Health Unchained dives into healthcare projects e…
Dr. Alex Cahana is a pain medicine physician and expert in ethical AI. Dr. Cahana reflects on changes since his last appearance in 2019, including the rise in Bitcoin prices, Purdue Pharma's settlement, and emerging interest in decentralized technologies. The conversation touches on the challenges of building trust in society, the ethical principles that should guide AI use, and the implications of personal data ownership. Dr. Cahana emphasizes the importance of transparency, minimizing data collection, and ensuring distributed benefits. He also delves into the philosophical aspects of love and creativity in AI, the need for innovative approaches to health crises like the opioid epidemic, and the vision for a post-labor, post-monetary world. The interview concludes with Dr. Cahana's belief in preparing for future societal changes and the importance of viewing technology as a tool for fostering interconnected and supportive communities.
Note: This episode was recorded in April of 2025 which may be reflected in the conversation. However, Alex shares insights that remain relevant for decades and it is in your best interest to listen and connect. Hope you enjoy! Let us know what you think!
Guest Resources
00:00 Welcome to Health Unchained
01:18 Introducing Dr. Alex Cahana
03:24 Ethical AI and Data Ownership
06:25 AI and Social Engineering
12:35 The Concept of Love in AI
16:56 Creativity and Human Stupidity
20:28 Tokenizing Interactions and Value
21:17 Money as a Game and Future Economy
24:54 The Value of Currency and Alternatives
25:22 Human History and Relationships
27:16 Choices in Business and AI
28:30 The Importance of Time and Energy
30:18 Community and Connection
32:11 Engaging with Blockchain and Enterprises
36:00 Innovative Ideas and Resistance
39:59 Addressing the Opioid Crisis
44:22 Contemplating Life and Future Possibilities
47:08 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
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Gianluca De Novi, founder and CEO of Circular Protocol, a Massachusetts-based layer one blockchain built on a proof of reputation consensus mechanism joins host, Ray Dogum. Circular is designed to help partners accelerate innovation in healthcare and decentralized science (DeSci) through secure, reputation-driven infrastructure.
Gianluca is a hands-on engineering executive and educator with a background in medical simulation research at Harvard, where he led groundbreaking work at the intersection of AI, blockchain, and virtual reality. Originally from Italy, he shares his personal journey to the U.S. and how a life-changing experience shifted his focus to healthcare innovation.
In the conversation, we explore the creation and purpose of Circular Protocol, its alignment with regulatory frameworks, and its potential for collaboration with government agencies. Gianluca unpacks key concepts like decentralized data integrity, ownership, and governance, and offers his perspective on blockchain as a social revolution. We also touch on the convergence of AI and blockchain, the implications of decentralized tech in healthcare, and his reflections on the singularity and future of innovation.
Guest Resources
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:17 Meet Gianluca De Novi, PhD
01:56 Journey into Healthcare and Technology
04:09 Blockchain and Healthcare: A New Paradigm
05:58 Circular Protocol: Structure and Vision
07:22 Decentralization and Social Innovation
12:19 Technical Aspects of Circular Protocol
17:24 Proof of Reputation Consensus Mechanism
22:19 The Role of Education in Healthcare Innovation
25:26 The Importance of Data Auditing in AI Systems
25:59 Blockchain as a Solution for Data Certification
27:34 Real-World Applications of Blockchain in Healthcare
28:44 Developer Onboarding
29:28 Data Privacy and Decentralization
33:04 Challenges in Blockchain Adoption
34:22 Circular's Protocol Roadmap
36:14 Personal Insights and Influences
40:37 Philosophical Thoughts on AI Singularity
45:04 Future Outlook
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Dr. Elliot Justin, founder and CEO of MyFirmTech, discusses the pioneering work his company is doing in the realm of smart wearables designed for sexual health. With a background in emergency medicine, Dr. Justin aims to eliminate the stigma around erectile dysfunction by using real data and insights. He explores the company's innovative technology embedded in cock rings (or penile/scrotal constriction devices), which measures erection firmness and frequency to provide valuable health insights, specifically for measuring nocturnal erections. Dr. Justin emphasizes the importance of responsibly handling personal health data, the potential of blockchain technology for data security, and the future of personalized medical care.
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Guest Resources
Dr. Elliot Justin LinkedIn
MyFirmTech Website
Timestamps
00:00 Intro
01:44 Meet Dr. Elliot Justin: Background and Mission
02:50 The Journey to Neuromodulation and FirmTech
06:37 The Importance of Nocturnal Erections
09:18 Developing the FirmTech Ring
11:30 Data Collection and the Dick Database
16:03 The Role of Data in Sexual Health
22:11 Privacy Concerns and Blockchain Technology
23:40 Data Collection and Privacy
25:10 Future of Decentralized Data
25:31 Blockchain Integration Patent and Market Growth
27:15 Clinical Feedback and Applications
28:04 Testosterone Replacement Therapy Insights
30:23 Shockwave Therapy for Erectile Dysfunction
32:50 Understanding Erectile Dysfunction
38:41 Advice for Health Tech Founders
41:03 Inspirational Read - The Earthbreakers by Ernest Haycox
43:04 Final Thoughts and Call to Action
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Dr. Brandon Crawford, DC FIBFN-CND, is a board-certified developmental functional neurologist and global laser expert. He discusses his work on laser and light therapy to transform patient lives. Dr. Crawford shares his journey from chiropractic training to pioneering functional neurology and photobiomodulation. He explains how different wavelengths of light can influence biological outcomes and enhance neuroplasticity. The conversation also addresses the role of decentralized technology and blockchain in improving data security and patient privacy in healthcare. Dr. Crawford highlights the importance of sunlight, the potential ethical considerations of this emergent technology, and the challenges in balancing innovation with regulatory compliance. Additionally, he shares success stories from his practice and talks about his ongoing research and patents related to laser technology.
Guest Resources
Timestamps
00:00 Intro 01:35 Meet Dr. Brandon Crawford 02:12 Dr. Crawford's Journey into Functional Neurology 04:03 The Power of Light Therapy 07:13 Breakthroughs in Light Therapy 08:41 Impact of Light on Brain and Body 15:22 Sunlight and Circadian Rhythms 18:40 Challenges of Modern Light Exposure 22:45 Patent Experience and Software Development 23:08 Blockchain in Healthcare 24:38 Security and Data Privacy 27:35 Clinical Effects and Laser Therapy 31:10 Future of Neuroscience and Technology 33:07 Quantum Computing and Consciousness 36:15 Adopting Emerging Technologies in Healthcare 39:10 Regulatory Compliance and Innovation 42:12 Books - Life on the Edge: The Coming of Age of Quantum Biology by Jim Al-Khalili & Johnjoe McFadden, The Fourth Phase of Water: Beyond Solid, Liquid, and Vapor byGerald H. Pollack 43:18 Final remarks
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Guests Nitin Gaur, ex IBMer & CTO of LedgerLink.ai, and Jim Nasr, CEO of Acoer, discuss decentralized healthcare and life sciences initiatives. The conversation explores the Coalition for Decentralized Healthcare and Life Sciences (CDHLS), which aims to unite global stakeholders from healthcare, technology, academia, and regulatory sectors to enhance healthcare delivery, equity, security, and collaboration. Both Nitin and Jim elaborate on their roles in the coalition, the benefits for members, and the necessity of working groups to drive industry transformation. They also discuss the importance of blockchain, the challenges in healthcare data management, and the potential impact of AI in this space. The episode concludes with insights into their personal health practices and the broader implications of decentralized health innovations.
Mentioned Resources
Timestamps
00:00 Intro
01:29 Meet Nitin and Jim
01:52 The Coalition
04:04 Blockchain and AI in Healthcare
23:59 Challenges in Patient Data Sharing
25:33 Privacy Solutions
27:13 Use Cases in Public Health and Opioid Prevention
35:09 Regulatory Perspectives and Government Role
41:35 Personal Health Practices
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Eleanor Davies is the Head of DeSci at the Sei Foundation. Eleanor previously helped launch
VitaDAO, the first tokenized longevity venture studio, she served as Operating
Partner at Cerebrum DAO, and was COO at Convexity Labs (previously known as
LabDAO). With deep experience bridging web3, biotech, and healthcare, Eleanor
shared her unique insights with our community. We talk about the
Sei ecosystem and the $65M Sapien Captial fund intended for accelerating DeSci
projects.
Host Ray Dogum and Eleanor Davies talk about the future of decentralized science (DeSci) and its role in healthcare. The conversation covers the structure and goals of the Sei Foundation's $65 million Sapien Capital Fund, which aims to accelerate DeSci projects, and the unique advantages of the Sei blockchain network. Eleanor shares insights on the potential of DeSci to bridge the innovation gap in biotech, streamline research funding, and enhance data interoperability in healthcare. The episode also touches upon the future prospects of DeSci, the importance of creating frictionless capital for research, and how the new U.S. administration's stance on crypto could benefit the industry. Eleanor wraps up by discussing her interest in running half marathons, her favorite conferences, and influential books.
Eleanor Davies has held a series of impactful roles across biotech, venture, and Web3. She was an Operating Partner at Cerebrum DAO and served as a Dealflow Steward (~Principal) and core founding member of VitaDAO, where she launched the first tokenized longevity venture studio, scaling a community of 700 longevity biotech professionals and designing a pioneering crypto/tradfi biotech spinout model. Prior to that, she was a founding team member and Chief Operating Officer at Convexity Labs (previously known as LabDAO). At the On Deck ODX Fund, she supported a $100M capital raise and led capital deployment and portfolio management at the Silicon Valley-based accelerator. Earlier in her career, she worked at the Marwood Group, a healthcare and biotech consultancy.
Connect with Eleanor:
00:00 Intro
01:26 Meet Eleanor Davies
02:20 Eleanor's Journey into DeSci
06:17 The Sei Ecosystem and $65 Million Sapien Capital Fund
14:11 DeSci Challenges and Opportunities
15:13 The Role of AI in DeSci
23:29 Future Potential of DeSci
26:01 Personal Insights and Recommendations
31:12 Takeaways
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Laura Epstein, CEO and founder of Pulse Charter Connect, along with Chris Tyler, Pulse's Chief Technology Officer, join host Ray Dogum in an episode you won’t want to put on ice. They dive into their backgrounds and share how their company is revolutionizing organ transportation logistics to save time—and lives.
Pulse Charter Connect (PCC) digitizes an antiquated logistics system currently used by transplant centers. We facilitate faster, safer, and more efficient transportation for organs and surgical teams, resulting in more organs transplanted and more lives saved. Additionally, the data collected from our software will empower the transplant community to further improve upon their current operations. Ultimately, with AI, we anticipate more informed, optimized decisions.
Laura graduated from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business with her Masters in Business Administration with Honors in 2022. She also holds a Bachelors Degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Virginia. Prior to returning to school, Laura worked as a Systems Engineer specializing in Risk Management for the Federal Aviation Administration. Most notably, she led 200 risk management efforts impacting programs worth $1.68B per annum. She also holds her Private Pilot License. In her free time, Laura likes to fly, play with her pet cat Moocka and dog Thea, bake, and kickbox.
Chris is an experienced software and SaaS product leader. His background includes over 30 years of experience in technology including 16 with IBM and 8 years with AT&T with a wide array of technical roles. He has a deep background in data and analytics. In his free time, Chris volunteers as the Chief Analytics Officer for the ALS Never Surrender Foundation and spends as much time as he can outdoors with his family.
00:00 Intro
01:33 Meet the Guests: Laura Epstein and Chris Tyler
04:14 The Problem with Organ Transportation
05:13 The Complex Logistics of Organ Transplants
09:22 Innovative Solutions and Technology
12:13 Dynamic Pricing and Decentralization
14:40 Ensuring Security and Compliance
16:49 Future Plans and Industry Insights
34:12 Final Thoughts
🎙️Health Unchained is the Top #11 of 100 Healthcare Technology Podcasts on the web - Check us out on Feedspot
Tristan Roberts, founder of Dog Years DAO, a decentralized autonomous organization focused on improving canine longevity. They discuss the potential of using blockchain technology to manage decentralized trials and gather data more effectively. Tristan shares his journey from cognitive neuroscience to biohacking and gene therapy, detailing his experiences with HIV gene therapy and how it led to the creation of Minicircle. The conversation covers the science behind follistatin, a protein that may extend the lifespan of dogs by reducing inflammation and preventing muscle breakdown. Tristan explains the proposed methodology for the Dog Years DAO experiment, emphasizing the importance of acquiring reliable data through a system of deposits and incentives for participants. The episode also explores the ethical challenges and potential of decentralized clinical trials in the broader context of healthcare innovation.
🎙️Health Unchained is the Top #15 of 100 Healthcare Technology Podcasts on the web - Check us out on Feedspot
00:00 Intro
01:31 Guest Introduction: Tristan Roberts
02:16 Tristan's Journey into Gene Therapy
04:18 Gene Therapy for HIV
06:42 Canine Longevity and Gene Therapy
13:11 The Concept of Dog Year's DAO
18:58 Challenges and Future of Decentralized Trials
30:44 Closing Thoughts
David Stefanich, Nina Kilbride, and Dr. Sarin Movsisyan from CureLedger join host Ray Dogum to discuss their upcoming token launch. The discussion centers on CureLedger, an initiative aimed at transforming the decentralized science (DeSci) landscape through blockchain and Web3 technologies. David speaks about Rymedi’s foundational software for Clemson University's COVID-19 testing and their evolution into CureLedger. Nina introduces her vast experience as a commercial litigation attorney and how AI and verifiable data ignited her interest in Web3. Suren emphasizes the importance of blockchain for multi-jurisdictional compliance and data security. The CureLedger team explores its unique Layer 1 protocol, emphasis on data sovereignty, and the creation of a verifiable health data marketplace. They also touch on tokenomics, community incentives, and upcoming events like the ETH Denver announcement.
🎙️Health Unchained is the Top #15 of 100 Healthcare Technology Podcasts on the web - Check us out on Feedspot
Privacy. Period.
Anna Hall is the founder and CEO of Embody Space, a menstrual cycle tracking and wellness app with 50k+ users, that prioritizes data privacy through local encryption and open-source technology. Anna shares her journey from an educator to a startup founder, driven by her own diagnosis of PMDD and the need for secure menstrual health data management post-Roe v. Wade. The discussion delves into the importance of data privacy, the risks of menstrual data being used for prosecuting abortions, and the role of technology in safeguarding personal information. Anna highlights the innovative technology stack of Embody Space, future plans for paid versions offering cycle-syncing content and encrypted backups, and potential integrations with Web3. The episode also explores the decentralization of social platforms for women's health support, the challenge of aligning with HIPAA regulations, and strategies for navigating diverse state laws regarding reproductive rights.
🎙️Health Unchained is one of the Top 100 Healthcare Technology Podcasts on the web - Check us out on Feedspot (https://podcast.feedspot.com/healthcare_technology_podcasts/)
00:00 Intro
01:30 Meet Anna Hall: Founder and CEO of Embody Space
01:51 The Importance of Data Privacy in Women's Health
03:50 Challenges and Solutions in Menstrual Health Tracking
05:09 Privacy Concerns and Legal Implications
07:50 Embody's Technology and Business Model
17:14 Future Plans and Collaborations
24:41 Final Thoughts and How to Connect
Meet Casper Barnes, co-founder and CEO of AminoChain, discusses the intersection of biobanking and blockchain technology. Barnes, who has a background in economics, neuroscience, and biotech, shares insights on decentralized science (DeSci) and how his company aims to revolutionize the use of biosamples in preclinical research. They delve into the importance of transparency and patient consent, and how blockchain can address these issues. Barnes also talks about AminoChain's partnerships, tech stack, challenges, funding, and future goals. The podcast highlights the ethical implications, potential for increased research efficiency, and the importance of building trust in the healthcare system through technology.
🎙️Health Unchained is one of the Top 100 Healthcare Technology Podcasts on the web - Check us out on Feedspot (https://podcast.feedspot.com/healthcare_technology_podcasts/)
00:00 Meet Casper Barnes: Journey and Background
01:43 Understanding Decentralized Science (DeSci)
02:48 The Importance of Biobanking and Blockchain
03:33 Casper's Personal Story and Inspiration
06:27 Challenges in Biobanking and Consent Rates
09:57 AminoChain's Vision and Technology
15:42 Current Network and Recent Funding
22:42 Advice for Startups in the DeSci Space
24:24 Partnerships and Future Plans
26:30 Distributed Node Architecture and NFT Marketplace
27:51 Choosing the Right Blockchain: Polygon to Optimism
29:26 Future Collaborations and Industry Criticisms
30:39 Tokenization Concepts and Patent Law
39:30 Privacy Compliance and De-Identification Challenges
43:54 Long-Term Goals and Impact on Biomedical Research
46:18 Outlook for 2025 and Regulatory Changes
49:42 Personal Insights: Books and Physical Activity
50:53 Closing Remarks and Contact Information
'We want to build an entirely new on-chain bio economy... where patients can benefit directly from scientific research using their samples.'