In this episode, host Joshua McNary reconnects with longtime friend and special guest Andy Stoll , the founding executive director of the ESHIP Alliance . Andy is a social entrepreneur with over two decades of experience in building entrepreneurial ecosystems and championing innovation in communities across the country. Together, Joshua and Andy dive into Andy’s fascinating journey—from launching businesses in Iowa to leading national efforts at the Kauffman Foundation, and now scaling the ESHIP...
Jul 07, 2025•34 min•Ep. 11
Joshua McNary is joined by Jen Moulton, president of CE Impact, an education company based in Des Moines, Iowa, dedicated to supporting continuing education for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. Josh and Jen take a deep dive into the evolving role of technology in education , sharing how CE Impact has transformed over the last 20 years from in-person learning to a primarily online platform . Jen talks about the challenges and opportunities of merging education, tech, and business, and offers...
Jun 23, 2025•31 min•Ep. 10
In this episode, Joshua talks with Nicole Mead, partner and director of Business Development at Creative Planning Business Services . Nicole shares insight into how her team leverages cutting-edge technology to empower both their internal processes and client experiences. With a unique background in software engineering and business development, Nicole dives into her organization's recent journey of digital transformation, introducing tools like Salesforce, outreach platforms, and streamlined co...
Jun 09, 2025•26 min•Ep. 9
In this episode of BizTech Superhero, host Joshua McNary is joined by Alyx Coble-Frakes, CEO and founder of The Agenda. , a mobile app and platform dedicated to supporting women's health. Based in Iowa, Alex shares her entrepreneurial journey—from launching a physical planner that helps women align their work with the four phases of their menstrual cycle, to transforming that concept into a powerful digital tool for hormonal health, supporting users from their first period through menopause. Aly...
Jun 02, 2025•32 min•Ep. 8
In this episode, host Joshua McNary sits down with Mat Winegarden, a seasoned product coach and mentor based in Iowa City, Iowa. With over 25 years of experience in the product and technology space—spanning industries from entertainment to agriculture, EdTech, and AI— Mat brings a wealth of insight on how businesses and teams can strategically leverage technology to drive better outcomes. They dive deep into the ever-evolving relationship between technology and the human side of business , explo...
May 26, 2025•31 min•Ep. 7
In this episode, host Joshua McNary has a convo with Cait Fitzpatrick, co-owner and lead strategist at BWB—a female-founded branding agency in New York . Cait shares her journey from working with Fortune 100 companies to helping entrepreneurs and small businesses craft authentic brands that truly reflect their values. Cait delves into the evolving role of technology in branding, from practical productivity tools to the challenges and opportunities presented by AI. They explore how to approach te...
May 12, 2025•40 min•Ep. 6
I'm joined by Connor Borrego, founder of Playhaus —a Kansas City-based startup on a mission to revolutionize data ownership for businesses in a post-cookie world. With a background as an AI product expert at Google and a decade of experience in advertising technology, Connor dives deep into how privacy, browser changes, and the evolving ad tech landscape are creating a need for innovative solutions. We explore Playhouse’s unique approach to empowering businesses with blockchain-based, first-part...
May 05, 2025•31 min•Ep. 5
We sit down with Brigitte Gemme, founder of Low Impact Lab and the creative force behind Vegan Family Kitchen. From Vancouver, Brigitte shares her refreshing take on blending technology with real-life kitchen creativity, walking us through her evolution from academic project manager to online educator and content creator. Hear how she’s leveraged an evolving tech stack—including WordPress, MemberPress, Obsidian, Descript, and even trusty “Chuck,” her nickname for ChatGPT—to build a thriving onli...
Apr 28, 2025•35 min•Ep. 4
In this episode of BizTech Superhero, we're diving into the world of web marketing with Mickey Mellen, technical managing partner at Green Mellen. Join your host, Joshua McNary, as Mickey shares the fascinating journey of Green Mellon, from its inception in the early 2000s to its current status as a leader in digital marketing and messaging strategy. Discover how Mickey's firm leverages technology and adapts to trends like AI and short-form video to enhance their clients' marketing efforts. Expl...
Apr 14, 2025•34 min•Ep. 3
In this episode of BizTech Superhero, host Joshua McNary sits down with Heidi Kaisand, the creative force behind Hen and Chick Studio in Conrad, Iowa. Heidi's passion for quilting has driven her to explore innovative ways to integrate technology into her business. Tune in to hear how Heidi leverages artificial intelligence to elevate her quilting retreat experiences, enhance customer engagement, and streamline her operations. From brainstorming creative event ideas during blizzards to using AI a...
Apr 07, 2025•34 min•Ep. 2
In this episode of BizTech Superhero, host Joshua McNary welcomes Eric Engelmann, general partner at ISA Ventures and partner at Novy, to discuss the innovative use of AI within his startup venture studio. Eric shares his journey from founding his first company, Geonetric, to launching a nonprofit and a startup accelerator program, and how these experiences have shaped his current ventures. The conversation delves into the dynamic ways AI is transforming business operations and strategies, parti...
Mar 31, 2025•31 min•Ep. 1
