Forging The Future with Chris Howard

In this episode, Brian McCarson (Microchip Technology) breaks down AI's four evolutionary eras: machine learning, training, inference, and AGI. In today’s conversation, Brian makes a bold case that most organizations are building infrastructure for the wrong phase. Based on nearly 25 years at Intel and now driving innovation at Microchip Technology, he explains why the real bottleneck in AI today...

NVIDIA systems architect Thorsten Stremlau sees “AI for good” as a way to restore core human abilities like communication, independence, and participation, especially for people with disabilities. Inspired by his work with Stephen Hawking and Peter Scott- Morgan, he’s helped build affordable, AI-powered tools from eye-gaze systems to personalized language models that run on everyday devices like s...

Episode Summary: Amanpreet Kaur, Chief AI and Technology Officer of Equipt.ai, breaks down the so-called “SaaS-pocalypse” and argues that SaaS isn’t dying, it’s evolving into smarter, AI-embedded systems of execution. Amanpreet explains how traditional SaaS created fragmentation and operational friction, and how Equipt.ai is rebuilding the stack by unifying workflows, data, and decision-making int...

At CES 2026, we sat down with Chris Eliasmith, CTO of Applied Brain Research, to discuss how brain-inspired AI is enabling fast, low-power voice interfaces that run directly on edge devices. Drawing on research modeling the hippocampus, his team developed new neural network architectures that significantly improve efficiency and accuracy for tasks like speech recognition and text to speech. These...

At CES 2026 in Las Vegas, Brandon Shibley of Edge Impulse and Thomas Soderholm of Nordic Semiconductor join Chris to explore the exciting shift of AI from the cloud to the edge. Brandon shares how streamlined, low power machine learning models are unlocking new possibilities in health wearables, industrial inspection, and agriculture by bringing fast, responsive intelligence directly onto devices....

This special CES 2026 episode brings together Pete Bernard (EDGE AI FOUNDATION), Pankaj Kedia (2468 Ventures), and Hank Crawford (Blue Collar Robotics) to explore how AI is moving from theory into everyday use. From cameraless sensing to edge-powered devices that listen, measure, and respond in real time, it’s clear that AI is becoming embedded in our everyday lives. Pete, Pankaj, and Hank all sha...

At CES 2026 in Las Vegas, Olivier Bernard of Amazon sits down with Chris to talk about how IoT has evolved from simple device connectivity into intelligent tools, essentially becoming our “second brains.” He breaks down why many companies walked away from the IoT space, pointing to thin margins and limited standalone value, while Amazon found success by embedding IoT into a broader cloud ecosystem...

90% of startups fail. Not from lack of ideas, but lack of funding for small businesses. Access to capital can make or break success, yet traditional funding still favors the few. What if technology could level the playing field, giving every entrepreneur a fair shot at business readiness? Kelsey Ruger, Chief Product & Technology Officer, helped build Hello Alice, a free online platform that helps...

Extended reality isn't just for gaming; it's changing how we train, fight and explore space. Tech buzzwords like XR and the Metaverse have left many skeptical, but while consumer hype fizzles, industries like defense and aerospace are pushing XR to the next level training soldiers, simulating missions and preparing for deep space travel. Working with NASA and the Air Force has shown us XR can solv...

Wind energy has the potential to power the world, but only if we rethink how we harness it. Traditional wind turbines are massive, expensive and require vast open spaces. Cities, factories and commercial buildings have been left out of the clean energy revolution, but what if we could bring wind power directly to where it's needed without massive turbines? Dr. Carsten Westergaard, Founder and CTO...

Every 36 seconds, someone in the United States dies from cardiovascular disease. Despite medical advancements, heart disease remains the leading cause of death. Traditional diagnostics react too late, and AI in healthcare often focuses on admin, not on life saving predictions. What if we could use AI to prevent complications before they happen? Enter Joe Makoid, Co-Founder and CEO at Voythos, who...

In neuroscience, the biggest bottleneck isn't discovery, it's data. Labs are drowning in massive data sets, yet most researchers still struggle with fragmented, outdated systems. What if there was a way to unify, simplify and accelerate breakthroughs? Crack the brain's data code and discover how AI and neuroscience collide with Dimitri Yatsenko, Chief Science and Technology Officer at DataJoint. 

By 2030, robots could replace 20 million manufacturing jobs, from factories to undersea exploration. Robots aren’t replacing people, but are instead filling critical gaps in the workforce today. This week, Chris Howard sits down with Nicolaus Radford, Co-Founder and CEO of Persona AI. Persona AI is hiring talented engineers to help them put robot humanoids to work.  

The energy industry is transforming faster than ever. Automation, AI, and advanced drilling technology are reshaping how we power the world, and leading this charge is David Reid, Chief Technology & Marketing Officer at NOV. For more than 150 years, NOV has delivered technology-driven solutions to empower the global energy industry.  

Deep tech is getting a deeper diver in this week’s episode, when Chris Howard talks to Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Fathom Fund Paul Sheng. The risk of deep tech investments are high, but the potential to transform industries with this technology is even higher. Talking points include the good, bad and not-so-ugly of raising venture funds in Houston, the specific struggles of deep tech inves...

What if the real key to solving global challenges isn't just about growing fast, but partnering smart? Chevron Technology Ventures is leading corporate innovation, investing in and collaborating with startups to drive lower carbon solutions, operational enhancement and digital transformation. But how does an early stage company catch the attention of a Fortune 100 giant? Kemal Anbarci, General Man...

In this episode, Chris Howard speaks with Youngro Lee, President of Brassica and Managing Director and Head of BitGo Asia. Talking points include democratizing capital, transitioning to digital wealth assets, and improving the quality of markets with increased access to investments and capital. 

In this episode, Chris Howard speaks with Phillip Yates, CEO of EQUILIBERTY, about expanding financial inclusion and breaking down barriers to prosperity for innovators across industries. Talking points include focusing on key communities struggling with capital access, expanding impact as a convener of organizations, and looking ahead to increase EQUILIBERTY app usage. 

In this episode, Chris Howard meets with Grace Chan, Principal of BP Ventures, to discuss how to balance innovation, sustainability, and the demands of our climate during the global energy transition. Talking points include challenges in clean energy investment, geographic factors in climate technology, and the future of flex fuel and electric vehicles.  

In this episode, Chris Howard talks about climate change and the global water crisis with Steve Davis, CTO of GRUNDFOS. Using energy efficient pumping technology, GRUNDFOS delivers drinking water, removes wastewater, or helps farmers water their crops all over the world. Talking points include sanitation and access in the water cycle, water scarcity and concerns in the Global South, and innovative...

In this episode, Chris Howard meets someone changing the game of live sports micro-betting. Introducing Kelly Pracht, Co-Founder and CEO of nVenue, an AI-powered micro-betting engine built for live sports. Talking points include leaving the corporate intrapreneurship world to take the startup red pill, the unique challenges and innovations of sports betting, and the future of AI and machine learni...

In this episode, Chris Howard steps into a new world of sports technology with Scott Deans, Founder and CEO of BeONE Sports. At BeONE, Scott and his team are globalizing specialized AI training for athletes and coaches, offering real-time performance data and analysis. Talking points include AI-generated training insights, mobile devices versus wearable hardware, and the importance of BeONE’s winn...

In this episode, Chris Howard sits down with Gaurav Khandelwal, CEO of Velostics and Chairman of ChaiOne, to talk about being a multi-time founder and an instrumental member of the Houston startup ecosystem. Talking points include bootstrapping as a business owner in unlikely places, hiring practices for when top talent isn’t available, and innovating in the logistics industry.  

 In this episode, Chris Howard sits down with Heath Butler, Partner at Mercury Fund and host of the “Grow Slow to Grow Fast” podcast, to discuss Houston’s unique venture ecosystem and how investors evaluate startup success. Additional talking points include the type of founders Mercury invests in, Houston’s growing number of tech investment options, and where Mercury has set its sights with machin...

Compaq co-founder and former CEO Rod Canion joins the pod again this week to look forward through his departure from Compaq and towards a future of forging the tech ecosystem in Houston and beyond. Since leaving Compaq in 1991, Rod has been an inspiration for Houston founders and a prolific member of numerous groups, boards and organizations that have helped Texas become a thriving place for tech....