Tech Transforms

Episode 107: The Curious Case of AI - Part 1 (The Chills)

October 7th, 2025  |  35 mins 15 secs

ai, aiethics, artificialintelligence, cognitive cities, digital transformation, futureofai, techtransforms

In this Tech Transforms Halloween special, host Carolyn Ford and futurist Joseph Bradley explore the unsettling side of AI. From identic AI that mirrors human identity to the risks of bias and the rise of cognitive cities, they discuss why trust, ethics, and purpose must guide how we design and deploy artificial intelligence. This episode asks the critical question: will our AI future look more like The Borg… or The Federation?

Episode 106: Influence, Intel, and Insider Threats: The Human Side of Cyber Risk

September 24th, 2025  |  37 mins 56 secs

critical infrastructure, cyber, cyber defense, cybersecurity

Host Carolyn Ford interviews Julie Laurin, Cyber Threat Intelligence Consultant with the Mining & Metals ISAC, on the evolving landscape of cybersecurity. They unpack social engineering tactics like the ClickFix malware, the overlooked risks in critical infrastructure, and the geopolitical stakes of mining and minerals. Julie also shares candid perspectives on women in tech leadership, the strengths of neurodiverse professionals, and why empathy is essential in today’s digital age. A thought-provoking conversation at the intersection of technology, security, and human behavior.

Episode 105: From Compliance to Capability: Securing the Federal Software Supply Chain in the Age of AI

September 9th, 2025  |  40 mins 57 secs

cybersecurity, owl cyber defense, sbom, supply chain, zerotrust

On this episode of Tech Transforms, host Carolyn Ford welcomes Antoine Harden, Regional VP of Federal at Sonatype, to unpack one of the most urgent challenges in federal cybersecurity.

Episode 104: Securing the Future: AI, Cyber Risk, and the Federal Mission

August 26th, 2025  |  48 mins 21 secs

ai guardrails, cyber defense, cybersecurity, nist, owlcyberdefense, techtransforms

AI isn’t coming to government, it’s already here. In this episode of Tech Transforms, host Carolyn Ford sits down with Martin Stanley, Senior Advisor at NIST, to explore how federal agencies can secure AI systems, protect sensitive training data, and prepare for “machine speed” cyber defense. From NIST’s new AI Risk Management Framework to guardrails for generative AI, Martin explains what leaders need to know to adopt AI responsibly without sacrificing security.

Episode 103: From GOTS to COTS: How Policy and Innovation Are Reshaping the Tactical Edge

August 12th, 2025  |  42 mins 33 secs

curtiss-wright defense solutions, defensetech, federal cots mandate, owl cyber defense

What does the federal government’s new COTS-first mandate really mean for defense tech? Carolyn Ford talks with Dom Perez, CTO at Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions, about the pressure to justify GOTS in 60 days, how CSFC is reshaping secure comms, and why real innovation might just come in a Rubbermaid tote.

Episode 102: Jurassic Networks: High Threat, Low Defenses, and the OT Reckoning

July 31st, 2025  |  42 mins 54 secs

crocs, ot, owlcybersecurity, threatassessment

New #TechTransforms episode!
Daryl Haegley joins Carolyn Ford to break down OT cyber threats, legacy system risks & the culture shift needed to secure critical infrastructure. From scorecards to strategy—this one’s a must-listen.

Episode 101: The Fast Track to Global Defense Collaboration

July 15th, 2025  |  40 mins 30 secs

aukus, cybersecurity, internationaltrade, owlcyberdefense

Carolyn Ford sits down with Mat Cantagallo, Defense Director at Austrade, to unpack how OWL, GME, and Austrade became the first to use the AUKUS exemption, streamlining defense tech transfer and training between allied nations. This episode highlights how strategic policy shifts and trusted partnerships are accelerating innovation and reshaping the future of international defense collaboration.

Episode 100: Trusting AI and Warfighting Technologies

July 1st, 2025  |  44 mins 53 secs

afcea, ai, cybersecurity, data integrity, defenseinnovation, techtransforms

In our 100th episode, Lt. General Susan Lawrence, President & CEO of AFCEA International and former CIO of the U.S. Army, joins Tech Transforms to talk trusted AI, cyber readiness, and how the human element must remain central in defense innovation. From battlefield examples to the future of cross-sector collaboration, this conversation is a powerful look at what it really takes to secure tomorrow.

Cyber Resilience Starts with Culture: Building Trust in the Age of AI

June 17th, 2025  |  39 mins 20 secs

cyberrisk, cybersecurity, digitalthreats, socialengineering

In this episode of Tech Transforms, Carolyn Ford chats with Bart McDonough, Founder of Agio and author of Cyber Smart and Cyber Guardians. Bart unpacks why social engineering, like phishing, remains the #1 threat to individuals and organizations, despite all our tech defenses. He shares simple, real-world habits to strengthen your cyber posture, explains how AI is changing the game for both attackers and defenders, and makes a strong case for building a resilient cyber culture rooted in open communication and continuous learning.

Episode 98: SCRM: Securing the Federal Technology Supply Chain

June 4th, 2025  |  45 mins 41 secs

cybersecurity, federaltechnology, insiderthreats, supplychainriskmanagement, zerotrust

Supply Chain Risk Management isn’t just a cybersecurity issue—it’s a leadership imperative. In this episode, Timothy Amerson, CEO of CASMO Consulting and Army veteran, breaks down how agencies can build real resilience in a world of insider threats, tech bans, and shifting global risks.

Prompting the Future: AI, Leadership, and the Military Mindset with Capt. M. Scott Austin, USCG

May 20th, 2025  |  41 mins 53 secs

agentic warfare, ai, prompt engineering

When Capt. Scott Austin hears the phrase "prompt engineering," he thinks about leadership, not syntax. On this episode of Tech Transforms, Carolyn and Scott unpack how military leaders can integrate AI in ways that actually work—starting with empathy, problem definition, and a little R2-D2 wisdom.

Episode 96: Tech Transforms + ATARC: AI, Oceans, and Innovation with NOAA’s Frank Indiviglio

May 6th, 2025  |  30 mins 1 sec

ai, artificial intelligence, atarc, climate technology, cybersecurity, data science, government innovation, high-performance computing, noaa, ocean robotics

In this special crossover episode with ATARC, I sit down with Frank Indiviglio, Chief Technology Officer at NOAA, to explore how cutting-edge technology is revolutionizing our understanding of the planet. From hurricane forecasting to coral reef monitoring, Frank unpacks how AI, data science, and high-performance computing transform vast raw data into real-world impact. We dive into everything from boosting data processing efficiency to balancing open data with cybersecurity—all while showing how cross-sector collaboration drives innovation at NOAA. Don’t miss this fascinating ATARC-powered conversation!

Zero Trust at the Edge: Securing Data, Devices, and Decisions

April 29th, 2025  |  45 mins 16 secs

ai, cybersecurity, data, iot, zero trust

Randy Clark, cybersecurity strategist and contributor to SIGNAL Magazine, joins Carolyn Ford to explain why the future of secure data lies at the edge. From smart cities to AI-driven infrastructure, Randy breaks down how zero trust data works — and why labeling, encrypting, and governing data from the moment it’s created can change everything. They talk edge AI, data sovereignty, and why trusting your thermostat might be harder than it looks. Plus: why the 1980s weren’t ready for this tech, and how protecting data—not just networks—could reshape public safety and defense.

Episode 94: Special Crossover Episode: Boosting Federal Cyber Resilience Through Cross-Domain Solutions

April 22nd, 2025  |  22 mins 35 secs

#crossdomainsolutions, #cyberresilience, #federalcybersecurity, #owlcyberdefense, #securedatasharing

In this special crossover episode with the Federal Tech Podcast, Tim Fahl of Owl Cyber Defense dives into how cross-domain solutions are boosting cyber resilience in federal agencies.

Episode 93: Skipjack Series ep2: White Heron and the Edge of Conflict

April 17th, 2025  |  1 hr 23 mins

#aianddefense, #cybersecurity, #disinformation, #fictionmeetsreality, #indopacificsecurity, #informationwarfare, #militarytech, #modernwarfare, #multidomainoperations, #nationalsecurity, #operationwhiteheron, #owlcyberdefense, #pacstar, #realtimeintel, #securecomms, #skipjackseries, #specialforces, #stevestratton, #techtransforms, #usefulfiction

Guest: Award Winning Author Steve Stratton, Retired Green Beret, Former Secret Service Agent, Cybersecurity Expert, Author of Operation Skipjack

Summary:
In this special episode of Tech Transforms, part of our ongoing Skipjack Series, host Carolyn Ford reconnects with Steve Stratton to discuss his latest story: Operation White Heron. Building on the world of Operation Skipjack, this installment dives into the often-invisible frontlines of modern warfare—where shaping operations, secure communications, and real-time intelligence determine outcomes before the first shot is ever fired.

From special forces training with partners in the Pacific to disinformation campaigns and environmental sensors used for threat detection, Stratton breaks down how fiction rooted in reality can help decision-makers reframe the future of conflict. It’s a powerful conversation about leadership at the edge, data as a weapon, and the value of multi-domain coordination.

If you’re in national security, tech, or just curious how stories can shape strategy, this episode is for you.

5 AI Predictions for 2025 & How to Build Intelligent Agents with Dave Egts

March 31st, 2025  |  45 mins 56 secs

ai, chatbots, llm, salesforce

Field CTO at MuleSoft (a Salesforce company), Dave Egts returns to Tech Transforms with Carolyn Ford to unpack his “5 AI Predictions for 2025.” In this action-packed episode, Dave dives deep into the rise of intelligent AI agents—and what separates real value from hype. From large action models to personal assistants that actually get stuff done, Dave shares real-world examples (and a few Battlestar Galactica references) that reveal how agencies and enterprises can start using AI to reduce drudgery, improve outcomes, and scale with confidence.

Whether you're an IT leader or just AI-curious, this episode is your tactical guide to agentic AI, small language models, and what to expect next.