

The PowerShell Podcast
PDQ.com
The PowerShell Podcast is a weekly show about building your career with PowerShell. Each episode features the tips, tech, and modules that make PowerShell the premier automation and scripting tool for IT professionals. Join us as we interview PowerShell experts to discover what makes PowerShell and its community so amazing and awesome.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 19, 2024 • 1h 5min
Reaching the Summit: Graham's OnRamp Journey
Episode Summary:
In this engaging episode, host Andrew sits down with Graham Stringfellow for an insightful discussion filled with personal anecdotes and professional insights. The conversation kicks off with a reflection on Andrew and Graham's shared history, followed by Graham's experience with the PowerShell Summit OnRamp scholarship. Graham sheds light on the infamous mountain disaster involving Phil Bossman, settling the score once and for all. They delve into the importance of building tools that endure and share anecdotes about Andrew handing off some of his PowerShell expertise to Graham. Tune in for a captivating conversation that spans friendship, professional growth, and the enduring legacy of PowerShell.
Guest Bio and resource links:
Meet Graham Stringfellow, an experienced SysAdmin with a knack for making life simpler using PowerShell. Starting on the helpdesk, Graham climbed to SysAdmin, honing his automation skills along the way. After a decade in IT and bagging the PowerShell Summit OnRamp Scholarship, there's no IT problem he can't simplify with some good old PowerShell magic.
Watch the Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pxd0CNxFiCk
https://devblogs.microsoft.com/commandline/introducing-sudo-for-windows/
https://wragg.io/Perform-currency-conversion-with-PowerShell/
https://insights.stackoverflow.com/trends?tags=powershell%2Cbash%2Czsh
https://gist.github.com/jdhitsolutions/36f16e9b2d89353cfa93edc8e4b5b3c3
https://poshcode.gitbook.io/powershell-practice-and-style/introduction/readme
https://www.meetup.com/gainesville-powershell-user-group/events/298957463/
https://powershell.org
https://twitter.com/andrewplatech
https://twitter.com/thepowerstring

Feb 12, 2024 • 1h 11min
Roadmapping your PowerShell Journey with Sean Wheeler
In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, host Andrew Pla is joined by the insightful Sean Wheeler for an enlightening discussion on all things PowerShell. Andrew starts off the episode by sharing a community tip and delving into the topic of hosting internal PowerShell meetups. The conversation then shifts to Sean, who sheds light on the process of getting started with learning PowerShell, emphasizing the invaluable resources available on learn.microsoft.com/powershell. Together, they explore the different steps involved in a PowerShell journey and offer guidance on mapping out a personalized learning path. Additionally, they discuss the significance of Git and GitHub in the PowerShell ecosystem and extend an invitation to the community for contributions to the PowerShell Community blog. Tune in for a wealth of knowledge and practical advice to enhance your PowerShell experience.
Guest Bio and links:
Sean Wheeler is the lead documentarian for PowerShell at Microsoft. For over 25 years at Microsoft, he's delivered many workshops on scripting, debugging, and advanced troubleshooting. Using scripting, he's created tools to help customers collect and analyze data used to troubleshoot and optimize their environments.
Watch The PowerShell Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNVpuwQp0bc
https://discord.gg/pdq
http://vscode.dev
https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=TylerLeonhardt.vscode-inline-values-powershell
https://gist.github.com/jdhitsolutions/36f16e9b2d89353cfa93edc8e4b5b3c3
https://www.pdq.com/state-of-sysadmin/download/
https://twitter.com/SamErde/status/1750275640111054878
https://www.meetup.com/gainesville-powershell-user-group/events/298931068/
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/scripting/how-to-use-docs?view=powershell-7.4
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/scripting/discover-powershell?view=powershell-7.4
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/scripting/learn/ps101/00-introduction?view=powershell-7.4
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/
https://devblogs.microsoft.com/powershell-community/
https://github.com/PowerShell/Community-Blog
https://sdwheeler.github.io/Presentations/
https://sdwheeler.github.io/seanonit/

Feb 5, 2024 • 1h 3min
PowerShell and Pentesting: Hacker Insights with Spencer Alessi
In this action-packed episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we kick off with a loaded preshow featuring an exciting announcement of PowerShelldle, a community tip, and a deep dive into my own PowerShell journey in response to a viewer question. The main segment is a fascinating conversation with Spencer Alessi, where we delve into the world of PowerShell and pentesting. Spencer generously shares the tools he would use as a sysadmin pentesting his own environment, including PowerSploit, PingCastle, Bloodhound, LockSmith, and ADeleg. He provides invaluable tips for PowerShell enthusiasts looking to transition into security and pentesting, shedding light on the current and emerging trends in the security landscape. Spencer also gives us insights into the role that PowerShell plays in his role as a pentester. Get ready for a riveting episode filled with tips, tools, and trends in the world of PowerShell and security.
Guest Bio and links: I'm a hacker, pentester, wiz-bang exploit slinger hiding in the shadows and co-host of the Cyber Threat Perspective Podcast. I currently do offensive security things at SecurIT360, primarily focused on internal pentesting/assume breach, which I really really enjoy. I love PowerShell, Windows and Active Directory. I consider myself a blue-hearted red teamer.
Watch The PowerShell Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnEfyGjMMwE
https://www.meetup.com/gainesville-powershell-user-group/events/298931068/
https://discord.gg/pdq
https://powershelldle.com
https://twitter.com/AndrewPlaTech/status/1749469780786946435
https://powershell.org/2017/11/powershell-devops-global-summit-2018-scholarship-recipient/
https://github.com/techspence/ScriptSentry…
https://github.com/techspence/HackerArt/…
https://github.com/TrimarcJake/Locksmith…
https://github.com/PowerShellMafia/PowerSploit…
https://github.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/PowerSharpPack…
https://spenceralessi.com
https://twitter.com/techspence
https://linkedin.com/in/spenceralessi…
https://youtube.com/@techspence
https://offsec.blog
https://www.youtube.com/@CyberThreatPOV
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewplatech/
https://twitter.com/AndrewPlaTech

Jan 29, 2024 • 56min
PowerShell and Education: A Deep Dive with Jim Tyler, Director of Technology
In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we have the pleasure of hosting Jim Tyler (@PowerShellEngineer). In this episode, Jim shares insights into PowerShell in K-12 education, his book and YouTube channel, Miscripts.org, and his various projects and passions. Join us as we delve into Jim's background, his journey into PowerShell, and the unique challenges and rewards of working in the K-12 sector. We discuss the impact of AI on education, the birth of Miscripts.org, and Jim's creative ventures, from YouTube tutorials to self-publishing a PowerShell book. Get ready for a conversation packed with valuable insights, practical advice, and a touch of Disney magic.
Guest Bio and links:
Jim is the Director of Technology at Niles Community Schools, YouTuber @PowerShellEngineer, Author of PowerShell for Systems Engineers. He's also presented on PowerShell at Michigan EdTech conferences.
Watch The PowerShell Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWaCFWCId0w
https://www.meetup.com/gainesville-powershell-user-group/events/298633080/
https://github.com/dfinke/PowerShellAI/issues/204
https://github.com/dfinke/PowerShellAIAssistant/blob/main/examples/Assistants_API_overview.ipynb
https://www.powershellgallery.com/Packages/PSGalleryExplorer/2.5.4
https://miscripts.org/
https://twitter.com/jimrtyler
https://www.youtube.com/@PowerShellEngineer
https://github.com/jimrtyler
https://www.linkedin.com/in/JamesTyler/
https://a.co/d/aSBQ2Lg

Jan 22, 2024 • 54min
From Python to PowerShell: A Developer's Perspective with Jordan Borean
In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we are joined by the talented Jordan Borean. Join us as we delve into the world of PowerShell development with Jordan, exploring some of his exceptional modules that have made waves in the community. Jordan shares his unique perspective as a Python developer using PowerShell and highlights the benefits of binary modules. Dive into the details of Jordan's experience within the PowerShell community Discord, and gain insights into his journey to Red Hat, where Open Source played a pivotal role. As a bonus, discover the surprising answer to the question: If PowerShell was a song, what would it be? This episode is packed with coding wisdom, community adventures, and a touch of musical revelation.
Guest Bio and links:
I've been working in IT for around 10 years now with experience in a range of roles. Currently, I'm a programmer working on Ansible for RedHat, specializing in Windows automation. While my job is mostly working with Python I play around with PowerShell and C# mostly in my spare time and have written quite a few PowerShell modules. In my spare time, I like to spend time with my wife and dog as well as go on some bike rides around where I live. I currently specialize in network protocols like WinRM, SMB, PSRemoting, LDAP, among others, and I have written a few cross-platform clients that implement these protocols outside of Windows. I'm also quite active in the Discord community and love to help/lurk the various questions that come up there. There's always something new that I learn.
Watch the PowerShell Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTFr1ojayTM
https://2pintsoftware.com/news/details/why-is-add-content-bad-in-powershell-51
https://github.com/JustinGrote/ModuleFast/releases/tag/v0.1.0
https://lindnerbrewery.github.io/posts/converting_to_semtantic_version/
https://github.com/jborean93/PowerShell-ctypes
https://github.com/jborean93/PSDetour
https://github.com/jborean93/PSDetour-Hooks
https://github.com/jborean93/PSEtw
https://github.com/jborean93/PSOpenAD
https://github.com/ansible-collections/ansible.windows
https://github.com/ansible-collections/community.windows
https://github.com/ansible-collections/microsoft.ad
https://github.com/SeeminglyScience/ImpliedReflection
https://github.com/JustinGrote/ModuleFast/
https://github.com/SeeminglyScience/ClassExplorer
https://github.com/pester/Pester

Jan 15, 2024 • 58min
From Listener to Speaker: Daniel Schroeder’s PowerShell Summit Success
Episode Summary:
In the latest episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we're joined by the dynamic Daniel Schroeder. Dive into the world of PowerShell tips and contributions as Daniel shares insights into his tiPS module and how listeners can get involved. Daniel also reflects on his experience as a podcast listener, detailing how the show inspired him to take significant steps in his professional journey, such as applying to speak at PowerShell Summit—a journey that culminated in being accepted. The episode takes a technical turn as we glean advice on GitOps, explore techniques for visualizing large-scale systems, and gain valuable insights into the current statistics of DevOps, SRE, and Platform Engineering. Join us for a conversation packed with practical tips, personal reflections, and expert advice from Daniel Schroeder.
Guest Bio and links:
Dan has been writing software for over two decades and blogging since about 2011. He has a passion for creating productivity tools and tools to help make developers' lives easier. He enjoys sharing information and helping others through his blog, YouTube videos, presentations, and in person. He lives in Saskatchewan, Canada, with his wife, son, and dogs and enjoys hiking and rollerblading when he is not consumed by one of his many personal projects, most of which are open-source on GitHub.
See The PowerShell Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBpm_R1MQ38
https://blog.danskingdom.com/Multiple-ways-to-setup-your-CI-CD-pipelines-in-GitHub-Actions/
https://o365reports.com/2023/12/15/audit-microsoft-365-admin-activity-using-powershell/
https://github.com/jborean93/PSEtw/
https://github.com/deadlydog/PowerShell.tiPS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBg1KJf8sC4
https://blog.danskingdom.com/Get-PowerShell-tips-automatically-in-your-terminal-with-the-tiPS-module/
https://github.com/nohwnd/Profiler
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/webadministration/?view=windowsserver2022-ps
https://twitter.com/deadlydog/status/1737912190663831651

Jan 8, 2024 • 39min
PowerShell PM Roundtable: 2024 Areas of Excitement
In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we bring you a special treat—an exclusive roundtable discussion with the PMs behind PowerShell and its related projects. Hear about how the team's goal of improving the lives of people working in operations and on operations tasks. Join us as we meet the PM team: Danny Maertens, Sydney Smith, Michael Greene, Damien Caro, Jason Helmick, and Steven Bucher. Each PM takes a turn sharing their areas of interest and excitement for the coming year, giving listeners a sneak peek into the future of PowerShell. Whether it's advancements in automation, SSH improvements, or upcoming projects, this episode offers a unique behind-the-scenes look at the vision and passion driving PowerShell forward. Don't miss this insightful conversation with the PMs who make it all happen!
Links:
Watch the PowerShell Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_V70nVxw4Q
https://github.com/PowerShell/Announcements/issues
https://aka.ms/JoinPSCall
https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell-RFC/tree/master/CommunityCall
https://devblogs.microsoft.com/powershell/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6Wjk1FOIxA
https://github.com/PowerShell/Win32-OpenSSH
https://github.com/PowerShell/openssh-portable
https://github.com/PowerShell/vscode-powershell
https://devblogs.microsoft.com/powershell/announcing-the-release-of-get-whatsnew/
Install-Module -Name Microsoft.PowerShell.WhatsNew
Install-PSResource -Name Microsoft.PowerShell.WhatsNew
https://twitter.com/maertend33
https://twitter.com/sydneysmithreal
https://twitter.com/migreene
https://twitter.com/dcaro
https://twitter.com/theJasonHelmick
https://twitter.com/StevenBucher13

Jan 1, 2024 • 49min
From Engineer to Manager: Mike Kanakos on Transition, Lessons, and Community
In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, we sit down with Microsoft MVP Mike Kanakos to explore his journey transitioning from an engineer to a manager. Mike candidly shares the valuable lessons learned, from navigating newfound responsibilities to embracing a mentoring role. We delve into the pivotal role community involvement played in his managerial growth, touching on how insights from successful teams and best practices informed his approach. The discussion also unveils exciting changes ahead for the Research Triangle PowerShell User Group, which Mike leads. As a bonus, we get an insider's look into Mike's favorite PowerShell modules. Join us for an insightful conversation packed with lessons, community impact, and a sneak peek into the evolving PowerShell landscape.
Guest Bio and links:
Mike Kanakos is a three-time Microsoft MVP award recipient and currently manages the Foundational Services and Automation team at Align Technology, the company behind Invisalign braces. He leads a team that develops automation tools for Azure AD, Active Directory, and Single Sign-On, with the goal of automating processes and eliminating tedious tasks for various teams.
In addition to being a Microsoft MVP, He also leads the Research Triangle PowerShell Users Group and serves as the Director of Community Engagement for PowerShell.org. He shares his expertise on PowerShell, Cloud services, and automation through his blog www.commandline.ninja. In his spare time, he fumbles through maintaining a home assistant setup at home.
Watch the PowerShell Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6HY3lnEkG0
https://practical365.com/using-github-copilot-to-upgrade-powershell-scripts-to-the-microsoft-graph-powershell-sdk/
https://practicalsecurityanalytics.com/credential-harvesting-with-powershell-and-specterinsight/
https://www.commandline.ninja/
https://rtpsug.com
https://www.youtube.com/c/RTPSUG
https://www.powershellgallery.com/packages/ImportExcel/7.0.1
https://github.com/PowerShell/SecretManagement
https://github.com/dfinke/NameIT

Dec 25, 2023 • 1h 6min
Farewell to Jordan: MVP Chrissy LeMaire Unleashes AI Wisdom
In this special episode of the PowerShell Podcast, the hosts are joined by the esteemed Chrissy LeMaire, a double Microsoft MVP and GitHub star as we bid a fond farewell to Jordan. Chrissy's wealth of expertise in the PowerShell, GitHub, and AI realms adds a unique perspective to the discussion. We talk about creating personalized chatbots with ChatGPT, uses for AI. Chrissy shares news about her upcoming AI book and the life-changing moment that got her to embrace AI. All that, and more! Don't miss this insightful conversation with a true powerhouse in the tech community.
Guest Bio and links:
Vaguely French Developer in Europe, PS & SQL MVP, inaugural GitHub Star, got a master's degree in Systems Engineering. She’s also certified in SQL Server, Linux, SharePoint and network security.
See The PowerShell Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRNnCycIo3M
https://blog.netnerds.net/2023/10/chatgpt-vs-code-theme/
https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=potatoqualitee.blog-gpt
https://github.com/FriedrichWeinmann/ADLDSMF
https://discord.gg/pdq
https://github.com/potatoqualitee
https://www.manning.com/books/learn-dbatools-in-a-month-of-lunches
https://psconf.eu/
https://privacy.openai.com/
https://github.com/potatoqualitee/finetuna
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPax-xJLej8
https://www.amazon.com/Am-Code-Artificial-Intelligence-Speaks/dp/0316560065

Dec 18, 2023 • 1h 11min
Unlocking Secrets: Sam Erde on Open-Source Contributions and the Locksmith Module
In this episode of the PowerShell Podcast, featuring guest Sam Erde, we delve into a myriad of topics starting with Andrew's successful acceptance of his talk at PowerShell Summit. The episode unfolds with a spotlight on community resources. Sam Erde, our esteemed guest, shares insights into his blogging journey and his contributions to open-source projects, with a particular focus on the Locksmith module designed to uncover misconfigurations in ADCS Certificate Services. Sam also provides his unique perspective on leveraging PowerShell for various tasks. The hosts engage in a discussion about the community ethos, underscoring the importance of creating more value than capturing, and Sam shares personal experiences that have shaped his approach to community involvement. Tune in for an episode packed with valuable insights, community highlights, and the power of PowerShell in action.
Guest bio and Links:
Sam Erde is a senior yak shaver and semi-professional squirrel hunter with 20+ years of experience in IT. His preferred species of yak speaks PowerShell and the squirrels are most often found huddled around Microsoft bird feeders. Much of his career has had a strong focus on Active Directory, GPOs, Exchange Server, and Microsoft 365; however, it would not be complete without an equally strong focus on coffee, puns, Oxford commas, and cybersecurity. Sam's mission is to help IT teams grow towards operational maturity around these platforms. This includes a focus on culture, technical growth, and identifying not just as systems administrators, engineers, or analysts--but as infosec professionals who may happen to work in operations. He is incredibly grateful for everything the community has taught him and hopes to contribute back at least as much as he has learned from this amazing group of people.
Watch The PowerShell Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HEhXQE3GNw
https://github.com/DanGough/PoshCVE
https://powershellisfun.com/2023/11/23/using-a-specific-powershell-profile-for-a-console-session-windows-terminal-powershell-ise-or-visual-studio-code/
https://discord.gg/pdq
https://day3bits.com/
https://github.com/SamErde/PowerShell-Pre-Workout
https://github.com/trimarcJake/Locksmith
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yt_oIEq1wA
https://github.com/PoshCode/PowerShellPracticeAndStyle
https://github.com/cunninghamp
https://www.powershellgallery.com/packages/ORCA/2.8.0
https://github.com/EvotecIT/GPOZaurr
https://github.com/TrimarcJake/BlueTuxedo
https://github.com/techspence/ScriptSentry
https://twitter.com/SamErde
https://linktr.ee/SamErde