In this episode of the Leanpub podcast, host Len Epp speaks with Dan Holloway, host of the Self-Publishing News podcast, for a comprehensive review of the book industry in 2024. They delve into critical developments, including the expanding role of AI in publishing and its impact on authorship, content creation, and reader engagement.

Holloway also highlights evolving trends in author incomes, emphasizing challenges and opportunities for independent authors in a competitive digital landscape.

Key controversies discussed include the WordPress dispute involving WP Engine, as well as the Internet Archive’s ongoing legal battles and their implications for digital lending and copyright law. The conversation also touches on the cultural phenomenon of cozy literature and its resurgence as a top genre in 2024, reflecting readers’ desires for comfort and familiarity amidst global uncertainty.

Looking ahead to 2025, Holloway offers predictions for the industry, including further disruptions from AI, the continued transformation of traditional publishing models, and the rise of ethical considerations in digital media. The episode provides valuable guidance for authors, publishers, and readers navigating a rapidly evolving landscape.

This interview was recorded on January 2, 2025.

The full audio for the interview is here: https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/leanpub_podcasts/FM309-Dan-Holloway-2025-01-02.mp3. The Frontmatter podcast is available on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/leanpub, in Apple Podcasts here https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/frontmatter/id517117137, and almost everywhere else people listen to podcasts.

Joe Justice - In this episode of the Leanpub podcast, Len Epp interviews Joe Justice, author of Scrum Master: The Agile Training Seminar for Business Performance, former Tesla employee, and creator of #JoeDX—a methodology based on the business practices, culture, and operating model of Elon Musk’s companies. Joe shares his inspiring journey from growing up in South Bend, Indiana, to becoming a global leader in Agile methodologies, modular manufacturing, and business innovation.

Joe discusses his early career, including studying Fine Arts and Computer Science at the University of Wyoming, before working with tech luminaries like Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos. He describes how his experiences with Amazon’s decentralized team structure and Agile practices shaped his understanding of efficient business operations. Joe later founded Wikispeed, a modular car company that demonstrated the power of agile principles by achieving world records in automotive design and efficiency, including designing, building, and testing road-legal cars in just one week.

The conversation delves deeply into Joe’s time at Tesla, where he worked directly with Elon Musk. He explains Tesla’s groundbreaking use of Agile methodologies, modular design, and gamified management practices. Joe highlights the use of the “Justice Board,” a performance dashboard that replaces traditional management layers by allowing teams of 3-5 engineers to track and improve key metrics autonomously. These innovations enable Tesla to achieve unprecedented efficiency and speed, setting it apart from traditional manufacturing companies.

Beyond his work with Tesla, Joe reflects on his personal and professional philosophy, emphasizing the importance of doing meaningful work and continually challenging oneself. He also offers practical advice for authors, such as collaborating with artists and leveraging platforms like Leanpub for iterative publishing. Joe credits Leanpub’s global community for helping him refine and translate Scrum Master into multiple languages, making his book a valuable resource for agile practitioners worldwide.

Joe’s enthusiasm for innovation and collaboration extends to his advocacy for connecting with creatives. He shares an inspiring story about collaborating with a watercolor artist to create his book Everyone Is Santa, which captures the spirit of meaningful gift-giving. He encourages authors to reach out to artists and other professionals to enrich their work and create new opportunities for connection.

This episode is a deep dive into Joe’s unique perspective on Agile practices, manufacturing, and the transformative power of collaboration. Whether you’re a business leader, software developer, or aspiring author, Joe’s insights offer valuable lessons on innovation, leadership, and continuous improvement.

Listen to the full episode here.

This interview was recorded on December 20, 2024.

The full audio for the interview is here: https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/leanpub_podcasts/FM308-Joe-Justice-2024-12-20.mp3. The Frontmatter podcast is available on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/leanpub, in Apple Podcasts here https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/frontmatter/id517117137, and almost everywhere else people listen to podcasts.

In this episode of the Leanpub podcast, Len Epp interviews Chris Pinnock, an IT professional with 25 years of experience in IT, telecommunications, and blockchain, and the author of the Leanpub book Learning Russian Verbs. Chris shares his fascinating career journey, his experience learning Russian, and the unique technical approach he took to create his book.

Chris began his career with a PhD in Mathematics before transitioning into IT. He worked in telecommunications for several years. Eventually, Chris joined the Tezos Foundation in Switzerland. At Tezos, he manages blockchain infrastructure, focusing on the stability and evolution of the proof-of-stake blockchain. Chris explains the nuances of blockchain technology, including key concepts like proof-of-stake, baking, and smart contracts, while comparing Tezos’ energy-efficient approach to that of other blockchains like Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Chris’ passion for learning languages stems from a personal connection: his wife is Russian, and he decided to learn her language to communicate with her family. Drawing on his background in mathematics and computing, Chris took a structured, systematic approach to learning Russian, which inspired him to create Learning Russian Verbs. The book organizes verbs by topic, includes conjugation tables, and is designed to help learners grasp complex grammatical concepts like imperfective and perfective verb forms.

A unique aspect of Chris’ book is its programmatic development. He wrote a custom Go program to generate the conjugation tables automatically. This method allowed him to efficiently format complex content using Leanpub’s Markdown-based publishing platform, streamlining the creation of tables and examples for each verb. Chris shares how this technical approach has saved time and made updates to the book easier.

The interview also highlights Chris’ publishing journey on Leanpub. He appreciates the platform’s flexibility, which lets him publish updates as he progresses. Chris’ story is a testament to how technical skills can be leveraged to create high-quality, practical resources for learners.

Chris’ other project, Learning Russian Handwriting, explores the Cyrillic alphabet and its applications, offering learners a foundation for reading and writing in Russian. Both books are excellent resources for those starting their journey into the Russian language.

Watch the full episode and subscribe here.

This interview was recorded on December 12, 2024.

The full audio for the interview is here: https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/leanpub_podcasts/FM307-Chris-Pinnock-2024-12-12.mp3. The Frontmatter podcast is available on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/leanpub, in Apple Podcasts here https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/frontmatter/id517117137, and almost everywhere else people listen to podcasts.

In this episode of the Frontmatter podcast, Leanpub co-founder Len Epp interviews Josh Bernoff, business book expert and author of the Business Book ROI Study. They explore Josh’s journey from working at Forrester Research to becoming an expert in business books and collaborating on projects that generated millions for authors. The discussion delves into insights from the Business Book ROI Study, which surveyed over 300 authors to understand motivations, financial returns, and the broader impact of writing business books.

The findings highlight that most business authors write to boost credibility, generate leads, and share knowledge, with many achieving significant non-monetary benefits alongside revenue gains. Len and Josh also cover the differences between traditional, hybrid, and self-publishing, as well as how hybrid publishing can help authors achieve faster results. They discuss the challenges and opportunities AI brings to the publishing world, emphasizing the limits of AI-generated content. Lastly, they consider the role of social media platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter/X for author promotion, and why some channels are more effective than others. You can learn more about Josh and his work at Josh Bernoff’s website.

This interview was recorded on November 22, 2024.

The full audio for the interview is here: https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/leanpub_podcasts/FM306-Josh-Bernoff-2024-11-22.mp3. The Frontmatter podcast is available on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/leanpub, in Apple Podcasts here https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/frontmatter/id517117137, and almost everywhere else people listen to podcasts.

This interview has been edited for conciseness and clarity.

In this episode of the Frontmatter podcast, Len Epp interviews Pete Zerger, a cybersecurity strategist and Chief Information Security Officer, and author of the LeanPub book, CISSP: The Last Mile. Pete shares his career journey from IT into cybersecurity, discussing the turning points that led him into cloud security, and ultimately, cybersecurity strategy.

Pete explains that his book, CISSP: The Last Mile, is designed for those pursuing the CISSP certification, a highly-regarded credential for cybersecurity professionals. Pete emphasizes the significance of the CISSP exam for career advancement in security roles, as it is one of the most in-demand certifications globally. His book is structured to help readers prepare efficiently by focusing on core exam topics and offering practical learning strategies. Pete’s approach draws from his own rapid-study methods, which allowed him to pass the CISSP exam on his first try after only two weeks of preparation.

During the interview, Pete discusses cybersecurity topics covered in his book, like endpoint and identity security, hybrid cloud environments, and the zero-trust model, where all users and devices must be verified regardless of location. He also explains advanced topics like post-quantum cryptography, which anticipates the impact of quantum computing on encryption. Pete describes how threat modeling and threat hunting are critical for assessing and managing potential vulnerabilities in an organization, highlighting how cybersecurity strategies must continually adapt to new risks.

Pete also shares insights into his content creation journey, from speaking at conferences to building a popular YouTube channel for cybersecurity professionals. His channel now reaches thousands of viewers daily, far exceeding the audience he could connect with through in-person events. He reflects on how platforms like Leanpub have allowed him to reach readers directly, offering flexible formats and a high royalty rate, which enables him to price his book affordably for learners while receiving fair compensation.

Watch the full episode here.

This interview was recorded on November 7, 2024.

The full audio for the interview is here: https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/leanpub_podcasts/FM305-Pete-Zerger-2024-11-07.mp3. The Frontmatter podcast is available on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/leanpub, in Apple Podcasts here https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/frontmatter/id517117137, and almost everywhere else people listen to podcasts.

In this episode of the Leanpub podcast, Len Epp interviews Leah Paulos, founder of Press Shop PR and Book Publicity School. With over 25 years of experience in media and book publicity, Leah shares her journey from magazine journalism to book PR, highlighting her career’s evolution, especially as media and publishing landscapes have shifted dramatically.

Leah reflects on how she moved from magazines like Condé Nast to running Press Shop PR, where she’s worked on major campaigns for books such as On Tyranny by Tim Snyder and March by John Lewis. Her transition to book publicity stemmed from her insight into media processes and her desire to help authors navigate the complex world of publishing. This experience led her to establish Book Publicity School, aimed at affordably equipping authors with the skills they need to promote their own books, particularly when they don’t have access to full-service PR campaigns.

The interview delves into the challenges and strategies in today’s book publicity, from creating effective media campaigns to leveraging platforms like social media. Leah discusses how authors must now be highly adaptable, as digital-native outlets, podcasts, and social media play bigger roles in publicity than ever before. She emphasizes that authors need to understand the publishing process and engage actively in promoting their work, especially since traditional publishers often rely on authors to take the lead in their own book promotion.

Leah also shares insights from Book Publicity School, which offers free and paid courses on book promotion. For example, her free monthly webinar gives authors an introductory overview of PR, while she also offers a comprehensive six-week workshop covering everything from media list building to social media strategy. Leah’s advice includes practical tips on researching relevant media outlets, crafting concise pitches, and using spreadsheets to track outreach efforts — key skills for authors to build a sustainable, long-term promotion plan.

The conversation concludes with Leah’s advice on handling book promotion on social media, noting that authors should focus on what works for authors like them who have successfully built audiences on the various platforms.

This interview was recorded on October 28, 2024.

The full audio for the interview is here: https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/leanpub_podcasts/FM304-Leah-Paulos-2024-10-28.mp3. The Frontmatter podcast is available on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/leanpub, in Apple Podcasts here https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/frontmatter/id517117137, and almost everywhere else people listen to podcasts.

In this interview, Leanpub co-founder Len Epp talks with Maciej “MJ” Jedrzejewski, author of the Leanpub book Master Software Architecture: A Pragmatic Guide.

MJ, based in Switzerland, is a software developer, architect, and tech lead with extensive experience in the IT industry. He discusses his background, starting from his early fascination with hardware and overclocking processors in Poland, to his transition into software development and architecture, now working in Switzerland.

The interview covers MJ’s journey from software development to becoming a software architect. He explains how his career highlights the importance of understanding both technical and business aspects when designing software. In his book, MJ offers a practical guide for navigating the complexities of software architecture, emphasizing the need for pragmatic solutions that can evolve with the business.

MJ delves into the definition of software architecture, explaining that each architect may have a different perspective. For him, software architecture is a pragmatic and holistic approach to building software that includes understanding the business domain, deployment strategies, security, and testing. One of the key points he makes is about focusing on evolutionary architecture, where systems can adapt and grow over time.

A major theme of the discussion is the importance of understanding the business domain in software architecture. MJ describes how architects need to break down the problem into smaller subdomains and ensure that everyone on the team is aligned on the language and processes. He also discusses techniques such as “eventstorming” and domain storytelling, which are crucial for uncovering the right requirements and designing systems that meet business needs.

The conversation touches on key topics from MJ’s book, including release strategies and security. He explains how to plan for different types of releases - whether you’re deploying directly to production or working within a more regulated environment. MJ also highlights the importance of testing early and often, using strategies like automated testing and continuous integration to ensure systems are robust and scalable.

Another important focus of the interview is security. MJ discusses best practices, such as using static analysis tools, encryption, and partnering with third-party services for penetration testing. He emphasizes the need for automation in security processes and the importance of identifying potential vulnerabilities early in the development cycle.

Finally, MJ shares insights into how he approached writing Master Software Architecture. He spent years collecting ideas before fully dedicating himself to writing the book over a five-month period. He describes his disciplined yet flexible writing process, where he focused on creating clear and actionable content, complete with over 230 images and diagrams to support practical learning.

Listen to the full episode here.

This interview was recorded on September 5, 2024.

The full audio for the interview is here: https://s3.amazonaws.com/leanpub_podcasts/FM303-Maciej-MJ-Jedrzejewski-2024-09-05.mp3. The Frontmatter podcast is available on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/leanpub, in Apple Podcasts here https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/frontmatter/id517117137, and almost everywhere else people listen to podcasts.

This interview has been edited for conciseness and clarity.

Todd Miller and Ryan Ripley are the authors of the Leanpub book Fixing Your Scrum: Practical Solutions to Common Scrum Problems.

In this episode of the Frontmatter podcast, Ryan and Todd share their individual career journeys to becoming expert trainers in the Scrum framework and their deep insights in how to improve when things go wrong in your organization.

Ryan, based in Indiana, reflects on his time working in various industries, including work on medical devices, and the pivotal moment when he was introduced to Scrum in 2010 during a training session with Ken Schwaber, co-creator of Scrum. Ryan describes how this experience transformed his approach to project management and led him to embrace Scrum as a core practice in his work.

Similarly, Todd, based in Maryland, recounts his shift from software development to becoming a product owner and his introduction to Scrum, which helped him streamline processes in various projects.

The episode covers the origin and evolution of Scrum, which began with the 1986 Harvard Business Review article “The New New Product Development Game” by Takeuchi and Nonaka. This work inspired the creation of the Scrum framework by Ken Schwaber and Jeff Sutherland in the mid-1990s.

Ryan and Todd explain how Scrum helps organizations tackle complex work by providing a flexible framework with key elements such as Scrum events, accountabilities, and artifacts. They discuss the importance of roles in Scrum, and how these roles collaborate to deliver value incrementally.

One of the key insights from the interview is how Scrum can go wrong in organizations when it is misused or misunderstood. Todd highlights examples of “bad Scrum” or “zombie Scrum,” where teams claim to be using Scrum but are actually applying old waterfall-style project management techniques. They explain how their book offers practical solutions to help teams identify and correct these issues.

The discussion also touches on the values of Scrum—focus, openness, commitment, courage, and respect — and how these values underpin successful Scrum implementations.

Ryan and Todd emphasize the importance of applying these values, particularly when dealing with challenges such as miscommunication, hidden issues in organizations, and the pressure to deliver.

In the final part of the interview, Ryan and Todd discuss the process of writing Fixing Your Scrum and the challenges they faced releasing the book just before the COVID-19 pandemic. They share their journey of getting the rights back from their publisher to update and re-release the book, and how they are now using LeanPub to promote and manage its ongoing success.

This interview was recorded on September 4, 2024.

The full audio for the interview is here: https://s3.amazonaws.com/leanpub_podcasts/FM302-Todd-Miller-and-Ryan-Ripley-2024-09-04.mp3. The Frontmatter podcast is available on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/leanpub, in Apple Podcasts here https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/frontmatter/id517117137, and almost everywhere else people listen to podcasts.

This interview has been edited for conciseness and clarity.

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Eric Elliott is the author of the Leanpub book The Art of Effortless Programming: Unleashing the Power of AI Driven Development.

In this interview, Leanpub co-founder Len Epp talks with Eric about his early fascination with AI, starting from when he was six years old, writing text-based adventure games, and developing his first neural network in the late 90s.

Eric shares his career journey, from pioneering AI-driven development, to his role at Adobe Firefly, focusing on generative AI. He explains key breakthroughs in AI technology, including the significance of the 2017 paper “Attention Is All You Need” that introduced the Transformer model, which revolutionized natural language processing and paved the way for large language models like GPT-3 and GPT-4.

The conversation covers the concept of “functional understanding” in AI, where models exhibit an ability to solve problems, reason, and provide explanations much like humans, without necessarily being conscious. Eric clarifies the distinction between functional and conscious understanding and delves into the debate over AI’s capabilities and limitations. He emphasizes the importance of adopting a practical approach to AI development, treating it like collaborating with a human coworker.

Eric also discusses the role of pseudocode languages like SudoLang, a language designed for AI-driven development. He explains how tools like SudoLang can significantly boost developer productivity, enabling even non-programmers to build complex software solutions by leveraging AI capabilities.

The episode concludes with a discussion on the future of AI in software development and the broader impacts on industries, society, and the economy. Eric anticipates that AI will continue to disrupt job markets while also creating opportunities for innovation and growth. He advocates for preparing for these changes by embracing AI tools and methodologies in the software development processes.

This interview was recorded on August 29, 2024.

The full audio for the interview is here: https://s3.amazonaws.com/leanpub_podcasts/FM301-Eric-Elliott-2024-08-29.mp3. The Frontmatter podcast is available on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/leanpub, in Apple Podcasts here https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/frontmatter/id517117137, and almost everywhere else people listen to podcasts.

This interview has been edited for conciseness and clarity.

Michael Feathers is the author of the Leanpub book AI Assisted Programming.

In this episode of the FrontMatter podcast, host Len Epp interviews Michael Feathers, founder of R7K Research and Conveyance. Michael delves into his career journey, from his early interest in technology to becoming a prominent voice in software design and the challenges of working with legacy code.

The conversation begins with Michael sharing his background, detailing how his fascination with technology evolved from his childhood into a professional career focused on software engineering. He discusses the significance of legacy code in the industry, explaining how it presents both challenges and opportunities for developers. Michael’s expertise in this area has made him a key figure in helping companies navigate and modernize their existing codebases.

A major focus of the interview is Michael’s insights on the growing influence of AI in programming. He discusses the potential of AI to change the way developers work, highlighting both the opportunities and the concerns associated with AI-assisted development. Michael emphasizes the need for developers to adapt to these changes and to consider how AI can be used to enhance, rather than replace, human creativity and problem-solving in software development.

The discussion also touches on the emotional aspects of coding, where Michael talks about the frustrations and rewards that come with programming. He reflects on how dealing with legacy code can be emotionally taxing but also deeply satisfying when solutions are found. This leads to a broader conversation about the future of software development in an increasingly AI-driven world, where Michael offers his thoughts on how the industry might evolve and the skills that developers will need to thrive.

To learn more about Michael Feathers and his work, you can visit the R7K Research and Conveyance website or follow him on Twitter.

This interview was recorded on August 14, 2024.

The full audio for the interview is here: https://s3.amazonaws.com/leanpub_podcasts/FM300-Michael-Feathers-2024-08-14.mp3. The Frontmatter podcast is available on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/leanpub, in Apple Podcasts here https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/frontmatter/id517117137, and almost everywhere else people listen to podcasts.

This interview has been edited for conciseness and clarity.