MSP Unplugged

Nov 5, 2026

4th Quarter Living: Score the Year, Set Up the Next | MSP Unplugged

Before you plan 2027, score 2026. In the first chapter of our 4th Quarter Living series, Paco Lebron welcomes Rick Smith and Nancy Henriquez as co-hosts for the rest of 2026 and into 2027. Together they take inventory of the year: the wins, the plays they would not run again, how AI changed the way they work, and how each of them plans to unplug before the new year. Nancy shares what she is learning from her first acquisition, Rick talks about starting a new company from scratch, and Paco opens up about standardizing systems across an MSP roll-up. They cover: Why spending your first 30, 60, or

Nov 5, 2026

You Might Also Like: The Oprah Podcast

Introducing Oprah Looks Back at Her Best Surprises from The Oprah Podcast. Follow the show: The Oprah Podcast Surprise! Oprah is looking back on some of her favorite surprises from 25 years of The Oprah Winfrey Show. Oprah shares how when she was surprised by her idol Mary Tyler Moore it sent her into the ugly cry. The time she’ll never forget surprising Tom Cruise’s biggest fan while standing in her robe, no makeup and her hair soaking wet from the shower. More surprises include Mariah Carey’s biggest fans, the iconic car giveaway - “you get a car, you get a car” - and the moment she surprise

Nov 4, 2026

Cutting the Vendor Tax with OpenFrame | Michael Assraf, Flamingo

In this episode of MSP Unplugged, Paco Lebron talks with Michael Assraf, Founder and CEO of Flamingo, about tool sprawl, the vendor tax, and how an open-source foundation plus AI agents can change the economics for growing MSPs. Michael has spent 20 years in tech, mostly in startups. At his previous company, Vicarius, a vulnerability remediation platform, most of the traction came from MSPs, and he saw them keep adding tools and losing margin. He and Paco cover: Why tool sprawl and add-on pricing keep eating into MSP margins How AI-driven roll-ups and rising tool prices are squeezing growing M

Oct 29, 2026

From MSP to MIP: Pax8's Ryan Walsh on AI and Staying Relevant

🎙️ In this episode of MSP Unplugged, we sit down with Ryan Walsh, Channel Chief and Chief Strategy Officer at Pax8, to talk about where small MSPs actually go next. Ryan has spent years helping partners clean up messy stacks, scale through the marketplace, and rethink what "managed services" even means as AI changes client expectations. This conversation is built for owners running lean shops — under $3M and under 20 employees — who need a practical path, not a enterprise slide deck. What You'll Learn: Why Pax8 frames the shift from MSP to Managed Infrastructure Provider (MIP) What AI actuall

Oct 29, 2026

You Might Also Like: The Oprah Podcast

Introducing Niecy Nash: The Power of Loving Yourself Out Loud from The Oprah Podcast. Follow the show: The Oprah Podcast The two-time Emmy award-winning actress and star of Hulu’s all women divorce drama All’s Fair - Ms. Niecy Nash-Betts - joins the Podcast. Nicknamed “The Range” in Hollywood for her extraordinary ability to transcend both comedic and dramatic roles on television and in the movies. Oprah talks to Niecy about how from a young age she manifested her acting career. The two discuss Niecy’s marriage to her ‘’hersband,” Jessica Betts, after being married twice in the past to men. Ni

Sep 1, 2026

Why Annual Security Training Fails — and How usecure Helps MSPs Fix Human Risk

🎙️ In this episode of MSP Unplugged, we sit down with Nihil Morjaria, Chief Revenue Officer at usecure, to talk about human risk management — the biggest gap in most small MSP security stacks. usecure helps MSPs automate security awareness training, phishing simulations, dark web monitoring, and policy management so lean teams can reduce client risk and sell a measurable security service without adding headcount. What You'll Learn: Why traditional annual training no longer works How MSPs can automate human risk management across clients Using Human Risk Reports as a sales and prospecting tool

Sep 1, 2026

AI Email Security for MSPs: How Cambrient Cuts "Is This Safe?" Tickets Without MX Changes

🎙️ In this episode of MSP Unplugged, we talk with Cambrient AI about a different approach to email security: agentic AI that investigates every message instead of just scoring or filtering it. Cambrient was built for MSPs — multi-tenant, fast to deploy (no MX record changes), and designed to cut the "is this email safe?" ticket load that eats small-team margins. What You'll Learn: Why signature-based email tools still miss modern phishing and BEC How AI agents inspect links, redirects, attachments, and intent Why 5-minute, no-MX deployment matters for MSPs managing many tenants How self-servi

Jul 31, 2026

Ryan McGill on Scaling MSP Operations & Turning Challenges into Growth

🎙️ In this episode of MSP Unplugged, we sit down with Ryan McGill to discuss his journey and practical strategies for running and scaling a successful managed services business. Ryan shares real-world insights on improving operations, streamlining delivery, and helping small MSP teams overcome common challenges. Whether you're looking to tighten processes, boost efficiency, or prepare for growth, this conversation delivers actionable takeaways tailored for MSPs under $3M in revenue and with lean teams. What You'll Learn: Ryan's background and path in the MSP industry Key operational lessons f

Jul 20, 2026

Business Outcome Conversations: The Next Phase of MSP Customer Penetration with Luis Giraldo

🎙️ In this episode of MSP Unplugged, Luis Giraldo, Chief Evangelist at ScalePad, shares his journey and powerful strategies for turning around struggling MSPs — with a special focus on QBRs (Quarterly Business Reviews) and why business outcome conversations are the next evolution in customer penetration. Luis explains how moving beyond technical check-ins to real business discussions can dramatically improve retention, expansion, and client relationships — especially for small MSP teams. What You'll Learn: Luis's path from MSP owner to helping hundreds of providers scale How to turn around a

Jul 20, 2026

MSP Revival Guide: Marketing Help, Leadership & Growth with Cynthia Schreiner (Pax8)

🎙️ In this powerful episode of MSP Unplugged, Cynthia Schreiner — Senior Manager of Channel Engagement at Pax8 — joins us to discuss her journey and proven strategies for reviving struggling MSPs. Drawing from her hands-on experience as a former MSP Business Administrator and her current role empowering partners at Pax8, Cynthia dives deep into the real challenges of turning around underperforming businesses. She shares practical marketing tactics, operational pivots, community-building approaches, and leadership insights that help MSP owners break out of stagnation and drive sustainable grow

Jul 6, 2026

From Struggling Business to Thriving MSP in Salt Lake City – Ed Lukacs of 2Fifteen Tech

🎙️ In this honest and inspiring episode of MSP Unplugged, we sit down with Ed Lukacs, CEO of 2Fifteen Tech in Salt Lake City, Utah. Ed opens up about his real journey building and turning around a struggling managed service provider. From early challenges and tough pivots to creating a thriving MSP that specializes in supporting creative agencies, PR firms, Apple-centric environments, and Google Workspace — this conversation is packed with practical lessons for any MSP owner feeling stuck. If you're running a small MSP (under $3M revenue, less than 20 employees) and looking for motivation + a

Jul 6, 2026

Stop Getting Breached: Matt Lee Shares MSP Cybersecurity Strategies for Under $3M Shops

🎙️ In this must-watch episode of MSP Unplugged, we welcome Matt Lee — Senior Director of Security and Compliance at Pax8, CISSP, CCSP, CFR, PNPT, and a leading voice in MSP cybersecurity. Matt has spent years raising the security bar for small and mid-sized MSPs. In this conversation, he breaks down practical, actionable strategies tailored for lean teams (under $3M revenue and Less 20 employees) who want to deliver strong cybersecurity without overwhelming overhead. Whether you're struggling with incident response planning, compliance, tool sprawl, or staying ahead of evolving threats, this

Jun 23, 2026

Stop Alert Fatigue: Blumira's Approach to MSP Cybersecurity in 2026

🎙️ In this episode of MSP Unplugged, we sit down with Greg Saenz from Blumira — a leading security operations platform built specifically for busy IT teams and MSPs. If you're running a small MSP (under $3M revenue and fewer than 20 employees), you know security is a massive opportunity — but also a huge headache. Blumira makes enterprise-grade SIEM, XDR, threat detection, and response simple, fast to deploy, and profitable for small teams. Learn how to add managed security services without hiring a full SOC, reduce alert fatigue, protect clients from ransomware, and grow your margins with a

Jun 23, 2026

MSP Leadership Lessons from Nancy Henriquez – Head of Community at MSP Unplugged

🎙️ In this powerful episode of MSP Unplugged, we sit down with Nancy Henriquez – two-time MSP founder, award-winning industry leader, business coach, author of "Break-Fix to Breakthrough," and the new Head of Community at MSP Unplugged. Nancy shares her battle-tested insights on moving from reactive chaos to strategic growth, building high-performing teams, client onboarding that sticks, sales & marketing systems that actually work for small MSPs, and what it really takes to scale under $3M revenue without losing your sanity or culture. Whether you're a solo operator, running a 5-15 person sh

Jun 8, 2026

The MSPaaS Revolution: Michael Amiri Reveals How MSPs Can Scale Smarter

Michael Amiri joins MSP Unplugged to break down the emerging model of MSP-as-a-Service (MSPaaS) — a game-changing approach that's helping MSPs scale faster, reduce operational overhead, and deliver better outcomes to clients. In this episode, Michael shares: What MSP-as-a-Service really means and why it's gaining traction in 2026 How MSPaaS differs from traditional managed services models The biggest benefits and challenges of adopting an MSP-as-a-Service delivery model How MSPs can leverage platforms and partnerships to operate more efficiently Practical insights on transitioning your MSP tow

May 29, 2026

From Startup to MSP 501: Antwine Jackson on Scaling Enitech Solutions

Antwine Jackson, Founder & President of Enitech Solutions, joins MSP Unplugged to share his powerful journey from the early startup days to building a recognized, multi-office managed services provider in North Carolina. In this episode, Antwine opens up about: The real challenges of the first 1–3 years — cash flow, finding clients, and building credibility Key pivots that helped him move from break-fix to a thriving managed services model How he scaled Enitech Solutions to multiple locations (Raleigh + Charlotte) and earned MSP 501 recognition Leadership lessons, team building, and what separ

May 19, 2026

How to Scale an MSP with Partners: Derrick Wlodarz (FireLogic) Returns

Derrick Wlodarz, Founder & President of FireLogic, returns to MSP Unplugged for a deep dive into long-term MSP growth and the power of strategic partnerships. In this returning guest episode, Derrick shares: What's changed at FireLogic since his last appearance How he's scaled the business over 15+ years from startup to a respected Chicago-area MSP The evolution of his approach to vendor and technology partners How to choose, manage, and get real value from partnerships (without partner sprawl) Lessons learned about scaling sustainably while building strong strategic alliances Advice for MSP o

May 12, 2026

Simplifying Cybersecurity for MSPs: Joe Sykora (CEO of Coro) on Tool Sprawl and AI in 2026

Joe Sykora, CEO of Coro Cybersecurity, joins MSP Unplugged to discuss how MSPs can simplify their security stack, reduce tool sprawl, and deliver better protection to small and mid-sized businesses. In this episode, Joe shares: Why traditional multi-tool cybersecurity approaches are failing most MSPs How Coro's all-in-one, single-agent platform is changing the game for lean MSP teams The role of automation and AI in reducing alert fatigue What a truly MSP-friendly cybersecurity solution looks like in 2026 Practical advice on turning cybersecurity from a cost center into a profitable growth dri

Apr 24, 2026

From Corporate IT Director to MSP Owner: Ron Cervantes on Building C Solutions IT

Ron Cervantes, Founder and President of C Solutions IT in Orlando, Florida, joins MSP Unplugged to share his journey from corporate IT Director (managing IT for one of the largest transportation companies in the U.S.) to building and scaling a successful managed services provider. In this episode, Ron opens up about: Transitioning from enterprise IT to running his own MSP The early struggles and key pivots that helped him grow C Solutions IT Lessons learned serving small and mid-sized businesses in the Orlando market Building a strong team and delivering high-touch IT support + cybersecurity W