Big Ideas Welcome

Sue Malone is a recognized advocate for small businesses, having helped fund over 30,000 companies since 2010. As the founder of Strategies For Small Business , Sue has authored several loan and equity programs and has ranked #1 in the country for the SBA Community Express and Patriot Express loan programs. She is a fierce supporter of entrepreneurs, particularly those navigating the challenges of...

About the Guests Jonathan Clark is a multidisciplinary artist, activist, and CEO/Founder of ART.Official Intelligence, a creative agency focused on social impact through the arts and technology. As a member of the Knoxville Mayor’s Maker City Council, Jonathan has played a key role in driving innovation and fostering collaboration within the local creative community. Known for his work as a spoken...

About the Guests David Harman is the founder of Native Maps, where art and place intersect. His hand-screen-printed neighborhood maps are more than just designs, they are stories—capturing the communities, coffee shops, parks and record stores that make a city feel like home. These maps, sold in stores across the country, are not meant to help you navigate streets but to help you get lost in the p...

About our Guests AV Verekar is the founder and CEO of Avero Advisors, a nationally recognized consulting firm helping local governments modernize through technology and strategic innovation. Under AV’s leadership, Avero has been named an Inc. 5000 fastest-growing company multiple times, and his expertise in change management and digital transformation has saved municipalities across the U.S. milli...

Deahna Moore, founder of Budgets by Joi A seasoned entrepreneur and financial literacy advocate, Diana has built her reputation on transforming the way we think about money. With a background in business and a deep commitment to community-based financial education, she’s known for her authentic, no-nonsense approach to budgeting and planning for the future. Her innovative work, from creating engag...

About the Guests Drew Holcomb is a true pioneer in the independent music world. As the frontman of Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors, he has not only earned over 500 million global streams and sold more than 400,000 albums but has also built an enduring career that seamlessly blends artistry with entrepreneurship. Over the past two decades, Drew has been a leading figure in contemporary Americana a...

Hard tech isn’t flashy. It’s not fast. And it definitely isn’t easy. But for the founders who choose this path, the payoff isn’t just financial—it’s deeply transformational. It’s about reshaping entire industries, one chemical reaction or microalgae strain at a time. In this episode, we’re joined by two scientists-turned-founders who are doing just that—building companies with the potential to cha...

This is Big Ideas Welcome —season three—where we pair business legends and ambitious founders to dig into big ideas, successes, failures, and lessons learned. I’m Chris McAdoo, and today we’re talking about Why a Strong Brand Matters When Everyone’s Fighting for Attention . I’m joined by two powerhouse entrepreneurs: Bill Malkes and Tommy Nguyen. Bill Malkes is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and...

Meet Our Guests Randy Boyd is the President of the University of Tennessee and a lifelong entrepreneur. He’s best known for founding Radio Systems Corporation (the company behind PetSafe, Invisible Fence, and other brands), growing it into a global leader. But beyond business, Randy has dedicated much of his career to education, economic development, and community investment, serving as Tennessee’...

Welcome to season THREE of the Big Ideas Welcome Podcast, where we’re diving deeper than ever before into the world of big ideas. This season, host Chris McAdoo pairs business legends with ambitious up-and-comers to explore the full spectrum of success, failure, and the invaluable lessons learned along the way. From science and technology to art, finance, and education, this season has something f...

We’re tackling a crucial topic in the industrial world: workplace safety. Introducing TechStar Industries of the Future cohort member Ranjith Antony, CEO and founder of Perleybrook Labs, who's leading the charge in developing AI-driven safety solutions for Industry 4.0 environments. Ranjit has steered his company through multiple pivots, each time honing in on cutting-edge safety technologies...

This episode shines a spotlight on a breakthrough in renewable energy with Techstars Industries of the Future cohort member Daniel Clark, Founder of 3D Solar. Discover how his team uses ancient glass manufacturing techniques to create micro 3D solar cell substrates that double power output and outperform flat panels. Learn about the technology behind these innovative structures and their potential...

Join Chris McAdoo in exploring the intersection of AI and healthcare with Max Dordevic, CEO and founder of NeuroX1. Discover how Max's team uses AI to design therapies for complex neurological disorders, pushing the boundaries of modern medicine. Max shares insights into their drug discovery platform, focus on rare diseases, and his journey from economics and biotech research to leading an AI...

It's time for Big Ideas Welcome with Chris McAdoo! Today, you will meet Jonathan Huffman, the visionary founder of Orbital Arc. From board games and consulting to pioneering space technology, Jonathan's journey is a testament to how unexpected paths can lead to groundbreaking innovations. At Orbital Arc, they're developing advanced ion thrusters that promise a tenfold increase in fu...

On this episode of Big Ideas Welcome, host Chris McAdoo sits down with Brandon Bruce, the managing director of TechStars Industries of the Future in Knoxville, TN. Brandon has been a driving force in the local startup scene, leading this transformative accelerator and working with Market Square Ventures to invest in the brightest ideas in East Tennessee and beyond. Join in to get the inside scoop...

Welcome back to Big Ideas Welcome with Chris McAdoo! Today, we're diving into a topic that touches the heart of family health with Dolma Tsundu, the innovative founder of Flutter Care. Dolma's personal journey and engineering expertise led her to create a non-invasive wearable device that's transforming how expectant parents monitor fetal health, especially for high-risk pregnancies...

Join host Chris McAdoo on this episode of Big Ideas Welcome as he chats with Lance Adler, the visionary behind Witching Hour. Discover how Lance’s team is transforming wildfire prevention with cutting-edge robotics and innovative insulation materials. Learn about the journey, the technology, and the impact on community safety with this big idea. Listen to all episodes of the Big Ideas Welcome podc...

Join Chris McAdoo on this episode of Big Ideas Welcome as he explores construction tech with Noam Rotem, CEO and co-founder of Dig Robotics. Learn how their advanced guidance and control systems are boosting excavation efficiency by 40% while cutting time and emissions. Hear Noam’s entrepreneurial journey and discover how Dig Robotics is revolutionizing the construction industry.  Listen to all ep...

On this episode of Big Ideas Welcome, host Chris McAdoo explores the future of manufacturing with Mike Mohseni, founder of AutoMetrics. Discover how their predictive quality monitoring system revolutionizes welding, cutting, and machining by identifying defects in real-time. Hear about Mike’s journey from Ontario to Knoxville and how AutoMetrics is enhancing efficiency and quality in manufacturing...

It's time for Big Ideas Welcome with Chris McAdoo! On this episode, we're delving into a groundbreaking advancement in emergency medicine with Lewis Hibbs, co-founder of NKA Bio. Discover how their innovative antibody treatment aims to "press pause on death," extending critical time for trauma patients and potentially saving thousands of lives annually. Hear about Lewis’s journ...

On this episode of Big Ideas Welcome, host Chris McAdoo dives into the frontier of biotechnology with Jose and Alejandro Nuno from Narval. These visionary brothers are leveraging marine biotechnology and AI to develop synthetic Antibody Mimetic Proteins (AMPs), creating novel antibody drugs. Discover how they’re engineering antibodies using proteins from sharks and sea snails, and learn about thei...

“I think the real “American Dream” is being a small business owner and being able to tap into your full potential.” - Oslo Cole On this week's episode, guest host Jalynn Baker is joined by entrepreneur, management expert, 100Knoxville mentor, and now member of the Sixthman team, Oslo Cole. You’ll learn about Oslo’s love for music and community work, his favorite live music memories, mentoring...

“I just want to be an example of being tied to community and really valuing people.” - Deidra Harper On this week's episode, guest host Jalynn Baker is joined by Deidra Harper of Elite Facility Maintenance and The Women LLC. You’ll hear from Diedre about growing up in an entrepreneurial family and discovering her place in the family legacy. We also dig into what she has learned about learning...

“I think one way to fix the challenges in the Black community is to have more business owners. . . . Businesses end up stabilizing communities.” Damon Rawls On this week's episode, guest host Jalynn Baker is joined by Damon Rawls, founder of Knoxville’s Black Business Directory (among many other things!). You'll hear about the creation of the Black Business Directory, collaborating with...

“Having different options better enables us to serve a lot more people.” - Ryan McGrew On this week's episode, guest host Jalynn Baker is joined by Ryan McGrew, founder of Rightway Insurance. You'll hear about Ryan’s pivot into entrepreneurship, the impact of KEC’s #100Knoxville business accelerator, his approach to parenthood and mentorship, and what it means to invest in the community...