Fort Worth Innovates

What does it take to build an innovation economy that attracts talent, creates jobs, and transforms a city for generations to come? In this episode of Fort Worth Innovates , host Cameron Cushman sits down with Dean Bobby Ahdieh to discuss the bold vision behind Texas A&M Fort Worth and its role in shaping the future of innovation, research, and economic development in Panther City. As Texas A&...

What does it take to build an innovation district that transforms a city? In this episode of Fort Worth Innovates , Cameron Cushman sits down with Michael Bennett and Alex Feldman to explore the vision behind the Switchyard Innovation District and what it could mean for Fort Worth's future. Drawing from decades of experience developing innovation districts across the country, they discuss how rese...

How is one of the world’s busiest airports using AI, automation, and advanced mobility to shape the future of travel? In this episode of Fort Worth Innovates , host Cameron Cushman sits down with Paul Puopolo, Chief Technology and Innovation Officer at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, to explore how innovation is transforming the passenger experience at one of the largest and busiest airpo...

What does it actually take to build an innovation district that transforms a city? In our newest episode of Fort Worth Innovates , Cameron Cushman sits down with Dr. David Snow, Executive Director of Pegasus Park, to explore how innovation hubs drive entrepreneurship, attract talent, create jobs, and generate billions in economic impact. From biotech startups and research commercialization to work...

In this episode of Fort Worth Innovates , host Cameron Cushman sits down with Raanan Horowitz, former President and CEO of Elbit America, to explore how a small startup evolved into a $1.6 billion leader in aerospace and defense technology. With decades of experience in innovation, national security, and advanced engineering, Raanan shares how Elbit built cutting-edge solutions—from enhanced fligh...

In this episode of Fort Worth Innovates , host Cameron Cushman sits down with Rich Andreski, President & CEO of Trinity Metro , and Annette Landeros, Chief Strategy Officer , to discuss how public transportation is transforming mobility, economic development, tourism, and quality of life across Fort Worth and Tarrant County. From the $2 airport ride on TexRail to the expansion of color-coded b...

In this episode of Fort Worth Innovates , host Cameron Cushman sits down with Dr. Chris Naler , COO and Vice President of Growth and EdTech at General Genomics , a Fort Worth–based AI and biotech company transforming healthcare, bioinformatics, and national security through predictive analytics and machine learning. A retired Marine Corps Colonel, Dr. Naler shares how General Genomics is using its...

In this episode of Fort Worth Innovates , Cameron Cushman sits down with Andrew Coppin, Co-Founder and CEO of Ranchbot Monitoring Solutions, to explore how IoT, satellite connectivity, and edge computing are transforming modern ranching. Now headquartered in Fort Worth, Ranchbot provides remote water and infrastructure monitoring for ranchers, delivering real-time alerts for wells, tanks, pumps, a...

In this episode of Fort Worth Innovates , Cameron Cushman sits down with John Goff , Chairman of the Fort Worth-Tarrant County Innovation Partnership, to discuss the bold vision behind Texas A&M University Fort Worth and the city’s emerging innovation district. What began as a pandemic-era initiative led by former Mayor Betsy Price to evaluate Fort Worth’s economic future revealed a major gap:...

In this episode of Fort Worth Innovates , host Cameron Cushman sits down with Demetrie King , founder of Market Match , a Fort Worth–based startup revolutionizing market research through swipe-based technology. Inspired by the simplicity of apps like Tinder, Market Match allows consumers to quickly swipe through product options, giving businesses real-time insight into what customers actually want...

In this episode of Fort Worth Innovates , host Cameron Cushman sits down with Dr. Ivett Leyva , Associate Dean for Research at Texas A&M–Fort Worth and professor of aerospace engineering, to explore how Fort Worth is becoming a national leader in aerospace, aviation, and defense innovation. Dr. Leyva shares her vision for building a new research and innovation ecosystem that connects academia,...

As 2025 comes to a close, host Cameron Cushman is joined by producer Kendall Rogers for a special year-end recap episode of Fort Worth Innovates . Together, they reflect on how the podcast began, highlight the most impactful conversations from the past year, and share a sneak peek at what’s ahead for innovation, entrepreneurship, and research in Fort Worth in 2026. From pediatric research at Cook...

In this episode of Fort Worth Innovates , host Cameron Cushman sits down with Brett Bowden — founder of Printed Threads , co-founder of MadeLab , musician-turned-entrepreneur, community-builder, and one of the most quietly influential innovators in Fort Worth’s creative economy. Brett shares how a small screen-printing operation he once ran out of his garage evolved into a nationally recognized br...

Air Force veteran and TCU alum Dylan Jones, founder and CEO of Lix Hydration for Dogs, shares how military research inspired a breakthrough in pet hydration. Dylan shares how working dogs’ struggles with drinking enough water during missions led to the creation of a powdered, coconut-water-based hydration mix designed to help pets drink more and stay healthier. He walks through his year-long custo...

In this episode of Fort Worth Innovates, Dr. William Stigall, the Chief Research Officer at Cook Children's Hospital, discusses the hospital's mission, integrated healthcare system, and the significant research initiatives underway. He highlights the collaboration with Texas A&M to establish a bio repository, the importance of fostering an entrepreneurial mindset within the organization, and t...

In this episode of Fort Worth Innovates , host Cameron Cushman talks with Jay Brooks, founder and CEO of GlassView, about how neuroscience is transforming both advertising and brain health. A Fort Worth native, Jay shares how his company evolved from digital ad delivery to pioneering emotion-powered media through a partnership with Cogwear, a neuroscience startup born out of the University of Penn...

In this episode of Fort Worth Innovates, host Cameron Cushman interviews Darryl Heath, the executive director of the Fort Worth-Tarrant County Innovation Partnership. They discuss the mission of the partnership, its collaboration with Texas A&M, and the various innovation hubs being developed in Fort Worth, including aerospace, agriculture, media, and healthcare. Darryl shares insights on the...

In the inaugural episode of the Fort Worth Innovates podcast, host Cameron Cushman interviews Mayor Mattie Parker about the exciting developments in Fort Worth, particularly the impact of Texas A&M's new campus downtown. They discuss the importance of innovation, public-private partnerships, and the city's growth, as well as the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for entrepreneurs. Ma...

Fort Worth Innovates , a podcast powered by the Fort Worth–Tarrant County Innovation Partnership, highlights the entrepreneurs, researchers, and leaders shaping the future of Fort Worth. Each episode shares the stories of the innovators that are driving bold ideas and breakthrough solutions across industries, showcasing how Cowtown is becoming a hub for creativity, collaboration, and growth. Follo...