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Innovation Storytellers

Susan Lindner

Did you ever wonder how an innovation got to its finish line? How innovators saw the future, made a product, and created change – in our world and in their companies? I did. Innovation Storytellers invites changemakers to describe how they created their innovation and just as important – THE STORIES – that made us fall in love with them. Come learn how great innovations need great stories to make them move around the world and how to become a better storyteller in the process.

I'm Susan Lindner, the Innovation Storyteller. But I wasn't always. I've been a wannabe revolutionary, an epidemiologist at the CDC and an AIDS educator in the brothels of Thailand helping to turn former sex workers into entrepreneurs. Trained as an anthropologist and the Founder of Emerging Media, I've spent the last twenty years working with innovators from 60+ countries. Ranging from cutting edge startups to Fortune 100 companies like GE, Corning, Citi, Olayan, and nine foreign governments, helping their leaders to tell their stories and teaching them how to become incredible advocates for their innovations.

Great innovation stories make change possible. They let us step into a future we can't see yet. I started this podcast to shine a light on our generation of great innovators, to learn how they brought their innovation to life and the stories they told to bring them to the world.

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#272
Tuesday · 36 min
(BEST OF) Weathering the Tech Front: Amy Freeze on Avatars, AI, and Audience Connection
In this episode of the Innovation Storytellers Show, I sit down with Amy Freeze, a meteorologist, innovator, and public safety advocate who has spent decades helping people understand risk when it truly matters. Everywhere I go lately, conversations circle back to AI, but this one brings it out of the abstract and straight into our homes, our screens, and moments where trust can make all the difference. Amy shares her remarkable journey from broadcast journalism to becoming one of the most recognized voices in weather. We talk about her work forecasting major events like Superstorm Sandy and the Joplin tornado, and how those experiences shaped her sense of responsibility to the public. As the first female chief meteorologist in Chicago and a six time Emmy Award winner, her career has been built on credibility and calm communication. What fascinated me most was why she chose to create a digital avatar, and how she sees AI as a way to deliver urgent, accurate information at scale without losing the human connection people rely on in moments of uncertainty. We also dig into the fears and ethical questions surrounding digital twins, AI driven storytelling, and protecting name, image, and likeness. Amy offers a grounded perspective on why avoiding new technology can sometimes create more risk than adopting it thoughtfully. Together, we explore how empathy, trust, and clear storytelling help audiences move past fear toward understanding, especially when the stakes involve safety, language barriers, and real-time decision-making. This conversation reminded me that innovation does not have to feel cold or distant. It can be practical, human, and deeply rooted in care. We talk about how trusted voices evolve with technology, how stories help people accept change, and why the future of AI may depend far less on hype and far more on responsibility, context, and trust.
#271
August 18 · 31 min
How Curiosity Built Siri, Alexa, and the Future of AI
What allows someone to see a technology years before the rest of us realize we need it? In this episode of the Innovation Storytellers Show, I speak with Kevin Surace, the serial entrepreneur and inventor whose pioneering work on human-like virtual assistants helped create the path toward Siri, Alexa, and the AI assistants we use today. Kevin takes me back to the late 1990s, when leaving your desktop computer meant leaving your email, contacts, calendar, and digital information behind. His team saw that frustration and asked a remarkably simple question: could everyone have access to the kind of assistant usually reserved for executives? The result was Mary, a virtual assistant that could recognize callers, answer phones, manage calendars, and converse using natural language. Building and launching it required around $100 million at a time when cloud infrastructure did not exist. But this conversation is about much more than the history of AI. Kevin explains why curiosity helps innovators find genuine customer pain, why a product should occupy surprisingly little space in a great investment pitch, and why corporations should stop expecting every innovation project to succeed. His argument is that experimentation works when organizations place smaller bets, learn from the market, and invest further when product timing and product-market fit become clearer. We also discuss The Joy Success Cycle and a question becoming increasingly relevant as AI changes knowledge work: if technology removes parts of the process we once enjoyed, can we learn to find greater satisfaction in the outcomes we create? For leaders trying to understand storytelling for AI innovation, win AI stakeholder buy-in, or how to communicate AI transformation without making technology the entire story, Kevin offers an unusually practical perspective. Where do you think curiosity ends and the business case for innovation begins? Listen to the episode and share your thoughts with me.
#270
August 11 · 57 min
270: How the Apple Store Used Storytelling to Change Retail Forever
What does it take to create a store that people visit even when they are not planning to buy anything? In this episode of the Innovation Storytellers Show, I speak with Ron Johnson, the creator of the Apple Store, former CEO of J.C. Penney, and author of Shop Different: How Retail Revealed Apple's Genius. Ron shares the experiences that shaped his approach to leadership, beginning with an unlikely high school soccer transformation and continuing through his work at Target, Apple, and some of the most influential retail innovations of the past several decades. Ron explains how Target made great design accessible through its groundbreaking partnership with architect Michael Graves, and why committing to 140 products created a movement that a cautious three-product test never could have achieved. He also takes us inside the creation of the Apple Store, where the objective was not simply to sell computers, but to remove people's fear of technology through welcoming spaces, hands-on experiences, and human support. We hear the story behind the Genius Bar, including why Steve Jobs initially preferred the name Geek Bar, and how Ron persuaded him that genius offered employees and customers something aspirational. Ron also reveals why the Apple Store on Fifth Avenue was built underground, how its glass cube changed the Manhattan skyline, and why opening it 24 hours a day generated $80 million in overnight sales during its first year. Our conversation goes beyond retail. It is about finding a story that gives people something to believe in, communicating a vision clearly enough that teams can act on it, and having the courage to commit fully when an idea has the potential to change an industry. Can physical spaces still create the human connections that digital convenience often removes, and what could your organization learn from the story behind the Apple Store? Share your thoughts.
#269
August 4 · 35 min
269: How Great Innovation Leaders Get Everyone Speaking the Same Language
What happens when everyone in an organization claims to support innovation, but each person has a different idea of what innovation means? In this episode of the Innovation Storytellers Show, I speak with Iffat AlRowaithy, Corporate Innovation and Innovation Center Unit Head at a globally recognized bank in Saudi Arabia. Iffat has spent more than a decade building innovation functions, developing employee capabilities, and connecting new ideas with corporate strategy and measurable business value. We begin with a problem many innovation leaders will recognize about how people define innovation. One department may view innovation as a new product, another may focus on customer experience, while others see a system update as progress. Iffat explains why leaders must establish a shared language before asking people to innovate, including clear expectations around purpose, ownership, timelines, and outcomes. Iffat also shares what she learned while building innovation centers across the public and private sectors. A creative space may look impressive, but it cannot succeed if the organization has not developed the culture, sponsorship, and capabilities required to use it. Her current center was designed around the five senses, creating an experience that helps employees think differently, contribute ideas, and participate in building solutions. We discuss why open calls for ideas can produce large volumes of suggestions without solving the problems business units actually face. Iffat describes how her team reversed the process by asking departments to submit one real challenge and inviting employees across the organization to propose solutions. This approach allowed an IT employee to solve an HR communication problem and helped turn employee insight into an implemented broadcast capability. Our conversation also examines the relationship between AI and human creativity. Iffat shares how employees used AI to move from ideation to a working prototype in around two hours, while emphasizing that human judgment, context, and empathy must remain part of the process. Perhaps the most powerful lesson is that people respond to experiences, participation, and being heard far more readily than they respond to promises. Innovation becomes part of the culture when employees can see their contribution, understand its connection to strategy, and feel included in creating what comes next. Can a shared language, a clearly defined challenge, and greater empathy help your organization turn innovation from an ambition into everyday behavior? Listen to the conversation and share your thoughts.
#268
July 28 · 57 min
268: How Paul Campbell Wrote the Playbook for Corporate Innovation
What does it really take to turn bold ideas into billion-dollar businesses inside large enterprises? In this episode of the Innovation Storytellers Show, I'm joined by Paul Campbell, one of the world's leading experts on corporate innovation and co-author of The Corporate Innovator's Playbook. Over the course of his career, Paul has helped create more than 50 new businesses that have generated over $5 billion in growth while advising companies including Hewlett-Packard, Philips, Schneider Electric, Mercedes-Benz, and W.L. Gore. Our conversation moves beyond brainstorming and ideation to focus on the reality of making innovation succeed inside complex enterprises. Paul shares why so many innovation initiatives fail, why incremental thinking holds companies back, and what leaders can do to create an environment where bold ideas have a genuine chance to succeed. We also tackle one of the biggest questions facing business today. Is AI replacing corporate innovation, or is it creating the biggest opportunity innovation leaders have seen in years? Paul explains why most companies are still focused on using AI for efficiency while missing its greatest potential as a driver of entirely new products, business models, and sources of growth. One of my favorite moments is Paul's story from Hewlett-Packard, where CEO Carly Fiorina personally challenged her team to think bigger, breaking through organizational resistance and helping transform HP's position in the Chinese market. It's a powerful reminder that innovation succeeds when leadership creates the confidence to take meaningful risks. Throughout our conversation, Paul shares practical lessons from decades of helping global enterprises commercialize ideas, navigate internal resistance, and build innovation programs that deliver measurable business results. We discuss why corporate innovation needs a practical playbook rather than more theory, how AI is changing the role of innovation teams, why efficiency alone is not enough to deliver future growth, the importance of bold leadership and executive engagement, overcoming organizational barriers to innovation, building an innovation culture that encourages smart risk-taking, and using the Innovation Canvas to uncover the blind spots preventing companies from turning ideas into successful businesses. If you've ever wondered why some organizations consistently create new growth while others struggle to move beyond incremental improvements, this conversation offers valuable insights from someone who has spent decades helping some of the world's biggest companies make innovation work.
#267
July 21 · 40 min
267: How SharkNinja Builds Viral Products Through Consumer Obsession
How do you build something nobody asked for—and turn it into an overnight obsession? In this episode of the Innovation Storytellers Show, I speak with Ross Richardson, Chief Design Officer at SharkNinja, about the thinking, testing, storytelling, and consumer obsession behind some of the company's most successful products. Ross leads a global team spanning mechanical and product engineering, industrial design, product innovation, and R&D. But his path into product design began much earlier, from taking things apart and borrowing his father's tools as a child to studying product design engineering and building a career around understanding how people interact with physical products. Our conversation reveals how SharkNinja approaches innovation by starting with consumer behavior rather than technology for technology's sake. Ross explains how the company identifies what he describes as "desirability gaps," finding experiences people already want but cannot easily recreate at home. From frozen drinks and ice cream to coffee and personal care, the opportunity often comes from making something previously difficult, intimidating, or inaccessible feel simple and repeatable. We also discuss the story behind products such as BlendBoss and how observing changing consumer behavior can lead to unexpected opportunities within established categories. Rather than assuming innovation always requires inventing an entirely new market, SharkNinja watches how people live, what they carry, what they share on social media, and how cultural trends are changing their expectations. At the center of this process is a deceptively simple challenge: "prove it." Ross explains why new ideas must withstand technical testing, commercial scrutiny, consumer validation, and internal skepticism before moving forward. He also takes me inside SharkNinja's show-and-tell culture, weekly product demonstrations, in-home user trials, observational research, physical prototyping, and its "red team" approach to bringing fresh perspectives into the development process. In an era where AI can help almost anyone create a polished presentation or convincing visualization, Ross argues that evidence matters more than ever. A compelling story may earn attention, but data, testing, consumer insight, and a working proof of concept are what help turn skepticism into stakeholder buy-in. We also discuss why teams need room to dream before inviting skeptics into the process, how collective enthusiasm can help engineers solve seemingly impossible problems, and why admitting that a favored idea is wrong can sometimes lead to a far better product. As AI changes how we research markets, generate concepts, and communicate innovation, my conversation with Ross is a timely reminder that understanding human behavior remains at the heart of successful product development. The tools available to innovators may be changing rapidly, but our ability to listen to consumers, identify genuine needs, test assumptions, communicate breakthrough ideas, and prove that an idea deserves to exist still determines whether innovation connects with the people it was designed to serve. How can we combine faster, technology-enabled innovation with the deep consumer understanding needed to create products people genuinely want? Listen to the full conversation and share your thoughts.
#266
July 14 · 36 min
Beyond Networking: Why Relationships, Not Contacts, Drive Innovation
What if the most valuable asset in your career is not your expertise, your technology, or even your latest idea, but the people you already know? In this episode of the Innovation Storytellers Show, I welcome Yaron Flint back to the podcast to discuss his new book, Beyond Networking: Making Connections That Matter, and why many professionals are failing to make the most of one of their greatest business assets. Networking has become easier than ever. LinkedIn gives us access to thousands of people, conferences create endless opportunities to exchange contact details, and AI can research prospects, write outreach messages, and help us manage relationships at scale. Yet having more contacts does not necessarily mean having stronger relationships, greater influence, or better business outcomes. Yaron argues that the problem begins when networking becomes transactional. Too many people reach out only when they need something, collect contacts without maintaining relationships, or rely on generic AI-generated messages that make communication feel impersonal. We discuss why a network should be treated as something active and deliberate, built around genuine human relationships, mutual value, and the ability to help people achieve outcomes they could not accomplish alone. Our conversation also examines the role AI should play in modern networking. Rather than using technology to replace human interaction, Yaron explains how AI can help professionals prepare for meetings, understand the people they want to connect with, identify shared interests, maintain relationships, and arrive at conferences with a clear purpose. For business leaders considering human-AI collaboration narratives and storytelling for AI adoption, his message is a useful reminder that technology should support better human relationships rather than automate them. We also discuss why preparation matters before attending conferences and industry events, how introverts can become highly effective networkers, and why building a large contact list is very different from creating a network that produces meaningful opportunities. The conversation goes further into innovation storytelling and the challenge of winning AI stakeholder buy-in and support for breakthrough ideas. Yaron explains why promising initiatives often fail because innovators communicate from their own perspective rather than understanding what executives, decision-makers, and other stakeholders need to hear. This is where corporate storytelling strategy becomes inseparable from networking, influence, and the ability to turn ideas into business outcomes. Finally, we examine the progression from contacts to networks and from networks to communities. What happens when professionals stop thinking about relationships solely in terms of personal advantage and begin connecting people who could accomplish more together than they ever could alone? If AI can give us greater access to people, information, and opportunities than any previous generation, are we using that technology to build stronger relationships, or are we allowing convenience and automation to make our professional connections increasingly transactional? Listen to the conversation and share your thoughts. You can find Yaron's book here
#265
July 7 · 41 min
265: How Atlassian Makes Complex Technology Feel Human
In this episode of the Innovation Storytellers Show, I sit down with Priyank Jain, Enterprise Strategy & Innovation Leader at Atlassian, for a conversation about AI storytelling for business leaders and why the success of any innovation often depends on the story told long before a product is introduced. Priyank shares the personal journey that took him from a childhood ambition of becoming a doctor to building enterprise systems that improve outcomes for millions of people. That perspective has shaped his belief that technology should always begin with people, making this an insightful conversation for anyone asking how to communicate AI transformation inside complex organizations. Drawing on his experience at IBM and Atlassian, Priyank explains why storytelling for AI adoption is becoming one of the most valuable skills for innovation leaders. He argues that employees rarely resist new technology because they dislike innovation. Instead, they resist uncertainty. That distinction changes the entire conversation around AI change management storytelling and offers a practical AI disruption communication strategy that focuses on trust, clarity, and shared outcomes instead of technical specifications. We also discuss storytelling for AI innovation through the lens of healthcare, where Priyank helped introduce new approaches by focusing first on patients, clinicians, and caregivers rather than software features. His examples demonstrate why communicating AI to employees begins with understanding the human impact before discussing the technology itself. Another major theme throughout our conversation is storytelling for C-suite leaders and the importance of building support before launching an initiative. Priyank explains why winning AI stakeholder buy-in starts with listening, conducting thoughtful user interviews, and allowing stakeholders to help shape the future instead of presenting them with a finished solution. His approach provides a practical corporate storytelling strategy that encourages collaboration rather than compliance. As we discuss innovation storytelling in the age of AI, Priyank shares valuable lessons on how to lead AI culture change by balancing evidence with emotion. He explains why data creates awareness, but stories create movement, and why every successful human-AI collaboration narrative begins with understanding what matters most to the people who will ultimately use the technology. Whether you are responsible for storytelling for digital transformation, leading enterprise innovation, or looking for better ways of communicating breakthrough ideas, this conversation is filled with practical insights that can help leaders build confidence, encourage adoption, and create lasting support for new ideas. Priyank also reflects on the greatest innovation in history, the innovation team he would most like to have joined, and why he believes the world's greatest opportunity has nothing to do with technology at all. Instead, he argues that compassion and empathy remain the qualities we need most if innovation is going to improve people's lives.
#264
June 30 · 37 min
264: Are you W.I.R.E.d for Innovation?
Have you ever wondered why some people push bold ideas forward while others hesitate, even when they know they're onto something valuable? In this episode, I speak with Dr. Zakia Ghafari, a behavioral scientist, pharmacist, storyteller, and creator of the WIRE Framework. Our conversation explores a topic that every innovator encounters but rarely talks about openly: fear. Not the fear of technology or market competition, but the deeply personal fears that shape how we show up, speak up, and share our ideas with the world. Zakia explains how experiences from childhood, family history, and even generations before us can influence the decisions we make today. Drawing on neuroscience, epigenetics, and identity research, she shares why change can feel uncomfortable, why some leaders struggle to find their voice, and how hidden patterns often influence innovation efforts inside organizations. We also discuss the connection between storytelling and personal growth, the role of self-awareness in leadership, and why small, consistently repeated changes can create remarkable results over time. Zakia shares her own journey from quietly holding back her ideas to stepping onto storytelling stages and helping others do the same. As AI continues to reshape industries and workplaces, Zakia offers a powerful reminder that human connection, empathy, and understanding remain among our greatest strengths. Technology may change how we work, but the human experience continues to shape how we lead, communicate, and innovate. What patterns from your own past might still be influencing the way you approach change today, and what could happen if you challenged just one of them?
#263
June 23 · 26 min
How LG Nova Is Turning Corporate Innovation Into New Companies
Could a company best known for TVs, appliances, and consumer electronics become a launchpad for entirely new businesses? In this episode of the Innovation Storytellers Show, I sat down with Sokwoo Rhee, Corporate Executive Vice President for Innovation at LG Electronics and Head of LG NOVA, to discuss why some of the world's largest organizations are rethinking how innovation happens and what it takes to build the next generation of companies from within a corporate environment. Sokwoo shares his journey from entrepreneur and government innovator to leading LG NOVA, LG's Silicon Valley-based innovation center focused on creating entirely new ventures in areas such as healthcare, AI, energy, and digital services. We explore why innovation requires a different mindset from traditional business operations and why corporate leaders must be willing to invest in opportunities where the outcome is uncertain but the long-term potential could reshape an organization's future. Our conversation also examines the challenge of balancing quarterly business realities with long-term innovation goals. Sokwoo explains why successful innovation portfolios resemble venture capital strategies, where multiple experiments are necessary because breakthrough ideas rarely arrive with guaranteed outcomes. He offers a candid perspective on risk, leadership, failure, and the importance of creating space inside large organizations for ideas that may eventually define the next decade of growth. We also discuss LG NOVA's approach to building new companies, including its work in mental health technology, where AI is being used to help therapists spend more time supporting patients and less time on administrative tasks. Along the way, Sokwoo reflects on the role of storytelling in innovation, why evidence matters as much as vision, and how innovators can help organizations imagine futures that do not yet exist. If you've ever wondered how corporate innovation can move beyond pilots and PowerPoint presentations to create entirely new businesses, this conversation offers a fascinating look inside one of the world's most ambitious innovation initiatives. What role should large corporations play in building the companies of tomorrow, and how much risk are they willing to take to get there?
#462
June 16 · 40 min
How FM Ignites Innovative Risk Management
What happens when an insurance company thinks like an engineering lab? And how does a deeper understanding of risk create opportunities for innovation rather than slowing it down? In this episode of the Innovation Storytellers Show, I sit down with Dr. Jaap De Vries, Staff Vice President and Principal Innovation Specialist at FM, to explore how one of the world's leading commercial property insurers approaches innovation, risk management, and emerging technologies. From fire protection robotics and structural digital twins to AI-powered risk analysis, Jaap shares how his team is helping organizations anticipate challenges before they become costly problems. Our conversation moves beyond insurance and into the broader role risk plays in every innovation journey. Jaap explains how FM's engineering-led culture shapes decision-making, why understanding the science of risk builds customer trust, and how large-scale testing helps businesses identify threats they might otherwise miss. We also discuss the importance of storytelling when introducing new ideas and why data alone is rarely enough to drive adoption. Along the way, Jaap reflects on his journey from aerospace engineering and combustion science into innovation leadership. He shares lessons from mentoring entrepreneurs, teaching technology commercialization at Brown University, and helping organizations balance technical expertise with the human side of persuasion. The discussion also touches on AI's impact on work, the changing nature of entrepreneurship, and why future innovators may need to spend less time analyzing and more time building. We explore some bigger questions. What is the greatest innovation of all time? Which innovation team from history would Jaap most like to have joined? And what kind of innovation does the world need most right now? If you've ever wondered how innovation and risk management can work together to create stronger, more resilient businesses, this conversation offers plenty of insights. What role does risk play in your own approach to innovation, and are you paying enough attention to the opportunities hidden inside it?
#261
June 9 · 8 min
How Are You Closing the Empathy Gap in Your AI Strategy?
What if the biggest challenge with AI isn't the technology itself, but how it makes people feel? Lately, almost every conversation I'm having with clients comes back to AI. Not surprisingly, it's dominating boardroom discussions, strategy sessions, and innovation agendas everywhere. But what fascinates me most isn't the technology. It's the human response to it. In this solo episode, I'm talking about something I believe doesn't get nearly enough attention in the AI conversation: empathy. I recently read that companies like Anthropic are hiring storytellers at salaries approaching half a million dollars a year. That caught my attention. Why would one of the world's leading AI companies place such a premium on storytelling? Because even the most advanced AI still struggles to create the kind of human connection that comes naturally through empathy, understanding, and authentic communication. As organizations rush to implement AI tools, I'm hearing the same concerns again and again. Employees are being asked to trust systems they don't fully understand. Leaders are under pressure to move faster than ever before. Customers are interacting with AI-powered experiences that often feel efficient but strangely hollow. That's why I believe empathy isn't a soft skill anymore. It's a business strategy. In this episode, I share why so many AI initiatives struggle with adoption, even when the technology works perfectly and the business case is clear. I talk about the hidden cost of asking people to abandon the systems and expertise they've spent years mastering. More importantly, I explain why resistance to change is rarely about stubbornness and almost always about self-preservation. When we ask people to adopt new AI tools, we're often asking them to give up something deeply valuable: the confidence that comes from mastery. That's a much bigger ask than most leaders realize. I'll also share practical ways to bridge what I call the empathy chasm, helping teams feel supported rather than threatened, involved rather than replaced, and excited rather than overwhelmed. If there's one thing I've learned from working with innovators around the world, it's that people don't resist technology. They resist feeling disconnected from the reason behind the change. How are you bringing empathy into your AI strategy, and are you doing enough to bring the humans along on the AI journey?
#260
June 2 · 47 min
260: How the Transatlantic Innovation Hub Connects US + Europe
What does it really take to turn a promising European startup into a successful US business? In this special fifth-anniversary episode of Innovation Storytellers, I sit down with Simone Tarantino, Managing Director of the Transatlantic Innovation Hub and Managing Partner at HVentures, to discuss the challenges, opportunities, and realities of building bridges between two of the world's most influential innovation ecosystems. From its flagship location on Fifth Avenue in New York City, the Transatlantic Innovation Hub is creating a launchpad for European startups, scaleups, corporates, and innovators looking to expand into the United States. Simone shares how the Hub helps companies move beyond simply securing office space by providing access to investors, advisors, legal experts, business development partners, and the relationships that often determine whether international expansion succeeds or fails. We also explore the cultural differences between European and American innovation ecosystems, why networking remains one of the most valuable business skills, and how founders can avoid common mistakes when entering a new market. Simone reflects on his own journey from entrepreneur in Italy to ecosystem builder in New York, including the lessons learned from starting over and finding his place in one of the world's most competitive business environments. The conversation goes beyond startups and venture capital. We discuss why corporate innovation initiatives often struggle, the importance of translators who can bridge the language gap between startups and large enterprises, and why collaboration frequently delivers better outcomes than competition. Simone also shares his vision for a growing global network of innovation hubs connecting New York, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Whether you're a founder looking to expand internationally, a corporate leader searching for fresh ideas, or someone fascinated by how innovation ecosystems are built, this episode offers valuable lessons on creating connections that help ideas travel further and grow faster. What role could stronger partnerships play in accelerating your own innovation journey?
#259
May 26 · 37 min
259: How Peptides are Innovating Longevity Planning
What happens when elite endurance training, wearable data, artificial intelligence, and peptide therapy collide? In this episode of the Innovation Storytellers Show, I sat down with Tony Medrano, CEO and co-founder of LongevityPlan.AI, to unpack how the future of longevity is being shaped by technology that once felt more science fiction than healthcare strategy. Tony's journey alone feels like a case study in reinvention. A former naval officer, Stanford entrepreneur, AI startup founder, and three-time Ironman triathlete, he has spent decades building companies around emerging technologies long before the market was ready for them. From helping shape the early mobile app ecosystem before smartphones even existed to working with organizations like NASA, the NFL, and Google on AI and molecular diagnostics, Tony has repeatedly found himself at the edge of major technology shifts. But this conversation quickly moved beyond startup stories and venture capital war stories. We explored how peptide therapies are being used to support recovery, performance optimization, injury repair, and preventative health, particularly as people search for ways to extend not just lifespan, but healthspan. Tony explained how LongevityPlan.AI combines wearable technology, biomarker analysis, AI-powered digital twins, and physician-guided peptide programs to create personalized health optimization plans. What made this discussion especially fascinating was the tension between innovation and evidence. Tony openly acknowledged that peptide therapies still sit in a space where anecdotal results, emerging science, and limited large-scale clinical trials coexist. That creates both excitement and skepticism. For some, this represents the future of preventative healthcare and human optimization. For others, it raises questions about regulation, accessibility, affordability, and where the line exists between wellness enhancement and medical intervention. We also discussed how longevity itself is becoming one of the defining themes across industries. Whether it's financial services rebranding retirement planning, manufacturers extending the lifecycle of industrial systems, or healthcare companies focusing on prevention over treatment, the concept of optimizing long-term performance is reshaping the conversation everywhere. Along the way, Tony reflected on surviving the dot-com crash, raising millions before product launch, training for Ironman races while recovering from serious injuries, and why he believes the future of healthcare belongs to people who take a more active role in understanding their own bodies and data. This episode is a conversation about far more than fitness or supplements. It's about the growing convergence of AI, biotechnology, consumer health, performance culture, and human ambition. And perhaps most importantly, it asks a bigger question: if technology can help us live longer, healthier lives, how do we ensure we use it responsibly, ethically, and in ways that genuinely improve the human experience?
May 19 · 8 min
258: How Are You Answering the Big 4 Questions, BEFORE You Tell Your Story?
In this solo episode of the Innovation Storytellers Show, I wanted to pause the constant conversation around AI capability and talk about something far more human. I'm talking about empathy. Everywhere I look, organizations are racing to deploy AI faster, automate more workflows, and chase productivity gains before competitors pull ahead. But behind every rollout, every implementation plan, and every AI strategy deck are real people trying to process what all of this change means for them. I share why I believe empathy has quietly become one of the most valuable strategic skills in business today. From employees being asked to trust systems they barely understand, to customers interacting with experiences that feel increasingly transactional and hollow, we may be reaching a point where the human side of innovation matters more than ever. I also reflect on why companies like Anthropic are actively hiring storytellers at premium salaries, despite building some of the most advanced AI systems in the world. Even the companies creating the technology understand that human connection still cannot be automated. Throughout this episode, I unpack the emotional reality of AI adoption inside organizations. Because when leaders ask teams to adopt new tools, they are often asking people to surrender something deeply personal, their mastery. For employees who built careers around expertise, predictable systems, and trusted workflows, AI can create anxiety, uncertainty, and even a sense of professional disorientation. That resistance to adoption is rarely laziness or stubbornness. More often, it is self-preservation. I also explore why so many AI initiatives stall despite strong ROI projections and technically successful deployments. The missing ingredient is often emotional buy-in. If people do not understand the why behind the transformation, they disengage. Quietly. Subtly. They retreat to old systems, familiar habits, and predictable routines. And that is where empathy becomes the bridge between innovation and actual adoption. This conversation is ultimately about humanizing AI strategy before organizations accidentally create workplaces that feel colder, faster, and more disconnected. Because while AI may transform workflows, data analysis, and decision-making, trust is still built person to person. I also share practical reflections on how leaders can make AI rollouts feel less intimidating, how to communicate change without alienating teams, and why slowing down long enough to support people emotionally may actually accelerate long-term innovation success. If your organization is currently rolling out AI tools, navigating change management, or struggling with adoption fatigue, this episode will probably feel very familiar. I would love to hear your perspective too. Are you seeing AI bring people together inside your organization, or quietly pushing them further apart?
#427
May 12 · 43 min
How Discomfort Is the Human Factor Driving Innovation
How do great companies stay distinctive when everything around them is pushing them toward sameness? In this episode of the Innovation Storytellers Show, I sit down with Anthony Reeves, speaker, consultant, and author of Eat the Donkey: Why Great Companies Embrace Discomfort, for a conversation about creativity, brand identity, AI, and why discomfort may be one of the most valuable forces in innovation. Anthony shares how growing up in the Australian outback shaped his understanding of progress, boredom, resilience, and the creative power of empty space. From LVMH and Amazon to WPP, Nike, Jaguar, Kohler, and Southwest Airlines, he explains why the strongest brands know when to evolve and when to protect what made them matter in the first place. The conversation also moves to the tension leaders face in the age of AI. As companies chase efficiency, optimization, and automation, Anthony warns that many risk becoming average by design. We discuss why human creativity, curiosity, and distinctiveness matter even more as technology pulls everyone toward the same answers. This is a conversation about brand courage, creative restlessness, and the difference between useful discomfort and unsafe pressure. How can companies use AI without losing the very human qualities that make them worth choosing? Listen in, and share your thoughts.
#256
May 5 · 47 min
256: How R&D Leaders Source Trends to Power Innovation
What does it really take to turn a great idea into something that works in the real world? In this episode, I sit down with Kofi Gyasi, Founder and CEO of NotedSource, and Joia Spooner-Fleming, an innovation consultant with deep experience at companies like P&G and SharkNinja, to unpack what lies behind successful innovation. We explore why research and validation are often the difference between ideas that scale and those that quietly disappear. From rooftop laundry lessons in Mexico City to product design decisions shaped by culture and human behavior, this conversation brings innovation back to something many teams overlook: understanding the people you are building for. We also get into the mechanics of how innovation actually happens inside large organizations today. Kofi shares how NotedSource is helping companies connect with external experts and accelerate decision-making using AI. At the same time, Joia reflects on the reality of working at speed in environments where every decision carries commercial risk. Together, they highlight a tension many leaders will recognize: the need to move fast while still making informed, evidence-based choices. What stood out for me was the shift in mindset that both guests emphasized. Open innovation is not about tools alone. It starts with a willingness to look beyond your own organization, challenge assumptions, and invite new perspectives into the process. Whether you are building new products, entering new markets, or simply trying to avoid costly mistakes, the ability to combine human insight with emerging technologies is becoming a defining advantage. So, as innovation becomes faster, more complex, and increasingly driven by AI, are we asking the right questions and listening closely enough to the answers?
#255
April 28 · 41 min
255: Are You Crushing Open Innovation?
What does it really take for large organizations to keep innovating when speed, disruption, and AI are changing the rules faster than ever before? In this episode of the Innovation Storytellers Show, I'm joined by two returning guests whose work has shaped how many leaders think about innovation inside large organizations: Dr. Diana Joseph, CEO of the Corporate Accelerator Forum, and Dan Toma, co-author of The Corporate Startup and Innovation Accounting. Together, they return to discuss their new book, Open Innovation Works, and why open innovation has become a business necessity rather than a nice idea for the future. We unpack why so many organizations struggle to innovate once they grow beyond their original breakthrough, and why the answer often lies outside the four walls of the business. From startup accelerators and incubators to university partnerships and corporate venture capital, Diana and Dan explain how companies can choose the right innovation vehicle rather than simply copying competitors. They also explain why alignment within the organization is often harder than working with startups. The conversation also takes a timely turn toward AI, where both guests challenge the growing trend of creating isolated "AI departments." Instead, they argue that AI should be treated like any other business tool, embedded across every function rather than locked inside another silo. It is a practical, honest discussion about why so many AI projects fail, what leaders are getting wrong, and how innovation teams can stay relevant by tying their work directly to business growth and measurable outcomes. We also explore real-world examples from companies like Illumina and the lessons learned from cautionary tales like Borders and Amazon. At the center of it all is one simple question: if your organization cannot see the future clearly, who can help you borrow that vision? If you're leading innovation, navigating AI adoption, or trying to prove the ROI of transformation inside your business, this episode offers frameworks, perspective, and practical advice you can start using tomorrow. How is your organization making sure it doesn't lose sight of what comes next?
April 21 · 42 min
Innovation or Elimination — the new book by Itai Green
What happens when innovation shifts from a strategic advantage to a matter of survival? In this episode of the Innovation Storytellers Show, I sat down with Itai Green, Co-Founder and CEO of Global Innovation & Strategy and author of Innovation or Elimination. With more than two decades of experience connecting global corporations with startups, Itai brings a direct and unfiltered perspective on why so many organizations struggle to stay relevant and what it actually takes to change that trajectory. Our conversation moves beyond theory and into the real mechanics of innovation. Itai challenges the long-standing belief that companies can rely solely on internal R&D, arguing that speed, collaboration, and openness now define success. He explains why open innovation is no longer optional, how corporate mindset often becomes the biggest barrier, and why leaders must rethink everything from decision-making speed to how they measure return on investment. Along the way, he shares candid insights on the cultural tension between startups and enterprises, the risks of ego-driven leadership, and why many innovation efforts fail before they even begin. We also explore the practical side of making innovation work at scale. From running effective pilots and selecting the right startup partners to understanding when to build internally versus collaborate externally, Itai offers a clear view into what separates companies that evolve from those that quietly fade away. His perspective on timing, trust, and execution highlights a deeper truth: that innovation is less about ideas and more about how organizations choose to act on them. So where does this leave today's leaders, especially in a world shaped by rapid advances in AI and constant disruption? And as Itai suggests, if innovation is now the price of survival, how prepared are most organizations to pay it?
#253
April 14 · 49 min
253: How Buffalo Construction and O3XO Are Building Better with AI
What does real AI implementation actually look like when the hype fades, and the hard work begins? In this episode of Innovation Storytellers, I sit down with Brett Norton, President of Buffalo Construction, and Mike Gadsby, Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer at O3XO, for a candid conversation about what it takes to move AI from curiosity to business impact. This is not a discussion about vague transformation promises or shiny tools looking for a problem. It is a practical story about how one construction company partnered with an AI-focused innovation team to rethink workflows, identify friction points, and build a smarter path forward. Mike shares how O3XO approaches AI through a human-centered lens, starting with business goals, operational pain points, and the people closest to the work. Brett brings that thinking into the real world of construction, where teams are busy, systems are fragmented, and change only sticks when it clearly makes people better at what they already do. Together, they unpack how workshops, use case prioritization, and an internal AI council helped Buffalo move beyond surface-level experimentation and start applying AI in ways that improved estimating, accelerated learning, and opened new capacity across the business. What makes this conversation stand out is its honesty. Brett and Mike talk openly about skepticism, messy data, cultural resistance, and the challenge of making time for innovation when everyone is already stretched. But they also show what happens when leaders focus on small wins, practical outcomes, and involving the right people early. The result was not just faster processes, but stronger engagement, better knowledge sharing, and a clearer story for clients about how technology can strengthen execution. We also step back and look at the bigger picture, from the democratization of knowledge to the future of work, leadership, and community in an AI-powered world. If you are tired of hearing abstract claims about AI and want to hear how real companies are actually making it work, this episode will give you a much more useful place to start.

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