The F-Files Podcast

Frank Geisler, Kevin Chant
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The F‑Files Podcast is a sharp, no-nonsense podcast diving into the world of Microsoft Data, Fabric, Real-Time Intelligence, and AI. Hosted by industry insiders, it blends deep technical insight with real-world stories, opinions, and a good dose of humor. Think less marketing, more what actually works straight from the field, for practitioners who like to look behind the curtain. 🚀

  1. Apr 22

    Episode 013 - The mask falls for one

    Five columns. One sensitive table. And only a handful of people who see what’s really there. In this episode, Frank and Kevin explore the invisible line between data protection and privileged access in Microsoft Fabric. With dynamic data masking enabled on the EmployeeData table, most users see only obfuscated results — but not everyone. They dive into: How dynamic data masking works across Fabric’s data warehousing layerThe critical difference between SELECT and UNMASK permissionsWhy masking rules are your first — and sometimes last — line of defenseBest practices for protecting fields like SSNs, email addresses, and more 🔍 The Mask Falls for One — because visibility isn’t just about roles, it’s about trust. 🎧 Tune in and uncover what lies beneath… if you're allowed.

    12 min
  2. Episode 012 - Deploy Devide

    Apr 3

    Episode 012 - Deploy Devide

    The content was identical. The configurations were not. And the damage? Very real. In this episode, Frank and Kevin uncover the critical importance of maintaining distinct settings between Development, Test, and Production environments in Microsoft Fabric. What looks like a smooth deployment often hides a dangerous assumption: that what works in one stage will work in all. They explore: How to use selective deployment to control what actually moves forward Why unique deployment rules per stage are non-negotiable The danger of assigning one workspace across all environments Real-world stories of environments gone rogue due to overlooked configs ⚠️ Deploy Divide is a reminder that content consistency means nothing without contextual integrity. 🎧 Listen now — before your next deployment crosses a line it shouldn’t.

    9 min
  3. Episode 011 - Escape from Hardcoded Hell

    Mar 6

    Episode 011 - Escape from Hardcoded Hell

    In this fiery episode of The F Files, Frank and Kevin find themselves deep in the inferno of inefficient pipelines, where static values, hardcoded paths, and inflexible components reign supreme. Data transformations are brittle, errors lurk in every corner, and updates require a full-scale rescue mission. But not all hope is lost. Armed with parameterization, string interpolation, and smart pipeline design, the duo sets out to break free from the shackles of hardcoding. Can reusable pipeline logic and dynamic inputs bring order to chaos? Or will they be trapped forever in a loop of copy-paste despair? Tune in to uncover: - How to use pipeline parameters for flexible, scalable design - The role of string interpolation in dynamic configurations - Real-world examples of escaping hardcoded nightmare scenarios Because in the world of data engineering… “Hell is other people's hardcoded pipelines.”

    9 min
  4. Episode 010 - The unauthorized push

    Feb 20

    Episode 010 - The unauthorized push

    The logs showed a deployment to Production. The problem? No one on the team admitted doing it. In this episode, Frank and Kevin investigate the chilling consequences of improper permission control in Microsoft Fabric deployment pipelines. When pipeline settings aren’t locked down, the line between authorized changes and accidental disasters gets dangerously thin. They uncover: - How to assign pipeline admin roles and why it matters - The difference between workspace permissions and pipeline access - Why role-based access control (RBAC) is your only real defense - Real-world horror stories of "harmless" edits with very real consequences 🔐 The Unauthorized Push is a cautionary tale about access, accountability — and what happens when you leave the door wide open. 🎧 Listen now. Before someone pushes something they shouldn't.

    9 min
  5. Episode 009 - Fabric Flux

    Feb 12

    Episode 009 - Fabric Flux

    One workspace in Dev. The same workspace in Prod. And somewhere in between… the rules started to bend. In this episode, Frank and Kevin dive into the chaos and complexity of deployment pipelines in Microsoft Fabric — where content transitions between environments are anything but linear. As teams demand selective deployment, backward promotion, and environmental isolation, the system starts to show its flux. They explore: - How to configure multi-stage deployment pipelines for Dev → Test → Prod - Why selective deployment is critical — and what happens when it’s not enabled - The risks of full deployment in a dynamic workspace structure - What it means to maintain stability when environments are in constant motion ⚠️ Fabric Flux — because in a world of constant deployment, nothing stays where it was meant to be. 🎧 Listen now, before your pipeline starts drifting too.

    8 min

  6. Feb 4

    Episode 008 - The Pipeline Confession

    The deployment completed successfully. No errors. No warnings. Just one overlooked connection string… and two weeks of corrupted reports. In this episode, Frank and Kevin uncover a cautionary tale from deep inside a Microsoft Fabric deployment pipeline. When a production stage is connected to the wrong database, the damage is invisible — until it’s irreversible. They discuss: - Why deployment rules are critical for configuring production resources - How to correctly manage connection strings across Dev, Test, and Prod - When manual overrides lead to silent disasters - And how one deployment triggered a full-blown audit 💡 The Pipeline Confession is a story of trust, automation — and what happens when neither is enough. 🔍 Listen now. Before your pipeline reveals its own secrets.

    8 min
  7. Episode 007 - Deploy with caution

    Feb 1

    Episode 007 - Deploy with caution

    The deployment pipeline was ready. Dev passed. Test looked perfect. And then… someone pushed everything to Production. In this episode, Frank and Kevin uncover the risks of reckless deployment in Microsoft Fabric. When you're running an analytics solution across Development, Test, and Production, not all content belongs in the final environment. But how do you control what gets deployed — and what stays behind? They’ll explore: - The role of selective deployment in protecting production environments - Why deployment rules matter — especially between Test and Prod - What happens when one workspace gets pushed too far - Practical strategies to keep your deployment pipeline clean and safe ⚠️ Deploy with Caution — because once it's in Production, there's no turning back. 🛠️ Listen now before your pipeline surprises you.

    11 min
  8. Episode 006 - Secret of the smart expression

    Feb 1

    Episode 006 - Secret of the smart expression

    In the mysterious world of Microsoft Fabric, not everything is as it seems—especially when it comes to data filtering. Join Frank and Kevin as they uncover the hidden power behind Smart Expressions in Fabric. What looks like a simple conditional clause hides immense potential for optimizing performance, streamlining logic, and customizing analytics at scale. How do Smart Expressions actually work under the hood? What pitfalls should you avoid when building them into your pipelines and semantic models? And why are they becoming a critical tool in the modern data engineer’s arsenal? Tune in for expert insights, real-world use cases, and maybe even a few secrets Microsoft didn’t want you to know... The truth is in the logic. The answer is out there.

    11 min
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About

The F‑Files Podcast is a sharp, no-nonsense podcast diving into the world of Microsoft Data, Fabric, Real-Time Intelligence, and AI. Hosted by industry insiders, it blends deep technical insight with real-world stories, opinions, and a good dose of humor. Think less marketing, more what actually works straight from the field, for practitioners who like to look behind the curtain. 🚀

Information

  • Creator
    Frank Geisler, Kevin Chant
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Frank Geisler, Kevin Chant
  • Show Website
    The F-Files Podcast