Virtually Speaking Podcast

In this episode of the Virtually Speaking Podcast from VMware Explore 2025, host Pete Flecha is joined by Anupama Mahabhashyam and Odded Solomon to discuss the latest innovations transforming the telecommunications industry.

The conversation covers:

📡 The shift from physical network functions to cloud-native, containerized applications

⚙️ The launch of Telco Cloud Platform 5.1 with enhanced GitOps capabilities

☁️ How telcos can position themselves as sovereign cloud providers

🔄 Dynamic infrastructure policies that auto-configure VMs when apps are deployed, reducing cross-team coordination

🛡️ Why critical telco networks require rigorous validation cycles before production

🤝 The convergence roadmap between Telco Cloud Platform (TCP) and VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF), with VCF 9.2 set to integrate telco capabilities (more details coming at VMware Explore London)

If you’re in the telecom space, this episode highlights how VMware is helping CSPs modernize operations, increase agility, and prepare for sovereign cloud demands.

👉 Don’t miss this deep dive from VMware Explore. Subscribe to the Virtually Speaking Podcast for more expert insights!

#VMwareExplore #VirtuallySpeakingPodcast #Telco #CloudNative #VMwareCloudFoundation #SovereignCloud

In this episode of the Virtually Speaking Podcast, hosts Pete Flecha and John Nicholson sit down with Glenn Sizemore from NetApp live at VMware Explore 2025 to discuss NetApp Disaster Recovery, a SaaS service within the BlueXP portfolio designed specifically for VMware workloads.

Glenn explains how the service delivers disaster recovery that feels a lot like Site Recovery Manager (SRM) — but built exclusively for NetApp systems. Leveraging SnapMirror for data transport and array-based offloads, the service provides:

A guided wizard for building replication plans

Easy configuration of mappings between data centers

Support for existing or new SnapMirror relationships

Non-disruptive test failovers using FlexClone technology

Fast failover execution in as little as 5–10 minutes

Pricing is capacity-based (about $0.03 per GB/month, or ~$368 per TB/year) — avoiding traditional per-VM licensing.

Currently, NetApp Disaster Recovery supports on-prem to on-prem, and on-prem to EVS or VMC on AWS, with Azure and Google Cloud support in development.

👉 Learn how this service simplifies disaster recovery for VMware environments while reducing costs and complexity.

🎧 Subscribe to the Virtually Speaking Podcast for more VMware Explore conversations and insights!

#VMwareExplore #VirtuallySpeakingPodcast #VMware #NetApp #DisasterRecovery

At VMware Explore 2025, host Pete Flecha speaks with Prashanth Shenoy, VP of Product Marketing at Broadcom, about the strategic partnerships shaping the future of VMware Cloud Foundation.

The conversation dives into key announcements, including:

🤝 Canonical + VMware – Ubuntu OS integration with full enterprise support for VCF customers

⚡ NVIDIA + VMware – Expanded collaboration bringing Private AI Foundation directly into VCF, enabling near-bare-metal GPU performance and improved ROI on expensive GPU investments

🔥 AMD + VMware – Support for AMD accelerators to broaden choice and flexibility for AI and HPC workloads

Prashanth explains how these partnerships deliver operational efficiency, stronger security, and AI readiness—positioning VCF as the platform of choice for modern private cloud and GPU-driven workloads.

👉 Don’t miss this strategic deep dive from VMware Explore 2025. Subscribe to the Virtually Speaking Podcast for more exclusive conversations!

At VMware Explore 2025, host Pete Flecha sits down with Dave Linthicum, Rick Walsworth, and James Schorr, Sr. Director of Enterprise Cloud Platforms at GCI—Alaska’s largest telecom provider—to discuss GCI’s journey from vSphere to VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) 9.0.

James shares how GCI moved from managing disparate vSphere clusters with complex patching requirements to a standardized and streamlined private cloud platform with VCF. The shift has delivered:

The conversation also explores the massive infrastructure changes GCI made during the pandemic, including upgrades to firewalls, network design, compute platforms, storage, and infrastructure-as-code. James highlights the OpEx savings driven by reduced labor requirements, as well as how VCF 9 testing in their labs is shaping decisions on greenfield vs. upgrade paths.

For other organizations considering VMware Cloud Foundation, James offers practical advice: design carefully but don’t get stuck in analysis paralysis—start with the resources you have, and lean on your architects and engineers to guide the path forward.

👉 Subscribe to Virtually Speaking Podcast for more customer stories and insights from VMware Explore!

In this VMware Explore 2025 episode of the Virtually Speaking Podcast, hosts Pete Flecha and John Nicholson sit down with Krish Prasad, SVP and General Manager of the VMware Cloud Foundation division at Broadcom.

Krish shares how VMware, now under Broadcom, has delivered on its long-standing vision of a truly integrated private cloud platform with VCF 9.0. He explains how the new organizational structure has accelerated innovation, resulting in positive feedback from customers across industries from large enterprises to smaller organizations.

The conversation covers:

Whether you’re an IT leader, architect, or business strategist, this episode gives a behind-the-scenes look at VMware’s direction under Broadcom and what it means for the future of private cloud.

At VMware Explore 2025, the Virtually Speaking Podcast sat down with Chris Wolf, Global Head of AI and Advanced Services at Broadcom, alongside hosts Pete Flecha and guest co-host David Linthicum, to unpack VMware’s latest Private AI announcements.

Chris details the expanded partnership with NVIDIA, including support for B200s, RTX Pro 6000s, DirectPath I/O, and pass-through capabilities, plus a new partnership with AMD to virtualize MI350 GPUs. He also breaks down how Private AI Services are now included as part of VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF), delivering:

The discussion explores why enterprises are leaning into private AI—from data privacy to economic advantages (up to 3x cost benefits) to sovereign AI requirements. Chris also introduces secure model sharing, allowing multiple tenants to use one model while keeping datasets protected.

The episode wraps with real-world customer use cases across industries, with a spotlight on strong adoption in the public sector.

Tune in for insights on how VMware is shaping the next chapter of Private AI in the cloud with VCF 9.

The conversation also covers Kubernetes innovations, Database-as-a-Service advancements, and new cyber compliance capabilities.

Throughout the discussion, Paul highlights three core themes driving VCF innovation:

Tune in for a first-hand look at the announcements shaping the future of VMware Cloud Foundation 9.

Pete Flecha and John Nicholson kick off our VMware Explore Las Vegas coverage in style, setting the stage for a week of big announcements and conversations. Filmed inside an autonomous car, the backdrop itself reflects the kind of innovation, AI, and advanced infrastructure shaping the future of technology — the same themes driving VMware Cloud Foundation 9.0.

In this episode, we break down the highlights of VCF 9.0, including Memory Tiering, vSAN Express Storage Architecture (ESA), Virtual Private Clouds (VPCs), and more — plus how these advancements are helping organizations modernize, secure, and prepare for AI.

Get ready for VMware Explore 2025 in Las Vegas! In this episode of Virtually Speaking, hosts Pete Flecha and John Nicholson are joined by Brad Tompkins, Executive Director of VMUG, to preview what attendees can expect at this year’s event.

They cover:

The latest technical sessions and free certification opportunities for full pass holders

VMUG activities, including their booth (#105), member reception at Wakuta, and exclusive VMUG Advantage discount (15% off with code Explore2025) for home lab access to VCF, vDefend, and Avi Load Balancer

Pete’s upcoming session on private cloud repatriation and the Virtually Speaking podcast booth, where they’ll be interviewing experts

The power of community connections, customer-to-PM feedback, and the all-important “hallway track”

Fun highlights like the party at the Palazzo pool deck featuring the Honey Buckets 🎶

Whether you’re coming for the deep technical content, the networking, or the community, VMware Explore 2025 has something for everyone. We hope to see you there! 

This week on the Virtually Speaking Podcast, Pete Flecha and John Nicholson sat down with networking experts Varun Santosh and Thomas Vignon to unpack what’s new with NSX in VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) 9.0.

The conversation dives into the evolution of networking in VCF, with a spotlight on Virtual Private Clouds (VPCs)—a game-changing feature that brings public cloud-like networking to private cloud environments. Learn how VPCs simplify network deployment, enable self-service, and provide default isolation between workloads—all manageable directly from vCenter, without requiring deep networking expertise.

You’ll also hear about:

Whether you’re a VI admin, a cloud architect, or just curious about where private cloud networking is headed, this episode breaks it all down in practical, approachable terms.