The Disruption Lab

How One Scientist Is Turning a $20B Pollution Problem Into a Climate Solution

Most people have never heard of refrigerants—but they’re one of the most dangerous climate pollutants on Earth. In this live episode of The Disruption Lab, we sit down with Kalin Baca, PhD scientist turned climate tech founder of Icorium, who’s on a mission to stop these super pollutants from quietly warming the planet.
Kalin breaks down how refrigerants—used in everything from air conditioners to data centers—have global warming potentials thousands of times higher than carbon dioxide… and why almost no one is talking about it. She also shares how her startup is disrupting the $20B+ refrigerant industry by building separation tech that could eliminate the need for incineration and enable a true circular economy for cooling.
We explore:
The science behind refrigerants and why they matter more than ever
How Kalin went from lab researcher to founder through NSF’s iCorps
What it takes to launch a deep tech company in a traditionally stagnant industry
Why refrigerant demand is rising globally—and why this matters for the future of climate
How Icorium’s innovation could transform the way we manage industrial emissions
If you care about climate innovation, deep tech startups, or how to take hard science to market—this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

The Biggest Lie in Entrepreneurship—and The Brutal Truth About Starting a Business

What happens when you follow all the rules, invest $350,000 of your own money, and still end up broke? Dr. Donnetta Watson—known as The Launch Strategist—did exactly that. In this powerful live episode of The Disruption Lab, she opens up about the moment that changed her life, the cultural myths holding Black entrepreneurs back, and why mindset—not money—is the real foundation for wealth.
You’ll learn the hard truths most business schools don’t teach:
Why "using your own money" is one of the worst startup mistakes
The #1 reason most Black-owned businesses remain unfundable
How to build a business that’s actually bankable
What it takes to go from hustle to legacy
How to change your money mindset and access capital—even if you're starting with nothing
This isn’t just another motivational story—it’s a masterclass on sustainability, systems, and financial empowerment. If you’re an entrepreneur, aspiring founder, or ecosystem builder, this episode is a must-listen.
Plus, hear how Dr. Watson is building a 25,000 sq ft center to incubate real, fundable Black businesses—and why place and visibility matter more than ever.

How a Small Bank is Quietly Disrupting Big Finance

What happens when a former Wall Street investment banker takes over a small community bank in Kansas—and decides to shake up the entire financial industry?
In this episode of The Disruption Lab, we sit down with Matt Michaelis, CEO of Emprise Bank, to uncover how he's transforming a legacy institution into a tech-forward, innovation-focused force in fintech—without losing the soul of community banking.
You’ll hear:
Why personalized banking is the future (and what big banks are getting wrong)
How embedded finance is reshaping everything from Uber to restaurants
The truth about fintech saturation—and where the real opportunity lies
Why Kansas City is becoming a growth hub for finance, tech, and startups
What civic leaders can actually do to support entrepreneurship
Whether you’re a founder, fintech builder, or civic changemaker, this episode pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to innovate in one of the world’s oldest industries.

Businesses that heal: How Social Ventures Can Rebuild Divided Communities

What if the best way to fix a broken community isn’t charity or government programs—but business?
In this powerful episode of The Disruption Lab, Father Justin Matthews—Orthodox priest, entrepreneur, and founder of Thelma’s Kitchen—reveals how social entrepreneurship is becoming a radical tool for equity, healing, and community transformation.
We dive into the real stories behind his journey from rock musician to nonprofit leader, how a pay-as-you-can restaurant is bridging racial and economic divides in Kansas City, and why mixing profit with purpose might be the most sustainable path forward.
We also unpack:
Why philanthropy alone can’t scale impact
How to measure real social ROI (and why it matters)
What business leaders need to understand about trauma, trust, and leadership today
How social entrepreneurs can avoid the “greenwashing trap” and stay mission-aligned
Why Father Justin believes we’re entering a golden age of purpose-driven business
Whether you're a founder, investor, or community builder, this conversation will reshape how you think about capitalism, justice, and what it truly means to love your neighbor.
Listen now to learn how breaking bread might just be the most innovative business strategy of our time.

Solving Healthcare’s Billion-Dollar Problem: Meet the Founder Changing Medical Injections Forever

Ever wonder what it takes to transform a simple idea into a groundbreaking medical innovation? In this episode of The Disruption Lab, host Kevin McGinnis sits down with Nick Love MD, MBA and co-founder of Love Life Sciences, who shares his remarkable journey from medical student to leading a cutting-edge medical device startup.
Driven by personal experience—his mother's life-saving clinical trial with breast cancer—Nick uncovers exactly how he navigated the complex landscape of healthcare innovation to create Unipen, a patient-centered auto-injection device improving medication adherence and patient comfort.
Listen in to discover:
How Nick’s emotional turning point inspired him to leave the traditional medical school path—skipping residency to pursue entrepreneurship.
Why patient feedback, rather than big pharma interests, was key to designing their revolutionary injection device.
The hidden opportunities in underserved healthcare markets and how Love Life Sciences tapped into them.
Practical fundraising strategies for medtech startups—and why incremental milestones are crucial.
Why building a supportive entrepreneurial ecosystem matters more than you think.
Whether you're a healthcare professional, entrepreneur, or simply curious about how ideas become disruptive innovations, this conversation will leave you inspired and informed.
Tune in now to learn how thinking differently about patient care and market opportunities can revolutionize an entire industry!

$11 Million Mistake to Startup Success: How DevStride's Founder is Fixing Project Management

Ever had a costly mistake become your greatest teacher? Phil Reynolds, the serial entrepreneur behind BrightCore and DevStride, did—and it cost him $11 million. In this candid episode of The Disruption Lab, Phil opens up about how losing a major deal due to poor team coordination led him to create DevStride, a platform designed to solve project management nightmares.
We dive into Phil’s fascinating journey of bouncing back from failure, his strategies for building successful global remote teams, and why empathetic leadership beats micromanaging every time. Plus, Phil shares his unconventional views on raising capital, the surprising role AI will play in project management, and why running out of money isn't always the worst-case scenario.
Whether you’re navigating startup chaos, scaling your business, or just looking to avoid costly project pitfalls, this episode is packed with valuable insights from someone who’s been through it all.
Key takeaways include:
How to build a team culture that retains talent beyond just money
Why the future of project management needs AI—but still depends on human judgment
Fundraising tips for founders, including when (and if!) to take outside capital
What Phil learned from his biggest mistakes and how they shaped his success today
Tune in now and learn how to turn your setbacks into successful startups.

Can Journalism Survive? Inside the Fight to Rebuild Trust & Save Local News

Is local journalism dying—or is it being reborn? In this compelling episode of The Disruption Lab, host Kevin McGinnis sits down with Stephanie Campbell, CEO of The Beacon, to explore the critical state of journalism today. From plunging public trust and misinformation to disappearing local newsrooms, Stephanie reveals how adopting entrepreneurial strategies might just save independent journalism.
Listen as she uncovers:
Why trust in media is declining—and what we can do about it.
The surprising ways AI is both threatening and helping the news industry.
How nonprofit journalism models are reinventing local news delivery.
Why hyper-local storytelling is essential to community engagement.
The entrepreneurial mindset journalists must adopt to thrive.
If you've ever wondered what's really happening behind the scenes in the world of journalism, or how communities can reclaim reliable news, this episode is a must-listen.
Tune in now—and discover how local journalism can not only survive but thrive in a world of disruption.

This AI Skeptic Built One of America's Fastest-Growing Tech Communities: How to Use AI Without Losing Your Humanity

What happens when a self-proclaimed AI skeptic decides to dive in headfirst? In this episode of The Disruption Lab, host Kevin McGinnis sits down with Chris Kovac, marketing expert and co-founder of the Kansas City AI Club, to unpack how one blog post changed everything—and how he turned curiosity into a movement.
You’ll hear how Chris went from dismissing AI to becoming a national leader in AI community-building, what’s really happening behind the scenes in Kansas City’s tech ecosystem, and how marketers, entrepreneurs, and everyday people are using tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity to 10x their creativity and productivity.
We explore the ethics, infrastructure challenges, and jaw-dropping possibilities of AI, plus real-life success stories of founders and innovators solving actual problems with this technology. Whether you’re an early adopter or AI-curious, this episode offers fresh insights, a few reality checks, and a lot of inspiration.
 

"Why Traditional Crime Prevention Is Failing — And What Actually Works, According to People Who’ve Lived It"

What if everything we think we know about crime prevention is wrong? In this powerful episode, we sit down with two grassroots leaders who’ve been directly impacted by the justice system—and are now leading a movement to change it from the inside out.
They share why most public safety strategies fail, how "credible messengers" are reshaping violence prevention, and why innovation in this space starts with courage, not credentials. From AI tools that simplify expungement to data-driven storytelling that finally gives grassroots organizations a seat at the table, this conversation is a masterclass in what real impact looks like.
If you’ve ever wondered why violence persists despite endless policies, or how real change actually happens in underserved communities, this episode will flip your perspective.
We cover:
Why lived experience is the most valuable qualification in public safety
How grassroots organizations are rewriting the rules on data and outcomes
What ecosystem building really means—and why nonprofits get it wrong
The difference between innovation and invention in justice reform
How AI, reentry tools, and collaborative leadership are shifting the narrative

He Rode With Truckers to Fix a Broken $18B Industry—Here’s What He Learned

What would make someone leave a comfortable life to ride cross-country with truck drivers and fix one of the most outdated systems in America? In this episode of The Disruption Lab, founder and Executive Chairman of Super Dispatch, Bek, shares the wild, human-centered origin story of how he disrupted the chaotic auto transport industry from the inside out.
You’ll hear how he went from helping his cousin haul cars to building one of the most trusted platforms in logistics—all by starting with curiosity, empathy, and zero industry experience. Bek breaks down how he earned trust in a tech-resistant field, why his naivety was his greatest strength, and the cultural shifts that helped an old-school industry finally embrace innovation.
Whether you’re a startup founder, product builder, or just obsessed with behind-the-scenes business moves, this conversation is packed with wisdom, war stories, and lessons you won’t hear in a traditional MBA.
In this episode:
How Bek realized the auto transport industry was broken
Why diving in without experience was an advantage
The trust-first strategy that got drivers to adopt new tech
What most founders get wrong about hiring early
The power of relationship-driven growth in legacy industries
Why grit, not funding, made the biggest difference