The IT Guy Show - Episodes Tagged with “Open Source”

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

Episode 18: Wayland and My eX-11 | The IT Guy Show 018

Eric Hendricks — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 06:00:00 -0600

In this episode of The IT Guy Show, Eric is joined by Linux content creator Brodie Robertson to dive into the display server drama of the decade: the end of X11 and the rise of Wayland.

Together they explore the history of X11, its weird quirks, and why it stuck around so long, before unpacking what makes Wayland different, better, and sometimes frustrating. From screen tearing and window managers to PipeWire, gaming, and remote desktops, this episode covers the past, present, and future of the Linux desktop experience.

Whether you’re a veteran sysadmin who lived through the xhost + days or a curious distro-hopper wondering why Wayland keeps breaking your screen sharing, this episode has something for you.

Connect with me! https://linktr.ee/itguyeric
Connect with Brodie: https://brodierobertson.xyz/link_tree

X Window System: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X_Window_System
Wayland Homepage: https://wayland.freedesktop.org/

Wayland Protocols Table: https://absurdlysuspicious.github.io/wayland-protocols-table
Awesome Wayland: https://github.com/rcalixte/awesome-wayland

Chapters:
00:00 Stream Start
00:13 Introduction
01:21 Brodie Robertson
04:45 What is X11?
11:56 What did X11 solve?
19:42 What is Wayland?
36:18 Full Wayland mode
44:52 Wrap up

Graphics and bumpers by Free Hive Agency
Photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash Special Guest: Brodie Robertson.

Episode 3: Unmasking AI: The Drive for Open and Transparent Development

Eric Hendricks — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 06:00:00 -0500

In this interview, the host Eric provides a detailed introduction to his guest JJ Asgar from IBM, who is deeply involved with the open-source AI project called InstructLab. JJ passionately discusses the importance of open and transparent AI development for societal benefit. He explains the distinction between true AI and the current language models, and emphasizes the need for open data and models to counteract biases and ensure ethical AI advancement for the greater good.

Welcome to The IT Guy Podcast, 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
JJ Asghar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jjasghar

Hugging Face - https://huggingface.co/
Instruct Lab on Hugging Face https://huggingface.co/instructlab
IBM’s Granite Model https://huggingface.co/ibm-granite

What is InstructLab? https://www.redhat.com/en/topics/ai/what-is-instructlab

Chapters
00:00 Stream start
00:50 Welcome
01:40 Introduction
03:51 Meet JJ
04:47 What is AI?
08:09 What is an LLM?
09:42 Open Source AI
15:50 Instruct Lab
23:26 The Real Reality
28:05 The IT Community
31:15 Wrap up

Graphics and bumpers by Free Hive Agency
Photo by @steve_j on Unsplash

MoodMode. “Beautiful Acoustic Country Track.” Story Blocks, Songtrust, https://www.storyblocks.com/audio/stock/beautiful-acoustic-country-trailer-bboydaqyvkhf01l87.html. Accessed 28 Jan. 2022.
Special Guest: JJ Asghar.