Marketing, Innovation, and Averi AI with Zack Holland
In this episode of the Ardan Labs Podcast, Bill Kennedy talks with Zack Holland, CEO & Founder of Averi AI, about his journey from early life in Ecuador’s Amazon rainforest to building an AI-powered marketing platform. Zack shares lessons from early business ventures, the challenges of running startups, and the evolution of his entrepreneurial mindset. They explore how Averi AI helps marketers become more creative and efficient, the importance of data security and trust in AI, and what it takes to innovate in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.00:00 Introduction02:54 Marketing and AI Evolution05:58 Changing Digital Landscape09:04 Early Life and Influences12:02 From Ecuador to Utah18:00 First Business in High School29:53 LLMs and Entrepreneurship39:44 Lessons from Failure43:46 Starting a Marketing Agency56:19 Founding Avery AI01:08:10 Trust and Data Security01:13:14 Marketing and AI Adoption01:17:58 AI Challenges and Opportunities01:26:00 Contact Info Connect with Zack: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zackhollandX: https://x.com/zack_hollandMentioned in this Episode:Averi AI: https://www.averi.ai/Want more from Ardan Labs? You can learn Go, Kubernetes, Docker & more through our video training, live events, or through our blog!Online Courses : https://ardanlabs.com/education/ Live Events : https://www.ardanlabs.com/live-training-events/ Blog : https://www.ardanlabs.com/blog Github : https://github.com/ardanlabs
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1:28:35
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1:28:35
Writing, Technology, and a Nomadic Lifestyle with Mike Elgan
In this episode of the Ardan Labs Podcast, Bill Kennedy talks with Mike Elgan, technology editorialist, about his journey to becoming a professional writer. Mike reflects on the evolution of journalism, the digital publishing revolution of the 90s, and the role of communication in shaping society. He also shares insights from his nomadic lifestyle, the realities of freelance writing, the impact of AI on creativity, and the importance of adaptability and passion in navigating a rapidly changing technological landscape.00:00 Introduction 05:54 Growing Up in the 70s and 80s11:32 Education, Passion & Early Work31:32 Politics, Journalism & First Writing Roles45:16 Transition to Technology Journalism54:30 Digital Media Revolution01:03:01 Becoming a Freelance Writer01:05:52 Nomadic Lifestyle & Financial Realities01:24:36 AI’s Impact on Work, Writing & Education01:42:56 The Future of Writing & Communication01:50:52 Cyberpunk Reality & Technology’s Next Era01:55:11 Finding Passion & Success in LifeConnect with Mike: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeelganX: https://x.com/MikeElganMentioned in this Episode:Mike Elgan’s Newsletter: https://machinesociety.ai/Gastronomad: https://gastronomad.netWant more from Ardan Labs? You can learn Go, Kubernetes, Docker & more through our video training, live events, or through our blog!Online Courses : https://ardanlabs.com/education/ Live Events : https://www.ardanlabs.com/live-training-events/ Blog : https://www.ardanlabs.com/blog Github : https://github.com/ardanlabs
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2:05:57
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2:05:57
Cybersecurity, Beyond Identity, and Identity Defense with Jasson Casey
In this episode of the Ardan Labs Podcast, Bill Kennedy talks with Jasson Casey, CEO and co-founder of Beyond Identity, about modern cybersecurity. Jasson shares his journey from early interests in technology and networking to leading startups and building products that address today’s security challenges. They explore the evolution of authentication, the need for hardware-backed identity systems, the realities of insider threats, and how cultural and customer insights shape better security solutions.00:00 Introduction00:30 What is Jasson Doing Today?7:00 Fundamentals of Security15:30 First Memory of a Computer22:00 Interest in Physics 36:00 Working in College43:00 Joining a Startup50:00 Becoming a Product Manager at 2158:30 Culture Shock 1:03:20 Moving to Executive Roles1:10:00 Starting Beyond Identity1:19:00 Monitoring Threats1:34:00 Contact InfoConnect with Jasson: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jassoncasey/X: https://x.com/jassoncaseyMentioned in this Episode:Beyond Identity: https://www.beyondidentity.com/Want more from Ardan Labs? You can learn Go, Kubernetes, Docker & more through our video training, live events, or through our blog!Online Courses : https://ardanlabs.com/education/ Live Events : https://www.ardanlabs.com/live-training-events/ Blog : https://www.ardanlabs.com/blog Github : https://github.com/ardanlabs
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1:36:50
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1:36:50
Adaptability, Google, and MCP with Jonathan Amsterdam
In this episode of the Ardan Labs Podcast, Bill Kennedy interviews Jonathan Amsterdam from the Go team at Google about his journey from academia and finance to software engineering, his work on Go and API design, and the importance of adaptability, community, and building impactful software.00:00 Introduction00:30 What is Jonathan Doing Today?02:00 First Memories of a Computer09:30 Entering University14:00 Early Coding / Academics 20:50 Interest in AI / ML27:00 Career Beginnings 33:00 Transitioning to Java and Teaching41:00 Distributed Software45:00 Ambitions / Finding Stability 55:00 Experiences at Google 1:07:20 Joining the Go Team1:17:00 Go and MCP1:24:00 API Design and Philosophy1:30:20 Contact InfoConnect with Jonathan: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-amsterdam-b901b21/Mentioned in this Episode:Go-sdk: https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/go-sdkWant more from Ardan Labs? You can learn Go, Kubernetes, Docker & more through our video training, live events, or through our blog!Online Courses : https://ardanlabs.com/education/ Live Events : https://www.ardanlabs.com/live-training-events/ Blog : https://www.ardanlabs.com/blog Github : https://github.com/ardanlabs
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1:32:21
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1:32:21
Interviews, Soft Skills, and Career Growth with Kacie Bail
In this conversation, career coach Kacie Bail discusses her work helping others navigate the job market. She emphasizes the growing importance of soft skills in job applications, the challenges of job rejections, and the need for empathy from interviewers. Kacie shares her journey from bioengineering to consulting, highlighting the significance of internships and the continuous nature of career development. The discussion also touches on the impact of automation on job opportunities and the importance of finding clarity in career goals. 00:00 Introduction00:30 What is Kacie Doing Today? 01:30 Job Search Process09:00 Interviewing and Soft Skills15:00 Having Attention20:00 Highschool Interests33:00 University in Maryland39:00 Entering Consulting55:00 Looking for Change01:03:00 Moving to Chile1:18:00 Getting the Interview1:22:00 Sourcing Clients1:27:10 AI Automation for Resumés1:31:30 Contact InfoConnect with Kacie: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaciebail/Kacie’s Newsletter: https://kaciebail.substack.comInstagram: @kaciebailMentioned in this Episode:Kacie’s Site: https://www.kaciebail.com/Want more from Ardan Labs? You can learn Go, Kubernetes, Docker & more through our video training, live events, or through our blog!Online Courses : https://ardanlabs.com/education/ Live Events : https://www.ardanlabs.com/events/ Blog : https://www.ardanlabs.com/blog Github : https://github.com/ardanlabs
This podcast features intimate conversations with engineers who are in the forefront of building or teaching technology. Join us as we learn how our guests got started in tech, the type and level of education they've obtained, their work history, and personal stories about their journey. We publish the show on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and the Web biweekly on Wednesdays at 12pm US Eastern Time. Subscribe and STAY TUNED!