Episodios

  • Disruption Now Episode 188 | Upgrading Government Tech: Startup Thinking for Public Service

    Disruption Now Episode 188 | Upgrading Government Tech: Startup Thinking for Public Service
    Nov 27 2025
    Most people run from government bureaucracy. Pavan Parikh ran toward it—and decided to rewrite the system from the inside.He believes public service should move like a startup: fast, transparent, and built around people, not process.But when tradition, power, and red tape pushed back, he didn’t fold—he went to the statehouse to fight for reform.So how do you disrupt a 200-year-old system that was never built for speed or equity?In Episode 188 of the Disruption Now Podcast, Pavan breaks down how he’s modernizing Hamilton County’s court systems, digitizing paper-heavy workflows, and using AI and automation to reduce barriers to justice rather than create new ones. Whether you work in government, policy, law, or tech, you’ll see how startup tools and mindsets can create real impact, not just buzzwords.Pavan Parikh is the elected Hamilton County Clerk of Courts in Ohio, focused on increasing access to justice, improving customer service, and modernizing one of the county’s most important institutions. In this episode, we talk about what happens when a startup mindset collides with decades-old court processes, why culture eats technology for breakfast, and how AI can help everyday people navigate civil cases, evictions, and protection orders more effectively.You’ll also hear Pavan’s personal journey—from planning a career in medicine to 9/11 shifting him toward law and public service to ultimately leading one of the most prominent offices in Hamilton County. We get into fear of AI, job-loss anxiety within government, and how he’s reframing AI as a teammate that frees staff for higher-value work rather than replacing them.If you’ve ever looked at the justice system and thought “there has to be a better way,” this deep dive into startup thinking for government will show you what that better way can look like—and what it takes to build it from the inside.What you’ll learn in this episode:How startup thinking for government can reduce friction and errors in court processesWhy is Pavan obsessed with access to justice and end-user experience for everyday residents?How Hamilton County is digitizing records, streamlining evictions, and modernizing civil protection order filingWhere AI and automation can safely support court staff and help-center attorneysWhy change management is the real challenge—not the technologyHow local government can be a faster “lab” for responsible AI than federal agenciesWhat it really looks like to design systems around people, not paperworkChapters:00:00 Why the government needs startup thinking03:15 Pavan’s path from medicine to law and 9/11’s impact10:45 Modernizing Hamilton County courts and killing paper workflows22:10 AI, access to justice, and reimagining the Help Center35:30 Careers, values, and becoming a disruptor in public serviceQuick Q&A (for searchers):Q: What does “startup thinking for government” mean in this episode?A: Treating residents as end users, iterating on systems, and using tech and AI to automate low-value tasks so staff can focus on service and justice outcomes.Q: How is Hamilton County using technology to improve access to justice?A: By digitizing records, expanding the Help Center, improving online access to cases, limiting or removing outdated eviction records, and building easier online processes for civil protection orders.Q: Will AI replace court jobs?A: Pavan argues AI should handle repetitive questions and data lookups so humans can spend more time problem-solving, doing quality control, and helping people with complex issues.Connect with Pavan Parikh (verified/public handles):Website: PavanParikh.comX (Twitter): @KeepPavanClerkFacebook: Pavan Parikh for Clerk of Courts / @KeepPavanClerkInstagram: @KeepPavanClerkOffice channel: Hamilton County Clerk of Courts – @HamCoClerk on YouTubeDisruption Now resources:Subscribe to YouTube for more conversations at the intersection of AI, policy, government, and impact.Join the newsletter for weekly trends in AI and emerging tech for people who want to change systems, not just complain about them. bit.ly/newsletterDN#StartupThinking #GovTech #AccessToJusticeDisruption Now: Disrupting the status quo, making emerging tech human-centric and Accessible to all. Website https://disruptionnow.com/podcast Apply to get on the Podcast https://form.typeform.com/to/Ir6Agmzr?typeform-source=disruptionnow.comMusic credit:Embrace - Evgeny Bardyuzha
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    46 m
  • Why Empathy Still Wins in an AI World

    Why Empathy Still Wins in an AI World
    Oct 10 2025

    In this episode 187 of the Disruption Now Podcast, we sit down with Benjamin Ko, the CEO of Kaleidoscope Innovation, a firm leading the way in human-centered design and engineering — especially in healthcare. From developing wearable technologies for spinal cord injury patients to crafting surgical tools built around human ergonomics, Ben and his team are proving that empathy is a competitive advantage in the age of AI.

    We dive into the central question: If AI can optimize everything, where do we still matter? Ben argues that empathy isn’t just a soft skill — it’s a design superpower. He discusses how Kaleidoscope’s cross-functional teams of designers, engineers, and researchers bridge the gap between physical and digital worlds, why 95% of AI projects fail due to lack of human context, and how clarity of thought and ethical design can shape a better, more responsible tech future.

    If you’re a founder, product designer, healthcare innovator, engineer, or policymaker interested in building smarter systems with deeper purpose — this episode is for you.

    🎧 Watch, Listen & Subscribe:
    👉 YouTube: @DisruptionNow
    👉 Spotify / Apple Podcasts / Amazon

    📍 Recorded live at MidwestCon, hosted by the University of Cincinnati (UC) and the 1819 Innovation Hub.

    Special thanks to Ben Ko, UC, and the 1819 Innovation Hub for supporting innovation and human-centric AI.

    🔗 Connect with Benjamin Ko & Kaleidoscope Innovation:
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminleeko/

    Credit music:
    Cookie Fox - AlexGuz
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    45 m
  • Will AI end education?

    Will AI end education?
    Oct 9 2025

    What does it take to lead digital transformation when fear, culture, and AI disruption collide? 🎓

    In this deep-dive, Bharath Prabhakaran — award-winning VP & Chief Digital Officer at the University of Cincinnati — shares how he’s driving innovation with empathy, influence, and UC’s groundbreaking Bearcat GPT.

    👉 You’ll learn:

    -Why every AI solution must be 10x better to overcome resistance
    -How empathy & influence drive true leadership
    -What “AI literacy” means for the future workforce
    -UC's blueprint for balancing security, ethics, and speed in adoption

    Bharath’s journey from Oracle to higher ed shows why education must evolve fast — and how leaders can design organizations to thrive in the AI era.

    🔗 Connect with Bharath:
    LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bharathprab

    🙏 Special thanks to Bharath Prabhakaran, the University of Cincinnati, and the 1819 Innovation Hub at UC for hosting MidwestCon, where this episode was recorded.

    🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on technology, leadership & disruption.
    Music credit: Funky Day - Aleksandr Krivtsun

    #AI #DigitalTransformation #FutureOfWork
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    48 m
  • AI Built Her Music Empire — Here’s How You Can Do It Too

    AI Built Her Music Empire — Here’s How You Can Do It Too
    Oct 13 2025

    Most artists get left behind in tech—but not Kaila Love.

    Once a homeless teen sleeping in her car, Kaila became a UC Berkeley grad, hip-hop artist, and founder of KailaLove.ai—a pioneering AI education company blending music, automation, and empowerment. Known as The AI Homegirl, she teaches creatives how to protect their IP, grow fanbases with AI, and own their digital destiny.

    Timestamps:
    00:00 – From Homeless to Berkeley
    05:00 – Sync Deals & Music Wins
    10:00 – Building with AI
    17:00 – Bootleg Brain & IP
    25:00 – Responsible Tech
    32:00 – Future Vision
    35:45 – Final Message

    🎤 Her track landed on NBA2K.
    📚 She authored Bootleg Brain, a radical AI manual for artists.
    🧠 She runs “Prompt Parties™” that turn AI theory into actionable career fuel.

    On this episode 185 of the Disruption Now podcast you’ll Learn:
    – How to use AI to scale your creative work
    – Why sync licensing = your power move
    – Why “build your digital real estate” is her #1 rule
    – The mindset that turns invisible labor into leverage

    💡 If you’re a creator, rebel, or disruptor—this is your blueprint.

    👉 More from Kaila:
    • Website: https://www.kailalove.ai/
    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kailalove.ai/
    • TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kailalove.ai
    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kailalovemusic/
    • Book: Bootleg Brain (linked in description)

    #AIforArtists #MusicTech #DigitalOwnership

    Disruption Now: Disrupting the status quo, making emerging tech human-centric and Accessible to all.

    Website https://disruptionnow.com/
    Apply to get on the Podcast https://form.typeform.com/to/Ir6Agmzr?typeform-source=disruptionnow.com
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    36 m
  • Disruption Now Episode 184 | This Founder Builds Black Wealth with AI

    Disruption Now Episode 184 | This Founder Builds Black Wealth with AI
    Jul 16 2025

    She’s not waiting for permission.

    Flavilla Fongang went from the ghettos of Paris to building Black Rise—one of the UK’s boldest tech tribes. She’s mixing identity, data, and storytelling to scale Black power through business.

    In this episode:

    -Why storytelling beats pitching in tech
    -How she turned oil & gas into a launchpad
    -Her strategy for building community-first platforms
    -Why AI is non-negotiable for Black excellence
    -The real ROI of diverse ecosystems

    Timestamps:
    00:00 Intro — Paris to Power
    01:42 Childhood in the Paris ghettos
    03:55 Moving to London & early struggles
    06:18 From oil & gas to fashion to tech
    09:44 Founding 3 Colours Rule
    12:30 How storytelling became her weapon
    15:02 Why she built GTA Black Women in Tech
    17:50 Launching Black Rise — the AI-powered tribe
    21:33 Scaling community and credibility
    25:01 Diversity with data, not feelings
    28:40 What leadership looks like in 2025
    31:09 Her advice to future founders
    34:00 Closing thoughts + how to connect

    About Flavilla Fongang:
    Multi-award-winning entrepreneur. Founder of 3 Colours Rule, GTA Black Women in Tech, and now Black Rise. Former oil & gas exec turned tech community builder. UN Brand Partner. Named UK’s Most Influential Woman in Tech (Computer Weekly), Global Top 100 MIPAD Innovator, and Entrepreneur of the Year (BTA 2023). She also serves as an entrepreneurship expert at Oxford University Saïd Business School.

    Watch this if you lead with identity and build with vision.

    —

    Follow Flavilla Fongang:

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/flavillafongang
    Twitter (X): https://x.com/FlavillaFongang
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flavillafongang
    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@flavillaf
    Website: https://www.flavillafongang.com
    Black Rise: https://www.theblackrise.com
    GTA Black Women in Tech: https://theblackwomenintech.com
    3 Colours Rule: https://www.3coloursrule.com

    #blackfounder #techstorytelling #communitytech

    Disruption Now: Disrupting the status quo, making emerging tech human-centric and Accessible to all.

    Website https://disruptionnow.com/
    Apply to get on the Podcast https://form.typeform.com/to/Ir6Agmzr?typeform-source=disruptionnow.com

    Music: Powerful Beat - Oleksandr Stepanov
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    42 m
  • Disruption Now Episode 183 | What Social Media Algorithms Are Doing to Girls in 2025

    Disruption Now Episode 183 | What Social Media Algorithms Are Doing to Girls in 2025
    Jul 16 2025

    She was told she wasn't tall enough, thin enough, pretty enough.
    Now she’s rewriting the rules of beauty for everyone else.

    In this episode 183 of the Disruption Now Podcast, Sian Bitner-Kearney, founder of Rock Your Beauty, reveals how perfectionism, filters, and social media lies damage self-worth—and what it takes to break free. Her nonprofit is helping women embrace their authentic selves, one fashion show and workshop at a time.

    🎙 Learn how Rock Your Beauty evolved from a charity event into a bold movement helping women and girls reclaim confidence, self-love, and sanity in the algorithm age.

    💬 If you've ever doubted your worth, this conversation is for you.

    🔗 Follow Sian & Rock Your Beauty:

    Website: https://www.rockyourbeauty.org
    Instagram (Sian): https://www.instagram.com/sianbk
    Instagram (Rock Your Beauty): https://www.instagram.com/rockyourbeauty_cincinnati
    Podcast: https://www.rockyourbeauty.org (see "Podcast" tab)
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Rock-Your-Beauty/61559182740239
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sianbitner
    Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/sianbk

    👁️‍🗨️ If you're building confidence, battling self-doubt, or raising strong girls, watch this.
    #realbeauty #womensconfidence #mentalhealth

    Disruption Now: Disrupting the status quo, making emerging tech human-centric and Accessible to all.

    Website https://disruptionnow.com/
    Apply to get on the Podcast https://form.typeform.com/to/Ir6Agmzr?typeform-source=disruptionnow.com
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    29 m
  • Disruption Now Episode 182 | 2025 Job Hunt Is Broken | 6 Rules That Still Work

    Disruption Now Episode 182 | 2025 Job Hunt Is Broken | 6 Rules That Still Work
    Jul 16 2025

    Laid off or lost in the noise? You’re not alone.

    Episode 182: Nicole Dunbar—Cornell-trained strategist and viral LinkedIn voice—joins Disruption Now to dissect the “white collar recession.” From AI displacement to hiring freezes, she breaks down how even top-tier pros are invisible in today’s job market. Learn:

    6 proven job search strategies (only 1 involves job boards)

    -Why resumes alone fail—and what recruiters actually trust
    -The mindset shift every mid-career pro must make now
    -How to “network” without small talk or selling out
    -The emotional trap that sabotages high performers
    -The hiring game changed. Here’s how to stay in it.

    🎧 Listen, subscribe, and rewire your search.

    #jobsearchstrategy #futureofwork #whitecollarrecession

    Disruption Now: Disrupting the status quo, making emerging tech human-centric and Accessible to all.

    Website https://disruptionnow.com/
    Apply to get on the Podcast https://form.typeform.com/to/Ir6Agmzr?typeform-source=disruptionnow.com
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    1 h y 6 m
  • Disruption Now Episode 181 | Wall Street Fund Manager Reveals AI’s Next $Trillion Opportunity

    Disruption Now Episode 181 | Wall Street Fund Manager Reveals AI’s Next $Trillion Opportunity
    Jul 14 2025

    In this episode of the Disruption Now Podcast, host Rob Richardson sits down with Jacob D. Frankel (Kobi), the visionary Founder and CEO of Beyond Alpha Ventures. Jacob shares his journey from managing over $355 million in assets on Wall Street to leading a multi-strategy family office and hedge fund that invests in transformative technologies like AI, quantum computing, and cybersecurity. He discusses the importance of investing with purpose, the future of venture capital, and how Beyond Alpha Ventures is shaping the infrastructure of an AI-driven future. Tune in for an insightful conversation on strategic investing, innovation, and building a legacy.

    Top 3 Things You’ll Learn from This Episode:

    Investing with Purpose – Jacob emphasizes the significance of deploying capital in ways that make a tangible difference, focusing on ventures that combine financial opportunity with real-world impact.

    Navigating Market Volatility – Learn how Beyond Alpha Ventures capitalizes on market dislocations and geopolitical shifts to identify high-conviction investment opportunities.

    The Future of Venture Capital – Discover Jacob's insights on the evolving landscape of venture capital, including the rise of AI, quantum computing, and the importance of ethical foresight in investment strategies.

    Jacob's Social Media Pages:

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobfrankelprivateequity
    Website: https://www.beyondalphaventures.com/

    Disruption Now: Building a Fair Share for Culture and Media. Join us and disrupt.

    Website https://bit.ly/2VUO9sf
    Apply to get on the Podcast https://form.typeform.com/to/Ir6Agmzr?typeform-source=disruptionnow.com
    Facebook https://bit.ly/303IU8j
    Instagram https://bit.ly/2YOLl26
    Twitter https://bit.ly/2KfLaTf
    Website https://bit.ly/2VUO9sf
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    33 m