Agents of Innovation

Episode 163: Mod Cardenas, The Art of Being an Entrepreneur, Guatemala City

Mod Cárdenas (b. Guatemala 1982) is a contemporary visual artist and pioneer of Guatemalan street art. Alongside his art, Cardenas pursued a career in Clinical Psychology, that has informed his approach to art from a research and observational base. Cardenas has exhibited extensively around the world with 14 solo exhibitions and several group shows, in addition to his murals and public art installations locally and abroad. His work has received numerous honors including the Highly Commended Award from SAP in Australia, Honorific Mention by Fundación Rozas Botrán in Guatemala, and a finalist position at GAA in Dubai. He was also recognized by the Finance Minister of Guatemala for his contribution to Guatemalan culture and by the Congress of the Guatemalan Republic for his impactful contributions and elevation of the art and culture produced in their country. His work is included in collections such as the Guatemalan National Congress Collection, the Luciano Benetton Collection in Italy, and the Fundación Rozas-Botrán Museum in Guatemala. Watch this episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/6NqFcTrLYnM Learn more about him at: https://www.modcardenas.com Find him on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/mod77art/ Follow the Agents of Innovation podcast on: Instagram: / innovationradio Twitter: / agentinnovation Facebook: / agentsofinnovationpodcast You can support this podcast and our Fearless Journeys community on our Patreon account: www.patreon.com/fearlessjourneys Want us to host a Fearless Journey group trip to Memphis with Matt Stone? Email us at: fearlessjourneysLLC at gmail dot com You can also join our network -- and our group trips -- through the Fearless Journeys community at: https://www.fearlessjourneys.org and subscribe to our free newsletter at: https://fearlessjourneys.substack.com 00:00 Episode Introduction 00:50 How do we meet? 01:05 First time listening to an episode? // What is Fearless Journeys 3:08 Where did you get your name Mod? 04:39 At what time did you start doing graffiti? 07:04 Art is part of everybody’s life 09:14 10 Characteristics of a successful entrepreneur Curious & creative 10:58 How did you start? Why were you anonymous 13:30 Education and other jobs 16:54 Why Mod became a top 5 Tattoo Artist in Guatemala City 18:17 How do people find you before Social Media? 19:15 What kind of art are you particularly known for now? 21:37 Mod’s studio 24:00 Self education & Social media 27:44 How’s a Guatemalan artist recognized internally and externally 30:03 The importance of telling your story 35:44 The Power of connections 41:05 How can an artist get income? 42:00 How to manage your income being an solo entrepreneur 42:52 Finding a partner that understands you 51:45 How did you get your own Studio 52:15 Not everything is smooth Sailing as an artist - The power of MKTNG 55:14 How to contact Mod 57:35 Commission art and work 59:42 How do you help other artists 1:05:30 Difference between the artist mind and the entrepreneurial mind 1:12:15 You need to sell yourself 1:16:15 Traveling & awards 1:22:30 How many countries have you been to now? 1:25:00 Wrap

Episode 162: An Update from Matt Stone, Elvis Presley Tribute Artist

Matt Stone was a previous guest on Episode 117 of the Agents of Innovation (October 2022). You can revisit that episode for Matt's story before 2022 here: https://youtu.be/eF_lJ03STrc?si=L4Ry0Yl9CHF0RPbP In this episode, we catch up with him since so much has happened in his life and career. A husband and now father of a 2-year old, Matt has taken his Elvis tribute show all over the United States and even internationally. He has met Priscilla Presley and even played Elvis' piano in RCA Studio B. This episode will teach you how one young man is charting his own course and how you can learn and apply lessons from his own story. Learn more about Matt Stone at: https://www.mattstoneaselvis.com Find him on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/realmattstone You can also watch this episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/vEmfhO54l24 Follow the Agents of Innovation podcast on: Instagram: / innovationradio Twitter: / agentinnovation Facebook: / agentsofinnovationpodcast You can support this podcast and our Fearless Journeys community on our Patreon account: www.patreon.com/fearlessjourneys Want us to host a Fearless Journey group trip to Memphis with Matt Stone? Email us at: fearlessjourneysLLC at gmail dot com You can also join our network -- and our group trips -- through the Fearless Journeys community at: https://www.fearlessjourneys.org and subscribe to our free newsletter at: https://fearlessjourneys.substack.com 0:00 Episode Introduction 3:02 Expanding the Elvis Tribute Artist tour 6:14 Renting Venues, Taking Risk and Ownership 7:34 Why Being a Student of Marketing and Advertising Helps 10:25 How to Pitch Talent Buyers to Take On Risk of Show Expenses 11:14 Creating Your Own Opportunity with Four Wall Touring 13:28 Why Entertainers Should Build Business Skills 18:53 National Touring with a Full Band 25:32 Playing Elvis' Piano in RCA Studio B in Nashville 30:57 The Importance of Consistency in Business Marketing 37:25 Learning Through Free Resources 38:45 Training AI as Your Assistant 40:48 Balancing a Separate Full Time Job and Being an Elvis Tribute Artist 44:37 Meeting Priscilla Presley 51:31 What's Next For Matt Stone? 53:40 Learning by Doing 54:30 Detail-oriented in Recreating Authentic Elvis Shows 1:01:50 Recapping Lessons We Can Learn from Matt Stone 1:04:08 Next Step: Scaling Up 1:05:56 A Trip to Memphis with Matt Stone?

Episode 161: Francois de Neuville, Founder, Man Uncharted; Author, The Illusion of Time

Francois de Neuville is the founder of Man Uncharted and author of "The Illusion of Time: 11 Lessons How Not to Suck at Life." Francois is a survivor of the 2018 tsunami and 7.5 earthquake in Indonesia. He was an officer and platoon leader in the Belgian military and trained as a commando-paratrooper. Through his adventures around the world, François brings a unique perspective and depth of knowledge to his work as a high-performance coach, speaker, and author. François is dedicated to sharing his insights with others and empowering people to show up in a way they’ve never done before to achieve greatness. With his guidance and support, you too can learn to master yourself, master your time, and create an epic life that is truly fulfilling. Learn more about Francois at: https://www.francoisdeneuville.com You can also watch this episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/UjHrx9Z9QqU Follow the Agents of Innovation podcast on: Instagram: / innovationradio Twitter: / agentinnovation Facebook: / agentsofinnovationpodcast You can support this podcast and our Fearless Journeys community on our Patreon account: www.patreon.com/fearlessjourneys You can also join our network -- and our group trips -- through the Fearless Journeys community at: https://www.fearlessjourneys.org 0:00 Introduction to episode 3:24 Surviving the Tsunami: A Life-Changing Experience 10:08 The Universal Truths of Time 11:10 Confronting Mortality: Lessons from Bhutan 15:26 The Perception of Time: Speeding Up or Slowing Down? 19:14 The Nomadic Lifestyle: Embracing Freedom and Minimalism 26:22 Choosing Your Problems: Empowerment Through Travel 30:48 Suffering is a Choice: Perspective on Pain 34:56 Pain vs Suffering: Understanding the Difference 36:19 The Grieving Process: Navigating Loss and Healing 39:46 Embracing Discomfort: The Path to Growth 43:19 Challenging Comfort Zones: Adventures and Risks 48:44 Living Boldly: The Importance of Taking Risks 55:41 Man Uncharted: Building Brotherhood and Resilience

Episode 160: Douglas Pestana, LegalMente AI

Douglas Pestana has over 13 years of experience in data science, machine learning, natural language processing, and AI. Throughout his career, Douglas has managed data science and analytics in healthcare, startups, and Fortune 500 companies. He has built and deployed various AI models, making him the perfect fit to lead the development of our innovative contract review software. He’s also the founder of Remix Institute, a startup that trains members for careers in AI. You can learn more about Douglas Pestana and his team at LegalMente AI here: https://legalmente.ai/team/ You can also watch this episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/J9UdhqRpM_E Follow the Agents of Innovation podcast on: Instagram: / innovationradio Twitter: / agentinnovation Facebook: / agentsofinnovationpodcast You can support this podcast and our Fearless Journeys community on our Patreon account: www.patreon.com/fearlessjourneys You can also join our network -- and our group trips -- through the Fearless Journeys community at: https://www.fearlessjourneys.org 0:00 Episode Intro 2:24 Introduction of Douglas Pestana 4:20 Early life and education in Tampa, Florida 5:25 Excelling in Mathematics and Cultivating Strengths 11:00 First Post-College Job as a Data Analyst in Las Vegas 14:44 Putting the Odds in Your Favor 16:51 Where Innovation Flourishes Most 18:54 Using AI to Be a Problem Solver 20:12 Real Value of Machine Learning: Predicting the Future 22:30 How AI can help entrepreneurs 23:50 AI Machines: Automating Known Factors to Predicting the Unknown 30:55 How to Integrate AI into our daily habits 38:08 What is LegalMente and why was it founded? 42:14 How the average person & lawyers can benefit from LegalMente AI 44:40 Will AI eliminate jobs for lawyers? 51:10 How solo practitioners and small legal firms can use LegalMente AI 53:23 How LegalMente uses technology and the law in its product 53:50 How and why everyone should begin utilizing AI tools in their daily use 55:13 How Fearless Journeys helps entrepreneurs connect and solve problems 55:48 Entrepreneurs are Problem Solvers 58:28 How Alexander McCobin and Ron Paul brought Francisco and Doug together

Episode 159: Riley Kaminer, Founder, Clear Critical; Tech Writer, Refresh Miami

Riley Kaminer is the Founder of ClearCritical, a team of storytellers and strategists helping VCs amplify their vision. They turn investment theses and portfolio successes into compelling narratives that engage LPs and elevate their firms' brands. An experienced tech journalist, Riley’s research and writing has appeared in Forbes, The Times (UK), Rest of World, Cities Today, Refresh Miami, and many more. Through his coverage of 400+ startups – and ghostwriting for dozens more – he is keenly aware of what gives stories long-term impact. Riley leverages his experience as a journalist to empower startups to build their own media ecosystem. His bespoke content strategy will enable you to become a thought leader and spread your ideas at scale. Ultimately, this content creation helps your company gain credibility, lock down leads, and drive sales. As a founder, your insights can change the world. But these ideas won’t go anywhere unless you create content. Work with Riley and unlock your inner thought leader. You can also watch this episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/XZaLosM6V2k You can learn more about Riley Kaminer at: https://rileykaminer.com Find his company ClearCritical at: https://www.clearcritical.com Follow the Agents of Innovation podcast on: Instagram: / innovationradio Twitter: / agentinnovation Facebook: / agentsofinnovationpodcast You can support this podcast and our Fearless Journeys community on our Patreon account: www.patreon.com/fearlessjourneys You can also join our network -- and our group trips -- through the Fearless Journeys community at: https://www.fearlessjourneys.org 0:00 Episode Intro 1:47 Introduction of Riley Kaminer 3:04 Growing up with an international mindset 5:58 Attending College in the UK / Scotland 8:54 Studying abroad in Madrid 10:18 Comparing to U.S. college experience 13:10 Degrees in Business, Spanish, and Latin American Studies 14:58 Becoming a Writer Requires Collecting Experiences 16:18 Working for a Film Distributor in the UK 18:00 Moving to Spain with a Digital Nomad Visa 18:59 Living and Working in South Florida Post-Pandemic 23:03 Writing about Tech for Refresh Miami 25:17 Freelance writing for a variety of publications 25:48 First job develops work ethic 28:12 What sparked early interest in journalism 31:58 Founding ClearCritical to tell stories in a different way 35:21 Repurposing your skills in a rapidly changing economy 39:59 How ClearCritical can help you 41:28 The importance of repetitive storytelling 47:52 Choosing to live and work from Madrid 51:48 Personal benefits of entrepreneurship