{"podcast":{"title":"Iowa Tech Podcast","slug":"iowa-tech-podcast-7097920","podcast_index_feed_id":7097920,"rss_url":"https://feeds.libsyn.com/542257/rss","website_url":"https://sites.libsyn.com/542257","image_url":"https://static.libsyn.com/p/assets/7/2/a/c/72ac7d9f691d5bf3e55e3c100dce7605/Tech_square.png","author":"Kaylee Williams","episode_count":74,"summary":"Welcome to the Iowa Tech Podcast, your gateway to the vibrant world of technology and innovation right here in Iowa. Each week, we dive into the dynamic landscape of Iowa's tech industry, showcasing the brilliant minds, groundbreaking startups, and transformative ideas that are shaping the future. Join our host, Kaylee Williams, as we sit down with tech entrepreneurs, industry experts, and thought leaders who are driving change and pushing boundaries in fields ranging from artificial intelligence and cybersecurity to agtech and clean energy. Whether you're a seasoned professional, a budding innovator, or simply tech-curious, the Iowa Tech Podcast offers insider insights, inspiring stories, and practical advice to keep you at the forefront of the digital revolution. Tune in to explore how Iowa is making waves on the global tech stage and discover how you can be a part of this exciting journey.","last_synced_at":null,"page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/iowa-tech-podcast-7097920"},"episode":{"title":"The Kid from Mitchellville: Nick Leeper on Startups, AI, and Betting on People","slug":"the-kid-from-mitchellville-nick-leeper-on-startups-ai-and-betting-on-people","published_at":"2026-04-28T16:13:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/iowa-tech-podcast-7097920/the-kid-from-mitchellville-nick-leeper-on-startups-ai-and-betting-on-people","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/iowa-tech-podcast-7097920","url":"https://iowapodcast.com/nick-leeper","audio_url":"https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/f8302322-1d6c-46da-acd0-a4cdad4ddaab/nick_leeper.mp3?dest-id=4673877","summary":"Nick Leeper has spent the last two decades building meaningful products in Iowa's tech ecosystem—from the Obama campaign's fundraising systems to Dwolla's real-time payment infrastructure to Hummingbirds' creator platform. In this episode, host Kaylee Williams sits down with Nick to explore how a kid from Mitchellville ended up in rooms with the Federal Reserve, the Gates Foundation, and some of the brightest minds in fintech. 💡 Find this show on every app: https://iowapodcast.com/nick-leeper 🐖 Get a free $30 gift card from Jethro's BBQ: https://iowapodcast.com/jethrosbbq Nick shares the origin story of his friendship with Derek Brooks and their leap to Chicago for the 2008 Obama campaign, a pivotal moment that led him to Dwolla, where he spent nearly 11 years helping design systems that process billions of dollars. Along the way, he reflects on what it means to work at venture-backed startups: the exhilarating opportunities to work on problems you never thought you'd touch, the heartbreak of shipping projects that get shelved, and the importance of people and community in tech. Today, Nick leads engineering at Hummingbirds, a woman-founded creator platform where he's building his own team and setting culture from the ground up - something he always wanted to do. But as the conversation evolves, Nick and Kaylee dig into a bigger question: what does the future of tech look like in the age of AI? Nick explores how artificial intelligence is rewriting the venture playbook, the risk that the \"people in the middle\" of their careers face as AI disrupts how we work, and why human creativity and problem-solving (not just code) remain the true bottleneck in building great products. Tune into this thoughtful, wide-ranging conversation about ambition, mentorship, and what it take…","meta_description":"Nick Leeper has spent the last two decades building meaningful products in Iowa's tech ecosystem—from the Obama campaign's fundraising systems to Dwolla's…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":3091,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/iowa-tech-podcast-7097920/episodes/the-kid-from-mitchellville-nick-leeper-on-startups-ai-and-betting-on-people/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/iowa-tech-podcast-7097920/the-kid-from-mitchellville-nick-leeper-on-startups-ai-and-betting-on-people.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}