“Have You Met Steve?” - With Steve Scapicchio, VP Of Global Sales At QA Cafe Epik Mellon

54:08

Fresh on the heels of Angacom, I had the opportunity to sit down with Tiffany “Tiff” Groves of the Broadband Forum team to discuss rewarding work, impostor syndrome, and how, perhaps someday, we may no longer need to say the phrase “women in tech.”

Epik Mellon - the QA Cafe Podcast

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“The Wireshark Story” with Gerald Combs of Sysdig, Creator and Lead Developer of Wireshark 46:01

5 weeks ago46:01

46:01

In this episode, I get to sit down with one of my heroes, Gerald Combs, who created and has maintained Wireshark for decades - one of the most critical projects to everything we do today in a connected world. We talk about a passion for problem solving, the magic of open-source, the old days of pre-standardized networking, and how so much of what society relies on is held together by a few very dedicated people. Donate to the Wireshark Foundation here: https://wiresharkfoundation.org/donate/ Find the Wireshark Foundation Podcast on YouTube: @SharkBytesWireshark…

Epik Mellon - the QA Cafe Podcast

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“Getting Out of Their Own Way” with Alexandre Martins Co-Founder & Solution Architect at Automa Networks 46:54

7 weeks ago46:54

46:54

In this episode, I talk with long time friend and colleague Alexandre Martins of Automa Networks in São Paulo, Brazil, about the broadband knowledge gap, the complexity of this little box we call “Wi-Fi Router” and what operators can do to get out of their own way as bandwidth alone isn’t a place to grow.…

Epik Mellon - the QA Cafe Podcast

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“The Death and Life of Broadcast TV” with Randy Krull, Director of Commercial Sales at Freecast 53:44

9 weeks ago53:44

53:44

In this episode, Randy Krull brings me up to speed on the state of television in a world of streaming and cable-cutting. We chat about local channels, licensing, fragmented user experiences, and the future of content distribution.

Epik Mellon - the QA Cafe Podcast

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“The Magic of Wi-Fi” with Peter Mackenzie, Director at MQ Training Services 47:27

11 weeks ago47:27

47:27

In this episode, I sit down with Peter Mackenzie, a Wi-Fi training guru with MQ Training Services, about the excitement of wireless technology, the necessity of community, protocol analysis and magic.

Epik Mellon - the QA Cafe Podcast

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“Products, Progress, and Podcasts” with John Barlow, Director of Strategic Accounts at Consult.Red 49:24

13 weeks ago49:24

49:24

In our 50th episode, I chat with John Barlow from Consult.Red, who, like many of us, came into the industry because of where their passions took them. He’s started his own podcast called “Simply Connected” and we discuss our work on the smart home, smart CPE, and why our industry is so fun.

Epik Mellon - the QA Cafe Podcast

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“Bringing Chaos to the Order” with Peter Steinhaeuser, CEO of embeDD GmbH 49:02

15 weeks ago49:02

49:02

Direct from the 2025 Hong Kong Broadband Forum meeting, Peter and I chat about the global impact of standards, how it relates to the open-source community and prpl Foundation, and how what makes networks go is the people and relationships behind them.

Epik Mellon - the QA Cafe Podcast

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“Islands of Broadband” with Donovan Smith, Open Network Technical Solutions, Inc. 43:36

17 weeks ago43:36

43:36

In this episode, I chat with Donovan Smith of Open Network Technical Solutions, who has 20 years of experience helping ISPs deliver successful service, especially Tier 2 and Tier 3 operators in the Caribbean. We talk about what users want, the power of the “quality of experience” view, and what operators can do to be successful.…

Epik Mellon - the QA Cafe Podcast

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“The Perfect Storm” with Dave Taht, Chief Science Officer at LibreQoS 35:17

19 weeks ago35:17

35:17

I was able to get the illustrious Dave Taht back on the show, where we talk about how things have changed for networking even in the last year, the importance of redundant systems, and the “perfect storm” required for technology advancement and adoption. Also recorded from his boat, as the first ever podcast recorded over Starlink.…

Epik Mellon - the QA Cafe Podcast

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“On Work That is Rewarding” with Marcel Sponer, Principal Engineer & Lead Architect at Vodafone Group 48:50

21 weeks ago48:50

48:50

In this episode, I got to sit down with Marcel Sponder from Vodafone, who has been working directly on the new services operators offer subscribers, most notably Vodafone’s Secure Net. We chat about how cool it is to see one’s own work benefit millions of people, the things made possible by more powerful home gateways, and more.…

Epik Mellon - the QA Cafe Podcast

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“The Journey to Matter” with Chris LaPré, Head of Technology at the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) 56:13

23 weeks ago56:13

56:13

I was very excited for this episode! I got to chat with Chris LaPré from the CSA, one of the leaders behind the Matter protocol that is unifying the smart home. We talk about how he got into the business, how the smart home market has evolved, and what providers and end-users can expect to make this stuff actually work together.…

Epik Mellon - the QA Cafe Podcast

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“A Look Inside CES 2025” with Ken Pyle, Host of the Viodi View 46:18

25 weeks ago46:18

46:18

In this first episode of 2025, you experience my FOMO of missing out on CES firsthand. Instead, I live vicariously through Ken Pyle, who got to experience the very broad spectrum of the latest technology at CES, from smart home to localized nuclear power plants.

Epik Mellon - the QA Cafe Podcast

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“The Packets Aren’t Scary” with Chris Greer the Packet Pioneer 47:17

30 weeks ago47:17

47:17

A handful of people, maybe fewer, understand pcaps like Chris Greer. There are a handful that are responsible for making the Internet work through that understanding, too. In this episode, I chat with Chris about the state of packet-level analysis, how important it is to successful problem solving, and why anyone can - and should - start looking at pcaps.…

Epik Mellon - the QA Cafe Podcast

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“What Operators Ought to Do” with Paul Keator, Senior Engineering Manager for Broadband Services at DISH Network 36:54

32 weeks ago36:54

36:54

At the Broadband Forum Fall 2024 meeting in San Diego, I got to sync up again with Paul Keator from DISH Networks, one of the people in the “room where it happened” when we decided to make the podcast. We chat about how the industry has changed and a bunch of best practices that operators of all sizes should consider when building out their networks for the future.…

Epik Mellon - the QA Cafe Podcast

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“But Who is Securing the Consumer?” with Dmitri Vellikok, VP of Embedded Security Business at F-Secure 51:38

34 weeks ago51:38

51:38

I finally got to chat with Dmitri Vellikok, VP of Embedded Security at F-Secure, who have found a sorely needed niche in providing network security solutions to the broadband and mobile consumer market through ISPs. We talk about the risks posed to consumers, what people are doing about it, and that all-important home gateway!…

Epik Mellon - the QA Cafe Podcast

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"And Boy Are My Arms Tired” with Bob Carrick, Director Global Strategy - Calix Cloud at Calix 46:33

36 weeks ago46:33

46:33

Back in the studio, Bob Carrick and I talk about the tradeshow circuit, the struggles and opportunities of tier 2/3 operators, and how most broadband users just need a great service experience at all levels.

Epik Mellon - the QA Cafe Podcast

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“On the Road at Network X 2024” with Peter Steinhaeuser, CEO at embeDD Gmbh, and Mika Lehtinen, Research Director at F-Secure 46:58

38 weeks ago46:58

46:58

In this episode, we were on the floor of Network X 2024 in Paris! I got to sit down with Peter Steinhaeuser, CEO at embeDD Gmbh, and Mika Lehtinen, Research Director at F-Secure, to talk about the history and future of the home gateway, the security threats that target them, and what companies and open-source communities are doing about it.…

Epik Mellon - the QA Cafe Podcast

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“The Wisdom of Being Well Rounded” with Michael Shaw, CEO of Axiros North America 1:00:37

40 weeks ago1:00:37

1:00:37

In this episode I got to sit down with Michael Shaw of Axiros NA, a long time friend and one of the people I consider “most interesting people in the world,” on how everything you learn in life, from anywhere, will prepare you for a career in networking (and then some!)

Epik Mellon - the QA Cafe Podcast

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"Live from the 2024 USP Plugfest" with Tim Spets of Nokia 43:24

42 weeks ago43:24

43:24

Our first ever live stream episode from Durham, NH, at the UNH InterOperability Laboratory. Tim and I talk about the 20th anniversary of TR-069, why collaborating with other engineers matters, and what things look like for the future of the home network.

Epik Mellon - the QA Cafe Podcast

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“It starts and ends with packets” with Tom Peterson, Sr. Technology Specialist at QA Cafe 39:47

44 weeks ago39:47

39:47

In this episode I set down with QA Cafe’s Tom Peterson, the working hands behind most of our network analysis solutions including CloudShark and Packet Viewer, about how network packets are how we learn how things work, how they solve problems (especially in cybersecurity), and what 20 years in technology looks like.…

Epik Mellon - the QA Cafe Podcast

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"Alternate views from the AltNet” with Jody Botham, Head of Networks at Brsk 53:13

46 weeks ago53:13

53:13

In this episode, I chat with Joday Botham from the UK AltNet “Brsk” about how he got his start in construction and what struggles ISPs face when delivering quality broadband to end-users who want it to just work.

Epik Mellon - the QA Cafe Podcast

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“The Guy Who Knows” with Wojciech Romek, Subject Matter Expert at Icotera 56:14

48 weeks ago56:14

56:14

In this episode I sit down with Wojciech Romek at Icotera about getting the “networking bug” early on, always having something new to learn, and how Wi-Fi has stood the test of time.

Epik Mellon - the QA Cafe Podcast

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“On the broadband front lines” with Patrick Moreno of ZyXEL Communications 55:44

50 weeks ago55:44

55:44

In this episode I chat with Patrick Moreno, Western Regional Sales Account Manager at ZyXEL Communications, about the realities of rural broadband, what it’s like to be on the tradeshow circuit, and how cutting-edge tech aligns with the needs of connected consumers.

Epik Mellon - the QA Cafe Podcast

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"Jack of All Trades, Master of Fun” with Brian Dubreuil, Sr. Technology Specialist at QA Cafe 49:23

52 weeks ago49:23

49:23

In this episode, Jason sits down with Brian Dubreuil, one of the magician’s behind customer success and support here at QA Cafe. They chat about Wi-Fi, being an extension of our customers teams, and why The Princess Bride is the greatest movie of all time.

Epik Mellon - the QA Cafe Podcast

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“Mining, Mastery, and Meraki” with Brennan Martin and Alex Burger of Cisco Meraki 1:01:07

1 year ago1:01:07

1:01:07

In our first multi-guest episode for Epik Mellon, we sit down with Brennan Martin, Technical Leader at Cisco Meraki, and Alex Burger, Principal Engineer at Cisco Meraki, about networking expertise, pcaps, and working remotely both before and after covid.

Epik Mellon - the QA Cafe Podcast

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"The most fun you’ll have” with Craig Thomas, CEO of the Broadband Forum 47:07

1 year ago47:07

47:07

Alright, it’s time for a deep dive into the standards organization I work with most: the Broadband Forum. CEO Craig Thomas and I sit down and chat about the future of the connected home, why we love standards, and why getting involved pays off for companies.

Epik Mellon - the QA Cafe Podcast

1
“The Human Factor” with Massimo Zefferino of zfactor 56:18

1 year ago56:18

56:18

In this episode we sit down with Massimo Zefferino of zfactor, the digital marketing firm that handles our work at QA Cafe and many others in the broadband and computer networking industries, about finding a niche, sticking with it, and making sure that everyone everywhere is always thinking about the end-user first when designing their brand and their messaging around technology.…

Epik Mellon - the QA Cafe Podcast

1
“Fortunate Failures” with Tzvi Skapinker, VP of Product Management and Friendly Technologies 53:58

1 year ago53:58

53:58

In this episode, I talk with Tzvi Skapinker of Friendly Technologies about the evolution of home network management for ISPs and how something that seems like a failure can turn out to be the change you need to get in on the future you were meant for.

Epik Mellon - the QA Cafe Podcast

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"PCAPs, Australia, and Acronym Soup” with Tim Winters, CTO at QA Cafe 50:35

1 year ago50:35

50:35

In this episode I sit down once again with Tim Winters, our CTO at QA Cafe, to talk about all of the changes we’ve experienced in the last year, the challenges with making complex test and network information accessible to everyone, and flying to Australia for IETF meetings.

Epik Mellon - the QA Cafe Podcast

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“A Year Later” with Jeremy Brown, VP of Threat Analysis at Trinity Cyber 54:20

1 year ago54:20