What connects people, ideas, and even a 12-server Linux church organ? Networking—and Jim Kennedy knows it better than anyone.

In this episode of What is IT?, host Douglas Wood sits down with Jim, longtime Director of IT at Trinity Church Wall Street, to explore the art and science of keeping one of New York’s oldest institutions digitally alive. From running networks across 25 historic properties to creating a Halloween-themed haunted house that raised hundreds of thousands for charity, Jim’s story proves that great technologists build more than systems—they build communities.

Together, Doug and Jim unpack why networking is both invisible and essential, what human teams can learn from computer networks, and why empathy, curiosity, and communication matter just as much as routers and switches. You’ll hear how Jim’s foresight helped Trinity move to the cloud before the pandemic, why the best IT feels as simple as opening a refrigerator door, and how he uses his anxiety as a “superpower” to plan for the unexpected.

This episode is part tech talk, part philosophy, and all heart—because the best networks, human or digital, are built on trust, harmony, and connection.

Jim's Take-aways:

• Build trust like a network: communicate clearly, listen actively, and keep your protocols consistent.

• Use anxiety as foresight: channel worry into preparation—it’s your built-in early-warning system.

• Stay curious: whether it’s AI or a shower valve, the best technologists never stop learning.

• Remember the symphony: one bad note can ruin the harmony—so tune your relationships as carefully as your systems.

What does leadership look like when the world won’t stop changing?
CIO and Army veteran Earl Newsome joins host Douglas Wood to share lessons from the field—from West Point to boardrooms—on how to lead with empathy, adaptability, and optimism. Earl unpacks his 360-degree leadership model and his Infinity Mirror view of modern challenges, urging leaders to improvise, adapt, and overcome.

Along the way, he shares his Plus-One philosophy: small, intentional actions that multiply impact. Because in IT, leadership isn’t about managing systems—it’s about inspiring people to build a world without limits.

Homework (Earl’s Call-to-Action)

• Ask better questions: What questions do you want better answers to? Which ones have you been afraid to ask?

• Find your Plus One: Add one new action to your daily or weekly routine—read a book you wouldn’t, meet someone new, mentor one more person.

• Disrupt yourself with AI: Use it to make yourself indispensable. The future isn’t AI replacing you—it’s the person using AI.

• Practice anti-fragility: Be agile, resilient, and adaptable—find opportunity in change, not fear.

This is a test episode