The Ready Room

In this episode, I sit down with Eddie Kostakis. Eddie is the co-founder of both Xizmo Media, and Aerospect, two of the most successful aerial drone companies in New York City. We talk about how the drone industry has evolved, and where it's headed. We discuss the concerns that much of the general public has with the increasing ubiquity of these devices; privacy, security, and safety. Eddie talks about how he and his business partner went from working out of his father's basement, to running two successful firms on the cutting edge of technology. We talk about just how many industries are using drones in ways that would never have seemed probable even a decade ago, and how these devices are permanently changing the way we think about doing business. We ponder the future of the industry, and contemplate just how long we'll have to wait until we can order pizza via autonomous delivery, or even hail an air-taxi.

In this episode of The Ready Room I speak with Dr. Matthew Johnson. Matt is a Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins University, and an expert on the behavioral and psychological effects of psychoactive drugs in humans. Matt talks about how one finds his way into making a (legal and respectable) living on magic mushrooms. We shine a light on the little-known connection between LSD and “I Dream of Jeannie”. We discuss whether Charles Dickens’ transformative tale of redemption can be replicated in reality. We talk about the positive benefits of psilocybin for those suffering from addiction, depression, and anxiety, and what science has been able to tell us about how our brains are wired and possibly re-wired.

In this episode I sit down with Brett Bullock and Ryan Cole; lifelong friends, and co-founders of "Screamin' Hill Brewery". The guys look back on how they turned their passion for home-brewing into a successful business, We contemplate the modern rise of craft beer brewing, and how to remain genuine to your vision. We talk about the terroir of great beer, the beauty of really old lumber, and the desire for "local" in a global world. We note how great beer enjoyed in a sublime setting seems to bring out the best in people, and postulate that, in a politically polarized world, beer may be as centrist as it gets.

In this episode of The Ready Room, I sit down with Joe Battista. Joe is a coach, mentor, motivational speaker, and author of "The Power of Pragmatic Passion: 7 Common Sense Principles for Achieving Personal & Professional Success”

We discuss what it means to follow your heart, and whether it's possible to do so without severing all ties, and leaving yourself and family in financial straits. We ask the question: What truly defines happiness? We talk about why it is that two-thirds of American workers feel disengaged at their job. We discuss why civil discourse is so hard to find nowadays, and what we can do as individuals to improve that. We talk golf, old friends, new beginnings, and how you can follow your heart's desire with the right plan, the right people, and a healthy dose of pragmatism.

In our inaugural episode, I sit down with the other half of the Ready Room Podcast team, LtCol Keith Phillip to talk about 40 oz. bottles of malt liquor as a competitive testing strategy, what it means to have a combat mentality, the philosophy of tactical thinking, our vision for where we hope to take the show, and why friendship and communication is of vital importance in civil discourse.

Prior to our first episode, I sit down with Ming Chen of A Shared Universe podcast studio to talk about podcasting, creating content, hidden speakeasys, smoked cocktails, and the excitement of the future of the Ready Room podcast.