The freeCodeCamp Podcast

Santosh Yadav, an accomplished software engineer and tech communicator from Mumbai, shares his inspiring journey from humble beginnings to becoming a Google Developer Expert and Microsoft MVP. He discusses how to get promoted as an Individual Contributor without becoming a manager and emphasizes the importance of networking early in one's career. Santosh also delves into the challenges of transitioning back to coding after management and how to thrive in remote work culture, especially contrasting experiences in India and Europe. His story is a testament to resilience and adaptability.

In this engaging discussion, Jason Lengstorf, a 22-year software veteran and creator of CodeTV, dives deep into the evolving developer landscape. He addresses the misconceptions surrounding AI's impact, revealing how many leaders overestimated its role. Jason offers strategies for navigating the job market, emphasizing networking and human connection as vital. He critiques the hype around AI, underlining its use as a productivity tool rather than a replacement. With insights on community building and creativity, he encourages developers to embrace collaboration and cross-disciplinary exploration.

Kunal Kushwaha is a software engineer and passionate educator known for his YouTube tutorials and for founding the WeMakeDevs community. He shares his journey of self-learning after failing the JEE twice, emphasizing the importance of open source contributions over traditional lectures. Kunal discusses his role as a field CTO at Civo, his transition to the UK on a Global Talent Visa, and how he developed hands-on learning skills in tech. His insights shed light on reshaping education and exploring new opportunities in the tech ecosystem.

Andrea Griffiths, a self-taught programmer and Developer Advocate at GitHub, shares her transformative journey from construction to tech. She discusses the importance of critical thinking in an AI-driven world and offers practical tips for busy parents wanting to learn new skills. Andrea emphasizes breaking problems into chunks and the value of foundational knowledge. She also reflects on her experiences in the U.S. Army and running gyms, advising listeners to embrace humility and curiosity in their career paths.

Alison Co and Cindy Cui, talented software engineering students and hackathon winners, discuss their project BrailleLearn, which helps visually impaired individuals learn Braille. They share insights on the challenges of low literacy rates and the importance of accessible tools. The duo dives into the role of AI in their development process, stressing its limitations while emphasizing hands-on learning. They also reflect on securing internships, the value of teamwork, and their experiences at GitHub Universe, revealing how collaboration can spark innovative solutions.

David J. Malan, a Harvard computer science professor and instructor of the popular CS50 course, shares his insights on learning programming. He explains why he still advocates for mastering the C language in today's tech landscape. Malan discusses the value of fundamental concepts like data structures, even as AI evolves. He encourages adaptive learning environments and innovative teaching methods, such as theatrical demonstrations, to enrich understanding. Emphasizing exploration over rushing mastery, he argues for a more immersive and relaxed approach to education.

Abbey Perini, a self-taught developer who embarked on her programming journey at 27 after working in recruitment, shares valuable insights. She discusses tackling large legacy codebases and highlights tips for onboarding junior developers. Abbey reveals how her late ADHD diagnosis reshaped her work habits and productivity strategies, emphasizing the importance of flexibility and creativity drawn from her hobbies like knitting and cosplay. Her spirited take on interview follow-ups and networking adds a refreshing perspective for job seekers.

Patrick Hartley, a self-taught developer with nearly a decade of experience, shares his journey from college dropout to founding engineer. He turned down a job with Amazon to prioritize his family's needs. The discussion covers self-teaching programming while raising kids, networking as an introvert, and the evolving landscape of remote work. Patrick emphasizes the importance of soft skills over pure technical prowess for job readiness and offers insights on finding the right job fit and managing productivity in meetings.

Eric Carlson, a self-taught software engineer at Cisco, shares his inspiring journey from teacher to developer at 45. He discusses mastering programming while raising kids and emphasizes just-in-time learning. Eric describes how he transitioned to backend work by volunteering and taking on projects that saved his company thousands. He also offers tips on building mental stamina for coding and the importance of note-taking for retention. Tune in for insights on pivoting careers and embracing new technologies, like AI, in the tech world!

Kaleb Garner is a self-taught software engineer and former college baseball player whose career was derailed by a knee injury. He shares his surprising journey from sports to tech, discovering programming through resources like freeCodeCamp and the 100Devs community. Kaleb discusses the challenges of job hunting after a layoff, emphasizing the importance of targeted applications and community support. He also highlights lessons on overcoming imposter syndrome and the benefits of community college for aspiring developers, offering valuable insights for anyone looking to break into tech.