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 ...
Mar 04, 2025•54 min
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 inclu...
Oct 29, 2024•52 min
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 ...
Oct 21, 2024•58 min
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 ...
Oct 14, 2024•57 min
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 techn...
Oct 07, 2024•50 min
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. Panelis...
Sep 30, 2024•44 min•Ep. 212
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. Whe...
Sep 23, 2024•55 min
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 ...
Sep 16, 2024•48 min
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 behi...
Sep 10, 2024•47 min
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 i...
Sep 02, 2024•50 min
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...
Aug 26, 2024•50 min
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...
Aug 19, 2024•48 min
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 A...
Aug 12, 2024•51 min
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...
Aug 05, 2024•52 min
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 bac...
Jul 29, 2024•58 min
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 https://www.amazon....
Jul 22, 2024•54 min
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 technic...
Jul 15, 2024•47 min
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
Jul 07, 2024•44 min
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 ...
Jun 30, 2024•55 min
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 ...
Jun 24, 2024•42 min
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 o...
Jun 16, 2024•42 min
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 ...
Jun 10, 2024•51 min
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 - @...
May 27, 2024•56 min
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/...
May 12, 2024•45 min
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 h...
Apr 29, 2024•50 min
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
Apr 14, 2024•58 min
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 Gentl...
Apr 01, 2024•55 min
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.fro...
Mar 28, 2024•51 min
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 we...
Mar 17, 2024•49 min
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 https://www.amazon.com/Elgato-Stream-Deck-Mini-c...
Mar 03, 2024•53 min
