

Ladybug Podcast
Emma Bostian, Kelly Vaughn
Back after a two-year hiatus, engineering leaders Emma Bostian and Kelly Vaughn return for Season 7 of the Ladybug Podcast, giving you a deep dive into all things engineering leadership.
With nearly 1 million total listens, Ladybug Podcast covers tech, career, and code, bringing unique viewpoints from a variety of guests and co-hosts.
Check out our website!
With nearly 1 million total listens, Ladybug Podcast covers tech, career, and code, bringing unique viewpoints from a variety of guests and co-hosts.
Check out our website!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 5, 2021 • 0sec
So You've got a Job Offer, Now What?
You studied a bunch, landed the interview, passed the whiteboarding exercises, nailed the behavioral interview, and finally got the job. Congratulations on your new position! So now what? Today we’re sharing some of our experiences to help your job transition happen smoothly. Let’s get into it.
Show Notes
[01:54] Salary Negotiation
[11:43] What to do in the first two weeks
[50:42] Shoutouts
Resources
Grammarly - https://www.grammarly.com/
5 Reasons Why Spotify’s onboarding is better than yours - https://compiled.blog/blog/five-reasons-why-spotifys-onboarding-is-better-than-yours
Cross-cultural Communication - https://www.ladybug.dev/episodes/cross-cultural-communication?rq=culture
Crucial Conversations - https://www.amazon.com/Crucial-Conversations-Talking-Stakes-Second/dp/1469266822
Gusto - https://gusto.com/
Transcript
https://github.com/ladybug-podcast/ladybug-website/blob/master/transcripts/70-so-you-got-a-job.md

Mar 22, 2021 • 0sec
Getting Hooked on React Part 2
React is a JavaScript library for building user interfaces and is one of the most widely used libraries to date. Last season we discussed the basics of React and today we’re going to dive into the more advanced aspects of the library. Let’s get started.
Episode Notes
[04:16] React Hooks
[22:28] State Management
[26:43] Design Patterns
[40:39] Performance
[49:33] Testing
[51:15] Prop types and TypeScript
[55:21] Shoutouts
Resources
Getting Hooked On React - https://www.ladybug.dev/episodes/getting-hooked-on-react?rq=react
React patterns - https://reactpatterns.com/
React Chrome Developer Tools - https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/react-developer-tools/fmkadmapgofadopljbjfkapdkoienihi
react-window - https://react-window.now.sh/#/examples/list/fixed-size
react-virtualized - https://bvaughn.github.io/react-virtualized/#/components/List
Methods of Improving & Optimizing Performance In React Apps - https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2020/07/methods-performance-react-apps/
React Testing Library - https://testing-library.com/docs/react-testing-library/intro/
Enzyme - https://enzymejs.github.io/enzyme/
Jest - https://jestjs.io/docs/en/getting-started
A Complete Guide to useEffect - https://overreacted.io/a-complete-guide-to-useeffect/
Use Refs Sparingly - https://blog.logrocket.com/why-you-should-use-refs-sparingly-in-production/
Presentational and Stateful components thoughts - https://medium.com/@dan_abramov/smart-and-dumb-components-7ca2f9a7c7d0
Episode with Angie - https://www.ladybug.dev/episodes/teaching-code
Kent C. Dodd’s Testing React - https://testingjavascript.com/
TypeScript book Stefan Baumgartner - https://typescript-book.com/
Playground Inspector Tik Tok - https://www.tiktok.com/@lukedonkin/video/6898240190133980418?lang=en
Transcript
https://github.com/ladybug-podcast/ladybug-website/blob/master/transcripts/69-intermediate-react.md

Mar 15, 2021 • 0sec
An Introduction to E-Commerce
2020 was one of the biggest years in the history of e-commerce. In fact, the pandemic spurred such a growth in e-commerce that the industry as a whole moved forward about 10 years in 3 months’ time. Whether you’re interested in starting your own store or learning how to develop for e-commerce, this week on the podcast we’re breaking it all down for you.
Episode Notes
[02:40] Platforms
[07:22] Why e-commerce over brick & mortar
[11:08] Starting your own store
[41:16] Developing for e-commerce
[49:03] Shoutouts
Resources
The Originals - https://www.amazon.com/Originals-How-Non-Conformists-Move-World/dp/014312885X
The Power of Habit - https://www.amazon.com/Power-Habit-What-Life-Business/dp/081298160X
Printful - https://www.printful.com/
Printify - https://printify.com/
TeeLaunch - https://teelaunch.com/
Creative Market - https://creativemarket.com/
Steve Schoger's Episode - https://www.ladybug.dev/episodes/design-for-devs?rq=design
Placeit.net - https://placeit.net/
Jenna Kutcher Writing a Bio - https://jennakutcherblog.com/5-ways-write-better-bio-page/
Accessibility Episode - https://www.ladybug.dev/episodes/web-accessibilitiy?rq=accessibility
Growth Hacker Marketing - https://www.amazon.com/Growth-Hacker-Marketing-Primer-Advertising/dp/1591847389
Such a Fun Age - https://www.amazon.com/Such-Fun-Age-Kiley-Reid/dp/052554190X
Think Again - https://www.amazon.com/Think-Again-Power-Knowing-What/dp/1984878107
Jamstack Ecommerce - https://github.com/jamstack-cms/jamstack-ecommerce
Next.js Ecommerce Starter - https://nextjs.org/commerce
Shopify.dev - https://shopify.dev/concepts/shopify-introduction
Shopify Devs Twitch - https://www.twitch.tv/shopifydevs
Shopify Partners - https://www.shopify.com/partners
Transcript
https://github.com/ladybug-podcast/ladybug-website/blob/master/transcripts/68-ecommerce.md

Mar 8, 2021 • 35min
Cryptography
Cryptography is a method of protecting information and communication through the use of code so only those for whom the information is intended can read and process it. Cryptography is used for many things from online banking to GitHub commits. Today we’ll dive into the basics of cryptography. Let’s get started!
Show Notes
[0:25] Our experience with cryptography
[03:08] What is cryptography?
[04:21] Four objectives of cryptography
[09:44] Types of cryptography
[23:34] Historical Cryptography
[30:54] How to learn cryptography
[32:34] Shoutouts
We got this note about RSA private/public keys from a listener:
"The point of having public and private keys is that the public key can only encrypt a message, and only the private key can decrypt the message. So the public key is safe for anyone to have, since you can’t use it to read anyone else’s message. The private key needs to stay private so only you can read messages encrypted by the public key"
Thanks for the clarification, Brad!
Resources
Coursera course - https://www.coursera.org/learn/crypto#syllabus
Crash course - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhXCTbFnK8o
Khan academy - https://www.khanacademy.org/computing/computer-science/cryptography
Passport JS - http://www.passportjs.org/
OAuth - https://oauth.net/2/
Episode with Tailor Tolliver on security - https://www.ladybug.dev/episodes/web-security?rq=security
The Code Book by Simon Singh - https://www.amazon.com/Code-Book-Science-Secrecy-Cryptography/dp/0385495323
Carcassonne - https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/822/carcassonne
Auth0 - https://auth0.com/
Amazon Cognito - https://aws.amazon.com/cognito/
Transcript
https://github.com/ladybug-podcast/ladybug-website/blob/master/transcripts/67-cryptography.md

Mar 1, 2021 • 46min
Financial Planning
It’s no secret that a major perk to working in development is the salary. Developers are often paid higher than the average salary, and as you move up in a company, you can see significant growth in your income. We all know financial literacy is often skipped in early education, which is why this week we’re talking all things financial planning with our special guest, Shannon Lee Simmons, to teach you what you need to know about managing your finances as a high earner.
Show Notes
[0:41] Tell us about yourself and what you do
[02:00] Where to find a financial advisor?
[03:48] What does it mean to be a high earner?
[06:47] One of the biggest questions I see asked is whether you should save your money or pay off your debt first. How do you decide what to do with your money?
[10:57] What benchmarks exist for net worth? Should we care?
Where should you keep your money? How much should be kept in cash vs. investments?
[19:14] How should you balance your lifestyle with wealth building? How do you recommend avoiding lifestyle creep but on the flip side, how do you make sure you’re allowing yourself to enjoy your money while also saving for the future?
[23:09] We have an international audience so without getting too specific about different types of retirement accounts, what general advice can you give to those looking to save for retirement?
When is the right time to see a financial advisor
[28:27] What are your thoughts of the FIRE movement?
[32:28] What are options and restricted stock units/RSUs? When should I consider taking equity for a lower salary?
[36:04] Do you have any thoughts/ advice to any of these Wall Street Bets people investing in GME stocks?
What tools do you recommend to people to help manage their finances?
[41:42] Shoutouts
[44:29] Where can our listeners find you on the internet?
Resources
New School of Finance - https://newschooloffinance.com
Worry-Free Money - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07169VZRM
Financial Starter Kit - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08B2LQ98X
Transcript
https://github.com/ladybug-podcast/ladybug-website/blob/master/transcripts/66-personal-finance.md

Feb 22, 2021 • 48min
Getting Started With The Cloud
Episode Notes
You may have heard about the Cloud and thought, what do the fluffy things in the sky have to do with computers? Today’s episode is all about what the cloud is, how you can use it, and common cloud services.
Show Notes
2:29 - What is the cloud?
14:09 - Benefits of cloud vs. physical servers
23:06 - Four types of cloud computing
28:42 - Cloud providers
32:39 - Gettings started with AWS
36:33 - Big services
Resources
AWS Six Advantages of Cloud Computing - https://docs.aws.amazon.com/whitepapers/latest/aws-overview/six-advantages-of-cloud-computing.html (some phrasing from the benefits section is from this article)
Pummelling the Platform–Performance Testing Shopify:
https://shopify.engineering/performance-testing-shopify
Explain the Cloud Like I'm 10: https://www.amazon.com/Explain-Cloud-Like-Im-10-ebook/dp/B0765C4SNR
97 Things Every Cloud Engineer Should Know - https://www.amazon.com/Things-Every-Cloud-Engineer-Should/dp/1492076732
A Cloud Guru - https://acloudguru.com/
AWS Heroes - https://aws.amazon.com/developer/community/heroes/
Transcript
https://github.com/ladybug-podcast/ladybug-website/blob/master/transcripts/65-cloud-101.md

Feb 15, 2021 • 0sec
Writing Ebooks
Last season we discussed the broader topic of creating digital content. This week on the podcast we’re doing a deeper dive into e-books: our experience with writing and releasing them, the tools you need to write your own ebook, and best practices for marketing and selling your book.
Episode Notes
[1:33] Our experience with E-books
[6:05] Self-published vs. Publisher
[11:20] Software for creating an E-book
[15:49] Where can I sell my E-book?
[25:01] Pricing
[34:51] Top tips
[43:00] Shoutouts
Resources
Canva - https://www.canva.com/
Bookwright - https://www.blurb.com/bookwright
Leanpub - https://leanpub.com/
Shopify - https://www.shopify.com/
Payhip - https://payhip.com/
Podia - https://www.podia.com/
How I Made $40,000 Off An E-Book Before I Published It - https://compiled.blog/blog/how-i-made-40000-dollars-on-a-book
10 Things I Wish I knew before learning to code - ebook.welearncode.com
The Beginner’s Guide To Blogging - https://payhip.com/b/FX8C
Start Freelancing Today - https://startfreelancing.today/
De-Coding The Technical Interview Process - https://technicalinterviews.dev/
Adobe Indesign - https://www.adobe.com/products/indesign.html
Otter.ai - https://otter.ai/
Send Owl - https://www.sendowl.com/
Nikema's Book - https://nikemaprophet.com/
Mailchimp - https://mailchimp.com/
ConvertKit - https://convertkit.com/
Stripe - https://stripe.com/
Sendy - https://sendy.co/
Transcript
https://github.com/ladybug-podcast/ladybug-website/blob/master/transcripts/64-ebooks.md

Feb 8, 2021 • 48min
Get to Know Your Co-workers: Non-Developer Tech Roles
There are a bunch of people you’ll work with as a software engineer -- many will be other developers, but many have other jobs as well. In this episode we’ll talk about the other people you may work with: the designers, project managers, marketers, and more and how to best work with them. Let’s dive in.
Show Notes
[3:29] Product Management
[7:37] Design
[11:34] UX Research
[13:53] Management
[18:57] Marketing
[20:50] Sales
[22:06] Business Development
[22:53] Technical Writing
[25:28] Account Management
[29:16] QA Engineer
[32:22] Scrum Master
[34:35] DevRel
Resources
Growth Hacker Marketing - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18454317-growth-hacker-marketing
Project managers vs. product managers - https://www.paymoapp.com/blog/product-manager-vs-project-manager/
Google Optimize - https://optimize.google.com
LB Episode With Amal - https://www.ladybug.dev/episodes/engineering-management?rq=engineering%20management
The Manager’s Path - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33369254-the-manager-s-path
Crucial Conversations - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15014.Crucial_Conversations
Resilient Management - https://resilient-management.com/
Testing episode with Angie - https://www.ladybug.dev/episodes/testing-101?rq=testing
Kim Maida’s episode about dev advocacy - https://www.ladybug.dev/episodes/developer-communities?rq=developer%20advocacy
Transcript
https://github.com/ladybug-podcast/ladybug-website/blob/master/transcripts/63-non-dev-jobs.md

Feb 1, 2021 • 56min
Web Security
It’s more important than ever to build secure web applications, but many developers forget to account for web security. In this episode, we’re joined by Tailor Herrarte, an Infosec Engineer, Cybersecurity Career consultant, beauty ambassador & content creator who goes by the moniker The Digital Empress. Today we're discussing types of web security, the dangers of lacking said security and a few things you can do to keep your site secure. Let’s get started.
Show Notes
[2:20] All About Tailor
[12:33] Content Security
[27:36] Connection Security
[30:35] Data Security
[35:02] Integrity
[39:40] Clickjacking
[43:28] Questions from Twitter
[52:09] Shoutouts
Resources
Tailor’s Website - https://thedigitalempress.com/
Tailor’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/digitalempress
Tailor’s YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs_zhS3gcMQrruGcv6WVm_w
The Ultimate Guide For Getting Into Cybersecurity For Beginners - https://thedigitalempress.com/store/p/the-ultimate-guide-for-getting-into-cybersecurity-for-beginners-ebook
Proton Mail - https://protonmail.com/
Dashlane - https://www.dashlane.com/
LastPass - https://www.lastpass.com/
OnePass - https://1password.com/
Security Plus - https://www.comptia.org/certifications/security
MDN Security - https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/Security
Transcript
https://github.com/ladybug-podcast/ladybug-website/blob/master/transcripts/62-security.md

Jan 25, 2021 • 0sec
Coding Bootcamps: What You Should Consider Before Signing Up
Episode Notes
Coding bootcamps aim to help students gain the skills they need to land their first job in web development in months instead of years. Today we’ll be diving into some of the benefits and drawbacks of coding bootcamps, and we’ll explore our personal experiences learning from them and teaching at them.
Shownotes
[3:01] Our Bootcamp experiences
[9:58] What are bootcamps
[21:05] Benefits and drawbacks of bootcamps
[42:29] What comes after the bootcamp
[46:31] Shoutouts
Resources
Sidney's video on bootcamps - https://youtu.be/TTu8KQ1BdGs
General Assembly - https://generalassemb.ly/
Emma’s DeCoding The Technical Interview Process - https://technicalinterviews.dev/
Launch Code - https://www.launchcode.org/
Savvy Coders - https://savvycoders.com/
Ladybug Learning how to Learn Episode - https://www.ladybug.dev/episodes/learning-to-learn
Georgia Tech Masters Degree - https://www.cc.gatech.edu/
Coursera Degree Programs - https://www.coursera.org/degrees/bachelors
Emma’s Technical Resume Course - https://www.linkedin.com/learning/writing-a-tech-resume
Ladybug Portfolio Episode - https://www.ladybug.dev/episodes/technical-portfolios?rq=portfolio
200 Black women in tech to follow - https://hackernoon.com/200-black-women-in-tech-to-follow-on-twitter-2020-list-1uck31a9
Ladybug Technical Resume Episode - https://www.ladybug.dev/episodes/resumes?rq=resume
Ladybug Podcast YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCakPieAEGG42zBuaf-qZCBA
Transcript
https://github.com/ladybug-podcast/ladybug-website/blob/master/transcripts/61-bootcamps.md


