IT in the D - podcast cover

IT in the D

Bob Waltenspiel & Randy Walkeritinthed.com
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.
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Episodes

Idle Banter with Mike Zapcic – IT in the D 492

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.

Sep 12, 202455 minEp. 492

A Podcast about Families with Children with IDD with Wendy Ernzen of Let’s Plant Houses – IT in the D 490

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.

Aug 15, 202433 min

The CrowdStrike Incident with Tom Lawrence of Lawrence Systems – IT in the D 488

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.

Jul 25, 202434 minEp. 488

James Parker, Author of “Get Me Through the Next Five Minutes: Odes to Being Alive” – IT in the D 487

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 ...

Jul 18, 202441 minEp. 487

EV Charging Challenges with Bob Skinner of EcoG – IT in the D 485

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 persona...

Jun 06, 202435 minEp. 485

Site Reliability Engineering with Dan Salinas & Sarv Shah of Nobl9 – IT in the D 484

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 digita...

May 23, 2024Ep. 484

Getting Rid of VMWare with Brian Schneble – IT in the D 483

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.

May 09, 202439 minEp. 483

Catching Up with Ming Chen – IT in the D 481

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!

Apr 11, 202450 minEp. 481

Astronomicon 7 – IT in the D 480

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.

Mar 28, 202431 minEp. 480

The Journey from CISO to Consultant with John Bingham of Speak by Design – IT in the D 479

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 anecdot...

Mar 21, 202436 minEp. 479

Cybersecurity Scams with Brian Schneble of Great Security Debate – IT in the D 478

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.

Mar 07, 202433 minEp. 478

Present and Future of AI, and the Dynamics of Remote Work with Matt Van Itallie of Sema – IT in the D 477

Matt Van Italie of Sema is back (last visit). The conversation delves into the challenges and advantages of remote work, the need for strategic and operational innovation, the role of human input in AI, and the significance of clear and concise communication. We also talk about the balance between structured communication and the empowerment of workers to waste less time, ultimately highlighting the value of lifelong learning in honing effective communication skills. Bob recommends the movie Bla...

Feb 29, 202438 minEp. 477

Social Selling with Matt Rutter of AWS – IT in the D 476

Bob and Randy this week speak to Matt Rutter, Sr. Partner Sales Manager at Amazon Web Services (AWS) about various aspects related to sales and entrepreneurial ventures. Matt shares his experiences and approaches to sales, social selling, his book From Clicks to Clients, as well as his mini property venture known as the Rockabilly Retreat in Memphis. The conversation also covers themes like artificial intelligence in sales communications, branding, use of LinkedIn, and customer centricity in sal...

Feb 01, 202431 min

Exploring IT Leadership and Cybersecurity with Steve York of 1-800-HANSONS – IT in the D 475

In this episode, Bob and Randy chat with Steve York, CIO of 1-800-HANSONS. Steve shares his insightful perspectives on IT leadership, cybersecurity practices, adopting artificial technologies, and the importance of networking and mentorship in the IT industry for knowledge sharing and problem solving. Steve shares his experience with different AI applications, worries about security, and the need for solutions to solve specific business problems. The hosts and Steve further explore the significa...

Jan 25, 202433 minEp. 475

Security in AI with Jason Brown – IT in the D 474

In this episode of 'IT in the D', Bob and Randy chat with Jason Brown, a renowned IT security manager from the Shyft Group. They discuss the influence of AI and security in today's tech world and how it's poised to change our future. Jason also shares some insights about his book, the 'Executive Cybersecurity Handbook'. The conversation also delves into vital issues like malware, ransomware, and identity management, offering listeners an in-depth understanding of the current cybersecurity landsc...

Jan 18, 202435 min

Debating Humane AI Pin and Screen Dependence with Nuri Gocay – IT in the D 473

This week, we were joined by IT in the D Legend Nuri Gocay, Chief Solutions Officer at Local Measure and former co-host of this very show. We kicked off talking about the Humane AI Pin, a wearable cell phone. Bob and Randy were not amused, however Nuri is intrigued by the notion of getting rid of his screen. It will be interesting to follow the journey and see if this turns out to be another Google Glass. We then got into emerging tech and what is the next big thing. Lastly, Nuri goes to Burning...

Dec 21, 202335 min

AI in Event Ticketing with Alex Linebrink of Passage – IT in the D 472

This week, Alex Linebrink, CEO of Passage, is back to talk to Bob and Randy to about what's new in the ticketing space as well as some milestones and recognition Passage has received lately. Alex was last on Episode 439. They discuss how ticketing processes have evolved, the use of AI in understanding audience preferences, and their experience with selling over 8 million tickets. They also touch on the impact of service fees and issues with transparency in the ticketing industry.

Nov 30, 202335 minEp. 472

Cybersecurity Realities, Insights, and Challenges with Jeff Marraccini of Altair – IT in the D 471

I'm trying something new this week: These show notes were generated by putting a transcript into ChatGPT. Feedback is appreciated! —Randy We recently heard Jeff Marraccini on a recent episode of the “This Week in Enterprise Technology (TWiET)” podcast. Jeff, the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at Altair, joined us this week to share insights into his background and the challenges Altair faces in cybersecurity as a globally acquisitive company. The conversation explores Jeff's transitio...

Nov 16, 202342 minEp. 471

Resume Writing with Jason Charnas of Gesher Human Services – IT in the D 470

This week, we chatted with Jason Charnas from Gesher Human Services. They help thousands of people in areas of career development and training, and they also have a program helping those with disabilities find employment. We got into resume writing and their philosophy in helping showcase work history. The best part—they do it for free! We aren't big fans of companies that charge for this. We also got into IT training and certifications that will attract employers in this market. Jason was a gre...

Nov 02, 202337 minEp. 470

Exploring MarTech with David Juan – IT in the D 469

We always like learning about new things, so we had David Juan on the show to talk all things MarTech including UX, Enterprise SEO, A/B Testing, and how he used those skills to get equity in a local start-up, Normal Coffee. We asked: when do you know what is good? When do you know when it's done? What do you use as your barometer? And David cleared things up perfectly. David also runs the Scrum Detroit Meetup; give them a look if you are interested in Agile. It was his first time on a podcast, b...

Oct 26, 202338 minEp. 469

This Week in Enterprise Tech with Lou Maresca of TWiT.tv – IT in the D 468

Every so often, you get that guest that flips the script of what you thought you could accomplish doing a tech podcast. This week, we were lucky to chat to Lou Maresca of This Week in Enterprise Tech (TWiET) on TWIT.tv. Lou has been podcasting as long as us, since 2013 and has produced over 500 episodes. If you've ever listened to his show, you know he truly gets into the weeds and his knowledge of the industry shows. We started talking about the talent gap and what we can do to change it. We th...

Oct 19, 202353 minEp. 463

Deep Dive into Generative AI with Scott Smith – IT in the D 467

This week, we were joined by Scott Smith, Generative AI expert to do a deep dive into the topic: what it is, its rise to popularity, corporate governance, and ethics. We ended the show with some fun and asked ChatGPT for some date night in Detroit suggestions, and to respond as a pirate. Here's the result: Arrr, matey! If ye be lookin' fer a swashbucklin' date night in Detroit, here be some fine ideas to consider: A Stroll Along the Riverfront:Set yer sails for the Detroit RiverWalk. Take a leis...

Sep 28, 202339 minEp. 467

Exploring Augmented and Virtual Reality with Jacob Ennis of Center for Simulation & Innovation – IT in the D 466

In this episode, Jacob Ennis from Center for Simulation & Innovation joined us to talk about the applications of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). Last time we talked about AR on the show was episode 158 with Spellbound. Plus, we find out why people confuse AR and artificial intelligence (AI) and we hear his thoughts on the Apple Vision Pro. Plus, Jacob is a hobbyist brewer and we're networking Detroit one beer at a time, so we had a few questions about his beer. (The video Ja...

Sep 21, 202342 minEp. 466

Unpacking Project Management with Katie Schulz of Slalom Consulting – IT in the D 465

*Disclaimer, I work with Katie; however, candidly, I didn't have a great grasp of project management and delivery.—Bob This week, we spoke with Katie Schulz, Director of Business Advisory Services & Strategic Delivery at Slalom Consulting. Being a sales guy my entire career, we always assume once we get the PO, the hard work is over. The team behind delivery would think otherwise and Katie spoke of the evolution of project management from being simply a reporter to taking an agile approach a...

Aug 31, 202331 minEp. 465

Making Backups Cool with Steven Panovski of UBX Cloud – IT in the D 464

This week, we got the chance to talk to Steve Panovski from UBX Cloud, probably the biggest company you may have never heard of in Metro Detroit. Steve and Bob have similar backgrounds, both growing up in the BBS world, dial-ups, and LAN parties. He has since grown to 25 data centers around the world and has won multiple partner of the year awards. Steve claimed he made storage cool again, we didn't believe him, and he proved us wrong (which wasn't hard to do).

Aug 24, 202336 minEp. 463

Dealing with Vendors and Getting Ahead in Securing Your Environment with Cybersecurity Consultant Caston Thomas – IT in the D 463

This week, we were very lucky to chat with our old friend Caston Thomas. Cybersecurity consultant, security visionary, radio host, and all around great human being. Caston dropped some knowledge on getting through the vendor fog and dropped the three things you need to do to be ahead of the game in securing your environment (not click bait, #3 will not shock you, hah). We ended talking about his time on WJR Internet Advisor show and what Foster Braun had meant to him. The movie Bob mentioned: He...

Aug 17, 202343 minEp. 463
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