The PowerShell Podcast

Learning, Leading, and Logging with Constantin Hager

PowerShell community leader Constantin Hager joins The PowerShell Podcast to talk about his favorite tools and journey from discovering PowerShell to organizing user groups and speaking at major conferences. He talks about his early inspiration from PowerShell Conference Europe, his involvement with open-source projects like PSFramework and AutomatedLab, and how mentorship and community involvement shaped his career. Constantin also discusses building a portable VS Code setup for his company, leading a PowerShell team, and mentoring the next generation of IT professionals.

 

Key Takeaways:

• Community growth through contribution – Open-source projects like PSFramework, DBAtools, and AutomatedLab thrive because of contributors like Constantin who share improvements and ideas.
• Mentorship and education matter – From supporting apprentices to running user groups, Constantin emphasizes the importance of helping others learn PowerShell and gain confidence.
• Innovation in the workplace – His work creating a custom portable VS Code environment shows how small automation ideas can scale into powerful company-wide tools.

Guest Bio:

 

Constantin Hager is a PowerShell enthusiast, speaker, open-source contributor, and community organizer based in Germany.

 

Resource Links:

• PowerShell User Group Inn-Salzach – https://www.meetup.com/de-DE/powershell-usergroup-inn-salzach/
• Speak at PSUG Inn-Salzach
• Konstantin Hager on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/constantin-hager/
• Connect with Andrew: https://andrewpla.tech/links
• PSFramework – https://github.com/PowershellFrameworkCollective/psframework
• AutomatedLab – https://github.com/AutomatedLab/AutomatedLab
• PowerShell Universal AutomatedLab https://github.com/steviecoaster/PowerShellUniversal.Apps.AutomatedLab
• DBA Tools – https://dbatools.io
• PDQ Discord – https://discord.gg/PDQ
• Constantin on PS Wednesday - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYbTlCrrrUQ
• The PowerShell Podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/eC6TlEfV3iA

Authenticity, AI, and the Human Side of Tech with Adil Leghari

Cybersecurity, automation, and PowerShell advocate Adil Leghari returns to The PowerShell Podcast to kick off Cybersecurity Month. Adil shares insights from his career journey: from PowerShell and automation to identity and now cloud security at Palo Alto Networks. He discusses creating tools like Cyberdle and QR Check, how AI is reshaping cybersecurity, and the importance of empathy, authenticity, and mentorship in tech and community life.

 

Key Takeaways:

• AI in cybersecurity – Adil explains how organizations can protect sensitive data and combat threats using AI Security Posture Management and why we must “fight AI with AI.”
• Personal projects with purpose – Tools like Cyberdle and QR Check show how small, open-source projects can educate users and strengthen security awareness.
• Human connection in tech – Adil emphasizes empathy, authenticity, and community as keys to building better workplaces, stronger teams, and more fulfilling careers.

Guest Bio:
Adil Leghari is a Cloud Solutions Architect at Palo Alto Networks, where he works on the Cortex Cloud platform. With over twenty years of IT experience, Adil’s career spans PowerShell automation, identity management, repositories + packaging, and cloud security. A passionate community contributor and speaker, he is known for his open-source projects, approachable teaching style, and advocacy for authenticity and mentorship in the tech industry. He is a speaker, author, and a really kind human that I like a lot (Andrew wrote this)Resource

 

Links:

• Cyberdle (Cybersecurity Wordle Game) – https://cyberdle.adilio.ca
• QR Check (QR Code Security Tool) – https://qrcheck.ca
• GitHub Spec Kit: https://github.com/github/spec-kit
• Adil’s GitHub – https://github.com/adilio
• Adil’s Website – https://adilio.ca
• Adil on X/Twitter – https://twitter.com/adilio
• Adil on BlueSky – https://bsky.app/profile/adilio.ca
• Find Andrew: https://andrewpla.tech/links
• PDQ Discord – https://discord.gg/PDQ
• PowerShell Wednesdays – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWfSbuYnpFA&list=PL1mL90yFExsix-L0havb8SbZXoYRPol0B
• The PowerShell Podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/HpOeZ4LBq9s

AutomatedLab, GUIs, and automation with Steviecoaster

Newly minted Microsoft MVP Stephen Valdinger, known as Steviecoaster, joins The PowerShell Podcast to share his journey from IT admin to community mentor and automation advocate. He talks about discovering PowerShell through Exchange, the career-changing power of automation, and his work with AutomatedLab, PowerShell Universal, and WinUI Shell. Stevie also highlights the importance of mentoring, building community, and making PowerShell approachable for everyone.

 

Key Takeaways:

• PowerShell as a gateway: Learning PowerShell can unlock career growth, lead to better automation, and even spark new opportunities like blogging, mentoring, and conference speaking.
• Tools for learning and labs: AutomatedLab, paired with Stevie’s utilities and GUI work, provides a powerful way to build test environments and gain hands-on experience.
• Community and mentorship matter: Sharing knowledge, mentoring beginners, and creating approachable tools not only help others grow but also strengthen your own skills.

Guest Bio:
Stephen Valdinger (Steviecoaster) is a Microsoft MVP, Customer Success Manager at Chocolatey, and community leader with a passion for automation and mentoring. With years of experience in IT, Stevie has become known for his approachable teaching style, and his contributions to open source. He is also a frequent contributor to community discussions, blogs at steviecoaster.dev, and presents at events like PowerShell Wednesdays and PowerShell Summit.

 

Resource Links:

• Steviecoaster’s Blog: https://steviecoaster.dev
• Steviecoaster on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/steviecoaster.dev
• Steviecoaster on GitHub: https://github.com/steviecoaster
• Connect with Andrew: https://andrewpla.tech/links
• Stevie's AutomatLab UI: https://github.com/steviecoaster/PowerShellUniversal.Apps.AutomatedLab
• AutomatedLab: https://github.com/AutomatedLab/AutomatedLab
• PowerShell Universal (by Ironman Software): https://ironmansoftware.com/powershell-universal
• WinUI Shell: https://github.com/mdgrs1/WinUI-Shell
• PDQ Discord: https://discord.gg/PDQ
• Stevie's PowerShell Wednesday WinUIShell talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PE1hy0VZXes&list=PL1mL90yFExsix-L0havb8SbZXoYRPol0B&index=5
• The PowerShell Podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/iKYfZBakoBI
• The PowerShell Podcast Hub: https://pdq.com/the-powershell-podcast 

From Sysadmin to Security at Microsoft with Thomas Rayner

Thomas Rayner joins The PowerShell Podcast to share his journey from sysadmin and PowerShell MVP to securing Microsoft 365 as a security professional at Microsoft. He reflects on how PowerShell accelerated his career, the importance of blogging and community involvement, and why clear communication with managers is vital for growth. Thomas also offers advice for beginners, highlighting patience, persistence, and the value of mentorship in tech.

 

Key Takeaways:

• PowerShell as a force multiplier: Automating repetitive tasks with PowerShell helped Thomas advance his career and opened the door to opportunities at Microsoft.
• Career growth requires communication: Being candid with managers, demonstrating value, and asking for resources to learn are key to advancement.
• Community and mentorship matter: Involvement in the PowerShell community, saying yes to opportunities, and supporting peers can transform both careers and personal growth.

Guest Bio:
Thomas Rayner is a security professional at Microsoft, where he focuses on preventative security solutions in Microsoft 365. A former Microsoft MVP in Cloud and Datacenter Management, Thomas built his career by blogging, speaking, and contributing to the PowerShell community. Originally from Edmonton, Canada, he used PowerShell to accelerate his early career as a sysadmin before moving into security roles at Microsoft. Today, he continues to share career wisdom, mentor others, and advocate for growth mindset thinking in tech.

 

Resource Links:

• Thomas Rayner’s Blog: https://thomasrayner.ca
• Thomas Rayner on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasrayner/
• Thomas Rayner on GitHub: https://github.com/tlrayner
• Connect with Andrew: https://andrewpla.tech/links
• PDQ Discord: https://discord.gg/PDQ
• The PowerShell Podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/3H-tMKqlSOs
• The PowerShell Podcast hub page: The PowerShell Podcast: https://pdq.com/the-powershell-podcast 

From Sysadmin to PowerShell Team: The Story of SeeminglyScience

Patrick Meinecke, known as SeeminglyScience, joins host Andrew Pla to share his journey from sysadmin to joining the PowerShell team at Microsoft. He discusses his early community contributions, the inner workings of the PowerShell engine, and powerful but underused features like ETS and type converters. Patrick also highlights helpful modules such as PowerShell Run, ctypes, and Useful Argument Completers, while reflecting on the importance of community engagement and open source collaboration.

 

Key Takeaways:

• From community to Microsoft: Patrick’s contributions to PowerShell Editor Services and GitHub repos helped pave the way for his role on the official PowerShell team.
• Hidden gems in PowerShell: Features like the Extendable Type System (ETS), type converters, and modules such as PowerShell Run, ctypes, and Useful Argument Completers unlock powerful possibilities.
• Community makes it stronger: Helping others, answering questions, and sharing knowledge not only grows the ecosystem but also helps contributors sharpen their own skills.

Guest Bio:
Patrick Meinecke, widely known as SeeminglyScience, is a software engineer on the PowerShell team at Microsoft. Before joining the team, he spent over 15 years in sysadmin and tech support roles and is a longstanding contributor to the PowerShell open-source community. Patrick is recognized for his deep technical expertise in the PowerShell engine, his contributions to PowerShell Editor Services, and his passion for solving complex problems. He remains an active community member, often engaging on Discord and GitHub to help others learn and grow.

 

Resource Links:

• Patrick Meinecke on GitHub (@SeeminglyScience): https://github.com/SeeminglyScience
• Connect with Andrew: https://andrewpla.tech/links
• PowerShell Run (module by MDGRS): https://github.com/nbgrs/PowerShellRun
• Useful Argument Completers (module by MartinGC94): https://github.com/MartinGC94/UsefulArgumentCompleters
• ctypes (module by Jordan Borean): https://github.com/jborean93/PSctypes
• Spectre.Console for PowerShell (community project): https://github.com/PoshCode/PSSpectreConsole
• Join the PDQ Discord: https://discord.gg/pdq
• The PowerShell Podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Zyj1IdZFf1E
• The PowerShell Podcast hub: https://pdq.com/the-powershell-podcast

Beginnings, Blue Bars, and the Valley of Despair with Steven Judd

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 Power of the Basics: Learning commands like Get-Command, Get-Help, and Get-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’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

PowerShell, OAuth, and Automation in the Cloud with Emanuel Palm

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.

 

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 

Turtles All the Way Down: PowerShell and Graphics with James Brundage

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