SMB Community Podcast

Overview: Exploring the Future of MSPs: AI, Cybersecurity, and Building Trust In this episode of the SMB Community Podcast, host James Kernan interviews Tim Thomson, founder of Cyber Trends, who shares insights on the future opportunities for Managed Service Providers (MSPs) in 2026. They discuss the role of AI and automation, the importance of cybersecurity and compliance, and strategies for prov...

Overview: In this episode of the SMB Community Podcast, hosts Amy and James discuss their upcoming travel plans and the busy start to 2026. They tackle a key listener question about how much to invest in training for IT teams, emphasizing the importance of continuous education and proposing strategies for incorporating both free and paid training within organizations. Additionally, they cover rece...

Overview: In this episode of the SMB Community Podcast, hosts James and Amy discuss the key challenges and opportunities MSPs (Managed Service Providers) will face in 2026. They emphasize the importance of AI integration, staff training, tool consolidation, and strategic partnerships. They also highlight the need for MSPs to focus on soft skills and personal customer interactions, as AI takes over...

Overview: In this episode of the SMB Community Podcast, hosts James Kernan and Amy Babinchak discuss various strategies for IT professionals and MSPs to monetize AI by 2026. The conversation begins with a recount of Amy's experience with extreme weather in Michigan and swiftly transitions into the main topic - how AI can be incorporated into IT services. They explore different approaches taken by...

Overview: In this episode of the SMB Community Podcast, hosts James Kernan and Amy Babinchak discuss the top opportunities for Managed Service Providers (MSPs) looking ahead to 2026. They focus on the importance of AI integration, data management, and the need for proper training, as well as compliance and governance issues. They also touch on the ongoing trends in mergers and acquisitions within...

Overview: In this episode of the SMB Community Podcast, hosts Amy and James discuss a range of topics from winter weather arriving early to significant layoffs in the tech industry for 2025. They delve into the complexities and best practices of raising prices for MSPs and share insights on strategic cost-cutting. The episode also touches on interesting historical hacking anecdotes, CIA cryptograp...

Overview: In this episode of the SMB Community Podcast, hosts James and Amy kick off with a weather update from Michigan and Nebraska and discuss the changing nature of fall leaf collection. The conversation then shifts to the MSP question of the week, focusing on the best KPIs and metrics for MSP CEOs, emphasizing the importance of role-specific indicators. They explore financial and performance...

Overview: In this episode of the SMB Community Podcast, hosts Amy and James discuss the evolving landscape of IT distribution and whether it is becoming obsolete. They reminisce about the days when IT professionals relied heavily on specific distributors and how the market shift has changed their role. They also touch on the U.S. Senate passing the budget bill, LinkedIn's top 50 startup list for 2...

Overview: In this episode of the SMB Community Podcast, hosts Amy and James discuss the importance of timely year-end planning for IT professionals, suggesting October as the ideal start time for preparation. They cover effective strategies for developing annual goals, emphasizing the need for a personalized approach and tactical objectives. The hosts also examine the recent cloud outages from AWS...

Overview: In this episode of the SMB Community Podcast, hosts Amy and James discuss strategies for IT professionals to finish the year on top, including sales tips, inventory reduction, and tax advantages through IRS Tax Code Section 179. They also delve into the feasibility and future of humanoid household robots, debating their practicality and cost. Additionally, they touch on industry news suc...

Overview: In this episode of the SMB Community Podcast, hosted by James Kernan, special guest Leslie Dewey, CEO of Sweetwater Street, shares her expertise on artificial intelligence (AI). Leslie discusses her background in media and security, which led her to a passion for AI. She provides insights into AI literacy, automation benefits, and practical tips for business owners to integrate AI into t...

Overview: In this episode of the SMB Community Podcast, James Kernan interviews Kevin Schmidt from Coalition. They discuss the importance of cybersecurity and cyber risk management, focusing on Coalition's comprehensive approach that integrates cyber insurance with cybersecurity solutions. Kevin highlights the unique aspects of Coalition's services, which include active insurance and real-time ris...

Overview: In this episode of the SMB Community Podcast, hosts James and Amy discuss weekend highlights and then dive into crucial advice for improving monthly cash flow for Managed Service Providers (MSPs). They emphasize the importance of collecting payments upfront, managing monthly subscription income, and understanding monthly burn rates. They also cover consumer insights, including the rise o...

Overview: In this episode of the SMB Community Podcast, hosts Amy and James discuss the monetization of AI for MSPs, leveraging existing skills and tools such as Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT. They encourage MSPs to differentiate themselves by adopting AI technologies and utilizing available marketing funds. The hosts address the potential lapse of the CISA Act, the importance of upgrading to Wind...

Overview: Exploring Results Software with CEO Sam Saab and CRO Bob Lewis In this episode of the SMB Community Podcast, host James Kernan interviews Sam Saab, CEO and Founder, and Bob Lewis, Chief Revenue Officer of Results Software. The discussion covers the origins of the company, the features and functionalities of their software, and their focus on servicing various industry verticals such as c...

Overview: In this episode of the SMB Community Podcast, hosts James and Amy are back to discuss a wide range of topics relevant to the MSP community. The episode begins with professional insights, starting with advice on purchasing a local competitor MSP and moving on to broader industry trends. They discuss the impact of major companies restructuring for AI, changes in H-1B visa regulations affec...

Overview: In this episode of the SMB Community Podcast, hosts Amy and James discuss a variety of tech topics relevant to IT professionals. They start by sharing personal anecdotes about their preferences for coffee and tea before diving into recent changes in the Microsoft Partner Program, emphasizing the importance of meeting revenue requirements. The conversation then shifts to Oracle's headquar...

Overview: In this episode of the SMB Community Podcast, hosts Amy and James discuss various topics relevant to the IT professional community. A significant segment is dedicated to addressing the ongoing debate of per seat versus per device pricing models in Managed Service Providers (MSP), emphasizing the evolving nature of MSP pricing strategies. The hosts further explore the economy's impact on...

Overview: In this episode of the SMB Community Podcast, hosts James and Amy are back to discuss various strategies for making MSP companies more valuable before a sale, including eliminating red flags, organizing business documentation, and having a clear elevator pitch. They also talk about industry trends such as the growing demand for specialized services like cloud computing and cybersecurity,...

Overview: In this episode of the SMB Community Podcast, hosts Amy and James discuss various topics including the shift in weather in the Midwest, the importance of developing an AI practice for Managed Service Providers (MSPs), and insights from top MSP executives about AI in the workforce. Amy highlights her AI course for MSPs, emphasizing the need for an AI acceptable use policy. The hosts also...

Overview: In this episode of the SMB Community Podcast, hosts James and Amy discuss various topics including the challenges of hiring level 3 and level 4 IT professionals, the importance of certifications and ongoing education in the IT industry, and the current job hiring trends influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. They also touch upon an interesting study on the growth of millionaires globally a...

In this episode, host Karl Palachuk caught up with Dave Sobel to talk about his "explainer video" on Artificial Intelligence. Dave is the host of the Business of Tech Podcast - https://businessof.tech. Recently, Dave posted a video describing all the ways he uses AI agents to collect articles, filter them, and give him enough information to put together a show. He also reveals all the tools he use...

Overview: In this episode of the SMB Community Podcast, hosts James and Amy discuss various topics relevant to the MSP community. They start with a casual chat about the weather and gardening before moving on to a listener's question regarding the best ways to communicate price increases to customers. The conversation shifts to security concerns, particularly focusing on vulnerabilities in printer...

Overview: In this episode of the SMB Community Podcast, our host James Kernan, along with guests Christina Klein from Land Sweeper and Martin from B2B Cyber Secure, discuss the importance of data, automation, and innovative tools in transforming the Managed Service Provider (MSP) landscape. Christina and Martin share their experiences and successes using Lansweeper to drive IT asset discovery, ris...

Overview: Navigating IT Contracts, AI Trends, and Industry Events: A Recap In this episode of the SMB Community Podcast, hosts James and Amy discuss the importance of managed service contracts and how they impact the valuation and security of IT businesses. They cover recent industry events including ChannelCon in Nashville, applauding its organization and opportunities for networking with top ven...