Dare to Disrupt

Hosted by Invent Penn State

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May 2026

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About the show

This podcast is about Penn State alumni who are innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders, and the stories behind their success.

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54 recent

May 18, 202634 min

Commemorative Episode: Reflections Drawn from 50 Conversations

This special commemorative episode features host Ryan Newman reflecting on six key themes that emerged from 50 conversations with Dare to Disrupt guests. Throughout the episode, listeners will hear memorable quotes and moments from past interviews. The first theme is identifying a problem worth solving. The second is having the courage to leave one’s comfort zone and fully pursue an idea. The third explores the inevitable failures and setbacks that come with challenging the status quo. The fourth highlights the importance of community and support systems like Penn State, without which many of these journeys may not have been possible. The fifth examines the odds many entrepreneurs have had to overcome, including experiences with extreme poverty — a reality that resonates with many who attended a land-grant university. And the sixth centers on a theme that extends beyond entrepreneurship and speaks to our shared humanity: the stories of individuals who have faced life-and-death challenges along their journey. Episode Chapters 0:00 - 3:26 Opening Comments/Reflections from Ryan 3:26 - 6:09 Theme 1: Identify a Problem in Need of Solving 6:09 - 9:45 Theme 2: Having the Courage to Leave 9:45 - 12:17 Theme 3: Learning From Failures 12:17 - 14:55 Theme 4: The Value of a Community such as Penn State 14:55 - 22:18 Theme 5: Starting with Nothing 22:18 - 28:48 Theme 6: Facing Mortality 28:48 - 34:10 Inspiration from Garry Gilliam, and Ryan's thoughts on AI and importance of storytelling The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

April 27, 20261 hr 13 min

50th Episode LIVE: Disrupting the Fragrance Industry with Asia Grant

This special 50th episode of the Dare to Disrupt podcast was recorded live at the Smeal College of Business. It features a compelling conversation with Asia Grant—creative entrepreneur, content creator, and founder of Scent Social Club. Through its Nolita Perfume Tour, Scent Social Club offers an immersive experience that helps participants discover their signature fragrance. An award-winning perfumer, Asia has spent hundreds of hours researching, developing, and sourcing fragrances. She is also the founder of Redoux, a New York City–based fragrance and skincare company. Asia and Ryan discuss her pursuit of prestige alongside a deeper mission to become the person she was meant to be, her experience balancing a full-time role at IBM while building Redoux in her parents’ basement during the pandemic, and how she strategically built a network in New York City’s beauty industry. They also explore supply chain challenges, the inspiration behind Scent Social Club, social media strategy, and more. At the top of the episode, enjoy a bonus fireside chat between host Ryan Newman and Penn State Smeal College of Business Dean Corey Phelps, recorded live to kick off the event. They reflect on key lessons and takeaways from the first 49 episodes of the podcast, discuss different approaches to problem-solving, and explore concepts from Dean Phelps’ book, Cracked It! How to Solve Big Problems and Sell Solutions Like Top Strategy Consultants. This episode and live event was sponsored by the Smeal College of Business, Happy Valley LaunchBox powered by PNC Bank, and OriginLabs. Episode Chapters 0:00:00 – Fireside Chat with Smeal Dean Corey Phelps: Problem-solving, Innovation, and Disruption 26:38 – Asia Grant – Fearless from the Start: Public Speaking and Big Goals 31:47 – Why Penn State: Networks, Opportunities, and Growth 38:19 – Chasing Prestige to Betting on Herself as a Student 45:26 – The Motivation and Fear That Fueled Her Creativity 46:50 – No Job Offers, No Problem: Building Her Own Beauty Brand 51:44 – Networking Her Way to Revenue and Recognition in New York 59:43 – When to Pivot: Reinventing After Supply Chain Setbacks 1:07:59 – Audience Q&A: Advice and Insights on Building Partnerships and Managing Social Media The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

March 23, 202651 min

Turning Principles into Leadership with Patrick Kinney

Patrick Kinney, CEO of Keystone Agency Partners, shares his remarkable journey from hitchhiking to Penn State Hazleton without a dollar to his name to leading transformative growth in the insurance industry. What began as a determined search for any job—despite not even knowing what insurance was—turned into a 30+ year career at Travelers, where he rose to Executive Vice President and developed a product that generated $5 billion for the company. Growing up in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia, Patrick built his career on resilience, resourcefulness, and a deep commitment to people-centered leadership. In this episode, he reflects on the pivotal moments that shaped his path, including a life-changing job interview that set everything in motion. After retiring from Travelers, Patrick entered an entirely new chapter—stepping into the startup world as CEO of Keystone Agency Partners. He shares what it’s like to transition from a large corporate environment to a high-growth, entrepreneurial company, and the guiding principles he’s carried with him along the way. Later in the episode, current Penn State student Arnav Aggarwal joins the conversation. Arnav is a freshman at Penn State in the BS/MD accelerated medicine program. With mentorship from Happy Valley LaunchBox, Arnav is developing Campus Cabs, a student-run mobility solution aiming to provide safer, more affordable campus transportation. Arnav and Patrick discuss how Patrick’s 22 guiding principles apply in practice, the insurance and liability considerations founders should keep in mind, the value of an MBA, and the advice Patrick would give his younger self. Episode Chapters 0:00 - 4:49 A challenging start in Kensington, PA 4:49 - 9:44 Patrick's mother convinces him to go to college, experience at Penn State Hazleton 9:44 - 11:15 Becoming a logistics major at Penn State University Park 11:15 - 20:18 A life-changing job interview with Travelers 20:18 - 24:17 Applying street smarts to the insurance industry 24:17 - 25:43 Putting pen to paper on 22 guiding principles as a reflection on his career 25:43 -29:57 Jumping into the startup world with Keystone Agency Partners post-retirement 29:57 - 34:56 How Keystone Agency Partners is disrupting the insurance industry 34:56 - 37:07 Rapid Fire Round 37:07 - 50:38 Student Section 37:56 - 40:50 Adopting a strategic mindset as a founder 40:50 - 43:41 Insurance risks to consider for Arnav's startup 43:41 - 46:13 Proving a concept in a way that attracts long-term partners 46:13 - 47:50 The value of an MBA 47:50 - 50:38 Advice for Patrick's younger self About Patrick Kinney Patrick Kinney is the CEO of Keystone Agency Partners, the nation’s first broker network Patrick graduated from the Penn State Smeal College of Business with a bachelor’s in business logistics, and received his MBA in finance from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. About Arnav Aggarwal Arnav Aggarwal is a freshman at Penn State in the BS/MD accelerated medicine program. He is the founder of CareForAll, a nonprofit that mobilizes doctors across India to deliver free healthcare to underserved communities. During high school, he also launched LendingLibrary, a B2B platform now deployed nationwide, coordinating book exchanges within gated communities across India. More recently at Penn State, with mentorship from Happy Valley LaunchBox powered by PNC Bank, Arnav is developing Campus Cabs, a student-run mobility solution aiming to provide safer, more affordable campus transportation. The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

March 9, 202648 min

Leading a High-Impact Nonprofit with Jackie Foor

Jackie Foor is the Executive Director of the Consortium for Public Education, a nonprofit that connects schools with partners and resources to help students prepare for their futures. In this episode, Jackie shares what it takes to run a successful and impactful nonprofit, reflects on how the collapse of the steel industry shaped the Pittsburgh region, and discusses the growing role of AI in education. She also explains how the consortium works to bridge the gap between what students learn in school and the skills they need to succeed in the workforce and in postsecondary education. Later in the episode, recent Penn State graduate student Edward Amoah joins the conversation. Edward recently earned his doctorate in ecology with a dual title in international agriculture and development and is currently a postdoctoral researcher and ICDS Rising Research Fellow. He is President of Nyansapo Labs, whose mission is to expand equitable access to targeted teaching and personalized learning through AI-enabled teaching and learning systems. Edward participated in the Invent Penn State NSF I-Corps short course program, won the Nittany AI Challenge, and participated in the Humanitarian Engineering and Social Entrepreneurship (HESE) program in the College of Engineering. Edward and Jackie discuss how the consortium goes about building relationships with workforce, as well as AI-adoption across schools and different industries. Episode Chapters: 0:00 - 4:50 Growing up in Pittsburgh during the collapse of the steel industry 4:50 - 5:58 Penn State experience 5:58 - 10:45 The importance of grant writing 10:45 - 15:07 The mission of the Consortium for Public Education 15:07 - 20:55 Bridging the gap between workforce and education 20:55 - 26:13 What it means to lead a nonprofit as a social entrepreneur 26:13 - 31:08 The future of education 31:08 - 32:05 Advice for someone wanting to start a nonprofit 32:05 - 33:57 Rapid Fire Segment 33:57 - 47:35 Student Questions 35:03 - 39:58 Building trusting relationships with workforce 39:58 - 45:33 How AI can and should be implemented into the classroom, augmenting the workplace 45:33 - 47:35 Re-inventing K-12 education with work-based learning opportunities About Jackie Foor Jackie Foor is the Executive Director of the Consortium for Public Education, a nonprofit that connects schools with partners and resources to help students prepare for their futures. Jackie graduated from Penn State with a bachelor’s in secondary education from the College of Education, and received her master's in organizational leadership from Carlow University. About Edward Amoah Edward recently earned his doctorate in ecology with a dual title in international agriculture and development and is currently a postdoctoral researcher and ICDS Rising Research Fellow. He is President of Nyansapo Labs, whose mission is to expand equitable access to targeted teaching and personalized learning through AI-enabled teaching and learning systems. Edward participated in the Invent Penn State NSF I-Corps short course program, won the Nittany AI Challenge, and participated in the Humanitarian Engineering and Social Entrepreneurship (HESE) program in the College of Engineering. The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

February 9, 202636 min

Bringing Dermatology to your Doorstep with Curology Co-founder Nancy Satur

Dr. Nancy Satur is co-founder and medical director emerita of Curology, a skincare brand delivering personalized prescription treatments straight to customers’ doorsteps. Dr. Satur earned her undergraduate pre-medical degree from Penn State, and her medical degree at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. A board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Satur worked as a private practice dermatologist before becoming co-founder, medical director and dermatologist at Curology full-time.On this episode, Dr. Satur shares her experience growing up on a dairy farm in central PA, her path to becoming a dermatologist, and how she and her sons ended up building Curology, which has now served over 5.5 million patients nationwide.Later in the episode, current Penn State student Maya Anderson joins the conversation. Maya is a senior studying biotechnology in the Eberly College of Science. She is the founder and CEO of Vayla, a hair‑accessory brand engineered for durability, curl compatibility, and eco‑conscious materials. She won third place at the Happy Valley LaunchBox Pitch Fest and is currently a participant in the Happy Valley LaunchBox FastTrack Accelerator program.Episode Chapters:0:00 - 5:18 Growing up on the dairy farm eldest of 65:18 - 9:14 The rigorous 5-year Penn State - Jefferson College medical program experience9:14 - 12:48 Project USA, the ER, and working towards specializing in dermatology12:48 - 18:02 The launch of Curology18:02 - 21:46 Compounding prescription formulas in-house21:46 - 24:40 Expanding Curology's reach24:40 - 26:46 Rapid Fire Questions26:46 - 35:35 Student Questions27:27 - 28:37 Learning to delegate28:37 - 29:29 Startup finances29:29 - 31:24 Building customer trust31:24 - 32:45 Ensuring alignment across your team 32:45 - 33:46 Making decisions without all the answers33:46 - 35:20 Handling shifts in customer expectationsAbout Dr. Nancy SaturDr. Nancy Satur is co-founder and medical director emerita of Curology, a skincare brand delivering personalized prescription treatments straight to customers’ doorsteps. Dr. Satur earned her undergraduate pre-medical degree from Penn State, and her medical degree at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia.About Maya AndersonMaya is a senior studying biotechnology in the Eberly College of Science. She is the founder and CEO of Vayla, a hair‑accessory brand engineered for durability, curl compatibility, and eco‑conscious materials. She won third place at the Happy Valley LaunchBox Pitch Fest and is currently a participant in the Happy Valley LaunchBox FastTrack Accelerator program. The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

December 8, 202547 min

Building Community on Broadway with Marathon Digital Founder Mike Karns

Mike Karns is a Tony Award-winning theater producer and entrepreneur. He is the founder and CEO of Marathon Digital, Broadway's premiere social media agency, which creates content and cultivates communities for some of Broadway’s biggest shows, non-profit arts organizations, and live entertainment brands around the world, including Hamilton, Hadestown, The Outsiders, and more. In 2024, he also co-founded The Season, a new producing and marketing company, alongside Broadway marketing executive Steven Tartick.In this episode, Mike shares his path into Broadway production, his early work across a variety of theater-related roles, and how—through networking, timing, and persistence—he landed the opportunity to manage social media for Hamilton. He explains how that experience sparked the creation and growth of Marathon Digital, and reflects on building two innovative companies, producing award-winning theatre, and what the future holds for Broadway marketing and emerging artists.Later in the episode, current Penn State student Teagan Jai Boyd joins the conversation. Teagan is a third-year BFA Acting student who recently appeared in the Centre Stage production of Rhinoceros and is currently in rehearsal for The Glass Menagerie. A member of the Presidential Leadership Academy, she and Mike discuss the importance of community when building a startup, making difficult decisions, handling burnout, and how Penn State provides hands-on experiences that prepare students for careers in the arts.Episode Chapters:0:00 – 6:03 Growing up in Erie, developing a love for theatre6:03 – 12:33 Choosing Penn State, working theatre-adjacent internships12:33 – 18:58 Breaking into Broadway production with an informational interview 18:58 – 21:16 The Hamilton phenomenon21:16 - 26:38 Building Marathon Digital, the entrepreneurial nature of Broadway 26:38 - 31:51 Producing on Broadway, launching The Season 31:51- 33:30 Navigating AI in social media industry33:30 – 36:05 Rapid Fire Questions36:05 – 47:50 Student Questions36:05 – 37:35 The importance of community in building company culture 37:35 – 38:46 Refueling and staying organized 38:46 – 39:58 How Mike overcame his most difficult business decision39:58 – 42:47 Managing uncertainty and patience42:47 – 45:08 Incentivizing audiences to come see a Broadway show45:08 – 47:50 The value of the hands-on experiences at Penn State About Mike KarnsMike Karns is the founder and CEO of Marathon Digital, Broadway's premiere social media agency; co-founder of The Season; and a Tony Award-winning theater producer. He graduated from the Penn State College of Arts and Architecture in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in Stage Management & Lighting Design.About Teagan Jai BoydTeagan is a third-year BFA Acting student who recently appeared in the Centre Stage production of Rhinoceros and is currently in rehearsal for The Glass Menagerie. She is also a member of the Presidential Leadership Academy. The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

November 17, 202525 min

LIVE from The Global Impact Forum: Leveling Up Education Tech with Techademics Founder Al Motley

Al Motley is the founder and CEO of Techademics, a technology company driving innovation in education, social impact philanthropy, and the nonprofit sector.In this episode, Al shares his journey from working at Penn State’s Center for Academic Computing as a student to leading an international tech company transforming the education and social impact sectors. With offices in Philadelphia, Buenos Aires, and Botswana, Techademics delivers digital solutions and strategic guidance to schools and nonprofits around the world—impacting hundreds of thousands of students, educators, and community leaders.Al discusses his path in education, how Techademics helps schools and nonprofits build effective tech infrastructure, what’s next for the edtech industry, and how mission-driven entrepreneurship can create lasting change.Episode Chapters0:00 - 5:20 Moving from school to school growing up5:20 - 10:26 Choosing Penn State and getting heavily involved as a student10:26 - 11:34 Knowing technology was the path for him11:34 - 12:57 Al's time with Mastery Charter School in Philadelphia to learn change management and scale12:57 - 18:40 The inspiration behind launching Techademics 18:40 - 22:57 Positioning schools to be successful in evolving technology landscape22:57 - 24:21 Advice for his younger self The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

October 20, 202550 min

LIVE from Penn State Brandywine: The CTDI Story with Co-founder Jerry Parsons

This special live recording of the Invent Penn State Dare to Disrupt podcast, presented by Brandywine LaunchBox powered by Penn State, features CTDI founder and chairman Jerry Parsons.Jerry shares how he and his family launched CTDI from a garage-based startup and scaled it into a global leader in the communications, mobility, and consumer devices service industries.The conversation explores the early days of building CTDI, key moments of disruption and growth, and Jerry’s insights on leadership, innovation, and building a family-run business that thrives on the global stage.At the end of the recording, in-person attendees had the chance to ask Jerry their own questions during a live audience Q&A session.Episode Chapters2:12 Fishing, budding love for electronics growing up5:43 Choosing Penn State Brandywine, college experience10:06 First job out of college at DuPont11:30 Dad pitches Jerry on a small repair business14:12 Acquiring first customers17:07 Innovations and technological breakthroughs18:29 Expanding nationally19:52 Adapting to industry changes26:11 The importance of tech testing27:21 Family legacy and mentorship29:26 Company culture and values30:20 International expansion and growth35:21 Advice for future generations36:39 Rapid-fire questions38:11 Audience questions The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

September 22, 202533 min

Disrupting Arterial Disease Treatment with AVS Co-founder Robert Chisena

In this episode of Dare to Disrupt, host Ryan Newman speaks with Robert Chisena, co-founder and CTO of Amplitude Vascular Systems (AVS). AVS is a medical device company focused on safely and effectively treating severely calcified arterial disease. Robert shares his journey from growing up on Long Island in a family of physicians, to discovering his passion for research and entrepreneurship at Penn State, to co-founding an innovative medical device startup.Robert reflects on formative experiences at Penn State, including joining the Schreyer Honors College, diving into biomedical engineering research, and participating in Invent Penn State’s first cohort of the Summer Founders Program. He then traces how his graduate work at the University of Michigan—collaborating closely with physicians—led to the development of AVS’s intravascular lithotripsy technology, a novel approach to restoring blood flow in hardened arteries.Along the way, Robert discusses the challenges of taking research from lab to market, securing venture capital, and convincing physicians of a new device’s safety and efficacy.Later in the episode, Penn State Ph.D. Candidate Marzia Momin joins the conversation. Marzia is working on a neuro-tech startup developing personalized, 3D-printed neural implants for neurological disorders, with applications in therapy and brain-computer interfaces. Marzia recently participated in both the Invent Penn State NSF I-Corps regional short course program and the NSF I-Corps National Teams program. She asks Robert about how to build the best startup team, raising funding as a research-based startup, and what advice he'd give to his younger self.This episode gives an inside look at the intersection of engineering, medicine, and entrepreneurship — and how Penn State alumni are driving innovation in healthcare.Episode Chapters1:30 No avoiding a medical-based career3:25 Choosing and navigating Penn State05:42 Exploring research as an undergrad at Penn State8:24 Launching first medical device startup at Penn State, Summer Founders Program11:54 Moving forward with startup through graduate school at Michigan14:43 Meeting co-founder, learning about the tech behind AVS16:07 The potential to create tremendous impact in cardiovascular disease treatment19:43 Translating and commercializing research out of a university20:49 Where AVS is today, looking to the future22:45 Rapid Fire Round24:27 Student Section25:13 Building the right startup team27:15 Filling in the blanks of business acumen28:04 Advice for securing early funding29:57 Navigating FDA regulations31:02 Advice for aspiring entrepreneursAbout Robert ChisenaRobert Chisena is the co-founder and CTO of AVS. He graduated from the Penn State College of Engineering with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering with honors from the Penn State Schreyer Honors College. Robert went on to receive his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering at the University of Michigan.About Marzia MominMarzia Momin is a Ph.D. candidate in the Engineering Science and Mechanics Department at Penn State, specializing in neural engineering. She is working on a neuro-tech startup developing personalized, 3D-printed neural implants for neurological disorders, with applications in therapy and brain-computer interfaces. Marzia recently participated in both the Invent Penn State NSF I-Corps regional short course program and the NSF I-Corps National Teams program The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

August 19, 202555 min

Charting the Future of Sales Compensation with QuotaPath Founder AJ Bruno

AJ Bruno is the founder and CEO of QuotaPath, a leading sales compensation management platform that has secured significant investments, including a $41 million Series B. Serving roughly 1,000 customers, QuotaPath helps organizations align company goals with incentive plans to drive winning sales behaviors.Before QuotaPath, AJ co-founded TrendKite, which was acquired by Cision for $225 million in 2019. He also co-hosts Topline, a podcast on revenue growth and sales leadership.In this episode, AJ shares the stories behind launching TrendKite and QuotaPath, his passion for flying, and his perspective on integrating AI into workflows as a founder. He reflects on his days as a Penn State student, studying abroad in Italy, his first job at Meltwater, and how a terrible boss inspired him to start his first company.Later in the episode, recent Penn State grad Paul Allen joins the conversation. A participant in the Invent Penn State Summer Founders Program, Paul asks AJ for advice on raising venture capital, making first hires, and navigating the challenges of early-stage entrepreneurship.Episode Chapters02:13 - 07:06 Growing up in Pittsburgh, acting and flying07:06 - 12:17 Choosing Penn State, squash club, studying abroad12:17 - 15:38 First entrepreneurial venture at Penn State15:38 - 22:48 First job in sales, advice to students and parents22:48 - 29:15 Terrible boss as a catalyst for TrendKite29:15 - 33:02 The problem that inspired the launch of QuotaPath33:02 - 40:33 Navigating AI and future of QuotaPath40:33 - 43:51 The crazy story that led to AJ launching a podcast43:51 - 45:24 Rapid Fire Insights45:24 - 55:20 Recent student Paul Allen interviews AJAbout AJ BrunoAJ Bruno is founder and CEO of QuotaPath. He graduated from the Penn State Schreyer Honors College with a bachelor’s degree in economics from the Smeal College of Business in 2007.About Paul AllenPaul is a spring 2025 graduate of the Penn State College of Engineering. He completed the 2025 Invent Penn State Summer Founders Program with his startup, Reflex Technologies. Reflex is building a wearable electromyography (EMG) sensor that provides real-time muscle activation and fatigue insights to athletes and trainers. The Dare to Disrupt podcast is made possible by the generous support of the Penn State Smeal College of Business.