Top Voice Podcast with Michael J. López

Michael interviews Dennis Yu, joined by AI builder engineer Leo Pohlmann, about Google’s recent move to AI results first instead of the traditional “10 blue links,” a shift Dennis says is the biggest in 25 years and has caused many SEO experts to report major traffic losses. Dennis argues the fundamentals of visibility still matter—expertise, credibility, stories, and real experiences—while warnin...

Michael speaks with Jennifer Dulski, founder and CEO of Rising Team, about the hidden costs of untrained teams and how leadership development can be improved. Dulski shares her background across nonprofit work, teaching, and leadership roles at Yahoo, Google, Facebook, and change.org, plus lessons from being a rowing coxswain. They discuss why traditional training often fails to translate into beh...

Michael welcomes Erin Albert, Chief of Pharmacy Relations, Network and Professional Affairs at Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus Drugs, to explain why U.S. drug pricing is so opaque and how transparency can lower costs. Albert shares how she joined the company after publishing LinkedIn price comparisons sparked by imatinib pricing, and describes her background as a pharmacist and attorney. She breaks down ho...

Michael interviews Brian Elliott, CEO of Work Forward and former Google and Slack executive, about AI and the future of work through a human-centered lens. Elliott explains how his Future Forum research on workplace flexibility evolved into AI-focused advising, arguing that technology and policies are tools and the real work is alignment, culture, and motivating diverse teams. They discuss researc...

Michael interviews Dr. Jasmine Escalera, founder of the nonprofit Institute for Generational Healing, about recognizing and breaking inherited survival patterns passed through families. Escalera explains generational healing, how cycles can provide strength yet hinder desired lives, and the science behind inherited responses through epigenetics, alongside spirituality, modeling, and conditioning....

Michael welcomes LinkedIn Top Voice, trainer, and author Leslie Hughes to discuss how LinkedIn has evolved from a job-search site into a networking and thought leadership platform, and why many executives underestimate their need for an active presence. Hughes explains that executives are forward-facing brand ambassadors and should engage with their teams, celebrate wins, build quality networks, a...

Michael talks with creator-economy builder Bia Granja about her hot take that the creator economy isn’t dead, but the attention economy that fueled it is ending as reach becomes commoditized and organic reach declines. Bia argues creators must shift from chasing virality and platform-optimized metrics to building repeatable formats, worlds, and durable IP with multiple revenue streams, while ownin...

Michael interviews Christophe “Chris” Zoghbi, founder and CEO of Zaka, about how AI is reshaping education and workplace learning, with a focus on the Middle East. Zoghbi shares his path from software engineering and early machine-learning work in 2014 to building Beirut AI and then Zaka to make AI accessible through training, consulting, development, hiring, and governance. He explains how AI is...

Michael welcomes longtime friend and former coach Tom Melvin, current Kansas City Chiefs tight ends coach and three-time Super Bowl champion, to discuss Melvin’s coaching journey from small college football to 14 seasons with Andy Reid in Philadelphia and nearly 14 in Kansas City. Melvin explains how organizational stability, preparation, and managing information overload shape NFL coaching, and w...

Michael interviews LinkedIn expert Sandra Long about building a global personal brand. Long shares how she moved from B2B sales to helping individuals and organizations leverage LinkedIn, and explains why global reach is easier post-2020 but requires intentional positioning through your profile, network, and content. They discuss defining “local” vs. “global,” the difference between audience and r...

Michael welcomes project and strategy leader Fola Alabi to discuss stereotypes about project managers and PMOs and why many are seen as process-heavy status reporters rather than value creators. Fola shares her 20+ year career across government, finance, energy, and other sectors, emphasizing the persistent gap between strategy and execution and the need for project leaders to build business acume...

Michael welcomes economist, data scientist, and Pipeline CEO Katica Roy to discuss why bias and inequity “sub-optimize” the economy, citing women earning nearly 60% of degrees while being promoted 21% slower and the large GDP and fiscal impacts of pay and opportunity gaps. Roy shares her family’s refugee story and connects equity to economic returns, national debt service, Social Security solvency...

Michael speaks with Colin Levy, General Counsel at Malbek and adjunct professor at Albany Law School, about how AI is disrupting the legal profession and what Levy calls the “judgment gap.” They discuss AI’s growing role in performing tasks formerly done by lawyers, the need to verify AI outputs that can be plausible but inaccurate, and how legal advice is shifting toward more complex, solution-or...

Michael welcomes strategic communications advisor Christie Bilbrey, founder of Stella Nova Media, to discuss why many professionals sound the same and how to stand out through clearer positioning and storytelling. Christie explains that credentials alone don't differentiate; what people hire is perspective and relatability rooted in understanding an audience's pain points and desired out...

Michael speaks with executive coach and LinkedIn Top Voice Frida Thomas about becoming irreplaceable by understanding “risk vs. moat” in today’s AI-driven workplace. Frida shares her background coaching senior leaders and explains how quickly career strategy is changing, urging professionals to replace fear with curiosity and keep a constant pulse on trends. She describes how to identify a persona...

Michael welcomes Doug Kimball to discuss Doug’s new book, “So What, Why, Who Cares?”, a three-question framework Doug has used for 14+ years to improve messaging, positioning, storytelling, and strategic thinking. Doug shares how the framework originated from a tough critique by a former boss, how it helps teams move beyond clever but ineffective marketing, and why simple questions can be hard to...

Michael speaks with John Harrison, co-founder of Luminar Global, an AI firm focused on “enabling trust with AI,” about how AI is shifting transformation from big-company, big-budget initiatives to individual and small-team impact. Harrison shares his background across IBM, telecom, edtech, and communications consulting, and explains why AI can create rapid new wealth but also faster displacement....

In this Top Voice Podcast episode, Dr. Joey Munoz, a PhD in nutritional sciences, shares how he helps people improve body composition and health markers through sustainable habit formation, education, and accountability rather than fad diets and “sexy” quick fixes. He recounts his early struggles with body image, restrictive dieting, and confusing fitness messaging, and explains how formal trainin...

Michael interviews Phil Ledgerwood, co-owner of Integrity Inspired Solutions, about facing the existential threat AI and “vibe coding” pose to software careers and businesses. Phil describes how market perception and hype can be as disruptive as the technology itself, citing recent AI news, layoffs, and viral narratives that widen the gap between expectations and real capabilities. He argues most...

Michael speaks with Rakshit Kharbanda about creating a non-linear life and career through repeated international moves and calculated risk-taking. Rakshit shares his background from New Delhi, completing a bachelor’s in technology (through 2022) and moving to Paris for a master’s in management at ESSEC Business School, then living across four countries (India, France, Germany, and Canada) for inte...

This episode of the Top Voice Podcast features Sharita Humphrey discussing her “unexpected CEO” journey from government auditor and analyst to entrepreneur and CEO. Humphrey shares that she initially had no desire to start a business, but felt a persistent tug to serve rural communities and prepared for the leap by saving two years of salary, setting aside funds for bills, and learning from auditi...

Join us for a fascinating episode of the Top Voice Podcast as we explore the AI market dynamics in 2025 with Jason Saltzman from CB Insights. Jason shares unique insights on the ecosystem of players, investments, and funding in the AI landscape. We dive into the record-setting year for private company equity funding, driven largely by the big players like OpenAI, Anthropic, and xAI. Discover the g...

In this episode of the Top Voice Podcast, we welcome Vinicius David to discuss AI adoption for small and medium businesses. Vinicius, an expert with 20 years in tech, shares her journey and provides actionable advice on AI implementation. Learn about the differences between AI use in large enterprises vs. SMBs, the importance of data, and practical steps to get started with AI. If you're a bu...

Join us on this episode of the Top Voice Podcast as we dive deep into the world of AI and cybersecurity with industry expert Matthew Rosenquist. With 36 years of experience in cybersecurity, Matthew discusses the growing implications of AI on cybersecurity, the capabilities of AI tools in the hands of both attackers and defenders, and the evolving threats in the digital landscape. Learn about the...

Join us for an engaging episode of the Top Voice Podcast as we delve into the world of independent consulting with expert Mike Koziol. Mike shares his journey from being a lawyer and fraud investigator to becoming a consultant's consultant. We discuss the challenges many independent consultants face in scaling their business, including breaking through revenue ceilings, productizing services,...