Ripple E-ffects

Sadhguru joins Navin at CSIS headquarters in Washington to discuss the Save Soil movement, conscious leadership, and why the future of food security and economic stability may depend on the health of the world's soil.

They explore the consequences of soil degradation, how the Save Soil movement reached billions of people, and what it takes to reverse one of the least understood challenges of our time.

The episode opens with remarks from CSIS CEO Emeritus John Hamre.

In this episode, Navin is joined by Ryan Goodman, CEO of Scale Microgrids, to discuss how rising electricity demand, data centers, and a strained U.S. grid are reshaping America’s energy future.

In this episode, Navin sits down with Blake Mandell, co-founder and CEO of Transcend Therapeutics, who talks about the personal loss that led him to create innovative, rapid-acting treatments for PTSD — and why the current standard of care leaves our veterans at risk.

Navin is joined by Dan O’Keefe, Connecticut’s Chief Innovation Officer and Commissioner of Economic Development. Drawing on 25 years of experience investing in technology companies, Dan explains how lessons from the private sector shape his approach to public service. He describes how Connecticut is using public-private partnerships to drive economic growth, strengthen its workforce, and position the state to lead in the next wave of technological innovation.

Navin is joined by Cobi Blumenfeld-Gantz, co-founder and CEO of Chapter, the fastest-growing Medicare advisory in the United States. Cobi shares how Chapter helps millions of Americans navigate the complex world of Medicare, the innovative ways they use AI to simplify healthcare decisions, and his vision for rethinking retirement so people can live healthier, wealthier, and more purposeful lives.

Dr. Aron D’Souza joins the podcast to discuss his career across law, finance, and technology, as well as his role as the founder of the Enhanced Games. He shares the story behind the initiative and offers his perspective on innovation in sport, the future of human performance, and the broader implications for public policy and technology.

In this episode, Navin talks with Stuart Wall, CEO and Co-founder of Setpoint, a fintech company reshaping the asset-backed lending industry. Stu reflects on his entrepreneurial upbringing, competitive chess background, and the lessons learned from past failures. He also explains how Setpoint is using AI to automate complex loan agreements—making credit markets faster, more transparent, and more efficient.

Prior to founding Setpoint, Stuart founded Signpost.com, a purpose-built CRM for service businesses, which he scaled to over 300 employees before. He began his career in Bain & Company’s Private Equity Group, where he evaluated multi-billion-dollar buyouts and developed deep expertise in financial operations.

Stuart earned his MBA with Distinction from Harvard Business School and holds a BS in Finance from Miami University. He was named one of Glassdoor’s Top 25 North American CEOs in 2016 and shares insights on fintech and digital infrastructure with outlets like TechCrunch and Forbes.

In this episode, Navin is joined by Balan Ayyar, retired U.S. Air Force Brigadier General and the Founder and CEO of percipient.ai. They discuss Balan’s deep military experience, how the commercial sector ensures U.S. defense capabilities, and if A.I. can benefit society.

Prior to leading percipient.ai, Balan served in the U.S. Air Force, including serving as Commanding General of the Combined Joint Interagency Task Force 435, in Kabul, Afghanistan. After retiring, he served as CEO of a $100M+ government services IT firm before founding percipient.ai, an artificial intelligence, machine learning, and computer vision firm dedicated to intelligence and national security efforts.

Navin is joined by Jordan Blashek, a U.S. Marine veteran, investor, and co-founder of America’s Frontier Fund. They discuss how the U.S. military uses AI on the battlefield, accelerating the R&D cycle to bring critical technologies to market, and the importance of public-private partnerships to bolster U.S. competitiveness.

Blashek is the co-founder and managing partner of AFF, a mission-driven fund investing in frontier technologies that are vital to U.S. competitiveness on the global stage. His perspective on innovation and investing in America’s future evolved during his service with the U.S. Marine Corps, seeing first hand how critical technology like artificial intelligence can influence communications and intelligence operations across the board.

Introducing, Ripple E-ffects, the latest podcast from CSIS. Ripple E-ffects examines how technology redraws the contours of power, economics and national security. Host Navin Thukkaram engages technology pioneers, national security experts, and business leaders in precise conversations that seek to separate signal from noise. New episodes release monthly.