IBM Z and LinuxONE Ecosystem Podcast

Episodi

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  The Expert Who Never Retires: Agentic Root-Cause and Tested Fixes on IBM Z 01.09.2026 18min

  Every bank has one - the engineer who is the only one that understands a critical system, and who is about to retire. In this episode, Tweezr CEO Ohad Kotler argues that the reason AI has transformed software development everywhere except the banking core isn't the code, it's the missing feedback loop: no machine-readable requirement, no visible dependencies, no fast tests. He discusses building a deterministic blueprint of an entire estate - COBOL, PL/I, Natural, Assembler, RPG, Java and the...
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  Unlocking VSAM Data Without Changing Your Code 29.07.2026 23min

  In this episode, we explore how organizations can make their systems more efficient without starting over. Discover how VSAM data can flow seamlessly between batch jobs and CICS - no code changes needed. Learn how this boosts availability, cuts risk, and modernizes your systems while keeping what already works. Whether you're technical or just curious, we break it down in a clear, easy-to-follow way. Stay Connected Be part of the conversation! Join the ISV Ecosystem User Group to explore th...
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  Protecting Critical Workloads in the AI Era with Trend Micro and IBM 02.07.2026 23min

  AI isn't just changing how we build software — it's changing how attackers operate. In this episode of the z/Action Podcast, we sit down with Trend Micro to unpack the accelerating security risks of the AI era and what a modern defense strategy looks like across IBM Z and LinuxONE, hybrid cloud, containers, and modern application platforms. The central challenge: agentic AI attacks demand agentic AI defenses. We explore why reactive, siloed tooling falls short — and how organizations ca...
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  New to Z: Road to SME Podcast - Mainframe Security Simplified: Niall Ashley’s Story 15.06.2026 51min

  Tune in as Devonte’ Hawkins and Caitlin Mooney chat with Niall Ashley, Security Technical Consultant at Vertali and IBM Champion. Niall shares his unexpected journey into mainframe security, having transitioned from aeronautical engineering. He discusses what makes mainframe security unique, strategies for learning complex concepts, and the importance of making education engaging. The conversation also touches on maintaining a healthy work-life balance and the value of giving back...
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  Trust at the Core: How Germany’s Savings Banks Are Raising the Bar on Payee Verification in Europe 01.06.2026 18min

  In this episode, we speak with Christian Friberg from PPI and Ralf Schopohl from SIZ to explore the evolution of EBICS, the implementation of verification of payee in the European savings banking sector, and the critical role the Mainframe plays in ensuring secure, resilient and compliant transaction processing. We discuss how PPI and SIZ began their collaboration, the origins of EBICS as a German standard now adopted across Western Europe, and how core server-side programs running on IBM Z s...
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  AI-driven mainframe access for modern developers 30.04.2026 16min

  In this episode, we sit down with Gil Peleg, Co-founder and CEO of Geniez, which is enabling developers to connect their AI agents and applications directly to real-time mainframe data—without requiring deep mainframe expertise. This conversation explores how simplifying access to mainframe data is helping organizations retain talent, attract new developers, and keep critical workloads on the platform. Stay Connected Be part of the conversation! Join the ISV Ecosystem User Group to expl...
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  New to Z: Road to SME Podcast - When Teaching Is the Moment You Become an SME — with Richelle Anne Craw 21.04.2026 31min

  In this episode of New to Z: Road to SME, we’re joined by Richelle Anne Craw—Mainframe Software Engineer, IBM Champion, and community leader—for an honest and fun conversation about growth, curiosity, and confidence on the road to SME. Richelle shares her journey from early‑career developer to trusted expert, why teaching is often the moment you realize you’re an SME, and how transferable skills, mentorship, and curiosity shape long‑term success. From COBOL and pseudocode to open source and m...
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  Human Firewalls: Social Engineering in Mainframe Security 30.03.2026 23min

  Even the most advanced systems can be undone by a single human misstep. In this episode of the z/Action Podcast, we explore how social engineering exploits human behavior and how awareness, culture, and continuous education can help protect mission-critical environments like IBM Z. Joining us is Niall Ashley, an IBM Champion and security professional passionate about raising awareness of the human side of cybersecurity. Together, we discuss real-world examples, the psychology behind social en...
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  Innovating with Mainframe: AI, Insights and a Product Manager's Journey 02.03.2026 19min

  In this episode of the z/Action Podcast, our community manager Natalie Carrillo speaks with Mark Schettenhelm, Principal Product Manager, about his decades long journey with the mainframe and why IBM Z continues to evolve at the center of enterprise computing. From solving mission critical problems to leveraging AI for deeper code understanding and log analysis, Mark shares how innovation, persistence and a problem solving mindset are shaping the future of the platform. The conversation...
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  New to Z: Road to SME Podcast - Pioneers in Mainframe Community Building: Steven Perva and Emma Skovgård 20.02.2026 48min

  We’re excited to kick off the 2026 Season 2 of the New to Z: Road to SME podcast with IBM Champions Steven Perva and Emma Skovgård, exploring how community, curiosity, and modern tooling are shaping the next generation of mainframers. In this episode, we talk about their unconventional paths into the mainframe world and their work building vibrant communities like the Systems Z Enthusiast Discord and Dinoframe. They share lessons on learning curves, modern tools like Python on Z, and th...
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  A Career Across the Ecosystem: A Mainframer’s Journey and the Evolution of OMEGAMON 04.02.2026 21min

  In this episode of the z/Action podcast, we sit down with Vytautas Murauskas, a former IBMer who now brings his expertise to Rocket Software as part of the OMEGAMON support team. Vytautas shares his unique career journey, from his early days in the IBM Z world to his current role supporting one of the industry’s most trusted performance and monitoring tools. Along the way, he reflects on career-defining moments, lessons learned, and the evolution of OMEGAMON in addressing modern mainfra...
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  Behind the Scenes, Big Impact: Donna Hudi’s exemplary leadership in the Mainframe community 05.01.2026 21min

  In this episode of z/Action, we sit down with Donna Hudi, IBM Champion, Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Business Development at Phoenix Software International, to explore how behind-the-scenes leadership can be one of the most powerful forms of advocacy. From being welcomed into the mainframe community with no prior Z experience, to mentoring the next generation of talent and supporting first-time presenters, Donna has become a force for inclusive growth and authentic leadership. Whether ...
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  New to Z: Road to SME Podcast - Breakthrough Innovation on IBM Z: Insights from Industry Leaders Rebecca & Tina 12.12.2025 23min

  What better way to end the season than with our IBM Z Day special—featuring Tina Tarquinio, Chief Product Officer for IBM Z & LinuxONE, and Rebecca Levesque, Founder & CRO at 21CS. From AI + infrastructure to security, sustainability, and mentorship, Tina and Rebecca share smart, lively insights to help you go from New to Z to trusted SME—plus a few great stories along the way.
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  The z/Education! Podcast – Episode 11 12.12.2025 16min

  This episode features Karl-Erik Stenfors, a retired IBM systems engineer and since 2015 been teaching Linux, virtualization and z/Assembler at three private universities in France, as well as teaching System Z technologies for two professional education companies. Kark-Erik has been recognized as an IBM Z and Linux One Champion for 2025!! Teaching has been a natural thread throughout his entire career, from installing and introducing new products, to coaching colleagues and customers, to auth...
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  AI-Driven Decisions on the Mainframe 11.12.2025 13min

  In this episode, you will learn how organizations are modernizing right on their mainframes, using a shared repository of decision logic to make smarter, faster, and more transparent decisions. By combining business rules with AI and machine learning, the mainframe is helping businesses unlock their full potential in today’s fast-paced digital world. Watch the episode here: https://ibm.biz/Bdb3p6 Stay Connected Be part of the conversation! Join the ISV Ecosystem User Group to explore the late...
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  New to Z: Road to SME Podcast – Craig Mullins on Mainframes & More 11.11.2025 43min

  Meet Craig Mullins – From punched cards to mainframes, Craig’s journey is a masterclass in curiosity and adaptability. Discover how a college intern at US Steel became a leading voice in enterprise computing. Tune in to hear his origin story and insights on navigating tech’s evolution!
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  Agentic AI on IBM Z: Shaping the Future of Intelligent Enterprise Systems 03.11.2025 19min

  Agentic AI—the next wave of artificial intelligence—goes beyond automation to enable systems that can reason, act, and adapt autonomously. On IBM Z, these capabilities unlock new frontiers for enterprises seeking resiliency, efficiency, and trust at scale. This conversation explores how businesses can harness Agentic AI to transform operations, modernize mission-critical workloads, and co-create new value with their customers. We’ll dive into the future of enterprise intelligence, ethical AI ...
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  New to Z: Road to SME Podcast - Green Screens & Grit: How Marcus Davage Became an SME 27.10.2025 35min

  Marcus Davage is a seasoned technologist, lead product developer at BMC Software, and an IBM Champion. With a career that began in his teenage years—tinkering with early home computers like the Commodore 64 and Amiga—Marcus’s passion for computing led him to pursue a computer science degree and eventually discover the world of mainframes during an industrial placement at a steelworks. His journey from curious student to respected subject matter expert is marked by resilience, continuous learn...
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  New to Z: Road to SME Podcast - Mainframe Roots: PJ Catalano's Path to IBM Z Test Architect 03.10.2025 38min

  In this episode, we sit down with PJ Catalano, IBM Z Test Architect, to discuss his origin story and how he got started in the mainframe space. PJ shares his journey from being a co-op student to becoming a leading expert in mainframe testing. We also dive into the process of testing a Z system, from emulation and simulation environments to hardware and firmware integration testing. PJ explains the importance of testing and how his team's efforts contribute to the reliability and quality of t...
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  Mainframe Medicine: Transforming Patient Management with Agility & AI 01.10.2025 17min

  In this episode, we dive into the powerhouse of healthcare IT—the mainframe. From patient management to accounting and medical records, the mainframe continues to deliver unmatched reliability and scalability for healthcare organizations. We’ll explore how mainframe systems enable agility in workflows, simplify the process of upskilling, and integrate seamlessly with AI to improve patient outcomes and operational efficiency. Whether you’re a healthcare IT professional, a mainframe enthusiast,...