Bay Area Innovators

In this follow-up conversation, Silicon Valley pioneer Ray Zinn returns to expand on the leadership lessons, life experiences, and principles that guided his 37-year tenure as CEO at Micrel—the longest-serving CEO in Bay Area tech history. Zinn reflects more deeply on resilience, faith, and purpose, sharing how he navigated personal loss, business pressure, and the challenges of leading while lega...

Former U.S. Secretary of Defense and CIA Director Leon Panetta joins us for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, national security, and the moments that shaped modern American history. Panetta reflects on his upbringing as the son of Italian immigrants in Monterey, his path into public service, and the values that guided his decades in government. He offers a firsthand account of the 2011 op...

In today's episode, Ray Zinn joins us to share his extraordinary journey from ranch cowboy to becoming the longest-serving CEO in Silicon Valley history. For 37 years, Zinn led Micrel—a company he bootstrapped with very limited venture capital—and remained profitable every single year except one. After becoming legally blind, Zinn continued leading Micrel for another 20 years, proving that physica...

In today’s episode, author Jack Bialik joins us to explore the mysteries of lost civilizations and forgotten knowledge behind his book Lost in Time. From ancient cataract surgery and Roman technology to vanished libraries and unexplained artifacts, Jack reveals how advanced knowledge has repeatedly appeared—and disappeared—throughout history. In this conversation, Jack explains what inspired his d...

Nutrition and functional medicine expert Terri Ward joins us to unpack the hidden forces shaping modern health care, from pharmaceutical influence to the rise of ultra-processed foods. Drawing from her book “God’s Prescription,” she explains how corporate interests, outdated medical models, and lifestyle patterns may be driving today’s chronic disease crisis. In this conversation, Ward shares how...

In today’s episode, Dinkar Sindhu, CEO of Axis Clinicals, dives into the world of clinical research and the cautious integration of AI in drug development. From testing groundbreaking GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic to navigating the complexities of FDA approvals, Dinkar reveals the meticulous process behind ensuring that new drugs are safe and effective. “AI can help, but it must be traceable and reprod...

In today’s episode, Ahmed Banafa, artificial intelligence (AI) expert, author, and professor of engineering, returns to discuss the explosive AI landscape—from trillion-dollar investments in ‘Circular AI’ by OpenAI, Nvidia, AMD, and Broadcom to the fierce war for talent reshaping Big Tech. “AI is a train that left the station—now it’s about guiding the rails,” he says, exploring how OpenAI is chal...

In today’s episode, Ashton and Art of Trilogy Media reveal how an accidental phone call with an IRS scammer launched a nine-year crusade against fraud. “We never planned to bust scammers—it just happened,” Ashton says, recounting their pivot from filmmakers to full-time scam baiters. From viral YouTube videos to their brand-new Fox Nation series, "Scammed: Getting Even," the duo breaks down the la...

In today’s episode, Tess Cacciatore, creator of "Yumi’s Universe: Garden of Peace," shares the moving story behind her children’s book and animated film. Inspired by a friend’s hospital tea ceremony, Tess crafted Yumi, a character who travels the world spreading peace and friendship. “It’s about teaching kids we’re all connected, no matter our differences,” she says, reflecting on Yumi’s journey t...

In today’s episode, Jon Nakamatsu, celebrated pianist and 1997 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition gold medalist, shares his remarkable journey from a young musician in Sunnyvale, California, to a global classical music star. Nakamatsu reflects on the pivotal role his first piano teacher played in his career, guiding him from his earliest scale exercises to the prestigious Van Cliburn stag...

In this episode, Jim Dukhovny, founder and CEO of Alef Aeronautics, unveils the science and vision behind the world’s first true flying car—a vehicle that could redefine how we travel. What began as a dream inspired by science fiction has evolved into a technological breakthrough, combining aerospace engineering, electric propulsion, and automotive design. Jim explains what makes his creation diff...

In today’s episode, Cameron Chell—tech entrepreneur and CEO of Draganfly—shares his extraordinary journey from building his first business at 14, to losing it all to addiction, to rebuilding his life through innovation and purpose. Chell recounts his early rise in the dot-com boom, his downfall after 9/11, and the long road to recovery that reshaped his outlook on success. “Sometimes the worst thi...

In today’s episode, Esther Wojcicki—an educator, journalist, and author often called the Godmother of Silicon Valley—shares her extraordinary journey reshaping how students learn and think. Wojcicki recounts how she built the largest student-run media program in the United States at Palo Alto High School, grounded in her TRICK philosophy: trust, respect, independence, collaboration, and kindness....