Pybites Podcast

January is the perfect time to take stock, and in this episode we share the most common lessons we've learned from six years of coaching Python developers. Drawing on hundreds of real-world conversations, we break down seven practical fixes that consistently help developers move forward - from stopping endless consumption and actually building, to escaping abandoned GitHub repos, getting proper code reviews, and shifting from scripts to real systems with solid tooling, testing, and version control.The conversation also dives into mindset: overcoming imposter syndrome, using AI without becoming dependent on it, and why going it alone often makes your journey harder than it needs to be. Download the Free 7-Engineering Shifts Guide Here: https://pybit.es/escape-tutorial-hell/Books mentioned:Fundamentals of Software Architecture -https://pybitesbooks.com/books/yClOEQAAQBAJBefore We Say Goodbye - https://pybitesbooks.com/books/GMGhEAAAQBAJ___💡🧑‍💻 Want to become a more focused, motivated, and effective Python developer? The Pybites Developer Mindset (PDM) Program helps you build strong habits, deepen your skills, and make real progress in just six weeks. Join us for mentorship, accountability, and a supportive community that keeps you moving forward. Start your PDM journey now! 🌟✅ https://pybit.es/catalogue/the-pdm-program/___If you found this podcast helpful, please consider following us!Start Here with Pybites: https://pybit.es

Change is unavoidable in software, so how do you make it safe to evolve systems without breaking trust? In this episode, we’re joined by Elmer Bulthuis for a wide-ranging conversation about building software that can adapt over time. We explore how Rust’s ownership model shapes clearer thinking about design, why WebAssembly is becoming a practical way to share complex logic across platforms, and how Elmer has used Rust and WASM in real projects to keep behaviour consistent across TypeScript and .NET without duplicating effort.We also dig into the everyday practices that make long-lived systems possible: choosing names that work in context, designing abstractions that don’t leak, and treating tests as living documentation rather than a checkbox. Elmer shares thoughtful perspectives on local-first development, keeping CI honest, and using AI as a helpful power tool for refactoring without outsourcing engineering judgement. Along the way, we touch on team culture, ego-free collaboration, and even yoga — because sustainable software is ultimately built by sustainable people.Connect with Elmer:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elmerbulthuisGithub: https://github.com/elmerbulthuis___💡🧑‍💻 Want to become a more focused, motivated, and effective Python developer? The Pybites Developer Mindset (PDM) Program helps you build strong habits, deepen your skills, and make real progress in just six weeks. Join us for mentorship, accountability, and a supportive community that keeps you moving forward. Start your PDM journey now! 🌟✅ https://pybit.es/catalogue/the-pdm-program/___If you found this podcast helpful, please consider following us!Start Here with Pybites: https://pybit.es

Join us as we catch up in the first Pybites podcast of 2026. We chat about how it feels to build software with AI today. We're moving faster than ever, but are we losing the joy of coding along the way?Julian shares a recent Django build and how he used AI to ship quickly while still keeping good habits around code quality, testing, and reviews. We talk about why small steps, clear prompts, and staying involved in the code matter more than handing everything over to AI.We also reflect on the value of taking proper breaks, resetting habits, and the impact of simple weekly rituals. Along the way, we celebrate a community career win and challenge you to choose one meaningful focus that would make 2026 a great year.If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed by AI or worried about falling behind, this episode is a reminder to slow down, build well, and enjoy the craft again.Episode Links:Charlie Marsh tweet - https://x.com/charliermarsh/status/2008665789709382130Escape tutorial hell guide - https://pybit.es/escape-tutorial-hell/Tony's New Years Intentions - https://pybites.circle.so/c/open-discussion/new-year-s-intentionBob's Books:Vibe Coding - https://pybitesbooks.com/books/ktVcEQAAQBAJ From Strength to Strength - https://pybitesbooks.com/books/BKZPEAAAQBAJJulian's Books:The Rose Field - https://pybitesbooks.com/books/vq1a0QEACAAJ Pybites Books - https://pybitesbooks.com___💡🧑‍💻 Want to become a more focused, motivated, and effective Python developer? The Pybites Developer Mindset (PDM) Program helps you build strong habits, deepen your skills, and make real progress in just six weeks. Join us for mentorship, accountability, and a supportive community that keeps you moving forward. Start your PDM journey now! 🌟✅ https://pybit.es/catalogue/the-pdm-program/___If you found this podcast helpful, please consider following us!Start Here with Pybites: https://pybit.es

In this discussion, Saurabh Misra, founder of CodeFlash and a software engineer with a rich background at NVIDIA, reveals how to make Python performance optimization part of everyday coding practices. He shares insights on using LLMs to automate performance checks, profiling techniques, and real-world examples like improving Bokeh and Pydantic. Saurabh explains the importance of maintaining code behavior while delivering faster execution, and offers practical advice for integrating performance into team workflows.

Aaron Jorgensen, the founder of JobHive and a seasoned tech leader, shares insights on his AI-powered interview platform designed to enhance the hiring process. He discusses the evolution from a résumé parser to a comprehensive interview solution that minimizes bias through multi-agent scoring and transparent decision-making. Aaron also delves into the challenges of building the platform, the importance of user feedback, and how his fitness discipline influences his coding mindset. Plus, he offers valuable advice on persistence and learning in tech.

Curious how to build real web apps with AI without turning into a prompt robot? We sit down with developer advocate and author Emma Saroyan to unpack a practical path for using OpenAI APIs and Next.js to turn ideas into shipped projects you actually understand. From smart prompting to project structure, Emma shows how to work with AI as an assistant you guide, not a textbook to copy.Emma also takes us inside her community work in Armenia, sharing how culture shapes developer communication and adoption. We talk about how to avoid over-reliance on tools, and why accessibility matters—especially for newcomers who can use AI to prototype quickly and then deepen their skills. If you’re ready to ship faster without losing your craft, tune in, subscribe for more conversations like this, and leave a comment with the next AI-powered feature you want to build.Connect with Emma on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-saroyanCheck out Emma's book 'Generative AI for Web Development': https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/979-8-8688-0885-2______💡🧑‍💻 Want to become a more focused, motivated, and effective Python developer? The Pybites Developer Mindset (PDM) Program helps you build strong habits, deepen your skills, and make real progress in just six weeks. Join us for mentorship, accountability, and a supportive community that keeps you moving forward. Start your PDM journey now! 🌟✅ https://pybit.es/catalogue/the-pdm-program/___If you found this podcast helpful, please consider following us!Start Here with Pybites: https://pybit.es

In this episode, we talk with Simen, a senior software engineer and creator of Almost Done, a weekly email newsletter designed for neurodivergent developers and anyone who thinks a little differently. Simen shares how he built a format that supports real attention - short, scannable essays, intentional accessibility choices, and four writing “personas” that shape each issue’s tone.We explore his creative workflow, why timing matters for engagement, and the “subscriber-first” philosophy that keeps the newsletter personal. Simen also opens up about career growth, simplicity in engineering, and practical systems that help with ADHD traits like hyperfocus and time blindness.It’s an honest, uplifting conversation about writing, technology, and building a kinder approach to productivity. If the episode resonates, check out Almost Done and share it with someone who’d enjoy it.Sign up here - https://almostdone.news/Or view past issues - https://almostdone.news/issuesReach out to Simen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simendaehlin______💡🧑‍💻 Want to become a more focused, motivated, and effective Python developer? The Pybites Developer Mindset (PDM) Program helps you build strong habits, deepen your skills, and make real progress in just six weeks. Join us for mentorship, accountability, and a supportive community that keeps you moving forward. Start your PDM journey now! 🌟✅ https://pybit.es/catalogue/the-pdm-program/___If you found this podcast helpful, please consider following us!Start Here with Pybites: https://pybit.es

What if levelling up your Python career didn’t require a multitude of courses—just one clear commitment? In this episode of the Pybites Podcast, we talk with Kishan Patel, a Dallas-based data engineer who set a single goal: become the best Python developer he could be. That focus led him to ship three real-world projects, publish his first PyPI package, and build a stronger, more decisive developer mindset.We also discuss how breaking the cycle of perfectionism, using coaching for accountability, and developing a thoughtful, balanced approach to AI can  help you build with more confidence and stay focused on the real skills that move your Python journey forward. Kishan's contacts:Personal site: https://www.kishanpatel.dev/YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@KPDataDevBlog: https://kpdata.dev/blog/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kishanpatel789/Circle: https://pybites.circle.so/u/4fe60026Chrome extensions mentioned in the ep:Undistracted: https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/undistracted-hide-faceboo/pjjgklgkfeoeiebjogplpnibpfnffkng?hl=enMonochrome Mode: https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/monochrome-mode-grayscale/fmiaojphifnoicpdhhcniiekcpfbkidj?hl=enBooks: Cosmic Python: https://www.cosmicpython.com/Dune: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dune_(novel)The One Thing: https://pybitesbooks.com/books/ov23vQEACAAJ______💡🧑‍💻 Want to become a more focused, motivated, and effective Python developer? The Pybites Developer Mindset (PDM) program helps you build strong habits, deepen your skills, and make REAL progress in just six weeks. Join us for mentorship, accountability, and a supportive community that keeps you moving forward. Start your PDM journey now! 🌟✅ https://pybit.es/catalogue/the-pdm-program/___If you found this podcast helpful, please consider following us!Start Here with Pybites: https://pybit.es

Marimo is redefining what a Python notebook can do—bringing structure, version control, and interactivity together. In this episode, we chat with Akshay Agrawal, co-founder and CEO of Marimo, about how their reactive Python notebook fixes hidden state, keeps outputs in sync, and makes reproducible, reviewable code the norm.Akshay shares Marimo’s origin story, how its reactive DAG turns notebooks into clean, Git-friendly tools, and why teams are ditching Jupyter-to-Streamlit pipelines for simpler, reactive workflows. We also dive into performance, data handling with pandas/Polars via Narwhals, and SQL reactivity with DuckDB.Join us in this insightful episode as we talk with Akshay about reproducibility, data workflows, and turning prototypes into shareable apps.For more info on Marimo, reach out to Akshay:Website: https://www.akshayagrawal.com/Github: https://github.com/akshaykaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akshayka/X: https://x.com/akshaykagrawal______If you found this podcast helpful, please consider following us!Start Here with Pybites: https://pybit.esDeveloper Mindset Newsletter: https://pybit.es/newsletter 💡Pybites Books: https://pybitesbooks.com/Bob LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bbelderbos/Julian LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliansequeira/Twitter: https://x.com/pybitesApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pybites-podcast/id1545551340Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1sJnriPKKVgPIX7UU9PIN1

What if the most valuable part of your research isn’t the paper, but the package that made it possible? In this episode, we talk with Leah Wasser, Executive Director and Founder of pyOpenSci, a nonprofit working to make scientific Python more inclusive, reproducible, and discoverable.We explore what “open science” really means in practice: transparent workflows that others can rerun, review, and extend. Leah explains how pyOpenSci’s peer review process helps turn lab scripts into reliable, citable Python packages with better documentation, testing, and credit through the Journal of Open Source Software (JOSS).We also unpack how AI is reshaping scientific coding—its potential to speed up work, and the need for careful human oversight to maintain accuracy and trust.Connect with Leah on the following platforms:Github: https://github.com/lwasserLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leahawasser/Slack: https://www.pyopensci.org/handbook/community/slack.html___If you found this podcast helpful, please consider following us!Start Here with Pybites: https://pybit.esDeveloper Mindset Newsletter: https://pybit.es/newsletter 💡Pybites Books: https://pybitesbooks.com/Bob LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bbelderbos/Julian LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliansequeira/Twitter: https://x.com/pybitesApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pybites-podcast/id1545551340Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1sJnriPKKVgPIX7UU9PIN1