The Innovators Playbook

Dr. Sajad Zalzala, physician, telehealth pioneer, and founder of the Optional Aging Academy, joins Seth Narayanan to explore how longevity is shifting from theory to practice.This conversation dives into the Seven Drivers of Aging, the limitations of reactive healthcare, and how AI and telemedicine are enabling personalized prevention at scale.If you’re thinking about health, performance, or the future of medicine, this episode offers a fresh framework for extending not just lifespan, but healthspan.

In this episode of The Innovator’s Playbook, Kelley Bowen, Co-Founder of Mirour and Founder of Group Creative, shares her insights on building brands that go beyond visuals to drive real business growth.We explore how branding acts as a decision-making system, how startups can apply enterprise-level brand thinking, and how AI is reshaping creative industries. Kelley also shares her journey from working with global fashion brands to becoming an entrepreneur and strategic partner to founders.This episode is a must-listen for leaders looking to build meaningful, scalable, and human-centered brands in today’s fast-changing world.

Dr. Hamed Fesharaki, CEO and Co-Founder of Adra, joins The Innovator’s Playbook to share how he transitioned from dentist to AI startup founder. After scaling a large dental operation, he saw firsthand how inefficient clinical data and claims systems were—and set out to fix them.This episode explores how AI is transforming dental workflows, improving revenue cycle management, and reducing administrative burden. It’s a candid look at healthcare innovation, entrepreneurship, and the realities of building in a regulated industry.If you’re interested in AI, healthcare transformation, or founder journeys, this conversation offers practical insights and fresh perspective.

In this episode of The Innovator’s Playbook, Seth Narayanan speaks with Zane Ball, CTO of the Open Compute Project, about how the technology industry is building the infrastructure behind today’s AI revolution.Zane shares insights from decades working across large engineering organizations and global technology ecosystems. The conversation explores how open collaboration is accelerating innovation in data center design, how large organizations approach innovation, and why focus and leadership discipline matter as companies scale.If you’re a technology leader, founder, or builder navigating the rapidly evolving AI and cloud landscape, this episode offers valuable lessons on innovation, infrastructure, and long-term strategy.

Kulbir Singh, Founder and CEO of Rexpt, shares how voice AI is evolving from simple chatbots into autonomous agents capable of running real business workflows. Drawing on more than a decade in AI and automation, he explains why voice will become the primary interface for software and how agentic systems are reshaping organizations.The conversation covers startup lessons, building defensible AI products, hiring in an AI-first world, and why humans remain essential even as machines grow more capable. If you’re curious about where AI is actually headed — beyond hype — this episode offers a grounded, practitioner-led perspective.

Mike Sperling, Founder of Sperling Interactive, joins Seth Narayanan to discuss how modern marketing has evolved into a blend of creativity, analytics, and technology.From scaling an agency through referrals to using AI chatbots, AI agents, and personalized automation, Mike explains how marketing today must focus on measurable business impact—not vanity metrics. He shares practical insights into branding, KPI-driven campaigns, hiring for marketing instinct, and why AI will change production roles but not strategic ones.If you’re a founder, marketer, or leader navigating digital growth, this episode offers a practical playbook for turning marketing into a true business driver.

How do you innovate inside one of the world’s most regulated industries? In this episode, Seth Narayanan speaks with Gaurav Roy, CTO of Accelya, about transforming airline retail through open platforms, APIs, and AI-driven experiences.Gaurav shares lessons from a career spanning mobile operating systems, cloud transformation, and global enterprise technology. Together, they explore why airlines must move beyond ticketing, how openness fuels ecosystem innovation, and where AI is already reshaping operations and customer experience. A must-listen for leaders building technology at scale.

Keith McFarlane, CTO of Globality, joins The Innovator’s Playbook to unpack how innovation actually happens inside large enterprises. Drawing from his career at Microsoft, Bell Labs, Oracle, and beyond, Keith explores why process can stifle creativity, how AI delivers value when paired with deep domain expertise, and what it takes to modernize legacy platforms at scale. This episode is essential listening for technology leaders navigating AI adoption, enterprise innovation, and intentional career growth in today’s rapidly evolving landscape.

Ryan Ridgway, Founder of Cirrus Capital Partners, joins The Innovator’s Playbook to discuss how capital fuels innovation and why not all growth should be venture-funded. Ryan shares his journey from entrepreneur to investor, how sales shaped his leadership mindset, and what today’s AI boom means for founders and operators. This episode explores capital efficiency, AI consolidation, and the leadership traits investors look for when backing companies built for long-term impact.

Dr. Brianna Rhue is a practicing optometrist, multi-practice owner, and the CEO of Dr. Contact Lens. In this episode, she shares her journey from the exam room to building a high-growth health-tech platform serving clinicians nationwide.The conversation explores leadership without formal training, lessons learned as a non-technical founder, and why customer success and systems matter more than shiny technology. Brianna also offers a grounded perspective on AI, focus, and the mindset shift required to move from founder to CEO in today’s fast-changing landscape.

Steven Meyer, CIO at New York Ophthalmology, joins The Innovator’s Playbook to explore the real challenges holding healthcare technology back—and what it will take to move the industry forward. Steven shares his journey from hands-on technician to healthcare technology leader and offers clear insights into EHR fragmentation, AI’s untapped potential in medical practices, and the growing importance of practical cybersecurity.Listeners will learn how AI can drive smarter decisions, why open data matters, and what strong leadership looks like in high-pressure healthcare environments.

Serial entrepreneur Todd Blankenbecler, CEO of Zeeno Robotics, joins Seth Narayanan on The Innovator’s Playbook to share what he’s learned from decades of building, scaling, and selling companies in the orthodontic tech industry.He reveals lessons from startup grind to acquisition strategy and explains how robotics and AI are transforming everyday workflows in dental and medical practices.This is a must-listen for founders, innovators, and technologists navigating growth, exits, and the next frontier of intelligent automation.

How do you lead innovation responsibly in an AI-powered world?In this episode, Rodrigo Senra, VP of Engineering for Data & AI at Loadsmart, joins Seth Narayanan to share lessons from 30 years in tech — from building Brazil’s Python movement to pioneering AI in logistics.They discuss how AI is transforming freight automation, the real risks behind the hype, and why ethics and curiosity may be the ultimate competitive edge.🎧 Perfect for CTOs, data leaders, and innovators building AI-driven products that actually make a difference.

What happens when AI stops being a feature and becomes the foundation of commerce itself? In this episode of The Innovators Playbook Podcast, host Seth Narayanan speaks with Ankush Goyal, CPTO of Fabric. From scaling Orbitz to building an AI-native CRM at RelateIQ and Salesforce, and transforming post-purchase platforms at Narvar, Ankush reveals why legacy rule-based systems are no longer enough. He argues that bolt-on AI is a dead end, that product and technology leadership must converge, and that engineers who fail to evolve beyond coding will be left behind.

What does it take to turn a personal challenge into a groundbreaking company? In this episode of The Innovators Playbook Podcast, host Seth Narayanan speaks with Akshita Iyer, Founder & CEO of Ome Kitchen. From her neuroscience background to building a connected device featured on Shark Tank, Akshita shares the behind-the-scenes reality of scaling hardware, navigating supply chain chaos, and pushing through doubt with grit and vision. Whether you’re an innovator, entrepreneur, or simply curious about the future of smart living, this conversation will inspire and inform

Lesley Jordan, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Clinicom, joins Seth Narayanan to share how AI is transforming the landscape of mental and behavioral healthcare. From adaptive assessments and longitudinal patient tracking to LLM-generated SOAP notes and robust HIPAA/CFR compliance—this episode uncovers the building blocks of a tech-first healthcare platform.Key discussion points:The difference between augmented and artificial intelligence in healthcareHow Clinicom uses IBM Watson for clinical narrative generationSecure patient data handling and global compliance strategiesBalancing product vs. tech leadership in a startup environmentUsing AI for population health insights and future innovationIf you're building in healthtech or curious about how AI can support clinicians and patients, this episode is a must-listen.

In this episode of The Innovators Playbook, host Seth Narayanan sits down with Chris Mallinson, Director of Software Engineering at Nanotronics, to explore the high-stakes world where robotics, AI, and precision manufacturing converge.Chris shares how his teams build cutting-edge inspection tools for the semiconductor industry, the challenges of integrating hardware and software, and why one small mistake can cost up to $30,000.You’ll hear about:The shift from monolithic systems to modular, scalable softwareHow AI is used (and avoided) in robotics to balance innovation and riskWhy hardware constraints still slow down automationWhere the next breakthroughs in semiconductor inspection may come fromAdvice for students and engineers looking to break into roboticsWhether you’re in tech, manufacturing, or just curious about the future of automation, this conversation offers rare insight into one of the most advanced engineering fields today.

Patrick Hill, CTO of Mott Corporation, joins The Innovators Playbook to reveal how precision filtration powers the most demanding industries on Earth — from aerospace to semiconductors to AI data centers.In this episode, Patrick unpacks:Why AI hardware depends on next-gen cooling and ultra-pure filtrationHow additive manufacturing enables performance traditional methods can’tWhat nuclear power means for the future of data infrastructureThe bold leadership question he asks his team: “How many AI coworkers can you have?”If you work in AI, hardware, sustainability, or engineering innovation—this episode is a must-listen.

Francis Govers has spent decades pushing the frontier of robotics, from building machines for NASA to designing autonomous helicopters at Airbus. But in today’s AI-hyped world, he’s refreshingly honest about what works... and what doesn’t.In this episode, Francis shares why generative AI still can’t match professional standards for complex tasks, how swarm behavior inspires drone coordination, and why imagination in robotics may lie in “latent space.” He also shares a personal story about building a toy-cleaning robot for his grandkids, and what it taught him about real-world autonomy.Perfect for anyone building or leading in AI, robotics, or engineering innovation.

Is your credentialing system future-ready, or just outdated paperwork dressed in tech?CTO Rebecca Sutter of ASE joins The Innovator’s Playbook to share how she’s building real AI use cases inside a 50-year-old nonprofit. From adaptive testing and blockchain credentials to AI-driven QA, this is the inside story of how to align people, platforms, and purpose.In this episode:Why AI isn’t replacing tests—it’s reshaping how we measure skillThe challenge of cleaning up "technical debt meets politics"The surprising truth about women in early softwareHow to build trust in tech with psychological safetyA must-listen for anyone rethinking learning, leadership, or legacy systems

How does someone go from playing rock shows to reinventing disinfection?In this episode, Parker Sipes,CTO and President of Annihilare, shares his unconventional journey from music to chemistry to entrepreneurship. Seth Narayanan sits down with Parker to unpack how his team is using electrochemistry, IOT, and software to reimagine how safe, scalable disinfectants are produced and delivered.Inside:The science behind hypochlorous acid and its industrial impactWhy innovation isn’t about being flashy, it’s about reducing frictionThe reality of leading teams in a legacy industryWhy AI should enhance, not replace, your thinkingA pragmatic view on patents, product-market fit, and real-world executionWhether you're an aspiring founder, an innovator in an overlooked industry, or just a curious mind, this one’s packed with insights.

What happens when one person wears both the CTO and CFO hats in a data-driven, regulated industry like animal health?In this episode of The Innovator’s Playbook, Seth Narayanan sits down with Brian Gathagan, CTO and CFO at Animalytix, to explore his career journey from COBOL programmer to executive leader. Brian shares insights on how quantum computing could reshape analytics, the role of AI in veterinary practices, and why a strong business foundation is critical for tech professionals.You'll also hear:How Brian built cross-functional expertise over decadesWhat innovation looks like in the pharma and animal health spaceWhy understanding a P&L can be a superpower for technologists

What does real innovation look like in a world flooded with buzzwords?Brian Hiatt—former CIO/CTO with 30+ years at Xerox, HP, and startups—joins Seth Narayanan to share how he built tech that actually drives business results. From early cloud adoption to AI’s impact on software engineering, Brian breaks down what works, what doesn’t, and what’s coming next.If you’re a tech leader, product builder, or engineer shaping the future, don’t miss this one.