AI Savants Podcast

Most MSPs say they care about security—Richard Avery actually trains his team to think like hackers. In this episode, John Rice sits down with Richard, founder of Titanium Computing, an Austin-based MSP and cybersecurity shop, to unpack how a childhood spent picking locks turned into a career protecting businesses from real-world threats.​ Richard explains why he builds “hackers first, technicians...

In this episode, John Rice sits down with Dr Vajahat yar Khan, CEO of USA Dental Solutions and founder of DentTracks Software, to unpack how AI and automation are reshaping the business side of dentistry. Dr. Khan explains how DentTracks overlays existing patient management systems to surface real-time KPIs, create actionable workflows, and eliminate the most painful, labor-intensive processes tha...

In this episode, John Rice of AI Savants sits down with Noah Landow , CEO and co-founder of Macktez , a New York–based IT consulting firm known for its human-first approach to technology. With origins in architecture and biochemistry rather than traditional IT, Noah and his team built Macktez around a simple philosophy: technology must solve the real problem the user is facing - not the one the to...

What keeps mission-critical computers running 24/7 on factory floors, military vehicles, and inside blazing-hot enclosures? In this episode of Tech Leaders Unplugged: Hardware Innovators & the Industrial Edge , host John Rice talks with Tim Barnett , President & CEO of Industrial PC , about how to design, build, and support rugged, long-lifecycle systems that don’t quit. Tim traces his pat...

If your Macs live in a Windows world, this episode is your playbook. Rob Calvert, President & Founder of Second Son Consulting shares how his team became Los Angeles’s largest Apple Partner Network member by aligning IT decisions with real user workflows, not just shiny tools. From “zero-touch” deployments and managed Apple IDs to practical security training that actually sticks, Rob shows MSP...

From racking servers to launching AI programs, Coin Graham (VP, Pre-Sales & Professional Services at Bespin Global ) shares how enterprise IT is moving from cloud-first to GenAI-enabled, and what it really takes to make that shift pay off. We dig into practical lessons on data readiness, governance, model selection (SLMs vs. big multimodal LLMs), AI security , and a killer classification case...

What happens when two young founders decide to build their own venture ecosystem from scratch? In this episode, John Rice sits down with Justis Mendez , Managing Partner at OneSixOne Ventures , to explore how he turned a small university project into one of the fastest-growing early-stage investment platforms in the U.S. Justis shares how his team is reshaping venture capital by focusing on commun...

Tony Scott, President & CEO of Intrusion and former U.S. Federal CIO joins John Rice to unpack why today’s attackers have it easier than defenders, and what to do about it. Tony explains Intrusion’s reputation-based approach to blocking malicious traffic at the packet level , how it complements (not replaces) your existing stack, and why misconfiguration is the real 3 a.m. pager. We cover cons...

Vishwak Avanan, founder of Artha Systems , joins John Rice to talk about the real-world leap from traditional ERP to AI-augmented operations. We cover why SaaS unlocked SMB adoption, how computer vision is reshaping quality control, what it takes to route school buses in one click, and why the next two years will be defined by hardware-integrated AI agents . We also get candid about pricing, talen...

In this episode, John Rice speaks with Brent Hamachek , founding board member of Bridge Charities and Vice President of Human Events Media Group , about the intersection of technology, human connection, and civic responsibility . Brent shares his insights on helping students learn how to think critically, engage constructively, and find common ground in an increasingly divided world. From his deca...

If your team is “learning AI” but can’t prove ROI, this episode is for you. John sits down with Ed Lance, Founder & CTO of nTier Training , to unpack what actually works in AI upskilling for MSPs and IT orgs—beyond the hype and endless tool-of-the-week churn. Ed shares the playbook he’s refined since 2006: instructor-led training that sticks, practical AI use cases tied to measurable outcomes,...

What if a 45-second voice clip could reveal the soft skills your hiring process keeps missing? In this episode, John chats with Adam Hocek, CEO of Aecho , whose team uses voice-based AI to read tone, cadence, and micro-signals-surfacing traits like confidence, conscientiousness, and team fit without fixating on keywords or résumé fluff. We dig into how Aecho applies voice analytics to technical re...

What if technology could detect a weapon before an active shooter enters a building? In this powerful episode, John Rice sits down with Robert Harper , President of ACS , to explore how AI-driven security systems are transforming school and campus safety. Robert shares how his company uses smart building controls, AI-enabled video analytics, and voice evacuation systems to prevent tragedies and ke...

The MSP industry has changed dramatically over the last two decades-and Steve Griffin has had a front-row seat. As CEO of L3 Networks, Steve has built a thriving managed services business by staying ahead of shifting technologies, evolving threats, and rising client demands. In this conversation with host John Rice, Steve shares lessons from 25 years in IT services: how MSPs can adapt to the cloud...

Cybersecurity threats are evolving faster than ever—and scams are no longer just shady emails. From AI-powered phishing to video deepfakes, the risks are everywhere. In this episode, John Rice sits down with Amber Cannon of Scamnetic , a startup on the frontlines of scam prevention. Amber shares her journey from sales to customer success, and how her team is helping banks, credit unions, and every...

What if unlocking your office, computer, and online accounts could all happen seamlessly — without a single password? In this episode, John Rice sits down with Rita Mounir, COO and Co-Founder of Allthenticate , to explore the future of identity and access management. Rita shares the company’s journey from MIT research to building a unified platform for digital and physical authentication. You’ll h...

If every résumé looks perfect, how do you find the real A-players? In this episode, John Rice sits down with Tom Welke, VP & Partner at RSM Solutions , to unpack a battle-tested hiring playbook for MSPs and IT firms, built for today’s AI-shaped talent market. Tom shares the questions that cut through ChatGPT-polished résumés, how to screen for problem-solvers (not tool jockeys), and why your l...

Recurring revenue is the lifeblood of modern IT services—but scaling it without friction is where most MSPs struggle. In this episode, John Rice sits down with Jeff Klebine, Chief Strategy Officer at Milo Massimo , to unpack how MSPs and SaaS companies can streamline their quote-to-cash processes, eliminate billing chaos, and reduce ticket volume. Jeff shares a consultant’s perspective on the subs...

In this episode of the AI Savants Podcast , host John Rice sits down with Ilya Rubinshteyn , founder and President of Aegis IT Solutions , to unpack the evolution of managed services and why a cybersecurity-first approach is non-negotiable today. Ilya shares his 20+ years in IT — from working with Fortune 100s at GE to building an MSP rooted in compliance and proactive education. We cover the majo...

In this episode of the AI Savants Podcast , host John Rice sits down with Eric Aquaronne , a seasoned technologist whose career spans IBM, open source AI, and now AnyLog , a company pioneering edge-based data management. Eric shares his journey from writing mainframe networking code at IBM to helping design AI systems for autonomous ships, and how those experiences led him to join AnyLog. We dive...

In this episode of AI Savants , host John Rice sits down with Ed Don , CEO and founder of Lumen21 , for an unfiltered look at the realities of running a Managed Services Provider (MSP) in today’s evolving IT landscape. With nearly two decades of experience, Ed shares the hard-earned wisdom that comes from building a business, weathering industry shifts, and keeping clients safe in a world where cy...

In this episode of AI Savants, we get a masterclass from a true veteran of the IT world. Host John Rice welcomes Peter Prieto, founder of nDataStor, for a deep dive into the evolution of tech support. Peter takes us on a journey from the old-school mainframe era to today's complex cybersecurity landscape. He explains why his company made a non-negotiable shift from a reactive IT model to a pro...

In this powerful episode, we sit down with a true leader, John Patricio, a Marine veteran and the owner of Patricio Systems. John shares his incredible journey from serving in Desert Storm to founding a successful IT managed services company. He talks candidly about the unique challenges of scaling a business in the federal marketplace, the value of past performance, and the strategies he uses to...

In this engaging episode, we sit down with Paul Berndt, the founder of Net V Pro, to talk about his unique journey from military service to becoming a leader in the managed services space. Paul shares how his company has evolved over 15 years, from providing disaster recovery and backup services to becoming a full-fledged IT managed service provider with a keen focus on cybersecurity. Paul dives d...

Are MSPs facing an existential crisis? In this episode, your host John Rice sits down with Rob Gundling, the forward-thinking President of Cloud 9 Computing Group, to explore the seismic shifts in the IT services landscape. Rob shares his journey from a Commodore 64 hobbyist to a leader in IT solutions, highlighting the crucial transition from reactive "trunk-slammers" to proactive strat...