The GIST of Govt IT

The weekly show that breaks down ideas, innovations and decisions that cut through complexity and offer real insights from the intersection of technology and the mission.

Contributors

Co-host

Brian Lake

Brian Lake is the Vice President of Marketing at Swish, where he leads integrated marketing programs that connect mission-driven public sector customers with the technology and engineering expertise they need to modernize, secure, and transform.

A 22-year veteran of public sector marketing, Brian has built and scaled federal marketing programs at Riverbed Technology, Burson-Marsteller, Oracle, and MSLGROUP, with deep expertise in storytelling, brand strategy, and demand generation for the GovCon community.

He's a recognized industry voice known for translating complex technical capabilities into narratives that resonate with agency decision-makers. On the podcast, Brian brings the marketer's instinct for the human story behind every government IT initiative.

An avid live music fan, he has attended over 208 Phish concerts with no sign of slowing down.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianslake/

Co-host

Sean Applegate

Sean Applegate is the Chief Technology Officer at Swish, where he leads innovation strategy and the technical solutions that help federal agencies modernize IT, secure their data, and harness AI responsibly.

A former active-duty U.S. Marine, Sean spent nine years at Riverbed Technology in senior technical roles including the global leader of the company's Portfolio Solutions Group of thechnical thought leaders before joining Swish to architect outcomes for clients across federal agency ecosystem.

He's a sought-after voice on zero trust, generative AI security, performance engineering, and the realities of delivering enterprise technology inside government. On the podcast, Sean brings the engineer's eye and the operator's discipline to every conversation.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanapplegate/

Guests

Guest

Matthew Shallbetter

Matthew Schalbetter, he’s Director of Strategy for Civilian Agencies at Armist Federal, where he works with his customers on mitigating cybersecurity risks in real time. He's spent his entire career working inside and outside of government buildings securing their mission critical IT infrastructures. Prior to joining Armis, he was at HHS for over 16 years and has held a number of leadership positions in both operations and policy components with the Office of the Chief Information Officer. As director of Strategic Technology and the Communications Division, he was responsible for identifying technology trends within HHS and the federal government, facilitating departmental relationships with HHS operating divisions, and providing leadership and subject matter expertise on emerging technology and cybersecurity.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/shallbetter/

Guest

Yochai Corem

Yochai Corem is a seasoned cybersecurity executive with over 20 years of experience spanning sales, product management, marketing, and business development. Currently serving as VP of Exposure Management at Check Point Software, Yochai leads the External Risk Management unit following the strategic acquisitions of Cyberint and Veriti.

Previously, he was CEO of Cyberint, where he built the threat intelligence platform an elite solution analyzing digital attack surfaces and scanning the open, deep, and dark web. Under his leadership, Cyberint combined domain-expert services with advanced CTI to elevate external risk management. He previously also served in senior sales roles at CYE and Elbit Systems.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/yochaicorem/