The GitHub Podcast

Jani Eväkallio discovered programming when he was stuck inside with a broken leg as a teenager. He fell in and out of programming afterwards and took an OSS hiatus at 16. He has since dove back in and maintained countless projects over the years—but quickly recognized his own limitations and didn’t hesitate to hand over the reins to those looking for the responsibility. Jani discusses his relationship with open source, why he turned down millions of dollars for FOAM, and where he’s currently channeling his creativity. Jani on GitHub: https://github.com/jevakallio Jani on the web: https://jevakallio.dev/ Be sure to check-out The ReadME Project for more episodes, stories and features: https://github.com/readme and sign-up for our monthly newsletter: https://github.com/readme/#newsletter

Salma Alam-Naylor, aka White Panther, discovered programming at a young age but focused on music and comedy into her twenties. Though her path to developing wasn’t obvious or linear, she wouldn’t change it for anything. Today, she’s a positive force in open source, making an impact on Twitch, Discord, and via her vocal commitment to accessibility and inclusivity in tech. In our conversation, she shares her journey to open source, where music and code meet, and how becoming a parent changed her perspective on the future of work. Salma on GitHub: https://github.com/whitep4nth3r Salma on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/whitep4nth3r Salma on Discord: https://discord.com/invite/theclaw Be sure to check-out The ReadME Project for more episodes, stories and features https://github.com/readme, and sign-up for our monthly newsletter: https://github.com/readme/#newsletter

Liyas Thomas is the founder of Hoppscotch, an open source API development ecosystem that’s seen exponential growth. Encouraged by his own mentors, Liyas now maintains Hoppscotch full time. Whether he’s programming or pursuing his passion for art, he always puts beauty at the core of his work. During this conversation, he shares his path to Hoppscotch, the importance of community, and a preview of his newest endeavor: a book. Liyas on GitHub: https://github.com/liyasthomas Liyas' website: https://liyasthomas.com/ Be sure to check-out The ReadME Project for more episodes, stories and features: https://github.com/readme

Fred Schott’s love for programming started early, and he worked hard during his 20s at companies like Box and Google. As his own side projects experienced open source success, Fred took the plunge in 2021 and started Astro, a JavaScript-based static site builder full time. In this conversation, he speaks about his introduction to open source, his path to Astro, and the role luck plays in success. Fred on GitHub: https://github.com/fredkschott Astro on the web: https://astro.build/blog/introducing-astro/ Be sure to check-out The ReadME Project for more episodes, stories and features: https://github.com/readme

While earning her Master’s degree in Piano, Helen Hou-Sandí worked in the computer lab, where her skills caught the attention of her music conservatory. Implored to make a website, she discovered the instant gratification of WordPress and was hooked. A decade later, she’s a leading WordPress developer who’s passionate about open source. Helen shares her journey from pianist to programmer, how the disciplines inform each other, and the ways in which she hopes to make WordPress relevant to a new generation of developers. Helen's blog: https://helen.blog/ Helen on GitHub: https://github.com/helen Be sure to check out The ReadME Project for more episodes, stories and features: https://github.com/readme

Anthony Sottile started college as a biochemistry major, but pivoted to programming two years in. After his first coding class, the school was so impressed they invited Anthony to teach the following semester. He loved helping others realize the potential of programming, which eventually led him to Twitch, where he codes, shares stories, and builds community in real time. Hear more about his journey, and why he thinks better communication is essential for open source. Anthony on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/codewithanthony Anthony on GitHub: https://github.com/asottile Be sure to check out The ReadME Project for more episodes, stories and features: https://github.com/readme

Season 2 of The ReadME Podcast is on the way with our hosts Brian Douglas and Neha Batra! New episodes will be dropping every Tuesday starting October 26th...

Segun Adebayo, the creator of Chakra UI and a design enthusiast originally from Nigeria, shares his inspiring journey from informal graphic designer to developing a leading React library. He emphasizes the importance of empathy in tech, both for users and team dynamics. Segun discusses coping with stress through laughter and the value of engaging a 'minimum viable audience' for early feedback on products. His passion for communication and design shines through as he reflects on the future of digital innovation and community-driven projects.

Based in Lagos, Nigeria, Ada Nduka Oyom initially studied microbiology at university, but quickly fell in love with programming. Witnessing the huge disparity of women to men in technology, she started She Code Africa so women could learn to code and be properly recognized for their work. In this episode, Ada shares her inspiration for She Code Africa, what she’s learned during her journey to becoming a global thought leader, and what she hopes to pass on to the next generation of female developers, now on The ReadME Podcast.

While procrastinating at MIT in 2005, Limor Fried built her own MP3 player and shared it online, immediately inspiring others to create their own hardware. What started as a small side hustle on PayPal is now Adafruit, a wildly successful business with 100 employees and a 50,000 square-foot factory in New York. Limor, otherwise known as “Ladyada,” empowers users with the tools they need to bring their ideas to life, from mini arcade games to light-up cosplay accessories to humidity-detecting clocks. She shares her journey to Adafruit, how open source plays into the business, and why electronics engineering should be taught from the top down, now on The ReadME Podcast.