Toby shares insights into managing a home lab, the challenges faced, and the transformative impact of leveraging AI to improve management and automation. He discusses disaster recovery testing, observability, and the applicability of home lab learnings to enterprise IT.

Takeaways

• AI can transform home lab management
• Disaster recovery testing is essential for home lab resilience

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to the Home Lab
• 03:01 Challenges of Managing a Home Lab
• 06:19 Leveraging AI to Improve Home Lab Management
• 15:30 Testing and Implementing Disaster Recovery
• 24:25 Observability and Future Plans
• 26:01 Applicability to Enterprise IT

The conversation with Chad Mattix delves into the concept of AI as an operating model, emphasizing the importance of human oversight and decision-making. It explores the integration of AI into business operations, the impact on scalability, and the need for clear governance and context. The discussion also highlights the challenges and considerations in deploying AI, including token consumption, cost evaluation, and the role of AI as a co-pilot rather than an autopilot.

Takeaways

• AI as an operating model
• Human oversight and decision-making
• Integration of AI into business operations
• Challenges in deploying AI
• Token consumption and cost evaluation

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to AI as an Operating Model
• 01:13 AI as an Operating System for Kinetics
• 05:00 Data Governance and AI Integration
• 06:31 Impact on Business Scalability
• 22:54 Challenges in Deploying AI
• 35:09 AI as a Co-Pilot, Not an Autopilot

The conversation with Chad Mattix delves into the concept of AI as an operating model, emphasizing the importance of human oversight and decision-making. It explores the integration of AI into business operations, the challenges of AI governance, and the need for a balanced approach to automation. The discussion highlights the role of AI in enabling scale and efficiency while empowering human workers to make informed decisions.

Takeaways

• AI as an operating model
• Human oversight and decision-making
• Balanced approach to automation
• AI governance and challenges
• Empowering human workers

Chapters

• 00:00 AI as an Operating Model
• 05:00 The Role of Human Oversight
• 06:10 Challenges of AI Governance
• 09:00 Balanced Approach to Automation
• 17:17 Empowering Human Workers
• 22:54 AI Integration and Business Operations
• 38:06 The Future of AI in Business

S1E39 Someone Racked Up $2,000 on AI in 24 Hours. Here's What They Did Wrong

Pops and Steele dig into a problem hiding in plain sight: uncontrolled AI subscription spend. As teams experiment freely with AI tools — often on personal corporate cards with zero IT or finance visibility — costs are quietly compounding into what could become a governance crisis. The two draw parallels to the early days of cloud computing and Shadow IT, arguing that AI subscriptions, tokens, and usage-based billing need to be tracked like any other IT asset, ideally landing in a CMDB. They walk through real-world cautionary tales (a $2K/day AI bill, a Meta token-spend anecdote), debate who actually owns AI risk within an organization, and lay out a practical cadence for reviewing AI spend — monthly until you understand it, then scaling back. The episode closes with concrete advice: read the fine print on your AI tool's usage limits, bring a real cost forecast to finance early, and don't wait for the invoice to start the conversation.
Key Takeaways

Shadow AI hides wherever there's no intake and governance process — not in one department, but across every team running its own point solutions.

Usage-based billing breaks traditional software asset tracking. Unlike flat licensing, token/consumption-based spend is jagged and hard to forecast without active monitoring.

Treat AI subscriptions like governed IT assets — track what models, datasets, and prompts are in use, ideally inside a CMDB, the same way you'd track any other asset with blast-radius risk.

Review cadence should match maturity, not comfort: monthly (or even daily/weekly for new capabilities) until the org actually understands its usage pattern — then it can stretch to quarterly.

Ownership of AI risk is shared, but accountability isn't. The team that brings a tool in without going through proper process still owns the consequences.

Bring a number to finance before they ask for one. Proactive cost forecasting protects the relationship — and the budget.

"Ferrari to the grocery store" problem: using frontier/premium models for simple tasks is where a lot of runaway spend comes from — match the model to the job.

AI spend management, Shadow AI, Shadow IT, AI asset management, CMDB, IT asset management, ITAM, AI governance, token-based billing, usage-based billing, AI budget, finance and IT alignment, AI subscription tracking, consumption-based licensing, AI cost governance, enterprise AI adoption, CAB governance, AI risk management
Suggested CTAs

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Tag someone in IT or Finance who needs to hear this before the next invoice lands.

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S1E13 Significance of community for IT leaders with Michael Alshouse
In this episode of The Wired Garage, Michael Alshouse from Byteworks joins to discuss insights from leading IT leadership roundtables and the vital role of community among technology leaders. Focusing on healthcare IT, he explores how organizations are tackling evolving cybersecurity threats, mounting compliance demands, and vendor complexity—all while realizing the promise of AI and automation. Alshouse shares practical guidance for CIOs and IT executives on building strong peer networks, avoiding common leadership pitfalls, and aligning strategic priorities with organizational goals. The conversation offers a grounded look at how modern IT leaders can navigate change and empower their teams in a rapidly shifting digital landscape.

Keywords
IT leadership, cybersecurity, healthcare technology, AI automation, peer networking, compliance, vendor management, roundtable discussions, technology insights, cybersecurity, regulations, community, technology adoption, service desk

Takeaways
Community is a cheat code for modern IT.
AI policies help govern the use of technology.
Prioritize strategic work over mundane tasks.
Healthcare organizations face unique cyber risks.
Building trust in peer networks enhances idea sharing.
Community is essential for modern IT leaders.
Healthcare organizations face unique IT challenges.
AI is a hot topic but requires careful governance.
Cybersecurity is a new normal for IT leaders.
Regulatory pressures can be overwhelming; seek peer advice.
Building a peer network can provide valuable support.
Automation can significantly improve IT operations.
Top-down leadership is crucial for technology adoption.
Learning from peers can save time and resources.
Establishing comfort at the leadership level is key.

Chapters
The Importance of Community in IT Leadership
Navigating Healthcare IT Challenges
The Role of AI in IT Operations
Cybersecurity in Healthcare: A New Normal
Understanding Regulations and Best Practices
Leveraging Automation and AI for Efficiency
Building Your Own Network of Peers
The Role of Leadership in Technology Adoption

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S1E14 Balancing Fatherhood and Fitness with Michael Alshouse
In this episode of The Wired Garage, Michael Alshouse shares insights on balancing fatherhood, health, and sports. He discusses his ideal day as a dad, which includes early morning workouts, smoking meat, and spending quality time with family. The conversation delves into the importance of family dinners, the challenges of parenting, and how to instill a love for sports in children. Alshouse emphasizes the need for balance in life, the significance of accountability in fitness, and the joy of sharing sports experiences with family.

Keywords
dad life, health, family, sports, parenting, cooking, fitness, balance, traditions, routines

Takeaways
Early morning workouts are essential for personal time.
Cooking meat on a Traeger takes patience and skill.
Family dinners provide energy and connection.
It's okay to have off days in fitness routines.
Involving kids in physical activities fosters family bonding.
Accountability is crucial for maintaining fitness goals.
Balancing health and family requires planning and flexibility.
Sports can be a shared family experience.
Teaching kids about winning and losing is important.
Traditions in sports can create lasting memories.

Chapters
The Dream Day of a Dad
Balancing Health and Family Life
Cherishing Family Moments
Navigating Fatherhood and Family Dynamics
Balancing Health and Family Life
Starting Your Health Journey
Sports Fandom and Team Loyalty
College Basketball Passion
March Madness vs. College Football
The Impact of NIL on College Sports
The Evolution of NFL Offense
Integrating Sports into Family Life
Lessons in Sportsmanship and Team Spirit

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s1e22 2026_0310 tech From Music to Cybersecurity with Matt Godsted

In this episode of The Wired Garage, host Steele interviews Matt Godsted, a strategic leader in cybersecurity and a passionate musician. They explore Matt's journey from technology to music, the importance of mentorship in IT, and the complexities of cybersecurity architecture. Matt shares insights on how different industries influence cybersecurity practices, the global risks posed by AI, and the balance between business needs and security. He emphasizes the need for effective communication and partnership between security teams and business units, as well as the importance of frameworks and metrics in measuring security effectiveness.

Takeaways:

• Matt's journey began with technology, influenced by early computers and movies.
• Music and technology have both played significant roles in Matt's life.
• Mentorship is crucial in IT; it shapes careers and opportunities.
• Cybersecurity architecture requires a broad understanding of business strategy.
• Different industries have unique cybersecurity needs and challenges.
• AI presents new risks that require careful management and understanding.
• Balancing business needs with security is essential for success.
• Effective communication of risk is key to security's role in business.
• Frameworks like NIST guide cybersecurity practices and governance.
• Measuring the effectiveness of security involves understanding business impact.

Keywords: cybersecurity, mentorship, technology, music, leadership, AI, risk management, business strategy, IT architecture, industry influences

Sound Bites:

• "AI is a business driver and enabler."
• "We need to protect our customers' data."
• "Is it serving the business well?"

Chapters:

• Introduction to Matt Godsted and His Dual Passions
• The Journey from Music to Cybersecurity
• Understanding Cybersecurity Strategy Architecture
• Balancing Business Needs and Security
• Frameworks and Principles in Decision Making
• Measuring Technology's Impact on Business

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S1E40 Your AI Agents Need a Background Check

Pops and Steele tackle a problem most IT and finance leaders haven't caught up to yet: AI subscriptions and API spend are becoming the new shadow IT. Teams are subscribing to AI tools on corporate cards with zero governance or intake process, token-based consumption is replacing predictable licensing, and nobody's tracking the "blast radius" of what these tools can access. They walk through why AI spend breaks the old software asset management playbook (or doesn't — they debate this), how to treat AI subscriptions like governed IT assets, what review cadence makes sense (monthly until you understand it, then quarterly), and how to open the budget conversation with finance before finance opens it with you. Along the way: a $2,000-in-24-hours cautionary tale, a Lexis Nexis printer-page analogy, and Steele's line that becomes the episode's thesis — "whoever ignores the budget conversation loses the seat at the table."

Key Takeaways

• Shadow AI hides wherever there's no intake and governance process. If you don't have a formal way to bring AI tools in, someone already brought one in without you.
• AI spend is jagged and consumption-based, not predictable like traditional per-seat licensing — auto-approval settings and "set it and walk away" agent usage can generate runaway bills.
• Wrong tool, wrong job costs money. The $2K/24-hour example: using a frontier model for basic tasks is "driving a Ferrari to the grocery store."
• Treat AI subscriptions like governed IT assets — track what models, datasets, skills, and prompts are in use, ideally surfaced first in a spreadsheet, then a CMDB.
• Ownership is shared, but accountability isn't optional — the business owns the risk, but the team that brought a tool in without process owns the consequences.
• Review cadence: monthly until you fully understand a new tool's usage pattern; only then step back to quarterly/biannual. New capabilities may need daily/weekly checks at rollout.
• Bring numbers to finance before they ask. Go in with an annual spend estimate, a value narrative, and a straight answer — don't let finance find out from the invoice.
• Read the fine print on new model releases — usage multipliers (like a new model consuming 50% more of your quota) can quietly blow through limits.

Keywords / Tags
AI spend management, shadow AI, shadow IT, AI governance, ServiceNow ITAM, IT asset management, AI subscription tracking, token consumption, CMDB, AI budget, finance and IT alignment, agentic AI risk, AI cost governance, enterprise AI adoption, frontier models, AI ROI, IT leadership, CAB governance, AI sprawl, security risk AI tools, AI procurement

Is AI spend already a line item at your shop — or are you still finding out from the invoice? Drop a comment.

If you're the one who has to explain the AI bill to finance, hit subscribe — this is the show for you.

Tag the person on your team who needs to see this before the next invoice lands.

Want the one-sheeter framework Pops uses to pitch new AI tools to finance? Link in bio.

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