
Platform Engineering Podcast
Welcome to the Platform Engineering Podcast, a monthly exploration into the fascinating world of platform engineering. This podcast caters to professionals and enthusiasts passionate about the intricacies of platform architecture, cloud operations, and scaling DevOps practices. Whether you're a seasoned expert or just starting in the realm of platform engineering, this is a must-listen show you don’t want to miss.Each episode features in-depth interviews with seasoned platform engineers, cloud specialists, and DevOps teams. Their expertise and knowledge are crucial for thriving in this field. Tune in as they share their experiences, challenges, and successes, offering unique perspectives into the everyday workings and innovations of this domain. Let their intriguing anecdotes provide you with valuable lessons that can immediately enhance your business’s competitive edge. Hosting the podcast is Cory O’Daniel, CEO of Massdriver. A software and operations engineer in Los Angeles, California, Cory has over two decades of experience in building startup brands and managing cloud operations. He created Bonny, an Elixir-based Kubernetes operator framework, and is passionate about AWS cloud, Kubernetes, and platform engineering. Join Cory as he breaks down platform engineering with his expert guests. Learn more at platformengineeringpod.com
Latest episodes

Jul 10, 2024 • 1h 1min
Foundations of The Cloud With Adam Jacob, Chef
In this second episode of the Platform Engineering Podcast’s special series on the Foundations of The Cloud, Cory O’Daniel meets up with Adam Jacob, co-founder of Chef and System Initiative. They discuss his early interest in infrastructure and automation, the development and impact of Chef in the DevOps community, and his transition to becoming a CEO. The conversation emphasizes the community and technological advancements Chef brought to the industry and introduces the ambitious goals of his current project, System Initiative. Don't miss this insightful conversation—tune in now to discover the future of infrastructure and automation!Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, & share! http://platformengineeringpod.com/

Jun 26, 2024 • 58min
Foundations of the Cloud with Mark Burgess, CFEngine
In this special episode of the Platform Engineering Podcast on Foundations of The Cloud, Cory O'Daniel chats with Mark Burgess, the creator of CFEngine and a pioneer in configuration management. They dive into Mark's journey from physics to computer science, the birth of CFEngine, and the dynamic world of system administration and DevOps. They also explore the evolution of IT operations, the challenges of managing modern infrastructures, and the future promises of AI and autonomous systems in tech. Join us for an insightful discussion filled with historical anecdotes, practical advice, and visionary ideas for the future of platform engineering.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, & share! http://platformengineeringpod.com/

Jun 12, 2024 • 55min
Navigating Ai And Platform Engineering With Amey Patil
In this episode of the Platform Engineering Podcast, Cory O’Daniel speaks with Amey Patil, Head of Platform Engineering at Google Ads and Google Analytics. They discuss the evolving landscape of platform engineering, the integration of AI and ML, and the human factors essential for leading successful platform teams. From managing legacy code migrations to fostering a culture of innovation, Amey shares insights and strategies that are vital for both seasoned professionals and newcomers to the field. Tune in to gain valuable knowledge and stay ahead in the dynamic world of platform engineering.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, & share! https://platformengineeringpod.com/

May 8, 2024 • 58min
The Role Of Startups In Moving Platform Engineering Forward With Colton Dempsey Of Next 47
Colton Dempsey, a representative from Next47, discusses how startups are revolutionizing platform engineering. He breaks down the five startup categories and their diverse feature sets, stressing effective monetization for open-source projects. Colton also highlights the impact of cloud-native technologies and Kubernetes on investment strategies. Moreover, he addresses challenges faced by startups regarding licensing changes, particularly with HashiCorp, and the crucial role of collaboration within the tech community for driving innovation.

Apr 10, 2024 • 10min
Unlocking the Potential of Hybrid Cloud with Cory O'Daniel
In this episode Chris Hill asks Cory O’Daniel, CEO and co-founder of Massdriver, to explain the concept and benefits of hybrid cloud, including the use of multiple cloud providers and container services for scalability and flexibility. The discussion also addresses the security and networking challenges that using hybrid cloud implies.

Mar 27, 2024 • 10min
Infrastructure As Code: Business Continuity And Disaster Recovery With Cory O'Daniel
Chris Hill sits down with Cory O'Daniel to talk about how Infrastructure as Code can help with disaster recovery and business continuity. From the technology and personnel challenges to scenarios such as losing one of your regions and the importance of backup plans, learn how IaC can be used to help ensure data and operations are not affected.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, & share! http://platformengineeringpod.com

Mar 13, 2024 • 8min
DevOps & Platform Engineering - What's The Difference? With Dave Williams
Dave Williams, an expert in platform engineering, discusses the evolution of the field beyond DevOps. He emphasizes the crucial mindset shift needed for this transition, moving from automation-centric practices to a more product-oriented approach. Williams highlights the enhanced collaboration and automation that platform engineering brings, focusing on the creation of seamless environments that improve scalability and governance. Tune in to discover how these changes can significantly elevate the software engineering experience!

Feb 28, 2024 • 17min
Is DevOps Bullshit? An Interview With Cory O’Daniel, Author Of The “DevOps Is Bullshit” Blog Post
DevOps was conceived as a way to bring developers and operations together, but has it really worked? In this episode, Dave Williams sits down with Cory O’Daniel to discuss his controversial blog post “DevOps Is Bullshit.” Find out why Cory sees platform engineering as a solution. Discover its potential as an antidote to the unmet promises and inherent challenges within the current DevOps landscape. Tune in now!Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, & share!

Feb 14, 2024 • 16min
What Is Platform Engineering? A Cloud Operation Engineer’s Perspective
Cory O’Daniel, a platform engineering expert, joins Chris Hill, a seasoned cloud operations engineer, to discuss the evolving landscape of platform engineering. They delve into how this approach enhances infrastructure management while emphasizing security and compliance challenges. Chris shares insights from his decade-long experience, underlining the balance between feature development and security. The conversation also highlights the transformative role of self-service tools like Massdriver, enabling independent and compliant infrastructure management for engineers.

Feb 7, 2024 • 14min
What Is Platform Engineering? From A Developer's Perspective
Dave Williams, an expert in platform engineering, dives into the innovative future of managing cloud applications. He highlights the importance of adopting a product mindset to elevate developer productivity. The conversation explores the evolution of software development, illustrating how developers can focus more on coding while leaving operational tasks behind. Williams compares building cloud services to assembling a bicycle, emphasizing the benefits of targeted, modular approaches. He also discusses the shift from traditional software development to platform engineering, prioritizing efficiency and scalability.