The Human Connection Podcast

Is your business’s growth stalled? Employee churn eating into your profits? Struggling with customer retention? 

You need stronger connections.

Every Tuesday, connect with an expert who’s sharing actionable advice for building stronger relationships with your customers, clients, and stakeholders. Hosted by Karl Pontau, a storytelling super-connector, content system strategist, and survivor of two childhood brain tumors, this podcast’s mission is to fix the underlying cause of workplace and societal dysfunction: the lack of human connection.

Learn more at www.thehumanconnectionpodcast.com

Podcast Host

Squash and Stretch Productions

My heroic mission involves guiding teams to bring visionary Content Systems and strategies to life. By fostering a creative environment where complex ideas transform into compelling visual stories, I've helped clients achieve remarkable results. What drives me is connecting clients' missions with audiences through visually striking content that sparks action. By nurturing talent and overseeing seamless workflows, I ensure our work not only captivates but also delivers on strategic goals.

▶️Led Enovix’s team to clearly and concisely explain the value of their innovative battery tech - taking them from a 45 minute explanation to a 2 minute video – supporting their $1.13B SPAC event and their $250 million contract with the US Army. Optimized creative strategy and message to grab and hold viewer’s attention. Navigated around two major holidays and an unexpected scope change to deliver on time and under budget.

▶️Recruited and managed the team, budget, and timeline for a collaborative animation project that convinced the San Jose City Council to require life-saving firefighting tech in high-rises, catalyzed adoption in 18 other cities, and contributed to a $100M IP sale for my client. 

▶️Designed flexible content system for La Familia's anti-Fentanyl campaign, enabling rapid pivot when major challenge arose; directed production and content adaptation while production team saved two lives through Narcan administration during new on-site shoot; final campaign successfully deployed regionwide.

Freelance Art Director / Senior Digital Creative Producer

SAE Expression College

As a Brand Story Coach, I've helped entrepreneurs translate their knowledge into actionable ideas for their ideal consumer. Additionally, in the classroom, I've had the joy of shaping future creatives. Through developing curricula and adapting to diverse learning styles, I created supportive environments where innovation thrives and students discover their creative potential.

▶️Advised a local coach on connecting client challenges to his solutions, boosting referrals and sales through improved value communication.

▶️Mentored college students at SAE Expressions in advanced motion graphics, editing, and branding, guiding them through complex software challenges to enhance their technical proficiency and creative output. 

▶️Inspired young minds aged 9-17 at iD Tech Camps, fostering creativity and teamwork while leading students through courses including web design, animation, and robotics.

Storytelling Coach / Teacher / Mentor

GuideSpark

My leadership journey began as a production team member, where I discovered my passion for contributing toward a shared vision. I learned that great leadership creates harmony in both team dynamics and the final product. I also learned that my favorite projects are socially impactful and profitable. Each project laid the foundation for my skills in leading cross-functional teams, managing end-to-end production, and turning creative challenges into opportunities for growth and connection. 

▶️Fostered open communication between animators and VFX coordinators and ensured director feedback was thoughtfully implemented as Animation Coordinator for The Glass Butterfly.

▶️Created intricate 3D facial animations for a confidential project, honing my ability to deliver exceptional work on time and under budget while honoring client trust at FlickerLab.

▶️Collaborated with a remote team to explain organizational change strategies and processes that help companies be more agile at Fire Tribe, Inc. 

▶️Contributed to a local team that created 1,700+ accurate employee benefit animations in 3 months at GuideSpark.

▶️Championed i-GATE's vision for a thriving Tri-Valley startup community that now brings new tech from local labs to the marketplace.

Contract Motion Designer

Health/Med Tech companies and nonprofits have vital - yet difficult - stories to tell. 

So, they struggle to explain their value and attract their best clients.

What makes a story difficult?

Stories that…

😨Cover emotionally triggering subjects... (Cancer, Overdoses, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome)
😵Focus on complex or abstract ideas... (Battery tech, Air Tank Refill Systems)
😳Reveal deeply personal experiences... (Founder Stories, Mental Health, Loss)

...are all difficult to effectively tell.

But, I am uniquely equipped to solve these challenges because I:

💗 Show empathy and compassion for clients, team members, and audiences via active listening
🧠 Bring a deep understanding of human decision making and behavior to every project
🚀 Employ an entrepreneurial mindset honed from running my small production agency

I was inspired to focus on these skills after overcoming two malignant brain tumors when I was 15, and am forever grateful for my family, friends, and medical team for showing me what can be accomplished when people care for each other, clearly communicate, and work towards a common goal. 

Once you optimize your story, you’ll need to get it in front of your audience.

That takes a Content System.

These:

💡 Starts with a comprehensive Content Strategy
📚 Delivers a custom asset library for your brand
📲 Generates adaptive content for multiple platforms
💰 Results in greater cost savings and ROI over time

For example:

🎉 Led Enovix’s team to clearly and concisely explain the value of their innovative battery tech - taking them from a 45 minute explanation to a 2 minute video – supporting their $1.13B SPAC event and their $250 million contract with the US Army. Optimized creative strategy and message to grab and hold viewer’s attention. Navigated around two major holidays and an unexpected scope change to deliver on time and under budget.

🥂 Recruited and managed the team, budget, and timeline for a collaborative animation project that convinced the San Jose City Council to require life-saving firefighting tech in high-rises, catalyzed adoption in 18 other cities, and contributed to a $100M IP sale for my client.

If you are interested in discussing how I can add value to your team and accelerate your company's growth, please email me at kpontau@gmail.com or send a DM.

Let's talk!

(I’m open to contract or full time employment.)

Karl Pontau

Kids Food Fight

Chief Creative Officer (CCO) & Founder

It's my pleasure to help others to discover their ideal, Whole Wellness situation and then map a route to get there. 
Clients and I meet weekly or bi-weekly to establish a baseline of wellness and then build upon it. We set large and small challenging goals. At a realistic pace, clients raise themselves up to their highest level of Whole Wellness.

Master Wellness Advisor

One New Heartbeat

I'm excited to be a part of a different approach to Wellness that includes 
•	Process and problem resolution integrating training needs and quality monitoring
•	Developing training solutions using sound adult learning techniques and approved templates, 
         materials including manuals, job aids, visual aids, wall charts, PowerPoint presentations, etc. 
•	Coordinating with the CEO, ensuring all activities reach toward the organization's goals
•	Creating and delivering training curriculum, assessments, surveys and evaluations
•	Grant writing to secure local and national funding

Board Member, Operations & WRAP Group Facilitator

Unbeatable Mind

After completing the powerful Unbeatable Mind Foundations course myself and studying to be a certified UM coach, it's been my honor to edit and add research to the UMF course.  Check out the link below to see Lesson One, which I recently updated.

Writer, Researcher & Editor

Marathon Laundry Machines, Inc.

•	Managed customer, vendor and partner relationships
•	Strategic planning for scaling business and production of V2 of our product

Operations Manager & Executive Assistant to the CEO

Massage by Kate

- Enjoy building personal relationship with my clients - not just their name, kids' names and dog's name, but also their profession, recreational activities and personal stories. Deliver the highest quality personalized service on every encounter with clients. 
- Marketing including quarterly volunteer community outreach events, design and distribution of print materials and website to communicate the spirit of the business as well as describe the offerings and their many benefits to clients. Developed referral program that generated 2 to 4 new clients/month. 
- Bookkeeping and tax management for a sole proprietor-run small business. Managed a detailed and flexible schedule.

Principal/Founder

Your First Mate, Inc.

Your First Mate offered percentage-based savings and quarterly tax payments for sole proprietors made effortless, so they could focus on what they do best: their trade.
- Strategic planning, market research, product vision, cash flow analysis, manpower planning, brand management, corporate development, exceptional customer focus and fundraising.
- Collaborated with several innovative thought leaders in the fintech industry on product development.
- Website design, launch and maintenance, wrote professional copy about out mission and our service with a call to action to speak to specific desired groups of potential customers. Launch, bookkeeping, tax management and legal upkeep for a C-corporation.

Deliv

- Increased the driver pool by over 200% in 10 markets by working with the onboarding team to post job descriptions locally and nationally, interviewed, maximized the results, and cultivated a driver referral program. Mastered CRM, team collaboration and internally designed software.
- Streamlined the scheduling process for hundreds of drivers in four time zones by identifying the math behind hour distribution and recommending UI improvements to the drivers' and schedulers' in-house software. 
- Collected and used driver feedback to improve their experience to a higher level of independent contractor satisfaction. Developed personal rapport between the driver community and the operations team via telephone best practices, Facebook and internal applications.

Operations, Scheduling & Recruiting Consultant

Complete Solar Solution, Inc

- Extreme attention to details to coordinate the 400+ steps involved in residential solar system installations. Helped reduce installation time from 6 months to 2 weeks by identifying multiple tasks that could occur simultaneously and implementing a complex workflow schedule. Maintained up to 30 concurrent active customers in various stages of installation and led weekly team meetings to stay current of progress. Manages maintenance and repair of multiple solar systems.
- Maintained long-term customer, vendor, subcontractor and financial relationships. Provided excellent, personalized service including hand-written thank you cards during the holidays. Mastered CRM and internally designed software, QuickBooks and office management. 
- Curated content and created the template for our Solar System Owner's Handbook. It included every detail of a customer's experience with us, their system requirements, agreements with utility companies, system maintenance, warranties, guarantees, expected output, welcome and thank you letters, etc.

Operations Manager/ Employee #1

Economics Department at San José State University

- Coordinated quarterly educational events and annual retreats, from stimulating weekends of discussion for teachers to the annual Regional Economic Summit, at which 450 high school economics students from all over the Bay Area argue economic issues and complete for capital glory for their assigned countries. 
- Record keeping for the Center for Economic Education (CEE) Step to College program and maintenance of CEE inventory of educational materials.

Administrative Assistant

- Author, editor, & researcher
- Advanced Level WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan) Facilitator
- Licensed Unbeatable Mind Coach 
- former Board Member, Operations & certified WRAP Facilitator at One New Heartbeat
- Founder of fintech company Your First Mate, Inc.
- Operations & Community Management at Marathon Laundry Machines, Deliv, Complete Solar & San José State University Economics Dept.
- Specialties: Whole Wellness, personal empowerment, operations, finance, relationship building/management, exceptional customer service, executive support, Spanish speaker, project management, event planning, bookkeeping, AP/AR, ADP payroll processing, time management, tax preparation, efficiency, stress management, dog training, feng shui & independent films

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The Battle

Karl Pontau

Kate E. Loftus

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