AigoraCast

Hosted by John Ennis

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Episodes

100

Latest episode

Jul 2026

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About the show

Conversations with industry experts on how new technologies are impacting sensory and consumer science.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

July 20, 202636 min

Roberto Salas - Plan the Plan

In this episode, I'm speaking with Roberto Salas, a Global Consumer and Sensory Insights Executive based out of Princeton, New Jersey. With over two decades in the FMCG industry, his career has spanned the globe, starting in Mexico and taking him through South Africa, the UK, Latin America, and eventually to his current work at IFF. We had a fantastic conversation about bridging technical sensory science with deep consumer understanding, and how he translates complex human behavior into actionable commercial growth strategies. Please join me in welcoming Roberto Salas. Roberto Salas is a Consumer Intelligence and Growth Strategy executive with over two decades of experience in the food and beverage industry. Operating in the Global Consumer & Sensory space, he specializes in translating complex market, consumer, sensory, and behavioral data into strategies that fuel portfolio growth, innovation, and brand differentiation. Throughout his career, Roberto has managed global and regional projects for major corporations, including Danone, ConAgra, Cargill, Yoplait, and currently IFF. His expertise lies in bridging technical product design with a deep, empathetic understanding of human needs. Over recent years, he has pioneered the use of AI-powered tools to mine unstructured data for actionable intelligence. A passionate advocate for democratizing research, he frequently conducts workshops to coach cross-functional teams, ensuring that genuine consumer value remains at the forefront of the commercialization process. Roberto holds a degree in Food Engineering from Tecnológico de Monterrey (TEC) in Mexico and a Master's Degree in Food Science, specializing in Sensory Analysis, from Kansas State University. Social Links & Resources LinkedIn: Roberto Salas Expertise Areas: Growth Strategy & Commercial Impact Global Consumer Insights & Cultural Nuances Sensory Perception Modeling AI-Powered Data Analysis (Unstructured Data)

July 1, 202633 min

Paula Varela Tomasco - Don't Forget to Think

Hi, I'm Dr. John Ennis, CEO at Aigora. In this episode, I enjoy speaking with Dr. Paula Varela. Paula and I shared a fascinating conversation regarding the role and risks of AI in consumer research, before discussing how sensory science can help drive healthier and more sustainable food choices. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did, and remember to subscribe to AigoraCast to hear more conversations like this one in the future. Social Links & Resources LinkedIn: Paula Varela Tomasco Organizations: Nofima & Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) Expertise Areas: Sensory & Consumer Sciences Sustainable and Healthy Food Behavior Cross-Cultural Consumer Research Food Science & Engineering

June 23, 202643 min

Michael Nestrud - Taming the Dragon

"In this episode, I'm speaking with Michael Nestrud, a dedicated researcher of the human experience who uniquely bridges the gap between rigorous sensory science and the culinary arts. Based in Chicago, Michael is currently with First Position Training and Consulting, where his driving mission is to make 'product evaluation and sensory science for everyone.' We had a fantastic conversation about how his culinary background informs his research, and why democratizing product evaluation is so critical for modern food innovation. LinkedIn: Michael Nestrud Company: First Position Training and Consulting Expertise Areas: * Sensory Science & Product Evaluation Culinary Arts & Human Experience Research Training & Education Accessible Consumer Insights

June 18, 202635 min

Greg Fodor - Opening Portals

Hi, I'm Dr. John Ennis, CEO at Aigora. In this episode, I enjoyed speaking with Greg Fodor, an innovator based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Greg and I had a fascinating conversation about the future of immersive experiences, the limitations of current VR hardware, and how headset-free technology could completely transform the way consumers interact with digital environments and products. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did, and remember to subscribe to AigoraCast to hear more conversations like this one in the future! Social Links & Resources LinkedIn: Greg Fodor Company: Portal VR Expertise Areas: * Headset-Free Virtual Reality Spatial Computing & Immersive Technology Next-Generation HCI (Human-Computer Interaction) Technology Innovation

June 9, 202637 min

Nicolas Pineau - Making Sense of AI

Hi, I'm Dr. John Ennis, CEO at Aigora. In this episode, I enjoyed speaking with Nicolas Pineau of Data Insights. Nicolas shared a lot about his experiences both applying and teaching AI within sensory and consumer science, and I heartily agreed with his perspective that we are just at the beginning of an exciting change in our field. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did, and remember to subscribe to AigoraCast to hear more conversations like this one in the future! Social Links & Resources LinkedIn: Nicolas Pineau Company: Data Insight (Founder) Expertise Areas: * Sensometrics & Advanced Statistics R&D AI Strategy & Leadership Food Product Innovation Data Science Consulting

May 22, 202634 min

Josh Cook - Agents Do Work

Hi, I'm Dr. John Ennis, CEO at Aigora. In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Josh Cook of FlowAltDelete, a Microsoft MVP and true master of M365 Copilot. Many of our clients and students use copilot as their daily driver, so it was great to have an expert on Copilot on the show to share his excitement about the powerful new way of working it enables. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did, and remember to subscribe to AigoraCast to hear more conversations like this one in the future! Josh Cook is a Microsoft MVP in Business Applications and a prominent expert in the Microsoft AI and Power Platform ecosystem. He specializes in designing enterprise-grade solutions that bridge the gap between people, data, and intelligent workflows using Power Apps, Power Automate, Dataverse, and Microsoft 365 Copilot. As a community leader, Josh directs the Calgary Biz Apps community and hosts workshops and hackathons designed to empower the next generation of builders. Under his content brand, FlowAltDelete, Josh focuses on making complex AI and low-code technologies approachable and actionable. He is widely recognized for his ability to help organizations move beyond the initial hype to design governed, scalable systems that connect people and intelligent agents in the next era of work. Social Links & Resources LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/flowaltdelete/ Content Hub: https://flowaltdelete.com/ Expertise Areas: * Microsoft 365 Copilot & Copilot Studio Power Platform Architecture (Power Apps, Automate, Pages) Low-Code Governance and Scaling Enterprise AI Implementation

May 6, 202635 min

Decio Cataldi and Matteo Bonfini - What a Time to Be Alive

welcome back everyone to another episode of AigoraCast. Today, I'm very happy to have Decio Cataldi and Matteo Bonfini from Adacta International on the show. Decio Cataldi is the executive director at Adacta International, a leader in consumer and sensory research. In his role, Decio oversees the company's strategic and financial direction with a specific focus on driving growth through technological innovation. With a background in strategy consulting, M&A, and restructuring, he brings analytic rigor to the field, spearheading Adacta's efforts to integrate AI into sensory and consumer science to create more predictive, data-driven research models. Meanwhile, Matteo Bonfini is a food scientist and senior researcher at Adacta International where he leads sensory and consumer science projects for major global CPG companies. Matteo specializes in decoding consumer perception across diverse international markets, translating deep sensory data into actionable strategies for product innovation. He's dedicated to exploring how emerging technologies can enhance traditional methodologies and push the boundaries of consumer research. So, Decio and Matteo, welcome to the show. Social Links & Resources LinkedIn: Decio Cataldi LinkedIn: Matteo Bonfini Company: Adacta International Expertise Areas: AI Integration in Sensory Science Data-Driven Research Models Global Consumer Perception Strategic Product Innovation

April 23, 202636 min

Damir Torrico - Always Ask

Hi, I'm Dr. John Ennis, CEO at Aigora. In this episode, I had a wonderful conversation with Dr. Damir Torrico, an Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. I particularly enjoyed our discussion on why curiosity is so vital, and specifically how "always asking" and pushing back on AI outputs is the key to achieving real fluency with these new tools. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did, and remember to subscribe to AigoraCast to hear more conversations like this one in the future! Short Bio Dr. Damir Torrico is an Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, specializing in the intersection of food properties, human physiology, and consumer behavior. His research focuses on flavor perception, emotional responses to food, and salt/sugar reduction strategies. With a global academic background spanning Louisiana State University, the University of Melbourne, and the University of Costa Rica, Damir utilizes emerging technologies like virtual reality and biometrics to capture authentic consumer insights. His work aims to bridge the gap between laboratory testing and real-world eating experiences to create foods that are both nutritious and highly palatable. Social Links & Resources LinkedIn: Damir Torrico University Profile: UIUC Faculty Directory Expertise Areas: * Ingestive Behavior & Physiology Healthy Aging & Nutritional Sensory Science VR & Biometric Consumer Research

March 25, 202636 min

Wei Qin, PhD - Stretch your Limits

Hi, I'm Dr. John Ennis, CEO at Aigora. In this episode, I caught up with my longtime friend, Dr. Wei Qin, Global Director of the Insights Center of Excellence at Ingredion. I particularly enjoyed her story about a flavorist using AI to find a molecule they hadn't considered. It is a great example of her view of AI as a "stretcher" for human limits. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did, and remember to subscribe to AigoraCast to hear more conversations like this one in the future! Social Links & Resources LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wei-qin-50078211/ Company: https://www.ingredion.com/ Latest Book: Gen X Asian Americans: From Learning to Thriving Expertise Areas: Flavor Modulation & Sensory Measurement Market Research & Consumer Behavior Center of Excellence (CoE) Strategy Social Media Insights for R&D Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by Wei Qin in this episode are her own and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Ingredion or Wei's former employers.

March 16, 202635 min

The Human Dimension

Welcome back, everyone, to another episode of Aigoracast. Our guest today is Dr. Riccardo Accolla. Dr. Riccardo Accolla is a neuroscientist and food innovation leader dedicated to creating more resilient food systems through technology and human-centric insights. As the Director of Innovation at Thimus, he applies his expertise in multisensory perception, reward, and emotion to develop product strategies that resonate with consumers on a cognitive level. With over 20 years of experience, Riccardo's career spans leadership roles at global flavor houses and food-tech startups. He previously led the design of sustainability-tracking software at ripe.io and founded A-T4H Consulting to support "better-for-planet" food solutions. Riccardo holds a PhD in Neuroscience from the Swiss Polytechnic Federal Institute (EPFL) and a Master's in Biomedical Engineering from the Polytechnic School of Milan. Social Links & Resources LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/riccardoaccolla/ Company: https://www.thimus.com/ Expertise Areas: * Multisensory Food Perception Neuro-Innovation Sustainable Food Systems Consumer Emotions and Reward Mechanisms

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