TechVibe Pittsburgh

Jonathan Kersting

Curious about Pittsburgh's growing technology and innovation industry and the opportunities it has for you? This podcast gives you a front-row seat to the companies, people, and institutions that are making Pittsburgh's tech industry thrive.

Discover the newest tech startups emerging from Pittsburgh; Meet dynamic entrepreneurs driving innovation and creating a rich landscape for tech company growth; and Stay on top of the latest trends from recognized industry experts and thought leaders.

Audrey Russo and Jonathan Kersting of the Pittsburgh Technology Council have interviewed thousands of tech entrepreneurs and business experts across the tPittsburgh region's tech and innovation ecosystem. Get an inside look at the companies, people, and trends that are making Pittsburgh a worldwide center of technology innovation.

Start by diving into Pittsburgh's tech ecosystem with a fan-favorite episode: "Meet the New Head of CMU's Machine Learning Department." Don't miss out—click to listen now!

TechVibe Pittsburgh is produced by the Pittsburgh Technology Council to explore the Pittsburgh region's technology, entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem. Tune in Sundays at 6 AM 10 100.1 FM AM 1020 KDKA.

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Monday · 29 min· Video
412 Food Rescue Hits One Million Rescues: Pittsburgh Tech Fighting Hunger
Who has one million food rescues—and a Pittsburgh-built technology platform helping communities turn surplus food into meals instead of waste? 412 Food Rescue! On this episode of TechVibe Fireside Chats with Comcast Business, Jonathan Kersting of the Pittsburgh Technology Council sits down with the team at 412 Food Rescue to celebrate a major milestone and explore the people, volunteers, and technology making it possible. Discover how an effort coordinated through Facebook grew into Food Rescue Hero, a platform supporting food recovery organizations across the United States and in Canada and South Africa. The conversation goes behind the scenes of the millionth rescue, the logistics of moving unexpected mountains of produce, and the ongoing work to connect donated food with people facing food insecurity. In this episode: The volunteers and donor partners behind one million food rescues. How a Pittsburgh-developed app helps scale food recovery. Why restaurants and food businesses are essential to the next chapter. Memorable rescues, from pallets of avocados to surplus buns at PNC Park. How data, mapping, and the Community Needs Index help teams identify areas of need. Opportunities to volunteer in southwestern Pennsylvania, including the Belle Vernon area and Washington County. Whether you're interested in Pittsburgh innovation, nonprofit technology, sustainability, or helping your neighbors, this episode explores how local action can create a wider impact. Follow the show for more conversations about Pittsburgh technology and community impact. Want to get involved? Explore volunteering or donating surplus food with 412 Food Rescue.
Sunday · 22 min
2026 Pittsburgh Tech 50 Preview: 50 Companies; 30 Years; 1 Night
TechVibe hosts Audrey Russo and Jonathan Kersting look back at 30 years of Tech 50 — Pittsburgh's biggest night in tech — and preview this year's Startup of the Year finalists. From the pages of the 1997 TEQ Magazine to the AI-driven companies of today, the duo traces how the region's tech landscape has evolved while highlighting five standout finalists building the future in Pittsburgh: • Hey Loopy — Ben Schmidt's AI-powered platform for onboarding, compliance, and workforce training that makes information actually stick • Lovelace AI — Andrew Moore's company building trustworthy, reliable AI for high-stakes decision-making, named after the world's first computer scientist • NovoLink — Advanced nanocomposite thermal interface materials that keep high-performance chips cooler and data centers more energy-efficient • Perforated AI — Dr. Rory Brenner's neuroscience-inspired approach to improving AI using models of the human brain • Sooth AI — Chuck Hoover and Yasser's $50M-backed venture applying AI to geopolitical forecasting and strategic decision-making Tech 50 happens November 19th at Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh.
October 31 · 18 min· Video
LogixGuru President Ravi Ajmani on 26 Years of QA, AI & Pittsburgh Tech
Ravi Ajmani, President of LogixGuru, joins TechVibe hosts Jonathan Kersting and Audrey Russo at Huntington Bank Studios to unpack what 26 years in the technology business looks like — and why their very first customer, UPMC, is still with them today. Ravi breaks down LogixGuru's evolution from IT staffing to a full-service technology partner spanning quality assurance, application engineering, data analytics, and digital transformation. The conversation digs into how AI is reshaping QA — from de-identifying healthcare data and building digital twins for testing, to deploying AI agents across the entire software development lifecycle through their proprietary framework. Plus: why founder Singh personally calls every new hire before day one, how Ravi is building an AI-powered assessment platform to "kill his own business," and what it means to be a proudly Pittsburgh-rooted tech company named to the Pittsburgh Business Times Fast 50 — twice. The Pittsburgh Technology Council produces TechVibe to explore Pittsburgh's technology and innovation ecosystem.
October 29 · 29 min· Video
The Company AI Brain: Finding Real ROI in Your AI Investments — With Pittsburgh's Rahul Asanikar, Benchmark IT
What happens when a software company that's been around for two decades goes all-in on AI? Rahul Asanikar, co-founder of Benchmark IT, sits down with Jonathan Kersting at the Huntington Bank Studios to unpack the real, measurable ROI behind AI investments — not the hype, but the tools, strategies, and margins that are actually moving the needle. Rahul shares how Benchmark IT evolved from building websites and mobile apps into a full-stack AI consulting firm helping financial services, healthcare, and product companies build AI-first solutions. He walks through real tools they've shipped — including Laibel, an AI system that runs hundreds of compliance checks on product labels in seconds, and a document extraction platform that reclaimed 80 hours a month for teams buried in paperwork. Then the conversation goes deeper: the concept of a Company AI Brain — a system that ingests every meeting, email, project schedule, and public data point, then surfaces threats and opportunities before anyone asks. Rahul shares a story where the AI brain flagged a parent company's ERP consolidation initiative — a threat that could have cost them a client, but instead opened the door to five new contracts. He also breaks down how they use AI to generate 100,000 personalized outreach emails by researching each company's specific history — including product recalls — at a level that makes prospects ask, "How did you know this?" We also cover why AI resistance fades when you give teams time to experiment, why Jensen Huang telling programmers to stop programming isn't crazy, and the one thing that hasn't changed in 21 years of business: trust. Key Topics Covered: The journey from New York to Florida to Pittsburgh — and why Benchmark IT planted roots here What "full-stack AI" really means and why it's giving companies product-level margins Laibel: AI-powered label compliance that prevents lawsuits and product recalls Document data extraction: turning 80 hours of manual work into minutes The Company AI Brain: collecting your data, defining your objectives, surfacing insights Personalized outreach at scale — 100,000 companies, 100,000 tailored emails Why resistance to AI is often just a timing problem (and what changed last December) The unchanging core: trust, ROI metrics, and killing 18 bad ideas to find 2 good ones The Pittsburgh Technology Council produced TechVibe to explore Pittsburgh's Technology and Innovation Ecosystem.
October 27 · 9 min
Passing the Torch: A Historic CIO Transition at UPMC
What happens when one of Pittsburgh's most influential IT leaders steps down after decades at the helm — and hands the keys to someone who's been beside him for 26 years? In this special episode from the Pittsburgh Technology Council's CIO Insights event, TechVibe's Jonathan Kersting sits down with outgoing UPMC CIO Ed McCallister and incoming CIO Chris Carmody to unpack a leadership transition unlike any other in Pittsburgh's tech community. Ed recounts the early days of UPMC's health plan — starting from a blank whiteboard with no technology in place — and building it into one of the region's most powerful IT organizations. Chris shares his own journey from IT auditor to CTO, and how their two-decade-plus partnership made this succession feel less like a handoff and more like a shared torch finally finding its next bearer. They discuss what great IT leadership really comes down to (hint: it's about people, not technology), the role of artificial intelligence in the future of healthcare, and what comes next for Ed — including time with his five-year-old grandson. Whether you're in healthcare IT, leadership, or just love a great Pittsburgh success story, this conversation is a masterclass in succession planning done right.
October 26 · 25 min· Video
Powercast: Pulling Electricity From Thin Air in Pittsburgh
What do Nikola Tesla, Marlin Mickle and the University of Pittsburgh have in common? The power to change everything. And Pittsburgh-based Powercast is making it happen. Jonathan Kersting from the Pittsburgh Technology Council's TechVibe sits down with Charlie Goetz of Powercast, a Pittsburgh-based company turning radio frequency into wire-free power for sensors, devices, and the intelligent edge. Born from technology licensed at the University of Pittsburgh and developed by the legendary professor Marlin Mickle, Powercast has spent over two decades perfecting RF wireless power — the same vision Nikola Tesla imagined more than a century ago. Now, as AI pushes compute to the edge, the demand for always-on, battery-free sensors is exploding, and Powercast finds itself at the center of it. In this episode, we cover: The Pittsburgh origin story — from Pitt's lab to a 23-year-old company How RF wireless power works: intentional, ambient, and anticipated sources Why one-to-many RF beats pads, wires, and batteries at scale Powercast Edge: feeding AI models high-density, real-time sensor data How wireless power eliminates battery replacement for 50+ sensors per room The hardware renaissance: why chips and bespoke hardware matter again Pittsburgh's tech ecosystem and the Pitt-Penn State rivalry at the office If your business runs sensors, monitors equipment, or is betting on physical AI, this episode explains why Pittsburgh might hold the key to keeping the edge powered — without a single wire. The Pittsburgh Technology Council produces TechVibe to explore Pittsburgh's technology and innovation ecosystem.
October 25 · 22 min
The Hidden Industries Behind the Pittsburgh Region's Data Center Boom
What do abandoned industrial sites, precast concrete and cutting-edge cooling technology have in common? They're all helping build the future of data centers in Pennsylvania! Billions of dollars in proposed data center investments are putting Pennsylvania in the spotlight. But behind the headlines is an enormous ecosystem of manufacturers, engineers, construction companies and technology innovators making it all possible. In this special edition of TechVibe Radio, we're bringing together three fascinating conversations from the Pittsburgh Technology Council's Empire of Lights podcast series, presented with Comcast Business. You'll hear from: Kenneth Birkenstock, Nittany Digital Infrastructure, on how Pennsylvania's stranded industrial infrastructure, including former steel mills and power plants, could become prime locations for next-generation data centers. Marshall Sorensen, Metromont, on why precast concrete is transforming data center construction and why speed to market has become a critical competitive advantage. Chris Massetti, Donwil, on the sophisticated cooling technologies keeping AI infrastructure running efficiently while addressing concerns about water consumption. From repurposing yesterday's industrial sites to building tomorrow's digital infrastructure, these conversations reveal how Western Pennsylvania's manufacturing heritage could become a powerful advantage in the AI economy. The region that helped power the electrical revolution may be uniquely positioned to help power the digital revolution. Discover the people, companies and technologies behind Pennsylvania's next industrial chapter in this special TechVibe Radio edition of Empire of Lights.
October 20 · 17 min· Video
Physical AI: How Pittsburgh Is Transforming Manufacturing with Robotics
What happens when artificial intelligence moves beyond the screen and into the factory? In this episode of TechVibe, host Jonathan Kersting from the Pittsburgh Technology Council sits down with Livia Rice, Senior Director of Communications at the ARM Institute, to explore "Physical AI" — AI-enabled robotics that are reshaping how things get made. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, the ARM Institute is a national organization dedicated to strengthening U.S. manufacturing through robotics innovation and workforce development. Livia breaks down how Physical AI differs from generative AI, why it's transforming factory floors across the country, and what it means for the future of work. Topics include: • What Physical AI actually is (and why it's not ChatGPT) • How AI-powered robots handle the "dull, dirty, and dangerous" tasks • Why Pittsburgh remains at the center of America's manufacturing resurgence • How workers are transitioning from manual roles to robotics technician careers • The skills matcher at RoboticsCareer.org that's connecting people to manufacturing jobs • Real-world examples from Pittsburgh companies like Journey Robotics If you care about Pittsburgh's technology ecosystem, the future of manufacturing, or how AI and robotics are creating — not eliminating — jobs, hit PLAY! The Pittsburgh Technology Council produces TechVibe to explore the region's technology and innovation ecosystem.
October 18 · 31 min· Video
Beyond Video Games: Pittsburgh's Jesse Schell on the Future of VR, AI and Entertainment
What do virtual reality, lifesaving medical training, immersive theme parks and the future of education have in common? Pittsburgh's Schell Games is helping shape all of them! TechVibe Radio welcomes Jesse Schell, founder of Schell Games, for a fascinating look at how one of Pittsburgh's most imaginative technology companies is redefining what games can do. From developing experiences for Disney and creating more than 100 games to pioneering virtual reality long before VR went mainstream, Schell has spent decades pushing the boundaries of interactive entertainment. Today, his 120-person Pittsburgh studio is exploring everything from VR-powered education and medical training to a potential new chain of location-based entertainment experiences. Schell joins hosts Jonathan Kersting and Audrey Russo to explore why VR is far from dead, how games can help emergency room doctors make critical decisions, what artificial intelligence means for education and gaming, and why the next generation of entertainment must deliver experiences people simply can't get at home. Plus, Schell shares his advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, explains why Pittsburgh remains an ideal place to build a creative technology company, and reveals what he'd create if money were no object. From saving lives to bringing people together, discover why the future of gaming is about much more than playing games! The Pittsburgh Technology Council produces TechVibe to explore the Pittsburgh region's technology and innovation ecosystem
October 16 · 11 min· Video
Building Better Code: MESCIUS Talks About Powerful Web App Tools at Pittsburgh TechFest
Who knew developing amazing web applications could be as simple as reaching into a powerful tool box or browsing a rich library for the right code? Join Jonathan Kersting from the Pittsburgh Technology Council for a TechVibe conversation with Joel Parks of MESCIUS, a developer tools company building component libraries that help coders ship better software faster. With Pittsburgh Tech Fest coming up on October 30th at Robert Morris University, Joel breaks down what MESCIUS brings to the table — from their flagship Wijmo web component library (available for Angular, React, Vue, Svelte, Next.js, and more) to the newly released Flex Scheduler calendar control. Joel also covers ActiveReports for reporting, Spread.NET and SpreadJS for embedded Excel functionality, the legacy C1 .NET controls, and Document Solutions for PDF and Word manipulation. The discussion explores how pre-built components save developers from reinventing the wheel, why day-one framework support matters in the fast-moving JavaScript world, and how MESCIUS has evolved from its ComponentOne and GrapeCity roots into a comprehensive .NET and JavaScript tooling provider. Whether you're a seasoned developer or just curious about the tools powering modern web applications, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at the software that helps developers focus on what matters — building great applications. Recorded at the Huntington Bank Studios. Presented by the Pittsburgh Technology Council.
October 15 · 8 min· Video
$24 Billion and Counting: Inside Pittsburgh's 2026 Tech Economy
Pittsburgh's technology sector now generates $24 billion in annual payroll — more than 28% of all wages across the region's 13 counties. In this episode, we break down the six numbers from the Pittsburgh Technology Council's 2026 State of the Industry Report that reveal where the region stands today and where it's heading next. We cover: • Scale — 9,179 tech establishments employing 241,000 people, nearly 1 in 5 workers, at an average wage of $105,000/year • Growth sectors — Manufacturing (56,000+ jobs) and health services (107,000+ jobs) continue to expand, proving Pittsburgh tech goes far beyond software • Research engine — $2.3 billion in university R&D spending, up 26% in three years, led by the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon • Talent pipeline — 13,756 graduate students in science, engineering, and health fields, with CMU and Pitt accounting for 76% of the total • Lab to market — 199 patents issued, 313 licenses executed, 26 university-connected startups, and $42.9 million in licensing income • Early-stage capital — $59.2 million in SBIR/STTR funding, up 48% in a single year and nearly double from two years prior But numbers alone don't tell the full story. The real opportunity lies in connecting these pieces — research to commercialization, graduates to careers, startups to capital. That's what the Pittsburgh Technology Council is all about: not just asking what Pittsburgh invented, but what we build with it next. Read the entire report here.
October 13 · 21 min· Video
Empire of Lights: Power, Permits & Playbooks for Data Center Development in Pennsylvania
Data centers are coming to Pennsylvania — but getting them built is a whole different story. In this episode of The Empire Lights, powered by Comcast Business and Babst Calland, host Jonathan Kersting of the Pittsburgh Technology Council sits down with Kate Cooper, shareholder at Babst Calland, to unpack the rapidly evolving landscape of data center development across the state. From the Governor's GRID Standards and behind-the-meter power generation to the complex permitting maze at the DEP and municipal level, Kate breaks down what's really happening on the ground. The conversation dives into how tech-world uptime expectations — like "four nines" availability — are colliding with old-school land development, creating a high-stakes negotiation environment where no playbook exists yet. They also explore Pennsylvania's competitive advantages: brownfield sites, natural gas infrastructure, and a deep bench of environmental and land-use legal expertise that's putting the Pittsburgh region at the center of the data center boom. If you want to understand what it actually takes to bring a data center from announcement to groundbreaking — and why Pennsylvania's approach might be smarter than you think — this episode is a must-listen. The Pittsburgh Technology Council produce TechVibe and the Empire of Lights to explore Pittsburgh's technology and innovation ecosystem.
October 2 · 18 min· Video
RIDC's Don Smith: Building Pittsburgh's Tech & Manufacturing Future
What do a shared-use SCIF, autonomous driving test track and one of Pittsburgh's top advanced manufacturers have in common? They are all currently under the wing of the Regional Industrial Development Corporation (RIDC). Jonathan Kersting sits down with Don Smith of the RIDC for a wide-ranging update on the projects reshaping Pittsburgh's tech and manufacturing landscape. At Mill 19 on Hazelwood Green, RIDC is building a $10 million shared-use SCIF — a hyper-secure facility where companies can engage with classified government projects from the Department of Defense, Department of Energy, and beyond. Partnering with Parallax on an accelerated build-out, the SCIF gives Pittsburgh startups a home-field advantage for defense procurement — no more driving to the Pentagon. Meanwhile, Hellbender is bringing manufacturing back inside the city limits with plans to scale to 500 jobs — potentially the largest manufacturing deal in the City of Pittsburgh in decades. Don and Jonathan also cover: The evolution of Lawrenceville from NREC's early robotics hub to today's thriving ecosystem Neighborhood 91 at the airport, where a 108,000 sq ft spec building is under construction ReBuild Manufacturing's rapid ramp-up at the former Alcoa site in New Kensington The PennSTART dual-use test track — a two-mile facility for autonomous vehicle testing and first-responder training, opening in 2027 RIDC's 70-year history of transforming stranded industrial sites into modern innovation spaces Why Pittsburgh's robotics, AI, and defense ecosystem is attracting companies from around the world The Pittsburgh Technology Council produces TechVibe to explore Pittsburgh's technology and innovation economy.
September 30 · 18 min
The Power of Partnership: How RedChair Pittsburgh Helps Women Move Forward in Tech
What can happen when one person gives you the encouragement to take the next step? For Geeta Tahiliani, a simple connection to RedChair Pittsburgh helped change the trajectory of her career and eventually inspired her to help other women find their own path forward. TechVibe Radio sits down with Kelly Fetick, Geeta Tahiliani and Sunnie Fenk for a conversation about the power of mentorship, community and creating opportunities for women in technology. Geeta shares her journey from discovering RedChair almost by accident to earning scholarships that connected her with executive coaching, new perspectives and a stronger sense of where she wanted to take her career. Along the way, Sunnie became one of the people encouraging her to apply, get involved and keep pushing forward. The conversation also previews RedChair Pittsburgh's annual event on October 20 at Robert Morris University, built this year around the theme "The Power of Partnership." The event will explore how mentors, allies and professional relationships can shape careers and lives. Tune in to hear how: Mentorship can unlock opportunities you may not see for yourself. RedChair scholarships are helping women navigate critical mid-career transitions. Professional communities can combat isolation and create real, lasting connections. One act of encouragement can ripple outward as the person being helped becomes a mentor to someone else. It's a conversation about careers, confidence, community and what becomes possible when someone believes you should take the next step. The Pittsburgh Technology Council produces TechVibe to explore Pittsburgh's technology and innovation ecosystem.
September 29 · 10 min
Pittsburgh Builds Tomorrow: Pittsburgh Is Getting a Quantum Computer. Here's Why It Matters!
Pittsburgh is getting a quantum computer. But what exactly does that mean, how does quantum computing work, and why is Pittsburgh one of the places helping push this strange and potentially transformative technology forward? In the debut episode of Pittsburgh Builds Tomorrow, TechVibe's Jonathan Kersting takes a decidedly non-physicist trip into the world of qubits, quantum entanglement, superposition and computers that operate at temperatures colder than outer space. Along the way, University of Pittsburgh Senior Vice Chancellor for Research Rob Rutenbar helps explain why quantum computing is moving from science fiction to engineering, with potential applications ranging from cybersecurity and financial services to drug discovery, advanced materials and medicine. And there's a distinctly Pittsburgh story behind it all. The Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center has spent four decades pushing the boundaries of high-performance computing. Now the region is taking another big swing as it prepares to bring quantum computing into that ecosystem. Come for the qubits. Stay for Einstein's "spooky action at a distance," the million-dollar refrigerator and a computer that looks like it belongs in Versailles. Pittsburgh Builds Tomorrow explores the people, technologies and big ideas shaping what comes next for Pittsburgh. Listen to Rob's entire interview here.
September 28 · 26 min
Building the Pittsburgh-to-Morgantown Tech Corridor
What if Pittsburgh and West Virginia stopped thinking like neighboring regions and started acting like one connected technology corridor? TechVibe Radio goes back to West Virginia with Melissa McKenna of Trilogy Innovations and Bill Walker of West Virginia University for a wide-ranging conversation about the innovation, research and economic opportunities taking shape from Pittsburgh to Morgantown, Bridgeport and beyond. The discussion uncovers some remarkable work already underway, including WVU research that can extract critical minerals and rare earth elements from acid mine drainage while helping clean up legacy environmental damage. McKenna and Walker also detail new life being brought to former pharmaceutical infrastructure in Morgantown, growing opportunities in health care and energy, and the $321 million NSF-backed regional initiative connecting WVU, Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh and partners across a 78-county region. At the center of the conversation is one big idea: the Pennsylvania-West Virginia state line may be a political boundary, but it does not have to be an innovation boundary. Hear how closer connections in research, commercialization, workforce, cybersecurity, energy and investment could create a stronger technology corridor along I-79, and why the Mountain State Cyber Summit and Tech Yeah on October 28 in Morgantown could be an important place to start building those relationships face-to-face. If you think you know West Virginia tech, this conversation may change your map. The Pittsburgh Technology Council produces TechVibe to explore Pittsburgh's technology innovaton ecosystem.
September 27 · 22 min
How Titan Robotics' Autonomous Systems Handle the Dull, Dirty and Dangerous Work
Stuart Lawrence, founder and CEO of Titan Robotics, joins Jonathan Kersting and Audrey Russo from the Huntington Bank Studios to share the remarkable story behind his Pittsburgh-based robotics company. What started as a Carnegie Mellon / Air Force Research Lab project to strip paint off fighter jets with high-powered lasers became a 14-year journey of grit, pivots, and breakthroughs. Stuart walks us through: The origin story: How a torpedo defense engineer turned robotics builder landed at Carnegie Mellon's NREC, got hooked by 25-ton robots with 40-foot reach and lasers, and spun out Titan Robotics The near-death moment: When a three-star general blocked $75 million in contract awards, forcing a years-long pivot from government-only work to commercial manufacturing Solving "dull, dirty, and dangerous": How Titan's autonomous systems tackle weld removal, grinding, and sanding of composites without requiring a programmer to operate them The labor gap advantage: Why the welding skills shortage is Titan's biggest commercial opportunity, and how adaptive robotics empower operators instead of replacing them 14 years, zero fundraising: How Stuart bootstrapped Titan to ~70 employees on government contracts alone, and why now is finally the time to consider outside capital Leadership lessons: Why "don't lie to yourself" is his #1 piece of advice, and how instrumenting ROI data guided every technology decision From vaporizing carcinogenic coatings down to 10 pounds of safe material (versus 2,000 pounds of hazardous waste from traditional methods) to giving factory workers a robot that works like a hammer—intuitive and in their control—Titan Robotics is quietly building the future of autonomous industrial robotics in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Learn more at titanrobots.com
September 20 · 22 min
Inside Pittsburgh's New Quantum Computer
Quantum computing has spent years being described as the technology that's always 10 years away. In Pittsburgh, that future is getting a lot closer. University of Pittsburgh Senior Vice Chancellor for Research Rob Rutenbar joins Pittsburgh Technology Council President and CEO Audrey Russo to unpack the quantum computer headed to the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center through funding from the National Science Foundation. And don't worry if you can't tell a qubit from a Q-tip. Rutenbar starts with the basics, explaining how quantum computers work, why qubits can exist as both zeros and ones, what Einstein meant by "spooky action at a distance," and why Pittsburgh's new Rigetti system has to operate at temperatures colder than outer space. The PSC's nine-qubit system is considered a starter quantum computer, but its arrival gives Pittsburgh researchers something enormously important: hands-on access to an emerging computing technology that could ultimately tackle problems conventional computers struggle to solve. Hit play to discover why Pittsburgh is building serious momentum in quantum computing, how quantum could transform cryptography, drug discovery, materials science and optimization, and why pairing a quantum computer with PSC's world-class supercomputing infrastructure creates one very powerful combination. Quantum isn't just coming. It's coming to Pittsburgh.
September 17 · 27 min
Health Care Reinvented: Can Technology and AI Make Health Care More Human?
What if your health plan could spot that you need help before a missed appointment, medication gap or health issue turns into something much bigger? On this episode of Health Care Reinvented, hosts Jonathan Kersting and Audrey Russo talk with Judy Arrow, VP of Health Engagement at Highmark, and Matt Putilla, VP of Product Development at enGen, about how Highmark is combining technology, data and human expertise to make navigating health care easier and more personal. The goal sounds simple: meet members where they are, identify signals earlier and remove the friction that can make getting care frustrating. Behind the scenes, however, that requires connecting information that once lived in separate systems and giving care teams a more complete picture of each member. Arrow and Putilla explain how AI is being woven directly into those workflows. It can prepare clinicians before a member call, listen during conversations, provide prompts and summarize interactions afterward. Instead of replacing the human connection, the technology is designed to give clinicians more time to concentrate on it. The conversation also explores Highmark's move from reactive care management toward earlier intervention, guided handoffs between nurses, pharmacists, behavioral health specialists and social workers, and the growing ability to use near-real-time data to determine when a member may need help now rather than next week. It's a look behind the curtain at how health care technology, AI and human expertise can work together to create a more connected experience and potentially keep small problems from becoming big ones.
September 14 · 20 min
Metal With a Mission: Ellwood Group's Anna Barensfeld on Space, Steel, and Workforce in Western PA
What if the steel in your next flight's landing gear, the components in NASA's Artemis rocket, and even the "chopsticks" catching SpaceX rockets were all forged by a family-owned company in Western Pennsylvania? In this episode of AMP'd Pittsburgh, host Jonathan Kersting sits down with Anna Barensfeld, fifth-generation leader of Ellwood — a 115-year-old specialty metals and forgings company headquartered in Ellwood City, PA. Founded in 1910 by Anna's great-great-grandfather, Ellwood has evolved from a small forge shop making crankshafts into a multi-faceted powerhouse producing high-performance alloys, aluminum, and engineered components for aerospace, defense, energy, and beyond. Anna shares the bold bets that shaped the company's trajectory — from her father's decision to build their own steel melt shop in 1985 during the Rust Belt decline, to today's massive investment in a vacuum induction melting furnace that will produce some of the cleanest, most advanced metals on Earth. The conversation goes deep on: Ellwood's philosophy of "Metal with a Mission" — how their products power everyday life, from aircraft landing gear to the power grid The critical role family ownership plays in long-term, risk-taking innovation Ellwood's involvement in cutting-edge projects for SpaceX, including the rocket-catching chopsticks A passionate discussion on workforce development and the Lawrence Mercer Manufacturers Coalition — Anna's initiative to re-energize manufacturing careers in Western Pennsylvania Why manufacturing is thriving, not dying, and the urgent need to inspire the next generation of skilled workers • The advanced technology behind modern steelmaking — robotics, automation, CNC programming, and precision welding Whether you're in manufacturing, economic development, or simply curious about how the materials behind modern civilization get made, this episode will change how you think about American industry. Produced at the Huntington Bank Studios as part of the AMP'd Pittsburgh series by the Pittsburgh Technology Council. Listen now and discover why the future of American manufacturing is being forged right here in Western Pennsylvania.

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