The PowerShell Podcast

• Cryptography, Cracking Codes, and Breaking CBC with Dr. Al Carlson

  In this episode of The PowerShell Podcast, host Andrew Pla welcomes Dr. Al Carlson, a cryptographer, mathematician, and engineer whose career spans more than four decades in military intelligence, embedded systems, and advanced encryption research. Dr. Carlson explains how set theory and mathematical patterns underpin all cryptography, breaking down complex systems like AES into understandable concepts. He discusses his groundbreaking work on isomorphic cipher reduction, polymorphic encryption, and how simplicity, not complexity, is often the key to true security.   Key Takeaways: All encryption is patterns – Dr. Carlsen explains how every cipher, including AES, can be viewed as a substitution cipher, allowing for new ways to analyze and strengthen encryption. Simplicity creates strength – Complexity doesn’t guarantee security. By distilling systems to their fundamentals, cryptographers can identify weaknesses faster and design better ciphers. Quantum computing and cryptography’s future – Quantum computing's potential to break current encryption standards highlights the need for polymorphic and post-quantum approaches to secure data. Guest Bio: Dr. Al Carlson is a cryptographer, mathematician, and educator with over forty years of experience in electronic warfare, military cryptography, and advanced encryption systems. His work in set theory-based cryptographic analysis and polymorphic encryption has influenced how researchers think about code-breaking and data protection. A longtime IEEE member and mentor, Dr. Carlson continues to publish papers on approaches to information security and encryption theory.Resource Links IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) – https://www.ieee.org Breaking CBC Def Con Talk by Dr. Carlson - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0IsYNDMV7A Connect with Andrew - https://andrewpla.tech/links PowerShell Wednesdays – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1mL90yFExsix-L0havb8SbZXoYRPol0B PDQ Discord – https://discord.gg/PDQ The PowerShell Podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/gWmlvKFduP8

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• Free Security Wins for Sysadmins with Spencer Alessi

  Newly minted Microsoft MVP, pentester, and returning guest Spencer Alessi joins The PowerShell Podcast to talk about growth, giving back, and building security through PowerShell. Spencer shares lessons from his journey from sysadmin to pen tester, including the importance of learning from mistakes, documenting wins, and advocating for yourself in your career. He also introduces his latest open-source project, AppLocker Inspector, and discusses tools like Locksmith, Pink Castle, and Purple Knight that help IT pros secure their environments and build confidence in automation and defense.   Key Takeaways: Grow through mistakes – Learn from both your own missteps and those of others; every lesson strengthens your technical and professional skills. Security tools for sysadmins – Free PowerShell-based tools like AppLocker Inspector, Locksmith, and Purple Knight offer practical wins for securing Active Directory. Advocate for yourself and give back – Track your wins, share your work, and pay forward the mentorship and generosity that helped you grow. Guest Bio: Spencer Alessi is a Microsoft MVP, penetration tester, and community educator passionate about helping sysadmins strengthen their environments. Known online as @TechSpence, he creates approachable content and tools focused on helping sysadmins o improve security. Spencer is also a podcast host, public speaker, and strong advocate for mentorship, authenticity, and continuous learning in tech.   Resource Links: Spencer on PDQ Live - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j33dN2bELPU AppLocker Inspector – https://github.com/techspence/AppLockerInspector Purple Knight – https://www.semperis.com/purple-knight/ Ping Castle – https://www.pingcastle.com/download/ Locksmith (ADCS Auditing Tool) – https://github.com/jakehildreth/locksmith ADeleginator – https://github.com/techspence/ADeleginator Spencer’s Links – https://links.spenceralessi.com Cyber Threat Perspective Podcast – https://offsec.blog Connect with Andrew - https://andrewpla.tech/links PDQ Discord – https://discord.gg/PDQ PowerShell Wednesdays – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPoc8X7t0hY&list=PL1mL90yFExsix-L0havb8SbZXoYRPol0B&pp=0gcJCbAEOCosWNin The PowerShell Podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/E4ji0-rmsuA

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• Falling, Learning, and Laughing with PowerShell Friends

  Recorded live from SpiceWorld 2025 in Austin, Texas, this special PowerShell Podcast bar session brings together community members Jeffery Hayes, Stephen Engler, Sean Wheeler, and Steven Judd for a fun and insightful celebration of PowerShell and community. Host Andrew Pla reflects on reaching the 200-episode milestone while sharing stories about growth, learning, and the value of connection. From early PowerShell journeys to the power of conferences, mentorship, and even a few bar-side life lessons, this lively session captures the heart of the PowerShell community.   Key Takeaways: Community is everything – Attending conferences and connecting with peers accelerates growth, provides mentorship, and reminds you that learning is a shared journey. Learn by doing and asking – Don’t fear mistakes or questions; curiosity and collaboration are the real career accelerators. AI, documentation, and PowerShell’s future – The guests discuss Copilot, parameter validation, and the need for high-quality documentation to improve the next wave of AI-assisted development. Guests: Stephen Engler, Jeffery Hayes, Sean Wheeler, Steven Juddhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-engler/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jefferyhayescoa/ https://seanonit.org/ https://blog.stevenjudd.com/ https://andrewpla.tech/links   Resource Links: PowerShell Wednesdays – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPoc8X7t0hY&list=PL1mL90yFExsix-L0havb8SbZXoYRPol0B PDQ Discord – https://discord.gg/PDQ Powershell.org– https://powershell.org Microsoft Learn PowerShell Docs – https://learn.microsoft.com/powershell Azure PowerShell Documentation – https://learn.microsoft.com/powershell/azure The PowerShell Podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/UrsbTkR6jg8

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• The PSADT Framework Explained and What’s New in Version 4.1 with Dan Cunningham

  In this episode, PowerShell Podcast host Andrew Pla chats with Dan Cunningham, Strategic Innovation Leader for PowerShell App Deployment Toolkit (PSADT), about the history, architecture, and evolution of the open-source framework used for enterprise software deployment. Dan explains how PSADT simplifies installs, improves logging, enhances user experience with UI dialogs, and provides consistency across environments. He also discusses the latest release, v4.1, which removes the need for Microsoft’s ServiceUI, boosting both security and usability for Intune and SCCM deployments.   Key Takeaways: Smarter software deployments – PSADT provides a structured, battle-tested framework for automating installs, repairs, and removals, saving IT teams time while improving consistency and reliability. Security and stability first – The 4.1 release replaces the risky ServiceUI dependency, strengthening system security and making UI deployments safer and easier. Open source with enterprise value – With over a decade of community use, PSADT continues to evolve through collaboration, defensive coding, and lessons learned from real-world enterprise use. Guest Bio: Dan Cunningham is the Co-Founder and Strategic Innovation Leader behind the PowerShell App Deployment Toolkit (PSADT) at Patch My PC. A long-time open-source contributor and frequent conference speaker, Dan has held leadership roles at several orgs, helping Fortune 500 companies secure and manage complex IT environments. His 15-year tenure at PwC in Ireland and Canada laid the groundwork for PSADT’s creation — where it was first put to the test.   Resource Links: PowerShell App Deployment Toolkit (PSADT) – https://psappdeploytoolkit.com Dan Cunningham on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sintaxasn/ Dan on BlueSky – https://x.com/sintaxasn Connect with Andrew - https://andrewpla.tech/links PDQ Discord – https://discord.gg/PDQ PowerShell Wednesdays – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-d16gi3VEc 2026 State of SysAdmin Form - https://conjointly.online/study/627204/sdzoxv8vtq41rshsbtly The PowerShell Podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/y3zWcb8ulVw

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• 200 Episodes of Community with Frank Lesniak

  In this milestone 200th episode of The PowerShell Podcast, Frank Lesniak returns to chat with Andrew Pla about automation, community, and what it means to “bet on yourself.” Frank shares his experiences leading cybersecurity and enterprise architecture projects, using PowerShell for AWS security automation, and developing tools to simplify complex data exports. He also discusses the upcoming PowerShell Summit, his work with DuPage Animal Friends, and the value of giving back through mentorship, community involvement, and open source.   Key Takeaways: PowerShell in the cloud – Frank dives deep into AWS automation and explains how PowerShell can simplify security and configuration management at scale. From console to community – After years of speaking and mentoring, Frank emphasizes how collaboration and consistent effort lead to career growth and confidence. Giving back through leadership – As VP of DuPage Animal Friends, Frank highlights the power of using your professional skills for good beyond tech. Guest Bio: Frank Lesniak is a Sr. Cybersecurity & Enterprise Technology Architect at West Monroe, where he leads a 45-member team focused on Microsoft's M365/Modern Work platform. His team specializes in navigating the technical complexities of corporate M&A, executing at-scale divestitures and integrations centered on Azure, Microsoft 365, Entra ID, Active Directory, and Windows. An active contributor to the tech community, Frank is a published author, open-source contributor, and a frequent speaker at conferences and user groups on topics including PowerShell, artificial intelligence, and offbeat technical talks related to his hobbies. In his local community, he serves as the Vice President of DuPage Animal Friends, a non-profit dedicated to supporting DuPage County's sole open-admission animal shelter.   Resource Links: Connect with Frank -https://linktr.ee/franklesniak Frank Lesniak on X (Twitter) – https://x.com/FrankLesniak Frank on LinkedIn – https://linkedin.com/in/flesniak Connect with Andrew - https://andrewpla.tech/links DuPage Animal Friends – https://dupageanimalfriends.org Previous Podcasts with Frank - https://powershellpodcast.podbean.com/?s=Frank%20Lesniak PowerShell Wednesdays – YouTube Playlist PDQ Discord (PowerShell Scripting Channel) – https://discord.gg/PDQ PowerShell Summit OnRamp Scholarship – https://www.powershellsummit.org/on-ramp/ The PowerShell Podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/cQvs5s3T1DA

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