The Entropy Podcast
Podcast Description
Welcome to The Entropy Podcast—hosted by principal security architect Francis Gorman. The Entropy Podcast centers on cybersecurity, technology, and business, featuring conversations with accomplished professionals who share real-world knowledge and experience. Our goal is simple: to leave you better informed and inspired after every episode.We chose the name “Entropy” because it symbolizes the constant flux and unpredictability in cybersecurity, technology, and business. By understanding the forces that drive change and “disorder,” we can create better strategies to adapt and thrive in an ever-evolving technology and geo political landscape.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast centers around cybersecurity, technology, and business, with episodes exploring specific topics such as the intersection of safety and security in engineering, illustrated by Dr. Bob Oates' insights on the world’s first commercial remotely operated ship project, and discussions on post-quantum cryptography, addressing evolving threats in a digital landscape.
Hosted by Francis Gorman, The Entropy Podcast brings together intelligence community veterans, post-quantum cryptography pioneers, CISOs, business leaders, and frontline practitioners for unfiltered conversations on the threats, complexity, and geopolitics shaping our world.
Past guests include former senior CIA officers, leading cryptographers, digital forensics experts, and security and technology leaders from across financial services, critical infrastructure, and government, voices rarely heard together in one place.
Each episode goes beyond headlines to explore how cyber risk, emerging technology, and geopolitical instability are reshaping the way organisations operate, compete, and defend themselves. Expect candid insight on quantum risk, nation-state threats, AI, espionage, financial crime, business resilience, and the human dimensions of leadership.
Designed for CISOs, board members, founders, technologists, policy thinkers, and the professionally curious, Entropy sits at the intersection of business, technology, and cybersecurity a space for genuine conversations with unique minds, the kind that don’t fit neatly into a press release.
The name Entropy reflects the growing complexity and unpredictability of the systems we depend on, and the discipline required to lead through them.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on The Entropy Podcast are those of the host and guests in their personal capacity and do not represent the views, positions, or policies of their respective employers, affiliated organisations, or any government body. Guest appearances do not constitute endorsement by the host, and the host’s commentary does not constitute endorsement of guests’ views. Content is provided for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute professional, legal, financial, or security advice.
One of the topics I cover a lot on this show is post quantum readiness, I believe awareness of this emerging technology is key for a safer world into the future. To support this awareness I have built a free resource to help you explore the world of quantum and learn as you go. You can find it here: www.postquantumready.com
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We now have some slick new swag you can purchase through our Esty store.
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Watch and Subscribe
You can also watch full episodes and exclusive content on our YouTube channel:
www.youtube.com/@TheEntropyPodcast
Achievements
The Entropy Podcast delivered strong chart performance throughout 2025, demonstrating consistent international reach and listener engagement.
- Regularly ranked within the Top 20 Technology podcasts in Ireland.
- Achieved a Top 25 placement in the United States Technology charts, holding the position for one week.
- Charted internationally across multiple markets, including Israel, Belgium, and the United Kingdom.
This performance reflects sustained global interest and growing recognition across key podcast markets.
Audio Quality Notice
Some episodes may feature minor variations in audio quality due to remote recording environments and external factors. We continuously strive to deliver the highest possible audio standards and appreciate your understanding.
Quantum technology promises enormous economic value, but are businesses preparing quickly enough to capture it or protect themselves from its risks?
In this episode, Francis Gorman speaks with strategy leader and LFI founder Shayne De la Force about the commercial realities of quantum technology in advanced manufacturing. Drawing on decades of experience across the semiconductor, aerospace, defence and automotive sectors, Shayne explains why quantum must become a board-level economic and governance priority.
They explore the cost of waiting, the challenge of securing global supply chains, the role of an embedded Chief Quantum Officer, and why businesses need to look beyond vague terms such as “quantum advantage” and “quantum readiness.”
Shayne also reflects on beginning his career on a factory floor in Japan, the dangers of “synthetic seniority,” and the lessons behind his book, Strategic Entanglement, which helps deep-tech founders cross the valley of death between innovation and commercial success.
Key Takeaways
- Quantum is an economic issue, not merely a technology issue. Business leaders should evaluate it through two lenses: increasing enterprise value and reducing risk.
- Waiting carries a measurable cost. Organisations that begin planning and piloting now can build stronger competitive moats, while delayed action may expose intellectual property, long-lived data and future market position.
- Quantum preparation needs board-level sponsorship. CISOs and technical teams require executive support, funding and governance authority to deliver meaningful readiness programmes.
- Advanced manufacturers face a supply-chain problem. Prime contractors may have thousands of suppliers operating at very different levels of cryptographic maturity. The weakest supplier can become the greatest source of exposure.
- Prioritisation is more valuable than trying to fix everything at once. Companies should identify high-exposure systems, sensitive intellectual property and long-lived data, then concentrate resources where risk reduction will have the greatest impact.
- Most mid-sized organisations do not need a full internal quantum department. An embedded Chief Quantum Officer model can provide access to strategy, security, physics, governance and programme-management expertise without years of internal hiring.
- Quantum use cases must be tied to commercial outcomes. Not every pilot will deliver immediate value. Organisations need clearly defined business problems, economic metrics and realistic pathways from experimentation to deployment.
- Deep-tech commercialisation must begin early. Start-ups should develop their market narrative, customer belief and commercial strategy alongside the technology—not after the product has been completed.
- Foundational experience still matters. Working directly with machines, infrastructure, customers and operational teams creates judgement that cannot be replaced by AI-generated ideas or “synthetic seniority.”
Soundbites
“Unless you are working for a not-for-profit, we are all here to drive business, growth and economic value.”
“A CEO or CFO has two fundamental objectives: maximise economic value and reduce economic risk.”
“The companies moving today are the ones that will have the strongest competitive moat.”
“Unless you have buy-in at the top, it is very difficult to move the rest of the organisation.”
“When boards see the economic risk of losing their intellectual property and long-term data, that is when the needle starts moving.”
“Building an internal quantum department can take years and millions of dollars. Our embedded model gives companies access to the whole capability.”
“The companies running pilots today are the ones building a competitive moat over the companies that are waiting.”
“In advanced manufacturing, equipment may have a depreciation cycle of 25 or 30 years. That makes cryptographic transition a massive challenge.”
“The prime contractors are preparing, but their supplier base is often their weakest link.”
“Our job is to create clarity in chaos—because, right now, it is chaos.”
“Can we close 80 percent of the exposure in the first 12 months and then work through the remaining 20 percent?”
“The valley of death is where great technology goes to die because the commercialisation strategy was never developed.”
Disclaimer
This podcast’s information is provided for general reference and was obtained from publicly accessible sources. The Podcast Collaborative neither produces nor verifies the content, accuracy, or suitability of this podcast. Views and opinions belong solely to the podcast creators and guests.
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