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Former Zevia COO Hank Margolis joins John Ennis to discuss the practical work of building a beverage company. They explore formulation improvements, culture shaped by employees, the risks of rigid strategy, and the relationships that help a small brand grow. Hank also reflects on making time for family and his work at Flavorchem's The Bench.

Hi, I'm Dr. John Ennis, CEO at Aigora. In this episode, I enjoyed speaking with Rasto Ivanic, Co-Founder and CEO of GroupSolver. Rasto and I talked about where AI belongs in consumer research and why the answers still have to come from people, focusing on why he stopped his engineers for six months to fix survey data quality, and why he does not believe a synthetic panel can tell you what a person actually wants. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did, and remember to subscribe to AigoraCast to hear more conversations like this one in the future!   Social Links & Resources LinkedIn: Rasto Ivanic Company: GroupSolver Expertise Areas: Conversational and Open-Ended Survey Design Survey Data Quality and Respondent Fraud Semantic Clustering of Unstructured Responses Consumer Insight Technology Entrepreneurship

Hi, I'm Dr. John Ennis, CEO at Aigora. In this episode, I enjoyed speaking with Thorsten Guksch, International Head of Data Science at SAM Sensory and Consumer Research. Thorsten and I share a lot of common interests, and I loved taking a deep dive with him on turning open-ended consumer feedback into structured sensory insight. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did, and remember to subscribe to AigoraCast to hear more conversations like this one in the future! Short Bio Thorsten Guksch is International Head of Data Science at SAM Sensory and Consumer Research in Zurich, where he combines sensory and consumer science with advanced data science. His work focuses on translating complex sensory and behavioral data into clear, practical insight about how people perceive and experience products. Over a decade with SAM, Thorsten has contributed to national and international research and helped develop innovative analytical approaches. His interests include multisensory interactions, drivers of liking, machine learning, synthetic data, and automated methods for turning open-ended consumer language into structured sensory information. Thorsten holds a Master's in Food and Beverage Innovation from the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) and previously studied Food and Nutrition at Albstadt-Sigmaringen University. His research and industry work bridge rigorous sensory measurement, consumer understanding, and modern statistical modeling. Social Links & Resources LinkedIn: Thorsten Guksch Expertise Areas: Sensory & Consumer Research Data Science, Statistical Modeling & Machine Learning Multisensory Product Experience NLP & Open-Ended Response Analysis

In this episode, I'm speaking with Roberto Salas, a Global Consumer and Sensory Insights Executive based out of Princeton, New Jersey. With over two decades in the FMCG industry, his career has spanned the globe, starting in Mexico and taking him through South Africa, the UK, Latin America, and eventually to his current work at IFF. We had a fantastic conversation about bridging technical sensory science with deep consumer understanding, and how he translates complex human behavior into actionable commercial growth strategies. Please join me in welcoming Roberto Salas. Roberto Salas is a Consumer Intelligence and Growth Strategy executive with over two decades of experience in the food and beverage industry. Operating in the Global Consumer & Sensory space, he specializes in translating complex market, consumer, sensory, and behavioral data into strategies that fuel portfolio growth, innovation, and brand differentiation. Throughout his career, Roberto has managed global and regional projects for major corporations, including Danone, ConAgra, Cargill, Yoplait, and currently IFF. His expertise lies in bridging technical product design with a deep, empathetic understanding of human needs. Over recent years, he has pioneered the use of AI-powered tools to mine unstructured data for actionable intelligence. A passionate advocate for democratizing research, he frequently conducts workshops to coach cross-functional teams, ensuring that genuine consumer value remains at the forefront of the commercialization process. Roberto holds a degree in Food Engineering from Tecnológico de Monterrey (TEC) in Mexico and a Master's Degree in Food Science, specializing in Sensory Analysis, from Kansas State University. Social Links & Resources LinkedIn: Roberto Salas Expertise Areas: Growth Strategy & Commercial Impact Global Consumer Insights & Cultural Nuances Sensory Perception Modeling AI-Powered Data Analysis (Unstructured Data)

Hi, I'm Dr. John Ennis, CEO at Aigora. In this episode, I enjoy speaking with Dr. Paula Varela. Paula and I shared a fascinating conversation regarding the role and risks of AI in consumer research, before discussing how sensory science can help drive healthier and more sustainable food choices. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did, and remember to subscribe to AigoraCast to hear more conversations like this one in the future. Social Links & Resources LinkedIn: Paula Varela Tomasco Organizations: Nofima & Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) Expertise Areas: Sensory & Consumer Sciences Sustainable and Healthy Food Behavior Cross-Cultural Consumer Research Food Science & Engineering

"In this episode, I'm speaking with Michael Nestrud, a dedicated researcher of the human experience who uniquely bridges the gap between rigorous sensory science and the culinary arts. Based in Chicago, Michael is currently with First Position Training and Consulting, where his driving mission is to make 'product evaluation and sensory science for everyone.' We had a fantastic conversation about how his culinary background informs his research, and why democratizing product evaluation is so critical for modern food innovation.  LinkedIn: Michael Nestrud Company: First Position Training and Consulting Expertise Areas: * Sensory Science & Product Evaluation Culinary Arts & Human Experience Research Training & Education Accessible Consumer Insights

Hi, I'm Dr. John Ennis, CEO at Aigora. In this episode, I enjoyed speaking with Greg Fodor, an innovator based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Greg and I had a fascinating conversation about the future of immersive experiences, the limitations of current VR hardware, and how headset-free technology could completely transform the way consumers interact with digital environments and products.  I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did, and remember to subscribe to AigoraCast to hear more conversations like this one in the future! Social Links & Resources LinkedIn: Greg Fodor Company: Portal VR Expertise Areas: * Headset-Free Virtual Reality Spatial Computing & Immersive Technology Next-Generation HCI (Human-Computer Interaction) Technology Innovation

Hi, I'm Dr. John Ennis, CEO at Aigora. In this episode, I enjoyed speaking with Nicolas Pineau of Data Insights. Nicolas shared a lot about his experiences both applying and teaching AI within sensory and consumer science, and I heartily agreed with his perspective that we are just at the beginning of an exciting change in our field.  I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did, and remember to subscribe to AigoraCast to hear more conversations like this one in the future!  Social Links & Resources LinkedIn: Nicolas Pineau Company: Data Insight (Founder) Expertise Areas: * Sensometrics & Advanced Statistics R&D AI Strategy & Leadership Food Product Innovation Data Science Consulting

Hi, I'm Dr. John Ennis, CEO at Aigora. In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Josh Cook of FlowAltDelete, a Microsoft MVP and true master of M365 Copilot.  Many of our clients and students use copilot as their daily driver, so it was great to have an expert on Copilot on the show to share his excitement about the powerful new way of working it enables.  I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did, and remember to subscribe to AigoraCast to hear more conversations like this one in the future!  Josh Cook is a Microsoft MVP in Business Applications and a prominent expert in the Microsoft AI and Power Platform ecosystem. He specializes in designing enterprise-grade solutions that bridge the gap between people, data, and intelligent workflows using Power Apps, Power Automate, Dataverse, and Microsoft 365 Copilot. As a community leader, Josh directs the Calgary Biz Apps community and hosts workshops and hackathons designed to empower the next generation of builders. Under his content brand, FlowAltDelete, Josh focuses on making complex AI and low-code technologies approachable and actionable. He is widely recognized for his ability to help organizations move beyond the initial hype to design governed, scalable systems that connect people and intelligent agents in the next era of work. Social Links & Resources LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/flowaltdelete/ Content Hub: https://flowaltdelete.com/ Expertise Areas: * Microsoft 365 Copilot & Copilot Studio Power Platform Architecture (Power Apps, Automate, Pages) Low-Code Governance and Scaling Enterprise AI Implementation

welcome back everyone to another episode of AigoraCast. Today, I'm very happy to have Decio Cataldi and Matteo Bonfini from Adacta International on the show. Decio Cataldi is the executive director at Adacta International, a leader in consumer and sensory research. In his role, Decio oversees the company's strategic and financial direction with a specific focus on driving growth through technological innovation. With a background in strategy consulting, M&A, and restructuring, he brings analytic rigor to the field, spearheading Adacta's efforts to integrate AI into sensory and consumer science to create more predictive, data-driven research models. Meanwhile, Matteo Bonfini is a food scientist and senior researcher at Adacta International where he leads sensory and consumer science projects for major global CPG companies. Matteo specializes in decoding consumer perception across diverse international markets, translating deep sensory data into actionable strategies for product innovation. He's dedicated to exploring how emerging technologies can enhance traditional methodologies and push the boundaries of consumer research. So, Decio and Matteo, welcome to the show. Social Links & Resources LinkedIn: Decio Cataldi LinkedIn: Matteo Bonfini Company: Adacta International Expertise Areas:  AI Integration in Sensory Science Data-Driven Research Models Global Consumer Perception Strategic Product Innovation

Hi, I'm Dr. John Ennis, CEO at Aigora. In this episode, I had a wonderful conversation with Dr. Damir Torrico, an Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. I particularly enjoyed our discussion on why curiosity is so vital, and specifically how "always asking" and pushing back on AI outputs is the key to achieving real fluency with these new tools. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did, and remember to subscribe to AigoraCast to hear more conversations like this one in the future! Short Bio Dr. Damir Torrico is an Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, specializing in the intersection of food properties, human physiology, and consumer behavior. His research focuses on flavor perception, emotional responses to food, and salt/sugar reduction strategies. With a global academic background spanning Louisiana State University, the University of Melbourne, and the University of Costa Rica, Damir utilizes emerging technologies like virtual reality and biometrics to capture authentic consumer insights. His work aims to bridge the gap between laboratory testing and real-world eating experiences to create foods that are both nutritious and highly palatable. Social Links & Resources LinkedIn: Damir Torrico University Profile: UIUC Faculty Directory Expertise Areas: * Ingestive Behavior & Physiology Healthy Aging & Nutritional Sensory Science VR & Biometric Consumer Research

Hi, I'm Dr. John Ennis, CEO at Aigora. In this episode, I caught up with my longtime friend, Dr. Wei Qin, Global Director of the Insights Center of Excellence at Ingredion. I particularly enjoyed her story about a flavorist using AI to find a molecule they hadn't considered. It is a great example of her view of AI as a "stretcher" for human limits. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did, and remember to subscribe to AigoraCast to hear more conversations like this one in the future! Social Links & Resources LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wei-qin-50078211/ Company: https://www.ingredion.com/ Latest Book: Gen X Asian Americans: From Learning to Thriving Expertise Areas: Flavor Modulation & Sensory Measurement Market Research & Consumer Behavior Center of Excellence (CoE) Strategy Social Media Insights for R&D Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by Wei Qin in this episode are her own and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Ingredion or Wei's former employers.

Welcome back, everyone, to another episode of Aigoracast. Our guest today is Dr. Riccardo Accolla. Dr. Riccardo Accolla is a neuroscientist and food innovation leader dedicated to creating more resilient food systems through technology and human-centric insights. As the Director of Innovation at Thimus, he applies his expertise in multisensory perception, reward, and emotion to develop product strategies that resonate with consumers on a cognitive level. With over 20 years of experience, Riccardo's career spans leadership roles at global flavor houses and food-tech startups. He previously led the design of sustainability-tracking software at ripe.io and founded A-T4H Consulting to support "better-for-planet" food solutions. Riccardo holds a PhD in Neuroscience from the Swiss Polytechnic Federal Institute (EPFL) and a Master's in Biomedical Engineering from the Polytechnic School of Milan.   Social Links & Resources LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/riccardoaccolla/ Company: https://www.thimus.com/ Expertise Areas: * Multisensory Food Perception Neuro-Innovation Sustainable Food Systems Consumer Emotions and Reward Mechanisms

Welcome back, everyone, to another episode of Aigoracast. Our guest today is Todd Renn, a distinguished leader in consumer insights and sensory science with over 25 years of experience driving innovation at industry giants like PepsiCo, Pfizer, Clorox, and Land O'Lakes. Holding a PhD in food science and advanced credentials in business analytics from UT Austin and Wharton, Todd excels at bridging the gap between R&D and marketing, turning complex data into clear, actionable business stories. Now the founder of Todd Renn and Associates, he is dedicated to helping organizations sharpen their commercial impact and training sensory scientists to evolve into strategic business partners.

Hi, I'm Dr. John Ennis, President at Aigora. In this episode, I have the great pleasure of speaking with Thomas Wiecki, co-author of PyMC. Thomas and I turned out to have a lot in common, and it was a great pleasure to talk with an enthusiastic and like-minded traveler working to figure out this brave new world we all find ourselves in. We hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. And remember to subscribe to AigoraCast to hear more conversations like this one in the future.