The GitHub Podcast
This is the GitHub podcast, a show dedicated to the topics, trends, stories and culture in and around the open source developer community on GitHub.
Episodes
Tiny Wins, Big Impact: Accessibility, MCP, and the Future of Open Source at GitHub
In this year-in-review episode of The GitHub Podcast, Cassidy and Abby are joined by Helen Hou-Sandí, GitHub’s engineering manager for the Accessibility Engineering team and lead developer in the WordPress project.They dig into Maintainer Tiny Wins, a series of two week long timeboxed improvements that save millions of developer minutes a day, from smarter PR reviewers panels and one-click merge c
LIVE from GitHub Universe: Inside the GitHub Secure Open Source Fund
In this episode guest host Greg Cochran from the GitHub Secure Open Source Fund brings together four maintainers who are helping secure the open source projects we all depend on: Christian (Log4j/Log4Shell), Carlos (GoReleaser), Michael (EVCC), and Camila (ScanAPI) to unpack what it really looks like to level up security in critical OSS.They share how the Fund’s three-week security sprint, ongoing
LIVE from GitHub Universe: Angie Jones on Goose, MCP, and the Real-World Future of AI Agents
Abby sits down with Angie Jones, VP of Engineering at Block, live at GitHub Universe to talk about Goose, Block’s open source AI agent and reference implementation of the Model Context Protocol (MCP). Angie shares how Goose went from an internal tool to an open source project that lets the community drive features like multimodel support, and how Block’s 12,000 employees across 15+ job functions (
LIVE from GitHub Universe: Privacy-First Smart Homes with Frenck from Home Assistant
In this episode, recorded live at GitHub Universe 2025, Andrea sits down with Frank “Frenck” Nijhof, a GitHub Star and project lead for Home Assistant, one of the most active open source projects on the platform. They unpack how millions of households run privacy-first automations locally (no cloud required), why the Open Home Foundation exists to prevent vendor lock-in and e-waste, and how this f
TypeScript’s Takeover, AI’s Lift-Off: Inside the 2025 Octoverse Report
Andrea and Kedasha sit down with data whisperer Jeff Luszcz, one of the wizards behind GitHub’s annual Octoverse report, to unpack this year’s biggest shifts. They get into why TypeScript overtook Python on GitHub, how AI-assisted “vibe coding” and agentic workflows are reshaping everyday engineering, and what it means that more than one new developer joins GitHub every second. From 1.12B open sou
From Log4Shell to the Sovereign Tech Fund: Lessons in Open Source Sustainability
In this episode of the GitHub Podcast, Abby sits down with Felix Reda, Director of Developer Policy at GitHub, and Christian Grobmeier, a longtime Log4J maintainer, to reflect on the aftermath of the Log4Shell vulnerability and how it reshaped open source funding. They discuss the creation of Germany’s Sovereign Tech Fund, the challenges and opportunities funding brings to open source projects, an
Mike McQuaid on the Greatest Lessons He’s Learned in Over 16 Years at Homebrew
Homebrew’s project lead Mike McQuaid joins Abby and Andrea to unpack what it really takes to sustain one of the most-used developer tools on macOS and Linux. From early GitHub workflows to today’s automation and guardrails, Mike details the soft-power leadership that keeps volunteers motivated, and shares insights on how to scale contributions, keep a small maintainer team effective, and triage wi
Making Desktop Frameworks More Accessible with Electron
In this episode of the GitHub Podcast, Abby and Kedasha are joined by Keeley Hammond, a longtime maintainer of the Electron project. They explore the inner workings of one of the most widely used open source desktop frameworks, dive into how Electron empowers developers to build cross-platform desktop apps with web technologies, and discuss what it takes to build a welcoming and sustainable open s
Building Tools and the Future of DIY Development
In this episode of the GitHub Podcast, Cassidy and Kedasha explore the rise of personal software tools built by developers for themselves, and shared with the world through open source. From command line apps to browser extensions, they dive into how small, purpose-built projects can have a big impact, reflecting on how AI is making development more accessible, while celebrating the joy of creativ
The Joy of Developer Education with CodeTV
In this episode of the GitHub Podcast, Cassidy, Abby, and Andrea are joined by developer advocate, educator, and creator of CodeTV, Jason Lengstorf. They uncover Jason’s journey through open source, from live coding streams to building engaging, educational content for developers, touching on the evolution of JavaScript, the rise of AI tools and MCP, and how open source continues to empower creato
Unlocking the Power of MCP
In this episode of the GitHub Podcast, Cassidy, Abby and Kedasha discuss the Model Context Protocol (MCP), its significance in the open source community, and how it enhances productivity and transparency in AI tools. They explore the history of open standards, the architecture of MCP, and the opportunities it presents for developers. The conversation also highlights exciting projects and repositor
Meet the GitHub Podcast hosts
In this premiere episode of the GitHub podcast, hosts Cassidy, Abby and Kedasha introduce themselves and share their personal journeys into the world of open source. They discuss the importance of community in open source development, the impact of their work at GitHub, and highlight exciting new projects in the open source space. The conversation emphasizes the value of collaboration, education,
This is the GitHub Podcast
Welcome to the GitHub podcast, a show dedicated to the topics, trends, stories and culture in and around the open source developer community on GitHub. Hosted by GitHub’s own Cassidy Williams, Abby Cabunoc Mayes, and Kedasha Kerr. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Powering public goods
In this episode of The ReadME Podcast, hosts Neha Batra and Martin Woodward look back on their growth and learnings from the past season, from pronunciation struggles to hosting highs. Next, they share a fun story about the world's first webcam at the University of Cambridge in 1991 and its coffee-related origins. The hosts then dive into the Digital Public Goods Alliance with Ricardo Mirón Torres
(De)coding conventions
Programming languages are always in flux, and so is the way we use them. In this episode, we dive into the rise of TypeScript, with The ReadME Project’s Senior Editor Mike Melanson outlining its history and evolution. Hosts Neha Batra and Martin Woodward discuss the pros and cons of static typing, and Jordan Harband from TC39 shares his views on the benefits and limitations of TypeScript. We also
Bridging code and community
The influence of open source extends well beyond code. In this episode, we dive into the less-explored areas of the open source community, spotlighting their profound and wide-ranging impact. With host Neha Batra away for travel, Martin Woodward welcomes Kyler Middleton to discuss navigating the open source community in a highly regulated environment. She highlights the dual challenges of aligning
Kelsey Hightower—Present
In this bonus episode, we hear from Kubernetes superstar Kelsey Hightower. Diving into crucial elements like empathy in maintainership, succession planning, and the identification of future leaders, hosts Martin Woodward and Neha Batra explore Kelsey’s philosophy on fostering thriving open source communities—and his hopes for the future state of Kubernetes. Dedicated to GitHub’s Maintainer Month,
The open/closed equilibrium
This month, we consider the evolution of openness in open source. The ReadME Project’s Senior Editor, Mike Melanson joins hosts Martin and Neha to discuss expert advice on why “closed to contributions” sometimes makes sense and how that model aligns with open source expectations. Additionally, maintainer, founder, and CEO of Scarf Avi Press highlights the benefit of analytics to maintainers and th
Fusing tech and progress
This month we’re exploring quantum leaps in technology—then, now, and what devs can do today to prepare for tomorrow. The hosts welcome Klint Finley, Senior Editor of The ReadME Project, to discuss the role that open source played in a recent nuclear fusion breakthrough. Additionally, we speak with Jerome Hardaway, Executive Director of Vets Who Code, who shares practical advice on fortifying your
Innovation without barriers
Here’s what’s in store for this episode:00:00 - The hosts hear from Ed Summers, GitHub’s head of accessibility, about the meaning of disability and accessibility and why it's important to involve everyone in building technology. 10:43 - The panel: Annalu Waller, Becky Tyler, and Kirsty McNaught join the hosts to discuss how they started working together, why inclusion in development is so importan
Co-maintaining openness
Here’s what’s in store for this episode:00:00 - The hosts discuss how to impress and win over the heart of a developer in your life. 02:30 - First Commit: How India built the PARAM 8000 supercomputer. 06:07 - The Interview: Peter Strömberg and Brandon Ringe, the co-maintainers of Calva, discuss the benefits of sharing responsibility for open source maintainership. 18:18 - #AskRMP: We learn from Ja
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication
Here’s what’s in store for this episode:00:00 - Martin and Neha share how they spent the holiday break and discuss New Year's resolutions. 02:25 - First Commit: The story of TIME magazine naming the computer “Machine of the Year.”06:10 - Feature Release: The ReadME Project’s Mike Melanson shares how maximalism in development has crept into places where it doesn’t belong.18:15 - #AskRMP: Frances Co
Let the games begin
Here’s what’s in store for this episode:00:00 - Neha and Martin discuss the return of social norms and the childhood video games they remember best.03:38 - First Commit: The hosts share the origin story of the NORAD Tracks Santa system.06:57 - The Interview: Dr. Johanna Pirker provides her perspective on how open source can help the gaming industry move toward a more inclusive future.21:17 - #AskR
Cue the command line
Here’s what’s in store for this episode:00:00 - The hosts discuss GitHub Universe and highlight some of their favorite sessions.02:30 - First Commit: Neha and Martin discuss the US presidential election of November 1952, which was the first time that a computer was used to predict winners.05:55 - Features Story: The ReadME Project Sr. Editor, Klint Finley, joins to discuss his recent story Buildin
Code like it’s 1995
Here’s what’s in store for this episode:00:00 - Intro: The hosts discuss AI image generators and draw parallels with GitHub’s pair programmer: Copilot. 03:34 - First Commit: Neha and Martin discuss ARPANET’s 1980 crash, the first known network-wide crash. 6:16 - Feature Story: The ReadME Project Sr. Editor Mike Melanson discusses his recent article: Don’t call it a comeback: Why Java is still cham
Build your own luck
Here’s what’s in store for this episode:00:00 - Meet our newest co-host, and learn about The ReadME Podcast’s new format. 01:40 - First Commit: Neha and Martin explore “Eternal September.” 03:54 - Features Story: RMP Sr. Editor, Klint Finley, joins to discuss his recent story Functional programming is finally going mainstream.18:17 - #AskRMP - Open Source expert and former RMPod host, Brian Dougl
Trailer
The ReadME Podcast is your portal into the open source community. We'll introduce you to the people building the projects you use every day, answer your questions about tech, and guide you through the ever-changing open source landscape. We take deep dives into the trends shaping the future of technology, the culture and craft of software development, look back at the milestones that made open sou
Hosts in the hot seat
For the final ReadME Podcast episode of Season 2 our hosts Brian and Neha turn the spotlight around and interview each other. The conversation covers everything from Nintendos at Christmas and university computer hand-me-downs to Encarta, Ask Jeeves, and Netscape. They also dive down the rabbit hole of their tech journeys—starting from the beginning. Learn how they got into open source and who gav
FreeCodeCamp: For curious people, by curious people
As a school director, Quincy dabbled with code to automate some of his colleagues’ more administrative tasks—and it changed everything. Computers tackled the tedious work, and teachers could focus on teaching. This led Quincy to pursue programming more seriously, but his transition to work as a software engineer was a bit rocky. Inspired to find a better way, he merged his love of education with c
Keeping creativity alive while managing workloads
Jani Eväkallio discovered programming when he was stuck inside with a broken leg as a teenager. He fell in and out of programming afterwards and took an OSS hiatus at 16. He has since dove back in and maintained countless projects over the years—but quickly recognized his own limitations and didn’t hesitate to hand over the reins to those looking for the responsibility. Jani discusses his relation
Three careers and motherhood are just the start
Salma Alam-Naylor, aka White Panther, discovered programming at a young age but focused on music and comedy into her twenties. Though her path to developing wasn’t obvious or linear, she wouldn’t change it for anything. Today, she’s a positive force in open source, making an impact on Twitch, Discord, and via her vocal commitment to accessibility and inclusivity in tech. In our conversation, she s
Where utility meets beauty: Hoppscotch
Liyas Thomas is the founder of Hoppscotch, an open source API development ecosystem that’s seen exponential growth. Encouraged by his own mentors, Liyas now maintains Hoppscotch full time. Whether he’s programming or pursuing his passion for art, he always puts beauty at the core of his work. During this conversation, he shares his path to Hoppscotch, the importance of community, and a preview of
Giving 110% in the right place at the right time
Fred Schott’s love for programming started early, and he worked hard during his 20s at companies like Box and Google. As his own side projects experienced open source success, Fred took the plunge in 2021 and started Astro, a JavaScript-based static site builder full time. In this conversation, he speaks about his introduction to open source, his path to Astro, and the role luck plays in success.
A master in both piano and WordPress
While earning her Master’s degree in Piano, Helen Hou-Sandí worked in the computer lab, where her skills caught the attention of her music conservatory. Implored to make a website, she discovered the instant gratification of WordPress and was hooked. A decade later, she’s a leading WordPress developer who’s passionate about open source. Helen shares her journey from pianist to programmer, how the
Python enthusiast, Twitch streamer, et. al.
Anthony Sottile started college as a biochemistry major, but pivoted to programming two years in. After his first coding class, the school was so impressed they invited Anthony to teach the following semester. He loved helping others realize the potential of programming, which eventually led him to Twitch, where he codes, shares stories, and builds community in real time. Hear more about his journ
Season 2 Trailer
Season 2 of The ReadME Podcast is on the way with our hosts Brian Douglas and Neha Batra! New episodes will be dropping every Tuesday starting October 26th... Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Prioritizing empathy and taking risks to build Chakra UI
Segun Adebayo’s approach to computers and technology is driven by a belief that how we communicate is just as important as what we communicate. With this in mind, he created Chakra UI, a modular and accessible React library that has a quarter million downloads a month. Originally from Nigeria and now based in Dubai, Segun sat down with us to share his open source origin story, his passion for desi
Creating space and opportunity with She Code Africa
Based in Lagos, Nigeria, Ada Nduka Oyom initially studied microbiology at university, but quickly fell in love with programming. Witnessing the huge disparity of women to men in technology, she started She Code Africa so women could learn to code and be properly recognized for their work. In this episode, Ada shares her inspiration for She Code Africa, what she’s learned during her journey to beco
Changing the hardware development game at Adafruit
While procrastinating at MIT in 2005, Limor Fried built her own MP3 player and shared it online, immediately inspiring others to create their own hardware. What started as a small side hustle on PayPal is now Adafruit, a wildly successful business with 100 employees and a 50,000 square-foot factory in New York. Limor, otherwise known as “Ladyada,” empowers users with the tools they need to bring t
From comics in Virginia to React Core at Facebook
Rachel Nabors grew up in rural Virginia and knew that if they could just get a laptop and the internet, they could bring the world to them. Currently balancing documentation, demos, and community engagement on Facebook’s React Core team, it’s safe to say Rachel was right. An illustrator, developer, author, speaker, and teacher, Rachel shares how they discovered programming via Sailor Moon, what op
cURL: 25 years and 200 releases later
Almost 25 years ago, in 1997, Daniel Stenburg created cURL, a command line tool for transferring data. The name stands for “client URL,” works on any platform, and is used in billions of installations. Despite maintaining cURL for a quarter of a century, Daniel couldn’t be happier where he is, and wouldn’t want to be doing anything else. We recently sat down with him to hear how he first discovere
Quitting a steady job to chase intuition
In this episode, we talk with Henry Zhu, full-time maintainer of Babel, the Javascript compiler. We’ll discover how Henry first got into programming, and what convinced him to leave a stable job at Adobe to take the leap into open source. Henry digs into the challenges and rewards of building a community, and how he finds balance. Hear it all straight from Henry, now on The ReadME Podcast. Hosted
From a master's thesis to global go-to
While working on his master’s thesis for web applications, Tobias Koppers created an optimizer out of necessity, which he called webpack. His thesis complete, Tobias realized how fun it was to iterate with users and bring code splitting and bundling to the masses. Driven by the continuous innovation of the open source community, a few choice partners (like Sean Larkin) and Open Collective sponsors
Keeping the lights on with Home Assistant
Originally from the Netherlands and now based in California, Paulus Schoutsen has always been fascinated by data, and how it could be used to optimize people’s lives. Seven years ago, he open sourced a simple way to remotely turn his house lights on at sunset. Today, Home Assistant has grown to an entire home automation framework with a worldwide community. Hear Paulus share his path to programmin
Humanizing bots and building community
When Mariatta Wijaya arrived in Canada from Indonesia, she got a job as a software developer, and the first language she learned was Python. Now a Python core developer, she creates GitHub bots that are not just functional, but friendly. She’s also the co-organizer of Vancouver PyLadies and the PyCascades conference, was nominated twice for the Google Open Source Peer Bonus Program, and has receiv
From a 3D side project to the dream job
When she was young, Gina Häußge’s dad showed her how to make her first computer commands, and she was hooked on watching code come to life. Fast forward to 2012, when she got her first 3D printer, which she loved. What she didn’t love were the noises and fumes it spat out during prints. So she put it in the spare bathroom, built a monitor that she could control from her office, and open sourced it
Taking Das Blog into the future
In this episode, we sit down with Scott Hanselman and Mark Downie, maintainers of Das Blog. Developed in the C# programming language, Das Blog is a robust blogging application that supports languages across the globe and doesn’t require a database. Scott and Mark share how they met, and how they’re ushering 20 years of code into the future. We’ll dig into their partnership, the responsibility of t
How one idea grew into a popular Javascript ecosystem
Evan You came to the U.S. from China when he was 18, and ended up at Parsons for a Master’s of Fine Arts in design and coding. He landed his dream job at Google Creative Lab, where he would become drawn to his side project, which would become what we now know as Vue. The core library has since evolved into an entire ecosystem and progressive framework that anyone can incrementally adopt. It’s seen
Season 1 Trailer
On The ReadME Podcast, we take a look behind the scenes of the most impactful open source projects and the developers who make them happen. Our guests are coding in public, creating firmware, designing hardware, researching security vulnerabilities, creating art and music, and making phenomenal scientific discoveries. They’re also working on the periphery of open source, taking time to consider ho
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