The Scrimba Podcast

🎙 About the episodeThis is a rebroadcast of one of our most popular interviews. Meet Kevin Powell 🇨🇦! Kevin is a CSS Evangelist and educator. He makes weekly YouTube videos, streams on Twitch, writes articles, and teaches courses. His mission is to show new developers that CSS is fun and teach them how it works... and why it works the way it does.In this episode, you'll learn how not to get frustrated with CSS, how to debug it, why people struggle with it, and how come we might never see a launch of CSS 4. Kevin also explains why different browsers render CSS differently and how much you should actually care about that. Alex and Kevin also discuss how the web gets made behind the scenes and how you can join the conversation and suggest the features you'd like to see in certain technologies. Plus: Bad design trends, tools and plugins, CSS memes, and tabs vs. spaces.🔗 Connect with Kevin📹 YouTube🐦 Twitter🌐 Website👩‍🚀 GitHub⏰ TimestampsHow Kevin found himself in the world of web design (01:40)Can a new developer focus solely on CSS? (04:38)What is a CSS Evangelist? (07:24)Why do people struggle with CSS? (09:26)Community break! (11:00)Why CSS works the way it does (13:25)CSS tools you should use (15:25)CSS extensions for your editor (17:26)The learning curve of CSS and the Importance of Experience (17:17)Why different browsers render CSS differently (and why it sometimes doesn't work) (22:31)Progressive enhancement and accessibility (27:05)The History of CSS (30:34)Will there ever be a CSS4? (34:24)How to stay in the loop and join the conversation around features (36:30)Quick-fire questions (38:43)🧰 Resources MentionedKevin's courses on ScrimbaMiriam SuzanneAdam ArgyleModern CSSPodcast: Ace the job interview with Cassidy Williams ⭐️ Leave a ReviewIf you enjoy this episode, please leave a 5-star review here and let us know who you want to see on the next podcast.You can also Tweet Alex from Scrimba at @bookercodes and tell them what lessons you learned from the episode so they can thank you personally for tuning in 🙏 Or tell Jan he's butchered your name here. 

🎙 About the episodeMeet Katrina Tucker 🇺🇸! Katrina recently changed careers and got her first software engineering job. But here's the interesting part – she didn't start as a junior! No, Katrina was immediately offered a senior title.In this episode, you'll discover the importance of never labeling yourself as a junior, especially when transitioning careers. Katrina dives into the significance of language and emphasizes how your domain knowledge can make a significant impact. Get ready to uncover Katrina's networking strategies (spoiler alert: you're probably overthinking yours) and gain insights into how she learned to code while juggling a full-time job and family responsibilities. Plus, find out the number one thing you should know about technical interviews and what you can do to work on your interviewing skills.Join us as Katrina shares her inspiring journey, challenges conventional notions, and reveals valuable tips and tricks for career success. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by Katrina in this podcast are solely her own and do not represent the views or opinions of her employer.🔗 Connect with Katrina👨‍💼 LinkedIn🐦 Twitter🌐  Blog⏰ TimestampsKatrina learned to code at school, thanks to her father, but ended up majoring in international finance (02:19)Katrina's career in finance and law (04:14)After the stock market crashed, Katrina went on to work at IRS (05:04)Suddenly, Katrina realized she was coding! (05:46)Katrina's current job combines all of her skills (06:39)Don't call yourself junior! (07:18)What made Katrina transition into software engineering (08:10)Why we should retire the term "breaking into tech" (08:50)How Katrina joined #100Devs (10:28)How to learn to code when you have a family and full-time job (11:50)Community break! Your LinkedIn posts and tweets, with Jan The Producer (14:22)How Katrina wanted to address her knowledge gap (16:40)When did Katrina start to feel ready to apply for coding jobs? (18:52)The most important thing to know about coding interviews (19:47)How Katrina practiced her interview skills with Brilliant Black Minds (20:56)Katrina's networking strategy (22:22)What's the difference between networking and just talking to people? (24:10)How Katrina found her first software role (26:56)Find your unique angle and double down (31:44)How Katrina prepared for her final interview round (32:58)Why you should ask your prospective employer business questions (33:54)Why your domain knowledge is important (37:04)🧰 Resources Mentioned#100DevsfreeCodeCampBrilliant Black Minds⭐️ Leave a ReviewIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review here and tell us who you want to see on the next podcast.You can also Tweet Alex from Scrimba at @bookercodes and tell them what lessons you learned from the episode so that he can thank you personally for tuning in 🙏

🎙 About the episodeMeet Tom Chant 🇬🇧! Tom is a Scrimba instructor who has just released a course on building your own AI apps! In this episode, he joins Alex to discuss everything about AI for developers. You'll find out how AI can augment your skills. You'll learn how to use ChatGPT, Codex, and GitHub Copilot, all powered by OpenAI, what their limitations are, and where they overlap.Tom will also give you useful tips for prompt engineering. You'll hear about the ethical and security risks of using AI when writing code. You'll also get to know how you can train your own ChatGPT model for a specific use! Finally, Tom and Alex also discuss the future of AI. Will coders be replaced with AI language models? Spoiler alert: nope.🔗 Connect with Tom👩‍💼 Linkedin🐦 Twitter⏰ TimestampsWhat AI tools can developers use in their coding today? (01:11)GitHub Copilot vs. ChatGPT for coders (02:57)Why is generating code with GitHub Copilot superior? (04:34)What is prompt engineering and how to get better at it (06:01)What parameters can you tweak when using the OpenAI API to get more customized results? (10:08)Using AI for debugging (13:03)The downsides of using AI: security risks and false information (15:05)How to find balance and use AI wisely (18:08)Ethical considerations of using AI for coding (19:50)Why some companies aren’t okay with developers using ChatGPT (23:31)Community break! Your tweets and LinkedIn posts with Jan The Producer (25:25)Tom taught English before joining Scrimba (27:27)Why student examination is broken, and how AI might help change it (28:19)What’s in Tom’s OpenAI course (30:49)How to train and fine-tune your own ChatGPT using OpenAI API (35:07)Why does training data need to be checked by a human, and can you automate that (41:01)How will developers and AI coexist in the future? (43:21)🧰 Resources MentionedCourse: Build AI Apps with ChatGPT, Dall-E, and GPT-4⭐️ Leave a ReviewIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review here and tell us who you want to see on the next podcast.You can also Tweet Alex from Scrimba at @bookercodes and tell them what lessons you learned from the episode so they can thank you personally for tuning in 🙏  Or tell Jan the Producer he has butchered your name here.

🎙 About the episodeMeet Shaun Jackie Hickman 🇬🇧! Shaun is a new developer who has recently landed his first dev job after meeting his now boss at a LAN party, playing Call of Duty! Earlier, Shaun wanted to become an English teacher but ended up studying social sciences and graduating in business.Eventually, Shaun realized there was another language he was interested in - and that language was JavaScript. Within a year of dedicated studying, he changed careers. In this episode, Shaun shares how he learned to code while working a full-time job and why it's important to take breaks and have hobbies other than coding. He reveals why long interview processes are not necessarily a bad thing and talks about the philosophy of AI and the ethics of using ChatGPT. Plus: Shaun and Alex delve into the power of determination and maintaining the right mindset. 🔗 Connect with Shaun👨‍💼 LinkedIn🐦 Twitter⏰ TimestampsShaun's long and winding journey into tech (01:29)Shaun discovered Scrimba by listening to the Scrimba podcast while at work at his previous job! (04:52)How Shaun learned to code alongside a full-time job, and why you should not overwhelm yourself (05:54)Power hour (08:16)What motivated Shaun to get back into coding, and why this episode almost got titled "Learning to code after a breakup" (09:08)Community break! Your tweets, LinkedIn comments, and Apple Podcast reviews (12:25)How Shaun met his future boss at a LAN party (14:25)Increase your surface area! (17:10)Nobody talks about LAN parties, but they can actually be great for networking (18:08)Shaun's interview process was long. But that was a good thing! Also, he was at a crossroads: React or PhP? (18:52)Contacts don't always turn into opportunities overnight, and that is why Shaun wanted to take things slowly (20:45)Quick-fire questions: Favorite projects, ChatGPT, NetworkChuck, and coding to soundtracks and lo-fi Synthwave (21:56)Finding a balance in using AI (24:24)What is business development (27:07)How Shaun combines his background in business with coding (28:03)You always bring something from your previous experience with you (29:51)On failing and sucking at things, and why you shouldn't avoid that (32:24)Commitment and drive are all you need (34:39)🧰 Resources MentionedFrontend Developer Career PathKevin PowellNetwork Chuck⭐️ Leave a ReviewIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review here and tell us who you want to see on the next podcast.You can also Tweet Alex from Scrimba at @bookercodes and tell them what lessons you learned from the episode so that he can thank you personally for tuning in 🙏

🎙 About the episodeMeet Angie Jones 🇺🇸! Angie is a veteran software developer currently working as a global Developer Relations executive at TBD. Before that, she worked as an automation engineer at Twitter and as a software engineer and master inventor at IBM (where she worked for nine years)! Angie is also a teacher and an international keynote speaker who has authored 27 patents.In this episode, Angie takes us through her career path, from falling in love with coding through automation engineering to eventually discovering her passion for teaching and DevRel. You'll learn the differences between large enterprises, medium-sized companies, and startups and find out what to look for if you're just breaking into the industry. Angie also talks about teaching, patenting your ideas, and finding specialization. Plus: decentralized technologies, changing jobs with the same company, and why it's important to keep learning new stuff.  🔗 Connect with Angie👩‍💼 Linkedin🌐  Website🐦 Twitter👩‍🚀 GitHub⏰ TimestampsAngie's father thought she should familiarize herself with computers, so she took a C++ course. The rest is history! (01:41)What Angie loved about programming (03:14)Are developers missing out if they don't study computer science at university? (04:02)What makes a good teacher? (05:51)Community break! Your Tweets and LinkedIn posts (10:00)Angie got his first role in tech through an internship (11:23)How Angie spent nine years at IBM (12:54)What are the advantages of changing jobs within the same company? (13:31)How does working at a huge corporation compare to working at smaller companies and startups, and why should you try a bit of both (15:12)What does career progression look like? (17:17)As a beginner, should you prioritize learning opportunities? What size companies should you go after? (17:55)Pay attention to the ratio of juniors vs. seniors (19:18)Software development is about much more than coding (19:39)How Angie discovered automation engineering and, subsequently, DevRel (20:22)There are gaps in the market for specializations (23:56)How to find a slight specialization within frontend (28:06)Quick-fire questions: Java, decentralized technologies, Sarah Drasner and Kelsey Hightower (29:53)Angie Jones has 27 patents! Here's how that happened. (34:00)What does a patent look like? (35:24)What's it like to invent patents within a big corporation like IBM? (37:54)Closing advice: Aside from technical competency, what else should new developers focus on? (39:31)🧰 Resources MentionedSarah DrasnerKelsey HightowerScrimba Podcast with Chad Stewart: Tech Is Hiring, and Here's What You Need to Do!⭐️ Leave a ReviewIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review here and tell us who you want to see on the next podcast.You can also Tweet Alex from Scrimba at @bookercodes and tell them what lessons you learned from the episode so they can thank you personally for tuning in 🙏  Or tell Jan the Producer he has butchered your name here.

🎙 About the episodeMeet Jimmy Johnston 🇺🇸! Jimmy is a sous-chef turned developer who's just landed his first developer job after working in the culinary industry for twenty years! The career change took Jimmy eleven months. It also involved going through burnout, figuring out his "why," as well as hitting a dead-end with job applications and changing the strategy from the ground up! In this interview, Jimmy will let you in on all of these things so that you can learn from his experience.You'll find out the similarities between cooking and computing, how Jimmy learned to code, and why you shouldn't try to learn too many technologies at once. Jimmy also talks you through his interview process so that you can figure out at what point you are ready to apply for a similar position. 🔗 Connect with Jimmy👨‍💼 LinkedIn🌐 Website⏰ TimestampsJimmy was always interested in computing but became a chef instead (02:30)The restaurant industry was hit hard by the pandemic, but coding is almost like cooking (02:54)How Jimmy learned to code and chose what to focus on (04:59)Why you should learn how to learn (07:21)Cooking and web development: science or art? (08:37)Community break: Your LinkedIn posts, Tweets, and Apple Podcast reviews from the past week (10:41)How Jimmy discovered the Scrimba bootcamp (12:58)Jimmy needed mentorship and community, and on Scrimba bootcamp, he found all of that and more (14:31)If he hadn’t enrolled in a bootcamp, Jimmy would have been back to cooking (19:31)Quick-fire questions: brain food, getting old, game development, and learning in silence (21:08)How Jimmy dealt with burnout (25:43)Jimmy’s job hunting strategy: start with “why” (27:07)Jimmy tried the “spray and pray” method before, and it didn’t work - but when he changed his strategy, he saw results immediately (28:51)Jimmy’s interview process (30:27)What do you need to know to start interviewing for jobs? (33:09)Jamie’s first technical interview (34:08)How Jimmy got his first developer job (37:48)What Jimmy wishes he had known when he was starting to learn to code: Stick to one programming language! (40:38)🧰 Resources MentionedScrimba BootcampFront-end Developer Career PathScrimba's Discord CommunityBook: How to Speak Machine: Computational Thinking for the Rest of UsKevin PowellScrimba Podcast: An Introvert's Guide to Networking (and Becoming Amazing at LinkedIn), with Stephanie Chiu from PayPalScrimba Podcast: Homeschooler, College Dropout, Developer and Master Networker: Crush Your Career with Madison Kanna⭐️ Leave a ReviewIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review here and tell us who you want to see on the next podcast.You can also Tweet Alex from Scrimba at @bookercodes or follow him on LinkedIn and tell them what lessons you learned from the episode so that he can thank you personally for tuning in 🙏 Or tell Jan he's butchered your name here.

🎙 About the episodeMeet Laura Thorson 🇺🇸! Laura is a Program Manager at GitHub and has previously worked at Facebook, Twitter, and Salesforce. She broke into tech after attending the first-ever coding bootcamp in history and has only ever gotten jobs through LinkedIn. So... there's a lot we can learn from her!In this episode, Laura talks about her career path and how he went from not knowing what coding was to working in high-profile tech companies. You will hear how she approaches LinkedIn and what was the one piece of advice she got from a recruiter that enabled her to get back into tech after a four-year hiatus. You'll also hear how she got a second chance at Facebook after bombing a job interview - and it only took sending a single email!Laura and Alex also talk about best practices for job interviews, why you should stalk your interviewers, and what to do about impostor syndrome at a new job. Ultimately, Laura reveals how, no matter how you learn to code, the technologies you know come and go - and what you should focus on instead.🔗 Connect with Laura👩‍💼 Linkedin🌐  Website 🐦 Twitter👨‍🚀 GitHub ⏰ TimestampsLaura studied oboe, then English, and then enrolled in the first bootcamp in history! (02:05)How Laura knew made sure she wanted to code before paying for the bootcamp (05:26)On bootcamps vs. learning on your own (06:35) What was the first ever bootcamp like? (07:55)Community break: We got some new reviews on Apple Podcast! Plus, your tweets from last week. (10:06)Laura’s career in tech: it all started when Salesforce reached out to her on LinkedIn (12:44)Laura’s role at Twitter (14:07)How Laura bombed her interview at Facebook but got another chance after sending an email to the hiring manager (15:08)At Facebook, Laura worked on the Live Video API (18:32)How Laura approaches LinkedIn (19:49)Why Laura’s LinkedIn bio is written in the third person (21:37)How to use your LinkedIn about section (23:19)Why you should send follow-up emails and research your interviewers so you can ask them better questions (25:21)If you’re going to ask a question, be prepared, BUT LISTEN (27:42)When you interview, every touchpoint is an opportunity for them to assess whether you’re the right culture fit (29:22)The killer LinkedIn advice Laura learned the hard way (30:18)What to do with your LinkedIn (and portfolio) if you don’t have relevant coding experience (32:05)Interviewers will do homework on you (33:33)Quick-fire questions: Ruby, Taylor Swift, water, and AI (35:11)Laura’s career journey at GitHub (38:47)Why your most valuable asset is not the coding language you’ve learned (41:29)Imposter syndrome? Don’t overcompensate but talk to a peer or mentor (44:28)🧰 Resources MentionedErica Brescia on TwitterScrimba Podcast with Shannon Brown⭐️ Leave a ReviewIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review here and tell us who you want to see on the next podcast.You can also Tweet Alex from Scrimba at @bookercodes and tell them what lessons you learned from the episode so they can thank you personally for tuning in 🙏  Or tell Jan the Producer he has butchered your name here.

🎙 About the episodeMeet Gabriel Pedroza 🇺🇸! Gabriel is a Scrimba student who has just landed his first internship. And the internship is at Meta (formerly known as Facebook)!After finishing Scrimba's Frontend Career Path, Gabriel studied computer science at a university, so if you were wondering about the main differences between Scrimba and university, he's the right person to talk to! You'll also hear how he approached learning, how he's already been teaching others how to code, and what did it take for him to get an internship at Meta. More importantly, Gabriel will teach you how to follow your interests and passion, why you shouldn't be afraid of AI, and how to maximize your chances when applying for jobs!🔗 Connect with Gabriel👨‍💼 LinkedIn⏰ TimestampsHow Gabriel got interested in coding when he saw Bruno Simon’s portfolio (01:17)How Gabriel learned to code (03:23)Gabriel had imposter syndrome! (04:18)Scrimba and a university: do they go together, and how do they differ? (05:17)Community break: Your tweets and LinkedIn posts (08:10)How Gabriel got his foot in the door at companies like Meta and Google, and the importance of keywords (09:40)What are OAs (open assessments)? (10:42)Gabriel almost didn’t apply at Meta! (11:37)Gabriel taught programming workshops at the university where he’s studying (12:11)Hard skills or soft skills? Gabriel only had behavioral interviews in person at Meta! (13:03)How Gabriel prepared for an interview at Meta (14:28)Why you should practice LeetCode and learn to think like a programmer (15:17)Gabriel’s internship at Meta (16:10)Quick-fire questions: coding languages, AI, and people to follow on YouTube (17:00)Will AI take over coding? (18:43)Follow your passion (20:52)Is AI relevant for front-end development? (21:33)Learning coding is just like learning anything else (23:15)Don’t try to memorize everything! (24:46)It’s easy to apply for jobs: here’s what you can do to maximize your chances (25:45)Gabriel’s plans for the future (28:26)Next week: Laura Thorson from GitHub! (30:59)🧰 Resources MentionedFront-end Developer Career PathScrimba's Discord CommunityBruno Simon's portfolioTheo BrowneThePrimeagenFind your Ikigai!⭐️ Leave a ReviewIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review here and tell us who you want to see on the next podcast.You can also Tweet Alex from Scrimba at @bookercodes and tell them what lessons you learned from the episode so they can thank you personally for tuning in 🙏

🎙 About the episodeMeet Chad Stewart 🇯🇲! Chad is a Senior Front End Engineer and the founder of TechIsHiring - it's a hashtag, a community, and a transnational job listing channel helping great jobs and great engineers discover each other. In this episode, Chad talks about the inspiration behind TechIsHiring, plans for its future, and how he cultivated a community around it. More importantly, Chad will teach you how to cultivate community yourself! We all know we need to network, but networking can be daunting. Chad reveals how he networks, who he follows on Twitter, and why being part of a community can help you get jobs, grow as a programmer, and get help when you need it.Chad and Alex also talk about different paths to getting into tech. Becoming a developer is not the only way, and we hope this interview gives you some ideas. Plus: computer bugs, the threat of AI, and water.🔗 Connect with Chad👨‍💼 Linkedin🌐  Blog🌐  TechIsHiring 🐦 Twitter🐦 Tech Is Hiring Twitter👩‍🚀 GitHub⏰ TimestampsHow Chad got interested in computers from a very young age (01:54)There were literal bugs in his computer at times! (03:07)Why do you eventually need to learn how to learn on your own so you can keep growing (04:35)Also… Chad learned React using Scrimba! We had no idea. (05:32)What is TechIsHiring, and how did it start? (07:36)Community break! We’re highlighting tweets and LinkedIn comments from the past week. (09:27)Starting a hashtag is not enough - here’s how Chad cultivates community and what the community says about it (10:57)Becoming a developer is not the only way you can get into tech (13:28)What TechIsHiring is about, and why Chad doesn’t want to branch out into other niches (18:51)Quick-fire questions: Will AI replace software developers?What is the most important thing that a new developer should focus on so they can get their first job? Leverage your connections to get jobs, but don’t forget to grow with your network (25:32)How to create a network and get involved in communities if you’re not good at networking? (28:42)Networking is a marathon, not a sprint (31:26)🧰 Resources MentionedTechIsHiring (also on Twitter)Learn React for free with ScrimbaAngie Jones on TwitterVirtual CoffeeScrimba Podcast with Dan Moore, author of Letters to a New Developer⭐️ Leave a ReviewIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review here and tell us who you want to see on the next podcast.You can also Tweet Alex from Scrimba at @bookercodes and tell them what lessons you learned from the episode so they can thank you personally for tuning in 🙏  Or tell Jan the Producer he has butchered your name here.

🎙 About the episodeMeet Leo de Leon 🇺🇸! Leo was a successful self-taught motion graphics designer. Today, he's a successful self-taught developer! He used to design motion graphics for billboards at an arena in Kansas City that seats 20,000 people. But he needed a change. Eventually, he taught himself how to code in 314 hours over 3.5 months and landed his dream job in a Web3 startup around four months later.In this episode, you will hear why it's essential to know your learning style and how not doing great at school doesn't mean you cannot learn new things. Leo will teach you how to approach your project and portfolio website, as well as his number one tactic for landing your dream job: niching down.Alex and Leo also talk about some shady recruiter practices you can come across nowadays, the perks of working at startups (yes, especially in this economy!), developers to follow on YouTube, learning opportunities, consistency, and blessings in disguise. 🔗 Connect with Leo👨‍💼 LinkedIn🌐  Website⏰ TimestampsHow Leo decided to do something with computers after he saw a Matthew Broderick movie when he was 8 (01:59)How Leo worked as a motion graphics designer for a decade (03:15)Why Leo wanted to change careers and get into coding, and how a failed job opportunity propelled him forward (04:20)Why Leo is equipped to teach himself new skills (06:49)Leo signed up for a bootcamp and then realized it didn’t work for him (when he discovered Scrimba!) (08:31)How long it took Leo to learn to code (11:01)Why you need to set realistic goals (11:45)You’re not too late: there’s never a bad time to get into tech (13:37)Community break: Highlighting tweets and LinkedIn posts from our community (that’s you!) (15:26)How Leo approached finding a job and positioning himself in the job market (17:25)When choosing portfolio projects, choose something difficult! (18:08)Here’s how to make sure your projects and portfolio look nice! (20:07)Leo got his first developer job when a recruiter reached out to him on LinkedIn (21:27)Why a culture fit is important at startups (25:14)Leo’s trial project took an entire month, but he still got the job! (27:48)Quick-fire questions: first lines of code, favorite tech YouTubers, and music with lyrics (32:16)How to create an appealing LinkedIn profile, and how to recognize shady recruiting practices (34:15)Leo works at a Web3 and blockchain-related company. How did he optimize his LinkedIn profile to get there? (37:30)Let other people review your LinkedIn profile and your resume before putting yourself out there! (38:36)Why do you need to niche down and focus on one field or technology (39:56)Don’t get FOMO: you can’t be known for everything (41:07)Be consistent and purpose-driven because motivation comes and goes (45:12)What’s ReadMe Driven Development and how to apply that approach to your career (48:39)🧰 Resources MentionedFront-end Developer Career PathScrimba's Discord CommunityDonTheDeveloper on YouTubeJames Cross on YouTubeChris Sean on YouTubeSyntax.fm⭐️ Leave a ReviewIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review here and tell us who you want to see on the next podcast.You can also Tweet Alex from Scrimba at @bookercodes and tell them what lessons you learned from the episode so they can thank you personally for tuning in 🙏