Shows
Real TechnologistsReal Technologists: Jess SzmajdaI generally don't make cold calls, at least when it comes to inviting folks to be on Real Technologists. Jess Szmajda and I crossed paths through our online cybersecurity and cloud computing networks. She's a general manager at AWS leading Network Firewall and Firewall management business. Previously, she was the GM for the VPN practice.With her online profile saying she's located in Washington, DC, I made the assumption that she works with the federal government. Oops! Never make assumptions! I could tell there was technical depth and a driving passion to impact others. ...2024-05-1623 minReal TechnologistsEpisode #20: End of Season One🎙️ Free access to “Real Technologists” on your favorite podcast platforms: bit.ly/realtech-on-all-podcast-platforms 📌Bob: Ok, Trac , let’s check your levelsTrac: Check 1-2, Check 1-2, Season 1 Episode 20, Check 1-2Bob: Ok, levels sound great; make sure you are set to record individual tracksTrac: Roger, got it.Bob: Ok, I’ll fade out and see you kids later, have fun Trac: Thanks, Senior"You are listening to the Real Technologists Podcast. I'm your host, Trac Bannon." (Fade to silence.)That’s how most recording sessi...2023-08-2404 min
The Jumping Point Podcast#45 Jess Szmajda, GM VPN w/ Amazon Web ServicesJess Szmajda current GM of VP at AWS is the former CTO of Axios Media and Co-Founder of Optoro. She shares how going through major life changes can shift our perception and has taught her that we can do hard things Follow Phillip on LinkedInFollow On InstagramSign Up for our Leadership Letter2021-10-1940 min
Greater Than Code233: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Matter with Jess Szmajda01:22 - Jess’s Superpower: Playing ANY Instrument
Music & Technology
Cultural Expoloration
06:03 - Language Community Ethos (MINASWAN)
Human-Centered Design
The Joy of Programming Meetup
Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis
13:24 - Inclusive Language: Language Matters
Valheim
17:19 - Active Listening and Expressing Point-of-View, and Using Loudness
Vocally For
Vocally Against
Quiet For
Quiet Against
21:51 - Shining Light on Marginalized People & Voices
BULQ
Metacognition: Asking ourselves, “What are we not thinking about?”
Leadership
Changing Mental Patterns; Take a Different Path
31:30 - Benefits of Having Diverse Teams (Resources) & Risks of Homogeneity
Diversity wins: How inclusion matters
Why di...2021-05-0547 min
Parent Driven Development062: 3-Year Anniversary - Episode HighlightsParent Driven Development
062: Celebrating Our Favorite Episodes from the past 3 Years!
Episode Highlights
KWu, Chris, Josh, and Allison reflect on the past 3-years of podcasting. They touch on their favorite episodes and guests over the years, as well as some favorite parenting genius and fail moments!
1:30 Episode 43 - Managing parents on your team with Nick Means
3:10 Episode 19 - Being Adults, Live from Ruby Conf with Jonan Scheffler
7:25 Episode 11 - Being a Trans-Parent with Jess Szmajda
10:35 Episode 26 - Breastfeeding with Allison, Mandy, and KWu
13:06 Episode 13 - Babies at Work Program with Leah Silber
14:38 Episode 39 - Parenting Roles and Gender Equity with...2021-01-2037 min
Marriage Bites! With Mike and JessEp 28: I pissed off Nick SabanWant to give Mike and Jess a recommendation for a food review? Want to give your review of the Arby's curly fry and onion ring? Email them at basketballdrives@gmail.com Smash Tots food review from https://smashburger.com/ Convo with Anne Szmajda about the Alabama and Chicago food scene! 2019-12-0555 min
CTO Think PodcastFrom Hands-on Dev to CTO: Jess Szmajda, CTO of AxiosWe have an exceptional guest for our 50th episode in Jess Szmajda, CTO of Axios, and we cover a whole lotta ground:
From building "horrible PHP sites", to constructing retail tech teams from scratch, we then tackle the subject of taking on the role of CTO of a fast-growing media firm, being a trans CTO, and promoting a more diverse community in technology. Whew!
We start out discussing the difference between a CTO and Director/VP of Engineering, title creep, and whether the idea of a "software architect" has any relevance at all. We then cover wider ground with managing...2019-06-0444 minCTO Think PodcastFrom Hands-on Dev to CTO: Jess Szmajda, CTO of AxiosWe have an exceptional guest for our 50th episode in Jess Szmajda, CTO of Axios, and we cover a whole lotta ground:
From building "horrible PHP sites", to constructing retail tech teams from scratch, we then tackle the subject of taking on the role of CTO of a fast-growing media firm, being a trans CTO, and promoting a more diverse community in technology. Whew!
We start out discussing the difference between a CTO and Director/VP of Engineering, title creep, and whether the idea of a "software architect" has any relevance at all. We then cover wider ground with managing...2019-06-0444 minParent Driven Development027: Fear Mongering and Inducing PanicParent Driven Development
Episode 027: Fear Mongering and Inducing Panic
Show Background Resources
Momo challenge: The real victims of the hoax are the parents who believe it (https://www.independent.co.uk/news/long_reads/momo-challenge-internet-viral-hoax-parents-a8806836.html)
Momo Is as Real as We’ve Made Her (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/02/style/momo-mania-hoax.html)
A pediatrician exposes suicide tips for children hidden in videos on YouTube and YouTube Kids (https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2019/02/24/pediatrician-exposes-suicide-tips-children-hidden-videos-youtube-youtube-kids/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.e8215c20ac71)
01:29 Firsthand Experience?
Mandy's daughter had no idea about any of this until it was brought to her attention.
03:17 Momo Challenges (ma...2019-04-1700 minParent Driven Development025: Girls in STEMParent Driven Development
Episode 025: Girls in STEM
00:34 Why Joulez (https://www.joulez.co/)?
Getting girls and women engaged in technology
Lending opportunity for girls in the 8-12 age bracket
The Juelez Formula:
Identity
Vocabulary
Skills
Tribe
06:05 Designing Into Motivation
Fixed vs Growth Mindset (https://www.mindsetworks.com/science/)
Tufts University Center for Engineering Education and Outreach (https://ceeo.tufts.edu/)
Marrying fun and education
Programming and Computer Programming
15:35 How can parents help?
Context
Vocabulary
Building with them
22:38 Gender
Expanding contexts in which we engage children in STEM
Where are the toys that build empathy in boys?
Providing opportunity for people...2019-03-1300 minParent Driven Development022: Single ParentingParent Driven Development
Episode 022: Single Parenting
00:46 Single parenting is becoming more common...
... but events can feel ostracizing.
Logistics are hard to navigate.
There are full-time and half-time single parents.
04:06 It takes a village
Having a support system. (Friends, neighbors, family members)
Non-nuclear families / modern family situations.
10:55 Dating as a single parent
Introducing kids to significant others.
When is it appropriate?
When kids do/don't get attached to partners.
21:27 Challenges and eases of single parenting
Drama: engaging and avoiding.
Making decisions solo vs with someone else.
Holding onto resentment/anger/confusion/disappointment towards the other parent.
Questions from kids as they...2019-01-3000 minParent Driven Development021: Self-Care For ParentsParent Driven Development
Episode 021: Self-Care For Parents
00:25 Defining Self-Care
Refilling your energy bucket.
Naps.
Taking care of your human body.
Parenting yourself.
04:50 Flexible Sleep and Work Schedules
Treating yourself with respect and kindness.
Doing things for the good of the family.
10:56 Parenting Identities
Time spent caregiving vs adulting.
Having different strengths as parents.
Having a network of "other" parents and families. "Intentional Community."
17:24 Specific Self-Care Suggestions
Setting your environment.
Meditation.
Having non-distracting routines and activities.
Cooking.
Creative outlets: Music, etc.
27:05 Being Okay with Kids Temporary Unhappiness and Discomfort
Yes Spaces (https://www.janetlansbury.com/2014/08/play-space-inspiration/).
Ignoring tantrums.
30:49 Genius / Fail Moments
...2019-01-1600 minParent Driven Development020: Fertility StrugglesParent Driven Development
Episode 020: Fertility Struggles
00:23 Welcome, Adam Cuppy (https://twitter.com/AdamCuppy)!
Adam started as a professional actor, turned the corner into advertising, and found his way to tech entrepreneurship and education. Adam performed for the world-renowned Oregon Shakespeare Festival (https://www.osfashland.org/) before making his way into creative direction for Dutch Bros. Coffee (https://www.dutchbros.com/), where he oversaw brand strategy for all of their franchised locations. After six years at Dutch Bros., he co-founded Define Your Edge; the mission: to maximize the customer experience, understand the “why,” and let that influences the “how.” Within a few year...2019-01-0200 minParent Driven Development018: Designing Apps/Digital Products for Parents with Anne Halsall and Sara Mauskopf of WinnieParent Driven Development
Episode 018: Designing Apps/Digital Products for Parents
00:24 Welcome, Anne Halsall (https://twitter.com/annekate) and Sara Mauskopf (https://twitter.com/sm)!
Anne is the co-founder & head of product of at Winnie (https://winnie.com/). Sara is the CEO.
01:12 Coming Up With Winnie: Providing Local Information for People With Children
Great app to use for travel!
Gives parents child-friendly reccomendations for activities, places to eat, things to see.
03:12 Content Moderation and Quality
Winnie is a crowdsourced platform similar to Yelp or Quora where you can both ask questions or give advice.
You can post under a pseudonym or...2018-12-0500 minParent Driven Development011: Being a Trans ParentParent Driven Development
Episode 011: Being a Trans Parent
00:30 We're joined by our friend Jess (https://twitter.com/jszmajda) today
We've been soliciting questions from our audience which will help guide our conversation today
02:00 How do you help young children who want to categorize everything in to boys and girls?
How do we talk about boy parts and girl parts and gender identity especially with young children?
It's a complex topic. Different children classify in different ways. Does it talk to how we socialize children? It changes when your children interact with other children in school.
Science has proven that gender...2018-09-1100 min