The Programming Podcast

What’s it like working at Netflix, Apple, Amazon, AND now??? 🤯

In this episode of The Programming Podcast, Danny Thompson and Leon Noel sit down with Robbie Wagner—Ember core team member, Staff Engineer at HashiCorp, and co-host of Whiskey Web and Whatnot—to talk about his journey through some of the world’s most recognized tech companies.

Grab a glass (of whiskey or water), and let’s go deep on career, code, and community.

🎧 Follow Robbie and his podcast: Whiskey Web and Whatnot

https://www.youtube.com/@UCogup1kGwxzjKjkAwUhVYEw

https://open.spotify.com/show/19jiuHAqzeKnkleQUpZxDf

Follow Robbie!

https://x.com/RobbieTheWagner

https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbiethewagner/

https://bsky.app/profile/robbiethewagner.dev

Stay in Touch:

📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?

Email us at [email protected]!

Danny Thompson

https://x.com/DThompsonDev

https://www.linkedin.com/in/DThompsonDev

www.DThompsonDev.com

Leon Noel

https://x.com/leonnoel

https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonnoel/

https://100devs.org/

📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?

Email us at [email protected]!

They cover:

- The future of AI-generated code (and whether it’s useful)

- Why Robbie still loves EmberJS

- What it actually feels like to leave your "dream job"

- How to prepare for FAANG (or Manoma) interviews

- Why mentorship may be the real key to success

⏱️ Chapter Timestamps

00:00 – Intro: Meet Robbie Wagner (Netflix, Apple, Amazon, HashiCorp)

02:00 – The “Manoma” Acronym Explained

03:42 – AI Will Write 90% of Code? Our Hot Takes

07:00 – Where AI Fails and Why Documentation Still Matters

10:55 – How AI is Changing the Code Economy

13:17 – EmberJS, Framework Evolution & Why React Might Be Subpar

18:30 – Are We Chasing Hype Instead of Building Real Things?

21:00 – Working at Amazon, Apple, Netflix: Pros & Cons

26:35 – The Toxic Culture That Made Him Quit

29:00 – Interview Prep for Big Tech (LeetCode, STAR, and Strategy)

32:45 – What HashiCorp’s Interview Process Got Right

34:00 – Advice for People Who See FAANG as the Dream

36:00 – Defining Success Later in Your Career

37:10 – Mentorship, Scaling Help, and Developer Growth

39:08 – Preparing for a “Manoma” Interview

41:40 – Final Thoughts & Closing Thanks

Break down why you might not be getting hired—and what you can do about it! They share actionable insights on everything from personalized coffee chats and networking strategies to optimizing your LinkedIn profile, resume, and interview approach. Whether you’re a junior developer or a seasoned pro, you’ll discover practical tips to refine your outreach, communicate your value effectively, and tap into hidden job opportunities beyond the usual boards.Key Takeaways:• Coffee Chats & Networking: Learn how to craft genuine, personalized messages that open doors instead of closing them.• LinkedIn & Profile Optimization: Find out why a strong online presence is critical, and how to audit your messaging and profile to stand out.• Resume & Interview Strategy: Discover the importance of clear, confident self-presentation—from your resume’s first bullet point to actively engaging during technical interviews.• Job Boards & Beyond: Get insider advice on leveraging company career pages and alternative strategies to traditional job boards like LinkedIn and Indeed.Remember, every little tweak—from your messaging to the way you present your experience—can tip the scales in your favor. Tune in for a deep dive into these strategies and start making your job search work for you!Stay in Touch:📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?Email us at [email protected]!Danny Thompsonhttps://x.com/DThompsonDevhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/DThompsonDevwww.DThompsonDev.comLeon Noelhttps://x.com/leonnoelhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/leonnoel/https://100devs.org/📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?Email us at [email protected]!────────────────────────────Chapters:0:00 – Introduction & Community Shout-Out2:00 – Episode Topic: Why You Haven't Been Hired?3:00 – Coffee Chats & Networking Strategies10:00 – Leveraging LinkedIn: Messaging & Engagement Tips25:00 – Resume & Profile Optimization: Make a Great First Impression41:00 – Interview Strategies: Engaging & Communicating Your Value51:00 – Job Boards & Finding Opportunities57:00 – Wrap-Up & Final Thoughts────────────────────────────

Dive deep into the realities of technical interviews, networking, and the mindset needed to land a job in tech.

We break down real-world one-on-one coaching experiences, analyze why some candidates struggle despite getting interviews, and share practical strategies to level up your job search and technical prep.

💡 Sponsor: Level Up Financial Planning

Changing careers or increasing your income? Get financial clarity with Level Up Financial Planning—helping early and mid-career tech professionals secure their financial future. Visit LevelUpFinancialPlanning.com for a free consultation!

Stay in Touch:

📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?

Email us at [email protected]!

Danny Thompson

https://x.com/DThompsonDev

https://www.linkedin.com/in/DThompsonDev

www.DThompsonDev.com

Leon Noel

https://x.com/leonnoel

https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonnoel/

https://100devs.org/

📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?

Email us at [email protected]!

🚀 What You'll Learn in This Episode:

✔️ Why networking gets you interviews, but skills land the job

✔️ The importance of coffee chats & how to get them

✔️ How to approach technical interviews (LeetCode, system design & more)

✔️ The one mistake that keeps candidates from getting hired

✔️ Mindset shifts that separate successful job seekers from the rest

💬 Drop a comment below with your biggest takeaway from the episode! Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell so you never miss an episode.

🎧 Listen on your favorite podcast platform: [Insert Links]

📱 Follow us on Twitter: @DThompsonDev | @LeonNoel

🔗 Join the 100Devs & Resilient Coders communities: [Insert Links]

📌 Timestamps & Chapters:

0:00 - Intro: Welcome to The Programming Podcast!

0:48 - Meet your hosts: Danny Thompson & Leon Noel

1:21 - Behind-the-scenes: Our approach to unscripted podcasting

2:19 - How networking is the secret weapon for job seekers

4:26 - The power of real-world projects – How to stand out in interviews

7:33 - Why most personal projects fail to impress hiring managers

9:59 - Technical interview mistakes that cost you the job

12:13 - The importance of coffee chats & how to make them work

16:00 - Success stories: Breaking out of your comfort zone

20:27 - Why just applying online won’t work (and what to do instead)

25:30 - How to fix your LeetCode & technical interview struggles

31:28 - Breaking the “No Degree” barrier – What companies really mean

37:41 - DSA strategy: The only 14 patterns you need to know

42:00 - How to communicate effectively in a coding interview

46:10 - Ask Danny & Leon: Avoiding burnout & time management tips

52:00 - Final thoughts: The real grind behind success

Ever felt overlooked at work? Struggled with technical interviews? Wondering how to stand out in your career? We’ve got you covered!

📢 In this episode of The Programming Podcast, hosts Danny Thompson, Leon Noel, and special Co-host James Q Quick dive deep into overcoming fear, taking action in your career, and the immense value of networking in tech. 🚀

Connect with James Q Quick!

https://x.com/jamesqquick

https://www.youtube.com/c/jamesqquick

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesqquick/

https://www.jamesqquick.com/

https://www.compressed.fm/

Stay in Touch:

📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?

Email us at [email protected]!

Danny Thompson

https://x.com/DThompsonDev

https://www.linkedin.com/in/DThompsonDev

www.DThompsonDev.com

Leon Noel

https://x.com/leonnoel

https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonnoel/

https://100devs.org/

📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?

Email us at [email protected]!

🔥 Topics Covered:

- The importance of being vocal about your work

- Why quiet wins often go unnoticed in the workplace

- How networking changed our careers (and how it can change yours)

- Preparing for technical interviews & overcoming fear

- James Q Quick’s journey into full-time content creation & the struggles behind it

- The reality of career ups and downs in tech

And much more!

⏰ Chapters & Timestamps:

0:00 - Introduction & What Networking Really Means

2:10 - James Q Quick Joins the Podcast

5:50 - The Power of Work-Life Balance in Tech

10:21 - Overcoming Fear & The Impact of Taking Action

15:08 - The Importance of Being Vocal About Your Work

19:50 - James Q Quick’s Journey to Full-Time Content Creation

25:26 - The Challenges & Reality of Content Creation

30:45 - Why Networking is a Cheat Code for Career Growth

35:41 - Real Stories of How Networking Landed Jobs

38:12 - How to Overcome Fear in Technical Interviews

42:27 - Practical Strategies for Crushing Coding Interviews

47:03 - Closing Thoughts & Commit Your Code Conference Announcement

📌 Don't forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more career advice, tech insights, and programming discussions! 🚀

Today we break down why problem-solving skills—not just syntax—get you hired and how you can level up your ability to tackle challenges on your own. This is how to problem solve in a better way!

💡 Sponsor: Level Up Financial Planning

Changing careers or increasing your income? Get financial clarity with Level Up Financial Planning—helping early and mid-career tech professionals secure their financial future. Visit LevelUpFinancialPlanning.com for a free consultation!

Stay in Touch:

📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?

Email us at [email protected]!

Danny Thompson

https://x.com/DThompsonDev

https://www.linkedin.com/in/DThompsonDev

www.DThompsonDev.com

Leon Noel

https://x.com/leonnoel

https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonnoel/

https://100devs.org/

📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?

Email us at [email protected]!

🚀 Key topics include:

✅ How to shift from "asking for help first" to independent problem-solving

✅ The importance of system design for career growth

✅ Why reading code, exploring open-source projects, and practicing real-world coding scenarios is crucial

✅ How to improve your technical interview strategy with step-by-step breakdowns

✅ The power of community, learning resources, and mentorship

If you're looking to stand out as a developer, whether you're a junior breaking into tech or a mid-career dev leveling up, this episode is packed with actionable strategies to develop the mindset of a problem-solver!

📌 Chapters & Timestamps:

0:00 – Introduction: Are You Over-Reliant on Help?

1:04 – Meet the Hosts: Danny & Leon’s Take on Problem Solving

2:44 – Seeing the Bigger Picture: Jeep Wranglers, Coffee & Coding

4:06 – The Key to Nailing Technical Interviews: Process Over Syntax

8:02 – Scaling Up: Thinking Beyond the Code You Write

12:17 – Sponsor Break: Level Up Financial Planning

14:00 – Why System Design Matters & How to Get Started

16:00 – How to Improve Your Debugging & Researching Skills

25:04 – The Role of Community & Networking in Becoming a Stronger Dev

32:02 – Q&A: My Boss Said I Need to Be More Independent—What Should I Do?

38:00 – Final Thoughts: Building Long-Term Career Success

Join hosts Danny Thompson, Leon Noel, and Shruti Kapoor as they dive into the secrets of professional growth in tech. In this episode, they explore why networking is your greatest asset—even if you only have 15–30 minutes a day—and how to stay relevant in today’s fast-paced industry. From navigating the hidden job market to leveraging React 19’s game-changing features like streamlined forms, actions, and the useOptimistic hook, this episode is packed with actionable tips for developers at every level.

Connect with Shruti!

https://x.com/shrutikapoor08

https://www.youtube.com/@shrutikapoor08

https://www.linkedin.com/in/shrutikapoor08/

Stay in Touch:

📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?

Email us at [email protected]!

Danny Thompson

https://x.com/DThompsonDev

https://www.linkedin.com/in/DThompsonDev

www.DThompsonDev.com

Leon Noel

https://x.com/leonnoel

https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonnoel/

https://100devs.org/

📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?

Email us at [email protected]!

Learn how to:

- Maintain and grow your network even with a busy schedule

- Use React 19’s new capabilities to simplify your code and improve UI responsiveness

- Strategically migrate legacy codebases to React 19 without major disruptions

- Adopt better design patterns and custom hooks to write scalable, maintainable code

- Build a personal “brag book” and living document to track your career achievements

- Find fulfillment both at work and beyond by taking ownership of your professional growth

Whether you’re a junior developer looking to break into tech or a seasoned pro aiming to stay ahead, these insights will help you navigate the ever-evolving tech landscape.

Chapters & Timestamps:

0:00 – Introduction: The Power of Networking & 15-Minute Growth Hacks

1:09 – Host Introductions & Email Story: Losing Momentum in Your Network

4:33 – Why Maintaining Your Network is Crucial for Job Opportunities

5:39 – Networking Strategies: 15-Minute Daily Tasks to Stay Top of Mind

9:01 – The Hidden Job Market: How Networking Opens Doors in Tech

14:03 – React in 2025: Is It Still the Go-To Technology?

18:55 – React 19 Spotlight: Streamlining Forms with Actions

24:05 – Understanding useOptimistic: Instant UI Feedback & Faster Experiences

27:03 – Migrating to React 19: A Step-by-Step Approach for Large Codebases

31:01 – Design Patterns & Custom Hooks: Building Better, Scalable Code

36:42 – Optimizing Performance: React Profiler & Avoiding Excessive Prop Drilling

42:58 – Audience Q&A: Improving Yourself in a Small Company

46:03 – Brag Book & Living Document: Tracking Your Achievements

48:02 – Finding Fulfillment Beyond Your Day Job: Mentorship & Volunteering

50:00 – Final Thoughts & Wrap-Up: Taking Ownership of Your Career

"Single flight mutations can literally cut your app’s response time in HALF!"

"Web performance should come first—everything else is secondary."

Welcome to The Programming Podcast! In this episode, Danny Thompson and Leon Noel are joined by Dev Agrawal, core maintainer of Solid JS and organizer of Momentum Conference. This conversation dives deep into modern web development, performance optimizations, and community building.

Connect With Dev Agrawal!

https://www.youtube.com/@UCDXzM8ijdxkVA6NbQiQCKag

https://x.com/devagrawal09

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dev-agr/

Solid JS Docs

https://www.solidjs.com/

Topics Covered in This Episode:

- Why Volunteering at Conferences is a Cheat Code – Learn how volunteering can help you level up in tech.

- Solid JS vs. React – A deep dive into why Solid JS is shaking up frontend development.

- Single Flight Mutations – A game-changing performance technique that reduces request latency by 50%.

- The Rise of Signals – What makes Signals so revolutionary in web frameworks like Angular and Solid?

- Conference Organization & Sponsorships – Insights into running a successful developer conference.

- Using AI for Learning – Should you feel bad for using ChatGPT to learn coding? (Spoiler: Absolutely not!)

- How to Stay on the Cutting Edge of Tech – The mindset and resources that keep top engineers at the forefront.

Stay in Touch:

📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?

Email us at [email protected]!

Danny Thompson

https://x.com/DThompsonDev

https://www.linkedin.com/in/DThompsonDev

www.DThompsonDev.com

Leon Noel

https://x.com/leonnoel

https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonnoel/

https://100devs.org/

📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?

Email us at [email protected]!

Whether you're a frontend developer, a conference organizer, or just passionate about new trends in web development, this episode is packed with insights, humor, and real talk from some of the best minds in tech.

📖 Chapters & Timestamps:

⏱️ 0:00 – Volunteering at Conferences: The Ultimate Cheat Code

⏱️ 1:03 – Meet Your Hosts & Guest: Danny, Leon, & Dev

⏱️ 2:01 – The Tweet That Started It All: The Importance of Nuance in Dev Discussions

⏱️ 2:17 – Why Should You Use Solid JS? A Core Maintainer’s Perspective

⏱️ 4:04 – React’s Mental Model vs. Solid’s Fine-Grained Reactivity

⏱️ 6:18 – Why Solid JS Isn’t Mainstream (Yet) & Its Developer-First Approach

⏱️ 8:09 – Performance-First Development: The Ryan Carniato Philosophy

⏱️ 8:55 – Single Flight Mutations: How They Double Your Performance

⏱️ 10:16 – Web Frameworks are Like a D&D Party: Why We Need Different Approaches

⏱️ 11:38 – Why Top Devs Are Excited About Signals

⏱️ 12:04 – Explaining Signals: The Future of State Management

⏱️ 17:48 – The Angular Signals Effect: How It Revitalized Angular’s Reputation

⏱️ 20:17 – The Story of Commit Your Code Conference: Running a Dev Conference on a Budget

⏱️ 24:26 – The Reality of Sponsorships: Why Companies Struggle to Define ROI

⏱️ 28:42 – Organizing a Developer Conference: Lessons from the Field

⏱️ 32:07 – Should You Feel Bad for Using ChatGPT to Learn Code?

⏱️ 42:45 – The Best Way to Learn Advanced Concepts in Programming

⏱️ 46:37 – How to Stay on the Cutting Edge: Reading, Coding, & Experimentation

⏱️ 49:09 – Wrap-Up: Final Thoughts & Podcast Outro

In this episode, Danny Thompson (Director of Technology at ThisDot Labs) and Leon Noel (Managing Director of Engineering at Resilient Coders) dive deep into the realities of freelancing as a web developer. They discuss how to land your first clients, effectively communicate your value, set prices (and get paid!), use contracts to protect yourself, and grow your network so that freelancing becomes a reliable source of income. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take your freelance hustle to the next level, this conversation is packed with actionable advice and real-world experiences.

What You’ll Learn:

- Why the hardest part of freelancing isn’t coding—it’s finding clients.

- Proven strategies to identify potential clients in your existing network and local community.

- How to confidently discuss budgets and pricing (including when and how to ask for deposits).

- Why clear communication and regular updates with clients are crucial.

- How to scale your freelance business from small gigs to larger, high-paying projects.

- Tips on contracts, scope, and protecting yourself legally.

- Balancing building new features vs. maintaining projects—and deciding which is best for you.

- If you’ve been unsure about how to start freelancing or how to level up your current freelance work, this video is for you.

Shout out to our Sponsor Level Up Planning, Lucas Casarez https://www.levelupfinancialplanning.com/

Stay in Touch:

📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?

Email us at [email protected]!

Danny Thompson

https://x.com/DThompsonDev

https://www.linkedin.com/in/DThompsonDev

www.DThompsonDev.com

Leon Noel

https://x.com/leonnoel

https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonnoel/

https://100devs.org/

📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?

Email us at [email protected]!

Chapters & Timestamps

0:00 – Intro & The Hardest Part of Freelancing

Danny and Leon share their thoughts on why actually getting clients is tougher than the coding or deployment work itself.

2:01 – Why Freelancing is a Crucial Skill

Leon explains why freelancing can be life-changing and why every developer should consider it.

3:05 – Cold Calling & First Client Strategies

They discuss the reality of cold calling, the grit required, and how to improve your pitch to win your first projects.

4:00 – Start with Your Existing Network

Learn why your friends, family, and local connections are often the best way to find your initial freelancing gigs.

8:01 – Figuring Out Budgets & Pricing

How to talk about money without scaring away clients—and why you should ask the client for their ballpark budget.

9:00 – Danny’s First Paid Gig Story

Hear how Danny sold his very first website to a local restaurant and what he learned in the process.

11:55 Sponsor Lucas Casarez

18:25 – Transitioning from Small to Large Projects

Danny shares how his freelancing evolved from smaller projects to more complex (and better-paying) contracts.

23:30 – Setting Payment Terms & Deposits

Why you should always ask for a deposit and how it filters out difficult clients.

28:00 – Contracts & Legal Protection

Key contract clauses to include, such as ownership of work until final payment and liability protection.

33:10 – Maintaining vs. Delivering & Walking Away

Deciding whether you want to offer ongoing maintenance plans or simply provide a project handoff.

40:00 – Turning One-Off Clients into Evergreen Clients

Practical tips on establishing long-term relationships and retaining clients for continuous work.

47:00 – Q&A: Being the Solo Dev in a Company

Advice for someone struggling with skill growth when they’re the only developer at their workplace.

52:02 – Final Tips: Tackle the Hard Stuff First

Danny shares his strategy for handling the most challenging tasks early in the day to boost productivity and confidence.

In this episode of The Programming Podcast, Danny Thompson and Leon Noel dive deep into the topics of consistency, networking, and the actionable steps that can help you achieve your career goals in tech. Whether you’re trying to break into the industry, level up to a senior role, or simply stay on track with your New Year’s resolutions, this episode is packed with advice, real-world anecdotes, and motivational insights to keep you moving forward.We cover:The power of networking: Why building connections is critical, how to send effective messages, and what you should avoid.Consistency and goal-setting: How writing down your goals and staying accountable can create lasting change.Overcoming fear and self-doubt: Tips to push through the fear of rejection and take the first step toward success.Real-life success stories: Hear how people have transformed their careers with simple but effective actions.The importance of action: Why taking even small steps daily can create exponential growth over time.If you’ve ever wondered how to get a coffee chat, write a cold message that gets a response, or break through the mental blocks holding you back, this is the episode for you.Stay in Touch:📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?Email us at [email protected]!Danny Thompsonhttps://x.com/DThompsonDevhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/DThompsonDevwww.DThompsonDev.comLeon Noelhttps://x.com/leonnoelhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/leonnoel/https://100devs.org/📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?Email us at [email protected]!If you enjoyed this video, please Like, Share, and Subscribe for more tech career insights and tutorials.

Chapters

0:00 -Introduction: Learning from Conversations
Danny and Leon reflect on their experiences helping thousands of people and how common trends emerge in success and failure.

1:05 -Welcome to The Programming Podcast
Danny and Leon introduce themselves, the podcast, and how listener feedback fuels their motivation.

2:12 -Leon’s Wildfires and Community Support
Leon shares his experience dealing with wildfires, his community’s incredible support, and the value of consistency in building trust.

4:35 -The Power of Showing Up Consistently
Leon explains how consistency has been the foundation of his success, even in difficult situations.

6:08 -How Your Goals Reflect Your Actions
Danny and Leon discuss the importance of keeping your goals visible to stay motivated and accountable.

10:05 -Why People Break Their New Year’s Resolutions
Exploring the concept of "Quitter’s Day" and common mistakes people make when building habits.

13:02 -Identity and Goal Setting: Key to Consistency
Leon dives into how adopting an identity tied to your goals helps maintain motivation.

16:30 -Making Your Goals Visible
Danny shares his system for writing goals on index cards and keeping them in sight as a daily reminder.

20:00 -Planning Your Days with Intent
Why planning your days, weeks, and years intentionally is crucial for long-term success.

23:06 -Networking: A Game-Changer for Your Career
The importance of networking and how it’s helped people land jobs, build opportunities, and grow professionally.

27:14 -Overcoming Fear and Taking Action
Leon discusses how fear and self-doubt hold people back and why taking that first step is critical.

30:00 -Danny’s First Freelance Project
Danny shares how a conversation at a restaurant led to his first freelance web development project.

40:52 -How to Write a Great Coffee Chat Message
Tips and strategies for crafting personalized, effective messages that get responses.

50:00 -Consistency in Podcasting and Helping Others
Danny and Leon talk about their commitment to showing up for the podcast and scaling their impact.

54:01 -Final Thoughts and Call to Action
Danny and Leon encourage listeners to take action & network.