The Brave Marketer

Scott Mann, Ret. U.S. Army Green Beret and Founder of Task Force Pineapple, shares his journey from a Special Forces soldier to a storyteller and actor. He detailed his time as a Green Beret who helped form Task Force Pineapple,  a group of veterans who used technology to coordinate the evacuation of Afghan allies during the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021.

Key Takeaways: 

• The role of biometric data collection in US Army missions and the Global War on Terror

• How their unprecedented use of the consumer app, Signal, became a go-to resource for natural disaster management and special operations

• The critical role of technology and veteran networks in crisis situations

• His new creative venture: Last Out - an award winning play his touring on stages across the country to provide healing to Veterans and their Families

Guest Bio:
Scott Mann is a former U.S. Army Green Beret with tours in Colombia, Peru, and Afghanistan. He’s the founder of Task Force Pineapple, a 501(c)(3) supporting Veterans and Afghan Allies, and the author of Operation Pineapple Express, a New York Times Best Seller. Scott also wrote Nobody is Coming to Save You, a guide to building trust and human connection in divided times. He also hosts The Scott Mann Podcast and is the playwright and star of Last Out: Elegy of a Green Beret, an award-winning play honoring the sacrifices of our military community.

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About this Show:

The Brave Technologist is here to shed light on the opportunities and challenges of emerging tech. To make it digestible, less scary, and more approachable for all!

Join us as we embark on a mission to demystify artificial intelligence, challenge the status quo, and empower everyday people to embrace the digital revolution. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a curious mind, or an industry professional, this podcast invites you to join the conversation and explore the future of AI together.

The Brave Technologist Podcast is hosted by Luke Mulks, VP Business Operations at Brave Software—makers of the privacy-respecting Brave browser and Search engine, and now powering AI everywhere with the Brave Search API.

Music by: Ari Dvorin

Produced by: Sam Laliberte

John Kiriakou, former CIA officer and whistleblower against the agency’s  torture program, discusses his extensive background in intelligence, the evolving role of technology and AI in intelligence operations, and the balance between privacy and national security. John details his experience with the CIA’s torture program post-9/11, and the consequences he’s faced for exposing these practices.

Key Takeaways:

• How targeted intelligence can succeed without mass surveillance, and how national security doesn’t need to mean sacrificing individual privacy

• The evolution of drone warfare in military options, and how its crossed moral lines

• The dangers posed by AI in intelligence, and the need for ethical considerations in the application of AI

• The current state of the US Patriot Act, and the implications of technology in media

Guest Bio:
John Kiriakou is a former CIA officer, former senior investigator for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and former counterterrorism consultant for ABC News. He was responsible for the capture in Pakistan in 2002 of Abu Zubaydah, believed to be the third-ranking official in al-Qaeda. In 2007, Kiriakou exposed the CIA’s torture program, saying that the CIA tortured prisoners, had become official U.S. government policy, and that this policy had been approved by then-President George W. Bush. He became the sixth whistleblower indicted by the Obama administration under the Espionage Act—a law designed to punish spies—and served 23 months in prison as a result. Kiriakou is the author of eight books, including The Reluctant Spy: My Secret Life in the CIA’s War on Terror; Doing Time Like a Spy: How the CIA Taught Me to Survive and Thrive in Prison; and The Convenient Terrorist: Abu Zubaydah and the Weird Wonderland of America’s Secret Wars.

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About this Show:

The Brave Technologist is here to shed light on the opportunities and challenges of emerging tech. To make it digestible, less scary, and more approachable for all!

Join us as we embark on a mission to demystify artificial intelligence, challenge the status quo, and empower everyday people to embrace the digital revolution. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a curious mind, or an industry professional, this podcast invites you to join the conversation and explore the future of AI together.

The Brave Technologist Podcast is hosted by Luke Mulks, VP Business Operations at Brave Software—makers of the privacy-respecting Brave browser and Search engine, and now powering AI everywhere with the Brave Search API.

Music by: Ari Dvorin

Produced by: Sam Laliberte

Sandy Carter, COO and Head of GTM at Unstoppable Domains, discusses the potential of on-chain and digitized identities, including real-world examples that highlight shortcomings of current systems. She also reveals details of the new .BRAVE domain and its significance for the Brave community.

Key Takeaways: 

• How Unstoppable domains allows users to store verified digital identity information securely

• The convergence of AI and blockchain technology, including the potential of AI agents within crypto wallets

• The launch of the new.BRAVE domain and why this is such an exciting announcement for the Brave community

Guest Bio:
Sandy Carter is a globally recognized expert and innovator in AI and blockchain, having led groundbreaking advancements in AI and blockchain. Currently, as COO of Unstoppable Domains—a leading digital identity platform—she is revolutionizing how users manage and own their online identities. Formerly COO, CPO, and CSO at AWS and IBM, Sandy has successfully driven billions in revenue growth and spearheaded transformative technology adoption at scale.

Sandy is author of the bestselling book “AI First, Human Always”, and has been recognized as a Microsoft MSN Top 10 AI Entrepreneur. She has been featured in Adweek’s AI Power 100, and honored by Constellation Research as a Top AI Business Leader. She has delivered keynote addresses at global forums such as CES, SXSW, Davos, and more, and has been consistently rated among the top speakers. An accomplished global speaker, she has captivated audiences of up to 50,000 attendees in over 89 countries (and has proudly sampled McDonald’s in each one).

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About this Show:

The Brave Technologist is here to shed light on the opportunities and challenges of emerging tech. To make it digestible, less scary, and more approachable for all!

Join us as we embark on a mission to demystify artificial intelligence, challenge the status quo, and empower everyday people to embrace the digital revolution. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a curious mind, or an industry professional, this podcast invites you to join the conversation and explore the future of AI together.

The Brave Technologist Podcast is hosted by Luke Mulks, VP Business Operations at Brave Software—makers of the privacy-respecting Brave browser and Search engine, and now powering AI everywhere with the Brave Search API.

Music by: Ari Dvorin

Produced by: Sam Laliberte

Debbie Reynolds, Chief Data Privacy Officer and host of “The Data Diva Talks Privacy” podcast, discusses the challenges parents face in protecting their children online, and simple habits users can adopt to take back control of their privacy. She also discusses the growing recognition among companies that excessive data collection poses significant risks.

Key Takeaways: 

• How consumer expectations for data are privacy changing

• The asymmetrical relationship between consumers and companies regarding data privacy

• How companies can scale a human‑centric approach to privacy

• The importance of decentralization in future data management

Guest Bio:

Debbie Reynolds—aka “The Data Diva”—is a globally recognized technologist, thought leader, and advisor in data privacy and emerging technology. With over 20 years of experience, she has delivered keynote talks for major organizations like Coca-Cola, Johnson & Johnson, PayPal, TikTok, and Uber. Her insights have been featured in leading media outlets, including The New York Times, Forbes, Bloomberg, and Wired.

Debbie hosts the #1 global award-winning podcast, “The Data Diva Talks Privacy,” which reaches listeners in over 120 countries. Identity Review has named her one of the Global Top Eight Privacy Experts, and the European Risk Policy Institute has named her a Top 30 CyberRisk Communicator. She also chairs the IEEE Cyber Security Committee for the Next Generation Connectivity Systems Privacy Labeling Project.

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About this Show:

The Brave Technologist is here to shed light on the opportunities and challenges of emerging tech. To make it digestible, less scary, and more approachable for all!

Join us as we embark on a mission to demystify artificial intelligence, challenge the status quo, and empower everyday people to embrace the digital revolution. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a curious mind, or an industry professional, this podcast invites you to join the conversation and explore the future of AI together.

The Brave Technologist Podcast is hosted by Luke Mulks, VP Business Operations at Brave Software—makers of the privacy-respecting Brave browser and Search engine, and now powering AI everywhere with the Brave Search API.

Music by: Ari Dvorin

Produced by: Sam Laliberte

Rob Viglione, Co-Founder and CEO of Horizen Labs and zkVerify, shares his transition from military intelligence in Afghanistan to co-founding a blockchain company. He discusses the role of zero-knowledge (ZK) technology in enabling private transactions, the need for integration of crypto with traditional finance, and the vision to bring off-chain information on chain.

Key Takeaways:

• Zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs): what they are, and why they’re so important in today’s digital landscape

• The utility of cryptocurrencies for individuals in poorly governed jurisdictions

• The convergence of AI and blockchain, and how ZKPs can verify AI outputs without compromising privacy

• The real-world applications of ZK technology, such as private transactions, digital identity verification, and connecting traditional finance with blockchain

Guest Bio:

Rob Viglione is the co-founder and CEO of Horizen Labs, the development studio behind several leading Web3 projects, including zkVerify and Horizen.

Rob served in the U.S. Air Force and was deployed to Afghanistan, where he supported Special Operations Task Force intelligence efforts. During this time, he developed an early interest in Bitcoin, recognizing its potential benefits for countries with unstable economies.

Today, Rob’s work focuses on Web3 scalability, blockchain efficiency, and zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs). With the growing convergence of AI and blockchain, Horizen Labs is also exploring how ZKPs can be used to help verify AI model outputs without compromising privacy.

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About this Show:

The Brave Technologist is here to shed light on the opportunities and challenges of emerging tech. To make it digestible, less scary, and more approachable for all!

Join us as we embark on a mission to demystify artificial intelligence, challenge the status quo, and empower everyday people to embrace the digital revolution. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a curious mind, or an industry professional, this podcast invites you to join the conversation and explore the future of AI together.

The Brave Technologist Podcast is hosted by Luke Mulks, VP Business Operations at Brave Software—makers of the privacy-respecting Brave browser and Search engine, and now powering AI everywhere with the Brave Search API.

Music by: Ari Dvorin

Produced by: Sam Laliberte

Shafik Quoraishee, Senior Mobile/AI Game Developer at the New York Times, discusses the development process behind popular New York Times games such as Crosswords and Connections, along with what they learned about consumer behavior from the highly addictive and viral success of Wordle.

Key Takeaways: 

• How to balance innovation with the legacy of traditional games

• The importance of user engagement and testing in game development

• The future potential of AI in creating immersive gaming experiences

Guest Bio:

Shafik Quoraishee who is a Senior Mobile/AI Game Developer at the New York Times. He works on popular games such as The New York Times Crosswords, Connections, Strands, and Wordle, and is deeply interested in the intersection of AI and accessibility. Previously Shafik was a Senior Android Engineer for the National Basketball Association, and a Senior Data Engineer at Business Insider.

Connect with Shafik:

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About this Show:

The Brave Technologist is here to shed light on the opportunities and challenges of emerging tech. To make it digestible, less scary, and more approachable for all!

Join us as we embark on a mission to demystify artificial intelligence, challenge the status quo, and empower everyday people to embrace the digital revolution. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a curious mind, or an industry professional, this podcast invites you to join the conversation and explore the future of AI together.

The Brave Technologist Podcast is hosted by Luke Mulks, VP Business Operations at Brave Software—makers of the privacy-respecting Brave browser and Search engine, and now powering AI everywhere with the Brave Search API.

Music by: Ari Dvorin

Produced by: Sam Laliberte

Luke Mulks, Vice President of Business Operations at Brave Software, discusses how AI and crypto regulations have evolved in 2025, including new opportunities and regulatory reversals. He also shares updates about Brave's achievements and the movement towards a private world.

Key Takeaways: 

• Brave's growth in user privacy and engagement

• The impact of user feedback and community involvement for Brave

• Ongoing developments with the Basic Attention Token (BAT), and new initiatives like the Rewards Partner Program

• How shifting to a “user first” podcast theme has impacted the success of the show

Guest Bio: Luke Mulks is the Vice President of Business Operations at Brave Software, where he helps lead the company’s privacy-focused advertising and Web3 initiatives. Since joining in 2016, he’s played a key role in launching Brave Ads and expanding the Basic Attention Token (BAT) ecosystem. A former ad tech executive and media producer, Luke also hosts The Brave Technologist podcast, making emerging tech like AI and blockchain more accessible.

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About this Show:

The Brave Technologist is here to shed light on the opportunities and challenges of emerging tech. To make it digestible, less scary, and more approachable for all!

Join us as we embark on a mission to demystify artificial intelligence, challenge the status quo, and empower everyday people to embrace the digital revolution. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a curious mind, or an industry professional, this podcast invites you to join the conversation and explore the future of AI together.

The Brave Technologist Podcast is hosted by Luke Mulks, VP Business Operations at Brave Software—makers of the privacy-respecting Brave browser and Search engine, and now powering AI everywhere with the Brave Search API.

Music by: Ari Dvorin

Produced by: Sam Laliberte

Anton Kraminkin, Founder of Sleepagotchi, shares insights on the importance of sleep, the cultural shifts towards valuing sleep, and how Sleepagotchi rewards users for maintaining a consistent sleep schedule.

Key Takeaways: 

• The surprising sleep habits Sleepagotchi has learned about their users

• The ethics of gamifying health habits and working with sensitive data

• Combating bots and bad actors attracted to the financial incentives Sleepagotchi provides

• The use of Telegram as a tool for marketing and low-friction user acquisition

• Monetization and ways to generate revenue in the Web3/health space

Guest Bio: Anton Kraminkin is the founder and CEO of Sleepagotchi, a sleep app that uses gamification and AI to  incentivize users to sleep better. Sleepagotchi raised investments from 6th Man Ventures, Collab+Currency, 1kx and Alliance, and angels including the CPO of Duolingo, among others. Previously, Anton worked on product at Duolingo. He started Sleepagotchi while completing his studies at Harvard Business School.

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About this Show:

The Brave Technologist is here to shed light on the opportunities and challenges of emerging tech. To make it digestible, less scary, and more approachable for all!

Join us as we embark on a mission to demystify artificial intelligence, challenge the status quo, and empower everyday people to embrace the digital revolution. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a curious mind, or an industry professional, this podcast invites you to join the conversation and explore the future of AI together.

The Brave Technologist Podcast is hosted by Luke Mulks, VP Business Operations at Brave Software—makers of the privacy-respecting Brave browser and Search engine, and now powering AI everywhere with the Brave Search API.

Music by: Ari Dvorin

Produced by: Sam Laliberte

Yemel Jardi, Co-Founder & Executive Director of the Decentraland Foundation, discusses the evolution of Decentraland from an experimental project to a thriving virtual social world. We also discuss the challenges and opportunities within the metaverse, and the importance of community and human connection.

Key Takeaways: 

• How Decentraland is providing more opportunity for human connection through socially rooted, virtual worlds

• Unique use cases for creators and businesses to leverage online worlds

• Balancing decentralization with the need for governance and moderation

• Ethical concerns with AI in social virtual worlds

• The importance of decentralization and community-driven content

Guest Bio: Yemel Jardi is a co-founder of Decentraland, and the Executive Director of the Decentraland Foundation. With a passion for blockchain technology, Yemel began building open source tools for Bitcoin development in 2014, and later co-founded Casa Voltaire, which has incubated significant blockchain projects such as Decentraland, OpenZeppelin, HardHat, and Muun. Currently, Yemel leads the Decentraland Foundation’s efforts to build a decentralized virtual world in the open metaverse. In his free time, Yemel enjoys playing football, kiteboarding, and FPV drone racing. He is also keenly focused on the evolving AI revolution, and the development of machines or software systems that can perform tasks typically requiring human intelligence—such as problem-solving, learning, and adaptation—and how this will impact work, culture, and the social dynamic of social virtual worlds.

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About this Show:

The Brave Technologist is here to shed light on the opportunities and challenges of emerging tech. To make it digestible, less scary, and more approachable for all!

Join us as we embark on a mission to demystify artificial intelligence, challenge the status quo, and empower everyday people to embrace the digital revolution. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a curious mind, or an industry professional, this podcast invites you to join the conversation and explore the future of AI together.

The Brave Technologist Podcast is hosted by Luke Mulks, VP Business Operations at Brave Software—makers of the privacy-respecting Brave browser and Search engine, and now powering AI everywhere with the Brave Search API.

Music by: Ari Dvorin

Produced by: Sam Laliberte