Welcome to IBM SayZ What?, the podcast where enterprise IT meets mission-critical innovation. Hosted by IBM Z experts and industry leaders, each episode dives into the world of IBM Z hardware and software, exploring how these powerful systems are driving security, scalability, and resilience across public and private sectors.
With a special focus on the role of mainframes in government agencies, we discuss how IBM Z helps power national infrastructure, protect sensitive data, and support digital modernization efforts. From z/OS and z/VM to z16, z17, and beyond, discover how mainframes remain at the heart of high-stakes operations—reliable, secure, and built for the future.
Join us for insightful conversations with technical specialists, government CIOs, and industry partners as we unpack the real-world impact of IBM Z in today’s evolving IT landscape.
🔐 Because when it comes to trust, scale, and performance—mainframes still matter.
Host Aleis Murphy interviews Kenny Stine, Principal Z Technical Specialist, exploring the game-changing security, scalability, and sustainability of IBM's LinuxONE 5 platform.
30 Jul 2026TRANSCRIPT
Bob Premium for Z with Ethan Mendel
Host B. Olaborede and John Mitchell interview Ethan Mendel about how Bob Premium for Z boosts productivity and modernizes IBM Z environments.
9 Apr 2026TRANSCRIPT
Client Zero Story
Hosts Camila and Ahmed sit down with Ashly AuBuchon from IBM’s Client Zero Center of Competence to unpack the real story behind AI transformation. In this episode, Ashly shares how IBM became its own first customer—testing, refining, and scaling AI across the enterprise before bringing those lessons to clients. From cultural shifts to workflow redesign to measurable business impact, this conversation reveals how “Client Zero” became a blueprint for helping customers adopt AI with confidence and clarity.
28 Aug 2025
Episode 10: Why Get Quantum Safe with Charles Robinson
We’re excited to share the latest episode of our IBM SayZ What? podcast — and this one’s a special one!
Our incredible summer interns, Marc Sibaja and Prerana Kalapatapu, step up as guest hosts to explore a hot topic with Charles Robinson, IBM’s Worldwide Business Development Leader for the Quantum Safe team.
This episodes topic highlights:
What it means to be "quantum safe"
How IBM is helping organizations navigate the post-quantum cryptography transition
Fresh perspectives from our interns as they dig into this emerging field
13 Jun 2025
Episode 9: z17 with Kenny Stine
IBM Z Technical Specialist Kenny Stine discusses the innovative features of the IBM z17, including AI integration and quantum-safe cryptography, in an interview with hosts Aleis Murphy and Ahmed Usman.
9 Jun 2025
Episode 8: Watsonx Assistant for Z
IBM's Watsonx Assistant for Z discusses streamlining problem-solving, enhancing productivity, and enabling human-machine collaboration as Louise Dixon and Aleis Murphy interview the AI assistant.
2 Apr 2025
Episode 7: Interview with Watsonx.ai
In this exciting episode, join hosts Aleis Murphy and Louise Dixon as they sit down with the brilliant 'mind' our very own Watsonx.ai (http://Watsonx.ai) to explore the cutting-edge innovations in artificial intelligence. From AI's growing role in business to the future of machine learning, Watsonx.ai (http://Watsonx.ai) answers some of the most pressing questions shaping the landscape of modern technology. Whether you’re an AI enthusiast or new to the space, this conversation provides a unique perspective on how AI is revolutionizing industries and driving the future forward.
Tune in for a fascinating discussion on the power of AI, data, and the endless possibilities of Watsonx.ai (http://Watsonx.ai) in today’s fast-evolving tech world.
4 Feb 2025
Episode 6: Intellimagic
In this episode, we explore how Intellimagic’s advanced IT optimization solutions can help federal agencies streamline operations, reduce costs, and enhance system performance. With decades of expertise in monitoring and analyzing IT environments, Intellimagic empowers federal customers to gain deep insights into their infrastructure, ensuring better decision-making and improved service delivery. Tune in as we discuss how our tailored solutions can help federal IT teams mitigate risk, maximize efficiency, and stay ahead of ever-evolving technological challenges.
11 Nov 2024
Episode 5: Capacity Planning
In this episode of “IBM Sayz, What?”, hosts Aleis, Ahmed, and talk with IBM Z hardware specialist Kiri Nicholson about capacity planning. Kiri explains the difference between ongoing capacity planning and one-time CPU sizing, both crucial for optimizing IBM Z systems. She highlights essential tools like IBM Z PCR and MIPS tables for accurate system scaling and emphasizes the need for cross-departmental collaboration in planning for future growth. Kiri encourages reaching out to IBM support for guidance and provides resources for listeners to start their own capacity planning journey.
21 Oct 2024
Episode 3: Watsonx Assistant for Z with Joanie Gines
In this episode of IBM Says, What?, hosts Kiara Street and Louise Dixon welcome special guest Joanie Gines to discuss IBM WatsonX Assistant for Z. Joanie Gines shares insights from her 28-year career at IBM, highlighting her passion for blending technical expertise with sales. She explains how WatsonX Assistant for Z leverages generative AI to provide targeted, platform-specific solutions, helping new professionals quickly acquire mainframe skills and boosting operational efficiency. Joanie also discusses the critical role AI plays in preserving “legendary” mainframe systems by capturing expert knowledge and facilitating automation. Tune in to learn how IBM is shaping the future of mainframe technology through AI innovation.
21 Oct 2024
Episode 2: Watsonx Code Assistant for Z with Carol So
The podcast introduces IBM’s WatsonX Code Assistant for Z, an AI-powered tool to modernize COBOL applications on IBM Z systems. Hosts Aleis Murphy and Ahmed Usman speak with Carol So, an experienced IBM architect, who explains how the tool guides the transformation process through four phases: Understand, Refactor, Transform, and Validate. The assistant helps translate COBOL to optimized Java while minimizing risks and enhancing team collaboration. Carol highlights that even clients sticking with COBOL can benefit from improved code understanding and development efficiency.
9 Oct 2024
LinuxONE: Episode 1 with Nabila Ahmed & Montgomery Bauman
In this episode of “IBM Says, What?”, hosts Ahmed Usman and Louise Dixon talk with IBM experts Nabila Ahmed and Monty Bauman about the benefits of IBM LinuxONE, including scalability, security, cost efficiency, and AI capabilities. They highlight workload consolidation, support for open-source tools, and how LinuxONE’s AI accelerator boosts performance in tasks like fraud detection and healthcare imaging.
7 Oct 2024
Episode 04: zSecurity with Rodney Oxford
Our hosts Kiara Street and Ahmed Usman, discuss the importance of the zSecurity portfolio for IBMs customer's.
Inside a recent episode
Episode 13: LinuxONE 5 - Kenny Stine
Published 15 Sept 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] So let's just start out for those who are listening who are unfamiliar with the Linux one. Can you just kind of let us know what is Linux one? I see. Well, of course, Linux One is our premier platform for deploying Linux and consolidating Linux from x86 based architectures into the enterprise class architectures. It is where we put a lot of our development focus to really drive new innovations in Linux. and to drive more and more application growth onto our Telum 2 chip design. Very cool. And what is it that makes this newly announced Linux 1 different from the previous generations? Well, what differentiates the new Linux 1 Rockhopper 5 is the inclusion of the Telum 2 chip and all of the innovations that come along with the introduction of that chip design and architecture. […]
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
