This week on Buffering, we are welcoming back John Durocher, Chief Operations Officer at Calix to break down the moments that defined broadband in 2025, and the expectations shaping the industry in 2026. Join John, Gabe, and Zack as we unpack what’s changed, why it matters, and how customer experience is being redefined in 2026, and what local providers can do to prepare for what’s coming next.

This week on Buffering, we are joined by Amrit Chaudhuri, Chief Marketing Officer at Calix, to discuss how AI is reshaping modern marketing and customer growth, while exploring Amrit’s journey from Engineering to Marketing. Join Amrit, Gabe, and Zack as we unpack lessons on micro-segmentation and how AI can assist and automate across new business models driven by AI platforms.

This week on Buffering, we are exploring how brands can strategically recover (and avoid) the discount trap, as well as the psychological forces at play as consumers shift from deal hunting to genuine brand connections. Join Zack and Gabe as we break down why constant price cuts erode brand value and how deep discounts attract transactional shoppers instead of loyal fans.

This week on Buffering, we dive into how Rivian is transforming the automative experience by blending immersive space with dynamic digital storytelling. Join Zack and Gabe as we explore how Rivian is creating a brand journey that prioritizes emotional connection over traditional sales tactics with a customer-first philosophy.

In this Ping, we are looking to the western sky to ask: “Is your broadband business good, or Wicked?”. Join Zack and Christina as we draw on lessons from Wicked, and explore the two paths facing every service provider, while unmasking the industry’s “Wizard”, and the importance of delivering a trusted subscriber experience as a Broadband Experience Provider.

This week on Buffering, we are joined by Seth Thompson, Sales Manager at Calix, to discuss building a career through content creation, long before the audience shows up. Join Zack, Gabe, and Seth as we break down how creators and professional can grow with consistency, turn small ideas into big moves, and publish content with purpose to grow your network.

This week on Buffering, we are joined by Steve Mammone, President and Co-Founder of getfused to discuss how companies can innovate online, and how AI is reshaping the future of digital sales.

Join Zack, Gabe and Steve as we dive deep into the world of e-commerce, with Steve sharing his unique journey from a non-traditional marketing background to founding a leading creative agency, and how companies can build online experiences, with the power of iteration and innovation.

In this Ping, we explore how companies like Tesla and Rivian are transforming automotive service into an effortless, proactive, and convenient experience, shifting brand narratives from transactional relationships to indispensable lifestyle partners that cement loyalty and turn operational excellence into a powerful marketing engine.

This week on Buffering, we are joined by Drew Beverage from 360 Broadband to explore the journey from dial-up internet to cutting-edge AI integrations. Join Zack, Gabe, and Drew as we discuss how 360 Broadband is using AI to transform customer experience and internal operations, as well as the future of personalization at scale in sales and support.

This week on Buffering, we are sharing our favorite moments from ConneXions 2025 and exploring how agentic AI is reshaping the broadband landscape. From moving beyond prompts to securely activate AI agents to utilizing Market Insights for BSP to BXP transformation, join Zack and Gabe as we discuss some of the key-takeaways from ConneXions, and the impact for broadband leaders.

In this ConneXions episode, Join Zack and Gabe as we sit down with Lindsay and Maggie from Nex-Tech to learn how they are redefining what it means to market in the rural broadband space, and how digital marketing, creative strategies, and exceptional customer experiences can make the difference in growing your brand.

In this ConneXions episode, join Zack and Gabe as we sit down with Weston Comfort, RVP of Sales Acceleration at Calix, and Paige Hermes, Business Solutions Manager at SCTelcom to explore how SCTelcom is transforming its culture, breaking bottlenecks, creating data-driven sales processes, and scaling a sales organization without compromising on customer experience.

In this ConneXions episode, join Zack and Gabe as we sit down with Larry Montgomery, Director of Sales at eTex Communications to talk about what it takes to build a winning sales culture in the broadband industry, how the right blend of sales and marketing can transform your business, and how AI can complement your organization, rather than replace.

In this ConneXions episode, join Zack and Gabe as we sit down with Katie and Craig from Elevate Internet to explore how they are redefining what it means to be a Broadband Experience Provider. From launching Legendary Internet to empowering subscribers with self-install options, Elevate is setting a new standard for engagement and experience.

In this ConneXions episode, join Zack and Gabe as we sit down with Laurie to talk about how Cablelynx is moderninizing marketing and building stronger community connections, cutting through the noise of legacy broadband marketing.

This week on Buffering, we’re taking a moment to reflect on a year of Buffering – Powered by Success, to revisit the most memorable moments, guest highlights, and themes that shaped Buffering in 2025. Join Zack and Gabe as we prepare for ConneXions 2025, and share highlights that include everything from customer experience to consumer behavior, to AI.

This week on Buffering, we dive deep into the world of broadband tier naming connections, and explore how Bronze, Silver, and Gold tiers may be holding your brand back. Join Zack and Gabe as we discuss the hidden costs of the “metal standard”, the psychology behind plan names, and how to move beyond generic tiers to build authentic connections with your community.

This week on Buffering, we’re exploring how Google’s Gemini AI is transforming the Chrome browser, making a pivotal shift in digital interaction. Join Zack and Gabe as we discuss actionable strategies for optimizing your content for AI and how you can ensure your message stands out in an agentic, AI-driven world.

In this Ping, we explore how Shop is revolutionizing their customer experience with its frictionless shopping and powerful marketing tools. Join Zack and Gabe as we explore how a personalized Shop is personalizing the checkout process and leveraging post-purchase actions as marketing touchpoints.

This week on Buffering, we are diving into the world of outdated practices that are still haunting broadband service providers, from all-day service appointments to phone-only support, we are exploring the top 10 mistakes that might be ruining your customer experience.