Innovation Calling Syya Yasotornrat and Erin Gregor

Goldstar has been in business for over 18 years, selling tickets to live entertainment, including concerts, theater, sports, and comedy shows.
Co-Founder Jim McCarthy discusses watching his industry go from basically being at the top of their game to nothing in a matter of, literally, 36 hours when the Coronavirus basically shut down the nation.
We also talk about their platform Stellar and that although this may be the end of concerts as we know them, it’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s time to up the game of the virtual experience, and this technology will be critical long after we’re back to a post-COVID world.
Discussion Breakdown:
3:22 - Jim discusses the background of Goldstar, and their footprint in the concert
10:49 - Jim talks more about what was happening in his business in that week when the world started to shut down, and how they were trying to plan for a future that wasn’t known at all.
14:15 - So as we go forward, will people turn back to in-person concerts, or will the landscape change as we know it. Will we always have to have a hybrid option going forward?
19:04 - As we enter into this new normal in the concert world, what makes a great online experience, and how does the online version maintain the connection that makes concerts so special.
21:45 - This is where we jump into what Goldstar is in addition to their product Stellar, and what makes it so different from other online event experiences.
24:15 - Does the need for screen exhaustion need to be considered, and how are they overcoming it by creating experiences vs just one more video to watch.
25:56 - What kind of technical requirements are there to make something like Stellar happen? Jim breaks down the technology and what it’s run on.
29:53 - What about massive hurdles that needed to be overcome to bring this product to life. Is everyone on board with this? Is there any pushback that they have to deal with?
33:20 - The biggest opportunity in entertainment right now and the mindset shift required to have everyone take advantage of it.
34:06 - Who has to be able to jump on this bandwagon to truly make it work? Is it the venues? Or is it the artists, or is it a combination of both?
38:03- When it comes to pushback, what’s causing it? Is it simply just a matter of logistics?
45:03 - What’s on the horizon for Stellar as the online concert experience continues to be the only thing we can look forward to for a while.
You can find out more about Goldstar and Stellar visit:
https://www.goldstar.com/
https://www.stellartickets.com/

Every podcaster has experienced the issue of recording online only to find that the audio quality is extremely lacking. Zach Moreno and Rock Felder, Co-Founders of SquadCast.fm saw this exact need and decided to do something about it.
How did they go from start-up to having some of the brightest minds in podcasting refer to SquadCast.fm as “the industry standard” to record your show remotely? They share their story in this episode of Innovation Calling. From start-up to a huge increase in users thanks to the pandemic, these co-founders have continued to focus primarily on not just filling a need, but making sure their quality is the industry standard.
Join us as these co-founders discuss their mission to empower creatives to continue to engage in meaningful conversations without having to think twice about technology.
5:00 - Where the idea for SquadCast came from, and why it was so important to find a higher quality option for remote recording
10:10 - The ultimate question of when you see a gap, that’s great, but where do you begin to figure out how the gap can be filled, and how you find the right people to actually fill that gap.
11:47 - Why it’s not just about finding an unmet need but focusing to become the absolute best in the world at it.
12:24 - When it comes to creating a new product, how did the feature list get created, and how did you determine what was absolutely non-negotiable for features?
14:04 - Even though the technology is important, what goes into the customer service side? Erin shares a story of how SquadCast.fm came to the rescue after a first time recording disappeared.
15:47 - When it came to launching, what type of MVP did you release, and what were the hiccups/issues that you had to overcome?
20:40 - With the pandemic hitting, there were businesses that thrived, SquadCast.fm being one of them. How were they able to handle the sudden uptick in usage, and was this something they were ready for in their business?
23:31 - When adding something like video capability, what does it take from a technology side to make that happen? How much infrastructure needs to be added?
26:18 - Comparing here you are now, to where you want to go, what are some of the obstacles you’re having to overcome in order to get there?
31:52 - With podcasting being typically a straight audio format, what is SquadCast.fm seeing in terms of the demand for video?
33:33 - With many people thinking they need video, is the return on investment really there or is it many times where great audio production is enough?
35:15 - When it comes to podcasting, what are some of the more unusual podcasts the team at SquadCast.fm has come across?
39:27 - Are more and more businesses using podcasting as a way to grow their audience and customer base?
41:53 - Exploring the standard startup conversation about to get investors or not. SquadCast.fm chose the later, and what as the reason behind that decision? As they grow their company is this a decision that they still feel solid in?
Want to learn more about SquadCast? Visit SquadCast.fm
You can also listen to their podcast Between 2 Mics here: https://between2mics.simplecast.com/episodes/

In a world where we freely give our basic data way, it's hard to know if we truly understand the impact of giving away so much will one day have on our lives. In this episode of Innovation Calling, we sat down with Digital Identity Expert, Max Kirby. Max helps breakdown this extremely complex topic and helps the every day person understand how technology is changing and how that could directly impact our principals.
In this episode we discussed how policy could change as more data is collected, the value of data to other companies, what data we should and shouldn't be giving away, and is it possible to delete our digital footprint forever.
We hope you enjoy this episode.
Here is the full breakdown:
5:20 - Are data privacy issues based on the lack of laws that are currently around them, or are they driven by something else?
8:35 - Are we at a place where Big Brother is already watching us, or do we still have a ways to go before we get ‘there.’
10:19 - Is it just over social media where we’re willing to give up our rights to our data just so we can feel connected to those around us.
15:18 - How dangerous do these issues become when we’re willing to give up even more privacy for the sake of ‘safety’ - as in sharing our medical data, sharing our locations, etc, so people know who are in certain places, and how healthy they are.
19:12 - Are we leading down a path where robots can actually have free will?
25:14 - When data is becoming an even more valuable currency, how do we begin to slow down the collection of data when it’s become more valuable than ever?
29:31 - When we give data to other humans, they forget, and the problem is that computers don’t forget. However, can we ever get computers to forget? Can we ever wipe our data from the internet?
32:50 - When it comes to data, can we ever be more specific of what goes out to the world, but yet be okay with other data? What’s the data that you should be most worried about?
35:18 - When it comes to the fact that we give away our data, should we be getting paid for it since the companies are using it to their advantage?
38:16 - If our identity does become our currency, what does our future look like, and how does Max guide is clients to stay ahead of the curve?
42:17 - What does Max do to protect himself?
Want to learn more about Max? Visit:
https://www.publicissapient.com/ (https://www.publicissapient.com/)
MaxAbstracts.com

We’re watching the need for IoT devices change right in front of our eyes as new use cases for this technology come up due to COVID, and it’s more important now more than ever to allow IoT applications to become easier to build and deploy. Plus it must also be available in areas where cellular networks aren’t as prevalent.
In this episode of Innovation Calling, we had the opportunity to sit down with Alistair Fulton, VP and GM, Wireless & Sensing Products of Semtech. Semtech’s LoRa Technology helps IoT devices by connecting the sensors to the cloud and allowing the opportunity for real-time communication fo data and analytics. These statics can be utilized to enhance efficiency and productivity.
In this discussion, we talked about the basics of IoT, and how Semtech’s LoRa Technology fits within the IoT ecosystem. We also talked about what makes Semtech unique, and how their ability to connect within rural markets is a game-changer. In addition, we covered lots of various use cases and examples of IoT solutions, in addition to what will be on the horizon in the post-COVID world.
Here is the official episode breakdown:
6:49 - We’re starting it basic and defining IoT, in addition to why it’s become such a complicated definition.
8:57 - How does a semiconductor business become such a big player in the IoT community, and why it was so important to make IoT applications and technology easier to use?
13:00 - Why location is one of the most crucial components of IoT.
16:44 - What is it that really makes Semtech unique? Is it just about connecting gadgets or allowing the software on top easier to build?
18:00 - When it comes to the rural market, how does Lora help create a game-changing service for IoT products, and does the introduction of 5G change any of the advantages that they have?
25:21 - How does the cost factor in a product like Lora, is it a cheaper solution because of a lower user of bandwidth? Then we discuss the three types of cost with IoT, the physical cost, the power cost, and the cost of operation.
27:55 - With IoT being such a huge component in Smart Cities, has the need for IoT, and the use cases for IoT changed at all because people are now staying at home more with quarantine?
30:30 - The interesting use cases of IoT in a post COVID rule and how standard procedures used to be okay, will no longer be acceptable when trying to navigate this new world.
34:31- Another great use of body temperature sensors, being able to monitor temperatures and statuses in real-time.
38:07 - What fine lines are we crossing, and where does the liability lie if we begin to monitor the health of people who enter buildings, etc? And why solutions that anonymize data will be crucial.
45:21 - Do Telco companies look at this service as a competitor or an ally?
You can learn more about Semtech by visiting Semtech.com (http://www.semtech.com/).

In times of crisis, you'll see the rise of amazing companies, and Xenex, a company that is the world leader in UV technology-based infection prevention strategies and solutions, is one of them. You may not have heard of Xenex, but the next time you visit a hospital, there's a good chance a Xenex robot will have cleaned your room before you checked-in.
Xenex's Robots are making the world a better place by destroying the microorganisms that cause hospital acquired infections, and have seen a huge increase in demand since COVID-19 became an everyday word in the United States.
In this episode of Innovation Calling, we talked with Xenex's Co-Founder, Mark Stibich to talk about this amazing technology, and what makes it so unique and effective, in addition to learning more about what's changed for this business since this pandemic struck, and where we can see their robots outside of hospitals, plus so much more.

Here's the official episode breakdown:
5:36 - Understanding Xenex’s background, and where the idea was first born.
8:14 - Digging deeper into the technology, and why this product is so amazing. Who was able to determine that this type of light could actually kill bacteria at a deeper level?
11:35 - When it comes to understanding a higher frequency, is that the wavelength is lower, which allows it to penetrate smaller organisms, or what is it exactly that makes it so much more successful?
13:09 - With the emergence of COVID, how has demand changed, and what’s been one of the biggest obstacles that Xenex has had to overcome to keep up?
17:49 - When it came to supply chain issues and part issues suddenly not becoming available, how were they able to overcome with the new issues?
19:10 - Does this then change the trajectory of the business, and when you’re in the midst of a pandemic with a product that can make such a huge difference, how do future products change?
21:19 - With the main product using light at such a high frequency does it cause harm to humans?
23:47 - Are Xenex’s robots meant to replace the cleaning staff, or is this something that simply enhances the cleaning experience?
28:47 - What makes Xenex’s disinfection techniques so unique, and what kind of rate can they clean rooms in addition to the quality of the cleanliness?
31:42 - Is it possible technology like this will go past the hospital especially as we see companies taking sanitizing more seriously?
34:25 - What kind of lifespans do the robots have?
36:03 - As the light bursts out, is there a limit on the efface over distance or is it like a lightwave where it can go miles and miles?
36:47 - Can something like this be used in sports stadiums?
40:17 - Xenex was actually invited to participate in an incubation program at the Houston Technology Center. What was that experience like for starting and growth?
42:30 - How important was it for someone to find the partners who understood the technology and could grow with it?
43:08 - When first growing, what kind of objections were hospitals providing as they were trying to implement the product?
47:08 - The great story about how all of the robots get named,

The good and bad news is that no perfect leader exists. So as much as every leader wants to strive for greatness, the reality is that they’re going to hit some obstacles and make messes along the way. Failure isn’t the end, though, and it’s crucial to understand the qualities that the great leaders possess that help them endure through the difficult times. How do they stand after a failure? How can they learn to not just lead through crises like pandemics and recessions, but how can elevate a team and a company through them?



This is just some of what we discussed in this episode of Innovation Calling with Franklin Covey’s Executive Vice President of Thought Leadership, Scott J. Miller.
Scott is a 20+ year veteran in the Leadership Space, Wall Street Journal Best-Selling Author, and Podcast Host.
We dug deep into understanding what makes great leaders great (and it’s not a 100% success rate), how to have the hard conversations in times like this, yet still confidently lead your team. Plus stay til the end where Scott provides two important pieces of advice. Learn what ‘friending-up’ means, in addition to one simple thing co-founders/partners can do to create a lasting business.
Interested in learning more about Scott’s Book, Management Mess to Leadership Success: 30 Challenges to Become the Leader You Would Follow, click here to grab your copy. (http://Management%20Mess%20to%20Leadership%20Success:%2030%20Challenges%20to%20Become%20the%20Leader%20You%20Would%20Follow%20(Wall%20Street%20Journal%20Best%20Selling%20Author,%20Leadership%20Mentoring%20&%20Coaching,%20Management%20Science%20&%20Skills))
Here’s The Full Episode Breakdown:
5:26 - Learning more about Scott, and the start of his career at Disney, and how that shaped him into who he is today
7:21 - What’s the difference between being fearless and being reckless, and how can leaders embrace that things might be messy, yet harness fearlessness without being reckless? How does vulnerability play a role in leadership?
10:29 - Why leaders shouldn’t focus on being a genius, but should instead focus on being a genius maker, and why this is crucial to leading great teams. Plus what it means to be an active listener.
16:11 - Why great leaders must possess empathy and a high EQ
19:02 - Can leaders actually learn to be empathetic?
22:04 - In times like we’re living in today, how can leaders learn to approach hard conversations with grace. Plus why it’s important to show as leaders that we don’t have all the answers, and why we can ask permission to have real conversations, which we may get wrong.
27:57 - Why every leader should learn to declare their intent before any conversation begins, and how it can help to diffuse any situation.
31:10 - How does having a strong personality hinder or help people in leadership roles?
33:34 - How to find the balance of family of business, and do we live in a world where there is no longer a separation of personal and professional lives?
37:29 - When it comes to creating a vision, what can leaders do to not just bring a vision to life,