AigoraCast

John Ennis

Conversations with industry experts on how new technologies are impacting sensory and consumer science.

  1. Decio Cataldi and Matteo Bonfini - What a Time to Be Alive

    13H AGO

    Decio Cataldi and Matteo Bonfini - What a Time to Be Alive

    welcome back everyone to another episode of AigoraCast. Today, I'm very happy to have Decio Cataldi and Matteo Bonfini from Adacta International on the show. Decio Cataldi is the executive director at Adacta International, a leader in consumer and sensory research. In his role, Decio oversees the company's strategic and financial direction with a specific focus on driving growth through technological innovation. With a background in strategy consulting, M&A, and restructuring, he brings analytic rigor to the field, spearheading Adacta's efforts to integrate AI into sensory and consumer science to create more predictive, data-driven research models. Meanwhile, Matteo Bonfini is a food scientist and senior researcher at Adacta International where he leads sensory and consumer science projects for major global CPG companies. Matteo specializes in decoding consumer perception across diverse international markets, translating deep sensory data into actionable strategies for product innovation. He's dedicated to exploring how emerging technologies can enhance traditional methodologies and push the boundaries of consumer research. So, Decio and Matteo, welcome to the show. Social Links & Resources LinkedIn: Decio Cataldi LinkedIn: Matteo Bonfini Company: Adacta International Expertise Areas:  AI Integration in Sensory Science Data-Driven Research Models Global Consumer Perception Strategic Product Innovation

    35 min
  2. Damir Torrico - Always Ask

    APR 23

    Damir Torrico - Always Ask

    Hi, I'm Dr. John Ennis, CEO at Aigora. In this episode, I had a wonderful conversation with Dr. Damir Torrico, an Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. I particularly enjoyed our discussion on why curiosity is so vital, and specifically how "always asking" and pushing back on AI outputs is the key to achieving real fluency with these new tools. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did, and remember to subscribe to AigoraCast to hear more conversations like this one in the future! Short Bio Dr. Damir Torrico is an Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, specializing in the intersection of food properties, human physiology, and consumer behavior. His research focuses on flavor perception, emotional responses to food, and salt/sugar reduction strategies. With a global academic background spanning Louisiana State University, the University of Melbourne, and the University of Costa Rica, Damir utilizes emerging technologies like virtual reality and biometrics to capture authentic consumer insights. His work aims to bridge the gap between laboratory testing and real-world eating experiences to create foods that are both nutritious and highly palatable. Social Links & Resources LinkedIn: Damir Torrico University Profile: UIUC Faculty Directory Expertise Areas: * Ingestive Behavior & Physiology Healthy Aging & Nutritional Sensory Science VR & Biometric Consumer Research

    37 min
  3. Wei Qin, PhD - Stretch your Limits

    MAR 25

    Wei Qin, PhD - Stretch your Limits

    Hi, I'm Dr. John Ennis, CEO at Aigora. In this episode, I caught up with my longtime friend, Dr. Wei Qin, Global Director of the Insights Center of Excellence at Ingredion. I particularly enjoyed her story about a flavorist using AI to find a molecule they hadn't considered. It is a great example of her view of AI as a "stretcher" for human limits. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did, and remember to subscribe to AigoraCast to hear more conversations like this one in the future! Social Links & Resources LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wei-qin-50078211/ Company: https://www.ingredion.com/ Latest Book: Gen X Asian Americans: From Learning to Thriving Expertise Areas: Flavor Modulation & Sensory Measurement Market Research & Consumer Behavior Center of Excellence (CoE) Strategy Social Media Insights for R&D Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by Wei Qin in this episode are her own and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Ingredion or Wei's former employers.

    37 min
  4. The Human Dimension

    MAR 16

    The Human Dimension

    Welcome back, everyone, to another episode of Aigoracast. Our guest today is Dr. Riccardo Accolla. Dr. Riccardo Accolla is a neuroscientist and food innovation leader dedicated to creating more resilient food systems through technology and human-centric insights. As the Director of Innovation at Thimus, he applies his expertise in multisensory perception, reward, and emotion to develop product strategies that resonate with consumers on a cognitive level. With over 20 years of experience, Riccardo's career spans leadership roles at global flavor houses and food-tech startups. He previously led the design of sustainability-tracking software at ripe.io and founded A-T4H Consulting to support "better-for-planet" food solutions. Riccardo holds a PhD in Neuroscience from the Swiss Polytechnic Federal Institute (EPFL) and a Master's in Biomedical Engineering from the Polytechnic School of Milan.   Social Links & Resources LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/riccardoaccolla/ Company: https://www.thimus.com/ Expertise Areas: * Multisensory Food Perception Neuro-Innovation Sustainable Food Systems Consumer Emotions and Reward Mechanisms

    36 min
  5. Todd Renn - Don't Check Your Brain at the Door

    12/16/2025

    Todd Renn - Don't Check Your Brain at the Door

    Welcome back, everyone, to another episode of Aigoracast. Our guest today is Todd Renn, a distinguished leader in consumer insights and sensory science with over 25 years of experience driving innovation at industry giants like PepsiCo, Pfizer, Clorox, and Land O'Lakes. Holding a PhD in food science and advanced credentials in business analytics from UT Austin and Wharton, Todd excels at bridging the gap between R&D and marketing, turning complex data into clear, actionable business stories. Now the founder of Todd Renn and Associates, he is dedicated to helping organizations sharpen their commercial impact and training sensory scientists to evolve into strategic business partners.

    35 min
  6. Thomas Wiecki - The Future of Work

    12/02/2025

    Thomas Wiecki - The Future of Work

    Hi, I'm Dr. John Ennis, President at Aigora. In this episode, I have the great pleasure of speaking with Thomas Wiecki, co-author of PyMC. Thomas and I turned out to have a lot in common, and it was a great pleasure to talk with an enthusiastic and like-minded traveler working to figure out this brave new world we all find ourselves in. We hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. And remember to subscribe to AigoraCast to hear more conversations like this one in the future.

    36 min
  7. Off to See the Wizard

    10/13/2025

    Off to See the Wizard

    Dr. Michelle Murphy Niedziela is a behavioral neuroscientist and founder of Nerdoscientist, specializing in integrating consumer neuroscience, behavioral science, and traditional research methods to decode consumer response. With a multidisciplinary approach, she helps organizations apply cognitive science tools to drive product innovation and strategy, bridging the gap between consumer perception, decision-making, and product experience.

    35 min
  8. Maria Keckler - Human Skills

    07/01/2025

    Maria Keckler - Human Skills

    Hi, I'm Dr. John Ennis, co-founder of Aigora and host of AigoraCast.  This episode I enjoyed speaking with Dr. Maria Keckler, co-founder of the EmpathyRx Lab at San Diego State University.  Maria is very easy to talk to, and I really enjoyed her ideas on the importance of human skills in the age of AI.  I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did, and remember to subscribe to AigoraCast to hear more conversations like this one in the future! Guest: Dr. Maria Keckler, EmpathyRx Lab, SDSU Dr. Maria Keckler is a keynote speaker, executive advisor, and strategist, known for her expertise in leadership development amidst the rise of AI. She holds a Ph.D. in Education from Claremont Graduate University, where she focused on the interplay of neuroscience, education, and behavior change. Dr. Keckler excels at bridging academic research with practical applications, empowering leaders to leverage human strengths. Her commitment to empathetic leadership is evident in her roles as co-founder of the Healthcare EmpathyRX Lab at SDSU and editor of The Structural Skills Project. Dr. Keckler is also the author of "Bridge Builders: How Superb Communicators Get What They Want" and has been honored as one of San Diego's 50 Most Influential Latino Leaders. Links Research: Empathyrx.sdsu.edu Website: DrMariaKeckler.com Newsletter: JustOnePivot.com Publication: The Structural Skills Project

    33 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

Conversations with industry experts on how new technologies are impacting sensory and consumer science.

Information

  • Creator
    John Ennis
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Aigora, LLC
  • Show Website
    AigoraCast