エピソード

  • How $20 Software Subscriptions Become a Business Problem

    How $20 Software Subscriptions Become a Business Problem
    2026/08/23
    A $20 software subscription does not look like a business problem.
    Neither does a $50 tool somebody needed for a project.
    Or the platform someone signed up for six months ago and forgot about.
    But eventually, those decisions start adding up — and not just on the credit card statement.
    In this episode of Stack & Startup Al Fresco, I talk about subscription creep: the slow accumulation of software, SaaS platforms, licenses, accounts, and services that can quietly turn into operational complexity.
    The problem is bigger than wasted money.
    Every additional tool can introduce another account to manage, another place where company information lives, another integration, another renewal, and another piece of your technology environment that somebody needs to understand.
    That does not mean businesses should start canceling every subscription they can find. Cloud software and SaaS tools can create tremendous value.
    The goal is intentionality.
    Know what you are paying for.
    Know who owns it.
    Know who has access.
    Know what business value it creates.
    And know what risk it introduces.
    Useful tools should earn their place in your stack.
    If they do, great.
    If they do not, it might be time to clean up the stack.
    Stack & Startup Al Fresco explores business, technology, operations, and growth from the perspective of the decisions behind the technology — not just the technology itself.
    Subscribe for future conversations about building businesses and technology environments more intentionally.


    Stack & Startup is a Baltimore-based business podcast focused on real conversations about building, running, and growing companies in Maryland.

    If you’re serious about improving how your business operates—from technology to decision-making—follow the show for practical, experience-driven insights.

    Watch and connect:

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StackStartupBaltimore
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-m-sherwood/

    Need help with your business technology?

    👉 Book a free 15-minute assessment: https://calendly.com/jason-sherwood-sd-tech/15-minute-meeting
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    45 分
  • AI Isn't a Crutch | Better Business Decisions Start With Better Judgment

    AI Isn't a Crutch | Better Business Decisions Start With Better Judgment
    2026/08/07
    Artificial intelligence is becoming part of nearly every business conversation. The problem is not the technology. The problem is how people choose to use it.
    In this episode of Al Fresco, I explore why AI should strengthen your judgment instead of replacing it. Whether you're writing emails, creating policies, making strategic decisions, or solving customer problems, AI can accelerate your work—but it cannot replace experience, ethics, accountability, or business judgment.
    The businesses that succeed with AI won't be the ones using it the most. They'll be the ones using it thoughtfully.
    AI is a powerful tool.
    It is not a substitute for thinking.
    Topics Covered
    • Why AI should amplify—not replace—your thinking
    • The danger of outsourcing judgment
    • Business ethics and responsible AI use
    • Why experience still matters
    • How leaders should approach AI adoption
    • Practical ways to use AI without becoming dependent on it
    If you enjoyed this discussion, consider subscribing for more conversations on technology, leadership, entrepreneurship, and practical business strategy.
    New Al Fresco episodes release every Friday.
    🌐 SD Tech
    https://www.sdtechbaltimore.com


    Stack & Startup is a Baltimore-based business podcast focused on real conversations about building, running, and growing companies in Maryland.

    If you’re serious about improving how your business operates—from technology to decision-making—follow the show for practical, experience-driven insights.

    Watch and connect:

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StackStartupBaltimore
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-m-sherwood/

    Need help with your business technology?

    👉 Book a free 15-minute assessment: https://calendly.com/jason-sherwood-sd-tech/15-minute-meeting
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    20 分
  • Building a Biotech Startup That Could Change Cancer Treatment | Roman Owens

    Building a Biotech Startup That Could Change Cancer Treatment | Roman Owens
    2026/08/07
    Cancer research is one of the hardest entrepreneurial journeys imaginable. Long development cycles, scientific uncertainty, fundraising, regulatory hurdles, and the hope of improving lives all collide in one mission.
    In this episode of Stack & Startup, Jason Sherwood sits down with Roman Owens, Co-Founder & CEO of OncoVanta Therapeutics, to discuss what it really takes to build a biotech startup pursuing new treatments for pancreatic cancer and other solid tumors.
    Rather than focusing only on the science, this conversation explores leadership, entrepreneurship, learning outside your expertise, raising capital, building partnerships, and why some companies exist because the problem is simply too important to ignore.
    Topics include:
    • Starting a biotech company without coming from a medical research background
    • Building partnerships with Howard University and the NIH
    • Immuno-oncology explained for non-scientists
    • Why fundraising is a full-time job for biotech founders
    • The importance of mentorship and lifelong learning
    • Balancing family, entrepreneurship, and long-term vision
    • Leadership in highly technical industries
    • Why great businesses are really systems
    Whether you are a founder, entrepreneur, scientist, investor, or simply fascinated by how difficult companies are built, this episode offers valuable lessons that extend far beyond biotech.
    Guest:
    Roman Owens
    Co-Founder & CEO
    OncoVanta Therapeutics
    🌐 Website:
    https://oncovanta.com
    💼 LinkedIn:
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/roman-owens-447b762bb/
    📧 Email:
    rowens@oncovanta.com
    Stack & Startup explores the real stories behind building companies—from first ideas to growing organizations. We talk with founders, operators, creators, and business leaders about what actually goes into building something meaningful.
    🎙 Available wherever you get your podcasts.


    Stack & Startup is a Baltimore-based business podcast focused on real conversations about building, running, and growing companies in Maryland.

    If you’re serious about improving how your business operates—from technology to decision-making—follow the show for practical, experience-driven insights.

    Watch and connect:

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StackStartupBaltimore
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-m-sherwood/

    Need help with your business technology?

    👉 Book a free 15-minute assessment: https://calendly.com/jason-sherwood-sd-tech/15-minute-meeting
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    1 時間 11 分
  • Has Your Business Outgrown Its IT? Signs You're Creating More Friction Than Growth

    Has Your Business Outgrown Its IT? Signs You're Creating More Friction Than Growth
    2026/07/24
    At some point, every growing business reaches a stage where things that once worked perfectly begin creating friction.
    It takes longer to find information. Communication becomes more difficult. Processes require more work than they should. The business hasn't become worse—it has simply outgrown the systems that once supported it.
    In this week's Al Fresco Friday, I discuss how operational friction quietly builds over time, why business growth exposes weaknesses in technology and processes, and how recognizing those warning signs early can save countless hours of frustration later.
    Growth shouldn't make your business harder to run.
    It should make it stronger.
    What you'll learn:
    • Why "it's working fine" can become an expensive mindset
    • The difference between business growth and operational maturity
    • Common signs your systems are creating unnecessary friction
    • Why risk management starts long before something actually breaks
    • How to recognize when your business has outgrown its current IT environment
    If you enjoyed this episode, consider subscribing for more conversations about business, technology, entrepreneurship, and practical lessons learned in the real world.
    New Al Fresco Friday episodes every Friday.
    🌐 SD Tech Maryland
    https://sdtechbaltimore.com
    🎙️ Stack & Startup
    https://stackandstartup.com


    Stack & Startup is a Baltimore-based business podcast focused on real conversations about building, running, and growing companies in Maryland.

    If you’re serious about improving how your business operates—from technology to decision-making—follow the show for practical, experience-driven insights.

    Watch and connect:

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StackStartupBaltimore
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-m-sherwood/

    Need help with your business technology?

    👉 Book a free 15-minute assessment: https://calendly.com/jason-sherwood-sd-tech/15-minute-meeting
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    35 分
  • The Future of Healthcare Starts With Access | Charlie Nahabedian

    The Future of Healthcare Starts With Access | Charlie Nahabedian
    2026/07/21
    The future of healthcare may not be about making people travel further for care. It may be about bringing more healthcare to the people who need it.
    In this episode of Stack & Startup, I sit down with Charlie Nahabedian, founder of VK Digital Health, to discuss the decades-long journey that led him to rethinking how healthcare is delivered.
    We explore:
    • Building businesses with long-term vision
    • Why persistence matters more than quick wins
    • Expanding healthcare access through technology
    • Lessons learned from decades of entrepreneurship
    • How innovation can improve patient outcomes without losing the human element
    Whether you're a business owner, healthcare leader, entrepreneur, or simply interested in how technology is changing healthcare, this conversation offers valuable insights into building solutions that solve real problems.
    Learn more about Charlie and VK Digital Health:
    🌐 https://www.vkdigitalhealth.com/
    💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/cnahabedian/


    Stack & Startup is a Baltimore-based business podcast focused on real conversations about building, running, and growing companies in Maryland.

    If you’re serious about improving how your business operates—from technology to decision-making—follow the show for practical, experience-driven insights.

    Watch and connect:

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StackStartupBaltimore
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-m-sherwood/

    Need help with your business technology?

    👉 Book a free 15-minute assessment: https://calendly.com/jason-sherwood-sd-tech/15-minute-meeting
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    1 時間 5 分
  • The Most Dangerous Phrase in Business: "It's Working Fine"

    The Most Dangerous Phrase in Business: "It's Working Fine"
    2026/07/17
    Every business owner has said it.
    "It's working fine."
    Sometimes that's true.
    Sometimes it's the warning sign you only recognize after something breaks.

    In this episode of Stack & Startup Al Fresco, I explore one of the most common mindsets that quietly creates operational risk inside businesses. Whether it's undocumented processes, aging technology, tribal knowledge, or a single employee who "just knows how everything works," these hidden dependencies can become expensive overnight.
    This episode isn't really about IT.
    It's about operations.
    It's about leadership.
    And it's about asking a simple question before your business is forced to answer it the hard way.
    If you're building a business that you want to grow, sell, or simply sleep better running, this conversation is for you.
    Connect with Jason Sherwood
    🌐 https://stackandstartup.com
    🌐 https://sdtechbaltimore.com
    💼 LinkedIn
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonsherwood/
    If you enjoyed this episode:
    👍 Like
    💬 Leave a comment
    🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations with entrepreneurs and business leaders plus Al Fresco Fridays, where we explore business, technology, and leadership.

    Stack & Startup is a Baltimore-based business podcast focused on real conversations about building, running, and growing companies in Maryland.

    If you’re serious about improving how your business operates—from technology to decision-making—follow the show for practical, experience-driven insights.

    Watch and connect:

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StackStartupBaltimore
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-m-sherwood/

    Need help with your business technology?

    👉 Book a free 15-minute assessment: https://calendly.com/jason-sherwood-sd-tech/15-minute-meeting
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    52 分
  • Innovation Needs People, Not Just AI | Dowdy Jackson, PhD

    Innovation Needs People, Not Just AI | Dowdy Jackson, PhD
    2026/07/14
    For years we've heard that artificial intelligence would transform the way we work. But what does that actually look like in the real world?
    In this episode of Stack & Startup, Jason Sherwood sits down with Dowdy Jackson, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer at Antigenix Therapeutics, to discuss entrepreneurship, innovation, biotechnology, and how AI is being used to accelerate meaningful research instead of simply automating routine work.
    Rather than replacing people, AI has the potential to help researchers move faster, discover more, and focus on solving some of healthcare's biggest challenges.
    In this conversation we discuss:
    • Entrepreneurship and building innovative companies
    • AI as a practical research tool
    • Biotechnology and cancer research
    • Leadership and innovation
    • Bringing new therapies to market
    • The future of AI in scientific discovery
    • Why people remain at the center of innovation
    Innovation has never been about technology alone. It's about giving talented people better tools to solve meaningful problems.
    Guest: Dowdy Jackson, PhD
    🌐 https://www.antigenixthera.com/
    🌐 https://www.jackson-consulting-group.com/
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dowdy-jackson-aa167a4/
    Stack & Startup shares the hidden stories of Maryland business leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators.

    Stack & Startup is a Baltimore-based business podcast focused on real conversations about building, running, and growing companies in Maryland.

    If you’re serious about improving how your business operates—from technology to decision-making—follow the show for practical, experience-driven insights.

    Watch and connect:

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StackStartupBaltimore
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-m-sherwood/

    Need help with your business technology?

    👉 Book a free 15-minute assessment: https://calendly.com/jason-sherwood-sd-tech/15-minute-meeting
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    59 分
  • Al Fresco Prepare your business for growth

    Al Fresco Prepare your business for growth
    2026/07/10
    Growing a business is exciting—until the technology that helped you get started begins slowing you down.
    In this episode of Stack & Startup – Al Fresco, Jason Sherwood discusses one of the biggest challenges facing growing businesses: knowing when it's time to move beyond "good enough" technology and begin building systems that support long-term success.
    Whether it's networking, cybersecurity, cloud services, automation, or operational processes, growth shouldn't mean constant friction. Technology should remove obstacles—not create them.
    In this episode:
    • Why growing businesses eventually outgrow their original technology
    • Common bottlenecks that hold companies back
    • Planning infrastructure before problems appear
    • Balancing cost with long-term value
    • Building technology that scales alongside your business
    • Why strategic IT decisions matter more than ever
    Technology isn't just something you buy—it's an investment in how efficiently your business can grow.
    If you're a Maryland business owner looking to build a stronger technology foundation, I'd love to connect.
    🌐 https://sdtechbaltimore.com
    Subscribe for more conversations about entrepreneurship, technology, cybersecurity, and the hidden stories of Maryland business.

    Stack & Startup is a Baltimore-based business podcast focused on real conversations about building, running, and growing companies in Maryland.

    If you’re serious about improving how your business operates—from technology to decision-making—follow the show for practical, experience-driven insights.

    Watch and connect:

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StackStartupBaltimore
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-m-sherwood/

    Need help with your business technology?

    👉 Book a free 15-minute assessment: https://calendly.com/jason-sherwood-sd-tech/15-minute-meeting
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    37 分