Jon de la Motte, a former software engineer at Stripe, shares his transformative journey from dream job to self-discovery. He reflects on the struggles of navigating a new role and the emotional impact of performance feedback. Jon candidly discusses the fragility of marital stability against a backdrop of professional pressures. He emphasizes the importance of personal growth after leaving a tech giant, encouraging listeners to explore their own emotional awareness and the balance between personal happiness and success.

A software engineer turned compassionate leader shares her journey through unexpected layoffs at Shopify. She recounts the emotional challenges of informing a colleague about their job loss and the subsequent feelings of guilt and uncertainty. The discussion highlights the importance of empathy and resilience in leadership, especially during tough times in the tech industry. Personal stories reveal the impact of abrupt layoffs not only on those let go but also on those who remain, stressing the need for supportive workplace relationships.

The podcast dives into the tumultuous life of Hans Reiser, a brilliant but troubled software developer behind ReiserFS. It explores the twists of his career paralleled with personal struggles, including a shocking murder conviction following his wife's disappearance. The technical innovations of ReiserFS, such as tailpacking, are discussed alongside the moral implications of his story. Ultimately, it serves as a stark reminder of how personal integrity can impact one's legacy in the tech world, showcasing the need for empathy and collaboration.

Yoshio, an adventurer turned startup enthusiast, shares his inspiring journey from climbing Everest to the tech world. He discusses how a tragic avalanche shifted his perspective on life and career, leading him to coding and entrepreneurship. The conversation touches on resilience, the dynamics of startup partnerships, and the humorous challenges of working in a crypto startup. Yoshio also emphasizes the importance of meaningful goal-setting and personal growth, illustrating how introspection and past struggles can fuel transformation.

Tim Chen, a former software engineer at Microsoft turned venture capitalist, shares his intriguing career transition. Feeling unfulfilled in corporate life, he sought deeper impact through startups and open-source projects. Tim discusses the unique challenges he faced during the 2008 market crash and the blend of technical expertise and investment strategies that shaped his venture capital approach. He emphasizes the importance of resilience and belief in potential success, ultimately bridging the divide between founders and funding.

Adam Gordon Bell, a seasoned software developer and communication enthusiast, dives into the art of conveying ideas in tech. He shares personal experiences that underscore the significance of storytelling during tech interviews. The discussion reveals insights into navigating guest outreach for podcasts and the transformational journey of storytelling in podcast creation. Adam also explores balancing a demanding software career with podcasting, emphasizing how effective communication can enhance both skills and connection in the tech world.

Meet Jeffrey Snover, the Microsoft architect behind PowerShell, who transformed Windows administration with a command tool. Despite facing skepticism and resistance, his persistence and clear vision led to a tool now fundamental in modern enterprise environments. Learn how one person's determination can challenge the status quo and revolutionize an industry.

Professor Felienne Hermans shares her inspiring journey of creating Hedy, a programming language to break language barriers in coding. She discusses challenges faced in teaching coding to underserved students and highlights the importance of engaging languages for young learners. Her story emphasizes the impact of following passion and intuition in revolutionizing coding education.

Join past show regulars Don, Krystal, and Adam as they dive into a compelling fictional tale of a compromised compiler. They unravel the complexities of trust in computing, collaborative debugging, compiler mysteries, fixing bugs, and exploring the implications of backdoors in software. Celebrate the 100th episode milestone with this riveting discussion.

Join Mick West in a journey from creating games in Manchester to Neversoft in California. Learn about the challenges in game development, asset creation, and the intense process of crafting Tony Hawk's Pro Skater. Explore Mick's resilience, adaptability, and the behind-the-scenes of game innovation.