Disruption / Interruption

JoTo PR
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When did you say ”THAT’S IT! I’VE HAD IT!”? Time to Disrupt and Interrupt with host Karla Jo. Every week KJ interviews professionals who are disrupting their industries and altering economic networks that have been antiquated with bull-headed predecessors holding up the progress. KJ delves into uncovering more from industry rebels and innovators that you didn’t know you needed in your life.

  1. Disrupting Diagnostics: How AI is Turning Your Cough into a Biomarker with Julian Circo

    11H AGO

    Disrupting Diagnostics: How AI is Turning Your Cough into a Biomarker with Julian Circo

    In this episode of Disruption/Interruption, KJ sits down with Julian Circo, Co-Founder of Hyfe, a company revolutionizing respiratory health diagnostics through AI-powered cough monitoring. Julian shares his unconventional journey from humanitarian work in post-conflict zones to building the world's largest cough dataset—over 700 million samples. The conversation explores how Hyfe is transforming coughing from a subjective symptom into an objective, quantifiable biomarker, enabling better research, drug development, and patient care. Julian discusses the challenges of disrupting the conservative pharmaceutical industry, the surprising complexity of measuring coughs, and Hyfe's groundbreaking digital therapeutic for chronic cough sufferers.   Four Key Takeaways [0:41] Coughing is Medicine's Most Common Yet Least Understood Symptom - Despite being the single most common symptom in medicine for over a century, medical science still cannot answer basic questions like "what is a normal amount of coughing for a healthy person?" Even top pulmonologists disagree significantly on this fundamental question. [11:27] Building the World's Largest Cough Dataset Required Creative Problem-Solving - Hyfe collected over 700 million cough samples by launching a free consumer app during COVID-19 that monitored coughs in the background. This approach solved the critical challenge of gathering diverse, real-world data across different demographics, environments, and microphones—essential for training accurate AI models. [21:52] Pharma's Resistance to Disruption is Actually Rational - The pharmaceutical industry's notorious resistance to innovation stems from legitimate needs: trials spanning months or years require consistent measurement methods to compare data over time. Hyfe succeeded by "leading with science" rather than pitching disruption, focusing on the measurable value they create. [27:30] A Digital Therapeutic Offers Hope Where 15 Drug Trials Failed - Over the past 13 years, 15 pharmaceutical molecules for chronic cough treatment have failed clinical trials. Hyfe is developing a digital therapeutic based on behavioral cough suppression therapy—similar to physical therapy for joints—that has already shown 40% efficacy in preliminary research, offering hope to the one in ten Americans suffering from chronic cough.     Quote of the Show (4:28):"People innovate as a way of life. It’s not a luxury. You have to find ways to communicate. You have to find ways to access goods. You have to find ways to make do…” – Julian Circo   Join our Anti-PR newsletter where we’re keeping a watchful and clever eye on PR trends, PR fails, and interesting news in tech so you don't have to. You're welcome.   Want PR that actually matters? Get 30 minutes of expert advice in a fast-paced, zero-nonsense session from Karla Jo Helms, a veteran Crisis PR and Anti-PR Strategist who knows how to tell your story in the best possible light and get the exposure you need to disrupt your industry. Click here to book your call: https://info.jotopr.com/free-anti-pr-eval   Ways to connect with Julian Circo: LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/icirco/Company Website: https://www.hyfe.com/Failed Chronic Cough Candidates: https://support.hyfe.com/hubfs/HTML/failed_antitussives_timeline.htmlCoughPro: https://coughpro.com/ How to get more Disruption/Interruption:  Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/eccda84d-4d5b-4c52-ba54-7fd8af3cbe87/disruption-interruption Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/disruption-interruption/id1581985755 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6yGSwcSp8J354awJkCmJlD See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    34 min
  2. Disrupting GovTech: Killing Government Paperwork with Peter Justen

    FEB 5

    Disrupting GovTech: Killing Government Paperwork with Peter Justen

    In this episode of Disruption/Interruption, KJ sits down with Peter Justen, CEO of Ameritrust Solutions as he shares how they are revolutionizing Medicaid applications by reducing a 200-question, months-long process to just 20 questions answered in 12 minutes. Using verified third-party data, their system saves states billions while helping vulnerable populations access healthcare faster. The solution addresses a $750 billion program plagued by fraud and inefficiency, helping hospitals recover $30 billion in uncompensated care while ensuring the right people get benefits they desperately need.   Four Key Takeaways The Medicaid Application Crisis (9:50) - Traditional Medicaid applications contain up to 209 questions across 45 pages, taking 4-6 months to process. Only 14-17% of applications are complete when submitted, creating massive delays for people who need immediate healthcare access. The 12-Minute Solution (16:20) - By asking just 20 essential questions and using verified third-party data to auto-populate the remaining 189 fields, Ameritrust reduces processing time from months to 12 minutes while maintaining federal compliance. Massive Cost Savings (21:40) - Texas alone could save $2 billion annually by implementing this system - enough to resurface 100 miles of highway, pay 30,000 teachers for a year, or keep dozens of rural hospitals alive. Hospital Revenue Recovery (19:30) - 65% of the $45 billion in hospital uncompensated care involves patients who qualify for Medicaid but haven't applied. The system embeds into hospital intake, getting patients approved before procedures so hospitals get paid from day one.   Quote of the Show (35:33):"My definition of entrepreneurship is the relentless pursuit of opportunities without regard to the resources at hand." – Peter Justen   Join our Anti-PR newsletter where we’re keeping a watchful and clever eye on PR trends, PR fails, and interesting news in tech so you don't have to. You're welcome.   Want PR that actually matters? Get 30 minutes of expert advice in a fast-paced, zero-nonsense session from Karla Jo Helms, a veteran Crisis PR and Anti-PR Strategist who knows how to tell your story in the best possible light and get the exposure you need to disrupt your industry. Click here to book your call: https://info.jotopr.com/free-anti-pr-eval   Ways to connect with Peter Justen:LinkedIn:  https://linkedin.com/in/peterjustenCompany Website: https://ameritrustsolutions.com How to get more Disruption/Interruption:  Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/eccda84d-4d5b-4c52-ba54-7fd8af3cbe87/disruption-interruption Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/disruption-interruption/id1581985755 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6yGSwcSp8J354awJkCmJlD See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    41 min
  3. Disrupting the Skills Crisis: Mastering Learning with VR and AI with Colin Cooper

    JAN 29

    Disrupting the Skills Crisis: Mastering Learning with VR and AI with Colin Cooper

    In this episode of Disruption/Interruption, KJ sits down with Colin Cooper, CEO and co-founder of Illuminate XR, to explore the massive skills gap threatening our workforce. With over 100 companies under his belt and thousands of global hires, Colin has witnessed firsthand how our 200-year-old education system is failing to prepare people for today's AI-driven world. Discover how immersive technology, emotional intelligence training, and personalized learning are revolutionizing the way humans learn, and why the next few years will determine whether we step into the "age of humanity" or fall behind forever. Four Key Takeaways The Education System Is 200 Years Behind (4:42) Our schools still operate on an industrial-age factory model designed to create compliant workers, not creative thinkers. Classrooms haven't fundamentally changed in over 1,000 years, and curriculum remains rooted in preparing students for a world that no longer exists. Meet Learners Where They Are (7:40)Real learning happens when you reduce cortisol and increase dopamine by connecting education to personal interests. Whether it's tailoring physics lessons to football or basketball, or using horses to teach emotional intelligence, personalization is the key to engagement and retention. AI Should Amplify, Not Replace (20:05) The future isn't about AI replacing teachers or workers—it's about using AI as a personal assistant to handle repetitive tasks. Start by identifying one repetitive task in your job and automate it with AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, or Perplexity. We're Living Through 25 Years of Progress Every Year (29:20)The convergence of AI and VR—technologies that shouldn't have merged for another 15-20 years—has compressed innovation timelines. What used to take 10-15 years to bring to market now takes weeks. The next 3-4 years will be transformative, and we have one shot to get it right.  Quote of the Show (29:40):"When a year goes by, you normally get one year's worth of progress, but where we're at today, a year goes by and it's like 20 to 25 years of technology growth." – Colin Cooper Join our Anti-PR newsletter where we’re keeping a watchful and clever eye on PR trends, PR fails, and interesting news in tech so you don't have to. You're welcome. Want PR that actually matters? Get 30 minutes of expert advice in a fast-paced, zero-nonsense session from Karla Jo Helms, a veteran Crisis PR and Anti-PR Strategist who knows how to tell your story in the best possible light and get the exposure you need to disrupt your industry. Click here to book your call: https://info.jotopr.com/free-anti-pr-eval Ways to connect with Colin Cooper:LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/colinmbcooper/Company Website: https://illuminatexr.com How to get more Disruption/Interruption: Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/eccda84d-4d5b-4c52-ba54-7fd8af3cbe87/disruption-interruptionApple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/disruption-interruption/id1581985755Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6yGSwcSp8J354awJkCmJlD See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    33 min
  4. Disrupting Retention: Hacking Employee and Customer Profits with Joey Coleman

    JAN 22

    Disrupting Retention: Hacking Employee and Customer Profits with Joey Coleman

    In this episode of Disruption/Interruption, KJ sits down with Joey Coleman, two-time Wall Street Journal bestselling author and expert in experience design and retention strategy. Joey reveals the shocking truth about employee turnover—costing businesses a trillion dollars annually—and shares his proven framework for transforming the first 100 days of any relationship. From his background as a criminal defense attorney and White House advisor to consulting with NASA, Volkswagen, and Zappos, Joey brings unique insights into why companies lose employees and customers, and more importantly, how to keep them.   Four Key Takeaways The First Day Crisis (10:25) 4% of all new hires quit after their first day of work globally, and by day 45, that number jumps to 22%. By the one-year mark, 40% of employees have left—costing U.S. businesses approximately $1 trillion annually. The True Cost of Turnover (13:00) Replacing an employee costs between 100-300% of their annual salary just to get someone new into the seat—not including their actual salary and benefits. For a $50,000 employee, you're looking at $50,000-$150,000 in replacement costs alone. HR's Shift from Culture to Compliance (27:00) Over the past 50 years, HR departments have shifted focus from creating great workplace cultures to managing compliance, documentation, and litigation prevention—leaving no one responsible for making the workplace the best it can be. The Remarkable Organization Test (35:31) "The way you know you're running a remarkable organization is if you announce you're hiring and your existing employees immediately recommend amazing people they want to work with. In most organizations, internal referral candidates measure close to zero."   Quote of the Show (28:12):"There is no one who wakes up in the morning, looks in the mirror and says, 'My primary job when I get to work today is to make sure that this is the best place that any of these people have ever worked.'" – Joey Coleman   Join our Anti-PR newsletter where we’re keeping a watchful and clever eye on PR trends, PR fails, and interesting news in tech so you don't have to. You're welcome.   Want PR that actually matters? Get 30 minutes of expert advice in a fast-paced, zero-nonsense session from Karla Jo Helms, a veteran Crisis PR and Anti-PR Strategist who knows how to tell your story in the best possible light and get the exposure you need to disrupt your industry. Click here to book your call: https://info.jotopr.com/free-anti-pr-eval   Ways to connect with Joey Coleman: LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeycoleman1/ How to get more Disruption/Interruption:  Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/eccda84d-4d5b-4c52-ba54-7fd8af3cbe87/disruption-interruption Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/disruption-interruption/id1581985755 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6yGSwcSp8J354awJkCmJlD See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    41 min
  5. Disrupting the GTM Lie: Why Most Growth Strategies Are Just Chaos with Ed Locher

    JAN 15

    Disrupting the GTM Lie: Why Most Growth Strategies Are Just Chaos with Ed Locher

    In this episode of Disruption/Interruption, marketing veteran Ed Locher pulls back the curtain on B2B marketing's biggest lie: that the MQL machine actually drives growth. As CMO of PureFacts Financial Solutions and author of "Digital Transformation: People, Process and Technology," Ed reveals why 15 years of marketing automation created a sugar rush that's now crashing, and how AI can help fix it without repeating the same mistakes. This is a no-holds-barred conversation about emotional connection, the 95% of buyers marketers ignore, and why marketing tenure averages just 18 months.   Four Key Takeaways: The MQL Mirage Is Built on a Lie 8:56Marketing automation promised accountability through MQLs, but overdelivering on MQL targets quarter after quarter never translated to actual revenue growth. The entire system targets only the 5% of the market ready to buy right now—ignoring the 95% who need demand creation, not demand capture. B2B Buying Committees Have Tripled in Size 16:30The buying committee for enterprise B2B purchases has exploded from 5 people to 16. You can't build credibility and trust with 16 stakeholders through email sequences—you need emotional connection and personalized storytelling that speaks to each person's specific drivers (CFO cares about ROI, compliance cares about regulations, operations cares about not making headlines). AI Raises the Floor, Not the Ceiling 29:59AI protects terrible marketers from themselves by raising the quality floor, but it hasn't raised the bar for great marketing. The real opportunity lies 3-4 standard deviations above the mean—where human empathy, emotional triggers, and genuine understanding of customer pain create outsized impact that AI can't replicate. Marketing Attribution Is a Myth 44:13There will never be a "cast iron steel rod of attribution" connecting marketing activities directly to purchases. Marketers who work for leadership that doesn't understand this are doomed to 18-month tenures, chasing MQL targets that deliver short-term sugar rushes followed by revenue crashes. The rare CEO or investor who recognizes this broken motion is the problem—not the marketer—creates space for real growth. Quote of the Show (44:13):"There will never be a cast iron steel rod of attribution that says marketing did X, which led to this person buying something. It just doesn't work that way.” — Ed Locher   Join our Anti-PR newsletter where we’re keeping a watchful and clever eye on PR trends, PR fails, and interesting news in tech so you don't have to. You're welcome.   Want PR that actually matters? Get 30 minutes of expert advice in a fast-paced, zero-nonsense session from Karla Jo Helms, a veteran Crisis PR and Anti-PR Strategist who knows how to tell your story in the best possible light and get the exposure you need to disrupt your industry. Click here to book your call: https://info.jotopr.com/free-anti-pr-eval   Ways to connect with Ed Locher: LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/edlocher/ Company Website: https://purefacts.com   How to get more Disruption/Interruption:  Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/eccda84d-4d5b-4c52-ba54-7fd8af3cbe87/disruption-interruption Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/disruption-interruption/id1581985755 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6yGSwcSp8J354awJkCmJlD See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    48 min
  6. Disrupting Biotech: How DNA Nanorobots Are Rewriting the Rules of Drug Discovery with Jurek Kozyra

    JAN 8

    Disrupting Biotech: How DNA Nanorobots Are Rewriting the Rules of Drug Discovery with Jurek Kozyra

    In this episode of Disruption/Interruption, host KJ sits down with Jurek Kozyra, founder and CEO of Nanovery, to explore how DNA nanotechnology and AI are revolutionizing molecular medicine. Discover how tiny nanorobots made from DNA could dramatically accelerate drug development, make diagnostics faster and more affordable, and potentially cure diseases that were previously untreatable. From detecting diseases in hours instead of days to cutting years off the drug development process, this conversation reveals the cutting-edge science that's transforming healthcare.   Four Key Takeaways: The Promise of Oligonucleotide Therapeutics (9:06) Traditional medicine targets defective proteins, but many diseases can't be cured because we can't find the right molecule. Oligonucleotide therapeutics target mRNA—the underlying mechanism of disease—meaning you could potentially cure all diseases since all proteins come from mRNA. DNA Nanorobots for Rapid Detection (14:12) Nanovery's DNA nanorobots can detect diseases in blood samples within 2-4 hours compared to traditional lab tests that take two days. These self-assembling machines produce fluorescent signals when they find specific DNA or RNA molecules, enabling point-of-care diagnostics. Accelerating Drug Development (17:13) Pharmaceutical companies race against 20-year patents while drugs take 10+ years to develop. Nanovery's technology provides more accurate data at lower cost and time, potentially shaving years off the development process and helping more drugs successfully reach the market. Real-World Clinical Validation (20:26) In a hospital study with 170 patient samples, Nanovery's technology delivered same or better results than traditional tests in just two hours instead of two days—a game-changer for emergency situations like drug overdoses where immediate answers are critical.   Quote of the Show (9:05):"If you can target mRNA very specifically, that means that in theory you could potentially cure all diseases. That's why this area is so exciting right now." – Jurek Kozyra   Join our Anti-PR newsletter where we’re keeping a watchful and clever eye on PR trends, PR fails, and interesting news in tech so you don't have to. You're welcome.   Want PR that actually matters? Get 30 minutes of expert advice in a fast-paced, zero-nonsense session from Karla Jo Helms, a veteran Crisis PR and Anti-PR Strategist who knows how to tell your story in the best possible light and get the exposure you need to disrupt your industry. Click here to book your call: https://info.jotopr.com/free-anti-pr-eval   Ways to connect with Jurek Kozyra: LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/j3ny/ Company Website: https://nanovery.co.uk   How to get more Disruption/Interruption:  Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/eccda84d-4d5b-4c52-ba54-7fd8af3cbe87/disruption-interruption Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/disruption-interruption/id1581985755 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6yGSwcSp8J354awJkCmJlD See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    31 min
  7. Disrupting VC Blind Spots: Using Near-Death Crises to Build Seven Unicorns with Chris Dolezalek

    JAN 2

    Disrupting VC Blind Spots: Using Near-Death Crises to Build Seven Unicorns with Chris Dolezalek

    In this episode of Disruption/Interruption, host KJ sits down with Chris Dolezalek, Executive Vice President of R&D at Hum Capital. Chris shares his journey from Silicon Valley’s most highly funded startup to leading innovation in venture capital. He discusses the flaws in traditional VC, the power of resilience, and how technology and human insight are reshaping funding for diverse founders. Listeners will hear hard-won lessons from the edge of chaos, stories of near-failure and rebirth, and practical advice for founders seeking capital in uncertain times.   Four Key Takeaways: Resilience is Essential [29:46]Chris emphasizes the importance of getting up after setbacks, sharing the Japanese saying, “Get knocked down seven times, get up eight,” and how resilience is a key trait for founders. Venture Capital Needs Disruption [8:15]Traditional VC relies on personal networks and outdated data, often excluding minority and female founders. Hum Capital is using real-time financial data and AI to democratize access to funding. Human Insight Complements AI [19:35]While AI can flag promising companies, Chris explains the need for human judgment—what he calls “AI whispering”—to make the best investment decisions. Learned Resilience and Growth [36:05]Chris introduces the concept of “learned resilience”—not just bouncing back, but learning from setbacks to come back stronger and smarter.   Quote of the Show (32:52):“The truth about software is the Milli Vanilli effect. You don’t have to be able to sing. You just have to look good.” – Chris Dolezalek   Join our Anti-PR newsletter where we’re keeping a watchful and clever eye on PR trends, PR fails, and interesting news in tech so you don't have to. You're welcome.   Want PR that actually matters? Get 30 minutes of expert advice in a fast-paced, zero-nonsense session from Karla Jo Helms, a veteran Crisis PR and Anti-PR Strategist who knows how to tell your story in the best possible light and get the exposure you need to disrupt your industry. Click here to book your call: https://info.jotopr.com/free-anti-pr-eval Ways to connect with Chris Dolezalek: LinkedIn:  http://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisdolezalek Company Website: https://humcapital.com   How to get more Disruption/Interruption:  Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/eccda84d-4d5b-4c52-ba54-7fd8af3cbe87/disruption-interruption Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/disruption-interruption/id1581985755 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6yGSwcSp8J354awJkCmJlD See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    38 min
  8. Disrupting FinTech: AI to Replace Entire Banking Operations Stack, with Jayesh Kumar

    12/26/2025

    Disrupting FinTech: AI to Replace Entire Banking Operations Stack, with Jayesh Kumar

    In this episode of Disruption/Interruption, host KJ sits down with Jayesh Kumar, Co-Founder at Aonami. Discover how legacy systems are being disrupted, the challenges of digital transformation, and why true innovation means building solutions that give time back to people.   Four Key Takeaways: The Problem with Legacy Systems [6:10]Banks and healthcare institutions are bogged down by dozens of outdated, patchwork systems, making innovation slow and compliance difficult. Meeting Clients Where They Are [14:54]True disruption comes from understanding a client’s current state and building solutions that fit their unique needs, rather than forcing a one-size-fits-all approach. The Human Side of B2B Sales [20:03]Selling transformative technology to large organizations is about building relationships and convincing multiple teams, not just one decision-maker. The Real Goal of Technology [28:47]The ultimate aim of innovation should be to give people time back, making work more productive, creative, and compassionate.   Quote of the Show (34:23):"True disruption really happens not by doing a lot of work, but by doing less in a much smarter way. You should be building systems that start giving time back to people." – Jayesh Kumar   Join our Anti-PR newsletter where we’re keeping a watchful and clever eye on PR trends, PR fails, and interesting news in tech so you don't have to. You're welcome.   Want PR that actually matters? Get 30 minutes of expert advice in a fast-paced, zero-nonsense session from Karla Jo Helms, a veteran Crisis PR and Anti-PR Strategist who knows how to tell your story in the best possible light and get the exposure you need to disrupt your industry. Click here to book your call: https://info.jotopr.com/free-anti-pr-eval   Ways to connect with Jayesh Kumar: LinkedIn:  http://www.linkedin.com/in/jayeshrout Company Website: https://aonamitech.com   How to get more Disruption/Interruption:  Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/eccda84d-4d5b-4c52-ba54-7fd8af3cbe87/disruption-interruption Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/disruption-interruption/id1581985755 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6yGSwcSp8J354awJkCmJlD See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    30 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

When did you say ”THAT’S IT! I’VE HAD IT!”? Time to Disrupt and Interrupt with host Karla Jo. Every week KJ interviews professionals who are disrupting their industries and altering economic networks that have been antiquated with bull-headed predecessors holding up the progress. KJ delves into uncovering more from industry rebels and innovators that you didn’t know you needed in your life.

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