

TestGuild Automation Podcast
Joe Colantonio
TestGuild Automation Podcast (formally Test Talks) is a weekly podcast hosted by Joe Colantonio, which geeks out on all things software test automation. TestGuild Automation covers news found in the testing space, reviews books about automation, and speaks with some of the thought leaders in the test automation field. We'll aim to interview some of today's most successful and inspiring software engineers, and test automation thought leaders.
Episodes
Mentioned books

May 11, 2025 • 52min
European Accessibility Act: What Software Testers Need to Know (Actionable Guide) with Laveena Ramchandani
Laveena Ramchandani, an accessibility advocate and seasoned quality engineer lead, dives into the European Accessibility Act and its implications for software testers. She emphasizes the urgency of proactive accessibility measures and shares personal insights into common challenges faced by users with disabilities. Laveena details practical strategies for integrating accessibility into the development lifecycle, using tools like Axe for testing. A compelling conversation on the importance of inclusivity, it’s a call to action for creating accessible digital experiences before the compliance deadline.

May 4, 2025 • 46min
Testing AI's Promises with Michael Bolton
Michael Bolton, a legendary software testing expert, joins the discussion to dissect the realities of artificial intelligence in testing. He challenges the hype surrounding AI, describing it as a collection of probabilistic text generators that can mislead with overconfidence. Bolton offers insights on when AI can enhance testing and the risks involved in its blind adoption. He emphasizes the vital role testers will play in an AI-driven future, advocating for critical thinking and responsible integration of these technologies into workflows.

6 snips
Apr 27, 2025 • 1h 1min
The Secret Life of Automation with Michael Bolton
Michael Bolton, a renowned software testing expert, shares his insights on the evolution of software testing over the past eight years. He emphasizes the role of AI and machine learning, advocating for a balance between automation and human insight. Michael challenges misconceptions about automation, arguing that it should complement rather than replace manual testing. Listeners can expect personal anecdotes, practical advice, and an exploration of user interactions, revealing the hidden complexities of automation often overlooked in testing practices.

Apr 20, 2025 • 42min
AI's Impact on Testing Careers with Jason Arbon
In this episode, special guest Jason Arbon will be present for a truly eye-opening conversation about the rapidly evolving world of AI-driven software testing. Jason introduces us to the concept of MCP, a powerful AI workflow engine that's changing how testers interact with tools and offers a behind-the-scenes look at the origins of Testers.AI is a platform that automates comprehensive software testing using AI personas tailored for everything from usability to security. In this candid discussion, Jason explores why the testing community initially hesitated to embrace AI solutions, how the landscape is shifting, and the surprising "happy dance" moment when AI outpaced traditional test teams in speed and coverage. The conversation doesn't shy away from the difficult questions: What does this mean for human testers? How reliable are AI-generated results? And what skills will testers need in the new era where AI handles the bulk of basic testing? Whether you're intrigued, skeptical, or just curious about how AI is reshaping quality assurance, this episode is a must-listen.

Apr 6, 2025 • 27min
How To Optimize your Automation CI/CD Pipelines (and Save Money) with Gaurav Mittal
Welcome to the TestGuild Automation Podcast! In this episode, host Joe Colantonio sits down with Gaurav Mittal, a cybersecurity, data science, and IT expert with over two decades of experience. Gaurav, recognized for his thought leadership in AI and automation with multiple industry awards, shares his insights on making How To Optimize your Automation CI/CD Pipelines in DevOps more cost-effective. Whether you're a test automation engineer or security professional or work with AI/ML, you'll want to hear Gaurav's take on implementing DevOps pipelines that reduce licensing costs and enhance flexibility without sacrificing your team's productivity. Learn about his experiences with GitHub Actions, Jenkins, and the innovative ways he's optimized CI/CD pipelines to save resources and automate extensive testing processes, all while incorporating strong security measures. Join us as we delve into the innovative strategies and practical advice that can help transform your DevOps practices.

Mar 30, 2025 • 30min
Meet JASON HUGGINS, The Genius Behind Selenium!
Welcome to another episode of the TestGuild Automation Podcast! This time, we're diving into the archives by honoring SeleniumConf in Valencia, Spain, with a special rerelease of an interview recorded back in 2017. Join your host, Joe Colantonio, as he sits down with Jason Huggins, the legendary creator of Selenium. Recorded live during the hustle and bustle of SeleniumConf that year, Joe takes us back to the origins of Selenium with this remarkable founder's journey. Jason dives deep into the story behind Selenium's creation, the challenges faced during its early days, and the evolution of automation in tech. Whether you're an automation veteran or new to testing, this episode is a treasure trove of insights and inspiration you won't want to miss!

Mar 23, 2025 • 22min
Proactive Observability in Testing with Anam Hira
In today's episode, we're diving into proactive observability and testing with our special guest, Anam Hira, cofounder of Reveal.ai. Anam, who also has experience working at Uber AI, shares an intriguing journey where he developed "Dragon Crawl," an innovative project aimed at tackling challenges Uber faced with its end-to-end testing across multiple cities. We explore how Dragon Crawl utilized LLMs to enhance testing reliability, making tests less flaky across varied UIs. Anam's journey didn't stop there. He co-founded Reveal, a platform that takes testing and observability to a new level by connecting end-to-end tests with telemetry data. This modern approach, termed proactive observability, allows for detecting bugs before they hit production, saving companies significant time and cost. Join us as we explore the principles of proactive observability, how Reveal leverages telemetry for seamless integration, and its impact on testing efficiency. Whether you're a startup or an enterprise, if you're keen to ship faster without sacrificing quality, this is an episode you won't want to miss! 👉 Start building accessible apps with BrowserStack: https://testguild.me/accessiblity

Mar 16, 2025 • 28min
Testing ML Pipeline Best Practices to Scale with LakshmiThejaswi Narasannagari
LakshmiThejaswi Narasannagari, a seasoned machine learning engineer with experience at Intuit and Poshmark, shares her journey from software development to the ML landscape. She discusses best practices for testing ML pipelines and the importance of automation in ensuring model accuracy. The conversation highlights understanding the distinction between generative AI and predictive analytics, the critical components of a machine learning pipeline, and offers insights on mentorship and resources for those venturing into AI and automation.

Mar 9, 2025 • 27min
Swift Driver for Appium Automation Testing with Dalton Alexandre
In this episode, Joe Colantonio sits down with Dalton Alexandre, a self-taught Swift developer who has recently developed a new Swift driver for the Appium framework. Streamline Your Mobile App Testing now: https://testguild.me/applive2 Dalton shares his journey from developing iOS applications to creating this innovative driver. He discusses the motivations behind choosing Swift, the challenges in creating a bare-bones project, and the benefits of contributing to open-source projects like Appium. With insights into parallelization, session management, and versatile testing strategies, this conversation promises valuable takeaways for developers and testers eager to expand their automation expertise. Tune in to learn, explore, and get inspired by Dalton's approach to UI and mobile automation testing!

Mar 2, 2025 • 31min
Tackling Enterprise Testing Challenges with AI with Srirang Srikantha
In this episode of the TestGuild Automation Podcast, host Joe Colantonio delves into the challenges of test automation in enterprise environments, focusing on key issues like scalability, maintainability, and the complexity of modern applications. Joining Joe is special guest Srirang Srikantha from Tenjin, a cutting-edge platform leveraging AI-driven intelligence to revolutionize enterprise test automation. With over 25 years of expertise in technology innovation and a deep understanding of the banking and financial services sector, Srirang shares insights into how Tenjin addresses the specific needs of enterprise testers. Tune in to discover Tenjin's innovative solutions, like AI-assisted test design, self-healing automation, and other features to help enterprise software testers. Whether you're an enterprise tester or just curious about the future of test automation, this episode promises valuable information and practical advice. Plus, stick around for an exclusive demo of Tenjin's capabilities and learn how you can get hands-on experience with their platform. 🔗 Discover how Tenjin can transform your testing strategy! Sign up today (https://testguild.me/tenjin) and experience enterprise-grade test automation built for the modern software team.


