The Great Indoors

Returning to the podcast with host Matthew Roberts is Stephanie Ormston, AVP of Product Innovation at AT&T, to explore shifting narratives and public perception of AI in 2026. Starting with practical use cases, they examine how AI continues to impact both individuals and organizations. From there, the conversation expands into the themes still top of mind today: human–AI collaboration, real consumer value, mixed public sentiment, and whether we should be concerned that younger generations are developing an AI-native way of thinking.Despite all this rapid change, Stephanie is adamant that storytelling and authenticity still reign supreme, because when technology companies lose sight of that fact, they risk repeating the failures of the past.

In this episode of The Great Indoors, Shelly Palmer, tech strategist and CEO of The Palmer Group returns for his third appearance to explain why the digital world has become unrecognizable in just two years since his last appearance. Listeners will gain an inside look at the brutal reality of the media business, where traditional purchase funnels have collapsed in favor of short-form video and zero-click AI search results. The conversation provides a roadmap for the transition from simple automation to agentic AI.  Autonomous systems that can now plan and initiate tasks independently and explores the rise of vibe coding, where English becomes the new programming language. So if you’re fascinated by media, machine learning, and the conversations shaping what comes next, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

A modern AI education has to wrestle with more than just new tools. It has to ask deeper questions, like how do we understand the models we’re building? Who trains them? And who actually gets access to the results?To explore those questions, Matthew Roberts is joined by Dr. Kiesha King, Head of Education Strategy, as they compare the classroom to the boardroom on technology readiness. With this in mind, they look at the ethics, equity, and access challenges of artificial intelligence, discussing the models that can both empower and exclude. And despite all the innovation, Dr. King makes it clear why the teacher still matters. Finally, they look at both the promise and the pressure of AI in education, taking a close look at over-reliance, protection laws, and the other checks that need to be in place. If you want to understand how people are really learning with AI, let this episode be your lesson.

Are you ready for an uncomfortable question… What happens to your data after you die?Buckle up — in this episode, Matthew Roberts is joined by Carl Öhman, Associate Professor at Uppsala University and author of The Afterlife of Data, to explore what becomes of our personal information after death and the ethical, political, and cultural consequences of our digital legacies.Tune in as Matt seeks Carl’s perspective on what happens when today’s tech giants gain access to the data of millions of deceased users. Together, they dive into how “death data” might be regulated, monetized, and ultimately controlled. From advertising and memorialized profiles to data ownership and the recording of history, this episode opens Pandora’s box at the intersection of morality, business, and memory.This episode may not have all the answers, but it undeniably has all the questions you should be asking.

Modern technology doesn’t run on code alone, it runs on data. Generated constantly and often invisibly, it shapes how our health is understood, and few people understand this better than Sheena Franklin.Joining Matthew Roberts in this episode, Sheena is a digital health founder, women’s health advocate, and recognized voice in inclusive data and AI policy. Together, they unpack the historical biases embedded in clinical research, the challenges of unstructured and siloed healthcare data, and the growing role of wearables, AI, and regulation in shaping modern care.The conversation looks beyond innovation to stewardship, examining who owns health data, how it is governed, and why women’s health has become a catalyst for broader transformation across the healthcare ecosystem.Technology is only as powerful as the care and consideration behind it—this episode is a reminder of what’s at stake, and who the future of healthcare is really being built for.

In his second appearance on The Great Indoors, Marcus Collins, cultural strategist and best-selling author, returns to pick up where we left off in Season Nine. Over the past twelve months, culture, technology, and commerce have moved fast, but not always forward.  This conversation revisits the ideas that defined our last discussion and stress tests them against a year marked by generative AI acceleration, shifting cultural power, brand anxiety, and renewed questions around meaning, identity, and trust. Together, we explore what these developments mean for Marcus’s work today,  and for anyone tasked with building relevance, resonance, and responsibility in an increasingly automated world.  A grounded, incisive dialogue on culture not as a trend to chase, but as a force to understand, especially when the ground keeps moving.

2025 was supposed to be a year of stability for telecom. Instead, it exposed where the industry’s assumptions no longer held.In this opening episode of The Great Indoors, now in its 11th season, Matthew Roberts is joined by Craig Moffett who is a co-founder and senior analyst at MoffettNathanson.  Craig brings decades of experience tracking broadband, cable, and satellite and has a reputation for clear-eyed analysis that cuts through consensus thinking.  They discussed what last year revealed, and what 2026 will demand. Together, they explore why cable may be far better positioned than market sentiment suggests, how competitive pressure continues to weigh on traditional wireless players, and why pricing power proved harder to sustain than many expected. The conversation spans the year’s biggest surprises, from EchoStar’s spectrum-driven turnaround to the growing, but still limited, role of satellite connectivity. If 2025 tested the narrative, 2026 will test execution.

What does it take to lead a telecom revolution — from the infrastructure beneath our feet to the intelligence in our hands? In this final episode of Season 10, recorded live at MWC in Barcelona, host Matthew Roberts explores how AI is being deployed by leaders at the forefront of the telecom industry. First, Matt is joined by Ankur Kapoor, Chief Network Officer at T-Mobile, and Nir Hollander, GM & Divisional President of Amdocs. They unpack how T-Mobile’s industry-leading spectrum strategy helped cement its 5G leadership, and how the company is now embracing AI to drive everything from customer experience to network optimization. Together, they reflect on key takeaways from MWC, from programmable networks to the rise of self-healing infrastructure, and offer advice for telcos worldwide. Then Matt sits down with Daniel Hernandez Ortega, SVP of Devices and Digital Ecosystems at Telefonica. From AI-powered Ray-Ban glasses to hybrid cloud-device architectures, Daniel shares what’s shaping the next wave of consumer tech and how AI is becoming part of everyday life, even for his kids. He also dives into the evolving industry landscape, highlighting the rise of new players and what it takes for vendors to stand out in the competitive AI and 5G space. It’s time to wrap up Season 10!

Today’s marketplace demands more than just strategy—it calls for adaptability, creativity, and a deep understanding of emerging technologies. In this episode from MWC in Barcelona, Matthew Roberts sits down with three remarkable women who are leading transformation across tech, brand, and finance. First, Sarah Roberts, Group CMO at Boldyn, shares her journey from psychology to global marketing leader. She discusses the evolving role of the CMO, the importance of initiatives like the GSMA CMO Circle, and how her team balances automation with creativity to craft award-winning campaigns. Next, Stephanie Lynch-Habib, a former CMO turned leadership advisor, dives into lessons from the CMO Circle, the power of customer segmentation, and how data is reshaping brand strategy. Finally, Amira Soliman, founder and CEO of Time Guardian / Athar, reveals how her fintech startup is bridging crypto and traditional finance. With real-world applications of AI, blockchain, and DeFi, Amira is reshaping digital payments while championing financial inclusion for all. Together, these three women offer a global, future-focused perspective from those who aren’t afraid to rewrite the rules.

What does it take to digitally empower an entire nation – and secure it at scale?  At MWC Barcelona 2025, Matthew Roberts investigates how teams across Globe Telecom are unlocking the full potential of AI. First, Matt and co-host Gil Rosen, CMO at Amdocs, are joined by Anton Reynaldo Bonifacio, Chief AI Officer and Chief Information Security Officer.  Anton shares his journey into this unique dual role and offers his perspective on the future of AI leadership. He also breaks down how Globe is building its AI strategy and why your development approaches need to differ for all those on your team. Then we’re joined by Darius Jose Delgado, Globe’s Chief Commercial Officer. Darius leads Globe’s entire commercial portfolio across mobile, broadband, and B2B, and has been instrumental in driving Globe’s aggressive push toward full digital adoption and connectivity nationwide. This is a story about technology with purpose — and a commitment to nation-building that deserves to be heard.

Can any brand become a mobile provider?  That’s the question Matthew Roberts explores at MWC Barcelona 2025, as he sits down with two industry leaders who are reshaping traditional telecom models through Amdocs’ ConnectX—or as some might call it, “telco in a box.” First, Matt is joined by Stephanie Ormston, Head of Commercial and Product at AT&T’s MVNX Ecosystem. Together, they unpack what mobile virtual network experiences (MVNX) are, how they differ from traditional MVNOs, and why they’re opening up powerful new partnership opportunities. Stephanie explains how non-telco brands can now tap into AT&T’s network and embed connectivity directly into their customer experience.  Next, Matt speaks with Zbigniew Pawlik, better known as Zibi, Founder & CEO of MVNE.PL. Inspired by a transatlantic sailing trip, Zibi shares how he launched his own mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) in Poland. He walks through the challenges of getting the venture off the ground, why the Polish market has lagged behind the rest of Europe, and how ConnectX is making telecom entrepreneurship more accessible than ever.  Whether it’s a fintech platform bundling data, or a retail brand offering loyalty-driven mobile plans, hear how connectivity is becoming less about infrastructure—and more about experience.

Partnerships like these are powering the next generation of AI tools, insights, and capabilities in telecom. The conversation continues from MWC Barcelona 2025 as Amdocs host, Matthew Roberts, sits down with key partners to explore how AI is transforming the telecommunications industry. First up, Matt and Avishai Sharlin from Amdocs welcome Chris Penrose, Global Head of Business Development for Telecom at Nvidia. Together, they unpack the powerful implications of the Amdocs–Nvidia partnership and explore how AI is reshaping every corner of the industry, from customer care and network operations to marketing and supply chain optimization. The conversation wraps with a look toward what integration with technologies like IoT, robotics, and even 6G might bring next. Then, Matt is joined by Jillian Kaplan, AI and Infrastructure Product + Partner Marketing at Dell. Appearing for her fourth insightful conversation on The Great Indoors, Jillian shares how Dell’s AI Factory, alongside partners like Nvidia, is driving new enterprise opportunities. The group also addresses sustainability. While AI requires significant energy to operate, energy is also set to be saved, thanks to AI’s impact on resourcing. Finally, the conversation looks ahead to what’s coming next, from the promise of 6G unlocking even more powerful AI use cases to the rise of unexpected, cross-industry collaborations.

As AI keeps evolving, so do the big questions around it! In this episode, Matthew Roberts is live from MWC Barcelona to continue the AI investigation. First, Matt is joined by Amdocs colleague Roy Sgan-Cohen and Anil Jain, Global Managing Director for Strategic Industries at Google Cloud. Highlighting the importance of partnerships between organizations like Amdocs and Google, Anil explains how collaborations like these allow the rich data within the telecom space to be fully leveraged in new and unique ways. From the rise of agentic AI to the democratization of knowledge, they explore what these game-changing trends mean for today’s organizations. Then Matt is joined by Chris Antlitz, Principal Analyst at Technology Business Research, to hypothesize about the future. Together, they continue the conversation on agentic AI as it's causing all the buzz at MWC, and dive into how AR and VR are poised to make a resurgence in popularity. Finally, they explore the continued ethical questions that AI demands, and Chris shares his perspective on Quantum computing as the next frontier of future tech! 

Calling all Marketeers! If you're ready to hear what’s next for marketing from one of the industry’s best, this episode is for you. Join Matthew Roberts as he celebrates a major milestone: the 100th episode of The Great Indoors! Matt is joined by co-host and Amdocs CMO, Gil Rosen, for a conversation with Lara Dewar, CMO at GSMA. Set against the buzzing backdrop of MWC, the trio dives into why this has been the most ambitious year for the event yet, from bold programming on geopolitics and supply chains to the power of thought leadership and startups. Lara shares what it means to be a modern CMO, highlighting the growing strategic role of marketing and the importance of having a seat at the table, not just to promote but to shape the future. They also explore the accelerating influence of AI, the ethical and philosophical implications of emerging tech, and why CMOs are uniquely positioned to lead the way. Finally, they highlight the growing importance of industry partnerships, emphasizing that the most successful players today aren’t going at it alone.

What happens when technology levels the playing field—when education, innovation, and opportunity become more accessible than ever before? For many, AI is that transformative force, acting as the Great Equalizer across industries. Live from MWC Barcelona, host Matthew Roberts is joined by Tomer Gingold from Amdocs and Hesham Fahmy, Chief Information Officer at TELUS, to explore AI’s ever-evolving impact. Hesham kicks things off by breaking down TELUS’s transformation from a traditional telecom company to a tech-driven powerhouse, shifting IT from a cost center to a strategic value creator. He also highlights AI’s power in education and knowledge democratization, making information more accessible while revolutionizing the way businesses operate. The discussion delves into AI’s societal impact and its alignment with TELUS’s mission to use technology for social good. Looking ahead, the trio examines AI’s rapid adoption, shifting public perceptions, and what the next 12 months might hold. Discover how AI isn’t just driving innovation—it’s making knowledge more accessible than ever.

AI is transforming industries at an unprecedented pace, but one thing is clear—no single company can do it alone. Collaboration is at the heart of innovation, and in this episode live from MWC 2025, get ready to dive into two powerful partnerships that are reshaping the future of telecom. First, Matthew Roberts and Avishai Sharlin from Amdocs sit down with Chivas Nambiar, General Manager of Telco at AWS, to explore how Amdocs and AWS are working together to solve Telco’s biggest challenges. From cloud migration to automation to digital transformation, they discuss how this partnership is unlocking new possibilities for service providers of all sizes. Then, Matt welcomes Amir Kaiser from Amdocs and Manish Singh, CTO of Telecom Systems at Dell, to discuss how Dell’s AI infrastructure and Amdocs’ software are powering the AI Factory, a revolutionary approach where data fuels cutting-edge AI. Their conversation dives into AI monetization, sovereign AI solutions across different regions, and how Dell and Amdocs are building modular AI frameworks for scalability. Tune in to discover why collaboration is the key to AI adoption and how partnerships like these are shaping the future of telecom worldwide.

Verizon is a company that needs no introduction, as with over 140 million subscribers, it continues to push the boundaries of connectivity and innovation. Live from MWC Barcelona 2025, Matthew Roberts sits down with two of the company’s leaders for an exclusive look at the future of IoT and AI. First, he speaks with Ragu Masilamany from Amdocs and Shamik Basu, VP of Strategic Connectivity at Verizon, to explore how 5G is transforming the Internet of Things. They dive into the evolution of IoT, from basic sensor monitoring to today’s advanced AI-driven applications, and discuss the real-world impact of 5G, from smart cities to autonomous vehicles. Shamik also unpacks the global challenges facing IoT adoption and how Verizon is tackling them with cutting-edge solutions. Next, Matt sits down with Iris Meijer, CMO & Chief Product Officer at Verizon Business, to understand Verizon’s AI strategy and how the company is harnessing artificial intelligence to drive success. From AI-powered workload management to customer support innovations, Iris shares how AI is reshaping enterprise solutions. She also delves into AI’s role in storytelling, personalized marketing, and campaign optimization, offering insights into how different generations are embracing AI in unique ways. From connectivity to intelligence, this episode provides a front-row seat to the future of Verizon and beyond. 

It’s the season finale of The Great Indoors! In this final episode, Randi Zuckerberg returns for a fascinating discussion about AI’s growing impact on the human experience. From LLMs helping you navigate your dating life to AI’s potential to create music that generates its own fandom, Randi and Matt explore the unexpected ways this technology is transforming areas that once required a uniquely human touch. Diving into the ever-evolving world of artificial intelligence, they examine AI’s role as a storytelling co-pilot, its impact on marketing and creativity, and the ethical dilemmas surrounding AI-generated content. They also discuss how traditional marketing skills like writing, editing, and storytelling could shift toward the ability to effectively prompt the next generation of AI models. Whether the promises of AI excite or unsettle you, this episode delivers a thought-provoking conversation that will challenge how you think about AI, marketing, and pushing your own limits.

Sports have a unique way of drawing us in, making us feel the full weight of every victory and defeat. That emotional rollercoaster is what makes sports so powerful, fostering some of the most passionate fan bases in the world. In this episode, Nick Stevens, host, writer, and producer for WEEI Sports Radio Network, joins Matt Roberts to explore the deep connection between sports and storytelling. A lifelong Boston sports fan, Nick reflects on the city’s legendary teams and why a true journey requires both crushing losses and thrilling wins. Nick and Matt discuss why sports offer some of the most authentic narratives in entertainment and explain the unique way they allow people to come together. Ready to not just share the positives, Nick weighs in on the challenges facing modern sports fandoms, from skyrocketing ticket prices to the curated online presence affecting the perception of top players. Through personal stories and unforgettable moments, Nick reveals how the emotional depth of sports shapes identities, strengthens relationships, and instills valuable lessons in resilience and passion. Get ready to discover what it takes not just to win on the field, but to craft a story that truly captivates and inspires.

Narratives are everywhere.  From Pride and Prejudice to TikTok, from business strategies to bedtime stories—storytelling is the invisible thread that connects us all.  We dive into the timeless power of storytelling with creative writer, Poppy Hollingworth. From ancient literature to modern-day marketing, Poppy breaks down the key elements that make a great story and how narratives shape our world. She explores the seven core story structures, the role of emotion in storytelling, and how businesses can leverage different narratives for greater impact. Poppy shares fascinating insights on how instant gratification has appeared on platforms like TikTok, mirroring serialized storytelling exemplified by authors like Charles Dickens. She also tackles the evolution of digital storytelling, the impermanence of online content, and how physical books are perfectly poised for a nostalgic comeback. If you’ve ever wondered what makes stories stick and how they continue to shape our world, this episode is for you!