Industry Ignited Podcast

Epizode

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  Why Employees Really Leave Their Jobs | Ep. 108 [Jamile Dingle] 17.09.2026 42min

  What does it take to build a workplace where people feel supported, accountable, and motivated to perform? In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Jamile Dingle to explore why strong HR foundations matter from the very beginning. Drawing from his experience across the military, manufacturing, workforce development, and HR leadership, Jamile discusses the importance of clear expectations, consistent policies, documentation, intentional onboarding, communication,...
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  Why Reshoring Could Be More Profitable Than Offshoring | Ep. 107 [Harry Moser] 10.09.2026 38min

  What if offshoring isn’t actually saving companies as much money as they think? In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Harry Moser, founder of the Reshoring Initiative, to explore the true cost of offshore manufacturing and why bringing production back to the United States can make strong business sense. Harry explains why companies need to look beyond wages and purchase prices and consider freight, tariffs, inventory, supply chain risk, quality, communication...
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  How Waste Could Help Solve the World’s Energy Crisis | Ep. 106 [David Goebel] 09.09.2026 30min

  What if one of the world’s biggest waste problems could become one of its most valuable energy solutions? In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Dave Goebel, CEO and Founder of EnVerde LLC, to explore how waste streams can be transformed into clean energy and valuable chemical resources. Dave shares his journey from global leadership roles in the oil and chemical industries to building a sustainability technology company focused on waste-to-energy innovation. ...
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  Why Legacy Businesses Must Innovate to Survive | Ep. 105 [Tariq Miflal] 08.09.2026 53min

  What does it take to transform a 50-year-old family business into a future-ready mobility company? In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Tariq Miflal, CEO of Lumala, to explore how a third-generation manufacturing business is evolving from traditional bicycles into e-bikes, cargo bikes, electric mobility solutions, and new sustainable business models. Tariq shares lessons from leading through disruption, earning the trust of long-time employees, understanding...
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  Better Recovery Starts With Good Sleep | Ep. 104 [Sam Jacobsak] 31.08.2026 23min

  What happens when a frustrating personal recovery experience reveals a problem the healthcare industry has overlooked? On this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Sam Jacobsak, a former professional baseball player turned entrepreneur, to explore how his own shoulder surgery and struggle to sleep during recovery inspired him to build a solution designed around a real patient need. Sam shares his journey from athlete to entrepreneur, the development of the Shoulder ...
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  How AI and 3D Imaging Could Transform Spine Surgery | Ep. 103 [Erez Lampert] 20.08.2026 27min

  What if spine surgeons could operate with real-time 3D guidance while reducing their reliance on intraoperative radiation? In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Erez Lampert, CEO and founder of PathKeeper Surgical, to explore how AI, optical 3D imaging, and surgical navigation are changing the future of spine surgery. Erez shares how his background in aerospace, defense, and digital dentistry helped shape PathKeeper’s approach to precision and safety in the o...
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  How One Failed Product Changed the Way She Built Her Business | Ep. 102 [Anu Luthra] 13.08.2026 27min

  What does it take to walk away from a successful career in finance and build a purpose-driven brand from the ground up? In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Anu Luthra, founder and CEO of Lumehra, to explore her journey from corporate finance to entrepreneurship and the lessons she learned along the way. Anu shares how her first product became an unexpected lesson in market validation, why even a great idea isn’t enough if it doesn’t solve a clear customer p...
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  The Next Generation of Military Drones Is Taking Shape | Ep. 101 [James Thurman] 07.08.2026 23min

  What if the future of aviation could combine vertical takeoff, turbine-powered endurance, and the flexibility to serve both military and civilian missions? In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with James Thurman, Founder and CEO of Portal Aircraft Company, to explore his vision for the next generation of VTOL aircraft. Drawing on his experience as a naval aviator, aerospace engineer, professor, aircraft owner, and defense industry professional, James shares how r...
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  The Biggest Problem in Biotech No One Talks About | Ep. 99 [Dr. Michael Weickert] 06.08.2026 1h 2min

  What does it really take to bring a life-saving medical breakthrough to patients? In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Dr. Michael Weickert, CEO of Pacylex Pharmaceuticals and FE Pharmaceuticals, to discuss the realities of building first-in-class therapies in oncology and infectious disease. From the challenges of securing funding for breakthrough innovations to navigating clinical development and investor skepticism, Dr. Weickert shares decades of experien...
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  This Surgical Innovation Solves a 50-Year-Old Problem | Ep. 98 [Will Crawford] 05.08.2026 27min

  What if one of the biggest opportunities to improve surgical safety and operating room efficiency has been hiding in plain sight? In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leanne Aguilar sits down with Will Crawford, CEO and Co-Founder of Smart Step Surgical, to discuss how a simple observation in the operating room led to the creation of an innovative medical device that is transforming surgical ergonomics and workflow. Will shares his journey from a successful career in spine surgery sales t...
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  The Technology Behind Safer Drones and Smarter Navigation | Ep. 97 [Omer Sharar] 24.07.2026 48min

  What does it take to build technology that keeps critical systems operating when reliability matters most? In this episode of Industry Ignited, host Dr. Leeanne Aguilar welcomes Omer Sharar, CEO and Founder of infiniDOME Solutions, for an engaging discussion on the future of GPS protection, resilient navigation, and the innovations driving next-generation autonomous systems. Omer shares the story behind his company's mission to develop practical, scalable solutions that help organizations nav...
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  The CEO's Guide to Building a Company That Lasts | Ep. 96 [Emir Avdic] 11.07.2026 1h

  What separates companies that simply survive from those that continue to grow for decades? In this thought-provoking episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar welcomes Emir Avdic, President and CEO of Sebright Products Inc., for an in-depth conversation about leadership, innovation, employee ownership, and building organizations where people genuinely care about the company's success. Emir explains how international experience, strategic thinking, and a people-first mindset have helped...
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  The Innovation That Could Power the Future | Ep. 95 [Don Currie] 08.07.2026 27min

  What if one breakthrough could dramatically improve the efficiency of electric vehicles, data centers, renewable energy systems, and the power grid? In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar interviews Don Currie, CEO of Hillcrest Energy Technologies Ltd., to explore the innovation behind zero-voltage switching and why it has the potential to change how electricity is converted and delivered across multiple industries. Discover why engineers, manufacturers, and energy leaders a...
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  How Honey Became The Secret Behind This Beauty Brand | Ep. 94 [Ayesha Ibrahim] 06.07.2026 40min

  In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Ayesha Ibrahim, CEO of Honey Corn, to explore how one natural ingredient, honey, became the foundation of an award-winning ethical skincare brand. What started as a personal search for relief from postpartum eczema evolved into a global entrepreneurial journey driven by sustainability, innovation, and a passion for creating products that work. Ayesha shares how ancient knowledge, scientific research, and a commitment to n...
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  How Predictive AI Makes Aircraft More Reliable | Ep. 93 [Mark Strauss] 03.07.2026 54min

  Why Reliability Wins Missions isn't just a statement; it's the philosophy behind the next generation of autonomous aircraft. In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar interviews Mark Strauss, Founder and CEO of Wave Aerospace, to discuss how his company is redefining UAV performance with aircraft designed to succeed when conventional drones can't. Discover how innovative engineering, intelligent power management, and mission-focused design enable these systems to operate in ext...
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  The Next Billion-Dollar Energy Opportunity | Ep. 92 [Andrew Stock] 16.06.2026 43min

  What does it take to build successful companies across multiple industries and then apply those lessons to one of the biggest challenges in commercial energy? In this episode, Andrew Stock joins Dr. Leeanne Aguilar to discuss the future of solar, energy storage, geothermal power, and the critical role of financing in helping projects get built. Andrew explains why many solar companies struggle, how outdated distribution models inflate costs, and why the next wave of innovation will come from ...
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  How to Scale a Battery Energy Storage Company Without Failing | Ep. 91 [Mark Hagedorn] 11.06.2026 44min

  What separates a successful battery company from one that runs out of money before reaching scale? In this episode, Mark Hagedorn shares the operational playbook behind building and growing battery energy storage businesses, including lessons learned from startups, manufacturing facilities, supply chains, and large-scale energy projects. He explains why great technology alone isn't enough and how strong operations, financial planning, and customer focus ultimately determine long-term success....
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  How Manufacturers Are Cutting Energy Costs Without Spending a Dollar Upfront | Ep. 90 [David Kipling] 08.06.2026 50min

  What if manufacturers could reduce energy costs, lower carbon emissions, and modernize critical infrastructure without investing any capital upfront? In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with David Kipling, CEO of On-site Energy Group, to explore how innovative energy financing models are helping industrial companies unlock major savings while accelerating their sustainability goals. David shares his journey from corporate finance and renewable energy development...
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  The Science Behind Nature-Inspired Innovation | Ep. 89 [Sidney Rostan] 01.06.2026 40min

  What if the next breakthrough in AI, engineering, or product innovation isn't something humans invent, but something nature has already perfected? In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Sidney Rostan, Founder and CEO of Bioxegy, France's leading biomimicry R&D design office, to explore how companies are using nature-inspired solutions to solve some of industry's most complex challenges. From aerospace and automotive to manufacturing and artificial intellig...
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  The Real Difference Between Cheap and Quality | Ep. 88 [David Thuro] 22.05.2026 55min

  What really happens when manufacturers compete only on price? In this powerful conversation, David Thuro explains why cheap manufacturing often leads to hidden costs, quality failures, and long-term risk. As the leader of Thuro Metal Products, David has spent decades producing mission-critical precision parts for aerospace, defense, automotive, and industrial markets where accuracy, reliability, and traceability are essential. He shares how technology, automation, and process innovation helpe...