About Get to the Point — The High Point Networks Podcast
Technology can feel overwhelming — the jargon, the pace, the pressure to keep up. Get to the Point exists to change that.
Hosted by Andy Middlemiss and Brandi Mentele of High Point Networks, Get to the Point is a podcast for business leaders, IT professionals, and anyone trying to make sense of how technology can actually work for them. Each episode cuts through the noise with honest conversations, real-world insights, and practical takeaways from people who live and breathe this stuff.
No fluff. No unnecessary jargon. Just the deeper "why" behind the technology decisions that matter — from a team you can trust.
New episodes every other Wednesday.
Hosts: Andy Middlemiss & Brandi Mentele
Production & Management: Jasmine Joy
Audio & Video: Alex Conner
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Get to the Point is produced by High Point Networks for informational purposes only. Guests include High Point Networks professionals as well as subject matter experts from across the industry, each speaking from their own experience and expertise. Content shared is intended as general information and should be evaluated within the context of your specific organization and circumstances. Views expressed by outside guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of High Point Networks or its affiliates. High Point Networks assumes no liability for decisions or actions taken based on content discussed in this podcast.
Be the Disrupter: Modernizing IT with Purpose (with Andrew Moore)
Andrew Moore has spent more than 40 years in IT, and as Chief Information Officer at Colorado School of Mines, he's built a reputation for choosing disruption over the easy path. In this episode, Andrew shares his philosophy on the two types of CIOs — the ones who keep the lights on, and the ones who push for change — and how Mines' size and culture let IT move faster than most institutions. He also walks through how one simple frustration, not being able to connect to wifi between buildings,...
16 Sept 2026
What Your Cyber Policy Actually Covers, and What It Doesn't (with Travis Kroger)
Cyber insurance isn't a safety net you buy once and forget (or...it really shouldn't be). Rather, it's a living part of your security posture. Yet, most businesses don't realize how little their policy actually covers until after a breach has already occurred. In this episode, Andy and Brandi sit down with Travis Kroger, Cyber Insurance Practice Lead at UKON, to pull back the curtain on what cyber coverage really means, how to read between the lines of a policy, and why the affordable market ...
2 Sept 2026
Rebuilding Rural Healthcare: Technology, Funding, and the Fight to Close the Gap (with Secretary Magstadt and Kevin DeWald)
Technology and healthcare collide in this episode as Andy and Brandi welcome their first-ever two-guest lineup: Kevin DeWald, Executive Director of South Dakota Health Link, and Secretary Melissa Magstadt. Together, they unpack how South Dakota built one of the most connected rural health information networks in the country, and how new federal funding is helping close longstanding technology gaps in rural and frontier healthcare. Kevin DeWald has worked for South Dakota's state public health...
19 Aug 2026
Microsoft, AI, and Maintaining Human Responsibility (with Chris Watson)
Most organizations are already licensed for more than they're using — and AI is a big part of that. In this episode, Solutions Architect Chris Watson walks through what's already baked into your Microsoft environment, why a thoughtful rollout matters more than a fast one, and how teams are actually using Copilot day-to-day to work smarter. Chris Watson is a Solutions Architect at High Point Networks with over 13 years of industry experience. He holds Microsoft Certified Cloud Solutions Provid...
5 Aug 2026
Leaders Worth Following: Curiosity, Confidence & Cutting Through the Noise (with Scott Erkonen)
What separates a good leader from one people actually want to follow? Scott Erkonen, COO of Performance Bankers and former CIO at Great Western Bank and First Interstate Bank System, has spent more than two decades figuring that out. In this episode, Scott joins Andy and Brandi to talk about the leadership traits that matter most: raising your hand when you don't know something, building the kind of confidence that doesn't crumble under pressure, staying present in a world built to dist...
22 Jul 2026
What CISA Actually Does and Why Your Organization Can't Afford to Ignore It (with Jim Edman)
Most organizations in the Midwest don't have a dedicated cybersecurity team — and that's not a failure; it's just the reality. But that doesn't mean they're on their own. In this episode, Andy and Brandi sit down with Jim Edman, Cybersecurity Coordinator for CISA's Region 8, to talk about the free, taxpayer-funded resources available to cities, counties, schools, and small businesses — and why so few of them are actually being used. From backup restore testing to business email compromi...
14 Jul 2026
Breaking Down the 2026 DBIR with Dean Sheley: What Business Leaders Need to Know
The 2026 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report just dropped — and in this bonus episode, Andy and Brandi sit down with Dean Sheley, Senior Security Architect and Consultant at High Point Networks, to unpack what's in it and what it means for your organization. Dean brings nearly 30 years of cybersecurity experience across global financial institutions, higher education, and the SMB sector. He's a CISSP, holds a Master's in Information Security and Assurance from Dakota State University, a...
8 Jul 2026
Building the Next Generation of Cyber Professionals (with Dr. Ashley Podhradsky)
What does it take to make cybersecurity feel like it's for everyone? Dr. Ashley Podhradsky has spent her career answering that question. In this episode, Andy and Brandi sit down with the Vice President for Research and Economic Development & Co-Founder of CybHER at Dakota State University to talk about building the next generation of cyber professionals, why curiosity matters more than math scores, and what parents and business leaders alike need to know about the technology shapin...
24 Jun 2026
Big Brother: Is He Watching? Security, Privacy, and Where the Line Actually Is (with Aaron Zylla)
After Episode 6 sparked a bigger conversation, Aaron Zylla came back to finish it. In this bonus, Andy, Brandi, and Aaron dig into one of the most charged topics in physical security — where does protection end and surveillance begin? ✨ In this episode: → The difference between liberty and privacy, and why it matters → What "no expectation of privacy in public spaces" actually means legally → How privacy masking works at the camera level — not the server → ...
16 Jun 2026
VMware, Broadcom, and What IT Leaders Need to Know Now: A Conversation with Brian Bensen
Surprise drop! We're giving you an extra episode this month because this conversation is too important to sit on. VMware didn't just change — it changed fast, and more than once. Since Broadcom's acquisition, organizations have watched licensing costs climb and options narrow, often without much warning. In this episode, Sales Engineer Brian Bensen walks through what happened, why there's no simple replacement, and how to think through your virtualization strategy before you're up again...
10 Jun 2026
Beyond the Camera: What Physical Security Actually Does for Your Community (with Aaron Zylla)
Most organizations think physical security means hanging a camera and calling it a day. Aaron Zylla, Senior Physical Security Engineer at High Point Networks, says that's the most dangerous assumption you can make. In this episode, Aaron breaks down what a real physical security strategy actually looks like, why it matters far beyond your building's front door, and how the right systems are actively making communities safer right now. ✨ In this episode: → Why "physical acce...
27 May 2026
Why Comfort Kills: Growth, Complacency, and the IT Hype Cycle (with Brandon Conkins)
If you're not evolving, you're falling behind. Brandon Conkins, Director of SMART Services at High Point Networks, makes the case for why comfort and complacency are among the biggest risks facing IT leaders and organizations today. Drawing from a viral street interview with Snowflake's CRO and the content of one of the world's fastest-growing business media channels, Brandon unpacks the vendor hype cycle, the psychology behind why people resist change, and what it actually means to get comfo...
13 May 2026
Cyber Hygiene Without Fear: Building a Security Culture People Actually Like (with Lynn Soeth)
Fear-based cybersecurity training uses the same tactics as cybercriminals. And it's not working. Lynn Soeth, Service Manager of Security Services and Sales Engineering at High Point Networks, has been leading security teams since 2017 with a distinctly human-first approach. In this episode, she breaks down what it actually looks like to build a security culture people want to participate in — not one they dread. From the Little Mermaid as a metaphor for layered security, to a real-world email...
29 Apr 2026
When the Breach Happens: Response, Recovery, & the Role of AI (Part 2 of 2 with Shawn Mendel)
Understanding the threat is only half the equation. In Part 2, we shift from awareness to action. Shawn Mendel — Director of Professional Services and Incident Response Manager at High Point Networks — walks through what response and recovery actually look like once a breach is underway, how AI is being weaponized by threat actors, and the five areas every organization should focus on to reduce their risk before an incident ever happens. This episode closes with practical personal cyber hygie...
15 Apr 2026
When the Breach Happens: Ransomware, BEC, and the Modern Threat Landscape (Part 1 of 2 with Shawn Mendel)
Cyber incidents don't start with panic. They start with patterns. In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Shawn Mendel — Director of Professional Services and Incident Response Manager at High Point Networks — breaks down the modern threat landscape driving today's incidents. With nearly 30 years of experience, 15 as an engineer, and a reputation for calm, clear-headed leadership under pressure, Shawn brings the data and the real-world perspective leaders need before the crisis call ever com...
31 Mar 2026
Why This All Matters: Getting to the Point
Every piece of technology has a story behind it. Not the specs. Not the features. The why. In our first episode, hosts Andy Middlemiss and Brandi Mentele share the story behind Get to the Point — how an idea born inside High Point Networks turned into a podcast built around one simple mission: technology is more interesting when you understand what it actually does for people. From a wireless network that helped a university attract and retain students, to a Real Time Crime Center in Pueblo, ...
20 Mar 2026
Get to the Point | Official Trailer
IT is complicated. This podcast isn't. Get to the Point is where real IT experts have real conversations, cutting through the noise to give business leaders, IT professionals, and curious minds the clarity they *actually* need. Hosted by Andy Middlemiss and Brandi Mentele, each episode digs into the deeper "why" behind the technology that runs your business. We’re here to make it all feel less overwhelming and more...human. No fluff. No vendor pitches. Just honest talk about what's work...
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Spotify
4.7 / 5
7 ratings
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