Deep Pockets

Financial systems today face a new reality: security is no longer just a technical issue, but a strategic, regulatory, and economic mandate. In this episode of Deep Pockets, Petra Soderling speaks with Joe Ghalbouni about how financial institutions are responding to rising digital risk, increasing regulatory pressure, and the growing complexity of modern technology stacks. Together, they explore w...

Petra is joined by Camille Georges , Quantum Technology Specialist at the World Economic Forum , to discuss why the emerging quantum industry risks leaving women behind and how we can fix it now. They explore the gender pipeline in physics and computer science, the importance of diversity in frontier tech, and what it will take to build a more inclusive quantum future. Resources: Camille Georges,...

The United Nations International Year of Quantum 2025 was never just about celebrating science. It was about deciding how a powerful new technological era should be built, governed, and shared. Claudia Fracchiolla , the Secretariat Coordinator for the IYQ joins us to debrief what was achieved and what happens next.  Join the IYQ Closing Ceremony here https://quantum2025.org/iyq-closing-ceremony-in...

The European Quantum Technologies Conference - EQTC - 2025 was buzzing! From policy and industry to startups and unicorns, Europe’s quantum ecosystem faces a high-stakes moment. Listen in for interviews, insights, and why this is the moment to hop into quantum.  Joining me on this episode are guests from across the quantum ecosystem, sharing their insights on Europe’s high-stakes moment: Oscar Die...

"Complexity is the biggest enemy of security." Janne Uusilehto, a veteran who has led security and privacy engineering at Nokia, Microsoft, and Google, joins the podcast to peel back the curtain on the hidden world of cybersecurity standards. He reveals why industry rivals, like the original mobile phone giants, agreed to rules that ultimately generated massive passive income to intellec...

In this episode of Deep Pockets , Petra sits down with Chris McClean, Global Lead for Digital Ethics at Avanade, to explore the delicate balance between trust, power, and technology. Chris unpacks his research on the risks and benefits of trusting relationships, and the moral obligations that come with endorsing others. The conversation ranges from the global “grievance” mood captured by the Edelm...

What does it mean to be truly creative in an age of AI? Inspired by the Robert and Michele Root-Bernstein's book ' Sparks of Genius - the 13 thinking tools of the world's most creative people' , this episode explores the artistry of interdisciplinary thinking with Jesús Sánchez Herrero . From abstraction and modeling to analogizing and empathizing, we delve into the 13 tools th...

What does it mean to belong in complex and cutting-edge tech fields? In this episode, we sit down with Juliette De La Rie, CEO of Colorful Matter, to explore how identity, intuition, and inclusion shape the future of deep tech. Juliette shares her personal journey from feeling like an outsider in tech to becoming a powerful advocate for culture-driven innovation. We talk about bridging the gap bet...

We’ve spoken about the energy industry a few times in this podcast, most recently about innovation in our current nuclear energy power plants. These are the fission based plants. Today, we’re going to learn about the future of nuclear, that is the fusion based nuclear power plants.  My guest is Laura Thomas, Chief Strategy Officer at Fuse, a fusion energy company building toward a clean and near-l...

In his book The Rise of the Creative Class, Richard Florida argues that creativity is the nourishment of new economic growth, and introduces the three T's; Technology as a platform, talent to do the creative process, and tolerance from the surrounding society to allow this talent to shine.  My guest Ceridwen 'Ceri' Koski, Partner at Denver, CO based law firm WR Immigration lays out...

It's March 2025. The U.S. administration is turning on its allies south, north and east, the EU is amplifying its defense capabilities, Ukraine is being let down, science is under attack, and tech bros keep demand more and more. I'm taking Deep Pockets closer to policy, as now is not the time to be silent. Season 5 will discuss innovation policy in the U.S. and Europe. I will invite gues...

Tanya Ramond, technology commercialization architect, authority in Deep Tech, and the founder and CEO of Sapienne Consulting, discusses her recent article on science and engineering policy. Why the adoption of technology, turning R&D into usable products and services, should be the key metric when writing and evaluating policy? Published by Dynamic Tech Media, the article can be found here  Te...

Both the United States and the European Union held their big elections this year. The U.S. elected a new President, and changed the balance of power in the House and the Senate that govern 335 million Americans. The EU elected a new Parliament and is in the process of appointing new Commissioners, steering the future for 450 million Europeans.  What does this mean in DeepTech? How will this impact...

It’s clear we cannot keep using fossil fuels, and it’s clear that wind and solar alone can’t fulfill all of the increasing energy needs that we have. So something has to be done: We need Innovation. Today's  guest is someone who knows everything about nuclear energy, innovation, and their economic impact.  Emma Wong is Principal Leader in Nuclear Engagement, Strategy, and Innovation at the El...

The impact of technology has become overwhelming in our societies and in our lives. Technology impacts our personal privacy, our personal safety, but also our national safety, political stability, and even financial well-being.  If we think about new fields of science and technology coming into mainstream commercial use - most recently AI and increasingly quantum come to mind - what are the types...

Since 2022, the world’s Quantum ecosystem has gathered in Washington DC to bring a quantum-ready future into focus. As you will hear from these interviews, Quantum World Congress is the world’s premier gathering for quantum technology leaders, innovators, and visionaries. The air was filled with hope, camaraderie, laughter, and optimism.  I attended the full 2024 event, including a precursor that...

Even though quantum computers are not in wide use yet, it is well known that they have the potential to break the encryption system that is in use in most modern computing systems. Across the globe, governments are beginning to prepare for the opportunities, but also to the threats that quantum computers will introduce. Danika Hannon, Deputy Head of the Quantum Strategy Institute, will tell us how...

Take any device in your home with a screen; your phone, your computer, your TV, there’s a high likelihood that the display is built in South Korea, or by a South Korean company. At the very least whoever built it has licensed technology from South Korea. That’s kind of amazing. How did this Asian country become to dominate this piece of technology? Listen to this story from Government and Innovati...

The EU's Artificial Intelligence Act came into force August 1, 2024. This is the most comprehensive legislation on the topic. What does it entail, who is affected, how to comply? Meeri Haataja, CEO and Co-Founder of Saidot is one of Europe’s leading experts on AI governance. This episode discusses policy, innovation, social impact, and human interest stories of one humanity’s most disruptive...

Bob Sutor worked at IBM for nearly 40 years, creating the modern IT infrastructure and industry. His most recent area of expertise, quantum computing, turns out to be the most exciting of them all. In this episode, Bob tells us why we are now in a point in history when the quantum industry needs its "Apollo program", a large scale government funded program and industrial policy that will...

How does recruiting in AI differ from recruiting in biotech, or quantum? Who is currently hiring, startups, corporations, or the academia? Will deeptech founders ever use professional recruiting companies? Any differences between North America and Europe? Answers to these, and other burning deeptech recruitment questions by Amir Rasool from Orion Technology.  Support the show

Season 1 was launched in October 2021 as I was writing by book Government and Innovation, the Economic Developer’s Guide to our Future. I wanted to have conversations with people in the crossroads of technology and government in order to better understand the landscape, and also to collect interviews and material for the book. Which I did, and I’m extremely grateful to all of those people.  Season...

Claudia Fracchiolla, Public Engagement at the American Physical Society takes us behind the scenes to how the idea to have 2025 nominated as the United Nations's International Year of Quantum happened, who was involved, and what happens next.  Support the show

With this closing session of Season 3 - the book club - I'm talking to Chris Elliott from Studio Aguze. We had some fun moments recording my audiobook, and want to celebrate nonfiction authors by offering insight into the audiobook recording process. I hope you've enjoyed Seas 3, and talk to you soon again.  Support the show

Brian Lenahan of the Quantum Strategy Institute talks about his two passions; the writing process and quantum. The latest book 'On the Shoulders of Giants: 10 Quantum Pioneers of the Past' talks about the  people in distant and recent past who inspire the scientists, entrepreneurs and enthusiasts of today.  Who were the mathematicians, the tinkerers, the builders and philosophers that br...