Experience Milwaukee

CEO James Marino speaks to the growth story hiding in plain sight. Quick Bio: James Marino is President and CEO of Jackson’s Food Company , the Muskego-based maker of avocado-oil snacks. James is born-and-raised a Milwaukeean and is a Marquette High grad. Connect with him on LinkedIn . Quick Summary: Jackson’s has quietly scaled its capacity 20X in just a few years. The reason why comes down to on...

Who’s in this interview and what’s it about? Sri Kantamneni [ LinkedIn ]: CIDO of Schreiber Foods . Stephen Pounds [ LinkedIn ]: CEO of Vadar Alpha . Summary: In this episode, I talk with Sri and Stephen about what happens when a food manufacturing giant teams up with a scrappy two-year-old startup. They break down (in lemonade-stand terms) how Vadar Alpha helps Schreiber manage pricing, risk, and...

Steve talks with Chris about his recipe behind one of the world's most-used apps, the company he's building with his 17-year-old son, how he's looking forward to his first trip to Milwaukee, and more. You can catch him in Milwaukee as a keynote speaker at Summerfest TechAI 2026 . This special edition episode was sponsored by Cream City Cyber, Milwaukee's global cybersecurity consul...

Robert Cordova and Derek Hyde talk AI in sports ahead of their unique panel discussion with Tim Dickson on June 24. This special edition episode was sponsored by Cream City Cyber, Milwaukee's global cybersecurity consultancy helping companies of all sizes navigate digital risk. From AI governance to cybersecurity, they've got you covered. Learn more at creamcitycyber.com . In this episode, Steve s...

This episode is part of our 2026 Summerfest TechAI series, sponsored by Cream City Cyber . Steve's guests on this one include: Celeste Cuffie, Chief People Officer and Co-founder, Cream City Cyber Sheldon Cuffie, CEO & Co-founder, Cream City Cyber Lena DeLaet, Director of Sales & Summerfest TechAI What you'll get: Sheldon and Celeste share how they bootstrapped Cream City Cyber fro...

In this episode, Steve talks with Mandela on his take on innovation, startups, AI accountability, and why Wisconsin has everything it needs to compete if we're willing to invest in it. NOTE: This article is not an endorsement for Mandela Barnes . The purpose was to have a conversation about his vision for technology and innovation for the state. I have asked all eight Wisconsin gubernatorial c...

Guests Brooke Casazza and Michael Dairyko give an honest and interesting take on AI, data, and tech in sports. Brooke Casazza’s quick bio: LinkedIn Profile . Leads the Bucks’ revenue-generating tech stack, everything that drives ticket sales, marketing, and fan engagement, plus shapes the organization’s enterprise AI strategy from governance to real-world application. Came up through AT&T and...

In this one, Steve sits down with Kelda Roys for an informative discussion on Kelda's case that Wisconsin's economic future depends on. About Kelda: Kelda is a Wisconsin-born attorney, state senator, and tech founder running for governor. She has over two decades of bipartisan legislative wins and a track record of turning big ideas into law. She’s a tech entrepreneur who founded a busines...

Jay’s bio: Jay Kolbe , a Milwaukee area resident, is a 20-year communications pro and co-founder / managing partner of  Impact Partners , a New York-based strategic communications and growth advisory firm. He works closely with high-net-worth individuals, family offices, investors, and emerging technology companies. Jay also advises a wide range of technology and media-related brands and is known...

This episode explains the evolution of Experience Milwaukee from a culture-focused podcast into a platform centered on business, tech, innovation, and the people shaping Milwaukee’s future, without losing sight of the city’s cultural fabric. Steve shares more of his own story than he usually does, including how growing up with limited access to professional networks shaped his long-term mission: b...

"In this episode, Steve sits down with Mark Fairbanks, Cofounder & Executive Director of Islands of Brilliance Talking points include: Neurodiversity, Special Interest Focusing, Program Growth, and Trains! Special thank you to local Milwaukee band Paper Valley for their track "Breakaway" - check them out at https://open.spotify.com/artist/4lsijeS7nxgLPGdqnsmmz4?si=f25NjrndTsO62Q...

In this episode, Steve and Adam sit down with Charlie Connelly, Manager of Corporate Partnerships & Fulfillment for your Milwaukee Admirals. Talking points include: Cortados, Collaboration, Coaching Sports, and Crappy Gifts! Special thank you to local Milwaukee band Paper Valley for their track "Breakaway" - check them out at https://open.spotify.com/artist/4lsijeS7nxgLPGdqnsmmz4?si=...

In this episode, Steve sits down with Jockey President and Chief Operating Officer, Mark Fedyk. Recorded live at the brand-new Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood, this episode delivers an inspiring look at how one of Wisconsin’s long standing brands continues to innovate like a startup. Mark breaks down how Jockey defines innovation—not just as a process, but as a mindset woven into its nearly 150-ye...

In this episode, Steve and Adam dive into one of Milwaukee's most beloved annual traditions - Doors Open Milwaukee - celebrating its 15th anniversary this September 27th and 28th. They're joined by Grace from Historic Milwaukee, who coordinates this incredible event that opens more than 150 locations across the city for free public tours, from private clubs like the Wisconsin Club to neigh...

John DenBoer grew up in Waukesha raised by his mom and grandmother, which sparked his lifelong passion for working with older adults - he eventually became a geriatric neuropsychologist specializing in detecting dementia way before symptoms show up. After studying at places like Harvard and building a successful digital health company out west, he and his wife decided to make Milwaukee home (funny...

In this episode of the Experience Milwaukee podcast, Steve sits down with Carlo Emanuele, a Milwaukee business executive turned novelist, to discuss his debut book "The Sins We Inherit." Carlo’s novel began as therapeutic journaling during his divorce and evolved into a Milwaukee-set crime family drama inspired by his own Italian-American family history. The story follows a man who avoid...

Welcome to STEAM in MKE, where we explore Milwaukee's thriving science, technology, engineering, art, and math ecosystem and infrastructure. This episode features Joe Poeschl, who was just named the new Executive Director of the Milwaukee Tech Hub Coalition. The conversation traces Joe's journey from co-founding Startup Milwaukee to leading The Commons innovation program for nearly a decad...

Summerfest TechAI 2025 is the can't-miss tech event this summer (June 23-26)! In this episode, Adam and I chat with Lena DeLaet from Summerfest TechAI and Jonah Turner from Molson Coors about the revamped pitch competition, which is broken into four industry tracks, plus new additions like "Entrepreneur Alley" for founders and a tech talent lounge for job hunting. What makes it especially cool is...

In this jam-packed episode of the Experience Milwaukee podcast, we dive deep with Patty Pritchard Thompson from the Bayview Neighborhood Association in our Hometown Voices segment sponsored by Habush Habush & Rottier. Patty reveals the magic behind Chill on the Hill – from rubber chicken symphony performances to how this all-volunteer operation draws 5,000 people weekly with help from 75+ loca...

In this action-packed episode of the Experience Milwaukee podcast, we kick things off with John Blust from Visit Milwaukee delivering the scoop on this month's can't-miss events – from Mother's Day festivities to the metal-meets-birds contrast of Milwaukee Metal Fest and the Brew City Birding Festival! Then, tech guru Peter High from Metis Strategy drops knowledge bombs about AI's...

This episode of the Experience Milwaukee podcast is all about Summerfest TechAI 2025! Of course Adam and I are joined by Lena DeLaet from Summerfest TechAI who enthusiastically reveals this year's expanded programming at the Potawatomi Casino Hotel. We’re also joined by tech powerhouses Tim Dickson (Regal Rexnord) and Sri Kantamneni (Schreiber Foods) share how Wisconsin manufacturers are already d...

This episode serves up a feast of laughs and local gems! Tim and Jeffrey from Milwaukee Wine Academy dish on their mission to make wine less intimidating while hosts joke about finding wines for "beer guys." The tech segment goes hilariously off-the-rails with AI confessions, including Ryan admitting he has philosophical car conversations with ChatGPT about engine braking! Admiral's...

Welcome to STEAM in MKE, where we explore Milwaukee's thriving science, technology, engineering, art, and math ecosystem and infrastructure. Today, we're diving into the grassroots movement transforming our city's tech landscape with Joe Murphy and Allan Wick, the passionate minds behind Mitobyte ( https://mitobyte.com ). For nearly a decade, they've been building Milwaukee's t...

In this spirited March 2025 installment of EXP MKE, hosts Steve and Adam celebrate International Women's Month with a lineup of Milwaukee's finest (even though they kick things off with a dude hockey defenseman Kevin Gravel of the Admirals). The tech spotlight shines on Dana, Lori, and Bella, who share their digital triumphs and Women in Tech adventures. Claire buzzes through Milwaukee's March cal...

Welcome to STEAM in MKE, where we explore Milwaukee's thriving Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math ecosystem and infrastructure. In Milwaukee, tech is transforming lives and careers through powerful partnerships. In this episode of STEAM in MKE, a reuse of an episode previously recorded at Summerfest tech 2024, we sit down with Blanca from i.c stars Milwaukee, where a 16-week immer...