☕ From Junior High Principal to Pixels: Trevor “The Real Human Technical Support™ Guy” Chase Talks Career Pivots, Debugging Joy & Coffee Obsession

In this Podcast Awesome episode, host Matt Johnson chats with Trevor Chase, Font Awesome’s Real Human Technical Support™ Guy. Once a junior high assistant principal, Trevor made the leap from school hallways to tech tickets — and along the way, discovered a love for debugging... and roasting the perfect cup of Ethiopian coffee.

Trevor opens up about:

How he transitioned from education into tech support
The most common licensing and icon questions he fields daily
Why learning new things is at the heart of his Font Awesome journey
His grassroots coffee roasting business that started with a popcorn popper
A once-in-a-lifetime Ethiopian coffee ceremony that sparked a lifelong obsession
And what it means to reconnect with remote teammates at our beloved team Snuggles

This one’s got 🔧 troubleshooting tips, ☕ artisan-level coffee takes, and ❤️ all the warm fuzzies of working on a remote team that actually gets along.

⏱️ Timestamps

01:03 – Trevor's Career Shift from Education to Tech Support
03:39 – The Emotional Toll of Being an Assistant Principal
06:16 – Joining Font Awesome and Learning On-the-Go
06:19 – Most Common Tech Support and Licensing Questions
08:14 – Hands-On Learning and Font Awesome’s Education Culture
09:32 – Debugging and QA: The Joy of Finding Problems
10:53 – Trevor’s Coffee Roasting Journey (From Popcorn Popper to Pro Roaster)
13:33 – Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony: A Life-Changing Experience
17:10 – Remote Culture and the Importance of the Font Awesome “Snuggle”

🎙️ Highlights

"If I’m ever bored in this job, it’s my own fault — there’s always something to learn." – Trevor Chase“

I started roasting coffee in a popcorn popper... and now my dad and I have a little side business roasting beans from around the world.”

“You roast it over hot coals, and they serve you two shots of the strongest, best coffee you’ve ever had. That Ethiopian ceremony? Changed everything.”

“I love debugging. It’s kind of like putting out fires, which I weirdly enjoyed even as an assistant principal.”“Remote work can get isolating, so I really look forward to our team Snuggles. Getting to know everyone more deeply matters.”

🔗 Links & Credits

Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!

Ep.164 UFO's Angels & Gods