In this episode of 99 Dev Problems, Tessa Kriesel sits down with David Marshall, a Kansas City-based software engineer with a fascinating journey from professional musician and car sales to coding. David shares how he transitioned into tech through a coding bootcamp, landed his first developer role, and leveraged his sales background to become a more effective engineer and communicator.

The conversation dives into the intersection of creativity and engineering, the reality of AI in software development, and the challenges junior developers face breaking into the industry. David also shares insights into working with Angular, React, and Node, his thoughts on the state of developer hiring, and why investing in junior engineers and continuing education is critical for the future of tech.

Whether you're navigating a career shift, struggling with imposter syndrome, or curious about the evolving tech landscape, this episode is packed with real-world insights, humor, and practical advice.

Where to Find David Marshall:

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/davidmarshalldev
• Portfolio: davidmarshall.dev

In this episode of 99 Dev Problems, Tessa Kriesel talks with Matt Whitworth, founder of PureType, about his journey from building his own operating system as a teenager to leading fintech teams and now launching a developer education platform. They discuss imposter syndrome, why developers struggle to invest in their own learning, and how PureType helps engineers level up without the time sink of traditional courses.

Matt also shares why he built PureType using Elixir and Phoenix LiveView, the challenges of being a solo founder, and how AI is changing how developers grow their skills. If you're looking for smarter ways to advance your career, this episode is packed with insights.

Where to Find Matt Whitworth:

• Website: PureType.ai
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mwhitworth88/

In this episode of 99 Dev Problems, Tessa Kriesel sits down with Kevin Griffin, a seasoned software consultant, Microsoft MVP, conference organizer, and president of the .NET Foundation. They dive into Kevin’s 20-year journey in tech, from his early days hacking on computers to leading development teams and organizing developer events.

Kevin shares his insights on consulting, the evolving role of a CTO, and the importance of system-level thinking for developers. They discuss his lessons from making an $8,000 serverless mistake, the challenges of running conferences like Revolution Conf, and why multi-threaded income is crucial in today’s unpredictable job market.

Whether you're a junior developer navigating your career or an experienced engineer looking for ways to diversify your income, this episode is packed with insights, laughs, and real-world tech wisdom.

Where to Find Kevin:

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/1kevgriff/
• Website: Consult with Griff
• X: x.com/1kevgriff
• Bluesky: @consultwithgriff.com
• Multi-Threaded Income Podcast; podcast.multithreadedincome.com

In this candid episode, Tessa Kriesel chats with Clark Sell, founder of That Conference, Unspecified, and From Code to Clarity. The conversation explores the emotional highs and lows of building a community-focused event, lessons learned from navigating a rapidly changing tech landscape, and the challenges of balancing innovation with sustainability.

Clark opens up about the evolution of That Conference and the difficult decision to pause its operations. He shares his passion for fostering human connection among developers, his vision for smaller curated gatherings, and his ongoing journey to harness his unique ability to bring people together meaningfully. Tessa and Clark discuss the impact of AI on developers' roles, the importance of creative problem-solving, and the value of investing in personal and professional growth.

With humor and vulnerability, this episode offers insights into the challenges of entrepreneurship, the importance of community, and the need to adapt in an ever-changing industry. Whether you're a developer navigating your career or an entrepreneur building something new, Clark’s reflections will inspire you to stay curious, prioritize meaningful connections, and embrace the unexpected.

Where to Find Clark Sell Online:

• Website: From Code to Clarity
• YouTube: @ClarkSell
• Social Media: @clarksell on most platforms

Don’t miss this deep dive into the human side of the tech world—listen now!

On this episode of 99 Dev Problems, Tessa Kriesel is joined by the incredible Tejas Kumar, a seasoned technologist and AI DevRel engineer at DataStax, with over 20 years of experience at companies like Vercel, Spotify, and Zeta. Broadcasting from Berlin, Tejas dives into the art of democratizing AI, showcasing tools like Langflow, a drag-and-drop, low-code solution empowering developers and non-developers alike to build AI agents with ease.

The conversation spans diverse topics, including the empowering role of teaching others, dismantling imposter syndrome in tech, and creating accessible AI sandboxes. Tejas shares insights on productivity techniques like "offensive and defensive work" and leveraging focus windows to tackle complex projects like Langflow. They also discuss the transformative potential of AI agents and the importance of preserving foundational tech knowledge in the evolving AI landscape.

Tessa and Tejas brainstorm an exciting new project: a developer experience scoring agent that evaluates and improves developer tooling, exemplifying their shared passion for enhancing the developer ecosystem. They conclude with advice on overcoming challenges, staying motivated, and living life to the fullest.

Where to Find Tejas Online:

• Website: tejas.as
• Twitter/X: @tejasKumar_
• Check out Langflow

In this engaging episode of 99 Dev Problems, host Tessa Kriesel welcomes guest, Amy Dutton, a seasoned web developer with 24 years of experience. Amy shares her journey from starting web development at 16 to becoming the lead maintainer of RedwoodJS. The conversation touches on her evolution from design to development, her early career experiences, and her latest ambitious project, Build Twelve—a year-long challenge to develop 12 projects in 12 months.

Amy dives deep into the tech stacks and decision-making processes behind her projects, including her experiences with Laravel and Next.js, as well as the complexities of framework development. She also discusses the challenges of balancing technical work with building and maintaining a community, particularly in her Part-Time Startup initiative.

The two share insights on getting unstuck as developers, leveraging AI tools like Claude and ChatGPT, and balancing the desire for perfection with the need for progress. Amy highlights the importance of walking away when stuck and embracing tools and workflows that play to individual strengths.

This episode is packed with valuable lessons for developers at every stage, from overcoming technical hurdles to balancing the human and technical aspects of community-building.

Where to Find Amy Dutton

• Twitter/X: @SelfTeachMe
• Website: buildtwelve.com – Subscribe for project updates and insights.
• Podcast: Compressed.fm

Tune in to hear Amy’s inspiring journey and practical advice, and stay connected for future collaborations and insights!

In this engaging episode, Tessa Kriesel chats with Nick Taylor, a Developer Advocate at Pomerium, about his journey from software engineering to developer advocacy. They explore the nuances of transitioning into DevRel, the importance of technical expertise, and the unique challenges of advocating for complex products. Nick shares insights from his career in open source, his love for community building, and his strategies for creating authentic connections in the developer ecosystem.

From rugby tales to building backyard ice rinks, Nick reveals the importance of networks, passion projects, and staying connected to the developer community. The conversation highlights how open source has transformed his career and the evolving role of DevRel in fostering developer engagement.

Where to Find Nick Taylor: Connect with Nick and explore his live streams and content:

• Website: nickyt.online
• Livestream: nickyt.live
• X/Twitter: @nickytonline
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nickytonline
• YouTube: youtube.com/@nickytonline

In this heartfelt episode of 99 Dev Problems, Tessa Kriesel sits down with Alex C. Berk, a seasoned front-end developer at Shipium, to explore his journey through tech, the challenges of scaling systems, and how faith and family shape his career.

Alex shares his story of growing from a self-taught coder to a pivotal member of a reunited team of Zulily and Amazon alumni. He dives into his work with modern tools like TypeScript, React, and Node.js, and the collaborative culture at Shipium that fuels innovation in supply chain optimization. From solving complex database scaling issues to building a supportive remote-first environment, Alex offers insights into thriving as a developer in today's dynamic tech landscape.

Key themes include:

• Mentorship and the value of building relationships in tech.
• Strategies for balancing family life and career in a remote-first world.
• Tackling large-scale technical challenges with creativity and teamwork.
• How faith influences decisions and impacts community building.

Whether you're navigating your early career or leading teams, Alex's thoughtful reflections provide inspiration for every stage of your journey.

Where to Find Alex C. Berk:

• LinkedIn: Alex C. Berk
• X: @alexcberk
• GitHub: alexcberk

Don’t miss this engaging conversation packed with practical advice and heartfelt stories from the world of tech!

In this heartfelt episode of 99 Dev Problems, Tessa Kriesel sits down with David Beale, a self-taught technologist and Site Reliability Engineer at PayNearMe, to explore his incredible journey through adversity, creativity, and the tech industry.

David shares his story of resilience, beginning with a challenging childhood and unconventional start to his career, building from skateboarding websites and MySpace themes to leading impactful technical initiatives at companies like Etsy and Glossier. He reflects on the lessons learned from roles in DevOps, sales engineering, and site reliability, emphasizing the importance of grit, adaptability, and the connections we form along the way.

Key themes include the power of vulnerability, navigating imposter syndrome, and the unique value of enthusiasm, curiosity, and integrity in tech careers. David's thoughtful insights on balancing personal and professional challenges, as well as his reflections on the art of career-building, offer inspiration to developers at every stage of their journey.

Where to Find David Beale:

• LinkedIn: David Beale
• Personal Website: beale.sh

Additional Resources:

• Listen to the AI Panel featuring David from December 30th at hub.builtfor.dev.

In this episode of 99 Dev Problems, Tessa Kriesel welcomes Aaron Francis, co-founder of Try Hard Studios, to discuss his unique journey from accountant to developer educator, his love for Laravel, and the grit it takes to thrive in tech and business.

Aaron shares how his background in accounting shaped his problem-solving mindset and led to a passion for teaching complex topics like databases and development frameworks. As a self-taught developer, Aaron emphasizes the value of perseverance, curiosity, and putting your work out there—even when you feel unqualified. He discusses his latest project, an open-source Laravel library, and the balancing act of preparing for its big reveal at an upcoming conference.

The conversation also dives into the joys and challenges of running Try Hard Studios, a developer education company specializing in high-quality video courses on topics like SQLite and Postgres. Aaron reflects on the emotional highs and lows of entrepreneurship, navigating family responsibilities, and the unexpected twists of starting a business.

Where to Find Aaron Francis:

• Try Hard Studios: tryhardstudios.com
• X/Twitter: @aarondfrancis
• YouTube: Aaron Francis
• Personal Blog: aaronfrancis.com

Additional Resources:

• Laravel Framework: laravel.com
• Check out Aaron’s courses: High Performance SQLite and Mastering Postgres on Try Hard Studios' website.