ProtoPod

In this episode, we’re joined by Jim York from Elliott Machinery to talk about metrology, GD&T, and why so many engineering drawings break down in the real world.  

Today on the ProtoPod, we’re joined by Fernando Romero — a turbomachinery repair engineer at Sulzer, co-founder of Iron Age Audioworks, and the mind behind All About Turbo. Fernando lives in the real world of keeping critical machines alive — and he’s also the kind of engineer who goes home and builds beautiful hardware for music studio.

On today's episode, we’re joined by Karthik Gollapudi, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Sift.   Sift is building the telemetry backbone for mission-critical systems — helping aerospace, robotics, and defense companies make sense of massive streams of real-world data.   We’ll talk about innovation at the intersection of software and hardware — and what it takes to build infrastructure for the physical world.

On today's episode, we’re joined by Dave McQuinn from Allen-Vanguard.   Dave has spent nearly two decades developing technologies designed to stop improvised explosive devices and protect people in some of the most challenging environments in the world.   We’ll talk about engineering under pressure, rapid innovation in the field, and what it takes to design systems that literally save lives.

In this episode, we’re joined by Jarrod Barker, founder of RealSimGear. Jarrod started the company while training for his private pilot’s license, frustrated by the gap between great flight sim software and unrealistic hardware. What began as a personal project has grown into a global brand bringing realistic avionics hardware to pilots everywhere. To learn more about RealSimGear, head to their website: https://realsimgear.com/ To learn more about Protocase & ProtoSpace Mfg: https://www.protocase.com/ & https://protospacemfg.com/ 

In this episode, we’re joined by Caleb Vainikka, founder of Cove Design.   Caleb helps startups turn ideas into manufacturable hardware — and he’s outspoken about the difference between ‘just a CAD model’ and real engineering.   We’ll talk about bias toward action, sketching as a superpower, and what it really takes to design products that can actually be built.”

Today on the ProtoPod, we’re joined by Jim Jarvis, the Range Safety Officer for the Experimental Sounding Rocket Association and the International Rocket Engineering Competition. Jim plays a critical role at IREC — overseeing safety on the range and helping ensure that hundreds of student-built rockets can fly safely, successfully, and responsibly.

What happens when artificial intelligence moves beyond generating pixels and starts understanding physics? In this episode, we sit down with Steven Gay (CEO) and Jakub Cech (CTO), the co-founders of Mode Maison. Operating as an independent research lab, Mode Maison is at the bleeding edge of physics-based simulation, material science, and AI. They aren’t just building better visuals—they are developing multimodal Large World Models (LWMs) designed to serve as the operating system for the future of design and manufacturing.

When a company hits the $5M to $50M growth phase, tacit knowledge and fragmented systems become the ultimate anchors. Issac Hicks, founder of Autonomi, joins the ProtoPod this week to discuss how to bridge the gap between complex operations and intelligent automation.   We dive deep into the "build vs. buy" dilemma, the danger of automating undefined processes, and how Issac’s background in aeronautical engineering shapes his approach to removing organizational friction. Tune in to learn how to align AI initiatives with measurable business outcomes and stop adding layers of complexity to your tech stack.    

On this episode of ProtoPod, host Jordan Rose welcomes Richard Sumnall, Founder of RackFalcon and a veteran of global security leadership. With 20 years of experience across Europe and North America — including senior roles at Cloudflare, Palo Alto Networks, and Uber — Richard shares deep insights into physical security, privacy-first technology, and what it really takes to protect critical infrastructure. He also breaks down how RackFalcon solves a long-standing challenge for colocation tenants: proving who accessed sensitive hardware, when, and for how long — without relying on shared site systems. The conversation also explores how Protocase supported RackFalcon’s journey from concept to a deployable, rack-ready solution. Finish the episode with a fun rapid-fire segment covering books, tech, best piece of advice, and future goals.

In today's episode, Jordan is joined in-studio by longtime friend and colleague Brett Kelly — Technical Director at 45Drives and one of the key architects behind 45Drives' open-source storage platforms. Brett’s been instrumental in shaping the Storinator and Stornado lineup of storage products, the Direct-Wired Architecture, and the company’s approach to high-performance, open-source storage. Jordan and Brett dive into where the future of storage is heading and how 45Drives keeps pushing the boundaries.

This episode of ProtoPod features Eric Turkington, Chief Product Officer at Rain Stella Technologies, joining us from Abu Dhabi to discuss how RST is transforming healthcare across the Middle East & Africa. Eric shares how Rain Technology and Stella Technology merged to form a unified platform delivering voice-enabled AI, EMR solutions, health information exchange, and surgical workflow automation. We explore the challenges of innovating in clinical environments, what it really takes to scale AI for patient-facing impact, and how RST is deploying systems across 17 healthcare networks in five countries. We also dive into Orva, RST’s voice-AI surgical assistant; Constellation (HIE); Equinox (EMR); and the company’s broader vision for interoperability, analytics, and AI-driven insights. A must-listen for anyone working in digital health, product development, or regulated tech sectors. Tune in now.

On this episode of The ProtoPod, we’re joined by Joe Cavazos — embedded electronics designer, spacecraft avionics architect, and founder of HoustonMicro. With nearly 40 years across NASA, Lockheed Martin, Honeywell, and more, Joe has helped build avionics and FPGA systems for the Orion spacecraft, ISS communications, and mission-critical test equipment. Joe shares how he approaches complex hardware design, why testing is the hidden backbone of spacecraft reliability, and how small teams can deliver world-class engineering with the right tools — including his longtime use of Protocase and Protocase Designer for fast, precise prototyping. Listen now to dive into a rare 40-year perspective on spacecraft systems, embedded electronics, and the engineering mindset behind products built to last.    

In this episode of The Protopod, we sit down with David Hagan, founder and CEO of QuantAQ, the company transforming air quality monitoring with high-accuracy, Internet-connected instruments designed to be affordable, scalable, and reliable. David shares how he launched QuantAQ straight out of his MIT PhD, why starting with scientific rigor sets his team apart, and how rapid iteration has fueled their growth from prototype to production—even through supply chain turmoil. We explore the future of air quality data, what’s still missing from today’s monitoring landscape, and how better, faster, real-time information could reshape everything from building operations to public health policy. A must-listen for anyone interested in hardware startups, environmental technology, or building complex products at high velocity.

Today’s guest is Tom Mikolyuk, Mechanical Engineer and early team member at Chiplytics, a Seattle-based startup that’s making the world’s electronics safer by testing chips using a groundbreaking technology called Power Spectrum Analysis. Tom joined Chiplytics as their very first intern — and went on to become their first full-time hire. Since then, he’s helped lead hardware development, product design, and system integration as the company’s grown from concept to funded startup. We’ll talk about how Chiplytics is transforming electronics testing, what it’s like working at the intersection of hardware and software, and the lessons Tom’s learned helping build a company from the ground up.

In this episode, we’re joined by Jason Sicotte — Vice President of Global Product and Engineering for AMFT. Jason has spent more than three decades driving innovation in materials science, spring technologies, and product design across automotive, aerospace, and industrial sectors. We’ll talk about how AMFT is engineering resilience into their supply chain, what ‘global yet local’ manufacturing looks like in practice, and how design thinking applies just as much to operations as it does to components.

Today on the ProtoPod, we’re excited to welcome two student leaders from UGA Rocketry — Brooklyn Schnupp and Parsa Novin. As part of the University of Georgia’s student rocketry team, Brooklyn and Parsa competed in the International Rocket Engineering Competition earlier this year, which is the world’s largest intercollegiate rocket event. They’ll be sharing what it’s like to lead a student rocketry team, the challenges and breakthroughs of building rockets from the ground up, and what excites them most about the future of aerospace.

On today's episode, we have Gladys Wong, co-founder of Domatic, a company reinventing how buildings are wired and smart systems deployed. Gladys leads the strategic vision, making smart buildings easier, safer, and more efficient. Also joining us is Josh Horne, Domatic’s technical and hardware lead, who takes the vision and makes it real in the field. Between them, they’ll unpack how Domatic combines low-voltage power and data on one cable, tackles real-world hardware constraints, and drives toward a future where every building is intelligent by default.

On this episode, we’re joined by Olivier Lamarre, a Ph.D. student at the University of Toronto’s STARS Laboratory, where he focuses on advancing planetary rover autonomy. Olivier has collaborated with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and co-founded the McGill Robotics Mars Rover Team, leading them to multiple podium finishes at international competitions. This month, he is joining our friends at NordSpace as a Systems Engineer.

In this episode, Jordan chats with Fred Schenkelberg, an internationally recognized authority in the field of reliability engineering. Fred is the founder of FMS Reliability, where he works with organizations around the world to reduce product risk and boost reliability through smarter design and testing. He’s also behind Accendo Reliability, an online learning platform for reliability professionals. Before founding his own firm, Fred was part of Hewlett-Packard’s elite reliability team, helping instill a culture of long-term performance and quality across the company. With a background in physics and statistics, Fred brings both analytical depth and practical know-how to every conversation, including this episode of the ProtoPod!

In today's episode, we're excited to chat with Alastair Trower, Director of Business Development at Enginuity Inc — an engineering and product development firm based in Halifax, Nova Scotia in Canada. With a deep appreciation for both technical and creative problem solving, Alastair – or Alf, as he’s commonly known – plays a pivotal role in helping Enginuity turn bold ideas into functional, manufacturable realities. The company is best known for designing and building custom solutions across marine, defense, aerospace, and industrial sectors, and Alastair has been a driving force in helping scale their impact across Canada and beyond.

In today's episode, we talk with Jacob Schmidt, Engineering Manager at AMP. Since joining in 2020, he’s designed some of AMP’s most advanced robotic hardware, including their newest small robot, built entirely from his design. We discuss his path from hands-on mechanical engineer to team leader, his passion for mentorship, and how AMP is using AI and robotics to transform recycling worldwide.

In today's episode, we are excited to chat with the powerhouse father-daughter duo from Sigteq: Larry Murphy, who founded the company over two decades ago, and Laura Murphy, who now leads product and user-experience initiatives. Larry’s background in radio engineering for the London Ambulance Service laid the groundwork for Sigteq’s specialized alerting systems, while Laura brings a fresh, UX-driven perspective to improve usability under pressure. Together, they create custom emergency communications and control solutions for some of the world’s most safety-critical environments.

Today we’re talking with a founding member of the Canadian International Rover Challenge, Justin Gerein — a hands-on, Mars-style robotics competition held each summer in the badlands of Drumheller, Alberta. He’s an engineering manager at Calian Composites, a mechanical engineer by training, and a leader in designing high-performance composite systems — including one of the first Q/V band carbon fiber ground station antennas. We’ll chat about how CIRC is building the next generation of space engineers, the role of collaboration and failure in innovation, and how ProtoSpace is helping teams bring their rover designs to life.

In today's episode, we're excited to chat with Tom Mudd, Head of Technical at digiLED, one of the world’s leading makers of enormous, high-definition LED screens. Tom's journey spans from backstage at major music tours to tackling massive AV installations at stadiums and global venues. He brings to the table a rare blend of hands-on technical know-how and creative solution-building—especially when it comes to reducing power consumption in traditionally wasteful displays.

In today's episode, we’re joined by Heather Smith, a contracted NASA Research Scientist working with The Kiss Institute. With a focus on Mars and its moons, she develops life-detection instruments and strategies to keep space missions clean and science-ready. Her path includes a PhD in Biological Engineering, a master’s in Space Studies, and dual bachelor’s degrees in Physics and Psychology. From Space Camp counselor to NASA Postdoc and AAAS Fellow, she’s built a career exploring the question: Are we alone?

In today's episode, we’re thrilled to welcome Garrett Partridge, the CEO of ARC Technology Solutions, a powerhouse in custom test systems, obsolescence mitigation, and rapid hardware solutions for aerospace, defense, and industrial sectors. Now leading one of New England’s most agile tech companies, Garrett blends real-world innovation with visionary leadership, tackling complex challenges head-on, from cutting-edge electronics design to workforce development and industry collaboration.

In this episode, we are excited to be joined by Bryan Gilliom, President & CTO of Message Point Media—a leader in digital displays for over 100 transit systems across North America. We explore how his team uses rapid prototyping, semi-custom manufacturing, and global collaboration—with Protocase as a key partner in bringing fast-turn ideas to life. Hear how one whiteboard session sparked a company shift—and what it takes to scale smart in a 24/7 world.

In this episode, we are excited to be joined by Brendan O’Brien, Head of R&D at Vorne Industries, a company known for its durable, equipment-agnostic solutions that help manufacturers track productivity and minimize downtime. With a background in mechanical engineering, data analytics, and sustainability, Brendan brings a global perspective and a people-first approach to driving lasting improvements in manufacturing.

In today's episode, we’re excited to chat with Jan Fessl, Founder and Managing Director of FPC USA. With a Master’s in Astronautical Engineering from USC, Jan’s career spans hardware testing, control systems, and liquid propulsion. He first connected with Protocase while at USC’s Liquid Propulsion Lab, where he was featured in our Student Spotlight. Originally from the Czech Republic, Jan moved to Los Angeles about 10 years ago. Since then, he’s helped expand FPC, a global leader in test infrastructure solutions, across North America, supporting industries from aerospace to defense.

In today’s episode, we're excited to chat with Craig Phillips, founder of Tangelo Audio and a driving force behind some of the most powerful digital synthesizers on the market.  With a degree in Electronic Systems Engineering and a passion for electronics that was sparked at age seven, Craig blends technical know-how with a creative, hands-on approach to hardware design. 

In today's episode, we're excited to chat with Sandheep Surendran, founder of Surya Design, LLC, a product development firm known for turning inventive ideas into reality across industries like biotech, automotive, and consumer electronics. With over 20 years of experience spanning toys to clean tech, Sandheep brings a multidisciplinary edge to engineering, combining mechanical, electrical, and software expertise. Sandheep has built a reputation for practical innovation, taking products from one-off prototypes to large-scale manufacturing, all with an eye for catching problems before they arise. We’ll dive into his unique approach to design and the projects that have shaped his career.

In this episode, we’re joined by Steve Taylor, President of the Experimental Sounding Rocket Association. Steve leads the team behind the International Rocket Engineering Competition, the world’s biggest student rocketry event. With years of experience in launch ops and safety, he’s helped shape what IREC is today. We’ll talk about how student rocketry is evolving, the big move to Midland, Texas, and what’s next for ESRA and the competition.

In today's episode, we are excited to chat with Jason Jenkins, a seasoned audio-visual systems expert and the founder of Studiomatic, the company behind the One Button Studio. With over 20 years of experience in video production, studio design, and live streaming, Jason has made it his mission to simplify professional content creation. The Studiomatic One Button Studio is a fully automated, self-service video solution that removes the complexity of traditional production. With just a single press, users can walk into a studio and record high-quality video, complete with lighting, and audio, all without needing technical skills or post-production editing.

In today's episode, we are excited to talk to Paul Green, Associate Director of Operations and Technology Development at CanAssist, an innovative organization based at the University of Victoria. CanAssist is dedicated to developing customized technologies and services that enhance independence and inclusion for individuals with physical or cognitive challenges. We’re excited to dive into the impactful work Paul and his team are doing, and explore how CanAssist is transforming lives through innovation and accessibility.

In this episode, we are excited to chat with 3i, a company at the forefront of biomedical imaging technology. Founded in 1994 by a team of scientists from fields like cell biology, neuroscience, and immunology, 3i develops advanced fluorescence microscopy systems and the powerful SlideBook software platform, a tool that manages everything from image capture to analysis.

In this episode, we're excited to chat with Grant Biebrick, Sales and Marketing Specialist at Pippin Technical Services. Pippin Technical Services, or PTS, has been a cornerstone of Canadian broadcasting since 1980. From designing and integrating full radio systems to creating custom A/V solutions through their PTS Gear brand, they’re known for delivering innovative, turnkey solutions across the industry. They’ve also embraced digital transformation, helping clients move into IP- and cloud-based broadcasting.

In today's episode, we're excited to chat with Dr. Eric Martin, President and co-founder of MONSTR Sense Technologies, a company revolutionizing how we inspect semiconductors.   MONSTR Sense was born from a frustration with slow spectroscopy methods and has since developed ultrafast laser tools that dramatically speed up semiconductor analysis. Their breakthrough technology makes it possible to inspect a full 6-inch wafer in just 8 minutes — a game-changer for industries like electric vehicles and power electronics.

In this episode, we're excited to chat with Russ Van Der Werff, Vice President of the Stratospheric Platforms Division at Aerostar, where he leads strategy, development, and team operations.   Aerostar itself has a rich legacy in aerospace and defense, with over 65 years of experience. The company designs advanced stratospheric balloons, radar systems, and protective gear, building on roots that go back to a research team spun out from General Mills in the 1950s.

In today's episode, we're excited to speak with Manish Gupta, who is the Chief Technology Officer and Co-founder of Nikira Labs.   As a leader in optical spectroscopy, Manish has a strong track record of turning advanced technology into real-world solutions.

In today's episode, we chat with Thibault Corens, co-founder and chief technology officer at Presso, an Atlanta-based, venture-backed, hardware-robotics company that is disrupting the garment care industry with its state-of-the-art machines that combine precise pressing and effective, eco-friendly treatment solutions in just a matter of minutes.

In today's episode, we're excited to speak with Josh Zarecky, Chief Engineer of Zed Services based in Fishers, Indiana. Zed Services is a full service engineering firm that focuses on the design and development of reliable, efficient and economical electromechanical systems and specialized machines.

In today's episode, we chat with Rahul Noel, the founder and CEO of NordSpace. NordSpace is breaking barriers in the aerospace industry with its bold mission to launch Canada’s first orbital-class rocket.

In this episode, we are joined by Jim Flock, an industry veteran, who has spent the better part of four decades in the machining business. Jim is originally from Brooklyn, New York, but has spent the past nine years in North Carolina where he manages HSM Machine Works South, a leading Aerospace manufacturer of landing gear assemblies. Jim is a member of the Cape Fear Manufacturing Partnership. He also serves as chair of the Cape Fear Workforce Development Board and vice president of the North Carolina Association of Workforce Development Boards. Also, appearing on the episode is Steve Lilley, co-founder and president of Protocase, a Canadian manufacturing company presently in the process of expanding its operations into the United States, and more specifically, to Wilmington.

In today's episode, we are excited to chat with Ted Moore, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer at Indy Audio Labs.   Indy Audio Labs designs and manufactures high-performance immersive processors, pre-amplifiers and power amplifiers for home theatres, media rooms and 2-channel listening.

In this episode, we chat with Maxim Karpov, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Enlightra. Enlightra is a start-up based in Switzerland that develops chip-scale comb lasers for the high-speed connectivity of AI Clusters.

Something big is coming to Spotify & Apple. Get ready to explore the edge of innovation!   Join your host Jordan Rose on April 9th, as we launch the ProtoPod - a podcast for engineers, innovators, entrepreneurs, and trailblazers shaping the future.   If you are into prototyping, high-velocity mass custom manufacturing, or just obsessed with how great ideas come to life, this is your podcast.