Best Sociotechnical Podcasts (2025)

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Hedge 285: Post Quantum Crypto 46:00

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7d ago46:00

46:00

Is quantum really an immediate and dangerous threat to current cryptography systems, or are we pushing to hastily adopt new technologies we won’t necessarily need for a few more years? Should we allow the quantum pie to bake a few more years before slicing a piece and digging in? George Michaelson joins Russ and Tom to discuss. https://media.blubrr…

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Hedge 284: Netops and Corporate Culture 45:33

14d ago45:33

45:33

We all know netops, NRE, and devops can increase productivity, increase Mean Time Between Mistakes (MTBM), and decrease MTTR–but how do we deploy and use these tools? We often think of the technical hurdles you face in their deployment, but most of the blockers are actually cultural. Chris Grundemann, Eyvonne, Russ, and Tom discuss the cultural iss…

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Hedge 283: Technical Planning 36:35

21d ago36:35

36:35

We network engineers often find ourselves without a viable plan–our plans always seem to go awry, to the point that many network engineers just give up on planning. Is “giving up” the right solution? Or can we learn to be better planners? Jonathan Adams and Tim McConnaughy join Russ to discussion planning for network engineers. https://media.blubrr…

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Hedge 282: Future of Operations 31:43

28d ago31:43

31:43

On this episode of the Hedge, Anil Varanasi joins Russ to talk about the complexities of network operations and what Meter is doing in this space. note: even though this is a more product-heavy episode of the Hedge than usual, it is not sponsored https://media.blubrry.com/hedge/media.blubrry.com/hedge/content.blubrry.com/hedge/hedge-282.mp3 downloa…

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Hedge 281: Blockchain 39:59

1M ago39:59

39:59

What is the relationship between blockchain technologies and network engineering? Is blockchain “just another application,” or are there implications for naming, performance, and connectivity? Austin Federa joins Tom and Russ to discuss the intersection of blockchain and networks. https://media.blubrry.com/hedge/media.blubrry.com/hedge/content.blub…

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Hedge 280: Networking Careers 51:42

2M ago51:42

51:42

When you think of careers in network engineering, you probably think of being a console jockey, racking and stacking and configuring boxes. There is, however, much larger than just these things. Ethan Banks joins Eyvonne and Russ to talk about the broader world of careers in network engineering. https://media.blubrry.com/hedge/media.blubrry.com/hed…

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Hedge 279: Learning Theory 43:07

2M ago43:07

43:07

Returning to a thread here at the Hedge, Rick Graziani joins Tom and Russ to discuss a college professor’s perspective on why network engineers should learn the theory, and not just the configuration. https://media.blubrry.com/hedge/media.blubrry.com/hedge/content.blubrry.com/hedge/hedge-279.mp3 download…

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Hedge 278: Advocating for Yourself 40:07

2M ago40:07

40:07

“Advocate for yourself!” What does this mean, and how can you do it? Alexis Bertholf joins Tom and Russ to discuss practical strategies to advocate for yourself. https://media.blubrry.com/hedge/media.blubrry.com/hedge/content.blubrry.com/hedge/hedge-278.mp3 downloadBy Russ White

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Best of the Hedge: Episode 3 31:18

2M ago31:18

31:18

From time to time, I like to dive into the archive and find a show that’s worth repeating. Forthwith, Derrick Winkworth and automation. Network automation efforts tend to focus on building and maintaining configurations–but is this the right place to be putting our automation efforts? Derick Winkworth joins Tom Ammon and Russ White at the Hedge for…

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Hedge 277: Sociotechnical Systems 46:36

3M ago46:36

46:36

What is the relationship between humans and machines? Do we adapt to machines, or do we adapt machines to humans? Does technology drive culture, or does our culture drive our technology? Join Mark Prosser, Eyvonne, Tom, and Russ as they discuss what a sociotechnical system is and how it impacts our lives. https://media.blubrry.com/hedge/media.blubr…

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Hedge 276: Common Mistakes in RFPs 41:24

3M ago41:24

41:24

Requests for proposals (RFPs) are a little understood part of running a network–or any other IT system. What are some common mistakes, and some things engineers should think about, when building and executing RFPs? Andreas Taudte joins Tom and Russ to discuss RFPs. https://media.blubrry.com/hedge/media.blubrry.com/hedge/content.blubrry.com/hedge/he…

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Hedge 275: Jevon’s Paradox 35:55

3M ago35:55

35:55

What is Jevon’s Paradox? Tom, Eyvonne, and Russ discuss how this famous paradox impact network engineering. https://media.blubrry.com/hedge/media.blubrry.com/hedge/content.blubrry.com/hedge/hedge-275.mp3 downloadBy Russ White

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Hedge 274: DNS DELEG 46:09

4M ago46:09

46:09

What is DNS Delegation and what is it used for? What is new in the Delegation world, and what impact does it have on DNS security and operations? George Michaelson joins Tom Ammon and Russ White for a discussion about DNS DELEG in this episode of the Hedge. https://media.blubrry.com/hedge/content.blubrry.com/hedge/hedge-274.mp3 download…

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Hedge 273: The Future is Operations 53:46

4M ago53:46

53:46

Many of us old timers (and a lot of young timers) worry about the future of networking. What if the future isn’t a technology, or even AI, but a change in focus? Mike Bushong joins Tom and Russ to argue for operations as the future of networking. https://media.blubrry.com/hedge/media.blubrry.com/hedge/content.blubrry.com/hedge/hedge-273.mp3 downloa…

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Best of the Hedge: Episode 1 30:08

4M ago30:08

30:08

Are you stressed? Everyone in IT seems to be continuously stressed–but what can we do about it? Sonia Cuff joins the Hedge to talk about stress. https://content.blubrry.com/hedge/hedge-001.mp3 download From time to time we like to repost episodes of significance–this week we’re reposting episode 1.By Russ White

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Hedge 272: Are we addicted to the CLI? 29:31

4M ago29:31

29:31

Is the CLI the best way to configure, manage, and troubleshoot routers and other networking gear? Or should we move past the CLI towards automation and (possibly even) GUI-based tools? Mark Posser joins Russ and Tom to discuss on this episode of the Hedge. https://media.blubrry.com/hedge/media.blubrry.com/hedge/content.blubrry.com/hedge/hedge-272.m…

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Hedge 271: AI and Creativity 36:29

5M ago36:29

36:29

AI chatbots and image creators are all the rage right now–we are using them for everything from coding to writing books to creating short movies. One question we do not ask often enough, though, is how this impact human creators. How will these tools shape creativity and thinking skills? https://media.blubrry.com/hedge/content.blubrry.com/hedge/hed…

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Hedge 270: Password Psychology 35:25

5M ago35:25

35:25

Password hygiene drives IT professionals crazy–people forget their passwords, will not change them often enough, and choose weak ones. But are IT folks immune to these problems? What is the psychology behind passwords, and how do we do better? Karl Buhl joins Tom and Russ to talk about passwords. https://media.blubrry.com/hedge/content.blubrry.com/…

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#17: Peter Wildeford on AI Policy and Forecasting 1:06:22

5M ago1:06:22

1:06:22

Peter Wildeford, Chief Advisory Executive at the Institute for AI Policy and Strategy, joined the podcast to discuss forecasting 101, the U.S. government's forecasting track record, integrating forecasters into government, AI's societal impacts and opportunities, AI's improving software skills, AI-powered forecasting systems, future AI trajectories…

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Hedge 269: Web 3.0 45:26

5M ago45:26

45:26

Yes, we took an (unintentional) three-week break for medical reasons … but we’re back with a new episode. What is Web 3.0, and how is it different from Web 2.0? What about XR, AI, and Quantum, and their relationship to Web 3.0? Jamie Schwartz joins Tom Ammon and Russ White to try to get to a solid definition of what Web 3.0 and how it impacts the f…

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Hedge 268: Will AI take our jobs? 36:56

6M ago36:56

36:56

One of the “great fears” advancing AI unlocks is that most of our jobs can, and will, be replaced by various forms of AI. Join us on this episode of the Hedge as Jonathan Mast at White Beard Strategies, Tom Ammon, and Russ White discuss whether we are likely to see a net loss, gain, or wash in jobs as companies deploy LLMS, and other potential up- …

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Hedge 267: Can modularization solve people problems? 32:59

6M ago32:59

32:59

Solving technology problems often involves breaking a problem into multiple smaller problems, build interaction surfaces between the pieces, and glue the pieces back into a larger system. We also know every technology problem is actually a people problem–whether in the past, the present, or the future. Given these two points, can we say something l…

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Hedge 266: SR/MPLS 39:00

7M ago39:00

39:00

When most people think of segment routing (SR), they think of SRv6–using IPv6 addresses as segment IDs, and breaking the least significant /64 to create microsids for service differentiation. This is not, however, the only way to implement and deploy SR. The alternative is SR using MPLS labels, or SR/MPLS. Hemant Sharma joins Tom Ammon and Russ Whi…

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#16: Gabe Alfour on Competing Beliefs About Superintelligence 1:20:55

7M ago1:20:55

1:20:55

Gabe Alfour, Chief Technology Officer at Conjecture, joined the podcast to discuss superintelligence, AI-accelerated science, the limits of technology, different perspectives on the future of AI, loss of control risks, AI racing, international treaties, and more. Our music is by Micah Rubin (Producer) and John Lisi (Composer). For a transcript and …

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Hedge 265: Out of Band Networks 46:32

7M ago46:32

46:32

Out of band management networks were once more common than they are today. Should we go back to building out of band management networks? Should out of band management networks be virtual or physical? How can we sell out of band management networks to the folks paying the bills? Daryll Swer joins Tom Ammon and Russ White to discuss the importance o…

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Hedge 264: Documentation and Tech Debt 40:32

7M ago40:32

40:32

On this episode of the Hedge, Eyvonne, Tom, and Russ talk about topics near and dear to every network engineer’s heart–documentation, legacy, and tech debt. What should our philosophy of documentation be? What are legacy, end of life, and tech debt, really? https://media.blubrry.com/hedge/content.blubrry.com/hedge/hedge-264.mp3 download…

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Hedge 263: NFTs 45:21

7M ago45:21

45:21

How do Non-Fungible Tokens, or NFTs, impact value and the future of all things digital? How are they different from–and similar to–blockchain? Jaime Schwarz joins Russ White and Tom Ammon to talk about what NFTs are, how they work, and how they might impact the future. https://media.blubrry.com/hedge/content.blubrry.com/hedge/hedge-263.mp3 download…

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Hedge 262: Stealthy BGP Attacks 42:48

8M ago42:48

42:48

Many providers count on detection in the global routing table to discover and counter BGP route hijacks. What if there were a kind of BGP hijack that cannot be detected using current mechanisms? Henry Birge-Lee joins Tom Ammon and Russ White to discuss a kind of stealthy BGP attack that avoids normal detection, and how we can resolve these attacks.…

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Hedge 261: The NTIA, Spectrum, and Broadband 41:25

8M ago41:25

41:25

In the United States, the National Telecommunications and Infrastructure Administration manages spectrum and researches the current state of Internet connectivity for policy makers. Henning Schulzrinne joins Tom and Russ to discuss the role of the NTIA, spectrum management, and broadband management. You can read the NTIA’s reports here. https://med…

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Hedge 260: The State of the DFZ 38:28

8M ago38:28

38:28

Trends in the global BGP table–the Default Free Zone (DFZ) table–can tell us a lot about the state of the global Internet. Is the Internet growing? Is IPv6 growing, or are we still in a world of “all things IPv4?” Geoff Huston joins Tom Ammon and Russ White to review the state of the routing table from 2024. https://media.blubrry.com/hedge/content.…

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#15: Bill Drexel on AI, China, and National Security 1:03:08

9M ago1:03:08

1:03:08

Bill Drexel, Fellow at the Center for a New American Security's Technology and National Security Program, joined the podcast to discuss China's surveillance implementation and AI capabilities, open source AI, AI's potential role in enhancing bio weapons, U.S.-China relations on AI, U.S. AI policy actions, global AI competition, and more. Our music …

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#14: Anton Korinek on AI's Economic and Workforce Impacts 1:03:41

10M ago1:03:41

1:03:41

Anton Korinek, a professor at the University of Virginia's economics department and business school, joined the podcast to discuss AI productivity gains, augmentation versus automation, the future of white-collar work, global access to AI technology, universal basic income, career planning in the age of AI, workforce adaptation, AI-generated podcas…

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#13: Nick Whitaker on AI Policy Principles 36:26

11M ago36:26

36:26

Nick Whitaker, a fellow at the Manhattan Institute working on emerging tech and AI policy, joined the podcast to discuss his AI Policy Playbook as well as progress studies, global competition in AI, artificial general intelligence, cyber security, export controls, AI talent recruitment, AI companions, and more. Our music is by Micah Rubin (Producer…

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#12: Michael K. Cohen on Regulating Advanced Artificial Agents 43:50

1y ago43:50

43:50

Dr. Michael K. Cohen, a postdoc AI safety researcher at UC Berkeley, joined the podcast to discuss OpenAI's superalignment research, reinforcement learning and imitation learning, potential dangers of advanced future AI agents, policy proposals to address long-term planning agents, academic discourse on AI risks, California's SB 1047 bill, and more…

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#11: Ellen P. Goodman on AI Accountability Policy 46:21

1y ago46:21

46:21

Ellen P. Goodman, a distinguished professor of law at Rutgers Law School, joined the podcast to discuss the NTIA's AI accountability report, federal AI policy efforts, watermarking and data provenance, AI-generated content, risk-based regulation, and more. Our music is by Micah Rubin (Producer) and John Lisi (Composer). For a transcript and relevan…

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#10: Stephen Casper on Technical and Sociotechnical AI Safety Research 59:46

1y ago59:46

59:46

Stephen Casper, a computer science PhD student at MIT, joined the podcast to discuss AI interpretability, red-teaming and robustness, evaluations and audits, reinforcement learning from human feedback, Goodhart’s law, and more. Our music is by Micah Rubin (Producer) and John Lisi (Composer). For a transcript and relevant links, visit the Center for…

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Choosing the Right Architectural Styles and Patterns 53:40

1+ y ago53:40

53:40

Summary In this conversation, Vaughn Vernon and Udi Dahan discuss various topics related to software architecture, including service-oriented architecture (SOA), event-driven architecture, and sagas. They emphasize the importance of using the right architectural styles and patterns in the right places, rather than over-applying or misapplying them.…

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#9: Kelsey Piper on the OpenAI Exit Documents Incident 52:59

1+ y ago52:59

52:59

Kelsey Piper, Senior Writer at Vox, joined the podcast to discuss OpenAI's recent incident involving exit documents, the extent to which OpenAI's actions were unreasonable, and the broader significance of this story. Our music is by Micah Rubin (Producer) and John Lisi (Composer). For a transcript and relevant links, visit the Center for AI Policy …

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Innovating at Scale: Lessons from McDonald’s Tech Evolution 49:10

1+ y ago49:10

49:10

Hemi Trickey, Head of Global Enterprise Architecture at McDonald’s, shares her insights on software architecture and digital transformation. She discusses her background in telecom and digital marketing, as well as her experience with software as a service (SaaS) before it became popular. Hemi emphasizes the importance of architecture patterns, obs…

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#8: Tamay Besiroglu on the Trends Driving Past and Future AI Progress 1:43:07

1+ y ago1:43:07

1:43:07

Tamay Besiroglu, Associate Director of Epoch AI, joined the podcast to provide a comprehensive overview of the factors shaping AI progress, from algorithmic advances and hardware scaling to data availability and economic incentives, and to analyze the potential trajectories of AI development over the coming years. Our music is by Micah Rubin (Produ…

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#7: Katja Grace on the Future of AI and Insights From AI Researchers 49:03

1+ y ago49:03

49:03

Katja Grace, Lead Researcher and Co-Founder of AI Impacts, joined the podcast to discuss where AI is heading and what AI researchers think about it, including analysis of likely the largest-ever survey of AI researchers. Our music is by Micah Rubin (Producer) and John Lisi (Composer). For a transcript, highlights, and relevant links, visit the Cent…

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Revolutionizing Healthcare: Discovering How Domain-Driven Design Leads to Improved Patient Outcomes 1:36:30

1+ y ago1:36:30

1:36:30

Mark Wardle, Chief Clinical Information Officer, and Vaughn Vernon discuss the intersection of healthcare and technology. Mark emphasizes the need for technology to improve patient care and the challenges of integrating digital systems in healthcare. Mark also highlights the importance of Domain-Driven Design in healthcare, as it allows for a more …

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#6: Jason Green-Lowe on Legal Liability for AI Harms 44:29

1+ y ago44:29

44:29

Jason Green-Lowe, Executive Director of the Center for AI Policy, joins the podcast to discuss who is held legally accountable when AI causes harm, how they're held accountable, and potential policies to improve or clarify liability law regarding AI. Our music is by Micah Rubin (Producer) and John Lisi (Composer).…

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Decentralizing Data: Navigating the Shift to Data Mesh 1:15:27

1+ y ago1:15:27

1:15:27

Summary In this podcast episode, Vaughn and Mark Planagumà discuss various aspects of data strategies and the implementation of Data Mesh. Mark shares his background in data engineering and his experience in building data platforms for different companies. They explore the use of Domain-Driven Design in data strategies and the role of contracts in …

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#5: Jeffrey Ladish on Cybersecurity, Cyberoffense, and AI 45:02

1+ y ago45:02

45:02

Jeffrey Ladish, Executive Director of Palisade Research, joins the podcast to discuss threats of AI-powered cyberattacks, security of model weights, and what lies ahead. Our music is by Micah Rubin (Producer) and John Lisi (Composer).By Center for AI Policy

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#4: Sam Hammond on Modernizing Government for the AI Era 44:06

1+ y ago44:06

44:06

Sam Hammond, Senior Economist at the Foundation for American Innovation, joins the podcast to discuss how AI creates a need for government modernization, and what that modernization should look like. Our music is by Micah Rubin (Producer) and John Lisi (Composer).By Center for AI Policy