The Business of Information

SIIA

What drives the business of information? From data and media to AI and regulation, the forces shaping our digital world are evolving fast. This podcast unpacks the strategies, policies, and innovations redefining how we create, distribute, and govern information. Each episode features candid conversations with CEOs, policymakers, and industry experts tackling educational technology, market and alternative data, AI disruption, and beyond. Join us as we decode the business of information—one episode at a time. Presented by the Software and Information Industry Association (SIIA).

  1. 19h ago

    Why Niche Media Is Built to Last with Andy Clurman of Active Interest Media

    Andy Clurman, Chairman and Principal Owner of Active Interest Media, joins host Chris Mohr to discuss why specialized media businesses continue to thrive despite decades of predictions about the industry’s demise. Drawing on a career that spans Ski Magazine, Time Warner, Active Interest Media, and the Equine Network, Andy explains why the strongest media businesses are built around passionate communities rather than individual publications—and why diversification into events, education, memberships, services, and other adjacent businesses has been central to his strategy. He also shares what he looks for when acquiring a brand, why some niches are far more valuable than others, and how staying focused on audiences rather than chasing scale can create durable businesses. In this conversation, you'll hear: Why passionate niche audiences can create resilient media businesses What Andy looks for when evaluating a potential acquisition How Active Interest Media expanded beyond publishing into events, education, memberships, and services Why print still matters even when it’s no longer at the center of the business How AI could enable media companies to serve increasingly specific audience needs What the next generation is teaching Andy about how people consume—and pay for—media Why the media companies that survive will have multiple meaningful points of connection with their audiences Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts to hear more conversations about the people, ideas, and innovations shaping the business of information. Learn more about SIIA: https://www.siia.net Follow SIIA on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/siia/ Follow SIIA on X: https://x.com/SIIA

  2. Aug 11

    Why Community Wins in the Age of AI with KC Crain of Crain Communications

    KC Crain, President and CEO of Crain Communications, joins host Chris Mohr to discuss what it takes to lead a 110-year-old family media company through one of the most disruptive periods in its history. From starting his career as a reporter at Automotive News to overseeing iconic brands like Ad Age and Crain’s Chicago Business, KC shares why he sees AI as an opportunity rather than a threat, why premium journalism remains a competitive advantage, and how Crain is transforming decades of trusted reporting into new data and information products. The conversation also explores the value of niche communities, the future of B2B media, and why staying focused on serving professionals—not chasing scale—has positioned the company for long-term success. In this conversation, you'll hear: Why KC believes community—not scale—is the foundation of successful B2B media How Crain is using more than a century of journalism to build AI-powered products Why premium information continues to outperform commodity news The challenges of leading a 110-year-old family business through constant disruption How AI is accelerating innovation across data, technology, and product development Why KC remains optimistic about the future of media despite rapid industry change Learn more about SIIA: https://www.siia.net Follow SIIA on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/siia/ Follow SIIA on X: https://x.com/SIIA

  3. Jul 27

    Can AI Actually Help Kids Learn? with Dr. Kristen DiCerbo of Khan Academy

    Dr. Kristen DiCerbo, Chief Learning Officer at Khan Academy, joins host Chris Mohr to explore one of the biggest questions in education today: can artificial intelligence improve learning, or will it simply make it easier for students to avoid the hard work of thinking? Drawing on decades of research in psychology, educational technology, and learning science, Kristen explains why AI should be viewed as a tool that amplifies learning—not replaces it—and why the quality of educational technology depends far more on its design than on the technology itself. The conversation examines how Khan Academy built Khanmigo, the organization's AI-powered tutor, the research behind effective learning experiences, and why not all screen time deserves to be treated the same. Kristen also discusses the role of teachers in an AI-enabled classroom, the importance of evidence-based educational technology, and how AI could help make high-quality learning more accessible for students around the world. In this conversation, you'll hear: Why AI tutors can support learning without simply giving students the answers The difference between productive educational screen time and passive digital consumption How Khan Academy designed Khanmigo using decades of learning science research Why students often struggle to ask for help—and how AI can bridge that gap What schools and parents should look for when evaluating educational technology Why foundational knowledge will matter even more in an AI-powered future Learn more about SIIA: https://www.siia.net Follow SIIA on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/siia/ Follow SIIA on X: https://x.com/SIIA

  4. Jul 14

    How Washington Really Shapes Tech Policy with Paul Lekas of SIIA

    Paul Lekas spends his days at the intersection of technology, government, and public policy—and in this episode, he takes listeners inside the conversations that shape some of today's most consequential issues. Chris Mohr sits down with Paul, Executive Vice President and Head of Global Public Policy and Governance Affairs at SIIA, to explore how AI, online safety, cybersecurity, and privacy are reshaping the relationship between innovation and regulation. Drawing on experience in private practice, the federal government, and now leading SIIA's advocacy efforts, Paul offers an insider's perspective on how policy is actually made, why many of Washington's biggest technology debates are more nuanced than they appear, and where lawmakers should be focusing their attention next. From AI governance and children's online safety to cybersecurity and the challenges of building bipartisan consensus, this conversation explains why good technology policy is rarely as simple as it looks from the outside. In this conversation, you'll hear: Why technology policy has become one of the most influential areas of government How AI is changing debates around privacy, online safety, and regulation Why age verification creates difficult tradeoffs between safety, privacy, and free expression What most people misunderstand about how policy is actually made in Washington Why cybersecurity deserves far more attention than it's receiving today How SIIA approaches consensus-building on some of the industry's most complex policy challenges Subscribe to The Business of Information wherever you get your podcasts to hear more conversations at the intersection of technology, policy, and business. Learn more about SIIA: https://www.siia.net Follow SIIA on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/siia/ Follow SIIA on X: https://x.com/SIIA

  5. Jun 30

    The Global Competition for Tech Leadership with Nigel Cory of Crowell Global Advisors

    For decades, U.S. technology leadership was treated as a given. Today, that assumption is under pressure. In this episode, Chris Mohr sits down with Nigel Cory, Director of Digital, Trade, and Technology Policy at Crowell Global Advisors, to explore why the global race for AI, cloud infrastructure, and advanced technologies is no longer just about innovation—it's about economic competitiveness, national security, and geopolitical influence. Drawing on his experience across government, international trade, and technology policy, Nigel explains how China has evolved from a fast follower to a formidable competitor, why countries around the world are reshaping the rules governing data and digital trade, and what the United States must do to maintain its technological edge. The conversation explores everything from AI adoption and cloud infrastructure to antitrust policy, data localization, and why America's biggest technology companies have become central to the country's long-term competitiveness. In this conversation, you'll hear: Why China's technology challenge is no longer about catching up—it's about competing for global leadership How AI, cloud infrastructure, and data policy have become matters of national security Why the next phase of competition may be won through adoption, not just better AI models How data localization laws around the world can quietly undermine innovation and U.S. competitivenessWhy antitrust policy can no longer be viewed only through a domestic lens Learn more about SIIA:⁠ https://www.siia.net⁠ Follow SIIA on LinkedIn:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/company/siia/⁠ Follow SIIA on X:⁠ https://x.com/SIIA

  6. Jun 2

    The Data Layer Behind Modern Investing with Andrew Lebbos of Benzinga

    In this episode of The Business of Information, Chris Mohr sits down with Andrew Lebbos to explore how Benzinga evolved from a scrappy financial news startup into one of the invisible engines powering modern retail investing platforms. Andrew explains how Benzinga’s real-time news, APIs, and market data quietly sit behind many of the trading apps millions of investors use every day—and why the company sees itself as both a media company and a data infrastructure provider. They discuss the rise of retail trading, the challenge of balancing AI automation with human-driven journalism, and why the future of financial media may belong to companies that can combine proprietary content with highly structured data. Andrew also reflects on Detroit’s post-bankruptcy reinvention, the startup mentality that shaped Benzinga’s culture, and what makes sales teams succeed in an industry where relationships and adaptability matter just as much as technical knowledge. In this conversation, you’ll hear: How Benzinga became the “thing behind the thing” on major brokerage platforms Why human-written financial news still matters in the AI era The difference between commoditized market data and proprietary insights How retail trading transformed the fintech and brokerage ecosystem Why prediction markets, AI, and crypto are reshaping investor behavior What startup grit looks like inside a fast-moving financial media company To learn more about the Software and Information Industry Association, visit: https://www.siia.net Follow SIIA on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/siia

  7. Apr 28

    A Global View on AI Policy, Power, and the Pace of Change with Joe Miller of the Financial Times

    In this episode of The Business of Information, Chris Mohr sits down with Joe Miller, Washington correspondent for the Financial Times, to explore how tech policy, global power dynamics, and journalism intersect at a uniquely volatile moment. From covering Brexit-era Europe to reporting on the Trump administration and the rise of AI, Joe shares how the center of gravity in global storytelling has shifted—and why today’s policy debates are lagging behind reality. They discuss the growing disconnect between Washington and the real world, the fractured and often misunderstood narratives around AI, and why the most important policy conversations aren’t actually happening yet. Joe also reflects on the thin line between innovation and misconduct from his time covering white-collar crime, and how that lens shapes his reporting on emerging technologies today. In this conversation, you’ll hear: Why AI policy debates are still stuck at a surface level—and what’s missing The real divide between U.S. and European approaches to risk and innovation How journalists decide what’s signal vs. noise in a chaotic political environment Why internal disagreements within tech and policy organizations are the real story What Operation Warp Speed can teach us about modern tech policy The surprising ways media coverage can both clarify and distort reality To learn more about the Software and Information Industry Association, visit: https://www.siia.netFollow SIIA on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/siiaFollow SIIA on X: https://twitter.com/SIIA

  8. Apr 14

    Digital Privacy and the Future of the Fourth Amendment with Anne Voigts of Pillsbury

    In this episode of The Business of Information, Chris Mohr sits down with returning guest Anne Voigts, Partner at Pillsbury, to unpack one of the most complex and consequential legal questions in the digital age: how the Fourth Amendment applies when law enforcement uses massive datasets to identify suspects after the fact. At the center of the conversation is United States v. Chatrie, a case involving geofence warrants that sweep in location data from potentially hundreds of millions of devices before narrowing to a suspect—raising urgent questions about privacy, surveillance, and constitutional limits in a world of pervasive data collection. Chris and Anne break down how these warrants work, why courts are deeply divided on whether they even constitute a “search,” and how doctrines like the third-party rule are being stretched to their limits. They explore the tension between privacy and property-based interpretations of the Fourth Amendment, the risks of dragnet-style data collection, and the real-world implications for both individuals and tech companies. The conversation also examines how AI, data abundance, and evolving legal frameworks are reshaping expectations of privacy—and why this case could redefine the balance of power between government, platforms, and citizens. In this conversation, you’ll hear: How geofence warrants work—and why they flip traditional search logic on its head Why the third-party doctrine is increasingly at odds with modern digital life The legal fragmentation across courts—and what it signals about future rulings The risks of large-scale data sweeps, including false arrests and privacy exposure How tech companies may respond if the government’s position prevails What this case reveals about the future of AI, data ownership, and constitutional protections To learn more about SIIA and stay connected: Visit: https://www.siia.net LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/siia X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/SIIA

See All (24)

Trailer

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

What drives the business of information? From data and media to AI and regulation, the forces shaping our digital world are evolving fast. This podcast unpacks the strategies, policies, and innovations redefining how we create, distribute, and govern information. Each episode features candid conversations with CEOs, policymakers, and industry experts tackling educational technology, market and alternative data, AI disruption, and beyond. Join us as we decode the business of information—one episode at a time. Presented by the Software and Information Industry Association (SIIA).

Information

You Might Also Like