The Art of Network Engineering

Andy and Friends
  • 4.7 (85)
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

The Art of Network Engineering blends technical insight with real-world stories from engineers, innovators, and IT pros. From data centers on cruise ships to rockets in space, we explore the people, tools, and trends shaping the future of networking, while keeping it authentic, practical, and human. We tell the human stories behind network engineering so every engineer feels seen, supported, and inspired to grow in a rapidly changing industry. For more information, check out https://linktr.ee/artofneteng 

  1. 2D AGO

    Wi-Fi 7 Explained: What Network Engineers Need to Know

    Send a text In this episode, Andy sits down with Gregory Grimes to unpack the world of Wi-Fi 7 and what it means for network engineers. If wireless has ever felt like magic compared to the predictability of route/switch, this conversation is for you. Andy and Greg walk through the evolution of wireless networking, from the early days of 802.11 to the latest innovations in Wi-Fi 7, including wider channels, better spectrum use, resource units, and multi-link operation (MLO). They also explore the real-world question every engineer asks: who actually needs Wi-Fi 7? Is it a game changer for the average home user, or does it really shine in high-density and high-performance environments like classrooms, auditoriums, healthcare, and immersive AR/VR use cases? Along the way, they translate complex wireless concepts into practical networking language that route/switch engineers can relate to, making this a great episode for anyone who wants to better understand modern wireless without needing a CWNA-level deep dive. In this episode: A quick history of Wi-Fi and the 802.11 standardWhy wireless feels so different from wired networkingHow contention, collisions, and airtime shape wireless performanceWhat OFDMA and resource units actually doWhat makes Wi-Fi 7 different from Wi-Fi 6/6EHow MLO changes the wireless conversationWhy deterministic wireless mattersWhere Wi-Fi 7 fits in the enterpriseWhen it makes sense to upgrade — and when it doesn’tThe episode also closes with a great reminder that networking is about more than protocols and throughput. Greg shares why the Art of Network Engineering community has mattered to him from the beginning, and why finding your people in this industry makes all the difference. This episode has been sponsored by Meter.  Go to meter.com/aone to book a demo now!  Support the show Find everything AONE right here: https://linktr.ee/artofneteng

    46 min

  2. FEB 25

    The ABCs of AI

    Send a text “AI Won’t Replace You, But Someone Using AI Might” AI is everywhere; stickers, marketing, hype. Network engineers are understandably skeptical. In this episode, Andy Lapteff is joined by longtime friend of the show John Capobianco (now Head of AI & DevRel at Itencho) and Mike Bushong for a practical, optimistic “ABCs of AI” discussion designed for working network engineers. We start with a blunt reality: automation adoption is still low, and the old “automate or die” narrative hasn’t helped. Then we pivot into what’s changed: modern models are strong enough to be useful, but only if you stop treating them like a search bar and start connecting them to real tooling and real data. John explains the core building blocks—LLMs, RAG, agentic workflows, and especially Model Context Protocol (MCP)—and why MCP may be the protocol that finally makes AI feel operationally real. Finally, we land on a concrete “Hello World” for neteng: connect an AI client to a source of truth like NetBox or Nautobot (in a sandbox), start with read-only workflows (logs, config deltas, compliance), and build from there—safely. If you’ve been curious but overwhelmed, this is your on-ramp. This episode has been sponsored by Meter.  Go to meter.com/aone to book a demo now!  Support the show Find everything AONE right here: https://linktr.ee/artofneteng

    54 min

  3. FEB 11

    Life-Saving Networks

    Send a text What does “mission-critical networking” really mean? At St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, it’s not about uptime SLAs or dashboard metrics; it’s about supporting the research and care that helps save children’s lives. In this episode, we sit down with Remington Loose and Josh Morris to explore the architecture, scale, and responsibility behind one of the most meaningful networks in the world. We dig into: How research networking differs from traditional enterprise ITThe massive data demands behind pediatric cancer researchDesigning networks where downtime isn’t just inconvenient, it’s unacceptableSupporting clinicians, researchers, and life-saving applications simultaneouslyLessons enterprise engineers can learn from healthcare environmentsFrom high-performance data movement to reliability strategies that operate without margin for error, this conversation reframes what networking looks like when human outcomes are on the line. Because in environments like St. Jude… The network isn’t just infrastructure; it’s part of the care team. This episode has been sponsored by Meter.  Go to meter.com/aone to book a demo now!  Support the show Find everything AONE right here: https://linktr.ee/artofneteng

    1h 2m

  4. JAN 28

    Learn to Code With AI

    Send a text Erika Dietrick (aka “Erika the Dev”) is back on the show, and she’s days away from a major life change (welcome, Baby Dev). In this follow-up conversation, we dig into the thing that keeps coming up in network engineering careers: programming is no longer a “nice-to-have.” Erika breaks down her free YouTube course designed specifically for network engineers: Level 1 is “programmatic thinking” (the mindset + foundations), Level 2 is where AI becomes your learning accelerator, and Level 3 is about generating code responsibly, without falling into the “vibe coding” trap. We also talk about why coding feels so foreign to CLI lifers, why so many “slick” courses lose beginners, and how to use AI like Google-on-steroids. If you’ve ever thought, “I’m not smart enough for this” or “I don’t have time,” this one’s for you. What we cover: - Why network engineers struggle with coding (and it’s not your fault) - The difference between using AI while coding vs vibe coding - How to build foundations that make AI actually useful - Why libraries matter, and how Level 2 focuses on network automation libraries - Career reality: why Python shows up in job descriptions everywhere Find Erika: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCkWURMuDQZox53bskCFS6vw  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikadietrick/ This episode has been sponsored by Meter.  Go to meter.com/aone to book a demo now!  Support the show Find everything AONE right here: https://linktr.ee/artofneteng

    39 min

  5. JAN 14

    Why Projects Fail

    Send a text We've all worked on those technical projects that felt doomed from the start.  In this episode, we're joined by Eyvonne Sharp and Mike Bushong to dig into what actually derails technical projects, and why the root cause is usually people, not packets. We unpack: - Why 80–90% of project failures aren’t technical - What “executive sponsorship” is supposed to mean (and why most teams never use it) - The real reason timelines feel arbitrary: information asymmetry - What “healthy escalation” looks like (and how to avoid the courtroom vibe) - How to deliver bad news to leaders: few words, calm tone, clear next step, clear ask - The leadership move that instantly lowers the temperature: removing blame - Why informal networks matter, including a legendary security-incident save powered by… cheesecake If you’ve ever felt stuck in status-call theater, pressured to keep the project's status green, or unsure how to talk to leadership when reality hits, this episode is your playbook. This episode has been sponsored by Meter.  Go to meter.com/aone to book a demo now!  Support the show Find everything AONE right here: https://linktr.ee/artofneteng

    47 min

  6. 12/31/2025

    Communication Fundamentals Every Engineer Needs to Master

    Send a text Recorded on-site in Austin, Texas, at AutoCon 4 (Network Automation Forum), Andy sits down with Colin Doyle to talk about the human side of technical communication and why it matters more than ever in technical careers. They dig into practical speaking advice for engineers: how to slow down without losing authority, why “dead air” feels scarier than it is, how to stop relying on scripts, and how to structure a talk so your audience can repeat your message when you leave the room. Colin shares the “audience-first” mindset shift: don’t tell your story, tell the audience’s story with you in it. Then the conversation widens into the network automation adoption problem: why network automation still lags behind other IT domains, why tooling fragmentation creates anxiety (“what if I learn the wrong thing?”), and why starting with Python is often the safest first step. Colin also reframes overlays (EVPN/VXLAN) as a fundamental shift: abstraction changes operations, pushes configuration to the edge, and makes intent-based operations and assurance the real job. If you’re a CLI lifer preparing to level up, or you’re giving your first big talk, this episode is a practical, grounding guide. In this episode: communication fundamentals, talk prep, booth culture at AutoCon, automation adoption barriers, overlays → intent → assurance, and why you don’t need to be a “kung fu wizard” to start automating. This episode has been sponsored by Meter.  Go to meter.com/aone to book a demo now!  Support the show Find everything AONE right here: https://linktr.ee/artofneteng

    57 min

  7. 12/17/2025

    What is IS-IS?

    Send a text Most network engineers know BGP, OSPF, and maybe EIGRP, but far fewer have hands-on experience with ISIS. In this episode of The Art of Network Engineering, Andy Lapteff sits down with Russ White and Mike Bushong for a deep, opinionated, and refreshingly honest discussion about routing protocol design in modern data centers. We explore why BGP has become the default hammer for every networking nail, what we lose when we blend underlay and overlay into a single protocol, and why some of the largest networks in the world still rely on IS-IS for simplicity, scale, and resilience. This isn’t a “which protocol is best” argument, it’s a design conversation. One about failure domains, operational reality, education gaps, and why many engineers never learn the protocols that quietly power hyperscale networks. In this episode: Why BGP is policy-rich but intentionally slow The architectural value of separating underlay and overlay How ISIS works and why it’s simpler than you think TLVs, scalability, and protocol evolution Why familiarity often beats good design (for better or worse) Where RIFT fits and where it doesn’t The cost of losing deep protocol knowledge as engineers retire If you’ve ever wondered why networks are designed the way they are, or if you’ve felt uneasy about “just using BGP everywhere,” this conversation is for you. Subscribe for more conversations where technology meets the human side of IT. This episode has been sponsored by Meter.  Go to meter.com/aone to book a demo now!  Support the show Find everything AONE right here: https://linktr.ee/artofneteng

    55 min

  8. 12/03/2025

    Building the Right Network

    Send a text In this special on-location episode of The Art of Network Engineering, Andy Lapteff sits down in person with Kevin Myers for a conversation that pulls no punches. Kevin brings decades of service provider and whitebox experience to the table as the two dive deep into one of networking’s most complex decisions: how to choose the right vendor to build your network. From Cisco to whitebox, from enterprise carpeted IT to hyperscale data centers, this episode is all about designing networks that align with business needs, not just personal bias or legacy choices. Topics include: Why vendor selection should come after requirements gathering. How multi-vendor environments can create both resilience and complexity. When whitebox networking makes sense—and what kind of teams can support it. The hidden "operational tax" of expanding your vendor portfolio. Why understanding the business is the most critical skill for modern engineers. Whether you're a design engineer, network architect, or just trying to future-proof your ops, this episode is packed with insights that will change how you think about gear, vendors, and the networks we build. This episode has been sponsored by Meter.  Go to meter.com/aone to book a demo now!  Support the show Find everything AONE right here: https://linktr.ee/artofneteng

    51 min
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4.7
out of 5
85 Ratings

About

The Art of Network Engineering blends technical insight with real-world stories from engineers, innovators, and IT pros. From data centers on cruise ships to rockets in space, we explore the people, tools, and trends shaping the future of networking, while keeping it authentic, practical, and human. We tell the human stories behind network engineering so every engineer feels seen, supported, and inspired to grow in a rapidly changing industry. For more information, check out https://linktr.ee/artofneteng 

Information

  • Creator
    Andy and Friends
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    197
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Art of Network Engineering
  • Show Website
    The Art of Network Engineering

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