
Coding Chats
On Coding Chats, John Crickett interviews software engineers of all levels from junior to CTO. He encourages the guests to share the stories of the challenges they have faced in their role and the strategies and tactics they have used to overcome those challenges providing actionable insights other software engineers can use to accelerate their careers.
Latest episodes

Feb 13, 2025 • 59min
Extreme Programming, Test Driven Development and Social Programming with Fabio D'Amico
Coding Chats Episode 16 - John talks to Fabio D'Amico about Extreme Programming, Social Programming and Test Driven Development for software engineers.Links:Fabio's Linkshttps://calendly.com/fabiodamico/coffe-and-chathttps://fabiodamico.xyzThe article on tech debt that Fabio mentions: https://medium.com/@ziobrando/from-technical-debt-to-design-integrity-48e7056b6776John's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johncrickett/John’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@johncrickettJohn's Twitter: https://x.com/johncrickettJohn's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/johncrickett.bsky.socialCheck out John's software engineering related newsletters: Coding Challenges: https://codingchallenges.substack.com/ which shares real-world project ideas that you can use to level up your coding skills.Developing Skills: https://read.developingskills.fyi/ covering everything from system design to soft skills, helping them progress their career from junior to staff+ or for those that want onto a management track.

Feb 6, 2025 • 1h 2min
Refactoring your brain as a software engineer to improve communication, collaboration and get promoted
Coding Chats Episode 15 - John talks to Dagna Bieda about refactoring your brain as a software engineer to improve your soft skills (such as communication and collaboration) and market yourself and your achievements to get promoted.
Links:
Dagna's LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dagnabieda/
Dagna's Substack: https://themindfuldev.substack.com/
Brain Refactor: https://amazon.com/dp/B0DB6C82ZN
John's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johncrickett/
John’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@johncrickett
John's Twitter: https://x.com/johncrickett
John's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/johncrickett.bsky.social
Check out John's software engineering related newsletters:
Coding Challenges: https://codingchallenges.substack.com/ which shares real-world project ideas that you can use to level up your coding skills.
Developing Skills: https://read.developingskills.fyi/ covering everything from system design to soft skills, helping them progress their career from junior to staff+ or for those that want onto a management track.

Jan 30, 2025 • 32min
Keep Calm and Code on - Alex Lau tells John Crickett
Coding Chats Episode 14 - John talks to Alex Lau about his book Keep Calm and Code On.
Links:
Alex's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mralexlau/
Alex's book: https://keepcalmandcodeon.com/
John's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johncrickett/
John’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@johncrickett
John's Twitter: https://x.com/johncrickett
John's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/johncrickett.bsky.social
Check out John's software engineering related newsletters:
Coding Challenges: https://codingchallenges.substack.com/ which shares real-world project ideas that you can use to level up your coding skills.
Developing Skills: https://read.developingskills.fyi/ covering everything from system design to soft skills, helping them progress their career from junior to staff+ or for those that want onto a management track.

Jan 23, 2025 • 40min
Public speaking, soft skills and coding with Alex Lau
Coding Chats Episode 13 - John talks to Alex Lau about toastmasters, public speaking, soft skills and his book 'Keep Calm and Code on.'
Links:
Alex's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mralexlau/
Alex's book: https://keepcalmandcodeon.com/
John's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johncrickett/
John’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@johncrickett
John's Twitter: https://x.com/johncrickett
John's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/johncrickett.bsky.social
Check out John's software engineering related newsletters:
Coding Challenges: https://codingchallenges.substack.com/ which shares real-world project ideas that you can use to level up your coding skills.
Developing Skills: https://read.developingskills.fyi/ covering everything from system design to soft skills, helping them progress their career from junior to staff+ or for those that want onto a management track.

Jan 16, 2025 • 44min
Soft skills in tech, roles in software engineering and charging for your time with Jade Wilson
Coding Chats Episode 12 - John talks to Jade Wilson about soft skills in tech, diversity in tech, roles in software engineering and charging for your time.
Jade's Links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jade-codes
https://youtube.com/@Jade-Codes
https://jadecodes.substack.com/
https://linktr.ee/jade.codes
John's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johncrickett/
John’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@johncrickett
John's Twitter: https://x.com/johncrickett
John's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/johncrickett.bsky.social
Check out John's software engineering related newsletters:
Coding Challenges: https://codingchallenges.substack.com/ which shares real-world project ideas that you can use to level up your coding skills.
Developing Skills: https://read.developingskills.fyi/ covering everything from system design to soft skills, helping them progress their career from junior to staff+ or for those that want onto a management track.

Jan 9, 2025 • 44min
Talking about diversity in tech, software engineering, mentoring and interviews with Shalini Goyal
Coding Chats Episode 11 - John talks to Shalini Goyal about diversity in tech, software engineering, mentoring and interviews.
Shalini's System Design, Behavioural and DSA Interviews guide: https://topmate.io/goyalshalini/1303274
John's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johncrickett/
John’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@johncrickett
John's Twitter: https://x.com/johncrickett
John's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/johncrickett.bsky.social
Check out John's software engineering related newsletters:
Coding Challenges: https://codingchallenges.substack.com/ which shares real-world project ideas that you can use to level up your coding skills.
Developing Skills: https://read.developingskills.fyi/ covering everything from system design to soft skills, helping them progress their career from junior to staff+ or for those that want onto a management track.

Dec 12, 2024 • 51min
Talking about coaching, coding, mentoring and Arnie with Taha Hussain
Coding Chats Episode 10 - John talks to Taha Hussain about coaching, coding, mentoring, career change and lessons from Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Links:
Taha's Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tahahussain/
John's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johncrickett/
John’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@johncrickett
John's Twitter: https://x.com/johncrickett
John's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/johncrickett.bsky.social
Check out John's software engineering related newsletters:
Coding Challenges: https://codingchallenges.substack.com/ which shares real-world project ideas that you can use to level up your coding skills.
Developing Skills: https://read.developingskills.fyi/ covering everything from system design to soft skills, helping them progress their career from junior to staff+ or for those that want onto a management track.

Dec 5, 2024 • 42min
Teaching, tables and tech with Callie Stoscup
Coding Chats Episode 9 - John talks to Callie Stoscup about teaching, tables and tech and her journey as a software engineer.
Links:
Callie's website: https://www.coding-with-callie.com
John's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johncrickett/
John’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@johncrickett
John's Twitter: https://x.com/johncrickett
John's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/johncrickett.bsky.social
Check out John's software engineering related newsletters:
Coding Challenges: https://codingchallenges.substack.com/ which shares real-world project ideas that you can use to level up your coding skills.
Developing Skills: https://read.developingskills.fyi/ covering everything from system design to soft skills, helping them progress their career from junior to staff+ or for those that want onto a management track.

Nov 28, 2024 • 1h 2min
From computer forensics to principal engineering manager at Microsoft with Nick Cosentino.
Coding Chats Episode 8 - John talks to Nick Cosentino about the importance of leadership, mentoring and soft skills for software engineers.
Links:
Nick's YouTube: https://youtube.com/@devleader
Nick: Newsletter: https://weekly.devleader.ca
John's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johncrickett/
John’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@johncrickett
John's Twitter: https://x.com/johncrickett
John's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/johncrickett.bsky.social
Check out John's software engineering related newsletters:
Coding Challenges: https://codingchallenges.substack.com/ which shares real-world project ideas that you can use to level up your coding skills.
Developing Skills: https://read.developingskills.fyi/ covering everything from system design to soft skills, helping them progress their career from junior to staff+ or for those that want onto a management track.

Nov 21, 2024 • 50min
Breaking into Software Engineering with Brooke Sweedar
Coding Chats Episode 7 - John talks to Brooke about how she came to technology, her experience doing a bootcamp and looking for her first role as a software engineer and the power of networking on LinkedIn.
Links:
Brooke's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brooke-sweedar
John's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johncrickett/
John's Twitter: https://x.com/johncrickett
Check out John's software engineering related newsletters:
Coding Challenges: https://codingchallenges.substack.com/ which shares real-world project ideas that you can use to level up your coding skills.
Developing Skills: https://read.developingskills.fyi/ covering everything from system design to soft skills, helping them progress their career from junior to staff+ or for those that want onto a management track.