Joe Hollier is an artist, designer, and entrepreneur whose work sits at the intersection of technology, creativity, and digital wellness — all driven by a belief that the best technology should help people live more intentionally, not consume more of their attention.

Thank you for listening — for more information about ZETA, visit https://www.connectZETA.org

Today we’re joined by Joe Hollier — co-founder of Light, the company behind the Light Phone, a device designed to offer an alternative to today’s always-connected smartphone culture.

From growing up between suburban New Jersey and the rural South to immersing himself in skateboarding, art, and design culture, Joe’s journey has always been shaped by curiosity, creativity, and questioning the status quo.

After studying design at the School of Visual Arts in New York City, Joe worked across film, animation, fine art, and freelance creative work before joining Google’s experimental incubator program, 30 Weeks. There, he gained firsthand insight into how modern apps and platforms are designed to maximize attention and retention — an experience that ultimately became the foundation for the Light Phone.

What started as an artistic and philosophical challenge to smartphone culture has since grown into a movement within the digital wellness space, with over 100,000 Light Phones helping people rethink their relationship with technology.

In this episode, Joe shares how skateboarding shaped his creative mindset, how art school expanded his worldview, why he became skeptical of “attention economy” tech, and what it means to design products that give people their time back.

📲 Connect With Joe / Light:
🌐 Light: https://www.thelightphone.com/
👔 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joehollier/

Find ZETA:
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/connectzeta
🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@connectzeta
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/ZETA/61562518743584/
📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@connectZETA
👔 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ConnectZETA/

🕓 Timestamps
0:00 🚀 Sneak Peek
0:28 🎧 Music Intro
0:35 👋 Meet Joe Hollier
4:50 🌎 Growing Up Between NYC & The Rural South
14:17 🛹 Skateboarding, Creativity & Early Entrepreneurship
23:13 🎨 Art School in NYC & Expanding His Worldview
33:24 🎥 Early Creative Work & Freelancing
37:25 📱 Google’s Incubator & Rethinking Tech Culture
43:14 💡 The Origins of the Light Phone
59:47 ⏭️ The Future of The Light Phone
1:05:30 🌱 Digital Wellness & Healthy Relationships with Technology
1:17:36 🔚 Outro

Robbie Douek is a global entertainment executive and CEO whose career spans Google, Disney, and the rapidly growing world of esports — all driven by a belief in building where the future is unfolding.

Thank you for listening — for more information about ZETA, visit https://www.connectZETA.org

Today we’re joined by Robbie Douek — CEO of BLAST, a global competitive entertainment company shaping the future of gaming, esports, and live digital experiences.

From a multicultural upbringing to leading teams across continents, Robbie’s journey is defined by curiosity, resilience, and a willingness to take bold leaps into emerging industries. His career has taken him from early work in mobile technology to Google through the AdMob acquisition, into the creator economy at Maker Studios and Disney, and now to the forefront of esports.

At BLAST, Robbie leads a global organization delivering world-class competitive gaming experiences across titles like Fortnite, Counter-Strike 2, and Rocket League—working with major publishers and building fan-first moments for a new generation of digital audiences.
In this episode, Robbie shares how early life experiences shaped his leadership, what it means to “go where things are changing,” and how he’s helping redefine entertainment in the age of Gen Z.

📲 Connect With Robbie / BLAST:
🌐 BLAST: https://blast.tv
👔 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbiedouek/

Find ZETA:
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/connectzeta
🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@connectzeta
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/ZETA/61562518743584/
📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@connectZETA
👔 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ConnectZETA/

🕓 Timestamps
0:00 🚀 Sneak Peek
0:27 🎧 Intro
0:34 👋 Meet Robbie Douek
2:18 🌍 Multicultural Upbringing & Global Mindset
8:22 🧠 Loss, Resilience & Early Motivation
12:54 🎓 From French & Politics → Tech Career
15:52 🔮 Spotting Trends, Taking Risks & Big Opportunities
21:50 🏢 Google & Disney (Big Tech Experience)
26:55 🎮 Pivot to Esports & Gaming Industry
30:01 🚀 Building a Global Esports Company (BLAST)
33:35 🌐 The Future of Esports & Entertainment
36:08 👨‍👧‍👦 Parenting, Gen Z & Digital Culture
44:10 💬 Advice for Gen Z & Future Entrepreneurs
46:52 🔚 Outro

Parker Tracey is a leadership coach, policy professional, and former tech operator whose career spans Capitol Hill, the energy sector, and the startup world — all centered on helping people navigate transitions, advocate for themselves, and unlock new opportunities.

Parker's Career Development Resource Kit: https://parker-tracey-coaching.kit.com/zeta

Thank you for listening — for more information about ZETA, visit https://www.connectZETA.org

Today we’re joined by Parker Tracey — an executive leadership coach, strategist, and former Capitol Hill staffer who has spent nearly two decades working across Congress, energy policy, and tech.

From her roots in suburban Detroit to working on Capitol Hill and later breaking into tech with zero industry connections, Parker’s journey is one of resilience, reinvention, and self-advocacy. Along the way, she’s worked across public service and industry, gaining firsthand experience in how policy, business, and leadership intersect in the real world.
Today, Parker works as a Professional Certified Coach, supporting high performers, from policymakers to athletes, through career transitions, leadership challenges, and moments of uncertainty.

In this episode, Parker shares how her early experiences shaped her perspective on access and opportunity, what it took to navigate bias and financial hardship in competitive environments, and how she ultimately built a career on her own terms.

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📲 Connect With Parker:
👔 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/parkertracey/

Find ZETA:
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/connectzeta
🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@connectzeta
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/ZETA/61562518743584/
📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@connectZETA
👔 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ConnectZETA/

🕓 Timestamps
0:00 🚀 Sneak Peek
0:24 🎧 Intro
0:30 👋 Meet Parker Tracey
3:58 🌆 Detroit Roots & Early Ambitions
15:58 🏥 Growing Up Without Healthcare Access
21:32 🏛️ From Working Class to Capitol Hill
28:52 🏈 D1 Athlete Journey & Career Pivot
40:54 🧭 From Policy to Leadership Coaching
47:13 🤝 Male Loneliness & Building Community
55:28 ⚖️ Facing Bias & Leading Through It
1:06:29 ⚡ Energy, Tech & Policy Work
1:14:23 🗣️ Leading When You’re Told You Don’t Belong
1:25:28 🌱 Coaching the Next Generation
1:38:35 🎬 Outro