A podcast dedicated to career change, getting hired to code, AI engineering, where I share the things that worked when I went from 37yo lawyer to FANG/Big Tech Software Engineer.
Easier Said Than Done (And How to Do it)
Claim This Podcastby Zubin Pratap
4.6(11 reviews)
63 episodes
Updated Weekly
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72
Podcast Authority
BetaGoodBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality65
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YouTube86
Engagement60
Podcast Overview
A podcast dedicated to career change, getting hired to code, AI engineering, where I share the things that worked when I went from 37yo lawyer to FANG/Big Tech Software Engineer.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
2/29/2024
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Recent Episodes
June 9, 2026
AI Code, Chaos & Calm: Finding Human Value in a Machine World - With Faris Aziz | Ep64
<p></p> <p>Is Artificial Intelligence making us faster, or is it emptying out our critical thinking? In this deep dive, I speak with Faris, who navigates the intersection of high-performance software engineering and human psychology. We explore what truly matters in a world where code generation can be effortless, focusing on skills that AI cannot touch: resilience, empathy, curiosity, and the art of the uncomfortable conversation.</p> <p><span class="font-semibold">✨ What You Will Learn:</span></p> <ul class="ml-4 list-outside list-disc whitespace-normal"> <li class="py-1">How to pivot your career when technology makes old roles obsolete.</li> <li class="py-1">The "T-Shaped Engineer" mindset for lasting success.</li> <li class="py-1">Why mastering failure is more valuable than achieving early success.</li> <li class="py-1">How to find psychological safety in a high-ambition environment.</li> </ul> <p><span class="font-semibold">🚩 Watch for:</span><span> </span>Our discussion on why AI threatens to remove the<span> </span>process<span> </span>of learning itself.</p> <h3 class="mt-6 mb-2 font-semibold text-xl">🔍 Deep Dive Topics Covered:</h3> <span class="font-semibold">🚀 The Impact of AI on Engineering Work</span> <p>We begin by confronting the core challenge of modern development: are we optimizing for speed and quantity, or for quality and deep thinking? Faris discusses how new tools create an "AI psychosis"—a dopamine feedback loop where we prioritize endless prompting over sleep, sanity, and real-world balance.</p> <ul class="ml-4 list-outside list-disc whitespace-normal"> <li class="py-1"><span class="font-semibold">Key Concept:</span> The danger of relying on efficiency (doing 60 tickets/week) at the expense of process (documentation, testing, refactoring).</li> <li class="py-1"><span class="font-semibold">🚩 Watch for:</span> Our discussion on why AI threatens to remove the process of learning itself.</li> </ul> <span class="font-semibold">🌱 The Art of Professional Resilience & Failure</span> <p>Success in tech is often presented as linear and perfect. But Faris argues that professional growth hinges entirely on how we handle mistakes, setbacks, and conflict. We discuss how vulnerability builds true credibility and trust within a team or organization.</p> <ul class="ml-4 list-outside list-disc whitespace-normal"> <li class="py-1"><span class="font-semibold">The Gift of Failure:</span> The importance of understanding your "safe space" for mistakes—knowing how much you are allowed to mess up before it becomes a crisis.</li> <li class="py-1"><span class="font-semibold">Trust Building:</span> Why having difficult, honest conversations (even about layoffs) builds lasting human capital and trust that code never can.</li> </ul> <span class="font-semibold">🧩 Professional Identity in the Modern Economy</span> <p>When your profession is defined by what you did (e.g., "I was a lawyer," or "I wrote this code"), how do you redefine yourself? We talk about shedding old labels and choosing a new professional identity. Faris highlights that true mastery isn't just technical; it's the ability to navigate multiple roles—from product manager to engineer to stakeholder diplomat.</p> <ul class="ml-4 list-outside list-disc whitespace-normal"> <li class="py-1"><span class="font-semibold">Core Skill:</span> The inability of AI (yet) to replace strategic communication and emotional intelligence.</li> </ul> <span class="font-semibold">🧭 Growth Mindset & Embracing Discomfort</span> <p>The most actionable takeaway from this episode: success is not about finding comfort; it's about seeking out the discomfort that signals growth. We explore how changing your mindset from "I want comfort" to "Where can I face discomfort?" fundamentally changes your life trajectory.</p> <h3 class="mt-6 mb-2 font-semibold text-xl">⏰ Timestamps </h3> <ul class="ml-4 list-outside list-disc whitespace-normal"> <li class="py-1"><span class="font-semibold">01:00:</span> Faris’s role at Smallpdf & what he handles (payments, architecture, monetization).</li> <li class="py-1"><span class="font-semibold">05:00:</span> What worries us most about careers in the post-AI world.</li> <li class="py-1"><span class="font-semibold">06:30:</span> The cycle of fast development vs. necessary deep thinking.</li> <li class="py-1"><span class="font-semibold">12:00:</span> How technical discussions often miss the human element and emotional context.</li> <li class="py-1"><span class="font-semibold">24:00:</span> <span class="font-semibold">The Shift:</span> Moving from being a 'coder' to an 'engineer' (focus on system design, not just syntax).</li> <li class="py-1"><span class="font-semibold">37:00:</span> The ultimate lesson: When trust is built through honesty, especially after making or receiving mistakes.</li> </ul> <h3 class="mt-6 mb-2 font-semibold text-xl">🙏 Credits & Resources</h3> <p>⭐ <span class="font-semibold">Guest:</span> Faris Aziz 🌐 <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/farisaziz12/">https://ch.linkedin.com/in/farisaziz12 </a><br><span class="font-semibold">Explore his work:</span> Check out the ZurichJS conference (<a href="https://conf.zurichjs.com/">https://conf.zurichjs.com/</a>) and learn more about DevRel.</p> <p>🎧 <span class="font-semibold">Did you enjoy this conversation?</span> Share with Friends, and subscribe to <strong>Easier Said Than Done</strong> for weekly deep dives into high-impact skills and career philosophy. </p> <h3 class="mt-6 mb-2 font-semibold text-xl">📧 Connect with Me</h3> <p><span class="ytAttributedStringLinkInheritColor" dir="auto">1. LinkedIn: </span><span class="ytAttributedStringLinkInheritColor" dir="auto"><span class="ytAttributedStringHighlightTextDecorator" dir="auto"><a class="ytAttributedStringLink ytAttributedStringLinkCallToActionColor" href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqazh5c1lZNlIxRkctYUJOREhoOXZ5Um01U3J0Z3xBQ3Jtc0tuRWc1enBCMDBIYWVUNnZFYXJuX1owZmxvNmJ0Q0VvbHNDV1FmNFN5WW9lc1RreFBsWkJDLTNZVGc1SE90Tk40T0dwRlVZWF8zVW5TTTh5ckx6TFBnRnh3SFZDUnlwYlphUlRFbnJRY1ZBNkc2ZlVxOA&q=http%3A%2F%2Flinkedin.com%2Fin%2Fzubinpratap&v=MI2u2PsSSLM" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" tabindex="0"> <span class="ytAttributedStringInlineBlockMod"></span> / zubinpratap </a></span></span><span class="ytAttributedStringLinkInheritColor" dir="auto"> </span></p> <p><span class="ytAttributedStringLinkInheritColor" dir="auto">2. X: </span><span class="ytAttributedStringLinkInheritColor" dir="auto"><a class="ytAttributedStringLink ytAttributedStringLinkCallToActionColor" href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbHBlV29INTRoRnNxdnJtWDNIX05jVFo0S3E4UXxBQ3Jtc0tuYUpoT3VIMzk4ekN0QXVBVWRTT3lXeU8xMkExcTliVWlFLUZkeXZqdWlWenB3cXBFX0xUM2NoWTZFdENQOGFONHZ1VHB0RGZIRXAtcmFJNUd5bWZWTk8yS3Fuei05ZTd1RHcwbUk5ekRKcV80REZGcw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2Fzubinpratap&v=MI2u2PsSSLM" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" tabindex="0">https://x.com/zubinpratap</a></span></p>
May 5, 2026
Starting a New Role - From Anxiety to Action: Ep#63
<p>After moving from Chainlink Labs to Cartesia as Head of Dev Rel, I share the raw, honest experiences of starting in a new role, new team, new company, new industry. But it's not my first rodeo, so I also share the insecurities, the learning curve, and the mindset shifts that make the difference. Chapters 0:00 — Introduction: why this episode is different, and what prompted these reflections 1:12 — When you switch roles, you leave behind years of built-up credibility, relationships, and social capital — and that's a bigger deal than most people admit 2:48 — The learning curve isn't just one thing. It's the domain, the tools, the terminology, the team culture — all at once 4:18 — Being the new person means earning authority all over again, even when you know what you're doing 6:30 — "Action anxiety" — why acting without the fear of being judged is a muscle, not a personality type 9:57 — You can't demand trust. Setting realistic expectations for yourself on how long this uncomfortable period will last 12:10 — Bias to action is overrated without direction. Thoughtful action beats busy action every time 16:12 — It all comes back to self-awareness and communication — knowing your internal state so you can manage your external behaviour 17:35 — A simple framework: what should you Start, Stop, and Continue doing in your new role? Catch up with me on 1. LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/zubinpratap 2. X: https://x.com/zubinpratap</p>
March 17, 2026
Here's Why Career Change is DEAD in 2026 (AI Changes Everything)
<p><strong>Why Career Change is a Bad Idea Right Now (Harsh Truth About AI & Jobs)</strong></p> <p>For the first time in my career, I've stopped taking students into my coaching program.</p> <p>Here's why: we're experiencing a structural shift in the labor market that's fundamentally different from anything we've seen before. In this episode, I break down the data showing why NOW is the worst time to make a career change:</p> <p>• Entry-level positions down 45% below the 5-year average</p> <p>• 862,000 jobs revised downward by the Bureau of Labor Statistics</p> <p>• AI closing the "entry level gate" across all industries</p> <p>• The bottom rungs of the career ladder no longer exist</p> <p>• Why your data is 12 months old but AI improved 500% in that time</p> <p>This isn't cyclical. It's structural. And it changes everything.</p> <p>But I also share 6 practical solutions for navigating this new reality—including why integrating AI into your CURRENT expertise is the smartest move you can make right now.</p> <p><strong>Key Takeaway:</strong> Direction is more important than speed. But when you can't see where the puck is going, observation beats action.</p> <p><strong>📊 Data-driven insights</strong> for career changers, software engineers, and anyone wondering how to future-proof their career in the age of AI.</p> <p><strong>TIMESTAMPS</strong> 0:00 - Introduction: Massive structural shift in labor markets</p> <p>0:18 - Why I stopped taking students into my coaching program</p> <p>1:11 - This is the worst time to make a career change</p> <p>2:09 - Nobody has a crystal ball</p> <p>2:33 - Meta principle: Direction is more important than speed</p> <p>4:00 - Data point #1: Entry level job postings down 45%</p> <p>4:23 - The entry level gate is closing 5:06 - The bottom rungs are no longer there</p> <p>6:03 - Data point #2: The slow leak problem - 92,000 jobs lost</p> <p>6:23 - Structural contraction, not cyclical</p> <p>7:40 - Data point #3: 184 applications per job ad</p> <p>8:40 - Why you're more likely to be ignored in a new industry</p> <p>10:27 - Data point #4: BLS revised employment down by 862,000 jobs</p> <p>11:52 - You cannot skate to where the puck is</p> <p>12:54 - Direction is more important than speed</p> <p>13:58 - Solution #1: Integrate AI into your current expertise</p> <p>16:39 - Don't just go into high productivity sectors</p> <p>18:12 - Solution #4: Stop mass applying to jobs</p> <p>20:54 - You're running a race against an exponentially accelerating vehicle</p> <p>21:18 - Stay in observation mode and observe what AI can't do</p> <p>22:18 - Do not despair - keep looking for opportunities</p> <p>24:16 - Final thoughts: Not a great time for career change</p>
63 total episodes available
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