Disrupting Data Infrastructure: How to Solve the Biggest Bottleneck in the AI Era, with JB Baker

In this episode of Disruption/Interruption, host KJ sits down with Chris Cyrille, founder of SNTIMNT.AI, to discuss how he’s using data science and AI to bring clarity and confidence to crypto investing. Chris shares his personal journey, the challenges of the crypto market, and how his mission-driven approach is changing the way investors and institutions view digital assets. Key Takeaways: Personal Motivation Drives Innovation [3:52]Chris’s journey began with a personal loss, inspiring him to redirect capital toward causes like pediatric cancer and first-generation students. Crypto Volatility and Misinformation [6:25]The biggest challenge in crypto is volatility, fueled by meme coins, speculation, and misinformation, making it intimidating for new investors. Algorithmic Solutions for Peace of Mind [17:51]Sentiment AI’s algorithm “reads the room” to provide actionable signals, helping users invest with greater confidence and less stress. Staying Curious and Creative [26:34]Chris encourages listeners to maintain childlike wonder and curiosity, as unique perspectives drive creative solutions in any industry.   Quote of the Show (26:54):“Keep the childlike wonder and to stay curious. I believe that's where the creativity shows itself.” – Chris Cyrille   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 Chris Cyrille: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-cyrille/ Company Website: https://sntimnt.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 Jim Foote, CEO and founder of First Ascent Biomedical. Jim shares his personal journey from technology executive to cancer care innovator, after his son’s diagnosis changed his life. Discover how he’s disrupting the status quo in oncology with AI-driven, personalized medicine that’s giving new hope to patients and families.   Key Takeaways: The Problem with Standard Cancer Care [3:53]The standard of care treats patients as if they are the same, but everyone is unique. This approach works two-thirds of the time, but leaves one-third of patients with few options. Functional Precision Medicine [13:04]Jim’s company tests up to 152 FDA-approved drugs on a patient’s biopsy to find the most effective treatment, providing doctors with data-driven options tailored to each individual. AI and Technology are Transforming Oncology [28:05]Advances in AI, robotics, and cloud computing have converged, making personalized cancer treatment faster, more affordable, and more effective than ever before. Impact and Future Vision [26:51]Jim’s goal is for every cancer patient to receive individualized treatment from the moment of diagnosis, improving outcomes and reducing unnecessary side effects.   Quote of the Show (14:40):“I literally have gone from trying and hoping to testing and choosing.” — Jim Foote   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 Jim Foote: LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-foote Company Website: https://firstascentbiomedical.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.

In this episode of Disruption/Interruption, host KJ interviews JB Baker, VP of Marketing and Product Management at ScaleFlux. They dive deep into the challenges and innovations in data storage and memory for AI workloads, discuss the hidden costs of data center inefficiency, and explore how ScaleFlux is disrupting the industry with advanced flash storage solutions. JB also shares insights from his endurance athlete mindset and offers advice for innovators.   Key Takeaways: The Data Bottleneck in AI (2:01) The biggest challenge in AI infrastructure is not processing power, but storage and memory that can't keep up with demand. Hidden Costs in Data Centers (7:12) Up to 40% of data center power is spent on cooling, not processing, leading to massive inefficiencies and costs. ScaleFlux’s Disruptive Solution (15:38) ScaleFlux’s custom SSD controllers enable real-time data compression in hardware, doubling performance and reducing costs for enterprises. Endurance Mindset in Business (23:18) JB applies lessons from endurance sports to business, emphasizing persistence and continuous improvement as keys to innovation.   Quote of the Show (3:41):"Those cores can process so much more data per second and so much more data per watt. But when the entire infrastructure isn't balanced, you're losing out on these efficiencies. And so there it is, creating hidden costs." — JB Baker   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 JB Baker: LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jbbaker https://scaleflux.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.

This episode of Disruption/Interruption features Julie Kheyfets, CEO of Block Renovation, who is transforming the home renovation industry with AI-driven solutions. Julie shares her journey, the challenges homeowners and contractors face, and how her platform brings transparency, trust, and efficiency to a fragmented market.   Key Takeaways: The Renovation Industry Is Ripe for Disruption [4:37]The $500 billion renovation industry is plagued by fragmentation, lack of transparency, and outdated processes, making it a prime candidate for technological innovation. AI Can Bridge the Gap Between Homeowners and Contractors [16:25]Block Renovation uses AI to help homeowners make design decisions, estimate costs, and connect with vetted contractors, streamlining the entire renovation process. Only the Best Contractors Make the Cut [20:41]The platform accepts only 7% of contractor applicants, ensuring high-quality work and reliable service for homeowners. Empowering Small Businesses and Local Economies [28:00]By supporting mom-and-pop contractors with technology and steady work, Block Renovation helps small businesses grow and thrive in local markets.   Quote of the Show [32:07]:"I would encourage more people to explore what would it mean to bring AI to industries like this." - Julie Kheyfets   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 Julie Kheyfets: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliekheyfets Company Website: blockrenovation.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/6yGSwcSp8J354awJkCmJlD  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Disruption/Interruption, host KJ sits down with Charles Goetz, CEO of Powercast, to discuss the future of wireless power. Charles shares how Powercast’s patented RF technology is changing the way we think about batteries, sustainability, and powering devices at a distance. From industrial sensors to consumer electronics, discover how a truly wireless world is becoming reality—and what it means for innovation, sustainability, and the edge of AI.   Key Takeaways: RF Wireless Power Enables True Wireless Charging [11:35]Powercast’s technology captures radio frequency (RF) energy from the air and converts it into usable power, enabling devices to be charged at distances up to 80 feet and beyond. Sustainability: Reducing Battery Waste [22:50]Billions of batteries end up in landfills each year. Powercast’s RF technology can eliminate or reduce the need for disposable batteries, as seen in Samsung’s TV remotes, which will keep 700 million batteries out of landfills over 10 years. RF Power is a Game-Changer for IoT and Edge Devices [27:46]As AI and IoT expand, the need for power at the edge grows. RF wireless power enables small, distributed devices to operate sustainably without frequent battery changes. The Future is Seamless, Not Plugged In [18:18]The vision is a world where “our stuff takes care of us”—devices are always powered, connected, and require less maintenance from users.   Quote of the Show [18:18]:“Instead of us spending so much time taking care of our stuff, our stuff is just going to seamlessly take care of us. And that’s going to be very cool and very powerful.”- Charles Goetz   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 Charles Goetz: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-goetz-aa670036/ Company Website: https://www.powercastco.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.

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.