SolarWinds TechPod
95 episodes - English - Latest episode: 18 days ago - ★★★★★ - 30 ratingsJoin the brightest SolarWinds minds and IT industry influencers, as they cut through the jargon and give you the tools you need to grow and keep your tech knowledge razor-sharp. Come with questions—leave with actionable steps and practical insights.
Have ideas for future episodes or topics? Tweet us @ SolarWinds using #TechPod.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
Pardon our Dust: Bringing THWACKcamp to You
April 09, 2024 06:00 - 31 minutes - 29.6 MBGet a peek behind the scenes of THWACKcamp, the free virtual learning event for SolarWinds customers. Hosts Chrystal Taylor and Sean Sebring talk to THWACKcamp Executive Producer Matt Murray about the extensive preparation, creativity, and deep knowledge that goes into this year’s “love letter” to the THWACK community. © 2024 SolarWinds Worldwide, LLC. All rights reserved
AI Pipeline: Surfing From Concept to Product Reality
March 12, 2024 07:00 - 49 minutes - 45.8 MBIn this conversation, hosts Sean Sebring and Chrystal Taylor talk with Derek Daly, Principal AIOps Product Manager at SolarWinds. He discusses his career journey and the role of AI and machine learning in the company's products. He shares insights into the process of introducing AI and machine learning into product features, the impact of AI on jobs, and the considerations for on-premises vs cloud deployment. © 2024 SolarWinds Worldwide, LLC. All rights reserved
Underdog vs. Top Dog
February 13, 2024 07:00 - 56 minutes - 52 MBThey say the grass is always greener in another office. Right? In an era of job hopping and layoffs, working for a startup versus an established global company is an evergreen debate. Chrystal Taylor and Sean Sebring talk pros and cons of both. Tune in to help yourself find your ideal patch of grass. © 2024 SolarWinds Worldwide, LLC. All rights reserved
IT Trends and Predictions for 2024
January 09, 2024 07:00 - 1 hour - 55.7 MBI wonder what’s next? Sean Sebring and Chrystal Taylor discuss the tech trends and predictions published by Gartner, Forrester, and VMblog, with Global Tech Evangelist for Observability Sascha Giese. Can they predict the future? © 2024 SolarWinds Worldwide, LLC. All rights reserved
A Very Merry TechPod
December 12, 2023 07:00 - 55 minutes - 76.2 MBThe SolarWinds podcast crossover event you’ve all been waiting for: Chrystal Taylor and Sean Sebring talk with Movies & Mainframes host Andy Garibay about the best, weirdest, and most confusing tech gifts you can give your loved ones (or, let’s be honest, yourself) this year. © 2023 SolarWinds Worldwide, LLC. All rights reserved
IT's Event Season
November 14, 2023 07:00 - 59 minutes - 81.6 MBIf you think attending a tech industry event is chaotic just imagine trying to organize one. SolarWinds’ Senior Manager of Events Valerie Rivir chats about the ins and outs of trade shows. From the history to the horror stories, she’s seen it all. © 2023 SolarWinds Worldwide, LLC. All rights reserved
Exploring the Summer of Zero-Days
October 09, 2023 06:00 - 43 minutes - 59.6 MBJoin host Sean Sebring as he talks to SolarWinds CISO Tim Brown about the 2023 threat landscape after an unprecedented number of cyberattacks. You’re going to want to buckle up, type in the code, scan your retinas, say Beetlejuice three times, and download this episode. © 2023 SolarWinds Worldwide, LLC. All rights reserved
Howdy, Partner!
September 05, 2023 18:34 - 39 minutes - 54.6 MBGoing it alone is ok sometimes, but having a partner with skills and experience will make any rodeo better and more efficient. Aldo Masoni, Observability Practice Lead with longtime SolarWinds Partner SHI, joins hosts Sean Sebring and Ashley Adams to explain the “value” in value-added resellers. © 2023 SolarWinds Worldwide, LLC. All rights reserved
The Future of AIOps
August 08, 2023 06:00 - 51 minutes - 71 MBDo you ever get the feeling that your computer has gained self-awareness and is trying to take over the world? AIOps expert Aswin Kumar joins hosts Ashley and Sean to talk about AI's impact today, tomorrow, and beyond, as well as some of the ethical questions we will need to answer before it’s too late. © 2023 SolarWinds Worldwide, LLC. All rights reserved
THWACK's 20th Anniversary Spectacular!
July 11, 2023 06:00 - 48 minutes - 66.7 MBTHWACK, the SolarWinds community, is 20-years-old and thriving. Two former THWACK MVPs and current SolarWinds employees, Kevin Sparenberg and Michael Kent, join hosts Ashley Adams and Sean Sebring to talk about what makes this community so successful. © 2023 SolarWinds Worldwide, LLC. All rights reserved
Because I’m All About That (Data)base II
May 02, 2023 06:00 - 41 minutes - 57.3 MBAs data infrastructure gets more complex, clarity is more important than ever. Our guest Blythe Morrow talks with hosts Sean Sebring and Ashley Adams about the importance of communication for Data pros, and how to speak so that people will listen. © 2023 SolarWinds Worldwide, LLC. All rights reserved
Because I’m All About That (Data)base....
April 04, 2023 06:00 - 42 minutes - 58.8 MBIs your database a junk drawer? Is it more like a black hole? If you’re afraid to look in there, join TechPod hosts Ashley Adams and Sean Sebring as they demystify Database with the help of Head Geek and resident Database expert Thomas LaRock. This episode will discuss the challenges database administrators face, and the tools they can use to address them. © 2023 SolarWinds Worldwide, LLC. All rights reserved
TechPod: Are you Observe-Able-IT?
February 28, 2023 06:00 - 33 minutes - 46.4 MBObservability: Industry buzzword, or the next evolution of IT? Our hosts, Chris Bowie and Sean Sebring discuss with SolarWinds Staff Product Marketing Manager Ashley Adams what it means and what it can do for you. © 2023 SolarWinds Worldwide, LLC. All rights reserved
Trends and Predictions—2023 and Beyond
January 13, 2023 06:00 - 45 minutes - 62.3 MBA new year means a new wave of tech trends and predictions, and though some may use a crystal ball or a good guess to make their predictions, our hosts have something better: Head Geeks™ Chrystal Taylor and Sascha Giese. Listen in as the group discusses the latest technology trends and makes projections on everything from tool sprawl to the rise of artificial intelligence. Who will be right? Only time will tell. © 2022 SolarWinds Worldwide, LLC. All rights reserved
It's All Tech to Me: Adjusting to an IT Career
November 08, 2022 06:00 - 51 minutes - 70.9 MBIn today's ever-expanding job market, many people find themselves on a career path they never originally planned for - IT. So how do those "non-technical" people become "technical"? Join TechPod hosts Sean and Chris as they dissect their own experiences working in tech, learning how to grapple with unknowns, Observability, and the importance of diversity and unique thought in the tech world. © 2022 SolarWinds Worldwide, LLC. All rights reserved
Hybrid IT...It's Trendy?
October 13, 2022 05:00 - 43 minutes - 59.7 MBThe IT Trends report is released by SolarWinds every year with predictions on what will be the most popular trends in IT during the upcoming months. As we enter the second half of 2022, hosts Sean Sebring and Chris Bowie unpack the SolarWinds 2022 IT Trends report with Professor Dr. Sally Eaves. The three discuss findings from the report, getting hybrid IT right, managing complexity, Observability, and even... time travel? © 2022 SolarWinds Worldwide, LLC. All rights reserved
IT Pro Day ’22—The Evolution of the IT Pro
September 13, 2022 05:00 - 46 minutes - 63.9 MBTechPod™ hosts Chris Bowie, Sean Sebring, and special guest Head Geek™ Chrystal Taylor talk about IT Pro Day, the evolution of the IT pro, and how roles have changed in an increasingly distributed and complex IT landscape. Tune in as they share their thoughts on “what makes an IT pro” and why IT pros deserve their day in the sun! © 2022 SolarWinds Worldwide, LLC. All rights reserved
Little Fires; Are They Worth IT?
August 16, 2022 05:00 - 42 minutes - 59.2 MBHave you ever heard someone say, “I’m too busy putting out fires”? What if the only way to get ahead of those fires was to make way for change—to improve the foundations and infrastructure to reduce the fires you had to put out? This episode will discuss the fantastical balancing act of maintaining operational excellence while creating space for growth and improvement. © 2022 SolarWinds Worldwide, LLC. All rights reserved
SysAdmins: Then, Now, Always
July 29, 2022 05:00 - 45 minutes - 63 MBWhen you started as a systems administrator, you might have connected servers, swapped out hard drives, run down spare components, and dragged around a crash cart. Those days might not be completely over, but the chances you physically interact with your systems grow smaller and smaller each day. In an era of virtualization, cloud-first, and software as a service, where does this leave the lowly systems administrator? These questions and more are discussed and debated by Technical Content Ma...
How Data Meets Visualization
June 28, 2022 05:00 - 49 minutes - 68 MBWhen we think of alerts, we don’t necessarily think of them as things of beauty—until now. Join THWACK® Community Manager Ben Keen and Technical Content Manager Kevin M. Sparenberg in an energetic discussion on taking your data to the next level. Ben and Kevin discuss the importance of making your data appealing to improve the user experience, help make sense of your data, and benefit your end users with a cleaner and prettier experience. © 2022 SolarWinds Worldwide, LLC. All rights reserv...
Getting to Know the New THWACK Community Manager
May 17, 2022 05:00 - 41 minutes - 56.7 MBThe SolarWinds community, THWACK.com, has a new community manager. Ben Keen has been an active voice in the community for years as a THWACK MVP and has now decided to join SolarWinds’ efforts to continue to have the greatest community out there. Ben will be joining as a regular voice here on TechPod as well bringing his many years of IT experience and passion for community to our conversations. In this episode, we’ll dive into his experience and hopes for the future of THWACK. © 2022 Sol...
Monitoring for Managers: More Than a Cost Center
April 19, 2022 05:00 - 52 minutes - 72.2 MBSolarWinds own Senior Director of IT, Brad Cline, and Director of IT, Dr. Humberto Amador, join Head Geek Chrystal Taylor to discuss expanding the business’ view of IT as a cost center. Communication, collaboration, and documentation are all key skills used to be more effective and efficient in aligning with business leaders. Colored with stories and tactics from within the SolarWinds IT organization, our guests discuss these factors and share advice on improving relations between the busine...
Women in Tech: Owning Your Place at the Table
March 15, 2022 05:00 - 47 minutes - 43.7 MBIn this episode of SolarWinds TechPod, Head Geek Chrystal Taylor is joined by Hannah Kohr and Katie Schraeder to discuss the benefits of communication and advocating for yourself to help tackle challenging conversations and grow your career. With differing backgrounds and experiences in tech, Chrystal, Hannah, and Katie aim to bring new perspectives and guidance for navigating the industry as a woman in tech. © 2022 SolarWinds Worldwide, LLC. All rights reserved.
THWACKcamp: Celebrating 10 Years of IT Learning
February 15, 2022 06:00 - 51 minutes - 46.8 MBJoin SolarWinds Technical Content Manager for Community, Kevin M. Sparenberg, and Head Geek, Chrystal Taylor, as they reminisce on the 10-year history of SolarWinds virtual event, THWACKcamp. Whether you’re curious about the type of content you can expect at this year’s event or simply want to join them on memory lane, this TechPod will answer the question: Why THWACKcamp? Join the SolarWinds community, THWACK, in celebrating 10 years of THWACKcamp – the always free and completely virtual ev...
Monitoring For Managers: Business Alignment – The Bridge to UnITy
February 08, 2022 06:00 - 39 minutes - 36.5 MBWhile IT handles layered problems and often speaks in acronyms among other technical terms, we’re also challenged to collaborate with other departments who seemingly speak in a different language. How can we bridge the gap and work towards the same organizational goals, unifying our strategies and operations? Join us as we sit down with Dr. Humberto Amador, to discuss his IT journey and experiences, particularly his focus and affinity for uniting teams through strategic IT-business alignment....
SolarWinds Tech Predictions for 2022: Data Governance and Risk Aversion
January 25, 2022 06:00 - 46 minutes - 42.8 MBJoin our Head Geeks in Part 2 of our 2022 Tech Predictions TechPod series where they share their thoughts on the rise of Chief Data Officers and data governance principles, risk aversion, and the need for tech pros to fine-tune nontechnical skill sets for career advancement. This podcast is provided for informational purposes only. © 2022 SolarWinds Worldwide, LLC. All rights reserved.
SolarWinds Tech Predictions for 2022: Observability
January 11, 2022 06:00 - 29 minutes - 26.9 MBIt's a new year, ripe with new trends and technology. Join our Head Geeks as they dive into their 2022 Tech Predictions, beginning with observability – a term becoming prevalent among tech pros. Listen in as they share how cloud investments; the rise of AI/ML services; and the re-evaluation of tools, technology, and processes are driving the observability conversation. This podcast is provided for informational purposes only. © 2022 SolarWinds Worldwide, LLC. All rights reserved.
Monitoring Insights for Database Managers
December 28, 2021 06:00 - 1 hour - 60.3 MBAs part of our ongoing mini-series on Monitoring for Managers, Head Geek and database aficionado Kevin Kline teams up with fellow Head Geek Leon Adato to break down the essential things about databases and database monitoring a manager might need to know. This podcast is provided for informational purposes only. © 2021 SolarWinds Worldwide, LLC. All rights reserved.
Figuring IT Out: The People Behind IT
December 14, 2021 06:00 - 1 hour - 76.2 MBIT pros juggle a lofty list of responsibilities. They’re tasked with navigating new technology, maintaining continuity for hybrid work environments, devising creative solutions, all while ensuring those they support are successful. In our day-to-day interactions, we often see IT pros’ hard, technology skills at play but rarely do we see or know the paths that brought them to where they are now. SolarWinds Head Geeks Chrystal Taylor, Kevin Kline, and Liz Beavers shine a light on the peopl...
ITSM For More Than Just IT
December 07, 2021 06:00 - 36 minutes - 50 MBWhen you hear the term service desk, what generally comes to mind? Perhaps it’s to get a password reset, maybe ordering a new laptop, your run-of-the-mill asks for IT. Have you ever considered how the service desk could become a more central resource to the business, providing more than services for IT alone? SolarWinds® Head Geek™ Liz Beavers sits down with a panel of internal service providers from SolarWinds as they discuss their journey implementing an ITSM platform and successfully grow...
The Disappearing DBA: Embracing Automation to Advance Your Career
November 23, 2021 06:00 - 51 minutes - 71.3 MBA good DBA is hard to find. This is because a good DBA wears many hats, often equating to 3 – 4 full time jobs. How can this be achieved or sustained? The secret is automation, and automation is also the reason the DBA is disappearing. In this final episode of our three-part series exploring the disappearing DBA, Head Geeks Thomas LaRock and Kevin Kline along with GitHub Star and Dual Microsoft MVP Chrissy LeMaire offer advice to data professionals looking to advance their careers by embraci...
How Military Service Prepares You for a Career in IT
November 09, 2021 06:00 - 30 minutes - 28.3 MBBeing in IT as part of the armed services is a different type of work experience than the private sector, with military values, culture, and restrictions blending to create a unique type of IT experience. In this Veteran’s Day episode of SolarWinds® TechPod™, Head Geek™ Leon Adato is joined by Marlys (Marcie) May, VP of Service Delivery at Atlantic Digital; and Greg Fetterhoff, VP and general manager at Monalytic. They explore what it means to work in tech in the various branches of the mili...
George Westerman | Building the Culture for Digital Transformation
November 02, 2021 05:00 - 32 minutes - 30.1 MBIn this episode of TechPod, George Westerman and Head Geek™ Thomas LaRock discuss digital transformation, how to build the culture necessary for change, and where workplace learning has fallen short. George Westerman is a senior lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Management and a principal research scientist, J-WEL Workforce Learning. George works at the dynamic intersection of executive leadership and technology strategy. This podcast is provided for informational purposes only. © 2021...
whurley | Quantum and Beyond
October 29, 2021 22:11 - 33 minutes - 31.9 MBWilliam Hurley (or “whurley” as he prefers to be called) is a philanthropist, entrepreneur, and open-source advocate, whose work at Apple, IBM, and in the area of quantum computing is world-renowned. Picking up where we left off in part 1, SolarWinds Head Geek Leon Adato and whurley explore a range of topics – everything from the state of the tech industry in Austin; to career advice for those just starting out (as well as those who’ve been around the NOC a few times); to the things whurley ...
whurley | All Things Quantum
October 20, 2021 05:00 - 32 minutes - 30.2 MBWilliam Hurley (or “whurley” as he prefers to be called) is a philanthropist, entrepreneur, and open-source advocate, who’s achieved what many geeks only dream of, including critically recognized work at Apple, IBM, and CERN. He’s started and sold businesses; invented, invested, published, advised, and mentored. Currently, he’s best known his thoughts on—and experience with— quantum computing. SolarWinds Head Geek Leon Adato asks about the insights whurley’s gleaned from his work in quantum ...
The Disappearing DBA: Career Advice From a Data Janitor
September 28, 2021 05:00 - 56 minutes - 52.2 MBThe DBA role is complex. Pitfalls exist everywhere you turn, and it can be difficult to survive and thrive. On this episode of TechPod, we'll help accidental DBAs become a DBA survivors with career advice from SolarWinds Head Geeks Thomas LaRock and Kevin Kline as well as Denny Cherry, CEO and founder, Denny Cherry & Associates. This podcast is provided for informational purposes only. © 2021 SolarWinds Worldwide, LLC. All rights reserved.
Lesley Carhart on Cybersecurity, IT Careers, and Service In and Out of the Military
September 14, 2021 05:00 - 44 minutes - 40.6 MBLesley Carhart is recognized as one of the leading voices in digital forensics and cybersecurity. But her career began – and is still firmly rooted – with her service in the Guard and Reserves. She devotes a significant amount of time to helping others make the transition into tech, both within the armed services and as part of their transition to civilian life. Leslie sits down with Head Geek™ Leon Adato to discuss her professional and volunteer work and share some of her hard-won advice. ...
Tech Career Origin Stories
August 31, 2021 05:00 - 56 minutes - 51.8 MBThe tech industry is booming, and there are many opportunities to transition from other career paths – or to change your path within tech. Join Head Geek™ Chrystal Taylor as she chats with tech professionals Ivan Bravo, Paul Guido, Jake Muszynski, and Marc Netterfield as they share their tech origin stories and discuss the challenges and benefits of having an unconventional background. They’ll share advice, anecdotes, and insights gained through their IT journeys and years of experience. T...
Celebrating SysAdmin Day 2021
July 27, 2021 20:07 - 44 minutes - 41.3 MBWhile it may not be circled in red on many people’s calendars, SysAdmin Day holds a special place in the hearts of many IT professionals. Certainly, because everyone likes to be appreciated for what they do, but more so because SysAdmin day is a chance for tech practitioners not only to recognize and celebrate, but to also shine a light on the work we do and help the next generation of technologies see how systems administration is a vibrant, relevant, and important role in every organizatio...
The Disappearing DBA: Nobody Goes to School to Become a Data Janitor
July 20, 2021 05:00 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBAutomation has been a disaster for the traditional database administration (DBA) role. As more systems and processes are automated away with code, the need for DBAs decreases. In time, the role of a DBA may disappear altogether. This ongoing series will examine who DBAs are, what they do, and where they'll go once their job has been replaced by a handful of PowerShell scripts. This episode will focus on defining the role of a DBA and discuss why they’re disappearing. This podcast is p...
Secure by Design | The CISO Perspective
June 29, 2021 05:00 - 47 minutes - 44.3 MBCDW Technology Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer Ruben Chacon, SolarWinds® CISO and VP, Security Tim Brown, and SolarWinds Head Geek™ Thomas LaRock talk about what CISO need to know to face today’s escalating cybersecurity threats – and what it’s like to be in the “hot seat” when challenges inevitably arise. This podcast is provided for informational purposes only. © 2021 SolarWinds Worldwide, LLC. All rights reserved.
From Monitoring Engineer to Leadership
June 22, 2021 05:00 - 56 minutes - 52.2 MBPaul Guido has worn several hats during his IT journey. But now he’s made the leap from deep-dive individual contributor to managing teams of the same kind of IT pros he was (and still is). There are lessons in that journey – not just for IT practitioners considering the next step of their career, but also managers who came to the job from a different (and non-technical) direction. We sit down with Paul to find out what insights and advice he has to help managers do a better job of leading t...
IT Monitoring Managing Up
May 25, 2021 05:00 - 33 minutes - 30.7 MBHang around with IT folks for anything longer than your typical stand-up meeting and you’re likely to hear some variation of “Managers! Am I right?” Snark aside, as folks who design, deploy, and maintain monitoring solutions, we’ve got a choice: we can continue to dismiss and diminish people who don’t know about our discipline; or we can take the time to educate and inform them. It’s in this spirit we are building spaces—from THWACK forums to conference talks to this podcast—created g...
IT Monitoring: Managing Up
May 25, 2021 05:00 - 33 minutes - 30.7 MBHang around with IT folks for anything longer than your typical stand-up meeting and you’re likely to hear some variation of “Managers! Am I right?” Snark aside, as folks who design, deploy, and maintain monitoring solutions, we’ve got a choice: we can continue to dismiss and diminish people who don’t know about our discipline; or we can take the time to educate and inform them. It’s in this spirit we are building spaces—from THWACK forums to conference talks to this podcast—created gear...
A Conversation with Robert Metcalfe (Part 2)
April 27, 2021 06:02 - 38 minutes - 35.2 MBWhat drives technology innovation? In the second part of our conversation with Dr. Robert Metcalfe, the co-founder of Ethernet and internet pioneer explains the relationship between innovation and freedom/prosperity, the importance of fostering an environment for technology innovation, and why he’d like to be known as more than “the father of Ethernet.” This podcast is provided for informational purposes only. © 2021 SolarWinds Worldwide, LLC. All rights reserved.
A Conversation with Robert Metcalfe (Part 1)
April 27, 2021 06:00 - 40 minutes - 37.3 MBDr. Robert Metcalfe is arguably one of the most influential pioneers of modern technology. In this episode of TechPod, the award-winning engineer relives the critical events that led to the invention of Ethernet and the development of Metcalfe’s Law. He also discusses the difference between invention and innovation, driving adoption of new technology, and the business landscape that helped form the internet as we know it today. This podcast is provided for informational purposes only. © ...
Secure by Design | Securing the Supply Chain
April 07, 2021 05:00 - 36 minutes - 34.5 MBThe recent SUNBURST cyberattack reveals new threats to the supply chains fueling today’s businesses. SolarWinds® and FireEye have raised the alarm for leaders everywhere to reexamine their security, to prepare for threats, and to raise the standards of the supply chains on which they rely. Join this episode of TechPod for a compelling discussion between SolarWinds President and CEO Sudhakar Ramakrishna and FireEye CEO and Board Director Kevin Mandia, hosted by SolarWinds Head Geek™ Thoma...
Secure by Design | Securing the Software Development Build Environment
March 24, 2021 05:00 - 45 minutes - 41.9 MBThe recent SUNBURST cyberattack on the SolarWinds software build environment is a concerning new reality for the software industry, representing the increasingly sophisticated actions by outside nation-states on the supply chains and infrastructure on which we all rely. SolarWinds® is committed to sharing our learnings about this attack broadly given the common development practices in the industry and our belief that transparency and cooperation are our best tools to help prevent and prot...
Secure by Design | Helping Our Customers Get Back to Business
March 09, 2021 06:00 - 41 minutes - 38.2 MBOrganizations were stopped in their tracks when the cyberattack occurred. When you’re focused on taking the right actions to protect your environment, your users, and your entire enterprise, solid counsel and assistance is critical. How do you get back to business? Join SolarWinds® President and CEO Sudhakar Ramakrishna, Head Geek™ Thomas LaRock, and our key partners Greg Fetterhoff (Monalytic) and Bill Fitzpatrick (Loop1) as they share stories from their engagements with SolarWinds cu...
Secure by Design | Our Plan for a Safer SolarWinds and Customer Community
February 17, 2021 06:00 - 51 minutes - 47.8 MBCompanies must change the way they operate to combat increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks across ever-expanding attack surfaces. What we learn from one attack can help us protect against the next. Because the next attack is always on the horizon. What should you do to raise your defenses? SolarWinds President and CEO Sudhakar Ramakrishna and cybersecurity expert and Krebs Stamos Group Founding Partner Alex Stamos discuss our plan for a safer SolarWinds and customer community – grounde...