Lead With AI Podcast

In this episode of Lead with AI, Dr. Tamara Nall speaks with Sandeep Sankarankutty, VP of Operations at Recycle Track Systems, who reveals how AI-powered sensors are transforming the $75 billion waste management industry. Sankarankutty shares how their "Pello smart Bin sensors" can detect contamination in real-time, predict literal dumpster fires, and turn reactive waste management into a proactive operation that prevents problems before customers even notice them. Employee number one at the decade-old company, he explains how their technology increased recycling diversion rates by 55% at Citi Field stadium, keeping thousands of tons of recyclables out of landfills. The conversation explores how major commercial clients across North America now receive text alerts about waste issues before they become problems, and how cycle vending machines at sports stadiums are turning recycling into an engaging experience for fans. Sankarankutty envisions a 2030 where waste management becomes completely transparent and educational, helping his own children understand that recycling creates real environmental impact beyond just sorting trash. For listeners wanting immediate proof of this technology's impact, he invites them to visit Citi Field to see how AI is turning 30,000 baseball fans into recycling champions.

In this episode of Lead with AI, Dr. Tamara Nall sits down with Lexi Reese, CEO and co-founder of Lanai Software, who exposes a startling reality: 80% of AI use in companies happens completely off the radar. Reese shares a jaw-dropping story from an insurance company where sales teams unknowingly uploaded customer zip codes into AI tools - creating potential legal issues as zip codes can serve as proxies for race in insurance decisions. Lanai's platform acts as a "sixth sense" for organizations, detecting AI interactions across the enterprise in real-time and transforming apparent chaos into strategic opportunity - helping one financial institution boost client satisfaction by 30% after identifying and scaling effective AI use cases. The conversation tackles the ethics of visibility versus surveillance, with Reese emphasizing their commitment to focus on patterns, not policing employees, guided by their advisor's principle to "don't be creepy." For leaders wondering what AI tools their teams are actually using, Reese suggests creating an anonymous five-question survey that typically reveals teams are using 3-5× more AI tools than management realizes.

In this episode of Lead with AI, Dr. Tamara Nall uncovers a shocking truth with Nathan Werst, founder of Shoptimized AI: major retailers waste millions advertising products that never drive purchases. Werst reveals the shocking moment when clients first see their wasted ad spend, sometimes discovering 40% of their budget goes to products that generate zero sales. Using neural networks that can predict with 92.3% accuracy which products will sell in specific timeframes, Shoptimized is transforming retail marketing by analyzing patterns humans could never detect - like why blue items sell better on Sundays at 3pm while red items fail. A former data scientist for DICK's Sporting Goods and Farfetch, Werst challenges listeners to search Google for their own out-of-season products to witness firsthand how much money they're wasting right now. Looking ahead to 2030, Werst envisions not just revolutionizing retailers' ROI but creating truly seamless shopping experiences where customers never waste time clicking ads that don't match what they actually want to buy.

In this episode of Lead with AI, Dr. Tamara Nall sits down with Ben Arnon, co-founder of Color Farm Media, and creator of Showtime AI, to unpack the quiet crisis facing movie theaters and delves into the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in revitalizing the movie theater industry. With decades-old infrastructure and seats sitting empty outside blockbuster weekends, theaters are operating at just 15–25% capacity. Arnon shares how Showtime AI is uses a community driven data, dynamic scheduling, and hyper-personalized recommendations to rebuild the movie going experience from the ground up, envisioning "a time where a theater manager sees like a 23% of 35% revenue increase within six months." Instead of static showtimes and unpredictable attendance, Showtime AI will enable theaters to adapt in real time to audience demand, optimizing showtimes, pricing, and even the concession experience to fit viewer habits. Arnon describes a future where every part of the theater journey feels orchestrated just for you; and where the cinematic experience returns to being something truly special and how AI can play a pivotal role in bringing audiences back to theaters and ensuring the sustainability of the cinema industry. If you care about the future of entertainment, this conversation is a must-listen.



📬 Follow Ben’s work and thinking at: benarnon.substack.com

In this episode of Lead with AI, Dr. Tamara Nall sits down with Tim Balz-mechanical engineer, high-school hero who once traded his moped to motorize a classmate’s wheelchair, and now CEO/co-founder of Kalogon-to explore the future of adaptive seating. Discover how Kalogon’s smart cushions, infused with pressure sensors and machine-learning algorithms, auto-customize each air cell to your unique body shape-ending decades of pain, healing multi-year pressure wounds, and empowering pilots, wheelchair users, and long-haul travelers alike. Balz shares his bold 2030 vision for integrated seating in self-driving cars and premium cabins, and explains how you can experience this AI magic today: visit Kalogon.com to request a demo or connect with a RESNA-certified ATP near you.

Connect & Follow:

Tim Balz (CEO): LinkedIn → linkedin.com/in/timbalz

Kalogon Socials:

Twitter: @Kalogonofficial

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/kalogon

Instagram: @Kalogon