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News and Updates: The Republican-led FCC is moving to kill its 1Gbps broadband speed goal, arguing that such benchmarks unfairly disadvantage satellite and fixed wireless services like Starlink and T-Mobile Home Internet. Chair Brendan Carr says the current 100/25 Mbps standard is more "technologically neutral," though critics warn the move could hinder fiber rollout and inflate broadband availability stats. Microsoft Office 2024 is now available as a one-time $149 purchase with no feature updates, while Microsoft 365 remains a subscription service ($70–$100/year) offering cloud storage, constant updates, mobile access, and AI tools. Office 2024 suits offline users or regulated industries, while 365 is better for collaboration, flexibility, and long-term value. A single weak password allowed hackers to take down 158-year-old UK transport firm KNP. Ransomware gang Akira encrypted all company data and demanded a multi-million-pound ransom. Without backups or sufficient protection, KNP collapsed, laying off 700 workers. UK officials say ransomware incidents are rising rapidly, with 35–40 attacks per week and growing concern over underreporting and ransom payments. Tesla was forced to refund a customer $10,000 after an arbitrator ruled the company failed to deliver its Full Self-Driving (FSD) package. The buyer couldn't access FSD due to eligibility restrictions and noted that the software didn't perform as promised. Tesla provided a poorly prepared witness in arbitration and had to cover both the refund and $8,000 in arbitration fees. The decision highlights ongoing doubts about Tesla's ability to fulfill its long-standing autonomous driving claims.

Choosing between Google Docs and Microsoft 365? They look similar, but there are differences in cost, features, and how they work. I'll help you decide which fits your needs best.

Join Brian and Mike Cohn as they unpack the five essential pillars that take Agile from “just the motions” to meaningful, measurable impact. Plus, get a behind-the-scenes look at their revamped course built for real team transformation. Overview In this episode of the Agile Mentors Podcast, Brian is joined by longtime collaborator and Agile thought leader Mike Cohn for a deep dive into what really makes Agile stick. They explore the five foundational pillars—mindset, practices, roles, teamwork, and support beyond the team—and share stories of what happens when teams get them wrong (like obsessing over story point math or demoing a copyright update in a sprint review). Along the way, they introduce the newly available Working on a Scrum Team public course and explain why it’s designed for entire teams, not just isolated roles. Whether you're new to Agile or knee-deep in transformation, this episode will help you rethink how to build an Agile approach that actually works. References and resources mentioned in the show: Mike Cohn #80: From Struggling to Success: Reviving Agile Teams with Mike Cohn Scrum Team Roles and Responsibilities Working on a Scrum Team Course Mountain Goat Software Certified Scrum and Agile Training Schedule Subscribe to the Agile Mentors Podcast Want to get involved? This show is designed for you, and we’d love your input. Enjoyed what you heard today? Please leave a rating and a review. It really helps, and we read every single one. Got an Agile subject you’d like us to discuss or a question that needs an answer? Share your thoughts with us at podcast@mountaingoatsoftware.com This episode’s presenters are: Brian Milner is SVP of coaching and training at Mountain Goat Software. He's passionate about making a difference in people's day-to-day work, influenced by his own experience of transitioning to Scrum and seeing improvements in work/life balance, honesty, respect, and the quality of work. Mike Cohn, CEO of Mountain Goat Software, is a passionate advocate for agile methodologies. Co-founder of Agile Alliance and Scrum Alliance, he thrives on helping companies succeed with Agile and witnessing its transformative impact on individuals' careers. Mike resides in Northern Idaho with his family, two Havanese dogs, and an impressive hot sauce collection. Auto-generated Transcript: Brian Milner (00:00) Welcome in, Agile Mentors. We're back for another episode of the Agile Mentors podcast. Thanks for joining us. I'm with you, as always, Brian Milner. And today, I have the one and only Mike Cohn back with us. Welcome in, Mike. Mike (00:12) Thanks, Brian. Good to be here. Brian Milner (00:14) Always happy to have Mike on the show and really appreciate Mike making time to come on. Wanted to have Mike on because there's some things Mike's been talking about recently that are really interesting and people have been asking a little bit about this and I thought maybe it'd be just a good opportunity to talk through some of the stuff that Mike's been writing about. I know you spent, Mike, a lot of time helping teams to not just do Agile but to really get solid results from it. to see impact from it. And I know the topic you've been talking about recently is sort of these five pillars of supporting real agile improvements, the mindset, practices, roles, teamwork, and support beyond the team. So I thought maybe we could just dig in and drive through those and maybe learn a little bit about those as we go. Obviously also to talk a little bit about the exciting new course that's being launched here, the working on a Scrum team course, because I know that was originally just for private classes, right? And now it's being open to the public. Mike (01:23) Yeah, we've done working on a Scrum team as a private class for probably 20 plus years. It's been kind of our main offering to private clients. But we're hearing from a lot of people that they have one team and they can't really get a private class approved with the budget and such. So what we're doing is going ahead and making that course available as a public course. So two people from your company, five people from another company all in the same class the way we've done our certified courses for decades. And so we're going to start offering this as a public course. And the exciting thing there is that it's really meant to be a team-based class, where things like Scrum Master training, great class, but it's really meant for the Scrum Master, right? And working on a Scrum team is really designed, and you and I helped you and I design this course together, but it's designed to be something that is a whole team training, right? So good for anybody on a team. Brian Milner (02:16) Yeah, yeah, it's been really great teaching those in the private classes and I'm excited to think about the public being able to come in and take that now. Let's talk a little bit about these pillars and, I think people are gonna be really intrigued by the concept here. The first one is mindset, I think, and just wanna start there and say, what does it actually mean to... think Agile and what is the found, why is that kind of the foundation for successful transformations? Mike (02:43) Remember the kind of the early days of agile and there was a lot of conversation about could you be agile without understanding the principles, right? If you just did the practices, were you agile? Other people were saying, no, you have to start with the principles, right? And so do you start with principles? Do you start with practices? And I remember these early debates and they often devolved into a discussion of the karate kid movie, right? Remember that one, right? And, you know, can you just wax on? Brian Milner (03:12) Ha Mike (03:12) for long enough, just do the practices. And then all of a sudden, your karate instructor or your agile coach is, OK, you're agile. And it's like, wait, all I know how to do is wax a car, right? And so there were these discussions about practices versus principles. And I was kind of always on the side where you better understand the principles to do this. Just knowing the practices, waxing on all day, is kind of just going through the motions. And so you have to understand the principles. And the idea that I wanted was that if a team truly understood all of the principles underneath Agile, I don't just mean just the manifesto, but all the principles that are there from Lean, from Kanban, from everything, that if you really understood those, you'd kind of invent the practices, right? You do those and you go eventually to go, hey, we should probably meet every day. Or hey, if we tested first, that might be a really good thing. Brian Milner (03:57) Yeah. Mike (04:05) So you'd invent the practices if you really had that type of agile mindset. And so for me, when we're working with organizations to get them truly agile, and I don't mean like more agile than less agile, but agile in a way that's going to stick, you got to change mindsets, right? You've got to do more than just the wax on. So people have to get the mindset. Brian Milner (04:27) Yeah, I love that. I know that I've experienced some things in the course of working with people that's it's sort of like you, if you're not on the same page with the principles, then you start to talk through the practices and you run up against a problem. And really what you find out the core of it was, well, we weren't aligned on really the principle behind this. So why would I want the practices then, right? ⁓ Mike (04:49) Yeah. Well, that's where you also end up then with a lot of team debates about things, right? Because you're arguing about the practice. if you'll say you and I are arguing about the benefit of some practice, if we agree on the principle, we might just have different views on it. But deep down, we'll probably agree on some practice, or we might find an alternative one. But if you don't agree on the principles, you end up with a lot more of these kind of annoying. mean, team debates are great. I mean, I love. Brian Milner (04:54) Yeah. Mike (05:12) you know, having a team debate, arguing stuff like that, but not about pointless things, right? And not without some sort of foundation. They just kind of get in the way. It's just frustrating for everybody. Brian Milner (05:21) Yeah. Well, I'm kind of curious, what kind of signs or signals do you think teams should look out for to kind of clue in and let them know that what might actually be going on here is more of a mindset issue? Mike (05:36) think sometimes it's when you hear the appeal to authority, right? Somebody says, you know, well, we got to do it this way because the scrum guide says, right? Or the one that annoys me is we have to do it this way because Mike Cohn says, ⁓ you know, that was like, no, I, somewhere else also said, think, right? Don't just, you know, don't just, you know, blindly do story points or something. Cause I say they're a good thing. I want you to think too. Brian Milner (05:50) You You Mike (06:01) And so I think that kind of appeal to authority when teams are debating things. It's where we also see teams who think they're agile because they do a set of practices. We use a particular agile tool, so we must be agile. We do daily meetings. We must be agile. And those are not the things that make you agile. Those are artifacts of being agile. If you're agile, you're going to meet a lot. You're not going meet a lot, but you're going to talk a lot. Um, and so those are the artifacts of behaving in an agile way. And so I want to understand why we're doing those things. So I look for those kind of appeals to authority. Um, you know, emphasis on that type of stuff in an argument talking about how this is the right way saying there's only one right way to do something. Brian Milner (06:49) Yeah, yeah, that's great. How does working on the Scrum team deal with this? How does that address it? Mike (06:55) Well, one of the things we do, it was actually one of my favorite exercises. We do this exercise at the start of the class where we ask people to kind of map out how the organization talks about certain adsel principles and then how does the organization behave. And so for example, if a company says, people are our greatest asset, and then they treat people like dirt, we've got this kind of problem between what we say and what we do. And so I like to kind of map this out. And so we do this with the principles in the Agile Manifesto. And once we map those out and we start to see things that we say we value, but we don't behave that way, really helps us understand if we've really embraced that mindset. Or are we just doing things because an Agile coach told us to, or a boss told us to, or we did it that way in our prior company. Those are all bad reasons to do something. Brian Milner (07:48) Y eah. So this is great. So I agree. The mindset's really foundational. And there is this symbiotic relationship between mindset and practices, which came first and which comes first, as we talked about. I know a lot of teams get stuck doing Agile, though, in really only name only. So when we talk about practices, what makes the difference between going through the motions? Mike (08:00) Mm-hmm. Brian Milner (08:11) and actually doing things that work. Mike (08:13) Well, practices is kind of our second pillar, right? You have to have the mindset, right? But you also have to have the practices that come from having that mindset. so, again, I try to think of that team on a desert island, right? And they're isolated from the world. They've never talked to anybody, but they have an agile mindset. What practices are they going to invent, right? And I think those are kind of the core practices. We see a lot of problems with as an example, teams that misunderstand sprint planning. And I know when I first started teaching about sprint planning, I'd have a slide up there to have a picture of a sprint backlog. And the sprint backlog listed tasks like code this, design this, test this. And then there were estimates next to code this. It's going to take four hours testing. It's going to take three. And so we were able see all these numbers and think the point of a sprint planning was these numbers. And Even in the early days of this, I was always saying, no, it's not about those numbers. It's about deciding what product backlog items you can pick. if taking a, I don't even want to call it an estimate, but taking a wild guess about, it probably can take four hours to code. If that helps you decide how many backlog items you can commit to, great, put those numbers up there. But it was never about the numbers. And it's one of the most common problems that I see with teams in sprint planning is they get obsessed with How many hours did we bring in? How many points did we bring in? And I remember one team I worked with where we did sprint planning. Having those estimates were helpful for them on their sprint back. They were helping. And we finished the meeting. And we're using Google Sheets in a meeting to do this. We've got a row with the estimates in there. And as we start to wind down the meeting, I deleted that column that they'd spent so much time talking about. They're all kind of pissed off at me. Why'd you delete that? We spent all this time talking about it. I said, because we got the benefit, right? You got the benefit of those numbers. The benefit isn't a week from now remembering that you said five hours, because it's going to take what it takes. The benefit was the discussion that it led to of can we take more or are we already full? So I see teams get obsessed with that. This is one example, but that's one of the problems with sprint planning as a practice. Brian Milner (10:25) Yeah. Yeah. I think you're absolutely right. And that's one of the things I know I've talked about with people going through the course is sort of understanding the purpose behind the things. Just going back to, know, harkening back to what you said about, don't just do it because someone told you, you know, understand why the purpose behind it. And, know, otherwise we, I'm sure we've all had that experience before where someone just tells you to do something and says, you know, why? Cause I told you so, you know, that, that doesn't, that's not very convincing. Mike (10:52) Thanks, Mom. Brian Milner (10:53) Right, right, thanks mom. Yeah, not very convincing, but it's much more convincing when they can tell you, well, no, you do this because this is what we're trying to do. And I think you're right, that makes all the difference there. ⁓ Mike (11:05) It just, don't know anybody that responds well to being told what to do, right? My instant reaction is no, right? mean, you it could be, you know, a really, you it could be a really good thing. Eat more vegetables, you spend more time outside. No, right? Don't tell me what to do. So. Brian Milner (11:09) Right. Right. Yeah. It's almost like our default response is no until you convince me. Are there other common practices? We talked about sprint planning. Are there other kind of practices you see teams struggle with? Mike (11:28) Yeah, yeah, for a lot of people. think a huge one is product backlog refinement. I don't know what a better word would be than refinement. refinement is about making the backlog better. It's not about making it perfect. And I see teams that get stuck on backlog refinement and feel like they have to resolve every open issue, that everything has to be tiny and answered and buttoned up before we can start a sprint. And that's not the case. For me, the goal in refinement is to make sure things are small enough and sufficiently well understood. I don't want to bring in a backlog that's bigger than my velocity. If our velocity is 25, I don't want bring in a 50-point story. how about the problems of a 50-point story anyway? But I don't want to bring in some massive epic like that into a sprint. And so refinement is about making it small, making sure it's sufficiently well understood. Sufficiently well understood, not perfectly. And so Brian Milner (12:18) Yeah. Mike (12:28) The problem is these teams, and I know you've seen this, but teams who get in there, want to resolve every open issue. It's like, no, we can resolve that during the sprint. If we think about the goal and planning to make sure we know what to bring into the sprint, not too much, not too little, we're fine just enough that you're at that point. Is the button blue or red? Who cares? If it's a log in story, we're going to lock people out after some number of failed attempts. Who cares how many? Figure that out during the sprint. If it's five or three or eight, who cares? Figure that out later. So I think refinements won. Another big one would be reviews, ⁓ where sometimes teams demo too much in a sprint review. And they feel like they have to justify their existence, show everything you did during the sprint. And the most egregious example of that was this was a handful of years ago. But I literally remember a team showing Brian Milner (12:58) Yeah. Yeah. Mike (13:18) how they had updated the copyright notice on the footer of the web page, know, copyright, you know, whatever year our company, right? And it's like, my God, you didn't need to show that to stakeholders, right? We all either know there's a copyright notice on the bottom of the web page or we've seen one before. I don't need you to bring it up and scroll down to it. Now only took 15 seconds of the meeting, but that was 15 seconds of people's lives. They were never going to get back. you know, show stuff that you need feedback on, right? If you'd... Brian Milner (13:41) Right. Mike (13:45) You fixed a bug and you fixed it only way it could be fixed. Mention it perhaps, but you don't need to show it, right? Brian Milner (13:51) Yeah, yeah, know teams I've been on often it's just it's suffice it to have a list sometimes and just say here's a list of things if you want to know more about these come talk to us but we're move on to the stuff you care about. Mike (14:02) Yeah, I always have like a will show, will not show list. you know, I often, if I'm writing the meetup present, that'll put that up on Zoom or, you know, show it on a screen if we're in person. And often somebody wants to see something that's on the will not show list. Or they just want me to describe what bug was that again? What was that? You know, and I'll explain it really quickly. But if nobody wants to see it, don't bother showing it. So. Brian Milner (14:26) Yeah, I know we talk about these scrum practices quite a bit in the working on the scrum team class, but if someone signed up to take this class, what can they expect to hear or what can they expect to learn about these practices in the course? Mike (14:39) Well, I think one of the things that you and I did together in creating the newest version of the course was to look at what do you actually need to practice doing, and it's feasible to practice doing in a classroom setting, versus what should you just kind of talk through. And not everything needs to be practiced to get the hang of it, right? Everybody in the world has taken something big and split it up into smaller things before, right? I need to make. spaghetti dinner tonight. What do need to buy? Right? OK. Well, that's that's that's test decomposition by noodles, by sauce, by tomatoes. Let's make it from scratch. Right. By some garlic. Right. So everybody in the world has done decomposition. We've broken a big thing into small things. And I remember, you know, iterating over I'm still on sprint planning, I guess. But I remember iterating over exercises in sprint planning and in courses over the decades by now. And I would have one where you're planning a party for your kid, break it down into tasks. It's like, nobody learns anything from this. And so that's one where I'd rather say, OK, this problem occurs in sprint planning. How could you solve it? Other things like, let's say, splitting user stories or splitting job stories, that's a skill worth practicing together, getting feedback on. And so those type of things we try to practice in the course. other things we just talk about. mean, I'm curious on your thoughts on that. What do you think about some things being worth practicing, some things worth being better talked about? Brian Milner (16:01) Yeah, I agree. I agree fully. it's, it's, you know, there's some things, it's kind of like what you said before, there's some things that's not worth spending the time on, and it's better to just have a discussion and move on. Mike (16:13) Yeah. Yeah. I guess that's one of the things we always talked about. We always talked about return on investment of the exercise. What's the return on the exercise? And if you're going to have a one hour exercise, cool. One hour exercise. But it better have a pretty healthy return because that's a lot of time in class. And so what's the return on exercise? Is this worth a practice? Is it worth just a discussion? And if we can discuss two hard problems and give people advice on two common problems, they're probably going to face. Brian Milner (16:21) Yeah. Mike (16:41) Might be better than spending 20 minutes practicing something that they've probably done before. Brian Milner (16:45) Yeah, I completely agree. Let's move to the third pillar then, because I know this is a big one, just thinking and talking about the roles. And just as far as communication issues are concerned, even outside of Scrum, I know that's part of the big problem with teams and organizations just not being clearly defined about who does what and who's responsible for each thing. So those misunderstandings are really common failure points. ⁓ Mike (17:09) Mm-hmm. Brian Milner (17:10) How do you see teams getting that wrong and how's that derailing a Scrum team? Mike (17:15) Well, think we see it all the time on Scrum teams between Scrum Master and Product Owner and even the development team, right? Who does what? I was responding to some comments on LinkedIn this morning on some post I'd made last week and somebody had some comments. And it had to do with whether the Scrum Master or Product Owner does something. And it was interesting because in the comments on that post, I... I don't remember which one it was, but I shared a certain perspective. I feel pretty strongly that I have it right. I mean, I this is how we do it. But there were other people saying the opposite, right? And so, you know, these are people that are probably fairly experienced with Scrum, if they're following me on LinkedIn and feel comfortable commenting on a post, probably feel comfortable with it. And so there's a lot of confusion about what role does what thing. And I don't think this is something where the Scrum guy is going to have the answers for you. I think it's, I mean, you can look at the Scrum guy, oh, this. Here's my starting point answer, but we always want to play to people's strengths, right? And if you've got a scrum master who's got a lot of skill in one area, maybe they shift a little work from the PO to themselves, right? With the PO's permission, right? And the opposite, right? Between maybe PO and team. So it's fine to have default starting positions on who does what, but you always want to play to people's strengths. So I think PO scrum master, I think we see it with project managers and scrum masters, roll confusion on those type of roles as well. Brian Milner (18:38) Yeah, completely agree. A lot of those roles that are not named Scrum team roles and how they interact with the team, that's often a source of confusion as well. What are maybe some signs or symptoms that teams might be having confusion or problems in this area that maybe they don't even recognize or realize they're having an issue with roles? Mike (18:59) Any sort of conflicts, right? You know, you and I arguing over which one of us should do something. The other one would be kind of the opposite, which would be like a dropped ball. I was watching some YouTube video. I love baseball. I was watching some YouTube video the other day of like missed catches or something like that. And some team hit a baseball way up in the air and it was landing near three players, right? Three players are all looking at it. Brian Milner (19:12) You Mike (19:23) One guy waves the other two off, he's going to catch the ball and he must have been blinded by the sun because he's like six feet from the ball when it lands on the ground, right? And, you know, if we have a responsibility to catch the ball, run this meeting, right, right the backlog, the kids dropped, right? And so I think either arguing over who does something, two of us trying to do the same thing or neither of us doing it. I don't mean trying to get out of the work, right? All three players have been happy to catch the ball, but I think you've got it. You think I've got it, right? Those type of things are pretty good signs. think getting clarity around these roles can really optimize how a team works. And I think a really key thing here is that it changes over time. So I'll go back to my example of maybe the Scrubmaster has some skills that can help the product owner early on. Because maybe the product owner is new to the company. The product owner doesn't know the product as well. So they might rely on the Scrubmaster for guidance on things. Well, a year from now, we might shift responsibilities a little bit because now the PO is the expert on all things related to the product. So it's not like we want to establish clarity on roles one time and leave it forever. It's going to change. We get a new tester on the team, things might change. Product owner moves. It's going to change again. So we need to realize these responsibilities are dynamic. Brian Milner (20:39) Yeah, that's a great point. Your point about baseball just made me think about how, when you watch any youth sport in the world, when you go watch your kids play a sport, what's the one thing you always hear people scream from the sideline? Talk to each other. Call the ball. Well, that too. That too. Ump your blind. Those kinds of things. Well, let's talk a little bit about Mike (20:52) I thought you were going say, put my kid in. Brian Milner (21:00) I know this course addresses the roles and how would you say this course really helps address that issue of role confusion? Mike (21:07) think a big part of it is that we designed it to be for everybody on the team, right? Suppose you send a scrum master to a class, and it's a great class. Scrum master is going to back to the certain set of impressions about their role. Product owner goes to an equally good class about the product. They might have different impressions. Even if they took the course from the same instructor, they're hearing it a little differently. They're hearing it through their filters, right? And so when they're in a course together, there's more opportunities to clarify their understanding about those things, especially in the classes designed as we did with this one to bring out some of those differences. So I think the course helps with that. we've also designed it to mention the rules we haven't talked about, like managers and things like that. Brian Milner (21:53) Yeah, yeah, I think those are so important. And there's a lot of great discussions that come out when we have those topics. ⁓ Let's talk about the fourth pillar then, teamwork, because this, I think, builds really well on what we just talked about. And the idea that there's actually, Scrum is a team sport. ⁓ So beyond just normal human personality conflict type issues, what do you see that gets in the way of teams actually Mike (21:58) Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Brian Milner (22:18) working as a team. Mike (22:19) think ego is probably one, right? I can do everything better, just leave me alone. There's an old book that says basically, beware of a lone developer in a room, right? You know, it was referring to the developer who wants to close their door and say, I'll it done in a month, trust me, right? And one of the companies I worked with, and this one's going back like 15 years ago, but it was a really good story. Brian Milner (22:36) Yeah. Mike (22:43) is they would literally grab one unit of work. Each person on the team would grab a unit of work and take anywhere from three to 12 months to do the thing. So they were big things, but the person would do everything on it. They'd coded, tested everything. And the organization was putting out very little because of this. When they moved to Scrum in the first year, by their estimate, they said they delivered 540 % more work. over five times the amount of new features delivered. And that was through the collaboration, through the short iterations, those type of things. But it was about getting people to collaborate more. So I think there's huge opportunities to do that. One of the problems I see is when we don't overlap work. If we think about that organization I just described, you grab your thing, you're done in six months. I grab mine, I'm done in seven months. If we'd work together on those things, what's not make us any faster? No faster. But you and I could have worked on your one thing and been done in three months. OK, we're delivering value in three months, right? And so one of the things I look for a lot is how much teams are overlapping work, right? And if we're not overlapping work, there's huge opportunities to improve at that. I'll a little example of this. One of my favorite restaurants is, I don't know, barely call it a restaurant. It's a fast food deli. It's called Jimmy John's. Have you been to Jimmy John's, Yeah. Yeah, there's one near my house where I can go there and the wine will be out the door. Right. And you know, normally you see a wine out the door and it's like, crap, I'm going somewhere else. Right. These guys are so fast. They're so fast. When I get to the front, I place my order. I play this little game of can I fill up my cup? You know, I get an iced tea and they give me an empty cup and can I go fill up ice and put the tea in before they hand me my sandwich? And it's about 50-50. Right. It doesn't take long to fill up your iced tea. But the way they do that is the overlap work. As soon as I order my Italian club sandwich, somebody's already got the bread open, somebody's got a slab of meat they're ready to drop on there, somebody else has their hands over the vegetables and they're dropping the vegetables on there, and then a fourth person wraps it up. And so like four or five people touch my sandwich. Hopefully their hands are clean, but four or five people touch my sandwich as opposed to like most delis where I go and it's like you watch one person plod along making the sandwich, right? Overlap work is huge. Brian Milner (25:07) Yeah. Yeah, this episode sponsored by, no, just kidding. Use code Mike Cohn when you go to, no, just kidding. Yeah, I agree. And yeah, yeah, I'm familiar with Jimmy John's. Probably too familiar. ⁓ Yes, yeah, no, that's, I think that's part of their shtick is that they're, you know, they're known for being fast. So yeah. Mike (25:10) You Is yours just as fast? Yeah. Yeah. They call it Freaky Fast. They actually have a competition. I've seen YouTube videos of this where they get like the best teams at various restaurants race, right? And so they have like the Jimmy John sandwich making Olympics or something, but it's a skill. Brian Milner (25:36) wow, wow, yeah. You should pair that up with the hot dog eating challenge in some way and see if we could have a team sport going there. ⁓ Mike (25:48) Well, that's a good point because think about the hot dog eating. That's one guy, right? That's Joey Chesnett shoving hot dogs down. The Jimmy Johns is a team. They get the best crew at a restaurant and it's a team, right? How fast can the team go? Not how fast can one guy make a sandwich, right? Brian Milner (25:51) Yeah. Yeah, yeah. That's awesome. So what are some tips? What are some ways that you can really unite a team, especially those new teams? Because that's the fascination point for me is, how do you take this group of humans that really don't know each other and haven't worked together in the past and unite them together and have them gel as a team? How do you do that? Mike (26:21) I'll give you a couple. One, I think having really crisp sprint goals helps. So we all know exactly what we're trying to get done in the sprint. We don't lose sight of that because sometimes in the middle of a sprint, you lose sight of it. And you get myopic and you just focus on a list of tasks. And I'm going to say that it's probably similar to the team doing sprint planning and just getting them assessed with the numbers. It's not about the numbers. It's not about the tasks. It's about the backlog items that lead to some goal. So crisp sprint goals help. That's a hard phrase. Crisp Sprinkles helps. The other one I'd say is having a shared vision about where you're headed over a little bit longer term. Probably the biggest change to the Scrum Guide ever that I've liked is the inclusion of a product goal. And that was something I'd been talking about forever. mean, literally since I started doing Scrum was that sprinkles are great, but they're pretty short, right? You want to have something bigger. Brian Milner (26:52) It is. Mike (27:14) And so I like having product goals that are a few months out there. And one of the things I like doing for product goals is have teams do something like write a press release that describes their goal or create a vision in some way, write a review that you want to see come out on the App Store, Play Store, and a magazine. And one of my clients made software and they were reviewed by a major magazine and they were given an editor's choice runner up award. And they actually estimated that being runners up for that was probably worth about $10 million. First place, first time was worth about $10 million a year to them. And so they decided to get serious about this and they wrote a review. Their scrum master, she was actually combo scrum master product owner, Erin. She had the team write a review and she said, let's go earn this review. And I literally remember the email I got from her three months later. It was because it was Halloween night. I just like, you know, brought in the candy from outdoors. We're done trick or treating. And I checked my email. I a three word email from her from Erin. said we did it. And the magazine had let her know, hey, we're reviewing you. be out on, you know, like Tuesday's edition. And the review had quotes in there that were from their vision review, right? The things that they had wanted to achieve. Brian Milner (28:22) Ha ha. Mike (28:35) And that team had just really jelled around that and just became so much more productive and collaborated so much better because of that shared vision. Brian Milner (28:43) Yeah, that's amazing. getting back to the course then, I know in the course we're trying to kind of some of those collaboration muscles. What are some of the ways that the course helps to build that? Mike (28:56) think one of the key things that we're doing, and I'm excited about this, is that we're, you know, we of course use Zoom breakout rooms, right? You you go talk about this, we'll see you in eight minutes or something like that. And for this course, we're doing something where a group of three or more, when they register, can have a private breakout room. And this to me is exciting because people get the benefit of having a private breakout room. They can have sensitive discussions if they want. They can talk very specifically about. you know, what do we do about our jerk product owner? mean, whatever it is, right? You know, they can talk about their specific issues, yet have the context of a broader class. Because I think in one of the benefits of any public class is hearing how other teams are doing things. And sometimes that's because you get a good advice, you know, how did you solve that problem? We have that problem. Other times, it's just feeling that you're not alone in the world. they've got that problem too, right? And they don't have any solution for me, but I know I'm not alone in the world with this. And so I like these private breakout rooms for three or more. I think it's a novel thing we're doing with this class. And it's with the intent of combining the best of both worlds of private and public training for this. I'd the other thing is probably consistency, having everybody on the team hear the same message, having those discussions with an experienced instructor like you or me in the room to provide guidance when they have questions. know, go back to the role clarity, right? You know, they can talk about it and they're there. Then they're back in the main room with you or me and we can kind of answer questions. So I think that consistency will be huge as well. Brian Milner (30:25) Yeah, yeah, I love that idea of the private private breakout rooms that that's that's gonna be huge for a lot of people I know. ⁓ Mike (30:31) I'm excited to try it with this. This will be the first classes we do that for. I'm excited about it. Brian Milner (30:36) Yeah, yeah. Well, let's bring it home then and talk about the fifth pillar because the fifth pillar is really interesting as well. It talks about support beyond the team and teams can only do so much. Every team struggles when they're not supported well. And there's lots of studies that show leadership support is one of the biggest hurdles or obstacles to the adoption. Mike (30:46) Mm-hmm. Brian Milner (30:59) What does that support look like from outside the team and how can a team influence that? Mike (31:06) Yeah, if you're trying to be agile and your HR group has quarterly reviews of personnel that are all based on individual performance and has nothing to do about teamwork in there, it's going to be hard to focus on collaboration. So we have to kind of fix these issues. I think what we have to do here is to have team members educate those outside the organization. And we have information that we share about, you here's how to talk to a boss that's maybe mandating deadlines, things like that. And so we try to coach people through having some of those challenging conversations. And one of things I want teams to do is kind of become an example of what good agile looks like. And if you have a team that's excelling with agile and they're doing it from a kind of principles first, that mindset first approach. You're going to see other groups look at that and let's say the marketing group. They're going to look at that go, hey, that's an interesting way to work. I wonder how we could do that, right? And it's going look different for a marketing group than a tech team. the mindset is going to be the same. Principles will still be the same. And so when we get teams to do really well with this, other parts of the organization start to get interested. And then they stop being as much in our way. Brian Milner (32:20) Yeah. I know one of the most important aspects here and that we talk about is, is that you don't need to, to wait, right? If you're the team level, you don't have to just sit around and wait for the organization to make changes. you, you have opportunities to make changes as well. So how does that happen? How's the team change, you know, bring about those changes that, improve the agile process, the results. Mike (32:42) I think that's by being the example so that people see it. I think it's by having those conversations. You know, one of the things that we'll get is, you know, it's so common is the product owner that wants to change their mind all the time. I was reading something, I guess this is in our Agile mentors community, I think is where it was, but it was about the, you know, the product owner who said his favorite thing about Agile is that he can reprioritize every week. ⁓ And it's like, you can, you know. Brian Milner (33:05) Hmm. Yeah Mike (33:10) I'm not sure it's good. And I think about that, a team gets momentum, right? And you're working on a certain feature. Next sprint, it would be nice to work in that same area of this system, right? Your head's there. Just kind of keep going a little bit. And I've often described this as like, let's say you're working on three backlog items that are in a certain area of this system. Let's make it concrete. Let's say it's the spell checker in Microsoft Office, right? And you do three backlog items related to the spell checker this sprint. Next sprint, maybe your top priority is not more spell checker stuff, but maybe items, I don't know, 25, 26, and 27 on the backlog are still in the spell checker. You know what? It might be better to do those. There are probably two or three sprints away. Let's bring them into this sprint. Just get them done while my head's into spell checking. And so getting product owners or stakeholders to stop doing that, one of the ways that I like to talk about doing that is using an example of ordering a meal at a restaurant. I can order, let's say, the chicken entree. And then as the waiter is taking the orders around the table, I change from chicken, no, bring me the fish. Not a big deal. The waiter is going to cross off chicken and write down fish. If the waiter goes away, brings me back my salad, and I change my mind then, I say, hey, bring me the fish. Might not be a big deal. It's going to be a big deal if I've already taken three bites of the chicken. right? Or if he brings me the chicken. So yeah, we can change our mind, but there's a cost, right? And we want to educate stakeholders about that cost. They don't overdo it. Brian Milner (34:31) Yeah. Yeah. Well, speaking of the leaders and the organization, managers, leaders, do you think this course is appropriate for managers and leaders to attend as well? you feel like they might need to in order to really have this be an impact? Mike (34:55) Yeah, that's a good question. Is it appropriate? Yeah, I think it's appropriate. When we do this privately, we've had plenty of leaders and managers attend. I think it's great. I don't think that's required because they're not on the Scrum team. You said the name of the course is working on a Scrum team. And so they're not on the Scrum team. They benefit by knowing more how their Scrum team works. But I think what we found is that having just a key subset of people who hear the same message work through the training together, and then go back to the organization. That's enough to bring the passion, conviction, and skills that we want. So we don't truly need leaders. They're great. I would never talk a leader out of going, but I wouldn't. If I were a team and I could take the class this month or with my leader next month, I would just get the class done, right? And educate the leader afterwards. Brian Milner (35:41) Yeah. Yeah, yeah, I think that's a good plan. All right, well then we've made our way through the five pillars and for people who have come this far with us and are at this point, if they're listening and they're recognizing some of these problems we've been talking about, what would you recommend to them as next steps here? Mike (35:49) if Well, take a look at our website. If you go to mountaingoatsoftware.com. And then I think there's a courses link on the top. You can go up there and find the link to this course. It's an exciting one that we're doing. I've literally been teaching this, I think the first time I taught a class called Working on a Scrum Team was 2003 or 2004. it's a time tested course. You and I kind of redesigned it a couple of months ago to make it appropriate for public. or little better just in general and more appropriate for public. But it's a time-tested course that's now designed to be available for public settings instead of, you know, have to have 25 people or something. Brian Milner (36:36) Yeah, yeah, that's really exciting. I can't wait to see kind of how people are in, you know, react and interact in the course to some of these concepts and ideas. And we'll, we'll of course link to all these things that we've talked about in our show notes and make it easy for everyone to find the course listing and, and, you know, where the dates and everything that we're going to offer them. So make sure to check that out. Mike, thanks so much for coming on. This has been really enlightening and I appreciate you making time for it. Mike (37:01) Of course, thanks for having me, Brian. Always a pleasure.

Co-hosts Mark Thompson and Steve Little explore OpenAI's groundbreaking ChatGPT Agent, demonstrating how this autonomous tool can research, analyze, and perform complex tasks on your behalf.Next, they address important security concerns to consider in the new world of AI agents, introducing practical guidelines for protecting sensitive family data and avoiding prompt injection attacks.This week's Tip of the Week provides a back-to-basics guide on what AI is and its four core strengths: summarization, extraction, generation, and translation.In RapidFire, they discuss OpenAI's rumored office suite, Microsoft and Google's own efforts to integrate AI into their office suites, and recently announced AI infrastructure investments, including; Meta's Manhattan-sized data center and President Trump's new AI Action Plan.The hosts also announce their new Family History AI Show Academy, a five-week course beginning in October of 2025. See https://tixoom.app/fhaishow/ for more details.Timestamps:In the News:05:20 ChatGPT Agent: Autonomous Research Assistant for Genealogists22:49 Safe and Secure in the Age of AITip of the Week:36:20 What is AI and What is it Good For? Back to BasicsRapidFire:50:57 OpenAI's Office Suite Rumors53:56 Microsoft and Google Bring AI to Their Office Suites60:17 Big AI Infrastructure: Manhattan-Sized Data CentersResource Links:Introduction to Family History AIhttps://tixoom.app/fhaishow/Do agents work in the browser?https://www.bensbites.com/p/do-agents-work-in-the-browserIntroducing ChatGPT agent: bridging research and actionhttps://openai.com/index/introducing-chatgpt-agent/OpenAI's new ChatGPT Agent can control an entire computer and do tasks for youhttps://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/709158/openai-new-release-chatgpt-agent-operator-deep-researchOpenAI's New ChatGPT Agent Tries to Do It Allhttps://www.wired.com/story/openai-chatgpt-agent-launch/Agent demo posthttps://x.com/rowancheung/status/1945896543263080736OpenAI Quietly Designed a Rival to Google Workspace, Microsoft Officehttps://www.theinformation.com/articles/openai-quietly-designed-rival-google-workspace-microsoft-officeOpenAI Is Quietly Creating Tools to Take on Microsoft Office and Google Workspacehttps://www.theglobeandmail.com/investing/markets/stocks/MSFT/pressreleases/33074368/openai-is-quietly-creating-tools-to-take-on-microsoft-office-and-google-workspace-googl/What's new in Microsoft 365 Copilot?https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365copilotblog/what%E2%80%99s-new-in-microsoft-365-copilot--june-2025/4427592Google Workspace enables the future of AI-powered work for every businesshttps://workspace.google.com/blog/product-announcements/empowering-businesses-with-AIGoogle Workspace Review: Will it Serve My Needs?https://www.emailtooltester.com/en/blog/google-workspace-review/Tags:Artificial Intelligence, Genealogy, Family History, AI Agents, ChatGPT Agent, OpenAI, Computer Use, AI Security, Prompt Injection, Database Analysis, RootsMagic, Cemetery Records, AI Office Suite, Microsoft 365 Copilot, Google Workspace, Data Centers, AI Infrastructure, Natural Language Processing, Large Language Models, Context Windows, AI Education, Family History AI Show Academy, AI Reasoning Models, Autonomous Research, AI Ethics

¡Bienvenidos a un nuevo episodio de Ceroizquierdo Retro News, el podcast donde las noticias del pasado cobran vida con humor y nostalgia! En esta edición, exploramos historias fascinantes de la primera semana de agosto, desde la venta de Alaska por Rusia a EE.UU. en 1867 hasta el viral Ecce Homo de Borja en 2012. Hablamos de cine con la nueva película de Superman (2025), debatimos sobre el impacto de Microsoft Office desde 1989 y recordamos tragedias como la riada de Biescas en 1996. Además, tocamos temas sociales como la gentrificación, el turismo masivo en Mallorca y la especulación inmobiliaria, sin olvidar curiosidades sobre juegos de mesa como Monopoly. Grabado en la cafetería Bonires de Palma, este episodio está lleno de risas y reflexiones. ¡No te lo pierdas! Disponible en ceroizquierdo.com y en nuestro canal de YouTube en Realidad Virtual. #RetroNews #PodcastHumor #Historia #Alaska1867 #EcceHomoBorja #superman2025 #MicrosoftOffice #Biescas1996 #Gentrificación #TurismoMallorca #Monopoly #JuegosDeMesa #Nostalgia #Ceroizquierdo

What do cloud backups, two-factor authentication, and “turn it off and back on again” have in common? They're all part of the world Jose Velazquez navigates every day as co-owner of Carriage Trade Solutions, a Bridgeport-based managed services provider helping small and medium-sized businesses master the technology they need to thrive.This week on MissionCTRL, Ramon and Jorge sit down with Jose to hear how he built a business around making IT simple, affordable, and accessible. From his early days in infantry and marksmanship instruction for the Marine Corps, to working his way through project management and IT support roles, Jose shares how his passion for technology - and a lot of hustle - paved the way for Carriage Trade Solutions, which he co-founded in 2018 with an equally driven business partner.Jose opens up about why great IT isn't just about fixing broken computers - it's about education, empowerment, and bridging the massive “knowledge gap” many business owners face when it comes to tools like Microsoft Office and cloud services. He explains why cloud backups are non-negotiable, when it's time to retire old hardware, and how Carriage Trade Solutions provides enterprise-level support - email management, hardware lifecycles, vendor relationships - at a price point small businesses can actually afford.From music promotion roots to chamber of commerce networking, and from partnership challenges to delivering top-tier customer service (“we're not here to fix issues - we're here to help you succeed”), this conversation is packed with lessons for any entrepreneur looking to build a business that truly serves its clients.If you've ever wondered what IT really means for your business - or how to turn a passion for tech into a mission-driven company - this episode is for you.•••Find full episodes of Mission CTRL on Anchor, Apple Podcast, Spotify, and our website.Mission CTRL aims to ignite the innovative spirit inside us all through providing budding and successful entrepreneurs and community leaders with a platform to share their stories and inspire others. Tune in every Wednesday and catch up with the team at Peralta Design as we unleash the origin stories behind some exceptional leaders, share marketing/branding insights, and navigate the ever-changing currents of pop culture.Subscribe for more weekly branding and entrepreneurial content here! To learn more about Peralta Design's work visit peraltadesign.com.#welaunchbrands #launchyourbrand #BrandU #missionctrl #mctrl #digitalagency #mbeagency #mbe #digital #branding #marketing #web #creative #contentcreator #contentstrategy #marketingstrategy #leadership #leader #entrepreneur #entrepreneurs #entrepreneurship #entrepreneurial #startup #startups #business #businessowner #businesstips #scalingyourbusiness #smallbusiness #w2 #fulltime #9to5 #office #officelife #corporate #podcast #podcasts #podcastshow #businesspodcast #lifestory #lifestories #personalstory #personalstories

1.I quietly take out my camera, so as not to be noticed by my photographic subject, and peek through the finder.我安静地拿出相机，以免被摄影目标发现然后回头窥视摄像头。2.When he gets up on stage to sing one of his out-of-tune solos, I get so nervous for him that I get sweaty palms.我对他感到非常紧张，手心都冒汗了，因为他在舞台上唱歌走调非常严重。3.It's just if we have it every day we're bound to get fed up with it. I must increase the variety of my cooking.只是如果我们每天都吃同一种美食，我们也一定会厌倦它，我必须丰富我的菜谱。4.I have installed Microsoft Office on my personal computer, so please use its file format when you send me the attachment.我已经在我的个人电脑上安装了Microsoft office,所以当你发附件给我时，请使用这些文件格式。5.I get caught in the rain, I'm late for my date, and I lose my pocketbook. It's just one thing after another today.我被雨淋了，我约会迟到了，我丢了我的皮夹。今天坏事真是接二连三的发生。

ChatGPT Agent is here!↳ What the heck is it? ↳ How does it work? ↳ What do you need to know? Glad you asked, shorties. Join us for the answers. Square keeps up so you don't have to slow down. Get everything you need to run and grow your business—without any long-term commitments. And why wait? Right now, you can get up to $200 off Square hardware at square.com/go/jordan. Run your business smarter with Square. Get started today.Newsletter: Sign up for our free daily newsletterMore on this Episode: Episode PageJoin the discussion: Thoughts on this? Join the convo and connect with other AI leaders on LinkedIn.Upcoming Episodes: Check out the upcoming Everyday AI Livestream lineupWebsite: YourEverydayAI.comEmail The Show: info@youreverydayai.comConnect with Jordan on LinkedInTopics Covered in This Episode:ChatGPT Agent Mode Overview & NamingLive ChatGPT Agent Demo WalkthroughChatGPT Agent Mode Availability & PricingOperator vs. Deep Research Capabilities ExplainedChatGPT Agent Virtual Computer FunctionsSpreadsheet and PowerPoint Generation in ChatGPTMini RAG-Ready Agents with Data ConnectorsChatGPT Agent Security and Biological Risk ClassificationTimestamps:00:00 "Introducing ChatGPT Agent"03:41 Potential Delay for Paid Plan Rollout09:24 "Chat GPT Agent: New Tools Overview"12:44 OpenAI-Microsoft Tensions Over Software Overlap16:42 "ChatGPT's New RAG Feature Unveiled"21:55 AI Agent with Weapon Risk23:31 Agent Models: Boon or Bane?29:05 "Agent Mode: Seamless Editing Integration"Keywords:ChatGPT Agent, Agent Mode, OpenAI, virtual computer, Agentic skills, Operator, Deep Research, browsing websites, web research, synthesizing information, Microsoft competitor, PowerPoint creation, Excel spreadsheet creation, terminal access, public API integration, connectors, data analysis, image generation, multi-agent environments, retrieval augmented generation, mini RAG, AI operating system, human-in-the-loop, security concerns, biology classifier, biological weapons classification, chemical weapons classification, O3 model, Google Gemini 2.5 Pro, agentic models, AI workflows, editable slide deck, Microsoft Office alternative, AI-powered presentations, spreadsheet automation, cloud-based agents, AI task automation, calendar integration, Gmail connector, Google Drive connector, Outlook connector, team collaboration, premium AI features, desktop to browser transition, file creation, terminal commands, workflow automationSend Everyday AI and Jordan a text message. (We can't reply back unless you leave contact info) Ready for ROI on GenAI? Go to youreverydayai.com/partner

We're hours away from OpenAI's livestream announcement of what's reportedly called Agent Mode. There's been a few lines of reporting of what's coming!We tackle the rumors, what they mean, and how to be prepared for what this means for our day-to-day work lives. Square keeps up so you don't have to slow down. Get everything you need to run and grow your business—without any long-term commitments. And why wait? Right now, you can get up to $200 off Square hardware at square.com/go/jordan. Run your business smarter with Square. Get started today.Newsletter: Sign up for our free daily newsletterMore on this Episode: Episode PageJoin the discussion:Thoughts on this? Join the convo and connect with other AI leaders on LinkedIn.Upcoming Episodes: Check out the upcoming Everyday AI Livestream lineupWebsite: YourEverydayAI.comEmail The Show: info@youreverydayai.comConnect with Jordan on LinkedInTopics Covered in This Episode:ChatGPT Agent Mode Release RumorsChatGPT vs Microsoft Office CompetitionPotential Excel and PowerPoint IntegrationDeep Research and Agent Mode FeaturesOpenAI Operator and Browser UpdatesImpact on Microsoft Office Business ModelWorkflow Automation and App ConnectorsProductivity Tool Advancements for Knowledge WorkersTimestamps:00:00 "OpenAI's New Agent Announcement"04:56 OpenAI's New Features Reveal Tomorrow07:35 Microsoft-OpenAI Integration: Enhanced ChatGPT Features10:28 "ChatGPT-Powered Document Creation"13:42 "AI Tools for Visual Presentations"17:18 OpenAI's Enhanced Operator Unveiled19:55 "Anticipating Software Agent Reveal"25:28 AI Evolution: New Industry NormsKeywords:ChatGPT agent, OpenAI, agent mode, Microsoft Office competitor, Excel automation, PowerPoint automation, generative AI tools, spreadsheet AI, presentation AI, Operator, OpenAI browser, Canvas mode, Advanced Data Analysis, Microsoft Copilot, document management AI, workflow automation, browser automation, deep research, computer using agent, data analysis AI, GPT-4o image generation, Google Drive integration, report generation, database analysis, visual creation AI, productivity tool, chat-based document editing, slide generation, formula automation, business productivity AI, AI-powered presentations, AI-powered spreadsheets, AI advancements, IP sharing, OpenAI-Microsoft relationship, slide transitions AI, corporate data analysis, public data synthesis, Mac user productivity, PowerPoint, Excel, real-time updates AI, web sources integration.Send Everyday AI and Jordan a text message. (We can't reply back unless you leave contact info) Ready for ROI on GenAI? Go to youreverydayai.com/partner

OpenAI is working on agent tools that build spreadsheets and presentations, and The Information's Stephanie Palazzolo and TITV Host Akash Pasricha break down her reporting. Plus, we talk with our IPO reporter Cory Weinberg about his exclusive story on blockchain lending company Figure's IPO and the IPO market broadly. And TITV sits down with 500 Global CEO and founding partner Christine Tsai to talk about her latest exit and which country outside the U.S. she is investing more in.

"Linux is getting boring" — or is it evolving into exactly what we wanted? In this episode, we chat retro consoles, 3D printing beasts, Titan phones, curriculum with Pybricks, and a Linux experience so stable it's suspicious. Plus: Wayland wins, Microsoft Office woes, and Wendy's robotics laptops ready for battle. Engage! Find the rest of the show notes at https://tuxdigital.com/podcasts/linux-out-loud/lol-113/ Connect with the Hosts:

Bu bölümde Masters of Doom ve Keyif Verici Maddelerin Tarihi kitapları, Apple'ın Liquid Glass değişikliklerine gelen eleştiriler ve abonelik sistemlerinin ne seviyeye gelebileceği üzerine konuştuk.Bizi dinlemekten keyif alıyorsanız, kahve ısmarlayarak bizi destekleyebilir ve Telegram grubumuza katılabilirsiniz. :)Yorumlarınızı, sorularınızı ya da sponsorluk tekliflerinizi info@farklidusun.net e-posta adresine iletebilirsiniz.Zaman damgaları:00:00 - Giriş03:30 - Liquid Glass29:20 - Abonelikler51:06 - Okuduklarımız, Masters of Doom, Keyif Verici Maddelerin Tarihi1:18:40 - Oynadıklarımız1:40:22 - Haftanın albümleriBölüm linkleri:MonoforRose-Gold-Tinted Liquid GlassesIn case of emergency, break glassMore assorted notes on Liquid GlassMore stray observations — on Liquid Glass, on Apple's lack of direction, then zooming out, on technological progressWhy I don't ride the AI Hype TrainThe Offline ClubFigma files for IPO on NYSE, plans to ‘take big swings' with acquisitionsDatadog's $65M/year customer mystery solvedWhy Denmark is dumping Microsoft Office and Windows for LibreOffice and LinuxCriminal Court: Microsoft's email block a wake-up call for digital sovereigntyNever Forget What They've DoneMasters of Doom: How Two Guys Created an Empire and Transformed Pop CultureThe World Atlas of CoffeeHow Not to InvestTastes of ParadiseBlack Mirror - Common PeopleHouseGoGo Penguin: Necessary FictionsGhost - SKELETAto a THollow KnightDOOM: The Dark AgesCabel Sasser, Panic - XOXO Festival (2024)

Wir leben längst in US-Software- und unter US-Überwachung: In jedem Rathaus, in jeder Kommune läuft Microsoft Office. Unsere E-Mails gehen über Outlook, unsere Akten entstehen in Word oder Excel und all das geschieht auf amerikanischer Software. Doch was viele übersehen: Jedes dieser Programme ist Teil eines weitverzweigten Überwachungsapparats. Daten, die in Europa entstehen, landen überWeiterlesen

NOTE: The Microsoft policy on the end of their donation program for the free and discounted Microsoft Office 365 Business Premium and E1 licenses for qualified nonprofits is shifting frequently, and we are working to keep you updated. Please check for the most recent blog or podcast from us to ensure you have the most recent update.This podcast provides updates to our episode from June 13th about the changes to Microsoft's donation program for nonprofit licenses. The active date of July 1st has now passed and we are learning more about Microsoft's approach to rolling over or just canceling existing licenses on their anniversary/renewal date.Steve Longenecker, Community IT Director of IT Consulting, explains our updated understanding and advice on how to handle the changes to these licenses on your anniversary/renewal date. We will continue updating our podcasts and blog posts as soon as we learn more information from Microsoft and as we begin to learn best practices from our clients who are renewing and changing these licenses. Check back if you have questions not answered in this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! Some Key Takeaways:Check your licenses through your Microsoft admin portalCheck the renewal dateCheck the license types -look for "donation" or "discounted"If you are currently using Microsoft 365 Business Premium licenses you were getting 10 free licenses. Any licenses over the first 10 that you are using are being billed at a discounted nonprofit annual rate. When your licenses renew after July 1, 2025, NONE of them will be free.Microsoft says that your 10 free licenses will be automatically cancelled on your renewal date.You don't need to do anything to make this happen. However, we recommend actually cancelling your donation licenses about 2 weeks before your renewal date. That will ensure (we hope) that you don't get charged somehow if Microsoft automatically converts those free licenses to discounted licenses. About 2 weeks before your renewal/anniversary date, you should purchase the equivalent number of discounted Business Premium licenses. Your finance team needs to be aware that going forward, your payment method on record will be charged an annual renewal fee for ALL your Microsoft 365 Business Premium licenses. We recommend using the free licenses until about 2 weeks before your renewal date, then purchasing the equivalent number of licenses you need. Why pay for the new licenses early? Save your money until the free licenses are about to expire. _______________________________Start a conversation :) Register to attend a webinar in real time, and find all past transcripts at https://communityit.com/webinars/ email Carolyn at cwoodard@communityit.com on LinkedIn Thanks for listening.

Each year, we are so excited to recognize one of our customers as our CERTIFIED Educator of the Year during our annual CERTIFIED Educator Conference. We work with so many incredible educators, all of whom deserve recognition for their dedication and efforts. We're pleased to announce that Kim Kayser is our 2025 CERTIFIED Educator of the Year!  Kim has been teaching as well as learning technology with her students for fourteen years in Santa Rosa County, Florida. For the last ten of those years, she's been a career and technical educator, helping Woodlawn Beach Middle School students earn valuable, resume-building certifications in Microsoft Office, Entrepreneurship and Small Business, and Professional Communication. She loves being at the forefront of technology and always aims to keep classroom instruction engaging and relevant to prepare students for career and college readiness. In this episode, we talk with Kim about becoming the 2025 Educator of the Year, her pathway into teaching, and her approach to creating lasting relationships with her students. Inspiring and energizing, this is one episode you won't want to miss.  Learn more about Kim on our blog here.  You can also watch Kim in action (and hear from her students) in our CERTIFIED Educator of the Year video here.  Connect with educators like Kim in our CERTIFIED Educator Community here.  Don't miss your chance to register for our annual CERTIFIED Educator's Conference here.   

Henrico officials begin work on another stream restoration project; Weinstein JCC hires new CEO; a Henrico college student wins an award in a national Microsoft Office competition; Atlantic Union Bank expanding in Henrico.Support the show

Reed Albergotti is the technology editor at Semafor. He's back for our weekly discussion of the latest tech news. We cover 1) Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince says AI is disappearing the web 2) Will there be new business models that replace the current web-based models? 3) Is the AI Agent thing really happening? 4) Vibecoding riches 5) Court rules Anthropic can train on books (but not steal them) 6) Anthropic will study AI's economic impact 7) Is chatbot companionship good for us? Anthropic says yes 8) OpenAI works on office productivity tools 9) Why OpenAi and Microsoft have tension 10) Will Stargate work? 11) Mira Murati's Think Machines plan 12) Tesla Robotaxi Rollout 13) Jeff Bezos gets married, who's coming?? --- Enjoying Big Technology Podcast? Please rate us five stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ in your podcast app of choice. Want a discount for Big Technology on Substack? Here's 25% off for the first year: https://www.bigtechnology.com/subscribe?coupon=0843016b Questions? Feedback? Write to: bigtechnologypodcast@gmail.com

OpenAI, Google & Anthropic are all eating different parts of the business & creative worlds but where does that leave us? For only 25 cents, you too can sponsor a human in a world of AGI. In the big news this week, OpenAI's takes on Microsoft Office, Google's cutting the cost of AI coding with their new Google CLI (Command Line Interface) and dropped an on-device robotics platform. Oh, and Anthropic just won a massive lawsuit around AI training and fair use. Plus, Tesla's rocky rollout of their Robotaxis, Eleven Labs' new MCP-centric 11ai voice agent, Runway's Game Worlds, the best hacker in the world in now an AI bot AND Gavin defends AI slop. US HUMANS AIN'T GOING AWAY. UNLESS THE AI GIVES US ENDLESS TREATS.  #ai #ainews #openai Join the discord: https://discord.gg/muD2TYgC8f Join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/AIForHumansShow AI For Humans Newsletter: https://aiforhumans.beehiiv.com/ Follow us for more on X @AIForHumansShow Join our TikTok @aiforhumansshow To book us for speaking, please visit our website: https://www.aiforhumans.show/ // Show Links //   OpenAI Developing Microsoft Office / Google Workplace Competitor https://www.theinformation.com/articles/openai-quietly-designed-rival-google-workspace-microsoft-office?rc=c3oojq OpenAI io / trademark drama:  https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jun/23/openai-jony-ive-io-amid-trademark-iyo Sam's receipts from Jason Rugolo (founder of iYo the headphone company) https://x.com/sama/status/1937606794362388674 Google's OpenSource Comand Line Interface for Gemini is Free? https://blog.google/technology/developers/introducing-gemini-cli-open-source-ai-agent/ 1000 free Gemini Pro 2.5 requests per day https://x.com/OfficialLoganK/status/1937881962070364271 Anthropic's Big AI Legal Win  https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/anthropic-wins-key-ruling-ai-authors-copyright-lawsuit-2025-06-24/ More detail: https://x.com/AndrewCurran_/status/1937512454835306974 Gemini's On Device Robotics https://deepmind.google/discover/blog/gemini-robotics-on-device-brings-ai-to-local-robotic-devices/ AlphaGenome: an AI model to help scientists better understand our DNA https://x.com/GoogleDeepMind/status/1937873589170237738 Tesla Robotaxi Roll-out https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/23/tesla-robotaxi-incidents-caught-on-camera-in-austin-get-nhtsa-concern.html Kinda Scary Looking: https://x.com/binarybits/status/1936951664721719383 Random slamming of brakes: https://x.com/JustonBrazda/status/1937518919062856107 Mira Murati's Thinking Machines Raises $2B Seed Round https://thinkingmachines.ai/ https://www.theinformation.com/articles/ex-openai-cto-muratis-startup-plans-compete-openai-others?rc=c3oojq&shared=2c64512f9a1ab832 Eleven Labs 11ai Voice Assistant https://x.com/elevenlabsio/status/1937200086515097939 Voice Design for V3 JUST RELEASED: https://x.com/elevenlabsio/status/1937912222128238967 Runway's Game Worlds  https://x.com/c_valenzuelab/status/1937665391855120525 Example: https://x.com/aDimensionDoor/status/1937651875408675060 AI Dungeon https://aidungeon.com/ The Best Hacker in the US in now an autonomous AI bot https://www.pcmag.com/news/this-ai-is-outranking-humans-as-a-top-software-bug-hunter https://x.com/Xbow/status/1937512662859981116 Simple & Good AI Work Flow From AI Warper https://x.com/AIWarper/status/1936899718678008211 RealTime Natural Language Photo Editing https://x.com/zeke/status/1937267796146290952 Bunker J Squirrel https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTjc3hb38/ Bigfoot Sermons https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTjcEq17Y/ John Oliver's Episode about AI Slop https://youtu.be/TWpg1RmzAbc?si=LAdktGWlIVVDqAjR Jabba Kisses Han https://www.reddit.com/r/CursedAI/comments/1ljjdw3/what_the_hell_am_i_looking_at/  

It makes for a great headline saying that 16 billion passwords were leaked. Was this some new massive data breach? What should you do about it? We take a look. We've got plenty of other tech news, tips, and picks to get you caught up on this week so you can get out there and tech better! Watch on YouTube! - Notnerd.com and Notpicks.com INTRO (00:00) It's not just Prime Video: Max shows 50% more ads now (06:45) MAIN TOPIC: 16 Billion with a B Passwords Leaked (09:20) 16 Billion Apple, Facebook, Google And Other Passwords Leaked No, the 16 billion credentials leak is not a new data breach haveibeenpwned.com Please use passkeys, a password manager, and 2FA! DAVE'S PRO-TIP OF THE WEEK:  Schedule Text Message, Send Later on iOS (18:55) JUST THE HEADLINES: (25:35) Applebee's and IHOP plan to introduce AI in restaurants Axolotl discovery brings us closer than ever to regrowing human limbs A mathematician calculated the size of a giant meatball made of every human Scientists once hoarded pre-nuclear steel; now we're hoarding pre-AI content Record DDoS pummels site with once-unimaginable 7.3Tbps of junk traffic Iran bans officials from using internet-connected devices Scientists create 'world's smallest violin' TAKES: Introducing Oakley Meta Glasses, a New Category of Performance AI Glasses (28:30) macOS Tahoe beta drops FireWire support (36:05) Project Indigo - a computational photography camera app from Adobe (38:55) Why Denmark is dumping Microsoft Office and Windows for LibreOffice and Linux (43:30) BONUS ODD TAKE: Catleidoscope and Catcordian! (46:50) PICKS OF THE WEEK: Dave: Lytro Camera (48:45) Nate: Ryan Trahan YouTube Channel (56:40) RAMAZON PURCHASE - Giveaway! (01:03:35)

video: https://youtu.be/txJomfjAUqI In this episode of Destination Linux, we unpack Denmark's push for digital sovereignty as it swaps Microsoft Office 365 for LibreOffice, question Google's commitment to openness after Pixel-specific code goes missing from the latest Android 16 AOSP drop, and celebrate KDE Plasma 6.4's slew of polish-packed upgrades. Tune in for the big picture on open-source wins, setbacks, and standout releases ... all in one quick-hitting show. Forum Discussion Thread (https://destinationlinux.net/forum) Download as MP3 (https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/32f28071-0b08-4ea1-afcc-37af75bd83d6/37a9468e-5809-44e1-8510-e496533c93ce.mp3) Support the show by becoming a patron at tuxdigital.com/membership (https://tuxdigital.com/membership) or get some swag at tuxdigital.com/store (https://tuxdigital.com/store) Hosted by: Ryan (DasGeek) = dasgeek.net (https://dasgeek.net) Jill Bryant = jilllinuxgirl.com (https://jilllinuxgirl.com) Michael Tunnell = michaeltunnell.com (https://michaeltunnell.com) Chapters: 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:26 Community Feedback 00:04:37 Ryan Picks Arch (Again) 00:05:54 Ryan Is Okay, I Guess 00:06:25 Ricing Your System 00:10:00 Sandfly Security 00:13:57 Denmark Switches to LibreOffice 00:19:18 All Six Feet in the Water 00:20:19 Ryan Hates Centipedes 00:21:23 The DL Crew Loves Bees 00:22:41 Google Makes It's Android Open Source Less Accessible 00:32:28 Ryan Tries to Skip Michael's Topic 00:33:08 Ryan Makes Old Man References 00:34:14 KDE Plasma 6.4 Arrives 00:35:46 KDE Plasma 6.4: Flexible Tiling 00:38:34 KDE Fanboy Praises Plasma 00:39:05 KDE Plasma 6.4: HDR Calibration 00:40:30 Framwork has the crew excited 00:45:41 Drop the Extra 'S' 00:46:32 KDE Plasma 6.4: Spectacle Overhaul 00:47:49 KDE Plasma 6.4: System Monitoring 00:48:40 KDE Plasma 6.4: KRunner 00:50:29 KDE Plasma 6.4 Wrap Up 00:52:25 Tip of the Week: Viewing Logs in Linux 00:56:22 Support the Show 01:01:11 Outro 01:01:31 Post Show Links: Community Feedback https://destinationlinux.net/comments (https://destinationlinux.net/comments) https://destinationlinux.net/forum (https://destinationlinux.net/forum) Ryan Is Okay, I Guess https://store.tuxdigital.com/products/ryan-is-okay-i-guess-tee (https://store.tuxdigital.com/products/ryan-is-okay-i-guess-tee) Sandfly Security https://destinationlinux.net/sandfly (https://destinationlinux.net/sandfly) Denmark Switches to LibreOffice https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2025/06/denmark-government-replaces-microsoft-with-linux-libreoffice (https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2025/06/denmark-government-replaces-microsoft-with-linux-libreoffice) https://www.neowin.net/news/denmark-ditching-windows-and-office-for-linux-as-it-may-not-want-to-rely-on-microsoft-trump/ (https://www.neowin.net/news/denmark-ditching-windows-and-office-for-linux-as-it-may-not-want-to-rely-on-microsoft-trump/) Google Makes It's Android Open Source Less Accessible https://9to5google.com/2025/06/12/android-open-source-project-pixel-change/ (https://9to5google.com/2025/06/12/android-open-source-project-pixel-change/) KDE Plasma 6.4 https://kde.org/announcements/plasma/6/6.4.0/ (https://kde.org/announcements/plasma/6/6.4.0/) Tip of the Week: Viewing Logs in Linux https://destinationlinux.net/424 (https://destinationlinux.net/424) Support the Show https://tuxdigital.com/membership (https://tuxdigital.com/membership) https://store.tuxdigital.com/ (https://store.tuxdigital.com/)

EP 247. ... and in this update, Microsoft has updated Windows Hello to require both infrared and color cameras for facial authentication, improving security by addressing a spoofing vulnerability, though it now requires visible lighting. This increases biometric reliability and inconvenience to users in low-light settings. Consider exploring alternative operating systems like Linux for flexible authentication options. Aim Labs identified and helped patch 'EchoLeak,' a zero-click vulnerability in Microsoft 365 Copilot that risked data exfiltration via malicious emails, highlighting the need for stonking great AI guardrails.Denmark is shifting from Microsoft Office and Windows to LibreOffice and Linux to enhance digital sovereignty and reduce reliance on foreign technology, driven by security, economic, and geopolitical priorities.Chinese AI companies are bypassing U.S. chip export controls by processing data in third countries like Malaysia, using suitcases of hard drives to transport AI-training data.Mattel has teamed up with OpenAI to develop AI-enhanced toys, promising safe, engaging, and age-appropriate experiences, with the first product set to launch later this year.Apple's new passkey import/export feature, built on FIDO Alliance standards, enables secure credential transfers across platforms, boosting interoperability while maintaining biometric security.This advances user convenience and cross-ecosystem flexibility. Now you can adopt passkeys to streamline secure authentication across your devices and platforms. A data broker owned by major U.S. airlines sold passenger flight data to DHS, prompting privacy concerns as agencies track travel without disclosing data sources.WhatsApp will begin displaying ads in its Updates section, using limited user data like location for targeting, while preserving end-to-end encryption for chats and messages.INTERPOL's Operation Secure dismantled over 20,000 malicious IPs linked to 69 malware variants, arresting 32 suspects and seizing significant data to curb phishing and fraud.Find the full transcript for this podcast here.

Fonts might seem like a small detail, but in the classroom, they can make a big impact. Whether you're designing anchor charts, worksheets, slideshows, or decor, the right font can boost readability, student engagement, and your overall classroom vibe. In this episode, I'm sharing my go-to fonts from Google Fonts, Microsoft Office, Canva, and TPT - plus tips on how to use them effectively and where to find the best teacher-friendly options for your next project (or next school year!).Episode Highlights:My favorite Google FontsMy GO-TO font available through Microsoft OfficeCanva fonts that are perfect for classroom visualsWhere to find cute and clear fonts on TPTTips for choosing fonts that work with your content - not against itIf you've ever found yourself down a rabbit hole searching for the perfect font… this one's for you!Resources and LinksBlog Post - Episode 103https://ladybugsteacherfiles.com/how-to-find-new-google-fonts-fast/ https://thesouthernteach.com/blog/font-pairing-tips/ KG FontsAG FontsKA FontsLet's Connect!Listen/watch on YoutubeShop TPT ResourcesInstagramWebsiteJoin the Facebook GroupMentioned in this episode:Join the FREE Teacher Audio Summit!Join the free Teacher Summer Talks Audio Summit! This PD party takes place June 23-26, 2025! You can click my affiliate link below to sign up - it's easy as 1, 2, 3! https://thesouthernteach--secondstorywindow.thrivecart.com/teacher-summer-talks-2025-max-pass/

This show has been flagged as Clean by the host. In this episode, I discuss my ongoing project aimed at mapping the dependencies municipalities have on major third-party digital services, particularly focusing on Microsoft and Google , given their dominance in the market. The aim of this research isn't about debating the quality of these products—it's assumed that with thousands of employees, these services meet most quality expectations. Instead, the focus is on the critical implications of widespread dependency and potential risks related to service interruptions or supply chain attacks. Why is this important? Supply Chain Attacks : High dependency means higher vulnerability to targeted disruptions. Business Continuity : Significant risks were illustrated by incidents such as the CrowdStrike outage in July 2024 , which forced Brussels Airport back to pencil-and-paper operations temporarily. My Research Approach: Primarily, I analyze the DNS MX records of municipalities: MX records typically reveal if mail services are hosted on Microsoft (Office 365/Exchange Online) or Google (Workspace). A high probability that using these providers for email also means municipalities likely depend on the respective cloud office suite (e.g., Word/Excel/SharePoint or Docs/Sheets/Drive). Preliminary Observations: Belgium, Finland, Netherlands : Over 70% of municipalities rely heavily on Microsoft mail services, a significant warning sign of dependency. Germany, Hungary : Fewer than 5% of municipalities use Microsoft or Google explicitly via MX records, though caution is necessary. Here's why: Challenges Identified: Local MS Exchange Servers : Municipally hosted local installations aren't externally identifiable via MX records. Mail Proxies : Some municipalities use mail proxy services (spam/phishing filters) obscuring the actual mail service used behind proxy domains. Techniques Tested: SPF Records : Often reveal the underlying email service, though they may contain outdated information, lowering reliability. Telnet EHLO Commands : Municipalities commonly obscure their SMTP headers, limiting usefulness. Cloud Provider IP-Ranges : Investigating if mail servers run on Google, Amazon, or Azure infrastructure. Even if identified, this alone doesn't clarify if proprietary or replaceable services are used. TXT Records : Occasionally contain subscription keys or mail-related settings (e.g., MS subscriptions, Mailjet), but again, could be historical remnants. Unfortunately, none of these get to show me all of the third party services. Community Call: I'm reaching out to listeners and the broader community for ideas or techniques on reliably fingerprinting the actual digital service providers behind mail servers. Specifically: How to accurately determine if servers run Microsoft or Google services ? Any ideas to detect deployments of Nextcloud or similar open-source alternatives? Resources: Project Webpage : jurgen.gaeremyn.be/map.html Source Code : gitlab.com/jurgeng/mxcheck I'm looking forward to all your suggestions in the comments! Provide feedback on this episode.

No se crean que Microsoft va dar marcha atrás en dejar sin soporte a Windows 10, lo que va dejar de lado brindando soporte por 3 años más va ser a Microsoft Office 365, ademas; #Ciberseguridad – ¿Qué tan seguro es tu iPhone?; OpenAI podría construir centros de datos en los Emiratos Árabes Unidos; y como todos los días les solicitamos sus comentarios. #Ciberseguridad – ¿Qué tan seguro es tu iPhone? https://infosertecla.com/2025/05/14/ciberseguridad-que-tan-seguro-es-tu-iphone/ Valve confirma que la fuga de Steam es real https://www.xda-developers.com/valve-confirms-the-steam-breach-is-real/ Microsoft da marcha atrás con el fin de Office en Windows 10 https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365-apps/end-of-support/windows-10-support OpenAI podría construir centros de datos en los Emiratos Árabes Unidos https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-13/openai-weighs-uae-data-center-deal-as-trump-set-to-visit Los teléfonos y tabletas Galaxy recibirán una actualización estable de One UI 8 "este verano" https://www.sammobile.com/news/galaxy-phones-tablets-stable-one-ui-8-update-release-summer-2025/ El Galaxy A54 comienza a recibir la actualización de One UI 7 https://www.sammobile.com/news/galaxy-a54-one-ui-7-update-released-korea/ Samsung reemplazaría al Galaxy S26 Plus con el Galaxy S26 Edge https://www.smart-gsm.com/blog/samsung-reemplazaria-al-galaxy-s26-plus-con-el-galaxy-s26-edge/ Desde Newsan, se quejan por la baja de aranceles de productos importados https://t.me/radiogeekpodcast/26480 ESPERAMOS TUS COMENTARIOS...

In this episode, Gaurav begins his journey into mastering spreadsheets with Apple's free app,Numberson Mac.

Inläst: Tjänster som Microsoft Office och Google Drive kan bli olagliga att använda i EU – efter att Trump sparkat dataövervakare. ”Faller det, sker det direkt. Pang, boom”, säger experten Carl Heath. Lyssna på en artikel av Sara L Bränström.

Microsoft has its fingers in a lot of pots, but just how secure are said pots? On this episode, Corey is joined by Ann Johnson, Corporate Vice President and Deputy CISO of Microsoft's Customer Security Management Office. Ann talks about her 40-year professional journey and how it's culminated in her current role. Corey is known to “punch up” at the big guys in the tech industry, but he and Ann talk about the challenges of corporate leadership and being a public face in such a prominent company. Since it's 2025, of course, they're going to talk about AI's pros and cons (and why it shouldn't be used to make art).Show Highlights(0:00) Intro(0:51) The Duckbill Group sponsor read(1:25) What Ann's been up to since she and Corey last spoke (2:29) The makeup of Microsoft Security(4:28) The unique company culture at Microsoft(8:42) What's going on with Microsoft Azure(10:31) How Ann handles the immense pressure of working in Microsoft Security(14:13) The toxic nature of online criticism(19:57) The Duckbill Group sponsor read(20:24) The value of telling your leaders the truth(23:31) Ann's thoughts on the current state of AI(28:44) Properly defining what AI can and can't do(30:54) Why Ann helps fund multiple STEM scholarships(32:16) The need for the humanities alongside tech(33:38)  Where you can find more from Ann JohnsonAbout Ann JohnsonAnn Johnson is Corporate Vice President and Deputy CISO at Microsoft. In this role, Ann drives all external engagement for the Microsoft Office of the CISO. She is a long-tenured, recognized thought leader on cybersecurity, published author, and a sought-after global speaker and digital author specializing in cyber resilience, online fraud, cyberattacks, compliance, and security. Ann challenges traditional schools of thought and cyber-norms–from the way the tech industry tackles cyber threats to the language it uses to communicate–and encourages the industry to get outside its comfort zones and expand how it addresses the evolving threat landscape with the power of technology and people. As a global cybersecurity leader and strategist, she is looking ahead at how today's cybersecurity investments will impact tomorrow's cybersecurity reality.  Ann currently serves on the Board of Directors of N-Able, Human Security, Datavant, and is Member of the Board of Advisors for Cybersecurity Center of Excellence, WA and the Signal Cyber Museum Society. Ann is also an Executive Sponsor of the Microsoft Women in Cybersecurity Group.LinksAnn Johnson's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ann-johnsons/Microsoft Security: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/securityAfternoon Cyber Tea: afternooncybertea.comSponsorThe Duckbill Group: duckbillgroup.com

Tjänster som Microsoft Office och Google Drive kan bli olagliga att använda i EU – efter att Trump sparkat dataövervakare. ”Faller det, sker det direkt. Pang, boom”, säger experten Carl Heath.

At 15 months old, Darren fell off some stairs and sustained a huge brain injury. He shares his journey through life working in different jobs, with the brain injury he sustained and how he was healing it without even knowing what he was doing. 00:00 Introduction 01:22 Darren's story of brain injury13:00 Dad's therapy 17:31 One third of brain is dead23:49 Starting to learn about brain rewiring26:08 Shock from the Neurologist30:28 Back to school to inspire children36:36 Gratitude for the accident41:27 Tip to overcome brain injuryDarren's Bio "Empowering others through inspiration and hard work - that's Darren's motto!"Darren Jewell, is mind management coach who can help you maintain and even increase your cognitive abilities, a seasoned customer service expert, chef, plumber, and website developer with a passion for helping others grow. With over 35 years of experience, he mastered the art of communication, adaptability, and problem-solving. Darren thrives in fast-paced environments, always ready to take on new challenges. Darren's journey has taught him the value of resilience, empathy, and continuous learning.Darren had the privilege of working with diverse teams, from catering services to IT, and has honed his skills in:♦ Increasing brain cognitively♦ Customer service, cash handling, and conflict resolution.♦ Team leadership, training, and development.♦ Time management, prioritisation, and goal achievement.♦ IT skills, including Microsoft Office and website development.As an inspirational speaker based in London, UK, Darren shares his remarkable story to motivate others. At just 15 months old, he fell off a balcony and spent 3 weeks in a coma. Unbeknownst to him, one-third of my brain was dead from the accident. But here's the amazing part - 20 years later, routine scans showed no change... until he was put on furlough during the pandemic and he used that time to stimulate his brain. In 2021, another scan revealed that he had miraculously brought the dead area back to life by stimulating blood vessels to pump blood to the affected area!This experience has taught Darren the power of neuroplasticity and the importance of continuous learning. He is now dedicated to spreading the message that it's never too late to learn something new and make a positive impact on your life.With a strong foundation in mechanical engineering, he developed a unique problem-solving approach. His experience in stock management has shown him the value of efficiency and organisation. Darren has achieved:♦ 35+ years of customer service experience♦ 20+ years of leadership and team management♦ 10+ years of website development and IT skills♦ Successfully managed teams of up to 4 members♦ Consistently received positive feedback for excellent customer serviceWhen Darren is not working, you can find him keeping fit, cooking, or exploring new hobbies. Darren is always looking for ways to grow, learn, and connect with like-minded individuals. He is proud to be a member of The Complementary Medical Association and enjoys staying updated on industry trends.Contact Instagram https://instagram.com/darrentheinspirational speakerFacebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552509590094Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/darren-jewell-96178054/

WhatsApp vulnerability could facilitate remote code execution Spyware targeting Chinese diaspora Microsoft Patches 125 Windows Vulns, Including Exploited CLFS Zero-Day Thanks to our episode sponsor, Nudge Security Nudge Security provides advanced security posture management for Okta, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and other critical apps. With Nudge, you'll be alerted of risks like weak or missing MFA, inactive admin accounts, and risky integrations, plus you can automate remediation tasks and on-going identity governance. Start a free 14-day trial today  

To celebrate Women in Tech Day, Tessa Burg is joined by Elli Dimitroulakos, Head of Ad Product and Innovation at Media.net. As a trailblazer in the ad tech industry, Elli shares her journey through transformative roles in media, TV, DSPs, broadcasting, publishing and podcasting.  She discusses how embracing change and fostering cultures of innovation have fueled her success, even when faced with resistance. Elli's insights into balancing human-driven innovation with data-backed decisions offer practical strategies for leaders navigating today's fast-evolving tech landscape. Listen in as Elli explains how Media.net is revolutionizing ad tech by bridging the gap between publishers and advertisers, using search intent data to deliver more efficient and personalized targeting.  From overcoming resistance to change to fostering diverse thinking and leveraging AI for better collaboration, this episode is packed with actionable insights for anyone looking to lead through innovation.  Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.  About Elli Dimitroulakos: Elli Dimitroulakos, based in New York, NY, is currently the Head of Ad Product Strategy and Innovation at Media.net. Elli Dimitroulakos brings experience from previous roles at Delphi Global Media, IAB, Acast Ab and Chief. Elli holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Management, Business Administration and Management at American College of Greece. She has a robust skillset that includes Microsoft Office, Project Management, Marketing, Accounting, Advertising and more.  About Tessa Burg: Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.  

In this episode of 20 Minute Tech Tips, Liz and Rachel introduce exciting new enhancements to FSCompanion—Freedom Scientific's AI-powered learning tool for JAWS, ZoomText, and Fusion. Learn how to open FSCompanion using Voice Assistant and how to ask questions with your voice using the new Dictate button. Whether you're brushing up on keyboard commands or navigating Microsoft Office apps, FSCompanion makes learning more accessible than ever. Plus, hear about the new Insert J Club and upcoming events!

Microsoft Office ingyenes változatáért is fizetni kell majd? Fizetős lesz a windows jegyzettömb is? -- Microsoft Office ingyenes változatáért is fizetni kell majd? https://www.hwsw.hu/hirek/68798/microsoft-office-365-elofizetes-ingyenes.html Fizetős lesz a windows jegyzettömb is? https://pcforum.hu/hirek/28939/windows-jegyzettomb-atiras-funkcio-fizetosseg-valik-atfogalmazas-ai-kredit Az említett Copy Con zenekar műveit itt hallgathatjátok meg: spotify, youtube // Résztvevők: Gyuri róka Kövess minket máshol is!: Medium.com - https://medium.com/shiwaforce Facebook csoportunk- https://www.facebook.com/groups/devtales X - https://twitter.com/_devtales YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@devtalespodcast7365 Slack - https://devtalespodcast.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-dcvcwmfr-D2rDNGgNR5FdKiPA5VR7Wg Email - devtales@shiwaforce.com

News and Updates: Facebook will start deleting Live videos after 30 days HP halts the 15 minute wait to talk to customer service Gmail switching to QR Codes and Authentication App instead of SMS Chrome updated the Extensions Software and killed off a lot of extensions, including uBlock YouTube launches Premium Lite in US to be ad free for $7.99/month Microsoft testing a free version of Office with ads Microsoft will end Skype in May 2025

What is the future of document generation in 2025, and how should businesses navigate the risks of AI? In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I sit down with Christian Lund, co-founder of Templafy, to explore how AI-powered document automation is reshaping productivity, compliance, and security in modern enterprises. As companies push for greater efficiency, many are adopting AI tools to streamline workflows. But AI's effectiveness depends heavily on context—and context is something you can't always rely on users to provide. Christian shares why most people approach AI like a search engine, entering a handful of keywords and expecting the right results. But would you brief a colleague with just a few disjointed words? Better briefs lead to better outputs, whether you're working with humans or AI.  This is where Templafy steps in, delivering AI-powered document generation solutions that integrate seamlessly with platforms like Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and Salesforce. Trusted by over 800 enterprises, including KPMG, BDO, and Adobe, Templafy automates document creation while maintaining compliance and brand consistency—saving employees up to 30 days per year. We also dive into why the best automation happens when humans are less involved. Far from sidelining human input, this approach reduces compliance risks and frees employees to focus on high-value work that drives business growth. Christian explains how Templafy orchestrates AI models, data sources, and workflows to ensure optimal outcomes, from sales collateral to RFP responses. Plus, we explore future trends, including AI agents and stronger orchestration that allows businesses to stay in control of AI-powered processes. How can businesses balance the push for faster workflows with the need for secure, compliant documents? And what role will AI agents play in tomorrow's document generation landscape? Tune in to discover how Templafy is paving the way for smarter, safer automation.

I cover several developments in GenAI including from OpenAI, Google and Anthropic. I also cover a fix Microsoft is working on for issues with SSH connections, changes to Docker and a free version of Microsoft Office plus more! Reference Links: https://www.rorymon.com/blog/free-version-of-office-big-changes-for-docker-latest-ai-developments/

In this episode of the Inner Edison Podcast, host Ed Parcaut welcomes Calvin Correli, a seasoned entrepreneur with a fascinating journey that started when he sold his first piece of software at just 12 years old. Calvin shares insights into his upbringing in Denmark, his early introduction to the world of software, and how his entrepreneurial spirit was nurtured from a young age. As the conversation unfolds, Calvin discusses key transformational moments in his life, such as his personal development phase and spiritual awakening, which led to the integration of spirituality with entrepreneurship—a unique path he has been paving for over 16 years. The discussion delves deep into Calvin's creation of Simplero, an all-in-one software solution designed to streamline operations for coaches and entrepreneurs by integrating billing, email marketing, website building, and more into a single platform. Calvin's story is a testament to the power of combining personal growth with professional endeavors, and how successfully navigating these areas can lead to innovative creations and impactful personal achievements. Ed and Calvin also explore broader themes such as the evolution of technology, overcoming personal challenges, and the importance of mindset in achieving entrepreneurial success. Calvin's journey emphasizes how every experience, whether a triumph or a trial, contributes significantly to personal and business development. This episode is particularly insightful for those interested in entrepreneurship, technology evolution, and the fusion of personal and professional growth. **Contact Ed Parcaut:** -

This week Noah gives an update on EndlessOS and why it might be the default go-to operating system for new users. Ai scams are getting worse, and the Ashi lead dev stepped down. -- During The Show -- 00:50 EndlessOS Customized Gnome Installer Doesn't allow the user to hurt themselves Intuitive interface Remote Desktop RDP Reasonably Secure Last OS left on a computer 12:09 News Wire Thunderbird 135 - thunderbird.net (https://www.thunderbird.net/en-US/thunderbird/135.0/releasenotes/) Firefox - mozilla.org (https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/135.0/releasenotes/) Curl 8.12 - curl.se (https://curl.se/ch/) Sysvinit 3.14 - github.com (https://github.com/slicer69/sysvinit/releases) MKVtoolNix v90 - bunkus.org (https://www.bunkus.org/2025/02/2025-02-08-mkvtoolnix-v90-0-released/) Calibre 7.25 - calibre-ebook.com (https://calibre-ebook.com/whats-new) LibreOffice 25.2 - wiki.documentfoundation.org (https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/ReleaseNotes/25.2) Ardor 8.11 - ardour.org (https://ardour.org/whatsnew.html) Tails 6.12 - torproject.org (https://blog.torproject.org/new-release-tails-6-12/) Porteux 1.9 - github.com (https://github.com/porteux/porteux/releases) Slackware based Porteux has released version 1.9 ELF/Sshdinjector.A!tr - csoonline.com (https://www.csoonline.com/article/3816998/new-trojan-hijacks-linux-and-iot-devices.html) CISA Orders Federal Agencies to Fix Flaw - bleepingcomputer.com (https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/cisa-orders-agencies-to-patch-linux-kernel-bug-exploited-in-attacks/) Beelzebub - helpnetsecurity.com (https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2025/02/10/beelzebub-open-source-honeypot-framework/) OpenEuroLLM - infoq.com (https://www.infoq.com/news/2025/02/open-euro-llm/) Reasoning Model s1 - ceotodaymagazine.com (https://www.ceotodaymagazine.com/2025/02/open-source-ai-model-s1-developed-for-less-than-50-challenges-industry-norms/) 14:32 AI Makes Scams Worse AI being used to get hired, to steal information Video interviews are glitchy and odd Answers to questions are right out of OpenAI and ChatGPT Problem will get worse before it gets better Companies will respond by not hiring remotely The Register (https://www.theregister.com/2025/02/11/it_worker_scam/) 24:28 AI Safety Competition heating up Need to foster AI, not restrict it Open Source AI China isn't going to back down Are we out of our depth with AI? Can't put the gene back in the bottle 34:40 Microsoft Office 365 Co-Pilot Users must act or pay more 2025 version of Clippy Microsoft is getting more aggressive Imagine if everything was "opt out" Can only opt out by "canceling subscription" Misleading marketing Non-CoPilot plans only available for a limited time 43:07 Ashi Linux Dev Steps down Still plans to contribute Ashi Linux is important Apple removed barriers to run Linux Linux worked pretty well on Intel Macs T2 Chip T2Linux New Apple chip Phoronix (https://www.phoronix.com/news/Asahi-Linux-Lead-No-Upstream) 51:30 Lossless-cut Avidemux (https://avidemux.sourceforge.net/) Lossless-cut (https://github.com/mifi/lossless-cut) -- The Extra Credit Section -- For links to the articles and material referenced in this week's episode check out this week's page from our podcast dashboard! This Episode's Podcast Dashboard (http://podcast.asknoahshow.com/427) Phone Systems for Ask Noah provided by Voxtelesys (http://www.voxtelesys.com/asknoah) Join us in our dedicated chatroom #GeekLab:linuxdelta.com on Matrix (https://element.linuxdelta.com/#/room/#geeklab:linuxdelta.com) -- Stay In Touch -- Find all the resources for this show on the Ask Noah Dashboard Ask Noah Dashboard (http://www.asknoahshow.com) Need more help than a radio show can offer? Altispeed provides commercial IT services and they're excited to offer you a great deal for listening to the Ask Noah Show. Call today and ask about the discount for listeners of the Ask Noah Show! Altispeed Technologies (http://www.altispeed.com/) Contact Noah live [at] asknoahshow.com -- Twitter -- Noah - Kernellinux (https://twitter.com/kernellinux) Ask Noah Show (https://twitter.com/asknoahshow) Altispeed Technologies (https://twitter.com/altispeed)

There's an easy way to turn off Copilot in some Office apps. Others require a harder way.

What is the secret to consistently producing content? Damien Schreurs shares his tips. Technology Mentor, Macpreneur Podcast Host, Explainer-in-Chief of EastTECH, providing IT Training, Coaching on Apple products, Microsoft Office, Cyber Securuty, and AI. https://macpreneur.com/tips https://www.linkedin.com/in/dschreurs

This episode is sponsored by Netsuite by Oracle, the number one cloud financial system, streamlining accounting, financial management, inventory, HR, and more. NetSuite is offering a one-of-a-kind flexible financing program. Head to  https://netsuite.com/EYEONAI to know more.     In this episode of Eye on AI, Vall Herard, CEO of Saifr.ai, joins Craig Smith to explore how AI is transforming compliance in financial services.   Saifr.ai acts as a "grammar check" for regulatory compliance, ensuring AI-generated content meets SEC, FINRA, and global financial regulations. Vall explains how Saifr integrates into Microsoft Word, Outlook, and Adobe, reducing compliance risks in marketing, emails, and AI chatbots.   We also discuss Saifr.ai's partnership with Microsoft, AI's role in regulated industries, and how businesses can safely adopt generative AI without violating compliance laws. - How does AI reduce compliance friction? - Why is regulatory oversight a barrier to AI adoption? - What does AI safety really mean for financial services? Find out in this deep dive into AI, compliance, and the future of regulation. Like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell for more AI insights!   Strengthen your compliance controls with AI: https://saifr.ai/   Stay Updated: Craig Smith Twitter: https://twitter.com/craigss Eye on A.I. Twitter: https://twitter.com/EyeOn_AI (00:00) Introduction to Generative AI and Compliance   (02:47) Meet Vall Herard, CEO of Saifr.ai   (05:28) What Saifr.ai Does and Its Mission   (08:25) How Saifr.ai Ensures Regulatory Compliance   (12:13) Overcoming AI Adoption Barriers in Finance   (19:58) Saifr.ai's Partnership with Microsoft   (24:11) How SaferAI Integrates with Microsoft Office   (29:33) AI in Podcast and Audio Compliance Review   (33:54) Saifr.ai's Business Model and Pricing   (38:09) How Saifr.ai Works with Generative AI Chatbots   (42:36) Supporting Multiple Languages for Compliance   (50:08) Future Outlook

Preena Shroff, a third-year student at Northwestern, hosts the “Weinberg in the World” podcast and interviews Joel Meek, a 2001 graduate. Joel, who recently served as VP of finance and operations at Reddit, discusses how his studies in economics and mathematical methods shaped his career. He emphasizes the value of a broad education, mentioning impactful classes in astronomy, psychology, and Japanese. Preena and Joel highlight how Northwestern's interdisciplinary approach teaches students to think critically and approach problems creatively. Transcript: Preena Shroff: Welcome to Weinberg in the World podcast where we bring stories of interdisciplinary thinking in today's complex world. My name is Preena Shroff, and I'm your student host of this special Weinberg in the World episode. I'm a third year student majoring in neuroscience and global health with a minor in data science, and today I have the pleasure of speaking with Joel Meek, who graduated from Weinberg College in 2001 with a bachelor of arts in economics and mathematical methods in the social sciences. Joel most recently was the VP of finance and operations at Reddit, a community platform where users submit content and share advice for other members. Throughout his technology career, Joel has led functions across sales, operations, business development and finance. Joel, thank you so much for being here with us today. Joel Meek: Very excited to be here. Thanks for having me. Preena Shroff: We are so excited to learn about your work in technology, but would love to start out with how your career path was shaped by your time at Northwestern. So maybe if you can tell us more about your undergraduate experience. What were some impactful classes, extracurriculars or maybe even mentorship experiences that you had, which impacted your postgraduate career? Joel Meek: Of course. Yeah, so I think as you mentioned, my major at Northwestern was economics and mathematical methods in the social sciences. I'll start with the economics. Actually, it was really helpful for me in studying both macro and microeconomics to just get a broad view of how the economy works. How does things like the money supply affect inflation, employment, GDP growth? Why are some industries more fragmented than others like the restaurant industry or why are some products more price sensitive than others? I can't say that I use sort of economic theory directly in my day-to-day career, but it definitely shaped my perspective when thinking about different business challenges in my business career. And then with mathematical methods in social sciences, this is really a very data centric major where you're looking to apply your knowledge of math to a social science. And so actually my senior year I did a thesis that was similar to the movie Moneyball with Brad Pitt and I looked at which baseball players yielded the best bang for the buck. So really bringing that sort of background to the business world and being able to break down problems was really helpful. And then I think last, just being part of the College of Arts and Sciences, it was awesome to really just get a broad exposure to a wide array of topics. I still remember taking my astronomy class and just learning about the universe and how it was formed or taking a psychology class, which has helped me better understand the inner workings of the mind and how people work. And I took Japanese, which eventually led me to go living in Japan for a year after college. So I think in total, when I really think back about Northwestern, it was building that curiosity and that love of learning that's really helped me take on new challenges once I graduated. Preena Shroff: Wow. Yeah. Thank you. And I think something that a lot of students here at Northwestern maybe aren't able to experience just yet but kind of have an idea is that these classes are teaching students how to think as opposed to exactly what you're going to require in your career. It's more about how to approach problems and how to develop from that. So thank you for sharing that. Joel Meek: Of course. Preena Shroff: So now moving forward a little bit beyond Northwestern, what led you on your career path? So which skills would that be, interactions or experiences that you were able to build up that have been critical in your field today? Joel Meek: Yeah, so when I graduated Northwestern, I honestly didn't really know. I knew I wanted to do business, but I didn't really know what type of business I wanted to do. So I ended up choosing banking and consulting as my first two jobs out of college. And it was actually a really good first couple jobs to do out of college because you really get a 30,000-foot view of the business world. I got to work across a ton of different industries and work on a ton of different problems, and I learned a lot about myself. I learned that I really liked numbers and finance, but I wasn't really into the 80-hour weeks of the finance world. In consulting I loved the business problem solving of consulting, but I really wanted to be the decision maker actually owning the decisions. And so I ended up transitioning into technology, which was really exciting because all the innovation that was happening, and I moved into more of an operator role, which I ended up doing for the past 16, 17 years in technology. I think the skill that was probably most important that I got from Northwestern that I was able to apply to my career was really just, I mean you mentioned it, just problem solving. In the technology space in particular, things are moving very quickly and often there is not a blueprint for how to solve a problem because it maybe hasn't been solved before. I can think of a time when I was at Pinterest and we had millions of users on the site and we had a challenge with a lot of spammy content on the site, people that were trying to get click baited into clicking through the links and then trying to take advantage of people. And so we only had a small team because Pinterest was, when I joined, was still less than a hundred people, and we had to figure out how to clean up this site that had millions of users so that they didn't have a bad experience. So there was really no playbook for how to do that, and you just had to really approach the problem from first principles and break it down. And I think that building that skill set through really helped me later on in my career. Preena Shroff: Yeah, absolutely. And I think actually I wanted to ask you for a follow-up on your discussion about that pivot point from investment banking into the tech industry. I know students nowadays go in with a mindset of whichever career they're looking to get into, they want to make sure they're very well-prepared beforehand. And sometimes I guess a pivot isn't something you can always plan for. My question is, do you think a student today who might encounter this sort of pivot or maybe is trying to plan one thing and ends up might changing? Do you think it's still possible to have that kind of career switch today? Or what advice would you give to a student who's maybe unsure about that decision? Joel Meek: You can definitely make career switches. I probably made four or five career switches in my career from right out of college. I was in banking, then I went to consulting. I ended up jumping to work for Google where I worked in their Google cloud division when cloud computing was taking hold in an operational role. And then my boss gave me an opportunity to move into sales, and then I jumped into some startups. I went to Pinterest, I went to Reddit, eventually ended up running finance at Reddit, was my last job. I would say that if I think about just my path, I would do a lot of moonlighting. I would do a lot of just researching the place where I wanted to go or the new function I wanted to go into. I would meet with people, I would just try to be a sponge and soak things up as much as possible. And what I learned was that it can be difficult to make a career switch, because people will look at your background and say, "Well, how are you relevant for this job?" But what I learned is it only takes one. You only need one person to be willing to give you a chance. And I was fortunate to have a few moments in my career where someone was willing to take a chance on me, and then it's up to you to prove that you can do it. So I definitely would not hesitate if you're interested in making a career change. Just go for it. Just start learning as much as you can about that path that you want to go. Eventually, if you keep trying, you'll get there. Preena Shroff: Yeah, thank you. That's great advice. And I know you brought up Pinterest and Google. I actually wanted to ask you, having been closely involved with building up a developing company or at least a department within each of these last three companies, Google, Pinterest, and Reddit, how do you manage conflicting priorities between growth and sustainability? So by that I mean just company growth and also making sure it's economically stable, everything's on track. Joel Meek: Yeah, it's a great question. I think it's really going to be very company dependent, and it's also probably going to be dependent upon the stage of the industry in which the company operates in. I can start off with Google. I joined in 2007, and this is when cloud computing was the buzzword. Before that everyone was using Microsoft Office, Windows, Excel, PowerPoint on a desktop, and we were providing that all in the cloud at a much more affordable price. And we knew we had a critical window where we could get market share. And so really the focus was really on, at that point, growth. We had our eye on profitability and sustainability always, but really we felt like this was important enough for Google as a company that we wanted to grab market share. When I was at Pinterest, I joined in 2012. Again, it was about less than a hundred people at the time, the giants were Facebook and Twitter, and they had many more users, a lot more employees, a lot more capital. And we knew, again, we had a short window to get market share. And so our focus was really on growing our users and growing our revenue. We had our eye on the unit economics and we wanted to make sure that we could get there and we knew we did, but we were willing to pull forward some investment and be less profitable in the short term to get growth in the longer term. And I'd say the same thing was true at my experience at Reddit as well. So in all three of my experiences, it was really around growth in the short term and then flipping the profitability in the long term. Preena Shroff: Okay. Yeah, for sure. And thinking about how would you make that kind of decision? What about a company and where it is in development lets you decide between profit and making that shift? Joel Meek: Yeah, I think it's going to be a function of the industry that you're in. What is the competitive landscape look like and how important is scale? And we knew that it was only going to be a handful of players in this cloud computing space really serving these wholesale applications like email, docs and calendar. And so it was our moment to really sort be that option that people went to, and then if we didn't, someone else was going to go there first. So I think in other industries, maybe it's more fragmented, maybe there's less competition. Maybe you have a competitive advantage over the competition where you're able to charge more and you can focus a little bit more on profitability. But it's just going to be, I think, specific to each company and industry that they're in. Preena Shroff: Is there any job that you've felt gave you a full circle moment back to your time at Northwestern? Maybe any experiences like that? Joel Meek: Yeah. When I was at Google, one of the first things I was asked to do is to help bring Gmail calendar, Google Docs to the universities throughout the United States. Preena Shroff: Oh, wow. Joel Meek: And so we were looking for a few brave souls to be some of our initial customers. And actually Northwestern was one, I think maybe the first university, if not one of the first five universities to use Gmail calendar and Docs. I remember we had a whole campaign to get the students motivated to switch over. We called it Kid on the Bus and we painted a school bus and we drove it to Evanston and I sat, I think in front of the Rock, it was handing out flyers to tell people all about Gmail calendar and docs. Credit to Northwestern. They were pioneers in adopting new technology. And that was a really cool full circle moment to bring that stuff that I was passionate about back to the campus. Preena Shroff: That's a great memory. And I know you mentioned earlier that you wanted to get or be more of the decision maker in your role. And so I was wondering, since Northwestern from graduating from Northwestern to all the way to today, how has your leadership style evolved over time, whether it be decision making or just working in a group setting? Joel Meek: So directly out of college, I think I was much more of an informal leader. I was an individual contributor. So it was more about leading through example, working hard, being a part of a team, prioritizing integrity in everything that I did. It wasn't really until I entered the tech industry that I became more of a formal leader. I was actually quite fortunate. The division in Google I joined was led by Sheryl Sandberg, who later became the chief operating officer at Facebook. And she placed a really high premium on attracting talented leaders as well as investing in leadership training for junior managers like myself. So it was really valuable. I got frameworks around how do you hire A players, how do you organize and structure your team? How do you set strategy and goals? How do you execute? How do you run one-on-ones, deliver feedback, how do you promote, how do you fire people? I didn't know any of that. And I got a really good education in my first job in technology at Google. And then through that, I over time learned what kind of leader I was. I learned about what I was good at, and actually I learned about what I was not good at. And from there I learned to play to my strengths and then build a team around me where I was weaker. For example, I was always really good at structuring problems and creating process for us to scale things to really, really large numbers. But I wasn't the most creative person in the world, so I'd always make sure there was people on my team that would be able to bring new ideas. I think it's really when I understood who I was as a leader and what I was good at, that's when I was actually most successful in my career. Preena Shroff: And I think it's really incredible that you've been able to find so many mentors along the way. And even within Northwestern, I know students are always seeking mentorship, whether that be from alumni, their professors, anyone in the industry they're interested in. Do you have any advice for finding mentorship or is it something you seek out or something that can just develop over time? Joel Meek: Whenever I was choosing a new job, whether it was in banking or in technology at Google, Pinterest or Reddit, I was not just looking at the job I was going to be taking, but I was looking at who I'd be working for because your boss is someone you're going to spend a lot of time with. And I was very fortunate to have a few really great bosses across my time at specifically Google, Pinterest, and Reddit. And I learned a ton from them, and it really shaped who I was as a leader. So I would just say as you're jumping into the working world, have a really focused eye for who your boss is going to be. Make sure that you gel with that person. Make sure you think about, "Okay, what can I learn from this person? How can I grow with that person?" That will be almost as important as the job that you pick. Preena Shroff: Okay. Yeah, for sure. And then taking a pivot here, I guess for those of our listeners who are interested in working in the tech industry, what is the common misconception about working in the industry that you would like to debunk? Joel Meek: Maybe a common misperception is that either it's like everyone's working on the next big thing or everyone's going to get rich quick. The reality is that even for the next big thing, there is a lot of very routine day-to-day mundane stuff that's required to make that happen. And it ends up adding up to something amazing, but it's just like every other job, there's going to be that methodical day-to-day work that you got to do. And then in getting rich quick, most companies, most startups don't succeed just statistically speaking. And so I think it's an amazing experience. It's where I've pursued most of my career, but I think if you're doing it just for the money alone, it's probably not going to work out. You got to really just love technology and love being a part of that startup culture. I think that's going to probably breed more success than just going there to try to make money. Preena Shroff: Yes, for sure. That's great advice. And then I actually have one more question and then I might do some follow-ups based on everything. But I guess in terms of career overall, are there any obstacles or challenges that you've overcome? I remember you mentioned in Pinterest there was difficulty dealing with scammers or something like that. So anything like that, like a challenge, an obstacle, and then did your time at Northwestern impact your approach to solving this problem? Joel Meek: Yeah, honestly, I would speak to my career. I think the biggest obstacle really was just getting doors opened. And I still remember at Northwestern, applying for those, for example, banking and consulting jobs. Thankfully there was an amazing career center at Northwestern, but I think I ended up doing 30 to 40 interviews. And I can't say that my success rate was good, but it only takes one. And thankfully I was able to get the job that I eventually took and had a good experience from that. So I would just say be very entrepreneurial and opportunistic about going for the thing that you really want. And I think building up an ability to take rejection is actually a really important skill because I probably was rejected way more times than I was accepted to things. But what I found was whatever the next thing I wanted to do in my career is that as long as I kept swinging, eventually a door would open and I'd be able to jump through it and have success. Preena Shroff: Yeah, it seems like a theme. Only one door, only one person, and then you can get to where you are. Joel Meek: Exactly. Preena Shroff: Yeah. No, that's really great, and this is really insightful and super helpful I'm sure to all the students who are a little bit nervous about starting their careers as I am in my third year, just kind of looking towards the future. It's very daunting just to be like, "It's about to happen now." So it was really nice speaking with you about that. Joel Meek: Thank you. It was really nice talking with you as well. Preena Shroff: Thanks so much for joining us today. Have a wonderful day, everyone. Thank you for tuning in to this episode of Weinberg in the World.  

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 1585: Nir Eyal explores how Microsoft Office built a strong user habit using his "Hooked Model" but now faces threats from competitors like Google Docs. As interfaces evolve and new generations adopt different tools, even the most ingrained habits can be disrupted proving that no product is immune to change. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.nirandfar.com/2015/01/loyaltylimits.html Quotes to ponder: "I'll never quit Microsoft Office. It does too much for me to leave it." "The power of the Office hook depends on getting new users to invest in the product by learning the software, creating documents, and eventually paying for it." "Whenever the interface people use to access a technology changes such as the shift we see now from desktop to mobile the deck of user habits is reshuffled." Episode references: Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products: https://www.amazon.com/Hooked-How-Build-Habit-Forming-Products/dp/1591847788 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The team discusses the disruptive emergence of China's open-source DeepSeek AI engine, steep price hikes for Microsoft Office and Amazon's vision for drones over Darlington. Our Hot Hardware candidate is the Toybox, a user-friendly 3D printer aimed at kids.

In this episode, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece discuss the recent price increase of Microsoft 365 and the implications of AI integration into the service. They explore the confusion surrounding subscription models, alternatives to Microsoft Office, and the challenges of using email clients. The conversation also delves into smart home technology with special guest Gregg Hayes.Listener and friend of the show Gregg joins Steven and Shaun to discuss the evolution of smart home technology, the transition to ARM computers, and the challenges posed by legacy software. They explore the implications of these changes for consumers and the tech industry, emphasizing the need for better user experiences and the potential of new technologies. The discussion also touches on the frustrations with existing software interfaces on Windows, particularly File Explorer, and the importance of adapting to new innovations while managing legacy systems.Get in touch with Double Tap by emailing us feedback@doubletaponair.com or by call 1-877-803-4567 and leave us a voicemail. You can also now contact us via Whatsapp on 1-613-481-0144 or visit doubletaponair.com/whatsapp to connect. We are also across social media including X, Mastodon and Facebook. Double Tap is available daily on AMI-audio across Canada, on podcast worldwide and now on YouTube.Chapter Markers:00:00 Intro02:49 Exploring AI Integration in Microsoft 365 & Price Increases06:12 Understanding Subscription Models and Alternatives09:03 The Confusion of Email Clients and Services11:54 Smart Home Technology and Thermostat Challenges15:12 The Future of Smart Home Integration with Matter28:54 The Evolution of Smart Home Technology34:48 Exploring ARM Computers and Their Impact41:30 The Transition to ARM: Challenges and Opportunities52:43 Navigating Legacy Software and Future Innovations54:35 File Explorer: A User Experience Discussion

In this episode, Kai-Fu and Peter discuss 01.AI's growth, Chinese entrepreneurship, and how open-source AI can impact the world.   Recorded on Oct 19th, 2024 Views are my own thoughts; not Financial, Medical, or Legal Advice. Kai-Fu Lee is the Chairman and CEO of Sinovation Ventures, a venture capital firm he founded in 2009 that manages over $2 billion in assets and focuses on fostering the next generation of Chinese high-tech companies. In 2023, Lee launched 01.AI, a startup that built AI applications tailored for China, including Wanzhi, a productivity assistant similar to Microsoft Office 365 Copilot. As a leading figure in artificial intelligence, Lee continues to shape the tech landscape in China, where he recently noted that Chinese AI models are only 6 to 9 months behind their U.S. counterparts. He has authored influential books such as AI Superpowers (2018) and AI 2041 (2021) and was named one of Time Magazine's 100 most influential people in 2013. Earlier in his career, Lee held prominent positions in tech, including Vice President at Google, President of Google China (2005-2009), and Corporate Vice President at Microsoft (2000- 2005). He also founded and led Microsoft Research Asia from 1998 to 2000. Lee remains a highly respected thought leader in AI and continues to drive innovation in the field. Beago: https://www.beago.ai/  01.AI: https://www.01.ai/  Kai-Fu's X: https://x.com/kaifulee  Kai-Fu's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaifulee/  Pre-Order my Longevity Guidebook here: https://longevityguidebook.com/  ____________ I only endorse products and services I personally use. To see what they are, please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:  Get started with Fountain Life and become the CEO of your health: https://fountainlife.com/peter/ AI-powered precision diagnosis you NEED for a healthy gut: https://www.viome.com/peter  Get 15% off OneSkin with the code PETER at  https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod Get real-time feedback on how diet impacts your health with https://join.levelshealth.com/peter/ _____________ I send weekly emails with the latest insights and trends on today's and tomorrow's exponential technologies. Stay ahead of the curve, and sign up now:  Blog _____________ Connect With Peter: Twitter Instagram Youtube Moonshots

Some of the world's best creative tools are deeply discounted - and sometimes even free - for churches and non-profits. But how do you access these discounts and what are the eligibility requirements? Today, we've compiled a list of the top 20 free and discounted software platforms and creative tools for churches and non-profits.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 1:46 - Resolve 3:39 - Nucleus Free Website Makeovers 5:29 - Canva For Non-Profits 8:04 - Blackmagic Camera App 9:23 - iPhone Camera App 10:17 - Adobe Creative Cloud 13:50 - Quickbooks 14:30 - Microsoft Office 14:56 - Zoom 15:49 - Google Ad Grant 16:13 - Google Workspace 17:20 - Calendly 18:11 - Buffer 18:40 - Vista Social & Bonfire 19:15 - Miro 19:32 - 1Password 22:35 - Trello 23:00 - ClickUp 24:08 - Notion 24:20 - Dropbox 24:42 - Auphonic   IMPORTANT LINKS - Resolve: https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/ca/products/davinciresolve - Nucleus Free Website Makeovers: https://www.nucleus.church/makeovers - Canva For Non-Profits: https://www.canva.com/canva-for-nonprofits/ - Blackmagic Camera App: https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/ca/products/blackmagiccamera - Adobe Creative Cloud: https://www.techsoup.org/adobe  - Quickbooks: https://www.techsoup.org/intuit  - Microsoft Office: https://www.techsoup.org/microsoft  - Zoom: https://www.techsoup.org/zoom  - Google Ad Grants: https://www.google.ca/grants/ - Google Workspace: https://www.google.com/nonprofits/offerings/workspace/  - Calendly: email support@calendly.com - Buffer: https://buffer.com/nonprofits - Vista Social: https://vistasocial.com/nonprofits/ - Bonfire: https://www.bonfire.com/fundraising/nonprofits/  - Miro: https://miro.com/npo/ - 1Password: https://1password.com/for-non-profits/ - Trello: https://www.atlassian.com/licensing/purchase-licensing#pricing-discounts  - ClickUp: https://clickup.com/teams/non-profit  - Notion: https://www.notion.so/nonprofits  - Dropbox: https://www.techsoup.org/dropbox  - Auphonic: https://auphonic.com/pricing  - The Church iPhone Filmmaking Masterclass: https://youtu.be/6OWGVAuYSEk?si=N3pdkqp7TyaVZlef - Magic Formula for Cinematic Church iPhone Videos: https://youtu.be/rCrW6kS_cYc?si=6qgtrk89HS_mfcro - Don't print Church Bulletins, do this instead!: https://youtu.be/W3MEJ_6NYGA?si=QF5Snff0fb_aJNCw   THE 167 NEWSLETTER

On Hands-On Mac, Mikah continues to answer more of your questions, such as why Kindle books may not stay in sync between different devices, why you can't reconnect to your WiFi network after losing connection, and how you can get a reminder or a list to open up for you when walking into specified locations. Mark has a Kindle device and the Kindle app on several Apple devices. However when Mark reads a book in Kindle, his progress within the app doesn't stay synced between his Kindle device and apps. What can Mark do to fix the issue? John has used Windows 10 for a long time and doesn't want to upgrade to Windows 11. With Windows 10 going out of support soon, he's looking for alternatives to Windows that can run Microsoft Office that isn't Mac OS. When Dylan loses connection to his WiFi network on his Windows 11 laptop, he can't reconnect unless he restarts the PC. He's looked around for possible solutions and came across others having similar issues, even with Windows 10, and is looking for any insight from Mikah into troubleshooting the problem. Robby wants to know if there's a way to get their iPhone to send a reminder or a list that opens up when they walk into specific locations, such as a Best Buy or a grocery store. Steven asks a question related to last week's show about Passkeys and how he views them as a complicated, poorly thought-out plan. Should Steven wait to switch over to using Passkeys until things are better figured out with Passkey? And Todd follows up with their question about passkeys from last week's show. Don't forget to send in your questions for Mikah to answer during the show! hot@twit.tv Host: Mikah Sargent Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit

In this episode, Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard explore Apple's powerful iWork suite of productivity apps. Learn why these free alternatives to Microsoft Office and Google Workspace deserve your attention. The hosts break down the advanced features of Pages for document creation, Numbers for spreadsheets and data visualization, and Keynote for stunning presentations. Feedback: Help for setting up an iPad and Apple ID for a 90-year-old parent Shortcuts Corner: Solutions for automatically reconnecting HomePods to a Mac after sleep using Keyboard Maestro Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard Want access to the video version and exclusive features? Become a member of Club TWiT today! https://twit.tv/clubtwit Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord. You can also contribute to iOS Today by sending an email to iOSToday@TWiT.tv.

In this episode, Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard explore Apple's powerful iWork suite of productivity apps. Learn why these free alternatives to Microsoft Office and Google Workspace deserve your attention. The hosts break down the advanced features of Pages for document creation, Numbers for spreadsheets and data visualization, and Keynote for stunning presentations. Feedback: Help for setting up an iPad and Apple ID for a 90-year-old parent Shortcuts Corner: Solutions for automatically reconnecting HomePods to a Mac after sleep using Keyboard Maestro Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard Want access to the video version and exclusive features? Become a member of Club TWiT today! https://twit.tv/clubtwit Club TWiT members can discuss this episode and leave feedback in the Club TWiT Discord. You can also contribute to iOS Today by sending an email to iOSToday@TWiT.tv.