Podcasts about r d

Dasha Tyshlek helps R&D and scientific companies bring their newest technologies to market through go-to-market planning, competitor analysis and market research, and customer discovery. Her team's hands-on approach has ensured her clients have immediate traction and business opportunities. She is the host of Biomedical Frontiers: Stories with Innovators in Healthcare, a life-sciences and medical technology podcast hosted by Wallace H. Coulter Translational Research Foundation at University of Virginia and also organizes an annual medical technologies event in Jacksonville as part of Jax Tech Fest. In her free time, she manages her farm White Springs Beans and Berries. Follow her path:Dasha on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dashatyshlek/Dasha's Recent Publications on Developments of AI in Healthcare: https://www.strat-craft.com/learnwithstratcraft/ai-healthcare-report-infoWhite Springs Beans & Berries: https://www.facebook.com/people/White-Springs-Beans-Berries/61570073519233/Jax Tech Fest: https://www.jaxtechfest.com/ ***********Susanne Mueller / www.susannemueller.biz TEDX Talk, May 2022: Running and Life: 5KM Formula for YOUR Successhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oT_5Er1cLvY 700+ weekly blogs / 450+ podcasts / 1 Ironman Triathlon / 5 half ironman races / 26 marathon races / 4 books / 1 Mt. Kilimanjaro / 1 TEDx Talk

The Irish Government and IDA Ireland today welcomed IBM's announcement to create additional high-value jobs in the south-east of the country. The leading global technology company will, over the next three years, hire up to 75 software engineers, dedicated to research and development (R&D), based in Waterford. The roles will focus on cutting-edge innovation for IBM Z, the infrastructure powering 70% of global transactions by value. The Waterford software engineers will closely collaborate with IBM's R&D teams around the world, from designing processors and firmware to software development and advancing the Linux operating system. Peter Burke TD, Minister for Enterprise Tourism & Employment, said: "IBM's decision to expand its operations in Waterford with the creation of up to 75 highly-skilled software engineering roles is very welcome news. This investment is a strong endorsement of the South-East region's growing reputation as a hub for innovation and advanced technology. It also reflects the government's commitment to supporting regional development and fostering strong partnerships between industry and academia. I commend IBM for its continued confidence in Ireland and for its collaboration with the South-East Technological University to build a future-ready workforce." Jack Chambers TD, Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform, said: "I welcome this very positive development which underscores Ireland's attractiveness as a location for businesses to invest in and to expand R&D operations. This strengthens IBM's long-standing presence in Ireland where it employs thousands of people today. IBM has cited Ireland's strong talent pool as a key factor in allowing the company to grow here, which reflects the significant increased investment by the Government in education, and particularly our third-level sector, over recent years. We are committed to supporting research and development in our tech sector, including in the South-East of our country, to drive balanced, regional development and economic growth." In addition to the expansion of R&D functions in Waterford, IDA Ireland also welcomes IBM's decision to deepen its collaboration with the South East Technological University, to develop a technical skills ecosystem with a focus on mainframes and Linux. Nathan Cullen, country general manager, IBM Ireland, said: "I am delighted to see our footprint in Ireland evolve further. This is testimony to the deep talent pools available across the country, upon which we have steadily built our business, including mainframes which are a cornerstone of global transactions. IBM has now operated in Ireland for nearly 70 years and this milestone investment for the region also speaks volumes about the ecosystem that has built up around the South Eastern Technical University." IBM last year announced the recruitment of another 800 high-tech jobs in Ireland by 2027, cementing the country's position as a globally strategic location for the company. These new roles, spanning R&D, digital sales and Consulting operations, will be spread across Dublin, Cork and Waterford. Michael Lohan, IDA Ireland CEO, said: "This R&D investment announced by IBM is fantastic news for Waterford and indeed the South East Region. This investment is also closely aligned to Adapt Intelligently: A Strategy for Sustainable Growth and Innovation, 2025-29, where IDA has committed to positioning Ireland at the centre of cutting-edge global technological innovation in the next five years. I warmly welcome this decision by IBM and assure them of IDA's continued partnership."

In this conversation, we dive into the world of AI, tech innovation, and data annotation with Michael Abramov, the CEO and Co-Founder of Keymakr and Keylabs.ai. With experience in R&D management and data collection, Michael became a software engineer with one goal in mind: to make a meaningful impact with his work. Whether he's working in agriculture or the automotive industry, he's on a mission to drive technological advancements and breakthroughs in creative ways… Keymakr was founded in 2015 as a response to a need for high-quality and affordable training data for computer vision-based AI. Now, they're developing annotation tools and data collection technology to help their partners and clients in Computer Vision create innovative models.  Keylabs is a state-of-the-art data annotation platform that uses built-in machine learning and efficient operation management to enhance data interpretation. Designed for optimal results, its advanced algorithms are practical for a diverse range of industries, including medicine, automotive, and security. Click play to find out: What data annotation means in the context of Computer Vision.  How boundaries of right and wrong are established within AI systems.  Examples of data poisoning and its impact on the accuracy of AI tools.   You can connect with Michael by visiting his LinkedIn! Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: http://apple.co/30PvU9C

00:00 – 00:15 — Introduction & Wheel of Doom Live check & goat tribute: The show opens with Sam and Mike confirming they're live and dedicating the episode to their late homestead goat, Krusty, acknowledging his impact on their energy and lifestyle . Wheel of Doom & scoring updates: They spin the infamous Wheel of Doom, recap last week's all-time high score, and discuss viewer suggestions to improve the wheel's design and the underlying scoring algorithm . Positive affirmations kickoff: In a tonal shift, they recite a series of uplifting affirmations—trusting the universe, attracting success—to set a hopeful mood after the morbid opener . Occult & conspiracy primer: A deep dive into “interdimensional demonic intelligence,” haunted regions, and the idea of fallen angels manipulating leadership, setting the stage for the show's blend of paranormal and geopolitical themes . Catherine Austin Fitts discussion: Hosts debate Fitts's sudden prominence—her Bush-era credentials versus recycled '90s conspiracies—questioning whether she's a genuine whistleblower or part of the mirage . Grid-down survival scenario: A video outlines how quickly society unravels when the power grid collapses, using Texas's near-miss in 2021 as a case study, and sketches the cascading failures—fuel shortages, hospital shutdowns, civil unrest—if it went national . Birkin bag origins: They marvel at Jane Birkin's prototype Hermès bag—its design born from an overhead-bin mishap—and note its looming Sotheby's auction, tying fashion to doomscroll culture . 00:15 – 00:30 — Ghost Town & Strange Finds Cold War ghost town for sale: A realtor's clip showcases a 100-acre, 43-home radar station in Finland, MN—overgrown, possibly contaminated—sparking fantasies of doomsday cults or Airbnb-style retreats . Reframing Jesus's resurrection: A Baha'i-perspective video argues that Jesus's teachings matter more than the resurrection miracle, prompting Sam and Mike to reflect on faith, church burnout, and spiritual practice . Mysterious Sri Lanka structure: They react to explorers finding a solitary white edifice in dense jungle—speculating on its origin, purpose, and cinematic quality . DMT, aliens & death: A bizarre mash-up video links UFO encounters to DMT experiences and mortality, leaving hosts both fascinated and skeptical of this incomplete puzzle . 00:30 – 00:45 — Tech & Strength Big Tech in uniform: Sam can't believe top CTOs from OpenAI, Meta and Palantir were sworn in as Army Reserve lieutenants—no boot camp, no public vetting—raising alarms about private data controlling military R&D . World's strongest grip: A clip profiles an arm-wrestling phenom whose grip strength defies belief; the hosts discuss training methods, human potential, and the absurdity of televised strength feats . 00:45 – 01:00 — Paranormal & UFOs Demonic watchers & Nephilim: Returning to biblical conspiracies, they explore a video on fallen angels and the watchers, debating the reality of demonic intelligence shaping our world . High-wire UFO crash: A rumor video claims alien craft crashed onto power lines above a highway; Sam lambastes its implausibility, noting how fighter jets could intercept any rogue drone . 01:00 – 01:15 — Fasting & Smuggling Angus Barberi's 382-day fast: A 1965 hospital case study reveals Barberi shed 276 lbs in 382 days on water, black coffee, and electrolytes—emerging at 180 lbs with no loose skin, baffling medical experts . Hosts' fasting banter: Sam and Mike share their own intermittent-fast plans, rib each other about homeopathic ban requests, and drop a shout-out to “the number one podcast” on Earth . Utah crude-oil smuggling: A news video covers a family indicted for shipping $300 million of Mexican crude into the U.S. under false waste declarations, blending greed, corruption, and border intrigue . 01:15 – 01:30 — Geopolitics & Blackouts Vanishing Boeing cargo planes: Three 777 freighters bound for Luxembourg disappear near Iranian airspace amid regional strikes—no proof of covert arms runs, but global eyebrows raise . Iran's digital blackout: After blaming cyber-threats, Iran forces a near-total internet shutdown; Starlink terminals smuggled in reactivate connections, highlighting “Black Mirror”-style information warfare . Cartoon news on ritual war: An animated briefing frames Israel's preemptive strikes, Iranian warnings, and proxy clashes as a deadly ritual game—Sam likens the visuals to dystopian satire . New World Order conspiracies: They unpack a spoof news segment on puppet-master elites fueling perpetual conflict, questioning which flavor of authoritarianism we'll ultimately choose .   Watch Full Episodes on Sam's channels: - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SamTripoli - Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/SamTripoli Sam Tripoli: Tin Foil Hat Podcast Website: SamTripoli.com Twitter: https://x.com/samtripoli Midnight Mike: The OBDM Podcast Website: https://ourbigdumbmouth.com/ Twitter: https://x.com/obdmpod Doom Scrollin' Telegram: https://t.me/+La3v2IUctLlhYWUx    

Points of Interest0:00 – 1:00 – Opening: Marcel introduces the episode's focus on financial visibility and growth, and welcomes returning guest Jon Morris, CEO of Fiscal Advocate and creator of EngineBI.1:00 – 2:55 – Jon's Background: Jon shares his journey from founding Rise Interactive to launching Fiscal Advocate, emphasizing the value of financial insights in scaling agencies.3:00 – 4:30 – Overview of Fiscal Advocate & EngineBI: Jon explains the core services of Fiscal Advocate—bookkeeping and FP&A—and how EngineBI enables forward-looking budgeting, forecasting, and business intelligence.4:30 – 6:45 – Clarifying the Relationship Between Fiscal Advocate & Parakeeto: Marcel and Jon outline how their services complement each other—Fiscal Advocate focuses on company-wide financial health, while Parakeeto dives deep into project-level delivery profitability.6:45 – 8:25 – The Profitability Venn Diagram: The duo discusses the intersection of finance and operations in agency profitability, stressing that complete visibility requires both financial structure and operational clarity.8:25 – 12:00 – The Three Key Financial Metrics: Jon presents his core framework: cash relative to monthly overhead, profitability (target 20% EBITDA), and year-over-year revenue growth (target 20%).12:00 – 15:10 – Managing Cash with Discipline: Jon details a best-practice approach to managing cash through segmented bank accounts—operating, accrual, savings, and (if applicable) media accounts—with clear reserve targets.15:10 – 17:20 – Strategic Use of Excess Cash: They explore scenarios where excess cash should be reinvested or removed from the business, with an emphasis on growth-minded planning or lifestyle-business clarity.17:20 – 22:35 – Accrual Accounting & Forecasting Pitfalls: Jon explains how deferred revenue and mismanaged payment terms can create false security in cash flow and emphasizes the need for accrual-based accounting and detailed forecasting.22:35 – 24:45 – Spending Benchmarks by Function: The episode outlines ideal spending allocations—50% on delivery, 30% across admin/ops/marketing, and 5% on R&D—to balance growth and margin targets.24:45 – 27:55 – Growth vs. Profitability Tradeoffs: Jon advocates for disciplined reinvestment of margin into scalable functions rather than focusing solely on profit extraction, aligning with the “Rule of 40” growth philosophy.27:55 – 33:59 – Importance of Gross Margin Visibility: Marcel and Jon stress the necessity of management accounting to accurately track delivery margin, revealing it as the single most powerful lever for scaling profitably.Show NotesConnect with Jon via LinkedInFiscal AdvocateE-Book: Decision-Making Science For AgenciesEmail: jon@fiscaladvocate.comLove the PodcastLeave us a review here.

The decisions that humans make can be extraordinarily costly. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were multi-trillion-dollar decisions. If you can improve the accuracy of forecasting individual strategies by just a percentage point, that would be worth tens of billions of dollars. Yet society does not invest tens of billions of dollars in figuring out how to improve the accuracy of human judgment. That seems really odd.That's a quote from today's interviewee, who has made his career helping the intelligence community predict the future better. In this interview, we discuss:* Which prediction methods perform the best?* How does IARPA create tech for American spies?* What technologies give democracies an advantage over autocracies?* Could the Internet have been designed better?Our interviewee, Jason Matheny, championed research into human judgment and forecasting at the R&D lab for the intelligence community: the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity, or IARPA, which he directed from 2015-2018.[This interview was originally published in 2023, at this link, without the audio: Statecraft was still transcript-only then.]You can find the transcript for this conversation at www.statecraft.pub. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.statecraft.pub

In this compelling episode, Peter Towers, Managing Director of ESS BIZTOOLS, explores how offering Research & Development (R&D) advisory services can transform your firm into a strategic partner for innovative SMEs. Discover why R&D is not just a tax incentive – it's a powerful differentiation tool for accountants, bookkeepers, and business advisors. Peter outlines: ·         Why R&D services are critical in a post-compliance world ·         How to guide clients from idea to incentive and beyond ·         Key requirements: company structure, $20K minimum spend, documentation ·         The ripple effect: mentoring, commercialisation, and capital raising ·         How ESS BIZTOOLS supports your journey with 46 R&D tools and templates With looming changes in compliance workflows and increasing SME demand for innovation support, now is the time to diversify your service offerings. You can also access our podcast on: Amazon Music Apple Podcasts Audible Spotify YouTube    

In this special crossover episode between the AICPA's Tax Section Odyssey and PFP Section podcasts, April Walker is joined by Bob Keebler and Mark Gallegos to break down the fast-moving tax legislation landscape. They walk through key provisions in both the House's “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” and the Senate's proposal, sharing what matters most for client conversations right now. Topics include: Timing and reconciliation process in Congress Section 199A and SALT cap updates PTET deduction differences and planning impact Section 174 R&D expensing changes Bonus depreciation and Section 179 updates Opportunity Zones and energy credits Why now is the “opportunity season” for proactive client outreach This episode is your go-to briefing for what's in motion and how to stay ahead. Tune in to hear what tax advisors need to know — and how to start client conversations before the final bill hits the President's desk. Resource: PFP considerations across 2025 legislative proposals

This is a special episode featuring highlights from the inaugural Ottawa Innovation Week, with seven insightful interviews from some of the most inspiring leaders in technology and innovation, many of whom were speakers and organizers during the week's events. Ottawa Innovation Week is a celebration of bold ideas, creative minds, and the changemakers driving the future of technology, business, arts, entertainment, and social impact—right here in Canada's capital. The initiative was led by Sonya Shorey, President and CEO of Invest Ottawa, in collaboration with the Ottawa Board of Trade, Ottawa Tourism, and numerous partner organizations. My interview with Sonya can be found in Episode 118 of The Art & Science of Learning podcast. Designed to showcase the strength, diversity, and growing momentum of Ottawa's innovation ecosystem, this first-of-its-kind event brought together leading voices from across technology, entrepreneurship, investment, and research. Throughout the week, I had the privilege of speaking with seven influential figures who are shaping the future of innovation both locally and globally. From startup founders and global corporate leaders to investors and ecosystem architects, each guest shares unique insights into their field, along with personal reflections on growth, leadership, and opportunity. Featured interviews (with timestamps) include: • Veronica Farmer (11:50) – Chief Marketing Officer at Wesley Clover International and a widely respected community builder in Ottawa's business and tech landscape • Dr. Lindy Ledohowski (37:20) – Vice President at RBCx, supporting leading tech companies with insights drawn from her background as both founder and academic • Julia Elvidge (46:20)– Co-founder of SheBoot, a trailblazer in intellectual property strategy and a champion of women's entrepreneurship in tech • Nick Quain (59:10) – Vice President of Venture & Entrepreneurship at Invest Ottawa and a driving force behind the city's startup ecosystem • Erin Kelly (1:07:20) – Co-founder and CEO of askpolly.ai, an AI-powered platform transforming predictive analysis in public affairs and beyond • Jonathan Lowenhar (1:14:50) – Founder & Managing Partner at Enjoy The Work, a global advisory firm helping startup founders become exceptional CEOs • Andrew Holmes (1:23:20) – Founder of Sleep Efficiency Inc., and a national expert in the science and impact of sleep health From venture capital and AI innovation to women-led tech startups and the future of sleep science, this episode presents a compelling cross-section of ideas and expertise. Whether you're a founder, investor, policymaker, or simply curious about Ottawa's role in shaping the innovation economy, there's something here for you. ---- Links and Guest Biographies: Ottawa Innovation Week: https://www.investottawa.ca/innovation-week/ Invest Ottawa: https://www.investottawa.ca Interview with Sonya Shorey about Ottawa Innovation Week: https://www.theartandscienceoflearning.com/e101-jan-present/e118-launching-ottawa-innovation-week-sonya-shorey Veronica Farmer Veronica Farmer is Chief Marketing Officer at Wesley Clover International where she oversees all aspects of its promotion and management, collaborating closely with portfolio companies and affiliates such as L-SPARK, Alacrity Global, and WCS Global. Recognized as one of Ottawa's foremost community builders, Veronica holds leadership and board roles in numerous business and non-profit organizations. As the Founder and former CEO of TrueCourse Communications, a full-service marketing and communications agency, Veronica guided numerous tech, B2B, and B2C clients in Ottawa and beyond toward market success. TrueCourse was acquired in December 2024, marking a milestone in her entrepreneurial journey. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronicafarmer/ TechTuesday: https://www.wesleyclover.com/events/techtuesday/ Dr. Lindy Ledohowski Dr. Lindy Ledohowski is VP at RBCx, where she supports some of the Ottawa region's biggest and best tech companies on behalf of RBCx. Prior to her work in banking, she was a professor and founder of EssayJack, an academic writing platform. EssayJack was acquired in 2021 by Wizeprep, and Lindy joined Wizeprep first as a VP and then as Chief Operating Officer. She is also an active Board member in the not-for-profit space LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindy-ledohowski/ Julia Elvidge Julia Elvidge is co-founder of SheBoot, a bootcamp for women entrepreneurs of scalable tech and tech-enabled businesses. Julia has been recognized as one of the world's foremost IP strategists by Intellectual Property Magazine (IAM). Trained as an electrical engineer, Julia designed microchip circuits and analyzed semiconductors before moving into the business side of technology. As co-founder and President, Julia helped build Chipworks into an industry leader, delivering patent analytics and technology intelligence services to intellectual property and R&D groups in electronics companies across Asia, North America and Europe. Recipient of the Canadian Women in Communications Trailblazer of the Year Award (2008) and CATA WIT (Women in Technology) Sara Kirke Award for Woman Entrepreneurship (2007). LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliaelvidge/ SheBoot: https://sheboot.ca Nick Quain Nick Quain is Vice President of Venture & Entrepreneurship at Invest Ottawa, he spearheads support for Ottawa's tech and entrepreneurial sectors while championing the local business ecosystem as a whole. Previously he served as co-founder and CEO at CellWand. They pioneered the use of abbreviated dialing codes in North America with their award-winning #TAXI (Pound Taxi) service and later in the mobile transportation space with The Ride app. CellWand earned numerous business and innovation awards, including the 2010 Canada's Top 10 Competition for Technology, recognition as one of Canada's Hottest Innovation Companies, and being named one of the top 10 Wireless Companies to Watch by IDC. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-quain/ Erin Kelly Erin Kelly is co-founder and CEO of askpolly.ai, the venture-backed AI company that has cracked the code for predicting human reaction to a future scenario. askpolly has successfully predicted the outcome of over 30 elections and referendums, assisted with frundraising, forecast disease spread and helped hundreds of executives hone their messages through very difficult PR situations. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinottawa/ askpolly: https://www.askpolly.ai Jonathan Lowenhar Jonathan Lowenhar is Founder & Managing Partner at Enjoy The Work. Founded in 2015, Enjoy The Work is a San Francisco-based startup advisory firm that helps founders transform into master operators and become great CEOs. Enjoy The Work has supported more than 125 startups, representing more than $13B in combined market value. Among their global client list are notable success stories such as Tipalti, Paper.co, inDinero, RealtyMogul and Honeybook. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jlowenhar/ Enjoy The Work: https://enjoythework.com Andrew Holmes Andrew Holmes is Founder of Sleep Efficiency Inc. Before founding Sleep Efficiency, Andrew served as Senior of Cardiopulmonary labs at the Queensway Carleton Hospital in Ottawa, where he led the team responsible for a full-service out-patient cardiopulmonary department and sleep clinic. Andrew is routinely featured as the sleep subject matter expert on CTV News and CBC's The National, offering insights into the critical role of sleep health. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-holmes-rpsgt-49961951/ Sleep Efficiency: https://www.sleepefficiency.ca

What's really happening at the boundary between your speakers and the surface they sit on?In this episode of The SOUND Project, Gavin talks with Dave Morrison from IsoAcoustics about the science behind speaker isolation, how IsoAcoustics products improve clarity and imaging, and why these solutions matter in both professional and home audio environments. They also cover immersive audio setups, soffit-mounted speakers, and how early design consultation prevents compromises later.https://www.isoacoustics.comVideo By: More Than Media - www.morethan.mediaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/morethan.media/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morethan.mediaYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@morethanmedia_The S.O.U.N.D. Project Podcast:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sound-project/id1680525959Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6dkk1s642VFjZGsdYGyxBPGoogle: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9kZTBiZGNlOC9wb2RjYXN0L3JzcwFull episodes playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLghfvh2wd7A9MnVKr44jtPEg0qcZ1esTFKeep up with us on our Socials:- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@haverstickdesigns- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/haverstickdesigns/- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HaverstickDesigns- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@haverstickdesigns- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/haverstick-designs/- Linktree: https://linktr.ee/haverstickdesigns- Website: https://www.haverstickdesigns.com/#TheSOUNDProject #IsoAcoustics #StudioDesign #SpeakerIsolation #ProAudio #ImmersiveAudio #HomeAudio #RecordingStudio #HaverstickDesigns #SoundEngineering00:00 – Intro and meeting Dave Mawson00:35 – Dave's background in studio and building design01:30 – The origin of IsoAcoustics02:30 – How speaker isolators improve performance04:00 – Designing products for both pro and home audio06:00 – Differences in educating pro vs home customers08:00 – Immersive audio, Atmos setups, and isolation challenges10:30 – New products and solutions for ceiling/wall mounts12:30 – Collaborating with manufacturers for integrated solutions14:00 – Testing, R&D, and relaying data to customers16:00 – The real impact of isolation on imaging and soundstage18:00 – Why early planning in studio design matters20:00 – Closing thoughts and how to get started with IsoAcoustics

Powering tomorrow: investing in Ottawa's energy future Hydro Ottawa recently unveiled its  2026-2030  investment plan focused on modernizing and strengthening the grid. The way we're consuming energy is changing, and this investment plan focuses on four key areas that highlight why Hydro Ottawa is taking action, how they plan on doing it, and what it all means for you.  Hydro Ottawa's Chief Operating Officer, Distribution and Generation, Guillaume Paradis, joins thinkenergy to dive a little deeper into those focus areas, and why they matter, with host Trevor Freeman.  Related links Guillaume Paradis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/guillaume-paradis-30a47721 Trevor Freeman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-freeman-p-eng-8b612114 Hydro Ottawa: https://hydroottawa.com/en   To subscribe using Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/thinkenergy/id1465129405 To subscribe using Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7wFz7rdR8Gq3f2WOafjxpl To subscribe on Libsyn: http://thinkenergy.libsyn.com/ --- Subscribe so you don't miss a video: https://www.youtube.com/user/hydroottawalimited Follow along on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hydroottawa Stay in the know on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HydroOttawa Keep up with the posts on X: https:/www.twitter.com/thinkenergypod Transcript: Trevor Freeman 00:07 Welcome to ThinkEnergy, a podcast that dives into the fast-changing world of energy through conversations with industry leaders, innovators, and people on the front lines of the energy transition. Join me, Trevor Freeman, as I explore the traditional, unconventional, and up-and-coming facets of the energy industry. If you have any thoughts, feedback, or ideas for topics we should cover, please reach out to us at thinkenergy@hydroottawa.com.Hi everyone, and welcome back. A few episodes back, I talked about some of the important work that happens at the distribution level to maintain and expand our grid, and I tried to connect the dots between that work and the broader societal energy transition that is happening at all levels—how the work we do at the distribution level is really important and tied to some of those larger projects that may get a little bit more news and attention. That energy transition, which, as you're hopefully aware by now, is ongoing right now; it's not something of the future, it's happening today. That energy transition is multifaceted, but from an electricity and electrification perspective, the distribution utility—i.e., the Hydro Ottawa of whatever jurisdiction you're in—is at the very leading edge of many of the changes we need to see within our electricity system to support that transition.So today, I'd like to go a little bit further with that topic and focus on Hydro Ottawa's next five-year investment plan, which covers the 2026 to 2030 period. This will be the largest investment plan in our history as a company, and I wanted to dig into what we have identified as key focus areas for investment in the coming five years. With more than 100 years of operating a large, complex distribution network, Hydro Ottawa is embarking on a pretty significant journey to modernize and strengthen our grid for the challenges and opportunities ahead of us. We have filed our 2026 to 2030 electricity distribution rate application, as it's called, with the Ontario Energy Board. This is a standard practice for all local distribution companies in Ontario; that's what we have to do. As a reminder for our listeners, the Ontario Energy Board, or OEB, as we often call it, is our independent regulator. Their mission in this process is to strike a balance between ensuring the financial health and operational needs of utilities like Hydro Ottawa, while also safeguarding the affordability and reliability of the service for the customer. So they want to make sure that we're spending enough to tackle the right projects on the grid to make sure it stays operational while not spending too much. They meticulously scrutinize every detail of these applications to ensure that the proposed rates are just and reasonable and that all investments are prudent and truly in the public interest.So we have gotten a number of questions about the plan, and specifically around, "Where is the money going to go? What are you going to actually spend these dollars that you're requesting on? And why are these investments necessary? What benefits are they actually going to bring to our community?" And often we get the question of, "Does this mean fewer outages or shorter outages?" So I want to dig into that. I want to talk a little bit about what we've got planned and what the impact will be, and what the impact would be if we don't do those things. And to help me walk through that energy roadmap, that plan that we've put together, I've got Guillaume Paradis joining me today. Guillaume is the Chief Operating Officer of Generation and Distribution here at Hydro Ottawa, and he's going to join me, and we're going to talk through this. Guillaume and his teams are responsible for the planning, design, operation, construction, and maintenance of our electrical power distribution system, and in his role, he leads the teams that are directly accountable for ensuring the safe, efficient, and reliable delivery of electricity to our customers. Today, I'm going to ask Guillaume to really walk us through the details of our investment plan, how it was shaped, how we came up with these specific areas, and what benefits are going to be realized by our community and the broader energy landscape. Guillaume Paradis, welcome to the show. Guillaume Paradis 04:24 Pleasure to be here, Trevor. Trevor Freeman 04:26 Okay, so Guillaume, this is Hydro Ottawa's largest investment plan ever, and I'd like you to start by talking us through the primary drivers behind what our five-year investment plan is. Guillaume Paradis 04:41 Yeah, so as you've heard, as you've seen, we're at a historical, or historically, you know, unique point in the evolution of our industry. Electricity underpins most of our societal aspirations with respect to creating, you know, a more sustainable future, creating the future we want to leave for the next generations. And our distribution system underpins a lot of those aspirations in simple ways and in more complex ways. So, you know, a simple way is that essentially, for, you know, the well-being of our society, for our customers, the residents of Ottawa, and really any area, to live the lives they're hoping to live, to, you know, enjoy the benefits of modern life, electricity is a critical underpinning in any way you can imagine and you know, think about. So our service has always been very important. It's just become even more critical as a foundational block for, you know, the lives that we're hoping to live and we're living today in our modern society. So that, combined with other aspirations related to reducing our carbon footprint and integrating more renewable energy resources within our footprint, it creates a situation where there's a significant need for us to invest, continue to invest, and reinvest in our infrastructure to deliver those outcomes for customers. Trevor Freeman 06:28 Yeah, I think, I mean, we talk a lot about the energy transition on the show, and if, if you think about, you know, let's say our previous rate application, five years ago, the energy transition was a thing; we knew about it, but it was like a thing of tomorrow where, hey, that's going to come soon. The difference now, I assume, and maybe you can speak to this, is we're seeing that. We're seeing the change now. Guillaume Paradis 06:52 Yeah, you're exactly correct. Like, we're in it now. So we've been talking about it for some time, both from a, like a general societal aspiration standpoint, but also from a technological standpoint. For a very long time, we talked about electric vehicles having an impact and becoming more commonplace. We talked about leveraging automation to deliver our services. We talked about two-way power flows. So we've been building toward this moment, and now we're essentially in it, if you will, and we're seeing all those things, the confluence of all those longer-term trends sort of manifest themselves in real demand for our system, in real changes in how our customers want to use energy. And we're in the middle of that, and we're, you know, to enable those things happening in our community here in Ottawa. Trevor Freeman 07:49 Yeah, so it's like the business as usual, a lot of the same things, and we're going to talk about some of the specifics, but a lot of the same things we would normally do, just a lot more of at the same time as, like, also pivoting a little bit to meet some of these new needs, like charging transportation and like heating our spaces more with electricity, like some of these new needs that didn't exist or not to the same extent. So it's like more of the same plus other new stuff. And we're going to talk about that in a minute. Guillaume Paradis 08:23 Yeah. So, you know, we always would say that the future of the energy sector was very exciting, and things were coming and like, change was upon us, and now, essentially, we're, we're living it, right? So you have to carry on with the responsibilities that you always had, and meanwhile, figure out how to deliver those new outcomes, those new services that previously weren't required or expected. Trevor Freeman 08:51 Right? So let's, let's kind of get into some of the details here. So there are four key capital investment categories in this plan: growth and electrification, aging infrastructure, grid modernization, and grid resilience. So we're going to dive into the specifics of these in a minute. But to start off with, why? Why these four? How did we land on these four as the main categories? Guillaume Paradis 09:20 Yeah, so there's, there's various ways you can categorize investments. There's a lot of drivers that will lead us to invest in an area or replace some infrastructure somewhere in our system. These categories capture quite well what is at the core of various investments. So for one specific investment, there will be multiple drivers, but these ones sort of in an elegant way, I would say, capture, you know, why investments are occurring, what the primary driver is for those investments, and they help translate that for, you know, folks who are not involved day-to-day in planning the electricity system, that's our responsibility. What we're trying to communicate is why we're taking action where we're taking action. So those categories, in my mind, capture that really well. They also tie our investments to broad trends that people should be aware of, and they're a way to make sure that we have, you know, a clear baseline for a conversation as we proceed with those plans. Trevor Freeman 10:30 Yeah, one thing I find, and you know, in my role, I talk to customers a lot, and I find these are fairly easy to explain, or at least, I hope they are. If you're listening and you disagree, let us know. But people can kind of get their heads around why the utility needs to do each of these four things, and some, in some ways, they align with other sectors as well. So I think, and I hope, as we carry on our conversation here, it'll be easy to sort of build out the picture of what we're doing in each of those four areas. So why don't we? Let's dive right in then and look at the specifics. And starting with growth and electrification, what are the specific investments that are planned to support the growing energy needs of our community, you know? And we've already started talking about electric vehicles, other electrified aspects of our lives, like, what? What falls into this category? Guillaume Paradis 11:23 Yeah, so with respect to growth and electrification, there are a few underlying trends that drive the investment requirements. So as you've suggested, as you mentioned, you know, there's an evolution of how our customers use energy at home, day-to-day. EVs being obviously a primary example that everyone will be very aware of, just, you know, driving around town. Frankly, the difference in how regularly you'll see electric vehicles in our community relative to even five years ago is pretty dramatic, and that is having a long-term, you know, impact over time, likewise for technologies like heat pumps at home and just generally, the growth of our community. So those elements just drive a longer-term trend of more demand being present in our community, within our system, and in addition to that, one big change that we've seen over the last few years is more large-scale demand requests coming into our service territory. Typically that will be large customers wanting to do something different with energy. So it could go or it could be driven by a few different kind of corporate aspirations. What we're seeing a lot of are instances where large corporations decide, or institutions decide to do away with more carbon-intensive energy sources, so they will look to us and electricity to replace what previously would have been another fuel source that maybe is less green. So we're seeing that affecting choices some of those type of customers are making, and then at the same time, we're seeing just large requests related to a different type of energy demand. So companies wanting to, for example, bring back their R&D efforts to a data center that they operate and they control, so that they have more control over cybersecurity, you know, elements, and then likewise, with where their data flows to and how it's being managed. So we're seeing large requests at a rate that we didn't previously, and that those requests are significant enough that they require us to make very major investments, like new substations, like building out new feeders, again at a pace that far outpaces what we've seen historically. So the underlying trend of more small demand creating an impact at the aggregate level, combined with those larger requests, that's creating a significant need for us to invest in responding to that growth in the electrification drivers within our system. Trevor Freeman 14:42 Yeah, so this is in response to what we're seeing our customers do, and that's it's something that has come up before in conversation here, of, you know, we, we respond to what we see our customers doing and what our customers are asking us. They're asking for more power. We have to respond to provide that more power. So this. So this kind of area of investment is really just building out the grid and all of the assets and infrastructure that are that make up the grid to be able to meet the needs of our customers, which are growing faster than they were previously. Is that fair to say? Guillaume Paradis 15:17 Yeah, and for us, it's an interesting balancing act. We have to find where we have to anticipate our customers' needs and the demand that's upon us, but we can't get ahead of it, because that would draw investments that potentially would later become stranded or create a cost burden for our customers. So we have to know where the demand is going, and we have to be ready to respond and connect new customers, but we can't get too far ahead of it, because ultimately, you know, if we invest too soon, that's, you know, a burden for all our customers. So sometimes I would say there's that misconception that somehow we're we're creating our own forecasts and believing our own forecasts. And really, it's a bit simpler than that. We take in the requests and we respond to those requests. We have to be able to look out a few years to make sure that we're not missing, you know, anything significant that would have an impact on our system, but we don't get too far ahead from an investment standpoint. Trevor Freeman 16:31 Okay? So Guillaume, we've been talking about the more traditional aspects of our grid, you know, poles, wires, transformers, et cetera. But I know that we're also looking at how we can deploy what we call non-wire solutions to also help manage capacity on our grid. Can you just explain what some of these solutions are and how we're going to use them in conjunction with our traditional assets to manage grid needs? Guillaume Paradis 16:56 Yeah, so non-wire alternatives is essentially the concept that without having to install traditional infrastructure—think poles, new transformers, new cables, underground—you may be able to harvest existing resources within your footprint to help you manage operational needs, be it like certain peaks that have a short duration, other scenarios of constraints, where, rather than building net new infrastructure, which is expensive and time-consuming, you might be able to optimize, I'll call it, the use of embedded resources in a manner that actually meets your operational objectives. So the way you would do that is by using a combination of resources. Typically, you would look at small-scale embedded storage. So if it exists in the system, you would actually leverage it. If, if you could, otherwise, you might install some in a very targeted manner that helps you meet those operational needs, and then otherwise you would leverage customer resources. So that's either existing generation that is owned by customers, or which is more typical, their ability to adjust their demand at certain times to meet your operational constraints. So the idea there is that you can do a business case, you can do an evaluation of what it would take to engage all these resources to get the same operational outcome as you would if you build the new infrastructure, and compare the two on a cost basis. And actually, in some instances, see scenarios where those non-wire alternatives actually beat out large-scale infrastructure upgrades from a financial standpoint. So it's, it's an evolving area. We have a few pockets within the city that we're targeting for programs like those ones, and we expect, over time, as more embedded resources proliferate, as more customer devices become controllable, we'll have a greater option, in fact, to leverage those non-wire alternatives or those non-traditional solutions to meet our operational requirements. Trevor Freeman 19:20 Great. So this is a combination of, you know, Hydro Ottawa is planning to invest in some assets, you know, be they battery or otherwise, on our side of the meter. We call that in front of the meter, to help manage grid needs, while also looking for opportunities to partner with customers, you know, in the aggregate, so, you know, 100 or 1000 customers at once to say, "If we need to call on your devices to either inject into the grid or to ramp back your operations, that will help us manage grid needs while the customer still maintains control." Is that fair to say? Guillaume Paradis 19:59 Yeah. Fair, and that's that's an emerging capacity we have. So if our ability to control and call upon a very large number of small devices and customer devices has grown and is growing and will be over the next few years, and with that, our capacity to then draw from those resources to respond to operational circumstances is also increasing and will give us options we just wouldn't have had in the past. So it's just a better way of utilizing available energy resources, a more refined way, and one that probably wasn't available to us at scale 10 years ago. Yeah. Trevor Freeman 20:41 And the driver behind all this is what's the best, most cost-effective way to address that grid need? In some cases, it's going to be the poles and wires and transformers. In some cases, it's going to be these non-wire solutions, and it's it's part of the planning of the grid to identify where does each technology make sense? Guillaume Paradis 21:02 Absolutely. So again, it's a more refined way of assessing options and ensuring that we identify the most cost-effective strategies possible. Trevor Freeman 21:14 Perfect, great. Okay, so that's the growth and electrification section. Let's move to aging infrastructure, which is about a third of this investment plan. So this may seem like a softball to start with, but what are some of the challenges posed by aging infrastructure? Maybe talk to us a little bit about what that infrastructure is when it comes to utility grid, and then what are what are we doing with this investment plan to address that aging infrastructure? Guillaume Paradis 21:43 Yeah, so aging infrastructure is a very clear and appropriate descriptor here. So we invest in assets that are long-lived. Think 50, 60 years plus in some instances. And you know, eventually you use them, you leverage them over many decades, and at some point, those assets deteriorate beyond a point where they're no longer able to provide the service that our customers expect. So that would be failures, which leads to reliability issues in parts of our system. So one at one point or another in the life cycle of those assets, depending on how they're being used, what environment they are operated in, you have to replace them. What we try to do is assess them on a risk basis. And when we say risk, we mean what impact can they have on our customers if they were to fail? Impacts can be things like safety risk. It could be, of course, reliability issues. It could limit our ability to service our customers. And so we assess risk on an ongoing basis, looking at those assets over decades, and eventually we get to a point where the risk has to be addressed, and that typically takes the form of or it can take the form of an outright replacement. Through the life cycle of all those assets, all of our assets, we do maintenance, we inspect them, we try to see if there are other things we can do before we replace them. But you get to a point ultimately, where the only option that's viable is to actually replace, and then you have to go in and take, you know, action physically in the field.Now, what becomes a little complicated is, as you can imagine, it's one thing to put infrastructure up when a field is being converted to a subdivision or the city's growing, and it's all brand new, you know, infrastructure being developed to support the growth, but decades later, when you come back, 60, 70 years plus, in some cases, you're in someone's backyard. You're in the middle of an intersection where multiple utilities have installed their own infrastructure, so you have to coordinate that things have been moved over time. So getting access to the infrastructure is more difficult, and so replacing many decades later is a lot more involved than putting up new infrastructure in the first place.And the type of infrastructure that we're talking about here probably falls into three major categories. So there's the overhead infrastructure you see around town. So really, when you—and you shouldn't do that while you're driving, but if you're walking ideally, and you're looking at the beautiful hydro infrastructure around Ottawa—what you'll see are very old poles that need attention. So that's very visible, right? We have wood poles, you know, in a lot of the areas of our city, and you get to a point where structurally, they're not as strong as they used to be. They've weathered many storms, and they need attention. And then otherwise, it's the transformers you might see on those poles, and that would be the boxes that are hanging from the poles. The ones that look like they, you know, predate the Cold War, are the ones we're going after, and we need to give some attention to today.And then on the underground side, similar infrastructure, it's it's cables in the ground. So in some instances, it's buried directly in someone's backyard. That was an approach people took many decades back. Now you can imagine it's very convenient when you're building it, but not so much when you're trying to get it out of the ground and put new cables into the ground. So there's cables that need replacing. They've been damaged or creating reliability issues. The transformers that go with that as well might need attention. And again, as I mentioned before, decades later, that transformer may be right behind someone's pool in their backyard, and they've done some real nice landscaping, and accessing it for a replacement is a lot more complicated. So underground infrastructure, in fact, is one of the more complicated replacements to execute.And then, you know, if you move up from there, you're looking at substation equipment. So that's the stuff that's fenced in across the city where power is being delivered from to our customers across the city. And so those assets may be a bit less complicated in terms of managing sites and access, but certainly complicated in terms of logistics costs of the equipment. Those are very, very large assets that require a lot of planning to replace because they're critical to our system, and we can't afford to have them be out of service too long. Trevor Freeman 27:01 Got you and just for our listeners, while Guillaume was talking, I pulled up a few quick stats here. So we have Hydro Ottawa's service territory has over 6,000 kilometers of conductor, so of wires, and just under 50,000 poles out in our service territory. So as you can imagine, a lot of that is in great shape, and some of it isn't, and some of it needs to be addressed, just like, just like you're talking about here. Guillaume Paradis 27:29 Yeah, and that's helpful. Trevor, the thing that we often forget, especially for electricity distribution, is the sheer number of assets that can create a risk. So it's one thing to manage one large transformer and make sure it doesn't fail, but when you're talking about thousands of assets dispersed around a very large service territory like Ottawa, making sure that we keep an eye on all of them at all times, making sure that we intervene at the exact time prior to a failure, to make sure we deliver the best service possible for our customers. That's really the essence of our challenge, and what makes distribution unique versus other parts of our business, where it's maybe more centralized and you may be looking at a smaller set of assets. Trevor Freeman 28:16 Yeah, absolutely okay. So obviously it's important to maintain what we've got, in addition to building out that new stuff that we talked about earlier, maintaining and replacing what we have, so that, you know, our existing grid remains reliable. The next section of our investment plan is what we call grid modernization. Now that's something that we've talked about to varying levels of detail on this show before, but I'd like you to talk us through what is in this investment plan over the next five years, when we talk about grid modernization, what are we actually doing? What are some of the specific things that we're going to put some of our investment towards? Guillaume Paradis 28:57 Yeah, so grid modernization is a category that gets talked about a lot, but maybe is, I would say, a bit misunderstood. I think, because it sounds futuristic, people assume we're doing very different things, and ultimately, in my mind, it's better leveraging technology to get good outcomes for our customers. It's really that simple. So as you can imagine, you know, as I talked about, we're looking at assets that have an expected life of 50, 60, 70 years. When some of our assets were first installed, things like communication technology, things like IT operational technology weren't as advanced as they are today. Our ability to collect data in real time was not what it is today, and so now that we have an opportunity to reinvest and replace the old assets. It's important that we do so in a manner that will allow us to drive or essentially more performance or better performance out of the assets we put in our system so that can take various forms, as I mentioned, getting better real-time information is one of those ways in which we can leverage technology. What that allows us to do is better respond to outages, offer a better service by being more aware of what's happening at any given point in time, getting better information in near real time as to what assets are posing a risk to reliability because they've been utilized heavily, or they've seen a lot of faults, for example, and so building in that technological infrastructure as a layer that enhances the traditional investments that we've always made is sort of the right thing to do in a context where you want to optimize where you spend your dollars, and you don't want to have to go back and reinvest on the same assets or in the same parts of our system multiple times over the coming years, in the coming decades. So the grid modernization portfolio essentially is our opportunity to very strategically identify where we can put in technology that will allow us to get more out of our assets and provide a better service for our customers.So simple things like automated devices, that would be automated switches that we install on our overhead infrastructure, underground infrastructure that gives us a capacity during an outage, to shift demand around and resupply our customers more rapidly than we would have been able to otherwise, and that gives us a capacity to provide a better service under contingency scenarios. So very simple, right? It's telemetry, it's communication to a device, and rather than have someone physically go in the field and, you know, switch customers and try to move demand around, we can do that remotely from our control center. Likewise, in the control center, putting in more telemetry to identify and proactively suggest to our operators how to restore power to customers. Again, is a simple thing by today's standards, right? It's not complicated technology, it's not complicated software, but it's a layer that didn't exist previously, where we can have software, model-based tools suggest how best to optimize the restoration of power, and as we do that, our trained operators get to review and take action in an informed manner. So grid modernization, again, is about making the most of today's available technology, while we reinvest in our distribution system to make sure that the quality of our service and the breadth of the services we can provide align well going forward, with our customers' aspirations and provide a quality service for many decades to come. Trevor Freeman 33:26 Yeah, and I think it's important to remember. And you know this, this little saying has has been out there in the industry, and I've used it before, of the electricity grid is the world's largest machine. Like the grid itself is a piece of technology, and like any technology, we would not be happy if it stayed stagnant. Like we want it to evolve with with the latest and greatest and operate better and more efficiently. And the grid is no different, and so part of grid modernization is just keeping up with what's out there to make sure we are delivering the service that we deliver in the best way, in the most advanced way, in the most efficient way possible. With that, Guillaume, what about things like, you know, we hear a lot about more distributed energy resources, so more small-scale generation or storage out there on the grid that might be owned by the utility, but it might not be, it might be customer owned. What? What are we doing from a grid modernization perspective, to enable more distributed energy resources to utilize those assets more on our grid? Guillaume Paradis 34:42 Yeah, so that's core to the evolution and we're proposing and working toward. And and really, if you boil it down to, you know, a simple kind of concept, it's really that traditionally, we've had a static model of how our grid needs to operate, and we planned accordingly. So you know, power flows in one direction to certain size customers. They use electricity, they use our energy, and then we protect, we coordinate, we control accordingly, and we're moving into an environment where customer behavior evolves in a dynamic fashion in near real time, depending on what prices are available in the electricity market, depending on what aspirations various customers have, depending on what technology they want to deploy to manage their energy footprint. A customer may look different, really, from one day to the next, as far as the electricity system is concerned, because their demand might be less significant on a day where their solar panels are better able to generate energy, on a day where they choose to leverage a large battery system that they've installed at their facilities to manage their demand. And so from an electricity system standpoint, we need a much better awareness of what is happening in near real time to be able to control and then respond and ultimately offer the right service for our customers. So that's a big change, again, going back to the how we're going to enable that, it's again, the core elements of communication infrastructure, more telemetry, so that we can see what's happening in real time. Think sensors, think smart meters. Think, you know, a software system within our control room to take all that information in in real time and make sense of it, and then ultimately drive our decision making and support our customers in leveraging energy resources in an optimal way for their needs, by making sure that we're aware of what's happening and not create barriers that are artificial because we're not sure, and when we're not sure, safety is paramount, and when you prioritize safety and you don't have information, you have to be very conservative in the decisions you make, and you may limit customers' choices and behavioral, you know, choices by having to have that safety margin and that safety conscience kind of override everything else. So better telemetry, better real-time information, more dynamic ways of controlling energy allows us to enable customers and and support their aspirations.  Trevor Freeman 37:50 I mean, it really comes kind of full circle back to our job is to let our customers do what they want to do when it comes to energy, enable that, and that may be just making sure the power is there and available, but it also may be making sure that our grid is set up to allow them to generate and store and sort of interact with energy in the way that they want to. So those two things are quite parallel. Okay, great. Last category here is grid resilience, and this is an important one, and especially in the eyes of our customers, because, you know, we're that unique industry where most of the time people don't think of us when they really do think about us, it's because the lights have gone off, because there's some event that has resulted in an outage, and I just want to ensure our customers, we try very, very hard to make sure that doesn't happen as much as we can't control everything. So we have this category of grid resilience in our investment plan, and we know that we're going to be seeing, and we have already started to see, more frequent extreme weather events. That is increasing. It's not going down. So what are we doing in our investment plan? Or what are we planning to do in order to enhance grid resiliency and withstand those extreme weather events? Guillaume Paradis 39:14 Yeah, so the need for resilience, in my mind, comes from a couple places. So, you know, there are drivers that are external; so the operating environment is evolving. To your point, we've seen a number of very impactful weather events over the last few years, whether it be historically impactful ice storms, we've seen tornadoes in our service territory in a way that we didn't previously. We saw derecho a couple years ago, which was by some measure the most impactful storm in the history of our company. And so we know. How what we plan to withstand has evolved, and we need to reflect that in the decisions we make when we invest in our infrastructure. That can take a few forms. But for grid resilience, we're targeting specific investments so we can identify and have identified areas of our system that are more vulnerable. Imagine overhead infrastructure that is more exposed to stronger winds, and so we can go in there and then target those areas, target those segments of our system and make them more robust, more resistant to those external factors. And so we have assessed our entire service territory, we've studied, you know, our vulnerability to changing patterns, to changing weather events, and in a very targeted manner, identified areas where we'll take action over the next five years to boost resilience of our electricity system in those scenarios, and really just generally.The other element is, while those external factors are evolving and creating a stress on our system, we're also seeing people's dependence on electricity's availability continue to grow, right? So, you know, we've been through this many times at this point, and I'm sure it's been covered on on this podcast a number of times. But, you know, people's, you know, need for highly and readily available electricity continues to go up. Think, you know, remote work. Think our utilization of, you know, the internet and the technologies that support that. People need access to power, you know, on an ongoing basis for a variety of reasons that support their lifestyles. And so while the external factors have become and are becoming more challenging and creating a stress, we're also seeing customers relying more heavily on our service being available. And so those things combined make it sort of an imperative that we take action and ensure that our system is robust and can withstand those conditions that are upon us.So we change our planning approach. We evolve our choices with respect to investments. It could be simpler things than, you know, targeting areas and replacing specific infrastructure. It could be as simple as changing our standards so that when we install a new pole, we know that it can withstand harsher winds and heavier ice loading parameters, and we do that across all our investments. So that's a key point here, with respect to grid resilience. Yes, we have a targeted, sort of very strategic approach to building resilience, but we also do that across all our investment categories, when we put money in our distribution system to make sure that, similar to the point we made about technology. You know, we invest in assets that will, you know, outlive many of us, and they need to be adequate and appropriate for the environment in which they will operate long-term. So we change, you know, the choices we make, we change the materials we use to build the infrastructure that we put in our system, so that ultimately, the service levels and service quality that our customers get to enjoy, you know, meets their expectations for decades to come. Trevor Freeman 43:59 I think the idea like it's good that we have called out specifically some activities targeted at group resilience, but some of the other stuff that we've already talked about also support resilience. And you mentioned in the grid modernization part, you know, part of that is restoring power to most customers quicker. In our growth and electrification part, I mean, making sure that our grid can handle the new loads also lends itself to resiliency. So all of this is in service of making sure that power is there for our customers when they need it, how they need it, and done in a sort of safe and affordable way. That's the goal of of all these categories together. Guillaume Paradis 44:46 Absolutely. The, you know, going back to the earlier point, the categories are helpful in identifying the major drivers. But ultimately, to your point, Trevor, they all support each other, and when our team plans, depends the future of electricity system. They do so in an integrated manner that considers the various benefits that we can achieve by taking action and putting more money in our distribution system. Trevor Freeman 45:13 Yeah, great. So that that's a nice segue into this next question, which is, of course, there's a cost for this, and this and this is why it is an investment plan. We're out there outlining these are our targets. This is what we want to do, but there's a cost to that, and so if we don't do this, if we said, "Look, we just can't put that extra investment into these areas," what are the implications on the grid, on our service? And let's look at kind of like quality of service, reliability, safety, et cetera, if we don't make these investments that we are identifying right now. Guillaume Paradis 45:54 Yeah, so it's pretty direct, right? We what we've done for the in preparation for our rate application, in preparation for to develop our plans for 2026 to 2030, is we've considered all the needs. We've looked at how old the assets are, how quickly they're deteriorating, how many might require replacement over the next five years. What would be an appropriate rate of replacement to ensure that we don't let risk build up in our system, we don't cause reliability issues? We've looked at making sure that we can provide service to our customers, that we can connect them in a timely manner, that we can do all those things in a fashion that is safe and ensures the safety of the public, our customers. And so a lot of thought goes into what is required over the next five years. And then on top of those factors and considerations, we also look at what impact will this have financially on our customers? Because we're mindful that our service does affect, you know, our customers' lives, yes, in a positive manner when our service is reliable and power is available, but also financially from a cost standpoint. We add to other pressures that everyone experiences in their lives, and so we want to be very judicious in setting the size of our programs, the level of investments, in managing those various factors, right? So we have a multifaceted responsibility, and we weigh all those factors in our or in setting the plans for the future.So doing so, looking five years out, as you can probably imagine, you know, if we didn't constrain the plans, if we just did everything our planning engineers would like to do, we would have spent probably another 50% more than what is in the current plan. So looking at old assets, looking at the service levels we want to deliver, we could have spent a significantly larger amount of money if it was purely based on, we'll call them planning, you know, drivers. But as I said, we are mindful that we're responsible for the quality of our service on behalf of all our customers, and we took a very deliberate, you know, extensive approach to adjusting the program size to match the various considerations and ultimately manage the impact on our customers from a financial standpoint. And so we landed where we are after some measure of restraint, some measure of adjustments, down to the plans that would otherwise have been put in place.So thinking about what the outcomes would be if we didn't take the actions we're proposing, you know, it's pretty direct, if you think about it, and we've covered most of them, but it ranges from, you know, difficulties in connecting and delivering power to new customers in a timely manner, so that can have impacts with respect to economic development and growth of our community, so fairly direct, and frankly, it's our obligation to connect, so we would do everything we can to provide power, but it might just be more difficult, take more time on the reliability front. Again, what happens when you don't replace old assets is the failure risks continue to build in your system. So an 80-year-old wood pole doesn't get any younger and doesn't get any stronger if you wait five, six more years. And so as I said, we do a risk assessment before we choose to invest, and our risk assessments tell us that we need to take action on those types of assets. And, you know, take action in a timely manner. If we don't, what is likely to happen is that in a storm scenario, those poles that are deteriorated are more likely to fail. Even in normal conditions, it's likely that we would see more failures that could lead to reliability issues, and so just a direct impact on the quality of our service for our customers, with respect to other outcomes like enabling customers and supporting them in integrating more embedded energy resources. That might just become more difficult, as I said earlier, when we don't have good real-time awareness, we have to err on the side of caution and be more conservative in our management of the system, and that might mean restrictions on where and how we can integrate renewable energy resources. And then ultimately, you know, the paramount consideration for us is always safety, and that's an area where we would just have to be even more vigilant if we couldn't reinvest. So old assets, you know, are inherently more likely to create failure risks, and failures can lead to undesirable outcomes from a safety standpoint, so we would have to, and already do, but be very vigilant in monitoring those assets, looking at them, looking at what we can do from a maintenance standpoint to ensure that they don't fail in a manner that would be problematic. So we would be, and are always very active in looking at those riskier assets, those older assets, to make sure they don't cause problems, but reducing investment levels from what is being proposed now, reducing them further relative to, as I said, the planning levels we would have liked to put forward would have real consequences, and of course, we would do everything we can to manage those consequences and ensure that we continue to deliver the best service we can, but that would become more difficult than it is today. Trevor Freeman 52:27 I appreciate that that context of, you know, you like me, like energy, and we want to do all the cool things, and we want to have the system that is is absolutely able to handle every eventuality. But we have to balance that with what is the right level of investment, what is the right pace to go at? And I think, you know, having seen the process, there's been a lot of work over the last year plus to find that balance. And I think we've, we've hit that balance in terms of being able to move the ball forward while trying to maintain that sort of affordability aspect for customers. Last question here, Guillaume, to kind of wrap it all up, and we've touched on this a few times in some of the other questions. But how does our investment plan align with that broader energy transition that that we talk about, you know, decarbonizing, reducing emissions, increasing sort of customer flexibility when it comes to their own generation and storage. And what role do you see Hydro Ottawa playing moving forward in that? And I know that this has already gotten a little bit of attention, but I'll give you a chance just to kind of tie a nice little bow around it at the end. Guillaume Paradis 53:51 So to your point, we did cover a few elements, how we enable those, you know, sustainability aspirations. But you know, it ranges from making it possible for large customers to shift a significant portion of their energy demand to a lower carbon source like electricity. So again, think a customer who would use natural gas for their facilities, and, you know, for corporate reasons, decides to use electricity instead. Us connecting that extra demand and delivering power to them allows them to lower their carbon footprint. So that would be on the high end in terms of size and impact, all the way to enabling customers to install different technologies on their homes, within their homes, to reduce their carbon footprint and change how they use energy. So it could be as simple as buying an EV and making sure that power is available within that neighborhood to supply demand from that EV. It could be them installing solar panels on their roof and trying to export power back to us. And so that would tie to the earlier point around visibility and real-time awareness that we need to have to make sure that we can make that possible. So again, you know the energy system. The electricity system is integrated in so many ways and enabling our customers to achieve their sustainability outcomes, their desired outcomes in terms of energy use, comes from planning the energy system, the electricity distribution system, in a manner that supports that and that permits it. So again, going back to some categories, the grid modernization that we spoke about earlier, fits right in there. So being aware allows us to allow and enable customers, and that becomes critical again, in an environment where things are very dynamic, and we want to support that dynamism, and we need to do so in a manner that's safe. So we need information, and we need technology that allows us to go get that information to support the decision making. So as we said, all the investments we're proposing in one way or another will support our supporting those decarbonization and emission reduction objectives that we all have. Trevor Freeman 56:38 Right? Yeah, it really comes back to the idea of us being—and this is something that I certainly talk to our customers about—a lot of us being partners with our customers when it comes to their energy journeys. And that can be very active partners in the sense of the word, where we are involved in helping make decisions together on technology or strategies, or it can be very passive, and that kind of residential model that you talked about of just making sure the grid can be there in the way that the customer wants it to be there. And that's still a partnership that that we need to lean into, and that we are kind of through this investment. Guillaume Paradis 57:18 Plan, we're essentially underpinning people's aspirations when it comes to energy, and so we're there to make it possible for them to do what they're hoping to do. And you're absolutely right. We're seeing both ends of those conversations where some go about their own choices and really don't need us involved, and our responsibility there is to make sure that we don't create a roadblock by not being prepared and not being equipped to respond to, you know, how they want to change their behavior, all the way to that partnership, where it's a very involved conversation. You know, we're being brought in to fully explore all the options and work with stakeholders in essentially demystifying, or maybe more specifically, sort of seeing through some of the complexity that exists today in an environment that is much more dynamic again and offers a lot more options than people would have seen a few decades ago. Trevor Freeman 58:23 Fantastic. Well, Guillaume, I think we'll leave it there. This has been great, and I appreciate you taking the time to help pick apart, you know what? What can be a pretty complex, lengthy plan, but really boils down to building out the grid, continuing to do the great work that that the folks at Hydro Ottawa do, while also preparing for the future. So I appreciate your insight into this. As our listeners know, we always end these interviews with a series of questions, and you're no different. So I'm going to dive, dive right into that. So Guillaume, what is a book that you've read that you think everyone should read? Guillaume Paradis 59:06 Yeah, so I'm probably going to get his name wrong, or at least the pronunciation, but it's a book called How the World Really Works, by Vaclav Smil. Essentially, you know, he's a very pragmatic thinker with respect to how systems work, how our world is integrated from a supply standpoint, from a geopolitical standpoint, and how that leads to outcomes in the real world. And think things like energy, think, things like food supply. And what I like with his approach is that he breaks things down, sort of from a first-principle standpoint, to try to help explain why certain things may or may not be possible, and in an environment where—and maybe that's my perspective—but I think today there's a lot of big-picture, you know, broad opinions being shared by people who may or may not always be very knowledgeable or have the expertise in certain fields. It's nice to see someone kind of break things down to then try to support, or in some cases dispel certain misconceptions. So really nice approach. He has a number of books that are similar in nature, some cases a bit dense to read through, frankly, but I would say the How the World Really Works book is easier to digest, and it's it's a good entry into kind of his works and and his approach to his studies. The other thing that's a plus, maybe, is that he's based out of Winnipeg and Canadian. So it's great to have a mind like his, you know, contributing to the discourse in Canada. Trevor Freeman 1:01:11 Awesome. So same question, but for a movie or a show, what's a movie or show that you think everyone should check out? Guillaume Paradis 1:01:17 Yeah, that's a little harder. I think maybe I'll go to an old classic. For me, I I'm always impressed with extreme creativity. I'll call it in in whatever forms that I think it's neat to see how people can envision a world or create a world. And so an example for me was The Grand Budapest Hotel movie by Wes Anderson. So, you know, I think people are familiar with his work by now. I just like the combination of humor, color, like the creation of a world that doesn't quite exist but resembles one we might know. And just, you know, it's a way of expressing oneself that is so interesting, so different. He does it really, really well. And, you, know, I find it sort of like awe-inspiring to go back to those kind of movies and look at, certainly, there's all sorts of good content these days that's being produced. But I think this one is kind of withstood the test of time so far and and kind of brings you to a different place. So I'll point to that. Trevor Freeman 1:02:30 Yeah, it's one of those where it's not just about the story. The whole watching that movie is a bit of an experience. And all the ways that you just said, you know, there's like an artificial aspect to it. There's that sort of mental, emotional side of it, and then there's the story itself, with the humor and everything. So, yeah, that's a great one. I really like that. Guillaume Paradis 1:02:47 Always fascinating to think someone was able to come up with that, right? Like that. Yeah, totally level. Like the attention to details, the way in which the storylines are integrated, the way in which the decors, the images are graphic. It's just remarkable. And, and I think in anything it's really cool to see people who are sort of masters at their art, right? And whatever form, and there's all sorts of other examples, but that one, you know, came to mind. Yeah, very cool. Trevor Freeman 1:03:21 If you had a free round-trip flight anywhere in the world, where would you go? Guillaume Paradis 1:03:25 I think for me, it'd be somewhere very far north. I think it's on the list somewhere for the next few years. But just getting access to lands, scenery that you wouldn't otherwise is a really cool concept, maybe even spaces that are a bit less impacted by human, you know, behavior and presence. So I just think a flight to somewhere random that maybe doesn't even have a name, but is in between two small villages that can only be accessed by a plane. I think that would be cool. Trevor Freeman 1:04:10 Yeah, that does sound very cool. I like that. Who is someone that you admire? Guillaume Paradis 1:04:15 Yeah, so my wife, for sure. I think that's sort of the foundation of a healthy relationship, you should have some admiration for your partner, and I absolutely do. More generally, I would just point to anyone in our lives, and I think we all know people like that who spend a large amount of their time making other people's lives better. I could pick, you know, a celebrity of some kind, or politician of some kind, or even a historical figure, but, you know, I think in general, it doesn't have to be that complicated. People who just invest a lot of their time, you know, making sure others' lives are better. I think that's that's something we should all admire, aspire to, you know, emulate, if we can, and just recognize as well. Because a lot of the times people do that, the people who do it well, don't do it for recognition. It doesn't mean they don't deserve it. And I think we should kind of try to promote it, you know, recognize it in our lives, and encourage it and emulate it, if we can. Trevor Freeman 1:05:30 Fantastic. Well said, last question, what is something about the energy sector or its future that you are particularly excited about? Guillaume Paradis 1:05:37 Yeah, so I've been in the sector for about 20 years now, in fact, longer than that. My father worked for Hydro Quebec for many decades. So think we spent a lot of time talking about the future and getting excited about a future that was to come, and just the fact that we're living it now, that we're actually shaping it, is pretty exciting, maybe even not appreciated to its full extent. And I think having a chance to contribute now is really awesome, and to whatever extent we can as well. I'm trying to encourage as many people as possible to join our sector, bring various backgrounds, you know, expertise, knowledge to helping us make decisions about how energy is going to be used in our society going forward, and how we can make the most, you know, this confluence of factors that, you know, create the window of opportunity to to change things and make them evolve. And so for those of us who are part of it, let's not take it for granted, and let's make sure that we contribute to the full extent of our capabilities. Trevor Freeman 1:06:58 Awesome, great, great way to wrap this up. I agree completely. Guillaume, thanks so much for your time. I really appreciate it. And sharing your thoughts with us. Really appreciate you coming on the show. Guillaume Paradis 1:07:07 Thanks, Trevor. Pleasure. Trevor Freeman 1:07:10 Great, take care. Well, there you have it, everybody. That was our last episode of the season before our summer break. Our regular listeners will know that we typically take a break over the summer to regroup and work on content and plan out the next year. But don't worry, we will be still releasing episodes every two weeks. They will just be rewind episodes, and we'll take a look back at some of our favorite episodes or things that we feel are particularly relevant for what's going on right now. So keep tuning in and listen to those, and we will be back with brand new content in September. Take care and have a safe summer. Thanks for tuning in to another episode of the ThinkEnergy podcast. Don't forget to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and it would be great if you could leave us a review. It really helps to spread the word. As always, we would love to hear from you, whether it's feedback, comments, or an idea for a show or a guest, you can always reach us at thinkenergy@hydroottawa.com.

In this episode of the Getting Smart Podcast, Nate McClennen and Rebecca Midles discuss the Getting Smart Learning Innovation Framework, designed to catalyze systems change in education. They explore how personalized, competency-based learning models integrated with AI can meet the diverse needs of students and overcome the systemic challenges currently facing education. The conversation highlights the framework's focus on community-driven visions, adaptive learning models, and innovative signaling methods to ensure meaningful credentialing and assessment. Join us as we uncover the potential of this framework to lead educational systems toward new horizons, addressing pressing issues such as equity and access while empowering learners and leaders alike. Outline (00:00) Introduction to the Framework (03:00) The Role of Leadership in Education (09:59) The Importance of R&D in Schools (19:39) Overview of the Framework (26:16) Learning from Implementation (29:50) Debates and Discussions (34:39) Next Steps and Conclusion Links Watch full video here Read the full blog The Getting Smart Learning Innovation Framework Building Systems That Serve: The Power of the Getting Smart Innovation Framework What is the Evolving Role of Future Educators?  How can we reimagine where learning happens? Designing schools as community hubs within a personalized ecosystem The Transcript Trap: Why Our Students Need Credentials, Not Just Grades

In this powerful episode Accountants Minute Podcast, Peter Towers, Founder and Managing Director of ESS BIZTOOLS, urges accountants, bookkeepers, and business advisors to reflect on a vital question: Are you really helping your clients grow, or just lodging their tax returns? Peter shares compelling insights from his journey—ranging from CFO of a public company to advisor on innovation and capital raising—highlighting how traditional compliance work is rapidly losing value in today's tech-driven world. With AI, value-based pricing, and government-backed funding options reshaping the landscape, firms that fail to diversify will be left behind. Tune in to learn: ✅ Why most SMEs don't see their accountants as advisors ✅ How to break free from the “compliance-only” trap ✅ The real-world benefits of offering services like R&D support, cash flow forecasting, and capital raising ✅ What you can learn from corporate finance that applies to SME clients ✅ How ESS BIZTOOLS packages are built to help you stand out—and scale up If you want your firm to thrive, not just survive, this episode is your wake-up call. It's time to differentiate—or disappear. You can also access our podcast on: Amazon Music Apple Podcasts Audible Spotify YouTube    

BOSSes Anne Ganguzza and Jennifer Sims, a voice actor, coach, and self-proclaimed "100% certified smarty pants," connect to explore the intricate layers of the voiceover industry. Listen in as we unpack Jennifer's unique journey, shaped by diverse experiences in acting, producing, and voiceover, offering a candid look into the crucial insights needed to navigate challenges and build a truly thriving business in today's landscape. Listeners will discover the essential role of professionalism and adaptability in connecting with clients, gain understanding of the industry's evolving demands, and appreciate the power of a well-rounded skill set.    00:01 - Anne (Host) Hey, guys, it's Anne from VO BOSS here. 00:04 - Speaker 2 (Announcement) And it's George the Tech. We're excited to tell you about the VO BOSS VIP membership, now with even more benefits. 00:10 - Anne (Host) So, not only do you get access to exclusive workshops and industry insights, but with our VIP Plus Tech tier, you'll enjoy specialized tech support from none other than George himself. 00:21 - Speaker 2 (Announcement) You got it. I'll help you tackle all those tricky tech issues so you can focus on what you do best: voice acting. It's tech support tailored for voiceover professionals like you. 00:32 - Anne (Host) Join us, guys, at VO BOSS and let's make your voiceover career soar. Visit voboss.com/vip-membership to sign up today. 00:45 - Speaker 3 (Announcement) It's time to take your business to the next level, the boss level. These are the premier business owner strategies and successes being utilized by the industry's top talent today. Rock your business like a boss, a VO BOSS. Now let's welcome your host, Anne Ganguzza. Hey everyone, welcome to the VO Boss Podcast. 01:04 - Anne (Host) I'm your host, Anne Ganguzza. Hey everyone, welcome to the VO Boss Podcast. I'm your host, Anne Ganguzza, and today I have the pleasure and honor of being with a very special guest, Jennifer Sims. Jennifer, yay! Hi, hi. 01:17 For those bosses who do not know Jennifer, she is a voice actor coach and 100% certified smarty pants. I'm so jealous, so jealous of that branding. She's known for her authentic, conversational, confident, and playful delivery and has a unique perspective from both sides of the glass, and works for clients such as Hyundai, Wells Fargo, CVS, Vons—the list goes on and on and on. She honed her quirky sense of humor studying comedy and improv, which is always so important, I think, for us as voice actors, at the Upright Citizens Brigade and The Groundlings, and that helped her to land on-camera commercials for Uber, Snapchat, and WebMD. She began her acting career out of high school and basically was on her own for a short period of time in LA as a very young girl, which is great, and also as a producer, has had the pleasure of collaborating on hundreds of radio, television, and promo spots and has worked with some amazing talent along the way. And what haven't you done, Jennifer Sims? 02:18 - Jennifer (Host) I'm telling you, so much, so much. Thank you, Anne. That was lovely. Not as much as I'd like, and hopefully more. Yeah, thank you. It's great to be here. Thanks for having me. 02:28 - Anne (Host) Yeah, absolutely. Well, I met you—well, I met you not like physically, but I met you through our VIP room and I was so, so impressed with your background and your wisdom and everything. So I wanted to make sure that I had an opportunity to have you on the show and so our bosses could also get to know you. So let's talk a little bit about your varied career, because I think it's super important in terms of why you're so successful now and how you started off with acting and then as a producer. Talk about that for a little bit and tell us how it's helped you become successful in your voiceover career. 03:06 - Jennifer (Host) Yeah, that's been very, like, it informs most of my career, certainly in the beginning, because when I decided to leave my director of broadcast job, I was working for an ad agency here in Los Angeles as the director of broadcast and I was bringing in a lot of voice actors for promo and commercials, etc. You know how it is when you see somebody and you're like, "Boo, why do they get to do it? I want to do it too!" But as I started my career, realizing that we're a part of the process, voice actors are part of a process, particularly in commercial, since that was my area, and when I was bringing in voice actors to record them, it comes very late in the process. Recording the voice actor for a commercial is one of the last things we do as a process in creating a commercial. 03:52 So, knowing that we're just—not just, I shouldn't say this, but we're part of a collaborative team, we're now brought into the team. We're problem solvers, we're creatives, along with the creative director, copywriter, and understanding why the copy is the way it is. I know a lot of us will—problem solvers, we're creatives, along with the creative director, copywriter, and understanding why the copy is the way it is. I know a lot of us will go, "Oh, this copy is terrible. It's poorly written," and, like, you don't know where that copy has gone. 04:12 - Anne (Host) Isn't that the truth? I love that you just opened up with that perspective because, honestly, like the nuggets of wisdom that people get out of listening—you brought them right at the front when people get for listening to a podcast or being educated. I love the fact that we are part of a process and you brought that to our attention because I think a lot of times we're in our bubble in our studios here and we forget that it's not just all about our voice, but it's part of a process and there's reasons for so many things. Right? There's reasons, and you're so absolutely right. 04:46 How many times have you gotten a piece of copy and I've heard my students, "Oh my God, this copy sucks!" Or I've read on some forum where people are like, "Oh my God, the copy sucks," and "Why does the copy suck?" But I think it's important to know that, yeah, we are part of a collaborative process and it doesn't begin and end with us, and that's an important part to understand so that we know where we fit in. And the more that I think we can predict how we can fit in best to complete the process, I think will really help us as actors. 05:13 - Jennifer (Host) Yeah, exactly, really well said and so true. It's like, how do we fit into this process? Because we do, and even now, as an actor working on my, I will sort of forget that there's a lot going on and that when I get copy and I'm like, "Oh, well, I don't know how many R&D, research and development meetings they had on this copy. I don't know what focus groups might have said about this copy." Like, big companies spend a lot of time and money making sure that their copy is delivering a message that they want, money making sure that their copy is delivering a message that they want, and a lot of things. On the ad agency side, we're looking at things—that copy, and I'm like, "Well, legal says we can't say that." 05:51 Right, or legal says we have to say this. So, you know, when we're sort of like, "Boo, the copy couldn't be you," it's like, "Well, you don't know why." Yeah, it may be a legal thing. 06:06 - Anne (Host) It may be a client directive, it may be, who knows. I always try to remember that because, like somebody, somewhere was paid money to write this copy, and they know that product, or there's an intent with that product, or there's an intent with that copy that we are not necessarily aware of, nor do they tell us, but it's something that I think that we, as actors, we need to create that story, even if they're not telling us what it is. We need to create that story so that we can connect as much as possible to that copy and fit into like what they hear in their head. Right? We need to fit that spec there. 06:34 - Jennifer (Host) Exactly, and I think it also goes to the idea of given a level playing field of extremely talented actors. Most often, I only needed one person to do the job to solve the problem of whatever problem we were trying to solve creatively. And so I think it's easy to start to feel like, "Oh, I got rejected. I don't book this kind of work." It's like, given a level playing field, just assume that somebody got selected. But it—a level playing field, just assume that somebody got selected, but it doesn't mean that everyone else was rejected. Honestly, as I was listening to actors, I'm like, I wouldn't get in all my auditions for, say, a television commercial voiceover, and I would maybe listen to 50, a hundred, and then call it down to present to my boss, my creative director and client, maybe 10. And any one of those people could have booked it. Somebody got selected, that's all. 07:27 - Anne (Host) It's just a matter of selection, and the thing of it is is that you're at the beginning of that process, listening to all of those auditions. You would narrow it down to a particular amount of people, but then, ultimately, the decision is not necessarily yours. So I think, voice actors, we forget that, that it can go to your boss and your boss is not. Maybe a casting director doesn't have an ear for it, or just this is what he had—he or she had in mind. And so the pick from then. I don't think it's always necessarily based on your acting skills. It's just like a feeling, maybe, that they have. "Oh, yeah, this sounds right." 08:02 - Jennifer (Host) Yeah, it's very subjective. Yeah, it's very subjective. 08:05 - Anne (Host) And I think we forget that. 08:07 - Jennifer (Host) Yeah, and I know that, being that it's so subjective, if you sound just not quite what they want. I had a creative director. I was presenting talent. This woman was extremely talented. I was advocating for her. He's like, "Eh, she sounds a lot like..." I forget if it was his cousin or his ex-wife or somebody. He's like, "And I don't like that person." So she just reminded him vocally of somebody in his world that he's like, "Don't like." She was very good, like perfect for the role, and, subjectively, my creative director was like, "Nope, reminds me of someone, and I don't like that person. Bye." And I'm like, "All right. Well, that's how that's going to go." Or we get replaced. I was the voice of a promo for a really, really long time. It was a great recurring gig and somebody new came in at the top. The client switched positions, new client, and they're like, "No, I want to pick the voiceover," and so, like, I was out. They felt like that was the prior stamp. 09:06 And now they wanted to stamp it with their own. 09:09 - Anne (Host) That's such a good point because a lot of times, like companies change directors, companies change in departments, and a lot of times you may be the indirect result of that or not like being let go because of things like that that you have absolutely no control over. And so that is also a big part of the process in our heads as actors. We need to remember that on any given day, that it's not always—I think that if you can come into your audition with the skills that you need—the actor skills. Everybody says, "What's trending? What's trending these days? What's the sound these days?" And I'm like, "I think just be an actor, have good acting skills." 09:48 Maybe have good acting skills, because I feel like if you have good acting skills and the person, like say you, right, that is at the initial level of listening to all of the auditions, right, you're going to be able to hear that from the get-go, from the first few words. You're going to hear, "Okay, here's an actor. Now, what I like about this actor is that I can work with this actor." So maybe they didn't give the precise read that you were looking for at the time, but you know that they're an actor and that they'll be able to be directed. Exactly. And I think that's so important—best that you can come in with in your audition, to be armed with your acting skills, to showcase those acting skills, because all the other stuff we just have no control over. 10:25 - Jennifer (Host) Exactly. Control what you can. You know, getting auditions in a timely—Anne, naming them properly, file naming. I always talk about like naming those. 10:34 - Anne (Host) Like, why is that so difficult? I don't know. I come from a technology background. It always amazes me how many times people like don't understand how to name files when here's the convention and yet somehow. Right, just copy and paste it and then write your name. 10:50 - Jennifer (Host) I don't know why, but I don't think actors realize that if they mislabel a file, it's going in the trash. That'll piss off somebody. 10:57 - Anne (Host) I mean, like me, especially somebody that I'm handling a lot of files, right, and especially like if I have control over it, like you're not hired, and if you're going to argue with me about the name of that file, or if I gave you a confusing—no. I mean, sorry, just follow the following instructions. 11:12 - Jennifer (Host) But yeah, I think that actors may not realize that if you are missing those little details, like not following the spec, or because you're just like running and gunning and just like, "I'm in a hurry, I'll just read the copy," or not connecting to the copy, or mislabeling the file, it's like that's going to get you booted out of the mix because there's just not enough time and people don't understand. "Oh, so I put my name before the client's name." It's like if you're in casting or you're producing, you're not just casting one thing. So if you put your name first before the client's name, I don't know what to do with this file. Or usually it goes into a database and so the database is just going to go, "I don't know what to do with this. Garbage." I think people just realizing like why it's so important could be helpful. So people just slow down a little bit and go, "Oh, what's the file convention?" That's it. That's my TED Talk on file name. 12:03 - Anne (Host) There you go. I like that. Well, I'm right there with you on the file—I'm on the file name, I know, because you're dealing with hundreds of files, I know, right? I mean. So I touched upon this a little bit in your bio, which I think is so interesting, is that you studied comedy. Talk to us. And improv, of course, everybody always says, "Yes, improv, improv," yes, and improv, of course, is so important. But I also think comedy, too, is important, because this is just my outside looking in perspective, right? When we're listening, right, we need to command the attention of the audience. Right? Whether we're voicing a commercial or a corporate narration or whatever it is, we need to engage the attention of the listener and that is important. And I feel like comedy is absolutely one of those techniques that can be used to get people's attention and keep it, and I think it's important that if you have comedy in your script, that you can find it and you can execute it. So talk to us a little bit about that and the importance of comedy and improv. 12:58 - Jennifer (Host) Definitely. Have you been seeing a lot of scripts or a lot of castings where it's like we want people with comedy and improv, even though they may not ask you to necessarily be super hilarious or improv, they're listening for a nuance? A nuance, exactly. Comedy is like very subtle, I think, in voiceover, because when I was producing on the agency side back in the day, comedy in commercials was a lot more prevalent. We had double copy. We very rarely have two characters talking anymore, so it was a little more like in your face kind of comedy. 13:33 Yeah, back and forth kind of. Yeah, back and forth, you could riff off the other person. Now we're pretty much just doing one person voiceover, so that comedy has to be layered in, but never steal from the actual hero—our product or our client. And I think a lot of times when we're newer as voice actors, we're going for the "yucks" like, and it's like, "No, that's going to get you also noticed for all the wrong reasons." So I think I agree with you entirely. It's got to be layered, it's got to be nuanced, and you have to be able to find it. Sometimes people when I'm coaching, they miss the joke. I'm like, "Do you see that there's like a little pithy wit here?" 14:10 - Anne (Host) They're like, "No." I'm like, "Great." Or a play on words. And here's the thing too, you know, in writing scripts for demos and for my students, comedy is tough to execute in a certain time, like comedy is tough, especially if you're doing comedy writing in a demo. It's very tough to execute without sounding like a one-liner dad joke, right? Yeah, oh gosh, so true. And especially if you need to execute that time and just in a 30-second, 15-second commercial, to execute comedy and a sale at the same time is tough. 14:38 It's tough to do, it's really tough and so it does become very nuanced, right? And corporate, like when you get into like something longer, like corporate narration, you're not going to necessarily find too much humor, unless the brand itself doesn't mind making fun of itself, right? There's not many corporate—not many companies, I know, that make fun of themselves unless they have quirky products, right? If that's our corporate culture, great, but a lot of corporate is like, "No, very straightforward." 15:02 But they might have a nuance, right, and so I love the fact that, yes, if they're looking for that nuance and that is something that is it's maybe a nuance, right, and so I love the fact that, yes, if they're looking for that nuance and that is something that is it's maybe a note, it's a wink, it's a point of view that I think if you can execute and it only needs to happen like a little instant, then that to me, I can hear it right away and people can hear it right away. 15:23 They might not put their finger on it and say, "Oh, that was funny, like ha ha, knee slapping funny," yeah, but the execution of it is really it's key, and I think that comedy and improv is wonderful for people to have as a background in their acting skills. Yeah, I agree, comedy's tough. Did you perform like stand-up comedy? 15:42 - Jennifer (Host) No, I actually took a couple. I'm like, "No, I'm a smart-ass," but that was tough. So I took—a friend of mine was teaching. She is a comic and she taught classes and I did two of her classes, and after the first class, she's like, "Okay, and you know, as you know, we're going to an open mic," and it was torture. It was brutal. Just a bar room full of people going, "Make me laugh," and I'm like, "This is hard." 16:11 - Anne (Host) Yeah, I can't imagine. I have a friend who did stand-up in Burbank. Right? Everybody's at Flappers. Everybody's at Flappers and, "Come see my show at Flappers," and if you want to feel challenged, I mean stand-up at a mic in front of an audience. That's like, "All right." 16:26 - Jennifer (Host) Yeah, like just staring at you and you're sitting with the mic going. 16:29 - Anne (Host) Make me laugh. But there's where I think, like the thinking fast on your feet is going to help you, and I think it's going to help you no matter what. I mean those of us who aren't necessarily doing comedy like stand-up comedy, but here we are in our booths and we're doing auditions, right? I think, if you have the time to evaluate and analyze your script and find the humor—I mean we have the luxury of some time of finding that humor and being able to execute upon that. I think if you can do that, if it's there in the copy, that's what you try to put up front and showcase. 17:02 - Jennifer (Host) I always say I'm going to zag. If everyone else is going to zig, I'm at least going to zag appropriately, because they also don't want to be the actors like. "Well, I remember her for the reason that she went off the rails." It has to make sense. 17:15 - Anne (Host) It has to make sense for the copy, right? And so I feel like that improv also, when I ask my students to create the scene, right? Be actors for a corporate narration that might be talking about investments or something that might sound dry. What is that story? Who are you talking to? Why does it matter? 17:31 You've got to be able to have that quick, like, let me create the scene and let me respond to it, right, and that just helps to enhance your script analysis, the speed at which you do that, and also if you're being asked live, like, "Give me an AB of that," or an "ABC of that." 17:45 - Jennifer (Host) Yeah, how are we going to do that if you haven't created exactly scenario? I always think about how, in scene work and acting, we think about the moment before. Yes, and it's always because you'll hear actors, or I've heard this in auditions lots, where I'm listening to an audition, particularly when I was producing, it's like, "I don't even know why." I hear them saying the script. Why are they saying those words? Why are you even talking? It feels like you just sort of like dropped in cold and started talking, but I don't know why. Yeah, and I always can hear an actor who's a little bit more connected to the copy. Yeah, absolutely, and that's because they created some reason for talking in the first place. 18:21 - Anne (Host) Yeah, they created a reason to say those first words. There's got to be a response or a reaction. I say that even for corporate copy, definitely. 18:29 - Jennifer (Host) Even for e-learning. 18:30 - Anne (Host) You know what I mean. Like you've got a student that just asked you a question and so otherwise, it sounds like to me, I'm always telling my students, it sounds like once upon a time I started a monologue. 18:39 - Speaker 2 (Announcement) Yeah. 18:40 - Anne (Host) And it just became like, "Oh, I picked this thought out of the air and I just started saying it." 18:44 - Jennifer (Host) And there's no reason for it, and so it's weird how we can hear that, isn't that weird? It's like the microphone, sort of like picking up your thoughts, sort of like the camera records thought. That's why you've got to have something going on behind your eyes. 18:55 - Anne (Host) I think it's like you can hear somebody reading, right, because there's a certain melody and—and I know there's got to be scientific evidence, right? There's a melody that we have when we read words and I know it very well because I'm always telling people to stop reading. Start talking. 19:08 - Jennifer (Host) Stop reading. You sound like you're reading. 19:11 - Anne (Host) And so there's a melody to just reading the words, and it seems to start at the same pitch, like, "Hi, I'm Anne, I started here once upon a time." I've heard casting talk about this. 19:21 - Jennifer (Host) Voice casting agents will talk about this all the time. It's like, again, given a level playing field, the first people we're going to boot out of the running are people who sound like they're reading as opposed to talking, and it's a challenging skill set because we are literally reading scripts, but we're interpreting written speech into spoken speech, and it's a skill set. So it takes time. And I was thinking about how, whenever I'm auditioning for something, I think, well, I'd love to book it, of course, but I always think I'm not auditioning for this one, I'm auditioning for the next one, because, let's say, you know, I don't get selected for this one. I want you to remember me for the next one. So, something I do in this audition, I want to spark a little like, "Well, let's keep her in mind for something else down the road," because that's all I can control, absolutely, absolutely. 20:13 - Anne (Host) Speaking of auditioning and being an active voice actor and a woman of a certain age, and I say that, you look amazing. 20:19 - Jennifer (Host) Well, thank you, but let's face it. We've been in the business for a while, not a teenager. 20:25 - Anne (Host) Yeah, I cannot sound millennial, no matter what. 20:27 - Speaker 2 (Announcement) I do, even though I have a younger sounding voice. 20:29 - Anne (Host) No, it's mostly in the attitude. But let's talk a little bit about having been in the community and been in the industry for a while. What's it like these days being a little bit older in this industry? How are you finding work? Is it plentiful? Are you finding? 20:42 - Jennifer (Host) Yeah, I mean it's plentiful, but I still think that in general we're youth-oriented. 20:49 So if you're over a certain age, 40 or beyond. Oh, let's face it, I haven't seen 40 in a minute. Yeah, me either. And look at us, we're thriving. There we go. The voiceover industry is definitely very inclusive. It's getting more diverse all the time. Like when I was producing commercials, you most definitely had to sound a certain way, be of a certain demographic, and now we're hearing all sorts of wonderful, diverse voices. I still think there's room for us to include more voices that are definitely over 40. I'm still hearing people on the air where I'm like, "You don't sound old enough to tell me about retirement or having a baby." 21:27 - Anne (Host) You sound like a kid. I always try to tell people I start with the product, because I feel like companies are going to promote their products to the demographic they can sell to. 21:38 So it starts there, right? So what sort of a product would you sell to a demographic of females over 40 or females over 50? And I feel like that's where it starts. I feel like the younger sounding. I think it's because the company is trying to expand their demographic to make more sales. I think that's where it starts anyways, because I'm always saying, "Well, the trend right now is a little bit towards more millennial, and that's just the way it is." But I feel like there are certain products that a millennial does not sound realistic. 22:04 - Jennifer (Host) Talking about like Depends, right, or retirement or certain financial instruments or mortgages or things where it's like wouldn't you have to be a little older to be getting? An elder millennial, at least to talk about that. 22:17 - Anne (Host) Go you elder millennials. It's hard to believe. I know that in automotive that was a big thing because with Uber and bosses out there, if you study like it's not hard to study, like demographics and marketing, right? I mean during the pandemic nobody was buying cars and younger people were not buying cars because they were really reliant on Uber and Lyft and the rideshare stuff. 22:38 And so car companies started really marketing hard towards younger people and that changes who they hire right to do their voiceovers, and so I think it's something, bosses, that you need to really like spend a few minutes every day studying the market that you want to sell into. Really, it's not hard, it's Google. 22:57 - Jennifer (Host) Yeah, it's iSpot, Google. And. 23:00 - Anne (Host) Google says that honestly, like you can just type in, like, you know, demographic, automotive demographics or, you know, trends, it's easy to find that out and that can help inform you educationally what you might be auditioning for, how you would respond to an audition, right? What is the company? 23:18 - Jennifer (Host) Who are they targeting their sales to, or who you're, if you're doing direct marketing, which I think every voice actor should be doing, if you're directly marketing yourself to a client. It's like, do you vibe with that client? Are you appropriate for that client? So that's basically how I'm represented. I have talent agents across the country and it's very clear to me that my reps are very good about knowing what my wheelhouse is. So I do get a lot of healthcare, insurance, tech, things like that—healthcare, insurance, tech, things like that, because that's who I vocally appeal to. 23:53 It makes sense, and women have an enormous buying power because we make most of the household buying decisions in most households, and so, even though I still think the guys are doing about 60% of the commercial voiceover work, we're at 40%, so we're catching up, but I think companies are starting to realize that women's voices are appropriate for their products and they want to market to us. So I think we're doing better all the time. So, yeah, there's a lot of content out there. 24:22 - Anne (Host) So I would say that, with all our wisdom, with all your wisdom—with our collective wisdom, with all our—no, with your wisdom. What would be your best tip for people that are just starting out today? Because the industry has evolved over the years and it has definitely changed. So today, if somebody's interested in pursuing voice acting, what do you say to? 24:41 - Jennifer (Host) Them? Brand spanking new, I'd say, and I know people are like, "But you all are coaches, so of course you're going to say this," but I would say this even if I didn't coach it: it is a skill set. And so I think you've got to start with good training, and I tell my students this all the time: Get involved in the voiceover community, get your squad together, get an accountability group, a voiceover workout group. You and I were just at the Nava Gala. Is it Gala or Gala? 25:07 - Anne (Host) Gala. 25:09 - Jennifer (Host) I think Gala. 25:09 - Anne (Host) Gala sounds more elegant. 25:11 - Jennifer (Host) Nava Gala. 25:12 - Anne (Host) We're the Nava Gala. 25:13 - Jennifer (Host) And it's just, it's a constant reminder that when we're so isolated and working on our own, if we don't have community around us, this job is hard. It is. I love the voiceover community so much, and so we have a community around us. We're learning things, we're sharing things, and so I always suggest to people, they're like, "Oh, I don't know what to do. How do I help myself in this career?" I'm like, "Well, get good training and get involved in the community so that you're constantly learning from your peers." Or at least, because we're working by ourselves, it can feel a little lonely and isolating. 25:47 - Anne (Host) Get some VO pals and get lifted up and listen to podcasts like the VO Boss podcast. 25:52 - Jennifer (Host) Yes, please. Listen to VO Boss, listen to VO Boss, guys. I've been doing this for eight years now. 25:59 - Anne (Host) Oh my gosh, it seems so forever. Eight years, amazing, every week. 26:03 - Jennifer (Host) I love it. Oh, my goodness. 26:04 - Anne (Host) Wow. 26:16 - Jennifer (Host) So if bosses want to find out more about you, where can they find out more about you? 26:18 - Anne (Host) I'm a busy kitty on the Instagram at Sims, my website, Sims. I'm busy there too, so, yeah, awesome, come see me. Well, Jennifer, it has been so much fun. I think we could probably talk for another hour or hours. 26:27 - Jennifer (Host) It would be a delight, but I know you're booked and busy, so we'll get on to other things. 26:31 - Anne (Host) But I thank you so much for spending your morning with me and bosses, make sure you look up Jen. Can I call you Jen? Jen? 26:40 - Jennifer (Host) Yeah, go by Jen. Look up Jen. I want to say Jennifer. Jen. 26:42 - Anne (Host) Check out Jen's website and check her out on her socials. Jen, check out Jen's website and check her out on her socials. Yes, please, bosses. 26:49 - Jennifer (Host) Yes, absolutely. 26:56 - Anne (Host) Thanks again, I'm going to give a great big shout out to our sponsor, IPDTL. You too can connect and network like bosses. Find out more at IPDTL.com. You guys have an amazing week and we will see you next week. Bye, bosses, you're the best. 27:06 - Speaker 3 (Announcement) Join us next week for another edition of VO Boss with your host, Anne Ganguzza, and take your business to the next level. Sign up for our mailing list at voboss.com and receive exclusive content, industry revolutionizing tips and strategies, and new ways to rock your business like a boss. Redistribution with permission. Coast to coast connectivity via IPDTL.

In this episode of the Soil Sisters Podcast, we chat with our friend Chris Jones, an R&D project manager and designer at Symbiosis in central Texas. Chris shares his compelling journey from a career in finance to regenerative land management, inspired by his mental health struggles. He explains how changing how and what he ate and connecting with nature guided his path to health, clarity, and ecology. The discussion dives into his transition, the importance of healthy local food, and his work on developing universal soil amendments at scale to restore degraded lands. Chris also recounts his recent survival trek experience, underscoring the essential roles of food and community. This conversation leans into holistic well-being, community efforts, and restorative agricultural practices.TIME STAMPS & LINKS:00:00 Welcome to Soil Sisters Podcast00:48 Meet Chris Jones02:10 Chris's Journey to Mental Health Through Healthy Eating04:15 From Finance to Farming: Chris's Transition05:26 Exploring Regenerative Agriculture Across the U.S.09:15 Symbiosis: Regenerative Landscape Design13:11 The Importance of Organic Matter in Soil Health16:17 Mental Health and Regenerative Practices22:06 Principles Over Practices28:34 The Importance of Local and Regenerative Food Systems31:38 Survival Trek Experience with Earth Native43:22 Symbiosis Soil Amendments53:02 Conclusion and Message to Elon Musk

Have you ever walked into a shop and noticed right away, this place is different. The hospitality, the quality, the feel, the energy, and the comfort and confidence you and the staff feel together is a synergy born from purposeful work behind the scenes. It is a work not just to assemble people and equipment under one roof and call it done, but work to tend to the things that animate, sustain, and breathe life into it.  In today's episode we are going to be exploring some of the ways you can bring your coffee shop to life in a way that is truly a singular thing. Not born from R+D around trends, financial management, or logistical prowess, (although you do need those) but from an embrace and pursuit of the relationships between people, their work, and the place the work is done that creates remarkable moments and experiences for all. Listen to these related episodes! 430 : Embracing “Unreasonable Hospitality” w/ Will Guidara | Thank You NYC + The Welcome Conference 181 : Organizational Self-Knowledge 165 : The Art of Deep Listening w/ Oscar Trimboli 329 : How to Teach Company Values to Your Staff   KEYS TO THE SHOP OFFERS 1:1 CONSULTING AND COACHING! If you are a cafe owner and want to work one on one with me to bring your shop to its next level and help bring you joy and freedom in the process then email  chris@keystothshop.com of book a free call now:  https://calendly.com/chrisdeferio/30min      Want a beautiful coffee shop? All your hard surface, stone, Tile and brick needs!  www.arto.com Visit @artobrick The world loves plant based beverages and baristas love the Barista Series!  www.pacificfoodservice.com  

This Day in Legal History: Glass-Steagall SignedOn June 16, 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Banking Act of 1933 into law—a pivotal piece of Depression-era legislation better known by the names of its congressional architects: Senator Carter Glass and Representative Henry Steagall. The law's timing was not accidental; it came just months after the catastrophic banking failures that had shuttered thousands of banks and evaporated public trust in the financial system. At its core, the act sought to restore that trust through structural reform, not just emergency patchwork.The most well-known feature of the law was the creation of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), which for the first time guaranteed Americans' bank deposits up to a set amount. This singular policy innovation helped stem the tide of bank runs and brought stability to the retail banking sector almost overnight.But the law went further. In what became known as the Glass–Steagall provisions, it imposed a formal separation between commercial banking and investment banking. The rationale was simple: banks that take deposits and issue loans should not also be speculating in stocks, bonds, or other risky assets. The aim was to curtail the kind of speculative behavior that had, in part, fueled the 1929 crash.This firewall between different banking functions endured for decades, until its gradual erosion and eventual repeal under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999. Critics of deregulation would later argue that dismantling Glass–Steagall helped set the stage for the 2008 financial crisis.So, why does June 16 matter? Because it marks the day Congress decided that the rule of law—not just market forces—would govern American finance. It's a reminder that even in moments of deep economic despair, institutional design and legislative action can restore public confidence. The legacy of the 1933 Banking Act lives on every time someone deposits a paycheck without worrying if their bank will still be open next week.President Donald Trump has ordered a major escalation in deportation operations by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), targeting the largest U.S. cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York. The initiative, described by Trump as the "single largest Mass Deportation Program in History," comes amid widespread protests and legal opposition. Trump framed the policy as necessary to remove "millions" of undocumented migrants but also pledged to soften its impact on sectors like agriculture and hospitality, which rely heavily on immigrant labor.ICE is now arresting roughly 2,000 undocumented individuals daily, a significant increase from the Biden administration's rates. Trump aide Stephen Miller has pushed for even higher daily arrests, aiming for 3,000. This surge coincides with a drop in the number of foreign workers, contributing to an overall labor force decline.In response to protests—particularly in Los Angeles—Trump deployed National Guard troops and up to 700 active-duty Marines to secure federal property, sparking backlash from local leaders. California Governor Gavin Newsom has sued the administration, challenging the legality of the troop deployment. A federal appeals court is currently reviewing a lower court's restriction on the National Guard's use.Trump Orders ICE to Expand Deportations in Largest US CitiesSenate Republicans are preparing to unveil their draft of President Trump's sweeping $3 trillion economic package, aiming for passage by Independence Day. But one key detail remains conspicuously unresolved: the state and local tax (SALT) deduction cap.The draft, expected Monday, reflects weeks of intraparty negotiation. Finance Committee Chair Mike Crapo has been trying to thread the needle between budget hawks, business-friendly Republicans, and clean energy holdouts. While the bill includes permanent extensions of key Trump-era business tax cuts—like R&D deductions, interest expensing, and full depreciation—the SALT cap remains a political landmine.The House version, passed earlier this year, raised the SALT cap to $40,000 in a bid to placate Republicans from high-tax states like New York, New Jersey, and California. Senate GOP leaders, by contrast, are floating either retaining the $10,000 cap or leaving it blank for now. Majority Leader John Thune admitted there's little appetite among senators from low-tax states to raise it.The SALT cap is more than a tax policy footnote—it's a litmus test for how seriously Republicans take their own rhetoric on fiscal responsibility. Repealing or expanding the cap would disproportionately benefit wealthy households in blue states while blowing a hole in federal revenues. It's a strange hill for a so-called “populist” party to die on.House Speaker Mike Johnson is pressuring the Senate to keep the $40,000 cap, warning that anything less could tank the bill in the House. It's a delicate dance between appeasing suburban Republicans and not torching whatever remains of fiscal conservatism.Meanwhile, energy companies are watching closely to see how the bill handles the phase-out of clean energy credits. Foreign investors are lobbying against the "Section 899 revenge tax," and Medicaid work requirements face their own internal friction. States may not be ready to implement them, and pushback is mounting over penalizing low-income parents.Senate to Unveil Trump Tax Bill Draft With SALT Fight UnresolvedA federal judge in Boston is weighing whether to block President Trump's latest move to bar foreign nationals from studying at Harvard University, as part of a broader legal fight over immigration, education, and executive power.The administration's proclamation—signed earlier this month—cites national security concerns and temporarily suspends the entry of international students bound for Harvard. It also directs the State Department to consider revoking visas for those already enrolled. The measure follows Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's earlier attempt to strip Harvard's certification to host international students, which the court temporarily blocked.Harvard, which counts nearly 6,800 international students (about 27% of its student body), argues that the Trump administration is engaging in unconstitutional retaliation. The university claims it's being punished for resisting White House efforts to control its governance, curriculum, and ideological direction—an alleged violation of First Amendment protections.Trump's proclamation, and the broader freeze on $2.5 billion in Harvard funding, mark an unprecedented federal offensive against the country's oldest and wealthiest university. Harvard is now seeking a broad injunction to protect its ability to host foreign students while its lawsuits proceed.The Justice Department, for its part, is asking the court to treat Trump's proclamation separately from Noem's earlier actions, arguing it rests on different legal grounds and doesn't expel current students—at least not yet.The outcome of today's hearing could have profound implications, not just for Harvard, but for how far a sitting president can go in leveraging immigration law to reshape higher education.Harvard to urge judge to bar Trump from closing doors for international students | Reuters This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

The Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) has joined forces with Dell Technologies to develop a new AI platform that will advance research in cybersecurity, sustainability, healthcare and robotics. TUS established the Software Research Institute (SRI) with the goal to develop a leading national research lab, focused on driving innovation in the fields of cybersecurity, cloud-edge computing, robotic control, smart agriculture and healthcare. The new AI platform, powered by Dell PowerEdge servers, will help researchers gain real-time insights into large datasets and develop advanced AI models that power their research. The new AI platform will also support a number of cutting-edge research projects undertaken by TUS and funded by Horizon Europe, the European Union's key programme for research and innovation. This includes projects such as ResilMesh, which focuses on the cyber resilience of critical infrastructure and digital services. It aims to develop advanced tools and mechanisms to detect, prevent, and respond to increasingly sophisticated cyber threats and attacks. Another key initiative is SoilCrates, which is dedicated to restoring and preserving soil health. Through improved soil literacy, real-time monitoring of soil structure, promotion of biodiversity, and optimisation of crop-growing conditions, the project aims to support a more sustainable and resilient agricultural ecosystem. Additionally, the university is one of 17 research and development (R&D) centres in Ireland that runs research projects for the COMAND Technology Gateway Program that is set up in collaboration with Enterprise Ireland Innovation. Based at SRIs TUS Athlone campus, COMAND focuses on research and innovation in areas such as Augmenting User Interactions, End-to-end Applications and Intelligent Infrastructure. Under the COMAND program, the Dell-powered AI platform will be used to develop LLM-based chatbots to support programs around elderly care, automation of automotive assembly lines and robotics using imitation learning. More broadly, the new AI platform will provide the university with powerful AI compute capabilities to support data-intensive research, helping to accelerate data analysis and automate repetitive tasks - boosting research productivity by up to 50%, according to studies. The high-performance Dell PowerEdge servers are purpose-built for demanding AI workloads, delivering exceptional computing power. The servers feature a Cyber Resilient Architecture that offers multi-layered security to safeguard systems, detect threats, and ensure end-to-end data protection. This provides researchers with an IT environment that can simulate complex attacks, identify weaknesses in IT systems more efficiently and provide more accurate analysis on emerging cyber threats for organisations. Dr Yuansong Qiao, Senior Research Fellow, Software Research Institute at TUS, said: "Harnessing the power of AI has become increasingly important to advancing research in critical areas such as cybersecurity and robotics, which require analysis of increasingly large data sets. That's why it's crucial that TUS has the right infrastructure to manage the intensive workloads of advanced AI-powered research. Our collaboration with Dell Technologies delivers these capabilities and ensures that our researchers can now build highly complex AI models to examine and test more effective defence systems in cybersecurity and other domains." Jason Ward, EMEA North Vice-President and Managing Director of Dell Technologies Ireland, said: "As a global leader in compute, Dell Technologies is at the forefront of enterprise AI adoption, providing the cutting-edge technology and expertise that organisations in Ireland and worldwide need to adopt, scale and thrive with AI. This work represents a good example of Dell's dedication to expanding Europe's AI ecosystem, through our AI solutions and expertise making a real difference in critical industries like healthcare and susta...

Before founding Bayer Strategic Consulting, Mark Bayer led communications on Capitol Hill for nearly two decades—helping politicians cut through noise, make arguments stick, and win support under pressure. These days, he brings that hard-earned clarity to a new crowd: scientists, researchers, and PhDs who need to get their message across in rooms that don't speak science.In Part One, Mark unpacks why so many highly educated experts still struggle to connect—and why messaging isn't about making things simpler, but sharper. He shares stories from Congress, contrasts the cultures of academia and advocacy, and reveals the single most important mindset shift for researchers who want to be heard.Key Highlights of Our Interview:First Day in Politics, First Misunderstanding“I thought ‘R&D' meant research and development. It meant Republicans and Democrats.”What getting thrown into the deep end of political culture taught him about insider language.The 8% Reality Check“Only 8% of PhDs stay in academia. But the training assumes 100% will.”Why the pipeline is broken—and who's getting left behind.From Data Dump to Message Discipline“Academics want to show the depth of their knowledge. But the real skill is answering the question in front of you.”How political strategy flips the communication playbook.Beauty Doesn't Equal Buy-In“You can build something beautiful. But if it doesn't solve a stakeholder's problem, it won't land.”Why relevance trumps brilliance.You've Got 10 Seconds“Start with the point. Don't make them dig for it.”Why headlines—not history lessons—open doors.Communication as a Career Lever“This isn't soft stuff. It's the stuff that gets you hired.”How learning to communicate is learning to lead._____________________Connect with us:Host: Vince Chan | Guest: Mark Bayer  --Chief Change Officer--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligencefor Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.20 Million+ All-Time Downloads.80+ Countries Reached Daily.Global Top 1.5% Podcast.Top 10 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>180,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.

R&D initiatives underscore companies' commitment to co-developing new cooling, power, building management and control systems for digital and physical AI data centres Partnership will underpin Europe's AI infrastructure ambitions, aligning with the EU Commission's 'AI Continent Action Plan' and its 'InvestAI' initiative Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, today announced it is collaborating with NVIDIA to serve the growing demand for sustainable, AI-ready infrastructure. Together, Schneider Electric and NVIDIA are advancing research and development (R&D) initiatives for power, cooling, controls, and high-density rack systems to enable the next generation of AI factories across Europe and beyond. Schneider Electric AI Factories With NVIDIA This unique global partnership, announced during NVIDIA GTC Paris, brings together the world leaders in sustainability and accelerated computing to support the European Union's AI infrastructure ambitions and its "InvestAI" initiative, which plans to mobilize a €200 billion investment in AI. Leveraging its expertise in AI-ready infrastructure, sustainability, and grid coordination, Schneider Electric and NVIDIA are together responding to the European Commission's "AI Continent Action Plan," which outlines a shared mission to set up at least 13 AI factories across Europe, while establishing up to five AI gigafactories. "Schneider Electric and NVIDIA are not just partners - our teams are driving advanced R&D, co-developing the infrastructure needed to power the next wave of AI factories globally," said Olivier Blum, CEO of Schneider Electric. "Together, we've seen tremendous success in deploying next-generation power and liquid cooling solutions, purpose-built for AI data centres. This strategic partnership - bringing together the world leaders in sustainability and accelerated computing - allows us to further accelerate this momentum, pushing the boundaries of what's possible for the AI workloads of tomorrow." "AI is the defining technology of our time - the most transformative force reshaping our world," said Jensen Huang, founder and CEO, NVIDIA. "Together with Schneider Electric, we are building AI factories: the essential infrastructure that brings AI to every company, industry, and society." Announces New NVIDIA-Enabled Infrastructure Solutions In support of today's announcement, Schneider Electric has also unveiled a suite of new AI-ready data centre solutions, including new EcoStruxure Pod and Rack Infrastructure. Designed to accelerate AI developments globally, the Prefabricated Modular EcoStruxure Pod Data Centre is a scalable, pod-based architecture, enabling rapid AI data centre deployment. As part of this, a new Schneider Electric Open Compute Project (OCP) inspired rack system has also been developed to support the NVIDIA GB200 NVL72 platform that uses the NVIDIA MGX modular architecture, integrating Schneider Electric into NVIDIA HGX and MGX ecosystems for the first time. These new announcements build on a series of milestones shared by the two global leaders earlier this year, including Schneider Electric and ETAP unveiling the world's first digital twin for electrical and large-scale power systems in AI factories using the NVIDIA Omniverse Blueprint. Together, Schneider Electric and NVIDIA have also co-developed a series of full electrical and liquid cooling-based reference designs as an approved CDU vendor for NVIDIA - many of which also include solutions from Motivair's liquid cooling portfolio, following its acquisition by Schneider Electric in March 2025. Through this expanded and deepened strategic partnership, Schneider Electric and NVIDIA will continue to accelerate their infrastructure initiatives, fast-tracking new product rollouts and reference designs to build the AI factories of the future. About Schneider Electric Schneider's purpose is to create Impact by empowering all to make the most of our energy...

Watch our documentary on the Future of the CMO from this link

In this episode, Tina sits down with Nir Salomon, co-founder of Evinature and director of the Integrative Gastroenterology Unit at Sheba Medical Center. Nir shares the origin story behind curQD, a scientifically backed supplement designed to support those living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. They dive into the personalized, integrative approach his team uses, the clinical research supporting curQD, and how it's helping patients worldwide. Nir also introduces Exhale, a new product aimed at reducing stress and supporting gut-brain health. Here's what you'll learn: - What is the CurQD Protocol and how does it work? - The science behind Evinature's Gut Health Assessment - Is it safe to take long-term? - Does it work differently for Ulcerative Colitis vs. Crohn's Disease? - The type of results patients are seeing - How stress and the nervous system affect symptoms - Why Nir believes UC remission doesn't need to be a lifetime struggle Take Evinature's Gut Health Assessment: https://shop.evinature.com/953 Connect with Tina Haupert: https://carrotsncake.com/ Facebook: Carrots 'N' Cake https://www.facebook.com/carrotsncake Instagram: @carrotsncake https://www.instagram.com/carrotsncake YouTube: Tina Haupert https://www.youtube.com/user/carrotsncake Pinterest: Carrots 'N' Cake Hormone Testing & Nutrition Coaching https://www.pinterest.com/carrotsncake/ About Tina Haupert: Tina Haupert is the owner of Carrots ‘N' Cake as well as a Certified Nutrition Coach and Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner (FDN-P). Tina and her team use functional testing and a personalized approach to nutrition to help women find balance within their diets while achieving their body composition goals. Connect with Nir Salomon: https://evinature.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/evinature Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evinature/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@evinature LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/evinature/ About Nir Salomon: Founder & Director of the Integrative Gastroenterology unit at Sheba Medical Center. Co-founder and Head of R&D at Evinature. After founding the Integrative Gastroenterology unit at Sheba Medical Center, Nir Salomon launched a decade-long research project with Professor Shomron Ben-Horin to advance the full potential of neutraceutical therapies for Inflammatory Bowel Disease. From 2011 to 2022, Salomon led a series of successful trials on the combined use of gut-directed curcumin and Qing Dai (CurQD®) on patients with UC, earning prestigious awards for “breakthrough innovation” and “clinical merit” in his work. His multi-center, international, investigator-initiated RCT on CurQD® was presented at the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA), where it was awarded Poster of Distinction. In 2021, Salomon and Ben-Horin founded Evinature in partnership with Sheba Medical Center, (one of Newsweek's top 10 hospitals) to provide affordable, accessible, and effective therapies to IBD patients. Salomon lectures worldwide, advocating integrative, evidence-based therapies at prominent medical conferences. He is currently building a global network of leading IBD doctors to facilitate collaborative research projects in the field of nutraceuticals with an aim to advance medical accessibility for patients worldwide.

With the "One Big, Beautiful Bill" passed by the House, Talking with One Voice hosts Omar Nashashibi, Caitlin Sickles, and Paul Nathanson discuss the bill's prospects in the Senate and the timeline for passage by the President's July 4th deadline. They highlight manufacturers' wins in the House bill, including R&D expensing, bonus depreciation, small business expensing, and more. The conversation then turns to the President's June 4 doubling of steel and aluminum tariffs and the next steps in the court cases challenging the IEEPA tariffs.  

Alfa Laval announces a milestone in maritime decarbonization with an order for the world's first marine boiler system designed for the safe incineration of ammonia emissions. Confirmed for a fleet of four ammonia dual-fuel vessels, this innovation is part of a joint development project with industry frontrunners and is set for delivery in 2027-2028. World's first marine boiler system for ammonia waste incineration A first-of-its-kind innovation for ammonia-powered ships As the shipping industry transitions to alternative fuels, ammonia is emerging as a key zero-carbon fuel. However, its safe application onboard requires advanced technologies to manage its unique properties, including toxicity and the need for careful handling of purge gas and other waste gases. As a frontrunner in enabling ammonia as a marine fuel, Alfa Laval has achieved a significant milestone by securing an order to deliver the world's first marine boiler system designed to function as an Ammonia Release Mitigation System (ARMS) for the safe incineration of ammonia wastes. The system will be installed on four 45,000 cubic meter (cbm) multi-gas carriers for the global commodities company Trafigura and designed to transport LPG and ammonia. The advanced boiler system is part of a joint development project involving key industry players, including engine designer WinGD and shipyard HD Hyundai Mipo in South Korea for vessel construction. "Our efforts with alternative fuels demonstrate that Alfa Laval is not just adapting to the shift toward these fuels, but is actively shaping it through our technological expertise and vast experience in marine equipment," says Anders Lindmark, Business Unit President Heat & Gas Systems, Alfa Laval. "Following our successful innovations with fuels like LNG and methanol systems, we are proud to once again drive the industry with this pioneering boiler system for incineration of ammonia that combines environmental responsibility with operational efficiency and safety." "The landmark project brings together key industry players to advance ammonia as a viable marine fuel. Alfa Laval's innovative boiler technology, designed to operate as ARMS, tackles one of the critical technical hurdles impeding the wider adoption of ammonia, while prioritizing the safety of the environment and crew," said Andrea Olivi, Global Head of Shipping, Trafigura. "Trafigura is pleased to be working with companies like Alfa Laval that are developing solutions to decarbonize the maritime industry." A multi-purpose solution for ammonia-powered vessels Designed to go beyond conventional steam generation, the system will efficiently incinerate gaseous ammonia and ammonia-nitrogen mixtures produced by ammonia dual-fuel engines, fuel supply systems and other equipment onboard. This multi-functionality allows shipowners to reduce costs and save valuable space by minimizing the need for additional equipment while effectively managing waste and byproducts. "By extending the functionality of the boiler system to handle ammonia emissions, we are enabling shipowners to achieve substantial savings in both costs and space," says Stig Person, Head of R&D, Business Unit Heat & Gas Systems, Alfa Laval. "Our system eliminates the need for separate equipment to manage ammonia purge emissions, boil-off gas, and tank emptying operations, streamlining vessel design while enhancing safety." "The first commercial deployment of the ammonia-incinerating boiler system will serve as a model for future vessels, demonstrating that ammonia can be used safely while optimizing vessel design and operational efficiency. The space and weight savings achieved through this integrated approach provide tangible benefits for shipyards and ultimately for vessel operators," says Dong-jin Lee, Head of the Initial Design Division and the Detailed Design Division at HD Hyundai Mipo. Proven expertise in multi-fuel technology Alfa Laval has been at the forefront of developing solutions for alternativ...

Coffee. We love it so much! However, in spite of our love for coffee, we have all been burned by taking in just a little too much caffeine as we sip, cup, and enjoy. As technology and methods around decaf coffee have improved and evolved, so too has the demand for having more control over the stimulating effects of the beverage.  This is where Caffeine Control Coffee comes in to educate us on caffeine and provide options for people who want to love coffee but stave off the less desirable impacts of it.  Beginning in 2003 as a barista in college, Pete Licata fell in love with both coffee and the industry behind it. As he worked in various cafes he took on leadership positions as well as roasting he also became deeply involved in competitions leading to his 2x US Championship titles and finally winning WBC in 2013.  Pete is a longtime coach and mentor for world class baristas and founder of Licata Coffee Consulting.  In 2019 he took on R+D and eventually the role of Head of Coffee work in Australia for Nomad Coffee Group  In 2025 Pete, along with his wife Maria, opened Caffeine Control Coffee. A business focused on bringing clarity on caffeine in coffee with a focus on wellness to the masses with products designed to control how much and when their customers drink caffeine. We discuss:  The Evolution of Decaf Coffee Quality and Consumer / Professional Perception of Decaf Intentionality in Coffee Blending The Rise of Conscious Consumption and Health The Issue of Traceability in Decaf Coffee Exploring Caffeine's Impact on Health Navigating Caffeine Levels Brewing Techniques for Decaf Eye Opening Caffeine Content Myths What The Future Holds For Caffeine Awareness  Links: https://caffeinecontrol.coffee/ @caffeinecontrol.coffee    Related episodes: 154: Decoding Decaf w/ Mike Stumpf of Swiss Water Decaffeinated Coffee 168 : How to get the Best from your Coffee w/ WBC 2013 Champ, Pete Licata 350 : The Physics of Filter Coffee w/ Jonathan Gagné 003: The Role of Mentorship in Specialty Coffee w/ Pete Licata 452: Championing the Customer Experience in Coffee w/ 3x SA Barista Champion, Winston Douglas Thomas of Cedar Coffee   KEYS TO THE SHOP OFFERS 1:1 CONSULTING AND COACHING! If you are a cafe owner and want to work one on one with me to bring your shop to its next level and help bring you joy and freedom in the process then email  chris@keystothshop.com of book a free call now:  https://calendly.com/chrisdeferio/30min      Want a beautiful coffee shop? All your hard surface, stone, Tile and brick needs!  www.arto.com Visit @artobrick The world loves plant based beverages and baristas love the Barista Series!  www.pacificfoodservice.com

S2 E45 Bols Master Distiller Monique  Bob Cutler interviews Monique ten Kortenaar, the Master Distiller at Lucas Bols, about the creation of Bols Blue 1575—a new liqueur celebrating the brand's FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY-YEAR legacy. Developed over more than a year, this limited-edition update to their popular blue curaçao adds depth with botanicals and Jamaican rum. The episode explores Monique's journey, her cocktail preferences, and the role Bols plays in shaping cocktail culture across the globe. Key Topics The Craft of Distilling at Bols Monique shares how her role involves not just production, but also research, innovation, and collaboration with the R&D team to continually refine and evolve Bols' world-renowned liqueurs. Creating a Modern Blue Curaçao with Depth The development of Bols Blue 1575 highlights a deliberate move toward complexity, with added botanicals like cardamom and a touch of Jamaican rum bringing warmth and sophistication to a traditionally sweet category. Women in Distilling Leadership As the first female Master Distiller at Bols, Monique's journey reflects both her expertise and the broader shift in the spirits industry toward recognizing and empowering talented women in roles once dominated by men. Episode Index 1:08 – Monique explains her role as Master Distiller and how she became the first woman in that position at Bols. 3:40 – She reveals how Bols Blue 1575 builds on the original blue curaçao with botanicals like cardamom and Jamaican rum. 6:53 – The innovation process is a team effort, not a solo act—collaboration is key to developing new liqueurs. 8:14 – The recipe and design for the 1575 bottle took roughly a year and a half to complete. 10:27 – Monique prefers orange-based liqueurs like triple sec or the new blue for their versatility in cocktails.  

In this episode of Scaling UP! H2O, host Trace Blackmore interviews Jake Deak, Marketing & Inside Sales Director at Pyxis Lab, for a deep dive into how innovation is born—not in labs, but in the field. Jake shares the story of Pyxis Lab's rapid evolution from a lean, hands-on team to an industry leader in developing smart, user-informed water treatment technology.   Building Solutions from Real-World Problems  Jake Deak's journey began during the pandemic, stepping into a role shaped by both legacy and urgency. Working closely with his father and the Pyxis team, he reveals how their approach centers around listening intently to water treatment professionals and designing products that directly solve the problems they face.  From the ST500 sensor to the OxiPanel, Jake breaks down how each product starts with a call from the field—an operator struggling with membrane fouling, or a technician frustrated by unreliable chlorine measurements. Pyxis doesn't stop at fixing problems; it uses those challenges as fuel for continuous R&D cycles, bringing hardware, firmware, and app-based solutions to life.   Innovation Through Collaboration and Core Values  The success of Pyxis Lab isn't just about technology—it's about a culture deeply rooted in empathy and real-world experience. Jacob discusses the importance of maintaining strong core values and explains how hiring practices focused on field expertise led to better tools and better service for end users.   From Product Development to Media Innovation  Leveraging his media background, Jacob also reveals the upcoming launch of Pyxis Lab's new podcast, "In The Flow." Created to foster industry education and dialogue, this initiative underscores the company's commitment to advancing the water treatment profession through open communication and shared knowledge.   A Clear Takeaway  If there's one message that defines this episode, it's that the best innovations don't begin in isolation—they begin with a conversation. Whether it's a technician venting a daily frustration or a field team asking “what if?”, Pyxis Lab listens and acts. And as Jake reminds us, the future belongs to those who adapt, engage, and stay relentlessly curious.   Conclusion  Jacob Deak exemplifies the spirit of innovation that is reshaping the water treatment industry. Through passion, practicality, and persistence, his work at Pyxis Lab offers a compelling model for how technology and human experience can work hand in hand to create better solutions for water professionals worldwide.  Continue expanding your professional knowledge by subscribing to "Scaling UP! H2O" and exploring "In The Flow" by Pyxis Lab. Stay informed, stay innovative, and stay connected to the evolution of water treatment excellence. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!    Timestamps  02:17 – Trace Blackmore reflects on eight years of Scaling UP! H2O, building a global community for industrial water treaters  05:10 – Announcement of New Detective H2O Episodes coming for Industrial Water Week  08:04 – Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals   10:15 – Water You Know with James McDonald  12:50 – Introduction to Jake Deak: Background, Family Influence, and Career Journey  16:16 – Core Values at Pyxis Lab and how they shape product development and customer relationships  17:07 – Inside the creation of the OxiPanel Plus   27:14 – Why Pyxis Lab developed a mobile app   29:37 – In the Flow, Pyxis Lab's new education podcast series    Quotes  "When I started this podcast eight years ago, I had no idea how much it would mean to so many people." - Trace Blackmore “If you can envision a staircase in front of you, the very first step is about ten feet tall. But once you take it, you're on your way.” — Trace Blackmore  "We don't just create content; we create community."  "Starting is always the hardest step."  "Data is king. The more we can help operators harness their data, the better decisions they'll make."  "We're not just adapting to change; we're leading it." “We are the friend to the water treater—the friend to the end user—and that has led to a lot of new acquisitions for us.” — Jacob Deak    Connect with Jake Deak  Phone: +15704197057  Email: jacob.deak@pyxis-lab.com   Website: Inline & Handheld Analytical Tools for Water Treatment | Pyxis Lab®  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobddeak/   Click HERE to Download Episode's Discussion Guide    Guest Resources Mentioned   The Outsider by Stephen King  Dark Half by Stephen King  Under The Dome Stephen King  “In the Flow” Podcast by Pyxis Lab  2022 AWT Innovation Award Recipient  Episode 1 In The Flow : Trace Blackmore  ST-500 Inline PTSA Sensor  FS-100/101 Series Ultrasonic Flow Meters  PRL-100 Personal Radar Level Sensor  uPyxis App: Water Tech for Modern World    Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned  AWT (Association of Water Technologies)  Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses  Submit a Show Idea  2024 AWT Innovation Award Recipient    Water You Know with James McDonald  Question: Are conductivity and Total Dissolved Solids the same thing?    2025 Events for Water Professionals  Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we've listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE.   

Ireland and Northern Ireland's cybersecurity sectors are set to deepen collaboration and unlock new opportunities as Cyber Ireland and NI Cyber today announced a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at their event "All Island Cybersecurity Sector Opportunity" in the City North Hotel, County Meath. The MoU outlines key shared goals to align with both clusters' strategic priorities, including enhancing cross-border connections, supporting industry-academic R&D collaboration, and raising the international profile of the all-island sector. The announcement coincides with the launch of a comprehensive report commissioned by Cyber Ireland and NI Cyber, with support from InterTradeIreland's Synergy Programme. Produced by Perspective Economics, the report provides the first in-depth mapping of the all-island cybersecurity ecosystem. Key findings from the report reveal that the all-island cybersecurity sector is among the largest in Western Europe, comprising 632 firms and employing 10,600 professionals, with the sector generating an estimated €3.2 (£2.9 bn) billion and contributing €1.5 (£1.3 bn) billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) in the most recent financial year. Irish firms alone have seen revenue growth of 13.4% annually over the past two years, signifying steady growth for the cybersecurity sector. The study also highlights that the all-island cybersecurity sector benefits greatly from the presence of multinational companies, as well as indigenous enterprises, with 41% of firms headquartered in Ireland and 7% in Northern Ireland. However, barriers remain for the industry with policy gaps, procurement challenges and security clearance issues hindering cross-border collaboration. Speaking at the event, Eoin Byrne, Cluster Manager at Cyber Ireland, stated: "Cybersecurity is not just a technological issue, it's a strategic economic opportunity. This report demonstrates the strength of the all-island cybersecurity sector and the huge potential to improve our cyber resilience and drive economic growth by working together. The signing of the MoU between Cyber Ireland and NI Cyber is a major step forward in that journey." Joanne English, Cluster Manager at NI Cyber, added: "The cybersecurity threats we face don't stop at borders. Through enhanced collaboration, we can boost innovation and better support our companies and communities. This report and its findings highlight the opportunity for our respective clusters. The MoU paves the way for joint action and shared success. 42 cybersecurity companies already have active offices in both NI and Ireland, which shows a clear appetite for cross-border collaboration, and we must now work to realise the opportunities of a more integrated all-island cybersecurity market." Alison Currie, Director of Innovation & Entrepreneurship at InterTradeIreland, commented: "Cybersecurity is now a critical and vital consideration for all businesses. This report, funded by our Synergy programme, will benefit all businesses across the island of Ireland as they strive to collectively improve their cybersecurity preparedness, support their digitalisation processes and reduce their risk of cyber-attacks. InterTradeIreland is committed to supporting the cybersecurity sector as it continues to collaborate, innovate and overcome obstacles to further accelerate growth potential." To learn more about the partnership and the all-island cybersecurity sector, visit cyberireland.ie or nicyber.tech. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie...

If you've ever found yourself panicking over a slow sales month and spiraling into self-doubt—this episode is for you. April takes us behind the scenes of a real coaching conversation with a business owner convinced her business was falling apart... only to discover, it was just a predictable cycle. In this episode, you'll learn how to stop reacting emotionally to every dip, zoom out to see your patterns, and plan your growth accordingly. Because your business isn't broken—it might just be winter. What You'll Learn: Why most small business owners are blind to their own business cycles The difference in mindset between a $3M company and a $10M+ company How to track patterns to reduce panic and plan more strategically What to stop doing when things get slow How your emotional state is tied to your P&L (and how to cut that cord) Golden Quotes: “Profits up? I'm a genius. Profits down? I should've gone to law school.” “You're not screwing up your business. You're just in a cycle. Don't burn the house down.” “Strong marketing makes for easy sales. Weak marketing makes for hard sales.” “Don't try to fix everything from street view. Step back—look from the satellite view.” Action Steps: Zoom Out: Review your sales and lead data from the past 2–3 years. Spot trends—your slow seasons, your peaks. Plan With the Cycle: Use slow months for R&D, training, or backend projects. Don't launch major systems when you're in a sales sprint. Know Your Triggers: Recognize when you start to spiral emotionally. Your business isn't broken—your expectations might just be misaligned. --------- Want to be part of a transformative experience for entrepreneurs and leaders?

Quebec tech startups need specialized bookkeeping and accounting services to navigate complex tax regulations, maximize R&D credits, and attract investors. Professional financial management saves founders valuable time while providing real-time insights for strategic growth decisions. Learn more at https://www.serponecpa.com/en/services/business/bookkeeping Serpone CPA City: Montréal Address: 6452 Rue Jean-Talon Est Website: https://www.serponecpa.com/en

If the next great war is fought in space, Even Rogers wants the U.S. to be ready. On this episode of Valley of Depth, the True Anomaly CEO and former Air Force weapons officer joins us to break down how he's building autonomous systems for space superiority and why space is the next warfighting domain. A graduate of the Air Force Weapons School, Even brings rare tactical and strategic insight into how the U.S. must fight and win in orbit. In this episode, we unpack the doctrine, technology, and strategy shaping the next phase of military competition in space. We cover: Why 2007 was the turning point for space as a warfighting domainHow to think about offense, deterrence, and domain control in orbitWhat the Space Force needs—and why $60B is the real numberThe role of private industry vs. the primes in defense innovationGolden Dome, missile defense, and the future of space-based interceptors…plus how we may one day have Guardians stationed permanently in space.Check out Valley of Depth #007 on YouTube, Apple, or Spotify. • Chapters •00:00 - Intro00:57 - Payload Pro01:39 - True Anomaly's mission02:51 - How Even started the company04:02 - $220m Series C05:48 - When did space become a place to defend?09:20 - The challenge to US space dominance11:16 - What made Even realize that the US was unprepared?16:05 - What does space superiority look like?17:49 - What does space warfare actually mean?21:48 - The R&D the Space Force needs24:01 - What it meant to form the Space Force27:11 - The cultural shift on the Space Force30:49 - Current US Space capabilities and gaps32:44 - Why was the Space Force budget cut despite its importance?35:06 - Primes and the US's space capabilities37:12 - Procurement for the space domain41:29 - Space components of the Golden Dome43:35 - Phases of a ballistic missile44:56 - Intercepting missiles at its boost phase46:15 - What to prioritize today for space superiority49:20 - Guardians in space51:20 - Moon & Mars52:40 - Lessons learned for the next True Anomaly mission56:01 - What is the strategic impact True Anomaly is hoping to have?57:31 - Will NASA blur the lines between civil and military? • Show notes •True Anomaly's socials — https://x.com/the_trueanomalyEven's socials — https://x.com/jollyrogerstaTrue Anomaly's website — https://www.trueanomaly.space/Mo's socials — https://twitter.com/itsmoislamPayload's socials — https://twitter.com/payloadspace / https://www.linkedin.com/company/payloadspaceIgnition's socials — https://twitter.com/ignitionnuclear /  https://www.linkedin.com/company/ignition-nuclear/Tectonic's socials  — https://twitter.com/tectonicdefense / https://www.linkedin.com/company/tectonicdefense/Valley of Depth archive — Listen: https://pod.payloadspace.com/ • About us •Valley of Depth is a podcast about the technologies that matter — and the people building them. Brought to you by Arkaea Media, the team behind Payload (space), Ignition (nuclear energy), and Tectonic (defense tech), this show goes beyond headlines and hype. We talk to founders, investors, government officials, and military leaders shaping the future of national security and deep tech. From breakthrough science to strategic policy, we dive into the high-stakes decisions behind the world's hardest technologies.Payload: www.payloadspace.comIgnition: www.ignition-news.comTectonic: www.tectonicdefense.com

Rudy Parra is a Mechatronics & Lab Technician at GridFlow, where he supports the development of next-generation lithium-sulfur flow batteries. He specializes in IoT integration, rapid prototyping, and lab operations, helping bridge the gap between R&D and real-world energy solutions. With a background in robotics and automation, Rudy is passionate about building systems that are efficient, scalable, and safe for the grid of tomorrow. This episode is sponsored by the coaching company of the host, Paul Zelizer. Consider a Strategy Session if you can use support growing your impact business. Resources mentioned in this episode include: Rudy Parra on LinkedIn CNM Ingenuity Deep Dive Bootcamps GridFlow site NM Tech Talks site Atomic 66 site Techqueria New Mexico NMClimate on LinkedIn Black in Tech site VetsinTech site Rubber Ducks NM on LinkedIn Paul's Strategy Sessions Pitch an Awarepreneurs episode

How do you lead a creative brainstorming session that produces results? Join Phil Cooke in this Part 2 interview with Executive Pastor Ben Stapley as we discuss how to implement and maximize a brainstorming session in a church or ministry setting. Plus, find out the difference between a church communications director and media director and who your first three hires should be as your church grows. Includes creative leadership tips on team building! Get my FREE DOWNLOAD and transform your creative leadership skills when you sign up for my newsletter here: https://www.philcooke.com/subscribe/  Get the book! “Ideas on a Deadline: How to Be Creative When the Clock is Ticking” available here: https://amzn.to/3Lj9gNU  Support the mission! Get a free copy of Phil's books when you give a generous gift to The Influence Lab. Find out more here: https://influencelab.com 

Description:This week, we dissect a shifting market landscape: perp funding rates remain moderate, but Ethereum's basis is notably trading above Bitcoin's, fueled by recent momentum and significant ETH ETF inflows, which starkly contrast with current BTC ETF outflows.Among the big movers, we're seeing gains in MKR, UNI, and CRO, while the COIN50 Index has dipped 4% over the past week. We also delve into the technical picture for major assets, commenting on key support and resistance levels. Encouragingly, corporate BTC flows remain strong.On the macro and regulatory front in the US, the "One Big Beautiful Bill" (OBBB) has recently passed the House. We are also closely watching a significant week for jobs data; April's JOLTS report is in, and upcoming Non-Farm Payrolls and initial jobless claims will provide a comprehensive overview of the current labor market.Industry news is headlined by the Ethereum Foundation's major overhaul of its R&D division. Now in "wartime mode," the focus is sharply on scaling L1s and L2s, alongside significant improvements to user and developer experience (UX/DX). Meanwhile, corporate crypto accumulation continues unabated.Our onchain deep dive explores the progress of Ethereum's Pectra Upgrade, including developments around EIP-7251 consolidations and a noticeably growing staking queue. For Solana, Anza has announced the Alpenglow consensus protocol. In the DeFi space, we're seeing continued growth from Hyperliquid in the perpetuals market and a significant increase in Gearbox lending TVL. We'll also discuss Loudio's innovative "Initial Attention Offering" model, and note that Coinbase Wallet's Mini Apps are now available in limited beta.Topics Covered:Market Dynamics:Perp funding rates & ETH/BTC basis.ETH ETF inflows vs. BTC ETF outflows.Big Movers (MKR, UNI, CRO) & COIN50 Index performance.Commentary on Technicals (including key support/resistance).Corporate BTC flows.Macro & Regulatory:"One Big Beautiful Bill" (OBBB) House passage.Key Jobs Data: JOLTS, upcoming Non-Farm Payrolls & initial jobless claims.Industry & Corporate News:Ethereum Foundation's R&D "wartime mode" (L1/L2 scaling, UX/DX focus).Ongoing corporate crypto accumulation.Onchain Insights:Ethereum: Pectra Upgrade progress (EIP-7251, staking queue).Solana: Anza's Alpenglow consensus protocol announcement.DeFi Trends: Hyperliquid perp market growth, Gearbox lending TVL increase.New Models: Loudio's "Initial Attention Offering."Coinbase News:Wallet Tech: Coinbase Wallet Mini Apps in limited betaCoinbase ResearchHost:Ben Floyd, Head of Execution ServicesSpeakers:David Duong, Head of Institutional ResearchBen Rodriguez, Senior Protocol SpecialistGregory Sutton, Senior CES Sales Trader

In this podcast, listeners will hear about: The proposed return of the auto loan interest deduction, including income phaseouts and U.S. vehicle assembly requirements. Reinstatement of 100% bonus depreciation for qualifying property between 2025–2030. Increased limits for Section 179 expensing on business asset purchases. Temporary suspension of R&D amortization rules, allowing immediate expensing of research costs through 2030. Expansion of the Qualified Business Income (QBI) deduction from 20% to 23% for certain pass-through businesses. New deductions for tip income and overtime pay without requiring itemization. A proposed increase of the SALT deduction cap from $10,000 to $40,400 with income-based limits. A “permanent” increase of the estate and gift tax exemption to $15 million, indexed for inflation starting in 2026. Plans to eliminate energy tax credits to help offset the cost of these tax cuts. Commentary on the legislative process and the likelihood of Senate revisions before final passage. In this inspiring and thought-provoking episode, repeat guest Alan Kovitz, founder of Elevations Unlimited and author of A Book of Values, opens up about the moment that redefined his life—and how it became the foundation for his 26-year coaching practice. Entrepreneurs will hear: How personal setbacks can ignite professional transformation: Alan shares the story of a nine-month recovery that became the launchpad for a complete life and career reboot. Why mindset is the real game-changer: It's not just about business plans—it's about rewiring the way you think so you can build the life and business you actually want. The difference between coaching and therapy: Alan draws a clear line—he helps clients move forward with clarity and purpose, not backward through their pain. Why the best coaching isn't a template: He rejects the “do it my way” coaching model. Instead, he helps clients uncover their way—and teaches them to trust it. How personal growth unlocks professional success: Alan explains why personal breakthroughs often come before business ones—and how values-driven reflection can lead to life-altering decisions. The impact of writing it down: From dream inventories to values assessments, Alan explains why clarity lives on paper, and how writing goals can quietly transform your reality. Why entrepreneurs need to stop chasing and start aligning: He coaches high-performers not to run faster—but to run in the right direction, with purpose. With stories that range from CEOs changing course to clients leaving years of medication behind, Alan shows that real success starts from within. His candid take on modern coaching is equal parts challenge and invitation: know what matters, write it down, and build a life that reflects it. His book, A Book of Values, isn't just for entrepreneurs—it's a toolkit for anyone ready to connect what they do with who they are.

This episode explores:An overview of the expectations gap between AI investments and the results chief supply chain officers (CSCOs) are seeing. (1:58)How CSCOs can set an effective, long-term vision for AI in their organizations. (3:22)Putting that vision into action to craft better AI investment strategies. (6:30)Implementing and scaling AI solutions across the supply chain. (10:34)Actionable advice for CSCOs implementing AI systems into their supply chains. (13:21)In this episode, host Tess Frenzel speaks with Gartner Senior Principal of Research Benjamin Jury about his research into generative AI's (GenAI's) impacts on the supply chain. They explore three critical junctures that supply chains tend to stumble over in their current approach to AI, and what CSCOs can do to resolve issues surrounding each one. Tess and Ben close the show with additional AI-centric recommendations for CSCOs implementing the technology into their supply chains over the coming year. Gartner clients interested in finding out more about this topic can access the following:Supply Chain Executive Report: Closing the AI Expectations-Reality GapAbout the GuestBenjamin Jury is a Gartner senior principal of research, leading research projects that address chief supply chain officers' key priorities. In addition to his executive report focused on maximizing the impact of AI in the supply chain, he is currently leading a research study on cost management. Before this role, Ben's research agenda centered on the mission-critical priorities of heads of R&D and their teams.

00:00:00 - Discussion about AI Songs and Naked Man in Shed The episode opens with technical hiccups and updates on new AI song packs created by the hosts. They discuss a bizarre news story about a naked man found in a Lowe's display shed with Vaseline and a telephone, inspiring a new AI song called "Don't Look in the Shed." 00:10:00 - Alex Jones Clips and Jeremy Renner Teaser Debut of the AI song “Don't Look in the Shed,” filled with humorous and grunge-inspired lyrics. A roundup of Alex Jones' wildest clips of the week. A Steven Seagal-style preview introduces upcoming topics: Jeremy Renner's near-death experience, DMT entities, haunted dolls, Ohio marijuana legislation, AI homework tools, and alien spheres. 00:20:00 - Jeremy Renner's Spiritual Awakening Renner shares how his near-death accident changed his view on life, describing a peaceful, out-of-body experience. Emphasis on spiritual growth and valuing love over material things. Conversation shifts toward DMT as a possible bridge to the afterlife. 00:30:00 - Guide to DMT Entities Breakdown of various DMT entities reported by users: machine elves, clowns, angels, demons, reptilians, and spirit guides. Speculation about whether these entities exist outside the mind or are purely internal hallucinations. Stats from research showing most users encounter intelligent, often benevolent beings. 00:40:00 - Machine Elf Queen and Reptilians Vivid account of a user's encounter with a voluptuous, green-skinned machine elf queen. Discussion about insectoid and reptilian entities during DMT trips that resemble alien abductions. Stories blur lines between alien encounters and psychedelic experiences. 00:50:00 - Jesus, Pets, and the Afterlife on DMT Encounters with “Space Jesus,” dead pets, and deceased relatives during DMT trips. Some users describe transformative emotional healing and major life changes. Link made between DMT visions and alien abduction experiences involving spirits of the dead. 01:00:00 - Alien Sphere Found in Colombia Analysis of a metallic orb recovered in Colombia, believed by some to be alien. Sphere has no welds, strange engravings interpreted using AI, and alleged circuitry inside. Theorized as a surveillance drone or part of an ancient defense grid. 01:10:00 - Haunted Dolls and Giant GPS Genitals Panic over the haunted doll Annabelle going missing is debunked. Review of GPS "penis art" created by fitness enthusiasts running elaborate routes. Consideration of whether this qualifies as performance art or absurdist satire. 01:20:00 - Harvard Body Part Trafficking Network Ongoing story of stolen human remains from Harvard Medical School's morgue. Deep dive into how parts were sold and how widespread the black market really is. Compilation of previous similar stories from 2019 to present. 01:30:00 - DIY Crosswalk Hero Arrested A man in Virginia paints his own crosswalk for pedestrian safety but is arrested. Discussed alongside other vigilante efforts like pothole filling and guerrilla street art. Commentary on local government inefficiency and citizen action. 01:40:00 - Japan Cracks Down on Baby Names Japan enacts new laws banning eccentric names like Pikachu and Caesar. Aimed at protecting children's well-being and social integration. Also covered: passenger attempts to open plane door mid-flight, prompting emergency landing. 01:50:00 - Kansas City: Global Capital of Dog Semen Kansas City is revealed to be the number one global hub for the storage and transportation of dog semen. The region is part of the Animal Health Corridor, which stretches from Manhattan, Kansas to Columbia, Missouri, home to 56% of the U.S. animal health diagnostics and pet food sales. Companies in the corridor conduct R&D and manage massive semen storage for horses, pigs, cattle, dogs, and more.   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  

On this episode, Seth is joined by Tool Plant General Manager, Jason Slinkard and Project Engineer, Dylan Hood.  The guys dive into the all-new Hornady High Speed 3-in-1 Power Case Trimmer.  They break down the R&D process that took nearly 3 years and outline all of the design features that make this tool a game changer for high volume, precision reloaders.  Enjoy the show!

As someone who's been mostly vegetarian for a number of years, I have tried a lot of plant-based foods and there's a variety of them. And so how do they really taste, not just from my perspective? Well, it's really important to do really careful analysis, and this is going to be the subject of our conversation today. Plant-based foods are becoming increasingly healthier and cheaper. But one large question really remains for consumers. How do they taste. NECTAR, a nonprofit initiative on a mission to accelerate the alternative protein transition sets out to answer this question. Through large scale blind taste tests with thousands of consumers. NECTAR is amassing the largest publicly available sensory database on alternative protein products. In its latest report, Taste of the Industry 2025, NECTAR conducted blind sensory panels of 122 products across 14 categories and uncovered which products have achieved the taste that's on par with their animal-based counterparts. Today we talk with NECTAR's Director, Caroline Cotto, about which products are meeting and exceeding consumer taste expectations and what the alternative protein industry needs to do to get more products to this level. And how NECTAR's novel dataset can be used to get there faster. Interview Summary I understand you've conducted the world's largest clinical sensory test for plant-based and alternative meats compared to real animal meat. Tell me about how you conducted this study and why NECTAR is focused on this research. Absolutely. So, for us, we're really focused on this research because we know that taste is a major purchase driver for consumers and it's often the key reason people cite for not repurchasing plant-based meats once they've purchased them. We really want people to come back to the category and so in order for that to happen, we need taste to be where consumers expect it to be. As you mentioned, we set out to conduct a large study and sort of understand where the products on the market taste today. So, we tested 122 products across 14 categories. And we chose those categories by looking at the highest volume selling categories of animal meat, and then mapping the plant-based products to those categories. And then 43 of those products were from Europe as well. So, we were trying to get a real landscape analysis. Different than traditional sensory testing, we conducted all of our studies in restaurant settings to give a more natural experience for the participants. And all of our testing is done with omnivore consumers. So, we love vegans and vegetarians, but we're really trying to go after that hardcore meat eater and see if we can get them to switch because they love the taste of these products. And then the other difference is that we serve everything in what we call a full build. We serve burger patties and buns, hot dogs and buns. We really allow consumers to apply condiments as long as they do it equally across all of the products that they're testing, um, to give that authentic experience as they would experience the product in their own kitchen. And we ended up having 2,684 participants in this city. Each product was tried by a minimum of 100 consumers. Wow, that's pretty extensive. What were some of the surprising results of this? Yeah, I think we found that the average plant-based product was not quite ready for mainstream adoption. The average plant-based product was generally disliked more frequently than the animal product was, with 35% of tasters rating the product. Some form of dislike. And only 9% of tasters rating animal products as some form of dislike. That said, we did find 20 products out of the 122 that were worth celebrating. We created the Tasty Awards based on this data. And we set a threshold for top performance. And that threshold was that of the people that tried the product, if at least 50% of them said that it, that plant-based meat was the same or better than the animal meat that it was considered a winner product in this study. I'm super exciting to see that we saw 20 products meet that threshold. However, these products were not distributed equally across categories. Some categories had up to five products that met the winner threshold and other categories had none. And we also found that no products in this year's study actually achieved parody with animal meat. So, four products came very close, and we're expecting that in next year's study, that there will be some products that achieve that milestone. But we're not there quite yet. And then lastly, we found that there really is a correlation between great taste and financial return. So, we found that the plant-based products that perform best in our sensory tests are actually capturing 50% more market share than the average products in that category. And the categories that taste better are capturing more market share than the lower performing categories. Wow. That's really fascinating and there are lots of ways of sort of thinking through the data. I'd like to hear a little bit more about how those consumer preferences vary across different categories of plant-based products such as burgers, nuggets, and hot dogs. Are there specific sensory attributes that consistently influence consumer satisfaction? Yes, so overall we found that flavor is the top opportunity for plant-based meats at large. Currently these products are described as savory 35% less often than the animal products. And they're described as having a weird aftertaste or off flavor five to six times more often than their animal counterparts. As we look at plant-based meat as a whole, flavor is definitely still needing some improvement. And then we also saw that texture is really the secondary opportunity. So, plant-based meats were described as juicy 62% less often than the animal products. And there's a big need to increase tenderness and reduce mushiness. So that's why I was mentioning there are some categories like burgers and nuggets where we had multiple winner products and those products have had a lot of R&D done on them. Their texture is a little bit easier to replicate than something like whole cut steak or bacon or pulled pork. You talked about some of the difficulties when you look at different sensory aspects. And I'm interested to understand what some of the key challenges are facing the alternative protein industry in terms of improving taste of the plant-based meats. And how can NECTAR's database help address these challenges? Yes, I think the key opportunity here is that NECTAR's data provides a roadmap for each product to improve. So, it might be the case that a certain product actually performed well on flavor but needs to improve its texture. Our research can really help you pinpoint exactly what it is about your texture that needs to change. So maybe it's, you know, reducing that mushiness or increasing firmness. And I think overall for the entire category of plant-based meat, it's what we were just talking about, flavor is sort of the biggest opportunity. And then closely followed by texture. But it does seem to vary quite a bit within each category for each product. And we saw on the whole, there was a wide range of ingredients and production methods used. So, we tested the category of unbreaded chicken filet. Within that category, we had extruded products, soy-based products, pea based products, mycelium products. And there were multiple products in that category that were all winners using each of those different techniques and ingredients. But they all have their own slight differences and tweaks that need to be made to meet mainstream consumer expectations. Oh, this is fascinating. And I have to say, we haven't had many opportunities to talk about how alternative proteins or products are actually produced. Thank you for sharing that. You know what's really interesting, you've touched on this a little bit, but I think there's a little more that we can learn from you on this. So, your research highlights that some plant-based products like nuggets are approaching taste parody with their animal counterparts. Are there specific factors that contribute to the success and how can these insights be applied to other product categories? So, the Taste of the Industry 2025 is a second annual report that NECTAR has released. In our 2024 research, we found that breaded products tended to outperform unbreaded ones. So, we actually saw similar success from the nugget category in this year's research. But on the whole, I think we see that texture is much easier to replicate for some categories and nuggets is one of those. The other would be burgers where all of the products are ground and so it's much easier to replicate that with existing technologies than to replicate things like muscle fibers for whole cut steak. We did find four products that are within striking distance of achieving parody. And two of those products were nuggets. One of them was a burger, and the last was an unbreaded chicken filet. And as I mentioned, I think we'll see next year one of these products achieve parody or surpass the animal product in overall liking. But on the whole, we see that chicken is an easier flavor to replicate than beef and pork. And so, we saw more products from the chicken categories that were winners this year than from the other types of animal based meat. Looking forward, how do you envision NECTAR's work impacting the broader food industry? Particularly in terms of driving innovation and adoption of plant-based products among consumers who are honestly hesitant due to taste concerns. We really believe that tasting is believing. So, we are using this data to drive stakeholders across the supply chain towards the best tasting products so that they taste it and they immediately are sold on the product. So that means we're working with retailers and food service buyers to help direct them towards the best tasting products. And even consumers we have an Instagram page and a consumer facing lens where we're trying to show them which products taste great and help with the demand side for the industry. And then we really see chefs in food service as the beachhead market for alternative proteins. I think it's an easier sell to have someone try a delicious plant-based product on a menu or in a cafeteria. And then want to go home and replicate that experience after having a really positive experience out in the world. Okay. So how do you see the broader industry, from meat producers to policymakers to retailers, using the dataset that you all are constructing? We see that as sort of no matter your role in the industry, this data can support your efforts. So, for brand and manufacturers, we're hoping that they'll embrace an iterative taste centric product development approach. And the report offers pre-competitive sensory insights to provide a roadmap for focused innovation where we feel like it matters most. As I mentioned for retailers and food service operators, we want them to recognize their crucial role as venues for consumer discovery and to help them prioritize products on shelf and on menus that really deliver on these taste claims. And then for investors and funders, we see alternative protein as a true climate solution. And so we want them to consider the outsized impact potential of plant-based products that are able to achieve mainstream adoption through superior taste and really double down on their efforts there. And then lastly, we are working with researchers and academics that can build upon NECTAR's foundational work and use our data sets to advance the understanding of consumer preferences and sensory science. We're actually working with some researchers currently to build a large language model tool that will ingest the sensory data and suggest specific experiments to improve the sensory aspects of those products. So, it'll basically be a food scientist's best friend and be able to reduce the number of benchtop trials needed to get to a better outcome. Wow, that's really fascinating. And I think there's something that I want to highlight. Because you all are a nonprofit, the data that you're generating is being made publicly available. Is that a fair statement? That's correct. Yes, so we have a whole digital dashboard where you can look at all of the category level data. You can see how the average product performed, how the leading product in that category performed, and how the animal benchmark product in each category performed. And we provide insight into what are the biggest opportunities for improvement at a category level. And then we also share the data on an individual brand's performance with that brand so that they can make improvements themselves. May I ask, how did you get buy-in from the industry to allow their products to be considered? We make sure that there's only upside for participating, so we only publish the brand names of brands that are top performers. And we do a lot of marketing and PR support for those top performers. We provide them with a marketing credential for the Tasty Awards that they can use on sell sheets and to socialize their products with the larger consumer base. If the products were not top performers, we don't publish the name of the brand. But as I mentioned we do provide that data to them so that they can have a roadmap for how to improve their product and hopefully be Tasty Award winners next year. Okay, great. So I want to wrap up by asking where do you see hope in the plant-based industry in the next five years? Yes, to be honest, it's been a little bleak for the plant-based meat space for the last few years. And so, we founded NECTAR because we believe that there are great tasting products out there and we want to bring some hope and inspiration back to this industry. Our goal is that in five years all of the products on shelf will meet consumer taste expectations. And we're really able to show that products could be both sustainable and delicious and crave worthy, and that consumers will demand them. We have started to see that with the 20 products that really rose to the top. And our goal is that you know, all of the products are sort of meeting that threshold when we're through here. We're also seeing hope in that there's a lot of positive research around plant-based defaults on menus. So, hospitals and universities are starting to put plant-based options on the menu as the default. And I think that is especially supported by great tasting products. If people, as I mentioned, have a positive experience out in the world, hopefully that will continue to get that snowball effect and demand generation going. And we're also seeing some hope with a new category called balanced protein, which are products that combine some conventional animal meat with plant-based ingredients in the same product.  NECTAR actually conducted a taste test of balanced proteins this fall and found that in two categories, burgers and nuggets, balanced products actually outperformed their animal counterparts. And so, kind of like the hybrid car, we're hoping that the balanced protein will sort of get the hardcore meat skeptics on board and help ultimately move us towards a more plant-based future. And if there's anybody listening that wants to access our data or partner with us, we definitely welcome those conversations. BIO   Caroline Cotto is a Director at Food System Innovations (FSI) where she leads NECTAR, an initiative accelerating the protein transition with taste. By conducting large-scale sensory panels of alternative protein products and operationalizing the resulting data, NECTAR aims to create category-level value and empower stakeholders to make sensory-informed decisions. Prior to FSI, Caroline co-founded Renewal Mill, an award-winning upcycled food startup. She served as the inaugural board president of the Upcycled Food Association, the world's first trade association for upcycled brands. She regularly mentors food, tech, and circular economy startups. Caroline studied at Georgetown University and served as a Fulbright Fellow. She has been named to both Forbes 30 Under 30 and the 50 NEXT lists.

Today's guest is Daniel Ferrante, AI Leader in R&D and Data Strategy at Deloitte. Daniel joins Emerj CEO and Head of Research Daniel Faggella on today's show to delve into the intersection of AI, data strategy, and research and development across industries such as agriculture, life sciences, and materials science. Ferrante breaks down the core challenges organizations face in harnessing data to unlock AI's potential and drive efficiencies in R&D processes. Ferrante also emphasizes the importance of contextualizing data through a multimodal framework — Deloitte's Atlas — to bridge gaps between disparate datasets and ontologies. He outlines how AI models, including large language models (LLMs), can be leveraged to label and map complex data landscapes. This episode is sponsored by Deloitte. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the ‘AI in Business' podcast!

Episode is based on a talk Subhi Saadeh gave at CPHI. In this episode, Subhi Saadeh breaks down the three levels where true harmonization must happen for drug-device products to succeed:-Global regulatory alignment-Effective sponsor-CXO collaboration-Cross-functional teamwork between drug and device stakeholders inside companiesSubhi covers why regulatory misalignments across countries create uncertainty, how disconnected sponsor-CXO relationships lead to delays and inefficiencies, and how internal friction between pharma and device functions can stall programs even when the science is sound.Timestamps:00:00 – Introduction: The Reality of Drug-Device Combination Products00:39 – Identifying the Core Issues in Combination Product Development01:38 – What Are Drug-Device Combination Products?02:05 – Common Types of Combination Products05:00 – Market Growth & Regulatory Landscape07:26 – Challenges and Silos That Slow Progress10:01 – Practical Strategies for Harmonization and Collaboration14:56 – Final Thoughts: Why Harmony Beats SamenessSubhi Saadeh is a Quality Professional and host of Let's Combinate. With a background in Quality, Manufacturing Operations and R&D he's worked in Large Medical Device/Pharma organizations to support the development and launch of Hardware Devices, Disposable Devices, and Combination Products for Vaccines, Generics, and Biologics. Subhi serves currently as the International Committee Chair for the Combination Products Coalition(CPC) and as a member of ASTM Committee E55 and also served as a committee member on AAMI's Combination Products Committee.For questions, inquiries or suggestions please reach out at letscombinate.com or on the show's LinkedIn Page.

Jonathan Godwin is co-founder and CEO of Orbital Materials, an AI-first materials-engineering start-up. The company open-sourced Orb, a state-of-the-art simulation model, and now designs bespoke porous materials—its first aimed at cooling data-centres while capturing CO₂ or water. Jonathan shares how his DeepMind background shaped Orbital's “design-before-experiment” approach, why the team chose data-center sustainability as a beachhead market, and what it takes to build a vertically integrated, AI-native industrial company. The conversation explores the future of faster, cheaper R&D, the role of advanced materials in decarbonization, and the leap from software to physical products.In this episode, we cover: [02:12] Johnny's path from DeepMind to materials start-up[04:02] Trial-and-error vs AI-driven design shift[06:40] University/industry dynamics in materials R&D[10:17] Generative agent plus simulation for rapid discovery[13:01] Mitigating hallucinations with virtual experiments[18:18] Choosing a “hero” product and vertical integration[25:43] Dual-use chiller for cooling and CO₂ or water capture[32:26] Partnering on manufacturing to stay asset-light[35:58] Building an AI-native industrial giant of the future[36:51]: Orbital's investorsEpisode recorded on April 30, 2025 (Published on May 27, 2025) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at info@mcj.vc.Connect with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

In this episode of Idea Collider, we sit down with Susan Galbraith from AstraZeneca, a leading figure in oncology R&D. Susan shares her journey from medical training in Manchester and Cambridge to spearheading transformative cancer treatments at AstraZeneca. She discusses pivotal moments in her career, AstraZeneca's vision for eliminating cancer as a cause of death, the role of patient stories in motivating R&D efforts, and the integration of emerging technologies like AI and digital health tools.  With a focus on collaboration and continuous learning, Susan provides insights into how successful oncology drugs are developed and the importance of equitable representation in clinical trials. Stay tuned for an engaging conversation that highlights the future of personalized cancer therapies and the collaborative efforts driving innovations in oncology.Chapter Summaries;00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:27 Susan Galbraith's Career Journey02:37 Defining Success in Oncology R&D05:01 Early Phase Drug Development07:09 Digital Health and Patient Experience12:37 Global Collaboration and Innovation15:05 AI and Future of Oncology28:08 Diversity and Inclusion in Clinical Trials33:46 Mentorship and Career Advice37:45 Challenges and Future Outlook in Oncology42:06 Closing Remarks and Call to Action Don't forget to Like, Share, Subscribe, Rate, and Review! Keep up with Susan Gabraith;LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-galbraith-584a195/?originalSubdomain=uk Follow Mike Rea On;Website: https://www.ideapharma.com/X: https://x.com/ideapharmaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bigidea/ Listen to more fantastic podcast episodes: https://podcast.ideapharma.com/

[깊이 있는 경제뉴스] 1) 투자, R&D, 인재 영입.. 삼성, 우주 산업 넘보나 2) 외국인 의료 관광 사상 최대.. 전년 대비 약 2배 3) 7월부터 스트레스 DSR 3단계.. 수도권 주담대 ↓ - 김치형 경제뉴스큐레이터 - 손석우 경제뉴스큐레이터 [친절한 경제] 생산자물가지수란? - 청취자 이동복

The Benefits of Recycling Wind TurbinesWhile wind energy is renewable and non-polluting, the wind turbines themselves can create pollution problems. Now, scientists are creating wind turbines that can be made with less energy, but also create less waste because they can be recycled. This, of course, reduces impacts on the waste stream and provides a sustainable alternative to current wind turbines that are often extremely hard to recycle. Moreover, the new material requires less energy to create and mold into the desired output, subsequently reducing associated greenhouse gas emissions.Making Wind Turbines with Recyclable ResinNot surprisingly, even renewable energy resources also have environmental costs. For instance, when the life of a wind turbine ends (after about 20 years), it ends up in landfills. Moreover, as more wind farms are built and older turbines are taken out of usage, the waste burden is significant. Most resins also used in wind turbines require many nonrenewable resources and a lot of energy to produce. In addition, they do not easily degrade.This is why researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) started developing turbines from recyclable resin. They call the resin PECAN, and it is created with “bio-derivable resources” like sugars as opposed to the type of resin that has traditionally been used, which is not bio-derived and extremely hard to upcycle. Specifically, when the wind blades are unusable they are shredded to be used as “concrete filling”, which never biodegrades, while turbines made of recyclable resin can chemically break down within 6 hours.Benefits of Recyclable Resin Not only can PECAN withstand harsh weather, but it does not deform over time. Additionally, once the resin undergoes a chemical process called “methanolysis” it only takes 6 hours for the original carbon and glass to be recovered to be recycled. Moreover, the catalyst to harden the resin is also recovered and this means that it is possible for it to be used again (creating a circular waste stream). Moreover, PECAN produces “40% less greenhouse gas emissions and 30% less energy to make”.Challenges of Implementation There is a general lack of awareness of solutions like PECAN which strive to make our waste stream more circular, and without that awareness, it would not be able to make the large positive impact that it is capable of making. This is also one of the reasons why right now, wind turbines made out of recyclable resin proves to be more expensive, as there is not enough of a demand for it yet.Ryan Clarke believes that creating wind turbines from naturally occurring resources like sugars can be extremely helpful in waste reduction. Additionally, he emphasizes that larger deployment of this technology and increased awareness can lead to major cost savings in the long run. About Our GuestRyan Clarke studied materials science and became a postdoctoral researcher for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, where he was the study's lead author. Now, he works at Hexion Inc. as a R&D material scientist.ResourcesreNews, NREL Develops Recyclable Resin for Wind BladesENERGY THEORY, NREL Develops Wind Turbine Blades From Recyclable ResinEnvironment + Energy Leader, NREL's Breakthrough in Renewable, Recyclable Wind EnergyFurther ReadingResearch Gate, A Recyclable Epoxy for Composite Wind Turbine BladesNEW ATLAS, Fast-Dissolving Bio Resin Could Drive Recycling of Wind Turbine BladesFor a transcript, please visit: https://climatebreak.org/recyclable-resin-for-wind-turbines-with-ryan-clarke/ 

Today's guest is Shawn Rosemarin, Vice-President of R&D in Customer Engineering at Pure Storage, a leader in cloud-based infrastructure and storage-as-a-service solutions designed to enhance operational efficiency and sustainability. Shawn joins the podcast to explore the critical role of storage efficiency in scaling AI. As businesses accelerate AI adoption, modern, power-efficient infrastructure becomes essential. Shawn discusses the challenges posed by legacy systems, highlighting how outdated storage technologies consume excessive power and limit scalability. He explains how transitioning to advanced flash storage reduces energy consumption and allows enterprises to scale AI applications more effectively. If you're looking to future-proof your infrastructure and optimize storage for AI growth, this episode provides key insights on building a sustainable, scalable foundation. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the ‘AI in Business' podcast! This episode is sponsored by Pure Storage. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1.

Lennart Heim, a researcher and information scientist at RAND Corporation, joins Azeem Azhar to unpack a provocative claim: China is catching up with US AI capabilities, but it doesn't matter. Timestamps: (00:00) Episode trailer (01:19) Lennart's core thesis (03:26)   Why compute matters so much (07:31)  The investment split between model R&D and model execution (11:18)  How test-time compute impacts costs (16:14) The geopolitics of compute (21:32) Why does the U.S have more compute capacity than China? (25:01)  The trade-off between economic needs and national-security needs (31:54)  How technology change might shift the battlegrounds (35:33)  Dealing with compute and power concentration (48:19)  Concluding quick-fire question  Lennart's links: Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/ohlennartPersonal blog: https://heim.xyz/Azeem's links:Substack: https://www.exponentialview.co/Website: https://www.azeemazhar.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/azharTwitter/X: https://x.com/azeemThis was originally recorded for "Friday with Azeem Azhar", a new show that takes place every Friday at 9am PT and 12pm ET. You can tune in through Exponential View on Substack. Produced by supermix.io and EPIIPLUS1 Ltd

Today's guest is Patricio La Rosa, Head of End-to-End Decision Science at Seed Production Innovation in Bayer Crop Science. With over 20 years of experience developing AI and data science solutions across healthcare and agriculture, Patricio joins Emerj Managing Editor Matthew DeMello to explore how machine learning can drive better outcomes across the drug development lifecycle, from research design to clinical deployment. Patricio discusses how AI is optimizing early trial planning, improving participant engagement, and supporting ethical, human-centered decisions at scale. Drawing lessons from both agriculture and life sciences, he emphasizes the importance of connecting technical models with real-world workflows. The conversation also delves into key barriers to AI adoption in clinical settings, including behavioral friction, model transparency, and challenges in orchestrating decision-making across global teams. Patricio offers a grounded perspective on what it takes to move from experimentation to enterprise impact in AI-driven R&D. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on Emerj's flagship ‘AI in Business' podcast!

Is the world ready for a Southside RTD? How are you gonna handle the minty flavor? What the hell is a southside supposed to taste like anyway? These were all questions Meredith Mills-Merritt wrestled with when she found the Original Southside. Based on her mother's famous cocktail recipe from Oklahoma, Meredith worked in secret to perfect the recipe before launching last year. She discusses the R&D process of getting the gin, mint and citrus just right, the thought process behind her small business model, and the graphic design that gave the world Southside's beloved mascot Squeeze.Plus, Bar Convent Brooklyn is fast approaching and so is The Speakeasy's 600th episode! Tickets are on sale now (and Patreon Regulars get in for free), so get yours now to see which bona fide celebrity guest is gonna be there for this landmark show. Book early to avoid disappointment!Follow Meredith at @meredithleahmerrittFollow the Original Southside at @drinksouthsidesThe Speakeasy is now on YouTube! Tune in to “see” what we're talking about at youtube.com/@Speakeasy_PodcastLove The Speakeasy but wish there was more? Check out Bottled in Bond, our new Patreon podcast exclusively for you, our best regulars! Join now for sponsor-free listening, drink recipes from all our guests, and free kits every month from our friends at Shaker & Spoon. Higher proof and aged to perfection, check it out now at patreon.com/BottledinBondCheck out Quiote Imports at quioteimports.com and use promo code “Speakeasy” to get free shipping at checkout.Get your hands on some Buddha's Hand Bitters at kingfloyds.comDon't forget to click SUBSCRIBE and RATE the show if you can.