Crypto and blockchain come up everywhere these days — at work, in the news, in conversations that seem to assume everyone else already understands what's going on. If you don't, you're not alone.

In this episode of Power & Impact, I sat down with two people I trust and learn from: Agnes Budzyn, founder of Bluedge Ventures, and David Schamis, co-founder and CIO of Atlas Merchant Capital. Both have spent years inside the world of crypto, and both are unusually good at explaining it without hype or jargon.

What struck me most is how practical the conversation became. This isn't about get-rich-quick stories. It's about how money moves, how trust is created, and how new financial "rails" are being built outside the systems we've relied on for decades.

We talked about why stablecoins matter, the difference between Bitcoin and Ethereum, and how blockchain works as a shared, transparent record. We also touch on why banks and governments that once dismissed crypto are now taking it seriously.

If you're curious about crypto but don't quite understand it, you're exactly who this episode is for. Think of it as a thoughtful walk through a complicated subject, with an eye toward what's real, what's noise, and what might shape the future of finance in the years ahead.

In this episode of Power & Impact , I sit down with business leader Nigel Travis, whose career spans some of America's most iconic brands, including Dunkin', Burger King, Jersey Mike's, and others from Blackstone's global portfolio. From his British roots to leading quintessentially American companies, Nigel reflects on how perspective, people, and disciplined execution shape enduring leadership.

Nigel shares what it takes to turn even struggling brands into growth engines, including the lessons he learned rebuilding Dunkin' during the financial crisis. Together, we explore why great leadership is less about control and more about listening.

The conversation also looks inside the boardroom, touching on private equity, effective CEO–chair relationships, and what makes Blackstone's culture distinctive. Looking ahead, Nigel offers candid views on AI, data security, and the future of work — along with advice for leaders navigating uncertainty and rapid change.

This episode is a masterclass in leadership and brand stewardship that's filled with stories and practical wisdom from one of the most respected operators in modern business. Please share your thoughts here.

In this week's episode of Power & Impact, I sit down with Azeem Azhar, a leading expert on the rapid growth of technology, to explore how acceleration itself is shaping the way we work and make decisions. As AI becomes part of everyday life, its influence now extends well beyond business, reaching into education, family life, and the expectations we place on institutions.

Azeem's perspective is shaped by an education at Oxford and years spent studying how technological progress compounds over time. He explains why change often feels sudden, even when it's been building for years, and why the pace we're experiencing today is closer to exponential than linear.

We discuss what this shift means in practical terms, from AI-native companies redefining work to the growing importance of adaptability and judgment for young people entering the workforce.

This episode offers a clear-eyed look at how to stay oriented in a world that keeps speeding up, and how to lead with intention when the future refuses to move in a straight line.

In this week's episode of Power & Impact, I sit down with Armando Pantoja, an investor, technologist, and thought leader who has spent his career spotting inflection points before they become obvious.

Armando's story is a study in reinvention. He went from playing professional basketball in Puerto Rico to returning to software engineering, and eventually to building businesses at the center of the crypto economy. Along the way, he learned the value of starting early, learning quickly from failure, and staying flexible when the path forward isn't always clear.

We talk about the realities behind cryptocurrency hype: Why market cycles repeat, what most people misunderstand about Bitcoin and blockchain technology, and where real opportunity tends to hide. Armando shares lessons from selling Bitcoin too soon, from building and selling a multi-million-dollar crypto company, and from recognizing that the "build phase" of innovation is often where lasting value is created.

Our conversation also takes a look at the future of work. As AI reshapes careers and erases familiar entry points, Armando offers clear advice: don't panic, don't retreat, and don't wait. Learn the tools, think strategically, and position yourself ahead of change. In a world moving this fast, adaptability isn't just an advantage but the difference between keeping up and being left behind.

Recorded live at Techonomy 25, this week's episode of Power & Impact brings together two voices thinking deeply about where creativity and leadership are headed: Sergio Lopez Ferrero, CEO of Omnicom Production and a global leader in AI-driven brand storytelling, and Dr. Bobbi Wegner, a Harvard lecturer focused on team health, connection, and performance.

Their conversation cuts through the noise around artificial intelligence to focus on what actually matters. Sergio and Bobbi talk about how AI is changing the way we create and lead, the role of craft in an era of rapid automation, and why human connection remains the foundation of great teams and great work.

Along the way, we explore creativity as a source of exponential impact and the future of work as something shaped by entirely new capabilities we're just beginning to understand. It's a candid, forward-looking discussion about change, responsibility, and opportunity. If you're thinking about how to lead, create, and build meaningful connections in a fast-moving world, this episode offers both clarity and optimism about what comes next.

In this week's Power & Impact, I sit down with Dr. Gary King, one of Harvard University's most distinguished professors and a leading voice in social science research, for a wide-ranging conversation about learning, leadership, and the power of community.

Joined by my co-host and friend Dr. Bobbi Wegner, we explore why relationships sit at the heart of meaningful education and how community fuels innovation (Dr. Wegner is a psychologist, entrepreneur, and herself a Harvard educator.)

During the conversation, Gary reflects on his work at Harvard, tracing the path from academic insight to its impact in the real world. He also shares what human behavior can teach us about change and why data and AI must be guided by judgment and care.

At its core, this is a conversation about curiosity, collaboration, and the responsibility we all share to build environments where people feel connected, challenged — and inspired.

In this week's Power & Impact, I sit down with the remarkable thinker, Dr. Barbara Oakley, for a deep look at the science of how we learn, adapt, and tap into abilities we never knew we had.

Barbara shares her extraordinary path from "hating math" to becoming one of the world's leading engineering educators, Together, we reveal what modern neuroscience now proves: the brain can change, heal, and grow at any age.

From Army barracks to the South Pole, from breakthroughs in brain science to lessons from global education reform, this conversation offers a hopeful message for parents, teachers, leaders, and lifelong learners alike: We aren't stuck with the brain we started with — we can shape it, strengthen it, and use it to thrive.

What does it take to lead under the brightest spotlight in the world?

In this episode of Power & Impact , I sit down with my friend Sally Susman, who recently wrapped up an extraordinary run as chief corporate affairs officer at Pfizer. Few people have been tested the way Sally was during the COVID years, and even fewer managed to lead with the clarity, steadiness, and optimism she brought to every moment.

Sally talks with me about what it was like to help guide Pfizer through a global crisis, how she built trust in a divided media landscape, and what she learned from working alongside some of the most influential leaders in business and government. She also opens up about reinventing herself at 64 and the values that carried her from Capitol Hill to the boardrooms of iconic companies.

We cover a lot: public trust, polarization, healthcare's future, and why the best communicators often shine when things get tough. It's a rare look into a remarkable career — and a thoughtful conversation about leadership, integrity, and what comes next.