In this episode of That Tech Pod, we sit down with Dr. Jonathan Schaeffer, a longtime computer scientist who didn’t arrive in AI chasing demos or hype, but by trying to solve a much harder problem: how to keep data safe.

Jonathan walks us through his path from privacy and security research into modern AI, and why those early concerns feel even more urgent now. While everyone is fixated on hallucinations, he argues the bigger risks are quieter and more structural, from loss of user control to systems that appear trustworthy while subtly eroding human judgment. We dig into the growing concentration of AI power among a handful of companies and whether that outcome was inevitable or the result of choices we made along the way. Jonathan reflects on the human skills he worries we may stop exercising as AI gets better, and the low-key decisions happening right now that could shape the next decade far more than any flashy model release. Finally, he shares what he’s building with Synsira: privacy-first, local AI tools designed to work with your own data without shipping it to the cloud, leaking sensitive information, or inventing answers. It’s a conversation about control, responsibility, and what trustworthy AI actually looks like when you have to live with it.

Dr. Jonathan Schaeffer is a computer scientist and AI innovator who works at the intersection of artificial intelligence, data privacy, and security. He is the founder of Synsira and the creator of KIND, (Knowledge In Depth AI), a privacy-first desktop AI that lets users search, analyze, and interact with their own knowledge bases, documents, notes, and proprietary data, without sending information to the cloud, risking data leaks, or encountering hallucinations. With a career spanning systems design and secure computing, Jonathan focuses on building AI tools that maintain true control over sensitive and regulated data, exploring what responsible, trustworthy AI looks like in practice and how organizations can innovate without surrendering autonomy. He earned his Bachelor of Science at the University of Toronto and a Master’s and Ph.D. at the University of Waterloo, then spent more than 35 years at the University of Alberta as a Distinguished Professor of Computing Science, leading pioneering AI research before retiring in 2024 to focus on AI innovation with Synsira.

AI is no longer just a background tool. It’s drafting contracts, reviewing discovery, sending emails, negotiating deals, and triggering real-world consequences. In this episode of That Tech Pod, Laura and Kevin unpack what happens when AI starts behaving less like software and more like an employee. If an AI clause costs a company millions, misses privileged evidence, or sends sensitive information to the wrong place, who’s actually on the hook?

The conversation moves from AI as a de facto junior associate to the harder questions around liability, governance, and oversight. They explore why AI can have autonomy but no accountability, how risk gets assigned when things go wrong, and why companies are almost always left holding the bag. Then the discussion takes a turn: what happens when AI isn’t just assisting humans, but coordinating them, managing tasks, and using people as a quality-control layer?

The episode closes with a bigger debate about power, psychology, and work itself. If software is now supervising humans, assigning tasks, and shaping outcomes, are organizations ready for that shift? And if AI is doing the work while humans carry the legal risk, is that imbalance sustainable? The most dangerous AI may not be the one that replaces people, but the one that quietly manages them.

In this Valentine’s Day episode of That Tech Pod, Kevin and Laura talk with fertility specialist Gabriela Rosa about how having a baby has quietly become a technology story. From IVF and genetic testing to telehealth and wearable data, modern fertility is increasingly shaped by algorithms, platforms, and private equity–backed clinics. What most people picture as love and biology is now deeply intertwined with data and systems most patients barely see.

The conversation starts with privacy and data ownership. Fertility and genetic data may be some of the most sensitive information a person can share, and once it’s collected, it often lives on indefinitely. We debate insurance risks, data monetization, and whether patients truly understand what they’re consenting to when they download an app or join a study. Gabriela explains that while ethical safeguards exist, there are no absolute guarantees in a world where data itself is an asset. Perhaps the biggest mic drop moment: IVF, widely seen as the gold standard, has a failure rate north of 90% per cycle started. Gabriela argues that technology should support the body, not bypass it, and that root causes like infections, lifestyle factors, and overlooked health issues are often ignored before patients are fast-tracked into expensive treatments. Her book, Fertility Breakthrough, expands on this approach and is available here: https://www.fertilitybreakthrough.com/

Gabriela Rosa is a Harvard-trained and awarded fertility specialist, founder and CEO of The Rosa Institute, and a global leader in integrative fertility care. For more than 20 years, she has helped individuals and couples around the world overcome infertility, miscarriage, and failed treatments by combining rigorous clinical research with personalized, root-cause medicine. Her work has been studied at Harvard and published in scientific forums, with research showing a 78.8% live birth rate among patients in her signature program. Gabriela holds graduate degrees in reproductive medicine, human genetics, and public health, is currently completing her Doctor of Public Health at Harvard, and leads one of the world’s first telehealth-based fertility clinics, serving patients across more than 100 countries.

On his episode of That Tech Pod, Kevin and Laura sit down with Ray Biederman, CEO and Co-Founder of Proteus Discovery Group, to talk about what actually happens when legal theory, technology, and human behavior collide. Ray walks through his unusual path from music education to law to legal tech, and how that background shaped the way he thinks about systems, judgment, and risk. Rather than chasing hype, he explains why Proteus focuses on defensible outcomes and practical decision-making in a crowded eDiscovery market.

The conversation gets into lessons Ray has learned by wearing every hat, product builder, services leader, and still-practicing attorney. He shares what courtroom experience teaches that product teams often miss until something breaks, especially around context, intent, and how small mistakes compound once data starts moving. Ray also offers a measured take on AI-driven review, warning against the industry’s tendency to overcorrect by trying to remove human judgment entirely, and highlights the ethical tensions that surface when AI reveals patterns no one anticipated. The episode closes with a forward-looking discussion on deepfake evidence, verification challenges, and the growing risk posed by data traveling across too many systems without enough accountability. 

Ray Biederman, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Proteus Discovery Group, LLC, has worked in every phase of electronic discovery for more than two decades. He is a Super Lawyer in the area of eDiscovery, has been cited in multiple court opinions as an expert witness, and is adjunct faculty for eDiscovery at the IUPUI School of Informatics and Computing. He consults on Information Governance policies and procedures related to cybersecurity and its intersection with government regulation and industry-specific best practices. Outside of his eDiscovery experience, Ray is an active litigator representing clients in product liability work, business valuation disputes, and contract disputes. He is also a founding partner in Mattingly Burke Cohen & Biederman. He was previously an associate at Barnes & Thornburg, LLP. He holds a B.M. in Music Education from Butler University and a J.D from Indiana University, the Robert H. McKinney School of Law.

This week Laura Milstein and Kevin Albert are joined by Nick Schutt, entrepreneur, executive leader, and host of Robots and Red Tape, for a candid conversation that starts with hiring and quickly widens into how tech is reshaping work and society. Nick breaks down why even highly qualified candidates are struggling in today’s government and contracting job market, pointing to market saturation, contract cuts, and shifting priorities across federal and consulting spaces.

The conversation moves into how AI is showing up in resumes and interviews, and why that often misses the point. Nick shares his approach to hiring people rather than skill sets, arguing that personality, judgment, and cultural fit matter far more than perfectly polished, AI-assisted answers. Laura and Kevin add their own experiences managing teams and navigating the risks of overselling versus honest capability. The episode closes by zooming out to the broader impact of technology on human connection, especially for younger generations. From online-only communication to AI companions and education, the group wrestles with where tech genuinely helps and where it quietly erodes essential social skills. The takeaway is clear: AI can be a powerful tool, but it can’t replace human relationships, accountability, or lived experience.

Nick Schutt is a serial entrepreneur and executive leader who has built and scaled multiple organizations serving both government and commercial clients since founding his first company in 2016. He currently serves as President of Artemis Human Capital Management and Executive Vice President at EVLG Solutions, where he leads IT modernization, infrastructure, and advanced technology initiatives for federal, state, and local agencies. Nick is also the co-founder of Collabulations and the host of Robots and Red Tape, a podcast focused on practical, experience-driven conversations about AI, policy, and governance. The show cuts through hype to explore how AI is actually being built and used today, the real-world consequences that come with it, and the government’s evolving role as both regulator and major customer of emerging technology.

On this episode of That Tech Pod, we talk with Logan Lawler, Senior Director at Dell Technologies, about what it takes to make AI actually work in the real world. Logan shares his 16-year journey at Dell and why his focus today is less on hype and more on practical infrastructure choices that enable AI at scale.

We break down Edge AI versus Cloud AI with clear, concrete examples, including how GPU-accelerated desktops, workstations, and hybrid cloud setups can turn “that’s impossible” AI problems into manageable ones. Logan also highlights why storage, not compute, is often the biggest bottleneck, and the common mistakes organizations make when data can’t keep up with GPUs. The conversation gets into energy and sustainability, from the environmental cost of massive data centers to what it means when nuclear power and AI collide. We also explore the human side of AI: whether instant answers are making us lazier, why struggle is still essential for learning, and how that idea shows up in parenting, education, and work. We close with real-world edge AI success stories, a few cautionary tales, and some lighter moments, making this a grounded discussion on AI, infrastructure, and the tradeoffs we rarely talk about.

Logan Lawler works at Dell Technologies, where he leads strategy for Dell Pro Precision AI Solutions. Over his 16-year career at Dell, he’s worked across sales, marketing, and e-commerce, and now helps enterprises and creative studios leverage high-performance AI workstations and hybrid cloud infrastructure. A frequent speaker and media guest, Logan explains how GPU-accelerated PCs and storage solutions are transforming industries from film and animation to healthcare research. Logan was raised in Missouri and is a graduate of the University of Missouri. He now lives in Texas with his family.

This week on That Tech Pod, Laura and Kevin sit down with Cindy Cohn, Executive Director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, to talk about the power structures hiding in plain sight across the internet, money, surveillance, and AI. Cindy breaks down what EFF actually does and why access to the internet is not just an infrastructure problem, but a civil liberties issue that shapes who gets heard, who gets tracked, and who gets left out.

We get into how mass surveillance quietly became normal, from license plate readers to cell phone tracking, and why most people would be genuinely shocked if they saw the full picture. We also look ahead at financial surveillance, using Europe’s move toward a Digital Euro as a case study, and ask where legitimate oversight ends and control begins. On the AI front, Cindy pushes back on the idea that privacy is already lost, and explains why treating opaque systems as inevitable only benefits the most powerful actors. Cindy makes a clear case that defending digital rights does not require being a technologist or a lawyer. It starts with staying skeptical, asking hard questions, and refusing to accept tools we are not allowed to understand or challenge. That is exactly why this conversation mattered, and why we were so glad to have her on.

Cindy Cohn is the Executive Director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation and previously served as EFF’s Legal Director and General Counsel from 2000 to 2015. She has been involved with EFF since 1993, when she served as lead outside counsel in the landmark Bernstein v. U.S. Department of Justice case, a successful First Amendment challenge to U.S. export restrictions on cryptography. Her work has been widely recognized, with honors from Forbes, The National Law Journal, and The NonProfit Times for her influence in technology, law, and civil liberties. She is also the co-host of EFF’s podcast, How to Fix the Internet, and the author of Privacy’s Defender, published by MIT Press. More information about the book can be found at https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262051248/privacys-defender/

Today Kevin and Laura chat with Bala Muthiah, Director of Engineering at Lyft, to talk about what leadership looks like when your product moves real people through the real world. Bala walks through his path from immigrating to the U.S. to leading teams that make real time decisions for millions of riders and drivers, and how those early experiences shaped his views on power, responsibility, and trust in technology.

We talk about what privacy and safety actually mean at Lyft’s scale, where data is not abstract and mistakes have real consequences. Bala is candid about where rideshare platforms have improved, where the industry still struggles, and how leaders decide where to draw hard lines around data use even when the tech makes more possible. The conversation also gets into the human side of engineering. How do you push for speed and performance while building teams that care about ethics, psychological safety, and consent? Bala shares how Lyft uses AI to surface collaboration risks, why that can feel uncomfortable, and how transparency and boundaries matter just as much as capability.

Bala Muthiah is the Director of Engineering at Lyft, where he leads teams that power real‑time decision systems for millions of users. An immigrant from India turned Silicon Valley leader, he’s also a startup advisor, nonprofit board member, and mentor across multiple platforms. Bala blends technical expertise with people‑first leadership and community impact—showing how to scale teams, startups, and even personal growth with empathy, innovation, and AI.

This week on That Tech Pod, Laura and Kevin chat with Richa Kaul, founder and CEO of Complyance, for a blunt conversation about what governance, risk, and compliance actually are, and why so many companies pretend it’s something else.

Richa walks us through how she really landed in GRC, including the moment she realized compliance isn’t about forms or frameworks. It’s about power, incentives, and who takes the fall when systems fail. Drawing on her time in legal tech, enterprise systems, and AI, she makes the case that much of today’s compliance model is quietly broken, and that organizations know it, even if they won’t admit it.  We dig into why GRC has such a credibility problem, the comforting lies companies tell themselves about being “compliant,” and whether compliance should be about control or trust, and why so many leaders default to the wrong one. Richa also weighs in on whether “move fast and break things” is actually gone, or just better disguised in the age of AI. We close with a forward-looking conversation on AI risk, including the uncomfortable questions boards avoid, why training alone won’t fix reckless AI use, and what organizations should be paying attention to next if they want governance that actually works.

Richa Kaul is the founder and CEO of Complyance, an AI-powered GRC platform helping enterprises navigate governance, risk, and compliance with ease. She previously held leadership roles in legal and compliance technology, including helping scale global solutions at ContractPodAI. Richa focuses on how companies can move beyond checkbox compliance to build systems that actually support better decisions, accountability, and trust as AI becomes more embedded in the enterprise. She is passionate about the future of compliance, the role of AI in governance, and the challenges of scaling a company in enterprise tech. Her innovative approach combines deep technical expertise with strategic business acumen, making her a sought-after thought leader in the GRC space.

As we announced last week, this month on That Tech Pod, we’re changing things up a bit. Instead of our usual deep dives into eDiscovery, data privacy, and cyber security, this December, we're spotlighting people and organizations using technology to close real gaps in opportunity. 

In this episode, we sit down with Savita Raj, the CEO of Techbridge Girls, to talk about what it really takes to help girls from underrepresented communities see themselves in STEM. Savita cuts through the buzzwords to explain why the pipeline problem is still very real in 2025, even as AI races ahead, and why access is about far more than programs. It’s transportation, time, family expectations, early exposure, and a sense of belonging.

The conversation gets candid about the gap between industry rhetoric on diversity and who actually makes it through. Savita shares what funders and tech leaders often miss about hidden barriers, and why the rise of AI and automation makes sustained investment in programs like Techbridge Girls more urgent than ever.

If you want to support Techbridge Girls, you can donate directly at https://www.techbridgegirls.org/donate to help bring high-quality STEM experiences to girls from underrepresented communities, or explore ways to get involved like volunteering, mentoring, or partnering at https://www.techbridgegirls.org/get-involved to make a more hands-on impact.

Savita Raj, is the CEO of Techbridge Girls. Techbridge Girls is a nonprofit focused on opening doors to STEM for girls from underrepresented communities through hands-on learning, mentorship, and exposure to real-world careers. The organization works closely with schools and industry partners to help girls build confidence, skills, and a lasting sense that they belong in science and technology. Savita has decades-long experience in leadership, strategy, and fundraising focused on creating equitable STEM programs in underserved communities. An engineer by training, Savita has served as the Chief Program Officer for Girl Scouts of the USA and as the Executive Director for the Texas Alliance for Minorities in Engineering. She lives in Austin and enjoys traveling, reading, sewing, and baking.

This December, That Tech Pod is shifting gears a bit. Instead of our usual deep dives into eDiscovery, privacy, and security, we’re using the next few pods to spotlight leaders and organizations using technology to close real gaps in opportunity. These episodes are about mission, access, and impact, and what it looks like to build pathways into tech from the ground up.

In this episode, Laura and Kevin talk with Danny Rojas, Executive Director of All Star Code, about why the organization’s work supporting young Black and Latino men matters right now. Danny talks about the barriers that often go unseen, from unequal access to early exposure and networks to the challenge of learning long-term skills in an attention-driven world. He also shares his own path through corporate, startup, and nonprofit leadership, and how that journey shapes the way he leads today. The conversation looks at what really drives long-term impact beyond learning to code, including mentorship, confidence, community, and industry exposure. Danny also speaks about why access, timing, and sponsorship still matter more than talent alone.

You can learn more about All Star Code's programs, get involved, or make a donation at https://allstarcode.org. To contribute directly, please visit https://allstarcode.org/donation. Your support helps expand access to tech education, mentorship, and career pathways for the next generation of innovators.

In this episode, Laura and Kevin chat with Walter Haydock, whose path from Marine intelligence to Capitol Hill to AI governance gives him a rare view of what “security” actually means in the age of AI and generative models. Walter talks about why he thinks governance is becoming the next real defense layer, and how to sort actual AI risks from the odd glitches everyone loves to talk about. He breaks down common myths he hears from non-tech folks, what recent cloud outages say about the shortcuts companies take, and whether the latest hospital ransomware attacks signal a true AI-driven threat wave or just better marketing from bad actors. 

We also get into the personal side: what feels high-stakes after years in national security, and which unexpected habits from that world turned out to be useful in tech. Walter closes by looking ahead at what might trigger the first serious AI crackdown in the U.S. and whether a federal AI law is finally on the horizon. It’s a grounded, candid look at where the field is headed from someone who’s seen the stakes up close.

Walter Haydock is the Founder and CEO of StackAware, where he helps AI-driven companies handle cybersecurity, privacy, and compliance risk. He’s one of the leading voices on ISO 42001 and has guided organizations through the audit process as AI governance becomes a core part of security. Before building StackAware, Walter worked in national security as a staff member on the House Homeland Security Committee, an analyst at the National Counterterrorism Center, and a Marine Corps intelligence officer. He’s a graduate of the Naval Academy, Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service, and Harvard Business School.

This week’s post-Thanksgiving episode is a full smorgasbord of random stories, internet rabbit holes, and tech-adjacent tangents. Laura and Kevin skip the usual guest and run through a pile of listener-requested topics. They start with the viral Tinder profile of a man who openly admitted to abusing women yet pulled in more than 800 matches, which leads them into the strange world of dating-while-incarcerated sites. From there, they jump to Japan’s businesses that help people legally disappear without a trace, and how that even works in a world where everything leaves a digital footprint. Things keep escalating, including a true story about a man who robbed a bank to get away from his wife, only to be sentenced to house arrest. It’s messy and funny and they somehow still land the plane with a tech angle at the end. Perfect listening if you want something light but still genuinely interesting after the holiday.

This week on the pod, Laura and Kevin sit down with Janna Scott, founder of DeFi Tax, to unpack one of crypto’s most confusing and controversial topics: taxes. Janna shares how she went from frustrated accountant to tech founder after realizing how broken the crypto tax ecosystem was. She explains why the IRS treats digital assets differently than stocks, how compliance rules can border on entrapment, and what it will take for fairer regulation to emerge. 

We talk about the darker side of crypto: market manipulation, whales, and whether regulation is actually working or just pushing bad behavior further underground. Through it all, Janna brings a mix of technical insight and practical insight, reminding us that the hardest part of crypto isn’t the technology, it’s the system built around it. Between murky IRS rules and hidden market forces, it’s easy to understand why so many investors feel lost or opt out. But as Janna makes clear, accountability isn't out of reach. You just have to do the math. 

Janna Scott is the founder of DeFi Tax, a platform bringing clarity and compliance to cryptocurrency tax reporting. Her journey began in 2021 after her accounting clients raised concerns about unreliable crypto tax tools. Over the next two years, Janna collaborated with the SEC, IRS, and top universities to identify and fix major compliance gaps. Her work set new standards in the field and earned recognition from regulators and academics. Today, DeFi Tax is known for its audit-ready reports, direct blockchain integration, and user-focused design. Janna’s mission is to help individuals and businesses navigate crypto taxes with confidence and transparency.

In this episode, Dr. Ashwin Mehta joins us to talk about how AI is quietly changing the way we think, learn, and make decisions. Drawing from his global career in pharma, government, and consulting, from building digital learning systems in West Africa to leading AI strategy at Bayer — Ashwin shares why he’s dedicated his work to keeping the “human” at the center of technology.

We explore how trust in AI can evolve from confidence to dependency, what “agentic AI” really means for the future of work, and the mental habits we risk losing as machines start thinking for us. Ashwin also reflects on what he still refuses to let AI handle, and why maintaining human judgment may be the ultimate competitive edge in an increasingly automated world.

Dr. Ashwin Mehta helps organizations adopt AI in ways that put people first. With a PhD in digital learning adoption and over 20 years across pharma, government, consulting, and international health, he focuses on the intersection of technology, human capital, and transformation. His experience includes leading AI-enabled learning at Bayer, advising enterprises and governments at Deloitte, and building digital training systems in West Africa during crises.

As founder of Mehtadology, Ashwin designs AI strategies that align technology with human potential, covering topics from large language models to intelligent automation while addressing readiness, infrastructure, and culture. His research and writing offer insights on adaptive learning, AI ROI, and the cognitive impacts of delegating decisions to machines.

In this episode of That Tech Pod, we get into the next industrial revolution,  Industry 5.0, where technology and people work together instead of competing for the same space. Shay Howe, Chief Strategy Officer at ActiveCampaign, joins us to unpack how automation is evolving from efficiency-driven systems to human-centered collaboration.

We explore how the relationship between humans and machines is shifting from replacement to augmentation, and what that means for marketers, entrepreneurs, and the future of work. Shay shares real examples of automation that make marketing more personal, not less, and explains why technologies that enable creativity, empathy, and ethics will define the next era of innovation. The conversation covers everything from data transparency and responsible AI to how automation might create entirely new industries, just like cars once did for roads, dealerships, and repair shops. Along the way, Shay draws lessons from The E-Myth and The Innovator’s Dilemma to remind us that disruption always brings opportunity. The big takeaway? Industry 5.0 isn’t about replacing humans, it’s about empowering them. When used thoughtfully, automation can give people more time to focus on creativity, connection, and strategy. The future of marketing belongs to those who design technology that amplifies human potential.

Shay Howe is the Chief Strategy Officer at ActiveCampaign, where he drives the company’s corporate strategy, new product lines, corporate development, and strategic partnerships. He has previously held leadership positions across marketing, product, and design, and his product-led growth approach has helped scale the company into a global tech unicorn. Prior to ActiveCampaign, Shay was Vice President of Product at Belly and Yello, where he was responsible for product strategy and design. He previously led product teams at multiple high-growth companies, including Groupon, and has held in-residence roles as an advisor with Techstars, Lightbank, and Prota Venture portfolios. Shay’s passion for building teams extends outside of work, as he also serves as a mentor with Techstars and LongJump Ventures.

In this episode of That Tech Pod, Laura and Kevin talk with Kevin's brother, Dr. Ross Albert, Medical Director of Hartford HealthCare at Home Hospice and Palliative Care, about one of the most unsettling trends in the digital age: health misinformation driven by AI. The conversation kicks off with a real case of a man hospitalized after following ChatGPT’s bad advice and spirals into the broader question of why people are so quick to trust AI over actual doctors.

Ross shares what it’s like when patients bring AI-generated “facts” into the exam room, how often he has to correct them, and what happens when politics, ideology, and misinformation collide with medicine. We get into the risks of fake medical citations, the line between bad advice and malpractice, and whether AI companies should be required to include stronger safeguards for health-related content. From hallucinations caused by bromide poisoning to the daily challenges doctors face correcting digital myths, this episode looks at what happens when artificial intelligence meets human vulnerability, and why it’s more important than ever to check your sources before taking medical advice from a chatbot.

Dr. Ross Albert, MD PhD is the Medical Director of the Hartford HealthCare at Home Hospice and Palliative Care teams. Over the last 15 years, he has practiced in primary care, hospital medicine, and palliative care roles across Connecticut. He holds board certifications in Family Medicine, Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Ross holds faculty positions with the UConn Internal Medicine and Quinnipiac Family Medicine residency programs. He has published numerous articles focused on evidence-based medical care for patients across the spectrum of disease.

Note: this episode is for informational purposes only. We talk about how medical misinformation spreads and what we can learn from it, but nothing you hear should be taken as medical advice. If you have questions about your health, talk to a doctor or another qualified healthcare professional. Also the views expressed by our guests are their own. 

This week we sit down with Ben Wilcox, a tech leader who straddles two high-stakes worlds as both Chief Technology Officer and Chief Information Security Officer at ProArch. Ben shares how a teenage interest in “link lists” and web hosting turned into a 25-year career at the intersection of innovation and cybersecurity. We talk about what it really means to balance the drive to move fast with the need to stay secure, and whether those two priorities can truly coexist under one roof.

From high-profile AI prompt injection attacks targeting Microsoft Copilot to the growing sophistication of indirect exploits that manipulate corporate systems through AI agents, Ben breaks down what’s happening behind the headlines and how companies can protect themselves. He also opens up about his passion for car racing, a world that mirrors his approach to tech: fast, calculated, and always built with safety in mind. Ben then closes with some simple advice: say yes to new things, whether it’s tackling the next wave of AI risks or trying something unexpected outside of work, curiosity and courage are what keep you ahead of the curve. 

Ben Wilcox is the Chief Technology Officer and Chief Information Security Officer at ProArch, a global IT consulting firm helping enterprises secure their data and accelerate digital transformation through strategic Microsoft partnerships. With more than 25 years of experience in technology leadership, Ben brings a rare dual perspective—driving innovation while protecting the business from ever-evolving cyber threats. Known for making complex topics approachable, he’s passionate about helping organizations move fast without breaking things, preparing their infrastructure for AI, and building security into the foundation of innovation. When he’s not guiding enterprises through digital change, you might find him on a racetrack, channeling the same balance of speed and precision that defines his work in tech.

Two Kevins are better than one on this week’s That Tech Pod, as Kevin Albert and Laura sit down with Silicon Valley legend Kevin Surace, the inventor and entrepreneur, who helped shape everything from the first smartphone to the first digital assistant, decades before Siri or Alexa.

Kevin S. shares stories from his time at General Magic, where he helped build Mary, the original voice-based AI assistant that could schedule meetings and manage calendars long before the world caught up. He explains how Moore’s Law and modern compute power turned AI from a niche tool for programmers into something everyone can use. The conversation goes into what AI really is (spoiler: it’s not intelligent, just really good at pattern matching) and whether tools like ChatGPT are helping us think faster or making us lazy. Kevin references an MIT report suggesting AI could dull our brains if we let it replace learning. but argues that if you use it to amplify your thinking, it can make you five or ten times more productive.

We also talk about AI and creativity, from digital actors like Tilly to musicians and artists using technology to speed up their process without losing originality. And when it comes to cyber risk and control, Kevin stays optimistic: this, he says, is the best time in history to be alive and creating. We wrap with practical advice, don’t stop at ChatGPT. Try Perplexity, Claude, and Gemini, and keep asking yourself: what can’t I do better with GenAI? This is a must listen!

Kevin Surace is a Silicon Valley innovator, serial entrepreneur, and self-described “futurist and AI disrupter.” Kevin has held leadership roles at companies including Appvance.ai, Serious Energy, Perfect Commerce, and General Magic, and earlier worked with tech pioneers like National Semiconductor, IBM, and Seiko-Epson—each chapter shaping his path as an inventor and Silicon Valley innovator. He has helped pioneer technologies that shaped the modern world, from the first smartphone and human-like AI assistants to soundproof drywall and energy-efficient building systems. With 93 worldwide patents and a track record that spans startups, sustainability, and AI, Kevin has been recognized as Inc. Magazine’s Entrepreneur of the Year, a CNBC Innovator of the Decade, and a World Economic Forum Tech Pioneer. He’s been featured on CNN, Forbes, Time, and Businessweek, and has keynoted events everywhere from TED to the U.S. Congress. He is known for blending deep technical insight with humor and storytelling. Outside of tech, he’s also an accomplished music director and Broadway producer—proving that creativity, whether in code or composition, drives everything he does.

Today on the pod, Laura and Kevin talk with Jamie Bernard, Vice President of Solutions Strategy and Head of Global Solutions at Valiantys, about what it really takes to turn technical capabilities into business results. Jamie has spent her career at the crossroads of product strategy, innovation, and AI enablement, helping companies move beyond buzzwords to create solutions people actually buy.

Jamie shares her approach to “turning chaos into cashflow,” how to spot real value in a world full of AI hype, and what makes a service offering more than just a well-designed PowerPoint deck. From building structured go-to-market strategies to helping global firms shift from implementation partners to transformation advisors, Jamie brings a practical, sometimes blunt perspective on where tech innovation meets business reality.

Jamie Bernard, Vice President of Solutions Strategy and Head of Global Solutions at Valiantys, an Atlassian Platinum Solution Partner. With more than two decades of experience in product strategy, go-to-market design, and AI enablement, Jamie specializes in turning technical capabilities into scalable, sellable solutions. She has helped global IT services firms shift from implementation partners to transformation advisors by building structured offerings, commercial models, and vertical strategies across industries like automotive, financial services, and healthcare. Known for thriving in high-change environments, Jamie bridges the gap between technical delivery and business value, helping organizations translate vision into outcomes that drive growth.

This week on That Tech Pod, Laura and Kevin are joined by Gilad Shoham, VP of Engineering at Bit, to talk about the future of AI-driven development, composable architecture, and the cyber risks that come with them. Gilad has spent his career at the intersection of startups, enterprise engineering, and open-source communities, and he brings a clear, practical perspective on how technology is evolving.

We start with what composable architecture actually means, why it matters, and how it’s shaping the way modern teams build software. From there, we get into AI’s growing role in development, how AI-generated and reused code could introduce vulnerabilities at scale, and whether AI will replace parts of a developer’s job or remain more of a “co-pilot.” Gilad also shares his take on the next big shift in developer workflows over the next five years. On the personal side, Gilad reflects on his path from Israel’s elite IDF programming unit, to founding startups, to leading teams at Sisense, and now scaling engineering at Bit. He talks about the lessons from his startup days that still influence how he leads, and how his experiences as a world chess champion and professional debater sneak into his everyday life.

To learn more about Gilad, check out gilad.dev
or connect with him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shohamgilad. You can also explore Bit and try out Hope AI at bit.cloud.

Gilad Shoham is the VP of Engineering at Bit, where he leads the development team and focuses on composable architecture and AI-driven development. Before Bit, he was an architect and team lead at Sisense, and earlier founded several startups after graduating from an elite IDF programming unit. Gilad is a seasoned speaker, blogger, and podcaster who writes and talks about developer tools, composable software, AI code generation, and smart tech. Beyond his day job, he mentors startups and developers, contributes to open-source projects, and organizes two of Israel’s largest developer communities: MCP Israel and n8n Israel. A lifelong technologist, Gilad started coding as a child, won a world chess championship with his team at age 12, and has been a professional debater for more than a decade.

Bit.cloud is an open-source platform for building composable software. It lets developers break apps into independent, reusable components that can be shared, updated, and scaled across projects and teams. With Bit, teams can speed up development, reduce duplication, and adopt a more modular approach to software architecture.

This week Kevin and Laura sit down with Uma Subramanian, Founder and CEO of Limitless Leaders, Inc. Uma shares her journey from leading initiatives at Microsoft to building a global platform dedicated to helping tech professionals unlock their leadership potential.

We explore what “limitless” leadership really means, the behaviors that often hold people back, and why she set out to build a program that looks different from traditional leadership training. Uma opens up about pushback she’s faced, lessons learned from her own failures, and how vulnerability shapes stronger leaders. The conversation also tackles today’s pressing challenges: navigating layoffs and uncertainty, addressing burnout, and building trust in an era of AI, deepfakes, and misinformation. Uma offers a candid perspective on what AI can and can’t replace in leadership coaching and what kind of leaders the next generation of tech professionals will need. Finally, Uma shares why investing in better leadership now is critical for the future of tech.

Uma Subramanian is on a mission to inspire and empower tech professionals to achieve their full leadership potential. As the Founder and CEO of Limitless Leaders, Inc., she has launched a global initiative that provides transformative learning experiences to professionals in tech and related fields.

With over two decades of experience in the tech industry, Uma has worked for one of the world's leading tech companies, Microsoft, where she led high-performing initiatives that drove impactful outcomes. Drawing on her own experiences, she has devoted her life to empowering others to achieve their full potential in all aspects of life. Uma is a leader committed to adding value to the lives of others. She is an Executive Director, certified coach, trainer, and speaker with Maxwell Leadership. She is also a founding Maxwell Leadership Corporate Facilitator Program member and a certified DISC Behavioral Analysis Consultant. 

This week, Laura and Kevin are joined by Mike Maynard, CEO and Managing Director of Napier, a B2B PR and marketing agency helping tech companies turn awareness into opportunities. Mike started his career as an electronics design engineer before moving into marketing, and that technical background still shapes how he builds and measures campaigns today.

We talk about what real success looks like beyond clicks and leads, how Napier decides which industries to focus on, and why some sectors spark more excitement than others. Mike also shares his perspective on AI in marketing, from copyright questions around image generation to how automation can coexist with campaigns that still feel human and engaging. And of course, we ask what keeps him curious about technology after decades at the intersection of engineering and marketing.

On the lighter side, Laura gets a little weird by asking Mike what number he’d be, and in the outro we get into the Dax Prescott/Jalen Carter spitting incident in the Week 1 NFL opening game, the Eagles’ sportsmanship (or lack of it, depending who you ask), and Laura’s campaign for a new Super Bowl halftime band. This episode has it all!

Mike Maynard is the CEO and Managing Director of the Napier Group, a $7M PR and marketing agency for B2B technology companies. Mike specializes in increasing the speed prospects travel through clients’ sales and marketing funnels, generating opportunities more quickly, building integrated campaigns that focus on the important tactics, whether clients need to increase awareness, generate leads or engage contacts to create opportunities.

In this episode of That Tech Pod, we sit down with Josh Meier a Senior Generative AI Author at Pluralsight, where he helps professionals cut through the hype and learn how to use AI responsibly and effectively. With a background in software engineering, data engineering, and data science, Josh has built his career around translating complex ideas for both technical and non-technical audiences. We talk with Josh about what it really means to teach AI in a world where anyone can ask ChatGPT for an instant answer. He explains why structured learning still matters, how to separate casual tinkering from business-ready skills, and why human guidance is essential in a space that changes every few weeks. We also dig into some of the more controversial headlines—AI “lying” to users, models “trying to escape,” and facial recognition being used for both good and harm—and ask how society should weigh innovation against the risks of misuse. Finally, Josh shares his take on what the next big wave of AI innovation might look like. In the outtro, we discuss if we've finally made it because Laura saw someone in our swag "in the wild." You don't want to miss this episode!

Josh Meier (Meyer) is a Senior Generative AI Author at Pluralsight who helps professionals make sense of a fast-changing AI landscape. With a background in software engineering, data engineering, and data science, Josh has built a career around digging into data, uncovering insights, and translating complex concepts for both technical and non-technical audiences. Outside of work, he’s passionate about teaching and even finds inspiration in astronomy. In this conversation, we’ll dive into his work on generative AI, the hype around “AI gone rogue,” the unique challenges of AI security testing, and the ethical line between innovation and misuse.

This week on the pod, we welcome Bobby Coppola, Chief Strategy Officer and Bryant Gauthier, Vice President of Legal Technology at PLUSnxt. Bobby shares how his path from big law to legal tech shaped his focus on client service and strategy, while Bryant returns to the show to talk about what drew him to PLUSnxt after his time at Celerity.

We break down what sets PLUSnxt apart in the crowded eDiscovery space, from helping clients separate hype from reality to focusing on innovation that actually makes life easier for corporations and law firms. The conversation turns to artificial intelligence in document review, obviously, where Bobby and Bryant highlight where adoption is real, where skepticism remains, and how GenAI is shifting client expectations. They also weigh in on whether the future lies in best-of-breed solutions or all-in-one platforms, sharing why no one really wants to manage a “franken-stack.” To wrap up, Bobby and Bryant share their takeaways from ILTACON and what trends they see shaping the next phase of legal tech.

Along the way, the group reminisces about the dot-com era, old chat rooms (ASL anyone?), answering machines, fax machines, the Movie Phone guy, and even the “Callin’ Oates” hotline. Definitely check this one out!

At the intersection of law, business, and technology, Bobby Coppola  is focused on delivering industry leading legal technology and services to achieve the best outcome for his clients. He leverages his unique skill set based on his big law background and decades long-experience in the eDiscovery space to solve business and legal problems for companies and law firms globally. As Chief Strategy Officer at PLUSnxt, he is focused on the development of the company’s short- and long-term strategy from both an operational and growth perspective. The underpinning of his approach to client relationships is a fanatical focus on client service and a vision of always putting himself in his client’s position when developing a strategic plan for success.

Bryant Gauthier is Vice President of Legal Technology at PLUSnxt, where he advises law firms and corporate counsel on building efficient eDiscovery programs. With more than 20 years of experience, he helps clients leverage technology, processes, and analytics to reduce costs and manage risk across the EDRM. He has led the launch of eDiscovery departments using advanced tools such as CAL, TAR, AI, text-to-audio search, and image recognition to streamline document review and investigations. His background includes leadership roles at Huron Consulting, Skadden Arps, Buckley Sandler, Finnegan Henderson, and Xerox.  Bryant supports legal teams in litigation, investigations, and regulatory matters, including SEC, DOJ, and CFPB inquiries, across industries such as banking, energy, healthcare, intellectual property, and technology. His expertise covers data identification, analysis, governance, privacy, and cross-border matters.

 PLUSnxt is a legal technology and services provider that helps law firms and corporations manage complex eDiscovery challenges with a focus on practical innovation and client service. They emphasizes building solutions that cut through the noise of legal tech hype, offering tools and expertise that actually improve how legal teams review, analyze, and manage data. PLUSnxt brings a mix of deep technical knowledge and real-world legal experience to its clients. Their approach combines advanced technologies such as AI and analytics with a clear understanding of business and legal priorities, making them a trusted partner for organizations navigating litigation, investigations, and regulatory matters.

We’re on vacation this week! While we recharge, enjoy this “best of” episode from our first year back in 2021. We’ll be back next week with a special new episode featuring PlusNXT! 

Today (June 8, 2021) on That Tech Pod, Laura and Gabi sit down with Andrew Ochoa, CEO of Waverly Labs, to unpack the tech behind The Ambassador, a wearable translator built to remove language barriers. They dig into how real-time translation works, the hardware and software that power it, and where it shines in the real world, from travel and classrooms to business meetings. Andrew shares what accuracy really means, the tradeoffs between speed and quality, how the team thinks about privacy, and what might be next for multilingual communication.

On today's episode of That Tech Pod, we sit down with Gino Ferrand, CEO and Founder of TECLA. Born in Lima, Peru and raised in the U.S., Gino’s journey spans continents, cultures, and companies. He shares how those experiences shaped his perspective on technology, risk, and data security.

We dig into the story behind TECLA, which started with a simple insight, Latin America’s deep pool of untapped tech talent, and grew into a platform that has helped U.S. companies worth billions scale their engineering teams. Gino explains how he balances innovation with fairness in building TECLA’s AI-driven talent-matching platform, and what it takes to earn trust when remote developers handle mission-critical and sensitive work.

We also explore the broader context: how shifting immigration policies affect demand for nearshore talent, the challenges of protecting intellectual property and sensitive data across borders, and the future of global tech collaboration. Gino closes with what’s next for him and TECLA as they continue to bridge talent gaps with security and innovation in mind.

Gino Ferrand is the CEO and Founder of TECLA, a nearshore staffing company that connects U.S. tech firms with top software engineers across Latin America. Born in Lima, Peru, he moved to the U.S. at 12 and learned early what it meant to start over, build from scratch, and stay relentless—values shaped by his family of entrepreneurs. From launching an e-commerce jewelry brand in high school to creating a social network for college founders, Gino has always been driven to build.

After college, he returned to Lima and saw the untapped potential of Latin American tech talent, sparking the idea for TECLA. Over the past 12 years, he’s helped companies worth more than $10 billion scale their engineering teams while continuing to stay hands-on as a coder and architect of TECLA’s AI-driven talent-matching platform. Based in Seattle, Gino remains committed to his belief that talent is everywhere—it just needs the right platform to thrive.

This week on the pod, Kevin and Laura talk with Bree Flemings, CEO and co-founder of Jem Social, about building a tech platform at the intersection of influencer marketing, data privacy, and the ever-shifting world of digital media.

Bree shares how DJing in college led her to the world of content creation, and what ultimately drove her to start Jem Social, a platform designed to help brands connect with the right influencers at scale. We talk about the evolution of marketing, the role of AI, and the balance between automation and authenticity. Bree also gets into how Jem is adapting to changing ad trends, why community-based marketing is on the rise, and how she’s thinking about data privacy, moderation, and the future of trust in the creator economy. She also shares about the challenges of user acquisition, retention, and what’s next for Jem Social. 

Bree Flemings is the CEO and co-founder of Jem Social, a SaaS platform that helps consumer brands easily find and partner with influencers who match their target audience, location, and budget. Jem is backed by Nexcubed, Bank of America, and NC Invest.

She is a results-driven Founder, Product marketing Manager and Project Manager with a proven track record in delivering complex projects on time and within budget. She is customer obsessed. Highly skilled in leading cross-functional teams, managing project scope, and ensuring customer satisfaction. Her experience spans everything from launching market-ready products to managing stakeholder relationships and driving agile development. Simply put: she knows how to take an idea and make it real.