What is IT? explores the people behind the technology through engaging, personal stories that reveal the human side of technology professionals. Each episode highlights surprising, real-world stories about the people behind the systems, innovations, and infrastructure that power our digital lives. These conversations show IT as more than technical work. They uncover the purpose, creativity, and resilience that define the people who keep technology running and advancing. Our audience includes IT leaders, practitioners, and business professionals who rely on IT for their success. The tone is authentic, conversational, and grounded in shared experience rather than hype or jargon. At its core, What is IT? is about people. Because IT isn’t just about fixing what’s broken—it’s about building, protecting, and improving the world through technology.
Episodes
Leadership: Built to Serve
January 29, 2026
IT leadership isn’t about technology. It’s about service, intent, and showing up.In this episode, Earl Newsome shares what he’s learned leading technology at scale and why the job of an IT leader is far more human than most people realize. He breaks leadership down simply: know which hill matters, stay close to the work, and understand the steps it takes to move forward. Most importantly, don’t lead from afar. Be there with your people.Earl talks about why IT professionals are wired to serve and how technology itself is just a tool. Like a hammer, it can break a window or build a house. The difference isn’t the technology, it’s the purpose of the person using it. When leaders understand why they do what they do, technology becomes a way to create meaningful outcomes for the people they serve.We explore the importance of asking better questions, especially the ones business leaders hesitate to ask IT and the ones IT professionals should be asking the business. Progress doesn’t start with answers. It starts with curiosity, courage, and conversation.From storytelling as a leadership skill to why the best technology should feel indistinguishable from magic, this episode is a grounded look at what it really means to lead in IT today. We also tackle AI head-on and why it’s not coming for your job, but the person who knows how to use it might be.This conversation isn’t about hype or trends. It’s about leadership with purpose and the responsibility IT leaders carry to help shape the future, not wait for it. In this episode, Earl asks our listeners: "What have you always wanted to ask I.T. but are afraid to ask?" We welcome you to comment and join the conversation!
Networking: The Wires That Connect Us
January 15, 2026
When most people hear “networking,” they think of either blinking boxes in a closet or awkward conversations over bad coffee. In this episode of What is IT?, Doug sits down with Jim Kennedy III, CIO of Trinity Church NYC, to unpack why networking is actually one of the most human parts of IT. Jim brings networking down to earth. He explains how the invisible systems that keep Wi-Fi, video calls, and entire communities connected behave a lot like people do. Trust matters. Communication matters. And when things break, relationships are often what fix them fastest. From managing technology across 27 properties in Lower Manhattan to building strong, loyal teams with almost no turnover, Jim shows that great networking is not just about cables and protocols. It is about building connections that last, whether those connections run through fiber or through people. This episode is a reminder that the networks holding our world together are only as strong as the humans behind them.
The What Is I.T.? Podcast
December 18, 2025
Technology powers our world — but people power technology. What is IT? explores the human side of IT through honest, engaging conversations with the people who build, protect, and improve the systems we all depend on.
IT: The Great Identity Crisis
December 3, 2025
For decades, IT has been the most misunderstood department in business. Is it the team that fixes your laptop? The group that blocks your favorite websites? The mysterious people who vanish into that closet full of blinking lights?In this premiere episode of What is IT?, host Douglas Wood sits down with two IT veterans — Susan Harwood and Kevin Hollister — to take on technology’s biggest branding problem: nobody really knows what IT does, or why it matters as much as it does.Together, they explore why IT still struggles to define itself, how that misunderstanding holds organizations back, and what it really means to work in a profession that powers everything but rarely gets the spotlight. From the boardroom to the help desk, they share real stories, sharp insights, and a few laughs about what happens when technology meets humanity.If you’ve ever rolled your eyes at an IT acronym, waited too long for a password reset, or wondered why “the IT guy” is always a little too calm during a crisis, this episode’s for you.Because IT isn’t just about fixing what’s broken—it’s about building the digital backbone of modern life.