09 Ready to rethink what’s possible on IBM i?

In this episode, IBM’s Jesse Gorzinski returns to share how AI is not just a buzzword — it’s already happening inside your IBM i environment. From open-source innovations to on-chip acceleration in Power10, Jesse breaks down the tools, tech, and transformations redefining the platform.

We cover:

• How Power10 accelerates AI on the chip — no GPU required
• Tools like Manzan and Mopapi that make IBM i smarter and more connected
• New AI integration frameworks like Tirico that let RPG developers “ask AI” with a single function
• Why on-prem AI means better security, lower latency, and real-time insights
• How IBM i is shaking off old stereotypes and stepping into the AI spotlight

Whether you're an RPG developer, a systems architect, or just AI-curious, this episode is packed with insights, energy, and — of course — a few laughs.

Jesse Gorzinski, Senior Business Architect at IBM

LinkedIn

Explore IBM i + AI Resources
Check out IBM’s AI + IBM i guide — updated and ready to explore:
https://ibm.biz/ibmi-ai
http://ibm.biz/ai-ibmi

IBM Ideas - the RFE process has a brand new look and feel!
IBM i Success Stories

🎉 One incredible Th(i)ng!  Products, gadgets, recipes, music or things we are loving right now.

Jesse – While attending the Navigate event in Bonita Springs, FL last fall, Jesse and his wife took a ferry to a private island — and witnessed a live dolphin birth during the ride! Talk about a once-in-a-lifetime moment.

Peg – It's officially spring grilling season! Peg is all in on grilling peaches — perfect for fresh salads and sweet summer desserts.

Upcoming EVENTS:

LISUG - Horizons 2025: Actionable AI - May 14, 2025

POWERUp 2025, Anaheim, CA - May 19-22, 2025

COMMON Europe Congress, Gothenburg, Sweden - June 2-5, 2025

i-UG i-Power Conference 2025, June 10-11, 2025 - Mercure Northampton Hotel

SHOW SPONSORS:
Lightedge
COMMON

Check out our website and LinkedIn page, and like and subscribe to all those things!

Interested in sharing your IBM i story? Want to sponsor the podcast? We want to hear from you! Reach out to Peg.
Email: [email protected]

08 Steve Will, Chief Architect of IBM i, is back on The Incredible i Show — and he’s bringing the fire. 🔥

In this episode, we unpack the newly released IBM i 7.6, where security takes center stage with integrated multi-factor authentication (MFA), full system encryption, and a push to adopt modern tools. Steve explains why this release is different — and what it means for Power10 (and beyond 👀).

We also dig into Code Assist, IBM’s AI-powered project for RPG development. Steve shares where things stand, what surprised him most, and what you can expect at POWERUp 2025.

💡 Topics we cover:

• What’s new in IBM i 7.6 (and why it matters)
• Why MFA is only available on 7.6+
• Code Assist progress, model training, and what’s next
• Lessons learned from collaborating across IBM

Steve Will, IBM i CTO, Distinguished Engineer
LinkedIn

IBM Ideas - the RFE process has a brand new look and feel!
IBM i Success Stories

One incredible Th(i)ng!  Products, gadgets, recipes, music or things we are loving right now.

Steve Will: 🎶 Getting back into choir after nearly a decade — Steve’s rediscovered his love for singing, performing a special Easter piece alongside his wife and daughter.

Peg Tuttle: 🌼 Spring flowers in full bloom — Peg’s soaking up the season with spontaneous garden center trips and a trunk full of colorful finds.

Upcoming EVENTS:

LISUG - Horizons 2025: Actionable AI - May 14, 2025

POWERUp 2025, Anaheim, CA - May 19-22, 2025

COMMON Europe Congress, Gothenburg, Sweden - June 2-5, 2025

i-UG i-Power Conference 2025, June 10-11, 2025 - Mercure Northampton Hotel

SHOW SPONSORS:
Lightedge
COMMON

Check out our website and LinkedIn page, and like and subscribe to all those things!

Interested in sharing your IBM i story? Want to sponsor the podcast? We want to hear from you! Reach out to Peg.
Email: [email protected]

07 It’s IBM i announcement day, and joining us is the legendary Scott Forstie, IBM i database architect and innovation leader. In this episode, we unpack the highlights of the latest IBM i Technology Refresh, explore the brand-new Migrate While Active (MWA) functionality, and take a fresh look at security from the inside out.

Scott shares what’s new in the IBM i ecosystem, how these updates impact the community, and why staying current is more critical than ever. Whether you're a developer, admin, or just a fan of the platform—this episode delivers insight with heart, humor, and real-world experience.

What You’ll Learn:

• Highlights from the latest IBM i Announcements
• What Migrate While Active is—and how it’s changing the game
• Lessons from the first MWA production adopter
• IBM i security: Common gaps and how to protect your environment
• Why “secure by default” is a myth (and what to do instead)
• How Scott’s team approaches software development and client feedback
• Upcoming events and community opportunities

Scott Forstie, Senior Technical Staff Member and Db2 for i Business Architect at IBM
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @Forstie_IBMi
Get the Gist here
http://ibm.biz/Db2foriSQLTutor
https://www.ibm.com/us-en?ar=1
IBM Ideas - the RFE process has a brand new look and feel!
IBM i Success Stories

One incredible Th(i)ng!  Products, gadgets, recipes, music or things we are loving right now.

Scott's pick for this week:
Comedy Clubs & Events - Nate Bargatze (one of Peg's favs!)

Peg's pick for this week:
Spring Weather (which I have said a couple times!)

Upcoming EVENTS:
NEUGC, April 7-9, 2025 

LISUG - Horizons 2025: Actionable AI - May 14, 2025

POWERUp 2025, Anaheim, CA - May 19-22, 2025

SHOW SPONSORS:
Lightedge
COMMON

Check out our website and LinkedIn page, and like and subscribe to all those things!

Interested in sharing your IBM i story? Want to sponsor the podcast? We want to hear from you! Reach out to Peg.
Email: [email protected]

06 Get ready for a fun and insightful episode of The Incredible i Show! This week, I welcome IBM Champion and CTO Steve Wolk, and Senior Infrastructure Engineer Nima Bank, to talk all things Ansible on IBM i.

Steve and Nima share their real-world automation journey—from tackling unexpected performance issues to discovering the magic of Ansible automation. You’ll hear how they turned necessity into innovation, improved efficiency, and why Ansible is such a powerful tool when paired with IBM i. Plus, get an exclusive look at how AI is shaping their future projects!

Join us for tech tales, tips, and laughs—you won’t want to miss it!

Key Takeaways:

• Understanding Ansible and why it's a perfect match for IBM i.
• Real-world applications and surprising discoveries.
• Practical tips for getting started with automation.
• The exciting intersection of automation and AI.

Guests:

Steve Wolk, IBM Champion and Chief Technology Office

Nima Bank, Senior Infrastructure Engineer

• Ansible Automation: https://www.ansible.com
• IBM i and Ansible Collection: https://galaxy.ansible.com/ui/repo/published/ibm/power_ibmi

Social:

• LinkedIn | Steve Wolk
• LinkedIn | Nima Bank

One incredible Th(i)ng!  Products, gadgets, recipes, music or things we are loving right now.

Steve's pick for this week:
Star Trek & Universal Fan Fest

Nima's pick for this week:
Upcoming vacation in Iceland 

Peg's pick for this week:
College kid coming home for spring break!

Upcoming EVENTS:
NEUGC, April 7-9, 2025 

POWERUp 2025, Anaheim, CA - May 19-22, 2025

SHOW SPONSORS:
Lightedge
COMMON

Check out our website and LinkedIn page, and like and subscribe to all those things!

Interested in sharing your IBM i story? Want to sponsor the podcast? We want to hear from you! Reach out to Peg.
Email: [email protected]

05 IBM Power Rockstars, this one’s a must-listen! On this episode of The Incredible i Show, we sit down with Ted Macksam, an IT leader who’s pushing the boundaries of modernization on IBM i.

Imagine running your entire IBM i ERP without traditional green screens, without terminal sessions, and without legacy roadblocks—just open-source technology and browser-based access. That’s the reality at Hatco, and Ted is here to share exactly how they did it.

We’ll explore: 

• Their journey from legacy ERP to 100% open-source, web-driven IBM i
• How their team executes seamless DR switchovers in under 30 minutes
• The transformation of an RPG programmer into a full-stack open-source developer
• The importance of succession planning and what the future holds for IBM i IT teams

Ted Macksam, VP of Information Technology at Hatco

Email: [email protected]  
LinkedIn

One incredible Th(i)ng!  Products, gadgets, recipes, music or things we are loving right now.

Ted's pick for this week:
Family vacation in Dominican Republic 

Peg's pick for this week:
College kid coming home for spring break!

Upcoming EVENTS:
NEUGC, April 7-9, 2025 

POWERUp 2025, Anaheim, CA - May 19-22, 2025

SHOW SPONSORS:
Lightedge
COMMON

Check out our website and LinkedIn page, and like and subscribe to all those things!

Interested in sharing your IBM i story? Want to sponsor the podcast? We want to hear from you! Reach out to Peg.
Email: [email protected]

04  IBM i explorers, get ready! In this episode, Steve Sibley joins us to talk about the future of IBM i—from platform innovations and cloud strategy to application modernization and cybersecurity advancements. We’ll dive into how businesses are modernizing, IBM’s evolving roadmap, and the opportunities ahead for IBM Power users. Plus, Steve shares insights on industry shifts and, of course, his two - One Incredible Things! Don’t miss this one! 

 💡 Why tune in?
✅ How IBM Power is evolving for the future
✅ The latest trends in application modernization
✅ What businesses need to know about security in today’s landscape

Steve Sibley, Vice President and Business Line Executive at IBM

Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn

One incredible Th(i)ng!  Products, gadgets, recipes, music or things we are loving right now.

Steve's pick for this week:
Italy - Florence and Cinque Terre & the book How to Live an Extraordinary Life by Anthony Pompliano 

Peg's pick for this week:
Yacht Rock - check it out on Spotify and the book Good Energy by Dr. Casey Means

Upcoming EVENTS:
WMCPA, March 11-13, 2025 - This week!

i-UG South Conference, March 13, 2025 - This week!

NEUGC, April 7-9, 2025 

POWERUp 2025, Anaheim, CA - May 19-22, 2025

SHOW SPONSORS:
Lightedge
COMMON

Check out our website and LinkedIn page, and like and subscribe to all those things!

Interested in sharing your IBM i story? Want to sponsor the podcast? We want to hear from you! Reach out to Peg.
Email: [email protected]

03 IBM i explorers, you’re in for a treat! In this episode of The Incredible i Show, we sit down with Tim Rowe, Senior Technical Staff Member for Application Development & Systems Management at IBM. Tim is a powerhouse when it comes to modernizing IBM i, and today, he’s bringing us the latest on IBM Navigator, security enhancements, and what’s next for the platform.

We’ll dive into:
✅ How TLS Wizards are simplifying security configurations
✅ The game-changing updates to Audit Journals & Data Marts
✅ Why Migrate While Active is revolutionizing system management
✅ What’s coming next in IBM i’s roadmap (hint: big things in April!)

Tim Rowe, STSM – Application Development & Systems Management

Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn
ACS - http://ibm.biz/IBMi_ACS

Navigator - http://ibm.biz/IBMi_Nav4i

One incredible Th(i)ng!  Products, gadgets, recipes, music or things we are loving right now.

Tim's pick for this week:
Lunch with Scott Forstie & hanging out on the pitch with his son in California! 

Peg's pick for this week:
IBM Champion - 4 years running! 

Upcoming EVENTS:
WMCPA, March 11-13, 2025 

i-UG South Conference, March 13, 2025

NEUGC, April 7-9, 2025 

POWERUp 2025, Anaheim, CA - May 19-22, 2025

SHOW SPONSORS:
Lightedge
COMMON


Check out our website and LinkedIn page, and like and subscribe to all those things!

Interested in sharing your IBM i story? Want to sponsor the podcast? We want to hear from you! Reach out to Peg.
Email: [email protected]

02 Marina Schwenk is back on The Incredible i Show! She’s an IBM Champion, CAAC member, COMMON board director, and now an international speaker. In this episode, we dive into the latest from WMCPA, the impact of N2i in bringing young talent to IBM i, and COMMON’s growing global presence. Plus, insights on AI, modernization, and what’s next for the platform. Don’t miss it! 

Marina Schwenk, IBM Champion 2024, Senior Programmer/Analyst
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn
CAAC - COMMON Americas Advisory Council

One incredible Th(i)ng!  Products, gadgets, recipes, music or things we are loving right now.

Marina's pick for this week:
IBM Champion Gear!

Peg's pick for this week:
Heading south for the winter!

Upcoming EVENTS:
WMCPA, March 11-13, 2025 

NEUGC, April 7-9, 2025 

POWERUp 2025, Anaheim, CA - May 19-22, 2025

SHOW SPONSORS:
Lightedge
COMMON


Check out our website and LinkedIn page, and like and subscribe to all those things!

Interested in sharing your IBM i story? Want to sponsor the podcast? We want to hear from you! Reach out to Peg.
Email: [email protected]

01 What does the future hold for IBM i in 2025? In this episode of The Incredible i Show, we’re joined by Alex Woodie, Senior Editor at IT Jungle, to break down the biggest predictions, trends, and surprises for the IBM i platform. Will AI revolutionize development? Is security the #1 concern? Could IBM i get a rebrand? Alex shares his expert insights, wild guesses, and a few bold takes on what’s ahead.

Tune in for a fun, informative, and thought-provoking discussion—and, of course, we’ll wrap up with One Incredible Thing!

Alex Woodie, Senior Editor IT Jungle & Managing Editor for Big Data Wire

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 760-638-0060

LinkedIn 

IT Jungle

Big Data Wire

One incredible Th(i)ng!  Products, gadgets, recipes, music or things we are loving right now.

Alex's pick for this week:
His son Jonathon - 17 years old, graduating this spring with a 4.5! Amazing!

Peg's pick for this week:
Color the Wind Kite Festival 

Upcoming EVENTS:
WMCPA, March 11-13, 2025 

NEUGC, April 7-9, 2025 

POWERUp 2025, Anaheim, CA - May 19-22, 2025

SHOW SPONSORS:
Lightedge
COMMON


Check out our website and LinkedIn page, and like and subscribe to all those things!

Interested in sharing your IBM i story? Want to sponsor the podcast? We want to hear from you! Reach out to Peg.
Email: [email protected]

On the show today, we have an exciting lineup that’s sure to take your SQL skills and software development strategies to the next level. Joining us is Mike Zaringhalam, a seasoned expert who recently wowed audiences at PowerUp with his deep dives into advanced SQL techniques and practical development strategies.

Whether you’re a developer looking to boost your productivity or an SQL enthusiast eager to unlock new capabilities, this episode is packed with insights just for you.

To received the handouts, please send me an email.

[email protected]
 
Mike Zaringhalam, Full Stack Developer & Database Administrator
LinkedIn
Email: [email protected]

One incredible Th(i)ng!  Products, gadgets, recipes, music or things we are loving right now.

Mike's pick for this week:
Electric Unicycle

Peg's pick for this week:
More Starbuck's! Iced Energy Drinks

Upcoming EVENTS:
Navigate, September 16-18, 2024, Florida
TechXchange, October 21-24, 2024, Las Vegas
Navigate, November 4-6, 2024, Toronto

SHOW SPONSORS:
INFOR
Connectria
COMMON
Midrange Dynamics North America

Check out our website and LinkedIn page, and like and subscribe to all those things!

Interested in sharing your IBM i story? Want to sponsor the podcast? We want to hear from you! Reach out to Peg.
Email: [email protected]