Ardan Labs Podcast

In this episode of the Ardan Labs Podcast, Bill Kennedy talks with Salah Mahmud, a medical researcher specializing in epidemiology and medical statistics. Salah shares his journey from growing up in Libya under Gaddafi’s regime to conducting cutting-edge research in Canada on the connection between influenza and heart attacks. He discusses the challenges of running large-scale observational studies, the bureaucratic barriers to accessing medical data, and the importance of diversity in health research. Salah also reflects on his early entrepreneurial ventures, his discovery of programming during medical school, and how resilience and adaptability shaped his personal and professional journey.00:00 Introduction02:03 Research on Influenza and Heart Attacks05:53 Challenges in Data Access16:51 Life in Libya Under Gaddafi21:32 From Medicine to Programming41:18 WHO Collaboration and Education Abroad57:13 Disappearance and New Beginnings01:09:33 Immigration and Adaptation in Canada01:15:45 Balancing Medicine and Technology01:21:22 Family, Culture, and Reflection01:25:37 Current Research and Future GoalsConnect with Salah: Email: salah.mahmud@umanitoba.caLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/salah-mahmud-4177285a/Mentioned in this Episode:Golang: https://go.dev/Want more from Ardan Labs? You can learn Go, Kubernetes, Docker & more through our video training, live events, or through our blog!Online Courses : https://ardanlabs.com/education/ Live Events : https://www.ardanlabs.com/live-training-events/ Blog : https://www.ardanlabs.com/blog Github : https://github.com/ardanlabs

In this episode of the Ardan Labs Podcast, Bill Kennedy talks with Zack Holland, CEO & Founder of Averi AI, about his journey from early life in Ecuador’s Amazon rainforest to building an AI-powered marketing platform. Zack shares lessons from early business ventures, the challenges of running startups, and the evolution of his entrepreneurial mindset. They explore how Averi AI helps marketers become more creative and efficient, the importance of data security and trust in AI, and what it takes to innovate in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.00:00 Introduction02:54 Marketing and AI Evolution05:58 Changing Digital Landscape09:04 Early Life and Influences12:02 From Ecuador to Utah18:00 First Business in High School29:53 LLMs and Entrepreneurship39:44 Lessons from Failure43:46 Starting a Marketing Agency56:19 Founding Avery AI01:08:10 Trust and Data Security01:13:14 Marketing and AI Adoption01:17:58 AI Challenges and Opportunities01:26:00 Contact Info Connect with Zack: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zackhollandX: https://x.com/zack_hollandMentioned in this Episode:Averi AI: https://www.averi.ai/Want more from Ardan Labs? You can learn Go, Kubernetes, Docker & more through our video training, live events, or through our blog!Online Courses : https://ardanlabs.com/education/ Live Events : https://www.ardanlabs.com/live-training-events/ Blog : https://www.ardanlabs.com/blog Github : https://github.com/ardanlabs

In this episode of the Ardan Labs Podcast, Bill Kennedy talks with Mike Elgan, technology editorialist, about his journey to becoming a professional writer. Mike reflects on the evolution of journalism, the digital publishing revolution of the 90s, and the role of communication in shaping society. He also shares insights from his nomadic lifestyle, the realities of freelance writing, the impact of AI on creativity, and the importance of adaptability and passion in navigating a rapidly changing technological landscape.00:00 Introduction 05:54 Growing Up in the 70s and 80s11:32 Education, Passion & Early Work31:32 Politics, Journalism & First Writing Roles45:16 Transition to Technology Journalism54:30 Digital Media Revolution01:03:01 Becoming a Freelance Writer01:05:52 Nomadic Lifestyle & Financial Realities01:24:36 AI’s Impact on Work, Writing & Education01:42:56 The Future of Writing & Communication01:50:52 Cyberpunk Reality & Technology’s Next Era01:55:11 Finding Passion & Success in LifeConnect with Mike: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeelganX: https://x.com/MikeElganMentioned in this Episode:Mike Elgan’s Newsletter: https://machinesociety.ai/Gastronomad: https://gastronomad.netWant more from Ardan Labs? You can learn Go, Kubernetes, Docker & more through our video training, live events, or through our blog!Online Courses : https://ardanlabs.com/education/ Live Events : https://www.ardanlabs.com/live-training-events/ Blog : https://www.ardanlabs.com/blog Github : https://github.com/ardanlabs

In this episode of the Ardan Labs Podcast, Bill Kennedy talks with Jasson Casey, CEO and co-founder of Beyond Identity, about modern cybersecurity. Jasson shares his journey from early interests in technology and networking to leading startups and building products that address today’s security challenges. They explore the evolution of authentication, the need for hardware-backed identity systems, the realities of insider threats, and how cultural and customer insights shape better security solutions.00:00 Introduction00:30 What is Jasson Doing Today?7:00 Fundamentals of Security15:30 First Memory of a Computer22:00 Interest in Physics 36:00 Working in College43:00 Joining a Startup50:00 Becoming a Product Manager at 2158:30 Culture Shock 1:03:20 Moving to Executive Roles1:10:00 Starting Beyond Identity1:19:00 Monitoring Threats1:34:00 Contact InfoConnect with Jasson: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jassoncasey/X: https://x.com/jassoncaseyMentioned in this Episode:Beyond Identity: https://www.beyondidentity.com/Want more from Ardan Labs? You can learn Go, Kubernetes, Docker & more through our video training, live events, or through our blog!Online Courses : https://ardanlabs.com/education/ Live Events : https://www.ardanlabs.com/live-training-events/ Blog : https://www.ardanlabs.com/blog Github : https://github.com/ardanlabs

In this episode of the Ardan Labs Podcast, Bill Kennedy interviews Jonathan Amsterdam from the Go team at Google about his journey from academia and finance to software engineering, his work on Go and API design, and the importance of adaptability, community, and building impactful software.00:00 Introduction00:30 What is Jonathan Doing Today?02:00 First Memories of a Computer09:30 Entering University14:00 Early Coding / Academics 20:50 Interest in AI / ML27:00 Career Beginnings 33:00 Transitioning to Java and Teaching41:00 Distributed Software45:00 Ambitions / Finding Stability 55:00 Experiences at Google 1:07:20 Joining the Go Team1:17:00 Go and MCP1:24:00 API Design and Philosophy1:30:20 Contact InfoConnect with Jonathan: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-amsterdam-b901b21/Mentioned in this Episode:Go-sdk: https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/go-sdkWant more from Ardan Labs? You can learn Go, Kubernetes, Docker & more through our video training, live events, or through our blog!Online Courses : https://ardanlabs.com/education/ Live Events : https://www.ardanlabs.com/live-training-events/ Blog : https://www.ardanlabs.com/blog Github : https://github.com/ardanlabs

In this conversation, career coach Kacie Bail discusses her work helping others navigate the job market. She emphasizes the growing importance of soft skills in job applications, the challenges of job rejections, and the need for empathy from interviewers. Kacie shares her journey from bioengineering to consulting, highlighting the significance of internships and the continuous nature of career development. The discussion also touches on the impact of automation on job opportunities and the importance of finding clarity in career goals. 00:00 Introduction00:30 What is Kacie Doing Today? 01:30 Job Search Process09:00 Interviewing and Soft Skills15:00 Having Attention20:00 Highschool Interests33:00 University in Maryland39:00 Entering Consulting55:00 Looking for Change01:03:00 Moving to Chile1:18:00 Getting the Interview1:22:00 Sourcing Clients1:27:10 AI Automation for Resumés1:31:30 Contact InfoConnect with Kacie: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaciebail/Kacie’s Newsletter: https://kaciebail.substack.comInstagram: @kaciebailMentioned in this Episode:Kacie’s Site: https://www.kaciebail.com/Want more from Ardan Labs? You can learn Go, Kubernetes, Docker & more through our video training, live events, or through our blog!Online Courses : https://ardanlabs.com/education/ Live Events : https://www.ardanlabs.com/events/ Blog : https://www.ardanlabs.com/blog Github : https://github.com/ardanlabs

In this episode of the Ardan Labs Podcast, host Bill Kennedy sits down with Facundo Giuliani, Solutions Engineering Team Manager at Storyblok, to trace his path from his early experiences with computers to leading a remote solutions engineering team. They explore headless CMS, the shift into developer relations, the balance of technical and soft skills, and the economic and community-building realities shaping today’s tech careers.00:00 Introduction02:30 What is Facundo Doing Today? 07:00 First Memory of a Computer12:00 Highschool Interests16:00 University Studies28:00 Importance of a Degree38:00 Moving Jobs45:00 Working Remotely / Cost of Living56:00 Engaging With Others 1:00:00 Developer Relations Engineers1:09:20 Solutions Engineering1:15:30 Understanding Customer Problems1:20:00 Next Steps 1:27:00 Contact InfoConnect with Facundo: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/facundogiuliani/Facundo’s Site: https://fgiuliani.com/Mentioned in this Episode:Storyblok: https://www.storyblok.com/React Miami: https://www.reactmiami.com/Want more from Ardan Labs? You can learn Go, Kubernetes, Docker & more through our video training, live events, or through our blog!Online Courses : https://ardanlabs.com/education/ Live Events : https://www.ardanlabs.com/live-training-events/ Blog : https://www.ardanlabs.com/blog Github : https://github.com/ardanlabs

In this episode Bill Kennedy and Kenneth Stott discuss the evolving role of AI in organizations, emphasizing the importance of human intelligence in leveraging AI tools effectively. They explore the challenges and opportunities presented by generative AI, the need for a structured data language within organizations, and the ethical considerations surrounding AI insights. Ken shares insights from his upcoming book on redefining organizational intelligence in the age of AI, highlighting strategies for effective human-AI collaboration.00:00 Introduction2:45 AI and Organizational Behavior5:30 Limitations of Generative AI11:00 Learning the AI Tooling15:00 Using AI Tools for Code20:00 Business Decisions / Analytics25:00 Trusting AI Insights 36:00 What is an AI Agent43:00 Future of Organizational Intelligence Connect with  Kenneth: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenstott/Mentioned in this Episode:Hasura: https://hasura.io/Cursor: https://cursor.com/Claude: https://www.anthropic.com/claude-codeWant more from Ardan Labs? You can learn Go, Kubernetes, Docker & more through our video training, live events, or through our blog!Online Courses : https://ardanlabs.com/education/ Live Events : https://www.ardanlabs.com/live-training-events/ Blog : https://www.ardanlabs.com/blog Github : https://github.com/ardanlabs

In this episode, Mary Moore-Simmons, VP of Engineering at Keebo, shares her journey from early tech interests to leadership roles at SendGrid, GitHub, and Keebo. She discusses navigating career transitions, the value of mentorship, and her passion for building innovative developer tools and empowering teams.00:00 Introduction07:48 First Memory of a Computer10:30 Interest in Languages16:00 Highschool / College23:00 Engineering in University 27:40 Joining the Work Force38:05 First Job in Software48:00 Project Management 54:00 Working in DevOps1:05:30 Working in Crypto/Blockchain1:14:00 Leadership Aspirations 1:20:00 Team Dynamics1:32:00 AI Tooling1:42:00 Contact Info Connect with Mary: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmooresimmons/Mentioned in this Episode:Keebo: https://keebo.aiSendGrid: https://sendgrid.com/en-usGithub: https://github.comWant more from Ardan Labs? You can learn Go, Kubernetes, Docker & more through our video training, live events, or through our blog!Online Courses : https://ardanlabs.com/education/ Live Events : https://www.ardanlabs.com/live-training-events/ Blog : https://www.ardanlabs.com/blog Github : https://github.com/ardanlabs

In this episode, Ali Hafizji, founder of Wednesday, shares insights into his unique approach to product engineering through a sprint model that emphasizes outcomes over time. He discusses the importance of Agile methodology in adapting to change, the dynamics of client relationships, and the challenges of communication across time zones. He discusses the importance of embracing AI in product development and emphasizes the lessons learned from his experiences.00:00 Introduction00:40 What is Ali Doing Today?04:30 Selling Sprints16:00 Success as a Company19:00 Timezone Challenges21:30 First Memory of a Computer27:30 Moving from Dubai to India30:00 Entering University37:30 Internships44:00 Building Mobile Games53:00 Entering Consulting57:00 Scaling a Business1:19:00 Starting Wednesday1:25:00 AI Tooling1:33:00 Contact InfoConnect with Ali: Linkedin: https://in.linkedin.com/in/alihafizjiX: https://x.com/ali_hafizji?lang=enMentioned in this Episode:Wednesday: https://www.wednesday.is/ Want more from Ardan Labs? You can learn Go, Kubernetes, Docker & more through our video training, live events, or through our blog!Online Courses : https://ardanlabs.com/education/ Live Events : https://www.ardanlabs.com/live-training-events/ Blog : https://www.ardanlabs.com/blog Github : https://github.com/ardanlabs