Shows / Inside Integration

Inside Integration
Welcome to the Inside Integration Podcast, where we'll get you up to speed on what's going on in the world of Custom Integration. Sometimes we’ll have guests from the CI world, sometime it’ll just be Chris and Jayson BS'ing about this industry we love.
We’ll cover news from the world of CI, interesting trends, cool technology, upcoming events, and whatever else we get distracted by in the moment.
Join us!
Looking for merch? 👉 https://inside-integration.printify.me/
Episodes
Inside IntegrationEpisode 76: The Hill You'd Die On: Samsung vs Sony vs LG
It’s TV showdown time. In this episode, Chris and Jayson wade into the deep waters of dealer opinions, display drama, and brand loyalty that runs way too deep…
Inside IntegrationEpisode 75: Fishing for Complaints
Welcome back to Inside Integration with your favorite integration insiders, Chris and Jayson!! 🤓🔥 Episode 75 is a reel-y special one (get it? 😉) because we’re…
Inside IntegrationEpisode 74: Selling the Dream | Designing for Experience, Not Specs
What are you really selling in custom integration? In Episode 74, we explore why client experience is what truly matters. From the first walkthrough to the…
Inside IntegrationEpisode 73: The Dumbest Guy in Your Feed
Chris and Jayson dive straight into the chaos of modern-day expertise—or lack thereof. In this episode, they unpack the rise of loud voices with light resumes…
Inside IntegrationEpisode 72: Meandering Through Show Season
Chris and Jayson sit down to recap the chaos, camaraderie, and caffeine of another packed season of tech summits and road shows. From the Pacific Northwest to…
Inside IntegrationEpisode 71: Professional Acrimony
Chris and Jayson dig into the latest wave of drama in the AV world—lawsuits, acquisitions, and the slow fade of independent brands. What starts with Harman’s…
Inside IntegrationEpisode 70: Feedback, Juggling, & Fire
Chris and Jayson are back together for Episode 70 of Inside Integration. After a solo show that drew some surprising feedback, the guys get back to what they…
Inside IntegrationEpisode 69: Filling Time: A Solo Story
This week, it’s just Chris riding solo while Jayson hauls gear across the Pacific Northwest. What started as a short check-in turned into a deep dive on two…
Inside IntegrationEpisode 68: The Hill You'd Die On
Chris and Jayson take on the debates that divide every integration shop: zip ties vs. Velcro, Milwaukee vs. Makita vs. DeWalt, and whether pass-through RJ45s…
Inside IntegrationEpisode 67: Lessons in Disaster — The Art of Learning the Hard Way
Chris and Jayson trade stories about the early mistakes that shaped their work in AV — bad soldering, last-minute fixes, and the kind of on-site problem…
Inside IntegrationEpisode 66: Are You Content With Your Content?
Chris and Jayson talk through the gap between what content can be and how it's usually delivered. They dig into the rise of cinematic gaming, the impact of…
Inside IntegrationEpisode 65: Gloomers, Zoomers, and Bloomers
In this episode, Chris and Jayson unpack a framework borrowed from futurist Zach Kass to describe three types of people you’ll find on any team: the Gloomer…
Inside IntegrationEpisode 64: Finding Your Niche in a Crowded CI Market
Chris, Jesse, and Jayson are back from a Samsung event where Gary Vee dropped some big ideas—and not all of them landed. In this episode, they break down what…
Inside IntegrationEpisode 63: Picture Frame TVs, AI Fridges, and a Big Ol’ Samsung Hug
Fresh off a high-octane Samsung dealer event in Austin, Jayson returns with stories of massive panels, AI-powered everything, and a sneak peek at what's coming…
Inside IntegrationEpisode 62: Springtime for Custom
Chris and Jayson are back—well, two-thirds of the crew. Jesse’s off somewhere remote with a bowl of poi, so it’s just the two of them holding it down this…
Inside IntegrationEpisode 61: FUD in Tukwila
Chris, Jayson, and Jesse take on FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt) in the CI industry. From misinformation to dealer hesitation on new tech, we dig into…
Inside IntegrationEpisode 60: Perception is 9/10's of the Law.
In this episode of Inside Integration, Chris is joined by special guest host Jesse to break down why perception is everything in the CI industry. From battling…
Inside IntegrationEpisode 59: The Vibes Are Off.
Something about this one just feels... off. Maybe it’s the state of the industry, maybe it’s the way the rep game is changing, or maybe it’s just too much…
Inside IntegrationEpisode 58: What Gets You to Come Out?
What makes an integrator actually leave the office, job site, or beach house to attend an industry event? In this episode, Chris and Jayson dig into what works…
Inside IntegrationEpisode 57: Would You Buy the Systems You Sell?
If you had to pay full price for the systems you design, would you still spec the same gear? In this episode, Chris and Jayson take a hard look at how…
Inside IntegrationEpisode 56: Is the AV part of CI dead?
In this episode ofInside Integration, Chris and Jayson dive into a thought-provoking discussion on the shifting landscape of custom integration. Is traditional…
Inside IntegrationEpisode 55: Is There Any Real Journalism in Custom Integration?
Chris and Jayson go deep on the state of media in the CI world. Are trade publications actual journalism, or just paid PR machines? We call out the reality of…
Inside IntegrationEpisode 54: Lightapalooza Recap
Join Chris and Jayson as they recount their experience at Lightapalooza, the lighting industry’s must-attend event. This week’s episode covers the cutting-edge…
Inside IntegrationEpisode 53: Deep in the Heart of Texas
This week, the Inside Integration crew—Chris, Jayson, and Jesse—hits the floor at Lightapalooza 2025 in Dallas, Texas! In this special episode, the team breaks…
Inside IntegrationEpisode 52: Ch Ch Ch Changes
Welcome to Episode 52 of the Inside Integration Podcast! Chris and Jayson are back to celebrate a milestone: one full year of podcasting! But that’s not all –…
Inside IntegrationEpisode 51: Welcome to 2025, CES and more.
Welcome to the future! Chris and Jayson kick off 2025 with the first Inside Integration episode of the year. This week, they dive into their plans for CES, an…
Inside IntegrationEpisode 50: New Year’s Prognostications with Jayson and Chris
Welcome to Episode 50! Jayson and Chris mark this milestone by looking ahead to 2025, unpacking the trends and challenges likely to shape the custom…
Inside IntegrationInside Integration Episode 49: It's Christmas (why are you listening to this?)
Chris and Jayson are back with a holiday episode that’s part reflection, part ramble, and entirely unscripted. We dig into the usual Christmas chaos—family…
Inside IntegrationInside Integration Episode 48: A Traditional Festivus Airing of Grievances
In this special Festivus-inspired episode of Inside Integration, Chris and Jayson let loose with an honest “airing of grievances” for the custom integration…
Inside IntegrationInside Integration Episode 47: Zombie Walk to New Years
s the year winds down, Jayson and Chris dive into the holiday chaos of the integration industry, reflecting on deadlines, big changes, and the whirlwind of the…
Inside IntegrationInside Integration Episode 46: Remembering John Bolin
In this special episode of Inside Integration, Jayson and Chris take time to honor the life of their friend and colleague, John Bolin, who recently passed…
Inside IntegrationInside Integration Episode 45: Gratitude
In Episode 45 of the Inside Integration Podcast, Chris and Jayson serve up a Thanksgiving special that’s equal parts humor, nostalgia, and genuine gratitude…
Inside IntegrationInside Integration Episode 44: Trade Shows: Worth It?
Chris and Jayson dive into the world of trade shows in this episode of Inside Integration. From CEDIA Expo to CES and beyond, they discuss whether these events…
Inside IntegrationInside Integration Episode 43: Dealing with Uncertainty
In this episode of Inside Integration, Chris and Jayson dive into the impacts of last week's election on the custom integration (CI) industry. With new…
Inside IntegrationInside Integration Episode 42: On the Road with Keith and Amy from LucettaCI
In this episode of Inside Integration, we’re rolling down the road with Lucetta CI’s Keith Ziebert and Amy Dorado as they wrap up an epic Topgolf training tour…
Inside IntegrationInside Integration Episode 41: Project Confessional - When a Project Goes Off the Rails
In today’s episode of Inside Integration, we’re going solo for a deep dive into a project that’s stayed with me for over two decades. Recorded from the road, I…
Inside IntegrationInside Integration Episode 40: Industry Consolidation: Why It Matters.
In this episode of Inside Integration, Chris and Jayson break down the growing trend of industry consolidation and why it’s crucial for rep firms and…
Inside IntegrationInside Integration Episode 39: Top 5 Benchmark AV/CI Products of the Last 20ish Years
In this episode of Inside Integration, Chris and Jayson take a nostalgic trip down memory lane as they discuss the top 5 benchmark products that defined the…
Inside IntegrationInside Integration Episode 38: AI's growing role in Custom Integration
In Episode 38 of Inside Integration, Chris and Jayson break down the powerful role of AI in the custom integrator world. From enhancing smart home solutions…
Inside IntegrationInside Integration Episode 37: Showrooms: Why?
In this episode, Chris and Jayson break down the changing role of showrooms in the custom integration industry. They discuss how integrators are creating…
Inside IntegrationInside Integration Episode 36: Challenges Facing Custom Integrators in 2024 and Beyond
In this solo episode, I take a deep dive into the top challenges custom integrators will face in 2024. From supply chain disruptions and a shortage of skilled…
Inside IntegrationInside Integration Episode 35: New Sony Projectors in the wild.
In this special road-trip edition of Inside Integration, co-host Jayson and Russell Warnhoff from Sony are recording on the go as they travel together to the…
Inside IntegrationInside Integration Episode 34: Post CEDIA Expo Wrap Up
Join Chris, Jayson, Jesse, and Robert as they recap the highlights from the 2024 CEDIA Expo in Denver. In this episode, the team reflects on the best demos…
Inside IntegrationInside Integration Episode 33: The (Rail) Road to CEDIA Expo
In this unique episode, recorded during our commute to CEDIA Expo 2024, Chris, Jayson, Gerald, and Jesse bring you a lighthearted and informative discussion on…
Inside IntegrationInside Integration Episode 32: Almost inside an Elk, madVR added to the roster, new Bluesound Nodes
Join Chris and Jayson on a unique road trip episode of the Inside Integration Podcast, where they take you along for a day of dealer visits in Eastern…
Inside IntegrationInside Integration Episode 31: New Bluesound NODES, CEDIA Expo, JoshAI in the PNW
Join Chris and Jayson on this episode of Inside Integration as they explore Bluesound’s latest additions to their Node lineup, including the Nano, Node, and…
Inside IntegrationInside Integration Episode 30: CEDIA’s Push for Technology Integrator Classification
In this episode, Chris and Jayson discuss CEDIA’s groundbreaking effort to establish a new occupational classification for technology integrators within the…
Inside IntegrationInside Integration Episode 29: CEDIA Prep, Hail to the King (of TVs), PNW Roadtrip
In Episode 29 of the Inside Integration Podcast, Chris and Jayson chat about the latest in the custom integration world. We’re getting ready for the CEDIA Expo…
Inside IntegrationInside Integration Episode 28: CEDIA Countdown, MadVR, SONOS Strugglebus, and High Socks
Chris and Jayson prepare for CEDIA, covering the latest from MadVR and BlueSound, and address the recent Sonos app issues. Broadcasting from Jayson’s garage…
Inside IntegrationInside Integration Episode 27: Meet the new guy | Inside Snap+Resideo | Spicy Home Theater Takes
Welcome to Episode 27 of Inside Integration! This week, Chris and Jayson are thrilled to introduce Jesse Paule, the newest addition to the Oliver Marketing…
Inside IntegrationInside Integration Episode 26: AV Furniture | Why Hi-Fi? | 8 Weeks until CEDIA Expo
In Episode 26 of Inside Integration, Chris and Jayson explore the latest trends in AV furniture, discussing the innovative offerings from ErgoAV and Salamander…
Inside IntegrationInside Integration Episode 25: Jayson's been here a year + CEDIA swag reviewed.
Welcome to Episode 25 of the Inside Integration Podcast! Join hosts Jayson Savage and Chris as they dive into the world of custom integrators, sharing…
Inside IntegrationInside Integration Episode 24: CEDIA Vancouver, New PNW Teammate, New Stuff From Josh.AI
In this episode of Inside Integration, Chris and Jason are back with a comprehensive recap of the CEDIA Tech Summit in Vancouver, BC. They share their…
Inside IntegrationInside Integration Episode 23: Lightheaded and CEPro's Top 100 takaways
Chris and Jayson dive into the world of custom integration with exciting updates from their latest product line, Lightheaded, and industry insights from the CE…
Inside IntegrationInside Integration Episode 22: BSing about the Snap/Resideo Thing
Join hosts Chris Barlo and Jayson Savage as they dive into the dynamic world of custom integration and tech. This episode covers cutting-edge display…
Inside IntegrationInside Integration Episode 21: Rep Life with Greg Bahlhorn
Join host Chris Barlo and NorCal’s own Greg Bahlhorn as they explore the dynamic world of sales representation in the custom integration industry. In this…
Inside IntegrationInside Integration Episode 20: CI Success with Scott Foco
In this episode of “Inside Integration,” hosts Chris Barlo and Jayson Savage sit down with Scott Foco, the Director of Sales at Sonance, to discuss key…
Inside IntegrationInside Integration Episode 19: BS in the PNW
Dive into the world of Custom Integration with Chris Barlo and Jayson Savage as they explore the vibrant CI community in the Pacific Northwest. This episode…
Inside IntegrationInside Integration Episode 18: Engaging Partnerships with Olivia Jaber
In this captivating episode of Inside Integration, hosts Chris Barlo and Jayson Savage are joined by Olivia Jaber from Elemental LED. Olivia, a pivotal figure…
Inside IntegrationInside Integration Episode 17: Interoperability & Partnership with Chris Bruno from Vantage
In this engaging episode of Inside Integration, host Chris Barlo welcomes Chris Bruno from Vantage to discuss the intricacies of interoperability and…