Ep. 34 | The Art of Storytelling in Leadership with Matt Sinclair
SummaryIn this episode, Matt Sinclair, former partner and VP of Engineering at BCG Digital Ventures, explores the critical role of storytelling in effective leadership and shares his journey from building high-performance payment systems to coaching the next generation of engineering leaders. The conversation covers Matt's passion for Elixir as "the most future-proof and AI-aligned language," diving deep into functional programming, immutable data structures, and how modern coding assistants like Claude Code are revolutionizing developer productivity. Matt emphasizes that the first job of leadership is to tell a compelling story that inspires smart people to collaborate, while the art of good management lies in getting out of the way and letting talented engineers solve problems their own way.TakeawaysLeadership starts with storytelling: The primary job of leadership is explaining why smart people should get out of bed and contribute to your mission, because without a good story, people will create their own narrativesFunctional programming improves code quality: Immutable data structures and pure functions eliminate approximately 50% of common bugs and make code easier to test and reason aboutElixir offers comprehensive out-of-the-box solutions: Unlike other tech stacks requiring multiple tools (Kubernetes, Redis), Elixir provides a complete ecosystem that reduces decision fatigue and technical complexityAI-assisted coding amplifies productivity: Using Claude Code with Elixir can make a single developer feel like they have a team of five engineers, especially when working with functional programming's predictable patternsManagement should focus on "what," not "how": Leaders should collaborate with their teams to determine objectives, then trust smart people to figure out implementation details on their ownProgramming language choice impacts team quality: There's a strong correlation between functional programming adoption and high-quality software engineers, possibly due to the steeper learning curve and problem-solving mindset requiredDeveloper joy matters for sustainability: Working with languages that feel elegant and "just click" reduces exhaustion and maintains long-term passion for coding throughout a careerFunctional code is LLM-friendly: Pure functions with no side effects make it dramatically easier for AI coding assistants to reason about, refactor, and improve code automaticallyUpfront design time pays dividends: Modern AI-assisted development enables more thorough design discussions and rubber duck debugging sessions that lead to better architecture before implementation beginsCombat surveillance capitalism through decentralization: The future of the web should return to RSS feeds, web rings, and federated networks of special interest communities rather than algorithm-driven data monopolies.LinksMatt's Website: https://matthewsinclair.com/Matt Sinclair on Medium: https://matthewsinclair.medium.com/ Intent: https://github.com/matthewsinclair/intentI'm a software engineer - What next? podcast: https://whatnext.dev/An elegant puzzle by Will Larson: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6872433.Will_LarsonElixir: https://elixir-lang.org/Laksa: https://laksa.io/Hosts:Bethany Janos: https://github.com/bethanyj28Brittany Ellich: https://brittanyellich.comEggyhead: https://github.com/eggyhead
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Ep. 33 | Looks Good to Me with Adrienne Braganza
SummaryIn this episode of Overcommitted, hosts Erika and Brittany interview Adrienne Braganza, the author of the book Looks Good to Me. The conversation delves into the critical role of communication in code reviews, emphasizing that misunderstandings often lead to issues. It highlights the importance of understanding the purpose behind code reviews rather than just focusing on tools and speed.TakeawaysMisunderstandings are at the heart of code reviews.It's important to understand the purpose of code reviews.Focusing on tools can distract from the main goals.Collaboration is key in software development.Clear communication can prevent many issues.Taking time to reflect on processes is valuable.Agreeing on objectives enhances team alignment.Code reviews should foster learning and improvement.Understanding each other's perspectives is crucial.Effective communication leads to better outcomes.LinksAdrienne’s Website: https://adrienne.io/Adrienne on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/abt.bsky.socialAdrienne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriennetacke/Book: Looks Good to Me: https://www.manning.com/books/looks-good-to-me HostsOvercommitted Website: https://overcommitted.devBrittany Ellich: https://brittanyellich.comEggyhead: https://github.com/eggyhead
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Ep. 32 | Navigating the Startup Landscape with Rick Turoczy
SummaryIn this episode of the Overcommitted Podcast, host Bethany and co-hosts Erika and Brittany welcome Rick Turoczy, a veteran in the Portland tech startup scene. They discuss Rick's journey from a hobbyist developer to a key supporter of startup founders, the unique culture of Portland's tech community, and the importance of mental health for founders. Rick shares insights on the challenges of being a founder, the evolution of startup culture, and the role of PIE in supporting startups. The conversation also touches on local recommendations and the vibrant community in Portland.Takeaways- Learning how to learn is a crucial skill for navigating the startup world.- Portland's tech scene is characterized by a unique culture of humility and creativity.- Founders often face significant mental health challenges and need support systems.- The PIE initiative aims to foster collaboration between startups and established organizations.- Mistakes are a part of the learning process for founders, and experimentation is key.- The startup landscape has evolved, making it easier to build products but harder to sell them.- The challenges of being a founder are often underestimated, leading to burnout.- Understanding the difference between wanting to build a product and wanting to build a company is crucial for founders.LinksRick's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/turoczy/Rick's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/turoczy.bsky.socialRick's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@turoczy_PIE Cookbook: https://github.com/piepdx/pie-cookbook/blob/master/docs/pie-cookbook-0.9.mdPowell’s City of Books: https://www.powells.com/bookstore/powells-city-of-books?srsltid=AfmBOoqCGKjvdY5g6DowX0ReNqRlLARxeI5WKwGyc8P0Pq3O8j9Fd0NQ Deadstock Coffee: https://deadstockcoffee.com/?srsltid=AfmBOopNiNhvGUigNJxASlm97jUCcSb6l36xCJ6sZF6mRIkyIseejJQyPodcast recommendation from Erika https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/237-mistake-it-till-you-make-it-learn-faster-and-fail-smarter/id1494989268?i=1000732814742HostsBethany Janos: https://github.com/bethanyj28Brittany Ellich: https://brittanyellich.comEggyhead: https://github.com/eggyhead
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Ep. 31 | Finding Your Flow - Developer Productivity and The Zone
SummaryIn this episode of the Overcommitted Podcast, Erika and Brittany delve into the concept of flow state in software development, exploring its significance for productivity and job satisfaction. They share personal experiences of achieving flow, discuss the balance between challenge and skill, and highlight the importance of psychological safety and team dynamics. The conversation also touches on managing interruptions, the role of pair programming, and strategies for improving flow state within teams. The episode concludes with a fun quiz to engage listeners in reflecting on their own flow experiences.TakeawaysFlow state is linked to enhanced productivity and job satisfaction.A balance between challenge and skill is essential for achieving flow.Cognitive overload can hinder the ability to enter flow state.Immediate control over tasks contributes to maintaining flow.Psychological safety within teams fosters better performance.Managing interruptions is crucial for maintaining focus.Pair programming can facilitate flow but may introduce challenges.Team dynamics significantly impact individual flow experiences.Investing in tools and environments can enhance flow state.Regular reflection on flow experiences can lead to improved productivity.LinksDeveloper flow article: https://leadership.garden/developer-flow/ Podcast: Neuroscience and Developer Productivity: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prefrontal-by-cortex/id1760813899?i=1000676601346Vibe Engineering by Simon Willison: https://simonwillison.net/2025/Oct/7/vibe-engineering/SPACE Metrics: https://getdx.com/blog/space-metrics/HostsOvercommitted Website: https://overcommitted.devBrittany Ellich: https://brittanyellich.comEggyhead: https://github.com/eggyhead
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Ep. 30 | What all developers should know with Thomas Dohmke
SummaryIn this episode of the Overcommitted Podcast, host Brittany Ellich and co-hosts Bethany and Erika welcome Thomas Dohmke, former CEO of GitHub. They discuss Thomas's journey in software development, pivotal moments in his career, the importance of passion and continuous learning, and advice for overcoming career stagnation. The conversation also touches on the future of software development, particularly the impact of AI, and concludes with a fun round of questions about LEGO.TakeawaysThomas grew up in East Germany and discovered coding through a school lab.His passion for software development has been a constant throughout his career.Mentorship played a crucial role in his transition from university to the automotive industry.The importance of continuous learning in a fast-paced tech environment.Developers often feel stuck in their careers, but a growth mindset can help overcome this.Asking for help and having open conversations with managers can lead to new opportunities.Reading books on engineering and leadership can provide valuable insights.AI is set to revolutionize the software development landscape again.The journey of a developer is filled with ups and downs, but passion keeps them motivated.Thomas encourages developers to embrace change and stay curious.LinksThomas on GitHub: https://github.com/ashtomThomas on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashtom/Thomas on X: https://x.com/ashtomThe Great Mental Models book: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44245196-the-great-mental-modelsAn Elegant Puzzle by Will Larson: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45303387-an-elegant-puzzleStaff Engineer by Will Larson: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56481725-staff-engineerThe Engineering Executive's Primer: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199699997-the-engineering-executive-s-primerBricklink: https://www.bricklink.com/v2/main.pageHost: Bethany Janos: https://github.com/bethanyj28Host: Brittany Ellich: https://brittanyellich.comHost: Eggyhead: https://github.com/eggyhead
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