Scott & Mark Learn To...

In this episode of Scott and Mark Learn To, Scott Hanselman and Mark Russinovich Scott shares the behind-the-scenes stress and preparation that went into his recent TEDx talk, which required memorizing a 12-minute script and performing it without a teleprompter. Mark Russinovich opens up about how he experiences stress when his schedule gets out of control, and both hosts discuss the importance of mindfulness, exercise, having work besties, and managing social energy. The episode is packed with practical tips, vulnerable moments, and reflections on what it really takes to perform at a high level, whether it’s on stage, at work, or in life. 

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 dive deep into the topic of self-promotion, visibility, and personal branding. They explore the blurry lines between promoting your work, representing your company, and building a personal brand—whether intentional or not. With humor, honesty, and vulnerability, they reflect on online criticism, handling stress, and the challenge of staying authentic while being visible.  

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 dive into the chaotic world of large language models, hallucinations, and grounded AI. Through hilarious personal stories, they explore the difference between jailbreaks, induced hallucinations, and factual grounding in AI systems. With live prompts and screen shares, they test the limits of AI's reasoning and reflect on the evolving challenges of trust, creativity, and accuracy in today's tools.  

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 dive into the emotional complexity of receiving feedback—especially when it’s tough to hear. They explore the difference between constructive critique and personal opinion, the impact of timing and context, and how motivation behind feedback can shape how it's received. Sharing real stories about presentation flops, speaker coaching, and surprising reactions to their ideas, they reflect on how experience builds resilience and why it’s important to hold onto your convictions while staying open to growth. They also touch on the balance between instinct and data in decision-making, the subtle politics of corporate resistance, and even the fine art of surviving massive Zoom meetings with 81 attendees. It’s an honest, funny, and thoughtful conversation about learning, evolving, and breathing through it all. 

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 & Mark Learn To, Scott Hanselman and Mark Russinovich discuss using AI to build a fractal shader in just 15 minutes—something that would normally take hours of manual coding. They explore the challenges and limitations of AI in real-world projects, particularly with large, complex codebases. The conversation covers the importance of understanding licensing and tools like GitHub Copilot for sourcing and attributing code. Mark shares his experiences with AI-assisted coding, particularly the frustrations of models that "fix" issues but miss the mark. They highlight how AI struggles with complex projects, maintaining state, and adapting to evolving requirements. Ultimately, they agree that while AI can assist with certain tasks, human expertise is essential for ensuring the right context and specification in development. 

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 & Mark Learn To, Scott Hanselman and Mark Russinovich dive into a lively mix of tech nostalgia, AI-driven code attribution, and shader programming mishaps. Scott introduces "ShaderGlass," an app that overlays CRT-style shaders on windows, leading to a chaotic live troubleshooting session when it renders invisibly. They also explore AI-assisted code attribution, joke about their legendary Zoomit skills, and poke fun at "vibe coding" among younger developers.  

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 & Mark Learn To, Scott Hanselman and Mark Russinovich discuss their favorite technical conference, TechReady, an internal Microsoft event that allowed for unfiltered discussions about strategy and future technologies. They reflect on how speaking candidly in internal settings can influence public communication and decision-making. Mark recalls his bold stance on Rust over C++, which gained traction internally and externally, leading to direct discussions with Microsoft leadership. They also touch on the challenges of public communication as Microsoft executives, the company's relatively open culture compared to other tech giants, and lessons learned from past social media missteps.   

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 & Mark Learn To, Scott Hanselman and Mark Russinovich dive into the art of building reputations throughout the careers. Scott shares a story about directly messaging a distinguished engineer with a technical question, sparking a discussion about when it's appropriate to contact someone you don't know. Mark acknowledges that his title and reputation give him confidence to reach out to others but emphasizes not bothering people with "randomness." They explore when it's okay to say no, why thoughtful questions build influence, and how legendary computer scientist Donald Knuth turned bug reports into prized autographs. Mark shares his approach to unread messages, while Scott reveals his trick for turning good questions into content. Plus, a candid discussion on imposter syndrome—when even the most accomplished minds feel out of their depth. 

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 & Mark Learn To, Scott Hanselman and Mark Russinovich dive into the concept of systems thinking—what it means, why it matters, and how it applies beyond just coding. Scott recalls an insightful conversation with a colleague, who argues that while younger generations are taught to code, they aren’t taught to understand the larger systems in which code operates. They discussed how systems thinking approach contrasts with traditional code practices. They also explored the challenges of integrating AI into coding, the limitations of AI-generated code, the necessity of understanding the broader system in which code operates and debated the balance between deep analysis and decisive action. 

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 & Mark Learn To, Scott Hanselman and Mark Russinovich dive into the history and evolution of ZoomIt, a popular screen annotation and zooming tool Mark created over 25 years ago. Originally built to enhance technical demos, ZoomIt has become an essential utility for countless users, including Scott, who calls it second nature. Mark shares how the tool's intuitive, keystroke-driven design surpasses alternatives like Windows Magnifier, making it a favorite for presentations and daily use.  

You can download Zoomit for free here: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/zoomit  

And it is now part of PowerToys toolkit: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/powertoys/zoomit  

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