PODCAST · business
Boldly Go Podcast
by Rick Smith and Mike Wagers
The Boldly Go Podcast is where big ideas meet the future of public safety. Hosted by Axon Founder and CEO Rick Smith and former Seattle PD Chief Operating Officer Mike Wagers, each episode explores the transformative tech, visionary leaders, and pioneering ventures shaping tomorrow. Hear unfiltered conversations with the innovators redefining what’s possible—because the future doesn’t wait.
Episodes
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From IDF Special Forces To Cloud 911 with Amir Elichai
Hosts Mike Wagers and Rick Smith interview Amir Elichai, Israeli-born co-founder of Carbyne, about how a beach mugging in Tel Aviv exposed the “broken telephone game” of emergency response and inspired a modern, cloud-based 911 platform. Elichai recounts growing up in Ashdod, his father’s work on...
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Boldly Go Live with Steven Pinker
Recorded live in front of 3,000 attendees at Axon Week in Nashville, hosts Mike Wagers and Rick Smith sit down with Harvard cognitive psychologist Dr. Steven Pinker — author of The Better Angels of Our Nature and his latest book, When Everyone Knows That Everyone Knows. Pinker has spent decades...
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Episode 26 - Every Second Counts, Rebuilding 911
When you call 911, everything depends on what happens next. But behind the scenes, many dispatch centers are still running on decades-old systems—forcing operators to manage life-and-death moments with tools that weren’t built for today’s world. Michael Chime walked away from Yale University as a...
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Episode 25 - We Changed the World
In this episode of the Boldly Go Podcast, Axon co-founder Tom Smith shares the untold stories behind Taser’s early days. Alongside his brother Rick Smith, Tom reflects on the scrappy startup years—testing prototypes on themselves, chasing their first big break with Sharper Image, surviving near...
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Episode 24 - The High-Stakes Physics of Saving Lives
What does it take to turn a struggling startup into a global force for public safety? For Max Nerheim — Axon’s first electrical engineer — it started with a $20,000 fixed-price contract, a lab in a literal broom closet, and the guts to tell the founders their original design was “a piece of…
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Episode 23 - Scaling Axon, Uber Eats, and AI
In this episode of the Boldly Go Podcast, Rick Smith and Mike Wagers sit down with Jason Droege, a key architect behind Axon’s transformation from a hardware-focused weapons company into a leading software, cloud, and AI platform. Jason reflects on the chaotic early days of Evidence.com, the...
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Episode 22 - The Man Who Who Quenched the Cloud Fire
In this episode of Boldly Go, hosts Rick Smith and Mike Wagers sit down with Hadi Partovi—founder and CEO of Code.org, early investor in companies like Facebook, Uber, and Airbnb, and longtime Axon board member—for a wide-ranging conversation on technology, leadership, and values. Partovi shares...
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Episode 21 - Sparking the British TASER Revolution
In this emotional and historically rich episode, Rick and Mike sit down in London with longtime friend and former UK Taser distributor Kevin Coles to recount the remarkable—and ultimately tragic—story behind bringing the TASER device to the United Kingdom. Kevin shares how he and the late Peter...
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Episode 20 - Living in a Virtual World
In this episode of Boldly Go, hosts Rick Smith and Mike Wagers sit down with Piotr Baczynski, founder and CEO of Immersion Labs, for a deep dive into the past, present, and fast-approaching future of VR and AR. Piotr shares the unlikely origin of his company, lessons from the early days of…
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Episode 19 - Rise of the New Generation Part 2
In this lively episode of Boldly Go, former Axon president Luke Larson and current president Josh Isner join for a candid, hilarious, and heartfelt conversation about Axon’s evolution, culture, and leadership lessons learned along the way. From stuffed-animal giveaways that turned into marketing...
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Episode 18 - Rise of The New Generation
In this laugh-out-loud episode of Boldy Go, Rick Smith, Mike Wagers, and special guests Luke Larson and Josh Isner swap stories about Axon’s scrappy early days, leadership lessons, and the missteps that built the company’s culture. From a rejected job candidate who became president, to fake-blood...
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Episode 17: The AI Epsiode
In Episode 17 of Boldly Go, Rick Smith and Mike Wagers dive deep into artificial intelligence, exponential technological change, and the bold future ahead. From Ray Kurzweil’s predictions to real-world applications of ChatGPT, MidJourney, and Grok, they explore how AI is reshaping everything—from...
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Episode 16: Pirates, Dinosaurs, and Body Cameras (ft. Luke Larson)
In Episode 16 of Boldly Go, Rick Smith continues his conversation with former Axon President Luke Larson, diving into the pivotal years that transformed Taser into Axon. Luke shares stories of bold marketing stunts, the turning point after Ferguson, and how Axon’s culture of creativity and values...
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Episode 15: The Briefcase, The Break-In, and The Bigger Picture (ft. Luke Larson)
When a stolen prototype disappears and an unexpected guest breaks in, the Boldly Go crew must decode what’s real, what’s planted, and who’s playing who. Secrets unravel—and so does trust.
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Episode 14: Axon’s Make-or-Break Pivot
Rick Smith and Mike Wagers recount Axon’s 2004-05 crucible—media hit-jobs, short-seller assaults and a hidden mole—and the audacious Axon Flex pivot that resurrected the company and ignited modern body-camera tech.
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Episode 13: Surviving TASER's Most Tumultuous Year
Rick and Mike rewind to 2005, the year Axon (formerly TASER International) faced its toughest battles yet—SEC investigations, internal betrayal, patent controversies, and relentless media scrutiny. Recorded from picturesque locations in Maui and North Carolina, this episode dives deep into the...
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Episode 12 : The John Oliver Special (pt. 2)
Episode 12 of the Boldly Go podcast continues the deep dive into addressing and rebutting claims made in a John Oliver segment criticizing Axon and the use of tasers. Rick Smith and Mike Wagers methodically challenge the narrative presented on the show, particularly around the topic of "excited...
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Episode 11: The John Oliver Special (pt. 1)
Join Rick and Mike in Episode 11 of the Boldly Go Podcast as they unpack a lively and insightful response to comedian John Oliver's controversial take on Axon and TASER technology. Mixing humor with serious myth-busting, the hosts set the record straight on misinformation, delve into the rigorous...
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Episode 10: How TASER gets tested with Dr Jeff Ho
In Episode 10, join renowned medical expert Dr. Jeffrey Ho as he takes us into the lab to scientifically explore how TASER devices affect the human body. Through carefully controlled experiments and detailed medical analysis, Dr. Ho provides insights into stress physiology, debunks common...
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Episode 9: Mythbusting TASER
Get ready for a hard-hitting, myth-shattering episode of the Boldly Go Podcast! Rick Smith and Mike Wagers join forces with legendary biomedical inventor and electrophysiology expert Dr. Mark Kroll to dismantle the biggest myths surrounding TASER technology. Dive into explosive truths about…
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Episode 8: The Tipping Point That Forged Axon
Rick and Mike dive into Axon's most chaotic chapter yet — the post-IPO rocket ride that nearly blew the company up. Think Lamborghinis, soaring stock prices, and then... crash. A failed TASER test with Marine legend Hans Marrero sparks a last-minute overhaul of the X26 just six weeks before…
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Episode 7: The Scrappy IPO Who Could
What do you get when you mix startup grit, a $500K lifeline, and one wild pitch tour? Rick and Mike unpack Axon’s bumpy, brilliant path to going public — including DIY due diligence, a pivotal banker, and a global roadshow that pulled out all the stops. This one’s a crash course in bold moves and...
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Episode 6: The Buffalo Rider
Hans Marrero once beat the Air TASER in a public demo—now he’s Axon’s Chief Instructor, reshaping how officers prepare for real-world encounters. In this episode, Hans joins Rick and Mike to talk combat mindset, tech-driven readiness, and why challenging the status quo is the first step to saving...
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Episode 5: The Auto Taser Chronicles
This one’s a rollercoaster. Rick, Mike, and returning guest Steve Tuttle take us deep into one of Axon's most chaotic chapters: the Auto Taser saga. From volcanic vibes to nearly bankrupting the company (and their families), this episode unpacks wild demos, near arrests, manufacturing nightmares…
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Episode 4: Bold Beginnings
In this exciting episode, we’re joined by special guest Steve Tuttle to uncover the inspiring story behind Axon’s rise. Steve shares firsthand experiences of how bold innovation reshaped law enforcement training, sparking hope and driving meaningful change in communities everywhere. Tune in for a...
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Episode 3: Inside Axon Week: Top Launches, Lessons & Epic Moments
Rick, Mike, and Abi Stock break down the boldest highlights from Axon Week 2025. From AI-powered tools and breakthrough tech to drone shows and donuts, it’s a fast-paced look at innovation, impact, and unforgettable stories.
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Episode 2: High Voltage Vikings
In episode two of Boldly Go, co-hosts Rick Smith and Mike Wagers welcome their first guest: Espen , a real-life Viking and Norway’s head of TASER training. From MMA knockouts to jiu-jitsu takedowns, Espen brings brutal honesty, scientific rigor, and Norse-level intensity to a conversation about…
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Episode 1: THE FIRST RISK
In the inaugural episode of Boldly Go, co-hosts Rick Smith and Mike Wagers dive into the origins of TASER technology—from how the device got its name to the (many) failures that preceded Rick’s eventual success scaling a TASER energy weapon business in the late 1990s. BOLDLY GO is the podcast…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
The Boldly Go Podcast is where big ideas meet the future of public safety. Hosted by Axon Founder and CEO Rick Smith and former Seattle PD Chief Operating Officer Mike Wagers, each episode explores the transformative tech, visionary leaders, and pioneering ventures shaping tomorrow. Hear unfiltered conversations with the innovators redefining what’s possible—because the future doesn’t wait.
HOSTED BY
Rick Smith and Mike Wagers
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Boldly Go Podcast have?
Boldly Go Podcast currently has 28 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Boldly Go Podcast about?
The Boldly Go Podcast is where big ideas meet the future of public safety. Hosted by Axon Founder and CEO Rick Smith and former Seattle PD Chief Operating Officer Mike Wagers, each episode explores the transformative tech, visionary leaders, and pioneering ventures shaping tomorrow. Hear unfiltered...
How often does Boldly Go Podcast release new episodes?
Boldly Go Podcast has 28 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Boldly Go Podcast?
You can listen to Boldly Go Podcast on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Boldly Go Podcast?
Boldly Go Podcast is created and hosted by Rick Smith and Mike Wagers.
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