Next In Time

Hosted by ST Tangirala

Business EntrepreneurshipInterviews guests

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Episodes

198

Latest episode

Oct 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Most podcasts focus on current success stories but rarely focuses on the people of tomorrow. This show talks about how the mission and vision of a startup, small business, organization, or even an individual CAN and WILL make a strong impact in the future. It emphasizes the wonder of possibilities in the future through these interviews and how these entities can help shape the future.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

October 25, 202625 min

Episode 191: From Firewalls to Fairways: Career Reinvention, Leadership & Golf Tech | Ryan Drumheller, Founder of Dogleg Digital

What happens when the career you’ve worked hard to build leads you toward an entirely different future? In this episode of Next In Time, we welcome Ryan Drumheller, IT executive, author, and cofounder of Dogleg Digital, to explore a nontraditional journey through technology, leadership, and entrepreneurship. Raised in a small Michigan town, Ryan began college at 29, earned more than 170 professional certifications, and went on to lead technology organizations across multiple industries. His journey also brought toxic workplaces, closed doors, painful setbacks, and difficult lessons about leadership and personal recovery. Ryan shares the experiences behind his memoir, From Firewalls to Fairways, which uses a round of golf to explore the decisions, obstacles, and recovery shots that shape a career. We examine lifelong learning, navigating difficult work environments, and finding a new direction when an established path no longer fits. We also explore Dogleg Digital, the connected technology platform Ryan is building to bring golfers, courses, instructors, vendors, creators, brands, and other industry professionals closer together. The conversation considers opportunities in golf technology, what businesses need from technology partners, and why listening, collaboration, and fair partnerships matter. For anyone starting later, reconsidering their career, or building something from hard-earned experience, Ryan’s story offers a perspective on resilience, reinvention, and taking the next shot. You can connect with Ryan through these platforms: Website: https://doglegdigital.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-drumheller/

October 18, 202630 min

AI Series Episode 3: The AI Arms Race, Who’s Really in Control? | Miles Maggio & Justin Zelaya of Prest0

AI is advancing at a staggering pace. But as models become more capable and agents begin working together, who gets to decide what they do? In this installment of the Next In Time AI Series, we welcome back Miles and Justin to explore the competition shaping artificial intelligence and the opportunities emerging for entrepreneurs building with it. We discuss the debate over accelerating or slowing AI development, the strategic rivalry between the United States and China, and why decentralization and competition matter for individual choice. The conversation also explores how AI agents communicate, what an internet increasingly used by agents could look like, and how businesses might prepare for that shift. Moving from the big picture into practical applications, Miles and Justin share how they’re using AI to accelerate product development, match different models to different tasks, and build tools for legal services and sales. We explore a sales platform designed to research prospects, simulate practice calls, and provide live coaching during conversations. Along the way, we consider: • The relationship between AI capability, autonomy, and human oversight • Why the systems built around a model matter alongside the model itself • Where founders might find opportunity in the AI gold rush • How AI can support salespeople through research, training, and real-time guidance Join us for a candid conversation about AI’s possibilities, its risks, and the decisions that could shape what comes next. You can connect with Miles and Justin through these platforms: Website: https://prest0.ai/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/milesprojolivia/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-zelaya-2236b5292/

October 11, 202625 min

Episode 190: From the Pulpit to the Distillery: Building Businesses That Matter | Matthew Estrin, Founder Of 477 Distilling

After 15 years as a pastor, Matthew Estrin left a familiar career to take a chance on entrepreneurship. Since then, he has launched seven businesses, including 477 Distilling, and discovered that starting a company is only part of the challenge. The harder work is deciding what kind of leader, husband, father, and person you want to be while building it. In this episode of Next in Time , Matthew shares the story behind that leap and the lessons that followed: taking calculated risks, learning from ventures that didn’t go as planned, creating a culture people want to be part of, and treating customer service as more than a transaction. He also reflects on how his faith shapes his decisions and why he measures success by what happens at home as well as at work. Matthew is the author of I Know the Owner: From Holy Water to Happy Hour , a candid account of his path from ministry to business ownership. His story speaks to anyone considering a major change or trying to build a business that can last without losing sight of the people who make it worthwhile. You can connect with Matt through these platforms: Website: https://www.mattestrin.net/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-estrin-223125113/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/matt.estrin.3/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattestrin/

September 28, 202625 min

Episode 189: The Laws of Promotion: Making Marketing Simple | Leslie A.M. Smith, Author and Marketing Specialist

How can a small business get the word out without getting lost in marketing jargon or chasing every new platform? In this episode of Next in Time , we welcome Leslie A.M. Smith, founder of McCormick L.A. Public Relations and author of Laws of Promotion . Leslie has spent decades helping small businesses, nonprofits, and entrepreneurs turn their goals into practical marketing and public relations plans. We explore the principles behind effective promotion: understanding whom you want to reach, communicating what makes your work valuable, and choosing activities you can carry through consistently. Leslie brings a perspective shaped by working across industries and by seeing marketing tools change while the need for a clear message stays constant. Whether you’re building a business, leading a nonprofit, or trying to make your work more visible, this conversation offers a simpler way to think about promotion. Website: https://www.mccormickla.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/McCormickLA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mccormickla_pr/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslieamsmith/

September 19, 202634 min

Episode 188: Carbon Removal and Building a More Resilient Future | Dr. Christian Komor, Climate Author and Write-in Candidate for Governor of Colorado

Climate change is one of the most complex and far-reaching challenges of our time—but are today’s proposed solutions moving quickly enough to address the scale of the problem? In this episode of the Next In Time Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Christian Komor, a climate author, Earth systems strategist, and creator of the SkyCarbon Blueprint. His work focuses on atmospheric carbon removal, climate resilience, technological innovation, and the policies required to turn ambitious environmental goals into measurable action. Dr. Komor explains why reducing future emissions, while essential, may not be enough on its own. With enormous amounts of carbon dioxide already accumulated in the atmosphere, he argues that large-scale carbon removal must become a more prominent part of the climate conversation. We discuss how carbon-removal strategies could work, the scientific and economic questions surrounding them, and the obstacles that continue to slow meaningful progress. The conversation also explores the relationship between climate policy and economic resilience. Rather than viewing environmental action solely as a cost, Dr. Komor examines how investment in new technologies, infrastructure, and emerging industries could create jobs, strengthen communities, and prepare society for the challenges ahead. Drawing upon his experience in psychology and Earth systems thinking, Dr. Komor also offers insight into the human side of climate change. We consider why people and institutions often struggle to respond to long-term threats, how political division affects public understanding, and what leaders can do to communicate urgency without creating hopelessness or disengagement. Throughout the episode, we examine the roles that government, private industry, scientists, entrepreneurs, and individual citizens can play in developing practical solutions. We also discuss the importance of maintaining motivation when progress is slow, outcomes are uncertain, and the work may extend across generations. Tune in for a wide-ranging conversation about atmospheric carbon removal, climate leadership, technological innovation, and what it will take to build a more resilient future. You can connect with Dr. Christian through these platforms: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/skycarbonblueprint/

September 11, 202637 min

AI Series Episode 2: The State of AI—From Hype to Real-World Impact | Miles & Justin of Prest0

In the second installment of the Next In Time AI Series, Miles and Justin of Prest0 return to examine the rapidly changing state of artificial intelligence. The conversation explores the shift from experimental AI tools toward practical business applications, the growing role of AI agents and automation, and the difference between genuine innovation and industry hype. We also discuss the challenges businesses face when adopting AI, the importance of human judgment and oversight, and what the next stage of AI development could mean for companies, professionals, and society. This episode offers a grounded look at where AI stands today—and where it may be heading next. You can connect with Miles and Justin through these platforms: Website: https://prest0.ai/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/milesprojolivia/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-zelaya-2236b5292/

August 29, 202627 min

Recap Episode: Empowering Small And Mid-Sized Businesses By Simplifying Operations | Mark Roesler, President and CRO at Hubspark Video 27 min

The Next In TIme Podcast will be out this week. Here's a recap episode where we'll be talking with Mark Roesler from Episode 172. Mark , President and Chief Revenue Officer at HubSpark, a fast-growing SaaS/fintech platform that empowers small and mid-sized businesses by simplifying operations, automating customer communications, driving local SEO visibility, and centralizing CRM and marketing tools into one unified experience--and bye the way, they don't charge you for it. Which is definitely outside of the norm.At HubSpark, Mark leads revenue strategy and growth, bringing over three decades of experience in scaling business solutions and helping entrepreneurs unlock their business potential. As someone deeply passionate about how technology and automation can transform day-to-day business workflows, Mark is here to share insights on what small businesses really need to thrive, the power of integrated platforms like HubSpark, and how leaders can leverage data-driven tools to win in today’s competitive environment. You can connect with Mark and Hubspark through these platforms: Website: https://hubspark.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mark.roesler.5/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hubspark LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roeslermark/

August 22, 202629 min

Episode 187: Reinventing Non-Alcoholic Wine | Antonino Li Brizzi, Founder of CLINQ ZERO

What does it take to leave a successful corporate career and build an entirely new consumer brand? In this episode of The Next In Time Podcast, we sit down with Antonino “Anto” Li Brizzi, former CEO of Omnia Technologies North America and founder of CLINQ ZERO, a non-alcoholic sparkling wine brand created to make celebrations more inclusive without compromising the experience of drinking real wine. Anto shares how his journey from Sicily to Dallas, his leadership experience in the beverage technology industry, and his understanding of dealcoholization inspired him to enter the growing non-alcoholic beverage market. He also discusses the transition from corporate executive to entrepreneur, the risks involved in starting over, and the lessons he has carried from leading established organizations into building a brand from the ground up. Together, we explore innovation in the wine industry, changing consumer preferences, calculated risk-taking, and what it takes to transform years of industry knowledge into a meaningful new venture. You can connect with Antonio through these platforms: Website: ⁠https://clinqzero.com/⁠ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoninolibrizzi/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clinq.zero/

August 9, 202629 min

Episode 186: Turning AI’s Energy Challenge into an Opportunity | Brendan van der Es, Founder of Synterran Systems

What if the enormous energy demands of artificial intelligence could become part of a cleaner, more efficient power system? In this episode of Next In Time, we sit down with Brendan van der Es, founder of Synterran Systems, to explore his ambitious vision for the future of AI infrastructure. Synterran is developing an integrated system that combines high-performance computing, on-site power generation, waste-heat recovery, and carbon capture—turning processes normally treated as separate problems into parts of one thermodynamic cycle. Brendan shares how his background spanning physics, refinery automation, fraud modeling, and enterprise technology shaped Synterran’s systems-level approach. We discuss the growing energy demands of AI factories, the potential to reuse stranded turbine infrastructure, and a long-term pathway in which hydrocarbons could produce both power and durable carbon materials. It’s a fascinating conversation about energy, computation, industrial symbiosis, and what it takes to move a bold technical idea from theory toward real-world deployment. You can connect with Brendan through these platforms: Website: https://synterran.systems/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendan-van-der-es-34714059/

August 1, 202632 min

AI Series Episode 1: From Chatbots to AI Agents | Miles Maggio & Justin Zelaya of Prest0

In the first installment of The Next in Time AI Series, ST sits down with Miles Maggio and Justin Zelaya, co-founders of Prest0, to explore the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence. The conversation traces AI’s progression from basic chatbots and generative tools to autonomous agents capable of completing tasks, coordinating workflows, and supporting real business operations. Miles and Justin explain what distinguishes an AI agent from a traditional chatbot, where the technology currently delivers meaningful value, and why human judgment remains essential. They also discuss the opportunities and limitations surrounding agentic AI, how businesses can prepare for its adoption, and what this shift could mean for the future of work. Whether you are a founder, business leader, or simply curious about where AI is headed, this episode provides an accessible look at the transition from AI that answers questions to AI that takes action. You can connect with Miles and Justin through these platforms: Website: https://prest0.ai/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/milesprojolivia/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-zelaya-2236b5292/