Best Neil Benson Podcasts (2025)

1
S2E010 The Hook and the Eye: Raymond Benson on Felix Leiter and the 1950s 36:14

8d ago36:14

36:14

In this episode, Javi Trujillo and Bill Koenig sit down with James Bond continuation author Raymond Benson for a lively, wide-ranging conversation. Best known for carrying the literary torch after John Gardner, Benson returns to the world of 007—this time through the eyes of Felix Leiter. They delve into The Hook and the Eye, Benson’s forthcoming n…

1
Leadership Lessons from Microsoft Partner Innovators: My Practice Leading Retrospective 20:38

13d ago20:38

20:38

#8. Welcome to Practice Leading, the podcast for ambitious and curious Microsoft partner leaders who are passionate about growth, innovation, and building high-performing teams—with no tolerance for BS. I’m your host, Neil Benson, and in this special retrospective episode, I’m sharing the biggest lessons learned from the show’s first eight guests. …

1
S2E009 From Casino Royale to James Gunn: Jeremy Duns discusses forgotten Bond history 53:39

22d ago53:39

53:39

In this episode of The 007 Files, Bill Koenig and Javier Trujillo and David Leigh sit down with author and researcher Jeremy Duns to explore two little-known chapters in Bond lore. First, Jeremy delves into the early attempts to adapt Casino Royale for the screen, revealing the strange paths the story might have taken. Then, we discuss his recent r…

1
Insider Secrets to Succeeding as a Microsoft Partner with Chris McNulty 39:49

26d ago39:49

39:49

#8. Chris McNulty heads Strategic Markets at Synozur. For almost ten years, he was Senior Director of Product Marketing for Microsoft 365 at Microsoft. Chris’s prior experience as CTO includes companies such as Dell and Quest Software. He is the co-host of The Intrazone and host of the Polaris podcasts. KEY LESSONS Understand the Microsoft field. N…

1
S2E008 Inside spy cinema with SpyHards 37:26

29d ago37:26

37:26

In this episode of The 007 Files, Scott and Cam from SpyHards podcast join Bill Koenig to explore the wider world of spy fiction—and how James Bond sits squarely at its centre. The trio discuss why the spy genre offers so much more than just 007, while recognising how deeply the Bond franchise owes its DNA to earlier classics like North by Northwes…

1
From Four to Forty: Building CRMK’s Team and Culture with CEO, Kathrine Hogseth 36:49

1M ago36:49

36:49

#7. Kathrine Hogseth is the CEO of CRM-Konsulterna (CRMK), a Swedish Microsoft partner business that she has led for 10 years. Kathrine has a master’s in electrical engineer and held several roles in telecommunications before achieving her MBA and then venturing into the technology industry. Today, CRM-K is one of the most highly regarded business …

1
S2E007 The Amazon era begins: meet Bond’s new producers 50:37

2M ago50:37

50:37

Javi Trujillo, Bill Koenig and David Leigh get together once again for a wide-ranging discussion on the new producers taking the helm of the James Bond franchise at Amazon MGM Studios. We explore who they are, what their backgrounds might reveal, and how their influence could shape the future of 007 on screen. Before we get into that, we talk about…

1
Mentorship and Hackathons for Professional Development with Edit Kapcari 31:55

2M ago31:55

31:55

#6. Edit Kapcari is the Head of Solutions Development at ORBIS SE in Germany where she has built her career since 2017. Initially a software engineer in the CRM practice, Edit pitched the concept of starting a Power Platform practice to her leadership and now leads that business unit. Edit shares her perspectives and experience as a people manager,…

1
S2E006 Interview with Steven Jay Rubin, author of The James Bond Films: A Behind the Scenes History 41:00

2M ago41:00

41:00

In this episode, Bill Koenig and Javi Trujillo are joined by author and Bond historian Steven Jay Rubin for a revealing conversation centred on The James Bond Films: A Behind the Scenes History. Rubin shares how the book first came about and the incredible access he had in the late 1970s—including an unforgettable screening of an early cut of The S…

1
Talent Acquisition in a Boutique Consultancy with Bob Bell, ITK Consulting 34:01

2M ago34:01

34:01

#5. Today, I'm learning from Bob Bell, CEO of boutique technology services firm ITK Consulting in Canada. Bob is an expert in business administration and has a track record of leading business in several different industries before cofounding ITK in 2016. Bob shares how his superpower lies in his attention to administrative details—a skill that all…

1
Building Diverse and Empathetic Leadership with Areti Iles 37:58

3M ago37:58

37:58

#4. Today I'm learning from Areti Iles. She's the Head of Professional Services for Enterprise Applications at Telefonica Tech in the UK. Having started in technology with end-user organisations transitioned into consulting in 2016 and joined Telefonica Tech in 2021. She's active in her local user group community, and committed to helping others ad…

1
S2E005 Licence to Legacy - The World is Not Enough (part 2) 36:52

3M ago36:52

36:52

Special guest Kyle Barbeau joins Javi Trujillo, Bill Koenig, and David Leigh as we continue our deep dive into The World Is Not Enough for its 25th anniversary. In this episode, we examine the lasting influence of screenwriters Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, whose contributions have shaped the Bond series for over two decades. We also discuss the evo…

1
S2E004 Licence to Legacy - The World is Not Enough (part 1) 34:14

3M ago34:14

34:14

Hosts Javi Trujillo, Bill Koenig, and David Leigh are joined by special guest Kyle Barbeau to mark the 25th anniversary of The World Is Not Enough. We revisit our memories of its release, debate where it ranks among the 25 Bond films, and break down the explosive (and unusually long) pre-title sequence. We also reflect on Desmond Llewelyn’s final t…

1
The future of pricing models in the Microsoft partner ecosystem with Ben Vollmer 32:55

3M ago32:55

32:55

#3. Ben Vollmer is a Senior Vice President at RSM US responsible for growing their Power Factory offering. He is probably best known in the Microsoft community as the former global director of Microsoft’s Dynamics 365 Field Service business. Ben’s a prolific presenter at Microsoft conferences with a reputation for helping partners level up their pr…

1
S2E003 Broccoli and Wilson step back: What’s next for James Bond under Amazon MGM's creative control? 39:33

3M ago39:33

39:33

Today Amazon MGM and Eon Productions released a press release that stunned Bond fans everywhere. It details how Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson will be stepping back from the Bond franchise, with Amazon MGM taking over creative control. In this episode we discuss our initial reactions to the news, as well as our hopes and fears for Bond 26 an…

1
S2 E002: A Film Professional Weighs in on Bond 50:48

3M ago50:48

50:48

Robert Short, an Oscar-winning film and TV professional, talks to Bill Koenig about his experiences with James Bond. Short has witnessed scenes from Diamonds Are Forever being filmed, worked on an unmade film project where Jane Seymour and Ken Adam would have participated, and worked with George Lazenby on a 1983 made-for-TV movie. Robert Short web…

1
What's your "Why?" for becoming a leader? with Joel Lindstrom 31:37

4M ago31:37

31:37

#02. Today I'm learning from Joel Lindstrom. Joel is a senior director at Hitachi Solutions America, where he oversees the Power Platform, Low-Code and Automation team. Before joining the Microsoft channel as a solution architect with Customer Effective, Joel sold office equipment. Customer Effective was acquired by Hitachi Solutions seven years la…

1
S2E001: Interview with Neil S. Bulk - a peak behind the scenes at the expanded James Bond soundtrack albums 45:58

4M ago45:58

45:58

Neil S. Bulk, a freelance producer and editor who has worked on nine James Bond soundtracks for La-La Land Records, talks to Bill Koenig and Javi Trujillo. He discusses technical challenges, the work involved and how he feels he's never left high school. The ninth Bond album from La-La Land, Licence to Kill, is shipping now. Before that David Leigh…

1
Culture Over Hierarchy: Tech Labs London's Unique Recruitment and Retention Strategies 40:18

4M ago40:18

40:18

#1. Mohamed Mostafa is the founder and managing director of TechLabs London, the company behind iProperty Cloud, the housing management platform build on the Microsoft cloud. He has been recognised as a Microsoft MVP since 2016, a Microsoft FastTrack Solution Architect, and holds an MBA from Henley Business School. KEY LESSONS Join the Practice Lea…

1
Special episode: Amazon versus Eon 30:23

5M ago30:23

30:23

Bill Koenig and Javi Trujillo discuss the recent article by WSJ in which it is claimed that the relationship between Eon Productions boss Barbara Broccoli and MGM's new owner, Amazon, has broken down due to a clash over the future of 007. Recorded on 20 December 2024 in the USA. You can find us at: Javi Trujillo ⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/javitru.…

1
0012: Season finale and 2024 wrap-up 36:19

5M ago36:19

36:19

In this final episode of the year—and the end of Season 1—Bill, Javi, and David dive into a range of topics to close out 2024 on a high note. We kick things off by discussing the news of a Chitty Chitty Bang Bang remake and speculate on how this, along with Barbara Broccoli's involvement in Othello, might affect the timeline for Bond 26. Looking ah…

1
0011: Licence to Legacy - 50 years of Golden Gun (Part 2) 40:29

6M ago40:29

40:29

In this continuation of our exploration of The Man With The Golden Gun, we delve into the lasting legacy of the ninth James Bond film, celebrating 50 years of its impact. Bill Koenig shares a fascinating story about interviewing the former CEO of General Motors for a piece on Ford’s return to Bond with Die Another Day. The conversation takes an int…

1
0010: Licence to Legacy - 50 years of Golden Gun (Part 1) 30:59

6M ago30:59

30:59

Join hosts Javi Trujillo, Bill Koenig, and David Leigh as they celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Man with the Golden Gun, diving deep into its impact on the Bond franchise and its enduring legacy. From nostalgic first viewings—whether at the Circle Theater in Indianapolis, the St Albans Odeon, or via VHS in the 1980s—to the iconic locations tha…

1
009: Living the Dream - a discussion with Jeffrey Westhoff 37:46

6M ago37:46

37:46

Jeffrey Westhoff, a long-time James Bond fan, is living the dream. He has published spy novels for the Young Adult market. Bill Koenig talks to Jeffrey about his new novel, From Wonderland With Love. They also discuss how Jeffrey became a Bond fan and how he interviewed Roger Moore. You can find us at: Bill Koenig https://hmssweblog.wordpress.com/ …

1
Practice Leading trailer 2:37

6M ago2:37

2:37

Welcome to Practice Leading, the show for emerging and curious practice leaders of Microsoft partner businesses. I’m Neil Benson and, if you’re anything like me with an unquenchable curiosity and zero tolerance for BS, you’ve come to the right place. Together we’ll learn from innovators and investors, executives and entrepreneurs, and business lead…

1
008: Licence to Legacy - Goldfinger at 60 (Part 2) 46:45

6M ago46:45

46:45

In this second instalment celebrating 60 years of Goldfinger, Javi Trujillo is joined by Bill Koenig and David Leigh for a lively discussion delving into the film's enduring appeal and cultural impact. Together, we explore the world of Goldfinger merchandise, the iconic Aston Martin DB5 and Mustang, and the evolution of Felix Leiter’s portrayal ove…

1
007: Licence to Legacy - Goldfinger at 60 (Part 1) 31:29

7M ago31:29

31:29

In this 007th episode of the podcast, Javier Trujillo, Bill Koenig, and David Leigh take a Licence to Legacy as they celebrate the 60th anniversary of the seminal Bond film, Goldfinger. They dive into discussing their first experiences with Goldfinger, revisiting the film’s thrilling moments and discussing how it refined the plot of Ian Fleming’s n…

1
006: Ian Fleming - a female fan’s viewpoint 35:44

7M ago35:44

35:44

Frieda Toth has extensively researched the life and times of Ian Fleming and the literary James Bond. She talks to Bill Koenig, one of the co-hosts of The 007 Files about Fleming's complicated life, how Fleming's Bond is different than the Eon films, and her views about the Eon Bond actors. Recorded in the United States on 26 October 2024 You can f…

1
005: Inside Goldeneye - what it's really like to stay at Ian Fleming’s Caribbean hideaway 41:42

7M ago41:42

41:42

What’s it really like to stay at Goldeneye, the secluded Jamaican estate where Ian Fleming dreamed up James Bond? In this episode, I chat with Darryl Marsch, a lucky guest who’s experienced the magic of Goldeneye twice. From strolling along the same beaches Fleming wandered to visiting the villa where Casino Royale was born, Darryl’s stories bring …

1
004: Licence to Kill at 35 - Revisiting Bond’s darkest mission (Part 2) 46:01

7M ago46:01

46:01

In Part 2 of our deep dive into Licence to Kill, Javi Trujillo, Bill Koenig, and David Leigh continue the conversation with guest Eoghan Lyng. This time around they first focus the spotlight on the Fleming material used in the film. They then ponder how much the drug angle alienated audiences and discuss whether we can learn anything about Bond 26 …

1
003: Licence to Kill at 35 - Revisiting Bond’s darkest mission (Part 1) 30:19

8M ago30:19

30:19

In this first part of our deep dive into Licence to Kill, Javi Trujillo leads the discussion with co-hosts Bill Koenig and David Leigh, along with special guest Eoghan Lyng. We kick things off by sharing our personal experiences of seeing Licence to Kill for the first time and reflecting on our initial reactions to Timothy Dalton’s darker, grittier…

1
002: From Detroit With Love - the other Casino Royale car 29:41

8M ago29:41

29:41

In this episode of The 007 Files, co-hosts Bill Koenig and Javi Trujillo discuss recent comments by an Amazon MGM executive about the Bond film franchise. They also take a look at one the least-loved Bond cars, the Ford Mondeo from 2006’s Casino Royale. Bill runs ⁠The Spy Command⁠ Javi writes for ⁠The James Bond Dossier Recorded on 11 October 2024 …

1
001: Mission Briefing 34:28

8M ago34:28

34:28

In this first episode of The 007 Files, hosts David Leigh, Bill Koenig, and Javi Trujillo kick off the podcast with a Mission Briefing. Join them as they explore the inspiration and ideas behind the podcast, setting the stage for an exciting journey through the world of James Bond. The hosts delve into their personal Bond origin stories, sharing wh…

1
5. Amazing Estimates for Power Platform and Dynamics 365 Teams 41:24

1+ y ago41:24

41:24

Welcome to Estimating Business Apps episode 5. This is the final episode in the Estimating Business Apps podcast mini-series. In this episode, I introduce the final section of the Estimating Business Apps course. Join me as I answer 20 frequently asked questions about how my teams estimate Power Platform and Dynamics 365 applications: How can we ex…

1
4. How to Estimate Entire Apps or Projects for Power Platform or Dynamics 365 45:22

1+ y ago45:22

45:22

Welcome to Estimating Business Apps episode 4. In this episode, I introduce the fourth section of the Estimating Business Apps course. Join me to learn how to: Scale up from estimating requirements to estimating complex business applications. Determine your team's initial velocity even if you've never worked together before. Derive the cost of your…

1
3. How to Estimate Requirements for Power Platform and Dynamics 365 17:45

1+ y ago17:45

17:45

Welcome to Estimating Business Apps episode 3. In this episode, I introduce the third section of the Estimating Business Apps course. Join me to learn how to: Slice user stories into an appropriate size for estimation. Agree a standard story against the relative size of other stories can be estimated. Use affinity estimation to quickly estimate a l…

1
2. Using Story Points to Estimate Power Platform and Dynamics 365 Apps 12:48

1+ y ago12:48

12:48

Welcome to Estimating Business Apps episode 2. In this episode, I introduce the second section of the Estimating Business Apps course. Join me to learn how: Estimating a requirement is like estimating a running trail. Effort and the three other factors need to be included in your estimate. Your team can choose an estimation scale for your business …

1
1. Why Estimate Business Applications At All? 21:45

1+ y ago21:45

21:45

Welcome to Estimating Business Apps episode 1. In this episode, I introduce the first section of the Estimating Business Apps course. Join me to learn why: Stakeholders deserve accurate estimates. Estimates are notoriously inaccurate. Estimating in units of time doesn't work. Estimating in t-shirts doesn't work either. Estimates are different from …

1
Estimating Business Apps trailer 3:16

1+ y ago3:16

3:16

G'day, I'm Neil Benson. In this limited-edition podcast series, I'd love to teach you how to quickly, accurately and confidently estimate how long it’ll take and how much it’ll cost to build your Microsoft Power Platform and Dynamics 365 business applications. You'll be able to persuade your stakeholders to approve your proposals and win more proje…

1
How Amazon Raised the Bar on Recruiting Talent | John Vlastelica 1:08:13

4y ago1:08:13

1:08:13

Today, in the Invent Like An Owner Podcast, Dave speaks with John Vlastelica to talk about how Amazon scaled recruitment. They’ll discuss the origin and impact of the Bar Raiser program, where select employees helped pick top notch applicants, the birth of Making Great Hiring Decisions, Amazon’s behavioral interviewing training, how Matt Round’s MR…

1
What It Was like to Be Amazon’s 5th Software Engineer | Eric Benson 1:08:14

4y ago1:08:14

1:08:14

Today, in the Invent Like An Owner Podcast, Dave speaks with Eric Benson to discuss his myriad early software engineering projects at a time when Amazon was rapidly growing as a company. He implemented Book Matcher (which didn’t last long) and the Similarities feature, and later built the original version of Weblabs that helped test which Amazon fe…

1
How Amazon Prime’s Subscription Management Service was Invented | Neil Roseman & Jorrit Van der Meulen 54:50

4y ago54:50

54:50

Today, in the Invent Like An Owner Podcast, Dave speaks with Neil Roseman & Jorrit Van der Meulen. The discussion revolves around Amazon's DVD rental business which was launched outside of the US, the significance of the Subscription Management Service, and the transition to the Agile/Scrum product development methodology at Amazon. Neil Roseman is…

1
How Amazon Built its Merchant Selling Platform | John Rossman 1:01:15

4y ago1:01:15

1:01:15

Today, in the Invent Like An Owner Podcast, Dave speaks with John Rossman. They talk about how the Merchants@ program was built from scratch, why working directly with third party sellers prompted the principle of seller obsession, launching the Apparel and Sporting Goods categories, developing smaller teams within the retail organization, and esse…

1
How Amazon Created a Personalized Store for Every Customer | Josh Petersen & Matt Round 1:03:53

4y ago1:03:53

1:03:53

Today, in the Invent Like An Owner Podcast, Dave speaks with Josh Petersen and Matt Round. The conversation takes us back to Amazon’s early years, when the Personalization team was put together and built on features such as Similarities, Instant Recommendations, Cart Recommendations and more. The team strove to iteratively improve key features; ove…

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