Rebellious Times Podcast
Hosted the Rebellious Times Podcast explores the human side of tech innovation — from bold founders scaling B2B SaaS startups to employees navigating the realities of AI-era transformation. We unpack founder journeys, AI-powered growth, product innovation, and the future of work — while addressing how these shifts impact mental health, family life, identity, and purpose. This podcast gives voice to everyone building or adapting in the new economy. From mindset breakthroughs to scalable sales, marketing, and partnership systems — tune in for real stories and tactical insights that power predictable growth. Chris Januszewski is also the founder of Rebel Commerce Solutions.
ATX2: From Palo Alto to Austin: Shaking Up Shipping
Reimagining Shipping Through AI – From Palo Alto to Austin’s Startup Scene
Austin, Texas continues to shine as one of America’s fastest-growing startup hubs and The Rebellious Times Podcast is back with the second installment of the Austin Tech Series (ATX2) to highlight the innovators behind the movement.
In this episode, Chris Januszewski reconnects with Tiberiu Motoc, CTO and Co-Founder of CommerceShip, to explore how AI is transforming the shipping and logistics industry. From their early days working together in Palo Alto to building companies side-by-side in Austin, Chris and Tiberiu share a candid conver...
From Light to Leadership: Building Critical Network Infrastructure
The Hidden Backbone of AI: How Optical Networking Powers the Future
Behind every AI model, every chatbot, and every connected device lies something invisible — the network infrastructure that makes it all possible.
In this episode of The Rebellious Times Podcast, Chris Januszewski sits down with Ryan Young, CEO of Kore-Tek, to discuss the unsung hero of the AI revolution: optical networking.
Ryan shares his unlikely journey from television production to leading a company that designs and manages the optical networks underpinning global data transmission — including undersea cable systems that keep our digital world conn...
Making AI Accessible for All Businesses
How Qebot Is Simplifying AI for Small Businesses
“AI isn’t just a tool — it’s a team member.”
In this episode of The Rebellious Times Podcast, Chris Januszewski speaks with Matt White, CEO of KeyBot, about how artificial intelligence is reshaping small-business operations.
Matt’s path from healthcare executive to tech founder offers a candid look at the challenges entrepreneurs face when adopting new technology. He explains how KeyBot and its parent platform, Qebot Marketplace, simplify the process by integrating essential business software into one smart, connected system.
Key Highlights
How...
Revolutionizing Farm-to-Fork: Building ProduceX in the Heart of Texas
Reimagining the Fresh Produce Supply Chain in Austin’s Booming Startup Scene
Austin, Texas isn’t just home to live music and great barbecue, it’s also one of the fastest-growing startup ecosystems in the United States.
In this first episode of the Austin Tech Series (ATX1) from The Rebellious Times Podcast, Chris Januszewski sits down with Shivam Sheel, CEO of ProduceX. They explore how technology, trust, and innovation are transforming the fresh produce supply chain.
Shivam shares his journey from Pittsburgh to Austin. His story highlights how the city’s entrepreneurial energy and inst...
From Oracle to AI Pioneer: Building Technology with Soul
Building Technology with Soul: Why AI Governance Matters for Small Businesses
“AI is no longer just a technical discussion — it’s a strategic imperative.”
In this episode of The Rebellious Times Podcast, Chris Januszewski speaks with David Espíndola, founder and CEO of Brainyus, about helping small and medium-sized businesses navigate the fast-moving world of artificial intelligence.
A former Oracle executive and Chief Information Officer, David shares how his global career inspired the creation of Brainyus — a company that blends AI governance, education, and advisory services to help organizations transform responsibly. He explores why policie...
Working Smarter Not Harder: An Engineer's Guide to Business Evolution
From Engineer to Entrepreneur – Dave Hall, CEO of Hallfield Controls
“Diversity in the customer base is key.”
In this episode of The Rebellious Times Podcast, Chris Januszewski speaks with Dave Hall, CEO of Hallfield Controls, about building a resilient engineering company that thrives across economic cycles.
Dave’s story moves from starting a controls-engineering firm during the 2008 recession to leading a diverse, multi-industry business today. His journey reveals what engineering entrepreneurship looks like when it’s guided by adaptability, long-term thinking, and a deep commitment to people and community.
Key Highlights
L...
Beyond the Game: Building the Future of Youth Sports Development
Transforming Youth Sports Development Through Technology and Purpose
“Only 7 percent of kids play in college.”
That reality inspired Tim Livingston, former college basketball player and now CEO of Aces Nation, to rethink how youth sports should work. In this episode of The Rebellious Times Podcast, Chris Januszewski and Tim explore how passion, balance, and innovation can reshape the future of youth sports development.
Tim shares his journey from athlete to entrepreneur and explains why kids quit sports—and how the right support system can keep them engaged, confident, and growing.
Key Highli...
The Enterprise AI Reality Gap: Moving Beyond Pilot Programs
Bridging the Enterprise AI Reality Gap
“Lead with relationships.”
In this episode of The Rebellious Times Podcast, host Chris Januszewski sits down with Michelle Tinsley, CEO of Sciata, to talk about closing the gap between AI ambition and real-world results.
Michelle shares her journey from Intel executive to startup founder and now leader of a thriving enterprise AI consulting firm. Her insights highlight the critical balance between technology, people, and culture in digital transformation.
Key Highlights
The real challenges behind enterprise AI adoption
Why “data science as a serv...
Breaking Records and Building Capacity: A Journey from $100K College Sales to AI Pioneer
Ethical AI Technology That Helps Save Lives
“Everybody needs a coach in life.”
In this episode of The Rebellious Times Podcast, host Chris Januszewski talks with Dustin Hillis, CEO of SafeSpace Global, about the future of ethical AI technology and how innovation can serve humanity instead of replacing it.
From his early days breaking sales records in college to leading a global AI company, Dustin’s story blends hustle, mentorship, and purpose-driven tech leadership.
Key Highlights:
• The journey from sales success to coaching and leadership
• How SafeSpace’s multimodal A...
The Zero-to-One Specialist: The Journey Of A Serial Founder
Smarter E-Commerce Inventory Management Through AI
“Every single brand has this problem.”
In the latest episode of The Rebellious Times Podcast, Chris sits down with Fabricio Miranda, CEO of Flieber, to unpack how AI-driven e-commerce inventory management is transforming the way modern brands scale.
Key Highlights
• Solving one of retail’s biggest bottlenecks – inventory inefficiency
• Building Flieber’s AI platform to supercharge supply-chain visibility
• Lessons from scaling during the COVID-19 e-commerce boom
• How entrepreneurs spot opportunity where others see chaos
• The future of retail automation and smarter replenishment decisi...
The Live Stream Visionary: How a Tech Pioneer Transformed Digital Entertainment
The Power Of Live Video Experiences – Bulldog DM
“Over one billion audience engagements” – that’s the power of premium live video experiences.
Join me in conversation with John Petrocelli, CEO of Bulldog DM, as we explore:
Key Highlights:
• Creating interactive experiences that transform viewers into participants
• Delivering premium live video across Fortune 100 companies
• Pioneering next-generation streaming experiences since 2012
• Building white-label destinations for global brands
• The future of social media live streaming
Perfect for:
• Fortune 100 brand leaders
• Event production professionals
• Digital engagement strategists
• Social media platform direct...
Beyond AI: Quantum Computing and the Future of Business with Joe Reddix
The Potential Of AI And Quantum Computing Through A Business Lens
“Computational power is the new currency” – a powerful insight into our technological future.
Join Chris in conversation with Joe Reddix, a technology visionary with six decades of experience, as we explore:
Key Highlights:
• The symbiotic relationship between AI and quantum computing
• Revolutionary applications in business and cybersecurity
• The role of heavy water in future data storage (this blew my mind. See a screenshot from Joe’s research at the bottom).
• How quantum technology will transform business operations
• The critical impor...
From Bolton to the Boardroom: A Mental Health Pioneer's Journey
Making An Impact Through Addiction Awareness – WHYSUP
“I was completely broken” – raw honesty from a friend who turned his rock bottom into a mission to help others through addiction awareness.
Join me in conversation with Mark Murray, founder of WHYSUP, as we explore:
Key Highlights:
• The journey from gambling addiction to social impact
• Building mental health awareness through lived experience
• Reaching 250,000 people with life-changing programs
• Transforming education around addiction and mental health
• The power of honest conversations about recovery
Perfect for:
• Mental health advocates
• Education professional...
Reader Relationship Management: How Storiad is Revolutionizing Author Success
Reader Relationship Management – Storiad
“We call ourselves a DIY Plus model” – reimagining book marketing for the digital age.
Join Chris on our startup podcast with Ramzi Hajj, CEO of Storiad, as we explore:
Key Highlights:
• Transforming book promotion through structured marketing
• Combining AI assistance with personalized support
• Building sustainable reader relationships
• The power of timely marketing in book launches
• Bootstrapping success in the publishing industry
Perfect for:
• Authors seeking marketing guidance
• Publishing industry professionals
• Book marketing strategists
• Entrepreneurs interested in bootstrapping
Tech: Discover how A...
Master the Podcasting Journey: Essential Tips from Podcast Hall of Famer Todd Cochrane
IN MEMORIAM: A Tribute to Todd Cochrane – Pioneer, Mentor, and Podcasting Hall of Famer
With heavy hearts, we share one of Todd’s final interviews, recorded August 2025. As the founder of Blubrry and a true podcasting pioneer, Todd’s impact on our industry cannot be overstated.
I had the privilege of interviewing Todd Cochrane just weeks before his sudden passing. Todd wasn’t just the founder of Blubrry – he was a mentor, pioneer, and champion of independent podcasters everywhere.
From a $14.95 Walmart microphone to the Podcast Hall of Fame, Todd showed us all what’s pos...
The Hidden Playbook: How Creative Financing is Saving Companies When Banks Say No
https://youtu.be/UcoYX6XMknE
Creative Financing And The Transforming Lending Landscape – Finmark
“AI is taking over in many areas of banking.” – a insightful discussion on finance in today’s digital age.
Join me on our startup podcast with Roberto Rivera, CEO of Finmark, as we explore:
Key Highlights:
• The three Cs of lending: Character, Capacity, and Collateral
• Creative financing solutions beyond traditional banking
• How AI is transforming the lending landscape
• The future of crypto and tokenization in finance
• Success stories of businesses overcoming financial challenges
Pe...
From Defense Tech to No-Code: Pioneering the Future of Decentralized Computing
Edge computing and peer-to-peer in defense tech – Socket Supply
In this episode of the Rebellious Times podcast, Chris Januszewski speaks with Paolo Fragomeni, CEO of Socket Supply, about revolutionizing computing through peer-to-peer technology and edge computing innovation in the defense tech space.
Discover insights on:
• The cyclical nature of centralized vs. decentralized computing
• Building defense-grade peer-to-peer protocols
• The future of edge computing and device-to-device communication
• Creating cross-platform applications without platform-specific code
• The importance of customer proximity in tech innovation
Key Timestamps:
05:36 Paolo’s Technical Journey and Early Care...
The Human Side of AI Implementation: Lessons from Entromy's Journey
AI Implementation For Organizational Transformation – Entromy
“AI literacy isn’t just a nice to have” – a crucial insight for today’s leaders navigating organizational transformation through AI implementation.
Join me in conversation with Kara Whitaker, VP of Strategic Partnerships and Expansion at Entromy, as we explore:
Key Highlights:
• Building organizational health through data insights
• Transforming leadership with real-time feedback
• Moving beyond traditional employee surveys
• Implementing AI as a productivity partner
• Creating friction-free work environments
Perfect for:
• Leaders driving organizational change
• HR professionals seeking better insights
• Tech lead...
Balancing the Books & Life: How Modern CFOs Are Ending Spreadsheet Slavery
Ending Spredsheet Slavery For CFOs – Finnt
“You can’t get time back” – a powerful reminder as we explore the future of finance and ending spreadsheet slavery.
Join me in conversation with Anji Ismail, CEO of Finnt, as we explore:
Key Highlights:
• The journey from finance professional to tech innovator
• How AI is augmenting (not replacing) finance roles
• The critical role of data quality in AI implementation
• Finding work-life balance as a tech founder
• Breaking through finance sector resistance to change
Perfect for:
• CFOs and finance leaders
From HR to AI: How a Non-Technical Founder is Disrupting HR Compliance
The Future of AI in HR Compliance – VirgilHR
“Empower HR professionals to be more strategic” – turning HR compliance expertise into groundbreaking technology.
Join Chris, growth partner to startups, on our startup podcast with Jocelyn King, CEO of VirgilHR, as we explore:
Key Highlights:
• The journey from HR professional to tech founder
• Building a SaaS product without a technical background
• Navigating Techstars as a female founder
• Balancing HR compliance with employee trust
• The future of AI in HR technology
Perfect for:
• Non-technical founders considering tech ventures
• HR professio...
Married to the Mission: A Founder Couple's Tech Journey
Innovation in Digital Home Management – HomeZada
“We spend 33% annually on our homes” – yet most of us lack a digital home management system to manage this vital investment.
Join Chris, founder of Rebel Commerce Solutions, on our startup podcast with Elizabeth Dodson, Co-Founder of HomeZada, as we explore:
Key Highlights:
• Building a tech company with your spouse
• Setting boundaries in a family business (“No PDA in the office!”)
• Creating digital solutions for home management
• The power of mentorship in entrepreneurship
• Supporting military families through remote work
Perfect for:
• Entrepren...
The Bootstrap Blueprint: Building a Profitable B2B Tech Company Without VC Money
The Bootstrap Path to Startup Success – Zappix
“Cashflow is king” – wisdom from a leader who chose the bootstrap path to startup success.
Join Chris, growth partner for B2B SaaS companies, on our startup podcast with Yossi Abraham, CEO of Zappix:
Key Highlights:
• Building a profitable tech company without VC funding
• Navigating healthcare regulations while innovating
• Implementing AI for meaningful customer engagement
• Guerrilla marketing strategies that actually work
• The art of sustainable growth through bootstrapping
Perfect for:
• Founders considering the bootstrap route
• Healthcare tech innovators
• Cus...
From 45 Days to Real-Time: Transforming Loan Due Diligence with Intelligent Blockchain
Revolutionizing structured finance through AI and blockchain – Intain
“We wanted to build something which was similar to a public exchange.” – an ambitious goal that focuses on revolutionizing structured finance through AI and blockchain.
Join Chris Januszewski, growth partner for software startups, on our startup podcast with Sanjay Nishank, COO of Intain, as we explore:
Key Highlights:
• The journey from IT services to fintech entrepreneurship
• How AI and blockchain are revolutionizing loan due diligence
• Reducing 45-day processes to real-time operations
• Managing $8B in loans through innovative technology
• The future of token...
Legal Innovation and Leadership: Balancing Business Success with Mental Wellness
Legal innovation in dispute resolution – New Era ADR
“Litigation is a broken process” – a powerful statement that sparked a revolution in dispute resolution through legal innovation.
Join Chris, growth partner for startups, on our podcast with Collin Williams, CEO of New Era ADR:
Key Highlights:
• Transforming dispute resolution with 100-day resolutions
• How technology is revolutionizing traditional legal practices
• Creating more efficient, empathetic legal processes
• Breaking down the stigma around men’s mental health
• The crucial link between physical and mental wellness
Perfect for:
• Legal professionals seeking innovation
Breaking Financial Barriers: Pngme's Mission to Democratize Banking in Africa
Democratizing Banking In Africa – The Pngme Story
“Everyone deserves equal access to finance” – a powerful mission driving innovation in emerging markets with the goal of democratizing banking in Africa.
Join me on our startup podcast with Rob Hiff, VP of Growth at Pngme , as we explore:
Key Highlights:
• Democratizing banking & digital finance across Sub-Saharan Africa
• How mobile money is revolutionizing financial inclusion
• Adapting fintech solutions for emerging markets
• Building universal data systems for 3.3 billion underserved people
• The unique intersection of running culture and tech in Nairobi
Perfect for:
...
The Future of Personal Style - How AI & Human Expertise are Revolutionizing Fashion Retail
Revolutionizing Shopping With AI Fashion Retail – The Wishi Story
“Personalization isn’t just a feature – it’s the future of e-commerce” – insights on transforming luxury fashion and retail with AI.
Join Chris on our startup podcast with Clea O’Hana, CEO and Co-founder of Wishi, as we explore:
Key Highlights:
• The journey from finance to revolutionizing fashion tech.
• How AI fashion retail is transforming personal styling at scale.
• Solving the “paradox of choice” in online retail.
• Creating personalized shopping experiences that boost conversion and reduce returns.
Perfect for:
• E-commerce lead...
From Parking Pain to Profit: How Wayleadr is Transforming the Arrival Experience
From Parking Pain to Profit: How Wayleadr is Transforming the Arrival Experience
“We want to impact billions of journeys” – a bold vision for transforming how we think about parking and the arrival experience.
Join Chris, growth partner to startups, on our startup podcast with Jaryd Lindheim, VP of Business Development at Wayleadr, as we explore:
Key Highlights:
• How a CEO’s parking frustration sparked a revolutionary solution
• Converting parking spaces into revenue-generating assets
• Creating seamless experiences for office tenants and multifamily residents
• The future of autonomous vehicles in urban infrastructure<...
AI Readiness Gap: What Startup Founders Need to Know Before Investing
AI Readiness Gap: What Startup Founders Need to Know Before Investing
Join me in conversation with Kevin Israel, VP of Delivery Support at Terazo, as we help startups navigate the AI readiness gap on our startup podcast.
“AI is just a tool, not a solution” – a powerful reminder from today’s conversation about the reality of AI implementation.
Key Highlights:
• Why clean, structured data is the foundation of successful AI
• How to identify the right AI use cases for your startup
• Practical approaches to operationalizing AI in your business
• Navigating compl...
Cahoot Peer-to-Peer Returns Fulfillment For Ecommerce
Join Chris Januszewski, founder of Rebel Commerce Solutions, on our startup podcast with Manish Chowdhary, CEO of Cahoot and Pulse Commerce, as we explore Peer-to-peer returns fulfillment for ecommerce on our startup podcast.
“The future of e-commerce fulfillment isn’t about building more warehouses – it’s about intelligently using the space we already have.”
Key Highlights:
The entrepreneurial journey from GoECart to revolutionizing fulfillment How peer-to-peer networks are transforming returns processing Turning excess warehouse space into profit centers Adapting to new tariffs and market challengesPerfect for:
E-commerce merchants seeking efficient fulfillment solutions ...
