Network Automation Nerds

Packet Pushers

Network Automation Nerds is for network engineers and infrastructure professionals eager to learn more about automation. Join host Eric Chou as he explores how to take advantage of modern network programmability to automate tasks, build robust systems, and get more done in less time. You’ll hear from a lineup of seasoned engineers, avid learners, industry leaders, and tool creators as they share tips, best practices, and hard-won advice.

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27 episodes
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Avg 54 min
English

Episodes 27

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#135
October 28 · 1 hr 1 min
NAN135: Unpacking the NetOps Stack
Eric Chou is joined by Mauricio Rojas, Principal DevOps Consulting Engineer at Nokia, to unpack how the stack of Kubernetes, GitOps, and open-source tooling can fundamentally transform modern…
#134
October 21 · 48 min
NAN134: Building Trust in AI-Driven Networking (Sponsored)
Network engineers are constantly looking at how AI is reshaping operations, moving beyond simple scripts to the future of self-driving networks. Joining Eric to dive deep into agentic AI workflows…
#133
October 14 · 59 min
NAN133: Beyond the Hype: The Realities of AI Infrastructure
Eric Chou speaks with Leo Fleskes on the pressing infrastructure challenges surrounding AI resource consumption, including data centers’ massive water and power demands. Together they discuss local c…
#132
September 30 · 1 hr 2 min
NAN132: The AI-Augmented Engineer
Garrett Masters talks with Eric Chou about the concept of the AI-Augmented Engineer. Together they discuss how IT professionals can use Python and NetMiko to automate tasks and even connect AI…
#131
September 16 · 1 hr
NAN131: Routing Through Space: The Reality of Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellite Networks
Eric is joined by Sid Mathur, founder of Fastah Inc., to unpack the real-world implications of Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) internet. Sid has built a career obsessing over data networks, system…
#130
September 2 · 1 hr 8 min
NAN130: Network Automation Forum: From Simple Survey to Global Community
Eric Chou welcomes guest co-host William Collins as well as Network Automation Forum founders Scott Robohn and Chris Grundemann to discuss how their community emerged from a simple question: Why…
#129
August 19 · 44 min
NAN129: How Do We Make Network Engineering Cool Again?
Known across the industry for making network engineering cool again with her highly relatable tech content, Alexis Bertholf is a powerhouse when it comes to combining technical expertise with…
#128
August 5 · 45 min
NAN128: Beyond RAG: Making Network AI Truly Agentic
Eric Chou welcomes Juulia Santala, a Solutions Engineer at Cisco, to discuss her transition from traditional network programmability to cutting-edge AI research. They explore how she moved beyond…
#127
July 22 · 47 min
NAN127: Scaling Network Automation Communities
Eric Chou welcomes Florian Lohden, a NetDevOps engineer and co-founder of the NetAuto Group, to discuss his community-building efforts and his latest adventures in network automation. Together they…
#126
July 1 · 43 min
NAN126: Fine-Tuning Open Source LLMs for Network Engineering
Eric welcomes Eduard Dulharu, a veteran network architect and the Founder and CTO of vExpertAI, to talk about how agentic AI, open-source LLMs, and digital twins are changing network operations.…
#125
June 17 · 58 min
NAN125: Inside the Packet Pushers 2026 Salary Survey
Early in 2026, Drew Conry-Murray authored the first Packet Pushers Salary Survey, offering a transparent look into compensation in the network engineering industry. Drew joins Eric to discuss the…
#124
June 3 · 54 min
NAN124: AI and Trust in Modern Network Automation
Sif Baksh joins Eric Chou to share his professional experience and resources to help engineers get their arms around using AI in network automation. They discuss practical advantages of AI over…
#123
May 20 · 58 min
NAN123: How ION Meets the Out-of-this-World Challenges of Deep-Space Networking
Eric Chou and guest host Drew Conry-Murray sit down with deep space networking specialist Scott Spicer. Following the Artemis 2 mission, they discuss the challenges of long-delay space…
#122
May 13 · 1 hr 2 min
NAN122: From Anxiety to Empowerment: Building Confidence into Machine‑Speed Network Updates (Sponsored)
Network teams are being asked to move faster than ever as automation and AI-driven workflows increase the volume and frequency of network changes. In this episode, sponsored by Cisco, we explore how…
#121
May 6 · 52 min
NAN121: Simplifying Network Automation with NetGru
Eric Chou talks with Adrian Iliesiu aka NetGru, a seasoned CCIE veteran and community leader known for his work to simplify network automation and make it accessible to network engineers. He focuses…
#120
April 22 · 57 min
NAN120: How Network Engineers Can Thrive in an AI-Driven World
Eric Chou is joined by Ashwin Joshi, a Senior Solutions Engineer at Keysight Technologies, to discuss the rapidly increasing demands that AI places on modern networks. They break down the…
#119
April 8 · 51 min
NAN119: Adapting Core Automation Practices to Challenging Environments with Matt Campbell
Eric Chou is joined by Matt Campbell, a seasoned network engineer whose career has taken him into some of the most demanding and high-stakes environments around. Together they’ll explore how Matt’s a…
#118
April 1 · 43 min
NAN118: The Importance of the Data Behind AI in Networks (Sponsored)
When applying AI to network operations and automation, a strong data foundation is essential. In this sponsored episode, Eric Chou and Scott Robohn are joined by Surya Nimmagadda, Chief Data…
#117
March 25 · 1 hr 1 min
NAN117: What You May Have Missed from AutoCon 4
Eric Chou is joined by returning guest, Danny Wade a.k.a. Devnet Dan, to unpack everything you missed from AutoCon 4. AutoCon 4 had a heavy focus on AI’s role in network automation and Danny was t…
#116
March 18 · 56 min
NAN116: From NSoT to Operational Automation: Fast Time-to-Value with Nautobot Cloud (Sponsored)
Building a Network Source of Truth (NSoT) is only step one in an automation effort — turning it into operational automation is where outcomes happen. In this sponsored episode by Network to Code, E…

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