The SupplyChainBrain Podcast

Tim Freestone, Chief Strategy Officer at Kiteworks and data security expert. He discusses how rapid, shadow AI use and IoT reduce visibility. He warns that autonomous agentic AI creates new infrastructure risks. He covers amplified third-party exposure, regulatory pressure for data-layer controls, and why CISOs and reskilling are critical for securing manufacturing AI.

Are we experiencing a god complex — obsessed with creating things in our own image?Support the show

Ketul Patel, founder of OMEA Consulting and former executive at Michael Kors and Toys R Us, brings practical global sourcing expertise. He discusses why total landed cost now outranks unit price. Short takes cover the many hidden cost components, scorecards for sourcing choices, product-driven geography tradeoffs, tariff strategy, resilience through backups, and AI-enabled dynamic decision tools.

Amy Julian, a strategy and transformation partner at Armanino who advises manufacturers on resilience and sourcing, breaks down raw-material chokepoints. She discusses tariffs and sourcing shifts. She explains why firms accept single-source risk and the limits of diversifying rare earths. She outlines three practical resilience levers, warns about illusory backup capacity, and highlights AI for risk monitoring.

Brendan Stewart, SVP of Government and Regulatory Affairs at RedCat, a drone and robotics leader for defense, discusses rapid procurement for fast-cycle aerospace tech. He talks about modernizing buying processes, reshoring parts to reduce China reliance, building a U.S. drone parts ecosystem, and how military and civilian drone tech overlap. He also covers scaling production and adapting manufacturers to new rules.

Chris Casaviego, Senior Manager of Partner Marketing at Texas, bridges marketing, tech, and supply-chain worlds. Wanda Riddick-Johnson, Deloitte Supply Chain Technology Fellow, brings 25+ years in logistics and leadership. They discuss personal mentorship journeys, formal versus organic programs, industry groups and STEM initiatives, mentor-protégé fit and gender, and practical ways to start and sustain mentoring in supply chains.

James Junkin, Strategic Advisory Board Chair at Veriforce and veteran safety professional, discusses psychological safety in high-risk workplaces. He explains how organizations confuse it with mental health. He highlights gaps between awareness and formal policy. He outlines what effective programs need and who should drive implementation.

When it comes to meeting customer expectations for delivery in the e-commerce era, the shortest distance can be the biggest challenge.Support the show

Advanced manufacturing promises to transform rural America. But the primary education system must step up to support it.Support the show

Derek Travers, Senior Vice President at DeliverDirect, dives into the booming market of alternative parcel delivery networks driven by e-commerce. He discusses how these nimble networks can compete on cost and service, improving flexibility for mid-size shippers. Derek highlights the evolution of parcel tracking and the gig economy's impact on labor models. He also explains DeliverDirect's unique advantage through Delta Air Cargo, enhancing efficiency and customer experience. This episode uncovers the exciting dynamics of a transforming logistics landscape.