The Tech Log | Episode 2: The Data Swamp

There's a good chance you've already spent money trying to get your data AI-ready — or you're about to. Before you flip the switch, this episode is your reality check.

In episode two, Alexandra Craig sits down with Lisa DeNoia and Brittany Browning of Port & Starboard to wade through the data swamp: the messy, often overlooked foundation that determines whether your AI investments pay off or simply amplify the chaos you already have.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• Synthetic Certainty: Why AI is designed to give you confident answers — and why that's dangerous when your data isn't clean or well-defined.
• Garbage In, Garbage Out (2026 Edition): How AI doesn't fix bad data — it scales it. And what happens when agentic workflows are let loose on poorly structured systems.
• Data Governance Before You Automate: The permissions, backups, audit trails, and governance frameworks Lisa and Brittany say every business needs before agents touch their data.
• Human Problem or Technical Problem? Spoiler: it starts as a human problem — and you can define your way out of it.

Links & Resources Mentioned:

• Book a Chat: Have questions about your data or AI readiness? Schedule a time with the Tech Log team.
• The Agency: Learn more about Port & Starboard.

Fueled by Caffeine ☕ We don't just talk tech; we roast, brew, and drink coffee 24/7. This episode was fueled by Fathom Coffee. 👉 Get your fix at: fathomcoffee.com

Follow Tech Log: Subscribe to stay ahead of the curve as we navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of AI, data, and business technology.

The conversation has officially moved past simple chatbots. We are entering the era of AI Agents—systems that don’t just talk, but actually execute. With reports predicting a 90% adoption rate for agentic work this year, the frontier of productivity is shifting from "talking to AI" to "delegating to AI."

In this inaugural episode, Alexandra Craig sits down with Jeff Werby and Lisa DeNoia of Port & Starboard to tear down the mystery of agentic workflows and explore how businesses are actually using them to transform daily operations.

• The Psychological Shift: Why the workforce is moving from "searching" to "delegating" and the hurdles of letting go of the wheel.
• The Virtual Workforce: Jeff shares his experience building a team of agents to handle everything from messy file directories to complex, multi-step payroll automation.
• BYOA (Bring Your Own Agent): The rise of "Shadow IT" 2.0 and the implications of employees bringing their own personalized AI "brains" to work.
• Refinement & Taste: Why "hallucinations" are often just a lack of clarity, and how to use human judgment to refine AI outputs.

• Book a Chat: Have questions about implementing agents in your business? Schedule a time with the Tech Log team.
• Read the Article: Vibe Coding vs. AI-Enabled Development by Lisa DeNoia.
• The Agency: Learn more about Port & Starboard.

We don’t just talk tech; we roast, brew, and drink coffee 24/7. This episode was fueled by Fathom Coffee.

👉 Get your fix at: fathomcoffee.com

Follow Tech Log: Subscribe to stay ahead of the curve as we navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of AI, data, and business technology.