Podcast Awesome

Ready to geek out? In this episode of Podcast Awesome's Nerd Show and Tell, Matt sits down with none other than Zach Leatherman, the tech dynamo and creator behind Eleventy — the static site generator that’s got web devs buzzing. Zach’s tech-world experience is a wild ride of innovation, grit, and love for the open web. With a little help from our team here at Font Awesome, Zach’s pushing to make open-source sustainable and bring back the glory days of personal websites, free from algorithm overlords.Zach gets real about the rollercoaster ride of building Eleventy and why owning your corner of the internet is more important than ever. Expect some hot takes on the tech industry, social media, and how platforms like Eleventy could just be the ticket to a new wave of web independence. Plus, you’ll get a peek into the collaborative brainpower with our founders Dave and Travis backing Zach’s mission. Hold onto your icons — this one’s packed!Key Takeaways:Eleventy: Zach’s creation was inspired by Jekyll, but it’s packed with unique features — no messy databases or plugins here! Simple, secure, and seriously impressive.Sustainable Open Source: Zach’s career shines a light on the need for open-source projects to be sustainable, allowing devs to thrive without burning out.Browser Dev Tools Love: Remember Firebug? Zach does. He spills on how these tools have shaped modern web development practices.Indie Web Comeback: Forget the social media maze. Zach’s all about owning your digital real estate, championing a return to independent web publishing.Font Awesome Collab: It’s a team effort! With the support of our founders and a shared mission, we’re backing Zach and Eleventy for a brighter, algorithm-free web future.Timestamp Summary  🚀 0:00 | Zach Leatherman Discusses Eleventy and Open Source Challenges  💸 1:59 | Navigating the Challenges of Open Source Project Funding  ⚖️ 13:04 | Balancing Open Source Passion with Sustainable Business Models  🌟 20:15 | The Joy of Building Websites and Creative Storytelling  🧻 25:26 | Debating the Proper Way to Hang Toilet Paper  🌌 26:27 | Eleventy's Future and Integration into the Awesome Universe  Links and Resources:Twitter: @fontawesomeInstagram: @font.awesomeEleventy DocumentationZach Leatherman on GitHubCredits:Theme music 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!

🎙 In this episode, Font Awesome founder Dave Gandy joins our host Matt Johnson for an honest, unfiltered convo about what it means to build a *lifestyle company* (and wear that badge proudly 💪). This isn’t your typical startup hustle. We’re diving into the “people-first” culture that makes Font Awesome a standout, from character-driven hiring to redefining what success means beyond growth on charts and graphs. 🏆💼As Dave says, instead of climbing someone else’s ladder, Font Awesome is building its own way up, with purpose, transparency, and some solid work-life balance goals. Here’s why we believe that putting *people* over profit isn’t just good business — it’s just the way the work should be. 🌱💼  🔑 Key Takeaways:Lifestyle Company, Proudly: We’re embracing the “lifestyle” label, focusing on growth, happiness, and well-being over sky-high returns. 📈💆‍♂️Character > Skills: At Font Awesome, character-first hiring = trust, respect, and people who actually *want* to stick around. 🫶✨ VC Vibes Not Required: Font Awesome skips the “thousand-X-or-bust” mentality for a sustainable, fulfilling work culture. 👋💸  Life Outside Work Matters: The best parts of life are outside the office—so why not bring those values in? 🏠🌅 The Right Partner in Crime: Success means finding a partner who balances your quirks. 👯‍♂️ The perfect co-founder is a friend, critic, and cheerleader rolled into one.Timestamp Summary0:12 | 🌱 Building a Lifestyle Company Focused on Well-Being and Growth  6:52 | 💼 Creating a People-First Company Against Conventional Practices  12:04 | 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Human-Centric Product Design and Company Culture  15:59 | 🤝 The Importance of Balanced Partnerships in Business  20:38 | 🫶 Embracing a People-First Culture at Font AwesomeLinks and Resources:Podcast Awesome: https://www.podcastawesome.com/Font Awesome Hiring Philosophy: https://blog.fontawesome.com/company-culture/Twitter: @fontawesomeCredits:Theme music 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!

In this edition of Podcast Awesome, Matt sits down with Font Awesome founder, Dave Gandy, at the 2024 Snuggle in Bentonville, Arkansas. Between karaoke sessions and Hoobastank choruses (blame Ed), Matt and Dave discuss a topic on a lot of minds lately: How do you build a company where people actually want to stick around?With a tech industry average of just 18 months at a job, Font Awesome breaks the mold — no one has left in over 10 years. Dave and Matt dive into Font Awesome’s  hiring philosophy, the importance of building a people-first culture, and how giving employees autonomy and treating them like adults might just be the magic recipe for success. Key Takeaways:Loyalty Beyond the Paycheck: At Font Awesome, it’s about treating people as humans first — loyalty comes from loyalty. Simple, right?Hire for Character: Skills are important, but character and culture fit are what truly makes a team thrive.Autonomy Matters: Give people the freedom to make decisions, and watch creativity and innovation skyrocket.It’s Not Just Business: A company’s culture is built on everything someone brings from outside of work, not just the hours they log in the office.Timestamp Breakdown:0:05 | 🎤 Welcome to the Snuggle: Karaoke, Game Nights, & Company Culture2:30 | 🏢 The Importance of Building a People-First Culture in Tech6:45 | 🧠 How Loyalty and Trust are Built When You Hire for Character11:10 | 👨‍💻 Autonomy is Key: Why Giving Employees Freedom is Essential15:55 | 💡 Solving Problems vs. Solving Interesting Problems: Finding the Balance21:30 | 🚀 How Font Awesome Created a Company People Want to Stick WithLinks and Resources:Podcast Awesome: https://www.podcastawesome.com/Font Awesome Hiring Philosophy: https://blog.fontawesome.com/company-culture/Twitter: @fontawesomeCredits:Theme music by Ronnie Martin: https://ronniemartin.org/Audio mastering by Chris Enns at Lemon Productions: https://www.lemonproductions.ca/Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!

Dive into the evolution of web icons, from the pixelated past of Geocities to the sleek era of web fonts and SVGs. Discover how web fonts transformed performance on retina screens while SVGs brought unparalleled flexibility and crispness. The discussion tackles the pros and cons of each, emphasizing accessibility and user experience. Plus, learn about Font Awesome Kits as a tool for optimizing your icon choices. Ultimately, the decision between web fonts and SVGs hinges on your project's unique needs.

💩⚡️ Hold onto your butts, folks, because this episode of Behind the Icon on Podcast Awesome is about to get ...  messy! We’re diving headfirst into the iconic history of one of Font Awesome’s quirkiest creations — the Poo-Storm icon. But if not for the creation of a stinker of a particular emoji, the poo-storm icon may never have come to fruition. It all starts with the legendary rise of the poo emoji, a cultural masterpiece that has made its way into countless texts, memes, and conversations (whether you admit it or not). 💬This episode is packed with everything you never knew you needed to know about emoji and icons, including a hilarious behind-the-scenes look at how Jory Raphael, Font Awesome’s own Icon Making Boss, got an icon mash-up idea. From the humble beginnings of the cloud icon to its thunderous twist into a storm of poo, Jory breaks it all down with plenty of laughs and middle-school humor. ✨💩And yes, "icon creation", "poo emoji origin", and "Font Awesome magic" are the real stars here. Whether you're a design nerd or just here to catch a case of the goofballs, this episode is sure to entertain. 💥Key Takeaways:💩 The history of the poo emoji dates back to the late '90s in Japan 🇯🇵, thanks to Shigetaka Kurita, who basically invented emoji communication as we know it.⚡️ And when boredom and eye-crossing monotony set in on a particularly long day of icon design, Jory Raphael mashed up the poo emoji into something even more fun — thus the Poo-Storm icon was born. 💡 Humor + design is the name of the game at Font Awesome!🌍 Thanks to the Unicode Consortium, the poo emoji officially went global in 2010, becoming the symbol for all things cheeky and lighthearted in digital communication.🎨 Font Awesome’s philosophy? Playful design with a side of absurdity — the Poo Storm icon embodies this perfectly.🚽 Pro tip: The Poo Storm icon isn’t just for giggles — it’s been spotted in the wild at a plumbing company, proving even the weirdest icons have a purpose!Timestamp:0:09 - The Evolution and Cultural Impact of the Poop Emoji 💩4:58 - The Creation of the Poo Storm Icon ⚡️8:04 - The Perfect Use of a Fun Icon 🚽10:20 - Clever Use of Poo Storm Icon on a Home Inspections Website 🏠12:26 - Awesome Theme Song and Video Editing Credits 🎶Notes:💡 Shigetaka Kurita: https://emojipedia.org/shigetaka-kurita/ 🔤 Unicode Consortium: https://unicode.org  💩 The Poo-storm Icon: https://fontawesome.com/icons/poo-storm?f=classic&s=solid  🏠 ROI Home Inspections: https://roihomeinspections.com/ 🎨 Font Awesome: https://fontawesome.com  🐦 Twitter: @fontawesome: https://twitter.com/fontawesome  📸 Instagram: @font.awesome: https://www.instagram.com/font.awesome 💬 Threads: @font.awesome https://www.threads.net/@font.awesome  💼 LinkedIn: Font Awesome: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fontawesome  🎶 The Podcast Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie Martin: https://ronniemartin.org/Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!

In this headbanging episode of Podcast Awesome, we explore the story behind the devil horns gesture—an iconic symbol in the world of heavy metal. 🤘 From its origins in ancient superstitions to its popularization by metal legend Ronnie James Dio, this gesture has a history as rich as the riffs that accompany it. We also chat with Font Awesome’s own Jory Raphael, the creative mind behind the hand horns icon, to get an inside look at how this powerful symbol became part of the Font Awesome library. Whether you're a metalhead or just love a good story, this episode is a must-listen! 🎸🕒 Timestamps: ⏳ 00:09 - Heavy Metal and Visual Cues🤘 00:35 - The Double Horns Hand Gesture🧙‍♂️ 02:08 - Origin of the Devil Horns Gesture🎤 02:49 - Ronnie James Dio and the Devil Horns🧿 05:11 - The Evil Eye and Cultural Connections🤟 06:56 - The Devil Horns as a Metalhead Salute🎨 07:41 - The Creation of the Hand Horns Icon🚀 09:56 - Call to Action for Font Awesome Community🎧 12:36 - Credits and Closing Remarks#DevilHorns #HeavyMetal #PodcastAwesome #IconDesign #MetalCulture #RonnieJamesDioPodcast Awesome: https://www.podcastawesome.com/Hand Horns Icon: https://fontawesome.com/icons/hand-hornsFont Awesome Pro: Ready to rock? Level up with Font Awesome Pro! https://fontawesome.com/plansTwitter: @fontawesomeThe Podcast Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie Martin: https://ronniemartin.org/Audio mastering by Chris Enns at Lemon Productions: https://www.lemonproductions.ca/Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!

Ever wondered how a chaotic meme turns into a cultural icon? Dive into the quirky origins of the 'dumpster fire' phrase, starting from a 2003 movie review to its viral GIF fame. Discover the story behind its design for Font Awesome and how it mirrors today's absurd situations. With amusing anecdotes from the creators, the icon's relevance in politics is discussed, alongside its whimsical journey that embraces humor in tough times. Tune in for a fun exploration of internet history!

The Story Behind the Mullet Icon: Celebrating an Enduring Cultural Symbol 🎬 Join us as we delve into the resilient history of the mullet, from its uncertain origins to its pop culture prominence in the '80s and '90s. 🎸 Learn about the creation of Font Awesome's 'User Mullet' icon and enjoy entertaining stories from team members who sported mullets. ✂️ Discover the evolution of this iconic hairstyle and how it has shaped popular culture over the decades.🕒 Timestamps:⏳ 00:00 The Enduring Legacy of the Mullet  👋 00:55 Introduction to the Series  📜 01:24 Historical Origins of the Mullet  🎤 02:19 Cultural Impact and Popularity  📚 03:17 Etymology and Alternative Names  🔄 05:13 The Mullet's Modern Resurgence  🖌️ 05:35 Creating the Mullet Icon  🎨 06:10 Design Insights from Jory Raphael  🎉 08:47 Personal Mullet Stories  🙌 15:57 Conclusion and Community Engagement#MulletMadness #FontAwesome #IconicStyles #PopCulture #MulletIconPodcast Awesome: https://www.podcastawesome.com/User-hair-mullet icon: https://fontawesome.com/search?q=user%20hair%20mullet&o=rTwitter: @fontawesomeThe Font Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie MartinAudio mastering by Chris Enns and Lemon ProductionsStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!

In this deep dive into the creation of Font Awesome's Sharp Icon Set, designers Jory and Noah share the behind-the-scenes story of transforming a casual idea into a reality. Jory recounts the unplanned inception of the Sharp Icon Set, initially just a bullet point on a whiteboard that evolved into a full-fledged project due to a promotional video. The discussion sheds light on the challenges they faced, such as maintaining consistency with the existing icon grid sizes and artboard constraints, while exploring the potential for new design directions in the future. Noah elaborates on his journey from Figma advocate to a pivotal member of the Font Awesome team, charged with defining the rules and styling for a sharp rendition of their iconic set.Timestamp Summary | 0:01:04  | The idea of Sharp icons accidentally made it into a video. | 0:02:01  | Sharp icons originated during a brainstorming session. | 0:03:31  | The concept of sharp icons was included in the version six video. | 0:04:09  | We'd committed ourselves to Sharp icons, and Noah was hired to help. | 0:06:26  | Noah played a significant role in designing the Sharp icons. | 0:07:47  | Noah initially declined to help, but eventually joined the team. | 0:09:44  | Jory worked on the Sharp icons while quarantined with COVID. | 0:10:53  | Matt and Noah collaborated on copy and graphics for the Sharp icons. | 0:11:47  | The main challenge was adapting the icons to a different grid size. | 0:12:20  | The challenges of maintaining consistency between icon families. | 0:12:50  | Making design choices to ensure compatibility with existing designs. | 0:13:33  | The challenges of showcasing different icon families on the website. | 0:14:18  | Updating icon search to include references to Sharp & Classic styles. | 0:15:03  | Jory and Matt discuss the user-friendly design of the icon search tool. | 0:15:26  | The complexity of managing a large number of icons and styles. | 0:16:22  | How Noah got involved with the Sharp project and his initial work. | 0:18:22  | Noah and Jory's collaboration on a Figma event. | 0:19:22  | Noah explains how he joined the Sharp project. | 0:20:36  | Noah discusses the challenges of creating Sharp icons. | 0:21:24  | The visual density between rounded and sharp corners in icons. | 0:22:39  | Establishing constraints for the Sharp icon set. | 0:25:11  | Using Sharp icon sets and their suitability for different types of UI. | 0:26:37  | Sharp icons work well with stark and geometric typefaces. | 0:27:51  | Sharp icons may be suitable for fintech and professional themes. | 0:28:16  | The difference between icon families and styles in Font Awesome. | 0:30:38  | Choosing the right icon weight based on the legibility required. | 0:32:23  | New icons based on a mathematical shape called the super ellipse. | 0:32:51  | Good design should go unnoticed and guide the user intuitively.Show NotesFont Awesome: Font Awesome WebsiteTwitter: @fontawesomeThe Font Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie MartinAudio mastering by Chris Enns and Lemon ProductionsStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!

Dive into the wild world of web development with the Web Awesome team! Listen as Matt, Lindsay, and the (podcast) elusive Corey dish about their successful Kickstarter, the alpha launch of Web Awesome, and the exciting future of web components. You'll get the inside scoop on their perfectionist struggles, theming API adventures, and how they're revolutionizing the way teams collaborate. Plus, bonus cat cameos!Timestamp Summary | 0:10  | Web Awesome Alpha Launch and Team Reflections | 3:22  | Redesigning Theming API for Web Awesome's Alpha Release | 9:22  | Challenges in Developing Complex UI Components | 10:49  | Building Web Awesome: From Open Source to Paid Product | 15:38  | Web Awesome Pro Features and Launch Timeline | 19:04  | Revolutionizing Team Collaboration with Functional Design Systems | 23:04  | Exciting Updates on Alpha Release and Lifetime Discounts"I think I can speak for the whole team that we're all a bit of perfectionists, so I don't think we were ever ready to release an alpha."Lindsay - (0:02:54)"The theming was a big thing that I think we wanted to have pretty much a bow on when we released the alpha."Lindsay - (0:03:22)"Shout out to Lindsey for her amazing work on the theming API, which is completely redesigned a lot, lot easier."Cory - (0:03:59)"Shout out to Connor, who's not on this chat today, but he did some amazing work to convert to all of the form controls to use a new API that never existed when these form controls were originally created."Cory - (0:05:59)"We've had quite a few issues reported so far that we're looking into a lot of discussion started."Lindsay - (0:02:27)"Obviously, we couldn't have done this without you."Lindsay - (0:23:23)"I kind of have a component addiction. I really like doing this stuff. So my hobby is also my career, and so that it's cool that that got to converge in such a way that I can work full time on something I actually really enjoy working on."Cory - (0:13:46)----------------------Show NotesFont Awesome: Font Awesome WebsiteWeb Awesome: Kickstarter Website  Twitter: @fontawesomeThe Font Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie MartinAudio mastering by Chris Enns and Lemon ProductionsStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!