What The Tech Podcast (AU)

Rene Essomba + Vivienne Mutembwa

Welcome to "What The Tech Podcast (AU)", the podcast where we break down the latest discoveries in AI and technology so everyone can understand. Hosted by tech enthusiasts Rene and Jorge, we simplify complex concepts, explore real-world applications, and discuss the future of tech—all in a fun, engaging way. Whether you're a curious beginner or a seasoned professional, join us for insightful conversations, expert interviews, and live demos that bring tech to life. Subscribe now to stay ahead in the ever-evolving world of technology!

  1. Aug 12

    Bad Tokens Cost Good Money w/ Beibei Guo

    This is a #paidpartnership with Commonwealth Bank  AI is moving from hype and experimentation into real-world execution but what does it actually take to make AI work safely and responsibly at scale?  In this episode of What The Tech Podcast (AU), Rene and Vivienne sit down with Beibei Guo from CommBank to explore what AI adoption looks like inside large organisations.  This conversation goes beyond demos and tools. We unpack the deeper foundations required for AI to create real value: trust, governance, data quality, engineering discipline, workforce capability and human judgment.  Beibei shares a grounded perspective on why AI is different from previous technology waves, why strong data foundations matter, how AI is changing the way people learn and work, and why leaders need to think carefully about what should be automated, augmented or left firmly in human hands.  We also explore real-world examples of AI in financial services, fraud prevention, customer experience and workforce enablement and what these examples reveal about the future of responsible AI adoption in Australia.  In this episode, we cover:  • Why AI experimentation does not automatically become execution  • What makes AI different from cloud, internet and previous technology waves  • Why trust and governance must be built into AI workflows  • How data foundations shape AI reliability and customer experience  • Why AI is both an amplifier and a mirror  • How AI is changing learning, leadership and capability building  • The trade-offs leaders must navigate between speed, risk and rigour  • What responsible AI adoption looks like inside large enterprises  If you are interested in AI adoption, responsible AI, enterprise technology, data foundations, AI governance or the future of work, this episode is for you.  Subscribe to What The Tech Podcast (AU) for grounded conversations on AI, technology and the real-world trade-offs shaping Australia’s future.

  2. May 11

    AI Is Changing Software Development — But There’s a Catch w/ Gerardo Estaba

    AI is changing the software development lifecycle — from how ideas are prototyped, to how products are built, secured and shipped. In this episode of What The Tech Podcast (AU), Rene and Vivienne sit down with Gerardo Estaba from Supabase to explore the rise of the AI development lifecycle and what it means for developers, founders, product teams and modern organisations. We unpack how AI-assisted coding, vibe coding, Postgres, open-source platforms and tools like Supabase are changing the way software gets built. Gerardo also explains why many teams do not really have a scaling problem — they have a complexity problem — and why faster software development can create bigger risks if security, data access and engineering fundamentals are ignored. In this episode, we cover: • How AI is compressing the traditional software development lifecycle• Why vibe coding is helping more people become software builders• How Supabase simplifies the backend for modern applications• Why Postgres still matters in the AI era• The difference between building a prototype and shipping production software• Why prompt-based security is not enough• How row-level security helps protect data access• Why technical debt may increase as more non-technical users build apps• Why deep engineering judgement still matters when AI writes more code• How open-source platforms reduce vendor lock-in• What software development could look like in the next few years This episode is for developers, founders, product leaders, AI builders and anyone trying to understand where software development is heading next. Subscribe to What The Tech Podcast (AU) for grounded conversations on AI, software, data and the future of technology. Newsletter: www.whatthetech.com.au

  3. Apr 6

    Who Owns Your Data in the AI Era? w/ Dr Sue Keay

    In this episode of What The Tech Podcast (AU), we sat down with Dr Sue Keay – a leading voice in Australia’s AI and robotics ecosystem – to explore a question shaping the future of technology: Who owns the data behind AI — and who really benefits from it? As artificial intelligence moves from hype to real-world adoption, the conversation is no longer just about what AI can do. It’s about data ownership, decision-making, and how organisations build capability in an increasingly complex landscape. We unpack what AI adoption actually looks like on the ground in Australia today, why many organisations are still stuck in experimentation, and what separates those who deliver real outcomes from those who fall behind. We also explore the growing importance of AI enablement inside organisations, the role of leadership and culture, and why data is becoming a true source of competitive advantage. This is a grounded, practical conversation about AI in the real world — from boardrooms to industry, not theory or hype. If you work in tech, leadership, or policy or are trying to understand where AI is heading in Australia, this episode will challenge how you think about data, ownership, and innovation. 🎧 New episodes monthlyYou can also follow us on Substack

  4. Feb 26

    How AI Shapes Product Design w/ CJ

    In this episode of What The Tech Podcast (AU), we sit down with Christina Jones, Head of Design at Canva, to explore a question shaping the future of creativity: How does AI change the way we design products used by millions of people? As generative AI becomes embedded into everyday tools, design is no longer just about layout and aesthetics. It’s about systems thinking, experimentation, evaluation frameworks, and making responsible choices at scale. We unpack what “good design” means in the age of AI, how teams evaluate AI-generated images and content before they reach users, and why AI literacy is becoming a core skill for designers and product leaders alike. Christina also shares insights on ethics, originality, cultural context, and the tension between automation and human craft. This is a grounded, practical conversation about building AI responsibly inside real products — not theory, not hype. If you work in tech, product, design, innovation, or policy, this episode will challenge how you think about creativity in the AI era. 🎧 New episodes monthly You can also follow us on Substack

  5. Jan 26

    Australia versus Big Tech w/ Dave Lemphers

    In the Season 2 opener of What The Tech Podcast (AU), we sat down with Dave Lemphers, CEO and co-founder of Maincode, to ask a question Australia can no longer ignore: Should Australia build its own AI or stay dependent on Big Tech? Recorded ahead of Maincode’s public showcase of Matilda, an Australian-developed AI model, this episode cuts through hype to explore what Australian-made AI really means in practice. We unpacked open-source vs closed models, data sovereignty, AI agents vs chatbots, enterprise readiness, and the real trade-offs between speed, control, and capability. Dave brings a grounded, engineering-first perspective on why many organisations aren’t ready for full autonomy yet and what Australia must do to move from AI consumer to AI builder. If you care about Australia’s role in the global AI landscape, this episode is for you. 🎧 New episodes monthly 📬 Also available as a newsletter on Substack

  6. 12/03/2025

    Cisco Live Melbourne Exec Interview w/ Julie Canepa (Part 2)

    In Part 2 of our Cisco exec series from Cisco Live Melbourne 2025, we sat down with Julie Canepa—long-time Cisco IT leader and former CIO for Australia & New Zealand who later led digital transformation and CX programs across Asia Pacific, Japan & China—to unpack how AI strategy becomes real business impact. We cover moving from pilots to scale, building guardrails that accelerate delivery, linking AI to customer-experience KPIs, and reskilling teams for “everyday AI.” What you’ll learn: The scale playbook: ownership, controls, and value stories that land with the business. People–Process–Technology: raising AI fluency and reskilling at speed. Measuring what matters: tying AI to CX and board-level outcomes. “Everyday AI”: practical agent patterns beyond the demo stage. Guest: Julie Canepa (Cisco ANZ CIO; APJC digital transformation/CX leader). Series: Special Cisco Executive Interviews — Part 2 (recorded around Cisco Live Melbourne 2025).

  7. 11/30/2025

    Cisco Live Melbourne Exec Interview w/ Mary De Wysocki (Part 1)

    During our time at Cisco Live Melbourne 2025, we sat down with Mary de Wysocki, Cisco’s first-ever Chief Sustainability Officer, to unpack how circular design, energy-efficient data centres, and value-chain transparency can power AI responsibly—without blowing the carbon budget. Under Mary’s leadership, Cisco has now incorporated Circular Design Principles into 100% of new products and packaging (FY25 goal achieved)—a key milestone that turns sustainability into an innovation driver for the AI era. 🎧 In this episode:• What “AI-ready” infrastructure means in practice (efficiency + resilience)• Bringing engineers into the sustainability process so efficiency becomes innovation• Circularity at scale across Cisco’s portfolio and supply chain• Why these moves matter as AI demand surges post-Cisco Live Melbourne 2025 #CiscoLive #Melbourne #Cisco #Sustainability #ChiefSustainabilityOfficer #AI #DataCentres #CircularDesign #EnergyEfficiency #NetZero #ESG #TechForGood #WhatTheTechPodcast

  8. 11/01/2025

    AI-Driven Data Engineering w/ Christopher Simusokwe (S1-E10)

    In this season finale, we sit down with Christopher Simusokwe, a seasoned data leader with over two decades of experience building and leading data engineering teams across finance, telco, and mining. Together, we explore how AI is reshaping the world of data engineering — from evolving roles and real-time architectures to what it really takes to future-proof your career as automation and AI become deeply embedded in data systems. Chris shares practical insights from the trenches: how to balance depth vs breadth in your technical growth, build pipelines that serve both humans and machines, and transition from reactive “data janitors” to proactive data product owners. Whether you’re a data engineer, AI professional, or simply curious about the future of modern data systems, this episode breaks down how automation, orchestration, and reasoning are redefining what it means to work with data.

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About

Welcome to "What The Tech Podcast (AU)", the podcast where we break down the latest discoveries in AI and technology so everyone can understand. Hosted by tech enthusiasts Rene and Jorge, we simplify complex concepts, explore real-world applications, and discuss the future of tech—all in a fun, engaging way. Whether you're a curious beginner or a seasoned professional, join us for insightful conversations, expert interviews, and live demos that bring tech to life. Subscribe now to stay ahead in the ever-evolving world of technology!

Information

  • Creator
    Rene Essomba + Vivienne Mutembwa
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Rene Essomba + Vivienne Mutembwa
  • Show Website
    What The Tech Podcast (AU)