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Network engineers don’t tune into corporate all-hands because they’re “lazy,” they tune out because the message often isn’t for them. In this episode of The Art of Network Engineering, Andy Lapteff sits down with longtime industry leaders Scott Robohn and Mike Bushong to unpack the disconnect between engineering teams and executive communications, and how to fix it.

They talk about:

• Why engineers roll their eyes at town halls, earnings calls, and “four pillars of excellence”
• How leadership actually thinks about growth, stock price, cost centers, and enablement
• The two jobs every company really has: build stuff or sell stuff, and where networking fits
• How to pitch your ideas in business terms so they get funded
• Why AI networking and data center infrastructure are the next durable growth areas for network pros
• The difference between being part of the product vs. enabling the product, and why it matters for your career

If you’ve ever thought, “Just let me do my job,” this one’s for you. You’ll walk away knowing how to connect your automation, operations, or data center work to the outcomes your company actually cares about: revenue, speed, customer experience, and risk.

Listen in, take notes, and then go advocate for your work like it matters, because it does.

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Blue Origin’s Lexie Cooper is back! We riff on New Glenn’s first launch and what “vehicle #2” means for launch cadence, where to watch from Florida without getting arrested, and why streaming your learning, even when it’s awkward, is a cheat code for growth.

Andy shares his live Python study saga (and a friendly dust-up with Jeff about “just code it”), while Lexie takes us down to Layer 1: PHYs, link pulses, why “turning off auto-negotiation” isn’t always what you think, and why messy home labs beat pretty cable porn.

We also get real about authenticity at vendors, the pressure to be “polished,” and whether networking is still a great career in an automation-heavy market.

If you need a nudge to build, break, and learn in public, this one’s it.

In this episode:
New Glenn’s growing fleet & why multiple boosters matter
How/where to catch a Florida launch (scrubs happen)
Learning in public: textbooks on stream, tension on mic, real takeaways
PHY vs. ASIC, MAC sublayers, and auto-neg gotchas (with an oscilloscope!)
Home labs: why “spaghetti” > showroom racks for actual learning
Careers: automation pressure, Git for config history, staying authentic
Streaming nuts & bolts: TikTok vs. Twitch vs. YouTube, OBS scenes 101
Women in networking and inviting more people into the field

This episode has been sponsored by Meter.

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You can support the show at the link below.

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This episode has been sponsored by Meter.

Go to meter.com/aone to book a demo now!

You can support the show at https://www.buzzsprout.com/2127872/support or from the "Support The Show" link at https://linktr.ee/artofneteng.

Thanks for listening and for your continued support :)

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We’re kicking off a brand-new “Python Study Sessions” series—learn right alongside host Andy Lapteff as he starts from absolute basics and builds momentum one concept at a time. In this first session, Andy walks through the installation of Python, setting up VS Code, running “Hello, world,” and getting comfortable with the Python REPL. Then we dive into fundamentals you’ll use everywhere: variables, print(), syntax highlighting, saving/running files, common traceback errors, and simple debugging in VS Code. This series is inspired by learning in public—join the community, ask questions, and study together as we work through Python Crash Course (3rd ed.). If you liked our recent, more technical BGP episode, you’ll love where this is headed.

What you’ll learn

• Installing Python 3 and launching the interpreter
• Writing and running your first script in VS Code
• Variables 101: assignment, reassignment, and printing values
• Reading tracebacks and fixing name/syntax errors
• Beginner mindset tips for sticking with code

We’ll stream future sessions and continue to publish the audio here. Want to follow along live, ask questions, or share your wins? Watch for stream announcements on our socials: @ArtOfNetEng.

If this format helps you, tell us—rate the show, leave a comment, or share with a friend who’s been meaning to learn Python. Your feedback decides if we keep this series going.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel and click the notification icon to get notified of our free Python Party Livestreams, where we learn Python fundamentals together: https://www.youtube.com/@artofneteng

https://www.youtube.com/@erika_thedev
FREE Learn to Code for network engineers course:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvfm4aNXLC8wiJs-YGVQXUwukv06z5NJS&si=EqTVV_57fkfHCpP_

https://www.youtube.com/@Tracketpacer
Study Streams:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLj0DbZdkhZoc8t3X98tjB4lfKMRgq03LI&si=bJ9t1tM_3cmJwesR

Support the show:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2127872/support

This episode has been sponsored by Meter.

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You can support the show at https://www.buzzsprout.com/2127872/support or from the "Support The Show" link at https://linktr.ee/artofneteng.

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BGP isn’t just “the internet’s protocol”—it’s the most flexible policy engine in networking. In this episode of The Art of Network Engineering, Andy Lapteff and Jeff Clark sit down with Kevin Myers (aka StubArea51) to unpack Border Gateway Protocol from the ground up: why BGP replaced EGP, how policy differs from IGP topology, and where iBGP shines inside modern enterprises.

You’ll hear practical patterns for BGP communities (standard, extended, and large), how to tag and filter at scale, and why this beats sprawling prefix lists and brittle ACLs. Kevin walks through real merger scenarios—solving overlapping RFC1918 space with communities, when to NAT vs. renumber, and why IPv6 is a secret weapon for management domains. We also cover iBGP loop prevention, route reflectors vs. full-mesh, the attributes that actually matter (local-pref > weight/MED in most shops), and how SD-WAN leans on BGP under the hood.

If you’ve ever wondered why BGP ended up everywhere—WAN, SD-WAN, and even data centers—this conversation connects the dots with clear, battle-tested examples.

This episode has been sponsored by Meter.

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You can support the show at https://www.buzzsprout.com/2127872/support or from the "Support The Show" link at https://linktr.ee/artofneteng.

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What happens when a farm kid with a knack for taking things apart discovers computers? Meet Tom Lawrence, the tech polymath behind Lawrence Systems and a YouTube channel with over 375,000 subscribers. In this engaging conversation, Tom reveals how his curiosity-driven journey from 1990s Linux enthusiast to MSP owner and content creator was fueled by a simple philosophy: lead with value.

Tom's approach stands in refreshing contrast to typical marketing strategies. "People remember people who helped them, not people who threw them in a sales funnel," he explains, detailing how his comprehensive, no-holds-barred tutorials naturally generate business leads without ever feeling like advertisements. This generosity extends to his forums, where he freely shares configurations, news sources, and technical solutions with a community of over 80,000 weekly visitors.

The discussion takes fascinating turns through cybersecurity landscapes, self-hosted AI, and the privacy culture within hacker communities. Tom breaks down complex topics with remarkable clarity – from the security implications of passkeys to the advantages of running language models locally rather than relying on cloud services. His practical advice is grounded in real-world experience: "I only do freebies for immediate family," he laughs, offering wisdom on setting boundaries as a tech professional.

Whether you're considering a career in cybersecurity, looking to understand the business side of technology, or simply fascinated by the evolution of computing, Tom's story demonstrates how technical expertise combined with genuine helpfulness creates a formula for success in the digital age. Discover why this self-described "generalist" has become one of the most trusted voices in technical education and what his journey reveals about the future of IT.

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From refinancing a car to attend Novell School to founding one of networking's most influential podcasts, Ethan Banks shares his remarkable journey through the evolution of network engineering with raw honesty and deep insight.

In this captivating conversation, Ethan takes us back to the mid-90s when networks ran on a patchwork of protocols like IPX, DeckNet, and AppleTalk, before the industry consolidated around IP. His career trajectory mirrors the transformation of networking itself—constantly adapting, expanding in scope, and requiring an ever-broader skill set.

The story behind Packet Pushers reveals the grind of content creation that many never see. Starting in 2010 when podcasting was still emerging, Ethan and co-founder Greg Farrow recorded remotely (Ethan in the US, Greg in England) while working full-time jobs. Their philosophy of "just hit publish" and focus on consistent, quality content built a community when network engineers often felt isolated in their roles. Five years of this double workload culminated in taking the leap to full-time podcasting in 2015.

What makes this episode especially valuable is Ethan's perspective on where networking is heading. Today's engineers need to understand not just routing and switching, but cloud architecture, cybersecurity, automation, and software development principles. While certifications like CCNA still provide foundational knowledge, Ethan emphasizes understanding the "why" behind networking decisions rather than just memorizing commands.

For aspiring content creators, Ethan offers encouraging wisdom: don't be intimidated by existing content. Your unique perspective and communication style will connect with people in ways others can't. Creating technical content also forces deeper understanding, revealing knowledge gaps you might not have recognized otherwise.

Join our community at linktree.com/artofneteng and visit our Discord "It’s All About the Journey" to continue the conversation about career development, content creation, and navigating the future of networking.

This episode has been sponsored by Meter.

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You can support the show at https://www.buzzsprout.com/2127872/support or from the "Support The Show" link at https://linktr.ee/artofneteng.

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Ever wondered what really happens behind the scenes of a tech podcast? From planning to publishing, this episode lifts the veil on the entire content creation process that powers The Art of Network Engineering.

The journey begins with planning—far from simply hitting record and talking, successful episodes require thoughtful topic selection, guest coordination, and scheduling. We reveal how project management tools like Asana help organize our workflow, and share how AI assists with generating fresh topics after 170+ episodes. You'll discover the exact hardware setup we use, from professional microphones to lighting equipment, and learn which recording platforms deliver the best results for remote guests.

Post-production might seem intimidating, but we break down our approach to editing, sharing both premium solutions like Adobe Premiere Pro and free alternatives like DaVinci Resolve. You'll learn about specialized tools that automatically remove silence and enhance audio quality, dramatically reducing editing time while improving listener experience. We also discuss the importance of visually appealing thumbnails and how Canva makes graphic design accessible to non-designers.

Most importantly, we emphasize why creating content matters for your career. As Jeff shares, his early "Tech Tip Tuesday" videos helped him land his first IT job despite lacking traditional experience. Whether you're establishing credibility, demonstrating communication skills, or building community, content creation provides unique opportunities to advance professionally. The best part? You don't need expensive equipment or years of experience to begin—just start with what you have and allow yourself to grow.

Ready to launch your own content journey? Connect with us on Discord, LinkedIn or other social platforms—we're always happy to help fellow creators get started!

This episode has been sponsored by Meter.

Go to meter.com/aone to book a demo now!

You can support the show at https://www.buzzsprout.com/2127872/support or from the "Support The Show" link at https://linktr.ee/artofneteng.

Thanks for listening and for your continued support :)

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