Stafford Unplugged

By Solid Gold Podcasts #BeHeardBusiness

Stafford Unplugged episodes

June 09, 2020 Philosophies of technology's future | Scott Lemon (Technologist, Futurist, and Twilio IOT Solutions Engineer)
Philosophies of technology's future — What if we are just AI's biome and Bitcoin married IOT?
Scott Lemon (Technologist, Futurist, and Twilio IOT Solutions Engineer)

My favourite 'Lemon' quote (which he coined about 20 years ago!); 'The Internet is the developing nervous system of the human organism on Earth!'

Scott Lemon has an incredible technological 'sixth sense' and since I met him when I lived in Utah (where he still abides nestled in the Wasatch mountain range in Heber Valley) in 1997 he's been my go-to for seeing around technological bends (or just verifying whether my assumptions makes sense).

We reminisce about some of the world-first things I watched him do back then; setting up the first ever 802.11x wifi network at a Brainshare conference in the USA, exploring directory services as a consumer service (perhaps the first derivative of the social graph), etc.

Scott also casually shares his fascinating views on what's ahead with IOT, voice as a user interface, Bitcoin allowing sensors to exchange value, humans being the 'gut bacteria' of an emerging sentience, Etc.

What a privilege to shoot the breeze with such a special friend!

Connect with Scott on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottclemon/
Follow Stafford on Twitter https://twitter.com/staffordmasie
Connect with Stafford on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/stafford-masie-69489726/

When you're ready to #BeHeard, contact the podcast specialists at SolidGold.co.za
1 hr
May 29, 2020 Bitcoin Understood and Contextualized | Farzam Ehsani (VALR | 'Bitcoin Seer', Co-Founder and CEO)
Bitcoin Understood and Contextualized — Bitcoin's history, status today, and futures beautifully articulated
Farzam Ehsani (VALR | 'Bitcoin Seer', Co-Founder and CEO)

Farzam (or Zom as I know him) is my 'go-to' guy for all things Bitcoin and crypto-currency. His faith, respect for history and ability to assimilate the humanities, gives him the ability to contextualize Bitcoin better than anyone I've heard or met. In this episode we explore the evolution of money, the current state of the fiat-currency world and demystify Bitcoin. He also maps his journey out of traditional banking and into building his own Bitcoin exchange : VALR

VALR https://www.valr.com/
Follow Stafford on Twitter https://twitter.com/staffordmasie
Connect with Stafford on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/stafford-masie-69489726/

When you're ready to #BeHeard, contact the podcast specialists at SolidGold.co.za
1 hr 17 min
May 29, 2020 The dynamic (European) future of work | Jesper Frederiksen (Okta, Inc | Vice President and General Manager, EMEA)
The dynamic (European) future of work — Fascinating WFH stats and insights into security challenges/opportunities
Jesper Frederiksen (Okta, Inc | Vice President and General Manager, EMEA)

Jesper and I first met when I established Google's presence here in South Africa (2006). We've been friends ever since and I've always highly regarded his insights into technology trends. Here he shares this fascinating 'Work From Home' (WFH) European study done by OKTA. The posits are fascinating and gives us some useful insights re the metamorphosis occurring right now throughout the region. His OKTA vantage point gives him frontline views of the future of work unfolding; what a privilege to hear it directly from Jesper.

Why the future of work in Europe is dynamic https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-future-work-europe-dynamic-jesper-frederiksen/
Okta https://www.okta.com/
Follow Stafford on Twitter https://twitter.com/staffordmasie
Connect with Stafford on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/stafford-masie-69489726/

When you're ready to #BeHeard, contact the podcast specialists at SolidGold.co.za
51 min
May 27, 2020 The dynamic (European) future of work | Jesper Frederiksen (Okta, Inc | Vice President and General Manager, EMEA)
The dynamic (European) future of work — Fascinating WFH stats and insights into security challenges/opportunities
Jesper Frederiksen (Okta, Inc | Vice President and General Manager, EMEA)
Jesper and I first met when I established Google's presence here in South Africa (2006). We've been friends ever since and I've always highly regarded his insights into technology trends. Here he shares this fascinating 'Work From Home' (WFH) European study done by OKTA. The posits are fascinating and gives us some useful insights re the metamorphosis occurring right now throughout the region. His OKTA vantage point gives him frontline views of the future of work unfolding; what a privilege to hear it directly from Jesper.

Why the future of work in Europe is dynamic https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-future-work-europe-dynamic-jesper-frederiksen/
Okta https://www.okta.com/

Follow Stafford on Twitter https://twitter.com/staffordmasie
Connect with Stafford on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/stafford-masie-69489726/

When you're ready to #BeHeard, contact the podcast specialists at SolidGold.co.za
51 min
May 20, 2020 Geeks Reminiscing | JD Marymee (Microsoft HQ Seattle | Applied Innovation Architect, Professional Flight Instructor and Author)
Geeks Reminiscing — Looking back over aged (tech) shoulders
JD Marymee (Microsoft HQ Seattle | Applied Innovation Architect, Professional Flight Instructor and Author)

JD and I met in the USA in 1996 when I started working at Novell’s Utah (Provo) HQ. His tech background and experience is jaw-dropping! JD’s history covers some of the most pivotal technology milestones in our industry and the various pioneers he engaged during those times.

Listen in as we casually throw back to some of those fascinating instances, do some BIG name dropping and he shares his views on Blockchain.

Unfortunately I couldn’t keep him talking longer (because he had to jump on a call with NASA and Starlink) but I’m sure (the older) geeks out there will love hearing some of this tech history.

Consider this Part I : I promise to bring him back to surface more of this history chronologically. There is SO much he still has to share!

Connect with JD on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmarymee/
Follow Stafford on Twitter https://twitter.com/staffordmasie
Connect with Stafford on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/stafford-masie-69489726/

When you're ready to #BeHeard, contact the podcast specialists at SolidGold.co.za
54 min
May 15, 2020 The reinventor of education | Robert Paddock (GetSmarter | Co-founder, Valenture Institute | CEO, Hubble Studios | Executive Director, Injini | Board ..
The reinventor of education — Inventive entrepreneurship, founder PTSD and next generation learning
Robert Paddock (GetSmarter | Co-founder, Valenture Institute | CEO, Hubble Studios | Executive Director, Injini | Board Member)

From a drummer who almost lost his hearing, to logistics, to compost, to disrupting the education sector; Rob shares his pathways that led to one of the biggest deals in SA's startup sector history (an exit of $103m plus $20m cash when he sold the Cape Town based education platform, GetSmarter, to a USA company, 2U, in 2017).

If you're a budding entrepreneur, this is for you; Rob has had a fascinating and meandering startup journey and he articulates so many learnings from it.

If you're a parent with kids entering/in high-school, this is for you; Rob's insights into this sector and the future he is actually building today, specifically via the Valenture Institute, every parent should heed. In this COVID-19 dispensation we are accelerating the metamorphosis of education which will have tectonic impacts on society.

If you're an experienced founder, this is for you; We share our stories of building something you've invented and then having to let it go. Posits related to psychological hardships that we simply do not expound enough as founders. (Inventive entrepreneurship can be an abyss of sacrifice, forced confrontations with your shadow and ultimately with your identity and depression(s). Everyone focuses on the success but many do not lift the veil to see the impact and consequences some founders have to wrestle long after.)

In summary; Rob is just an awesome dude and I hope this casual and unscripted conversation, which was such a privilege, holds nuggets of learnings for all.

Rob's recently launched online school;:The Valenture Institute https://www.valentureinstitute.com/
The GetSmarter transaction https://ventureburn.com/2019/09/i-burnt-myself-into-the-ground-103m-deal-getsmarter-co-founder/
Follow Stafford on Twitter https://twitter.com/staffordmasie
Connect with Stafford on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/stafford-masie-69489726/

When you're ready to #BeHeard, contact the podcast specialists at SolidGold.co.za
1 hr 2 min
May 15, 2020 The reinventor of education | Robert Paddock (GetSmarter | Co-founder, Valenture Institute | CEO, Hubble Studios | Executive Director, Injini | Board Member)
The reinventor of education — Inventive entrepreneurship, founder PTSD and next generation learning
Robert Paddock (GetSmarter | Co-founder, Valenture Institute | CEO, Hubble Studios | Executive Director, Injini | Board Member)
From a drummer who almost lost his hearing, to logistics, to compost, to disrupting the education sector; Rob shares his pathways that led to one of the biggest deals in SA's startup sector history (an exit of $103m plus $20m cash when he sold the Cape Town based education platform, GetSmarter, to a USA company, 2U, in 2017).
If you're a budding entrepreneur, this is for you; Rob has had a fascinating and meandering startup journey and he articulates so many learnings from it.
If you're a parent with kids entering/in high-school, this is for you; Rob's insights into this sector and the future he is actually building today, specifically via the Valenture Institute, every parent should heed. In this COVID-19 dispensation we are accelerating the metamorphosis of education which will have tectonic impacts on society.
If you're an experienced founder, this is for you; We share our stories of building something you've invented and then having to let it go. Posits related to psychological hardships that we simply do not expound enough as founders. (Inventive entrepreneurship can be an abyss of sacrifice, forced confrontations with your shadow and ultimately with your identity and depression(s). Everyone focuses on the success but many do not lift the veil to see the impact and consequences some founders have to wrestle long after.)
In summary; Rob is just an awesome dude and I hope this casual and unscripted conversation, which was such a privilege, holds nuggets of learnings for all.

Rob's recently launched online school;:The Valenture Institute https://www.valentureinstitute.com/
The GetSmarter transaction https://ventureburn.com/2019/09/i-burnt-myself-into-the-ground-103m-deal-getsmarter-co-founder/

Follow Stafford on Twitter https://twitter.com/staffordmasie
Connect with Stafford on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/stafford-masie-69489726/

When you're ready to #BeHeard, contact the podcast specialists at SolidGold.co.za
1 hr 2 min
May 14, 2020 Early childhood development and COVID-19 | Meg Faure (Occupational Therapist, Author, Speaker and Founder of 'Play Sense')
Early childhood development and COVID-19 — Parents of toddlers - heads up! Amazing insights, guidance, and advice!
Meg Faure (Occupational Therapist, Author, Speaker and Founder of 'Play Sense')

Parents in COVID-19 lockdown (and in general) are extremely concerned about their child's development. Many of us are stuck at home with toddlers, multi-tasking, exhausted, and out of ideas. Amongst ourselves we're asking serious questions about their growth, well-being, the future of day-care and their overall education.

I turned to my favourite OT and one of the smartest educationalist on the planet; Meg Faure has done incredible work authoring best-selling books, started successful businesses in this domain and is a thought-leader.

Enjoy her sharing so many invaluable and practical nuggets of parental advice for us in lock-down (which will be equally invaluable post lock-down).

BTW, listen out for the bit where she articulates pivoting her 'Play Sense' business due to the lock-down - fascinating share and learnings every Founder out there will find useful.

Everything about Meg and her businesses https://www.megfaure.com/
Meg's online school for Toddlers https://playsense.org/
Follow Stafford on Twitter https://twitter.com/staffordmasie
Connect with Stafford on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/stafford-masie-69489726/

When you're ready to #BeHeard, contact the podcast specialists at SolidGold.co.za
49 min
May 13, 2020 The upside of down in Bruce Whitfield's world | Bruce Whitfield (A multi award-winning business broadcaster, journalist, author, speaker, MC and confe..
The upside of down in Bruce Whitfield's world — Perspectives making sense of our new world; historically and economically
Bruce Whitfield (A multi award-winning business broadcaster, journalist, author, speaker, MC and conference facilitator)

Bruce Whitfield (@brucebusiness) doesn't need any introduction if you're a South African (for the few who don't know him; see his bio below). I love prompting Bruce for his views which are usually fascinating, verbose, contextual and wrapped in beautiful historical metaphors.

I 'cold-called' him this morning and (completely unscripted) he shared his views re the pandemic, the world economy, South Africa and where this is all heading. Wonderfully positive perspectives that left me hopeful of our future.

He also shamelessly and typically (*wink*) plugged his new best-selling book (see link below to purchase it).

Bruce's bio : A multi-platform award-winning financial journalist, Bruce’s work on radio, television and in print gives him unique access to South Africa’s biggest power brokers in business and money. He has been named ‘Financial Journalist of the Year’ three times in the past decade by independent judges in the annual Sanlam Awards, and has received recognition for his work on the economy, companies and personal finance.

The article he authored that we mention https://www.businesslive.co.za/fm/opinion/2020-05-13-bruce-whitfield-dear-minister-patel-let-me-tell-you-whats-unfair-/
To buy Bruce's book 'The Upside of Down' in South Africa (you can order it from Exclusive Books via the Uber Eats app) https://www.exclusivebooks.co.za/product/9781770107250
Excellent extracts from his book https://m.fin24.com/Opinion/book-extract-bruce-whitfield-south-africa-isnt-just-unequal-its-unfair-20200401-2
Follow Stafford on Twitter https://twitter.com/staffordmasie
Connect with Stafford on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/stafford-masie-69489726/

When you're ready to #BeHeard, contact the podcast specialists at SolidGold.co.za
49 min
May 13, 2020 The upside of down in Bruce Whitfield's world | Bruce Whitfield (A multi award-winning business broadcaster, journalist, author, speaker, MC and conference facilitator)
The upside of down in Bruce Whitfield's world — Perspectives making sense of our new world; historically and economically
Bruce Whitfield (A multi award-winning business broadcaster, journalist, author, speaker, MC and conference facilitator)
Bruce Whitfield (@brucebusiness) doesn't need any introduction if you're a South African (for the few who don't know him; see his bio below). I love prompting Bruce for his views which are usually fascinating, verbose, contextual and wrapped in beautiful historical metaphors.
I 'cold-called' him this morning and (completely unscripted) he shared his views re the pandemic, the world economy, South Africa and where this is all heading. Wonderfully positive perspectives that left me hopeful of our future.
He also shamelessly and typically (*wink*) plugged his new best-selling book (see link below to purchase it).
Bruce's bio : A multi-platform award-winning financial journalist, Bruce’s work on radio, television and in print gives him unique access to South Africa’s biggest power brokers in business and money. He has been named ‘Financial Journalist of the Year’ three times in the past decade by independent judges in the annual Sanlam Awards, and has received recognition for his work on the economy, companies and personal finance.

The article he authored that we mention https://www.businesslive.co.za/fm/opinion/2020-05-13-bruce-whitfield-dear-minister-patel-let-me-tell-you-whats-unfair-/
To buy Bruce's book 'The Upside of Down' in South Africa (you can order it from Exclusive Books via the Uber Eats app) https://www.exclusivebooks.co.za/product/9781770107250
Excellent extracts from his book https://m.fin24.com/Opinion/book-extract-bruce-whitfield-south-africa-isnt-just-unequal-its-unfair-20200401-2

Follow Stafford on Twitter https://twitter.com/staffordmasie
Connect with Stafford on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/stafford-masie-69489726/

When you're ready to #BeHeard, contact the podcast specialists at SolidGold.co.za
49 min