patchperfect

This week on patch we kick it off with the 2025 Spotify Wrapped drop. Then, a spotlight on Mira Murati, former OpenAI CTO and now founder of Thinking Machines Lab. Raised in post-communist Albania, she found stability in math and physics before building a career across Goldman Sachs Tokyo, Tesla’s Model X and Autopilot, Leap Motion, and ultimately OpenAI, where she helped shape dialogue-based interfaces like ChatGPT’s. Her new startup’s tool, Tinker, makes fine-tuning models like Llama surprisingly simple, even with minimal code. In the lifestyle segment, we peek at her crisp personal style, including that clean, minimalist 2024 Met Gala look... to get the human side of one of AI’s most influential builders.

This week on patch: a quick AI update on Google’s “Nano Banana Pro” (thinking partner > pretty pics), then a primer on privacy in 2025 with Canadian lawyer & privacy pro Neil Proudfoot (views expressed on this show are his own). In this episode, Neil explains what privacy truly means in 2025, how AI systems collect and learn from personal data, and why global regulation is splitting into two competing philosophies: Europe’s rights-first model and America’s innovation-first approach. We also unpack Law 25, Canada’s strongest privacy law to date, and what Canadians should know before trusting any AI tool with their data. Plus Neil's A-D-S checklist: Autonomy, Dignity, Safety. In the lifestyle segment we chat with Neil about how he’s staying grounded as a new dad.

Zoe Seguev did not follow a traditional path into crypto, and that is exactly what makes her perspective so rare. With an MSc in anthropology from the London School of Economics, her career has always focused on understanding people, systems, and the mechanics of trust. That lens carried her through consulting, operations, fintech, and eventually into one of the most demanding areas of modern finance: crypto compliance.Today she is the Chief Compliance Officer at Tetra Trust, Canada’s first qualified digital asset custodian and the regulated vault responsible for keeping billions in digital assets safe from hacks, loss, or misuse. In this episode Zoe explains what crypto actually means in 2025, why custody sits at the foundation of digital finance, and how stablecoins are quickly becoming the quiet infrastructure behind a new global money system. She brings clarity to a space that often feels chaotic and shows how governance, oversight, and well-designed controls matter far more than hype cycles or price swings.We also cover what people most misunderstand about regulation, how institutions are driving adoption, and why compliance remains the invisible layer that prevents collapse in an industry defined by speed and risk.In our lifestyle segment we get Zoe’s take on showing up well at work, including the wardrobe pieces she relies on to stay polished in the C-suite. We also talk about Tetra Digital Group’s recent ten million dollar raise to build a Canadian dollar stablecoin backed by banks, fintechs, and major technology companies. It is a clear signal that stablecoins are moving from the fringe into mainstream financial infrastructure and that Canada is ready to step into the global conversation.

This week, I sit down with Anuj Soni, reverse engineer, cybersecurity expert, YouTube creator, and founder of The Malware Lab at Breakpoint Cybersecurity. We talk about how malware actually works, the difference between viruses, worms, Trojans, ransomware, and phishing, and what really happens when systems get hit. Anuj also breaks down why reverse engineering is one of the most powerful tools in modern defense.You’ll learn how to spot red flags of an infected device, understand major malware types in plain English, see how phishing turns into real compromise, and why reverse engineering powers better threat intel and products. There’s also a career patch on proving your skills without “required experience.”In the lifestyle segment, Anuj walks us through the reverse engineer’s uniform, from WFH staples to his go-to Nike sneakers. Plus, a quick headline on Project Concord, South Korea’s AI-run data center and how automated power and workload management could reshape global infrastructure.

This week on patch, we're talking about intentionality in tech, in security, and in your personal power.First, we discuss the massive new $1.2 billion partnership between Nvidia and Deutsche Telekom. This is more than just a cloud: it's Europe’s first industrial AI power plant, bringing sovereign computing closer to home and changing the game for European businesses.Then, we dive into quantum readiness. Why are experts saying the time to upgrade your digital security is now? We explain what quantum computers will do to current encryption and why the people who plan ahead will be the ones who stay in control.On the lifestyle front, we’re sharing two patches: my new obsession with Google's NotebookLM, the AI tool that makes learning feel effortless, and the Fall/Winter 2025 fashion trends to make you feel your best at your next tech event.

I sit down with my former business school classmate Glendon Haas, now a Director at an AI company, to break down why we may still be in the stone age of AI and what it takes for models to move from talking to actually doing. We get into agentic AI, practical tool use, and how deep research is becoming the new search function.Glendon also explains why reinforcement learning can make models too agreeable and why discernment is the real human edge in the age of AI.In the lifestyle segment, he shares the simple reset that keeps him grounded as a director and a dad: baking cookies.

When Amazon Web Services went down this week, a small glitch in Virginia knocked major apps and airlines offline around the world. In this solo episode, I break down what actually happened, why AWS is basically the “digital real estate” the internet runs on, and how one DNS error can make everything, from Alexa to Delta, hit pause.We also zoom out to talk about our growing dependence on the cloud, what resilience really means in tech, and how moments like this are quietly shaping a smarter, more secure internet as we move into the post-quantum era.In the lifestyle segment, I share a quick fall travel recap from D.C. and Montreal, the Zara long waxed trench coat that became my workwear MVP, and the Victoria Beckham Netflix soundtrack that has officially become my favorite work playlist this season.

I kick off this episode with a quick update on NVIDIA’s new DGX Spark, a desk-side AI supercomputer bringing serious compute power into home offices. Then we dive into fashion tech with Julia Dietmar, CEO and co-founder of OpenWardrobe, who is using AI to reinvent how we shop, style, and sustain what we wear.After two decades building product at Yahoo, Walmart, Vue.ai, and ThredUp, Julia saw firsthand how overproduction and waste shape the fashion industry. She shares how OpenWardrobe evolved from a simple digital closet into an AI-powered ecosystem that recognizes your clothes, tracks cost per wear, estimates resale value, and connects you to stylists, repairs, and alterations. We also get into Style Blueprint, her color analysis tool, and Lola AI, the recommendation engine pairing items you would never think to put together.In the lifestyle segment, Julia shares her “founder formula”: structured silhouettes, the wide-leg black trousers she cannot live without, and her favorite behavioral psychology read right now, Pre-Suasion by Robert Cialdini — a book blending influence, marketing, and human psychology.Follow OpenWardrobe on Instagram: @openwardrobeofficial

That is a wrap on Season One. Over the last 12 weeks, we broke down data science in plain English, explored how AI is reshaping fashion and family businesses, looked at blockchain’s role in vaccine delivery, and talked about navigating grief in the middle of a tech career.This highlight reel brings together some of my favorite moments with guests who made us laugh, think, and rethink what “tech and lifestyle” can look like.We are back on October 15 with Season Two: new guests, big ideas, and the same mix of sharp insights with a sprinkle of lifestyle.

The creator economy is no longer niche. It is projected to hit 480 billion dollars by 2027, and in this episode I break down how creators are reshaping tech, media, and business. From Hailey Bieber’s billion-dollar Rhode acquisition to the rise of micro-influencers who convert trust into real sales, we look at the global momentum behind this shift.We get into how creators earn today, why India and Africa are building booming creator markets, and how AI-powered avatar influencers are taking off across Asia. We also talk about creators becoming full companies, from Prime Hydration to Chamberlain Coffee, that now rival legacy brands.In the lifestyle segment, I share what I am doing to feel my best heading into fall: listening to Roxie Nafousi’s “Manifest,” building a vision board, and trying microneedling for the first time.

Episode 10 is here. We are celebrating double digits with a quick, lively rundown of the top 10 tech trends shaping summer 2025. From neuromorphic chips inspired by the brain to quantum computing breakthroughs, smarter wearables, green tech, and next-gen smart homes, we cover the innovations transforming everyday life.In the lifestyle segment, I share my go-to eye patches (the chic kind, not pirate), weighted vests, fast workouts, indoor plant favourites, and pastel workwear vibes for the season. Perfect for a walk, drive, or quick break.

Blockchain has been a hot topic for a decade, but what about its real-world impact? I sit down with Arun Maharajan, Blockchain Technology Lead at UNICEF’s Office of Innovation, to talk about how his team uses blockchain to deliver vaccines, support microfinance, and bring transparency to humanitarian aid.Arun walks us through tracking cold-chain data for vaccines in Bangladesh, helping youth entrepreneurs in Burundi access microloans, and how blockchain has evolved from Bitcoin to the privacy-preserving systems used today.We also talk about what it takes to bridge cutting-edge innovation with field work in some of the world’s most challenging environments.In the lifestyle segment, Arun shares stories from his Italy trip, playing at Rockin’1000, why travel is his reset ritual, and his winter goal of taking a dip in a very, very cold pool.Enjoy.

This episode is not about hangers and ticket stubs. It is about barcoded garments, AI-inspired workflows, and the quiet tech revolution happening inside a nearly 100-year-old business.I sit down with Linley McConnell, VP of Gibson’s Cleaners, to talk about how she is reinventing an iconic Toronto family brand with automation, sustainability, and a very chic approach to customer care.We get into her pivot from consulting and media, the reality of imposter syndrome, and what it really takes to modernize a legacy business people rarely associate with innovation.In the lifestyle segment, we rapid-fire through eucalyptus Equinox towels, capsule wardrobes, how often you actually need to dry clean a blazer, and the age-old debate: is folding your clothes ruining your week?Follow Linley! Instagram: @laundrywithlinleyTikTok: @laundrywithlinley

I could not let August start without breaking down one of the biggest (and oddly quiet) tech drops of the year: ChatGPT’s new Agent.I walk through the difference between generative, predictive, and agentic AI, how Operator and Deep Research evolved into this new Agent, and what Connectors really are in simple terms. We also touch on real security concerns like prompt injection and how OpenAI is approaching them.In the lifestyle segment, I share my WFH sunflowers, the patchperfect summer smoothie the Agent helped create, and a few Olivia Dean tracks that are perfect for deep work.

This one is special. I sit down with my friend Fran, a marketing leader and spin and pilates instructor, to talk about something we rarely hear discussed in high-performance spaces: grief.Fran lost both of her parents before turning 30 while building a high-impact tech career, and we talk about what it means to perform in fast-paced environments when your personal world is quietly falling apart.We get into how grief reshapes ambition, why “I see you” lands deeper than “I’m sorry,” and the invisible job of estate paperwork and admin.In the lifestyle segment, we talk about the rituals that help her stay grounded: 5AM mornings, intentional outfits, white noise, magnesium lotion, and how one good workout class can reset your whole nervous system.

Cybersecurity might sound like code and firewalls, but at its core it is deeply human. In this birthday-themed episode, I walk through the fast-moving, high-stakes world of cyber and the tech that inspired me to launch this podcast.We break down key terms like malware, phishing, ransomware, and zero-days, explore the real roles behind the scenes like SOC analysts, threat hunters, intel teams, and incident responders, and look at how frameworks like NIST help organizations stay resilient.If you have ever wanted a clear, simple understanding of how defenders protect us every day, this episode is for you. Enjoy.

I walk you through five breakthrough technologies shaping 2025, including agentic AI and how it turns traditional workflows into autonomous systems, a methane-reducing cattle feed changing climate science, the basics of quantum computing, the race for post-quantum security, and the telescope mapping 20 billion galaxies. We end with a lifestyle segment on my go-to sunscreen for my trip to Italy and the Veja Condor sneakers I am wearing into fall.

I talk with Sajna Massey, founder of Couth Studios, about how she uses computer vision to scan global runway trends and generative AI to design new pieces that the community votes on. She shares how pre-order models reduce waste and what it looks like to build a slow fashion brand while working a 9 to 5. We wrap with a lifestyle segment on building a thoughtful wardrobe, rotating key pieces, and dressing for both WFH days and conference stages.Follow Couth Studios! Instagram: ⁠@couthstudios ⁠TikTok: ⁠@couthstudios

I sit down with my longtime friend and data scientist Rachel Levy to break down the core building blocks of data science, including the difference between AI, machine learning, and data science, and how supervised and unsupervised learning actually work. She explains real tools like Python and K-nearest neighbors, and how companies like Netflix use recommendation algorithms. We end with a lifestyle segment on colored sneakers at the office and why the Aritzia Effortless Pant is a staple in our work wardrobe.

Welcome to the very first episode of patchperfect. Kirin shares the origin story: how her 2023 Pinterest board idea turned into a real podcast, why she cares about both tech and lifestyle, and what you can expect this season.We’ll explore topics like AI, data science, and cybersecurity, and each episode will close with something practical to help you feel your best. It’s part industry insight, part life upgrade. Like a weekly patch for your mindset.If you’ve ever wanted to understand the tech shaping your world and pick up tips to stay calm and confident in the middle of it all, this show is for you.All views expressed are my own.Follow the show, make yourself comfortable, and I’ll see you in Episode 2.