<![CDATA[Technovela]]>ae4e833b-2414-569e-bdf2-6d3b85b89c4dTue, 22 Sep 2026 14:02:09 +0000Captivate.fmGlimmernet Technologies, LLChttps://artwork.captivate.fm/4cf864fe-7779-4509-bcb2-06bf7fb61a68/Technmovela-Podcast-Artwork.pngTechnovelaGlimmernet Technologies, LLCGlimmernet Technologies, LLCWhere Your Business Challenges Meet Real-World Solutions Technovela is the podcast for business owners, marketers, and entrepreneurs who are tired of generic advice and want solutions that actually work in the real world. Hosts Lisa Kahler and Dave Mroz bring over 35 years of combined experience in tech and marketing—and they're not here to sell you theories, frameworks, or the latest guru nonsense. They're here to share what actually works, what fails spectacularly, and why. MEET YOUR HOSTS Dave Mroz founded Glimmernet Technologies in 2002, back when websites were built for 800x600 monitors and "mobile-first" wasn't even a concept. He's lived through the dot-com bubble(s), the rise of social media, the mobile revolution, the AI explosion, and every overhyped trend in between. Since then, he's helped everyone from tiny nonprofits to federal government agencies navigate the constantly shifting digital landscape. He knows what sticks and what's just noise. Lisa Kahler launched LaunchLift Marketing in 2023 after years of watching businesses struggle with overcomplicated marketing strategies that miss the most important thing: genuine human connection. She cuts through the buzzwords and helps businesses build marketing that actually resonates with real people. Because at the end of the day, marketing is about connection, not tactics. WHAT YOU'LL GET FROM TECHNOVELA Every episode tackles real business challenges—the ones keeping you up at night. Email marketing that goes straight to spam. Websites that look great but don't convert. Social media strategies that eat your time and deliver nothing. AI tools that promise the world but confuse the hell out of you. Privacy regulations. Customer service nightmares. Tech decisions that feel like a gamble. You'll hear real stories from the trenches. The client who lost thousands because of one simple oversight. The campaign that unexpectedly went viral (and what you can learn from it). The "best practice" that turned out to be terrible advice. The weird workaround that solved an impossible problem. But here's what sets Technovela apart: you'll never leave an episode without knowing exactly what to do next. Every story comes with clear, actionable takeaways. No vague inspiration. No "think about your why." Just practical steps you can implement tomorrow—whether you're a solopreneur managing everything yourself or running a team. WHO THIS SHOW IS FOR This podcast is for small business owners trying to make sense of the digital world without a massive budget. It's for marketing professionals who want to stay ahead of the curve and avoid costly mistakes. It's for entrepreneurs building something from scratch and wearing all the hats. And it's for anyone who's tired of podcast hosts who've never actually done the work they're talking about. WHAT YOU WON'T GET No generic platitudes and motivational fluff. No sales pitches disguised as advice. No complex jargon without plain-English explanations. No guests who are just there to promote their latest course. THE TECHNOVELA APPROACH We believe in connection over tactics. Strategy over hacks. Real experience over theory. And we're not afraid to admit when something didn't work, why it failed, and what we learned from it. Some of the best lessons come from spectacular failures—and we've had our share. We also believe business should be human. Dave and Lisa bring humor, honesty, and the occasional story that has nothing to do with business but everything to do with being human. New episodes drop weekly. Whether you're dealing with a tech crisis, planning your next marketing campaign, or just trying to keep up with the pace of change, Technovela gives you the context, the story, and the solution. Subscribe now and join the conversation. Because your business challenges deserve better than cookie-cutter advice. Visit technovela.com to connect with us. We'd love to hear your questions, topic suggestions, or your own war stories.https://www.technovela.comfalseepisodicnopodcastVienna Up: What a City-Wide Festival Does DifferentlyVienna Up: What a City-Wide Festival Does DifferentlyA First-Hand Look at Mentorship and Networking at Europe's Coolest Startup Festival

Vienna, Austria hosts a startup festival unlike any traditional conference or trade show you've ever attended. In this episode, Dave shares his firsthand experience at Vienna Up — a distributed start-up festival built around real connection — and what it's like to mentor at Innodays, a 48-hour student "hackathon" where teams compete to solve real business challenges.

What's Covered in this Episode

  • What Vienna Up is and how a distributed startup festival differs from a traditional conference or trade show.
  • How the festival brings together founders, startups, investors, and service providers citywideandglobally.
  • What Innodays is, and how real companies are connected to innovative solutions.
  • What it's like to mentor teams in a challenge like this.
  • The unique networking opportunities at the festival.
  • Knowing what you want from an event before you go — and why three people at the same festival had three different goals.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

  • Vienna Up- An annual startup festival held each May in Vienna, Austria.
  • Innodays- From Idea to Prototype in 48 Hours — connecting companies and innovators to develop solutions together.

]]>A First-Hand Look at Mentorship and Networking at Europe's Coolest Startup Festival

Vienna, Austria hosts a startup festival unlike any traditional conference or trade show you've ever attended. In this episode, Dave shares his firsthand experience at Vienna Up — a distributed start-up festival built around real connection — and what it's like to mentor at Innodays, a 48-hour student "hackathon" where teams compete to solve real business challenges.

What's Covered in this Episode

  • What Vienna Up is and how a distributed startup festival differs from a traditional conference or trade show.
  • How the festival brings together founders, startups, investors, and service providers citywideandglobally.
  • What Innodays is, and how real companies are connected to innovative solutions.
  • What it's like to mentor teams in a challenge like this.
  • The unique networking opportunities at the festival.
  • Knowing what you want from an event before you go — and why three people at the same festival had three different goals.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

  • Vienna Up- An annual startup festival held each May in Vienna, Austria.
  • Innodays- From Idea to Prototype in 48 Hours — connecting companies and innovators to develop solutions together.

]]>1f0aea5a-d796-414d-a367-bd664cae7961Mon, 22 Jun 2026 09:00:00 -040015:18falsefull55AI Is Your Intern, Not Your Co-FounderAI Is Your Intern, Not Your Co-FounderHow AI-generated content and images damage trust, and what to do instead. AI makes it easier than ever to create content, images, and even entire brand personas, but it also makes it easier to misrepresent who you really are. In this episode of Technovela, Lisa and Dave talk about the rise of AI "catfishing," from AI-generated profile photos and headshots to businesses exaggerating their size, expertise, or identity online. They discuss the line between polishing and pretending, how audiences can spot inauthentic AI content faster than most people think, and how letting AI drive your messaging quietly erodes trust. This isn't an anti-AI conversation. It's a practical discussion about how to use AI as a tool, without losing your voice, credibility, or your brand.

In this Episode:

  • A real example of AI-generated profile photos gone wrong.
  • Why AI makes misrepresentation easier—and more obvious.
  • The difference between light editing and creating a false version of yourself.
  • How AI headshots and fake personas can backfire in business.
  • Why audiences can spot AI-written content quickly.
  • Common signs of overused or unchecked AI messaging.
  • The tells: em dashes, groups of three, generic voice, over-polished phrasing, buzzwords with no substance.
  • The risks of publishing AI-generated content without verification.

Key Takeaways:

  • AI is a tool, not talent.
  • Polishing is fine, pretending is not.
  • Unchecked AI content can erode trust.
  • Treat AI as an intern, not a co-founder — it needs training and supervision.
  • Even in an AI-driven world, authenticity matters.

The only sure thing in business is change; be ready for it.]]>How AI-generated content and images damage trust, and what to do instead. AI makes it easier than ever to create content, images, and even entire brand personas, but it also makes it easier to misrepresent who you really are. In this episode of Technovela, Lisa and Dave talk about the rise of AI "catfishing," from AI-generated profile photos and headshots to businesses exaggerating their size, expertise, or identity online. They discuss the line between polishing and pretending, how audiences can spot inauthentic AI content faster than most people think, and how letting AI drive your messaging quietly erodes trust. This isn't an anti-AI conversation. It's a practical discussion about how to use AI as a tool, without losing your voice, credibility, or your brand.

In this Episode:

  • A real example of AI-generated profile photos gone wrong.
  • Why AI makes misrepresentation easier—and more obvious.
  • The difference between light editing and creating a false version of yourself.
  • How AI headshots and fake personas can backfire in business.
  • Why audiences can spot AI-written content quickly.
  • Common signs of overused or unchecked AI messaging.
  • The tells: em dashes, groups of three, generic voice, over-polished phrasing, buzzwords with no substance.
  • The risks of publishing AI-generated content without verification.

Key Takeaways:

  • AI is a tool, not talent.
  • Polishing is fine, pretending is not.
  • Unchecked AI content can erode trust.
  • Treat AI as an intern, not a co-founder — it needs training and supervision.
  • Even in an AI-driven world, authenticity matters.

The only sure thing in business is change; be ready for it.]]>018ada18-bef0-49d5-b7b3-2f728b456c0eWed, 25 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -040026:28falsefull44The Mistake Won’t Lose the Customer. Your Response Will.The Mistake Won’t Lose the Customer. Your Response Will.When Technology Becomes the Middleman: Technology has transformed customer service, especially when apps and gig workers have become the messengers between businesses and their customers. That convenience can reduce friction—but it can also blur responsibility when something goes wrong. In this episode of Technovela, Lisa Kahler shares a real-world Instacart experience that went from a routine grocery delivery to an uncomfortable and ultimately unacceptable interaction with a shopper. What made the situation so unsettling wasn’t just the behavior itself, but the realization that the shopper represented more than one brand at the same time—both the delivery app and the grocery store. Lisa and Dave unpack what this situation reveals about trust, accountability, and customer service when gig workers act on behalf of multiple brands in a single interaction. They explore how one bad experience doesn’t just reflect on the app, but also on the store being shopped, and why that blurred line raises an important question for businesses relying on third-party labor: who owns the customer experience when something goes wrong?

In this Episode:

  • A real-life customer experience breakdown involving a gig-based delivery.
  • How gig workers represent both the app/platform and the store.
  • Why brand perception isn't separated by platform boundaries.
  • The risks businesses inherit when customer experience is outsourced.

Key Takeaways:

  • Customers don't separate platforms from brands; it's one experience.
  • Gig workers can impact multiple brand reputations in a single interaction.
  • Convenience increases risk when ownership of customer service is unclear.
  • Businesses using third-party labor must be ready to step in quickly and decisively.
  • The key is making it right, not placating. A discount is not a fix.

The only sure thing in business is change; be ready for it.]]>When Technology Becomes the Middleman: Technology has transformed customer service, especially when apps and gig workers have become the messengers between businesses and their customers. That convenience can reduce friction—but it can also blur responsibility when something goes wrong. In this episode of Technovela, Lisa Kahler shares a real-world Instacart experience that went from a routine grocery delivery to an uncomfortable and ultimately unacceptable interaction with a shopper. What made the situation so unsettling wasn’t just the behavior itself, but the realization that the shopper represented more than one brand at the same time—both the delivery app and the grocery store. Lisa and Dave unpack what this situation reveals about trust, accountability, and customer service when gig workers act on behalf of multiple brands in a single interaction. They explore how one bad experience doesn’t just reflect on the app, but also on the store being shopped, and why that blurred line raises an important question for businesses relying on third-party labor: who owns the customer experience when something goes wrong?

In this Episode:

  • A real-life customer experience breakdown involving a gig-based delivery.
  • How gig workers represent both the app/platform and the store.
  • Why brand perception isn't separated by platform boundaries.
  • The risks businesses inherit when customer experience is outsourced.

Key Takeaways:

  • Customers don't separate platforms from brands; it's one experience.
  • Gig workers can impact multiple brand reputations in a single interaction.
  • Convenience increases risk when ownership of customer service is unclear.
  • Businesses using third-party labor must be ready to step in quickly and decisively.
  • The key is making it right, not placating. A discount is not a fix.

The only sure thing in business is change; be ready for it.]]>19125d4a-b15b-49ad-a331-947822bf9eb1Sun, 14 Dec 2025 09:00:00 -040034:03falsefull33Do You Know Who Your Website Shares Data With?Do You Know Who Your Website Shares Data With?What You'll Learn
  • Why every modern website needs a real, customized privacy policy.
  • The difference between privacy policy, cookies policy, terms of service, disclaimers, and Impressum.
  • How first-party cookies help your site function, and how third-party cookies follow users across the internet.
  • How your site is collecting and sharing data, even if you think you "do not have any forms."
  • How to check it yourself: load your site through a European VPN and count the trackers in the consent popup.
  • Why privacy laws are changing at the state and global level, and what that means for your website.
  • How tools like Termageddon help keep your policies updated as laws evolve.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode

  • Glimmernet Technologies–Website hosting and development, plus help implementing privacy tools.
  • Termageddon–Dynamic privacy policy and cookies policy generator with ongoing updates. (Affiliate Link)

Important Fine Print

Lisa and Dave are not lawyers, and this episode should not be considered legal advice. Everything shared is based on years of experience working with websites and privacy tools. For specific legal guidance on your privacy policy or compliance, talk with your attorney. Please read our complete disclaimer.]]>What You'll Learn
  • Why every modern website needs a real, customized privacy policy.
  • The difference between privacy policy, cookies policy, terms of service, disclaimers, and Impressum.
  • How first-party cookies help your site function, and how third-party cookies follow users across the internet.
  • How your site is collecting and sharing data, even if you think you "do not have any forms."
  • How to check it yourself: load your site through a European VPN and count the trackers in the consent popup.
  • Why privacy laws are changing at the state and global level, and what that means for your website.
  • How tools like Termageddon help keep your policies updated as laws evolve.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode

  • Glimmernet Technologies–Website hosting and development, plus help implementing privacy tools.
  • Termageddon–Dynamic privacy policy and cookies policy generator with ongoing updates. (Affiliate Link)

Important Fine Print

Lisa and Dave are not lawyers, and this episode should not be considered legal advice. Everything shared is based on years of experience working with websites and privacy tools. For specific legal guidance on your privacy policy or compliance, talk with your attorney. Please read our complete disclaimer.]]>d0c8ef2b-7385-4826-a483-eec89a39bddfWed, 19 Nov 2025 09:00:00 -040034:34falsefull22Your Business Depends on Systems You’ve Never Heard OfYour Business Depends on Systems You’ve Never Heard OfWhat You’ll Learn
  • What really happened during the AWS outage
  • Why businesses that never used the affected region still went down
  • How “regions” and dependencies affect your uptime
  • Why redundancy isn’t just for big tech
  • Practical questions to ask your vendors
  • The fine line between efficiency and over-reliance on technology

Vendor Questions Checklist

Before you sign that hosting or software contract, ask:
  1. Where is my data physically stored?
  2. What’s your redundancy or backup plan?
  3. What’s your uptime Service Level Agreement (SLA)?
  4. Who are your infrastructure partners?
  5. How is failover handled: automatic or manual?
  6. How do you communicate outages to clients?
  7. Are you compliant with the data-residency laws in my region?

Connect with Us

Visit Technovela.com for bios, links and resources. We'd love to hear from you. Send us an email or leave a review wherever you listen.]]>What You’ll Learn
  • What really happened during the AWS outage
  • Why businesses that never used the affected region still went down
  • How “regions” and dependencies affect your uptime
  • Why redundancy isn’t just for big tech
  • Practical questions to ask your vendors
  • The fine line between efficiency and over-reliance on technology

Vendor Questions Checklist

Before you sign that hosting or software contract, ask:
  1. Where is my data physically stored?
  2. What’s your redundancy or backup plan?
  3. What’s your uptime Service Level Agreement (SLA)?
  4. Who are your infrastructure partners?
  5. How is failover handled: automatic or manual?
  6. How do you communicate outages to clients?
  7. Are you compliant with the data-residency laws in my region?

Connect with Us

Visit Technovela.com for bios, links and resources. We'd love to hear from you. Send us an email or leave a review wherever you listen.]]>184be35c-b546-439e-91ec-1bfbb14d0c0eMon, 10 Nov 2025 09:00:00 -040027:51falsefull11Tech and Marketing, From 35 Years in the TrenchesTech and Marketing, From 35 Years in the TrenchesMeet the hosts, and find out who this show is for.

Dave Mroz spent five years building cutting-edge systems for Fortune 500 companies, multinationals and large governments — then started Glimmernet Technologies in 2002, because small and medium businesses needed those same solutions and nobody was building them.

Lisa Kahler started LaunchLift Marketing in 2023 to help newer businesses find their footing in a field that reinvents itself yearly and is mostly noise.

Their conversations used to run an hour and a half. Lisa suggested recording them; Dave laughed, because "who's gonna want to listen to me, just another guy?" This is what came of it — 35+ years between them, no fluff, and every lesson still attached to the story it came from.

What's Covered in this Episode

  • Why Dave left enterprise development in 2002 to build for small and medium businesses instead.
  • What changed between 2002 and now: fixed screen resolutions and no iPhone, to multilingual e-commerce on whatever device someone happens to be holding.
  • Why "marketer" now covers a dozen different jobs — and the one thing Lisa keeps coming back to.
  • How the podcast started, and why Dave thought Lisa was kidding.
  • What you get from every episode: a story, a lesson, and a practical way to apply it.

Connect with Us

Visit Technovela.com for host bios, links and resources. We'd love to hear from you — send us an email or leave a review wherever you listen.

]]>Meet the hosts, and find out who this show is for.

Dave Mroz spent five years building cutting-edge systems for Fortune 500 companies, multinationals and large governments — then started Glimmernet Technologies in 2002, because small and medium businesses needed those same solutions and nobody was building them.

Lisa Kahler started LaunchLift Marketing in 2023 to help newer businesses find their footing in a field that reinvents itself yearly and is mostly noise.

Their conversations used to run an hour and a half. Lisa suggested recording them; Dave laughed, because "who's gonna want to listen to me, just another guy?" This is what came of it — 35+ years between them, no fluff, and every lesson still attached to the story it came from.

What's Covered in this Episode

  • Why Dave left enterprise development in 2002 to build for small and medium businesses instead.
  • What changed between 2002 and now: fixed screen resolutions and no iPhone, to multilingual e-commerce on whatever device someone happens to be holding.
  • Why "marketer" now covers a dozen different jobs — and the one thing Lisa keeps coming back to.
  • How the podcast started, and why Dave thought Lisa was kidding.
  • What you get from every episode: a story, a lesson, and a practical way to apply it.

Connect with Us

Visit Technovela.com for host bios, links and resources. We'd love to hear from you — send us an email or leave a review wherever you listen.

]]>d9452aa4-e9f5-4bba-81bc-c3f58bc9f342Mon, 03 Nov 2025 11:06:00 -040006:09falsetrailer