The CTO Advisor - podcast cover

The CTO Advisor

The CTO Advisorthectoadvisor.com
A conversation geared toward the CTO or Infrastructure Architect. Shows topics focus on future technologies and keeping today's infrastructure in-line with business requirements.

Episodes

AI Assisted App Development with AWS’ Bryan Liles

Episode Summary:In this episode of the CTO Advisor Podcast, Keith Townsend welcomes back Bryan Liles—a veteran developer and cloud expert—to discuss AI-assisted application development. The conversation covers how AI tools are transforming coding practices, from automating mundane tasks like converting data types and generating tests to speeding up complex problem-solving. Bryan shares his insights on [...]

Mar 05, 20250

Deepseek’s Impact on Your AI Strategy

In this episode, Keith Townsend is joined by Dion Hinchcliffe—VP and Practice Lead for The Futurum Group’s CIO practice—to explore the monumental impact of DeepSeek, a new large language model (LLM) that’s challenging AI industry norms. They discuss the astonishing claims surrounding DeepSeek’s minimal training costs, its potential to run on everyday hardware at ChatGPT-level [...]

Jan 29, 20250

AI Trends for 2025: Productivity, Integration, and Agentic AI

In this episode of the CTO Advisor Podcast, recorded on December 18, 2024, Keith looks back on the major tech trends that are set to shape the landscape as we head into 2025. Drawing insights from recent tech events and vendor shows, the discussion centers on the evolution of AI from a standalone capability to [...]

Dec 18, 20240

Replay-Server-side Web Assembly with Adobe’s Colin Murphy

After meeting at Kubecon, Keith gets in touch with Colin Murphy, a Senior Software Engineer at Adobe Systems, to discuss Web Assembly. They delve into how Adobe has employed Web Assembly to bring end-user applications to web browsers. Colin also discusses the promising aspects of server-side Web Assembly and highlights areas that need further development. [...]

Nov 13, 20240

Replay-GitBOM. It’s not Git or SBOM

Join Keith, Aeva Black (@aevavoom), and returning guest Ed Warnicke (@edwarnicke) as they dive into the world of GitBOM. It’s not a Git tool, nor is it exactly an SBOM, so how does it enhance software bill of materials and strengthen the security of your development lifecycle? Keith navigates the complexities of this project with [...]

Nov 06, 20240

Coding Without Code: A Journey in Low-code/No-Code Development

In this episode of the CTO Advisor podcast, host Keith Townsend welcomes Delainy Dalton, a No-Code Developer in the healthcare insurance sector. Delainy shares her extraordinary journey from healthcare insurance sales and clinical care coordination to her current role as a no-code developer. She explains how her past experiences and analytical mindset have been crucial [...]

Oct 16, 20240

2022: In Conversation with Kelsey Hightower

In this never-published recording, Keith Townsend, Chief Technology Advisor, talks with Kelsey Hightower, fresh off his then promotion to Google Distinguished Engineer. The two explore the trajectory that brought Kelsey to this prestigious title.

Sep 18, 20240

Building and Managing Private Clouds: OpenStack, Kubernetes, and the VMware Conundrum

In this episode of the CTO Advisor Podcast, Keith Townsend and guest Jason Benedicic dive deep into the challenges and opportunities surrounding private cloud solutions. As businesses grapple with the complexity of building private clouds, this conversation covers: The evolution of cloud strategies, from OpenStack to Kubernetes and VMware. The growing role of Kubernetes in [...]

Sep 04, 20240

Punched in the Nose Part 2 (Replay)

Mark and Keith welcome Matt Broberg and Luigi Danakos for a candid chat about the IT industry. Together, they explore real-life experiences with navigating layoffs, job hunting, and various career hurdles. Matt shares an update on his job search and moving. Luigi shares what it’s like to fight back from hundreds of failed job applications. Keith shares his [...]

Aug 21, 20240

Modernizing Legacy Applications for the Cloud: Lessons from Granite

In this episode, Keith Townsend and Alastair Cook, both seasoned CTO advisors at the Futurum Group, delve into the challenges and strategies of migrating legacy, VM-based applications to the public cloud. Using the "Granite" application as a case study, they explore the practical considerations of containerization, the complexities of cloud-native transitions, and the impact of [...]

Aug 14, 20240

Gene Kim: DevOps Evolution, AI Leadership, and Enterprise Transformations

In this episode of the CTO Advisor Podcast, Keith Townsend interviews Gene Kim, the renowned author of "The Phoenix Project" and "The Unicorn Project." Gene shares his experiences and insights from his extensive DevOps and IT leadership career, exploring how these fictional narratives reflect real-world challenges and triumphs in technology transformations. Gene discusses the role [...]

Aug 07, 20240

VMware User Group Update Post Broadcom

Join hosts Keith Townsend and Dave Nicholson as they sit down with Brad Tompkins, Executive Director of VMware User Group (VMUG), to discuss the latest developments and insights following VMware's acquisition by Broadcom. In this episode, they dive into: The impact of Broadcom's acquisition on the VMware user community. Expected changes in VMware's product and [...]

Jul 17, 20240

AI’s Enterprise Evolution: Enhancing Cloud Applications with Data-Driven Intelligence

In this episode of the CTO Advisor podcast, hosts Alistair Cooke and Keith Kirkpatrick, Research Director at the Futurum Group, delve into the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in cloud-based enterprise applications. The conversation highlights how AI can significantly enhance the functionality of enterprise software, emphasizing the critical importance of data centralization. They explore [...]

Jul 11, 202428 min

Navigating Digital Transformation and AI with SAP

Welcome to another insightful episode of The CTO Advisor Podcast! Today, we have the pleasure of hosting Dion Hinchcliffe, who recently joined the Futurum Group and leads their CIO practice. With over 30 years in the IT industry, Dion shares his vast experience as an ex-practitioner, chief architect, and current strategic advisor at the CIO [...]

Jun 12, 20240

Private AI with Dell Technologies

In this sponsored episode of the CTO Advisor Podcast, host Keith Townsend welcomes Dell Technologies' Sharon Maher and Nicholas Brackney for a deep dive into Dell's recent innovations in on-premises AI. Recorded on the inaugural day of Dell Tech World 2024, the discussion explores groundbreaking developments that are influencing the future of technology. This episode [...]

May 22, 20240

From Data to Decisions: Futurum’s Intelligence Platform and GPT-4.0

In this episode of the CTO Advisor Podcast, Keith Townsend, a Global Advisor at the Futurum Group, and Erik Bethke, the CTO of Futurum, discuss the latest release from OpenAI, GPT-4.0. They begin by sharing their experiences at Futurum, where both have been working for seven months, and highlighting the development of a new intelligence [...]

May 15, 20240

Embracing #100DaysOfCode: A Deep Dive with Chris Williams

In this enlightening episode of the CTO Advisor Podcast, Chris Williams joins host Keith Townsend to revisit their memorable discussion from Las Vegas about the complexities of Kubernetes. Chris shares how Keith's clear explanation became his first true understanding of Kubernetes, marking a pivotal learning moment. Now a DevRel Manager at HashiCorp, Chris dives deep [...]

May 01, 20240

The Evolution and Impact of Cloud Data Solutions: A Chat with Miles Ward

Host: Keith Townsend, Futurum Global Advisor Guest: Miles Ward, CTO of Sada Overview: This episode of the CTO Advisor podcast features a return guest, Miles Ward, to discuss the technological and strategic advancements in data management and cloud migrations, focusing on the challenges of data sovereignty and the innovative solutions developed to address these complex [...]

Apr 24, 20240

Cohesity to Acquire Veritas – Sanjay Poonan

Keith Townsend interviews Cohesity CEO Sanjay Poonan. Cohesity announced the intended acquisition of Veritas' data protection business. The acquisition will close a significant gap in the amount of data on protection for Cohesity. However, Townsend challenges Sanjay on the gap in use cases for Cohesity vs. Veritas. Poonan speaks to the current market and the opportunity [...]

Mar 13, 20240

Introducing a New CTO Advisor – Alastair Cooke

Introducing Alastair Cooke as a full-time voice within the Futurum Group Family via the CTO Advisor. Alastair will wear two hats within the Futurum Group. He's helping support the Signal65 Labs and is an analyst with the CTO Advisor. Alastair is experienced in data center and cloud technologies. He's supported many of our existing research and lab projects. [...]

Feb 07, 20240

Remote Connectivity & Overcrowded Network Relief

This episode, Keith Townsend sits down with Jim King, Sales Director of SES Satellites, to talk about the importance of space networking—that is, satellite broadband. Jim and I explore why space networking is essential, especially in scenarios where terrestrial service is not available or practical. When disaster strikes, reliable communication is essential. Our sponsor SES [...]

Jan 31, 20240

Platform Engineer: What’s Old is New Again

Return guest Nathaniel Avery joins podcast host Keith Townsend to talk platform engineering. Specifically, the duo talks about the holy grail of creating a developer platform where developers focus on code and platform engineers create a seamless workflow. Many of these patterns existed during the height of the virtual machine (VM). Is there anything new in the desire [...]

Jan 24, 20240

Replay-Serverless is bigger than Cloud – NY Times CTO 2018

*New York Times CTO, Nick Rockwell, joins Keith and Mark to talk about the big bet the New York Times is making on Serverless. Nick believes serverless is a bigger shift in computing than Cloud computing. The belief is so strong, that Rockwell made a bet on a Serverless architecture for the New York Times [...]

Jan 17, 20240

Replay-Building and Managing Multicloud AI Infrastructure

We continue our conversation with Algolia’s CTO, Sean Mullaney. In this editorial conversation, Keith and Sean discuss the difference between developing code and AI models. The duo also discusses the drivers for multi-cloud and overcoming the challenges associated with cost and engineering resources.

Dec 20, 20230

Broadcom and VMware at VMware Explore EU

Dan Newman, The Futurum Group CEO, joins Keith Townsend, President of the CTO Advisor, to discuss the current state of VMware while the companies await the Chinese government to approve the $61B deal. Recorded at VMware Explore 2023 EU

Nov 22, 20230

AI Meets High-Performance Computing (HPC)

Guy Currier, the Futurum Group Contributor, joins the podcast from Super Compute 23. Keith and Guy discuss the news out of Super Computer 2023 and how the intersection of AI infrastructure meets and relates to HPC infrastructure.

Nov 15, 20230

Accelerating ARM and x86 CI with Actuated

Alex Ellis, founder of OpenFaaS Limited, returns to the program to discuss his company's latest product, Actuated. Keith and Alex discuss the challenges of building ARM code via emulation on x86 and the ability to go between platforms. Alex shares stories from the field while Keith challenges him on security and compliance.

Nov 01, 20230

Data Protection with HPE and Zerto

CTO Advisor podcast host, Keith Townsend has been a long time follower of Zerto data protection. Zerto has traditionally provided data protection via replication for hardware agnostic environments. In this sponsored podcast, Verma Deepak, VP of Product at Zerto, an HPE Company discusses the idea of Zerto as an HPE GreenLake product. Does HPE GreenLake [...]

Oct 18, 20230