Testing Peers

Welcome to Episode 134 of the Testing Peers podcast. This week, join Simon, David, Tara and Chris.

How do we explain testing and quality to people who are not testers, in a way that actually lands? In this episode, we talk about meeting stakeholders where they are, translating quality into the language of risk, cost and outcomes, and building trust through visible work and data. We also share practical ways to bring non-testers into the quality journey, from testathons to storytelling.

What we cover

• Getting out of the testing echo chamber and speaking in terms others value, for example, risk, time, cost and customer impact.
• Why “finish testing by Friday” and pass or fail dashboards miss the point, and how to reframe around confidence and acceptable quality.
• Trusted advisor status is earned, not assumed, through consistent visibility and data that supports decisions.
• Using risk as a shared language, tying quality work to concrete mitigations that matter to stakeholders.
• The tension between flexibility and standards, and why some consistency helps credibility.
• Startups versus enterprises, common perceptions of testing, and how to counter “devs can do it all” or “cheap offshore scripts are enough”.
• Making the work visible: show outcomes, not just activities, and celebrate wins to build momentum.
• AI in quality, cautious optimism, and the importance of getting involved early so we help shape how it is used and tested.

Practical ideas discussed

• Run regular testathons and paired exploratory sessions that include developers, product, customer support and leaders. Let people experience the work and discover real issues together.
• Tell relevant, audience-shaped stories. CFO cares about the cost of quality, product cares about customer outcomes, engineers care about feasibility and flow.
• Start small, show value, then scale. Use data from pilots to make a compelling case.
• Document enough to show standards and accountability, without losing agility.
• Use tools like RiskStorming to surface risks early and align on mitigations.
• Own the narrative. Be assertive, positive and specific about the value testing brings, not just the problems it finds.

Shout-outs and references

• Callum Akehurst-Ryan on becoming trusted advisors.
• Sophie Küster, The Impostor’s Guide to Tooting Your Own Horn.
• RiskStorming and other collaborative risk techniques.
• Exploratory testing and team testathons as ongoing practice, not a one-off event.

#PeersCon26 Call for Collaborations for written and video submissions until September 30th 2025, and also for VolunPeers. More on all this can be found here

Tickets for the event are now live too, starting at £15 until December, when they go up to £30.
And as always, we are looking for sponsors to make this event the success it has been for the last 2 years, get in touch if interested

Thanks to our 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!

www.nfocus.co.uk and [email protected] for anyone wanting to get in touch.

Support the show

Welcome to episode 133 of the Testing Peers podcast.

In this episode, the Peers (Chris, Callum, David and Russell) explore the complex and often subtle art of influencing quality within teams, organisations and wider cultures.

The team share stories from early careers to more recent consulting and coaching experiences. The conversation examines how influence operates in practice and what it truly means to be a voice for quality. This is a discussion about mindset shifts, not mandates. About patience, not prescriptions.

Topics covered include:

• What influence looks like in quality-focused roles
• The difference between being responsible for quality and being a voice of quality
• Building credibility and rapport in complex environments
• How time, language and context influence
• Coaching versus prescribing solutions
• Making invisible work visible to gain traction
• Overcoming cynicism and staying curious
• How influence can ripple beyond the testing team

Whether you are coaching, testing or leading, this episode is packed with practical insights and thoughtful discussion on how to support quality in meaningful, lasting ways.

#PeersCon26 Call for Collaborations for written and video submissions until September 30th 2025, and also for VolunPeers. More on all this can be found here

Tickets for the event are now live too, starting at £15 until December, when they go up to £30.
And as always, we are looking for sponsors to make this event the success it has been for the last 2 years, get in touch if interested

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 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 and 2025, 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

Welcome to episode 132 of the Testing Peers Podcast.

This time, joining David and Chris are the returning Rachel Kibler and first-time host Vanessa Zettler, with the Peers discussing Software That Cares.

Key Quote “There is no average user.” – A reminder that designing for the “average” often excludes everyone.

Accessibility as a Civil Rights Issue
Digital access is essential in modern life. The team explore why accessibility is about equity and inclusion, not just regulations.

Temporary vs. Permanent Disability
The group reflects on how anyone can join the disabled community at any time—making accessibility everyone's responsibility.

Legal Landscape

• Landmark US cases: Robles v. Domino’s and Access Now v. Blue Apron
• Growth of lawsuits in e-commerce
• UK legislation: Equality Act 2010 and Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations

Beyond the Checklist

• WCAG 2.1 AA as the global standard
• The limitations of automated tools and “accessibility widgets”
• Importance of manual validation, especially with screen readers

The Role of Testers & Quality Engineers
Testers often become accessibility advocates by default: identifying, championing, and embedding inclusive practices across teams.

Inclusive Design from the Start
Accessibility must be considered from the beginning, not just at testing, bringing in copywriters, designers, and developers early.

Emotional Sensitivity in UX
Rachel highlights the need to consider emotional impact, particularly during difficult times, when crafting user-facing messages.

#PeersCon26 Call for Collaborations for written and video submissions until September 30th 2025, and also for VolunPeers. More on all this can be found here

Tickets for the event are now live too, starting at £15 until December, when they go up to £30.

And as always, we are looking for sponsors to make this event the success it has been for the last 2 years, get in touch if interested

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)

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 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 and 2025, 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

Welcome to a special episode of the Testing Peers to announce our Programme Committee and Theme for PeersCon 26, which is happening on 12th March 2026 in Nottingham, UK.

Join our Co-Chairs David and Simon as they introduce you to the rest of the committee:

• Suman Bala
• Dan Ashby
• Beth Marshall
• Rita Avota

More on the committee can be found here.

After the usual banter, the team dive into talking more about the theme for the conference, which is:

With this now discussed and their thoughts around why this was chosen, it is now time to officially open the Call for Collaborations for written and video submissions and also for VolunPeers. More on all this can be found here

Tickets for the event are now live too, starting at £15 until December, when they go up to £30.

And as always, we are looking for sponsors to make this event the success it has been for the last 2 years, get in touch if interested

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 and 2025, 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

Welcome to episode 130 of the Testing Peers Podcast.

This time join David, Russell, Chris and Dermot as we talk Knowledge Resilience.

After an ice breaker where Russell poses the question to the Peers of what have we wanted to learn, but have not yet achieved.

Then Dermot sets up the main topic with the following question: "what would you do with the knowledge that you acquired? If you learned it, it's fine, but if you wanted to share that knowledge. How would you transmit that?

We talk about:

• How people learn differently, and why a mix of formats matters
• Creating living documentation that stays connected to real questions
• What stops people from sharing, from fear and past experience to unspoken team dynamics
• How consulting and leadership roles shift your perspective on giving away knowledge
• Why rotating responsibilities and refreshing training helps surface hidden gaps
• The role of psychological safety in building a culture where sharing is the norm

If you've ever struggled with stale docs, tribal knowledge, or a team that relies on “just ask Dave” then this one’s for you.

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 and 2025, 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

Welcome to the latest episode of the Testing Peers podcast.
This time, join David, Chris, Sanne and Beth as we discuss Bad Quality By Design (a more SFW term for ensh!ttifcation).

Where products and services become deliberately less usable or joyful over time, often to drive monetisation. This isn’t accidental degradation, but intentional design choices aimed at nudging users towards subscriptions, upsells, or ad exposure.

Examples the Peers discuss include:

• Getting a “premium” experience temporarily, then losing it unless you pay
• Making it easy to sign up but frustratingly hard to cancel
• Designing mobile apps that force you onto desktop for key actions like unsubscribing
• Cookie banners and friction-heavy consent flows
• UX patterns that prioritise business goals over user experience (e.g. CarPlay’s rigid UI rules)

The group reflect on how this gradual decline in delight has eroded pride in product quality. AI tools, for now, feel delightful by contrast because they’re still in the VC-funded honeymoon phase, but this too may fade. The group calls out the trade-off between "good enough" and genuinely caring about quality.

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 and 2025, 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

Welcome to another episode of the Testing Peers Podcast. On this episode, Chris, Simon and David are joined by first time co-host Rachel Kibler. The Peers discuss the topic of making work visible.

David starts us off with the banter on the topic of fashion mistakes, everything from dress down fridays to bright shirts being used as a prank. David also hints at his 80's fashion challenges and his ties he wore as a teacher.

Rachel kicks off the main topic, giving the back story of where the topic came from. Having to create a coherent story on how to show when a project is good to go live and how the testing can be made visible. They all discuss the value and cost of testing and how to articulate this to PMs in projects. 

The conversation goes on to different techniques to show value and how to help get everyone onto the same page. What techniques can you use to make it visible to stakeholders?

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 and 2025, 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

Welcome to another episode of the Testing Peers Podcast. On this episode, Chris, Russell, David and Simon talk about how we can ensure Quality has a seat at the table of discussions, projects and all such scenarios where it should be there.

Before that, Mr Banter (Chris) leads us off down a wonderful trail of memories of social media when it all began, everything from MySpace, Bebo, Friends Reunited and MSN Messenger covered and of course, the old Twitter during the pandemic.

Simon leads us into a the topic, and mentions a comment Stephen Platten made on one of Chris's posts about a Culture of Quality on LinkedIn. Here is Stephen's comment:

Of course it depends on the context, and what influence is needed. It's also about who needs to care? Depending on the context and the problem you are having. The best way to get started is to look at engaging your senior leaders or the leadership level that make decisions in the context. It may be a need to educate and showcase the value that can be provided by being involved. 

The Peers dive into their own experiences and ways to help influence the decision makers to include a voice of quality.

What challenges have you had in this scenario?

[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 and 2025, 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

Welcome to another episode of the Testing Peers. Chris, Russell and David are joined by the returning Sam to talk about a topic close to all testers hearts, the ability of storytelling.

Before diving into the main topic, Russell asks the Peers what their favourite cars are, lots of classics mentioned including the almost predictable choice from Russell of the AC Cobra (which he may have mentioned before).

Part of the testers role includes storytelling, whether this is in bug reports, presentations, or just discussions with team members, it is key that the right story is told to bring everyone along the journey. 

Sam tells of his adventures at Agile Testing Days where a musical was performed to tell a story, possibly taking story telling to a new level (for testers anyway)

The key with story telling is making it relevant to it's audience, which will enable them to invest effectively.

What are your tips for good storytelling?

[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.

Support the show

Hello and welcome to episode 125 of the Testing Peers podcast.

This time, joining Chris, Russell and David is the returning guest host, Al Goodall.

Before diving into the main topic, Al asks the group to think about book collections, a nice mix of techno-thrillers and classic prose on offer.

Russell kicks off the main discussion around testability, what is it in which context?

The Peers talk through implementation, pitches, prompts, value, maintainability and more.

Chris also brings out the TestSphere card deck to look at the Testability Quality Aspect card.

What does Testability look like in your context? Have we mastered it? What can we do better?

 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