Innovation City

"You have to trust yourself.... Trust your intuition. Perhaps you're wrong, perhaps you're right. But I think that you will never regret having listened to your intuition and gone for it, even when you're wrong." - Gabriela Sabate

Today's guest is Gabriela Sabate, Founder & CEO of Health Semantics, which combines digital health and remote monitoring in clinical workflows to prevent chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension. Gabriela is an entrepreneur with 25 years in venture creation and operations, and she is passionate about innovation. In this episode, Gabriela sits down with the team to discuss how she got into the healthtech industry, the many more things we can do with technology, how to identify the right team members, and much more!

"We believe that the more that people activate their power, the more that we're all better off. And if we can activate that power toward new systems (education, economic, health and justice systems), we can really create a world where everyone's thriving." – Charli Cooksey

Today's guest is Charli Cooksey, the Founder & CEO of WEPOWER, a social startup that activates community power to re-design education, economic, health, and justice systems to be just and equitable for all. Charli is an accidental educator and a champion of her St. Louis community. In this episode, Charli sits down with the team to discuss colorism and representation bias, the two distinct and disparate parts of St. Louis, finding personal balance, and much more!

"I want people to back away from, 'Okay well this is the way it's always been done,' to 'We know that the initial thesis was flawed in that it was using a flawed theory,' i.e structural racism and everything that goes along with that." – Marvin Wilmoth

Today's guest is Marvin Wilmoth, Managing Principal & Co-founder at Generation Development Group, a real estate development group which focuses on utilizing the social determinants of health as drivers of the built environment. Marvin also serves as Vice Mayor and Harbor Island Commissioner for North Bay Village, FL. In this episode, Marvin sits down with the team to discuss his community work through local politics, the Generation community model, countering the systematic disinvestment in underprivileged neighborhoods, and much more!

"There's so many days that can just roll on, with the work, with the day to day toiling. But the real thing is pushing yourself." - Christian Ethridge

Today's guest is Christian Ethridge, Chef and Owner at Taco Circus. Taco Circus is a "fundamental taqueria" in St. Louis, serving up authentic Austin-style Mexican street food. Christian worked his way up in the food industry, starting as a dishwasher, and still gets his hands dirty when a job needs to be done. In this episode, Christian sits down with the team to discuss his entrepreneurial journey, economic mobility for his team, making Taco Circus more than your average "margarita mill," and much more!

"It goes back to my childhood. It goes back to the definition of gratitude. And that's been I would say the motivating factor that made a difference in what I could have been and where I am today." -– Galina Russell

Today's guest is Galina Russell, Managing Director of REEF Technology and COO of REEF Energy Division, a tech startup transforming under-utilized urban spaces into local neighborhood hubs. Prior to REEF, Galina directed projects for multiple Fortune 100 companies. She takes pride in being a self-starter, is fluent in several languages and is active in supporting youth in foster care. In this episode, Galina sits down with the team to discuss how she connects with her work, staying motivated to chase her ambitions, the importance of gathering and understanding data, REEF's potential to help communities on a global scale, and much more!

"The need to seem perfect. The need to always have to be winning or be successful to be valuable, to be seen, to be important. None of that really matters." - Danie Spikes

Today's guest is Danie Spikes, CEO of Beloved, Inc., a fragrance house and body care brand she leads with her husband, Stephen. Danie is a relationship coach, public speaker, and award-winning businesswoman. In this episode, Danie sits down with the team to discuss how her fragrance journey began, the relationship between self and others, learning to let go of control, and much more!

Something that's very important to us at JOCON is to make sure that our lineup definitely reflects the community that supports us. - J.J. Jones

Today's guest is J.J. Jones, Managing Partner & Chief Creative Officer at JOCON Media, which currently produces 10 podcasts. J.J. has traveled the world, and his love of business, innovation, and artistry all intersect at JOCON Media. J.J. sits down with the team to discuss going from one podcast to 10, the challenges of managing podcast talent, giving people a voice who have something to say, and much more!

"I know all across the country and neighborhoods, communities, they're suffering through food apartheid. And my goal is so that we don't have to talk about that word anymore." - Tyrean Lewis

Today's guest is Tyrean Lewis, Founder & CEO of Heru Urban Farming, which aims to provide underserved communities with fresh, local produce, and put an end to food apartheid in St. Louis' underserved communities. Tyrean is a fourth-generation farmer who began a community garden that became a successful business. In this episode, Tyrean sits down with the team to discuss his family tradition of farming, ending food apartheid in St. Louis and beyond, what's next for Heru Urban Farming, and much more!

It is clear through the years that inclusion and diversity drive innovation. The more diverse views you have, that's better for everyone. - Laura Maydón

Today's guest is business leader, investor and advisor, Laura Maydón, former Managing Director and CEO of Endeavor's first U.S. affiliate, Endeavor Miami. Laura is currently an advisory board member of NovoPayment and Sustalytics. She's also Co-president of the Harvard Business School Club of South Florida. In this episode, Laura sits down with the team to discuss her journey from Mexico City to Harvard Business School to Miami, as well as innovation in Miami, the importance of inclusion, and much more!

"We all have the ability to transform our lives. We all have the ability to do and be and have the things that we want." - Marianna Lopez

Today's guest is Marianna Lopez, Founder of Wander Not Lost. Marianna is a Catalyst, Healer and Life Coach, and she brings heart and soul to everything she creates. Her services offer a space for others to discover their light, embrace their shadow and find a balanced, joyful life. In this episode, Marianna sits down with the team to discuss being a Catalyst, connecting with your emotions on the deepest level, her advice to others wanting to become a healer, and much more!