The PowerShell Podcast

Discovering the Deeper Layers of PowerShell with Jeff Hicks

In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we’re joined by the legendary Jeff Hicks, PowerShell educator, author, speaker, and community pillar. With decades of experience shaping the PowerShell landscape, Jeff returns to the podcast to share insights from his latest projects, discuss the evolution of the community, and offer wisdom for both new and experienced PowerShell users. From PowerShell Summit to writing foundational books and building up new contributors, Jeff continues to play a critical role in shaping the PowerShell ecosystem.

 

Key topics in this episode include:

• The human side of scripting – Writing PowerShell that is usable, flexible, and considerate of others' needs.
• Behind the PowerShell Pipeline – Jeff’s new LeanPub book exploring deeper PowerShell principles.
• Fundamental PowerShell commands – Get-Help, Get-Command, Get-Member, and why every PowerShell user should master them.
• How to troubleshoot PowerShell like a pro – Why starting simple, verbose logging, and clear design make all the difference.
• Reflections on PowerShell Summit – The importance of community, hallway conversations, and building the next wave of contributors.
• Teaching as a path to mastery – Why giving back through mentorship, writing, and speaking strengthens both your skills and the community.

Jeff also shares his advice for nervous first-time speakers and attendees, and why being kind is one of the most impactful things you can do - both in and outside of tech.

 

Bio and Links: 

Jeffery Hicks is an IT Pro veteran with 35 years of experience, much of it spent as an IT infrastructure professional specializing in Microsoft server technologies with an emphasis on automation and efficiency. He has been a Microsoft MVP since 2007 for his work in PowerShell. 

 Jeff is a respected and well-known author, teacher, and consultant. He has taught or presented PowerShell content and the benefits of automation to IT Pros worldwide since its inception. He has authored, co-authored, and edited several books, contributed to numerous online sites, and, back when it was still a thing, several print publications. Jeff is a Pluralsight author and a frequent speaker at technology conferences and user groups. 

• Check out all of Jeff's links and follow him here: https://jdhitsolutions.github.io/ 
• Check out his book Behind the PowerShell Pipeline on LeanPub: https://leanpub.com/behind-the-pspipeline 
• Join PowerShell Wednesdays at 2 PM EST on discord.gg/pdq 
• Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn and share your PowerShell story: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewplatech/ 
• The PowerShell Podcast: https://pdq.com/the-powershell-podcast
• The PowerShell Podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/cdtxSI8Tq3E

From Proper Football to Databases with Jess Pomfret

In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we reconnect with Jess Pomfret, a PowerShell and SQL Server powerhouse, LinkedIn Learning instructor, and community advocate. From her early days in England to becoming a respected speaker and consultant, Jess shares her journey into tech, her passion for automation, and the importance of mentorship, curiosity, and community.

Key topics in this episode include:

• Jess’s transition from footballer to DBA – How a soccer scholarship led her to a tech career in the U.S.
• The power of PowerShell and DBA Tools – How Jess leverages PowerShell to automate SQL Server tasks and save time.
• Finding a community in SQL and PowerShell – Jess reflects on how welcoming both communities are and the impact they’ve had on her career.
• Career growth through speaking and mentoring – Encouraging others to speak, contribute, and grow through conferences and collaboration.
• Working with Data Masterminds – The benefits of working in a high-level consulting team and tips for managing multiple clients and context switching.
• LinkedIn Learning and teaching at scale – Behind the scenes of her professional training content and what it’s like filming for LinkedIn Learning.

Jess also shares her favorite DBA Tools command, productivity tips for conferences, and the story behind her podcast Finding Data Friends, which highlights voices in the data world.

 

Bio and links:

Jess Pomfret is a Data Platform Engineer and a Dual Microsoft MVP. She started working with SQL Server in 2011, and enjoys the problem-solving aspects of automating processes with PowerShell. She also enjoys contributing to dbatools and dbachecks, two open source PowerShell modules that aid DBAs with automating the management of SQL Server instances. She has also contributed to the SqlServerDsc module, adding several new resources to use when configuring your SQL Servers. She grew up in the South West of England and outside of her DBA life enjoys Crossfit, cycling and watching proper football. 

• Connect with Jess on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jpomfret and Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jpomfret.co.uk
• Watch Finding Data Friends on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@findingdatafriends/videos
• Check out her LinkedIn Learning courses: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/instructors/jess-pomfret
• Explore DBA Tools at dbatools.io
• Join PowerShell Wednesdays at 2 PM EST on https://discord.gg/pdq
• The PowerShell Podcast: https://pdq.com/the-powershell-podcast
• The PowerShell Podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/L4zABO526bM

How to Build an IT Career from the Ground Up with Kevin Apolinario (KevTech)

In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we welcome Kevin of KevTech IT Support, a well-known mentor and educator in the IT community. With a background in fast food and law enforcement, Kevin shares his inspiring journey into IT and how he leveraged mentorship, home labs, and community engagement to build a thriving career. We dive into help desk fundamentals, breaking into IT, career development, and Kevin helps give you a map to career success.Key topics in this episode include:

• Kevin’s journey from fast food and law enforcement to IT – How he transitioned careers and found success.
• The power of mentorship and community support – Why helping others accelerates your own growth.
• How to break into IT without a traditional background – The role of home labs, self-study, and networking.
• Building an IT career with practical skills – Why Active Directory, Office 365, and PowerShell are crucial.
• The importance of communication and customer service in IT – Why soft skills can be just as valuable as technical knowledge.
• How to stand out in job interviews and secure promotions – The value of documenting progress and advocating for yourself.

Kevin also shares insights into KevTech Academy, his mentorship program, and why building a personal brand through blogging and LinkedIn can help IT professionals land jobs faster.

 

Bio and Links:

Kevin Apolinario is an IT career coach and trainer dedicated to helping others break into tech. With experience in MSPs, Apple, education, hedge funds, and 12 years in the restaurant industry, he provides hands-on IT training through Jobskillshare and has trained students globally with Techskills Institute. He speaks at conferences and also runs a YouTube channel with nearly 100,000 subscribers, offering practical guidance on IT careers and technical skills.

• Follow Kevin on YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram (@KevTechITSupport)
• Check out KevTech Academy at https://kevtechitsupport.com
• Join PowerShell Wednesdays every Wednesday at 2 PM EST in the PDQ Discord http://discord.gg/pdq
• The PowerShell Podcast: https://pdq.com/the-powershell-podcast
• The PowerShell Podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/RrNyh6EuD_Q

Exploring PowerShell for Physical Security and Automation with Cody Paternostro

In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we welcome Cody Paternostro, a rising star in PowerShell automation, to discuss his unique journey into IT, the power of persistence in learning, and his work on RemotePro, a sophisticated PowerShell-based security camera management tool. Cody shares how he transitioned from food delivery to IT, leveraged PowerShell to streamline operations in physical security, and how asking the right questions helped accelerate his growth.
Key topics in this episode include:

• Cody’s unconventional entry into IT – How he discovered PowerShell in a networking and cybersecurity program.
• The impact of mentorship and community engagement – Learning from the PowerShell community and working with Joshua Hendricks.
• Building PowerShell tools for security – Using PowerShell to manage security cameras and automate surveillance tasks.
• From mega scripts to modules – Cody’s journey in transitioning from large scripts to structured, reusable PowerShell modules.
• The importance of troubleshooting and continuous learning – How to push through roadblocks, improve problem-solving skills, and refine PowerShell development practices.
• Leveraging PowerShell GUI development – The role of runspaces, PSWriteHTML, and WPF in building efficient and user-friendly interfaces.

Cody also shares insights on overcoming imposter syndrome, the power of community, and why documenting and sharing knowledge can accelerate career growth.
Join the conversation:

 

Bio and Links:

Cody Paternostro enjoys learning about Cybersecurity and PowerShell automation. · Experience: Digital Surveillance Solutions, Inc. · Education: Finger Lakes Community College · Location: Buffalo · 323 connections on LinkedIn. View Cody Paternostro’s profile on LinkedIn, a professional community of 1 billion members.

• Connect with Cody on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/codypaternostro
• Explore RemotePro on GitHub https://remotepro.dev
• Join PowerShell Wednesdays every Wednesday at 2 PM EST in the PDQ Discord (discord.gg/pdq)
• The PowerShell Podcast Hub: https://pdq.com/the-powershell-podcast
• The Powershell Podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/bDjG6hSUIms

How PowerShell and the Right Mindset Can Transform Your IT Career with Steven Wight

In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we sit down with Steven Wight, known online as PowerShell Young Team, to discuss his journey in PowerShell, automation, and the impact of the PowerShell community. Steven shares how PowerShell transformed his workflow, his approach to solving IT problems, and how he went from lurking in the background to actively contributing and engaging with the community.
Key topics in this episode include:

• How PowerShell changed Steven’s IT career – From his early days avoiding manual tasks to building automation solutions.
• The importance of documentation, blogging, and sharing scripts – How keeping track of work helped in job interviews and personal growth.
• Creating PowerShell tools with flexibility – Designing functions, using pipelines, and building user-friendly GUIs.
• Community engagement and learning from others – How PowerShell Discord, blogs, and social media have helped shape his expertise.
• PowerShell profiles, productivity, and efficiency – Leveraging PSReadLine, profiles, and workflow enhancements to get more done.

Steven also shares advice for those just starting with PowerShell, emphasizing the value of small wins, continuous learning, and participating in the community to accelerate skill growth.

 

Bio and Links:

 

Steven Wight is an active PowerShell community member, blogger, and the mind behind PowerShell Young Team. With a diverse IT background spanning desktop & application support, system administration, development, OS migrations, and equipment refreshes, Steven thrives on problem-solving and automation. His passion for PowerShell, monitoring, and scripting fuels his mission to "automate himself to a quiet life."

• Follow Stephen on BlueSky at @poshyoungteam.bsky.social
• Read his blog at https://powershellyoungteam.github.io/
• Connect with Steven on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-wight-79aa0525/
• Join PowerShell Wednesdays every Wednesday at 2 PM EST in the PDQ Discord (discord.gg/pdq) for live discussions and demos.
• The PowerShell Podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/klsOxHtG3KE
• The PowerShell Podcast: https://pdq.com/the-powershell-podcast

PowerShell as a Defender’s Secret Weapon with Michael Haag

In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we sit down with Michael Haag, Principal Threat Researcher at Splunk, to dive into PowerShell security, threat detection, and automation. Michael shares his journey from IT support to becoming a security expert, the role of PowerShell in modern cybersecurity, and his work on PowerShell Hunter and Atomic Red Team.
Key topics in this episode include:

• Michael’s journey into security – From IT support to system administration and eventually security research.
• Incident response and PowerShell – How PowerShell is used to detect and mitigate threats.
• PowerShell Hunter – A powerful tool for hunting threats and automating security tasks.
• Atomic Red Team and Atomic Test Harnesses – How these tools help defenders simulate and detect attacks.
• The importance of automation in security – How PowerShell can help security teams manage large-scale environments efficiently.
• Advice for getting into security and automation – Why contributing to open-source and getting involved in the community is key.

Michael also shares his thoughts on the evolving security landscape, how defenders can stay ahead of attackers, and practical steps for IT professionals looking to pivot into cybersecurity.

Bio and Links:
Michael Haag is Principal Threat Research Enginer at Splunk. Michael led the development of Atomic Red Team, an open-source testing platform that security teams can use to assess detection coverage. An avid researcher, he is passionate about understanding and evaluating the limits of defensive systems. His background includes security analysis, threat research, and incident handling.

• Follow Michael on Twitter (@M_Haggis) and GitHub (@MHaggis)
• Check out PowerShell Hunter on GitHub https://github.com/MHaggis/PowerShell-Hunter/
• Learn more about Atomic Red Team https://www.atomicredteam.io/
• Watch Atomics on a Friday, Michael’s security research show on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@atomicsonafriday
• Join PowerShell Wednesdays every Wednesday at 2 PM EST in the PDQ Discord (discord.gg/pdq)
• The PowerShell Podcast: https://pdq.com/the-powershell-podcast
• The PowerShell Podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/F2TbwUS-eRI

MS Graph and Stepping into Public Speaking with Morten Kristensen

In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we sit down with Morten Kristensen, an automation specialist and PowerShell enthusiast, to discuss his journey with PowerShell, his experience working with the Microsoft Graph API, and his recent leap into public speaking. Morten shares insights from his first-ever technical talk, the challenges of working with Graph API, and how he's navigating his professional growth.

Key topics in this episode include:

• Getting started with MS Graph API – Overcoming common challenges, including authentication, filtering, and throttling.
• Batching API requests – How to optimize Graph API calls for efficiency and performance.
• Taking the leap into public speaking – Morten shares his experience preparing for and delivering his first-ever talk at PowerShell Wednesdays.
• The power of community engagement – How being part of the PowerShell community has accelerated learning and career growth.
• Starting a PowerShell blog – Why Morten launched his blog and how he plans to share more insights and technical knowledge.

Morten also shares his career perspective, how he got into automation, and why he believes that solving problems and sharing knowledge is key to professional growth.

 

Bio: An automation specialist with a passion for scripting and homelabbing, Morten Mynster specializes in PowerShell, Python, and Terraform to streamline processes, manage systems, and optimize cloud infrastructure. With a strong focus on automation tools and best practices, Morten shares insights and experiences through blogging, helping others navigate the world of scripting and infrastructure as code.

 

Links: 

• Read Morten’s blog at mynster9361.github.io
• Connect with Morten on https://www.linkedin.com/in/mortenmynster/ 
• Check out my GitHub repositories:
  https://github.com/Mynster9361?tab=repositories
• Check out PowerShell Wednesdays every Wednesday at 2 PM EST in the PDQ Discord (discord.gg/pdq) for live discussions and demos.
• The PowerShell Podcast: https://pdq.com/the-powershell-podcast
• The PowerShell Podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/74fjqGtYW0Q

 

Building a Game in PowerShell from the Ground Up with Greg Martin

In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we welcome Greg Martin, a longtime developer and PowerShell enthusiast, who has taken PowerShell beyond system administration and into the realm of game development. Greg shares his journey of building Eldoria, a terminal adventure game written entirely in PowerShell, and how his experience across multiple programming languages influenced his approach.
Key topics in this episode include:

• Building a game in PowerShell – How Greg used PowerShell to create a rich text-based adventure.
• The power of terminal-based gaming – A brief look into ANSI escape sequences, JSON asset management, and the REPL loop.
• Greg’s programming journey – From C and C++ to PowerShell, game development, and enterprise automation.
• Lessons in curiosity and career growth – How following your interests can lead to unexpected and rewarding opportunities.

Greg also discusses the challenges of structuring a large-scale PowerShell project, how PowerShell’s object-oriented features made development easier, and how anyone can start exploring creative projects with PowerShell.Join the conversation:

 

Bio and links:
Gregory Martin is a Senior Linux Engineer, formerly an industrial network designer, IT manager, sysadmin, and may have given a lecture or two at tech conferences. He's an avid programmer with over 20 years of experience, ranging from Windows/Linux Desktop, Web, Android/iOS, Industrial IoT, Linux CLI, and Automation Orchestration. In his spare time, he writes computer games and dabbles with AI technologies. He writes at his blog (themartinmethod.com).

• Check out Eldoria on Greg's GitHub and explore the game in your own terminal.
• Read Greg’s blog at TheMartinMethod.com for updates on Eldoria and other projects.
• Join PowerShell Wednesdays every Wednesday at 2 PM EST in the PDQ Discord community (discord.gg/pdq) for live discussions.

https://github.com/gregoryfmartin/Eldoria
https://github.com/gregoryfmartin/Burnt-Latte
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewplatech/
The PowerShell Podcast: https://pdq.com/the-powershell-podcast
The PowerShell Podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/0kBrtPsD2EE