Cisco Podcast Network

Join Kat and Ian as they stumble through the basics of DRIP (yes, we finally figured it out!), share some questionable life advice for surviving a seven-hour meeting marathon, and geek out over why Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is the ultimate digital bodyguard. We’re breaking down the "something you know, have, and are" magic that blocks 99% of attacks, and why that extra verification step is actually your best friend, not a nuisance. Plus, Ian drops some secret lore about his past life building cybersecurity programs.

Get your MFA ready, and let’s get into it!

Check out Cisco's cybersecurity solutions (like MFA) for SMBs here: https://www.cisco.com/site/us/en/solutions/small-business/security/index.html

In this special edition Talking Shift episode, host Jeff Edwards sits down with executive coach and NewLeaf Partners International co-founder Sam Barcus — the trusted advisor behind many of Cisco’s most influential leaders.

But this conversation is bigger than leadership coaching. It’s about the invisible ceilings that hold ambitious people back… the difference between performing and simply looking performative… and why the best leaders train more like elite athletes than corporate executives.
From his early days at Texas Instruments and Price Waterhouse to helping shape consultative selling at IBM during one of the biggest transformations in tech history, Sam shares the experiences that shaped his coaching philosophy — one built on awareness, authenticity, curiosity, and relentless growth.

Along the way, Jeff and Sam unpack:
🔥 Why high performers often become their own biggest obstacle
🧠 The power of a personal “brand promise” — and how it changes the way you show up
⚡ Why “what got you here won’t get you there” has never been more true in the age of AI
🤖 What executives are really wrestling with right now as AI reshapes work, leadership, and decision-making
💡 Why recovery, reflection, and curiosity may be the ultimate competitive advantages

This episode is thoughtful, deeply human, and filled with practical wisdom for anyone trying to grow into the next version of themselves — whether you lead a global organization or are simply figuring out your next move.

We are Talking Shift to make shift happen.

As hospitals move toward Automation and Smart Buildings, we explore how Integrated Technology is transforming the Patient Experience. We discuss the infrastructure required to make "Smart Hospitals" a reality.

The Internet Report explores recent disruptions at Anthropic and X, analyzing how architectural differences and deployment cycles impact digital reliability.

CHAPTERS

00:54 Anthropic's Claude: Three Early April Events
06:03 The Deployment Hypothesis
08:51 The Reliability Challenge for AI Services
11:24 A Pattern to Disruptions at X
12:45 Outage Trends: By the Numbers
17:59 Get in Touch

For additional insights, check out The Internet Outage Survival Kit: https://www.thousandeyes.com/resources/the-internet-outage-survival-kit?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=fy26q4_internetreport_q4fy26ep135_podcast 
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Want to get in touch? 
If you have questions, feedback, or guests you would like to see featured on the show, send us a note at [email protected]. Or follow us on LinkedIn or X.
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ABOUT THE INTERNET REPORT 
This is The Internet Report, a podcast uncovering what’s working and what’s breaking on the Internet—and why.  
Tune in to hear ThousandEyes’ Internet experts dig into some of the most interesting outage events from the past couple weeks, discussing what went awry—was it the Internet, or an application issue? 
Plus, learn about the latest trends in ISP outages, cloud network outages, collaboration network outages, and more. 
Catch all the episodes on your favorite podcast platform:  
- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-report/id1506984526  
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5ADFvqAtgsbYwk4JiZFqHQ?si=00e9c4b53aff4d08&nd=1&dlsi=eab65c9ea39d4773  
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/ciscopodcastnetwork/sets/the-internet-report  
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theinternetreport_official

The Challenge: AI is fundamentally changing traffic patterns, operations, and customer expectations, exposing the limits of legacy network architectures built for static connectivity rather than intelligent, real-time automation. Service providers are now under pressure to scale AI-ready infrastructure, manage growing operational complexity, and deliver predictive, always-on customer experiences.

The Solution: AI-ready networks require a new approach where the network becomes both the foundation for AI workloads and a rich source of real-time intelligence. In this Tech Talk on the Beyond the Fiber podcast, Jim Grubb explores how AI is driving autonomous operations, proactive assurance, and the transformation from reactive networks to intelligent, self-optimizing platforms.