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 with the media and talking heads online is an understatement.

It is really starting to boil my potato.

Here are my takeaways after grinding on a 5 person team to build a product using AI.

🚨If you're interested in learning how to REALLY work with AI as a software developer - apply for our new program for working developers who want to learn AI: parsity.io/AIDev

Send us a text

Shameless 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, work with LLMs and launch your career.

AI Bootcamp (NEW) - for software developers who want to be the expert on their team when it comes to integrating AI into web applications.

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 platform
• Boris, Senior Digital Marketing Manager at Educative, one of the largest developer learning platforms
• Doug, CEO of Optimize 3.0, a HubSpot Diamond Partner agency

We dig into:

• How AI is reshaping email marketing
• Why email is still the most reliable channel you can own
• The biggest email marketing mistakes that founders and developers make
• What it actually takes to build a product that sells—not just one that works
• And real advice for developers who want to turn skills into a business

🎙 Guest LinkedIn Profiles

Mike Donnelly — Founder, Seventh Sense

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikedonnelly1/

Boris Robles-Slyusar — Senior Digital Marketing Manager, Educative

https://www.linkedin.com/in/borisslyusar/

Doug Kirk — CEO, Optimize 3.0

https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglastkirk/

🏢 Company Pages

Seventh Sense (AI-powered email timing platform)

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-seventh-sense/

https://www.seventhsense.ai/

Educative (developer learning platform)

https://www.linkedin.com/company/educative-inc/

https://www.educative.io/

Optimize 3.0 (HubSpot Diamond Partner agency)

https://www.linkedin.com/company/optimize-3-0/

https://optimize3-0.com/

Send us a text

Shameless 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, work with LLMs and launch your career.

AI Bootcamp (NEW) - for software developers who want to be the expert on their team when it comes to integrating AI into web applications.

I lay out the project with tons of resources right here 👇

https://brianjenney.medium.com/your-learning-roadmap-to-become-a-software-developer-2e15e1ce1e22

Send us a text

Shameless 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, work with LLMs and launch your career.

AI Bootcamp (NEW) - for software developers who want to be the expert on their team when it comes to integrating AI into web applications.

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-ready
• Why most juniors aren’t actually hireable yet — and how to fix that
• How toxic positivity on LinkedIn is misleading beginners
• Why “passion” means nothing if it isn’t backed by proof-of-work
• The kinds of projects and habits that actually impress hiring managers
• The mindset shift every junior dev must make to survive today’s market
• What Amber wishes she knew as a brand-new developer
• How to stand out when 30,000 other bootcamp grads are competing for the same jobs

If you’re early in your software career — or mentoring someone who is — this conversation will challenge your assumptions, push you out of the fluff zone, and give you a clear, actionable roadmap to becoming the type of junior developer who actually gets hired.

Open Source Projects & Communities:

• Dance-Chives Prototype (Amber’s breakdancing app project): https://github.com/BenTheChi/dance-chives-prototype
• Build In Public community: https://buildinpublic.com/
• Gridiron Survivor project: https://github.com/LetsGetTechnical/gridiron-survivor

Mentorship:

• ADPList (free mentorship sessions): https://adplist.org/

Connect With Amber:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amber-adamson-a33a3860/

Send us a text

Shameless 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, work with LLMs and launch your career.

AI Bootcamp (NEW) - for software developers who want to be the expert on their team when it comes to integrating AI into web applications.

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 text

Shameless 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, work with LLMs and launch your career.

AI Bootcamp (NEW) - for software developers who want to be the expert on their team when it comes to integrating AI into web applications.

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 to hear from you! 

What are the guests and topics you want in 2026?

Send us a text

Shameless 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, work with LLMs and launch your career.

AI Bootcamp (NEW) - for software developers who want to be the expert on their team when it comes to integrating AI into web applications.

"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 on a podcast, I'm also a father and full time software developer. I made this episode not only to vent about why AI hype is so dangerous but why the future isn't as bleak as the mainstream media is leading us to believe.

Send us a text

Shameless 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, work with LLMs and launch your career.

AI Bootcamp (NEW) - for software developers who want to be the expert on their team when it comes to integrating AI into web applications.

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 projects like this and how he built this app.

Want to build your own AI-powered app? Check out this project: parsity.io/ai-with-rag

Connect with Ryan here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhardin378/

Send us a text

Shameless 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, work with LLMs and launch your career.

AI Bootcamp (NEW) - for software developers who want to be the expert on their team when it comes to integrating AI into web applications.

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 React
• How to think like a developer: requests, responses, and UI updates
• The fastest way to level up without AI shortcuts
• A way to test your JS skills

Send us a text

Shameless 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, work with LLMs and launch your career.

AI Bootcamp (NEW) - for software developers who want to be the expert on their team when it comes to integrating AI into web applications.

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-guide

Send us a text

Shameless 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, work with LLMs and launch your career.

AI Bootcamp (NEW) - for software developers who want to be the expert on their team when it comes to integrating AI into web applications.