Discover the future of home improvement with AI! We dive into an imaginative approach to DIY, using AI suggestions for tasks like faucet replacement and driveway revival. Tune in to see how technology transforms everyday chores into innovative projects!

Revolutionize Your Home DIY with AI: From Faucets to Driveways!

Explore the intriguing clash between AI-driven tools like Grammarly and academic integrity. As schools integrate AI for error-free writing, plagiarism detection systems raise alarms. Can students and educators find harmony in this tech tango?

AI Tools in Academia: Friend or Foe?

Discover the bizarre secret to snapping AIs out of their funk—turns out, a little sailor talk can reset them, making your next encounter eerily human-like. Plus, learn how AI is more than just a digital therapist.

Cursing at Your AI? Here's Why It Might Just Work

Discover how AI, like ChatGPT, played a pivotal role in nursing a beloved pet fish back to health. From diagnosing mysterious ailments to guiding recovery treatments, witness the practical power of technology in a heartwarming and surprising context.

AI to the Rescue: Saving a Fishy Friend

Dive deep into a personal tale of self-plagiarism. Listen as we unravel the humor and irony of academia's evolving honor codes and question: is reusing your own work really cheating? Discover the quirks of university policies and why they might just want you to work harder! 🎓💼 Listen for a closer look and join the conversation on academic integrity.

Can You Plagiarize Yourself? The Academic Dilemma

Dive into a playful yet ominous chat about AI's role in shaping tomorrow—straight from those jokingly fearing the rise of Terminators. Discover why some believe their verbal sparring with AI could mark them out when technology takes a dystopian turn. Tune in for tech insights with a humorous twist!

AI: Friend or Foe in Our Tech Future?

The discussion dives into a provocative claim: as we increasingly lean on AI technologies, are we inadvertently dulling our intellects? Explore the findings that show a decline in brain activity when AI steps in, and join us in questioning the cost of convenience.

Is AI Making Us Dumber? Unpacking the Loss of Brain Power

Dive into the art of crafting AI prompts as we compare it to the early days of mastering search engines. Learn why perfecting this skill could be your ticket to maximizing AI like never before. Tune in for a dose of nostalgia and innovation rolled into one!

Mastering AI Prompts: The New 21st Century Skill

In this episode of The Rebel Devs, we explore the fascinating world of AI code analysis tools like CodeRabbit AI. Is it the perfect partner for open-source devs, or should you be worried about your code privacy? We dive into its benefits, subtle quirks, and the all-important question: What are they doing with your data? Stay tuned for a thought-provoking ride!

AI Code Tools: Friend or Foe?

Think hackathons are just for coders? Think again! Join us as Jonah unravels the true essence of hackathons—where diverse skills like project management, marketing, and presentation-making shine. Find out how these creative marathons are embracing all talents, not just the code-savvy. Discover why YOU should dive in next time!

Hackathons: Where Non-Coders Thrive!

Description:
In this episode of The Rebel Devs Podcast, hosts Tom May and Jonah May are joined by Maurice Kevenaar to talk all things Veeam Community Hackathon 2025 — how it’s evolved, what’s new this year, and why it’s more than just coding. The trio dives into the creative chaos of global collaboration, the power of community-driven innovation, and even the quirks of modern AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot. From hackathon tips to philosophical takes on artificial intelligence (and a few off-the-rails tangents about vinegar driveways and pet fish), this episode blends tech, humor, and real talk in true Rebel Devs style.

👉 Sign up for the Veeam Community Hackathon: VeeamHackathon.com [https://veeamhackathon.com]

Links & Resources

 * Past Projects: veeamhackathon.com/previous-years [https://veeamhackathon.com/previous-years]
 * Sponsor Company: differentdev.com [https://differentdev.com/]
 * Sponsor Company: cyberfortress.com [https://cyberfortress.com/]

2025 Veeam Hackathon

🎙️ Episode Description

In this episode of Rebel Devs, hosts Tom May and Jonah May sit down with technology attorney Peter Vogel to unpack the Top 10 SaaS Legal Issues Every Tech Leader Should Know.

From data privacy and AI transparency to SOC 2 compliance, vendor accountability, and cyber insurance, this conversation exposes the hidden risks in everyday cloud and SaaS agreements. Peter brings his dual background in law and computer science to explain what every IT leader, MSP, or SaaS provider needs to include in their contracts—before a breach or compliance audit strikes.

Learn how to:

 * Protect your data across borders
 * Demand real DR and BCP test results
 * Cap annual fee increases
 * Verify vendor privacy and insurance coverage

Whether you manage infrastructure, run DevOps, or architect disaster recovery solutions, this episode will help you build stronger, safer, and legally sound SaaS partnerships.

🔗 Listen at: RebelDevs.com
💼 Guest: VogelITLaw.com [https://www.vogelitlaw.com/]
🧭 Sponsors: Different Dev www.differentdev.com | CyberFortress www.cyberfortress.com

Top 10 SaaS Legal Issues Every Tech Leader Should Know

Hosts: Tom May & Jonah May
Guest: Rick Vanover, Senior Director of Product Strategy at Veeam

Episode Overview

In this episode of Rebel Devs, Tom and Jonah sit down with none other than Rick Vanover—“Rickatron”—from Veeam. Fresh off VeeamON, Rick shares behind-the-scenes insights about how the event comes together, what’s next in the Veeam Data Cloud journey, and why the Veeam community continues to be one of the company’s strongest differentiators.

This conversation blends industry perspective, personal anecdotes, and technical deep dives—from new Linux-based appliances to the challenges of balancing partner needs, all the way to reflections on careers, risk-taking, and the evolving tech landscape.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

 * Life after VeeamON: Rick’s whirlwind schedule of VeeamON, RSA, Nutanix .NEXT, and why a "VeeamON-off" vacation was overdue.
 * The Veeam Community: How Vanguard, Legends, and user groups shape the company’s DNA and directly influence product strategy.
 * Event Takeaways:
   Linux-based Veeam Backup & Replication appliance – and why it blew the audience away.
   The rise of Veeam Data Cloud and its impact on service providers and customers.
   The balancing act between C-suite priorities, MSP needs, and partner representation at VeeamON.
 * Business & Tech Evolution: From capitalization vs. OpEx in cloud economics, to why community programs like Vanguard deliver real ROI.
 * Careers & Risk: Rick’s reflections on being risk-averse in data protection, watching his son hack Chromebooks, and how unpredictable paths shape our roles in tech.
 * Technology Everywhere: Construction, data centers, and even HVAC systems—how “non-traditional tech” jobs are becoming highly technical and critical.

Key Quotes

 * “At VeeamON, the goal is simple: everybody levels up. That’s what makes the event so special.” – Rick Vanover
 * “Fly with eagles, you rise. Soar with ducks, you sink. The Veeam community is full of eagles.” – Tom May
 * “Most customers can cover 90% of their needs with Veeam Data Cloud. The beauty is in the choice.” – Rick Vanover

Why Listen?

Whether you’re a Veeam user, MSP, or IT pro, this episode gives you a rare mix of technical insights, business realities, and community wisdom. If you want to understand where backup, data protection, and cloud services are heading—and how to align yourself with that future—this conversation is a must-listen.

Connect with Us

 * Rebel Devs: rebeldevs.com [https://rebeldevs.com/]
 * Different Dev: differentdev.com [https://differentdev.com/]
 * CyberFortress: cyberfortress.com

👉 Subscribe, share, and join the rebellion. The Rebel Devs Podcast challenges conventional thinking in tech—and you’re invited to be part of the conversation.

Leveling Up with Veeam: Rick Vanover on Community, Cloud, and the Future of Data Protection

In this episode of the Rebel Devs Podcast, hosts Tom May and Jonah May pull back the curtain on the world of Veeam community programs with special guests Madi and Safiya from Veeam’s Product Strategy Team.

From the fast-paced world of Veeam Legends to the long-standing prestige of the Vanguard Program, Maddie and Safiya share what makes these communities thrive, how they’re evolving, and why both technical pros and everyday users benefit from being involved.

The conversation dives into:

 * How Legends and Vanguards differ — and where they’re starting to overlap
 * The surprising amount of work it takes to keep a Legend badge
 * Why employers should value and support community involvement
 * The role of Veeam User Groups in local and global networking
 * Real-world examples of how community collaboration has solved urgent technical problems
 * The unique culture, mentorship, and career opportunities these programs create

Whether you’re curious about joining, want to understand the benefits, or just love stories from the front lines of IT, this episode offers a candid, inside look at one of the industry’s most active technical communities.

Key Takeaways

 * Legends work harder than you think: Frequent, high-value contributions keep them in the program.
 * Vanguards influence product evolution: Early access to betas and direct feedback to product teams.
 * Community saves time and money: Real-world fixes from peers can be faster than formal support channels.
 * User groups are gold: In-person and virtual events connect engineers, partners, and end users for deep technical dives.
 * It’s about people, not just products: The Veeam community blends mentorship, shared knowledge, and long-term professional growth.

Links & Resources

 * Different Dev – differentdev.com [https://differentdev.com/]
 * CyberFortress – cyberfortress.com [https://cyberfortress.com/]
 * Veeam Community Hub – community.veeam.com
 * Learn about the Veeam Vanguard Program – veeam.com/vanguard
 * Explore Veeam User Groups – community.veeam.com/user-groups-98

Sponsors

This episode is brought to you by:

 * Different Dev – Helping organizations define, implement, and monitor RTO & RPO requirements with Veeam Professional Services.
 * CyberFortress – Your trusted partner in immutable, secure data protection.

Call to Action

Enjoyed this conversation? Subscribe to the Rebel Devs Podcast on your favorite platform, leave us a review, and share the episode with someone who’s passionate about tech communities.

Inside the Veeam Community: Legends, Vanguards & User Groups with Madi and Safiya

In this episode of the Rebel Devs Podcast, hosts Tom May and Jonah May catch up with longtime friend and former colleague Will Baccich, partner at Seton Hill Partners, to break down why understanding cost is everything—especially for growing tech companies.

🔍 Key topics include:

 * Why so many service providers don’t actually know what it costs them to do business
 * The power and pitfalls of fractional leadership (CFOs, CIOs, and beyond)
 * SaaS pricing strategies and surviving buyer pressure in commoditized markets
 * Real talk on cloud vs on-prem, capital constraints, and hidden costs
 * The reality check for small service providers in today’s hyperscale world
 * Edge computing: where did it go, and will AI bring it back?
 * Building local AI agents for tier-1 support and knowledge transfer
 * How hospitals lose $10K IV pumps (yes, seriously) and how LORA tech is solving it

🔥 Bonus: Will, Tom, and Jonah get candid about the past, present, and future of storage, Veeam, object-first appliances, and the coming AI arms race in IT services.

If you're in tech, SaaS, IT services, or just love solving big problems with unconventional thinking—this is one episode you won’t want to miss.

🧠 Whether you're scaling a startup or modernizing a legacy system, "know your cost" might just become your new mantra.

📣 Mentions & Shoutouts:

 * Seton Hill Partners [https://www.setonhillpartners.com/]
 * Fortium Partners [https://www.fortiumpartners.com/]
 * CyberFortress [https://www.cyberfortress.com/]
 * Object First [https://www.objectfirst.com/]
 * Texas Veeam User Group Roadshow (June)

💬 Like, share, and subscribe to join the Devolution — where rebels don’t just disrupt, they evolve.

Know Your Costs or Die Trying: SaaS Finance, Edge AI, and Cloud Reality with Will Baccich

In this jam-packed episode of Rebel Devs, your hosts Tom May and Jonah May sit down with none other than Nico Stein—Veeam Vanguard, Cisco Champion, and home lab experimenter extraordinaire.

🚀 From exploding 10Gb NICs to streamlining data redundancy with Syncthing, Nico brings real-world IT challenges and homegrown solutions to the table. The crew dives into:

 * 🧪 Nico’s take on building a Microsoft-free personal cloud with Syncthing, Ubuntu, and Synology.
 * 💾 Why SureBackup is the most underrated feature in Veeam (and how it can save your job).
 * 🔒 Immutable backups, ransomware readiness, and the harsh truths about cloud cost creep.
 * ☁️ Object First vs. Linux Hardened Repos — the showdown you didn’t know you needed.
 * 💥 That infamous CrowdStrike Friday outage and how Nico’s clever Veeam boot integration shaved off recovery time.

You'll laugh, you'll learn, and you’ll probably want to audit your DR strategy afterward.

🔗 Mentioned in the episode:

 * Nico's blog: nicostein.com [https://nicostein.com/]
 * CyberFortress [https://cyberfortress.com/] for resilient DRaaS options
 * DifferentDev [https://differentdev.com/] for fractional Veeam expertise and audits

🎧 Whether you're a seasoned sysadmin or new to the world of backup and continuity, this is one episode you do not want to miss.

Cloud, Chaos, and Continuity: Navigating IT the Nico Stein Way

In this episode, host Tom May and co-host Jonah May sit down with Greg Tellone, CEO of CloudIBR, to explore how CloudIBR is revolutionizing backup and disaster recovery for Veeam environments.

We dive into how CloudIBR delivers ultra-fast, reliable recovery by leveraging its purpose-built platform designed specifically for Veeam users. From air-gapped, ransomware-resilient storage to instant-on virtual recovery environments, Greg breaks down what makes CloudIBR different—and why organizations are turning to it for true business continuity.

Whether you're a Veeam admin, an IT leader, or just curious about how DRaaS (Disaster Recovery as a Service) is evolving, this conversation is packed with insight. Learn how CloudIBR enables recovery in minutes, not days, with built-in testing, compliance reporting, and 24/7 expert support.

🔒 Ransomware-proof backups.
⚡ Instant VM recovery.
☁️ Fully managed, worry-free disaster recovery.

Find out why CloudIBR is becoming the go-to partner for businesses that can’t afford downtime.

Links & Resources:
🌐 cloudibr.com [https://cloudibr.com/]
🌐 differentdev.com [https://differentdev.com/]
🌐 cyberfortress.com [https://cyberfortress.com/]
🌐 rebeldevs.com [https://rebeldevs.com/]

Fast, Reliable Recovery for Veeam Backups with CloudIBR

In this episode of The Rebel Devs Podcast, hosts Tom May and Jonah May are joined by Maurice Kevenaar to dive into the fascinating world of automation and innovation in the tech industry. The discussion centers around the Veeam 2024 Hackathon, the Veeam Automation Desk, and leveraging tools like Chocolatey for effective automation. Maurice shares his insights on fostering creativity in hackathons, building robust automation solutions, and the future of automation in IT.

Topics Discussed:

Veeam 2024 Hackathon

 * Overview of the hackathon’s goals and challenges.
 * Key takeaways from this year’s event.
 * Maurice’s role and experiences at the hackathon.
 * Advice for participants to maximize their impact.

Veeam Automation Desk

Automation with Chocolatey

 * Explanation of Chocolatey and its role in software management.
 * Maurice’s tips on integrating Chocolatey into automation workflows.
 * Benefits of using Chocolatey for scaling deployments.
 * Future developments in automation and package management.

Join the Conversation: Share your automation success stories with us on social media using #RebelDevs.

Subscribe & Review: Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe to The Rebel Devs Podcast on your favorite podcast platform and leave us a review.

Resources Mentioned:

Veeam 2024 Hackathon Details: https://veeamhackathon.com/

Veeam Automation Desk: https://community.veeam.com/groups/automation-desk-103

Chocolatey Package Manager: https://chocolatey.org/

Different Dev: www.differentdev.com

CyberFortress: www.cyberfortress.com

Rebel Devs with Maurice Kevenaar

Show Notes for Rebel Devs Podcast

Episode Title: Inside ManageCast: Award-Winning Portal for Veeam Cloud & Service Providers

Hosts: 

 * Tom May from Different Dev  

Guest: 

 * Nathan Golden from Managecast Technologies

Episode Summary:
In this episode, Tom May is joined by Nathan Golden from Managecast Technologies to dive into the award-winning ManageCast portal designed specifically for Veeam Cloud and Service Providers (VCSPs) and Managed Service Providers (MSPs) using Veeam. Nathan shares the journey behind the portal’s creation, what sets it apart in the industry, and the core features and functions that have made it a must-have tool for Veeam partners. 

From seamless management of backup environments to intuitive client dashboards, Nathan covers how ManageCast’s portal simplifies and enhances the VCSP experience, delivering a robust solution to streamline operations and improve service quality. For MSPs and service providers looking to elevate their Veeam offerings, this episode is packed with insights and practical information on how the portal can transform your backup and disaster recovery services.

Key Topics Discussed: 

 * Overview of ManageCast’s portal for VCSPs and MSPs  
 * Key features and functionalities that enhance Veeam service delivery  
 * How the portal streamlines Veeam environment management for MSPs  
 * Insights into client dashboards and other tools for improved visibility  
 * Benefits of using ManageCast for Veeam Cloud and Service Providers  
 * Contact information for those interested in a demo of the ManageCast portal  

Contact for Demo: 

 * Reach out to Nathan Golden at Managecast Technologies for a demo and firsthand look at how their portal can enhance your Veeam services.

Links and Resources Mentioned: 

 * Different Dev [https://www.differentdev.com/] 
 * Managecast Technologies [https://www.managecast.com/] 
 * Veeam [https://www.veeam.com/] 

Join the Conversation:
Interested in learning more about how to optimize your Veeam environment with ManageCast’s portal? Follow us for more insights and contact Nathan for a personalized demo. Let us know how you’re enhancing your backup services with Veeam and ManageCast tools. 

Rebel Devs with Nathan Golden of ManageCast Technologies

Show Notes for Rebel Devs Podcast

Episode Title: Scaling New Heights: Climbing, Community, and Habits with Karinne Bessette

Hosts:

 * Tom May from Different Dev
 * Jonah May from CyberFortress

Guest:

 * Karinne Bessette from Veeam

Episode Summary:
In this episode, Tom May and Jonah May sit down with Karinne Bessette from Veeam for a conversation that takes us far from the digital landscape and up into the world of rock climbing, personal habits, and the value of community. Together, they explore Karinne’s passion for climbing, how community plays a pivotal role both on and off the wall, and the ways in which building habits in a challenging sport translates to the rest of life.

With a blend of stories and insights, this episode takes a break from tech to focus on the human side of growth and grit. Whether you’re scaling mountains or tackling the challenges of everyday life, there’s something here for everyone.

Key Topics Discussed:

 * Karinne's journey and passion for rock climbing
 * The role of community in climbing and beyond
 * Building and sustaining habits in life and sport
 * The parallels between climbing challenges and everyday growth
 * Insights on balancing work, hobbies, and personal development

Links and Resources Mentioned:

 * Different Dev [https://www.differentdev.com]
 * CyberFortress [https://www.cyberfortress.com]
 * Veeam [https://www.veeam.com]

Follow Our Guest:

 * Karinne Bessette: Check out more from Karinne and her unique perspectives on life, tech, and climbing on her social media and Veeam's community pages.

Join the Conversation:
If this episode resonated with you, make sure to follow us for more discussions that go beyond the norm. Share your thoughts with us on social media, and let us know how you’re climbing your own mountains—literal or figurative.

Rebel Devs with Karinne Bessette - Part 2

Thomas May (@ddpodcast) · Zencastr

Thomas May (@ddpodcast)

The Rebel Devs podcast is a show that challenges conventional thinking in the IT industry. Each episode features conversations with solutionists who have taken unconventional approaches to problem-solving, pushing the boundaries of what's possible in their respective fields.