IT in the D

This week, Alec Bantel joined us to discuss his new app, ACTIQO that helps families organize their kids’ activities. We talk about what it takes to go from idea to launch, including user testing, hiring, and figuring out what people actually want versus what they say they want. The conversation also covers the realities of raising funding while staying rooted in Detroit, and why building locally matters more than chasing Silicon Valley.

Comedian J Chris Newberg has a show on September 18 at Royal Oak Music Theater. We talk for a bit about his comedy style, what’s on his bucket list, and other projects he’s worked on. He tells us what draws him back to Detroit and compares the local comedy scene to other cities.

He’s giving away two tickets to the show! Listen to find out how you can claim one.

Bob was super-excited for this guest! This week, we were joined by Matt Busch, artist, illustrator, filmmaker, YouTuber, professor, and entrepreneur. He’s worked on projects for Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Lord of the Rings, Stranger Things, and so many more. Check out his website to find out all about him: MattBusch.com. Matt tells us about his work as an illustrator, how he got started, his movie Aladdin 3277, his work as a professor, and lots more.

Jackie Lutz is back! She’s the Content Director at the Auto Care Association. We follow up on how the Right to Repair fight is going. She also tells us how things are going on the Auto Care ON AIR podcast, where she hosts Carpool Conversations.

This is a longer episode, but we had a lot of fun, even though we wandered off topic a few times.

Eddie Eadeh, CEO of E&E Tech is back, and we chat about cybersecurity practices, the future of enterprise IT, and Michigan’s economy. We discussed phishing simulations, identity management, and AI-related security incidents, along with predictions like 5G-connected devices, zero trust network access, and passkeys replacing passwords. We wrapped up by comparing Detroit’s economic diversification to cities like Austin and Chicago and Michigan’s reliance on the auto industry.

After 40 years, Travis Bradburn is back on the job market. We hear about what he’s done, what he’s looking for, and what challenges he’s encountered. This one gets to the heart of what our IT in the D networking events are about.

Bob and Randy caught up with returning guest Jason David of Gym Force, a platform that helps independent gyms with member acquisition, retention, and upselling — solving problems Jason ran into as a former CrossFit gym owner. The conversation covered how AI has accelerated his build, the realities of startup funding versus traditional business valuations, and lessons learned from years of testing and tough feedback. They also touched on the differences between Detroit’s startup scene and the IT community, plus the role community plays in gyms, martial arts, and entrepreneurship alike. 

Bob and Randy took a break from AI conversations. This week the guest is Josh McDonald, Regional Sales and Business Development Manager of RC Mowers. He talks all about remote-operated and autonomous robotic mowers. These mowers are used for safety and efficiency. Have you ever seen a remote-operated mower trim along the highway?

Check out the size of this brush mower!

Zander Van Gogh, founder and CEO of No Translation, joins Bob and Randy to discuss his leap from a seven-year career at LinkedIn into entrepreneurship, sparked by a year spent traveling to 50 countries in a year. The conversation covers how Xander used AI tools to plan travel, learn languages, and build a global network, as well as his current work helping mid-market companies actually adopt AI rather than just buy licenses. They also dig into networking philosophy, prompt-writing tips, balancing authenticity with automation in content creation, and broader questions about which tech innovations are genuinely useful versus tech for its own sake.

This week, Paula Macpherson joined us to talk about two things:

First, she is the executive director of Velocity. Velocity is one of the Michigan SmartZones, and is a business incubator, accelerator, and coworking space in Sterling Heights, MI. They provide grant support, guidance from entrepreneurs, and monthly events for new startup business owners.

Second, she is the event chair of the Michigan Inventors Summit. This annual event provides education, networking and product discovery. Guests include entrepreneurs who appeared on “Shark Tank” and personnel from the US Patent and Trademark Office. There will also be a live pitch competition. It is on July 9, 2026 at Kellogg Center, East Lansing. Get tickets on EventBrite.