Shows
Tech CouncilHow to Use Metrics Without Killing Engineering Culture | Episode 32Metrics influence outcomes by shaping incentives.When engineering metrics are poorly designed, they encourage short-term optimization, suppress risk-taking, and mask systemic issues like technical debt and security gaps. When designed well, they provide early signals, enable informed trade-offs, and reinforce cultural norms.In this episode, Tech Council breaks down the mechanics of effective metrics: defining standards, ensuring visibility across applications, and understanding the economic implications of compliance and security. Duncan and Jason analyze how leadership behavior amplifies the impact of metrics, and why transparency determines whether metrics motivate or demoralize engineering teams.
2026-02-0234 min
Tech CouncilWhy AI Changes How We Build Software, Not Just How Fast | Episode 31AI has changed the conversation in software development, but not in the way most people expected.While much of the industry focuses on speed, this episode of Tech Council explores the deeper shift: AI is changing how software is built. Faster feedback loops demand better decision-making. Automated workflows raise the bar for testing, rollout strategies, and system resilience.Duncan Mapes and Jason Ehmke examine why feature flags, automation, and thoughtful development practices are no longer optional when AI accelerates delivery. It also addresses the cultural shift required as engineers adapt to new responsibilities in an...
2026-01-2646 min
Tech CouncilA Practical Guide to Observability in Enterprise Systems | Episode 30When engineering teams talk about observability, they often picture dashboards, alerts, and vendor slides. But inside real enterprise systems, observability is a story about people. It’s about how they communicate, how they respond under pressure, and how they collaborate when platforms are messy, duplicated, or half-maintained.In this episode, Duncan Mapes and Jason Ehmke sit down with platform veteran Jason McMunn, who has spent years untangling observability chaos across large organizations. What unfolds is a candid look at what actually breaks when systems scale, fractured ownership, unclear contracts between teams, and the silent co...
2025-12-0845 min
Tech CouncilIs AI the Developer’s New Co-Pilot or Competitor? | Episode 29Viewed through the lens of systems thinking, AI introduces both leverage and fragility into the development lifecycle. In this episode, Duncan Mapes, Jason Ehmke, and returning guest, Chris Boyd break down how AI affects feedback loops, failure modes, team throughput, and the architecture of modern systems.They explore the evolving responsibilities of engineers in an environment where code generation is partially automated, and discuss how AI reshapes design principles, mobile development approaches, and cross-team dynamics.The takeaway: AI is neither a panacea nor a threat. It’s a force multiplier for teams who know how to...
2025-12-0157 min
Tech CouncilEngineering Leaders vs Tech Debt: A Realistic Conversation | Episode 28Tech debt exists at the intersection of engineering, business incentives, and system architecture. In complex organizations, it becomes a multidimensional problem involving operational risk, system reliability, long-term scalability, and developer productivity. In this analytically grounded episode, Duncan and Jason dissect tech debt through the lens of system thinking.They introduce a working model for categorizing tech debt into functional, structural, and data-related risk, explaining how each impacts throughput, incident frequency, and time-to-recovery. They also examine how vulnerabilities and poor data contracts masquerade as “bugs” but are often symptoms of deeper architectural debt. The conver...
2025-11-2738 min
Tech CouncilPlatform Engineering Playbook: Autonomy + Standards | Episode 27Most engineering failures can be traced back to two weak points: unclear standards or excessive autonomy. This episode presents a structured examination of how platform engineering resolves this tension to create resilient systems.Duncan and Jason break down the cause-and-effect chains behind incidents: data inconsistencies, missing resiliency patterns, queue backlogs, or unplanned API dependencies. They argue that resilient systems emerge from predictable inputs like, consistent data contracts, reliable backfill strategies, upstream validation, and well-defined ownership boundaries.This episode provides a mental model for designing platforms where autonomy accelerates delivery, while standards protect system health. It...
2025-11-1735 min
Tech CouncilHow to Build Resilient Systems in Complex Enterprises | Episode 26When systems fail, it’s rarely because no one saw it coming. It’s because no one planned for it. In this episode, Duncan Mapes and Jason Ehmke share real-world lessons from years of building and scaling technology across enterprise environments where downtime costs dollars.They explore the art of designing resilient systems that can withstand inevitable failure points, recover quickly, and continue operating under pressure. From team culture to proactive design checklists, this conversation dives into how engineering leaders can turn system reliability into a competitive advantage.Top Takeaways:Desig...
2025-11-1035 min
Tech CouncilStop Wasting Money on Conferences — Do This Instead | Episode 25Every year, companies spend thousands sending their engineers to conferences. Flights. Hotels. Per diems. All in the hope of “learning” and “networking.” But when they return? The notebooks gather dust, and the insights never leave their laptops.In this episode of Tech Council, Duncan Mapes and Jason Ehmke pull back the curtain on what actually makes conferences worth attending. From understanding why you’re going, to choosing who should go, to how that knowledge is shared afterward, they uncover the strategies that separate teams who grow from teams who just take selfies at the expo hall.
2025-11-0324 min
Tech CouncilTop Book Recommendations for Tech Professionals and Engineering Managers | Episode 24Every great leader has a few books that quietly shaped how they lead.For Duncan and Jason, those books go far beyond tech manuals. They’re the ones that teach you how to think, how to communicate, and how to take responsibility when things get hard.In this week’s Tech Council, they open their personal libraries and share the titles that stuck. Expect reflections on ownership, transparency, and the hidden leadership lessons inside biographies, history books, and even fiction.This isn’t your ordinary book recommendations episode. It’s about why some ideas en...
2025-10-2034 min
Tech CouncilHabits That Make or Break Hybrid Teams | Episode 23The hybrid workplace has become the defining experiment of modern engineering, and most leaders are still figuring it out.In this Tech Council episode, Duncan Mapes and Jason Ehmke analyze the habits that drive high-performing hybrid teams. They discuss proximity bias, performance evaluation, and how communication systems shape fairness and culture.They dissect the bad habits that derail trust (like reactive communication and lack of structure) and the good ones that strengthen it (like clear metrics, empathy, and visibility).Whether you’re leading across time zones or transitioning from in-office to hybrid, this ep...
2025-10-1347 min
Tech CouncilThe ONLY Way App Managers Can Balance Velocity and Stability | Episode 22Let’s be real: app managers are stuck in the middle. On one side, business leaders want features yesterday. On the other, teams struggle under mounting tech debt.Duncan Mapes and Jason Ehmke break down the complex challenges app managers face in balancing velocity and technical debt. They explore how technical advocacy, stakeholder trust, and long-term business alignment converge to shape outcomes.They highlight how trust, advocacy, and smart decision-making can turn impossible situations into opportunities for innovation.Top Takeaways:Balancing velocity and tech debt is crucial fo...
2025-10-0633 min
Tech CouncilTalent Acquisition in Tech: What Companies Get Wrong | Episode 21Every great product starts with people. But finding the right people, and keeping them, has become one of the hardest challenges in tech.In this episode, Jason Ehmke and Duncan Mapes unpack the hidden struggles of talent acquisition. From navigating contract-to-hire strategies to cultivating trust through transparency, they share real-world lessons from building engineering teams that last. Beyond résumés and interviews, the conversation dives into how leadership directly shapes retention, why recruiters are more than gatekeepers, and how slow, clunky processes quietly repel top talent. This episode is about balancing short-term hiri...
2025-09-2946 min
Tech CouncilSix Pillars of a Mature API Practice | Episode 20APIs are everywhere, but maturity in API practices is rare.Buying a gateway doesn’t mean you have an API strategy. What matters is governance, security, and making life easier for developers who build and consume those APIs. In this episode, Duncan and Jason unpack the real challenges behind building a sustainable API practice: how to avoid sprawl, how to strike the balance between control and flexibility, and how to embed security into every layer. They also share lessons on centralizing API governance without killing innovation, and why the best APIs put developer expe...
2025-09-2231 min
Tech CouncilWhat Is SRE? Site Reliability Engineering Explained | Episode 19Most companies are doing SRE wrong.Hiring SREs doesn’t make you reliable. Metrics dashboards don’t guarantee accountability. And cultural change doesn’t happen because you wrote it on a slide deck.In this episode, Duncan Mapes and Jason Ehmke push back against the misconceptions. They argue that SRE isn’t a bolt-on team but a systemic shift in how engineering works. Without shared accountability, meaningful metrics, and cultural buy-in, SRE will fail. And no, copying Google’s model isn’t the answer.If you think SRE is just a headcount pla...
2025-09-1544 min
Tech CouncilWorkplace Politics in 2025: How Engineers Can Win Without Playing Games | Episode 18Engineering teams in 2025 look different.Hybrid work, distributed leadership, and constant change. But one thing hasn’t changed: navigating workplace politics is tricky.In this episode, Duncan Mapes and Jason Ehmke get real about how engineers can build influence without playing power games. From handling peer dynamics to understanding leadership intent, they share frameworks that help you stay effective and aligned.This conversation started with a listener’s question, and it sparked insights every individual contributor and engineering leader should hear. Whether you’re trying to give feedback, manage relationships, or earn trust on you...
2025-09-0840 min
Tech CouncilBlameless Postmortems: The Secret to Better Engineering Teams | Episode 17A critical incident hits. Systems go down. Deadlines slip. Fingers point. Sound familiar?In this episode, Duncan and Jason break down how high-performing engineering teams recover differently. Instead of assigning blame, they focus on learning, adapting, and improving.Through stories and insights, they explore how leadership sets the tone for accountability, why feedback loops are essential for growth, and how creating psychological safety helps engineers move faster without fear.If you’ve ever been in the middle of a postmortem wondering how to make your team stronger, this conversation will change the way yo...
2025-09-0332 min
Tech CouncilFreedom vs. Centralization: Engineering’s Biggest Dilemma | Episode 16 Every engineering leader has been there.Your team wants the freedom to try new tools, adopt new frameworks, and build in ways that make sense to them. But leadership needs consistency, security, and cost control. So… who’s right?In this episode of Tech Council, Duncan Mapes and Jason Ehmke unpack how to balance developer autonomy with organizational alignment. It’s not about locking everything down, nor is it about letting every team go rogue. It’s about knowing where freedom fuels innovation and where centralization prevents chaos.Whether you’re managing three engineers o...
2025-08-2845 min
Tech CouncilSurviving Your First Leadership Transition in Technology | Episode 15Most advice about leadership transitions is sugarcoated: “Trust the process, be patient, focus on people.” While that’s not wrong, it’s not the whole story. In this candid episode, Duncan Mapes and Jason Ehmke break through the noise to talk about what actually matters when you step into a new role: defining success metrics, proving yourself with early wins, and building credibility fast. Leadership transitions are less about theory and more about execution, and the way you handle those first 90 days can set the tone for years to come.Top Takeaways:Tran...
2025-08-1835 min
Tech CouncilMetrics in Software Engineering: Friend or Foe? | Episode 14Metrics aren’t the problem. You are.For years, engineers have hated metrics, but what if the real issue isn’t the numbers… it’s how they’re used?In this episode, Duncan Mapes and Jason Ehmke dig into why many engineers roll their eyes at metrics, the traps leaders fall into when measuring productivity, and how to shift the conversation toward continuous improvement.They challenge conventional thinking, arguing that metrics can transform engineering culture if leaders stop using them as surveillance tools. They break down how to measure without micromanaging, why team-level data beats...
2025-08-1139 min
Tech CouncilHow AI Is Changing Engineering Management | Episode 13“Should junior devs still learn the fundamentals if AI can write the code for them?”That’s one of the real questions Duncan and Jason tackle in this episode of Tech Council. They get honest about what AI is actually changing in engineering management, and what’s just hype.They dive into how teams are adapting, what mentorship looks like when everyone has an AI assistant, and why outcomes matter way more than implementations.If you manage a team or work on one, this episode will shift how you think about leading...
2025-08-0545 min
Tech CouncilMonoliths or Microservices: Making the Right Call for Your Context | Episode 12Monoliths or microservices?It’s one of the most hotly debated decisions in software engineering, and in this episode of Tech Council, Duncan and Jason lay it all out.They challenge the hype around microservices and explain why monoliths should be the default starting point for most teams. With Conway’s Law as a backdrop, they show how internal team communication patterns shape your system’s architecture, whether you like it or not. You'll also hear when it's actually time to break things up, and why Service-Oriented Architecture deserves a second look. It’s a must...
2025-07-2834 min
Tech CouncilAdmin Tax is Killing Your Engineering Team | Episode 11 Every engineering team pays a tax. The question is: how much?In this episode of Tech Council, Duncan Mapes and Jason Ehmke spotlight the unspoken, underestimated cost of audit prep, compliance checklists, and spreadsheet-driven project tracking - the administrative tax. Administrative tax is the accumulation of compliance requirements, audit demands, spreadsheet sprawl, and redundant manual workflows that keep smart people from doing the work they were actually hired to do.If you’re a CTO or engineering leader aiming to operationalize strategy while scaling cleanly, this episode offers a data-driven roadmap.To...
2025-07-2144 min
Tech Council10x Engineers Are Overrated | Episode 10“10x engineers? Probably jerks.”Jason and Duncan aren’t mincing words in this episode of Tech Council.They’re calling BS on the myth of the superhuman engineer and making a case for the everyday professionals who care deeply, collaborate well, and raise the bar for everyone else.This one’s for team leads, CTOs, and senior devs who want to build organizations where great work doesn’t depend on unicorns.Hit play and rediscover the power of normal engineers.Top Takeaways:The concept of the 10X engi...
2025-07-1441 min
Tech CouncilHow to Think Like a Platform Engineer | Episode 09How do you go from launching apps to leading platforms?This week on Tech Council, Duncan sits down with Chris Boyd—a mobile dev veteran turned platform engineering leader—to talk about what changes when your team grows, your stack evolves, and your priorities shift.They talk React Native, metrics, AI, leadership, and what it takes to balance product demands with long-term engineering health.Chris is also on the verge of launching something new—so you’ll get a peek behind the curtain of what’s next in agent development.Hit play. This...
2025-07-071h 04
Tech CouncilDitch Chaos; Build Team Charters | Episode 08When teams struggle with misalignment, vague responsibilities, or clashing priorities, it’s often not a talent issue—it’s a clarity issue. In this episode of Tech Council, Jason Ehmke and Duncan Mapes go deep into one powerful tool that solves these problems at the root: team charters.They begin by breaking down what a team charter actually is—beyond the corporate buzzword—and why it’s more than just a document. It’s a living agreement that shapes team culture, defines roles, and holds people accountable.From their own leadership experience, Jason and Duncan share the impa...
2025-06-3050 min
Tech CouncilLeading Dev Teams the Correct Way | Episode 07Ownership and leadership are more than buzzwords—they're the backbone of successful software teams. In this episode, Duncan Mapes and Jason Ehmke examine how to foster responsibility without micromanagement and lead with purpose in tech.Expect insights into managing trade-offs, building trust, and creating systems where autonomy thrives. The conversation covers leadership transitions, empowering teams, and ensuring standards don’t slip in the name of speed.If you're striving for balance between freedom and structure in your team, this is the conversation you need.Top Takeaways:Ownership is crucial in a...
2025-06-2359 min
Tech CouncilWhy Software Projects Fail—And How to Fix Them | Episode 06Software development is rarely straightforward. Even with experienced teams and the best intentions, projects still miss deadlines, fail to meet expectations, or get abandoned altogether. In this episode of Tech Council, Duncan Mapes and Jason Ehmke explore why that happens—and what teams can do differently. They dig into the importance of real-time feedback, managing scope, and maintaining healthy communication between engineering and business units.Learn how to align vision, reduce cognitive overload, and create urgency without panic. Whether you're leading software projects or embedded in the code, these insights will help you understand where thi...
2025-06-1653 min
Tech CouncilHow AI Is Changing Software Engineering | Episode 05AI has moved from hype to habit, but at what cost? In this episode of Tech Council, Duncan Mapes and Jason Ehmke break down the ethical, technical, and human implications of AI in software development. From workflow automation to code generation and performance tracking, AI is changing the landscape—but not always in the ways you’d expect.The conversation explores the hidden pressures AI introduces: the erosion of organic team communication, the complexity of evaluating performance fairly, and the risk of turning development into a surveillance-heavy space. Through it all, Duncan and Jason emphasize the n...
2025-06-091h 12
Tech CouncilWartime vs. Peacetime: Understanding Organizational Cycles | Episode 04What kind of season is your organization in—wartime or peacetime?In this episode of Tech Council, Duncan Mapes and Jason Ehmke dig into the organizational cycle and how it shapes everything from decision-making to developer priorities. Whether your team is scaling fast, navigating a downturn, or recalibrating after a sprint-heavy phase, understanding the moment your company is in is critical to doing the right work at the right time.This conversation moves beyond theory to give tactical insight into how engineers, managers, and technical leaders can adapt to different phases of organizational life. From ma...
2025-06-021h 02
Tech CouncilServerless vs Kubernetes: Pros, Cons, and Hard Truths | Episode 02Enterprise tech loves a good debate—and this one’s been simmering for years: Should you go serverless or double down on Kubernetes?In this episode of Tech Council, Duncan Mapes and Jason Ehmke break down what it actually looks like to make that decision in a real-world engineering org. No hype, no buzzwords—just decades of experience navigating cloud complexity at scale.They dig into where serverless shines, why Kubernetes is still around (and still useful), and how to stop making decisions based on ego and start making them based on outcomes. Expect strong opinio...
2025-05-2659 min
Tech CouncilRethinking Value Creation in Tech | Episode 03What does value creation really look like in software development teams?In this episode of Tech Council, Duncan Mapes and Jason Ehmke cut through the buzzwords to explore what it means to actually create value—beyond features, deliverables, and code. Drawing from deep experience in both startups and large-scale enterprises, they unpack how developer autonomy, organizational clarity, and curiosity in conversation all shape the outcomes we build.From navigating enterprise bureaucracy to leveraging metrics with intention, Duncan and Jason discuss the hidden costs of unclear direction, the difference between shipping fast and shipping smart, and wh...
2025-05-261h 02
Tech CouncilLeading Change in Enterprise Tech: What They Don’t Teach You | Episode 01Enterprise environments are complex — full of people, processes, politics, and change. In this first episode of Tech Council, Duncan Mapes and Jason Ehmke dig into the hard-earned lessons of leading change inside large tech organizations.From stakeholder dynamics and reputation capital to the tension between moving fast and asking permission, this episode gets real about what it actually takes to drive meaningful progress in enterprise tech. Expect unscripted insights, battle-tested stories, and candid conversations drawn from years of experience navigating big orgs.Whether you're building software, leading a team, or shaping strategy at scale, this ep...
2025-05-2647 min
Tech CouncilTech Council Trailer: Real Talk on Enterprise Tech, Leadership, and System DesignWelcome to Tech Council — the podcast where enterprise tech isn’t just buzzwords and boardroom talk. Hosts Duncan Mapes and Jason Ehmke cut through the noise with real, unscripted conversations about tech strategy, system architecture, and the everyday decisions that tech leaders face inside massive organizations.If you’ve ever found yourself navigating the chaos of scaling software, debating design trade-offs, or rethinking how your org actually works, this podcast is for you.Expect:Unfiltered stories from the trenchesTough takes on broken systems and outdated assumptionsSmart discussions to challenge and sharpen how you le...
2025-05-1300 min
Merrimack Valley NewsmakersMore to Building Haverhill-Based Mason & Hamlin Pianos Than Meets the EarThe next time you have a chance to hear someone play the piano, just remember that instrument had its beginnings years earlier in a factory that could put it all together, piece by piece. It comes as a surprise to many people that such a place exists in Haverhill—the Mason & Hamlin Piano Co.The company’s creative director, Nathan Mabanglo-Burgett, whose family owns the on Duncan Street business, was a recent guest on WHAV’s “Win for Breakfast” program“Yeah, we are kind of a hidden gem in Haverhill—not many people know that there is a pia...
2024-05-2816 min
Take 1 with Bill CameronTake 1 with Bill Cameron (08-13-2023) - Arne DuncanBill Cameron talked to the former CEO of Chicago Public Schools, former US Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan. He now runs Chicago CRED which helps to reduce gun violence in the city. Duncan talked about what is working and not working about Chicago trying to reduce gun violence. He discussed his relationship with the new Chicago Mayor even as Duncan endorsed Paul Vallas. Duncan also gave his thoughts on the Northwestern hazing scandal and why Donald Trump can't be allowed back in office. This week's round-table with Ray Long, Greg Hinz and Dave Stewart discussed the Illinois S...
2023-08-1146 min
Ballots & BrewsS2 E10 - Interview with Spencer Duncan and Kerrice MapesHoliday events by seveneightfive magazine and interview with Spencer Duncan, city councilman district 8FOLLOW BALLOTS + BREWS ON SOCIAL MEDIATWITTERFACEBOOK
2021-12-031h 01
Straight Talk by Duncan AviationAircraft Readiness - AvionicsIn this podcast, Satellite Avionics/Install Manager, Brian Redondo, and Avionics Install/Line Manager, Pat Mapes, discuss what can happen to your avionics if you leave the aircraft grounded for an extended period of time, and how to ensure your aircraft is ready when your flying activity resumes.
2020-08-2411 min
Hunting for Candle-EndsEpisode 3: Duncan Sheik and More1) An interview with Duncan Sheik 2) Holy Motors, The Alps and Narrowcasting by Marty Mapes 3) Vague Recommendations 4) China Makes the Man by Candle-Ends
2013-03-1000 min