Boots on the Ground: The Tech Life takes you inside the real world of IT—far beyond theory, certifications, and corporate talking points. Hosted by John Katsavos, this show explores what it actually feels like to work in tech today: the pressure, the problem-solving, the wins, the failures, and the stories people never tell on LinkedIn.Each episode breaks down real scenarios from the field, interviews industry pros, and reveals the skills, habits, and mindset needed to thrive as an IT professional—from help desk to engineering and beyond.If you&#39;re building your career, pivoting into tech, or leveling up your skillset in the trenches every day, this podcast is your new go-to home.Welcome to the front lines of the tech world. Welcome to Boots on the Ground: The Tech Life.

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/6/30/14/c4009ef2-a50a-4f93-af57-f281f1fde4f7_bog018.mp3

In this episode of Boots on the Ground, John breaks down a busy day in the field involving service calls, parts pickups, customer needs, and the challenge of keeping work moving while managing logistics on the road. Topics Covered: • Field Service Operations • It Support Challenges • Parts Pickup And Logistics • Customer Communication • Software Troubleshooting Published through PodBolt.

BOG018 - Thursday July 3, 2026

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/6/30/13/da94ce68-874f-4df8-98f1-b9e98db2bb1b_bog017.mp3

In this episode of Boots on the Ground, John reflects on a demanding day in the field, sharing what it looks like to handle service calls, customer expectations, logistics, and the mental load of real-world IT support. Topics Covered: • Field Service Operations • It Support Challenges • Parts Pickup And Logistics • Hardware And Device Work • Software Troubleshooting Published through PodBolt.

BOG017 - Tuesday February 17, 2026

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/6/30/13/326ce9b7-54e2-4f05-94bf-e971dba79f36_bog016.mp3

In this episode of Boots on the Ground, John reflects on a demanding day in the field, sharing what it looks like to handle service calls, customer expectations, logistics, and the mental load of real-world IT support. Topics Covered: • Field Service Operations • It Support Challenges • Parts Pickup And Logistics • Customer Communication • Hardware And Device Work Published through PodBolt.

BOG016 - Monday June 29, 2026

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/6/19/23/41958c94-774a-4397-b63f-2f417b76be06_bog015.mp3

In this episode of Boots on the Ground, John shares a real-world field update from the road, covering the practical realities of IT support, service calls, customer needs, and the daily pressure of staying organized while moving between jobs. Topics Covered: • Field Service Operations • Parts Pickup And Logistics • Software Troubleshooting Published through PodBolt.

BOG015 - Thursday February 12, 2026

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/6/19/20/76d3693c-8ec4-4fd3-a5ed-7776eecd1223_bog014.mp3

BOG014 - Wednesday February 11, 2026

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/6/19/20/4d8a4db8-bef4-4221-b363-f598991b4809_bog013.mp3

BOG013 - Tuesday February 10, 2026

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/6/19/19/dae17842-0321-4f55-8a78-dfb18e51cf1f_bog011.mp3

In this episode of Boots on the Ground, John reflects on a demanding day in the field, sharing what it looks like to handle service calls, customer expectations, logistics, and the mental load of real-world IT support. Topics Covered: • Field Service Operations • It Support Challenges • Parts Pickup And Logistics • Customer Communication • Software Troubleshooting Published through PodBolt.

BOG011 - Thursday February 5, 2026

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/6/19/19/4e6fb6c4-e27c-48ab-93b5-57ad3da944c1_bog010.mp3

BOG010 - Wednesday February 4, 2026

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/6/19/15/6796d430-0780-4abe-8350-3c24356c0399_bog012.mp3

BOG012 - Monday February 9, 2026

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/6/13/11/0d30da2d-5d35-437e-bc5e-c6b82b792ba1_bog009.mp3

In this episode of Boots on the Ground, John breaks down a busy day in the field involving service calls, parts pickups, customer needs, and the challenge of keeping work moving while managing logistics on the road. Topics Covered: • Field Service Operations • It Support Challenges • Parts Pickup And Logistics • Software Troubleshooting Published through PodBolt.

BOG009 - Tuesday February 3, 2026

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/6/13/11/95514cc7-1bd8-4aca-a848-e36607b57a4b_bog008.mp3

BOG008 - Friday January 30, 2026

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/6/13/11/5cb78491-e401-483c-acbd-2057af9169f1_bog007.mp3

In this episode of Boots on the Ground, John breaks down a busy day in the field involving service calls, parts pickups, customer needs, and the challenge of keeping work moving while managing logistics on the road. Topics Covered: • Field Service Operations • It Support Challenges • Parts Pickup And Logistics • Customer Communication • Hardware And Device Work Published through PodBolt.

BOG007 - Thursday January 29, 2026

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/6/10/15/91049ef0-9821-4b04-b5c4-d8f116d6e9b1_bog006.mp3

BOG006 - Wednesday January 28, 2026

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/6/6/17/93b60c75-3b82-4d4a-86b5-899efdfb5657_bog005.mp3

BOG005 - Tuesday January 27, 2026

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/6/3/20/b53ab8ea-755a-4a2a-b750-40c849669e3d_bog004.mp3

BOG004 - Friday January 23, 2026

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/5/30/14/5a8626b1-f8bc-438a-8c89-f93b2f8eb5b6_bog003.mp3

In this episode of Boots on the Ground, we continue the Boots on the Ground field log with BOG003. Episode preview: what&#39;s up rebels welcome to another episode of boots on the ground I&#39;m your host John Kutsavos and today is Thursday January 22nd, 2026 this is a very late entry it&#39;s 241 it has been a long day I&#39;ve been running around like a chicken with its head cut off between calls between hospital runs between more calls between parts pickups I just wouldn&#39;t have did my parts pick up not 10 minutes ago it&#39;s been one of those days it&#39;s just been one of those days but I&#39;m going to go do my final call for the day I&#39;m gonna drop off these parts I at least after today my car is gonna empty out a little bit you know which it has and I&#39;m quite happy about now tomorrow I&#39;m gonna empty out even more I&#39;ll be able Published through PodBolt.

BOG003 - Boots on the Ground

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/5/28/23/0d600385-84c0-4413-90fc-74fa9f584111_bog002.mp3

In this episode of Boots on the Ground, we continue the Boots on the Ground field log with BOG002. Episode preview:All right, Rebel&#39;s John coming back at you with another episode of Boots on the ground today is Wednesday January 21st, 2026 andYesterday I was off, so that&#39;s why there was no recording yesterdayOh, that I am tired todayJust because I was off this and you know I didn&#39;t have a lot of stuff to do the reason why I took off yesterday was becauseI had a lot of stuff to doYeah, and I honestly logged into my my app for work and I&#39;m like you guys are kidding me... Published through PodBolt.

BOG002 - Boots on the Ground

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/1/22/1/1ca085bc-5d20-479e-b9ad-20631a62210a_sing_calls___a_field_tech_s_breaking_point.mp3

Boots on the Ground — Friday, January 9, 2026. This is the end of a long, heavy week in the field. Five calls closed, a packed schedule, inventory problems, aging equipment, and the mental and emotional toll that comes with responsibility, pressure, and burnout.In this episode, I talk about:<ul><li>Working through exhaustion while still closing calls</li><li>The disconnect between effort, pay, and rising cost of living</li><li>Managing aging devices, preventative maintenance, and repeat failures</li><li>Inventory chaos, call volume limits, and resetting personal standards</li><li>When burnout starts showing up in organization, motivation, and daily life</li></ul>This episode is raw and honest, but still privacy-safe. No customer names. No company identifiers. No confidential information.This series documents what it actually feels like to work in field service when life pressure, responsibility, and workload collide.If you work on-site, in IT, field service, technical operations, or high-responsibility roles, this episode will likely feel familiar.

Exhausted, Burned Out, Still Closing Calls — A Field Tech’s Breaking Point

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/1/21/12/ef71c036-86f1-4ead-a2b8-eab2ef6267f5__pickup__call_pressure__and_getting_chewed_out.mp3

Boots on the Ground — Thursday, January 8, 2026. Today is a real, unfiltered field service workday in Toronto: parts depot pickup, stacked calls, on-the-road troubleshooting mindset, and the reality of trying to keep pace while staying professional and confidential.In this episode, I break down:<ul><li>How I think through the day before the first call even starts</li><li>Why confidentiality matters (and what I will not share on this show)</li><li>The pressure of call volume, logistics, and meeting expectations</li><li>What happens when the day goes sideways—skipped lunch, extra visits, and getting “checked” by leadership</li><li>The mental and emotional weight of real life outside the job—and still showing up</li></ul>This series is general, experience-based, and privacy-safe: no customer names, no company names, and no identifying device details—just the real-world field perspective.Subscribe for more field-tested, day-in-the-life episodes from the front lines.

Field Tech Diary: Parts Pickup, Call Pressure, and Getting Chewed Out

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/1/21/12/d5ce3de6-7e70-413e-8bb1-cbb38ddfe2e9_aightforward_calls__mental_load__and_no_breaks.mp3

Boots on the Ground — Wednesday, January 7, 2026. This episode documents a full, unfiltered field service workday: four calls closed, heavy logistics, traffic frustration, personal stress, and the constant pressure to stay productive even when your head isn’t fully in it.In this episode, I cover:<ul><li>How a slow, rough morning still turned into a productive workday</li><li>Managing straightforward vs. aging equipment in the field</li><li>Parts availability, discontinued components, and tough conversations with leadership</li><li>The mental load of family responsibility, finances, and long days on the road</li><li>Why banking podcast episodes matters when you’re building long-term consistency</li></ul>This series is experience-based and privacy-safe. No customer names. No company identifiers. No sensitive device details. Just real field perspective from someone doing the work.If you’re in field service, IT support, technical operations, or on-site work, this show is for you.Subscribe for daily, real-world field logs from the front lines.

Field Tech Reality: Straightforward Calls, Mental Load, and No Breaks

Real IT stories, field-tested lessons, and frontline tech insights for today’s modern IT professional.

Boots on the Ground: The Tech Life brings you inside the real world of IT—where outdated systems, high-pressure fixes, and unexpected challenges define the day. Hosted by John Katsavos, this show shares raw stories from the field, interviews with industry pros, and practical lessons to help you grow your skills, sharpen your mindset, and thrive in the trenches of modern tech. Perfect for IT pros, aspiring tech workers, and anyone who wants the truth about working in IT.