LINUX Unplugged
An open show powered by community LINUX Unplugged takes the best attributes of open collaboration and turns it into a weekly show about Linux.
655: Speeding Up Mistakes
23 Feb 2026
Planet Nix and SCaLE are just days away, and we're getting a head start with two guests, the tech, and the trends shaping open source. Our trip starts here! Sponsored By: • Jupiter Party Annual
654: Creating Discord in the Matrix
16 Feb 2026
We were minutes away from shutting down our Matrix server when the Discord news hit. Now we're not just keeping it, we're doubling down. Can open source seize this moment? Sponsored By: • Jupiter
653: The Kernel Always Wins
9 Feb 2026
The news this week highlights shifts in Linux from multiple angles. What's evolving, why it matters, and that moment where the future actually works. Sponsored By: • Jupiter Party Annual
652: Have Your Bot Call My Bot
2 Feb 2026
We stress tested open source AI agents this week. What actually held up, and where it falls apart. Plus Brent's $20 Wi-Fi upgrade. Sponsored By: • Jupiter Party Annual Membership
651: Uptime Funk
26 Jan 2026
When your self-hosted services become infrastructure, breakage matters. We tackle monitoring that actually helps, alerts you won't ignore, and DNS for local, and multi-mesh network setups. Sponsored
650: This Old Network
19 Jan 2026
We rebuild a small office network around Linux, with an Unplugged twist and real-world constraints. Things don't go quite as expected... Sponsored By: • Managed Nebula
649: Burned by AI
12 Jan 2026
The storage apocalypse has arrived. An old friend drops by to talk survival strategies as prices explode, and we pitch our own unapologetically 90s approach to stretching storage. Sponsored By: •
648: I See Live People
5 Jan 2026
We unleash a networking monitoring tool to spot new devices, track changes in real time, and fire alerts straight into Home Assistant, MQTT, and your phone. Sponsored By: • Managed Nebula
647: Plausibly Postulated Prophecies
29 Dec 2025
We make our big Linux predictions for 2026, but first, we score how we did for 2025. Sponsored By: • Managed Nebula (https://defined.net/unplugged): Meet Managed Nebula from Defined Networking. A
646: The Great Holiday Homelab Special 🎄
21 Dec 2025
The Great Holiday Homelab Special! Where our community brought their absolute best, from budget busters to beautiful disasters. Plus, a boosties celebration! Grab an eggnog and join us as we attempt
645: COSMIC Christmas
15 Dec 2025
We cut the streaming cord the Linux way with free, legal internet TV you can curate, DVR, and self-host via Jellyfin or Plex. Then, we talk COSMIC stable with System76's CEO. Sponsored By: •
644: The People's Filesystem
8 Dec 2025
Kent Overstreet joins us for a full update on bcachefs. What's new, what's next, and the surprising upside of getting kicked out of the kernel. Sponsored By: • Managed Nebula
643: The Sunday Soapbox
1 Dec 2025
We pull on a few loose threads from recent episodes, and some of them unravel into way more than we expected. Sponsored By: • Managed Nebula (https://defined.net/unplugged): Meet Managed Nebula
642: Tunneling Home for the Holidays
24 Nov 2025
Chris cooked up a wild remote-access trick for Jellyfin that skips VPNs entirely. One tiny toggle spins up a secure tunnel on demand. Simple, absurd, and shockingly effective. Sponsored By: •
641: Something New, Something Old
17 Nov 2025
We dig into the biggest Linux hardware news of the year, then fire up our new-to-us 1L PC server. Sponsored By: • Managed Nebula (https://defined.net/unplugged): Meet Managed Nebula from Defined
640: Duece Configalo: Desktop Gigolo
10 Nov 2025
We dive into your configs, the genius moves, the glorious blunders, and everything in between. Sponsored By: • Managed Nebula (https://defined.net/unplugged): Meet Managed Nebula from Defined
639: The Mess Machine
3 Nov 2025
After all the AI hype is over, one change for Linux will be sticking around; we put it to the test. Sponsored By: • Managed Nebula (https://defined.net/unplugged): Meet Managed Nebula from Defined
638: The Distro Everyone Should Copy
27 Oct 2025
Fedora 43 arrives with polish, new spins, and a smarter installer; and one decision the rest of the Linux world should pay attention to. Sponsored By: • Managed Nebula
637: Chris' Smart Home Disaster
19 Oct 2025
The biggest failure in seven years, right before a trip. What broke, how Chris pulled it back together, and how Wes would fix it right. Sponsored By: • Managed Nebula
636: Engineering the Future
13 Oct 2025
We're back from Texas just in time to chat with Jon Seager, Canonical's VP of Engineering, and their new era with Ubuntu 25.10. On the way, we visit System76 in Denver where the COSMIC team has
635: The Texas Linux Fest Special
6 Oct 2025
Our cross-continent race to Texas Linux Fest culminates into fantastic meat, meetups, and more. Sponsored By: • Managed Nebula (https://defined.net/unplugged): Meet Managed Nebula from Defined
Episode 29: The Klementine Squeeze | LUP 29
26 Feb 2014
A cautionary tale for anyone thinking about starting their own Linux distribution, and then we’ll put it all out on the table and discuss our ideas and goals for Howto Linux, and take the live
Episode 28: Neckbeard Entitlement Factor | LUP 28
19 Feb 2014
Michael Hall from Canonical joins us to discuss his personal views on what he’s coined the new 80/20 rule for open source. Are the consumers of open source the biggest hurdle to projects becoming
Episode 27: Debian's systemd Decision | LUP 27
12 Feb 2014
One of the bumpier chapters in Debian’s history looks to be drawing to a close, at least for now. But what was all the drama about? And where do things stand now? We’ll dig into the latest
Episode 26: MATE Mythbusting | LUP 26
5 Feb 2014
The MATE Desktop is about to see some big improvements, we bring on Martin Wimpress from the MATE project to discuss his new MATE Live CD, and what the future holds for MATE. Plus our renewed
Episode 25: Culture of Shiny | LUP 25
29 Jan 2014
Aaron Seigo joins us to call out the new and shiny culture that’s pervasive in the free software community. And even your own humble hosts have been afflicted with from time to time. The reality
Episode 24: FUD for Thought | LUP 24
22 Jan 2014
The battle lines have been drawn and the assault against upstart is in full force. We’ll discuss the heat being put on Canonical, the CLA, and upstart with our virtual LUG. Then we’ll bust some
Episode 23: Google Invades Your Nest | LUP 23
15 Jan 2014
We follow up on some of the most innovative Linux powered devices at CES, and this discuss Google buying Nest Labs. Is the future of the “Internet of Things” locked down to proprietary devices
Episode 22: Hurd Mentality | LUP 22
8 Jan 2014
Does building by group consensus slow down open source innovation? We’ll look at some big choices Debian is facing and debate if some stronger leadership might produce more expedient and practical
Episode 21: Unplugging 2013 | LUP 21
1 Jan 2014
In the final moments of 2013 our virtual LUG shares their expectations and predictions for 2014. We’ll debate some of the most anticipated changes. Plus a frank Slackware discussion, rolling Ubuntu
Episode 20: Fidel Chromecastro | LUP 20
24 Dec 2013
Chromecast has been called the gadget of the year, but are the better options? Or is a simple, low cost, Linux powered gadget the ultimate living room solution? We’ll debate where it stacks up
Episode 19: Fixing Linux Support | LUP 19
18 Dec 2013
Experienced Linux users may soon be finding a new call on their talents to help new users switching to Linux. But with services like Stackexchange, Google+ Helpouts, and more is it time to reboot the
Episode 18: Hugs for LUGs | LUP 18
11 Dec 2013
Have IRC chat rooms, forums, reddit, and Google Hangouts killed the local Linux Users Group? We’ll share our ideas to reboot the LUG and make them relevant for the modern Linux user. PLUS: Your
Episode 17: Swap It Outta Here | LUP 17
4 Dec 2013
Do you run without swap? This week we reach into the topic grab bag and debate to swap or not to swap, the reasons long timer Linux users are switching to BSD, and what’s wrong with our Sailfish OS
Episode 16: Meet the Dockers | LUP 16
27 Nov 2013
A new version of Docker was just released, we bring on the CTO and Founder of Docker to chat about the big features all Linux users can look forward to. Plus building the perfect Linux workstation,
Episode 15: Don’t Switch to Linux | LUP 15
20 Nov 2013
Our frank advice for switches to Linux. Despite what what the advocates would have you believe, there are some important consideration a potential Linux switcher should make. Our team of silverback
Episode 14: Negative in the Practical Dimension | LUP 14
13 Nov 2013
This week we’ll use the lens of some recent technical meltdowns to discuss this age old struggle of pragmatism vs idealism. Sometimes the practical choice kicks you in the butt, and you regret
Episode 13: Dark Mail: A New Hope | LINUX Unplugged 13
6 Nov 2013
What is the Dark Mail Alliance? We’ll dig into how it’s more of a protocol, and a hope than an actual product. Now the time to replace email we’ll explain how you can help get the concept
Episode 12: Debating Debian Decisions | LINUX Unplugged 12
30 Oct 2013
Upstart or systemd which will Debian choose? We’ll discuss the inherent benefits and disadvantages of both, and the larger ramification Debian’s decision will have on the Linux ecosystem.
Episode 11: Bankrupt Linux News | LINUX Unplugged 11
23 Oct 2013
The recent outburst from Linus Torvalds and Mark Shuttleworth have put the poor state of Linux news coverage into sharp focus. The media’s attention to the cult of personalities damages the Linux
Episode 10: The Ubuntu Hangover | LINUX Unplugged 10
15 Oct 2013
What does a post Ubuntu world look like, which distro would rise to the top? Our specially crafted team of armed and dangerous Linux users weigh in. PLUS: Rise up against your bearded distro
Episode 9: The Ubuntu Situation | LINUX Unplugged 9
9 Oct 2013
Is the traditional release model failing Ubuntu? Perhaps there is a better way to harness the rapid progress of Linux then static releases. With their focus on mobile, and a rather lackluster release
Episode 8: Cloud Guilt | LINUX Unplugged 8
2 Oct 2013
Should Linux users be anti-cloud? Why do so many of us feel guilty for using the”cloud”? This week will dig into this conundrum and maybe even solve this more and more complex question. Plus a
Episode 7: Full SteamOS Ahead | LUP 7
25 Sep 2013
Valve has announced SteamOS, and we have our analysis of how this will impact the Linux ecosystem at large, the challenge Valve faces, and the reasons Valve is the right company to pull this effort
Episode 6: The Android Problem | LINUX Unplugged 6
18 Sep 2013
Is that exploit in your pocket? This week we'll ask if Android is Stallman's worst nightmare, making Tivo look like a quaint abuser of Linux. And how Linux is poised to push past it's current
Episode 5: Wrath of Linus | LINUX Unplugged 5
11 Sep 2013
We break down what has Linus so upset, and the Internet in an NSA induced fever. Plus GOG makes a public statement about Linux that has us scratching our heads, and your feedback. Then if we had a
Episode 4: Are Linux Users Cheap? | LINUX Unplugged 4
4 Sep 2013
We crunch the Steam and Ubuntu Software Center numbers and we have to ask: Are Linux users cheap? Or is the answer more complex than that? Plus how we think Microsoft buying Nokia might impact Ubuntu
Episode 3: Go Dock Yourself | LINUX Unplugged 3
27 Aug 2013
After rebuilding his KDE desktop better and stronger than before, Chris and Matt dig into what really seems to be troubling the Gnome project, what really makes a desktop easy to use, and if the
Episode 2: Edge of Failure | LINUX Unplugged 2
20 Aug 2013
As the final hours countdown we chat about the fate of the Ubuntu Edge camping and debate with our live callers about the bigger picture. Plus our thoughts on the new KDE release, Steam, and a few
Episode 1: Too Much Choice | LU1
13 Aug 2013
Does the Linux community lean on the age old excuse of choice, to brush of the real limitations of desktop Linux environments? We debate that, and then discuss the growing reasons to roll your own