Cisco Podcast Network

We jump right in by asking a deceptively simple question: do you have a personal brand, and if so...what is it? That quickly turns into Kat and Ian accidentally hyping each other up, questioning their professional identities, and landing on the idea that being good at work starts with being a good human. Ian explains why he’s sending out 360 feedback surveys “because he’s insecure,” while Kat defends her commitment to being on time (something Ian can't comment on...) Then we get into actual tips: how personal brands are built day by day. From accountability and consistency to perception and reputation, this episode is all about how people experience you at work — and why that matters more than ever in a virtual world. If you found this insightful, funny, or just like us...give us a click to keep the show funded! https://www.cisco.com/site/us/en/solutions/small-business/index.html

In this episode, we interview Liz Rice, a contributor to eBPF. She tells us what this technology means for the linux kernel but also for future security app, for kernel observability and last but not least for container networking. A technology so good it's even coming to Windows.

Unlock AI for Retail and Predictive data analytics success with Samsoe Samsoe and Cisco Meraki. In this episode of Tech Unscripted, Bryan Jones (SVP, Cisco) sits down with Simeon Solarsky, Head of IT and Operations at Samsoe Samsoe, to explore how to bridge the gap between online presence and brick-and-mortar stores. We dive deep into how leveraging Predictive data analytics and modern infrastructure like Wi-Fi 7 can turn IT from a cost center into a powerful engine for growth.

In this special edition of Shift Happens: Talking Shift, Jeff Edwards sits down with Ari Butler, founder of AB3 Communications, to unpack a powerful tension in today’s workplace: how you can be more productive than ever… and trusted less at the same time. From his roots in theater to advising leaders across companies like Cisco, Google Cloud, and Goldman Sachs, Ari brings a unique perspective: leadership isn’t just strategy—it’s a creative, performative act. And every interaction? It’s either building trust… or quietly eroding it. We explore what most leaders get wrong—focusing on what they want to say instead of what others need to hear—and why the best communicators don’t just inform… they move people to act. 💡 Why Listen: • 🤖 Close the AI trust gap—learn how to stay human in an AI-powered world • 🎭 Rehearse vs. practice—unlock better outcomes by staying in “rehearsal mode” longer • 🎯 Prepare for impact—shift from showcasing intelligence to driving real action If you’ve ever left a meeting thinking “that didn’t land…”—this conversation will change how you show up. Because in the end, it’s not just what you say… it’s how it lands.

A prompt from former guest Brad Oliver sparks this week’s conversation as Kat and Ian swap their favorite life hacks — from AI-powered routines to everyday habits that (mostly) keep things on track. Kat shares her go-to method for turning a packed morning into a time-blocked, lock-screen-ready game plan (truly, you should steal this), while Ian brings ideas on using AI as a personal coach for growth, productivity, and even wellness. They also get into practical strategies like the two-minute rule, quick-start momentum tricks, journaling habits, and small upgrades that make a big difference. Along the way, they touch on discipline, habit stacking, why being on time is harder than it should be (at least for Ian), and a simple relationship tip that can change how you show up for others. A mix of useful ideas, honest moments, and a few habits still in progress. Another life hack: buying Cisco products for your small or medium business. Check them out here: https://www.cisco.com/site/us/en/solutions/small-business/index.html#tabs-9da71fbd27-item-1288c79d71-tab

In the latest episode of the Cisco AI Insights podcast, hosts Rafael Herrera and Sonia Marques are joined by Dr. Catarina Carvalho, a Cisco leader in machine learning engineering. Together, they unpack the complex academic paper " Multi-Crit: Benchmarking Multimodal Judges on Pluralistic Criteria-Following," developed by researchers from the University of Maryland and the University of Waterloo. As the industry moves toward more reliable multimodal models, traditional pass-or-fail evaluation is no longer sufficient. This paper introduces a hierarchical framework that uses "LLM-as-a-judge" to evaluate outputs across five distinct criteria: visual grounding, logical coherence, factuality, reflection, and conciseness. Dr. Carvalho guides the discussion through the nuances of this "judge of judges" approach, exploring why human alignment remains the gold standard even as we automate evaluation processes. A special thank you to the teams at both The University of Waterloo and The University of Maryland, College Park, for developing this month's paper. If you are interested in reading the paper yourself, please visit this link: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2511.21662.

30 episodes… already?! 🎙️ And this one hits different. Jeff sits down with Stacy Betts—VP leading Splunk’s Americas Partner Sales—to unpack a career that spans from the early days of the internet to the frontlines of AI transformation. But this isn’t just about strategy or a $28B acquisition… it’s about leadership that lasts. From not knowing what the “internet” was in 1994 to helping shape one of Cisco’s most important moves, Stacy brings a rare perspective—and even rarer humility. Along the way, he shares unforgettable stories, powerful frameworks, and the kind of quotes you’ll carry with you long after the episode ends. And one idea you won’t forget: Who’s packing your parachute? Listen if you want to: 🔍 Rethink leadership through the lens of purpose, gratitude, and action 🤖 Understand where Cisco + Splunk + partners are headed in the AI era 💟 Walk away with stories and frameworks you’ll actually use (and repeat) 30 episodes in—and this is what it’s all about. Let’s make shift happen #CiscoShiftHappensPodcast

AB sits down with Tom Gillis, Cisco’s SVP and GM, Infrastructure & Security Group, to explore the crucial role security plays in the ever-changing AI landscape.

Ian and Kat are back with a "yin and yang" week of personal chaos and professional growth. Kat recounts the harrowing story of her recent hit-and-run—including a very embarrassing realization about her side-view mirror—and shares how she managed to keep her cool (and her work schedule) on track. Beyond the road drama, Kat dives into her experience at a women’s-only C-suite event, discussing the power of intimate networking, the future of AI in the workplace, and the importance of Cisco showing up in non-traditional spaces. Ian and Kat also get real about the "triangle of life"—balancing fitness, money, and sanity—and why sometimes, you just have to give yourself a break. Tune in for an episode full of personal anecdotes, leadership insights, and a reminder that even when things (or cars) get hit, the show must go on. Since we didn't talk (much) Cisco this week, PLEASE give us a click here: https://id.cisco.com/app/ciscoid_aemcloudprodsaml_1/exk14lk1xf6SKDANc5d7/sso/saml

What does it really take to redesign one of the most influential partner programs in the tech industry? In this episode of Shift Happens, Jeff Edwards sits down with Brian Overmeyer, Director of Partner Strategy and Programs at Cisco, to go behind the scenes of The Cisco 360 Partner Program. With a background in industrial-organizational psychology and more than two decades shaping Cisco’s partner ecosystem, Brian shares how programs are more than incentives—they’re roadmaps that guide behavior, reward value, and help partners grow alongside Cisco. From the legacy of Cisco’s Gold program to a new model built around customer outcomes, platform value, and partner co-design, this conversation explores the strategy, complexity, and trust required to evolve a program that supports tens of thousands of partners around the world. Why listen: • 🔧 The inside story behind The Cisco 360 Partner Program • 🧠 How behavioral science shapes partner strategy and incentives • 🤝 Why partner co-design was critical to getting this transformation right And as always… let’s make shift happen. 🚀 #CiscoShiftHappensPodcast

Unified Networking Architecture: Find out how X-Haul consolidates fronthaul, midhaul, and backhaul into a single, software-defined transport platform, and enables seamless 5G deployment across diverse topologies. AI-Drive Automation and Optimization: Learn to reduce operational expenses by up to 40% while improving service reliability. Future-Ready Scalability: Dive deep into how this technology supports emerging applications requiring ultra-low latency and massive bandwidth.

Visibility from diverse networks can help uncover blind spots to detect regional issues and invisible failures impacting end users. In this episode, you’ll hear first-hand insights on the operational challenges and technical strategies involved in building, validating, and expanding a global monitoring infrastructure. ——— CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 03:21 Why Multi-location Monitoring Matters 06:48 Agent Management and Operational Challenges 14:16 Debugging Methodologies and Validation Processes 19:07 Getting the Most from Vendor Collaboration 24:16 Internet Misconceptions and Considerations 25:22 Notable Operational Outcomes ——— For additional insights, check out the links below: Cloud Agents: The Big Picture To Getting the Best Picture: https://www.thousandeyes.com/blog/cloud-agents-big-picture-best-picture?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fy26q3_internetreport_q3fy26ep132_podcast 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_q3fy26ep132_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

Happy spring cleaning time! We're cleaning house with this episode. Enjoy some behind-the-scenes recordings from 404 over the last few months! If you haven’t already, and you want to keep these BTS episodes coming, check out Cisco’s solutions for small and medium businesses: https://www.cisco.com/site/us/en/solutions/small-business/index.html

Jeff Edwards sits down with Rebecca Leach—former Cisco and AppDynamics leader turned executive coach and founder of Growth Road, an executive coaching practice focused on helping leaders navigate change with clarity, confidence, and connection. After nearly two decades in tech leadership, Rebecca reached a pivotal moment: stay in the familiar rhythm of corporate success, or step into ambiguity and redefine what leadership—and identity—really meant. What followed wasn’t just a career transition. It became the foundation for Growth Road, where Rebecca now helps leaders grow through the same kinds of shifts she experienced herself. In this candid conversation, Rebecca shares the emotions behind leaving a long, successful corporate career, the courage it takes to embrace uncertainty, and the lessons leaders can carry forward when the path ahead isn’t clear. Why listen: • ⚡ The hidden risk of tying your identity to your title • 🔄 Why career growth isn’t always “up and to the right” • 🧭 How leaders navigate ambiguity and reinvent themselves If you’ve ever faced a career crossroads—or wondered who you are beyond the role you hold—this conversation will resonate.

AB sits down with Tim Coogan, Cisco’s SVP, Global Partner Sales, for a fun chat about the important role partners play to drive positive business outcomes. From partnering in the AI era to the link between sales and partnerships, this informative conversation highlights why it’s critical for business to cultivate a powerful partner ecosystem.

In this special edition of Shift Happens — Talking Shift, host Jeff Edwards sits down with Jon Sanchez, Founder & CEO of Team Performance Institute, to unpack a simple truth: leadership isn’t about managing projects — it’s about developing people. Drawing on Jon’s background at the United States Naval Academy and in SEAL training, they explore why the most powerful leadership tool isn’t a strategy deck — it’s the 1:1 conversation. They break down why culture is built in personal interactions, why accountability strengthens relationships, and why performance follows connection. Why Listen 🤝 Master the 1:1 as your most important leadership tool 🧠 Prioritize people over tasks and watch performance rise 🌱 Build trust daily through intentional conversations If you’re navigating big shifts, this conversation will reset how you think about leadership. Let’s make shift happen. Listen on Spotify – Apple Podcasts - Soundcloud

In this episode, we interview Jean Christophe Rode, principal engineer working in the IOS-XR engineering team. He also specalizes in SONIC support. He explains how this open source operating system is gaining ground and what are the difference with Cisco proprietary IOS-XR. No blue Hedgehogs are mentioned in this episode

Ian’s out, Carina’s in (for a week) — and somehow 404 is both nicer and more organized? In this week’s episode, Kat is joined by her best friend in marketing, Carina Barreto for a very real and relatable deep dive into life in field marketing. From partner strategy and demand gen to why events are way more than just catering and a PowerPoint, the two unpack what actually makes a customer say “yes” — and why experiential marketing is the way. They also get into the unspoken truth of the role: sales is your best friend (like, 80% of your calendar kind of best friend), the art of saying yes before you earn the right to say no, and how building internal advocates can make or break your success. Along the way, expect tangents on MBA survival, women-focused executive events, and the eternal question of what sounds better than just staying home? No Ian this week, but don’t worry — Kat and Carina still manage to get their jokes in just like he's there. If you like the show, give us a click to keep the funding coming: id.cisco.com/app/ciscoid_aemcloudprodsaml_1/exk14lk1xf6SKDANc5d7/sso/saml

In the latest episode of the Cisco AI Insights Podcast, hosts Rafael Herrera and Sónia Marques welcome Cisco AI operations engineer James Tidd for a discussion on the world of small language models (SLMs) and the evolution of efficient AI inference. Together, they unravel the complexities behind “Fast Inference from Transformers via Speculative Decoding,” a groundbreaking paper from Google that explores how smaller draft models can speed up large language model predictions while maintaining accuracy. James shares his hands-on experience experimenting with the technique, leveraging knowledge distillation and speculative execution. The trio also discusses the potential of this approach to optimize AI, reduce power consumption and costs, and help businesses of all sizes get more out of existing hardware. A special thank you to Google’s AI team for developing this month's paper. If you are interested in reading the paper yourself, please visit this link: https://research.google/blog/looking-back-at-speculative-decoding/.

Cisco SE Talks: AI in Manufacturing with Sentinel- Episode 8 is LIVE! In this episode of Cisco SE Talks, we dive deep into the practical applications of AI with many of our manufacturing customers. We’re thrilled to also bring in Bob Keblusek – Chief Innovation and Technology Office at Sentinel and Richard Sonnen, Director of AI Innovation and Matt LeMasters, Cisco SE as we talk through customer pain points and challenges specific to manufacturing and true partnership with Cisco. As part of the discussion – we also discuss how Cloud with AI can sometime be the easy button, but often comes with Security challenges and ultimate cost restraints. Join us for this jam-packed session – we’re Cisco SEs lead the way! Watch the full episode now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGoNjF93Mxo

AB sits down with Gordon Thomson, Cisco’s SVP EMEA Sales and EMEA President, for a great talk about The EMEA Moment, sovereign critical infrastructure, and how AI is a tool that is helping unlock human potential.