Startups & Code explores building great software, leading engineering teams, and shipping things that matter in a world reshaped by AI.
Drawing on more than 30 years in software and engineering leadership, John Mann shares practical lessons about AI-assisted development, coding tools and agents, startups, leadership, and product delivery—without the hype.
New short episodes Monday through Friday.
Go build something amazing.
https://startupsandcode.com
Episode 14: Fix Your Engineering Process, Not Your AI
Engineering teams often blame AI tools when adoption fails to improve delivery speed or quality. This episode argues that the missing ingredient is usually process: explicit planning, codebase context, honest documentation of legacy problems, project-specific standards, and a feedback loop that converts engineering judgment into reusable instructions. Execution is getting easier, but experienced engineers remain essential because they define what good execution means.
30 Jul 2026
Your Personal Operating System Is Probably Procrastination
Your personal operating system might be the reason you are not shipping.
AI makes it easy to brainstorm, research, compare tools, refine prompts, and build enormous backlogs. All of that can feel productive while quietly postponing the only feedback that matters: what happens after you release something.
In this episode, I explain why builders get trapped in tool-hopping and analysis paralysis, when research stops being useful, and how to turn an operating system back into a tool for action.
Today's challenge:
1. Delete one unnecessary part of your process.
2. Ship something before the end of the day.
3. Learn from what actually happens.
Stop perfecting the system. Build what you really want to build.
#StartupsAndCode #AI #BuildInPublic #Productivity #Startups
28 Jul 2026
Episode 12 - Let AI Interview You
Want better results from ChatGPT, Claude, or your favorite AI tool? Stop trying to get everything right in one prompt.
Instead, ask the AI to interview you.
Have it ask about your goals, technical challenges, preferences, tone, and working style. Those questions create the context it needs to give you more useful—and more personalized—answers.
Try this prompt:
“Interview me about what I’m building. Ask any questions you need to understand my goals, constraints, and preferences before we begin.”
Give it a try and let me know what happened in the comments.
#AI #ChatGPT #ClaudeAI #PromptEngineering #Startups #BuildInPublic
Startups & Code is back.
After nearly two years away, John Mann returns to talk about why software development feels exciting again, how AI is changing the way we build, and what to expect from the new weekday show.
New short episodes will explore AI-assisted development, engineering leadership, startups, teams, and the practical lessons that come from building software.
Go build something amazing.
https://startupsandcode.com (https://startupsandcode.com)
7 Apr 2024
Episode 10 - Social Media and Substack
A little breakdown of social media expectations, my new substack, and my new schedule for live streams
3 Mar 2024
Episode 9 - Preparation and Communication
In this episode, I talk about OBS and live streaming. I had so many issues with OBS and I've learned so much in just a week.
OBS, Audio, Lighting, and Videos
Communication with Teams
25 Feb 2024
Episode 8 - Daily Streams - My New Project
In this episode, I'm announcing my new daily streams.
I'm doing a daily stream about whatever is on my mind about process, code, communication, or production of this podcast
28 Jan 2024
Episode 7 - CES, Conferences, and Startup's "Why"
Welcome to Episode 7 of Startups and Code.
In this episode, I give a BRIEF overview of CES 2024, conferences as a whole, and remembering the startup's why.
27 Dec 2023
Episode 6 - Talking about Communication
Talking about Communication
In today's episode, we are going to talk about communication.
Topics:
Communication Styles
Communication Tools/Mediums
Motivators for people - Fear, Reward, Respect, Conviction
18 Dec 2023
Episode 5 - Process as a Product
In this episode, I discuss some common processes that have been followed such as Six Sigma, Waterfall, Agile, Scrum, and Kanban.
I also discuss how to think of your process as a product and iterate on that as you grow.
Here's a link to the github notes:
https://github.com/startupsandcode/podcast/blob/main/5-ProcessAsAProduct.md (https://github.com/startupsandcode/podcast/blob/main/5-ProcessAsAProduct.md)
10 Dec 2023
Episode 4 - Starting a Startup
In this episode, I discuss the important parts of starting a startup.
Simply put:
Solve a problem
Know your audience
Get a working prototype in less than a month.
3 Dec 2023
Episode 3 - Github Pages
In this episode, I cover how to setup github pages for a specific repo. I also show how to move the default theme, so it will actually work on github.
26 Nov 2023
Episode 2 - Git and SSH
In this episode, I help get you setup with a SSH key that you can use with Git. I also go through the basics of git.
The repo I'm using is located here:
https://github.com/startupsandcode/podcast (https://github.com/startupsandcode/podcast)
24 Nov 2023
Episode 1 - Getting Started
Welcome to my podcast.
I'm going to go through tools I use to setup and create applications, primarily for the web.
If you have very little or no coding experience, then welcome.
You will need to be able to navigate the web, but I'm here to help with everything else for you to kickoff your new startup idea!
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Spotify
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Contact Startups And Code
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of Startups And Code?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
