Explain to Shane

What role has America played in technology development in the past and how has that role evolved? What effect has offshoring elements of our high-tech hardware manufacturing had on our cybersecurity capacity? How are these “instruments of national power” changing our calculus on the cyber balance of power? To what extent should the government intervene in augmenting our cybersecurity capacity? Where does the average citizen factor in? All of these questions and more are discussed with former US National Security Advisor, Ambassador Robert O’Brien.

On this episode, Shane dives into our previously accepted notions of the determinants of international peace with fresh eyes and a highly decorated national security professional. Using the lens of cybersecurity, Tews and O’Brien chart a path forward given the state of play with China and our current semiconductor chip capacity—spoiler alert: we have quite a to-do list.

Why did American internet infrastructure shine throughout the pandemic compared to foreign networks? How might the executive branch best implement the massive sums of money going toward rural broadband expansion across the myriad agencies that touch it? What does leadership in broadband require moving forward? All of these questions and more are discussed with none other than the former chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) itself— Ajit Pai.

On this episode, Shane is joined by Pai, FCC Chairman from 2017 to 2021 and a current Nonresident Fellow on AEI’s Tech Policy Team, at a special live podcast recording to evaluate how the FCC has performed in the past and ways that it and all branches of government can do better by Americans in bridging the digital divide and maintaining worldwide spectrum leadership.

Will the Biden administration release a national cybersecurity strategy? Can federal agencies’ responsibilities be reorganized and redistributed among one another to increase our national cyber resilience? These and several other questions remain up in the air as cyber threats continue to proliferate.

On this episode, Shane is joined by Jason Blessing, a Jeane Kirkpatrick visiting research fellow on AEI’s Foreign and Defense Policy Team, to discuss ways for both the government and private sector to establish comprehensive strategies for confronting cyber threats and combatting authoritarian influence in the digital sphere. They also discuss Jason's latest report, The Advantage Gained: Building on USCYBERCOM-NSA’s “Dual Hat” Synergy Model, which looks at the equities around sharing government data-gathering and information-sharing capabilities.

What are “microbusinesses” and why do they matter to our economic outlook? How can state and local governments learn about and help sustain these local businesses?

On this episode, Shane interviews Alex Rosen, a senior director for GoDaddy’s Venture Forward team. Alex explains the rise of online microbusinesses during the pandemic, and how we need to capture these businesses’ importance and continue to foster their growth as part of the buildout of local economies. She also discusses the value that technological innovation has created for small businesses and shares lessons for policymakers who want to protect niche, tech-enabled markets. 

Domain name abuse is a constant challenge, as it’s the entry point for many online activities that are harmful to consumers such as malware, botnets, phishing scams, and spam. Protecting the domain name system (DNS) is a priority for security and stability, and creating an efficient way to track abusers is key to this mission. But what exactly does DNS abuse look like in practice, and how do we catch those who adversely affect the health of the internet’s vast infrastructure?

On this episode, Shane sits down with Graeme Bunton, the inaugural director of the DNS Abuse Institute (DNSAI). DNSAI recently partnered with CleanDNS to create NetBeacon—a DNS abuse reporting tool that helps mitigate and process abuse claims. Graeme gives his perspective on the issue of DNS abuse and explains why tools like NetBeacon are necessary in today’s DNS landscape.

Criminals are constantly looking for holes in online identity verification—a key reason why the US government lost $163 billion in unemployment-related fraud during the pandemic. Can technology make identity verification systems more resilient, despite everyone being on separate networks?

On this episode, Shane and AEI Nonresident Senior Fellow Jim Harper interview Jordan Burris, senior director for product market strategy at Socure—a platform that combines machine learning and artificial intelligence to provide accurate, trusted digital identity verification. The three of them discuss how fraud prevention is a “team sport” that requires balancing best practices and robust information sharing with careful protection of citizens’ personal information from government overreach.

How has China gained influence at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and what type of agenda will they continue to pursue if the US and our allies do not step up our participation? If China and Russia win the upcoming ITU election, we’re going to find out. Coined recently as “the most important election you have never heard of,” the ITU’s plenipotentiary conference in late September will give members the chance to vote on a new secretary general and group of high officials. If China’s favored candidates succeed, they will continue to dictate the rules, standards, and best practices around emerging technologies like 5G networks.

Failure on the part of the US to thwart this effort will have tangible effects on everyday Americans. As two of our guests today have warned, “What is at stake is secure air travel, privacy in every sphere of modern life, and the ability of the US military to protect the American people. The stakes could not be higher.”

On this episode, Shane sits down with AEI Distinguished Senior Fellow Danielle Pletka and Heritage Foundation Senior Research Fellow Brett Schaefer, who co-authored a report titled Countering China’s Growing Influence at the International Telecommunication Union. They’re also joined by Dominique Lazanski, a global internet governance expert and previous Explain to Shane guest who last came on the show to discuss her 2020 essay, Standardising the Splinternet: How China’s Technical Standards Could Fragment the Internet. The four of them discuss the upcoming ITU election, remind us of its high stakes, and explain how China’s quest to dominate the ITU is emblematic of a larger strategy to intimidate rivals and erode the United States’ global influence.

Everyone loves a good “life hack”: Whether it’s through an organizational app, a new productivity strategy, or a novel way to use technology, we’re all looking for ways to be more efficient. What life hacks would a startup and entrepreneurship expert recommend?

Shane’s latest guest is Jason Feifer. Jason is the editor in chief of Entrepreneur Magazine, a podcast host, keynote speaker, startup advisor, and the author of an upcoming book titled Build for Tomorrow: An Action Plan for Embracing Change, Adapting Fast, and Future-Proofing Your Career (releasing September 6). He joins the show to share his strategies for career and life success, along with a preview of his book.

As the demand for remote work, schooling, medical services, and retail continues to rise, augmented reality (AR) and extended reality (XR) are proving worthwhile to both the providers and consumers of these services. How can we integrate these technologies into our daily lives as smoothly as possible?

On this episode, Shane is joined by David Scurlock, founder and CEO of In Your FACE Learning and Training Academy, which aims to bring XR and other cutting-edge innovations to those with limited access to emerging technology. David’s programs seek to leverage young people’s interest in technology and gaming applications through interactive and immersive educational activities, but are also highly portable for all ages. He joins the podcast to discuss these and other endeavors he’s been pursuing around AR and XR.

See here for more of David’s work.

When one thinks about today’s tech leaders in Silicon Valley, PayPal is probably not the first name that comes to mind. But PayPal’s founders and earliest employees have gone on to create, found, and advise companies like Tesla, SpaceX, YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, Yelp, and Palantir. What happened in PayPal’s early days to set these individuals and future companies up for success?

On this episode, Shane is joined by Jimmy Soni, author of The Founders: The Story of PayPal and the Entrepreneurs Who Shaped Silicon Valley. As her AEI colleague James Pethokoukis described it, The Founders is a “quintessential tale of Silicon Valley tech entrepreneurship in the early internet age” that was largely untold before Jimmy chronicled it. Jimmy joins the podcast to discuss his intentions behind the book and what it can teach us about Silicon Valley, tech industry competition, and the innovation landscape today.