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cover art for AI Boom or Bubble? NVIDIA Rise, Intuit Cuts, and Saudi eSports Blitz with Cathy Hackl and Lee Kebler

TechMagic with Cathy Hackl

AI Boom or Bubble? NVIDIA Rise, Intuit Cuts, and Saudi eSports Blitz with Cathy Hackl and Lee Kebler

Season 1, Ep. 40

Join hosts Cathy Hackl and Lee Kebler on the latest episode of the TechMagic podcast as they explore the latest news from the world of AI and gaming, including the current state of AI and its potential bubble, the growth of NVIDIA, layoffs at Intuit, and the crossover between Rec Room and Nintendo Switch. They also highlight Saudi Arabia's investment in eSports, the country's partnership with the International Olympics Committee, and the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund's entry into gaming.

Come for the Tech, stay for the Magic!


Cathy Hackl Bio

Cathy Hackl is a globally recognized tech & gaming executive, futurist, and speaker focused on spatial computing, virtual worlds, augmented reality, AI, strategic foresight, and gaming platforms strategy. She’s one of the top tech voices on LinkedIn and is the CEO of Spatial Dynamics, a spatial computing and AI solutions company, including gaming. 

Cathy has worked at Amazon Web Services (AWS), Magic Leap, and HTC VIVE and has advised companies like Nike, Ralph Lauren, Walmart, Louis Vuitton, and Clinique on their emerging tech and gaming journeys. She has spoken at Harvard Business School, MIT, SXSW, Comic-Con, WEF Annual Meeting in Davos 2023, CES, MWC, Vogue’s Forces of Fashion, and more. 

Cathy Hackl on LinkedIn

Spatial Dynamics on LinkedIn


Lee Kebler Bio

Lee has been at the forefront of blending technology and entertainment since 2003, creating advanced studios for icons like will.i.am and producing music for Britney Spears and Big & Rich. Pioneering in VR since 2016, he has managed enterprise data at Nike, led VR broadcasting for Intel at the Japan 2020 Olympics, and driven large-scale marketing campaigns for Walmart, Levi’s, and Nasdaq. A TEDx speaker on enterprise VR, Lee is currently authoring a book on generative AI and delving into splinternet theory and data privacy as new tech laws unfold across the US.

Lee Kebler on LinkedIn


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  • 46. From Linear TV to CTV, and the Rise of AI in Video Advertising with Sean Muller

    41:53||Season 1, Ep. 46
    With Cathy Hackl and Lee Kebler on a recording break for the next couple of weeks, we would like to introduce you to another sister podcast. This time, we bring you a hot episode from  The Garage. Join your hosts, Dan Massimino and Evan Hovorka, as they talk to Sean Muller, the founder and CEO of iSpot, a company focused on unified measurement for Streaming, TV, and Social Video Effectiveness.Listen in as they talk about the evolution of TV and video advertising. Sean discusses Ispot TV's journey from real-time ad tracking to optimizing video investments across multiple channels. He highlights the industry's shift from linear to connected TV (CTV) and the growing role of ad-supported models and nontraditional networks like YouTube and Amazon. The discussion covers the importance of standardized measurement, the integration of retail media networks, and how AI is transforming advertising strategies. Sean also explains the concept of walled gardens and explores its challenges. He touches on using identity management for precise targeting and personalization and its impact on the ROI of your ad spend.Subscribe now for an engaging and insightful experience!Sean Muller BioSean Muller is the Founder and CEO of iSpot.tv, the leading TV ad measurement solution trusted by hundreds of leading brands, agencies, and networks. Founded in 2012, iSpot was the first company to bring real-time transparency to linear TV advertising and later became the first to commercialize Smart TVs for measurement purposes at scale. iSpot is known for transforming the marketplace by delivering rapid creative assessment, business outcome, and cross-screen TV measurement that networks and brands can use to plan, buy, and optimize TV advertising.Sean has founded or served as a key executive in more than a dozen ventures, including Demand Media, MediaNet Digital, eNom, and The Wedding Tracker. He graduated from the University of Washington and lives in Bellevue, WA, with his wife and two boys.Sean Muller on LinkedIniSpot Website
  • 45. A Peek at Our Sister Podcast, Being a Vanguard in an Established Company: Lessons from Kate Huyett, CMO of Bombas

    23:41||Season 1, Ep. 45
    With Cathy Hackl and Lee Kebler on a recording break for the next few weeks, we would like to introduce you to “Marketing Vanguard,” our sister podcast. The word “vanguard” is defined as “a group of people leading the way in new development or ideas.” Marketing Vanguard: the podcast spotlights the people who are driving the marketing industry forward. The podcast is hosted by our friend and colleague, Jenny Rooney. This episode features Jenny in conversation with Kate Huyett, CMO of Bombas, a comfort-focused sock and apparel brand on a mission to help those in need. Many marketers will tell you that performance marketing and altruistic company missions run on parallel tracks that don’t intersect. They’re wrong. Listen in as Kate explains how Bombas aligns performance marketing with its company mission. Discover Kate’s transition from Investment Banking at Goldman Sachs to leading marketing at Bombas. She reveals Bombas's mission, its evolution, and innovative marketing strategies. Explore the significance of brand, collaboration, and marketing’s cross-functional dynamics. With insightful stories and future plans, this episode is essential listening for marketing enthusiasts.Subscribe now for an engaging and insightful experience!Kate Huyett BioKate is Bombas's Chief Marketing Officer. Over the last five years, she has been responsible for profitably growing the company's ad spend, driving customer loyalty, and telling the brand story through both online and offline channels. In her role, Huyett oversees the company's marketing department, which includes acquisition, retention, partnerships, digital products, insights, and data and analytics.Huyett graduated from Dartmouth College with a Bachelor of Arts in Geography & Economics. After graduating, she pursued a career in Private Wealth and Investment-Grade Capital Markets at Goldman Sachs. Over the last decade, Huyett has honed her expertise in strategically growing start-ups through a mix of marketing channels. Prior to Bombas, she served as VP of Marketing at online dating site HowAboutWe, leading the company through an acquisition, and as Director of Marketing, Americas at Transferwise, overseeing its North American expansion. Kate Huyett on LinkedInBombas Website
  • 44. Greatest Hits II: Stanley Pierre-Louis of ESA, MIT's Future Compute Event, Apple's WWDC, and Insights on the Gaming Industry

    50:01||Ep. 44
    With Cathy Hackl and Lee Kebler on a recording break for the next few weeks, we continue to bring you more from our special series of “Greatest Hits” episodes from the TechMagic podcast. In this episode, Cathy and Lee explore captivating topics in technology, gaming, and innovation. Cathy shares her insights from the MIT Future Compute Event and previews Apple's upcoming WWDC. She also interviews Stanley Pierre-Louis, President and CEO of the Entertainment Software Association, discussing gaming trends and their cultural impact. We also feature an exclusive chat on messaging platforms and their invitation for ramping interaction. Subscribe now for an engaging and insightful experience!Explore ESA’s 2024 Essential Facts About the U.S. Video Game Industry. Come for the tech, and stay for the magic!Stanley Pierre-Louis BioStanley Pierre-Louis has served as ESA’s President and CEO since 2019. Stan first joined ESA as its Senior Vice President and General Counsel in 2015, where he led the legal, policy, and regulatory affairs function for the association. His responsibilities included advocacy on First Amendment, technology, and intellectual property issues, as well as supervising the global content protection program. He also oversaw all governance, compliance, and contractual matters and served as the Corporate Secretary to ESA’s Board of Directors.Before joining ESA, Stan served as Senior Vice President and Associate General Counsel for Intellectual Property at Viacom Inc. There, he was responsible for developing strategies to protect digital content, managing major intellectual property litigation, and revamping the cybersecurity governance program.Stanley Pierre-Louis on LinkedInESA Website
  • 43. Greatest Hits: Finding True Love is an Inside Job, Dating on Gaming Platforms, Screenless Laptops, and AI Enabled Headphones with Cameras, Cathy Hackl and Lee Kebler with Francesca Hogi

    01:10:22||Season 1, Ep. 43
    Whilst Cathy Hackl and Lee Kebler take a recording break over the next few weeks, we are bringing you this special “Greatest Hits” episode of the TechMagic podcast, where they discuss gaming, tech, and AI and connect with the original “Dear Franny,” Francesca Hogi, Founder of The True Love Society. Cathy and Lee start by exploring the potential of gaming platforms as a more organic and interactive way to meet and connect with others and touch on some recent hardware developments, including the world's first screenless laptop and AI-enabled headphones with cameras. The original episode with Francesca was one of the most viewed and downloaded episodes of TechMagic!Francesca is a writer, love coach, podcast host, TED speaker, and certified matchmaker. She shares her journey from a corporate lawyer to an award-winning love coach, using online dating to develop her dating skills and eventually become a certified matchmaker. Discover the shift in online dating culture and the importance of coaching in finding love. Explore the challenges of dating apps and the impact of technology on human connection.Come for the Tech, stay for the Magic!Francesca Hogi BioFrancesca Hogi is a writer, coach, podcast host, TED speaker, certified matchmaker, brand collaborator, and event curator and host. Her passion lies in helping people center love holistically in their personal and professional lives, as well as in business. As an internationally recognized and award-winning love coach, Francesca disrupts the dating status quo with her passionately pragmatic expertise on navigating modern love and making true love inevitable. In her role as a consultant, she helps her clients tell better, more empowering stories about love inside their organizations and in marketing. She has designed and hosted bespoke events for Soho House, TED, and more.In 2023, Francesca gave a TED talk on the myth of true love and the opportunity to transcend what she’s termed “The Fairytale Industrial Complex.” She’s been a featured love expert on 12 episodes of NBC's The Today Show with Kathie Lee and Hoda, in The New York Times, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, and more. She is the founder of The True Love Society membership community and hosts the podcast Dear Franny, where she gives candid love advice. Francesca Hogi on LinkedInFrancesca Hogi on InstagramFrancesca Hogi on XFrancesca Hogi Website
  • 42. Mr.Metaverse, Matthew Ball Talks on AI, HMDs, Convergence of Entertainment and Gaming, and Spatial Computing

    36:48||Season 1, Ep. 42
    Join Cathy Hackl on the latest episode of the TechMagic podcast as she interviews Matthew Ball, CEO of Epyllion, Venture Partner, Senior Adviser at McKinsey, and best-selling author. In part one of the interview, Cathy and Matthew discuss whether AI is a bubble, the sustained growth of Nvidia, the convergence of entertainment and gaming at platforms like Disney and Netflix, and the role of brands in advertising in games. Cathy and Matthew also discuss the role of head-mounted devices in creating the Metaverse and the challenges of mass adoption at one end and a lack of resource allocation at the development end.Come for the Tech, stay for the Magic!Cathy Hackl BioCathy Hackl is a globally recognized tech & gaming executive, futurist, and speaker focused on spatial computing, virtual worlds, augmented reality, AI, strategic foresight, and gaming platforms strategy. She’s one of the top tech voices on LinkedIn and is the CEO of Spatial Dynamics, a spatial computing and AI solutions company, including gaming. Cathy has worked at Amazon Web Services (AWS), Magic Leap, and HTC VIVE and has advised companies like Nike, Ralph Lauren, Walmart, Louis Vuitton, and Clinique on their emerging tech and gaming journeys. She has spoken at Harvard Business School, MIT, SXSW, Comic-Con, WEF Annual Meeting in Davos 2023, CES, MWC, Vogue’s Forces of Fashion, and more. Cathy Hackl on LinkedInSpatial Dynamics on LinkedInMatthew Ball Bio“I spend my time thinking about the way technology is disrupting established business models and structures, identifying the next great company, and helping these companies grow.” Matthew Ball is the CEO of Epyllion, a diversified holding company that makes angel investments, provides advisory services and produces television, films, and video games. He is also a Venture Partner at Makers Fund, a Senior Advisor to KKR, and a Senior Advisor to McKinsey & Company, and he sits on the boards of numerous start-ups. His first book, “The Metaverse”, was published in July 2022 and became an instant national and international bestseller. Ball is also an “Occasional Contributor” to The Economist, holds bylines at Bloomberg, The New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal, and wrote the August 8, 2022 cover story for Time Magazine. Matthew Ball on LinkedInEpyllion Group WebsiteMatthew Ball Personal Website
  • 41. What’s Hot and Happening in Tech, AI, Spatial Intelligence, Spatial Tech and Gaming with Cathy Hackl and Lee Kebler, featuring Matthew Ball

    58:01||Season 1, Ep. 41
    Join hosts Cathy Hackl and Lee Kebler on the latest episode of the TechMagic podcast as they explore what’s hot and happening in tech, innovation, AI, and spatial computing. Cathy shares her experience of attending the Christie's Art and Tech Summit, where she was one of the keynote speakers on spatial computing. Cathy and Lee discuss the recent news about Dr. Fei Fei Li raising significant money for her startup focused on spatial intelligence. They discuss how Apple was allegedly found to have used YouTube content without consent in their AI models and the need for a legal reckoning in data usage and fair use standards. Cathy and Lee discuss the formation of a union by employees at Bethesda Game Studios and the potential implications for the gaming industry. The episode also includes a sneak preview of an exclusive interview with Matthew Ball. The full interview will be featured in the next episode.Come for the Tech, stay for the Magic!Cathy Hackl BioCathy Hackl is a globally recognized tech & gaming executive, futurist, and speaker focused on spatial computing, virtual worlds, augmented reality, AI, strategic foresight, and gaming platforms strategy. She’s one of the top tech voices on LinkedIn and is the CEO of Spatial Dynamics, a spatial computing and AI solutions company, including gaming. Cathy has worked at Amazon Web Services (AWS), Magic Leap, and HTC VIVE and has advised companies like Nike, Ralph Lauren, Walmart, Louis Vuitton, and Clinique on their emerging tech and gaming journeys. She has spoken at Harvard Business School, MIT, SXSW, Comic-Con, WEF Annual Meeting in Davos 2023, CES, MWC, Vogue’s Forces of Fashion, and more. Cathy Hackl on LinkedInSpatial Dynamics on LinkedInLee Kebler BioLee has been at the forefront of blending technology and entertainment since 2003, creating advanced studios for icons like will.i.am and producing music for Britney Spears and Big & Rich. Pioneering in VR since 2016, he has managed enterprise data at Nike, led VR broadcasting for Intel at the Japan 2020 Olympics, and driven large-scale marketing campaigns for Walmart, Levi’s, and Nasdaq. A TEDx speaker on enterprise VR, Lee is currently authoring a book on generative AI and delving into splinternet theory and data privacy as new tech laws unfold across the US.Lee Kebler on LinkedIn
  • 39. Gaming, AI, Innovation, Large Vision Models, and Everything in Between with Cathy Hackl and Lee Kebler

    47:22||Season 1, Ep. 39
    Join hosts Cathy Hackl and Lee Kebler on the latest episode of the TechMagic podcast as they dive into the latest tech, gaming, AI, and spatial computing news. From discussing Walmart's partnership with elf cosmetics in Roblox to Nintendo's unique approach to AI, they cover a wide range of fascinating topics. Discover the integration of physical world commerce into virtual platforms and the growing influence of AI in everyday life. Gain insights into parental control and responsible internet usage, and explore the potential applications of large vision models. With recommendations for resources and upcoming events, this podcast is a must-listen for tech enthusiasts.Come for the Tech, stay for the Magic!Cathy Hackl BioCathy Hackl is a globally recognized tech & gaming executive, futurist, and speaker focused on spatial computing, virtual worlds, augmented reality, AI, strategic foresight, and gaming platforms strategy. She’s one of the top tech voices on LinkedIn and is the CEO of Spatial Dynamics, a spatial computing and AI solutions company, including gaming. Cathy has worked at Amazon Web Services (AWS), Magic Leap, and HTC VIVE and has advised companies like Nike, Ralph Lauren, Walmart, Louis Vuitton, and Clinique on their emerging tech and gaming journeys. She has spoken at Harvard Business School, MIT, SXSW, Comic-Con, WEF Annual Meeting in Davos 2023, CES, MWC, Vogue’s Forces of Fashion, and more. Cathy Hackl on LinkedInSpatial Dynamics on LinkedInLee Kebler BioLee has been at the forefront of blending technology and entertainment since 2003, creating advanced studios for icons like will.i.am and producing music for Britney Spears and Big & Rich. Pioneering in VR since 2016, he has managed enterprise data at Nike, led VR broadcasting for Intel at the Japan 2020 Olympics, and driven large-scale marketing campaigns for Walmart, Levi’s, and Nasdaq. A TEDx speaker on enterprise VR, Lee is currently authoring a book on generative AI and delving into splinternet theory and data privacy as new tech laws unfold across the US.Lee Kebler on LinkedInKey Discussion TopicsWalmart's partnership with e.l.f. Cosmetics in RobloxNintendo's approach towards artificial intelligenceThe availability of games is spreading across multiple platformsGrowing influence of AI in everyday lifeParental control and responsible internet usageLarge vision models and their potential applicationsRecommended resources and companies to follow
  • 38. Integration of Spatial Experiences in Apple's New Products, Hardware Innovations, and Restructuring at Meta with Cathy Hackl and Lee Kebler

    43:21||Season 1, Ep. 38
    Join hosts Cathy Hackl and Lee Kebler on the latest episode of the TechMagic podcast as they dive into the latest tech, gaming, AI, and spatial computing news. Join them as they discuss the exciting integration of cameras and spatial experiences in Apple's new products. They also share their thoughts on developments in spatial computing and the innovative approaches of companies like HTC and Meta. Cathy and Lee also talk about the upcoming release of a new book called "Metaverse" by Matthew Ball, which aligns with their views on spatial computing and includes a whole new chapter on AI. They riff on the need for new language and terminology to keep up with technology advancements and share their experiences and insights from the industry.Cathy Hackl BioCathy Hackl is a globally recognized tech & gaming executive, futurist, and speaker focused on spatial computing, virtual worlds, augmented reality, AI, strategic foresight, and gaming platforms strategy. She’s one of the top tech voices on LinkedIn and is the CEO of Spatial Dynamics, a spatial computing and AI solutions company, including gaming. Cathy has worked at Amazon Web Services (AWS), Magic Leap, and HTC VIVE and has advised companies like Nike, Ralph Lauren, Walmart, Louis Vuitton, and Clinique on their emerging tech and gaming journeys. She has spoken at Harvard Business School, MIT, SXSW, Comic-Con, WEF Annual Meeting in Davos 2023, CES, MWC, Vogue’s Forces of Fashion, and more. Cathy Hackl on LinkedInSpatial Dynamics on LinkedInLee Kebler BioLee has been at the forefront of blending technology and entertainment since 2003, creating advanced studios for icons like will.i.am and producing music for Britney Spears and Big & Rich. Pioneering in VR since 2016, he has managed enterprise data at Nike, led VR broadcasting for Intel at the Japan 2020 Olympics, and driven large-scale marketing campaigns for Walmart, Levi’s, and Nasdaq. A TEDx speaker on enterprise VR, Lee is currently authoring a book on generative AI and delving into splinternet theory and data privacy as new tech laws unfold across the US.Lee Kebler on LinkedInKey Discussion TopicsApple's Potential Integration of Cameras and Spatial ExperiencesPossibility of Apple Intelligence Coming to Apple Vision Pro HeadsetDiscussion on Spatial Computing and the Importance of HardwareHTC's Innovative Approach to Form Factor in HeadsetsMark Zuckerberg's Mention of AI Holographic GlassesMeta's Organizational Restructure and Optimism about Meta's Future Discussion on the Book "Metaverse" by Matthew Ball