Pybites Podcast

In this podcast episode, Robert Young, the director of an analytical chemistry lab at New Mexico State University, shares his unique journey from being a lawyer to becoming a chemist and a Python programmer. He explains how his passion for environmental causes led him to study chemical analysis and mass spectrometry, initially focusing on the breakdown of endocrine disrupting chemicals in the environment.Robert discusses the challenges of analyzing complex data sets with thousands of molecules and how he learned to use Python and FastAPI to make the analysis more efficient. He also introduces his current project, studying Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), also known as Forever Chemicals, which do not degrade easily and have adverse health effects.Robert's goal was to develop an app using FastAPI +that SQLModel that allows non-programmers to explore PFAS data and filter molecules based on specific criteria.A goal he achieved with us in our Pybites Developer Mindset (PDM) program in which he got this app done (MVP status), enhanced his coding skills, and found a supportive community. He mentions the guidance he received from his coach in architectural design, project planning, and best practices for developer collaboration. Robert plans to deploy his app soon and hopes to involve more contributors in the future. Last but not least, Robert's project showcases the power of Python, FastAPI, and PDM in solving real-world scientific challenges (Forever Chemicals!) and making data analysis accessible to a broader audience.Enjoy our interview with Robert Young!Chapters:00:00 Intro snippet and music00:42 Guest and episode intro01:20 Introducing Robert Young04:08 Current research field08:12 PFAS or "forever chemicals"09:05 The effects of PFAS12:00 PDM journey and PFAS project16:36 FastAPI + SQLModel19:44 Other wins and takeaways from project + PDM23:24 Tutorial paralysis / Pybites approach24:50 Using same approach for new tech / next steps app28:28 How to reach out to Robert30:00 Book: Manufacturing Consensus32:00 How do we good information (social media)35:00 Thanks for joining us today35:33 Outro musicLinks:- Reach out to Robert via email- PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances)  - EPA website  - ECHA website    - Australian government website- SERDP podcast (sponsors of Robert's PFAS research)- Book mentioned: Manufacturing Consensus- The PDM program

This week we have Emily Wilcock on the show, recruitment manager and Pybites career coach 😍Emily delves into a topic close to her heart: navigating the job search journey after a redundancy. She was affected herself by a recent layoff and has distilled 7 practical tips that helped her, and will help you, get back on track faster.Summary of Emily's 7 tips:1) After been laid off, take a break to reset.2) Make the most of your job search time.3) Seek a support group.4) Your CV! Get feedback, use "outplacement" + friends / family.5) LinkedIn: post + leverage your wider network.6) Always be networking.7) Interview prep / practice.Of course, there are cool wins + books too :)Enjoy!---Chapters:00:00 Intro snippet00:22 Intro music00:46 Julian episode intro02:35 Introducing Emily and topic of the episode05:56 Wins of the week07:33 Tips from Emily who was affected by redundancy08:15 1. Take a break, take some time to reset10:42 2. Make the most of the time when you search for a job13:33 3. Have a support group around you17:48 4. Work on your CV (practical tips!)21:09 Tip: use a brag sheet!22:04 5. LinkedIn: use it! + some tips27:18 6. Always be networking31:05 7. Interview prep / practice35:00 Wrap up and thanks36:10 Books38:46 Reach out to Emily39:40 Outro music---Books:- STFU- CosmosReach out to Emily on LinkedIn or on Pybites.

This week we talk with Sambhavi Dhanabalan about productivity as a developer. She shares 11 tips from her experience: 3 around planning and 8 generic tips.We also talk about her background, wins and a book she's reading.Enjoy this insightful conversation with Sambhavi. We're sure that if you follow her tips, you will make strides in your productivity as a Python developer!Chapters:00:00 Intro fragment, don't sit on a bug00:22 Intro music00:47 Episode and guest intro, meet Sambhavi01:30 Sambhavi's background02:53 Round of wins03:55 Brand building and sharing your work04:33 Topic intro: productivity tips05:33 Why did you write this article?07:30 P for Planning ...  #1 - Create a weekly planner09:32 #2 - Use Github/Gitlab project11:48 #3 - Review your planned work13:46 Reviewing tactics using your calendar15:17 P for Productivity ... #1 - Deep focus time17:57 #2 - Pomodoro technique19:58 #3 - Walk for 30 minutes21:47 #4 - Spend not more than 30 minutes on a bug/issue23:55 Team leaders, protect your people from this24:25 #5 - Use GitHub CoPilot, if there is an option27:30 #6 - Integrate git in your IDE (VS Code)29:47 #7 - Timebox a few tasks (not directly related to work)31:47 #8 - Wind off time (prevent burnout)33:55 Reach out to Sambhavi if this helped34:24 Book tip: Four Thousand Weeks (Oliver Burkeman)36:05 Thanks, final words and wrap up37:18 Outro musicLinks:- Sambhavi's article- Reach out to Sambhavi on LinkedIn- Recommended book: Four Thousand Weeks- Our PDM coaching program- Our Pybites Productivity courseThanks for listening and we'll be back next week with a fresh new episode ...

Python developer and coach Chris May discusses the importance of refactoring. Topics include the link between creativity and programming, the ROI of refactoring, the power of refactoring, the need for a test suite, productivity tools like note taking and GitHub issues, and the importance of mindset for developers.

In this podcast episode, Julian interviews Isaac Smit, a former member of the US Navy and current program manager at Amazon.He discusses the challenges faced by veterans in the workplace and how we can support them better.Isaac highlights two main difficulties veterans encounter: dealing with ambiguity and managing invisible disabilities like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).The transition from a highly structured military environment to a more ambiguous corporate setting can be challenging for veterans.Additionally, the invisible disabilities that many veterans have may affect their cognitive abilities, including memory, and it's important for us as colleagues and managers to provide understanding and support.Throughout the podcast, it becomes apparent that building trust with veterans and understanding them is crucial. It's important to offer assistance, be patient, and create an inclusive environment where veterans feel comfortable.As employers and colleagues, we can be more supportive by acknowledging the sacrifices veterans have made, expressing gratitude for their service, and being open to conversations about their experiences (although not triggering them explicitly).Moreover, as managers, we should be aware of the potential performance challenges veterans may face due to their disabilities and provide necessary support while respecting their privacy.Expect a special, thought provoking episode and we are grateful for Isaac sharing openly about his experience and giving valuable tips. As always there are wins and interesting books as well ...Connect with Isaac on LinkedIn.Books mentioned:- The Untethered Soul- The Art of WarChapters:00:00 Intro episode02:44 Intro guest + topic03:22 Wins05:10 Isaac's background + leadership development work09:00 Veterans moving into the corporate world14:00 Effects of PTSD17:40 Challenges for veteran family members22:00 Civil job interview challenges for veterans24:22 Tips for supporting veterans in the workplace25:10 Provide structure for the work26:20 Have empathy (e.g. for veterans with PTSD)29:33 How can managers help?32:34 Patience and acknowledgement of sacrifice38:00 Watch out for triggers41:10 Books (The Untethered Soul / The Art of War)45:30 Wrap up and thanks47:17 OutroThanks for listening and we'll be back next week.

Welcome back to the Pybites podcast! Today we hone in on the concept of "Enough", which we read about in the book "Psychology of Money" - chapter 3, titled "Never Enough".We discuss what this means and relate it back to the Python developer journey and life in general, giving tips how to find the balance (which can be challenging).As usual we also share Pybites wins + books we are reading. Enjoy and reach out if you have feedback or want to hear us talk about any topic specifically.Chapters:00:00 Intro01:16 The compound effect / podcast backstory02:24 Wins06:47 What's enough? (Psychology of Money book)09:12 Is it a moving target?10:55 Quotes from the book12:53 Don't compare yourself to others13:50 Focus on internals / "enough" in fitness14:50 Linking it to the developer journey / wins file15:30 Give yourself space to make decisions15:50 How does this rhyme with our "what's next?"17:40 Extra Fabulous Comics (linked) 🤣18:19 Books22:50 Share your reading on our Slack or Pybites Books 💡23:16 Teasers upcoming episodes23:50 Thank you! 🙏24:09 OutroExtra Fabulous Comics regarding "enough" in fitness / bodybuilding (this sums it up pretty well lol)Pybites Podcast reading listThank for listening!

In this insightful conversation with software developer, PDM-er, and entrepreneur Charles Carriere, we delve into his journey of launching personal projects, overcoming imposter syndrome, and mastering Python. He shares his experience of creating a Django app in our PDM program around fusion energy, aggregating and summarizing (using AI!) articles, and his future plan of creating a job board on the site as well. Super cool! He emphasizes the importance of launching projects, big or small, to truly understand what you're doing and to learn from each challenge. He also discusses his experience with ChatGPT and how it has proved to be a beneficial tool in his coding process. Finally, the conversation also covers the significance of working with a coach for accountability and key insights. It provided Charles with crucial guidance, focus, and structure to bring his project to completion and properly develop software.Last but not least we talk about the invaluable mindset side of things. We hope you enjoy this rich conversation with Charles.Links:- Charles' Twitter- Aggregator site / project: Fusion Chronicles- He is also in our Pybites community Slack- Check out our PDM programMentioned books:- Influence- Agency- Ryan Holiday's books, for example Obstacle is the WayNeal Stephenson books:- Termination shock- Snow crash- Cryptonomicon- Walter Isaacson bios (Elon Musk bio is coming out ...)Thanks for listening / watching and we'll be back next week ...

In this podcast episode, Peter Lynch, a software developer, discusses his journey into web development and his entrepreneurial interests. He shares his experience of transitioning from a corporate job to pursuing his passion for building his own projects. Peter emphasizes the importance of networking and building connections in finding job opportunities. He also highlights the need to embrace discomfort and continuously challenge oneself for personal and professional growth. Additionally, Peter talks about his side projects and the motivation behind them, including his iOS app that generates Apple Watch faces using AI. He encourages others to take action, follow their dreams, and not be afraid to try different ideas, iterating and learning along the way. Overall, Peter's story serves as an inspiration for aspiring developers and entrepreneurs to pursue their goals and find fulfilment in their work.Apps:- Watch Face App- Domain Name SmashLearn more about Peter- Peter's websiteBook Peter is reading: - The Mom TestPrevious episode with Peter:- #018 - High Risk Mindset: Going From Marketer to DeveloperPybites Coaching- The PDM program

In this podcast episode we discuss 9 tips to build confidence as a developer, drawing from our own experience + coaching 100+ (aspiring) Python developers.We cover the importance of starting with small, achievable projects, breaking down complex problems into smaller tasks, and practicing regularly. Additionally, we emphasize the need for a strong mindset and learning from mistakes, as well as celebrating small victories and reflecting on personal progress. To further improve, we suggest contributing to open source, building a portfolio, and seeking guidance and support through coaching.As usual, we also discuss our wins and books we're reading 😍Links:- Our coding platform- Our PDM coaching program- Hop on a 15 minute strategy call with us- Pybites search tool- Pybites Open Source org- Article + dedicated podcast episode about the comparison game- Join our Pybites Community- Subscribe to our YouTube channelBooks:- The Psychology of Money- Dead Simple Python- The Brothers KaramazovThanks for listening and we'll be back next week ...

He's back! Django by Example book author Antonio Melé 😍Not only that, we did this interview in person at a cafeteria on the beach 🏖 In this episode he shares his 10 favorite Django plugins 💪 💡1. Django Debug Toolbar2. Django REST Framework3. Django Channels4. Django Celery5. Django Extensions6. Django allauth and social-auth7. Django Import Export8. Django Sentry9. Django Easy Thumbnails / Imagekit10. Django-parlerOf course we also asked him what he's reading at the moment: - NudgeConnect with Antonio:- LinkedIn- Pybites SlackAntonio's previous Pybites podcast episode is number 89And last but not least, get Antonio's epic Django book, you won't regret it!