The Disruption Lab

We have more ways to communicate than ever… so why does it feel like nobody is actually hearing each other? In this live episode of The Disruption Lab, Kevin sits down with communication strategist and executive coach Eric Morgenstern to break down what’s really going wrong in leadership communication—and how to fix it fast. From workplace trust issues to pitch coaching for startup founders, Eric...

What if gentrification isn’t the real problem? In this episode of The Disruption Lab, host Kevin McGinnis sits down with Erik Murray, founder of Eastside Innovations, to unpack how we can invest in historically overlooked “east side” communities without pushing people out. From Kansas City, Kansas to Oakland, California, Erik traces how industrialization, segregation, and policy decisions created...

What happens when community capital and culture move in lockstep? In this live episode of The Disruption Lab, we sit down with Brandon Calloway to unpack how KC GIFT is revitalizing Kansas City’s East Side by funding Black-owned businesses—and how his creative venture, Blurred Media, is rewriting who gets represented in anime and manga. It’s a masterclass in practical impact: passion meets logic,...

Are robots and AI actually making us smarter—or just outsourcing our brains? In this conversation with John McElligott, we unpack why technology isn’t the story—people are. From the first “tech” (domesticated wolves) to today’s cognitive offloading to phones and ChatGPT, we explore how to adopt AI, robotics, and automation without erasing what makes us human: wisdom, empathy, and culture. You’ll h...

What does it take to build a life — and a legacy — from scratch? In this live episode of The Disruption Lab, Kevin McGinnis sits down with Benny Lee, engineer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, to explore his remarkable journey from Taipei to Kansas City, where he turned bold ideas into thriving businesses and transformed success into community impact. Benny shares how relationships, resilience, a...

What if a city could completely reimagine how technology shapes daily life—not just for convenience, but for public safety, economic growth, and citizen trust? In this episode of The Disruption Lab, we sit down with Mike Grigsby to uncover how Kansas City became a national model for smart city innovation—from the groundbreaking Google Fiber launch to the streetcar project that redefined what techn...

What if “public safety” didn’t start with punishment—but with support? In this episode, Judge Courtney pulls back the curtain on how a municipal court in Kansas City is flipping the script with Wellness Court, alternative dockets, and a totally different mindset: rehabilitation over incarceration. From walk-in dockets and evening hours to community resource fairs and elective programming (yes—yoga...

What happens when you take a taboo topic, flip the script, and turn it into a global lifestyle brand? In this episode of The Disruption Lab, Craig Moore sits down with Landon McKinnis, founder of Go Nutz, the spherical razor that landed him a deal with Daymond John on Shark Tank and is now shaking up the men’s grooming industry. Landon shares how he spotted an underserved market, designed a safer...

Can sneakers really solve plastic pollution? In this episode of The Disruption Lab, guest host Craig Moore sits down with Yewande Akinse, co-founder and COO of Salubata, the startup turning recycled plastic waste into modular, fashion-forward sneakers. You’ll hear how her lived experience with flooding in Lagos inspired a global mission, what it took to transform a failed prototype into nearly $1M...

Can technology actually rebuild trust in democracy—or is it just making things worse? In this episode of The Disruption Lab, we sit down with Mychal Shaw, founder of Uwazi, a civic tech platform using AI to cut through misinformation, improve civic literacy, and make everyday engagement in democracy simple, clear, and accessible. We explore: Why voter apathy and civic illiteracy are bigger threats...

This week on The Disruption Lab, we dive into the question: What if money could do more than just make profit? What if it could restore communities and ecosystems at the same time? Our guest, Brian Weinberg, Managing Director at Foundation for Regeneration, shares his powerful journey from chasing a Wall Street career to living in South America, where firsthand exposure to poverty shifted his worl...

When Antoinette’s children were diagnosed with autism—four years apart—she was handed the same outdated “resource packet” both times. Nothing had changed. Instead of waiting for the system to improve, she decided to build the solution herself. In this episode of The Disruption Lab, recorded live with an audience, Antoinette shares how she went from zero tech background to launching Nru, a digital...

What does it really take to turn a struggling downtown into a vibrant, diverse, and connected economic engine? In this episode of The Disruption Lab, we sit down with the leader who helped Kansas City pull off one of the most dramatic urban turnarounds in America. Discover the inside story of how Kansas City’s downtown went from urban blight to boom town—including the pivotal role of the streetcar...

What happens when a former underestimated tech founder takes the reins of one of the Midwest’s top entrepreneurial networks? In this raw and powerful episode, Melissa Vincent, Executive Director of Pipeline Entrepreneurs, shares how her lived experiences with bias, exclusion, and early failure became fuel for transforming the startup landscape across Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. Melissa opens u...

In this special live edition of The Disruption Lab recorded at Keystone Sessions, we’re joined by four powerhouse entrepreneurs from around the world—each reshaping the future of work, innovation, and inclusion in their countries. Meet: Tao Hsu (China) – Co-founder of Baocase, building a gig economy platform with dignity and digital trust. Lucy Llonna Larbi (Germany) – Founder of AiDiA, empowering...

Is it finally time for construction to catch up with tech? In this episode of The Disruption Lab, we sit down with Usman Wajid, founder of Block & Mortar, to talk about why construction—one of the world’s largest and slowest-moving industries—is at a critical turning point. With billions on the line and Boomers retiring fast, Uzi shares how AI isn’t just a buzzword—it’s the bridge between outd...

Ever launched something new and immediately questioned everything? Wondered if the doubts in your head were louder than the market feedback? In this raw solo episode, we dive deep into the emotional side of entrepreneurship—the stuff nobody puts on a pitch deck. We're talking about fear, uncertainty, self-doubt, and imposter syndrome—not as flaws, but as part of the journey when you're doing somet...

In this powerful episode, Dr. Brandy Archie (OTD, OTR/L, CLIPP) —occupational therapist and founder of AskSAMIE and OT Connected—shares the heartbreaking moment that launched her mission to reimagine aging in place. From broken healthcare systems to the hidden realities of home care, Brandy opens up about what most people get wrong about independence, how insurance often fails families, and why th...

What do DIY wedding centerpieces, Amazon returns, and climate action have in common? For Send Back founder Shaniqua Jones-Williams—the answer was everything. In this electrifying episode of The Disruption Lab, we sit down with the 2025 Aspen Fellow and rising logistics entrepreneur to unpack how an overstacked return pile in her living room sparked a national reverse logistics platform with a miss...

Are you building something new and wondering why it feels so overwhelming? In this solo episode of The Disruption Lab, Kevin McGinnis, President and CEO of The Keystone Innovation District, shares the four powerful (and often painful) lessons he’s still learning as a founder, leader, and ecosystem builder. This isn’t another highlight reel. It’s an honest look at what no one tells you about moment...

Why does it feel like nothing ever changes in local government—even when the ideas are good? In this episode of The Disruption Lab, civic innovation expert Ashley Hand shares what really gets in the way of smarter cities and how to move big ideas forward in a system built to say no. From leading smart city projects in LA and Kansas City to launching public-private partnerships and opening an eleme...

Most people have never heard of refrigerants—but they’re one of the most dangerous climate pollutants on Earth. In this live episode of The Disruption Lab, we sit down with Kalin Baca, PhD scientist turned climate tech founder of Icorium, who’s on a mission to stop these super pollutants from quietly warming the planet. Kalin breaks down how refrigerants—used in everything from air conditioners to...

What happens when you follow all the rules, invest $350,000 of your own money, and still end up broke? Dr. Donnetta Watson—known as The Launch Strategist—did exactly that. In this powerful live episode of The Disruption Lab, she opens up about the moment that changed her life, the cultural myths holding Black entrepreneurs back, and why mindset—not money—is the real foundation for wealth. You’ll l...

What happens when a former Wall Street investment banker takes over a small community bank in Kansas—and decides to shake up the entire financial industry? In this episode of The Disruption Lab, we sit down with Matt Michaelis, CEO of Emprise Bank, to uncover how he's transforming a legacy institution into a tech-forward, innovation-focused force in fintech—without losing the soul of community ban...

What if the best way to fix a broken community isn’t charity or government programs—but business? In this powerful episode of The Disruption Lab, Father Justin Matthews—Orthodox priest, entrepreneur, and founder of Thelma’s Kitchen—reveals how social entrepreneurship is becoming a radical tool for equity, healing, and community transformation. We dive into the real stories behind his journey from...