Podcast · Tech & Science

Front End Happy Hour

by Front End Happy Hour · English · Tech & Science

A podcast featuring panelists of engineers from Netflix, Twitch, & Atlassian talking over drinks about all things software engineering.

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 51 min
Latest: 4 Mar 2025
Language: English

Latest episode

4 Mar 2025 · 54 min

Portraits of an Artist

This is a special episode featuring an interview with Shirley Wu from a brand-new podcast series, Portraits of an Artist . In this new series, Ryan Burgess explores the creative journeys of artists—diving deep into their process, inspirations, and the stories behind their work. In this conversation, Shirley shares her transition from software engineering to full-time data visualization artist, what it means to balance structure and creativity, and how moving to Tokyo has influenced her artistic perspective. If you enjoy this episode, be sure to subscribe to Portraits of an Artist on Spotify…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

29 Oct 2024 · 52 min

Beyond the Bingo Card: Leadership Lessons with Karen Catlin

In this episode of Front End Happy Hour, we’re joined by Karen to dive into an essential conversation about allyship and inclusion in the tech industry. We discuss what it means to actively support underrepresented groups, the challenges of fostering genuine inclusivity, and practical ways to make an impact as allies. From actionable advice to thought-provoking insights, Karen shares her experiences and perspectives, making this episode a must-listen for anyone committed to building a more inclusive tech community. Join us as we explore how we can go beyond the surface and drive real change…
21 Oct 2024 · 58 min

Revisiting Server-Driven UI: Scalable Approaches in Large Companies

In this episode of Front End Happy Hour, we explore the benefits and challenges of Server-Driven UI, especially in the context of large-scale applications. Join us as we discuss how this approach impacts front-end development, enhances flexibility, and scales effectively within big companies. Whether you’re curious about its implementation or looking to optimize your own tech stack, this conversation is packed with valuable insights. Tune in for a deep dive into Server-Driven UI and its role in shaping the future of user interfaces.
14 Oct 2024 · 57 min

Recruiting to Global Leadership: Taylor Desseyn Interview

In this episode of Front End Happy Hour’s Sips of Wisdom, Ryan Burgess sits down with Taylor Desseyn, a long-time recruiter turned leader, to discuss his exciting new leadership role and his approach to building global communities. Taylor shares insights from his 13+ years of experience recruiting engineers and how he’s transitioned into a role focused on community building at scale. He talks about partnering with engineering leaders to hire top talent, the challenges of scaling himself through content creation, and his vision for creating high-quality, meaningful content that fosters…
7 Oct 2024 · 50 min

Scaling Startups and Navigating Product-Market Fit with Emre Baran

In this episode of Front End Happy Hour, we sit down with Emre Baran, Co-founder and CEO of Cerbos, to dive deep into the world of startups, product-market fit, and scaling a tech company. With over 20 years of experience, Emre’s journey includes building Turkey’s largest social network, contributing to $1 billion in revenue at Google, and now tackling one of the most critical parts of the devops stack—authorization. Emre shares his insights on being a ‘Chief Everything Officer,’ balancing technical and business challenges, and the importance of a well-thought-out go-to-market strategy.…
E212 · 30 Sep 2024 · 44 min

Amazon’s Office Mandate: The End of Remote Work?

We dive into Amazon’s recent decision to end its hybrid work policy and require employees to return to the office five days a week. We discuss the impact of this decision on both Amazon employees and the broader tech industry. Is this the beginning of the end for remote work, or will other companies continue to offer flexibility? Join Ryan, Jem, and Stacy as they share their thoughts on Amazon’s move, its implications for talent retention, company culture, and the future of work in tech. Panelists: Ryan Burgess - @burgessdryan Jem Young - @JemYoung Stacy London - @stacylondoner Picks: Ryan…
23 Sep 2024 · 55 min

Episode 211 - Ken Wheeler Unfiltered - Sips of Wisdom Interview

In this episode of Front End Happy Hour, Ryan Burgess sits down with Ken Wheeler for a no-holds-barred conversation about the tech industry’s evolution and what it really takes to succeed. From starting out as a butcher and telemarketer to making waves in Silicon Valley, Ken shares his unfiltered thoughts on everything from early career struggles to how today’s tech salaries can hit $700K. We dive into the future of AI, the front-end landscape, and the ever-changing world of web development. Whether you’re just starting out or already deep in the industry, this episode is packed with…
16 Sep 2024 · 48 min

Episode 210 - Film to Tech - Jason Torres Sips of Wisdom Interview

In this Sips of Wisdom episode of Front End Happy Hour, Ryan Burgess interviews Jason Torres, who made the bold leap from a 15-year career in the film industry to becoming a software developer. They discuss the surprising similarities between film and tech, the challenges of transitioning careers, and how Jason’s creative skills translated into the tech world. They also dive into how AI is reshaping the creative landscape and what it means for the future of both industries. Guests: Jason Torres - @TasonJorres Panelists: Ryan Burgess - @burgessdryan Episode transcript:…
10 Sep 2024 · 47 min

Episode 209 - How promotions really work in tech

In this episode of the Front End Happy Hour podcast, we’re diving deep into the realities of getting promoted in the tech industry. It’s not just about writing great code or being the smartest person in the room. Jem Young, Augustus Yuan, and Ryan Burgess break down the misconceptions around promotions, the skills that actually matter, and why navigating the process can sometimes feel more political than technical. Whether you’re aiming for a promotion or just curious about how it all works behind the scenes, this episode offers candid advice and strategies for advancing your career. Plus,…
2 Sep 2024 · 50 min

Episode 208 - Why most new developers struggle: The missing skills you need

In this episode of Front End Happy Hour, Ryan Burgess, Jem Young, Brian Holt, and Dan DiGangi dive deep into the challenges faced by junior developers as they embark on their coding journeys. From the importance of curiosity and continuous learning to the often overlooked non-technical skills, our panelists discuss the common gaps that new developers experience. Whether you’re a beginner looking to navigate your first job or a senior engineer mentoring others, this conversation offers valuable insights to help bridge the gap between education and real-world success. Guests: Brian Holt -…
26 Aug 2024 · 50 min

Episode 207 - Sips of Wisdom: Interview with Kent C. Dodds

In this episode, we dive into the remarkable career journey of Kent C. Dodds, a passionate educator and entrepreneur. Kent shares insights from his early days in programming, his transition from working at PayPal to becoming a full-time educator, and the creation of his successful educational platforms like Epic React and Epic Web. We explore the challenges and rewards of going solo, the process of developing and launching educational content, and the importance of work-life balance. Whether you're an aspiring developer or a seasoned professional, Kent's story is full of valuable lessons on…
19 Aug 2024 · 48 min

Episode 206 - What is it like to work in Silicon Valley?

In this episode, we explore the unique experiences of living and working in Silicon Valley. From the culture shock of constant tech talk and startup hustle to the surprising realities of company perks and the intense work environment, our panelists share their personal stories and insights. Whether you're curious about the career opportunities or the challenges of life in the Valley, this episode offers an insider's view of what it's really like to be at the heart of the tech industry. Panelists: Ryan Burgess - @burgessdryan Jem Young - @JemYoung Stacy London - @stacylondoner Augustus Yuan -…
12 Aug 2024 · 51 min

Episode 205 - After attending a coding Bootcamp

In this episode of Front End Happy Hour, we're joined by Shashi Lo, a Senior Software Engineer at Microsoft, to explore our thoughts on the journey after attending a engineers complete a bootcamp. Shashi shares his experiences mentoring self-taught developers and bootcamp graduates, discussing the skills that are often missing and the creative ways to bridge the gap between education and landing that first job in tech. Guests: Shashi Lo - @shashiwhocodes Panelists: Ryan Burgess - @burgessdryan Augustus Yuan - @augburto Picks: Shashi Lo - Frontend Mentor https://www.frontendmentor.io/ Ryan…
5 Aug 2024 · 52 min

Episode 204 - Sips of Wisdom: Interview with Angie Jones

In this episode, we dive into the career journey of Angie Jones, the Global Vice President of Developer Relations at Block. Angie shares her experiences transitioning from a Senior Software Engineer at Twitter to leading developer relations initiatives at Applitools and now at Block. Angie also provides insights on the future of developer relations and the evolving landscape of tech communities. Whether you're an aspiring developer advocate or a seasoned professional, this episode is packed with wisdom and practical tips. Guests: Angie Jones - @techgirl1908 Panelists: Ryan Burgess -…
29 Jul 2024 · 58 min

Episode 203 - Normalize taking a break

In this episode, we dive into the topic of taking a sabbatical and its impact on personal and professional life. Our special guest, Jennifer Tieu, a front-end developer at a Web3 agency, joins us to share her experience of taking a break from work, the challenges she faced, and the insights she gained. Panelists Ryan Burgess and Cole Turner also discuss their own sabbatical journeys, offering valuable advice on managing burnout, prioritizing personal well-being, and navigating the transition back to work. Whether you're considering a sabbatical or just curious about its benefits, this…
22 Jul 2024 · 54 min

Episode 202 - Summer vacation - Online teaching courses

While the Front End Happy Hour crew takes a much needed summer break, we revisit the topic of online education with Josh W. Comeau, who’s had a lot of experience teaching courses to help share his knowledge with us on how we can create an online course. Items mentioned in the episode: Josh W. Comeau, Josh’s online courses, Hands-Free Coding Guests: Josh W. Comeau - @JoshWComeau Panelists: Ryan Burgess - @burgessdryan Jem Young - @JemYoung Picks: Josh W. Comeau - Make it Stick…
15 Jul 2024 · 47 min

Sips of Wisdom: Interview with Shaundai Person

In this latest episode of our 'Sips of Wisdom' series, Ryan Burgess sits down with Shaundai Person, Senior Software Engineer at Netflix. Shaundai shares her inspiring journey from a career in sales to becoming a senior software engineer at one of the world's leading entertainment companies. With her unique background and experience, Shaundai discusses the challenges and triumphs she faced while transitioning into tech. She offers valuable insights into navigating career changes, building technical skills, and the importance of perseverance. Shaundai also shares personal stories and…
7 Jul 2024 · 44 min

Episode 200 - Exploring Isograph

Join us as we welcome Robert Balicki, the creator of Isograph, to discuss how this innovative UI framework can transform your development projects. Robert shares key use cases, tips for leveraging Isograph, and a sneak peek at upcoming features. Guests: Robert Balicki - @StatisticsFTW Panelists: Ryan Burgess - @burgessdryan Jem Young - @JemYoung Stacy London - @stacylondoner
30 Jun 2024 · 55 min

Episode 199 - Sips of Wisdom: Interview with April Wensel

In this latest episode of our 'Sips of Wisdom' series, Ryan Burgess sits down with April Wensel, founder of Compassionate Coding. April shares her unique journey from software engineer to teaching emotional intelligence and compassion in tech. With a background in computer science and experience in Bay Area startups, April discusses the importance of integrating emotional intelligence into software development. She provides valuable insights on managing burnout, fostering empathy, and improving team dynamics. April also shares personal anecdotes and professional advice for creating…
24 Jun 2024 · 42 min

Episode 198 - Leveraging SQLite in the Cloud

In this episode of the Front End Happy Hour podcast, we are excited to welcome special guests Brian Holt and Marco Bambini. Join us as we delve into the advantages of leveraging SQLite in the cloud. Discover how this powerful database technology can enhance your projects with its simplicity, efficiency, and flexibility. Brian and Marco share their expertise, real-world examples, and best practices to help you get the most out of SQLite in your cloud-based applications. Whether you're a seasoned developer or just starting, this episode is packed with valuable insights and tips you won't want…
16 Jun 2024 · 42 min

Sips of Wisdom: Interview with Chris Bautista

In this inaugural episode of our new "Sips of Wisdom" series, Ryan Burgess, host of the Front End Happy Hour podcast, sits down with Chris Bautista, a Senior Software Engineer at Netflix. Chris shares his journey through various tech giants, including the DOD, Hulu, and Netflix, providing a unique perspective on his career. He also offers valuable advice for aspiring software engineers looking to break into the industry. Don't miss this deep dive into the world of software engineering with one of the industry's seasoned professionals.
10 Jun 2024 · 51 min

Episode 196 - Breaking the typecast: Growing beyond frontend and backend labels

In this episode of Front End Happy Hour, we dive into the topic of being typecast as a frontend or backend engineer. Is it really a bad thing? Our panel discusses the implications of these labels, how they can limit growth, and share strategies to break free from these constraints. We explore ways to diversify your skill set, advance your career, and potentially increase your earning potential. Joining the panel is our guest, Tony Casparro, a staff engineer at Netflix. Tune in for an insightful conversation on how to navigate and overcome typecasting in the tech industry.
27 May 2024 · 56 min

Episode 195 - Revisiting Server-Driven UI

In this episode of Front End Happy Hour, we dive back into the world of server-driven UI with fresh insights and experiences. Our special guest, Sherman Chen, a Senior Software Engineer at LinkedIn, joins us to share how LinkedIn leverages server-driven UI to enhance their applications. Tune in as we explore the benefits, challenges, and best practices for implementing server-driven UI in modern development. Guests: Sherman Chen - @_shermango Panelists: Ryan Burgess - @burgessdryan Jem Young - @JemYoung Augustus Yuan - @augburto Cole Turner - @coleturner Picks: Sherman Chen - The Sympathizer…
12 May 2024 · 45 min

Episode 194 - Serverless AI

In this episode, we are joined by Rita Kozlov, VP of Product at Cloudflare, Developer Platform & AI, to talk with us about serverless AI. Rita shares some interesting insights into how Cloudflare has been leveraging serverless AI and what they've called Workers AI. Guests: Rita Kozlov - @ritakozlov_ Panelists: Ryan Burgess - @burgessdryan Cole Turner - @coleturner Picks: Rita Kozlov - Le Samouraï https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062229/ Rita Kozlov - AI Therapist https://github.com/ErickLuis00/therapistai-cf Ryan Burgess - Sugar…
29 Apr 2024 · 50 min

Episode 193 - Implementing authentication in your app

Authentication can be difficult to implement in your app. To help us better understand the authentication ecosystem, we were joined by our guest, Braden Sidoti, co-founder and CTO of Clerk. Guests: Braden Sidoti - @bsinthewild Panelists: Ryan Burgess - @burgessdryan Picks: Braden Sidoti - Patagonia Black Hole Gear Tote https://www.patagonia.com/product/black-hole-gear-tote-bag-61-liters/196924045774.html Ryan Burgess - Automakers Are Sharing Consumers’ Driving Behavior With Insurance Companies https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/11/technology/carmakers-driver-tracking-insurance.html Episode…
14 Apr 2024 · 58 min

Episode 192 - Do you need to work more than 9 to 5 to get promoted?

In this episode, we discuss Jem's tweet about feeling like you have to work more than 40 hours a week to get promoted. Jason Lengstorf joins us to debate the topic of promotions. Guests: Jason Lengstorf - @jlengstorf Panelists: Ryan Burgess - @burgessdryan Jem Young - @JemYoung Shirley Wu - @sxywu Augustus Yuan - @augburto Episode transcript: https://www.frontendhappyhour.com/episodes/do-you-need-to-work-more-than-9-to-5-to-get-promoted
1 Apr 2024 · 55 min

Episode 191 - More AI and layoffs

In this episode, we jump right into things we are seeing in AI and what the job market is like for software engineers. Panelists: Ryan Burgess - @burgessdryan Jem Young - @JemYoung Stacy London - @stacylondoner Augustus Yuan - @augburto Cole Turner - @coleturner Picks: Ryan Burgess - DJI Mic 2 https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0CFZX734J/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=frontendhappy-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=6fdef16ea2e6c0827b59305b22a9d1da&camp=1789&creative=9325 Ryan Burgess - The Gentlemen https://www.netflix.com/title/81437051 Jem Young - Valley Silicon - Steelcase Work Tents…
28 Mar 2024 · 51 min

Episode 190 - At the bar with Whiskey Web & Whatnot

In this special crossover episode, Robbie Wagner and Chuck Carpenter from Whiskey Web and Whatnot join us to toast and discuss AI, Apple Vision Pro, AR/VR, and frontend development. As glasses clink, our spirited ensemble delves deep into how these cutting-edge technologies are reshaping the landscape of software engineering. Guests: Robbie Wagner - @RobbieTheWagner Chuck Carpenter - @CharlesWthe3rd Panelists: Ryan Burgess - @burgessdryan Jem Young - @JemYoung Episode transcript: https://www.frontendhappyhour.com/episodes/at-the-bar-with-whiskey-web-&-whatnot
17 Mar 2024 · 49 min

Episode 189 - Why does Wordpress dominate the web?

In the latest episode, we do a deep into the world of WordPress! Whether you're a seasoned developer or a newbie just starting out, this episode is packed with everything you need to know about WordPress, the leading website-building platform. Our special guests, Fabian Kaegy, Luis Herranz, and Matias Ventura, join us to share their experiences and insights in developing and leveraging WordPress. In this episode, we cover: What is WordPress? An introduction to the powerhouse behind 40% of the web.Why WordPress Dominates: Exploring the reasons behind WordPress's unwavering…
3 Mar 2024 · 53 min

Episode 188 - Unlocking WordPress: Exploring the powers of WPGraphQL

In this episode, we dive into the intricate world of WordPress, specifically focusing on the powers of WPGraphQL, which is transforming how we interact with WordPress. Join us as we sit down with our special guest, Jason Bahl, who helps us understand the possibilities that GraphQL brings to WordPress development. Guests: Jason Bahl - @jasonbahl Panelists: Ryan Burgess - @burgessdryan Cole Turner - @coleturner Picks: Jason Bahl - Elgato Stream Deck…

About Front End Happy Hour

A podcast featuring panelists of engineers from Netflix, Twitch, & Atlassian talking over drinks about all things software engineering.

Front End Happy Hour is a English tech & science podcast from Front End Happy Hour. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Front End Happy Hour
Language: English
Category: Tech & Science
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 51 min
Latest episode: 4 Mar 2025
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1089047924
Website: frontendhappyhour.com
Rights: Front End Happy Hour

RSS feed Apple Podcasts Website

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