

Giant Robots Smashing Into Other Giant Robots
thoughtbot
A podcast about the design, development, and business of great software. Each week thoughtbot is joined by the people who build and nurture the products we love.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 25, 2025 • 43min
593: Recent Discoveries: From MCP servers to video game heartbreak
Chad and Sami share some learning moments with one another as they discuss the recent projects they’ve been working on at thoughtbot.
The pair question how much time and effort we should be investing into a problem with AI vs the outcome we receive, their work and experimentation with MCP servers, Sami shares his big bid on AI to save some time, while Chad tells the tragic tale of why he stopped playing Diablo IV.
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Don’t forget we have a YouTube channel where you can watch all the streams mentioned in this episode along with video versions of the show.
You can find Chad all over social media as @cpytel and Sami through his website. You can also connect with the duo via their LinkedIn pages - Chad - Sami.
If you would like to support the show, head over to our GitHub page, or check out our website.
Got a question or comment about the show? Why not write to our hosts: hosts@giantrobots.fm
This has been a thoughtbot podcast.
Stay up to date by following us on social media - LinkedIn - Mastodon - YouTube - Bluesky
© 2025 thoughtbot, inc.Support Giant Robots Smashing Into Other Giant Robots

Sep 18, 2025 • 45min
592: Utopia or Dystopia: Why the Future of AI and XR Is Still Ours to Shape with Don Shin
Sami talks with Don Shin, CEO of CrossComm, about which direction humanity is heading as the landscape of AI technology continues to shift and evolve.
Together they assess the correlation between language and intelligence, the importance of human connection, as well as the growing responsibility we have in managing AI to prevent a potential dystopia.
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You can connect with Don on LinkedIn or stay up to date with the work his does with CrossComm over on his website.
Your host for this episode has been Sami Birnbaum. Sami can be found through his website or via LinkedIn.
If you would like to support the show, head over to our GitHub page, or check out our website.
Got a question or comment about the show? Why not write to our hosts: hosts@giantrobots.fm
This has been a thoughtbot podcast.
Stay up to date by following us on social media - LinkedIn - Mastodon - YouTube - Bluesky
© 2025 thoughtbot, inc.Support Giant Robots Smashing Into Other Giant Robots

Sep 11, 2025 • 36min
591: Redefining Women's Health: Beyond the Traditional View with Amani Bright and Julia Lasater
Will talks with Amani Bright, senior program manager at Springboard, and Julia Lasater, consulting senior at Accenture, about the state of women’s health and their efforts to increase visibility for all women who enter the health care system.
They cover their recent work on the state of women’s health report, shining a light on the neglected areas within women’s health, the barriers women face when seeking basic medical advice, and the gender bias that persists within medical studies and general healthcare.
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Your guests for this episode have been Amani Bright (amani.bright@springboardenterprises.org) and Julia Lasater (julia.lasater@accenture.com). Be sure to check out the other work they do for women across the nation through Springboard, or read some of the other reports they mentioned in this episode - Innovation in Women's Health - Women's Health Gap - WHAM Report
Your host for this episode has been Will Larry, you can find and connect with Will over on LinkedIn.
If you would like to support the show, head over to our GitHub page, or check out our website.
Got a question or comment about the show? Why not write to our hosts: hosts@giantrobots.fm
This has been a thoughtbot podcast.
Stay up to date by following us on social media - LinkedIn - Mastodon - YouTube - Bluesky
© 2025 thoughtbot, inc.Support Giant Robots Smashing Into Other Giant Robots

Sep 4, 2025 • 43min
590: Making AI work for users with Louis Gutierrez
Chad talks with Louis Gutierrez, Director of AI at Constant Contact, about the various challenges of implementing AI into a product or business.
Louis discusses his strategy to improve AI integration upon joining Constant Contact, how they address the issue of ethics and AI, as well as providing a technical look at how they evaluate the quality of their products without violating user privacy.
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You can connect with Louis over on LinkedIn, or try out Constant Contact’s AI marketing tools for yourself to see how they could help you and your business.
Your host for this episode has been Chad Pytel. You can find Chad all over social media as @cpytel, or over on LinkedIn.
If you would like to support the show, head over to our GitHub page, or check out our website.
Got a question or comment about the show? Why not write to our hosts: hosts@giantrobots.fm
This has been a thoughtbot podcast.
Stay up to date by following us on social media - LinkedIn - Mastodon - YouTube - Bluesky
© 2025 thoughtbot, inc.Support Giant Robots Smashing Into Other Giant Robots

Aug 28, 2025 • 47min
589: Behind the Scenes at thoughtbot - Our work setups
The Giant Robots trio are back as they sit down at their desks to discuss their home setups for thoughtbot.
Together they break down each core aspect of their office environment and why they chose the things they did, why future proofing and getting your setup just right is important, Sami learns all about teleprompters, while Chad spills the beans on a guilty secret he’s kept for far too long.
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You can see pictures of each host’s setup here - Chad - Chad’s Teleprompter - Sami - Will - and be sure to check out the YouTube version of this episode to get the full visual experience from today’s episode.
You can find Chad all over social media as @cpytel and Sami through his website. You can also connect with the trio via their LinkedIn pages - Chad - Will - Sami.
If you would like to support the show, head over to our GitHub page, or check out our website.
Got a question or comment about the show? Why not write to our hosts: hosts@giantrobots.fm
This has been a thoughtbot podcast.
Stay up to date by following us on social media - LinkedIn - Mastodon - YouTube - Bluesky
© 2025 thoughtbot, inc.Support Giant Robots Smashing Into Other Giant Robots

Aug 21, 2025 • 44min
588: When a designer meets a developer with Jeremy Blaze
Sami faces his fear of program designers by talking with Jeremy Blaze, Founder & Design Lead at Never Before Seen.
Together they ask the question of whether their roles as developer and designer are slowly become one, how to rediscover the challenge of working on code when AI can do so much heavy lifting, as well as grappling with the idea of a therapeutic AI.
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Connect with Jeremy over on LinkedIn or through his website to stay up to date with the projects he’s working on. If you’re interested in trying out his new app you can sign up to the early access program here.
Your host for this episode has been Sami Birnbaum. Sami can be found through his website or via LinkedIn.
If you would like to support the show, head over to our GitHub page, or check out our website.
Got a question or comment about the show? Why not write to our hosts: hosts@giantrobots.fm
This has been a thoughtbot podcast.
Stay up to date by following us on social media - LinkedIn - Mastodon - YouTube - Bluesky
© 2025 thoughtbot, inc.Support Giant Robots Smashing Into Other Giant Robots

Aug 14, 2025 • 50min
587: How to go viral with Michael Praetorius
Sami looks to go viral as he discusses digital marketing with Michael Praetorius, Founder of Praetorius.
Together they examine the roots of marketing and how it’s focus and tactics have shifted over time, the secrets social media analytics hold and how the information is used, and Sami takes notes as Michael relives his personal experience of creating a viral video.
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Connect with Michael over on LinkedIn or through his website. You can also check out his YouTube channel for more insights into marketing and AI, as well as the viral ticket burning video mentioned in this episode.
Your host for this episode has been Sami Birnbaum. Sami can be found through his website or via LinkedIn.
If you would like to support the show, head over to our GitHub page, or check out our website.
Got a question or comment about the show? Why not write to our hosts: hosts@giantrobots.fm
This has been a thoughtbot podcast.
Stay up to date by following us on social media - LinkedIn - Mastodon - YouTube - Bluesky
© 2025 thoughtbot, inc.Support Giant Robots Smashing Into Other Giant Robots

Aug 7, 2025 • 34min
586: What is your self-age? with Leanne Clark-Shirley
Chad discusses the changing world of AgeTech with Leanne Clark-Shirley, President and CEO of the American Society on Aging, as they break down how age really has just become a number.
They discuss the growing irrelevancy of the “AgeTech” label and how it’s use case is shifting to benefit everyone, how generational boundaries mean less when it comes to tech knowledge, and the unrealised opportunities aging can offer to us all.
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You can connect with Leanne to stay up to date with her work or check out the various resources the ASA has to offer.
Your host for this episode has been Chad Pytel. You can find Chad all over social media as @cpytel, or over on LinkedIn.
If you would like to support the show, head over to our GitHub page, or check out our website.
Got a question or comment about the show? Why not write to our hosts: hosts@giantrobots.fm
This has been a thoughtbot podcast.
Stay up to date by following us on social media - LinkedIn - Mastodon - YouTube - Bluesky
© 2025 thoughtbot, inc.Support Giant Robots Smashing Into Other Giant Robots

Jul 31, 2025 • 32min
585: Teachable Moments
The host of Giant Robots are back to impart some wisdom as they share some notable failures from their careers and the teachable moments that emerged from them.
Discover what went wrong for Sami when he put his trust in AI, the survey that shifted the way Will thinks about others, Chad’s mistake with thoughtbot’s first major client and the lessons they all learnt along the way.
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You can find Chad all over social media as @cpytel and Sami through his website. You can also connect with the trio via their LinkedIn pages - Chad - Will - Sami.
If you would like to support the show, head over to our GitHub page, or check out our website.
Got a question or comment about the show? Why not write to our hosts: hosts@giantrobots.fm
This has been a thoughtbot podcast.
Stay up to date by following us on social media - LinkedIn - Mastodon - YouTube - Bluesky
© 2025 thoughtbot, inc.Support Giant Robots Smashing Into Other Giant Robots

Jul 24, 2025 • 47min
584: When AI Meets Healthcare and Buddhism with Jan Kroschinski
Sami assesses the way AI is driving change within the global healthcare system and big pharma with Jan Kroschinski, founder of Singularity Ventures.
Jan touches on the changes we can expect to see to the delivery of healthcare over the next few decades, what it’s like to work as a freelancer within the sector, as well as discussing the wider implications of AI’s growth and development between now and then.
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You can reach out to Jan through his website or by connecting with him on LinkedIn.
Your host for this episode has been Sami Birnbaum. Sami can be found through his website or via LinkedIn.
If you would like to support the show, head over to our GitHub page, or check out our website.
Got a question or comment about the show? Why not write to our hosts: hosts@giantrobots.fm
This has been a thoughtbot podcast.
Stay up to date by following us on social media - LinkedIn - Mastodon - YouTube - Bluesky
© 2025 thoughtbot, inc.Support Giant Robots Smashing Into Other Giant Robots