Connected Nation

By Jessica Denson

This is Connected Nation – an award-winning podcast focused on all things broadband. From closing the Digital Divide to simply improving your internet speeds, we talk technology topics that impact

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FAQs about Connected Nation:

How many episodes does Connected Nation have?

The podcast currently has 226 episodes available.

Connected Nation episodes:

November 05, 2025 Now or never: How one industry veteran is building a people-first future in broadband
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On this episode on Connected Nation, we continue our coverage from Calix ConneXions 2025, taking place in Las Vegas Nevada.
We talk with one man who just struck out on his own in the telecom and broadband industry. Find out how he's planning to leverage his 25 years in the business to help others and why he believes it was "now or never."
Editor's note: The host, Jessica Denson, misspoke and said Mr. Rene had 35 years in the business. It is actually 25.
Recommended links:
Calix ConneXions 2025
Waypoint 33 website
Randall Rene LinkedIn
...more
26min
October 29, 2025 New game. New rules. The show broadband providers don't want to miss
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On this episode on Connected Nation, we continue our coverage from rom Calix ConneXions 2025, which took place in Las Vegas in mid-October.
We sat down with the Corporate VP of Marketing for Calix to discuss innovating customer success, implementing a smarter AI, and using a little showmanship to drive the messages home.
Recommended links:
Calix ConneXions 2025
Scott Neuman Calix Corporate Vice President of Marketing LinkedIn
...more
25min
October 22, 2025 Investing in connection: How Mac Mountain helps businesses build better broadband
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On this episode of Connected Nation, we talk with leadership from Mac Mountain.
A recently launched company that's taking a unique approach to expanding broadband by helping other businesses grow.
Listen and find out how the model works and what led to this non-traditional approach to expanding access to more homes and businesses.
Recommended links:
Mac Mountain Website
Alex Rozek LinkedIn
Scott Sampson LinkedIn
...more
46min
October 21, 2025 Connecting the land of 10,000 lakes
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On this episode of Connected Nation, we talk with Bree Maki, Executive Director, Office of Broadband Development, Minnesota. She explains why the state was already well on its way to connecting everyone *before* BEAD.
Plus, we find out what state broadband leaders across the country are sharing with one another AND learn about the unique challenges of building out broadband in the land of 10,000 lakes.
Recommended links:
Minnesota Broadband Office Website
...more
28min
October 20, 2025 From Alabama to the Navajo Nation: The company that's putting rural communities first
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On this episode of Connected Nation, we begin our coverage from Calix ConneXions 2025, taking place in Las Vegas Nevada.
We talk with Jacob Smithee, the Director of IT from a Co-op in Alabama, about the challenges of bringing high speed internet to extremely rural areas. Plus we find out what he hopes for connectivity in his state and how his company recently helped the Navajo Nation with a completely different problem.
Recommended links:
Calix ConneXions 2025
Flash Fiber website

...more
17min
October 08, 2025 What a decade of digging into the Digital Divide and meeting those impacted by it has taught one researcher
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On this episode of Connected Nation, we're joined by a special guest who has spent nearly a decade researching the Digital Divide and meeting many of those who are directly impacted by it.
Find out what Dr. Christopher Ali is working on now AND the claim he says many broadband leaders need to stop making now or risk creating more harm.

Recommended links:
Get "Farm Fresh Broadband: The Politics of Rural Connectivity"

Dr. Christopher Ali
Penn State University

...more
17min
October 01, 2025 The father and son duo focused on helping telecom manufacturers deliver their products
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On this episode of Connected Nation, we talk to a father and son team who rep a host of manufacturers in the broadband space. Find out how their model fills the needs of a wide range of companies, programs, and projects.
Recommended links:
Communications Marketing Systems - https://superrep.com/
Ken Lazear (dad) and Jake Lazear (son)
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ken-lazear-586a20149/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacoblazear/

...more
17min
September 24, 2025 What a Danish company now manufacturing in the US can do to help improve broadband buildouts
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On this episode of Connected Nation, we ask what the Danish can do to help build out broadband in America? I talk to a rep with Lynddahl Telecom about the product they're now manufacturing in the US to do just that.
Recommended links:
Lynddahl Telecom website
Pete Spehr, SVP of Sales, Lynddahl Telecom America - https://www.linkedin.com/in/pete-spehr-0437042/

...more
16min
September 21, 2025 Special edition: Why Wichita is about to stake its claim in the AI revolution
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On this special edition of Connected Nation, we head back to Wichita, Kansas one last time for the AI Interconnection Summit, which took place on Thursday, September 11th.
This time we talk with leadership from Stevens Fiber Group and Moonshot Energy about what they do, why Kansas is on their radar, and the reason this summit was their can't miss event.
Recommended links:
AI Interconnection Summit website
Stevens Fiber Group's website
Allen Meyer's Linkedin profile
Moonshot Energy's website
Bryan Lubin's Linkedin profile
...more
28min
September 18, 2025 Special edition: Two visionaries behind Kansas' digital leap
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On this special edition of Connected Nation, we head BACK to Wichita, Kansas for an AI Interconnection Summit.
This time, we talk with the woman many credit with greenlighting the FIRST EVER Internet Exchange Point in Kansas and with one CEO who is going to help make it a reality.
Recommended links:
AI Interconnection Summit website
Socket Fiber website
Jade Piros de Carvalho Linkedin profile
iM Data Centers website
Mike Roark Linkedin profile
...more
23min

FAQs about Connected Nation:

How many episodes does Connected Nation have?

The podcast currently has 226 episodes available.

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