PODCAST · technology
IT in the D
by Bob Waltenspiel & Randy Walker
IT in the D is your insider look at the tech scene in Detroit. Started in 2007 as a meetup group in Metro Detroit for IT professionals, the IT in the D podcast was born in 2013 as an extension of those conversations. Host Bob Waltenspiel and co-host and producer Randy Walker are IT industry veterans, but IT in the D is intentionally more conversational and less instructional. Each weekly show has guests ranging from CIOs and local rock stars, to subject matter experts, local event organizers, and everyone in between. We hope you enjoy listening to us as much as we enjoy recording the show.
Episodes
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Maria Haight of Joyson Safety Systems on Surviving the Vendor Barrage – IT in the D 565
In this episode, we sit down with Maria Haight, Global Information Security Officer at Joyson Safety Systems, to talk about security, governance, and AI. Maria shares her path in tech, and discusses the difficult shift from hands-on technologist to strategic leader. She also covers her community...
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Alec Bantel on His App for Coordinating Family Activities – IT in the D 564
This week, Alec Bantel joined us to discuss his new app, ACTIQO that helps families organize their kids’ activities. We talk about what it takes to go from idea to launch, including user testing, hiring, and figuring out what people actually want versus what they say they want. The conversation...
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J Chris Newberg’s Upcoming Comedy Show – IT in the D 563
Comedian J Chris Newberg has a show on September 18 at Royal Oak Music Theater. We talk for a bit about his comedy style, what’s on his bucket list, and other projects he’s worked on. He tells us what draws him back to Detroit and compares the local comedy scene to other cities. He’s giving away...
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Matt Busch, Visual Storyteller – IT in the D 562
Bob was super-excited for this guest! This week, we were joined by Matt Busch, artist, illustrator, filmmaker, YouTuber, professor, and entrepreneur. He’s worked on projects for Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Lord of the Rings, Stranger Things, and so many more. Check out his website to find out all...
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Jackie Lutz of Auto Care Association on Right to Repair – IT in the D 561
Jackie Lutz is back! She’s the Content Director at the Auto Care Association. We follow up on how the Right to Repair fight is going. She also tells us how things are going on the Auto Care ON AIR podcast, where she hosts Carpool Conversations. This is a longer episode, but we had a lot of fun,...
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Eddie Eadeh of E&E Tech on Small Business IT – IT in the D 560
Eddie Eadeh, CEO of E&E Tech is back, and we chat about cybersecurity practices, the future of enterprise IT, and Michigan’s economy. We discussed phishing simulations, identity management, and AI-related security incidents, along with predictions like 5G-connected devices, zero trust network...
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Travis Bradburn on Reentering the Job Market after 40 Years – IT in the D 559
After 40 years, Travis Bradburn is back on the job market. We hear about what he’s done, what he’s looking for, and what challenges he’s encountered. This one gets to the heart of what our IT in the D networking events are about.
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Jason David of Gym Force on Startup Funding and Growth – IT in the D 558
Bob and Randy caught up with returning guest Jason David of Gym Force, a platform that helps independent gyms with member acquisition, retention, and upselling — solving problems Jason ran into as a former CrossFit gym owner. The conversation covered how AI has accelerated his build, the…
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Josh McDonald and Robotic Mowers – IT in the D 557
Bob and Randy took a break from AI conversations. This week the guest is Josh McDonald, Regional Sales and Business Development Manager of RC Mowers. He talks all about remote-operated and autonomous robotic mowers. These mowers are used for safety and efficiency. Have you ever seen a...
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Zander Van Gogh on Travel, AI, and Reinvention – IT in the D 556
Zander Van Gogh, founder and CEO of No Translation, joins Bob and Randy to discuss his leap from a seven-year career at LinkedIn into entrepreneurship, sparked by a year spent traveling to 50 countries in a year. The conversation covers how Xander used AI tools to plan travel, learn languages…
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Paula Macpherson on Velocity, Michigan Inventors Summit – IT in the D 555
This week, Paula Macpherson joined us to talk about two things: First, she is the executive director of Velocity. Velocity is one of the Michigan SmartZones, and is a business incubator, accelerator, and coworking space in Sterling Heights, MI. They provide grant support, guidance from...
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Andy Saldaña on AI in Small and Mid-Size Manufacturing – IT in the D 554
It’s the 13th anniversary of IT in the D! Andy Saldaña, founder and CEO of Denovo Studios, is this week's guest. He here to discuss the use of AI at small and mid-size manufacturers. First, we talk about the what the businesses lack—usually it's the time, money, and/or expertise required to build...
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Adam Youngblood on AI Onboarding Strategies – IT in the D 553
This week, we welcome Adam Youngblood, AI strategist, to discuss how AI and agentic AI are becoming pervasive, why early “super Google” use is giving way to assistants that perform work, and how non-technical users can start by asking AI questions when they don’t know where to begin. The...
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Rayfield Johnson from Avanade on the Data Landscape Today – IT in the D 552
Bob's coworker Rayfield Johnson, US Data & AI Leader at Avanade, joins us to discuss all things data. He's been in the industry for almost two decades, so he has a lot of insight into the data landscape. We explore how data moved from basic BI to a foundation for AI, emphasizing the need for...
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Justin Coleman and Bob Skinner on AI ROI – IT in the D 551
We are joined by two folks from Neuroaigent: Bob Skinner, and Justin Coleman to have a conversation about where AI is actually delivering ROI right now. Topics include the "it's just a macro" debate, the manufacturing brain drain crisis, agentic AI and what agents actually are, getting found…
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Astronomicon 9 – IT in the D 550
Astronomicon is back for another year! Find the convention April 10 through April 12, 2026 at the Ann Arbor Marriott Ypsilanti at Eagle Crest. We're joined by founders and organizers Mike and Dustin to hear about the history, how the con is going, and what to look forward to this year.
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Christina Fair on Midwest Startup Challenges – IT in the D 549
Christina Fair has lots of titles: Founder of Reconnect, Co-founder of Hum, Entrepreneur in Residence at Ann Arbor SPARK, Executive Director of Detroit Executives Association, and board member of Bees in the D. She joins us this week to talk about her work across Detroit’s startup and community...
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Pete Martin and Michigan Startups – IT in the D 548
Our guest this week is Pete Martin, Director of Portfolio Management at Michigan State University Research Foundation. We talk about Michigan technology startups, including pitching and funding. Pete talks about his origin and some of the startups he finds interesting. We also take a look at why...
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Building Moregetsdone.com with Andrew Koper – IT in the D 547
Andrew Koper joins us this week to talk about Moregetsdone.com, his online collaborative task management tool. We talk about why he decided to build it, how it works, and the ways it can work for various types of organizations. We also brainstorm ideas for future improvements including…
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Legal Implications and Applications of AI with David Williams of Butzel – IT in the D 546
This week's guest is David Williams, CIO of Buztel, a large local law firm. He tells us about how lawyers are using AI, what's allowed, what's not allowed, and the implications thereof.
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Gloabi AI Organisms with David Baird – IT in the D 545
This week, we're joined by David Baird, founder of Gloabi. Gloabi makes AI “organisms”—avatars that have phone numbers, email addresses, and can post on social networks. David tells us what your Gloabi AI can do for you, how it works (even without you sometimes!), and the story behind the project.
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Managing Social Media with Jeff Dwoskin of Stampede Social – IT in the D 544
Our guest this week is Jeff Dwoskin, CEO of Stampede Social. We talk to him about social media management, touching on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube (and discuss some bizarre yet engaging YouTube trends). We get into the nuances of creating and scheduling content, the influence of...
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Working the Help Desk with Brad Woessner – IT in the D 543
On this podcast, we often talk about getting started in the IT field by applying for help desk gigs, and we talk to C-suite and business owners, but this week, we're filling in the middle of the story. Brad Woessner (you'll recognize him from our meetups!) joins us to talk about his IT career and...
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Selling Security with Michael Kennedy and Mel Kolinski of Ostra Security – IT in the D 542
In this episode Bob and Randy 'welcome Mike Kennedy, Founder and Chief Security Officer at Ostra Security, and Mel Kolinski, Sales and Channel Chief at Ostra. They dive into an open discussion about cybersecurity, highlighting the issues with transparency and honesty in the industry. Mike shares...
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CXO Forum Cyber Winter Wonderland, Part 4
This is part 4 of a 4-part series. Randy and I were recently invited to podcast on the floor of the 2025 Cyber Winter Wonderland at the beautiful Madison Loft. My guest host of the day was host of the Great Security Debate, Brian Schneble. Enjoy the listen, and THANK YOU to CXO Forum for…
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CXO Forum Cyber Winter Wonderland, Part 3
This is part 3 of a 4-part series. Randy and I were recently invited to podcast on the floor of the 2025 Cyber Winter Wonderland at the beautiful Madison Loft. My guest host of the day was host of the Great Security Debate, Brian Schneble. Enjoy the listen, and THANK YOU to CXO Forum for…
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CXO Forum Cyber Winter Wonderland, Part 2
This is part 2 of a 4-part series. Randy and I were recently invited to podcast on the floor of the 2025 Cyber Winter Wonderland at the beautiful Madison Loft. My guest host of the day was host of the Great Security Debate, Brian Schneble. Enjoy the listen, and THANK YOU to CXO Forum for…
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CXO Forum Cyber Winter Wonderland, Part 1
This is part 1 of a 4-part series. Randy and I were recently invited to podcast on the floor of the 2025 Cyber Winter Wonderland at the beautiful Madison Loft. My guest host of the day was host of the Great Security Debate, Brian Schneble. Enjoy the listen, and THANK YOU to CXO Forum for…
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The Data Center Debate with Brian Schneble – IT in the D 537
Brian Schneble of The Great Security Debate podcast is back! We dive into a heated discussion about the recent protests against new data centers in Michigan. Topics cover various aspects such as the environmental impact, energy consumption, and the differences between data centers and compute...
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AI Degree Programs with Suzy Siegle and Dave Schippers of Walsh College – IT in the D 536
This week, we explore the future of AI in education with guests Suzy Siegle, President and CEO of Walsh College, and Dr. Dave Schippers, the Chief Academic Officer/Provost. The conversation covers the introduction of new articial intelligence and machine learning degree programs, and the...
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Getting a Tech Job with Cathy Shim of Vaco– IT in the D 535
Bob and Randy welcome Cathy Shim, Managing Director at Vaco Staffing, to discuss the evolving job market, recruitment challenges, and strategies for job seekers. They cover topics like the importance of networking, the diminishing returns of applying through job boards like LinkedIn, and the...
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AI, Data Governance, and Security with Daniel Ayala and Jeff Marraccini – IT in the D 534
Jeff Marraccini is back and he brought Daniel Ayala with him. Jeff is a former VP and CISO, and Daniel is one of the hosts of Great Security Debate podcast. Jeff shares his journey from IT infrastructure to a CISO role, discussing the challenges of securing software and the importance of…
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Data in the D with Aaron Wilkerson of Carhartt – IT in the D 533
Aaron Wilkerson, the founder of Data in the D, is back (previous episode). The conversation covers a wide range of topics including Aaron's recent Data in the D conference, the intricacies of organizing such an event, and the challenges and opportunities surrounding AI. The discussion also…
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Balancing Creativity and Automation with AI Expert Scott Smith – IT in the D 532
Scott Smith is back this week for another AI discussion (previously). He talks with Bob and Randy about the evolution and current state of artificial intelligence. They revisit the changes since AI, particularly ChatGPT, first started gaining attention. Scott Smith, an AI expert, discusses how AI...
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Becoming CTO with Erik Wille of Cabinetworks Group – IT in the D 531
In this episode Bob and Randy welcome back Erik Wille, who recently became CTO of Cabinetworks Group. Known for his roles in the CXO Exchange and The Great Security Debate podcast, Erik shares insights on his transition from CSO to CTO, the changing nature of IT roles, AI advancements, and…
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Manufacturing Innovations with Tim Burke – IT in the D 530
This week, Bob and Randy were joined by guest Tim Burke from The Burke Group. They discuss Tim’s extensive career history, from his early tech roles to his current consulting work. The conversation covers a variety of topics, including the challenges and opportunities presented by AI in...
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Exploring Missive Email for Teams with CEO Philippe Lehoux – IT in the D 529
In this episode, Bob and Randy are joined by Philippe Lehoux, the CEO of Missive, a shared email inbox tool for small and medium businesses. The discussion dives into the innovative features of Missive, which combines email and internal team chat functionalities into a single powerful platform....
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The IT Recruiting Process with Julia Arpag of Aligned Recruitment – IT in the D 528
This week, Bob and Randy are joined by Julia Arpag, the CEO and Founder of Aligned Recruitment. They dive into the nuances of the tech recruitment industry, discussing insights on job searching, the importance of networking, and the impact of AI on resumes. Julie emphasizes the significance of...
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Ecommerce plus Educational Opportunities with Jay Aho of Pet Supplies Plus – IT in the D 527
This week, Bob and Randy were joined by Jay Aho, director of Marketing Technology and eCommerce at Pet Supplies Plus. eCommerce isn't something talked about a lot on this show, so lots of questions were asked. We discussed an upcoming app, what it's like to manage inventory, and how to market to...
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Networking with Terry Bean – IT in the D 526
This week, Bob and Randy are joined by Terry Bean (Try Bean). We discuss his history with networking, TEDx Detroit, and coaching, emphasizing the importance of building relationships through better communication skills. We also get into the evolution of social media and content creation. Of…
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Next Steps for Gym Force with Jason David of Gym Force and Ayesha Qureshi of Q Line Media – IT in the D 525
Jason David (JD) from Gym Force returns! This time, he brought Ayesha Qureshi from Q Line Media to discuss the future of Gym Force. JD shares with Bob and Randy his journey in the startup community, his experiences with funding and venture capital, and the challenges of building a brand.…
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Using AI in Agency Work with Scott Wiemels of 24G – IT in the D 524
Back this week is Scott Wiemels, CEO of Digital Transformation Agency 24G. He was last on Episode 404 “Podcast Not Found”. Scott joins Bob and Randy to detail an evolving landscape of AI technology. Scott shares insights on his company's shift from augmented reality to AI and how innovative...
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Premium Usernames and a Story of Harassment with Britain Woodman – IT in the D 523
You might remember several years ago, we had Britain on to talk about his unique social media username. Well, he's back and he's got quite a tale!
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The CXO Forum, Part 6
This is part 6 of a 6-part series. Randy and I were recently invited to podcast on the floor of the CXO Forum Detroit 2025 Event at the beautiful Madison Loft. My guest host of the day was board member and CTO of Cabinetworks Group and host of the Great Security Debate, Erik Wille. We had a blast...
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The CXO Forum, Part 5
This is part 5 of a 6-part series. Randy and I were recently invited to podcast on the floor of the CXO Forum Detroit 2025 Event at the beautiful Madison Loft. My guest host of the day was board member and CTO of Cabinetworks Group and host of the Great Security Debate, Erik Wille. We had a blast...
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The CXO Forum, Part 4
This is part 4 of a 6-part series. Randy and I were recently invited to podcast on the floor of the CXO Forum Detroit 2025 Event at the beautiful Madison Loft. My guest host of the day was board member and CTO of Cabinetworks Group and host of the Great Security Debate, Erik Wille. We had a blast...
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The CXO Forum, Part 3
This is part 3 of a 6-part series. Randy and I were recently invited to podcast on the floor of the CXO Forum Detroit 2025 Event at the beautiful Madison Loft. My guest host of the day was board member and CTO of Cabinetworks Group and host of the Great Security Debate, Erik Wille. We had a blast...
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The CXO Forum, Part 2
This is part 2 of a 6-part series. Randy and I were recently invited to podcast on the floor of the CXO Forum Detroit 2025 Event at the beautiful Madison Loft. My guest host of the day was board member and CTO of Cabinetworks Group and host of the Great Security Debate, Erik Wille. We had a blast...
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The CXO Forum, Part 1
This is part 1 of a 6-part series. Randy and I were recently invited to podcast on the floor of the CXO Forum Detroit 2025 Event at the beautiful Madison Loft. My guest host of the day was board member and CTO of Cabinetworks Group and host of the Great Security Debate, Erik Wille. We had a blast...
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Networking and Personal Branding with Steve Acho – IT in the D 517
Bob and Randy Walker chat with Steve Acho (website), a versatile professional with experience spanning technology recruiting, music, public speaking, and consulting. Steve shares his journey in various fields, discusses the importance of networking, effective job recruiting, and finding…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
IT in the D is your insider look at the tech scene in Detroit. Started in 2007 as a meetup group in Metro Detroit for IT professionals, the IT in the D podcast was born in 2013 as an extension of those conversations. Host Bob Waltenspiel and co-host and producer Randy Walker are IT industry veterans, but IT in the D is intentionally more conversational and less instructional. Each weekly show has guests ranging from CIOs and local rock stars, to subject matter experts, local event organizers, and everyone in between. We hope you enjoy listening to us as much as we enjoy recording the show.
HOSTED BY
Bob Waltenspiel & Randy Walker
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does IT in the D have?
IT in the D currently has 595 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is IT in the D about?
IT in the D is your insider look at the tech scene in Detroit. Started in 2007 as a meetup group in Metro Detroit for IT professionals, the IT in the D podcast was born in 2013 as an extension of those conversations. Host Bob Waltenspiel and co-host and producer Randy Walker are IT industry...
How often does IT in the D release new episodes?
IT in the D releases new episodes frequently with a large back catalog of 595 episodes. Check the episode list for recent publication dates.
Where can I listen to IT in the D?
You can listen to IT in the D on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts IT in the D?
IT in the D is created and hosted by Bob Waltenspiel & Randy Walker.
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