Develop Yourself
This podcast is designed for people who want to change careers and land their first job as a software engineer. It goes beyond technical skills, focusing on personal development, habits, and networking. The goal is to help listeners become well-rounded and thriving software engineers. Each episode offers practical advice on developing the skills and mindset needed for a successful career transition.
Episodes
AI Destroyed My Business
I took over ownership of a coding bootcamp in 2023, just before being laid off as an engineering manager at Clorox. The last few years have been rough. In between working full time and rebuilding after being laid off, I had to restructure Parsity from the ground up.If you're a developer and worried about what AI might do to your own career, perhaps you'll find this useful and if you're
What Happens When Engineers Stop Writing Most of the Code?
Become an AI engineer in 45 days: https://parsity.io/ai-devLuke Miller, founder of DCNY, joins the Develop Yourself podcast to share how his 40+ person engineering team uses agentic engineering to build and deploy software at remarkable speed and scale for nearly 200 clients.We talk about what agentic engineering actually looks like in practice, how to maintain quality while moving faster, why eng
She Vibe Coded A Successful Business With Claude
Dallas Davenport is founder of Aivara, an AI automation marketing agency. We met in a Skool group when I offered to look at her app, and I fully expected a vibe-coded dumpster fire (I've dunked on plenty of those). Instead it was complex, it already had users, and it was pretty freaking good.The app is dealership software that replies to customer messages, pulls live inventory off the lot, and
A step by step guide to building an AI-powered side project
Quite simply, I lay out EXACTLY what I'd build if I were trying to set myself up as an AI engineer. The type of project, the concepts and the tools to learn and why.I genuinely believe that in 2-3 years, the people who learn this stuff will have a massive advantage in the market.You can pick up the project here: https://www.parsity.io/ai-eng-side-project
I Let AI Write My Code. Then I Read It...
Want to get into the top 10% of your engineering team by leveraging agentic engineering workflows? I'm planning a 2 day workshop here: https://form.typeform.com/to/EDuBEz4UI shipped a feature with AI in record time.Then I actually read the code.60+ files. Weird abstractions. Tests that technically passed but proved almost nothing. Components rebuilt from scratch for no good reason. What looked
The WORST AI Career Path: Meat Proxy
I'm opening 12 spots for a weekend workshop in October for devs who want to ship quality software with agents.Sign up here: https://form.typeform.com/to/EDuBEz4U"You're absolutely right, I should have caught that"I'm one of the top 10% of AI users in a 1,000-person engineering org this year. I'm not an AI hater, I ship with these tools daily and I think they're genuin
What Companies Hiring Forward-Deployed Engineers Actually Want
Become an AI Engineer at parsity.ioI recruit for AI roles on the side and I pulled real, live forward-deployed engineer postings and broke down exactly what they're screening for. Turns out it's not what most "learn AI" content tells you.What's actually in these postings:Real applied AI experience: shipped production agents, not tutorial chatbotsRAG, retrieval quality, evals,
They Made Me Senior Because I Quit
We teach AI systems engineering at Parsity: parsity.ioIn this one I get into why senior is mostly a comp band with a name on it, the three things every senior actually needs to know/have, the big fish / small pond strategy I've been running for seven years, and the single move that gets you promoted faster than getting better at your language.Also: why you should stop replaying that interview
The 2 Skills That Will Keep You Employed as a Developer
Become an AI engineer in 45 days. Join Parsity: https://parsity.ioBeing a "coder" is getting less and less about coding. I've been writing code for 12 years and I'm watching skills I worked hard for get automated.Counter-intuitively, I believe a new brand of software developer is going to be even more valuable and in demand going forward.Your existing skills aren't disappeari
Teacher to Software Engineer. Do Coding Bootcamps Still Work in 2026?
No one is hiring. AI took your job. Junior developers aren't needed anymore.I can't tell you how sick I am of hearing this but there is some truth to it.Things aren't roses and candy canes but they're not all doom and gloom either.Tom graduated from Parsity's coding bootcamp in 2025 and got hired faster than you might expect.There's no secret to his success but there are cl
Former Yelp Eng Manager on Management, Mental Health, and the Move Most Devs Get Wrong
Ryan Murphy spent five years as an engineering manager at Yelp on the team that owned the infrastructure behind every dollar moving through the company. He got the job the way a lot of people do, which is that his boss had no budget for a real engineering manager and asked if he'd try it.Most of this conversation is about the move from engineer to manager: what the job actually is, what he loo
How To Become the AI Person on Your Team
Most engineers have read a lot about AI and built almost nothing with it. That is not a character flaw. It is the default.Stanford's AI Index puts numbers on the gap: a tiny fraction of households actually pay for AI tools, while nearly every company claims to be using it. Somebody is lying, and it is not the people quietly getting on with their jobs.This episode is about closing that gap. Two
The Advice I'd Give My Own Kid About Getting Hired in Tech
Want to actually build agents and RAG systems like the ones I mention in this episode? That's exactly what we do inside Parsity's AI engineering program: https://parsity.io/ai-devI've been coding for nearly 12 years, I own and operate a coding bootcamp, and I've done over 1,000 free phone calls with people trying to break into tech. So this is the harsh advice I'd give you if y
What Actually Gets Engineers Hired, From a CTO Who Measures It
Learn to build AI systems that companies actually pay for: RAG, agents, production LLM apps. Not YouTube tutorial toys. Real projects with a dedicated mentor who's shipped this stuff at scale. Spots are capped at 10 per cohort: https://parsity.io/ai-devWho should software engineers marry? Not another software engineer, apparently.Samir Ranjan is the CTO and Director of Data Science at Catenate
How I'd Get to Senior Engineer Fast (If I Started Over)
Ready to build production AI skills? Check out the Parsity AI Engineering program: https://parsity.io/parsityhomeToo many people think getting to senior engineer means grinding LeetCode and memorizing every design pattern known to man.Wrong.I went from bootcamp grad in my thirties to senior engineer to engineering manager, and the thing that got me promoted had almost nothing to do with writing be
How to Become an Irreplaceable Front End Developer
Want to become an AI engineer? Learn the exact skills companies are hiring for at Parsity: parsity.io/ai-devEveryone's screaming that AI is coming for frontend developers. Mauro Accorinti thinks most of them are missing the point.In this episode I sit down with Mauro, the writer behind Exceptional Frontend, to talk about why "frontend" is way more defensible than the doomers want you
Vibe Coding Hell: A Cautionary Tale
Build AI systems at Parsity.I joined a fast-paced AI startup in early 2025 where the non-technical CEOs pushed an “AI-first” mandate—“twice as much in half the time with less people” and it turned into vibe-coding chaos. I'm still using AI to write 90% of my code with a very different approach on my new team.If you're feeling the pressure to "move faster" with AI, then this one&#
Stability is a Myth (And It's Quietly Killing Your Career)
Build AI systems. Build leverage in your career. Apply for Parsity's AI Engineer CohortStability is a myth, and chasing it might be the riskiest thing you do in your whole career. Here's how to use risk on purpose instead.Everyone says find a stable job and hold on tight. That's the worst advice in tech, and I've got the receipts.The "safe" path is a trap. Here's how
How a Recent Grad Got Hired in a Brutal Tech Market
Connect with Salil here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/salil-monga/If you're trying to make the jump into AI engineering, join Parsity: https://parsity.io/ai-devSalil Monga had a 4.0 GPA, applied to over 1,000 jobs, and landed three interviews. Not one of the jobs he actually got came from those applications.I sat down with Salil, now CTO of Cupe Connect, to dig into how you actually get hired i
Just Cheat! (an anti-guide to cheating on interviews with AI)
A few spots left for Parsity's AI Engineer Cohort. Apply hereI told candidates they could use Claude, Cursor, anything they wanted in their AI engineering interview. Half of them still cheated. Badly.I break down what cheating looked like and why you should re-consider it if you're thinking about it... even if you don't have any moral qualms against it 😅
Software Developer Layoff Survival Guide
Build AI engineering skills at Parsity. Spots filling fast.It's been a rough week. Meta just laid off 8,000 people, and then the CEO of ClickUp — a company most people have never heard of — went online to brag about cutting 20-something percent of his staff even though they're profitable. No financial pressure. Just vibes. Just "AI made our engineers 100X more capable" so we don&
The Pros and Cons of Being the Worst Developer on the Team... and the Best
8 spots left in the AI engineer cohort. Join here: https://parsity.io/ai-developerEver get that feeling you're the worst developer on your team? And worse - that it's not in your head, you actually are the weakest link in the room?I've been on both ends. I've been the best developer on the team, and I've been objectively the worstAnd here's the thing nobody tells you: they&
From Amazon Warehouse to Software Developer: Carter's 4-Year Grind
Free interview prep guide: https://www.parsity.io/interview-prepFree career roadmap for developers: https://www.parsity.io/career-roadmapCarter Nadain spent four years trying to break into software development. He started with a bootcamp in 2022, got his CS degree, worked at Amazon delivering packages, sent out thousands of applications, and went through every kind of setback you can imagine —
Our AI Engineering Curriculum Exposed
Join the free weekly live session: parsity.io/aiHope I don't regret this.I'm giving away the exact AI engineering curriculum I teach at Parsity. The same stuff that helped change my own career trajectory and has recruiters sliding all in my DMs.How LLMs actually work (and why knowing this helps you push back on the hype)RAG from scratch — embeddings, vector databases, chunking strategiesBu
How to Land A Junior Developer Job in 2026 (LinkedIn, Side Project, Networking and Interviews)
Register for my live event on how you can build practical AI skills to give you an unfair advantage in the job market: parsity.io/aiI am so sick of the doom and gloom narrative. Things are tough, but not impossible.If you're treating the job market like it's 2019, you're setting yourself up for failure.Let's go over LinkedIn (so cringe, I know), interviews, networking without being
The 3 AI Skills That'll Actually Get You Hired in 2026 (Level 1, 2, and 3)
A few years ago, my advice to developers would've been simple: learn the fundamentals, get good at system design, master your language of choice. And honestly? That advice still feels good to give. But it doesn't feel right anymore.Knowing how to code is table stakes now. It's not enough to get you hired.In this episode, I break down the three levels of AI skills I'd be investing i
3 Javascript Concepts That Will Level You Up as a Developer
"There are only two kinds of languages: the ones people complain about, and the ones nobody uses."JavaScript gets a lot of hate—but it’s still everywhere for a reason.In this episode, I break down three underrated features: web workers, generator functions, and web components and how to use them in a practical way.Shameless plugs:Apply for our AI Engineer Cohort: https://parsity.io/ai-de
The 3 Rites of Passage Every Developer Goes Through (And Nobody Warned Me About)
I wrote a triple nested for loop that took down a grocery chain's ordering system. I broke buttons across multiple sites as a senior engineering manager at Clorox. And I've sat in rooms feeling like the dumbest engineer there — more than once.In this episode, I break down the three uncomfortable milestones every developer hits: wanting to stop being "the junior guy," shipping cod
Build This AI Project and You’re Ahead of 90% of Developers
Follow along with the project by going here: https://www.parsity.io/5-day-ai-advisory-boardIn this episode, I walk you through a side project that, if you actually build it, will put you ahead of roughly 90–95% of software developers right now.Most developers are using AI tools. Very few are actually building with them.So instead of talking about it, we build something real.The project is an AI ad
The 6 Skills You Need to Become an AI Engineer
Resources mentioned 👇parsity.io/ai-with-ragThe Router Pattern – A Smarter WayI mentioned that I got a lot more requests for interviews. Here's the proof: Da Proof3 Ways We Work with Software Developers (and noobs) 👇AI Dev Program – parsity.io/ai-devApply for our full stack software engineering programLearn JavaScript in 30 days... the hard way
AI destroys your coding skills. A warning for junior developers
I created a free project for developers who want to learn AI the hard way: https://parsity.io/ai-with-ragI don't envy new coders. AI is being jammed down your throat and at the same time, you're being told you must understand the code it generates.It's a confusing time.Using AI too early comes with a cost. More importantly, we'll look at some proven ways to make sure you are learni
#306 - How 58 Applications Turned Into 16 Interviews: (Beating the Tech Job Market Game)
If you're curious about Bryan's strategy, you can apply to work with him here: 👉 Application form.The tech job market is brutal right now. Everyone knows it.People are sending hundreds of applications, getting ghosted, and wondering what the hell is actually going on behind the scenes of hiring.So in this episode I sat down with Bryan, someone I met on LinkedIn and later met up with in Ren
How to Get Hired as a Software Engineer in 2026: LinkedIn, Resume, Strategy
In 2026, you can’t “avoid LinkedIn” and expect to get hired BUT you can't use it like 2023. In this episode, I break down the exact LinkedIn + resume strategy I’d use today to maximize recruiter inbound, increase your surface area for luck, and stop making the most common mistakes that quietly kill your chances.We cover:Why “Aspiring Junior Developer” and “Open to Work” often backfireHow to ma
How AI Is Breaking Tech Interviews (and What Comes Next)
Brian sits down with Fardeen Khimani, a 21-year-old Georgia Tech ML student and co-founder of Rounds, to talk about why technical interviews are broken and why AI just made it worse. They cover why LeetCode is dying, why companies have no idea how to respond, and what skills actually matter now. Fardeen's take: if AI can pass an interview that maps to the real job, just hire the AI.Find Fardee
#303 - 8 Harsh Truths for Software Developers in the AI Era
AI didn’t kill software jobs.But it did throw a grenade into the hiring funnel.In this episode, I break down 8 harsh truths about getting hired as a developer in 2026 — and none of them are the feel-good LinkedIn advice you’re used to hearing.Why vibe coding isn’t a careerWhy no one cares about your certificateWhy your portfolio probably doesn’t matterWhy full stack is now the baselineWhy AI produ
Bonus Episode: Coding Bootcamps, Online Education and the Future for Parsity
Disclaimer: this episode is my thoughts on coding bootcamps and online education and where Parsity is going in the future.If you're interested in either of the programs I mentioned in this you can check them out here:Parsity AI AcceleratorFull Stack Accelerator
#302 - Why a CS Degree Might NOT Be the Best Way to Become a Developer
Should you get a computer science degree, enroll in a coding bootcamp, or teach yourself how to code?You’re probably not going to love the answer… but it depends.In this episode, I shares my unfiltered, experience-backed take after working with hundreds of aspiring developers and hiring developers myself.Let's breaks down what actually matters when trying to land your first software job — and
#301 How We Would Break Into Tech If We Had to Start Over (2026 Blueprint)
What if I had to break into tech today… with no degree, no connections, and a completely unrelated job?In this episode, I sit down with entrepreneur and self-taught developer Jeremy “Smitty” to map out exactly how we’d do it if we were starting from zero in 2026.We walk step-by-step through a realistic path from beginner to hireable — not theory, not hype, but the practical moves that actually wor
#300 - Build a Product, Not a Portfolio
The hiring bar for junior developers has changed, and pretending it hasn’t will only slow your career. Let's break down a simple strategy to beat the “no experience” trap: Ship a small product you intend to sell, get one or two real users, and use those lessons to tell stronger stories in interviews. Instead of another tutorial portfolio, you’ll learn to show autonomy, reliability, and owners
#299 - Yes, You Must Learn to Code and Then Never Write Code Ever Again
AI is writing more code than ever, layoffs are everywhere, and it feels like software careers might be disappearing. In this episode, we explore why that narrative is misleading—and what’s actually changing in tech.We break down why learning to code still matters, how to use AI without becoming dependent on it, and which core skills will help you stay relevant as the industry evolves. If you’re tr
#298 - Data Structures and Algorithms 101 (3 patterns you must know for your next interview)
Grab your free interview prep crash course here: https://parsity.io/interview-prepWhiteboard interviews aren’t broken — most candidates just prepare for them the wrong way. This episode shows why copying Big Tech interview prep is a trap and walks through three algorithm patterns that consistently appear in everyday software interviews. It’s a no-nonsense roadmap for learning just enough DSA to pa
#297 - From Crime to Coding: How to Build Bullet Proof Habits in 2026
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act but a habit."Habits beat motivation; small, daily actions reshape identity and make success inevitable without relying on willpower.The problem is that most people create goals with no system in place. They rely on raw, fragile willpower and motivation and then wonder why they fail.Let's explore how to make habits that act
#296 - The 5 Worst Tech Trends of 2025 (And How to Win in 2026)
Grab this project to learn the basics of RAG and working with agents https://www.parsity.io/ai-with-rag2025 was one of the most confusing years to be a software developer.We were told AI would replace us.Then we were told it would make us 10× more productive.Neither actually happened — but the hype affected careers, hiring, education, and mental health in real ways.In this episode, I break down th
#295 - Career Leverage For Non-Traditional Developers
I want to offer you some politically incorrect career advice that the gurus on LinkedIn won't share with you.From job hopping to the #1 skill you need as a developer: I cover the things that helped me go from struggling bootcamp grad to engineering manager.Resources mentioned in the pod:My article outlining my salary jumps through interviewing: https://brianjenney.medium.com/i-used-to-suck-at
5 Takeaways from Working at an AI Startup
We’re in a strange moment right now.The AI bubble is showing signs of popping and the tech industry is waking up from a long night of partying.We were told to “do more with less” and “just use AI” for the past 12 months.After spending a year building production systems this way, I can tell you there’s a growing gap between what people think AI can do and what it actually does.To say I’m annoyed wi
Inside the Email Infrastructure of High-Growth Companies
In this episode of the Develop Yourself Podcast, I talk with three email and growth experts about something most developers overlook: email as a serious money maker.I’m joined by:Mike, founder of Seventh Sense, an AI-powered email timing platformBoris, Senior Digital Marketing Manager at Educative, one of the largest developer learning platformsDoug, CEO of Optimize 3.0, a HubSpot Diamond Partner
The ONLY Project You Need to Build to Become a Software Developer in 2026
I lay out the project with tons of resources right here 👇https://brianjenney.medium.com/your-learning-roadmap-to-become-a-software-developer-2e15e1ce1e22Send us a textShameless Plugs 🧑💻 Free 5 day email course to go from HTML to AI 🤔 Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here Apply for 1 of 12 spots at Parsity - Learn to build complex software with AI integrations. AI Bootcamp - fo
#291 - Open Source + Hard Work: A CTO’s Roadmap for Junior Developers
Amber argues that the biggest problem facing new developers isn’t coding ability…It’s lack of real experience, and an over-reliance on feel-good advice that doesn’t translate into hireability.We dig into:Why contributing to real, medium-complexity open-source projects is the fastest path to becoming job-readyWhy most juniors aren’t actually hireable yet — and how to fix thatHow toxic positivity on
#290 - 4 things no one tells you about learning to code after 30
Am I too old to learn how to code?If you're alive then the answer is NO.BUT, you are going to need a different game plan than your 22 year old co-workers if you want this to work.I was 31 when I got my first job as a coder. Here's what worked for me and others I've taught over the years.Send us a textShameless Plugs 🧑💻 Free 5 day email course to go from HTML to AI 🤔 Got a question
#289 - This Year Nearly Broke Me - Here’s What I’m Changing...
There are some major changes coming to Parsity and this podcast. As a listener, I appreciate you sincerely for listening and I want to extend the largest discount we've ever done for our 30 day Javascript program. It's usually $49 but I'm reducing it to $10.Complete the 30 days and you got yourself a $1400 discount to Parsity's software engineering program.👉 Join Dev30 👈I want
#288 - AI Hype is Ruining Software (A Rant)
"We don't really need developers any more""In 2 years, the tools will be so good, that no one will be writing code""Learn a trade bro"I've heard all of these phrases in the last week and it's honestly getting to me. Too often, the people with the loudest microphones have the least experience with the tools we're using.Besides being a talking head o
#287 - From Smoothie King to AI Engineer
Ryan is a current student at Parsity who build an app for his employer, Smoothie King, to suggest drinks in a chat interface using a powerful and lesser-known AI technology: RAG.RAG stands for retrieval augmented generation. Basically, providing information (like smoothie recipes) to an AI model so it can return a highly specific response.Ryan breaks down how he finds the time to build side projec
#286 - How to Know When You're Ready for ReactJS
You’ll learn the six core JS skills to master before frameworks, why TC39 keeps changing the language, and how to test your skills with a challenge you can access below.👉 Try out the JS Form Challenge. 👈We also cover:Why hiring trends still test JavaScript, even when jobs say ReactHow to think like a developer: requests, responses, and UI updatesThe fastest way to level up without AI shortcutsA wa
#284 - The Junior Developer Interview Guide (From Recruiter Screen to React)
Let's be honest - interviews suck.But you can't suck at them.In this episode I break down what your next interview as a junior developer will LIKELY include.Your mileage will vary.Grab the interview guide below which includes a playback of a live event that Parsity recently hosted and a ton of resources: https://brianjenney.substack.com/p/the-junior-dev-interview-guideSend us a textShame
#285 - Listen to This Before You Learn to Code with AI
Thinking about learning to code with ChatGPT, Cursor, or Copilot?Hit pause for ten minutes.In this episode, I break down why AI isn’t replacing developers but it is making it harder to learn. You’ll learn the right time to start using AI as a beginner, how to avoid outsourcing the struggle that builds real skill, and the “teach-back” method that can boost your learning retention by up to 90%.Refer
#284 - Are We in an AI Bubble?
Original article: https://medium.com/@wlockett/you-have-no-idea-how-screwed-openai-actually-is-8358dccfca1cYour AI engineer starter project: https://parsity.io/ai-with-ragSend us a textShameless Plugs 🧑💻 Free 5 day email course to go from HTML to AI 🤔 Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here Apply for 1 of 12 spots at Parsity - Learn to build complex software with AI integrations
#283 - The Practical Guide to LinkedIn for Developers Who Hate LinkedIn
Grab the templates for posting to LinkedIn here: https://www.parsity.io/learning-in-publicI’ve grown from 0 to nearly 40K followers on LinkedIn with barely any viral posts, and along the way I learned how the platform really works. In this episode, I’m breaking down the exact strategy junior developers are using right now to get recruiters to notice them and get hired faster.So if you’ve hit “Easy
#282 - From Overwhelmed To Hired: A Realistic Plan For Learning To Code on an Adult Schedule
👉 Your adult time audit worksheet 👈I get it.There is no time. You have kids, maybe adult dependents or a really good show you're binging in between our slow descent into a dystopian reality.I don't believe in fluff.Let's cover a practical guide on learning to code as a busy adult and some of the easy (and not so easy) steps you're going to need to take.Send us a textShameless P
#281 - Coding Bootcamp, College, Or Self-Taught? Which is Right For You and How to Decide
Let's weigh college, bootcamps, and the self-taught route with blunt pros and cons, then map each path to market realities, hiring filters, and long-term growth. The goal is to help you choose a route that gets you hired faster without stalling your career later.• how degrees are used as filters and where they matter• why top-tier schools win on internships and networks• the gap between CS th
#280 - The Missing Guide to AI for Web Developers
I just quit my job as a senior AI developer, and while helping hire my replacement, I realized how few people actually know how AI apps work. In this episode, I walk through Retrieval-Augmented Generation step by step—the same system I built at work—and show you the real skills developers need right now.👉 Grab a hands-on project with a video you can follow along with here 👈Hold your spot in the Ja
#279 - Recruiter Exposes the Truth About Junior Developer Jobs
Just give up?Everyone says no one’s hiring junior developers anymore — but is that actually true?In this episode, I sit down with recruiter David Roberts to uncover what’s really happening in the job market, why most applicants are getting filtered out, and what you can do differently to land your first role.We break down the biggest myths about entry-level tech jobs, how recruiters actually think
#278 - AI Does NOT Replace Junior Developers, Here's Why
Every headline says AI is eating developer jobs. But spend a week in production and you’ll see the opposite: brittle code, flaky tests, and tools that look fast until you actually ship something.In this episode, I break down why the “AI replaces engineers” story sells so well—to investors, to execs, and to lazy headlines—but falls apart in the real world. We’ll talk through a Cornell + METR study
#277 - RAG: The Only AI Skill Web Devs Need to Learn in 2026
I thought Ben was a troll when he slid into my DMs after a LinkedIn argument. Turns out, he’s building some of the most practical AI systems I’ve seen. In this episode, we talk about how that disagreement turned into a friendship—and why Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) might be the skill every developer needs in 2026.Connect with Ben hereCheck out Lobi Software hereFinally - if you want to go
#276 - Claude Code Failed: What Anthropic’s Postmortem Means for Developers
Ever had your AI pair programmer stop helping and start breaking everything? I did—and this time, the data proves it wasn’t just me.Claude fell off. TypeScript that wouldn’t compile, migrations stuck in loops, refactors that went completely sideways. Turns out Anthropic’s own postmortem revealed three separate bugs causing degraded output—context routing issues, output corruption, and TLA-X blah b
#275 - Terrible Advice for Software Developers (that you're hearing in 2025)
After 11 years helping hundreds of career changers switch into software development, I've found the hardest part isn't teaching technical skills but rewiring brains from misleading online advice that hurts new developers. Much of this advice is well-intentioned, but some is designed purely for clicks and engagement.• "Don't chase titles!"• "Don't build CRUD apps!
Developer Career Change Hotline: Networking, Breaking In, and Not Giving Up
Let's tackle three of the most common struggles career changers face: 1. Breaking into tech from another field2. Networking without feeling fake3. Staying motivated when the job search drags on. If you’re wondering how to make the leap, keep connections warm, or simply not burn out—this one’s for you.Got a question of your own? 👉 Drop it here 👈Send us a textShameless Plugs 🧑💻 Free 5 day emai
#274 - The Cost of Being Nice: Why Good Developers Don't Get Promoted
Have you ever wondered why some developers keep getting promoted while others stay stuck at the same level despite their technical skills? The answer might surprise you.Through practical, actionable steps, I break down exactly how developers at any level can strategically increase their influence and advance their careers. You'll learn how to gain credibility before speaking up, frame concern
#273 - When You Don’t Know What to Build—Build This
Breaking into software development isn’t about finishing another tutorial—it’s about building something that matters. In this episode, I’ll show you how to choose a side project that proves your skills, keeps you motivated, and actually impresses employers.You’ll learn:Why great data makes or breaks your appHow to apply the 80/20 rule—stick with tech you know, sprinkle in something newPicking a pr
#272 - The State of the 2025 Tech Job Market: Is AI Helping or Hurting Us?
The tech job market is sending seriously mixed signals in 2025. While social media overflows with doom and gloom about hiring freezes and impossible entry barriers, actual data tells a surprisingly different story. Job openings are trending upward, with big tech companies like Meta, Google, and Apple actively expanding their engineering teams.What's really happening is a massive shift in what
#271 - The Physics of Career Change: How Long It Actually Takes to Become a Software Developer
Remember when coding bootcamps promised you could learn to code and land a job in just three months? That golden era of easy entry into tech has fundamentally changed, yet the marketing hasn't caught up with reality.In this eye-opening conversation, ex-Google engineer Zubin and host Brian cut through the hype to deliver a reality check about what it actually takes to transition into software
#270 - Coding in the Age of AI: What No One’s Telling You
AI is changing coding faster than anyone expected. Two years ago, autocomplete felt wild—now people with zero dev experience are shipping apps over a weekend. The question isn’t “is AI replacing developers?” It’s “how do you actually use it without wrecking your codebase?” In this episode, I’ll break down when to use AI (and when not to), why Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) is the real game-c
#269 - I'm Burnt Out! The 3 Worst Parts About Being a Software Developer (and why I still love it)
It’s Labor Day weekend and, honestly? I’m burned out.Maybe this isn’t the best business move, but I’d rather keep it real with you than fake the whole “everything is great in tech” narrative.I’ve been plenty vocal about why AI isn’t about to replace us all tomorrow, much to the dismay of to all the AI bros out there.But here’s the other side: being a developer is nothing like those “day in the lif
#268 - An AI Agent Horror Story: What Happens When AI Runs a Business?
What happens when you give an AI agent full control over a small business?I mean, what could go wrong?Things started off rough and then got down right creepy near the end of this experiment.You can read the original article here: https://www.anthropic.com/research/project-vend-1Send us a textShameless Plugs 🧑💻 Free 5 day email course to go from HTML to AI 🤔 Got a question you want answered on the
#267 - Step-by-Step: Build a Real AI Project with Next.js & RAG
What does it actually mean to be an “AI Engineer”? Honestly—not much. The title is overloaded and vague. But what is meaningful right now is knowing how to build real projects with AI that go beyond toy chatbots and portfolio fluff.In this episode, I walk you through the exact project I’ve been building at two different AI startups: a Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) app. You’ll learn how to:S
#266 - Startups 101: Insider Secrets for Aspiring Developers
In this episode of Develop Yourself, I sit down with Gabe Rucker, CEO of Founding Titans, to discuss everything from entrepreneurship and building startups to the practical side of networking and getting money from thin air.We also dive into how Parsity students gained valuable, hands-on experience through an internship with Founding Titans, working alongside a real AI startup team.Topics we cover
#265 - Why JavaScript Feels So Hard To Learn: You're Making One of These Mistakes
When I first tried to learn JavaScript, I hated it so much I told myself I’d just be an HTML and CSS developer and never touch it again. Of course, my first job threw me straight into Angular, C#, SQL, and a mountain of JavaScript I wasn’t ready for.In this episode, I share what made JavaScript so brutal for me (and for almost every student I’ve worked with), the mistakes that keep people stuck, a
#265 - The 4 Databases Every Developer Should Know (Including 2 You Probably Don't)
When your only tool is a hammer - everything looks like a nail.2 of these database I'm sure you've heard and 2 might be completely new to you.Let's go past MongoDB and SQL to learn what tool is best for what job and what's the database choice for AI in 2025.If you're interested in learning SQL, check out this episode: https://open.spotify.com/show/69BHCbRAl6rHT9LlNhFWUySen
#264 - Stack Overflow's 2025 Developer Survey: Surprising Takeaways on AI, Coding Languages and Work
Every year, Stack Overflow surveys nearly a 100,000 developers to learn what technologies, languages and tools are trending.The answers here might surprise you, especially when it comes to AI tools.You can check out the survey here: https://survey.stackoverflow.co/2025/developers/Send us a textShameless Plugs 🧑💻 Free 5 day email course to go from HTML to AI 🤔 Got a question you want answered on t
#263 - They're Lying to You About AI Productivity: Hype vs Reality for Coders
Maybe I'm just coping.Maybe.I’ve been pretty vocal about the over-hype of AI coding tools and I always get the same responses from AI bros:“YoU gOtta PrOmpt bEtteR!”“This iz a skillz issue dawg”“I’m using [x] and it works perfectly”“I’m a super duper senior architect and I’ve replaced my entire team with AI agents. You’re coping.”I’d be lying if I said I didn’t doubt myself.Maybe they’re righ
#262 - 12 Months to Hired: A No-Fluff Roadmap to Becoming a Software Developer
If I lost everything today—no job, no network, no portfolio—and had to start over in 2025 as a software developer, I wouldn’t be looking for a 3-month miracle. I’d be planning for 12 months. That’s how long it really takes now.We cover:what tech stack you should learnnetworking as a developer using BFSa capstone project that is actually impressivean interviewing strategy3 books I'd read as a
