The PowerShell Podcast

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

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

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

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 

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 

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

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: https://discord.gg/pdq https://psconf.eu https://andrewpla.tech/links Watch PowerShell Wednesday: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1mL90yFExsix-L0havb8SbZXoYRPol0B PSConfEU 2025 sessions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CJWhWdbTGU&list=PLDCEho7foSoo6tc8iNDSrxp27dG_gtm6g The PowerShell Podcast Hub: https://pdq.com/the-powershell-podcast  The PowerShell Podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/RoVlp5XmXBc

In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we catch up with returning guest and security research program manager at Microsoft, Miriam Wiesner. Recorded live at PowerShell Conference EU in Malmö, Sweden, we dive into her fascinating journey from Premier Field Engineer to her current role in security research. Miriam reflects on her early talks about Just Enough Administration (JEA), shares insights into MFA bypass techniques involving browser cookies (with a fun appearance from Cookie Monster), and emphasizes the importance of defense-in-depth and layered security.   We also explore her second talk at the conference, "Finding Your North Star," where she unpacks the value of having a guiding goal in your career, overcoming self-doubt, and growing through mentorship. Miriam offers guidance on managing stage fright, developing social skills, and embracing authenticity in technical communities. Whether you're navigating a career in tech or looking to level up your security awareness, this episode is full of practical insights and inspiration.   Links and Bio: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miriamwiesner/ https://www.amazon.com/PowerShell-Automation-Scripting-Cybersecurity-Hacking/dp/1800566379 https://x.com/MiriamXyra https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xDcq0pPNPs https://andrewpla.tech/links https://discord.gg/pdq The PowerShell Podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/nuhVTbpfQog The PowerShell Podcast hub: https://pdq.com/the-powershell-podcast  Miriam is the author of the book "PowerShell Automation and Scripting for CyberSecurity: Hacking and Defense for Red and Blue Teamers." She is a Senior Security Research Program Manager at Microsoft. Outside of work, Miriam is a dedicated wife and mother, residing with her family near Nuremberg, Germany.

In this episode, recorded live at PSConfEU, Andrew catches up with some of the PowerShell team from Microsoft to talk all things PowerShell—from AIShell to PSResourceGet to the future of DSC and OpenSSH.   First up is Steven Bucher, Product Manager on the PowerShell team, who discusses the massive scale of PowerShell usage, the state of PowerShell 7, and the team’s focus on security and reliability. He also gives an exciting walkthrough of AIShell and how it’s helping users stay in the terminal while getting AI-driven help, error resolution, and integration with providers like Azure OpenAI and AI Foundry.   Then we hear from Anam, a software engineer working on PSResourceGet, PowerShell Gallery, and security. She shares details on the rewrite of PowerShellGet, performance improvements, and new features like container registry support. She also dives into Microsoft's Artifact Registry (MAR) and offers her take on coding as a creative, artistic endeavor.   Lastly, Tess joins the conversation to talk about OpenSSH and Desired State Configuration (DSC). She highlights the native cross-platform capabilities of DSC v3, its decoupling from PowerShell, and the move toward supporting resource development in languages like Python. Tess also shares the significance of SSH server availability in Windows Server 2025 and reflects on her open-source journey and love of outdoor sports.   Whether you’re managing packages, remoting with SSH, exploring AI integrations, or just want to know more about some of the people behind PowerShell, this episode delivers valuable insights from the team building the tools you use.    Links and Mentions: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anamnavied/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/tess-gauthier-a43a368a/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenabucher/ https://andrewpla.tech/links https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell https://github.com/PowerShell/AIShell https://github.com/PowerShell/PSResourceGet https://github.com/PowerShell/Win32-OpenSSH https://github.com/microsoft/DSC The PowerShell Podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/F4mVUHinjf4 The PowerShell Podcast: https://pdq.com/the-powershell-podcast Guests: Stephen Bucher – Product Manager II on the PowerShell Team Anam Navied – Software Engineer 2 @ Microsoft Tess Gauthier – Software Engineer @ Microsoft | OpenSSH

In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, host Andrew Pla reports live from PowerShell Conference Europe 2025 in Malmö, Sweden. With energy high and community engagement stronger than ever, Andrew chats with key figures shaping the PowerShell ecosystem. First, we hear from Gael Colas, organizer of PSConfEU and longtime community advocate, who discusses the significance of the conference and its international impact. Gael reflects on the challenges of organizing a multi-country event and the magic that happens when the community comes together in person. Later, Andrew connects with Stein Petersen, a speaker at PSConfEU. Stein shares insights into his talk on mental health, psychological safety, and building human-centric tech teams. Alongside his co-speaker, licensed therapist Tracy Sewell, they tackle burnout prevention and emotional resilience in the workplace. The discussion sheds light on the intersection between mental well-being and professional success in IT. This episode captures the unique mix of technical enthusiasm and human connection that defines the PowerShell community. Whether you're coding, coaching, or just trying to survive burnout, there's something here for you. Recorded on location at PowerShell Conference Europe 2025.   Links & Bio:  https://psconf.eu   https://andrewpla.tech/links  https://www.linkedin.com/in/steinpetersen/  https://gaelcolas.com  https://synedgy.com  https://discord.gg/pdq   The PowerShell Podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/paB3R1uA8jw The PowerShell Podcast: https://pdq.com/the-powershell-podcast Gael Colas Gael is the founder and director of SynEdgy Limited, a consulting company in the DevOps, Azure and PowerShell automation space, helping companies bringing agility in their infrastructure management and operations. SynEdgy is also behind the PowerShell Conference Europe (PSConfEU), PSDayUK and contributes to many other user groups and events of the community. In his spare time, Gael is a member of the PowerShell Working Groups, DSC Community committee member, and recipient of the Microsoft MVP award. Stein Petersen Stein is a cloud architect and passionate community contributor focused on mental health in IT. He is committed to fostering psychological safety, resilience, and emotional intelligence within tech teams.