Silicon Valley Front Row

Steve Ispas and David Lam

0.0 (0)
Tech News
Updated Semiweekly

Silicon Valley Front Row. Join us as we talk tech from a dialectical lens. You will hear about innovations, developments, and the other side too: addictions and potential problems. You’ll also join the conversation as we bring in experts, look at trends, and solutions to issues that shape how we live.

Oct 10

The Epoch Times CFO on the Price of Telling the Truth, No Matter Who It Upsets

What does it cost to run a news organization that answers to no shareholders, no government, and no big advertisers? In this episode of Silicon Valley Front Row, Steve Ispas and David sit down with William Chung, CFO of The Epoch Times, to talk about the price of staying independent and telling the truth, no matter who it upsets. William explains how a nonprofit media company funds itself, with about 90 percent of revenue coming from reader subscriptions, and why The Epoch Times keeps advertising to a minimum and avoids donations from industries it reports on, such as big pharma. He describes what it is like to run a newsroom that receives frequent bomb threats by email, and what he says happens when the FBI cannot trace threats that come from overseas. He also shares how, since 2020, the company has faced restrictions on Facebook ads, lower visibility on Google search, and YouTube demonetization that he says took monthly revenue from six figures to zero overnight. William also tells his own story: growing up in a small village in China with one television channel, moving to Hong Kong at seven, joining the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests as a middle school student, and leaving for the United States at 18. We talk about how that experience shaped his belief in independent journalism, the company’s move into health content and documentaries, its international expansion, and where he sees The Epoch Times in the next ten years. Two questions for you: What do you think about big tech platforms shaping what speech gets seen in America? And when you want the news, do you go to social media and aggregators, or straight to the source? Silicon Valley Front Row brings you conversations with the people shaping business, media, and culture in the Bay Area and beyond.
Oct 1

In Search of a Secret Beach and Sea Cave in Northern California

Can you reach the hidden crater at Limantour Beach in Point Reyes National Park? This secret sea cave is only accessible at low tide, and we hiked three miles along the beach to find out. In this episode of Silicon Valley Front Row, host Steve Ispas meets fellow hikers in the parking lot, learns the story behind the collapsed sea cave, and races the clock across soft sand, a creek, and a river flowing into the ocean. Along the way we explore rock tunnels, a sea cave, and one of the biggest mussel beds we've ever seen. The tide had other plans. Find out how close we got, what the crater looks like from the edge, and what happened to our hiking boots. Watch the full episode for a Bay Area adventure that doesn't go quite as planned.
Jul 11

Happy 250th America! Silicon Valley Front Row Joins the Redwood City July 4th Parade

Silicon Valley Front Row celebrates America's 250th birthday at the Redwood City Fourth of July Parade! Steve Ispas and David Lam hit the streets to check out some truly incredible participants — from a 1929 Ford that tops out at 35 mph on El Camino Real, to a 1940 Canadian-made Chevy Master 85 with only 64,000 miles, a 1944 WWII Army Duck rebuilt over three years, a stunning 1960 Corvette, and a modified 2020 Corvette C8 from TTS Motorsports right here in Santa Clara. Along the way they talk to classic car owners about their restoration journeys, catch live music from Redwood City natives bringing sounds to the community, and meet the Falun Dafa meditation group celebrating American freedom — many of whom escaped from CCP China and never miss the chance to honor the liberty they've found here. With Epoch Times riding along as part of the parade, it's a festive, patriotic, and truly community-driven Fourth of July episode unlike anything Silicon Valley Front Row has done before. What does America's 250th anniversary mean to you? Drop your thoughts in the comments! Like, subscribe, and hit the bell so you never miss an episode of Silicon Valley Front Row. #July4th #FourthOfJuly #RedwoodCity #ClassicCars #America250 #SiliconValleyFrontRow #July4thParade #BayArea #VintageCars #IndependenceDay
Jul 6

USA vs Bosnia Post-Game Interviews + Preview vs Belgium | Stadium Reactions

Steve and David hit the crowd to talk to fans from all over the world — Guatemala, Romania, Morocco, China, Colombia, Bosnia, Wisconsin, England, and right here in the Bay Area — getting their reactions to the game, their thoughts on the controversial red card, that stunning Tillman free kick, and their predictions for the next match against Belgium on July 6. The game happened just three days before July 4th, making the win feel extra symbolic. Even the Bosnian fans we talked to were happy to be part of the experience. And as Steve noted — this was also the last World Cup game ever played at Levi's Stadium, making it a night nobody in the Bay Area will forget. Do you think the USA can beat Belgium? Who do you think wins the whole tournament? Drop your predictions in the comments! Like, subscribe, and hit the bell so you never miss an episode of Silicon Valley Front Row. #USASoccer #WorldCup2026 #LevisStadium #USAvsBosnia #SiliconValleyFrontRow #FIFAWorldCup #WorldCupFans #SantaClara #BayArea #USMensNationalTeam
Jun 20

We Biked Around Apple's Spaceship Campus — Here's What We Found

Silicon Valley Front Row goes straight to the source — Apple Park, the iconic spaceship-shaped headquarters in Cupertino. In this episode, we bike around the entire mile-long campus to show you what the neighborhood actually looks like, since heavy security means getting close to the building itself is nearly impossible. Designed by Steve Jobs with over 9,000 trees and 80% green space, Apple Park feels more like a forest than the headquarters of the third largest company in the world. We visit the public Visitor Center, try out the AR experience that lets you "see" the building through an iPad, check out the Mac Café and merchandise, and walk right up to the Steve Jobs Theater entrance — even if employees politely (and very firmly) decline to chat with us along the way. From the Sunnyvale-Cupertino border to the quiet residential streets surrounding the campus, this episode gives you the closest look possible at one of the most secretive and iconic tech campuses in the world — without a drone. Have you ever been to Apple Park? What was your experience like? Let us know in the comments! Like, subscribe, and hit the bell so you never miss an episode of Silicon Valley Front Row. #ApplePark #Apple #Cupertino #SiliconValley #SteveJobs #TechCampus #SiliconValleyFrontRow #AppleHeadquarters #TechTour #SpaceshipBuilding
Jun 17

The World Cup Experience: Fans React to the Switzerland vs. Qatar Draw

The World Cup has officially arrived in Silicon Valley! Silicon Valley Front Row was on the ground at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara for the opening match between Switzerland and Qatar, which ended in a 1-1 tie, keeping both teams' hopes alive for the next round. Host David Lam roamed the crowd talking to passionate fans from Switzerland, Qatar, Colombia, and Romania, getting their takes on the match, their World Cup travel plans across LA, Vancouver, and beyond, and their bold predictions for who will lift the trophy. France, Spain, Argentina, and Brazil all came up as favorites — but every fan had their own take. From a quick lesson in Swiss German to fans living their World Cup dream by hopping between host cities, this episode captures the electric, festive energy of the World Cup's first stop in Santa Clara. Who do you think is going to win the World Cup? Let us know your predictions in the comments! Like, subscribe, and hit the bell so you never miss an episode of Silicon Valley Front Row. #WorldCup2026 #LevisStadium #SantaClara #SwitzerlandvsQatar #WorldCupFans #SiliconValleyFrontRow #FIFAWorldCup #SoccerFans #WorldCupTravel #BayArea
Jun 13

We Attended Microsoft's Data Center Groundbreaking in Silicon Valley — Here's What We Saw

Silicon Valley Front Row was on the ground at a major milestone — the official groundbreaking ceremony for Microsoft's new 48 megawatt data center in Alviso, right at the border of San Jose and Milpitas. Hosts Steve Ispas and David Lam took you behind the scenes of the event, featuring the San Jose mayor, Microsoft VPs, city council members, six bulldozers, and yes — they grabbed a shovel. The facility, built in partnership with HIT Construction, is designed with sustainability in mind — recycling water from a nearby plant and utilizing renewable energy sources. At 48 megawatts it's considered smaller by industry standards, especially after California regulations capped what they had originally petitioned for at 99 megawatts. The project is expected to be completed by 2027. But here's the big question Steve raises: with AI evolving at breakneck speed, will this data center even be needed by the time it's finished? It's a massive investment in a landscape that could look completely different in just 18 months. What do you think about data centers being built on unused land in Silicon Valley? Is this the right move for the region? Let us know in the comments! Like, subscribe, and hit the bell so you never miss an episode of Silicon Valley Front Row. #Microsoft #DataCenter #SiliconValley #SanJose #AIInfrastructure #Groundbreaking #CloudComputing #TechNews #SiliconValleyFrontRow #Sustainability
Jun 6

Eric Schmidt Gets BOOED by 9,000 Students for Pushing AI, And Here's Why

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt was booed repeatedly by nearly 9,000 graduating students at the University of Arizona after telling them to ""accept AI"" and ""find a way to say yes."" In Episode 49 of Silicon Valley Front Row, hosts Steve Ispas and David Lam break down the viral moment clip by clip — and ask the question nobody in Silicon Valley wants to answer: are tech executives lying to the next generation about AI and jobs? Steve and David also dive into Artisan AI's controversial ""Stop Hiring Humans"" ad campaign, the growing debate over AI use in college assignments, and whether anyone can actually tell the difference between human and AI-written content anymore. The Class of 2026 is entering one of the toughest job markets in recent memory — and they're not buying what the billionaires are selling. Are they right to be skeptical? Do you think the students' reaction was warranted? Can tech CEOs be trusted when they say AI won't take jobs? Drop your thoughts below! Like, subscribe, and hit the bell so you never miss an episode of Silicon Valley Front Row. #EricSchmidt #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #GoogleCEO #AIJobs #ClassOf2026 #SiliconValleyFrontRow #TechNews #ArtisanAI #AIDebate

Silicon Valley Front Row. Join us as we talk tech from a dialectical lens. You will hear about innovations, developments, and the other side too: addictions and potential problems. You’ll also join the conversation as we bring in experts, look at trends, and solutions to issues that shape how we live.

Creator

Steve Ispas and David Lam
Years Active

2025 - 2026
Episodes

48
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© 2025
Show Website

Silicon Valley Front Row