Game Changers Silicon Valley
63 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 months ago - ★★★★★ - 13 ratingsWe tell the stories about the innovators of today who will be the Game Changers of Tomorrow. Our guests come from a wide range of backgrounds, including scientists, engineers, researchers, entrepreneurs, investors and educators.
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Episodes
Breaking the cycle, Crime, Drug Addiction, Recidivism
February 18, 2024 16:32 - 19 minutes - 37.3 MBWe share a highly visible, universal concern: the persistent cycle of crime, drug addiction, and recidivism. My interview with former San Jose Mayor and current Congressional candidate Sam Liccardo, provides a deeper insight into the pernicious nature of this cycle. Sam underscores the deep-seated connection between these elements, painting a picture of a cycle that perpetuates itself but believes it can be dismantled with strategic intervention. His insights, drawn from years in public ...
Guns, Border, and Immigration Reform
February 16, 2024 06:12 - 19 minutes - 38.4 MBEveryone agrees: We are witnessing unprecedented political polarization and deep divides tearing our country's fabric. Since the current leadership in Congress cannot come to terms, the voters have little option but to send a message by electing new representatives and senators to Congress. I had an opportunity to interview a newcomer in the upcoming primary elections in California. Peter Dixon has impressive international accomplishments, entrepreneurial experience, served as a marine in...
The Crisis in Public Safety
February 12, 2024 04:38 - 15 minutes - 29.1 MBIn the run-up to the 2024 elections, Anna Cheng Kramer, a candidate for California's 15th Congressional District, captures the quintessential American narrative of the underdog. The story of Anna Chang Kramer, who is vying for a congressional seat in California's 15th District, offers a unique insight into the immigrant experience. Kramer's narrative, which began in Taiwan, weaves through a background of finance, integrity, and a growing sense of public duty to the community. Kramer’s...
The Stigma of Mental Illness
February 05, 2024 02:12 - 13 minutes - 26 MBNo one wants to admit they are being treated for depression, bi-polar disorder or having thoughts about suicide. The fact is, today's stressful lifestyles will overwhelm the coping mechanisms of many people. My guest believes it's time to remove the stigma and treat mental illness "just like any other disease." Homeless encampments in commercial districts remain a visible and complex challenge. My guest, Dr. Peter Fund, provides insights about the extent of mental illness among the home...
Law & Order Silicon Valley
January 29, 2024 03:28 - 14 minutes - 27.2 MBIn today's blog, we delve into the critical role judges play in our justice system. We had the privilege of speaking with Johnene Stebbins, a seasoned deputy district attorney running for Judge in Santa Clara County. Join us as we explore the responsibilities and challenges judges face in maintaining fairness, integrity, and public safety. We discuss the correlation between the decriminalization of drugs and the rise in homelessness. Drawing insights from our conversation with Joanne Stebb...
Quantifying Startup Risk
January 16, 2024 00:21 - 17 minutes - 20.4 MBIn 2023, approximately 3,200 venture-backed firms in the U.S. went out of business, according to data from PitchBook. These startups had collectively raised about $27.2 billion. Since the failure of Silicon Valley Bank in March 2023, this situation has been described as the most difficult year for startups in at least a decade, with many companies quietly shutting down. So the question is: What is taking place in the early-stage investor community to navigate this re-defined landscape? Is...
Unlocking the Startup Asset Class
January 08, 2024 06:31 - 16 minutes - 15.4 MBThree Key Steps in Constructing the Startup Asset Class One fundamental building block to startup investing is defining the sectors and technologies that will fit your organization's definition of a startup asset class. A second critical step involves creating an education program to explain the purpose, risks, diversification, time horizon, and expected returns in a portfolio of early-stage technology companies. But what can catalyze the growth of your startup investing and the ecosys...
Restructuring the University
December 30, 2023 20:44 - 17 minutes - 15.7 MBUniversities face many challenges in their goal of educating students for engagement in the 21st century economy. In this podcast, we delve into this transformative shift in academia, where the traditional model of university education is being reimagined and revitalized. The University of Cincinnati is at the forefront of this educational revolution, fostering an environment where academic knowledge meets practical application and where failure is viewed not as a setback but as a crit...
The Prop 19 Fix for a Taxation Nightmare
November 27, 2023 05:14 - 17 minutes - 32.3 MBA Crusade for Justice Imagine inheriting your family home, only to find a tax bill that forces you to sell. It's not fiction; it's the startling reality under California's Proposition 19. In this episode, we uncover how this law is upending lives and what's being done to challenge it. Meet Gina C. Louis, our advocate guest driving the charge against this controversial law. Her analysis and expertise shed light on a situation that's more than just numbers – it's about preserving the inher...
The Destructive Power of Party Politics
November 19, 2023 01:14 - 18 minutes - 35 MBIn a candid conversation with our host, Jim Connor, Lydia Kou shares her journey from a reluctant council member drawn into politics by community demand to a passionate advocate for change in Sacramento. With a focus on common sense and fiscal responsibility, Lydia Kou aims to shake up the status quo, where party interests often overshadow the needs of the people. Her unwavering dedication to public safety and her comprehensive approach to homelessness and housing issues highlight her co...
What Happened to California Gov't
November 02, 2023 07:37 - 18 minutes - 35.4 MBMy guest is Gus Mattammal, a congressional candidate representing the northern part of Silicon Valley in the upcoming 2024 election. Gus's story is a testament to the American dream, having risen from a tough neighborhood in St. Louis to become a successful entrepreneur and community leader. His deep love for California and concern about its recent challenges, including population decline and loss of congressional representation, have driven him to step up and take action. In the second pa...
Who Do You Trust in Government?
October 19, 2023 02:16 - 16 minutes - 30.5 MBIn an era marked by political polarization and growing disillusionment, the erosion of trust in government has emerged as a pressing concern. Pew Research has documented a decline in public trust, which has plummeted from 75% in 1960 to a mere 20% today, as a trend that transcends political administrations and warrants urgent attention. This decline is not confined to any specific political party or era; rather, it represents a broader crisis of faith in our democratic institutions. As ...
Gridlock in Congress
September 28, 2023 17:09 - 16 minutes - 14.8 MBWe have observed and, perhaps, suffered from the gridlock in Congress. In today's discussion, we unravel a growing concern within Congress—the increasing percentage of members over 70, many boasting 15 to 30 years of service. This demographic tends to align with their respective political parties, often sidelining the needs and voices of their constituents. Moreover, we explore the troubling interplay between prolonged incumbency, financial backing from special interests, and potential et...
AI Challenges Education
June 26, 2023 21:08 - 22 minutes - 41.5 MBAI-powered tools have revolutionized education, opening up a world of possibilities for students. With access to vast amounts of information and intelligent tutoring systems, students can delve deeper into complex topics, conduct comprehensive research, and gain valuable insights. Chat GPT, with its natural language processing capabilities, provides students with in-depth analysis and personalized guidance, transforming how they approach learning. However, amidst these advantages, concern...
The Dollar Crisis
May 25, 2023 05:12 - 24 minutes - 22.8 MBSince the end of World War II, the U.S. dollar has reigned supreme as the world's reserve currency, facilitating international trade and acting as a safe haven for global financial transactions. However, the landscape is shifting, and various factors are challenging the dollar's dominance. We see several threats faced by the U.S. dollar as a reserve currency that could potentially lead to its replacement with other currencies. Join us as Rishi Kumar, a congressional candidate to represe...
Connecting the Dots
April 26, 2023 02:15 - 25 minutes - 24 MBConnecting the dots: This conversation is about a unique type of dots, specifically Braille dots. Braille was invented over 200 years ago to provide a method for visually impaired people to read using combinations of six dots to represent letters and words. Books translated into Braille are available for the visually impaired. According to the National Federation of the Blind, fewer than 10 percent of the 1.3 million people who are legally blind in the United States are Braille readers....
Automotive AI
March 28, 2023 01:56 - 24 minutes - 23.8 MBFascination and fear of missing out (FOMO) appear to be the most prevalent responses to the emergence of AI engines for the general public. While Chat-GPT has gained the lion’s share of publicity, new AI engines are being announced weekly. Public AI engines such as Chat-GPT, Google’s Bard, and Copy.ai will address a broad range of requests, from writing a blog, writing code, writing a screenplay, and most likely creating legal documents, all subject to human review. But the real value fo...
Seed Stage Venture Capital - How to Find It?
February 01, 2023 21:02 - 42 minutes - 39.3 MBSilicon Valley mythology would have you believe entrepreneurs live in a world where every day is an exciting and intellectually stimulating experience. However, before enjoying any of those positive outcomes, entrepreneurs go through several rites of passage. The first entrepreneur rite of passage is finding that seed funding round. It's often one of the first major stumbling blocks, engaging with the venture community where you have no track record and where traction is a matter of survi...
Dating a Control Freak
January 10, 2023 13:30 - 17 minutes - 16.7 MBYou might recognize this personality in your social and dating relationships, the guy who wants to impress you, dominate the conversation, and make the decisions. You might be concerned about a long-term relationship or an intimate relationship. The CDC published a study about homicide being the leading cause of death for women under the age of 44. The study included a grim statistic. Fifty-five percent of all women homicides were attributed to intimate partner violence, meaning the per...
The Decline of Political Party Affiliation
January 03, 2023 22:00 - 29 minutes - 27.2 MBThe United States has two major political parties: Democratic and Republican. Ask an American voter which one she or he sides with, and the most likely answer is: “neither.” Recent polls say at least 4 in 10 Americans identify as politically independent, even if they tend to “lean” Republican or Democratic on the issues. Only 3 in 10 identify as Democrats and the other 3 in 10 identify as Republicans. The Gallup polling organization calls this a “near historical low” for both major parties....
Escape from Covert Abuse and Coercive Control
December 21, 2022 13:30 - 22 minutes - 20.5 MBOne much-overlooked area in intimate personal relationships is the destructive nature of narcissistic and controlling personalities. We see narcissistic, controlling behavior in politics, business, the media, and entertainment. According to articles in Medical News Today, a controlling personality is a red flag in any relationship, especially in family relationships. Spouses or intimate partners are often subjected to this behavior in private, in the form of covert abuse and coercion. C...
Law Enforcement 2.0 Reset
December 07, 2022 01:00 - 19 minutes - 22.4 MBCalifornia is leading the movement to reclassify felony crimes as misdemeanors. Proposition 47 reclassified a wide range of theft and drug possession crimes from felonies to misdemeanors. Proposition 47 did not spell out specific details on extenuating circumstances for prosecuting these crimes as misdemeanors. The legal system began to create definitions and sentencing guidelines for these reclassified misdemeanors. But many district attorneys simply made the decision not prosecute th...
Drought Cycles and the Future of Water
November 29, 2022 13:30 - 27 minutes - 32 MBAs of July 2022, drought conditions were most severe in the States of California, Texas, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, and New Mexico. In California. In California, 30% of the State’s annual water supply comes from the snowpack in the Sierra Mountains. As of April 2022, the California Department of Water Resources measured the snowpack at only 38% of the long-term average. Gary Kremen and Newsha Ajami provide a thoughtful and insightful perspective on the depth of the problem. We discuss the ...
The Laws of Unintended Consequences
November 01, 2022 11:30 - 23 minutes - 27.1 MBBad laws did not start out as "bad." These laws started with reasonable assumptions, purpose, and intent. However, some laws end up creating severe and harmful adverse outcomes upon implementation. Our conversation with Ted Stroll focuses on the harm being created when the legislature does not respond to the unintended consequences.
Fentanyl, Drug Cartels, & Black Ops
October 25, 2022 12:00 - 16 minutes - 18.9 MBThe CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics has reported an estimated 107,622 deaths from drug overdoses in the United States during 2021. In addition, several states have recorded unusually high drug overdoses among young people, such as West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee. As a country, we have not been able to slow the smuggling or address the growing use of Fentanyl. This interview with W. C. Ballinger, author of Descending Eagle, discusses his book about the Mexic...
Squandering a Super Majority
October 04, 2022 10:30 - 14 minutes - 16.7 MBThere is evidence of discontent among the voters in CA. It comes from the growing disappointment with specific laws, regulations and policies passed by the California State legislature in recent years. The problem can be described as the Law of Unintended Consequences. Several Laws passed by the California legislature, created conditions that were not part of the sponsors’ original intent. Most reasonable people can accept that logic. Every government administration has had this experi...
Can AI Save the Forests?
June 09, 2022 12:30 - 26 minutes - 30.6 MBWe are in the midst of a perfect wildfire storm. Warm temperatures, an ongoing drought, reduced snowpack, and reduced rainfall are contributing to a tinderbox potential for wildfires for this summer of 2022. In 2021, California recorded 8,835 wildfires burning 2.5 million acres. The last seven years have seen a geometric increase in the frequency and destruction caused by wildfires. On November 8, 2018, the most deadly wildfire in California’s recorded history started in the area of Par...
Top Five Issues for the U.S. Senate (CA)
June 02, 2022 12:30 - 26 minutes - 30.1 MBFirst-generation candidate Jon Elist for the U.S. Senate sits down in a Zoom call to discuss the top five issues in his bid to be the new Congressional Senator representing California. Topics include inflation, immigration, homelessness, national security, and why he is willing to move from being the CEO of a healthcare company to a six-year term as a U.S. Senator.
A Silicon Valley Congressional Challenge
May 24, 2022 09:30 - 29 minutes - 33.9 MBCalifornia will hold its primary election on June 7, 2022. Effective January 1, 2011, California changed the way primary elections operate, with a law titled, The Top Two Candidates Open Primary Act. Most of the offices that were previously known as "partisan" are now known as "voter-nominated" offices. All candidates for voter-nominated offices are listed on one ballot and only the top two vote-getters in the primary election – regardless of party preference - move on to the general elect...
A Political Perspective from Silicon Valley
May 02, 2022 13:00 - 21 minutes - 24.9 MBWe admire the person who overcomes adversity to succeed in a chosen profession or line of work. Perseverance, tenacity, and passion create the drive to expand the horizons of the “possible”. This is the story about an individual who transformed his early life struggles into a desire to improve the lives of marginalized communities. Our conversation in this podcast is an eye-opener about the challenges of growing up in a marginalized community. Hard work led to a scholarship to attend UCLA,...
Disrupting the Political Elite
May 02, 2022 13:00 - 21 minutes - 24.9 MBWe admire the person who overcomes adversity to succeed in a chosen profession or line of work. Perseverance, tenacity, and passion create the drive to expand the horizons of the “possible”. This is the story about an individual who transformed his early life struggles into a desire to improve the opportunities in marginalized communities. Our conversation in this podcast is an eye-opener about the challenges of growing up in a marginalized community. Hard work led to a scholarship to at...
Show Me the Startup Money!
April 26, 2022 12:00 - 22 minutes - 25.5 MBRevenue-based financing is gaining traction as an alternative to the traditional startup debt and equity structures. This structure, referred to as revenue-based financing, represents a third rail for entrepreneurs to obtain working capital and for investors to reduce the risk of loss in their investment.
Startup Acquisitions, Part 1 of 2
April 19, 2022 13:00 - 18 minutes - 20.7 MBThere is good news for startup companies. Corporate acquirers are looking for niche products and technologies to fill a gap in their product line or simply grow through acquisition. There are more opportunities than ever before to be viewed as an attractive company for acquisition. But getting noticed by potential acquires requires research, a thorough internal review of valuation points, engagement, and negotiating skills. This podcast is the first of a two-part conversation with an...
Startup Acquisitions, Part 2 of 2
April 19, 2022 12:05 - 20 minutes - 23.5 MBThe buyer has qualified your startup as a potential candidate for acquisition and now the real work begins, defining how the assets of your startup will fit the needs of the acquiring company. My guests, Garry Guseinov and Mark Addison, provide insights into situations that resulted in successful outcomes for all parties or encountered setbacks and ofter failed to close. The final part of this conversation involved a discussion of the value and role of investment bankers.
Living 100 Miles from Ukraine!
March 28, 2022 11:00 - 20 minutes - 23.7 MBSpeaking with a tech entrepreneur in eastern Slovakia, just 100 miles from the Ukrainian border, we get insights into the original Declaration of Ukrainian Independence, the gradual move toward the West, statements about joining NATO and joining the European community. Adding fuel to the conflict, the eastern provinces of Ukraine are Russian-speaking and appear to have cultural ties to Russia. But now Russia has undertaken a devastating invasion, caused over 3 million refugees, and seems com...
Why 10 Million Ukrainians Will Fight Russia
March 14, 2022 06:00 - 23 minutes - 26.3 MBNever before have we had close-up access to personal stories, photographs, and videos showing the violence and destruction of war. But I did sense that part of the story was being overlooked. Ukraine has been transformed from the country it was 30 years ago when it gained independence from the Soviet Union. The country has built an impressive technology sector providing application development services and products which contribute to the employment opportunities for its citizens. So ...
6 Ways to Respond to Memory Loss, Prevent Dementia
December 07, 2020 09:00 - 33 minutes - 38 MBToday, the average life expectancy in the U.S. is 78 years. It’s a remarkable achievement in light of the fact that the average life expectancy during the 18th and 19th centuries was less than 50 years old. Innovations in medical treatment, food production, and hygiene standards have all played a key role. However, the celebration of a longer average life span has been met with a sobering reality about the quality of those later years. There is a general acceptance that most of us will ...
Smart Stadiums Play by Different Rules
February 08, 2020 08:00 - 22 minutes - 30.8 MBProfessional sports face a number of common challenges starting with developing a winning team as well as maintaining brand value within the community and with ticket buyers. While Loyalty, community support, and financial viability are easier with a winning team, in today's connected world, every venue is vying for the attention of the consumer. On a completely separate path, the Smart City movement has defined its mission as bringing the benefits of the digital revolution to city servi...
Part 2: Companies are Bought not Sold
October 09, 2019 07:30 - 25 minutes - 35 MBThe media spends most of their time in the “happy part of Silicon Valley”, with stories about companies that were successfully funded, grew and acquired. The exit or sale of the company sounds like a naturally occurring event, but the effort to sell a startup company is incredibly demanding and the fact is: there are very few public forums that talk about the challenges, strategies, and effort required. This podcast is Part 2 of Companies are Bought not Sold, and explores the strategies a ...
Companies are Bought, not Sold, Part 1
September 24, 2019 07:30 - 25 minutes - 35.4 MBAll entrepreneurs need an exit plan, an opportunity to see their company, generally through an acquisition with an established corporation. The difficult question is knowing when to sell, the terms of the sale and finding the right acquisition partner. This podcast challenges that assumption. It’s actually the buyer who is controlling the decision to acquire and the terms of the transaction. Part 1 of this podcast explores the sequence of events for a Founder and CEO to take his venture-...
Igniting a Startup Ecosystem
September 11, 2019 07:30 - 18 minutes - 26.3 MBEvery city or metropolitan area desires to emulate the startup ecosystem using the Silicon Valley model. However, the success of Silicon Valley did not happen overnight. Building out that ecosystem took a ramp of approximately 20 years along with the engagement and belief of many talented people. Nonetheless, every major metropolitan area is facing the challenge of facilitating the development of a start-up ecosystem or seeing their most promising companies and talented human resources mo...
The Future of Milk
August 31, 2019 07:30 - 22 minutes - 30.9 MBThe depth and breadth of the Agtech movement are transforming many agriculture sectors. The dairy industry is a well-established industry that has received some productivity enhancements over the years. such as automated milking machines. Otherwise, the products and methods have remained the same over the decades and centuries. The dairy sector is now going through a transformation in Ireland. Private industry and the government are making a move to apply 21st-century innovation and pr...
Finding the Seed Investor for your Startup with with Jonathan Wu and Jim Connor
August 27, 2019 07:00 - 26 minutes - 46.1 MBThe startup ecosystem continues to create new products and services that contribute to our productivity and quality of life. The participating parties including research and intellectual property from universities, programs for entrepreneurs, technologists and an established set of service providers from startup accelerators to a range of outsourcing services for everything a startup company needs to grow efficiently. A key driver to allow these components to produce results is the st...
The Cloud Hack at Capital One
August 07, 2019 07:00 - 21 minutes - 29.1 MBOn Monday of last week, Capital One announced a data breach affecting an estimated 106 million Credit card customers and applicants. This is one of the largest Data breaches experienced by a large bank. One noteworthy point is that this cyber theft was conducted against data stored in the cloud-hosted by Amazon Web Services. In the past, most cyber intrusions have been conducted against a corporate data center. Capital One is just one of the many companies that have migrated to cloud s...
Texas Hold 'em for the Angel Investor
July 27, 2019 07:00 - 20 minutes - 28.5 MBThis conversation is with Jamie Rhodes, founder of the Central Texas Angel Network, an active angel investor group, based in Austin, TX. The startup story begins with an accelerator hosted by Texas State University and supported by a group of local mentors and advisors. One of the companies gaining traction in the accelerator was SioTeX. The company ’s Intellectual property which had been funded and developed by Texas State University was a new method to convert rice hulls, which are a w...
Agtech, the Last Frontier, with Sonia Lo, Roger Royse and Jim Connor
July 20, 2019 07:30 - 19 minutes - 26.6 MBAccording to a United Nations study by the year 2050, the world’s population will reach 9.1 billion which is 34 percent higher than today. In order to feed this larger, more urban, and richer population, food production must increase by 70 percent. So the question is given the limits of available farmland and water resources, how are we going to meet this increase in food demand? Agtech Sector Perspective from Roger Royse, Founder Royse Law Firm: Agtech is not just a movement it’s a revo...
Who is Protecting Your Digital Identity
July 16, 2019 08:00 - 12 minutes - 17.8 MBWe hear a great deal of discussion about protecting access to our digital assets, bank accounts, travel services, retail sites and even government agencies like the IRS and State Tax Authorities. The recommendations focus on creating a secure name and password, two-factor authentication and possibly a biometric verification such as a fingerprint or voice print. During the RSA conference in San Francisco, I came across another source of digital identity theft, easily overlooked and there i...
Disrupting Venture Capital
June 04, 2019 08:00 - 21 minutes - 30 MBWhat are your options if you have a real business but there is a lack of engagement from venture capital? In 2015, Congress implemented Title IV of the Jobs Act, which was intended to provide a process for startup companies to sell stock to the general public while remaining a private company. Why haven’t you hear about this process, knows as a Reg A+? The provisions of Reg A+ allow a company to raise up to 50 million, but there are compliance regulations, audits, SEC-mandated discl...
Logic and Passion in building an Autonomous Security Company
May 15, 2019 07:30 - 19 minutes - 26.8 MBMany of the best entrepreneurs have leveraged their corporate experience, contacts, and resources to create new products and deploy a business strategy that was verified while they were corporate managers. Despite having that extensive background in product development and innovation, the life of the founders in any startup is a never-ending roller coaster ride that can easily derail valid ideas, strategies and market needs. The Knightscope story is personal, compelling and demonstrates ju...
Recognizing Phishing and Cyber Attacks
May 02, 2019 08:00 - 17 minutes - 23.6 MBAs I scanned the list of my unread emails, one stood out, coming from [email protected]. The message indicated there was a problem with a credit card transaction, a link was provided to learn more about this problem. I clicked on the link and was taken to an official-looking Citibank web page with a form to login to my account. Fortunately, I did catch myself before completing the login, realizing that this was a classic phishing attack to trick me into providing my login credentials on...