Launching a podcast is an odd experience. On the one hand, it’s still remarkably easy to do. If you have a little time, almost all of the basic tools needed for it are free. It’s honestly quite shocking that something so synonymous with Apple has remained such an open endeavor.
But to make a quality podcast is also intimidating. When we launched the On-Premise IT Roundtable (yes, the name is a pun) last year, we knew we were entering a crowded field. We wanted to put together a show that published regularly, maintained high quality audio and content, and stayed on premise to a specific technical topic. We hope our listeners have enjoyed it so far (if you haven’t already, subscribe here). Believe me, we’re just getting started!
None of that is easy to do on a regular basis. We thought we’d give some love to some of the podcast we think share the same qualities we aspire to.
1. Datanauts
Okay, so I’m not exactly unearthing some hidden gem of a podcast by suggesting something by the Packet Pushers folks. But if I have to choose one from their extensive network of shows, it’s got to be Datanauts. Maybe it’s because a lot of their dedicated networking stuff goes over my head, but I like the wider focus on instrastructure. This lets Chris Wahl and Ethan Banks to still get technical, but never lost in the weeds. It sounds great and updates weekly.
Get started with: NVMe and its Network Impact.
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2. Network Collective
Network Collective is still pretty new to the podcasting game, just starting in April 2017. In that time, they’ve proven to be an extremely reliable and informative networking podcast. Their standard episode features a panel of regular hosts (generally co-founders Jordan Martin, Eyvonne Sharp, and Phil Gervasi, plus Russ White) and expert guests all discussing a specific networking topic. They provide full audio and video of their shows, and the quality is surprisingly consistent. Running a live-to-tape podcast with a ton of video calls is a recipe for bad quality, but Network Collective never seems to suffer from any problems. My favorite addition to the show has to be their History of Networking series, which talks to prominent experts who developed things like VOIP, EIGRP, and BGP. I love how these shows shine a light on the engineers and show the process behind the protocols we all take for granted. Plus they have one of the better laid out podcast websites I’ve seen.
Get started with: History of Networking – Rolland Dobbins – DDOS
History Of Networking – Roland Dobbins – DDoS from Network Collective on Vimeo.
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3. The Cloudcast
The Cloudcast features Aaron Delp & Brian Gracely unsurprisingly talking about the latest news in cloud computing every week. One of the major draws for me to the podcast is that is has a little bit of personality. This takes a deft hand. Many IT podcast want to remain so on-topic that it’s like the hosts and guests only exist within that realm. This can lead to an informative, but sterile experience. On the other hand, too much personality borders on morning zoo territory. Aaron and Brian thread the needle on this. The show posts regularly, gets great guests, and records in what sounds like a professional studio. Plus, each episode generally stays around 25-30 minutes, making it a great commute listen. They’ve been at this since 2011, and the history shows.
Get started with: This Week in ML and AI
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4. Greybeards on Storage
Do you like storage? I mean really like storage? Then you’d probably get along with Ray Lucchesi and Howard Marks. They’ve been hosting Greybeards on Storage since 2013 and getting deep on storage. Unlike the other suggestions on this list, GBoS updates monthly. That’s because instead of focusing on the storage news of the week, or even dedicating a general topic for each episode, they’re hosting in-depth discussions with prominent storage executives and engineers. What’s great is that this isn’t just a chance for a c-level executive to throw out some marketing. Howard and Ray know how to ask the tough questions and get to the heart of what a company is actually offering and how it fits into the wider storage world. This show gets great access to guests, and the expertise of the hosts is palpable.
Get started with: GreyBeards talk scale-out secondary storage with Jonathan Howard, Dir. Tech. Alliances at Commvault
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Of course, this is only scratching the surface of what’s out there. The great thing about podcasting is that it seems no matter how niche your interest, there’s something out there for you. If you’ve got a favorite IT podcast we’ve missed, let me know in the comments. Happy listening!
