

Platform Engineering Podcast
Cory O'Daniel, CEO of Massdriver
The Platform Engineering Podcast is a show about the real work of building and running internal platforms — hosted by Cory O’Daniel, longtime infrastructure and software engineer, and CEO/cofounder of Massdriver.
Each episode features candid conversations with the engineers, leads, and builders shaping platform engineering today. Topics range from org structure and team ownership to infrastructure design, developer experience, and the tradeoffs behind every “it depends.”
Cory brings two decades of experience building platforms — and now spends his time thinking about how teams scale infrastructure without creating bottlenecks or burning out ops. This podcast isn’t about trends. It’s about how platform engineering actually works inside real companies.
Whether you're deep into Terraform/OpenTofu modules, building golden paths, or just trying to keep your platform from becoming a dumpster fire — you’ll probably find something useful here.
Each episode features candid conversations with the engineers, leads, and builders shaping platform engineering today. Topics range from org structure and team ownership to infrastructure design, developer experience, and the tradeoffs behind every “it depends.”
Cory brings two decades of experience building platforms — and now spends his time thinking about how teams scale infrastructure without creating bottlenecks or burning out ops. This podcast isn’t about trends. It’s about how platform engineering actually works inside real companies.
Whether you're deep into Terraform/OpenTofu modules, building golden paths, or just trying to keep your platform from becoming a dumpster fire — you’ll probably find something useful here.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 22, 2024 • 1h 2min
From Netflix to the Cloud: Adrian Cockroft on DevOps, Microservices, and Sustainability
Adrian Cockroft, a trailblazer in cloud computing at Netflix, shares insights on transforming IT infrastructures. He discusses the evolution of DevOps and microservices, emphasizing the need for developer ownership in navigating complex cloud environments. Adrian also tackles the pressing issue of sustainability, revealing the environmental impact of AI workloads and advocating for greener practices. His journey offers valuable lessons for professionals in cloud computing, blending technical expertise with a forward-thinking approach to sustainability.

Aug 7, 2024 • 57min
Foundations of The Cloud With Brian Grant, Kubernetes
It’s episode four of the Platform Engineering Podcast’s special series on the Foundations of The Cloud! This time Cory O'Daniel sits down with Brian Grant, the original lead architect of Kubernetes, to dive deep into the history and evolution of Kubernetes in cloud operations. Brian shares his journey from working in supercomputing to joining Google and helping develop Kubernetes. He also provides insights on the importance of Kubernetes' declarative model, managing complexity in cloud native environments, and the extensive impact and future potential of Kubernetes. Tune in to learn more about the intricate details of platform engineering and the revolutionary developments in cloud native infrastructure.Guest: Brian Grant, Original lead architect of Kubernetes and CTO/Co-founder of ConfigHubBrian Grant is a foundational architect and influential voice within the Kubernetes project and the broader cloud-native landscape.Brian Grant - XBrian Grant - GitHubBrian Grant - MediumLinks to interesting things from this episode:"Kubernetes DocumentationDeclarative Application Management in KubernetesKubernetes the Hard Way by Kelsey HightowerKubernetes Milestones and Tasks Checklist

Jul 24, 2024 • 54min
Foundations of The Cloud With Mitchell Hashimoto, Terraform
In this third episode of the Platform Engineering Podcast’s special series on the Foundations of The Cloud, host Corey O'Daniel interviews Mitchell Hashimoto, co-founder of HashiCorp and creator of Terraform, Vault, and Nomad. They discuss the intricacies of platform engineering, the history and evolution of Terraform, the advent of infrastructure as code, and the challenges accompanying it. Mitchell also shares insights on his new project, Ghostly, a high-performance terminal emulator, and delves into how generative AI will transform operations engineering. Listen to this episode to get valuable lessons for both industry veterans and newcomers.Guest: Mitchell Hashimoto, Founder of HashiCorp, Creator of Vagrant, Packer, Consul, Terraform, Vault, Nomad, Waypoint, and more.Mitchell Hashimoto is a passionate engineer, professional speaker, and entrepreneur. Mitchell has been creating and contributing to open-source software for almost a decade. He has spoken at dozens of conferences about his work, such as VelocityConf, OSCON, FOSDEM, and more. Mitchell co-founded HashiCorp, where he held multiple roles including CEO and CTO. He left the company in 2023, but he was part of the initial engineering team behind most of their products, such as Vagrant, Packer, Consul, Terraform, Vault, Nomad, Waypoint, and more. Prior to HashiCorp, Mitchell spent five years as a web developer and another four as an operations engineer.Mitchell is also an FAA licensed private pilot with an instrument rating (PPL ASEL IR). He currently flies a Cirrus SF50 Vision Jet. Aviation overlaps with his passion for programming and he routinely works on aviation software for fun.Mitchell Hashimoto - XMitchell Hashimoto - Personal WebsiteMitchell Hashimoto - GithubGhosttyLinks to interesting things from this episode:HashiCorpPurpose of Terraform StateSystems Resurgent?, speech by Amod Malviya, Systems Distributed Conference 2024

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!Guest: Adam Jacob, CEO / Chairman / Co-Founder of System InitiativeAdam is an engineering and product innovator, with decades of experience designing, building, and managing large production systems. Adam previously co-founded Chef Software, was the original author of Chef, served as CTO, and was on the board of directors.Adam Jacob - TwitterAdam Jacob - GithubAdam Jacob - MediumSystem Initiative

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/Guest: Mark Burgess, Principal Founder of CFEngineMark Burgess is a theoretician and practitioner in the area of information systems, whose work has focused largely on distributed information infrastructure. He wrote an early popular book on C programming, which is now open and available through the Free Software Foundation. He was an early contributor to the Free Software Foundation in 1993 with CFEngine, which remains GPL. He is known particularly for his work on Configuration Management and Promise Theory. He was the principal Founder of CFEngine, co-founder at Aljabr, and is now the founder of ChiTek-i. He is Emeritus Professor of Network and System Administration from Oslo University College. He is the author of numerous books, articles, and papers on topics from Physics, Networks and Systems, to fiction. He also writes a blog on issues of science and IT industry concerns. Today, he works as an advisor on science and technology matters all over the world.Mark Burgess - WebsiteCFEngineLinks to interesting things from this episode:Computer ImmunologyPromise TheorySmart Spacetime

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/Guest: Amey Patil, Head of Platform Engineering at Google Ads and Google AnalyticsAmey is a seasoned technology leader with a proven track record at Google and VMware. He excels in driving innovation and spearheading high-performing engineering teams. Currently serving as the Head of Platform Engineering for Google Ads and Google Analytics, he oversees infrastructure supporting multiple high-revenue products, leading a global team.

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. Guest: Cory O'Daniel, CEO at Massdriver

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! Guest: Cory O'Daniel, CEO at Massdriver

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!