Podcast Awesome

SummaryWhat does it take to shoot a high-energy, humor-packed, visually delicious Font Awesome marketing video? A 12-hour day, a diner full of chaos, and a guy in a hot dog suit. In this episode, Matt chats with Jory and Isaac, two key players behind the Font Awesome 7 video, about the hilarious mishaps, creative choices, and ridiculous amounts of pancakes that went into bringing the video to life.They cover everything from why FA videos always feature food-themed settings to the art of keeping a cast of recurring characters (aka the Font Awesome Cinematic Universe). And yes, Easter eggs abound — including a cameo from FA co-founder Dave Gandy, cheers-ing a Stormtrooper, blue milk in hand. Plus, Isaac documented the whole process, creating FA’s first behind-the-scenes mini-documentary.Key Takeaways🔥 FA videos don’t follow the “no comedy in tech” rule — and that’s exactly why they work.🎬 From coffee shops to candy stores to diners, FA videos always have a warm, real-world setting (because a lab full of beakers? Snooze).🤝 The same cast keeps coming back — because the FA Cinematic Universe is a thing now.📹 The behind-the-scenes doc captures the chaos of shooting in one day —including an entire subplot about pancakes raining from the sky.🌭 A guy in a hot dog suit wore it all day. No, really. All day.👀 Hidden Easter eggs in the video include an inside joke about “changing the recipe” and a blue milk cheers from FA’s co-founder.Timestamps🎤 0:00:09 - Welcome to Podcast Awesome! Matt sets the stage for this episode, talking about the Font Awesome 7 video shoot, the team behind it, and why humor is baked into FA’s DNA.🎞️ 0:04:06 - The evolution of FA videos: From Kickstarter promos to a full-blown recurring cast — how FA has built a Cinematic Universe of its own.🍪 0:10:45 - The FA video playbook: Coffee shops, candy stores, and diners—why FA videos always happen in warm, real-world food settings instead of cold tech labs.🎭 0:18:05 - Bringing the band back together: How the same actors, crew, and production team keep the FA vibe consistent (and keep the jokes landing).📹 0:26:11 - Lights, camera, pancakes! Improv moments, VFX wizardry, and an actor in a hot dog suit — who refused to take it off all day.🎬 0:32:16 - The behind-the-scenes doc: For the first time ever, FA captured a full BTS look at a marketing shoot — outtakes, problem-solving, and late-day delirium included.🐣 0:35:31 - Easter eggs and inside jokes: Dave Gandy’s blue milk toast, a deep-cut Star Wars reference, and a menu full of hidden Font Awesome-specific gems.Links & Credits🎥 Watch the Font Awesome 7 video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmYXJGEyBXI🎬 Check out the Behind-the-Scenes Mini Doc: https://youtu.be/dlgLRcjkzMs?si=VMNAoRPF4di7-HmS🎵 Theme song by Ronnie Martin 🎛 Audio mastering by Chris Enns at Lemon Productions 🎤 Podcast production by Matt Johnson 🎥 Video production and behind-the-scenes doc by Isaac ChaseGot thoughts on the episode? Hit us up on social and let us know what your favorite moment was!Now go make something awesome. 🚀🎨Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!

Font Awesome 7 Here We Come! In this episode of Podcast Awesome, we’re serving up a heaping helping of new icons, fresh features, and ProPlus goodness with Font Awesome 7! Host Matt Johnson is joined by icon designers Jory Raphael and Noah Jacobus to break down what’s new — like seven all-new icon packs, a smoother-than-butter upgrade path, and under-the-hood improvements that make your icons sharper, faster, and slicker than ever.Is it too many icons? Maybe. Are we going to stop? Absolutely not.🎙️ Listen in as we talk about the design tweaks, ProPlus perks, and the iconic (heh) collabs that made Font Awesome 7 a reality. Plus, we drop some exclusive details on the biggest sale of the year!💥 Don’t miss out — hit play and then ... Go make something awesome.Timestamp Summary🌟 0:00 | Font Awesome 7 Launch: New Icons and Features Unveiled 🚀 3:37 | Font Awesome 7 Enhancements and New Pro Plus Icon Packs 🎨 9:24 | Icon Designers Unleash Creativity with Font Awesome Pro Packs 🌌 17:18 | Creative Icon Design Inspired by Silicon Valley and Cosmic Events 🧠 21:09 | Innovative Icon Design and Preparation for Launch ✏️ 24:00 | Creating Art with Thumbprint Drawings and Icon Packs 🧭 24:48 | Creative Exploration and Unique Icon Design Inspirations 🔍 29:17 | Exploring Icon Packs and Their Creative Development 📦 32:05 | Font Awesome 7 Launches With New Plans and Icon Packs 📣 34:57 | Font Awesome 7 Pro Plus Icon Packs and Marketing IdeasResources & Links🎶 The Podcast Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie Martin: https://ronniemartin.org/🎵 Music interstitials by Zach Malm: https://muzach.bandcamp.com/🎛️ Audio mastering by Chris Enns at Lemon Productions: https://www.lemonproductions.ca/ "After School Keyboard Club" https://pixabay.com/music/video-games-after-school-keyboard-club-casio-vl-tone-80s-chiptune-retro-151684/Font Awesome on the Socials🌤️ Bluesky: @fontawesome.com🐦 Twitter/X: @fontawesome📸 Instagram: @font.awesomeStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!

🎬 SummaryIn this Nerd Show & Tell episode of Podcast Awesome, we finally catch up with the one and only Isaac Chase — the wizard behind our ever-growing library of video content at Font Awesome. From his early dreams of making it in film and television to becoming a full-time creator on our team, Isaac shares about the challenges of starting in the film industry during the COVID era, storytelling in marketing, and more.We chat about his background in film and marketing, his favorite movies (slow burns, unite!), creative influences, and how his love for storytelling finds a home even in screencasts and product walkthroughs. Plus, Isaac drops his hot take on the next big icon pack idea (we're looking at you, Severance fans 👀).🧠 Key Takeaways🎓 College Grad, Creative Dad Connection Isaac studied digital film and TV production at Missouri State University and joined Font Awesome part-time during the industry-wide writer/actor strikes — eventually going full-time thanks to a well-timed offer (shoutout to Travis Chase, a.k.a. Isaac’s real-life dad).🎥 From Film Sets to Screencasts His deep love for film — especially slow-paced, thoughtful stories like The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Past Lives, and Arrival — translates into his thoughtful, user-focused approach to content creation at FA.📼 Video, Video, Video! Isaac helped launch our video podcast format and has been leading the charge on screencasts, animations, and behind-the-scenes storytelling (more to come on that, soon!)  🎬💻 Learning on the Job = Built-in Bonus Despite not having a dev or design background, Isaac's learned loads about accessibility, UI, and component-based design just by working on educational content — and he's loving every minute of it.🧃 Favorite Icon? The cup-to-go ☕ icon has a special place in his heart (because coffee + nostalgia), and he’s got a soft spot for our teleportation icon too. ✨🎨 Design Nerd in the Making Outside work, Isaac’s nerding out on graphic design, especially in music merch and poster art. He’s diving into the visual side of music culture — and working with musician friends on their branding.⏱️ Chapter Markers🟡 00:00 – Introduction to Podcast Awesome 🎥 01:13 – Isaac’s role at FA and current projects 🎓 03:21 – Isaac’s background in film, college, and the writer's strike 🛠️ 09:12 – From film school to corporate creativity 🍿 11:22 – Favorite movies and the magic of slow storytelling 🎞️ 16:46 – How filmmaking skills shape his current work 📺 22:55 – Screencasts, branding, and learning to teach 🎨 29:43 – Nerding out on design, music merch, and FA icons 📦 32:33 – Isaac’s icon wish list (hello, Severance pack!) 🎉 44:00 – Wrap-up and thank-yousProduced and edited by Matt Johnson Edited by Isaac Chase Theme Music by Ronnie Martin Interstitials by Zach Malm Mastering by Chris Enns at Lemon Productions 🍋Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!

Episode SummaryWhat makes design hard? It’s not just pixels, software, or tools — it’s people. (Yep, you. And me. And all of us.) In this episode, I sit down with my friend Bryan Zug, co-author (along with Scott Berkun), of the book, Why Design is Hard, to talk about why good design is more than just good ideas — it’s about relationships, collaboration, and the messy, sometimes painful reality of working on creative teams.Bryan was there in the early days of the web, hacking together sites before CSS was even a thing. He’s built products, led UX teams, and helped companies like Amazon and Zillow figure out how to make design work at scale. But more than that, he’s a community builder, the kind of guy who started hosting backyard firepits during COVID just to keep people connected.I’ll be honest — this conversation was brutal to edit because Bryan has so much insight to share. If you’ve ever struggled with design bottlenecks, team dynamics, or just getting your ideas off the ground, this one’s for you.What We Cover in This Episode💡 Why great design is really about great relationships 🎨 How designers can avoid getting stuck in “artifact culture”  💻 What designers actually do in the real world  📖 How storytelling can make or break your influence as a designer 🤝 The secret sauce to making cross-functional teams actually function 🦄 Why the lone “unicorn designer” era is over — and what comes next *Factually accuracy check at playback: Bryan informed me he misspoke at 7:11 when he said he was at Amazon when the pandemic hit — I was actually Zillow. NBD. Audio not edited. ⏳ Timestamps⏲️ [00:00] Intro – A Conversation Years in the Making⏲️ [02:15] The Big Idea: Why Design is Hard⏲️ [08:40] The Myth of the “Design Hero”⏲️ [14:25] Why Design Decisions Happen in Budget Meetings⏲️ [19:30] The Red Flags of a Company That Doesn’t Truly Value Design⏲️ [25:10] The #1 Skill Designers Need (Hint: It’s Not Figma)⏲️ [30:50] What Ignite Seattle Taught Bryan About Telling Better Stories⏲️ [35:15] Outro – Why You Need to Read Why Design is HardLinks & Resources📖 Grab a copy of Why Design is HardLearn more about the co-author, Scott Berkun: https://scottberkun.com/ 🔗 Connect with Bryan Zug: @bryanzug.bsky.social 🎶 The Podcast Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie Martin: https://ronniemartin.org/🎵 Music interstitials by Zach Malm: https://muzach.bandcamp.com/🎛️ Audio mastering by Chris Enns at Lemon Productions: https://www.lemonproductions.ca/ "Retro Race" https://pixabay.com/music/video-games-retrorace-108750/Font Awesome on the Socials🌤️ Bluesky: @fontawesome.com🐦 Twitter/X: @fontawesome📸 Instagram: @font.awesomeStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!

Design engineer. UX engineer. Front-end dev with opinions. What does it all mean?! In this episode, we sit down with Dave Darnes to untangle the ever-evolving world of design and development (And Dave is our first non-Font Awesomer on the pod!). We talk about why job titles keep getting weirder, whether "engineer" is a fair title for folks who work on the web, and how design systems can bridge the gap between teams. Plus, we explore the future of the role — will tools like Figma and AI replace design engineers, or will the internet always need humans who can actually build things?🚀 Tune in for a fun, insightful, and slightly existential conversation about the intersection of design, dev, and the titles we give ourselves.🏆 Key TakeawaysDesign Engineer: Job Title or Existential Crisis? Dave breaks down the blurry line between design and development and why this role exists.Gatekeeping vs. Open Web: How the internet has democratized career paths—and why some job titles might be a shield against skepticism.The Future of Design & Dev: Will tools like Figma and AI squeeze out design engineers, or is there always a place for people who build with craft?Design Systems & Developer Relations: Why advocacy (not nagging) makes or breaks adoption.Rockstar/Ninja/Unicorn Titles: Just ... don’t.⏱️ Episode Breakdown🕛 00:00 - Meet Dave Darnes – 🇬🇧 UK-based designer/developer, father of sick children (but still here for the podcast).🎤 02:30 - The Legendary "David Darnes" Callout – A completely necessary and extremely fun moment of podcast magic.🛠️ 06:45 - What is a Design Engineer Anyway? –  The Venn diagram of design and development overlaps in weird ways.📛 12:15 - Why Job Titles Get Messy –  Specialization vs. generalization and the need to impress hiring managers.🏗️ 18:30 - Engineer as a Title — Does It Matter? –  Structural engineers hold up buildings; do web engineers hold up the internet? (Kinda, yeah.)🔄 24:00 - The Evolution of Design & Dev Roles –  How web components, CSS variables, and other tech are shifting expectations.🥕 30:45 - How to Get People to Actually Use a Design System –  Hint: Be more carrot, less stick.🤖 35:00 - The Battle Between Figma & AI –  Will design engineers survive the encroaching automation?🔄 40:30 - If You Had to Rename 'Design Engineer'... – Dave's answer is almost annoyingly simple.🔗 Resources & LinksCheck out Dave’s work: https://darn.es/His blog on design systems: designsystems.wtfIs 2025 the Year of the "Design Engineer"? Submit your own “David Darnes” callout on his website (seriously, do it).🎶 The Podcast Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie Martin: https://ronniemartin.org/🎵 Music interstitials by Zach Malm: https://muzach.bandcamp.com/🎛️ Audio mastering by Chris Enns at Lemon Productions: https://www.lemonproductions.ca/ "After School Keyboard Club" https://pixabay.com/music/video-games-after-school-keyboard-club-casio-vl-tone-80s-chiptune-retro-151684/Font Awesome on the Socials🌤️ Bluesky: @fontawesome.com🐦 Twitter/X: @fontawesome📸 Instagram: @font.awesomeStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!

In this episode, Dave and Matt explore First LEGO League, where kids as young as third grade tackle robotics and engineering challenges. As a coach, Dave shares how he guides his team to embrace the golden rule of engineering: Keep it simple, keep it sturdy.Listeners will learn how to spot the difference between over-the-top complexity and straightforward solutions that just work. Practical beats fancy almost every time.Dave also shares how his time at MIT taught him that simplicity is the secret sauce of reliable design. His mantra “Boring is Best™” takes center stage as he unpacks how choosing functional, dependable solutions often leads to bigger wins.But this isn’t just about gears and sensors — it’s about the people behind the bots. Coaching young engineers shines a light on the ultimate truth: Good engineering is all about putting people first.Key Takeaways:LEGO League 101: Where third graders gear up to build and program robots like tiny pros.Simple Wins: In engineering, simple and sturdy beats flashy but fragile every time.Dave's MIT Mantra: Inspired by his alma mater, Dave champions practical, reliable solutions.Power of Basics: Stick to the fundamentals, and you’ll go further than you think.Test, Tweak, Repeat: Early testing and iteration > chasing perfection out of the gate.This episode is proof that when it comes to engineering (and life), keeping it simple doesn’t just work — it wins.Timestamp🧩 0:32 – Coaching Kids in Engineering Through First LEGO League ⚖️ 5:31 – Balancing Simplicity and Creativity in Engineering Solutions 🤖 8:02 – Simplifying LEGO Robotics: Achieving Success Through Minimalism 🤿 10:54 – Innovative Solutions for Underwater Exploration Challenges 🏆 12:38 – Boring Solutions Win Engineering Competitions 🚀 15:45 – Balancing Innovation with Customer Needs in Tech Startups 🔄 17:35 – Embracing Iteration and Accepting Being Wrong for Faster Success 🛠️ 20:01 – Embracing Simplicity and Iteration in Product DevelopmentResources:Font Awesome: https://fontawesome.com/The Font Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie MartinAudio mastering by Chris Enns and Lemon ProductionsAurora Holiday DanceFont Awesome on the SocialsFirst LEGO League🌤️ Bluesky: @fontawesome.com🐦 Twitter/X: @fontawesome📸 Instagram: @font.awesome💼 LinkedIn:   / fontawesome   Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!

It’s finally happening! In this episode of Podcast Awesome, we sit down with Lea Verou to talk about all things usability, web standards, and her journey into tech. From childhood tinkering with imaginary product ads to shaping the future of CSS and web development, Lea has done ... a lot!You’ll hear about her work at MIT, her time on the W3C TAG, and what led her to join Font Awesome as Product Lead. Plus, we get into the finer points of her experience as a hardcore food blogger, and why Greek food just doesn’t do it for her anymore. Oh, and did we mention she may have been the first person to use an icon font on the web?Tune in for an insightful, nerdy, and entertaining deep dive into Lea’s world.Timestamp Summary🎙️ 0:01 | Welcome Lea Verou: The One We Finally Tracked Down 🤗 2:11 | Font Awesome’s Biannual Snuggle: Cozy or Creepy? 💡 3:28 | Lea’s Journey into Tech: The Love of Building Useful Things 💻 5:04 | From Visual Basic to Web Development: The Magic of the Web 🌍 8:49 | Web Standards & Lea’s Role in W3C’s TAG 🖍️ 12:31 | CSS Wizardry: The Inline If Function and Design Tokens 🛠️ 13:53 | How Font Awesome and Lea Crossed Paths 🔍 17:28 | The Truth About Font Awesome’s Licensing Model 🚀 18:18 | What Lea’s Working on at Font Awesome (Hint: Usability FTW) 👥 20:11 | Nerds Who Like People: The Importance of Human-Centric Design 🍜 25:52 | Lea’s Love for Cooking, Food Blogging, and Spicy Delights 🇬🇷 37:19 | Greek Food? Meh. Let’s Talk Global Cuisine 🥩 40:11 | The Steak That Changed Lea’s Life 🔥 42:02 | Favorite Font Awesome Icons? Dumpster Fire & Poo Storm, Obviously 🌐 43:34 | Where to Find Lea Online (Spoiler: Not on MySpace)Font Awesome: https://fontawesome.com/The Font Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie Martin Audio mastering by Chris Enns and Lemon ProductionsFont Awesome on the Socials🌤️ Bluesky: @fontawesome.com 🐦 Twitter/X: @fontawesome 📸 Instagram: @font.awesome 💼 LinkedIn: /fontawesome🖥️ Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more nerdery, tech insights, and fun!Lea on the socials! 🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/LeaVerou🌤️ Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/lea.verou.meStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!

It’s that time of year again! In this episode of Podcast Awesome, we’re reflecting on all the things that went down at Font Awesome in 2024. From expanding the Awesomeverse with Web Awesome and Eleventy to major product updates like the full release of Duotone Icons and shiny new branding, we cover it all.You’ll hear about the Web Awesome Kickstarter campaign (success!), the arrival of industry legends Lea Verou and Zach Leatherman, and the behind-the-scenes Font Awesome updates that made 2024 one for the books. As they say. Oh, and don’t miss Jory’s epic tale of a tuxedo kitten named Toast that could easily inspire a heart warming stop motion holiday movie.Tune in for a fun, nerdy recap of the year that was and a sneak peek at what’s in store for 2025.Timestamp Summary🎉 0:08 | Reflecting on 2024 and Font Awesome's Upcoming Plans 🐾 2:35 | A Christmas Miracle and a Chaotic Kitten Rescue 🌌 7:26 | Building the Awesomeverse: Font Awesome's Expansion and Success 🔧 10:28 | Web Awesome Simplifies Website Building with Reusable Components 🤝 13:12 | Exciting New Hires and Developments at Font Awesome 🎁 16:41 | Exciting Updates and Offers for Font Awesome Pro ✨ 18:51 | Font Awesome's Icon Expansion and Creative Uses 🎥 25:07 | Behind the Scenes of a New Font Awesome Video 🛠️ 27:57 | Customizing Font Awesome Kits for Optimal Website Performance 🌱 30:12 | Evolution ... It'll Save Your Life Font Awesome: https://fontawesome.com/The Font Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie MartinAudio mastering by Chris Enns and Lemon ProductionsAurora Holiday Dance Font Awesome on the Socials 🌤️ Bluesky: @fontawesome.com🐦 Twitter/X: @fontawesome📸 Instagram: @font.awesome💼 LinkedIn:   / fontawesome   🖥️ Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more nerdery, tech insights, and fun!Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!

🍺 What’s the deal with the Ballmer Peak? Myth, meme, or just good old-fashioned developer humor? In this episode of Podcast Awesome, we unpack the hilarity and history behind this coding legend, complete with personal stories, team insights, and a responsible PSA. Whether you’re debugging at 3 a.m. or just love a good laugh, this episode has something for everyone. (And check out the episode on our YouTube for an even more fun! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qb77NS_zFgQ)🍻 0:00 - Introduction to Ballmer's Peak  💡 1:31 - What Is Ballmer's Peak?  🎉 3:13 - Ballmer's Peak at Font Awesome Snuggle  ⚡ 5:15 - Steve Ballmer and Developer Energy  🚀 7:07 - Achieving Peak Developer Performance  🎶 8:32 - Real Developer Strategies for Peak Performance  🔬 9:06 - DIY Breathalyzer and Exploring Ballmer's Peak  🎬 10:23 - Conclusion and Credits  Font Awesome: https://fontawesome.com/The Font Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie MartinAudio mastering by Chris Enns and Lemon Productions Font Awesome on Social  🌤️ Bluesky: @fontawesome.com 🐦 Twitter/X: @fontawesome 📸 Instagram: @font.awesome💼 LinkedIn:   / fontawesome   🖥️ Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more nerdery, tech insights, and fun!Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!

In this episode of Podcast Awesome, Matt chats with Font Awesome co-founder Dave Gandy about building a workplace that doesn’t just work — but works for everyone. Whether you’re hustling in a startup, navigating open-source communities, or just trying to figure out if your boss actually values your humanity, this one’s for you.  Dave dishes on the magic of finding the right co-founder (hint: they need to tell you when you're off your rocker), why open-source is about more than just writing code, and how empathy might just be the ultimate leadership hack.  So, if you’re dreaming of cultivating a positive work culture — or just want to avoid soul-sucking jobs — this episode is for you. Timestamp Summary 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 0:15 | Finding Balance and Empathy in Co-Founder Relationships  🏢 6:04 | Finding a Workplace That Values Employees as Human Beings  🌐 14:56 | The Value of Empathy and Community in Open Source  💡 19:29 | Empathy and Leadership: Building Teams That Care  🎙️ 24:27 | Behind the Scenes of Podcast Awesome Production   Key Takeaways:  The Co-Founder Code: Pick a partner who balances your strengths and isn’t afraid to call out your crazy ideas (yes, you have them).  Open Source Awesomeness: It’s not just about profit—it’s about passion, collaboration, and making something bigger than yourself.  Empathy is Everything: Forget power suits; your best leadership tool is actually understanding your team.  Work-Life Reality Check: When scouting a new job, look for a place that respects *you*, not just what you produce.  Leadership Done Right: The best managers focus on building teams that are better than them at what matters most.  Notable Quotes:  💡 “You need someone next to you that’s going to tell you when you’re crazy—or not—and that is of *such* extreme value.”  💖 “Empathy is your qualification for leadership.”  🚀 “Management is more about how you inspire and execute, not just delivering outcomes.”  🏆 “The best managers hire people who are better than them at the job that needs to be done.”  🌟 “You call it a lifestyle company like it’s a bad thing. Spoiler: every company is a lifestyle.”  Resources:  🎨 Font Awesome: FontAwesome.com  🐦 Twitter: @fontawesome 📸 Instagram: @font.awesome 🌌 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fontawesome.com 🎶 The Podcast Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie Martin: https://ronniemartin.org/ 🎵 Music interstitials by Zach Malm: https://muzach.bandcamp.com/ 🎛️ Audio mastering by Chris Enns at Lemon Productions: https://www.lemonproductions.ca/ Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!