The Hitchhiker's Guide Podcast

In a rapidly evolving IT landscape, automation and AI aren’t just buzzwords—they’re strategic imperatives. In this Hitchhiker’s Guide to IT soundbite, Christopher Carter, Chairman and CEO of Approyo, urges CIOs to pay close attention to how AI-driven automation is reshaping enterprise operations. Reflecting on insights from SAP Sapphire, where over 400 AI agents were showcased, Carter emphasizes that AI is no longer experimental—it’s operational.

He encourages leaders to take proactive steps: integrate AI into infrastructure strategies now or risk falling behind. Competitors are already leveraging automation to gain a competitive edge, and the time to act is now. “Don’t stop the process,” Carter says. “Get it going and make sure it’s happening.”

This call to action is a reminder that the future of IT isn’t just about keeping pace—it’s about staying ahead.

In this Hitchhiker’s Guide to IT soundbite, Mac Liu, CEO of Vultron, explores a major turning point in the evolution of AI. We’re shifting from co-pilot models that assist with narrow tasks to fully agentic systems—AI that can learn, adapt, and autonomously execute complex workflows end-to-end.

“These agents don’t just follow instructions,” Mac explains. “They understand your workflows, your decision patterns, and how your organization operates.” Rather than acting as tools, they’re evolving into always-on collaborators—driving decision-making and reshaping how high-stakes work gets done.

As IT leaders consider what’s next, Mac’s insight offers a glimpse into a future where AI isn’t just part of the loop—it is the loop. Agentic systems could soon become foundational to operational strategy, resilience, and innovation across the enterprise.

Stay tuned to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to IT for more expert perspectives on the future of infrastructure, AI, and digital transformation.

In this episode of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to IT, host Michelle Dawn Mooney sits down with Matthew Toussain, founder of Open Security and former Senior Cyber Tactics Development Lead for the U.S. Air Force. With decades of red team and cybersecurity experience, Matthew offers a deep dive into the evolving threats to hybrid and cloud infrastructure—and how IT and security teams can better prepare.

The conversation covers:

• Where the biggest blind spots exist in hybrid environments
• How AI and live coding are introducing new risks in serverless and cloud-native systems
• Why IT teams need to embrace cybersecurity as part of their core responsibilities
• How to prioritize vulnerabilities amid a flood of CVEs
• The overlooked importance of credential management and configuration hygiene
• What today’s red teamers are (and aren’t) doing to keep up with dynamic environments

Packed with stories from real-world breaches—including North Korea’s Lazarus Group and the Colonial Pipeline attack—this episode delivers actionable insights on how to shift from reactive defense to proactive resilience.

Listen in to learn how you can operationalize vulnerability management, streamline IT/security collaboration, and keep your infrastructure secure without slowing down the business.

In this episode of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to IT, host Michelle Dawn Mooney sits down with Matthew Toussain, founder of Open Security and former Senior Cyber Tactics Development Lead for the U.S. Air Force. With decades of red team and cybersecurity experience, Matthew offers a deep dive into the evolving threats to hybrid and cloud infrastructure—and how IT and security teams can better prepare.

The conversation covers:

• Where the biggest blind spots exist in hybrid environments
• How AI and live coding are introducing new risks in serverless and cloud-native systems
• Why IT teams need to embrace cybersecurity as part of their core responsibilities
• How to prioritize vulnerabilities amid a flood of CVEs
• The overlooked importance of credential management and configuration hygiene
• What today’s red teamers are (and aren’t) doing to keep up with dynamic environments

Packed with stories from real-world breaches—including North Korea’s Lazarus Group and the Colonial Pipeline attack—this episode delivers actionable insights on how to shift from reactive defense to proactive resilience.

Listen in to learn how you can operationalize vulnerability management, streamline IT/security collaboration, and keep your infrastructure secure without slowing down the business.

As AI and IoT continue to reshape IT infrastructure, data centers, and smart building management, IT leaders must rethink their strategies for efficiency, sustainability, and scalability. In this episode of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to IT, host Michelle Dawn Mooney sits down with Erin McDannald, CEO of Elevated, to explore how AI-driven automation is optimizing energy use, streamlining workload management, and revolutionizing IT-OT convergence.

Erin shares insights on overcoming legacy system challenges, integrating AI into IT operations, and preparing infrastructure for the future of smart buildings. From predictive maintenance to sustainable data center practices, this conversation offers IT leaders a roadmap for staying ahead in an evolving technology landscape.

Key Takeaways:

• How AI and IoT are revolutionizing data center infrastructure and workload management
• Strategies for integrating operational technology (OT) with IT for seamless automation
• The role of IT asset management (ITAM) in optimizing smart infrastructure
• Trends in energy optimization, decarbonization, and sustainability in data centers
• Best practices for CTOs and CIOs adopting AI-driven IT infrastructure

Tune in for expert insights on preparing your IT environment for AI-driven workflows and smart building innovations.

Subscribe now and visit Device42 for solutions that provide visibility and control over your IT infrastructure.

As AI redefines the IT landscape, leaders face growing pressure to modernize their infrastructure, optimize workflows, and maintain oversight over increasingly intelligent systems. In this episode of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to IT, host Michelle Dawn Mooney welcomes Jeff Hagins, CTO of Contextual.io, for a deep dive into how AI is transforming IT operations, infrastructure, and automation strategies.

With over four decades in technology leadership—including roles as CTO, CIO, and startup founder—Jeff shares practical insights on what’s changing, what’s not, and what IT leaders must prioritize in the age of AI. From modernizing IT service management and incident response, to managing risk and compliance in hybrid cloud environments, Jeff unpacks the real opportunities—and challenges—of AI-powered IT.

Key topics include:

• How AI is reshaping IT operations, infrastructure, and incident management
• The risks of over-automation and the need for continuous human oversight
• Best practices for scaling AI-driven workflows across hybrid and multi-cloud environments
• Why “small wins” matter more than big bets in successful AI adoption
• The role of contextual intelligence in delivering smarter automation
• How to prepare IT teams for the long game—without overhyping short-term change

Whether you're a CIO planning your AI roadmap or an engineer navigating the shifting tech stack, this episode delivers essential guidance for building future-ready IT environments—grounded in real-world experience.

AI is transforming IT environments, forcing IT leaders to rethink data center infrastructure, real-time data processing, and security. In this episode of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to IT, host Michelle Dawn Mooney sits down with Yuval Perlov, CTO of K2View, to explore how organizations can prepare their IT infrastructure for AI-driven workloads.

Yuval shares insights on cloud vs. on-premise AI strategies, optimizing hybrid environments, and balancing cost, scalability, and security in AI adoption. He also delves into AI-powered customer interactions, discussing the data privacy risks, compliance challenges, and best practices for securing real-time AI interactions.

Whether you're an IT leader preparing for the rise of AI or looking to optimize IT operations, this episode offers practical strategies to ensure your infrastructure is ready for the next wave of digital transformation.

Key Topics Discussed:

• How AI is Reshaping IT Infrastructure – The impact of AI on storage, compute resources, and hybrid cloud environments.
• Scaling IT Operations for AI Workloads – The challenges of cost, security, and infrastructure flexibility.
• AI and Data Privacy Risks – Ensuring compliance when handling enterprise data in AI-powered workflows.
• Balancing Cloud vs. On-Premise AI Adoption – Strategies for mitigating security risks and managing costs.
• Leveraging AI for IT Asset Management & Incident Response – AI applications in predictive analytics, ticketing systems, and automation.
• The Future of AI in IT Infrastructure – Key trends IT leaders should prepare for in the next five years.

Tune in to hear how AI is shaping IT infrastructure, the challenges of securing AI-powered operations, and the strategies IT leaders need to stay ahead in an evolving digital landscape.

AI is transforming IT environments, forcing IT leaders to rethink data center infrastructure, real-time data processing, and security. In this episode of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to IT, host Michelle Dawn Mooney sits down with Yuval Perlov, CTO of K2View, to explore how organizations can prepare their IT infrastructure for AI-driven workloads.

Yuval shares insights on cloud vs. on-premise AI strategies, optimizing hybrid environments, and balancing cost, scalability, and security in AI adoption. He also delves into AI-powered customer interactions, discussing the data privacy risks, compliance challenges, and best practices for securing real-time AI interactions.

Whether you're an IT leader preparing for the rise of AI or looking to optimize IT operations, this episode offers practical strategies to ensure your infrastructure is ready for the next wave of digital transformation.

Key Topics Discussed:

• How AI is Reshaping IT Infrastructure – The impact of AI on storage, compute resources, and hybrid cloud environments.
• Scaling IT Operations for AI Workloads – The challenges of cost, security, and infrastructure flexibility.
• AI and Data Privacy Risks – Ensuring compliance when handling enterprise data in AI-powered workflows.
• Balancing Cloud vs. On-Premise AI Adoption – Strategies for mitigating security risks and managing costs.
• Leveraging AI for IT Asset Management & Incident Response – AI applications in predictive analytics, ticketing systems, and automation.
• The Future of AI in IT Infrastructure – Key trends IT leaders should prepare for in the next five years.

Tune in to hear how AI is shaping IT infrastructure, the challenges of securing AI-powered operations, and the strategies IT leaders need to stay ahead in an evolving digital landscape.

As AI and IoT continue to reshape IT infrastructure, data centers, and smart building management, IT leaders must rethink their strategies for efficiency, sustainability, and scalability. In this episode of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to IT, host Michelle Dawn Mooney sits down with Erin McDannald, CEO of Elevated, to explore how AI-driven automation is optimizing energy use, streamlining workload management, and revolutionizing IT-OT convergence.

Erin shares insights on overcoming legacy system challenges, integrating AI into IT operations, and preparing infrastructure for the future of smart buildings. From predictive maintenance to sustainable data center practices, this conversation offers IT leaders a roadmap for staying ahead in an evolving technology landscape.

Key Takeaways:

• How AI and IoT are revolutionizing data center infrastructure and workload management
• Strategies for integrating operational technology (OT) with IT for seamless automation
• The role of IT asset management (ITAM) in optimizing smart infrastructure
• Trends in energy optimization, decarbonization, and sustainability in data centers
• Best practices for CTOs and CIOs adopting AI-driven IT infrastructure

Tune in for expert insights on preparing your IT environment for AI-driven workflows and smart building innovations.

Subscribe now and visit Device42 for solutions that provide visibility and control over your IT infrastructure.

In this episode of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to IT, host Michelle Dawn Mooney sits down with Ed Frederici, CTO of Appfire, to explore how AI is reshaping IT infrastructure, automation, and decision-making. As AI adoption accelerates, IT leaders face critical decisions about how to implement and manage AI-driven solutions effectively. From optimizing IT workflows to ensuring security and compliance, organizations must balance AI’s transformative potential with the need for human oversight and governance.

With decades of experience in IT leadership, Ed shares valuable insights into the evolving role of AI as a "co-pilot" for IT teams, offering strategies for integrating AI into IT asset management (ITAM), IT operations (ITOM), and IT service management (ITSM). Together, they discuss how AI-driven automation is changing IT environments, the importance of data security in AI applications, and what IT leaders need to know to future-proof their infrastructure.

Key topics include:

• How IT leaders should approach AI implementation in their infrastructure.
• The concept of AI as a “co-pilot” for IT teams and its practical applications.
• The evolving role of AI in IT automation and workflow management.
• Security and compliance challenges when integrating AI into IT environments.
• Best practices for maintaining visibility and control over AI-driven IT operations.
• Trends shaping the future of AI-powered IT infrastructure.

Tune in to gain actionable insights on leveraging AI to optimize IT environments, enhance automation strategies, and prepare for the next wave of AI-driven transformation.