On this episode of TechMagic, hosts Cathy Hackl and Lee Kebler welcome Jeff Shardell, founder and CEO of Humble Brands, to hear about his journey from leading at Google to redefining sustainability in the CPG world. 

Jeff shares how his tech background shaped his approach to eco-friendly product design, scaling consumer goods, and building an authentic celebrity partnership with Jason Momoa. 

Cathy and Lee also dive into cutting-edge mixed reality news, from ByteDance’s lightweight Pico headset to Oakley’s NASA visor collaboration. Plus, how Gen Z’s gaming habits are reshaping career paths. 

With updates on AI’s impact on gaming jobs and Roblox’s new adult dating features, this episode bridges the worlds of innovation, sustainability, and immersive tech. The hosts also preview what’s coming in Season 3 after their summer break.

Come for the tech, stay for the magic!

Episode highlights:

Mixed Reality Momentum — Cathy and Lee dive into the latest in XR hardware, spotlighting ByteDance’s lightweight Pico headset and Oakley’s visor developed for NASA’s Artemis 3 mission. They discuss how sleek design, enterprise collaboration, and immersive functionality are signaling a shift toward mainstream adoption of mixed reality across both consumer and professional environments. 

Gaming Meets Career Building — Gen Z’s gaming isn’t just play; it’s preparation. Cathy and Lee examine how platforms like Roblox and Minecraft are training future professionals in design, systems thinking, and collaboration. They also unpack Roblox’s adult dating features and the growing impact of AI on gaming jobs, including layoffs at studios like King, developer of Candy Crush.

From Google to Clean Beauty — Jeff Shardell reveals how his experience as a Google executive helped him launch Humble Brands, a sustainable personal care company. Cathy and Lee explore how Jeff applied tech-industry thinking to CPG, built an authentic partnership with Jason Momoa, and navigated the challenges of scaling eco-conscious products in a crowded market.

Developing Authentic Celebrity Partnerships — Jeff explains how Humble Brands built a successful collaboration with Jason Momoa by prioritizing authenticity over traditional endorsements. Cathy and Lee explore how the partnership began with Momoa as a real customer, evolved over a year of co-developing products, and resonated with consumers through shared values and genuine connection.

Photos by Ralph Freso

The pupils in Kristen Palamaruk’s earth science and AP and honors biology classes can count on an assignment to start the school year.

But it will have little to do with molecules.

They will be “deep-diving into their own character,” said the Maryvale High School teacher, “and creating virtue goals.”

During the first week of school, she will be turning to the experts at Grand Canyon University’s Canyon Center for Character Education. She’s using Program Director Emily Farkas and Assistant Director Dr. Ashley Brandon’s new book, “Activities and Applications: Character Education.”

“We will discuss what character is and why virtues are important,” Palamaruk continued, using different activities in the book for each age group.

She will help them set up a virtues journal, per one of the book’s activities that highlight reflective journaling, as well as other activities for older students “to help them decide on the virtues they want to build for their character.”

It’s right there on page 19, and it’s a doozy: You’re having a birthday party at some future time (20, 30, 40?) and your best friend pops up to give a speech. “What would you like them to say about you?”

Last year was Palamaruk’s first to implement character education in her classroom, and there was a learning curve. This year, she has the book.

 “It’s been a life-changing tool,” she said. “I hope it inspires more people to utilize the tool and implement character education within their classroom.”

There’s a lot of theory and research behind character education. But Farkas and Brandon knew in the past three years of working on character education with K-12 schools that teachers often ask the same questions:

“What can I do right now?”

“Do you have curriculum for it?”

So they give them tangible exercises, using the framework of CCCE skills on how to live a virtuous, flourishing life.

With graduate degrees in character education and on-the-ground experience at conferences and working with schools, Farkas and Brandon thought the best book would include activities to explore moral, civic, intellectual and performance virtues.

“It’s ready-made, they don’ have to think about it,” Farkas said.

A teacher can use it for their own growth or for students in their classrooms, and school leaders can use it for professional development. It’s free on CCCE’s website (or printed copies are available upon request to CCCE).

“It’s literally for anyone who wants to put character education activities in place — our main audience is the K-12 space — but these activities can absolutely be differentiated for higher education spaces,” Farkas said.

She said it could be a supplemental resource for established character education programs in schools or be something “to get the ball rolling” in schools without them.

It’s part of CCCE’s mission to advance character education globally, working on an extension of a three-year grant from the Kern Family Foundation.

To do the book, they enlisted 10 character education experts from across the country to contribute activities.

“It is often easy to view character education as ‘something else to add to my plate’ among the mound of duties, reports and responsibilities that we have as classroom educators,” said contributor Lance Forman, a Lipscomb University College of Education assistant dean and CCCE advisor. “But what we need to understand is the character is not something else to add to the plate, it IS the plate. Character education and development is the foundation of exceptional teaching and leadership. The book is a great resource for educators because it provides concrete ways to integrate character education elements into the classroom.”

Each section breaks down the intended audience, focus, materials needed and the step-by-step procedure. Numerous aids are used, from literature to videos of TEDx talks, from Aesop’s Fables to Psychology Today article links.

An activity on courage is supplemented by links to a talk by a researcher and lecturer about courage, followed by discussion questions and other activities. A section on gratitude includes a link to happiness expert Martin Seligman’s article and prompts to write three blessings from you day. Compassion, patience and integrity are explored form all angles.

“There’s plenty of opportunities for reflection throughout the activities,” Farkas said. “There’s a lot of focus on different virtues, such as empathy, which I think is needed currently.”

It’s all centered on personal growth.

“It’s really thinking about how your character impacts not only yourself and your growth, but how your character impacts those around you,” Brandon said. “That’s a pretty important lesson for little ones.”

Grand Canyon University senior writer Mike Kilen can be reached at [email protected]

***

Related content:

GCU News: Character summit: ‘It is all about promoting the common good’

GCU News: Faculty friends lead fast-growing group on how to spread friendliness

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Push Gaming has expanded its presence in the Baltic market by entering a significant distribution agreement with OlyBet, the region’s top gaming and entertainment provider. This partnership introduces Push Gaming’s complete library of slot games to players in both Latvia and Estonia , furthering its commitment to growth in regulated territories.

This latest collaboration follows a string of recent launches across Europe, including Bulgaria, Spain, and Serbia, and aligns with the company’s broader strategy of increasing visibility in well-regulated gaming environments.

High-Performing Slots and New Releases Join OlyBet’s Lobby

As part of the deal, OlyBet Casino now features Push Gaming’s full slot portfolio. Popular titles such as those from the Razor Shark and Retro series are available, alongside upcoming releases like Wild Swarm Triple Hive and Bamboo Ways, which are expected to attract a strong following once launched.

“Having our content live with market leaders such as Olybet is a key pillar of our commercial strategy. OlyBet provides us with a fantastic partnership and a shared ambition to grow in both regions,” stated Andy Bentley, Chief Operating Officer at Push Gaming.

He added, “We’re scaling our collaborations globally to meet player demand, and our thriving relationship with the leading brand in Latvia and Estonia is another important milestone in our progress.”

Push Gaming’s content has already demonstrated strong performance in other regulated markets, and its integration with OlyBet marks a logical step in the supplier’s European expansion plan.

OlyBet Strengthens Its Offering with Push Gaming Titles

For OlyBet, the addition of Push Gaming’s portfolio reinforces its mission to remain the entertainment leader in the Baltic region. With an emphasis on delivering premium experiences, the integration helps ensure the operator continues offering top-tier content to its players.

“The added strength of Push Gaming’s slots in our lobby is considerable, and we’re delighted to have them available for our players,” said Tomas Graham, Chief Operations Officer at OlyBet “It is essential for us to offer the best games available to ensure OlyBet provides the best experience possible and remains the first choice in entertainment across each market.”

The partnership allows OlyBet to not only retain its competitive edge but also deepen its appeal to slot enthusiasts by offering engaging, well-crafted titles from one of the industry’s most innovative developers.

Continued Momentum in Europe’s Regulated Markets

With its Baltic expansion now underway through OlyBet, Push Gaming continues to accelerate its international strategy. Its consistent focus on entering tightly regulated markets and partnering with regional leaders reflects its long-term vision of building a sustainable and global presence.

As Push Gaming’s footprint grows across Europe, partnerships like this one play a central role in reaching new audiences and providing high-quality entertainment that aligns with local regulatory standards.

Source:

“Push Gaming levels up in Latvia and Estonia with OlyBet”, pushgaming.com, Jul 21, 2025