Bytes and Banter

Produced by PodTechs
  • 5.0 (2)
  • TECHNOLOGY
Bytes and Banter

Are you an Information Technology professional? Do you work in the IT industry? This podcast is for you. Bytes and Banter is hosted by HDI Local Chapters.

  1. 1D AGO

    The #1 Skill Set of the Future: It's not AI...it's people skills

    Jo McRell is the author of "Making Work Work for You" and an innovative employee experience strategist. She’s helped organizations like Google, Intuit, Meta and Gusto better empower their employees. Through her work and the AI ERA Community she co-founded, Jo equips employees and leaders with the tools to navigate disruptions in employee culture, tech, and work models so they can thrive in the future of work.    www.jomcrell.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HDI Local Chapters is an all volunteer not-for-profit that brings Technical Support professionals together to connect, share and discuss common challenges, and learn from industry innovators and each other --- https://www.hdilocalchapters.org ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bytes and Banter Podcast Team   Creative Producer/Host: Rocky McGuire - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rockymcguire/ Executive Producer: Terri Oropeza - https://www.linkedin.com/in/toropeza/ Associate Producer: Colleen Rush - https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleen-rush-3603241/ Associate Producer - Daniel Guinto - https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-guinto-7b723630/ Technical Producer: Dustin Canter - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustincanter/ Podcast Operating System: https://www.PodTechs.com Post-Production: https://www.PodTechs.com

    50 min

  2. MAR 13

    Demand for Skilled Talent: Overcoming the Skills Gap and Unlocking Opportunities

    In this episode, we explore the growing tech skills gap and how it creates both challenges and opportunities for organizations and professionals. With high demand for expertise in AI, machine learning, cybersecurity, and cloud technologies, companies are facing barriers like tech debt and skill shortages. We’ll discuss how in-demand skills can help professionals stand out, while tech leaders navigate priorities like AI governance, security, and modernization. Plus, we’ll highlight the increasing need for contract workers to fill critical roles and ways to future-proof your team in this competitive landscape. Featuring brand new data from the Robert Half Demand for Skilled Talent report, join us as we provide fresh insights into the tech talent shortage and its impact. The Demand for Skilled Talent report can be accessed here: Tech specific: 2025 Tech and IT Job Trends https://www.roberthalf.com/us/en/insights/salary-hiring-trends/demand-for-skilled-talent/tech-it  Full report: Employment Trends in 2025: Demand for Skilled Talent https://www.roberthalf.com/us/en/insights/salary-hiring-trends/demand-for-skilled-talent  Guest Bio - George Clauser is AVP & Branch Director at global talent solutions firm, Robert Half. A staffing veteran with nearly a decade of experience, George has successfully assisted companies with contract and contract-to-hire candidates and consultants for projects ranging from web development and multiplatform systems integration to network security and technical support. Concurrently, George serves as a board member for the HDI Chicagoland chapter. George holds a BA in Political Science from the University of Illinois Chicago and attended Valparaiso University School of Law.    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HDI Local Chapters is an all volunteer not-for-profit that brings Technical Support professionals together to connect, share and discuss common challenges, and learn from industry innovators and each other --- https://www.hdilocalchapters.org ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bytes and Banter Podcast Team   Creative Producer/Host: Rocky McGuire - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rockymcguire/ Executive Producer: Terri Oropeza - https://www.linkedin.com/in/toropeza/ Associate Producer: Colleen Rush - https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleen-rush-3603241/ Associate Producer - Daniel Guinto - https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-guinto-7b723630/ Technical Producer: Dustin Canter - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustincanter/ Podcast Operating System: https://www.PodTechs.com Post-Production: https://www.PodTechs.com

    22 min

  3. MAR 3

    Go Behind the Curtain of Bytes and Banter!

    Ever wondered what it takes to bring a tech podcast to life? In Episode 16, we pull back the curtain for an exclusive interview with the producers of Bytes and Banter! Get a behind-the-scenes look at the vision, challenges, and magic that make each episode happen. HDI Local Chapters, a non-profit volunteer organization, is committed to empowering the tech community through knowledge and innovation. Join us as we explore the journey of building a platform for thought-provoking conversations in IT Support, Service Management, and beyond. 🔊 Tune in and discover the stories behind the stories! #BytesAndBanter #TechPodcast #BehindTheScenes  Watch the episodes on YouTube: Bytes and Banter Second Paragraph: Guest Biography    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HDI Local Chapters is an all volunteer not-for-profit that brings Technical Support professionals together to connect, share and discuss common challenges, and learn from industry innovators and each other --- https://www.hdilocalchapters.org ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bytes and Banter Podcast Team   Creative Producer/Host: Rocky McGuire - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rockymcguire/ Executive Producer: Terri Oropeza - https://www.linkedin.com/in/toropeza/ Associate Producer: Colleen Rush - https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleen-rush-3603241/ Associate Producer - Daniel Guinto - https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-guinto-7b723630/ Technical Producer: Dustin Canter - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustincanter/ Podcast Operating System: https://www.PodTechs.com Post-Production: https://www.PodTechs.com

    21 min

  4. FEB 12

    The Cybersecurity Shift: Transforming Customer Service Skills into Security Expertise

    Kevin Apolinario is an experienced IT professional with over 12 years of customer service experience and eight years in IT support and system administration. Specializing in cybersecurity and blue team tools such as Microsoft Defender and Microsoft Sentinel, he serves as an Information Technology Security Specialist at Ollion, where he focuses on deploying endpoint security solutions and managing identity and access controls. His expertise also includes implementing antivirus solutions and conducting vulnerability scans to strengthen cybersecurity defenses. Beyond his technical role, Kevin is a dedicated technical trainer and speaker committed to mentoring aspiring IT professionals. Through his YouTube channel, Kevtech IT Support, and various training platforms, he has helped over 24,000 individuals secure IT support roles. His instructional content covers topics such as CompTIA A+, Network+, entry-level helpdesk skills, customer service, and resume writing. Kevin has shared his insights at organizations including Microsoft, Jobtrain, Upwardly Global, Spiceworks, HDI, and Merit America. Passionate about guiding individuals into the tech industry through non-traditional pathways, he continues to inspire and educate the next generation of IT professionals. Kevin Website https://www.kevtechitsupport.com/     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HDI Local Chapters is an all volunteer not-for-profit that brings Technical Support professionals together to connect, share and discuss common challenges, and learn from industry innovators and each other --- https://www.hdilocalchapters.org ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bytes and Banter Podcast Team   Creative Producer/Host: Rocky McGuire - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rockymcguire/ Executive Producer: Terri Oropeza - https://www.linkedin.com/in/toropeza/ Associate Producer: Colleen Rush - https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleen-rush-3603241/ Technical Producer: Dustin Canter - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustincanter/ Podcast Operating System: https://www.PodTechs.com Post-Production: https://www.PodTechs.com

    46 min

  5. JAN 29

    Convergence: Bridging Two Worlds with Experience Management

    Doug Rabold, North America XLA Institute Evangelist and long-time Disney enthusiast, discusses his career pivot from Sales to IT and how experience management is reshaping IT Service Management. He shares insights on shifting Service Desks from reactive to proactive support, delivering exceptional experiences, and the growing impact of XLAs in North America. Doug also previews the future of experience management and its role in elevating IT leadership in 2025. XLA Institute https://www.linkedin.com/company/xla-institute/  Doug Rabold is a committed CX and ITSM Leader who has led high-performing global teams of up to 350 resources and managed a portfolio of contracts exceeding $60M annual revenue. He is an acknowledged Customer Experience and Employee Experience expert who focuses on developing talent to deliver exceptional support. Doug attended University of Illinois, holds numerous certifications and is a Certified Instructor. He has extensive public speaking experience, is a frequent podcast guest, and a contributing author to several publications. Doug is the XLA Institute North America Evangelist, Past-Chairman of the HDI Board of Directors, sits on the ITAM Forum Strategic Advisory Council and AOTMP Advisory Council. Doug was named 2021 AOTMP IT Management Professional of the Year, was a finalist for 2021 HDI Best Service and Support Manager and was selected as People’s Choice Winner for 2018 HDI Manager of the Year. He was named an HDI Top 25 ITSM Thought Leader 2022-24. Doug was selected by Customer Experience Magazine as a Top 25 CXMStar Influencer in 2023-24. He was a 2023 Top 50 CX Influencer by CX Network, AOTMP University Influencer, and MattsenKumar CX Thought Leader. He was recently named a 2024 ICMI Top 25 CX Thought Leader   ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HDI Local Chapters is an all volunteer not-for-profit that brings Technical Support professionals together to connect, share and discuss common challenges, and learn from industry innovators and each other --- https://www.hdilocalchapters.org ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bytes and Banter Podcast Team   Creative Producer/Host: Rocky McGuire - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rockymcguire/ Executive Producer: Terri Oropeza - https://www.linkedin.com/in/toropeza/ Associate Producer: Colleen Rush - https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleen-rush-3603241/ Associate Producer - Daniel Guinto - https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-guinto-7b723630/ Technical Producer: Dustin Canter - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustincanter/ Podcast Operating System: https://www.PodTechs.com Post-Production: https://www.PodTechs.com

    50 min

  6. JAN 16

    Rebooting Leadership: Preventing Burnout and Elevating Tech Leaders with Lisa Duerre

    Lisa Duerre is the CEO & Co-Founder of RLD Group, a Collective of Leadership Development Coaching and Consulting Experts helping Tech Companies take culture transformation out of the clouds, banish burnout, and drive bottom-line results by co-creating Strengths-Based Leadership Development Solutions. RLD Group is a WBENC Certified (WBE, WSOB) Leadership Consulting Firm with expertise in HR strategy and organizational design, developing leadership pipelines, talent retention, burnout prevention, and team performance in the complex hybrid-work world for Leaders in Tech. Lisa spent 20+ years in Silicon Valley as a top-level executive inside Fortune 500 tech companies. Now, she leverages her corporate experience and gift of facilitation and leadership development to help organizations to put the heart of the human back in Tech and create the FIRM Leaders of tomorrow. Lisa’s insights have been featured by leading NBC, CBS, ABC, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Entrepreneur, WomLead Magazine, FeedSpot, Thrive Global, Authority Magazine, Romper, The Mercury News, and more. Lisa is also the host of Ctrl+Alt+Delete with Lisa Duerre™ Podcast, rated in the top 10 Podcasts on Technical Leadership by FeedSpot - a gold mine of no-nonsense conversations between Lisa and top leadership experts & business executives across all industries to equip leaders in tech with practical tools to help them thrive at work and in life. Lisa is actively raising awareness for Lipedema as she discusses her journey of discovering that she’s been living with this disease, a misunderstood and underdiagnosed condition affecting as many as 1 in 11 women. When she’s not living the busy CEO life of leading RLD Group or paving the way for leaders in tech, Lisa loves exploring her home area of Portland, Oregon with her co-founder & husband, Randy, their daughter Emily, and their fun-loving Cavapoo, Yogi. Media Kit: https://rldgroupllc.com/media-kit-lisa-duerre    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HDI Local Chapters is an all volunteer not-for-profit that brings Technical Support professionals together to connect, share and discuss common challenges, and learn from industry innovators and each other --- https://www.hdilocalchapters.org ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bytes and Banter Podcast Team   Creative Producer/Host: Rocky McGuire - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rockymcguire/ Executive Producer: Terri Oropeza - https://www.linkedin.com/in/toropeza/ Associate Producer: Colleen Rush - https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleen-rush-3603241/ Associate Producer - Daniel Guinto - https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-guinto-7b723630/ Technical Producer: Dustin Canter - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustincanter/ Podcast Operating System: https://www.PodTechs.com Post-Production: https://www.PodTechs.com

    38 min

  7. 12/05/2024

    Ramen or Rent? Fueling a Career You’ll Never Regret

    Visit Splashtop Website - https://www.splashtop.com/home Stephen Ng is an accomplished professional with extensive experience in building and leading high-performing organizations across Service Delivery, Support, Call Centers, Technical Support Escalations, and Critical Account Management. He has a strong background in managing technical support operations domestically and internationally, leveraging existing resources and driving transformative changes to reduce costs, enhance revenue, and meet targeted margin goals. Stephen is a results-oriented, process-driven leader known for developing actionable plans that meet service delivery performance commitments, ensure customer satisfaction, and contribute to overall company success. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HDI Local Chapters is an all volunteer not-for-profit that brings Technical Support professionals together to connect, share and discuss common challenges, and learn from industry innovators and each other --- https://www.hdilocalchapters.org ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bytes and Banter Podcast Team Creative Producer/Host: Rocky McGuire - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rockymcguire/ Executive Producer: Terri Oropeza - https://www.linkedin.com/in/toropeza/ Associate Producer: Colleen Rush - https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleen-rush-3603241/ Associate Producer - Daniel Guinto - https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-guinto-7b723630/ Technical Producer: Dustin Canter - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustincanter/ Podcast Operating System: https://www.PodTechs.com Post-Production: https://www.PodTechs.com

    46 min

  8. 11/16/2024

    A Look Inside the Salary Guide: 2025 Hiring and Compensation Trends from Robert Half

    In episode 11, Nicole Sims from Robert Half helps us unpack the 2025 Salary Guide and the latest trends shaping the tech industry. We discuss the “Great Stay” phenomenon, strategies employers use to attract and retain talent, and the growing demand for skills like AI, machine learning, and cybersecurity. Nicole highlights the value of upskilling, flexible staffing solutions, and timely hiring decisions to address skill gaps. She also shares insights from the Robert Half eBook, “Building Future-Forward Tech Teams,” and encourages professionals to prioritize progress over perfection Tune in for practical advice and a deep dive into the evolving world of tech hiring and retention. Get the insights that are helping technology employers and job seekers make smarter salary decisions. https://www.roberthalf.com/us/en/insights/salary-guide/technology?utm_source=alliance&utm_medium=external-link&utm_campaign=v2_all_thought-leadership_salary-guide-2025_rht&utm_content=hdi-sg25-website-article-teaser Nicole Sims is the Senior Regional Director for Robert Half, the world’s first and largest specialized talent solutions and consulting firm. In this role, she oversees operations for the company’s technology talent solutions across the greater Dallas region. With over 18 years of industry experience, Nicole is considered a hiring expert and frequently shares insights on the trends affecting the employment market and the workplace. Nicole is actively involved in several tech industry-focused organizations. She serves as the Vice President of Membership for the DFW Help Desk Institute (HDI) chapter and is also a member of Tech Titans. A strong believer in community service, Nicole leads her team to participate in Robert Half’s community impact initiatives, partnering with local nonprofits such as Genesis Women’s Shelter of Dallas and the North Texas SPCA. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HDI Local Chapters is an all volunteer not-for-profit that brings Technical Support professionals together to connect, share and discuss common challenges, and learn from industry innovators and each other --- https://www.hdilocalchapters.org ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bytes and Banter Podcast Team  Creative Producer/Host: Rocky McGuire - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rockymcguire/ Executive Producer: Terri Oropeza - https://www.linkedin.com/in/toropeza/ Associate Producer: Colleen Rush - https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleen-rush-3603241/ Associate Producer - Daniel Guinto - https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-guinto-7b723630/ Technical Producer: Dustin Canter - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustincanter/ Podcast Operating System: https://www.PodTechs.com Post-Production: https://www.PodTechs.com

    32 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Are you an Information Technology professional? Do you work in the IT industry? This podcast is for you. Bytes and Banter is hosted by HDI Local Chapters.

Information

  • Creator
    Produced by PodTechs
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    19
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2023 PodTechs
  • Show Website
    Bytes and Banter

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