Life In Uptime

By Packet PushersTechnology

Life In Uptime episodes

October 22 LIU025: Dale Wheeler: What the Forklift?
Alexis and Kevin are joined by network technician and content creator Dale Wheeler to explore his career from forklift driver into IT. Together they discuss the pros and cons of traditional college degrees versus certifications, the realities of working IT in the public education sector, and the cultural differences between US and European tech conferences.... Read more »
56 min
October 08 LIU024: Dennis Thankachan: Lightyear and Beyond
Lightyear CEO and co-founder Dennis Thankachan shares his transition from investment banking to entrepreneurship and the lessons learned from his early startup failure. He also discusses the creation of Lightyear, the implementation of AI in network operations, and shares some actionable advice for engineers early in their careers. AdSpot Sponsor: Meter Most IT teams are... Read more »
1 hr 7 min
September 24 LIU023: Wendell Odom – The Man Who Wrote THE Book
Renowned Cisco Press author Wendell Odom shares how he began writing the definitive guide for the CCNA exam. Alexis, Kevin, and Wendell discuss the balance between practical, on-the-job experience and certification study habits. Wendell also reflects on his career as well as the creation of his YouTube channel, Network Upskill. Episode Links: Watch this episode... Read more »
1 hr 10 min
September 10 LIU022: Chris Grundemann – From Pulling Cable to Network Automation Forum
Chris Grundemann joins Alexis and Kevin to discuss his career evolution from pulling cable to co-founding the Network Automation Forum. Chris shares insights on the challenges of adopting network automation, the impact of AI on the industry, the importance of professional networking, and strategies for maintaining a healthy work-life balance. AdSpot Sponsor: Meter Most IT... Read more »
54 min
August 27 LIU021: Justin Ryburn – The Road More Traveled with a Field CTO
Kevin and Alexis welcome Justin Ryburn, VP of Global Solution Engineering and Field CTO at Kentik, to discuss the realities of traveling for technical work. Justin explains the nuances of his role, which balances executive engagement, public speaking, and team leadership with the challenge of a heavy travel schedule. They also touch on the importance... Read more »
51 min
August 13 LIU020: Ricki Cook: Reaching the Top and Walking Away
What do you do when you get your dream job and it’s not as fulfilling as you thought it would be? Ricki Cook speaks with Alexis and Kevin about navigating between career achievement and personal satisfaction. Ricki discusses his transition from traditional network architecture to touring systems engineering, the realities of maintaining real-time networks under... Read more »
1 hr 11 min
July 30 LIU019: Jason Gooley: The Godfather of Programmability
Jason Gooley is a longtime member of the Cisco community and author of the latest edition of the CCNA book. Jason joins the show to share his unconventional path from a challenging childhood to technical evangelist and author at Cisco. Together they discuss the importance of community, mental health, and resilience in navigating technical career... Read more »
1 hr 13 min
July 16 LIU018: Why You Should Attend Tech Conferences
Alexis and Kevin talk about their experiences attending Cisco Live alongside return guest Melina Bertholf. They offer different perspectives about the event while highlighting the importance of building professional relationships and community through in-person gatherings. They also share personal anecdotes and advice for those looking to maximize their social and professional networking efforts at tech... Read more »
51 min
June 18 LIU017: Chris Lapp: Becoming “THE GUY” (or GIRL)
Chris Lapp is an Emmy award-winning network engineer, focused on AI, media, and entertainment. Chris is also known as “The Guy”, the one you call when the problem is sitting between broadcast networking and media and the stakes are high. Join us as Kevin and Alexis sit down with Chris to find out how he... Read more »
1 hr 3 min
June 04 LIU016: Michael Keith Lewis: The Network Behind the Show
Today’s guest takes us behind the scenes of modern concert venues, which rely on wired and wireless IP networking. Michael Keith Lewis is a front-of-house engineer, tour manager, audio creator, and co-founder of Truck Packer. Michael shares his career path from starting in a church, quitting a salaried job to tour with his favorite band,... Read more »
1 hr 12 min

About Life In Uptime

From the publisher's feed

Hosted by content creators Alexis Bertholf and Kevin Nanns, Life In Uptime is a podcast that explores the real journeys of the people who build and run the backbone of the internet—network engineers,…