Ctrl+Listen Podcast

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May 2026

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About the show

A series of interview-style podcasts and webinars with a focus on the tech industry, manufacturing, supply chains, data analytics, and more. Brought to you by Octopart, the industry-leading part search engine and the number one resource in helping electronics professionals navigate the supply chain industry.

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60 recent

May 21, 2026Episode 819 min

AI Agents Are Reshaping Electronics Procurement

In this episode of the CTRL+Listen Podcast, host James Sweetlove sits down with Erlend and Karan, co-founders of Bedrock Chain — a Norwegian startup automating procurement for electronic manufacturing services (EMS) companies. They break down how AI agents, BOM automation, and streamlined RFQ workflows are transforming the way EMS companies source components, manage suppliers, and stay ahead in a volatile supply chain environment.From agentic workflows and ERP integration to cybersecurity, tariff impacts, and EU regulatory compliance, this conversation covers the full spectrum of challenges and opportunities facing modern electronics procurement. If you work in EMS, supply chain, or electronics manufacturing, this is a must-watch episode on where AI is taking the industry next. Resources from this video:- Learn more about Bedrock Chain- Connect with Erland- Connect with Karan#ElectronicsSupplyChain #AIAgents #EMSProcurement #AI

May 7, 2026Episode 734 min

Hardware Is Back: PCB Prototyping & the Manufacturing Renaissance

The hardware renaissance is real — and no one is feeling it more than the shops building the prototypes that power it. In this episode of the CTRL+Listen Podcast, host James Sweetlove sits down with Amir Roy, VP of New Business Development at Imagineering Inc. (pcbnet.com), a family-owned PCB fabrication and assembly shop founded in 1985. Amir shares what 40 years of bootstrapped manufacturing looks like from the inside — and why the timing has never been better for hardware builders.From quick-turn prototyping and stencilless assembly to DFM checks, global supply chain strategy, and the surge of VC money flooding back into hard tech, Amir breaks down how Imagineering has survived chip shortages, COVID, and tariff shocks — and why he believes we're on the precipice of a full hardware renaissance. If you're building hardware, sourcing PCBs, or just watching the electronics manufacturing space, this conversation is essential listening.Resources from this episode: - Connect with Amir- Amir on X- Check out Imagineering Inc#PCBPrototyping #ElectronicsManufacturing #HardwareRenaissance

April 24, 2026Episode 836 min

Inside the Unmanned System Boom with Infinite Electronics

James Sweetlove sits down with Gabriel Guglielmi, Vice President of Global Product Management at Infinite Electronics, to explore the rapidly expanding world of unmanned systems. From drone swarms on the battlefield to grocery delivery and first responder applications, Gabriel breaks down what "connectivity" really means in this space — and why it's mission-critical for every category of unmanned vehicle, from UAVs to underwater systems.Gabriel shares his perspective on the geopolitical forces reshaping the drone industry, including China's dominance of the commercial drone market, the US push to onshore production, rare earth material dependencies, and the rise of counter-drone technology. Whether you're an engineer designing for defense or a supply chain professional navigating shifting sourcing regulations, this episode offers a sharp, grounded look at what's driving one of the fastest-growing sectors in electronics.Resources from this Episode: - Infinite Electronics: https://www.infiniteelectronics.com/- Connect with Gabriel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielguglielmi/#UnmannedSystems #DroneIndustry #ElectronicsSupplyChain

April 9, 2026Episode 747 min

The Human + AI Strategy That Actually Works

What happens when AI is deployed without a clear use case, a change management plan, or any respect for the humans it's meant to support? It fails, and according to Evan J Schwartz, Chief Innovation Officer at AMCS and author of *The People, Places and Things*, it fails predictably and preventably. In this episode of the CTRL+Listen Podcast, Evan shares hard-won insights from 35+ years in enterprise software, ERP implementation, and industrial automation across forestry, mining, scrap metal, and waste industries.From AI-powered predictive maintenance and fleet optimization to the dangers of omnipresent AI use cases, Evan makes the case for a "person plus AI" strategy: one where narrow, well-defined AI tasks are chained together for compounding impact. He also dives into how AI is reshaping software education, why generalists will outlast specialists in the age of AI, and what the waste and recycling industry can teach the rest of us about operational efficiency.Learn More about Evan here: evanjschwartz.comFollow Evan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evan-schwartz-live/Browse Octopart for Parts & Tech News: https://octopart.com/

March 19, 2026Episode 646 min

How AI & Analytics Are Transforming Grid-Scale Batteries

In this episode of the CTRL+Listen Podcast, host James Sweetlove sits down with Lennart Hinrichs, Executive Vice President and General Manager Americas at TWAICE, to explore the rapidly evolving world of battery energy storage systems (BESS). Lennart breaks down everything from the basics of lithium-ion battery types and grid-scale applications to the California duck curve, state-of-charge challenges, and how TWAICE's cloud-based analytics platform helps operators maximize performance, prevent failures, and avoid costly grid penalties.The conversation dives deep into battery degradation, imbalance detection, preventive maintenance, and the role of machine learning in extracting actionable insights from massive datasets. Lennart also shares his perspective on how AI-driven data center demand is reshaping energy infrastructure, the state of the global battery supply chain, tariff impacts, and why solar-plus-storage may be the most practical path forward for grid stability. Whether you're an energy professional or just battery-curious, this episode is packed with real-world insight.Resources from this episode:- Learn more about TWAICE: https://www.twaice.com/- Connect with Lennart: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennart-hinrichs/#BatteryStorage #EnergyStorage #Podcast

March 6, 2026Episode 526 min

Agile Teams & Octopart: The Future of Hardware Development

In this episode of the CTRL+Listen podcast, host James sits down with Justin Sears, Head of Product Marketing for SaaS at Altium, to explore how Octopart and Altium are converging into a unified, end-to-end hardware development platform. Justin breaks down how real-time parts data from Octopart is being embedded directly into Altium's design environment — helping procurement managers, PCB designers, and system engineers work smarter in the face of COVID-era supply chain shocks and ongoing tariff disruptions.Justin walks through Altium's Agile Teams solution, BOM Portal, and Octocart — powerful tools that allow hardware teams to shift procurement work earlier in the design cycle, compare distributor pricing at the click of a button, and stay ahead of part availability changes without ever leaving their design environment. Whether you're a seasoned Altium user or exploring it for the first time, this conversation shows why real-time data and cloud collaboration are now essential for competitive hardware development.Resources from this Episode: Connect with JustinLearn more about Agile TeamsBrowse Octopart for Parts & Tech News

February 19, 2026Episode 446 min

Why Your Supply Chain Needs AI Now | Cofactr on Ctrl+Listen

The electronics supply chain has never been more volatile — and the companies that ignore AI risk getting left behind entirely. In this episode of the Ctrl+Listen Podcast, host James sits down with Matthew Haber (CEO) and Phillip Gulley (CSO), co-founders of Cofactr, for a wide-ranging conversation on how AI is fundamentally reshaping hardware procurement, component sourcing, and supply chain management. From their unexpected origin story — building tours for Coachella acts and escape rooms for The Walking Dead — to solving year-long lead times for autonomous vehicle pioneer Zoox, Matt and Phil reveal how frustration with electronics supply chain chaos led them to build Cofactr from the ground up.Cofactr is now transforming how hardware teams go from bill of materials to kitted components delivered on schedule — with a free platform tier that removes friction for manufacturers of all sizes. Tune in to hear how AI handles everything from scrubbing supplier quotes to warehouse receiving verification, why 5 procurement professionals at Cofactr can do the work of 50, and why supply chain volatility isn't going away anytime soon. Whether you're a startup engineer or a Fortune 10 procurement manager, this episode is essential listening for anyone navigating today's unpredictable electronics market.Resources from this Episode: Connect with MatthewConnect with PhillipLearn more about CofactrBrowse Octopart for Parts & Tech News

February 5, 2026Episode 337 min

Building Adaptive Manufacturing for Global Shifts: Partsimony CEO

Discover how Partsimony is transforming the manufacturing landscape by bridging the critical gap between engineering and supply chain management. In this compelling conversation, CEO Rich Mokuolu shares how their AI-powered software optimizes supply chain structures directly from design files, enabling companies to scale production more effectively in an era of tariffs, regional conflicts, and reshoring initiatives. Rich discusses the fundamental disconnect that has long plagued the industry—where supply chain managers negotiate pricing while engineers see opportunities for design optimization that could dramatically improve yield, pricing, and lead times. He explains how Partsimony's technology analyzes designs to unlock new supply chain possibilities, whether that means finding local Brooklyn manufacturers to retool for ventilator production or identifying emerging manufacturing hubs in Vietnam, India, and Mexico. Resources from this Episode: - Connect with Rich on LinkedIn- Check out Partsimony- Browse Partsimony's Blog- Browse Octopart for Parts & Tech News#SupplyChain #Manufacturing #AI

January 22, 2026Episode 229 min

Breaking the Firmware Bottleneck with AI Native Developer Tools

Firmware and embedded engineers face a unique challenge: bridging the gap between hardware design and software implementation while working under tight constraints and mission-critical requirements. In this episode of the Ctrl+Listen Podcast, Ryan Eppley (CEO) and Samarpita Chowdhury (CTO) of Root Access explain how their AI-native platform Hideout is transforming the embedded systems workflow. From generating accurate drivers directly from datasheets to eliminating tedious configuration work, discover how this New York-based startup is helping engineers go from schematics to field testing in days instead of months.The conversation explores what makes embedded engineering so challenging, why traditional AI coding tools fall short for low-level programming, and how Root Access is partnering with Altium and Octopart to create a seamless development environment. - Connect with Ryan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-eppley/- Connect with Samarpita: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samarpita-chowdhury/- Root Access on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/root-access-ai/- Root Access on X: https://x.com/root_access_- Learn More about Root Access: https://rootaccess.ai/- Browse Octopart for Parts & Tech News: https://octopart.com/#Podcast #EmbeddedSystems #FirmwareEngineering #AIDeveloperTools

January 8, 2026Episode 127 min

Inside India's Hardware Community with PCB Cupid Founder

Explore India's hardware community with Srinivasan M, founder of PCB Cupid. Explore the vibrant yet fragmented hardware community in India, the challenges of electronics product development, and the mission to create open-source hardware solutions that accelerate innovation.In this exclusive Control Listen podcast interview, Srinivasan shares insights into:- The origins of PCB Cupid and its educational mission- Challenges in India's electronics and hardware ecosystem- The importance of open-source hardware and documentation- Supply chain complexities and opportunities for local manufacturingResources from this Episode: - PCB Cupid- Connect with Srinivasan M - Check out @pcbcupid on YouTube#PCBDesign #IndianTech #ElectronicsEngineering #MakeInIndia