Shows
Pybites Podcast#189: The Year of Oui: Huy Nguyen on Connection, Community and Showing UpThis episode is a bit special. Julian is joined by one of his closest friends and former AWS colleagues, Huy Nguyen, to talk about something we often overlook in our careers and lives — the power of genuine human connection.In 2024, Huy made an unusual choice. He chose to get off the hamster wheel and take a career break to focus the entire year on being present with friends and community. From a Big Fat Greek wedding in Greece to conversations on balconies in Vietnam, his travels weren’t about sightseeing. They were about belonging.Together, Huy...2025-05-0849 min
Pybites Podcast#188: Career crossroads - navigating the path to job fulfillmentIn this episode, Andrea Gosselink, career coach and former HR executive, joins us to unpack the complicated feelings that arise when we find ourselves at a career crossroad. Drawing from both her personal journey and client experiences, Andrea shares why so many successful people still feel unfulfilled despite achieving traditional markers of career success.We explore the fascinating psychology behind career transitions, including the paralyzing effect of the sunk cost fallacy ("I've already invested so much in this path"), fear of judgment from peers and family, and the limiting belief that there's only one "right" way to...2025-04-2936 min
Pybites Podcast#187: Beyond the resume - how to stand out in the competitive world of techThe tech job market has become increasingly challenging with ongoing layoffs and strong competition for available positions. How can developers stand out when everyone seems to have the same credentials? This episode tackles the essential strategies needed to navigate this difficult landscape. We discuss how imperfect positions can still offer growth, and how enthusiasm, coupled with demonstrated skill, can help employers pick you as a candidate who will bring true value to their organisation.Join our community at pybites.circle.so to continue the conversation, expand your network, and access more resources to advance your P...2025-04-1720 min
Pybites Podcast#186: Rethinking the art of codingRye Whalen sees profound connections between nature and software development that many developers miss. With expertise in hardware, software, and teaching cybersecurity, they uncover how natural systems can inspire better software-building strategies.Rye explains how they approach algorithmic thinking by focusing on foundational base cases and how they encourage their students to visualise problems before writing code. This teaching strategy bridges abstract concepts with practical understanding by tapping into natural visual processing abilities and familiar patterns from the world around us.Beyond technical skills, Rye emphasises the value of creativity and balance. They explain how...2025-04-1031 min
Pybites Podcast#185: Expanding the world of Pybites with cohort coaching, book platforms and more!PyBytes is taking an exciting step forward with the introduction of cohort-based Python coaching, creating an accessible learning pathway for developers worldwide. After five successful years working with over 200 clients through 1:1 coaching, this new model provides opportunities for collaboration, networking, and group problem solving - skills that translate directly to professional development environments.Beyond coaching, we're partnering with "Explore With Us" to give university students across Australia a 50% discount on the PyBytes platform, and we've also completely revamped PyBytes Books - with a sleek new interface, custom reading lists, and gamification elements.With so many...2025-04-0526 min
Pybites Podcast#184: The pathway to success - how an open mind can lead to your dream jobThe road to landing a dream developer job is often paved with persistence, continuous learning, and a willingness to look beyond traditional tech hubs. In this episode, CJ Stein shares his journey from mechanical engineer to software developer at a cheese manufacturing company.Throughout our conversation we're reminded that developer jobs exist everywhere – not just at tech giants and startups. By expanding where you look and having confidence in your ability to learn, you might just find your perfect role in the most unexpected place.___Pybites Circle Community: https://pybites.circle.so/...2025-03-1435 min
Pybites Podcast#183: AI’s silent takeover - are we losing our programming skills?Artificial intelligence is reshaping the world of coding, raising vital questions about our approach to software development. In this episode, we unpack the implications of AI on programming skills and the future of learning to code. As AI increasingly handles various programming tasks, some developers are concerned that new, and even seasoned, coders may be losing touch with critical programming skills. While AI offers opportunities to streamline processes, we highlight the necessity of engaging with coding on a fundamental level.Throughout the episode, we celebrate successes from our coding community, and highlight that while the j...2025-03-0537 min
Pybites Podcast#182: Coding for a cure - how Victoria Kolmac is shaping the future of bio-medical engineering with PythonMeet the incredibly talented Victoria Kolmac, a university student with a passion for the intersection of biomedical engineering and computer science.Victoria shares her fascinating journey with us, outlining how she and her team built a pulse oximeter from scratch using Python and ESP32 microcontrollers, as well as her work on an advanced project aimed at non-invasively detecting thoracic pressure changes related to sleep apnea. We also delve into the world of quantum computing, exploring the basics of qubits and superposition and how Python is used for predictive modeling in this space. With personal stories o...2025-02-1255 min
Pybites Podcast#180 - Transforming DevOps with Generative AIGenerative AI is revolutionising DevOps practices by streamlining incident management, enhancing collaboration, and enabling automation. In this episode, Bob chats with Chris Williams - Developer Relations Manager for HashiCorp - about the future of Ai in the tech industry. Throughout the episode, we discuss the practical applications of AI, address concerns regarding job security, and learn about the importance of staying up-to-date with ever-changing advancements in AI.Article:https://community.aws/content/2rRTRRuo2Tj6r0FXZmWJH8gNHjP/supercharge-your-devops-practices-with-generative-aiTalk:https://youtu.be/POn5WYFw4xU?si=jtBMmPwe9...2025-01-2931 min
Pybites Podcast#179 - AI, Developers, and the Future of CodeCould AI make developers a thing of the past in the world of coding? Join us on the Pybites Podcast as we, Julian Sequeira and Bob Beldebos, explore this compelling question and share our personal experiences with AI's integration into our Python projects.After we quickly recount our holiday experiences, we kick off the new year with reflections on the mindset and habits necessary for success.Moving onto AI, we discuss its dual nature—great for boosting productivity but fraught with limitations when tackling complex tasks. We explore Julian’s journey of building a web app...2025-01-2232 min
Pybites Podcast#176 - Leveraging Rust: Dan Dresser’s Journey to Speed Up His Trading AppThis week, we’re joined by Dan Dresser, who shares how he re-built his trading app in Rust, see also his community win post:Wrote a Trading App in RustWe dive into the app's purpose, the performance challenges he encountered, and how Rust became the best solution for increasing performance demands.Dan shares the complexities / hurdles he faced in the process, his mindset for pushing through when stuck, and valuable tips for learning Rust.We wrap up with two cool book recommendations. I (Bob) got a lot out of this co...2024-11-1344 min
Pybites Podcast#173 - Pybites Platform 2.0 is here!Welcome back to the Pybites podcast! Today we have some really exciting news: we’ve just launched our brand-new coding platform!Check it out here.After nearly 7 years and almost 50K sign-ups on v1 (codechalleng.es), the design started to show its age. That’s why we did a complete overhaul to create our new 2.0 platform. It's faster, cleaner, more responsive, and more affordable.In this episode, Bob and Julian discuss why v2 is such a big improvement, the motivation behind the rewrite, behind-the-scenes insights into how it all came together, some technical chal...2024-10-1129 min
Pybites Podcast#172 - From Punch Cards to Git: The Legendary Journey of Jeff Haemer"The sooner you make your first five thousand mistakes, the sooner you will be able to correct them." - The Natural Way to Draw - Kimon NicoliadesJeff Haemer’s career spans over five decades, and in this episode, he openly talks about his continuous passion for learning and solving interesting problems. We talk about his experience teaching computer science with almost no prior knowledge, his love for Unix, how he landed a job at Twitter in his late sixties, and why he believes networking is key to landing jobs. Jeff also generously sh...2024-10-0649 min
Pybites Podcast#171 - Hypermodern Python with Claudio JolowiczWelcome back everybody! This week we have another exciting podcast episode, this time with Claudio Jolowicz, well known for his "Hypermodern Python" article series which he recently turned into a book.We dive into what Hypermodern Python means, uv's current quick rise, Nox, 80/20 tooling for (beginner) Python devs, Rust, mindset, and last but not least, some good book tips.We hope you enjoy this interview with Claudio and make sure to check out his great materials.Chapters:00:00 Intro episode01:42 Intro Claudio02:44 Music background04:21 Hypermodern Python08:20 uv rapid develment2024-09-1838 min
Pybites Podcast#169 - Bridging Python and Rust: An Interview with PyO3 Maintainer David HewittIn this episode Bob chats with David Hewitt, passionate Python and Rust programmer, core maintainer of PyO3, and part of the Pydantic team. PyO3 lets you write a native Python module in Rust, or to embed Python in a Rust binary. David shares his journey of getting involved and how this tool set helps Python programmers integrate with Rust more easily. We talk about how PyO3 helped the Pydantic v2 Rust integration, how to design for a great developer experience, the mindset of dealing with complex issues, PyPI getting more packages with Rust, how to be...2024-08-3042 min
Pybites Podcast#164 - Mastering Python Development: Overcoming Common Pitfalls and Building SuccessWelcome back to the Pybites podcast! This week, we delve into six common pitfalls that Python developers face and offer insights on how to gain control and influence in your programming career. Tune in for tips on networking, continuous learning, developing good habits, showcasing your work, bouncing back from failed interviews, and the importance of community.Check out our PDM coachingIf you're more beginner, check out PDI firstJoin our Pybites CommunityRust:- Exercises- Bob's blogKids book tip:- The Anxious...2024-06-1821 min
Pybites Podcast#163 - Andrew Farr: Fascinating Python Data Projects and Improving 1% Every DayJoin our community hereBecome a better developer through our coaching---Join host Bob as he sits down with Andrew Farr, a seasoned data engineer, to explore his career trajectories, triumphs, and challenges.In this episode, Andrew shares his recent transition from the US to the UK, landing a new data job, and the daily grind of becoming a data engineer.From adopting a growth mindset to honing his Python skills, Andrew reveals the secrets behind his success. Dive deep into his passion for data analysis, content creation, and the...2024-06-0128 min
Pybites Podcast#162 - Pycon US 2024 DebriefIn this episode we share our experience + takeaways from attending Pycon US 2024.* correction: where Bob said "Hablemos Español" he actually referred to: http://hablemospython.dev---Join our Python community here.---Books:- Scarecrow- Four Thousand Weeks- Algorithms- Build a Large Language Model (From Scratch)2024-05-2516 min
Pybites Podcast#161 - 10 Essential Things to Add to Your Python Project on GitHubIn this episode of the Pybites Podcast, hosts Bob Belderbos dives into the essential components you need for a successful public Python project on GitHub. From organizing your code and creating a standout README.md to setting up automated tests and ensuring your project is contribution-friendly, he covers everything to help you build a robust and collaborative Python project. Whether you're a seasoned developer or just starting out, these tips will enhance your project's usability, maintainability, and community engagement. Join the discussion and learn how to set a solid foundation for your open-source...2024-05-2010 min
Pybites Podcast#160 - Unpacking Pydantic's Growth and the Launch of Logfire with Samuel ColvinJoin our Pybites Community for free hereWe coach people with their Python, developer and mindset skills, more info here.---This week we have an exciting interview with Pydantic's creator Samuel Colvin. ---NOTE that it's best to watch this episode on YouTube, because Samuel demos Pydantic's new Logfire product as well as a bit of FastUI. 💡 💪 😍---Delving into the origins, Samuel shares with us how Pydantic was conceived to streamline data validation, drawing inspiration from similar tools but quickly exceeding expectations in popularity and adoption. 📈Samuel t...2024-05-0344 min
Pybites Podcast#159 - How Luis Palacios Transitioned from Blue Collar to Tech with Python & MindsetJoin our Community for free hereGet your personal coach here---In this episode Julian speaks with Luis Palacios, an IT Analyst and aspiring Cloud Architect.What makes this conversation extra special is that Luis shares his journey from a traditionally "blue collar", labour intensive role, to his first job in I.T. Full disclaimer: he achieved this after completing our PDM Program.Luis shares how learning Python and Mindset skills built his confidence such that he was able to apply for his first tech role and then continue pushing...2024-04-2935 min
Pybites Podcast#158 - Navigating Layoffs: Adopting the Right Mindset for Career ResilienceJoin our Community for free hereGet your personal coach here---In this episode, Bob and Julian explore the challenges of being laid off and discuss strategies for adopting the right mindset to effectively navigate this difficult phase. They provide practical advice on taking decisive action and continuing to build a meaningful career.Chapters:00:00 - Introduction01:11 - Wins: veterans program and Pybites AI07:04 - Lay off experience Julian 14:09 - Lean on your network and be proactive with your career18:00 - Books20:20 - Wrap and outro2024-04-1821 min
Pybites Podcast#157 - Code, Music, and Python Education: A Conversation with Christopher BaileyJoin our Community for free here.Get your personal coach, check out our coaching options here.---🎶 Dive into the intriguing journey of Christopher Bailey, video tutorial producer at Real Python, host of their weekly podcast, and an advocate for learning and teaching Python. 🐍 😍In this episode Christopher shares his unique path from music to programming, illustrating how his passions for music, education, and coding have intertwined to shape his career in tech.From early coding fascinations and playing in a band to becoming a key figure in Python education, discover how Chris...2024-04-1141 min
Pybites Podcast#156 - Mindset, Networking, and Personal Growth in Technology Careers with Louise OprelThis episode features a discussion with Louise Oprel, a cloud advocate, on her career journey and experiences with networking, mentoring, and personal growth. Louise and Bob share insights into developing the right mindset for success and overcoming challenges through small, consistent actions like volunteering, reading, and daily reflection. Practical tips are provided for using technology to connect with others, gain experience through events, and unlock one's potential through mentoring.Links:- Follow Louise on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louiseoprel/- Connect with her in our community: https://pybites.circle.s...2024-03-2630 min