We often talk about “paying off technical debt” as if it were a one-time event, but is that even possible? In this episode, Maxim Silaev and Nikita Golovko dive deep into what it truly means to address technical debt and why the language of "paying off" can be misleading.

Through personal stories, hard lessons, and client case studies, they will examine when refactoring creates real value, and when it is just polishing code, and why debt reduction must be tied to business outcomes. They discuss cultural practices, leadership framing, and the traps teams fall into when they chase perfection instead of progress.

Topics we have covered:

• Why "debt payoff" is not always the right metaphor
• How to prioritise debt work so it will create a business value
• The difference between strategic refactoring and wasteful refactoring
• How teams can measure progress beyond code metrics
• Stories of successful debt reduction and painful failures
• Practical strategies for aligning debt work with product goals