In this episode of the Systems & Power Podcast, host Moses Parente speaks with Asli Erem about her unconventional journey from studying anthropology to becoming a competitive powerlifter and eventually breaking into New York City’s startup scene.

They discuss the sense of community within powerlifting, the barriers CUNY students often face when trying to access startup opportunities, and how COVID-19 affected social skills, networking, and professional development. Asli also shares her perspective on the job market for recent graduates and why networking, communication, and marketing skills can be just as important as technical ability.

The conversation also explores content creation, digital marketing, and Asli’s background in anthropology and archaeology. She reflects on the importance of storytelling in travel content, the way social media can distort perceptions of reality, and current trends in fitness and health.

Asli also talks about the value of stepping outside your comfort zone, building relationships, and using diverse experiences as a source of personal and professional growth. The episode closes with a look at her future ambitions and how technology may continue to shape the fields of anthropology, media, and entrepreneurship.

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📅 New episodes every Monday at 12 p.m. ET

🎧 Listen and watch:

▶️ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@itsmosesparente
🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/033OlrjypMa5fS2Uqn3zYD
🍏 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/tj/podcast/systems-and-power/id6790180591

📱 Follow me:

Instagram: @itsmosesparente
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LinkedIn: Moses Parente

DISCLAIMERS

The Systems & Power Podcast does not endorse or assume responsibility for the opinions expressed by its guests.

We provide a platform for different perspectives under the premise that ideas should be heard, questioned, and put to the test.

The views expressed on this channel are my own and do not represent those of my employer.

In this episode of the Systems and Power Podcast, host Moses Parente sits down with Louis Cubero to discuss his journey through social media, freelancing for startups, and navigating the fast-moving world of tech and entrepreneurship. Louis shares what he learned from living and working in hacker houses, building relationships in startup communities, and trying to stand out in an increasingly crowded online landscape.

They also explore the importance of genuine networking, the challenges of building a personal brand, and why founders should be careful about treating venture capital as the default path to success. Louis offers a candid look at the realities of startup culture, community building, and finding your place in an ecosystem where attention, credibility, and connections can matter just as much as the product itself.

If you enjoyed the video:

• Subscribe for more commentary and Systems & Power episodes
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• Leave a comment with your thoughts on AI agents
• Watch the full podcast conversation on the channel

📅 New episodes every Monday at 12 p.m. ET

🎧 Listen and watch:

▶️ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@itsmosesparente
🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/033OlrjypMa5fS2Uqn3zYD
🍏 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/tj/podcast/systems-and-power/id6790180591

📱 Follow me:

Instagram: @itsmosesparente
TikTok: @itsmosesparente
LinkedIn: Moses Parente

DISCLAIMERS

The Systems & Power Podcast does not endorse or assume responsibility for the opinions expressed by its guests.

We provide a platform for different perspectives under the premise that ideas should be heard, questioned, and put to the test.

The views expressed on this channel are my own and do not represent those of my employer.

In this episode of the Systems & Power Podcast, host Moses Parente sits down with Bo Brainerd, CEO and founder of Ophelia, to discuss startups, AI agents, infrastructure, and the future of software.

Bo shares her journey from politics into the tech industry, explaining how grassroots political organizing and startup building have more in common than you might think. She breaks down the idea behind Ophelia, a technology layer designed to connect consumer software and AI agents with real-world services and capabilities.

The conversation explores the challenges of building infrastructure for a new category of software, the importance of open-source tools, and how startups can integrate AI agents into their products without rebuilding everything from scratch.

Bo also discusses New York City's growing startup ecosystem, how AI could reshape jobs and enterprise companies, and her long-term vision for giving software the ability to take meaningful action in the real world.

Topics include:

• Building Ophelia from the ground up
• AI agents and the future of startups
• Connecting software to real-world services
• Open-source infrastructure and developer tools
• Politics, grassroots organizing, and entrepreneurship
• New York City's startup ecosystem
• How AI could change jobs and the workforce
• The future of enterprise software
• Building infrastructure for an AI-native economy

If you enjoyed the conversation:

• Subscribe for more Systems & Power episodes
• Like the video to support the channel
• Comment with your thoughts on AI agents and the future of work
• Check out more full podcast conversations on the channel

📅 New episodes every Monday at 12 p.m. ET

🎧 Listen & Watch

▶️ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@itsmosesparente
🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/033OlrjypMa5fS2Uqn3zYD
🍏 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/tj/podcast/systems-and-power/id6790180591

📱 Follow Moses Parente

Instagram: @itsmosesparente
TikTok: @itsmosesparente
LinkedIn: Moses Parente

DISCLAIMERS

The Systems & Power Podcast does not endorse or assume responsibility for the opinions expressed by its guests.

We provide a platform for different perspectives under the premise that ideas should be heard, questioned, and put to the test.

The views expressed on this channel are my own and do not represent those of my employer.