Best Kettering Foundation Podcasts (2025)

1
Women’s Venture Summit – Stella Foundation CEO Flossie Hall 20:57

Play Pause

6d ago20:57

20:57

On today’s show, I sit down with Flossie Hall, CEO of Stella Foundation, a powerhouse organization serving 10,000 women founders and investors worldwide. Flossie shares her journey from serial entrepreneur—having built and exited multiple seven-figure businesses—to leading a global movement that empowers women to launch, scale, and sustain their ve…

1
Authoritarianism Isn’t Coming. It’s Here. 37:03

7d ago37:03

37:03

Steven Levitsky, a leading expert on authoritarian regimes, joins host Alex Lovit to talk about the US’s current slide into authoritarianism and what we can do about it. Democracies tolerate dissent. In a democracy, citizens and institutions can criticize, protest, or file legal claims against the government, without fear of reprisal. That is no lo…

1
CVC Masterclass – Merck Global Health Innovation Fund President Bill Taranto 27:34

13d ago27:34

27:34

A CVC masterclass from Bill Taranto, Founder and President of Merck’s Global Health Innovation Fund, a $600M fund that is considered one of the most impactful corporate venture funds in the world. Bill has over 20 years of healthcare investing and is focused on digital health companies transforming the future of care. Bill was just named to the Glo…

1
Insights at the Speed of AI – Comcast NBCUniversal. Sr. Manager of Pipeline and Insights Tito Obaisi 25:09

20d ago25:09

25:09

On today’s show, we have Tito Obaisi, the Senior Manager of Pipeline and Insights for Comcast NBCUniversal LIFT Labs. Tito leads efforts to identify strategically relevant, enterprise ready AI startups that are at the cutting edge of new technology that not only deliver new capabilities but also shape insights from working with the world’s largest …

1
From Barber to Banker: The Man Fighting for Financial Justice in Little Rock 33:33

21d ago33:33

33:33

We can’t have a full democracy without financial justice. Host Alex Lovit speaks with Arlo Washington, a banker creating access to loans, credit, and financial literacy training for his underbanked community in Little Rock, Arkansas. Arlo Washington is a barber, entrepreneur, and the founder and president of People Trust Community Federal Credit Un…

1
Igniting Dairy Innovation – California Milk Advisory Board CEO Bob Carroll 28:46

27d ago28:46

28:46

Now in its seventh year, the Real California Milk Excelerator has become a powerhouse for commercializing breakthrough dairy innovations. With over 60 startups and 100+ mentors participating to date, the program continues to elevate the dairy category by fueling scalable, consumer-ready products. In this episode, Bob Carroll, CEO of the California …

1
Agentic AI For Retail – ALDO Group Vice President of Data & AI Fatih Nayebi 36:50

1M ago36:50

36:50

Fatih Nayebi is the Vice President of Data & AI at ALDO Group where he leads AI initiatives that transform retail operations and customer experiences. He’s also a Faculty Lecturer at McGill University and the author of Foundations of Agentic AI for Retail, the first book on autonomous AI systems in retail. He demystifies agentic ai, federated learn…

1
Only Bad People Have Bad Politics. Right? 31:14

1M ago31:14

31:14

Americans are constantly arguing about politics—on the internet and at the family dinner table. But we rarely change one another’s minds, and we often emerge from those disagreements feeling frustrated and distrustful. Host Alex Lovit is joined by research psychologist Keith Payne to discuss the science behind the political divide and how the psych…

1
Pilots to Portfolios: Comcast's Integrated Corporate Growth Startup Strategy 23:40

1M ago23:40

23:40

Join our Founder & CEO, Fred Schonenberg, alongside Laura Plunkett, Vice President, Startup Engagement, Head of Comcast NBCUniversal LIFT Labs, and Marc Silberman, Partner at Comcast Ventures, for a fireside chat entitled From Pilots to Portfolios: Comcast’s Integrated Corporate Growth Startup Strategy recorded earlier this year during the Global C…

1
Innovating In Your Own Voice – Tahaji Felder Corporate Innovator and Startup Mentor 29:14

2M ago29:14

29:14

Tahaji Felder, a seasoned social entrepreneur, corporate innovator and community leader. She has over a decade of experience supporting startups and founders to accelerate their emerging brands. Her TEDx on the power of embracing your unique voice is simply awesome. She has launched her own lifestyle brand, is a “Corporate Champion”, has mentored o…

1
The US Doesn’t Have Fair Elections. What Can We Do? 38:38

2M ago38:38

38:38

Voting rights are the foundation of democratic governance. But recent changes in elections policies have disenfranchised millions of Americans, and the voting gap between White and minority voters is continuing to expand.Host Alex Lovit is joined by Sean Morales-Doyle. Morales-Doyle is the director of the Voting Rights and Elections Program at the …

1
Visionary of the Year - Charlotte Newman 23:52

2M ago23:52

23:52

VentureFuel’s Visionary of the Year is an honor voted on by peers in corporate innovation for the change agent who seizes new opportunities that drive outsized results. This year’s winner, Charlotte Newman, is the former Global Head of Underrepresented Founder and Investor Startup Business Development at AWS, former founder, and a passionate advoca…

1
Accelerator Program Design – Wharton School Professor Valentina Assenova 25:04

2M ago25:04

25:04

Valentina Assenova is the Edward B. and Shirley R. Shils Endowed Term Assistant Professor of Management at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. She is renowned for her insightful research on entrepreneurship and innovation, particularly in how cultural and societal factors influence entrepreneurial ecosystems around the world. She recent…

1
Learning US History Is about Hope, Not Shame 30:53

2M ago30:53

30:53

Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Annette Gordon-Reed joins host Alex Lovit to discuss Juneteenth’s history and the transformative potential of reckoning with our country’s complex past. Annette Gordon-Reed is the Carl M. Loeb University Professor at Harvard, where she teaches both his…

1
AI Drug Discovery – Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Innovation Hub Manager Rick Peng 29:07

2M ago29:07

29:07

On today’s show we’re excited to welcome Rick Peng, the Innovation Hub Manager and Digital Licensing Professional at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. We talk about how your organization can build an outside-in, external innovation program to deliver outsized results. Rick breaks down the secret sauce of the MSK Innovation Hub, an accelerator…

1
Future Cities – CEO of Smart City Expo USA Aarti Tandon 26:44

3M ago26:44

26:44

Aarti Tandon, CEO of Smart City Expo USA, is a visionary leader at the crossroads of technology, entertainment, and justice, known for driving innovation that builds smarter, more inclusive, and future-ready cities. With a diverse background as a lawyer, activist, and documentary producer, she brings a unique perspective on how cutting-edge technol…

1
Trans Kids Are Under Attack. That Hurts Everyone. 36:41

3M ago36:41

36:41

Who should make decisions about what kinds of health care American minors can receive: their parents and doctors, or their state governments? A growing number of states are claiming the right to ban gender-affirming health care for minors—but only if the person being treated is transgender. This month, the Supreme Court will decide if those power g…

1
Blueberry Boost Accelerator – President of US Highbush Blueberry Council and North American Blueberry Council Kasey Cronquist 21:53

3M ago21:53

21:53

Since 2019, Kasey has been the President of both the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council and the North American Blueberry Council where he is dedicated to making blueberries the world’s favorite fruit through strategic marketing, industry collaboration, and innovation. He has led initiatives like the "Grab a Boost of Blue" campaign and launched "The Bu…

1
Sarah Longwell: To Defend Democracy, Stop Talking about “Democracy” 36:29

3M ago36:29

36:29

Pro-democracy progressives are their own worst enemy when it comes to recruiting conservative Americans to their cause. In part two of our conversation, political strategist Sarah Longwell offers suggestions for how to connect with anti-Trump conservatives. Her ideas draw on what she hears from voters in her frequent focus groups, as well as on her…

1
Outside The Norm – Founding Partner of Outside VC Ethan Austin 27:57

3M ago27:57

27:57

Ethan Austin is the Founding Partner of Outside VC, a pre-seed venture fund dedicated to backing “outsider” founders. He is a seasoned entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and advocate for financial inclusion. Before Outside VC, Ethan co-founded GiveForward, the world’s first medical crowdfunding platform, which raised over $200 million to help famili…

1
Sarah Longwell: The Republican Party Has Abandoned Its Principles 35:19

3M ago35:19

35:19

How did one of our major political parties abandon its principles? And what do voters make of that shift? Host Alex Lovit is joined by Sarah Longwell—a political strategist who broke from the Republican party when it acquiesced to Trump’s authoritarian tendencies. She went on to cofound a media outlet (The Bulwark) and an advocacy organization (Def…

1
Inside Corporate Venture Capital - Editor-In-Chief of Global Corporate Venturing Maija Palmer 28:00

3M ago28:00

28:00

Maija Palmer is the Editor-in-Chief of Global Corporate Venturing (GCV), a community and media platform that helps corporations drive innovation through strategic investments and partnerships with startups., Maija is one of the top leading voices in corporate venturing and we talk about the evolution of Corporate Venture Capital (CVC), how corporat…

1
Transforming Healthcare – Former Chief Strategy Officer John Muir Health Authors George Sauter 25:24

3M ago25:24

25:24

George Sauter is an accomplished healthcare executive with decades of experience driving innovation to transform legacy systems with meaningful results. As the former Chief Strategy Officer at John Muir Health, George has been at the forefront of integrating cutting-edge technologies through impactful partnerships to improve patient care and operat…

1
Diane Ravitch: What’s Democratic about Giving Tax Dollars to Private Schools? 36:23

4M ago36:23

36:23

Public schools are essential for democracy—and they’re under attack. But the very policies that are being championed as their salvation may have a catastrophic impact on American education for generations. Public education advocate and historian Diane Ravitch unpacks how school choice policies like vouchers and charter schools are dangerous for dem…

1
Expo West 2025 - Key Insights and Emerging Trends 17:02

4M ago17:02

17:02

In this episode, we dive into the breakthrough trends and innovations unveiled at Expo West 2025. Our very own Innovation team members, Katrina Zheleznyak and Beau Bergman break down the highlights from this massive event, which brought together over 65,000 industry professionals and more than 3,000 exhibitors. From game-changing products to sustai…

1
Harvesting Innovation – FEI’s Seth Adler 23:43

4M ago23:43

23:43

From Clayton Christensen to Steve Wozniak to Mookie Wilson, we cover a lot of ground with Seth Adler who is the head of IMI Media at Informa and a driving force behind All Things Insights and All Things Innovation. Seth has spent his career bringing people together through dynamic content, including events, podcasts, and written works. He’s also pl…

1
The AI Marketing Canvas – Kellogg School of Management Professor Jim Lecinski 32:46

4M ago32:46

32:46

Jim Lecinski, Clinical Professor of Marketing at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, has over 30 years of marketing experience, including a distinguished 12-year tenure as Vice President of Customer Solutions for the Americas at Google. He is a leading expert in marketing strategy and digital transformation, best known for pione…

1
Sharon L. Davies: Someone Has to Be Willing to Say “That’s Not Right” 31:15

4M ago31:15

31:15

US institutions are being pressured into compliance with the Trump administration’s capricious demands. Many law firms, philanthropic organizations, and higher education institutions are choosing the path of least resistance. But will it keep them safe? Sharon L. Davies is the president and chief executive officer of the Charles F. Kettering Founda…

1
Midwest Dairy Accelerator - Research and Innovation Manager Sidney Herr 18:58

4M ago18:58

18:58

Midwest Dairy represents over 4,000 dairy farms across a 10-state region, including Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, and eastern Oklahoma. Their mission is to build dairy demand by inspiring consumer confidence in dairy products and production practices. Sidney Herr, the Research & Innovat…

1
Ece Temelkuran: There Is No Hope. There Is Us. That’s It. 36:37

4M ago36:37

36:37

Life under an authoritarian regime can erode one’s faith in humanity. Today's guest says that’s why it’s more important than ever for Americans to lean into building human connection. Ece Temelkuran is a Turkish political thinker, writer, and award-winning journalist. Her two most recent books are How to Lose a Country: Seven Steps from Democracy t…

1
Unlocking Microsoft's Innovation Secrets – Authors JoAnn Garbin and Dean Carignan 29:14

5M ago29:14

29:14

Dean Carignan and JoAnn Garbin, authors of The Insider's Guide to Innovation at Microsoft, delve into the strategies and practices that have driven Microsoft's most groundbreaking innovations over the past 50 years. From the Xbox revolution to the rise of Bing in AI, Dean and JoAnn share behind-the-scenes stories and insights into the company's app…

1
Gábor Scheiring: Saving Democracy Is about Saving People 35:58

5M ago35:58

35:58

A former member of the Hungarian Parliament tells us what interventions Americans need to take right now to avoid the authoritarian backsliding that has dismantled democracy in Hungary since Prime Minister Viktor Orbán came to power in 2010. Gábor Scheiring served in the Hungarian Parliament from 2010–2014. He is an assistant professor of comparati…

1
The 3 Jobs of Corporate Innovators – Innov8rs Chief Hans Balmaekers 21:59

5M ago21:59

21:59

Hans Balmaekers is the Chief of Innov8rs, a global community dedicated to empowering corporate innovators. Hans has spent over a decade collaborating and learning about how to innovate within the world’s top organizations and shares some of his top tips with us, such as how the best corporate innovators have a day job (innovation, the work), a nigh…

1
Driving Innovation Through Collaboration: Insights from VentureFuel Visionary of the Year Finalists 7:12

5M ago7:12

7:12

In this episode of VentureFuel Visionaries, we explore how collaboration drives innovation with five visionary leaders. From AWS’s Charlotte Newman on global founder support to LG’s Marita McGinn on equity-free startup models, we dive into the power of partnerships. MassRobotics’ Sokwoo Rhee shares insights on public-private alliances, REI’s Dan Ki…

1
Adam Goodman: Why Are Politicians Obsessed with Mass Deportations? 33:43

5M ago33:43

33:43

Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign promised “the largest deportation operation in American history.” Will he be able to achieve this goal? What would this kind of mass deportation look like, and what would its human costs be? And what is the current “largest deportation operation in American history,” anyway? We get answers from Adam Goodman. Goodman is …

1
Madiba Dennie: The Constitutional Crisis You’re Not Hearing About 40:38

6M ago40:38

40:38

The Constitution is under attack—and not just by Trump and the executive branch. For a long time, the conservative justices on the Supreme Court have been inconsistently interpreting the Constitution. But our guest, Madiba Dennie, says focusing on their decision-making processes is a trap. She says there’s a better way for concerned citizens to tak…

1
William J. Barber II: How an Anti-Poverty Movement Makes Extremists Tremble 42:51

6M ago42:51

42:51

The United States is the wealthiest nation in the world, but millions of its citizens live in poverty. What prevents poor, low-wage, and low-wealth Americans from using democratic government to fight for a fairer distribution of resources? And how can they overcome the structures set against them? The answer is counterintuitive, but it's worked on …

1
Al-Ran to Interconnected Realities - Nokia Head of Trend and Innovation Scouting Leslie Shannon 23:14

7M ago23:14

23:14

On today's show, we have Leslie Shannon, the Head of Trend and Innovation Scouting at Nokia, where she specializes in identifying disruptive technologies that are shaping the future of connectivity. She is an accomplished author of two influential books:"Interconnected Realities," which explores the Metaverse, and "Virtual Natives." We discuss ever…

1
Health Trends and Consumer Preferences in Dairy 37:27

7M ago37:27

37:27

Dive into the latest health trends and shifting consumer preferences in the dairy industry with a dynamic panel featuring John Crawford, SVP of Client Insights for the Dairy Category at Circana; Donna Berry, Editor & Consultant at Dairy & Food Communications Inc.; Patrycja Kotowska, Category Strategy Manager at Sprouts Farmers Market; and Fred Scho…

1
Jeffrey Winters: How to Beat Oligarchs at Their Own Game 50:08

7M ago50:08

50:08

Why do so many Americans think tax breaks for the uber-wealthy will help the average person? According to Jeffrey Winters, the answer is simple: oligarchy. Today Winters breaks down how massive wealth distorts politics, and what can be done to combat it. Winters is professor of political science and director of the Equality Development and Globaliz…

1
Balancing Tradition and Innovation in Dairy 33:45

7M ago33:45

33:45

In this thought-provoking episode, John Talbot, CEO of the California Milk Advisory Board and Fred Schonenberg, Founder & CEO of VentureFuel; sit down with Elizabeth Crawford, Senior Editor at FoodNavigator-USA, to discuss the balance between tradition and innovation in the dairy industry. Recorded at the Real California Milk Excelerator’s Future o…

1
The Opportunity for Lactose-Free Milk to Retake Share from Plant-Based 39:28

7M ago39:28

39:28

Can lactose-free milk reclaim market share from plant-based beverages? This engaging panel discussion, captured live at the Real California Milk Excelerator’s Future of Dairy Expo, explores how lactose-free milk can win back thecoffee occasion with its functional benefits and versatility. Featuring Veronique Lagrange, Director ofthe California Dair…

1
Anthea Butler: What’s Gone Wrong with Evangelical Christianity? 45:06

7M ago45:06

45:06

The separation of church and state is a foundational principle of American democracy, but that doesn’t mean that religion hasn’t played an important role in American politics. Throughout American history, varied political movements have claimed religious motivations and scriptural justifications, sometimes in contradictory ways (e.g. both to suppor…

1
The Future of Health and Wellness in Dairy with Lauren Twigge 35:04

7M ago35:04

35:04

In this insightful keynote, media nutritionist and founder of Nutrition at Its Roots Lauren Twigge explores dairy's natural functional benefits and exciting potential for innovation in health and wellness. Delivered live at the Real California Milk Excelerator's Future of Dairy Expo in November 2024, Lauren discusses why dairy is uniquely positione…

1
Exciting Re-Release: External Innovation For Internal Stakeholders — LG Electronics EVP Sokwoo Rhee 31:04

8M ago31:04

31:04

In this special re-release timed for CES 2025, we revisit a powerful conversation with Sokwoo Rhee, EVP at LG Electronics, and the Head of LG's North America Innovation Center, LG NOVA. Sokwoo shares his expertise on how external innovation can drive significant internal value, offering a unique perspective on aligning cutting-edge technologies wit…

1
Special Episode: How Novels Defend Democracy 15:24

8M ago15:24

15:24

This special episode of The Context includes voices from three previous guests on the show: James Comey, Stacey Abrams, and David Pepper. All three have had significant careers in public service, and all three have also written multiple novels. In these short excerpts, they all also argue that their creative writing is a method to communicate some …

1
2024 Unwrapped – VentureFuel CEO Fred Schonenberg 28:45

8M ago28:45

28:45

Reflections on the innovative transformations of 2024 and looking ahead to uncover What's Next for leaders, innovators, and changemakers. VentureFuel VP of Growth, Vanessa Rosado, dives in with CEO and Founder, Fred Schonenberg, on 2024’s top technologies and startups (from Gen AI to Frozen Cottage Cheese), to 2025 predictions of industries to thri…

1
Space Strategy - Seraphim Space Enterprise Managing Director Alexander Holt 30:47

8M ago30:47

30:47

What is your space strategy? Yes, space. As the cost to launch has plummeted and satellites have proliferated, we now interact with data from space every day, and as Alexander shared, “every company in the future will become a space company.” Alexander is the Managing Director of Seraphim Space Enterprise (SSE), the global insights and acceleration…

1
Donald Moynihan: Friction, Frustrations, and Fear in Government Bureaucracies 40:59

8M ago40:59

40:59

“Administrative burdens” is a term for the frictions people experience when interacting with government—learning how a program works, taking the time to fill out paperwork, and experiencing the frustrations and shame that can come from the process. Sometimes this is accidental—just the result of a bureaucracy failing to think through how it interac…

1
The Most Fundable Companies – Pepperdine Graziadio Business School Program Manager Amy Wood 29:30

8M ago29:30

29:30

What are VCs looking for? Is your startup fundable? What do you need to improve to get financing? On today’s show we have Amy Wood, the Program Manager for the "Most Fundable Companies" initiative at Pepperdine Graziadio Business School, a groundbreaking program that empowers early-stage startups by providing critical insights into their readiness …