Innovation Storytellers

Hosted by Susan Lindner

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100

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Jun 2026

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About the show

Did you ever wonder how an innovation got to its finish line? How innovators saw the future, made a product, and created change – in our world and in their companies? I did. Innovation Storytellers invites changemakers to describe how they created their innovation and just as important – THE STORIES – that made us fall in love with them. Come learn how great innovations need great stories to make them move around the world and how to become a better storyteller in the process. I'm Susan Lindner, the Innovation Storyteller. But I wasn't always. I've been a wannabe revolutionary, an epidemiologist at the CDC and an AIDS educator in the brothels of Thailand helping to turn former sex workers into entrepreneurs. Trained as an anthropologist and the Founder of Emerging Media, I've spent the last twenty years working with innovators from 60+ countries. Ranging from cutting edge startups to Fortune 100 companies like GE, Corning, Citi, Olayan, and nine foreign governments, helping their leaders to tell their stories and teaching them how to become incredible advocates for their innovations. Great innovation stories make change possible. They let us step into a future we can't see yet. I started this podcast to shine a light on our generation of great innovators, to learn how they brought their innovation to life and the stories they told to bring them to the world.

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June 16, 2026Episode 46240 min

How FM Ignites Innovative Risk Management

What happens when an insurance company thinks like an engineering lab? And how does a deeper understanding of risk create opportunities for innovation rather than slowing it down? In this episode of the Innovation Storytellers Show, I sit down with Dr. Jaap De Vries, Staff Vice President and Principal Innovation Specialist at FM, to explore how one of the world's leading commercial property insurers approaches innovation, risk management, and emerging technologies. From fire protection robotics and structural digital twins to AI-powered risk analysis, Jaap shares how his team is helping organizations anticipate challenges before they become costly problems. Our conversation moves beyond insurance and into the broader role risk plays in every innovation journey. Jaap explains how FM's engineering-led culture shapes decision-making, why understanding the science of risk builds customer trust, and how large-scale testing helps businesses identify threats they might otherwise miss. We also discuss the importance of storytelling when introducing new ideas and why data alone is rarely enough to drive adoption. Along the way, Jaap reflects on his journey from aerospace engineering and combustion science into innovation leadership. He shares lessons from mentoring entrepreneurs, teaching technology commercialization at Brown University, and helping organizations balance technical expertise with the human side of persuasion. The discussion also touches on AI's impact on work, the changing nature of entrepreneurship, and why future innovators may need to spend less time analyzing and more time building. We explore some bigger questions. What is the greatest innovation of all time? Which innovation team from history would Jaap most like to have joined? And what kind of innovation does the world need most right now? If you've ever wondered how innovation and risk management can work together to create stronger, more resilient businesses, this conversation offers plenty of insights. What role does risk play in your own approach to innovation, and are you paying enough attention to the opportunities hidden inside it?

June 9, 2026Episode 2618 min

How Are You Closing the Empathy Gap in Your AI Strategy?

What if the biggest challenge with AI isn't the technology itself, but how it makes people feel? Lately, almost every conversation I'm having with clients comes back to AI. Not surprisingly, it's dominating boardroom discussions, strategy sessions, and innovation agendas everywhere. But what fascinates me most isn't the technology. It's the human response to it. In this solo episode, I'm talking about something I believe doesn't get nearly enough attention in the AI conversation: empathy. I recently read that companies like Anthropic are hiring storytellers at salaries approaching half a million dollars a year. That caught my attention. Why would one of the world's leading AI companies place such a premium on storytelling? Because even the most advanced AI still struggles to create the kind of human connection that comes naturally through empathy, understanding, and authentic communication. As organizations rush to implement AI tools, I'm hearing the same concerns again and again. Employees are being asked to trust systems they don't fully understand. Leaders are under pressure to move faster than ever before. Customers are interacting with AI-powered experiences that often feel efficient but strangely hollow. That's why I believe empathy isn't a soft skill anymore. It's a business strategy. In this episode, I share why so many AI initiatives struggle with adoption, even when the technology works perfectly and the business case is clear. I talk about the hidden cost of asking people to abandon the systems and expertise they've spent years mastering. More importantly, I explain why resistance to change is rarely about stubbornness and almost always about self-preservation. When we ask people to adopt new AI tools, we're often asking them to give up something deeply valuable: the confidence that comes from mastery. That's a much bigger ask than most leaders realize. I'll also share practical ways to bridge what I call the empathy chasm, helping teams feel supported rather than threatened, involved rather than replaced, and excited rather than overwhelmed. If there's one thing I've learned from working with innovators around the world, it's that people don't resist technology. They resist feeling disconnected from the reason behind the change. How are you bringing empathy into your AI strategy, and are you doing enough to bring the humans along on the AI journey?

June 2, 2026Episode 26047 min

260: How the Transatlantic Innovation Hub Connects US + Europe

What does it really take to turn a promising European startup into a successful US business? In this special fifth-anniversary episode of Innovation Storytellers, I sit down with Simone Tarantino, Managing Director of the Transatlantic Innovation Hub and Managing Partner at HVentures, to discuss the challenges, opportunities, and realities of building bridges between two of the world's most influential innovation ecosystems. From its flagship location on Fifth Avenue in New York City, the Transatlantic Innovation Hub is creating a launchpad for European startups, scaleups, corporates, and innovators looking to expand into the United States. Simone shares how the Hub helps companies move beyond simply securing office space by providing access to investors, advisors, legal experts, business development partners, and the relationships that often determine whether international expansion succeeds or fails. We also explore the cultural differences between European and American innovation ecosystems, why networking remains one of the most valuable business skills, and how founders can avoid common mistakes when entering a new market. Simone reflects on his own journey from entrepreneur in Italy to ecosystem builder in New York, including the lessons learned from starting over and finding his place in one of the world's most competitive business environments. The conversation goes beyond startups and venture capital. We discuss why corporate innovation initiatives often struggle, the importance of translators who can bridge the language gap between startups and large enterprises, and why collaboration frequently delivers better outcomes than competition. Simone also shares his vision for a growing global network of innovation hubs connecting New York, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Whether you're a founder looking to expand internationally, a corporate leader searching for fresh ideas, or someone fascinated by how innovation ecosystems are built, this episode offers valuable lessons on creating connections that help ideas travel further and grow faster. What role could stronger partnerships play in accelerating your own innovation journey?

May 26, 2026Episode 25937 min

259: How Peptides are Innovating Longevity Planning

What happens when elite endurance training, wearable data, artificial intelligence, and peptide therapy collide? In this episode of the Innovation Storytellers Show, I sat down with Tony Medrano, CEO and co-founder of LongevityPlan.AI, to unpack how the future of longevity is being shaped by technology that once felt more science fiction than healthcare strategy. Tony's journey alone feels like a case study in reinvention. A former naval officer, Stanford entrepreneur, AI startup founder, and three-time Ironman triathlete, he has spent decades building companies around emerging technologies long before the market was ready for them. From helping shape the early mobile app ecosystem before smartphones even existed to working with organizations like NASA, the NFL, and Google on AI and molecular diagnostics, Tony has repeatedly found himself at the edge of major technology shifts. But this conversation quickly moved beyond startup stories and venture capital war stories. We explored how peptide therapies are being used to support recovery, performance optimization, injury repair, and preventative health, particularly as people search for ways to extend not just lifespan, but healthspan. Tony explained how LongevityPlan.AI combines wearable technology, biomarker analysis, AI-powered digital twins, and physician-guided peptide programs to create personalized health optimization plans. What made this discussion especially fascinating was the tension between innovation and evidence. Tony openly acknowledged that peptide therapies still sit in a space where anecdotal results, emerging science, and limited large-scale clinical trials coexist. That creates both excitement and skepticism. For some, this represents the future of preventative healthcare and human optimization. For others, it raises questions about regulation, accessibility, affordability, and where the line exists between wellness enhancement and medical intervention. We also discussed how longevity itself is becoming one of the defining themes across industries. Whether it's financial services rebranding retirement planning, manufacturers extending the lifecycle of industrial systems, or healthcare companies focusing on prevention over treatment, the concept of optimizing long-term performance is reshaping the conversation everywhere. Along the way, Tony reflected on surviving the dot-com crash, raising millions before product launch, training for Ironman races while recovering from serious injuries, and why he believes the future of healthcare belongs to people who take a more active role in understanding their own bodies and data. This episode is a conversation about far more than fitness or supplements. It's about the growing convergence of AI, biotechnology, consumer health, performance culture, and human ambition. And perhaps most importantly, it asks a bigger question: if technology can help us live longer, healthier lives, how do we ensure we use it responsibly, ethically, and in ways that genuinely improve the human experience?

May 19, 20268 min

258: How Are You Answering the Big 4 Questions, BEFORE You Tell Your Story?

In this solo episode of the Innovation Storytellers Show, I wanted to pause the constant conversation around AI capability and talk about something far more human. I'm talking about empathy. Everywhere I look, organizations are racing to deploy AI faster, automate more workflows, and chase productivity gains before competitors pull ahead. But behind every rollout, every implementation plan, and every AI strategy deck are real people trying to process what all of this change means for them. I share why I believe empathy has quietly become one of the most valuable strategic skills in business today. From employees being asked to trust systems they barely understand, to customers interacting with experiences that feel increasingly transactional and hollow, we may be reaching a point where the human side of innovation matters more than ever. I also reflect on why companies like Anthropic are actively hiring storytellers at premium salaries, despite building some of the most advanced AI systems in the world. Even the companies creating the technology understand that human connection still cannot be automated. Throughout this episode, I unpack the emotional reality of AI adoption inside organizations. Because when leaders ask teams to adopt new tools, they are often asking people to surrender something deeply personal, their mastery. For employees who built careers around expertise, predictable systems, and trusted workflows, AI can create anxiety, uncertainty, and even a sense of professional disorientation. That resistance to adoption is rarely laziness or stubbornness. More often, it is self-preservation. I also explore why so many AI initiatives stall despite strong ROI projections and technically successful deployments. The missing ingredient is often emotional buy-in. If people do not understand the why behind the transformation, they disengage. Quietly. Subtly. They retreat to old systems, familiar habits, and predictable routines. And that is where empathy becomes the bridge between innovation and actual adoption. This conversation is ultimately about humanizing AI strategy before organizations accidentally create workplaces that feel colder, faster, and more disconnected. Because while AI may transform workflows, data analysis, and decision-making, trust is still built person to person. I also share practical reflections on how leaders can make AI rollouts feel less intimidating, how to communicate change without alienating teams, and why slowing down long enough to support people emotionally may actually accelerate long-term innovation success. If your organization is currently rolling out AI tools, navigating change management, or struggling with adoption fatigue, this episode will probably feel very familiar. I would love to hear your perspective too. Are you seeing AI bring people together inside your organization, or quietly pushing them further apart?

May 12, 2026Episode 42743 min

How Discomfort Is the Human Factor Driving Innovation

How do great companies stay distinctive when everything around them is pushing them toward sameness? In this episode of the Innovation Storytellers Show, I sit down with Anthony Reeves, speaker, consultant, and author of Eat the Donkey: Why Great Companies Embrace Discomfort, for a conversation about creativity, brand identity, AI, and why discomfort may be one of the most valuable forces in innovation. Anthony shares how growing up in the Australian outback shaped his understanding of progress, boredom, resilience, and the creative power of empty space. From LVMH and Amazon to WPP, Nike, Jaguar, Kohler, and Southwest Airlines, he explains why the strongest brands know when to evolve and when to protect what made them matter in the first place. The conversation also moves to the tension leaders face in the age of AI. As companies chase efficiency, optimization, and automation, Anthony warns that many risk becoming average by design. We discuss why human creativity, curiosity, and distinctiveness matter even more as technology pulls everyone toward the same answers. This is a conversation about brand courage, creative restlessness, and the difference between useful discomfort and unsafe pressure. How can companies use AI without losing the very human qualities that make them worth choosing? Listen in, and share your thoughts.

May 5, 2026Episode 25647 min

256: How R&D Leaders Source Trends to Power Innovation

What does it really take to turn a great idea into something that works in the real world? In this episode, I sit down with Kofi Gyasi, Founder and CEO of NotedSource, and Joia Spooner-Fleming, an innovation consultant with deep experience at companies like P&G and SharkNinja, to unpack what lies behind successful innovation. We explore why research and validation are often the difference between ideas that scale and those that quietly disappear. From rooftop laundry lessons in Mexico City to product design decisions shaped by culture and human behavior, this conversation brings innovation back to something many teams overlook: understanding the people you are building for. We also get into the mechanics of how innovation actually happens inside large organizations today. Kofi shares how NotedSource is helping companies connect with external experts and accelerate decision-making using AI. At the same time, Joia reflects on the reality of working at speed in environments where every decision carries commercial risk. Together, they highlight a tension many leaders will recognize: the need to move fast while still making informed, evidence-based choices. What stood out for me was the shift in mindset that both guests emphasized. Open innovation is not about tools alone. It starts with a willingness to look beyond your own organization, challenge assumptions, and invite new perspectives into the process. Whether you are building new products, entering new markets, or simply trying to avoid costly mistakes, the ability to combine human insight with emerging technologies is becoming a defining advantage. So, as innovation becomes faster, more complex, and increasingly driven by AI, are we asking the right questions and listening closely enough to the answers?

April 28, 2026Episode 25541 min

255: Are You Crushing Open Innovation?

What does it really take for large organizations to keep innovating when speed, disruption, and AI are changing the rules faster than ever before? In this episode of the Innovation Storytellers Show, I'm joined by two returning guests whose work has shaped how many leaders think about innovation inside large organizations: Dr. Diana Joseph, CEO of the Corporate Accelerator Forum, and Dan Toma, co-author of The Corporate Startup and Innovation Accounting. Together, they return to discuss their new book, Open Innovation Works, and why open innovation has become a business necessity rather than a nice idea for the future. We unpack why so many organizations struggle to innovate once they grow beyond their original breakthrough, and why the answer often lies outside the four walls of the business. From startup accelerators and incubators to university partnerships and corporate venture capital, Diana and Dan explain how companies can choose the right innovation vehicle rather than simply copying competitors. They also explain why alignment within the organization is often harder than working with startups. The conversation also takes a timely turn toward AI, where both guests challenge the growing trend of creating isolated "AI departments." Instead, they argue that AI should be treated like any other business tool, embedded across every function rather than locked inside another silo. It is a practical, honest discussion about why so many AI projects fail, what leaders are getting wrong, and how innovation teams can stay relevant by tying their work directly to business growth and measurable outcomes. We also explore real-world examples from companies like Illumina and the lessons learned from cautionary tales like Borders and Amazon. At the center of it all is one simple question: if your organization cannot see the future clearly, who can help you borrow that vision? If you're leading innovation, navigating AI adoption, or trying to prove the ROI of transformation inside your business, this episode offers frameworks, perspective, and practical advice you can start using tomorrow. How is your organization making sure it doesn't lose sight of what comes next?

April 21, 202642 min

Innovation or Elimination — the new book by Itai Green

What happens when innovation shifts from a strategic advantage to a matter of survival? In this episode of the Innovation Storytellers Show, I sat down with Itai Green, Co-Founder and CEO of Global Innovation & Strategy and author of Innovation or Elimination. With more than two decades of experience connecting global corporations with startups, Itai brings a direct and unfiltered perspective on why so many organizations struggle to stay relevant and what it actually takes to change that trajectory. Our conversation moves beyond theory and into the real mechanics of innovation. Itai challenges the long-standing belief that companies can rely solely on internal R&D, arguing that speed, collaboration, and openness now define success. He explains why open innovation is no longer optional, how corporate mindset often becomes the biggest barrier, and why leaders must rethink everything from decision-making speed to how they measure return on investment. Along the way, he shares candid insights on the cultural tension between startups and enterprises, the risks of ego-driven leadership, and why many innovation efforts fail before they even begin. We also explore the practical side of making innovation work at scale. From running effective pilots and selecting the right startup partners to understanding when to build internally versus collaborate externally, Itai offers a clear view into what separates companies that evolve from those that quietly fade away. His perspective on timing, trust, and execution highlights a deeper truth: that innovation is less about ideas and more about how organizations choose to act on them. So where does this leave today's leaders, especially in a world shaped by rapid advances in AI and constant disruption? And as Itai suggests, if innovation is now the price of survival, how prepared are most organizations to pay it?

April 14, 2026Episode 25349 min

253: How Buffalo Construction and O3XO Are Building Better with AI

What does real AI implementation actually look like when the hype fades, and the hard work begins? In this episode of Innovation Storytellers, I sit down with Brett Norton, President of Buffalo Construction, and Mike Gadsby, Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer at O3XO, for a candid conversation about what it takes to move AI from curiosity to business impact. This is not a discussion about vague transformation promises or shiny tools looking for a problem. It is a practical story about how one construction company partnered with an AI-focused innovation team to rethink workflows, identify friction points, and build a smarter path forward. Mike shares how O3XO approaches AI through a human-centered lens, starting with business goals, operational pain points, and the people closest to the work. Brett brings that thinking into the real world of construction, where teams are busy, systems are fragmented, and change only sticks when it clearly makes people better at what they already do. Together, they unpack how workshops, use case prioritization, and an internal AI council helped Buffalo move beyond surface-level experimentation and start applying AI in ways that improved estimating, accelerated learning, and opened new capacity across the business. What makes this conversation stand out is its honesty. Brett and Mike talk openly about skepticism, messy data, cultural resistance, and the challenge of making time for innovation when everyone is already stretched. But they also show what happens when leaders focus on small wins, practical outcomes, and involving the right people early. The result was not just faster processes, but stronger engagement, better knowledge sharing, and a clearer story for clients about how technology can strengthen execution. We also step back and look at the bigger picture, from the democratization of knowledge to the future of work, leadership, and community in an AI-powered world. If you are tired of hearing abstract claims about AI and want to hear how real companies are actually making it work, this episode will give you a much more useful place to start.