Shows
TalkingHeadz PodcastChatz: June 2025 Infocomm and SeachangeIn this episode of TalkingPointz Chatz, Dave Michels and David Danto unpack a series of “sea changes” sweeping across tech and communications. They start by examining how AI engines are replacing traditional search tools, reshaping how users find information. The conversation shifts to LinkedIn’s emergence as the dominant professional social platform in the wake of Twitter’s decline. Most notably, they dive into the evolution of meeting room technology – from proprietary video appliances to streamlined BYOD/BYOM setups – and highlight the manufacturers that are embracing this shift, including Barco, Jabra, Logitech, and others. It’s a fast-paced, thoughtful loo...2025-06-0215 minTalkingHeadz PodcastAndy Says RTO Five Days a WeekIn this episode of TalkingPointz Talking Headz, David Danto and Dave Michels, joined by Metrigy Research’s Irwin Lazar, dive into the hot topic of Amazon’s recent push to bring employees back to the office full-time. They unpack the real motivations behind the memo, revealing its connections to industry-wide layoffs and corporate real estate pressures and other explanations. This candid conversation offers a fresh perspective on what the return-to-office push from Amazon’s CEO is truly all about..2024-09-2835 minTalkingHeadz PodcastTalkingHeadz with Scott WhartonI was conflicted when Scott Wharton announced his plans to leave enterprise comms to save the world. I was elated the world would now be saved, but what a loss. It was like one of those be-careful-what-you-wish-for episodes of the Twilight Zone. - Dave Michels. Scott Wharton is a seasoned expert in enterprise comms and video, with a notable career spanning influential roles at Broadsoft, Vidtel (a company he founded and sold), and Logitech. His vision and leadership have always aimed to revolutionize the industry by enabling seamless communications across modalities and platforms. His insights into...2024-09-1947 minTalkingHeadz PodcastTalkingHeadz Chatz with Ilya on MDEP.Microsoft has a new operating system, it's based on open source Android, will appear first in Teams meeting rooms, and it's called MDEP. The latest TalkingHeadz podcast has Dave Michels and David Danto chatting with with Microsoft’s Ilya Bukshteyn exploring the Microsoft Device Ecosystem Platform (MDEP.) This will be a customized Android distribution aimed at enhancing device interoperability and security through centralized updates and rigorous standards. It addresses challenges like inconsistent Android versions across OEMs, emphasizing long-term benefits such as improved stability and reduced maintenance. While MDEP is poised to become integral to Microsoft Teams dev...2024-07-1547 minTalkingHeadz PodcastTalkingHeadz with Kevin McMenamy, CTO of NeatIn this engaging episode of TalkingPointz - Talking Headz, hosts Dave Michels and David Danto chat with Kevin McMenamy, the CTO of Neat, to delve into his fascinating journey through the video conferencing industry. Kevin shares insights from his early days at Cisco, where he contributed to pioneering video technologies like IP telephony video and telepresence, to his current role at Neat, where cutting-edge video solutions are developed. The conversation covers the evolution of video conferencing, the challenges and triumphs of integrating multiple firms into Cisco, and the vibrant, innovative culture at Neat that keeps Kevin passionate a...2024-07-1143 minTalkingHeadz PodcastMTR Ecosystem Shakeout?Dave Michels and David Danto dive into the Microsoft Teams Rooms (MTR) ecosystem, examining its evolution, current dynamics, and future implications. They highlighted Microsoft's milestone of surpassing 1 million MTR installations and discussed the market impact of Cisco joining the ecosystem, potentially disrupting vendor success and market strategies. It's an impressive ecosystem of vendors that has expanded over the years to meet the growing needs of the Teams community. However, one of the last vendors to join the ecosystem, Cisco, is also one of the largest. The inclusion of Cisco, described as a significant and potentially di...2024-06-1033 minTalkingHeadz PodcastWhy Are So Many Comms Execs Quitting?In this episode of Talking Points Chatz, Dave Michels and Dave Danto discuss the high turnover rates among C-suite executives in various industries, particularly in the tech sector. They note that numerous high-profile leaders, including the CEOs of Nice, AWS, Twilio, and Bandwidth.com, have announced their departures recently. Danto highlights that a record number of CEO changes have occurred in the US, attributing it to factors such as the stress of navigating companies through the pandemic and current economic uncertainties. Michels and Danto explore the impact of AI, financial instability, geo...2024-05-2115 minTalkingHeadz PodcastOctober Insider ReportMost TalkingHeadz episodes are interviews, but in this episode we Dave and Evan cover current events. TalkingPointz Insider Reports publish the first week of every month and cover the enterprise news that mattered the prior month. In this podcast, Dave and Evan discuss the most recent Insider Report covering the news of October 2022. The October 2022 Insider Report was published on Nov 2.Most Insider Reports are about 10 pages long, but designed for easy skimming. This podcasts only covers a condensed selection of topics. Subscriptions to Insider Reports can be purchased here. A...2022-11-0930 minTalkingHeadz PodcastDavid Sipes Answers the Call at 8x8Dave and Evan discuss life in the UCaaS driver's seat with Dave Sipes, the CEO of 8x8. We cover XCaaS, the economy, Teams, stadiums, and much more. Many of us met Dave during his 12 year stint at RingCentral, ending with the role of Chief Operating Officer. It was an extraordinary period for RingCentral. Dave led innovation, engineering, global sales, marketing, customer care, international operations, corporate development, and business development. Dave left RingCentral in June of 2020 ... and emerged as the CEO of 8x8 in December of 2020.Before joining Rin...2022-05-2435 minTalkingHeadz PodcastTalkingHeadz with Kira Makagon of RingCentralDave and Evan meet with Kira Makagon, Chief Innovation Officer, RingCentral.Kira is a serial entrepreneur that landed at RingCentral in 2012. In her current role as Chief Innovation Officer she leads product strategy, product management and design, engineering and R&D. She has had a tremendous impact on RingCentral. Before RingCentral she co-founded several technology companies, including Octane (acquired by E.piphany NASDAQ: EPNY) for $3.2 billion, and RedAril (acquired by Hearst). Learn more about Kira at KiraMakagon.com. Kira is one of the most influential p...2021-06-2433 min