Tech Field Day Podcast

Tech Field Day

The Tech Field Day Podcast is the only podcast that dares to be both on topic, or on premise, and sometimes on location, bringing together a group of independent IT luminaries and experts in their field from around the Enterprise to discuss a single idea revolving around their technological knowledge base and skillset. This podcast is hosted by Stephen Foskett, Organizer of the Tech Field Day event series, and Tom Hollingsworth, Tech Field Day Event Lead.

  1. 109. We Can’t Trust Networks to Fix Themselves

    1 DAY AGO

    109. We Can’t Trust Networks to Fix Themselves

    Learn more about Mobility Field Day here. AI is changing the way we maintain and troubleshoot networks, offering suggested fixes and knowledge about issues. But we aren’t ready to trust it in fully autonomous mode yet. In this episode of the Tech Field Day Podcast, Dan Ryan, Chris Reed, and Alan Wang join Tom Hollingsworth on-site at Mobility Field Day to discuss why fully autonomous networking still feels out of reach despite rapid advances in AI. The group explores the tension between deterministic networking protocols like OSPF and BGP and the non-deterministic nature of LLMs, noting that while AI excels at parsing data and suggesting fixes, it often lacks the business context needed to distinguish real problems from expected anomalies. They also raise concerns about a growing skills gap, arguing that overreliance on AI for Tier 1 and Tier 2 troubleshooting could prevent junior engineers from developing the deep expertise needed to validate AI-generated recommendations. Ultimately, the delegates agree that networking still requires a human-in-the-loop approach, with AI best suited for guided troubleshooting, scripting, and low-risk operational tasks rather than fully autonomous control. Panelists: Chris Reed, Principal Consultant Alan Wang, Networking Analyst Dan Ryan, Principal Solution Architect at Connection Hosts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tom Hollingsworth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Event Lead for Tech Field Day ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Alastair Cooke⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Event Lead at Tech Field Day ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stephen Foskett⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, President and Organizer of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tech Field Day⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow the Tech Field Day Podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on X/Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use the Hashtag #TFDPodcast to join the discussion. Listen to more episodes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on the podcast page of the website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tech Field Day⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information on upcoming and current event coverage ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on X/Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠visit our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    25 min
  2. SPOTLIGHT: You Don’t Have To Pick Just One AI Network Presented by Cisco

    19 MAY

    SPOTLIGHT: You Don’t Have To Pick Just One AI Network Presented by Cisco

    AI networking is quickly becoming a critical part of the enterprise. You need make the right choice about which hardware you want to use but you aren’t necessarily locked into a single choice. In this episode of the Tech Field Day podcast, brought to you by Cisco, Tom Hollingsworth is joined by Scott Robohn and Richard Licon of Cisco as they discuss rapidly evolving landscape of AI networking, emphasizing that organizations no longer have to settle for a “one-size-fits-all” approach. They explore the shift from purely software-driven innovation back to high-performance hardware, where custom silicon like Cisco Silicon One and merchant silicon are becoming central to infrastructure. The conversation highlights how the transition from AI model training to real-time inferencing in 2026 demands more flexible and programmable hardware pipelines. By leveraging tools like P4 programming, network engineers can now adjust their infrastructure mid-cycle to optimize traffic patterns and ensure consistent job completion times as workload needs shift. The discussion also highlights Cisco’s strategic partnership with NVIDIA, offering customers a choice between distinct networking ecosystems based on their specific goals. For those requiring strict adherence to NVIDIA’s validated designs and the Secure AI Factory, the Cisco Nexus 9100 with Spectrum-X silicon provides a certified, high-performance path. Conversely, organizations seeking maximum flexibility and custom tuning for diverse workloads can opt for Cisco Silicon One. Ultimately, the experts agree that while the technical requirements of AI networking are increasingly complex, the availability of diverse silicon options and consistent operating systems like NX-OS or SONiC allows enterprises to build future-proof, composable infrastructure that can adapt to the unpredictable pace of AI development. Panelists: Richard Licon, Principal Technical Marketing Engineer at Cisco ⁠Scott Robohn⁠, Founder and CEO, Solutional Hosts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tom Hollingsworth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Event Lead for Tech Field Day ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Alastair Cooke⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Event Lead at Tech Field Day ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stephen Foskett⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, President and Organizer of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tech Field Day⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow the Tech Field Day Podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on X/Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use the Hashtag #TFDPodcast to join the discussion. Listen to more episodes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on the podcast page of the website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tech Field Day⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information on upcoming and current event coverage ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on X/Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠visit our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    29 min
  3. Mistaking Quantity for Quality in Tech and Life

    12 MAY

    Mistaking Quantity for Quality in Tech and Life

    Learn More about AI Field Day 8 here. Now that AI has enabled us to have an unlimited amount of content, generated on demand and instantly, we find ourselves questioning the quality of the output. This episode of the Tech Field Day podcast, recorded prior to AI Field Day by delegates Barbara Roos, Guy Currier, Dave Graham, and Stephen Foskett, considers this common trade-off. Large Language Models are fundamentally personal and responsive, delivering an answer that is statistically matched to your query. This can lead users astray, as a chatbot confidently answers every question regardless of insight. These systems are best when paired with human domain expertise and fed quality data, but they are often starved of context. Panelists: Guy Currier, Research Director and Analyst at The Futurum Group Barbara Roos, Founder and Principal Consultant at Trailhead Communications Dave Graham, Head of Marketing at MLCommons Hosts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tom Hollingsworth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Event Lead for Tech Field Day ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Alastair Cooke⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Event Lead at Tech Field Day ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stephen Foskett⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, President and Organizer of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tech Field Day⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow the Tech Field Day Podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on X/Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use the Hashtag #TFDPodcast to join the discussion. Listen to more episodes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on the podcast page of the website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tech Field Day⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information on upcoming and current event coverage ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on X/Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠visit our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    34 min
  4. 106. AI Driven Networks are More Marketing Than Reality

    5 MAY

    106. AI Driven Networks are More Marketing Than Reality

    Learn more about Mobility Field Day 14 here. AI is everywhere in networking right now, but the reality doesn’t always match the marketing. In this episode of the Tech Field Day Podcast ahead of Mobility Field Day, Tom Hollingsworth is joined by Jennifer Huber and Megan Sorensen to break down what “AI-driven networks” actually mean in practice, where vendors are positioning AI across wireless, automation, and operations, and where those claims start to fall apart. They discuss into what AI is genuinely good at today, from site surveys to optimization and operations, while calling out its limits, especially around troubleshooting unknown issues and working with poor data. The key takeaway is simple: AI is only as good as the data behind it. Instead of buying into the hype, this conversation focuses on where AI is delivering real value now and how to approach it with realistic expectations. Megan Sorensen, Networking Engineer Jennifer Huber, Founder of Huber Works B.V. Hosts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tom Hollingsworth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Event Lead for Tech Field Day ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Alastair Cooke⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Event Lead at Tech Field Day ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stephen Foskett⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, President and Organizer of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tech Field Day⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow the Tech Field Day Podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on X/Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use the Hashtag #TFDPodcast to join the discussion. Listen to more episodes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on the podcast page of the website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tech Field Day⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information on upcoming and current event coverage ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on X/Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠visit our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    20 min
  5. 105. Busting All of the Myths Around Mythos

    28 APR

    105. Busting All of the Myths Around Mythos

    Learn more about Security Field Day 15 here. Is Mythos the future of cybersecurity, or just the latest AI hype cycle? In this episode of the Tech Field Day Podcast leading into Security Field Day, host Tom Hollingsworth is joined by Jack Poller, Karen Lopez, and Brett Wolmarans to break down the truth behind Anthropic Mythos model. The panel digs into whether Mythos is truly a breakthrough in vulnerability scanning or simply overhyped, comparing its capabilities to tools like Claude Sonnet. From exploit chaining and real-world vulnerabilities to the growing role of AI in development and security workflows, the discussion highlights both the promise and limitations of AI-driven security tools. The episode also explores how organizations should approach AI adoption, emphasizing practical strategies, developer awareness, and the importance of not relying on any single tool. As AI continues to evolve, this conversation offers a grounded look at what actually matters for securing modern environments. Panelists: Jack Poller, Principal Analyst at Paradigm Technica Karen Lopez, Senior Project Manager and Architect, InfoAdvisors Brett Wolmarans, Staff Solutions Engineer at KONG Hosts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tom Hollingsworth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Event Lead for Tech Field Day ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Alastair Cooke⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Event Lead at Tech Field Day ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stephen Foskett⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, President and Organizer of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tech Field Day⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow the Tech Field Day Podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on X/Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use the Hashtag #TFDPodcast to join the discussion. Listen to more episodes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on the podcast page of the website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tech Field Day⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information on upcoming and current event coverage ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on X/Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠visit our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    30 min
  6. 104. AI Networking Will Never Make It To The Enterprise

    21 APR

    104. AI Networking Will Never Make It To The Enterprise

    Learn more about ⁠Networking Field Day 40 here⁠. AI networking is driving innovation in the market like no other time in history. But the likelihood of all these advances filtering down into the enterprise is very slim. In this episode of the Tech Field Day Podcast, host Tom Hollingsworth and a panel of IT experts debate whether high-performance AI networking will ever truly penetrate the traditional enterprise. The discussion centers on the premise that the specialized, low-latency fabrics and ultra-high-speed Ethernet modules (like 800GbE) may be overkill for the average organization. While Ethernet continues to evolve to meet these demands, they question if the typical enterprise workload, primarily driven by human users rather than GPU clusters, actually requires the “trickery” of distributed flows and SmartNICs. The conversation shifts toward the practicalities of adoption, highlighting that while the technology exists, its integration into the enterprise is often limited by physical constraints like power, cooling, and the lack of a killer app. However, the guests suggest that AI networking might arrive in smaller, rack-optimized pods or self-contained black boxes as companies begin to train private models on their own sovereign data. Ultimately, the experts advise that while engineering teams must become literate in high-performance computing, organizations should be wary of over-provisioning for a future they may not yet need, lest their expensive high-speed infrastructure ends up collecting dust. Panelists: Jeff Ello, Head of AI at Purdue University Mike Witte, World Wide Technologies Vincent Celindro, Director of Strategic Sales & Technology at Quantum Foundry Hosts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tom Hollingsworth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Event Lead for Tech Field Day ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Alastair Cooke⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Event Lead at Tech Field Day ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stephen Foskett⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, President and Organizer of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tech Field Day⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow the Tech Field Day Podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on X/Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use the Hashtag #TFDPodcast to join the discussion. Listen to more episodes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on the podcast page of the website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tech Field Day⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information on upcoming and current event coverage ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on X/Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠visit our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    27 min
  7. SPOTLIGHT. Waiting for Data Is Not a Technical Problem Presented by IBM

    14 APR

    SPOTLIGHT. Waiting for Data Is Not a Technical Problem Presented by IBM

    Learn more about IBM Watsonx here. Keeping your AI applications waiting for data is not a technical problem; AI agents can help deliver the right data. This episode of the Tech Field Day podcast features Stephanie Valarezo from IBM, who discusses Agentic data enablement with Karen Lopez, Jim Czuprynski, and Alastair Cooke. Organizations face many critical challenges in providing high-quality, secure, and well-governed data at scale for AI, especially agentic AI applications. Beyond simply possessing data, the challenges include managing vast, disparate data sources across hybrid environments, ensuring rapid access, and building trust through robust data governance. IBM's Watsonx is presented as a comprehensive data foundation with pillars in AI, Data, and Governance, offering composable products for data integration, quality, cataloging, and the creation of automated data products. Autonomous agents for repetitive data tasks will allow data professionals to concentrate on higher-value activities such as architecture, policy design, and security. Ultimately, enabling organizations to build scalable, automated, and well-governed data ecosystems for their AI initiatives. IBM Representative: Stephanie Valarezo, Program Director, Product at IBM Panelists: Karen Lopez, Senior Project Manager and Architect, InfoAdvisors Jim Czuprynski, Chief Storyteller at Zero Defect Computing Hosts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tom Hollingsworth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Event Lead for Tech Field Day ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Alastair Cooke⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Event Lead at Tech Field Day ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stephen Foskett⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, President and Organizer of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tech Field Day⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow the Tech Field Day Podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on X/Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use the Hashtag #TFDPodcast to join the discussion. Listen to more episodes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on the podcast page of the website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tech Field Day⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information on upcoming and current event coverage ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on X/Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠visit our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    30 min
  8. 102. Networking Needs More Telemetry

    7 APR

    102. Networking Needs More Telemetry

    Learn more about Networking Field Day 40 here. Telemetry has become a critical component of modern networking, but organizations need better ways to harness the growing volume of data. In this episode of the Tech Field Day Podcast, Tom Hollingsworth is joined by Scott Robohn, Jason Gintert, and Pete Welcher to discuss how telemetry provides real-time insights into network performance, user behavior, and system health. They explore how diverse data sources—from network devices to applications and user endpoints—enable more informed, data-driven decisions. The panel also highlights the importance of turning telemetry into actionable insights through integration, analytics, and clear KPIs, while addressing challenges like data overload by focusing on relevant metrics and proper data structuring. Panelists: Scott Robohn, Founder, Solutional Pete Welcher, Networking Expert Jason Gintert, Consultant, Bits in Flight Hosts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tom Hollingsworth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Event Lead for Tech Field Day ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Alastair Cooke⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Event Lead at Tech Field Day ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stephen Foskett⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, President and Organizer of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tech Field Day⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow the Tech Field Day Podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on X/Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use the Hashtag #TFDPodcast to join the discussion. Listen to more episodes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on the podcast page of the website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tech Field Day⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information on upcoming and current event coverage ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on X/Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠visit our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    28 min

About

The Tech Field Day Podcast is the only podcast that dares to be both on topic, or on premise, and sometimes on location, bringing together a group of independent IT luminaries and experts in their field from around the Enterprise to discuss a single idea revolving around their technological knowledge base and skillset. This podcast is hosted by Stephen Foskett, Organizer of the Tech Field Day event series, and Tom Hollingsworth, Tech Field Day Event Lead.

You Might Also Like