IT in the D

In this week’s episode, Bob and Randy talk to Umelo Onyejiaka who runs DevOps Detroit , a meetup for folks who work in or who are interested in DevOps. They discuss networking events, the importance of community in tech, and Umelo’s journey from a finance and accounting background into cloud engineering. Umelo shares insights on DevOps, the significance of practical experience alongsid...

Bob and Randy talked to Justice Oshiyoye about his project DUHTROIT . DUHTROIT is a magazine featuring local creatives. The first issue (of many, hopefully), features the stunning artwork of seven photographers. We also talked to Justice about his favorite Detroit coney spot, and the other work he’s doing. Crux Foundation Detroit supports minorities in outdoor spaces and activities. Data in...

This episode is quite literally the top of my mountain, my crown jewel moment, the summary of every podcast and every Comic Con I have attended. At the  Great Lakes Comic-Con , I got to spend the entire weekend with  Sam J. Jones  himself, better known as  Flash Gordon , Quarterback, NY Jets and Savior of the Universe.  Growing up, Flash Gordon was on the same level as Star Wars to me, and I was n...

This week, Bob chatted with James, Norm, and Heidi from Penguicon . The discussion covers an introduction of Penguicon—an open-source and sci-fi (and more!) convention, favorite memories from Penguicons past (the ’80s parties we hosted kicked ass!), and what’s coming up for Penguicon. Unfortunately, there will not be a Penguicon 2025. Instead, there will be a smaller event held this ye...

In this episode, Bob and Randy discuss the power of networking and career growth with guests Steve York , CIO of 1-800-HANSONS , and Matt Spivey , CTO of Renodis . The conversation spans their career journeys, the significance of mentorship, and best practices for climbing the career ladder. The conversation also highlights charitable initiatives such as SIM Detroit ‘s Michigan Technology Le...

Brad Mitchell , president of MojoHost , joins us this week. Brad was Bob’s first client way back in the day. In addition to catching up and reminiscing, we talk about building a data center, the changes over the years, and what it’s like running one now.

We’re back in-studio! Joining Bob & Randy this week was Melinda Ann O’Neill , Director of Sales at Tanium . She was actually on the show all the way back on episode 15 ! We talk about her journey in to IT sales, being a woman in tech, leading the Michigan Chapter for the Alliance of Channel Women , and her experience donating a kidney.

We made it to 500! In this episode, Bob and Randy reminisce with former cohosts Jeff and Nuri and regular guest Jer.

Jer Staes of Daily Detroit is back! We start off talking about Thanksgiving leftovers. Then, we get into how Daily Detroit is doing–the podcast is approaching 1600 episodes! What’s up in Detroit? The RenCen—at least part of it, but maybe all of it—is coming down soon. Jefferson Avenue is going to be rebuilt and the Detroit riverfront is leveling up. The Post Bar is reopening. Bob used...

In this episode, Bob and Randy talk to RM Easterly , the founder of THYIM , an app focused on providing on-demand, everyday task services. RM shares insights on how the app fills unique market needs by offering practical services like roadside assistance, spider removal, and more, all within a user’s 15-minute radius. We talk about her entrepreneurial journey, the inspiration behind THYIM, a...

In this episode, we chat with Mel Kolinski , Director of Channel Development at Ostra and an Co-Moderator for the Minnesota Chapter of the Alliance of Channel Women (ACW) . The conversation highlights the importance of networking, mentorship, and leadership development for women in tech. Mel discusses her involvement with ACW and the initiatives they offer, including mentorship circles and leaders...

Bob and Randy welcome guest Holly Owen , a former Detroiter turned New Orleans resident and author. Holly shares her experiences moving from Detroit to Boston and eventually to New Orleans, where she found inspiration to write her book Quit Playing Yourself during the pandemic. This episode Holly’s journey of transitioning from real estate to Airbnb management and interior design in New Orle...

Aaron Wilkerson , data and analytics leader at Carhartt, and organizer of the Detroit Low Key Data Meetup. They discuss the challenges of data quality and the importance of clean data for AI initiatives, the complexities of managing multiple data vendors, and how businesses are navigating cloud costs and modernization. They also touch on the integration of legal and cybersecurity aspects in data m...

Entrepreneur and product developer and repeat offender Tom Nardone is back chatting about what he’s done and what he’s doing. 36 Ideas and a System (TEDxDetroit) Detroit Mower Gang ShopInPrivate.com ,  Bachelorette.com ,  Vibrators.com Dignity Lifts

We’re joined this week by Jacki Lutz , Director of Content for the communication team at Auto Care Association and host of ‘ Carpool Confessions ‘. In this episode, we discuss the right to repair movement crucial to automotive independence and consumer choice. The conversation dives into the challenges faced by independent auto repair shops due to new vehicle technology, the data...

Our friend Mike Zapcic is back to just shoot the breeze. We chat about movies, books, pop culture, and more. This was a casual chat with no agenda–just some friends catching up and geeking out.

Patrick Garrity , a security researcher and evangelist at VulnCheck , is back! We discuss his career evolution, vulnerability management, AI’s impact on security, and the recurring nature of security incidences. He also provides insights into the Black Hat conference.

Wendy Ernzen joins us to talk about her podcast Let’s Plant Houses where she discusses the victories and successes of families whose children—young and adult—have intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Whether you’re a parent on a similar journey or just seeking to expand your understanding, you should subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify . If you are interested in learning mor...

Jason “JD” David returns and—after some ribbing from us last time —has changed the name of his service to Gym Force, and he’s doing some gret things. Hear all about how it’s going in this episode.

This week, Bob and Randy are happy to have back Tom Lawrence ( Lawrence Systems , Youtube Channel , CWNR )! It’s been a year since his last visit . CrowdStrike is in the news recently due to a faulty update bringing down global infrastructure. Tom helps us understand what happened, why, and what the ramifications are.

This episode was a bit of a divergence from the regular topics we cover on IT in the D: this week we were joined by author James Parker, staff writer at The Atlantic , and author of the book Get Me Through the Next Five Minutes: Odes to Being Alive . The book delves into personal struggles, mental health, and life’s daily challenges. The conversation covers Parker’s unique writing styl...

This week, Bob and Randy were joined by JB Benjamin of Kryotech . We talk about his companies, and his projects, and his uninque views on the world of AI, blockchain, NFTs, and their flaws and use cases.

This episode, Bob and Randy welcome Bob Skinner , longtime Detroit IT veteran and the Managing Director of North America for EcoG . They discuss various aspects of the electric vehicle (EV) industry, including challenges with charging infrastructure, technological advancements, and the future of EVs. The conversation covers issues such as the role of the government in infrastructure, sustainabilit...

In this episode Bob and Randy invite Dan Salinas and Sarv Shah from Nobl9 to dive deep into the complexities of Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) and Service Level Objectives (SLOs). Discover the origins of SRE, the significance of SLOs in improving customer experience, and the impact of digital reliability on businesses today. From the challenges of maintaining microservices to the advent of clo...

Brian Scheble is back to talk to Bob and Randy about about what’s going on with VMWare. Topics include transformative changes in VMware’s business strategy under Broadcom’s ownership, implications for small businesses and MSPs, alternatives like Nutanix and cloud solutions, and the broader data commodification impact.