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Вміст надано Established. Весь вміст подкастів, включаючи епізоди, графіку та описи подкастів, завантажується та надається безпосередньо компанією Established або його партнером по платформі подкастів. Якщо ви вважаєте, що хтось використовує ваш захищений авторським правом твір без вашого дозволу, ви можете виконати процедуру, описану тут https://uk.player.fm/legal.
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All About Change


Tiffany Yu is the CEO & Founder of Diversability, an award-winning social enterprise to elevate disability pride; the Founder of the Awesome Foundation Disability Chapter, a monthly micro-grant that has awarded $92.5k to 93 disability projects in 11 countries; and the author of The Anti-Ableist Manifesto: Smashing Stereotypes, Forging Change, and Building a Disability-Inclusive World. As a person with visible and invisible disabilities stemming from a car crash, Tiffany has built a career on disability solidarity. Now that she has found success, she works to expand a network of people with disabilities and their allies to decrease stigmas around disability and create opportunities for disabled people in America. Episode Chapters 0:00 Intro 1:26 When do we choose to share our disability stories? 4:12 Jay’s disability story 8:35 Visible and invisible disabilities 13:10 What does an ally to the disability community look like? 16:34 NoBodyIsDisposable and 14(c) 21:26 How does Tiffany’s investment banking background shape her advocacy? 27:47 Goodbye and outro For video episodes, watch on www.youtube.com/@therudermanfamilyfoundation Stay in touch: X: @JayRuderman | @RudermanFdn LinkedIn: Jay Ruderman | Ruderman Family Foundation Instagram: All About Change Podcast | Ruderman Family Foundation To learn more about the podcast, visit https://allaboutchangepodcast.com/…
Somewhat Frank
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Вміст надано Established. Весь вміст подкастів, включаючи епізоди, графіку та описи подкастів, завантажується та надається безпосередньо компанією Established або його партнером по платформі подкастів. Якщо ви вважаєте, що хтось використовує ваш захищений авторським правом твір без вашого дозволу, ви можете виконати процедуру, описану тут https://uk.player.fm/legal.
Somewhat Frank is a podcast hosted by Frank Gruber, Jen Consalvo, and John Guidos about technology innovations, startups, and personal life. It’s produced with the help of our company, Established.
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Вміст надано Established. Весь вміст подкастів, включаючи епізоди, графіку та описи подкастів, завантажується та надається безпосередньо компанією Established або його партнером по платформі подкастів. Якщо ви вважаєте, що хтось використовує ваш захищений авторським правом твір без вашого дозволу, ви можете виконати процедуру, описану тут https://uk.player.fm/legal.
Somewhat Frank is a podcast hosted by Frank Gruber, Jen Consalvo, and John Guidos about technology innovations, startups, and personal life. It’s produced with the help of our company, Established.
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Somewhat Frank

1 #0077 - AI Relationships, ChatGPT Making Us Dumber, Jeff Bezos’ Wedding - Somewhat Frank Podcast 56:30
On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (X and IG: @FrankGruber), John Guidos (IG: jgoodtimes83), Jen Consalvo (X: @noreaster), and Simon Kahan (IG: simonkahan) discuss the following topics: Frank has been making music. Check him out at: @frankgrubermusic on Instagram and TikTok, or sign up for text alerts on music drops at laylo.com/frankgrubermusic Your Brain on ChatGPT: MIT Measures the Mental Cost of AI Writing - MIT ran a study with 54 participants writing essays using either their brain, a search engine, or ChatGPT—then tracked brain activity using EEG. Ram Trucks fires up a near-perfect brand apology ad - CEO Tim Kuniskis apologizes for discontinuing the Hemi V-8—with doughnuts, drifts, and a NASCAR lap. A Couples Retreat With 3 AI Chatbots and the Humans Who Love Them https://www.wired.com/story/couples-retreat-with-3-ai-chatbots-and-humans-who-love-them-replika-nomi-chatgpt/ Jeff Bezos Wedding - Bezos proposed in 2023 in the south of France with a 30‑carat pink diamond ring valued at $3–5 million We also upload our episodes to YouTube in video format so you can see us now. Check it out on Established YouTube, where you can subscribe to get updates when we drop a new episode at: https://soty.link/ESTYouTube As always, thank you for listening, and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us…
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Somewhat Frank

1 #0076 - CNBC’s 50 Most Disruptive Companies, Why Smaller VC Funds are Outperforming Large Funds - Somewhat Frank Podcast 51:38
On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (X and IG: @FrankGruber), John Guidos (IG: jgoodtimes83), Jen Consalvo (X: @noreaster), and Simon Kahan (IG: simonkahan) discuss the following topics: The After-Work Happy Hour Is Dying Apple News – The Cut - Remote work, shifting priorities, and social fatigue are changing workplace culture. CNBC 2025 Disruptor 50 List - CNBC Article OpenAI Expands Into Meetings, Docs, and Cloud Storage - TechCrunch article AI-Designed Drug Shows Promise - Bloomberg article Small Funds, Big Wins - James Heath VC – Substack World’s Tallest 3D-Printed Building - Tom’s Hardware First Mushroom Casket Burial in the U.S. Happens in Maine - Portland Press Herald We also upload our episodes to YouTube in video format so you can see us now. Check it out on Established YouTube, where you can subscribe to get updates when we drop a new episode at: https://soty.link/ESTYouTube As always, thank you for listening, and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us…
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Somewhat Frank

1 #0075 - Sesame Street’s Netflix Deal, OpenAI and Jony Ive, and Napster’s AI-fueled Comeback - Somewhat Frank Podcast 37:11
On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (X and IG: @FrankGruber) and (Simon Kahan IG: @SimonKahan) discuss the following topics: Sesame Street Heads to Netflix - the iconic PBS show is heading to Netflix under a new licensing deal. OpenAI x Jony Ive’s Mysterious AI Device - OpenAI is teaming up with Jony Ive — the design genius behind Apple’s most iconic products — to build a totally new kind of AI-first device. Rock-it Cargo’s $1B Live Events Logistics Deal - the company that handles logistics for massive global tours and sporting events — just got acquired in a $1 billion deal. Should the Penny Be Retired? - It costs almost 3 cents to make a 1-cent coin — and the U.S. Mint is finally rethinking whether the penny still makes sense. Napster Reboots as a $1.5B AI Music Startup - Napster is back — but this time, it’s a $1.5 billion AI-powered music company. We also upload our episodes to YouTube in video format so you can see us now. Check it out on Established YouTube, where you can subscribe to get updates when we drop a new episode at: https://soty.link/ESTYouTube As always, thank you for listening, and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us…
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Somewhat Frank

1 #0074 - OpenAI Reverses Back to its Nonprofit Roots, Elon Musk’s Own City, Chobani Doubles Down on Dairy, and ChatGPT Sparks Strange Delusions - Somewhat Frank Podcast 52:46
On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (X and IG: @FrankGruber), John Guidos (IG: jgoodtimes83), and Jen Consalvo (X: @noreaster) discuss the following topics: OpenAI Changes Course Will Remain A Nonprofit - OpenAI will remain under the control of its nonprofit despite previous plans to convert fully to a for-profit model; its business division will instead become a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC) overseen by the nonprofit. Inside Starbase: Elon Musk’s Town - Starbase was officially incorporated as a city after a 212–6 vote, with most voters being SpaceX employees or their relatives; no traditional campaigning occurred. Why Chobani’s Founder Hamdi Ulukaya Is Investing $1.2B in A State of the Art Dairy Farm in Upstate New York - Chobani CEO Hamdi Ulukaya is investing $1.7 billion in two major U.S. manufacturing expansions: $1.2 billion for a new facility in Rome, New York, and $500 million to expand the company’s Idaho plant. ChatGPT Users Are Developing Bizarre Delusions - AI chatbots like ChatGPT are fueling delusional beliefs in some users, who claim to receive sacred missions or mystical revelations, often worsening preexisting mental health issues. Elizabeth Holmes’s Partner Has a New Blood-Testing Startup - Billy Evans, partner of convicted Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes, is raising funds for a new diagnostics startup named Haemanthus, which aims to revolutionize health testing starting with pets and eventually humans. Do you sit on the floor? - Sitting and moving from the floor regularly strengthens lower-body muscles and balance, which can help prevent falls—a major health risk for older adults, according to longevity expert Dan Buettner. We also upload our episodes to YouTube in video format so you can see us now. Check it out on Established YouTube, where you can subscribe to get updates when we drop a new episode at: https://soty.link/ESTYouTube As always, thank you for listening, and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us…
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Somewhat Frank

1 #0073 - Signal of Life on a Distant Planet, Lab-Grown Teeth, Midwest’s Rise as an AI Data Center - Somewhat Frank Podcast 44:35
On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (X and IG: @FrankGruber), John Guidos (IG: jgoodtimes83), and Simon Kahan (X: @simonkahan) explore the following topics: Founders, investors, startup teams, entrepreneur support organizations (ESOs), and innovators, we invite you to join the Established Network, our digital hub where creativity, capital, and collaboration collide. https://established.network . As part of the Established Network, we also host the Monthly Innovation Circle, with some great featured speakers and we’ll continue hosting these events on the third Thursday of every month. Sign up today at: est.us/TheMIC2025 Astronomers Detect Possible Signal of Life on a Distant Planet - Astronomers have detected a potential biosignature on exoplanet K2-18b, located approximately 120 light-years away in the constellation Leo King’s College Scientists’ Lab-Grown Teeth Breakthrough - Researchers at King’s College London have successfully grown fully functional teeth in laboratory settings, marking a significant advancement in regenerative dentistry. Midwest Emerges as a Hub for AI Data Centers - The Midwest is experiencing a surge in data center construction, driven by the growing demand for AI and cloud computing services. Fun With AI Generated Images - We have been testing ChatGPT’s new viral image manipulation capabilities. We also upload our episodes to YouTube in video format so you can see us now. Check it out on Established YouTube, where you can subscribe to get updates when we drop a new episode at: https://soty.link/ESTYouTube As always, thank you for listening, and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us…
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Somewhat Frank

1 #0072 - TechCrunch's Sale, 23andMe, Lab-Grown Meats, and Bill Gates' AI-driven Future Vision - Somewhat Frank Podcast 52:11
On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (X and IG: @FrankGruber), John Guidos (IG: jgoodtimes83), and Jen Consalvo (X: @noreaster) discuss the following topics: TechCrunch sold again - TechCrunch has been sold again – Yahoo has sold the tech news site to private equity firm Regent for an undisclosed amount. 23andMe Files For Bankruptcy, what does that mean for the security of your genetic data? - 23andMe is filing for bankruptcy – The genetic testing company has struggled financially due to its one-time purchase model and declining sales. It is now seeking a buyer, and co-founder Anne Wojcicki has stepped down as CEO but hopes to repurchase the company. Banning Lab Grown Meats - Mississippi bans lab-grown meat – The state unanimously passed a bill prohibiting the cultivation and sale of cell-derived meat, with penalties including fines and jail time. Similar bans have been enacted in Florida and Alabama, with other states considering restrictions. Bill Gates on AI and job s - In a recent interview, Bill Gates discussed the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the workforce, including AI’s role in medicine and education, potential job disruptions, etc. Your AI lover will change you - The normalization of AI lovers is imminent, with AI-powered chatbots and virtual companions becoming more interactive, personalized, and emotionally engaging. This could fundamentally reshape human relationships. YouTube Shorts - YouTube Shorts is a short-form video experience for creators. Frank started to upload some videos this past week to test it out with a couple of videos here: https://www.youtube.com/@FrankGruber/shorts Sunnier Days For Sesame Street? - Sesame Workshop is facing financial struggles – The nonprofit behind Sesame Street is losing its lucrative HBO contract, worth $30–$35 million per year, and dealing with lost government grants, creating a projected $40 million deficit. We also upload our episodes to YouTube in video format so you can see us now. Check it out on Established YouTube, where you can subscribe to get updates when we drop a new episode at: https://soty.link/ESTYouTube As always, thank you for listening, and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us…
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Somewhat Frank

1 #0071 - Major Acquisitions by PepsiCo and Google, Historic Sale of the Boston Celtics, the Prolonged NASA Mission Return, and More - Somewhat Frank Podcast 45:00
On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (X and IG: @FrankGruber), John Guidos (IG: jgoodtimes83), Jen Consalvo (X: @noreaster), and Simon Kahan (IG: @simonkahan) discuss the following topics: The Established Network’s Monthly Innovation Circle kicked off on March 20th with some great featured speakers and we’ll be hosting a new one on the third Thursday of every month. The next one is set for April 17th at 3pm ET. Sign up at: est.us/TheMIC2025 Frank got a chance to talk with Jenny Fielding, an investor from Everywhere Ventures, about her new book Venture Everywhere. Check out the interview here: https://podcast.startupofyear.com/0135-jenny-fielding-on-venture-everywhere-and-investing-in-global-startups PepsiCo buys prebiotic soda brand Poppi for nearly $2 billion – will this make the M&A market pop right open for other startups? - PepsiCo’s $1.95 Billion Deal: PepsiCo acquired prebiotic soda brand Poppi for $1.95 billion, which includes $300 million in anticipated cash tax benefits, resulting in a net purchase price of $1.65 billion. Google to Acquire Cybersecurity Company Wiz for $32 billion - Alphabet, Google's parent company, has agreed to acquire cybersecurity startup Wiz for $32 billion, marking its largest acquisition to date. Celtics Sold To Private Equity-Led Group For $6.1 Billion - Biggest Sports Sale In U.S. History - The Boston Celtics have been sold for $6.1 billion, setting a new record for the highest price paid for a U.S. sports team, surpassing the $6.05 billion sale of the NFL’s Washington Commanders in 2023. NASA astronauts who were supposed to be in space for nine days returning to Earth after nine months on ISS - NASA astronauts Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita "Suni" Williams are returning to Earth after an extended nine-month mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). We also upload our episodes to YouTube in video format so you can see us now. Check it out on Established YouTube, where you can subscribe to get updates when we drop a new episode at: https://soty.link/ESTYouTube As always, thank you for listening, and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us…
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Somewhat Frank

1 #0070 - AI Is Reshaping Startups, Digg, Colossal Bioscience’s Mammoth Mice, Private Moon Landing, and More - Somewhat Frank Podcast 50:43
On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (X and IG: @FrankGruber), John Guidos (IG: jgoodtimes83), and Simon Kahan (IG: @simonkahan) discuss the following topics: We are hosting the Established House in Austin on Friday, March 7th, with a couple of featured conversations, a barista spinning our delightful lattes and teas and lots of opportunities to connect with one another. If you’ll be in Austin, please join us! RSVP at: est.us/house25 AI Is Changing How Silicon Valley Builds Startups - The traditional Silicon Valley model of heavy fundraising and large headcounts is being replaced by AI-driven efficiency, with companies like Anysphere and ElevenLabs reaching $100M revenue with under 50 workers. Also, here is Frank’s take on it: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7299885251869196288/ Mice have been genetically engineered to look like mammoths - Colossal Biosciences genetically engineered mice with mammoth-like fur by altering up to five genes, though only one matches the mammoth genome exactly. Here are some more thoughts on the animal/human hybrid topic: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/japan-approves-first-human-animal-embryo-experiments/ Digg is coming back, thanks to its founder Kevin Rose — and Reddit’s success - Digg is relaunching with Kevin Rose as chair, Alexis Ohanian as an adviser, and Justin Mezzell as CEO, aiming to revive its “homepage of the internet” legacy. A Private Space Mission Just Successfully Landed on the Moon for the First Time - Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lunar module became the first private company’s lander to successfully touch down on the moon, landing on March 2, 2025. We also upload our episodes to YouTube in video format so you can see us now. Check it out on Established YouTube, where you can subscribe to get updates when we drop a new episode at: https://soty.link/ESTYouTube As always, thank you for listening, and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us…
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Somewhat Frank

1 #0069 - Escalating Egg Prices, DeepSeek, Stargate, Boom Supersonic, Starlink, and More - Somewhat Frank Podcast 46:42
On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (X and IG: @FrankGruber), John Guidos (IG: jgoodtimes83), and Jen Consalvo (X: @noreaster) discuss the following topics: Egg Prices Are Sky High - Avian flu is back and hitting close to home, impacting poultry farms and sending egg prices soaring. DeepSeek Shakes Up the AI Landscape - Chinese AI company DeepSeek dethroned ChatGPT as the #1 free app on the App Store. Markets reacted sharply, despite no independent verification of DeepSeek’s claims. What to know about 'Stargate,' the $500 billion AI infrastructure project - A $500 billion AI infrastructure initiative led by OpenAI, Oracle, SoftBank, and MGX to expand U.S. data centers. The First Solar Data Center on the Moon - A Florida startup, Lonestar, is setting up the first-ever lunar data center. Boom Supersonic - Boom Supersonic successfully tested its prototype jet, reaching supersonic speeds over the Mojave Desert. Apple & SpaceX Team Up for Starlink on iPhones - Apple & SpaceX partnering to bring satellite connectivity to iPhones, which eliminates dead zones, providing coverage in remote areas. We also upload our episodes to YouTube in video format so you can see us now. Check it out on Established YouTube, where you can subscribe to get updates when we drop a new episode at: https://soty.link/ESTYouTube As always, thank you for listening, and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us…
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Somewhat Frank

1 #0068 - CES 2025 Recap, the New Space Race, the TikTok Ban, the Martha Stewart Documentary - Somewhat Frank Podcast 1:00:39
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On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (X and IG: @FrankGruber), John Guidos (IG: jgoodtimes83), Jen Consalvo (X: @noreaster,) and Simon Kahan (IG: @simonkahan) discuss the following topics: CES 2025 Recap - The annual Consumer Electronics Show brings together the latest in technology product announcements. Earlier this month Las Vegas was once again full of robotics and AI-based systems. At CES 2025, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang also unveiled several significant advancements Two Private Space Launches In One Day - On Thursday, January 16, 2025, both Blue Origin and SpaceX conducted significant rocket launches with mixed outcomes. TikTok Prepared for US Shutdown - TikTok was preparing to shut down its app for U.S. users on Sunday, January 19, 2025. However, the ban was short lived and TikTok is now back up and running…for now. We also upload our episodes to YouTube in video format so you can see us now. Check it out on Established YouTube, where you can subscribe to get updates when we drop a new episode. https://soty.link/ESTYouTube As always, thank you for listening, and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us…
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Somewhat Frank

1 #0067 - Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson Fight, Netflix's Streaming Failure, Comedian/Banana Art, Developments in AI, Paw Paw Fruit - Somewhat Frank Podcast 43:52
On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (X and IG: @FrankGruber), John Guidos (IG: jgoodtimes83), Jen Consalvo (X: @noreaster,) and Simon Kahan (IG: @simonkahan) discuss the following topics: Here are some tips for the winter and how to beat seasonal depression - Bright light boxes can mimic natural light, which is especially helpful on dark winter days. Paul vs. Tyson Fight/Debacle That Brings Down Netflix - The boxing match between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson on November 15, 2024, drew significant global attention. Bitcoin Surges Above $94,000 to All-Time High. What’s Behind the Surge - Bitcoin has reached an unprecedented high of nearly $95,000, marking a 35% increase since the November 5th election. Have you seen the Banana Art? - Maurizio Cattelan’s artwork “Comedian”, featuring a banana duct-taped to a wall, is going to auction at Sotheby’s in New York. Speaking of Fruit — Have you ever had a PawPaw? - Pawpaws, a fruit native to North America, are seeing renewed interest as climate change allows them to grow in areas previously unsuited to their tropical flavor and requirements. A Writer for The NY Times Let AI Make All decisions for a Week, Here’s What Happened AI being used to understand what Pigs are saying - Researchers in Europe have developed an AI algorithm to decode emotional expressions in pig sounds, aimed at improving animal welfare. Whoopi Goldberg Is Looking To Change The Way We View Women's Sports With A Newly Launched Channel That Will Focus On Ladies, And Ladies Only - Whoopi Goldberg announced she's launching the All Women's Sports Network (AWSN), the first global channel exclusively dedicated to live women's sports. We also upload our episodes to YouTube in video format so you can see us now. Check it out on Established YouTube, where you can subscribe to get updates when we drop a new episode. https://soty.link/ESTYouTube As always, thank you for listening, and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us…
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Somewhat Frank

1 #0065 - OpenAI’s Swarm Feature, Nvidia’s Open-Source LLM, NFL Guardian Caps, and Halloween Fun Facts - Somewhat Frank Podcast 48:47
On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (X and IG: @FrankGruber), John Guidos (IG: jgoodtimes83), Jen Consalvo (X: @noreaster,) and Simon Kahan (IG: @simonkahan) discuss the following topics: OpenAI unveils experimental ‘Swarm’ framework, igniting debate on AI-driven automation - OpenAI introduced Swarm, an experimental framework for multi-agent AI networks that can collaborate on tasks autonomously. Nvidia released an open-source LLM to rival GPT-4 - Nvidia, which builds some of the most highly sought-after GPUs in the AI industry, has announced that it has released an open-source large language model that reportedly performs on par with leading proprietary models from OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta, and Google. Why WordPress founder Matt Mullenweg has gone ‘nuclear’ against tech investing giant Silver Lake - Matt Mullenweg, founder of WordPress and CEO of Automattic, is in a public dispute with WP Engine, backed by private equity firm Silver Lake, over alleged trademark violations and misuse of WordPress branding. This has resulted in lawsuits and legal threats from both sides. WordPress powers roughly 40% of all websites. NFL Helmet Caps - NFL players are wearing Guardian Caps during practice and games to reduce head impact. These caps provide added protection by absorbing shock during collisions. Two people communicate in dreams: Inception movie-styled sci-fi turned into reality - The most intriguing aspect is the creation of the “Remmyo” language, which allows the decoding of sounds produced in dreams. This opens the door for future advancements, including the possibility of real-time, interactive conversations during lucid dreams. Superhuman - an email client designed to improve productivity and efficiency for users. It is primarily known for its speed, sleek interface, and powerful features that enhance the email experience beyond what traditional email clients like Gmail offer. We also upload our episodes to YouTube in video format so you can see us now. Check it out on Established YouTube, where you can subscribe to get updates when we drop a new episode. https://soty.link/ESTYouTube As always, thank you for listening, and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us…
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Somewhat Frank

1 #0064 - Hurricane Helene, Open AI’s Funding Round, the State of Venture Q3 Report, the Future of Education 37:28
On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (X and IG: @FrankGruber), Jen Consalvo (X: @noreaster,) and Simon Kahan (IG: @simonkahan) discuss the following topics: Frank was in Baltimore for the EcoMap Technologies’ inaugural event, the SuperConnect conference, which aims to bring ecosystem builders from all over the country together. Click here to read Frank’s recap. Running five days a week reduces cellular aging Chronic stress accelerates cellular aging by shortening telomeres, potentially aging the body by 9 years, but physical exercise and stress management techniques can help mitigate these effects, as shown in a study of 63 women. A tiny town just got slammed by Helene. It could massively disrupt the tech industry Hurricane Helene's flooding of quartz mines in Spruce Pine, North Carolina threatens to disrupt tech manufacturing, particularly microchips and renewable energy technologies, with potential shortages and price increases for sectors like automotive and electronics, and a lengthy recovery process ahead. Open AI Raises largest VC round in history $6.6B OpenAI is raising $6.6B, the largest VC round in history, valuing the company at $157B, as it considers spinning off parts of its business to improve efficiency, support long-term AI research, and address the pressure to increase profitability while balancing ethical AI considerations in a competitive market. CBInsights Venture Capital Q3 report is out Venture capital deal activity has slowed for the third consecutive quarter, with global market uncertainty causing a significant drop in exit value below $40 billion, cautious fundraising from limited partners, and downward trends in both U.S. and global markets as investors await interest rate cuts. AI Replacing Teachers In The Classroom At UK-Based Dave Game College David Game College has introduced the UK's first AI-powered classroom, using AI to enhance student engagement and personalize learning in STEM subjects through a hybrid model where AI facilitates lessons, adapts to individual learning styles, and assists teachers by handling routine tasks and analyzing student progress. XHab 3D — 3D printing concrete construction buildings XHAB 3D is revolutionizing industries like automotive, aerospace, healthcare, and consumer goods with next-generation 3D printing technology that enhances manufacturing speed and flexibility while prioritizing environmental sustainability, collaborating with industry leaders to offer scalable solutions and investing in continuous innovation through research and development. We also upload our episodes to YouTube in video format so you can see us now. Check it out on Established YouTube, where you can subscribe to get updates when we drop a new episode. https://soty.link/ESTYouTube As always, thank you for listening, and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us…
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Somewhat Frank

On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (X and IG: @FrankGruber), John Guidos (IG: jgoodtimes83), Jen Consalvo (X: @noreaster,) and Simon Kahan (IG: @simonkahan) discuss the following topics: Apple 'Glowtime' event sees iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro, Apple Watch unveilings Apple just wrapped up an event at its headquarters in Cupertino, California, where it unveiled new versions of the iPhone, AirPods and Apple Watch. Founder Mode vs Manager Mode Paul Graham distinguishes between "Founder Mode" and "Manager Mode" in running companies. In founder mode, leaders remain deeply involved in day-to-day operations, while manager mode focuses more on delegating tasks and relying on middle management. The Silent Venture Capital & Startup Recession The data is clear: startups and venture capital are in a recession that is as bad as the recession of 2008. Andreessen Horowitz Is Closing Miami Office After Two Years Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) closed its Miami Beach satellite office just two years into a five-year lease due to disuse. Mosquito Virus Dangers As climate change progresses, there has been an uptick in diseases spread by mosquitoes, such as West Nile virus, dengue fever, and Zika, posing more significant health threats globally. We also upload our episodes to YouTube in video format so you can see us now. Check it out on Established YouTube, where you can subscribe to get updates when we drop a new episode. https://soty.link/ESTYouTube As always, thank you for listening, and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us…
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Somewhat Frank

1 #0062 - Investments in AI, US Presidential Race, CrowdStrike Disruption, SearchGPT Launch, and More 41:20
On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (X and IG: @FrankGruber), Jen Consalvo (X: @noreaster,) and Simon Kahan (IG: @simonkahan) discuss the following topics: The Automated Lawn Care Robot from OtO - OtO has released an automated lawn care robot that is smart, easy to set up, and eco friendly. Say goodbye to watering your own lawn the old fashioned way. Is Yard Work Considered Exercise - Activities like mowing, raking, and digging engage multiple different muscle groups. But does it count as “Exercise”? VCs Continue to Invest in AI - With a Concentration in Fewer Ventures - Investments in generative AI startups remain strong even as generative AI startups are not yet profitable, with investors taking long-term strategic bets despite potential market bubble risks. TechStars Annual Innovation Survey Reveals Entrepreneurial Optimism - TechStars Second Annual Survey reveals optimism among entrepreneurs even in the midst of challenging market conditions An Unprecedented July in the US Presidential Race - Following a disastrous debate performance, Joe Biden is out of the 2024 Presidential Race and Kamala Harris is in. In the midst of this, former President Donald Trump survives an assassination attempt. What happened with CrowdStrike? - A faulty update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike led to massive disruptions, affecting approximately 8.5 million devices globally, including those used by airlines, hospitals, and more. Open AI is Launching SearchGPT - ChatGPT creators Open AI will be releasing SearchGPT, a search engine built from the ground up to utilize the power of Artificial Intelligence. The search engine market could get a lot more competitive. We also upload our episodes to YouTube in video format so you can see us now. Check it out on Established YouTube, where you can subscribe to get updates when we drop a new episode. https://soty.link/ESTYouTube As always, thank you for listening, and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us…
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Somewhat Frank

1 #0061 - Living Skin on Robots, Extraterrestrials Living Among Us, Kelp Farming, Robotaxis, and More 37:25
On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (X and IG: @FrankGruber), John Guidos (IG: @jgoodtimes83), Jen Consalvo (X: @noreaster,) and Simon Kahan (IG: @simonkahan) discuss the following topics: This Smiling Robot Face Made Of Living Skin is an Absolute Nightmare Fuel - Researchers have been exploring the attachment of actual living skin to robots, moving beyond traditional artificial surfaces. A Seaweed Crop Finds a Spot in Maine Waters - Atlantic Sea Farms CEO Briana Warner talks about the new moves to cultivate seaweed in the U.S., from ocean to plate. Waymo Robotaxis Now Open To All In SF - Waymo has removed the waitlist for its San Francisco robotaxi service, allowing anyone to download the app and immediately hail a ride. GPS Threats - Researchers report that more than 60,000 commercial flights have experienced bogus GPS signals this year, posing significant risks to navigation and safety. Utah Governor Declares Phone-Free Fridays - The initiative aims to foster real-life connections by reducing screen time and increasing face-to-face interactions among Utahns. Harvard Scientists Claim Aliens Are Living Among Us - Harvard scientists claim aliens could be 'walking among us' and it's freaking people out (Good ) The Conor Cawley Comedy Special - https://youtu.be/GdkXyEBfcE8?si=ewPg-ZvmyF__igSA The Rubik Cube turns 50 - https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/01/science/rubiks-cube-puzzles.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare We also upload our episodes to YouTube in video format so you can see us now. Check it out on Established YouTube, where you can subscribe to get updates when we drop a new episode. https://soty.link/ESTYouTube As always, thank you for listening, and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us…
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Somewhat Frank

1 #0060 - 12th Annual Startup Ecosystem Report, 16 lab-grown brains, Rivian's $1B From VW, Astronauts Stranded in Space, and More 48:26
On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (X and IG: @FrankGruber), John Guidos (IG: @jgoodtimes83), Jen Consalvo (X: @noreaster,) and Simon Kahan (IG: @simonkahan) discuss the following topics: 12th Annual Startup Ecosystem Report - The GSER, powered by the world’s most quality-controlled dataset on startup ecosystems, analyzes data from over 4.5 million companies across 300+ entrepreneurial innovation ecosystems. Swiss Startup Connects 16 Human Brains To Create Low Energy Biocomputer - FinalSpark's bio-computer, which integrates living brain cells (organoids) into its design, consumes significantly less energy than traditional digital processors, using about a million times less power. Fisker Files for Bankruptcy - Fisker Group Inc., founded by designer Henrik Fisker, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Delaware District Court, following numerous issues with its Ocean SUV, including recalls and lemon law lawsuits. Rivian just got a $1B Convertible Note from Volkswagen in a deal related to developing their software - Volkswagen Group will invest $1 billion in Rivian as part of a broad software development deal, which could expand to $5 billion. This includes creating a joint venture with a 50-50 partnership to develop and grow technology. Astronauts stranded in space due to multiple issues with Boeing's Starliner — and the window for a return flight is closing - NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, originally scheduled to return on June 13, are now stranded on the ISS indefinitely due to issues with Boeing's Starliner, with the earliest return date pushed to June 26. Introducing a new section called Pebbling - https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/star-psychologist-adam-grant-pebbling-secret-stronger-relationships.html ESports Coming To the Olympic Games - https://sports.yahoo.com/olympic-video-games-know-olympic-142926997.html 4 Signs Your Body Is Telling You It’s Time to Take a Break - https://time.com/6977883/what-does-stress-feel-like/?linkId=466794915 George Strait Concert Breaks US Attendance Record Held Since 1977 - https://www.fox44news.com/news/local-news/george-strait-concert-breaks-us-attendance-record-held-by-rock-band-since-1977/ Olympic Swimming Trials Pool Assembly Was Impressive - https://stories.purdue.edu/purdue-innovation-takes-the-lead-at-olympic-swimming-pool-projiect-in-lucas-oil-stadium/ A Comprehensive Guide To ALL 63 National Parks in the United States - Detailing unique features, historical significance, and activities available in each park. One other thing to watch out for is quicksand… How to Survive Quicksand by How To Survive - Check out the video on YouTube! We also upload our episodes to YouTube in video format so you can see us now. Check it out on Established YouTube, where you can subscribe to get updates when we drop a new episode. https://soty.link/ESTYouTube As always, thank you for listening, and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us…
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Somewhat Frank

1 #0059 - Special Guest Jesse Middleton Talks About the Flybridge New AI Index and Other AI Developments 43:24
On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (X and IG: @FrankGruber), John Guidos (IG: @jgoodtimes83), and Simon Kahan (IG: @simonkahan) and joined special guest Jesse Middleton from FlyBridge, who is focused on investing in early-stage AI companies. The group discussed all things AI and FlyBridge’s new AI Index: https://www.flybridge.com/ai-index which monitors the largest AI players in the space. Jesse also talked about what he looks for when investing in AI companies and mentioned some of the AI companies he has been working with, including Splice ( https://splice.com/innovation ), Talktastic ( https://talktastic.com ), MelodyArc ( https://melodyarc.com ), Arcee AI ( https://www.arcee.ai ), and more. The guys also talked about Apple’s huge jump into the AI game. Read the article here: It’s Official Apple Is Jumping AI at its WWDC event this week . Lastly, Frank leaves listeners with a final thought related to Roger Feder’s “Tennis Lessons” at his commencement address at Dartmouth College . His lessons were as follows: Effortless is a myth; It’s only a point, let me explain; and Life is bigger than the court. We also upload our episodes to YouTube in video format so you can see us now. Check it out on Established YouTube, where you can subscribe to get updates when we drop a new episode. https://soty.link/ESTYouTube As always, thank you for listening, and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us…
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Somewhat Frank

1 #0058 - Texas Stock Exchange, IKEA and Roblox, xAI in Memphis, Boeing's Starliner, Dengue Fever, and More… 39:03
On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (X and IG: @FrankGruber), John Guidos (IG: @jgoodtimes83), Jen Consalvo (X: @noreaster,) and Simon Kahan (IG: @simonkahan) discuss the following topics: A Billionaire-Backed Texas Stock Exchange Is In The Works—Here’s What To Know - The Texas Stock Exchange (TXSE), founded in 2023 and owned by TXSE Group Inc., aims to be a fully electronic national securities exchange. IKEA Is Hiring Roblox In-Game Workers - Ikea is launching "The Co-Worker Game," a virtual store on Roblox, on June 24 and hiring ten paid workers to operate it. Apple Is Fixing Parental Controls - According to a report in the WSJ, Apple is fixing one of the software’s worst bugs—an apparently obscure one that would let kids see the worst parts of the internet despite settings to prevent that. Elon’s Supercomputing in Memphis - Elon Musk is opening a major facility for his AI company, xAI, in Memphis, representing the largest private sector investment in the city's history. Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft lifts off for first crewed flight - NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams launched on Boeing's Starliner capsule for its first crewed flight to the International Space Station (ISS), seven years past the original target date. For those of you interested, here is a video of everything that happened on the most recent SpaceX launch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-L-WZrnpBA Dengue Fever is in the USA - Historically, it occurred every three to four years, now seen annually. Frank is testing Sensate , a device created to enhance one's ability to handle stress. It uses vibrations and sounds to reduce stress in just ten minutes, lowering depression. They are currently raising funding via crowdfunding here: https://wefunder.com/sensate Frank also adds a shout-out to his barber/recording artist, J Spin, who is based in Wells, Maine - https://www.youtube.com/@BenchParty Today marks the last episode of Wheel of Fortune with host Pat Sajak as he is retiring from the show - Sajak began his career as a DJ on Radio while serving in Vietnam before transitioning to broadcasting. You can view his first episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHeadCEOYDs We also upload our episodes to YouTube in video format so you can see us now. Check it out on Established YouTube, where you can subscribe to get updates when we drop a new episode. https://soty.link/ESTYouTube As always, thank you for listening, and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us…
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Somewhat Frank

1 #0057 - OpenAI & Apple Deal, Elon Musk’s Supercomputer, Paying College Athletes, CyberTruck Test Drive, and More 55:56
On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (X: @FrankGruber), Jen Consalvo (X: @noreaster) and Simon Kahan (IG: @simonkahan), and Jamilah Corbitt (X: @JamilahCorbitt) chat about the following topics: OpenAI & Apple - Apple is close to finalizing a partnership with OpenAI to incorporate ChatGPT into iOS 18, aiming to introduce advanced AI capabilities to the iPhone. OpenAI vs Her - Scarlett Johansson has accused OpenAI of using a voice resembling hers for its AI assistant, Sky, without her consent. Johansson's claim has led to legal threats and significant public backlash. Elon Musk plans xAI Supercomputer - Elon Musk's AI startup xAI, plans to build a supercomputer to power the next version of its AI chatbot, Grok. Elon Musk raised $6B in funding for xAI by Valor, a16z, and Sequoia - Elon Musk's AI startup, xAI, raised $6 billion in a Series B funding round. Big changes for college athletes - In a historic shift, the NCAA has agreed to a new revenue-sharing model, allocating over $15 billion to athletes over a 10-year period. Singapore Airline Flight Experiences Terrible Turbulence - A Singapore Airlines flight from London to Singapore hit severe turbulence, resulting in one death and 30 injuries. Woman Married an AI Hologram - Unique Ceremony: Spanish-Dutch artist Alicia Framis plans to marry an AI hologram, AILex, this summer in a groundbreaking union, highlighting the evolving nature of human-robot relationships. The Beginner's Guide to Raising Chickens by Anne Kuo ( https://amzn.to/3KtJSDD ) - From constructing coops to rearing chicks, you'll learn everything you need to know to make sure your chickens stay happy and healthy all year round. Continuing our research on chicken coops, we are focusing on finding the best and most technologically advanced movable chicken coop and run for the 11 chickens that Frank is currently raising in his garage. He provided information about the Omlet Eglu Cube Coop & Run ( https://www.omlet.us ) and the Smart Coop ( https://smart.coop.farm ). We also upload our episodes to YouTube in video format so you can see us now. Go check it out on Established YouTube, where you can subscribe to get updates when we drop a new episode. https://soty.link/ESTYouTube As always, thank you for listening and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us Get updates like this in your inbox before they hit the web by subscribing to the newsletter here: https://frankgruber.me/newsletter/…
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Somewhat Frank

1 #0056 - AI from ChatGPT to Google, Singularity, Full Body Scans, King Charles Portrait, Backyard Chicken Farmer, and More 43:32
On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (X: @FrankGruber), John Guidos (IG: @jgoodtimes83), Jen Consalvo (X: @noreaster) and Simon Kahan (IG: @simonkahan) chat about the following topics: The 6th birthday of our company, Established! Read our post about it: https://www.startupofyear.com/blog/estturnssix What actually happens when you mow your lawn? - Mowing grass too short can cut the tops off of flowering plants, which can make it hard for pollinators to feed and rest and nest OpenAI’s ChatGPT has launched 4o or “omni” - launched the first of its kind - OpenAI introduced a major upgrade to ChatGPT with the new GPT-4o model, also known as Omni. Google’s Project Astra - Project Astra, showcased at Google I/O, is a real-time, multimodal AI assistant that identifies objects, locates items, reviews code, and more. Apple is going to enter the generative AI market - Apple's top software executives decided to overhaul Siri after testing OpenAI's ChatGPT. Google is going to start putting AI results first in Search thus causing a stir by those that rely on those search engine rankings to get found - Google announced the introduction of A.I.-generated answers, called "A.I. overviews," at its annual developer conference. Ray Kurzweil's SXSW Speech: Can You Live 500 - At SXSW 2024, Ray Kurzweil, renowned futurist and Director of Engineering at Google AI, delivered a captivating speech titled "The Singularity is Nearer: Five Years to Radical Life Extension." He presented a compelling argument that significant advancements in medical technology within the next five years could potentially extend human lifespans to 2035 and beyond. Daniel Ek’s Next Act: Full-Body Scans For The People - The company says its full-body scans can detect the onset of a host of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, as well as skin conditions. It calls its scans, which cost 2,500 Swedish krona (about $230), “a health check for your future self.” Scientists About to Test Medicine to Grow New Teeth - Japanese scientists are starting the world's first clinical trials of "tooth regrowth medicine." The first portrait of King Charles - I see lots of things in it. What do you see? Life update - Frank and Jen have bought six little chicks that are about three weeks old, and they are currently raising them on the Kennebunkport ranch. So now they need a coop and run. If you know or work at one of the following companies, Nestera ( https://nestera.us ), Omlet ( www.omlet.us ), or Smart Coop ( https://smart.coop.farm ), please do get in touch with us. On Sunday, May 12, Jerry Seinfeld accepted his honorary degree at Duke University but faced an unexpected turn of events. He said, “I totally admire the ambitions of your generation to create a more just and inclusive society. I think it is also wonderful that you care so much about not hurting other people’s feelings in the million and one ways we all do that every second of every day.” The comedian continued, “It’s lovely to want to fix those things, but — all caps, but — what I need to tell you as a comedian, do not lose your sense of humor. You can have no idea at this point in your life how much you’re going to need it to get through.” See it here: https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/jerry-seinfeld-duke-university-speech-154355065.html We have also started dropping our episodes onto YouTube in video format so you can see us now. Go check it out on Established YouTube, where you can subscribe to get updates when we drop a new episode. https://soty.link/ESTYouTube As always, thank you for listening and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us Get updates like this in your inbox before they hit the web by subscribing to the newsletter here: https://frankgruber.me/newsletter/…
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Somewhat Frank

1 #0055 - Anthropic, Magic Mushrooms, Bioengineered Plant Startups, the Kendrick Lamar vs. Drake Beef, the New Ray-Ban Meta Glasses, and More 45:01
On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (X: @FrankGruber), John Guidos (IG: @jgoodtimes83), and Simon Kahan (IG: @simonkahan) chat about the following topics: We talk a lot about ChatGPT, but what about Anthropic - Anthropic was founded in 2021 by seven former employees of OpenAI, including siblings Daniela Amodei and Dario Amodei, the latter of whom served as OpenAI's Vice President of Research. Musician Randy Travis is using AI in a good way - Randy Travis, who suffered a stroke in 2013, used AI to clone his voice for his new song, "Where That Came From." SNL’s skit about Kendrick Lamar vs. Drake beef - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCfNpjeAFaA Speaking of Mushrooms - Magic Mushrooms, while typically made with the federally illegal substance ‘psilocybin’, are being produced legally now with ‘Amanita Muscaria’ by a company called PolkaDot. Their products can be found in over 5,000 gas stations and smoke shops around the US. First time scientists have restored brain cells - Scientists develop a method to restore brain cells affected by Timothy syndrome, a rare genetic disorder. The method, using a “Antisense Nucleotide” allows clusters of human neurons carrying the Timothy syndrome mutation to develop normally. Bioengineered Houseplant Helps Remove Harmful Air Pollutants - Engineers at “Neoplants” designed a houseplant that is supercharged with billions of pollution-eating bacteria. Give $7K to 'every baby that's born in America' - Bill Ackman proposed giving every child born in America a $7,000 investment account. The account would be created at birth, funded by the U.S. government, and restricted from withdrawals, remaining tax exempt. Frank also tested the Atlantic Coast Tide Clock , which is the essential item to stay connected to the ocean, no matter where you are. This white and navy blue Atlantic tide clock is what you need for a perfect coastal living decor. We have also started dropping our episodes onto YouTube in video format so you can see us now. Go check it out on Established YouTube, where you can subscribe to get updates when we drop a new episode. https://soty.link/ESTYouTube As always, thank you for listening and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us Get updates like this in your inbox before they hit the web by subscribing to the newsletter here: https://frankgruber.me/newsletter/…
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Somewhat Frank

On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (X: @FrankGruber), John Guidos (IG: @jgoodtimes83), and Jen Consalvo X: @noreaster) explore the following topics: Life Below The Sea in the MIT Reader by James Powell - Our understanding of the resiliency of life has made leaps in bounds in a short amount of time. One can even extrapolate this resiliency to think about life on other worlds beyond our own and how methods to survive might be even stranger and more unknown than we can realize. NASA picks three companies to help Drive around the Moon - The startup companies are Intuitive Machines, Lunar Outpost, and Venturi Astrolab, which are set to design a next-generation lunar terrain vehicle (LTV) fit for moon travel and autonomous robotic exploration. Generative A.I. Arrives in the Gene Editing World of CRISPR - As much as ChatGPT generates poetry, a new A.I. system creates blueprints for microscopic mechanisms that can edit your DNA. Musicians Take A Stand Against AI - A coalition of over 200 musicians, including high-profile names like Nicki Minaj, Billie Eilish, Katy Perry, and Noah Kahan, have signed an open letter cautioning against the irresponsible use of AI in music. Rich Americans Acquiring Second Passports - The rich are getting multiple passports and citizenships to hedge instability. Increasingly, wealthy Americans are seeking second passports, citing concerns over political and economic instability in the United States. Tricks to Living a Long Life - The average life expectancy in the US is 76.4 years, with over 70,000 Americans reaching 100 in 2023. Blue Zones, regions with exceptional longevity, have ten times more centenarians than average. We have also started dropping our episodes onto YouTube in video format so you can see us now. Go check it out on Established YouTube, where you can subscribe to get updates when we drop a new episode. https://soty.link/ESTYouTube As always, thank you for listening and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us Get updates like this in your inbox before they hit the web by subscribing to the newsletter here: https://frankgruber.me/newsletter/…
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Somewhat Frank

1 #0053 - Tech Controversies, Banning TikTok, a Smartphone Monopoly, Reddit’s Triumphant IPO, and More 36:12
On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (X: @FrankGruber), John Guidos (IG: @jgoodtimes83), and Simon Kahan (IG: @simonkahan) dive deep into the innovations and controversies shaping our world. We kicked off with a look at the Startup of the Year fast pitch competition that happened at SXSW, when 10 great early-stage companies pitched. The startup pitches were all really solid and the company that came out on top of that competition was Applied BioPlastics from Austin, Texas. Applied Bioplastics manufactures bioplastics from plant-based materials for retail, packaging, and medical industries to improve plastic recycling. See more: https://appliedbioplastics.com We also chat about Magic Mind, the groundbreaking "mental performance shot" that's redefining daily routines everywhere. Unlike the traditional coffee fix, Magic Mind offers a sustainable boost to focus, motivation, and productivity without the dreaded caffeine crash. Don't forget to use the promo that gets you up to 48% off your first subscription or 20% off one-time purchases with code SOMEWHATFRANK20 at checkout. You can claim it at: https://www.magicmind.com/SomewhatFrank But the tech world doesn't stop turning, and neither do we. The potential TikTok ban has everyone talking. With its Chinese ownership under scrutiny, we explore what the future holds for the app that supports around 200k American jobs. Read more HERE. The episode doesn't shy away from the big hitters, discussing the DOJ's recent move to sue Apple over its smartphone monopoly. We'll share personal insights and the broader implications of this legal battle. Read more HERE. In a lighter vein, we celebrate Reddit's triumphant IPO, marking the first social media company to go public in five years. What does Reddit's success signal for the market and future IPOs? Read more HERE. However, it's not all rosy. We delve into the concerning rise in mental health issues among adolescents, correlating with the smartphone era. With insights from Jonathan Haidt's latest book, "The Anxious Generation," we ponder the societal impacts of our digital age. Read more HERE. The real estate world is also facing a shakeup, with the National Association of Realtors' recent settlement potentially transforming commission structures and housing market dynamics. We break down what this means for buyers, sellers, and the industry at large. Read more HERE. Lastly, we shine a spotlight on Colton Rybus's debut jazz album, "Sketches from the Heart of My Cosmos." A personal connection brings this musical journey to life, showcasing the talent and passion behind the notes. Read more HERE. And for those seeking the fountain of youth, we share Dave Asprey's simple yet effective tips for turning back the clock. Read more HERE. As always, thank you for listening and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us Get updates like this in your inbox before they hit the web by subscribing to the newsletter here: https://frankgruber.me/newsletter/…
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Somewhat Frank

1 #0052 - Pulitzer Prize Finalist and Bestselling Author Garrett Graff Discusses his Thoughts on UFOs and the Search for Alien Life 54:39
On this very special episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (X: @FrankGruber), John Guidos (IG: @jgoodtimes83), and Simon Kahan (IG: @simonkahan) talk with Garrett Graff about his book “UFO: The Inside Story of the US Government’s Search for Alien Life Here – and Out There.” For those unfamiliar, Garrett has spent nearly two decades covering politics, technology, and national security. He is also the former editor of Politico and contributor to Wired and CNN, he’s written for publications from Esquire to Rolling Stone to The New York Times and today serves as the director of the cyber initiative at the Aspen Institute. Graff is also the author of multiple books, including the FBI history The Threat Matrix, Raven Rock (about the government’s Cold War Doomsday plans), When the Sea Came Alive (an oral history of D-Day), and the New York Times bestsellers The Only Plane in the Sky, and Watergate, which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in History. Learn more about Garrett the the following link: www.garrettgraff.com As always, thank you for listening and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us Get updates like this in your inbox before they hit the web by subscribing to the newsletter here: https://frankgruber.me/newsletter/…
On this special episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (@FrankGruber), John Guidos (@JohnGuidos), and Jen Consalvo (@Noreaster) were live with special guest Sam Jordan from the Established House at SXSW in Austin, Texas. Sam is the Head of Computing and Technology at the Future Today Institute ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/samcjordan/ ). The crew discussed all of the trends that they encountered during the week and SXSW, including the groundbreaking work of Colossal Biosciences and their audacious project to bring the woolly mammoth back from extinction. CEO Ben Lamm, alongside actor Seth Green, shared their vision to combat extinction and reshape our future. Discover how this Dallas-based startup is turning elephant cells into mammoth-like embryos, marking a pivotal step in de-extinction technology. Read more about their efforts on NPR . Frank, Jen, John, and Sam also spotted a shift in travel patterns at SXSW, reflecting broader societal changes. With more weekend travelers and a split in attendance, they explored what this means against the backdrop of Americans socializing less, driven by pessimism, technology, and a surge in loneliness. They also shined a spotlight on the remarkable achievements of women, including a powerful SXSW panel featuring Meghan Markle, Katie Couric, and others discussing the challenges women face in media. The gang also discussed the legal battle between Elon Musk and OpenAI's Sam Altman, which raises critical questions about the future of AI and its impact on humanity. Lastly, they concluded with a fascinating discussion on a simple test that could predict your longevity. Can standing on one leg for 10 seconds reveal the secrets to a longer, healthier life? As always, thank you for listening and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us Get updates like this in your inbox before they hit the web by subscribing to the newsletter here: https://frankgruber.me/newsletter/…
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Somewhat Frank

On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (@FrankGruber), John Guidos (@JohnGuidos), and Jen Consalvo (@Noreaster) dive headfirst into the future of technology and societal trends, starting with our hands-on experience with the newly launched Apple Vision Pro. This cutting-edge headset, resembling a MacBook Pro for your face, promises an immersive experience unlike any other. We discuss its coolest features, from the ability to project multiple screens to its clear view of the surrounding environment, and weigh these against its less appealing aspects, such as its public perception and hefty price tag. We also chat again about the Established House, which is scheduled to take place on March 10, 2024 in Austin, TX. It will be a networking and collaboration space for startups, investors, and entrepreneur support organizations. For more details, you can visit the official website: https://house.established.us But that's not all – we also bring you the latest from the GRAMMY Awards. Our reading list is just as intriguing, featuring discussions on the Enhanced Games concept, where performance-enhancing drugs are not just allowed but celebrated, and the pivotal role Toby Keith played in launching Taylor Swift’s career. Plus, we explore the rise of the Introvert Economy in post-pandemic America, a shift that's reshaping our social landscape and economic activities. And for our tech enthusiasts, we delve into Disney’s VR Treadmill Holotile , a project by Lanny Smoot, Disney's most prolific inventor. This innovation could revolutionize virtual reality, offering a level of immersion previously unattainable. As always, thank you for listening and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us Get updates like this in your inbox before they hit the web by subscribing to the newsletter here: https://frankgruber.me/newsletter/…
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Somewhat Frank

On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (@FrankGruber), John Guidos (@JohnGuidos), and Jen Consalvo (@Noreaster) dive into an exciting mix of celebrations, upcoming events, and groundbreaking discoveries that are shaping our world. We kick things off with a cheerful update: Groundhog Day brought us delightful news as the groundhog didn't see its shadow, heralding an early spring! Sunshine, flowers, and celebrations are just around the corner. Catch the full excitement of this cherished holiday on our live stream recap here . As we bask in the post-Groundhog Day glow, the anticipation builds for the Grammy Awards happening this Sunday night at 8 pm EST. We're thrilled to see performances by Luke Combs and Tracy Chapman, and we're especially rooting for Noah Kahan, nominated for Best New Artist with his hit, "Stick Season." The Established team is all buzzed up about this one, and we've got our eyes peeled on the predictions here . But that's not all on the horizon. We're also gearing up for the America’s Seed Fund Road Tours starting soon in Orlando and San Juan, Puerto Rico ( https://www.americasseedfund.us/road-tour ), and the excitement around SXSW. Join us as we host a day of events for innovators and startups at the Established House on March 10th, 2024. More details here . Switching gears to a mystery that's potentially solved – the lost aircraft of Amelia Earhart might have been found in a $11 million effort by a private individual. Earhart, a fellow Purdue Boilermaker, planned much of her journey from the campus airport, and this discovery could be a historic find. Dive into the story here and here . In the realm of technology and health, the first human has received a Neuralink brain implant, potentially revolutionizing the way we interact with technology and treat neurological conditions. The future of AI is also making waves in the smartphone industry, with Google, Samsung, and soon Apple, introducing generative AI capabilities that promise to transform our digital experiences. Meanwhile, the digital world grapples with the ethics of AI, as explicit AI-generated images of Taylor Swift raise concerns about non-consensual content, spotlighting the urgent need for regulation. Elon Musk's new AI venture is another hot topic, with reports suggesting he's aiming to raise as much as $6B for his startup, reflecting the immense potential and costs associated with developing generative AI. Looking ahead to the Super Bowl, we preview what's expected to be the most expensive tickets ever for the game between the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs in Las Vegas. Plus, we discuss Taylor Swift's logistical race against time to perform after her Tokyo concert, and we give you a sneak peek at this year's Super Bowl commercials. Check out the story here. We wrap up with some personal updates, including the sleek Ridge Wallet and an intriguing way to explore global radio stations with Radio Garden. Plus, a shout out to "Suits," the most streamed show of 2023. As always, thank you for listening and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us Get updates like this in your inbox before they hit the web by subscribing to the newsletter here: https://frankgruber.me/newsletter/…
On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (@FrankGruber), John Guidos (@JohnGuidos), and Jen Consalvo (@Noreaster) talk about Jen’s fantastic birthday celebration, and we're thrilled to share it with you. Special guest, Kara Comparetto, played live piano at the party, and you won't want to miss her incredible talent. Check out her live piano shows on her YouTube channel and her albums on platforms like Apple Music: https://www.youtube.com/@KaraComparetto We dive into a crucial topic—sleep! Did you know that the average American gets less than 7 hours of sleep per night? We discuss why sleep is essential for your brain's well-being and share some basic sleep hygiene tips. Read more here: https://www.axios.com/2024/01/18/sleep-tips-expert-hours# The Key to Relationship Success - https://fortune.com/well/article/predict-divorce-communication-style-gottman-institute/ Researchers have discovered a communication error that can predict divorce with a staggering 94% accuracy. We explore how couples can turn towards each other and improve their relationships. FDA Approves DermaSensor - https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-fda-clears-dermasensors-ai-powered-skin-cancer-detecting-device-2024-01-17/ Host: In tech news, the FDA has approved the DermaSensor, an AI-powered skin cancer detection device. Learn how this innovative device can assist primary care physicians in identifying skin cancer with impressive accuracy. The Future of Supersonic Travel - https://techcrunch.com/2024/01/12/x-59-quiet-supersonic-jet-from-nasa-and-lockheed-finally-rolls-out/ We delve into the world of supersonic travel, discussing NASA and Lockheed Martin's experimental X-59 aircraft, aiming to reduce sonic booms. We also touch on Boom, a company working on passenger supersonic jets. US Tech Investment Landscape - https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-12-07/san-francisco-bay-area-nyc-boston-dominate-vc-investment-in-us?srnd=undefined&sref=OUxLpfXr Discover where tech investment is booming in the US, with surprising statistics on venture capital growth across different regions. Humanoid Robots at BMW - https://www.axios.com/2024/01/23/humanoid-robots-bmw-automotive-manufacturing-figure Humanoid robots are making their way into BMW's manufacturing plants. We discuss Figure, the California company behind these robots, and their role in the automotive industry. Stanley Cups Craze - https://www.cnbc.com/2023/12/23/how-a-40-ounce-cup-turned-stanley-into-a-750-million-a-year-business.html Stanley Cups are more popular than ever! We explore how a simple 40-ounce cup has turned into a $750 million per year business. Apple Vision Pro - https://youtu.be/Vb0dG-2huJE?si=2nP6KYQBOpuh48UV We round off with a glimpse into the future of tech with the Apple Vision Pro headset and its potential for spatial computing. What We're Watching and Texting Woes - hulu.com/series/death-and-other-details-1493a676-9e14-4e6a-ace8-914b39269f56 And before we go, our hosts share what they're currently watching, including Hulu's "Death and Other Details." Plus, we discuss the evolution of texting into an email-like form of communication and the idea of adding a "send later" feature to iMessage. As always, thank you for listening and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us Get updates like this in your inbox before they hit the web by subscribing to the newsletter here: https://frankgruber.me/newsletter/…
On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (@FrankGruber), John Guidos (@JohnGuidos), and Jen Consalvo (@Noreaster) talk about winter being in full swing across most of the country, with frigid temperatures causing chaos. We dive into the Midwest's cold snap and the challenges faced by Tesla and electric vehicle owners in this bitter weather ( https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/tesla-owners-run-into-trouble-amid-bitter-cold/ ). In New England, unprecedented storms and coastal flooding left a mark. But amidst the destruction, a shipwreck resurfaced in Bar Harbor, offering a glimmer of intrigue ( https://www.cnn.com/travel/shipwreck-schooner-tay-acadia-maine?cid=ios_app ). Meanwhile, we share our experiences from Las Vegas, where even the desert wasn't spared from the cold. Join us as we take you through our CES 2024 adventure, where we rubbed shoulders with 150,000 tech enthusiasts. From AI-powered everything to flying cars, self-docking boats to inflatable gardens, we explore the remarkable trends that stole the show ( https://www.ces.tech/innovation-awards/honorees/2024/best-of/a/airfarm.aspx ). Discover the breakthrough in wearable tech with "Healing Pants," and the game-changers like autonomous mowers, electric cars, and more that are shaping the future. We also highlight the CTA Foundation Pitch Competition winners, Augmental and Proxie, who showcased inclusive tech and caregiving support. Plus, take a break with a fun personality test ( https://www.16personalities.com ) and celebrate the Michigan Wolverines' national championship victory, which was also a win for us in Vegas! As always, thank you for listening and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us Get updates like this in your inbox before they hit the web by subscribing to the newsletter here: https://frankgruber.me/newsletter/…
Welcome back to the Somewhat Frank Podcast! In this episode, Frank Gruber (@FrankGruber), John Guidos (@JohnGuidos), and Jen Consalvo (@Noreaster) talk about the following topics: Gaming Triumphs and Historical Trivia Dive into the fascinating world of Tetris. Hear about Willis Gibson, a 13-year-old from Oklahoma, who made history by defeating this iconic game. Discover the intriguing Soviet origins of Tetris and a must-watch film on Apple TV ( Tetris Film ). Intellectual Property and Its Creative Freedoms Mickey Mouse enters the public domain after 95 years. We discuss what this means for creators and the fine line between copyright and trademark. Don't miss the discussion on the new "Steamboat Willie" horror movie and the Winnie The Pooh-themed "Blood and Honey." Future of Transportation: Electrifying Roads Detroit's Corktown neighborhood introduces roads that charge vehicles wirelessly, a glimpse into the future of automotive technology. AI and Copyright: A Legal Battleground The New York Times' lawsuit against AI creators like OpenAI sets a precedent in the world of automated content and copyright law. Technology and the Human Mind: DeepSouth Supercomputer Learn about DeepSouth, the supercomputer that simulates the human brain, marking a breakthrough in neuroscience and computing. Innovations in Energy: The Sodium-Based Battery JAC Motors is set to release an electric vehicle with a sodium-ion battery, heralding a new era in eco-friendly and efficient energy storage. Health and Harmony: The Power of Sound Resonance Therapy Explore how music and sound frequencies can significantly improve mental and physical health, with insights from Psychology Today. Sports QuickHits: Snoop Dogg's unique reporting style at the 2024 Paris Olympics, the climax of the NFL season, College Football Playoffs, and Shohei Ohtani's record-breaking move to the Dodgers. Friendly Shoutouts: Reminiscing on holiday classics and celebrating Willie Nelson's 90th Birthday with a special vinyl edition ( https://amzn.to/3TKXyA9 ). Testing 1, 2, 3: Gadget Reviews A look at Wildgame Innovation’s Terra Cell Trail Camera ( Product link ), RYOBI's Snow Blower for the winter, and the Chef iQ Smart Thermometer ( Find it here ). Join us for this riveting journey through technological advancements, legal landscapes, and the ever-evolving world of entertainment. Tune in, and let's start the year with curiosity and enthusiasm! As always, thank you for listening and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us Get updates like this in your inbox before they hit the web by subscribing to the newsletter here: https://frankgruber.me/newsletter/…
Welcome back to the Somewhat Frank Podcast! In this episode, Frank Gruber (@FrankGruber), John Guidos (@JohnGuidos), and Jen Consalvo (@Noreaster) explore a range of fascinating topics and events, from innovation summits to the changing landscape of social media, and even some exciting product recommendations. Join us on this journey of discovery as we navigate through these diverse subjects. We kick off the episode by discussing the Innovation Ecosystem Summit, set to take place on December 13-14. Link to event . We also chat about the upcoming AFWERX virtual event titled “Wargaming & AI'' which is set to take place on December 12th ( link to event ) and the CTA Foundation Pitch Competition that will take place at the Consumer Technology Association Foundation on January 10th. Link to event. The Future of Truth in the Age of AI and Social Media In an era where truth can sometimes feel elusive we share our thoughts on the importance of reliable information sources and their concerns about the evolving landscape of truth. Is social media a brainwashing machine? We delve into this question in light of recent events on TikTok, where a surprising connection to Osama Bin Laden emerged. Links to articles . We explore how viral moments can be based on historical events and their impact on public perception. We also consider the changing social media landscape and the declining usage of platforms by millennials, as outlined in this Wired article . Reading: Surge in Homeschooling Post-Pandemic Homeschooling rates in the U.S. have seen a significant surge post-pandemic, with certain states experiencing remarkable increases. We discuss the implications for public school enrollment and the demographic shifts, especially the increase in homeschooling among Black families. ( Read more ) Sports QuickHits: MLB News and NBA Mid-Season Tourney Sports enthusiasts won't want to miss our quick hits on the latest MLB developments, including the introduction of the Vegas Athletics. ( Read more ) We also touch upon the possibility of the Chicago White Sox relocating to Nashville and the upcoming NBA Midseason Tournament Finals. Friendly Shoutouts: Kiki World Marketplace - We give a warm shoutout to Alex Abelin, co-founder of Kiki Milk, on the launch of the Kiki World Marketplace. This marketplace aligns with Kiki Milk's mission to help individuals navigate illness, allergies, and overall health. ( Link to Kiki World Marketplace ) Entertainment Recommendations: Jen introduces the captivating "Humans Decoded Podcast," which delves into the realms of fairies, elves, hobbits, gnomes, dwarfs, and humans. ( Listen here ) Meanwhile, we chat about two engaging entertainment options: the series "Suits" on Netflix and the new Season 5 of "Fargo" on FX and Hulu. Testing 1, 2, 3 - Product Reviews: We put some products to the test, starting with BioLift, a beverage containing ingredients like Guarana, Ginkgo Biloba, Elderberry, and Carob, aimed at boosting energy and well-being. ( Learn more ) John shares his excitement about the Ninja® CREAMi® Deluxe 11-in-1 Ice Cream and Frozen Treat Maker, an innovative kitchen appliance perfect for creating a wide variety of frozen treats. ( Check it out ) Final Thought: Tesla's CyberTruck Takes Center Stage We conclude the episode with a fascinating insight into Tesla's CyberTruck, which is finally hitting the streets. We reminisce about the anticipation that began in 2019 and share some incredible videos showcasing the vehicle's durability and strength. As we wrap up, we wish you all a fantastic Holiday season and encourage you to check out our podcast for more exciting updates and discussions. Thanks for tuning in! As always, thank you for listening and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us Get updates like this in your inbox before they hit the web by subscribing to the newsletter here: https://frankgruber.me/newsletter/…
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Somewhat Frank

Welcome back to the Somewhat Frank Podcast! It's the season of the sticks and of thanks, and amidst all the craziness and turmoil in the world, there's much to be grateful for. In this episode, Frank Gruber (@FrankGruber), John Guidos (@JohnGuidos), and Jen Consalvo (@Noreaster) delve into what we're looking forward to this Thanksgiving season while sharing some exciting stories and developments in the world of technology and entertainment. First, we chat about the Colombian government finding treasure off its coast. Read more here: https://news.yahoo.com/colombian-president-orders-recovery-20-013019478.html Second, we explore a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to traditional batteries that involves shellfish. Yes, you heard it right! Researchers at the University of Maryland have discovered a way to repurpose shellfish waste to create biodegradable batteries that are highly efficient. Read more here: https://www.thecooldown.com/green-tech/shellfish-batteries-crab-lobster-science-biodegradable Next, we dive into the fascinating world of memory manipulation and how scientists are working on editing and even deleting memories. While it may sound like science fiction, recent research has made significant strides in understanding memory formation and manipulation. Read more here: https://www.thedailybeast.com/meet-the-scientists-who-want-to-edit-and-delete-your-memories Then, we introduce you to Mika, the world's first AI-powered human-like robot CEO. This unique collaboration between Hanson Robotics and Dictador, a rum company, has resulted in an AI CEO capable of making data-driven decisions, although with a notable processing delay. Read more here: https://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/mika-worlds-first-ai-human-like-robot-ceo We also take a look at the Humane AI Pin, a potential smartphone replacement. This innovative device attaches to your lapel and projects information onto your hand, allowing you to make calls, send texts, and access information through voice control and gestures. Read more here: https://hu.ma.ne/aipin In our friendly shoutouts, we highlight an AI fact-checking tool by Chris Saad ( https://www.getwingman.ai/ ) and celebrate Atlantic Sea Farms' recognition in the food industry ( https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/trends/the-next-big-things-our-top-10-food-trends-for-2024 ). Plus, we share exciting news about the launch of Orange Bike Brewery, the first gluten-free brewery in Portland, Maine, founded by our friends Tom and Meg Ruff ( http://orangebikebrewing.com ). In our tech and gadgets segment, we discuss SpotMyPhotos, a software that grants photographers and photo booths control over event photo sharing ( https://www.spotmyphotos.com ). We also introduce the DJI Mini 3 drone with extended battery life and intelligent features ( https://store.dji.com/product/dji-mini-3?vid=128001 ). Plus, we chatted about the Clevr Blends Starter Kit with frother ( https://amzn.to/3Gh49KJ ). Finally, in the entertainment section, we explore The Beatles' final song "Now And Then" ( https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/beatles-new-song-now-and-then-1234868643 ) and share our experience of watching Steve Martin and Martin Short live, offering a hilarious and memorable performance. As we wrap up, we wish you all a fantastic Thanksgiving season and encourage you to check out our podcast for more exciting updates and discussions. Thanks for tuning in! As always, thank you for listening and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us Get updates like this in your inbox before they hit the web by subscribing to the newsletter here: https://frankgruber.me/newsletter/…
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Somewhat Frank

1 #0043 - Friday The 13th, Banned Food Additives, Living to 120, Adobe Photoshop Beta, And More… 23:49
On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (@FrankGruber) and John Guidos (@JohnGuidos) discuss “Friday the 13th,” because many believe that the combination of Friday and the number “13” cancels out bad luck. According to a 2008 study by the Dutch Centre for Insurance Statistics, reported by National Geographic, "there were fewer accidents on Friday the 13th than on any other Friday." Read more about the history of Friday the 13th - www.history.com/topics/folklore/friday-the-13th The guys also discuss the following topics and articles… California Bans Four Additives — it's about damn time! Let's go to America…we can demand better. https://www.npr.org/2023/10/10/1204839281/california-ban-food-additives-red-dye-3-propylparaben-candy Americans eat long list of food banned in other countries - https://www.wthr.com/amp/article/money/consumer/american-europe-banned-foods-safety-fda-purdue-lab-experts/531-119bf785-1e68-49d7-bd60-720ce2b4c0ff ‘We’ll be living and working to 120 - and it will start within a decade’ says doctor. https://nypost.com/2023/09/23/doctor-stem-cells-will-extend-life-to-120-from-this-decade/ How to get rid of “brain fog”? https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/health-wellness/2023/10/06/what-is-brain-fog/70466894007/ They guys are testing these gadgets: Shiftwave chair — Shiftwave is a breakthrough Nervous System Training Technology delivering mental and physical restoration and optimization at the touch of a button. Benefits include improved sleep, recovery, immunity, etc. Pricing $10,500 online - https://shop.shiftwave.co/products/shift Adobe Photoshop (Beta) - Generative AI capabilities - https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop.html Adobe Scan - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/adobe-scan-pdf-ocr-scanner/id1199564834 Lastly, Frank and John are watching/listening to these shows/movies: Icon (https://www.iconbuild.com) - 3-D printing homes on earth and maybe the moon (60 Minutes) - https://youtu.be/dXUX6dv2_Yo?si=mHXpLzBRkhnEZlAj Radio Rental Podcast - https://radiorentalusa.com/ “Totally Killer” slasher flick on Prime - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11426232/ ……….. As always, thank you for listening and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us Get updates like this in your inbox before they hit the web by subscribing to the newsletter here: https://frankgruber.me/newsletter/…
On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (@FrankGruber) and John Guidos (@JohnGuidos) discuss their trip to Purdue homecoming and the Atlantic Sea Farm investment ( www.atlanticseafarms.com ). Frank also chats about his trip to Orange Bike Brewing’s open house ( www.orangebikebrewing.com ), while John went to the Saxsquatch concert in Indy ( www.instagram.com/saxsquatch ). They also discuss the following topics and articles… Apple Electric Car - Is The Apple Car A Computer On Wheels? - https://www.forbes.com/sites/timbajarin/2023/08/15/is-the-apple-car-a-computer-on-wheels/?sh=16667b9363e4 Asteroid Bennu - https://www.ndtv.com/science/nasa-predicts-asteroid-with-force-of-22-atomic-bombs-might-hit-earth-in-4449174 Nearly 2,000 reports of UFO sightings surface ranging from orbs, disks and fireballs - https://news.yahoo.com/nearly-2-000-reports-ufo-012353032.html?utm_campaign=later-linkinbio-yahoonews&utm_content=later-38292106&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkin.bio Tom Hanks AI Concerns - https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2023/10/02/tom-hanks-ai-advertisement-without-permission/71030195007/ Meta News of new AI Glasses https://about.fb.com/news/2023/09/new-ray-ban-meta-smart-glasses/ They guys are testing these gadgets: RayBans Smart Glasses - the news ones are coming soon and are currently for sale as a preorder https://www.ray-ban.com/usa/ray-ban-meta-smart-glasses Starlink - https://www.starlink.com/ Lastly, Frank and John are watching/listening to these shows/movies: No One Will Save you - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14509110/ Only Murders in the Building Season 3 - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11691774/ Yeti on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@yeticoolers Haileywood podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/haileywood/id1582007311 Mo News Podcast - https://mo.news/ The Kurty D Show - https://the-kurty-d-show.simplecast.com/episodes/051-somewhat-frank-with-frank-gruber ……….. As always, thank you for listening and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us Get updates like this in your inbox before they hit the web by subscribing to the newsletter here: https://frankgruber.me/newsletter/…
On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (@FrankGruber) and John Guidos (@JohnGuidos) discuss the following topics and articles… Speaking of octopus - https://bgr.com/science/octopus-brains-are-more-alien-than-we-previously-thought/ Eggs — why are they so hot right now? https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2023/03/03/egg-prices-increased-70percent-over-the-last-yearheres-why-.html Spy Balloons or Something Else? https://time.com/6255436/balloons-ufos-what-is-in-the-sky/ Trends in Startup Names https://news.crunchbase.com/venture/startup-names-trends-cool/ Scientist creates a device that cures hiccups https://futurism.com/neoscope/scientist-hiccup-cure Some tips on scaling a startup from $5M to $100M ARR from Tracy Young cofounder of PlanGrid https://tracy.posthaven.com/part-ii-the-failure-points-from-$5m-to-$100m-in-arr How leaders can open up to their teams without oversharing https://hbr.org/2019/02/how-leaders-can-open-up-to-their-teams-without-oversharing This bullet train could change the game for Las Vegas. https://abc7chicago.com/bullet-train-los-angeles-socal-to-las-vegas-brightline-west-high-speed-rail/12907290/ Speaking of living… here are the healthiest states to live in. https://www.travelandleisure.com/best-places-to-live-in-the-us-healthy-lifestyle-7152170 We also hear about our upcoming trip to Austin for SXSW 2023! We’re headed down to SXSW on March 12th for a day filled with startup, ESO, and VC focused events and activities. Learn more about the event and register at: https://bit.ly/sxsw23est Lastly, we’re hosting another startup pitch event in April too. Find more here: https://soty.link/April25 ……….. As always, thank you for listening and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us Get updates like this in your inbox before they hit the web by subscribing to the newsletter here: https://frankgruber.me/newsletter/…
On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (@FrankGruber) and John Guidos (@JohnGuidos) discuss the following topics and articles… AI is taking over everything…get ready! Here’s a good guide from a search engine analyst perspective. Google Faces a Serious Threat From ChatGPT - https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2022-12-07/chatgpt-should-worry-google-and-alphabet-why-search-when-you-can-ask-ai?tpcc=nltermsheet&utm_source=website&utm_medium=share&utm_campaign=mobile_web_share AI taking over the news - https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/10/technology/ai-chat-bot-chatgpt.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare AI taking over portrait art with viral Lensa app - https://news.northeastern.edu/2022/12/09/portrait-ai-app/ Lensa.ai is pretty amazing - https://flip.it/jkdKZr ChatGPT can detect Alzheimer's disease with 80% accuracy - https://flip.it/sigJB_ Frank talks about his work with TechStars and CICLA - https://cicla3d.cl Mia Consalvo, PhD, Professor and Canada Research Chair In Game Studies & Design, Communication Studies ( https://www.miaconsalvo.com/ ) also chats about the implications of AI impacting education. Lastly, we hear about our upcoming trip to Las Vegas for the 2023 Consumer Electronics Show, where we'll be on the floor again at Eureka Park, where we'll be hosting the Consumer Technology Association Foundation Pitch Competition. Come join us at the Startup Stage on Friday, January 6th from 2 - 4 PM PT, for an electrifying pitch competition featuring startups with technologies that help people of all ages and abilities get out into the world, whether for work or play! While in Las Vegas, we will also be hosting the Startup of the Year Coffee Meetup on Friday, January 6th from 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM Pacific Time at Off the Strip coffee joint. Please join us by registering at: https://soty.link/CES-Coffee ……….. As always, thank you for listening and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us Get updates like this in your inbox before they hit the web by subscribing to the newsletter here: https://frankgruber.me/newsletter/…
On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (@FrankGruber), John Guidos (@JohnGuidos), and Jen Consalvo (@Noreaster) discuss the Small Business Administration’s 2nd Innovation Ecosystem Summit, which is coming up on December 6th and 7th. The SBA Innovation Ecosystem Summit was curated to connect entrepreneur support organizations from around the country to learn from one another as we work together to build a thriving national ecosystem that promotes equitable access to capital and resources for innovators across the country. Learn more over at: https://est.us/ESOSummit2022 We’re also busy getting ready for a startup event that we are hosting in which we will be showcasing five startups from our Startup of the Year community on December 13th. More details over at: http://soty.link/growpitch2022 Lastly, we’re working with the CTA Foundation on their 5th Annual Pitch Competition which will take place on January 6th at CES in Las Vegas. Details can be found on the CTA Foundation’s website: https://bit.ly/ctafpitch23 The crew also talks about the following topics and articles… The first solar electric vehicle is in production - https://lightyear.one Tesla has robot, and it’s real, not just a guy in a white body - https://techcrunch.com/2022/09/30/teslas-robot-is-a-real-robot-now-not-just-a-guy-in-a-suit The FTX situation - https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/sam-bankman-fried-ftx-bankruptcy-what-happened.html Kanye West, now known as Ye, has completely lost it - https://www.newser.com/story/328645/kanye-west-to-alex-jones-i-love-nazis.html Olivia Pichardo, a Brown University freshman, is making history as the first female baseball player to be on an active NCAA Division I roster - https://atmlb.com/3tMNfgz College football at 49? A North Dakota lineman has the right stuff - https://apnews.com/article/nfl-college-football-sports-north-dakota-795486fcc3892bbc8e250f0ed11eb5fa What are the hottest gifts this holiday season? - https://shopping.google.com/m/holiday100/ ……….. As always, thank you for listening and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us Get updates like this in your inbox before they hit the web by subscribing to the newsletter here: https://frankgruber.me/newsletter/…
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Somewhat Frank

1 #0038 - National Coffee Day, Queen Elizabeth II, Planetary Defense, AI Art Generator, And More 34:08
On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (@FrankGruber), John Guidos (@JohnGuidos), and Jen Consalvo (@Noreaster) chat about the following topics and articles… Did you know it is National Coffee Day? Health benefits of coffee - https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/14/well/eat/coffee-health-benefits.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare Health benefits of decaf - https://coffeeaffection.com/benefits-of-decaf-coffee/ Queen Elizabeth II passed away. She had a pretty impressive life and reign as monarchy. - https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-61585886 Serena Williams retired but went out with a bang with a pretty impressive match. - https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/03/sports/tennis/serena-venus-williams-us-open.html NASA shared video and images of its first ever planetary defense mission. - https://www.instagram.com/p/Ci_hwGVNHGG/?igshid=MmIxOGMzMTU= The genes of a jellyfish show how to live forever. - https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2022/08/31/the-genes-of-a-jellyfish-show-how-to-live-forever Could ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ in Chicago really be done? We found out. - https://twitter.com/FrankGruber/status/1570921161768443907 Child Predators Are Using Twitch To Track Kids Livestreams. - https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2022-twitch-problem-with-child-predators/?curator=MediaREDEF AI art generator - www.Craiyon.com AI creates "New" Nirvana song “Drowned In The Sun” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qf6eOSJgN0Y ……….. As always, thank you for listening and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us Get updates like this in your inbox before they hit the web by subscribing to the newsletter here: https://frankgruber.me/newsletter/…
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Somewhat Frank

1 #0037 - WeWork Founder Adam Neumann’s Latest Startup Funding Round, U.S. Water Cuts, And Dinosaur Tracks 35:32
On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (@FrankGruber), John Guidos (@JohnGuidos), and Jen Consalvo (@Noreaster) chat about the following topics and articles… Adam Neumann has a new backer - https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/15/business/dealbook/adam-neumann-flow-new-company-wework-real-estate.html U.S. demands more water cuts as Colorado River hits dire lows - https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2022/08/16/colorado-river-bureau-of-reclamation/ Jupiter Images Released By NASA Showcase Auroras, Hazes - https://blogs.nasa.gov/webb/2022/08/22/webbs-jupiter-images-showcase-auroras-hazes/ What alcohol does to your body, brain, and health - https://hubermanlab.com/what-alcohol-does-to-your-body-brain-health/ 'Very distinct' dinosaur tracks made 113 million years ago revealed by severe Texas drought - https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/08/23/texas-drought-reveals-dinosaur-tracks/7879831001/?fbclid=IwAR0U3XZydjdtc2Azawr9JIzOVqS7Ze4Ombo3KoS9jH7QWIyL6WSYa3a9RTE The space race for your cell phone - https://www.axios.com/newsletters/axios-space-b7819bcb-2c9b-4064-b6bd-f02e1ebcd75d.html?chunk=0&utm_term=emshare#story0 Rumors are also swirling that Apple might be set to announce its own direct-to-satellite iPhone partnership with Globalstar next week - https://www.macrumors.com/2022/08/26/apple-globalstar-iphone-14-satellite-rumor/ ……….. As always, thank you for listening and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us Get updates like this in your inbox before they hit the web by subscribing to the newsletter here: https://frankgruber.me/newsletter/…
On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (@FrankGruber), John Guidos (@JohnGuidos), and Jen Consalvo (@Noreaster) chat about Frank and Jen’s first bout with Covid.The group also chats about the following topics and articles… Can Pickleball Save America? https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/07/25/can-pickleball-save-america HQ is wherever you are, and it’s not going back to a specific city anytime soon. https://twitter.com/FrankGruber/status/1550158895594741760 Costa Rica Just Made It Ridiculously Easy To Live There as a Digital Nomad. https://matadornetwork.com/read/costa-rica-digital-nomad-visa/ Text your Friends. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/11/well/family/check-in-text-friendship.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share 9-8-8 is a new phone number for anyone having harmful thoughts about themselves. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/12/well/988-suicide-prevention-hotline.html Scientists have picked up a radio signal 'heartbeat' billions of light-years away. https://www.npr.org/2022/07/14/1111471532/space-science-stars-radio-waves-signals-galaxy-lightyears-mit Scientists Discover Space Travel Accelerates Aging. https://www.slashgear.com/946243/scientists-discover-space-travel-accelerates-aging/ Earth Is Suddenly Spinning Faster. https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiecartereurope/2022/07/28/earth-is-suddenly-spinning-faster-why-our-planet-just-recorded-its-shortest-day-since-records-began/amp/ What if the pavement you drive on charged your car? https://www.mywabashvalley.com/news/regional-news/purdue-researchers-are-developing-pavement-that-can-charge-electric-vehicles-as-they-drive/ ……….. As always, thank you for listening and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us Get updates like this in your inbox before they hit the web by subscribing to the newsletter here: https://frankgruber.me/newsletter/…
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Somewhat Frank

1 #0035 - The James Webb Space Telescope, Nuclear Waste Turned Into Diamond Batteries, 100 Year Old Lobster, And More 22:51
On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (@FrankGruber), John Guidos (@JohnGuidos), and Jen Consalvo (@Noreaster) chat about America’s Seed Fund Week 2022. America’s Seed Fund Week is a free and virtual opportunity for small businesses to learn about non-dilutive funding available through America’s Seed Fund that delivers $4 billion annually to small businesses in R&D. Learn more at: www.americasseedfund.us The group also chats about the following topics and articles… Comparing Hubble to James Webb: The Difference in Detail is Astounding - https://petapixel.com/2022/07/11/comparing-hubble-to-james-webb-the-difference-in-detail-is-astounding/ Three Drivers of the Lifeguard Shortage - https://finance.yahoo.com/news/3-drivers-critical-lifeguard-shortage-200905442.html Psychosis, Addiction, Chronic Vomiting: As Weed Becomes More Potent, Teens Are Getting Sick - https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/23/well/mind/teens-thc-canabis.html?referringSource=articleShare Scientists Turn Nuclear Waste Into Diamond Batteries Which Last 1,000's of Years - https://www.thebrighterside.news/post/scientists-turn-nuclear-waste-into-diamond-batteries-which-last-1-000-s-of-years New drug increases the human lifespan by 30%, according to Mayo Clinic - Senolytic drugs boost key protective protein - Mayo Clinic Press It is summer in Maine and this is one that is close to home…Massive Lobster Found in Maine May be 100 Years Old - https://weather.com/science/nature/video/massive-lobster-found-near-maine-may-be-100-years-old ……….. As always, thank you for listening and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us Get updates like this in your inbox before they hit the web by subscribing to the newsletter here: https://frankgruber.me/newsletter/…
On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (@FrankGruber), John Guidos (@JohnGuidos), and Jen Consalvo (@Noreaster) chat about the following topics and articles… VC Funding for Black-Founded Startups Slows Dramatically As Venture Investors Pull Back - https://twitter.com/frankgruber/status/1537824149195849730?s=21&t=ltk9Nj_FRC9kvuKfv2pStw Trash found on Mars - https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article262582962.html Fashion is going Meta - https://www.inputmag.com/style/meta-balenciaga-prada-thom-browne-avatar-store-facebook Growing skin on robots - https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-have-made-this-creepy-as-heck-living-skin-for-robots Cannes Lions is in full swing for the first time since 2019 and focused on creativity in film and advertising. - https://nypost.com/2022/06/22/cannes-lions-international-festival-of-creativity-moments/ and https://www.businessinsider.com/cannes-lions-festival-of-creativity-2022-live-blog-2022-6 ……….. As always, thank you for listening and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us Get updates like this in your inbox before they hit the web by subscribing to the newsletter here: https://frankgruber.me/newsletter/…
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Somewhat Frank

On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (@FrankGruber), John Guidos (@JohnGuidos) chat about the following topics and articles… America's gun culture - in seven charts https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41488081 - Gun violence has returned to the US post-pandemic and it’s hard to stomach. Something has to be done. It’s gotten out of hand. We’re basically at war within our country every day. It’s scary to walk into Wal-Mart or send your child to school or attend a large festival. We’ve turned a blind eye for years and lived with it but now is the time to make some change. Could you live on a cruise ship? https://wgme.com/news/nation-world/couple-lives-permanently-on-cruise-ships-because-its-cheaper-than-housing-angelyn-burk-richard-burk-seattle-australia-mortgage-retirement-plans-vacation-travel-escape-retire-living-on-a-boat - A retired couple sold their home so they could permanently live on cruise ships for less than $43 a day. Could you do that? Insider trading on jpegs https://techcrunch.com/2022/06/01/former-opensea-exec-arrested-and-charged-with-insider-trading-of-nfts/ - NFT (non-fungible tokens) are securities regulated by the SEC. So just like stocks you can insider trade on NFTs too. The moon race https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2022-05-17/china-us-are-in-a-space-race-to-make-billions-from-mining-the-moon-s-minerals - China and the US Are Racing to Make Billions From Mining the Moon's Minerals. Speaking of NASA, have you seen you can send your name to space? NASA Artemis | Send Your Name to Space - https://www.nasa.gov/send-your-name-with-artemis/ Plant Milk Is Coming for Your Kids https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2022-06-03/plant-milk-markets-to-kids-as-big-dairy-pushes-back - We’ve got a baby formula shortage. Is plant milk here to save the day? Driverless taxis were approved in California for the first time – but the rollout will be gradual https://www.businessinsider.com/driverless-taxis-california-for-the-first-time-2022-6 - Cruise is the first company to have an autonomous vehicle contract in San Francisco. BONUS - The Harlem Globetrotters of Baseball https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2022-05-16/savannah-bananas-baseball-revolution-mlb-rules - Meet the Savannah Bananas, who’ve captivated fans and MLB. ‘We exist to make baseball fun’ ……….. As always, thank you for listening and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us Get updates like this in your inbox before they hit the web by subscribing to the newsletter here: https://frankgruber.me/newsletter/…
On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (@FrankGruber), John Guidos (@JohnGuidos) chat about the following topics and articles… - The 4 Day Work Week - An article by Jennifer Liu of CNBC examines the idea of the 4 Day Work Week and the book by Andrew Barnes of the same name. It explores studies that support the work shift. https://twitter.com/FrankGruber/status/1517207313500749830 - Bill Gates TED Talk - So at this year’s TED conference, Bill Gates drew from his new book, How to Prevent the Next Pandemic, and talked about the steps we need to take. Watch the TED Talk here: https://www.gatesnotes.com/Health/Talking-about-the-last-pandemic-at-TED?WT.mc_id=20220421110000_HTPTNP-TED_BG-EM-A_&WT.tsrc=BGEM - Cities Are Shrinking - https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2022/04/metro-areas-shrinking-population-loss/629665/ - Child Car Seats Are Disposable - https://www.sheknows.com/feature/what-to-do-with-an-expired-car-seat-966293/ 12M Child Passenger Safety Car Seats Are Thrown Away In The U.S. Every Year. The vast majority are thrown away at the end of their life cycle because they are hard to recycle. Also, check out https://carseatrecycling.com/ - Snap launched a new product, the Pixy a personal drone for selfies. https://twitter.com/FrankGruber/status/1520049574685122561 - Would you clone your pet? Cloning your pet could be a thing for the future. https://twitter.com/frankgruber/status/1515342252855414785?s=21&t=kJeJZMfbaFcwNq3bq6FH0g - WHOOP wristband - WHOOP monitors your sleep, recovery, and daily effort around the clock to deliver actionable insights on how you can optimize your performance. https://www.whoop.com/ ……….. As always, thank you for listening and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us Get updates like this in your inbox before they hit the web by subscribing to the newsletter here: https://frankgruber.me/newsletter/…
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Somewhat Frank

On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (@FrankGruber), John Guidos (@JohnGuidos) chat about … 1.) Mushrooms Communicate - Apparently, they use up to 50 words to communicate among themselves. Makes me wonder the same about trees. (https://twitter.com/frankgruber/status/1513690113968070664?s=21&t=gtQR6J3MYyOudT0Hr0eqy) 2.) Microplastics are found in human blood for the first time - Well, this is disrupting. What can we do about it? (https://twitter.com/frankgruber/status/1507007332600848384?s=21&t=i5jozVp7_dN0ldD5ipC6Ug) 3.) Elon Buying Twitter? Elon Musk made big moves a week ago buying a majority share of Twitter and then proposing to buy the whole company for $43B. Since then there has been a movement by the other largest investor Vanguard Group to buy just a little more of the company to take back over as the largest owner of Twitter. Of course, Twitter exploded with conversations about the situation and I polled on what should be done. Looks like most people voted for Elon to take over Twitter. I see it a lot like how media companies like newspapers were run by the wealthy in the past and you have seen that pattern return with Jeff Bezos owning the Washington Post for example. It also reminds me of the wealthy owning sports franchises. But all that aside, will Elon be good for Twitter or would his full ownership have negative impacts? (https://twitter.com/frankgruber/status/1514953746274566150?s=21&t=gtQR6J3MYyOudT0Hr0eqyg) 4.) NFT Discussion & A NFT Predictions - The NFT sales peaked in September 2021 but there are lots of new projects picking up steam and there are new ways people are using NFTs to fund projects. The big ones that you hear a lot about are Bored Ape Yacht Club, Doodles, and Crypto Punks, but projects like Moonbirds and VeeFriends are picking up steam as they’ve been rolling out. For example, there is a company dropping NFTs to mine meteors. (https://twitter.com/frankgruber/status/1508556287071633412?s=21&t=2GvKmsVQZ19r96wcBViDhg) I just heard of a couple of political candidates dropping NFTs to support their efforts which led me to a prediction that every major political campaign will have an NFT. (https://twitter.com/frankgruber/status/1514969414474608648?s=21&t=gtQR6J3MYyOudT0Hr0eqyg) Is there a web3 or NFT project you are working on? I’d love to hear about it. 5.) Work & Culture trend: The Two-Shift Workday - We have adopted the two-shift juggle in 2020 as soon as the pandemic hit. It went on pretty regularly until school was back in session and things got back to normal but it’s not going away. We all are connected to our phones 24x7 so if we don’t make a conscious effort to unplug then you may see ourselves falling into this routine and it can’t be healthy long term. (https://twitter.com/frankgruber/status/1511093005012320269?s=21&t=gtQR6J3MYyOudT0Hr0eq) 6.) Rise of the Rest has a tour, fund & now a book - Steve Case announced a new book, titled Rise of the Rest after the tour and fund that he kicked off in 2015 through three or four dozen cities since. I have been a partner and bus rider on a bunch of the stops on the tour and either interviewed Steve or hosted the startup pitch competition on those various stops along the way so it’s in much anticipation I await the launch of the book. You can preorder it here. (https://twitter.com/frankgruber/status/1512145798129143811?s=21&t=i5jozVp7_dN0ldD5ipC6Ug) Also, you might want to check out my interview with Anna Mason of the Rise of the Rest Fund that we dropped recently over on the Startup of the Year Podcast. (https://podcast.startupofyear.com/0081-anna-mason-from-the-rise-of-the-rest-fund-is-passionate-about-investing-between-the-coasts) 7.) New Safe tool for startups by AngelList - For all the startup founders raising funding from VCs or angels, you will need a SAFE term sheet and this new free tool can help you generate it. Y Combinator introduced the safe (simple agreement for future equity) in late 2013, and since then, it has been used by lots of startups as the main instrument for early-stage fundraising. (https://twitter.com/frankgruber/status/1514927687541927937?s=21&t=gtQR6J3MYyOudT0Hr0eqyg) Bonus: Finally, my latest guilty pleasure was binge-watching 1883 on Paramount+. I have to say, I am so thankful that we have modern medicine these days. It was only 139 years ago but life back then was pretty hard compared to today. And the Oregon Trail was brutal. It’s a great series, and I loved it. The actors all did an amazing job making me care for them. That said, it’s also super sad and violent so it’s not for the faint of heart. It took me two days to shake the series finale and I would bet I am not alone. (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13991232/) As always, thank you for listening and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us Get updates like this in your inbox before they hit the web by subscribing to the newsletter here: https://frankgruber.me/newsletter/…
On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (@FrankGruber), John Guidos (@JohnGuidos), and Jen Consalvo (@noreaster), all chat about New Year’s greetings, cool new gadgets at CES, new shows, and more… Frank, Jen, and John also invite listeners to participate in the Startup of the Year Summit on Jan 25-27 https://summit.startupofyear.com/ Frank also celebrates Scot Chisholm on the merging of Classy with GoFundMe (https://techcrunch.com/2022/01/13/gofundme-acquires-classy) The group talks about these new books/articles: — Is it too late to say Happy New Year? Ok, either way. Shall we downplay NYE? (https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/cancel-new-years-eve-forever) —Best of CES 2022: 30 top gadgets you need to see (https://thegadgetflow.com/blog/best-of-ces-2022-30-top-gadgets-you-need-to-see/) — Collectibles are back. Fanatics Bets Big On Trading Cards (https://www.axios.com/fanatics-bets-big-trading-cards-topps-d3590fd0-749a-4471-a0df-449c29db8a30.html) — This is a huge deal! On Her Way Up: Yankees Tap Woman as Minor League Manager (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/10/sports/baseball/rachel-balkovec-yankees.amp.html) — Wordle is having a moment, while I’m still doing mini crossword puzzles and playing the spelling game on NYTimes app (https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/01/13/wordle-perfect-pandemic-game-together) —Why “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” Is the Biggest Disney Hit Since “Let It Go” (https://slate.com/culture/2022/01/encanto-soundtrack-we-dont-talk-about-bruno-tiktok.html) —The bees FTW! New research reveals that honeybee venom can cure breast cancer (https://www.thebrighterside.news/post/new-research-reveals-that-honeybee-venom-can-cure-breast-cancer) — This is groundbreaking research and news! Epstein-Barr Virus a Likely Leading Cause of Multiple Sclerosis (https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/966604) — The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday (https://amzn.to/3KstRN5) — The Bomber Mafia by Malcom Gladwell (https://a.co/5Bi6AOB) We are loving the following shows/movies: — Yellowstone – https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4236770/ - it’s like a cross between the Sopranos meets Lonesome Dove set in todays time on Peacock and I’ve been binge watching it while I work the second shift the last few months as we prep for our Startup of the Year Summit. — Emily In Paris – https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8962124 - Season Two is out on Netflix and it’s fun to escape to Paris through the show. It’s light and I’d call it the next generation Sex In The City. — Stanley Tucci: Searching For Italy (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11852724/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk) As always, thank you for listening and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us Get updates like this in your inbox before they hit the web by subscribing to the newsletter here: https://frankgruber.me/newsletter/…
On this special Holiday Edition of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (@FrankGruber) and John Guidos (@JohnGuidos) are joined by Jen Consalvo (@noreaster) and talk about holiday celebrations, being thankful for vaccines, getting back to nature, and more. Frank, Jen, and John also also invite listeners to participate in the Startup of the Year Summit is happening Jan 25-27 https://summit.startupofyear.com/ The Consumer Technology Association Foundation (http://www.ctafoundation.tech/) is bringing our CES Pitch Competition (https://www.cta.tech/Who-We-Are/CTA-Foundation/Pitch-Competition) sponsored by AARP Innovation Labs back live to CES 2022! The group talks about these new books/articles: —Drops replace specs (https://flip.it/9BsG9-) - First FDA-approved eye drops to replace reading glasses go on sale — Touch the sun! (https://flip.it/PIZ9D0) - For The First Time in History, a Spacecraft Has 'Touched' The Sun —Glowing Covid Masks (https://flip.it/AFsgcl) - Scientists invent mask that glows when exposed to COVID-19 virus —Bye Bye Biopsies (https://flip.it/-sOUQA) - Hebrew U. creates blood test that could eliminate painful biopsies —Speed pass(port) (https://flip.it/GpXEGN) - Biden Signs Order That Will Allow Online U.S. Passport Renewal —Drone mailboxes are coming (https://www.axios.com/mailboxes-drone-deliveries-428f2ff4-78ab-44c4-881c-a7da48efdf3a.html ) - The mailbox gets a makeover for drone deliveries — Wim Hof Method by Wim Hof - Key takeaways from it is that a 30 seconds or longer of a cold shower after your warm shower helps We are loving the following shows/movies: —The Harry Potter Series —Fred Claus As always, thank you for listening and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us Get updates like this in your inbox before they hit the web by subscribing to the newsletter here: https://frankgruber.me/newsletter/…
On this special episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (@FrankGruber) and John Guidos (@JohnGuidos) are joined by Jen Consalvo (@noreaster) and talk about drone tugboats, NFTs, alien origins, and more.” The group also celebrate the following from their networks: This week we had National Entrepreneurship Day on November 16, 2021. Global Entrepreneurship Week was recently celebrated Nov 8, 2021 – Nov 14, 2021 Huge win for the Established team and for the SBIR team at the SBA - we produced the inaugural Innovation Ecosystem Summit from the 15th - 17th. Speakers ranged from Kathryn Finney to Steve Case and Victor Hwang - over a 1K people attended and videos will be posted soon. Andrew Warner has a new book https://www.StopAskingQuestions.co @properties in Chicago goes global with Christie’s deal - https://www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-real-estate/christies-international-real-estate-selling-properties Jodie Howard & Lisa Lewis is starting a new business called “Togather” in Southern Maine We are very excited about this next step for Established Ventures portfolio company, SoLo Funds, and their SoLo Causes launch. Helping underserved communities has always been the SoLo mission, now users can also give back through partnerships with Habitat for Humanity International and United Way. See the People Magazine article here: https://people.com/human-interest/habitat-for-humanity-united-way-solo-funds-solo-causes-non-profit-rodney-williams/ Frank, Jen, and John also also invite listeners to participate in the following upcoming events: Startup of the Year then join our community and if you’re one of the 100 startups selected you could be in the running. More info at http://soty.link/apply NASA iTech Cycle II Forum startup competition on Dec 8-9 - register at nasaitech.org Announced out Startup of the Year Summit is happening in Tampa on Jan 25-27 https://summit.startupofyear.com/ The Consumer Technology Association Foundation is bringing our CES Pitch Competition (https://www.cta.tech/Who-We-Are/CTA-Foundation/Pitch-Competition) sponsored by AARP Innovation Labs back live to CES 2022! The pitch event will take place Thursday, January 6th at 1:00 PM PT on the Startup Stage in Eureka Park. The group talks about these new books/articles: Agree! There are more than one ways to fry an egg. - Founders, Stop Obsessing Over Venture Funding (https://news.crunchbase.com/news/founders-vc-david-kolodny-wilbur-labs/) A drone tugboat - A tugboat made a 1,000-mile voyage around Denmark. The pilot was in Boston. (https://www.bizjournals.com/boston/inno/stories/news/2021/10/15/seamachines_nelliebly_denmark.html) Were we created by aliens in a Lab? - Our universe was made by aliens in a lab, theorises Harvard scientist (https://www.dazeddigital.com/science-tech/article/54556/1/our-universe-was-made-by-aliens-in-a-lab-says-harvard-scientist) This is kind of bonkers - How Four NFT Novices Created a Billion-Dollar Ecosystem of Cartoon Apes (https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/bayc-bored-ape-yacht-club-nft-interview-1250461/) So you’re saying they are priceless? - Science proves it: Most NFTs are worthless (https://www.fastcompany.com/90695605/science-proves-it-most-nfts-are-worthless) So true - Why It Feels Like This Year Is Going By Too Quickly, According to Experts | Apartment Therapy (https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/why-this-year-is-going-by-so-quickly-36947464) New laws forming around working from home in Portugal - The government in Portugal passes a law to help remote workers (https://www.npr.org/2021/11/11/1054615000/the-government-in-portugal-passes-a-law-to-help-remote-workers) Beyond Happiness by Jenn Lim (https://jennlim.com/beyondhappiness) Beyond Diversity by Rohit Bhargava and Jennifer Brown (https://www.nonobviousdiversity.com/book/) We are also still watching the following shows/movies: Succession on HBO Max Working Moms Curb Your Enthusiasm Season 11 The Morning Show We also want to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving! As always, thank you for listening and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us Get updates like this in your inbox before they hit the web by subscribing to the newsletter here: https://frankgruber.me/newsletter/…
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Somewhat Frank

On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (@FrankGruber) and John Guidos (@JohnGuidos) talk about Captain Kirk going to space, Zoolander’s birthday, Beyond Happypalooza, and more. Frank and John also celebrate the following people from their networks: Leslie Jump is joining Assure Analytics - https://differentfunds.com/strategies/different-funds-team-to-join-assure/ Rohit Bhravaga’s book Beyond Diversity: 12 Non-Obvious Ways To Build A More Inclusive World is coming out November 9th - https://amzn.to/3FEvmW9 Jenn Lim has a new book out called Beyond Happiness is out this week - https://amzn.to/3ADdFST Frank and John also also invite listeners to apply for the following upcoming events: Startup of the Year Awards Summit - If you’re interested in an opportunity to be a part of those awards and for a shot at potential investment and bragging rights, if you’re named Startup of the Year then join our community and if you’re one of the 100 startups selected you could be in the running. More info at http://soty.link/apply NASA iTech Cycle II Forum startup competition - NASA is searching for non-government funded technologies. Apply here: http://est.us/NIT (the deadline is Friday, October 15th at 11:59 AM PDT) Frank is also hosting the upcoming Beyond Happypalooza festival on October 29th. Find out more about event here: https://est.us/beyondhappinesspalooza The guys talk about these new books/articles: Paint it white. — https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/whitest-paint-in-the-world?utm_source=N2K%20-%20No%20Ad%20Template%20(Duplicate%20to%20use)&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=8537 Don’t kill Capt Kirk! — https://techcrunch.com/2021/10/04/william-shatner-to-fly-on-blue-origins-next-human-spaceflight-on-october-12/ Space travel is bad for your health — https://newatlas.com/space/brain-damage-biomarkers-cosmonauts-space-travel/ Zoolander is 20! Only made $15M at box office but is a classic — https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/a37762711/zoolander-20th-anniversary-ben-stiller-interview/ Wow this is a game changer — https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/06/health/malaria-vaccine-who.html?referringSource=articleShare Are unvaccinated kids as safe from COVID as vaccinated grandparents? — https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/12/briefing/covid-age-risk-infection-vaccine.html There’s no stealing first in baseball — MLB Is Testing Ways To Fix Baseball’s Boredom Problem — https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2021-10-11/mlb-rule-changes-atlantic-league-tests-tweaks-meant-to-save-baseball The guys are also still watching the following shows/movies: Ted Lasso - Season 2 (Apple TV) Only Murders In The Building (HULU) MLB Playoff Baseball Lastly, Frank and John chat about testing out the new iOS 15 iPhone update. As always, thank you for listening and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us Get updates like this in your inbox before they hit the web by subscribing to the newsletter here: https://frankgruber.me/newsletter/…
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Somewhat Frank

1 #0026 - Entrepreneurs Tackle Civilian Space Exploration, Cloning Dinosaurs, and Slowing Hurricanes 33:21
On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (@FrankGruber) and John Guidos (@JohnGuidos) talk about late-summer activities, entrepreneurs tackling civilian space exploration, cloning dinosaurs, and slowing hurricanes, and more. Frank and John also celebrate the following people from their networks: Charlie O’Donnell has raised a third fund for Brooklyn Bridge Ventures - https://www.brooklynbridge.vc/bbv-raises-third-fund Jewel Burks Solomon and Collab Capital has raised its first fund to invest in black innovators - https://medium.com/capital-innovation/collab-capital-closes-50m-first-fund-to-invest-in-black-innovators-22896db11ae8 Michael D Smith nominated for AmeriCorps - https://amp-cnn-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2021/06/15/politics/biden-michael-smith-americorps/index.html Katie Stanton raised her second fund - https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexkonrad/2021/07/19/moxxie-ventures-85-million-fund-katie-stanton-alex-roetter/ Max Crowley has had his coffee delivery startup Bandit acquired by Gopuff - https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/bandit-now-part-gopuff-max-crowley Matt Galligan on the launch of his new company XMTP and securing $20M in funding - https://blog.xmtp.com/series-a/ Frank and John also also invite listeners to apply for the following upcoming events: Startup of the Year Awards Summit - If you’re interested in an opportunity to be a part of those awards and for a shot at potential investment and bragging rights, if you’re named Startup of the Year then join our community before Sept 30th and if you’re one of the 100 startups selected you could be in the running. More info at http://soty.link/apply NASA iTech Cycle II Forum startup competition - NASA is searching for non-government funded technologies that are addressing the following focus areas: Enabling Technologies for Commercialization of Low-Earth Orbit Hybrid Electric Aircraft Technologies and Alternative Fuels Physics-Based Machine Learning for Artificial Intelligence Technologies Using NASA Data to Foster Climate Resilience X-Factor Innovations (anything so cool, NASA should know about it). Apply here: http://est.us/NIT (the deadline is Friday, October 15th at 11:59 AM PDT) The guys talk about these new books/articles: Civilians in Space! --https://www.space.com/spacex-inspiration4-returns-to-earth?utm_source=join1440&utm_medium=email Real-Life Jurassic Park? - Colossal, this startup just raised $15M with the goal of bringing the woolly mammoth back from extinction by 2027 using CRISPR, a revolutionary gene-editing technology. --https://www.cnet.com/news/woolly-mammoths-could-walk-the-earth-again-by-2027-if-crispr-startup-succeeds/ Hurricane Killing Startup? --https://futurism.com/the-byte/startup-tech-kill-hurricanes Zoom brain is a thing. --https://techcrunch.com/2021/04/21/this-is-your-brain-on-zoom/amp/#click=https://t.co/1q2GPOILzx Chickens for rent -- Rent-a-chicken trend spikes during pandemic -- https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/chicken-rentals-spike-during-pandemic Sears is closing last store in home state of Illinois --https://www.cnbc.com/2021/09/16/sears-is-shutting-its-last-store-in-illinois-its-home-state.html Let’s talk beef, Wagnu beef to be more specific… of the 3D variety… -- https://interestingengineering.com/scientists-reveal-worlds-first-3d-printed-marbled-wagyu-beef The guys are also watching the following shows/movies: Ted Lasso - Season 2 (Apple TV) The Morning Show - Season 2 (Apple TV) Only Murders In The Building (HULU) Lastly, the Frank and John chat about testing out some new gear: ITIWIT Inflatable Kayak - https://www.decathlon.com/collections/kayaks/products/kayak-touring-inflatable-high-pressure-dropstitch-floor-3-seat-x100-177376?variant=39473127751742 DJI Mini 2 Drone - https://www.dji.com/mini-2 As always, thank you for listening and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us Get updates like this in your inbox before they hit the web by subscribing to the newsletter here: https://frankgruber.me/newsletter/…
On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (@FrankGruber) and John Guidos (@JohnGuidos) discuss whether NFTs are just a fad, or here to stay. Frank also chats about his recent NFT experience when he featured his newly minted NFT and the auction. See it here . Frank and John also celebrate the following people from their networks: Blake Hall & the team at ID.me on reaching unicorn status with a $1.5B valuation . Elizabeth Yin and Eric Bahn on raising their second fund . Mike Levins on raising $10M in funding for their insurance tech company, Counterpart . Suneel Gupta's book Backable is out and it’s a best seller! Rick Klau on being appointed California's next Chief Technology Innovation Officer . Kevin Willer, Stuart Larkin, and the team at Chicago Ventures for raising a new $63M fund . Jenny Fielding on the launch of The Fund Midwest . Chester Ng and the Atomic team on a new $260M fund . Brian Luerssen on launching a new fund to invest in underrepresented founders in Chicago. Lisa Hellebo has launched a $10M rolling fashion fund . Zach Lipson on raising a Series C for Dutchie bringing the valuation to $1.7B . Brit Morin on being SF Magazine's cover story for her work on female entrepreneurship. Ellery Linder & Danielle Rushton, 2019 Top 5 Startup of the Year® Finalist, relaunch as Wherewithal . David Spinks on the launch of his book the Business of Belonging . Susan McPherson on the launch of her book, The Lost Art of Connecting . Cyrus Radfar on co-founding SPINE to supercharge existing spreadsheet tools. Frank and John also talk about the following upcoming events: The Unvalley Conference is coming back on May 19th and 20th. Short link: https://est.us/UVPK NASA iTech is hosting an event on May 27th showcasing 10 companies with innovations that might help with future NASA missions - RSVP . We also want to take a moment to invite all of our listeners to get involved with our program by visiting: established.us/programs . This is the best way to get notified of the various startup opportunities that we come across while working with various partner organizations and in a number of ecosystems across the country. The guys talk about these new books/articles: Is bringing your old photos of your grandparents to life with AI, creepy or cool? - New AI ‘Deep Nostalgia’ brings old photos, including very old ones, to life Space vacations are coming soon - World's first space hotel scheduled to open in 2027 There are a lot of ways to get your workout in and stay healthy and active - How to Get a Peloton-Style Workout Without Splurging This is an unbelievable feat by an athlete at any level, let alone college, and should be celebrated! - A Softball Pitcher Struck Out Every Batter? She Hadn’t Noticed This is a Wright Brothers moment for Mars! - NASA’s Mars helicopter takes flight, 1st for another planet The guys are also watching the following shows/movies: Made for Love (HBOMax) - This comedy, sci-fi series combines traits and trends being used by some of the tech leaders out there today to create a wild tech CEO aimed at leveraging technology to intertwine itself into the human mind for the sake of love, and profit of course. Seaspiracy (Netflix) - Supported by Leonardo DiCaprio, a filmmaker sets out to document the harm that humans do to marine species - and uncovers alarming global corruption. It may have you rethinking your consumption of seafood. Sasquatch (Hulu) - Follows investigative journalist David Holthouse as he attempts to solve a bizarre twenty-five year old triple homicide that was said to be the work of a mythical creature. As always, thank you for listening and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us . Get updates like this in your inbox before they hit the web by subscribing to the newsletter here: https://frankgruber.me/newsletter/…
On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (@FrankGruber) and John Guidos (@JohnGuidos) discuss their thoughts on Bitcoin, Super Bowl weekend, and the Clubhouse App (connect with them on the Clubhouse App - @FrankGruber and @JohnGuidos). Frank and John also celebrate the following people from their networks: —Jessica Ewing on her $40M raise for Literati https://www.forbes.com/sites/maggiemcgrath/2021/01/27/an-exclusive-look-at-book-club-service-literatis-new-chapter-a-40-million-series-b/?sh=534b25416499 —Erica Minnihan and Reign Ventures and the group of funds here that were invested in by Bank of America https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210126005694/en/ —Mike Jones and Peter Pham on raising a $270M SPAC https://dot.la/science-inc-spac-2650147068.html?fbclid=IwAR1v0OvWHlwPTkknwzwGrONfv5nee6UL8aZuWQB19K306-z6d3TvlsKT0lE https://medium.com/scienceinc/introducing-science-strategic-acquisition-corp-alpha-5fc0e80c3a6a —Josh Williams is back Gowalla after 12 years and just raised funding from Spark Capital, GV, and others https://twitter.com/gowalla/status/1354836611347832836 —Sara Lawhead on the launch of the latest Jetboil stash - https://gearjunkie.com/jetboil-stash-backpacking-stove-review —Jesse Draper on raising a $21M fund Jesse Draper of Halogen Ventures Closes $21 Million Fund to Invest in the Next Generation of Billion Dollar Businesses Run by Women | Business Wire —Arlan Hamilton and Christie Pitts at BackStage Capital hit their fundraising goal of over a $1M on Republic in 9 hours! https://twitter.com/frankgruber/status/1357437559991922692?s=21 —Sarah Cone’s venture capital firm, Social Impact Capital, exists to solve all the world's most difficult problems through the medium of venture capital and recently launched www.joincolumn.com . Frank and John also talk about the following upcoming events: — SXSW!!! - we’re going to IT THIS YEAR FROM HOME AGAIN - haha --- to be doing some fun events during the week learn more by going to: est.us/sxsw21 . The event will be March 16th - 20th (more info coming soon). Watch our fun promo video on our youtube channel: https://soty.link/ESTYouTube — NASA iTech Ignite the Night Tampa event Do you like SPACE and NASA? We’re working with them on the NASA iTech Ignite the Night Tampa event on March 9th. Ten tech startups will fast-pitch their innovations to an audience and panel of judges - online. This high energy event connects brands and organizations to the movers and shakers of our space industry. RSVP to the NASA iTech Ignite the Night Tampa event at: https://est.us/NASAiTechTampa21 . LEARN MORE HERE: https://www.established.us/nit We also want to take a moment to invite all of our listeners to get involved with our program by visiting: established.us/programs . This is the best way to get notified of the various startup opportunities that we come across while working with various partner organizations and in a number of ecosystems across the country. The guys talk about these new books/articles: When Two Realities Collide — https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/30/business/robinhood-wall-street-gamestop.html#click=https://t.co/drsWCxpKMH Early to bed, early to seize the day — The Best Time To Go To Bed Is 8:45 Clubhouse is now valued at $1B, do you use it? — https://twitter.com/FrankGruber/status/1353821952515964929 NAVY has some wild UFO Patents —U.S. Navy Has Patents on Tech It Says Will ‘Engineer the Fabric of Reality’ https://www.vice.com/en/article/4adpv9/us-navy-has-patents-on-tech-it-says-will-engineer-the-fabric-of-reality Tesla Buys Tons of Bitcoin https://techcrunch.com/2021/02/08/tesla-buys-1-5b-in-bitcoin-may-accept-the-cryptocurrency-as-payment-in-the-future/ The guys are also watching the following shows/movies: —WandaVision on Disney+ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9140560/ As always, thank you for listening and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us . Get updates like this in your inbox before they hit the web by subscribing to the newsletter here: https://frankgruber.me/newsletter/…
On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (@FrankGruber) and John Guidos (@JohnGuidos) reflect on 2020 and talk about what excites them in 2021. Frank made some of the classic resolutions which included healthier eating habits and exercise routines but also started a new one, where he’s been drawing a new thing every day. Some examples are on his Instagram or Facebook stories ( http://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/17885120833920189/ ). Frank also celebrates the following people from his network: —Natalie Buford-Young has become the new CEO of Springboard Enterprises ( https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/springboard-enterprises-appoints-natalie-buford-young-as-ceo-301192546.html ). —Matt Van Horn on his startup June being acquired by Weber ( https://techcrunch.com/2021/01/12/weber-acquires-smart-cooking-start-up-june/ ). —Andrew Yang is running for Mayor of NYC ( https://gothamist.com/news/andrew-yang-enters-mayors-race-scaled-back-plan-universal-basic-income ). —Jen Consalvo, Cat Hernandez, Charles Hudson, Jenny Fielding, Lolita Taub, Mac Conwell, and more for being highlighted in Forbes for investing in underrepresented founders ( https://www.forbes.com/sites/allysonkapin/2020/12/10/51-vcs-who-want-to-invest-in-women-black-and-latinx-and-lgbtq-founders/?sh=d8f13c8a6425 ). Frank and John also talk about the following upcoming events: —The Non-Obvious Diversity Summit ( https://www.nonobviousdiversity.com/ ) is coming up January 26 - 29th and I'll be speaking about investing in diverse startups along with Courtney Caldwell of ShearShare, Travis Holloway of Solo Funds, Ash Kumra of Peak Mindful, Marlon Nichols of MaC Venture Capital, and Allyson Kapin of The W Fund. Register at the following link: https://www.nonobviousdiversity.com/ . —NASA iTech is looking for innovators who are interested in sharing their latest with NASA Chief Technologists. If you know anyone interested apply by 1/29, more details here: https://www.established.us/nit . The guys talk about these new books/articles: Where in the world is billionaire Jack Ma? —Jack Ma was China’s most vocal billionaire. Then he vanished - https://www.wired.co.uk/article/jack-ma-disappear-ant-group-ipo Real-life Faceoff? —Wearing someone else's face: Hyper-realistic masks to go on sale in Japan - https://mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKBN28Q194 Llama inhaler for COVID relief —Asthma-style inhaler filled with powerful LLAMA antibodies could be used to treat patients with severe COVID-19 - https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-9079137/Asthma-style-inhaler-filled-powerful-LLAMA-antibodies-treat-COVID-19.html First-Night Effect = Half Your Brain Sleeps, While Other Stays Awake —Night Watch in One Brain Hemisphere during Sleep Associated with the First-Night Effect in Humans - https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(16)30174-9 Lobster technology —Ropeless fishing, called ‘crazy’ by some, could be real in five years - https://www.mainebiz.biz/article/ropeless-fishing-called-crazy-by-some-could-be-real-in-five-years Here's a rabbit hole if you're interested —UFOs: The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Collection - https://www.theblackvault.com/documentarchive/ufos-the-central-intelligence-agency-cia-collection/ This stuff is getting real —A Harvard professor says an alien visited in 2017 — and more are coming - https://nypost.com/2021/01/02/a-harvard-professor-says-an-alien-visited-in-2017/ Apple car is coming in 5 years —The Apple car, briefly explained - https://www.vox.com/recode/22197401/apple-car-explained Progress for gender equality in pro sports starting with basketball, thank you San Antonio Spurs —Spurs' Becky Hammon: Being first woman to serve as NBA head coach 'a substantial moment' - https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/30627408/spurs-becky-hammon-becomes-first-woman-nba-regular-season-history-act-head-coach Followed by baseball, thank you Boston Red Sox. —Red Sox hire Smith, first Black female coach - https://www.mlb.com/news/red-sox-hire-bianca-smith-first-black-female-baseball-coach Thank you, big sis! —The Secret To Success? Having A Big Sister - https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/12/17/947566797/the-secret-to-success-having-a-big-sister —The TB12 Method ( https://amzn.to/3so6lrr )- Whether you love Tom Brady or not, this book came out a few years ago and offers a unique approach to a longer, healthier life. It struck a chord, as the strength training I did as an athlete in high school and into college was very similar to what Brady encountered. He realized that pliability is just as important as strength training. I wish I would have had this book 20 years ago but it's never too late to become more pliable and make a change for the better. Please check out our other podcast: —On the Startup of the Year Podcast I interviewed Kara Goldin, the CEO and founder of Hint water and author of the bestselling book, Undaunted. Find the episode here: https://podcast.startupofyear.com/0042-startup-stories-with-kara-goldin-ceo-of-hint-and-bestselling-author-of-undaunted . Lastly, Frank has been testing out his new CamPark Trail Camera ( https://amzn.to/3bNiRe2 ) - Jen gave me this trail camera for Christmas and I've added it to my regular morning routine. It shows we've had lots of visitors in the last couple of weeks as seen here: https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/18151245490107201/ . As always, thank you for listening and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us . Get updates like this in your inbox before they hit the web by subscribing to the newsletter here: https://frankgruber.me/newsletter/…
On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (@FrankGruber) and John Guidos (@JohnGuidos) talk about the new COVID-19 vaccine that is getting rolled out to address the ongoing pandemic that has taken 300,000+ lives in the US alone. To put that in perspective, WWII took over 400,000 lives, so this vaccine may go down as one of the most important medical breakthroughs in our lifetime. Frank and John also chat about a few ridiculously large IPOs in the tech sector and the trend of migration from big cities. Frank also shares some stories and remembers the life of his good friend, Tony Hsieh. You can read his article celebrating Tony’s life at: https://tech.co/news/celebrating-tony-hsieh Frank also celebrates the following people from his network: Lou Mintzer https://twitter.com/mintzer/status/1330873819809144833 Danica Kombol https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mwwpr-acquires-everywhere-agency-leading-influencer-marketing-firm-301190293.html?tc=eml_cleartime&fbclid=IwAR3ZquaI9FMezgAmN21I30x6aVWQhmY0WQOqQgI6ILW51dvcthZOUzP-3Ag The guys talk briefly about the 8th annual Startup of the Year Summit that occurred in November. From the startup pitches, to the conversations with folks like Tim Draper, Kara Goldin, and Mike Evans, Lo Toney, and many many more. We also had AMAs with Marc Nager, Carolyn Rodz, Marlon Nichols, NASA, USAF. We also hosted 500+ Curated Office Hours during the summit, not to mention all the interactions and conversations that attendees set up on their own. We also had an amazing Top 100 semi-finalists this year! Here are a few fun stats: OVER half of our startups have a female on the founding team 74% of teams have a founder of color nearly 20% were Veteran-led companies SoLo Funds was named the 2020 Startup of the Year and Jeenie won the .US Veteran Startup of the Year. The Top 5 finalists included SoLo Funds, Jeenie, Finmark, GLASS, and Hoy Health. We also named Grifin as the People’s Choice Award winner. As always, remember to register for your free .us domain offer at est.us/SummitUS . We hope to see you in 2021! Sign up now to get notified about our 2021 application and upcoming events at: established.us/programs and startupofyear.com Up next, Established will be helping to host the Unvalley 2020 conference on December 17th and 18th. Our team at Established is the Production sponsor and some will be conducting the interviews at the event. This is not only an opportunity to see great speakers it is an opportunity for anyone looking to find a job that best fits their culture or vibe outside of the valley. Register for Unvalley at the following: https://est.us/unvalley20 Unvalley is a two day virtual conference to connect attendees with the biggest opportunities in tech between the coasts. Speakers include the following: Steve Case from Revolution and Rise of the Rest. Arlan Hamilton from BackStage Capital Rand Fishkin from Moz Mary Grove from Bread and Butter Ventures and many many more. The guys also discuss the following things they are reading/watching: Do you know the origin story of Monopoly? Monopoly Was Designed to Teach the 99% About Income Inequality. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/monopoly-was-designed-teach-99-about-income-inequality-180953630/?fbclid=IwAR0Uzcy2c-GkxVwiLSmnBCirgo8lPp12YIh5wKJreyoHHd439G5czv2dtyw Movie night is going to be at home in 2021. Warner Bros. Smashes Box Office Windows, Will Send Entire 2021 Slate to HBO Max and Theaters. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/warner-bros-smashes-box-office-windows-will-send-2021-slate-to-hbo-max-and-theaters Wonder Women on Merry Christmas!!! Wonder Woman 1984 will be released on HBO Max the same day it’s in theaters for no extra cost. https://www.theverge.com/2020/11/18/21504152/wonder-woman-1984-release-delay-new-date-warner-bros-disney-black-widow-dune-tenet Aliens are helping us prevent war. Israel's Former Space Security Chief Says Aliens Have Prevented Nuclear War. https://www.vice.com/en/article/xgzg97/israels-former-space-security-chief-says-aliens-have-prevented-nuclear-war?utm_campaign=later-linkinbio-motherboardvice&utm_content=later-12615309&utm_medium=social&utm_source=instagram Would you give up your treasure? Treasure hunter marks five years in jail for refusing to give up his gold. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/dec/14/tommy-thompson-treasure-jail-ship-of-gold Get updates like this in your inbox before they hit the web by subscribing to the newsletter here: https://frankgruber.me/newsletter/…
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Somewhat Frank

1 #0021 - Friday the 13th, Zoom Towns, NASA and SpaceX Launch, and the Startup of the Year Summit 39:44
On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber (@FrankGruber) and John Guidos (@JohnGuidos) talk about Friday the 13th and the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. They also talk about the following current trending topics: #WorldKindnessDay #FridayMotivation #Elon #PS5 Frank also celebrates the following people from his network: Ari Newman has launched a new seed fund, The Fund Rockies - https://arinewman.medium.com/launching-the-fund-rockies-54a575411ed9 Josh Williams has relaunched the geo-location app, GoWalla - https://go.gowalla.com/ Matt Van Horn has launched the Gen3 June Oven, just in time for the holidays. - http://juneoven.com/ Matt Haggman joined the Beacon Council as EVP. - https://www.beaconcouncil.com/matt-haggman-joins-the-miami-dade-beacon-council/?fbclid=IwAR1bqk1ufKsR5s1Q2Di6Poh63XZrgh4Ja-iUuVFwHQxKNczxPX99eeLkx6E Kira M. Newman for editing the new book, The Gratitude Project ( https://amzn.to/2Hs6KGA ), the result of a multiyear collaboration between the Greater Good Science Center and Robert Emmons of the University of California, Davis. Courtney and Tye Caldwell of ShearShare have raised $2.3M more funding (Note: I’ve invested in ShearShare through Established Ventures). - https://techcrunch.com/2020/10/26/dallas-shearshare-has-a-marketplace-connecting-stylists-with-available-seats-at-salons-and-2-3-million-in-funding/ Mac Conwell on the launch of RareBreed VC. - https://technical.ly/baltimore/2020/10/29/mckeever-conwell-rarebreed-vc/ Susan McPherson on her book, The Lost Art of Connecting, due out next year. - https://amzn.to/3eWUiuI Ron Klain of Revolution on being named President-Elect Joe Biden's Chief of Staff. - https://twitter.com/FrankGruber/status/1327054751691894788 This weekend we'll be watching the first NASA launch of astronauts from US soil since 2011. They will be headed to the International Space Station. This launch will be in partnership with SpaceX and is scheduled to take place on Saturday, November 14th at 7:49 PM ET from Florida. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/11/12/spacex-launch-scheduled-saturday-expected-draw-many-spectators/6268327002/ The guys once again chat about the 8th annual Startup of the Year Summit ( https://startupofyearsummit2020.eventbrite.com/?aff=FrankVIP ). We vetted thousands of startups down to the Top 100 that will compete at our 8th annual Startup of the Year Summit for a shot at a potential investment, prizes, and the championship. If you have a moment next week, please tune into this “Shark Tank” style pitch competition. We will stream this special event for free, online on November 16th - 18th. I'll also be conducting the following interviews: Tim Draper, venture capitalist and founder of Draper Associates; Kara Goldin co-founder and CEO of Hint Water and author of Undaunted (order the book today) - https://amzn.to/3lN5lsQ Mike Evans co-founder of GrubHub and Fixer.com , and author of forthcoming book Hangry Lo Toney venture capitalist and founder of Plexo Capital Rohit Bhargava author of Non-Obvious Mega Trends ( https://amzn.to/3dB741t); Meredith Fineman author of Brag Better ( https://amzn.to/3iVDh4E); Ximena Hartsock co-founder of Phone2Action Marc Nager, venture capitalist of Greater Colorado Venture Fund Sarah Evan, marketing & digital PR at Sevans Digital PR Whitney Johnson will teach you how to Disrupt Yourself ( https://amzn.to/377g5xZ ), and many more. We invite you to join me next week by registering today at: http://startupofyearsummit2020.eventbrite.com/?aff=FrankVIP Frank also discuss the following things that he is reading/watching: Trendspotting: Zoom towns - https://www.fastcompany.com/90564796/zoom-towns-are-exploding-in-the-west 'Zoom towns' MTV is back! Kind of… - https://variety.com/2020/music/news/apple-music-tv-launch-videos-1234809088/ Welcome to crypto, PayPal! - https://www.reuters.com/article/us-paypal-cryptocurrency-idUSKBN2761L6 Facebook has more than just Farmville - https://www.theverge.com/2020/10/26/21528438/facebook-cloud-gaming-beta-android-web-jason-rubin-interview The Power of the Sun - https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/a34372005/solar-cheapest-energy-ever/?fbclid=IwAR2oS6CxW1U2po-FHvHbKNox35gcviLnKHuZwN7K2F5nWr7a2s6l0rNfi3M There IS water on the Moon! - https://twitter.com/FrankGruber/status/1320811736862236673 The Vegas Roadtrip is making a comeback! - https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-10-28/las-vegas-vehicle-traffic-rises-for-first-time-since-pandemic Apple TV for the win - https://www.fastcompany.com/90570629/apple-tv-plus-secretly-won-the-streaming-war-of-2020-heres-why Maybe we should rethink the Electoral College - https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/10/28/election-results-and-electoral-college-pick-next-president/4718619002/ Get updates like this in your inbox before they hit the web by subscribing to the newsletter here: https://frankgruber.me/newsletter/…
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Somewhat Frank

On this Episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber and John Guidos talk about enjoying the cooler temperatures and the fall harvest and about the Earth and what we're doing to it. Specifically, they discuss the new documentary Kiss The Ground , which talks about a global movement of regenerative agriculture, balancing our climate, replenishing our vast water supplies, and feeding the world. Additionally, the problem is further reaching than just the Earth, out in space there is apparently a mass of space junk that needs to be taken care of as well. Frank also celebrates the following people in his network: Lolita Taub and Jesse Middleton are teaming up to launch The Community Fund . NOTE: Investing in early-stage Community focused or powered startups. Ben Metcalfe has launched a fund and made his first investment . Benoit Wirz at Brighteye VC has raised a new fund . J.D. Vance has his book Hillbilly Elegy is soon to be a movie on Netflix (Nov 24th) . Andrew Song at Whisper has developed a new kind of hearing aid and have raised funds . Mike Levins on the launch of this startup in the insurance tech space ! Frank also suggests that everyone try and attend the 8th annual Startup of the Year Summit! We will stream this special event for free, online for your viewing pleasure, on November 16th - 18th. Also featured during the Summit are a number of exciting speakers including Tim Draper , venture capitalist and founder of Draper Associates; entrepreneur and author Kara Goldin will discuss her journey in starting Hint Water and her new book Undaunted (order the book today) entrepreneur Mike Evans will share his candid story behind starting and taking GrubHub to IPO plus his new startup Fixer.com , and forthcoming book Hangry; author and entrepreneur Rohit Bhargava will share learnings from his latest book Non Obvious Mega Trends ; author Meredith Fineman will teach us tips from her new book Brag Better ; author Whitney Johnson will teach you how to Disrupt Yourself , and more. Register now . The guys also talk about the following books/article they’ve read recently: Loneliness is at an all-time high with the isolation caused by the global pandemic - AI system detects loneliness in natural speech patterns It's about damn time! - Airbus Unveils Hydrogen Designs for Zero-Emission Flight Clean energy could be in our future - Compact Nuclear Fusion Reactor Is ‘Very Likely to Work,’ Studies Suggest Stay cool. - The Arctic hasn’t been this warm for 3 million years 1 Tree, 2 Trees, 3 Trees… - Satellites could soon map every tree on Earth How is space already filled with garbage? And how do we fix it? - Over 75% of space debris detected in new survey is unknown objects Trendspotting: Diversity is now being rewarded at Starbucks - Starbucks Ties Executive Pay to 2025 Diversity Targets This is what parents are going through everywhere. - Op-Ed: Working Moms Like Me Are at the Coronavirus Breaking Point The theater industry is quite stressed out by the pandemic. - AMC Will Rent Out Entire Theater for $99 Either way, there's a 50/50 chance we live in a simulation. - A Study Shows There's a 50% Chance We're Living In A Simulation Frank and John also chat about the new Shuffle app that is like Instagram for podcasts. It allows you to make 60-second clips of your favorite podcasts and then post them you would on your Instagram stories and profile. Thus, enabling you to discover and share parts of podcasts. Please listen to Frank’s interview with Polly Rodriguez from Unbound on the latest edition of the Startup of the Year Podcast, where she shared her rollercoaster ride bootstrapping her sexual wellness startup to success. We hope you enjoy the candid conversation, and maybe pick something up to apply to your life. Listen here . One last final note, please remember to vote on or before November 3rd. Get updates like this in your inbox before they hit the web by subscribing to the newsletter here .…
On this Episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber and John Guidos talk about enjoying the splendors of Fall during the COVID-19 pandemic. They also take a virtual moment of silence for the U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg who recently passed away and was a force who fought for freedom and equality in America. Frank also celebrates the following people in his network: Tamar Weinberg survived COVID-19 and wrote about it a few times on medium ( http://medium.com/@tamar ) - She also started a fragrance https://medium.com/@tamar/my-journey-into-wellness-2bb18686548d Genevieve Thiers founder of SitterCity has had it acquired - https://www.americaninno.com/chicago/inno-news-chicago/sittercity-acquired-by-child-care-firm-bright-horizons/ Kara Goldin on raising $25M for Hint and her new book Undaunted - https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200818005305/en/Hint-Closes-25-Million-Investment-Led-Springboard#.Xzw3ekQdbhc.twitter Ben Parr on his up and down startup journey with Octane AI - https://www.forbes.com/sites/martyswant/2020/08/21/from-celebrity-chatbots-to-new-life-in-e-commerce-octane-ai-raises-425-million/#60f66f1b4795 Neal Sales Griffin on joining MATH Ventures as a Venture Partner- https://www.mathventurepartners.com/in-the-news/2020/9/21/math-venture-partners-brings-on-neal-sales-griffin-as-venture-partner?fbclid=IwAR3ePYMi52kW5JuoOtTCnGNijD-5ZuQLNKVl7zblVwvIi-ffSnYIXzySgvY The guys also talk about the following books/article they’ve read recently: The greatest software IPO of all time just happened with Snowflake. Warren Buffett backed Snowflake's value doubles in stock market's largest software debut - https://www.reuters.com/article/us-snowflake-ipo/buffett-backed-snowflakes-value-doubles-in-stock-markets-largest-software-debut-idUSKBN2672VA Would you want to live forever? - Frozen in time: Inside the facility preserving the dead through cryonics. https://flip.it/kNOAjZ How do they live so long in blue zones? - Longevity nutrition tips from Blue Zones communities. https://flip.it/GQxMbn Maybe you should try cold showers instead.- Here’s What Taking a Cold Shower Does to Your Body, According to Experts. https://flip.it/ViG39W If you could live anywhere would you stay in Silicon Valley? - How Remote Work Could Destroy Silicon Valley. https://marker.medium.com/amp/p/761b398dc9fb Some think cities like NYC will bounce back, while others do not. - NYC is Dead Forever … Here’s Why. https://jamesaltucher.com/blog/nyc-is-dead-forever-heres-why/ Digital nomads your time to shine is now! - https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexledsom/2020/07/18/digital-nomads-are-new-travel-winners-as-entire-countries-open-doors-to-work-tourism/ Want to work remotely from a Caribbean Island for a year? - Barbados offering 12-month remote-work stay incentive to attract visitors. https://nypost.com/2020/07/08/barbados-offering-12-month-remote-work-incentive-to-attract-visitors/ Get ready. - Pentagon Has ‘Off-World Vehicles Not Made on This Earth.’ https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/research/amp33413777/pentagon-ufo-program-materials-vehicles/ This blows my mind! - Elon Musk to show off working a brain-hacking device. https://flip.it/Xw2pkB Plastic pushed on us by big oil? - How Big Oil Misled The Public Into Believing Plastic Would Be Recycled. https://www.npr.org/2020/09/11/897692090/how-big-oil-misled-the-public-into-believing-plastic-would-be-recycled?utm_source=davidhauser.com&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weekly_newsletter Quibi - After 6 months and $1.8 billion, Quibi wants a new owner. That will be a hard sell. https://flip.it/LFi86q LinkedIn lists the 50 top U.S. startups on the rise in 2020: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/linkedin-top-startups-2020-50-us-companies-rise-jessi-hempel/ Frank and John chat about watching the Apple TV show “Ted Lasso” and the HBO Max series “Love Life” with Anna Kendrick. Frank also gives a brief summary of the new Netflix documentary "The Social Dilemma," which lays out a case against the primacy of big technology companies. The film highlights the concerns of former tech employees who say social media is undermining the shared sense of reality that underpins society. Lastly, please join Established for our upcoming 8th Annual Startup of the Year Summit which will be held online on November 16-18. The Summit is a curated experience for emerging founders, seasoned entrepreneurs, corporate innovation leads, accelerators, and investors to build relationships that fuel success. Summit is also the culmination of the 2020 Startup of the Year competition, and attendees can expect to hear from various keynote speakers, such as Tim Draper (Draper VC), Kara Goldin (Hint Water), and Mike Evans (GrubHub), and more. You can learn more about the Summit and register for the event at the following link: https://summit.startupofyear.com/ Get updates like this in your inbox before they hit the web by subscribing to the newsletter here .…
On this Episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber and John Guidos talk about the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement. They also chat about the recent rise in RV sales and the benefits of the vagabond lifestyle during the pandemic. Frank also celebrates the following people in his network: Arlan Hamilton on the release of her book, It's About Damn Time . Brad Feld on his latest book, The Startup Community Way . Meredith Fineman on the launch of her book, Brag Better . Matt Rissel on joining Summit Partners as an Executive In Residence . Derek Andersen on the growth and fresh $15M in funding to Bevy . Mary Grove on the launch of her new VC firm Bread and Butter Ventures . Cat Hernandez on the launch of a new pre-seed fund model with The Venture Collective . Paul Carr on launching Needhop . Need help? Book someone on a call via the app (more on this below). Dawn Dickson on raising $2.3M for her startup via crowdfunding . The guys also talk about the following books/article they’ve read recently: Too early to ditch the gym for gene therapy? Experimental gene therapy prevents obesity, builds muscle, without exercise or dieting How To Read Water Clues and Patterns from Puddles to the Sea by Tristan Gooley Underwater tourism Cutting edge tourist submarine will allow 24 passengers to explore the ocean depths Frank also talks about the new app Needhop . It offers on-demand audio calls for anyone looking for help. You can sign up to share your time and advice with others or look for others you might want to talk to for help. You can book people like Sarah Lacy , David Hornik , Paul Carr , and Frank Gruber and many, many, more! Established and Startup of the Year are excited about these upcoming events: Tune-in on July 23rd at 1 pm ET as we're hosting another Startup of the Year online pitch event, this time focused on spotlighting US Veteran Founders - RSVP here . We're also assisting the Greater Colorado Venture Fund with their upcoming pitch event on July 30th where they will be investing in some early-stage companies from rural Colorado - RSVP here . Lastly, Frank and John chat about the last episodes of the Bulls documentary The Last Dance and the Long Gone Summer , another ESPN documentary, that covers the summer of 1998 when Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa were slugging it out chasing the single-season home run record. Get updates like this in your inbox before they hit the web by subscribing to the newsletter here .…
On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber and John Guidos talk about the recent release of confirmed UFO footage by the Pentagon . The guys also celebrate Logan LaHive for building something new for the last year called Frank (catchy name). Sarah Cooper has been blowing up on TikTok and every other social channel for her comedic videos . Alex Iskold launched 1kproject.org to help families in need by giving them $1k per month for 3 months. Josh Constine for leaving TechCrunch to join a VC fund , and Max Wessel at SAP had a conversation with best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell . Rohit Bhargava also launched a book on best practices for working from home - it's currently free on Amazon , and Joey Arora of AFWERX shared how entrepreneurs can get contracts working on solutions for the Air Force . Frank talks about his experiences with llamas and alpacas and he is Hoping Llamas Will Become Coronavirus Heroes . He also talks about sleep being very important and the article he read " Tech Eroded Sleep Quality in the 1800s. Can it restore it 200 years later? " Frank and John have been watching The Last Dance , a docu-series re-living the excitement of Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls dynasty of the 90's. They also enjoyed Leslie Knope and her team coming back for a special episode of Parks and Recreation, if you missed it you can view it here . Lastly, Frank mentioned that another Startup of the Year online pitch event, is coming up on May 28th at 1 p.m. ET - you can RSVP here . This time the event will be focused on spotlighting Female Founders. This episode was live-streamed on @frankgruber’s Instagram account for additional engagement and viewing pleasure. Get updates like this in your inbox before they hit the web by subscribing to the newsletter here .…
Have you ever asked Apple’s Siri for a hand with something only to find yourself doing more work to try to get what you’re looking for? We’ve all have been there. Artificial intelligence is not quite as intelligent as a scene from the popular HBO series Westworld yet. I recently had a situation where I asked Siri to call my “Gym” via my Apple Watch and AirPods. Siri kept trying to call “Jim Bankoff” the CEO from Vox Media and could not figure out how to find the “Gym”. Finding my way to the gym has also been an issue for me as of late but in all fairness it was insulting for my Apple Watch to point this out. And… I was out for a run while asking Siri for this help with this phone call to the gym. So I think that counts for something. Side note to Jim Bankoff: Hi Jim, Apologies, I didn’t mean to have Siri dial you repeatedly, as I breathed heavily and possibly swore like a sailor at Siri. If any of my calls actually did go through, I’m sorry. That said, I do hope you’re doing well and having a great summer. We should catch up. Are you headed to Maine or Las Vegas anytime soon? 🙂 Thanks, Frank On this episode of Somewhat Frank, I sit down over breakfast in Tampa Bay, Florida with the Established team of Jen Consalvo and Joe Corbett to discuss the serious Apple’s Siri and how it works or sometimes doesn’t work the way we all expected.…
On this episode of the Somewhat Frank podcast, Frank Gruber is again joined by Johnny “Goodtimes” Guidos as they talk about the "new normal" that is a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic, with such things as possible temperature checks at Disney World, and much more. Frank celebrates his first boss after graduating college, Dave Giordano, who had his consulting firm TSG which he built for 23 years acquired by Alfresco. He also celebrates Mark Cuban's foundation is partnering with A.I. For Anyone to present a free 60-minute introduction to artificial intelligence for students and educators. Lastly, they talk about Brian Solis joining SalesForce as a Global Innovation Evangelist. This episode was live-streamed on @frankgruber’s Instagram account for additional engagement and viewing pleasure. Get updates like this in your inbox before they hit the web by subscribing to the newsletter here .…
In this episode of the podcast, Frank Gruber is joined by Johnny “Goodtimes” Guidos as they discuss the current state of the Coronavirus Pandemic which is currently at 133,000 confirmed cases in the US and 700,000 cases globally. They discuss the 8 strains of the virus while also talking about how they are passing the time while hunkering down. One thing to remember is to be kind out there, especially the group that decided to show up as not such good neighbors to enforce a quarantine. But with all this negative news out there it was uplifting to see the launch of SomeGoodNews by actor John Krasinski, of the US sitcom The Office fame, among other things. It’s a show all about good news and it’s just what the world needed right now. Speaking of good things in the world, some of our partners from our Startup of the Year program have been doing things to help with the COVID19 response — which include everything from 3D printing masks and supplies to COVID19 tests. You can find all these COVID19 resources and more here . The duo discussed everything they are watching as live concerts are being streamed online to movies being released early online, to new programs being dropped by the various streaming services from Ozark to Tiger King – which has been getting lots of people talking. Finally, while we may be self-isolating, we still can watch with friends thanks to plug-ins like Netflix Party . This episode was live-streamed on @frankgruber’s Instagram account for additional engagement and viewing pleasure. Get updates like this in your inbox before they hit the web by subscribing to the newsletter here .…
This episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber talks with John Guidos about the current state of affairs with the recent Coronavirus pandemic. The guys also chat about how to stay positive during times of isolation and suggest to listeners that sometimes it is best to remember to breathe. The discussion was loosely based on the latest newsletter which is shared below. March has come in like a lion. I don’t think anyone expected to see what’s happened in the last few weeks across the globe with the Coronavirus pandemic. It’s been a surreal, unprecedented experience (at least in my time on Earth). While the information is coming in hotter than a Las Vegas summer day, it’s hard not to keep your eyes off of it. That’s why it’s important to take a step back and remember to breathe (while keeping an adequate social distance, of course). That said, if you’re able to, I hope you can work from home for the next couple of weeks. Why? It’s the responsible thing to do. The quick of it is, there are not enough hospital beds to handle the worst-case scenario that this virus can bring. So the best thing to do is to slow the burn and in doing so allow our health professionals a chance to help those that get sick. There’s a great article by Vox that explains the importance of flattening the curve and we can learn a lot about how Tawain has handled the virus in their country . Ok, be safe out there, and please social distance. And as Fred Roger’s would have said in hard situations like this, “ always look for the helpers .” Speaking of helpers, a bunch of entrepreneurs & techies worked 24×7 to turn volunteering app VOMO into something everyone & every org can use for free to help out during COVID-19 as it’s more important than ever to be a good neighbor . ICYMI This past week we hosted our first virtual pitch competition to replace our SXSW event which was supposed to take place on March 14th. You can tune into the event where 14 startups pitched 28 judges for a chance at Startup of the Year glory, prizes, and a potential $10K investment. You can view the full virtual event here . Celebrating (People In My Network) —Sean Percival on his upcoming book (now taking pre-orders) shipping in a month titled, The Accelerator Survival Guide: How to lead, design and execute great programs . —Brittany Heyd for her work in Hawaii which got her recently recognized by Hawaii Business . —Rohit Bhargava has a new WSJ Bestseller book titled, Non-Obvious Mega Trends . Free Thanks to our partnership with the .US domain, you can go and secure a domain for free for your next business idea or startup (this is the perfect time for those new projects!). Just go to this link to sign up for your free .US domain and get started building something cool. Reading Lasers. — Lasers could cut the lifespan of nuclear waste from “a million years to 30 minutes,” says Nobel laureate Open layouts in offices are now swinging the other way. — A Quiet Respite in a Bustling Open Workplace It’s not just you, Apple has been slowing you down. — Apple fined for slowing down old iPhones Here’s a fail-fast approach to hiring. — The Body Shop will start hiring the first person who applies for any retail job Recycling is broken. — The fraught future of recycling Vitamin D is critical and often overlooked. — Are you getting enough Vitamin D? Scary – autonomous vehicles can be hacked! — Hackers stuck a 2-inch strip of tape on a 35-mph speed sign and successfully tricked 2 Teslas into accelerating to 85 mph Lobster Blood? — Lobster blood could be used in new cancer drugs This could be groundbreaking! — This edible blob filled with water means you don’t need a plastic bottle Maine is fast-tracking this new way of creating immunity to Lymes Disease a tick-borne illness — Researchers move forward with a shot against Lyme A new model for selling coffee and tea. — Panera debuts $9/month unlimited coffee and tea subscription Finally, there appears to be a cure for HIV. — Two HIV patients cured Watching I had the pleasure of watching the film, Jane . It’s a documentary made from the lost footage of Jane Goodall’s first missions to watch, document, and learn about chimpanzees. She is an amazing human. I loved it and hope you do too. It’s also a great break from the current news. Listening On one of my latest podcast episodes, I catch up with Lakshmi Shenoy, the CEO of Embarc Collective , the unique innovation hub rooting itself in Tampa Bay. I love Tampa, so I’m really excited about what’s happening down there backed by Jeff Vinik, the Tampa Bay Lightning hockey team owner. Listen to it on Apple Podcasts or Google Podcasts . Testing With remote work, a hot topic, and with our virtual event coming up this week here’s the webcam that I’ve been testing to make remote work better. Logitech C922 Pro HD Stream Webcam which offers 1080p quality video a low-to-medium price point. Sure, there are better Logitech cameras out there but this one should do most of what you need unless you’re looking for 4K quality or other specific bells and whistles. Selling If you or anyone you know might be interested in living in downtown Las Vegas (DTLV), we have a great loft downtown for sale . We love DTLV and this place is right in the heart of it. We have many fond memories from both work and life but now with a little one, we have outgrown it and headed east for the foreseeable future. Playing I’ve been playing a game that John Guidos shared with me called the Houseparty app . It’s a way to social distance but connect with friends and family and play games together. Give a try and let me know what you think about it. Finally, it’s a stressful time, so be good to be one another, and remember to breathe. Get updates like this in your inbox before they hit the web by subscribing to the newsletter here .…
On this episode of the Somewhat podcast, Frank Gruber and co-host John Guidos talk about their quest for better health and longevity. Frank and John discuss some of the thing happening in his network as well his recent readings and upcoming events. The discussion was loosely based on the latest newsletter which is shared below. Celebrating (People In My Network) —Katie Stanton for launching Moxie Ventures a $25M Fund to invest in startups. —Trey Bowles launches InnoCity Partners a boutique consulting firm focused on smart city programs. —Rami Essaid has raised $2M in funding for his next company . —Shama Hyder has raised $5M in funding for their restaurant POS startup OneDine . —Laurie Segall has been named a correspondent for the new 60 Minutes Quibi program 60 IN 6. —Finally, next weekend I’ll be celebrating the life of my stepdad , who recently passed away. I’ll miss him greatly. You’re Invited I’ll be headed back to Austin, Texas in March for South by Southwest (SXSW) for the 12th year in a row and we’ll be hosting a number of events at our house for the 10th year in a row at the Established House of Startups and Innovations on Saturday, March 14, 2020. If you’re looking to do something special for your company at SXSW, we still have some opportunities to get involved as sponsors or with some unique customized experiences. I invite you to join me at our events – RSVP . Reading Mindfulness is becoming more mainstream and could be just what people need. — Can Mindfulness Evolve From Wellness Pursuit to Medical Treatment? How AIM was the original social network. — AIM was the killer app of 1997. It’s still shaping the internet today Confirmed. Working out makes you healthier. — The Workout Drug Finally, this internet thing might catch on. — Gary Larson might be the longest internet holdout in history, god love him Fasting slows death. — Eating in a 6-hour window and fasting for 18 hours might help you live longer Scooters are everywhere but cities are not ready. — I rode an electric scooter from every company operating in LA, and saw exactly why American cities aren’t ready for them Evidence of what can happen in a decade. — A Decade of Urban Transformation Seen From Above Vegas connected by a tunnel? — Elon Musk says Boring Co’s Vegas tunnel will ‘hopefully’ be operational in 2020 Dogs are more than just our best friends. — Dogs experience pain in a uniquely human way, study reports One more thing about dogs. — Dogs poop in alignment with Earth’s magnetic field, study finds And humans are trying to innovate so you don’t go as long. — The corporate poo patrol is coming after your precious toilet time There’s now an app for coronavirus. — This app has all the up-to-date information you need to know about the Wuhan coronavirus Reading I just wrapped up reading the book Ninety Percent Mental by Bob Tewksbury a former All-Star MLB pitcher for the Chicago Cubs, St Louis Cardinals, Boston Red Sox, and currently a mental coach for the Chicago Cubs. The lessons in the book can be applied to baseball, business, and everyday life. Oh, and there are only 9 days until pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training, not that I was counting. Watching I just finished up Mr. Robot’s final season and it’s a good one. It really makes you think and now I feel like I have to go back and rewatch the whole series to understand it better. Listening I’m enjoying the new album Circles by the late Mac Miller . You might like the podcast interviews I did with Steve Case, Mark Cuban, and Tim Draper regarding “what they look for in a startup they invest in.” Additionally, I really enjoyed talking with Sarah Kunst, a venture capitalist who just raised a fund for her firm Cleo Capital, in the recent podcast . Get updates like this right in your inbox before they hit the web by subscribing to the newsletter here .…
Frank Gruber and co-host John Guidos talk about whether they could live without email and how society is changing with the elimination of the landline and a “home phone.” The discussion was loosely based on the latest newsletter which is shared below. I saw a story recently about Away Luggage and how they recently ousted their co-founder and CEO Steph Korey over her use of the communication tool Slack to intimidate employees. Away Luggage employees don’t use email, limiting communications to Slack’s public channels. While Slack does offer direct message functionality, the company, like others, utilizes mostly public channels to offer a more transparent work environment – which unfortunately made public intimidation possible (or… fortunately exposed bad behavior that might otherwise have been hidden?). This is not the first company to eliminate email. For example, Automattic, the company behind web blogging platform WordPress, was one of the earliest to embrace Slack as a primary communication tool. Could you run a business, or your life, without email? This question made me think about how communication has evolved over the years. The day of the central “home phone” is something of the past. But the home landline taught me how to answer a phone (not knowing who was on the other end), speak to people of all ages, and communicate on others’ behalf. So, I’m curious if those skills are no longer being acquired by younger people. This brings a whole new reason for having a landline to light. The Atlantic recently dug a little deeper into this topic of the home landline which also forms a spontaneous connection to a household. Celebrating People in My Network —Laurie Segall on the launch of Dot Dot Dot Media . —Lo Toney raised $42M fund to invest in startups at Plexo Capital. —Michael Chasen, the CEO of PrecisionHawk, a Raleigh, N.C.-based provider of drone technology for the enterprise, on raising $32M in funding . —Jason Fudin, co-founder and CEO of WhyHotel, which operates 100 to 250 room pop-up hotels with 24/7 on-site staff in newly built, luxury apartment buildings, on raising a $20M Series B of funding . —Justyn Howard and the team of Chicago-based SproutSocial on their recent IPO . —Cody Bardo and the rest of the Trust & Will team for raising a $6M Series A round of funding with the goal of bringing estate planning To every family in America. —Mike Levins on jumping off the entrepreneurial diving board after a few decades in the corporate insurance world. I’m excited about his startup journey! Upcoming Events I am going to CES 2020 in early January so let me know if you’ll be in Las Vegas and would like to connect. Additionally, we’re in the process of planning our annual SXSW 2020 events taking place in early March in Austin, Texas. If you’re looking to do something at SXSW and need assistance, or if you’d like to get involved in supporting our efforts let me know . Reading The eight-hour workday was set over 100 years ago, does it still stand up? — The Eight-Hour Workday Is a Counterproductive Lie The force? — A ‘no-brainer Nobel Prize’: Hungarian scientists may have found a fifth force of nature Could physics change forever? — Researchers at CERN break “The Speed of Light” This could have saved Steve Jobs. — Israeli scientists find a way to treat pancreatic cancer in 14 days Largest IPO ever for the company that supplies 10% of the world’s oil — Saudi Aramco prices shares at top of the range in the world’s biggest IPO Not good. — Oceans are running out of Oxygen If plants could talk… well it appears they can and we just don’t understand their language. — Recordings reveal that plants make ultrasonic squeals when stressed Blue Bottle going a bold green! — Bring your mug: Some Blue Bottles will no longer use plastic or paper cups This is extremely disturbing. — I’m a 37-Year-Old Mom & I Spent Seven Days Online as an 11-Year-Old Girl. Here’s What I Learned. What do you think? It seems to be missing a company or two, especially one that rhymes with Gruber. — The 12 Most Influential Startups of the Decade For increasing use as a singular pronoun for those who identify outside the gender binary… — ‘They’ is the 2019 Word of the Year Listening Aside from getting into the holiday spirit with my favorite holiday playlist , I had a chance to listen to Elnaz Sarraf talk about her startup ROYBI which was just named one of TIME Magazine’s best inventions of 2019. Watching Last week, I got a chance to watch the annual lighting of the Christmas Prelude tree in Kennebunkport, Maine. It was snowing and chilly but nothing a little hot cocoa couldn’t help. If you’re stuck inside and looking for a new holiday movie to watch that fun for the whole family, you might want to give the new Disney+ original Noelle a try. Gifting ‘Tis the season for holiday gifts – here are a handful of gift ideas for all ages this holiday season. I hope it helps you finish out your holiday shopping if you need ideas. If you’re looking for more holiday gift ideas, you might find our 2019 holiday gift guide interesting. 1.) Star Wars Instant Pot – It’s the classic instant pot pressure cooker, now dressed up like a Star Wars character. 2.) Baby Yoda – If you’ve been watching The Mandalorian on DisneyPlus then you know what I’m talking about. 3.) Baby Shark – Have a little one in your life? This might be a fun gift — if it doesn’t drive you bonkers from that catchy song. 4.) Weighted Blanket – They are all the rage this year. Sleep better with a weighted blanket. 5.) Roku Streaming Stick – Turn your TV into a smart TV even while traveling. 6.) KeySmart Pro – Organize those keys, add Tile so you don’t lose them and more. 7.) Kindle Whitepaper – Everyone reads, and this makes it easy even while in the pool as it’s waterproof. 8.) Travel Packing Cubes – Stay organized while traveling. 9.) Smartwool Socks – Who doesn’t like warm and dry feet? 10.) Yeti gear – Mugs, tumblers, or ramblers could be great gifts – since just about everyone drinks liquids. I hope you have a happy holiday season! Get updates like this right in your inbox before they hit the web by subscribing to the newsletter here .…
Frank Gruber catches up with John Guidos and the two discuss Frank’s recent trip to Chicago where he was the keynote speaker at the NASA iTech event and his reconnecting with Jonathan Ozeran at Tempus. There’s a lot to celebrate this time around, so they discuss some of those latest happenings. The discussion was loosely based on the latest newsletter which is shared below. I was in sweet home Chicago last week to speak at the NASA iTech event. It was great to be back in my hometown to share and debunk “Startup Myths” with this keynote talk . While in town I also caught up with Jonathan Ozeran at Tempus . We reconnected over my last email update and he invited me over to show me around. Tempus is a technology company that has built the world’s largest library of clinical and molecular data and an operating system to make that information accessible and useful for patients, physicians, and researchers. I got a tour of the Tempus office which is in the old Montgomery Wards building which is also home to Groupon and others. It’s pretty impressive to see the labs and medical work being done by a startup in a corporate environment. While the facilities were impressive, it was a simple sign in the men’s restroom that explained the importance of “daily gratitude” that left the most lasting impression of this company in my mind. Gratitude can change everything. What are you thankful for? Lots of exciting news and articles this time so get ready… here. we. go!!! Celebrating (People in My Network) —Gavin Purcell is taking over as showrunner at ‘Tonight’ show for John Bell who is leaving NBC. —Meredith Fineman on the pre-order of her new book titled, Brag Better: Master the Art of Fearless Self-Promotion coming out in May 2020. Learn how to talk about your accomplishments and champion yourself – because no one is going to tell your story for you. —Aubrie Pagano the co-founder of Bow & Drape on her company being acquired by Win Brands Group . —Max Crowley on cofounding the new beverage bar and app called Bandit which is currently serving customers in midtown Manhattan. —Arlan Hamilton of Backstage Capital also has a book coming out in May 2020 titled, It’s About Damn Time: How To Turn Being Underestimated Into Your Greatest Advantage . —Emily Slade and her co-founders Kobie Fuller and Lamer Walker on the launch of Valence , a new tech platform and community focused on connecting Black professionals globally with mentorship, job opportunities, and capital. —Leslie Jump on her company Different Funds with support from Schmidt Futures announces a new effort to increase capital for scientific entrepreneurs . —Erik Hersman launches BRCK, free Wi-Fi, in South Africa . —Maya Baratz is helping to bring Founders Factory to the US with NYC version . —Steve Jang and Kanyi Maqubela launch a new firm, Kindred Ventures, to form and fund startups . —Eric Lunt is joining VSCO the photography app and community as Director of Engineering in Chicago. —Jamie Amaral on the launch of the children’s clothing brand, The Simple Folk , offering organic and high quality play clothes for the wild-hearted minimalist. Listening My personal podcast, Somewhat Frank, is back ! Special thanks to my old friend and colleague Johnny “Goodtimes” Guidos for his help in the refreshed new podcast format and co-hosting the show with me. If you haven’t heard it before take a listen on Apple or Google or wherever you listen to Podcasts. We’ll be talking more depth about some of the things I’m highlighting in these updates. Reading Has time changed? — The 2010s Have Broken Our Sense Of Time Another way to fast. — ‘Dopamine fasting’ is a new Silicon Valley trend, but some people are already taking it too far Alone time is important. — Why You Should Find Time to Be Alone With Yourself Grabbing drinks may be a thing of the past. — Alcohol consumption will soon follow smoking and meat-eating in becoming a social evil Great insights on how Dick’s Sporting Goods turned from mom and pop shop to larger retailer. — Why Ed Stack of Dick’s Sporting Goods stood up to the gun lobby Automated home systems are not uncompromisable. — Siri, Google Assistant, and Amazon Alexa can be hijacked with a $14 laser pointer to open garage doors, start cars, and shop online Katie Couric talks with Dr. Hyman who equated Impossible Burgers to Twinkies. — Are Impossible Burgers healthy? This is not to be ignored. — More than 11,000 scientists declare a “climate emergency” 4 Day work week anyone? — Microsoft experimented with a 4-day workweek, and productivity jumped by 40% Unlimited means unlimited!!! — AT&T Fined $60M for Throttling Unlimited Data Plans Congrats to our 2019 Startup of the Year! — This Military Captain Is Changing The World With 3D Printing Technology Robot delivery is invading college campuses. — Burrito Delivered by Bot, as Long as Students Don’t Trap Don’t drink the water on airplanes! — Water on most US airlines is unsafe says study And so it begins. — Japan approved experiments that would allow for animal-human hybrids to be born for the first time ever Breast cancer drug could be on it way — How A Trial Vaccine Helped Wipe Out A Woman’s Breast Cancer In 7 Months Scary stuff. — China is exporting killer drone robots to Mideast This is motivating for anyone who’s younger than 82 years old and hasn’t gotten their plunkers going to pedal one million miles yet – there is still time! — He’s done it! 82-year-old cyclist ‘overwhelmed’ as he hits one million miles Eureka! — Blind Man Sees Birthday Candles Again Thanks To Bionic Eye Watching With the launch of Disney+ this past week coupled with a bunch of travel without Wi-Fi, I had a chance to catch up on Mandalorian , the new original Star Wars series. It is well done and I highly recommend it. I don’t want to spoil it so I’ll leave it at that. And of course, we’re going to see Frozen 2 today with our little one because it has been a long-awaited return to the big screen for this epic Disney tale of mystery and adventure. Traveling In the last three weeks, I’ve been in DC, Chicago, Shreveport, Atlanta, and Philly. The next couple of weeks I’ll be in warmer weather in southwest Florida, before retreating to southern Maine to take in the annual Christmas Prelude – so if you’re going to be in the area too, please let me know. Thank you for listening and remember, as Frank always says, “Sharing is caring. Positive vibes only. Bring happiness to life. I’m thankful for you.” Get updates like this right in your inbox before they hit the web by subscribing to the newsletter here .…
On this episode of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank Gruber and John “Johnny Goodtimes” Guidos discuss the Washington Nationals historic World Series victory and a brief recap of the 2019 Startup of the Year Summit which was held in Memphis, Tennessee. The discussion was loosely based on the latest newsletter which is shared below. This past week I was in Washington, D.C. to take in their first World Series since 1933 and to attend the NextGen VP conference. What an electric week to be in the capital city! Congratulations to the Washington Nationals on bringing home the first World Series championship in franchise history as they “finished the fight” with their Game 7 victory last night. Also, congratulations to my regular sleep schedule as I will no longer need to burn the midnight oil to watch these intense games. More sleep is in my future! We also wrapped the 2019 Startup of the Year program a couple of weeks ago in Memphis by hosting our annual Summit ( check out the sizzle reel ) where we narrowed thousands of startups to 100 and then to five and then named re:3D the Startup of the Year . Re:3D offers a 3D printer solution that recycles plastics to turn them into 3D printed products large and small. If this company sounds interesting to you, and you’d like to get involved in supporting startups like this one, please let me know. Celebrating (Friends In My Network) —Sarah Lacy on selling Pando to Todd Garland of BuySellAds. —Steve Case, Anna Mason, David Hall, Mary Grove, and the rest of the Rise of the Rest team for their second $150M Rise of the Rest Fund . —Amanda Slavin on the launch of her book, The Seventh Level: Transform Your Business Through Meaningful Engagement with Your Customers and Employees . —Chris Cunningham on raising his $10 fund for investing in startups . Inviting I’m headed back to Chicago in a couple of weeks to speak at NASA iTech’s Ignite the Night CHICAGO event on November 14th. These events are to connect NASA with cutting edge startups and innovators who may have technologies that NASA could leverage in their missions. If you know of any, encourage them to apply by November 4th. And for everyone else, attendance is free. Reading We live in public. — How Photos of Your Kids Are Powering Surveillance Technology Kids these days are incredible! — 15-Year-Old Scientist Invents Gadget That Detects Pancreatic Cancer In Early Stages Hugs and cuddles matter. — Babies Who Are Cuddled More Seem To Have Their Genetics Altered For Years Afterwards A case for rural communities. — Why Life Is Better In Countries Economists Hate Oh my… — Banks Are Not Able to Handle A Downturn It’s happening. — Wing, A Google Affiliated Project Is Starting to Make Drone Deliveries Historic computations. — Google Claims A Quantum Computer Breakthrough That Could Change The World Keep moving! — Study: A surprisingly short period of inactivity can damage your health Walkability. — What Happened When Oslo Decided To Make It’s Downtown Basically Car Free Seventy degrees every day could help. — A Year-Long Roadtrip for 70-Degree Weather These are delicious. — What’s in an Impossible Burger? This is inspiring. — Female Architect Invents Refugee Tents That Collect Rainwater and Store Solar Energy Fascinating projection maps show what will be underwater in 2050. — Rising Seas Will Erase More Cities by 2050, New Research Shows Happy 50th birthday, Internet! — The internet was supposed to be a utopia. 50 years on, what happened? And… Russia is signing off. — Russia Is About To Disconnect From The Internet: What That Means We are ALL African!!! — The ancestral home of all human beings discovered by scientists Watching I finally got a chance to watch the film Long Shot with Seth Rogen and Charlize Theron, which premiered at SXSW this past year. I was on a flight somewhere when I saw it, and I laughed out loud to my row neighbors’ dissatisfaction. Get updates like this right in your inbox before they hit the web by subscribing to the newsletter here .…
Over the past year, electric scooter startups have erupted as the next set of startups with billion-dollar valuations and unicorn status. Companies like Bird, Spin, Lime, and others have taken on large investments from Alphabet, Uber, Lyft and more. The problem that electric scooters are solving is very clear, they are helping ridesharing companies to cut down on the short two to three block trips which cost more to take on with an automobile. They are also providing rideshare companies with more transit data on people moving around cities. Hence the electric scooter has hatched up like cicadas in cities like Austin, Los Angeles, and San Francisco among others. With this new transportation option comes safety challenges as safety equipment like helmets is not provided. On episode 9 of the Somewhat Frank Podcast , I share my thoughts on the electric scooter startups that have been taking over cities with their offerings. My “Safety Frank” alarms have gone off and I dive into the safety concerns and points to possible solutions like the helmet startup Park and Diamond as well as other safety helmet options. Park and Diamond was a top 5 finalist in the 2018 Startup of the Year program. Listen in as I share my perspectives and offers up a few ideas that are startup opportunities for anyone looking to startup and dive into a hot industry.…
Accomplishing the things you want to in life and ultimately being happy can sometimes seem overwhelming. Many people overcomplicate things and end up chasing the wrong things. How do you simplify the pursuit to make sure you accomplish your goals? How do you know you’re taking the right approach? Serial entrepreneur and author Miki Agrawal has a few tips and ideas on how accomplishing your goals as she explained in her first book, Do Cool Sh*t: Quit Your Day Job, Start Your Own Business, and Live Happily Ever After . Miki Agrawal is the co-founder of THINX and hellotushy.com, start-ups collectively valued at more than $150 million. She has a unique perspective on life which has led her to continue to start interesting companies that tackle problems that some may see as taboo topics with innovative solutions – that doesn’t slow Miki down. On episode 8 of the Somewhat Frank Podcast, Frank sits down with Miki Agrawal for a fireside chat in Denver as part of Denver Startup Week presented by Chase for Business. Listen in as Frank and Miki discuss starting up, entrepreneurship, life, and her new book, Disrupt-Her: A Manifesto for the Modern Woman, a rallying cry for women to radically question the status quo .…
Innovating at a large corporation or at a government agency can be difficult. It means doing things differently, introducing new concepts and embracing failure. The larger you are, the harder it can be to change the way you do things – even if it’s for the better. To combat that, the U.S. Air Force decided to create a new program dedicated to solving some of the toughest problems it faces via collaborations between the nation’s top intrapreneurs, industry experts, academic professionals, entrepreneurs, and non-traditional contributors. It’s called AFWERX . On this episode of Somewhat Frank, I talk with his Established counterpart Jen Consalvo about the work that AFWERX is doing to innovate on the United States Air Force “fixed wing helmet” through an open AFWERX Challenge called the Helmet Challenge . We share some highlights of the 30+ innovators that convened in Las Vegas to showcase their solutions which are competing to for contracts to develop an entirely new helmet. Some of the companies we discussed include: Bell Racing – Aerospace grade carbon fiber pilot helmet featuring energy absorbing liner with integrated attachments Corsair Innovations – Fiber Energy Absorption Material Devali – Oumen Air: Helmet-Based Biometric Data Collection Hedgemon – Hedgehog-Inspired Impact Protection Liner Sempulse – Peak Performance Physiological Solution Somatic Labs – Zorb Touch: Haptic Feedback for Helmets Sonitus Technologies – Molar Mic Specialized – Mindset Micro-Adjustable Size/Volume Fit System Vozz Helmets’ Go Strapless – Rear entry helmet I also talk with AFWERX Marketing Director Bobby Mack as he shares some of his thoughts on the challenge and the opportunity for some of the startups and known brands that came together as part of the program. Listen as I talk with Jen Consalvo to showcase some of the innovators which range from haptics to biometrics to communications and more – part of one on the interesting open innovation programs being done in the U.S. today.…
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Somewhat Frank

When you travel, especially by air, you have to make some tough packing choices. Usually, my hardest decisions come down to which shoes I’ll bring – because you can’t bring them all, and they take up a ton of space in my carry on bag. When picking the perfect shoe (or shoes) for travel you have to weigh such factors as weather, length of trip, the purpose of the trip, and travel destination. Not to mention if you are doing anything that might require a special type of shoe, like golfing, hiking, or biking. If you are a frequent air traveler and don’t like to check a bag then you probably know this problem well. Many times the purpose of the trip helps to guide my choices but with such an overlap between work and life, the more versatile shoes end up more appealing, but not always the most stylish. On this episode of Somewhat Frank Podcast, I sit down with my Established partner Jen Consalvo , along with the Think Global team of Steve Haase and Amy Scerra , to talk about this shoe dilemma and the search for the perfect travel shoe. We discuss the shoe startup Allbirds and how they have sprung onto the scene, which almost solves my shoe problem – until summer comes. While they have launched a summer shoe or two, they haven’t been easy to secure as demand was higher than production. We also talk about New Balance and Nike as well as another newcomer to the shoe scene, Ross & Snow , who have a number of styles for men and women. But that being said, there’s still not a single shoe that can do it all. Or is there? Have you had this same shoe dilemma? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below.…
Over the past couple weeks (and I’m sure many others) I have had to fight the urge to send out tweets expressing my opinions on the latest happenings. While I support “freedom of speech” some of these tweets may have been offensive, so I went with the age-old saying: “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” I’ll be sure to make an impact in other ways (e.g., November elections are coming). That said, I’m sure we’ve all sent tweets we’ve had second thoughts about later. Or you’ve decided not to send a tweet only to file it into a note on your phone never to see the light of the Internet. Enter Brizzly , the website for getting thoughts out of your head by sending them into the ether. My old friend and longtime product leader Jason Shellen created the site recently as he resurrected Brizzly from its early social web past. In addition to his strong product leadership experience, Jason Shellen is an entrepreneur. He built and sold Brizzly which was previously a third-party Twitter and Facebook interface. It was unveiled at one of TechCrunch’s events in 2009 and was acquired by AOL in 2010 . Shellen went on to run AIM at AOL until moving on to work for Pinterest and then leading products at Slack. In that time he stayed in touch with his friends at AOL and eventually got an opportunity to buy back the brand. So today you can go to Brizzly and post whatever is on your mind only to never be seen by anyone. Aside from Brizzly, Shellen recently shared a very personal blog post about his struggles with chronic pain . He’s had a long road to get to this point of sharing – it was a journey that had some very dark moments. We’re glad to hear he is on the upswing and appreciate his honesty as I think it will help others also suffering from similar chronic pain. I should also mention, pain management startups are of interest to me. That’s why I loved Oska Wellness our 2017 Startup of the Year so much. They’ve created the Oska Pulse , a pain relief machine to help others with this struggle. Their non-drug approach uses Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields (PEMF) to boost the body’s ability to repair injured cells to relieve all types of pain. So take a listen to episode 5 of the Somewhat Frank Podcast as I talk with Jason Shellen about both his chronic pain and buying back his old company Brizzly to relaunch it. This interview was done over the internet so apologies if my audio has a slightly more reverb and “voice of God” quality. We’re only on episode 5, so we’re still working out the initial kinks, and we’ll get better with time, so appreciate you hanging in there. I hope you enjoy this episode with product leader and entrepreneur Jason Shellen .…
As a kid growing up in the rural Midwest surrounded by cornfields, I was well supplied with lumber and the tools necessary to create things with that lumber. So, as soon as I saw Marty McFly in Back to the Future turn a handmade wooden scooter into a skateboard, I was hell-bent on creating my own skateboard by hand. I spent countless weekends carving a 1×6 board into the right shape for a skateboard and hours searching for the right rollerskate to disassemble and add to the bottom of my platform. It didn’t quite work as expected. I was not a very good skateboard maker or skateboarder, but I enjoyed the process and created my own product from scratch with “Skate or Die” as my battle cry. So you might understand how elated I was when I got a chance to talk with skateboard legend and maker Tony Hawk about how he blazed his own path. His story is very different than mine but our themes and passions were aligned so many years ago – he just did it better. Quite a bit better. Take a listen at this quick interview with skateboard legend, philanthropist and entrepreneur Tony Hawk on the latest episode of Somewhat Frank, where he shared how to blaze your own path. I caught up with Tony Hawk in Las Vegas where he was speaking at an accounting conference. We were connected by the great team behind the Chase Ink credit card.…
Sometimes I feel like we are living in a Neal Stephenson novel with companies like Amazon making it’s so darn easy to flip through their app on your phone, ordering whatever you need and having it arrive almost instantly (or at least within a few hours). It’s amazing. Remember, it was not too long ago that you’d have to run from store to store searching for an item! Now your “wild goose chases” can happen right from your glowing 4 inch screen. That said, when I’m shopping and there are a bunch of similar products out there I find myself relying heavily on reviews as my guide to finding the best product. I’ve spent hours looking at reviews and deliberating. After chatting one day with my friend Matt Hirschmann of Lucid Creative , a D.C. area based full-service design firm, about Amazon, we hit upon a really important topic; the legitimacy of reviews. There was a time that we felt pretty confident referencing the number of reviews with the strength of the review to make a quick decision. But spoiler: bad apples are ruining this for all of us. There are services out there that specifically help get your product positive reviews on Amazon – good for the products, bad for consumers. In this episode, Matt shares his latest insights with me as we try to save the Amazon review system by offering up a potential startup idea for anyone willing to take it on. We recorded this episode from a pool in Key West, Florida while on brief summer holiday, so you may hear a pool waterfall or a bird chirping in the background. Please don’t try this at home, you’ll never sound as good as a bird and you could drop your recording gear. Not to mention, you’ll want to strive for better work life balance.…
Sunshine and beaches might be first thing you think of when you think of the Tampa Bay, Florida region. And rightly so, it’s gorgeous and has a handful of the top beaches in the country if not the world. But there’s more than crystal clear ocean water in the upcoming startup community. Tampa is a rising city for starting and running a business but is coupled with a solid work, live, and play lifestyle. On this episode of Somewhat Frank, I talk with Lakshmi Shenoy the CEO of innovation hub in Tampa Bay, Florida about her newly launched initiative called Embarc Collective . Embarc Collective was spearheaded by Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik, and it continues to garner support from others in the community under Shenoy’s leadership. Embarc Collective will be located just north of the Water Street Tampa neighborhood in downtown Tampa, where Vinik has partnered with Cascade Investment, LLC to transform the area into an urban, mixed-use waterfront district. As a central physical hub for the region as it will bring together startup companies, venture capitalists, academic resources, and startup-focused partners to help open opportunities, inspire iteration, push progress, and put Tampa Bay on the map as a prime destination for diverse startup talent both locally and globally – and did I mention the beaches? Find out what’s behind Embarc Collective, from the CEO herself as she asks the community for feedback via a survey as a guide to helping the Tampa Bay startup ecosystem.…
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