Best ELC Podcasts (2025)

1
Quick Summer Break! Join us @ ELC Annual 2025 (Early Bird Tickets End Soon) 2:46

Play Pause

7d ago2:46

2:46

We’re pausing the pod this week as we gear up final planning for ELC Annual 2025 - the premier event for engineering leaders. New episodes return next week (on a biweekly schedule!).This is our biggest event of the year… 1,000+ CTOs, VPs & Directors in San Francisco @ ELC Annual 2025 for two days of leadership breakthroughs, tactical peer learning …

1
The Art of Communication | Salvatore Manzi 28:01

3h ago28:01

28:01

In this episode, Phil and Salvatore Manzi delve into the art of communication, particularly in educational settings. They discuss the significance of building trust through authentic communication, the importance of engaging introductions, and the impact of presence on audience perception. Salvatore shares insights on overcoming imposter syndrome a…

1
Shifting out and empowering developers with AI agents, execution clarity, and vision-first leadership w/ John Amaral #226 44:54

5h ago44:54

44:54

ABOUT JOHN AMARAL John Amaral, CTO and co-founder of Root.io, is a veteran cybersecurity leader with a proven track record of scaling and exiting successful companies. At Cisco, he led Product for Cloud Security—its fastest-growing Security and SaaS business. Before that, he ran product and engineering at CloudLock through its acquisition by Cisco …

1
Exploring the Integrated Value Network 47:33

5d ago47:33

47:33

The Integrated Value Network (IVN), a transformative tool for effective governance. Joined by guests Basil White, a senior informaticist, and Beth Martin, a user experience and digital services expert, the discussion highlights the significance of IVN in mapping complex government interactions. The conversation covers their experiences, the practic…

1
Facilitating Reflections | Thomas Lahnthaler 25:54

6d ago25:54

25:54

In this episode, Phil interviews Thomas Lahnthaler about his book 'Facilitating Reflections'. They discuss the inspiration behind the book, the role of facilitators, essential skills needed, and the concept of self-harming humility in facilitation. Thomas emphasizes the importance of recognizing one's contributions and the need for facilitators to …

1
Innovators Unite: ET&I Conference Highlights Part 2 23:31

12d ago23:31

23:31

We are still live at the Emerging Tech and Innovation Conference, talking with amazing folks, like, Elizabeth McNamara, Health IT Innovation Officer at Next Phase Solutions Services, Virginia Huth a 30-year civil servant who is now CEO of Vanalytix, and Basil White, Senior Informaticist. Discussions revolve around the importance of innovation in pu…

1
Scaling decision-making, designing eng orgs for speed & scope as underrated leverage w/ Dhruv Parthasarathy #225 37:42

13d ago37:42

37:42

ABOUT DHRUV PARTHASARATHY Dhruv Parthasarathy has spent the last 8 years focused on applying modern software and machine learning techniques in healthcare. Dhruv currently serves as the CTO of Commure, HATCO, and Augmedix. In the role of CTO, he leads product, engineering, and design teams. Prior to this, Dhruv helped found Athelas which eventually…

1
Innovators Unite: ET&I Conference Highlights Part 1 22:17

19d ago22:17

22:17

In this episode of The Buzz, we broadcast live from the 2025 Emerging Tech and Innovation Conference, featuring exclusive interviews with industry leaders like Destinie Harris from Maximus, Jeff Mercurio from OnPoint Consulting, and Ratima Katari from ICF. Destinie discusses Maximus' Total Experience Management (TXM) solution and her journey in tec…

1
The evolving velocity playbook, building product taste & exceptional product experiences in the AI era w/ Loïc Houssier #224 46:17

21d ago46:17

46:17

ABOUT LOÏC HOUSSIER Loïc Houssier is an engineering executive with 20 years of leadership experience spanning startups, scale-ups, and global enterprises. He specializes in helping high-growth companies scale with speed and discipline, combining technical depth with a strong operational mindset. He currently leads engineering at Superhuman, the mos…

1
ICYMI: Top Strategies from Leading Private Sector Contact Centers 41:57

26d ago41:57

41:57

*NEW EDIT* In this episode, panelists from industry share their strategies and experiences for improving contact center operations. The session is moderated by Crystal Philcox, a former federal executive at GSA and IRS. Topics discussed include the importance of customer feedback, leveraging AI and analytics for better customer interactions, proact…

1
Rapid Prototyping, Lightning Pods & the End of PRDs: Redefining product development & EPD in the age of AI w/ Nissim Lehyani #223 38:45

28d ago38:45

38:45

When Nissim Lehyani (VP of Product at Life360) used AI to build a math game for his son, he didn’t just prototype a game, he rewired how he thinks about product development and the relationship between engineering, product, and design. In this episode, Nissim shares how that personal “aha” moment sparked a shift in how his teams build, collaborate,…

1
"Can I Come Down?..YES!" 14:57

28d ago14:57

14:57

In this episode, Phil Brown discusses the importance of empowering participants in climbing activities by allowing them to make choices about their experience, particularly the choice to come down when they feel uncomfortable. He challenges traditional mindsets that prioritize reaching the top as the ultimate goal and emphasizes the need for facili…

1
EP141 Ventilation, Codes & Comfort: What Builders Need to Know Now with Patrick Nielsen 22:38

29d ago22:38

22:38

"As homes get tighter, ventilation isn't optional—it's essential." — Patrick Nielsen In this episode of RESTalk, host Bill Spohn sits down with Patrick Nielsen, Global Technical Products Manager at Broan-NuTone, to discuss the evolving world of home ventilation. With over two decades of experience, Patrick walks us through the major drivers shaping…

1
ICYMI: Contact Center Case Studies - Governments Learn Best from Other Governments 37:08

1M ago37:08

37:08

In this episode, panelists from various government sectors discuss the critical importance of contact centers and share their experiences, challenges, and strategies for improving service delivery. The discussion includes insights into the role of technology, automation, and human factors in transforming contact centers. Key topics covered include …

1
Challenging the Accessibility of Outdoor Education | Devin Farkas 26:40

1M ago26:40

26:40

In this conversation, Phil Brown and Devin Farkas discuss the evolving landscape of outdoor education, focusing on accessibility, the importance of experiential learning, and the development of leadership skills in outdoor settings. They explore the core impacts of outdoor education, including confidence building and connection with nature, while a…

1
No New Episode - But We Launched Something New... Introducing the ELC Forum! 1:33

1M ago1:33

1:33

We just launched the ELC Forum — a new space for engineering leaders to dive deeper into real challenges and get peer support It’s a discussion board (like Reddit) but focused on eng leadership. We’re sharing takeaways from recent episodes and kicking off new discussions. Plus, AMAs with guests are coming soon. See you in the Forum! Click here to e…

1
Live at the 2025 Contact Center Annual Summit 35:28

1M ago35:28

35:28

In this special live edition of The Buzz, Pete Tseronis interviews key industry leaders on the critical role of contact centers in delivering services, especially through digital and omni-channel strategies. Key speakers, including Martha Dorris of Dorris Consulting International; Amanda Chavez from Qualtrics; Mia Jordan from Salesforce; Marcellus …

1
From architect to AI exec: Scaling leadership, maintaining credibility & effective communication to non-technical execs w/ Prashant Ramarao #222 43:37

1M ago43:37

43:37

ABOUT PRASHANT RAMARAO Prashant is a hands-on technology executive with extensive experience in software engineering, leading large organizations, specializing in AI / ML, and large-scale systems architecture. With advanced degrees in computer science and engineering leadership, he excels at defining technical strategies that align with business go…

1
Near Misses on the Challenge Course 14:33

1M ago14:33

14:33

In this conversation, Phil Brown discusses the nuances of training in challenge courses, emphasizing the importance of shared experiences and safety protocols. He recounts a near miss incident involving a participant and a helmet, highlighting the lessons learned and the need for vigilance among facilitators. The discussion encourages a culture of …

1
The Human Element in Tech and Mission with CIO, DOC Brian Epley 27:22

2M ago27:22

27:22

In this episode of the Buzz , Pete Tseronis interviews Brian Epley, Chief Information Officer at the United States Department of Commerce. They discuss the intersection of mission-driven technology and humanizing government initiatives. Brian reflects on his journey from the private sector to public service, emphasizing the importance of understand…

1
The Startup Epoch: Rethinking Company Building & Defensibility in an AI World w/ Craig McLuckie #221 42:38

2M ago42:38

42:38

AI is reshaping the fundamental economics of startups—lowering product development costs, compressing GTM cycles, and rewriting the rules of competition. In this episode, Craig McLuckie (Co-Founder & CEO @ Stacklok, co-creator of Kubernetes) unpacks “the epoch of the startup,” a moment of massive disruption where fast-moving founders have a unique …

1
Voyager Voices: Stories of Growth and Impact 25:03

2M ago25:03

25:03

In this special live edition of The Buzz, hosted by Yohanna Baez from Jammin Java in Vienna, Virginia, the focus is on Voyager Talks, celebrating the achievements of the ACT-IAC Voyagers program. The event highlights the importance of collaboration between government and industry, featuring professionals from the program and supporting Canines for …

1
The Power of Play | Ken Weisner 20:49

2M ago20:49

20:49

In this conversation, Phil Brown and Ken Weisner explore the significance of play in learning and personal development. Ken shares his journey into the world of play, highlighting key moments that shaped his understanding of its importance. They discuss the barriers adults face in engaging with play, the marketing challenges within the industry, an…

1
AMD’s unified hardware + software strategy & building an open-source AI ecosystem w/ Anush Elangovan #220 36:55

2M ago36:55

36:55

ABOUT ANUSH ELANGOVAN Anush Elangovan leads the Artificial Intelligence Group (AIG) as Corporate Vice President of AI software and solutions. Anush has 23 years of industry experience in AI, computer science, compilers, network security, operating systems, math, and its materialization on complex hardware systems. This co-founder and Chief Executiv…

1
EP140 The Future of QA at RESNET®: Automation, Oversight, and ENERGY STAR Updates with Scott Doyle 26:09

2M ago26:09

26:09

"You can’t manage what you can’t measure." — Peter Drucker In this insightful episode of RESTalk, host Bill Spohn welcomes Scott Doyle, RESNET’s Managing Director of Quality Assurance (QA), for a comprehensive update on what’s ahead in the world of RESNET QA®. Scott unpacks the most significant changes hitting the registry, Chapter 9 standards, and…

1
The Power of Connection: Lessons from the Voyager Program 28:23

2M ago28:23

28:23

In this special live edition of The Buzz, host Yohanna Baez broadcasts from Jammin Java in Vienna, Virginia, hosting the signature Voyager Talks event. This episode highlights the ACT-IAC Voyagers program, a professional development program for rising leaders in government and industry. Yohanna interviews Andrew Powell, Chief Growth Officer of Stro…

1
Lessons Leading EPD: Mindset, decision-making, 80/20 product strategy & pivoting for leverage/speed w/ Farnaz Azmoodeh #219 43:12

2M ago43:12

43:12

ABOUT FARNAZ AZMOODEH Farnaz is the CTO at Linktree, the leading social platform for creators and small businesses. Linktree enables its users to unify, curate, and monetize their online presence. Farnaz started her career at Google, focusing on the ad tech space. Farnaz then joined Snap, leading Snap's AR monetization team before scaling to run Sn…

1
The Experiential Learning Cycle (ELC) | Romy Alexandra 39:49

2M ago39:49

39:49

In this conversation, Romy Alexandra discusses the concept of experiential learning, sharing her personal journey and insights into how experiential education can transform traditional learning methods. She emphasizes the importance of engaging learners through experience, reflection, and action, and explores the experiential learning cycle and var…

1
The Buzz Live: Creativity and Collaboration at Voyager Talks 25:15

2M ago25:15

25:15

In this special live edition of The Buzz, host Yohanna Baez reports from Jamin Java in Vienna, Virginia, celebrating the ACT-IAC Voyagers program and its impact on government and industry leaders. The episode features an inspiring conversation with Colette Creech, Director of Growth Operations at Gunnison Consulting Group, discussing her team's pre…

1
Empowering Teams & Cultivating True Ownership in Engineering Orgs w/ Wade Chambers #218 44:55

2M ago44:55

44:55

ABOUT WADE CHAMBERS Wade Chambers will be leading Engineering at Amplitude. Amplitude is the leading digital analytics platform that helps companies unlock the power of their products. Wade has over 25 years of engineering leadership experience, both advising companies and being hands-on in key leadership positions at companies such as Included Hea…

1
Lighthouse Parenting | Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg 31:43

2M ago31:43

31:43

In this conversation, Phil and Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg discuss the concept of Lighthouse Parenting, a metaphor that emphasizes the importance of being a stable and guiding presence in a child's life. Dr. Ginsburg explains how this approach balances love and protection while allowing children to take healthy risks. They explore the role of adults in mo…

1
Empowering Communities: Christina Binhack and the ACT-IAC Gives Back Initiative 33:05

3M ago33:05

33:05

In this episode, we sit down with Christina Binhack, Director of Operations and HR at ACT-IAC, to dive into her background, experiences, and passion for nonprofit work. Christina shares her journey from the Midwest to the DMV area, her involvement with ACT-IAC, and her dedication to community service through the ACT-IAC Gives Back program. She disc…

1
Building partnerships w/ complex stakeholders, aligning tech debt w/ business value & decisive vs. thoughtful decision-making #217 49:24

3M ago49:24

49:24

ABOUT FUNMI OLUDAIYE Funmi is a Managing Director and the Head of the Digital Risk Office for Enterprise Partnerships at Goldman Sachs, where she is pioneering a first-of-its-kind global initiative to embed critical business, security, and engineering risk practices within the engineering organization. With nearly 15 years of experience as a softwa…

1
Communication in the Classroom | Mike Anderson 37:44

3M ago37:44

37:44

In this episode, the conversation focuses on the importance of communication in education, featuring insights from Anne Louise Wagner, Ryan McCormick and Mike Anderson. They discuss the barriers to effective communication, the significance of modeling appropriate communication for students, and the creation of a safe learning environment. The speak…

1
From College to Career: A Talk with an Associates Graduate from IBM 18:12

3M ago18:12

18:12

In our final episode of the Associates graduate series, host Yohanna Baez interviews Lila Najmyar, a senior federal developer at IBM and a recent participant in the ACT-IAC Professional Development Associates Program. Lila shares her journey from college to IBM, the valuable experiences and lessons learned during the program, and how it has influen…

1
National FFA Organization (Future Farmers of America) | Dr. Travis Park 25:34

3M ago25:34

25:34

"Learning to do, doing to learn" Phil, alongside guest host Jamie Thibodeau, is joined by Dr. Travis Park to explore the National FFA Organization's mission and its connection to experiential education. Travis discusses the importance of agricultural education in developing leadership, personal growth, and career success among students. The discuss…

1
Recalibrating leadership priorities, leveraging your time & empowering senior leaders w/ Vinod Marur #216 40:19

3M ago40:19

40:19

ABOUT VINOD MARUR Vinod Marur is the SVP of Engineering at Databricks. He was previously at Rubrik where he served as SVP Engineering and established a mature engineering organization geared for rapid product development and innovation with a deep focus on product quality and organizational development. Prior to that Vinod spent nearly 15 years in …

1
EP139 Concrete Innovations: The Story of Arizona’s First 3D-Printed Home with Jason Barlow 30:18

3M ago30:18

30:18

"Innovation is taking two things that exist and putting them together in a new way." — Tom Freston In this episode of the RESTalk podcast, Bill Spohn sits down with Jason Barlow, former President & CEO of Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona, to discuss a groundbreaking achievement in homebuilding—the first 3D-printed concrete home in Arizona. Jaso…

1
ELC 088: How to Begin Your Journey of Designing for All Learners 35:24

3M ago35:24

35:24

If you're feeling overwhelmed about how to practice inclusive design, this episode gives you practical advice so you can start today.By Connie Malamed: Learning Experience Consultant, International Speaker

1
Building Networks and Skills: A Talk with an Associates Graduate from ABS Consulting 19:23

3M ago19:23

19:23

In this episode of The Buzz from ACT-IAC, host Yohanna Baez interviews Abby Cassell, a business development manager at ABS Consulting and an alumna of the ACT-IAC Professional Development Associates Program. Abby discusses her career journey from graduating college in 2020, navigating business development during the COVID-19 pandemic, to joining AB…

1
Deliberate Creative Teams | Dr. Amy Climer 29:39

3M ago29:39

29:39

In this conversation, Phil Brown interviews Amy Climer about her new book, 'Deliberate Creative Teams.' They discuss the importance of creativity in teams, the misconceptions surrounding creativity, and the role of education in stifling creative potential. Amy shares insights on how to facilitate creativity within teams, the concept of creative abr…

1
From early days to IPO: Scaling leadership, enterprise growth, product ownership, & outgrowing your failure modes w/ Jon Hyman #215 57:14

3M ago57:14

57:14

ABOUT JON HYMAN Jon Hyman is the co-founder and chief technology officer of Braze, the customer engagement platform that delivers messaging experiences across push, email, in-app, and more. He leads the charge for building the platform’s technical systems and infrastructure as well as overseeing the company’s technical operations and engineering te…

1
From Nursing to Business Operations: A Talk with an Associates Graduate from Akiak Holdings 31:13

3M ago31:13

31:13

In this episode of The Buzz from ACT IAC, host Yohanna Baez dives into the career journey of Olivia Henry, an early career professional who participated in the ACT-IAC Professional Development Associates Program. Olivia discusses her transition from nursing to a leadership role in business operations, fueled by the support and skills gained from th…

1
Essential questions & leadership principles to navigate change, fear & uncertainty w/ Rukmini Reddy #214 45:38

3M ago45:38

45:38

ABOUT RUKMINI REDDY Rukmini Reddy is the Senior Vice President of Engineering, responsible for managing product and platform delivery, infrastructure, and data science. Reddy joins PagerDuty from Slack where she guided the vision, strategy, and execution of a comprehensive re-architecture, transforming the messaging software into an automation plat…

1
Master of Education (MEd) in Adventure Education | Springfield College | Angie Veatch and Ted France 23:19

3M ago23:19

23:19

Phil Brown, Angie Veach, and Ted France discuss the newly launched Masters of Education in Adventure Education program at Springfield College. They explore the intent behind creating the program, the importance of legitimacy in the field, and the need for a curriculum that respects and incorporates experiential learning. The discussion also touches…

1
From Courtside to Capitol Hill: Dir. of Professional Development Sarah Hughes on Career Transformation 36:13

3M ago36:13

36:13

We have a different host for this special episode of The Buzz, Pete Tseronis, founder of Dots and Bridges. He interviews Sarah Hughes, Director of Professional Development at ACT-IAC. They discuss Sarah's diverse career across industries, networking, mentorship, and career growth. Sarah shares insights from her journey, including her work with spor…

1
Building platforms, ecosystems & open-source communities: Lessons from Viam & MongoDB w/ Eliot Horowitz @ Viam #213 42:54

3M ago42:54

42:54

ABOUT ELIOT HOROWITZ Eliot Horowitz is the Founder and CEO of Viam, an engineering platform unlocking AI, automation, and data for devices in the physical world. With a deep commitment to advancing technology, Eliot leads Viam in helping companies build solutions across robotics, food and beverage, climate, marine, industrial manufacturing, and mor…

1
Service Learning | Cathryn Berger Kaye 25:07

4M ago25:07

25:07

Phil and Cathryn Berger Kaye explore the transformative power of service learning in education. Cathy defines service learning as a pedagogical approach that connects students' learning to real-world community needs, emphasizing the importance of purpose and engagement in the learning process. They discuss the barriers educators face in implementin…

1
Building Confidence and Connections: A Talk with an Associates Graduate from CGI 22:27

4M ago22:27

22:27

On our next episode of The Buzz from ACT-IAC, host Yohanna Baez interviews Paige Kowahl, a senior consultant at CGI Federal, about her experiences in the ACT-IAC Professional Development Associates Program. Paige shares her educational and career journey, which began with a pivot from chemistry to computer information systems, leading her to CGI. S…