The Programming Podcast

Discover effective strategies for improving your job search by focusing on networking instead of just clicking 'apply.' Learn about the importance of consistency in both education and career growth, along with powerful adult learning techniques like active recall. Hear insights on bouncing back after layoffs and managing your time effectively to prevent burnout. The hosts dive into listener questions, sharing real-life experiences and actionable advice to navigate the tech world with confidence.

What’s it like working at Netflix, Apple, Amazon, AND now??? 🤯In this episode of The Programming Podcast, Danny Thompson and Leon Noel sit down with Robbie Wagner—Ember core team member, Staff Engineer at HashiCorp, and co-host of Whiskey Web and Whatnot—to talk about his journey through some of the world’s most recognized tech companies.Grab a glass (of whiskey or water), and let’s go deep on career, code, and community.🎧 Follow Robbie and his podcast: Whiskey Web and Whatnothttps://www.youtube.com/@UCogup1kGwxzjKjkAwUhVYEw https://open.spotify.com/show/19jiuHAqzeKnkleQUpZxDfFollow Robbie!https://x.com/RobbieTheWagnerhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/robbiethewagner/https://bsky.app/profile/robbiethewagner.devStay in Touch:📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?Email us at dannyandleonspodcast@gmail.com!Danny Thompsonhttps://x.com/DThompsonDevhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/DThompsonDevwww.DThompsonDev.comLeon Noelhttps://x.com/leonnoelhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/leonnoel/https://100devs.org/📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?Email us at dannyandleonspodcast@gmail.com!They cover:- The future of AI-generated code (and whether it’s useful)- Why Robbie still loves EmberJS- What it actually feels like to leave your "dream job"- How to prepare for FAANG (or Manoma) interviews- Why mentorship may be the real key to success⏱️ Chapter Timestamps00:00 – Intro: Meet Robbie Wagner (Netflix, Apple, Amazon, HashiCorp)02:00 – The “Manoma” Acronym Explained03:42 – AI Will Write 90% of Code? Our Hot Takes07:00 – Where AI Fails and Why Documentation Still Matters10:55 – How AI is Changing the Code Economy13:17 – EmberJS, Framework Evolution & Why React Might Be Subpar18:30 – Are We Chasing Hype Instead of Building Real Things?21:00 – Working at Amazon, Apple, Netflix: Pros & Cons26:35 – The Toxic Culture That Made Him Quit29:00 – Interview Prep for Big Tech (LeetCode, STAR, and Strategy)32:45 – What HashiCorp’s Interview Process Got Right34:00 – Advice for People Who See FAANG as the Dream36:00 – Defining Success Later in Your Career37:10 – Mentorship, Scaling Help, and Developer Growth39:08 – Preparing for a “Manoma” Interview41:40 – Final Thoughts & Closing Thanks

Discover how to enhance your job search with engaging coffee chats and networking tips that genuinely connect you with potential employers. Learn the secrets to optimizing your LinkedIn profile and crafting stellar resumes that showcase your strengths. Unpack effective interview strategies and understand the nuances of job postings that often mislead candidates. Dive into alternative platforms and community resources that can reveal hidden job opportunities. With a few key adjustments, you can transform your approach and stand out in the competitive tech landscape!

Explore the nuances of technical interviews and discover why networking is crucial in landing a job in tech. Learn how coffee chats can open doors and why skills are vital for success. Dive into strategies for creating impactful programming projects that showcase your expertise. The importance of practicing on platforms like LeetCode becomes evident, along with techniques for mastering communication during interviews. Mindset shifts are discussed, explaining what separates successful candidates from the rest. Tune in for practical career insights!

Ever felt overlooked at work? Struggled with technical interviews? Wondering how to stand out in your career? We’ve got you covered!📢 In this episode of The Programming Podcast, hosts Danny Thompson, Leon Noel, and special Co-host James Q Quick dive deep into overcoming fear, taking action in your career, and the immense value of networking in tech. 🚀Connect with James Q Quick!https://x.com/jamesqquickhttps://www.youtube.com/c/jamesqquickhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesqquick/https://www.jamesqquick.com/https://www.compressed.fm/Stay in Touch:📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?Email us at dannyandleonspodcast@gmail.com!Danny Thompsonhttps://x.com/DThompsonDevhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/DThompsonDevwww.DThompsonDev.comLeon Noelhttps://x.com/leonnoelhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/leonnoel/https://100devs.org/📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?Email us at dannyandleonspodcast@gmail.com!🔥 Topics Covered:- The importance of being vocal about your work- Why quiet wins often go unnoticed in the workplace- How networking changed our careers (and how it can change yours)- Preparing for technical interviews & overcoming fear- James Q Quick’s journey into full-time content creation & the struggles behind it- The reality of career ups and downs in techAnd much more!⏰ Chapters & Timestamps:0:00 - Introduction & What Networking Really Means2:10 - James Q Quick Joins the Podcast5:50 - The Power of Work-Life Balance in Tech10:21 - Overcoming Fear & The Impact of Taking Action15:08 - The Importance of Being Vocal About Your Work19:50 - James Q Quick’s Journey to Full-Time Content Creation25:26 - The Challenges & Reality of Content Creation30:45 - Why Networking is a Cheat Code for Career Growth35:41 - Real Stories of How Networking Landed Jobs38:12 - How to Overcome Fear in Technical Interviews42:27 - Practical Strategies for Crushing Coding Interviews47:03 - Closing Thoughts & Commit Your Code Conference Announcement📌 Don't forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more career advice, tech insights, and programming discussions! 🚀

Today we break down why problem-solving skills—not just syntax—get you hired and how you can level up your ability to tackle challenges on your own. This is how to problem solve in a better way!💡 Sponsor: Level Up Financial PlanningChanging careers or increasing your income? Get financial clarity with Level Up Financial Planning—helping early and mid-career tech professionals secure their financial future. Visit LevelUpFinancialPlanning.com for a free consultation!Stay in Touch:📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?Email us at dannyandleonspodcast@gmail.com!Danny Thompsonhttps://x.com/DThompsonDevhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/DThompsonDevwww.DThompsonDev.comLeon Noelhttps://x.com/leonnoelhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/leonnoel/https://100devs.org/📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?Email us at dannyandleonspodcast@gmail.com!🚀 Key topics include:✅ How to shift from "asking for help first" to independent problem-solving✅ The importance of system design for career growth✅ Why reading code, exploring open-source projects, and practicing real-world coding scenarios is crucial✅ How to improve your technical interview strategy with step-by-step breakdowns✅ The power of community, learning resources, and mentorshipIf you're looking to stand out as a developer, whether you're a junior breaking into tech or a mid-career dev leveling up, this episode is packed with actionable strategies to develop the mindset of a problem-solver!📌 Chapters & Timestamps:0:00 – Introduction: Are You Over-Reliant on Help?1:04 – Meet the Hosts: Danny & Leon’s Take on Problem Solving2:44 – Seeing the Bigger Picture: Jeep Wranglers, Coffee & Coding4:06 – The Key to Nailing Technical Interviews: Process Over Syntax8:02 – Scaling Up: Thinking Beyond the Code You Write12:17 – Sponsor Break: Level Up Financial Planning14:00 – Why System Design Matters & How to Get Started16:00 – How to Improve Your Debugging & Researching Skills25:04 – The Role of Community & Networking in Becoming a Stronger Dev32:02 – Q&A: My Boss Said I Need to Be More Independent—What Should I Do?38:00 – Final Thoughts: Building Long-Term Career Success

Shruti Kapoor, a Staff Engineer and developer entertainer, shares insights into the tech industry. She emphasizes the power of networking, even in brief moments, to unlock career opportunities. The discussion dives into React 19’s new features like optimistic updates and streamlined forms, exploring how they can improve UI responsiveness. Tips for transitioning to new technologies and the significance of maintaining a 'brag book' for career tracking are also highlighted. Shruti encourages continuous learning to stay competitive in software development.

"Single flight mutations can literally cut your app’s response time in HALF!""Web performance should come first—everything else is secondary."Welcome to The Programming Podcast! In this episode, Danny Thompson and Leon Noel are joined by Dev Agrawal, core maintainer of Solid JS and organizer of Momentum Conference. This conversation dives deep into modern web development, performance optimizations, and community building.Connect With Dev Agrawal!https://www.youtube.com/@UCDXzM8ijdxkVA6NbQiQCKaghttps://x.com/devagrawal09https://www.linkedin.com/in/dev-agr/Solid JS Docshttps://www.solidjs.com/Topics Covered in This Episode:- Why Volunteering at Conferences is a Cheat Code – Learn how volunteering can help you level up in tech.- Solid JS vs. React – A deep dive into why Solid JS is shaking up frontend development.- Single Flight Mutations – A game-changing performance technique that reduces request latency by 50%.- The Rise of Signals – What makes Signals so revolutionary in web frameworks like Angular and Solid?- Conference Organization & Sponsorships – Insights into running a successful developer conference.- Using AI for Learning – Should you feel bad for using ChatGPT to learn coding? (Spoiler: Absolutely not!)- How to Stay on the Cutting Edge of Tech – The mindset and resources that keep top engineers at the forefront.Stay in Touch:📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?Email us at dannyandleonspodcast@gmail.com!Danny Thompsonhttps://x.com/DThompsonDevhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/DThompsonDevwww.DThompsonDev.comLeon Noelhttps://x.com/leonnoelhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/leonnoel/https://100devs.org/📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?Email us at dannyandleonspodcast@gmail.com!Whether you're a frontend developer, a conference organizer, or just passionate about new trends in web development, this episode is packed with insights, humor, and real talk from some of the best minds in tech.📖 Chapters & Timestamps:⏱️ 0:00 – Volunteering at Conferences: The Ultimate Cheat Code⏱️ 1:03 – Meet Your Hosts & Guest: Danny, Leon, & Dev⏱️ 2:01 – The Tweet That Started It All: The Importance of Nuance in Dev Discussions⏱️ 2:17 – Why Should You Use Solid JS? A Core Maintainer’s Perspective⏱️ 4:04 – React’s Mental Model vs. Solid’s Fine-Grained Reactivity⏱️ 6:18 – Why Solid JS Isn’t Mainstream (Yet) & Its Developer-First Approach⏱️ 8:09 – Performance-First Development: The Ryan Carniato Philosophy⏱️ 8:55 – Single Flight Mutations: How They Double Your Performance⏱️ 10:16 – Web Frameworks are Like a D&D Party: Why We Need Different Approaches⏱️ 11:38 – Why Top Devs Are Excited About Signals⏱️ 12:04 – Explaining Signals: The Future of State Management⏱️ 17:48 – The Angular Signals Effect: How It Revitalized Angular’s Reputation⏱️ 20:17 – The Story of Commit Your Code Conference: Running a Dev Conference on a Budget⏱️ 24:26 – The Reality of Sponsorships: Why Companies Struggle to Define ROI⏱️ 28:42 – Organizing a Developer Conference: Lessons from the Field⏱️ 32:07 – Should You Feel Bad for Using ChatGPT to Learn Code?⏱️ 42:45 – The Best Way to Learn Advanced Concepts in Programming⏱️ 46:37 – How to Stay on the Cutting Edge: Reading, Coding, & Experimentation⏱️ 49:09 – Wrap-Up: Final Thoughts & Podcast Outro

In this episode, hosts Danny Thompson and Leon Noel dive deep into the AI revolution with a special focus on DeepSeek—a tool that impressed Danny so much he canceled his subscriptions to ChatGPT and Claude within just one hour of use! They explore how DeepSeek’s unique approach—especially its transparent, visible reasoning process—sets it apart from other AI models and what this means for developers and the broader tech industry. In this episode, you'll learn about: - How DeepSeek’s performance and cost-effectiveness challenge established AI tools - The importance of visible AI reasoning in reducing reprompts and increasing accuracy - Market implications, including reactions around Nvidia’s valuation and the future of AI investments - The potential shift from traditional SaaS products to dynamic agent-based models - How automation is transforming routine tasks—from code generation to call center operations - What this means for software developers and why strong problem-solving skills remain essential Stay in Touch:📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?Email us at dannyandleonspodcast@gmail.com!Danny Thompsonhttps://x.com/DThompsonDevhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/DThompsonDevwww.DThompsonDev.comLeon Noelhttps://x.com/leonnoelhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/leonnoel/https://100devs.org/📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?Email us at dannyandleonspodcast@gmail.com! Chapters: 0:00 – Introduction: Meet Danny Thompson (Director of Technology at This Dot Labs) and Leon Noel(Managing Director of Engineering at Resilient Coders) 1:14 – DeepSeek’s First Impressions: Danny explains why DeepSeek outperformed ChatGPT & Claude 2:19 – Visible AI Reasoning: Discover how seeing the AI’s thought process can refine code generation 3:38 – Market Impact: Discussing market swings, Nvidia’s valuation, and cost-effectiveness 6:04 – Technical Integration: How DeepSeek works seamlessly with existing APIs 10:29 – Agent AI & Automation: The future of automated tasks and AI agent models 12:35 – The SaaS Evolution: Is this the beginning of the end for traditional SaaS products? 16:56 – Impact on Work & Jobs: How AI-driven automation could reshape industries like call centers 25:40 – Future of AI Agents: Exploring next-generation applications and agent models 32:33 – Developer Skills in the AI Era: Why coding and problem-solving remain critical 41:26 – Upcoming Episodes & Guests: Sneak peek at special guests like Dev Agrawal and Shruti Kapoor 42:23 – Closing Remarks: Final thoughts and a call for community engagement

In this episode, Danny Thompson (Director of Technology at ThisDot Labs) and Leon Noel (Managing Director of Engineering at Resilient Coders) dive deep into the realities of freelancing as a web developer. They discuss how to land your first clients, effectively communicate your value, set prices (and get paid!), use contracts to protect yourself, and grow your network so that freelancing becomes a reliable source of income. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take your freelance hustle to the next level, this conversation is packed with actionable advice and real-world experiences. What You’ll Learn: - Why the hardest part of freelancing isn’t coding—it’s finding clients. - Proven strategies to identify potential clients in your existing network and local community. - How to confidently discuss budgets and pricing (including when and how to ask for deposits). - Why clear communication and regular updates with clients are crucial. - How to scale your freelance business from small gigs to larger, high-paying projects. - Tips on contracts, scope, and protecting yourself legally. - Balancing building new features vs. maintaining projects—and deciding which is best for you. - If you’ve been unsure about how to start freelancing or how to level up your current freelance work, this video is for you. Shout out to our Sponsor Level Up Planning, Lucas Casarez https://www.levelupfinancialplanning.com/ Stay in Touch: 📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business? Email us at dannyandleonspodcast@gmail.com! Danny Thompson https://x.com/DThompsonDev https://www.linkedin.com/in/DThompsonDev www.DThompsonDev.com Leon Noel https://x.com/leonnoel https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonnoel/ https://100devs.org/ 📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business? Email us at dannyandleonspodcast@gmail.com! Chapters & Timestamps 0:00 – Intro & The Hardest Part of Freelancing Danny and Leon share their thoughts on why actually getting clients is tougher than the coding or deployment work itself. 2:01 – Why Freelancing is a Crucial Skill Leon explains why freelancing can be life-changing and why every developer should consider it. 3:05 – Cold Calling & First Client Strategies They discuss the reality of cold calling, the grit required, and how to improve your pitch to win your first projects. 4:00 – Start with Your Existing Network Learn why your friends, family, and local connections are often the best way to find your initial freelancing gigs. 8:01 – Figuring Out Budgets & Pricing How to talk about money without scaring away clients—and why you should ask the client for their ballpark budget. 9:00 – Danny’s First Paid Gig Story Hear how Danny sold his very first website to a local restaurant and what he learned in the process. 11:55 Sponsor Lucas Casarez 18:25 – Transitioning from Small to Large Projects Danny shares how his freelancing evolved from smaller projects to more complex (and better-paying) contracts. 23:30 – Setting Payment Terms & Deposits Why you should always ask for a deposit and how it filters out difficult clients. 28:00 – Contracts & Legal Protection Key contract clauses to include, such as ownership of work until final payment and liability protection. 33:10 – Maintaining vs. Delivering & Walking Away Deciding whether you want to offer ongoing maintenance plans or simply provide a project handoff. 40:00 – Turning One-Off Clients into Evergreen Clients Practical tips on establishing long-term relationships and retaining clients for continuous work. 47:00 – Q&A: Being the Solo Dev in a Company Advice for someone struggling with skill growth when they’re the only developer at their workplace. 52:02 – Final Tips: Tackle the Hard Stuff First Danny shares his strategy for handling the most challenging tasks early in the day to boost productivity and confidence.