Cisco Podcast Network

AB sits down with Carrie Palin, Cisco’s Chief Marketing Officer, for a spirited conversation on a variety of topics, from her journey as a marketing leader across several tech giants, to the skills she looks for when building an incredible organization, to how AI is positively reshaping the marketing landscape and customer outcomes.

I'm sure the algorithm will love this one! This week on 404 Script Not Found, Ian and Kat tackle the wild world of LinkedIn-but only after settling the truly pressing issues first (like whether Messi is undeniably the GOAT). Once they finally stop getting distracted, they break down what makes a profile genuinely click-worthy and why the old "set it and forget it" strategy is doing you no favors. Pulling from Ian's recent presentations and the real-world questions Kat fields during her office hours, they cover all the essentials: profile makeovers, creating content that doesn't put people to sleep, and the oddly specific etiquette of networking online. They also get real about the delicate balance between business and personal posts, why the lazy "re-share" button is your enemy, and the deeply humbling truth that your meticulously crafted masterpiece will inevitably be outperformed by a random thought you typed out in thirty seconds. If you're on LinkedIn, this one is for you! If you liked the episode, give us a click: https://www.cisco.com/site/us/en/solutions/small-business/index.html#tabs-7edb32179e-item-d43da2dc1e-tab

AB joins Chef José Andrés and Brian Tippens for a powerful talk on food, disaster relief, and how technology helps World Central Kitchen deliver hope globally

What do law school, Monster.com, the San Francisco 49ers, Baby Spice on roller skates, and one accidental conversation with Cisco's CFO have in common? They're all part of the incredible stories behind Cisco's Sales Associate Program (CSAP). In this special panel episode, Jeff Edwards sits down with five CSAP alumni whose careers span more than two decades—from early hires in 2000 to entrepreneurs and senior Cisco executives today. Together, they share the funny moments, career-defining lessons, lifelong friendships, and surprising paths that all started with one opportunity. Whether you're just beginning your career or decades into it, this conversation is a powerful reminder that your greatest career asset isn't just what you know—it's who you grow alongside. 🎧 Why listen? ✅ Hear hilarious behind-the-scenes stories from CSAP's early days. ✅ Discover why relationships—not titles—become your greatest career advantage. ✅ Walk away with timeless career advice from leaders who've been there. One program. Five remarkable journeys. Countless lessons. Let's make Shift Happen. 🎙️

In this episode of Tech Unscripted Season 3, leaders Dr. José-Marie Griffiths and Dr. Kristina Johnson discuss how artificial intelligence is reshaping higher education across learning, research, and campus operations. They explore infrastructure needs like data modernization, emerging teaching and assessment methods, and the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and ethics. The conversation highlights practical steps universities can take—such as building AI-ready data systems, encouraging transparency in AI use, and preparing students with adaptability and agent-based skills—while warning about widening institutional and student divides without equitable access.

This week, Sammy is back with Ian and Kat, which means the episode starts exactly where you’d expect: haircut commentary, a brief discussion about dating, and Kat casually considering a move to San Francisco by lunchtime. Somewhere in the middle of all that, they do eventually get to the actual topic: change management. Together, they unpack what it looks like to lead through change when everyone is trying their best, but no one has all the answers. Sammy talks about how to keep teams steady without pretending you know everything, Ian explains why he somehow remains annoyingly optimistic every time things get shaken up, and Kat asks the very fair question: what if you’re supposed to help people trust the process when you may not? It’s a conversation about uncertainty, leadership, and the delicate art of being calm and credible while internally maybe having just a tiny crisis of your own. If you’ve ever heard the words “organizational change” and immediately texted a coworker, this one’s for you. If you like the show, give us a click: https://www.cisco.com/site/us/en/solutions/small-business/index.html

What Great Leaders Do That Most People Never See The best leaders aren't defined by what happens on stage—they're shaped by what happens behind the scenes. In this episode of Shift Happens, Samantha Ha shares lessons from decades spent alongside some of Cisco's most senior leaders. Through stories of trust, influence, and emotional intelligence, she reveals why the strongest leaders create calm under pressure, build authentic partnerships, and never stop seeing the people around them. 🎧 Why listen? ✅ Learn the hidden habits of exceptional leaders. ✅ Discover why trust and relationships outperform titles. ✅ Hear the leadership skills AI will never replace. Leadership isn't always loud. Sometimes, it's invisible. Let's make Shift Happen. #CiscoShiftHappensPodcast

This week starts with plans to see Damon Wayans Jr. (Coach, from New Girl) and somehow turns into a full therapy session about all the little ways technology can sometimes frustrate us a bit (even as two tech evangelists). Ian and Kat riff on the everyday tech frustrations that seem small until they absolutely are not—printers that still don’t work, painful guest Wi-Fi experiences, verification codes that take forever, streaming apps that somehow make watching TV harder, and the very specific betrayal of getting a “your order has shipped” email when all that’s actually happened is a label was created. Along the way, they talk about the weirdly exhausting parts of living online, from constant customer surveys to impossible CAPTCHA tests to the realization that sometimes the healthiest thing you can do is literally Brick your phone for a day. It’s part rant, part group chat, and very much one of those episodes where if you’ve ever muttered “why is this still so bad?” at a piece of technology, you’ll probably feel seen. If you like the show, since we didn't talk a whole lot of tech this week...give us a click: https://www.cisco.com/site/us/en/solutions/small-business/index.html#tabs-35d568e0ff-item-4bd7dc8124-tab

In today's episode, Cisco CX engineers and architects reveal how cruise ship networks are built and upgraded: everything from door locks and cameras to navigation and guest entertainment runs over the same segmented, secured infrastructure, and internet connectivity depends on intermittent satellite links so content must be stored locally. We follow a high‑stakes dry dock upgrade on a large cruise ship — with tight timelines, complex staging, and on‑the‑fly design changes to handle issues like NAT, multicast/PTP, MTU and firewall integration — and learn how planning, testing and rapid problem‑solving kept the ship sailing.

In this episode of Tech Unscripted host George Lewis talks with Terry Bankston (Delaware State University), Dr. Vicki Robinson (retired U.S. Department of Education), and T.J. Mercer (founder of Move In Day Mafia) about closing the digital divide at HBCUs and in surrounding communities. They explore pressing challenges—aging infrastructure, unreliable connectivity, disconnected cell plans, and lack of devices—and highlight solutions driven by partnerships: campus laptops and hotspots, living‑learning spaces, hands‑on volunteer support, and wraparound services that build stability. The discussion emphasizes measurable impacts like higher retention and graduation rates, increased student confidence and belonging, and how coordinated university‑community‑industry collaborations can scale digital inclusion and career readiness.

In this episode of the Cisco AI Insights Podcast, hosts Rafael Herrera and Sónia Marques are joined by Cisco ML Engineer Paul Mutawe to explore the fascinating paper, "Measuring AI Ability to Complete Long Software Tasks," which introduces a novel time horizon metric to evaluate how autonomously AI agents can execute complex, multi-hour engineering projects. The discussion looks at the rapid evolution of these agents, highlighting the key finding that the fifty percent success time horizon is doubling every two hundred and seven days, while detailing how unbiased benchmarking environments like the Modular Public harness are used to evaluate frontier models alongside real-world complexities like the sixteen-item messiness factor, which significantly reduces agent success rates, and the critical need for human-in-the-loop oversight to combat context rot. A special thank you to the research team at Model Evaluation and Threat Research, who developed this paper. If you are interested in reading the paper yourself, please visit the link: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2503.14499

Most companies are still figuring out how to use AI. Greg Sylvester is figuring out how to deliver it to nearly 90,000 employees. As Cisco's VP of Enterprise AI Platform & Infrastructure, Greg is leading the transformation of Circuit from a simple AI assistant into a full-scale enterprise AI platform—while tackling the realities of adoption, governance, cost, and change along the way. In this episode of Shift Happens, Greg shares what it really takes to move AI from hype to habit inside one of the world's largest technology companies. 🎧 Why Listen? ⚡ Learn how Cisco is scaling AI across the enterprise—not just experimenting with it 👥 Discover why people, not technology, are often the biggest factor in AI success 🚀 Hear what's next for agents, AI platforms, and the future of work Whether you're leading an AI strategy, supporting organizational change, or simply trying to make sense of where all of this is headed, this conversation is packed with practical insights from someone building the future in real time. The future of work is where humans drive the intent and AI does the rest. Let's make Shift Happen.

Strap in, folks—we’re recapping all the chaos, genius, and buffet lines from Cisco Live (just a few weeks late)! Kat and Ian are cutting through the noise to tell you what actually mattered (and what should have stayed in Vegas). We’re breaking down the big keynote moments, including why Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol—a guy who knows more about burritos and macchiatos than binary—is driving real-world AI wins. We’re moving past generic AI emails and into the 'Agentic Era' of smarter supply chains and happier customers. Plus, we’re keeping it real about the risks: Ian explains why security is the "it" girl of tech right now, and Kat forces him to explain "Cloud Control" so we can finally understand how to wrangle our messy, cloud-first infrastructure. Whether you’re a seasoned tech wizard or just trying to survive the latest industry pivot, we’ve got plenty of laughs, unfiltered Vegas takes, and maybe a golf analogy. Tune in and get up to speed! Check out all the latest Cisco SMB solutions here: https://www.cisco.com/site/us/en/solutions/small-business/index.html

Join AB for a candid conversation with AI luminaries Pascal Bornet and Sam Charrington. From the sci-fi films that sparked their early interest in tech to the strategic frameworks for mastering today's AI, this episode bridges the gap between high-level industry insight and the personal stories that shaped their careers. Discover how to move beyond the hype and truly harness the power of AI.

The Internet Report podcast examines lessons from deep space operations that can help developers build more resilient agentic AI systems that are capable of managing intermittent connectivity and stale data.   ———    CHAPTERS  00:54 Making Decisions Autonomously 03:08 How Intermittent Connectivity Impacts Agentic AI 07:11 Existing Protocols for Extreme Environments 12:27 Broader Implications Beyond Extreme Environments 15:17 What Getting It Right Looks Like 17:09 Learning Points for Autonomous Road Vehicles   ———    
  For additional insights, check out The Internet Outage Survival Kit: https://www.thousandeyes.com/resources/the-internet-outage-survival-kit?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fy26q4_internetreport_q4fy26ep136_podcast    ———    Want to get in touch?    If you have questions, feedback, or guests you would like to see featured on the show, send us a note at [email protected]. Or follow us on LinkedIn or X.   ———    ABOUT THE INTERNET REPORT  This is The Internet Report, a podcast uncovering what’s working and what’s breaking on the Internet—and why.     Tune in to hear ThousandEyes’ Internet experts dig into some of the most interesting outage events from the past couple weeks, discussing what went awry—was it the Internet, or an application issue?    Plus, learn about the latest trends in ISP outages, cloud network outages, collaboration network outages, and more.    Catch all the episodes on your favorite podcast platform:      - Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-report/id1506984526      - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5ADFvqAtgsbYwk4JiZFqHQ?si=00e9c4b53aff4d08&nd=1&dlsi=eab65c9ea39d4773      - SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/ciscopodcastnetwork/sets/the-internet-report      - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theinternetreport_official

This week starts with Ian having the kind of week that feels almost made up: his AC is out, the gym AC is out, the other gym AC is out, and somehow he is just supposed to act like everything is fine! While Kat is completely unbothered by the heat, Ian is very much not, which makes the transition into Wi-Fi 7 feel a little too on the nose. Once they get there, they talk through what Wi-Fi 7 actually means, why these upgrades keep happening, and how our internet has to keep up with the way we live now—more devices, more streaming, more AI, and more demand on the network all at once. Along the way, they end up reminiscing about dial-up internet, computer rooms, LimeWire, and the weird reality that we’re building faster and faster tech while also trying to find ways to use less of it. Ian breaks down Wi-Fi 7 in the simplest terms possible, Kat asks the questions everyone else is probably also wondering, and somewhere in the middle of it all, the whole thing turns into a very relatable conversation about how much modern life depends on being connected. Check out networking solutions for Cisco SMBs (and keep the show funded) here: https://www.cisco.com/site/us/en/solutions/small-business/networking/index.html

AB sits down with Ammar Maraqa, Cisco’s Chief Strategy Officer, to discuss topics such as turning an acquisition into a competitive advantage, fostering an agile and customer-centric culture, aligning business cases with long-term innovation goals to drive real value, and much more.

Ever wonder how 80,000 people can upload to TikTok at the exact same time during a halftime show? Or how NFL teams are using AI to draft the next superstar? This week, Kat flies solo (while Ian is off "hosting partners"—sure, Ian, we know you're golfing) to sit down with Bryan Bedford, Cisco’s Director of US Commercial Sports, Media, and Entertainment. Bryan shares his hilarious journey from college football coach to tech leader, why massive sports brands actually have tiny IT teams, and how Cisco, NVIDIA, and Splunk are teaming up to build the biometric, hyper-personalized stadium of the future. Plus, Kat teaches a tech executive how to use the 'Do Not Disturb' button. If you want to see what that tech looks like in action, click here: https://www.cisco.com/site/us/en/solutions/industries/sports-media-entertainment/index.html#tabs-9da71fbd27-item-1288c79d71-tab

Is AI breaking our data centers? We explore the power, cooling, and sustainability crisis with experts from Devoteam and Dutch Air Traffic Control. Discover how to navigate the AI era responsibly on this episode of Tech Unscripted.

Beyond the Fiber - S1E4 - Voice of the Customer with Fidium Fiber by Cisco

Thirty-five years ago, there was no AI, no cloud, no smartphones—and no contract. Just a handshake. In this special episode of Shift Happens, Jeff Edwards sits down with John Van Der Vyver (NTT DATA) and Tony Meredith (Cisco) to explore one of the most successful and enduring partnerships in technology. What started with a handshake in South Africa grew into a global relationship spanning 50 countries, serving 75% of the Fortune Global 100, and helping customers navigate every major technology shift—from networking and the internet era to sustainability, AI, energy, and beyond. But this isn't a story about revenue, contracts, or transactions. It's a story about trust. About showing up when things get hard. About taking risks together, solving problems that matter, and building a partnership that has thrived through 35 years of relentless change. Why Listen? 🤝 The handshake that started it all — and the principles that turned a simple promise into a 35-year global partnership. 🌍 Real stories of innovation and impact — from saving rhinos through Connected Conservation to tackling the next generation of AI and energy challenges. 🚀 Lessons every leader can use — on trust, vulnerability, resilience, and why the strongest partnerships are built long before they're tested. Thirty-five years later, the technology has changed. The world has changed. But the foundation remains the same: Trust. Partnership. People. Let's Make Shift Happen.

In this episode, we interview Sheikh Habeebul Haq who is the first visually impaired engineer to ever pass the CCIE exam. He didn't ask for accomodations to pass his CCIE, he developped them and took the actual legit exam over two days. And what about you ?what's your excuse for not being a CCIE ? :-)

In this episode of The Cisco AI Insights Podcast, hosts Rafael Herrera and Sónia Marques are joined by Cisco’s Technical Leader in Machine Learning Engineering Leticia Fernandes to explore the groundbreaking study, "A Comparative Study of Traditional Machine Learning, Deep Learning, and Large Language Models for Mental Health Forecasting Using Smartphone Sensing Data," which evaluates how different AI architectures analyze complex smartphone behavioral data to predict future mental health states. The discussion delves into the intricacies of forecasting mental health changes using five years of data from the College Experience Sensing dataset, highlighting how deep learning models, particularly transformer architectures, outperform traditional machine learning and Large Language Models by effectively leveraging personalized user behavior to identify subtle anomalies that could signal declining mental health, while also addressing the challenges of data imbalance and the inherent limitations of LLMs in processing high-dimensional, non-textual temporal sequences. A special thank you to the researchers from The Singapore University of Technology and Design, that developed this month's paper. If you are interested in reading the paper yourself, please visit this link: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2601.03603

This week’s episode starts with Ian’s birthday, a conversation about fitness age that quickly goes off the rails, and the very real realization that getting older is, honestly, kind of rude. From there, Kat and Ian dive into something they’ve both been curious about lately: Claude. Kat recently switched from ChatGPT and shares what’s actually been useful so far — from using Claude to organize her week and sort through newsletters to helping her think through work and spot gaps in her ideas. Along the way, they get into the bigger question underneath all of it: how do you use AI in a way that’s genuinely helpful, not just flashy? And when does knowing how to prompt well start to feel like a real skill in its own right? Want to learn about how Cisco is powering AI, check that out here: https://www.cisco.com/site/us/en/solutions/artificial-intelligence/index.html

Learn how experts are using AI, SASE, and data analytics to build a future-proof hybrid workplace. This Tech Unscripted episode explores how to balance technology, security, and the human element to create a truly productive workspace.

Cisco SE Talks: Conversation on AI, Cisco + CDW by Cisco

In this episode of Cisco SE Talks, we sit down with industry experts Joe Chenevey, AI Solutions Strategy Lead, and Cody Weaver, Cisco AI Team Lead from CDW to cut through the noise surrounding Artificial Intelligence. As AI moves from experimental "front-office" use cases to core IT infrastructure, organizations are facing a critical inflection point. Our panel explores the shifting landscape of AI integration, focusing on how businesses can move beyond the "demo" phase to achieve tangible, scalable results. We discuss the transition of AI ownership from lines of business to IT, the vital importance of security and governance in an era of "shadow AI," and why understanding the specific business problem is the only way to build a successful AI strategy. Whether you are looking to optimize your infrastructure or navigate the complexities of AI governance, this episode provides the practical context needed to stay ahead in an ever-changing technological landscape.

Join Kat and Ian as they stumble through the basics of DRIP (yes, we finally figured it out!), share some questionable life advice for surviving a seven-hour meeting marathon, and geek out over why Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is the ultimate digital bodyguard. We’re breaking down the "something you know, have, and are" magic that blocks 99% of attacks, and why that extra verification step is actually your best friend, not a nuisance. Plus, Ian drops some secret lore about his past life building cybersecurity programs. Get your MFA ready, and let’s get into it! Check out Cisco's cybersecurity solutions (like MFA) for SMBs here: https://www.cisco.com/site/us/en/solutions/small-business/security/index.html

In this special edition Talking Shift episode, host Jeff Edwards sits down with executive coach and NewLeaf Partners International co-founder Sam Barcus — the trusted advisor behind many of Cisco’s most influential leaders. But this conversation is bigger than leadership coaching. It’s about the invisible ceilings that hold ambitious people back… the difference between performing and simply looking performative… and why the best leaders train more like elite athletes than corporate executives. From his early days at Texas Instruments and Price Waterhouse to helping shape consultative selling at IBM during one of the biggest transformations in tech history, Sam shares the experiences that shaped his coaching philosophy — one built on awareness, authenticity, curiosity, and relentless growth. Along the way, Jeff and Sam unpack: 🔥 Why high performers often become their own biggest obstacle 🧠 The power of a personal “brand promise” — and how it changes the way you show up ⚡ Why “what got you here won’t get you there” has never been more true in the age of AI 🤖 What executives are really wrestling with right now as AI reshapes work, leadership, and decision-making 💡 Why recovery, reflection, and curiosity may be the ultimate competitive advantages This episode is thoughtful, deeply human, and filled with practical wisdom for anyone trying to grow into the next version of themselves — whether you lead a global organization or are simply figuring out your next move. We are Talking Shift to make shift happen.

As hospitals move toward Automation and Smart Buildings, we explore how Integrated Technology is transforming the Patient Experience. We discuss the infrastructure required to make "Smart Hospitals" a reality.

The Internet Report explores recent disruptions at Anthropic and X, analyzing how architectural differences and deployment cycles impact digital reliability. CHAPTERS 00:54 Anthropic's Claude: Three Early April Events 06:03 The Deployment Hypothesis 08:51 The Reliability Challenge for AI Services 11:24 A Pattern to Disruptions at X 12:45 Outage Trends: By the Numbers 17:59 Get in Touch For additional insights, check out The Internet Outage Survival Kit: https://www.thousandeyes.com/resources/the-internet-outage-survival-kit?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fy26q4_internetreport_q4fy26ep135_podcast  ———  Want to get in touch?  If you have questions, feedback, or guests you would like to see featured on the show, send us a note at [email protected]. Or follow us on LinkedIn or X. ———  ABOUT THE INTERNET REPORT  This is The Internet Report, a podcast uncovering what’s working and what’s breaking on the Internet—and why.   Tune in to hear ThousandEyes’ Internet experts dig into some of the most interesting outage events from the past couple weeks, discussing what went awry—was it the Internet, or an application issue?  Plus, learn about the latest trends in ISP outages, cloud network outages, collaboration network outages, and more.  Catch all the episodes on your favorite podcast platform:   - Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-report/id1506984526   - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5ADFvqAtgsbYwk4JiZFqHQ?si=00e9c4b53aff4d08&nd=1&dlsi=eab65c9ea39d4773   - SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/ciscopodcastnetwork/sets/the-internet-report   - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theinternetreport_official

The Challenge: AI is fundamentally changing traffic patterns, operations, and customer expectations, exposing the limits of legacy network architectures built for static connectivity rather than intelligent, real-time automation. Service providers are now under pressure to scale AI-ready infrastructure, manage growing operational complexity, and deliver predictive, always-on customer experiences. The Solution: AI-ready networks require a new approach where the network becomes both the foundation for AI workloads and a rich source of real-time intelligence. In this Tech Talk on the Beyond the Fiber podcast, Jim Grubb explores how AI is driving autonomous operations, proactive assurance, and the transformation from reactive networks to intelligent, self-optimizing platforms.

We’re back to tech this week, and Ian and Kat are tackling a question that feels equal parts fascinating and mildly terrifying: how are bad actors using LLMs? From prompt injection attacks (Kat's really passionate about these) to phishing emails that sound way more convincing than they used to, they dig into the very real ways AI is changing the cybersecurity landscape—and why that matters for everyone (even you). Along the way, they get into their own AI habits, debate their LLMs of choice, and uncover the fact that Kat’s AI talks to her like a supportive best friend while Ian’s is… a little more buttoned up. They also talk through why these threats are getting harder to spot, how security teams are using AI too, and why good old-fashioned awareness still matters just as much as the technology. Spoiler: bad actors may be getting smarter, but your best defense is still a healthy dose of skepticism—and maybe reminding your parents not to click random Wells Fargo links. If you want to learn what products Cisco has to help with your own security set up, we got you covered: https://id.cisco.com/app/ciscoid_aemcloudprodsaml_1/exk14lk1xf6SKDANc5d7/sso/saml

AB sits down with Akshay Bhargava, Cisco's VP of Product Management, AI Software and Platform, to chat about AgenticOps, how Cisco is providing guardrails to keep AI safe, and the risks modern businesses face if they fail to adopt AI quickly.

AB chats with Anthony Grieco, Cisco's SVP & Chief Security & Trust Officer, Security and Trust Organization. and Eric Wenger, Cisco's Senior Director, Technology Policy, Global Government Affairs, about how Cisco is revolutionizing product security by removing insecure protocols, updating defaults, and strengthening authentication across our portfolio.

In this month’s episode of The Cisco AI Insights Podcast, hosts Rafael Herrera and Sónia Marques explore the evolving landscape of sentiment analysis with Cisco machine learning engineer Joan Rossello. The conversation centers on the research paper from Imperial College London, “FinDPO: Financial Sentiment Analysis for Algorithmic Trading Through Preference Optimization of LLMs,” which proposes a new way to train large language models to better interpret nuanced human language. By comparing output quality, this preference-based training improved generalization and helped models interpret complex financial language without relying on simple memorization. Additionally, the discussion explored how sentiment scores derived from model probabilities were used to rank companies based on the strength of their news coverage, yielding promising results. A special thank you to the team that developed this month's paper. If you are interested in reading the paper yourself, please visit this link: ⁠ https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.18417

In this episode of Shift Happens, Jeff Edwards sits down with Mario Castro, the executive leading Cisco's $2B+ AI Infrastructure business, for a candid conversation on what it really takes to build AI that works at enterprise scale. Everyone is talking about AI. Far fewer are prepared for what it actually demands. Mario breaks through the noise to explain why successful AI adoption has very little to do with flashy demos-and everything to do with infrastructure, security, readiness, and execution. From building what he calls a Secure AI Factory to helping organizations shift from experimentation to measurable outcomes, Mario shares the lessons leaders need now if they want to stay competitive. Why listen: 🚀 The AI Readiness Gap - Mario explains why many organizations are still underprepared for enterprise AI and what separates the builders from the observers. 🛡️ Why Secure AI Matters - Learn why infrastructure, trust, and security are becoming the non-negotiable foundation for every serious AI strategy. 📈 From Experiment to Impact - Hear how businesses can move beyond AI pilots and start driving real operational and revenue value. Mario also shares the leadership framework that has guided him through every major technology shift of the last three decades: Listen. Learn. Act. Measure. Celebrate. It's practical, proven, and especially relevant as organizations navigate today's AI acceleration. Because AI isn't just about moving fast-it's about building something that lasts. Let's Make Shift Happen.

Ian finally finished his book, so naturally it is time to deep dive into it... "Be the Unicorn" by William Vanderbloemen, exploring what it truly means to be a unicorn at work—the rare, top-performing individual who goes beyond their job description. Ian and Kat unpack several of the habits that set unicorns apart, such as being highly responsive (even when you don’t have all the answers). The hosts share candid stories from their own experiences, including the importance of seeking feedback, building relationships, and staying curious. Along the way, they discuss how trust and communication underpin many of these traits and reflect on the balance between work ethic and personal priorities. Expect plenty of laughs, real-world examples, and the usual commentary from Ian’s dogs. Whether you’re aiming to level up your leadership skills or just curious about what makes a unicorn tick, this episode will help you stand out without trying too hard. As always...give us a click: https://www.cisco.com/site/us/en/solutions/small-business/index.html#tabs-a107e9a621-item-b27a5c1e52-tab

In this episode, we interview Marcos Hernandez who tell us about the Isovalent products and integration. From Live Protect, to Cilium which allows kubernetes container networking with the same level of abstraction, mobility and security as fabric networking.

When you see new tech, the first questions are often about safety and control. The focus should be on building critical infrastructure that doesn't just look "shiny" but actually addresses cybersecurity and scalability needs. Learn how to solve the problems of today while preparing for the future.

In this episode of Shift Happens, Jeff Edwards sits down with Kevin Brown, VP of Partner Management at Insight, to unpack what it really takes to build durable partnerships in one of the most disruptive moments in IT history. With a career shaped by crisis management at RSA, ecosystem design at Vectra, and years of deep collaboration with Cisco, Kevin shares why trust—not transactions—is still the ultimate differentiator. From his candid perspective on The Cisco 360 Partner Program to Insight’s bold pivot toward becoming an AI-first solutions integrator, this conversation explores how the best partners are shifting from simply moving product to architecting long-term business outcomes. Along the way, Kevin reveals his practical framework for evaluating partner investments, why “human APIs” matter more than automated portals, and how Cisco + Insight may be sitting on one of the biggest growth opportunities in modern IT—if they execute it right. Why Listen: • 🚀 Hear how top partners are evaluating AI, data readiness, and ecosystem bets—and why the old fulfillment model is no longer enough. • 🤝 Learn why foundational trust and the “Batphone” still matter in an era obsessed with automation, tickets, and digital workflows. • 💡 Get Kevin Brown’s real-world playbook for doubling partner growth by focusing on outcomes, human infrastructure, and long-term customer success. Shift Happens is where partner strategy, leadership perspective, and industry transformation collide—because in tech, standing still is never an option. Let’s make Shift Happen

Kat is back, and immediately finds a mystery pair of sunglasses to derail us. Ian then somehow turns seeing 11:11 into a segue about emotional intelligence. It’s a chaotic start. Then we get into what we actually meant to talk about: why emotional intelligence matters at work, and how much of it comes down to self-awareness. Kat brings MBA-class receipts, Ian reflects on how badly young-20s Ian handled feedback, and together they unpack the biases that shape how we lead, hire, and work with other people. From the halo effect and similarity bias to a live on-air diagnosis of Ian’s fundamental attribution error, this episode is equal parts leadership conversation, workplace reality check, and accidental therapy session. Spoiler: emotional intelligence won’t solve everything, but it can make you a lot better at your job. If you liked this, like us, or just enjoy Cisco...check us out here: https://www.cisco.com/site/us/en/solutions/small-business/index.html

The Internet Report examines the April 2 Microsoft 365 service disruption, an Outlook issue aboard Artemis II, and what these events reveal about critical paths within enterprise architecture. ———  CHAPTERS  00:54 Anatomy of the Microsoft 365 Disruption 02:52 What the Failure Pattern Shows 03:41 Mitigation vs. Resolution 04:58 Outlook Issues on Artemis II: Coincidence? 08:11 Takeaways for NetOps 10:18 Outage Trends: By the Numbers  13:24 Get in Touch   For additional insights, check out The Internet Outage Survival Kit: https://www.thousandeyes.com/resources/the-internet-outage-survival-kit?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fy26q3_internetreport_q3fy26ep134_podcast  ———  Want to get in touch?  If you have questions, feedback, or guests you would like to see featured on the show, send us a note at [email protected] or follow us on LinkedIn or X. ———  ABOUT THE INTERNET REPORT  This is The Internet Report, a podcast uncovering what’s working and what’s breaking on the Internet—and why.   Tune in to hear ThousandEyes’ Internet experts dig into some of the most interesting outage events from the past couple weeks, discussing what went awry—was it the Internet, or an application issue?  Plus, learn about the latest trends in ISP outages, cloud network outages, collaboration network outages, and more.  Catch all the episodes on your favorite podcast platform:   - Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-report/id1506984526   - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5ADFvqAtgsbYwk4JiZFqHQ?si=00e9c4b53aff4d08&nd=1&dlsi=eab65c9ea39d4773   - SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/ciscopodcastnetwork/sets/the-internet-report   - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theinternetreport_official

Ian and THE Sammy Brenner are back, and Sammy has officially negotiated her way into the co-chair seat for this week’s episode. We’re ditching the usual format to get into the nitty-gritty of the "art of the ask." Sammy shares her journey from "begging" to co-hosting, while Ian reflects on his own early-career lessons and the realization that if you don't ask, you simply won't get. Beyond the banter, we dive deep into the tactical side of career growth. We’re breaking down how to research your worth, why you should never be the first to drop a number, and the secret power of the pause. Whether you’re staring down a new job offer or prepping for a promotion cycle, we’re sharing the strategies—and the stories—to help you stop leaving money on the table. While we miss Kat this week, you won't want to miss this one. Tune in now!

The Challenge: Service Providers are facing a dual pressure: exploding bandwidth demands from AI/ML workloads and the critical need to reduce cost-per-bit. Traditional hub-and-spoke architectures can no longer keep up. Francis will pull back the curtain on how Lumen is transforming its metro and long-haul networks using Cisco Routed Optical Networking. In this session, we will explore: • Architectural Evolution: Moving from legacy transport to a converged, flat IP+Optical layer. • Scaling for AI: How Lumen is deploying 400G/800G to support massive Data Center Interconnect (DCI) demands. • Operational Efficiency: Practical insights on automating multi-layer provisioning to speed up time-to-service.

20 years. One company. Zero shortcuts. In this episode of Shift Happens, Jeff Edwards sits down with Amy Bahlo who didn’t join Cisco for the brand—she joined for a September start date so she could spend one more summer at a camp that mattered to her. Two decades later, she’s leading one of Cisco’s most strategic global partnerships, driving $80M in co-sell with Microsoft and now scaling that motion globally with Google. This episode isn’t just about big numbers—it’s about what actually builds a career that lasts. Amy gets real about the moments that didn’t go her way—and why missing a role she knew was hers became the catalyst for something bigger 💥 rethink setbacks. She shares how owning outcomes, seeking hard feedback, and staying relentlessly coachable became her edge 🚀 grow faster (and smarter). And she breaks down how co-sell and cloud marketplaces are opening entirely new paths to win 🌱 tap into where the real growth is happening. Her mindset is simple—and powerful: it’s not about the peak, it’s about the rebound.

How are Mercy Ships and Milton Keynes Hospital using data collection to transform accessing health? In this episode of Tech Unscripted, we explore the future of Tech for Healthcare and its role in improving global patient outcomes. Join us as we sit down with Grady Nichols from Mercy Ships and Ollie Chandler from Milton Keynes University Hospital to discuss how cutting-edge technology is bridging the gap in underserved regions and optimizing clinical decision-making.

Happy (belated) one-year anniversary to the pod! To celebrate, Ian is looking forward to reliving 2016 with The Chainsmokers at Cisco Live, and Kat is building an army of AI agents to do her job for her. We're breaking down the actual difference between a regular chatbot and an autonomous AI agent, and debating whether outsourcing your life to a virtual Board of Directors makes you lazy or just a genius. From setting up agents in Webex's AI Agent Studio to managing your new digital employees, we have your AI strategy covered (we think). Guys...it's been a year. If you haven't given us a click, this is your sign: https://www.cisco.com/site/us/en/solutions/small-business/index.html

In the latest episode of Shift Happens, Jeff sits down with Gary Wolfson, Director of Global Partner Communities at Cisco, for a behind-the-scenes look at what it really took to co-design The Cisco 360 Partner Program—not just in theory, but in practice. This isn’t just a story about partner programs—it’s a masterclass in trust. Gary breaks down the difference between listening and hearing (and why partners know instantly which one you’re doing), and introduces a simple but powerful framework: listen → interpret → act → be accountable. Sounds simple… until you try to do it at global scale, across thousands of partners, in the middle of massive change. What unfolds is a story of courage, vulnerability, and consistency—where trust wasn’t built through words, but through action, rhythm, and follow-through. From early skepticism in Dublin to confidence at Partner Summit, this episode captures the real shift: when feedback stops being a checkbox and becomes your identity. Why listen: • 🎯 Learn the 3-part framework that turns feedback into real action (and trust) • 🤝 Understand why “listening vs. hearing” is the difference between credibility… and noise • 🚀 See how co-design, done right, becomes a true competitive differentiator—not just a buzzword Let’s make shift happen #CiscoShiftHappensPodcast

The Internet Report podcast explores the telemetry behind recent SaaS disruptions to reveal how NetOps leaders can regain control of business continuity during an outage.    ———    CHAPTERS  00:10 Intro  00:52 Cloudflare 08:38 Salesforce 13:27 Outage Trends: By the Numbers  15:34 Get in Touch    ———    Explore the Cloudflare and Salesforce outages further in the ThousandEyes platform (no login required):     - Cloudflare: https://apfjyufeawshlcxbsvhsicakwoupobbf.share.thousandeyes.com/internet-insights/views/?roundId=1771612800&metric=interfaces&scenarioId=outageTraffic&filters=N4IgZglgNgLgpgJwM4gFygIYActQgYwxggHsA7AERIFsMIyAVDAczQG0BdAGhG1wKKkyAeQCuMFnADK%2BEljjsQAQQBiKgKIBhBuooB9HVIZ7hAJT0BJAHJ7NShkoAywgOIhuvJGXYBGAMwBAKxcAEwADACcIQAsIR4wCBhgkPhiEszSsvKKqhraugbqRibm1rb2Tq7uAL7VQA      - Salesforce: https://awzppfpqlujxnslfkbxhmhbdtpkugkks.share.thousandeyes.com/network-app-synthetics/views/?testId=8329769&startTime=1773723600&detailId=map&metrics=httpAvailability&timelineWindow=1773702000,1773744000&prefixId=13533839    
  For additional insights, check out The Internet Outage Survival Kit: https://www.thousandeyes.com/resources/the-internet-outage-survival-kit?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fy26q3_internetreport_q3fy26ep133_podcast    ———    Want to get in touch?    If you have questions, feedback, or guests you would like to see featured on the show, send us a note at [email protected]. Or follow us on LinkedIn or X: @thousandeyes    ———    ABOUT THE INTERNET REPORT  This is The Internet Report, a podcast uncovering what’s working and what’s breaking on the Internet—and why.     Tune in to hear ThousandEyes’ Internet experts dig into some of the most interesting outage events from the past couple weeks, discussing what went awry—was it the Internet, or an application issue?    Plus, learn about the latest trends in ISP outages, cloud network outages, collaboration network outages, and more.    Catch all the episodes on your favorite podcast platform:      - Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-report/id1506984526      - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5ADFvqAtgsbYwk4JiZFqHQ?si=00e9c4b53aff4d08&nd=1&dlsi=eab65c9ea39d4773      - SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/ciscopodcastnetwork/sets/the-internet-report      - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theinternetreport_official