The 1:1 is a podcast dedicated to tackling the current issues in software engineering through authentic and meaningful conversations. We delve into topics such as the hiring process, the true essence of a 1:1 meeting, showing up for teammates, the importance of focus time, and why certain methodologies, like Scrum, might hinder development. We emphasize the need for creating and maintaining focus time and address communication issues within and between teams.
Our episodes often feature guests who share their firsthand experiences with mass layoffs, the struggles of the interview process, the crucial role of midlevel developers, and the emerging gap at the associate level. By combining these topics, we aim to build a community where engineers feel heard and supported.
Each episode is designed to provide practical insights and foster a sense of belonging in the engineering community. The 1:1 podcast strives to highlight the importance of personal connections and mentorship in the tech industry.
Join us as we create a platform for engineers to voice their challenges, share their triumphs, and explore solutions to the issues we face today. With a commitment to diversity and inclusion, The 1:1 ensures that a wide range of perspectives are represented, making our discussions rich and multifaceted.
Email us at the1on1devpodcast@gmail.com
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Connective Co-founder Andy Siefkes discusses living an authentic, balanced life in a challenging industry, emphasizing the importance of hope and friendship in this interview.
21 Apr 2025
1:1 with Andrey Kudievskiy - AI is replacing tasks, NOT jobs
Andrey Kudievskiy–CEO of Distillery–joins us for this episode of The 1:1 Podcast.
We discuss the real world impact of AI, advice for software engineers still struggling to land a role in this challenging job market, and some predictions about the future.
Takeaways:
* At Distillery, integrating AI tools is making developers between 40% and 60% more productive but is not replacing their jobs. They have seen even bigger gains in generating test data (approximately 2-3x).
* Today’s challenging job market for software engineers is mostly due to pandemic overhiring, not AI.
* For engineers struggling to find a new role in the current job market, you may have skills outside the job description which can help you stand out. For example, at Distillery developers who can communicate in multiple languages may get more opportunities given the company’s multinational clients.
0:00 - Intro
3:27 - Onshore vs offshore vs nearshore
7:05 - Distillery's journey into AI
12:14 - Overcoming growing pains
16:52 - Generative AI hype vs. help
21:10 - Making the business case for AI
23:12 - Advice to engineers feeling stuck in this job market
26:51 - In-demand skills and upskilling
30:32 - Dealing with legacy systems
34:58 - Training sales to speak intelligently about AI
37:37 - Looking ahead 2-3 years
44:34 - Closing thoughts
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7 Apr 2025
1:1 with Casandra Minichiello - Agile is NOT dead, it’s just evolving
Casandra Minichiello–Agile Coaching Senior Advisor for Cigna–joins us for this episode of The 1:1 Podcast.
We talk about the emotional roots of the Agile Manifesto, how Agile has been misapplied, and what it looks like when Agile coaching is done right. We also reminisce about the joy of using a physical Kanban board.
0:00 - Intro
2:50 - Where Agility started for Casandra (reminiscing about 2005 WebMD)
11:37 - Agile is NOT a project management methodology
14:13 - PMI / Scrum Alliance merger
15:48 - How upper management can support Agile teams
20:38 - The joys of a physical Kanban board
24:44 - Some Agile history / terminology
33:14 - Evolving Agile to work better in hybrid and remote environments
43:15 - Signs a company isn’t really Agile
45:47 - Doing Agile vs. being Agile
52:32 - Why Casandra prefers Kanban over Scrum
56:48 - Agile pet peeves
1:03:27 - One small change a leader can make to foster more agility
1:08:32 - Final thoughts
Takeaways:
* Agile is NOT dead, contrary to what you might have read on LinkedIn. But it is evolving to adapt to a software industry which has undergone many changes since the Agile Manifesto was written in 2001.
* Agile is NOT a project management framework, which makes the Scrum Alliance merger with PMI confusing and frustrating
* Kanban is the best Agile methodology for most people (sorry Scrum)
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24 Mar 2025
1:1 with Natascha Thomas - finding passion, channeling anxiety into risk management
Natascha Thomas–Regional Director, Operations Leadership with Sparq–joins us for this episode of The 1:1 Podcast.
She shares her unconventional career journey, transitioning from life sciences to the gaming industry and eventually into consulting, where she now leads developers and multiple PMOs.
Takeaways:
* Follow your passion, but stay adaptable. Each of Natascha’s career transitions were driven by curiosity and a willingness to embrace new challenges.
* Stay curious and continuously upskill, whether through formal education, side projects, or hands-on experience.
* Career risks can pay off if they align with your skills, interests, and market trends.
0:00 - Intro
1:10 - Natascha’s career journey from life sciences to gaming
5:45 - Becoming a producer
8:45 - Moving into consulting and leadership
13:00 - Eye-openers when moving to a new industry
13:53 - Speaking to experience when changing industries
15:21 - Handling engineers making video games vs. engineers in consulting
17:04 - Dealing with difficult people
18:28 - Do you ever miss the gaming industry?
19:44 - Finding passion in your current position
22:57 - Is there anything you wish you’d done differently?
25:45 - Leading a PMO
28:30 - Key skills to lead a PMO
30:14 - Applying skills from life sciences in her current career
33:16 - Channeling anxiety into risk management
34:17 - What’s next?
36:28 - Final thoughts
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10 Mar 2025
1:1 with Alex Bruce - demystifying the sales process for engineers
Alex Bruce–a Go-to-Market and Revenue Growth Leader and Advisor–joins us for the newest episode of The 1:1 Podcast.
We discuss the mindset and driving forces behind sellers, how engineers can make a difference in sales pursuits, and share strategies for effectively engaging with and empowering sales teams.
Takeaways:
* Engineers who engage in sales processes not only help the company win business but also increase their own visibility within the organization, which can lead to career advancement.
* When sales and engineering teams collaborate closely, it reduces the blame game and fosters a culture of shared responsibility.
* Software engineers who understand how their company’s products are positioned in the market are more valuable and better equipped to grow their careers.
0:00 - Intro
1:34 - Demystifying the sales process for engineers
7:40 - Curiosity and problem solving in sales
10:08 - Aligning sales and development teams
14:50 - Benefits of engineers participating in sales pursuits
19:28 - Breaking down misconceptions of salespeople
24:09 - Example of an engineer making an impact on sales (shout out to Jackson Stakeman)
32:53 - How to engage and support sales efforts
40:53 - Torturing a metaphor
44:28 - Alex’s career journey and final thoughts
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24 Feb 2025
1:1 with Erin Scott Adams - balancing work and school, packaging professional experience, AI tools
Erin Scott Adams–Senior User Interface Software Engineer–joins us for this episode of The 1:1 Podcast.
We talk about juggling grad school with a full time job, packaging professional experience, and AI tooling.
0:00 - Intro
1:57 - Balancing full time work with grad school
6:13 - Time management tricks
8:47 - What's next?
11:04 - Pursuing engineering management
14:09 - Packaging transferrable skills
15:20 - Maintaining technical skills as an engineering manager
18:50 - Whack-a-mole!
20:17 - Deciding whether to take a non-technical role
23:02 - Keeping a brag sheet
23:54 - About Computer Human Interaction
28:55 - How does AI impact a Computer Human Interaction career?
30:53 - Bresdin and Rusty's takes on Generative AI
33:40 - ChatGPT productivity tips
35:36 - AI resource usage
37:47 - Favorite things from community involvement
46:22 - Networking tips
48:00 - Self-actualization advice
49:47 - Final thoughts
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10 Feb 2025
1:1 with Jackson Stakeman - solution engineering, giving customers what they need (not just what they want)
Jackson Stakeman–Director of Solution Engineering at Sparq–joins us for this episode of The 1:1 Podcast.
We talk about what happens when you pass ‘peak developer,’ how to transition into solution engineering, and the fine art of giving customers what they actually need—not just what they ask for.
0:00 - Intro
1:12 - Passing "peak developer" (changes in our industry)
3:17 - Becoming a solution engineer
8:38 - The worst screenplay Jackson read as a script reader
10:42 - Entrepreneurial schemes (a.k.a. the vending machine story)
14:57 - From vending machines to solution engineering
21:58 - When giving customers what they want doesn't solve their problem
24:59 - Tough sales calls
29:16 - Where creative solutions come from
34:02 - Tricking our brains
42:14 - Final thoughts
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2 Dec 2024
1:1 with Michael Edvalson - influencing change as an engineer
Michael Edvalson, former Vice President of Engineering at Loyal Health, shares actionable strategies for engineers to influence change and drive meaningful outcomes in their organizations.
18 Nov 2024
1:1 with Mike Armijo - mental health, the value of QA, trying new things, paying it forward
Mike Armijo–a quality assurance specialist–joins us for this episode of The 1:1 Podcast.
We talk about mental health, the value of QA, trying new things, and paying it forward.
00:00 - Intro
00:53 - Becoming a QA tester
04:41 - Exploring other industries
13:18 - Mike’s experience on the job market
22:01 - Mental health
28:32 - Trying new things
40:26 - Paying it forward
44:24 - Final thoughts
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4 Nov 2024
1:1 with Jonathan Clanton - recruiting misconceptions, fake AI candidates, getting your resume seen
Jonathan Clanton–Talent Acquisition Lead at Xplor–joins us for this episode of The 1:1 Podcast.
We talk about misconceptions about recruiting, fake AI candidates, and getting your resume seen. For those of you watching on Youtube we managed to do our first-ever screenshare of this fake resume!
https://x.com/JerryJHLee/status/1778484920593055763
00:00 - Intro
01:30 - Jonathan’s day-to-day
06:11 - Creating a more inclusive job post for diversity
08:00 - Examples of red flags that identify an environment as hypermasculine
10:46 - Neurodivergence and the interview process
14:18 - Misconceptions about recruiting
16:28 - Funky responses to candidate questions
21:56 - Fake candidates
38:04 - Looking for patterns in resumes
42:55 - Improving chances of getting your resume seen
49:26 - Final thoughts
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21 Oct 2024
1:1 with Mathew Zannoni - the job market, 1099 stigma, mentoring, code quality
Mathew Zannoni–a software engineer–joins us for this episode of The 1:1 Podcast.
We talk about the job market, stigma around being a 1099 worker, mentoring, and code quality for small development teams. We also reminisce about the good old days of Front Page and Dreamweaver.
00:00 - Intro
00:43 - Applying for jobs
02:14 - Take home assignments
04:57 - Code tests
06:07 - Challenges of time commitment required to interview
08:31 - Leveraging LinkedIn
09:31 - Evolving expectations around contract work
10:26 - Is it easier or harder to apply for jobs after being laid off?
13:03 - War stories
13:53 - Mentorship
18:29 - Removing ego from development
19:31 - Going back to being an IC after being a manager
26:25 - Flipping the interview script
28:36 - Code quality for small dev teams
36:02 - How do you learn something new?
41:53 - Advancements in tooling
48:53 - Final thoughts
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7 Oct 2024
1:1 with Toby Kraft - approaching career growth and goals
Toby Kraft–an Engineering Manager for a marketing automation company–joins us for this episode of The 1:1 Podcast.
We talk approaching 1:1s, goal setting, and career growth. We also answer a question we get asked a lot: why is this podcast called The 1:1 when there are two of you?
00:00 - Intro
02:39 - Yes person vs. complainer
05:59 - Approaching a 1:1 with someone who complains a lot
08:45 - Approaching career growth with someone when you can't engage them on an issue that's important to them
12:17 - When a manager is not invested in your success
13:41 - Why is this show called The 1:1 when there are two of you?
15:12 - When someone is disengaged from goal setting
20:51 - Useful goals vs company-mandated goals
26:13 - Companies following their values
30:44 - Managing through big company changes
40:01 - Final thoughts
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23 Sept 2024
1:1 with Rose Sadler - Being a new mom in tech
Rose Sadler–an Engineering Manager for a healthcare company–joins us for this episode of The 1:1 Podcast.
We talk about what it’s like to be a new mom in tech, pumping at work, mom guilt, how parenting shapes leadership, and more…
00:00 - Intro
01:11 - Being a new mom in the tech industry
03:09 - Support after returning from maternity leave
05:28 - PTO policies
08:46 - Pumping at work
15:04 - Mom guilt
16:58 - Dad guilt
20:00 - Asking for accommodations
22:38 - Attending a conference while pumping
24:41 - Dealing with pushback
29:46 - Working vs. staying at home
35:13 - Rusty’s Covid layoff story
38:44 - How parenting shapes leadership (and vice versa)
42:06 - Final thoughts
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4 Sept 2024
1:1 with James Williams - GenX and the job market
James Williams–a former Senior Manager who has been on the job market for about a year now since being laid off in August 2023–joins us for this episode of The 1:1 Podcast. We talk about what it’s like to be a GenX “industry veteran” in this job market.
00:00 - Intro
01:36 - Being on the job market for a year
04:32 - How has your job search evolved over the past year?
07:22 - Have you picked up hard skills in your job search?
11:08 - Finding new mentors during a job hunt
19:33 - Withholding information
25:08 - Confidence vs ego
28:57 - GenX + age discrimination
36:21 - Culture fit
42:48 - Parting thoughts
BBC article mentioned during the podcast is here:
https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20240320-gen-x-workplace-ageism
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26 Aug 2024
1:1 with Christian Boylston - Should everyone be learning AI?
Christian Boylston–a machine learning engineer for a startup–joins us for this episode of The 1:1 Podcast.
He answers the question “Should everyone be learning AI?” plus we try to figure out if ChatGPT can make a proper cocktail.
Chapters:
00:00 - Intro
01:04 - Should everyone be learning AI?
03:22 - How to avoid dumbing yourself down while using AI tools
05:57 - Is it fair to say AI is always machine learning, but machine learning isn’t always AI?
10:36 - If someone is thinking about coming into the machine learning field… should they?
13:46 - How do you think workers can prepare for these changes?
16:21 - What can companies do to ensure these technologies are developed responsibly?
18:05 - What are some of the other security concerns you’d warn people against?
19:18 - Prompt quality (leads into learning to prompt ChatGPT to return a good cocktail recipe)
23:11 - How worried should we be about AIs teaching themselves their own languages that humans can’t read?
26:15 - What is the ROI for a company hiring ML engineers?
30:52 - Are ML teams the first to go in a layoff?
31:53 - The interview process for ML engineers
37:09 - What’s the next big thing in AI/ML?
40:43 - Parting thoughts
–
ML Definitions / Glossary
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZqbdgpIvI9fE054E6B4ZZj4lep-IlZB0aB4ZxxdqlUc
–
Bonus! Here is the David Lynch Dune-inspired cocktail recipe Christian mentioned which ChatGPT created:
Ingredients
2 oz Rye whiskey
0.5 oz Amaro Nonino
1 tsp Apricot preserves (adjust to taste for sweetness)
0.75 oz Fresh lemon juice
1 tsp Allspice Dram
A pinch of sea salt
A thin lemon wheel (for garnish)
Instructions:
If the apricot preserves are quite chunky, mix them with a little hot water first to create a smoother consistency.
Combine the rye whiskey, Amaro Nonino, apricot preserves, fresh lemon juice, Allspice Dram, and sea salt in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
Shake vigorously until well-chilled. This will help incorporate the apricot preserves into the drink.
Double strain the cocktail into a rocks glass over a large ice cube (the double straining will help catch any chunks from the apricot preserves).
Garnish with a thin lemon wheel.
Enjoy your cocktail! It should have a unique texture and rich apricot flavor from the preserves.
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12 Aug 2024
1:1 with Elena Sayage - Resume misconceptions, selling yourself to recruiters, candidates she knew would get hired within the first five minutes
Elena Sayage–Talent Acquisition Specialist at Loyal Health–joins us for this episode of The 1:1.
She dispels some common resume misconceptions, offers some tips for selling yourself to recruiters, and shares some stories about applicants she immediately knew would get offers and talks about what set them apart.
Chapters:
00:08 Intro
02:17 Working in manufacturing
04:17 Transitioning to the tech industry
07:56 Have hard skill requirements changed in this market?
10:35 How to sell yourself
16:52 One page resumes
18:51 Resume with .6 font
19:53 White texting
24:23 Gaming the system with AI
29:44 Cover letters
33:47 LinkedIn Open to Work
36:02 LinkedIn EasyApply
40:50 How do you know in the first 6-30 seconds if someone will be hired?
47:27 Closing
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30 Jul 2024
1:1 with Billy - Coping with layoffs, coding as an engineering manager
Billy--an engineering manager we used to work with--joins us for the very first episode of The 1:1. He tells us what it's like to return to coding part time after not coding in past management roles and how he coped being impacted by three layoffs.
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Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
9 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 12 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
11
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
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