Disrupting Brand Trust: How Everyday Creators Are Outperforming Ads, with Emily Steele

In this episode of Disruption/Interruption, host KJ interviews Dr. Paola Ballester, CEO and Co-founder of EasyPA, about the broken state of prior authorizations in healthcare. Dr. Ballester shares her journey from pediatrician to tech founder, the real-world impact of administrative burdens on patients and clinicians, and how her AI-driven platform is streamlining processes to put patient care back at the center.   Key Takeaways: The Real Cost of Prior Authorizations [2:05] – Administrative hurdles in healthcare lead to denied claims, lost revenue, and wasted time, forcing clinicians to choose between paperwork and patient care. Empathy Drives Disruption [4:35] – Dr. Ballester’s deep empathy for patients and providers inspired her to create a solution that addresses the root frustrations in the system. AI as a Force for Good [27:05] – EasyPA’s AI platform modernizes prior authorizations, making them 10x faster and giving clinicians more time with patients, not paperwork. Systemic Change is Possible [36:45] – With new technology, regulatory mandates, and a focus on patient-centered care, the healthcare system can move beyond outdated, inefficient processes.   Quote of the Show [19:40]:"The assumption that physicians need to prove on a per case basis that their intent is anything other than to provide direct patient care based on evidence-based standards is wild." - Paola Ballester   Join our Anti-PR newsletter where we’re keeping a watchful and clever eye on PR trends, PR fails, and interesting news in tech so you don't have to. You're welcome. Want PR that actually matters? Get 30 minutes of expert advice in a fast-paced, zero-nonsense session from Karla Jo Helms, a veteran Crisis PR and Anti-PR Strategist who knows how to tell your story in the best possible light and get the exposure you need to disrupt your industry. Click here to book your call: https://info.jotopr.com/free-anti-pr-eval  Ways to connect with Dr. Paola Ballester: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paola-ballester-md-7738a9a8/ Company websites: easypa.ai   How to get more Disruption/Interruption:  Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/eccda84d-4d5b-4c52-ba54-7fd8af3cbe87/disruption-interruption Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/disruption-interruption/id1581985755 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6yGSwcSp8J354awJkCmJlDSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Disruption Interruption, host KJ sits down with Karthik Manimozhi, Chief Growth Officer at MindBridge, to discuss the transformation of finance and auditing through human-centric AI. From the limitations of traditional sampling audits to the promise of AI-driven transparency, Karthik shares insights from his journey as a FinTech entrepreneur and offers a vision for a future where technology and human expertise work hand-in-hand to drive meaningful change in business and society.   Key Takeaways: [4:00] - The End of Sampling in AuditsTraditional audit sampling only reviews a small fraction of data, leading to missed issues. AI now enables analysis of 100% of financial data, increasing trust and transparency. [10:20] - Human-Centric AI: Augment, Not ReplaceAI should empower people, not replace them. The future is about using AI to solve complex problems and enable small teams to manage massive operations. [36:45] - Digital Readiness is CriticalOnly 20% of finance organizations are currently digital-ready; this must reach 50% by 2030 for meaningful change. Upskilling and embracing new technology are essential. [29:00] - AI Democratizes OpportunityAI is not just for large enterprises—no-code platforms and accessible tools are unlocking value for small businesses and addressing global challenges like education and healthcare. Quote of the Show (31:38):"Artificial intelligence is an Iron Man suit on your conventional systems. You can still keep your data, your processes in the same place, and now you can collate all of them and create that unified view." - Karthik Manimozhi   Join our Anti-PR newsletter where we’re keeping a watchful and clever eye on PR trends, PR fails, and interesting news in tech so you don't have to. You're welcome.   Want PR that actually matters? Get 30 minutes of expert advice in a fast-paced, zero-nonsense session from Karla Jo Helms, a veteran Crisis PR and Anti-PR Strategist who knows how to tell your story in the best possible light and get the exposure you need to disrupt your industry. Click here to book your call: https://info.jotopr.com/free-anti-pr-eval   Ways to connect with Karthik Manimozhi: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karthikmanimozhi Company websites: MindBridge , mindbridge.ai   How to get more Disruption/Interruption:  Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/eccda84d-4d5b-4c52-ba54-7fd8af3cbe87/disruption-interruption Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/disruption-interruption/id1581985755 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6yGSwcSp8J354awJkCmJlDSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Disruption/Interruption, host KJ sits down with Dhruv Vig, founder and CEO of Langer Holdings, to discuss how AI is revolutionizing health tech investing. Dhruv shares how legacy investment models are failing to capture the true potential of health tech, the pitfalls of misclassification in ETFs, and why active management and expert-driven curation are the future. Discover how curiosity and a drive to challenge the status quo can lead to industry-changing innovation.   Key Takeaways: [1:46] - Legacy Indices Are Outdated"The way we invest in health tech is stuck in the past, legacy indices overlook game-changing companies." [10:44] - Misclassification and Underweighting Are Rampant"Companies are being misclassified, and the best performers are often underweighted in broad market funds." [15:02] - Active Management and Expert Curation Are Essential"You can't trust an algorithm to this. You have to have experts... to clean up the public markets and set the industry standard." [3:17] - Curiosity Drives Disruption"Insatiable curiosity... that's what drives me. I can't sit still. You gotta keep learning, gotta keep asking questions." Quote of the Show (27:07):"When you sit down and look at your portfolio, do the work. Really ask what am I investing in and why am I investing in it?” — Dhruv Vig   Join our Anti-PR newsletter where we’re keeping a watchful and clever eye on PR trends, PR fails, and interesting news in tech so you don't have to. You're welcome.   Want PR that actually matters? Get 30 minutes of expert advice in a fast-paced, zero-nonsense session from Karla Jo Helms, a veteran Crisis PR and Anti-PR Strategist who knows how to tell your story in the best possible light and get the exposure you need to disrupt your industry. Click here to book your call: https://info.jotopr.com/free-anti-pr-eval   Ways to connect with Dhruv Vig: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dhruvkvig/ Company website: https://langarfunds.com/ Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/langar-holdings/   How to get more Disruption/Interruption:  Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/eccda84d-4d5b-4c52-ba54-7fd8af3cbe87/disruption-interruption Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/disruption-interruption/id1581985755 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6yGSwcSp8J354awJkCmJlDSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Disruption/Interruption, host KJ sits down with Bill Lederer, Founder and CEO of MADTECH.AI, to discuss how marketing analytics is being transformed by automation, AI, and decision intelligence. Bill shares his journey as a serial entrepreneur, the challenges of messy marketing data, and how his innovations are helping brands make smarter, faster decisions.   Key Takeaways: [2:12] - Most marketing data is disconnected, siloed, and often unusable, making good decision-making difficult. [6:57] - AI and automation are reducing the need for large teams in marketing analytics, allowing companies to do more with less. [11:32] - Automating data pipelines and transformations can lead to significant cost savings and efficiency gains. [13:04] - MADTECH.AI acts as a multi-tool for marketers, integrating data unification, visualization, and predictive analytics. [19:02] - Bill advises listeners to be skeptical of hype, test new technologies carefully, and focus on early ROI.   Quote of the Show [23:42]:"The time compression in order to be able to do anything—to learn, to fix, to improve—it's a qualitative difference. The speed with which everything is able to be done now... it's dramatic. If you’re not leveraging this, you’re already behind." – Bill Lederer   Join our Anti-PR newsletter where we’re keeping a watchful and clever eye on PR trends, PR fails, and interesting news in tech so you don't have to. You're welcome.   Want PR that actually matters? Get 30 minutes of expert advice in a fast-paced, zero-nonsense session from Karla Jo Helms, a veteran Crisis PR and Anti-PR Strategist who knows how to tell your story in the best possible light and get the exposure you need to disrupt your industry. Click here to book your call: https://info.jotopr.com/free-anti-pr-eval   Ways to connect with Bill Lederer: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billederer/ Company Websites: MadTech.AI   How to get more Disruption/Interruption:  Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/eccda84d-4d5b-4c52-ba54-7fd8af3cbe87/disruption-interruption Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/disruption-interruption/id1581985755 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6yGSwcSp8J354awJkCmJlDSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Khullani Abdullahi is the founder of Techné AI, a Chicago-based consultancy that helps organizations adopt and govern artificial intelligence responsibly. In this episode, KJ and Khullani discuss the realities of AI adoption in business, the coming "white collar depression," and how leaders and organizations can prepare for a rapidly changing future. Khullani shares her journey from Somali refugee to tech entrepreneur, and offers practical advice for navigating disruption, building resilient teams, and staying ahead of the curve.   Key Takeaways: [0:00] Extraordinary leadership in the age of AI requires transparency, adaptability, and preparing teams for change. [08:41] Most organizations are unprepared for AI adoption, leading to chaos and confusion; Khullani helps companies move beyond hype to real strategy. [19:56] Khullani’s background as a Somali refugee shaped her drive for security, adaptability, and non-traditional career choices. [38:24] The majority of white-collar workers may become redundant in the next 10 years; only the most creative and adaptable roles will remain. [49:26] Leaders must invest in AI education and create open cultures to ensure their teams’ future success—even beyond their current organization. [25:35] Khullani warns against over-reliance on AI: “Be mindful of striking a balance and ensuring that your own amazing, extraordinary cognitive critical thinking analysis, synthesis skills…that you don’t abdicate all of that beautiful capacity and capability by overlying on the tools.”   Quote of the Show [25:35]:“We are seeing human intellectual ability degrade in real time as we outsource more of our thinking to the machines and to the algorithms. I would be very mindful of striking a balance and ensuring that you don’t abdicate all that beautiful capacity and capability by overlying on the tools.” — Khullani Abdullahi   Join our Anti-PR newsletter where we’re keeping a watchful and clever eye on PR trends, PR fails, and interesting news in tech so you don't have to. You're welcome.   Want PR that actually matters? Get 30 minutes of expert advice in a fast-paced, zero-nonsense session from Karla Jo Helms, a veteran Crisis PR and Anti-PR Strategist who knows how to tell your story in the best possible light and get the exposure you need to disrupt your industry. Click here to book your call: https://info.jotopr.com/free-anti-pr-eval   Ways to connect with Khullani Abdullahi: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/khullani Company Websites: https://techne.ai/   How to get more Disruption/Interruption:  Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/eccda84d-4d5b-4c52-ba54-7fd8af3cbe87/disruption-interruption Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/disruption-interruption/id1581985755 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6yGSwcSp8J354awJkCmJlDSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hila Lauterbach, Founder of 10x GTM, and Klue Advisor. 10x GTM is a company partnering with high-growth B2B SaaS companies to accelerate revenue through strategic GTM and product marketing excellence. In this episode, KJ Hila discuss the rise of data-driven and AI-powered investment models—and why they’re not enough on their own. They also explore the most common go-to-market mistakes: lack of alignment, unclear audience, and missing foundational strategy.   Key Takeaways: [5:47] Hila’s Origin Story & Overcoming Rejection [13:45] The Broken Investment Model [16:39] Building a Repeatable Go-to-Market Engine [26:50] The Future of SaaS & AI’s Impact   Quote of the Show (27:00): “Every time the door was closed, I built a new door. You have to keep iterating, keep believing, and keep working hard towards your goals.” – Hila Lauterbach   Join our Anti-PR newsletter where we’re keeping a watchful and clever eye on PR trends, PR fails, and interesting news in tech so you don't have to. You're welcome.   Want PR that actually matters? Get 30 minutes of expert advice in a fast-paced, zero-nonsense session from Karla Jo Helms, a veteran Crisis PR and Anti-PR Strategist who knows how to tell your story in the best possible light and get the exposure you need to disrupt your industry. Click here to book your call: https://info.jotopr.com/free-anti-pr-eval   Ways to connect with Hila Lauterbach: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hilalauterbachmarketing Company Websites: 10XGTM.com and https://klue.com/   How to get more Disruption/Interruption:  Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/eccda84d-4d5b-4c52-ba54-7fd8af3cbe87/disruption-interruption Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/disruption-interruption/id1581985755 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6yGSwcSp8J354awJkCmJlDSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brian Gilman is the Chief Marketing Officer of ThetaRay, a fintech company that provides AI-powered solutions to detect and prevent financial crimes like money laundering, fraud, and terrorist financing. In this episode, KJ and Brian Gilman explore how AI is transforming the fight against financial crime in the banking industry. They discuss the limitations of legacy rules-based systems, the power of AI-driven pattern recognition, and the future of compliance and risk management.   Key Takeaways: 03:00 – The State of Financial Crime 20–30% of global financial transactions may be linked to crime. $4B+ in fines for money laundering in 2023 alone. 07:00 – How AI Changes the Game AI identifies hidden patterns and criminal networks. Reduces false positives, enabling secure growth in high-risk markets. 10:00 – Marketing Disruptive Tech Messaging to C-suite: focus on pain points and compliance needs. The shift from traditional marketing funnels to meeting-based metrics.   Quote of the Show (19:00): "AI has been one of the greatest enablers, but it has also been one of the greatest levelers of technology that I've ever seen. “ – Brian Gilman   Join our Anti-PR newsletter where we’re keeping a watchful and clever eye on PR trends, PR fails, and interesting news in tech so you don't have to. You're welcome.   Want PR that actually matters? Get 30 minutes of expert advice in a fast-paced, zero-nonsense session from Karla Jo Helms, a veteran Crisis PR and Anti-PR Strategist who knows how to tell your story in the best possible light and get the exposure you need to disrupt your industry. Click here to book your call: https://info.jotopr.com/free-anti-pr-eval   Ways to connect with Brian Gilman: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bgilman1/ Company Website: thetaray.com   How to get more Disruption/Interruption:  Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/eccda84d-4d5b-4c52-ba54-7fd8af3cbe87/disruption-interruption Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/disruption-interruption/id1581985755 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6yGSwcSp8J354awJkCmJlDSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alice Chen, Partner and U.S. Lead at Pender Hastings Capital, a real estate private equity firm which invests in scalable strategies in Canada and the United States. In this episode, KJ and Alice explore issues surrounding the significant housing deficit, and how Alice’s firm is creating scalable solutions by entering the niche market of land entitlement and horizontal development.   Episode Highlights: 12:14 The Impact of the Housing Deficit 17:19 Urban Density Strategies 17:41 Finding the Sweet Spot in Real Estate 18:49 Discovering Land Development 20:21 Understanding Horizontal Development   Quote of the Show (23:00): "Real estate is increasingly a bigger problem, but with the right thinking, we can unlock its true potential." – Alice Chen   Join our Anti-PR newsletter where we’re keeping a watchful and clever eye on PR trends, PR fails, and interesting news in tech so you don't have to. You're welcome.   Want PR that actually matters? Get 30 minutes of expert advice in a fast-paced, zero-nonsense session from Karla Jo Helms, a veteran Crisis PR and Anti-PR Strategist who knows how to tell your story in the best possible light and get the exposure you need to disrupt your industry. Click here to book your call: https://info.jotopr.com/free-anti-pr-eval   Ways to connect with Alice Chen: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliceychen Company Website: http://www.phcfunds.com    How to get more Disruption/Interruption:  Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/eccda84d-4d5b-4c52-ba54-7fd8af3cbe87/disruption-interruption Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/disruption-interruption/id1581985755 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6yGSwcSp8J354awJkCmJlDSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alexander Alvord is an architect, strategist, and founder of a thriving user community. Nutanix is a global leader in cloud software, offering organizations a single platform for running apps and data across clouds. In this episode, KJ and Alexander delve into the issues of cloud bloat, inefficiencies from vendor lock-ins, and the importance of FinOps. Alexander also shares his personal journey and passion for technology and multi-cloud strategies. Learn about the challenges and innovations in making cloud services more efficient and user-centric.   Episode Highlights: 01:55 The Hidden Costs of Cloud Bloat 07:39 Impact on Organizations and Productivity 16:10 Solutions to Cloud Bloat 27:58 Nutanix's Approach and Future Vision   Quote of the Show (18:00): "Multiple clouds does not equal Multi-cloud." - Alexander Alvord   Join our Anti-PR newsletter where we’re keeping a watchful and clever eye on PR trends, PR fails, and interesting news in tech so you don't have to. You're welcome.   Want PR that actually matters? Get 30 minutes of expert advice in a fast-paced, zero-nonsense session from Karla Jo Helms, a veteran Crisis PR and Anti-PR Strategist who knows how to tell your story in the best possible light and get the exposure you need to disrupt your industry. Click here to book your call: https://info.jotopr.com/free-anti-pr-eval   Ways to connect with Alexander Alvord: LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/alexalvord Company Website: https://nutanix.com   How to get more Disruption/Interruption:  Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/eccda84d-4d5b-4c52-ba54-7fd8af3cbe87/disruption-interruption Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/disruption-interruption/id1581985755 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6yGSwcSp8J354awJkCmJlDSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Emily Steele is the Co-Founder and CEO of Hummingbirds, a self-service platform connecting brands to hyper-local creators & influencers. In this episode, KJ and Emily explore the power of authentic connections and the importance of understanding the types of creators brands should engage with. Tune in for insights on the evolution of the creator economy, the nuances of influencer marketing, and the potential for this model to expand beyond consumer packaged goods to sectors like tourism and small business.   Key Takeaways: 07:22 Understanding Influencers vs. Creators 10:31 The Rise of Local Creators 17:53 The Game is Rigged: Media and PR Strategies 18:52 Expanding Beyond B2C: Local Creators and CPG Brands 21:04 B2B Opportunities and Challenges     Quote of the Show (16:00): "Authentic connections can create so many opportunities." - Emily Steele   Join our Anti-PR newsletter where we’re keeping a watchful and clever eye on PR trends, PR fails, and interesting news in tech so you don't have to. You're welcome.   Want PR that actually matters? Get 30 minutes of expert advice in a fast-paced, zero-nonsense session from Karla Jo Helms, a veteran Crisis PR and Anti-PR Strategist who knows how to tell your story in the best possible light and get the exposure you need to disrupt your industry. Click here to book your call: https://info.jotopr.com/free-anti-pr-eval   Ways to connect with Emily Steele: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilysteele12 Company Website: https://www.hummingbirds.com/    How to get more Disruption/Interruption:  Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/eccda84d-4d5b-4c52-ba54-7fd8af3cbe87/disruption-interruption Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/disruption-interruption/id1581985755 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6yGSwcSp8J354awJkCmJlDSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.