Mainframe Connect

Hosted by Open Mainframe Project

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Jun 2026

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The Mainframe Connect podcast includes the I am a Mainframer series, Riveting Mainframe Voices series, and other content exploring relevant topics with mainframe professionals. The I am a Mainframer series explores the careers of those in the mainframe ecosystem. Hosted by Steven Dickens. The podcast is sponsored by the Open Mainframe Project, a Linux Foundation project that aims to build community and adoption of Open Source on the mainframe by eliminating barriers to Open Source adoption on the mainframe, demonstrating the value of the mainframe.

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60 recent

June 16, 202619 min

I am a Mainframer: Brahadambal Srinivasan on Linux on Z, OpenSource & Building a Career in Mainframe

Join host Steven Dickens in this episode of *I Am a Mainframer* featuring Brahadambal Srinivasan, Technical Architect at IBM, as she shares her journey from Linux and open source to leading teams working on Linux on Z.Brahadambal talks about how her team helps maintain and port open source packages, why Linux on Z is still Linux, and what it takes to support applications on the s390x architecture. She also explains how IBM works with the Open Mainframe Project and the open source community to keep changes upstream and improve access through repositories and GitHub Actions runners.The conversation also covers her experience leading a global Gen Z team, the importance of patience in building a career, and her view of the mainframe’s future as a platform that will continue to grow alongside AI and modern innovation.If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe for more conversations from *Mainframe Connect* and the *I Am a Mainframer* series.#IAmAMainframer #MainframeConnect #OpenMainframeProject #IBM #LinuxOnZ #s390x #OpenSource #TechCareers

June 2, 202612 min

Mainframe Voices: What Signals and Trends Should the Community Watch?

In this special episode of Mainframe Voices, we explore the signals and trends the mainframe community should be watching closely right now, from AI and modernisation to talent and skills. Our guests share what stands out to them most, and how these shifts may shape the future of the platform and the people working in it.We are delighted to have our guests:Geoffrey Decker – IBM Z Champion 2022–2026 | Instructor, Northern Illinois University Jakub Balhar – Engineer at Broadcom Inc. | Zowe TSC Chair | IBM Champion 2025, 2026 Brahadambal Srinivasan – Technical Architect at IBM | Open Source & Linux on Z Erin Joel Moore – IBM Z Student Ambassador The Mainframe Connect podcast includes the I Am a Mainframer series, Mainframe Voices, and other content exploring relevant topics with mainframe professionals, sponsored by the Open Mainframe Project, a Linux Foundation initiative.#MainframeVoices #MainframeConnect #OpenMainframeProject #LinuxFoundation #Mainframe #AI #Modernization #OpenSource

May 13, 202622 min

I Am a Mainframer: J.J. Lovett on Mainframe Careers, Open Source & Skills Gap

In this episode of the Mainframe Connect podcast's I Am a Mainframer series, J.J. Lovett, Lead for Education and Customer Engagement at Broadcom Mainframe Division, shares his journey from CA Technologies customer advocacy to leading Mainframe Open Education, Vitality programs, and practitioner engagement at events like SHARE and IDUG.J.J. tackles the mainframe skills gap head-on, explaining why it's both a navigation challenge (knowing where to find talent) and a time gap (2-4 years to master sysprog/admin roles). He highlights shifting demographics—millennials and Gen Z now dominate BMC surveys—and how Broadcom addresses this through student user groups, mentorship, and open source integration with projects like Zowe and COBOL."The mainframe isn't a job, it's a career" – J.J. advises college grads: start with z/OS Explore, embrace risks, and recognise mainframe's extensibility through APIs. He shares his vision for proactive succession planning and a future where mainframe experience makes technologists more versatile across IT.Celebrating Military Appreciation Month – J.J. represents military veterans bringing discipline and leadership to mainframe education and customer success during May's Military Appreciation Month.#mainframe #IamaMainframer #OpenSource #Broadcom #MainframeSkills #MilitaryAppreciationMonth #podcast #openmainframeproject #LinuxFoundation #StevenDickens #MainframeConnect #Careers #Zowe

April 22, 202621 min

I am a Mainframer with Marcus Davage | How Curiosity Built a 30-Year Career?

In this episode of the Mainframe Connect podcast’s *I Am a Mainframer* series, **Marcus Davage**, Lead Product Developer at BMC Software and an OMP ambassador, shares how a childhood fascination with early home computers in South Wales grew into a decades-long career centred on Db2 across multiple platforms. From his first encounter with a 3270 terminal during a year-out placement at British Steel in 1988, through roles at Lloyds and into his current work in R&D at BMC, Marcus tells the story of how “tinkering” and curiosity became the backbone of his professional journey.Marcus explains how Db2 followed him everywhere—from mainframe to OS/2, Windows, Linux and AS/400—and how building deep domain expertise in one core technology opened doors across organisations and roles. He talks about being “paid to tinker” with AI and AI agents for mainframe customers today, the impact of in-transaction AI on zSystems, and why he believes the next frontier lies at the intersection of mainframe, AI, and quantum-safe computing.He also discusses his work as an Open Mainframe Project Ambassador, his Db2 Table Talk podcast for IDUG, and his outreach to universities in Wales to show students that the mainframe is a modern enterprise platform—not “your daddy’s S/360.” Along the way, Marcus shares career advice for younger professionals: stay curious, keep tinkering, and don’t be afraid to build a long-term career around a technology you love.#mainframe #IamaMainframer #Db2 #opensource #BMCSoftware #OpenMainframeProject #LinuxFoundation #StevenDickens #MainframeConnect #AI #quantum #careers

March 31, 202636 min

Mainframe Coven: Conjuring a Safe Space in Tech

In this episode of Mainframe Coven, Jessielaine Punongbayan (Product Manager, Dynatrace) and Richelle Anne Craw (Software Engineer, Beta Systems Software) talked about the importance of conjuring a safe space for women in tech.Full Transcript here: https://openmainframeproject.org/mainframe-coven/mainframe-coven-conjuring-a-safe-space/

March 30, 202612 min

Mainframe Voices: What role does open source play in opening doors for mainframe careers?

In this special episode of Mainframe Voices, we explore how open source is helping people discover, enter, and grow their careers on the mainframe. Our guests share how contributing to open source projects on IBM Z has given them hands‑on experience, visibility, and a community that supports their professional journeys.Featuring: •Steven Dickens – CEO and Principal Analyst, Top 3 Global Technology Industry Analyst, Advisor to Tech Vendor Executives •Sarah Julia Kriesch - Senior Lead, Mainframe Architect & Open Source Evangelist - zCloud @Kyndryl•John Lovett - Head of Education & Customer Engagement for the Mainframe Software Division @Broadcom Inc.•Junior Tamekem Tadiffo - IBM Z Student Ambassador•Marcus Davage - Lead Product Developer@BMC Software•Hunter Johnson - Product Marketing Engineer@Beyond Code(Broadcom)You will hear how open source has: - Lowered the barrier to getting practical mainframe experience - Helped contributors build portfolios they can share with employers - Created mentorship and networking opportunities across the global ecosystem.The Mainframe Connect podcast includes the I Am a Mainframer series, Mainframe Voices, and other content exploring relevant topics with mainframe professionals, sponsored by the Open Mainframe Project, a Linux Foundation initiative.#MainframeVoices #MainframeConnect #OpenMainframeProject #LinuxFoundation #Mainframe #OpenSource #IBMZ

March 26, 202615 min

I am a Mainframer: Sarah Julia Kriesch

In this episode of the Mainframe Connect podcast's I Am a Mainframer series, Sarah Julia Kriesch, Senior Lead Mainframe Architect (Open Source) at Kyndryl, shares her journey from Linux system administration to leading the Linux Distribution Working Group at the Open Mainframe Project. Starting with her bachelor thesis on Kubernetes on mainframe through Germany's Academic Mainframe Consortium, Sarah transitioned from IBM to Axians consulting and founded the working group that coordinates Linux distributions on s390x.Sarah discusses how the group collaborates on upstream challenges, serves as a point of contact for developers (like COBOL compiler teams), secures hardware upgrades, and leverages the LinuxONE Community Cloud for free VMs. She highlights successes with Rust, PyPI modules, and multi‑architecture testing, plus her vision for blockchain networks connecting bank mainframes with confidential computing and integrated AI.Celebrating Women's History Month – Sarah exemplifies women leading mainframe innovation through open source collaboration and community building during Women's History Month.#mainframe #opensource #IamaMainframer #podcast #openmainframeproject #LinuxFoundation #Kyndryl #StevenDickens #SarahJuliaKriesch #LinuxONE #MainframeConnect #WomenInTech #WomensHistoryMonth

February 26, 202613 min

I am a Mainframer with Junior Tadiffo

Join host Steven Dickens in this inspiring episode of I Am a Mainframer featuring Junior Tadiffo, a third-year Computer Science student at University at Buffalo, IBM Z Student Ambassador, and President of the UB IBM Z Club. Junior shares his journey discovering the mainframe through a friend's recommendation, earning IBM Z badges on z/OS Explore, and igniting his passion for this powerful platform.From his first "mind-blowing" experience accessing z/OS to running the university's IBM Z Club, Junior discusses the perception challenges on college campuses, the importance of hands-on access like z/OS Explore, and how open source Linux on mainframe makes it more accessible to students. He also shares advice for the mainframe community on supporting early-career talent and his vision for more public resources, YouTube tutorials, and greater mainframe integration in modern computing over the next 10 years.Celebrating Black History Month: This episode highlights Junior Tadiffo's journey as a Black student leader breaking barriers in mainframe technology during Black History Month. Junior represents the next generation of diverse talent bringing fresh perspectives and energy to the mainframe ecosystem, proving that innovation knows no bounds.🔹 Learn how Junior overcame initial reservations about "old" technologies like COBOL, JCL, and REXX.🔹 Discover why seeing actual z17 hardware was his highlight of the year.🔹 Subscribe for more stories from students, professionals, and leaders in the mainframe world.#IAmAMainframer #Mainframe #BlackHistoryMonth #IBMZ #OpenMainframeProject #StudentAmbassador #zOS #MainframeCommunity

January 21, 202617 min

I am a Mainframer - Hunter Johnson

In this episode of *I Am a Mainframer*, host Steven Dickens sits down with Hunter Johnson from Broadcom’s Mainframe Software Division to explore how a marketing professional builds a thriving career in the mainframe ecosystem. Hunter leads marketing for Broadcom’s **Beyond Code** initiative, focusing on workforce resiliency, change management, and efficiency and cost optimisation for mainframe customers.Hunter recently joined the Open Mainframe Project Marketing Committee.Hunter shares his journey from healthcare and analytics marketing into mainframe, discusses the perception gap around the platform, and explains why so much of mainframe marketing is really about education—reframing the mainframe as a modern, first‑class citizen in a hybrid enterprise rather than “old” technology. He also talks about what he wishes he’d learned earlier in his career and offers advice to younger professionals interested in non‑technical roles in this space.🔹 Learn more about Broadcom’s Beyond Code initiative and how it supports mainframe clients beyond software. 🔹 Hear Hunter’s perspective on modernisation, talent, and the future of the platform over the next 3–5 years.🔹 Subscribe for more *I Am a Mainframer* episodes from the Open Mainframe Project. #IAmAMainframer #Mainframe #OpenMainframeProject #BeyondCode #TechCareers

December 23, 202524 min

Mainframe Voices: What are you thankful for this year?

In this special December episode of Mainframe Voices, leaders and contributors from across the Open Mainframe Project community share what they are most thankful for this year. From new career opportunities and open source collaboration to supportive teams and personal milestones, our guests reflect on the moments that made 2025 memorable in the mainframe world.Featuring: •Steven Dickens – CEO and Principal Analyst, Top 3 Global Technology Industry Analyst, Advisor to Tech Vendor Executives •Billie Jean Simmons – Software Developer for zDevOps, IBM Wazi, and Cloud IDE; Zowe Explorer Squad Lead •Len Santalucia – CTO Mainframe, AI, Cloud, Analytics, Mobile, Security; IBM Champion and Chairperson of the Linux Foundation Open Mainframe Project •Elliot Jalley – Senior Principal Product Manager, Open Mainframe Project Ambassador •Germanas Šamrickis – Senior Software Engineer at Rocket SoftwareThe Mainframe Connect podcast includes the I Am a Mainframer series, Mainframe Voices, and other conversations with mainframe professionals, sponsored by the Open Mainframe Project, a Linux Foundation initiative.#MainframeVoices #MainframeConnect #OpenMainframeProject #LinuxFoundation #Mainframe #Gratitude #Community