Remote First Innovators

Brandie Delarosa spent more than 25 years in IT and business consulting, working remotely long before it became common. Today, as Chief Executive Officer at E3inspire, she uses her professional and personal experiences to help companies better understand trauma, psychological safety, emotional intelligence, and the human side of work.
In this conversation, we explore why remote work can improve focus, how personal trauma follows employees into the workplace, why psychological safety matters, what leaders often miss about their people, and where companies should draw the line between AI and human support. Brandie also shares the story behind her book, A House Divided: How to Successfully Co-Parent, and the parenting lessons that shaped her approach to emotional intelligence and resilience.
No fluff, just personal stories, practical lessons, and a different way for leaders to think about the people behind their business.
Key Discussion Points
Brandie’s journey from computer science and IT to E3inspire
What decades of remote work taught her about focus and communication
Why micromanagement can hurt remote teams
How personal trauma can affect performance at work
What psychological safety really looks like inside a company
The hidden business costs of ignoring employee trauma
How E3inspire helps companies educate, empower, and engage their teams
Why emotional intelligence matters for remote leaders
How domestic violence can create added risks for remote employees
Why AI should support people instead of replacing human connection
The story behind A House Divided and Brandie’s approach to co-parenting
What Brandie learned by asking her children how she could be a better mom
Mental toughness, resilience, and moving through difficult seasons
Brandie’s long-term vision for E3inspire and transitional housing
Where to learn more about Brandie, E3inspire, and her book
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#RemoteWork #PsychologicalSafety #EmotionalIntelligence #Leadership #FutureOfWork #MentalHealth #RemoteTeams #E3inspire #TraumaInformedLeadership #AI #WorkplaceCulture #Entrepreneurship

Can you build a successful career, lead distributed teams, and help healthcare organizations use technology more effectively while working remotely? According to Paul McRae, the answer starts with discipline, clear outcomes, strong communication, and the ability to adapt.
In this episode of Remote First Innovators, hosts Robert Phelps and Jake Gump sit down with Paul McRae, Founder & CEO of TransformativeHLTH. Paul shares lessons from a career spanning AT&T, VMware, ServiceNow, AWS, healthcare technology, and leadership, as well as his move from the corporate world into fractional CTO work.
Discover why remote work requires discipline and accountability, how leaders can manage different generations, why outcomes matter more than hours worked, and how technology can help healthcare organizations operate more effectively. Paul also explains how AI, cloud technology, data, and fractional leadership are changing the way healthcare organizations think about technology and operations.
In this episode you'll learn:✔ Why discipline and accountability are essential for remote work✔ How leaders can manage remote teams around clear outcomes✔ Why understanding each employee's motivation matters✔ How different generations approach work and flexibility✔ Why remote leaders need structured communication and regular check-ins✔ How technology can improve healthcare operations✔ Why healthcare organizations need to connect clinical and operational data✔ How AI can automate and support healthcare workflows✔ Why the fractional CTO model is becoming more valuable✔ How Paul connects business needs with practical technology solutions
Whether you're a startup founder, remote team leader, healthcare executive, technology leader, entrepreneur, or business owner, this conversation is packed with practical insights on remote leadership, healthcare technology, and building better systems.
👍 If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to Like, Subscribe, and share it with another entrepreneur, remote leader, or healthcare innovator.
#RemoteWork #Healthcare #Leadership #HealthcareTechnology #RemoteTeams #HealthTech #FractionalCTO #AI #DigitalTransformation #Entrepreneurship

What happens when a Hollywood TV producer becomes a paramedic, nearly goes to medical school, and ultimately helps some of the world’s biggest companies deploy VR, AR, and smart glasses?
In this episode of Remote First Innovators, Devin Marble shares an incredible career journey—from working in Hollywood on shows like Project Runway to emergency medicine, digital education, and enterprise technology.
Today, Devin works in enterprise growth at ArborXR, helping organizations deploy and manage VR headsets, AR devices, and smart glasses at scale. We dive deep into how emerging technology is changing employee training, remote work, onboarding, safety, and frontline operations.
In this conversation, we explore:
• Devin’s unconventional journey from Hollywood to emergency medicine and technology• How COVID accelerated digital and remote education• How VR helped transform paramedic training• Why Devin chose technology over medical school• How he went from earning $15.55/hour to building a six-figure remote career• How large companies like Amazon, Walmart, and Delta can deploy thousands of VR devices• How enterprise VR platforms manage devices, software, authentication, and analytics• Why VR can accelerate employee training and time to competency• How AI-powered smart glasses can become a “wingman” for frontline workers• How guided workflow can turn company SOPs into real-time instructions• Using AI and smart glasses to capture knowledge and create SOPs• The role of VR and AR in safety, manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and aviation• Why the right technology matters more than simply adopting new technology• Security, compliance, privacy, and enterprise device management• How emerging technology can support remote and distributed teams• Devin’s lessons on career changes, persistence, self-education, and knowing your value• Why “the squeaky wheel gets the grease” when building your career
One of the biggest takeaways from this conversation is that the future of work isn't necessarily about replacing people with technology. It's about giving people better tools to do their jobs faster, safer, and with more confidence.
From immersive training to AI-powered smart glasses and guided workflows, the technology is moving from science fiction into everyday enterprise operations.
Guest: Devin MarbleRole: Enterprise Growth, ArborXRTopics: VR, AR, AI, Smart Glasses, Remote Work, Enterprise Technology, Employee Training, Digital Transformation, Guided Workflow, Device Management, Cybersecurity & Compliance
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#RemoteWork #VirtualReality #AugmentedReality #ArtificialIntelligence #SmartGlasses #FutureOfWork #EnterpriseTechnology #DigitalTransformation #EmployeeTraining #RemoteFirst

Can you fix the U.S. healthcare system while leading a fully remote team? According to Bhargav Raman, the answer is yes, but only if you build mission alignment, strong systems, and access to the right information.
In this episode of Remote First Innovators, hosts Robert Phelps and Jake Gump sit down with Bhargav Raman, Cofounder, Clinical Strategy & Analytics at Ten Ten Ten. Bhargav shares how his path from radiology and startups led him to build remote teams and launch a nonprofit focused on improving the U.S. healthcare system.
Discover why mission alignment matters for remote teams, how the right tools help companies scale, why access to information improves decisions, and how Bhargav is using data, transparency, and first principles to push for change in U.S. healthcare.
In this episode you'll learn:✔ Why mission alignment matters for remote teams✔ How to scale remote teams with the right systems✔ Why auditing and oversight become important as teams grow✔ How to hire and onboard remote employees✔ Why startups should avoid too many tools early on✔ How AI is changing software development✔ Why access to information helps teams make better decisions✔ How regular one-on-ones improve remote leadership✔ How price transparency could improve U.S. healthcare✔ How 10-10-10 aims to drive healthcare reform
Whether you're a startup founder, remote team leader, healthcare innovator, entrepreneur, or business owner, this conversation is packed with practical insights on building stronger remote teams and better systems.
👍 If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to Like, Subscribe, and share it with another entrepreneur, remote leader, or healthcare innovator.
#RemoteWork #Healthcare #Leadership #HealthcareInnovation #RemoteTeams #StartupFounder #HealthTech #CompanyCulture #HealthcareReform #Entrepreneurship

What makes a virtual meeting or webinar truly effective? In this episode of Remote First Innovators, Bernie DeSantis, President of Insignia Training Partners, shares practical lessons from producing more than 6,000 virtual events.
Bernie explains why virtual presentations can't simply copy the format of in-person meetings, how to keep remote audiences engaged, and why thoughtful planning, audience targeting, and the right event format matter. He also discusses virtual event production, Zoom best practices, micro-engagements, remote team meetings, global audiences, AI, Zoom fatigue, remote work productivity, and the future of virtual collaboration.
Whether you're a business leader, entrepreneur, speaker, trainer, coach, or remote team manager, this conversation offers actionable insights for creating better virtual experiences and more effective remote meetings.
Topics covered: virtual events, webinars, remote work, distributed teams, virtual engagement, Zoom, leadership, AI, remote meetings, workplace productivity, and the future of work.

Can a hard tech startup succeed with a fully remote team? Bill Walker proves that it can.
PhD biomedical engineer, five-time founder, inventor with 35+ patents, and Co-Founder of Boundless Science—to discuss what it really takes to build groundbreaking medical technology while leading a distributed workforce.
Bill shares the remarkable story behind launching Boundless Science during the COVID-19 pandemic, creating a remote-first culture built on trust, and developing a next-generation medical device designed to improve patient outcomes. Along the way, he reveals the leadership principles, hiring philosophy, AI strategies, and company values that have shaped his entrepreneurial journey.
Whether you're a startup founder, engineering leader, CTO, entrepreneur, or someone passionate about the future of remote work, this episode delivers practical lessons on innovation, collaboration, and leading high-performing teams.
In this episode:
What defines a hard tech startup
Building and testing hardware with a remote team
Leadership lessons from five startup ventures
Creating a culture where the best ideas win
Founder agreements, trust, and difficult conversations
How AI is transforming engineering and research
Preventing burnout in high-performance organizations
Cybersecurity best practices for remote businesses
Stoicism, integrity, and vulnerable leadership
The future of medical device innovation and Boundless Science
Subscribe to Remote First Innovators for more conversations with founders, executives, and industry experts redefining how modern businesses grow, innovate, and lead in a remote-first world.

Healthcare is entering a new era—and telehealth is leading the transformation.
Eric Doherty, CEO of My Pediatric Doctor, explains how technology, artificial intelligence, and remote-first healthcare are making pediatric care faster, more accessible, and more efficient for families nationwide.
From reducing wait times and improving physician workflows to expanding healthcare access in underserved communities, Eric shares how his company is building one of the country's most innovative pediatric telehealth platforms.
The conversation also explores AI in healthcare, remote physician management, healthcare leadership, scaling startups, patient experience, and the future of digital medicine.
If you're passionate about healthcare innovation, entrepreneurship, AI, remote work, or technology-driven leadership, this episode offers valuable insights into where the industry is headed.
Subscribe to Remote First Innovators for more conversations with founders, executives, and innovators building the future of work and technology.
#Telehealth #HealthcareInnovation #HealthTech #DigitalHealth #ArtificialIntelligence #PediatricCare #Leadership #RemoteHealthcare #MedicalTechnology #Podcast

James Martucci joins Remote First Innovators to discuss building successful remote organizations through intentional leadership, hiring, and culture. Drawing from experience at Apple, Oscar Health, robotics startups, and his own company, Sidekicks, James explains why culture is the foundation of long-term business success.

Titus Kariuki shares his experience as a Data Analytics Business Analyst supporting enterprise analytics solutions while leading nonprofits, building a personal brand, and exploring AI-powered workflows. Learn practical strategies for hybrid work, productivity, leadership, AI adoption, personal development, and career growth in today's evolving workplace. 

What separates successful remote companies from those that struggle?
In this episode of Remote First Innovators, HR strategist and author Leslie Speas shares practical strategies for creating a thriving remote culture built on trust, communication, accountability, and connection.
Learn how leaders can improve onboarding, performance management, employee engagement, and retention while avoiding common remote work pitfalls like burnout, quiet quitting, and micromanagement.
A must-listen for founders, HR professionals, people leaders, and executives managing remote or hybrid teams.
#RemoteWork #HRLeadership #EmployeeEngagement #Leadership #HybridWork