Finding Genius Podcast

Kevin Lee, Digital Trust and Safety Architect at Sift (sift.com), talks about his company and their mission. As the Trust and Safety Architect at Sift Science, Lee is very involved in Sift's core mission—securing trust and safety for the digital age. Lee is skilled in building high-performing teams and systems that will combat suspicious and malicious behaviors. Before bringing his expertise to Sift, Lee was a manager at Facebook, Square, and Google in roles pertaining to risk, and spam, as well as trust and safety. Lee discusses how Sift started out in the payment fraud area, using machine learning and other technologies to outsmart fraudsters. Today, they are focused heavily on digital trust and safety issues. Lee explains the mechanics of their solutions, and he cites specific examples of client work, from Airbnb, Twitter, and others, helping to stop data breaches and fraud. He explains how 'bad actors' take over accounts and the kinds of malicious acts they try to implement. Lee discusses some of the e-commerce sites that they offer protections for, and how attacks against them are designed. Continuing, Lee explains some of the signs they look for that could indicate fraud is potentially happening. He talks about iPhone fraud attempts, and the telltale signs of fraud that they see in that platform/family versus android. From account take over to trolling and financial fraud, Lee explains some of the most current problems businesses are combatting. As he states, in account take over scenarios, often trust is destroyed, which could result in the loss of customers and clients. Wrapping up, Lee explains how easy it is to get started with Sift and the protections that companies can take advantage of right away. As digital disrupters, Sift is innovating daily, taking its position as a leader in the digital security space.

Luke Osborn, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, discusses the lab's exciting work in modern prosthetics and biomedical engineering. Osborn is a postdoctoral researcher in the Intelligent Systems Group in the Research and Exploratory Development Department at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. Osborn's expertise lies in multiple scientific areas, specifically concentrated on neuroengineering and applied neuroscience. His intensive work explores the groundbreaking new areas of advancement in tactile sensing and feedback for sensory augmentation. Osborn often works with upper limb amputees. He discusses the problem known as phantom limb, which is the sensation that an amputated limb is still actually attached. Statistically speaking, 80 to 100% of people who have had an amputation report experiencing 'phantom' sensations/feelings in their amputated limb, and unfortunately, most of these types of sensations are painful. He explains how the muscles that still exist in partial limbs can cause amputees to feel sensations. He talks about their work in the improvement of prosthetics, utilizing sensory feedback. The big issue: embodiment, and as Osborn explains embodiment is the integration of an artificial limb (prosthetic) into someone's own body identity so to speak, essentially the fusion of body and perception. The goal is to get people to feel that their prosthetic is a part of them. The prosthetics researcher talks about the ways they work with amputees, and the methods they use to get them to feel sensations, such as pressure, etc. Restoring sensation is a key element of their work, and Osborn explains how they target functionality. Osborn's questions lead to more research and advancement. Ultimately, the goal is to figure out what types of sensations and perceptions can be improved, and how to improve them via new technologies.

Dr. Theodore S. Piliszek, founder and medical director of the Advanced Health and Wellness Center in Houston, Texas, delivers an interesting overview of his life's work in health, wellness, and genetics research. Dr. Piliszek has over 30 years of experience in preventive medicine that has taken him to multiple continents. Dr. Piliszek is a nutritional specialist who has dedicated his life to the study and advancement of Functional Longevity Medicine and Clinical Nutrition for the prevention and reversal of vascular, metabolic, and degenerative diseases. Dr. Piliszek has extensive experience in Hematopathology research and has studied with some of the world's greatest geneticists, including the celebrated geneticist, Sir David Weatherall at Oxford University in the United Kingdom. Dr. Piliszek has been certified by the American Board of Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine, and today he continues to share his vast knowledge with the medical community and public. Dr. Piliszek talks about his interest in anti-aging, the medtech impact, and nutrigenomics, which is the science that analyzes the relationship between the human genome, nutrition, and health. By evaluating one's genomic expressions, Dr. Piliszek states that we can learn a lot about possible future outcomes, and risks, and potentially provide information that could help individuals delay or avoid possible medical maladies. Dr. Piliszek continues his discussion and dives into a detailed analysis of foods and exercise and the impact each has on health. Citing examples of how genetics plays a role in the trajectory of long term health, Dr. Piliszek lays out the many genetic abnormalities that could be factored in to bring about a medical problem, such as Alzheimer's and other debilitating diseases. The genetics, health, and medical technology expert discusses some of the puzzling questions that he is most curious about, discussing nutrition and micronutrients—including vitamins and minerals. To counteract modern stressors, micronutrient supplementation often produces a good outcome. Dr. Piliszek goes on to discuss disease treatment and some of the changes that are coming that may be beneficial.

Nicola Beer, internationally-recognized and award-winning expert in relationship psychology and transformation, provides an interesting overview of her work with individuals—helping people improve relationships, heal trauma, and live fuller lives. She is a leading authority on save your marriage techniques. Beer has dedicated her life to helping people repair, renew, and reinvigorate their relationships. For more than ten years, Beer has assisted thousands of men and women from many corners of the world to live more vibrant lives by healing their damaged relationships and traumas. Her popular empowered love program has helped countless people and she is dedicated to helping bring positivity into lives. Beer discusses her background and her path toward her current career and focus. She talks about the difference between her male and female clients, and the areas that are of most importance to each, on average. From separations to divorces, emotional issues and distance between partners, Beer works with many and various issues and the couples that struggle with them. She cites specific examples of the challenges couples face, discussing emotions, guilt, communication, and more. And Beer delves into some of the areas and times in a relationship that are most challenging, when problems tend to develop, often because of unmet expectations from one or both partners. From financial struggles and beyond, Beer talks about the many ways that we can take action to seek improvement. Beer co-authored four international best-sellers and she has been featured on ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox News, HuffPost, and Wall Street Select.

Peter H. Raven, internationally celebrated Botanist, and Conservationist provides an interesting overview of his life's work in the life sciences. Raven has spent the better part of his life advocating for conservation, educating the public about the grave threats to Earth's biodiversity. His work and research are so significant that Time magazine hailed him as a "Hero for the Planet." For four decades, Raven headed the Missouri Botanical Garden, a distinguished institution and world-class center for the advancement of conservation, botanical research, and education, and known worldwide for its horticulture display. Raven is currently President Emeritus of the Missouri Botanical Garden. Raven discusses his long background and current work promoting major scientific projects, from plant observation and study to conservation efforts. Raven discusses his decades of work and interest in the tropical rainforests, which house more species than anywhere else on Earth. He states that there are incredibly important implications for climate and that we need to preserve the trees and their interactions, and the storage of carbon within them to prevent global warming. He discusses the potential problems in detail, and that we effectively have about two generations to correct the problems. The Missouri Botanical Garden conservationist discusses consumption and population growth, and how it all affects preserved areas. Clearly, not enough is being done as our actions have demonstrated that preserved areas are not a high priority, unfortunately. Raven talks about the increasing population globally, and how it is important to empower women worldwide. As women are often ignored, Raven states, their true talents—that could be incredibly significant in the search for global crisis solutions—are wasted. He underscores the stupidity of ignoring women and the potentially massive contribution they could bring to global problems and issues. Raven continues by discussing how we can empower smaller nations to help themselves, and form alliances to think globally regarding solutions to the world's problems. By helping to strengthen their infrastructure they can get more benefits from their own productivity. Additionally, Raven talks about the progress they are making globally, in agriculture and other areas. And he talks about the importance of social justice initiatives, helping some of the poorest countries in the world to rise up out of poverty and stabilize themselves. As he states, there are ways we can help, by consuming less, recycling, living closer to our jobs, etc. But ultimately, the moral argument is what could really change things… essentially we all need to acknowledge that these are the right things to do, to make a difference, to help solve the poverty problem, and work toward conservation on a global scale.

Samantha Gladish, author and holistic wellness coach (holisticwellness.ca) delivers a wealth of information about holistic health and holistic wellness. As a longtime sufferer of various health issues, Gladish battled blood sugar levels, mood swings, poor digestion, and troublesome gut health, as well as tremendous PMS cramping and bloating. She endured numerous bouts with devastating migraines and day to day headaches, and she set out on a path to heal herself. Currently, Gladish is healing from autoimmune Hashimoto's, and sharing her success path with others so they can also find healing solutions. Gladish discusses her background and her early love for nutritious foods, exercise, and healthy living. But in spite of her early knowledge, she found her health was suffering. By taking things into her own hands, she studied nutrition in detail, and ditched unnatural pills in an effort to find a path back to great health. She discusses the problems with birth control pills, and the health issues and side effects that are not often talked about. And she talks about various studies that have linked the birth control pill to estrogen dominant cancers. She explains in detail how the taking of synthetic hormones changes the way a woman's body produces estrogen and progesterone. As she explains, maintaining the proper fertility is important, regardless of whether a woman wants to become pregnant or not. Gladish's programs incorporate many facets of healthy living, including healthy recipes and food choices which can assist with weight loss and health improvements. Gladish continues by discussing various health conditions that have incredible alternative solutions for healing, but how the mainstream medical community may not always consider these healthy alternatives. She discusses vitamins and medications, and the importance of studying root cause medicine, and how we need to look deeper for the origins of medical problems in order to truly eradicate them or relieve them. Gladish has over fifteen years in the health and wellness field and she has worked with women in more than 30 countries worldwide. She is a sought-after consultant and coach.

Charlotte Reznick, Ph.D., child educational psychologist, and author of the Los Angeles Times bestselling book, The Power of Your Child's Imagination: How to Transform Stress and Anxiety into Joy and Success, provides an overview of her work in meditation and mindfulness practices. For three decades, Dr. Reznick has had a meditation practice, and she is the creator of positive coping skills, mindful program, Imagery For Kids: Breakthrough for Learning, Creativity, and Empowerment. Dr. Reznick is a noted authority on mindfulness, imagination creation, and meditation, and is a leader in her field. Dr. Reznick talks about her background and education, and what pushed her to develop her programs and write about her work. As a specialist in child and teen mindfulness and meditation, she talks about how she combined imagination and mediation to help those she worked with. A primary goal is to help kids access their inner wisdom through their own imagination. She talks about some specific case studies and the progress she made. Continuing, Dr. Reznick provides further examples of brain/body meditation and imagination that transformed some of the kids she worked with. As Dr. Reznick states, fear is sometimes known, but sometimes we don't know where it is coming from, and the imagination work helps young people find comfort, to relax, and sleep better. Talking about stress, Dr. Reznick states that today we have more complications in life with technology, etc., and that it is all combining to potentially accelerate stress and anxiety. Dr. Reznick discusses texting and social media, and the emotions that are communicated, and not communicated in exchanges between people. Wrapping up, Dr. Reznick discusses her travels and the teaching she provides, giving people tools to help them find healthier paths, better solutions, and to promote joy and success through change and growth.

Ryan Lewis, Chief Business Developer of Global Cannabinoids, talks about the emerging markets for CBD and hemp-derived products. Global Cannabinoids is a high volume producer and distributor of bulk and wholesale phytocannabinoid-rich (PCR) industrial hemp—naturally high in CBD, CBG, CBC, CBN, CBDA, and terpenes. Additionally, Global Cannabinoids is a large manufacturer of private- label CBD products, one of the biggest in the US. They are a serious CBD oil distributor that is changing the marketplace. Lewis talks about his background, starting with the building of the very first bulk and wholesale B2B distribution platform for American-grown hemp and cannabinoids derived from hemp. He discusses some of the challenges, and some of the advances that were enabled after the passing of the US Farm Bill. Lewis explains that hemp is excellent with phytoremediation, a form of bioremediation that applies to all the chemical or physical processes that involve plants for immobilizing or degrading contaminants within the soil and/or groundwater. He recounts some remarkable stories of how hemp has shown it can literally absorb all kinds of contaminants and survive, which makes testing incredibly important. Lewis explains their testing processes in detail. And he provides details about upcoming federal regulation and the marketplace, as well as his expectation for the near future in regard to the hemp-derived phytocannabinoids market.

Most of us value our health, and we know that exercise can help us achieve and maintain it, but it can still be a challenge to get to the gym on a regular basis. The team at SportsArt is trying to change that by giving us one more reason to work out: we can help improve the planet by doing so. The fitness equipment manufacturer has created a product that's like nothing else on the market: a line of cardio equipment that actually generates electricity when it's used. On today's episode, CTO of SportsArt, Rubin Mejia, explains the technology behind the product, the reduction in electricity use (and bills) resulting from it, and how the product has been received in general. The equipment can be found in nearly every large city in the world, but it's just starting to gain traction in the U.S. Tune in and check out gosportsart.com for more info.

Robin Arnott, CEO of Andromeda Entertainment (enterandromeda.com), discusses his work with the next wave of gaming and the ever-expanding world of entertainment technologies. Andromeda Entertainment is the first publisher to serve the advancing interest in mindfulness and wellness with truly transformative content and amazing virtual entertainment experiences for users. Arnott talks about his background as an audio engineer and game designer. Through working in games in the entertainment technologies space, he came to truly understand how games capture our minds perhaps better than anything else. It's about practicing and being, and can really bring people into a specific environment. He talks about how games can play an important role in people's introspective journeys, hitting deep states of consciousness. With video games, we can package practices that are good for us, in a fun, engaging, deeply involved game environment. Arnott explains that video games can become addictive, but most games can actually exercise parts of your mind, thus the benefits are there. Arnott discusses how their games engage people on a somatic level, to move out of deeply held trauma, to approach self-actualization. As we learn, he states, we can really take advantage of this form in a positive way, elevating the gaming experience. Arnott talks about some of the games that are coming out soon, and their mental and physical benefits. Continuing, Arnott says they, as a company, are looking for original genius ideas; he is looking for creators who are engaged on a higher level. As a publisher, Arnott states that they often take on games that may be somewhat unusual, but offer transformative experiences. And Arnott discusses how game designers might draw from the mind/body connection to inspire their designs, to make a new kind of game for self-actualization and beyond.