zMinds

We close out an incredible first season of conversations exploring innovation, leadership, and the future of the Z community.

In Part 2 of our conversation with Paul Robichaux, we take a deeper look at the growing risks surrounding AI, DevOps, and modernization in enterprise IT environments. As organizations accelerate software development with AI-assisted coding tools like Claude and Codex, the speed of innovation is increasing dramatically. But so are concerns around security, compliance, operational stability, and data exposure.

Security and compliance are converging—and AI is at the center of it. Paul Robichaux, CEO of NewEra Software and longtime mainframe expert, joins us once again to explore how AI is transforming IBM z/OS environments by turning audit “fire drills” into continuous, automated compliance. From real-time validation to always-ready audit proof, the conversation uncovers how organizations can stay secure, resilient, and audit-ready every day—not just on June 30th.

In our final episode with Rosalind Radcliffe, we wrap up talking about z/OS and IBM's future capabilities and how optimistic she is for the versatility and usefulness of the program.

Continuing our conversation with Rosalind Radcliffe, we pivot to the controversial topic of AI in the tech industry. AI continues to find new applications and uses, so who's responsible for the product it creates? What uses should it be mainly used for, and what should we avoid using it for?

We’re back in the saddle again! Today we speak with Rosalind Radcliffe, the CTO of IBM z and Linux One ecosystem organization and frequent conference speaker, on how we should best organize and paths for learning and passing information, especially across generations. She advocates for knowledge sharing and giving space for new ways of thinking as we continue to modernize and evolve down the line.

Quantum computing went from “someday” to “we should probably talk about this” faster than anyone expected. In this episode of zMinds, we dig into what quantum safe cryptography really means for the z/OS community without panic and without hype. From harvest now decrypt later risks to crypto agility, TLS, IPsec, and long term data protection, we explore how secure communications on z/OS are evolving and what steps matter most right now.

In this candid episode of zMinds, Rob Bayless and Trident Services founder Tim Humphreys break down why the zPDT sunset feels unsettling for ISVs who rely on stable development environments. With no firm timelines and mounting cost pressures, the industry is being asked to adapt — fast. This is an honest, experience-driven discussion about uncertainty, execution, and what happens when critical infrastructure changes without a clear roadmap.

In this episode, Sammie sits down with Glennon Bagsby to unpack everything new in the Integrity Controls Environment from smarter AI infused insights to upgraded inspection power that makes z/OS feel crisp, clean, and future ready. Glennon walks us through the newest features, the big brain ideas behind them, and how ICE 19 is stepping into a whole new era of intelligent system integrity. If you want a peek at how AI is reshaping the way we protect, validate, and understand our mainframe environments, this is the episode you do not want to skip.

In this episode, Sammie sits down with IBM Champion and Broadcom expert Ray Mullins, whose 45+ years in the mainframe world have shaped the Z community as we know it. Ray shares insights on IBM’s recent ZPDT changes, what they mean for small ISVs, and how innovation can continue through adaptability. Beyond the tech talk, he opens up about advocating for neurodiversity, building inclusive teams, and—of course—his three golden retrievers who keep things balanced.

This episode closes out our in-depth look at IBM z/OS 3.2 with Steven Warren. Discover what’s new in container extensions, cloud direct capabilities, Python integration, and the drive toward mainframe simplification. Steven shares how these updates make z/OS more efficient, modern, and ready for the next generation of Z professionals.