TechVibe Pittsburgh

Jonathan Kersting

Curious about Pittsburgh's growing technology and innovation industry and the opportunities it has for you? This podcast gives you a front-row seat to the companies, people, and institutions that are making Pittsburgh's tech industry thrive. Discover the newest tech startups emerging from Pittsburgh; Meet dynamic entrepreneurs driving innovation and creating a rich landscape for tech company growth; and Stay on top of the latest trends from recognized industry experts and thought leaders. Audrey Russo and Jonathan Kersting of the Pittsburgh Technology Council have interviewed thousands of tech entrepreneurs and business experts across the tPittsburgh region's tech and innovation ecosystem. Get an inside look at the companies, people, and trends that are making Pittsburgh a worldwide center of technology innovation. Start by diving into Pittsburgh's tech ecosystem with a fan-favorite episode: "Meet the New Head of CMU's Machine Learning Department." Don't miss out—click to listen now! TechVibe Pittsburgh is produced by the Pittsburgh Technology Council to explore the Pittsburgh region's technology, entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem. Tune in Sundays at 6 AM 10 100.1 FM AM 1020 KDKA.

  1. 5d ago

    Comcast's Goal: A Better Way to Watch the World Cup

    What if the best seat for the 2026 FIFA World Cup isn't in the stadium, but right on your couch? In this episode of TechVibe, Jonathan Kersting talks with Vito Forlenza, VP of Sports and Entertainment at Comcast, and Kelly Wright, Director of Sports Marketing at Comcast, about how Xfinity is preparing to turn World Cup viewing into a full-on immersive experience. With the largest World Cup ever kicking off across North America, featuring 48 teams and 104 games, Comcast is bringing serious technology to the pitch. Vito and Kelly detail how Xfinity is making matches easier to find, faster to watch and more exciting to experience, whether fans are tuning in English or Spanish, watching live, catching up on highlights or building their own sports command center at home. Hear how Comcast is using AI-powered catch-up highlights to help fans jump straight to goals, penalties, corners and other big moments. They also explain how multi-view lets viewers watch up to four live events at once, so you can follow World Cup action without missing MLB, WNBA, golf, F1 or other favorite sports. And yes, the tech gets even cooler. Comcast is delivering all 104 matches in real-time 4K with Dolby Vision HDR, Dolby Atmos sound and low latency, plus a new Smart Boost Wi-Fi feature designed to keep your stream from getting tackled by busy home internet traffic. From kickoff to extra time, this episode scores big for anyone who loves sports, technology and a front-row seat without the sunburn.

    15 min
  2. May 31

    The Wild West of AI: Cybersecurity Lessons from Pittsburgh's CUSTOS IQ

    Artificial intelligence is racing into every corner of business, but too many organizations are still treating it like a shiny productivity toy instead of a serious cybersecurity and business-risk issue. On this episode of TechVibe Radio, Jonathan Kersting talks with Isabelle Syring and Robert Ragan of CUSTOS IQ about how AI is changing the cybersecurity landscape, especially for companies using large language models, Microsoft Copilot, browser-based AI tools and AI-powered systems in critical industries like energy, manufacturing, oil and gas. CUSTOS IQ breaks down why the "Wild West" phase of AI adoption is creating real exposure for organizations: employees using personal accounts, confidential data being fed into AI tools, weak or nonexistent policies, unpatched browsers, supply chain pressure and a lack of oversight around AI-generated outputs. The conversation also explores deeper risks like model poisoning, data accuracy problems, prompt hijacking and the danger of relying on AI without human expertise in the loop. Isabelle and Robert also explain how CUSTOS IQ helps companies move from reactive cybersecurity to a business-aligned, turnkey approach that blends secure systems engineering, compliance, legal considerations and practical AI usage policies. Their message is clear: AI can be an incredible tool, but only when it is built on a strong cybersecurity foundation and guided by people who know how to question, verify and control the outputs. From protecting intellectual property to securing OT/IT systems powering the next wave of data centers, this episode is a smart, timely look at how businesses can embrace AI without letting it run feral through the server room. The Pittsburgh Technology Council produces TechVibe Radio to explore Pittsburgh's technology and innovation ecosystem.

    22 min
  3. May 17

    The Pittsburgh Startup Helping Students Find Their Path Through AI and Storytelling

    What if Pittsburgh held the blueprint for helping more young people become innovators in an AI-driven world, and it was built through gaming, storytelling, digital twins, and STEAM? In this episode of TechVibe Radio, we talk with Damola and Wole Idowu of TOYZ Electronics about the bold vision behind DAH Varsity AI and TOYZ STEAM. Their platform is designed to help students discover their strengths, connect personal passion to real opportunity, and build the mindset needed to thrive in what Damola calls the "Intelligence Age." From hip hop and culture to robotics, VR, engineering, and AI agents, this conversation explores how innovation can become more accessible, more personal, and far more inclusive. You'll hear how TOYZ Electronics is already gaining traction with thousands of downloads, thousands of student profiles, and hundreds of students directly impacted in Pittsburgh. You'll also get a powerful look at why Damola and Wole believe the future belongs to people who can innovate, not just compute, and why Pittsburgh has the ingredients to lead if it invests in overlooked talent. This is a high-energy conversation about AI, entrepreneurship, workforce readiness, and building systems that help more people see themselves in the future. Listen in to hear how a Pittsburgh-built platform is aiming to unlock the next generation of creators, engineers, and entrepreneurs before the future races ahead without them. The Pittsburgh Technology Council produces TechVibe to explore Pittsburgh's technology and innovation ecosystem.

    22 min
  4. May 12 ·  Video

    TechVibe's Marketing Mash Up Rewind: Has the Marketing Funnel Collapsed?

    Is the marketing funnel dead... or has it simply mutated into something far messier? In this episode of Techvibe's Mash Up Rewind, Jonathan Kersting of the Pittsburgh Technology Council and Cooper Munroe of the Motherhood unpack one of the biggest questions facing marketers today: has the traditional funnel collapsed into a maze of search, social, AI, Reddit, reviews, referrals, and word-of-mouth? What follows is a lively, candid conversation with marketers, founders, and business leaders wrestling with how people actually make decisions now. From the rise of "shopping media" and the growing distrust of polished brand messaging to the surprising influence of Reddit, AI search, and niche community conversations, this episode explores how customer journeys have become more fragmented, less predictable, and much harder to measure. The group digs into why B2B buying paths are especially long and tangled, why attribution can feel almost impossible, and how buyers now arrive more "pre-educated" than ever, even if some of that education is incomplete or flat-out wrong. Along the way, the discussion surfaces practical insights around content freshness, brand authenticity, schema tags, Google Ads, and why simply showing up in more places is no longer enough. If today's funnel feels more like Plinko than a straight path to conversion, this episode explains why, and what marketers can do about it. The Pittsburgh Technology Council produces TechVibe to explore Pittsburgh's technology industry.

    13 min

About

Curious about Pittsburgh's growing technology and innovation industry and the opportunities it has for you? This podcast gives you a front-row seat to the companies, people, and institutions that are making Pittsburgh's tech industry thrive. Discover the newest tech startups emerging from Pittsburgh; Meet dynamic entrepreneurs driving innovation and creating a rich landscape for tech company growth; and Stay on top of the latest trends from recognized industry experts and thought leaders. Audrey Russo and Jonathan Kersting of the Pittsburgh Technology Council have interviewed thousands of tech entrepreneurs and business experts across the tPittsburgh region's tech and innovation ecosystem. Get an inside look at the companies, people, and trends that are making Pittsburgh a worldwide center of technology innovation. Start by diving into Pittsburgh's tech ecosystem with a fan-favorite episode: "Meet the New Head of CMU's Machine Learning Department." Don't miss out—click to listen now! TechVibe Pittsburgh is produced by the Pittsburgh Technology Council to explore the Pittsburgh region's technology, entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem. Tune in Sundays at 6 AM 10 100.1 FM AM 1020 KDKA.