Scott & Mark Learn To...

In this episode, Scott Hanselman and Mark Russinovich dive into where they get their tech news and how their habits have evolved from the early days of blogging and RSS to today’s AI-focused email newsletters. They reminisce about the heyday of blogs, the rise and fall of Google Reader, and Mark’s old NT Internals mailing list, which once had nearly 90,000 subscribers. They compare curated sources like Techmeme, The Verge, and The Information, and discuss how AI-driven newsletters have replaced RSS as the primary way they stay informed. The conversation also features a fun moment when Scott looks back at his 20-year-old blog posts and finds references to Mark’s tools that helped launch part of his career.

Takeaways:

Who are they?    

View Scott Hanselman on LinkedIn

View Mark Russinovich on LinkedIn

Watch Scott and Mark Learn on YouTube

Resources:

Techmeme: https://www.techmeme.com

– A leading tech news aggregator for technology business and breakthrough news.

The Verge: https://www.theverge.com

– Consumer technology news site covering tech, science, art, and culture.

The Information: https://www.theinformation.com

– A subscription-based publication focused on technology and business news.

The Rundown AI: https://www.therundown.ai

 – Daily AI newsletter delivering news and practical applications in 5 minutes.

Superhuman: https://www.superhuman.ai

– Daily newsletter on AI tools, trends, and productivity tips.

The Neuron: https://www.theneuron.ai

– Daily AI newsletter with trends, tools, and tutorials for professionals.

The Batch: https://www.deeplearning.ai/the-batch

 – Weekly newsletter curated by Andrew Ng’s team, focused on AI research and industry updates.

Turing Post: https://www.turingpost.com

 – Newsletter exploring AI/ML trends, research, and interviews.

Produced by Hangar Studios

In this episode, Scott Hanselman and Mark Russinovich dive into how they each manage the flood of information, reminders, and ideas that fill their daily lives. From handwritten to-do lists to OneNote archives, they explore the balance between productivity tools and procrastination, and how offloading tasks can clear mental space. The two reflect on the psychology of lists, the illusion of control, and whether we’ll ever have a true second brain. A funny, self-aware, and relatable conversation about memory, focus, and the systems that keep us (mostly) functional.  

Takeaways:    

Who are they?     

View Scott Hanselman on LinkedIn  

View Mark Russinovich on LinkedIn   

Watch Scott and Mark Learn on YouTube 

Listen to other episodes at scottandmarklearn.to  

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts 

Produced by Hangar Studios

In this episode, Scott Hanselman and Mark Russinovich explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping software engineering and the career paths of developers. They discuss the emerging “AI boost” for experienced engineers versus the “AI slowdown” that can hinder those early in their careers, emphasizing the need for companies to create structured learning environments rather than rely solely on AI-driven productivity. The conversation dives into mentorship, apprenticeship models, and how senior engineers must evolve into teachers to ensure vital knowledge transfer. Together, Scott and Mark challenge the industry to rethink how it trains, supports, and measures success for the next generation of software professionals. 

Takeaways:    

Who are they?     

View Scott Hanselman on LinkedIn  

View Mark Russinovich on LinkedIn   

Watch Scott and Mark Learn on YouTube 

Listen to other episodes at scottandmarklearn.to  

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts   

Produced by Hangar Studios

In this episode, Scott Hanselman and Mark Russinovich dive deep into the promises and pitfalls of AI-assisted coding. They debate whether large language models can truly handle complex software projects, discuss the limitations of current AI systems in areas like synchronization, and explore the difference between human learning and machine pattern-matching. Along the way, they touch on the dangers of over-anthropomorphizing AI, the rise of “thinking tokens” in new models, and the impact these tools may have on junior developers learning the craft.  

Takeaways:    

Who are they?     

View Scott Hanselman on LinkedIn  

View Mark Russinovich on LinkedIn   

Watch Scott and Mark Learn on YouTube 

Listen to other episodes at scottandmarklearn.to  

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts   

Produced by Hangar Studios

In this episode, Scott Hanselman and Mark Russinovich dive into the realities of career progression at Microsoft and in tech more broadly. They discuss the different paths engineers can take, whether through management, deep technical expertise, or individual innovation and the role that scope, impact, and even luck plays in promotions. Along the way, they reflect on the challenges of leveling, the importance of communication, and the balance between recognition, influence, and personal fulfillment in a long-term career. 

Takeaways:    

Who are they?     

View Scott Hanselman on LinkedIn  

View Mark Russinovich on LinkedIn   

Watch Scott and Mark Learn on YouTube 

Listen to other episodes at scottandmarklearn.to  

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts   

Produced by Hangar Studios

In this episode, Scott Hanselman and Mark Russinovich dive into the technical side of modern AI research and development workflows. They discuss the power of remote development with VS Code, building custom chatbot tools for jailbreak testing, and exploring token probabilities with log probes. Mark also shares how he leveraged AI to generate a working UX in one shot, why temperature settings matter for model outputs, and his plans to open source his custom chatbot client. 

Takeaways:   

Who are they?    

View Scott Hanselman on LinkedIn 

View Mark Russinovich on LinkedIn  

Watch Scott and Mark Learn on YouTube

Listen to other episodes at scottandmarklearn.to 

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts 

Produced by Hangar Studios

In this episode, Scott Hanselman and Mark Russinovich explore the challenges and opportunities of coding with AI assistants. They compare different models, discuss the quirks of “vibe coding,” and share insights on building tools that bridge LLMs and APIs. Mark walks through his experience developing an academic reference checker, highlighting how AI can help structure messy data, uncover edge cases, and speed up complex development work. The conversation also touches on the evolving joy of coding, from puzzle-solving by hand to managing AI-driven workflows, and how these shifts are reshaping both productivity and creativity.

Takeaways:   

Who are they?    

View Scott Hanselman on LinkedIn 

View Mark Russinovich on LinkedIn  

Watch Scott and Mark Learn on YouTube

Listen to other episodes at scottandmarklearn.to 

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts  

Produced by Hangar Studios

In this episode, Scott Hanselman and Mark Russinovich share strategies for conducting more effective and purposeful one-on-one meetings. They emphasize the value of tailoring the approach to each individual, encouraging agenda-setting in advance, and prioritizing critical topics to ensure they are addressed. The discussion covers best practices for providing and receiving constructive feedback, maintaining visibility across teams, and striking a balance between trust and accountability. They also address the importance of recognizing contributions, differentiating between credit and “lift,” and using one-on-ones to proactively identify and remove obstacles.

Takeaways:   

Who are they?    

View Scott Hanselman on LinkedIn 

View Mark Russinovich on LinkedIn  

Watch Scott and Mark Learn on YouTube

Listen to other episodes at scottandmarklearn.to 

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts  

Produced by Hangar Studios

In this episode of Scott and Mark Learn To, Scott Hanselman and Mark Russinovich explore vibe coding with AI, testing how Copilot Agent Mode can analyze their transcripts to see who talks more on the show. They discuss coding with AI as a collaborative sculpting process, debate crediting AI for its contributions, and reflect on the human judgment still needed for prompting and refining outputs. Along the way, they generate graphs, poke fun at each other’s talk time, and share insights on how AI is changing coding and creative work. 

Takeaways:    

Who are they?     

View Scott Hanselman on LinkedIn  

View Mark Russinovich on LinkedIn   

Watch Scott and Mark Learn on YouTube 

Listen to other episodes at scottandmarklearn.to  

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts   

Produced by Hangar Studios

In this episode of Scott and Mark Learn To, Scott Hanselman and Mark Russinovich discuss innovative tools they built with AI assistance: Mark’s smart directory navigation tool that streamlines moving through nested folders by typing partial names, and Scott’s study website that transforms complex topics into structured, digestible material with AI-generated answers and progress tracking. They explore the challenges of AI “hallucination,” where models invent detailed but fictional information, and share insights on computer science history, including Leslie Lamport’s contributions. Their conversation also touches on evolving UI design trends from minimalist styles to flashy effects like “liquid glass” and debates the balance between aesthetics, usability, and energy efficiency in modern technology. 

Takeaways:    

Who are they?     

View Scott Hanselman on LinkedIn  

View Mark Russinovich on LinkedIn   

Watch Scott and Mark Learn on YouTube 

Listen to other episodes at scottandmarklearn.to  

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts   

Produced by Hangar Studios