Tech'ed Up
What's happening on the frontlines of tech? Tune in for a zippy conversation about emerging technology hosted by industry veteran Niki Christoff. From the C-Suite and Capitol Hill to AI and crypto, quantum computing to the decentralized internet, Niki breaks down the trends in tech to help savvy listeners get even smarter. Guests include experts, enthusiasts, regulators, policymakers, CEOs, and reporters.
New episodes premiere bi-weekly on Thursdays. Subscribe for the latest episodes on YouTube or listen on your podcast app of choice.
Episodes
98 episodes
The Art of the Pivot • Gary Shapiro (CTA)
CEO of the Consumer Technology Association, Gary Shapiro, joins Niki in the studio for an informal chat about his new book Pivot or Die. They discuss pivotal moments in his career, leading the influential trade association fighting for...
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27:45
Lessons from Twitter’s Takeover • Lauren Culbertson Grieco
Twitter's former Head of Government Affairs & Public Policy for the US and Canada, Lauren Culbertson Grieco, joins Niki in the studio to talk about her career - from tweeting for senators to navigating Elon Musk's Twitter takeover. Cur...
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29:31
Profiles in Tech: From Campaigns to Crypto • Julie Stitzel (DCG)
Sr. VP of Policy at Digital Currency Group, Julie Stitzel, sits down with Niki in the D.C. studio to talk about their shared path from Midwestern upbringings to helping shape crypto policy in the nation’s capital. Julie shares her admiration fo...
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26:34
AI’s Campaign Influence • Sheera Frenkel (New York Times)
New York Times reporter, Sheera Frenkel, joins Niki remotely to talk about the AI 2024 campaign season that wasn’t. She shares insights from her reporting on tech, shedding light on the reluctance to use AI by US campaigns compared to other cou...
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30:22
Quantum 101 • Murray Thom (D-Wave)
VP of Quantum Technology Evangelism at D-Wave, Murray Thom, joins Niki remotely to explore the basics of quantum computing and share some real-world, right-now applications of this leap in compute power. They talk AI, the impact that efficiency...
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29:41
Venture Capital Meets Mission Critical • Steve Bowsher, IQT (In-Q-Tel)
President and CEO of IQT (In-Q-Tel), Steve Bowsher pulls back the curtain on this CIA-launched non-profit that's been quietly shaping national security for a quarter-century. Steve shares what he looks for in game-changing startup teams, why IQ...
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24:03
Tech on the Hill • Andrew Desiderio (Punchbowl News)
Punchbowl News reporter, Andrew Desiderio joins Niki in the studio to share his insider handicapping of the state of play of tech policy on the Hill. They talk KOSA/COPPA 2.0, the DEFIANCE Act, and legislative gridlock. Andrew shares why 2024 h...
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22:57
Profiles in Tech: Grit & Gratitude • Tiffany Moore (CTA)
SVP of Political and Industry Affairs at the Consumer Technology Association, Tiffany Moore, gives a behind-the-scenes look at their popular CES tradeshow, shares why she’s passionate about their $10 million venture fund focused on increasing...
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22:48
The Case for Digital Solidarity • Pablo Chavez
Adjunct Fellow at CNAS and Founder of Tech Policy Solutions, Pablo Chavez joins Niki in the studio to explain digital solidarity and digital sovereignty, swap campaign convention memories, and discuss US policy when it comes to the global inter...
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27:23
The State of Tech Policy • Dave Barmore
Runway Strategies Co-Founder Dave Barmore joins Niki in the studio for a deep dive into the wave of tech regulations coming from the states. They talk about gridlock at the federal level and why tech needs to pay attention to the states when it...
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27:59
Fun & Games at Discord • Ross LaJeunesse
Head of Global Public Policy at Discord, Ross LaJeunesse, joins Niki in the studio to talk about how the app delivers today on the original promise of the internet - community and communication. He lays out how Discord fosters genuine servers-b...
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27:08
Blockchain's Promise • Sheila Warren
Crypto Council for Innovation CEO Sheila Warren breaks down crypto, Web3, and blockchain once and for all. She and Niki discuss crypto’s future on Capitol Hill and how it might impact this election season, the critical role blockchain has in ma...
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31:48
AI Mythbusting • Nikki Pope (NVIDIA)
NVIDIA’s Head of AI & Legal Ethics, Nikki Pope, talks about why how we talk about artificial intelligence matters and why making the tech representative of more people is important. She and Niki break down some of the myths surrounding the ...
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26:19
Archer Aviation Takes Off • Adam Goldstein
Archer Aviation Founder and CEO, Adam Goldstein, joins Niki in the studio to talk about why, after years of flying cars being science fiction, the eVTOL industry is taking off now, how coordination with the FAA is critical to American dominance...
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29:14
A NewNet • Frank McCourt
Philanthropist and author of ‘Our Biggest Fight’, Frank McCourt sits down with Niki in the studio to lay out his vision for a decentralized internet. He shares why Project Liberty is focused on personhood online instead of data privacy, why a d...
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22:36
Quick Tech Takes • Surveillance, TikTok & Robots
Corporate Counsel at Google, Kat Mauler, sits down with Niki in the Tech’ed Up studio to talk about what’s moving fast in tech news. They break down big legislative moves in Congress with the expansion of FISA Section 702 adding extra surveilla...
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19:52
Profiles in Tech: Fighting Online Hate • Imran Ahmed
The CEO and Founder of the Center for Countering Digital Hate, Imran Ahmed, joins Niki in the studio to talk about what his recent win against Elon Musk means for the proliferation of hate speech online. He and Niki debate who has moral respons...
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19:41
Quick Tech Takes • Privacy Legislation & Tech's AI Data Race
Corporate Counsel at Google, Kat Mauler, joins Niki for a D.C. insider take on the latest tech headlines. They talk AI’s insatiable appetite for data and the landmark bipartisan data privacy bill making waves this week. Added bonus, zombie atta...
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21:10
Profiles in Tech: Put Yourself in The Room • Jill Hazelbaker (Uber)
SVP of Marketing and Public Affairs at Uber, Jill Hazelbaker, shares lessons learned from her career at the comms helm of John McCain’s presidential campaign, to jumping in head-first at Google, to what keeps her engaged and energized at Uber. ...
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30:35
Quick Tech Takes • U.S. v. Apple & "The Rewiring of Childhood"
Founder and CEO of the Chamber of Progress, Adam Kovacevich, joins Niki for a rapid-fire take on the latest tech headlines. They dive into the latest Big Tech anti-trust litigation and have a candid talk about childhood in the smartphone era.&n...
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23:58
"Regulatory Hacking" • Evan Burfield
Head of Strategy at The Future US, Evan Burfield, joins Niki with an update on how hacking the regulatory environment for start-ups has changed over the last few years. They take a deep dive into minerals and bioeconomy tech, talk human brain i...
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23:42
Quick Tech Takes • TikTok & EU's Digital Markets Act
Founder and CEO of the Chamber of Progress, Adam Kovacevich, joins Niki for a rapid-fire take on the latest tech headlines. They talk about TikTok’s headache in Washington, Europe’s misguided Digital Markets Act, and the state of play in Congre...
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21:24
Billionaires Playing Politics • Teddy Schleifer (Puck)
Puck reporter Teddy Schleifer pulls back the curtain on tech billionaires and political contributions. He and Niki look into the money and influence wielded by Silicon Valley titans over the presidential campaign. They talk about effectiv...
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27:36
Quick Tech Takes • “Spamouflage,” Google Gemini, & ChatGPT
Steer PR partner Lauren Tomlinson joins Niki for the second installment of Beyond the Buzz, the bi-weekly series of Tech’ed Up that digs into the comms, tech, and DC news creating headlines. They talk “Spamoflauge”, Gemini, and Chat GPT. <...
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22:56
The AI Ripple Effect • Dex Hunter-Torricke (DeepMind)
Head of Global Communications and Marketing at DeepMind, Dex Hunter-Torricke, joins Niki in the studio to inject some optimism and hope into the doom n’ gloom AI conversations dominating the airwaves. He highlights exponentially innovative deve...
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22:45