Join us as we explore the latest trends to streamline your business strategies, technology, cybersecurity and operational excellence. Tune in for expert insights, and actionable strategies to take your business to the next step. Streaming on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube.
The NSI podcast is produced by Next Step Innovation, a technology company that partners with clients to help them forecast needs, streamline operations, and implement solutions.
The Cyber Perspective: Beyond the security stack with Chad Johnson
In this episode, we cut through cybersecurity hype to focus on what actually reduces risk. We discuss how much reliance organizations should place on tools like EDR, why monitoring and SOC capabilities still matter, and the one internal security win CISOs should be prioritizing today.
Next Step Innovation is a technology company that partners with clients to help them forecast needs, streamline operations, and implement solutions.
Learn more about NSI by visiting nextstepinnovation.com.
14 Apr 2026
Meeting IT Leaders: Leading Through Change with Trevor Seifert
In this episode, we explore Trevor’s career journey—from starting as a programmer to becoming the CIO of the University of Central Arkansas—and dive into how technology is transforming higher education. We’ll discuss innovation, budgeting, AI in the classroom, lessons from leading through COVID, and what the future holds for universities navigating rapid change.
Next Step Innovation is a technology company that partners with clients to help them forecast needs, streamline operations, and implement solutions.
Learn more about NSI by visiting nextstepinnovation.com (nextstepinnovation.com).
24 Mar 2026
Leading Under Pressure: Building Scalable Tech Teams
What separates great leaders from great problem-solvers? In Part 2 of our conversation with high-performance coach Annebelle Davies, we focus on teams, culture, and leadership evolution.
This episode covers how IT and security leaders can transition from firefighting to strategic leadership, how culture and communication shape performance, and why energy—not just time—is one of the most overlooked leadership skills. Ideal for leaders building resilient, high-performing teams in tech.
Next Step Innovation is a technology company that partners with clients to help them forecast needs, streamline operations, and implement solutions.
Learn more about NSI by visiting nextstepinnovation.com.
17 Mar 2026
High Performance Under Pressure: Burnout, Boundaries, and Executive Resilience
High-pressure leadership comes with real consequences—burnout, fatigue, and constant crisis response. In this episode, high-performance coach Annebelle Davies joins the podcast to unpack how executives can maintain clarity, resilience, and effectiveness in demanding roles like cybersecurity leadership.
We explore burnout prevention, boundaries, recovery after major incidents, and the habits that allow leaders to perform at a high level without sacrificing their health or personal lives. A must-listen for executives navigating nonstop pressure.
Next Step Innovation is a technology company that partners with clients to help them forecast needs, streamline operations, and implement solutions.
Learn more about NSI by visiting nextstepinnovation.com.
13 Jan 2026
The Cyber Perspective: Dr. Veysel Erdag on Leadership, AI, and Cyber Risk
In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Veysel Erdag, Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
Dr. Erdag shares his career journey to the CISO role—whether it was a long-term goal or an opportunity that evolved. We dive into how CISOs should respond when critical vulnerabilities emerge, including real-world guidance on reacting to high-impact exploits like unauthenticated remote code execution (RCE) CVEs.
The conversation also explores how the rise of large language models (LLMs) is reshaping security risk, where organizations are most underprepared, and whether AI training for staff and students can meaningfully reduce exposure. Dr.A must-listen for security leaders, IT professionals, and anyone preparing for the next generation of cyber risk.Next Step Innovation is a technology company that partners with clients to help them forecast needs, streamline operations, and implement solutions.
Learn more about NSI by visiting nextstepinnovation.com (http://nextstepinnovation.com).
25 Nov 2025
Meeting IT Leaders: Balancing Innovation and Integrity with Vicki Farnsworth
Vicki Farnsworth, CIO at The University of Mississippi, discusses technology's impact on higher education, balancing AI innovation with cybersecurity and academic integrity in this interview with the NSI Podcast.
28 Oct 2025
The Cyber Perspective: Securing the future with Jon Green
In this episode, Jon Green, Chief Technology and Security Officer at HPE Aruba, joins us to discuss how hybrid work, AI, and geopolitics are reshaping the cybersecurity landscape.
John shares insights on what enterprises often get right—and wrong—about Zero Trust architectures, how AI is transforming both cyberattacks and defenses, and how global tensions influence security strategy for a worldwide networking business.
We also dive into John’s 22-year journey at Aruba, the evolving role of humans in a world of AI-driven automation, and even his passion for aviation—exploring the surprising parallels between flying a plane and managing complex networks.
Whether you’re a security professional, network architect, or just curious about the future of AI and cybersecurity, this episode offers expert perspective from one of the industry’s leading voices.
Next Step Innovation is a technology company that partners with clients to help them forecast needs, streamline operations, and implement solutions.
Learn more about NSI by visiting nextstepinnovation.com. (http://nextstepinnovation.com)
30 Sept 2025
Meeting IT Leaders: Built to Transform with Jonathan Sasse
Jonathan Sasse, CEO of Metova, discusses Metova's software development approach and fostering innovation in technology, while also offering advice for developers in this interview.
4 Sept 2025
Meeting IT Leaders: The NSI Journey with Trent Townsend
Host [Host Name] interviews Trent Townsend, CEO of Next Step Innovation, discussing NSI's growth from startup to federal contractor and the keys to scaling a tech business.
12 Aug 2025
Meeting IT Leaders: Mike Mathews
Host Mike Mathews, VP of Global Learning and Innovation at Oral Roberts University, discusses ORU's whole person education model and how technology like AI and Fitbits are reshaping teaching and learning.
22 Jul 2025
The Cyber Perspective: Human Vs. Automated Pentesting
Cybersecurity experts Gene Patrick, Joseph Allen, and Dr. David O’Gywnn explore the strengths and weaknesses of automated versus manual penetration testing, revealing how organizations can optimize their security strategies in this interview episode.
8 Jul 2025
Meeting IT Leaders: Jana Branham
Jana Branham, CIO of Ergon, discusses technology leadership and whiskey wisdom while participating in a blind bourbon tasting, offering insights into blending diverse experiences in this interview.
3 Jun 2025
Meeting IT Leaders: K–12 Tech Talk
Todd Borland, Executive Director of Technology, discusses the evolution of K-12 technology, cybersecurity challenges, and the rise of esports in schools, offering insights on leadership and future trends in an interview.
13 May 2025
The Cyber Perspective: Enterprise to Education
Stephen Tycer joins Cyber Perspective to dive into all things cybersecurity—from his unique journey transitioning from the oil and gas industry to higher education, to the evolving landscape of cyber threats and innovations. This episode explores emerging technologies that are both exciting and unsettling, offering insights into how commercial and academic worlds are responding to today’s cybersecurity challenges.
Next Step Innovation is a technology company that partners with clients to help them forecast needs, streamline operations, and implement solutions.
Learn more about NSI by visiting nextstepinnovation.com (nextstepinnovation.com).
29 Apr 2025
Meeting IT Leaders Series: Nishanth Rodrigues
With over 20 years experience of strategic IT leadership, Dr. Nishanth Rodrigues comes from the University of Mississippi as the Chief Information Officer to the University of Oklahoma in Norman. Tune in for his view on new emerging technologies and great ideas on how to be more effective with time management.
Next Step Innovation is a technology company that partners with clients to help them forecast needs, streamline operations, and implement solutions.
Learn more about NSI by visiting nextstepinnovation.com (nextstepinnovation.com).
15 Apr 2025
The Cyber Perspective: Hacked By AI
Join us as we dive deep into the latest AI-driven cyber threats, from deepfakes and automated phishing to self-learning malware and AI-powered hacking. Featuring expert insights from our director of cybersecurity, Dr. David O’Gwynn and unpack the risks, defenses, and ethical dilemmas shaping the future of digital security.
Next Step Innovation is a technology company that partners with clients to help them forecast needs, streamline operations, and implement solutions.
Learn more about NSI by visiting nextstepinnovation.com (nextstepinnovation.com).
1 Apr 2025
Meet IT Leaders: Paige Francis
Today is our first episode of our new series with top technology leaders: Meet IT Leaders. Today, we have Paige Francis, CIO of Art and Wellness Enterprises. She is a forbes contributor, author and IT expert with over 15 years of experience of impactful leadership. We go over how she made her way to the top as a CIO, and how to build a culture of excellence. As an IT Leader, she always has the end user in mind.
Next Step Innovation is a technology company that partners with clients to help them forecast needs, streamline operations, and implement solutions.
Learn more about NSI by visiting nextstepinnovation.com (nextstepinnovation.com).
Who has been a guest on NSI Podcast
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Vicki Farnsworth
Jonathan Sasse
Trent Townsend
Todd Borland
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Podcast Authority Score: 9 / 100
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