the signal. Any more and the team is begging you to stop so they can make changes.”For PMs under pressure, this is liberating. You don't need 100 customer calls. You need five of the right customers, observed by the right team members, in a compressed timeframe.Multiple Prototypes: Don't Ask Customers to ImagineAnother Margolis rule: never show just one prototype.“If you show one, the team gets too attached, and the customer can only react. With three, I can say: compare and contrast. What do you love? What do you hate? I collect the Lego pieces and assemble the next iteration.”Sometimes those prototypes aren't even original mockups—they're competitor landing pages. As Michael joked: “Have you tested your competitor's prototypes? No? Then you've left something out.”Actionable Advice for PMs:* When exploring value props, mock up three different landing pages. Don't ask “Which do you prefer?” Instead ask: “Which elements matter most, and why?”* Treat mild praise as a “no.” Only visceral excitement counts as signal.Founders, Stubbornness, and the Henry Ford TrapI pressed Michael on what happens when founders dismiss customer feedback by invoking Henry Ford's famous line about “faster horses.”He smiled. “The beauty of bullseye customers is it forces accountability. If you told me these people are your dream users, and they shrug, then you can't hand-wave it away. Either change your customer definition or your product.”This is a crucial lesson for PMs who work with visionary leaders. Conviction is necessary, but unchecked conviction can sink a product. Anchoring on bullseye customers creates a shared contract that keeps both egos and hypotheses grounded.Bright Spots > Exit InterviewsWhen teams ask him to interview churned customers, Michael often refuses.“There are a bazillion reasons people don't use something,” he said. “It's inefficient. Instead, I go find the bright spots—the power users who love it. I want to know why they're on fire, and then go find more people like them.”This “bright spot” focus helps PMs avoid premature pivots. Instead of chasing every no, double down on the yeses until you understand the common thread.Case Study: Refrigerated Medications and ZiplineTo illustrate, Michael shared a project with Zipline, the drone-delivery company. They wanted to deliver specialty medications. The core question: was speed or timing more important?Through interviews, the bright spot insight emerged: refrigeration was the killer constraint. Patients didn't care about “fastest possible” delivery in the abstract. They cared about not leaving refrigerated drugs on their porch.That nuance completely changed the product and infrastructure design.For PMs, the takeaway is that sometimes the decisive factor isn't the flashy benefit you advertise (“we're the fastest!”) but a practical detail you only uncover through careful listening.AI and the Future of ResearchWe couldn't avoid the AI question. Has it changed his process?“I worry about how AI is creating distance between teams and customers,” Michael admitted. “If my bot talks to your bot and spits out a report, you miss the nuance. The power of research is in the stories, the details, the visceral reactions.”That said, he does use AI for quick prototype copywriting and summaries. But he insists on live team observation for the real work.For PMs, the advice is to use AI as an accelerant, not a replacement. Let it write the rough draft of your landing page copy, but don't outsource customer empathy to a transcript.What PMs Should Do Differently TomorrowLet's distill Michael's 15 years of wisdom into actionable steps you can implement this week:* Define your bullseye. Write down exact inclusion, exclusion, and trigger criteria.* Recruit five. Stop at five, but make them exact matches.* Run a watch party. Get your designer, engineer, and PM peers in the virtual backroom. No observers, no insights.* Prototype in threes. Landing pages are cheap. Competitor screenshots are free.* Look for visceral reactions. Anything less than “Wait, can I get this now?” is a polite no.* Study the bright spots. Find your power users and figure out what makes them glow.* Compress cycles. The whole exercise—recruit, test, learn—should take days, not months.Quotes Worth RememberingTo make these lessons stick, here are five quotes from Michael that every PM should tape to their desk:* “I don't do the research unless the whole team watches.”* “A bullseye customer is the very specific subset of your target market most likely to adopt first.”* “After five interviews, you hit data saturation. Everyone sees the pattern.”* “If you show one prototype, the team gets too attached. With three, you collect the Lego pieces.”* “Mild encouragement is a polite no. Only visceral excitement counts as yes.”My Takeaways as a Coach and PMTalking to Michael reinforced something I've seen in my own career: product failure often comes not from bad execution, but from weak learning cycles. Teams don't test the right people, don't synthesize together, and don't act quickly on what they learn.Michael's methods aren't magic—they're discipline. They compress time, sharpen focus, and force alignment. Whether you're building the next Gmail or the next startup idea in a Palo Alto garage, these principles apply.If you're an early to mid-career PM, start by practicing on a small scale. Don't wait for your manager to bless a massive UXR budget. Run a five-person watch party with your next prototype. You'll be surprised at how quickly the fog lifts.ClosingIf this resonated and you're looking for deeper guidance, I also work 1:1 with PMs and executives on career, product, and leadership challenges. You can learn more at tomleungcoaching.com.And if you haven't yet, I'd love your input on my Future of Product Management survey. It only takes about 5 minutes, and by filling it out you'll get early access to the results plus an invitation to a live readout with a panel of top product leaders. The survey explores how AI, team structures, and skill sets are reshaping the PM role for 2026 and beyond. Let's ship greatness. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit firesidepm.substack.com
Today, we're joined by Michael Krafft, CPO at FoundersCard, a membership community for entrepreneurs and executives offering exclusive perks and VIP treatment. Previously, Michael worked in investment banking, led product teams at American Express, and played a key role in turning around Alight, an HR-tech firm, ahead of its IPO. In this episode, we discuss: How Michael uses AI to be a 1-person Product team at a profitable startup with more than 250K members His AI-driven discovery engine that automates interviews, segments users, and turns feedback into roadmap-shaping insights Why working as both a leader and IC lets him move from idea to prototype to product in record time with tools like V-Zero and Lovable The simple test that boosted paid conversions by 50%—and how he runs growth experiments far beyond his team's size Links LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-krafft/ FoundersCard: https://founderscard.com/ Chapters 00:00 Intro 03:04 How AI Drove Down CAC and Fueled Growth 06:06 Using AI to Analyze Customer Interviews 09:10 Turning Feedback Into Roadmap Insights 12:13 AI-Powered Discovery Engine for PMs 15:17 One-Person Product Team With AI Tools 18:20 Scaling Insights Beyond Human Bandwidth 21:23 Automating PRDs With AI 24:25 From Idea to Prototype in an Afternoon 27:28 Running Growth Experiments With AI 30:31 Conversions, Retention, and AI Testing 33:33 Customer Insights That Shape the Roadmap 36:36 Paid Conversion Boosts With AI 39:37 Final Takeaways for Product Leaders Follow LaunchPod on YouTube We have a new YouTube page (https://www.youtube.com/@LaunchPodPodcast)! Watch full episodes of our interviews with PM leaders and subscribe! What does LogRocket do? LogRocket's Galileo AI watches user sessions for you and surfaces the technical and usability issues holding back your web and mobile apps. Understand where your users are struggling by trying it for free at LogRocket.com (https://logrocket.com/signup/?pdr). Special Guest: Michael Krafft.
We chat about that big NINTENDO DIRECT and all the wild news! AND VIRTUAL BOY! VIRTUAL BOYYYYYYY! Subscribe and rate us via iTunes Subscribe on: Amazon Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Pandora DISCORD LINK Watch us on TWITCH! RSS feed: http://sidequesting.podbean.com/feed Hosts: Dali, J.J., Zach, Taylor, Sam, Tom, Jonny, Tyler With Special Guest: None! SIDEQUESTING PATREON EXECUTIVES: Punkdefied SIDEQUESTING PATREON PRODUCERS: Stefan Swandlund, Zero the Prototype, Exageneus, Jeff Grubb Topics: Nintendo Direct What We're Enjoying: Digimon Story Time Stranger demo Review & Preview products supplied by publishers — ESPECIALLY THE BOXES OF 5 HOUR ENERGY SnackQuesting: Nothing today Music Intro: Professor Kliq – Bust This Bust That Music Outro: N.I.M. – Choice Comments? Questions? Email us at: sidequesting @ gmail.com Image courtesy: Nintendo/SideQuesting (Tyler)
Tonight we deep dive into the abilities to tier up the new Prototype Forbidden Techs, and then focus on MORE rewarding content, the Reliant and the Wrath of Khan loop as F2P have officially unlocked their new ship, so how do you engage now that we've tested the waters and shown the best ways to engage. 0:00 – Cold open chaos & endless alerts 2:20 – Official show start, server sound-off, community shoutouts 4:00 – Tonight's agenda: prototype forbidden tech, Bek's return, heroic events 5:30 – Meeting recap with Bek: energy, initiatives, and drama in whale Discord 8:10 – First reactions to prototype forbidden tech – lackluster or misunderstood? 10:30 – Scopely's intent: new combinations vs. invalidation of old tech 13:40 – The community dilemma: “We don't want invalidation… but why buy duplicates?” 16:50 – Time-to-max math: years vs. immediate value problem 18:45 – Recon Locus building comparison – when grind feels reasonable 21:00 – Automotive analogy: building customer trust & value through transparency 27:30 – Customer service story & lessons applied to STFC monetization 30:10 – Why players aren't spending on prototype tech this month 33:00 – Heroic events: grind vs. spend, ops-level challenges 36:40 – Hostile math: required kills, building level dependence 40:00 – G5 vs. G6 analysis: progression gaps and grinding realities 45:00 – Deep dive into Counterplay Device (Explorer prototype tech) 47:30 – Mid-tier stats vs. max stats: is the payoff worth the time? 50:00 – Free-to-play strategy: rare pulls, saving for future tech 53:00 – Spreadsheet walk-through: banner income vs. refinery pulls 54:50 – Community sentiment: disengagement from spending 57:00 – Open mic: guest perspectives, Eco's heroic event math misfires 1:10:00 – Value, perception, and the predictability problem 1:25:00 – More on Bek's role & player feedback loops 1:40:00 – PvP applications of prototype tech 2:00:00 – Panel debate: is Scopely out of touch with player priorities? 2:20:00 – Lessons from other arcs & monetization models 2:40:00 – Final roundtable: what needs to change 2:55:00 – Closing thoughts & community thanks
At the EUVC Summit 2025, Andreas Klinger didn't mince words.Europe lacks something every other industry has had for decades:→ Big spending→ Big infrastructure→ Big exitsAnd without them, we can't pretend we're building a sovereign innovation ecosystem.“Europe needs tech innovation to work—because without it, we will never be fully sovereign.”Andreas opened by flipping a common narrative:“Startups are too often framed as small, creative, ambitious companies. But in reality—they're the foundation of sovereignty in tech.”Europe doesn't need more “projects.”It needs repeatable, scalable, founder-first infrastructure to unlock its next wave of global tech companies.“The easiest way to explain EO Inc? It's Deliveroo—but for incorporation. A European legal and operational standard for startups.”The idea is deceptively simple:Standardized formationRecognized structures across all member statesSeamless stock option systemsTaxation only at exitBank acceptance by default“This isn't just for startups. It's a company structure any business can use—built for the modern economy.”And the movement? It's already here:16,000+ signatoriesBacking from founders of Wise, Bold, and countless unicornsSupport from every major VC fund and ecosystem body in EuropeGrowing traction in BrusselsThis wasn't launched by a ministry.It wasn't cooked up by consultants.“EO Inc was built by founders, VCs, and ecosystem people who literally just got together in a WhatsApp group.”The message is clear:You don't need permission. You need momentum.Andreas ended on a blunt but vital point:“If one of my founders did an IPO in Europe right now—I'd sue them.”Why? Because there's no pan-European IPO framework. No deep exit market. And without exits, VC doesn't work.“So please. Someone. Anyone. Get together and fix this.”He wasn't joking.He was inviting.Andreas closed with the same clarity he opened with:“You can just do things.”This wasn't a stage for platitudes—it was a platform for action.So if you know a policymaker, a president, a minister—connect them to EO Inc.And if you care about making European venture work—get involved.Thanks, Andreas—for reminding us that sovereignty isn't just about borders. It's about infrastructure.Let's build it.Startups Aren't Small. They're Strategic.Introducing EO Inc: Europe's Standard Startup InfrastructureFounders Did This. In a WhatsApp Group.The Missing Piece: IPOs in EuropeFinal Words: Just Do Things
In this Dispatch episode, we cover the latest in modular gear news and upcoming events across California.
Can you help me make more podcasts? Consider supporting me on Patreon as the service is 100% funded by you: https://EVne.ws/patreon You can read all the latest news on the blog here: https://EVne.ws/blog Subscribe for free and listen to the podcast on audio platforms: ➤ Apple: https://EVne.ws/apple ➤ YouTube Music: https://EVne.ws/youtubemusic ➤ Spotify: https://EVne.ws/spotify ➤ TuneIn: https://EVne.ws/tunein ➤ iHeart: https://EVne.ws/iheart CHINA NEV SALES TOP 40 MILLION https://evne.ws/4nkT66M CHINA EV CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE REACHES 17.35 MILLION https://evne.ws/4nE0Dxv BYD TEASES YANGWANG U9 02 PROTOTYPE https://evne.ws/4gxPXy4 2026 DENZA N9 PRICING AND SPECS https://evne.ws/4ptNUit 2026 DENZA N9: PRICE, RANGE, KEY SPECS https://evne.ws/41U9DWY GEELY GALAXY M9 LAUNCH AND PRICING https://evne.ws/4nzTIVQ XIAOMI YU7 GT SPOTTED AT NÜRBURGRING https://evne.ws/3K7hsCx ONVO L60 FACELIFT REVEALED https://evne.ws/4gwxtxR CHERY FULWIN X3L LAUNCH DETAILS https://evne.ws/3Iwp2pL CANADIANS PREFER CUTTING EV TARIFFS FOR CANOLA https://evne.ws/4guTugF
SG1 finds a strange man in a stasis chamber this week in Prototype. And what do they do with this strange man? Bring him back to the SGC, of course! Daniel being the one to suggest not keeping Khalek alive is very interesting. Because if he's saying that, it should be a clue as to how dangerous Khalek truly is. But why does Khalek know who Daniel is? He shouldn't, since Anubis used his DNA (and therefore the genetic memory) from before he ascended. What exactly are the rules of ascension? Every time it gets brought up, they seem to change. Is it a spiritual thing or just a byproduct of evolution? INSTAGRAM: SG_Rewatch THREADS: SG_Rewatch DISCORD: https://discord.gg/65kMPzBuaN MERCH: https://showclub.redbubble.com/ EMAIL: woosgrewatch@gmail.com
Unlock the future of product management with AI. In this episode of LaunchPod, we dive into the top 4 AI workflows every product manager needs, from automating user research to building smarter prototypes and running faster experiments. Hear real stories from product leaders who are already using AI to: *Turn hours of customer interviews into actionable insights *Prototype and test new features in record time *Automate PRDs and documentation without losing quality *Drive data-backed decisions that accelerate growth Chapters 00:00 Why AI is changing product management 00:30 Avoiding missteps with AI-powered customer insights 02:00 Prototyping and testing faster with AI tools 04:00 Automating PRDs and product documentation 06:30 Using AI for smarter data analysis and decision making 09:00 Balancing AI with product intuition and strategy 11:00 The future of AI in product workflows Follow LaunchPod on YouTube We have a new YouTube page (https://www.youtube.com/@LaunchPodPodcast)! Watch full episodes of our interviews with PM leaders and subscribe! What does LogRocket do? LogRocket's Galileo AI watches user sessions for you and surfaces the technical and usability issues holding back your web and mobile apps. Understand where your users are struggling by trying it for free at LogRocket.com (https://logrocket.com/signup/?pdr). Special Guests: Derek Pharr, Neha Monga, Roman Gun, and Sierra Hahn-Ventrell.
Sumit Arora, VP of Advanced Technology at Ascend Learning, joins the show to unpack the real challenges of turning AI prototypes into production-ready systems. From managing non-deterministic outputs to rethinking the relationship between engineering and product, Sumit shares hard-earned lessons on what it actually takes to build AI that works at scale. If you're navigating how to move beyond experiments and deliver AI products that stick, this episode will give you a clear look at the path forward.Key Takeaways• Scaling AI is not about building smarter prototypes—it's about mastering distributed systems, security, and availability.• The best AI teams combine deep systems engineering with practical product sense.• Traditional software requirements processes won't work for AI. Co-creation between product and engineering is essential.• Innovation pods—small, cross-functional teams—can accelerate experimentation without killing momentum.• Success at scale comes from modular, reusable AI systems that can plug into multiple contexts.Timestamped Highlights02:14 — Why building a working AI demo is easy, but scaling it into a reliable product is hard04:49 — Lessons from the big data revolution and how AI is moving even faster08:41 — The skill sets AI teams really need and why distributed systems expertise trumps pure ML13:13 — Designing user experiences for AI and why response times redefine UX expectations17:00 — The evolving relationship between product and engineering in the AI era23:10 — How innovation pods help organizations experiment without stalling production teams26:47 — Why modular, self-contained AI systems are the key to scaling across an enterpriseA Line That Stuck“You can't requirement doc your way to AI success. Product and engineering have to co-create and move fast.”Call to ActionIf you found this conversation useful, share it with a colleague, subscribe to the show, and leave a quick rating—it helps us bring more tech leaders and practitioners to the table.
Rouzbeh Yassini-Fard, founder of LANcity, author of The Accidental Network, and widely known as the “father of the cable modem”, shares the story of how broadband was built and the lessons it offers for today's leaders navigating AI and emerging technologies. Arriving in the U.S. with $750 in savings, Yassini-Fard envisioned carrying “voice, data and video… over one cable instead of two” at a time when few believed homes would ever need to be connected. Over nine years, with just 13 employees and seven consultants, he built a working product, proved its reliability, and persuaded the cable industry to adopt it. By 1996, his team had driven device costs from $8,000 down to under $300 and helped create DOCSIS, the global broadband standard, released royalty-free to speed adoption. Reflecting on today's tech landscape, he cautions: “It's not just really money… you need more than that. It's a proven prototype and a product that actually does the talking.” Valuations without execution, he warns, will accelerate failure. Key lessons include: Prototype before scale: Capital is wasted without demonstrable performance in real environments. Treat infrastructure as strategy: Broadband enabled Silicon Valley, Netflix, telehealth, and remote work; leaders must model today's energy, compute, and connectivity constraints when sizing AI opportunities. Open standards matter: Royalty-free interoperability can turn a niche idea into an industry platform. Execution trumps valuation: LANcity beat Motorola and Intel with disciplined engineering, resilient supply chains, and relentless customer trials. Anchor to customer economics: Early users became advocates because the modem delivered day-to-day value. Looking forward, Yassini-Fard stresses that AI and robotics will stall without addressing power and infrastructure: “For some of these AI companies to be successful, they need gigawatts of power… it takes 10 years to build a nuclear reactor that gives you one.” He highlights quantum computing and network management as the next frontiers, and calls for workforce retraining in mathematics, physics, and the skilled trades that sustain digital systems. For executives evaluating platform bets or emerging technologies, this conversation offers a grounded blueprint: start with the prototype, model the infrastructure honestly, choose standards deliberately, and align capital with execution discipline.
Atari's Adventure reboot doesn't do so well, Acclaim is back(?), and Nintendo has a Direct! Also: BUBSY! SPACE ADVENTURE COBRA! STORY OF SEASONS! And TIME FLIES! IT IS HUMP DAY. Subscribe and rate us via iTunes Subscribe on: Amazon Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Pandora DISCORD LINK Watch us on TWITCH! RSS feed: http://sidequesting.podbean.com/feed Hosts: Dali, J.J., Zach, Taylor, Sam, Tom, Jonny, Tyler With Special Guest: None! SIDEQUESTING PATREON EXECUTIVES: Punkdefied SIDEQUESTING PATREON PRODUCERS: Stefan Swandlund, Zero the Prototype, Exageneus, Jeff Grubb Topics: Atari's Samsara launches the same day as Silksong, and doesn't go well Acclaim is back, babyyyyy! Holy fucking shit, Nintendo Direct actually announced for Friday What We're Enjoying: Space Adventure Cobra: The Awakening (review) Bubsy: The Purrfect Collection (review) Time Flies (review) Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar (review) Review & Preview products supplied by publishers — ESPECIALLY THE BOXES OF 5 HOUR ENERGY SnackQuesting: 5 HOUR ENERGY Music Intro: Professor Kliq – Bust This Bust That Music Outro: N.I.M. – Choice Comments? Questions? Email us at: sidequesting @ gmail.com Image courtesy: Nintendo/SideQuesting (J.J.)
In this episode of Communicable, Angela Huttner and Erin McCreary invite two titans of vaccinology, Barney Graham (Atlanta, USA), former deputy director of the NIH NIAID Vaccine Research Center and architect of the mRNA vaccines against COVID-19, and Gary Kobinger (Galveston, USA), leading virologist in the development of the first effective Ebola vaccine, rVSV-ZEBOV, for a candid conversation about their direct experience building two of the most well known vaccines to date, and deploying them to the public. The episode also reviews the different vaccine platforms and addresses vaccine hesitancy, equitable access to vaccines, and global health equity. This episode was edited by Kathryn Hostettler and peer reviewed by Eren Ozturk of Ankara University, Ankara, Türkiye. Terms and sourcesVSV, vesicular stomatitis virusZEBOV, Zaire Ebolavirus rVSV-ZEBOV, recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus expressing the (Zaire) Ebolavirus glycoprotein (vaccine)VRC, the NIH Vaccine Research Center of NIAID Morehouse School of Medicine Satcher Global Health Equity InstituteGuardRX, https://www.guardrx.org/en/who-we-are/ ReferencesMarzi A, et al. VSV-EBOV rapidly protects macaques against infection with the 2014/15 Ebola virus outbreak strain. Science 2015. DOI: 10.1126/science.aab3920 Agnandji S, Huttner A, Zinser M, et al. Phase 1 Trials of rVSV Ebola Vaccine in Africa and Europe. New Engl J Med 2015. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1502924Graham BS and Corbett KS. Prototype pathogen approach for pandemic preparedness: world on fire. J Clin Invest 2020. DOI: 10.1172/JCI139601Jackson LA, Anderson EJ, Rouphael NG, et al. An mRNA Vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 - Preliminary Report. New Engl J Med 2020. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2022483
Playstaion 6? Silksong? 5 Hour Energy? PLANTS VS ZOMBIES? And a naked Bubsy the Bobcat! We're back from PAX and we have a whole lot to talk about! Oh baby, it's a big one! Subscribe and rate us via iTunes Subscribe on: Amazon Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Pandora DISCORD LINK Watch us on TWITCH! RSS feed: http://sidequesting.podbean.com/feed Hosts: Dali, J.J., Zach, Taylor, Sam, Tom, Jonny, Tyler With Special Guest: None! SIDEQUESTING PATREON EXECUTIVES: Punkdefied SIDEQUESTING PATREON PRODUCERS: Stefan Swandlund, Zero the Prototype, Exageneus, Jeff Grubb Topics: PlayStation 6 leaks… as a dockable handheld? Call of Duty is getting a movie, Mortal Kombat 2 delayed Hollow Knight reaches a new player count peak. PEAK. What We're Enjoying: 5 HOUR ENERGY – Purpleberry Punch Plants vs Zombies: Replanted Bubsy 4D Onimusha: Way of the Sword The Spirit Lift Gamesir G7 Pro Double Dragon Revive Sashimi Slayer Grey Wake Blocks for Babies Hello Kitty Island Adventure for PS5 (Review) Sonic Racing Crossworlds BETA TAYLOR IS BUILDING A PC TOWER Review & Preview products supplied by publishers — ESPECIALLY THE BOXES OF 5 HOUR ENERGY SnackQuesting: 5 HOUR ENERGY Music Intro: Professor Kliq – Bust This Bust That Music Outro: N.I.M. – Choice Comments? Questions? Email us at: sidequesting @ gmail.com Image courtesy: Atari/Fabraz
In episode 290 of China Manufacturing Decoded, Renaud Anjoran is back and joins Adrian to explore seven common pitfalls that can derail manufacturing projects during the critical transition from prototype to production. A working prototype may look and feel like the final product, but moving from prototype to mass production is a far more complex journey than most teams expect. From premature tooling to unreliable crowdfunding campaigns, missing test plans, and skipped pilot runs, these mistakes can cost enormous time, money, and credibility if not handled correctly. Episode Sections: 01:19 – Why moving from prototype to production is more complex than expected 04:26 – The analogy of the factory as “a big 3D printer” and why it's wrong 05:42 – Preview of 7 pitfalls discussed in this episode 05:56 – Pitfall #1: Confirming a product design that isn't ready for mass manufacturing 10:02 – Pitfall #2: Going for tooling before the product design is frozen 13:40 – Pitfall #3: Running a Kickstarter/Indiegogo campaign too early 19:33 – Pitfall #4: Crowdfunding with no margin (and the debt it creates) 23:30 – Pitfall #5: Not preparing a test plan for performance and reliability 27:29 – Pitfall #6: Skipping pilot runs before mass production 30:07 – Pitfall #7: Failing to have the manufacturer sign a development/manufacturing contract 36:01 – Recap of all 7 pitfalls and final thoughts Related content... The New Product Introduction Process Guide Product Tooling: Possible To Avoid Paying for it in Full? Crowdfunding Failures: 4 Great Prototypes That Failed To Launch Prototype, Patent, then Market: A Misguided Concept Avoid Sending Immature Product Designs to a Chinese Manufacturer! How Reliability Testing Is Critical To Obtaining Great Mass-Produced Products Why A Pilot Run On A New Product, Before Mass Production, Is Very Helpful How To Create A Valid Manufacturing Contract In China To Protect Your IP Get in touch with us Connect with us on LinkedIn Contact us via Sofeast's contact page Subscribe to our YouTube channel Prefer Facebook? Check us out on FB
As we get ready for our return to Sardinia this week, we're proud to present this month's SUNANDBASS podcast from Blindside, featuring a special Futures Past mix. This selection is a nod to the legendary mixes from Fabio for Muzik MasterS, Doc Scott and LTJ Bukem for Mixmag, all of which had a huge influence on Dan's journey. From starting Breakthru events, to working on Soul:r and now Space Cadet, we're thrilled to welcome Blindside back to the Podcast. “This is a mix of some of my favourite tracks from the mid-90s. Its working title was Future's Past, partly because, even though these tracks are 30 years old, they still sound light years ahead, conveying emotion with an energy that only drum & bass can.” Music from the likes on Peshay, Photek, Intense, Wax Doctor and across corners stones like Metalheadz, GLR, Creative Source and Prototype. Go check it out and get in the mood for #SAB25
SideQuesting's PAX West 2025 Team Choice awards! Subscribe and rate us via iTunes Subscribe on: Amazon Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Pandora DISCORD LINK Watch us on TWITCH! RSS feed: http://sidequesting.podbean.com/feed Hosts: Dali, J.J., Zach, Taylor, Sam, Tom, Jonny, Tyler With Special Guest: None! SIDEQUESTING PATREON EXECUTIVES: Punkdefied SIDEQUESTING PATREON PRODUCERS: Stefan Swandlund, Zero the Prototype, Exageneus, Jeff Grubb The Recipients: G'AIM'E Time Crisis Light Guns Draco and the Seven Scales Beatdown City Survivors Gametank He-man and the Masters of the Universe: The Dragon Pearl of Destruction Review & Preview products supplied by publishers SnackQuesting: Water Music Intro: Professor Kliq – Bust This Bust That Music Outro: N.I.M. – Choice Comments? Questions? Email us at: sidequesting @ gmail.com Image courtesy: SideQuesting
We're at PAX West checking out games!Kirby Air Riders! Pokemon Legends Z-A! Hades II! SILKSONG! and elden ring. Wait, come back! Subscribe and rate us via iTunes Subscribe on: Amazon Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Pandora DISCORD LINK Watch us on TWITCH! RSS feed: http://sidequesting.podbean.com/feed Hosts: Dali, J.J., Zach, Taylor, Sam, Tom, Jonny, Tyler With Special Guest: None! SIDEQUESTING PATREON EXECUTIVES: Punkdefied SIDEQUESTING PATREON PRODUCERS: Stefan Swandlund, Zero the Prototype, Exageneus, Jeff Grubb Topics: PAX WEST What We're Enjoying: Silksong Kirby Air Riders Pokemon Legends ZA He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: The Dragon Pearl of Destruction elden ring. Review & Preview products supplied by publishers SnackQuesting: Water Music Intro: Professor Kliq – Bust This Bust That Music Outro: N.I.M. – Choice Comments? Questions? Email us at: sidequesting @ gmail.com Image courtesy: SideQuesting
Send us a text00:00 - Intro00:52 - ByteDance Buyback at $330B, More Revenue vs Meta02:17 - Klarna IPO Back On03:28 - Framer $2B Valuation Series D04:21 - Rain Raises $58M for Stablecoin Payments Platform05:34 - Commonwealth $863M for Fusion Prototype06:38 - SpaceX 10th Starship Test a Huge Win07:42 - Anthropic Launches Chrome AI Agent08:47 - xAI Launches AI Coding Assistant
learn how to say “I love you” in three different ways
Art Cairo is a longtime Ford collector who bought a 1964½ Mustang for $500 believing it was just a unique early model. It turned out to be an extraordinarily rare prototype originally created for Henry Ford II.
On the show this week, we catch up with Bren Pierce, CEO and founder of Kinisi robotics. Bren is a veteran of the mobile robotics market, having delivered 25,000 robots at his previous startup: Bear Robotics. In this episode, we delve into the world of humanoid robotics, uncovering invaluable lessons from Bren's past ventures. Join us as we explore the challenges faced by a pioneers in the mobile robotics field, and discover how these experiences are shaping the future of robotics. ### – SPONSOR – Ever wondered why global giants like Rockwell, Micron, and HP chose Singapore for their cutting-edge manufacturing facilities? It's no coincidence that the city-state is the world's fifth-largest exporter of high-tech goods. From world-class talent to seamless supply chains and groundbreaking innovation, Singapore's advanced manufacturing ecosystem is powering the future of Industry 4.0. Ready to discover what makes Singapore the choice destination for manufacturing leaders and solution providers? Head to http://go.gov.sg/therobotreport to learn more.
At Gen Con this year, we kicked off Ascension's 15-year anniversary celebration. I had the chance to meet so many fans who have been part of this community for over a decade; the experience was both humbling and rewarding.We just launched the Gamefound Campaign for the Ascension 15th Anniversary Collector's Edition and I've been reflecting on the incredible journey that brought us here. What began as a casual prototype I created to play with friends between rounds of Magic tournaments has grown into a game that connects millions of players around the world.Here are the five most important lessons I've learned, each has transformed Ascension from a prototype to a global phenomenon.Lesson 1: Prototype and Iterate FastWhen I first started working on Ascension, I never expected it to become the success it is today. It was 2009, and I had just quit my job to start my own game company. The funny thing about starting a company is that until you're making money and collaborating with others, the difference between “CEO/Game Designer” and “guy sitting on his couch” is mostly a matter of attitude.At the time, I had spent over a hundred hours playing the deckbuilding game Dominion. This game pioneered the genre, offering the fun of deckbuilding without the hassle of collecting cards. As a Magic: The Gathering Pro, I loved that it delivered the joy of constructing a deck without buying packs or managing a collection. Eventually, however, the game became predictable. Because each setup of available cards was fixed from the start, I rarely needed to change my strategy. I also found that the game took too long to set up, impacting the ratio of fun to busy work in a way I thought could be improved.The secret to creating Ascension was simple: remove the things from Dominion that get in the way of fun.My first prototype was literally just a shuffled pile of Dominion cards, which instantly cut 20 minutes off setup time. Mind you, this prototype wasn't good, but it gave me a quick sense of how the gameplay might feel, and I could see a spark of something great there. My next prototype was nothing more than sharpie scribbles on blank cards. Since my prototypes were quick and ugly, I had no problem throwing them out and making rapid changes. That freedom allowed Ascension to go from idea to store shelves in under 18 months.The lesson: Your first prototype should be so ugly you're embarrassed to show it to anyone. That embarrassment is freedom—freedom to fail fast, change everything, and find the fun without falling in love with your first ideas.Lesson 2: When in Doubt, Cut it outMost new designers try to solve problems by adding things to their games. The correct answer is almost always to cut instead.Ascension started by cutting Dominion's purchase and play restrictions. This streamlined the game and gave players more choices each turn, but also required me to add a second resource [power] to keep tension high. This change was just the start, the biggest cut came much later in development.Ascension's signature innovation was the ever changing center row, which dramatically increased the variety in each game. At the same time, this mechanic also created the risk of a stalled board state, meaning that if players weren't able to buy anything from the center, nothing would change and the game would drag on. My original solution was a “conveyor belt” mechanic, where, at the end of each turn, the rightmost card was banished and everything slid down. This guaranteed movement and created tension as cards neared the edge.The problem was that players kept forgetting to slide the cards down. Every. Single. Game.I tried everything: special cards that interacted with the conveyor belt, giant reminder text on the board, entire mechanics to make sliding feel essential. Nothing worked. Then one playtester asked the question that should have been obvious but I was blind to: "What if we just cut that rule?"We shuffled up, played without it, and never looked back. The game was cleaner, faster, and more fun. Did the board stall occasionally? Yes, but we could mitigate that by subtly adjusting card costs and adding banish effects players could buy when needed. In this case, the conveyor belt cure was far worse than the occasional stalled board disease.The lesson: Every mechanic costs mental energy. When facing a design challenge, always ask first: "What can I eliminate to solve this problem?" Remember, "dead now" doesn't mean "dead forever." Cut mechanics make great expansion content later.Lesson 3: Perfect Your Pitch Through RepetitionEvery game needs a killer hook, and the only way to find it is through repetition. Brutal, exhausting repetition.I learned this the hard way at my first Gen Con booth, where we sold the first copies of Ascension 15 years ago. Over the course of the show, you pitch the game a hundred times. You refine, adjust, and figure out what works. By the end, I could pitch and demo Ascension in my sleep. I knew exactly how to get someone hooked, and the moment I no longer needed to be there (for Ascension, it's usually turn three, when players start seeing the new cards they purchased and get excited about improving their decks).Whenever possible, use things your audience already knows as a reference, combine two familiar concepts, or give a twist to something they've seen before. You need to get information about your target audience and customize the pitch to them. Once they're hooked, you can guide them into a demo and, hopefully, into buying the game and sharing it with friends.In 2010, if I knew my audience played Magic, my go-to pitch was:“Imagine all the fun of drafting card packs in Magic, all with just one lifetime purchase.”If they were familiar with Dominion, an effective pitch was:“Ascension is like Dominion, but with a fun fantasy theme and you can play an entire game in the time it takes to set up a game of Dominion.”If they weren't familiar with either game category, I would usually start with a more theme forward pitch:“Ascension is a 30 minute card game where you recruit mighty heroes and weapons to defeat monsters and earn honor.”At first, pitching this way feels awkward. You have to train yourself to read the audience, adapt, and take feedback from their reactions. The best games also make it easy for players to teach friends, and those people become your best marketers. The more you practice pitching and running live demos, the more it will shape your design choices, helping you create games that are not only fun to play, but also fun to learn and teach.The lesson: Practice pitching your game early and often. Alex Yeager's 2-2-2 demo framework is a fantastic tool for game designers (you can hear more about it on my podcast with Alex here). Whether you need a two-sentence pitch, a two-minute overview, or a two-player demo, tailoring the level of detail to your audience is key. This approach prevents overwhelming your audience with too much information at once while still providing a clear and concise introduction to your game.Lesson 4: Know Your Core Tension and Protect ItEvery great game revolves around one central tension that hooks players.* In Uno, you're trying to empty your hand without unlocking your opponents' cards.* In chess, you protect your king while threatening your opponent's king.* In poker, you want to win the pot but must risk chips without knowing what others hold.* In Magic: The Gathering, the one-land-per-turn restriction forces agonizing tradeoffs about which spells to cast.For Ascension, the core tension is this: adapting to an ever-changing market while your opponents threaten to snatch the exact cards you need.The game sings when there are multiple exciting cards supporting your strategy, but your opponent might grab them first. Every choice matters because the board state is temporary. Purchasing a Mechana construct early makes each successive mechana construct better, but if your opponent cuts you off from the cards you need then your strategy could fall apart.Understanding this core tension has guided 15 years of expansions. Every new mechanic is built to enhance this central dynamic, but never replace it. Our newest expansion, Ascension Legends, turns faction choice into a higher-stakes decision than ever with the Legendary Track system. As you climb each faction's track, you unlock powerful bonuses. Suddenly, that “meh” Lifebound hero becomes essential because it pushes you toward a game-breaking legendary power. Multi-faction cards become contested treasures. The tension ratchets up, but the heart of Ascension remains intact.In the 15th anniversary campaign, I've designed an entirely new card type that impacts every game called Chronicles. Chronicle cards were an interesting challenge to design, because I wanted to make something that honored Ascension's history, impacts every game, and could work with whatever expansion(s) you chose to play it with. But I've always believed constraints breed creativity and these constraints were no exception. There are 17 Chronicle cards available in this campaign. At the start of the game, you can select any two of them and set them beside the center row. Each one adds a new game rule or unique cards to the game. Each of these 17 cards was designed to highlight one of our previous expansions and compress its impact on the core tension into a single effect. Because they are promos and players can opt in to which ones they want to play with, I also felt more free to make more powerful abilities that I would never put into a normal set. For example, one card representing Darkness Unleashed, where we first introduced transforming cards, adds the rule: “At the start of the game, each player removes one Apprentice and one Militia from their Starting Deck and Transforms them into one Mystic and one Heavy Infantry.” These cards are a great way to radically shake up the game and have some fun reevaluating old cards and strategies in the light of new mechanics. You can learn more about the new card type in our update here.The lesson: Identify your game's core tension in one or two sentences. Write it down. Frame it. Before adding any new mechanic, ask: "Does this enhance or dilute our core?" As your game inevitably grows more complex, staying true to its core ensures it evolves in the right direction.Think Like A Game Designer is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Lesson 5: Create Space for Community and ConnectionAt GenCon, a father approached me with his 11-year-old daughter in tow."I just wanted to thank you," he said. "Ascension has become our special thing. We play together almost every night, and it's given us this amazing way to connect."His daughter beamed and jumped into the conversation, eager to tell me about her favorite faction (lifebound) and the strategies she'd discovered.What struck me wasn't just their enthusiasm—it was the math. She wasn't even born when Ascension first released in 2010. Yet here she was, fifteen years later, experiencing the same joy of discovery that's captivated players from day one. That's when I realized we hadn't just created a game—we'd built something that bridges generations.From the beginning, Ascension was deliberately designed to feel less confrontational than other strategy games. You're not attacking other players—you're all racing toward your own goals while your opponent does the same. Only the shared center row and occasional monster effect encourage direct competition.This makes Ascension approachable to partners, friends, and family members who might be intimidated by more aggressive games. I've heard from hundreds of players who say Ascension was their entry point into tabletop gaming. Even the partner of a hardcore gamer can enjoy Ascension because even when you lose, you still get to build something cool and feel progression throughout the game.This design philosophy has created a community where parents can genuinely enjoy playing with their children, where couples can bond over evening games, and where someone whose only card game experience is Uno can sit down and have fun within minutes. The rules are simple enough to teach quickly, but the strategy is deep enough to reward returning players.The secret to lasting community is making everyone feel welcome at the table. Even competitive card games like Magic have benefited enormously from more social formats like Commander which allow new players to enjoy the experience without as much direct conflict. Even for SolForge Fusion, the game I co-created with Richard Garfield as a very competitive game, we created a campaign mode and storyline tournaments that make players allies against a common cause, helping them root for each other and take on challenges that are less directly antagonistic with other players.The lesson: Your game's community will outlive any individual player if you design it to include rather than exclude, to welcome rather than intimidate, and to create shared positive experiences rather than zero-sum conflicts. Think about how your design allows players of different skill levels to enjoy the journey together. The best victories are the ones you can celebrate with the person across the table, not at their expense.Fifteen years ago, I was just a guy on a couch with a dream and a Sharpie. Today, Ascension connects hundreds of thousands of players across the world—parents and children, partners and friends, veterans and newcomers. As we launch our 15th anniversary campaign on Gamefound, featuring exclusive anniversary editions and the brand-new designs, I'm not just grateful for the game we've built. I'm grateful for the community you've helped us create.I am beyond grateful for the community that has supported the last 15 years, and I can't wait to continue to grow together over the next 15!Join our 15th anniversary celebration at Gamefound and get exclusive anniversary rewards available nowhere else.— Justin Gary This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit justingarydesign.substack.com/subscribe
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From balloon internet, drone delivery, and self-driving cars, Alphabet's X chief Astro Teller reveals how the company systematically chases the impossible!Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1183What We Discuss with Astro Teller:Alphabet's X systematically approaches moonshots by requiring three elements: a huge problem, a radical proposed solution, and breakthrough technology that gives a chance — not guarantee — of success.Prototype cheaply and fast to test assumptions. The agricultural robot started as bicycle wheels, PVC tubing, laptop, GoPro and duct tape — not expensive equipment.Bring regulators into the process early as partners rather than waiting until the end. They become collaborators when included in the journey, not obstacles.Detach identity from ideas. People who tie self-worth to specific concepts struggle at X. Success comes from being great at filtering ideas, not being right about yours.Ask yourself: "How fast and cheaply can I get evidence I'm wrong?" Focus on rapid, inexpensive tests that provide real-world data about your assumptions.And much more...And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps! Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!Subscribe to our once-a-week Wee Bit Wiser newsletter today and start filling your Wednesdays with wisdom!Do you even Reddit, bro? Join us at r/JordanHarbinger!This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors:Quiltmind: Email jordanaudience@quiltmind.com to get started or visit quiltmind.comQuince: Free shipping & 365-day returns: quince.com/jordanAudible: Visit audible.com/jhs or text JHS to 500-500Progressive: Free online quote: progressive.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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