Converge

Converge Institute
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  • TECHNOLOGY
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Where brilliant minds come together to empower disruption. Each week, we explore topics that delve into Fintech, Blockchain and AI through the lens of guests who are building the future. Brought to you by the Converge Institute - a collective of thought leaders, future thinkers and fintech enthusiasts that are at the top of their industries. https://letsconverge.org/

  1. 02/28/2025

    Empowering Disruption with David Chen

    BankSocial CEO, John Wingate sits down with David Chen, entrepreneur, advisor, and leader specializing in scaling businesses, building brands, and driving growth through strategic innovation and collaboration. With expertise across diverse industries—sports, esports, fashion, entertainment, tech, real estate, and finance—David partners with companies to unlock their full potential and achieve measurable results. $5B+ in IPOs ICOs, M&A Advisor in business, sports, esports, tech & finance, partner w/Miami pro league , FaZe Clan, BKFC and more.

    52 min

  2. 02/21/2025

    Empowering Disruption with R. Brad Oates

    CEO of BankSocial, John Wingate sits down with R. Brad Oates, Chairman of Stone Advisors abd former NFL Player. Brad Oates is Chairman of Stone Advisors, a corporate governance advisory firm. He is a widely-respected presenter, speaker, and author on board/management corporate governance, business ethics, stakeholder capitalism, enterprise risk management, organizational leadership, corporate strategy, and cyber governance. Former senior Governance Leader experience includes: Chairman, Texas Savings and Community Bankers; Chairman, NFC Global; Chairman, Universal Hardwood Flooring; Chairman, eBureau; Chairman, RiskWise International; President, LexisNexis Risk Solutions; Executive Vice President, Stone Capital; President/COO, Bluebonnet Savings Bank. Brad is Director Certified by NACD; and is an Executive Masters Professional Director with the American College of Corporate Directors. He is on the Advisory Board at the Institute for Excellence in Corporate Governance at the University of Texas at Dallas. He has served as an Independent Director on multiple private and public company boards; and is a recognized Cyber Governance Expert.

    1h 13m

  3. 02/14/2025

    Empowering Disruption with Blake Kuhre

    BankSocial COO, Becky Reed sits down with Blake Kuhre, Co-Founder and CEO of LAPS (https://laps-inc.com/.) Blake Barrett Kuhre is an accomplished tech startup and entertainment executive with a proven track record in monetization, strategic growth, and emerging technologies. Based in Los Angeles but a proud Texan born in San Antonio and raised in Dallas, Blake has led high-growth ventures with multiple exits, achieving Top 10 highest-grossing rankings on Google Play and the App Store. His expertise spans entertainment and e-commerce live streaming, web3, and talent incubation and development strategy across new media and entertainment industries. Blake has held leadership roles at The Meet Group (acquired by ProSieben & General Atlantic), LiveMe (predecessor to TikTok), Hulu, Underknown, Newzulu (predecessor to Citizen), and The Walt Disney Company. He has also co-founded ventures in web3, live streaming, e-commerce, and immersive DOOH (Digital Out of Home) helping shape the creator economy, with LAPS being his latest venture focusing on virtual influencers and digital doubles. His ability to scale businesses from 0-1 and build strategic partnerships has made him a sought-after leader in the digital space. Beyond his work in tech and media, Blake is a dedicated advocate for animal welfare and documentary filmmaker. He founded Furry Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on animal rescue in South Los Angeles, and has spearheaded public-private partnerships to support animals in need. With a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia, Blake brings a unique blend of storytelling, analytical thinking, and business acumen to everything he does. He’s passionate about innovation, social impact, and the future of digital engagement.

    52 min

  4. 02/07/2025

    Empowering Disruption with Dr. Lamont Black

    John Wingate, CEO of BankSocial sits down with Dr. Lamont Black to talk Empowering Disruption, Wide Open Ventures, AI and the Future of Credit Unions. Dr. Lamont Black is a finance professor at DePaul University in Chicago and a recognized expert on emerging technologies including artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency, blockchain, and the metaverse. He recently joined Filene Research Institute as a Fellow and is now doing research on “The Credit Union of the Future.” Dr. Black is a regularly invited speaker for conferences, strategy sessions, and the media to discuss the impact of emerging tech on business strategy. His award-winning teaching has been featured in the Chicago Tribune and includes courses on business technology, data analytics, and cryptocurrency. Prior to joining DePaul, Dr. Black was an economist at the Federal Reserve in Washington D.C. during the financial crisis. He received a Ph.D. in finance and economics from Indiana University and a B.A. from Stanford University. His personal website lamontblack.com has additional information about his speaking, teaching, and research. And you can now watch Dr. Black on AmazonPrime and AppleTV in the new crypto documentary “The Highest of Stakes”!

    48 min

  5. 01/24/2025

    Empowering Disruption with Harvey Castro

    CEO of BankSocial Becky Reed sits down with Harvey Castro, MD, MBA to talk about healthcare, AI, innovation and the future. Harvey Castro is a physician, health care consultant, and serial entrepreneur with extensive experience in the health care industry. He can be reached on his website, harveycastromd.info, Twitter @HarveycastroMD, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. He is the author of Bing Copilot and Other LLM: Revolutionizing Healthcare With AI, Solving Infamous Cases with Artificial Intelligence, The AI-Driven Entrepreneur: Unlocking Entrepreneurial Success with Artificial Intelligence Strategies and Insights, ChatGPT and Healthcare: The Key To The New Future of Medicine, ChatGPT and Healthcare: Unlocking The Potential Of Patient Empowerment, Revolutionize Your Health and Fitness with ChatGPT's Modern Weight Loss Hacks, Success Reinvention, and Apple Vision Healthcare Pioneers: A Community for Professionals & Patients. Dr. Castro aims to increase awareness of digital health and implement positive changes in the field. He has held various positions throughout his professional career, including CEO, physician, and medical correspondent. He has a strong track record of success and is known for his innovative thinking, having developed multiple health care apps and served as a medical correspondent for major media outlets.

    36 min

  6. 01/10/2025

    Empowering Disruption with Tommy Shull

    John Wingate, CEO of BankSocial sits down with Tommy Shull to discuss Empowering Disruption in the creative production industry, Beyonce, AI and honoring the creative craft while enhancing it with AI. TOMMY SHULL, Creative, Principal of Stuck in Motion Creative first, budget-cruncher second, Tommy leads each project with the brand in mind at every step. He rose through the ranks mastering mixed-media editing—combining archival assets with animation, kinetic and graphic text, and original video footage shot on location to tell a powerful narrative. He spent his early freelance days editing for artists such as Beyoncé, Jay-Z, U2 and agencies such as McCann, Dentsu and 360i. Tommy later moved on to line producing agency campaigns for print, digital, on-air, and experiential with budgets between $10K and $1M. His deep understanding of production, post and technical workflow lead him to start STUCK IN MOTION in 2017.

    53 min

  7. 01/09/2025

    Empowering Disruption with Chad Smith

    BankSocial's CEO, John Wingate sits with Chad Smith, Marketing Director at ShareGain. Chad Smith is the Director of Marketing at Sharegain, bringing over 16 years of expertise in global marketing strategy, brand awareness, and customer engagement. Chad has a proven track record of helping financial professionals master the art of marketing products and services. His impressive career includes pivotal roles at industry giants like Blackrock and Fitch Ratings. Chad's marketing prowess spans digital, content, social, and web marketing, with a sharp focus on CRM integrations and automations that supercharge business development teams' reach and impact.

    45 min

  8. 01/03/2025

    Empowering Disruption with Caroline Willard

    BankSocial COO, Becky Reed sits with Caroline Willard, President and CEO of Cornerstone League. Cornerstone is a trade association that supports over 600 credit unions in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. She is also the Vice Chair of the National Advisory Board for Credit Unions for Kids.

    37 min
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Ratings & Reviews

3
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Where brilliant minds come together to empower disruption. Each week, we explore topics that delve into Fintech, Blockchain and AI through the lens of guests who are building the future. Brought to you by the Converge Institute - a collective of thought leaders, future thinkers and fintech enthusiasts that are at the top of their industries. https://letsconverge.org/

Information

  • Creator
    Converge Institute
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    20
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 Converge Institute
  • Show Website
    Converge