Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Whiskey Web and Whatnot
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| We Stopped Coding by Hand Because Agentic AI Is Too Good | 12 Feb 2026 | 01:08:42 | |
This week, Robbie and Carlo sip Sagamore's 10-year reserve rye and catch up with Carlo on life abroad, AI coding workflows, the changing developer landscape, and why cars, whiskey shipping, and property management are all equally frustrating. They dig into agentic AI loops, the rise of prompt-driven development, whether coding by hand is officially dead, and what happens when tools like OpenCode and Claude become the new normal.
In this episode:
Chapters
00:00:00 Welcome & Introductions
00:02:09 Whiskey Tasting: Sagamore 10 Year Reserve Series
00:08:40 Living in Italy: Costs, Culture & Comparisons
00:14:41 Astro Acquired by Cloudflare
00:19:38 Agentic AI & Ralph Loops: The New Development Workflow
00:36:41 Building with Rust: The Hugh Hunter Color Picker
00:47:18 The Death of Hand-Coding & The Future of Software Jobs
00:48:40 Claude Co-Work & AI Desktop Apps
00:48:54 AI Beyond Coding: Life Automation & Efficiency
00:58:34 Landlord Horror Stories & The Tucson Property Saga
Links
Sagamore Spirit: https://sagamorespirit.com/
Astro: https://astro.build/
Cloudflare: https://www.cloudflare.com/
OpenCode: https://opencode.ai/
Claude: https://claude.ai/
Warp: https://www.warp.dev/
Cursor: https://www.cursor.com/
Copilot: https://github.com/features/copilot
Matt Pocock - Ralph Wiggum technique: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IK18goX4X8
Swach: https://www.swach.io/
Tauri: https://tauri.app/
Electron: https://www.electronjs.org/
Rust: https://www.rust-lang.org/
Napi-rs: https://napi.rs/
GitHub: https://github.com/
ClickUp: https://clickup.com/
TypeScript: https://www.typescriptlang.org/
Python: https://www.python.org/
Linux: https://www.linux.org/
Wayland: https://wayland.freedesktop.org/
Steam Deck: https://www.steamdeck.com/
11.22.63: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/11.22.63
Anthropic: https://www.anthropic.com/
Connect with the hosts
Robbie Wagner: https://x.com/RobbieWagner
Chuck Carpenter: https://x.com/chuckcarpenter
Adam Argyle: https://x.com/argyleink
Subscribe and stay in touch
Website: https://whiskey.fm
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whiskey-web-and-whatnot/id1552776603
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/19jiuHAqzeKnkleQUpZxDf
Overcast: https://overcast.fm/itunes1552776603
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WhiskeyWebAndWhatnot
Whiskey Web and Whatnot Merch
Enjoying the podcast and want us to make more? Help support us by picking up some of our fresh merch at https://whiskey.fund. | |||
| We Accidentally Deleted Programming (Presented by CodeRabbit) | 05 Feb 2026 | 01:02:26 | |
This week, Robbie and Adam sip on Whistle Pig's Liquid Death collaboration and debate whether we've accidentally deleted programming itself. They dig into the shift from code-first to spec-first development, whether TypeScript still matters in an AI-driven world, the rise of agency over specialization, and why the future might belong to prompt-driven tinkerers instead of traditional developers.
Presented by CodeRabbit: http://coderabbit.link/whiskey
In this episode:
(00:00) - Intro
(01:43) - Whiskey rating & review: Whistle Pig x Liquid Death Gravestock
(07:21) - Automating tasks with AI: the chicken and egg problem
(11:12) - Building a whiskey episode art generator with Swift and AI
(17:02) - Libraries that ship specs instead of code
(22:24) - Is TypeScript still worth it in an AI-first world?
(29:06) - Converting Shepherd from Svelte to Solid for bundle size
(34:44) - Why code matters less and outcomes matter more
(42:42) - Comparing OpenCode, Warp, Cursor, and Windsurf
(50:38) - The rise of agency: tinkerers over specialists
(54:46) - Getting into physical goods and local farming
(57:12) - Why booze, nicotine, and fun are all down
(01:00:10) - Plugs
Links
Whistle Pig Gravestock: https://www.whistlepigwhiskey.com/
Liquid Death: https://liquiddeath.com/
Warp: https://www.warp.dev/
OpenCode: https://opencode.ai/
Claude: https://claude.ai/
Cursor: https://www.cursor.com/
Windsurf: https://windsurf.ai/
Gemini: https://gemini.google.com/
TypeScript: https://www.typescriptlang.org/
Svelte: https://svelte.dev/
Solid: https://www.solidjs.com/
GitHub Copilot: https://github.com/features/copilot
Shopify: https://www.shopify.com/
Anthropic: https://www.anthropic.com/
Swift: https://www.swift.org/
Shepherd: https://shepherdjs.dev/
Floating UI: https://floating-ui.com/
Swach: https://www.swach.io/
CSS Anchor Positioning: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/CSS_anchor_positioning
FLIP Technique: https://aerotwist.com/blog/flip-your-animations/
Paul Lewis: https://aerotwist.com/
Want My MTV: https://wantmymtv.vercel.app/
Fuse TV: https://www.fuse.tv/
Connect with the hosts
Robbie Wagner: https://x.com/RobbieWagner
Chuck Carpenter: https://x.com/ChuckCarpenter
Adam Argyle: https://x.com/argyleink
Subscribe and stay in touch
Website: https://whiskey.fm
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whiskey-web-and-whatnot/id1552776603
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/19jiuHAqzeKnkleQUpZxDf
Overcast: https://overcast.fm/itunes1552776603
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WhiskeyWebAndWhatnot
Whiskey Web and Whatnot Merch
Enjoying the podcast and want us to make more? Help support us by picking up some of our fresh merch at https://whiskey.fund. | |||
| Are Developers Overthinking Everything? w/ Bdougie | 04 Dec 2025 | 00:54:40 | |
Recorded live at All Things Open, Robbie and guest co-host Nick Taylor talk with Bdougie (Brian Douglas) about open source’s impact on their careers, the legacy of OpenSauced, and why developer tools succeed—or don’t. They dive into Git philosophy, editor wars, AI’s sometimes-chaotic influence on coding, and how strong frameworks like Rails still shape the ecosystem. In this episode:
Links
Connect with Nick
Connect with Bdougie
Connect with the hosts
Subscribe and stay in touch
Whiskey Web and Whatnot Merch | |||
| Next.js's Speed vs. RedwoodJS's Strength: The Web Development Drama You Can't Ignore | 22 Feb 2024 | 01:05:21 | |
Join hosts RobbieTheWagner and Charles William Carpenter III as they delve into a wide variety of topics on their podcast, Whiskey Web and Whatnot. This episode features a detailed tasting of the Booker's Small Batch, Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – the Storyteller Batch. The hosts talk in-depth about the bourbon, its packaging, and flavors. Robbie and Charles go on to share their thoughts on the intricacies of web development, discussing the pros and cons of latest web frameworks. Additionally, they dive into personal anecdotes, talking about the winter and the joys of playing video games. Tune in for an engaging blend of whiskey sipping, tech talk, and casual banter. Key Takeaways
Links Connect with our hosts Subscribe and stay in touch Whiskey Web and Whatnot Merch Enjoying the podcast and want us to make more? Help support us by picking up some of our fresh merch at https://whiskey.fund/. | |||
| Chris Coyier on Embracing Technology and the Future of Web Development | 15 Feb 2024 | 01:06:28 | |
Hosts Robbie Wagner and Charles William Carpenter III welcome special guest, Chris Coyier the co-founder of CodePen and an avid web enthusiast, to share his insights on the latest trends and happenings in the tech world. Pondering over the pros and cons of GitHub desktop, discussing React's influence on teams and efficiency, grappling with the hot topics around CSS and Tailwind, and airing their thoughts on Apple's latest Vision Pro, the conversation bounces around delightfully. All along, they’re savoring a pour from Barrell Craft Spirits and enjoying the occasional detour into pop culture, fitness, and more. Join them as they navigate through this tech-infused whirlwind with a dash of web nostalgia. Key Takeaways
Links Connect with our hosts Subscribe and stay in touch Whiskey Web and Whatnot Merch Enjoying the podcast and want us to make more? Help support us by picking up some of our fresh merch at https://whiskey.fund/. | |||
| Upgrade Your Lifestyle: From the Ballmer Peak to High Tech Toilet Seats | 08 Feb 2024 | 01:03:23 | |
In this episode, Robbie and Chuck discuss a variety of topics. They initially discuss a controversial tier list video from Theo. They criticize Theo's technology ranking, particularly his negative view of Ember and his endorsement of React and other frameworks. They also highlight the subjective nature of technology preference and suggest that Theo's tier list is more a reflection of his personal biases than an objective assessment of the tools' merits. They move on to discussing Astro, a new static site builder they've been using. They praise Astro for its easy conversion process, quick build times, and the fact that it uses semantic HTML by default. They express their enthusiasm for Astro and mention how they are using it for their own websites. Lastly, Chuck and Robbie deviate from tech talk and share about their Christmas experiences, with Chuck being especially thrilled about receiving a high-end Toto Washlet (bidet toilet seat) as a present. They end their conversation with a humorous debate about the merits of high-end toilet seats, with Robbie stating that the bidet's functions are surprisingly beneficial and make each bathroom visit enjoyable. Key Takeaways
Links Connect with our hosts Subscribe and stay in touch Whiskey Web and Whatnot Merch Enjoying the podcast and want us to make more? Help support us by picking up some of our fresh merch at https://whiskey.fund/. | |||
| A Deep Dive into Managed DNS with Jeff Cronstrom | 06 Feb 2024 | 00:56:37 | |
Join hosts RobbieTheWagner and Charles William Carpenter III as they welcome Jeff Cronstrom, a DNS specialist with experience dating back to the 90s and the founder of CloudfloorDNS. In this episode, they dig into the ins and outs of managed DNS, the benefits it provides, and the distinguishing features of CloudfloorDNS. The hosts also engage in lively discussions about technology, touching on various topics such as PHP, Python, DevOps, and the role of DNS in web development. Alongside the tech talk, the episode features a whiskey tasting session with Fort Hamilton rye whiskey. Key Takeaways
Links Connect with our hosts Subscribe and stay in touch Whiskey Web and Whatnot Merch Enjoying the podcast and want us to make more? Help support us by picking up some of our fresh merch at https://whiskey.fund/. | |||
| The Missteps of GraphQL and the Promise of Progressive Enhancement | 01 Feb 2024 | 01:05:49 | |
In this episode of 'Whiskey, Web, and Whatnot', hosts RobbieTheWagner and Charles William Carpenter III debate podcast names, discuss the feasibility of creating a company, and share insights on tech projects like Biome and Shepherd. They also talk about the importance of leveraging built-in features in tech systems, their take on tech wars, thoughts about the future of JavaScript, and more. Accompanying their tech-related discussions are whiskey tasting notes on Sweetens Cove, Tennessee Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Key Takeaways
Connect with our hosts Subscribe and stay in touch Whiskey Web and Whatnot Merch Enjoying the podcast and want us to make more? Help support us by picking up some of our fresh merch at https://whiskey.fund/. | |||
| Monthly Malarkey: JavaScript Modules, HTML, and Ryan Reynolds | 25 Jan 2024 | 01:03:15 | |
In this episode of Whiskey Web and Whatnot, hosts RobbieTheWagner and Charles William Carpenter III dive into their experiences with the Astro framework and discuss the challenges with JavaScript module types. They also share insights on managing work life around their families and house pets. The casual conversation continues with a discussion on TV series like 'The Last of Us', 'The Changeling', 'Wednesday', and 'Black Bird', as well as an interesting back and forth about international and domestic flight experiences. They sign off with some conjecture about the potential for AI, promising a more detailed conversation about this in the next episode. Key Takeaways
Connect with our hosts Subscribe and stay in touch Promos Whiskey Web and Whatnot Merch Enjoying the podcast and want us to make more? Help support us by picking up some of our fresh merch at https://whiskey.fund/. | |||
| Bearded Talks on Beardless Hosts: VSCode Sidebars, AI, and GraphQL with Kelly Vaughn | 18 Jan 2024 | 01:04:27 | |
In this episode, hosts RobbieTheWagner and Charles William Carpenter III invite guest Kelly Vaughn for a casual discussion over a glass of Bardstown Fusion bourbon. The conversation meanders around various topics including podcasting, the concept of artificial intelligence, their favorite Taylor Swift songs, and owning sports cars. Kelly also talks about keynoting the THAT Conference in Texas and shares a preview of her presentation. Keep listening for their hot takes on tech Twitter fights and some humorous discussions! Key Takeaways
Links Connect with our hosts Subscribe and stay in touch Promos Whiskey Web and Whatnot Merch Enjoying the podcast and want us to make more? Help support us by picking up some of our fresh merch at https://whiskey.fund/. | |||
| Tech Conferences, Remote Work and the Intersection of AI and Web Design with Clark Sell | 11 Jan 2024 | 01:00:52 | |
In this episode of Whiskey Web and Whatnot, hosts RobbieTheWagner and Charles William Carpenter III invite Clark Sell onto the show. Clark, the founder of 'THAT Conference' and 'Unspecified', talks about the genesis of the conference, the current state of tech, and his use of artificial intelligence services likeGPT-3 and DALL-E. The hosts and Clark also try out a new whiskey, discuss football and their disdain for certain programming languages. Tune in to hear about the intersection of tech and whiskey, and get some insights into the future of AI and the tech industry. Key Takeaways
Links Connect with our hosts Subscribe and stay in touch Promos Whiskey Web and Whatnot Merch Enjoying the podcast and want us to make more? Help support us by picking up some of our fresh merch at https://whiskey.fund/. | |||
| Monthly Malarkey: Cat Pee Problems, French Cuisine and Halloween Costume Plans | 04 Jan 2024 | 01:00:08 | |
Are you ready to swap the smooth strokes of a keyboard for the smooth taste of whiskey? Get set to be whisked away on a "Monthly Malarkey" adventure where H Derringer bourbon whiskey takes center stage, cork shaped like a trusty firearm and all. Sit back and sip along as we share our candid taste test findings, from the intricacies of its flavor profile to whether it truly deserves a spot on your top-shelf. But that's not all – join us as we dissect the online shopping landscape, hunting for those electrifying deals, and rev up the conversation with our thoughts on the latest electric vehicle trends. Ever had a face-off with carpet stains and lived to tell the tale? In this episode, we share our own showdown with the notorious Stanley Steamer and our relentless pursuit to vanquish persistent pet odors. Parenting is tough enough without adding finicky food preferences into the mix, so we're also spilling the beans on our strategies for dealing with the dietary whims of little ones and the ever-present battle over screen time. Plus, we ponder the all-important question: To gaze or not to gaze into the camera? Your insights might just steer the future of our show. As we roll out the red carpet for your ears, we recount an escapade through the cobblestoned streets of France, reliving the epicurean ecstasy and the occasional eyebrow-raising dish – oyster ice cream, anyone? We also get real about the pressures of dining in the lap of luxury and share a slice of our Halloween costume conundrums. So, whether you're here for the whiskey wisdom or to peek behind the curtain of our family dynamics, this episode is packed with laughter, revelations, and the kind of honest chatter that feels like a night in with your best pals. Key Takeaways
Connect with our hosts Subscribe and stay in touch Promos Whiskey Web and Whatnot Merch Enjoying the podcast and want us to make more? Help support us by picking up some of our fresh merch at https://whiskey.fund/. | |||
| Hot Takes, Web Technologies, and Learning to Code with Ken Wheeler | 28 Dec 2023 | 01:19:33 | |
Ken Wheeler is a software engineer with well over a decade of experience. He shares stories about his journey into tech, his life, and his hobbies. Ken fell in love with coding as a kid, building his skills from QBasic to PHP and HTML. He recounts his transition from being a rap producer for a decade to stumbling upon a job listing for a web developer using Flash. After twisting the truth to get through the interview, he spent five years building local restaurant websites with Flash animations. Ken dives into some unfiltered hot takes from TypeScript to CSS and the ongoing debate of sidebar placement in VS Code. He shares his love for inferred types over explicit types, arguing in favor of TypeScript's Hindley-Milner type system. In this episode, Ken talks to Robbie and Chuck about his thoughts on types, Tailwind and VS Code, his coding journey from QBasic to HTML as a kid, and his technique for landing his first job. Key Takeaways
Quotes [19:20] - “Typescript is good. It's better than Javascript.” ~ Ken Wheeler [34:50] - “A senior at dickhead.com is not the same as a senior at Google.com.” ~ Ken Wheeler [37:48] - “Webpack actually isn’t that hard, believe it or not, if you just dig into it.” ~ Ken Wheeler Links
Connect with our hosts Subscribe and stay in touch Promos Top-Tier, Full-Stack Software Consultants This show is brought to you by Ship Shape. Ship Shape’s software consultants solve complex software and app development problems with top-tier coding expertise, superior service, and speed. In a sea of choices, our senior-level development crew rises above the rest by delivering the best solutions for fintech, cybersecurity, and other fast-growing industries. Check us out at shipshape.io. | |||
| The Future of Front-End, Vim Wars, and Raising Gamer Kids w/ Nick Taylor | 27 Nov 2025 | 00:47:00 | |
Recorded live at All Things Open, Robbie and guest co-host Jason Torres talk with Nick Taylor about Kubernetes mishaps, DevRel life, front-end nostalgia, CSS wizardry, arcade emulators, and why taste and creativity still matter in an AI-accelerated world. In this episode:
Links
Connect with Jason
Connect with Nick
Connect with the hosts
Subscribe and stay in touch
Whiskey Web and Whatnot Merch | |||
| Open-Source, Payload, and Sim Racing with James Mikrut | 21 Dec 2023 | 01:00:55 | |
The world of programming can be complex, but some developers find beauty in keeping coding clean, simple, and straightforward. This philosophy led developer James Mikrut to write his entire codebase in functional programming. James is the founder and CEO of Payload, an application framework that he describes as a backend with an API and an automatically generated admin panel. The framework is built with React, Node.js, and Typescript. James reveals the evolution of his project from a licensed tool to a thriving open-source platform. He explains the pivotal decision to embrace open-source, and shares how user feedback steered Payload towards greater heights. In this episode, James talks to Robbie and Chuck about the culture of open-source, the reason Payload switched to open-source, and the world of sim racing. Key Takeaways
Quotes [01:10] - “I saw the need for a proper application framework in Typescript and all the modern bells and whistles, and I started Payload.” ~ James Mikrut [32:06] - “The web is winning, and I’m a big fan of that.” ~ James Mikrut [48:25] - “Really, what Payload is, it's a back end with an API and an automatically generated admin panel.” ~ James Mikrut Links
Connect with our hosts Subscribe and stay in touch Promos Whiskey Web and Whatnot Merch Need a last minute holiday gift and want to support the podcast? We have just the thing! Pick up a Whiskey Web and Whatnot Holiday Sweater on our new merch store: https://whiskey.fund/ | |||
| Tech Stacks, Building Apps, and Gaming Nostalgia with David Cramer | 14 Dec 2023 | 00:56:00 | |
Whether you're a seasoned coder or just starting out, the tech you choose can make a big difference. Sometimes choosing the wrong tech can be frustrating and ruin a great project. David Cramer, Co-Founder and CTO of Sentry, joins Chuck and Robbie to talk about some well-known frameworks in the tech space. They discuss the challenge of selecting a good tech stack. David sheds light on the considerations behind choosing Vercel for Remix apps and the complexities of integrating Fastify for backend services. David also explains the downsides of GraphQL and why it is only relevant for Facebook. Later, he reflects on his gaming nostalgia, sharing experiences of gaming as a teenager and the struggle to find time for immersive gaming as an adult. In this episode, David talks to Robbie and Chuck about hot takes on GraphQL, crucial development stack decisions, and some of the challenges with adult gaming. Key Takeaways
Quotes [19:31] - “The maturity I’ve gotten as a developer over the years is to stop caring about silly things.” ~ David Cramer [27:42] - “Nothing great in history has ever been done without a lot of effort.” ~ David Cramer [34:51] - “One of the best things you can do, if you actually want to get good at something is to have a side project.” ~ David Cramer Links
Connect with our hosts Subscribe and stay in touch Whiskey Web and Whatnot Merch Need a last minute holiday gift and want to support the podcast? We have just the thing! Pick up a Whiskey Web and Whatnot Holiday Sweater on our new merch store: https://whiskey.fund/ | |||
| Throwback Frameworks, Tailwind Fandom, and CSS with Jhey Tompkins | 07 Dec 2023 | 01:06:30 | |
Have you ever reflected on the tools that shaped your journey as a developer? Jhey Tompkins, Senior DX Engineer at Vercel, takes a trip down memory lane with Chuck and Robbie, even diving into the topic of Tailwind. As a CSS experimenter, Jhey is a fan of Tailwind. He explains how, beyond all the debates, its real value of simplifying CSS shines through. Jhey also walks through his experience with a Backbone Marionette app that's still hanging out on GitHub pages, highlighting one of its most memorable features—event handling in strings. He also touches on modern frameworks like Vue, Astro, and Svelte, sharing his experience with each. In this episode, Jhey talks to Robbie and Chuck about the inspiration behind his bear logo, experimenting with CSS using Tailwind, and the nostalgia for old-school frameworks. Key Takeaways
Quotes [18:03] - “That’s one thing I’m driven by. I love learning different stuff.” ~ Jhey Tompkins [29:37] - “One of the things I always say to people is, just have a go at building from scratch and then reach for stuff later on.” ~ Jhey Tompkins [56:47] - “Go beyond the documentation, become it.” ~ Jhey Tompkins Links
Connect with our hosts Subscribe and stay in touch Promos Whiskey Web and Whatnot Merch Need a last minute holiday gift and want to support the podcast? We have just the thing! Pick up a Whiskey Web and Whatnot Holiday Sweater on our new merch store: https://whiskey.fund/. | |||
| Cracking the Podcasting Code with Andrew Lisowski and Justin Bennett | 30 Nov 2023 | 01:05:52 | |
Podcasts are a popular way to share knowledge, stories, and ideas in the tech space and the medium continues to evolve rapidly. But what does it truly take to create a successful podcast that captivates an audience? Andrew Lisowski, Senior Software Engineer at Descript, and Justin Bennett, Engineer at Oxide, are seasoned podcasters and hosts of the Devtools FM podcast where they talk to industry leaders about developer tools. They shared insights on the evolving landscape of podcasting, highlighting the importance of having a sustainable workflow and maintaining consistency. Andrew and Justin believe a major key to podcasting is understanding your audience, their preferences, and how to keep them engaged. Throughout the episode, the conversation covers an array of topics, including the influence of developer tools, the resurgence of HTML-first web development, and the role of WebAssembly (Wasm) in shaping the future of the web. In this episode, Andrew and Justin talk to Robbie and Chuck about developer tools, the future of tech, and the world of podcasting in the tech space. Key Takeaways
Quotes [20:32] - “I don’t actually think Git is good. It is a utility, and it is good enough for most cases.” ~ Justin Bennett [33:22] - “If there is a future for Webpack, it’s Rspack.” ~ Andrew Lisowski [36:46] - “The best frameworks, in my opinion, learn from what other folks are doing.” ~ Justin Bennett Links
Connect with our hosts Subscribe and stay in touch Promos Top-Tier, Full-Stack Software Consultants This show is brought to you by Ship Shape. Ship Shape’s software consultants solve complex software and app development problems with top-tier coding expertise, superior service, and speed. In a sea of choices, our senior-level development crew rises above the rest by delivering the best solutions for fintech, cybersecurity, and other fast-growing industries. Check us out at shipshape.io. | |||
| Leveraging CSS, Web Design, and Gaming UI with Adam Argyle | 23 Nov 2023 | 01:06:07 | |
Adam Argyle, Chrome CSS Developer Advocate at Google, is not your typical CSS expert. He is big on education and hosts two podcasts that aim to bridge the gap and help developers embrace the challenges of CSS. Adam approaches CSS with a dose of humility, acknowledging that it's one of the most complex and least understood aspects of web development. He’s not just a CSS advocate, he is also a gamer at heart, and throughout the episode, he connects the dots between CSS and the gaming industry. Adam highlights an issue in game development - the oversight of UI design. He pointed out that most efforts are concentrated on the technical aspects, often leaving the player experience lacking. He even shared his vision for a specialized UI agency that focuses exclusively on enhancing user interfaces in the gaming world. In this episode, Adam talks to Robbie and Chuck about leveraging CSS to improve your designs, the Tailwind vs vanilla CSS debate, and the challenges of building UI for games. Key Takeaways
Quotes [19.03] - “Everybody is pitching and selling, and you either know how to do it or you don’t.” ~ Adam Argyle [21:09] - “Here’s my hot take about CSS, it’s the only programming language that delivers types, and it forces them at run time.” ~ Adam Argyle [26:31] - “One of the most magical fairy dust things you can sprinkle on your website is View Transitions.” ~ Adam Argyle Links
Connect with our hosts Subscribe and stay in touch Promos Top-Tier, Full-Stack Software Consultants This show is brought to you by Ship Shape. Ship Shape’s software consultants solve complex software and app development problems with top-tier coding expertise, superior service, and speed. In a sea of choices, our senior-level development crew rises above the rest by delivering the best solutions for fintech, cybersecurity, and other fast-growing industries. Check us out at shipshape.io. | |||
| Learning Angular, Leadership Opportunities, and Google Culture with Sarah Drasner | 16 Nov 2023 | 01:00:54 | |
The transition from coder to manager isn’t easy for developers who love the creative satisfaction and thrill of coding. But both sides of the fence have unique challenges. Sarah Drasner, Senior Director of Engineering, Web, Android, iOS, and Multiplatform Core Infrastructure at Google, didn’t seek out engineering leadership. Sarah admits that she sometimes misses the flow state of coding but has a new appreciation for management now that she is on the other side. She discusses the culture at Google, navigating the company’s tech stack, and how much she values working with a dedicated and hardworking team. Beyond her tech pursuits, Sarah shines a light on She Code Africa, a nonprofit organization she supports, empowering women in tech. In this episode, Sarah talks to Robbie and Chuck about why she initially avoided Angular, the challenges of management, and the flow state she misses from coding. Key Takeaways
Quotes [22:48] - “I like the idea of being explicit, but I appreciate when languages are a little more bulletproof.” ~ Sarah Drasner [43:56] - “Dealing with change as a developer is the main reason why you use a framework.” ~ Sarah Drasner [45:58] - “That’s the reason why so many senior devs go towards this ‘it depends’ way of thinking because we see many different implementations over time.” ~ Sarah Drasner Links
Connect with our hosts Subscribe and stay in touch Promos Top-Tier, Full-Stack Software Consultants This show is brought to you by Ship Shape. Ship Shape’s software consultants solve complex software and app development problems with top-tier coding expertise, superior service, and speed. In a sea of choices, our senior-level development crew rises above the rest by delivering the best solutions for fintech, cybersecurity, and other fast-growing industries. Check us out at shipshape.io. | |||
| Engineering Management vs Individual Contributor, Travel, and Inflation with Taylor Poindexter | 09 Nov 2023 | 00:58:56 | |
Being a great engineer doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be a great engineering manager. So how do you know if a leadership role is right for you? Taylor Poindexter, Software Engineering Manager at Spotify, believes you have to try before you can decide and also know when to walk away. Taylor started out as a tech lead. She knew she wanted to help people advance their careers, and that passion led her to management. She emphasizes that emotional intelligence and patience are a major part of the role and the signs of an effective leader because people are complex. She talks about some of her personal strengths as a leader and the importance of motivating your team, giving feedback, and taking uncomfortable criticism. Managing people isn’t an easy job, and Taylor’s advice for engineers who realize they don’t love leadership is to walk away before creating an unhappy work culture for your team. In this episode, Taylor talks to Robbie and Chuck about tech hot takes, building effective engineering cultures, and the challenges and rewards of being an engineering manager. Key Takeaways
Quotes [19:32] - “I think I’m really good at motivating people. I think partially because, at the end of the day, they know I’m really honest and trustworthy.” ~ Taylor Poindexter [20:19] - “The constant iteration of improving things makes the team a good place.” ~ Taylor Poindexter [23:03] - “I realized that it was so important to me to give somebody else an enhanced career in whatever way I could.” ~ Taylor Poindexter Links
Connect with our hosts Subscribe and stay in touch Top-Tier, Full-Stack Software Consultants This show is brought to you by Ship Shape. Ship Shape’s software consultants solve complex software and app development problems with top-tier coding expertise, superior service, and speed. In a sea of choices, our senior-level development crew rises above the rest by delivering the best solutions for fintech, cybersecurity, and other fast-growing industries. Check us out at shipshape.io. | |||
| Tech Talk, Social Media Use, and Netflix with The Primeagen | 02 Nov 2023 | 01:35:46 | |
The Primeagen is known for embracing controversy. He returns to the podcast for a conversation on a range of topics like masculinity, social media, and pornography. He also opens up about his father’s passing and his journey growing up with a single mother. Michael Paulson aka The Primeagen, Software Engineer at Netflix, is an influential figure in the tech community. He shares his thoughts on React's evolution and the impact it has on web applications and offers a behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of Netflix and the problem-solving initiatives he led. He also discusses social media use and explains how he leverages platforms like Twitter, Twitch, and YouTube to express his thoughts while fostering an engaging online community. In this episode, The Primeagen talks to Robbie and Chuck about his views on frameworks like React, the perils of pornography, and how he is saving Netflix millions of dollars. Key Takeaways
Quotes [18:50] - “It feels like React, at this point, is in this state where it’s the industry standard, but I don’t feel like people are happy with it.” ~ The Primeagen [24:45] - “When people start relying on you as some sort of open source provider, you do still have some level of obligation.” ~ The Primeagen [35:26] - “The thing about Bun is that I really like it. It’s just not 1.0.” ~ The Primeagen Links
Connect with our hosts Subscribe and stay in touch Top-Tier, Full-Stack Software Consultants This show is brought to you by Ship Shape. Ship Shape’s software consultants solve complex software and app development problems with top-tier coding expertise, superior service, and speed. In a sea of choices, our senior-level development crew rises above the rest by delivering the best solutions for fintech, cybersecurity, and other fast-growing industries. Check us out at shipshape.io. | |||
| Privacy, Cyber Crime Stories, and Tech with Jack Rhysider | 26 Oct 2023 | 01:01:33 | |
Social media platforms have become our virtual playgrounds, and the choices we make in this realm can have profound impacts on our lives. Are we sacrificing our privacy for the sake of convenience Jack Rhysider, Creator of the Darknet Diaries podcast, brings an interesting perspective on the world of online communities, privacy concerns, and the delicate balance between convenience and safeguarding personal data. He blends his creativity and knack for storytelling with his expertise in digital security to report some of the fascinating, and sometimes unsettling, stories from the dark corners of the internet. Jack shares his thoughts on whether it’s harmful for people to flock to online communities where everyone is like them. He also delves into his opinions on Twitter and the privacy issues that arise from using the platform. In this episode, Jack talks to Robbie and Chuck about his experience with various programming languages, the dynamic world of social media, and the perpetual tug-of-war between privacy and convenience in the digital age. Key Takeaways
Quotes [02:48] - “That’s my favorite when truth is stranger than fiction.” ~ Jack Rhysider [23:11] - “I used to have the motto, ‘Windows at work, Apple at home, and Linux everywhere else.’” ~ Jack Rhysider [32:57] - “Always it’s been, I want those people that can’t tell their story, I want the story that’s never been told, I want that secret stuff.” ~ Jack Rhysider Links
Connect with our hosts Subscribe and stay in touch Promos Top-Tier, Full-Stack Software Consultants This show is brought to you by Ship Shape. Ship Shape’s software consultants solve complex software and app development problems with top-tier coding expertise, superior service, and speed. In a sea of choices, our senior-level development crew rises above the rest by delivering the best solutions for fintech, cybersecurity, and other fast-growing industries. Check us out at shipshape.io. | |||
| Self-Taught Engineering, Boot Camps, and Veganism with Welch Canavan | 19 Oct 2023 | 00:49:40 | |
Some engineers have a linear path to their careers, but most of them take unconventional routes to become a developer. For Welch Canavan, Principal Engineer II at Stitch Fix, his journey into coding was a complete accident. Welch was thrown into coding after the entire senior team above him left the company. He had two choices, sink or swim. With very little coding experience, he decided to tackle the problem-solving on his own and pick up the pieces that the senior team left. That experience propelled him into his career today. According to Welch, once you are motivated enough to learn, you might not need to invest in a boot camp. He also touches on some important aspects of tech like the complexities of maintaining state in URLs and highlights the innovative solutions by T3 stack. In this episode, Welch talks to Robbie and Chuck about his journey into becoming a self-taught engineer, his responsibilities at Stitch Fix, and how he quit veganism after 20 years. Key Takeaways
Quotes [13:05] - “I have been making websites as a hobby essentially since I was in middle school.” ~ Welch Canavan [24:21] - “I kind of got a weird amount into my career without learning much about code.” ~ Welch Canavan [29:56] - “I really am a big believer that the only worth in a progressively more senior engineer is their ability to teach other people.” ~ Welch Canavan Links
Connect with our hosts Subscribe and stay in touch Top-Tier, Full-Stack Software Consultants This show is brought to you by Ship Shape. Ship Shape’s software consultants solve complex software and app development problems with top-tier coding expertise, superior service, and speed. In a sea of choices, our senior-level development crew rises above the rest by delivering the best solutions for fintech, cybersecurity, and other fast-growing industries. Check us out at shipshape.io. | |||
| From Librarian to Developer: w/ Roxy Rodriguez-Becker | 20 Nov 2025 | 00:45:21 | |
Recorded live at All Things Open, Robbie and guest co-host Jason Torres talk with Roxy Rodriquez-Becker about her journey from educator and librarian to aspiring developer, the community supporting her transition, navigating motherhood and advocacy, and how her son’s medical challenges inspired her to build a life-changing G-tube feeding app. In this episode:
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| The Framework Wars, Certifications, and Cincinnati Chili with Dr. Kate Holterhoff | 12 Oct 2023 | 01:00:20 | |
As the tech industry advances at breakneck speed, traditional university programs are struggling to keep pace. Outdated course content and failure to adapt are encouraging developers to go the untraditional route. Can certifications carry the weight of tech education? Dr. Kate Holterhoff, Analyst at RedMonk, is an educator championing certifications in the tech space. Her background in academia, including teaching stints at institutions like Carnegie Mellon and Georgia Tech gave her a wealth of insights on what is best for the future of tech education. Kate sheds light on the challenges faced by tech education, emphasizing the role of community-driven learning, and exploring the impact of certifications on the modern job market. She also explores the contrast between the knowledge gained in traditional universities and the skills demanded by the tech industry. In this episode, Dr. Holterhoff talks to Chuck and Robbie about her thoughts on popular X (Twitter) debates, the shifting landscape of tech education, and the role of certifications in developer education. Key Takeaways
Quotes [21:41] - “React isn’t going anywhere. So if what you’re worried about is a job, React is a good place to go.” ~ Dr. Kate Holterhoff [28:58] - “That’s what always comes up when I think about AI. Everyone has got a chatbot now.” ~ Dr. Kate Holterhoff [35:02] - “Folks with CS degrees, information science degrees. They actually have to upskill themselves after they get that degree.” ~ Dr. Kate Holterhoff Links
Connect with our hosts Subscribe and stay in touch Top-Tier, Full-Stack Software Consultants This show is brought to you by Ship Shape. Ship Shape’s software consultants solve complex software and app development problems with top-tier coding expertise, superior service, and speed. In a sea of choices, our senior-level development crew rises above the rest by delivering the best solutions for fintech, cybersecurity, and other fast-growing industries. Check us out at shipshape.io. | |||
| Adaptability, HTMX, and DivOps with Jonathan Creamer | 05 Oct 2023 | 01:00:45 | |
Jonathan Creamer, Senior Software Engineer at Microsoft and a tech enthusiast, is carving out a niche in the world of front-end tooling. He's even coined the term "DivOps" with the help of his team. Jonathan is passionate about creating and experimenting with new tools that enhance developer workflows. He is on a mission to reduce the reliance on YAML configuration in CI/CD pipelines by converting repetitive tasks into code. For him, it's all about making these processes more efficient, maintainable, and testable. Jonathan shares one of his core beliefs, which is the importance of staying adaptable in a tech career. He encourages developers to stay open to new languages and concepts. His advice? Invest time in specializing for a few years to gain an in-depth understanding, then move on to the next thing. According to Jonathan, the hallmark of a senior engineer is someone who continually broadens their skill set. In this episode, Jonathan talks to Robbie and Chuck about hot takes on popular tech topics, the world of front-end tooling, and the importance of staying adaptable as an engineer. Key Takeaways
Quotes [30:51] - “There’s no way in Office we’re going to decide, let's get rid of the 20 million lines of React code that we have in our code base and switch to HTMX.” ~ Jonathan Creamer [35:36] - “There are so many ways to solve problems on front-end development. There’s just no reason to bash anybody for anything.” ~ Jonathan Creamer [47:51] - “If you’ve been writing front-end code for 10 years and you don’t know how back-end works still, I would imagine you probably do.” ~ Jonathan Creamer Links
Connect with our hosts Subscribe and stay in touch Top-Tier, Full-Stack Software Consultants This show is brought to you by Ship Shape. Ship Shape’s software consultants solve complex software and app development problems with top-tier coding expertise, superior service, and speed. In a sea of choices, our senior-level development crew rises above the rest by delivering the best solutions for fintech, cybersecurity, and other fast-growing industries. Check us out at shipshape.io. | |||
| SST, AWS, and Ember with Dax Raad | 28 Sep 2023 | 00:54:21 | |
Dax Raad, Founder of Bumi and Ironbay and SST Core Maintainer, is a passionate open-source developer who knows his way around the startup tech space with over a decade of experience under his belt. He is intimately involved in the Serverless Stack Toolkit (SST) and sheds some light on what it’s all about. Dax reveals the story behind the inception of SST and its unique role in the software development ecosystem. He explores how SST is revolutionizing the way developers approach serverless applications by streamlining deployment on AWS while also focusing on developer experience. Dax also touches on the integration of Next.js and how SST has become an essential tool for deploying Next.js applications on AWS seamlessly. The discussion shifts gears to the world of cloud computing, where AWS is the big kingpin. Dax explains how being the first big player gives AWS a huge advantage in terms of money and customers. Other companies like Google Cloud and Azure have a hard time catching up because of AWS’ head start.
In this episode, Dax talks to Robbie and Chuck about his experience in early-stage startups and open-source projects, SST's role in simplifying AWS development, and how JSON API and Ember.js are changing the landscape of web development. Key Takeaways
Quotes [25:43] - “I don’t believe you can catch up with a company that started before you in the cloud business.” ~ Dax Raad [33:08] - “It is extremely tedious. It is extremely hard to keep up with intentional changes that Vercel and Next.js make but also breakages that they do accidentally.” ~ Dax Raad [33:43] - “The vast majority of Next.js users, Next,js isn’t the thing they live and die by.” ~ Dax Raad Links
Connect with our hosts Subscribe and stay in touch Top-Tier, Full-Stack Software Consultants This show is brought to you by Ship Shape. Ship Shape’s software consultants solve complex software and app development problems with top-tier coding expertise, superior service, and speed. In a sea of choices, our senior-level development crew rises above the rest by delivering the best solutions for fintech, cybersecurity, and other fast-growing industries. Check us out at shipshape.io. | |||
| Hot Takes, Ember Data, and Open Source with Chris Thoburn (Runspired) | 21 Sep 2023 | 01:08:51 | |
After years in the tech game, senior developers know that it’s important to find a balance between innovation and stability in engineering. How can developers strike the balance between embracing new tools and ensuring the steadfastness of their applications over the long haul? Chris Thoburn (Runspired), Staff Software Engineer at AuditBoard, is a big deal in the open-source community, particularly within the Ember community. He explains how his journey has been a unique blend of teamwork and adapting and elaborates on the philosophy behind Ember Data. Chris mentions that the framework is like a solid foundation, built to provide a consistent and stable data layer while allowing developers to evolve their apps over the years. His vision is for Ember Data to be a trusted companion for developers creating web apps. In this episode, Runspired talks to Robbie and Chuck about his views on controversial tech topics like HTMX, the power of Ember Data and its role in creating stable, scalable, and evolving applications, and the pivotal role that open-source plays in shaping technology. Key Takeaways
Quotes [27:25] - “I’ve been around enough, seen enough to realize that getting really caught up in one approach is just an exercise in long-term frustration that I don’t need.” ~ Runspired [35:35] - “How do you get a company to invest in open-source? It's not about open-source, it's about value to a company.” ~ Runspired [51:07] - “I think we are approaching a very different era in the maturity of Javascript development.” ~ Runspired Links
Connect with our hosts Subscribe and stay in touch Top-Tier, Full-Stack Software Consultants This show is brought to you by Ship Shape. Ship Shape’s software consultants solve complex software and app development problems with top-tier coding expertise, superior service, and speed. In a sea of choices, our senior-level development crew rises above the rest by delivering the best solutions for fintech, cybersecurity, and other fast-growing industries. Check us out at shipshape.io. | |||
| Vite, Debugging, and PNPM with Ed Faulkner | 14 Sep 2023 | 00:54:35 | |
The landscape of tech is always changing and adaptability is key. Ed Faulkner, Ember Core Team Member and Founder at Polynomial LLC shares his insights into the dynamic world of software engineering. Ed kicks things off by shedding light on the importance of using efficient tools in software development. Ed dives into Vite, a build tool known for its speed and user-friendliness. He explains how Vite tackles the slow development process that some old-school build tools bring along. While Vite might not fit every situation, Ed highlights its usefulness for projects where speedy development matters. The conversation takes a turn as Ed dives into the world of package management, discussing PNPM and how mixing Vite with Ember can shake things up for developers. In this episode, Ed talks to Robbie and Chuck about the challenges with package management, how using Vite with Ember will impact developer experience and the value of knowing how to debug. Key Takeaways
Quotes [08:35] - “As my own career has progressed, I’m definitely a library person. I’m happier building the tools to build applications.” ~ Ed Faulkner [29:30] - “Software is hard. You can’t work in software and not hit bugs on a daily basis.” ~ Ed Faulkner [40:35] - “Some stuff is really hard to choose your own adventure with and package management is just one of them.” ~ Ed Faulkner Links
Connect with our hosts Subscribe and stay in touch Top-Tier, Full-Stack Software Consultants This show is brought to you by Ship Shape. Ship Shape’s software consultants solve complex software and app development problems with top-tier coding expertise, superior service, and speed. In a sea of choices, our senior-level development crew rises above the rest by delivering the best solutions for fintech, cybersecurity, and other fast-growing industries. Check us out at shipshape.io. | |||
| Polaris, Vite, and Exploring the Future of Ember with Jared Galanis and Preston Sego | 07 Sep 2023 | 01:03:23 | |
Recorded at EmberConf from the heart of the Multnomah Whiskey Library with Jared Galanis, Software Engineer on the Ember Learning Team, and Preston Sego aka NullVoxPopuli, Software Artificer at AuditBoard, Chuck and Robbie delve into the evolution and future of the Ember framework. Though Ember isn’t often in the spotlight for being cutting-edge, Jared and Preston unravel the exciting developments in the Ember ecosystem. The conversation centers around Ember Polaris, the eagerly awaited next edition of the Ember framework. Preston explains the concept of "editions" in semantic versioning and how Polaris aims to provide a cohesive story for integrating new features. They also discuss Ember's shift to Vite as a modern build system, resulting in improved performance, startup time, and enhanced plugin ecosystem. Jared sheds light on the Ember learning team and his background in front-end and back-end development. He reinforces Ember's commitment to offering smooth upgrade paths for applications over the years, giving developers a sense of security and longevity. In this episode, Jared and Preston talk to Robbie and Chuck about the upcoming release of Ember Polaris and its compatibility with Vite, the unique reactivity primitives of Ember, and how changes can modernize the Ember framework while ensuring long-term app stability. Key Takeaways
Quotes [18:58] - “One thing that I’ve appreciated about Tailwind is that it has done a better job of teaching people actually CSS than where people go to learn CSS.” ~ Preston Sego [30:07] - “It’s exciting to see Ember moving towards being able to use standardized build systems that are used widely throughout Javascript.” ~ Jared Galanis [52:34] - “People in the React ecosystem are perfectly fine with half-baked things and are willing to try an idea and run with it in their production code.” ~ Preston Sego Links
Connect with our hosts Subscribe and stay in touch Top-Tier, Full-Stack Software Consultants This show is brought to you by Ship Shape. Ship Shape’s software consultants solve complex software and app development problems with top-tier coding expertise, superior service, and speed. In a sea of choices, our senior-level development crew rises above the rest by delivering the best solutions for fintech, cybersecurity, and other fast-growing industries. Check us out at shipshape.io. | |||
| Tech Topics, Traditional Jobs, and Grinding at Work with Jason Lengstorf | 31 Aug 2023 | 00:55:48 | |
Work-life balance can feel like an impossible expectation to meet. For developers and other tech professionals, it’s even harder to unplug when your profession and personal life are connected to the web. Can developers resist the urge to overwork and embrace non-traditional ways of working? Jason Lengstorf, Host of Learn With Jason, believes "your job doesn't matter". He explores the concept of "grinding" and shares his ideas on the nuances of working long hours and the importance of maintaining a balanced approach. His perspective revolves around the idea that while putting in extra hours to learn and develop skills can be beneficial, overcommitting to work and neglecting other aspects of life can lead to a loss of creativity, identity, and overall well-being. In this episode, Jason talks to Robbie and Chuck about his opinion on popular Twitter tech topics, the effects of grinding in your career, and whether traditional jobs have become obsolete. Key Takeaways
Quotes [20:14] - “I want to build cool shit for the internet and the tools are just tools.” ~ Jason Lengstorf [30:00] - “I feel very strongly that the idea of being always on is detrimental.” ~ Jason Lengstorf [40:27] - “The internet is an information vehicle and the information that we’re conveying most of the time is to convince you to put some dollars into somebody else's pocket.” ~ Jason Lengstorf Links
Connect with our hosts Subscribe and stay in touch Top-Tier, Full-Stack Software Consultants This show is brought to you by Ship Shape. Ship Shape’s software consultants solve complex software and app development problems with top-tier coding expertise, superior service, and speed. In a sea of choices, our senior-level development crew rises above the rest by delivering the best solutions for fintech, cybersecurity, and other fast-growing industries. Check us out at shipshape.io. | |||
| Hot Takes, React, and WebAssembly with Jack Herrington | 24 Aug 2023 | 00:48:31 | |
By now we know that an engineer with skin in the game is a senior engineer. Experience teaches wisdom and Jack Herrington, Principal Full Stack Engineer, has plenty of it. Jack dissects the various programming languages from old school to new school, sharing anecdotes and opinions on PHP, ColdFusion, and React. He explores the ongoing JS fatigue phenomenon and emerging alternatives like Deno and Quick. Though Jack is up to date on the latest in tech, he questions the need for complex toolchains and whether simpler solutions, like HTML and JavaScript, might suffice. In this episode, Jack talks to Robbie and Chuck about polarizing tech topics, whether React Server Components changed React, and the state of Web Assembly. Key Takeaways
Quotes [14:04] - “If you give somebody else your problem to solve, they’re becoming a better engineer while you are not.” ~ Jack Herrington [32:30] - “There’s a whole form validation system right in the browser, and nobody uses it.” ~ Jack Herrington [48:05] - “The approach that I have to coding is very practical. I like building stuff for customers, so that's the way I teach it.” ~ Jack Herrington Links
Connect with our hosts Subscribe and stay in touch Top-Tier, Full-Stack Software Consultants This show is brought to you by Ship Shape. Ship Shape’s software consultants solve complex software and app development problems with top-tier coding expertise, superior service, and speed. In a sea of choices, our senior-level development crew rises above the rest by delivering the best solutions for fintech, cybersecurity, and other fast-growing industries. Check us out at shipshape.io. | |||
| Hot Takes, Developer Relations, and AI with Rizel Scarlett | 17 Aug 2023 | 00:51:00 | |
The tech industry is in the middle of an AI revolution, and some developers are wondering if their jobs are at stake. Rizel Scarlett, Developer Advocate at Github, is encouraging developers to embrace the technology instead of fearing it. As a developer advocate, Rizel’s mission is to empower developers with the knowledge to navigate open source and make the most of GitHub’s tools - including Github’s AI pair programmer, Copilot. She sheds light on some of the features of Copilot that make it stand out among traditional code editors. She introduces Copilot for Docs, Voice, CLI, and Chat which are expected to elevate the coding experience, enhance coding efficiency, improve accessibility, and offer insights for developers of all skill levels. Rizel is a major AI advocate and she believes the technology will make coding more inclusive and user-friendly, allowing a wider range of individuals to participate actively in the developer community. In this episode, Rizel talks to Chuck and Robbie about the importance of technical skills in advocacy roles, how AI is transforming coding, and using AI to foster inclusivity in tech. Key Takeaways
Quotes [15:24] - “I think particularly, it’s helpful if a developer advocate is willing to be technical or is already technical.” ~ Rizel Scarlett [22:55] - “What people should start thinking about more is just having range on the team.” ~ Rizel Scarlett [32:45] - “GitHub is going all in on the AI front.” ~ Rizel Scarlett Links
Connect with our hosts Subscribe and stay in touch Top-Tier, Full-Stack Software Consultants This show is brought to you by Ship Shape. Ship Shape’s software consultants solve complex software and app development problems with top-tier coding expertise, superior service, and speed. In a sea of choices, our senior-level development crew rises above the rest by delivering the best solutions for fintech, cybersecurity, and other fast-growing industries. Check us out at shipshape.io. | |||
| Tech Talk, TypeScript, and Empowering Engineers with Shaundai Person | 10 Aug 2023 | 01:00:33 | |
Shaundai Person, Senior Software Engineer at Netflix, is a TypeScript convert, educator, and advocate for the programming language. But her unconventional journey started as a self-taught engineer working in sales before discovering her passion for coding during maternity leave. Shaundai candidly shares her personal journey from initially disliking TypeScript to becoming an enthusiastic advocate for its adoption. As a self-taught engineer, Shaundai describes her transformation from a "YOLO" coding mindset to appreciating the structured benefits that TypeScript offers, leading to more organized and efficient codebases. Her upcoming course, "TypeScript for JavaScript Developers," aims to bridge the gap between skepticism and appreciation for TypeScript, helping engineers embrace its potential for making a meaningful impact on their projects and careers. In this episode, Shaundai talks to Chuck and Robbie about how she landed her role at Netflix, her journey from being a TypeScript skeptic to an advocate, and her TypeScript course called Typescript to Javascript. Key Takeaways
Quotes [31:55] - “TypeScript was something I hated until I learned what the purpose was.” ~ Shaundai Person [34:11] - “I was in love with JavaScript because it fit my personal values.” ~ Shaundai Person [51:39] - “If I can spend time with the people that I love in the ways that I want to, then this is the most beautiful life that I can imagine for myself.” ~ Shaundai Person Links
Connect with our hosts Subscribe and stay in touch Top-Tier, Full-Stack Software Consultants This show is brought to you by Ship Shape. Ship Shape’s software consultants solve complex software and app development problems with top-tier coding expertise, superior service, and speed. In a sea of choices, our senior-level development crew rises above the rest by delivering the best solutions for fintech, cybersecurity, and other fast-growing industries. Check us out at shipshape.io. | |||
| How to Build a Career When the Rules Keep Changing w/ Taylor Desseyn & Jason Torres | 13 Nov 2025 | 00:44:38 | |
Recorded live at All Things Open, Robbie talks with Taylor Desseyn and Jason Torres about the future of tech careers, AI’s impact on hiring, and why relationships still matter more than résumés. They share insights from years in recruiting and community building, stressing that genuine connection—not cold applications—opens doors in today’s market. In this episode:
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| TypeScript, React, and API Issues with Matt Pocock | 03 Aug 2023 | 00:54:10 | |
Matt Pocock, a TypeScript educator and author of Total TypeScript, became an evangelist for the programing language after searching for a solution for a project plagued by API contract issues. When TypeScript brought newfound confidence and increased velocity to the team, Matt never looked back. Matt highlights the benefits of functional components and the seamless transition from class components to hooks, leading to a happier development environment for everyone involved. From improved error detection to real-time catching of potential issues, TypeScript provides an unmatched level of comfort and productivity for developers, making it a must-have in modern development. For developers like Matt, TypeScript is more than just a tool—it's an indispensable companion. His love for TypeScript inspired him to dedicate his career to teaching other developers how to adopt and leverage the language for optimal efficiency. In this episode, Matt talks to Robbie and Chuck about his journey with TypeScript, his experience with React hooks, and advice on transitioning a team to Typescript. Key Takeaways
Quotes [23:55] - “TypeScript gives you a different way of coding, and a different way is, you feel like you could just get away with anything.” ~ Matt Pocock [25:21] - “For me, when I’m not using TypeScript, it feels like I’m coding in low power mode.” ~ Matt Pocock [26:35] - “If someone gets really into TypeScript, they just love it, and they don’t stop loving it.” ~ Matt Pocock Links
Connect with our hosts Subscribe and stay in touch Top-Tier, Full-Stack Software Consultants This show is brought to you by Ship Shape. Ship Shape’s software consultants solve complex software and app development problems with top-tier coding expertise, superior service, and speed. In a sea of choices, our senior-level development crew rises above the rest by delivering the best solutions for fintech, cybersecurity, and other fast-growing industries. Check us out at shipshape.io. | |||
| Frontend Feud: CSS Pod vs Whiskey Web and Whatnot | 28 Jul 2023 | 00:50:50 | |
Una & Adam from The CSS Podcast defend their Frontend Feud title against challengers Chuck & Robbie from Whiskey Web and Whatnot. Let’s get it on! For more info, see: https://changelog.com/jsparty/285 | |||
| Tech Interviews, Contract-To-Hire, and Authenticity with Taylor Desseyn | 28 Jul 2023 | 00:53:50 | |
Navigating the current job market is proving to be a daunting task for developers, even experienced ones like Chuck. Does the hiring process need to be fixed? Taylor Desseyn, former Managing Director at Vaco, and a seasoned recruiter with 12 years of experience, believes so. Taylor advocates for a much-needed shift in mindset among hiring managers, emphasizing the importance of meeting candidates where they are. He suggests measures such as contract-to-hire options and redo opportunities, allowing candidates to show their true potential beyond the limitations of a single interview. Taylor believes a new approach would invite more diversity and inclusion into the hiring process and make the experience more fair and effective for the candidates and the employers.
In this episode, Taylor talks to Robbie and Chuck about the flaws in the hiring process in the tech industry, the impact of hiring flaws on candidates, and potential solutions to create a more inclusive and effective system. Key Takeaways
Quotes [11:18] - “To me, I would say that company missed out on a great talent, you, because they were too concerned about the industry.” ~ Taylor Desseyn [22:50] - “I think 60% to 70% of the interview needs to be the company selling the opportunity to the candidate.” ~ Taylor Desseyn [36:14] - “Because of COVID, one thing I’ve realized is that we’re all overworked.” ~ Taylor Desseyn Links
Connect with our hosts Subscribe and stay in touch Top-Tier, Full-Stack Software Consultants This show is brought to you by Ship Shape. Ship Shape’s software consultants solve complex software and app development problems with top-tier coding expertise, superior service, and speed. In a sea of choices, our senior-level development crew rises above the rest by delivering the best solutions for fintech, cybersecurity, and other fast-growing industries. Check us out at shipshape.io. | |||
| Whiskey Web and Whatnot 100th Episode Round Table with Chris Coyier, Scott Tolinski, Tracy Lee, and Wes Bos | 20 Jul 2023 | 00:54:33 | |
In this milestone 100th episode, Chuck and Robbie are joined by a round table of industry experts and web developers with different philosophies, preferences, and experiences in the tech space to share their opinions on the state of web development. The round table includes Chris Coyier, Co-Founder of CodePen; Scott Tolinski, former Owner of Level Up Tutorials; Tracy Lee, CEO and Co-Founder of This Dot Labs; and Wes Bos, Founder of BosType Inc. The panel shares their opinions on the state of web development, reflecting on the journey from vanilla JavaScript to the rise of Tailwind CSS. They delve into the impact of Tailwind CSS on modern web development, discuss exciting new front-end APIs like the View Transitions API and Anchor Positioning API, and emphasize the importance of mastering JavaScript fundamentals. In this episode, Robbie and Chuck bring industry experts together for a captivating discussion filled with valuable insights on the evolution of front-end development, new web technologies, and their interests outside of web development. Key Takeaways
Quotes [09:11] - “CSS is getting so complex now that it has to be compiled.” ~ Wes Bos [23:15] - “Yeah, man, HTML rules.” ~ Scott Tolinski [25:33] - “People stopped using Google as much, they’re going to AI.” ~ Wes Bos Links
Connect with our hosts Subscribe and stay in touch Top-Tier, Full-Stack Software Consultants This show is brought to you by Ship Shape. Ship Shape’s software consultants solve complex software and app development problems with top-tier coding expertise, superior service, and speed. In a sea of choices, our senior-level development crew rises above the rest by delivering the best solutions for fintech, cybersecurity, and other fast-growing industries. Check us out at shipshape.io. | |||
| OpenSauced, Developer Advocacy, and AI with Brian Douglas | 13 Jul 2023 | 00:51:18 | |
Brian Douglas, Founder and CEO at OpenSauced, learned to code while pursuing his MBA and stayed up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies by tuning into podcasts and blogs.
Brian’s passion eventually caught the attention of Netlify, where he joined as an advocate. Later, he became the first advocate at GitHub, building out a developer relations team. Brian shares insights into the open-source world and the challenges faced by maintainers. He introduces his current venture, OpenSauced.pizza, which aims to improve GitHub insights and provide valuable knowledge about open-source contributions and tech debt. Brian mentions plans to expand the platform's support to include other Git host providers like GitLab and Bitbucket. Key Takeaways
Quotes [21:08] - “Everyone complains about how many Spidermans have we seen or Batman origin stories we’ve seen, but it’s the same thing on the web.” ~ Brian Douglas [26:53] - “We want to move away from the big brother-like tools that exist.” ~ Brian Douglas [39:11] - “My thing is, just do it. If it doesn't work out, use all that to start a new one.” ~ Brian Douglas Links
Connect with our hosts Subscribe and stay in touch Top-Tier, Full-Stack Software Consultants This show is brought to you by Ship Shape. Ship Shape’s software consultants solve complex software and app development problems with top-tier coding expertise, superior service, and speed. In a sea of choices, our senior-level development crew rises above the rest by delivering the best solutions for fintech, cybersecurity, and other fast-growing industries. Check us out at shipshape.io. | |||
| Tech Careers, Hot Takes, and Wix with Emmy Cao and Yoav Abrahami | 06 Jul 2023 | 01:03:08 | |
Chuck and Robbie are joined by Emmy Cao, Developer Advocate at Wix, and Yoav Abrahami, Chief Architect at Wix at the RenderATL 2023 conference to talk all things tech, including whether low code, no code tools are making developers obsolete. Emmy and Yoav delve into Wix’s code-first approach, where users can write code and then create screens that modify that code visually. They highlight the accessibility of Wix's platform for designers and individuals new to development, allowing them to learn coding concepts with ease. They also discuss the inclusivity of the developer community, acknowledging that coding proficiency does not define one's legitimacy as a developer. They appreciate the democratization of coding and the potential for more people to learn and engage with technology through platforms like Wix. In this episode, Emmy and Yoav talk to Robbie and Chuck about their perspective on popular tech debates on Twitter, the evolving nature of developer roles, and the concept of no-code and low-code platforms like Wix. Key Takeaways
Quotes [14:01] - “Development is about the experience, getting something done, getting software shipped, fixing these problems.” ~ Yoav Abrahami [15:03] - “Thirty years ago, it was just a developer alone sitting behind a computer coding.” ~ Yoav Abrahami [41:48] - “Honestly, I don’t think coding is as hard as people make it out to be.” ~ Emmy Cao Links
Connect with our hosts Subscribe and stay in touch Top-Tier, Full-Stack Software Consultants This show is brought to you by Ship Shape. Ship Shape’s software consultants solve complex software and app development problems with top-tier coding expertise, superior service, and speed. In a sea of choices, our senior-level development crew rises above the rest by delivering the best solutions for fintech, cybersecurity, and other fast-growing industries. Check us out at shipshape.io. | |||
| Hot Takes, Remix, and Next.js with Chance Strickland | 29 Jun 2023 | 00:59:54 | |
Chuck and Robbie catch up with Chance Strickland, Senior Software Engineer at Replo, at the RenderATL conference. Chance kicks off the conversation by sharing that he is now working at a small startup after leaving the Remix core team. The trio discuss the benefits and drawbacks of using signals, a tool that helps manage asynchronous JavaScript. They explore how signals can enhance code readability and simplify complex workflows, but caution against potential performance issues and the learning curve involved. The conversation shifts to rebasing, with Chance providing insights into its usage and advantages. He explains how rebasing can help maintain a clean Git history and enable seamless collaboration in a team setting. In this episode, Chance talks to Robbie and Chuck about his experiences with tools like Tailwind, rebasing in Git, and the pros and cons of using signals in web development. Key Takeaways
Quotes [18:55] - “You can’t just come in and swing a hammer at everything because you read someone somewhere said this. You have to think about all of that context and understand.” ~ Chance Strickland [20:47] - “Tailwind really is just a tool built on a CSS Principle.” ~ Chance Strickland [28:28] - “The thing that keeps me coming back is the very simple promise that React has always given, which is, your UI is a function of your state.” ~ Chance Strickland Links
Connect with our hosts Subscribe and stay in touch Top-Tier, Full-Stack Software Consultants This show is brought to you by Ship Shape. Ship Shape’s software consultants solve complex software and app development problems with top-tier coding expertise, superior service, and speed. In a sea of choices, our senior-level development crew rises above the rest by delivering the best solutions for fintech, cybersecurity, and other fast-growing industries. Check us out at shipshape.io. | |||
| Web Browsers, Level Up Tutorials, and Sentry with Scott Tolinski | 22 Jun 2023 | 00:46:16 | |
Chuck and Robbie are joined by Scott Tolinski, Executive Producer at Sentry, for a recorded chat from the RenderATL conference. The trio delves into lively discussions on various tech topics and shares their candid opinions on ongoing Twitter debates. Scott opens up about his role at Sentry and how the acquisition has impacted his other venture, Level Up Tutorials. He sheds light on the new direction of Level Up Video and the exciting opportunities it brings for delivering free web development content. Scott also emphasizes the advantages of partnering with Sentry and the increased focus it allows for Syntax. He also provides insights on using a PostCSS plugin to deploy custom media queries and addresses the progress of Safari and its position compared to Internet Explorer (IE) as the browser with the poorest support for certain features. In this episode, Scott talks to Chuck and Robbie about custom media queries, browser support for new CSS features, and the acquisition of Level Up Tutorials. Key Takeaways
Quotes [13:41] - “People just repeat what the library authors have said over and over again even if they don’t necessarily know what that means.” ~ Scott Tolinski [16:44] - “Between Firefox and Safari, they’re really close into who has the worst support for things.” ~ Scott Tolinski [26:33] - “People don’t realize that, to use the clipboard API, it’s a one-liner of JavaScript that is really easy to remember, but everybody reaches for a library.” ~ Scott Tolinski Links
Connect with our hosts Subscribe and stay in touch Top-Tier, Full-Stack Software Consultants This show is brought to you by Ship Shape. Ship Shape’s software consultants solve complex software and app development problems with top-tier coding expertise, superior service, and speed. In a sea of choices, our senior-level development crew rises above the rest by delivering the best solutions for fintech, cybersecurity, and other fast-growing industries. Check us out at shipshape.io. | |||
| Next.js, Vercel, and Subscription Models | 15 Jun 2023 | 01:03:44 | |
Chuck and Robbie dive into their recent experience of building a new podcast site and all the frameworks in their toolkit including Next.js, Vercel, and surprisingly, React. Robbie shares the motivation behind building a new podcast site, with the duo wanting more control over analytics, customization, and the overall look and feel, rather than relying on podcast platforms. Robbie used a Tailwind template in Next.js due to its modern features and the ease of leveraging Next.js' capabilities. But the frameworks in Chuck and Robbie’s toolkit are not without flaws. They discuss Vercel's payment model and pricing plans, including a request for a la carte payment options to escape multiple subscriptions. In this episode, Robbie and Chuck talk about their experience using Next.js and Vercel for their podcast website, the potential for optimizing React usage in static sites, and the costly subscription model. Key Takeaways
Quotes [10:36] - ”Next.js, a good meta-framework that makes even React tolerable for Robbie.” ~ Chuck Carpenter [26:34] - “IT organizations can be very strict about how many additional places you’re able to put code.” ~ Chuck Carpenter [28:52] - “Anything that’s built to make money, is going to be optimized for the people making the money.” ~ Robbie Wagner Links
Connect with our hosts Subscribe and stay in touch Top-Tier, Full-Stack Software Consultants This show is brought to you by Ship Shape. Ship Shape’s software consultants solve complex software and app development problems with top-tier coding expertise, superior service, and speed. In a sea of choices, our senior-level development crew rises above the rest by delivering the best solutions for fintech, cybersecurity, and other fast-growing industries. Check us out at shipshape.io. | |||
| CodePen, Web Animation, and the Future of AR/VR with Stephen Shaw | 08 Jun 2023 | 01:04:06 | |
Stephen Shaw is a Front End Developer at CodePen. But his journey into the world of web development traces back to his earliest memory, captured in a nostalgic photo from 1987 of him sitting on his dad's lap gazing at a computer tower.
In this episode, Stephen talks to Robbie and Chuck about his challenges using typescript at CodePen, the evolution of web animation tools, and the future of VR and AR on the web. Key Takeaways
Quotes [07:32] - “If you have an existing code that works, don’t add typescript. That's not going to make your life any easier.” ~ Stephen Shaw [25:00] - “I think that we’re very close to a crossroads. Similar to back in 2007 when the iPhone was introduced and suddenly everyone was scrambling to have a mobile website.” ~ Stephen Shaw [39:57] - “That’s my idea of a web developer. I want to make information accessible. I want to figure out who the audience is and make them connect with what they need.” ~ Stephen Shaw Links
Connect with our hosts Subscribe and stay in touch Top-Tier, Full-Stack Software Consultants This show is brought to you by Ship Shape. Ship Shape’s software consultants solve complex software and app development problems with top-tier coding expertise, superior service, and speed. In a sea of choices, our senior-level development crew rises above the rest by delivering the best solutions for fintech, cybersecurity, and other fast-growing industries. Check us out at shipshape.io. | |||
| Open Source, Agents, and the Next AI Wave w/ Angie Jones | 06 Nov 2025 | 00:42:17 | |
Recorded live at All Things Open, Robbie Wagner and guest co-host Jason Lengstorf talk with Angie Jones about AI, coding models, and the evolving landscape of open source. They unpack the importance of community-driven tooling, skill gaps in using AI, the future of agentic systems, and why open communities matter in shaping technology. In this episode:
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Whiskey Web and Whatnot Merch | |||
| Building Zed: A Code Editor for Performance and Collaboration with Nathan Sobo | 01 Jun 2023 | 01:05:59 | |
Nathan Sobo, Founder of Zed Industries, is a founding member of the team that built Atom at GitHub. With nine years of experience under his belt, Nathan made the bold decision to leave GitHub and start a new venture: building Zed, a code editor that captures his vast knowledge and ambitious goals.
In this episode, Nathan talks to Robbie and Chuck about his experience working with Atom, his motivation for building Zed, and the challenges of analyzing community feedback. Key Takeaways
Quotes [17:52] - “The learning curve for Rust was, I describe it as a vertical cliff with snakes nesting in the rocks biting me as I ascended it.” ~ Nathan Sobo [39:11] - “If I look for 20 miles in any direction, I see shit that would be a really good idea to add to Zed.” ~ Nathan Sobo [42:31] - “I didn’t lick my finger and figure out which way the wind was blowing to start working on Zed. I did it because I wanted to do it, and I didn’t even know why I wanted to do it.” ~ Nahan Sobo Links
Connect with our hosts Subscribe and stay in touch Top-Tier, Full-Stack Software Consultants This show is brought to you by Ship Shape. Ship Shape’s software consultants solve complex software and app development problems with top-tier coding expertise, superior service, and speed. In a sea of choices, our senior-level development crew rises above the rest by delivering the best solutions for fintech, cybersecurity, and other fast-growing industries. Check us out at shipshape.io. | |||
| Hot Takes, Bun, and Zig with Jarred Sumner | 25 May 2023 | 00:51:37 | |
Jarred Sumner, Founder and CEO of Oven, is bringing speed to the world of Javascript with his project, Bun. Bun is a next-generation Javascript runtime bundler, transpiler, and NPM package manager that promises lightning-fast speeds. It's already making waves in the industry. The company secured seven million dollars in funding to build hosting for Bun in August 2022.
Key Takeaways
Quotes [16:06] - “Zig is really productive. I tried to use Rust, and I just had a lot of trouble being productive.” ~ Jarred Sumner [17:55] - “For CPUs, the thing that’s slow usually is not actually the processing, it’s memory.” ~ Jarred Sumner [22:52] - “I think that we can make the internet and Javascript applications faster, and we can make it easier to deploy, and we can make it better. It going to be a lot of work, but it's going to be really fun.” ~ Jarred Sumner Links
Connect with our hosts Subscribe and stay in touch Top-Tier, Full-Stack Software Consultants This show is brought to you by Ship Shape. Ship Shape’s software consultants solve complex software and app development problems with top-tier coding expertise, superior service, and speed. In a sea of choices, our senior-level development crew rises above the rest by delivering the best solutions for fintech, cybersecurity, and other fast-growing industries. Check us out at shipshape.io. | |||
| Native Inputs, Blockchain, and Bluesky | 18 May 2023 | 00:56:51 | |
What happened to the blockchain? A few years ago, it seemed like the whole world had high hopes for the technology. Today, Chuck and Robbie wonder if it will ever make a comeback. Key Takeaways
Quotes [09:26] - “Buffalo Trace, really good, readily available, inexpensive that is a top choice.” ~ Chuck Carpenter [12:26] - “Oftentimes, they ask what makes a senior engineer, and I think the joy in deleting code is one of them.” ~ Chuck Carpenter [30:21] - “When TikTok came out, I was like TikTok is dumb. No one is ever going to use this. It’s just for little kids to post dance videos and do stupid things, and now it's the biggest thing ever.” ~ Robbie Wagner Links
Connect with our hosts Subscribe and stay in touch Top-Tier, Full-Stack Software Consultants This show is brought to you by Ship Shape. Ship Shape’s software consultants solve complex software and app development problems with top-tier coding expertise, superior service, and speed. In a sea of choices, our senior-level development crew rises above the rest by delivering the best solutions for fintech, cybersecurity, and other fast-growing industries. Check us out at shipshape.io. | |||