Cloud Talk

Latest Episodes:

Leading Through a Pandemic Jun 15, 2020

Show notes

There’s no way to fully prepare for a world-shattering event like a global pandemic, but there are ways to effectively manage the changes it brings. Host Jeff DeVerter interviews Rackspace Technology CEO Kevin Jones in this episode of Cloud Talk and discusses how leadership made the difference as Rackspace Technology adapted to, and accelerated out of, the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kevin Jones wrote an essay on his experience with H1N1, which can be found here.

Special Guest: Kevin M. Jones.

Why It’s Time for Your Company to Take Data Seriously — And How to Get Started Jun 09, 2020

Show notes

Data is exploding. There’s more of it than ever, and yet not enough companies take advantage of it. This episode of Cloud Talk quizzes two data experts on how to get started with data integration. It also examines the importance of starting small but thinking big, and how being smart about data can improve your customer experience, boost retention, and heighten your company’s success in today’s challenging market.

Juan's article on Trusted Data

Special Guests: Juan Riojas and Nihar Gupta.

How to run your business when the world stops and everybody goes home Jun 02, 2020

Show notes

Millions suddenly find themselves working from home, forcing companies to rethink key aspects of their business. This episode of Cloud Talk explores the importance of communications, security, equipping and supporting staff, disaster planning, critical spending, and the importance of flexibility — all to position your organization for success in an uncertain future.

Special Guest: Mike Woolard.

Unlock Innovation with Containers and Serverless May 26, 2020

Show notes

Tolga Tarhan is an authority on serverless computing and containers. As the CTO of Onica, a Rackspace company, Tarhan has long pushed for the adoption of cloud native application development. According to Tarhan, the cloud is especially exciting, relevant and vital — and that also makes it necessary for companies to take a different approach to cloud native processes.

“Cloud native involves people, processes and technology changes,” Tarhan said. “Cloud native processes can lead you to a promised land in the cloud, which is cost-effective, with elastic scaling, better reliability and faster time to market,” he added. In looking at the cloud as a new way to approach technology — and fully embracing that — Tarhan believes you get a lot more new value when you abandon the simplistic view of the cloud as a type of data center.

The notion of innovative ways of working — deciding to move quickly in the future to create business opportunities — is particularly applicable to containers and serverless. Both have revolutionized the industry, abstracting it away from physical hardware — and even operating systems — albeit in different ways.

These subjects are at the heart of the latest episode of Cloud Talk. In just 30 minutes, Tarhan and Rackspace CTO Jeff DeVerter dig into the history of containers and serverless, contemporary use-cases, the importance of adopting new technologies, and where all these things will take us in the future.

Listen now to learn:

• How embracing new technology and the cloud’s uniqueness unlocks value
• Why agile, cross-functional teams create business benefits and opportunities
• How containers boost app efficiency, reliability and development speed
• Where serverless can fit into your organization, how serverless and containers compare, and recognizing you don’t always need to choose between the two
• How modern cloud setups help you scale and retain portability
• What mesh means in the context of serverless, and how it addresses the challenges of microservices
• Why containers are a good indicator of how well a company has adopted cloud native processes

According to Tarhan, there’s never been a better time to get on board with innovative ways of working. “Once you make the hard changes — in people, processes and technology — you begin to move quicker into the future,” he says. “You deploy new updates every day rather than every year, which means better customer experiences, revenue and growth. This isn’t just about cost savings — it’s also about forward-looking opportunity.”

Tolga's Forbes Article: Multicloud is an exercise in strategic thinking.
For more content, visit Rackspace Solve.

Teaser: Introducing Cloud Talk May 18, 2020

Show notes

Rackspace CTO Jeff DeVerter has been a Racker for over a decade with a career in tech that stretches back more than 20 years. He’s seen the industry evolve at a remarkable speed, and believes the pace is likely to accelerate. That’s why Jeff is the perfect host for Rackspace Solve’s new podcast series, “Cloud Talk.” In Cloud Talk, Jeff interviews some of the most influential experts on the frontlines of this dramatic change, to share their knowledge and insights on all things cloud, technology and staying connected.

“The amount of change I’ve witnessed and been a part of during my career is nothing short of amazing,” explains Jeff, recalling the explosion of managed hosting, the support needs related to hyperscale clouds, and the current focuses on business-critical applications and cloud-native development. “Rackers have always been on the cutting edge of this digital transformation, and I’ve been fortunate enough to be a part of all of it. Now this new podcast series will delve into topical and vital subjects for our industry, as told through the perspectives of the people and the companies who are living this transformation on a daily basis.”

In Cloud Talk, you can expect to hear leaders discuss such topics as digital transformation, containers and Kubernetes, IoT and edge computing, multicloud, hybrid cloud and more. Shows will be short and sweet — under half an hour each — and available from Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and anywhere else podcasts are found.

Visit Rackspace Solve at www.rackspace.com/solve.