Best Digital Meld Podcasts (2025)

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Building Identity Orchestration for AI Agents with Granville Schmidt of Strata 24:49

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19h ago24:49

24:49

We are bringing you a special episode, as our friends at Strata return to the podcast. You might remember our interview from Season 8 with Eric Olden, Co-founder & CEO of the company. Eric took us through the creation story of the company. Today, we will be talking with Granville Schmidt, Chief Architect at Strata, who has been instrumental in arch…

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S11 E15: Derek Ting, TextNow 23:07

6h ago23:07

23:07

Derek Ting grew up in Canada-land, enjoying all the things of the area but especially hockey. He mentioned he has a bit of ADD, which made it hard for him to make it through a chapter in school. Nowadays, he has 2 kids. His oldest son plays hockey, and he and his family enjoys rooting on the Toronto Maple Leafs. When asked about food, he claimed to…

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The audio traffic cop 7:12

3d ago7:12

7:12

This week, we're going to learn all about audio's traffic cop, the crossover network in your loudspeaker. Learn how it works, what its role is, and its importance to the system and the music. The Audiophile’s Guide publishes daily. Want to learn more or join the HiFi Family? Visit PS Audio. To get your own copy of Paul McGowan’s The Audiophile’s Gu…

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Hollywood Disrupted : AI, Creativity & Ethics with Filmmaker Nico Casavecchia | Episode #0024 52:12

6d ago52:12

52:12

Follow the SSTB Newsletter. Thank you to Nico Casavecchia, and check out NicoCasavecchia.com. Summary In this episode, Brad Groux and Nico Casavecchia discuss the evolving landscape of filmmaking in the context of AI and technology. Nico shares his unique journey from Argentina to Hollywood, highlighting the importance of curiosity and adaptability…

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S11 Bonus: Dr. Alex Kihm, POMA AI 24:42

7d ago24:42

24:42

Alex Kihm just turned 40, and has been into computers for 36 years. He was given his first hand me down computer at the age of 4 by his parents, and also grew up with lego bricks and building things. He is an engineer by training, but eventually switched to econometrics on the big data side. Outside of his professional life, he is married and descr…

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What Founders Need to Know - with Dan Eyman of Meld Valuation 24:31

8d ago24:31

24:31

Today, I'm talking with Dan Eyman, the Managing Director at Meld Valuation, specializing in independent, audit ready valuations for VC backed startups and VC firms. He is an expert in the valuation of complex instruments such as convertible debt and SAFEs. Dan is going to illuminate the common mistakes of founders, how valuations differ, and what f…

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S11 E14: Avi Perez, Pyramid Analytics 32:27

8d ago32:27

32:27

Avi Perez has been in the data and analytics space for more than 25 years. He began his career in banking and finance in Australia, but quickly grew tired of crunching numbers for the big wigs, wanting to find a better way to calculate this information. Outside of tech, he enjoys a wide array of music, from classical to modern trance. He's a big sc…

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At the TX AI Challenge by Pro-Forma at DFW Startup Week | Episode #0023 1:24:48

10d ago1:24:48

1:24:48

Follow the SSTB Newsletter. Thank you to Pro-Forma, visit pro-forma.com. Special thanks to Mason Rawls for assisting with the production of this episode. Summary The conversation revolves around the Texas AI Challenge, highlighting various startups and their innovative solutions in the AI space. Key themes include the importance of customer validat…

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The loudspeaker's role 17:03

10d ago17:03

17:03

It's important to think about the high-end audio system as a chain and every link in that chain makes for the whole. But one component stands out over every other one. The Audiophile’s Guide publishes daily. Want to learn more or join the HiFi Family? Visit PS Audio. To get your own copy of Paul McGowan’s The Audiophile’s Guide, get it on Amazon.…

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S11 Bonus: Goutham (Gou) Rao, Neubird 29:48

14d ago29:48

29:48

Goutham Rao grew up in Brooklyn, a nerd all his life. Back in the day, his Dad bought him a Commodore 64, from which he started to learn to write code in BASIC. Eventually, he attended the University of Pennsylvania to get his Masters in Computer Science. Outside of tech, he is married with 2 kids. He likes to travel, and likes to run. He used to c…

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S11 E13: Matt Hamann, Rownd 23:20

16d ago23:20

23:20

Matt Hamann knew he was going to be in tech way back in his younger days. His Dad worked for IBM, so there were always fun things to talk about and play with. He got his first family computer when he was 4 years old, and started programming BASIC when he was 8. Eventually, they got dialup through AOL - and he took off building websites with PHP & M…

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Synergy and audio 18:36

17d ago18:36

18:36

What are the synergistic elements important to high end audio systems? The Audiophile’s Guide publishes daily. Want to learn more or join the HiFi Family? Visit PS Audio. To get your own copy of Paul McGowan’s The Audiophile’s Guide, get it on Amazon.By Paul McGowan

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AI as a Culture Shift: Building Smarter Businesses and Communities with Leon Coe | Episode #0022 57:46

19d ago57:46

57:46

Follow the SSTB Newsletter. Thanks to Leon Coe - and check out houstonaiclub.com and ampliflyintelligence.ai Summary In this episode of the Start Small Think Big podcast, hosts Brad and Robert Groux engage with Leon Coe, founder of Houston AI and Amplify Intelligence. They discuss the rapid growth of the Houston AI community, the importance of AI i…

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S11 Bonus: Greg Shove, Section 20:29

21d ago20:29

20:29

Greg Shove was born in Canada, raised in Britain, and eventually moved to the United States. Through all of these places he lived, he learned to believe in equal access for people, never to quit, and to work hard and win - all of this, respectively. When he moved to California, he was told to visit the local grocery store to meet more tech people t…

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S11 E12: Ravi Madabhushi, ScaleKit 25:19

23d ago25:19

25:19

Ravi Madabhushi finds that all of the stops along his professional journey were accidental. He grew up in a tiny village in the south of India - so small, it would take you 10 minutes to sprint across it, end to end. His goals back then were common - get a job, get married, etc. - but after he moved to Bangalore post school, he got acquainted with …

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All about box speakers 12:55

25d ago12:55

12:55

Not all loudspeakers are created equal—and box speakers prove it. In this episode of The Audiophile’s Guide, the spotlight turns to the classic enclosure design that dominates the high-end landscape. Explore how cabinet shape, internal damping, driver alignment, and crossover tuning work together—or against each other—to deliver musical truth. When…

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The critical role of the digital audio cable 24:31

26d ago24:31

24:31

A digital cable just passes ones and zeros… right? Not so fast. In this episode, we explore the critical role of the digital audio cable, drawing from The Audiophile’s Guide to unpack why timing, noise, and construction can make a real difference. Whether it’s USB, coax, AES/EBU, or optical, the cable’s job isn’t just delivery—it’s delivery with pr…

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S11 Bonus: Trevor Stuart, Split & Harness 27:13

28d ago27:13

27:13

Trevor Stuart was born in Florida, but raised in Seattle. He was the son of a tech CFO and an Episcopalian minister - so he learned life at many different angles. He graduated from Boston College, and went into investment banking at Morgan Stanley. Beyond that, he worked at RelateIQ prior to being acquired by Salesforce, which then led him to start…

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Understanding DSP in the audio chain 15:43

27d ago15:43

15:43

It’s invisible, powerful, and everywhere: DSP. In this episode, we explore digital signal processing and its growing role in high-end audio, with guidance from The Audiophile’s Guide. From room correction and crossover tuning to upsampling and EQ, DSP can shape the sound in ways analog never could. But is it always a good thing? When does it help—a…

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Building a high-end digital audio system 24:16

29d ago24:16

24:16

What does it take to build a digital system that doesn’t sound digital? This episode explores the path to high-end digital audio, drawing from The Audiophile’s Guide to break down sources, DACs, streamers, and the critical role of clean power and timing. From choosing lossless formats to optimizing your signal chain, it’s about more than convenienc…

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S11 E11: Dave Berner, Kinde 19:08

30d ago19:08

19:08

Dave Berner grew up in London, and got into coding through music. He used to be the lead singer in metal and hardcore bands. His bands couldn't afford a webmaster, so he learned how to code in order to launch his band's website, along with setting up friend's custom MySpace profiles. Beyond that, he partook in many startups and side projects, lovin…

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PCM audio vs. PDM and DSD 16:10

29d ago16:10

16:10

Pulse code or pulse density? In this episode, we dig into PCM, PDM, and DSD—three very different ways of turning digital bits into sound. Based on insights from The Audiophile’s Guide, the discussion unpacks how each format works, how they shape what we hear, and why it matters for both streaming and physical media. From classic Red Book CDs to hig…

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Your First AI Hire: Automation for Construction & Skilled Trades, with Grant Fuellenbach | Episode #0021 1:02:38

1M ago1:02:38

1:02:38

Follow the SSTB Newsletter. Thanks to Grant Fuellenbach - and check out beyondthebid.co Summary In this episode of the Start Small Think Big podcast, host Brad Groux and Grant Fuellenbach discuss the intersection of AI, automation, and the construction industry. They explore the challenges faced by skilled trades in adopting new technologies, the i…

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Analog vs. digital: the fight is on 3:32

30d ago3:32

3:32

Needle or network? Groove or gigabyte? In this episode, it’s analog vs. digital—and the fight is on. Pulled from the pages of The Audiophile’s Guide, the conversation breaks down what each format gets right, where they fall short, and how system design changes the outcome. Is vinyl really warmer? Is digital truly more accurate? And which one brings…

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Vinyl Playback secrets 22:06

1M ago22:06

22:06

Vinyl can be magical—but only if it’s set up right. This episode uncovers the secrets of great vinyl playback, with guidance from The Audiophile’s Guide. From cartridge alignment and tracking force to phono preamps and vibration control, every detail matters when you're dragging a diamond through a groove. Whether you're chasing warmth, texture, or…

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Setup, the unsung hero 18:11

1M ago18:11

18:11

Great gear gets the glory, but setup is what makes it sing. In this episode, The Audiophile’s Guide sheds light on the unsung hero of every high-end system: placement, tuning, and room interaction. It’s not about what you own—it’s what you do with it. From speaker toe-in to seat position to finding that magical center image, proper setup can transf…

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The standing wave battle 9:48

1M ago9:48

9:48

Bass that booms, bass that disappears—welcome to the standing wave battle. This episode dives into the physics of low-frequency chaos, drawing on The Audiophile’s Guide to explain why certain notes vanish while others overwhelm the room. Standing waves are pressure zones caused by your room’s dimensions, and they’re the enemy of accurate bass. But …

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S11 Bonus: Tiffany Johnson, NMI 22:12

1M ago22:12

22:12

Tiffany Johnson is originally from Texas, but grew up in California. At a young age, she was a bit of an adrenaline junkie, partaking in skydiving, snowboarding, wakeboarding and gymnastics. In school, she fell in love with Econ, Mgmt, and Statistics - and eventually, fell into the payment industry by accident. Outside of tech, she has been married…

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Conquering room modes 14:41

1M ago14:41

14:41

Boomy bass, vanished kick drums, that one note that rattles the walls—blame room modes. In this episode, we tackle how to conquer these invisible troublemakers using insights from The Audiophile’s Guide. Room modes are standing waves that exaggerate or cancel bass, and they’re baked into your space whether you like it or not. But with smart placeme…

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The Gene Simmons of Data Protection – Navigating the Future of Data Management 20:46

1M ago20:46

20:46

The Gene Simmons of Data Protection: Protegrity's KISS Method Today, we are releasing another episode from our series, entitled The Gene Simmons of Data Protection - the KISS Method, brought to you by none other than Protegrity. Protegrity is AI-powered data security for data consumption, offering fine grain data protection solutions, so you can en…

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Sonic holography, the power of the diffuser 11:00

1M ago11:00

11:00

When a system images well, it’s not just sound—it’s sculpture. This episode explores sonic holography and the powerful role diffusers play in creating it, guided by concepts from The Audiophile’s Guide. Unlike absorbers that deaden the room, diffusers scatter reflections without killing energy—unlocking depth, width, and a soundstage that hangs in …

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S11 E10: Brennan Pothetes, Infinity Constellation 21:23

1M ago21:23

21:23

Brennan Pothetes grew up in Louisiana, but went to High School in Portland, Oregon - two very different places. He started his career in internal audit, before he eventually helped launch Simple, the first bank on the iPhone. He has built a lot of companies since, and continues to do so. Outside of business and tech, he likes food and enjoys whippi…

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Separates vs. Integrateds 17:29

1M ago17:29

17:29

More boxes or one and done? This episode breaks down the pros and cons of separates vs. integrateds, based on insights from The Audiophile’s Guide. Is it better to build your system with dedicated components for each job, or simplify with an all-in-one unit? From performance and flexibility to cost and space, the discussion covers what matters—and …

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The phono preamplifier 14:48

1M ago14:48

14:48

Small signal, big impact. This episode digs into the fundamentals of the phono preamplifier, the unsung hero of any vinyl-based system. Pulling from The Audiophile’s Guide, the conversation breaks down why this tiny component matters so much—amplifying fragile signals, applying RIAA EQ, and shaping the character of what you hear. Whether you’re new…

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Working with loudspeakers 16:27

1M ago16:27

16:27

Loudspeakers don’t just make sound—they shape it. In this episode, drawn from The Audiophile’s Guide, the focus is on working with speakers during system setup. It’s not about gear swapping or specs, but about finding the exact placement that unlocks realism, depth, and musicality. From toe-in to spacing to that elusive sweet spot, small changes ma…

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Getting intimate with headphones 16:11

1M ago16:11

16:11

Headphones strip away the room, the system, and the setup—leaving just you and the music. This episode explores the uniquely intimate experience of headphone listening through the lens of The Audiophile’s Guide. What do you gain when you listen this way, and what do you lose? From soundstage and imaging to emotional connection, it’s a deep dive int…