Techstrong Gang

Techstrong Gang

2 Seasons

Techstrong Gang is your daily roundtable where industry leaders and analysts break down the biggest stories in technology, AI, cybersecurity, DevOps, and digital transformation. Hosted by Alan Shimel alongside rotating experts from across the Techstrong Network, the Gang brings sharp insights, candid debates, and forward-thinking perspectives on how innovation is reshaping business, society, and the future of work.

New episodes drop Monday through Friday, offering timely conversations that cut through the noise and connect you directly to what’s driving the tech world today.

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Techstrong Gang
  • Navigating Corporate Challenges: Intel, Cybersecurity, & AI | TSG Ep. 899

    Episode 1

    Alan, Mike, Mitch, Tracy Ragan and Jack Poller debate the degree to which calls for the CEO of Intel to resign because of unsubstantiated ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) are justified.

    Then the gang assesses the validity of a survey of C-level executives that claim to be seeing massive...

  • Insights from Black Hat : Networking in Cybersecurity | TSG Ep. 898

    Episode 2

    Alan Shimel shares insights from Black Hat 2025, highlighting the significance of networking in cybersecurity. Upcoming Black Hat content features exclusive interviews and showcases extensive preparations for security measures. The rise of AI in security is discussed, along with concerns about da...

  • AI Coding, Exploits & Agent Security: The Risks of Going Too Fast | TSG Ep. 896

    Episode 3

    Mike, Mitch, Chris Blask, Kate Scarcella and Futurum Group analyst Guy Currier debate when, how, or even if, it might be possible to cost-effectively enable the consumption of 2,000 tokens per second as part of a goal to make working with artificial intelligence (AI) coding tools more fluid.

    The...

  • Navigating IT Resiliency & the Future of Work | TSG Ep. 895

    Episode 4

    Alan, Mike, Mitch, JP Morgenthal and Alastair Cooke dive into the current mindset of IT professionals during these uncertain technological and economic times before reviewing a Tech Field Day event that focused on the latest edition of the VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF).

    Then the gang takes a loo...

  • Exploring AI & Cybersecurity at Black Hat Week | TSG Ep. 894

    Episode 5

    Black Hat Week showcases the evolution of cybersecurity and AI. The event highlights the rising costs of data breaches globally, with a focus on the importance of human oversight in AI applications. Discussions cover the impact of AI on job roles, the need for better cybersecurity investments, an...

  • Palo Alto Acquires CyberArk for $25B, Identity, Risk & Accountability | TSG Ep. 893

    Episode 6

    Palo Alto Networks acquires CyberArk for $25B, signaling a major cybersecurity shift. As data breaches surge, identity management becomes central to modern security strategies. We also dive into the challenges of tech integration, vendor risk, and the scrutiny facing Cognizant after recent failur...

  • Navigating the Future of AI & Cybersecurity | TSG Ep. 892

    Episode 7

    The Gang announces Palo Alto Networks' $25 billion acquisition of CyberArk, marking a trend in cybersecurity consolidation. It discusses essential skills for the AI landscape, highlighting new roles like AI programmers and data engineers. The importance of community collaboration through hackatho...

  • Visa Shifts, AI Labor & Tech as a Public Utility | TSG Ep. 891

    Episode 8

    In Episode 891 of the Techstrong Gang, Mitch, Jon, Dan, Kate, and Chris Blask dive into the evolving U.S. immigration landscape, with a focus on proposed changes to the H-1B visa program under the Trump administration. The conversation highlights the critical need for a competitive global labor m...

  • Apple OS26 Beta & GitHub Spark Breakdown | TSG Ep. 890

    Episode 9

    In Techstrong Gang for Tuesday, July 29th, the Gang dive into the new Apple OS26 beta. Fanboi vs critic, it is a lively discussion. Next up the Gang takes a look at GitHub Spark, is this a good thing for developers? security? the future of the software business? Check out what the Gang thinks, it...

  • Open Source Adoption, Digital Strategy & Amazon’s AI Bracelet Privacy Risks | TSG Ep. 889

    Episode 10

    Alan, Mike, Mitch, Tracy Ragan, Jack Poller, and Dr. Stacey Thayer unpack the latest CNCF report on open source software adoption and its impact on modern IT infrastructure.

    The discussion then shifts to the state of digital business transformation—what’s real progress vs. just buzz—and wraps wi...

  • AI Policy, Sports Tech & Ransomware: Is Progress Real or Just Optics? | TSG Ep. 888

    Episode 11

    Alan, Mike, Fred Wilmot, Ira Winkler, and Lisa Martin (CMO Advisor, The Futurum Group) break down the Trump Administration’s AI action plan—is it strategic foresight or political theater?

    Then, the panel explores how technology is reshaping the sports fan experience, and debates whether we’re ma...

  • AI’s Economic Impact, Platform Engineering, and a Chilling Cybercrime Report | TSG Ep. 887

    Episode 12

    Alan, Mike, Teri Robinson, Garima Bajpai, and Guy Currier (Futurum Group) unpack the debate around the true economic value of AI investments—are we entering a productivity boom or another hype cycle?

    They also explore the rising adoption of platform engineering as a DevOps-aligned methodology fo...

  • Risky Business: Tech CEOs Under Pressure & Microsoft SharePoint Fiasco | TSG Ep. 886

    Episode 13

    Alan, Mike, Mitch, Chris Blask, and Kate Scarcella examine why tech CEOs may be becoming an endangered species—caught in a crossfire of cultural shifts, political scrutiny, and internal missteps. Then the gang analyzes Gartner’s latest IT spending forecast and unpacks the cybersecurity fallout fr...

  • Gmail Security Flaws, Cloaking-as-a-Service, and Asimov DevOps Innovation | TSG Ep. 884

    Episode 14

    Alan, Mike, Mitch, Tracy Ragan, and Jack Poller dive into the dual impact of artificial intelligence—starting with a major Gmail flaw that could affect millions, and a rise in cloaking-as-a-service techniques used by threat actors to evade detection.

    Then the gang explores Asimov, a next-gen AI ...

  • AI Agents and Beyond: Infrastructure, Super Intelligence, and the Elmo Hack Fallout | TSG Ep. 883

    Episode 15

    Alan, Mike, Jon, Fred Wilmot, Ira Winkler, and Lisa Martin (CMO Advisor, Futurum Group) dive into the infrastructure required to build and scale next-generation AI agents—including compute, storage, and networking demands.

    The panel also explores why organizations like Meta are chasing the idea ...

  • Adventures in AI: Data Center Gold Rush, AI Agent Autonomy, and DNA Privacy Risks | TSG Ep. 882

    Episode 16

    Alan, Mike, Jon, Teri Robinson, Garima Bajpai, and Guy Currier (Futurum Group) explore the surge in investment fueling the global expansion of data centers for artificial intelligence (AI). The discussion also highlights growing local resistance to building these facilities due to environmental a...

  • Arm’s Rise, AWS Vibecoding, and Deepfake Threats to Trust in Government | TSG Ep. 881

    Episode 17

    Alan, Mike, Mitch, Chris Blask, Kate Scarcella, and Dan O’Brien (Futurum Group) examine the rapid rise of Arm as a dominant force in IT infrastructure, gaining traction across cloud, AI, and data center workloads.

    The panel then unpacks how vibecoding—a more intuitive, AI-enhanced way of buildin...

  • Exploring AI Talent Acquisition and Networking Innovations | TSG Ep. 880

    Episode 18

    The gang examines OpenAI’s failed attempt to acquire Windsurf and the ethical implications of acquihires in the AI industry. The panel debates the real market value of Windsurf’s intellectual property and what it reveals about evolving AI talent acquisition strategies.

    They also spotlight Micros...

  • AI Browser Wars, DIY Robots, and the Rise of Scattered Spider | TSG Ep. 879

    Episode 19

    Alan, Mike, Jack Gold, and Jack Poller explore how the browser wars are evolving in the age of artificial intelligence, with major players racing to integrate AI features into their platforms. They also discuss the growing popularity of open source robotics kits that are making it easier than eve...

  • Smart Devices, Grok’s Missteps, and C-Level Security Wake-Up Calls | TSG Ep. 878

    Episode 20

    Alan, Mike, Jon, Camberley Bates, and Ira Winkler explore how smartphones are evolving into AI-powered digital companions—reshaping how we interact with tech daily.

    They also dive into the growing concern over trust in AI outputs, especially following missteps like the Grok AI model under Elon M...

  • Curing Hallucinations, Teaching with AI & Ransomware Retirements | TSG Ep. 877

    Episode 21

    Alan, Mike, Jon, Garima Bajpai, and Guy Currier (Futurum Group) unpack efforts to cure AI hallucinations and explore how Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic are helping teachers harness AI in the classroom 🎓.

    They also look into why the Hunters International ransomware gang is shutting down—what it...

  • Tariffs, AI Power Plays & Cybercrime Crackdowns | TSG Ep. 876

    Episode 22

    Mike, Chris Blask, Kate Scarcella, and Dan O’Brien (Futurum Group) unpack what IT leaders should focus on amid tariff chaos. Then, they dive into CoreWeave’s $9B buyout of Core Scientific—and what it means for the AI infrastructure race.

    Plus, how the U.S. Treasury is turning up the heat on cybe...

  • Advancing AI: Apple & Microsoft Breakthroughs in Coding and Healthcare | TSG Ep. 875

    Episode 23

    Alan, Mike, JP Morgenthal and Stephen Foskett, president of the Techstrong Field Day arm of Futurum Group, dive into an advance made by Apple that promises to make artificial intelligence (AI) coding tools more efficient before delving into how an AI advance from Microsoft might improve healthcar...

  • How Open Source Is Changing DevOps and Code Generation | TSG Ep. 874

    Episode 24

    Alan, Mike, Jon, Ira Winkler, Chhaya Gunawat, and Lisa Martin (CMO Advisor, The Futurum Group) explore how open source—with help from Microsoft—is bringing needed transparency to AI tools that generate code.

    They also break down the risks of AI search results being poisoned, and what it means fo...