In this episode, I had the honor of speaking with Kalika Sharma, a creative director, NYU professor, and founder of AntidoteFX, now in its 23rd year. Her journey spans from hand-drawn 16mm animations to leading major global campaigns for brands like Marriott Bonvoy and Brooks Brothers.

The conversation with Michael pulled back the curtain on how ideas become real products, highlighting the hard truths of manufacturing and the risks behind viral Kickstarter campaigns. Michael’s grounded optimism stood out, especially his belief that AI and automation, though disruptive, create new opportunities for small teams and independent inventors to work together.

This week on the Pixel Retentive Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Jeremy Weisz, founder of Rise25, whose unconventional path led him to transform podcasting into a powerful engine for building relationships, partnerships, and business growth. He breaks down why shifting from pitching to inviting, and leading with genuine generosity supported by smart systems, creates a lasting and unfair advantage.

In this Pixel Retentive episode, I sit down with Seth Waite, a consumer psychology expert who helps brands uncover why people really buy. With nearly two decades of experience, his customer-first framework has helped companies scale up to 8x by identifying their true audience. A must-listen for anyone serious about brand growth and strategy.