Best BIT Blacks In Technology Podcasts (2025)

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112. Transforming Cloud Innovation with Microsoft Fabric - with Jos Eilers 39:59

Play Pause

1d ago39:59

39:59

In this Betatalks episode, Rick and Oscar talk with Jos Eilers, a cloud principal at Twyzer, about his path from engineering to cloud and data platforms, focusing on the rise of Microsoft Fabric. Jos highlights how Fabric unifies data engineering, science, and business intelligence, while simplifying access with features like OneLake. They also dis…

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111. The Test Pyramid Is Dead: A New Era of Software Testing - with Bram Albers 45:55

15d ago45:55

45:55

In this Betatalks episode, Rick and Oscar talk with Bram Albers, Principal Quality Assurance at Betabit, about how software testing has evolved from an afterthought to a core part of development. They discuss how automation and AI improve efficiency but risk reducing critical thinking, making tester instincts and skepticism essential, and Bram warn…

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110. Smart Cloud Migration with Azure Technologies - with Rick & Oscar 36:58

3M ago36:58

36:58

In this podcast episode, Rick and Oscar discuss Virtual Vaults' journey of evolving their cloud infrastructure. They reflect on the shift from early cloud deployments to modern containerized solutions, detailing their use of Azure technologies like web roles, app services, and Azure Functions. Emphasizing a pragmatic and incremental approach, they …

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Diversifying talent pools across LATAM benefits everyone 34:41

3M ago34:41

34:41

Roger and Scott discuss Roger's path toward entrepreneurship and dive in within the challenges and changes required along his 14 year journey as Co-Founder and CEO. As Co-Founder and CEO of Braintly, Roger Einstoss helps American tech companies unlock the untapped potential of building engineering teams in Latin America. With 18+ years of experienc…

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109. Semantic Kernel to Raspberry Pi: Building Smart AI Solutions - with Jamie Maguire 45:07

3M ago45:07

45:07

In this Betatalks episode, Rick and Oscar talk with Jamie Maguire, a Microsoft MVP in AI and a certified Azure AI engineer associate. Jamie shares his journey from documenting his technical insights through blogging to becoming an active contributor to the tech community. They reflect on the evolution of AI from manual language processing to powerf…

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108. How PowerToys and AI Are Changing Windows Development - with Niels Laute 43:19

4M ago43:19

43:19

In this episode, we talk with Niels Laute, a senior Software Engineer at Microsoft, about the evolving world of Windows development and emerging technologies. From the experimental playground of PowerToys to the growing impact of on-device AI and edge computing, Niels shares how innovations like the ONNX runtime are making advanced tools more acces…

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107. Tech Without Limits: Innovating Through Open Source - with Nico Vermeir 40:22

4M ago40:22

40:22

In this episode, we talk with Nico Vermeir, a senior application architect and Microsoft MVP. He shares his journey from support technician to application architect, highlighting how passion and persistence helped him succeed without a formal degree. We discuss his involvement in Techorama, his contributions to the tech community and Open Source pr…

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BIT Tech Talk Ep. #151 w/ Dennis Campbell - Engineer, Entrepreneur, Emerging Tech Leader 1:33:35

4M ago1:33:35

1:33:35

On this episode of the BIT Tech Talk podcasts, Greg sits down with Dennis Campbell, an entrepreneur, executive and innovator with over 13 years of experience in tech, business, and emerging industries. Our discussion focuses on his path to tech, his first entrepreneurial ventures as well as what he’s working on in XR (Extended Reality), media, and …

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106. Where AI and Software Engineering Meet: Breaking the Black Box - with Megan Bloemsma 41:31

5M ago41:31

41:31

In this episode, we talk with Megan Bloemsma, who is a Data and AI specialist. We discuss the evolving tech landscape, stressing the importance of collaboration between data scientists and software engineers. She critiques the indiscriminate use of AI and advocates for more thoughtful, selective technology deployment. Megan also highlights the need…

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105. AI's Coding Breakthrough: Unstructured to Understood - with Andreas Wänqvist 42:53

5M ago42:53

42:53

In this episode of Betatalks, Andreas Wänqvist shares his journey from reluctant web developer to AI architect at Voyado, an Aurelia core team member, and Microsoft MVP. We discuss AI’s evolution in software development, from early skepticism about GitHub Copilot to embracing it as a game-changing assistant. Through personal stories and professiona…

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The Airline Name Code Episode! 20:09

5M ago20:09

20:09

Every airline in the world has a two-character designator code that represents the airline’s name identity across reservation systems, flight information displays, ticketing details, luggage tags, and all of the other places where showing an airline’s full name can be simplified by substituting that recognized designator code. The development of th…

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104. Decoding Software: Learning Through Experience - with Shawn Wildermuth 48:24

6M ago48:24

48:24

In this episode, we talk with Shawn, a consultant, architect, and Microsoft MVP, who thrives on learning and sharing knowledge about .NET, JavaScript, and more. His early experiences with computers fostered a mindset of curiosity, helping him navigate tech trends with a pragmatic approach. As an instructor, he prioritizes storytelling, hands-on exa…

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Hiring With Data w/ Tim Freestone 45:19

6M ago45:19

45:19

Tim and I get to know one another and explore Tim's unplanned journey in to entrepreneurship and the world of talent acquisition. Generally nobody foresees a path in to this unique industry and Tim was no different. Faced in a world of unexpected challenges provide us with an opportunity to innovate and create value in the most unexpected places. T…

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Let’s Have a Look! - An Airliner Window History 24:50

6M ago24:50

24:50

Have you ever found yourself looking out of a cabin window on an airliner, and wondered what was keeping you in - and the outside out - during your flight? If you ask an aerospace engineer what their ideal airliner cabin window size and shape is, they might just tell you that the ideal airliner has no cabin windows. They’re a hassle to design and b…

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103. Integrating AI in C#: Trade-offs and Best Practices - with Panu Oksala 36:06

6M ago36:06

36:06

In this episode, we talk with Panu, a Microsoft MVP and CTO at Adafy Oy. He shares his passion for technology and his hands-on role balancing coding, Azure tasks, and team engagement. We discuss Microsoft's latest AI developments, comparing Semantic Kernel and AI Extensions, and the challenges of integrating AI models. Panu also reflects on the evo…

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Delta, Detroit, and a Little Bit of Hub History! 27:13

6M ago27:13

27:13

Delta Air Lines has a rich history in the air travel business, and this year is celebrating its one hundredth year of operations. And while a lot of Delta’s story is focused on the southern United States where Delta was founded in Macon, Georgia - a state where Delta is headquartered today - there's another large Delta hub in the eastern half of th…

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102. Low-Code Development with the Evolving Power Platform and AI Tools - with Keith Atherton 36:29

7M ago36:29

36:29

In this episode, we talk with Keith, a Microsoft MVP, MCT, Power Platform solutions architect, international speaker, and much more. We discuss his professional work and community involvement. Keith shares how he collaborates with customers to design and build solutions using the evolving Power Platform. We explore the platform's maturity, includin…

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Warren Wheeler and The First Black-owned U.S. Airline 19:32

7M ago19:32

19:32

During the first fifty years of air travel in the United States, the airline industry - as a service provider, and as an employer - is largely focused on White people. Black Americans are usually locked out of many airline jobs until long after the 1940s, and Black households have little exposure to air travel, both because of the high cost, and th…

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101. From Minicomputers to Cloud Computing: How Technology Shapes Our World - with Rocky Lhotka 49:11

7M ago49:11

49:11

In this episode, we talk with Rocky, VP of Strategy at Xebia. We discuss his journey from programming in the 1980s to shaping modern development. We explore his passion for distributed computing—sparked by early networked arcade games—and reflect on major technological shifts, from the rise of PCs to AI’s growing influence. We dive into AI’s potent…

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Whatever Happened To: AirTran Airways? 30:20

7M ago30:20

30:20

One of the most successful U.S. start-up airlines of the 1990s had six airline brands, and several legal names, involved in just its first four years. Then it settled down to become a nimble competitor, known for low fares, a quality product, cheeky advertising, and a multi-billion dollar business volume that generated a long string of profitable a…

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Tickets, Please! - How Airline Tickets Have Evolved 33:05

7M ago33:05

33:05

Airline tickets have changed dramatically over the roughly hundred years of passenger air travel, transforming from a simple paper “proof of purchase” modeled on railroad passenger tickets, to today’s digital transaction and security records. Join me for this look at airline ticket history, and the steps along the way that have been made to ensure …

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Food Fight! The Great Transatlantic Sandwich Scuffle 17:24

7M ago17:24

17:24

Before large jet airliners accelerate air travel growth in the late 1950s, flying between continents is an exhausting experience, requiring fifteen hours or more for the flight to New York from Europe. To help travelers pass the time, meal service is a big focus for the airlines, and the cuisine offered is an important way to distinguish an airline…

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100. Blending Comedy and Code: From Young Programmer to Conference Entertainer - with Rendle 48:29

8M ago48:29

48:29

In the 100th episode of Betatalks the Podcast, Rick and Oscar celebrate the milestone with guest Rendle, a software development consultant at RendleLabs and member of the parody band The Line Breakers. Rendle shares the band’s journey from a comedy quiz round to performing tech-themed cover songs at conferences. He highlights his efforts to bring h…

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The U.S. Local Service Airlines - Air Service Everywhere! 40:35

8M ago40:35

40:35

The growth of the oldest U.S. Trunk or Mainline air carriers after 1945 drives demand for air travel, and new, larger airliners to meet that need. But as the airlines and their aircraft grow, many smaller U.S. cities are in danger of losing their air service because they don't generate enough passenger volume to match the larger and costlier airlin…

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99. Azure DevOps vs. GitHub: The Evolving Cloud Development Ecosystem - with Wesley Noordam 39:16

8M ago39:16

39:16

In this episode, we talk with Wesley, a cloud architect and expert, about the evolution of cloud offerings moving from IaaS to PaaS to serverless and the ongoing debate between Azure DevOps and GitHub. While opinions vary, the consensus is that Azure DevOps remains the more enterprise-ready platform, at least for now. We also dive into cloud securi…

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Above It All - America’s Helicopter Airlines 28:26

8M ago28:26

28:26

In some of the largest U.S. urban areas, road traffic congestion can be one of the biggest challenges to moving between the downtown area and the airport. Imagine, though, being able to get from Manhattan to La Guardia Airport in New York in just 6 minutes, or from Oakland to the San Francisco Airport in 7 minutes. For many years, scheduled service…

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98. Christmas Special: Looking back at 2024 - with Rick & Oscar 15:11

8M ago15:11

15:11

In this episode, we have a Christmas special. We talk with two very special guests, the hosts themselves. They discuss their experiences over the past year. They reflect on the diverse range of topics covered on the podcast, from Azure to web development. The conversation touches on the increasing presence of AI and the importance of inclusive lang…

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97. Data Visualization and Business Intelligence: Bridging the Gap - with Valerie Junk 42:48

9M ago42:48

42:48

In this episode, we chat with Valerie Junk, Microsoft Data Platform MVP and owner of PorcuBI. We discuss data visualization and business intelligence. Valerie highlights the importance of turning raw data into insights. We also talk about the challenges of bridging technical skills with business value, and her experiences in the male-dominated tech…

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America's First Black Flight Attendant 15:05

9M ago15:05

15:05

During some of the most exciting developments and innovation in a young and emerging U.S. airline industry - from the 1930s through the late 1950s - two of the most sought-after airline career paths are unavailable to black Americans. They’re denied positions as airline pilots or flight attendants, no matter what their relevant experience or techni…

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96. The Evolving Craft of Frontend Engineering: Balancing Complexity and Simplicity - with Stefan Judis 47:26

9M ago47:26

47:26

In this episode, we chat with Stefan Judis, a frontend developer. Stefan shares his journey from mastering HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to his current roles in Developer Relations and as a Playwright ambassador. We discuss the challenges of frontend development today, highlighting the need to balance complexity and simplicity while staying focused on …

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Boeing 367-80: The Aerobatic Maneuver That Launches a Titan 24:22

9M ago24:22

24:22

The early 1950s is an exciting time in the airline business, and - more specifically - the airliner business. Airliner manufacturers are developing new planes that fly faster, farther, and with more passengers and cargo, but from England a new airliner sound is being heard - the high, shrill scream of jet engines. Most airlines are reluctant to emb…

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Let's go to the CTO - Airlines And Their City Ticket Offices 20:02

10M ago20:02

20:02

Beginning in the 1930s, many airlines maintain large networks of City Ticket Offices to conduct business with their customers in high-traffic shopping, office and hotel neighborhoods, far removed from their own airport operations. These in-town facilities become known as a City Ticket Office (or by the airline staff acronym “CTO”), to differentiate…

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95. From Dev Containers to OpenTelemetry: Mastering .NET Productivity - with Alex Thissen 47:40

10M ago47:40

47:40

In this episode, we talk with Alex Thissen, a cloud architect at Xebia. We discuss the evolving .NET ecosystem and productivity tools for developers. Alex shares insights on the collaborative .NET community. We highlight the advantages of Dev Containers, which simplify setting up and managing development environments, allowing for seamless onboardi…

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Concorde, Collins & Live Aid 1985 18:07

10M ago18:07

18:07

Tens of thousands of airline flights operate daily around the world, but every now and then one stands out because it helps make history, even though it was just another flight, on just another day. From 1976 until 2003, the supersonic Concorde airliner was frequently in the news, either for the noise it created, or the often famous people it carri…

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Finding Your Niche w/ David Dickey 40:29

10M ago40:29

40:29

Explored David's career transition from a Marine officer to an Aerospace Entrepreneur. Talked about some the challenges facing the recruiting industry today as well as som paths forward. Davis is an Experienced Aerospace Entrepreneur, ASA Certified Corporate Recruiting Professional with proven track record. Hands on leader with two decades of exper…

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Slippers, Stogies & Scotch - A Look at Men-Only Flights 16:00

10M ago16:00

16:00

The idea that some things are segregated by gender is not uncommon for many of us as we encounter washrooms, gym locker rooms, private schools and clubs, or religious facilities with restricted access based on gender. But starting in the 1950s, one United States airline introduces “Men Only” flights on one of its most popular business travel routes…

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94. An AI Architect's Quest for Quality: Data, Governance, and Real-World Challenges - with Roelant Dieben 43:37

10M ago43:37

43:37

In this episode, we talk with Roelant Dieben, a cloud and AI architect at Sopra Steria, about his work in the .NET community and the evolving role of AI. He shares his passion for knowledge sharing and discusses AI's rapid advancements, as well as challenges like data quality and identifying good use cases. They also touch on the cooling AI hype, m…

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The Flying Mouse - When Walt Disney World Had an Airport 21:21

11M ago21:21

21:21

If you’ve visited central Florida for a Disney vacation, you may have wished there was an easier, faster, way to get from the Orlando International Airport to Walt Disney World. Before that resort opens in October of 1971, planning for Walt Disney World includes a large jet airport within the resort’s grounds, to make it easy for visitors to start …

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93. The Rise of embodied AI in Real-World Applications - with Rene Schulte 49:19

11M ago49:19

49:19

In this episode, we talk with Rene Schulte, head of 3D CoPs and Quantum Communities of Practices at Reply. We dive into the cutting-edge world of generative AI and digital humans, exploring the potential of AI-powered virtual personas capable of engaging in emotional, human-like interactions. Rene shares how these technologies are used in real-worl…

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BIT Tech Talk Ep. #150 w/ Dr. Marquicia Pierce - Consulting To Build The Tech Of The Future 1:14:22

11M ago1:14:22

1:14:22

On this episode of the BIT Tech Talk podcasts, Greg sits down with Dr. Marquicia Pierce, the Founder and Principal Consultant at Ruby Leaf Media, a science media and communications company. She discusses her role of leading a dedicated team and empowering tech accelerators and investors to support their portfolio companies in the STEM fields. She i…

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The VERY VIPs - Head of State Air Travel 22:41

11M ago22:41

22:41

Some air travelers are more than VIPs - they’re the VERY VIPs, the heads of state or monarchs whose travel comes with unusual requirements for privacy, secrecy, and security that just can’t typically be met by a scheduled airline service. Join me for an exploration of how air travel by heads of state began, has been intertwined with airline flying …

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92. The Uno Platform: Unlocking Cross-Platform Potential - with Martin Zikmund 41:52

11M ago41:52

41:52

In this episode, we talk with Martin Zikmund, a Microsoft MVP and an open source contributor. We dive into the Uno Platform, a powerful cross-platform development framework. Martin shares his extensive experience with the Uno Platform and the evolution of Windows development. From working on Windows Phone apps to discovering the Uno Platform as a s…

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When You've Gotta' Go... The Lavatory Episode 19:07

12M ago19:07

19:07

Lavatory. Water closet. Washroom. Toilet. WC. Commode... or there's many more! Whatever name you choose, an airliner’s onboard personal comfort facilities are seen by a lot of travelers as an essential resource to have on their flight. Join me for this exploration of the history of airliner toilet facilities, and their evolution from the most basic…

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91. Navigating the Complexities of Big Data Engineering - with Lisa Hoving 47:16

12M ago47:16

47:16

In this episode, we talk with Lisa Hoving, a big data engineer and Microsoft Data Platform MVP, about the diverse and dynamic world of big data engineering. Lisa shares insights into her day-to-day responsibilities, which span cloud architecture, DevOps, development, and more. We discuss the challenges of working across so many technical domains an…

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Love Is In The Air - The Mile High Club 14:47

12M ago14:47

14:47

There’s a long history behind the “mile high club” lore, dating back to the 1780s. Stories of romantic interludes while at altitude hit the news pretty regularly over the years, but usually because of police involvement, and legal charges being filed. With this episode of the Airline Time Machine podcast, I’ll look at how people “getting romantic” …

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When Smoking Met Its Match 17:49

12M ago17:49

17:49

Not too long ago, cigarette smoking was widespread, and permitted, onboard most passenger airliners worldwide. A lot of travelers boarding flights today who don’t remember that era would likely be surprised by how prevalent inflight smoking was, by the way the process was managed, and by the smell of aircraft cabins and the damage that lit cigarett…

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90. From ASM to ARM: The evolution of Azure and the rise of Infrastructure as Code - with Rick and Oscar 41:06

1y ago41:06

41:06

In this episode, Rick and Oscar discuss Azure's evolution from Azure Service Manager to Azure Resource Manager, focusing on the 2024 retirement of classic services and the challenges of migrating to the new ARM model. They highlight the benefits of using tools like Bicep for managing Azure resources, the importance of modernizing applications over …

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TOP DOG EAT FAT CAT - The Airport Code Episode! 14:27

1y ago14:27

14:27

It's OK - this doesn't involve some sort of domestic pet violence. But this episode title highlights that assigned airport codes can sometimes appear to be something very different than their original intended purpose! Three-character codes that identify individual airports are critical for managing air travel safely and accurately, but the code an…

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Whatever Happened To: Denver's Stapleton Airport? 13:17

1y ago13:17

13:17

In February of 1995, one of the busiest airports in the U.S. - Denver's Stapleton International Airport - closes, replaced by the new Denver International Airport several miles to the east. Over the next few years, the massive infrastructure of Stapleton Airport, including its terminal building, hangars, parking facilities, support structures, and …

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89. Azure Compute Unleashed: From Foundations to Future - A Journey with Rick and Oscar 49:55

1y ago49:55

49:55

In this episode, Rick and Oscar explore the evolution of Azure compute services, from its early days to the powerful platform it is today. We discuss key milestones like the shift to Azure Resource Manager, which enabled infrastructure as code, and the introduction of Azure Functions, which streamlined compute tasks by focusing on core functionalit…