Cupalo Conversations

Is AI the ultimate tool to unlock human potential, or are we trading our privacy and humanity for convenience? In this episode of Cupalo Conversations, host Lauren Hannon chats with Jason Louer, a seasoned engineer and leader, about the transformative impact of AI on engineering, business, and everyday life. They dive into AI as a force multiplier, its potential to bridge the skills gap, and how i...

For the dog feces handler in all of us—meet the Poopcopter, the drone that steps in and picks up, so you don’t have to. In this episode of Cupalo Conversations, join host Lauren Hannon as she interviews Caleb Olson, the creator of the Poopcopter, a groundbreaking drone designed to automate dog waste removal. Caleb reveals the journey behind his innovative invention, diving into its design, functio...

In this episode of Cupalo Conversations, Brad Koehn shares invaluable insights on the shift from employee to business owner, diving into the mindset changes required to build a profitable business. Brad discusses the unique challenges craftsperson business owners face, especially those who excel at their trade but struggle to develop essential business skills. He emphasizes seeing your business as...

In this episode of Cupalo Conversations, host Lauren Hannon sits down with celebrated chef Tony Andiario, the James Beard semifinalist and co-owner of the acclaimed West Chester, PA restaurant, Andiario. Tony shares his remarkable journey from a graphic design graduate to a highly regarded chef whose restaurant is one of the most sought-after dining experiences in the Philadelphia suburbs. Tune in...

Do you savor a good ol' fashioned ghost story? Do you enjoy stepping into a room filled to brim with human bones? What about facing your mortality head on? Well, well, well. Do I have a podcast (and a book) for YOU! In this Cupalo Conversations podcast, Lauren Hannon interviews Michael Lichens, an author and editor with a deep passion for the overlooked aspects of Christian history. They discuss M...

Ally is thriving in what some might consider "today's abnormal" as a stay-at-home mom of five soon to be six kiddos! In this episode of Cupalo Conversations, host Lauren Hannon interviews Ally Hieronymus, a former pastry chef and culinary artist turned stay-at-home mom of five (soon to be six). Ally shares her heartfelt journey to embracing the joy and challenges of raising a large family in today...

Ever thought of quitting your soulless full time job to work for yourself? What about when you're making $500k+??? In this episode of Cupalo Conversations, host Lauren Hannon sits down with Daniel Vassallo, a former Amazon software engineer turned entrepreneur, Twitter influencer, and founder of the Small Bets Community. Daniel shares his bold transition from a cushy $500,000+corporate job to the...

00:00 Jared's Journey: From Military to Technology Leadership 03:18 Jared's Intro and Entrance into the Military 05:08 Transitioning from Military to Corporate Culture 05:52 Impact of Military on Jared's Leadership Style 08:41 Modern Corporate America: The Antithesis of Military Authoritarian Leadership 10:13 Jared's Love of Learning & Pursuit of Professional MBA 14:53 Conclusion and Reflectio...

00:00 Introduction: Marc Kermisch & His Journey to the C Suite 03:02 Life as a CTO/CIO 05:47 The Technical Aptitude Spectrum 08:57 Leaders Needing to Be Led: Seeking Mentorship as an Executive 12:26 Overcoming Self-Doubt 16:44 Career Progression Beyond the C-Suite 19:48 Navigating Politics and Bureaucracy at the Top 24:18 Behind Those Feel-Good Mission Statements 30:36 Carrying the Weight of L...

00:00 Introduction to Kurt Schmidt and His Journey 03:17 Crafting Life with Strategic Precision 08:12 Striking the Balance Between Future Goals & Present Living 10:05 The Importance of Socializing Goals 14:35 The Myth of the Self-Made Individual 17:02 The Antithesis of Planning: Living Spontaneously 19:36 10-10-10 Framework Explained 22:41 Daily Rituals and Self-Reflection 27:35 Dealing with N...

00:00 Joe's Journey into the Mortgage Industry 02:52 Behind Closed Doors: Million Dollar Homes 05:25 The Buying Power of High Dollar Earners 10:42 Savings & Investments of "Rich" Americans 13:18 Earnings and Buying Power of "Average" Americans 15:14 Americans and Their Debt 17:32 Impact of Rise in Interest Rates & Home Values 21:22 Cautionary Tales and Warnings on C...

0:00 Introduction and Technical Setup 00:09 Introducing Karen Lagasse and Her Experience in the Mortgage Industry 01:56 The Most Challenging Real Estate Market 04:12 The Impact of Unemployment and Layoffs on Borrowers 08:03 The Impact of Layoffs on Borrowers 09:38 Qualifying for a Mortgage and Self Employment 16:05 Non-Traditional Loan Programs on Investment Properties 23:44 Excitement for the Fut...

00:00 Introduction and Aaron's Journey into Tech 03:41 Making the Transition: From Full-Time Employee to Independent Contractor 04:45 How to Set Up Your Own Business 06:03 The Importance of Seeking Expert Advice 08:12 Overcoming Concerns About Independent Contracting 13:00 Financial Aspects of Independent Contracting: Earning Potential and Costs 14:47 Simplifying Payroll: Using Services for Co...

00:00 Introduction and Christian's Journey 07:15 The Root of All Success is Discipline 10:29 Leveraging the Initial Rush of Motivation 15:02 Working Harder on Yourself Than You Do on Your Day Job 18:08 The Skill of Setting Goals 26:27 The Meaning of Success 29:15 The Un-glorified Role of Hard Work in Success 32:36 Constant Learning and Accomplishing Complex Objectives 34:34 Cautionary Note for...

00:00 Introduction and Jayant's Journey 03:40 The Importance of Literature 06:27 Fixing Troubled Projects: A Systematic Approach 11:03 Estimation Challenges and Building Trust 17:56 Challenges Faced by Startups: Software vs Product Phase 22:22 Prioritizing Customer Feedback for Effective Delivery 25:32 Addressing Low Morale & Fragile Egos in Teams 29:38 A Checklist for Successful Project E...

00:00 Introduction and Background 02:13 Discovering the 6 Working Geniuses 06:35 Discovering Our Frustrations 07:40 Applying the Working Genius Model in Teams 10:39 Aligning Roles with Working Geniuses 15:13 Setting Leaders Up for Success with Working Genius 19:12 Working Genius and Augmenting a Team 21:52 Origin of Our Geniuses and Change 24:25 Applying Working Genius to Personal Life 28:08 The M...

00:00 Introduction and Background 02:04 Building High-Performing Teams 05:26 Investing in Team Building: Building a System 08:36 Vetting a Company's Culture: It's All About the People 12:34 Addressing Underperforming Team Members 19:38 Restoring Team Morale Following a Layoff 23:01 Unifying a Team Around a Vision 25:22 The Power of Self-Improvement in Leadership 33:06 The Importance of Goi...

00:00 Introduction and Background 03:02 Software Engineer to People Leader 06:29 Balancing Act: Title, Status, Comp, and Passion 09:41 The Struggle to Stay in Love with Your Craft 13:53 The Pressure to Keep Learning & Expanding Your Skillset as an Engineer 17:09 Advice to Younger Self, Entry Level Engineer 19:01 The Role of Passion in Software Engineering 20:58 Addressing the Realty of Corpora...

00:00 Introduction and Deb Kaplan's Journey 04:19 Attributes of a Leader 06:09 How To Build High Performing Teams 08:57 Aligning Core Values 11:49 Setting Direction, Vision, and Alignment 13:49 The Next Generation of Leaders 15:20 Disenchantment in Corporate America 21:47 Personal Responsibility in Leadership Development 23:36 Navigating Poor or Ineffective Leaders 27:07 The Role of Interperso...

00:35 Jeremy's Journey to Becoming an Attorney 04:08 Evaluating the Strength of a Claim Against an Employer 07:56 Mistakes Employers Make in Workers' Compensation 12:46 Preserving Employee-Employer Relations Following a Claim 17:01 Help! I am an Employee and I've Been Injured at Work. What do I do? 29:15 Understanding the Classification of Independent Contractors & Work Comp Covera...

00:00 Introduction and Inception of Skip Round 02:33 The Broken Job Search Process 05:03 Resume Limitations & Resume Etiquette 07:58 AI Coach for Interview Preparation 11:07 Human Psychology and the Job Search Process 13:32 The NAIL Framework for Successful Job Searching 16:30 The Importance of Goal Setting & Continuous Introspection 21:10 Career vs. Job: Serving a Purpose 24:35 Acres of D...

00:00 Journey from Engineering to Motivational Speaking 05:40 Navigating Health Challenges and Financial Preparedness 11:30 Stigma & Shame Around Having a Disability 14:26 The Power of Your Subconscious Mind 22:13 Making Money & Building Wealth Are Different Skill Sets 23:31 Making Peace with Negative Thoughts 26:15 Ullas's Definition of Wealth: Happiness, Health, and Money 28:31 To Al...

00:00 Mateo's Journey from Law to Outsourcing 09:14 The Main Pain Points for Leaders in Technology 11:57 Advantages of a Near Shore Staffing Model 13:45 Thriving Tech Scene in Latin America 18:24 Correlation Between US Economy & Latin American Talent 23:02 Compensation Discrepancy Between Onshore & Offshore Talent 25:35 Behind the Scenes: Staff Augmentation Sales Role 33:03 Professiona...

00:00 Journey into Software Engineering 05:18 Coding Bootcamps Hot Take 10:04 FAANG Interview Process 14:30 Smaller Orgs Idolatry of FANNG Companies Dispelled 18:05 Are FAANG Engineers Really That Much Better? 25:57 The Role of Luck in A Successful Career 30:11 Andy's Advice For Those Seeking an Influencer's Advice In this episode of Cupalo Conversations, host Lauren Hannon pulls back the...

00:00 Introduction to Ghostwriting as a Career 07:03 In Ghostwriting Who Is the Author? 09:53 Adopting Another's Voice and SME 16:00 A LinkedIn Ghostwriter's Critique of LinkedIn 18:03 The Opaque and Ever-Changing Algorithm of LinkedIn 19:45 LinkedIn as a Tool, Not the End Goal 24:25 The Line Between Vulnerability & Oversharing on Social Media 30:38 Luck, an Essential Ingredient to Suc...