Weird. Tech. Finds. | Episode 1
A collection of some of the more bizarre tech headlines from the last couple weeks you might have missed. #Tech #Technnews #FutureOptimist
Jul 07, 2025•4 min
Future Optimist
Mind-expanding tales of entrepreneurship and people building the world of tomorrow, brought to you by aloa.agency.
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Episodes
Millions of Followers for AI Art with James Gerde - Ep.230
James Gerde watched his Instagram go from 2,000 to 800k+ followers in two weeks. His unique brand of human-inspired AI art captivated the world, showing us a marriage of cutting-edge techniques combined with the beauty of what it means to be human. He’s drawn both criticism and love for his unique approach to art, but in the end James Gerde is a consummate artist making use of the next generation of AI tools. ➡️ https://www.gerdegotit.com...
May 28, 2025•43 min
Stop Procrastinating with "Body Doubling" & Focusmate - Ep.229
Today we have Taylor Jacobson joining us, founder of Focusmate, to explore why hyper‑connectivity can actually diminish our accountability and personal growth—and how a simple “body‑doubling” video call can cure loneliness and procrastination. Taylor Jacobson shares the origins of Focusmate, the neuroscience of focus, inspiring user success stories, and practical tips to reclaim your life‑force energy. ➡️ https://focusmate.com
May 06, 2025•39 min
The Future of 3-Wheel Electric Scooters with Tim Huntzinger of XOTO - Ep.228
Tim Huntzinger is the founder of XOTO, one of the most fun means of alternative mobility I've tried. I'm a bike fanatic, and I'll never take a car anywhere if I can help it. I met Tim and he let me try a demo of his new invention, and I was instantly hooked.In a world of options, XOTO represents a really interesting place in the market, and something that will be super useful for many people. ➡️ https://xotoinc.com
Apr 07, 2025•16 min
A Brilliant Alternative to Unsustainable Precious Metals Mining with Don Weatherbee - Ep. 227
Don Weatherbee, CEO of Regenx, discusses the company's innovative approach to regenerating platinum and palladium from used catalytic converters. I love businesses that embrace the circular economy, and this is an angle I hadn't heard of before.With a background in the mining industry, Don Weatherbee highlights the unsustainable nature of current mining practices, and explains the importance of recycling precious metals due to growing demand and geopolitical risks. 00:00 Introduction to Don Weat...
Mar 05, 2025•24 min
Tens of Millions Raised for Enlightening Neurotech with Valentin Randon of Muse - Ep. 226
Is neurotech more exciting or terrifying? Is it a vehicle for optimizing our productivity or spying on is an a way humans never imagined? Joining me is Valentin Randon from Muse, a neurotech headset company that claims to have over 500,000 users. We pull no punches, as we go deep into philosophy to discuss the promising and perilous future of neurotechnology. Valentin Randon, the head of product at Muse, shares insights about the company's extensive brain data collection and its potential applic...
Dec 06, 2024•44 min
$10 Million for Breakthrough Health-tech AI with Eirini Schlosser [Live in Las Vegas] - Ep. 225
This LIVE interview took place with Eirini Schlosser in Las Vegas at HLTH. Her company Dyania Health is one of the most exciting AI companies in health-tech today, and they just announced $10 million in Series A funding. Watch on YouTube . Eirini Schlosser discusses how Dyania Health uses AI and large language models to revolutionize patient care, specifically for cancer and heart failure patients. It's really one of the most awesomely beneficial uses for AI that I've seen yet, and it's a produc...
Nov 11, 2024•10 min
3 Million TikTok Followers Gamifying Beach Clean-up with Felix Krainer of Planet Matters [Live in Boston] - Ep. 224
This podcast is a video shot live in Boston. For the full experience, watch on YouTube ! I co-sponsored a beach cleanup with Planet Matters, Neurable, and my agency: Aloa.agency. I also interviewed Planet Matters on their awesome ocean cleanup success. Felix Krainer is the founder of Planet Matters, a global sensation for sustainability. Join me and volunteers from Harvard, MIT and local startups on our quest to pick up beach trash. Felix Krainer created a TikTok movement to make beach cleanups ...
Oct 28, 2024•13 min
Mind-bending Ecotech Ideas from 5 Brilliant Founders - Ep. 223
This podcast episode features a compilation of past interviews with innovators and entrepreneurs in the realm of ecotech and sustainability. So it's come to this: an FO clip show. But the reason is clear: innovation isn't something that happens "out there". It's the conscious effort of brilliant, hard-working innovators grinding day in and day out. I dug into the archives to bring you some gems you might have missed over the years. These amazing people continue to inspire me! Featuring: Hans de ...
Oct 11, 2024•23 min
The Future of Electric Super Cars with Nikita Bridan [Live in Long Beach] - Ep. 222
Nikita Bridan is one of the co-founders of Oilstainlab, a boutique futuristic supercar manufacturer of the future. They've built a monster, and soon it will be all-electric. Video of the interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=catWEb3lSok In this episode, we talk about the meticulous design and inspiring backstory of Oilstainlab with co-founder Nikita. Discover the journey from their Ukrainian roots to becoming boutique car builders in Canada. Learn about their innovative approach to car desi...
Sep 20, 2024•23 min
Sustainable Ammonia is Vital for Our Future with Suzanne Zamany Andersen of Nitrovolt - Ep. 221
Suzanne Zamany Andersen is the CEO and founder of Nitrovolt, a brilliant start-up that's raised millions making green or sustainable ammonia. You might not know this, but ammonia is vital for agriculture, and it's a key component of human survival. "Green" ammonia is a cornerstone of sustainability, and it's at the heart of fertilizer production, increased crop yields, soil health, and sustainable food. Suzanne Andersen is tackling the problem if sourcing ammonia head on with a game-changing com...
Aug 30, 2024•43 min
Julie Bliss Mullen: What are PFAS (forever chemicals) and how is Aclarity solving this massive problem? - Ep. 220
Julie Bliss Mullen is cofounder and CEO of Aclarity and a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree. Her company Aclarity destroys PFAS ( Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances ) and mitigates risk at landfills and centralized waste treatment facility. You might have heard of "forever chemicals"—tiny particulates that are found everywhere, and sadly, in all of our blood streams and even in breast milk. These chemicals may cause cancer and other harm, and they are ubiquitous in our products and even our drinking w...
Aug 16, 2024•40 min
Lab-Grown Meat: Is This the Future of Food? - Ep. 219
Is lab-grown the future of meat? Even after $1.6B in investment into the sector, is cultivated meat a viable long-term solution? I created a fact-based, humorous video covering the history and future of meat replacements, including plenty of data-driven insights. The short answer is: YES, it’s an incredible necessary thing for humanity. But that doesn’t necessarily mean these products will be flying off the shelves in the short term. What about you? Would you eat/support/invest in lab-grown meat...
Aug 09, 2024•15 min
Dr. Masachs Boungou: How REAL Adversity Leads to Stronger Entrepreneurs - Ep. 218
Dr. Masachs Boungou, an eternal optimist, author, and public speaker, shares his incredible journey from fleeing war-torn Republic of the Congo to finding success in the United States. The type of entrepreneurship practiced in Silicon Valley is often criticized for being homogenous and lacking diversity. That's why Dr. Boungou's is such a fresh perspective. Many privileged entrepreneurs have no idea what real hardship looks like. Dr. Masachs Boungou was able to turn horrific childhood events int...
Jul 26, 2024•16 min
$20MM for Futuristic Houseplants That Fight Indoor Air Pollution with Lionel Mora - Ep. 217
Lionel Mora is the co-founder and CEO of NeoPlants, a start-up that's raised $20 million for plants that tackle indoor air pollution. In this inspiring episode, he shares his insights on the potential of nature to address significant issues like climate change and indoor air pollution, using plants as technology. Lionel discusses the innovative approaches NeoPlants is taking, including bioengineered microbiomes and sustainable product design, to create plants that purify air 30 times more effici...
Jul 20, 2024•40 min
Ross & Maru Face the Future: How We Built a 7-Figure Agency - Ep. 216
Bonus! My wife Maru and I talk about our experiences and challenges in building a successful 7-figure digital marketing agency. In this special episode, I reflect on my early skills in technology and programming, transitioning into different careers, and eventually founding their agency in 2016. We discuss the evolution of the business from freelancing to building a team of 14. If you've ever thought of following a similar path, this episode is for you. ➡️ Our agency: https://aloa.agency...
Jul 11, 2024•20 min
Niccolò Ferrari: A Brilliant Business to Handle the Looming EV Battery Crisis - Ep. 215
Niccolò Ferrari is the founder and CEO of Scoutit, a brilliant business concept that will enable the EV battery circular economy. Today? EVs are the minority on the road. But soon? We'll have millions of dead batteries to dispose of, creating a possible ecological nightmare. But Niccolò has taken matters into his own hands, turning Italy's "motor valley" upside down. ➡️ https://scoutitweb.com ➡️ My digital agency: aloa.agency...
Jul 05, 2024•38 min
Ross & Maru Face the Future: Are We Optimistic After 200+ Interviews With Successful Entrepreneurs? - Ep. 214
Join us for a rare, reflective conversation about the learnings and insights gained from hosting a podcast, highlighting the inspiring work of diverse and talented individuals, including entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders. My wife and I discuss the emotional and intellectual journey from ignorance to awareness about global challenges such as resource shortages and climate change, and how these issues are being addressed. The main question is: Are we more or less optimistic after talking to all ...
Jun 26, 2024•14 min
Andriy & Sergiy Lyubchyk: Game-Changing Tech That Generates Energy from Thin (Humid) Air! - Ep. 213
Andriy & Sergiy Lyubchyk are co-founding brothers of CascataChuva a Portuguese eco-tech company that believes it can literally pull energy from thin air. This idea is almost too wild to be true, but apparently we're all just one NDA away from seeing it for ourselves... While running another experiment, these brothers discovered that there were forces they couldn't account for. This discovery led them to develop "a revolutionary technological solution for producing electrical energy through d...
Jun 19, 2024•34 min
Daniel Carcillo: From Stanley Cup Winner to Psychedelic Therapy Pioneer - Ep. 212
Daniel Carcillo was a pro hockey veteran and 2-time Stanley Cup winner. But his life changed when he was diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome and traumatic brain injury (TBI) following his 10-year career as an “enforcer” in the NHL. After years of suffering from neurological issues, he found solace in psychedelic medicine – something that traditional pharmaceuticals could not provide. Today, Daniel is an advocate on behalf of TBI survivors and those dealing with mental health challenges, voca...
Jun 12, 2024•38 min
Mark Atkeson: ByteDyance, TikTok, and Three Decades of Entrepreneurship in China - Ep. 211
Mark Atkeson is the author of 'Risky Business in Rising China', a book chronicalling three decades of business, tech, and politics in China. TikTok, ByteDance... China seems to be always in the news. Sometimes for good, sometimes for... less than good? Either way, I wanted to explore the real truth of China's rise and its role in shaping the world of today and tomorrow. In this episode, Mark shares his unique experiences and observations from his extensive career, highlighting the significant li...
Jun 05, 2024•49 min
David Wakerley: Insane Tech Turning Carbon Emissions into Usable Plastic - Ep. 210
David Wakerley is the co-founder and CTO of Dioxycle—a truly mind-blowing tech company that turns factory emissions back into usable plastic. Dioxycle has raised over $17 million in funding to date, and focuses on repurposing carbon emissions into ethylene, an essential chemical in many products. David teaches me the environmental challenges associated with ethylene production, the carbon-intensive processes currently used, and about Dioxycle's groundbreaking electrolyzer technology. Their goal ...
May 29, 2024•34 min
David Brown: Cyber Threats, Ethical Hacking, and the Future of Digital Security - Ep. 209
David Brown is the CEO of CounterCraft, deception-powered cybersecurity solutions that go beyond detection and response. In this talk, David tells me about the challenges and opportunities within the cybersecurity landscape. Although he's optimistic about humanity's capacity to overcome adversity, David also expresses concerns about the potential for global conflict and the increasing sophistication of cyber threats. Whether we realize it or not, David Brown's work is at the heart of one of the ...
May 21, 2024•39 min
Chris Tolles: Raising $12 Million for Ingenious Soil Carbon Tech - Ep. 208
Chris Tolles is the CEO of Yardstick, an eco-tech company focused on measuring soil carbon that just raised $12MM in Series A funding. In this episode, we talk about climate challenges, and the potential of addressing climate change through improved agricultural practices. Exploring a niche within a niche, Yardstick aims to create a market by offering a method to measure soil carbon cheaply and effectively, thereby enabling better carbon dioxide removal techniques. My talk with Chris Tolles cove...
May 15, 2024•45 min
Nik Ershov: Creating Mind-Tracking Brain control Interfaces that De-Stress - Ep. 207
Nik Ershov is the CEO of Waverox, makers of brain-monitoring headphones and headbands that help you de-stress and be more productive. Nik Ershov shares his journey from experiencing severe burnout in the advertising and marketing industry to founding a startup focused on combating stress and increasing productivity through a mind-tracking device and wellness app. He explains how his personal battle with burnout, depression, and anxiety led him to explore neuroscience and develop a technology tha...
May 03, 2024•34 min
Dr. Gordon Chiu: Winner of Harvard Tough Tech Prize, Graphene Expert & Entrepreneur - Ep. 206
Dr. Gordon Chiu has 41 patents and recently won Harvard Business School's "Tough Tech" Prize in 2023. He is a graphene pioneer, investor, AI entrepreneur and deep tech expert. In this episode, we discuss various topics including a utopian/dystopian future, the importance of authenticity, the future of technology, and the healing power of music. Join me for a deep philosophical conversation with a man who has raised many millions of dollars in his life for a staggering number of influential proje...
Apr 26, 2024•33 min
Jon Hacker: Mind-Blowing, Zen-Inducing Neurotech Headphones - Ep. 205
John Hacker is a biomedical engineer and the CEO of NeurGear. His latest innovation is the ZenBud, the market's first ultrasonic vagus nerve stimulator, designed to promote relaxation and combat stress. In this episode, Jon Hacker discusses the underlying technology, its decades of research, and its implications for future wellness applications. He sheds light on the challenges and excitement surrounding new tech developments, emphasizing the blend of existing scientific knowledge with innovativ...
Apr 19, 2024•32 min
Alan Liu: Touch-Based, Sweat-Sensing Tech for Diabetes and Beyond - Ep. 204
Joining us today is Alan Liu, the co-founder of Persperion Diagnostics, an innovative startup based in San Diego that aims to revolutionize diabetes management with its non-invasive glucose monitoring technology. Founded in 2022 by Alan Liu and Lu Yin, the company leverages cutting-edge touch-based sweat-sensing technology to detect a wide range of biomarkers from a simple fingertip touch. This technology was developed in the nanoengineering lab of UCSD Professor Dr. Joseph Wang, with whom Liu p...
Apr 12, 2024•27 min
Brooke Harris: Creating a Plant-Based Milk Empire from Scratch - Ep. 203
Brooke Harris is the founder and CEO of Goodmylk Co., one of the world's leading plant-based dairy companies. Her awakening to the benefits of a plant-based diet—driven by personal health challenges—unveiled the stark reality of conventional "nutritious" alternatives marred by unhealthy additives. Determined to offer a genuine, healthful option, Brooke's venture into crafting plant-based milks without compromises led to the inception of Goodmylk. We talk about the challenges of building and runn...
Apr 05, 2024•40 min
Massimo Portincaso: Pioneering Bio Manufacturing (Star Trek is Here?) - Ep. 202
Massimo Portincaso is the Founder and CEO of Arsenale BioYards. Formerly, he was a managing director at Boston Consulting Group. As the creator of this groundbreaking bio-manufacturing platform (what does that even mean!?!), he’s using crazy tools like yeast to build… Anything! No this isn’t Star Trek… but this is undeniably the kind of future tech that humans have only dreamed about for generations. Beyond Arsenale, Massimo leads Deepwave Ventures, offers his expertise on several advisory board...
Mar 29, 2024•49 min
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