augustwenty podcast

In this episode of the augustwenty Podcast, hosts DJ Daugherty, Mary Kaufmann, and Beth Shaheen explore the connection between courage, curiosity, and lifelong learning. Inspired by a conversation with DJ’s brother-in-law, they discuss the power of asking “What if?” and “Why not?” to spark innovation and growth. Through personal stories, they highlight how embracing the unknown, applying knowledge, and fostering a mindset of continuous learning leads to both personal and professional success. They also stress the importance of balancing curiosity with action, avoiding analysis paralysis, and creating environments that encourage others to learn and innovate. Ultimately, staying curious and courageous is key to solving problems, seizing opportunities, and making a meaningful impact.

Podcast Summary – Season 3, Episode 2

In this episode, host DJ Daugherty and new co-host Beth Shaheen welcome guest Jesse Boulard. The episode is both a celebration and a farewell, as Jesse marks his two-year anniversary with augustwenty while also announcing his departure to pursue a passion project.

Jesse’s Next Venture: A Music Discovery App Jesse is leaving to develop a music discovery platform designed to match people based on the emotional impact of music. He shares his personal journey of discovering music that truly moves him and how his app will help others find songs that elicit strong emotional reactions.

His approach goes beyond traditional recommendation algorithms used by platforms like Spotify or Pandora. Instead, his technology utilizes EDA sensors (electrodermal activity sensors) in smartwatches to measure emotional responses in real-time. The software will track physical reactions like goosebumps or emotional spikes and use them to find like-minded listeners who may introduce new, impactful songs.

The Challenges & Risks

• Patent Process: Jesse discusses the complexity of securing a patent, including his experiences with failed and ongoing patent applications.
• Funding & Development: He plans to build a beta version within 6-12 months, possibly seeking funding to accelerate development.
• Market & Users: The target audience is anyone who streams music and wants to find songs that truly resonate emotionally, rather than just algorithm-based recommendations.

Support & Encouragement

DJ and Beth praise Jesse’s courage to take the leap, noting how many people dream of pursuing a passion project but never act on it. Jesse explains that he strategically saved money for years to ensure financial stability before making the jump. While some family members are skeptical, his wife is supportive.

Future Plans & Testing

Jesse hopes to involve augustwenty colleagues in beta testing and believes the software developer community may have similar emotional reactions to music. He’s open to potential collaborations in the future, either hiring former coworkers or returning if needed.

Closing Thoughts Jesse thanks augustwenty for the support and expresses excitement about the future. The hosts encourage listeners to follow Jesse’s journey and express interest in a follow-up episode in six months to check on his progress.

In this premiere episode of the new season, Mary and DJ dive into the theme of “working smarter, not harder,” covering a variety of personal strategies for boosting organization and productivity. They emphasize the importance of prioritization—knowing what to say no to so you can say a deeper yes to your top goals. Mary describes her Trello-based workflow, DJ highlights his trusty notebook system, and both agree that small, effective tactics (like using timers or automating repetitive tasks) can make a big impact. They also touch on the value of a good morning mindset, reflection, and consistent, incremental improvements—all while sharing entertaining, real-life stories of success (and a little frustration) along the way.

In this podcast episode, the augustwenty team — DJ, Mary, and Beth — hosts two guests from the Riverview International Center (RIC) in Columbus, Ohio: Executive Director Emelia and Community Care Coordinator Hamida. Emelia explains how RIC began in a tiny apartment helping immigrant women with everyday needs, eventually growing into a nonprofit that now serves over 1,800 people a year from dozens of countries. Hamida shares her personal story of moving to the U.S. from Algeria through the Diversity Visa Lottery, revealing the challenges her family faced in adapting to a new language and culture. Together, they describe RIC’s range of services, from job readiness classes and community care (like enrolling children in Medicaid) to helping credentialed professionals navigate the path toward working in their fields. Throughout the conversation, the hosts and guests emphasize the importance of resilience, trust, and the power of community support—underscoring how RIC’s “small but mighty” team of nine staff and over 200 volunteers has transformed countless immigrant and refugee lives in central Ohio.

In this episode of the augustwenty podcast, DJ and Mary discuss the importance of celebrating successes—large and small—and how such recognition fuels ongoing motivation. They explore the evolving nature of what feels like a “win” as a company matures, the differences in how individuals respond to praise, and why continuous encouragement matters for team morale. The hosts agree that everyone needs some form of acknowledgment, but it must be authentic, purposeful, and tailored to individual motivators. Ultimately, they emphasize balancing meaningful recognition with maintaining forward momentum, ensuring that even minor victories act as fuel to achieve bigger goals.

In this episode of the August 20 Podcast, DJ Daugherty and Mary Kaufmann are joined by Scott Hubble, former CEO of NuCamp RV and founder of Awaken RV, to explore the journey of pursuing ambitious goals and embracing the risks required to achieve them. Scott shares his story of taking calculated leaps, from revitalizing the teardrop trailer market to launching his own innovative venture in fiberglass travel trailers. The discussion highlights the importance of passion, resilience, and community in overcoming setbacks and transforming bold ideas into reality. Packed with actionable insights and inspiration, this episode is a must-listen for anyone ready to aim higher and take meaningful risks.

In this podcast episode, the hosts discuss the concept of "FAIL" (First Attempt in Learning), emphasizing the importance of a growth mindset and resilience. Mark Tremayne shares his journey from a finance career to education, reflecting on how failure and risk-taking shaped his path. DJ and Mary Kaufmann also contribute their perspectives on learning through failure, recalling personal experiences that helped them grow. They explore the significance of creating environments that encourage learning and risk-taking, both in educational settings and beyond.

They discuss pivotal moments that inspired their journeys, from high school experiences to impactful teachers who instilled the belief that failure is part of the learning process. They highlight the importance of encouraging others to take risks and learn from their mistakes. The conversation touches on strategies for inspiring others, including fostering self-efficacy, providing feedback, and creating opportunities for exploration.

The episode concludes with reflections on how creating a supportive environment and celebrating small successes can lead to personal growth and lifelong learning. Mark emphasizes that investing in others is key to achieving collective success. The hosts also discuss their experiences working with students and their passion for helping them embrace failure as a learning opportunity.

In this episode, the augustwenty team celebrates their fourth consecutive "Best Places to Work" recognition. The lively discussion highlights the company's culture of transparency, trust, and continuous learning. Founders DJ and Angela reflect on their journey from humble beginnings to building a thriving organization centered on collaboration and employee satisfaction.

The team shares personal anecdotes, including favorite moments like DJ’s infamous blow-up Santa suit at holiday events and their shared passion for solving challenging problems. Employee feedback underscores the importance of flexibility, meaningful work, and a supportive community, all of which make augustwenty a standout workplace.

The episode blends humor, reflection, and gratitude, offering listeners insights into what it takes to create a world-class company culture.

In this lively episode, hosts DJ and Mary Kaufmann, joined by guests Corey Shields, Derek Nixon, Gabe Sheeley, and Jed Duffy, tackled the challenge of sharing 50 tech and productivity tips in 60 minutes. The group covered a wide range of topics, from essential coding practices like mastering `git add -p` and using VS Code extensions, to team-focused strategies such as giving constructive feedback and documenting onboarding processes.

Key takeaways included the importance of defensive programming, the value of learning foundational languages like C, and practical advice for improving workflows with keyboard shortcuts and aliases. The team also emphasized soft skills like encouraging teammates and staying disciplined in solving problems. With humor, rapid-fire insights, and a few creative twists (like pickleball tips), this episode offered actionable advice for developers and tech professionals alike.

In this podcast episode, DJ Daugherty, Mary Kaufmann, and guest Nish Gandhi from augustwenty discuss essential steps to start a software development project on the right track. They cover key topics like setting clear objectives, aligning stakeholders, and building an effective team to ensure a smooth project kickoff.

Nish, an expert in delivery and client engagement, shares his insights on what makes a successful project launch. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the client’s vision, gathering requirements, and setting clear expectations from the start. By asking the right questions, such as the client's goals, cultural expectations, and anticipated value, teams can avoid missteps and begin adding value immediately.

The team highlights the importance of communication, listening, and relationship-building to keep everyone aligned and motivated. Mary adds that providing clarity and setting a clear communication process is key. Meanwhile, DJ brings in the analogy of planning for a road trip, comparing it to the necessary steps in a project setup—like mapping the journey, setting roles, and anticipating potential challenges.

They also explore how to manage constraints like time and budget, and the need for iterative development to adapt as new information arises. This method allows teams to pivot and refine their work as they receive feedback, ultimately helping clients achieve the outcomes they truly need, even if those evolve from the original idea.

Augustwenty’s methodology emphasizes the importance of continuous communication and delivery-focused teamwork. They encourage other teams to prioritize clarity, ask insightful questions, and collaborate closely with clients to deliver maximum value.