Mark Downie, a Principal Product Manager at Microsoft and the lead maintainer of DasBlog-Core, discusses the evolving landscape of technical blogging. He emphasizes its significance in a world dominated by social media, highlighting the value of owning content and fostering community. Mark shares insights on how to write engaging technical blogs that resonate with developers, urging them to anticipate reader needs and cultivate meaningful connections. He also stresses blogging as a fulfilling tool for personal expression, regardless of audience size.

Christos Foray, an American computer scientist and quantum computing expert at Microsoft, joins the discussion to dive into the cutting-edge world of quantum technology. They explore the evolution of quantum computing from theory to practice, highlighting the unique properties of qubits and the importance of quantum error correction. The conversation touches on how quantum can tackle real-world issues like sustainability and its potential to enhance AI. Additionally, they discuss the challenges of noise in quantum systems and the hybrid workforce needed for progress.

Ash Hynie, CEO of CounterPoint and a seasoned technologist, discusses the evolving dynamics between managers and employees. He emphasizes the need for open communication and respect in performance reviews, challenging the prevailing perceptions within tech. The conversation touches on the struggles of high-performing engineers stepping into management roles and the importance of accountability to foster trust. Hynie advocates for a humanized management approach that balances professionalism with emotional expression and encourages genuine connections in corporate environments.

Tomáš Herceg is the CEO of Riganti and his company focuses on .NET and modernization. He chats with Scott about the excitement around updating to .NET 8 and 9. There's so many benefits to modern .NET but there's a lot of confusion about what's possible. Can you really update 5, 10, 20 year old apps and bring them into a modern cloud environment? Tomáš has written a new book on .NET Modernization that is available now!https://www.modernizationbook.com - Hanselminutes listeners can get 10% off with coupon HANSELMINUTES10 from Jan 10 to April 1, 2025https://www.riganti.cz/https://www.dotvvm.com/

Maggie Appleton, a Lead Design Engineer at Normalee, combines design, anthropology, and programming to enhance user experiences. She discusses how cultural factors influence technology interactions, particularly in the context of AI. The conversation tackles the digital divide and the role of AI in education, addressing fears and strategies for integrating AI tools into learning environments. Maggie also shares her thoughts on the complexities of advanced technologies and the potential of AI as a collaborative partner, advocating for deeper understanding in tech development.

Brian Douglas, Founder of OpenSauced and former GitHub advocate, shares insights on the transformative power of open source in personal and professional development. He details the evolution and challenges of OpenSaused, emphasizing community support and his recent acquisition by the Linux Foundation. The conversation also explores the balance between capitalism and ethical tech contributions, along with the mindset needed for startup founders. Lastly, Douglas discusses the exciting future of OpenSauced as it transitions into a community platform focused on developer experience.

The Shopify Winter 2025 Edition is out and it's Boring. Scott talks with Shopify VP of Product Development Glen Coates about the need to sometimes slow down and make software better...even if it's boring. Is it boring if it just works? If it's super reliable and does exactly what you want it to do? Glen breaks down how they do software at Shopify on this episode.https://www.shopify.com/editions/winter2025

Scott and Mo celebrate nearly 25 years of marriage, exploring their journey through cultural differences and the quirks of mixing backgrounds. They discuss the philosophy of Ubuntu, the importance of positive intentions in relationships, and the complexities of evolving parenthood as they face an empty nest. The conversation also touches on personal growth, the impact of AI on life choices, and the significance of giving back, all wrapped in humor and insightful tales from their lives.

Let's hear about .NET Aspire from a real-world practitioner! Anthony Simmon has been using .NET Aspire at as a Staff Software Developer at Workleap and he's been blogging his experiences and improvements! Let's talk to Anthony about what he likes and doesn't like about .NET Aspire and how it's making his multi-container development better on his local machines!https://anthonysimmon.com/ 

Dante Lex, CEO of OnboardBase and expert in secret management solutions, shares insights on navigating the complexities of secure data handling. He discusses the challenges startups face against established players like HashiCorp Vault, emphasizing user-centric design. The conversation covers the importance of password security, the innovative zero-knowledge protocol, and the need for automated secret management. Lex highlights SecureLog's role in preventing secret leakage and stresses the emotional toll of data breaches, advocating for seamless user experiences in security.