Welcome to Satisfying Software.
Each episode we sits down with someone from the industry to talk about what good software looks like. We'll discuss a range of different topics or techniques that can help you in your daily work. Whether that's settling a conflict, managing trade-offs or simply how to deliver high quality software. We'll ask each guest for advice based on their hard-earned expertise in grappling with complex software systems. And we will of course ask the guests what satisfying software means to them.
This show is hosted by Gien Verschatse and powered by Aardling.
João Rosa joins Gien Verschatse to unpack what it really means for teams to deliver value, covering the three dimensions of value most companies collapse into one, why "autonomy" is often just a recruitment story, and why satisfying software should ultimately be invisible. Full transcript and notes at https://aardling.eu/en/insights/the-learning-organisation-with-joao-rosa
15 Apr 2026
How to fix your decision making processes with Andrea Magnorsky
Gien Verschatse sits down with Andrea Magnorsky, an independent consultant and creator of Bytesize Architecture Sessions. In their conversation they touch upon:- Why companies struggle to make good decisions- How to document decisions and make them useful- Involving the right people, not necessarily the most senior- The Decision "KP" mapAnd of course, Andrea answers what Satisfying Software means to her.A transcript can be found on the Aardling website https://aardling.eu/en/insights/how-to-fix-your-decision-making-processes-with-andrea-magnorsky
8 Apr 2026
Learning and Development with Hannes Lowette
Gien Verschatse sits down with Hannes Lowette, a software consultant and head of learning and development at Axxes. They discuss how software engineers can make the most of their L&D budget and share practical tips for organisations looking to upskill their teams in the age of AI.
Visit aardling.eu for the full transcript and more notes.
1 Apr 2026
Design for the Problem, Not the Solution with Kenny Baas Schwegler
This time on Satisfying Software, Gien Verschatse talks with Kenny Baas-Schwegler, co-author of Collaborative Software Design and Software Architecture Enabler at DHL.
In this conversation, Gien and Kenny get into the nuts and bolts of designing software systems which solve business problems. They cover:
The difference between domains, subdomains, and bounded contexts
Why subdomains and bounded contexts don't need a one-to-one relationship
How organisational structure and software design interact — and where they conflict
Why interaction between bounded contexts matters more than the contexts themselves
How to name bounded contexts in a way that keeps teams focused on problems, not solutions
The common frustrations Kenny sees when teams practice DDD
What truly satisfying software looks and feels like in practice
⠀Shownotes:
Collaborative Software Design book (https://collaborative-software-design.com/)
Kenny’s session at DDD Europe, Interactively designing distributed systems integration with collaborative modelling (https://2026.dddeurope.com/program/interactively-designing-distributed-systems-integration-with-collaborative-modelling/)
Follow Kenny on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenny-baas/)
A transcript can be found on our website (https://aardling.eu/en/insights/design-for-the-problem-not-the-solution-with-kenny-baas-schwegler)
25 Mar 2026
Strategic Thinking and Wardley Mapping with Susanne Kaiser
Susanne Kaiser is a software consultant and author of “Architecture for Flow” which details an approach which meshes together Domain-Driven Design, Wardley Mapping, and Team Topologies.
In this conversation, Gien Verschatse and Susanne Kaiser explore why so many teams build technically impressive systems that still don't deliver real business value.
They dig into:
Why developers jump into solution space before truly understanding the problem
How Wardley Mapping helps you anchor architecture decisions to actual user needs (and why Susanne prefers it over other strategic tools)
The important links between team structure, Conway's Law, and system design
What climatic patterns are and how companies like Nokia and Blockbuster ignored them.
Why AI amplifies existing processes (good and bad) and what that means for your architecture right now.
Shownotes:
Susanne’s book: https://architectureforflow.com/
Wardly Mapping: https://www.wardleymaps.com/
Architecture for Flow workshop at DDD Europe: https://2026.dddeurope.com/program/architecture-for-flow/
14 May 2025
System Thinking with Diana Montalion
Today’s episode of Satisfying Software is with Diana Montalion, author of Learning Systems Thinking.
Diana has a wealth of experience of helping software teams navigate complex software systems at places like The Economist and The Wikimedia Project.
If you’re a software designer, architect, or developer interested in non-linear thinking, this conversation will introduce you to new ways to improve your craft.
The conversation covers:
How to build trust and lead effectively when you’re not certain about the right direction
Why being right is always temporary
How to express intuition and uncertainty in decision-making conversations
Shownotes:
Buy Diana's book - Learning System Thinking - https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/learning-systems-thinking/9781098151324/
Take Diana's course -https://ddd.academy/learning-systems-thinking/
Join us in Antwerp on June 4-6 for Domain-Driven Design Europe, EventCentric and Data Mesh Live - https://dddeurope.com/
Join Gien's class "Leadership in Software Design" on June 2-3 in Antwerp - https://2025.dddeurope.com/program/leadership-in-software-design/
Satisfying Software is hosted by Gien Verschatse and produced by Aardling, a software designing and modelling consultancy. https://aardling.eu/
7 May 2025
Empowering Teams to Make Architectural Decisions with Andrew Harmel-Law
Andrew Harmel-Law is the author of "Facilitating Software Architecture: Empowering Teams to Make Architectural Decisions", a new book published by O'Reilly.
In this episode, Andrew and Gien Verschatse discuss the various decision-making models available to teams and their book's take on the most effective approach.
Listen to this conversation if you're in a software team making hard tradeoffs and looking for a framework which can help you make and be accountable for decisions.
Shownotes:
Buy Andrew's book. https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/facilitating-software-architecture/9781098151850/
Andrew will be on stage at Domain-Driven Design Europe 2025 in Antwerp on June 4-6. https://2025.dddeurope.com/program/
Gien Verschatse is running a new workshop on "Leadership in Software Design" on June 2-3. https://2025.dddeurope.com/program/leadership-in-software-design/
30 Apr 2025
Communication patterns for engineers with Jacqui Read
Jacqui Read is the author of "Communication Patterns: A Guide for Developers and Architects."
She is a well-known speaker and gave one of the most well-received talks at Domain-Driven Design Europe in 2024.
During this episode, Jacqui sits down with Gien Verschatse, senior consultant at Aardling to discuss the ideas within her book and dishes out some practical advice for engineers and architects to use in communicating with colleagues and clients.
Shownotes:
Jacqui will be speaking at Domain-Driven Design Europe 2025 (https://2025.dddeurope.com/program/) in Antwerp -
Jacqui's website (https://jacquiread.com)
The book - Communication Patterns (https://jacquiread.com/books/communication-patterns/)
ACED model (https://acedmodel.com/)
LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacquelineread)
Bluesky (https://web-cdn.bsky.app/profile/tekiegirl.bsky.social)
Mastodon (https://fosstodon.org/@tekiegirl)
Satisfying Software is powered by Aardling, a software consultancy specialising in software modelling and strategy (https://aardling.eu/)
23 Apr 2025
Designing Event-Driven Systems with Laïla Bougriâ
Today’s guest is Laïla Bougriâ, a well-known expert and speaker on event-driven and distributed systems. She works as a software engineer and solutions architect at Particular Software.
In this discussion with Gien Verschatse, they cover:
Heuristics for designing an event-driven system
When designing an event-driven system is worth while
The subtle differences between “event-driven” and “messaging”
Commands in disguise: Beware of the passive-aggressive events
Tips for getting more time with business stakeholders as an engineer
How to encourage collaborative problem solving between business and IT
What does satisfying software mean to Laila
Shownotes
Laïla Bougriâ is delivering two talks at EventCentric. Take a look at the program for full details - https://eventcentric.eu/program (https://eventcentric.eu/program)
Satisfying Software is powered by Aardling, a software consultancy specialising in software modelling and strategy. (https://aardling.eu/)
16 Apr 2025
Domain-Driven Design tactical patterns with Thomas Coopman
Thomas Coopman has taught hundreds of organisations to adopt Domain-Driven Design practices.
In this conversation, we cover:
Which language/s work best with tactical patterns
Functional programming and DDD
How to make time for refactoring
Whether overmodelling a solution is a problem
How to express your model in code
Why it's all about solving customer problems.
Shownotes:
Join Thomas for his in-person workshop, Implementing Tactical Patterns, on June 2-3 in Antwerp before DDD Europe. https://ddd.academy/implementing-tactical-patterns/
Gien and Thomas' guide to video series on modelling - https://youtu.be/K2Z3yHn5KQk
Satisfying Software is powered by Aardling, a software consultancy specialising in software modelling and strategy. (https://aardling.eu/)
4 Apr 2025
Residues: A new way to design your software system? With Barry O'Reilly
In this conversation with Barry O'Reilly, author of "Residues" and "The Architect's Paradox" we explore the philosophy and empirical evidence supporting this new approach to designing software.
Barry is an experienced architect, working as a consultant for large enterprises as well as at Microsoft. In 2020 he decided to embark on a PhD course in Complexity Science and Software Design. The idea was to stress-test the ideas behind Residulity Theory and have an academic grounding in his claims to support teams dealing with complex systems.
Shownotes
Join Barry's three-day Advanced Software Architecture with Residuality workshop at DDD Europe in Antwerp on June 2-4 - https://2025.dddeurope.com/program/advanced-software-architecture-with-residuality/
Residues - https://leanpub.com/residuality
The Architect's Paradox - https://leanpub.com/architectsparadox
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