TechMagic with Cathy Hackl

In this episode of TechMagic, hosts Cathy Hackl and Lee Kebler break down the biggest shifts shaping tech, entertainment, and personal branding. They explore emerging trends, from real-world experiences like Beastland, to the growing influence of spatial computing, and why authentic human content is becoming a premium as AI saturation rises. In the second half, Cathy sits down with David Cash, Founder and CSO of Cash Labs, Founder and Executive Producer of Catalyst Content Haus and Head of Marketing and acting CMO of DeLorean Labs, to discuss building a future-proof personal brand, repurposing content at scale, and why founders must take ownership of their digital presence now. Together, they reveal practical strategies for standing out and earning trust in an AI-driven media landscape.

Come for the tech and stay for the magic!

David Cash Bio:

David Cash is the Founder of Cash Labs and Catalyst, recognized as a leading force in bringing Web3 and emerging technologies to market. After a 12-year acting career and seven years running a production company, working on campaigns for brands like Brisk, Gaviscon, and Netflix, David became an early leader in Web3, authoring the first Master’s thesis on NFTs and producing Metaverse Fashion Week. Through Cash Labs, his work has driven billions of impressions and major revenue for global brands. His newest venture, Catalyst, helps executives create high-impact, future-ready content.

David Cash on LinkedIn

Key Discussion Topics: 

• 00:00 Intro: Tech Magic Returns from the Middle East
• 00:03 Beastland: MrBeast's Pop-Up Amusement Park Phenomenon in Riyadh
• 00:08 Apple Vision Pro & Real Madrid: The Future of Immersive Sports Content
• 00:12 Tim Cook's Potential Departure and Apple's Need for Disruption
• 00:16 Meta Quest 3S at Costco for $200: The VR Hardware Game Heats Up
• 00:20 Meet David Cash: From Child Actor to Web3 Pioneer and Content Strategist
• 00:24 Why Business Leaders Must Own Their Content Strategy Now
• 00:27 Catalyst: Productizing Executive Content Creation Into a Luxury Service
• 00:30 How to Build a Personal Brand Session in One Day
• 00:33 The Dead Internet Theory: Why Authentic Voices Are Your Competitive Moat
• 00:36 Syndication Strategy: Turn One Piece of Content Into 1,000 Assets
• 00:37 Legacy Media Still Matters: Why Adweek and Vogue Amplify Personal Brands
• 00:40 The Evolution of Entertainment: From Broadway to Authentic Vlogging
• 00:43 Human-Crafted Content as Luxury: The OnlyFans to OnlyWalks Future
• 00:44 The Metaverse Isn't Web3: Redefining Virtual Spaces and Digital Identity
• 00:48 How Your Content Choices Today Shape Your XR Future Tomorrow
• 00:52 AI as a Tool: When to Use Generative Tech and When to Create Authentically
• 00:53 The "Human Authored" Label: Why AI Slop Is Making Credibility Scarce
• 00:57 Silicon Valley's Billion-Dollar Paradox: Oracle, SoftBank, and Unsustainable Bets
• 01:00 Hardware Matters: Why Lam Research Is the Invisible Infrastructure Winner
• 01:03 Key Takeaways: Personal Branding, Content Strategy, and the Human Edge

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On this week’s episode of TechMagic, host Lee Kebler welcomes Andrew Schwartz while host Cathy Hackl is away. Andrew is the Director of Metaverse Engineering at Nike, and together, they unpack the realities behind today’s AI hype cycle, revealing why generative AI can feel both astonishing and underwhelming. They explore brand risks in AI-driven content, the fight against AI slop in music distribution, and the long road to mainstream VR and AR adoption. Andrew and Lee also break down Pokémon GO’s execution-first success and the rise of identity-based tech, from digital product passports to personalized, location-aware experiences, offering a clear-eyed look at what truly comes next in immersive technology.

Come for the tech and stay for the magic!

Andrew Schwartz Bio

Andrew Schwartz is a technology strategist and the Director of Metaverse Engineering at Nike, where he pioneered emerging technology integration within the Technology Innovation Office. Having coined the title "godmother of the metaverse" for industry luminary Cathy Hackl, Andrew brings deep expertise in blockchain identity, XR/AR/VR technologies, and spatial computing. 

Andrew Schwartz on LinkedIn

Key Discussion Topics: 

• [00:00] Intro
• [00:00] Welcome to Tech Magic with Andrew Schwartz
• [00:01] How "Godmother of the Metaverse" Became Cathy Hackl's Defining Title
• [00:03] Nike's Metaverse Engineering and Emerging Technologies
• [00:06] Technology First vs. Outcome First: The Real AI Hype Cycle Challenge
• [00:13] Why Coca-Cola's 70,000-Prompt AI Christmas Ad Reveals a Deeper Problem
• [00:16] Imperfection as Strategy: When Flaws Build Brand Trust
• [00:21] The AI Music Crisis: How Spotify and CD Baby Protect Indie Artists
• [00:27] Copyright, Authenticity, and the Future of AI-Generated Content
• [00:31] VR Headsets Are Impressive—But Where's the Killer App?
• [00:34] Apple Vision Pro: Great Technology, Missing Experience
• [00:36] Why Beat Saber Succeeded Where Other VR Games Failed
• [00:38] Content Over Hardware: Lessons from iPhone, iPod, and Atari
• [00:40] Pokemon Go Wasn't About AR—It Was About the Brand
• [00:42] Super Nintendo World Shows How to Make Technology Invisible
• [00:44] The Future of Identity: Digital Product Passports and NFC Activation
• [00:47] Music Recommendation: SAULT, Neo-Soul, and the Mystery of AI
• [00:49] Key Takeaways: Where Tech Magic Actually Happens

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As AI systems start rewriting their own code and sanitising negative news about themselves, the line between control and autonomy is blurring. In this episode of TechMagic, hosts Cathy Hackl and Lee Kebler explore the unsettling rise of AI self-management, Google’s growing edge over OpenAI through real-world data, and the “AI slop spiral” threatening to degrade the entire internet. They also examine malware that now uses AI to rewrite its own code, an alarming glimpse into adversarial AI. 

The episode also includes Cathy’s exciting interview with Myles Slayton, CEO of Cerca Dating, to explore how mutual-based dating is redefining online connections through trust and community. From Gen Z’s new dating habits to the irreplaceable value of human imperfection, this episode dives deep into what’s next for both AI and authenticity.

Come for the tech, and stay for the magic!

Myles Slayton Bio

Myles Slayton is the 23-year-old Co-founder and CEO of Cerca Dating, a mutuals-based dating app revolutionizing how Gen Z approaches online dating. A Georgetown University graduate, Miles founded Circa to address the fatigue and safety concerns plaguing traditional dating applications. With a mission to connect users through trusted friend networks rather than algorithms, Cerca has rapidly scaled to approximately 100,000 users while maintaining a healthy 60%+ female user base.

Myles Slayton on LinkedIn

Key Discussion Topics: 

• 00:00:00 Intro
• 00:06:09 ChatGPT's Automatic Headline Sanitization Exposed
• 00:14:32 The "Dog Eating Its Own Barf" Problem in AI Training
• 00:18:02 Google Wins the AI War with Real-World Data Access
• 00:24:23 OnlyFans Monetization Model & Vylit App Launch
• 00:26:19 The Death of Traditional Dating Apps
• 00:32:02 Circa: The Mutuals-Based Dating App Revolution
• 00:33:21 Cuffing Season 2.0 and Gen Z Dating Trends
• 00:39:15 Trust, Safety & Reputation-Based Dating
• 00:43:50 Why AI Cannot Replicate Human Chemistry
• 00:49:06 Roblox Abuse Lawsuit and Platform Safety Issues
• 00:53:33 AI-Powered Malware Rewriting Its Own Code
• 00:55:03 TEDx Atlanta and the Future of Creativity
• 00:57:50 "Humanity is the Moat Around the Machines"
• 00:58:50 Cathy's Gulf States Roadshow & CES 2025 Plans
• 01:01:4 What We're Watching: Pluribus & The Spatial Race
• 01:02:16 Key Takeaways & Final Thoughts

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