In this episode we talk with Giulio Digiacomo, a Solutions Consultant at Google working in the advertising division. He'll share with us how Google is leveraging Machine Learning in its different product and service offerings, what is the company's vision for the future of Data Analytics, and how they are planning to democratise AI, making it more approachable to non-experts.

In this episode, we talk with Zach Wood Doughty, a PhD student at Johns Hopkins University who does research at the intersection between Computer Science and Language. He also founded Discoverboard, an online platform for deep "late-night" conversations.

In his research, he uses techniques such as Natural Language Processing and Causal Inference to analyze people's conversations on Twitter, and understand how text can influence public opinion on vaccines and political campaigns.

[Note: the audio is a bit shaky until 14:00, apologies in advance for that. The conversation was too good not to publish!]

// RESOURCES //
Zach's Website: https://zachwd.com/
Zach's Twitter: @zachwooddoughty

// FOLLOW US //

Facebook: Brain Cherries Podcast
Instagram: @braincherriespodcast
Linkedin: Brain Cherries Podcast

In this episode we chat about 6 of our favourite apps that made an impact in our life, either by teaching us something new or making a daily task easier. In our conversation, we share the founder's stories, why they differentiate themselves from other players and in the same industry and how they're staying innovative and relevant. We hope these will improve your life for the better. What are apps that improved your life?

// RESOURCES //

- Splitwise: a free tool for friends and roommates to track bills and other shared expenses, so that everyone gets paid back
- Canva: a graphic design platform that allows users to create social media graphics, presentations, posters and other visual content.
- Skillshare: a learning platform with online classes taught by the world's best practitioners
- Treatwell: a brighter way to book hair and beauty appointments
- iScanner: it turns your mobile device into full-featured, powerful and fast document scanner
- Stocard: it turns your phone into your wallet and redefine your everyday shopping experience

// FOLLOW US //

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Instagram: @braincherriespodcast
Linkedin: Brain Cherries Podcast

In this episode we discuss the entrepreneurial ecosystem in developing economies, do's and dont's for founders looking to raise initial capital.

Fabio Bondiman is a Managing Director at the Paraguay Angel Investors Network, an initiative of 28 funding members created to boost Paraguay's entrepreneurial ecosystem. He has multiple years of experience scouting and evaluating the most promising ventures that seek to raise seed capital, as well as identifying potential investors to join the network.

He is very passionate about entrepreneurship and social innovation. Before joining the Angel Network, Fabio worked as a Project Manager at Koga, a Paraguayan incubator for social businesses, advocated accelerating economic development through entrepreneurship.

// RESOURCES //

Fabio's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fabiobm
Paraguay Angel Investor Network: https://www.inversionangel.co/
Techo: https://www.techo.org/

// FOLLOW US //

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Instagram: @braincherriespodcast
Linkedin: Brain Cherries Podcast

In this episode we shift our attention to the latest scientific discoveries and discuss topics such as probiotics, food and nutrition, the microbiota and data science in the healthcare sector. Don't miss this episode if you want to find out the origin of the word "gut feeling" or want to know more about a technique with a quite dubious name, called "fecal microbiota transplant" (?!), which can help restore people's gut health.

Our special guest is Martina Poletti, a PhD student at Quadram Institute (University of East Anglia, UK), where she researches how Bifidobacteria modulate autophagy in the gut. Martina holds a BSc in Biotechnology from the University of Pavia (Italy) and an MSc in Molecular Nutrition and Toxicology from Wageningen University (Netherlands).

Martina is also passionate about making science accessible to all. She has herself worked as a science communicator for the European Food Information Council based in Brussels, where she collaborated on European projects focused on nutrition, health and sustainability.

// RESOURCES //

Martina PhD Profile: https://bit.ly/3gEZxjd
Martina Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinapoletti

// FOLLOW US //

Facebook: Brain Cherries Podcast
Instagram: @braincherriespodcast
Linkedin: Brain Cherries Podcast

In this two-part episode we interview Adi Soozin and Glen-Erik Cortés, founders of Pitek, a startup born recently to help people and companies deal with coronavirus by selling certified masks and other equipment necessary to keep safe.

Adi is an expert in growth marketing and new venture development, with an astonishing track record over the past 10 years. She's the owner of The Million Dollar Pineapple, a company that helps new ventures grow successfully via four brand lines and a team of contractors and freelancers around the world.

Glen-Erik has had experience in large corporations such as P&G and HBO, and is now Lead Machine Learning Engineer at Royal Caribbean Cruises. After having had the initial idea to create this business venture, he asked Adi to partner up. The two met at IE Business School where they both got their MBA.

In the second part of the episode Adi and Glen-Erik share with us what they have learnt in these initial months of starting up their new business venture, especially focusing on the methodologies they've used to cooperate remotely, and tools that have helped them work efficiently while taking track of each others' advancements.

To learn more about their startup and to find all the resources of things we talked about in the episodes, check out the links below.

// RESOURCES //
https://pitek.co/
https://instagram.com/pitek.co
https://themilliondollarpineapple.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/adipineapple
https://www.linkedin.com/in/glenerik

// FOLLOW US //

Facebook: Brain Cherries Podcast
Instagram: @braincherriespodcast
Linkedin: Brain Cherries Podcast

In this two-part episode we interview Adi Soozin and Glen-Erik Cortés, founders of Pitek, a startup born recently to help people and companies deal with coronavirus by selling certified masks and other equipment necessary to keep safe.

Adi is an expert in growth marketing and new venture development, with an astonishing track record over the past 10 years. She's the owner of The Million Dollar Pineapple, a company that helps new ventures grow successfully via four brand lines and a team of contractors and freelancers around the world.

Glen-Erik has had experience in large corporations such as P&G and HBO, and is now Lead Machine Learning Engineer at Royal Caribbean Cruises. After having had the initial idea to create this business venture, he asked Adi to partner up. The two met at IE Business School where they both got their MBA.

In the first part of the episode Adi and Glen-Erik share with us their experience and tips in setting up and growing a company successfully, how to define the product line, target market, audience, and a powerful brand identity.

// Resources //
https://pitek.co/
https://instagram.com/pitek.co?igshid=1ff0ytl5qj6om
https://themilliondollarpineapple.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/adipineapple
https://www.linkedin.com/in/glenerik

//Follow us//
Instagram: @braincherriespodcast
Facebook: @braincherriespodcast

In this episode we explore the ideas behind the book “The Paradox of Choice - Why More is Less” by the American psychologist and TED speaker Barry Schwartz. He argues that an abundance of choice is not necessarily making us happy or free - on the contrary, according to his research people may end up being paralysed by the huge array of possibilities or, if they eventually take a decision, they are more dissatisfied with it due to escalation of expectation and opportunity costs.

This situation is accentuated for people who are “maximisers” - those who look for a perfect choice. In our conversation, we also discuss real-life implications of this theory and what are possible strategies to contrast the negative effects of this abundance of choice.

// Resources //
- Global Citizen - Livestream Concert: https://bit.ly/2xLzLIL
- Paradox of Choice (Book): https://amzn.to/350fEm6
- Paradox of Choice (TED Talk): https://bit.ly/2Y30uey

// Contacts //
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: braincherriespodcast
YouTube: Brain Cherries

// Music //
Say It Again - Matt Chiappin
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4iRh1gS4j9cemxIWzs6FSy

In this episode we explore the idea of "permissionless innovation" by sharing the inspiring story of the Italian startup Isinnova and other collaborators from Massimo Temporelli's Fablab who turned Decathlon's scuba diving masks into respirators for patients in ICUs.

Their 3D printed valves have been an invaluable help for patients in Northern Italy during this unprecedented health crisis. The Charlotte valve, responsible for being able to make these mask work as an actual ventilator, has been patented, but all the drawings and detailed information on the usage are free for non-commercial uses.

// Resources //
- Creation of spare parts: https://bit.ly/3elrTxI
- Fablabs: https://www.fablabs.io/
- Isinnova: https://bit.ly/3ekv1u3
- CAD Definition: https://bit.ly/3cgBHre
- Easter egg origin (IT): https://bit.ly/3b6GPOd

// Contacts //
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: braincherriespodcast
YouTube: Brain Cherries

// Music //
Say It Again - Matt Chiappin
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4iRh1gS4j9cemxIWzs6FSy