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Austin Next

Most Recent Episodes

Zachary Levi | Can Austin Build an Ark for Human Creativity?
Oct. 1, 2025

Zachary Levi | Can Austin Build an Ark for Human Creativity?

How do we nurture and protect the most human endeavors of creation and discovery? Zachary Levi joins us to discuss calling, technology, and a creative Ark in Austin. We move from one’s life mission to concrete plans for land...

Listen to the Episode
Is Austin a Music Incubator? | Terry Lickona, Austin City Limits
Sept. 24, 2025

Is Austin a Music Incubator? | Terry Lickona, Austin City Limits

Austin exports culture the way it exports tech. Terry Lickona, longtime executive producer of Austin City Limits, argues Austin is a music incubator, not the music industry, and that’s a feature. We map venues, economics, the...

Listen to the Episode
From Wristbands to AI: A New Cancer Playbook | Suzanne Stone, CEO, Livestrong
Sept. 9, 2025

From Wristbands to AI: A New Cancer Playbook | Suzanne Stone, CEO, Li…

How do you go from a cultural icon like the yellow wristbands to building AI products? Livestrong’s CEO Suzanne Stone argues that the through line is a focus on survivorship, the life you live from diagnosis onward. This is ...

Listen to the Episode
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Recent

You Can’t Stop AI Progress.  Guide It.
Oct. 3, 2025

You Can’t Stop AI Progress. Guide It.

From our episode "Zachary Levi | Can Austin Build an Ark for Human Creativity?"

#Zacharylevi #austin #AI #aimovies #movies

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We Were Made to Create, Not Stamp Widgets
Oct. 2, 2025

We Were Made to Create, Not Stamp Widgets

From our episode "Zachary Levi | Can Austin Build an Ark for Human Creativity?"

#Zacharylevi #austin #AI #purpose

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Can We Build an Ark for Creativity Against the AI Flood?
Oct. 1, 2025

Can We Build an Ark for Creativity Against the AI Flood?

From our episode "Zachary Levi | Can Austin Build an Ark for Human Creativity?"

#Zacharylevi #austin #AI #aimovies #movies

Watch the Video →

Ep 166: Zachary Levi | Can Austin Build an Ark for Human Creativity?
Oct. 1, 2025

Ep 166: Zachary Levi | Can Austin Build an Ark for Human Creativity?

How do we nurture and protect the most human endeavors of creation and discovery? Zachary Levi joins us to discuss calling, technology, and a creative Ark in Austin. We move from one’s life mission to concrete plans for land and film incentives. The central question of our time is whether we ride the AI tsunami or get swept under it.

Highlights
00:00 Opening and Zachary Levi’s journey to Austin
05:53 Calling vs discovery
13:48 Build the ark and fix Hollywood
25:13 Commun…

Watch the Video →

Zachary Levi | Can Austin Build an Ark for Human Creativity?
Oct. 1, 2025

Zachary Levi | Can Austin Build an Ark for Human Creativity?

How do we nurture and protect the most human endeavors of creation and discovery? Zachary Levi joins us to discuss calling, technology, and a creative Ark in Austin. We move from one’s life mission to concrete plans for land...

Listen to the Episode →

What is the Soul of the Austin Music Scene?
Sept. 26, 2025

What is the Soul of the Austin Music Scene?

A clip from our episode "s Austin a Music Incubator | Terry Lickona, Austin City Limits"

#Music #Austin #AustinCityLimits #LiveMusic

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AI in Music: A new era
Sept. 25, 2025

AI in Music: A new era

A clip from our episode "s Austin a Music Incubator | Terry Lickona, Austin City Limits"

#Music #AI #aimusic #innovation

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Austin a Music Incubator
Sept. 24, 2025

Austin a Music Incubator

A clip from our episode "Is Austin a Music Incubator | Terry Lickona, Austin City Limits"

#Austin #livemusic #AI #austincitylimits

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Ep 165: Is Austin a Music Incubator | Terry Lickona, Austin City Limits
Sept. 24, 2025

Ep 165: Is Austin a Music Incubator | Terry Lickona, Austin City Limits

Austin exports culture the way it exports tech. Terry Lickona, longtime executive producer of Austin City Limits, argues Austin is a music incubator, not the music industry, and that’s a feature. We map venues, economics, the tech crossover, and what keeps the scene original.

Highlights
01:12 Austin Music Today: vibrant, original, authentic.
06:49 Streaming’s role, why touring pays.
11:30 Arena bookings, pricing, club spend
18:30 Venue design and experience
25:55 M…

Watch the Video →

Is Austin a Music Incubator? | Terry Lickona, Austin City Limits
Sept. 24, 2025

Is Austin a Music Incubator? | Terry Lickona, Austin City Limits

Austin exports culture the way it exports tech. Terry Lickona, longtime executive producer of Austin City Limits, argues Austin is a music incubator, not the music industry, and that’s a feature. We map venues, economics, the...

Listen to the Episode →

100M Wristbands and Now Trusted AI
Sept. 9, 2025

100M Wristbands and Now Trusted AI

A clip from our episode "From Wristbands to AI: A New Cancer Playbook | Suzanne Stone, CEO, Livestrong"

#livestrong #cancer #cancersurvivor #Austin

Watch the Video →

Ep 164: From Wristbands to AI: A New Cancer Playbook | Suzanne Stone, CEO, Livestrong
Sept. 9, 2025

Ep 164: From Wristbands to AI: A New Cancer Playbook | Suzanne Stone, CEO, Livestrong

How do you go from a cultural icon like the yellow wristbands to building AI products? Livestrong’s CEO Suzanne Stone argues that the through line is a focus on survivorship, the life you live from diagnosis onward. This is the leap from story to community to software and back again.

Highlights
01:34 Mission: Survivorship Over Cures
06:18 The Wristband as Community Signal
12:39 Fertility Program and Real Cost of Cancer
14:34 Copycats and What Persists
25:20 From Gu…

Watch the Video →

From Wristbands to AI: A New Cancer Playbook | Suzanne Stone, CEO, Livestrong
Sept. 9, 2025

From Wristbands to AI: A New Cancer Playbook | Suzanne Stone, CEO, Livestrong

How do you go from a cultural icon like the yellow wristbands to building AI products? Livestrong’s CEO Suzanne Stone argues that the through line is a focus on survivorship, the life you live from diagnosis onward. This is ...

Listen to the Episode →

Poppi’s first $750k from the Kitchen to Whole Foods
Sept. 6, 2025

Poppi’s first $750k from the Kitchen to Whole Foods

A clip from our episode "Did Austin Turn Soda Into Fashion? | Stephen Ellsworth, Co-founder, Poppi"

#poppi #wholefoods #startup #cpg

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Mission Driven Founders Win in Austin
Sept. 5, 2025

Mission Driven Founders Win in Austin

A clip from our episode "Did Austin Turn Soda Into Fashion? | Stephen Ellsworth, Co-founder, Poppi"

#austin #startups #founder #missiondriven #authenticity

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Recent Blog Posts

New Report says Austin is turning into life sciences "superstar" hub
Aug. 12, 2023

New Report says Austin is turning into life sciences "superstar" hub

Thrilled to have been featured on 'Tech this Out' with Walt Maciborski, discussing the booming Austin Life Sciences Sector!Our report, 'Austin Life Sciences Sector: A Powerhouse Emerging at a Pivotal Crossroads,' was born from a desire to catalyze a…

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Austin's Venture Funding Challenges the Global Stagnation
July 20, 2023

Austin's Venture Funding Challenges the Global Stagnation

The global venture funding landscape narrative for the first half of 2023 has been portrayed as one of stagnation. Headlines from notable publications, such as Crunchbase's "AI Was Q2’s Big Hope To Reverse The Global Venture Funding Slowdown. …

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Austin Life Sciences Sector: A Powerhouse Emerging at a Pivotal Crossroads
July 12, 2023

Austin Life Sciences Sector: A Powerhouse Emerging at a Pivotal Cross…

Welcome to Austin Next, where we explore Austin's ascension into a global innovation powerhouse. We delve into the region's evolution, examine the building of robust ecosystems, and consider the impact of emerging trends and technologies. With Austi…

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About the Host

Jason Scharf Profile Photo

Jason Scharf

Founder & Host

Jason Scharf has spent nearly two decades pursuing his life’s mission of catalyzing innovation. As an early stage investor, he targets the bio innovation tech stack and the business of health. He has held key leadership roles in strategy and market intelligence at industry pillars such as Illumina, BD, and Amgen. Through the Austin Next podcast and Substack Ecosystem Metacognition, he explores innovation, Bio & Health, tech, ecosystems, Austin, and their convergence.

Austin Next

Austin's evolution into a global innovation superstar is at the heart of Austin Next. We uncover insights into the region's transformation and what it means for ecosystem building.

Our exploration extends to emerging trends, technologies, and their convergence. Using Austin as our real-world case study and experts from around the world, we aim to understand the true nature and mechanics of innovation.

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