The Innovator’s Impact
by Darnell Perkins
Latest episode
Episode 19: Freight, Fight, and Grit — Alexxander Purcell on…
Episode 19: Freight, Fight, and Grit — Alexxander Purcell on…
About this podcast
The Innovator’s Impact explores how today’s business leaders are using technology to drive growth, solve complex challenges, and future-proof their companies. Hosted by Darnell Perkins, founder of 81 West Cyber, each episode features real conversations with innovators who are transforming the way we think about leadership, strategy, and tech adoption. Whether you're scaling a company or navigating digital change, this podcast will inspire, inform, and challenge the way you lead.
Episodes
- Episode 19: Freight, Fight, and Grit — Alexxander Purcell on Trucking, Compliance & the Raw Truth of Entrepreneurship · 28 min · Season 1 Episode 19Company Stats: Guest: Alexxander Purcell, DOT Solutions & Support Engineer Industry: Trucking / Logistics / Compliance Company: Verified First Focus: FMCSA compliance, audit…
- Episode 18: Legacy Over Leverage — Michael Blank on Firearms Innovation, Patents & Founder's Grit · 42 min · Season 1 Episode 18Company Stats: Guest: Michael Blank, Arms, Munitions, & Capital Markets Professional Industry: Firearms / Ammunition / Manufacturing Company: Gen X Arms and Ammunition (GXAA)…
- Episode 17: Augment, Don’t Replace Josh Asbury on AI, Automation & Keeping the Human in Freight Tech · 40 min · Season 1 Episode 17Company Stats Guest: Josh Asbury, Founder of BrokerPro Industry: Freight Tech / SaaS / AI Automation Company: BrokerPro Focus: TMS & workflow solutions for freight brokers and…
- Episode 16: Getting to the Heart — Dr. Regina Atim on AI in Maternal Health, Root-Cause Care & Leading Through Community · 25 min · Season 1 Episode 16Company Stats Guest: Dr. Regina Atim, PharmD, MBA, Founder & CEO, Clinicians Touch ALLYVE Industry: Health Tech / Maternal & Cardiovascular Health Company: Clinicians Touch…
- Episode 15: AI for Industry Stefano Melchior on Energy Efficiency, Startup Resilience & Leading with Vision · 25 min · Season 1 Episode 15Company Stats Guest: Stefano Melchior, 3x Founder & CEO of BeChained Industry: Industrial AI / Energy Optimization Company: BeChained Focus: Helping manufacturers cut operational…
- Episode 14: Human Interfaces — Vladimir Baranov on Soft Skills, Fear, and Empowering Technical Founders · 20 min · Season 1 Episode 14Company Stats Guest: Vladimir Baranov, Founder, Coach & Creator of Human Interfaces Industry: Leadership Development / Startup Coaching Company: Human Interfaces Focus: Coaching…
- Episode 13: From AI Dreams to Contract Intelligence: Bo(Austin)Sun on Startup Vision, Team Building & the Future of Work · 34 min · Season 1 Episode 13Company Stats Guest: Austin Sun, Co-founder of Clausey Industry: Legal Tech / AI Company: Clausey (clausey.ai) Focus: AI-powered contract intelligence Tech Stack: AI agents, NLP…
- Episode 12: Breaking Borders — Aras Sheikhi on Immigrant Innovation, Global Teams & Startup Grit · 37 min · Season 1 Episode 12Company Stats Guest: Aras Sheikih, Entrepreneurial Lead at UCSD, Founder & CEO of Janus Innovation Hub Industry: Innovation / Education / Tech Incubation Company: Janus…
- Episode 11: Stop the Hassle — Jim Bramlett on Scaling with Simplicity, Psychology & Unconventional Thinking · 33 min · Season 1 Episode 11Company Stats Guest: Jim Bramlett, Founder, Author, Entrepreneur Industry: Business Strategy / Product Innovation Company: Multiple Startups + Author of Stop the Hassle and The…
- Episode 10: Rooted in Joy — Shruthi Desai on Emotional Safety, Mindful Kids & the Power of Community · 23 min · Season 1 Episode 10Company Stats Guest: Shruthi Desai, Founder Industry: Child Wellness / Education / Mindfulness Company: Mudita Circles Focus: Yoga-based emotional wellness tools for children and…
- Episode 09: From Backyard Heat to Global Tables — Randy Pulayya on Building West Indies Pepper Sauce with Heart · 33 min · Season 1 Episode 9Company Stats Guest: Randy Pulayya, Founder Industry: Food & Beverage / Consumer Packaged Goods Company: West Indies Pepper Sauce (WIPS) Focus: Caribbean-inspired premium hot…
- Episode 8: Systems, Scale & Smarter Pharma — Robert Hendrix on Innovating Inside the Lines · 20 min · Season 1 Episode 8Company Stats Guest: Robert Hendrix, CEO Industry: Pharmaceutical Manufacturing / Systems Engineering Company: N+1 Process Engineering Solutions LLC Focus: Modular, GMP-compliant…
- Episode 7: Data, Distribution & Deming — Ivan Martinez on Scaling Operations & Leadership with Predictive Precision · 29 min · Season 1 Episode 7Company Stats • Guest: Ivan Martinez, COO • Industry: Automotive Parts Distribution / Supply Chain • Company: Second-largest collision parts distributor in the U.S. • Scale: 45…
- Episode 6: Flushing Away Fortune — Susan Springsteen’s Mission to Stop Toilet Water Waste with H2O Connected · 27 min · Season 1 Episode 6Company Stats • Name: H2O Connected • Industry: Smart Water Technology / PropertyTech • Focus: Toilet leak detection, water conservation, and smart plumbing solutions • Product…
- Episode 5: Growing Food, Growing Impact — Aamar Khwaja’s Journey from Wall Street to Tiny Farms · 28 min · Season 1 Episode 5Company Stats • Name: Aamar Khwaja, Founder of ModGarden • Industry: Urban Agriculture, Health Tech, Food Sustainability • Focus: Organic indoor farming, smart soil-based…
- Episode 4: Solo, Scientific & Stubborn — Ramesh Gopal on Innovating for Climate and Health · 26 min · Season 1 Episode 4Company Stats Name: Ramesh Gopal Industry: Deep Tech, Climate Tech, Health Tech Focus: Carbon capture technology, hardware innovation, and wearable health devices Stage…
- Episode 3: From Sci-Fi to Startup — Torrey Smith on Swallowable Robots, Grit, and Radical Innovation · 53 min · Season 1 Episode 3Company Stats • Name: Endiatx • Industry: MedTech, Robotics • Flagship Product: Pillbot – a swallowable, piloted robot for internal diagnostics • Stage: Pre-market, clinical…
- Episode 2: Leading with Empathy & Speed — Paul Scribner on Investing, Innovation & Global Strategy · 20 min · Season 1 Episode 2Company Stats • Name: Raven Resources (USA), General Holdings (Dubai) • Industry: Asset Management, Professional Investment • Reach: U.S. and Middle East markets • Focus: Deal…
- Episode 1: From Homeless to Million-Dollar Contracts — How Charlene Arnold Became the CDL Queen · 20 min · Season 1 Episode 1Company Stats • Industry: Transportation, Trucking, CDL Training • Key Achievement: Secured a $1M construction contract in Seattle • Family Impact: All 5 of her children are now…
