IBM Z and LinuxONE Ecosystem Podcast

AI isn't just changing how we build software — it's changing how attackers operate.  In this episode of the z/Action Podcast, we sit down with Trend Micro to unpack the accelerating security risks of the AI era and what a modern defense strategy looks like across IBM Z and LinuxONE, hybrid cloud, containers, and modern application platforms. The central challenge: agentic AI attacks dema...

Tune in as Devonte’ Hawkins and Caitlin Mooney chat with Niall Ashley, Security Technical Consultant at Vertali and IBM Champion.  Niall shares his unexpected journey into mainframe security, having transitioned from aeronautical engineering. He discusses what makes mainframe security unique, strategies for learning complex concepts, and the importance of making education engaging.  The conversati...

In this episode, we speak with Christian Friberg from PPI and Ralf Schopohl from SIZ to explore the evolution of EBICS, the implementation of verification of payee in the European savings banking sector, and the critical role the Mainframe plays in ensuring secure, resilient and compliant transaction processing. We discuss how PPI and SIZ began their collaboration, the origins of EBICS as a German...

In this episode, we sit down with Gil Peleg, Co-founder and CEO of Geniez, which is enabling developers to connect their AI agents and applications directly to real-time mainframe data—without requiring deep mainframe expertise. This conversation explores how simplifying access to mainframe data is helping organizations retain talent, attract new developers, and keep critical workloads on the plat...

In this episode of New to Z: Road to SME , we’re joined by Richelle Anne Craw —Mainframe Software Engineer, IBM Champion, and community leader—for an honest and fun conversation about growth, curiosity, and confidence on the road to SME. Richelle shares her journey from early‑career developer to trusted expert, why teaching is often the moment you realize you’re an SME , and how transferable skill...

Even the most advanced systems can be undone by a single human misstep. In this episode of the z/Action Podcast, we explore how social engineering exploits human behavior and how awareness, culture, and continuous education can help protect mission-critical environments like IBM Z. Joining us is Niall Ashley, an IBM Champion and security professional passionate about raising awareness of the human...

In this episode of the z/Action Podcast, our community manager Natalie Carrillo speaks with Mark Schettenhelm, Principal Product Manager, about his decades long journey with the mainframe and why IBM Z continues to evolve at the center of enterprise computing.  From solving mission critical problems to leveraging AI for deeper code understanding and log analysis, Mark shares how innovation, persis...

We’re excited to kick off the 2026 Season 2 of the New to Z: Road to SME podcast with IBM Champions  Steven Perva and Emma Skovgård , exploring how community, curiosity, and modern tooling are shaping the next generation of mainframers. In this episode, we talk about their unconventional paths into the mainframe world and their work building vibrant communities like the Systems Z Enthusiast Discor...

 In this episode of the z/Action podcast, we sit down with Vytautas Murauskas, a former IBMer who now brings his expertise to Rocket Software as part of the OMEGAMON support team. Vytautas shares his unique career journey, from his early days in the IBM Z world to his current role supporting one of the industry’s most trusted performance and monitoring tools. Along the way, he reflects on career-d...

In this episode of z/Action, we sit down with Donna Hudi, IBM Champion, Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Business Development at Phoenix Software International, to explore how behind-the-scenes leadership can be one of the most powerful forms of advocacy. From being welcomed into the mainframe community with no prior Z experience, to mentoring the next generation of talent and supporting first-...

What better way to end the season than with our IBM Z Day special—featuring Tina Tarquinio , Chief Product Officer for IBM Z & LinuxONE, and Rebecca Levesque , Founder & CRO at 21CS. From AI + infrastructure to security, sustainability, and mentorship, Tina and Rebecca share smart, lively insights to help you go from New to Z to trusted SME—plus a few great stories along the way.

This episode features Karl-Erik Stenfors , a retired IBM systems engineer and since 2015 been teaching Linux, virtualization and z/Assembler at three private universities in France, as well as teaching System Z technologies for two professional education companies. Kark-Erik has been recognized as an IBM Z and Linux One Champion for 2025!! Teaching has been a natural thread throughout his entire c...

In this episode, you will learn how organizations are modernizing right on their mainframes, using a shared repository of decision logic to make smarter, faster, and more transparent decisions. By combining business rules with AI and machine learning, the mainframe is helping businesses unlock their full potential in today’s fast-paced digital world. Watch the episode here: https://ibm.biz/Bdb3p6...

Meet Craig Mullins – From punched cards to mainframes, Craig’s journey is a masterclass in curiosity and adaptability. Discover how a college intern at US Steel became a leading voice in enterprise computing. Tune in to hear his origin story and insights on navigating tech’s evolution! 

Agentic AI—the next wave of artificial intelligence—goes beyond automation to enable systems that can reason, act, and adapt autonomously. On IBM Z, these capabilities unlock new frontiers for enterprises seeking resiliency, efficiency, and trust at scale. This conversation explores how businesses can harness Agentic AI to transform operations, modernize mission-critical workloads, and co-create n...

Marcus Davage is a seasoned technologist, lead product developer at BMC Software, and an IBM Champion. With a career that began in his teenage years—tinkering with early home computers like the Commodore 64 and Amiga—Marcus’s passion for computing led him to pursue a computer science degree and eventually discover the world of mainframes during an industrial placement at a steelworks. His journey...

In this episode, we sit down with PJ Catalano, IBM Z Test Architect, to discuss his origin story and how he got started in the mainframe space. PJ shares his journey from being a co-op student to becoming a leading expert in mainframe testing. We also dive into the process of testing a Z system, from emulation and simulation environments to hardware and firmware integration testing. PJ explains th...

In this episode, we dive into the powerhouse of healthcare IT—the mainframe. From patient management to accounting and medical records, the mainframe continues to deliver unmatched reliability and scalability for healthcare organizations. We’ll explore how mainframe systems enable agility in workflows, simplify the process of upskilling, and integrate seamlessly with AI to improve patient outcomes...

Behind every mission-critical transaction is data that must be available, resilient, and fast. In this episode, we explore how modern storage management keeps core enterprise systems running smoothly while adapting to new business demands. From automation to optimization, discover how smarter approaches to storage deliver real impact where it matters most—the customer experience. Stay Connected Be...

When global companies need to move massive amounts of data—securely and without delays—they rely on something powerful: the mainframe. In this episode, we’re joined by experts from Capgemini to explore how Connect:Direct helps enterprises transfer critical files quickly, reliably, and securely—far beyond what email or traditional FTP can handle. From syncing systems across continents to powering h...

When you hear the word "debugging," you might picture someone tweaking a line of code or chasing down the cause of an error message. But in reality, debugging is much more than cosmetic — it’s where some of the most critical thinking in software development happens. On IBM Z—where stability, scale, and performance are non-negotiable—debugging becomes a mission-critical task that requires...

This episode features Dr. Herbert Daly, Senior Lecturer in Computer Science at the University of Hertfordshire. When Herb first approached his Head of Department about adding mainframes to the curriculum, he was told it was a great idea—but the curriculum is only reviewed every five years, and the last review had just happened six months prior. So, he was advised to check back in four and a half y...

In this energizing episode, we explore the journey of a mainframe professional who has embraced innovation while making advocacy and mentorship central to their mission. This story highlights the power of mainframes in the AI era and the support gained from trailblazing women mentors. It showcases themes of growth, inclusion, and the global connections within the mainframe community. The episode e...

This episode features Geoffrey Decker, an instructor in Computer Science at the Northern Illinois University (NIU) and a firm believer in quality over quantity when teaching programming. Geoffrey encourages getting students “down and dirty into the programming” — not just teaching theory or showing pictures — so they truly “program and really test their skills.”  His goal?   Geoffrey wants student...

This episode features Scott Piersall , a lecturer at the University of North Florida’s School of Computing. Scott’s journey into academia is anything but traditional—after high school, he had no plans to attend college. But after years of experience in the industry, he discovered a passion for teaching and is now pursuing a Ph. D. with a focus on machine learning.  The lifelong learning takeaway?...