Igniting Souls Podcast with Kary Oberbrunner

 Women make up a small fraction of the IP industry—but Ashley Cheung is working to change that. Hear her discuss the power of female innovation, what resonated most from You Are an IP Company, and how her experiences are lighting the way for future women leaders in tech and law.Ashley Cheung runs her business and personal life by a single motto: Nothing ventured, nothing gained. She founded Virtual Patent Gateway in early 2020 to extend her case management expertise to more attorneys through a digital platform. She actively seeks out innovative methods to support leading patent attorneys through complex Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) post-grant proceedings.As a first-generation immigrant from Hong Kong and proud business owner, Ashley is passionate about passing on lessons of determination and amplifying underrepresented voices in the legal field. She invests her time and talent into the next generation of leaders to increase their professional skills, instill confidence, and inspire excellence by example—especially for young women with big aspirations.She also hosts three insightful podcasts: IP Talk: Brand Insights, FemTech,and  Virtual Water Cooler Chat. Through these platforms, Ashley shares conversations at the intersection of innovation, law, and leadership. More info at ashley-cheung.com/podcasts.

In this episode, Kary and Katie dive into a hot-button topic that’s keeping authors up at night—and stirring up big debates across the publishing world: AI training on books. But instead of sounding the alarm, they’re flipping the script. Is there a silver lining for authors when AI learns from their work? From discoverability boosts to unexpected revenue opportunities, they explore how writers might not just survive the AI wave—but ride it. Whether you're skeptical, curious, or cautiously optimistic, this episode is your invitation to think differently.

Pete Sacco discusses how blockchain and a new IP paradigm are transforming how creators protect and value their work in a rapidly evolving digital world.Pete Sacco is a tech visionary, IP evangelist, and spiritual entrepreneur who’s redefining what it means to build value in the modern world. A pioneer in data center innovation, Pete is leading a movement to protect intellectual property on the blockchain. He’s also the author of Living in Bliss, a reflection on his 30-year inner and outer journey. In this episode, Pete shares his philosophy on content, consciousness, and why the next frontier of success is rooted in both innovation and inner peace.

Tunji Adebayo brings raw insight into the reality of being the “front stage” leader—and what it takes behind the scenes to make it all work. With humor and humility, he unpacks his wins, his missteps, and how building the right team has helped him stay focused on the mission.

This podcast uncovers the hidden IP inside everyday businesses and reveals how naming, packaging, and protecting your process can be your most valuable asset. Join hosts Kary and Katie and their special guest, Chad Jenkins. as they help entrepreneurs recognize, articulate, and monetize their unique genius—starting with “naming the baby.”

In this episode, we’re joined by the unstoppable Randi Brill,  founder of Just Call Randi, a brand design agency built for creators, collaborators, and bold entrepreneurs. Randi shares her journey from corporate burnout to building a business that reflects her unique genius—and helps others do the same. She dives into why your brand is more than just a logo, what most business owners get wrong about packaging and identity, and how her signature “Brand Design Symptoms Quiz” and brand checkups are changing the game. If your brand feels like a messy collage from the last decade, it’s time to listen in and level up.

In this episode, we dive into the tension between human creativity and artificial intelligence. From headlines about AI winning Oscars and Nobel Prizes to the tricky legal questions around AI inventorship and patents, we unpack the fears, hopes, and big questions shaping the future. Join us as we explore where human ingenuity fits in a world increasingly driven by machines.

In this episode of You Are an IP Company, Kary Oberbrunner and Katherine Rubino break down what they call “The IP Dam Dilemma.” As innovation accelerates in fields like biotech, AI, and 3D printing, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office struggles to keep up—with application backlogs slowing critical progress for startups, researchers, and investors. From drug development to product launches, they explore how delays in IP protection can stall innovation, discourage investment, and leave entrepreneurs vulnerable. This is a must-listen for any creator wondering if—and when—it’s safe to go public with their big idea.

AI isn’t the enemy—but if we’re going to coexist, it must respect human intellectual property.The other day, someone told me to check out a new tool. I was nervous to see what I might find.Did Facebook steal my books to train its AI without my permission?I read the article in The Atlantic and entered my name.Sure enough—5 of my 14 books were taken. Used without my consent.I’m not alone. Try searching your favorite author.What will you find?(I'm not sure, but there's clearly a serious problem.)When intellectual property isn’t respected, people stop creating. That was the core idea behind the Venetian Patent Statute of 1474.Even 600 years ago—long before AI—people understood that ideas needed protection.Imagine a world where anyone could take your physical property at any time, for any reason.That would disrupt everything.So, what’s the solution?We need a new generation of IP advisors to help creators, authors, entrepreneurs, and businesses navigate this new landscape.That’s why we’re launching Instant IP Advisor.Yes, there’s a cost—but these advisors will be well-compensated.I’ll personally train the founding group this May, and we’ll begin serving the world soon after.If you’re interested, visit the website and apply.We’re opening the founder’s group to just 25 people.It’s time to help people turn ideas into empires.

It's the perfect storm. According to Gene Quinn and IPWatchdog Unleashed, at least 800,000 patents are now backlogged. The number is more accurately estimated at 1.2 million. Why?  "As the result of increased fees put into effect by the previous Administration, there was a rush to file continuations earlier this year before the fees increased.... and more than 300,000 continuations were filed before the fee increases went into effect....And with job offers for up to 600 patent examiners withdrawn, and a fear that a similar number of probationary examiners, perhaps even more, will soon be terminated, no one knows for sure what the Office will do to address this historic backlog." This truth coupled with the tech explosion and AI stealing IP, we're in a desperate need for an IP solution that's faster, easier, and cheaper....just to keep up. If not, innovation in the United States will suffer. Progress will slow. Investors will delay. And entrepreneurship will stall. Enter Instant IP: The 1-Click Solution for Intellectual Property Protection. Come learn with us as we unravel the backlog.