The Disruption Lab

Ever wonder what it takes to transform a simple idea into a groundbreaking medical innovation? In this episode of The Disruption Lab, host Kevin McGinnis sits down with Nick Love MD, MBA and co-founder of Love Life Sciences, who shares his remarkable journey from medical student to leading a cutting-edge medical device startup. Driven by personal experience—his mother's life-saving clinical trial...

Ever had a costly mistake become your greatest teacher? Phil Reynolds, the serial entrepreneur behind BrightCore and DevStride, did—and it cost him $11 million. In this candid episode of The Disruption Lab, Phil opens up about how losing a major deal due to poor team coordination led him to create DevStride, a platform designed to solve project management nightmares. We dive into Phil’s fascinatin...

Is local journalism dying—or is it being reborn? In this compelling episode of The Disruption Lab, host Kevin McGinnis sits down with Stephanie Campbell, CEO of The Beacon, to explore the critical state of journalism today. From plunging public trust and misinformation to disappearing local newsrooms, Stephanie reveals how adopting entrepreneurial strategies might just save independent journalism....

What happens when a self-proclaimed AI skeptic decides to dive in headfirst? In this episode of The Disruption Lab, host Kevin McGinnis sits down with Chris Kovac, marketing expert and co-founder of the Kansas City AI Club, to unpack how one blog post changed everything—and how he turned curiosity into a movement. You’ll hear how Chris went from dismissing AI to becoming a national leader in AI co...

What if everything we think we know about crime prevention is wrong? In this powerful episode, we sit down with two grassroots leaders who’ve been directly impacted by the justice system—and are now leading a movement to change it from the inside out. They share why most public safety strategies fail, how "credible messengers" are reshaping violence prevention, and why innovation in this space sta...

What would make someone leave a comfortable life to ride cross-country with truck drivers and fix one of the most outdated systems in America? In this episode of The Disruption Lab, founder and Executive Chairman of Super Dispatch, Bek, shares the wild, human-centered origin story of how he disrupted the chaotic auto transport industry from the inside out. You’ll hear how he went from helping his...

What if the biggest barrier to preparing future leaders isn’t the students—but the systems trying to serve them? In this episode of The Disruption Lab, host Kevin McGinnis sits down with Megan Sturges, President & CEO of Junior Achievement of Greater Kansas City, to explore how we can reimagine education to actually prepare students for the real world—not just standardized tests. Megan shares...

What if the secret to building a thriving business was hiding in packages the world forgot? In this episode of The Disruption Lab, host Kevin McGinnis sits down with Dee Pack, CEO of Cargo Largo, a company that turned undeliverable shipments and surplus inventory—what most consider waste—into a high-growth enterprise processing over 30,000 shipments a week. You’ll learn how Dee transformed a niche...

What if sharing your startup journey before you have everything figured out is the key to success? In this episode, we sit down with Tony Caudill, founder of Duesy, to talk about why building in public isn’t just a trend—it’s a game-changer for founders. He gets real about: Why your startup’s biggest competitive advantage isn’t the tech—it’s YOU. The hardest part of posting every day (and why he s...

Why do so many communities struggle with cultural preservation, STEAM education, and affordable housing—even when we know they’re essential for innovation? In this episode of The Disruption Lab, we sit down with Pat Jordan, a powerhouse in urban development, media technology, and housing advocacy, to uncover the systemic barriers keeping communities from thriving—and what we can do about it. Pat s...

Why do so many entrepreneurial ecosystems struggle to truly support diverse founders? In this episode of The Disruption Lab, we sit down with Craig Moore—ecosystem builder, community leader, and Partnerships & Special Projects Manager at the DeBruce Foundation—to uncover what’s really holding back inclusive innovation. Craig shares his unconventional journey from music promotions to ecosystem...

AI isn’t making the decisions—we are. As technology rapidly evolves, how we choose to navigate its impact on jobs, entrepreneurship, and society will define our future. In this episode of The Disruption Lab, host Kevin McGinnis sits down with Dan Carroll—tech founder, investor, and philanthropist—to talk about what really matters: investing in people, taking risks, and building a world that works...

Why are so many new buildings falling apart within just a few years? And why aren’t more developers building for the future? In this episode of The Disruption Lab, host Kevin McGinnis sits down with Jonathan Arnold, principal at Arnold Development, to uncover the truth about real estate’s dirty little secret—most buildings aren’t designed to last. Jonathan shares his unconventional journey from ar...

What happens when a serial entrepreneur, technologist, and community leader suddenly faces a life-changing injury? Instead of slowing down, Mark Irvin turned his paralysis into purpose, becoming a fierce advocate for self-advocacy in healthcare and barrier-free design in the built environment. In this episode of The Disruption Lab, Mark shares: The shocking reality of accessibility gaps in healthc...

What if a broken healthcare system cost you the most important thing in your life? For Chris Jones, founder of MatchRite Care, that nightmare became a reality when his 5-year-old son, CJ, missed a life-saving clinical trial because of delayed medical records. In this episode of The Disruption Lab, Chris shares how his personal tragedy fueled his mission to disrupt healthcare and put patients back...

What does it take to build a tech workforce pipeline for marginalized youth while transforming the way we think about education and career readiness? In this episode of The Disruption Lab, we sit down with Tammy Buckner, founder and CEO of WeCode KC, to uncover how her nonprofit is revolutionizing tech education and empowering the next generation of innovators. Tammy shares her journey of founding...

What does farming have to do with cutting-edge technology? More than you think. In this episode of The Disruption Lab, host Kevin McGinnis sits down with Lyle Paczkowski, former Sprint and T-Mobile innovator, to explore how curiosity and unconventional thinking led to over 400 patents—including game-changing technologies like Google Voice and network-based health detection systems. Lyle shares how...

What if filmmaking could do more than entertain—what if it could drive real social change? In this episode of The Disruption Lab, host Kevin McGinnis sits down with Khalid Abdulqaadir and Corey McCartney, founders of AGA Productions, to explore how they’re using film as a powerful tool to unite communities and spark meaningful conversations. Discover how AGA Productions blends storytelling with so...

What does it take to bridge the gap between small businesses and the capital they desperately need? In this episode of The Disruption Lab, we’re joined by Jannae Gammage and Alaia Martin, the powerhouse co-founders of Cyphr, a tech startup revolutionizing small business financing through AI and data innovation. Jannae and Alaia share their inspiring journey of building a borrower-centric platform...

What does it take to bounce back after a decade-long startup journey hits a dead end? In this episode of Founder Stories, we sit down with Tim Sylvester, a serial entrepreneur who turned a failed vision of smart roadways into a cutting-edge tech company tackling the rise of internet bots. Tim opens up about his earliest ventures, including selling custom CDs in high school, and how those experienc...

What does it take to scale a company and disrupt the analytics industry? In this episode, Learie Hercules, founder and CEO of Heft iQ, shares his incredible journey from growing up in Trinidad and Tobago to revolutionizing how companies harness data with AI agents. Now based in Kansas City, Hercules isn’t afraid to challenge the local startup ecosystem and share what needs to change for the region...

What does it take to build a game-changing company in an industry as challenging as GovTech? In this episode, John Thompson, founder and CEO of PayIt, shares his entrepreneurial journey from starting with zero customers to scaling a company that transforms how governments serve their citizens. Topics Covered: The challenges of disrupting an old-school industry. Navigating the tough early years wit...

In this episode, we’re diving deep into the transformative power of music education with community leaders Clint Velazquez, Enrique Chi, and Kyla Pitts-Zevin. From the neuroscience behind music’s impact on the brain to stories of mentorship and resilience, this conversation explores how teaching music goes far beyond the notes—it builds stronger, more connected communities. We'll Discuss: The prof...

In this episode, we’re joined by Victor Hwang, founder of Right to Start, to explore a compelling question: Why should we all be advocates for entrepreneurship? Victor dives into the power of entrepreneurship as a driving force for economic growth and community revitalization. Whether you're a business owner, policymaker, or simply interested in seeing your community thrive, this conversation shed...