Free Daily Podcast Summary
TechVibe Pittsburgh: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Jonathan Kersting
Curious about Pittsburgh's growing technology and innovation industry and the opportunities it has for you? This podcast gives you a front-row seat to the companies, people, and institutions that are making Pittsburgh's tech industry thrive. Discover the newest tech startups emerging from Pittsburgh; Meet dynamic entrepreneurs driving innovation and creating a rich landscape for tech company growth; and Stay on top of the latest trends from recognized industry experts and thought leaders. Audrey Russo and Jonathan Kersting of the Pittsburgh Technology Council have interviewed thousands of tech entrepreneurs and business experts across the tPittsburgh region's tech and innovation ecosystem. Get an inside look at the companies, people, and trends that are making Pittsburgh a worldwide center of technology innovation. Start by diving into Pittsburgh's tech ecosystem with a fan-favorite episode: "Meet the New Head of CMU's Machine Learning Department." Don't miss out—click to listen now! TechVibe Pittsburgh is produced by the Pittsburgh Technology Council to explore the Pittsburgh region's technology, entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem. Tune in Sundays at 6 AM 10 100.1 FM AM 1020 KDKA.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 5 days ago24 min
Stop Meeting. Start Solving: Makeway's Workshop as a Service Jumpstarts Digital Transformation
Is your next digital project ready to launch, or is it trapped in a meeting about scheduling another meeting? Josh Lowery and Greg Cunneyworth of Makeway join TechVibe Radio to introduce Workshop as a Service, a fast-moving, highly structured approach designed to help organizations turn complicated ideas into clear, actionable plans. By bringing the right stakeholders into the room, asking deeper questions and challenging hidden assumptions, Makeway helps teams find alignment before they invest serious time, money and energy into a new website, touchscreen experience or digital transformation initiative. And these are definitely not ordinary meetings. Makeway's workshops can accomplish a surprising amount in just a few hours, giving teams a practical playbook, defined action items and renewed confidence in where the project is headed. The conversation also travels inside Makeway's world of immersive digital experiences. Josh and Greg detail an interactive lens-education kiosk created for America's Best, share emerging technology they discovered at InfoComm in Las Vegas and explain why the smartest screen is not necessarily the biggest or flashiest one. It is the screen that solves a real problem. Plus, get a sneak peek at a secretive new immersive experience being developed for a distillery along Kentucky's Bourbon Trail. We'll drink to that! Why Listen? Turn uncertainty into action. Learn how a focused workshop can uncover overlooked issues, align decision-makers and create a clearer path forward. Avoid expensive digital detours. Hear why strategic discovery can reduce assumptions, prevent project breakdowns and improve the odds of a successful transformation. Explore technology with purpose. Discover how touchscreens, interactive displays and immersive environments can educate customers, support sales teams and create measurable business value. Peek around the next digital corner. Josh and Greg share what is catching their attention in emerging display technology and how Makeway decides what is truly ready for clients. Produced by the Pittsburgh Technology Council, TechVibe explores Pittsburgh's technology and innovation ecosystem.
- 6 days ago22 min
Fork in the Road: How Pittsburgh-Based TerraVive Is Replacing Single-Use Plastic
What if the fork you use for five minutes did not stick around for the next 500 years? Terravive Founder and CEO Julianna Keeling and President Joe Swider join Jonathan Kersting and Audrey Russo on TechVibe Radio to explore how the company is building a healthier, more sustainable alternative to single-use plastics. TerraVive manufactures compostable takeout containers, cups, cutlery, plates, films and other food-service products using materials sourced and manufactured in the United States. Keeling traces the company's roots from her early work developing a biodegradable blood-pressure cuff to TerraVive's expansion into the massive food-service market. Swider, a mechanical engineer, Navy veteran and serial entrepreneur, recounts how seeing plastic waste floating in the middle of the Atlantic helped spark his interest in the mission. The conversation digs into TerraVive's rapid growth, expanding healthcare applications, commitment to American manufacturing and relentless focus on customer service. The company has doubled its revenue in each of the past two years, tripled it the year before that and now supports more than 1,000 American jobs. Hit Play to get a: A fresh look at the plastic problem: Learn why TerraVive believes items used for only a few minutes should not remain in the environment for centuries. A Pittsburgh-powered growth story: Hear how Keeling's materials-science background and Swider's engineering and business experience combined to accelerate the company. Made-in-America innovation: Discover why TerraVive rejected advice to outsource overseas and instead built a domestic supply chain designed to create jobs and shorten lead times. The Pittsburgh Technology Council produces TechVibe to explore Pittsburgh's technology and business ecosystem.
- 1 weeks ago16 min
AI Is Changing Hiring: How to Validate Candidates and Reduce Risk
Is AI making hiring faster, or simply making it harder to know who is real? Jen Frazier of Pittsburgh-Based Prequel Solutions joins Jonathan Kersting on TechVibe to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping resumes, interviews and candidate assessments. While AI can streamline parts of the process, it can also inflate qualifications, help candidates generate interview responses in real time and cause strong applicants to be overlooked by automated screening tools. The result is a hiring landscape where human judgment, verification and a well-designed process matter more than ever. Listeners will learn three key takeaways: Why AI can add risk instead of speed. AI-generated resumes and automated screening can weaken the traditional signals employers use to evaluate candidates. How to verify that skills and experience are authentic. Frazier explains why assessments, interviews and candidate validation must work together rather than operate as isolated checkpoints. How a focused hiring process saves time and money. Companies do not need six interviews and endless hurdles. A thoughtful three-step process can improve confidence, accelerate decisions and reduce the costly consequences of a bad hire. The Pittsburgh Technology Council produces TechVibe to explore Pittsburgh's technology and innovation ecosystem.
- 1 weeks ago22 min
Hit Record and Go: Inside Pittsburgh-Based StudioMe's Content Creation Technology
What if you could walk into a studio, hit record and walk out with a polished, multi-camera video ready to roll? That's the idea driving StudioMe, and TechVibe Radio gets a firsthand look at the technology making high-quality content creation faster, easier and a whole lot less intimidating. Keith Parish and Joe Leachko join Jonathan Kersting and Audrey Russo to talk about StudioMe's evolution from traditional video production to automated communication studios that handle cameras, audio and live switching in real time. They also dig into StudioMe's AI-powered Sidekick Coach, which can listen to a conversation, suggest questions and insights, highlight key moments and even score your podcast performance. Plus, hear why authenticity and consistency still matter more than the fanciest camera in the room and how two guys who met at the gym nearly 20 years ago ended up building technology that is changing how companies create content. Hit play. The cameras are already rolling! The Pittsburgh Technology Council produces TechVibe Radio to explore Pittsburgh's technology and innovation ecosystem. Transcript: StudioMe radio cut === [00:00:00] one. Fancy seeing you here, Audrey, in the Huntington Bank Studios. You know how excited I am every time I roll into these studios? I know. You're very protective of the studio. Very protective. I gotta tell you something, if anyone comes in here And he, I think he has like an alarm I do As soon as someone comes in, he, "Oh, what's up?" Yeah. "What are, what are you doing in here?" Don't touch that. "What are you-" We've had some incidents in the past. "What are you touch- what are you touching? What are you touching?" Exactly. That's, that's natural. I mean- Yeah. It's your baby. It's, it's our baby, and because we are talking to our friends from Studio Me here, Keith Parrish and Joe Lechko, who built the Huntington Bank Studios here for us. I know. We have upped our game, Audrey, like it is no one's business. Fantastic. I've gone from iPhones and 10-year-old cameras- You have ... patched up with duct tape and stuff to this full-blown studio where we are having the best conversations with everybody in Pittsburgh's tech sector. And I cannot wait to talk to these guys about... They do this for lots of people. I know. And they got so many things going on between videos they shoot, between their studios where people can come in and create their own content and [00:01:00] have high-quality stuff. We're lucky because we, they built us our own studio here. So we're gonna jump in and have a lot of fun today. So guys, welcome to the show. It's so great to have you guys here. And what does it feel like to be in your own creation here at the Tech Council? It feels weird. Does it feel weird? We're not used to this. We're used to being behind the camera and making this production happen and showing people what we have. But since we walked in, you've shown all the new things you have done inside of your own- Yeah ... part of the software that we built for you. It's just, it's, it's fun to see you make it yours. Cool. You know? Yeah. So- It's, it's always cool to see something that was, you know, just a, a blank canvas before. I mean, you had a table in here. It had... But you didn't have this, this nice background, the TV. And then to see it come together and, and look like a studio at the end of the day, and then to be actually like sitting here and having a conversation is pretty cool. Yeah. For sure. It's really cool. So let's set the stage. Tell everyone or tell us exactly, what's your pitch? So we always had envisioned that we wanted to make high quality content easy to [00:02:00] create for everybody, and we had to build a bunch of systems to make that happen for the general public or whomever we interact with on a video or photo shoot. We wanted to make that easier, easy, so media made easy no matter what it was. ~Keith and I met probably almost 20 years ago. Oh, this is a good story. I like this. Oh, let's hear it. In the gym, right? Yeah, yeah. This is, yeah. I like- Well, it, it's interesting. Yeah, so Keith and I met in 2000 something. By the way, this is our most asked question for some reason. Is it really?~ ~Everybody's interested in how we- How did you meet? ... how we met. How did you meet? Not about the business, but how did you guys meet? Yeah, exactly. Yeah. It's it was like almost 20 years ago. We met at a gym, and it was Market Square when it was Gold's Gym. Now it's a Taj. And I was in college still. He had just graduated college.~ ~When you see the same people in the same places, you say, "Hi." It's a friendly hi, that sort of thing. That's what it was. And we all came at the same time after, after school for me, I think after work
- 2 weeks ago22 min
DQE's Nikki Marsh Details Why Fiber Is Pittsburgh's New Gold
What happens when Pittsburgh's nearly 30-year fiber powerhouse gets a jolt of fresh investment, new leadership and an AI-fueled market that can't get enough connectivity? Nikki Marsh, Chief Revenue Officer of DQE, joins TechVibe to pull back the curtain on why fiber has become the new gold in today's digital economy. With 5,000 miles of fiber across Western Pennsylvania and beyond, DQE is helping businesses, hospitals, data centers and communities stay connected with utility-grade reliability and a Pittsburgh-first mindset. Nikki explains why fiber is no longer a commodity, how AI and data centers are driving massive demand for bandwidth, and why DQE's "reliably reliable" approach goes far beyond keeping the network up. From enterprise connectivity and managed routers to SD-WAN, security, cellular failover and unified communications, DQE is building the easy button for businesses that need their networks to perform without finger-pointing or friction. This is a true Pittsburgh tech infrastructure story, one that shows how the region's fiber backbone is helping attract new industries, support business growth and position Western Pennsylvania for the next wave of AI-powered opportunity. The Pittsburgh Technology Council produces TechVibe to explore Pittsburgh's technology and innovation ecosystem. Transcript: DQE === [00:00:00] It's Jonathan Kersting here with the Pittsburgh Tech Council, and of course, Tech Vibe. I got to have the best conversations with some of the coolest people hanging out in Pittsburgh's tech sector, and today we are talking to Nikki Marsh of DEQE, and I love DEQE 'cause of its history. It goes back almost 30 years. They were doing fiber before fiber was cool, and- Yeah ... the moment of fiber is today, as far as I'm concerned. And I'm so excited to learn about how DEQE's been moving forward, and with you as the chief revenue officer, Nikki, what you guys are doing, you've really transformed the company 'cause there's new ownership there with DEQE. And over the past few years, you guys have made some pretty bold moves to really kinda take this company to some new levels, and I'm just so excited to explore this with you today 'cause I think it's a, it's a true Pittsburgh story in just so many ways. So thanks for hanging out with me today in the Huntington Bank Studios. Oh, it's fun to be here. Thank you. Glad to be here with you First off, you have an incredible background that I think people need to know about. If there's anyone that [00:01:00] knows your industry, it is you. You've been doing this your entire life. I think you were born like... Doing telecom? Doing telecom. Born into telecom. Give us a little bit about yourself and your background, so I'm Pittsburgh native, but I started in the telecom industry in the early 1990s- ... with NCI Telecommunications that was acquired by Verizon, so I've been in the industry for longer than I like to claim. That's okay, man. I love it. But, I've been really blessed with the experience because in evolving in the telecom sector, I've had the opportunity to be on both sides of the desk. Okay. Yeah. I was in telecom, telecom sales and leadership, but then I was able to take a little bit of a hiatus from my telecom sales career- and move to the other side of the desk where I was a global head of IT for a publicly traded company here in Pittsburgh and even in consulting. So I've gotten the best of both worlds and perspective on- The technology that we leverage in thinking about it, we live in Pittsburgh, and in all the telecom companies that I've worked for, Pittsburgh's like a tier [00:02:00] three city. Wow. We aren't getting the financial- Tier three. Oh, man. Yeah, we're not getting... No one is coming here and saying, "Oh, we want to invest in Pittsburgh." Interesting. Okay. It's Charlotte, Chicago, Jacksonville, Nashville. They view Pittsburgh as a little bit of a passe city, so we're not getting those investments, and that was disheartening for me- Yeah ... as I live here, raising my children here, want to continue to see this city thrive- economically- and make sure that, there's a future for my family here. And when I thought about it, I thought the best way to ensure that is to use the expertise that I have, take advantage of this opportunity with DQE, who is fully invested in Pittsburgh- 100% ... with their fiber assets, and allow them to grow and ensure that, as a city, we continue to develop- and can attract the right industry. Having that infrastructure today is so critical for our city to continue to thrive, so that's what appealed to me. I was like- I like that ... "I want to go do that." I like the way you turned that around. Yeah. I think that's a very cool way of looking at it, [00:03:00] and the idea that literally fiber is the foundation of ou
- 3 weeks ago29 min
Branding Beyond Logos: Pittsburgh's Carlos Tribino Talks About Storytelling That Builds Movements
What if your brand isn't really your logo, your tagline or even your product features? In this episode of TechVibe, Jonathan Kersting hangs out with Carlos Tribino of The Machine for a fired-up conversation on what truly builds lasting brands: story, belief, authenticity and the emotional glue that turns customers into fans. Carlos brings serious global branding chops to the conversation, with experience working on brands like Ferrari, Giorgio Armani, Walt Disney and The Economist. But this discussion goes far beyond big-name brand-dropping. Carlos breaks down why branding is not a cosmetic exercise, why great storytelling creates real business value and how companies can move from selling features to building movements. From Apple and Patagonia to IBM, Liquid Death, Fender, Duolingo and The Economist, Carlos shows how the strongest brands stand on a foundation of truth, then amplify it through stories people want to believe in, share and defend. He also brings the lesson home for Pittsburgh companies: stop being humble to a fault, discover your "why" and learn how to brag in an elegant way. Hit play to learn why storytelling is not fluff. It is value creation, market differentiation and maybe the most human tool a company has to grow. The Pittsburgh Technology Council produces TechVibe to explore Pittsburghs technology and innovation ecosystem.
- 3 weeks ago22 min
Vintage Cars, City Streets and the Spirit of Pittsburgh
What happens when vintage race cars, Pittsburgh streets and one of the region's most beloved summer traditions all converge at full throttle? Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix Executive Director Dan Del Bianco joins Mike Broeker of Bedford Management Partners to preview another action-packed year of racing, car shows and automotive camaraderie. They detail the return of the full Schenley Park course, Jaguar's starring role as Marque of the Year, a new Enthusiast Grid for tuner and import fans, drift-car rides and a packed calendar of events leading into race weekend. Dan also explains how the Grand Prix keeps shifting gears after more than four decades, including plans to replace the racing lost with the closure of Pittsburgh International Race Complex. Along the way, the conversation cruises through priceless race cars, dedicated volunteers, unforgettable Grand Prix memories and the more than $7 million the event has raised for local autism and intellectual and developmental disability charities. Buckle up. This episode proves the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix is much more than a car show. It is a community-powered celebration that keeps Pittsburgh's summer running on premium. The Pittsburgh Technology Council produces TechVibe to explore Pittsburgh's technology and innovation ecosystem.
- Jun 30, 202621 min
Beyond Vibe Coding: Adam Wynne's APES Method Builds Software Ready for the Real World
Can AI help you build software faster without leaving your business swinging from a technological tree branch? Adam Wynne, founder of Pittsburgh-based Wynne Technologies, joins TechVibe to explain how his APES methodology, short for AI Project Engineering with Specs, takes AI-powered development beyond flashy demos and turns promising ideas into secure, scalable, production-ready products. Wynne details why vibe coding can produce something that looks appealing but may not be ready to support hundreds or thousands of customers. His approach applies specialized AI agents across the entire product-development jungle, from customer discovery and technical specifications to coding, testing, security reviews and ongoing operations. Hear how APES can build software up to 10 times faster, continually learn from emerging research and deploy teams of adversarial agents to inspect products from the perspectives of developers, users and security architects. Wynne also explores how the technology is helping companies improve sustainability, manage energy data and identify AI projects that deliver measurable business value. So grab a banana, meet Tom the ape and tune in for a conversation about building software that is more than just a pretty bunch of code. This episode is packed with practical insights for founders, entrepreneurs and business leaders ready to turn their next big idea into something truly scale-ape-able. The Pittsburgh Technology Council produces TechVibe to explore Pittsburgh's technology and innovation ecosystem.
About TechVibe Pittsburgh
Curious about Pittsburgh's growing technology and innovation industry and the opportunities it has for you? This podcast gives you a front-row seat to the companies, people, and institutions that are making Pittsburgh's tech industry thrive. Discover the newest tech startups emerging from Pittsburgh; Meet dynamic entrepreneurs driving innovation and creating a rich landscape for tech company growth; and Stay on top of the latest trends from recognized industry experts and thought leaders. Audrey Russo and Jonathan Kersting of the Pittsburgh Technology Council have interviewed thousands of tech entrepreneurs and business experts across the tPittsburgh region's tech and innovation ecosystem. Get an inside look at the companies, people, and trends that are making Pittsburgh a worldwide center of technology innovation. Start by diving into Pittsburgh's tech ecosystem with a fan-favorite episode: "Meet the New Head of CMU's Machine Learning Department." Don't miss out—click to listen now! TechVibe Pittsburgh is produced by the Pittsburgh Technology Council to explore the Pittsburgh region's technology, entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem. Tune in Sundays at 6 AM 10 100.1 FM AM 1020 KDKA.
Customized Recaps
AI-powered recaps with compact key takeaways, quotes, and insights.
Straight to Your Inbox
Get key takeaways from TechVibe Pittsburgh in a 5-minute read.
Save Hours Every Week
Stay current on your favorite podcasts without falling behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Podzilla's TechVibe Pittsburgh daily summary?
It's a free AI-powered email that summarizes new episodes of TechVibe Pittsburgh as soon as they're published. You get the key takeaways, notable quotes, and links & mentions — all in a quick read.
How does the TechVibe Pittsburgh podcast summary work?
When a new episode drops, our AI transcribes and analyzes it, then generates a personalized summary tailored to your interests and profession. It's delivered to your inbox every morning.
Is this an official TechVibe Pittsburgh product?
No. Podzilla is an independent service that summarizes publicly available podcast content. We're not affiliated with or endorsed by Jonathan Kersting.
Can I get summaries of other podcasts too?
Absolutely! The free plan covers up to 3 podcasts. Upgrade to Pro for 15, or Premium for 50. Browse our full catalog at /podcasts.
How often does TechVibe Pittsburgh release new episodes?
TechVibe Pittsburgh publishes every few days. Our AI generates a summary within hours of each new episode.
What topics does TechVibe Pittsburgh cover?
TechVibe Pittsburgh covers topics including Technology, Business. Our AI identifies the specific themes in each episode and highlights what matters most to you.
Start getting TechVibe Pittsburgh summaries tomorrow morning.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.