The Disruption Lab

AI Isn’t Killing Us—We Are: How to Use Robots Without Losing Your Mind (or Your Community)

Are robots and AI actually making us smarter—or just outsourcing our brains? In this conversation with John McElligott, we unpack why technology isn’t the story—people are. From the first “tech” (domesticated wolves) to today’s cognitive offloading to phones and ChatGPT, we explore how to adopt AI, robotics, and automation without erasing what makes us human: wisdom, empathy, and culture.
You’ll hear how “Artificial Western Intelligence” bakes in our online conflict, why fear stalls innovation in mid-America, and how to flip the script with human-centered automation that creates jobs, connection, and real outcomes. We get practical—covering quick-win community pilots (like an AI art challenge that quietly teaches NLP), the data center jobs myth (and what to negotiate instead), and the next leap: real-time translation that must include cultural context, not just words.
What you’ll learn (answer targets):
How to spot when tech is using you—and how to reset it as a partner
Why fear vs. incentive messaging should change by community—and when to use each
What “Artificial Western Intelligence” means and how to build values-aware AI
The truth about data centers: low jobs, high leverage—what to demand locally
Simple pilots to teach AI skills fast (without jargon) and build public buy-in
If AI is racing ahead, our empathy has to keep pace. This episode shows how to design for human connection at scale—so we don’t automate ourselves out of a future worth having.
 

The Power of People: How Benny Lee Built Global Companies—and a Legacy of Giving

What does it take to build a life — and a legacy — from scratch? In this live episode of The Disruption Lab, Kevin McGinnis sits down with Benny Lee, engineer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, to explore his remarkable journey from Taipei to Kansas City, where he turned bold ideas into thriving businesses and transformed success into community impact.
Benny shares how relationships, resilience, and ethical leadership shaped every step of his career — from his early startup struggles to supporting world-class musicians through Park University’s International Center for Music. He opens up about his biggest failures, what resilience really means, and the philosophy that one success can outweigh ten setbacks.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur, innovator, or dreamer, this episode offers a masterclass in perseverance, purpose, and giving back. You’ll walk away inspired to rethink what success looks like — and how your own story can make a lasting difference.
🎧 Tune in to learn:
How Benny built multiple companies from the ground up — starting with nothing but grit and connection.
The role of ethics, humility, and trust in sustainable leadership.
Why failure isn’t the opposite of success — it’s part of the equation.
How Kansas City became an unexpected hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.
Why Benny believes giving back is the ultimate form of success.

Smart Cities 101: How Tech, Safety & Equity Are Redefining Urban Life

What if a city could completely reimagine how technology shapes daily life—not just for convenience, but for public safety, economic growth, and citizen trust?
In this episode of The Disruption Lab, we sit down with Mike Grigsby to uncover how Kansas City became a national model for smart city innovation—from the groundbreaking Google Fiber launch to the streetcar project that redefined what technology can mean for a community.
You’ll hear how public-private partnerships, smart infrastructure, and digital equity programs are reshaping the way governments serve their people. We explore:
The surprising story of how digital exclusion affects more than just low-income families
Why body-worn cameras and smart safety tech require careful trust-building with citizens
How cities can avoid being reactive and start investing in long-term innovation
Why the future of connected communities depends on collaboration across every department
Whether you’re a civic leader, entrepreneur, or just curious about how tech will change the way you live in your city, this episode reveals the behind-the-scenes of building smarter, safer, and more connected communities.

Inside the Nation’s First Wellness Court - From Punishment to Possibility

What if “public safety” didn’t start with punishment—but with support? In this episode, Judge Courtney pulls back the curtain on how a municipal court in Kansas City is flipping the script with Wellness Court, alternative dockets, and a totally different mindset: rehabilitation over incarceration. From walk-in dockets and evening hours to community resource fairs and elective programming (yes—yoga, knitting, cooking with family, and gym memberships), you’ll hear how small design choices rebuild trust, reduce barriers, and actually change outcomes.
We also dig into data and AI—how better note-capture and analytics can finally measure success beyond recidivism, unlock grants, and spotlight real progress like stability, sobriety, and employment. If you’ve ever thought “the system is too rigid to change,” this conversation will challenge that belief—and give you a front-row look at what modern, human-centered justice can be.
You’ll learn:
What a Wellness Court is and how it merges drug + mental health courts to serve real people, not case numbers.
Why jail time doesn’t deliver true public safety—and what does.
How alternative dockets (DV compliance, diversion, community court) tailor accountability without fear.
How trust-building tactics (no-custody walk-ins, evening access) boost court appearance rates.
Practical ways courts can use AI + data to track outcomes that matter (not just reoffense).
The vision for a Community Resource Center that co-locates services next to the courthouse.
If you’re a policymaker, practitioner, or just curious about justice system innovation, this episode shows what’s working—and how any city can start.

The Viral Razor from Shark Tank: How Go Nuts Is Changing Men’s Grooming Forever

What happens when you take a taboo topic, flip the script, and turn it into a global lifestyle brand? In this episode of The Disruption Lab, Craig Moore sits down with Landon McKinnis, founder of Go Nutz, the spherical razor that landed him a deal with Daymond John on Shark Tank and is now shaking up the men’s grooming industry.
Landon shares how he spotted an underserved market, designed a safer electric razor that cuts out pain and risk, and built a brand around humor, innovation, and lifestyle. From going viral on social media to struggling with inventory, from speaking his vision into existence to chasing legacy status alongside giants like Gillette and Wahl—this is the real story behind disrupting an industry nobody wanted to touch.
You’ll learn:
How letting competitors go first can actually set you up to win.
Why humor and branding can break down taboo barriers in marketing.
The ups and downs of going viral (and why Shark Tank came at the right time).
What it takes to balance self-doubt with an unshakable “why.”
If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to go from side idea to household name—or how to build a product people can’t stop talking about—this conversation will pull back the curtain.

Turning 381 Million Tons of Plastic Waste Into Fashion: The Salubata Story

Can sneakers really solve plastic pollution? In this episode of The Disruption Lab, guest host Craig Moore sits down with Yewande Akinse, co-founder and COO of Salubata, the startup turning recycled plastic waste into modular, fashion-forward sneakers.
You’ll hear how her lived experience with flooding in Lagos inspired a global mission, what it took to transform a failed prototype into nearly $1M in revenue, and why modular shoe design is shaking up an industry dominated by Nike and Adidas.
We’ll explore:
The biggest myths about sustainable fashion (and how Salubata is breaking them)
How one imperfect prototype unlocked grants, investors, and Techstars
Why innovation is survival in the legacy footwear market
What’s next: athletic shoes, kids’ lines, and even carbon-capturing sneaker technology
If you’ve ever wondered how sustainability, style, and entrepreneurship collide—or what it takes to truly disrupt a legacy industry—this episode delivers the answers.

The Future of Voting: Can Civic Tech and AI Save Democracy?

Can technology actually rebuild trust in democracy—or is it just making things worse? In this episode of The Disruption Lab, we sit down with Mychal Shaw, founder of Uwazi, a civic tech platform using AI to cut through misinformation, improve civic literacy, and make everyday engagement in democracy simple, clear, and accessible.
We explore:
Why voter apathy and civic illiteracy are bigger threats than low turnout.
How AI can provide clarity on policies, elections, and even misinformation from TikTok and social media.
The idea of “trust as infrastructure” and how transparency can close participation gaps.
How civic tech can empower the next generation of voters before they even turn 18.
What it takes to build a sustainable, mission-driven startup in one of the hardest spaces—politics and government.
If you’ve ever wondered whether technology can actually heal polarization—or if AI can create smarter, more confident voters—this conversation will challenge how you think about democracy’s future.

From Wall Street Dreams to Regenerating Cities: How Capital Can Heal Communities and the Planet

This week on The Disruption Lab, we dive into the question: What if money could do more than just make profit? What if it could restore communities and ecosystems at the same time? Our guest, Brian Weinberg, Managing Director at Foundation for Regeneration, shares his powerful journey from chasing a Wall Street career to living in South America, where firsthand exposure to poverty shifted his worldview forever. That experience sparked a lifelong mission to use capital differently — first through microfinance, then impact investing, and now through place-based regeneration in Kansas City’s Blue River Valley. In this episode, you’ll discover:
Why witnessing poverty in South America changed Brian’s path forever.
How microfinance and impact investing paved the way for modern regeneration models.
The untapped billion-dollar opportunities in the circular economy.
Why Kansas City’s Blue River Valley is ground zero for testing regenerative development.
The hardest leadership lesson Brian learned (and why resilience is everything).
Whether you’re an entrepreneur, investor, policymaker, or simply someone curious about creating a future where business, community, and ecology thrive together — this conversation will challenge how you think about capital and impact.

The Startup Taking On the Autism Resource Crisis (And Winning)

When Antoinette’s children were diagnosed with autism—four years apart—she was handed the same outdated “resource packet” both times. Nothing had changed. Instead of waiting for the system to improve, she decided to build the solution herself. In this episode of The Disruption Lab, recorded live with an audience, Antoinette shares how she went from zero tech background to launching Nru, a digital health platform designed to connect the dots between medical, educational, and therapy resources for families of neurodivergent children.
You’ll hear how she’s tackling fragmented systems, why she built mental-health-focused features like daily “inch stone” journaling, and how she balances sharing her family’s story without compromising their privacy. We also dig into the surprising role community programs and mentors played in accelerating her journey, and what it really takes to design technology with empathy.
Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, educator, or founder, this conversation offers an unfiltered look at turning lived experience into lasting impact—and why the autism resource gap might finally have a solution.

How a Streetcar, a Park, and a Crazy Idea Changed a Whole City

What does it really take to turn a struggling downtown into a vibrant, diverse, and connected economic engine? In this episode of The Disruption Lab, we sit down with the leader who helped Kansas City pull off one of the most dramatic urban turnarounds in America.
Discover the inside story of how Kansas City’s downtown went from urban blight to boom town—including the pivotal role of the streetcar, public-private partnerships, and a relentless focus on data and community connectivity. We talk candidly about the biggest challenges, the risks that paid off, and why building a truly inclusive city is about more than just flashy development.
You’ll learn:
The early decisions and “aha moments” that changed Kansas City’s trajectory
Why transit, like the downtown streetcar, was a game-changer for investment and culture
How connecting neighborhoods fuels growth, diversity, and resilience
The surprising data strategies used to prove impact and secure support
What it takes to keep a city moving forward—despite resistance and generational change
If you’re curious about what’s possible in city-building, want to understand how to measure real impact, or simply love stories of people betting big on their hometown, this episode is for you.
Hit play to find out how Kansas City’s downtown comeback happened—and what your city can learn from it.