Shows
Regular ExpressionsThe Consultant's Dilemma: Saying No To The Wrong WorkFor any consultant, especially one starting their own firm, the idea of saying "no" to paid work can feel unthinkable. But not all clients are created equal, and taking on the wrong engagement can be far more costly than turning it down. How do you spot the red flags of a toxic environment, avoid burnout, and know when to walk away?In this episode, Ben Griswold (Grizen) and Noah Heldman (OutcomeSource) tackle the difficult but essential art of saying no. They explore the key reasons to decline work, from toxic cultures and value misalignment to simple burnout...
2025-11-1828 minRegular ExpressionsSo, AI Is Going to Destroy Us All... Now What?What if the relentless pursuit of superhuman AI has only one possible, inevitable outcome: the complete annihilation of humanity? That's the terrifying premise of a new #1 bestselling book that's grabbing attention everywhere from subway ads to Silicon Valley.In this episode, Noah Heldman (OutcomeSource) dives into the chilling arguments from "If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies: Why Superhuman AI Would Kill Us All." He breaks down the book's core claims, from an AI that can master biology to the fundamental problem that we can't understand how it thinks. But just when the existential dread sets in, Ben...
2025-11-1225 minRegular ExpressionsThe Messy Middle: Navigating Engagement DriftEvery project starts with a bang and ends with a sprint to the finish line. But what about the long, messy middle? That's where "engagement drift" sets in—when focus blurs, momentum stalls, and even the best-laid plans go off the rails.In this episode, Ben Griswold (Grizen) and Noah Heldman (OutcomeSource) diagnose this common project ailment. They explore the dynamic between "starters" (like Noah) and "finishers" (like Ben), the inevitability of scope creep, and why the middle of an engagement is the true test of a team's alignment and resilience. This is a practical guide to id...
2025-11-0425 minRegular ExpressionsConsulting Past, Present, and Future With Jeff TreutingWhat has truly changed in the world of technology consulting over the last 20 years, and what fundamental truths have stayed exactly the same? In this special episode, we welcome our very first guest, veteran consultant and startup CTO Jeff Treuting, for a deep dive into the evolution of the industry.Ben, Noah, and Jeff—colleagues and friends for two decades—share stories and insights from their journeys, starting in the dot-com boom and moving through the rise of cloud, mobile, and now AI. They compare the realities of working for a scrappy solo practice versus a "Big Four...
2025-09-2857 minRegular ExpressionsTurning The Mic On Ourselves: The RegEx Rapid-Fire EpisodeIn a special new format, we're turning the tables on ourselves! Before we ask our future guests to run the gauntlet, we're answering the five rapid-fire questions that will become a staple of the Regular Expressions podcast. What's the one buzzword we'd ban forever? What was our most embarrassing career fail? What's the one skill we'd instantly master?Join Ben Griswold (Grizen) and Noah Heldman (OutcomeSource) as they put themselves in the hot seat. From a configuration file mistake that cost thousands of dollars per minute to a misguided JavaScript timer that did more harm than good...
2025-09-2412 minRegular ExpressionsAre Most AI Tools Just Fancy Wrappers?What happens when you push an AI so hard with a real-world coding problem that it... gives up? In a surprisingly human moment, Google's Gemini admitted its approach was "fundamentally wrong," lost its user's trust, and promised to "stop." This wasn't just a glitch; it was a profound lesson in the real-world limitations and opportunities of generative AI.In this episode, Ben Griswold (Grizen) and Noah Heldman (OutcomeSource) use this hilarious story as a launchpad to discuss the messy reality of working with AI today. They explore the critical shift from casual "vibe coding" to structured, spec-based...
2025-09-2323 minRegular ExpressionsNobody Who Hires You Cares About TechnologyFor two career technologists to say "technology is the easy part" might sound strange, but after decades in the industry, it's the most important lesson they've learned. The biggest challenges that derail projects and frustrate teams rarely have to do with code; they have to do with people, processes, and a fundamental disconnect from the business's real purpose.In this episode, Ben Griswold (Grizen) and Noah Heldman (OutcomeSource) break down their core philosophy. They explore why even a beautifully engineered solution can be a total failure if it doesn't solve the right problem, and discuss the all-too-common...
2025-09-1116 minRegular ExpressionsForward Deployed Engineer: Because “Tech Ninja” Doesn’t Sound Stuffy EnoughYou've heard the buzzword "Forward Deployed Engineer" used by companies like OpenAI and Palantir, but what does it really mean? It’s more than just a senior consultant on-site; it’s a radical model of autonomy, strategy, and on-the-ground invention that challenges the very structure of traditional consulting.In this episode, Ben Griswold (Grizen) and Noah Heldman (OutcomeSource) explore the power and nuance of the Forward Deployed Engineer. They discuss how this model pushes decision-making down to the person closest to the information, turning client work into a series of strategic "bets" that can solve immediate problems whil...
2025-09-1116 minRegular ExpressionsI, For One, Welcome Our Robot Overlords: Navigating AI HypeGenerative AI is grabbing all the headlines, from "vibe coders" raising millions overnight to tech giants replacing entire departments. But behind the hype, what is the real-world impact of AI on business, productivity, and the future of work? The answer is far more complex than the buzzwords suggest.In this episode, Ben Griswold (Grizen) and Noah Heldman (OutcomeSource) cut through the noise to have a grounded conversation about the practical realities of using AI in technology consulting. They explore the productivity paradox—where AI feels fast but may not save time—and dive into the often-overlooked environmental and...
2025-09-0826 minRegular ExpressionsHow Great Consultants Gain Trust and Credibility From Day OneYou've landed the client. Now what? The first few days and weeks of a consulting engagement are a critical window to set the tone, build relationships, and lay the foundation for success. It's not about being the smartest person in the room; it's about becoming a trusted partner.In this episode, Ben Griswold (Grizen) and Noah Heldman (OutcomeSource) provide a masterclass on how to navigate the crucial onboarding period. They argue that the single most important goal is to be trustworthy, and they unpack the practical steps to achieve it—from controlling what you can control to th...
2025-09-0618 minRegular ExpressionsBeyond The Pitch: Spotting Great Tech ConsultantsHiring the right technology consultant can be the difference between a project's soaring success and a multi-million dollar failure. The stakes are incredibly high, but how do you see past the polished pitch and industry buzzwords to find someone who will truly deliver?In this episode, Ben Griswold (Grizen) and Noah Heldman (OutcomeSource) draw on decades of experience from both sides of the interview table to create the ultimate playbook for hiring tech consultants. They reveal the specific questions to ask, the subtle red flags to watch for, and the key character traits—like active li...
2025-08-2938 minRegular ExpressionsFeeling Bloated? Time For Some Lean ConsultingFor decades, big problems meant hiring big consulting firms. The logic was simple: size equals impact. But what if that model is fundamentally broken? What if the hundred-page slide decks, massive teams, and staggering bills are a sign of waste, not value?In this episode, Ben Griswold (Grizen) and Noah Heldman (OutcomeSource) make the case for a different approach: Lean Consulting. They break down why small, senior, and persistent teams are better equipped to deliver real business impact than their bloated, old-school counterparts. Drawing on a story of launching a mobile app in...
2025-08-1926 minRegular ExpressionsThe Musician's Secret To High-Performing TeamsWhat’s more valuable: a single, brilliant "rockstar" developer who can shred through code like a guitar god, or a team of good developers who know how to listen and play together? The answer might surprise you, and it has profound implications for the success of any project.In this episode, Ben Griswold (Grizen) and Noah Heldman (OutcomeSource) use Noah's background as a professional musician to explore the critical difference between individual skill and collaborative success. They share the story of a technically brilliant guitarist who killed the band's energy because he couldn't listen, drawing a...
2025-08-1431 minRegular ExpressionsTwo Right Socks and a Broken Watch… Consulting Lessons From The TrailWhat does running a 62-mile ultramarathon have in common with delivering a complex technology project? A lot more than you’d think. It's never about a perfect, flawless execution. It's about what happens when you’re faced with two right socks, a dead watch, or a critical team member leaving mid-project. It's about preparation, adaptability, and resilience.In this episode, Ben Griswold (Grizen) and Noah Heldman (OutcomeSource) draw a powerful analogy between the world of endurance trail running and the challenges of technology consulting. They explore how the discipline, continuous learning, and community support required to f...
2025-08-1423 minRegular ExpressionsThe "Solution-First" Trap: Why Projects Fail Before They StartWhat happens when a client asks for the latest tech trend, like GenAI, but you suspect it's not what they actually need? It's a classic scenario that can lead to wasted time, bloated budgets, and solutions that miss the mark entirely.In this episode, tech consultants Ben Griswold and Noah Heldman tackle the "solution-first" trap. They share a revealing story of a client who was ready for a full, costly application rewrite, only to discover that the real issues could be solved with just 15-20 hours of focused bug fixes. The conversation explores the art...
2025-08-1421 minRegular ExpressionsWe Built and Launched an App for a Las Vegas Casino In 11 DaysWhat happens when you’re asked to build a full-featured, secure, and high-traffic website for a Las Vegas casino in just 11 days to meet a Super Bowl ad deadline? You pull it off... but what if the project still fails?In this episode, veteran technology consultants and long-time friends Ben Griswold (Grizen) and Noah Heldman (OutcomeSource) share a wild story from their careers. They break down the intense, round-the-clock challenge of building a complex web application—complete with user voting, loyalty program integration, and an admin backend—against an impossible deadline.But th...
2025-08-1427 min