That Tech Pod

What Happens When Critical Infrastructure Fails? with Robert "Max" Maxfield

What does it take to modernize the systems that keep water flowing, wastewater moving, and nine million New Yorkers served every day? In this episode, we sit down with Robert "Max" Maxfield, Chief Systems Architect at AITHERAS and the architect behind New York City's SCADA modernization efforts for the Bureau of Wastewater Treatment. Max takes us inside the world of critical infrastructure, where downtime isn't an inconvenience, it's a public risk. From managing decades-old industrial systems and balancing modernization against reliability, to defending essential services against cyber threats, Max shares what it really takes to operate technology that most people never think about until it fails. We also explore the realities of AI in critical infrastructure, the cybersecurity challenges facing utilities, the surprising longevity of legacy systems, and how Max's passion for motorcycles, racing, and building machines shapes his approach to engineering. It's a conversation about technology, risk, resilience, and why sometimes the most important systems are the ones nobody notices. Robert “Max” Maxfield is the Chief Systems Architect at AITHERAS, leading the SCADA Modernization Program for NYC’s Bureau of Wastewater Treatment. In this role, Max designs and deploys the systems that keep critical water infrastructure operating for nine million New Yorkers. With 20+ years in industrial controls, 27 platform certifications, and prior architect roles on national operations centers and the Doyon Utilities Alaska modernization, Max specializes in the messy intersection of legacy industrial systems, modern SCADA, cybersecurity, and, increasingly, AI. He's been published in Forbes on industrial technology, runs his own GPU lab for local model fine-tuning, and spends his off-hours on custom motorcycles, off-road racing, and drag racing. Equal parts engineer, builder, and pragmatist, Max brings a field-tested perspective on what actually works when the stakes are critical infrastructure.

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Why People Buy: The Psychology Behind Great Sales with Greg Upah

In this episode of That Tech Pod, we sit down with Greg Upah for a conversation that goes far beyond scripts, software, and sales tactics. With a career path spanning academia, advertising, Wall Street, and sales education, Greg brings a rare perspective on what actually influences decision-making and why human behavior still sits at the center of great selling. We explore what stays constant across industries, whether modern sales technology has changed the game or simply changed the packaging, and why the fundamentals of buyer psychology still matter. Greg also shares lessons from mentoring the next generation of sellers at Texas A&M, discusses the ideas behind his book Sales Talks: The Why, What, and How of Selling, and reflects on the hard-earned lessons that shaped his own career. Whether you're leading a sales team, building technology, or trying to understand how people make decisions, this episode is a look at the timeless principles behind meaningful conversations and lasting results. To get a copy of the book, Sales Talks: The Why, What, and How of Selling, Greg asks readers to email him directly at GregUpah@gmail.com. Greg Upah has built a career that spans academia, advertising, finance, and sales education. He began as a marketing professor at Virginia Tech and later at NYU Stern School of Business, before moving into industry as an associate research director and new business team member at Young & Rubicam in New York. He then spent 15 years at Merrill Lynch in senior sales and marketing roles within its Asset Management Group. For more than a decade, he has mentored students in the Professional Sales Program at Texas A&M University. A graduate of University of Notre Dame with a Ph.D. in Marketing from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, he has published in leading journals including the Journal of Marketing and is the author of Sales Talks.

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Is AI Actually Worth the Money? The CFO View with Fullstory’s Chad Gold

In this episode of That Tech Pod, Laura and Kevin sit down with Chad Gold, CFO of Fullstory and former finance leader at G2 and Salesloft, for a candid conversation about what finance leadership actually looks like in today’s SaaS market. Chad breaks down how the CFO role has evolved as the industry shifts away from growth-at-all-costs and toward profitability, operational discipline, and measurable efficiency. He shares what private equity ownership changes behind the scenes, including tighter reporting expectations, faster accountability cycles, and a sharper focus on margin performance. The conversation also cuts through the noise around AI spending. Chad gives a practical finance perspective on which AI investments are creating real operational leverage versus which ones are simply expensive experiments designed to satisfy boardroom pressure. Along the way, he explains the metrics that matter most now compared to five years ago, where companies risk overcorrecting on cost-cutting, and how SaaS leaders can balance innovation with long-term value creation. If you want an honest look at how modern CFOs evaluate technology, efficiency, and growth in a tougher market, this episode delivers it. Chad Gold is the Chief Financial Officer at Fullstory, where he leads finance and helps guide the company’s growth and operational strategy. He brings a strong track record from high-growth SaaS companies, having previously served as CFO at G2 and Salesloft, where he supported rapid scaling and value creation. Across these roles, he has developed a practical perspective on how finance leaders evaluate technology investments, particularly around AI, with a focus on driving efficiency, improving margins, and aligning cost discipline with customer experience.