Justin Beaudry and The AI Collective Toledo Chapter

Join us at our events: https://luma.com/toledocodes

In this episode, host Mike Vanderpool sits down with Justin Beaudry — technologist, community builder, and co-founder of Toledo Codes — to talk about the launch of the AI Collective Toledo Chapter and the growing movement to make AI accessible to everyone.

From the kickoff event at the Thomas and Elizabeth Brady Innovation Center to the upcoming Great Lakes AI Week, they explore how Toledo is connecting with a global network of 70,000+ AI professionals while building something uniquely local.

Hear about the intersection of technology, art, education, and manufacturing, the power of community-driven learning, and how to “break the hype” around AI by actually making it happen.

💡 Topics include:

• Launching the AI Collective Toledo Chapter

• Bringing AI conversations to manufacturers, educators, and artists

• Building bridges between Toledo Codes and AI Collective

• Upcoming events like Great Lakes AI Week & AI Hackathons

• How AI can close (or widen) the digital divide

Host Mike Vanderpool sits down with Louis Lane, a Toledo-based data professional, for a down-to-earth conversation about data, AI, and life in Northwest Ohio.

Together they explore:

• The difference between a data scientist, data engineer, and data professional

• How data powers AI (and why cutting through the hype matters)

• Why every career is becoming a data career

• Big questions around privacy, ownership, and representation

• Louis’ venture, MyVue, rethinking knowledge management for organizations

Along the way, Louis shares why he’s committed to building both his career and his community here in Toledo—highlighting the city’s culture, affordability, and growing tech scene.

📍 Recorded live at the Toledo Tech Loft in downtown Toledo.

Find out more about Nancy and Neuro-osity here: https://neuro-osity.com/

In this episode of Make It Happen, we're joined by Nancy Disbrow—HR leader turned neurodiversity coach and founder of Neuro-osity. We met at the Toledo Tech Loft, where Nancy gave a Loft Talk that had me nodding along... and then wandering off (you’ll get that reference).

We dive deep into:

• What it really means to be neurodivergent (ADHD, dyslexia, autism, and beyond)

• Why so many CEOs operate differently—and how that’s often a superpower

• Helping kids understand their brains, advocate for themselves, and stop thinking they’re “broken”

• How workplaces can better support different kinds of thinkers

• Tools and strategies for productivity, communication, and managing focus

We cover everything from parenting neurodivergent kids to managing a team full of different thinkers—and yes, we talk Percy Jackson, speed limits, and why negative self-talk needs to go.

Whether you’re a leader, teacher, parent, or just trying to figure out your own brain—this episode brings clarity, humor, and hope.
📍 Recorded live at the Toledo Tech Loft