Ctrl+Listen Podcast

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Aug 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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August 19, 2026Episode 1316 min

Custom Overmolded Cables in Weeks, Not Months

How do you get custom overmolded cables in weeks instead of months? In this episode of the CTRL+Listen podcast — brought to you by Octopart — host James sits down with Sacha Fabien, co-founder of Fillio, a Quebec-based low-pressure overmolding and cable assembly shop that's modernizing a slow, old-school process. Sacha shares how a hunt for a low-profile M8 connector led him to develop overmolding in-house, why overmolding is the overlooked step behind nearly every cable you own, and how Fillio uses 3D-printed molds to cut tooling cost and iterate fast.They dig into the real challenges of overmolding and cable assembly — the cost of entry, lead times, and the teaching involved for engineers new to the process — plus how Fillio pulls live availability, pricing, and lead-time data through the Octopart API to quote faster. Sacha and James also cover the bigger picture: how COVID and tariffs are pushing hardware teams to reshore and build local supplier resilience, where robotics and physical AI fit into manufacturing, and why a reliable local supplier has gone from a hard sell to something buyers actively want. If you build hardware, source components, or care about supply chain resilience, this one's for you.Resources from this Episode: - Fillio site (newsletter signup at bottom of page) - Contact Fillio - Octopart API — how Fillio sources part data - Sacha's LinkedIn - Company LinkedIn #overmolding #cableassembly #supplychainChapters

August 4, 2026Episode 1226 min

Is Vibe Coding the Biggest Threat to Big Companies?

Is vibe coding the biggest threat to big companies? In this episode of the CTRL+Listen Podcast, brought to you by Octopart, host James Sweetlove sits down with Len Ward — founder and head of AI at Commexis — to unpack how AI is rewiring the way businesses market, sell, and build. Len argues that the real competition for a 10,000-person company isn't the shop down the street; it's "Jenny and Mike in their garage" who can vibe code a product and flank incumbents from every side. He explains why he believes the billion-dollar companies of the future could have one or two employees, why "speed is the new moat," and how "random acts of AI" are quietly killing business growth.The conversation goes deep on the shift from a "search and retrieve" world to a "solve my problem" world, the real difference between automation and true AI, and why Len thinks B2B is now adopting AI faster than B2C. Along the way they cover AI in supply chain and procurement, automating sales without losing the human touch, when a customer still needs a human on the phone, and what's coming next as AI starts taking actions for you — not just answering questions. Whether you're an engineer, a founder, or on a sourcing team, it's a candid look at where AI-driven business is actually heading.Resources from this Episode: - Commexis (Len Ward's company) - Len Ward on LinkedIn #vibecoding #aiforbusiness

July 23, 2026Episode 1131 min

A Pentester's Warning: AI Broke Cybersecurity (Here's the Fix)

The new rules of cybersecurity are here, and in this episode of the Ctrl+Listen podcast by Octopart, penetration testing expert Matt Toussain — Founder of Open Security — breaks down how ransomware and AI are rewriting the threat landscape for manufacturing and supply chain operations in 2026. Matt explains why the exploitation window has collapsed from 180 days to just 14, how attackers now weaponize tools like Microsoft Copilot to steal intellectual property, and why "empowerment is opportunity" — and every new opportunity is a fresh attack surface.You'll also hear the wild reality of the modern ransomware economy: why cyber criminals assassinate the groups that break the rules, how ransom payments get negotiated down, and what industrial control systems (ICS) reveal about the vulnerabilities hiding in plain sight. Matt shares his journey from the Air Force Academy to founding Open Security, plus his free open-source vulnerability scanner, Sirius Scan. Whether you run a Fortune 500 or a mid-cap manufacturer, this cybersecurity conversation will change how you think about risk, AI, and defense in depth. Resources from this Episode: • Open Security (Matt Toussain's firm) • Sirius Scan — free, open-source vulnerability scanner • SANS Institute • Matthew Toussain on LinkedIn • Matthew Toussain on X #cybersecurity #ransomware #artificialintelligence

July 7, 2026Episode 1021 min

AI, Sourcing & Resilience: India's Electronics Supply Chain

India's electronics supply chain is at an inflection point — and in this episode of the CTRL+Listen Podcast, host James Sweetlove sits down with Vishwanath MS, co-founder and director of Source Buddy, to unpack what that shift really means. From a heavy reliance on imported components to the rapid rise of domestic design and manufacturing, Vishwanath explains how small and medium enterprises (SMEs) can navigate a fragmented sourcing landscape, close visibility gaps, and build the resilient electronics supply chains the industry now demands.You'll learn how Source Buddy unifies distributor and offline sourcing data into a single traceable workflow, how criteria-based supplier finalization and Smart Volume & Q Consolidation cut response times and costs, and where AI genuinely adds value — from part number matching with confidence levels to vendor risk assessment. Vishwanath also shares his take on the bigger picture: the move from cost arbitrage to resilience, the "just in time" to "just in case" mindset, and how China Plus One is reshaping opportunities for India's EMS and interconnect sectors. Whether you work in electronics procurement, BOM management, or supply chain strategy, this conversation is packed with practical insight.Resources from this episode: - Source Buddy - Connect with Vishwanath MS #ElectronicsSupplyChain #Sourcing #SourceBuddy

June 22, 2026Episode 941 min

Why Factories Crush Perfectly Good Components (And How to Stop)

What happens to the billions of dollars in perfectly good electronic components that get crushed, buried, or dumped every year? In this episode of the CTRL+Listen Podcast, host James Sweetlove sits down with Kenny McGee, CEO and founder of Component Sense, to unpack the hidden world of excess and obsolete electronics inventory — and why scrapping working parts is one of the most expensive mistakes a manufacturer can make. From the pile of neglected stock that sparked the company to the franchise rules that block redistribution, Kenny explains how surplus components quietly drain profit from the electronics supply chain.Kenny traces his journey from a 1985 apprentice at Ferranti to building a global business focused on reducing waste, breaking down how the circular economy turns dead stock back into cash. He shares what he witnessed firsthand at Agbogbloshie in Ghana — the world's largest e-waste site — walks through the consignment, InPlant, and outright purchase models that help billion-dollar factories recover money tied up in slow-moving inventory, and digs into the Corning case study. He also reveals how AI and tools like Claude are transforming the way his team builds custom solutions. Watch to learn how to stop crushing perfectly good components and start getting your money back.Resources from this Episode: • Get in touch with Kenny • Component Sense Website • Contact Component Sense • Component Sense LinkedIn • Carolina Rapezzi's Website • Kenny's Ghana Vlog Browse Octopart for Parts & Tech News #CircularEconomy #Ewaste #ElectronicsSupplyChain

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.com Follow 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