IT in the D

This week, Alec Bantel joined us to discuss his new app, ACTIQO that helps families organize their kids’ activities. We talk about what it takes to go from idea to launch, including user testing, hiring, and figuring out what people actually want versus what they say they want. The conversation also covers the realities of raising funding while staying rooted in Detroit, and why building loc...

Comedian J Chris Newberg has a show on September 18 at Royal Oak Music Theater . We talk for a bit about his comedy style, what’s on his bucket list, and other projects he’s worked on. He tells us what draws him back to Detroit and compares the local comedy scene to other cities. He’s giving away two tickets to the show! Listen to find out how you can claim one.

Bob was super-excited for this guest! This week, we were joined by Matt Busch, artist, illustrator, filmmaker, YouTuber, professor, and entrepreneur. He’s worked on projects for Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Lord of the Rings, Stranger Things, and so many more. Check out his website to find out all about him: MattBusch.com . Matt tells us about his work as an illustrator, how he got started, his...

Jackie Lutz is back ! She’s the Content Director at the Auto Care Association . We follow up on how the Right to Repair fight is going. She also tells us how things are going on the Auto Care ON AIR podcast , where she hosts Carpool Conversations. This is a longer episode, but we had a lot of fun, even though we wandered off topic a few times.

Eddie Eadeh , CEO of  E&E Tech is back, and we chat about cybersecurity practices, the future of enterprise IT, and Michigan’s economy. We discussed phishing simulations, identity management, and AI-related security incidents, along with predictions like 5G-connected devices, zero trust network access, and passkeys replacing passwords. We wrapped up by comparing Detroit’s economic...

After 40 years, Travis Bradburn is back on the job market. We hear about what he’s done, what he’s looking for, and what challenges he’s encountered. This one gets to the heart of what our IT in the D networking events are about.

Bob and Randy caught up with returning guest Jason David of Gym Force , a platform that helps independent gyms with member acquisition, retention, and upselling — solving problems Jason ran into as a former CrossFit gym owner. The conversation covered how AI has accelerated his build, the realities of startup funding versus traditional business valuations, and lessons learned from years of testing...

Bob and Randy took a break from AI conversations. This week the guest is Josh McDonald , Regional Sales and Business Development Manager of RC Mowers . He talks all about remote-operated and autonomous robotic mowers. These mowers are used for safety and efficiency. Have you ever seen a remote-operated mower trim along the highway? Check out the size of this brush mower!

Zander Van Gogh , founder and CEO of No Translation , joins Bob and Randy to discuss his leap from a seven-year career at LinkedIn into entrepreneurship, sparked by a year spent traveling to 50 countries in a year. The conversation covers how Xander used AI tools to plan travel, learn languages, and build a global network, as well as his current work helping mid-market companies actually adopt AI...

This week, Paula Macpherson joined us to talk about two things: First, she is the executive director of Velocity . Velocity is one of the Michigan SmartZones, and is a business incubator, accelerator, and coworking space in Sterling Heights, MI. They provide grant support, guidance from entrepreneurs, and monthly events for new startup business owners. Second, she is the event chair of the Michiga...

It’s the 13th anniversary of IT in the D! Andy Saldaña , founder and CEO of Denovo Studios , is this week’s guest. He here to discuss the use of AI at small and mid-size manufacturers. First, we talk about the what the businesses lack—usually it’s the time, money, and/or expertise required to build or refine their processes. We also talk about the challenges that these businesses need...

This week, we welcome Adam Youngblood , AI strategist, to discuss how AI and agentic AI are becoming pervasive, why early “super Google” use is giving way to assistants that perform work, and how non-technical users can start by asking AI questions when they don’t know where to begin. The conversation covers Claude (including Cowork) for research, costing, and spreadsheet creation; the lack of eff...

Bob’s coworker Rayfield Johnson , US Data & AI Leader at Avanade , joins us to discuss all things data. He’s been in the industry for almost two decades, so he has a lot of insight into the data landscape. We explore how data moved from basic BI to a foundation for AI, emphasizing the need for trusted, governed data before advanced AI initiatives succeed. The conversation highlight...

We are joined by two folks from Neuroaigent : Bob Skinner , and Justin Coleman to have a conversation about where AI is actually delivering ROI right now. Topics include the “it’s just a macro” debate, the manufacturing brain drain crisis, agentic AI and what agents actually are, getting found inside AI tools (AEO vs. SEO), the token bill nobody warned enterprises about, and who&...

Astronomicon is back for another year! Find the convention April 10 through April 12, 2026 at the Ann Arbor Marriott Ypsilanti at Eagle Crest. We’re joined by founders and organizers Mike and Dustin to hear about the history, how the con is going, and what to look forward to this year.

Christina Fair has lots of titles: Founder of Reconnect , Co-founder of Hum , Entrepreneur in Residence at Ann Arbor SPARK , Executive Director of Detroit Executives Association , and board member of Bees in the D . She joins us this week to talk about her work across Detroit’s startup and community ecosystem, including Ann Arbor Spark, Michigan Founders Fund, and the Detroit Executives Associatio...

Our guest this week is Pete Martin , Director of Portfolio Management at Michigan State University Research Foundation . We talk about Michigan technology startups, including pitching and funding. Pete talks about his origin and some of the startups he finds interesting. We also take a look at why companies and people leave or ignore Michigan. Of course, we had to touch on the impact AI is having...

Andrew Koper joins us this week to talk about Moregetsdone.com , his online collaborative task management tool. We talk about why he decided to build it, how it works, and the ways it can work for various types of organizations. We also brainstorm ideas for future improvements including AI-enhanced workflows.

This week’s guest is David Williams , CIO of Buztel , a large local law firm. He tells us about how lawyers are using AI, what’s allowed, what’s not allowed, and the implications thereof.

This week, we’re joined by David Baird , founder of Gloabi . Gloabi makes AI “organisms”—avatars that have phone numbers, email addresses, and can post on social networks. David tells us what your Gloabi AI can do for you, how it works (even without you sometimes!), and the story behind the project.

Our guest this week is Jeff Dwoskin , CEO of Stampede Social . We talk to him about social media management, touching on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube (and discuss some bizarre yet engaging YouTube trends). We get into the nuances of creating and scheduling content, the influence of algorithms, and the challenges of engaging audiences. Jeff shares experiences in social media campai...

On this podcast, we often talk about getting started in the IT field by applying for help desk gigs, and we talk to C-suite and business owners, but this week, we’re filling in the middle of the story. Brad Woessner (you’ll recognize him from our meetups !) joins us to talk about his IT career and what it’s like to crew the help desk.

In this episode Bob and Randy ‘welcome Mike Kennedy , Founder and Chief Security Officer at Ostra Security , and Mel Kolinski , Sales and Channel Chief at Ostra. They dive into an open discussion about cybersecurity, highlighting the issues with transparency and honesty in the industry. Mike shares his experiences of starting Ostra and his motivations behind it, emphasizing the need for hone...

This is part 4 of a 4-part series. Randy and I were recently invited to podcast on the floor of the  2025 Cyber Winter Wonderland  at the beautiful  Madison Loft . My guest host of the day was host of the  Great Security Debate ,  Brian Schneble . Enjoy the listen, and THANK YOU to  CXO Forum for partnering with us to podcast at your event! Part 1 Steve Monato an...

This is part 3 of a 4-part series. Randy and I were recently invited to podcast on the floor of the  2025 Cyber Winter Wonderland  at the beautiful  Madison Loft . My guest host of the day was host of the  Great Security Debate ,  Brian Schneble . Enjoy the listen, and THANK YOU to  CXO Forum for partnering with us to podcast at your event! Part 1 Steve Monato an...