The SDG Podcast

AI can be incredibly useful—and occasionally incredibly confident while being completely wrong. In this episode, Eric and Dean join Peter and Kyle to unpack the fear, hype, and reality surrounding AI. from job replacement and energy consumption to hallucinations, bias, and the challenge of knowing when to trust the machine.

Consulting comes with plenty of unwritten rules: own your mistakes, communicate thoughtfully, document your work, and maybe don’t come in hot on day one. In this episode, we unpack the habits that help consultants build trust, navigate client environments, and become the kind of partner people actually want on their team.

This episode is Part 2 of Who Owns The Code. The team explores how “vibe coding” with AI is reshaping who can build software inside organizations, and what happens when prototypes start drifting toward production without traditional engineering guardrails. The group unpacks ideas like “golden paths” and controlled playgrounds for innovation, where non-engineers can safely build and test ideas while still ensuring anything valuable can be reliably transitioned into production-grade systems.

In this episode, the team dives into the reality of onboarding—when starting a new role can mean anything from a perfectly prepared desk and ready-to-go laptop to sitting in a lobby wondering where to even begin. They share stories from both ends of the spectrum: seamless welcomes that make you feel instantly part of the team, and the more chaotic starts where access, equipment, and even basic instructions take days to fall into place.

Camille Westfall joins Allison, Peter, and Kyle to dive into the world of accessibility—from web design to physical spaces. Discover why shifting accessibility left in your process saves time and money, how universal design benefits everyone, and what new legal standards mean for your business. Whether you're a designer, developer, or business leader, this episode will help you make your products and services more inclusive for all.

Passwords have had a good run—but their days may finally be numbered. This episode dives into the rise of passkeys, why they're more secure than traditional passwords, and why adopting them isn't always as simple as clicking "Enable."

This episode explores the intersection of AI-driven "vibe coding" and traditional low code tools, discussing how platforms like Microsoft Power Apps and Copilot are making app development more accessible, the challenges of governance and reliability, and the evolving role of citizen developers in organizations.

The episode covers the behind-the-scenes of the Open Source North Conference, featuring Jeff, Avery, Jona, and Kyle discussing event growth, logistics, volunteer coordination, intern experiences, sponsor highlights, and the importance of community in the Twin Cities tech scene.

In this episode, the team dives into the Dead Internet Theory, AI-generated content, bot armies, and the increasingly blurry line between authentic and artificial online experiences. Along the way, they share stories of fake reviews, questionable influencers, and the ongoing quest to find actual humans on the internet.

Dungeons & Dragons meets modern technology as Steve, Kyle, Allison, and Peter explore how digital tools, AI, and streaming have transformed gameplay, making character creation, campaign management, and remote play easier—while still valuing the magic of in-person sessions, physical dice, and collaborative storytelling.