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Off Script
Off Script episodes
- Episode 53: The power of pen and paper
In this episode, James and Josh discuss the significance of pen and paper in an increasingly digital world. They explore various note-taking techniques, the benefits of physical writing for memory retention, and the importance of managing mental load through effective organization. Their conversation highlights the balance between urgency and importance in task management, emphasizing the need for reflection and prioritization in both personal and professional contexts.
- Pen and paper are essential for focused thinking.
- The physical act of writing aids memory retention.
- Different note-taking methods can enhance comprehension.
- Digital tools can complement traditional note-taking.
- Urgent tasks can overshadow important ones.
- Reflection on notes helps prioritize tasks effectively.
- AI tools can assist but should not replace personal notes.
- Concise note-taking is a valuable skill.
- Managing mental load is crucial for productivity.
- Taking a step back to write thoughts down can alleviate stress.
17 min - Episode 52: Unlocking team potential with user manuals
In this episode, Josh and James discuss the concept of user manuals for humans, exploring how individuals can communicate their preferences, boundaries, and working styles to foster better collaboration in teams. They emphasize the importance of psychological safety, effective communication, and the role of writing in self-reflection and team dynamics. The conversation also touches on managing expectations, delegation, and creating a safe space for open dialogue within teams.
- User manuals help communicate personal working styles.
- Psychological safety is crucial for honest communication.
- Feedback should be given early and often.
- Writing down thoughts aids in self-reflection.
- Effective communication requires understanding different styles.
- Delegation should come with clear information.
- Creating a safe space encourages team collaboration.
- Writing is a powerful tool for clarity and thinking.
- Sharing user manuals can align team expectations.
- Openness in communication fosters trust and understanding.
15 min - Episode 51: Is Test Driven Development actually better now we have AI?
Josh and James discuss the implications of Test-Driven Development (TDD) in the context of the rapid advancements in AI technology. They explore how AI tools are changing the landscape of software development, the challenges of maintaining quality in fast-paced environments, and the importance of balancing speed with safety. Their conversation also touches on the future of coding, the training of new developers, and the evolving role of testing in ensuring robust software solutions.
- TDD is gaining renewed importance with the rise of AI.
- AI tools can enhance rapid prototyping but come with risks.
- Maintaining quality in software is crucial as teams move quickly.
- The balance between speed and safety is essential in development.
- Understanding system design and good architecture is foundational for developers.
- AI can assist in writing tests and fixing bugs effectively.
- The complexity of production apps increases with user volume.
- New tools are emerging to support error tracking and testing.
- Training the next generation of developers is vital in an AI-driven landscape.
- Investing in TDD and BDD can set teams apart in software development.
24 min - Episode 50: The new age of tech job interviews and how to conquer them
In this weeks episode, Josh and James discuss the challenges of securing a job in the tech industry, particularly focusing on the impact of ageism, evolving expectations for tech roles, and the influence of AI on the interview process. They cover the importance of communication skills, personal branding, and the need for candidates to be honest about their abilities. The discussion also highlights the necessity of adapting to the changing landscape of tech jobs and the skills required to succeed in interviews.
- The tech job market is becoming increasingly competitive.
- Ageism affects both junior and senior developers.
- Keeping up with new technologies is challenging as one ages.
- Expectations for tech roles have broadened significantly.
- Candidates are often expected to wear multiple hats in smaller teams.
- AI is influencing how candidates prepare for interviews.
- Honesty about skills can lead to better job fits.
- Good communication is essential in tech roles.
- Building a personal brand can enhance job prospects.
- Networking and personal connections are crucial for job opportunities.
26 min - Episode 49: Navigating the AI discourse — Why can't we talk properly about AI?
In this weeks episode, Josh and James delve into the complexities of the discourse surrounding artificial intelligence (AI), exploring the polarising perspectives that dominate discussions. In a balanced debate, they emphasise the importance of understanding AI as a tool rather than a stand-alone entity, highlighting the need for responsible usage and ethical considerations in its development and implementation. They cover the reality of AI's impact on engineering and the necessity of maintaining a human element in the design process. This episode is a call to action for technologists to navigate the AI hype responsibly and to create strong governance around its use.
The original article that Josh wrote that prompted the chat.
- The discourse around AI is often polarising and broken.
- AI is frequently misrepresented in sensational headlines.
- Understanding AI as a tool is crucial for productive discussions.
- The reality of AI's impact on engineering is often overstated.
- Human involvement is essential in the design and implementation of AI.
- Ethical considerations are paramount in AI development.
- AI can improve accessibility and inclusivity in products.
- Navigating the AI hype requires careful evaluation and governance.
- The importance of productive friction in learning and development.
- AI's role in software development is evolving and requires adaptation.
30 min - Episode 48: AI interoperability and MCP
In this conversation, Josh and James discuss AI interoperability and the concept of MCP (Model Context Protocol). They explore the initial skepticism surrounding MCP, the process of building custom MCP servers, and the importance of permissions and security in AI integrations. The discussion also touches on the future of AI integration in various applications, particularly in shopping experiences, and the potential for these technologies to revolutionise how we interact with digital tools.
- MCP is a new way to integrate AI with existing tools.
- Initial skepticism can lead to valuable discoveries in technology.
- Building custom MCP servers can enhance personal productivity.
- Permissions and security are crucial when using AI tools.
- MCP has the potential to go mainstream with the right ecosystem.
- AI can act on behalf of users, changing the way we interact with technology.
- Real-world applications of MCP can simplify everyday tasks.
- The future of shopping may involve AI-driven experiences.
- AI tools need to be intuitive for non-developers to adopt them.
- The evolution of technology often leads to a blend of old and new experiences.
27 min - Episode 47: Behind the scenes of running a tech conference
How do you structure and run the perfect tech conference? What things are involved behind the scenes that attendees don’t see? What advice would you give to someone looking to start their own event?
We’re glad you asked! This episode is an All Day Hey! Special where hosts, Josh and James spill the beans on what goes on behind the All Day Hey! conference curtain, how we can collectively safeguard the future of events and what makes running a tech conference like this so special.
Join us in Leeds on Thursday, 1st May for this year’s All Day Hey!
Tickets and schedule at https://heypresents.com/conferences/2025- 00:00 How to run a conference
- 01:00 Why start a conference? - The aim behind All Day Hey!
- 02:00 What do you want to provide for the audience?
- 03:00 Avoiding trends and providing backed knowledge
- 04:00 How to plan the day of talks to keep people engaged?
- 05:00 Dealing with technical blunders
- 07:00 Process of picking speakers and who to contact
- 08:00 Avoiding talks being sponsored ads
- 11:00 Getting diversity of topic and idea
- 12:00 All Day Hey! is community focussed - how to create this?
- 13:00 How to open up the networking and make it welcoming
- 14:00 How to close a conference to provoke questions
- 15:00 Tips for other organisers
- 16:00 Investing in production quality
- 17:00 Setting up a conference in 2025
- 19:00 Keeping the indie conference alive
Find out more about Stac and Parallax:
- https://stac.works
- https://parall.ax
22 min - Episode 46: How to plan and run a discovery workshop
What is a discovery workshop and how can they be used to work through problems in your business? In this episode, James and Josh discuss how they've run them in the past and offer some tips and tricks to getting the most out of these sessions.
Listen now for a brand new instalment of Off Script!- 00:00 Introduction
- 01:00 What is a discovery workshop
- 02:00 Using Miro
- 02:30 Slideument - slide deck with a documents worth of content
- 03:00 Use the right medium to foster discussion
- 04:00 Break workshop sessions into two
- 05:00 Use other physical spaces to inspire
- 06:00 Framing the problem but not steering
- 07:00 Amazon's idea - Write the Press Release
- 08:00 What are the challenges, resources, and politics?
- 09:00 What would the bad press be?
- 10:00 How to be honest and open?
- 11:00 Creating a safe environment
- 14:00 Find out what they want from the session
- 16:00 90 min cycles of energy
- 17:00 Risk register
- 18:00 Walk and talk to reenergise
- 20:00 Keeping discussions on track
- 21:00 Capturing and processing the data
- 22:00 Using AI to digitise and distribute
- 23:00 The next steps
- 23:30 One Two Three All
- 26:00 Handy thing to do to unblock
Find out more about Stac and Parallax:
- https://stac.works
- https://parall.ax
29 min - Episode 45: 2024 developer round-up
It’s time to reflect and plan ahead! James and Josh look back at a tumultuous 2024 in tech and ask the big questions about where things are heading.
What were the highlights?
What lessons can we learn?How do we prepare for 2025?Listen now as we kick-off the year with a brand new instalment of Off Script!
- In praise of indie conferences
- The struggles of smaller events
- AWS re:Invent conference
- Multi Cloud
- Distributed SQL - DSQL
- Tough time for tech in 2024
- All Day Hey!
- Publishing platforms
- Tech Influencers
- Complete CSS - Any Bell
- Learn with Jason
- The state of the tech economy
- Whisper Flow
- CrowdStrike outage
- AI, Automation, valid JSON, OLLAMA , Constrained Sampling
- AI Agents, Cursor IDE
- SASS is in danger?
- Adobe Podcast
- New Ruby on Rails
- Laravel 11
- Deno
- BlueSky
References
- https://piccalil.li/complete-css
- https://www.youtube.com/@learnwithjason
Find out more about Stac and Parallax:
- https://stac.works
- https://parall.ax
43 min - Episode 44: Future of software engineering leadership - Part 2
Part 2 has landed! For this outing of Off Script, Josh and James explore the ‘Future of engineering leadership’.
This is an episode born from Q&A discussions and ideas at the recent Off Script Live event in Leeds. Dive into the modern challenges and the future direction of leadership in software engineering.
- AI Sustainability
- Company energy offset
- Energy demands of AI vs speed of innovation
- AI on device
- Apple Siri LLM on device?
- Loneliness in leadership positions
- Talk with peers in other companies
- Lattice HR for feedback
- Finding your role
- Event culture
- Consistency creates community
- Organiser sets the tone
- Challenges for future leaders
- Addressing the gap between vocal and and non vocal team members
- Communication types
- Generating positive feedback culture
Find out more about Stac and Parallax:
- https://stac.works
- https://parall.ax
23 min
About Off Script
From the publisher's feed
Hosted by CTOs Josh Nesbitt and James Hall, Off Script brings you unfiltered conversations about the highs, lows, and lessons of working in tech today. From leading engineering teams and scaling…
companies, to tackling burnout, bad bets, and breakthrough ideas, this is the show where raw honesty meets experience. Alongside one-on-one conversations between Josh and James, you’ll hear from leaders, builders, designers, and entrepreneurs who aren’t afraid to share what’s really going on behind the scenes — the conversations usually left for DMs, side chats, and after-hours drinks. Whether you’re building your first product or leading a fast-growing team, Off Script gives you a raw and refreshing perspective on the challenges and creativity that shape modern tech. New episodes every few weeks. Subscribe and join the conversation.
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