Best Laura Schwarz Podcasts (2025)

1
Adapting to the AI Era (with Bojan Tunguz and Brent Orrell) 30:33

4d ago30:33

30:33

What does the rise of generative AI mean for how we educate, train, and prepare for the future of work? And despite AI’s growing capabilities, why have institutions been so slow to respond to these changes and what will help them catch up with the growth of AI in new industries and educational forums? On this episode of Explain to Shane, Shane Tews…

1
AI, Governments, and God (with Father Paolo Benanti) 35:56

18d ago35:56

35:56

AI is reshaping our world as profoundly as past technological revolutions: the printing press, the Industrial Age, and the Digital Revolution. Its rapid advancement presents both extraordinary opportunities and significant risks. How will AI affect industries, national economies, and global governance? How can businesses and policymakers ensure AI …

1
Rethinking the Rules of Space (with Jay Schwarz) 36:44

1M ago36:44

36:44

Space-based satellite networks are transforming global connectivity, extending access to even the most remote corners of the planet. The rules that govern these networks have never been more critical. How does satellite spectrum actually function? Why is there an increasing need to revise the regulations that oversee it? And what are the key compon…

1
Personalization, Privacy, and Policy (with Rob Sherman) 39:40

2M ago39:40

39:40

As social media platforms integrate personalization technology, questions around privacy, transparency, and user choice are becoming increasingly pronounced. What does personalization really mean for users? How do platforms like Facebook and Instagram decide what content or ads you see? And how can companies ensure that personalization enhances use…

1
The Spectrum Exchange: Networks, Security, and Innovation (with Peter Rysavy) 31:01

4M ago31:01

31:01

Amid debates over spectrum allocation, critical questions about national security, communication infrastructure, and connectivity continue to take center stage. What does spectrum sharing involve? How does spectrum sharing enhance the efficiency of limited spectrum resources? And what impact does it have on deploying emerging technologies like 5G a…

1
The Future of the Enterprise Browser 33:06

5M ago33:06

33:06

Web browsers are built for convenience—prioritizing speed, compatibility, and ease of use. But what happens when a browser isn’t for just an individual user but for an entire enterprise? In today’s cybersecurity landscape, where threats are constant and data breaches can be catastrophic, organizations need more than just a traditional browser. They…

1
Taking on DMV Bureaucracy (with Shane Bigelow) 31:25

6M ago31:25

31:25

Digital solutions for vehicle titling and registration are transforming how DMVs operate, replacing slow bureaucratic processes with efficient blockchain-based systems. Through successful partnerships with state governments, companies offering these digital services have demonstrated significant time and cost savings in vehicle-related transactions…

1
The Fight against Drug Shortages (with Laura Bray) 46:56

7M ago46:56

46:56

The United States faces a critical drug shortage crisis every day that jeopardizes patient care across medical specialties. The problem is staggering: 83 percent of oncologists cannot prescribe their preferred chemotherapy treatments, and a shocking 96 percent of these drug shortages stem from human manufacturing issues. In 2023, drug shortages rea…

1
Navigating India's Digital Competition Landscape (with Shruti Rajagopalan and Shreyas Narla) 32:42

7M ago32:42

32:42

As India's economic landscape evolves amid population growth, crafting regulations that foster progress is critical. But how can India leverage its advanced digital infrastructure and young workforce to drive innovation and create sustainable job opportunities? What regulatory reforms could help create an environment that encourages start-up growth…

1
AI and the Future of Civics (with Adam Hinds, Michael Champigny, and Will Foster-Nolan) 29:34

8M ago29:34

29:34

In an era when civic literacy is at concerning lows, the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate’s Senate Immersion Module (SIM) is revolutionizing civic education by transforming students into senators for a day, complete with an innovative AI policy simulation. What can experiential learning reveal about students’ capacity to eng…

1
The Power of Pivots: How Smart Companies Change the Game (with Gary Shapiro) 29:35

8M ago29:35

29:35

What separates the companies that successfully pivot from those that become cautionary tales in business history? How do government regulations either foster or hinder innovation in today’s tech landscape? And what can business leaders learn from the countless pivots that shaped America’s tech dominance? Joining me to address these questions, which…

1
The Future of Small Business Financing 25:18

9M ago25:18

25:18

How is technology revolutionizing access to capital for small businesses? What challenges do these businesses face in securing funding? And what broader role does technology play in improving their access to capital? On the latest episode of Explain to Shane, Shane interviews Anthony Matos, CEO and cofounder of Shubox, a platform designed to help s…

1
The Broadband Dilemma (with Janice Hauge and Mark Jamison) 32:51

10M ago32:51

32:51

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) $42.5 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, passed by Congress three years ago, set out to close the digital divide by bringing broadband to unserved and underserved communities. Yet despite the ambitious goal of getting all Americans online, progress…

1
AI's Corporate Takeover? (With Mark Johnson) 31:52

11M ago31:52

31:52

As artificial intelligence continues to reshape industries, companies are grappling with the challenges of effectively leveraging AI tools. From data readiness to privacy concerns, the path to successful AI implementation is fraught with complexities. Yet, the potential benefits - from revolutionizing healthcare to enhancing our daily interactions …

1
Can We Childproof the Internet? (With Ari Cohn) 28:22

11M ago28:22

28:22

Recent child online safety bills have ignited a firestorm of controversy. These emotionally charged proposals aim to shield children from online harm, but they've raised serious concerns about potential infringement of First Amendment rights. The current legislative landscape remains uncertain, with various bills at different stages across states a…

1
Renewing the Partnership Between Government and Entrepreneurs (With Arun Gupta) 32:11

12M ago32:11

32:11

Our government grapples with challenges that demand quick solutions and decisive action. However, the government structure often lacks the necessary incentives to drive innovation. This is where Arun Gupta comes in, emphasizing the importance of a renewed partnership between government and entrepreneurs to tackle major societal issues. Arun is the …

1
Unpacking the Data Dilemma 35:38

1y ago35:38

35:38

As the US pushes for a TikTok ban and the EU leads the way in data privacy regulation, experts warn that overly restrictive policies might inadvertently stifle innovation and economic growth. But how do we strike the right balance? What role does data play in shaping our society? How do we categorize and classify the information we generate daily? …

1
Busting Tech Myths (with Robert Atkinson and David Moschella) 37:04

1y ago37:04

37:04

Is technology really addictive, or is that just another myth? What hidden benefits of AI are we overlooking? And how will the landscape of innovation shift as lawmakers tighten the reins of regulation? In this episode, Shane interviews Robert Atkinson and David Moschella, co-authors of Technology Fears and Scapegoats: 40 Myths About Privacy, Jobs, …

1
Securing the Web with Route Origin Authorizations (with Grace Abuhamad and Robert Cannon) 37:59

1y ago37:59

37:59

NTIA is championing Route Origin Authorizations or ROA’s as part of the Biden Administration’s cybersecurity plan to fend off nation-state hackers and cyberattacks. In tandem with this effort, on June 6, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) advanced a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking aimed at strengthening internet security through the implemen…

1
Inside Tech's $2 Trillion Technical Debt (with Ken Silva) 31:53

1y ago31:53

31:53

Outdated systems, sloppy code, and years of quick fixes have created a growing issue of "technical debt" in businesses. This unseen threat poses security risks, slows innovation, and leaves companies running on inefficient systems. Technical debt costs the US an estimated $2.41 trillion annually, with a whopping $1.52 trillion needed just to addres…

1
Borderless Banking: How Crypto Cuts Through Red Tape (with Candace Kelly) 30:36

1y ago30:36

30:36

As the world becomes increasingly interconnected economically, blockchain-based financial networks offer new solutions for facilitating seamless international trade, remittances, and humanitarian aid. What specific advantages do blockchain-based financial networks offer over traditional systems? As global economic interconnectivity increases, what …

1
Defending the Digital Realm (with Jason Hogg) 30:43

1y ago30:43

30:43

The proliferation of cyber threats has evolved into a crisis: Last year, there were 880 million cybercrime complaints resulting in over $12 billion in losses. Analysts suggest that cybercrime is now the third-largest economy globally after the United States and China. The most pressing challenges in today's cybersecurity landscape include staying a…

1
Global Connectivity Unplugged (with Brian Barritt and Michael Cheng) 39:32

1+ y ago39:32

39:32

While internet access has spread rapidly across the globe during the past several decades, around three billion people still lack access. Some argue that the solution lies in fiber cable expansions, while others are innovating with satellites to meet users’ demands. Satellite connectivity supports network access for users in formerly unconnected ge…

1
What Has Been Done to Address Online Lag? (with Jason Livingood) 23:28

1+ y ago23:28

23:28

While the internet has improved monumentally since its early days of bandwidth restrictions and dial-up, customers are more demanding of the network and have little patience for latency on any of their devices. What causes these interruptions to our usually consistent high-speed streams? Latency, or lag. On today’s episode of Explain to Shane, Comc…

1
What Do the EU’s Tech Regulations Mean for the US? (With James Lewis) 21:13

1+ y ago21:13

21:13

The European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) is an ambitious attempt to constrain the immense power of Big Tech. But in an interconnected world, regulations made in Europe ripple out to the US and beyond. What do stricter rules in Europe mean for the US’s tech sector? How will new regulations impact American data protection? Will the DMA hurt inn…

1
Inside the Challenge against Phone Spam (with Dave Stewart) 31:33

1+ y ago31:33

31:33

Unwanted calls and messages have become a major nuisance in the digital age. Regulators have scrambled to address rising complaints about these unwanted intrusions, but the persistence of fraudulent communications has undermined consumer faith in our telecommunications infrastructure. Why do these issues persist? And in today’s complex digital land…

1
Making Sense of Music Streaming 28:49

1+ y ago28:49

28:49

When Taylor Swift pulled her music from Spotify in 2014, she shone a spotlight on an issue that persists in the music industry today: artist must jump through major hoops to be compensated for their music that is played across multiple platforms. Nine years later, the economics are still challenging for artists to receive payment for their work. Ar…

1
Beyond Bitcoin (with Yuval Rooz) 38:23

1+ y ago38:23

38:23

Cryptocurrency is transforming finance before our eyes, using technology to put control over money and transactions back into the hands of users. With the potential to enable faster, cheaper, and more transparent transfers, cryptocurrency infrastructure lays the foundation for new avenues of innovation - from self-executing smart contracts to great…

1
Candidates, Bots, and Ballots: How AI is Rewriting Political Advertising (with Scott Brennen and Matt Perault) 33:47

1+ y ago33:47

33:47

Generative AI poses new challenges for political campaigning and our democracy as we head towards the 2024 presidential election. While this technology could streamline political messaging, there is greater fear that it could enable widespread manipulation and distortion of the democratic process. Heading into a contentious election, how can we ass…

1
Quantum: Computing’s Next Innovation Wave (with Alan Baratz ) 26:34

1+ y ago26:34

26:34

Quantum computing has the potential to radically advance our ability to solve complex problems, transforming entire industries from drug discovery to cybersecurity. But, how does quantum computing really work? What problems can it help people and businesses solve? And how does it play into the US’s larger national strategic goals? Our guest today i…

1
The Paperless Revolution with Scott Wyatt 31:03

1+ y ago31:03

31:03

Paperwork and manual forms are still the norm for most industries today, but this outdated process is begging for a digital overhaul. Emerging software solutions can fully digitize documents and forms using advanced source code technology, providing pathways to ease information flows. Can this technology revolutionize the way businesses and governm…

1
Securing Your Digital Life in an Age of Hacks (with Harry Raduege) 31:47

2y ago31:47

31:47

As we adopt technology at every level of our lives, these technological advancements can also open the door to more cyber risks. The increasing sophistication and frequency of cyberattacks are a threat to government agencies, private companies, and individual users alike. Given the interconnectedness of our digital economy, how can public users and…

1
Privacy, Data, National Security and the Principals for Data Sharing Globalization (with Sujit Raman) 35:51

2y ago35:51

35:51

Recent developments in transatlantic data sharing agreements serve as a baseline for the importance of cooperation between countries in the digital age. From the new Trans-Atlantic Data Privacy Framework (TDPF) to the cybersecurity proposals before the United Nation, there are both areas of agreement and concern. To walk through some of the recent …

1
Can We Future-Proof AI? (with Rob Reich) 29:05

2y ago29:05

29:05

The explosion of large language models (LLMs) into the public sphere in 2023 here in Washington has raised many questions on how much artificial intelligence (AI) should be under the direct scrutiny of the government. Should we proceed with as much caution as Europe? Will AI as we know it today become misaligned with our interests? AI should lead u…

1
Uncertainty & Technology: The Adaptability Imperative of Automation (LIVE with Brent Orrell—Part II) 32:55

2y ago32:55

32:55

In this live episode of Explain to Shane, Shane wraps up her discussion with AEI Senior Fellow Brent Orrell on generative artificial intelligence tools and automation’s relationship to in-demand skills in the labor market. The two scholars get at the heart of how we should view automation and the imperative that it places on our institutions—and ou…

1
Uncertainty & Technology: The Adaptability Imperative of Automation (LIVE with Brent Orrell—Part I) 35:27

2y ago35:27

35:27

In this live episode of Explain to Shane, Shane joins AEI Senior Fellow Brent Orrell on the stage to discuss how the latest advancements in automation through large language models (LLMs) are accelerating discussions around what skills are the most valuable in the labor market. The crowd has a vested interest in their insights—the 2023 AEI Summer H…

1
From Serving to the Server: How Sandboxx Is Changing Military Life (with Sam Meek) 25:44

2y ago25:44

25:44

In this episode of Explain to Shane, Shane walks through Sandboxx, the digital platform designed by veterans and service members to help connect the military community with secure tools. Sandboxx’s co-founder and CEO, Sam Meek explains how this groundbreaking platform, inspired by Sam's experiences in the US Marine Corps, is enabling a support syst…

1
Unpacking Misconceptions in Tech Antitrust (with Daniel Francis) 32:56

2y ago32:56

32:56

The recent neo-Brandeisian tack in antitrust policy has kicked up a lot of dust, obscuring much of the evidence that pokes holes in a more aggressive Federal Trade Commission (FTC) under Lina Khan. Is big really bad, though, when it comes to technology antitrust policy? Join us in this episode of Explain to Shane as we explore this pressing questio…

1
From Pixels to Prosperity: Navigating Legal Frontiers and Disruptive Innovation Across Africa (with Susan “Guya” Obunga Otieno) 29:32

2y ago29:32

29:32

It is clear that African nations are gearing up for a major leap forward in economic growth thanks to recent technological innovations in artificial intelligence and enhanced availability of technology tools to individuals. The African Development Bank anticipates an average of 4 percent real GDP growth in 2023 and 2024. How are legal frameworks ke…

1
The Promise and Peril of AI in the Music Industry (with David Hughes) 36:33

2y ago36:33

36:33

This year has witnessed some extremely impressive breakthroughs in generative artificial intelligence models, with OpenAI releasing GPT-4, Google with its Bard LLM, and many more competitors. But what might be less well-known is that there’s a whole class of music-making AI software rising, and it’s creating everything from symphonies to viral rap …

1
The Importance of Spectrum Harmonization (with Roger Entner) 30:02

2y ago30:02

30:02

Throughout the Biden administration and this Congress, spectrum has been a priority for nearly everyone else in the world—except for us. We’re currently 378 megahertz behind other countries on mid-band spectrum, a vital resource for 5G communications quality. Spectrum isn’t anything we can see or touch, yet it’s all around us. However it is perhaps…

1
A Network of Networks: Modularity in Internet Governance (with Susan Ness) 19:51

2y ago19:51

19:51

Two of the long-tail fears surrounding the future of the internet are the danger of creating either an internet controlled by the hands of the few and powerful at a global scale or what’s known as the “splinternet”—the cabining off of nation-states’ networks from the mainstream due to censorship, technological change, or commercial fragmentation. S…

1
One World, Two Webs: Can We Make A More Secure Internet? (with Paul Kupiec and Thomas Vartanian) 37:42

2y ago37:42

37:42

Unauthorized network access was the most common cause of third-party cyber attacks in 2022. This includes ransomware and phishing attacks that created internal network compromises that were responsible for 40 percent of third-party cybersecurity breaches. Are we really heading toward a more secure internet? Protection from cybersecurity scams needs…

1
Procuring Security: Government Software Modernization (with Ryan Triplette) 27:29

2+ y ago27:29

27:29

Situated squarely in the digital age, yet still years behind the curve, our government spends upwards of $100 billion on its IT and cyber needs annually according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO). With all that money being spent, how do we know we’re getting not only the best deal on software but also the most secure systems? The Natio…

1
Spectrum, Satellites, and Subsidies: Telecommunications Decision Points in 2023 (with Michael O’Rielly) 26:02

2+ y ago26:02

26:02

Myriad questions are swirling around telecommunications policy at the outset of this year. Elon Musk’s Starlink and Jeff Bezos’ Kuiper are heating up the discussion surrounding Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite internet. The FCC’s ability to auction off spectrum is up for reauthorization on March 9th, securing a vital asset for the regulatory body to…

1
What Does the Right to Repair Really Mean? (with Jeff Westling) 21:17

2+ y ago21:17

21:17

Our devices, smart as they are, break on us, and often the only recourse outside of purchasing a new one is to take our broken tech to a licensed repair shop. But what if the replacement parts for such devices were more readily available or even set up for DIY repair? This is the supposed promise of the legal concept of the “right to repair.” It ai…

1
The Munich Security Conference at 60: Promoting International Cooperation, Trust, and Digital Security (with Benedikt Franke) 22:11

2+ y ago22:11

22:11

We live in a world where the security that we enjoy arises out of more than just police forces, standing armies, or the weapons we equip them with. Today’s security lies both in the seen and the unseen—the defenses built around our online networks, data, and connected technology repel attacks every day. How are we to coordinate amongst internationa…

1
Does the U.S. Have Global Tech Superiority? Our China Challenge Going Forward (with James Lewis) 21:08

2+ y ago21:08

21:08

What does it mean to gain tech influence on a global scale? How does America compare to China in helping the developing world get connected? What’s more effective: a tangible investment or a winning smile? Who is China eclipsing on the global stage? Technology, international security, and public policy have integrated over the last decade into some…

1
Can Transatlantic Cooperation Transform the China Tech Race? (with Peter Brown) 27:56

2+ y ago27:56

27:56

China has invested heavily in the telecommunications and internet infrastructure of the developing world. In the face of that significant head start, how might Europe and the US team up to catch up in the 5G influence race? What has the EU-US Trade and Technology Council (TTC) accomplished so far towards that end and others? Are we heading into mor…

1
Have We Turned a Blind Eye to Cybersecurity? (with Ambassador Robert O'Brien) 34:38

2+ y ago34:38

34:38

What role has America played in technology development in the past and how has that role evolved? What effect has offshoring elements of our high-tech hardware manufacturing had on our cybersecurity capacity? How are these “instruments of national power” changing our calculus on the cyber balance of power? To what extent should the government inter…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Laura Schwarz Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide