The IT Guy Show - Episodes Tagged with “Homelab”

Episode 19: The Problem with Subscriptions

Eric Hendricks — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 06:00:00 -0600

We’re starting 2026 with a reality check: subscriptions are eating our wallets. From streaming services to password managers, cloud storage to to-do apps — the "monthly drip" is everywhere.

In this solo episode, Eric breaks down why recurring subscription models have become the default, how they impact both consumers and creators, and what it looks like to take back control through self-hosting and open source alternatives.

This episode kicks off a new arc focused on building a personal homelab, reducing reliance on cloud services, and reclaiming your tech stack one app at a time.

Welcome to The IT Guy Show, your go-to destination for all things tech with Eric, your friendly neighborhood IT guy! Join Eric as he shares his wealth of knowledge, insights, and experiences gained from years of working in the IT industry. From troubleshooting common tech issues to exploring the latest trends and innovations, each episode is packed with practical tips, skilled advice, and engaging discussions.

Connect with me! https://linktr.ee/itguyeric

Chapters:
00:00 Stream Start
00:33 What’s the Problem
06:38 Eric’s Setup
14:13 Self Hosting Stack
23:08 Planning
24:15 Upcoming and Closing

Graphics and bumpers by Free Hive Agency
Photo by Christina Radevich on Unsplash

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Episode 13: How I Became a SysAdmin

Eric Hendricks — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 06:00:00 -0500

Before DevOps, SRE, and the cloud were all the rage, there were sysadmins—tech generalists who kept the lights on, often with duct tape, bash scripts, and caffine.

In this solo episode of The IT Guy Show, Eric shares how he broke into the world of system administration, from his earliest tech gigs to becoming the go-to Linux guy. Along the way, he reflects on the lessons learned, tools loved (and hated), and how the role of a sysadmin has evolved. Whether you're new to IT or just nostalgic for the days of cron, this one’s for you.

Connect with me! https://linktr.ee/itguyeric
Join our:
Discord: https://itguyeric.com/discord
Matrix: https://matrix.to/#/#podcast-itguyeric:matrix.org

Chapters:
00:00 Stream Start
00:13 Introduction
01:26 The Early Days
10:55 Learning the Ropes
18:29 Shifting Roles
27:25 My Advice
32:41 Wrap up

Graphics and bumpers by Free Hive Agency
Photo by David Schultz on Unsplash

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Episode 11: NixOS: The Distro That Thinks Code

Eric Hendricks — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 06:00:00 -0500

For many Linux users, configuration means dotfiles, bash scripts, and duct tape. But what if your entire system, from packages to users to services could be described, versioned, and rolled back like code?

In this episode of The IT Guy Show, Eric is joined by Aaron Honeycutt to demystify NixOS, the declarative, reproducible Linux distribution that’s changing how people think about system configuration. We’ll cover what makes NixOS different, how to get started without pulling your hair out, and how this distro fits into modern DevOps, home lab, and desktop workflows.

If you’ve ever heard the term “declarative infrastructure” and wondered what it actually looks like in practice, this is your chance to find out.

Connect with me! https://linktr.ee/itguyeric
Join our:
Discord: https://itguyeric.com/discord
Matrix: https://matrix.to/#/#podcast-itguyeric:matrix.org

Connect with Aaron: https://aaron.honeycutt.family
Inside a NixOS Homelab: Real-World Walkthrough with Aaron Honeycutt
https://youtu.be/pQTiucyjIjc

NixOS: https://nixos.org
NixOS Discord: https://discord.com/invite/RbvHtGa
Medium - What is Nix / NixOS: https://medium.com/@Erik_Krieg/what-is-nix-nixos-aab5610f0d7f

Chapters:
00:00 Stream Start
00:15 Welcome
01:05 Aaron Honeycutt
02:23 What is NixOS
04:14 How is it different?
06:20 What’s the learning curve?
12:20 Contributing to NixOS
16:59 The Future
23:38 Outro

Graphics and bumpers by Free Hive Agency
Photo by Malachi Brooks on Unsplash

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