

Develop Yourself
Brian Jenney
To change careers and land your first job as a Software Engineer, you need more than just great software development skills - you need to develop yourself. Welcome to the podcast that helps you develop your skills, your habits, your network and more, all in hopes of becoming a thriving Software Engineer.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 16, 2025 • 28min
#280 - The Missing Guide to AI for Web Developers
I just quit my job as a senior AI developer, and while helping hire my replacement, I realized how few people actually know how AI apps work. In this episode, I walk through Retrieval-Augmented Generation step by step—the same system I built at work—and show you the real skills developers need right now.👉 Grab a hands-on project with a video you can follow along with here 👈Hold your spot in the January cohort and become the go-to person in your organization for integrating AI into your web applications. Hold spot hereSend us a text(Not so) Shameless Plugs 👉 Build Your First Website in 30 minutes 👈 ✉️ Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here 🧑💻 Join Parsity - Become a full stack AI developer in 6-9 months.

Oct 13, 2025 • 44min
#279 - Recruiter Exposes the Truth About Junior Developer Jobs
Just give up?Everyone says no one’s hiring junior developers anymore — but is that actually true?In this episode, I sit down with recruiter David Roberts to uncover what’s really happening in the job market, why most applicants are getting filtered out, and what you can do differently to land your first role.We break down the biggest myths about entry-level tech jobs, how recruiters actually think, and the skills that make you stand out in 2025.Don't learn to code, learn to build complex software and get hired: https://parsity.ioAlready know how to code? Get help landing your first role: https://crushing.digital/Send us a text(Not so) Shameless Plugs 👉 Build Your First Website in 30 minutes 👈 ✉️ Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here 🧑💻 Join Parsity - Become a full stack AI developer in 6-9 months.

Oct 9, 2025 • 13min
#278 - AI Does NOT Replace Junior Developers, Here's Why
Every headline says AI is eating developer jobs. But spend a week in production and you’ll see the opposite: brittle code, flaky tests, and tools that look fast until you actually ship something.In this episode, I break down why the “AI replaces engineers” story sells so well—to investors, to execs, and to lazy headlines—but falls apart in the real world. We’ll talk through a Cornell + METR study showing seasoned devs got 19% slower using AI (even though they thought they were faster), and why that tracks with what I’ve seen on real teams.Send us a text(Not so) Shameless Plugs 👉 Build Your First Website in 30 minutes 👈 ✉️ Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here 🧑💻 Join Parsity - Become a full stack AI developer in 6-9 months.

Oct 6, 2025 • 36min
#277 - RAG: The Only AI Skill Web Devs Need to Learn in 2026
Ben Johnson, CEO of Lobi Software and an entrepreneur focusing on AI systems, discusses his unique journey from diverse fields to software development. He highlights the importance of Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) for developers by 2026, explaining its practical applications in healthcare. Ben shares insights on coding bootcamps, sales strategies for AI products, and the need for reinventing social platforms. He predicts that engineers who embrace AI will thrive, while others may find themselves outdated.

Oct 2, 2025 • 16min
#276 - Claude Code Failed: What Anthropic’s Postmortem Means for Developers
Ever had your AI pair programmer stop helping and start breaking everything? I did—and this time, the data proves it wasn’t just me.Claude fell off. TypeScript that wouldn’t compile, migrations stuck in loops, refactors that went completely sideways. Turns out Anthropic’s own postmortem revealed three separate bugs causing degraded output—context routing issues, output corruption, and TLA-X blah blah blah error.Let's dive in.Send us a text(Not so) Shameless Plugs 👉 Build Your First Website in 30 minutes 👈 ✉️ Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here 🧑💻 Join Parsity - Become a full stack AI developer in 6-9 months.

Sep 29, 2025 • 18min
#275 - Terrible Advice for Software Developers (that you're hearing in 2025)
After 11 years helping hundreds of career changers switch into software development, I've found the hardest part isn't teaching technical skills but rewiring brains from misleading online advice that hurts new developers. Much of this advice is well-intentioned, but some is designed purely for clicks and engagement.• "Don't chase titles!"• "Don't build CRUD apps!"• "Coding bootcamps are a scam!"Take all advice (including mine) with a grain of salt. Your path is unique, and a personalized approach to career development is more effective than generic advice. Question everything, take what makes sense, and leave what doesn't.Send us a text(Not so) Shameless Plugs 👉 Build Your First Website in 30 minutes 👈 ✉️ Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here 🧑💻 Join Parsity - Become a full stack AI developer in 6-9 months.

Sep 25, 2025 • 19min
Developer Career Change Hotline: Networking, Breaking In, and Not Giving Up
Let's tackle three of the most common struggles career changers face: 1. Breaking into tech from another field2. Networking without feeling fake3. Staying motivated when the job search drags on. If you’re wondering how to make the leap, keep connections warm, or simply not burn out—this one’s for you.Got a question of your own? 👉 Drop it here 👈Send us a text(Not so) Shameless Plugs 👉 Build Your First Website in 30 minutes 👈 ✉️ Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here 🧑💻 Join Parsity - Become a full stack AI developer in 6-9 months.

Sep 22, 2025 • 20min
#274 - The Cost of Being Nice: Why Good Developers Don't Get Promoted
Have you ever wondered why some developers keep getting promoted while others stay stuck at the same level despite their technical skills? The answer might surprise you.Through practical, actionable steps, I break down exactly how developers at any level can strategically increase their influence and advance their careers. You'll learn how to gain credibility before speaking up, frame concerns as questions rather than criticisms, and pair problem identification with solution proposals. For junior developers and career changers, I offer specific guidance on leveraging your unique perspective and starting with low-risk moments of leadership.The truth is that being universally liked feels safe, but being honest and solution-oriented makes you invaluable. Your career won't skyrocket by becoming infinitely better at your tech stack—it will accelerate when you thoughtfully challenge the status quo and offer solutions to problems others see but are afraid to address.Send us a text(Not so) Shameless Plugs 👉 Build Your First Website in 30 minutes 👈 ✉️ Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here 🧑💻 Join Parsity - Become a full stack AI developer in 6-9 months.

Sep 15, 2025 • 18min
#273 - When You Don’t Know What to Build—Build This
Breaking into software development isn’t about finishing another tutorial—it’s about building something that matters. In this episode, I’ll show you how to choose a side project that proves your skills, keeps you motivated, and actually impresses employers.You’ll learn:Why great data makes or breaks your appHow to apply the 80/20 rule—stick with tech you know, sprinkle in something newPicking a project you’re emotionally invested in (so you don’t abandon it)Tools that make you look sharp fast—React, Next.js, Tailwind CSS, and smarter database picksAdding AI functionality to make your project stand outBuilding a real MVP, deploying with Vercel or the cloud, and estimating time like a proHere's the link for the free APIs on GitHub: https://free-apis.github.io/#/browseAnd—don’t miss it—we’re giving away a full Parsity scholarship. 👉 Apply here 👈Send us a text(Not so) Shameless Plugs 👉 Build Your First Website in 30 minutes 👈 ✉️ Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here 🧑💻 Join Parsity - Become a full stack AI developer in 6-9 months.

Sep 11, 2025 • 14min
#272 - The State of the 2025 Tech Job Market: Is AI Helping or Hurting Us?
The tech job market is sending seriously mixed signals in 2025. While social media overflows with doom and gloom about hiring freezes and impossible entry barriers, actual data tells a surprisingly different story. Job openings are trending upward, with big tech companies like Meta, Google, and Apple actively expanding their engineering teams.What's really happening is a massive shift in what companies need from their developers. "AI engineering" positions have exploded, increasing 5-6x since 2023 alone. But here's the critical insight most are missing: these roles don't primarily require deep machine learning expertise or data science backgrounds.This represents a golden opportunity for software developers willing to expand their skills in the right direction.Let's explore.Here's the link to the original article: https://substack.com/inbox/post/172584839?utm_source=unread-posts-digest-email&inbox=true&utm_medium=email&triedRedirect=trueApply for Parsity's AI Developer Program: https://www.parsity.io/ai-developerSend us a text(Not so) Shameless Plugs 👉 Build Your First Website in 30 minutes 👈 ✉️ Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here 🧑💻 Join Parsity - Become a full stack AI developer in 6-9 months.