Finding Genius Podcast

More than 60 million Americans have been prescribed some type of psychotropic drug; many of these Americans are children who have shown trouble focusing in school, motor or vocal ticks, obsessive-compulsive behavior, or a range of other signs of varying intensity. Doctors generally aim to treat the symptoms, but what about the underlying cause of the symptoms? And if the cause could be identified, would a psychotropic drug still be the preferred form of treatment? Craig Shimasaki, Ph.D., joins the podcast to discuss surprising new discoveries on this topic. He's currently the CEO of Moleculera, a company that opened its doors in 2013 after five antibody targets were discovered in the central nervous systems of children who developed sudden-onset obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) after a strep infection. When antibodies attack our joints, we call it rheumatoid arthritis, when they attack our pancreas, we call is diabetes type I, but what do we call it when they attack our brain? According to Dr. Shimasaki and the team at Moleculera, we should call it an infection-triggered autoimmune response known as "molecular mimicry," which applies not only to OCD but to a subset of ADHD and autism diagnoses as well. Moleculera has created a blood test that can identify specific markers which, in conjunction with a patient's clinical signs, indicate whether or not a case of ADHD or autism has an immune-related cause. The patients who fall into this category have improved or seen total resolution of their symptoms after a course of anti-infectives and immune modulatory treatment. Over 1,200 doctors have already ordered the test, 7,600 patients have been tested, and Moleculera continues to accept blood samples from anywhere in the world. Dr. Shimasaki offers compelling and informative insight on a range of topics, including how the treatment works and what exactly it consists of, whether or not immune dysregulation could also be involved in schizophrenia, chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic depression, and Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, and all the details of what Moleculera has in the works, such as the use of machine learning to develop a predictive algorithm for treatment efficacy, and a pharmacoeconomic model that would demonstrate the cost savings of this new method of testing for and treating neurological and psychiatric conditions. Tune in and visit www.moleculeralabs.com to learn more.

Online clothing purchases today are premised on the idea that all you need to know is your size or measurements in order to guarantee a good fit, and while men can often get away with this, the reality is that women's clothing purchases are much more complex. The fact that more than 30-50% of all online apparel purchases are returned is a testament to this, but even those who have the luxury of shopping in person struggle with getting the feedback they can rely upon and feeling confident with their purchases. More than 71% of millennial women send selfies to their friends when trying on clothes, but the chances that they'll get a response from every friend while they're still in the store are low. Now there's a solution: LookyLoo, an AI-powered social commerce platform that allows users to post photos and receive direct feedback on fashion choices from a cloud of other consumers. Meanwhile, the AI (better known as "Lucy") learns based on how you and others to vote, leading to stronger, personalized, and specific recommendations. What looks good in fashion is contextual to location and age group, and Lucy takes this into account for every user. "Fashion is art, and for a lot of people it's an opportunity to be something beautiful," says Chia-Lin Simmons, founder of LookyLoo. The app is already enormously popular, and the team at LookyLoo is looking to the future. Where's that, you might ask? Cosmetics. Tune in for all the details and find LookyLoo on Twitter and Instagram.

At one point or another we've all dealt with it: being unable to fall or stay asleep, or just waking up feeling absolutely exhausted in the morning, wishing we had the energy to do the things we love. For some of us, these problems are chronic and seriously disrupt our quality of life by leading to failing social lives, poor productivity, and even depression. Danny Flood was one of those individuals until he decided it was time to do something. He experimented with a variety of tricks and techniques to see what worked best, and then compiled them all into a book so that others could benefit from what he'd learned. He joins the podcast to discuss some of the main highlights of Hack Sleep: How to Fall Asleep Faster, Increase Your Energy, and Wake Up Refreshed, which include the importance of keeping the circadian rhythm in sync (and some tips on how to do so), the role of adenosine and adenosine triphosphate in sleep, biphasic and polyphasic sleep schedules, foods that naturally boost melatonin, and recommendations for power napping. If you or someone you know is suffering from a lack of sleep, Danny Flood is likely to have at least a few tips that'll help. Tune in for more and look for his book on Amazon.

Global CO2 concentrations have risen from approximately 270 to 400 ppm over the past 150 years with no signs of slowing, and at the current rate, the planet is expected to warm by roughly five degrees Celsius by the end of the century. This will lead to a number of detrimental effects on the environment and human society, not the least of which is a major impact on our current system of agriculture. At the root of this system is the process of photosynthesis, which is the best understood process in all of plant biology, but has always functioned outside of human influence…at least until now. Donald Richard Ort is a professor at the University of Illinois whose area of expertise lies in the area of photosynthesis and the ability to reengineer it to be adapted for global climate change and to improve its efficiency in agricultural situations. This will be no easy task, considering the fact that CO2 concentration and temperature play competing for roles in a plant's ability to photosynthesize and survive. Professor Ort joins the podcast for an informative and compelling discussion on a variety of topics, ranging from mechanistic computer models used to predict how to optimize photosynthesis under certain conditions, artificial photosynthesis via biomimicry, why breeders have selected for upright leaf angles in grasses over the past several decades, the modulation of chlorophyll concentration in leaves, and SoyFACE, a research facility at University of Illinois where CO2 concentration and temperature are being raised in a controlled environment to learn more about and prepare for what's coming in the near future. Tune in for the full conversation, and stay up to date on the latest research at soyface.illinois.edu.

As the co-founder and president of LunaDNA, Dawn Barry shares a vision of creating the first ever community-owned human health database comprised of donated DNA, medical, and environmental information, resulting in a scope and scale of data that's never before been possible. The aim is to provide donors with control, privacy, and transparency over their data, which means that every donor will know where and to what type of research their information is going, and will always maintain the right to delete their data at any time. Aside from the intrinsic value of empowering research, giving back, and contributing to new discoveries that could enhance all of our lives, donors will acquire shares in the company and receive compensation in the form of dividends with each donation made. The ultimate goal is to reshape research and accelerate breakthroughs in health and quality of life by aggregating and organizing data from a variety of sources, not the least of which are understudied populations. The team at LunaDNA is patiently awaiting qualification by the SEC; once received, the platform will be open to the public. They're thinking long-term, with a plan to implement additional portals for sharing electronic health records, and lifestyle and fitness information through APIs such as Fitbit. Interested in learning more? Hit play and visit lunadna.com to sign up to receive the newsletter.

There's nothing quite like the energy and excitement of seeing your favorite sports team in person while surrounded by hundreds or thousands of other fans rooting right along with you, but for the 100 million Americans who don't live in the same town as their favorite team, this experience is difficult if not impossible to come by. As the president and founder of FanWide, Symon Perriman set out to change this. FanWide is the world's largest fan club network that's connecting likeminded sports fans—regardless of where they live or travel—in a way that until now has only been possible for those who live in the local market. How are they doing it? By creating a virtual stadium at every sports bar around the country where fans can interact, play games, and cheer on their team in unity. But that's not all: FanWide incentivizes fans for showing up to events by providing rewards such as free beer, contest entries, and the potential to win cryptocurrency tokens that can be spent on game tickets, sports merchandise, and sports apparel. "I found that sports were one of the few things that really transcend where you're from, what language you speak, your gender, your ethnicity…if you can find fans from the same team, it builds up that immediate bond or connection, and we're providing…an easy way to have that bond and find those people from the same tribe or background through our digital platform, and then bring them together in real-world events," says Perriman. Tune in for all the details and visit fanwide.com for an event near you.

One of the biggest challenges for any data-centric organization is in understanding the type of data that exists and knowing how best to manage it. When document classification is done incorrectly or not done at all, a variety of possibilities emerge that threaten network security and smooth business operations. Wide permissions on documents open the door to fraudulent activity, and conflicts between the business and IT side of an organization about how to handle certain types of data can cause further problems that increase vulnerability to attacks and data breaches. This is where DocAuthority can help. By creating an automatic inventory of all organizational data with 99.9 percent accuracy and identifying unprotected sensitive documents, consistent document classification and network security concerns are taken care of in a way that allows business processes to continue uninterrupted. As the CTO and founder of DocAuthority, Ariel Peled joins the podcast to discuss the ins and outs of the products and solutions they offer, as well as new products and initiatives on the horizon. Tune in and visit docauthority.com to learn more.

Mike Michalowicz, author, entrepreneur, investor, and business-success consultant (mikemichalowicz.com), delivers an insightful overview of the methods and practices that entrepreneurs can use to grow their businesses and build upon a solid foundation. Mike Michalowicz doesn't believe in wasting time; in fact, there is no time to waste when you are a sought-after speaker, consultant, and prolific author of multiple books on business and entrepreneurship. Only in his third decade of life on this earth Michalowicz had already founded and sold two multi-million-dollar companies and was looking for more opportunities to dive into. Riding high on his confidence from recent successes he dove headfirst into angel investing where he proceeded to lose most of the financial security he had put away, but… like a true entrepreneur, he dusted himself off and built it all back again with new ventures and a wise plan to grow strong companies from the ground up, block by block, to success. Michalowicz has received much exposure for his line of successful books and also for his method known as the "Profit First Formula," which is a means for businesses to ensure profitability from their very next deposit forward and ongoing. Mike is the celebrated author of Profit First, The Pumpkin Plan, Clockwork, The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur, and others. He discusses his desire to end entrepreneurial poverty, and his drive to share the secrets that can help businesspeople succeed, and build their dreams. Michalowicz's first book discussed the concept of hiding profit away, referred to as 'profit first,' which caught the attention of business leaders and publishers, and was one of his first methods that business leaders responded to positively. Michalowicz details the stages of sales in business and how business owners can take steps that bolster their finances and ultimately their confidence to move their businesses forward, have balance in their lives, and more control of their path. He outlines the variables in business, such as productivity and efficiency, and the importance of choreographing all resources to achieve results and allow a business to run more automatically. Michalowicz also stresses the importance of actually taking time to 'think,' to process your ideas as they come, and prioritize new avenues for growth. He cites the example of bees and their environment and how each bee understands its role in the ultimate goal of producing eggs, and compares that to efficiency and understanding in business activities that produce higher productivity. Additionally, he discusses the importance of discovering where your survivability and thrivability exist, to understand what your brand promises, and what is the one activity that makes that promise a reality. He discusses the brand, FedEx, and how their success ultimately is based upon their primary function: logistics and delivery of packages on time. Thus it is important to identify what your brand promises and always deliver it. The business-success author underscores the importance of having people on your team who can coordinate all the resources and line them up to achieve results via fulfilling customer satisfaction, delivering on promises, innovating, and more. Michalowicz has moved into his third million-dollar venture and is always looking for new opportunities. He is a former columnist for The Wall Street Journal, former MSNBC business makeover expert and consultant, and is a sought-after keynote speaker on innovative entrepreneurial issues. As a celebrated business author and journalist his methods and practices have become popular tools utilized by entrepreneurs everywhere. His books are go-to manuals for many successful business leaders and his book, The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur, was referred to by BusinessWeek as "the entrepreneur's cult classic."

Jason Andrew is the CEO of Limelight Health (limelighthealth.com), and a health and technology innovator and visionary. Andrew discusses Limelight Health's goal to deliver the most efficient, compelling quoting and underwriting platform for the employee benefits industry. Andrew's extensive background as an agent in Silicon Valley where he was engaging daily with game-changing technology motivated and inspired him to launch innovative tools for the health insurance industry. He is an experienced startup entrepreneur with a passion for solving problems in the health insurance, health education, and wellness industries. Andrew is a recognized health insurance and health reform expert and sought-after leadership advisor in the industry who excels at bringing key individuals together to solve complex problems and innovate. Notably, Andrew served as CEO and founder of Stone Meadow Benefits & Insurance Associates, CEO and co-founder of Coverage Partners, VP business development and co-founder of PK4Tech, and as VP and managing producer of Lawson-Hawks Insurance Associates. The healthcare and technology expert discusses the current state of operations in his industry. He states that many facilities are utilizing systems and platforms that are 20 or 30 years old and are simply antiquated, unable to keep up with the changing times and technologies. He discusses some of the problems in the industry, and underscores how communication between industry players is critical. And he explains the importance of using API data. API, which stands for application programming interface, allows a service or product to talk to other services or products. Therefore, an API allows data and functionality to be introduced or opened up to other developers and businesses, and it is a common way in which companies exchange their data and services. Andrew discusses the stage of their production and funding, and his expectations for the future. He states they have customers using their products and more and more companies are coming forward to overhaul their outdated systems, which increases efficiency for companies and consumers alike. He discusses the ratings of various plans from dental to life to health, and how their platform allows for a better grasp of products that are available. Limelight Health's mission and primary goal is to deliver ongoing industry innovation and provide time-efficient, current, accurate data to the industry and health community at large. Through their work with comprehensive quoting and decision support, Limelight Health is able to generate successful, fluid end-to-end integrations with the most current technologies.

Charles Martin, PhD, data scientist, machine learning AI consultant, and chief scientist at Calculation Consulting, delivers a thorough overview of the technologies that are helping companies expand their customer base and increase revenue. Martin is an experienced professional in machine learning, deep learning, data science, and AI software development. He has a long history in the technology field and was instrumental in the development of machine learning systems for major corporations and companies such as GoDaddy, Aardvark (acquired by Google), eBay, and Blackrock. Martin assisted Demand Media in their successful mission to become the first $1B IPO since Google. His specialization in software engineering and ML experience has made him a top consultant for many companies. Additionally, Martin is a full stack developer for web, object oriented, and numerical programming. Martin earned his PhD in Theoretical Chemistry from the University of Chicago. Martin gives an overview of his company and explains how they specialize in AI and machine learning with a keen focus on translating research into products. Calculation Consulting operates primarily in three areas, strategy, data science, and product development. In regard to strategy, the company seeks to find ways to design new products and predict revenue streams from aggregate data. Regarding data science, their team provides data solutions by applying machine learning algorithms to discover the essential patterns that can drive traffic, engagement, and sales. And in product development, Calculation Consulting builds and deploys contemporary, end-to-end, highly sophisticated, cloud-based software systems. The technology visionary discusses some of the areas his company excels in, such as semantic search and matching. Semantic relates to 'meaning' in language. Semantic search improves search accuracy by more fully understanding a searcher's intent via the contextual meaning. By utilizing concept matching, synonyms, and natural language algorithms, a semantic search can produce a better interactive search and deliver more specific personalized results. He discusses some of the prototypes he has built in this area of the tech field. Martin expounds upon the ways that research has progressed especially thanks to Kaggle, the successful online community of data scientists and machine learners that is powered and owned by Google, Inc. Kaggle enables its many users to locate and publish data sets, to intensely explore and build models in a web-oriented data-science environment, work in connection with other data scientists, enter their work in competitions, and so forth. Martin explains how Facebook, Google, and Amazon alone have put thousands of their top engineers to work on these types of open source projects to develop the most innovative research and turn it into real tools and products. He discusses some of the top open source tools for natural language processing, and his techniques for running them in actual production, working with queries, etc. in the real world. He explains that the process of pulling all this information together, understanding how to utilize the techniques, methods, etc. is an area of their particular expertise. Martin explains in detail the methods of analyzation and how the technology is useful in a practical business work environment. He discusses their project phases and how they assist companies, citing specific examples of companies they have helped, to use neural networks to solve business-specific problems. Martin discusses click-thru and view prediction models, and gives examples of businesses that Calculation Consulting has assisted in their quest to learn more about customer behavior to increase revenue. Specifically, Martin details ways to increase click-thru efficiency using machine learning, and other tips to drive interest and sales. The machine learning specialist relates how, today, there are so many problems that can be solved via machine learning technology. He discusses online traffic and clicks and the successes he has had growing companies with the technologies, some of which have seen their revenue streams expand to amazing new levels. Further, Martin discusses the reservations that some high-level managers and even CEOs may have about making the transition to the new technologies, in spite of the exponential advantages for their companies. But Martin states that while some companies are slow to move, those with the right mindset, who hunger to jump into the AI arena, are clients that he and his team at Calculation Consulting can help to reach new levels of success in business.