Platform Engineering Podcast - podcast cover

Platform Engineering Podcast

Cory O'Daniel, CEO of Massdriverplatformengineeringpod.com
Welcome to the Platform Engineering Podcast, a monthly exploration into the fascinating world of platform engineering. This podcast caters to professionals and enthusiasts passionate about the intricacies of platform architecture, cloud operations, and scaling DevOps practices. Whether you're a seasoned expert or just starting in the realm of platform engineering, this is a must-listen show you don’t want to miss. Each episode features in-depth interviews with seasoned platform engineers, cloud specialists, and DevOps teams. Their expertise and knowledge are crucial for thriving in this field. Tune in as they share their experiences, challenges, and successes, offering unique perspectives into the everyday workings and innovations of this domain. Let their intriguing anecdotes provide you with valuable lessons that can immediately enhance your business’s competitive edge. Hosting the podcast is Cory O’Daniel, CEO of Massdriver. A software and operations engineer in Los Angeles, California, Cory has over two decades of experience in building startup brands and managing cloud operations. He created Bonny, an Elixir-based Kubernetes operator framework, and is passionate about AWS cloud, Kubernetes, and platform engineering. Join Cory as he breaks down platform engineering with his expert guests. Learn more at http://platformengineeringpod.com

Episodes

From DevOps to 'Vibe Coding': Gene Kim on AI-Assisted Development and Platform Engineering

What if you could turn a five-year software project into a one-month endeavor? Gene Kim, co-founder of IT Revolution and author of The Phoenix Project , reveals how AI-powered Vibe Coding is transforming the way developers work. Kim shares insights from his upcoming book about how developers are achieving unprecedented productivity, including how his co-author produces 12,000 lines of production-ready code daily using AI assistance. But it's not just about speed - learn how this approach enables...

May 28, 202557 minEp. 30

Snyk’s Danny Allan on Making Security Developer-Friendly

Security often feels like a roadblock to developers, but what if it could be seamlessly integrated into the development process? As software delivery becomes increasingly automated and self-service, the traditional approach to security needs a major overhaul. Danny Allan, CTO at Snyk, shares practical insights on transforming security from a bottleneck into an enabler of developer productivity. Drawing from his extensive experience at IBM, VMware, and Veeam, Allan discusses how security teams ca...

Apr 30, 202545 minEp. 29

vCluster with Lukas Gentele: Rethinking Kubernetes Multi-Tenancy

Are your platform teams constantly saying "no" to requests for new Kubernetes clusters? The traditional approach to Kubernetes multi-tenancy forces organizations to choose between cluster sprawl or restrictive namespaces - neither of which fully meets the needs of modern development teams. Lukas Gentele, CEO and co-founder of Loft Labs, shares how vCluster is transforming the way organizations handle multi-tenancy in Kubernetes. By running virtual Kubernetes control planes inside namespaces, vCl...

Apr 16, 202541 minEp. 28

Building Real-World Platforms: Abby Bangser on CNCF, Kratix, & Syntasso

When organizations grow beyond using third-party platforms, they face a critical challenge: how to build internal platforms that enable teams to work efficiently while maintaining security and compliance. Abby Bangser , founding principal engineer at Syntasso , shares insights on creating real-world platforms that strike the right balance between standardization and flexibility. Key Insights The shift from external platforms to internal ones often comes from specific business needs, like complia...

Apr 02, 202554 minEp. 27

Smart TV Testing Made Simple with Dave Lucia of TV Labs

Testing smart TV applications presents unique challenges that traditional web testing approaches can't solve. Dave Lucia, CTO and co-founder of TV Labs, shares how his team built a platform that virtualizes televisions and set-top boxes to help media companies test their smart TV apps on physical devices. Learn about TV Labs' innovative architecture and how they handle everything from camera-based testing systems to their custom Lua-based DSL for faster test execution. A key highlight is how cho...

Mar 19, 202548 minEp. 26

Trust, Lock-in, And Better Infrastructure Management

Why do 70% of organizations still struggle to adopt infrastructure as code? Sören Martius, CPO and co-founder of Terramate, joins Cory O'Daniel to tackle the challenges of modern infrastructure management and the delicate balance between vendor trust and lock-in. The conversation explores practical solutions for common infrastructure challenges, from managing monolithic state files to orchestrating complex deployments. Martius shares insights on: When to maintain a monolithic state file versus b...

Feb 26, 20251 hr 3 minEp. 25

Meeting Developers In Their Existing Workflows: The Terrateam Advantage

Building infrastructure tooling doesn't require massive VC funding or a huge team - just ask Malcolm Matalka , co-founder of bootstrapped Terrateam . Malcolm shares his journey from real estate websites to investment banking to biotech, before landing in infrastructure automation. Learn how Terrateam takes a unique "libraries over frameworks" approach to development, prioritizing simplicity and control by carefully selecting dependencies and building critical components in-house. Malcolm explain...

Feb 05, 202557 minEp. 24

Beyond GitOps: Rethinking Cloud Self-Service with Dave Williams

Is GitOps holding your team back? In this thought-provoking conversation with Massdriver co-founder Dave Williams, we challenge conventional wisdom around cloud infrastructure management and explore why traditional approaches to compliance and self-service may be creating more problems than they solve. Discover how leading organizations are moving beyond ceremonial approval processes to create truly automated, self-service platforms that enhance developer productivity while maintaining security ...

Jan 22, 20251 hr 16 minEp. 23

Breaking Down Healthcare Delivery Barriers with Joel Vasallo

Feeling overwhelmed by the number of apps you need to manage while building developer trust, managing costs, and trying to create an extensible platform that teams actually want to use? Joel Vasallo shares practical insights from scaling TAG 's platform engineering initiatives across multiple healthcare organizations. Learn how his team transformed deployment times from weeks to minutes while maintaining security and compliance. Joel breaks down the journey from initial Kubernetes adoption to ma...

Jan 08, 202551 minEp. 22

Cloud Migration Strategies with Alex Voorhees of 66 Degrees

Navigating cloud migrations and building modern platforms is challenging in the best of circumstances. Alex Voorhees, VP of Cloud Engineering at 66 Degrees, shares valuable lessons from helping organizations as they take on these challenges. Don’t miss his insights on: How to tackle the human and organizational challenges that come with cloud transformation Practical strategies for upskilling teams transitioning from traditional ops to cloud operations Key considerations when implementing platfo...

Dec 11, 202453 minEp. 21

Democratizing Kubernetes: The Kubefirst Journey with John Dietz

John Dietz, CEO and co-founder of Konstruct (formerly Kubefirst), joins us fresh from KubeCon North America to discuss the evolution of cloud-native platform adoption. John shares insights into Konstruct's mission to make Kubernetes and cloud-native technology more accessible, reducing the typical 18-month adoption timeline to minutes. The conversation explores Konstruct's two main products: Kubefirst, an open-source GitOps platform, and Colony, their new solution for bare metal and data center ...

Nov 28, 20241 hr 5 minEp. 20

Executing Well in Healthcare with Jessica Kalinowski

Jessica Kalinowski, VP of DevOps and Corporate IT at Connect RN, shares her journey from corporate IT to implementing DevOps and platform engineering in a startup environment. Jessica discusses the challenges and successes of applying tech strategies in healthcare. The episode covers strategies for platform adoption, including early engineer engagement and flexible implementation. Jessica discusses how automation has enabled efficient management with a small team, benefiting the entire organizat...

Nov 13, 202451 minEp. 19

Solomon Hykes on Docker, Dagger, and the Future of DevOps

In this episode, Solomon Hykes discusses the journey from Docker's inception to its widespread adoption, the challenges faced in open-source development, and his current work with Dagger. He explains how Dagger aims to revolutionize continuous integration by making pipelines more modular and efficient, addressing the "push and pray" problem in software development. Hykes also shares insights on the evolution of DevOps, the complexities of open-source business models, and his vision for the futur...

Oct 30, 202456 minEp. 18

Security and Scalability with Justin Berman from Thirty Madison

In this episode of the Platform Engineering Podcast, Cory O'Daniel sits down with Justin Berman, Vice President of Platform Engineering and Chief Information Security Officer at Thirty Madison. Justin shares his journey from software engineering to security leadership, discusses the challenges of building secure and scalable platforms, and offers insights into the future of platform engineering and security integration. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, & share! http://platformengineer...

Oct 16, 20241 hrEp. 17

Engineering Culture Change with Stack Overflow’s Peter O’Connor

Join us as we learn about Stack Overflow's monumental shift from on-premises infrastructure to the cloud with Peter O'Connor, Director of Platform Engineering. Peter shares invaluable insights on navigating the complexities of migrating a beloved developer platform, balancing technical challenges with team dynamics, and fostering a culture of innovation. From the intricacies of lift-and-shift strategies to the nuances of adopting microservices, this episode offers a masterclass in modern platfor...

Oct 02, 202454 minEp. 16

Platform Engineering for Social Good with Code for America’s Grace Huntley

Want your work to mean more? In this inspiring episode of the Platform Engineering Podcast, we welcome Grace Huntley, Director of Engineering for DevOps, InfoSec, and Safety Net Innovation Lab at Code for America. Grace shares her unconventional journey from licensed plumber to civic tech leader, driven by personal experiences and a passion for solving societal challenges through technology. Discover how Code for America is revolutionizing government services, making them more accessible and eff...

Sep 18, 202444 minEp. 15

Bridging Tech and Human Factors in Platform Engineering with Morteza Irdmousa

Technical expertise is undoubtedly important when it comes to implementing Platform Engineering but unless you are also paying close attention to the human factor and the cultural aspects of building an effective team it will be much harder to succeed. Cory talks to Morteza Irdmousa, Head of Platform Engineering at Curative, about his experiences in Platform Engineering and DevOps. Join them as they explore the need for a holistic approach that considers both technical and cultural aspects of im...

Sep 04, 202447 minEp. 14

From Netflix to the Cloud: Adrian Cockroft on DevOps, Microservices, and Sustainability

In this episode Cory sits down with Adrian Cockroft, a pioneering technologist who played a crucial role in Netflix's transition to cloud computing and microservices architecture. Adrian shares insights from his impressive career, including his work at Netflix, AWS, and beyond. He discusses the evolution of DevOps practices, the rise of microservices, and the challenges of platform engineering in today's complex cloud environments. Adrian also delves into the pressing issue of sustainability in ...

Aug 22, 20241 hr 2 minEp. 13

Foundations of The Cloud With Brian Grant, Kubernetes

It’s episode four of the Platform Engineering Podcast’s special series on the Foundations of The Cloud! This time Cory O'Daniel sits down with Brian Grant, the original lead architect of Kubernetes, to dive deep into the history and evolution of Kubernetes in cloud operations. Brian shares his journey from working in supercomputing to joining Google and helping develop Kubernetes. He also provides insights on the importance of Kubernetes' declarative model, managing complexity in cloud native en...

Aug 07, 202457 minEp. 12

Foundations of The Cloud With Mitchell Hashimoto, Terraform

In this third episode of the Platform Engineering Podcast’s special series on the Foundations of The Cloud, host Corey O'Daniel interviews Mitchell Hashimoto, co-founder of HashiCorp and creator of Terraform, Vault, and Nomad. They discuss the intricacies of platform engineering, the history and evolution of Terraform, the advent of infrastructure as code, and the challenges accompanying it. Mitchell also shares insights on his new project, Ghostly, a high-performance terminal emulator, and delv...

Jul 24, 202454 minEp. 11

Foundations of The Cloud With Adam Jacob, Chef

In this second episode of the Platform Engineering Podcast’s special series on the Foundations of The Cloud, Cory O’Daniel meets up with Adam Jacob, co-founder of Chef and System Initiative. They discuss his early interest in infrastructure and automation, the development and impact of Chef in the DevOps community, and his transition to becoming a CEO. The conversation emphasizes the community and technological advancements Chef brought to the industry and introduces the ambitious goals of his c...

Jul 10, 20241 hr 1 minEp. 10

Foundations of the Cloud with Mark Burgess, CFEngine

In this special episode of the Platform Engineering Podcast on Foundations of The Cloud, Cory O'Daniel chats with Mark Burgess , the creator of CFEngine and a pioneer in configuration management. They dive into Mark's journey from physics to computer science, the birth of CFEngine, and the dynamic world of system administration and DevOps. They also explore the evolution of IT operations, the challenges of managing modern infrastructures, and the future promises of AI and autonomous systems in t...

Jun 26, 202458 minEp. 9

Navigating Ai And Platform Engineering With Amey Patil

In this episode of the Platform Engineering Podcast, Cory O’Daniel speaks with Amey Patil, Head of Platform Engineering at Google Ads and Google Analytics. They discuss the evolving landscape of platform engineering, the integration of AI and ML, and the human factors essential for leading successful platform teams. From managing legacy code migrations to fostering a culture of innovation, Amey shares insights and strategies that are vital for both seasoned professionals and newcomers to the fie...

Jun 12, 202455 minEp. 8

The Role Of Startups In Moving Platform Engineering Forward With Colton Dempsey Of Next 47

Startups always bring refreshing perspectives and brand-new ideas to any space, and the platform engineering industry is no different. In this episode, Cory O'Daniel sits down with Colton Dempsey of Next47 to discuss the important role of startup ventures in the progress of platform engineering. He explains the five categories of startups, why many of them are building more diverse feature sets, and the most effective monetization approaches for open-source projects. Colton also delves into the ...

May 08, 202458 minEp. 7

Unlocking the Potential of Hybrid Cloud with Cory O'Daniel

In this episode Chris Hill asks Cory O’Daniel, CEO and co-founder of Massdriver, to explain the concept and benefits of hybrid cloud, including the use of multiple cloud providers and container services for scalability and flexibility. The discussion also addresses the security and networking challenges that using hybrid cloud implies.

Apr 10, 202410 minEp. 6

Infrastructure As Code: Business Continuity And Disaster Recovery With Cory O'Daniel

Chris Hill sits down with Cory O'Daniel to talk about how Infrastructure as Code can help with disaster recovery and business continuity. From the technology and personnel challenges to scenarios such as losing one of your regions and the importance of backup plans, learn how IaC can be used to help ensure data and operations are not affected. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, & share! http://platformengineeringpod.com...

Mar 27, 202410 minEp. 5

DevOps & Platform Engineering - What's The Difference? With Dave Williams

In this week's episode, Chris Hill gets Dave Williams to go deeper into how platform engineering is moving one step beyond DevOps. Listen in as they discuss the skill sets, principles, and mindset needed to enable this evolution in the field. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, & share!

Mar 13, 20248 minEp. 4

Is DevOps Bullshit? An Interview With Cory O’Daniel, Author Of The “DevOps Is Bullshit” Blog Post

DevOps was conceived as a way to bring developers and operations together, but has it really worked? In this episode, Dave Williams sits down with Cory O’Daniel to discuss his controversial blog post “DevOps Is Bullshit.” Find out why Cory sees platform engineering as a solution. Discover its potential as an antidote to the unmet promises and inherent challenges within the current DevOps landscape. Tune in now! Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, & share!...

Feb 28, 202417 minEp. 3

What Is Platform Engineering? A Cloud Operation Engineer’s Perspective

For teams ingrained in DevOps practices, Platform Engineering ushers in a broader horizon, a fresh perspective on managing infrastructure. But what does Platform Engineering offer, especially for those adept in cloud operations? In this episode, Cory O’Daniel talks to Chris Hill about platform engineering from the perspective of a cloud operations engineer. From the importance of security and compliance and the challenges faced by developers to the impact of Massdriver to deliver infrastructure ...

Feb 14, 202416 minEp. 2

What Is Platform Engineering? From A Developer's Perspective

For teams ingrained in DevOps practices, this term ushers in a broader horizon, a fresh perspective on managing infrastructure and applications. But what does Platform Engineering offer? In this episode, Cory talks to Dave Williams about platform engineering and why he sees this as the future of running applications in the cloud.

Feb 07, 202414 minEp. 1
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