ScreamingBox Technology & Business Rundown

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Aug 2026

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Join us for interesting conversations about technology and the business of IT.

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August 3, 2026Episode 857 min

Strategic Networking Using Neuroscience and AI Tools - A Real SUPERPOWER!!

Strategic networking has always been essential for career growth and business success, but today’s professional landscape is noisier, faster, and crazier than ever. So how do you form meaningful professional relationships in a world overflowing with information and competing priorities? In this ScreamingBox Technology and Business Rundown podcast, Botond Seres and Dave Erickson are going to science out how you can use neuroscience insights, and AI tools to build genuine, opportunity‑creating relationships - with Dr. Elizabeth Fried, award‑winning executive coach and author of Strategic Networking: A Practical Playbook. Elizabeth has spent more than 40 years advising senior leaders, business owners, and professionals who are trying to navigate complex decisions and career transitions. Her work distills decades of coaching into clear, actionable strategies that help people build authentic, mutually beneficial connections; not just collecting business cards or “working a room.” She developed her strategic networking framework while coaching elite military special operators, including Navy SEALs and Marine Raiders; in helping them transition into civilian careers by building trust, communicating value, and forming relationships that open doors. Today, she applies the same methodology to business leaders and professionals seeking influence, opportunity, and long‑term success. Elizabeth also focuses on how modern AI research tools can help people prepare more effectively for meetings, understand others more deeply, and create greater value in every interaction. Summary Timeline: 00:00 Intro 02:40 What drew you to neuroscience for relationship building 10:17 How do people deal with fear in networking 13:58 Is talking about people’s interests a real neuroscience benefit 20:19 How to approach targeted networking 26:25 When does networking behavior become too much 28:29 Is reading social cues part of avoiding “too much” 29:53 How to move toward a business ask without being blunt 34:50 Is oxytocin from mirror neurons similar to skin‑to‑skin contact 37:27 Are special operators’ amygdalas more or less active 50:02 How introverts can become more comfortable networking 52:36 How to nurture a relationship when you have little in common 54:55 What is the future of networking 56:32 Outro If you have questions for our Podcast Hosts or Guest, you can reach them here: Dave Erickson = https://www.linkedin.com/in/daveerickson1/ Botond Seres = https://www.linkedin.com/in/botondseres/ GUEST: Dr. Elizabeth Fried = https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethfried/ Website = https://executivecoachingfirms.com/

July 6, 2026Episode 71 hr 10 min

How Field Experience Can Drive Product INNOVATION and GROWTH!!!

Coming up with a million dollar product idea - is easier than coming up with million dollar product idea that is based on solving a real world problem that will allow that idea to actually succeed. In this podcast, Dave Erickson and his co-host Botond Seres are going to examine How Field Experience Can Drive Technology Innovation - with John Downing - Co-Founder & Chief Product Architect of Leteligence . John is the co-founder of Lateligence and founder of Latel, and he began his career in heavy civil construction, operating equipment and later working as a civil estimator manually calculating dirt quantities. That firsthand experience led him to invest early in high‑end drone technology, long before it was common, and grew Latel into a nationwide LIDAR service helping contractors uncover change orders and optimize dirt movement. Today, as Chief Product Architect, he’s leading the development of new AI‑enabled software built from the ground up for field users, already deployed by national developers and major contractors. John brings a rare blend of practical field insight, technical vision, and a deep commitment to empowering the people doing the work on the ground. Timeline Summary: 0:00 INTRO - Field Experience and Technology Product Innovation 2:22 John Downing's Early Career and Passion for Heavy Equipment 3:35 The Birth of Littell and Early Adoption of Drone Technology 11:51 Challenges and Frustrations in Early Adoption 16:05 Transition to Lidar and Advanced Drone Technology 34:35 Developing Litelligence and Addressing Industry Needs 1:05:47 The Future of Surveying and Technology 1:09:04 Outro If you have questions for our Podcast Hosts or Guest, you can reach them here: Dave Erickson = https://www.linkedin.com/in/daveerickson1/ Botond Seres = https://www.linkedin.com/in/botondseres/ GUEST: John Downing = https://www.linkedin.com/in/johndowning-letel/ Website = https://leteligence.com/

June 1, 2026Episode 656 min

AI Business Strategies and Business Scaling for 🚀📈 BUSINESS GROWTH 🚀📈

Even though many in the IT industry are worrying about how AI will replace them, we need to recognize the advantages AI brings to business. In this podcast, Botond Seres and Dave Erickson are going to examine strategies for using AI to scale up your business - with Phil Masiello, CEO & Founder of CrunchGrowth. Phil is a seasoned entrepreneur who has built and sold four companies. He launched his first venture at age 27, and went on to pioneer early eCommerce in the meals industry with The Daily Market before co-founding Raw Essentials Skin Care with Carol Alt. His work spans food, fashion, beauty, and personal care, with standout projects like 800razors.com showcasing his ability to use creative PR and cost-effective tactics to accelerate growth. As founder and CEO of CrunchGrowth, Phil has become known for spotting emerging trends, blending technology with customer insight, and developing digital and social strategies that help consumer brands scale quickly and efficiently. Alongside his entrepreneurial career, Phil has written influential books such as The Why Behind The Buy and Think Engage Thrive - and he also hosts Crunching Growth on e360tv. Timeline Summary: 0:00 Introduction to AI and Business Strategies 4:00 Initial AI Implementation and Challenges 7:10 AI in Advertising and Content Creation 16:39 Data Analytics and AI Integration 33:57 Price Optimization and Messaging Consistency 41:52 AI in Traditional Advertising and Marketing 52:19 Future of Advertising and AI 54:32 Phil Masiello's Current Endeavors 55:23 Outro If you have questions for our Podcast Hosts or Guest, you can reach them here: Dave Erickson = https://www.linkedin.com/in/daveerickson1/ Botond Seres = https://www.linkedin.com/in/botondseres/ GUEST: Phil Masiello = https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-masiello/ Website = https://philmasiello.com/

May 4, 2026Episode 553 min

AI CYBERCRIME And What You Need To Know To 🛡️ PROTECT Your Business 🛡️

Everyone is realizing the opportunities that AI can bring to business, unfortunately this also includes people whose business is taking advantage of other people’s business. Those people are realizing the AI can help them commit their crimes and help them steal millions of dollars. In this podcast Dave Erickson and Botond Seres are going to look at how AI can be twisted into a force of evil and crime with Guy Morris - Author and IT Executive. Guy is a retired business executive who spent over 38 years in leadership roles at Fortune 500 companies - in software, high-tech, and global energy. This includes senior positions at Microsoft, Oracle, and IBM. He has a background as a thought-leader and innovator in early-stage technologies, including computer modeling and artificial intelligence. Guy is an author of intelligent thrillers and writes about subjects such as AI, national security, and cybersecurity. His upcoming book, The AI Tsunami - A Survival Guide for Humanity, is expected in June 2026. He is also a published songwriter for Disney Records, a patented inventor, and a Coast Guard charter captain. Timeline Summary: 0:00 Introduction to AI and Cybercrime 4:47 Technology and People-Related Risks of AI 6:17 Emerging Phishing Tactics and Solutions 7:56 Future AI-Related Threats and Solutions 12:13 Impact of AI on Jobs and Societal Changes 19:23 The Role of Government and Legislation 43:39 Public Awareness and Education 43:51 Strategic Investments in Cybersecurity 45:43 The Future of AI and Ethical Considerations 48:38 Conclusion and Call to Action 51:30 Outro If you have questions for our Podcast Hosts or Guest, you can reach them here: Dave Erickson = https://www.linkedin.com/in/daveerickson1/ Botond Seres = https://www.linkedin.com/in/botondseres/ GUEST: Guy Morris = https://www.linkedin.com/in/guybmorris/ Website = https://www.guymorrisbooks.com/ LONG BIO: Retired from a 38-year executive career with Fortune 100 software, high-tech and global energy, Guy Morris has also been a published song writer for Disney Records, a patented inventor, a Coast Guard charter captain, an adventurer, and now, a self-published author of thrillers. From cartel death threats in Latin America to the shark diving in Moorea – from a Board Room to a recording studio - from child homelessness to corporate jets, Guy pulls from a rich life of diverse experience to write books that thrill, educate, and inspire thoughtful dialogue on genuine issues facing humanity. Since his 2021 debut, Guy has released three pulse-pounding thrillers inspired by true stories, actual technologies, global politics and history. His Kirkus recommended books have earned BookTrib’s Best 25 Books of 2021, Reader’s Favorite Gold and Silver Awards, finalist for IAN Book of the Year, and semi-finalist for Cinematic Book. His articles have been published in SD Voyager and Mystery & Suspense magazines. In early 2022, he formed the non-profit Author Event Network association, where local accomplished authors collaborate to sign books at community events and festivals to engage readers, build platform and sell more books at higher margins.

April 10, 2026Episode 41 hr 0 min

How AI Is Transforming Business Video Production: From Editing Rooms to Entrepreneurial Toolkits

Video is now a critical part, if not the most important part of today's online marketing; but today’s algorithms demand more content, more often, just to stay visible. So how do you stand out with original, effective content without burning out or drowning in production demands? In this ScreamingBox Technology and Business Rundown podcast podcast, we are going to look at how AI can help companies generate quality marketing content flows with Lisa Vecchio - Marketing Lead at VEED. Lisa is a global B2B marketing leader who’s spent 20 years - proving that marketing can be bold, human, and genuinely growth-driving. She’s built and scaled SaaS brands across the US, UK, Europe, and Australia, leading go-to-market strategies that unite product, sales, and marketing around meaningful, measurable outcomes. Now, she is leading marketing at VEED, an AI video creation platform built for marketers and entrepreneurs who not only need to go from idea to publishable video in a single workflow - they need to generate a continuous content stream. Examples of Veed in this podcast: AI Generated headshot from image in the beginning intro of the video with voice from text, and all subtitles were done in Veed. Timeline Summary: 0:00 Introduction to AI in Business Video Production 2:12 The Journey into Marketing 5:49 Impact of AI on Marketing Over the Past Decade 7:55 Optimizing Video Content for Search and Discoverability 14:04 Challenges and Best Practices in Video Content Creation 16:38 Workflow and Tools for AI Video Production 22:59 Integration of AI with Automation and Workflow Tools 27:15 Future of AI in Video Production 56:17 Veed's Role in Business Video Production 58:37 Outro If you have questions for our Podcast Hosts or Guest, you can reach them here: Dave Erickson = https://www.linkedin.com/in/daveerickson1/ Botond Seres = https://www.linkedin.com/in/botondseres/ GUEST: Lisa Vecchio = https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisavecchio/ Website = https://www.veed.io/

March 4, 2026Episode 31 hr 8 min

AI, Security & Software Governance: How to Stay in Control Of AI Software Development

In this podcast Dave Erickson and his very human co-host Botond Seres, are going to hack their way to understanding AI and Cybersecurity from a development perspective with Nir Valtman - Co-Founder & CEO at Arnica Nir is a security executive whose work has focused on making software security seamless for developers rather than a bottleneck. Before founding Arnica, he led security strategies at Finastra, NCR and Kabbage, and he’s a regular speaker at Black Hat, Defcon, and RSA cyber security events. With 7 patents and several open source projects to his name, Nir brings firsthand experience - bridging enterprise needs and developer-driven security. Nir’s company Arnica, is breaking new ground by embedding security directly into developer workflows, including embedding for AI-generated code. TIMELINE SUMMARY: 0:00 Introduction to AI Security and Podcast Overview 1:55 Nir Valtman's Technology Journey and Cybersecurity Insights 3:55 Challenges of AI Code Reviews and Developer Workflows 9:52 Prompts and Security Requirements in AI Development 20:12 AI Software Governance Challanges 30:43 Implementing AI in Development Teams 40:51 Balancing AI Tools and Developer Preferences 45:26 AI's Impact on Developer Productivity and Security 53:24 Using AI for Writing Secure Code 1:00:27 Future of AI in Software Development 1:05:18 Arnica's SDLC Governance Mechanism 1:07:07 Outro If you have questions for our Podcast Hosts or Guest, you can reach them here: Dave Erickson = https://www.linkedin.com/in/daveerickson1/ Botond Seres = https://www.linkedin.com/in/botondseres/ GUEST: Nir Valtman = https://www.linkedin.com/in/valtmanir/ Website = https://www.arnica.io/ ADDITION BIO: Nir is a security executive whose work has focused on making software security seamless for developers rather than a bottleneck. Before founding Arnica, he led security strategies at Finastra, Kabbage (where he was CISO during its acquisition by Amex), and NCR, and he’s a regular speaker at Black Hat, Defcon, and RSA. With 7 patents and several open source projects to his name, Nir brings firsthand experience bridging enterprise needs and developer-driven security. Arnica is breaking new ground by embedding security directly into developer workflows, including for AI-generated code. With tools like Arnie, an agentic enforcer, Arnica enables engineering and AppSec teams to bake security into every stage of development, without trade-offs to speed or collaboration. This approach speaks directly to the future-of-work questions you raised with Ari, connecting innovation, productivity, and security in the age of automated coding.

February 2, 2026Episode 256 min

A Human Approach to AI Development and Upskilling

In this podcast Botond Seres and Dave Erickson discuss A Human Approach to AI Development and Upskilling with Bala Muthiah - Director of Engineering at Lyft. Bala is a people-first technology leader who brings a rare blend of engineering depth, strategic insight, and a genuine passion for helping others grow. His career spans impactful roles across the Silicon Valley ecosystem; most recently at Lyft, where he’s contributed to complex high-scale systems, while championing collaborative, human-centered leadership. Bala has also spent years expanding access to technology opportunities by volunteering as a computer science teacher for elementary students, mentoring aspiring engineers through organizations like CodePath, and supporting entrepreneurship programs such as NFTE and Defy Ventures. His work reflects a belief that technology is most powerful when it lifts people up - and that great leaders are those who help others find their potential. Timeline Summary: 0:00 Human-Centered AI: Origins, Motivation, and Why It Matters Now 5:12 A human centered approach to AI development, and why does it matter 10:14 From Human–Machine Interface to Product Integration: How Developers Should Use AI 15:43 Balancing the innovation in AI with maintain reliability, trust and user safety 20:01 Avoiding “AI-Only” Outputs: Measuring Value, Not Just Output Volume 25:27 What would you like AI to do for your developers, versus what it's currently doing? 30:08 Tooling Landscape, Testing Gaps, and Safety-Critical Guardrails 39:24 Upskilling, Education, and the Future of AI 42:40 Recommendations for developers who are looking to upscale 46:00 Advice to engineering students 48:06 Future of AI 49:25 AI and Educational Initiatives 52:59 How will Society and governments deal with AI 54:45 Outro If you have questions for our Podcast Hosts or Guest, you can reach them here: Dave Erickson = https://www.linkedin.com/in/daveerickson1/ Botond Seres = https://www.linkedin.com/in/botondseres/ GUEST: Bala Muthiah = https://www.linkedin.com/in/balaarjunan/ Website = https://balamuthiah.com/

January 5, 2026Episode 140 min

Year in Review & What Will Happen in 2026? AI, JOBS, Development, and Society

It is hard to believe, but this is the 62nd monthly ScreamingBox Podcast, and everyone wants to know - why is this still a thing after 4 years?! In this podcast, Dave Erickson and his honorable co-host Botond Seres - are going to look back at 2025, and then look forward to what 2026 might bring. No guest for this podcast, just the two host looking back and looking forward at the same time. Timeline Summary: 0:00 Reflecting on 2025 and Looking Forward to 2026 1:54 Advancements in AI and Coding Tools 9:52 The Role of AI in Business and Development 10:18 Future Implications of AI and Robotics 31:38 The Impact of AI on Entertainment and Content Creation 34:37 The Balance Between AI and Human Creativity 38:53 Conclusion and Future Outlook If you have questions for our Podcast Hosts, you can reach them here: Dave Erickson = https://www.linkedin.com/in/daveerickson1/ Botond Seres = https://www.linkedin.com/in/botondseres/

December 1, 2025Episode 1246 min

How will AI 🤖 Affect FUTURE Business Direction - Is It Going To Take Over!!?

In this podcast - Dave Erickson and his real and live co-host Botond Seres - are going to worry about how AI will play into your future - in Part 2 of our podcast with our guest - Ari Block - Techstars Alumni and Author. Ari is a dynamic entrepreneur and global technology leader whose career bridges military intelligence, forensic technology, and the startup world. His passion for innovation began early - at just eight years old, he founded his first company repairing computers for local businesses. By age 15, he had - built and successfully exited - a B2B sales platform start-up. This early trajectory laid the foundation for a career defined by ingenuity, resilience, and a relentless drive to create impact through technology. Ari went on to serve in military intelligence before joining Cellebrite, a global leader in digital forensics. There, he played a key role in developing advanced forensic tools that are used worldwide by law enforcement, military, and intelligence agencies - to extract and analyze digital evidence. Beyond forensics, Ari has founded and mentored startups through Techstars, guiding founders - on product development, fundraising, and go-to-market strategies. Podcast Timeline summary: 0:00 AI's Impact on Business and Society 2:03 Ari Block's Transition to TechStars 8:10 The Role of AI in Business and Society 11:54 Challenges and Opportunities in AI Development 26:05 Preparing for the AI-Driven Future 29:43 The Future of Work and Education 29:56 AI's Impact on Economic Stability 33:37 The Role of Government and Community in AI Preparedness 33:56 The Future of AI and Business Pivots 38:25 Conclusion and Call to Action 44:24 - Outro If you have questions for our Podcast Hosts or Guest, you can reach them here: Dave Erickson = https://www.linkedin.com/in/daveerickson1/ Botond Seres = https://www.linkedin.com/in/botondseres/ GUEST: Ari Block = https://www.linkedin.com/in/ariblock/ Website = https://smokeeaters.ai/ You can find Part #1 of this Podcast with Ari here: https://sbox.bz/pc60 Addition Info - Guest Bio – Ari Block Success Stories My attitude of taking on challenges has yielded success in multiple areas extending beyond my core expertise of engineering and product management. Algorithm Innovation I implemented new algorithms for manufacturing analytics clients, requiring between 20 to 100+ algorithms for each customer. One of these algorithms typically took 3-6 weeks to develop. I proposed a mathematical layer to overlay the API that would shorten development time to hours. This idea was initially rejected as impossible by managers and the engineering team. I requested and was approved to develop the mathematical abstraction in my free time without additional resources. The resulting product accelerated revenue recognition 100-fold, and I was recognized for this innovation. Complex Software Development Turnaround A software project had been in development for two years, delaying $1.2 million in monthly revenue. There was no expected completion date, with new complexities and blame games ongoing. The project was transferred to my ownership, and within three months, we had built the system from scratch and created a million dollar revenue stream. Product Strategy I advocated for and implemented an analytics system for our hardware units, which surprisingly reported only 5% of the expected product usage. This revelation, combined with my market trend research, drove a decision to divert company resources to a new product line due to market risk. This pivot was accepted and ultimately led to a company exit, with over 60% of the company's revenue coming from this product innovation. Customer Churn Prevention While the American business units' SaaS implementations were failing across the board, my European implementations were successful. I successfully recovered these customers, who became long-term clients, including Apple, Qualcomm, Honeywell, and Fiat. Additionally, I defined the process and created collateral for successful implementations, which the team continued to use years after my departure.

November 4, 2025Episode 1139 min

Strategies on How to PIVOT a Business from Failing to SUCCESSFUL

In this podcast, Botond Seres and Dave Erickson are going to figure out how you can successfully pivot your business and how AI will play into your future; with Ari Block - Techstars Alumni and Author. Ari is a dynamic entrepreneur and global technology leader whose career bridges military intelligence, forensic technology, and the startup world. His passion for innovation began early - at just eight years old, he founded his first company repairing computers for local businesses. By age 15, he had - built and successfully exited - a B2B sales platform start-up. This early trajectory laid the foundation for a career defined by ingenuity, resilience, and a relentless drive to create impact through technology. Ari went on to serve in military intelligence before joining Cellebrite, a global leader in digital forensics. There, he played a key role in developing advanced forensic tools that are used worldwide by law enforcement, military, and intelligence agencies - to extract and analyze digital evidence. Beyond forensics, Ari has founded and mentored startups through Techstars, guiding founders - on product development, fundraising, and go-to-market strategies. Timeline Summary 0:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest 1:48 Transition from Digital Forensics to Startup Mentoring 5:02 Lessons from TechStars on Investing and Entrepreneurship 6:53 The Importance of Founder Cohesion and Product Market Fit 13:43 Defining a Business Pivot and Analyzing Market Signals 20:54 Framework for Analyzing Market Signals 23:42 Cohorted Analysis and Avoiding Broad Business Changes 25:57 Product Market Fit and Continuous Analysis 31:01 Impact of AI on Business and Market Dynamics 32:23 Ari Block's Current Work and Future Plans 37:12 Outro If you have questions for our Podcast Hosts or Guest, you can reach them here: Dave Erickson = https://www.linkedin.com/in/daveerickson1/ Botond Seres = https://www.linkedin.com/in/botondseres/ GUEST: Ari Block = https://www.linkedin.com/in/ariblock/ Website = https://smokeeaters.ai/ ADDITIONAL ARI BLOCK BIO THOUGHTS Success Stories My attitude of taking on challenges has yielded success in multiple areas extending beyond my core expertise of engineering and product management. Algorithm Innovation I implemented new algorithms for manufacturing analytics clients, requiring between 20 to 100+ algorithms for each customer. One of these algorithms typically took 3-6 weeks to develop. I proposed a mathematical layer to overlay the API that would shorten development time to hours. This idea was initially rejected as impossible by managers and the engineering team. I requested and was approved to develop the mathematical abstraction in my free time without additional resources. The resulting product accelerated revenue recognition 100-fold, and I was recognized for this innovation. Complex Software Development Turnaround A software project had been in development for two years, delaying $1.2 million in monthly revenue. There was no expected completion date, with new complexities and blame games ongoing. The project was transferred to my ownership, and within three months, we had built the system from scratch and created a million dollar revenue stream. Product Strategy I advocated for and implemented an analytics system for our hardware units, which surprisingly reported only 5% of the expected product usage. This revelation, combined with my market trend research, drove a decision to divert company resources to a new product line due to market risk. This pivot was accepted and ultimately led to a company exit, with over 60% of the company's revenue coming from this product innovation. Customer Churn Prevention While the American business units' SaaS implementations were failing across the board, my European implementations were successful. I successfully recovered these customers, who became long-term clients, including Apple, Qualcomm, Honeywell, and Fiat. Additionally, I defined the process and created collateral for successful implementations, which the team continued to use years after my departure.