Dr. Kelly Cohen is a Professor of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Cincinnati and a leading authority in explainable, certifiable AI systems. With more than 31 years of experience in artificial intelligence, his research focuses on fuzzy logic, safety-critical systems, and responsible AI deployment in aerospace and autonomous environments. His lab’s work has received international recognition, with students earning top global research awards and building real-world AI products used in industry.

In this episode 190 of the Disruption Now Podcast, 👩‍🔬 Dr. Cohen explains:

What explainable AI really means for clinicians
How transparent models improve patient safety
Strategies to reduce algorithmic bias in healthcare systems
Real examples of XAI in diagnostics & treatment

This video is essential for tech leaders, AI researchers, data scientists, clinicians, and anyone interested in ethical, trustworthy AI in medicine.

📅 CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Introduction — Why XAI in Healthcare
02:15 Kelly Cohen Bio & Expertise
05:40 What Explainable AI Actually Is
11:20 Challenges in Medical AI Adoption
16:50 Case Study: XAI in Diagnostics
22:10 Reducing Bias in ML Models
28:35 Regulatory & Ethical Standards
33:50 Future of Explainability in Medicine
39:25 Audience Q&A Highlights
44:55 Final Thoughts & Next Steps

💡 Q&A SNIPPET

Q: What is explainable AI?
A: Explainable AI refers to systems where decisions can be understood, traced, and validated — critical for safety-critical applications like aerospace, healthcare, and autonomous vehicles.

Q: Why is black-box AI dangerous?
A: Without transparency, errors cannot be audited, responsibility is unclear, and humans become unknowing test subjects.

Q: What is insurable AI?
A: Insurable AI is AI that has been tested, quantified for risk, and certified to the point where insurers are willing to underwrite it — creating real accountability.

🔗 RESOURCES & HANDLES

Dr. Kelly Cohen LinkedIn:
🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-cohen-phd

Mentioned Concepts:
✔ Explainable AI (XAI)
✔ Model interpretability
✔ Algorithmic bias & fairness

🎧 About This Channel

Disruption Now makes technology accessible and human-centric. Our mission is to demystify complex systems and open conversations across domains that are often hard to grasp — from politics to emerging tech, ethics, civic systems, and more — so every viewer can engage thoughtfully and confidently. We disrupt the status quo.

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Founder, Strategist, Curator

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📅 MidwestCon Week

The Midwest’s human-centered tech & innovation week — Sept 8–11, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio 🌆
MidwestCon Week brings together builders, policymakers, creators, and learners for multi-sector conversations on technology, policy, and inclusive innovation.

Official Website: https://midwestcon.live/
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#DisruptionNow #TechForAll #MidwestConWeek

Music Credit: Lofi Music HipHop Chill 2 - DELOSound

Bitcoin and blockchain are reshaping money, trust, and the future of AI.
In Episode 189 of the Disruption Now Podcast, Rob Richardson sits down with Andrew Burchwell, Executive Director of the Ohio Blockchain Council, to break down why blockchain matters more than ever—and why understanding it now is critical for anyone navigating the next decade of technology.

This conversation dives into Bitcoin’s core value as a trust engine, why blockchain is essential for the AI era, how decentralized systems empower individuals and communities, and the massive economic transformation coming to states like Ohio. Andrew shares the personal story behind his leap from a secure energy-tech career into full-time blockchain advocacy, why his faith guided the transition, and how local policy can unlock global innovation.

We unpack the realities behind Bitcoin’s volatility, long-term value, inflation, the S-curve of exponential tech adoption, and why blockchain should be seen as a utility—not a gamble. You’ll learn how agentic AI will depend on blockchain rails for payments, how on-chain verification combats deepfakes, and why crypto is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for regions left behind by globalization.

Andrew also shares why privacy matters, what people misunderstand about crypto, where regulation should (and shouldn’t) go, and why the next five years will be the fastest technological pivot in human history.

If you’ve been curious, skeptical, or overwhelmed by crypto, this is the conversation that makes it all click.

What You’ll Learn:

Why Bitcoin is “better, faster, more secure money”
How blockchain + AI together solve trust, speed, and verification gaps
Why inflation quietly erodes wealth and how Bitcoin counters it
The real difference between gambling memes vs. real digital assets
How agentic AI will need blockchain for payments and micro-transactions
Why Ohio is emerging as a national leader in blockchain policy
How decentralized tech can help rebuild forgotten communities
Where privacy, transparency, and security intersect in Web3

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome & Andrew’s story
03:15 Why he left a secure career for blockchain
09:45 The meaning of Bitcoin as sound money
14:20 Inflation, trust, and why blockchain matters
19:30 Blockchain + AI: the critical connection
26:40 Privacy, regulation & misuse: what’s real
33:10 Meme coins vs. real utility
38:20 The next 5 years: “The Pivot”
42:15 What’s ahead for Ohio & crypto

Quick Q&A:

Q: Why does Bitcoin matter today?
A: It creates trust, speed, and financial sovereignty in a system where inflation and centralization reduce purchasing power.

Q: How do AI and blockchain work together?
A: AI creates speed; blockchain creates trust and verification. Together they enable secure agentic automation.

Q: What do people misunderstand most about crypto?
A: They confuse speculation with utility. Blockchain’s long-term value is in its function, not its hype.

Connect with Andrew Burchwell:

Website / Organization: https://ohioblockchain.org/
X (Twitter): https://x.com/AndrewBurchwell
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-burchwell-a7284994/
Ohio Blockchain Council (organization page): https://ohioblockchain.org/

Be a guest on the podcast or Subscribe to our newsletter
All our links - https://linktr.ee/disruptionnow

#Blockchain #Bitcoin #Web3 #aiagents

Music credit:
calm before storm - moñoñaband

In this episode 187 of the Disruption Now Podcast, we sit down with Benjamin Ko, the CEO of Kaleidoscope Innovation, a firm leading the way in human-centered design and engineering — especially in healthcare. From developing wearable technologies for spinal cord injury patients to crafting surgical tools built around human ergonomics, Ben and his team are proving that empathy is a competitive advantage in the age of AI.

We dive into the central question: If AI can optimize everything, where do we still matter? Ben argues that empathy isn’t just a soft skill — it’s a design superpower. He discusses how Kaleidoscope’s cross-functional teams of designers, engineers, and researchers bridge the gap between physical and digital worlds, why 95% of AI projects fail due to lack of human context, and how clarity of thought and ethical design can shape a better, more responsible tech future.

If you’re a founder, product designer, healthcare innovator, engineer, or policymaker interested in building smarter systems with deeper purpose — this episode is for you.

🎧 Watch, Listen & Subscribe:
👉 YouTube: @DisruptionNow
👉 Spotify / Apple Podcasts / Amazon

📍 Recorded live at MidwestCon, hosted by the University of Cincinnati (UC) and the 1819 Innovation Hub.

Special thanks to Ben Ko, UC, and the 1819 Innovation Hub for supporting innovation and human-centric AI.

🔗 Connect with Benjamin Ko & Kaleidoscope Innovation:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminleeko/

Credit music:
Cookie Fox - AlexGuz

What does it take to lead digital transformation when fear, culture, and AI disruption collide? 🎓

In this deep-dive, Bharath Prabhakaran — award-winning VP & Chief Digital Officer at the University of Cincinnati — shares how he’s driving innovation with empathy, influence, and UC’s groundbreaking Bearcat GPT.

👉 You’ll learn:

-Why every AI solution must be 10x better to overcome resistance
-How empathy & influence drive true leadership
-What “AI literacy” means for the future workforce
-UC's blueprint for balancing security, ethics, and speed in adoption

Bharath’s journey from Oracle to higher ed shows why education must evolve fast — and how leaders can design organizations to thrive in the AI era.

🔗 Connect with Bharath:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bharathprab

🙏 Special thanks to Bharath Prabhakaran, the University of Cincinnati, and the 1819 Innovation Hub at UC for hosting MidwestCon, where this episode was recorded.

🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on technology, leadership & disruption.
Music credit: Funky Day - Aleksandr Krivtsun

#AI #DigitalTransformation #FutureOfWork

Most artists get left behind in tech—but not Kaila Love.

Once a homeless teen sleeping in her car, Kaila became a UC Berkeley grad, hip-hop artist, and founder of KailaLove.ai—a pioneering AI education company blending music, automation, and empowerment. Known as The AI Homegirl, she teaches creatives how to protect their IP, grow fanbases with AI, and own their digital destiny.

Timestamps:
00:00 – From Homeless to Berkeley
05:00 – Sync Deals & Music Wins
10:00 – Building with AI
17:00 – Bootleg Brain & IP
25:00 – Responsible Tech
32:00 – Future Vision
35:45 – Final Message

🎤 Her track landed on NBA2K.
📚 She authored Bootleg Brain, a radical AI manual for artists.
🧠 She runs “Prompt Parties™” that turn AI theory into actionable career fuel.

On this episode 185 of the Disruption Now podcast you’ll Learn:
– How to use AI to scale your creative work
– Why sync licensing = your power move
– Why “build your digital real estate” is her #1 rule
– The mindset that turns invisible labor into leverage

💡 If you’re a creator, rebel, or disruptor—this is your blueprint.

👉 More from Kaila:
• Website: https://www.kailalove.ai/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kailalove.ai/
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kailalove.ai
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kailalovemusic/
• Book: Bootleg Brain (linked in description)

#AIforArtists #MusicTech #DigitalOwnership

Disruption Now: Disrupting the status quo, making emerging tech human-centric and Accessible to all.

Website https://disruptionnow.com/
Apply to get on the Podcast https://form.typeform.com/to/Ir6Agmzr?typeform-source=disruptionnow.com

She’s not waiting for permission.

Flavilla Fongang went from the ghettos of Paris to building Black Rise—one of the UK’s boldest tech tribes. She’s mixing identity, data, and storytelling to scale Black power through business.

In this episode:

-Why storytelling beats pitching in tech
-How she turned oil & gas into a launchpad
-Her strategy for building community-first platforms
-Why AI is non-negotiable for Black excellence
-The real ROI of diverse ecosystems

Timestamps:
00:00 Intro — Paris to Power
01:42 Childhood in the Paris ghettos
03:55 Moving to London & early struggles
06:18 From oil & gas to fashion to tech
09:44 Founding 3 Colours Rule
12:30 How storytelling became her weapon
15:02 Why she built GTA Black Women in Tech
17:50 Launching Black Rise — the AI-powered tribe
21:33 Scaling community and credibility
25:01 Diversity with data, not feelings
28:40 What leadership looks like in 2025
31:09 Her advice to future founders
34:00 Closing thoughts + how to connect

About Flavilla Fongang:
Multi-award-winning entrepreneur. Founder of 3 Colours Rule, GTA Black Women in Tech, and now Black Rise. Former oil & gas exec turned tech community builder. UN Brand Partner. Named UK’s Most Influential Woman in Tech (Computer Weekly), Global Top 100 MIPAD Innovator, and Entrepreneur of the Year (BTA 2023). She also serves as an entrepreneurship expert at Oxford University Saïd Business School.

Watch this if you lead with identity and build with vision.

—

Follow Flavilla Fongang:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/flavillafongang
Twitter (X): https://x.com/FlavillaFongang
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flavillafongang
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@flavillaf
Website: https://www.flavillafongang.com
Black Rise: https://www.theblackrise.com
GTA Black Women in Tech: https://theblackwomenintech.com
3 Colours Rule: https://www.3coloursrule.com

#blackfounder #techstorytelling #communitytech

Disruption Now: Disrupting the status quo, making emerging tech human-centric and Accessible to all.

Website https://disruptionnow.com/
Apply to get on the Podcast https://form.typeform.com/to/Ir6Agmzr?typeform-source=disruptionnow.com

Music: Powerful Beat - Oleksandr Stepanov

She was told she wasn't tall enough, thin enough, pretty enough.
Now she’s rewriting the rules of beauty for everyone else.

In this episode 183 of the Disruption Now Podcast, Sian Bitner-Kearney, founder of Rock Your Beauty, reveals how perfectionism, filters, and social media lies damage self-worth—and what it takes to break free. Her nonprofit is helping women embrace their authentic selves, one fashion show and workshop at a time.

🎙 Learn how Rock Your Beauty evolved from a charity event into a bold movement helping women and girls reclaim confidence, self-love, and sanity in the algorithm age.

💬 If you've ever doubted your worth, this conversation is for you.

🔗 Follow Sian & Rock Your Beauty:

Website: https://www.rockyourbeauty.org
Instagram (Sian): https://www.instagram.com/sianbk
Instagram (Rock Your Beauty): https://www.instagram.com/rockyourbeauty_cincinnati
Podcast: https://www.rockyourbeauty.org (see "Podcast" tab)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Rock-Your-Beauty/61559182740239
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sianbitner
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/sianbk

👁️‍🗨️ If you're building confidence, battling self-doubt, or raising strong girls, watch this.
#realbeauty #womensconfidence #mentalhealth

Disruption Now: Disrupting the status quo, making emerging tech human-centric and Accessible to all.

Website https://disruptionnow.com/
Apply to get on the Podcast https://form.typeform.com/to/Ir6Agmzr?typeform-source=disruptionnow.com