Merging Minds

Pascale Tremblay has always been curious, open-minded, and ready to make connections with other people. This is exactly the attitude that got her started in localization as a young woman, and the attitude that has helped succeed as a loc leader for the last 20 years! Now, this attitude is what is helping her lead teams through rapid changes in the localization industry. She leads with care, creati...

Tools can be used for good or for evil, and AI is newest, most powerful tool around. This means that when we use it for good, our impact is amplified. This is exactly what Logan Nye, MD has been doing. Dr. Nye is a physician and coder who is developing artificial intelligence tools for healthcare from a first principles perspective. His goal is to use the predictive capabilities of LLMs to help us...

Have you ever met someone more interested in going to the laundromat than the museum? Now’s your chance! Sean Hopwood is so intent on authentically connecting with people that he goes to the laundromat and gives directions for fun. But, as a polyglot of 7 languages and the owner of his own translation company it is clear that Sean doesn’t just make small talk. He keeps his love for human interacti...

If anyone understands the intersection of writing and AI, it is Stephen Marche. Stephen first started experimenting with “algorithmic writing” back in 2017 when he built his own writing model. Since then Stephen has written an “infinite story” with AI and he created the first ever book written with AI to be reviewed by the New York Times, “Death of An Author”. Outside of the AI world, Stephen is a...

The localization industry is high tech, fast-paced, and ever-changing. That is one of the many reasons we love it. But there can be a dark side to that sort of non-stop culture: Burnout.   Laura DeCook is a specialist in burnout and mental health that works with organizations of all sizes to bring advocacy and education about mental wellbeing to the workplace. Her work is informed by her own  ment...

Sibelan Forrester isn’t threatened by AI, she is curious about it. As a professor of Russian Literature at Swarthmore College and a literary translator, she has seen how technology has made its way into creative work. But instead of shying away from tech, she gave her students a strange assignment: "Tell ChatGPT to write a paper about something you really care about. Then, see if you are happy wit...

Come take a walk through the grass with our Merging Minds host Javi Diaz and his guest Jamie Brown! They make conversational stops at the opera, in Brazil, and they, of course, end up talking about the localization industry!  Jamie Brown is a Localization Consultant, former Chief Language Officer, and overall optimist who overcame a childhood stammer and fear of speaking to become an accomplished...

Ted Gibson is pretty impressed with how well #LLMs can produce English. But, he doesn’t think they will ever be able to produce the languages of the indigenous tribes he worked with in the Amazon. The reason? Data. Language models have been trained with trillions of words to make today's English results. But, there simply aren't enough words being written or spoken to make good models in many othe...

The #localization industry needs creative and competent people now more than ever. If you have a passion for languages, now is the time to double down on your skills and dig out your niche. Things are changing, but there are a ton of new opportunities cropping up everywhere. Don’t give up and don’t be scared.  This is advice straight from Florian Faes, Managing Director and Co-founder of #Slator (...

Large Language Models have a problem: The Symbol Grounding Problem. Even though they can write full essays and have conversations, they can’t communicate. The words that they produce have no root.  But they aren’t missing etymological roots - they are missing existential roots. If language exists as a reflection of experience, what happens when there is no experience to reflect? What are words whe...

What can a crowded bus in Argentina teach you about #leadership? What does Harry Potter have to do with starting a career in #localization? What can we do to weather changes in our industry? These are all questions that today’s guest can answer!  Pavel Soukenik is an industry leader, executive director, and adjunct lecturer in localization at the University of Washington. He has been a successful...

Are we the owners of our own ideas? We often like to think so, but linguist, professor, and writer Donna Jo Napoli isn’t so sure. She sees creative conception as a deeply collaborative process: the final "idea" is just the tip of an iceberg that runs deep into what you have shared and experienced in your life. So, if our ideas aren’t even our own, why are we afraid of sharing our creativity with G...

Have you ever had a boss that just couldn’t get the struggles of your team? How about one that COULD? Most of us have felt the difference and, today, we are celebrating empathy in our leaders and failure as a stepping stone to success! In this episode of #MergingMinds, Javi Diaz sits down with Julio Leal, Head of Localization at Spendesk, for an insightful conversation about his valuable #leadersh...

How do we find harmony between regulation vs. innovation in the rapidly evolving AI and tech landscape? A renowned psychologist Barry Schwartz is Gabriel’s guest today on #MergingMinds Podcast to dissect the interplay between innovation, regulation, and societal values.  Prof. Schwartz’s main research addresses morality, decision-making, and the inter-relationships between behavioral science and s...

What can we learn about efficiency from the structure of a football team? How can we navigate the highs and lows of leadership and our career journeys, from unexpected setbacks to remarkable triumphs? Today, Javi Diaz engages in a captivating discussion with Veronique Özkaya, a seasoned international leader and #localization industry expert. Through her insightful anecdotes and valuable advice, Ve...

As we explore a brave new world, can we seize the opportunities, address the challenges, and ultimately shape a future where #technology empowers us all? In today's episode, we're exploring the transformative potential of #AI in the realm of #translation and #legal services. Beyond the buzzwords and the fears of AI job replacements, we're striving to uncover a nuanced landscape where human experti...

How do you make most of your language services career in this ever-changing world? In this episode of The Merging Minds Podcast, host Javi Diaz engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Andrew Lawless, High Performance Consultant Academy Founder that helps consultants make their businesses stand out and attract clients effortlessly. This engaging conversations explores the transition from c...

Are we allowing ourselves to be a creative producer rather than a creative consumer in this digital era? Join us for an enlightening episode of The Merging Minds Podcast as we delve into the realms of writing, creative process, and the evolving challenges presented by AI. Our special guest, Dan Blank, founder of WeGrowMedia and author of "Be the Gateway," has dedicated his career to helping writer...

Ready to explore the complex world where artificial intelligence and copyright law collide? In this episode of The #MergingMinds Podcast, Gabriel sits down with esteemed AI law expert Matthew Sag, Professor of Law at Emory University. Discover the gray areas of copyright, how AI challenges authorship, especially in the translation and localization space - and what legal questions we still need to...

Is the human touch in translation overshadowed by AI? Explore the answers with an AI expert researcher and creator of the first AI for the Humanities course in the world - Kate Elkins! A published professor on the linguistic and literary capabilities of large language models, such as ChatGPT, Kate shares her fascinating stories and insights in this special #MergingMinds episode as she keeps shapin...

Ever feel like the "normal" path isn't for you? Join us with Tim Brookes as he shares his inspiring story of zigzagging through life, defying expectations, embracing a non-linear career, and finding success on his own terms! This #MergingMinds podcast episode takes you on a fascinating ride alongside Tim, whose career and life philosophy defy the traditional script. Tim's journey showcases the pow...

Forget marketing strategies, it's time to build a family! ‍‍‍Join us for a new #MergingMinds podcast episode with Javi Diaz where we break free from the cold world of marketing numbers and dive headfirst into the warm embrace of community building.  This isn’t your average podcast! With our guest Anthony Leung, the Founder of Mean Write Hook, we're dropping the scripts and sales pitches to explore...

Today, we welcome Didzis Grauss, the LangOps Pioneer at Native, into our Merging Minds world as we discuss the times of constant flux, the concept of chameleon leadership, thriving in the face of uncertainty, building meaningful connections, and much more:  - Millennials and leading the way: How different generations are redefining leadership in a rapid, ever-changing world  - Mastering flexibilit...

In this first episode of the #MergingMinds podcast with Isabelle Andrieu , Co-founder & Chairwoman at Translated and CEO at Pi School, you're going to learn her secrets of building a thriving tech biz & leading with values!  From facing early career roadblocks to building a diverse business empire with her partner, this unstoppable woman spills the tea on:  - Overcoming major challenges and forgin...