What can Elden Ring teach you about resilience?

In this episode, we are joined by Prof. Dr. Johanna Pirker, professor of computer science at TU Munich and TU Graz, founder of the Game Lab Graz, and a member of the UN Independent International Scientific Panel on AI.

Johanna Pirker works at the intersection of AI, games, virtual and augmented reality, and human-computer interaction. In 2018, Forbes included her in the “30 Under 30 Europe” list for her work in using VR and games to improve digital education. In 2020, she received the Käthe Leichter Prize for her efforts in diversity in engineering and the games industry. Her book “The Game Is On: How Gaming Revolutionizes Our World” published in 2025, makes the case for gaming as a means to reshape how people learn, work, and interact.

Inspired by her participation in the Nextcloud Summit 2026 panel session “From open source to open ecosystems: Europe’s next digital play”, we invited Johanna to continue the conversation in our podcast. We tap into her perspective on where gaming meets learning, learning meets AI, and where open source tools foster innovation in her fields. What do video games and learning have in common? Why should we all learn how AI works and how it doesn’t? And finally, how can open source help us build a better future for science and innovation? Let’s find out!

I cannot think of anything negative coming out of open source. Open source is so good to show others what is going on, to involve them, to see what might not work yet, to find collaborations, to help to reproduce it, which is super important in science, to help boost open standards.

The post Learn, play, choose: Prof. Dr. Johanna Pirker on AI, games, and open source appeared first on Nextcloud.

In this episode of the Nextcloud Podcast, our host Ingo meets Aline Blankertz, a German data economist and digital rights campaigner.

Aline is an economist and Tech Economy Lead at Rebalance Now, where she works on strategies to counter concentrated power in digital markets. She combines years of experience in competition economics with a strong commitment to making markets democratically accountable.

In the episode, we tap into Aline’s expertise in digital sovereignty, open source, and Big Tech regulation to answer some burning questions:

What we consider extremely relevant is some form of regulatory sovereignty. From a societal perspective, we need to make sure that we can at least have the possibility to regulate companies. If we want to be a democracy, we want to make rules that apply to everyone. We also need to have the credibility that we can enforce these rules.

And, of course, there’s one more thing we are all curious about: what to expect from the Nextcloud Summit panel session “From open source to open ecosystems: Europe’s next digital play”?

Listen now to find out!

Aline joins us at the Nextcloud Summit 2026 on June 9 in Munich. She is one of the panelists in the hard-hitting discussion “From open source to open ecosystems: Europe’s next digital play”. The session is moderated by Ingo Dachwitz, political journalist at netzpolitik.org, and joined by Prof. Dr. Dennis-Kenji Kipker, Prof. Dr. Johanna Pirker and Holger Pfister.

Join the Nextcloud Summit to attend the panel discussion and ask your questions to the participating panelists.

Be part of the Nextcloud Summit, our biggest event up until now, and access a full day of learning, sharing, and collaborating on regaining freedom over your data, ensuring data remains in the hands of those who create it.

June 9, 2026

The post Big Tech regulation, the sovereignty challenge, and sustainable digital ecosystem: In conversation with Aline Blankertz appeared first on Nextcloud.

This episode of the Nextcloud Podcast is an exciting story from the community. And just in time before holidays, we are talking about cooking… and code. Meet Christian Wolf, a long-term Nextcloud contributor and maintainer of the famous Cookbook app!

During his early coding days, Christian was trying to learn more about web applications. Seeking an app to sharpen his skills with, he came across the Cookbook app. Many years later, Christian is the main brain behind Cookbook, while the app is one of the most popular apps on Nextcloud App Store.

Christian shares with us how he got into coding and open source, his work on the Cookbook app and his vision for its future, and tips for people who want to start developing for Nextcloud.

Take an issue, dig into the code. You will be surprised how much you can even learn if you start reading Nextcloud core. You can understand it actually if you are into programming at all.

Tune in and find out:

Check out the Cookbook app on Nextcloud App store, organize and share your favourite recipes, and give your feedback to Christian if you have ideas for improvement. And happy holiday cooking!

The post Curiosity, cooking and code: In conversation with Christian Wolf appeared first on Nextcloud.

In this episode, we meet Simon Lindner, software engineer at Nextcloud, the developer and main maintainer of Nextcloud All-in-One (AIO).

Back in 2021, Simon joined the Nextcloud team as a working student. Already a seasoned Nextcloud contributor and home user, he had a vision to make self-hosting Nextcloud more accessible to users by simplifying deployment, debugging, and maintenance.

This resulted in the creation of the Nextcloud AIO project: an official, simplified Nextcloud installation method based on Docker that includes a full Nextcloud setup with core services and recommended apps, and minimal manual configuration. Today, Nextcloud AIO is arguably the easiest way to get started with Nextcloud.

This episode balances between the history and present of Nextcloud AIO, Simon’s personal journey, and, of course, everything a meticulous admin wants to know. Tune in and find out:

Whether you are a long-term Nextcloud fan or new to self-hosting, these 40 minutes are time well spent. The episode is available on all popular podcast platforms. Listen, save, and share where you prefer!

Find all references from our speakers here:

Start your instant trial right away or download the latest version!

The post Nextcloud AIO: The easiest way to self-host Nextcloud with Simon Lindner appeared first on Nextcloud.

We’re joined by Anna Widenius and Michael “Monty” Widenius, the people behind the MariaDB Foundation, who are here to help us unpack the challenges of the open source business, vendor lock-in, and owning your data through their unique lens — and experience.

And believe us, you will be interested to hear their story!

Anna Widenius is a CEO of the MariaDB Foundation, an organization that supports the sustainability, governance, and community of MariaDB. As prominent a thought leader as she is a driving force in the open source business, Anna will share insights into what the foundation — and its mission — are today.

Monty is a highly influential figure in the world of database development and open source software. He is the creator of the original MySQL database and MariaDB, originally a fork of the former, and a project through which Monty continues to lead the way in open source innovation.

To me, data sovereignty means being able to control your own data. Where it leaves, who can access it, in what format. And yes, it’s part of a broader concept of digital sovereignty which is essentially about self-determination in the digital world. And that said, in many ways it all begins with open source because control and freedom go hand in hand.

In this episode, after covering all the Whats, Whens, and Whys of open source and owning your data, we dive into more thought-provoking questions, including:

And the big one — a question every leader in an open source community must grapple with:

This episode is for anyone active in the open source community or interested in open source software, as Anna and Monty give a behind-the-scenes look with wit and insight!

Find all references from our speakers here:

Join the live keynote from Michael “Monty” Widenius at the Nextcloud Community Conference 2025. Grab your ticket today. See you at the #NextcloudConf2025!

The post Owning your data: The open source path with Nextcloud and MariaDB appeared first on Nextcloud.

In this episode, we dive into Andy Scherzinger’s journey from contributing to Nextcloud as a community member to becoming Director of Engineering. We explore his unique perspectives on our open source community, the importance of compliance in software development, and how he balances technical expertise with leadership responsibilities.

It gives me joy and recharges my batteries if at the end of the day I can see other people succeed.

From his approach to problem-solving and guiding others to his personal values that give him direction, this episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of technology, community, and personal growth.

The post Empowering through open source: Nextcloud’s Director of Engineering Andy Scherzinger appeared first on Nextcloud.

In this episode, we explore how open source solutions are revolutionizing the way governments work, from collaboration and knowledge sharing to digital sovereignty and artificial intelligence.

Join us as we learn about the world of open source in government with Sven Thomsen, CIO of Schleswig-Holstein in Germany. Sven shares the factors that influenced their decision to adopt open source solutions, their implementation strategies along the way, and lessons learned from the adoption of open source in Munich.

We also discuss Schleswig-Holstein’s 10-year journey into open source, from desktop solutions to database systems, and how it has become a key part of their digital sovereignty strategy. Sven shares his insights on the current discussion in Germany about the importance of open standards, open source, and open interfaces in promoting the idea of European IT resiliency.

We also hear about the political and technical challenges they faced, including the successful implementation of Nextcloud as a central hub for collaboration and knowledge sharing in their federal state. Sven will share his thoughts on the “hidden champions” of open source and how Nextcloud’s new data automation platform has helped them solve some of the most difficult challenges in implementing the Online Access Act (OZG).

With AI based tools in Nextcloud, we were able to close an automation gap that we weren’t able to close with rule-based automations. Implementing AI-based microservices into the ecosystem of Nextcloud, and following Nextcloud’s very good AI strategy, we were able to implement something that is perfect for an organization like Schleswig-Holstein.

Tune in to hear Sven’s words of advice for public sector adoptions, including the importance of community support and giving back. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in open source solutions in government or curious about the future of technology in the public sector.

The post Open source and Nextcloud in government: Insights from Sven Thomsen, Schleswig-Holstein’s CIO appeared first on Nextcloud.

Your host Brent Gervais is joined by special guest Constanze Kurz – German computer scientist, hacker, activist and spokeswoman for the Chaos Computer Club (CCC). Constanze celebrates 20 years of Netzpolitik, an independent reader-supported organization that has been at the forefront of digital politics, regulation, and tech surveillance in Germany, and shares her insights on some of the most pressing issues facing us today.

Edward Snowden’s disclosures in 2013 were not only revelatory but also catalyzed a necessary discussion around mass surveillance and yet Constanze argues we’ve since lost momentum in this critical conversation. She expresses concern that, as the public has become increasingly complacent, the intelligence services have grown even more powerful and influential.

“We are in the age of mass surveillance. The problem is most of the public doesn’t discuss it anymore, and that its really a problem because what Snowden did was not only revealing, but also driving a debate. And we don’t have that debate anymore, and that really frustrates and concerns me.” – Constanze Kurz

We reflect on the changing landscape of hacktivism and investigative reporting, and how policy is struggling to keep pace with modern technological advancements.

Constanze also reminds us that there’s still much work to be done in addressing the pressing issues facing us today – from mass surveillance and data protection to predictive policing and platform capitalism.

The post Constanze Kurz: mass surveillance, Snowden, and the future of digital politics appeared first on Nextcloud.

“It was logic: If we want to learn more about open source, then we need to meet Nextcloud.”

– Manuel Liesenfeld, Head of Head of Public Sector Division at Bechtle AG

With the recent accelerating pace of innovation, public sector institutions throughout Europe have come to prioritize digital sovereignty as a primary driver in designing resilient IT systems.

Manuel Liesenfeld, Head of Head of Public Sector Division at Bechtle AG, discusses the current innovations in the European public sector and the obligation of public buyers to deliver resilient and sovereign digital solutions that put citizens first.

We explore how Bechtle – Germany’s largest IT system house – and Nextcloud’s recent partnership in offering digitally sovereign collaboration services for the European public sector is an important step in building resilient IT systems that prioritize security and data protection.

Manuel and Brent discuss many other topics, including:

Want to learn more about using Nextcloud for your organization?

The post Bechtle and Nextcloud: Navigating Digital Transitions in the Public Sector appeared first on Nextcloud.

So many Nextclouders – from enterprise and education to activists and families – decide to self-host their privacy-focused IT infrastructure. What exactly motivates us to self-host? Is this inherently an increased data security risk? What of the grit needed to host your own digital infrastructure? The answers to these questions may surprise you!

Lea Gröber, PhD student in Usable Security @ CISPA Helmholtz Center for Information Security, shares insight from two recent studies exploring motivations in self-hosting and Nextclouders specifically.

We explore the topic of Usable Security and how, in terms of security, the human aspect of your digital infrastructure may be the most important, and yet the least understood. Afterall, “Users are not the enemy.”

Lea and Brent touch on a wide gamut of related topics throughout, including:

The post Lea Gröber: Understanding self-hosting and security through Nextcloud appeared first on Nextcloud.