DiscoverIT in the D
IT in the D
Claim Ownership

IT in the D

Author: Bob Waltenspiel & Randy Walker

Subscribed: 28Played: 800
Share

Description

IT in the D is your insider look at the tech scene in Detroit. Started in 2007 as a meetup group in Metro Detroit for IT professionals, the IT in the D podcast was born in 2013 as an extension of those conversations. Host Bob Waltenspiel and co-host and producer Randy Walker are IT industry veterans, but IT in the D is intentionally more conversational and less instructional. Each weekly show has guests ranging from CIOs and local rock stars, to subject matter experts, local event organizers, and everyone in between. We hope you enjoy listening to us as much as we enjoy recording the show.
524 Episodes
Reverse
In this episode, we chat with Mel Kolinski, Director of Channel Development at Ostra and an Co-Moderator for the Minnesota Chapter of the Alliance of Channel Women (ACW). The conversation highlights the importance of networking, mentorship, and leadership development for women in tech. Mel discusses her involvement with ACW and the initiatives they offer, including mentorship circles and leadership programs. The discussion also touches upon the need for honesty and transparency in the cybersecurity industry, as endorsed by the Truth in Cyber foundation. The episode encapsulates the journey and challenges women face in the tech sector and emphasizes the role of male allyship in fostering an inclusive environment.
Bob and Randy welcome guest Holly Owen, a former Detroiter turned New Orleans resident and author. Holly shares her experiences moving from Detroit to Boston and eventually to New Orleans, where she found inspiration to write her book Quit Playing Yourself during the pandemic. This episode Holly's journey of transitioning from real estate to Airbnb management and interior design in New Orleans, ultimately leading to her foray into writing. Holly discusses the challenges and insights gained in publishing her book, which combines art and relationship advice through an eclectic mix of photography and quotes. The episode delves into the creative process, the difficulties faced in self-publishing, and the impact of her work on readers. Additionally, the conversation touches on various personal stories, reflections on different places, and shared interests in media and entertainment.
Aaron Wilkerson, data and analytics leader at Carhartt, and organizer of the Detroit Low Key Data Meetup. They discuss the challenges of data quality and the importance of clean data for AI initiatives, the complexities of managing multiple data vendors, and how businesses are navigating cloud costs and modernization. They also touch on the integration of legal and cybersecurity aspects in data management, and the growing relevance of consumer data protection. The conversation provides insights into simplifying vendor management, the role of AI in business decision-making, and fostering a connection between data work and business value.
Entrepreneur and product developer and repeat offender Tom Nardone is back chatting about what he's done and what he's doing. 36 Ideas and a System (TEDxDetroit) Detroit Mower Gang ShopInPrivate.com, Bachelorette.com, Vibrators.com Dignity Lifts
We're joined this week by Jacki Lutz, Director of Content for the communication team at Auto Care Association and host of 'Carpool Confessions'. In this episode, we discuss the right to repair movement crucial to automotive independence and consumer choice. The conversation dives into the challenges faced by independent auto repair shops due to new vehicle technology, the data rights of vehicle owners, and the implications of wireless data transmission to automakers. Jacki also touches on personal branding, workforce development in the auto industry, and various professional development insights. If you want to tell your legislators you support Right to Repair, visit https://www.repairact.com to send them a letter.
Our friend Mike Zapcic is back to just shoot the breeze. We chat about movies, books, pop culture, and more. This was a casual chat with no agenda--just some friends catching up and geeking out.
Patrick Garrity, a security researcher and evangelist at VulnCheck, is back! We discuss his career evolution, vulnerability management, AI's impact on security, and the recurring nature of security incidences. He also provides insights into the Black Hat conference.
Wendy Ernzen joins us to talk about her podcast Let's Plant Houses where she discusses the victories and successes of families whose children—young and adult—have intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Whether you’re a parent on a similar journey or just seeking to expand your understanding, you should subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. If you are interested in learning more about or contributing to Autism Alliance of Michigan, reach out to Wendy.
Jason “JD” David returns and—after some ribbing from us last time—has changed the name of his service to Gym Force, and he's doing some gret things. Hear all about how it's going in this episode.
This week, Bob and Randy are happy to have back Tom Lawrence (Lawrence Systems, Youtube Channel, CWNR)! It's been a year since his last visit. CrowdStrike is in the news recently due to a faulty update bringing down global infrastructure. Tom helps us understand what happened, why, and what the ramifications are.
This episode was a bit of a divergence from the regular topics we cover on IT in the D: this week we were joined by author James Parker, staff writer at The Atlantic, and author of the book Get Me Through the Next Five Minutes: Odes to Being Alive. The book delves into personal struggles, mental health, and life's daily challenges. The conversation covers Parker's unique writing style, his use of the word 'ode' in the book, and his thoughts on meditation, buzz management, and writing in the age of AI. The episode also touches on lighter topics like wrestling, food preferences, and favorite action heroes.
This week, Bob and Randy were joined by JB Benjamin of Kryotech. We talk about his companies, and his projects, and his uninque views on the world of AI, blockchain, NFTs, and their flaws and use cases.
This episode, Bob and Randy welcome Bob Skinner, longtime Detroit IT veteran and the Managing Director of North America for EcoG. They discuss various aspects of the electric vehicle (EV) industry, including challenges with charging infrastructure, technological advancements, and the future of EVs. The conversation covers issues such as the role of the government in infrastructure, sustainability concerns, and innovations like highways that charge cars as they drive. They also touch upon personal anecdotes and the excitement surrounding new EV models.
In this episode Bob and Randy invite Dan Salinas and Sarv Shah from Nobl9 to dive deep into the complexities of Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) and Service Level Objectives (SLOs). Discover the origins of SRE, the significance of SLOs in improving customer experience, and the impact of digital reliability on businesses today. From the challenges of maintaining microservices to the advent of cloud dependency, this episode is packed with insights on ensuring operational excellence in our digital world.
Brian Scheble is back to talk to Bob and Randy about about what's going on with VMWare. Topics include transformative changes in VMware's business strategy under Broadcom's ownership, implications for small businesses and MSPs, alternatives like Nutanix and cloud solutions, and the broader data commodification impact.
The NFL Draft 2024 is coming soon to Detroit, and with it, The Hispanic C-Suite Corporate Council (HC3) is hosting a NFL Draft Hispanic Celebration. Andre Arbelaez joins Bob and Randy to talk about this upcoming event as well as a give a refresher on the HC3.
Ming Chen (X/Twitter, Instagram, A Shared Universe PodcaStudio) is back to catch up with Bob and Randy. There are lots of stories and reminiscing, as well as discussion of Ming's latest adventures and escapades. Ming is a long-time friend of the show and he's always a blast!
Astronomicon is back with their seventh installment! Astronomicon is a pop culture convention with something for fans of all ages. Bob and Randy talk to Astronomicon organizer Mikey about what makes the event unique, why it's fun, and what guests will be in attendance this year. Plus, episodes like this alway devolve into fun stories of past encounters—always a good time! Astronomicon 7 is coming up April 12 – 14 at Burton Manor in Livonia.
This week, Bob and Randy are joined by John Bingham, COO of Speak by Design. They discus John's journey from high-stress CISO roles at major companies to consulting, shedding light on the skills necessary to succeed in the ever-evolving cyber security landscape. The conversation takes an intriguing turn towards sales principles, relationship building, and effective communication, revealing unconventional perspectives on what it truly means to be a CISO. Additionally, John shares personal anecdotes of working alongside his wife and juggling family life.
In this episode, Bob and Randy hang out with special guest Brian “Schneebs” of Great Security Debate. First, Bob provides a review of Aquaman: The Lost Kingdom. Then, the topic shifts to data security with an emphasis on some of the security scams floating around like the pig butchering scam. Later, Brian gives advice on the types of scams and how to recognize them. Finally, cryptocurrency scams are discussed, such as the Centra Tech fraud and the movie Bitconned.
loading