Best Softchoice Podcasts (2026)

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The Small Teams Episode: When IT Needs to Punch Above Its Weight 24:33

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6d ago24:33

24:33

Enterprise expectations. Startup-sized teams. And zero margin for failure. Across museums, national parks, retail stores, and nonprofit organizations, mid-market IT leaders are being asked to do more than ever—with fewer people, tighter budgets, and growing complexity. Most burn out. Some figure it out. In this episode, The Catalyst brings together…

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The AI Failure Episode: Why Asking the Wrong Question is To Blame 28:01

1M ago28:01

28:01

When mid-market IT leaders call about AI, most ask the wrong question. Instead of “What problem are we solving?” they jump straight to “Which LLM should we use?” — a mindset that helps explain why 95% of AI pilots fail to deliver measurable business returns. In this episode, two of Softchoice’s leading AI experts — Sean Larkin, AI Principal Archite…

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The AI Recruitment Episode: Why Tech Hiring is Getting Harder 19:47

1M ago19:47

19:47

937 applications. 42 interviews. 80 days. That's what it took one experienced data scientist to land a job in 2025—and he's one of the lucky ones. In this episode of The Catalyst, we follow two tech professionals through what they call "the worst job market ever." Emily, a software developer with 10 years of experience and a degree from University …

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The IT Burnout Episode: Running on Empty 25:35

2M ago25:35

25:35

Every night, IT professionals across the country go home and cry. They work until 10PM unpaid. They become "the guy" their entire organization depends on. They stay in toxic jobs because they feel guilty, or because people are counting on them, or because they simply can't imagine leaving. In this episode of The Catalyst by Softchoice, we follow tw…

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The AI Adoption Episode: Freedom & Frameworks That Actually Work 20:52

2M ago20:52

20:52

What if the best employee AI adoption strategy is one most companies refuse to try? While business leaders rush to mandate AI from the top down, Softchoice discovered something counterintuitive: the most successful transformations happen when you let people experiment on their own terms. (Safely!) This episode takes you inside Softchoice's organic …

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Season 7 Trailer: Small Teams, Big Dreams 1:53

3M ago1:53

1:53

For six years, The Catalyst brought you conversations with IT leaders solving hard problems. But we kept hearing stories that couldn't fit into a single interview—stories that needed multiple voices, conflicting perspectives, the messy truth of what it's really like out there. Season 7 changes everything. We're making audio documentaries—think This…

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Big moments in AI from Y2K to ChatGPT 20:47

11M ago20:47

20:47

The rise of AI isn’t just about smarter machines—it’s about reshaping the way we work, create, and innovate. In the season finale of The Catalyst by Softchoice, Heather Haskin sits down with Gil Press, senior contributor at Forbes, to trace the modern history of AI. From the early breakthroughs in deep learning to the rise of generative AI, Press e…

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From hard hats to high tech: Rachel Skaff’s journey to AWS and the importance of DEI 30:01

11M ago30:01

30:01

The future of tech isn’t just about speed and innovation—it’s about who gets a seat at the table. In this episode of The Catalyst by Softchoice, Rachel Skaff, AWS Managing Director of America’s Channel and Partner Sales, joins Heather Haskin to explore how Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) are driving innovation in tech. From her unconventiona…

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How conversational AI is changing the customer experience 24:28

12M ago24:28

24:28

The future of business is a conversation. In this episode of The Catalyst by Softchoice, Heather Haskin and Craig McQueen, Vice President of AI Solutions at Softchoice, dive into how conversational AI is reshaping industries and redefining success. From smarter customer support to groundbreaking innovations, discover why this technology is more tha…

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1-DEGREE/Shift: Small changes, big impact 29:35

1y ago29:35

29:35

What if your company could leverage AI to not only increase productivity but also improve your mental well-being? What if the secret to transforming your workplace culture and achieving extraordinary results lay in the smallest, most intentional changes? In this episode of The Catalyst by Softchoice, host Heather Haskin sits down with 1-Degree/Shif…

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Bridging the digital divide: How Softchoice empowers nonprofits 30:37

1y ago30:37

30:37

A lot of charities are just trying to keep the lights on. They don’t have resources for tech infrastructure and training. That’s where Softchoice’s Charity Accelerator Program comes in. In this episode of The Catalyst by Softchoice, host Heather Haskin dives into the transformative power of technology for small charities with Joseph Byer and Jill C…

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Google’s human-centric AI 31:56

1y ago31:56

31:56

What if your company could leverage AI to not only increase productivity but also improve your mental well-being? In this episode of The Catalyst, Heather Haskin speaks with Anna Baird, Chief Customer Officer for Generative AI Go-to-Market at Google, about the crucial human element in AI implementation. They discuss how to leverage AI to enhance, n…

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Copilot in action: a Softchoice success story 23:43

1y ago23:43

23:43

It’s one thing to hear about the speeds and feeds of a technology – and quite another to get a real human voice, to shine a light on the real value these tools can offer us. In this episode, host Heather Haskin delves into the practical applications of Microsoft Copilot with Cole Pascua, Senior Microsoft Modern Work Specialist at SoftChoice. Cole p…

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The quantum threat: preparing your business for the future of cybersecurity 28:08

1y ago28:08

28:08

Quantum computing promises to be one of the most disruptive technologies of our time. But it also brings the risk of unparalleled cybersecurity threats. In this episode of The Catalyst by Softchoice, we delve into the world of quantum computing and its implications for cybersecurity. Dr. Vito Nozza, Principal of Security at Softchoice Design Studio…

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Microsoft Copilot – a year of transformation: Insights from Rekha Narang 30:58

1y ago30:58

30:58

In this special episode, host Heather Haskin dives deep into the world of AI-driven digital transformation with Rekha Narang, Director of Partner Technology at Microsoft. Rekha provides an inside look at the evolution of Microsoft Copilot, a tool that has transformed how organizations work, collaborate, and deliver results. They explore Copilot’s j…

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Navigating the end of Windows 10: Security, AI, and the road to Windows 11 34:10

1+ y ago34:10

34:10

Is your business ready for the end of Windows 10, or are you risking being left behind in the next wave of digital transformation? In this episode, host Aaron Brooks is joined by industry experts Cameron Allen from Intel, Kirk Sinclair from Microsoft, and Bryan Rusche from Softchoice for a roundtable discussion on now to navigate the shift to Windo…

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What’s next for IT? Looking beyond generative AI 17:21

1+ y ago17:21

17:21

In this episode, co-hosts Aaron Brooks and Heather Haskin take a break from the constant buzz around generative AI and ChatGPT to explore what else is shaping the future of IT. From cybersecurity threats in the age of quantum computing to the rising expectation for businesses to become content creators, this mid-season check-in dives into the trend…

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Building the future of cybersecurity: Insights from the Chief Product Officer at Sophos 29:05

1+ y ago29:05

29:05

What's it like being at the helm of a security operation that safeguards thousands of businesses worldwide, with new cyber threats emerging every single day? In this episode, host Heather Haskin meets with Raja Patel, Chief Product Officer at Sophos, to uncover the strategies that keep one of the world’s leading cybersecurity companies ahead in an …

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Improv for leaders: mastering adaptability and communication in the boardroom 32:57

1+ y ago32:57

32:57

What if the key to becoming a more dynamic and effective leader lies not in boardrooms or business school – but on the improv stage? In this episode, host Aaron Brooks and guest Stephanie Malek, Corporate Director and Production Manager at Bad Dog Theatre, delve into how the unexpected world of improvisation holds transformative lessons for busines…

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Leading from afar: Strategies for success in a remote world 28:39

1+ y ago28:39

28:39

Can a leader effectively inspire and drive success without being physically present? As tech giants like Google, Amazon, Meta, and Apple mandate a return to the office, this question is top of mind. In this episode, host Heather Haskin interviews Angela Cope, the Director of Demand Generation at Softchoice, about her life as a remote leader amidst …

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Bonus: After the outage 14:46

1+ y ago14:46

14:46

In this special bonus episode of The Catalyst, host Heather Haskin welcomes Greg McDonald, Senior Solutions Architect at Softchoice, to discuss the recent CrowdStrike outage that disrupted businesses globally. They focus on actionable steps business leaders and IT professionals can take to enhance their resilience against future incidents. What You…

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Untangling SaaS sprawl: strategies for efficient and secure software management 32:23

1+ y ago32:23

32:23

Across organizations, every team is driven by the desire to innovate and perform, adopting its own set of SaaS tools to help drive growth. But without a centralized strategy, suddenly you’re faced with mounting costs, redundant software, and security vulnerabilities. On today’s episode, co-host Aaron Brooks meets with John Harden, Director of Produ…

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The case for open source AI: A conversation with Neural Magic’s Brian Stevens 33:51

1+ y ago33:51

33:51

There wasn’t anything in open source that was more than a toy a year ago, but that’s all changed according to today’s guest. Brian Stevens, CEO of Neural Magic and former CTO of Google Cloud, is helping redefine the landscape of AI. In this episode, we explore the intersection of AI, open-source innovation, and ethical responsibility. Neural Magic’…

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Bonus: The Catalyst gets clear on Microsoft Generative AI – Adopt & Sustain 21:33

1+ y ago21:33

21:33

What if your team's full potential lay in the hands of an AI assistant that could learn from you, adapt to your needs, and streamline your daily operations? How do you sustain momentum through initial adoption to ongoing optimization? This concern is the focus of the final episode of this miniseries about Microsoft Generative AI. Kayla Thorpe, Seni…

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Bonus: The Catalyst gets clear on Microsoft Generative AI – Implementation 18:15

1+ y ago18:15

18:15

How do you integrate Microsoft Generative AI into the everyday workflow of your organization without making a mess of it? That's the question that drives the third episode in this miniseries, which focuses on the 'Implement' phase of the Copilot Adoption Journey with guest Craig McQueen, Vice President of AI Solutions at Softchoice. Craig shares hi…

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“Neural processing units” and AI-on-the-go with Intel Canada’s Cameron Allen 31:51

1+ y ago31:51

31:51

The biggest architectural change to the humble chipset is underway. Its aim: deliver artificial intelligence to the PC. Host Aaron Brooks meets with Cameron Allen, partner account manager at Intel Canada, to get the details. We'll hear about all the reasons Intel is taking this quantum leap toward portable AI, herald the arrival of neural processin…

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Bonus: The Catalyst gets clear on Microsoft Generative AI – Getting ready 16:01

1+ y ago16:01

16:01

'Look before you leap' is often the difference between success and failure when it comes to adopting a new technology. When it comes to Microsoft Generative AI, the importance of assessing your organizational readiness before you implement can’t be overstated. On this episode of this miniseries on The Catalyst podcast, step into the 'Assess' phase …

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Bonus: The Catalyst gets clear on Microsoft Generative AI – The business case 16:43

1+ y ago16:43

16:43

Businesses everywhere taking a good, hard look at Microsoft Generative AI are all wondering the same thing: is it really worth the hype? That's what we're here to find out. On the inaugural episode of this brand-new miniseries courtesy of The Catalyst by Softchoice, host Braeden Banks and guest Jaime Waterfield, Director of Microsoft Category at So…

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Overcoming leadership shock with Olympic coach Pete Steinberg 33:41

1+ y ago33:41

33:41

What lessons from elite athletic coaching can empower today’s business leaders? With the summer Olympics just around the corner, we asked Pete Steinberg, leadership consultant and celebrated rugby coach, that very question. He discusses how feedback is the fuel of high performance, in sports and business. Like a rugby coach leading from the stands,…

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The productivity frontier: AI’s role in transforming digital tools at Adobe 27:29

1+ y ago27:29

27:29

How will Adobe’s foray into Generative AI impact how your team creates and collaborates? That’s what we wanted to find out. On the latest episode of The Catalyst Podcast, co-host Heather Haskin sits down with Adobe’s Principal Product Marketing Manager, Lori DeFurio, to explore the transformative role of AI within Adobe's ecosystem to empower human…

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Power to the people: Eric Champagne, CIO of La Vie en Rose 38:24

1+ y ago38:24

38:24

Season 6 of The Catalyst by Softchoice kicks off with an episode that questions conventional wisdom about IT leadership. Aaron Brooks sits down with Eric Champagne, CIO of La Vie en Rose, to hear how Eric is flipping the script. Eric’s story is all about bridging a longstanding gap between IT and end-users, with the goal of making technology a tool…

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Season 6 Trailer 1:04

1+ y ago1:04

1:04

This season on The Catalyst, a podcast about unleashing the full potential in people and technology, co-hosts Aaron Brooks and Heather Haskin explore the transformative power of tech, not just within businesses, but also through the personal journeys of those at the forefront of change. Every episode is packed with stories of triumph and the valuab…

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5 imperatives for responsible competition when AI is for everyone 34:28

2y ago34:28

34:28

Imagine everyone with a great business idea could make it happen without a deep engineering bench or tens of millions of dollars in funding. How would that change competition in an already hypercompetitive marketplace? How do the principles of responsible AI show up when AI is accessible to everyone? What responsibility do enterprise firms have to …

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Wearable robots are here to help bridge the labor gap 35:38

2y ago35:38

35:38

Robotic exoskeletons have gotten a whole lot better. No longer just for rehabilitation, manufacturer German Bionic is applying active exoskeleton devices to support workers in a number of ways. These wearable robotic devices work in tandem with the user, allowing them to handle a wider range of physical tasks. The result: physically-demanding jobs …

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Chasing cybersecurity Avalon: Is such a thing even possible? 39:46

2y ago39:46

39:46

Is a cybersecurity utopia – where no CISO lies awake at night worrying about threats known and unknown – even possible? If you believe “yes,” how do you get others to share that vision? That’s what we discussed with Lou Senko, Chief Availability Officer at global banking technology company Q2 on this episode of The Catalyst. First and foremost, Sen…

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“CISO therapy” and the real reasons security talent is so hard to find 39:43

2y ago39:43

39:43

As a CISO, how do you know when you’re getting through to the board and the C-suite? One way is to look at the quality of the questions they ask you. Are they learning? This is just one of the questions Kevin Magee fields a lot during “CISO therapy,” a discipline he finds himself practicing more often as Chief Security Officer at Microsoft Canada. …

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Toward the “un-hackable” identity with Cisco’s Mike Storm 39:24

2y ago39:24

39:24

Is it time to pick a cybersecurity safeword? Mike Storm, Cisco Cybersecurity Distinguished Engineer and our guest on The Catalyst, thinks so. With over 30 years of cybersecurity experience, even he finds himself challenged by new AI-powered scams. Why? The short answer: At the heart of it, humans are an easier target than computers and software, be…

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From the bar to the boardroom: Practical steps toward a GenAI strategy 25:28

2+ y ago25:28

25:28

It’s official: generative AI has permeated the culture, appearing in conversations at work, around the dinner table and yes, even over drinks with friends. With 2024 on the horizon and technology budgets due to reset, C-suite leaders and boards are talking about it, too. So how do you take this hot topic from casual chat to enterprise strategy? Thi…

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Robots at the water cooler: Heralding the arrival of Microsoft 365 Copilot 37:29

2+ y ago37:29

37:29

Will your next new colleague be a machine? It’s no longer so far-fetched. Natural language interfaces will soon replace software UIs we’re used to with good old fashioned conversation. That’s according to Doug Smith, GM of Solutions for Microsoft Canada. This week on The Catalyst, he provides insights into the rapid adoption of GenAI, the hype arou…

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Science fiction no more: Exploring AI in philosophy and in practice 52:50

2+ y ago52:50

52:50

The best sci-fi stories explore the question, “What exactly does it mean to be human in the face of evolving technology?” As we dive headfirst into the era of generative AI, this philosophical question has taken on a new, more practical dimension. As GenAI begins to upend the ways we work, live and do business, where do humans fit in? How will it c…

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So, about that skills gap... Exploring the potential of AI-assisted skills development 22:16

2+ y ago22:16

22:16

“Upskill or fall behind.” That’s the message to millions of workers facing sweeping changes in technology and a generous helping of economic uncertainty. Okay, but upskill in what, exactly? In this episode, host Cheryl Stookes meets with Kian Katanforoosh, the CEO and Co-founder of Workera. This California company’s platform uses AI to produce accu…

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AI vs. the standardized test: Exploring a new, more personal approach to learning 36:02

2+ y ago36:02

36:02

Did you always want to do what you do? Or did your grades and test scores suggest you’d be good at it? The 2020s are quickly being characterized by astonishing leaps in technology. Meanwhile, our education systems have remained anchored in 19th-century thinking. Rooted in standardized, one-size-fits-all models, the way we engage, develop and measur…

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We’re in the age of IT heroes. Where do we find more? 37:09

2+ y ago37:09

37:09

Our data is in danger. It’s in danger from cybercriminals and malicious state actors. It’s in danger from more frequent and devastating natural disasters. It’s in danger from gaps and oversights in security posture. It’s in danger from people inside our organizations, whether they mean well or otherwise. It takes heroic efforts from IT teams to pre…

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Exploring the hidden machinery powering our global economy 38:18

2+ y ago38:18

38:18

Have you ever wondered how the products you use make their way across the world to reach you? The answer is industry ecosystems, intricate webs of people, processes and technology that connect our world and economy behind the scenes. In this episode of The Catalyst, we unravel the concept of industry ecosystems with guest John Comacchio, Senior Vic…

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Uncertainty, sustainability and the semiconductor: Lessons from the global chip shortage 28:41

2+ y ago28:41

28:41

The global semiconductor shortage, triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, set off a cascading set of challenges. The resulting disruption made it harder than ever to get electronic components and products to where they were needed, leaving consumers, businesses and other organizations in the lurch. Compounding the issue: heavy reliance on semiconducto…

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Decarbonizing the grid with virtual power plants: Recurve’s Matt Golden 35:03

2+ y ago35:03

35:03

Decarbonizing our energy grid will take a lot more than adopting alternative power sources. That’s the founding principle behind Recurve, a company on a mission to speed the transition to a carbon-free economy, while making the already fragile energy grid more reliable. Aaron meets with Recurve CEO Matt Golden to discuss why decarbonizing the grid …

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Meet OZMO the robot window-washer: AI vs. dirty, dull and dangerous jobs 23:35

2+ y ago23:35

23:35

You’ve heard of AI applications for all kinds of things, from virtual assistants to super-powered medical research and even voice analysis. But AI-powered window washing? In this episode, Cheryl Stookes meets with Michael Brown, chairman and CEO of Skyline Robotics – the company behind the world's first ever robotic-armed window cleaner. Cheryl and…

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The mighty checklist: How daily operational efficiency beats shiny new tech 36:30

2+ y ago36:30

36:30

Leveling up your day-to-day operations may not sound like the most exciting innovation project but let them slip and you’ve lost your customer, possibly for good. In this episode, co-host Aaron Brooks meets with Tommy Yionoulis, CEO and co-founder of OpsAnalitica, an operations management platform designed to help businesses be more efficient (and …

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3 strategies to grow through a recession with Microsoft’s Jason Brommet 39:45

2+ y ago39:45

39:45

Recessions make business growth challenging – but not impossible. On this episode of The Catalyst by Softchoice, Jason Brommet, Head of Modern Work and Security at Microsoft, returns to the podcast to lay out 3 strategies to help businesses thrive during an economic downturn. From engaging people to closing skills gaps and making things simpler usi…

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Earth Day 2023: How to create a winning ESG strategy 36:22

2+ y ago36:22

36:22

With Earth Day 2023 just around the corner, new co-host Cheryl Stookes meets with Anureet Kaur, Softchoice’s Sustainability Manager. They discuss what goes into creating an effective ESG strategy – one that aligns environmental and social impact with your business’ bottom line. They also delve into the challenges of reporting on ESG initiatives, a …