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The PowerShell Podcast is a weekly show about building your career with PowerShell. Each episode features the tips, tech, and modules that make PowerShell the premier automation and scripting tool for IT professionals. Join us as we interview PowerShell experts to discover what makes PowerShell and its community so amazing and awesome.
Episodes
7 days ago
7 days ago
In this episode, host Andrew Pla welcomes back Steven Judd, Microsoft MVP, teacher, and longtime community contributor. Together, they dive into the theme of beginnings, from starting careers in IT, to first encounters with PowerShell, and the importance of resilience while navigating the “valley of despair” in learning. Steven shares his journey from music and business studies into technology, where curiosity, persistence, and a willingness to read the manuals shaped his career.
The conversation also explores how community, conferences, and friendships have been essential to Steven’s growth. From humorous “please clap” moments at Nano Conf to building lasting connections, Steven highlights the power of showing up authentically, persevering through challenges, and helping others along the way.Key Takeaways
The conversation also explores how community, conferences, and friendships have been essential to Steven’s growth. From humorous “please clap” moments at Nano Conf to building lasting connections, Steven highlights the power of showing up authentically, persevering through challenges, and helping others along the way.Key Takeaways
- The Power of the Basics: Learning commands like
Get-Command,Get-Help, andGet-Member(“the tripod”) forms the foundation of a strong PowerShell journey. - Resilience in Learning: Navigating the “valley of despair” in tough topics like PowerShell, certificates, or regex is where growth happens. Persistence pays off.
- Community is Everything: From user groups to conferences, surrounding yourself with peers and mentors accelerates growth and helps combat imposter syndrome.
Guest Bio
Steven Judd is a Microsoft MVP, educator, and veteran PowerShell enthusiast who has been teaching and sharing knowledge in the community for many years. With a background that spans business, music, and IT, Steven brings a unique perspective on learning, resilience, and humor. Known for his approachable teaching style and dad jokes, Steven has helped countless professionals embrace automation, improve their skills, and find their place in the PowerShell community.Resource Links
Steven Judd is a Microsoft MVP, educator, and veteran PowerShell enthusiast who has been teaching and sharing knowledge in the community for many years. With a background that spans business, music, and IT, Steven brings a unique perspective on learning, resilience, and humor. Known for his approachable teaching style and dad jokes, Steven has helped countless professionals embrace automation, improve their skills, and find their place in the PowerShell community.Resource Links
- Steven Judd’s Content Hub: https://shortcutyour.life
- Steven Judd on YouTube (PowerShell content): YouTube Search
- Steven Judd on X/Twitter (@StevenJudd): https://x.com/StevenJudd
- Steven Judd’s Merch Store: https://store.stephenjudd.com
- PDQ Discord: https://discord.gg/PDQ
- Connect with Andrew: https://andrewpla.tech/links
- PowerShell Wednesdays (live community sessions): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oesn0HgGxE&list=PL1mL90yFExsix-L0havb8SbZXoYRPol0B
- The PowerShell Podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/yu6RVPwp8KY
- The PowerShell Podcast hub: The PowerShell Podcast: https://pdq.com/the-powershell-podcast
Monday Sep 08, 2025
Monday Sep 08, 2025
Microsoft MVP Emanuel Palm joins The PowerShell Podcast to share his journey from managing printers in Sweden to being a Microsoft MVP who is automating the cloud with PowerShell and Azure. He talks about building the AZAuth module for OAuth authentication, using GitHub Actions for CI/CD, and the importance of blogging and community involvement. Plus, Emanuel reveals his unique side hobby... roasting coffee!
Key Takeaways
- From printers to the cloud: Emanuel’s career shows how PowerShell can open doors, from automating IT tasks to driving cloud automation and DevOps practices.
- Community and sharing matter: Blogging, presenting, and contributing help you grow your own understanding while creating opportunities for others.
- Automation and authentication: With tools like GitHub Actions and his AZAuth module, Emanuel demonstrates how to simplify workflows and securely interact with APIs.
Guest Bio
Emanuel Palm is a Microsoft MVP based in Sweden, where he is a consultant focused on Microsoft technologies and is active in the PowerShell community. Emanuel is the creator of the AZAuth module, a lightweight solution for handling OAuth authentication in PowerShell, and a frequent speaker at events like PowerShell Conference Europe. Beyond tech, Emanuel is a coffee enthusiast who even roasts his own beans as a side hobby.
Emanuel Palm is a Microsoft MVP based in Sweden, where he is a consultant focused on Microsoft technologies and is active in the PowerShell community. Emanuel is the creator of the AZAuth module, a lightweight solution for handling OAuth authentication in PowerShell, and a frequent speaker at events like PowerShell Conference Europe. Beyond tech, Emanuel is a coffee enthusiast who even roasts his own beans as a side hobby.
Resource Links
- Emanuel’s Blog: https://pipe.how
- GitHub – Emanuel Palm: https://github.com/palmemanuel
- X / BlueSky: @palmemanuel
- AZAuth Module on GitHub: https://github.com/PalmEmanuel/AzAuth
- Emanuel's PS Wednesday: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trP2LLDynA0
- Arkanum Coffee (Emanuel’s hobby project): https://arkanum.coffee
- PDQ Discord: https://discord.gg/pdq
- Connect with Andrew: https://andrewpla.tech/links
- The PowerShell Podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/-uHHGVH1Kcc
- The PowerShell Podcast hub: https://pdq.com/the-powershell-podcast
Monday Sep 01, 2025
Monday Sep 01, 2025
James Brundage returns to The PowerShell Podcast to talk about his new project, Turtle, which brings the classic concept of Turtle graphics into PowerShell. From simple shapes to fractals, animations, and more, James shows how PowerShell can be a powerful and fun tool for exploring programming concepts. Tune in for insights on the history of Turtle, its modern applications, and how it can inspire both new learners and seasoned pros.
Guest Bio: James Brundage is a Microsoft MVP who has been heavily involved in PowerShell for over 18 years. He is a former member of the PowerShell team, working there during v2 and v3. He now works as a consultant with Start-Automating, applying his PowerShell expertise to organizations to help solve large-scale problems all around the world. He also has a lot of great projects on GitHub and regularly shares his knowledge at user groups and conferences.
Resource Links:
- PSTurtle Project & Documentation: https://psturtle.com/
- GitHub – Start-Automating: https://github.com/StartAutomating
- James Brundage on BlueSky (@MrPowerShell): https://bsky.app/profile/mrpowershell.com
- MrPowerShell.com: https://mrpowershell.com/
- PowerShell Web Organization (for PowerShell + Web projects): https://github.com/PowerShellWeb
- Turtles in PowerShell talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8l_bQRvMkg
- Follow Andrew: https://andrewpla.tech/links
- Join the PDQ Discord: https://discord.gg/pdq
- The PowerShell Podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/oGG6bKXsdrg
- The PowerShell Podcast hub: https://pdq.com/the-powershell-podcast
Monday Aug 25, 2025
Monday Aug 25, 2025
In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we’re live from TechMentor at the Microsoft campus with two incredible guests: longtime advocate, educator, and PM on the PowerShell team at Microsoft - Jason Helmick and newcomer Troy Brown. This special episode captures the heart of community, innovation, and the transformative power of PowerShell—from seasoned insight to beginner breakthroughs.
Jason drops serious knowledge on two game-changing technologies:
- AI Shell: Think ChatGPT, but built directly into your terminal. Learn how it enhances shell UX, assists with command building, explains parameters, and keeps you focused without switching contexts.
- DSC v3 (Desired State Configuration): Now fully cross-platform and decoupled from PowerShell, DSC v3 is lighter, more extensible, and suitable for everything from servers to IoT. Jason walks us through the evolution, real-world use cases (like flipping Windows from dark mode to light mode!), and what’s next for the configuration platform.
Highlights:
- Microsoft’s hidden campus lore, including a piece of the Berlin Wall!
- The evolution of PowerShell ReadLine and its impact on productivity
- AI Shell’s support for OpenAI, Azure Copilot, ollama, Gemini, and even custom agents
- Exporting configs from existing machines—a long-awaited DSC feature
- Why DSC v3 might be the most developer- and sysadmin-friendly release yet
- The cultural backbone of the PowerShell team: being “scrappy” and driven by customer success
Troy Brown's First TechMentor Experience
First-time conference-goer Troy Brown shares his experience diving into PowerShell:
First-time conference-goer Troy Brown shares his experience diving into PowerShell:
- How a PowerShell workshop with Sean Wheeler, Steven Judd, and Jason Helmick helped him finally understand modules
- The journey from using PDQ to push basic PowerShell scripts to deeper automation potential
- Navigating the learning curve with community support
- His message to fellow newcomers: “Don’t take things personally, and embrace the journey.”
Resource Links:
- DSC v3 on GitHub
- Leanpub DSC v3 Book by Gijs https://leanpub.com/thedscv3handbook
- The Phoenix Project (book) (a must-read for IT pros) https://www.amazon.com/Phoenix-Project-DevOps-Helping-Business/dp/0988262592
- https://discord.gg/pdq
- The PowerShell Podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/_f5oYxzkinI
- The PowerShell Podcast Hub: https://pdq.com/the-powershell-podcast
Monday Aug 18, 2025
Monday Aug 18, 2025
In this episode, Andrew catches up with Sean Wheeler and James Petty live from TechMentor. What starts as casual conversation about conference camaraderie turns into a rich discussion on learning PowerShell, building effective profiles, AI-assisted scripting, module recommendations, and what's next for the PowerShell Summit.
Whether you're new to PowerShell or a seasoned scripter, this episode offers insights, laughs, and actionable advice. Plus, we finally settle (sort of) whether the VS Code sidebar belongs on the left or the right.
Key Takeaways
- You don’t need to learn everything. Just understand the ecosystem and build your learning map.
- Create your PowerShell profile now—it's an easy win with huge productivity returns.
- AI is a tool, not a crutch. Use it wisely and validate the results.
- Get involved in the community. It will accelerate your learning and broaden your opportunities.
Shoutouts & Links
- https://powershell.org
- https://www.youtube.com/c/PowerShellOrg
- https://discord.gg/pdq
- The PowerShell Podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/hr59kahksIM
Monday Aug 11, 2025
Monday Aug 11, 2025
In this high-energy episode, returning guests Gilbert Sanchez and Jake Hildreth join Andrew for a deep dive into:
- Module templating with PSStucco
- Building for accessibility in PowerShell
- Creating open source GitHub orgs like PSInclusive
- How PowerShell can lead to learning modern dev workflows like GitHub Actions and CI/CD
What begins with a conversation about a live demo gone hilariously sideways turns into an insightful exploration of how PowerShell acts as a launchpad into bigger ecosystems like GitHub, YAML, JSON, and continuous integration pipelines.
Bios:
Gilbert Sanchez is a Staff Software Development Engineer at Tesla, specifically working on PowerShell. Formerly known as "Señor Systems Engineer" at Meta. A loud advocate for DEI, DevEx, DevOps, and TDD.
Jake Hildreth is a Principal Security Consultant at Semperis, Microsoft MVP, and longtime builder of tools that make identity security suck a little less. With nearly 25 years in IT (and the battle scars to prove it), he specializes in helping orgs secure Active Directory and survive the baroque disaster that is Active Directory Certificate Services. He’s the creator of Locksmith, BlueTuxedo, and PowerPUG!, open-source tools built to make life easier for overworked identity admins. When he’s not untangling Kerberos or wrangling DNS, he’s usually hanging out with his favorite people and most grounding reality check: his wife and daughter.
Links
- https://gilbertsanchez.com/posts/stucco-create-powershell-module/
- https://jakehildreth.github.io/blog/2025/07/02/PowerShell-Module-Scaffolding-with-PSStucco.html
- https://github.com/PSInclusive
- https://jakehildreth.com/
- https://andrewpla.tech/links
- https://discord.gg/pdq
- https://pdq.com/podcast
- https://youtu.be/w-z2-0ii96Y
Monday Aug 04, 2025
Monday Aug 04, 2025
In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, host Andrew Pla reunites with PowerShell legend Fred, diving deep into productivity with hotkeys and key bindings, EntraAuth, C# integration, and community reflections from PowerShell Conference EU. Fred shares practical advice for improving your daily workflow, how to extend PowerShell with C#, and why participation in the community—whether through conferences or contributing modules—can be a game-changer for your career.
What You’ll Learn:
What You’ll Learn:
- How to improve your coding efficiency with advanced hotkeys and key bindings
- The difference between hotkeys and key bindings and how to create your own
- Insights into Fred’s EntraAuth module and why federated credentials matter
- When it makes sense to use C# alongside PowerShell
- How community involvement can elevate your career
- What makes PowerShell Conference EU a unique experience
- Tips for new speakers interested in submitting conference talks
Bio & Links:
Fred Weinmann is a seasoned Cloud Solution Architect at Microsoft and a renowned PowerShell expert with years of experience designing and implementing scalable solutions. A prolific creator, Fred has developed key tools like PSFramework, PSModuleDevelopment, PSUtil, and PSFramework.Nuget, which empowers developers and IT professionals to optimize their workflows. Passionate about technology and problem-solving, Fred’s innovative approach to PowerShell module development and his commitment to community-driven open-source projects have made him a respected figure in the PowerShell community.
Fred Weinmann is a seasoned Cloud Solution Architect at Microsoft and a renowned PowerShell expert with years of experience designing and implementing scalable solutions. A prolific creator, Fred has developed key tools like PSFramework, PSModuleDevelopment, PSUtil, and PSFramework.Nuget, which empowers developers and IT professionals to optimize their workflows. Passionate about technology and problem-solving, Fred’s innovative approach to PowerShell module development and his commitment to community-driven open-source projects have made him a respected figure in the PowerShell community.
- https://github.com/FriedrichWeinmann/EntraAuth
- https://github.com/PowershellFrameworkCollective/PSFramework.NuGet
- https://github.com/FriedrichWeinmann/string
- https://andrewpla.tech/links
- https://psconf.eu
- https://github.com/PowershellFrameworkCollective/psframework
- Fred's PSConfEU PSFramework.Nuget talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMSOVwmBXrk
- Check out PDQ Connect https://pdq.com/podcast
- Join the PowerShell Scripting channel: https://discord.gg/pdq
- The PowerShell Podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/TZPy4X6yLjM
- The PowerShell Podcast hub: https://pdq.com/the-powershell-podcast
Monday Jul 28, 2025
Monday Jul 28, 2025
In this insightful episode of the PowerShell Podcast, host Andrew Pla welcomes longtime friend and seasoned technologist Ryan Coates. Together, they explore the intersection of PowerShell and C#, discuss the natural evolution of tech careers, and examine the role of continuous learning in long-term success. Ryan shares a wealth of perspective from decades in IT—covering everything from early networking to modern cloud architectures and why C# is a practical next step for PowerShell users. Whether you're deep in automation or eyeing your next language leap, this conversation is packed with career wisdom, developer philosophy, and some solid tech nostalgia.
What You’ll Learn:
What You’ll Learn:
- Why C# is a great next step for experienced PowerShell users
- Use cases where C# offers performance or capability advantages over PowerShell
- How PowerShell and C# skills complement each other in the .NET ecosystem
- Ryan’s journey from MCSE teen prodigy to early retirement
- Why soft skills are just as vital as technical skills for senior roles
- The value of working across many technologies and industries early in your career
- Insights into DevOps maturity, architecture thinking, and lifelong learning
Bio & Links:
Ryan Coates is an Enterprise Architect with 25+ years in IT, evolving from systems ops to DevOps and developer advocacy. He leads internal API and DevRel strategy at a global consulting firm. Passionate about mentoring, Ryan speaks at conferences on cloud and automation and helps run Microsoft Cloud, DevOps, and PowerShell user groups in Boise, Idaho.
Ryan Coates is an Enterprise Architect with 25+ years in IT, evolving from systems ops to DevOps and developer advocacy. He leads internal API and DevRel strategy at a global consulting firm. Passionate about mentoring, Ryan speaks at conferences on cloud and automation and helps run Microsoft Cloud, DevOps, and PowerShell user groups in Boise, Idaho.
- https://linkedin.com/in/ryandcoates
- https://twitter.com/ryandcoates
- https://discord.gg/pdq
- https://andrewpla.tech/links
- Ryan's C# Talk at PS Wednesday: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOaFdHTlDXE
- Ryan's Summit Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AePjFyuWvg8
- Join the PowerShell Scripting Channel on PDQ Discord: https://discord.gg/pdq
- Check out PDQ Connect: https://pdq.com/podcast
- The PowerShell Podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/72UCneA1X40
- The PowerShell Podcast Hub: https://pdq.com/the-powershell-podcast