SUPERTILT: the podcast

This week we really go the last mile (recording between NZ and Colombia) with one of the heroes of last mile delivery automation, Felipe Chavez, founder and CEO of Kiwibot. Kiwibot is on a mission to build the internet of atoms. In this episode, we dissect what that means, and why you should care about curated + caring bots roaming the streets of our cities.

This interview reveals what's going on behind the walls of a robot company dealing with one of the most important logistics issues of the COVID / 2020s era and what the ideal human-bot interaction may look and feel like.

We explore the topics of:

• Energy, and Kiwibot's drive to be an emission-free robot fleet
• The design philosophy around the form + function of the bots:
• Anthropological considerations in creating robots for society
• That state of last mile food delivery now and into the future
• Impact of the pandemic in the success of Kiwibot
• Data sharing, city data and robot data at large
• Robot + human safety
• Which cities are winning in the adoption of bots + urban innovation

Tune in, share with a buddy who might froth over bots, give us some lurvin' on the ratings ;) and #tiltwithus

This one's got it all. All the goss on the green stuff. We dig into the gritty topic of Cannabis and the productization of the plant in the US market, and what has contributed to such a thriving CannabisTech industry. We question whether New Zealand really did mess up the referendum results and the consequences in terms of industry innovation.

We traverse several core elements: industry dynamics, economics and trade, social consequences and inequities, and the ecological, natural/ artificial resource considerations involved in the growth of this sector.

We source fresh insights from LA-based founder Brett Fink and chat multi-state nuances, the East vs West coast paradox, the Old Guard holding back progress, and good old supply + demand issues. No doubt you will be enticed to dabble in one of the myriad of cannabis products by the end of this episode. SUPERTILT takes no responsibility for the legality of your consumption habit. ;)

In this week's episode, we question whether it's tech or policy that will actually make the biggest dent in the global climate crisis. We kick off with the super positive Biden news that has the world exhaling a massive sigh of relief and what this spells for a new era of climate consciousness. We question how things are set to change given the fresh political landscape, and how the US vs NZ is poised to take action.

We dive into this juicy issue with climate policy and climate finance adviser, Byron Fay (who happens to be calling in from his quarantine hotel in Sydney). We explore the current policy landscape around carbon removal, and the contrasts in how different countries are tackling this issue. We dig into the role that entrepreneurs and tech leaders are playing in the climate crisis, drawing on the example of Elon Musk making his mark in shifting attitudes and policy in regards to energy. We froth out on the opportunities that Byron lays out in the realms of lower carbon tech, and how we're only just starting to scrape the tip of the iceberg with these technologies.

Produced for you, with love, in #Aotearoa

Where to find us:

• Twitter
• Instagram
• Join the Club: The TILT on Substack

Find your hosts on Twitter:

• @blaiseturnbull
• @mahoneyjkt
• @aidan_kenealy

In this week's episode, we question what's going down on the other side of the Tasman, in relation to the Australian Government's current attempt to force Google to pay to link users to news sites. We dive into what has led the Aussie Govt. to take such a stance, and how Google (and Facebook) are reacting to such moves. This leads us to investigate the desire for transparency around the secret algorithm, and what the global implications for this could be.

We explore alternatives to Google , leading to our revelations on what the future of search engines could look like, outside of the default framework. We touch on sacred data, Mozilla's manifesto for a healthy internet and the reframing of "Googling" which has become second nature to us modern cyborgs. Naturally, the proverbial fruit in the room is mentioned, and we consider what Apple's search engine strategy may be, coming up against the Google behemoth. One thing we definitely agree on: Bing = WTF.

In this week's episode, we question what is leading to the surges or plummets in global property markets and how that's being impacted by the rising tide of remote-forward, nature-seeking, lifestyle-conscious tech workers/founders. We dive into the nuances around the example of San Francisco, and the "tech exodus" (to hotspots like Austin, Miami and Tulum etc) that's radically changing the game for the tech industry. This leads us to some cool discoveries about "creator towns" and what urban innovation is on the horizon.

We drop in with tech founder, angel investor + futurist Sydney Lai, live from her Brooklyn apartment. We get her insightful spin on NYC's real USP, that keeps those tied there, despite all the COVID grittiness going down. We discuss the topic of personal wellbeing amidst these testing times, and the coping strategies she's developed throughout her NYC x COVID journey. Hint: KPIs and solid metrics are a core part of the mindfulness game plan. As is the connection to nature. #gobuysomepotplants y'all.
Plus, bonus relevancy points to Sydney for the pretty avante-garde #dogecoin favicon on her website.

Produced for you, with love, in #Aotearoa

Where to find us:

• Twitter
• Instagram
• The TILT on Substack
• Join the Club

Find your hosts on Twitter/ IG:

• @blaiseturnbull
• @mahoneyturnbull / @mahoneyjkt
• @aidan_kenealy

In Ep 7 we explore what is happening in the world of audio-based social platforms and the radically shifting landscape of social. We ask the question whether this rapid surge is a trend stimulated by the new normal of COVID social times, or if it's part of a broader shift to more intimate, audio-based social engagement. Will pure voice-based networking have a future in a reopened, post-COVID world where we can once again meet others in real-world, public places? 

We dig into the most talked about product in this space right now, Clubhouse app, (which just closed a $100M Series B round led by A16z 2 days after recording this episode) at a valuation of $1B, 10x their valuation mid 2020. This iOS, invite-only app has caught the hearts and ears of millions of users around the world, and we analyze the factors contributing to its widespread appeal.

We discuss the cultural adaption or lack thereof to personal broadcasting, and what that means in the context of NZ, where the pandemic has not made such an imprint on our IRL social capabilities. Forecasting forward, we dig into what may become of apps like Clubhouse, and other competitors coming into this vertical as this category continues to boom. 

Produced for you, with love, in #Aotearoa

Where to find us:

• Twitter
• Instagram
• The TILT on Substack
• Join the Club

Find your hosts on Twitter/ IG:

• @blaiseturnbull
• @mahoneyturnbull / @mahoneyjkt
• @aidan_kenealy

In this episode we explore what the heck is going on with an old aluminum smelter that may well be New Zealand's answer to its own Silicon Valley. We chat about the fresh proposal to turn the smelter into a thriving renewable data center and what it could mean for COVID-free NZ to also become a future-forward tech ecosystem from the bottom of the world. We dive into niche international countries that have tackled this, and NZ's competitive edge in this domain.

Forecasting forward, we dig into what the transition from farmers to tech bros would mean for NZ cultural identity, its potential to be a stunning HBO Silicon Valley rival via a new Amazon Prime series, and the region's answer to Burning Man called Burning Horse.

Produced for you, with love, in #Aotearoa

Where to find us:

• Twitter
• Instagram
• Join the Club

Find your hosts on Twitter/ IG:

• @blaiseturnbull
• @mahoneyturnbull / @mahoneyjkt
• @aidan_kenealy

In this episode we dive into what 'Alumnisation' means (yes, we may have made up that word today @urbandictionary!) and how significantly it impacts society and culture.

We unpack the nuances of what alumni-conditioning does to generations of New Zealanders, and how this contrasts with the US, and its Higher Ed, Ivy League, or as some may say the 'caste system'. This chat digs into the contrast of operating globally where "no brain cell, no calorific energy is spent asking which high school you went to" and the harsh contrast in NZ where "it's just the thing Kiwis do". We share some personal experiences around the Alumnisation phenomenon and how profound these instances can be in our lives.

Forecasting forward, we talk about how COVID is rapidly changing the Education landscape, and what this means for this phenomenon. What does the future qualification look like, how will education be unbundled, and how egalitarian will it be?

Produced for you, with love, in #Aotearoa

Where to find us:

• (https://twitter.com/supertiltclub)
• Instagram
• (https://supertilt.club/)

Find your hosts on IG/ Twitter:

• @blaiseturnbull
• @mahoneyturnbull / @mahoneyjkt
• @aidan_kenealy

In this episode we dive into how COVID is revolutionizing the way that people and teams collaborate, and why that has come to the forefront of the Tech industry. We unpack the recent acquisition of Slack by Salesforce, and what this means for the future of this Silicon Valley based 'team collaboration' platform that had its genesis in the gaming industry. This episode examines why Slack were slow to move on adding video as a core feature, given the surge in Zoom with the pandemic, and what Salesforce's vision for the platform may be, to take it to the next level with their stack of resources and enterprise flavour.

Forecasting forward we make some pretty cool predictions about the direction Slackforce may head, and the future of social networks for the workplace, with the right mix of stories, gamification, video integration and ephemeral vibes (a la Linkedin Stories, whatever that is meant to be!)

Produced for you, with love, in #Aotearoa

Where to find us:

• (https://twitter.com/supertiltclub)
• Instagram
• (https://supertilt.club/)

Find your hosts on IG/ Twitter:

• @blaiseturnbull
• @mahoneyturnbull / @mahoneyjkt
• @aidan_kenealy

In this episode we dive into the entrenching (or lack thereof) of Amazon into NZ soil, and how this global company is setting itself up to be the biggest possible winner of COVID19. We chat about US Antitrust proceedings coming up vs 'The Big Four' behemoth's, what Apple, Facebook may be poised to do, the relevance of 'Code Red' and the significance of these kind of deals between Apple + Google.

Aidan and Mahoney unpack the nuances of Amazon's supply chain, AWS and other sides of their secret sauce. We talk about what this means as the global pandemic intensifies and Healthcare logistics becomes a dealbreaker as key players seek to monopolize the vaccine.

We make some sage predictions about Jeff Bezos' next moves, including an intriguing media angle that Amazon are doubling down on in NZ, as they strive to take on the biggest content giant, Netflix.

Produced for you, with love, in #Aotearoa

Where to find us:

• (https://twitter.com/supertiltclub)
• Instagram
• (https://supertilt.club/)

Find your hosts on IG/ Twitter:

• @blaiseturnbull
• @mahoneyturnbull / @mahoneyjkt
• @aidan_kenealy

In this episode we dive into other countries calling bullshit on NZ's climate inaction and the mismatch between the country's rhetoric vs reality.

Blaise, Aidan and Mahoney unpack some of the most exciting startups in the ClimateTech space. We analyse the alternative protein and fermentation tech movement, differences between US brands that are crushing it, and newcomers in the NZ scene like Sunfed.

We loop in and interview Louis Gordon, student at NZ's Tech Futures Lab, and discuss his passion for a more sustainable blue carbon route for New Zealand to double down on and how we need to transform regulation in this area.

This week's 'Hot Sauce Open Source' shares some juice on the rampant, hilarious versions of NZ vernacular. Be warned, you may be very confused.

Produced for you, with love, in the #WopWops

Where to find us:

• (https://twitter.com/supertiltclub)
• Instagram
• (https://supertilt.club/)

Find your hosts on IG/ Twitter:

• @blaiseturnbull
• @mahoneyturnbull / @mahoneyjkt
• @aidan_kenealy

In this episode we talk about what SUPERTILT actually is, the rationale behind this podcast, and our mission to be the bridge between New Zealand Tech and the world. We share our goals in bringing contextual awareness between international ecosystems like Lisbon and San Francisco and the isolated nation of New Zealand.
This episode unpacks the current #braingain phenomenon unravelling as COVID triggers talented kiwis to return to their homeland, with the novel lack of FOMO. It also dives into Tech diversity, the homogeneity of the NZ ecosystem and the need to decentralize knowledge so the 'silo effect' doesn't run rampant.

Where to find us:

• (https://twitter.com/supertiltclub)
• Instagram
• (https://supertilt.club/)

Find your hosts on IG:

• @blaiseturnbull
• @mahoneyturnbull