

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

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

Jul 17, 2025 • 42min
583: Solid Queue with Rosa Gutierrez from 37Signals
Sami goes behind the scenes of Ruby on Rails with Rosa Gutierrez, principle programer at 37Signals, to discover what its like to work on one of the most widely used frameworks out there.
Rosa breaks down how the team at 37Signals work and implement new tools for Ruby, the challenges of working remotely, as well as the current practical use of AI within the development space and how we can expect it to change in the years to come.
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Check out Sami’s blog on AI vs Human-led Coding for a more in-depth look on his thoughts from this episode.
You can get in touch with Rosa directly and find all her various social links through her 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 - Bluesky
© 2025 thoughtbot, inc.Support Giant Robots Smashing Into Other Giant Robots

Jul 10, 2025 • 28min
582: Product market fit is the hardest thing with Jon Gamble
Chad dives into a different kind of development with Jon Gamble, CTO of Fordje, as they talk all things city code and construction.
Jon breakdowns the different types of construction Fordje covers and the clients they aim to serve, the reality of building a new starter business with a such a small team, the value of trust and communication when developing such a business, and how being the only developer on the team drives creativity and a desire to succeed.
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Stay up to date with the work that Jon does with Fordje over on their LinkedIn page, or by connecting with him directly.
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 - Bluesky
© 2025 thoughtbot, inc.Support Giant Robots Smashing Into Other Giant Robots

Jul 3, 2025 • 40min
581: Crafting Community & Code: Henrique Cardoso on Euruko 2025 & BSPK
Sami talks with Henrique Cardoso about his unified commerce platform BSPK and the challenges of organising a large scale developer conference.
Henrique talks in depth about the bespoke nature of BSPK and how it differs from other CRM tools, how they went about unifying all the major commerce platforms to fit under one platform, as well as the hurdles he faced when tasked with re-engaging a community of developers with his upcoming conference Euroko 2025.
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Check out BSPK to find how it can enhance and personalise your business to deliver the best possible experience for you and your customers.
If you’re a developer based in Europe consider checking out [Euruko 2025](2025.euruko.org/) to connect and meet with other Ruby devs this September!
You can connect with Henrique Cardoso through his socials on X or LinkedIn, or get in touch with him directly via email - organisers@euruko.org
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

Jun 26, 2025 • 35min
580: Taking the complexity out of toddler's nutrition with Kay Lim
Will gets to grips with nutrition as he talks with Kay Lim, founder of Heartful Sprout, about the importance of feeding our kids right.
Kay relives her journey of moving to the US, learning a whole new language from scratch and how becoming a new mom far from home sparked the idea for Heartful Sprout.
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Interested in giving your children the best start to food? Why not check out Heartful Sprout and use exclusive promo code GIANTROBOTS for 80% off your first 6 month subscription to their app!
If you’d like to provide some feedback on Heartful Sprout or just want to talk more about nutrition why not get in touch with Kay through LinkedIn, or directly via email - kay@heartfulsprout.com
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 - YouTube - LinkedIn - Mastodon - BlueSky
© 2025 thoughtbot, inc.Support Giant Robots Smashing Into Other Giant Robots