Finding Genius Podcast

Dan Abbate, CEO and cofounder of EIGHTY ONE-c (81-c.com), provides a complete overview of blockchain, security, and the new developing markets. Abbate is a skilled entrepreneur and investor who has specialized in business process automation via advanced technology and organizational development. Throughout his illustrious career, Abbate has helped many innovative businesses overcome systemic challenges and advance forward with important, critical decisions regarding growth, revenue, operational performance, automation, profitability, systematization, organizational improvement, and much more. Abbate earned a degree from DePaul University in Philosophy and Business, and has continued his education at The Wharton School studying complex operations and financial performance. Abbate talks about his background in 90s internet tech and how he organically moved into the crypto and blockchain area. He connected with the early movement and kept his eye on the crypto markets all along. He explains how he knew the underlying technology of blockchain, with its simplicity for ensuring security, would eventually come to dominate certain areas of transactional business. Abbate discusses the many and varied regulations that have shaped the industry. He discusses the regulatory space in detail, and explains how it hasn't really changed with the times. He explains the structure of his company, 81-c, and its primary objectives. Since its inception in 2016, 81-c has sought to acquire solid companies that generate cash flow, and improve them. But in 2017, Abbate made the decision to securitize their portfolio and build an operating company that was backed by the new blockchain technology. And in 2018, as the SEC stepped in and made everything a security, it became clear that they could take their operating company and utilize the blockchain to push forward in transactional business. Blox is aware that there is a tremendous amount of value created in the world that simply isn't accessible to most people. Thus blox is continually seeking ways to allow everyone to have a fair and equal opportunity to invest in the success of the world's greatest thinkers, innovators, and entrepreneurs.

Alon Muroch, cofounder and CEO of blox (blox.io), talks about the current state of cryptocurrency, blockchain, and the new advances in portfolio management. Muroch talks about his background in development and coding and how he discovered blockchain by accident. He recounts his early experiences seeking out a way to transfer money more effectively. Fast forwarding to the future, Muroch discusses how his company was created out of his own organic need to find a better way to sync various wallets and exchange accounts into one place, to better manage his assets. Blox is more than numbers and charts; it is an incredibly efficient system that helps to provide a clearer image of your crypto assets. Muroch's company, Blox, has developed the most advanced, organized crypto currency asset and portfolio-tracking platform in the entire industry. The blox platform enables users to track, collect past transactions and pricing automatically, and more, by connecting directly to tens of blockchains as well as up to date crypto currency exchanges. Muroch discusses the many potential problems that could arise when ordering one's books, regarding taxes and auditing. As he states, even a small error could become a giant problem when dealing with financial issues, and mistakes can be made easily. Even the practical side of daily transfers can be a place where mistakes happen. Muroch talks about transactional data, and how to make it robust and complete, and the importance of reporting and bookkeeping to ensure all records are intact. The financial technology expert provides a wealth of information on the future of blox and their work with accounting firms. As Muroch explains, blox provides many tools to assist with accounting and for regulation compliance. He provides details on some of the plans blox is developing, from the re-imagination of transactional data to feedback-based development in the areas of wallets, ledgers, and high-level security features.

Michael J. Joyner, MD, physician, researcher, and noted expert on human performance and exercise physiology delivers an overview of the extensive study and research he has embarked upon throughout his long career in the field. Dr. Joyner has spent a lifetime studying the human body and how it performs and functions. Through his impressive research studying exercise physiology he has made significant contributions to the greater understanding of muscle and skin blood flow, as well as blood pressure regulation, and of course athletic performance. Dr. Joyner has been a respected consultant to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as well as NASA and the groundbreaking research at his Mayo Clinic lab has been funded by the NIH since the early 90s. In this informative podcast Dr. Joyner talks about integrative physiology, how humans respond to complex challenges, and the limits of perspective. He discusses blood flow and the restorative properties of systems. He recounts some of the past experimentation regarding blood flow and circulation. He delves into detail about angiogenesis, which is the physiological process by which new blood vessels begin to form from those preexisting vessels already present, and formed in the initial stage of vasculogenesis. The doctor talks about gene therapy and drugs that have been used to stimulate blood vessel growth, but he stresses that the best means for achieving this goal is actually exercise. Dr. Joyner discusses drug repurposing, and the history of various notable drugs that have found their purpose later, after development and trial. He talks about some of the early experimentation and important studies regarding bed rest, and how we have learned that we need to, in most cases, mobilize people as early as possible right after medical procedures and operations, etc. He expands on his thoughts about progress made in the surgical environment, and the future of technology—and how it can help us to improve. And he rounds the discussion back to his primary area of study—physiology and human performance, which he has studied intensively since the 80s. The human performance expert discusses the latest findings regarding glucose and physical exercise. He states that exercise is really the key to fighting prediabetes and diabetes, and its effects are powerful. He discusses various trials, and drug development for many medical conditions, and the evidence that supports some of the new blood pressure controlling type drugs. The prestigious Mayo Clinic named Dr. Joyner a Distinguished Investigator in 2010 and his lab provides major educational opportunities for students and trainees, as it continues to further the dialogue on human performance.

Brian McCarthy, Executive Vice President, Dentistry.com, provides an extensive overview of the current state of dental care. As the operational leader of Dentistry.com as well as the Executive Vice President at Futuredontics, Inc., McCarthy has spent many years advancing the field of modern dentistry. His vision and strategic execution of goals has helped to deliver value to dentists and patients via the design and creation of multiple products that push interactions, leading to better quality dentistry for all. McCarthy talks about a growing epidemic in the United States—the lack of oral care. McCarthy states that many Americans are simply not taking care of their teeth, and as the connection between oral care and overall wellness is significant, this is a problem. He talks in detail about how dentists in particular have been slow to adapt to the mobile web and have not taken full advantage of changes in technology. Interestingly, he mentions a study that showed 67% of US adults will expect to be able to book their healthcare appointments entirely online—by 2019. The future of online access is here, but the vast majority of dentists don't support online booking. Seeing this need, McCarthy sought to make dentistry more accessible for everyone. In any given year, less than half of the population goes to the dentist, and McCarthy states that this is a problem Dentistry.com aims to correct. The dental care entrepreneur talks about the many advanced products that have been developed in the dental industry, from clear aligners to other orthodontic products and more. He discusses new equipment that reduces risk, and the great advances that are happening in tooth repair. McCarthy discusses preventive care in detail, and explains how modern dentistry can offer improvements in the arena of oral care. Today, dentists offer so many features in their offices that make the experience calmer, more fun, and sometimes even spa-like. As he states, it is the age of the consumer, and businesses that recognize that are moving ahead of their competition and excelling in the industry. And McCarthy talks about the inclusion of texting technology in the marketing efforts of many dental offices. He discusses how the concept of teledentistry can improve patient/doctor relations. Teledentistry is the use of various information technology and advanced telecommunications for dental care consultation and education. While McCarthy is careful to point out that teledentistry is certainly not a replacement for office visits, it is an opportunity to have more direct contact with those who care for your teeth, an opportunity to learn more, and to motivate individuals to work toward improving their overall oral care.

Dr. Conrad began his career studying patterns of sleep interruption and doing work in various areas of epidemiology, and lately he's been working to improve population health and sleep conditions while entering the realm of policy and population management within larger healthcare systems. More recently, he's been working in conjunction with the University of Minnesota on the evaluation of school start time issues and the connection between sleep, obesity, and adolescent health. "Adolescents have by nature a delay in their sleep schedule, beginning roughly around the age of 12…independent of their tendency to surf the internet and study late into the evening, there's perhaps a stronger drive to go to bed later and get up later," says Dr. Iber. As quasi-experimental evidence of this, some schools that have tried out later start times have seen better academic performance, fewer car accidents, improved moods and attention spans, and better overall sleep health. Conversely, a study out of Fairfax, VA found higher suicide rates, weight gain, and decreased academic performance among adolescents who regularly get fewer than five to six hours of sleep. So, why haven't widespread reforms been implemented? Dr. Iber provides the answer to this question and many others, discussing a range of topics to include the latest advances in sleep medicine, such as the increased use of home monitoring and wearable devices to track sleep duration among patients who can't make it to a sleep clinic for in-house studies. He also touches on the increased emphasis being placed on police officers, health care providers, bus drivers, and other public service members to improve their sleep health. According to Dr. Iber, there is a growing awareness and acceptance of the importance of sleep, which is nothing but positive for individuals and public health in general. Interested in learning more? Press play for all the details.

Alex Bates, Co-Founder of Sandbox and Director at Neocortex Ventures, discusses AI, machine learning, and entrepreneur support. He highlights recent AI developments like generative adversarial neural networks turning paintings into 3D videos. Bates emphasizes human creativity complementing AI for intelligent augmentation.

Peter Saunders, Co-Director of The Institute of Science in Society, London, and Emeritus professor of Applied Mathematics, King's College London, provides a thorough and interesting overview of catastrophe theory and its many real and relevant applications. Saunders holds a BA in Applied Mathematics from the University of Toronto as well as a PhD in Theoretical Astrophysics from the University of London. He is a sought-after lecturer and keynote speaker and has presented his findings and theories for many groups and events, notably at Queen Elizabeth College and then at King's College. Saunders discusses the etymology of the word, 'catastrophe,' and discusses the background of catastrophe theory. Saunders explains that catastrophe theory is a theory that allows us to deal mathematically with things that change suddenly. And as he states, things that change suddenly are often the most interesting. He details catastrophe theory, explaining that if you have a system that is displaying certain jumps of one kind or another that these jumps will occur in a pattern. Saunders outlines the five basic properties that tend to go together: sudden jumps, hysteresis, divergence, inaccessibility, and bimodality. As Saunders explains, when you observe one, you begin looking for the other four. He talks about the many applications of the theory and how it enables researchers to come to conclusions within their research. Saunders explains that when a researcher is considering what has been observed, he or she makes a statement, and what is most desired is a theory that enables one to take that statement, that is based on observable actions, and do something with it. He discusses the relevance to applied mathematicians, and elaborates on how they seek to utilize what they do know, and little else, so their applications are based on truth. Saunders discusses the many possible applications for catastrophe theory, and he specifically talks about utilizing the theory to study important issues such as climate change. He provides interesting examples, regarding extreme fluctuations and how they can be indicators of increasing instability in regard to climate changes. As he explains catastrophe theory doesn't provide absolute proof, but in fact it only provides signs and indicators. Saunders states that if you want absolute proof, the only way to get that is to sit back and let something happen, but by then it will be too late to prevent that 'something' from happening. Saunders' groundbreaking book on the subject, An Introduction to Catastrophe Theory, breaks down catastrophe theory for everyone, even those who may have only a basic understanding of mathematics. The book explains the basic tenets of the theory and discusses practical applications, often citing biological science examples due to their particular ability to demonstrate catastrophe theory's distinctive nature. The celebrated book is a good read for theoretical biologists, scientists in general, and anyone who has an inquisitive mind and seeks to learn more about the theory and its applications.

Lynn Helena Caporale, independent scholar and author of Darwin in the Genome, discusses DNA sequencing and all things related to the genome. Caporale is a career biochemist whose research in the areas of natural selection and genome variation has created a buzz in the scientific community. Caporale is a regular chair of various international interdisciplinary conferences and workshops. In addition to authoring books on the subject, Caporale has also been the editor of many volumes such as, The Implicit Genome, Molecular Strategies in Biological Evolution, and The Effect of Genome Sequence and Structure on Genome Variation in Evolution. Caporale discusses her background and the personal journey to her current career. She talks about her early study of chemistry, her interest in observing the relationships in protein families, and discovering how they might have evolved as well. She details information on genetic coding and DNA sequencing, and its relevance to her work today. She explains overlapping protein coding in regard to amino acids and variations. And as she states, there is much information within the genome that we are not aware of but we're learning more over time. Caporale states evolutionary theory says selection acts on variations. What Caporale proposes is that selection acts on the variations of probability along the genome, just as it acts on variations in beaks and wings, and so forth. She talks about a feedback control as it relates to variation and selection in a loop. Genomes that generate variants that are more likely to survive are the genomes that would be more effective at adapting and would therefore tend to survive. Caporale cites examples to support her thoughts, such as bacteria that have code proteins. As she states, bacteria can infect us, and our immune system can see the surface of the bacterium and mount an immune response, and Caporale explains what happens when the code mutates and how that affects the outcome. Additionally, she provides extensive information on adaptations and mutations within organisms. The biological scientist discusses human population in regard to the genome. She outlines the three important concepts that relate to her studies: cooperation, diversity, and feedback control. Caporale talks about stress responses that produce specific variation in the genome, and explains how, miraculously, enzymes can move DNA around. Caporale talks about the many different theories in the building blocks of life and she provides more information on some of the unsettled issues that relate to life and how it is created.

Jen Fisch, founder, Keto In The City (ketointhecity.com), is hungry—hungry for knowledge, and she always has been. She is a self-described autoimmune warrior and single mom who is incredibly passionate about the ketogenic lifestyle. In this interesting podcast Jen talks about her journey and the power of the ketogenic diet. A ketogenic diet is a high-fat, moderate protein, and very low-carbohydrate nutrition plan. As we restrict carbs and sugars our bodies convert fat, instead of sugar, into energy. Jen Fisch's life is a busy one, but somehow she made time to release three best-selling keto cookbooks in one prolific year, The Easy 5-Ingredient Ketogenic Diet Cookbook, The Big Book of Keto, and Keto In 30 Minutes. The books are the culmination of years of intensive study and research in the area of ketogenic nutrition. Jen talks about her journey to a new life. Diagnosed with psoriasis at the tender age of 18 and then psoriatic arthritis just one year later, Jen slowly began her path to understanding, and about a decade later she began to fully grasp the correlation between inflammation of the body and food. She underscores the importance of understanding carbs and sugar, when beginning a new way of eating. She expounds upon the benefits of keto. One of the most valuable benefits she states is sleep—when on a ketogenic diet, those sugars aren't in the way of your ability to get quality restorative sleep. The keto expert talks about the importance of tweaking your diet, that we must look at it like a lifestyle and continually make decisions about our diet and how it is affecting us. We don't need to follow exact directions and rules, but we need to find our way in the journey and continually evaluate our food intake and listen to our bodies. She underscores that keto is not a cure for medical conditions, and that many people certainly need medications. But keto is a great compliment to the medications that patients are taking to improve their conditions. Jen talks about the amazing feedback that she gets from the many people who have watched her YouTube videos and ead her books. And she states that the ability to help people is very rewarding. Jen takes great satisfaction in helping people get on board with the keto lifestyle and improve their health, heal their bodies, lose weight, and feel so much better living life.

Keith Baverstock is a physical chemist by training whose primary career interest lies in the effects of ionizing radiation on public health and genomic instability. He's carried out research with the World Health Organization and published several scientific articles, including Genes without Prominence: A Reappraisal of the Foundations of Biology. He joins the podcast today to discuss a variety of topics, including cellular and molecular genetics, the effects of ionizing radiation on cells, mutational damage to DNA, how phenotypic expression works and the influence of epigenetics on this process, what he believes to be the basis of cancer versus other types of diseases, and why a focus on environmental causes of disease is called for. Along the way, he shares information from past experiments that shed light on important inquiries in this field, and asks questions that encourage you to think deeply about these topics and how they influence our everyday lives. To learn more about Keith Baverstock's theories and work, visit his website at kbaverstock.org.