The Power of Digital Policy

Hosted by Kristina Podnar

Technology Marketing Management

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Episodes

Latest episode

Apr 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

The Power of Digital Policy is a podcast that teaches you and your organization how to balance the risks and opportunities that come with operating websites, social media, mobile applications, voice assistants, AI and other channels. Through a monthly focus on individual topics, such as accessibility, cookies, copyrights, social media faux pas, data breaches, and data privacy, you will learn how to develop guardrails to maximize digital opportunity and minimize risk. Whether you work for a startup, Fortune 500 company, nonprofit or the government, this podcast will help you get digital right.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

April 29, 2026Episode 525 min

Privacy is the bottleneck: Why your AI strategy is stalling (and how to fix it)

AI isn’t slowing down because of weak models or poor prompts—it’s being held back by something far less flashy: data privacy. In this episode, Kristina sits down with Adam Kamor of Tonic.ai to unpack why organizations are struggling to safely use their own data, how unstructured data creates massive operational friction, and what it actually takes to move from manual redaction to scalable, privacy-first AI systems. The conversation challenges the idea that privacy is just a compliance checkbox—and reframes it as the key to unlocking AI velocity.

April 21, 2026Episode 426 min

Synthetic data, real governance: What enterprises need to get right

Kristina Podnar talks with data and analytics leader Ioana Mazare about why synthetic data is gaining traction, where organizations risk getting it wrong, and why strong governance is still essential. They explore privacy, bias, fit-for-purpose use cases, third-party synthetic data providers, and the leadership, strategy, and accountability needed to make data trustworthy in the age of AI.

March 18, 2026Episode 325 min

Your AI strategy starts with content, not code

AI is no longer just generating content—it’s retrieving, reasoning, and increasingly making decisions. And yet, many organizations are approaching it as if better prompts or better models will solve everything. In reality, AI is only as effective as the content it relies on. The more autonomous these systems become, the more they depend on content that is structured, connected, and governed with intent.In this conversation, Kristina Podnar sits down with Carrie Hane to unpack what that actually means in practice. They explore the difference between formatting and true semantic structure, why duplication and inconsistency quietly undermine AI performance, and how weak or nonexistent content models introduce risk at scale. They also get into a question that doesn’t get asked often enough: who actually owns the content model in an organization—and what happens when no one does?This episode is a reminder that AI doesn’t eliminate the need for structure—it exposes where it never existed. If organizations want AI to perform reliably, content can no longer be treated as a byproduct of publishing. It has to be treated as infrastructure.

February 24, 2026Episode 231 min

Agentic AI: Turning compliance into a revenue engine in 2026

Kristina Podnar reconnects with Brian Bauer to explore what’s changed in just a few months as agentic AI moves from experimentation to execution in banking and other regulated industries. They unpack the “year of reckoning” for AI ROI, why compliance can accelerate innovation instead of blocking it, and how organizations can use AI to reduce costs, increase revenue, and compete at the speed of business—without sacrificing prudence.

February 11, 2026Episode 129 min

Industry is setting the AI guardrails: Are you ready?

In this episode, Kristina Podnar sits down with Camille Stewart Gloucester to unpack what’s durable in today’s AI policy landscape — and what’s just noise. Tune is for why AI governance isn’t about regulation alone, but about infrastructure: decision rights, data access, organizational design, and continuous learning. Camille shares what she’s seeing across industry and government, where organizations are overconfident, and why retrofitting governance gets exponentially harder once AI systems are embedded. If you’re trying to balance speed, risk, and performance without defaulting to paralysis, this conversation is for you.

December 15, 2025Episode 328 min

Shadow AI, boardroom blind spots, and the insurance wake-up call

As AI adoption races ahead of regulation, companies are facing a new and largely uncharted risk landscape. In this episode of The Power of Digital Policy, Kristina Podnar is joined by Russ Fradin, CEO of Larridin, and Michael Levine, Partner at Hunton Andrews Kurth, to unpack the realities of shadow AI, emerging legal exposure, and the quiet but significant shift happening in insurance coverage. From boardroom oversight to operational failures driven by AI systems, this conversation explores why simply “not knowing” is no longer a defensible position for executives.

October 21, 2025Episode 238 min

Agentic AI in banking: How compliance accelerates innovation

Citi’s recent AI agent rollout signals a new phase for banking innovation. But can compliance really make things faster? Kristina Podnar talks with Brian Bauer of Rational Exponent and explores how smart policy and explainable AI can turn regulation into a competitive advantage.

May 12, 2025Episode 132 min

Trust, Transparency, and the Future of Digital Privacy

In this episode of The Power of Digital Policy, Kristina hosts a thought-provoking conversation with Cindy Warner, a technology veteran and founder of 360ofme, a platform that empowers individuals with greater control over their personal data. Cindy reflects on her transition from deep technologist to strategic leader at companies like FedEx, EY, PWC, IBM, and Salesforce. She explores the pivotal role of trust in digital relationships, emphasizing that ethical data use is the foundation for responsible AI and innovative digital services. They discuss how consent, data minimization, and transparency are critical for maintaining customer loyalty and trust. The conversation also touches on the risks of passive data sharing, the importance of identity verification, and the potential impact of stronger privacy regulations in the U.S. Cindy concludes with advice for the next generation of technologists, encouraging them to find their voice, articulate their value, and lead with a clear vision for the future.

September 20, 2024Episode 631 min

Navigating the complexities of data privacy and cybersecurity

In this episode, Kristina talks with international attorney Joe Dehner to explore the evolving landscape of data privacy and cybersecurity. With over 50 years of experience in global law, Joe shares his insights on how businesses can navigate complex legal frameworks, the importance of building privacy-centric infrastructures, and how organizations can balance innovation with compliance in a fast-changing digital world.

June 11, 2024Episode 534 min

Leading digital transformation for smart cities and public service

In this episode, we are joined by Lawrence Eta, a leader at one of Saudi Arabia's mega projects and former CTO of the City of Toronto, Canada. Lawrence shares his extensive experience and insights on transforming cities through digital innovation, the importance of servant leadership, and fostering community involvement in policy development. Hear this inspiring discussion on the evolving concept of smart cities, the role of data in digital transformation, and how to create agile, responsive public services. Lawrence also talks about his new book, "Bridging Worlds," which chronicles his journey in technology leadership and offers actionable lessons for the next generation of public service leaders. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the future of urban digital transformation and public service.