Shows
The Art of Network EngineeringWhy Projects FailSend us a textWe'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 cou...
2026-01-1447 minThe Art of Network EngineeringWhat is IS-IS?Send us a textMost 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...
2025-12-1755 minThe Art of Network EngineeringLearn the Business, Grow Your CareerSend us a textNetwork engineers don’t tune into corporate all-hands because they’re “lazy,” they tune out because the message often isn’t for them. In this episode of The Art of Network Engineering, Andy Lapteff sits down with longtime industry leaders Scott Robohn and Mike Bushong to unpack the disconnect between engineering teams and executive communications, and how to fix it.They talk about:Why engineers roll their eyes at town halls, earnings calls, and “four pillars of excellence”How leadership actually thinks about growth, stock price, cost centers, and enablementThe two jobs every...
2025-11-0558 min
CONTENT TYPE – rule 11 readerOperations and the Future of NetworkingMany of us old timers (and a lot of young timers) worry about the future of networking. What if the future isn’t a technology, or even AI, but a change in focus? Mike Bushong joins Tom and Russ to argue for operations as the future of networking.
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2025-07-1153 minAUDIO – rule 11 readerOperations and the Future of NetworkingMany of us old timers (and a lot of young timers) worry about the future of networking. What if the future isn’t a technology, or even AI, but a change in focus? Mike Bushong joins Tom and Russ to argue for operations as the future of networking.
https://media.blubrry.com/hedge/media.blubrry.com/hedge/content.blubrry.com/hedge/hedge-273.mp3
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2025-07-1153 min
The HedgeOperations and the Future of NetworkingMany of us old timers (and a lot of young timers) worry about the future of networking. What if the future isn’t a technology, or even AI, but a change in focus? Mike Bushong joins Tom and Russ to argue for operations as the future of networking.
https://media.blubrry.com/hedge/media.blubrry.com/hedge/content.blubrry.com/hedge/hedge-273.mp3
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2025-07-1153 min
The HedgeOperations and the Future of NetworkingMany of us old timers (and a lot of young timers) worry about the future of networking. What if the future isn’t a technology, or even AI, but a change in focus? Mike Bushong joins Tom and Russ to argue for operations as the future of networking.
https://media.blubrry.com/hedge/media.blubrry.com/hedge/content.blubrry.com/hedge/hedge-273.mp3
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2025-07-1153 min
Data Center Go-to-Market PodcastEp. 88 Michael Bushong, Vice President of Data Center at Nokia | Data Center Go-to-Market Podcasthttps://www.dcsmi.com/newsletter Subscribe to the Data Center Sales and Marketing Newsletter (DCSMI)In episode 88 of the Data Center Go-to-Market Podcast, join Joshua Feinberg and Mike Bushong, VP of Data Centers at Nokia, as they share actionable insights on building relationships, mastering discovery, and navigating organizational dynamics. Learn how to stay current with industry trends, scale a business effectively, and engage with channel partners for maximum impact. Plus, discover the power of smaller, targeted events like lunch and learns, and how evidence-based marketing can build trust and credibility. 🚀💡0:00 Coming up In this episode of the...
2025-04-1556 minThe Art of Network EngineeringMaking Ethernet Cool Again—The Ultra Ethernet ConsortiumSend us a textWith the rise of artificial intelligence and its significant demands on network performance, experts are increasingly asking whether Ethernet can catch up to InfiniBand as the preferred choice for high-performance computing.Join us as industry veterans Mike Bushong and Dr. Jay Metz share their insights on the necessity of open, flexible, and scalable networking solutions. Discover why many believe that Ethernet could be the platform of choice moving forward. As they dissect the need for innovation, collaboration, and competition within the ecosystem, our guests provide a forward-looking perspective on the future...
2025-02-261h 02
The Five NineHave we been doing automation all wrong?This week, we’re turning our attention to automation, and, more specifically, why exactly it hasn’t taken over yet. Fully autonomous networks are something of a holy grail for telcos and data center operators alike. And yet, progress has been slow at best. As AT&T CTO Jeremy Legg said in June of this year, “We’re a ways away from autonomous networks. But there are points within networks that are being made autonomous.” But why this piecemeal approach? Well, it has a little to do with the way networks are architected. But the bigges...
2024-10-2415 minCONTENT TYPE – rule 11 readerSONic and other NOSsSONiC has been around for a while–is there a solid commercial play for this open-source operating system? If so, what is it? What is the future for open-source and other network operating systems? Mike Bushong joins Tom Ammon, Eyvonne Sharp, and Russ White to discuss SONiC and open source network operating systems.
https://media.blubrry.com/hedge/content.blubrry.com/hedge/hedge-247.mp3
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2024-10-1845 min
The Fat Pipe - Most Popular Packet Pushers PodsTNO006: Network Operations is Where It’s AtJoin Mike Bushong, an industry expert, and host Scott Robohn as they talk about why Network Operations is the next big thing and why you should start with the end in mind for NetOps. Their proposal is that NetOps shouldn’t just get a seat at the table; they should get 51% of the vote. They... Read more »
2024-10-1845 min
The Everything Feed - All Packet Pushers PodsTNO006: Network Operations is Where It’s AtJoin Mike Bushong, an industry expert, and host Scott Robohn as they talk about why Network Operations is the next big thing and why you should start with the end in mind for NetOps. Their proposal is that NetOps shouldn’t just get a seat at the table; they should get 51% of the vote. They... Read more »
2024-10-1845 min
Total Network OperationsNetwork Operations is Where It's AtJoin Mike Bushong, an industry expert, and host Scott Robohn as they talk about why Network Operations is the next big thing and why you should start with the end in mind for NetOps. Their proposal is that NetOps shouldn’t just get a seat at the table; they should get 51% of the vote. They... Read more »
2024-10-1845 min
The Everything Feed - All Packet Pushers PodsTNO006: Network Operations is Where It’s AtJoin Mike Bushong, an industry expert, and host Scott Robohn as they talk about why Network Operations is the next big thing and why you should start with the end in mind for NetOps. Their proposal is that NetOps shouldn’t just get a seat at the table; they should get 51% of the vote. They... Read more »
2024-10-1845 min
Tech Field Day Podcast28. Network Automation Is More Than Just ToolingEvent: https://techfieldday.com/event/nfdxnokia24/
The modern enterprise network automation strategy is failing. This is due in part to a collection of tools masquerading as an automation solution. In this episode, Tom Hollingsworth is joined by Scott Robohn, Bruno Wollmann, and special guest Mike Bushong of Nokia to discuss the current state of automation in the data center. They discuss how tools are often improperly incorporated as well as why organizations shouldn’t rely on just a single person or team to affect change. They also explore ideas around Nokia Event-Driven Automation (EDA), a new operations pl...
2024-10-0828 minThe Art of Network EngineeringNavigating Cognitive Biases in Networking: Insights from Mike BushongSend us a textHow do cognitive biases shape not only our professional decisions but also our personal interactions? In this episode, Mike Bushong shares his expertise on cognitive biases and his experiences transitioning to Nokia while working within data center technologies. We break down how our brains' natural shortcuts, like confirmation bias, can influence everything from our social media interactions to critical business decisions. By understanding these biases, we aim to foster more effective communication and collaboration, whether in high-stakes negotiations or everyday conversations.Mike and the team delve into practical strategies for making...
2024-07-311h 07CONTENT TYPE – rule 11 readerPreparing for LayoffsYou will probably be laid off at least once in your career–we no longer live a world of “permanent positions,” or even a world where people are in complete control of their “work destiny.” It’s important, then, to prepare to be laid off, made redundant, or impacted by a RIF, today. Mike Bushong joins Eyvonne Sharp, Tom Ammon, and Russ White in a wide-ranging discussion about preparing to be laid off.
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2024-06-1446 minCOMMUNICATION SKILLS – rule 11 readerHedge 175: Mike B on Personal SuperpowersWhen the economy starts contracting, career advisors start talking about the importance of “soft skills.” What are “soft skills,” exactly—and why are they “soft?” Mike Bushong joins Tom Amman and Russ White to talk about why these skills are important, why they are not “soft,” and how we should talk about people skills instead. They are superpowers,” and there isn’t anything “soft” about them.
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2023-04-2049 minCAREER – rule 11 readerHedge 175: Mike B on Personal SuperpowersWhen the economy starts contracting, career advisors start talking about the importance of “soft skills.” What are “soft skills,” exactly—and why are they “soft?” Mike Bushong joins Tom Amman and Russ White to talk about why these skills are important, why they are not “soft,” and how we should talk about people skills instead. They are superpowers,” and there isn’t anything “soft” about them.
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2023-04-2049 min
DCD Zero Downtime: The Bi-Weekly Data Center ShowEpisode 28 - The future of hyperscale networking, with Juniper Networks' Mike BushongAs data center demands grow, hyperscalers are building out vast networks that will help define the future of how infrastructure is interconnected. In the latest episode of the DCD Zero Downtime podcast, we connect with Juniper Networks' group vice president of cloud-ready data center, Mike Bushong, to discuss what this means, and what we should expect next. Plus we discuss AI, silicon photonics, telecoms, the race to 800G, and more.
2023-03-2445 min
The Art of Network EngineeringEp 105 – LeadershipSend us a textIn this episode, we discuss leadership with Mike Bushong, GVP of Cloud Ready Data Center at Juniper Networks. We reveal what leadership is, the characteristics of a good leader, leading with your strengths, connecting with people in a genuine way, the power of questions, cognitive biases, influence, and work/life balance. More from Mike:Twitter: https://twitter.com/mbushong CheckContinue reading "Ep 105 – Leadership"This episode has been sponsored by Meter. Go to meter.com/aone to book a demo now! You can support the show at the link...
2022-11-091h 12COMMUNICATION SKILLS – rule 11 readerMike Bushong and Radical CandorCommunication is one of those soft skills so often cited as a key to success—but what does effective communication entail? Mike Bushong joins Eyvonne Sharp and Russ White on the Hedge to discuss radical candor, and the importance of giving and taking honest feedback to relationships and business.
https://media.blubrry.com/hedge/content.blubrry.com/hedge/hedge-078.mp3
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2021-04-0742 minCAREER – rule 11 readerMike Bushong and Radical CandorCommunication is one of those soft skills so often cited as a key to success—but what does effective communication entail? Mike Bushong joins Eyvonne Sharp and Russ White on the Hedge to discuss radical candor, and the importance of giving and taking honest feedback to relationships and business.
https://media.blubrry.com/hedge/content.blubrry.com/hedge/hedge-078.mp3
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2021-04-0742 min
ntwr.knAssured Forwarding: Michael Bushong on the future of DC networkingRemember the episode where we analyzed Juniper acquiring Apstra? Well Michael Bushong, VP of Datacenter at Juniper, was the brains behind that idea – he had a listen to the episode and reached out to have a chat. We had a great time with Mike and talked about of course the acquisition but much more […]
2021-01-071h 29
UnderlayEpisode 46 – Bridging The Gap Between IT And The BusinessHistorically, engineers and practitioners have had a hard time communicating IT’s value to business leadership. This gap between IT and the business will present even greater challenges as businesses grow to depend on their networks and systems for even more strategic advantage. In this episode we explore some of the reasons why this gap exists and discuss some potential things you can do to help bridge the gap between IT engineering and business leadership. We would like to thank Cumulus Networks for sponsoring this episode of Network Collective. Cumulus Networks makes...
2019-03-0648 min
UnderlayEpisode 11 – Shaking The Status QuoThe network engineering community can get a bit stuck on ideas from time to time, and we take a stab at challenging some of these deeply held beliefs in Episode 11 of Network Collective. Join Ethan Banks, Mike Bushong, and the Network Collective crew as we talk about certifications, multi-vendor environments, orchestration, disaggregation, SDN, cloud, and the network industry hype cycle. Yeah, all of that in one 50 minute package. You’re not going to want to miss this one. —– Outro Music: Danger Storm Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http...
2017-09-0650 min