CV Podcast

For more than two decades, Ed Reese has helped businesses turn digital marketing data into meaningful business decisions. As Principal of Sixth Man Marketing, Executive in Residence and Adjunct Professor at Gonzaga University, Ed has built a career at the intersection of analytics, strategy, and education. In this episode, Ed shares lessons from 20+ years in digital marketing, including how analyt...

What if the roads, sidewalks, and parking lots we rely on every day could help reduce flooding and clean stormwater before it reaches our waterways? In this episode, Blake sits down with Greg Johnson, Co-Founder and CEO of AquiPor Technologies, to discuss how one Spokane startup is reinventing concrete to solve some of today's biggest infrastructure and water management challenges. In this episode...

What does it actually take to build a brand experience people remember? James Clark, founder of Wunder Beast, on the realities of building a standout brand from the ground up and why branding goes far beyond a logo. James Clark builds digital activations and brand experiences that stick. In this conversation we get into the story behind Wunder Beast, what actually separates businesses that thrive...

What does it take to build a thriving bioscience ecosystem outside of traditional innovation hubs like Boston and San Diego? In this episode of the Cowles Ventures Podcast, we sit down with Michaele Armstrong, PhD, MBA, Executive Director of Evergreen Bioscience Innovation Cluster, to discuss the future of biotech, startup innovation, and the work required to grow a life sciences economy in the In...

What happens when you combine creativity, grit, and an obsession with building memorable experiences? In this episode of the Cowles Ventures Podcast, we sit down with Njal Lundberg, founder and CEO of Modern Dreamers, to discuss her entrepreneurial journey, the realities of building a consumer brand, and the lessons she's learned scaling a business from idea to impact. Njal shares how she iden...

In this episode of the Cowles Ventures Podcast, I sit down with Mark Gustafson, President of Avista Development and Director of Strategic Investments at Avista. Mark brings a unique perspective from decades spent at the intersection of utilities, energy infrastructure, software, innovation, and corporate venture capital. With experience spanning CTO leadership, strategy, data science, and startup...

In this episode of the Cowles Ventures Podcast, I sit down with Isaac Cunnington to discuss entrepreneurship, leadership, business growth, and the realities of building in today’s rapidly changing environment. We dive into: • Isaac’s path into business and entrepreneurship • Lessons learned from scaling teams and navigating growth • How founders should think about leadership and decision making •...

In this episode of the Cowles Ventures Podcast, I sit down with Dylan Avatar, Co-Founder and CEO of Credential Network, to talk about building in healthcare, overcoming adversity, and what it really takes to scale a company in a complex industry. Dylan shares his journey from a life-changing wingsuit accident to building a company focused on fixing one of the most broken systems in healthcare: cre...

In this episode of the Cowles Ventures Podcast, I sit down with Chris Wood to talk about operational excellence, acquisition entrepreneurship, and what it really takes to improve and scale businesses. Chris shares his journey through: • Implementing Six Sigma and operational optimization frameworks • Buying and improving five separate businesses • Lessons learned inside elite environments like Sky...

In this episode of the Cowles Ventures Podcast, I sit down with Tom Simpson to break down his journey from early days in investment banking to managing his own venture fund, founding Green Cupboards, and helping shape the startup ecosystem through SAA, Ignite, and KickStart. We talk about:• The transition from operator to venture fund manager• How to raise and manage a venture capital fund• Lesson...

Most students treat college like a checklist. Mateo Valdez treated it like a startup. In this episode, Mateo breaks down how he founded the Gonzaga Sport Consulting Group while still in school, built real leadership experience early, and turned that momentum into a role at Microsoft. This conversation is a masterclass in leverage, initiative, and playing the long game. We talk about:• The real sto...

In this episode of the Cowles Ventures Podcast, I sit down with Jeffrey Daniels to unpack his previous long-term career and what he's doing now with Automate Intelligence AI. We talk through the moments that shaped Jeffrey’s perspective, how experience compounds over time, and why most people optimize for the wrong things early in their careers. This conversation digs into leadership under unc...

In this episode, I sit down with Brian Jorgenson to talk about career risk, long term thinking, and why relationships matter more than almost anything else in business. Brian shares the story of moving to Boise with no job, no clear plan, and a willingness to simply meet people and learn. We break down how making genuine connections without an agenda opened doors, shaped his career, and ultimately...

In this episode, we sit down with Stephanie High, founder of KaizenCX and Kaizen Catalyst, to unpack customer experience, leadership psychology, and what truly drives sustainable growth. Stephanie shares behind the scenes lessons from her time working with global brands like Sony and ASICS, how international travel shaped her leadership philosophy. This conversation goes deeper than business. Step...

In this episode, I sit down with Annie Shoen, Co-Founder of My First Nest Egg, to talk about why financial education needs to start earlier and how we can change the way young people learn about money. We dig into the gaps in traditional financial education, the real-world consequences of not learning these skills early, and how Annie is building tools and programs that actually resonate with stud...

In this episode, I sit down with Jake Hoffberg, founder of Regenerative Industrial, to break down how biomass can be transformed into high value materials for batteries and advanced industrial applications. We talk about what it actually takes to scale climate and industrial tech, the challenges of moving from lab scale innovation to real world deployment, and why regenerative materials may be one...

Dan Roark is a serial entrepreneur, CEO, and active angel investor with decades of experience building, scaling, and leading technology companies across healthcare, life sciences, and industrial automation. In this episode of the Cowles Ventures Podcast, Dan shares his journey to becoming CEO of Gestalt Diagnostics, a digital pathology and AI diagnostics company improving cancer detection and clin...

Spokane has a hidden superpower for founders and today you are getting the full story from the person who built it. Mark Pond is the Business Research Librarian behind StartUp Spokane, the program that invests more than one hundred thousand dollars each year in top tier business tools and gives them to the community at no cost. In this episode we dive into how the Spokane Public Library created on...

Margie Bensching is the CEO and Founder of Golden Sherpa, a senior living technology platform built to remove confusion, misinformation, and hidden fees from one of the most painful decisions families ever face. After seeing how outdated referral systems and bad information leave people overwhelmed, Margie set out to build a transparent marketplace that puts real data and real choice back into the...

Brian Garvey is the Founder and CEO of VATA7, a safety technology company creating Smart LED helmets and gear to dramatically improve motorcycle rider visibility and reduce collisions. A former U.S. Navy Frogman turned entrepreneur, Brian has dedicated his career to solving one of the most overlooked problems in motorsports and everyday riding: riders are simply not seen. In this interview, Brian...

In this episode, we sit down with Graham Morehead, co-founder of Pangeon and a leading mind in AI. Graham has been pioneering ways to combine Neural Networks (AI Type 1) and Symbolic Reasoning (AI Type 2) to create more human-like intelligence. We talk about the evolution of AI, the intersection of physics and computer science, and how Graham’s work at Pangeon aims to bridge the gap between symbol...

In this episode, we sit down with Devin Miller, CEO and co-founder of SecureSave, the leading workplace emergency savings platform helping 60,000+ Americans save over $100 million. Devin shares how SecureSave partners with employers and financial institutions like Transamerica, Voya, Truist, and HSA Bank to make financial well-being accessible for every employee. We discuss his journey building fi...

Ever wondered how companies utilize water/power to improve their businesses? This episode features Tyson Schlect, a Senior Infrastructure Strategist at INFRA, where he’s helping shape the future of American water and power systems. Tyson approaches infrastructure challenges with a multi-generational mindset, developing solutions that enhance business value while strengthening water resiliency and...

This episode features Steve Strom, a seasoned entrepreneur & company builder who has founded multiple startups, led teams through high-growth phases, and delivered two $1B+ exits. Steve is also an advisor, investor, and product/organization builder with a deep passion for scaling businesses from zero to scale. LinkedInWe dig into Steve’s journey: how he built and exited companies, assembled pr...

This episode features Paul Wagner, CEO & Founder of GoLark, an AI-native communications platform built for revenue teams. Paul leads GoLark toward transforming how companies engage prospects and customers by putting branded video, deal rooms, asynchronous messaging, and insight tools directly on your website or inside your CRM.We dig into Paul’s path from early leadership and startup experienc...