Talking about Platforms
Daniel Trabucchi, Tommaso Buganza and Philip Meier
We bring the latest discoveries from the field platform research right into your preferred podcasting app.
Digital platforms are omnipresent in almost all of our daily activities – from booking a fitness class to sending or watching a video clip, going through calling a cab, and ordering a pizza…even listening to this podcast – are mediated by multi-sided platforms.
Talking About Platforms is the place where we discover and try to make sense of the underlying mechanisms that have enabled and facilitated the rise of the platforms. We enter a critical discussion on what they can become for people, companies, and our society.
In every episode we welcome a platform scholar who will share with us one of his/her latest pieces of research, making it accessible to everyone and chatting with us on what platforms are and where they may go in the future.
Digital platforms are omnipresent in almost all of our daily activities – from booking a fitness class to sending or watching a video clip, going through calling a cab, and ordering a pizza…even listening to this podcast – are mediated by multi-sided platforms.
Talking About Platforms is the place where we discover and try to make sense of the underlying mechanisms that have enabled and facilitated the rise of the platforms. We enter a critical discussion on what they can become for people, companies, and our society.
In every episode we welcome a platform scholar who will share with us one of his/her latest pieces of research, making it accessible to everyone and chatting with us on what platforms are and where they may go in the future.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 25, 2026 • 43min
Digital Optimism with Payal Arora
Payal Arora, a digital anthropologist and Professor of Inclusive AI Cultures, studies how people outside the West use technology. She contrasts Western digital pessimism with pragmatic optimism in the Global South. She discusses platforms as lifelines for refugees and activists. She urges usable public digital infrastructure, incentives over paternalism, and South-led regional tech collaboration.
Mar 11, 2026 • 58min
Nested Platforms with Elizabeth Altman and Mary Tripsas
Elizabeth J. Altman, Associate Professor and MIT digital fellow who studies platform strategy, joins Mary Tripsas, a technology management scholar. They explore nested platforms like Spotify in Sonos and Canva inside ChatGPT. Short takes cover why firms choose to host or nest, the brand and competition risks, technical trade-offs of integration, and the role of data and nesting intensity.
Feb 18, 2026 • 46min
Incumbents, Platforms, and Beliefs with Alessio Cozzolino
Alessio Cozzolino, Assistant Professor of Strategy and researcher on digital platforms and technological change. He discusses how incumbents respond to disruption, when platforms help startups reshape ecosystems, the role of beliefs and metaphors in organizational change, and the paradoxical effects of AI on platform value creation and capture.
Feb 5, 2026 • 38min
Boundary Resources and Supply Sides with Kimmo Karhu
Kimmo Karhu, Assistant Professor at Aalto University with industry experience in product development, explores platform strategy and digital ecosystems. He discusses boundary resources like APIs and SDKs. He contrasts Android and Apple, explains fixes like Google Play services, and examines how platform tools shape producer experience, innovation, and governance.
Jan 21, 2026 • 55min
B2B Platforms and Industrial Organizations with Virginia Springer and Krithika Randhawa
Join Krithika Randhawa, an expert in digital strategy and open innovation, and Virginia Springer, a PhD candidate focused on B2B ecosystems, as they delve into the intricacies of industrial platforms. They explore how socio-technical architectures shape relationships between organizations and highlight the unique needs of B2B over B2C. Discover the significance of selective partner onboarding, identity shifts, and the management of platform transformations within incumbents. Plus, insights into the future of industrial data spaces and sustainable multi-platform roles!
Dec 17, 2025 • 36min
Platform Governance for Established Companies with Maximilian Schreieck
Maximilian Schreieck, an Associate Professor focused on digital services and platforms, discusses the nuances of platform governance for established companies. He emphasizes the importance of multi-layer governance to manage internal units and partnerships effectively. Max highlights how internal business units can act as complementors and stresses the need for standardization. He shares insights on leveraging partner networks for co-innovation and calls for leadership support during platform transitions. His practical advice includes breaking silos and adopting a platform mindset for successful digital transformation.
Nov 5, 2025 • 58min
AI Restacking the Knowledge Economy with Sangeet Paul Choudary
Sangeet Paul Choudary, a Senior Fellow at UC Berkeley and co-author of the influential book Platform Revolution, discusses the transformative role of AI in the knowledge economy. He emphasizes that true competitive advantage comes from reinventing the rules rather than merely adopting technology. Sangeet reveals how AI collapses constraints and shifts power dynamics, prompting incumbents to rethink their strategies. He also explores the deeper value creation through systemic redesign, challenging notions that jobs depend solely on tasks.
Jul 23, 2025 • 35min
The Digital Phoenix Effect with Daniel Trabucchi and Tommaso Buganza
Legacy businesses can thrive in a platform-dominated economy without losing their identity. Daniel and Tommaso reveal how established companies can leverage existing strengths to embrace platform innovation. They discuss the significance of 'platform thinking', presenting a framework that drives regeneration from within. The conversation also highlights generative AI's role in enhancing platform strategies and shares examples from companies like AXA and Siemens. Listeners are encouraged to engage and collaborate on their own transformation journeys.
15 snips
Mar 26, 2025 • 48min
The Platform Revolution with Geoffrey G. Parker
Geoffrey G. Parker, a Dartmouth engineering professor and co-author of the influential book 'Platform Revolution,' explores the origins and evolution of platform business models. He shares insights into the shift from expensive software to free online tools and the dynamics of two-sided markets. Parker discusses the significant impact of regulatory changes like GDPR and the rise of AI and blockchain on platforms. He also examines Tesla’s innovative charging infrastructure and the challenges traditional automakers face in adapting to the electric vehicle market.
14 snips
Mar 21, 2025 • 22min
Platform Classics: Towards a theory of ecosystems
Discover the intriguing concept of modularity in business ecosystems, likening it to a Lego structure where companies thrive as specialized units. Explore the dynamics of collaboration, interdependence, and strategic goals in ecosystem design. Dive into the competitive landscape of tech giants like Apple and Google, revealing how regulatory frameworks shape ecosystem interactions. Rethink strategy through an ecosystem lens, emphasizing collaboration over traditional resource-based views. Uncover the vital role of hub firms in balancing control and innovation for sustainable growth.
