Best Ariel Lopez Podcasts (2024)

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(Ep. 086) RenderATL Unplugged with Justin E. Samuels 34:31

14d ago34:31

34:31

On episode 086 of Black Tech Unplugged, Deena chats with Justin E. Samuels, the visionary entrepreneur behind Render Atlanta Conference and a senior engineer at Intuit Mailchimp. We delve into the upcoming RenderATL event, discussing conference tracks, special guests, and even sharing a discount code for listeners. Justin also shares insights on hi…

1
(Ep. 085) Importance of Tech Community Unplugged with Gabrielle Crevecouer 52:48

23d ago52:48

52:48

Welcome to episode 85 of the pod!This episode features Gabrielle or maybe you know her as NoWaySheCodes, a tech-savvy girlie with a passion for coding and content creation. She has a degree in Computer Science and a knack for breaking down complex tech concepts. Gabbie has navigated her way through the ever-evolving landscape of technology.On this …

1
(Ep.084) How to Transition and Thrive in Tech Unplugged with Lisa G 57:52

1M ago57:52

57:52

I'm excited to announce the new season of Black Tech Unplugged is now live! On this episode, I had the pleasure of chatting with Lisa G, a seasoned technologist with over 20 years of experience in the industry. We delved into her thriving career in tech, her journey from software engineering to product management, and her insights on the current te…

1
(Ep. 083) Venture Capital (VC) Unplugged with Kelli Jones 46:11

6M ago46:11

46:11

On this episode of Black Tech Unplugged, host Deena McKay sits down with the remarkable Kelli Jones, co-founder and general partner for Sixty8 Capital. They discuss Kelly's journey in tech, her work as a VC, and the importance of emotional intelligence in the industry. Plus, Deena shares some valuable resources for improving emotional intelligence.…

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(Ep. 082) ThinkChicago Unplugged with Trenton Dunn 36:30

6M ago36:30

36:30

On this episode of Black Tech Unplugged, host Deena McKay interviews Trenton Dunn, the program manager for Think Chicago at World Business Chicago. This live podcast episode was recorded at GET Exploration, an event that showcased Chicago-based tech professionals and companies. Trenton discusses his role in attracting and retaining STEM talent thro…

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(Ep. 081) Quality & Testing in Tech Unplugged with Vernon Richards 45:41

7M ago45:41

45:41

On this episode of Black Tech Unplugged, host Deena McKay interviews Vernon Richards, a UK powerhouse in the tech industry. Vernon shares his journey from testing video games to becoming a senior expert quality engineer at a health tech company. He discusses the importance of quality and testing in building better products and delivering effective …

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(Ep. 080) The Atlanta Tech Ecosystem Unplugged with Ariel Lopez 48:41

7M ago48:41

48:41

In this episode of Black Tech Unplugged, host Deena McKay, chats with Ariel Lopez.Ariel is the Founder and CEO of Knac, a hiring platform that reduces bias in the application process and a known tech mover in Atlanta. On this episode we discuss Atlanta's booming tech ecosystem, the city's connection to capital, and Ariel's previous career as a care…

1
(Ep. 079) Agile and Process Improvement Unplugged with Shayna Atkins 47:38

8M ago47:38

47:38

On episode 079 of Black Tech Unplugged, I chat with Shayna Atkins, founder of AtkCo and a product development expert. AtkCo is a process improvement firm that helps customers with innovative product design, management, training, and managed services. Shayna and I discuss agile and its significance in the tech industry, her work in driving innovatio…

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(Ep. 078) FinTech Unplugged with Solo Funds Co-Founder Rodney Williams 38:49

8M ago38:49

38:49

In this episode of Black Tech Unplugged, host Deena McKay welcomes Rodney Williams, founder of Solo Funds, to discuss the peer-to-peer lending platform and its mission to provide an alternative to payday loans. Rodney shares how Solo Funds connects individuals with lenders and has redefined access to capital for over 1.5 million users. Tune in to l…

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(Ep. 077) Techquity Unplugged with William A. Adams 48:44

9M ago48:44

48:44

On this episode of Black Tech Unplugged, host Deena McKay interviews William A. Adams, an award-winning D&I innovator, engineering trailblazer, and philanthropist. With over 35 years of experience in software engineering and as one of the first Black entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley, William shares his journey and accomplishments. He discusses his r…

1
(Ep. 076) Pursing a PhD Unplugged with Dr. Khalia Braswell 50:36

9M ago50:36

50:36

On a new episode of Black Tech Unplugged, Dr. Kalia Braswell joins host Deena McKay to discuss her career in the tech industry. Dr. Braswell, an accomplished technologist, educator, and researcher, shares her educational background, including her degrees in computer science, information technology, and education. Dr. KB discusses her PhD research o…

1
(Ep. 075) Application Security Unplugged with Nancy Gariche 41:21

1y ago41:21

41:21

In this episode of Black Tech Unplugged, Deena McKay interviews senior developer advocate Nancy Gariché about application security. We discuss the different roles in the tech industry and how to build & impact community, even if you aren’t an influencer or have a brand. Nancy also shares insights about bridging the gap between security researchers,…

1
(Ep.074) Cybersecurity Unplugged with Henri Davis 43:20

1y ago43:20

43:20

In this episode of Black Tech Unplugged, I interview cybersecurity professional Henri Davis, also known as HD from the YouTube channel Techtual Chatter and host of the Techtual Talk podcast. We discuss topics such as cybersecurity, finding a job in tech, navigating a layoff, and the importance of taking a placeholder role until you get to the role …

1
(Ep. 073) App Founder Unplugged with Chris Witherspoon 45:47

1y ago45:47

45:47

Chris Witherspoon is a multi-faceted man. He’s a son, father, entertainment reporter and Founder.On this episode of the podcast I am focused on the Founder side of Chris. This man is taking your tv and movie watching experience to another level with his app, Pop Viewers.Download PopViewers (only available for iPhone): https://apps.apple.com/us/app/…

1
(Ep. 072) Art Imitating Life: Understanding the Life of a CTO Unplugged 1:14:14

1y ago1:14:14

1:14:14

As a person in tech, have you ever dreamed of having a roundtable discussion with your peers where you have an honest, candid conversation about your experiences?Well grab your tea because that is exactly what this episode is giving.On episode 072, I sit down with the creator of the drama series, Frame of Reference (a series about a young highly co…

1
(Ep. 071) Being a Tech Founder Unplugged with Marcus Jimenez 45:05

1y ago45:05

45:05

Is founder an inclusive term?According to my guest, Marcus Jimenez, the answer is no. But to find out why you’ll have to listen to the episode.But while I’m here, let me introduce Marcus, Founder of the BreeFly App & one of the stars in Founding in Color Season 2 on Peacock.He joins be on episode 071 to talk about his career journey as an entrepren…

1
(Ep. 070) Technical Sourcing Unplugged with Yasmine Hill 47:49

1y ago47:49

47:49

At some point I think we've all wondered what goes on in the mind of a recruiter?Lucky for you, Yasmine Hill allows me to live out our dreams. On this episode I talk with Yaz, a technical sourcer at Uber, about all things tech recruiting. We chat about her career journey from theater major to recruiter, what she looks for when sourcing candidates, …

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(Ep. 069) C-Suite Life Unplugged with Tariq King 44:59

1+ y ago44:59

44:59

I've met many people who's journey leaves me speechless, but this dude right here is literally a badass.Met Tariq King, VP of Product-Service Systems at EPAM, but more importantly a man who learned how to code at 3 years old (yup you read that right). A man who is also a thought leader, published author, and international keynote who can talk for h…

1
(Ep. 068) Where Am I Now: Deena McKay Unplugged 25:36

1+ y ago25:36

25:36

It's officially 2023 and boy have things changed!Listen to my solo episode detailing my transitions as well as providing you with advice and tips as a result of my journey.I touch on how to get a new job, interviewing, how to look good in the first 30 days of a new job, and also I give a few predictions of what I think tech will look like in 2023.F…

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(Ep. 067) Crossover Special with The Modern Figures Podcast 48:44

1+ y ago48:44

48:44

It's the crossover episode you didn't know you needed yall!On this episode of Black Tech Unplugged I'm joined by the ladies of the Modern Figures Podcast (modernfigurespodcast.com) and we talk about their careers in academia. And let me tell you, they do A LOT. You think a professor is only teaching students, well that's only 20%-30%!Listen to the …

1
(Ep. 066) Software Engineering Unplugged with Andre Hitchman 44:01

1+ y ago44:01

44:01

We all know and agree that getting into tech is no easy feat.Allow me to introduce you to Andre Hitchman, a UK software engineer who even after being denied a job many times and becoming highly discouraged in the process, still got into tech. And not only did he get into the industry, he's helping others into tech through his organization, Xuntos.F…

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(Ep. 065) Ad Tech Unplugged with Steven Coyle 57:34

1+ y ago57:34

57:34

Ever see an ad about a product you were talking about with a friend?Keep seeing ads for a pair of shoes you looked at weeks ago?Well that's because the internet is stalking us... literally. On this episode my guest, Steven Coyle, and I discuss all things ad tech. We dive into how ad tech is affecting our daily lives (supposedly in a beneficial way)…

1
(Ep. 064) Misinformation Unplugged with Joe Miller 37:16

1+ y ago37:16

37:16

Misinformation on the internet is running rampant like never before. But we can protect ourselves and our loved ones from spreading it like wildfire.Guest 064 of the podcast, Joe Miller, discusses how we can combat against misinformation in the digital age. He also discusses how we can protect ourselves online as well as how we can get involved in …

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(Ep. 063) She's in CTRL Unplugged with Anne-Marie Imafidon 50:49

1+ y ago50:49

50:49

Never in my life did I think I'd actually talk to a child protege let alone interview them.Meet Dr. Anne-Marie Imafidon, protege, keynote speaker, creator of the award-winning social enterprise, Stemettes, and author.On episode 063, Anne-Marie and I discuss her journey as a child protege, why internships are important and how to get the most out of…

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(Ep. 062) Demystifying Tech with Grace MacJones 52:38

1+ y ago52:38

52:38

Grace MacJones has made it her mission to demystify tech for people. And on this episode she does just that! On episode 062 of the podcast, Grace and I delve into the deep world of web3 and what that means for our future. Listen and learn about web3 resources, why decentralized social media apps could be the future, and how you can jump in at the e…

1
(Ep. 061) Tech Design Unplugged with Senongo Akpem 43:31

1+ y ago43:31

43:31

This man sent out his resume 131 times before getting a job as a designer in tech. This same man is now a Director at Nava, a civ tech organization based in Washington DC. On episode 061 you get to meet Senongo Akpem. A man who took has taken is worldly experiences and creates visual magic.On this episode we discuss:- his long journey to get into t…

1
(Ep. 060) DevOps Unplugged with Jennifer Opal 49:07

2y ago49:07

49:07

Asking questions and staying curious can be a game changer for your career. Just ask Jennifer Opal, the UK sensation that was winner of the Tech Women 100 Award, named a Rising Star in Tech, and is a keynote speaker at some of your favorite conferences.On this episode we discuss:- her role as DevOps Engineer at Dropbox- Being neurodivergent in tech…

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(Ep. 059) Tech Placement Unplugged with Jermaine Murray 47:01

2y ago47:01

47:01

Jermaine will get you an offer you can’t refuse.Yes, you are meeting the JobFather.On episode 059 of the podcast I talk to Jermaine Murray about his role as CEO of JupiterHR, his career coaching and tech career placement firm that’s helping increase the number of Blacks in tech.Also in this episode we discuss:- how Jermaine transitioned into tech- …

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(Ep. 058) Technical Product Manager Unplugged with Art Butler 47:45

2y ago47:45

47:45

This episode is for my technical bros and sistas! Grab your notebook because my guest, Art Butler, is dropping a ton of technical dimes in this episode. Art talks about his current role as technical product manager and what that truly means. He also goes into his previous life as a Dev Ops Architect. He breaks down what Dev Ops is, the tools you ne…

1
(Ep. 057) What is Scrum and How You Can Use It 20:12

2y ago20:12

20:12

After episode 053 some of yall were asking questions about scrum so I had to hit you with a new solo episode to talk about the basics of scrum. In episode 057 I talk about what is scrum, the key members of a scrum team, and the scrum ceremonies a team performs for each iteration.Full show notes for this episode: https://blacktechunplugged.com/2022/…

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(Ep. 056) Chief Information Officer Unplugged with Celestine Pressley 44:21

2y ago44:21

44:21

Who would think in 2022 we still have to announce the first Black (fill in the blank)?Well allow me to introduce to you to the FIRST BLACK FEMALE CIO (Chief Information Officer) of the White House Office of the United States Trade Representative(USTR), Celestine Pressley.Jump into this episode to hear her talk about working in the White House and h…

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(Ep. 055) Tech Creative Life Unplugged with Elise Swopes 48:59

2y ago48:59

48:59

Connect with Deena for Career Coaching: https://calendly.com/deena-m-mckay/15minFailing upward can be a beautiful thing and Elise Swopes tells us how that's possible. She turned her rock bottom, purposeless life into an intentional, healthy, abundant, purposeful experience. That's powerful! Learn how Elise went from college dropout and couch crashi…

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(Ep. 054) CEO Life Unplugged with Kelly Manthey 39:47

2+ y ago39:47

39:47

If you ever wanted to get inside the mind of a CEO, today is your lucky day.I had the pleasure to sit & chat with my company (Kin+Carta)Group Chief Executive, Kelly Manthey. We talk about her career path, the top tech topics including burnout and remote working, and dare I say we talk about RACE. Yes you read that right, we go deep on this episode!…

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(Ep. 053) Scrum Master Life Unplugged with Deena McKay 25:01

2+ y ago25:01

25:01

Have you ever wondered what your Scrum Master actually does at work? Well it's a lot more than you think.Join Black Tech Unplugged host, Deena McKay, for an episode where you learn more about her role as a Scrum Master, the responsibilities that come with the role, and how she wants to help you in 2022! (And also how you can help her.)Full show not…

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(Ep. 052) When People Can Attract the Money...: Black Tech Unplugged with Deena and Du'An 35:33

2+ y ago35:33

35:33

You may know Du'An Lightfoot as Mr. Lab Everyday, but on this episode he is my co-host.On episode 052, Du'An and I give a brief update on his current tech role and touch on several of the top tech stories. We speak about Elizabeth Holmes (CEO of Theranos) and her current fraud trial, the iPod turning 20 this year (this is where we show our age), Sn…

1
(Ep. 051) Azure Specialist & Content Creation Unplugged with Hosanna Hali 50:07

2+ y ago50:07

50:07

One day this young woman thought she was going to work in finance, next thing you know she is working in tech at a major corporation. And that is the beginning of Hosanna Hali's story into tech. Even though she took the unconventional path into tech she is making a big impact on the UK tech scene. Not only is she an Azure specialist, she is also a …

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(Ep. 050) An Ode to Amazon Drivers: Black Tech Unplugged 33:59

2+ y ago33:59

33:59

Black Tech Unplugged has officially hit 50 episodes! Thank you to every single person who listens to the podcast repeatedly, it doesn't go unnoticed at all.As a way to say thank you I have two treats for you:1. Referral link to get more tech news in your inbox via emerging tech brew newsletter: morningbrew.com/emerging-tech/r/?kid=783aa0442. A disc…

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(Ep. 049) VP Life Unplugged with Brandy Hays Morrison 44:07

2+ y ago44:07

44:07

Brandy Hays Morrison's mom had a dream. That her kids would one day work at IBM. Well she got her dream(and then some). Allow me to introduce you to Brandy, VP of Strategic Growth at Pluribus Digital, but more importantly a Black woman with resilience and a tech journey that you would never believe. Listen to episode 049 to hear the story of a woma…

1
(Ep. 048) Chop Chop Back to Business (NOT): Black Tech Unplugged 28:11

2+ y ago28:11

28:11

VOTE FOR MY SXSW PANEL: panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote/118371*Note: You have to create an account before votingAfrica and I are back together yall! Bringing you a good kiki and the latest tech news. To be specific in this episode we cover:- Deena's SXSW Panel - Code Switching: Lifestyle or Necessary Evil?: panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote/118371- How OnlyFans …

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(Ep. 047) Chief Information Officer Life Unplugged with Teri Green-Mason 51:23

2+ y ago51:23

51:23

VOTE FOR MY SXSW PANEL: https://panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote/118371*Note: You have to create an account before votingOn this episode I am joined by the outspoken, positive being known as Teri Green-Mason. She tells us the story about starting off her career as an intern (it sounds normal, but it's not what you think) and how she climbed the corporate …

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(Ep. 046) Black Tech Unplugged with Africa and Deena 31:03

3y ago31:03

31:03

Black Tech Unplugged is back with a new episode and a new format!On this episode Deena welcomes guest co-host, Africa Miranda, and together we discuss a few of the top tech stories of the past week. We want to share with you how tech decisions affect our community as well as share events that are happening in the tech space.In this episode we cover…

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(Ep. 045) Diversity & Inclusion: Buzzword, Movement or BS? : #BTUatSXSW 50:20

3y ago50:20

50:20

Remember my mama I made it moment from this year, getting to speak at SXSW? Well now I get to share the experience with you!That's right today I get to release my SXSW set titled "Diversity & Inclusion: Buzzword, Movement or BS?" to all of you!So join myself, Lisa Magill of Aleria, and Lisa Godwin of You Are Tech & the The New York Times, as we dis…

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(Ep. 044) The More You Learn, the More You Earn: Kanika Tolver Unplugged 51:12

3y ago51:12

51:12

Have you met a Black woman who made the six figure club in tech before they turned 30?Have you seen a Black woman dominating the tech industry in various ways?Well let me introduce you to episode 044's guest, Kanika Tolver. Kanika is a project manager, career coach, and author who is showing us how to run game in tech. On this episode we talk about…

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(Ep. 043) Tech Reporting Unplugged with Nitasha Tiku Unplugged 56:04

3y ago56:04

56:04

Not many know about the world of tech culture reporting, so I decided to dive deep into that world.On this episode of Black Tech Unplugged I interview Nitasha Tiku, tech culture reporter for the Washington Post. We go deep on her latest article for the Washington Post titled "Google's approach to historically Black schools helps explain why there a…

1
(Ep. 042) Failure is Your Best Teacher: Jay Hammonds Unplugged 43:57

3+ y ago43:57

43:57

If your internship company left you in the lobby for 4 hours on your first day would you still be there?Well this happened to Jay Hammonds and let me tell you his 4 hour wait helped turn him into an award winning technologist. On this episode of Black Tech Unplugged, Jay Hammonds, Executive Support Engineering Team at Facebook, talks about how he w…

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(Ep. 041) Civic Tech Unplugged with Zeryn Sarpangal, Chris Kuang & Andréa Viza 45:29

3+ y ago45:29

45:29

On this episode of Black Tech Unplugged I want you to meet Zeryn Sarpangal (Chief Financial and People Officer at Code for America), Chris Kuang (Co-Founder and Director of Operations of Coding it Forward), and Andréa Viza (Director of Talent for the United States Digital Service (USDS)).These 3 individuals are leaders in the civic tech sector and …

1
(Ep. 040) Serial Entrepreneurship Unplugged with Dawn Dickson Unplugged 38:45

3+ y ago38:45

38:45

Serial Entrepeneur.Inventor.First female founder to raise over $1M in a Reg CF campaign.You heard her on episode 011 (https://blacktechunplugged.com/2018/03/27/episode-11-dawn-dickson-unplugged/), but Dawn Dickson is back again! On this episode of Black Tech Unplugged we chat about Dawn's company Popcom, a tech company that is innovating how we loo…

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(Ep. 039) How You Gon Win When You Ain't Right Within (Your Tech Org): Everett Harper Unplugged 52:56

3+ y ago52:56

52:56

On this episode I speak to Everett Harper, CEO & Co-founder of Truss (https://truss.works/). Everett leaves nothing on the table as we talk about his journey in tech as an entrepreneur, how we can use our race issues to finally address diversity in tech, & he even gives extensive advice on how you can get on the board of your dream. And that's hone…

1
(Ep. 038) Be Comfortable With Being Uncomfortable: Devon Prince Unplugged 42:06

4y ago42:06

42:06

Devon Prince grew up thinking that being a police officer or his job at KFC was enough for him. Boy was he wrong!Thanks to his uncle, who called him with the chance of a lifetime, he was introduced to the organization called Year Up and his whole life changed in a flash. He went from frying chicken to working as a IT Global Service Desk Analyst at …

1
(Ep. 037) Being the Only One in the Office Isn’t All Its Cracked Up to Be: Caren Young Unplugged 37:34

4y ago37:34

37:34

Episode 037 features Caren Young, who for the past 14 years helped Fortune 1000 companies build, market, and sustain products that are user-centric and based in research. She has helped organizations craft compelling stories, execute, iterate, and get results. Blending a background in the social sciences, advertising, product management and diversi…

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