Boldly Go Podcast

In this episode of the Boldly Go Podcast, Rick Smith and Mike Wagers sit down with Jason Droege, a key architect behind Axon’s transformation from a hardware-focused weapons company into a leading software, cloud, and AI platform. Jason reflects on the chaotic early days of Evidence.com, the cultural and technical challenges of scaling software inside a legacy organization, and pivotal moments that nearly derailed—or ultimately saved—the company. The conversation spans leadership under pressure, grit versus pedigree, lessons from Uber and founding Uber Eats, and Jason’s current role leading Scale AI, offering an insider’s perspective on where AI is headed, why talent matters more than ever, and how perseverance shapes enduring companies.

In this episode of Boldly Go, hosts Rick Smith and Mike Wagers sit down with Hadi Partovi—founder and CEO of Code.org, early investor in companies like Facebook, Uber, and Airbnb, and longtime Axon board member—for a wide-ranging conversation on technology, leadership, and values. Partovi shares how he helped steer Axon through pivotal moments: rescuing its early cloud strategy, rebuilding its software team, helping shape its ethical approach to AI, and even influencing the company’s name change from Taser to Axon. Along the way, the episode explores founder-led growth, talent culture, AI ethics, and the long-term bets that transformed Axon into a global public-safety technology leader.

In this emotional and historically rich episode, Rick and Mike sit down in London with longtime friend and former UK Taser distributor Kevin Coles to recount the remarkable—and ultimately tragic—story behind bringing the TASER device to the United Kingdom. Kevin shares how he and the late Peter Boatman fought through years of restrictive regulations, political hurdles, and media scrutiny to introduce a lifesaving tool to UK policing. Together, they revisit Peter’s extraordinary bravery and the pivotal role he played in UK officer safety. This rare, candid conversation honors a pioneer whose impact still shapes policing today.

In this episode of Boldly Go, hosts Rick Smith and Mike Wagers sit down with Piotr Baczynski, founder and CEO of Immersion Labs, for a deep dive into the past, present, and fast-approaching future of VR and AR. Piotr shares the unlikely origin of his company, lessons from the early days of Oculus, why VR training boosts real-world performance, how Axon and Immersion Labs partnered to build groundbreaking VR training experiences, and what the next wave of spatial computing will mean for public safety, the military, and everyday work. From motion-sickness breakthroughs to AR battlefield overlays to walking through virtual worlds inside an Axon Training Pod, this episode explores how immersive tech is rapidly reshaping human learning, communication, and safety.

In this lively episode of Boldly Go, former Axon president Luke Larson and current president Josh Isner join for a candid, hilarious, and heartfelt conversation about Axon’s evolution, culture, and leadership lessons learned along the way. From stuffed-animal giveaways that turned into marketing gold, to the origins of the Axon watermark, to stories of mentorship, risk-taking, and rewarding employees in memorable ways, this episode captures the bold spirit that built a true mission-driven company. Listen in for takes on authenticity, fun at work, and what it takes to keep innovating while staying true to Axon’s fearless values.

In this laugh-out-loud episode of Boldy Go, Rick Smith, Mike Wagers, and special guests Luke Larson and Josh Isner swap stories about Axon’s scrappy early days, leadership lessons, and the missteps that built the company’s culture. From a rejected job candidate who became president, to fake-blood office pranks and bold bets that paid off, this conversation is packed with humor, humility, and heart. The team reflects on the power of resilience, creative risk-taking, and shared ownership — and why sometimes the best leadership advice really is, “Never buy a private jet.”

In Episode 17 of Boldly Go, Rick Smith and Mike Wagers dive deep into artificial intelligence, exponential technological change, and the bold future ahead. From Ray Kurzweil’s predictions to real-world applications of ChatGPT, MidJourney, and Grok, they explore how AI is reshaping everything—from public safety to personal health and even human relationships. With humor, candor, and a few unforgettable stories, this episode tackles the promise and peril of a rapidly accelerating digital age.

In Episode 16 of Boldly Go, Rick Smith continues his conversation with former Axon President Luke Larson, diving into the pivotal years that transformed Taser into Axon. Luke shares stories of bold marketing stunts, the turning point after Ferguson, and how Axon’s culture of creativity and values like “Expect Candor” and “Boldly Go” shaped its rise. From stuffed dinosaurs to company costume parties, to the life-changing impact of mission-driven work, this episode highlights how Axon not only met the moment—but built a legacy of purpose, innovation, and love.

When a stolen prototype disappears and an unexpected guest breaks in, the Boldly Go crew must decode what’s real, what’s planted, and who’s playing who. Secrets unravel—and so does trust.

Rick Smith and Mike Wagers recount Axon’s 2004-05 crucible—media hit-jobs, short-seller assaults and a hidden mole—and the audacious Axon Flex pivot that resurrected the company and ignited modern body-camera tech.

Rick and Mike rewind to 2005, the year Axon (formerly TASER International) faced its toughest battles yet—SEC investigations, internal betrayal, patent controversies, and relentless media scrutiny. Recorded from picturesque locations in Maui and North Carolina, this episode dives deep into the resilience and grit that kept the company alive amidst chaos, highlighting crucial leadership lessons from one of Axon's most turbulent chapters.

Episode 12 of the Boldly Go podcast continues the deep dive into addressing and rebutting claims made in a John Oliver segment criticizing Axon and the use of tasers. Rick Smith and Mike Wagers methodically challenge the narrative presented on the show, particularly around the topic of "excited delirium," the role of tasers in in-custody deaths, and the portrayal of Axon's practices.This episode reaffirms Axon's mission to save lives through effective, less-lethal technology and sheds light on the broader public misconceptions around taser safety, law enforcement training, and the media's influence on public perception.