Tech Transforms

Episode 119: 5 Steps to Zero Trust

March 17th, 2026  |  27 mins 29 secs

ai, legacy systems, micro segmentation, owl cyber defense, zero trust

In this follow-up episode of Tech Transforms, Carolyn Ford and Michael Blake of Owl Cyber Defense explore what it actually takes to begin implementing Zero Trust. From discovering shadow IT and legacy systems to microsegmentation and access control, the conversation focuses on the practical steps organizations must take to limit the blast radius of a breach. The episode also examines how leaders can prioritize critical assets and build the teams needed to sustain a Zero Trust strategy over time.

Episode 117: 2026 Predictions. What's Now. What's Next. What's Urgent.

February 27th, 2026  |  57 mins 31 secs

ai, cross-domain, owl cyber defense, predictions, tech transforms, zero trust

In this special 2026 Predictions episode of Tech Transforms, Carolyn Ford and the Owl Cyber Defense team unpack the signals already reshaping cybersecurity, AI, and defense. From the collapse of content trust to AI containment and hardware-enforced security, they explore why software alone won’t be enough in the year ahead. The message is clear: in 2026, leaders won’t lose because they lacked tools—they’ll lose because they trusted the wrong ones.

Episode 116: So What Returns.....Can the Pentagon Really Boil the Ocean?

February 17th, 2026  |  46 mins 48 secs

ai, cybersecurity, data integrity, defense innovation, r&d, techtransforms

The Pentagon is consolidating R&D, AI, and data under a single CTO and it could reshape how defense innovation moves from research to real-world deployment. In this episode of Tech Transforms, Carolyn Ford and Tracy Bannon break down what this shift actually means beyond the org chart. They explore secure GenAI rollout, data ownership challenges, and the cultural friction that could determine success. If you’re watching the future of AI in national security, this conversation is worth a listen.

Episode 112: Tech Transforms – Live from the Owl Evolution Summit

December 26th, 2025  |  26 mins 5 secs

ai, cybersecurity, data integrity, defenseinnovation, storytelling, techtransforms

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 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.

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.

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.