On this episode of The Deep Dive Lab I talk with Andy Sitison, CTO at Share More Stories, about one core question: how do we turn human stories and emotions into useful, trustworthy data?
We cover:
Why listen: if you create products, run marketing, or lead research, this episode will change how you think about “voice of the customer”, from checkboxes to human truth.
Guest links:
What if the key to solving some of tech's biggest problems has been overlooked because of outdated hiring practices?
My guest is Tara May, CEO of Aspiritech, a multi-million dollar tech services company with one incredible stat: her entire team is made up of 100% autistic talent.
We explore how autistic talent is solving big tech problems for clients like Bose and the TSA:
This is more than a story about inclusion. It’s a playbook for building a smarter, more adaptable, and more human company.
Tara May: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taranmay/
Aspiritech: https://aspiritech.org/
On this episode I speak with Prof. Dr. Dennis-Kenji Kipker, Research Director & Founder of the cyberintelligence.institute and serves on the Federal Parliament, about why we need to think beyond “cybersecurity” and build true digital resilience.
We cover:
Guest links (useful background & profiles)
Jeff Lawy (Head of Deep Tech Commercialization, Ashera Health) joins me to explore how AI is transforming blood testing, from a handful of biomarkers to 10,000+ signals that actually help you act. We talk about turning complex lab data into clear, personalized guidance, building guardrails around LLMs, and why women’s health (fertility, perimenopause, menopause) is the smartest first focus. We also hit the practical stuff: at-home blood collection (FDA + Health Canada cleared via partner), MVP over perfection, pricing, and getting vendor-approved.
What we cover:
Links
Jeff Lawy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-lawy/
It’s refreshing talking to creatives who also gets the technical bits - Nick was one of them!
Nick Cawthon’s spent 20+ years in UX, spoken at Google, Stanford, Xerox PARC, teaches data science students (and Design Strategy MBA programs etc), and runs his own consulting agency.
He strongly believes that it’s not about replacing people with AI but rather “retraining”. With his programs, he also teaches designers learn dev language, and developers speak design.
We spoke about:
Oh, and he’s also a musician (bass and drums, if I remember right @nick correct me if I mis-remembered) and paints/collects beautiful art!
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickcawthon-ux-digital-agency-product-design-leadership/
Stephen Sakach, CEO & founder of Zero company, >70k on his mailing list, coined BLISS: Build Love into Scalable Systems.
His idea: random acts of kindness —> predictable, repeatable systems that drive both customer loyalty and internal cohesion.
He believes businesses that lead with purpose and empathy are the ones that last.
Empathy isn’t just a nice-to-have*.* It’s a proven growth driver
Example: Chewy sends flowers when customers’ pets pass away, a roofing company pays kids $1 per nail they find — turning potential negatives into positive engagement moments (full story on the show).
For my AI folks: We also obviously also talked about how AI can be a force multiplier in this
Links:
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-sakach-3181aa28b/
I thought sustainability meant choosing between profit and “doing good for the planet”. My chat with Josh proved me WRONG.
“Stop selling sustainability. Start selling something BETTER that happens to be sustainable.”
A bit about Josh Dorfman:
CEO of Supercool, co-founded Plantd (a manufacturer of carbon-negative building materials) with ex-Tesla employees named Fast Company’s 2024 Most Innovative Companies, launched and led multiple sustainable businesses (and many more - check his LinkedIn for more details too long couldn’t fit it all here).
also he also rode a folding bike onto the Martha Stewart Show in 2007 for Earth Day #iconic.
Links:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorfmanjosh/
Eli Portnoy (with $66M in exits) taught me the importance of REALLY listening to your customers. TLDR from his chat:
His current venture: https://www.backengine.com/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eliportnoy/
If you’re pressing "00000" to escape the bot, that's not user error - that's design failure. And it may be why people think AI chatbots suck (I don’t).
Most bots are built backwards.
Companies think "how can we handle more customers with less staff?"
Instead of "how can we actually improve customer experience”.
In this episode, I sat down with AI conversational technologist, Peter Swimm: founder of Toilville, former principal PM at Microsoft Copilot Studio, created Botkit (the framework that powered Slack and Teams bots), built AI agents for Walmart and Lowe's.
If anyone knows how to build a great conversational AI bot, it’s Peter.
What we talked about:
Links:
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterswimm/
website: https://www.itstoilville.com/
We sit down with Amir Kiani — a PhD in Mathematical Philosophy and Logic, and a senior analyst in the healthcare industry — to unpack one of the biggest questions in tech and philosophy: Can AI truly be conscious?
Here we dig into what consciousness really means — beyond the buzzwords. We explore how subjective experience is defined in humans and whether AI systems like LLMs (Large Language Models) are anywhere close to developing one. We touch on folk psychology, mental representation, the idea of agency, and what "disposition to act" means in both humans and machines.
It’s a grounded, intelligent discussion about the philosophical and cognitive foundations of what it means to have a mind.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/amir-kiani/
Flora Fertility: The First Individual Fertility Insurance for Women
One in five women will need fertility treatments—but who’s paying for it? Meet Dr. Christy Lane and Laura McDonald, co-founders of Flora Fertility, the first-ever individually owned fertility insurance. They’re tackling the financial gap in reproductive healthcare, giving women the power to plan on their own terms.
We dive into their journey—why they built Flora, the challenges of launching a first-of-its-kind product, and the real stories behind fertility struggles. We talk about women’s health data gaps, the future of fertility insurance, and what it takes to start a business when the odds are stacked against you.
If you’re in your 20s or 30s, thinking about fertility down the road, or just want to hear from two powerhouse female founders changing the game—this one's for you.
Startups fail fast. But what if you could test an idea even faster—before spending months (or years) building the wrong thing?
David Hirschfeld has built and sold companies, helped 70+ startups, and developed Launch First, a way to validate ideas before writing a single line of code. We talk about:
This episode will change the way you think about launching.
Listen here: [insert podcast link]
More on Launch First:https://launch1st.tekyz.com/
David’s company:www.tekyz.com
Connect with David:https://www.linkedin.com/in/dhirschfeld/
In this episode, we sit down with Amir Feizpour, founder of Aggregate Intellect, to explore the future of work with AI agents andhumans.
Topics include:
Amir also shares his hopeful vision of democratizing innovation through AI, enabling people from all backgrounds to thrive in the next decade.
Reach out to Amir:
Today, we’re sitting down with Sundar Narayanan, an AI ethicist who’s on a mission to make sure technology doesn’t just work for us but works ethically for future generations too.
Sundar dives into the tough questions around AI—like balancing innovation with responsibility—and why embedding ethics in tech early on is crucial. But here’s the thing: Sundar isn’t just about AI. He’s fascinated by everything from neuroscience to space science and philosophy, so you know this conversation is going to get deep—and fun.
Stick around, because this one’s all about reshaping how we think about AI, ethics, and our role in building a better future.
You can find Sundar at:
In this episode, we sit down with Akash Shetty, the founder of Publicus, an AI startup that aims to bridge the gap between people and government using advanced AI systems.
Akash, who also happens to be an ultra-endurance athlete, dives deep into the potential of AI agents to transform everything from content creation to complex decision-making. We discuss the evolving role of AI in productivity and research, the challenges around ethics and security, and why he believes AI adoption is still low despite its groundbreaking capabilities. Akash shares his vision for a future where AI agents work alongside humans like specialized team members, handling tasks with unparalleled speed and efficiency
Reach out to Akash:
Ever wondered if AI could help detect mental health issues like anxiety or cognitive decline before they become serious problems? In this episode, we sit down with Marija Stanojevic, a machine learning researcher with a decade of experience working at the intersection of AI and healthcare. Marija shares how her work is helping to revolutionize mental health treatment by using AI to find patterns that human doctors might miss, all while keeping patient privacy at the forefront.
She also opens up about her journey—growing up in Serbia, working internationally, and her love for languages and gardening. We dive deep into the fascinating world of AI-driven early detection, the role of data privacy, and what the future of healthcare could look like with AI in the mix.
Curious to learn more or reach out to Marija? You can find her here:
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In this episode, we dive deep into the exciting world of healthcare and technology with Rachel Barker, the Program Director at SE Health.
Join us as we explore how AI is revolutionizing healthcare, making doctors' lives easier, and enhancing patient experiences.
Discover the balance between technology and the human touch, the skills needed in this evolving field, and the surprising ways AI is transforming your doctor's visits. Don't miss this eye-opening conversation that unveils the future of healthcare.
Rachel Barker: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelbarker/
Connect with me on Socials:
This week, we're delving into the world of government issues and the exciting realm of gov tech, where technology becomes the catalyst for solving crucial public problems.
Join me, along with the brilliant Madison Dias, GovTech & SaaS Leader and Vice President of Sales at Envisio. Together, we'll explore his remarkable experiences in overcoming major challenges, such as policy work and DEI initiatives.
If you're passionate about technology, government, and making a real impact, this is the episode you can't afford to miss! Grab your headphones and be prepared for a riveting and engaging discussion that will leave you motivated and inspired.
Madison Dias: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madison-dias/
Connect with me on Socials:
This week, I'm joined by Beth Nuniam, the esteemed Management Consulting Manager at KPMG Canada. Get ready to unlock the secrets of becoming a top-tier problem solver as Beth shares her invaluable experiences and expertise.
Throughout the conversation, we'll delve into the intricacies of the healthcare industry, and Beth will provide exclusive insider information on its future. This is your chance to gain a competitive edge in the business world, as we explore the power of innovative problem-solving techniques and their impact on the healthcare landscape.
Tune in now to elevate your business acumen and gain a fresh perspective on the ever-evolving world of healthcare and effective problem-solving.
Beth Nuniam: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beth-nuniam-a4632217/
Connect with me on Socials:
