The PowerShell Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Beginnings, Blue Bars, and the Valley of Despair with Steven Judd Sep 15, 2025

Show notes

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 Sep 08, 2025

Show notes

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 Sep 01, 2025

Show notes

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

Unlocking Automation with AI Shell and Desired State Configuration with Jason Helmick Aug 25, 2025

Show notes

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:

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

Live from TechMentor: Profiles, People, and PowerShell Progress with Sean Wheeler and James Petty Aug 18, 2025

Show notes

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

PSStucco, Accessibility, and the Power of Templating in PowerShell with Gilbert Sanchez & Jake Hildreth Aug 11, 2025

Show notes

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

From EntraAuth to PSConfEU with Fred Weinmann Aug 04, 2025

Show notes

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:

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.

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

Are PowerShell Pros Ready for C# - Ryan Coates Jul 28, 2025

Show notes

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:

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.

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

The Power of Splatting and Team Empowerment Jul 21, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, Andrew Pla welcomes longtime friend and DevOps Endpoint Engineer David Richmond. Fresh off his PowerShell Wednesday presentation, David shares insights into the power of splatting in PowerShell, centralizing automations, and driving organizational change through best practices and leadership. The conversation explores the evolution of automation practices, Git adoption in Ops, secrets management using Azure Key Vault, and how empowering others can multiply technical impact. It’s an inspiring blend of deep PowerShell knowledge and practical career development advice. What You’ll Learn:

What splatting is in PowerShell and why it’s such a powerful coding practice
How to organize, simplify, and clean up your scripts with hash tables and ordered dictionaries
David's journey from solo IT support to leading centralized automation efforts
Pro tips on Git, module development, credential management, and code organization
The benefits of creating training sessions and fostering a team-wide PowerShell culture
Why data-driven automation metrics can win leadership support
How PowerShell can scale your impact and accelerate your career

Bio & Links: David Richmond started writing scripts in the Macintosh OS days (the 90s!) and hasn't stopped. Currently working in the every-OS endpoint engineering / devops space, particularly focused on internal automations team skillups in PowerShell and beyond.

https://discord.gg/pdq
https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-s-richmond/
https://dev.to/celadin
https://bsky.app/profile/davidsrichmond.com
Splatting PowerShell Wednesday: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oesn0HgGxE
https://github.com/PoshCode/PowerShellPracticeAndStyle
The PowerShell Podcast Hub: The PowerShell Podcast: https://pdq.com/the-powershell-podcast
The PowerShell Podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/_cbpGxZOHS4
Help topic: help about_splatting

PSConfEU 2025 Bar Sessions: Community, Code & Connection Jul 14, 2025

Show notes

In this special live episode recorded amidst the rain-soaked streets of Malmö duringPSConfEU 2025, host Andrew Pla brings us a vibrant, multi-guest edition of the PowerShell Podcast. From impromptu bar chats to in-depth discussions on PowerShell modules, CI/CD pipelines, career growth, and community culture, this episode captures the heart of the PowerShell community in full force.
Hear from speakers, first-time attendees, longtime community contributors, and PowerShell legends as they share their stories, projects, career journeys, favorite sessions, and the human side of tech. Guests:

Harm Veenstra (PowerShellIsFun, MVP and Legend)
Constantin Hager (PS Framework user & Inn-Salzach PowerShell Group organizer)
Thomas Hadin (Swedish consultant, Discord regular)
James Ruskin (Chocolatey engineer, bigtime PowerSheller, kind and smart)
Emanuel Palm (Microsoft MVP and PSConfEU speaker)
Suresh "SK" Krishnan (IAM pro & PowerShell podcast superfan)

Topics Covered:

Favorite PSConfEU 2025 sessions and key takeaways
GitHub Actions & GitHub Apps deep dive
Lightning talks & community demo formats
User group organizing and mentoring new speakers
Tools: PS Framework, Spectre.Console, AI Shell, ModuleBuilder
PowerShell remoting, PSDefaultParameterValues, and CI pipelines
Career development insights, perspective shifts, and personal growth
Building friendships and networks in the PowerShell community

Highlights:

“There’s no magic” – a recurring theme reminding listeners to understand what they’re running.
Reflections on how empathy and perspective can transform your IT career.
A shoutout to the PowerShell Discord community and lesser-known contributors like weq and Chris Dent.
Real stories of overcoming stage fright, pushing past visa issues, and finding belonging through tech.

Links: