The PowerShell Podcast

PowerShell Wisdom from 35 Years in the Trenches with Jeff Hicks

With PowerShell + DevOps Global Summit 2026 opening this Monday, April 13th, this episode brings back one of the most respected names in the PowerShell community: Jeff Hicks. Andrew sits down with Jeff to dig into what makes the Summit special, the organic community that grew from those earliest events, and what it actually feels like to watch people go from struggling beginners to confident PowerShell practitioners. They also get into the big question hanging over everyone in IT right now: what does AI actually mean for the future of PowerShell professionals? Jeff shares his take on the "squishy bits" of scripting that AI still can't replicate, why learning the core PowerShell paradigm matters more than ever, and how he personally uses AI as a collaborator rather than a shortcut. It's a conversation about community, craft, and what it means to actually know your tools. 
 
Key Takeaways: 

• Learn the foundation first, tools second. Jeff's consistent message over decades of teaching: don't start with Azure commands or specific modules. Start with the PowerShell paradigm — objects, the pipeline, managing at scale — and the rest becomes much easier to pick up over time. 

• AI is a co-pilot, not a replacement. Jeff uses AI to get over specific technical hurdles, not to generate finished code. His concern isn't that AI will write bad scripts — it's that the next generation may skip the foundational learning that lets you recognize when AI gets it wrong. 

• The PowerShell community is genuinely welcoming, and showing up matters. Whether it's Summit, a local user group, or Discord, getting into rooms with other PowerShell people can be a career changer. The hallway conversations are half the value. 

 

Guest Bio: 
Jeff Hicks is a veteran IT professional with 35 years of experience, a long-time Microsoft MVP, and one of the most recognized voices in the PowerShell community. He's the author and co-author of several foundational PowerShell books, a Pluralsight course creator, and the publisher of the premium newsletter Behind the PowerShell Pipeline. He's been teaching and writing about PowerShell since the very beginning and continues to focus on the human side of scripting — the parts that go beyond syntax and into craft. 
 

Resource Links: 

• Jeff Hicks' hub (links to everything): https://jdhitsolutions.github.io 

• Behind the PowerShell Pipeline (newsletter & book on Leanpub): https://leanpub.com/behind-the-pspipeline 

• Jeff's Pluralsight courses: https://app.pluralsight.com/profile/author/jeff-hicks 

• Connect with Andrew: https://andrewpla.tech/links 

• PowerShell + DevOps Global Summit 2026 (April 13-16, Bellevue, WA): https://www.powershellsummit.org 

• PDQ Discord (PowerShell scripting channel): https://discord.gg/pdq 

• PowerShell Wednesday (weekly on PDQ's YouTube/Discord): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vdfFswmREQ&list=PL1mL90yFExsix-L0havb8SbZXoYRPol0B&pp=0gcJCbcEOCosWNin 

• The PowerShell Podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ceB-3QGbvBA 

Intune Stack and the Art of Showing Up with Hailey Phillips

Andrew welcomes back Dual MVP and Intune aficionado Hailey Phillips for a wide-ranging conversation covering her project IntuneStack, the value of DevOps principles in endpoint management, and the mindset behind consistent skill-building. The two dig into conference culture, the importance of community, mentorship, and why showing up every day — even for just ten minutes — matters more than waiting for inspiration to strike.

Key Takeaways:

• IntuneStack in action: Hailey's CI/CD-influenced PowerShell project manages Intune policy deployment across dev, test, and prod groups using promotion gates rather than expensive separate tenants — a more resilient, consistent, and auditable approach to endpoint management.
• Consistency over inspiration: Whether it's PowerShell, the gym, or mentoring, Hailey's philosophy is the same: stop waiting to feel motivated and just start small. Ten minutes a day compounds over time, and momentum is something you build, not something you wait for.
• Community is a career asset: Conferences like PowerShell Summit and PSConfEU aren't just about the sessions — they're about building a support system. Having people who can sanity-check your thinking is one of the most underrated advantages in a tech career.

Guest Bio:
Hailey Phillips is a Systems Engineer, Microsoft MVP, and Professional Pokémon Trainer. She specializes in automation, endpoint management, and modern workplace strategy, bridging the gap between traditional IT and DevOps. Hailey’s work focuses on building pragmatic, scalable solutions using tools like PowerShell, Microsoft Graph, Intune, and Azure Arc. When she’s not deep in tech, you’ll probably find her skiing in the Cascades, lifting heavy things, or at a metalcore show with a strong cup of coffee in hand.

Resource Links:

• Intune Stack on GitHub - https://github.com/AllwaysHyPe/IntuneStack
• Practical Automation with PowerShell by Matthew Dost - https://www.manning.com/books/practical-automation-with-powershell
• GliderUI Cross-platform GUIs - https://github.com/mdgrs-mei/GliderUI
• PDQ Discord - https://discord.gg/pdq
• Hailey Phillips Website - https://www.allwayshype.com/
• Connect with Andrew - https://andrewpla.tech/links
• The PowerShell Podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/L97ePN7UtGY

Poking Around Until Something Breaks (And Then Reporting It to Microsoft) with Morten Mynster

Andrew welcomes back Morten Mynster for a follow-up conversation that's essentially a highlight reel of one Morten's public journey over the past year. Morten shares updates on three PowerShell modules he's released, including his standout LeastPrivilegedMSGraph module, and walks through a security issue he discovered and responsibly reported to Microsoft. Along the way, Andrew and Morten reflect on how putting your work out publicly can lead to unexpected career wins, how AI is reshaping the way people learn and write code, and why getting hands-on is still the best way to actually understand anything. Morten is also two weeks into a new job as a cybersecurity consultant, which came directly from his open-source work.

Key Takeaways:

• Publishing your work publicly, even to a small audience, creates opportunities that a resume never could. Morten landed a job offer without ever applying, simply because someone found his module on LinkedIn.
• The best way to learn something technical is still to get hands-on with it. Reading about it is rarely enough, whether that's PowerShell, APIs, or anything else in IT.
• AI is a powerful accelerator, but over-relying on it without a foundational understanding means you won't be able to fix things when they break, and you risk introducing security vulnerabilities you don't even recognize.

Guest Bio:

Morten Mynster is a cybersecurity consultant and an active member of the PowerShell and security community. Over the past year, he's published three PowerShell modules focused on Microsoft Graph permissions and actionable messages in Outlook, discovered and reported a security vulnerability to Microsoft, and begun public speaking. He blogs at mynster9361.github.io and is active on LinkedIn and Discord.

Resource Links:

• Andrew's Links: https://andrewpla.tech/links
• PDQ Discord: discord.gg/PDQ
• Morten's Blog: mynster9361.github.io
• Morten on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mortenmynster/
• Least Privileged MS Graph Module (GitHub): github.com/Mynster9361/Least_Privileged_MSGraph
• Actionable Messages Module (GitHub): github.com/Mynster9361/ActionableMessages
• Actionable Messages Module blog post: mynster9361.github.io/posts/ActionableMessagesModule
• PowerShell + DevOps Global Summit: powershellsummit.org
• PowerShell Conference Europe (PSConfEU): psconf.eu
• The PowerShell Podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/VIEbain7IIg

From School IT Intern to Systems Architect with Chris Thomas

K-12 IT veteran Chris Thomas joins The PowerShell Podcast to share his 26-year journey in educational technology, from a high school IT internship to becoming an Endpoint Cloud Systems Architect supporting multiple school districts in Michigan. Chris discusses how PowerShell helped him automate identity management, investigate network incidents, and streamline large-scale IT operations across complex school environments.
The conversation also dives into mentorship, Don Jones’ influence through Be the Master, the value of community involvement, and the mental health challenges IT professionals face. Chris shares practical lessons on automation, presenting at conferences, overcoming imposter syndrome, and how putting yourself out there can open doors throughout your career.

Key Takeaways:
• PowerShell fundamentals unlock huge opportunities — learning commands like Get-Command, Get-Help, Get-Member, and Get-Module can help you explore and automate almost anything.
• Automation is essential in resource-constrained environments like K-12 IT where staff wear many hats and must support large systems with limited manpower.
• Community participation accelerates growth — presenting, attending conferences, and contributing scripts can build confidence, connections, and career momentum.

Guest Bio:
Chris Thomas is an Endpoint Cloud Systems Architect supporting multiple K-12 school districts in Michigan through a regional educational service agency. With more than two decades of experience in educational IT, Chris focuses on automation, endpoint management, and infrastructure architecture. He is an active contributor to the Michigan K-12 technology community, regularly presenting at conferences such as MAEDS and MMS/MOA, and sharing PowerShell scripts and tools through his GitHub projects.

Resource Links:
Chris Thomas GitHub – https://github.com/chrisATautomatemystuff

Connect with Andrew - https://andrewpla.tech/links

PowerShell App Deployment Toolkit – https://psappdeploytoolkit.com

Learn PowerShell in a Month of Lunches – https://www.manning.com/books/learn-powershell-in-a-month-of-lunches

PDQ Discord – https://discord.gg/PDQ

MAEDS Conference – https://maeds.org

MMS / MOA Conference – https://mmsmoa.com

The PowerShell Podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/k4n6FWzDPUk

 

Start Small and Keep Building in PowerShell with Mason Moser

Security professional Mason Moser joins The PowerShell Podcast to share his journey from discovering PowerShell through Learn PowerShell in a Month of Lunches to building real-world automation tools in a security environment. Mason talks about how starting slowly, returning to PowerShell after a break, and consistently building small tools helped him gain confidence and deepen his skills.

The conversation also explores the value of community involvement, overcoming imposter syndrome, presenting technical topics publicly, and practical workflows for security and scripting. Mason discusses using Git with AI-assisted coding, building internal PowerShell tools for teams, and how small daily automation tasks can steadily build long-term PowerShell expertise.

Key Takeaways:
• Start small and stay consistent — even simple scripts like cleaning up files or automating routine tasks build real PowerShell confidence over time.
• Community involvement accelerates learning — asking thoughtful questions, sharing tools, and participating in discussions can dramatically improve your growth.
• Git is essential when working with AI-generated code — committing changes frequently makes it easier to review, rollback, and understand modifications AI tools produce.

Guest Bio:
Mason Moser is a security professional based in Oklahoma who focuses on automation, governance, and risk within the electric utility industry. With a background in programming and security operations, Mason uses PowerShell to build internal tooling, streamline security workflows, and improve operational efficiency. He is an active participant in the PowerShell community and recently presented a PowerShell Wednesday session on Vim and keyboard-driven development workflows.

Resource Links:
Learn PowerShell in a Month of Lunches – https://www.manning.com/books/learn-powershell-in-a-month-of-lunches
PDQ Discord – https://discord.gg/PDQ
Connect with Andrew - https://andrewpla.tech/links
PowerShell Wednesdays – https://www.youtube.com/@PDQ
Vim Editor – https://www.vim.org

The PowerShell Podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7EtWrrblKMw

Zero Trust and PowerShell in K12 with Jim Tyler

Returning guest and Microsoft MVP Jim Tyler joins The PowerShell Podcast to talk Zero Trust security, K–12 IT leadership, open-source tooling, and building technology that serves real-world needs. Jim shares how he uses PowerShell to proactively harden school environments, including his Ghost module for endpoint lockdown and his Chrome extension You Shall Not Pass for classroom device management.

Beyond security, the conversation dives into Jim’s assistive technology project TapSpeak, a free AAC communication app designed to help nonverbal students speak without financial barriers. From community leadership and public service to certifications and content creation, this episode explores how technical skills can scale far beyond scripts—and into meaningful impact.

Key Takeaways:
• Zero Trust starts with proactive hardening – Tools like Jim’s Ghost module help limit lateral movement, restrict protocols, and reduce attack surfaces before incidents occur.
• Technical skills are force multipliers – From Chrome extensions to iOS apps, PowerShell knowledge and coding fundamentals translate into broader impact across platforms.
• Community contribution compounds over time – Whether serving on public boards, mentoring, or publishing tools for free, consistent service builds trust, opportunity, and long-term influence.

Guest Bio:
Jim Tyler is an IT Director for Niles Community Schools in Michigan and a Microsoft MVP known for practical automation and security tooling in K–12 environments. He is the creator of the Ghost PowerShell security module, the You Shall Not Pass Chrome extension, and the free AAC communication project TapSpeak. Beyond IT, Jim serves in multiple public leadership roles, coaches youth sports, and actively contributes to the PowerShell community through his newsletter PowerShell News and technical content.

Resource Links:
• PowerShell News Newsletter – https://powershell.news

• Jim Tyler on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@jimrtyler

• Connect with Andrew - https://andrewpla.tech/links

• Ghost PowerShell Module – https://github.com/jimrtyler/ghost

• You Shall Not Pass Chrome Extension – https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/you-shall-not-pass-by-jim/efggnkbeomjjanjmghbadggegjemogee

• TapSpeak – https://tapspeak.org

• PDQ Discord – https://discord.gg/PDQ

  The PowerShell Podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/0q3Y0mMjWF4

 

PowerShell Tools for PKI and Secure Boot with Richard Hicks

Long-time Microsoft MVP and consultant Richard Hicks joins The PowerShell Podcast to talk about ADCS security, PKI misconfigurations, and why PowerShell is a consultant’s ultimate force multiplier. Richard shares real-world stories from auditing enterprise certificate environments, explains how simple template mistakes can lead to full domain compromise, and walks through tools like Locksmith that help administrators quickly identify dangerous configurations.

The conversation also explores Richard’s open-source PowerShell work, including his widely downloaded Get-UEFICertificate script for Secure Boot certificate expiration issues and his new ADPrincipalCertificate module for cleaning up unnecessary certificates published in Active Directory. Along the way, Richard reflects on career growth, publishing, consulting, and why sharing knowledge openly has been one of the biggest drivers of his long-term success.

Key Takeaways:
• ADCS is easy to deploy but difficult to secure — Misconfigured certificate templates, especially ESC1 scenarios, can allow instant privilege escalation and domain compromise.
• PowerShell turns repetitive work into reusable tools — From UEFI certificate auditing to Active Directory cleanup, scripting creates consistency and prevents human error.
• Sharing expertise compounds over time — Blogging, publishing modules, and speaking at conferences builds credibility, community, and long-term career momentum.

Guest Bio:
Richard Hicks is the founder and principal consultant of Richard M. Hicks Consulting, Inc. A Microsoft MVP with over 30 years of experience, he specializes in secure remote access and PKI, helping organizations deliver secure, high-performing access for today’s mobile workforce.

Resource Links:

• Richard Hicks Website – https://richardhicks.com
• Connect with Richard – https://richardhicks.com/connect
• Connect with Andrew: https://andrewpla.tech/links
• Get-UEFICertificate Script – https://www.powershellgallery.com/packages/Get-UEFICertificate
• ADPrincipalCertificate Module – https://www.powershellgallery.com/packages/ADPrincipalCertificate
• Locksmith ADCS Audit Tool – https://github.com/jakehildreth/Locksmith
• PDQ Discord – https://discord.gg/PDQ
• PowerShell Wednesdays – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oa0GYX9_vj8&list=PL1mL90yFExsix-L0havb8SbZXoYRPol0B&pp=sAgC
• The PowerShell Podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/4HYCAjQS2W8

 

Escaping Tutorial Hell with Pablo Correchel

In this episode of The PowerShell Podcast, Andrew Pla sits down with Pablo Correchel, an early-career IT professional who is publicly documenting his PowerShell and learning journey. Just one year into his first help desk role while studying cybersecurity, Pablo shares how consistent practice, sharing what you learn, and embracing beginner questions have accelerated his learning.

The conversation explores escaping “tutorial hell,” using AI as a learning tool instead of a shortcut, understanding objects and the pipeline, and why putting yourself out there is one of the fastest ways to grow in tech. This episode is a reminder that you don’t have to be an expert to contribute... You just have to start.

Key Takeaways:
• Learning in public accelerates growth – Sharing small wins and exercises builds confidence, invites mentorship, and creates unexpected opportunities.
• Understand the fundamentals deeply – Concepts like objects, the pipeline, Get-Help, Get-Member, and Get-Command form the foundation for long-term PowerShell success.
• Use AI strategically – Treat AI as a tutor that challenges you, not a script generator that robs you of learning.

Guest Bio:
Pablo Correchel is an IT support professional based in Florida and a cybersecurity student at St. Petersburg College. With interests spanning cybersecurity, coding, cloud, and Windows environments, Pablo represents the next generation of IT professionals building skills through curiosity, consistency, and community.

Resource Links:
• Pablo Correchel on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/pablocorrechel

• Connect with Andrew - https://andrewpla.tech/links

• PDQ Discord – https://discord.gg/PDQ
• Learn PowerShell in a Month of Lunches – https://www.manning.com/series/learn-powershell-in-a-month-of-lunches
• PowerShell Wednesdays – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdV6Qecn9v0&list=PL1mL90yFExsix-L0havb8SbZXoYRPol0B

• The PowerShell Podcast on YouTube – https://youtu.be/JXgEwLfvwkk