By Testing Peers
Testing Peers is a growing community of ~60 peers in testing, software quality, agility, test leadership, engineering management, and broader software development. We’re united by a shared goal: to
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The podcast currently has 120 episodes available.
Welcome to another Testing Peers podcast episode.
This time, join Chris, David, Richard Bradshaw and Al Goodall (whose surname Chris had some real issues remembering, sorry Al!)
In this episode, the Peers talk about the role of the SDET. Is it SDEad?
To break the ice, Al leads the group into a discussion about the best live albums, in our humble opinions. Shout-outs to Linkin Park, Sky, Raye, Live Aid, Iron Maiden, U2, Seal and Hoobastank!
The main topic dives into the main topic - the role of the SDET.
What does it mean? Is it a synonym for a test automation engineer? Are you a tester if you're an SDET? What does the role of an SDET look like where you work?
Chris asks his favourite AI tool for a definition to stimulate the conversation.
"The main difference between a software development engineer in test and a test automation engineer is focus and responsibility.
An SDET focuses on bridging the gap between development and testing processes. And a test automation engineer focuses on designing and implementing automated tests."
The Peers talk about context, focus, tooling, frameworks, responsibility, problem-solving and quality!
What do you think the future for the SDET is?
The Testing Peers Conference is happening on the 13th March 2025.
Tickets available here: https://testingpeerscon.com/ticket/
If you wish to Sponsor the conference: https://testingpeerscon.com/partners/
If you wish to volunteer for the event: https://testingpeerscon.com/volunpeer/
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We’re also now on GoodPods, check it out via the mobile app stores
If you like what we do and are able to, please visit our Patreon to explore how you could support us going forwards: https://www.patreon.com/testingpeers
Thanks to our brand new sponsors - NFocus Testing.
nFocus are a UK based software testing company. They've been supporting businesses for 24 years by providing services that include burst resource, accelerated test automation, performance testing and fully managed testing services. In 2021, they launched a Test Automation Academy to create amazing testers and they've now created jobs for 48 people in our industry in just under three years!
nFocus were a big part of PeersCon in 2024, really grateful for all they do supporting the Testing Peers.
www.nfocus.co.uk and [email protected] for anyone wanting to get in touch.
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Welcome to another episode of the Testing Peers. On this episode, Chris is joined by Vernon Richards, Heather Carter and Richard Hinton to talk about career journeys and making that decision around next steps.
Before that, Heather kicks off the banter by asking for 2 Truths and 1 Lie from each of the hosts. You'll need to listen to work out which ones are which.
Chris starts the conversation about what is next for our careers, and the topic moves toward Personal Brand/Professional Reputation and the importance of being able to stand out. The key aspect discussed is channelling your passion and shouting about it. Heather also talks about setting her own company and the branding related to that. Discussion moves to looking into going out on your own and Richard talks about the challenges of contracting while also setting up your own business.
Heather's business page here: https://wearetether.com/
Chris talks about his job searching experiences and how he started with his values, key quotes and some of his challenges.
There's a lot of power in sharing knowledge and continuously learning and this is a key theme in the discussion.
What are your next career steps?
The Testing Peers Conference is happening on the 13th March 2025.
Tickets available here: https://testingpeerscon.com/ticket/
If you wish to Sponsor the conference: https://testingpeerscon.com/partners/
If you wish to volunteer for the event: https://testingpeerscon.com/volunpeer/
[email protected]
Twitter (https://twitter.com/testingpeers)
LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/testing-peers)
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/testingpeers/)
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/TestingPeers)
We’re also now on GoodPods, check it out via the mobile app stores
If you like what we do and are able to, please visit our Patreon to explore how you could support us going forwards: https://www.patreon.com/testingpeers
Thanks to our brand new sponsors - NFocus Testing.
nFocus are a UK based software testing company. They've been supporting businesses for 24 years by providing services that include burst resource, accelerated test automation, performance testing and fully managed testing services. In 2021, they launched a Test Automation Academy to create amazing testers and they've now created jobs for 48 people in our industry in just under three years!
nFocus were a big part of PeersCon in 2024, really grateful for all they do supporting the Testing Peers.
www.nfocus.co.uk and [email protected] for anyone wanting to get in touch.
Support the show
Hello and welcome to the latest episode of the Testing Peers podcast.
This time, join Chris, David, Simon and first-time host, Butch Mayhew.
Ahead of the main topic, Butch asks the group about their ideal superpower. We discuss controlling time, teleportation, flying, awareness (we'll come back to that later in the episode) and Butch's idea to have mustard and ketchup fly out of his fingers, because why not?
The Peers then dive in the topic of authenticity - inspired as a topic by Simon's post on LinkedIn.
What does being authentic at work mean to you?
Values, where I stand, hills that I will die on, credibility, ethics, boundaries.
What does that look like in terms of safety at work? Boundaries? Respect? With different audiences?
Naturally, this can all be influenced by context (it's a Peers pod, of course context comes into it).
We discuss accountability and feedback, as well as mental health, privacy and more.
The Testing Peers Conference 2025 has now launched the CFP open until November 2nd: https://testingpeerscon.com/collaboration-2025/
[email protected]
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We’re also now on GoodPods, check it out via the mobile app stores
If you like what we do and are able to, please visit our Patre
Support the show
Welcome to episode 117 of the Testing Peers podcast.
This time, join Chris, David, Russell and Heather as we discuss closure and letting go!
Heather kicks us off with a discussion around last-minute travel decisions and we think Russell probably wins!
The Peers then jump into a discussion about letting go.
Changing roles. What is your identity? Who am I (professionally)?
What am I good at? What do I enjoy? What will I do when I retire?
Is it out of your control?
What can we do as leaders? How can we ensure our teams are heard?
The Peers talk about adaptability and agility. The toll and fatigue that can be associated with letting go.
Russell spins the conversation around more positivity so what are the group proud to have let go of?
Heather mentions ShipItCon, specifically the talk by Charity Majors you can find a link to watch it here.
The Testing Peers Conference 2025 has now launched the CFP: https://testingpeerscon.com/collaboration-2025/
[email protected]
Twitter (https://twitter.com/testingpeers)
LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/testing-peers)
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Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/TestingPeers)
We’re also now on GoodPods, check it out via the mobile app stores
If you like what we do and are able to, please visit our Patreon to explore how you could support us going forwards: https://www.patreon.com/testingpeers
Support the show
Welcome to another episode of the Testing Peers podcast.
This time, Jesper Ottosen joins Russell, David and Chris as we discuss single points of failure.
As ever, we begin with our first email handles - as it turns out ours weren't so embarrassing and have persisted, but at least we break the ice!
Diving into the main topic, the group quickly talk about the single points of failure as people.
"what if they go on holiday?" " what if so and so wins the lottery?" and so on.
Are there robust handover processes in place?
Russell then moves the thinking to systems and processes that affect. Thinking about HR or payment systems.
The Peers discuss what mitigation looks like, continuous processes iterating as we go along, as well as validating these systems - think fire and safety drills.
We talk also about business continuity and disaster recovery.
How do you identify these in your workplace? How do you prepare?
The Testing Peers Conference 2025 has now launched the CFP: https://testingpeerscon.com/collaboration-2025/
[email protected]
Twitter (https://twitter.com/testingpeers)
LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/testing-peers)
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/testingpeers/)
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/TestingPeers)
We’re also now on GoodPods, check it out via the mobile app stores
If you like what we do and are able to, please visit our Patreon to explore how you could support us going forwards: https://www.patreon.com/testingpeers
Support the show
Welcome to another episode of the Testing Peers podcast. This time, join Chris, Russell, Callum Akehurst-Ryan & Leigh Rathbone as we talk on the topic of "No Testers, No Problem".
Before the main topic, Callum asks the group for their favourite fictional AI. From GLaDOS, I.N.T.E.L.L.I.G.E.N.C.E., the Terminator and Max Headroom.
What's your favourite fictional AI?
Leigh then introduces the topics of trends in the industry, touching on his #PeersCon24 talk, are we moving towards or away from organisations hiring testers or building quality functions, as is that ok?
The Peers discuss perception, reputation, the hows and whys?
Responsibilities, expectations, the costs and historical rationale.
We cover discussions on culture, context, copy & paste models and the requirement to make informed decisions on quality & risk.
What do you think?
The Testing Peers Conference 2025 has now launched the CFP: https://testingpeerscon.com/collaboration-2025/
[email protected]
Twitter (https://twitter.com/testingpeers)
LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/testing-peers)
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We’re also now on GoodPods, check it out via the mobile app stores
If you like what we do and are able to, please visit our Patreo
Support the show
Thanks for joining us for episode 114 of the Testing Peers podcast.
This time, Ben Dowen joins Russell, David and Chris as we dive into the topic of learning fast (as a different take on failing fast).
For this episode's banter, Ben asks the group about what their reasons to be cheerful are. A lot of learning, project closing and summer time activities (or lack of activities) ahead!
The Peers then dive into the main topic. Russell explains the power of the language and cognitive biases around failure, and why he therefore opts for learning fast rather than failing fast.
Russell quotes Thomas Edison:
I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.
Ben talks about the joys as a tester of exploration and the Peers talk about how things look and feel for those of us who naturally work well in environments where everything is not and cannot be known up front.
Shorter feedback loops, humility, recognition, collaboration and exploration are further pressed into.
But what do you do with that learning? Can you change, react, be resilient, agile? How can that information work within constraints, contracts and various contexts? What are the causes and effects?
We talk about documentation, comments and the value they also provide.
Russell mentions the game Testing Jenga.
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We’re also now on GoodPods, check it out via the mobile app stores
If you like what we do and are able to, please visit our Patreon to explore how you could support us going forwards: https://www.patreon.com/testingpeers
Support the show
Thank you for joining us for episode 113 of the Testing Peers podcast.
This time, Sanne Visser & Vernon Richards join Chris & David to discuss Emotional Intelligence.
By the way, if you haven't already heard - Vernon hosts the Vernon Richard show: https://www.youtube.com/@TheVernonRichardShow
After Vernon's hot drinks ice-breaker we dive into the main topic.
Emotional intelligence (EI) is defined as the ability to perceive, use, understand, manage, and handle emotions. People with high emotional intelligence can recognize their own emotions and those of others, use emotional information to guide thinking and behavior, discern between different feelings and label them appropriately, and adjust emotions to adapt to environments.[1]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emotional_intelligence
Emotional Intelligence (EI) is the ability to manage both your own emotions and understand the emotions of people around you. There are five key elements to EI: self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills.https://mhanational.org/what-emotional-intelligence-and-how-does-it-apply-workplace
The Peers discuss what we view as emotional intelligence and EQ means to us in various contexts.
From awareness, experimentation, exploration, motivation, constraints, awareness, cause & affect, prediction and volatility.
We talk about what that looks like in the introvert/extrovert spectrum.
Sanne also speaks to her passion in stoicism and emotional regulation.
What does emotional intelligence look like to you?
How would you approach starting a testing team from scratch?
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We’re also now on GoodPods, check it out via the mobile app stores
If you like what we do and are able to, please visit our Patreon to explore how you could support us going forwards: https://www.patreon.com/testingpeers
Support the show
Thank you for joining us for episode 112 of the Testing Peers podcast.
This time around we are talking on the topic of building testing teams, with Simon, Russell, David & Chris.
The banter focuses in on favourite or memorable plot twists.
Then Simon poses this hypothetical scenario - If you landed in a role and you were the first person there who has been given the task to build a [test] team, what would you do?
Russell wins the 'it depends on the context' prize, but of course he is right.
Questions like:
Who are you employed by?
What are their expectations?
What is your budget?
What are the constraints?
What are the dependencies?
Who already is working there?
What is the risk appetite?
Who are the customers?
What does the tech stack look like?
and more….
The Peers dive into biases, measures, agility and more in this episode.
How would you approach starting a testing team from scratch?
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Twitter (https://twitter.com/testingpeers)
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We’re also now on GoodPods, check it out via the mobile app stores
If you like what we do and are able to, please visit our Patreon to explore how you could support us going forwards: https://www.patreon.com/testingpeers
Saffron QA is a provider of recruitment and consultancy services, exclusively for the software testing industry.
You can find out more at https://saffronqa.co.uk/ or on LinkedIn
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Thank you for joining episode 111 of the Testing Peers podcast. This time Chris, David, Dermot & Sanne talk on the theme of 'This is the way', otherwise known perhaps as the gospel according to....
Before the main discussion, Sanne asks the group about any new to the Peers recipes or restaurants, so now I'm a little hungry.
*good time to pause for a snack*
Chris then introduces the Mandalorian theme. What are those absolute truths that we see some follow.
Is it testing/checking? The testing pyramid? Given, when then?
A couple of blog posts referenced from 2016:
Dan Ashby: https://danashby.co.uk/2016/10/19/continuous-testing-in-devops/
Del Dewar: https://findingdeefex.com/2016/05/20/the-testing-checking-synergy/
Should models be rigidly and explicitly followed or are they useful tools to achieve a common understanding.
As ever, we discuss not only the value of context, but also of pragmatism as well as the appreciation of the etymology.
We speak to experience bias and theory vs reality.
The conversation closes with Chris referencing Leigh Rathbone's 10 leadership lessons from Ted Lasso talk.
https://prezi.com/p/ja_fnx4qvujy/ted-lasso/
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Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/testingpeers/)
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/TestingPeers)
We’re also now on GoodPods, check it out via the mobile app stores
If you like what we do and are able to, please visit our Patreon to explore how you could support us going forwards: https://www.patreon.com/testingpeers
Saffron QA is a provider of recruitment and consultancy services, exclusively for the software testing industry.
You can find out more at https://saffronqa.co.uk/ or on LinkedIn
Support the show
The podcast currently has 120 episodes available.
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