EP 807 | DECEMBER 8, 2025

A “CLI Lifer” No More

Andy Lapteff once considered himself a 'CLI lifer.' That is, as a network engineer he wasn't interested in Python or developer-like network automation stuff. That's changed. Andy shares the professional, personal, and emotional reasons that drove him rethink not only his networking career, but his self-perception. He talks about what brought him around to network automation, his ongoing learning efforts, and more. He doesn't have all the answers, but his deeply personal story may help you as you chart your own course through a network engineering career. | LISTEN NOW

EP 555 | DECEMBER 8, 2025

AI and APIs Drive HPE's Dual-Platform WLAN Strategy; Dell, HPE Dangle VMware Alternatives

Lots of tech news to digest in this week's Network Break, including fresh details on how HPE will handle two competing WLAN products under its roof, new rackscale AI infrastructure hardware from HPE and AMD, Dell dissing VxRail to lure customers away from VMware, two networking acquisitions, financial results, a new entrant in the space networking race, and more.| LISTEN NOW

SPONSORED | DECEMBER 8, 2025

How to Get DPUs from Niche to Transformative (Sponsored)

RG Nets builds gateways and centralized-authentication appliances to help manage and automate revenue-generating networks. On today’s Tech Bytes, we talk with RG Nets founder Simon Lok. But instead of talking about RG Nets, we delve into DPUs. This specialized hardware, which provides additional compute for network devices, has the potential to move from a niche product to a transformational technology. Simon talks with Ethan Banks about the technological and market conditions that can drive this transformation, and how DPUs could impact network automation.| LISTEN NOW

EP 120 | DECEMBER 9, 2025

Eight New Year's Resolutions for 2026

As you wind down 2025, what should you be planning to do in 2026? The Heavy Strategy team breaks it down for you with eight resolutions for the new year. From setting an AI strategy to cloud optimization, Johna and John can help you enter the new year prepared for what's next. Other resolutions include assessing your supply chain security and looking for single points of failure, going deeper with automation, and preparing for quantum-resistant cryptography. Besides just offering resolutions, the Heavy Strategy team discuss the reasons behind each to help you put your priorities in order. | LISTEN NOW

EP 090| DECEMBER 9, 2025

Why Native Controls Aren't Enough to Protect Your Cloud Workspaces (Sponsored)

Cloud-based workspaces such as Google Workspace are often the backbone of an organization. But they face threats from spam and phishing, account takeovers, and illicit access to sensitive documents and files. On today’s Packet Protector we talk with sponsor Material Security about how it brings additional layers of protection to Google Workspace, including email and file security and account hardening. We dig into how Material Security complements and extends controls built into the platform, how the service is deployed, and how it fits into an organization's security operations. | LISTEN NOW

EP 289 | DECEMBER 10, 2025

Instana: Leading the Future of Observability (Sponsored)

As AI tools and agentic AI become part of how applications are developed, delivered, and managed, application performance monitoring and observability have to adapt. Ned Bellavance sits down with Drew Flowers and Jacob Yackenovich from sponsor IBM Instana about where these fields sit today, and the potential impacts of AI. They detail the challenges of application performance monitoring, how AI is changing what observability means, and what Instana is doing to embrace AI while ensuring that people remain part of the solution. | LISTEN NOW

EP 108 | DECEMBER 10, 2025

Perspectives, Hopes, and Challenges of Young Network Engineers

Let's hear from the next generation of network engineers. Eric Chou sits down with Sem Eyob and Damon Hoody, two early-career network engineers, to talk about how they got into the profession and where they hope to go. They share their views on AI and its effect on their generation, their struggles finding entry level positions, their learning and certification paths, and more. They also share some practical advice on getting those crucial job interviews. | LISTEN NOW

EP 065 | DECEMBER 10, 2025

AutoCon 4 Recap, AI Tools, MCP's First Birthday and More

William and Eyvonne recap their experiences at AutoCon 4, including the conference's new multi-track format and Eyvonne's presentation on why technical projects fail. The conversation dives into how AI tools like Google Gemini can augment - not replace - human creativity, from research assistance to slide graphics. They discuss the uptake of Model Context Protocol (MCP) as MCP celebrates its first birthday, NVIDIA's growing partnerships, and why the networking community shouldn't feel behind on AI adoption. The episode wraps with an optimistic outlook comparing AI's trajectory to self-driving cars, plus holiday plans as they sign off for 2025. | LISTEN NOW

EP 005 | DECEMBER 11, 2025

The Importance of Community In a Networking Career

AJ Murray joins Kevin and Alexis to share his unique journey into tech, pivoting away from aviation maintenance into networking. Together they explore the importance of person-to-person networking and building a community in order to be successful. They also talk about the reality of burnout, which ultimately led AJ to step away from his podcast. AJ also shares the steps he's taken to recover from that burnout. | LISTEN NOW

EP 052 | DECEMBER 12, 2025

Internet History with Len Bosack

Len Bosack, co-founder of Cisco Systems and the CEO of XKL, sits down for a discussion with Scott Robohn. Len shares how he went from a mathematician to being responsible for pioneering the widespread commercialization of LAN technology. We also get to hear his firsthand account of building the first multi-protocol routers at Stanford and the “Two Napkin Protocol”. | LISTEN NOW

EP 808 | DECEMBER 12, 2025

Is IT a Young Person’s Game?

Is the ideal IT employee just leaving college or a veteran with years of experience? Younger professionals just out of college are more willing to work longer hours or unpopular shifts, learn new tools and skills, and take risks. Older professionals might prioritize family or other pursuits over work, and demand higher salaries, but make up for it with skills and experience the younger generation doesn’t have. And with AI potentially eliminating some entry-level roles, how are the younger professionals meant to climb a ladder with the bottom rungs missing? Russ White joins Ethan Banks and Drew Conry-Murray to discuss the complexities of this question.| LISTEN NOW