This week, Erick flies solo and dives into the newly released 2025 MSP 501 rankings from Channel Futures—the industry’s gold standard for identifying top-performing managed service providers. He breaks down why this data-driven list matters, how it boosts credibility, attracts vendors, and fuels internal momentum, and highlights the top trends driving this year’s winners—like AI adoption, security-first service models, and compliance-driven growth. Next, he explains why the time is now to update your LinkedIn profile. Then, Erick shares insights from his on-site interview with Bill Brandel, EVP and President, North America at Ingram Micro, recorded live at the Trust X Alliance Unplugged 2025 event in Philadelphia, where “connection” was the theme of the day. And finally, one last thing: Sewer Gators are real—and they’re living their best lives underground in Florida. 

Discussed in this episode:

• Why the MSP 501 matters (even if you didn’t make the list)
• Ingram Micro TrustX Alliance Unplugged 2025
• One Last Thing: Florida’s not-so-mythical alligator in the sewer system

A staggering 16 billion credentials linked to major services—Apple, Facebook, Google, and more—have just been confirmed leaked and Erick explores the grim reality and potential aftermath, and what it means for MSPs, as well as the types of AI services MSPs can deliver to their customers to increase their strategic value to them as well as their recurring revenue. Then, Erick is joined by Pax8’s Chief Product Officer, Libby McIlhaney, at Pax8 Beyond 25, for a look at AI’s impact and opportunity for Pax8 and its partners. 

Discussed in this episode:
16 Billion Apple, Facebook, Google And Other Passwords Leaked
Pax8 Beyond 2025 Day 1 Recap
Stanley Cup damaged as the Florida Panthers celebrate a second straight championship

Fresh from the floor at Pax8 Beyond 25, Erick and Rich break down one of the event’s biggest announcements: the launch of PAX8’s new Integrations Hub and what it reveals about the evolving role of distribution, marketplaces, and the push for vendor interoperability in the cloud-first era; and how MSPs are using AI to write RFPs, win funding, and transform their client relationships.

Then Erick is joined by Nerdio CRO Joseph Landes on the floor at Pax8 Beyond 25 for a wide-ranging discussion on best practices for building a profitable Microsoft Cloud practice, what’s next for Nerdio partners, and why automation is key to solving the MSP talent gap.

Discussed in this episode:
Pax8’s Integrations Hub: Marketplace Stickiness via Automation
Nerdio’s AI-Powered Cloud Management Platform

Speaking just after this week’s ConnectWise IT Nation Secure event, Erick and Rich discuss the simplified new ConnectWise Pro subscription plan and best practices for optimizing your client agreements before an exit. Then they’re joined by John Pagliuca, president and CEO of N-able, and Mike Adler, N-able’s chief technology and product officer, for a discussion about why N-able believes MSPs should invest in XDR and MDR solutions rather than SIEM systems of the kind recently introduced by ConnectWise and Kaseya. And finally, one last thing: A woman in Australia who did 7,079 pull-ups in 24 hours.  

Discussed in this episode:
ConnectWise Launches PSA Powered by Asio and Connect
Wise Pro at IT Nation Secure 2025Australian woman completes 7,079 pull-ups in 24 hours

Erick and Rich ponder the tradeoffs of using an all-inclusive managed services platform versus going with best of breed as well as techniques for migrating managed service clients to a standardized services stack. Then they’re joined by Yoav Susz, general manager for the U.S. at Atera, to discuss Atera Autopilot, a fully autonomous AI-powered help desk tool now in general availability. And finally, one last thing: a look at Internet Roadtrip, the world’s slowest massive multiplayer online game.

 Discussed in this episode:
In Defense of Seams
Atera Autopilot is (Almost Eerily) Live
Thousands of people have embarked on a virtual road trip via Google Street View

Erick and Rich discuss why vendors are introducing partner loyalty programs and how MSPs can cement their position as trusted advisors while locking in revenue by aligning IT budget discussions with a client’s financial planning cycles. Then they’re joined by Jessica McDowell, TD SYNNEX’s senior vice president of North American marketing and digital customer success, for a conversation about AI, community, marketplaces, and the changing relationship between partners and distributors. And finally, one last thing: a look at LegoGPT, the AI killer app we’ve all been waiting for. 

Discussed in this episode:
TD SYNNEX Brings B2C Rewards to B2B Relationships
TD SYNNEX Partner Loyalty program
TD SYNNEX PartnerLINK program
LegoGPT is here to make your blocky dreams come true

Inspired by the panel discussion they led at a recent conference, Erick and Rich discuss how real MSPs are making real money in AI, as well as three proven techniques for increasing the value of your managed services business in a crowded M&A market.  Then they’re joined by Jason Beal, Americas president at Exclusive Networks, and Andrew Warren, the company’s North America vice president of sales and marketing, for an insightful conversation about the value of distribution in the age of services-first business models.  And finally, one last thing: why $100 ice cubes are the perfect gift for the billionaire in your life who has everything. 
Discussed in this episode:
There’s Money in AI. There’s Profit in Vertical AI.
Exclusive Networks: Aggregating Services
Blog post by Abraham Garver: Unlocking Higher MSP Multiples: How Peer Group M&A Outshines Conference Connections

Erick and Rich discuss efforts by Kaseya and Syncro to eliminate the seams between “seamlessly integrated” products by fusing them all into one solution, as well as strategic, non-salesy ways to upsell your clients. Then they take you live to the panel session they co-moderated at this year’s IT Glue GlueXperience event in Las Vegas in which three MSPs shared their hard-earned growth and success tips. And finally, one last thing: Why Australians are better off eating sausages on election day than understanding how they’re made. 

Discussed in this episode:
Death to Seams
How the democracy sausage, a polling day snack, became Australia’s election symbol

Erick and Rich discuss the long-term implications for MSPs of new research on agentic AI from Microsoft and N-able, as well as how and why MSPs should get back to often forgotten sales basics. Then they’re joined live from the Kaseya Connect conference in Las Vegas by Mike Puglia, GM of Kaseya’s security suite, for a conversation about why MSPs need fully managed SIEM solutions. And finally, one last thing: An annual gardening ritual from Rich’s hometown of Seattle that could be dangerous to people with thorns or slugs in their yard. 
Discussed in this episode:
2025: The Year the Frontier Firm Is Born
N‑able Report Reveals the Future of the SOC Relies on AI, While Human Intervention Remains Essential
Kaseya announces latest innovations at Connect 2025
Seattle goes full bloom on naked gardening day

Erick and Rich discuss how economic uncertainty is affecting IT spending plans, as well as what MSPs can do to navigate declining markets, supply chain disruptions, and other challenges to service delivery and profits. Then they’re joined by Mark Bloom, senior director of North America channel sales at Sectigo, for a look at the TLS certificate management opportunity and why MSPs not already providing that service will need to soon thanks to forthcoming changes to certificate lifecycles. And finally, one last thing: what happened in Rich’s hometown of Seattle when hackers used crosswalk signals to express their dislike of Amazon board chair Jeff Bezos. 

Discussed in this episode:
Fear Itself
Seattle crosswalk buttons hacked to sound like Jeff Bezos; SDOT exploring ‘stronger security measures’