Podcasts · Technology

Life In Uptime

Packet Pushers

26 episodes

Hosted by content creators Alexis Bertholf and Kevin Nanns, Life In Uptime is a podcast that explores the real journeys of the people who build and run the backbone of the internet—network engineers, IT leaders, and technologists across the industry. But this isn't just another technology podcast. It’s about the people behind it. Each episode dives into the personal and professional paths that got them where they are today—because the road to a career in technology isn’t one-size-fits-all. Whether someone started in retail, dropped out of college, or studied computer science, every journey has value. And understanding that journey is just as important as understanding the tech they work on. This show is for anyone wondering how to break into tech, where it can take you, and what’s possible when you expand your mindset. Because no matter where you're starting from, there’s a way in—and we’re here to show you how.

Episodes

  1. LIU025: Dale Wheeler: What the Forklift?

    · 55 min · Episode 25

    Alexis and Kevin are joined by network technician and content creator Dale Wheeler to explore his career from forklift driver into IT. Together they discuss the pros and cons of traditional college degrees versus…

  2. LIU024: Dennis Thankachan: Lightyear and Beyond

    · 1 h 06 min · Episode 24

    Lightyear CEO and co-founder Dennis Thankachan shares his transition from investment banking to entrepreneurship and the lessons learned from his early startup failure. He also discusses the creation of Lightyear, the…

  3. LIU023: Wendell Odom – The Man Who Wrote THE Book

    · 1 h 09 min · Episode 23

    Renowned Cisco Press author Wendell Odom shares how he began writing the definitive guide for the CCNA exam. Alexis, Kevin, and Wendell discuss the balance between practical, on-the-job experience and certification…

  4. LIU022: Chris Grundemann – From Pulling Cable to Network Automation Forum

    · 53 min · Episode 22

    Chris Grundemann joins Alexis and Kevin to discuss his career evolution from pulling cable to co-founding the Network Automation Forum. Chris shares insights on the challenges of adopting network automation, the impact…

  5. LIU021: Justin Ryburn – The Road More Traveled with a Field CTO

    · 51 min · Episode 21

    Kevin and Alexis welcome Justin Ryburn, VP of Global Solution Engineering and Field CTO at Kentik, to discuss the realities of traveling for technical work. Justin explains the nuances of his role, which balances…

  6. LIU020: Ricki Cook: Reaching the Top and Walking Away

    · 1 h 10 min · Episode 20

    What do you do when you get your dream job and it’s not as fulfilling as you thought it would be? Ricki Cook speaks with Alexis and Kevin about navigating between career achievement and personal satisfaction. Ricki…

  7. LIU019: Jason Gooley: The Godfather of Programmability

    · 1 h 12 min · Episode 19

    Jason Gooley is a longtime member of the Cisco community and author of the latest edition of the CCNA book. Jason joins the show to share his unconventional path from a challenging childhood to technical evangelist and…

  8. LIU018: Why You Should Attend Tech Conferences

    · 50 min · Episode 18

    Alexis and Kevin talk about their experiences attending Cisco Live alongside return guest Melina Bertholf. They offer different perspectives about the event while highlighting the importance of building professional…

  9. LIU017: Chris Lapp: Becoming “THE GUY” (or GIRL)

    · 1 h 03 min · Episode 17

    Chris Lapp is an Emmy award-winning network engineer, focused on AI, media, and entertainment. Chris is also known as “The Guy”, the one you call when the problem is sitting between broadcast networking and media and…

  10. LIU016: Michael Keith Lewis: The Network Behind the Show

    · 1 h 11 min · Episode 16

    Today’s guest takes us behind the scenes of modern concert venues, which rely on wired and wireless IP networking. Michael Keith Lewis is a front-of-house engineer, tour manager, audio creator, and co-founder of Truck…

  11. LIU015: Eyvonne Sharp: From Farm Roots to the Cloud

    · 47 min · Episode 15

    Today’s guest is Eyvonne Sharp, a Google Cloud technical leader, Network Collective co-founder, co-host of The Cloud Gambit podcast, and former network architect at a Fortune 100. Eyvonne shares stories from her…

  12. LIU014: Linda Haviv: From Philosophy Major to AI Engineer

    · 1 h 01 min · Episode 14

    Alexis and Kevin sit down with Linda Haviv, an AI/ML Engineer and founder of Coding Crystals. Linda is known for making AI infrastructure accessible, and for a career path that went from philosophy student to…

  13. LIU013: The Engineer Who Built a Business to Fund a Mission

    · 1 h 05 min · Episode 13

    Ray Cline has been in the tech trenches since he was twelve years old, helping his Dad run a bulletin board service. Today he runs an MSP called Libertas Consulting and leads a nonprofit called TEKnowledge Worldwide…

  14. LIU012: Behind the Curtain at Life In Uptime

    · 57 min · Episode 12

    Kevin and Alexis are back with a behind-the-scenes look at the podcast with guest Melina Bertholf, who joined the team a while back to help manage content. (And yes, sharp-eyed readers will notice a family name shared…

  15. LIU011: Inside the Digital Nomad Life: The Good, The Hard, and the Wi-Fi

    · 1 h 11 min · Episode 11

    Alexis Bertholf and Kevin Nanns sit down for a conversation with Andrei Istrate, Senior Mobile Developer at Toptal. Andrei has taken the “mobile” part of his job literally: he’s built a life around travel and…

  16. LIU010: Personal, Technical, and Slightly Unhinged: Listener Q&A

    · 1 h 20 min · Episode 10

    Kevin and Alexis take a break from their regular interviews to answer your questions! Join them for an unfiltered, wide-ranging discussion including the value of certifications, online learning pros and cons, how…

  17. LIU009: Navigating Cybersecurity Careers

    · 49 min · Episode 9

    Alexis and Kevin sit down with Mike Miller to discuss what brought him from the back of a garbage truck to his current position as a Virtual Chief Information Security Officer (VCISO). He breaks down how a VCISO…

  18. LIU008: Breaking Barriers: Thriving as a Woman in Tech

    · 1 h 00 min · Episode 8

    Kevin and Alexis sit down with Melissa Brooks, a Senior Cloud Engineer at Aritzia, to discuss how she went from being a “terrible waitress” to going back to school for a diploma in network security. They explore how…

  19. LIU007: From Track to Tech: Navigating Career Change with Resilience

    · 59 min · Episode 7

    Ifeanyi Otuonye was a decorated track and field athlete at Kansas State and even competed professionally. Then he made the leap to a Technical Account Manager role at Amazon Web Services. Alexis and Kevin sit down with…

  20. LIU006: Stay Technical While Expanding Your Influence

    · 58 min · Episode 6

    Is it possible for IT professionals to remain technical when moving into roles that expand influence, scale, and reach? Matt Starling, Senior Director of Product Marketing at Ekahau and co-founder of the WiFi Ninjas…

  21. LIU005: The Importance of Community In a Networking Career

    · 52 min · Episode 5

    AJ Murray joins Kevin and Alexis to share his unique journey into tech, pivoting away from aviation maintenance into networking. Together they explore the importance of person-to-person networking and building a…

  22. LIU004: From Fast Food to Leading Operations at an ISP

    · 1 h 02 min · Episode 4

    Think you need a degree or a ton of certificates to succeed in tech? Think again. Matthew Oborne joins our hosts Alexis Bertholf and Kevin Nanns to discuss how he went from working fast food to leading operations at an…

  23. LIU003: A Chat With ‘The Cloud Therapist’

    · 44 min · Episode 3

    Your background and experiences outside of tech can become a significant factor in your tech career. Guest Chris Williams is a good example; he talks about how his undergraduate and graduate studies in psychology…

  24. LIU002: Do You Need a College Degree to Succeed in IT?

    · 1 h 02 min · Episode 2

    A college degree can be a useful stepping stone into a tech career, and it certainly doesn’t hurt to have it on your resume. But do you really need that college degree to succeed in IT? Maybe, maybe not. Today’s guest…

  25. LIU001: Growing Pains

    · 16 min · Episode 1

    Starting any new endeavor is hard. That’s particularly true for a career in tech. And that’s the reason Alexis Bertholf and Kevin Nanns are launching the Life In Uptime podcast. In each episode they’ll sit down with…

  26. LIU000: Announcing Life In Uptime, a New Podcast to Get You Started on Your IT Journey

    · 19 min

    Life In Uptime is a brand-new podcast that explores the real journeys of the people who build and run enterprise IT. Each episode dives into the personal and professional paths that got each guest to where they are…

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