What’s happening right now on the frontlines of tech? From the C-Suite and Capitol Hill to AI and quantum computing, Niki breaks down trending tech to help savvy listeners get even smarter. A zippy conversation about emerging technology hosted by industry veteran Niki Christoff. Guests include experts, enthusiasts, regulators, policymakers, CEOs, and reporters. New episodes bi-weekly.
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Tech on the Hill • Andrew Desiderio (Punchbowl News)
22:57
22:57
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22:57
Punchbowl News reporter, Andrew Desiderio joins Niki in the studio to share his insider handicapping of the state of play of tech policy on the Hill. They talk KOSA/COPPA 2.0, the DEFIANCE Act, and legislative gridlock. Andrew shares why 2024 has been a good year for major tech policy legislation despite the Senate being de-incentivized to pass tec…
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Profiles in Tech: Grit & Gratitude • Tiffany Moore (CTA)
22:48
22:48
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22:48
SVP of Political and Industry Affairs at the Consumer Technology Association, Tiffany Moore, gives a behind-the-scenes look at their popular CES tradeshow, shares why she’s passionate about their $10 million venture fund focused on increasing diversity in tech, and talks about the importance of GlobalWIN in helping to mentor others. "...whether you…
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The Case for Digital Solidarity • Pablo Chavez
27:23
27:23
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27:23
Adjunct Fellow at CNAS and Founder of Tech Policy Solutions, Pablo Chavez joins Niki in the studio to explain digital solidarity and digital sovereignty, swap campaign convention memories, and discuss US policy when it comes to the global internet. They talk State Dept. footnotes, the TikTok ban, and the future of the open internet. “ ...the United…
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Runway Strategies Co-Founder Dave Barmore joins Niki in the studio for a deep dive into the wave of tech regulations coming from the states. They talk about gridlock at the federal level and why tech needs to pay attention to the states when it comes to pending policy regulations facing AI, data privacy, and social media. "in terms of bills getting…
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Head of Global Public Policy at Discord, Ross LaJeunesse, joins Niki in the studio to talk about how the app delivers today on the original promise of the internet - community and communication. He lays out how Discord fosters genuine servers-based connection, why it’s so important to small game developers, and what regulators should consider when …
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Crypto Council for Innovation CEO Sheila Warren breaks down crypto, Web3, and blockchain once and for all. She and Niki discuss crypto’s future on Capitol Hill and how it might impact this election season, the critical role blockchain has in making AI more transparent, and why you might already have a Web3 mindset. “Things like authenticity, tracki…
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NVIDIA’s Head of AI & Legal Ethics, Nikki Pope, talks about why how we talk about artificial intelligence matters and why making the tech representative of more people is important. She and Niki break down some of the myths surrounding the tech and re-examine what regulators should be focused on when they think of “existential threat” and AI. Spoil…
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Archer Aviation Takes Off • Adam Goldstein
29:14
29:14
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29:14
Archer Aviation Founder and CEO, Adam Goldstein, joins Niki in the studio to talk about why, after years of flying cars being science fiction, the eVTOL industry is taking off now, how coordination with the FAA is critical to American dominance in the industry, and what the future of travel looks like. He lays out a future in which flying cars will…
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Philanthropist and author of ‘Our Biggest Fight’, Frank McCourt sits down with Niki in the studio to lay out his vision for a decentralized internet. He shares why Project Liberty is focused on personhood online instead of data privacy, why a digital bill of rights is not the answer, and shares his optimism for technologists’ ability to build a bet…
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Quick Tech Takes • Surveillance, TikTok & Robots
19:52
19:52
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19:52
Corporate Counsel at Google, Kat Mauler, sits down with Niki in the Tech’ed Up studio to talk about what’s moving fast in tech news. They break down big legislative moves in Congress with the expansion of FISA Section 702 adding extra surveillance remit to the US government, the TikTok divestiture bill dominating the headlines - and why it’s not a …
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Profiles in Tech: Fighting Online Hate • Imran Ahmed
19:41
19:41
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19:41
The CEO and Founder of the Center for Countering Digital Hate, Imran Ahmed, joins Niki in the studio to talk about what his recent win against Elon Musk means for the proliferation of hate speech online. He and Niki debate who has moral responsibility for online hate but both agree the current climate is untenable. “CCDH advocates a market regulato…
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Quick Tech Takes • Privacy Legislation & Tech's AI Data Race
21:10
21:10
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21:10
Corporate Counsel at Google, Kat Mauler, joins Niki for a D.C. insider take on the latest tech headlines. They talk AI’s insatiable appetite for data and the landmark bipartisan data privacy bill making waves this week. Added bonus, zombie attacks in the Terms & Conditions and the sad trombone sounds of Amazon’s “Just Walk Out” tech. “You always wa…
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Profiles in Tech: Put Yourself in The Room • Jill Hazelbaker (Uber)
30:35
30:35
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30:35
SVP of Marketing and Public Affairs at Uber, Jill Hazelbaker, shares lessons learned from her career at the comms helm of John McCain’s presidential campaign, to jumping in head-first at Google, to what keeps her engaged and energized at Uber. “...most companies get a honeymoon period, and you would be very wise to use it to think about those argum…
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Quick Tech Takes • U.S. v. Apple & "The Rewiring of Childhood"
23:58
23:58
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23:58
Founder and CEO of the Chamber of Progress, Adam Kovacevich, joins Niki for a rapid-fire take on the latest tech headlines. They dive into the latest Big Tech anti-trust litigation and have a candid talk about childhood in the smartphone era. “Apple hasn't done anything in the U.S. differently than in Europe. So it's peculiarly American that we've …
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Head of Strategy at The Future US, Evan Burfield, joins Niki with an update on how hacking the regulatory environment for start-ups has changed over the last few years. They take a deep dive into minerals and bioeconomy tech, talk human brain interfaces, and how building coalitions is essential to being strategic in approaching Washington. “The Dep…
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Quick Tech Takes • TikTok & EU's Digital Markets Act
21:24
21:24
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21:24
Founder and CEO of the Chamber of Progress, Adam Kovacevich, joins Niki for a rapid-fire take on the latest tech headlines. They talk about TikTok’s headache in Washington, Europe’s misguided Digital Markets Act, and the state of play in Congress. “Even if this bill founders this year, the issue doesn't go away, right? That's the thing. The issue n…
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Billionaires Playing Politics • Teddy Schleifer (Puck)
27:36
27:36
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27:36
Puck reporter Teddy Schleifer pulls back the curtain on tech billionaires and political contributions. He and Niki look into the money and influence wielded by Silicon Valley titans over the presidential campaign. They talk about effective altruists, the “red-pilling” of Silicon Valley, and why tech donations to third-party candidates will continue…
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Quick Tech Takes • “Spamouflage,” Google Gemini, & ChatGPT
22:56
22:56
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22:56
Steer PR partner Lauren Tomlinson joins Niki for the second installment of Beyond the Buzz, the bi-weekly series of Tech’ed Up that digs into the comms, tech, and DC news creating headlines. They talk “Spamoflauge”, Gemini, and Chat GPT. Subscribe to the BLUF newsletter Read the Forbes article Read the Washington Post article Read the NY Times arti…
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The AI Ripple Effect • Dex Hunter-Torricke (DeepMind)
22:45
22:45
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22:45
Head of Global Communications and Marketing at DeepMind, Dex Hunter-Torricke, joins Niki in the studio to inject some optimism and hope into the doom n’ gloom AI conversations dominating the airwaves. He highlights exponentially innovative developments at the Google subsidiary like AlhpaFold, scientific discoveries of new crystals and minerals, and…
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Quick Tech Takes • Layoffs & Spy Satellites
23:17
23:17
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23:17
Steer PR partner Lauren Tomlinson joins Niki for the first installment of Beyond the Buzz, the bi-weekly series of Tech’ed Up that digs into the comms, tech, and DC news creating headlines. They swap hot takes on “jargon monoxide” when it comes to corporate layoffs, the new space race for AI-augmented satellite surveillance, and the Swifties’ impac…
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The Future of Podcasting • Jordan Newman (Spotify)
24:51
24:51
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24:51
Spotify’s Head of Content Partnerships, Jordan Newman, joins Niki remotely to celebrate Tech’ed Up going weekly and to share podcasting tips and tricks. This episode is a great listen for anyone who has thought they might want to join the ever-growing community of podcasters. Jordan also offers his take on what he thinks the impact of AI will be on…
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DC-based AI policy and governance expert, Chloe Autio, joins Niki in the studio to break down the state of play in Washington for AI regulations this year. They explore AI’s PR challenge, talk about the awkward optics of recent Congressional briefings, and Chloe explains why the term “artificial intelligence” conceals more than it reveals. “It real…
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What’s happening on the frontlines of tech? Tune in to Tech'ed Up for zippy conversations about emerging technology hosted by industry veteran Niki Christoff. From the C-Suite and Capitol Hill to AI and crypto, quantum computing to the decentralized internet, Niki breaks down the trends in tech to help savvy listeners get even smarter. Guests inclu…
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The Future of Digital Money • Matt Swinehart
27:28
27:28
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27:28
Managing Director at Rock Creek Global Advisors, Matt Swinehart, joins Niki in the studio to talk fintech and the future fate of the USD. Matt previews why alternatives to the US Dollar will be a hot topic globally in 2024, how the Libra project still impacts the way regulators are thinking about crypto, and shares his take on why the EU approaches…
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Profiles in Tech: Running at Walls • Meghan Joyce (Duckbill)
30:43
30:43
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30:43
Meghan Joyce, Co-Founder and CEO of AI startup Duckbill, joins Niki in the latest installment of our Profiles in Tech Series. She shares insights from her unconventional career path from the Treasury Department to raising venture capital for an early-stage Boston tech company with stops along the way at Bain Capital, Uber, and Oscar Healthcare. Nik…
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Bruce Mehlman, founder of Mehlman Consulting, a bi-partisan lobbying juggernaut in Washington, DC, joins Niki in the studio to share his thoughts on 2023 and tech. They have a spirited conversation about politics, progress, and the state of play for tech regulation that touches on AI, tech’s impact on polling, and social media. “AI's existence does…
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Assistant Director of the CIA for the Transnational and Technology Mission Center, Sheetal Patel, joins Niki in the studio to talk about how important tech is to their mission, partnerships with the private sector, and why they are actively recruiting technologists. This episode looks back at technology that the CIA helped bring to our everyday liv…
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Take Back Your Data • Martina Larkin (Project Liberty)
28:15
28:15
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28:15
CEO of Project Liberty, Martina Larkin, joins Niki remotely in the studio to talk about the non-profit’s hope for the future of the internet. They take a deep dive into data, decentralization, and how DSNP gives power back to the user. Niki makes the case for a digital backpack or ID and Martina shares how researchers, NGOs, and tech can partner to…
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"Futureproof" • Kevin Roose (New York Times)
32:50
32:50
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32:50
New York Times reporter and host of the popular podcast Hard Fork, Kevin Roose, joins Niki remotely to talk all things AI and why he’s a “sub-optomist” when it comes to how this latest tech revolution will impact our future. He shares some tips from his book, Futureproof, about how to be resilient in the age of AI in the workplace. Turns out being …
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Digital Ticket Era • Laura Dooley (StubHub)
33:41
33:41
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33:41
Laura Dooley, Head of Global Government Relations at StubHub, sits down with Niki in the studio to talk about the tech behind ticket pricing, why competition in the ticketing industry is so important for consumers, and highlights some smart and reasonable paths for policy solutions that will empower consumers and fans. "When you buy a ticket, it sh…
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Niki is joined by Penny Lee, President & CEO of the Financial Technology Association and Amena Ross, Head of Global Policy at CashApp for a fintech coffee klatch: What’s brewing in DC for fintech? They have a lively conversation about open banking, the fate of the CFPB, and data privacy. Amena explains why screen scraping is a good thing and Penny …
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Niki looks back at the last two years of Tech’ed Up and shares some of her favorite moments from the podcast. This episode highlights engaging clips from episodes featuring Bloomberg reporter Ashlee Vance, US presidential candidate and former Congressman Will Hurd, Washingtonian Tech Titan 2023 Amy Gilliland of GDIT, Senator Mark Warner (D-VA), Den…
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Profiles in Tech: From Oxford to Reddit • Jessica Ashooh
27:59
27:59
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27:59
Senior Director of Policy at Reddit, Jessica Ashooh, joins Niki remotely to talk about her non-traditional path to Silicon Valley - from earning a Ph.D. in International relations, to working in Abu Dhabi and at think tanks. They take a quick dive into how Reddit works, why its community is so passionate about governance, and, of course, talk cat s…
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CEO of Biofire, Kai Kloepfer, joins Niki remotely in the studio to talk smart guns. They explore the technology that helps make these guns a safer option for home protection, the unique challenges of developing deep tech hardware, and some sobering statistics that keep Kai and his team motivated to help with one small part of a major, uniquely Amer…
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Is Crypto Back from the Dead? • John Rizzo
31:46
31:46
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31:46
Former U.S. Treasury spokesperson, current SVP of Public Affairs at Clyde Group, and crypto commentator John Rizzo joins Niki in the studio to talk about the state of play of crypto. Is there a future for crypto in America or will unelected bureaucrats successfully push the industry overseas? They discuss the broader regulatory climate and how othe…
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DC & Tech Hot Topics • Ashley Gold (Axios)
23:40
23:40
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23:40
Axios reporter Ashley Gold joins Niki in the studio for a lighthearted conversation about what Big Tech should expect from Congress this year. They talk Federal Trade Commission dynamics, Ticketmaster drama, and foreign investments in the United States. Ashley shares her insights as the lead reporter for Axios’ Pro Tech Policy newsletter: Who’s int…
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AI, Hacks & Cyber Attacks • Paul Rosenzweig
31:14
31:14
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31:14
Former Department of Homeland Security official, Paul Rosenzweig, joins Niki in the studio to share his thoughts on AI, hacking, and national security. They dish some stories from the past and take a look to the future of big tech in China, talk AI hallucinations, and Paul shares his thoughts on what Congress should be doing to respond to the chang…
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Race for Space • Ashlee Vance (Bloomberg)
38:11
38:11
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38:11
NY Times best-selling author, reporter, and host of Hello World, Ashlee Vance joins Niki to talk about the wild and wonderful characters driving the new space race. He shares stories from his new book ‘When the Heavens Went on Sale’ and why he believes this new space gold rush will change life as we know it. "...if you're interested in money and, a…
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The Deep & Dark Web • Matteo Tomasini (District 4 Labs)
33:39
33:39
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33:39
Cyber defense expert, Matteo Tomasini, joins Niki on the podcast to shine a light into the deepest, darkest parts of the web. He explains the differences between the “Clearnet" aka the surface web, deep web, and the dark web. While they dive into the dangerous - and legitimate - motivations for anonymous web browsing, Matteo also provides helpful t…
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"Deep Fake Drake" • Jessica Powell (AudioShake)
28:04
28:04
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28:04
CEO and co-founder of AudioShake, Jessica Powell, joins Niki remotely to talk AI and music. Her company created tech that has helped artists and fans alike since before we ever heard of a musical “deep fake.” In this episode, they chat karaoke, video game music, and Jessica breaks down what a stem is - as well as the creative impact AI will have on…
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Kids & Social Media Addiction • Previn Warren
29:16
29:16
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29:16
Washington-based litigator, Previn Warren, joins Niki in the studio to talk about his law firm’s multi-district litigation against social media giants Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube. They discuss the growing epidemic of social media addiction among teens and tweens, and its impact on kids’ mental health, their developing brains,…
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Crypto for Good (for real) • Denelle Dixon (Stellar Development Foundation)
31:35
31:35
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31:35
Denelle Dixon, CEO of the Stellar Foundation, joins Niki in the studio to talk about the real world, right-now positive use cases blockchain technology is having on the underbanked. They explore the work the foundation is doing with the UNHCR and IRC in Ukraine, their partnership with MoneyGram, and why you should care. Denelle shares some sage adv…
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AI Deep Dive • Dorothy Chou (Google DeepMind)
30:22
30:22
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30:22
Head of Public Affairs for DeepMind, Dorothy Chou, is in Washington from London and joins Niki in the Tech’ed Up Studio to talk about the massive impact AI is already having on science, work, and the future of our economy. They cover the hard questions we all should be asking as this tech develops at breakneck speed, discuss the role of government …
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Cybersecurity veteran and VP of Global Security at IBM Consulting, Debbie Taylor Moore, joins Niki in the studio for an eye-opening discussion on the future of cybersecurity threats, the need for cyber literacy, and practical advice on how to protect yourself, your data, and your home online in the event of a critical breach or outage. "On the flip…
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Block Party CEO & Founder, Tracy Chou, joins Niki remotely to talk about what her team is doing to make the internet a safer place and why she’s passionate about their mission. Her app puts control back in the hands of social media users using block lists, lock-out filters, and other tips and tricks to combat trolls. The conversation covers why the…
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Online Speech & The Supreme Court • Emily Birnbaum (Bloomberg)
33:07
33:07
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Bloomberg reporter Emily Birnbaum visits Niki in the Tech’ed Up studio for a rollicking conversation about online speech and the U.S. Supreme Court’s forthcoming opinion on Gonzalez v. Google. This conversation covers the Justices’ overall vibes, the limitations of Section 230, Niki’s observations from inside the courtroom, and Emily’s assessment o…
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Making Sense of the Metaverse • Denise Zheng (Accenture)
26:44
26:44
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Denise Zheng, Managing Director for Strategic Initiatives in the Office of the CEO at Accenture, joins Niki in the studio to highlight ways the metaverse is already being put to work in business. She goes beyond the jargon of XR, AI, and web3 and explains what the metaverse is and why she thinks right now is a pivotal moment in the development of a…
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“Facts Favor the Optimist” • Rep. John Delaney (D-MD)
27:01
27:01
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27:01
Former Congressman and presidential candidate, John Delaney, joins Niki in the studio to discuss bipartisanship, practical policymaking, and answering the call to serve. From investing in de-carbonization projects to crafting AI policy, from banning gas stoves to TikTok, they cover it all in this wide-ranging conversation. "I think technological im…
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Chips, China & TikTok • Senator Mark Warner (D-VA)
20:28
20:28
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Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) joins Niki from Capitol Hill to take a deep dive into tech issues facing the 118th Congress. Specifically, Sen. Warner lays out the national security risks the United States faces from the Chinese Communist Party’s involvement in one of America’s favorite apps: TikTok. This conversation includes a look back at last year’s…
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Crypto Aftershocks: Live from CES • Sheila Warren
29:44
29:44
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Taped live from the main stage at the CES conference in Las Vegas, CEO of Crypto Council for Innovation Sheila Warren and Niki chat about all things crypto. After the crypto earthquake of FTX and the beginning of another crypto winter, what aftershocks does the industry face? Sheila shares why she’s still a true believer in the blockchain. "It [blo…
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