Progress, Potential, and Possibilities Podcast / Show

Send us Fan MailEdmund Benami is Co-Founder and CEO of NeuraLight ( https://neuralight.ai/ ), a pioneering health-tech company focused on applying advanced computer vision and deep-learning techniques to accelerate and improve drug development and patient monitoring in neurological diseases. NeuraLight’s mission is to develop objective and sensitive biomarkers in neurology by extracting oculometric markers (measures of eye movement) from standard webcams or smartphones, thereby providing richer digital endpoints for neurological drug development and patient care.Edmund is a repeat entrepreneur and an award-winning mathematician, with over 20 years of experience designing novel AI algorithms and building world-class teams to take on some of the most challenging technological challenges in signal processing, computer vision and AI.Edmund has both BS and MS in Mathematics from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.#EdmundBenami #NeuraLight #NeurologicalDisorders #OculometricBiomarkers #Oculometry #Saccades #SmoothPursuit #Fixation #PupilDynamics #BlinkPatterns #Vergence #ALS #NeurodegenerativeDisorders #Diagnosis #DiseaseMonitoring #DrugDevelopment #ProgressiveSupranuclearPalsy #CorticobasalDegeneration #FrontotemporalDementia #LewyBodyDementia #RemoteNeurologyCare #ArtificialIntelligence #ComputerVision #Gaze #AlzheimersDisease #ParkinsonsDisease #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #ViralPodcast #STEM #Innovation #Technology #Science #ResearchSupport the show

Send us Fan MailLes Johnson is a physicist, author, and space technologist ( https://www.lesjohnsonauthor.com/ ) who most recently served as the Chief Technologist at NASA’s George C. Marshall Space Flight Center. Les is also the Founder of Infinite Frontiers Consulting ( https://www.lesjohnsonauthor.com/infinite-frontiers-consulting-llc.html ), an aerospace consulting firm dedicated to helping turn innovative space ventures into reality. After decades leading of missions at NASA and collaborating across the industry, Les is excited to work with clients and partners who are pushing boundaries and advancing cutting-edge space technologies.Over a distinguished career with NASA, Les played a central role in developing advanced space propulsion systems and pioneering technologies designed to expand humanity’s reach beyond Earth orbit. He has led and contributed to multiple interplanetary technology demonstration missions, including work on solar sails, in-space propulsion, and deep-space exploration architectures.In addition to his NASA career, Les is an accomplished science fiction author and popular science writer, known for making complex space science accessible to broad audiences. His books—both fiction and nonfiction—explore the scientific and philosophical dimensions of humanity’s future in space ( https://www.amazon.com/stores/Les-Johnson/author/B002OUOYZQ?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true ) . A frequent public speaker and advocate for space exploration, Les continues to inspire curiosity and innovation in the next generation of scientists and engineers.Les holds a Master’s degree in Physics from Vanderbuilt and a Bachelor’s degree in Physics from Transylvania University, where he also conducted research in plasma and materials science. His academic foundation has informed his long-standing commitment to bridging theoretical science with practical space engineering.#LesJohnson #NASA #GeorgeCMarshallSpaceFlightCenter #VanderbiltUniversity #StrategicDefenseInitiative #GoldenDome #SpaceBasedHighEnergyLasers #ParticleBeamWeapons #MissileDefense #GeneralResearchCorporation#PropulsiveSmallExpendableDeployerSystem #SolarSail #CubeSat #NearEarthAsteroidScout #InterstellarTravel #Mars #ProximaCentauri #CrewHealth #LifeSupport #PlanetarySunshades #Geoengineering #Astrobiology #STEM #Innovation #Science #Technology #Research #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #Podcasting #ViralPodcastSupport the show

Send us Fan MailDave Rosa is President & Chief Executive Officer of NeuroOne ( https://nmtc1.com/ ), a developmental-stage medical technology company developing high-definition, minimally invasive thin film electrodes for the diagnosis and treatment of various neurological conditions ( https://nmtc1.com/technology ). The company’s initial focus is on epilepsy and the fast‑growing neurostimulation device market.Mr. Rosa is an entrepreneur with three decades of experience in the medical device industry spanning a variety of technologies and products. In addition to CEO roles with early-stage medical device companies, Mr. Rosa’s background also includes senior roles with C.R. Bard Inc., Boston Scientific Inc., and St. Jude Medical, where his responsibilities included marketing, product development and business development. He has been named as an inventor on multiple medical device patents, serves on seven corporate boards, and has raised $200M in the capital markets. Mr. Rosa holds an MBA from Duquesne University and a BS in Commerce and Engineering from Drexel University.IMPORTANT EPISODE LINKS - Electrochemical Testing of a New Polyimide Thin Film Electrode for Stimulation, Recording, and Monitoring of Brain Activity -https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9611492/First Food and Drug Administration Cleared Thin-Film Electrode for Intracranial Stimulation, Recording, and Monitoring of Brain Activity—Part 1: Biocompatibility Testing -https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9100917/#NeuroOne #DaveRosa #MinimallyInvasive #ThinFilmElectrodes #Theranostics #Stereoelectroencephalography #NeurologicalConditions #Epilepsy #MovementDisorders #ChronicPain #PsychiatricDisorders #Glioblastoma #CognitiveDisorders #Neurostimulation #NerveAblation #BloodBrainBarrier #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #ViralPodcast #STEM #Innovation #Technology #Science #ResearchSupport the show

Send us Fan MailDr. Julia Moore Vogel, PhD, MBA is Assistant Professor and Senior Program Director at The Scripps Research Institute ( https://www.scripps.edu/science-and-medicine/translational-institute/about/people/julia-moore-vogel/ ) where she is responsible for managing a broad portfolio of patient-centric health research studies, including The Long COVID Treatment Trial ( https://longcovid.scripps.edu/locitt-t/ ), a fully remote, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial targeting individuals with long COVID, testing whether the drug Tirzepatide can reduce or alleviate symptoms of long COVID. Prior to this current role, Dr. Vogel managed The Participant Center (TPC) for the NIH All of Us Research Program ( https://www.scripps.edu/science-and-medicine/translational-institute/translational-research/precision-medicine/index.html ) which was charged with recruiting and retaining 350,000 individuals that represent the diversity of the United States. TPC aims to make it possible for interested individuals anywhere in the US to become active participants, for example by collaborating with numerous outreach partners to raise awareness, collecting biosamples nationwide, returning participants’ results and developing self-guided workflows that enable participants to join whenever is convenient for them. Prior to joining the Scripps Research Translational Institute, Dr. Vogel created, proposed, fundraised for, and implemented research and clinical genomics initiatives at the New York Genome Center and The Rockefeller University. She oversaw the proposal and execution of grants, including a $44M NIH Center for Common Disease Genomics in collaboration with over 20 scientific contributors across seven institutions. She also managed corporate partnerships, including one with IBM that assessed the relative value of several genomic assays for cancer patients. Dr. Vogel has a BS in Mathematics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a  PhD in Computational Biology and Medicine from Cornell and an MBA from Cornell. Important Episode Links - Nature Reviews Microbiology - Long COVID: major findings, mechanisms and recommendations -https://www.nature.com/articles/s41579-022-00846-2npj Digital Medicine - Long-term changes in wearable sensor data in people with and without Long Covid -https://www.nature.com/articles/s41746-024-01238-xMayo Clinic Proceedings: Innovations, Quality & Outcomes - A Randomized Trial of At-Home COVID-19 Tests, Telemedicine, and Rapid Prescription Delivery for Immunocompromised Individuals -https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2542454825000384#JuliaMooreVogel #ScrippsResearchInstitute #EricTopol #LongCovidTreatmentTrial #AllOfUsResearchProgram #ComputationalBiology #NewYorkGenomeCenter #MyalgicEncephalomyelitis #ChronicFatigueSyndrome #ImmuneDysregulation #MicrovascularInjury #MetabolicDysfunction #Neuroinflammation #AutonomicDysfunction #Tirzepatide #Zepbound #RemoteClinicalTrial #Cornell #RockefellerUniversity#MemorialSloanKetteringCancerCenter #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #Podcasting #ViralPodcast #STEM #Innovation #Science #Technology #ResearchSupport the show

Send us Fan MailKomeil Nasrollahi is a seasoned innovation and business‐development leader currently serving as Senior Director of Innovation & Venture Partnerships at Siemens Healthineers ( https://www.siemens-healthineers.com/ ), where he is charged with forging strategic collaborations, identifying new venture opportunities and accelerating transformative healthcare technologies. With an academic foundation in industrial engineering from Tsinghua University (and additional studies in the Chinese language) and undergraduate work in civil engineering from Azad University in Iran, Komeil  blends technical fluency with global business acumen. Prior to his current role, Komeil held senior positions driving business engagement and international investment, including leading market‐entry and growth initiatives across China and the U.S., demonstrating a strong ability to navigate cross‐cultural, high‐stakes innovation ecosystems. In his current role, Komeil works at the intersection of healthcare, technology and venture creation—identifying high-impact innovations that align with Siemens Healthineers’ mission to “pioneer breakthroughs in healthcare, for everyone, everywhere, sustainably.” Based in the Greater Philadelphia region, his international exposure and multilingual capability (including English, Chinese and Persian) enable him to bridge diverse geographies and stakeholder groups in service of advancing healthcare innovation. Komeil’s leadership reflects a deep commitment to translating emerging technologies into meaningful clinical and market outcomes, making him a key driver in Siemens Healthineers’ venture partnerships and innovation strategy.#KomeilNasrollahi #SiemensHealthineers #TsinghuaUniversity #AzadUniversity #ChesterCountyEconomicDevelopmentCouncil #WestChesterUniversity #SiemensAG #MedicalTechnology #VenturePartnerships #DigitalSolutions #MedicalImaging #LaboratoryDiagnostics #DigitalHealth #ArtificialIntelligence #HealthcareIT #EnterpriseServices #PrecisionMedicine #DigitalTwins #SystemsBiology #BioelectronicMedicine #AutonomousClinicalSystems #MedicalRobotics #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #Podcasting #ViralPodcast #STEM #Innovation #Science #Technology #ResearchSupport the show

Send us Fan MailShari and Bill Hall ( https://familiesfightingflu.org/family-story/the-hall-family/ ) are a really remarkable couple whose story shines a light on just how far-reaching the effects of influenza can be — not only for the person who gets sick, but for the loved ones who care for them.What began as an ordinary illness became a life-changing experience for the Hall family, one that tested their strength, deepened their compassion, and opened their eyes to the true impact of flu.Through this amazing journey, they’ve become powerful advocates for awareness and prevention — reminding us all that influenza isn’t “just the flu.” It’s an extremely serious illness that can touch every part of life, from health and family to community and hope.Shari and Bill’s experience is both deeply personal and universally relevant, and it underscores why sharing these stories matters, because behind every statistic about influenza, there are real people — families, caregivers, and survivors — whose lives have been changed.#Influenza #Vaccine #FluShot #TheHallFamily #ShariHall #BillHall #Advocacy #AutoimmuneInjury#SystemicInflammation #MicrovascularInjury #ExtracorporealMembraneOxygen #ECMO #LifeSupport #Hospitalization #Bronchitis #CardiacArrest #Amputation #Rehabilitation #NerveDamage #Recovery #Caregiving #FamiliesFightingFlu #ICU #CSLSeqirus #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #ViralPodcast #STEM #Innovation #Technology #Science #ResearchSupport the show

Send us Fan MailDr. Adnan Masood, Ph.D. ( https://medium.com/@adnanmasood ) is Chief AI Architect at UST ( https://www.ust.com/ ), the giant global digital transformation solutions company.  Dr. Masood brings over two decades of leadership in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and large-scale system architecture, bridging cutting-edge academic research with real-world business outcomes.At UST, Dr. Masood leads the firm’s global strategy for cognitive computing, AI, ML, and generative-AI initiatives. He oversees the development of scalable data-integration platforms, high-performance recommendation systems, and enterprise-grade AI solutions — all while fostering deep collaborations with elite research institutions, including Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (SAIL) and MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL). Before his current role, Dr. Masood’s experience spanned financial-services technology, start-ups, systems architecture, and cloud-native engineering — always grounded in a strong research mindset focused on machine learning, Bayesian belief networks, and enterprise engineering. Recognized as a Microsoft Regional Director and a Microsoft MVP for Artificial Intelligence, Dr. Masood is not only a practitioner but a thought leader and educator. He has taught data science, spoken at international conferences, authored best-selling books on functional programming and AI governance, and mentors the next generation — for example volunteering as a STEM robotics coach for middle-school students. In his role at UST, Dr. Masood has also helped shape the company’s AI-center-of-excellence model — guiding clients to build governance, cross-functional AI teams, and measurable value from AI investments.#AdnanMasood #UST #AI #ML #GenerativeAI #ArtificialIntelligence #MachineLearning #CognitiveServices #CognitiveRobotics #QuantumComputation #QuantumComputing #Cryptography #MicrosoftMVP #MIT #Stanford#ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #Podcasting #ViralPodcast #STEM #Innovation #Science #Technology #ResearchSupport the show

Send us Fan MailAriel Garten is a neuroscientist, innovator, and entrepreneur whose driving purpose is to empower and help others overcome mental obstacles in order to live healthy, happy lives and reach their maximum potential, by harnessing real-time brain data to improve focus, relaxation, and meditation.Ariel is Co-Founder of InteraXon, the makers of Muse: the brain sensing headband ( https://choosemuse.com/ ). Muse is the award-winning wearable, clinical-grade Electroencephalography (EEG) device used by meditators and researchers around the world ( https://musehealth.ai/ ).Before founding InteraXon, Ariel was not only trained as a neuroscientist, working in research labs exploring the neural basis of consciousness as well as researching Parkinson’s disease and hippocampal neurogenesis, and a practicing psychotherapist, but also started her own international clothing line. Ariel’s creativity and entrepreneurial spirit combined with her fascination with the brain lead her to start InteraXon with partners in Silicon Valley developing the platform technology that ultimately sparked the creation of Muse. #ArielGarten #InteraXon #Muse #Electroencephalography #EEG #NonInvasive #NeuroTechnology #DeepBrainStimulation #HippocampalNeurogenesis #Neuroplasticity #Psychotherapist #Biofeedback #Meditation #BrainwavePatterns #Wearables #Mindfulness #ImprovingSleep #EnhancingFocus #ReducingStress #DiagnosticTool #SleepDisorders #CognitiveEnhancement #AgeTech #Memory #Learning #Neurofeedback #BrainComputerInterfaces #Dementia#ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #ViralPodcast #STEM #Innovation #Technology #Science #ResearchSupport the show

Send us Fan MailDr. Fred Grossman, D.O., FAPA is President and Chief Medical Officer of Coya Therapeutics ( https://coyatherapeutics.com/ ), a clinical-stage company focused on developing multi-modality, Regulatory T Cell (Treg) therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. Coya has already developed strong proof of concept data in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Alzheimer’s, and is also active in the autoimmune and metabolic disease domains.Dr. Grossman brings over 20 years of drug development expertise having held senior executive leadership positions in large and small pharmaceutical companies, leading the development and FDA approval of numerous multi-billion dollar blockbuster drugs addressing significant unmet medical needs particularly across CNS disorders. He has close relationships with thought leaders worldwide and has negotiated directly with the FDA and Global Health Authorities for approval of many drugs across therapeutic areas. Dr. Grossman held executive positions at Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Sunovion. He served as President and Chief Medical Officer at Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, a $1.5 Billion per annum global pharmaceutical company based in India, overseeing development of an entire pipeline including generics, complex generics including 505(b)(2) candidates, and next-generation biologics (including bi-specific antibodies). Dr. Grossman also previously served as Chief Medical Officer at Mesoblast, Inc., developing allogeneic cellular therapies for inflammatory diseases. Dr. Grossman is Board-Certified in Psychiatry and a Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and was a Fellow at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). He has held several academic appointments and authored numerous scientific publications.#RegulatoryTCells #Tregs #AutoimmuneDisorders #ShimonSakaguchi #ImmuneSystem #FredGrossman #CoyaTherapeutics #NeurodegenerativeDiseases #AmyotrophicLateralSclerosis #ALS #Alzheimers #CNSDisorders #StanleyAppel #Immunomodulation #ProInflammatoryCytokines #SelfTolerance #Microglia #Macrophages #CTLA4Ig #LowDoseIl2 #FusionProtein #ImmuneCheckpointModulator #FrontotemporalDementia #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #ViralPodcast #STEM #Innovation #Technology #Science #ResearchSupport the show

Send us Fan MailDouglas Leech is Founder and CEO of Ascension Recovery Services ( https://www.ascensionrs.com/ ), an organization focused on developing and managing comprehensive, fully integrated behavioral health systems, treating Substance Use Disorders and co-occurring mental illness across the full continuum of care.Mr. Leech has a B.S. degree in Accounting from Pennsylvania State University and worked at Ernst & Young in Pittsburgh before returning to Morgantown, West Virginia and founding Ascension RS. Through his own struggles with addiction and subsequent recovery, Mr. Leech developed a passion for helping those suffering from the diseases of addiction and set out to increase access to substance use disorder (SUD) treatment across West Virginia and the United States. Mr. Leech has built Ascension RS into a national leader for developing comprehensive behavioral health systems that provide the highest quality clinical care with a sustainable business model. Mr. Leech also founded West Virginia Sober Living ( WVSL - https://westvirginiasoberliving.com/ ), a self-sustaining 501(c)(3) non-profit, operating recovery residences, job creation and reintegration programming, and a network of peer recovery coaches providing broad community support for SUD throughout West Virginia. #DouglasLeech #AscensionRecoveryServices #SubstanceUseDisorders #MentalIllness #BehavioralHealth #IntensiveOutpatientPrograms #PartialHospitalizationPrograms #ResidentialTreatmentCenters #RecoveryResidences #PeerRecoveryCoachNetworks #WorkforceDevelopmentPrograms #WestVirginiaSoberLiving #AmericanSocietyOfAddictionMedicine #PawneeNationOfOklahoma #NativeAmericans #CulturallyTailoredApproaches #HarmReduction #OverdosePrevention #TraditionalHealingPractices#ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #ViralPodcast #STEM #Innovation #Technology #Science #ResearchSupport the show