Level Up M365

Hosted by Joe Cole

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Apr 2026

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Level Up M365 is a podcast where we aim to demystify the Microsoft 365 platform from an in-the-weeds perspective. Topics may vary, and even meander at times, but we focus on the collaboration apps like, SharePoint, Teams, Power Platform, and Copilot, respectively. Based on the need, we may go a little technical and dig into the landscape of software development, Generative AI (GEN AI), Robotic Process Automation (RPA), etc. Be sure to visit the site for free companion resources and consider sharing/rating us/subscribing as this is the only way to support our effort for the time being.

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20 recent

April 16, 2026Episode 204 min

#20 Fireside Chat This One Thing Will Stiffen Innovation

AI Generated Timestamps Episode 20 – Timeline00:03 — Opening ThesisCore statement: “Governance should come after innovation.”Sets the theme: guardrails slow creativity.Host introduces the episode: “Hi all, welcome to another fireside chat.”Notes this is Episode 20 and the second consecutive release.Mentions the previous episode about building an app and optimizing for time to business value.Encourages listeners to check the prior episode but clarifies it’s not required.Focus: When to implement mechanisms and guardrails.Emphasizes high‑level thinking and trade-offs:“There’s not a perfect solution, only trade-offs.”Argues that early solution-building should avoid heavy governance.Introduces Rust as a metaphor for guardrails.Rust prevents memory errors but can slow innovation.C and C-like languages powered systems for decades.Mentions iPhone hacks caused by memory leakage that Rust mitigates.00:07 — Welcome & Context00:14 — Serendipitous Timing00:33–00:43 — Connection to Previous Episode00:43–01:09 — Purpose of This Chat01:09–01:27 — Guardrails Can Hinder Early Creation01:27–02:23 — Rust vs. C ExampleLink to show notes ⁠https://levelupm365.com/2026/04/06/podcast-19-fireside-chat-mitigate-risk-with-software-development

April 6, 2026Episode 199 min

#19 Fireside Chat mitigate risk with software development

Timestamps: 00:03 — Welcome & Episode Setup00:12 — Episode Theme: Mitigating Software Development Risk00:20 — A Break from the Usual M365 Focus00:25–00:39 — What a Fireside Chat Means00:39–00:50 — How This Relates to M365Core Philosophy00:53–01:26 — Joe’s Background & Context01:26–01:53 — The One‑Sentence Philosophy02:05–02:32 — Why Speed Matters02:32–03:29 — Why SharePoint & Power Apps Fit This Model03:29–03:49 — Good Enough vs. Perfect03:49–04:29 — The Cost of Slow Development04:29–04:40 — The Origin of “Fail Fast”Pitfalls & Cautions04:53–05:42 — Pitfall 1: Governance Gaps05:42–06:10 — Pitfall 2: Prototype Stagnation06:10–06:32 — Product Ownership Matters06:32–07:15 — Show Progress Early & HonestlyAdditional Insights07:15–07:37 — Honest Ugly Demos vs. Fake Pretty Demos07:37–07:55 — Invitation for FeedbackTechnical Analogy08:00–09:22 — WebAssembly as a Cautionary TaleClosing09:33–09:46 — Wrap‑Up & Call to ActionLink to show notes https://levelupm365.com/2026/04/06/podcast-19-fireside-chat-mitigate-risk-with-software-development

February 26, 2026Episode 1824 min

#18 Project for the Web Retirement and Project Management Options in M365

Timestamps 00:03–00:12 — Show Introduction 00:12–00:52 — Preamble + What’s New 00:52–03:17 — Personal Update (Dominican Republic Trip) 03:17–04:01 — YouTube Channel Update 04:01–10:00 — Message Center Updates (“Message Radar”) MC1235123 — OneNote for iOS Local Backups (04:01–06:42) MC1193421 — Planner Features Being Retired (06:42–07:55) MC1234661 — DLP Blocking Copilot Processing (07:55–10:00) 10:00–14:00 — Main Topic: Planner vs Project for the Web Planner Standard Planner Premium Recommendation 14:00–18:00 — Project Management Concepts + Gantt Discussion 18:00–21:32 — Planner Changes Summary 21:32–23:20 — Tip of the Week #1: Copilot Bug (Drafts/Sent Items) 23:20–23:55 — Tip of the Week #2: Copilot Chat Conversations 23:55–24:30 — ClosingLink to show notes ⁠https://levelupm365.com/2026/02/26/podcast-18-project-for-the-web-retirement-and-project-management-options-in-m365/

January 12, 2026Episode 1722 min

#17: Gantt Chart Options in Microsoft 365

Timestamps 00:04–00:27 — IntroWelcome, episode overview, quick note about being under the weather.00:27–01:24 — Sponsor & SupportSelf‑funded show; encourages ratings, shares, and coffee donations.01:24–04:58 — Preamble / Personal UpdatesDeepening work in software development, extending SharePoint/Power Apps, and using YouTube as a repository for demos.05:04–09:22 — Message Center RadarMC11820: Teams chat with any email — potential security concern.MC1138798: SharePoint workflows modernized via Power Automate (Feb–Mar 2026).MC792601: Retirement of domain‑isolated SPFx web parts (April 2026).09:27–15:23 — Main Topic: Gantt Chart Options in M365Buy it: Planner Premium (Project for the Web).Out‑of‑the‑box: SharePoint list Gantt view (legacy but free).Build it: Custom Power Apps Gantt chart Joe created.15:50–18:31 — Tip of the Week #1: Azure B2B Access PackagesTime‑bound external access to reduce security risk; restrict access to specific Teams/Sites.18:31–22:12 — Tip of the Week #2: OneDrive ShortcutsSyncing folders locally improves Windows search; recommended for active projects.22:12–End — ClosingSubscribe, visit levelupm365.com, and thanks to listeners.Link to show notes https://levelupm365.com/2026/02/26/podcast-18-project-for-the-web-retirement-and-project-management-options-in-m365

October 14, 202526 min

#16 From Generic to Genius – Personalized AI with Copilot Memory

Full Write up - https://levelupm365.com/2025/10/13/episode-16-from-generic-to-genius-personalized-ai-with-copilot-memory/ Show Notes and Timestamps 00:00 – Intro Joe Cole introduces the episode and its focus on Microsoft 365 and Copilot. 00:44 – Episode Overview Topics: Teams calendar updates, quantifying AI value, and Copilot memory deep dive. 01:21 – Sponsor Segment Joe self-sponsors the show and shares ways listeners can support (engagement, tip jar). 02:10 – Preamble Joe’s recent work: prepping sensitive environments for AI, cleaning data estates, and shifting focus from Copilot Notebooks to Copilot Memory. 04:05 – Message Center Radar 04:16 – Teams Calendar Update (MC1129730): Outlook web calendar replaces Teams calendar toggle.  https://admin.microsoft.com/?ref=MessageCenter/:/messages/MC1129730 05:40 – Power Automate Savings Tool (MC1160319): New feature to quantify time/money saved by automations.  https://admin.microsoft.com/?ref=MessageCenter/:/messages/MC1160319 07:23 – Copilot Memory Update (MC58329): Improved memory settings and personalization controls.  https://admin.microsoft.com/?ref=MessageCenter/:/messages/MC1158329 07:58 – Deep Dive: Copilot Memory 08:11 – What is Copilot Memory?: Using Copilot to retain context and boost productivity. 09:33 – Feature Comparison: Copilot Conversations: Short-term, real-time chats. Copilot Pages: Long-form writing (blogs, proposals). Copilot Notebooks: Developer-focused (code, data analysis). Copilot Memory: Stores personal info for contextual responses. Full Write up:  https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/sorry-conversation-has-reached-its-limit-lets-start-new-joe-cole-uav9e/?trackingId=o3xbOwwXAs%2B%2BkDYefJdjkQ%3D%3D 15:08 – Workflow Tips Export chats to Word docs and store in SharePoint for future reference. Use SharePoint agents to tap into stored knowledge. 17:05 – Future Ideas Building a knowledge base with SharePoint and Copilot agents for deeper AI integration. 18:52 – Tip of the Week 19:01 – Quote from Paul Thurrott: “AI is not making us dumber”—it’s saving time by parsing the web. 21:14 – Microsoft Lists Updates From João Ferreira –  https://lists.handsontek.net/microsoft-lists-updates-2025-deprecations-new-features/ Mobile app retiring in November. Power BI quick integration retiring in December. SPFX field customizers likely deprecated. Browser policy changes. Copilot + Lists integration: Lists now usable as Copilot knowledge sources. 25:44 – Final Thoughts SharePoint rules and approval mechanisms are evolving. Teaser for future write-up on SharePoint list automation. 26:18 – Outro Subscribe and visit https://levelupin365.com for visuals and links. Follow Apple Podcasts –  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/level-up-m365/id1718776415 Spotify –  https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/levelupm365/ Newsletter/Socials –  https://levelupm365.com/subscribe-social-page/ If this post was helpful support the effort by ether of the following, share, like, subscribe, leave a tip!

July 17, 2025Episode 1523 min

#15 What the heck are Copilot Pages?

For all the links see full post here - https://levelupm365.com/2025/07/17/podcast-15-what-the-heck-are-copilot-pages/Timestamps (Generated by AI)00:02 – Welcome & Introduction 02:25 – Message Center Radar Joe highlights three Microsoft 365 announcements from the Message Center:MC1085569: Teams recording policy update — recordings now default to the meeting organizer’s OneDrive, streamlining record management.MC1060780: Copilot Chat now visible for unlicensed users across Office web apps.MC1041457: New usage report for Copilot Chat showing active users across Teams, Outlook, and Copilot.cloud.microsoft..06:36 – Feature Deep Dive: Copilot Pages Joe explores Copilot Pages and their architecture. Key takeaways:A Copilot Page is technically a Loop Page, powered by the Microsoft Loop app.Pages begin as Copilot chats and become editable documents via the “Edit in Pages” button.These are stored as .loop files on OneDrive, inheriting full M365 governance like retention, sensitivity labels, and lifecycle policies.Under the hood, each page lives in a SharePoint Embedded container, which is essentially a lightweight SharePoint site.Admins can view, manage, and restore these containers, with reassignment workflows coming soon — crucial for maintaining ownership after users leave.18:17 – Tip of the Week: Folder Ownership Mapping with Power Automate Joe shares a clever solution for a messy SharePoint migration:Users didn’t know who owned what folder.He built a Power Automate flow to get file properties, track editors, deduplicate with a union expression, and email requesters with appropriate contacts.He also used the item() expression to loop through results and automate notifications.Thing of the week links Power Automate Item() Expression video example - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gC86gF_774IBulb Digital Episode - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/josephbcole_m365-is-changing-heres-what-it-means-for-activity-7349507471398322176-5wZX?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAVnRisBMH96yvZL0kLlMFU2BE0wcYGEj_YFollow Apple Podcasts – ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/level-up-m365/id1718776415⁠Spotify – ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/levelupm365/⁠Newsletter/Socials – ⁠https://levelupm365.com/subscribe-social-page/

May 27, 2025Episode 1423 min

#14 Exploring Copilot Chat Features and Benefits, plus all the retirements coming up

Timestamps (Generated by AI)[0:00:00 - 0:03:06] Introduction[0:03:06 - 0:07:03] Microsoft 365 News[0:07:03 - 0:09:18] Co-Pilot Chat Features[0:09:18 - 0:11:49] Practical Uses of Co-Pilot Chat, Tip of the DayLinks Full Write up - https://levelupm365.com/2025/05/26/podcast-14-exploring-copilot-chat-features-and-benefits-plus-all-the-retirements-coming-up/Hardcore Software: Inside the Rise and Fall of the PC Revolution by Steven Sinofsky (affiliate link) https://amzn.to/43xSToa. Retirement of classic Teams – Classic Teams will reach end of support on July 1, 2024, and end of availability on July 1, 2025Retirements of SharePoint Alerts – https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/sharepoint-alert-retirement-take-action-now-avoid-business-joe-cole-9oaff/?trackingId=mX8ptsIUPvj8m3BRFHNZvA%3D%3DChanges to Microsoft Project for the web (retirement of the location not the app) – https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/plannerblog/transitioning-to-microsoft-planner-and-retiring-microsoft-project-for-the-web/4410149CoPilot chat URL - Go to https://copilot.microsoft.comFollow Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/level-up-m365/id1718776415Spotify – https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/levelupm365/Newsletter/Socials – https://levelupm365.com/subscribe-social-page/

May 20, 2025Episode 1312 min

#13 Microsoft Build 2025 Thoughts

Microsoft Build 2025 introduced over 50 announcements aimed at accelerating AI-driven development. Highlights include:Microsoft 365 Copilot Tuning: Enterprises can train Copilot with internal knowledge for domain-specific tasks.Advanced AI Agents: Microsoft 365 and Teams now support multi-agent workflows, enabling smarter collaboration.Azure AI Foundry Updates: New AI models, including Grok 3 and Sora, are available, along with multi-agent orchestration for enterprise applications.Copilot Studio Enhancements: Developers can now create task-specific AI agents with expanded customization options.Security & Compliance: Microsoft Purview now provides enterprise-grade security controls for AI applications.Edge Innovations: New AI-powered tools, including PDF translation, on-device AI APIs, and agent-powered web apps.Windows AI Foundry: A unified local AI platform for Windows, supporting on-device model deployment.Developer Productivity: Enhancements to GitHub Copilot, Power Automate, and new AI-powered development tools.Quantum Security Measures: Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) integration for Windows and Linux to future-proof encryption.ReferenceBook of News from Microsoft https://news.microsoft.com/build-2025-book-of-news/Text Write up - https://levelupm365.com/2025/05/19/microsoft-build-2025-thoughts/If this post was helpful, please share it as a token of your appreciation and consider subscribing to be notified of new content!

February 17, 2025Episode 128 min

#12 Fireside Chat Agentic AI vs Generative AI Chat Bot

AI Summary Chatbots are reactive; they respond when prompted (e.g., retrieving a calendar event when asked).Agentic AI (Autonomous Bots) take proactive actions based on predefined conditions (e.g., monitoring tasks for inactivity and flagging overdue ones).Use Case Example: In software development, an agentic bot could take requirements from a structured document, set up databases, create UI forms, and generate Power BI dashboards—automating much of the early development work.Differentiation: Autonomous bots are typically specialized in a narrow task, while chatbots are broader in scope but less in-depth. IE. Password reset, queries on HR policies, onboarding FAQ, etc. LinksMicrosoft Blog autonomous agents - https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2024/10/21/new-autonomous-agents-scale-your-team-like-never-before/Copilot Chat Bot - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot/copilot-101/what-is-a-chatbotcheckout my Copilot AI category for my details - https://levelupm365.com/category/microsoft/copilot/AI Generated Transcription - https://levelupm365.com/portfolio/podcast-12-fireside-chat-autonomous-agentic-agents-vs-generative-ai-chat-bot-ai-transcripts/If this was helpful consider following the show and view the website for more resources - https://levelupm365.com/

January 20, 2025Episode 1118 min

#11 New Teams Chat UI and Calendar plus fun with chat bots

Episode Summary - New Teams chat UI and calendar coming your way. - Renaming the Teams general channel. - Formatting text with chat bots. Links - Blog Post on New Teams UI- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/new-microsoft-teams-chat-ui-coming-your-way-joe-cole-24pbe/?trackingId=Zf3d2Y09RLCNVgwfmhUWGg%3D%3D - Follow site for my juicy m365 tips - https://levelupm365.com - AI Generated Transcript - https://levelupm365.com/portfolio/podcast11-new-teams-chat-ui-and-calendar-plus-fun-with-chat-bots-ai-generated-transcript/