Buffering

Zack Kilgore and Gabe Petersen
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Buffering - Powered by Calix is a weekly podcast hosted by Zack Kilgore and Gabe Petersen from the Calix Success and Field Strategy teams. We break down how marketing, data, and AI drive real-world growth, from customer experience to emerging tools and trends. With 25+ years of combined experience, Gabe and Zack cut through the noise on what drives results, where organizations get stuck, and how to optimize performance and growth. Views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the original creators, and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of external affiliates.

  1. -4 дн.

    Broadband Websites vs. AI: What Service Providers Are Getting Wrong

    This week on Buffering, we do something a little different. Instead of just talking about bad broadband websites, we built one. Based on real world ISP websites and real mistakes we see every day, we created the ultimate “what not to do” example packed with confusing pricing tables, outdated messaging, technical jargon, weather widgets, and download calculators straight out of 2009. Then we handed it over to AI to see what modern broadband experiences could actually look like. Join Zack and Gabe as they test Claude, Gemini, ChatGPT, and Copilot head to head to redesign a broadband provider website in real time. From experience driven service tiers and smarter buy flows to AI powered personalization and interactive subscriber journeys, this episode explores how communication providers can move beyond selling speeds and start selling connected lifestyles. If your website still feels like a utility portal instead of a modern digital experience, this episode is for you.

    44 мин.

  2. 26 мая

    A New Era for Search: Google's AI Revolution

    This week on Buffering, we are exploring Google's latest search transformation and what may be the biggest shift to search in more than 25 years. From the end of the ten blue links to AI powered answers, autonomous agents, and the rise of the synthetic consumer, the rules for how people discover information and interact online are changing in real time. As search evolves from finding information to delivering outcomes, businesses may need to rethink everything from content strategy to customer experience. Join Zack and Gabe as they break down the biggest announcements from Google I/O and what they mean for broadband providers and beyond. They discuss why SEO alone may no longer be enough, how AI agents could reshape customer interactions, why stale content is becoming a liability, and what happens when your next customer might not actually be human.

    34 мин.

  3. 19 мая

    The Conversion Crisis: What Bad Websites Actually Cost

    This week on Buffering, we are diving into the state of broadband websites in 2026 and asking a simple question: what is a bad website actually costing you? From outdated service pages and broken buyer flows to zombie pages, endless pricing tables, and mobile experiences that still feel stuck in 2014, Zack and Gabe unpack why so many providers are still losing customers before the sale even starts. They also explore how AI is completely reshaping the rules of web design, search, and conversion optimization, and why the old “refresh your website every few years” mindset no longer works. Join Zack and Gabe as they break down the hidden friction points killing conversions, debate the future of service tiers, and share practical ways providers can use AI to rapidly improve their websites without massive agency budgets. Along the way, they explore what it means to build websites for both humans and AI agents, why personalization matters more than ever, and how your website can either become your best salesperson or your most expensive liability.

    38 мин.

  4. 11 мая

    Architecting Intelligence: A Long-Term Approach to AI in Telecom with Frank Ploumen

    This week on Buffering, Gabe and Zack are joined by Frank Ploumen, SVP of Product Line Leadership at Calix, to unpack a growing risk in today’s AI race: “AI orphans.” As service providers accelerate experimentation, many are deploying isolated AI solutions that deliver short term wins but fail to scale, integrate, or sustain long term value. Frank shares why this pattern is emerging, how it mirrors past technology cycles like IoT, and what it means for the future of telecom. Join Frank, Gabe, and Zack as they explore how providers can move beyond fragmented point solutions toward cohesive, end to end AI strategies. From orchestration and governance to seamless customer experiences and click to buy journeys, this episode breaks down what it takes to design AI that actually drives business outcomes and avoids becoming tomorrow’s technical debt.

    38 мин.

  5. 28 апр.

    The ROI of Customer Experience: Turning Loyalty into Growth with Jon Picoult

    This week on Buffering, we welcome back Jon Picoult, founder of Watermark Consulting and author of From Impressed to Obsessed, to break down the real business impact of customer experience. With nearly two decades of data from his firm’s Customer Experience ROI Study, Jon shares why companies that win on experience don’t just earn loyalty, they dramatically outperform the market. From a 7.8x return advantage over laggards to hundreds of percentage points of outperformance vs. the S&P 500, this episode unpacks why CX is no longer a “nice-to-have,” but a proven growth strategy. Join Jon, Gabe, and Zack as they explore what actually drives those results, how to convince skeptical leaders that CX pays off, and what it takes to evolve from a traditional service provider into a true experience-driven business. Plus, they discuss how these insights apply beyond public companies, especially for broadband providers looking to increase ARPU, reduce churn, and build lasting customer relationships.

    34 мин.

  6. 21 апр.

    The Satellite Threat: Amazon’s $11B Bet on Your Customers

    This week on Buffering, we are talking about Amazon making their boldest move yet in the connectivity space with a $12 billion acquisition of Globalstar, and why communication service providers need to pay attention. Join Zack and Gabe as we discuss the “good enough” experience that’s winning over subscribers, the ease-of-purchase advantage tech giants have, and more as we explore why competing on specs alone is a losing game, and how CSPs can take action today to protect their markets and grow customer loyalty.

    42 мин.

  7. 14 апр.

    The Builder Era: The AI Shift You Can’t Ignore

    This week on Buffering, we are exploring what it actually looks like to build with AI, not just talk about it. Join Zack and Gabe as we kick things off with a quick run through the latest AI news and some hot takes, then move into what we’ve actually been building over the past couple of weeks, and how fast ideas are turning into working tools. Join us as we walk through how we’re using real-world data to recommend better internet plans, how we’re replacing rigid signup quizzes with smarter, more adaptive experiences, and how post-install network data can help us time and shape better customer conversations. We also look at how CXPs show up in AI-driven search—and why that’s becoming just as important as traditional SEO. The big takeaway from this one: the tools are here, the build time is short, and the opportunity is in figuring out what to actually build.

    40 мин.

  8. 31 мар.

    Using AI vs. Building With It: The Divide That Will Define Careers

    This week on Buffering, Gabe and Zack dive into the critical difference between using AI and actually building with it—and why that distinction is about to define the next generation of high performers. From breaking down why clicking “accept” on a co-pilot suggestion isn’t real AI fluency to sharing real examples of tools they’ve built in hours (instead of paying thousands), they explore how context, curiosity, and a willingness to experiment separate those who will accelerate in their careers from those who will plateau. Along the way, they unpack the evolving AI landscape—from why apps like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini still dominate, to how “AI expert” is becoming the next overused resume buzzword (just like “Excel expert”). They also share practical, real-world examples across marketing, sales, and operations, plus a simple call to action: start small, build something repeatable, and make your work visible. Because in this new era, it’s not about asking better prompts—it’s about turning ideas into working tools.

    39 мин.
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Buffering - Powered by Calix is a weekly podcast hosted by Zack Kilgore and Gabe Petersen from the Calix Success and Field Strategy teams. We break down how marketing, data, and AI drive real-world growth, from customer experience to emerging tools and trends. With 25+ years of combined experience, Gabe and Zack cut through the noise on what drives results, where organizations get stuck, and how to optimize performance and growth. Views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the original creators, and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of external affiliates.

Информация

  • Автор
    Zack Kilgore and Gabe Petersen
  • Годы выхода
    2022 - 2026
  • Выпуски
    132
  • Ограничения
    Без ненормативной лексики
  • Авторские права
    © Zack Kilgore and Gabe Petersen
  • Сайт подкаста
    Buffering

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