Welcome to the Jon Myer Podcast, powered by Myer Media! Fresh off the keynote stage at AWS re:Invent 2025, we sit down with Nathan from Metal Toad, an AWS partner helping organizations navigate digital transformation and cloud-native deployment.We unpack the biggest announcements from today's keynote, why they matter, and how these innovations translate into real-world opportunities for enterprises—including when AI might NOT be the right solution yet.Key Topics Discussed:✅ Fine-tuning and distilling models: Making small models more accessible✅ Why small models are the future for accuracy, speed, and edge deployment✅ Nova snapshots: Starting 90% through training, saving millions in costs✅ Real-time AI responses: From 2-3 seconds down to half a second✅ Maintaining engineer flow state with faster AI interactions✅ Kiro going GA: Immediately usable for teams✅ The honest ROI conversation: When NOT to implement AI✅ Moving AI to the edge: Reducing cloud cost variability✅ Trends for 2026: Edge AI adoption accelerating faster than anticipatedNathan's Insights:💡 "Small models can run on smaller form factors—you could actually move them to the edge and run directly on a laptop"💡 "Getting something done to deliver value is better than stopping and starting something newer and shinier"💡 "Calculate ROI first. If it takes 40 hours to implement for 2 hours a week savings, is that worth it?"💡 "Sometimes we tell clients: you don't need AI yet. Building that trust is more important than making a sale"This conversation helps you separate hype from practical implementation, understand immediate opportunities vs. strategic planning needs, and know when to wait before jumping on the AI bandwagon.Guest: Nathan, Metal ToadHost: Jon MyerRecorded at: AWS re:Invent 2025, Las VegasYouTube Timeline0:00 - Welcome from AWS re:Invent 2025 keynote stage0:49 - Game changer: Fine-tuning and distilling small models1:13 - Benefits of small models: Speed, edge deployment, cost1:38 - Real-time innovation and customer experience improvements2:00 - Keeping engineers in flow state with faster responses2:20 - Nova snapshots: Starting 90% through training2:47 - Millions in savings by not training from scratch3:05 - What's immediately usable vs. requiring strategic planning3:47 - Calculating ROI: Is 40 hours of setup worth it?4:13 - How to prioritize when innovation comes all at once4:41 - Rapid assessment: Helping clients understand if they need AI5:23 - The hard conversation: Telling clients they don't need AI yet5:47 - Building trust by saying "not yet"6:09 - 2026 trends: AI moving to the edge faster than anticipated6:33 - Closing thoughts & thank you🔔 Don't forget to Like, Subscribe, and hit the notification 🔔 ✔ Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/jonmyer/?sub_confirmation=1📱 Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/_JonMyerWebsite: https://jonmyer.comLinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-myer/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0wjJzdIwctq4o4pTXM2KSFLike my sounds? Here's my audio source: https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/fj9o9k#aws #awscloud #podcast #podcasting #costoptimization #finops #cloudcost #cloudoptimization

Welcome to the Jon Myer Podcast, powered by Myer Media! Fresh off the keynote stage at AWS re:Invent 2025, we sit down with David from Metal Toad, an AWS partner helping organizations navigate digital transformation and cloud-native deployment.We unpack the biggest announcements from today's keynote, why they matter, and how these innovations translate into real-world opportunities for enterprises accelerating their cloud journey.Key Announcements Discussed:✅ Nova2 model family with stronger model differentiation✅ Frontier models: Long-running AI that learns your team's coding style✅ NovaForge: Earlier access to models in the training process✅ S3 vector storage: Up to 90% cost savings vs. OpenSearch for RAG databases✅ Nova2 Omni: Multimodal inputs for unstructured data (audio, video)✅ Agentic AI: Building compartmentalized "brains" for better controlDavid's Insights:💡 "If you think you need AI, you maybe don't—start by identifying edge cases where problems become too squishy to solve programmatically"💡 Frontier models can run for days or weeks, learning your team's style and growing with you💡 S3 vector storage eliminates expensive always-on containers, paying only for what you use💡 Agentic AI gives you more control over your system vs. "text input and hope for the right output"Whether you're mid-market or enterprise, this conversation helps you prioritize innovation, separate hype from practical implementation, and understand what you can leverage immediately vs. what requires strategic planning.Guest: David Dolan, Metal ToadHost: Jon MyerRecorded at: AWS re:Invent 2025, Las VegasYouTube Timeline0:00 - Welcome from AWS re:Invent keynote stage0:52 - Game-changing announcements: Nova2, S3, Frontier models1:18 - What are Frontier models and why are they exciting?1:57 - Long-running models that adapt to your team2:03 - NovaForge: Earlier access to model training2:29 - Why earlier model access matters for performance2:59 - How AI announcements impact mid-market & enterprise3:15 - S3 vector storage: Up to 90% cost savings4:20 - What teams can leverage immediately vs. strategic planning4:35 - Nova2 Omni: Solving the unstructured data problem5:09 - Advising clients when there's too much innovation at once5:43 - Trends defining cloud and AI for 20266:00 - Agentic AI: Building compartmentalized systems with control6:36 - Closing thoughts & thank you🔔 Don't forget to Like, Subscribe, and hit the notification 🔔 ✔ Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/jonmyer/?sub_confirmation=1📱 Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/_JonMyerWebsite: https://jonmyer.comLinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-myer/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0wjJzdIwctq4o4pTXM2KSFLike my sounds? Here's my audio source: https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/fj9o9k#aws #awscloud #podcast #podcasting #costoptimization #finops #cloudcost #cloudoptimization

Joining us today is Jeff Barr, Chief Evangelist for AWS, recorded live at AWS re:Invent 2025. For two decades, Jeff has documented the evolution of cloud computing through the AWS blog, sharing insights on everything from the launch of EC2 instances to the latest breakthroughs in generative AI and machine learning.In this episode, we explore what's next in the AI-assisted workplace, where this technology is heading, how professionals can navigate the shift to AI-native work, and what guidance Jeff has for individuals and organizations trying to turn AI capabilities into competitive advantages.Key Topics Discussed:✅ The rapid global adoption of AI-assisted development (50%+ in 14 countries)✅ Why developers need to become better human-to-human communicators✅ The shift from writing code to reading and validating AI-generated code✅ Balancing productivity with AI hallucinations and errors✅ The art of prompt engineering and verbose specifications✅ Disposable apps: Building to solve, then rebuilding better next time✅ Why some skills are becoming more valuable in the AI era✅ Swimming upstream: Being an early adopter and giving feedback✅ Language barriers disappearing with AI translation capabilities✅ Jeff's 14 years at re:Invent and stepping back from the AWS blogWhether you're deep in your cloud journey or just getting started, this conversation gives you a front-row seat to the future being built at re:Invent.Guest: Jeff Barr, Chief Evangelist, AWSHost: Jon MyerRecorded at: AWS re:Invent 2025, Las VegasSubscribe for more conversations about cloud, AI, and the future of technology innovation.#AWS #ArtificialIntelligence #CloudComputing #reInvent #AIAssistedDevelopment #GenerativeAI #TechInnovation #JonMyerPodcastYouTube Timeline:0:00 - Welcome & Introduction1:19 - Annual tradition at re:Invent with Jeff Barr2:25 - Surprising speed of global AI adoption3:51 - Jeff's year traveling the world talking to developers4:45 - Key guidance: Step in and use AI tools6:18 - Learning to read code, not just write it7:51 - The personal chef analogy for prompt engineering9:28 - When AI gets it incredibly wrong: The college fund story11:12 - Balancing productivity with hallucinations13:18 - Why the same prompt gives different outputs14:29 - Embracing change: 50 years in tech16:01 - AI breaking down language barriers17:10 - When companies aren't AI-ready18:24 - From experimentation to problem-solving19:42 - Disposable apps: Build, use, toss, rebuild better20:29 - Essential skills for AI-assisted work21:15 - You have to experience it, not just read about it21:40 - What Jeff looks forward to at re:Invent23:42 - Stepping away from the AWS blog after 20 years26:15 - Advice for re:Invent attendees27:19 - Closing thoughts🔔 Don't forget to Like, Subscribe, and hit the notification 🔔 ✔ Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/jonmyer/?sub_confirmation=1📱 Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/_JonMyerWebsite: https://jonmyer.comLinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-myer/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0wjJzdIwctq4o4pTXM2KSFLike my sounds? Here's my audio source: https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/fj9o9k#aws #awscloud #podcast #podcasting #costoptimization #finops #cloudcost #cloudoptimization

Recorded live at EDUCAUSE 2025 in Nashville, this episode features Matt Kaminski, an educational technology leader who challenges conventional thinking about remote vs. in-person learning. Matt shares his innovative approaches to bridging the gap between physical and virtual classrooms while doing more with less.In this episode, Matt discusses:✅ AI challenges: Finding the right tools while managing data privacy✅ Why change is slow in higher education, especially public institutions✅ The need for "train the trainer" approaches to AI adoption✅ Bridging the gap between in-person and online education✅ Why remote students may have better learning retention✅ Creating "equity of experience" with Zoom-enabled classrooms✅ The Netflix for doctors: innovative continuing medical education✅ Why introverts engage more in online learning environments✅ The power of chat for asking questions without fear✅ Reversing the classroom: learn online, discuss in person✅ Leveraging HETMA and vendor partnerships to reduce costs✅ The pilot-normalize-scale-repeat approach to innovationMatt brings a refreshingly contrarian view backed by research and real-world implementation experience, showing how educational technology can actually enhance learning outcomes when thoughtfully deployed—and how building strong vendor relationships can help institutions do more with less.Recorded at EDUCAUSE 2025 in Nashville, TennesseeGuest: Matt Kaminski, Educational Technology LeaderHost: Jon Myer, Rackspace Technology - Myer Media#HigherEducation #EdTech #EDUCAUSE #RemoteLearning #OnlineEducation #AIinEducation #ZoomRooms #EquityOfExperience #FlippedClassroom #EducationalTechnology #HETMATimeline0:00 - Welcome & Introduction from EDUCAUSE 20250:34 - Biggest challenges for CIOs: AI and data privacy1:52 - The fear and unknowns around AI in education2:39 - Understanding where and how to utilize AI3:01 - Bridging gaps between in-person and online education4:15 - Do remote students actually get better education?4:36 - Learning retention research: online vs. in-person5:33 - The Netflix for doctors: continuing medical education6:32 - Why introverts engage more in online environments7:18 - Reversing the classroom: learn online, discuss in person7:58 - Creating consensus through active discussion vs. lecture8:31 - Leveraging HETMA and vendor partnerships9:20 - Challenging vendor quotes to reduce costs10:42 - Balancing innovation: pilot, normalize, scale, repeat11:15 - Closing thoughts & thank you🔔 Don't forget to Like, Subscribe, and hit the notification 🔔 ✔ Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/jonmyer/?sub_confirmation=1📱 Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/_JonMyerWebsite: https://jonmyer.comLinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-myer/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0wjJzdIwctq4o4pTXM2KSFLike my sounds? Here's my audio source: https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/fj9o9k#aws #awscloud #podcast #podcasting #costoptimization #finops #cloudcost #cloudoptimization

Conversations in Higher Education explores the critical challenges and innovations shaping the future of colleges and universities through candid discussions with leaders on the front lines of transformation. In this episode, Jeff Martinez from Rackspace Technology discusses building a culture of cost accountability, the importance of doing with institutions rather than doing for them, and how genuine partnership built on trust enables innovation while protecting student data.Welcome to Conversations in Higher Education! 🎓Recorded live at EDUCAUSE 2025 in Nashville, this episode features Jeff Martinez from Rackspace Technology discussing the critical role that trusted vendor partnerships play in helping higher education institutions innovate securely while managing costs and protecting student data.In this episode, Jeff discusses:✅ Why restoring trust is more important than ever for CIOs✅ Building data governance as the foundation, not chasing shiny objects✅ How partners must understand institutional mission and compliance✅ The challenge of wrapping arms around decades of institutional data✅ Higher ed institutions as customers: families invest and choose them✅ Why institutions must move slower to mitigate risk properly✅ Students are more aware of data security than ever before✅ Building a culture of cost accountability in higher education✅ FinOps strategy and proactive cost management in public cloud✅ Trust as the foundation of vendor-institution relationships✅ Understanding that every institution's mission is unique✅ "Doing with, not doing for"—genuine partnership for long-term successJeff brings a partner perspective on what it takes to truly support higher education institutions—emphasizing that successful partnerships are built on understanding institutional missions, respecting the weight of responsibility CIOs carry, and investing in long-term institutional success rather than short-term sales.Recorded at EDUCAUSE 2025 in Nashville, TennesseeGuest: Jeff Martinez, Rackspace TechnologyHost: Jon Myer, Rackspace Technology - Myer Media#HigherEducation #EdTech #EDUCAUSE #Partnership #TrustInEducation #DataGovernance #CloudCosts #FinOps #CostAccountability #VendorPartnerships #HigherEdITTimeline0:00 - Welcome & Introduction from EDUCAUSE 20250:31 - Top 10 Initiative #1: Restoring trust in higher education0:38 - Why building trust is more important than ever for CIOs1:23 - Ensuring transparency and trust with student and faculty data2:11 - How partners balance innovation with data security3:02 - The challenge of unified data strategy across departments3:50 - Higher ed institutions vs. corporations: similar silos, different stakes5:23 - Innovation gaps: why institutions must move slower6:25 - Students investing in institutions and caring about data security7:32 - Cost accountability and sustainable infrastructure partnerships8:36 - Trust as the foundation of vendor relationships9:00 - Understanding unique institutional missions and priorities10:07 - Balancing innovation with long-term support10:17 - "Doing with, not doing for"—the partnership approach11:03 - Closing thoughts & thank you🔔 Don't forget to Like, Subscribe, and hit the notification 🔔 ✔ Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/jonmyer/?sub_confirmation=1📱 Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/_JonMyerWebsite: https://jonmyer.comLinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-myer/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0wjJzdIwctq4o4pTXM2KSFLike my sounds? Here's my audio source: https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/fj9o9k#aws #awscloud #podcast #podcasting #costoptimization #finops #cloudcost #cloudoptimization

Conversations in Higher Education explores the critical challenges and innovations shaping the future of colleges and universities through candid discussions with leaders on the front lines of transformation. In this episode, Patricia Clay shares her community college perspective on restoring trust, embedding AI into curriculum thoughtfully, and removing friction from student experiences while protecting privacy and security.Welcome to Conversations in Higher Education! 🎓Recorded live at EDUCAUSE 2025 in Nashville, this episode features Patricia Clay, a technology leader from a community college, discussing the unique challenges and opportunities in making higher education accessible, affordable, and trustworthy for first-generation students and English language learners.In this episode, Patricia discusses:✅ Why trust is challenged by questions about degree value and cost✅ Community colleges' role in workforce development and seamless transfer✅ The delicate balance: teaching AI skills vs. outsourcing learning to AI✅ How to tell when students used ChatGPT vs. understanding the material✅ AI isn't a magic black box—understanding data sources matters✅ Balancing innovation with security and privacy responsibilities✅ Creating AI strategy and governance councils with student voices✅ Students want transparency and agency in how AI is used✅ Pain points for first-generation and ESL students navigating higher ed✅ The "one stop" model for reducing student friction✅ Breaking down silos while respecting regulatory requirements✅ Building advisor relationships so students have a "quarterback"✅ Solving problems systemically instead of case-by-casePatricia brings a practical, student-centered perspective on how community colleges can innovate responsibly, ensure every student feels supported from day one, and build the trust that's essential for student success.Recorded at EDUCAUSE 2025 in Nashville, TennesseeGuest: Patricia Clay, Technology Leader, Community CollegeHost: Jon Myer, Rackspace Technology - Myer Media#HigherEducation #EdTech #EDUCAUSE #CommunityCollege #AIinEducation #StudentSuccess #TrustInEducation #FirstGeneration #RemovingFriction #HigherEdInnovationTimeline0:00 - Welcome & Introduction from EDUCAUSE 20250:30 - Top 10 Initiative #1: Restoring trust in higher education0:38 - Community college perspective on trust challenges1:14 - Will AI take over jobs or help them?1:41 - Embedding AI into curriculum vs. outsourcing learning to AI2:29 - When students can't articulate what they "wrote"3:24 - Faculty need to understand AI isn't a magic black box3:51 - Biggest challenges for CIOs: balancing innovation and security5:01 - Protecting data while learning: transparency with students6:04 - Pain points for first-generation and ESL students6:58 - Biggest efficiency gaps in higher education7:34 - Breaking down silos while respecting regulatory boundaries8:19 - Reducing friction in the student onboarding process9:38 - Taking ownership and not passing students around10:43 - Advisors as "quarterbacks" for student success11:30 - Balancing innovation with long-term support12:27 - Closing thoughts & thank you🔔 Don't forget to Like, Subscribe, and hit the notification 🔔 ✔ Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/jonmyer/?sub_confirmation=1📱 Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/_JonMyerWebsite: https://jonmyer.comLinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-myer/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0wjJzdIwctq4o4pTXM2KSFLike my sounds? Here's my audio source: https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/fj9o9k#aws #awscloud #podcast #podcasting #costoptimization #finops #cloudcost #cloudoptimization

Conversations in Higher Education explores the critical challenges and innovations shaping the future of colleges and universities through candid discussions with leaders on the front lines of transformation. In this episode, Gabe Akisanmi tackles the complex challenge of shadow AI in higher education, explaining how institutions can build trust by providing secure, governed AI tools that protect student data while delivering the same capabilities as public AI platforms.Welcome to Conversations in Higher Education! 🎓Recorded live at EDUCAUSE 2025 in Nashville, this episode features Gabe Akisanmi discussing one of the most pressing challenges in higher education today: shadow AI—when students and staff use ungoverned AI tools that put sensitive institutional data at risk.In this episode, Gabe discusses:✅ What shadow AI is and why it's a major trust challenge✅ How students inadvertently expose PII through public AI platforms✅ The importance of educating students on proper AI use✅ Building in-house AI capabilities with proper guardrails✅ Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) for institutional context✅ Why students need multiple AI sources to verify information✅ Preventing AI hallucinations through trust-but-verify approaches✅ Tools that scrub sensitive data before it reaches external AI✅ Amazon Bedrock and deploying AI within institutional control✅ Reducing friction to encourage use of governed AI tools✅ Balancing innovation speed with security, people, and process✅ Data governance as the foundation for responsible AI adoptionGabe provides practical insights on how CIOs can implement AI solutions that give students the capabilities they want while maintaining institutional security and compliance—ultimately building the trust that's essential for higher education's future.Recorded at EDUCAUSE 2025 in Nashville, TennesseeGuest: Gabe Akisanmi, Technology Leader in Higher EducationHost: Jon Myer, Rackspace Technology - Myer Media#HigherEducation #EdTech #EDUCAUSE #ArtificialIntelligence #ShadowAI #DataGovernance #StudentPrivacy #AIinEducation #TrustInEducation #CyberSecurity #RAGTimeline0:00 - Welcome & Introduction from EDUCAUSE 20250:28 - Top 10 Initiative #1: Restoring trust through AI governance0:36 - What is shadow AI and why is it a challenge?1:43 - Lack of standards vs. lack of education on AI use3:25 - The challenge of publicly available AI and personal devices5:30 - Why institutions must adopt AI quickly with proper guardrails6:20 - Building in-house AI with institutional context7:30 - Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) explained10:42 - Tools that scrub sensitive data from AI prompts11:56 - Student pain points: lack of AI awareness13:10 - The danger of accepting AI outputs as facts14:04 - Trust but verify: using multiple AI sources16:09 - Amazon Bedrock and institutional AI deployment18:11 - Reducing friction to encourage governed AI adoption19:08 - Balancing innovation with security and process22:19 - Bringing it back to trust and student data22:25 - Closing thoughts & thank you🔔 Don't forget to Like, Subscribe, and hit the notification 🔔 ✔ Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/jonmyer/?sub_confirmation=1📱 Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/_JonMyerWebsite: https://jonmyer.comLinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-myer/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0wjJzdIwctq4o4pTXM2KSFLike my sounds? Here's my audio source: https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/fj9o9k#aws #awscloud #podcast #podcasting #costoptimization #finops #cloudcost #cloudoptimization

Conversations in Higher Education explores the critical challenges and innovations shaping the future of colleges and universities through candid discussions with leaders on the front lines of transformation. In this episode, Charron Andrus shares her perspective as a CISO on restoring trust in higher education, the personal liability security leaders now face, and how institutions must protect data while remaining open and transparent to their students and communities.Recorded live at EDUCAUSE 2025 in Nashville, this episode features Charron Andrus, a CISO in higher education, discussing the evolving landscape of security leadership, data governance, and building trust with students in an era where data has become the business.In this episode, Charron discusses:✅ Why trust in higher education is challenged by generational priorities✅ The ROI question: Is college still worth the investment?✅ Personal liability for CISOs: when institutions can't protect you✅ Balancing security with higher education's mission to be open✅ Students taking control of their own data✅ How vendors target institutions to harvest student data✅ The critical importance of data governance✅ Efficiency gaps in student onboarding and identity management✅ Ensuring preferred names and identities flow through all systems✅ Including student voices in technology and security decisions✅ Choosing where to innovate within funding constraintsCharron provides a frank assessment of the security challenges facing higher education today, emphasizing that data is now the business—and institutions must be vigilant about protecting student information while maintaining the transparency and openness that defines the academic mission.Recorded at EDUCAUSE 2025 in Nashville, TennesseeGuest: Charron Andrus, CISO in Higher EducationHost: Jon Myer, Rackspace Technology - Myer Media#HigherEducation #EdTech #EDUCAUSE #CISO #Cybersecurity #DataGovernance #StudentPrivacy #TrustInEducation #DataProtection #HigherEdSecurityYouTube Timeline0:00 - Welcome & Introduction from EDUCAUSE 20250:29 - Top 10 Initiative #1: Restoring trust in higher education0:38 - Generational differences in what students want from college1:53 - The ROI challenge: College degree vs. trade certifications2:47 - Biggest leadership challenges for CISOs today2:52 - Personal liability: When the institution can't protect you4:35 - Balancing security with higher education's mission to be open5:18 - Data is the business—for every industry6:38 - How vendors harvest student data through simple requests7:26 - Balancing data collection with student experience8:37 - Biggest efficiency gaps in higher education8:59 - Onboarding challenges and system fragmentation10:10 - Data sharing between institutions and external entities11:28 - Balancing innovation with sustainable long-term support12:14 - Closing thoughts & thank you🔔 Don't forget to Like, Subscribe, and hit the notification 🔔 ✔ Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/jonmyer/?sub_confirmation=1📱 Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/_JonMyerWebsite: https://jonmyer.comLinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-myer/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0wjJzdIwctq4o4pTXM2KSFLike my sounds? Here's my audio source: https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/fj9o9k#aws #awscloud #podcast #podcasting #costoptimization #finops #cloudcost #cloudoptimization