Tate Talks - The MSP Podcast

Hosted by Chris Tate - MSP Expert

Business Entrepreneurship

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Latest episode

Oct 2026

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About the show

Tate Talks is sponsored by enhanced.io Join your host, Chris Tate as he speaks to various characters from the MSP world. Never technical, rarely on-topic, this is a time to see what makes the people that make the community we love.

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60 recent

October 23, 2026Episode 540 min

S13E5: Tate Talks - With Simon McAlpine, Compare IT

In this episode of Tate Talks, Chris is joined by Simon McAlpine, co-founder of Compare IT and SalesMedic. Simon has spent 25 years in the IT channel, from telemarketer to IBM-certified seller to MSP owner. He built his MSP with an exit in mind from the start and sold it in summer 2021. He now focuses on helping MSPs grow revenue. In this episode: Simon’s motorsport story from Brands Hatch, and the business lesson behind it Building an MSP for exit, and the part nobody prepares you for: what comes next Why MSPs struggle with marketing, and why consistency matters more than chasing the next tactic How SEO is fading with the rise of AI and AEO Why around half of MSP sales hires fail, and how SalesMedic’s recruitment, assessment and training aim to fix that Compare IT: matching businesses with the right MSP using live data, and helping MSPs compete on capability rather than marketing spend Simon’s plans for a gumball-style rally for the MSP community Links: compareit.co.uk SalesMedic Simon on LinkedIn Music by purple-planet.com

October 15, 2026Episode 441 min

S13E4: Tate Talks - With Augie Staab, TD Synnex

In this episode, Chris Tate sits down with Augie Staab, who leads the MSP Sales Division for TD Synnex in North America, for a look at how distribution is evolving to keep pace with the MSP market. Augie shares how TD Synnex rebuilt its MSP go-to-market around dedicated, consultative reps rather than a purely digital/marketplace model, what's behind the newly launched MSP Maturity Assessment, and the three trends she's hearing most often from partners on the road: intensifying competition, security becoming a forced conversation rather than an optional upsell, and the governance challenges of AI adoption. She also makes the case for vertical specialisation as the clearest way for MSPs to differentiate in a crowded market and offers her own definition of what actually separates an MSP from a reseller with a service contract. The conversation closes with a lighter look at what Augie does outside of work (spoiler: a serious fantasy/sci-fi reading habit and a Marvel/Star Wars collection to match), plus a fairly definitive ruling on the best Star Wars film. In this episode: TD SYNNEX's dedicated MSP sales division and why headcount quadrupled The new MSP Maturity Assessment and what it means for partners What actually defines an MSP Three trends shaping the MSP market: competition, security, and AI governance Why vertical specialisation is the differentiator that wins Augie's book and movie recommendations (and her Star Wars verdict) Connect with Augie on LinkedIn here or visit the TD Synnex website here Music by purple-planet.com

October 8, 2026Episode 335 min

S13E3: Tate Talks - With Hollie Whittles MBE, Purple Frog Systems

Register for ChannelCon EMEA ⁠ Here ⁠ and use code TATETALKS26 for totally free entry... In this episode of Tate Talks, Chris sits down with Hollie Whittles MBE - co-founder and director of Purple Frog Data (a data analytics and AI consultancy marking its 20th anniversary this year) and Power BI Sentinel (a Power BI governance SaaS with clients across the UK and US). Hollie is also Vice Chair of GTIA's UK & Ireland Executive Council and National Policy Skills Champion at the Federation of Small Businesses, advising the UK government on tech skills, apprenticeships and T-levels — work that contributed to her MBE for services to women in business. They cover a lot of ground: the recruitment and skills gap MSPs keep running into, why the stereotypes that keep people (and especially women) out of tech careers start as early as primary school, and the shift in the UK's work experience model away from rigid two-week blocks and towards flexible placements via the Careers and Enterprise Company. On AI, Hollie is direct: deploying AI agents on top of messy, ungoverned data isn't transformation, it's a governance failure. Her advice for MSPs planning for 2027 — get the people, the skills and the data foundations right before the next platform purchase. They also get into the hybrid vs. remote work debate and its outsized impact on people starting their careers, plus a lighter detour into stadium shows with symphony orchestras, Star Trek, and the one true answer to "what's your favourite Star Wars film." Guest: Hollie Whittles MBE - LinkedIn Purple Frog Systems Power BI Sentinel Music by purple-planet.com

October 1, 2026Episode 235 min

S13E2: Tate Talks - With Nick Wolf, Hook Security

Register for ChannelCon EMEA Here and use code TATETALKS26 for totally free entry... Chris catches up with Nick Wolf, VP of Sales at Hook Security, for a wide-ranging conversation on security awareness training, the AI-driven evolution of phishing, and what MSPs need to know heading into 2027. Nick's career has tracked the MSP channel almost from the start — from joining Datto as a teenage intern (employee #16) and rising to become the company's #1 sales rep, to roles at Skout Cybersecurity (acquired by Barracuda Networks) and Cork (cyber warranty/insurance, founded by Datto's Austin McCord), and now leading sales at Hook Security. In this episode: Why the user — not the software — is usually the weakest link, and what that means for how MSPs should be building their security stack How Hook Security's live-action training content, micro-learnings, and "Campaign of the Month" autopilot model work for MSPs, including per-user pricing and a price-lock guarantee Why classic "spot the typos" phishing training doesn't hold up anymore now that AI is writing the phishing emails too The AI shift Nick's hearing about most from MSPs — and why he doesn't think AI replaces MSPs, but will change how clients buy from them A shoutout to fellow Series 13 guest Jimmy Hatzel of Hatz AI Nick's tip for MSP owners: don't be afraid to delegate and build out your team as you scale A detour into all 50 states, national parks, Disney World, and the best food to eat in every state you visit Connect with Nick Wolf : Website LinkedIn Music by purple-planet.com

September 24, 2026Episode 137 min

S13E1: Tate Talks - With Jimmy Hatzell, Hatz AI

Jimmy Hatzell is back on Tate Talks. Jimmy is the founder of Hatz AI, an AI company that helps MSPs build an AI-as-a-service business. He was in Skout Cybersecurity's early team, stayed through its acquisition by Barracuda, and has since worked with CyberQP. Last time Jimmy was on, Hatz AI was an early-stage idea. Now it's a full company. Chris and Jimmy cover: Why Jimmy is betting on MSPs to close the AI gap for small and medium-sized businesses, and why it feels like the early days of cybersecurity The "security, spend and scope" framework, and why an AI policy of "no one's allowed to use AI" isn't a real policy How an AI code review tool ran up a $5,000 bill in 24 hours Why the MSP owner, not a new hire, should start the AI practice with the first two or three clients Why AI is a "show, don't tell" technology, and how fast it's changing month to month What's new at Hatz AI: importing customers from your PSA, AI agents that research each client, shadow AI scans, and ready-made decks and one-pagers for first conversations How Jimmy uses AI at home, AI in education, and why he's optimistic about AI in medicine Life in New York City and his weekend runs in Central Park with his daughter Connect with Jimmy on LinkedIn or visit Hatz AI Sponsor: enhanced.io Music by purple-planet.com

May 12, 2026Episode 636 min

S12E6: Tate Talks - With Pete Hughes, PSA Insights

In the final episode of Season 12, I am joined by industry veteran Pete Hughes to discuss the evolving landscape of Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and the transformative power of AI. With over 20 years in the industry, Pete shares insights from his journey from an internal techie to building and growing MSPs. The Evolution of Proactivity : The shift from time-and-materials to fixed-price services has forced MSPs to move beyond simple automations (like restarting a service) toward real proactivity that prevents issues before they occur. The AI Relevance Challenge : Pete emphasizes that AI is not just a tool but a necessity for staying relevant. MSPs must adopt AI internally to drive efficiency and profitability, or risk being replaced by those who do. Consultative Selling : Rather than selling "AI tools," Pete advises MSPs to have business-first conversations—identifying process inefficiencies and then translating how AI can solve those specific challenges. PSA Insights : Pete introduces his new platform, PSA Insights , which uses AI to analyze massive amounts of ticket data in common PSAs (Halo, Autotask, ConnectWise). The tool surfaces patterns, identifies common problems costing money, and provides remediation plans. User-Driven Agents : A fascinating prediction discussed is that in the future, creating AI agents will be as common as creating a PowerPoint, with end-users driving implementation while MSPs provide the guardrails and policies. When he isn't revolutionising MSP data, Pete can be found helming (or steering, for the cool people) his yacht along the South Coast of the UK, a passion he has pursued for 40 years. Connect with today's guest on LinkedIn here or check out their website here Music - https://www.purple-planet.com Key Discussion Points:Downtime & Diversions

April 22, 2026Episode 523 min

S12E5: Tate Talks - With Dor Eisner, Guardz

In this episode of Tate Talks, I sit down with Dor Eisner , a 25-year cybersecurity veteran and the mind behind Guardz . We dive deep into the rapidly shifting threat landscape of 2026, exploring how cybercriminals are currently leveraging AI more effectively than defenders to generate "attack as a service" tools at a massive scale. Dor shares the "epiphany moment" involving his father’s small law firm that led him to focus exclusively on empowering MSPs. The AI Arms Race: Bad guys are leveraging AI to generate cybercrime at a massive scale. Shadow AI Risks: Users often find their own AI tools and input sensitive data without corporate oversight. The Death of Fragmentation: Guardz aims to solve the problem of fragmented point solutions by providing a unified, AI-native platform. Identity is the New Perimeter: The attack vector has shifted dramatically from the endpoint to identity and the cloud. Selling on Data, Not Fear: MSPs can use external risk reports to show a prospect's actual exposure rather than relying on fear-mongering. Operational Excellence: Guardz helps MSPs generate data and reports at the click of a button to show their value to clients. Outside of the SOC, Dor finds his "mental healthcare" through kitesurfing . He draws a fascinating parallel between the balance required in the waves—managing wind, waves, and the kite—and the balance required to run a successful business. Connect with today's guest on LinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠ here ⁠ or check out their website here Music - https://www.purple-planet.com

March 24, 2026Episode 443 min

S12E4: Tate Talks - With Michael Fass, Slide

Bringing Back the Magic with Michael Fass In this episode of Tate Talks , I sit down with Michael Fass , the Founder and CEO of Slide , a modern BCDR (Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery) solution purpose-built for the MSP community. Michael shares his "winding road" from being a lawyer by trade to becoming the "consigliere" and Chief People Officer at Datto, and eventually launching Slide to finish what he and Austin McChord started. Check out Michael Fass on Spotify: Listen to Michael's Music Here Connect with today's guest on LinkedIn here or check out the Slide website here Music - https://www.purple-planet.com

March 18, 2026Episode 344 min

S12E3: Tate Talks - With Rachel Williams, Zest Lifestyle

It’s been six years since Rachel Williams (formerly McGuinness) last graced the podcast to talk about sleep. Now, she’s back to tell us that if we haven't fixed our sleep by now, we probably have bigger problems—specifically, the "post-lunch slump" that Chris is still trying to fight with a cup of tea and sheer willpower. In this health-focused pivot, Rachel breaks down how to stop treating your body like a bin and start treating it like the power source of your business. From "Knowing your Numbers" to why you should probably ignore the siren call of a Boots meal deal, this episode is a wake-up call for every MSP owner who thinks "burnout" is just a setting on their coffee machine. Connect with the Zesty Lady on LinkedIn here or check out her website here . Music - https://www.purple-planet.com

March 10, 2026Episode 233 min

S12E2: Tate Talks - With Phil McGowan, Huntress

In this episode of Tate Talks , I sat down with Phil McGowan , Sales Engineering Manager for EMEA at Huntress . Phil shares his journey from technical support to leading a team of 11 technical experts, providing deep insights into the evolving cybersecurity landscape for Managed Service Providers (MSPs). Connect with todays guest on LinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠ here or check out their website here Music - https://www.purple-planet.com

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